Frontier Psychiatry - Trouble with authority

Emerald Blitz and Militus reserved a sparring room for soundproofing purposes. Emerald picked up a bunch of the training weapons to provide Militus something to attack if he got aggressive, then this conversation started.

Emerald_Blitz	sweeps two spears and a slowly-spinning Bo staff to circle Militus in a lazy arc. "What is your trouble with me, Militus?" she asks, pacing near the far wall. "Do you think me a monster for my appearance, an enemy for my war associations, or simply a naive fool for trusting in my superiors?" She folds her wings and frowns. "Ever since we had that disagreement on military discipline, just before we saved those emaciated mares, you've been... distant. And just today, staggeringly closed-off and short with me, and everyone."
	Militus	narrows his eyes and thinks for a moment. "Your associations with the old armies of Equestria are not of great concern to me. I think that old quarrel does not matter so much now. As for your appearance, it is...unnerving, to some extent, but so far you have not given me serious reason to distrust or fear you. No, my issue lies with your allegiance to the leaders of old Equestria."
	Emerald_Blitz snorts. "My allegiance to them, or my fond memories of them, Militus? To me the two are inextricably intertwined," she says. "Do you mean because they were powerful, or because one was once Nightmare Moon?"
	Militus	"Both. And also for what /their/ war meant to those outside Equestria."
	Emerald_Blitz	"Their war?" Emerald scowls. "It was hardly a war initiated by the Princesses themselves. They were too busy being all magical and researchy and pretty to start a war. No, it was trade groups and merchants reaching their grubby hooves farther and farther without realizing that they were abandoning the principles and elements that made Equestria a great and peaceful nation. Greed became the true ruler, not Celestia, and when your people finally snapped at the entrepreneurs and took up arms, the army was forced to stick its neck out to protect its citizens. Or so I understand. I was young at the time."
	Militus	laughs hollowly. "So you admit these 'entrepeneurs' were in the wrong, yet your country went to war for them anyway?" He shakes his head. "But even that was not the true beginning for us. It was simply a sign that the world outisde Equestria had finally reached a point of great decision."
	Militus	"We could either make a stand to preserve our independence, or become vassals, satellites of Equestria. What would you have chosen in our place?"
	Emerald_Blitz	"It was never intended to be a war, it was intended to be protection of our citizens while a more... amicable solution could be worked out," Emerald says with a sad sigh. "I bought into the war propoganda at first. That the zebra had broken trade agreements and killed some of our citizens over a few measly tons of coal. So I joined with a fire in my heart and a spring in my step, to right wrongs and teach those greedy Stripes a lesson." Emerald hangs her head in shame. "It wasn't until I saw the streams of wounded on both sides that I knew we had made a terrible mistake. Years of it, and even then, neither side knew how to quit until both nations wept for their children." The alicorn spins the Bo in a whirring circle. "We wanted peace, both sides did, and we were just finally giving up, and then... the tragedy that turned a squabble into a blood feud, fueled by a hatred from your people we had never seen before. It makes me sick even now, just thinking of it."
	Militus	"Hate? It was not hate. It was desperation. Do you still not understand what we saw from outside Equestria?"
	Emerald_Blitz	shakes her head. "How could I, Militus? I was never outside Equestria. I was caught up in the gunsmoke, the mud and the blood and the tears," she says. "All I knew then was that the Zebra stopped taking prisoners. And that they wouldn't take their own POWs back."
	Militus	bows his head and sighs. "Becuase we could not risk the danger of enemy agents infiltrating. I suppose I should explain..."
	Emerald_Blitz	lies down at the far end of the room, her mane gently drifting as she crosses her forelegs. "Do, please. So much could have been avoided in the past by a few explanations. I'd hate to see the mistake repeated."
	Militus	sighs and takes a deep breath. "From our pespective, ponies had given themselves over to the rule of two being of terrible power who were not even of their kind. They were from the heavens, and we knew that the beings from there care little for mortals. We did not see in your princesses benevolent rulers. We saw alien beings who surely had designs of their own. And those slowly became clear."
	Emerald_Blitz	frowns. "That seems... half fairy tale and half superstition to me, as most of the Zebra beliefs did, and some still do," she says. "But they were ponies like us once, or so I've been told. I saw that to be true in Princess Twilight, who was just a normal unicorn before becoming a princess." She looks like she has swallowed something unpleasant. "Though why it was only ponies with magic who could rule still irks me to this day."
	Militus	"They hoarded or created for themselves objects of great magical power. Enchanted jewelry, spellbooks, and more. And they never would share. They would never trust any but their own servants to watch such artifacts."
	Emerald_Blitz	"Those artifacts were often incredibly dangerous, Militus," Emerald explains. "The corruptive power of some, the destructive knowledge in others... we didn't hoard them as weapons. Twilight especially made certain that true dangers couldn't be used by anyone. We were protecting the zebra from those objects of power as much as we were protecting our own."
	Militus	"That is what your princesses said, but from the outside it certainly looks like gathering leverage. Stacking the deck, as you ponies say. And when your princess of the night returned, she was reinstated without a second thought. Even when her first act had been another assault against the daylight itself! Then, the 'ascension' of the pony you knew...that was when it all came together. Your kind were to be the servants of the princesses. They had been raising you to be obedient soldiers so they could subjugate all mortals. What other explanation could there be? The unfair trade demands were obvious moves, given all this. They were just the next step towards slowly bending all of our necks. So we fought while we still could. And when we knew we could not win, we resolved we would not lose alone, either. That is why, according to the stories passed down by my kind." Militus sighs and shrugs. "When you mentioned your Princess 'Cadance'...she was why we could not take our own back after they surrendered. I would rather die a thousand deaths than face such a creature. So I have been quiet and uneasy."
	Militus	"So, have you any more questions? Or have I answered them all?"
	Emerald_Blitz	sighs. "You are seeing hostility and malice where none ever was, Militus. Let me tell you how it was when I was there, hundreds of years ago," she says. "Nightmare Moon and Luna are not the same creature. It was... some dark influence we never understood, that took advantage of her hurt and weakness. She was finally cured and returned to her home, Militus. What affected her before was cleansed by the purest and highest forces that make ponies who we are." She flares her wings. "Miss Twilight, being one of the key members of curing a friend by destroying a monster, earned her right to rule. But the other two..." She hesitates. "I wish I had some explanation for the greed beyond simply being a flaw of our nature. But you've seen Clue. Sometimes our greed turns us into monsters as well. If the start of the war was anyone's fault, it was ours, all of us, not just some sinister plan by the Princesses." Emerald_Blitz shakes her head. "But any and all of that is pointless, do you know why?"
	Militus	"Because the war is over. The bombs have fallen and now we must try and survive as best we can. I'd say that makes any quibbles over why the war happened quite pointless."
	Emerald_Blitz	smiles sadly. "No, Militus. Because the virtues of our peoples survived it. The mistakes of the past have been burned away, but not all of the knowledge that came from it. War has a way of opening your eyes to everything horrible, and then giving you a chance to learn from the mistake, and turn away to better things." She gets up and drops the floating weaponry. "I never understood why we revered the alicorns for anything but their power, but now I realize that it was where the power came from that mattered, not the power itself. That same power is still around, though few have the patience and the virtue to use it to make the world a better place. Do you follow?"
	Militus	frowns contemplatively. "I think you are trying to persuade me to help you, although I am unsure with what. If you would explain more it would be greatly appreciated."
	"Think of it this way," Emerald says, walking a circle around the zebra. "The things that made the Zebra a fearsome foe are still embodied in you. Your raw courage in the face of often overwhelming odds. A fearlessness and joy taken in the simplicity of destroying the vile. Your conviction and steadfastness in the truths you have learned. These are all things that I respect, and wish more people had." She folds her wings and smiles. "The virtues of ponies as well, the kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty, and silliness that made the best of us paragons of our breeds, when concentrated into one individual, gave them great power to change the world for good, as in Twilight's case. If we could use the best of BOTH our kinds to reshape a world that has been blasted clean of the mistakes of our forebears, the quarrels of our former rulers... what kind of glorious rebirth could we achieve, Militus? I would wager it would make a phoenix's reincarnation look like a cheap sham. When you set two great forces against each other, they will batter each other to pieces. But if they instead became allies and worked together for a greater good..."
	Militus	chuckles. "If you are looking for a fighter, I am right here. But if you want a valiant and noble crusader, I fear I am not one. And do you really think the few of us can heal the wounds caused by the war that ended the old world?" Militus shakes his head. "I will help you, but not because I believe we can succeed in this. Maybe we will help a little here and there, but that is all I fear we can do on our own."
	Emerald_Blitz	laughs as well. "No. But you know what is right, and you do it, regardless of the strength of that which opposes you," she says. "If one person does that, they are a candle in the dark. But virtues have a way of spreading to others. One candle may light a fire in the heart and mind of another, or many others, and soon each one matters more as part of a whole. Don't you see?" Emerald stands up proudly. "Each one does their part, where and when they can. There is no one that DOESN'T matter, not ever. Unity has always been-" Emerald gets a very blank look on her face for a moment, then shakes her head. "-has always been the greatest strength of ponies. It's why sometimes a whole town would sing a song together. But you are right, there needs to be someone to keep us honest, to hold rulers accountable, lest we slip back into the days before the Hearth's Warming, when might made right. If you will keep me honest, from becoming the monster you thought our once-rulers were, Militus... it would be my honor to help rebuild this world and our peoples both. One piece at a time."
	Militus	thinks a bit, breaking into a smile. "Heh. We'll be fighting all the most degenerate examples of ponykind and zebrakind. Outnumbered beyond measure, and probably outgunned too. How could I ever let myself say no?" Militus	grins teasingly. "I still think you're crazy. But so am I, and our madnesses seem to mesh well together."
	Emerald_Blitz	"At least it's a madness with a purpose," Emerald says, finding Militus' grin infectious. "Just promise me one thing. As... a friend, not as a doctor and patient?" She drops the smile for a moment. "I'm not asking you to give me the benefit of the doubt. Not now, not ever. But when something troubles you, especially if it is about myself or about ponies before the end of the war... talk to...
	Emerald_Blitz	...me. Ask me anything. I don't want to see you shut off and silent again. That helps no one, least of all yourself."
	Militus	becomes similarly serious. "I can promise you that if you promise me something."
	Emerald_Blitz	nods her head. "You have but to ask."
	Militus	"It is unknown if your princess 'Cadance' still lives. This was her domain. If we meet her, promise you will not surrender me into her clutches if it can be helped. I do not relish the idea of having my mind broken and remade in an image someone or something else finds more pleasing."
	Emerald_Blitz	looks hurt for the briefest of moments, then steels herself. "Of course not, Militus. I would never deliver a friend into the teeth of their greatest fear," she says. "If we find Cadance, if she still lives, I will take all peaceful avenues first. It is who she was then, perhaps it is who she still is. But you have my word, if it came to a choice between your good and hers... there will be no hesitation in my mind that you, not her, are the hope of the future, not the past."
	Militus	notices Emerald_Blitz's discomfort. "Did you meet that princess as well? Or does my lack of trust in your leaders still hurt?"
	Emerald_Blitz	frowns. "Princess Twilight did spend some time with Cadance. I met her only briefly. But of all the princesses, she was the kindest. Her methods were to open hearts and minds, not break them. Your lack of trust in her, or the other Princesses may not be to my liking, but now at least I understand it." She sighs. "Even the best of friends have disagreements, Militus. I can tolerate your distrust of those I trusted, as long as you can tolerate my tendency toward peaceful solutions."
	Militus	sighs. "I know my methods are not to everyone's liking. I even know they are not always the best. But I suppose it comes with my mark. It is my way to fight, not to talk."
	Emerald_Blitz	"And mine is to heal, not harm, but sometimes compromises must be made." Emerald takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "We have an understanding, then?"
	Militus	nods. "Yes, I believe we do. I must admit, this was more productive than I expected."
	Emerald_Blitz	chuckles. "It accomplished exactly what I was hoping," she says. "Come. I believe others may need this room for actual PHYSICAL sparring, instead of verbal." She leads the way out the door.
	Militus	follows along. "Yes...I really should get some more practice myself."
	Emerald_Blitz	snorts. "Well, count me out. I've seen your level of violence and I'm afraid I'd be far outmatched."