The pre dawn air over Twin Island was thick with acrid black smoke, the Zebra watched the Minotaur lines with their weapons at the ready. All was calm and quiet, and behind their lines the Zebra prepared their artillery to fire the first shots of a war that had been building up for over a decade. The minotaur seemed less confident in their victory than the day before, perhaps it was the rationed food or the loss of medical supplies that had disheartened them.

Of the coast, Equestrian ships sat and watched. Their crew’s were as silent as the island, watching and waiting for the first shots. These crucial moments would be the ones recorded in history books, the first major conflict in the world since the Griffon revolution thirty years past. The stallions on the ships had front row seats to something incredible, and more than enough were writing in their journal as they waited.

Back on the island, the Zebra’s ballistas and catapults are primed and ready for the first strike. As the sun crested the horizon a Zebra artillery officer raised his hoof into the air, the weapons crews readied themselves for action. When the sun rose a tad higher, he dropped his hoof down. Moments later, the first ballista was fired. A chain reaction of artillery fire started down the line, and soon the Minotaur line was being hammered mercilessly.

Rocks and flaming projectiles rained down on the enemy positions with frightening accuracy, some impacted the trenches while others kicked up sand and dirt. The minotaurs had no choice but to hunker down, some of them screaming in fear or pain. The flaming liquids in the balls of fire spread through the trenches, burning some or forcing soldiers to flee for their lives. The zebra watched in awe of the destruction, not expecting the amount of damage that was being inflicted.

Even on the ships, the Equestrian observers were stunned silent. Clouds of dust and smoke rose high and blotted out the rising morning sun, some screams could even be heard out at sea. What most of the journal keepers would note that day, however, was the thunderous booms and the horrifying bursts of flame. For ten minutes the bombardment continued, and all that could be done was wait and watch. Then, it came to a sudden stop. The silence that reigned afterwards was short lived, broken by screaming for doctors.

“DRAW YOUR WEAPONS!” Shouted one of the Zebra officers, the soldiers did as ordered and looked over the edge of the trench. The Minotaurs were too busy dealing with their casualties to see or even hear the order. “PREPARE TO CHARGE!”

“AHOOH!” Shouted the soldiers, preparing to pull themselves out of the trenches. They kept their eyes on the enemy, who were frantically trying to get wounded out of flame filled trenches. Some would later comment that it looked as if the very depths of tartarus had opened up.

“CHARGE!” Shouted the officer, and with a mighty roar the Zebra’s surged forwards. Angry war cries bellowed from their throats, their swords and spears lowered and hungering for blood. The minotaurs looked up as they heard the thundering of hooves against the sandy soil. They began to reach for their weapons, fear etched on their features, only for the tide of weaponry to slam into them.

The fighting became savage, zebras and minotaurs hammering away at each other in duels to the death. One zebra would stab a minotaur in the gut, only to be felled by a battle axe, or some other manner of weaponry. For ten minutes the trench was a battlezone, but soon after, it was only a grave. The zebra’s push continued on, a relentless attack that had come too fast for the minotaur to respond to.

By the time the minotaur could muster a defense, they had already been pushed back towards the shore. Their morale had been shaken by the previous night’s supply loss, and nearly decimated by the artillery barrage. Within the course of an hour, they were finding themselves pushed into the sea. They had prepared for a war for nearly a decade, but they had not faced it. Even their most battle hardened veterans had never seen bloodshed on such a scale.

As the minotaur navy came to evacuate what forces they could, the Equestrians were struck silent. Even the journal keepers stopped their writing, they had a perfect view of the trenches. On the Zebra side, almost everything was pristine. The minotaur side, however, was something that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. Even from their position on the sea, they could make out the twisted and mangled corpses of minotaur and zebra alike.

One captain that watched through his spy glass lowered it, his hooves shaking. He had seen burning bodies, and even some wounded attempting to crawl to safety. A photographer used his telephoto lense to zoom in on the scene, with it he would capture one of the most iconic pictures that would come from the battle. A zebra dragging a minotaur with burns out of the flaming trenches.

The observers began filling out reports, some more descriptive than others. All of them described one thing consistently.

[♦]

“...because of an overwhelming assault and artillery barrage, combined with the sabotage of two key supply facilities, minotaur forces suffered an unprecedented total defeat at the Battle of Twin Island.” Celestia read aloud as she sat upon her throne, she blinked a few times at the report that had been transmitted by magic signal.

The signal was reserved only for news of grave importance, and this was a fitting example of it being used well. What was unfitting, however, was that Celestia had read the report aloud out of sheer shock. Not only had her guards heard it, but so to had a group of petitioning nobles. They gaped at her with looks of concern. “Seal the room.” The guards nodded and closed the doors, her mind raced as she processed what she’d just read. Two supply depots that had been potential targets, somehow sabotaged, and without her knowledge.

“Princess?” Asked one of the petitioners. “What does this mean?”

“It means I need to have a talk with someone.” Celestia said, annoyance creeping into her voice. “Guards, see to it they’re shown to temporary quarters.” The guards nodded as Celestia stood to her hooves and her horn glowed. She closed her eyes for a moment and gave a surge of energy, there was a flash of light and she popped from her throne room to a seemingly random hallway. In actuality it was the hallway that lead to Luna’s bedroom, and she quickly took to trotting towards the doors at the end of the hall.

Her mind was aflame with questions and anger, she had been very clear about not interfering with the Twin Island situation and yet it seemed Luna had gone ahead with the operation anyway. She was so astonished at the prospect of someone going over her head that she was unsure of whether to be completely or slightly impressed. That was until she remembered that because of it, the Minotaurs had died like cows in a slaughterhouse. The thestral guard’s outside Luna’s room tensed up as they saw Celestia approaching, then crossed their spears over the door.

“Allow me passage.” She said sternly.

“We’re under direct orders not to allow anyone in.” The guards replied in unison, Celestia let out a sigh.

“Well, I’m telling you to allow me in.” She said, as if disciplining her own Solar guards. The thestrals stood their ground. “Move, I’ve ordered you.”

“Are you implying you have more authority than Princess Luna?” Asked one of them.

“I think she is.” Said the other, Celestia let out a frustrated snort and attempted to push past them. Surprisingly, they shoved her back. “I apologize, your highness. But unless you’re saying you’re superior to our commander in chief, I can’t let you through. And if that IS the case, I have a duty to report your misconduct to the media.”

“You wouldn’t.” Celestia said, the guard glared at her.

“Try me.” The guard and Celestia stared at each other intensely for what seemed like an eternity. Neither of them blinked, and the guard’s partner began to fidget a bit. Finally, Celestia couldn’t take the dry feeling and blinked. She sighed and turned away, as she trotted away she could barely make out the sound of the two guards bumping hooves. Celestia had more to worry about than a loss of authority over guards, however, she needed someone with insight into Luna’s head. She needed someone who could tell her what may have been running through her sister’s mind. She needed…

“Son of a bitch…” She said to herself, glad there was no one around to hear her swear.

[♦]

Dominic glowered at the map he’d drawn of possible new settlements, racking his brain for any historical knowledge on how to start a new country. He knew he’d need trade, so that reduced his choices to ghost towns with access to railway, roads, or the sea. That lowered the number from twenty to fifteen. He crossed out a few more locations on the map, then sighed and rubbed his temples. He regretted having the scotch earlier, but in truth he hadn’t planned on picking a new home immediately afterwards. It was at that moment that he heard the door open.

“Mister President, Princess Celestia here to see you.” Sonar’s voice called.

“Tell her I’m busy.” He replied, he sighed as he heard hooves push past Sonar and looked up from his work. Sure enough Princess Celestia had stormed past the poor, specticalled Sonar without much care. “Oh, I can tell you myself. I’m busy.” Celestia stared at him, surprised firstly that he was wearing a suit but also that he seemed to be drawing up invasion plans. His eyes shifted to Sonar. “Sonar, could you-”

“I’ll have the infirmary send up a bottle of aspirin right away, sir.” Sonar cut him off.

“Thank you, Sonar.” The thestral rushed off leaving Dominic and Celestia to stare at eachother in tense silence. The man set his pen down and leaned back in his chair, interlocking his fingers and nodding towards the white alicorn. “So… I take it barging into my office isn’t a social call… Mainly because I hate you.”

“It’s about Luna.” Celestia said, she was surprised to see Dominic’s face remain unfazed. Not even a hint of concern crossed his stoic mask. “She’s locked herself in her room and I need to talk to her about something.” Dominic sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Way to go, Dom…” He said to himself, just loud enough for Celestia to hear.

“What did you say to her?” She asked, the man gave her a glare.

“None of your goddamn business.” He hissed, the man cleared away the map on his desk and pulled his chair in closer. “What’s so important you come see me about Luna?” Celestia quietly used her magic to teleport the report into the room, she straightened out the documents before placing them daintily on his desk. Dominic picked it up and blinked, he was impressed by the Zebra’s somewhat. They had pulled a textbook blitzkrieg. What also struck him was the statement about the two supply depots that had been leveled before the actual assault. He let out a small hum as they were described as ‘acts of unknown saboteurs’.

“I told her specifically not to do anything with these depots, then suddenly they end up wiped out in exactly the way that had been planned.” Celestia said, annoyance in her tone. “This is very bad, if they find out about Equestrian involvement we’ll be in extreme trouble.”

“I don’t see how you could have been involved.” Dominic said flatly, sliding the paper back across his desk. “Considering you pussyfoot around every important issue that pop’s up, I doubt the global community would believe for a second Equestria was involved.” The door to the room opened and Sonar raushed in with a bottle of aspirin. “Sonar…” Dominic trailed off, waiting for his sentence to be finished.

“Yes, sir?” He looked at her surprised, before shrugging it off.

“Could you bring-”

“A steak, cooked to medium with potatoes and garlic butter?” Sonar finished for him, Dominic opened again. “I’ll be sure they send extra potatoes.” The man throw his arms up in the air whilst Celestia gawked at the spectacled Thestral.

“Thank you, Sonar.” Dominic said, the mare turned to leave only for Celestia to speak up.

“Don’t get him anything until he’s given me answers.” She ordered, the thestral turned and looked at her, then Dominic. The man leaned back in his seat and watched the two for a moment, unsure of what exactly would happen.

“Uh, I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t really do that.” Sonar said, Celestia blinked.

“Why not!? You could be courtmartialed for disobeying an order from me!” The solar princess bellowed, she would not have her authority challenged twice in one day. Sonar blinked for a moment, then let out an ‘Oh!’.

“Uh, ya see, Princess Celestia… You’re not my leader anymore.” She sounded shaky at first, but confident as she continued. Dominic sat up in his chair and watched the scene unfold, he couldn’t help but feel a little pride for his aid. Celestia was floored by the declaration, and Dominic could see the vein’s begin to bulge on her neck. “He is.” Sonar pointed a hoof at Dominic, Celestia blinked and looked at him. The man gave a small smile, a feeling of schadenfreude welling up inside him. “Mister President, may I go now?”

“Of course, Sonar. Get yourself something to eat while you’re at it, put it on my bill.” Dominic watched the mare nod and leave, closing the door behind her. Celestia blinked and slowly turned her head to face the man behind the sturdy mahogany desk. Her eye twitched, her authority had been usurped and now all she could see was red. The thought of her ponies being more loyal to Dominic than her hit her like a kick to the balls. Her horn began to glow, causing Dominic to grab his revolver and scowl.

“What did you do!?” Celestia demanded. “First I can’t get in to talk to my sister, now my soldiers follow your orders over mine!?” She stormed over to the man and glared at him with all the anger she could muster, but he just glared back. While hers was emotional and passionate, his was dead calm and hate filled. The click of a revolver drew Celestia’s attention.

“Very slowly lower the weapon.” Dominic said in a calm tone, his eyes flicked over to his knife turned letter opener that was floating in the mare’s magical field. She hadn’t even realized that she’d grabbed it, and that frightened her more than the prospect of a new hole in her head. Celestia’s magic died out and Dominic quickly grabbed the blade’s handle, then stuffed it into his desk drawer. With a small sigh he closed the drawer and lowered the hammer on his revolver. “Two times… That’s two times you’ve tried to kill me.”

“Dominic, I didn’t even realize…” Celestia began, her anger replaced by fear in herself. “I’m sorry… It’s just, with the zebra’s and minotaur at war, Luna looking herself in her room… Now for some reason my sister’s guards won’t listen to me…”

“Who? Sonar?” Asked Dominic, Celestia shrugged.

“No, the ones stationed outside her door. And Sonar, I guess…” She sat down while Dominic looked her over.

“Sonar is my aid, she doesn’t take orders from Equestria any more.” The man said flatly, the solar princess looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Her and a little over twenty more swore an oath of loyalty to the United States.” Celestia started laughing, Dominic just glared at her and waited for her to stop.

“You mean that twenty of my little ponies would rather be a part of your dead nation than in Equestria?” Celestia noticed that Dominic wasn't laughing, a sudden realization hit her. “By my mother, you’re serious…”

“As a heart attack.” Dominic said in an even tone. “It was Luna’s idea, we had a bit of a disagreement about it. Now, why she’s hold up in her room is beyond me.” The man looked back at his desk and adjusted his tie while Celestia blinked a few times. She then noticed a paper sitting on the mahogany and quickly snatched it up in her magic, Dominic didn’t even attempt to stop her.

Celestia read over the report, her eyes widening as they flicked over the page. They went from the paper to Dominic, then back to the paper. Her magic began to heat the paper, smoke started to rise and the paper began shifting from white to a slightly creamy color while the corners began to char black. The words ‘Mission Accomplished’ rattled around in her head until finally she could stand them no more and the page burst into billowing flames. Dominic silently watched her stew, almost as if he enjoyed seeing her so upset.

“You AND Luna did this?!” Celestia bellowed, Dominic nodded. “You… You… You realize how many minotaurs died because of this?”

“No, but I don’t really care either.” Was the response that echoed through Celestia’s mind. “Now, I assume all of your questions are answered?” Celestia could only open and close her mouth as she attempted to think of something to say. She’d known Dominic to be cold, he came from a cold place, but he didn’t seem to care that he’d lead to the decimation of Minotaur forces. The door to the office opened as Sonar entered with a plate guarded by a metal cover. She set it on Dominic’s desk and stopped to stare at the wordless Celestia.

“Sonar, would you show-”

“I’ll show the princess out, sir.” The thestral took Celestia’s hoof and pulled the stunned Alicorn out of the office. She walked on auto pilot as her brain tried to wrap her head around how one could be so callous with life. Dominic opened his mouth to speak again. “I’ll check on Princess Luna myself.”

“Thank you, Sonar.” Dominic reclined in his seat as the door closed. The man looked down at his desk and picked up the map, noting the locations that he’d marked. Some of them were in the badlands, away from sources of water. Others were located in the far north near the Griffin border, he could see why they’d been abandoned. Numerous times Luna had told him of how criminals would raid the towns, despite efforts by both governments to stop them. The final four were located on the the eastern and western coasts. From what he could tell they lacked any farmland, which he assumed would be necessary for a growing population.

It was a true puzzle, deciding which would be not only the new capital of the United States, but the home of all of its citizens. With another grunt he began mulling them over in his mind, he turned his seat towards the window and steepled his fingers in thought. More and more, however, his thoughts turned towards Luna. The indigo mare of the night that had helped him through so much. He let out a sigh and lowered his head.

“God damn it, Luna... “ He muttered. “Why can’t I get you out of my head?” Unbeknownst to him, a certain thestral was pressing her ear up against a slightly cracked door.

[♦]

Sonar slowly approached the door to Princess Luna’s chambers, the spectacled thestral was nervously adjusting her uniform and making sure that her mane was properly combed. The two guards outside the door noticed her almost immediately and crossed their spears over her path.

“Sorry, we can’t let you in.” One of them said, Sonar nodded.

“I know, but could you atleast ask her if she’s okay? The President was concerned.” She looked at the two of them with big, adorable eyes. One of them sighed and turned to the door, then pulled it open.

“We specifically said NOT to be disturbed!” A voice boomed from within, the guard rubbed his ears before poking his head through the door.

“Your highness, it’s a messenger from the President. Miss Sonar. She wished to check on you.” The guard stood there, waiting for a response. Sonar couldn’t see in the room, but she could hear something moving around.

“Send her in.” Luna’s voice echoed, the guard pulled his head back and shrugged at his comrade. He pushed the door open and gestured for Sonar to step inside, the thestral mare nervously did so. Her hooves clopped softly against the marble floor until the guard pulled the door shut behind her. She blinked her eyes, they quickly adapted to the darkened aspect of the room. She could see that the shades had been shut and that the lunar princess was laying on her bed with her head down.

“Princess Luna…?” Sonar asked, uncertain of what else to say. “Uh… President Occisor sent me to check on you, he, uh, he seemed really concerned…” Luna looked at the mare with a mildly sad expression, causing Sonar to fidget with her glasses.

“Fair Sonar, thou need not fear reprisal from us.” Luna said, her voice sounded horse. “We art thankful thou hast come to ensure we are well, but thou doth not need lie. We understand Dominic is far from happy with us.” Sonar slowly approached the bed and sat on the floor, her head tilting towards the ground.

“Well, I’m not lying. Ah gee, I’ve lied once or twice in my life, but I’m not a liar… I mean, the President really did send me to check on you.” Sonar nervously scuffed at the floor with her hoof. “So… How are you?”

“We are not well…” Luna replied with a sigh. “We fear we hath ruined our chances with Dominic, he most likely will shun us now.” Sonar looked at the princess with a raised eyebrow.

“Chances?” She asked, Luna nodded. “For what?”

“Do not lose your naive outlook, Sonar.” Luna said with a grim chuckle. “We wish to court him, we would have figured thou wouldst have noticed. Thou art ever observant…” Sonar’s eyes widened and she leaned back.

“Wow… Court? As in…?” She asked in a stunned tone, Luna nodded. The poor thestral nearly fell over, her eyes bugging behind her glasses. “Wow! Why are you telling me!?”

“Tis not as if it matters, he shall shun us as he shuns our sister.” Luna let out a pitiful sounding groan. “At least now we may share our feelings openly…”

“Princess Luna, uh… I don’t think he’s really that mad at you.” Sonar confessed, looking around. Luna looked at the mare with a hopeful expression. “Don’t ask how I heard, but apparently he can’t stop thinking about you…”

“Truthfully?” She asked, Sonar nodded. “Huzzah! There is hope after all!” The thestral found herself grabbed into a powerful hug, she flailed around as Luna squeezed her into her barrel. “Oh, we may find happiness yet! Thank thee, fair Sonar! If we may do anything to assist you, do not hesitate to ask!” Sonar continued to flail helplessly. “Sonar?” Luna looked down and realized that she was smothering the poor mare. She let go of her, letting Sonar fall to her hooves. Her glasses were askew and her mane was mussed up, but otherwise she was fine. “Refrain from speaking to Dominic about what we hath said.”

“Oh, sure! You can count on me, Princess Luna!” She gave a small smile as she watched the princess of the night get off of her bed and gallop out the door. That smile quickly turned to an expression of confusion. She suddenly felt compelled to go to the infirmary again and retrieve another bottle of aspirin, as well as copies of a report regarding a few ghost towns. In triplicate. With this odd feeling, she made her way out of the room and down the hallway to the infirmary.

Author's Notes:

Another one, this was surprisingly easy to write... I think something might be wrong.

You know the drill. Like, comment, and favorite if you like it.