Empire of Mercy
Copyright© 2025 by Daelyx Len Auphydas
Chapter 1: Celestial Summons
Celestia glides high above the land, even above the cloud layer, surveying her domain as she drifts on thermals. Although she departed Canterlot with little fanfare and elected to travel without escort, she can still detect a fair number of ponies pointing them out and gathering to watch the monarch as she gently flaps her wings. The princess’s visage is iconic and distinctive enough that even from a substantial distance, she is quite recognizable.
Celestia smiles imperceptibly, as she thinks about those on the ground, imagining the conversations as they would question whether they had really seen the Princess of the Sun. But as she flies, the sight of Equestrian civilization gives way to the wild, and that smile disappears. Beneath her now is the Everfree forest.
Celestia can’t help but gaze northwards to the castle poking out of the immense forest with a twinge of pain. It has been years since she had last seen it, and centuries since she had visited. Patience. Celestia thinks, steeling themself to present the calm and regal princess that her subjects expect. You’ve waited centuries; you can wait another hoofull of years.
Celestia puts those thoughts from her mind and focuses on the task at hoof. Flapping her wings harder, she picks up speed. For most of her reign, the vicinity of the Everfree Forest has been completely deserted, the subject of dark rumor and superstition. But now, there is a small village on the edge of the Everfree, named Ponyville. A village that, to the princess, is practically brand new. It’s by far the closest anypony has gotten to the monarch’s old home since that fateful night nearly a millennium ago.
But that village is not her destination. Rather, a far older and more familiar city is. Floating above Ponyville is the pegasus capital of Cloudsdale, performing its typical weather service for the agrarian settlement below.
Banking in flight, Celestia wheels around the cloud city before gliding down to a landing at trotting speed on a plaza near the Wonderbolts academy. The ponies around show the typical deferential, awed expressions that Celestia is used to seeing, magnified by surprise at the princess’s visit. Folding her wings up, Celestia strides up to the guardpony on duty; the Wonderbolts are technically military personnel after all, so their compound is always under watch.
“Y-y-your highness!” The nervous guardspony gulps and lowers his head in a steep bow.
Celestia takes the panicked reaction in stride and smiles at him reassuringly. “At ease, guardspony. May I know your name?”
“U-um, I’m Blizzard Feather.” The pegasus certainly looks the part, with his blue coat and white wingtips. Celestia nods encouragingly.
“Well, Blizzard Feather, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Celestia smiles at her subject warmly. Though this is essentially padding to get to the point, she isn’t lying; Any day they are able to leave court at Canterlot and see her subjects going about their daily lives is a good day, as far as Celestia is concerned. “Perhaps you can help me with something. There was recently a magical surge over half of Equestria, I’m sure you must have seen it. It could only have been a sonic rainboom, and I would very much like to see the pegasus who accomplished such a feat. Do you know who it was?” Celestia asks, keeping her tone pleasant and casual.
“I, um, don’t know. Your Majesty,” the pegasus says, keeping his head bowed.
Celestia cocks her head to the side curiously. “You don’t know? Were you not stationed there when it happened?”
Blizzard Feather shakes his head. “No. I mean, yes, I mean ... I was stationed here, but the rainboom didn’t come from here. It came from the lower levels.”
Celestia pauses. They had just assumed that the rainboom must have come from a Wonderbolt—after all, she is the most talented fliers in all of Equestria. But here she is, hearing that it had come from the lower levels. That ... makes no sense. The lower levels are largely for cargo containers, shipping, and flight camp. Why would such a talented flier be there?
Nonetheless, it’s a lead to go off of. So, Celestia kicks off the ground once more, and nods her head at Blizzard Feather. “Very well. Thank you for your help, Blizzard Feather. Oh, and give my regards to Windrider. I particularly enjoyed his last performance in Canterlot,” Celestia states warmly.
“Y-yes, ma-am! I mean, sir! I mean, princess!” Blizzard Feather salutes as Celestia takes off once more, ascending away from the long airstrip and cloud base that serves as the Wonderbolts headquarters.
As she survey the flight camps, a hubbub of attention catches Celestia’s eye. There is a large group of excitable fillies, and one gryphon, all gathered together, cheering. Ah. These must have seen the Rainboom. Celestia thinks to themself before gliding down to join the group.
“Good morning, my little ponies. Can any of you tell me where the wave of light an hour ago came from?” Celestia asks. As the young fliers turn their attention to the newcomer, the lot of them gasp in shock in unison.
“Is that ... who I think it is?”
“P-P-Princess Celestia!?”
“I-I’m talking to the princess! T-the princess is talking to me!”
Celestia waits patiently for the awe of the ponies around them to fade, while a lone, cyan-toned filly with a messy prismatic mane struts up to the princess. “It was me!” The filly announces. Unlike the rest, she wasn’t even a little bit nervous or deferential, instead puffing out her chest proudly, standing upright and tall. “I was racing to protect Flutters’s honor, an’ I made the rainboom happen by going so fast to the finish line!”
Celestia carefully suppresses a giggle as she lowers herself to eye level with the filly. Not only is the filly bold, but she has quite the imagination as well, staring into the alicorns eyes with fierce pride writ upon her features. “Oh? And what is your name?” Celestia asks.
“Rainbow Dash!” The filly announced with all the gravitas she can muster, putting her chin up in the air and flaring her wings out to the side in a heroic pose.
What a feisty little pony. Celestia thinks approvingly. It is a nice change of pace, compared to the normal deference—even fear—her presence usually instills. “Well, Rainbow Dash, are you sure it wasn’t somepony else? Maybe one of your instructors had to catch you...?” Celestia asks.
Rainbow Dash looks up at the princess, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “What’re you tryna say? You calling me a liar?” The filly stomps her hoof on the cloud belligerently.
Some of the other fillies cower in fear or dive under clouds, as if worried that Celestia will reduce the rebellious filly in front of them to ash on the spot, but the princess just shakes her head. But before she can say anything, another of the ponies works up the nerve to stand up on wobbling knees, giving a surprisingly proper military salute.
“U-um, she’s telling the truth, sir!” The pony says in a tone of voice Celestia has heard many times— not that of a frightened filly, but that of a subordinate talking to her commanding officer. Just a moment later, the gryphon of the group also takes a spot by the two fillies.
“Yeah, it’s true! I saw the whole thing!” The gryphon pipes up, triggering Celestia to arch her brow in interest. Young gryphons in Cloudsdale are a common sight, ever since they’d been integrated into Equestria following the Relic Wars centuries ago. That being said, it is unusual to see one willing to stand up for a friend like this, and it makes Celestia’s heart glow with a spot of pride.
Celestia turns back to look at Rainbow Dash, appraising the filly in a new light. Could it actually be true? It seems impossible, yet... “May I ask where your instructor is, right now?” She would hold off on any judgments until she had heard from an adult.
Rainbow Dash ponders, then shakes her head. “Nu-uh, no clue. We organized the race ourselves,” Rainbow Dash explains.
Well, that sure is convenient... . Celestia thinks, still doubtful. “Very well. May I have your permission to perform a quick evaluation?” Celestia asks the filly, who looks up at the alicorn’s horn warily.
Rainbow Dash had never been near a unicorn nor alicorn before, but she knows about how powerful they are; suddenly, she feels very aware that if Celestia wills it, she could easily reduce her to ash on the spot. Had she done something wrong? Is the rainboom illegal? Gulping down that anxiety, Rainbow Dash jerkily nods her head. “Um, I mean, I guess.” The filly clenches up, hoping that the ‘evaluation’ will not be painful.
She needn’t have been so worried; all she feels is a slight buzzing sensation as the alicorn’s magic seeps through her body. As she opens her eyes again, she finds Celestia staring down at her in astonishment with a newfound sense of respect. “Starswirl’s beard ... You really did it.” The princess mutters. “Rainbow Dash, you have accomplished something today that no other pegasus in history ever has. Your potential is, frankly, unrivaled. It would be my honor if you would come to my school in Canterlot, that we might hone your gifts to their fullest potential.”
Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise at the offer. Her...? Being extended a personal offer by the Princess of the Sun themself? She knows she’s awesome, but ... that awesome? “But ... Everypony knows Celestia’s school of magic is for unicorns!” Rainbow Dash blurts out.
Celestia gives the pegasus a sly smile and spreads her wings wide. Wingtip to wingtip, they’re far broader than any pegasus Rainbow Dash has ever seen. “These aren’t just for show, you know,” Celestia remarks, a playful tone to her voice as she suddenly rocket up into the sky and perform a hairpin midair loop before halting in place. Somehow, her ethereal mane and graceful form look even more elegant, backlit against the bright blue sky, and Rainbow Dash’s jaw drops in awe.
“I have had over a millennium to hone my flying skills, and I’ve flown alongside the best fliers in Equestrian history—Flash Magnus, Shadow Kicker, Firefly, Purple Dart, and Fairweather, to name a few. I think I can manage to teach a filly some tricks,” Celestia gives an amused smirk as she glides back down from the clouds, lightly booping the fillies nose before turning more serious.”But in all honesty, there is far more that I would teach you than simply flight. Harnessing your pegasus magic can do great things, both for yourself and Equestria at large. Such raw talent deserves to be explored.”
Rainbow Dash’s mind struggles to keep up, but even to a filly, the weight of what is being stated is readily apparent. An offer from the Princess of the Sun themself is no small matter, and it could easily change the course of her entire life. And yet...
Rainbow Dash glances at the other ponies near her, and more generally, at Cloudsdale. It’s home, and it always has been—high in the sky, above the earth, where flight is just a natural part of life. And more importantly, it’s the home of the Wonderbolts. Her dream to join them had only just been formed, and now another option is bludgeoning its way into her life. Seeing Rainbow Dash’s hesitation writ plainly on her face, Celestia nods. “You don’t need to make a decision right now, my young pegasus. For now, you should think it over. It is, after all, not a decision to be taken lightly.”
“What? Don’t tell me you’re seriously considering turning them down?” The gryphon asks Rainbow Dash incredulously. “You’re always going on about how awesome you are, and now the ruler of all of Equestria shows up to acknowledge it!” They prod Rainbow Dash from the side.
The other pegasus pipes up. “Yeah! It’s not like you to hesitate on something like this!” she jeers. “What’s the matter? Just take the offer!”
Rainbow Dash shakes her head. “It’s not that simple, Cloud Kicker! I’d be leaving Cloudsdale...” she states fiercely, before looking back up at Celestia. “I’d have to talk to my parents, too.”
Celestia looks on approvingly. The pegasus before them, though rowdy and rambunctious, also has a surprisingly good head on her shoulders, from what she can tell. “Of course. Regardless of your decision, you’ve accomplished a great feat here today, and you should be proud. May I meet the parents of such an extraordinary young filly?”
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