Dethroning the Princeby ErraticWingsChaptersMaybe Today Will Be BetterSpiral DownDim DawnPowerMaybe Today Will Be BetterChapter 1 Twilight stared up at her ceiling after yet another sleepless night. How did he- her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her alarm clock. She slammed it into the wall and then crawled out of bed. ~~~ After a few good cups of coffee, Twilight trotted down to Ponyville’s only train station, vaguely wondering whether or not this was good for her health. She didn't really care though. After all the (expensive, but paid for by the crown because she was on business) ticket jazz she boarded the train and took her seat next to Rarity. “Hi, Rarity.” “Good morning, Twilight. Tell me, how do you manage to wake up this early every morning? It is rather tiring.” “Coffee.” “Ah, well I apologize but I think I should have a short nap. Would you wake me when we arrive in Canterlot?” “Okay,” Twilight said. She herself would love to sleep too but her mind and the coffee was keeping her in a zombie-like state. Blueblood… you…b-… sweet Celestia, I hate you… oh, Celestia may your spirit help us… Twilight’s eyes started to water and a few silent sobs escaped her. “I miss you, princess…” she whispered. ~~~ A large group of unicorns were gathered up in a field on the outskirts of Canterlot. Commanding them in a snobbish voice was King Blueblood. “Welcome all you unicorns! As most of you peasants should know, the ponies who usually do this are currently lacking the energy necessary, so all of you need to take their places for the time being!” A round of unenthusiastic cheers came from the crowd and the king snorted. “Alright! Now, Ms. Sparkle would you take the reins from here? I am positively sick of looking a these worthless faces.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” Twilight called out with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. And with that, he returned to his bedchambers. ~~~ “Alright, everypony! Do you all have your numbers?” A 'yes' rang through the group. “Then all number ones head to the left and number twos to the right! Ones, you will lower the moon and twos, you raise the sun. It will be heavy and some of you may need to strain yourselves but it has to be done. Remember your numbers as you will be doing this again tomorrow. Any questions?” Hooves were raised. Twilight sighed, knowing that most of the questions were about Blueblood, they always were. She dragged a hoof down her face. “Okay, any questions about what we are about to do?” “Why are we doing this?” “Most of the unicorns who did this are exhausted, after all they have been doing this for a couple of months now.” A silence fell upon them, their beloved rulers had disappeared only a short time ago. A different voice rang through the crowd, “Weren't you one of them? Shouldn't you be resting too?” “I’m fine!” Twilight snapped. “I apologize. Anymore questions? No? Then lets do this, some of you need to get back home fast, don’t you?” ~~~ Later back at the library Twilight was working on the pile of assignments Celestia had given her shortly before she had gone. She wasn't sure why she was still doing it; nobody needed them anyway. Perhaps it made her forget that her beloved mentor and friend had gone. Just for a while. She missed them both deeply. The skies just weren't the same without them. “Twilight, you need to get some rest! I’ll run the library and you can do those reports later, you’re gonna kill yourself like this!” Spike said suddenly, startling Twilight. “I’m fine, Spike! Now, if you’ll...” she trailed off , staring into space. “Twilight! Snap out of it!” he yelled. His friend was getting worse and worse from her lack of sleep and grief, he was truly worried that she might push herself over the edge. The other girls were worried as well but they said she would get over it soon enough. Yeah, well it's been two months already and its just getting worse each day. “… excuse me, I have work to do.” Well, she's gonna have day off even if it kills me. “I have to uh… go into town for a while, to get... quills! Yeah, quills! I’ll be back soon!” ~~~ Spike ran as fast as he could to Fluttershy’s. “Hey, Fluttershy! Open up! I need your help!” She yelped but recovered and opened the door to see a frantic Spike. “Spike? What’s wrong?” “It’s Twilight! It’s been a week since she actually slept and she’s going crazy, you need to bring her to the spa or something! Anything to get her to sleep.” “B-but she won’t listen to me! maybe you co-“ “Use the stare!” “No! I-I –“ “Do you want her to die?!” “Of course not! Bu-“ “So, do it!” She really didn't want to use the Stare, but... she was really worried about Twilight, she hadn't seen her in days, perhaps she was as bad as Spike said. I have to help her. "Okay then. Why don't you ask Rarity to come as well?" "She's busy today." "Oh I see um, well. Shall we go?" "Nu-uh, she'll kill me. See ya!" "Spike!" But he was gone. ~~~ Knocking the door nervously, the pegasus ruffled her wings as she waited. “Hello, Fluttershy! What brings you here?” Twilight looked... messy, impatient. Almost a little bit insane. She gulped, this wasn't going to be easy, was it? “L-let’s go to the spa. It will be a nice break from things don't you think?” “I really would love to, but I’m very busy at the moment, maybe another time?” Spike... Twilight moved to close the door but Fluttershy blocked her, looked down and mumbled. “What was that?” Twilight asked straining to hear the quiet mare. “I said ‘sorry’." “Why?” And then she looked up, with the Stare. And just like that Twilight was under her spell. “We are going to the spa, and you are going to relax and sleep. If not...” Twilight sighed and nodded. Then they looked at each other and giggled at how silly they were being. "Let's go then!" Twilight exclaimed slamming the library door shut. Spiral DownChapter 2 “You know what? This is the best I’ve felt for months, thanks Fluttershy.” “Your welcome, Twilight. Though it was really Spike’s idea.” Comfortable silence reigned but then it was broken by Twilight. “I’m worried for the princesses, Fluttershy! I can’t help but feel like I should be doing something to help them, to get them back. Or even just know whether they are alive! Its driving me crazy! How could there be no trace? They can’t have just vanished into thin air! There’s no magical traces, nothing! Nopony saw them leave, nopony saw anyone come in! Even Discord doesn’t know what happened, if he’s really telling the truth-“ “Of course he’s telling the truth! I know how he was before and I know you and the girls don’t trust him but I do and I know he is being honest; I’m sure of it. You really need to stop worrying about the princesses because there’s nothing you can do to help them, there is no way you can. Oh I’m sorry, Twilight. There, there its okay…” Twilight clung to Fluttershy like a lifeline and cried her heart out into her mane. They stayed like that for a while with Fluttershy stroking her back and murmuring reassurances. “I-I’m sorry, Fluttershy, I-“ “No, its alright Twilight.” Twilight's head cleared for a moment. She smiled. “You know there is something I could do.” The yellow pegasus heard alarm bells go off in her head, surely Twilight wouldn’t do something really reckless would she? But then, this was Twilight and Twilight tends to be reckless over small things sometimes, so this… “W-what would that be?” She replied as a plan formed in her head. “I have to go to Canterlot, steal Luna’s feather, I remember reading about a tracking spell, yes, i remember it! Hm, Princess Celestia had banned it because it was too dangerous for even the most skilled unicorns- but it’s nothing I’ll be fine! Don’t worry, Fluttershy, I’m sure she was just being over precautious.” “Twilight are you sure? I mean the princess wouldn’t ban something for a small bit of danger would she? There are lots of dangerous legal spells aren’t there?” “Fluttershy, I have to! I can’t sit by and do nothing anymore… I can’t.” “Please don’t, Twilight.” “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. Good night.” With that Twilight got up and walked out into the twilight. ~~~ The Royal Museum in Canterlot Castle displayed only the best the world had to offer. Weapons from ancient times, precious artifacts holding immense power, flags and banner of the past, and so much more that was too invaluable to lose. Which was why Twilight was beyond appalled at the state of the guards. They were useless. But she wasn't going to complain, not right now. Twilight ducked behind a display for what felt like the thousandth time, heart hammering in her ears. She gulped Okay, just one more corner to go. Just one. Three, two… A squeak on the floor as her hoof slipped made her gasp. No! Go away! Horseapples! The Unicorn ceased to breathe as she stared frozen, wide-eyed at the guard as his gaze slid across the room and fixed on the spot where she hid. He called out and moved towards her with his spear held ready. She panicked and teleported to the feather, grabbed it with her magic and set all the alarms off. With her heartbeat pounding in her ears, she lit up her horn and went back to her library for what was sure to be her last time. ~~~ “Spike! Get our saddlebags! Now!” Panicking, the thief started throwing throwing random 'necessities' into a pile in centre of her library. “Wha-? Gimmie five more minutes!” He said as he wormed his way further into his blankets. “We don’t have five minutes! The Royal Guard will be here any second! Come ON!” “Why are they coming here? Did something happen? Wha-!” “We don’t have time.” Twilight said as she dropped Spike on her back. “We are outlaws now, Spike. I’m sorry.” “Hello!” Twilight screamed as she reared back, dropping Spike in the process. “Discord! What in Celestia’s name are you doing here?! We don’t have time, please, please just leave us alone!” “Why my dear Twilight, What has gotten you into such a frenzy? Surely you have just a second for some friendly tea? Or some other beverage if you prefer? Though I really shouldn't be offering you tea in your house, I should be offering it at mine!” And with a snap of his fingers and a burst of light, they vanished. “My dear, dear friends! Welcome to my humble abode, may I introduce you to my pet blobfish? His name is Charles. We absolutely adore having guests! Don't we Charles? But it does gets a little bit lonesome sometimes. Clock! Get the tea and spaghetti! Mat! Take our visitors’ things! Put them up the chimney!” “Discord! What’s happened to my magic?!” Twilight screamed whilst her futile attempts at teleporting did nothing but make her head ache. “Discord we’ve gotta get out of here, you see we’re running fro-“ “Don’t you say another word, Spike!” Wincing, he fell silent. “Oh? Who are you running from? Not the Royal Guard, I do hope; because they have surrounded your little tree-house.” “What?! We have to go, we need to get away right now!” Eyes wide in panic, she doubled her efforts, but not even a spark came out. “Wait, Twilight. If they’re at the library and we’re not, we’re okay, right?” “That is right, young Spike!-" he patted Spikes head, much to the baby dragon's annoyance "-You have no need to worry, we are no longer even in Equestria! Welcome to a place called Nowhere. Absolutely charming isn’t it? I made it myself!” He bowed and was showered in roses that came out of nowhere. Spike looked around the room at all the flying furniture, spitting lamps, rotating walls, floating bathtubs, shrieking napkins, flying books, swimming worms and flying penguins. “Yeah… Sure. Charming.” “Discord. You know they can track you by your magical trace. They’ll know you helped us and at the moment that makes us all criminals. Blueblood won’t stand for any trespassing in the castle let alone theft from the Royal Museum! Especially if he’s involved with the disappearances. We have to go to a magic-cancelling area, until the effects from the last spell is gone. This obviously isn't.” “Oh Twilight, I thought you were cleverer than this! Don’t you feel your magic’s gone? Of course this is a magic-cancelling area! It’s Nowhere! We are perfectly safe here. Perfectly safe!” “Of course I've felt it! Did you not notice me trying to use it ever since we arrived here? But your magic is still going! If you turn up anywhere in Equestria they will have you arrested!” “Me? Arrested? By that whiny little colt? Pah-leese! And besides do you really think that I would be so careless? They won’t have a clue that I even saw you today. I’m at Fluttershy’s this minute!” “That’s impossible, Discord!” “Oh you naïve, little ignorant child. Of course it is, which is why I’m safe!” “But- but that doesn’t make any sense!” “Enough! You bore me with your 'sense'. Go find your princesses, child. They are somewhere in your universe, there is nowhere else they can be. If you do find them alive, do send my regards, if you will. But if they aren't… well find out where the next two alicorns are lurking. You’ll figure out what to do with them. Now if you will kindly leave, that would be wonderful. I have business to attend to elsewhere. Arrivederci!” “But we don’t know how to get back!” Twilight said but it was too late as Discord had already vanished. She looked desperately out the windows that showed nothing but swirling colours that made her want to vomit. "Spike, do you have any idea how to get out? Spike?” The unicorn looked around and realised that her assistant was gone and a fresh wave of panic came over her. “Spike? Spike! Spike?! Where in Celestia’s name have you gone? Spike!” She spun dizzily around and stopped, panting for breath. She then became aware that she was no longer in Discord’s house and instead was floating in the sea of colour. “Oh no, no, no, no, no! Where the hell am I supposed to go?!” Twilight yelled just before she fell through a trap door that opened up beneath her hooves. Dim DawnChapter 3 "Twilight? Where are you?" Spike asked yet again for what felt like the hundredth time. Where could she have vanished to? He didn't understand, but there really wasn't much to understand about this place… Wherever it was. Oh wait, yeah. Nowhere. Maybe she… left? But why would she go without him? Maybe she didn't need him, maybe she thought it was too dangerous for a ‘baby dragon’. Same as always, huh? Every time she goes on some awesome quest, I’m left back home; alone. Except this time he wasn't home, and he wasn't alone at least not entirely, there were a lot of… animals? He thought as he looked warily about him. Whatever the creatures in the chaos-filled room were. “Heheheh, nope, not freaked out. They ain’t nothin’… Really.” He said out loud to himself. “Wait, what am I supposed to do now?” The young dragon cast his eye towards a door on the far side of the room. The only door in the room. “Well… There’s that, I guess.” ~~~ Twilight awoke with a start, looking wildly about her as she tried to recall how she came to be on top of a rock in the middle of a grassland golden from the rising sun. “Oh right: Discord.” “Horseapples, I don’t have Spike, or my saddlebags. Oh no, Spike! Is he okay? Oh no, what if the Guard have him?! What if Discord did something to him? No wait, he wouldn’t do that, would he? No, he’s reformed and it would upset Fluttershy if he did, he wouldn’t risk that…” As Twilight thought more about it the more she felt almost certain that Spike wasn’t in any danger. The coil of worry receded from her heart. As she looked about again she realized that there wasn’t much she could do about it anyway. It was almost guaranteed that she was too far away to teleport back to Discord’s place, even if she could, considering the magic-cancelling properties of the area. “Guess I’d better get going… no wait I don’t know where… NO! The feather!” She felt a wave of horror come over her, if she didn’t have the feather, this disaster would have been for nothing. She leaped up and started scouring the area for her saddlebags or the feather, anything! She had to have it somehow! “Come on, Discord! You wouldn’t send me out here without it, would you?!” Suddenly, the sound of an alarm sounded over from behind a cluster of rocks and a big red arrow formed in the air above it. The unicorn leaped up and headed over to the glowing, flashing arrow. When she looked behind the rocks, the alarm and the arrow ceased it's racket and she was blessed with the sight of her saddlebags, seeming to bulge more than they did before and a cloak was folded next to them. “Oh thank, Celestia! Now where’s Luna’s feather?” She opened her bags and saw that they were full of food and basic first aid equipment and wait... a... knife? Discord thought she'd need a knife? She pushed that out of her mind for the moment. After some more rummaging, she found the precious feather and almost cried with relief. “Okay, now to perform the spell, ah horseapples, I've got to go and find somewhere away from the influence." As Twilight walked, she looked at the blood on the feather with sadness, it seemed wrong somehow that this was all that was left of them. It seemed wrong that the princesses should bleed! They had seemed so strong, so… Indestructible. Finally feeling her magic once more the outlawed unicorn looked about her but there was nopony in sight. She settled down and brought the spell to the front of her mind, recalling the runes needed and started to burn the lines into the grass with her magic, she then placed the feather in the middle of the circle and started to perform the spell, using her utmost concentration. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, as she started pouring more power into her spell. She could feel it straining her but she pushed harder, she was getting close to her limit, she gritted her teeth and made herself believe she couldn’t give up. No matter what, she wouldn't. It went on for what seemed like forever, Twilight was running on pure willpower now, the spell being much too advanced, it was something that required multiple ponies. Eventually, everything came into a perfect balance; Twilight’s mind was linked with the spell, the magic, the runes, the feather. She gently guided the magic to find the owner of the feather and before long she found a faint flicker, but it was… odd. Did I do something wrong? Why isn’t it… solid? But reliable or no, it was a lead, something she could follow, use. She felt a wave of satisfaction and determination flow over her right before she collapsed. ~~~ “Your Majesty, I have brought some unfortunate news.” The king eyes widened in surprise; there was never unfortunate news. “What? What is it?” “Last night there was a theft in the Museum, it has been confirmed that the thief was Twilight Sparkle. There was one injured guard. It is also highly possible that her dragon, Spike was involved too. There was nobody at their house and a search of it has brought up nothing and there were no trace of them having left, magical or physical, your Highness. There is no magical signature anywhere at the moment,” the guard reported while watching the anger brew on her ruler’s face. She wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment. Blueblood could not believe what he was hearing, that damned Sparkle dare commit this, this outrageous act?! Just goes to show yet again that you can’t trust the bloody Sparkle House, pack of lying vermin, the lot of them. But something this low! And by Celestia’s most prized student too! It was scandalous! But what did she steal? “Tell me what she stole, you blithering idiot! Were you not trained to give a full report?!" The guard flinched but obeyed immediately. “T-the late Princess Luna’s feather, your Majesty.” “SHE WHAT?!” The prince roared out, freezing everypony within hearing distance. “Find her immediately!” He was not going to let that cunt get away with stealing something so precious. “But your-“ “I SAID NOW!” “Yes. Of course, Your Majesty.” The guard then proceeded to back out of the hall as fast as possible with her snout still touching the floor. Knowing all the while that though his orders were impossible to carry out if she so much as looked at him she'd be fired. ~~~ “There, there, Fluttershy, she’ll be alright.” “B-but, Discord, I s-should have stopped her! I never thought she'd get c-caught!” The pegasus wailed sobbing into the chest of her dear friend, Discord. He looked extremely uncomfortable and unsure of how to handle this situation. “What, what about Spike? Is he alright?” “Yes, the Guard won’t find him. He’s perfectly safe.” “C-couldn’t he stay here? He m-must be d-distraught.” “It’s better for all of us if he stays there, Fluttershy.” And thus they sat like that for a while, Fluttershy sobbing and Discord stroking her back awkwardly. Up until the Royal Guard came and knocked on the door. “Fluttershy, don’t be afraid. You won’t remember a thing while you’re with them alright?” At her nod he snapped his talons and erased her memory of the events concerning this catastrophe. With that done Discord swept up to the door of the cottage and opened it to the startled faces of the Guard who were clearly not expecting him. “Why, hello! What do you want?” The last part of the question came out flatly in a clear ‘get lost’ way. “Is Miss Fluttershy home? We have a matter of great importance and we must ask her a few questions.” “Oh? What kind of questions? Can it wait? You see, she is a bit out of sorts at the moment, her turtle has just died. So if you would kindly go away?” “I’m afraid we can’t do that, Sir.” “Why? She loved her turtle, you know.” “Because we have a matter of grea-” “Yes, yes, yaddy, yaddy, yadda! Now, come back at a reasonable hour! I mean the Sun hasn’t even risen yet. I thought you ponies were all about decency and that nonsense but it would seem to not be the case!” “But the Bearer of Magic has committed a crime!” Discord paused in the middle of yawning, a shocked look crossing his face. “What? Miss Goody-Four- Shoes? Crime? Preposterous! Ha!” “Shut up, Spear! You know we aren’t supposed to reveal the cause of our investigation like this!” One guard hissed to the other. “Well you try reasoning with him!” He hissed back. PowerChapter 4 "You know this is so wrong, Ruby," a guard called Butter Knife said to his colleague, as he sat by the cottage of the Bearer of Kindness. "What's wrong?" She replied. "That we're y'know, trying to capture Twilight Sparkle, plus detaining the nation's heroes." "She did injure Gleam. I heard it was pretty bad." "You and I both know that was an accident, it happens all the time! It was just the wrong time and place." "Yeah I suppose, I hope he gets out of it okay, his wife is already eight months along. But imprisoning the elements… There's not really anything we can do, is there?" "Heh, yeah, the only thing I can think of is overthrowing the Pr- King but we can't do that, right?" "Maybe someday, Butter." "Hey! I told you to call me Knife!" "Pfft. Everypony knows your name anyway." "Yeah but Butter is just so... Weak." Ruby rolled her eyes and went back to staring into the sky. "Oh for pony's sake! How much longer 'till sunrise?! I'm so bored." The Butter rolled his eyes and looked to the sky as well. "Eh... Probably another hour or so. I think Sour has a pack of cards, let's go see." ~~~ “Mental note to self: when I get back,” If I get back, “Ask Shiny to give me survival lessons, Celestia damnit.” She was freezing cold but very reluctant to cast a warming spell for she wasn’t about to leave a trail leading right to her for Blueblood to follow. That one tracking spell was risky enough. Looking down she gazed upon her pile of ‘food’ that she’d collected. “Okay, picking the mushrooms was a stupid idea,” She threw them into the forest behind her. “The berries were also a stupid idea.” They joined the mushrooms. “Leaves? No, I don’t think so…” “Bark, did Shiny say they ate bark in training? Stupid brain! You can remember advanced spells you never use but not the most basic survival trivia?! Idiot.” “Right, I have to eat grass. Great.” She looked around. "Plenty of that, at least for now." Bending down, she took a mouthful of grass into her mouth. Her face immediately scrunched up as it turned green, the taste making her eyes tear. It was unlike anything she'd ever had before, even worse than Spike's first attempts at cooking when he was younger. Spewing it all over the place she exclaimed, "Sweet Celestia this is going to be horrible!" ~~~ “How can we believe you? You are the Bearer of Loyalty. Loyal to your friends, not the nation,” Blueblood said, staring into Rainbow's eyes. “You’re right. It’s stupid of you to ask me, I’d never rat out on my friends! But I really don’t know anything this time!” Rainbow felt sick. They expected her to spill, eventually, well she wasn't! She didn't know anything, anyway. It didn't matter. She just hoped Twilight was okay. What am I thinking; of course that egghead is okay! She's always okay in the end. “Perhaps, perhaps not. But maybe you could give us some ideas as to what she is up to. Miss Dash, this is a serious crime.” Blueblood said, about to reveal the rest, hoping that perhaps if she knew of the full extent of her friend’s crime, perhaps she would give up something. “Theft isn’t that serious.” She tried to shake off the feeling of dread nagging at her. “It wasn’t just theft, it was also trespassing. But the thing is, she injured one of my guards.” “What? No. Twi wouldn’t hurt a fly!” The pegasus protested, wings flaring and red clouding her head. “Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, and Discord aren’t flies, Rainbow Dash.” “But they were- we were- it was- I mean- we were defending Equestria!” She sputtered. No way Twilight did that, she's too soft... right? “Hm,” The King looked at the fuming mare in front of him considering his options. “You are free to go.” She stood without a word. “For now.” She looked back and glared at him before taking off. ~~~ “Ah, the Element of Honesty. Tell me, do you really tell the truth at all times?” “Of course Ah do,” A drip of sweat trickled down Applejack's forehead. “That was a lie.” “Prove it,” she said, actually glad that he could tell. “You’re a bad liar, Miss Apple.” “Well at least ya can tell when Ahm lyin’; it’ll make this faster.” “Touché. So, where is Twilight Sparkle?” “Ah don’t know.” “Any guesses?” The mare shook her head. “Do you know where her dragon, Spike, is?” “Nope.” “Do you think he is with her?” Applejack looked to the side not glad anymore, “Ah don’t think so.” “You lied. Tell me, do you know exactly what Twilight did?” “She stole something, didn’t she?” “Yes, Princess Luna’s feather. But she also injured one of my guards in the process.” His eyes examining her reaction. “Injured?” She gasped with disbelief. “Yes, she teleported in an unstable state, thus giving off a wave of magic that blew the guard into a display of weapons.” Useless armour. I wonder why Auntie never gave the poor sods something better. “B-but that wasn’t on purpose! She didn’t mean to! Ah know it!” “That doesn’t change the fact that he is in hospital, fighting for his life.” “His life?” She murmured. Her repeating of everything he said was beginning to grate on his nerves. “If he dies she will be executed for murder, you know,” He said coolly. “No…” “Are you sure you do not know anything?” “Ahm sure.” “What does she want with the feather?” “Princess Luna’s feather? Ah don’t know.” “Tell me,” He demanded. “Ah don’t know!” “Put her in a cell for the time being,” Blueblood ordered the guards. “What?!” Exclaimed the mare as the two guards walked over to her. “Are you sure, Your Highness?” a guard asked, the hoofcuffs held with his magic pausing in mid-air. “What do you mean am I sure?! Of course I am! Do it immediately or you shall join her!” the king said, rage swelling in his chest. “But, Your Highness-“ Said the other guard before flinching as the king's hooves slammed into the table. “NOW!” The two guards hurriedly carried out their orders, feeling shame the whole time. Mixed surprised shouts of her name greeted Applejack as she emerged from the questioning room. Looking down, she said not to worry as she was taken away. ~~~ The remaining ponies and draconequus sat in silence, most of them stunned. Finally Big Macintosh rose saying, “Eenope,” As he trotted to the reception. “Miss Rarity.” The unicorn stood as her name was called and emptied her face of emotion. ~~~ “Ah, we meet again, Rarity. Please sit.” “Good morning, Your Highness,” She replied with ice, daintily taking her seat the chair still felt warm. What did you do Applejack? “You still haven’t forgiven me for the Gala? How many letters must I write?” “You were the most uncouth escort I have ever had the misfortune to meet!” She felt embarrassment, willing her cheeks not to burn. The King chuckled, “Oh but I was never your escort, my dear. And at that time I was slightly intoxicated, unfortunately. But to business now, your friend Twilight. Do you know what has occurred?” “Stole a feather did she not?” she asked, keeping her voice light. He nodded sadly. “And injured a guard. Do you know the location of her dragon Spike?” Rarity gasped, “Injured a guard?! Dear Twilight would never!” “Her dragon, Rarity?” “I believe he is away on a trip.” “A trip? Where?” Blueblood asked, surprised. “Someplace beyond the Everfree. We’d heard of a land rich in gems and he’d decided to investigate.” “I see, on his own? How long will this trip take?” “Yes. I can't say. He said that if there were no gems he might visit the Griffon Empire.” The lies flowed out of her mouth so easily, she wondered why it was so hard for her friend. “The Griffon Empire? He does realize that he will need many passes to enter their territory?” “He is a dragon, Blueblood, thus immune to those requirements.” She did an internal eye roll. Honestly, a ruler who can't even recall the simplest of things? Blueblood smiled a small smile at the lack of title she gave him. Maybe one day… “Ah yes, I’d forgotten. So do you know where Twilight is?” “I’m afraid I do not.” “Do you know what she is doing with that feather?” “I believe the poor darling simply misses the Princesses. They were very close.” “A bit extreme, don’t you think?” “Grief can do that to a pony.” “You speak as if from experience, my dear.” “That is none of your business,” She said sharply, sorrow stabbing her chest. “Of course. You may go.” I wonder what happened? “Might I ask what is happening with Applejack?” “She is staying in a cell for the time being. She seems to be withholding information.” “I see. How long must she stay here?” Poor Applejack. “Hopefully she will be allowed to go as soon as she gives the information.” Like that would happen. “Then will you send some ponies down to help with her farm? It is the harvesting season.” “Why would I do that? She is a prisoner; not a guest.” “Would you leave the harvest of the entire Sweet Apple Acres orchard to one stallion, an old mare, and a child that has not even gained her mark yet?” she asked, letting a little of her scorn seep into her voice. “And why won’t they hire help themselves?” “They have pride and little money.” “I shall think about it. Do not get your hopes up, though.” Rarity, why must you make me do these things? “Do so. Goodbye.” His eyes followed her as she left the room. Ah my sweet, dear Rarity. When will you care for me once more? He said to the pony on the other side of the glass without looking away from the door, “What do you think?” He heard a voice through his earpiece. “Something is wrong. She was controlling her reflexes. The story about the dragon was most likely a ruse.” “Do you think she is with the agency?” Damn you if you are, Rarity. “Who knows, I would say she most probably is. But to have one of the Elements in their agency? That is dangerous on both sides, Your Majesty.” “Send a team to watch her, Reader. This is becoming complicated. In fact, watch all of them. I want full reports on my desk every day.” “Yes, Your Highness.” “Call in Pinkie Pie.” ~~~ “Take her out! I cannot deal with this anymore!” the King yelled as his head throbbed from the constant stream of squeaks coming from the pony in front of him rambling about cupcakes and cherries. ~~~ “Miss Fluttershy, don’t be so nervous, I don’t bite.” Holding an ice pack to his head, he hoped dearly that this would be worthwhile. Too early in the morning. Damn you, Sparkle. “Sorry,” the trembling pegasus said as she took her seat. “So, do you know what has happened?” “Y-yes. My friends told me.” “Please tell me everything you know. Do you where Twilight and her dragon are?” “N-no, Your Highness.” “Do you know why she stole the feather? What does she want with it?” “I really can’t say. S-she never told me anything.” “Please tell me, Fluttershy. I need to know.” “I don’t know!” “She’s been wiped!.” “I’ll ask once more. Please tell me, I don’t want to have to keep you and Applejack here.” “I-I don’t know why she did it!” “I’m afraid you will have to join Applejack then.” Fluttershy froze in terror, her eyes wide as she stared at the king before her. I-I'm going to prison?! Her vision darkening, she fell over, the muffled cries of concern swimming in her head. ~~~ The king stared at the limp Fluttershy dangling in a pegasus guards forelegs as he flew to the clinic. Once she was out of the door he asked Reader, "Did she faint or was that magic?" "Fainting for sure, Your Highness. I've never seen such a nervous mare before." Blueblood sighed. The headache was only becoming worse and he did not want to have to deal with Twilight's family and Discord. Oh how he despised that god, he was the only one in Equestria that could take his throne away from him, he counted himself lucky that the freak hadn't already, he'd be powerless to stop him. There is nothing that can be done about it. I just hope that he stays in the background. Celestia knows that nopony would lift a hoof to help me against him. The throbbing in his head doubled as he said, "Bring Discord in." This was going to be- Blueblood would never admit this to anypony but when the God of Chaos floated in, he nearly pissed himself. Discord did not look happy, at all. He hopped off his cloud and strode to the desk, each step leaving cracked prints in the ground. Lightning swirled about him and everywhere else in the room darkened considerably. The fury in his eyes were clear, a glare plastered on his face. Blueblood pissed himself. Is this the end?! Is this the end of the reign of the great King?! The First King of Equestria, nephew to the Alicorn Princesses themselves? What stories will they tell? How many statues in my likeliness will there be?! "Why have you imprisoned my friend?" Discord asked, voice dangerously low. "S-she-" Gulping he thought, DAMNIT this is the worst day of my life! "-She withheld valuable information, I must-" "And how would you know if she hasn't told you?" "Body language can be read, Discord." He was trying very hard to regain his calm, but calm wasn't on his side, not today. "And what was read?" he said, still speaking softly, the glare ever present. "Don't tell, he might be the one who did it, Your Highness!" "I can hear you, you know." Discord said as he grew another head that faced the 'wall' and shot a glower at the pony inside. Reader had never been so terrified in his life, he could almost feel pain from the stare that bore into his eyes. "Enough of this, Discord! What do you want?" He failed miserably at trying to sound collected. "What I demand is an apology for wrongly accusing my friends; Fluttershy and Applejack, and for them to be released." He had both of his heads focused solely on the prince. "Reader. Apologize." Blueblood kept staring at Discord as he said it, not daring for a second to look away. "Huh?! Why me?!" "You were reading them, nitwit!" "Blueblood, I want you to apologize. Immediately." If Discord wasn't in such a sour mood, he would be enjoying himself immensely at toying with the colt. "Me? You are insane to think that I would ever do something so-" "I have been told that often. But think on it again, foal. I have ripped the heads of countless like you, and I never broke a sweat once. But I haven't worked out in a while, so shall we see if I am out of shape?" "I apologize!" he squeaked, too intimidated to be ashamed at apologizing like a filly. "And releasing them?" "I can't do that." He started to regain some composure. "Why not?" "We are conducting investigations, Discord. We need that information. Surely you know that?" "Yes I do. I am just upset is all, surely"- lightning burnt the table to a crisp- "you realize that?" "Indeed... would you be willing to help me get the information out of them?" "Do I look like I want to?" "Ah, no, alright, I'll have them set free in a moment." Discord's clouds disappeared and a rainbow lit up the room. He turned and hopped onto his scooter. "But first, I need to ask you if you have any information." He turned and raised an eyebrow at the prince with an ice pack on his head dripping water onto him, a suspicious looking puddle under his flank, and some ash from the table covering him. He must be either extremely brave or immensely stupid. I pick the latter! a voice in his head said. Murmurs of agreement echoed in his brain. "Do you know of Twilight's location?" "No." "Spike's?" "No, and I also don't know the answer to the many other bucking questions you have. Good night!" "But it's morning." He stopped and snapped his fingers. "Now it's not." "Fix it immediately!" He stuck his tongue out at him and painted himself red and chewed on a stalk while saying, "Eenope." And with a burst of fireworks, he was gone. "You must have a screw lose, Your Highness." "SHUT UP!"
Maybe Today Will Be BetterChapter 1 Twilight stared up at her ceiling after yet another sleepless night. How did he- her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her alarm clock. She slammed it into the wall and then crawled out of bed. ~~~ After a few good cups of coffee, Twilight trotted down to Ponyville’s only train station, vaguely wondering whether or not this was good for her health. She didn't really care though. After all the (expensive, but paid for by the crown because she was on business) ticket jazz she boarded the train and took her seat next to Rarity. “Hi, Rarity.” “Good morning, Twilight. Tell me, how do you manage to wake up this early every morning? It is rather tiring.” “Coffee.” “Ah, well I apologize but I think I should have a short nap. Would you wake me when we arrive in Canterlot?” “Okay,” Twilight said. She herself would love to sleep too but her mind and the coffee was keeping her in a zombie-like state. Blueblood… you…b-… sweet Celestia, I hate you… oh, Celestia may your spirit help us… Twilight’s eyes started to water and a few silent sobs escaped her. “I miss you, princess…” she whispered. ~~~ A large group of unicorns were gathered up in a field on the outskirts of Canterlot. Commanding them in a snobbish voice was King Blueblood. “Welcome all you unicorns! As most of you peasants should know, the ponies who usually do this are currently lacking the energy necessary, so all of you need to take their places for the time being!” A round of unenthusiastic cheers came from the crowd and the king snorted. “Alright! Now, Ms. Sparkle would you take the reins from here? I am positively sick of looking a these worthless faces.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” Twilight called out with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. And with that, he returned to his bedchambers. ~~~ “Alright, everypony! Do you all have your numbers?” A 'yes' rang through the group. “Then all number ones head to the left and number twos to the right! Ones, you will lower the moon and twos, you raise the sun. It will be heavy and some of you may need to strain yourselves but it has to be done. Remember your numbers as you will be doing this again tomorrow. Any questions?” Hooves were raised. Twilight sighed, knowing that most of the questions were about Blueblood, they always were. She dragged a hoof down her face. “Okay, any questions about what we are about to do?” “Why are we doing this?” “Most of the unicorns who did this are exhausted, after all they have been doing this for a couple of months now.” A silence fell upon them, their beloved rulers had disappeared only a short time ago. A different voice rang through the crowd, “Weren't you one of them? Shouldn't you be resting too?” “I’m fine!” Twilight snapped. “I apologize. Anymore questions? No? Then lets do this, some of you need to get back home fast, don’t you?” ~~~ Later back at the library Twilight was working on the pile of assignments Celestia had given her shortly before she had gone. She wasn't sure why she was still doing it; nobody needed them anyway. Perhaps it made her forget that her beloved mentor and friend had gone. Just for a while. She missed them both deeply. The skies just weren't the same without them. “Twilight, you need to get some rest! I’ll run the library and you can do those reports later, you’re gonna kill yourself like this!” Spike said suddenly, startling Twilight. “I’m fine, Spike! Now, if you’ll...” she trailed off , staring into space. “Twilight! Snap out of it!” he yelled. His friend was getting worse and worse from her lack of sleep and grief, he was truly worried that she might push herself over the edge. The other girls were worried as well but they said she would get over it soon enough. Yeah, well it's been two months already and its just getting worse each day. “… excuse me, I have work to do.” Well, she's gonna have day off even if it kills me. “I have to uh… go into town for a while, to get... quills! Yeah, quills! I’ll be back soon!” ~~~ Spike ran as fast as he could to Fluttershy’s. “Hey, Fluttershy! Open up! I need your help!” She yelped but recovered and opened the door to see a frantic Spike. “Spike? What’s wrong?” “It’s Twilight! It’s been a week since she actually slept and she’s going crazy, you need to bring her to the spa or something! Anything to get her to sleep.” “B-but she won’t listen to me! maybe you co-“ “Use the stare!” “No! I-I –“ “Do you want her to die?!” “Of course not! Bu-“ “So, do it!” She really didn't want to use the Stare, but... she was really worried about Twilight, she hadn't seen her in days, perhaps she was as bad as Spike said. I have to help her. "Okay then. Why don't you ask Rarity to come as well?" "She's busy today." "Oh I see um, well. Shall we go?" "Nu-uh, she'll kill me. See ya!" "Spike!" But he was gone. ~~~ Knocking the door nervously, the pegasus ruffled her wings as she waited. “Hello, Fluttershy! What brings you here?” Twilight looked... messy, impatient. Almost a little bit insane. She gulped, this wasn't going to be easy, was it? “L-let’s go to the spa. It will be a nice break from things don't you think?” “I really would love to, but I’m very busy at the moment, maybe another time?” Spike... Twilight moved to close the door but Fluttershy blocked her, looked down and mumbled. “What was that?” Twilight asked straining to hear the quiet mare. “I said ‘sorry’." “Why?” And then she looked up, with the Stare. And just like that Twilight was under her spell. “We are going to the spa, and you are going to relax and sleep. If not...” Twilight sighed and nodded. Then they looked at each other and giggled at how silly they were being. "Let's go then!" Twilight exclaimed slamming the library door shut.
Spiral DownChapter 2 “You know what? This is the best I’ve felt for months, thanks Fluttershy.” “Your welcome, Twilight. Though it was really Spike’s idea.” Comfortable silence reigned but then it was broken by Twilight. “I’m worried for the princesses, Fluttershy! I can’t help but feel like I should be doing something to help them, to get them back. Or even just know whether they are alive! Its driving me crazy! How could there be no trace? They can’t have just vanished into thin air! There’s no magical traces, nothing! Nopony saw them leave, nopony saw anyone come in! Even Discord doesn’t know what happened, if he’s really telling the truth-“ “Of course he’s telling the truth! I know how he was before and I know you and the girls don’t trust him but I do and I know he is being honest; I’m sure of it. You really need to stop worrying about the princesses because there’s nothing you can do to help them, there is no way you can. Oh I’m sorry, Twilight. There, there its okay…” Twilight clung to Fluttershy like a lifeline and cried her heart out into her mane. They stayed like that for a while with Fluttershy stroking her back and murmuring reassurances. “I-I’m sorry, Fluttershy, I-“ “No, its alright Twilight.” Twilight's head cleared for a moment. She smiled. “You know there is something I could do.” The yellow pegasus heard alarm bells go off in her head, surely Twilight wouldn’t do something really reckless would she? But then, this was Twilight and Twilight tends to be reckless over small things sometimes, so this… “W-what would that be?” She replied as a plan formed in her head. “I have to go to Canterlot, steal Luna’s feather, I remember reading about a tracking spell, yes, i remember it! Hm, Princess Celestia had banned it because it was too dangerous for even the most skilled unicorns- but it’s nothing I’ll be fine! Don’t worry, Fluttershy, I’m sure she was just being over precautious.” “Twilight are you sure? I mean the princess wouldn’t ban something for a small bit of danger would she? There are lots of dangerous legal spells aren’t there?” “Fluttershy, I have to! I can’t sit by and do nothing anymore… I can’t.” “Please don’t, Twilight.” “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. Good night.” With that Twilight got up and walked out into the twilight. ~~~ The Royal Museum in Canterlot Castle displayed only the best the world had to offer. Weapons from ancient times, precious artifacts holding immense power, flags and banner of the past, and so much more that was too invaluable to lose. Which was why Twilight was beyond appalled at the state of the guards. They were useless. But she wasn't going to complain, not right now. Twilight ducked behind a display for what felt like the thousandth time, heart hammering in her ears. She gulped Okay, just one more corner to go. Just one. Three, two… A squeak on the floor as her hoof slipped made her gasp. No! Go away! Horseapples! The Unicorn ceased to breathe as she stared frozen, wide-eyed at the guard as his gaze slid across the room and fixed on the spot where she hid. He called out and moved towards her with his spear held ready. She panicked and teleported to the feather, grabbed it with her magic and set all the alarms off. With her heartbeat pounding in her ears, she lit up her horn and went back to her library for what was sure to be her last time. ~~~ “Spike! Get our saddlebags! Now!” Panicking, the thief started throwing throwing random 'necessities' into a pile in centre of her library. “Wha-? Gimmie five more minutes!” He said as he wormed his way further into his blankets. “We don’t have five minutes! The Royal Guard will be here any second! Come ON!” “Why are they coming here? Did something happen? Wha-!” “We don’t have time.” Twilight said as she dropped Spike on her back. “We are outlaws now, Spike. I’m sorry.” “Hello!” Twilight screamed as she reared back, dropping Spike in the process. “Discord! What in Celestia’s name are you doing here?! We don’t have time, please, please just leave us alone!” “Why my dear Twilight, What has gotten you into such a frenzy? Surely you have just a second for some friendly tea? Or some other beverage if you prefer? Though I really shouldn't be offering you tea in your house, I should be offering it at mine!” And with a snap of his fingers and a burst of light, they vanished. “My dear, dear friends! Welcome to my humble abode, may I introduce you to my pet blobfish? His name is Charles. We absolutely adore having guests! Don't we Charles? But it does gets a little bit lonesome sometimes. Clock! Get the tea and spaghetti! Mat! Take our visitors’ things! Put them up the chimney!” “Discord! What’s happened to my magic?!” Twilight screamed whilst her futile attempts at teleporting did nothing but make her head ache. “Discord we’ve gotta get out of here, you see we’re running fro-“ “Don’t you say another word, Spike!” Wincing, he fell silent. “Oh? Who are you running from? Not the Royal Guard, I do hope; because they have surrounded your little tree-house.” “What?! We have to go, we need to get away right now!” Eyes wide in panic, she doubled her efforts, but not even a spark came out. “Wait, Twilight. If they’re at the library and we’re not, we’re okay, right?” “That is right, young Spike!-" he patted Spikes head, much to the baby dragon's annoyance "-You have no need to worry, we are no longer even in Equestria! Welcome to a place called Nowhere. Absolutely charming isn’t it? I made it myself!” He bowed and was showered in roses that came out of nowhere. Spike looked around the room at all the flying furniture, spitting lamps, rotating walls, floating bathtubs, shrieking napkins, flying books, swimming worms and flying penguins. “Yeah… Sure. Charming.” “Discord. You know they can track you by your magical trace. They’ll know you helped us and at the moment that makes us all criminals. Blueblood won’t stand for any trespassing in the castle let alone theft from the Royal Museum! Especially if he’s involved with the disappearances. We have to go to a magic-cancelling area, until the effects from the last spell is gone. This obviously isn't.” “Oh Twilight, I thought you were cleverer than this! Don’t you feel your magic’s gone? Of course this is a magic-cancelling area! It’s Nowhere! We are perfectly safe here. Perfectly safe!” “Of course I've felt it! Did you not notice me trying to use it ever since we arrived here? But your magic is still going! If you turn up anywhere in Equestria they will have you arrested!” “Me? Arrested? By that whiny little colt? Pah-leese! And besides do you really think that I would be so careless? They won’t have a clue that I even saw you today. I’m at Fluttershy’s this minute!” “That’s impossible, Discord!” “Oh you naïve, little ignorant child. Of course it is, which is why I’m safe!” “But- but that doesn’t make any sense!” “Enough! You bore me with your 'sense'. Go find your princesses, child. They are somewhere in your universe, there is nowhere else they can be. If you do find them alive, do send my regards, if you will. But if they aren't… well find out where the next two alicorns are lurking. You’ll figure out what to do with them. Now if you will kindly leave, that would be wonderful. I have business to attend to elsewhere. Arrivederci!” “But we don’t know how to get back!” Twilight said but it was too late as Discord had already vanished. She looked desperately out the windows that showed nothing but swirling colours that made her want to vomit. "Spike, do you have any idea how to get out? Spike?” The unicorn looked around and realised that her assistant was gone and a fresh wave of panic came over her. “Spike? Spike! Spike?! Where in Celestia’s name have you gone? Spike!” She spun dizzily around and stopped, panting for breath. She then became aware that she was no longer in Discord’s house and instead was floating in the sea of colour. “Oh no, no, no, no, no! Where the hell am I supposed to go?!” Twilight yelled just before she fell through a trap door that opened up beneath her hooves.
Dim DawnChapter 3 "Twilight? Where are you?" Spike asked yet again for what felt like the hundredth time. Where could she have vanished to? He didn't understand, but there really wasn't much to understand about this place… Wherever it was. Oh wait, yeah. Nowhere. Maybe she… left? But why would she go without him? Maybe she didn't need him, maybe she thought it was too dangerous for a ‘baby dragon’. Same as always, huh? Every time she goes on some awesome quest, I’m left back home; alone. Except this time he wasn't home, and he wasn't alone at least not entirely, there were a lot of… animals? He thought as he looked warily about him. Whatever the creatures in the chaos-filled room were. “Heheheh, nope, not freaked out. They ain’t nothin’… Really.” He said out loud to himself. “Wait, what am I supposed to do now?” The young dragon cast his eye towards a door on the far side of the room. The only door in the room. “Well… There’s that, I guess.” ~~~ Twilight awoke with a start, looking wildly about her as she tried to recall how she came to be on top of a rock in the middle of a grassland golden from the rising sun. “Oh right: Discord.” “Horseapples, I don’t have Spike, or my saddlebags. Oh no, Spike! Is he okay? Oh no, what if the Guard have him?! What if Discord did something to him? No wait, he wouldn’t do that, would he? No, he’s reformed and it would upset Fluttershy if he did, he wouldn’t risk that…” As Twilight thought more about it the more she felt almost certain that Spike wasn’t in any danger. The coil of worry receded from her heart. As she looked about again she realized that there wasn’t much she could do about it anyway. It was almost guaranteed that she was too far away to teleport back to Discord’s place, even if she could, considering the magic-cancelling properties of the area. “Guess I’d better get going… no wait I don’t know where… NO! The feather!” She felt a wave of horror come over her, if she didn’t have the feather, this disaster would have been for nothing. She leaped up and started scouring the area for her saddlebags or the feather, anything! She had to have it somehow! “Come on, Discord! You wouldn’t send me out here without it, would you?!” Suddenly, the sound of an alarm sounded over from behind a cluster of rocks and a big red arrow formed in the air above it. The unicorn leaped up and headed over to the glowing, flashing arrow. When she looked behind the rocks, the alarm and the arrow ceased it's racket and she was blessed with the sight of her saddlebags, seeming to bulge more than they did before and a cloak was folded next to them. “Oh thank, Celestia! Now where’s Luna’s feather?” She opened her bags and saw that they were full of food and basic first aid equipment and wait... a... knife? Discord thought she'd need a knife? She pushed that out of her mind for the moment. After some more rummaging, she found the precious feather and almost cried with relief. “Okay, now to perform the spell, ah horseapples, I've got to go and find somewhere away from the influence." As Twilight walked, she looked at the blood on the feather with sadness, it seemed wrong somehow that this was all that was left of them. It seemed wrong that the princesses should bleed! They had seemed so strong, so… Indestructible. Finally feeling her magic once more the outlawed unicorn looked about her but there was nopony in sight. She settled down and brought the spell to the front of her mind, recalling the runes needed and started to burn the lines into the grass with her magic, she then placed the feather in the middle of the circle and started to perform the spell, using her utmost concentration. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, as she started pouring more power into her spell. She could feel it straining her but she pushed harder, she was getting close to her limit, she gritted her teeth and made herself believe she couldn’t give up. No matter what, she wouldn't. It went on for what seemed like forever, Twilight was running on pure willpower now, the spell being much too advanced, it was something that required multiple ponies. Eventually, everything came into a perfect balance; Twilight’s mind was linked with the spell, the magic, the runes, the feather. She gently guided the magic to find the owner of the feather and before long she found a faint flicker, but it was… odd. Did I do something wrong? Why isn’t it… solid? But reliable or no, it was a lead, something she could follow, use. She felt a wave of satisfaction and determination flow over her right before she collapsed. ~~~ “Your Majesty, I have brought some unfortunate news.” The king eyes widened in surprise; there was never unfortunate news. “What? What is it?” “Last night there was a theft in the Museum, it has been confirmed that the thief was Twilight Sparkle. There was one injured guard. It is also highly possible that her dragon, Spike was involved too. There was nobody at their house and a search of it has brought up nothing and there were no trace of them having left, magical or physical, your Highness. There is no magical signature anywhere at the moment,” the guard reported while watching the anger brew on her ruler’s face. She wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment. Blueblood could not believe what he was hearing, that damned Sparkle dare commit this, this outrageous act?! Just goes to show yet again that you can’t trust the bloody Sparkle House, pack of lying vermin, the lot of them. But something this low! And by Celestia’s most prized student too! It was scandalous! But what did she steal? “Tell me what she stole, you blithering idiot! Were you not trained to give a full report?!" The guard flinched but obeyed immediately. “T-the late Princess Luna’s feather, your Majesty.” “SHE WHAT?!” The prince roared out, freezing everypony within hearing distance. “Find her immediately!” He was not going to let that cunt get away with stealing something so precious. “But your-“ “I SAID NOW!” “Yes. Of course, Your Majesty.” The guard then proceeded to back out of the hall as fast as possible with her snout still touching the floor. Knowing all the while that though his orders were impossible to carry out if she so much as looked at him she'd be fired. ~~~ “There, there, Fluttershy, she’ll be alright.” “B-but, Discord, I s-should have stopped her! I never thought she'd get c-caught!” The pegasus wailed sobbing into the chest of her dear friend, Discord. He looked extremely uncomfortable and unsure of how to handle this situation. “What, what about Spike? Is he alright?” “Yes, the Guard won’t find him. He’s perfectly safe.” “C-couldn’t he stay here? He m-must be d-distraught.” “It’s better for all of us if he stays there, Fluttershy.” And thus they sat like that for a while, Fluttershy sobbing and Discord stroking her back awkwardly. Up until the Royal Guard came and knocked on the door. “Fluttershy, don’t be afraid. You won’t remember a thing while you’re with them alright?” At her nod he snapped his talons and erased her memory of the events concerning this catastrophe. With that done Discord swept up to the door of the cottage and opened it to the startled faces of the Guard who were clearly not expecting him. “Why, hello! What do you want?” The last part of the question came out flatly in a clear ‘get lost’ way. “Is Miss Fluttershy home? We have a matter of great importance and we must ask her a few questions.” “Oh? What kind of questions? Can it wait? You see, she is a bit out of sorts at the moment, her turtle has just died. So if you would kindly go away?” “I’m afraid we can’t do that, Sir.” “Why? She loved her turtle, you know.” “Because we have a matter of grea-” “Yes, yes, yaddy, yaddy, yadda! Now, come back at a reasonable hour! I mean the Sun hasn’t even risen yet. I thought you ponies were all about decency and that nonsense but it would seem to not be the case!” “But the Bearer of Magic has committed a crime!” Discord paused in the middle of yawning, a shocked look crossing his face. “What? Miss Goody-Four- Shoes? Crime? Preposterous! Ha!” “Shut up, Spear! You know we aren’t supposed to reveal the cause of our investigation like this!” One guard hissed to the other. “Well you try reasoning with him!” He hissed back.
PowerChapter 4 "You know this is so wrong, Ruby," a guard called Butter Knife said to his colleague, as he sat by the cottage of the Bearer of Kindness. "What's wrong?" She replied. "That we're y'know, trying to capture Twilight Sparkle, plus detaining the nation's heroes." "She did injure Gleam. I heard it was pretty bad." "You and I both know that was an accident, it happens all the time! It was just the wrong time and place." "Yeah I suppose, I hope he gets out of it okay, his wife is already eight months along. But imprisoning the elements… There's not really anything we can do, is there?" "Heh, yeah, the only thing I can think of is overthrowing the Pr- King but we can't do that, right?" "Maybe someday, Butter." "Hey! I told you to call me Knife!" "Pfft. Everypony knows your name anyway." "Yeah but Butter is just so... Weak." Ruby rolled her eyes and went back to staring into the sky. "Oh for pony's sake! How much longer 'till sunrise?! I'm so bored." The Butter rolled his eyes and looked to the sky as well. "Eh... Probably another hour or so. I think Sour has a pack of cards, let's go see." ~~~ “Mental note to self: when I get back,” If I get back, “Ask Shiny to give me survival lessons, Celestia damnit.” She was freezing cold but very reluctant to cast a warming spell for she wasn’t about to leave a trail leading right to her for Blueblood to follow. That one tracking spell was risky enough. Looking down she gazed upon her pile of ‘food’ that she’d collected. “Okay, picking the mushrooms was a stupid idea,” She threw them into the forest behind her. “The berries were also a stupid idea.” They joined the mushrooms. “Leaves? No, I don’t think so…” “Bark, did Shiny say they ate bark in training? Stupid brain! You can remember advanced spells you never use but not the most basic survival trivia?! Idiot.” “Right, I have to eat grass. Great.” She looked around. "Plenty of that, at least for now." Bending down, she took a mouthful of grass into her mouth. Her face immediately scrunched up as it turned green, the taste making her eyes tear. It was unlike anything she'd ever had before, even worse than Spike's first attempts at cooking when he was younger. Spewing it all over the place she exclaimed, "Sweet Celestia this is going to be horrible!" ~~~ “How can we believe you? You are the Bearer of Loyalty. Loyal to your friends, not the nation,” Blueblood said, staring into Rainbow's eyes. “You’re right. It’s stupid of you to ask me, I’d never rat out on my friends! But I really don’t know anything this time!” Rainbow felt sick. They expected her to spill, eventually, well she wasn't! She didn't know anything, anyway. It didn't matter. She just hoped Twilight was okay. What am I thinking; of course that egghead is okay! She's always okay in the end. “Perhaps, perhaps not. But maybe you could give us some ideas as to what she is up to. Miss Dash, this is a serious crime.” Blueblood said, about to reveal the rest, hoping that perhaps if she knew of the full extent of her friend’s crime, perhaps she would give up something. “Theft isn’t that serious.” She tried to shake off the feeling of dread nagging at her. “It wasn’t just theft, it was also trespassing. But the thing is, she injured one of my guards.” “What? No. Twi wouldn’t hurt a fly!” The pegasus protested, wings flaring and red clouding her head. “Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, and Discord aren’t flies, Rainbow Dash.” “But they were- we were- it was- I mean- we were defending Equestria!” She sputtered. No way Twilight did that, she's too soft... right? “Hm,” The King looked at the fuming mare in front of him considering his options. “You are free to go.” She stood without a word. “For now.” She looked back and glared at him before taking off. ~~~ “Ah, the Element of Honesty. Tell me, do you really tell the truth at all times?” “Of course Ah do,” A drip of sweat trickled down Applejack's forehead. “That was a lie.” “Prove it,” she said, actually glad that he could tell. “You’re a bad liar, Miss Apple.” “Well at least ya can tell when Ahm lyin’; it’ll make this faster.” “Touché. So, where is Twilight Sparkle?” “Ah don’t know.” “Any guesses?” The mare shook her head. “Do you know where her dragon, Spike, is?” “Nope.” “Do you think he is with her?” Applejack looked to the side not glad anymore, “Ah don’t think so.” “You lied. Tell me, do you know exactly what Twilight did?” “She stole something, didn’t she?” “Yes, Princess Luna’s feather. But she also injured one of my guards in the process.” His eyes examining her reaction. “Injured?” She gasped with disbelief. “Yes, she teleported in an unstable state, thus giving off a wave of magic that blew the guard into a display of weapons.” Useless armour. I wonder why Auntie never gave the poor sods something better. “B-but that wasn’t on purpose! She didn’t mean to! Ah know it!” “That doesn’t change the fact that he is in hospital, fighting for his life.” “His life?” She murmured. Her repeating of everything he said was beginning to grate on his nerves. “If he dies she will be executed for murder, you know,” He said coolly. “No…” “Are you sure you do not know anything?” “Ahm sure.” “What does she want with the feather?” “Princess Luna’s feather? Ah don’t know.” “Tell me,” He demanded. “Ah don’t know!” “Put her in a cell for the time being,” Blueblood ordered the guards. “What?!” Exclaimed the mare as the two guards walked over to her. “Are you sure, Your Highness?” a guard asked, the hoofcuffs held with his magic pausing in mid-air. “What do you mean am I sure?! Of course I am! Do it immediately or you shall join her!” the king said, rage swelling in his chest. “But, Your Highness-“ Said the other guard before flinching as the king's hooves slammed into the table. “NOW!” The two guards hurriedly carried out their orders, feeling shame the whole time. Mixed surprised shouts of her name greeted Applejack as she emerged from the questioning room. Looking down, she said not to worry as she was taken away. ~~~ The remaining ponies and draconequus sat in silence, most of them stunned. Finally Big Macintosh rose saying, “Eenope,” As he trotted to the reception. “Miss Rarity.” The unicorn stood as her name was called and emptied her face of emotion. ~~~ “Ah, we meet again, Rarity. Please sit.” “Good morning, Your Highness,” She replied with ice, daintily taking her seat the chair still felt warm. What did you do Applejack? “You still haven’t forgiven me for the Gala? How many letters must I write?” “You were the most uncouth escort I have ever had the misfortune to meet!” She felt embarrassment, willing her cheeks not to burn. The King chuckled, “Oh but I was never your escort, my dear. And at that time I was slightly intoxicated, unfortunately. But to business now, your friend Twilight. Do you know what has occurred?” “Stole a feather did she not?” she asked, keeping her voice light. He nodded sadly. “And injured a guard. Do you know the location of her dragon Spike?” Rarity gasped, “Injured a guard?! Dear Twilight would never!” “Her dragon, Rarity?” “I believe he is away on a trip.” “A trip? Where?” Blueblood asked, surprised. “Someplace beyond the Everfree. We’d heard of a land rich in gems and he’d decided to investigate.” “I see, on his own? How long will this trip take?” “Yes. I can't say. He said that if there were no gems he might visit the Griffon Empire.” The lies flowed out of her mouth so easily, she wondered why it was so hard for her friend. “The Griffon Empire? He does realize that he will need many passes to enter their territory?” “He is a dragon, Blueblood, thus immune to those requirements.” She did an internal eye roll. Honestly, a ruler who can't even recall the simplest of things? Blueblood smiled a small smile at the lack of title she gave him. Maybe one day… “Ah yes, I’d forgotten. So do you know where Twilight is?” “I’m afraid I do not.” “Do you know what she is doing with that feather?” “I believe the poor darling simply misses the Princesses. They were very close.” “A bit extreme, don’t you think?” “Grief can do that to a pony.” “You speak as if from experience, my dear.” “That is none of your business,” She said sharply, sorrow stabbing her chest. “Of course. You may go.” I wonder what happened? “Might I ask what is happening with Applejack?” “She is staying in a cell for the time being. She seems to be withholding information.” “I see. How long must she stay here?” Poor Applejack. “Hopefully she will be allowed to go as soon as she gives the information.” Like that would happen. “Then will you send some ponies down to help with her farm? It is the harvesting season.” “Why would I do that? She is a prisoner; not a guest.” “Would you leave the harvest of the entire Sweet Apple Acres orchard to one stallion, an old mare, and a child that has not even gained her mark yet?” she asked, letting a little of her scorn seep into her voice. “And why won’t they hire help themselves?” “They have pride and little money.” “I shall think about it. Do not get your hopes up, though.” Rarity, why must you make me do these things? “Do so. Goodbye.” His eyes followed her as she left the room. Ah my sweet, dear Rarity. When will you care for me once more? He said to the pony on the other side of the glass without looking away from the door, “What do you think?” He heard a voice through his earpiece. “Something is wrong. She was controlling her reflexes. The story about the dragon was most likely a ruse.” “Do you think she is with the agency?” Damn you if you are, Rarity. “Who knows, I would say she most probably is. But to have one of the Elements in their agency? That is dangerous on both sides, Your Majesty.” “Send a team to watch her, Reader. This is becoming complicated. In fact, watch all of them. I want full reports on my desk every day.” “Yes, Your Highness.” “Call in Pinkie Pie.” ~~~ “Take her out! I cannot deal with this anymore!” the King yelled as his head throbbed from the constant stream of squeaks coming from the pony in front of him rambling about cupcakes and cherries. ~~~ “Miss Fluttershy, don’t be so nervous, I don’t bite.” Holding an ice pack to his head, he hoped dearly that this would be worthwhile. Too early in the morning. Damn you, Sparkle. “Sorry,” the trembling pegasus said as she took her seat. “So, do you know what has happened?” “Y-yes. My friends told me.” “Please tell me everything you know. Do you where Twilight and her dragon are?” “N-no, Your Highness.” “Do you know why she stole the feather? What does she want with it?” “I really can’t say. S-she never told me anything.” “Please tell me, Fluttershy. I need to know.” “I don’t know!” “She’s been wiped!.” “I’ll ask once more. Please tell me, I don’t want to have to keep you and Applejack here.” “I-I don’t know why she did it!” “I’m afraid you will have to join Applejack then.” Fluttershy froze in terror, her eyes wide as she stared at the king before her. I-I'm going to prison?! Her vision darkening, she fell over, the muffled cries of concern swimming in her head. ~~~ The king stared at the limp Fluttershy dangling in a pegasus guards forelegs as he flew to the clinic. Once she was out of the door he asked Reader, "Did she faint or was that magic?" "Fainting for sure, Your Highness. I've never seen such a nervous mare before." Blueblood sighed. The headache was only becoming worse and he did not want to have to deal with Twilight's family and Discord. Oh how he despised that god, he was the only one in Equestria that could take his throne away from him, he counted himself lucky that the freak hadn't already, he'd be powerless to stop him. There is nothing that can be done about it. I just hope that he stays in the background. Celestia knows that nopony would lift a hoof to help me against him. The throbbing in his head doubled as he said, "Bring Discord in." This was going to be- Blueblood would never admit this to anypony but when the God of Chaos floated in, he nearly pissed himself. Discord did not look happy, at all. He hopped off his cloud and strode to the desk, each step leaving cracked prints in the ground. Lightning swirled about him and everywhere else in the room darkened considerably. The fury in his eyes were clear, a glare plastered on his face. Blueblood pissed himself. Is this the end?! Is this the end of the reign of the great King?! The First King of Equestria, nephew to the Alicorn Princesses themselves? What stories will they tell? How many statues in my likeliness will there be?! "Why have you imprisoned my friend?" Discord asked, voice dangerously low. "S-she-" Gulping he thought, DAMNIT this is the worst day of my life! "-She withheld valuable information, I must-" "And how would you know if she hasn't told you?" "Body language can be read, Discord." He was trying very hard to regain his calm, but calm wasn't on his side, not today. "And what was read?" he said, still speaking softly, the glare ever present. "Don't tell, he might be the one who did it, Your Highness!" "I can hear you, you know." Discord said as he grew another head that faced the 'wall' and shot a glower at the pony inside. Reader had never been so terrified in his life, he could almost feel pain from the stare that bore into his eyes. "Enough of this, Discord! What do you want?" He failed miserably at trying to sound collected. "What I demand is an apology for wrongly accusing my friends; Fluttershy and Applejack, and for them to be released." He had both of his heads focused solely on the prince. "Reader. Apologize." Blueblood kept staring at Discord as he said it, not daring for a second to look away. "Huh?! Why me?!" "You were reading them, nitwit!" "Blueblood, I want you to apologize. Immediately." If Discord wasn't in such a sour mood, he would be enjoying himself immensely at toying with the colt. "Me? You are insane to think that I would ever do something so-" "I have been told that often. But think on it again, foal. I have ripped the heads of countless like you, and I never broke a sweat once. But I haven't worked out in a while, so shall we see if I am out of shape?" "I apologize!" he squeaked, too intimidated to be ashamed at apologizing like a filly. "And releasing them?" "I can't do that." He started to regain some composure. "Why not?" "We are conducting investigations, Discord. We need that information. Surely you know that?" "Yes I do. I am just upset is all, surely"- lightning burnt the table to a crisp- "you realize that?" "Indeed... would you be willing to help me get the information out of them?" "Do I look like I want to?" "Ah, no, alright, I'll have them set free in a moment." Discord's clouds disappeared and a rainbow lit up the room. He turned and hopped onto his scooter. "But first, I need to ask you if you have any information." He turned and raised an eyebrow at the prince with an ice pack on his head dripping water onto him, a suspicious looking puddle under his flank, and some ash from the table covering him. He must be either extremely brave or immensely stupid. I pick the latter! a voice in his head said. Murmurs of agreement echoed in his brain. "Do you know of Twilight's location?" "No." "Spike's?" "No, and I also don't know the answer to the many other bucking questions you have. Good night!" "But it's morning." He stopped and snapped his fingers. "Now it's not." "Fix it immediately!" He stuck his tongue out at him and painted himself red and chewed on a stalk while saying, "Eenope." And with a burst of fireworks, he was gone. "You must have a screw lose, Your Highness." "SHUT UP!"
