Black Powder

When the Air Still Smells of Peace

II

****Day

-533

****Canterlot****

The night sky over Canterlot was teeming with Luna's beautiful stars. To Celestia, the sky resembled a backlit canopy with holes punched in it. The nearly full moon gave off an impressive white light, giving the entire capital an almost spiritual and lonely ambience, blanketing the sky with a wispy white haze over the snow covered earth. Even though she may not tell her sister enough, she really appreciated Luna's work with the night sky.

The usual hustle and bustle of Canterlot had died down since the evening sun had retired. From the balcony, Celestia could still see some scattered lights dotted around the city below but for the most part, the citizens had turned in for the night. The sound of crickets could be heard as well as the barking of neighborhood dogs in the distance. There were still a few weeks of winter to be had until the spring season, although the chill didn't bother Celestia in the slightest.

She had heard a soft clopping of hooves behind her, momentarily shattering the silent peace that Celestia was enjoying. Without even turning around, she already knew who it was. Celestia could recognize her sister's presence from a mile away.

"Sister, I have a letter of demands from the Red Mane province," Luna said abruptly.

Celestia craned her neck slowly as her little sister slowly entered and took a seat on the carpeted balcony next to her. She could see that Luna was in fact, carrying a rolled parchment. Even though she wasn't shocked, Celestia had not been expecting something like this.

She had known for a fact that her aid's package to Gryphonia and Saddle Arabia would cut into the Royal budget, which was part of Equestria's new foreign policy. Although it was true that much of Equestria's revenue came from Red Mane, she didn't think that those ponies would be so bothered by it. It was obvious that she would have to address this immediately.

"Hello Luna. Beautiful night tonight." Celestia smirked.

"Thank you sister. I guess I really went for atmosphere tonight, didn't I?"

Luna moved to lie down next to Celestia and sighed.

"Are you okay?"

Luna rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine. You know how taxing controlling celestial bodies can be."

Now it was Luna's turn to smirk.

This sort of playful banter was common among siblings and coworkers, even for alicorns. Luna let her head touch the carpeted ground as she lay down completely. She nudged the rolled letter towards Celestia with her nose, which her sister found absolutely adorable.

"You might want to take a look at this. The citizens seemed pretty distressed."

Celestia shook her head in affirmation.

"I will Luna. Is it really bad?" she inquired with a worried tone.

"No. They are protesting but it seems mild for the time being. Nothing too crazy to worry about," Luna said airily, her voice betraying drowsiness.

Celestia nodded and lifted the roll to her face with a quick levitation spell. She opened the letter of demands meticulously, careful not to damage the letter in the event that she may have to refer to it later. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous, her little ponies didn't normally preach dissent towards the crown.

"Have you already read this Luna?"

The blue alicorn appeared to have been falling asleep with she addressed her. With a yawn, Luna gazed up at her sister with tired eyes.

"No. Everything I've been told is from word of mouth. I know I'm supposed to read it too but I think I'll wait until tomorrow."

Celestia nodded abruptly and folded the parchment in front of her face and leered into the contents.

Our Royal Highnesses,

I surely hope that you both are in good health and fortune. I wish that I were writing you this letter of demands under better circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not the case. On behalf of the ponies of Red Mane and under the pressure of a petition signed by ten thousand citizens, I am hereby forced to inform your royal highnesses of the general unhappiness of the public in our great province.

As governor, I am obligated by law to ensure the well-being of this province's ponies. This issue seems to stem from Equestria's new "Friendly Neighbor" policy that you yourselves proposed, enacted, and signed. It was not brought to a vote by the Provincial Senate and was passed by Royal Decree alone. Of course, this is legal in our Constitutional Principality, however it is not a perferred method of conducting government laws and policies. This dealing with foreign nations and redistribution of wealth is a kind gesture abroad albeit a pain in our own coffers.

As you know, the province of Red Mane supplies the Principality with almost forty-five percent of its funding and around twenty-seven percent of the entire nation's resources. Therefore, it would only make sense that a significant amount of the money and material being send to Gryphonia and Saddle Arabia may have originated from Red Mane and at our expense.

Does this not mean that our province's resources and revenue are being thrown into a bottomless pit without our consent?

This is an outrage!

Not only that but you have the nerve to cut our federal funding! To budget this new policy?! Vital facilities and services are now crippled as a result of this underhooved move! Red Mane's economy is already suffering and it is only going to get worse unless this issue is addressed immediately!

I, along with the great citizens of Red Mane, are requesting your attendance to the Provincial Palace in hopes to acquire Royal intervention. Surely, a deal or proposition could be worked out to negate this neglection of one of your own provinces. Perhaps we can come to a compromise or understanding.

You both have been demanded to either cease this new policy or give compensation in return for Red Mane's cooperation.

Good day to you, your highnesses.

Sincerely,

Governor Dusk Quill

Celestia gasped at the attitude and tone of the last couple paragraphs. The letter was pretty standard up that point and then the Governor just decided to unload in an unexpected flurry of malcontent. She was shocked to say the least. Maybe this issue was a little more urgent than what Luna had let on. Her mind was still trying to process what was written.

The part about cutting Red Mane's funding...she didn't even remember doing that.

Strange.

She gazed on the ground next to her only to find that Luna had already fallen asleep, her soft snores the only things Celestia heard besides the gentle breeze. She rose her head to the sky, taking in the ethereal view above.

They had to make an audience to Red Mane. They couldn't afford not to. Celestia decided this with conviction.

****Day

-532

****

Ponyville

****

Pinkie Pie sloshed her way through the snow as she bounced behind her entourage of friends. She was so happy and excited that she couldn't stay still, even with her bags rocking around on her back. A wide grin graced her face as she thought of home back at the rock farm. Its been at least two years since she's been home and she couldn't wait to see her parents and sisters again. This whole trip was going to be fantastic.

Applebloom followed Applejack with several bags on the older mare's back, both talking about Applejack's experience in Manehattan and laughing about her 'fancy' accent. Rainbow had shown up as well with Scootaloo riding on her back as they hovered over the others. Rarity trotted alongside her little sister as well. Twilight was at the head of the group, making small talk with Fluttershy. Whether they were leaving or just seeing off friends, everypony was on their way to the train station.

"--You don't even know how awkward that was! They had about a billion different types of silverware! I didn't want none of that!" Applejack chuckled.

Applebloom giggled along with her, wondering if Babs was into that kind of thing.

Sweetie Belle heard Scootaloo giggling and laughing as Rainbow Dash zoomed overhead, taking the young pegasus filly on a joyride.

"Hmm...that looks like a lot of fun. Can I ride on your back sis?"

"No."

"Aww..."

Pinkie Pie bounded her way to the front of the group until she reached Fluttershy and Twilight. There was something that the pink pony needed to get off of her chest. The other two friends noticed her and let her slip in between, Fluttershy flashing her a quick smile. Pinkie Pie turned to Twilight.

"So...I'm really sorry about the whole ticket fiasco. I didn't mean to destroy your letter," Pinkie apologized, a small frown appearing on her face.

"It's okay Pinkie, I made a replacement last night. Luckily, I was able to remember most of what I wrote. No harm done," Twilight consoled, nodded her head to reassure her friend that it was okay.

"It's just that, when I procrastinate, I freak out. And when I freak out, I do silly things," Pinkie explained.

"Just when you freak out?"

"Well, I do silly things anyway."

The train station was a non-flattering simple one, which was expected for such a small town like Ponyville. There were dozens of ponies boarding and disembarking, the screeches of train on tracks mixing with the calls for boarding and the usual banter of large crowds. It seemed like a pretty busy day for the station.

"Hold on girls, I need to use the little filly's room. Be right back," Twilight said as she left Fluttershy and Pinkie at the head of the group.

The others were still behind them, and when Pinkie turned to back to face them, she noticed that they had stopped to help Applejack pick up the large suitcase that fell from her shoulders. Well, some of them stopped to help anyway, Rainbow Dash was too busy giving Scootaloo her money's worth as she pulled off some basic maneuvers in flight.

Pinkie hadn't even realized it until she turned around but she and Fluttershy had already made it to the station with the others still trailing behind, a good twenty yards away. That was all except Rainbow and her passenger though, zooming around randomly while Scootaloo cackled like a madpony.

"All aboard!" the conductor called out as he starting accepting tickets.

Pinkie hopped in line with Fluttershy following her, but the others still struggling to catch up. What was taking them so long?

"Well Pinkie, I hope you have great trip. It always good to see family every once in a while."

"Thanks Fluttershy! I can't wait to party with my family! I wonder if my sister was able to--"

The train erupted in a giant fireball as the explosion rocked the entire station. A huge cloud of smoke swallowed the entire complex as a secondary detonation ripped through the station's building, spewing debris and ponies everywhere.

Pinkie Pie could feel herself going airborne before anything else. All she could see was the dark gray cloud that she was consumed in. The ringing in her ears blocked her from hearing the screams of the unsuspecting crowd. She hit the ground hard on her side, coughing out smoke and snow as the pain in her ribs intensified. She was covered in ash, her normally pink vibrant coat blackened. Pinkie was lying in a haze of smoke, bruises and scrapes covering her body.

She couldn't see Fluttershy.

She couldn't find anypony for that matter.

Just the haze.

Her ears were still ringing, she couldn't hear herself cry out in fear and pain. A mix of dirt, debris and blood covered her body, even though most of the blood wasn't hers. She could have sworn that her name had been called.

"Fluttershy!" she yelled, trying to call out to her friend.

Groans of wounded ponies could be heard over the crackling of the fire. Smoke billowed into the sky and the ground was strewn with the bodies of ponies. Bystanders panicked and struggled to assist the wounded and the dying as the entire center was engulfed in flames. The train was split in two, a large fire separating the two halves. The station itself had a huge gap where the boarding area was supposed to be, more flames filling in the empty space.

Then, she saw a blur of light blue burst through the smoke and dart towards her.

It was Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie could see genuine fear in her friend's eyes as she landed next to Pinkie and frantically started to talk to her. She still couldn't hear anything and just stared up at her pegasus friend blankly, not quite sure how to react.

Rainbow Dash began to look over Pinkie's body, probably checking for wounds. Rainbow's magenta eyes were filled to the brim with tears, she couldn't stand to see her friend like this.

Her ribs hurt a lot.

Her eyelids began to close as she saw Rainbow Dash scream her name.