Five Feet

Twilight frowned down at the withered form of Tirek sitting before her, grayed body twisting at an arch in his back and his clawed hands shaking at their clasped position. His wrinkled face enshrouded in a darkened shadowy hood, a hollow and wheezing breath came out of mouth in a smoky huff -- and through it Princess Twilight Sparkle could see him smiling.

Twilight shook her head, and felt her wings twitch and shiver. No, she wouldn't allow Tirek to unnerve her. She was here for the sake of everypony in Ponyville, and no matter what Tirek said or did she would get her answers. Her eye twitching as that list of client names raced cross her brain, it was all she could do not to flare at her horn and blast a spell directly to that twisted cage, watch it catch fire and shimmer like gold -- her hind legs itched with the urge still to flex and buck outwards at his face.

Shifting the saddle packs resting on her withers and ensuring the sewn-up scar at its bottom was still holding, she sighed and stepped forward, snout nearly burning as they grew closer to the dark bars which radiated protective magics and sizzled at the air.