~10 years before the return of Nightmare Moon
The decision was made. Equestria would not be informed of any of the foreseen catastrophes. It would be in the interest of all the other species if the ponies were weakened, as they were already far too strong. Additionally, informing them could result in all sorts of unintended side effects, including paradoxes.
If Celestia knew her sister was going to return, Discord was soon to be freed, and the Crystal Empire would reappear, it would throw the world into interspecies war. However noble the intentions of Celestia, she was still a pony, if an alicorn. Although the mortal ponies might look up to the alicorns, they were still constrained by the terrible xenophobia innate to the equine species.
Changelings, of which the deciders were, had none of this accursed mental defect. Neither did the draconequi. However, both races had mental defects of their own. The draconequi saw other races as inferior, which, while correct, led them to not mind if they caused misfortunes for the mortals. And the Changelings, while capable of feeling empathy, still had to eat the emotions of the endoskeletal beings. For that matter, all races of this planet had some mental weakness.
The changelings at the meeting were all Council members. Rather than the obsolete totalitarian thaumocracy of Equestria, the Changeling Swarm was run by a meritocratic communism. They were the best at their tasks, and thanks to the ethicator built into the 73rd-gen hive mind, they would never put their own interests before that of the commoner. They lived in complete equality with all of their subjects.
The members of the Council were:
Queen Chrysalis of Department of War
Professor Kaon of Department of Science
Dr. Grey Goo of Department of Technology
Baron Tariff of Department of Funding
Head of Senate Filibuster of Department of Lawmaking
Premier Shield of Department of Internal Affairs
Chief Diplomat Covenant of Department of Foreign Policy
Judge Equinox of Department of Justice
Prime Elementalist Hypercane of Department of Magic
and Shard 1UQD0 of Department of Secrets and Espionage.
They were legends among their own race, and yet, despite their own powers, they had never had any feelings of superiority as compared to the less powerful members of their own kind. In fact, although the ponies didn’t know it, they had one of the fairest forms of government in the world.
Queen Chrysalis called the meeting to order. “As you know, it has recently been discovered that our food supplies won’t last much longer, and our love containers either malfunctioned or were sabotaged. There are several options. We could negotiate with the draconequi, who can conjure us up some love synthesizers. We could trade with the dragons, our pony bits for their love supplies. Neither of us uses what we have for money, but the other does. We’d both get richer. However, if that doesn’t work, we do have a failsafe.” She paused, and, after a deep breath, said, “Invade Canterlot.”
Gasps were heard around the table. Baron Tariff, a very rich, clever and mathematically-minded male changeling, spoke up. “That would be bad for the economy. Most entrepreneurs don’t like working with hostile powers. While war may be good for business, unprovoked invasions aren’t.”
Chief Diplomat Covenant, who was highly charismatic (due to her unusual ability to read the mind of anyone of any species instantly), added, “It’s especially risky as we have a peace treaty with every race save the diamond dogs. We really can’t attack Equestria without causing every other government to boycott us or even counterattack.”
Queen Chrysalis looked around at her fellow leaders. She said, in an effort to calm them, “Don’t worry. This is only a backup plan, and with luck, we’ll never need to use it.”
Prime Elementalist Hypercane was very quiet, but extremely powerful for her ability to control every aspect of the weather over as large an area as a continent from afar. She looked up at Chrysalis, and said, “Very well. Backup plan.”
~3000 years after the 2nd defeat of King Sombra
“…And that’s how the Sixth Anti-Changeling Genocide was justified.”
The students looked at their teacher in shock. After several seconds of horrified silence, the room degenerated into a shouting match.
One student yelled, “Ponies used to DO that?!?!”
Another responded, “Dragons would KILL other sentients?!?!”
Yet another yelled, “Draconequi would LET other races be harmed?!?!”
“What was WRONG with everypony/ling/dragon/equus/gryphon/dog back then?!?!”
Their teacher, Miss Endorphin, sighed. “You have to understand, they were much more uncivilized. They didn’t have the trans-species laws. They hadn’t even managed to keep peace for more than a millennium. The good news is now that we genetically engineered ourselves to fix our minds, no race dislikes each other anymore. And because we aren’t fighting with each other anymore, we have the power to lead a galaxy effectively. And with help by the Gallopfreyans, we are on the verge of exploring our own past and future.”
One of the students, a unicorn named Q-Ball, raised his hoof. “If we are about to be able to time travel, can we go back in time and fix all of the bad things the ancients did?” This idea quickly gained support among the students.
Miss Endorphin just smiled sadly. “It probably wouldn’t work. The Changeling Quantum Mages have looked into altering the past. It’s just too dangerous. If we change the wrong thing, our world might get destroyed.”
A draconequus named Aeon asked, “But I read up on time travel physics and magic, and it said that our actions would be able to change the future.”
Miss Endorphin thought about it. “It’s possible. How about this: After lunch, we’ll scrap our laser discussion for one on time travel. I know about as much as you do, which is to say almost nothing.”
During lunch, the only topic of chatter was the atrocities of the ancestors, and ways to fix them. Aeon was talking with Q-Ball about the problems of quantum gravity physics versus those of Gallopfreyan time physics. Aeon was a firm believer in Gallopfreyan physics. Because draconequi were able to manipulate reality, they didn't really agree with normal physics; they needed something more permissive. Aeon tried to explain, "I'm just saying, if the Time Stallions can change the past, why can't we?"
Q-Ball looked off into space for a few moments. He replied, "The Time Stallions are Neigh Immortals. Even with the alicorn operation, we are still time-vulnerable. The Time Stallions have been changing the past for millennia, they are... acclimated, I guess. We are still discovering how to time travel, it's too risky."
Aeon inclined his head, and scratched it with his tail. Q-Ball noticed that Aeon hadn't moved his lower body; he'd just elongated his tail. Shaking off the feelings of pertubation that he got whenever a draconequus used his or her powers, he continued, "I just think even if we can time travel, it's way too dangerous."
Aeon nodded, and said, "We'd need a paradox negator, and who knows if those are even possible. At least, we'd need it for tech-based time travel. Repurposed chronomancy with some xenomancy added might avoid the entire issue. Magic doesn't follow the laws of physics but its own, after all."
The beep on Q-Ball's uniform told him that lunch was over. He put his synth cookie in his cargo pocket dimension to save for later. He smiled at Aeon. "Race you to the classroom!" he yelled happily. He teleported, but was shocked to see Aeon already standing there.
"What took you so long?" Aeon asked him, winking. Q-Ball's jaw dropped. Aeon smiled. He explained, "You forgot, I'm a draconequus. We can warp time, so I slowed down the universe, including your mind, causing you to take 50 milliseconds longer than me."
Miss Endophorin called the class to order, and the discussion of the secrets of the universe began.
Author's Note
Very sorry it's so short. First story here, and first real story ever.
Later chapters will most likely be longer.
A Normal Morning in Ponyville
Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn, or rather had been. She'd been turned into an alicorn, and subsequently been coronated yesterday. She had had a full night's rest, and woke up to see Spike, her dragon assistant, leaning over her with a microscope.
"Spike, not to be rude, but WHAT are you doing?" she cried out. Spike smiled sheepishly. He put away the microscope, and picked up a book and put it behind his back. He then stuffed several papers out of sight.
Spike grinned nervously, and replied, "Oh, just some research on biomagical trans-species transfigurations. Apparently, Star Swirl the Bearded really pioneered the field. He developed the exosomatic adaptations, as well as the amniomorphic spell. Speaking of which, did you know that spell was one of the inspirations for the Hairy Trotter series? Which, by the way, FlimFlam Media is making a movie of!"
At this, Twilight cut him off. "Enough! Why were you looking at me through a microscope, what was that book, and what did those papers say? No more stalling!"
Spike looked down at his feet. He avoided Twilight's eyes as he replied, "Sorry Twilight. Truth is, I'm worried about you. The magic you're working on is more than just unusual, it's untested. What if it turns you into an orange or something?"
Twilight just laughed. "Yeah right, Spike. I'm on par with Star Swirl the Bearded, there's no way this spell will malfunction. But you still haven't answered my question. What were those papers and that book?
Spike reached down and pulled out the papers, and showed Twilight the book. It was titled Magic, the Mind, and the Mortal Body. "It's about how magic can affect the body and mind. Turns out extremely advanced spells have a habit of burning out the magic of the user, making them powerless or even killing them. One of the signs is lowered magical influx, which is visible by dying magibacteria plaque on the horn. That's what I was checking. So far, you've got even more bacteria on your horn. You really should brush it more." Spike finished. He snickered at finally getting to reprimand Twilight. It was so much fun to get back at all of her comments about hygiene, ranging from washing his scales to shampooing his dorsal spines.
Twilight thought about it, and said, "Maybe, but you should trust me more. I've faced down Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis, and King Sombra. I can handle an untested, highly unstable spell that's never been completed in recorded history. Even if it does make me invisible, that would be extra awesome. Then no one would ever know if I borrowed some books from the max security level of the Royal Canterlot Library!"
Spike raised an eyebrow. "That's not a good idea, Twilight. Celestia Discord-proofed the library, and if a god of chaos has a hard time getting in, there is no way you could. Do you even know what booby traps were put in there? Whatever they are, they are designed for invulnerable beings. Even if you're an alicorn, those traps would still be dangerous. I think you shouldn't go, because it's just too risky. Anyway, ready to get some breakfast?"
At this, Twilight brightened. Spike and Twilight walked (or in Twilight's case flew) downstairs. Spike served up some refined oats for Twilight and some sapphires for himself. Twilight smiled, and dug in. No sooner had she started eating than a crash sounded from the window. Someone was groaning on the floor. Twilight rushed over and helped the pony lying on the ground up. It was Rainbow Dash. She said, "Hey Twi! What's up? Eating your royal breakfast?" Rainbow Dash grinned at the thought of all the things she could call "royal" now that Twilight was an alicorn.
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Very funny, Rainbow. Just because I'm a princess doesn't mean I'll act like Prince Blueblood. I'm not stuck up, a jerk, or a unicorn supremacist. I don't treat regular ponies like dirt. I'm still the same pony inside, I just have wings now!"
Rainbow Dash smirked, and said. "Whatever, Twi. Anyway, I came here to tell you that Spitfire said I'm on the Wonderbolt "fast-tracking" list!" Rainbow flew over to the table, and continued, "I've really got a shot at getting in! Isn't that the most COMPLETELY AWESOME NEWS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD?"
Twilight leaned away from Rainbow Dash's face, and replied, "Yes, that's wonderful, but can you stop yelling? The hearing-restoring spell I learned is still temperamental. My last test subject was deaf in one ear for a week afterward." Rainbow Dash giggled, then burst out laughing. "Rainbow, this is serious!"
Rainbow Dash adopted a remorseful face as she said, "Sorry Twilight. I'm just so excited! I've been dreaming about being a Wonderbolt my whole life, and now it might be coming true!"
Twilight paused, then smiled. "Don't worry," she said, "I get the same way too sometimes. Anyway, want to go say hi to Fluttershy? I hear we're having another party tonight. This time, it's a bigger one at City Hall. Pinkie Pie and Discord worked together on the entertainment, so it will be interesting and very intense."
In a small cottage in the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, a yellow mare was talking to a bunny. The mare pleaded, "Come on, Angel Bunny. Please eat the carrot. You need it. It's breakfast time. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Angel Bunny took one look at the carrot, and shot the mare a look like she was feeding him radioactive sludge. He kicked the carrot across the room, and grabbed a cookbook. He pointed to an illustration in it. The mare asked, "You want a salad? All right, if you'll eat it." The bunny happily nodded and jumped up and down.
The mare, whose name was Fluttershy, found the ingredients and put them together. She hoofed the bowl to Angel Bunny, who gobbled it down. Fluttershy quietly said, "Don't eat too fast. You might get sick." Angel Bunny ignored her and kept eating. Fluttershy deferred to him and said, "Or, if you want it, you can eat it fast, I suppose. It is breakfast after all."
Fluttershy heard a knock at the door. She yelped and hid behind a couch. "Wh-who is it?" she whimpered.
A voice replied, "Fluttershy, it's me and Rainbow Dash."
Fluttershy walked over to the door and opened it. "Hello, Twilight, please come in. You too, Rainbow Dash. We're having breakfast." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at Twilight, recalling all the fiascoes that had happened at breakfast. Fluttershy continued, "We're having a great time. Angel Bunny actually ate the second thing I made this time. Isn't that wonderful?"
Twilight and Rainbow Dash gave each other knowing looks, and Rainbow Dash sarcastically said, "Yeah, that's great. So nice to know that Angel Bunny's getting more agreeable. It seems like only yesterday you had to make him eight different dishes before he'd eat one. Oh wait, it was yesterday."
Fluttershy sadly said, "If he has high standards, that's his choice. He was being quite reasonable by asking for something specific. It's my fault for not being good enough to please him. Remember, last year I made fourteen before I figured out what he wanted." At this, Rainbow Dash and Twilight tried and failed to hide their chuckles. Fluttershy smiled shyly, and said, "Discord is doing the special effects for the party tonight. He showed me some of the tricks. One of them is turning the sky different colors based on the tone. More red for lower tone, more blue for higher, darker for quieter, and brighter for louder. It will be wonderful with the music Vin̈yl Scratch is doing."
Rainbow Dash grinned from ear to ear thinking about the epic music Vin̈yl would play. She knew the DJ was really into dubtrot, but she also liked house and electro. The party would be awesome, and would finally be a break from all the "royal" stuff and whole "princess" deal. It would be the most ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY AWESOME party in the world!
Spike was cleaning. He did that a lot. Today, what he was doing was re-organizing the library. Twilight had decided that the books should be organized by genre first, then within genre by author, then by the date written. This was very tiring, as he wasn't sure if Lost Secrets of the Earth Pony went in History, Pony Information, or Magical Powers. And some of the books -like Star Swirl's Greatest Exploits- had multiple authors. It reminded him of Twilight's research paper bibliography. He still wasn't sure if she was supposed to use Equestrian Psychological Association (EPA) style, or the Magical Language Association (MLA). Once Spike had finally sorted the books by genre, he collapsed into bed. He'd do the rest in an hour or so, after a short nap.
He had just laid down to sleep when he felt the familiar rumble in his stomach. He exhaled, burping out a letter from Princess Luna. This was very strange, as much more often Princess Celestia sent the letters. He glanced furtively around. "I'm sure it wouldn't be bad just to look at it," he muttered, glancing at the door. He opened it.
Dear Twilight,
It is my great pleasure to finally give thee a very important task. A visiting diplomat from a neighboring country will be arriving shortly. Please give her every accommodation, as our nations have not had particularly friendly relations in the past. In fact, we have stood on the precipice of war for over a thousand years. I do not expect thou to like her, especially considering her species, but please contain thy disdain. My sister does not know of this diplomat, and would oppose these peace talks, but they are very important to both our nations, so I have moved outside her jurisdiction. Remember, I and my sister co-rule Equestria, and I have mostly stayed out of politics. Thus, I now have a mission of the utmost importance. Fear not my sister's anger, for I will take all blame. Thy intelligence and benevolence will be very powerful in the world of diplomacy. Thy princess thanks thee for thy aid.
Sincerely,
Princess Luna
Author's Note
I hope someone is reading this. It's still short because this is still the exposition. Once we get to the action, I'll write more, because this is much harder. If you downvote, please leave a comment why so I can improve this story. Please point out any bad grammar I did or spelling errors I made.