>>78042>>78049"You are right. I am
not from Equestria. But I do know about your princess. I know how she was defeated by Chrysalis when she came in with a
single hive the first time. I know about how she could not hold back Tirek or the Storm King or any number of other threats, and how she contracted out safety to a small but competent band of heroes. And that is a decent strategy... If your enemies are few in number or have a keystone to them. But when they come in the millions, numbers so great they block out your precious sun, and when they come with new machines of war, you need an entire nation to defend. And Celestia, for all you exalt her and place her upon a pedestal, has failed to raise her pony subjects up to the same level. Because when you all consider yourselves to be lambs in a flock, and rely on somepony else to protect you, you neglect to learn how to protect yourselves. Celestia's reign bred complacency. It bred a spirit of servitude. The ponies did not learn how to unite and fight as a nation. And that is why they failed, because for all of the celebration of the strength of harmony, they neglected the 'armonia' that forms a pony's bond to their countrymare, and service to the nation.
And their faith in harmony with other races... guh!" She gives a sign of disgust. "They cared more for Yaks, Griffons, and even Changelings than they did for their own poor ponies on the Griffonian continent. Tell me, have you ever heard of the ponies of Iksegard? No? You never shall, because they don't exist anymore. While your queen was eating cake and being nice to Griffons, the 'Reformisten' slaughtered them all. The Duke, and the Duke alone, tried to avenge the ponies of the ancient eastern marchlands. And when he did, Celestia
declared war on him. Not on any of the aggressive griffons, but on her own former subjects.
She attacked first. Have you heard of Manebourn? How it was sacked by Aquelian revolutionaries? Equestrian soliders among them? Some 'protector of ponykind' she used to be. And when the Changelings came in their swarms, the yaks and griffons just stood there and watched.
But all of this, really, is besides the point. If that queen were even a tenth as honorable as you want to believe she is, she is still a Changeling captive. And you may be ignorant of how that works, but I am not. When you send your love or faith to her, the Changelings take their little share of it
So whether you like him or not, only the Duke remains to claim the mantle of the protector of ponykind"
The door opens
>>78053Blue Skies strokes his mane
"That's the spirit"
>>78050Oh please, it's unlocked
\r