Fifteen hundred years ago.
So the day began, I was up all night going through papers. Reading report after report after report. If you don’t know I work on trying to find advances for pony life, an inventor or researcher of sorts. Not only that but, I was the head of this “department” if you wanna call it that. I’m usually up for nights in a row, researching and finding new ways to make ponies lives easier. I just sit here and read these reports that are given to me. My friend and I asked for requests or even demonstrations of new technology that could help life...it’s working but, it’s very slow. It’s not easy coming up with something to make life easier...especially in this time.
A knock came from my door, “come in,” I said.
A dark green unicorn entered the room, “morning Gransion, I brought you some coffee,” she said.
Zahra...I don’t know how to explain her in my own words easily. She is truly the closests to me, she basically acts like my mother...as silly as that sounds. Don’t think my parents are not alive or anything cause they are, she just treats me to nicely sometimes. However she’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a...I guess family member. My parents are too busy with work to worry about what I do and I hardly see them now. I guess you can call Zahra my “sister” that’s up to you.
“Gransion you alright?” Zahra asked.
“Huh! Oh yeah, fine,” I replied.
“Spacing out like always,” Zahra giggled. “Anyways, Tech should be here any second to help you.”
“Good to know thank you Zahra,” I said.
“No problem,” she smiled, then left.
I turned back to my papers and continued to read, waiting for Tech to show up. He usually comes in with a bunch of requests and other things. We also have the annual weekly demonstrations today, we have yet to have somepony blow us away with an invention but, we have accepted a few in the past. Tech is also one of my closest friends, and my research partner on top of that if it wasn’t obvious. Though we would normally stay silent unless of course we were inventing something together. Tech has always been an interesting one…
“Hey Gransion,” Tech let himself in without knocking as usual.
“Oh Tech welc-” I looked at his hooves...empty? “Not a single suggestions?”
“We have different things to worry about today,” he said sitting in a chair next to mine.
“And what would that be?” I wondered.
“Royal guards have been going missing lately,” he said which shocked me. “The numbers have been getting real thin lately and we have no idea where they are. It’s starting to leave this castle defenseless.”
“Any leads?” I asked.
“As far as we know right now, it’s a unicorn,” he said. “Magic traces have been found but that’s about it.”
“Well wonderful,” I said a bit annoyed. “We’re researchers not detectives.”
“That’s not the only problem,” he said. “They have a suspect already.”
“And who would that be?” I wondered.
“...Zahra,” he said.
I stood straight up out of my chair, “ZAHRA! She wouldn’t do anything like this, she has no reason to!” I said angered.
“Hey calm down it’s just a suspect,” he replied to me calmly. “Until they have crucial evidence, they can’t do anything to her.”
I sat back down and sighed, “sorry about that.”
“No worries man I understand,” he replied. “She’s somepony you trust with your life I get it.”
“On a serious note we’re not detectives,” I restated what I said before. “Why are we involved?”
“To be honest I don’t know,” he replied. “I would guess cause it has to do with Zahra.”
“What makes you think that?” I wondered.
“Well she’s your closest friend and she’s my mentor,” he replied. “I think we both wanna know she’s innocent.”
“I guess that’s completely true,” I said. “Well what should we do?”
“I’m going for a walk I need to clear my head right now,” he replied.
“Mind if I come with?” I asked. “I want more info on all of this.”
“Sure, come along,” he said walking out of the room.
I followed behind him and shut the door behind me. We went outside of the castle and began to walk Canterlot, our usual circle that we take of course. He was telling me more information on the missing guards, he said at least one has been disappearing, at least once a day or so he’s been told. They have a list of guards on duty and most of them have not been showing up at this point. The real question is, who’s behind this? I mean obviously it can’t be Zahra there’s not a chance it is. He then told me about some evidence they found that links to Zahra. Her necklace which was found in one of the missing guards bedrooms, but they can’t just go off that. Then they found a hairpiece which belonged to Zahra in the same situation as the necklace. I have a feeling somepony is trying to frame her...but who?
“Alright Gransion I’m going to go talk with Celestia about this,” Tech said.
“Very well, I’ll go back to my research,” I replied. “Tell me how it goes.”
He walked back into the castle...I remained standing still. I don’t understand who would hold a grudge against Zahra. Then again I don’t really know her past so it could could be anypony at this point. What we need to force these ponies to avoid is hard evidence, if they get that...Zahra could be done for. As much as I believe it’s not her, I’m pretty sure who’s framing her isn’t going to make this easy and any hard evidence toward her making treason against the princesses, could get her...executed.
