Twilight landed lightly in a town that had not fared well in the war, frowning sadly at the state of things. "Is... anycreature here?"

Starlight landed just next to her. "I can see them." She looked towards the windows where people peered out at them. "We're not here to hurt anycreature, promise. Just two adorable little ponies."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Where did you pick up that line?"

"Would you believe Cozy Glow?" Starlight grinned sheepishly. "It's working."

Villagers were emerging, some faster than others. One seemed to assume some responsibility and approached faster with false bravado. "Are you here to... rule over us?"

Twilight blinked softly. "Rule over...? I thought we'd discuss peace options."

The bull blinked in kind, both confused. "They told us we were defeated, by ponies. We... already have peace."

Starlight sat and brought her forehooves together in a clop. "Well, that settles that! Looks like our job is done."

Twilight was not so fast to accept this, shaking her head. "Can you tell me exactly how this happened?"

A little girl calf pointed off into the distance. "Your princess beat up the last councilperson."

"She would--!"

Starlight tackled her, throwing an arm around her to cut off her words. "Thank you. Do you know exactly where that is?""

An adult provided more precise directions and she nodded quickly. "We'll check in with them. Glad that whole war thing is over." There were few arguments about that sentiment.

Twilight plucked Starlight off of herself with her magic and set her student down. "That's quite enough of that. Let's go see what's going on." With spread wings, she took off into the air.

"I cannot assure your safety." Celestia's wings ruffled behind her fitfully. "But your cooperation will pave the way for a peaceful and easy transition for the rest of your people." She glanced away and back. "The nations struck terribly by the actions of yours demand justice... Even I feel that call, and I will not stand in their way for what they have asked. You will stand trial before us, and explain yourself. Depending on what you did and knew, fitting punishments will be meted."

One officer raised a hand. "You won't let them... do anything too rash, will you?"

"Rash as in murdering your entire council, or rash as in razing several of my cities to screaming and burning ruin?" Celestia raised a brow high. "Answer truthfully, and we will move past this... For now, I must transport you all somewhere safe to await the trial."

"Princess!" Twilight landed with a soft thump, dashing the rest of the way to Celestia. "I'm so glad to see you! I came--"

"Twilight, what blessed timing, as usual." She nodded softly at Twilight, then at Starlight behind her. "This nation needs an interim manager to help get things in order. Can you help balance the books and see that good natives are promoted to a new council?"

Twilight recoiled at the sudden new responsibility being foisted on her. "Wait, so it's true then? The war's over?"

"It is done, with only smoldering embers left to sweep away." She turned back to the officers. "Twilight here is a deeply caring pony. She will not allow your people to suffer, and will get the ledgers in balance. She is the one that ended the war between ourselves and the humans."

A few murmurs spread among them. Some had heard of Twilight, who had comported herself as a diplomancer of some skill. "Diplomacy isn't the same as managing a nation," one pointed out. "Does she know how to do that?"

Twilight shook her head quickly. "No, but I have books, and that just means I'll have to find good people who do know how to back in charge as soon as possible." She glanced at Celestia. "I'll be gone before you know it, but only after things are on the right path."

Starlight smiled lopsidedly as she looked over the proceedings. "I'll take care of the school while you're gone."

"Thank you," breathed out Twilight. "I thought I'd be making a diplomatic entreaty, not being assigned a kingdom."

Celestia softly booped Twilight right on the nose. "You had wondered when you would get a nation of your own, though this one is temporary. Now..." She turned her head to the officers. "Shall we?"

"As you can see." Stream waved a laser pointer at a map that showed lines crisscrossing America. "The worms travel wide and far. They're not just a native species, they're immigrants! Or, they would be, if we could get past that language barrier. We owe it, not just to ourselves, but future generations, to study them."

A pen raised, held aloft in the CEO's hand. "While undoubtedly fascinating, their intelligence could theoretically negate our presence. If they are a creature, like a hippogriff, pony, or even a human, learning how they work is more of a medicine than a matter of biology. Contact with them would be for diplomats, not biologists. Whatever concern they would be for security would be a matter for the government... not biologists."

"But..." Her grip tightened on her pointer. "I can't just... abandon them. Coming here, to land, this was what I came for! To uncover the secrets in it, and this is certainly a secret, literally in the land! I already made first peaceful contact, I have to see this through!"

The CEO's wife leaned against him lightly, urging him to quiet without words. "Let's see this as an opportunity."

"Yes, opportunity!" That Stream could agree with.

"It will be a great feather in our collective caps to be involved with this. I motion we call in the proper authorities and experts, but keep Stream involved, as the point of contact. She can work alongside medical scientists, diplomats, and government agencies to help figure out what place the tatzlwurms have in society, and how we can come--" She brought her hands together gently. "Together."

Stream began to clap as eagerly as she could with the pen making it a little awkward. "Can we do that? I am beyond ready to begin."

"So you might have recently heard," explained a Youtuber. "The big worms known at Tatzlwurms may be smarter than we thought. A biologist by the name of Stream--" An image of her with a big smile and a labcoat appeared, laser pointing an image of a worm with a flower held in one of its tentacles. "--has come forward with the idea that not only are they intelligent, but they may qualify for the full qualification of creature."

The image was replaced with a question mark. "What is a creature, you may ask. Coined by ponies, creatures are any living entity capable of sapient thought and social structure. If you can ask it for the time or to borrow a cup of sugar, it's a creature. Ponies, griffons, changelings, and humans are all examples of creatures, explaining the 'anycreature' form of addressing a mixed crowd."

The image swapped back to a tatzlwurm in a more fierce pose, tentacles and teeth exposed. "There are many questions remaining about these elusive burrowers. It calls into question the theory of language universality. Why do they not speak the same language as everyone else? Are they simply incapable, and does that preclude them from joining the ranks of creature?"

A new image appeared, showing a border checkpoint. "Of course, if they are creatures, how will their movement be regulated? They are, if so, possibly illegal migrants, opening up more questions than answers at this time. If you want to know more as we hear it, be sure to subscribe and ring that bell and you can support us..."

Ruddertail smashed her pudgy paw against the table, glaring at the other EFC members. "They slaughtered my people. They not shred remorse, why should display single hair when tables turn?"

Cadance raised a hoof. "Is it not more important that the war be ended as smoothly as possible? Those responsible are in captivity... or dead."

"Your people not dead!" screamed Ruddertail, scowling at Cadance spitefully. "You not attacked!"

"We were attacked," hissed Cadance, teeth clenched. "It was a terrifying time... but we weathered it, and it is time to move past it. Punishing people not involved is how our own innocents were... killed... I will not tolerate continuing that cycle."

Novo walked talons across the table. "Dears, calm yourselves."

"You calm!" spat out Ruddertail. "Do not lie. You not attacked!"

"My people were not attacked," she allowed. "I was. I apologize for taking so little part in things as I recovered."

Celestia sat up at that. "Dear Novo, what happened?" It was the sound of a concerned friend, looking at Novo with worried surprise. "Are you well?"

"I am, in part thanks to the intercession of one of yours, Princess Celestia. Do tell Meadowbrook thank you for me." She set a hand at her chest. "My own neighbors struck me. A barbed spear, right into me. It was very uncouth..."

"Why not demand heads?!" Ruddertail bounced to her feet. "Why not even tell us?! Why not angry?!"

"Because when I swam out for the first time, they cheered. They swarmed around me with so many apologies and tears. They had made a mistake, a painful one, for me, but it was a mistake... I will not seek vengeance on them, and I understand their motivations, now..."

President Smith leaned forward a little. "The fish people, Pisces was it? They were attacking our ships. What about that?"

Novo held up a hand firmly. "Stopped. They were fooled, as many others were. Thinking they were fighting on the right side, they did foolish things. I would care that not a single new drop of blood be spilled in my ocean. I fled there for peace, and would have that restored."

Smith looked to Celestia. "Getting back on topic, where are the former leaders being held? Will they be ready to stand trial?"

"They are safe and secure. We have but to decide on a time and place to begin." Celestia nodded once softly. "Princess Twilight Sparkle has assumed temporary management of their lands and is overseeing the selection of a new government body."

"And reparations?" Smith raised a brow. "I have not heard a single word about that. What are your plans regarding that?"

Celestia winced faintly. "Let us focus on rebuilding. Their economy is in no condition to pay anycreature any amount."

Ruddertail gestured at Smith. "He understand. They spill blood. They burn and destroy. They pay!"

Luna rose to her hooves. "If I may?" Eyes turned to her. "I have taken it on myself to study the nature of America's past. Twice have they had such massive clashes. In the first, great reparations were demanded, which led to the second, so agree their own scholars. The second was handled with greater care and tact, and never a third did trouble them, until they were removed from their world." She fixed Smith with an even stare. "Are you proposing we forget the lessons your own ancestors learned and paid for with their lives?"

"Who pay then?" Ruddertail crossed her arms as she sank onto her chair. "Who pay?"

Smith took off his glasses and set them on the table. "We all do." Focus shifted towards him. "It is up to us, however." He touched the tips of his fingers together. "There are nations that were involved that should pay towards this. Not punitive reparations..."

"Yes!" Ruddertail was on her feet in a flash. "Yes yes. Snooty cat think she can walk away? No, pay! She ready to win, she ready to lose? Her cities whole. Her 'economy' fine. She pay."

Celestia let out a little breath as she nodded. "I will not argue that. I, in fact, motion we keep this as universal as possible, calling all nations not currently recovering from heavy damage due to... this... contribute towards its swift repair and restoration. Any nation that took part in this should help all others to recover."

Author's Notes:

Twilight gets a new position. Stream chases a new mystery eagerly, Youtubers gonna Youtube, and the EFC convenes. What is John up to?

Join the special community of folks who like my stories here at atreon!

Join my discord to chat!