Shane’s smile melted a little. He sighed apparently sobering himself somewhat. “Look... I don’t know what you expect me to say,” he confessed. “I don’t know anything about politics or ponies or this planet.” Shane moved Philomena from his arm to his shoulder. “But I do know that, more often than not, a frightened enemy can be more useful than a dead one.” Celestia lifted an eyebrow but otherwise didn’t interrupt.