It had been one hour after the events at the train station, and finally they were able to get a Noble Court called to session. Despite all attempts to keep things quiet about Twilight’s revelation, word had still got out and now their guards were doing their best to calm everyone down and explain that an invading army wasn’t about to appear at their doors. Still, the fact it happened on the same day that Chrysalis was being Sealed and they had gone for using as many elites as they could had only stoked the nobles’ contentions that her Sealment was a pretense to get Canterlot prepared for what was coming.

Finally, everyone in the room was settled down, despite the presence of two unexpected beings. While it was accepted (somewhat reluctantly) in some cases that the changeling Royals and the Prince and Princess of the Crystal Empire would be present, none had expected the presence of the Alpha or a grim-looking Discord, who had immediately upon his return (though not in hearing range of the nobles) informed his fellow Powers that he had found a suitable bearer for the recently vacated Role and now stood by, his usual jocularity absent.

With everyone somewhat calmed at last, Celestia stepped up, her sister by her side, and began.

"Earlier today, we received a letter from Princess Twilight Sparkle, bearing important news," she said. "Among her travels, she has performed a personal investigation of Mount Aris, home of the hippogriffs. And she has discovered what became of them."

There was some murmuring at this, and the Alpha let out a harrumph, though he looked almost hopeful.

"When their ambassadors were withdrawn from all lands, it was because they were under attack," Luna said, prompting a round of gasps. "By the armies of a being known as the Storm King. In this attack, Queen Skydancer gave her life to allow her people to escape under the ocean, where our aquatic cousin Queen Novo of the eastern seapony kingdom of Seaquestria granted them refuge."

"Since then, the Storm King's general - a unicorn mare with a broken horn, calling herself Tempest Shadow - has made at least one attempt to acquire valuable intelligence from their kingdom," Celestia continued. "How she was able to penetrate their defenses at the time has not been disclosed, but her true intentions were discovered and she was expelled. After this, Queen Novo increased the defenses around Mount Aris to prevent any further penetration. Princess Twilight, however, was able to make her way through, enter Seaquestria, win Queen Novo's trust through her integrity and compassion, and thus gather all the knowledge she could on this being, his forces and his motivations before sending it on to us."

"As such, we are calling for an increased mobilization of Equestria's armies in preparation for locating and facing this Storm King and his forces," Luna said. "There is no doubt that he intends to seize Equestria and its magic for his own purposes."

The murmuring was even louder, until the Alpha let out another harrumph.

“That the hippogriffs have found safety is good news,” he rumbled. “That their Queen is no more is not. And that this being threatens us all… is highly concerning.”

“Quite.” Discord folded his arms across his chest, for once deadly serious. “Celly, Lulu, I will add keeping watch for this Storm King to my list of priorities. The least I can do is give you adequate warning if he approaches our shores.”

“As troubling and terrible as that is,” Top Jewel said, drawing all eyes towards him. “What you intend is a declaration of war, nothing less. To which nation do you propose that our army attack because this will involve us violating our neighbour’s sovereignty and thus leaving us open to retribution.” He snorted as he stood upright and began to pace. “Furthermore, this is just one report. If this Storm King were truly the warmonger that her distant Princess claims she is, then we would have heard of such a thing before.”

“Would you have?” Celestia asked. “If they were on the far side of the world, for instance, and conquering all in their path or acting with sufficient stealth to ensure no news would escape, how would this have made it this way?” She snorted. “It is hardly the first time an enemy has kept their presence unknown until they were ready to strike.”

“Regardless, you will still need the council to approve of such a declaration and while I am not the Speaker of the Court,” he tilted his head towards a frowning Blueblood. “I am certain that I am not alone in saying that we need more information before we can begin to decide to vote or not to allow your war.” There was a loud outcry, both in favour and against his words, that continued for a few minutes before Luna slammed her hoof against the floor.

“Enough of this prattle,” Luna snapped. “Our cousins the hippogriffs have been attacked and the seaponies are in hiding. That alone is cause enough to raise the banners and march out to face this foe!”

“Maybe a thousand years ago that would be the case, your highness, but not now!” Jewel shouted back. “We live in a far more civilized time and we do not go to war on suspicion alone!”

“And what would you have us do?” Luna thundered. “Wait until their armies are dropping on our very heads? Sufficient proof has been offered to our eyes.”

“Then in that case, you do not have the authority to seek our approval for your war, nor have you given us a place to march to!” he retorted back with more of his supporters crying out in anger against her. “According to our laws, only the unanimous will of the Princesses can ask the council to go to war and I see only two Princesses of Equestria here! On behalf of Princess Twilight, Prince Blueblood and Speaker of our fair council, I ask you to side with me in protecting her decision she cannot make and vote to abstain on her behalf in Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s request for war.”

“I will not,” Blueblood spat back, glaring at Jewel. “You can seek to try and take her vote on your own, but I will not support such foolishness, nor should any of us. While I have known her highness Twilight only briefly, I cannot imagine her supporting a war where people will die,” there was a brief cry of Jewel’s supporters before Blueblood shot off a bang of his magic and continued in a furious tone. “Nor can I imagine her allowing others to be hurt while there was a chance to stop it.”

“Well spoken, Speaker of the Council,” Celestia said, dipping her head. “In any case, Princess Twilight had already made her opinion known within the letter she had sent us.” Celestia placed a hoof on the copy of the letter Twilight had made. Such information had required its entry into the records as well as as many copies as possible for others to examine and search for any clues Twilight might have hidden within. “She implores us to do all we can to aid not just the hippogriffs and the seaponies but all who have fallen prey to this monster and his armies. She calls on us to answer our nation’s founding principles and beliefs.” Celestia was curious to see if Twilight’s little plot would work; it was completely legal while also deliciously devious, but it all depended on how the nobles viewed Twilight. “She in fact, has requested me to put this to a fair and open vote to which we will do so now. All those who are opposed to the war based on Princess Twilight’s own words in this letter, you may raise your hoof now.”

Top Jewel immediately raised his hoof, along with a score of his followers and, to Celestia’s delight, high members and big donors to PVE. Luna could not hold back her smile which caused a few to look nervous before Celestia swooped in for the victory blow. “Very well, then. As per the ancient laws that Princess Twilight herself has uncovered, in the time where our allies are under attack, all those who deliberately deny or delay Equestria’s support on their own volition and actively act against the principles of friendship that our nation was founded on, shall have their wealth and citizenship revoked, and be held prisoner until such time that the conflict is over as to not pose as a potential enemy within our own nation.” Celestia announced to the screaming crowd as the guards began to march in and arrest Jewel and his followers. “You may all read the ancient law book, Equestrian Laws and Practice circa year twelve, FoE era, if you wish to see the laws yourself.” Celestia had gone through that ancient lawbook that had been written by the first Noble Court and then every other lawbook since then to make sure that Twilight was right and it had never been repealed, though she highly doubted that Twilight would make a mistake like that. Apparently, that law book was one of her ‘spoils of victory’ when she had invaded the Headquarters of the International Bureaucracy and she’d been studying it ever since - “A little light bedtime reading”, she’d called it, which had amused Luna to no end when she’d read that section of the letter.

“If you are done, Princess Celestia,” Blueblood said with a smile on his face that he was failing to hide, banging his gavel against the table. ”We shall now vote on if Equestria shall go to war against the Storm King and his armies, wherever they may be.”

For the first time in ages, Celestia was able to witness the Noble Court voting in complete unison in favour of something she had proposed to them.

“The votes are all for it,” Blueblood said, slamming his gavel against the stand before looking at the Princesses. “So be it, Equestria is now at war.” He then turned towards Luna and bowed his head. “And as Equestria is at war, Princess Luna is now granted full authority over Equestria as our Commander in Chief.” He then bowed to her again with the rest of the nobles doing the same. Luna turned her head to see Celestia backing up before bowing to her as well, showing the transfer of authority between the two sisters.

Luna tipped her head to her sister before walking to the podium. “As we are at war, we will now begin to mobilize all our forces in preparation for future conflict with the Storm King. Princess Celestia, I need you to reach out to our allies and gather all the information you can about him and his forces as well as informing them of our status and reminding them of their promises when we do leave our borders that we may call on them for support if not more.”

“Understood, Commander Luna,” Celestia bowed her head again, already mentally preparing all the letters and conversations she was going to need to make. “With your leave.”

Luna nodded her head, dismissing her sister before looking at Blueblood. “I will have the first war council at eight tonight, Speaker. Your presence, or your representative’s presence, will be required as well as a list of all the assets that your Court and our nation has that can be refitted to the war effort.”

“Understood, Commander Luna,” Blueblood bowed his head before turning to Fancy Pants and calling out to him. “Fancy Pants, with the Commander’s blessing, I wish to appoint you chief of public affairs, giving you the responsibility of reaffirming our people to the new normal as well as keeping them informed.”

Celestia was impressed and so was Luna; Blueblood was chief of public affairs by right as the Speaker of the Noble Court during times of war but he was aware enough that Fancy Pants would be received far better than he would ever be. “So done, Speaker,” Luna said. “We all have our duties and know what them to be. I will not hold you back any longer. You are dismissed.” Spreading her wings out, the court began to empty itself out before the Alpha coughed to draw attention toward him and the changelings present.

“I wish it to be known that the Packlands will honour our alliance to Equestria and will pour our assets together with Equestria’s,” the Alpha said with nobles nodding their heads. “I will contacting my packleaders shortly to inform them of this and see what my Observers know about the Storm King but rest assured, the Packlands are at war.”

“And so are the changelings,” Queen Tegmina said. “As the Eldest Queen, so do I decree it. I will consult my Queens and King to see what they know and if our talents can be used to infiltrate his forces. ”

“My forces as well,” Princess Cadance said, speaking up for the first time since they’d gathered. “Though the Crystal Empire will need time to prepare as my own people are still recovering from Sombra’s reign of terror.”

“You have my thanks and Equestria’s thanks,” Luna said, smiling at the trio before glancing at Thorax. “Also, King Thorax, I do believe that the court voted in favour of agreeing to allow you to base your hive in Equestria if you still wish to.”

“I do, Commander Luna,” the King said, bowing his head. “My hive, while the largest of the hives, also still needs time and safety to heal and recover from Chrysalis’ rule. Equestria is the safest place in the world for them to do so and most of my hive have already made lives for themselves here.”

“Then so be it.” Luna smiled at him. “Now, we must prepare. We have much to do, and less time to do it in.”

While Luna set off to meet with her military leaders and Celestia went to begin writing the letters she needed, she noticed the Alpha following after her. “Is there something you wish to speak of, Alpha?” she asked politely.

“A minor matter that I was recently alerted to by the changeling Queens,” the Alpha said. “But not here; your office should be sufficiently protected against eavesdroppers.”

Celestia nodded. “Very well,” she said.

When the two had reached the office and Celestia had sealed it, the Alpha turned to her. “I was made aware of your former student, and the world she now resides in,” he said.

“Oh.” Celestia was quiet. “And your thoughts?” she asked.

“I feel,” he said, “That this matter should be kept between just the few of us who know already. You see… I too have visited that realm.” He gave her a light smirk. “Starswirl’s mirror is not the only one that leads there. I personally, with the aid of a zebra shaman I knew long ago, also crafted a mirror leading there. I have been to that world, and seen its people and what they are like. And I personally feel they pose no danger to us, for its magic is so low-level that it is the subject of legends and stories only, believed mythical by the populace at large. Only outside artifacts can be used to trigger any magical usage, as with your other former student’s Element; there is one spot I found that may be of concern, but I believe it has ties to Harmony itself and possibly another Power, all of whom are firmly on the side of Life.”

Celestia felt relief. “Thank you for telling me,” she said.

“You are very welcome, Celestia.” The Alpha smiled. “Incidentally, my mirror alerted me the last time yours was used for travel. Soon afterward, I went across to examine the situation, and I have seen your former student there is doing well. She did not sense me, nor did any others; all they would have seen was a normal middle-aged man out for a stroll.”

He then gestured to her desk. “Let’s get to work, shall we?”

Celestia nodded, and so they began.

"Hey, Lus," Pharynx said softly. "Can I talk to you about something?"

Luna looked back at him fondly, stopping mid-stride as she was off to another council meeting. It had been several hours since the war declaration had been made and the replies from their allies were starting to come in, but already Luna was growing weary of the task ahead of her. It would be a far different war than what she knew and there would be many casualties before the papers of peace were signed. "What is it?" she asked, already grateful to have Pharynx as a momentary distraction from the duties ahead.

"What was all that back there this morning, about Powers and such?" he asked, walking alongside her, her bodyguards giving him the room to move next to her. As of now, he and Celestia were the only two allowed this close to her.

Luna felt her heart skip a beat at his question. "If I tell you this, I must swear you to the utmost secrecy," she said quietly. "Only a few outside of those who bear the mantles know; it is a rare thing for outsiders to be aware of the full truth. And even then there are some factors I cannot share yet."

"I swear," Pharynx said without a concern, showing her more loyalty than he possibly did to his own brother and King.

"All right." Luna let out a sigh. "The fact is that long ago, when the world came into existence, the creators crafted the first Powers - a set of entities with a Purpose, Role and Duties in this world. Since then, others have been created and granted to mortals who gave over their souls to a Purpose in order to become a Power. I am one of those former mortals, having been made the Lady of Night, whose task it is to raise and lower the moon and guide it on its path, while my sister became the Lady of Day, who has the same Duties regarding the sun. We are Opposites, existing to keep things balanced; some of these pairs, like Celly and I, work together in harmony while others are more violently opposed to one another."

"And Discord's another, huh?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, the Lord of Disharmony, to balance the Lord or Lady of Harmony. Unlike the other Powers, they each have a set of six sub-Powers. Chrysalis, as she admitted, was the Lady of Self-Centeredness, meant to balance the Lord or Lady of Generosity, until she broke the ancient Laws of our kind by attacking two others, unprovoked, and thus was stripped of her mantle by Discord. An act he was well within his rights to do, due to his own rank placing him over her."

"Huh." Pharynx contemplated. "Do all of them have Opposites?"

"All but one," Luna said softly. "The Judge. A true neutral. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity or remorse or fear. All they do is judge, determining a soul's fate upon its entrance to the afterlife. And their decision is final."

"Yikes."

"Quite," Luna said. "All one can do in the face of the Judge is hope that they have lived a life of goodness, in order to ensure that their place in the next realm is a happy one."

Pharynx looked at her for a moment. "Do all of these Powers have to go to different people?" he finally asked.

"Usually." Luna looked uncomfortable. "At the moment, I hold three myself. My Role as Lady of Night, you know. The second, I earned at a later date. The third belonged to a mare named Umbrea, who... persuaded me to attempt to merge our Powers, putting me into a position to outrank my sister. At the time, I had fallen prey to bitterness and jealousy over how Celly was so loved by our citizens, who offered adulations to the day and yet shunned my night. I agreed to let her in. At that moment, Nightmare Moon was born, and she held sway over me until Twilight and her friends, using the Elements of Harmony, banished her soul from this plane and sent her to her final Judgement." She let out a sigh. "None of them know that the mantle of the Nightmare remains within me."

“Not even Celly?” he asked her, looking concerned for her.

“No, not even Celly,” she said, leaning into him. “It would worry her to no end and I do not need her concern to cloud my mind now of all times.”

“So there is another thing I’ve been wondering about,” he said, rubbing his head against hers, bringing her comfort at the physical contact. “As well as everyone else.”

“Twilight,” she guessed with Pharynx nodding his head against her. “I do not know if I should try and recall her. No doubt the Storm King has his eyes on her as the rest of the world does but as she is on her way towards the Minos Islands before departing towards Aquastria and Ornithia, I feel it would be better if she were in more secured lands that would be capable of defending themselves and her opposed to having her make a direct return to Equestria where she can be captured in an ambush.”

“And until the minotaurs, Leo’s seaponies and the harpies answer your call to war, you can’t send a force to bring her back,” Pharynx said glumly with Luna nodding in agreement.

“Oh, for the old days when I could do as needed to protect those dear to me,” she sighed.

“About that Luna,” he said, causing her to bite her lip in frustration.

“I know what you are going to say Pharynx,” she said as she sought to calm herself. “I know the reality that will come that you will more than likely be on the front lines to combat his forces. I do not yet know if I am strong enough to face the future where you fall in battle, but please, allow me the luxury of living in a world where I do not have to think about such things yet.” She was trembling, tears threatening to ruin her makeup before she felt his hoof lift her head up to his.

“Actually, part of what I had in mind was to ask if you were planning to call Twilight’s friends here, to make sure they knew what was going on,” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. “And to keep their families safe while you were at it.”

“Oh,” she said a bit shocked, blinking owlishly. “They are already being informed of the situation and my ponies are working to see their families be transferred here.”

He then surprised her by kissing her on the lips. “And of course I will stay by your side as long as I can, Lus,” Pharynx said softly, softer than she’d ever heard him. “I haven’t felt about anyone like I do about you ever before in my entire life. I can’t imagine my life without you and I-”

“I swear if you dare to propose to me right now, I will be furious with you as I will not be able to stop crying and that will make me late for my meeting,” Luna hissed at him with Pharynx rolling his eyes.

“Nothing like that Lus, just random rambling,” he said with a tease in his voice. “Besides, I couldn’t do that without a ring or your niece would peel my chitin off for doing it wrong.”

Luna giggled at that with Pharynx grinning back at her, the two making their way into the meeting room.

Celestia’s reply, mere hours after Twilight’s own had been sent off, now lay in her lap, and she looked disturbed.

“Something wrong, Twilight?” Spike asked as he turned away from the ship’s railing and back at her.

“No,” Twilight said. “Just what I expected would happen.” She sighed. “Keep an eye out, Spike. This next stop might get a little awkward, but if we can pick up some more information, it could mean a big difference in this war.”

“You mean, if some of the Storm King’s airships came from the minotaurs,” he said.

“And if they did, they might be able to help us track them.”

Spike nodded. “Let’s hope that’s the case.” He frowned. “I wish we knew exactly what this guy wanted, besides taking over the world.”

“So do I, Spike.” Twilight frowned again. “What I really wish is if we could find a way to find his general - from what Queen Novo said, when she showed what she was really like, she seemed so full of hate. If you or I could get through to her, that would solve a lot of problems.”

“Good point,” Spike told her. “Here’s hoping.”

“Me too, Spike,” Twilight said, pulling him into a hug. “Me too.”