Princess Celestia: The Fall of Canterlot (MLP AU)

Chapter 100: A New Order

                      The sun rose over Canterlot, bathing the city in a harsh light that did little to illuminate the dark reality now unfolding. The palace, once a symbol of hope and unity, now bore witness to a gruesome transformation. Obsidian Crest stood at the heart of this change, a tyrant draped in the garb of a leader, his ambitions realized with blood on his hands. As he gazed out over the assembly of ponies gathered before the palace steps, he reveled in the power that surged through him.

"Citizens of Canterlot!" Obsidian bellowed, his voice a thunderclap that resonated through the hushed crowd. "Today marks a new era for our great city! From this day forward, I am not just your ruler; I am your Supreme Leader!" His proclamation sent ripples of unease through the onlookers. Some cheered, caught in the fervor of change, while others stood in stunned silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

The air was thick with uncertainty as Obsidian continued, outlining his vision for the future. "We shall build a strong republic, one that stands resolute against the threats of the past. The blood of our fallen heroes—Celestia, Luna, and Orion—will not be in vain! Their legacy will be reborn under my guidance. We will emerge from this darkness united, stronger than ever before!"

Despite his fiery rhetoric, the truth lingered in the air like smoke—his rise to power had come at a devastating cost. The cheers of his supporters could not mask the deep-seated fears that churned within the hearts of many.

As the proclamation of his rule echoed through Canterlot, news of the bloody coup reached the Crystal Empire, spreading like wildfire. In the heart of the empire, Empress Amore received the tragic news with a heart-wrenching disbelief. The reports flooded in, detailing the gruesome deaths of the royal family in Canterlot, including the young Luna and Orion, who had fought valiantly until the end.

Upon hearing that Luna was gone, Amore's heart shattered. The image of her dear friend—once a vibrant leader, now extinguished—left a gaping void in her soul. As she sat alone in her chamber, her heart heavy with sorrow, the weight of the situation pressed down upon her. The cruel twist of fate left her grappling with a devastating realization: her beloved Flash Sentry would grow up without his real parents, a cruel consequence of Obsidian's rise to power.

The realization brought forth a torrent of tears, cascading down Amore's cheeks as she wept for the family that had been so brutally torn apart. The news of the coup had felt like a jagged knife, cutting through the delicate fabric of her heart. As she wiped away her tears, Amore pondered how she would break the news to Flash, how she could possibly explain the unexplainable.

She knew that protecting Flash from the harsh realities of the world was her utmost priority. She resolved to cover up the tragic truth as much as possible, to shield him from the cruelty of fate. "I must be strong for him," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "He deserves to grow up without the burden of his lineage—the pain of knowing what has been lost."

In the days that followed, Amore busied herself with preparations to ensure that Flash would grow up surrounded by love and warmth. The Crystal Empire would be his sanctuary, a haven from the horrors that unfolded in Canterlot. Yet, the fear lingered; she knew Obsidian would not stop his reign of terror there. If he discovered the truth about Flash's parentage, he would stop at nothing to eliminate the last ties to the fallen royal family.

As the new Supreme Leader of Canterlot solidified his control, Amore's heart ached for the safety and future of her beloved nephew. She vowed to protect him at all costs, even if it meant weaving a web of lies to shield him from the darkness that had engulfed his family.

Meanwhile, back in Canterlot, Obsidian's rule was one of intimidation and fear. He implemented strict laws that silenced dissent, quashing any hint of rebellion before it could ignite. The streets that once echoed with laughter now resonated with the haunting silence of oppression. Obsidian's vision for Canterlot was clear: power above all, loyalty demanded, and fear enforced.

Yet, unbeknownst to him, the very darkness he wielded would eventually be his undoing. The whispers of dissent began to stir among the populace, fueled by the memory of the fallen royal family and the hopes of a brighter future.

As Empress Amore watched over Flash in the Crystal Empire, she couldn't shake the feeling that a storm was brewing. The lives lost would not be forgotten, nor would they be in vain. She hoped that, someday, the light would return to Canterlot, and Flash would reclaim the legacy that had been so brutally ripped from their grasp.

In the echoes of her tears, Amore held onto a fragile hope: that the cycle of darkness could be broken and that one day, the royal family's spirit would rise again, igniting a flame of resistance against the tyranny that now loomed over the kingdom. The future of Canterlot, and the fate of her beloved nephew, hung precariously in the balance.