Royal Beginnings

"How did it get in the castle?"

"It's demonic!"

"The horror, the horror!"

Apple Harvest flicked her ears at the whispers around her, trying to keep her head held high. The bright lights of the castle felt alien and unfriendly, bearing down on her leathery wings, exposing her to the stares of the other ponies. The owner of the last voice appeared to have fainted dead away.

She steeled herself, feeling the scroll pressing against her side. A summons, directly from the Princess, just for her. Good or ill, she had every right to walk these halls as any of these ponies, perhaps even more right, considering what Celestia had done to her tribe. Steeling herself against the judgement she had felt a thousand thousand times over before, she kept her eyes forward, walking through the marble castle where all traces of Princess Luna had been erased. This was a castle of the sun, one that had forgotten it was nothing without its moon. It was afternoon outside, but even then she could still feel the moon, just out of reach below the horizon. It felt oddly light without the Mare in the Moon hidden inside it, something she had never experienced before. When the Nightmare within had been freed, every thestral had felt the shift in their power, the feeling of lunar magic intensifying. Their Princess had returned. They had all felt the cleansing magic of the elements clear away the fog of the Nightmare, cradling their princess reborn. Apple Harvest had been almost at the castle when it had happened, she yearned to fly back to her tribe to check on them, but the letter summoning her here must be tied to Luna’s return. She had to see what Celestia wanted.

The guard escorting her stopped before some ornate wooden doors, the carvings showing a beautifully detailed sun. Apple couldn't resist a slight eye roll, it was so ostentatiously Celestia. They would have to change that soon, now that Luna had returned. The doors opened with a flourish, the voice of the herald echoing through the relatively empty room.

“Apple Harvest, of the Thestral Tribe!”

The throne room stretched out before her, red carpet and marble leading up to a single, dominating throne. Beautiful stained glass windows depicting stunning triumphs from the history of Celestia's reign reflected down, casting prismatic reflections across the small clusters of ponies within. The subtle scent of magic permeated the room, fizzing like sherbert on her tongue. There were spells woven into the very walls of this palace, Celestia was obviously taking no chances after the Long Night. Hushed murmurs reached her ears as the ponies who were likely nobles and advisors turned to face the intruder in their midst.

“What garish wings.”

“Her eyes! They are evil!”

Repressing the urge to snarl at them and show them her fangs, Apple walked past them, shifting her wings under their gazes. These ponies had the diplomatic experience to be quieter in their bigotry, but she could still hear them.
She looked up to the throne, Celestia quietly sipping her tea looking back down at her. Her multicoloured mane flickered in an unseen breeze, her purple eyes tranquil and her smile benevolent. She looked down at Apple Harvest, the picture of a perfect monarch.

“Welcome, my little-”

“What do you want, Celestia.”

The throne room went silent, a pony behind her gasping and fainting onto the floor. The endless fainting of these ponies, it’s a wonder that any real work got done in a crisis. Not only had she interrupted the Princess, she had addressed her by name. Apple smirked inwardly, knowing that she was about to make herself even more unwelcome than she was previously. Celestia, to her credit, did not look phased at the blatant breach of etiquette.

“My sister has returned from her imprisonment in the moon.”

“I'm aware. All Thestrals are aware. It doesn't explain why I’m here.” Apple sat down and began examining her hoof, ignoring the further gasps of horror behind her. She kept her tone light, mocking, hiding the simmering rage that threatened to break forth. “What could mighty Celestia have need of a Thestral for?”

Celestia put aside her teacup, a white unicorn with red glasses whisking it away. Always somepony else to take out her trash, Apple thought bitterly.

“My sister,” Celestia began. “Will eventually rejoin me as a Princess of Equestria once she has recovered from her ordeal.” This was met with more gasps behind Apple, clearly it had not been announced to the broader nobility. “She will need an aide. I have chosen to offer you this position.”

Apple Harvest kept her face looking bored and disinterested, but underneath she was outright shocked. An aide to a Princess was a high position indeed, not one that a Thestral had occupied for over a thousand years, not since before. It would mean a lot to Thestrals to have such a position, it would mean at last they could come home. Apple wasn't fooled, this offer did not come without strings.

“Tell me, Celestia,” Apple stared directly into the Princesses eyes, her own green ones reflecting her quiet, burning anger. “Does Princess Luna know what you have done?”

They both knew that she wasn't talking about choosing an aide for her sister. Apple was talking about how after Nightmare Moon fell, that Celestia hunted her kind almost to extinction, burning their villages and putting bounties on their heads. Punishment for remaining loyal to the wrong princess. Ponies across Equestria had spurned them, collecting heads and wings as macabre trophies to display. For generations Thestrals had fled persecution, fleeing to the badlands to eke out a miserable existence away from ponykind, cast out of their homes and lands. Celestia, in her grief, madness and rage, had reduced her people to a myth, a pony tale told to little foals to terrify them around a campfire, while they had starved.

“No. She does not.” The words weighed heavily in the air. “I regret what happened to your people-”

“Regret?” Apple Harvest cut her off again, standing with a sneer on her face. The guards shifted, though Celestia’s hoof stayed them from drawing their spears. Apple could feel herself shaking, but it was with rage rather than fear at the paltry royal guards. “You regret massacring my people? You regret forcing us from society, from our homes? You regret ignoring our suffering until now, when it is convenient for you? You regret-” Apple licked her fangs. “You regret that we survived, despite your best attempts at genocide.”

The room was deathly silent. Celestia finally had the grace to look away from her, to look ashamed. Apple Harvest knew this dark chapter of Equestria’s history had been buried, forgotten. She would be amazed if any of them had even seen a Thestral or heard of them before today. Her people, reduced to survival only, worked hard at keeping to the fringes of society. They stayed hidden, keeping away from the eyes of Canterlot lest the cleansing be rekindled. The silence stretched out between them, heavy.

“Why me?”

This was the million bit question. Celestia didn't need a Thestral specifically. She could have chosen anypony, it even made more sense for her to choose someone who would spy for her, report back on the Moon Princesses activities.

“Today is a day where it is time to make right the wrongs of the Battle of the Long Night. My sister has been returned to Equestria, returned to me. It is time that I, too, atone for my actions.” Celestia rose, stepping down from the throne. Apple Harvest found herself moving back from the enormous Alicorn, despite her anger. “You are one of the few thestrals who has had regular contact with ponykind. You understand the hatred your tribe has suffered, and yet you have persevered through it to create a life for yourself, standing between your people and mine. My sister will need that understanding now as she comes to terms with generations of fear and her own suffering. She needs compassion, now more than ever.” Celestia stood before Apple, imploring her. “She needs a friend.”

Pretty words from a pretty pony. Apple wasn't convinced she was being entirely truthful, but it was enough. She had to take a chance, save her people. Already they had abandoned their village, fled their home after the Celestial guards had come knocking. If she could sacrifice herself to Celestia’s plans to save them from an existence of fear, she would, but not to dance to whatever tune Celestia was humming. Apple held up a hoof.

“I won't spy for you.”

Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder, her purple eyes gazing down in sorrow. “I wouldn't expect anything less from you.”

Apple brushed off her hoof and stood, stretching out her wings to relieve the tension in her back, and also to put space between her and Celestia. She wouldn't be intimidated, and she wouldn't be touched by her repulsive hoof. “Reparations.” she said softly.

Celestia tilted her head. “Come again, my little pony?”

“I am not your pony. I, and all Thestrals, have always belonged to Princess Luna.” Apple sat back down, further away. “You owe my kind a great debt, Celestia. And if you are being truthful about atonement, then reparations are in order. You want me to integrate your sister back into the world? You will be integrating my kind too.” Apple stared at the white alicorn. She had never been nominated to speak on behalf of her tribe, but now that she had the opportunity, she would take it.

“What do you have in mind?” The compassionate, pleading monarch was gone, in its place was the leader who was making a deal on behalf of her country. The white unicorn now had a quill and parchment floating next to her, hastily taking notes.

“Reparations for each Thestral from your attempt at genocide. Land, a place in Equestria to call our own, and a town that will be built there. Your letter offered schools and a hospital, but we don't want charity. We want a home, a place we don't have to run from when your soldiers come knocking. Safety. Did you know that none of our foals attend school? We educate them at home. We do our own medical care, because pony hospitals refuse to treat us.” Celestia visibly paled at this, and Apple could hear the advisors behind her murmuring. What she was asking was not going to be cheap, but if Celestia thought that her services would come without justice for her people, she was mistaken. “Our land is to be ours alone. And most importantly, history is to be corrected. I want ponies to know the truth of Thestrals, not the foals tales you have spun us into.”

Apple held her breath, this was a big gambit. Money, the crown could afford. History, that was a humiliation that a mighty empire would not subject themselves to.

Celestia stared at Apple Harvest, seeming to appraise her down to her bones. Apple gritted her teeth, staring back.
Celestia stood, making her way back to the throne. She remained silent the entire time, stretching Apple’s remaining nerve to the brink. Apple knew she was doing it on purpose, and forced herself to remain still and nonchalant.

“Atonement comes in many forms. I had hoped that by extending my hoof to you, that you in turn would extend yours to mine. I have not forgotten the lives I took of your kind, just as I have not forgotten the lives that the dread Thestral army of Nightmare Moon took of my little ponies.” The room seemed to darken with the alicorn’s displeasure, the artificial warmth cooling slightly. “If I allow history to show the truth, it will show the entire truth. Do you want this, knowing it could further the prejudice against your kind?”

Apple Harvest could have laughed. This was a truly pathetic attempt at “helping” Thestrals to cover their own history for “their” own benefit, when all it did was sweep Celestia’s crimes under the rug. How ponies worshipped this mare Apple would never understand.

“Thestrals have long made peace with how hard we fought on the orders of our Princess. We have been punished enough for doing so. We are not afraid of our history. Are you?” Apple kept her voice steady, but could feel her heart trying to beat out of her chest.

Celestia smiled, but it was without warmth. “Indeed. Very well, I agree to your terms. You will become my sister’s loyal aide, and in return Thestrals will find themselves welcomed back into Equestrian lands. My advisors will arrange to meet with the Thestral leader to discuss the details.” Her smile regained some warmth. “I hope that this will truly be the beginning of a remarkable friendship.”

Apple snorted, allowing her relief to come out as derision. “I'm sure it will.”

Celestia motioned to the guard, clearly she was dismissed. “You will be given quarters in the castle. I will introduce you to Luna after I raise the moon. Raven, if you will show Apple Harvest where she needs to go?”

Raven, the white unicorn from earlier, stepped from the shadows and bowed to Celestia before leaving. Apple did not bow, instead nodding curtly to Celestia as she left. This was the start of a brand new day for Thestrals, and she could only hope that she had made the right decision.