The sound of shattering ceramic got the attention of Shining Armor, the shards of the vase ricocheting on his shield.

"That was the gift of the third Zebrican Emperor."

Shining Armor frowned. "There isn't a Zebrican Empire."

Celestia smiled "Not anymore, it was a short and unpleasant experiment. That vase had nine hundred years, it was invaluable." A brief chuckle. "Oh, well, I hated it anyway."

He looked back at the scene unfolding outside his shield. The banner proudly declaring 'CLIV Symposium on the State of the Equestrian Culture’ was on fire, the Old Avant Gardists had fortified one of the corners, but were out of projectiles after the Zebrican vase.

The conflict had moved from the earlier chaotic everypony against everypony to a few focal points duked out between fragile alliances.

"Your highness, are you sure this was a good idea?"

"It is a long held tradition, my dear Captain, every ten years we have a Symposium where all the leading intellectuals can discuss. It helps me to stay current and it is a wonderful occasion for some frank exchanges."

A makeshift catapult collapsed scattering the existentialists camp, wailing about the absurdity of life echoed briefly, before being overwhelmed again by the sound of battle.

"Princess, I understand the intention underlying this gathering, but maybe it got a bit out of hoof. I mean, the positivists are... Are they about to defenestrate a prisoner? Oh sweet Celestia!"

"Why thank you, I am flattered, but you are already engaged, so I must decline."

Three mares and a stallion were carrying a younger unicorn to one of the windows.

"Now we'll see if gravity is a social construct!"

"That is a decontextualized..." the window shattered "...overly simplified straw pony representation of AAAAAAAAAAAH..."

Shining Armor gaped. "They have killed him! Princess, we need to stop this madness, we... Why are you smiling?"

"You worry too much, we have unicorns and pegasi on catching duty. This year is shaping up as being particularly peaceful, I am so proud of them, they are becoming more tolerant."

He looked at the 'Pataphyisicists carrying around a tightly roped life size pony doll to a bonfire they were somehow trying to summon by describing it.

"Your highness, I hate to state the obvious, but they have tried to kill somepony."

"And they have endured an hour more than last time before doing it. To be honest, I suspect that Luna didn't participate for this exact reason. She pouted a lot as she discovered that I prohibited the use of weapons, and complained that I took all the fun out of it."

"Weapons?"

"It was necessary, did you know that the crossbow had been invented specifically for the XXCI Symposium?"

A charge from the pragmatists dispersed the last core of solipsists. It wouldn't last, they were deep in enemy territory.

"With all due respect, I don't see any rhyme or reason in... this" He waved his hoof at the chaos in the large room.

"It's for the same rationale for which we have two space programs."

"We have a space program?"

"We need to employ in some way way too brilliant ponies with a penchant for making things that explode."

"I... see."

"We have two space programs because two of the most intelligent ponies alive can't stand each other. It is frustrating, and considering their talents, it is excessively dangerous having anything less than our reign between them."

"Please pardon me, but I still don't see it."

"The ponies here are among the smartest of their generation. And for some of them, that comes with an ego to match. This..."

A old mare charged, a bit slowly but with admirable determination, screaming "Things are against us!"

"...is a cathartic experience. In the coming ten years winners will gloat and try to strengthen their position, while losers will rework their arguments, convinced that their defeat stems from weak premises. All this while nopony will stab anypony else, all of them waiting for the next symposium to let their anger and frustration out."

"But the danger..." Shining Armor fell silent, noticing for the first time the subtle aura around the princess's horn. He looked again at the raging battle, seeing for the first time the subtle adjustments, chairs that deviated slightly from the trajectory, ponies that didn't fall as hard as one expected, fire that didn't propagate as furiously as it should in a room full of paper.

Princess Celestia smiled. "Yes, we will have an interesting decade."