The whispers of soldiers echo through the gold-gilded hallways as she walks by, her heels sounding on the marble floor with an imperious click.
"I've heard she's killed over a hundred men in the past year."
"No, I've heard she killed over a hundred men just in the First Battle!"
"She's only twenty-two and she's already killed that many?"
"Younger than most of us, and yet we're all terrified of her."
"You know that Solomon the Terrorizer guy? The one from P.A.R.T.Y.? The one that she killed? I heard she just looked at him with those eyes of hers and he fell to his knees and begged for his life."
"If I were him I would. It's near impossible to look her in the eye. Piercing violet. Not gray, but actual violet. They sear into your retinas like fire and cut your pupils like ice."
"Really? I've always been to scared to look at her eyes. A friend of mine fainted after seeing them, and for weeks after, he had nightmares about her."
"Doesn't surprise me- Shoot! She's coming! Shut up and stand at attention!"
The aforementioned woman -girl really- strolls past the whispering soldiers neatly without so much as a glance in their direction, leaving nothing but a trace of violet perfume echoing from her jet-black hair. Every click of her heels silences more and more whispering soldiers, every one of them turning to stand at attention.
It is only when she's made it to the end of the hallway that she stops. Each soldier mentally sucks in a breath, hoping she isn't angry.
"At ease, soldiers," she says in a silky voice like snakes hidden in syrup, a voice that makes chills run down each soldier's spine.
Even Charles Georgetown, the most headstrong, authority-disrespecting cadet, -who was also a good five years older than her- sweats nervously at her voice.
Despite her words, they stay alert until she exits the hallway, upon which every soldier breathes a sigh of relief, collapsing on the floor in gratitude to have survived that encounter.
Each one would ponder that event for days, hoping they did nothing to anger her. She is the second most feared person in the entire Empire. No one crosses her. No one dares. And the woman who causes this much fear?
Her name is Brigadier General Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight strolls away from this particular hallway with a sense of pride. It's been five years since this war started and yet, she never grows tired of having her underlings quake in fear at her approach. However, their approval doesn't really matter to her. Not as much as the approval of the one person who matters.
Twilight turns through another hallway and walks to the end of it, where an ornate gold door stands. Already standing at the door is a short brunette with a rumpled creased uniform, unbrushed hair, and baggy eyes. Twilight frowns. How could she possibly even think of showing up to this meeting looking like that? Twilight has meticulously brushed every strand of her on her hair a hundred times and she'd ironed her uniform that very morning. They are about to have a meeting with the only important person on this planet. One would think this girl would put more effort into the way she looked. Twilight shakes her head and strides towards her briskly.
"Rainbow" She calls harshly, striding towards the Admiral.
The girl, Rainbow, snapped her head up.
"Twilight!" She calls nervously, "Is something wrong?"
Rainbow twiddles her thumbs anxiously.
"No," Twilight says calmly, "Other than the fact that you looked like you crawled of hell.
Twilight's voice rises, "Rainbow! You cannot afford to look like this for a meeting with her!"
Rainbow hurries to smooth her hair and her skirt.
"I'm sorry," she says, "It's that damn Lunar Republic. They destroyed another set of missiles yesterday."
Twilight frowns, "Soon those pests will feel the might of the Solar Empire, and they will be exterminated."
Five years ago, the two princesses Celestia and Luna ruled peacefully together. Then, they started arguing on different laws, and how things should be done. One day, Luna decided she'd had enough, and she revolted. All those who believed she was right fled with her into hiding and became the Lunar Republic. All those who believed Celestia was right joined the military of the Solar Empire.
Rainbow's face falls. She opens her mouth to say something but decides against it and shuts it.
"That's harsh Twilight," a Southern twang rings out behind them.
Both girls whip around as Lieutenant Applejack strides towards them. Even the assurance of Applejack's neatly combed blond hair cannot deter from the statement she'd just made.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight asks, though she clearly knows the answer to her own question.
"You know very well what I mean," Applejack answers, "Rarity? Fluttershy? Pinkie?"
Twilight flinches at each name, but at Pinkie's, her face darkens and her fists clench.
"Those are just names from my past," she answers coldly, "They mean nothing to me."
Rainbow's face falls.
"Twilight," she says softly, "You can't mean that."
"I can and I do," Twilight answers harshly, "Now come on. It's time."
Twilight knocks on the huge gold door.
"Come in," a silky voice says.
The three girls enter. The gold ornate door leads to a large equally ornate office with gilded paintings, priceless artifacts, and a mahogany desk in the center. Sitting at the desk is Princess Celestia, sovereign to the Solar Empire and the most feared person in the Empire. All three girls fall into a bow.
"I have grave news," Celestia says, "Those three renegade girls we discussed earlier? Well, it appears they have joined P.A.R.T.Y."
P.A.R.T.Y. stands for People After Radically Tubular Yays. They are a rogue mercenary group that is known for brutality and no mercy. Their main goal is to make the world "fun". They are not sided with either the Empire or the Republic, but get rid of any person that they believe is "not fun".
Twilight notices Applejack and Rainbow stiffen. The three renegade girls are comprised of Applejack's sister Apple Bloom, Rainbow's adoptive sister Scootaloo, and their former friend Rarity's sister Sweetie Belle. Twilight knows that they are thinking about what she made them do the day that Luna revolted. The day known as the First Battle.
Celestia bowed her head, "I'm deeply sorry."
Two seconds passed in silence before Celestia lifted her head and forgot the matter entirely. It was clear she didn't see this as something important. Celestia's casual attitude to the matter did not go unnoticed, and Rainbow and Applejack exchanged looks that Twilight hoped to God Celestia didn't see.
"In other news," Celestia said briskly, "I have received word that the Lunar Republic plans to attack the missile shelter in Manehattan in two days time. A full-out raid. I'll leave the counterattack plans to you. Do not fail me. You may leave."
This abruptness did not surprise any of the girls. That was how Celestia operated. Brisk and to the point, because she had other things to do.
As the girls walked out of the office, Twilight stalked ahead of them.
"Twilight, about earlier-" Rainbow started.
Twilight whipped around, her famous purple eyes flashing.
"Don't," she growled, "That's a period in my life I don't care to remember."
And with that, she stalked off, her head held high.