Band of Five Attributes (Re-Written)

“That I most certainly do.” The white mare confirmed with a nod, her own eyes starting to narrow. “Why don’t you just leave him and the mare he’s with alone? Equestria would be much better off with one less dragged-on fight.”

“Felix, what do you say?” Asked the blue-maned stallion.

Felix, the grey pony who was still holding the shears, sighed. “Twilight Sky, we lop it off anyway.” He said quickly. “Pony Moore, Cherry Fizzy, Baritone, you agree?”

“Sir Pony Moore to you,” Hissed the one with the tie, “but I agree nonetheless the mane and tail must be shortened.”

Cherry, the brown-pelted pony, merely nodded. Baritone also nodded in agreement.

“You shorten my mane and tail,” Rekka started at last, eyes narrowing as he began overcoming his shock, “I’ll file a harassment and assault lawsuit.”

“Like that will get through.” Moore said, smiling darkly. “I have more than enough money with my business to topple it in moments. Watch me.”

Rekka sat on his rump and crossed his forelegs, brow arching as he did. “Reeally? Can you prove it?” He asked.

“Most certainly in court.” Moore replied, his smile unwavering.

Twilight Sky then lunged at the stallion, but before his body could crash into that of Rekka’s, an aura of light grey grasped him and stopped him entirely, holding him in the air effortlessly. “What the?!” He cried, flailing his limbs about to no avail. The aura still held him strong as ever.

Felix groaned in annoyance, and then he too lunged towards the stallion with shears held in his mouth. Another aura the same color as the one holding Sky grasped him, keeping him perfectly still.

“It seems we have company.” Moore remarked dryly, sitting down on his rump and watching as Cherry also made the lunge that, once again, was stopped by a grey aura. He glanced around, and found a good half-dozen or so royal guards of the unicorn variety approaching the would-be mess in a collective, unified trot.

“Why does the guard have to screw things up now?!” Baritone shrieked, eyes narrowed as he hissed. “We could’ve had him, cut his mane and tail, and have his supposed girlfriend before his very eyes!”

Koto let her horn cease glowing, but not before she sheathed her weapon. She quickly backed off--she wanted to avoid drawing the ire of the guards in her direction.

“Pony Moore, you are under arrest for tax evasion and plotting to partake in aggravated assault! Cherry Fizzy, you’re under arrest for theft and attempted aggravated assault!” The guards barked in unison, turning their attention to Felix. “Felix, you are under arrest for attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery! Baritone, you are under arrest attempted aggravated assault and attempted kidnapping of a foal! Twilight Sky, you are under arrest for attempted aggravated assault and murder of three ponies!”

With that, Moore and Baritone were also encased in magic, but before the guards could trot away with the group of stallions, Koto went up to one of them and tapped his shoulder with a hoof to get his attention. The guard she poked looked at her. “What is it that troubles you?” He asked.

“How do you know what these stallions did, apart from trying to jump my friend?” Koto answered quickly.

“We were tipped off by a hefty few ponies about these guys who acted as a group to carry out their attempted crimes, if that answers your question.” The guard replied, sighing.

“So….these guys caused trouble for the past few days, and you were simply tailing them because of the trouble being reported?” Rekka asked, though his remark sounded more like a statement. One of his brows was arched, and he was still very much sitting on his rump with his front legs crossed together.

“That’s about the whole mess with these guys in a nutshell.” The guard answered again, shooting the red-maned stallion a glance as he spoke.

“Hey, did you see one of my friends?” Koto asked, causing the guard to glance at her again.

“What does he look like?” The guard inquired, a brow arched.

“Short brown mane, tan pelt, crossbow cutie mark?” Koto stated, one of her own brows arched.

“Nope, I didn’t see the pony. Did you look for him?” The guard replied, shaking his head.

“Everywhere in Ponyville, yes. Couldn’t find him.” Koto answered again, this time sighing afterwards. “I’m afraid we can’t hitch a train to go somewhere else and search for him in places like Manehatten.” She added.

The guard stood there, as did his fellow armored ponies, for a few moments more as they processed her words, magic still holding the troublesome stallions firmly. By now, the group had ceased struggling, and resorted to cursing everything out under their breath. Then, he spoke. “Very well. I shall inform the rest of the guard and establish a missing pony’s report and search as soon as I am able.” With that, he and his colleagues began trotting away with the soon-to-be prisoners.

And now the two unicorns, with the third who was uninvited, stood there as though still registering what had just transpired.

“That...certainly could’ve gone better, if I do say so myself.” The white unicorn spoke at last, causing Rekka and Koto to look at her.

“I assume you haven’t seen our friend either?” Rekka sighed, as if he knew full well the answer to his question if he dared ask it.

“I have not seen him once today.” The white mare replied quickly.

“Figures…” The stallion murmured, letting his head drop low as if in defeat, though only for a moment.

“Wait a minute,” The white mare stated, causing the two to look at her again, “I think I’ve heard about you two somewhere…”

Rekka and Koto exchanged a glance with one another, then looked back to the mare with arched brows.

“Oh, yes, I remember now.” The white mare spoke again, this time smiling faintly. “A mare named Kaguya told me a few months ago she had friends who were injured as she helped me design some dresses. But...I don’t recall her saying anything about them having horns…” As she spoke, her smile faded into a frown. “Speaking of horns, how did you two get them?”

“Well...some freak magic’s been affecting me and my friend, and two more have grown wings because of it...something about Discord, I think.” Koto answered, rubbing the back of her head nervously with a hoof.

“Well, I’ve never heard of Discord granting ponies horns or wings. I’ve met him in person before he was reformed, and he took my horn away because his game had a ‘no magic, no wings’ rule or something of the sort.” The mare commented dryly, a brow arched.

“Well, it seems to be possible. How else would I have my horn?” Koto countered, looking up cross-eyed at her pointy appendage.

“Wait...you said Discord and something about him being reformed?” Rekka asked, ears perked to attention. “I also heard Kaguya mention something about the Elements of...Harmony, I think?”

“Oh, yes.” The white mare confirmed with a nod. “Long story short, Discord won his little game, and would’ve caused chaos the world over had my friend Twilight not made us see through his illusion and use the Elements of Harmony to turn him to stone for his wicked ways. A few months later, we turned him back to normal, and we were able to turn him from evil to good...for the most part. He’s still mischievous sometimes, but I guess it’s simply one of his old habits.” She said, smiling faintly as she finished.

“That sounds...rather disastrous. Being turned to stone by the Elements of Harmony sounds like a nightmare...something bugs me about it, actually.” Rekka started, beginning to shake in anxiety.

“What is it?” The mare asked, brow arched once more.

“Are the Elements supposed to do good if they….petrify things?” Rekka asked, ears flat on his skull.

“Yes, actually. The only thing they’ve petrified when used correctly, from my understanding of them at any rate, is Discord himself. Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon with them for a thousand years, so I simply guess it varies from individual to individual the Elements are used on.” The mare answered.

“Banished...to the moon?” Koto asked, ears twitching. “Did I hear that right?”

“Yes, you did. Luna became Nightmare Moon when ponies back then didn’t appreciate her night, so she tried to bathe Equestria in night eternal. Celestia stopped this by banishing her, but she came back on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. She tried to bathe Equestria in night again, but long story short, ended up having her plans thwarted again. Luna can still become Nightmare Moon, but she only uses it on Nightmare Night nowadays.” The mare answered again, smiling faintly.

Koto and Rekka exchanged another quick glance, then returned their attention to the mare. “Yikes.” They said in unison.

“So, did you want to speak to me about anything else?” The mare asked.

“No, actually. We were just about to trot home to tell Kaguya the bad news.” Rekka answered, sighing.

“Well, given the circumstances of earlier, and being the generous mare I am, I think I’ll accompany you home.” The mare said, smiling faintly.

“We never did get your name.” Koto pointed out, sitting on her rump to stretch her front legs a bit afterwards.

“My name is Rarity, dear.” The mare replied, still smiling faintly.