When Nexus entered his room, he had the vague hope that his light brown friend would be waiting for him so he could apologize in person. But he was only met with the electronic voice of A.L.I.S.

"Welcome home Commander. You appear to be missing a wing. Would you like for me to replace it?"

"Let me get out of my armor first. Change out to formal military and assemble the back up."

"Very well Commander. You have twenty letters and one message. Princess Celestia has ordered you to-"

"Remain here until further notice. I know." He said slipping out of the body armor as A.L.I.S. went to work putting on Nexus' formal set of legs and wings. The chrome was engraved with the symbols and had the pieces of formal armor fused into the metal for a decorative touch. The wings were armored as well. They were too heavy to be maneuverable in combat but were well suited to be a compliment to his armor. A.L.I.S. finishes attaching his legs and his wings with her mechanized arms. Nexus sighed and threw his armor back on. He hadn't realized he hadn't taken the sword off when he threw the body armor back on. It was like it had always been there. He didn't quite like that feeling anymore. He took the sword from his armor and throws it onto the couch as he makes his way up to his bedroom. When he reached the top, he was further depressed from his current situation.

The vanity mirror he had put in for Dust was now empty of everything she had. All of the makeup she had brought from her room and her perfumes, that Nexus loved so much, were gone. He opened the drawers and found the jewelry that he had bought for her there. The rest she took with her. He spied one in particular, something he'd never think he'd see in that drawer. A small golden locket rest in the center of it all with a circular piece of tin on the same chain sat in the middle. She often kept it hidden in her maid uniform and rarely wore it out in the open. Mostly out of Nexus not liking to be a part of the spot light. He levitated the locket out of the drawer and read the piece of metal.

Cpt. Nexus, Lunarus S.

Unicorn

M.I.D. 452-46-428

D.O.B. June, 24 1039

E.Q.E.G.

The dog tag reflected the light coming through the skylight. He pulled the chest plate out enough to slip the locket into the inside pocket. He didn't have to open the locket, he knew well what was inside it. After seeing the vanity empty, he ignored the closet. He knew all that would be there was his dress uniform. He walked back down the stairs and took a seat next to the sword on the couch. He sat there for only three hours before a knock came at his door.

A.L.I.S. opened the door and let Firebrand in without a single word. "They're ready for you." he told him.

"That was fast." Nexus replied.

"Divide and concur. Luna got Cadence and Celestia got Twilight. Come on."

Nexus nodded and strapped the sword to his back. He may not have liked it, but this was his final appearance with the Princess. He wasn't going to be remembered as another soldier. He was determined to be remembered as a warrior of Equestria. He tightened the straps on his body armor and made sure his element was out and proud. Firebrand moved aside and began to lead Nexus down the stairs and halls.

As much as he tried to not lead on, he felt an immense feeling of dread. He knew what was coming. How dare you go against Equestria? What made you think you would escape punishment? The usual jazz given to traitors. As much as he wanted to defend himself, he went against orders and that is at least worthy of a court marshal. He'd be lucky if he was banished from Equestria. Nexus braced himself for the walk down the stairs, that is until Brand brought him to an elevator.

"When was this here?" Nexus asked.

"It was being built just after we left." Firebrand replied hitting the button.

"Well then… Why didn't we take it up here?"

"It was down for maintenance when we got here. But it's working now. Trust me, if I could, I would've taken this darn thing."

Nexus sighed annoyed. "Sad this wasn't here sooner."

The elevator dinged and the sliding doors opened. The two stepped in and brand hit the button for the first floor. The ride down was silent. The only noise came from the elevator itself as it slid down the shaft. When it came to a stop, there was half a platoon of Royal Guards waiting in a phalanx formation around the entrance.

"I'm starting to get the feeling she doesn't trust me." Nexus said trying to sound as much like his old self.

Brand shrugged and lead him out of the elevator into the waiting army. They put their heels together and started forward at the same pace as them. They made a right up the main staircase and followed the hallway to the end. Nexus had never been in that room of the castle. He knew what it was, the royal council room. The guards opened the doors and Firebrand let him go through. The guards took seats in the back. The surviving Evening Guard troops sat in the front rows along with his friends. They looked as serious as he was as Brand lead him to the front podium. Celestia sat at the front of the room making the whole thing look like a court room instead of a council room. Luna and Cadence sat at her left and Twilight on her right.

"I should clarify that this is a trial Captain. Once we have concluded, you will be stripped of your rank all associated with it. Is that clear?"

"Yes your highness." He said respectfully.

"You may now give your statement."

Nexus began just after leaving the Griffon Kingdom. The intelligence he received confirming what he thought and went from there. He didn't leave out a detail that he could remember. When he finished, he brought out the Amulet for evidence. When he finished, he took off his element and placed it on the podium.

"And I guess you'll want this as well?" he asked.

"Sister," Luna began. "he has earned that. At least-"

"No Luna. Though what he has done is commendable, it does not excuse his betrayal and the destruction of one of our fastest war ships."

"But-"

"No buts Luna. In light of the resent conflicts, I hereby disband the Evening Guard and sentence all members involved to incarceration and a dishonorable discharge." The whole room started into an uproar. "Order! Order! As for you Former Captain-"

"Your highness, with all due respect, I have a single request before my punishment is administered."

"That depends on what that request is." Cadence said curious.

"I wish to take the punishment of my soldiers along with my own."

The room got much louder this time. Both factions shouted in outrage. The Royal Guard were outraged that they were getting off scot free and the small portion of the Evening Guard were shouting in approval.

"Order! Order! I will not have another outburst from any of you!" Celestia demanded.

"You do realize what you're requesting being brought down on you?" Twilight asked.

Nexus sighed through his nostrils. "I do Princess."

"And you know what your punishment was to be?" Celestia added on.

"I had an idea, yes."

"You were to be exiled to the Griffon Kingdom."

"So then how do you wish to carry this out."

"I have a solution, Lunarus Solaris Nexus, I hereby sentence you-"

Firebrand nodded to Ephialtes. Ephialtes nodded back and took a deep breath.

"Princesses!" Ephialtes shouted standing up. "With all due respect, as his second in command, I refuse to be have Nexus take my punishment."

"Sit down Lieutenant." Celestia demanded.

"As the next in the chain of command," Hestaria said standing up as well. "I refuse to allow Nexus to take my punishment."

After Hestaria stood up, White Knight followed with the same request. And one by one, all of his soldiers stood up to oppose Celestia's ruling, telling her they would not let Nexus take their punishment. It started with Ephialtes through Silver Bit then went from Orion on up.

"Enough of this! All of you sit down or face the same punishment as your leader." Celestia demanded.

"Listen to her!" Nexus ordered.

"No!" Luna shouted in resentment.

"Luna this is no place for you to intervene. Nexus, fix this."

"No, Lunarus. You were right all along." she turned her attention back to Celestia and Twilight. "I am tired of you giving more say to your apprentice then to your own sister!"

"Luna!" Nexus shouted over the uproar that was starting. "At ease!" He said trying to keep his attention divided.

"This is an issue that does not require your input Luna, now be seated!" Celestia said.

"Princess Luna, please stop." Twilight pleaded.

"No! I am tired of not having a say in anything that happens around here. You have kept me out of Equestria's politics for the last time!"

"Luna, stop!" Nexus demanded before going back to the crowd that was starting to grow restless. "As you were! Don't you hear me?!"

"Soldiers, if you stand for the night, then rise up and-"

"ENOUGH!" Nexus shouted in his Canterlot emulation.

The whole room went silent in an instant. All attention was on Nexus as he moved to the middle of the room. "SOLDIERS, TEN-HUT!" Everypony but Firebrand stood at attention. "NOW TAKE A SEAT AND SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR I'LL PERSONALLY KICK YOUR ASSES TO THE MOON AND BACK!" They all take a seat and Nexus turns back to the Princesses.

"Thank you Former Captain. Now-"

"Shut it Sun-Butt! It's my turn to talk." Nexus interrupted.

"Yes Lunarus! Tell-"

"Quite Luna! I'll get to you in a minute!" Nexus shouted at her. Luna's eyes went wide hearing Nexus talk to her like that. "Listen to all of you! Listen to you two! Fighting over power like it's a toy! Is this what you two want? Another war for power?"

"You-"

"I know what I said Luna. I didn't mean threaten your sister with another civil war! Celestia, I know you're trying to protect your sister. I know politics is what caused the last war, but another won't solve it!" He said looking back to Luna.

"Nexus, I am insulted that you assume that was what started the Twilight War." Celestia contested.

"Isn't it? Luna crowned a Prince without your permission and then tried getting more say in governing the nation after your mother's sacrifice. What you don't understand is that you aren't fit to rule."

"What are you-"

"I'm saying you need somepony to balance you out. You're great with politics, but you only seem to work as much as you can to foreign relations. Are you that afraid of Luna rising up again? I know you're only trying to prevent Luna from losing herself in the power. You don't just see me as a threat, you see her as one with the power she has."

"I-"

"You don't want to see her banished again, and you don't want to die; I get it. But that doesn't justify keeping her out of politics."

"That may be true, but-" Celestia said starting to reach her boiling point.

"But what?"

"I just want don't want to lose my sister again!"

The room was now still. Celestia was blushing hard. "Now we're getting somewhere. You're afraid she's holding a grudge and wants revenge right? That's why she made the Guard in the first place right?"

"I…I…"

"Fear is natural. But keeping her out of politics is just making another wedge between you two. This isn't how Equestria is supposed to be run. And Luna, what is wrong with you? I know you want to be equals as much as I do, but what made you think I was talking about war?!"

"I…I assumed you meant it was the only way to show I was right." Luna said.

"War doesn't show who's right Luna. It only show's who's left. If anypony is to keep from killing the other, we need a new system."

"What do you recommend?"

Nexus thought for a moment. He hadn't thought about this. Everything he'd just said sounded good but none of it was thought of before. Didn't make it any less true, but he'd been making this up as he went along. He searched all of his mental reserves, everything he'd ever read. There was something from a very old civilization from millions of years ago. If he'd remembered it correctly, it was called Americana. They had some kind of government that checked up on its own branches. They had something called a congress and a senate. He didn't know what a congress, but there were old cultures in the world that ran on a senate based government. In basic terms the senate ran by people elected by the people of the country to represent them in government. Now if the Princess' had that…

"A Senate. Nothing as large as say, the Griffon Kingdom, but simply one Senator for each Princess. Each one keeping the the other Princess on the same level of power. And no action can be made unless voted upon by the Senators. Princess Cadence would have General Armor, Princess Celestia would have Captain Firebrand. Princess Sparkle and Luna would have to choose theirs."

"What if there is a tie?" Cadence asked. "There are four of us."

"A tie breaking vote would be made by Discord. And all four would keep their eyes on him."

"Why Discord?"

"He has the ability to be anywhere. His job is to take the votes of the people on the subject that is being discussed."

"Well. This is a new idea for Equestria. Would it work though?"

"There's only one way to make this work. Have it installed for two years. Every two years, the people will vote to keep it in power. Simple."

"Well. What you are proposing is radically different from what we have now."

"It's an idea. It can be refined if need be but only so long as it's still a part of our government. But any change must be approved by a two thirds vote. Like I said, Discord will break the tie after the people have voted."

Celestia looked to Luna. "What do you think."

Nexus grinned lightly hearing Celestia ask her sister for once. Luna smiled too. "I trust Lunarus' judgment. The plan is sound."

"Princess Twilight, Cadence?" Nexus asked.

The two nodded in approval and Celestia's grim frown lightened lightly. "It seems it is unanimous." She said standing up. "As of this moment forward, Equestria is under the leadership of not one monarch, but all four Princesses' and their advisors. The Equestrian Oligarchy."

The room went mad once again, this time with cheers. Celestia raised her hoof and looked to Nexus. "As for you Commander," Nexus noted her calling him by his former title. "Seeing as you have found the new Elements of Freedom and they are a military force, I believe a ceremony is in order."

Hestaria hugged Ephi and Silver kissed Orion out of absolute joy as the room raged with cheers once again. Nexus might have been fighting it, but he smiled.