While the legions of centaurs – which, to Starlight's surprise, weren't much bigger than the average stallion – were marching westward beside Starlight while wielding stone kite shields and warhammers, the marks of those few who stayed in Athon left vivid trails of green across the bright blue sky as the spell she cast on the city sent them flying to the faraway Cutie Mark Vault like shooting stars. Starlight looked up at the flying marks with a content smile.

“So, alicornhood, huh?” she asked the Wanderer standing next to her, still looking upwards. “That's not exactly something everyone has the privilege of getting. You know what this means, don't you?”

“Great power, great prestige, eternal life...”

“And eternal youth.” She looked to him. “I was honestly becoming afraid that I'd die without making any discernible mark in the world. And even more afraid that I'd live to get old and wrinkly, with my teeth falling out and my vision getting blurry. But now…” She extended a wing and brought it to her face, so she could look at it with a toothy grin. “… now I can live forever, and be young forever! I'm finally getting what I've always deserved. Such a divine feeling. And you…” She folded her wing back and brought her gaze back to him. “You deserve some credit. I wouldn't even be here if you hadn't come along, and even afterwards, you were such a big help.” She paused. “I get a dress made of silk, a crown made of gold… and soon, an entire empire under my benevolent leadership. I think the Wasteland will be so much happier and better off with the changes I'm going to make. Not like that's saying much, but still.

“My own perfect world of equality. I won't have to make due with those incompetent morons in Our Town anymore.” Immediately, her smile switched to a snarling sneer, and her brows furrowed. “Those idiots never understood what I did for them. I had to distill my philosophy into stupid pea-sized slogans for their stupid pea-sized brains. And if I looked away for one second, they'd have stabbed me in the back for even dumber things, I'm sure of it. Just thinking about it just makes me want to throw every last one of them in a… ugh!” After a moment of fuming with anger, her cheerful expression came back as quick as it went. “I'll have my own palace! I think the one in Byzuntam is worthy of me, but you know, Byzuntam is such an ugly name. What should I rename it?”

“Might I suggest 'Starlightopolis'?” the Wanderer said.

“Ooh, that's good. I deserve to have a capitol city named after me, after all. A grand, glorious capitol city, full of smiling, happy citizens, who all have the same clothes, the same mane styles, the same beliefs, the same speech patterns, the same pictures on their flanks, and who adore me and my equality… or else. And it'll be so much grander than Our Town, too. I'll have my own dedicated secret police force, my own little indoctrination chamber with so much more equipment than that little 'time-out shed' I used to have, my own army – with my dear old friend in charge of it, my own media apparatus… just so many wonderful things to help me spread equality on a massive scale.

“I won't have to hide my cutie mark with spray paint anymore, since now, I can cover it up in beautiful exotic clothing and fancy jewelry. Not that I'm a stranger to fancy clothes, but I've never worn anything this ornate before! And I'm sure I'll find others as understanding as you, who can look past that tiny little detail. I mean, you didn't even care the slightest bit when you found out I'd kept my cutie mark, did you?”

“No. I was not even surprised. Villages like yours are quite common in the Wasteland.”

“And it hasn't been a deterrent in your belief in equality?”

“I would not be so shallow as to let such a negligible discrepancy distract me from the overall merit of the idea. And if you were ever at all abusive to your town's citizens, they probably deserved it.”

“Oh, trust me, they deserved every bit I ever dished out at them and then some. I'm just curious… what was the point where I could convince you, anyway?”

“The point where I realized that the Reich was so depressingly rotten that just about anything else would be better. Little did I know that the alternative actually had some merit, even if it was conceived by a… somewhat eccentric young mare from Equestria.”

She chuckled. “And what do you think of this 'eccentric young mare', anyway?”

“Well.” He paused. “Despite her quirks, she is intelligent, pragmatic, charming, courageous, sharp of wit, and a visionary.” He paused. “Nothing short of miraculous, in my opinion.”

“Aww. That's so sweet. Do you wanna know what I think of you, now?”

“Go ahead.”

“You're the only one I've met who really seems to 'get' me. You don't call me a bad mare just because I do things that the more short-sighted types would call morally questionable. I like you. I just wish you'd tone down the sadism just a bit. It's bad for PR.”

“Is PR really that important?”

“Well, you know, we're taking power away from the Empire by force. I'd prefer it if ponies looked at us as liberators, not conquerors. Nobody's going to sympathize with us if we're as cruel and vindictive as them.”

“And why should we care about their sympathy if we have a monopoly on force?”

She sighed. “Because we want them opening their minds to our philosophy, and we don't want them sharpening their pitchforks. Remember what I told you a while back? About being both loved and feared?”

“I do.”

“Being loved isn't as important as being feared, but at the very least, we don't want them to hate us. Look at your own history, for example. Do you think the Praetorian Guard would've gone out of their way to kill your own Kaisers if they weren't so badly hated?”

“I do not believe so.”

She smirked. “There you go. You can be as cruel to our rivals as you like, and I'll happily join you, but don't let it get in the way of pragmatism, please. We're about equality, not brutality.”

“But how will I keep myself entertained?”

“Well… we'll have parties. We'll have clowns and magicians. We'll have games. We'll have drinks. We'll have holidays. We'll have tasteful art and decoration. And…” She gave his side a playful nudge. “We'll have each other! You're not talking to some gloomy peasant, you know. This mare knows how to have fun. Sure, we'll have a lot of responsibilities, but that doesn't mean we can't live it up once in a while. I'll show you lots of ways to be happy without being a bloodthirsty savage.”

“Hmm… I will give these things a chance.”

“And another thing. I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop thinking of non-Imperials as worthless slave ponies. We're getting rid of slavery, and that means the slaver mentality has to go, too.” She paused. “I don't expect you to do that overnight, of course. That would be silly of me. But at least make the effort to see them as just slightly more than livestock, okay?”

Starlight heard the whistling of the wind as the Wanderer stood quiet for several moments before speaking again. “I will give that a chance too.”

Her smirk grew to a smile beaming with joy, and she rubbed her cheek against the warm plate metal clad on his neck. “Thank you so much. I knew you'd come to your senses eventually.”

He raised a hoof up to the top of her head and ruffled her mane with an earnest rub. “Only for you, Starlight.”

After the Wanderer set his hoof back on the ground, Starlight magically fixed her mane and took a glance back up at the sky. She spotted something in the corner of her eye, buzzing around in the air. She squinted her eyes as she turned to face it and attempt to make out what it was, but as she saw it, it was just a tiny blur of gray and light blue.

The Wanderer followed suit, and after some time of looking, he said, “Hmm… I believe I have seen that one before…” At his horn's glow, that blue and gray blur was surrounded by a golden aura, and was pulled towards them as it kicked and flailed about in the air. Starlight could look at more closely the nearer it got, until it was finally near enough to see in detail. It was a blue pegasus mare, clad in a light plate armor and the open-faced Equestrian helmet with the cheek and nasal guards, and a rainbow plume, to match her tail. By the time she was within speaking distance, she was no longer squirming, but was snarling, with her eyes in a razor-sharp glare. The Wanderer dropped her down on the ground.

After the blue mare bolted up on her hooves, she shouted, “Hey! What was up with that? Wh-… who the hell are you?”

“You are Rainbow Dash, correct?” the Wanderer asked.

“How do you know my name!?”

“I will tell you in due time. Do not be afraid.”

She recoiled at that last word. “What? N-no! I'm not afraid!”

“Of course, child. May I ask how you got that armor?”

“I-it's standard issue.”

“So, you are a soldier then.”

“Mobile Infantry.”

“Interesting. Did you want to be deployed here?”

“Yeah.”

“To… avenge your fallen companion, I take it?”

Her eyes widened as she shuffled her hooves backwards. “W-what? How did you know?”

“You are among friends.”

“We want to avenge her just as much as you do,” Starlight interjected. “As a Princess, she was as near and dear to my heart as she was to yours.”

Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. “Well, you don't look like bad guys, so I guess I can take your word for it. I just find this hard to believe is all.” She gestured to the marching legions to her side. “I mean, there are ranks of living rocks shaped like centaurs, led by two ponies I've never heard of who are alicorns, coming in from the damn mountains… am… am I dreaming? Or… or having a nightmare? You're not gonna hurt me, are you?”

“Trust me, child,” the Wanderer said, “if we wanted to hurt you, then we would have done it already, and you would be in too much pain to be asking questions.” He gestured to Starlight. “This is my close friend and companion, Skylight Shimmer. She is an Equestrian, like you, and wishes to help the good Princess avenge your friend. I command this army on her behalf. Even if there are aspects of our existence that confuse you, you have no reason to doubt our motives.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, if she's an Equestrian, then she should be able to answer a few questions.”

“Ask away.”

“Alright.” She looked to Starlight. “What is Equestria's best-selling book series?”

“Daring Do,” Starlight replied.

“What is Equestria's most famous team of flight acrobats?”

“Wonderbolts.”

“What is Equestria's capitol city?”

“Canterlot.”

“What is the Equestrian holiday that celebrates the country's founding?”

“Hearth's Warming.”

“Hmm…” She looked to the Wanderer. “You wouldn't be an Equestrian too, would you?”

“I am afraid not.”

“Imperial?”

“Correct.”

She scowled and narrowed her eyes. “Imperials killed my friend. I don't know if I can trust one to avenge her.”

His tone getting annoyed, he said, “Is it not enough that I fight on behalf of your cause? Our presence here gives your army an important strategic advantage. I would hope that your army's leadership is not as keen to look a gift slave in the mouth as you are.”

“Yeah, see!? You even use slave-based metaphors, just like the Lou said. Cutting out part of a pony's brain so she can't think for herself, and working her to the bone against her will… it's DISGUSTING! I mean, even Sombra did it with magic and not hacking at their brains with a scalpel!”

“Orbitoclast.”

“WHAT. EVER. How am I supposed to trust you whe-.” A gold aura formed around her body and squeezed her throat so that no air could come in or out. As the Wanderer magically lifted her in the air and choked her, her chest contracted with each desperate and futile gasp for air she made.

After a few quiet seconds, the Wanderer said, “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

Starlight, after watching Rainbow Dash choke for about fifteen more seconds with glazed eyes, said, “Let her go.”

“As you wish,” the Wanderer said. The aura around Rainbow dissipated, and she plummeted down to the ground. With deep and frantic breaths, she squirmed and struggled for air. “You see, child. Just because we work for good does not mean we will accept your insolence.”

After a brief fit of coughing, Rainbow fumbled back up on her hooves. “I guess I'll have to trust you, then. I can only imagine the other choices being even worse. As long as the Kaiser gets his dreams shattered and I get to go home, I don't care what happens to this hellhole.”

“That is the proper attitude,” the Wanderer said. “Now, unless you are somehow not aware of the concept of a chain of command, I believe that you will be able to get a letter in the clutches of whoever is leading your forces.”

“Princess Luna.”

“Is that who it is? I would dearly like to meet her.”

“But I'm no mailmare!” she snapped.

“You are, however, in serious danger of getting your limbs removed from your torso if you do not oblige.”

“What he means,” Starlight interjected, “is that we can't really guarantee the safety of you and your fellow soldier boys if we can't talk things over with Princess Luna. Communication is essential to coordination, after all. We only mean the best for you and your friends.”

Rainbow groaned, shaking her head as she looked to the ground. “Alright. I'll deliver your stupid letter.”

“Excellent,” the Wanderer said. “You will not regret this, I assure you.” His horn glowed, and from the load on Sucker Pop's back, he extracted a pen and paper, and some wax, then levitated it in front of him. “Now, where to write this…” He looked around him for a place to set the paper so he could write on it, but couldn't find anything suitable. He looked to Starlight. “Skylight…”

“Oh, go ahead,” Starlight said, “I don't mind.” She felt him lay the paper on her lower back and press his pen on it as he wrote. There wasn't much in the way of decoration there, so it served as a decent enough place for writing. Just as he was finished, Starlight saw a brown pegasus descending from the sky, then touching down in a dust cloud just a few meters from her. It was Comrade Bright, with leather saddlebags on his back. She watched him look to several directions in wonder, then open his mouth to speak.

“So, story of Gem is true.”

“Well, not exactly,” Starlight replied, “but close enough, I guess.” She felt the paper lift off her back, and she took a glance at Rainbow Dash, who was clutching the letter, which was folded and sealed with wax, in her teeth.

“Who is that?” Bright asked Starlight as he watched Rainbow Dash launch herself back into the air with one strong flap of the wings.

“Oh, her?” Starlight said, “she's just an Equestrian scout. Not too important.”

Bright's locked his gaze on Rainbow as she flew her way southwest. “She's beautiful.”

“You fancy the blue pegasus?” the Wanderer asked Bright.

“You know what? I think I do.” He sighed in wonder. “Those powerful wings, that vibrant flowing mane, those wonderful magenta eyes…” He shook his head violently, then looked back to Starlight. “No. No time for the fantasy. Duty is come first. I come bearing message from Elder.” He lifted the flap of the saddlebag with his muzzle and, with his teeth, pulled out a wax-sealed letter. Starlight lit her horn, levitating the letter out of his mouth and a few inches away from her face. She looked at the seal. It was the head of a rat, snarling and bearing razor-sharp teeth. After peeling off the seal, the unfolded the letter and began to read:

To: Starlight Glimmer

From: Elder Big Rat

The Brotherhood appreciates your service in the fight against the Kaiser's tyranny and oppression of the common pony. Your dedication is admirable, and we hope that our alliance will bolster the just and noble cause. I wish to discuss with your party our plan of action, and I will be meeting with you personally for this matter for the sake of security, but there are some token things you must be aware of before we talk face-to-face.

Firstly, I wish to tell you how the Brotherhood may serve you in our war of liberation. As Comrade Bright has already told you, we have an expansive and intricate network of tunnels spanning the Wasteland. Every military force needs a pair of eyes and a pair of ears to gauge the enemy's plans and positions so that the most effective course of action can be decided upon. We are proud Ruusonians, and our culture has always been one of stealth, espionage, and subterfuge. Even the Imperial Secret Service employs a sizable number of Ruusonians, for this reason and a few more obvious ones. To put it bluntly, you need spies, and you need scouts, and the Brotherhood is ideal for providing both these services. We have multiple bases in the wilderness and in every city in the Wasteland, all of them masterfully blending into their surroundings. Our agents are adept at their craft, including the one who has just given you this message.

We have used Comrade Bright to good effect as a courier and gatherer of intelligence. He has served this purpose well enough, so he needs a new one. I am temporarily transferring him into your employ (as he has been forbidden from reading this letter, I have written this decree onto the bottom of the letter so that you may remove it and present it to him should he ever deny it). As you are now, for all intents and purposes, a political entity, you need a diplomat. Comrade Bright is competent in diplomacy, despite his speech impediment, and I suggest you use him for that purpose. Do not be afraid to put him in dangerous situations. The Brotherhood considers him expendable, and he knew the risks involved in this line of work upon volunteering for it. Should he be lost, we will replace him for you free of charge. There are, however, some requirements on your part.

Firstly, you are to swear a pact of non-aggression against the sovereign Principality of Ruusonia. All allies of the Brotherhood swear this oath. All Brotherhood members have it committed to memory, including Comrade Bright. He is to act as a witness and assist you in reciting the oath. Secondly, we ask that you do not abuse the privilege of using our organization as a spy apparatus, either through malevolence or through incompetence. We are free to refuse to work for you further when we no longer feel it is in sovereign Ruusonia's best interest. And lastly, I would ask that you keep Ruusonian casualties to a minimum in battle against the Empire. We do not care about protecting Imperial or Byzuntonian lives, as the Imperial mind is warped beyond repair and the Byzuntonian is the Imperial's servile sycophant, but you are not to kill any more of ours than necessary.

This letter is for your eyes only. You may not reveal its contents to anyone else, no matter how much you trust them personally. You are allowed to reveal the conditions of our service to you, within reason. Please understand how important security is to the cause. Comrade Bright has been instructed not to speak to you until you destroy this letter. Do it. Now.

-

I, Big Rat, Elder of the Brotherhood of the Sun, decree that Comrade Shining Bright be transferred to the employ of the Equestrian, Starlight Glimmer, and will remain in her employ until further notice.

The letter was creased in the space above the decree, which included a stamp of black ink in a space on the bottom, bearing the same image as the letter's seal. With her magic, she tore the decree off the rest of the letter, and after lifting the letter up to the sky, she burned it to atoms with a vast beam that shook the earth. She looked to Comrade Bright with a smug smirk.

“Well, looks like you're mine to boss around now.”

“Yes,” replied Bright, “I am knowing. But you must swear oath first.” He looked to the Wanderer. “Will you be standing next to Starlight, please?”

“Of course,” he replied. He took deliberate steps to a spot directly next to Starlight.

“Yes, now, repeat after me, in unison.” He cleared his throat. “I hereby declare myself an ally of the sovereign state of Ruusonia.”

“I hereby declare myself an ally of the sovereign state of Ruusonia,” they echoed.

“I swear to respect Ruusonia's borders...”

“I swear to respect Ruusonia's borders...”

“Her inhabitants…”

“Her inhabitants…”

“Her language…”

“Her language…”

“Her culture…”

“Her culture…”

“And her right to self-determination.”

“And her right to self-determination.”

“And lastly, I swear to hold myself accountable for any violation of this oath.”

“And lastly, I swear to hold myself accountable for any violation of this oath.”

Comrade Bright nodded, then looked to Starlight. “Well, that is oath. Not terrible grand thing, but still good. I am supposing you are having order for me now?”

“Hmm… you know what? I don't think it'd be a good idea to have you do anything important right now.” She looked to the Wanderer. “Wouldn't you agree?”

“I would like to wait until we have set up a fortified camp on the hill, and conferred with Luna and Rat.”

“Good idea.” She looked back to Bright, then gestured to Sucker Pop, who'd been standing several feet away quietly the whole time. “How about you start keeping the filly entertained?” She paused. “Her name is Sucker Pop. She likes music, candy, and peek-a-boo.”

Bright groaned. “Of course.”

“Oh! One more thing.” She paused. “I know the Elder doesn't think much of mares, so what made him want to pick me and not my friend for this?”

“Well, it was either he trust female, or he trust Imperial. Not ideal choice in his mind, so he figure female is at least less dangerous.”

“Hm. And you don't think less of me for being a mare, do you?”

“To be honest, with all thing you do in life and where you are now, that would be stupid.”

She chuckled. “You're smarter than you look. Now, go say 'hi' to the filly, okay?”

“Yes, yes,” he said before going on his way.

After watching Bright drag himself begrudgingly to that drooling marechild, Starlight leaned into the Wanderer's ear so she could whisper to him. “You weren't actually serious about that oath, were you?”

“No. Were you?”

Her lips curled up into a devious smile. “Not in a million years.” Next Chapter: Chapter 17 Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 23 Minutes