6 Hearts [visual]

[verygassy]

[Hey guys, Its Minako. And she looks quite thoughtful.]

Hey, guys? Maybe I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but I honestly think you guys need to give the princesses the benefit of the doubt on this one. And yeah, even Zetta.

Yeah, they kept things from us. That sucks, I get that. Maybe they should have been more open about that plan, or maybe not. I know a lot of ponies will use that against the princesses.

But in the end, I can't be angry at them this time. In fact, I completely understand why they did it. Sometimes we have to keep secrets to protect people. And sometimes, yeah, things will backfire when you do that. But that's the nature of being a leader. That's why being an alicorn here is earned, don't you think? Its not always straightforward and you have to make the best decisions that you can with what you know. Leaders...ponies in power...they don't have the luxury of being 100% transparent. Sometimes divulging the truth is more dangerous than than keeping the secret.

Besides. Hasn't it occurred to anyone that us being angry at the princesses for this - us acting like this - is exactly what the Pale Pony wants? The more she can manipulate our fear, the more our fear causes us to mistrust and even hate others, the more of an advantage she gets. She says friendship is a weakness? She says friendship doesn't matter? Well? We're just proving her right. And she'll keep stealing stars. Or, at least I'm pretty sure that's what Princess Celestia meant with that, because the whole Pale Pony absorbing stuff and...stuff.

...

I know ponies are mad, right now, and I admit I was cheesed off at Zetta when he first started this...but we need to show the Pale Pony that she's wrong about us, and that just because she's got all that power, doesn't mean she's right about that.

[With that, she gets down on one knee.]

So...Princess Celestia, Princess Luna...Overlord Zetta. I humbly apologize for not believing in you. I hope you can forgive me.

Comments

[verygassy]

I never said to forget about it. But we do what we can to reverse the damage.

You have a right to be upset, but the truth is, there are some things that a leader has to do that...a lot of others can't or don't have to do. And its not easy knowing that your decisions can result in others disliking you. But sometimes, to protect those we care for...you have to take a risk. And once its over, you do your best to handle the fallout with your followers.

[like_a_dragon]

So is that us or the people that live here?

[verygassy]

Both! We live here right now and this is their home.

[like_a_dragon]

I'm not so sure. When this whole thing started I kept being told that it was okay for us to be left in the dark because we're the ones causing all this problem. And it was up to us to solve it.

If anything this whole thing goes to show that we may be living here, but we're not really that welcome.

[verygassy]

And who told you that?

[like_a_dragon]

Like I can remember? It felt like it was years ago, now.

((PS))

[verygassy]

Well, they're wrong! We're all in this together!

[like_a_dragon]

So that's why we were allowed to get attacked three times?

[verygassy]

[She isn't sure Chie will like the answer.]

...Yes. Zetta's minions had to make themselves seem threatening. The situation had to seem more threatening. If you didn't believe it, if enough ponies weren't convinced of the "threat", then the Pale Pony wouldn't have believed it.

Though I dunno why they'd keep attacking you, unless you had some really good food or something. They're not exactly smart...

[like_a_dragon]

Okay, sure... I get that, now...

But...

Why were we left alone to fend for ourselves all those times?

[That's the part that really hurts.]

[verygassy]

I don't think the princesses just left us alone. From my own experience, its likely they were working behind the scenes the whole time to keep things relatively stable.

Even if you didn't see them...it doesn't mean we were left on our own.

[like_a_dragon]

I'm... pretty sure we were.

Sorry.

I can't believe you.

Because if I do... I... [Carp, her eyes are starting to water. Nono, she doesn't want to have anybody see her like this. She'll turn her head away for now, and close the scroll soon.]

...i-if... [her voice wavered] if I did, that means that they were okay with what happened to us. Which is even more unforgivable.

[verygassy]

Do you really think that?

[Another sigh.]

Because that's not it. I'm sure they weren't ok with it. But that's why they're leaders. Because sometimes you have to make those terrible decisions, whether you like them or not.

Making those decisions doesn't make them heartless ponies.

1/2

[like_a_dragon]

I'm... I...

[She raises her hooves to her eyes and rubs them.]

2/2

[like_a_dragon]

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! YOU WERE JUST IN THE DARK AS ALL OF US! YOU'RE ONLY GUESSING WHAT THEY'RE FEELING, DARNIT!

[verygassy]

[Her eyes narrow slightly at this.]

Because I know what its like to be that leader. I've been in that position where the world's been at risk, where I had to take the risk to try and stop the threat, even knowing I'd have to make a decision like that!

I've had to lie to people. I've lost friends. I've had people angry with me, even attacking me. My own actions even sometimes put the planet at risk. But I did it because the other alternatives were worse. I did it because it was the only way I could think of to protect the people I cared for!

[like_a_dragon]

SO? THEY'RE NOT YOU. THIS ISN'T THEN. YOU CAN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING!!

We did that last time, and now Zetta's telling us off for it!

[verygassy]

No. He's telling us off because a lot of the stuff that some of the ponies did was uncalled for, regardless of what was going on.

Torturing a changeling minion? You really think that was a pertinent response!?

[like_a_dragon]

I... [Her stomach knots. where this a month ago, she might have thought it was justified. But she had time to get used to Thorax. No, that wasn't right.]

...I wasn't a part of that!

[verygassy]

It doesn't matter.

Is it any wonder he would be angry? Or is he supposed to forget about that, as you would put it?

[like_a_dragon]

YEAH, WELL, WE'RE ALL HURT A LITTLE, OKAY.

And telling us to think about it now is pretty insensitive!

[verygassy]

Taking it out like this isn't cool, either.

[like_a_dragon]

[Chie pauses for a bit as she talks to Kyouko, but decides to make one last comment before leaving.]

Well, I don't know about your situation, but I'm sure it won't be much worse than watching your friends caused to forget about everything that's happened and bedridden. So, if you don't mind, I'll just keep my focus on keeping my friends safe

Yeah, I know there's lots of more important things going on right now, like the fate of the world and the universe. You and important people like you can keep focusing on those problems, but I'm just me and us little people have to live with the decisions that are being made. So, if that means we can't count on the higher ups to make sure we don't suffer because it's part of the plan, I'll the one to make sure we're not all going to die.

I can at least do that much. As long as I am able to.

[And with one last glare she shuts her scroll up tight.]

[PRIVATE]

[kuukai]

Chie.

[Private]

[gigglesnortpriestess]

Chie...