The Opening Act

It is a common misconception by most non-equines that the roads of Equestria are a dangerous place after dark. Many believe the sheer vastness of Celestia's domain, as well as the constantly expanding Everfree Forest, would make Equestria an ideal location for every opportunistic thief, bandit, smuggler and predator from all across the realms. This however was not the case. Because while it wasn't uncommon for a nocturnal traveler to encounter either a lone timberwolf or the occasional nosy fox, for the most part Equestria's various roads and trails were fairly well guarded.

It had been shortly after the original 'Changeling Invasion of Canterlot' that Princess Celestia had passed the 'Midnight Watch' bill, the outcome of which had brought several new guardhouses to the outskirts of every established settlement within Equestria's borders. Each night, teams of two or more batpony guards were selected for the arduous task of patrolling the road between their guardhouse and that of the nearest settlement location wise, which was better for someponies than others. For example, some of the guardponies of Appleloosa had the single straight walk to and from Dodge Junction each night, whilst the guardponies of Manehattan's north quarter had the unfortunate job of patrolling the long, winding and incredibly cold road between Manehattan and The Crystal Empire. For some it was a simple trot there and back by sun up, but for others, those in the higher, colder, more mountainous areas, it was a challenge making their original destination by mid-day, and that was without breaks. To say this took a strain on the guardponies both night and day was an understatement, the guardponies of Manehatten in particular. Whilst the Crystal Ponies of The Crystal Empire were trained for long hikes through frozen terrain, the Manehatten guardponies were completely out of their element, trained for speedy pursuits through crowded streets, not snow covered mountain passes, where visibility was low and there was a high chance of getting lost. After a time, it began to take a toll on the officers both new and old.

Surprisingly, despite their long hours and less than exceptional arrest rates, Manehatten is not considered the worst guarded settlement in Equestria. That title belonged to Ponyville.

For such a small town, it held the highest number of recorded accidents, attacks, environmental disasters and attempted takeovers in all the realms, out doing both the Griffon Empire's pirate infested 'Bay of Knives' and the Cyclops traveling slaver colony of 'Hu'kush'... both of which were wanted by the leaders of seven different realms across the known world.

In one day alone, Ponyville had fallen victim to runaway carts, the structural collapse of a number of buildings, a hot air balloon crash, a ruptured dam and a town wide disturbance by several Ponies decked out in leather and fedoras.

The accident rate in the town is so high, that someponies believe Ponyville doesn't actually have a garrison of guards. And for the most part, they didn't.

There were guards. Three of them to be precise, the bare minimum for a settlement Ponyville's size. One for the night patrol and two for the day. There had been twelve guards in total, but after the announcement that the Arch-Mage of Princess Celestia herself would be moving into town, the mayor had seen fit to slash three quarters of the town guard budget, viewing her town as 'untouchable'.

If you were to question the residents of Ponyville about where to find the guard house, more often than not, you would be directed to Twilight Sparkle's doorstep. However, if you were to question a traveler from the Canterlot road, you might just be pointed in the direction of the Black Chariot Inn.

xxx

The Black Chariot Inn, to some it served as a temporary refuge from the cold night air while to others, some of its less than reputable visitors, it was a regular home away from home. Good food, warm beds and will accept any who could pay, that was the owners motto. The two story building shared both the grand scale of Canterlot and the down home country design of Ponyville. Two lit torches marked its location halfway between the two settlements as well as the flawless black chariot that sat parked outside, a constant reminder of a battle fought long ago.

A fog had recently blown in from the Everfree Forest, blanketing Ponyville and much of the surrounding area. Out of the thick as pea soup veil and into the torch light strode a four legged figure, clad in a brown hooded cloak and held closed by a red jewel. Walking past the torches the figure took note of the pure black chariot and sign post. The sign atop a tall pole read 'The Black Chariot Inn' over a mural of a black Alicorn riding a black chariot lead by two armored batponies. While the grass around the chariots wheels had grown and caught the wheels in a strangle hold, the chariot itself didn't appear to have aged a day, there wasn't a hint of dirt or rust to be seen.

Trotting past, around and along the drive, the fog parted revealing the Black Chariot Inn in all its rustic glory. Lights from various candles flickered in the windows, indicating a lot of the rooms were occupied.

As the figure ascended the steps to the entrance, the double doors flew open as a brown Diamond Dog was thrown out and onto the gravel drive. A muscular Minotaur with a mad look on his face stood in the doorway, the scar across the left of his face and his missing left horn gave the impression he'd seen his fair share of bar brawls.

"...Aaaaaaand Stay Out! I see your miserable money-less hide round here again, I'll feed ya to Ripley!"

The Diamond Dog whimpered and ran out into the fog, disappearing from sight. The Minotaur snorted and spat on ground where the Diamond Dog once stood, flexing his muscles in masculine pride. Turning to walk back inside, the Minotaur noticed the hooded figure looking up at him from the side.

For a full thirty seconds the Minotaur and newcomer just stared at each other, neither budging from where they stood.

"Well? You coming in or not?!" said the Minotaur, walking back inside. The hooded figure was quick to follow.

The room inside was huge, and surprisingly inviting. There was a stone fire pit in the middle of the room with a smoke stack above that lead up through the ceiling. To the left was a set of doors, probably leading to the bedrooms and a large bar and kitchen surrounded by bar stools. To the right was a large staircase and another set of doors. And at the opposite end of the room was a series of tables and beyond that, a row of dining booths. But what really caught the figures attention was the patrons inside.

A female Minotaur in an orange apron stood behind the bar, cleaning a mug with a rag. Soon joined by what, or rather who, appeared to be her husband.

Two clearly intoxicated batponies sat at the bar, one downing a pint of amber fluid while the other appeared to be practicing hoof-fu.

A Griffon female sat by the fire pit, a round object clutched tightly in her talons.

A trio of Zebra sat at a table, each nursing a glass of red wine.

And two sad looking Diamond Dogs sat at a table to the far right, both staring in dismay at the door.

The individual in the cloak approached the bar.

"Who the B-buck does zat mayor think shhhhe is? I trained for f-four years for thisss job and what do I get? Zilch, nadda, nothin!" said the first batpony

"Buddy, you should just quit! Just tell that mayor to take that job and shove it up her dusty old..."

The figure turned her attention from the drunken night guards and pulled back her hood revealing the aquamarine Pegasus mare underneath. Standing on her back legs she leaning on the bar and waved over the landlady. The Lady Minotaur kept her frown as she turned to the Pony.

"Name" asked the Landlady. Much like the Harpies of the Frozen North, it was near impossible to tell the difference between a Male and Female Minotaur at first glance, in fact the similarities were so minuscule that some species had adopted the belief that Minotaurs as a race were hermaphrodites, and that Minotaur babies were 'just something that happened over time.'.

This of course, was false. While the two genders did look remarkably similar, the females actually have slightly shorter horns and whilst the males had mane-like hair atop their heads, the females had none.

"Lightning Dust" The Minotaur gave Lightning the once over. Something in the Minotaurs eyes told Lightning that she didn't believe her.

"That's okay I didn't need to know your real name anyway, but a word of advise lady, next time though, use the name of a Pony that's not so... rejected; Banished Pegasi are bad for business. Now, what'll it be Pony?" said the oddly deep voiced Landlady, sliding the mug to her husband at the end of the bar. Lightning Dust cleared her throat.

"Uhhh, apparently I have a reservation. Under the name 'shimmer'."

The Landlady looked to her husband who offered a quick nod in response.

"Ahhh, I know why your here. Miss Trixie's out back with Ripley, you can wait for her over there." said the Landlady, pointing to an empty booth in the far corner.

The Pegasus sighed as she trotted to her booth, the eyes of both the Diamond Dogs and the Griffon following her across the room. The Griffon shook her head and sighed as her attention returned to her bundle. The Diamond Dogs however huddled close, whispering back and forth all the while shooting quick glances in both Lightning's and the Griffon's directions.

Lightning took a seat in the booth and shuffled to the middle, taking off her cloak and setting it to her side. If somepony was going to sneak up on her she wanted to see them coming.

'I must be crazy, why'd I even come here?' Lightning thought, settling in for what she assumed would be a five minute wait. 'Oh right, It was either this or sell my trophies for food money.'

xxx

Idly nudging a salt shaker back and forth along the table, Lightning casually glanced up at the cuckoo clock above the bar. It was one in the morning, she'd been waiting for over an hour yet there was still no sign of this 'Trixie' Pony.

By now the trio of Zebra had paid their way and headed upstairs and the more sober of the two batponies had left, his drunken friend slung over his back.

Lightning's attention was drawn to the Griffon by the fire, still rhythmically stroking whatever it was in her talons. Behind her, the Diamond Dog's had moved a table closer, what Diamond Dogs would want with a Griffon Lightning would never know. But then again, she didn't really care.

'Well terrific, looks like I've been set up, for what? I dunno!' thought Lightning, leaning back and staring intently at the ceiling.

'Should have guessed this was a trick. Then again, somepony did pay my storage rental. So why invite me here and not bother turning up?' Lightning's mind was a tempest of unanswered questions. The scratching of one of the Diamond Dogs snapped Lightning out of her trance. The smaller black dog was scratching behind his ear with his leg.

'Yuck, that's what he gets for rolling around in the dirt.' thought Lightning; While she would never admit it aloud, she'd never been too fond of Diamond Dogs, but then again, none of the other races were either. Diamond Dogs are more often than not referred to as 'Dirt Farmers' or 'Walking Flea Magnets' and for good reason, they aren't a civilized race. Greed was their primary motivator, Gold and Gems in particular. Why do they want them? Nopony knows. Its the same plight most Dragons find themselves in. Once they have a little gold and/or a pawful of gems, they have to have more. Previous attempts to integrate the Diamond Dog populous into Equestrian Society had led to an increase in both muggings and burglaries, since that time many decades ago, Celestia had begrudgingly abandoned her attempts at a peaceful co-existence. The installation of the new guardhouses around Equestria had halted most foal-napping attempts by Diamond Dogs, for as disgraceful as it was, foal-napping Ponies or other creatures with gem finding abilities was the only way the mutts could find new gems. Unless they wanted to dig blindly until they found something. Fortunately for most, due to the Dogs inability to locate gold and gems without magic, the once one hundred strong Diamond Dog Packs of Equestria had disbanded, scattering leaderless to whatever dens and burrows they could find.

The taller caramel coated Dog swatted the smaller Dog's head with his paw, the smaller Dog cowered briefly before reaching into his red shirt and pulling out a brown sheath with a handle sticking out the end. The larger Dog pulled out an identical sheath from its raggedy grey shirt and laid it on the table, both Dogs attention fixed squarely on the oblivious Griffon.

Lightning didn't trust those Diamond Dogs. Granted, she didn't trust Diamond Dogs period. But the way they'd glance over at the currently unattended bar and back at the Griffon gave Lightning the shakes. Lightning Dust held much respect for the Griffon race, they held the same community driven values as the Pegasi, but where Pegasi would banish their own if they deemed it necessary, the Griffons were a fiercely loyal race... to their own, other races didn't really factor in much when it came to Griffons and their Prides. However, if a non Griffon were accepted into a Griffon's Pride, they were seen by all Griffons as a being that could be trusted. It was also the highest honor a Griffon could bestow.

Lightning suddenly became all too aware of something pressed against the side of her neck, a tingling electrical current coursing from it against her fur meant only one thing, a magical buildup... Somepony had a spell primed and aimed for a kill shot.

"Don't scream or turn. Trust me, you'll live longer," Lightning could already tell from the hushed voice that it was a mare, which meant it had to be a Unicorn's horn pressed against her neck. "So here you are. The disgraced Wonderbolt, banished from her flock, and without a friend in the world. (Sigh) So sad."

Lightning couldn't believe this. She'd thought the letter was too good to be true, and yet she'd come anyway. Now this possibly crazed mare was in a position to blow her head clean off if she so much as flinched.

"Here at least, to answer my call. Tell me, quietly. Did you come here simply because I promised you bits? Or was it something more that drew you to my web? Little fly." the Unicorn whispered into Lightning's ear, far to close for her liking.

Lightning wasn't sure how to respond. Admittedly the suggestion of paid work had been her primary motivator for even showing up, yet if she had to be honest, there were other aspects to the letter that had peaked her interest.

"I- I came for the bits, b-but I... You said something about being a victim. L-like me." said Lightning, trying to hold it together. This Unicorn clearly wasn't messing around.

"Oh-ho yes, Celestia yes! I knew I'd found a good one." the Unicorn said to herself. "I'll gladly tell you my tale, difficult though it may be. But first, I have a small matter to deal with that I believe you could assist me with."

"L-Look Miss Trixie, I..."

"Do exactly as I say... Look directly in front of you and tell me what you see."

Lightning Dust wanted to turn and knock this mare across the table, but for now she was in no position to fight. Did she call her here to give her a job or to execute her? She sounded so sweet in her letter but in the flesh, she couldn't understand what was going on in this mares head. Lightning Dust knew she couldn't really be here to finish her, after all she knew banished Pegasi were despised, but usually that was limited to other Pegasi, unless... was she a loyalist to Celestia? That was it, that had to be it, Lightning Dust had rarely traveled to ground level and hadn't done anything that would warrant hatred from a Unicorn. Except for the one bucking day when her life had been stolen in a whirlwind of rainbows and broken dreams. Lightning shivered briefly but manged to hold herself together, she refused to tremble in front of this possibly mad Pony.

Eyes forward, Lightning watched as the larger of the Diamond Dogs gripped the handle of the sheath, pulling out a sharp metal blade with a serrated edge.

"There's two Diamond Dogs over there, the big one has a knife, I think the shorter mutt has one too." Lightning replied in a whisper.

"Yes, and do you know what they intend to do with those?" the mare asked. Lightning ever so slightly shook her head, although if she were to hazard a guess, she would assume it had something to do with the Griffon they continuously stared at.

"Do you see that bundle in the Griffon's talons?" Lightning nodded "Well that bundle is actually her newly laid egg. I was here three days ago when that poor lonely hen birthed the little miracle... and now those Diamond Dogs intend to steal it, could be they intend to blackmail the mother into slavery. Or maybe they just want it to eat."

Lightning's jaw dropped. She knew Diamond Dogs were a desperate and cowardly lot, but to steal a newborn... and eat it! The idea alone made her blood boil. And if this Trixie knew this, why wasn't she doing anything?!! Ahead of her, the shorter of the Diamond Dogs shot another glance at the now deserted bar before releasing his knife from the sheath, this one was however appeared more like a common butcher knife from someponies kitchen.

"Well, do something then..." said Lightning. The landlords were nowhere to be seen, and the Diamond Dogs seemed all too pleased to take advantage of this. "And how do you know they want to steal it?"

"Tricks and illusions are my specialty, which is why the mutts can't see or hear us. Reading Ponies or in this case Diamond Dogs, is second nature... but that's for later. For now, I want to know what your going to do about this."

"Wah? Me! What am I supposed to do? You have magic, so use it!" said Lightning

"I could... or we could sit here and watch, its your choice."

Lightning couldn't believe her ears, this Pony was wasn't going to do anything? She'd gladly sit back and watch as these Dogs do Celestia knows what to that Griffon. The smaller Dog slunk out of its seat and kept under the table.

"You have to do something, their gonna attack!" said Lightning urgently, if only this damn Unicorn would drop whatever spell she'd cast. The Dogs wouldn't be stupid enough to attack that Griffon with herself and this Pony here.

"If your going to save her I'd do it now, looks like the big one's in strike position."

Lightning looked back, indeed the larger Dog looked almost spring loaded and ready to pounce.

"Call for help..." said Lightning

"Should take them about four minutes for somepony to get here, if they hear you that is. Should take the Dogs three at the most."

The Griffon must have noticed the glaring silence in the room, her head shot up as though somepony had banged a set of cymbals together.

"Distract them, throw something, do... something!" Lightning Dust demanded, essentially begging at this point.

The Griffon turned, her eyes meeting those of the caramel Diamond Dog, the blade raised up over his head.

"Pretty, Pretty Birdie" he said, a sharp tooth grin stretched across his face.

"Trixie!" Lightning yelled.

"Hurry Hurry!" said the Unicorn.

"Oh Buck!" Lightning leapt over the table, wings flared as she rocketed forward through the air. The large Diamond Dog looked as if he'd seen a ghost, in the half a second before Lightning's back hooves connected with his face. The sheer force, brought on by years of physical training launched the Diamond Dog clear across the room. The knife flying out of its paws.

The Dog's head hit the front wall, a trail of drool left behind as the disgraced beast slid down to the floor.

The Griffon's cry caused Lightning to spin in midair. On top of the Diamond Dogs table stood the shorter of the two mutts, knife in paw. The Griffon staggered backward till her back was against the bar, her wings wrapped around both herself and more importantly, her egg.

From the corner of her eye, Lightning noticed the booth she'd been sitting in was empty.

'Where the buck did Trixie go?' thought Lightning, her eyes never leaving the Dogs. Height wise, standing on its hind legs, she'd say it was only ever so slightly taller than her. The Dog leaned left, Lightning did the same. The Dog leaned right, Lightning did the same. This wasn't good, this Diamond Dog was panicking, he knew the plan had gone belly side up and that made him dangerous. Lightning could tell the bigger Dog was the one giving the orders, probably the Alpha. Which made this one a grunt, a taker of orders... with no orders.

The Diamond Dog's eyes turned to the Griffon. It could smell the egg, it smelled fresh. And a fresh Griffon egg, meant a weak Griffon.

Licking his chops, the Dog faked moving toward Lightning then dashed right headed straight for the Griffon. Lighting flew backward in surprise, surprise instantly turned to fear as the Dog instead make a beeline for the Griffon, dropping its knife for the extra speed. Lightning Dust flew forward, she was fast, extremely so, but flying indoors was incredibly limiting to a Pegasi. The Dog was half way between her and the Griffon, she moved as fast as she could but the Dog was faster, with a wild snarl the Dog pounced at the Griffon, claws flared and teeth ready to ripe and tear as the Dog descended toward the cowering Griffon.

Thinking at speeds that would give even the Arch-Mage herself the shakes. Lightning flared both her wings straight behind her at full length, this was a dangerous move for any Pegasi, unknown to most land based species yet to airborne races like herself and the Griffon, it might just prove to be their salvation.

The Griffon recognized Lightning's moves immediately and curled into a protective ball around her egg. Lightning Dust, with all her strength launched her wings forward, slamming them both into each other. Lightning knew immediately that she'd broken a bone in her wing, but for that moment it wasn't important.

The blast of wind from Lightning Dust struck the Diamond Dog in midair like a missile, instead of landing on the tasty Griffon like he'd hoped, the blast carried the Dog clear over the bar and into a shelf full of wooden tankards, as well as several bottles of cheap alcohol and one vintage wine.

"Behind You!" The voice came from a black cloaked pony sitting at the bar, a silvery mane and tail sticking out from both ends. A glass of pink liquid in her blue hooves... Trixie's hooves.

"Why aren't you helping me-eeeeeeee..." Lightning yelped as she felt two large hairy arms grab her from behind and pull her into a crushing squeeze.

"Fast Pony hurt Pack scout! Fast Pony hurt Alpha Dog! Alpha Dog crush Fast Pony like egg!" barked the big Dog, Lightning's sneak attack hadn't been enough, the big Dog was up and ready for another round. The glass of pink liquid disappeared inside Trixie's black hood, coming out empty. Lightning tried to call for help, but the Alpha Dogs squeeze was forcing the air out of her lungs.

"(Sigh) You forgot to watch your surroundings, not a good sign. You'll have to be better than that for what I have in store." A small black ball levitated out of the black cloak and shot at the floor beneath Lightning like a bullet. Upon impact the ball burst engulfing Lightning and the Alpha in purple smoke.

This surprise took the Alpha off guard, dropping Lightning Dust as he staggered back, coughing and gagging on the fumes. Lightning was used to being winded in midair. She'd performed enough free-fall recoveries to know how to keep going after hitting turbulence. Unfortunately now Lightning had to face a bucking furious Alpha Dog without her wings, her right wing throbbed painfully as she forced them back to her sides.

To a Pegasi, or any winged being from across the realms, the wings are considered an extension of the self. Much like another pair of arms or legs. To not use them in a situation that required your fullest, was essentially like entering a race with one leg tied behind your back. You could use it, yet you have to keep telling yourself you can't, and for Lightning Dust this was incredibly frustrating.

"(Cough) Why Fast Pony get in Packs way? (Hack) Pack need gems! Birdie dig for gems! Pack eat egg! What Fast Ponies Problem!" spluttered the Alpha Dog, slashing wildly at the smoke with his claws.

Lightning Dust was getting tired, she knew she had to bring the Alpha down soon or else the shorter Dog would be back up and ready for more. Thinking back, she tried to recall something she'd read in a survival guide about fending off predators, specifically canines.

"I'd go for the sensitive snout if I were you." Trixie called out from behind. Despite Lightning's feelings she knew the Unicorn was right.

Lightning reared back and charged the flailing Alpha at full gallop, jumping head first, she landed a strong headbutt right on the Alpha's nose. Its reaction was deafening.

The Diamond Dog's bellowed and squealed in pain. Whimpering like a bad pet scolded by its master. With a defeated howl, the Alpha burst out the front doors, nearly taking one off its hinges. Lightning watched in silent victory as the Alpha bounded over the black chariot outside, straight across the road and off into the woods beyond. Its pained cries echoing throughout the foggy, pitch black night.

"Don't worry your safe now,"

Trixie's voice snapped Lightning from her momentary breather. She now remembered the Pony who'd sat back nursing a drink while she fought off two armed Diamond Dogs. Alone.

Turning back, Lightning noticed Trixie had pulled back her hood, revealing the blue Unicorn mare underneath, as well as a tightly bandaged horn. Why that struck Lightning as weird, she didn't know.

Trixie stroked the whimpering Griffon's head, from the top down to the pink tipped feathers at the bottom of her neck. This seemed to calm the hen as she held her egg close.

"T-thank you Miss Trixie, if it weren't for you and your Pride-mate, they might have taken me and my little one, or worse." said the Griffon.

"Hush now, you head upstairs and rest, its not good for you or your egg. I'll be in the room right next door if you need anything." said Trixie, a gentle smile forming across her muzzle.

"But w-what if?"

"And don't worry about anymore potential egg thieves. A wounded Alpha is as good as dead to all other Diamond Dogs. It's Pack should separate soon and after that, they will all be easy pickings for larger predators."

"(Sigh) Y-yes, alright... Rest sounds about right... goodnight Miss Trixie, Miss Pegasus. I will thank you properly in the morning."

Lightning Dust watched as the Griffon shakily made her way over to the stairs, behind her the Landlord Minotaur from before came through the doors closest the bar. His nostrils flared as he took in the damages to his inn, before finally, his sights were set squarely on Lightning.

"Pony! What the buck did you do to my INN! I leave for a few minutes to see my children and you bucking trash the place?!" To say the Minotaur was furious, was an understatement. He look ready to nail Lightning to the wall.

Fortunately for Lightning, Trixie climbed up onto the bar, reaching eye level with the Minotaur.

"I will tell you exactly what my associate did to your inn, Sir! This Pony single hoofedly saved your business and the lives of the Griffon mother and her egg, from that filthy Diamond Dog Pack. If it weren't for her, your livelihood would have been completely ransacked and you'd have had an entire Pride of angry Griffons in here demanding your head on a plate! So personally, I believe some thanks are in order... don't you?" said Trixie, surprisingly calm and collected after everything Lightning had seem of her thus far.

The Minotaur bit his lip as Trixie talked. Lightning didn't know what could sent a wall of muscle like him into a panic, unfortunately for both the landlord and her, this reason was Trixie.

"Oh geez... My apologies Miss Trixie, to you and your friend. Thank you for safeguarding my place of business. May Luna bless and keep you both." said the Minotaur. Lightning was confused, this Minotaur had gone from ten to two in terms of rage in a matter of seconds. Who the buck was this Trixie?

"And also you good sir. Now if you would be so kind as to look over the counter. I believe you will find one of the culprits who smashed up your delightful inn." said Trixie, as the short Diamond Dog shakily picked itself up, using a broken shelf for support.

The Minotaur swiftly moved to the area behind the bar. The Dog didn't know what hit it, until it found itself held against the wall by the scruff of his neck and the big burly fist of the landlord.

"So, you think you can just come into my inn, where my family sleeps. Break my things, harass my loyal customers and use my business as your own personal hunting grounds?! Ohhh you miserable mutt, when I'm done with you, Ripley's gonna eat well tonight!"

'Who's Ripley?' Lightning thought to herself.

At the mere mention of that name, the Diamond Dog flew into a frenzy, clawing and scratching at the fist that held it in place, yet it only succeeded in making the Minotaur madder. Right when it appeared the Minotaur was about to start wailing on the Dog, Trixie raised her hoof.

"Good Sir. Before you feed Ripley his midnight snack, I wish to speak with this... mongrel. Lightning come here, you need to hear this." said Trixie.

Lightning was not in the mood to deal with whatever was coming next. But after the way the Minotaur reacted to Trixie, Lightning could assume it would be in her best interests to listen. Begrudgingly she made her way over to Trixie, her broken wing bone, throbbing painfully at her side.

"Now, Tell Trixie why your Pack attacked the Griffon! Speak..." said Trixie. Lightning did a double take, did Trixie just talk in the third person?

The Dog's breathing was labored, it probably broke something important when it landed. At least more important then the once priceless, now broken bottle of vintage wine.

"(Wheeze) Rover Pack need gems. Last gem finder stop moving. Diamond Dogs no find gems alone. (Cough) Last Alpha take Pony for gem finding, but Pony too loud. Pack spend too long in tunnels. So deep, sooo quiet. Diamond Dogs ears burst. Loud Pony hurt Pack. Loud Pony's friends take all Rover Pack's gems. (Wheeze) Loud Pony promise, come back, help Pack find gems. But Loud Pony lied. Loud Pony not come back. Rover Pack lose all gems in hunting grounds to Loud Pony. We desperate. New Alpha say we take weak birdie. Make birdie dig in new tunnel. We eat egg if birdie run."

Lightning Dust was floored. These Dogs weren't just thugs, they were self proclaimed slavers, to the point where they were prepared to commit infanticide. These mutts were no better than the Cyclops slavers of the East. Lightning truly hated these beasts... and yet, She still found this hard to look at. The animal was a brute, and she had no intention for defending him. But she wasn't heartless. This mutt was hurt pretty bad, and watching it struggle in the Minotaurs grip drew some sympathy from her, however small.

"This Loud Pony... what was her name?!"  asked Trixie, her eyes wild, meeting the Dogs gaze head on.

"W-wha? (Yelp)" Trixie jabbed a hoof into the Dogs wounded side.

"Trixie does not like to repeat herself! What. Was. the Loud. Ponies. Name!" Trixie shouted. The Diamond Dog convulsed and struggled in agony, but Trixie refused to remove her hoof.

"R-Rarity... Loud Pony Rarity... Liar, Gem thief. Whiner!"

"And what of her friends? Who was there? Hurry now..." Lightning had no idea what was going on with this mare. One minute she had a spell pointed at her head, then she was calm, now she'd gone bucking psycho! Who was this mare?!

"Purple Horn Pony. T-tiny Dragon pup. Quiet yellow flier. (Cough) Laughing pink Pony. A-apple hat Pony and angry Rainbow Flash."

Angry rainbow flash? Lighting had only ever seen one rainbow colored Pony in her lifetime.

"Rainbow Dash?!" said Lightning, not realizing she was speaking aloud.

"Y-yes, Rainbow flier and Loud Pony. Take gems. L-leave Rover Pack nothing."

Trixie grinned and hopped down from the bar counter. Waving a hoof at the landlord, the Minotaur smirked, gripping the back of struggling Dog's neck he dragged the mutt along the floor, and out the now broken front doors, disappearing around the corner. The Diamond Dog's whimpers and howls growing quieter and quieter.

Lightning turned back to Trixie dumbfounded. Trixie chuckled under her breath, absentmindedly kicking a large shard of glass across the floor.

"Well, now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, I believe proper introductions are in order. If you'll kindly follow me to your room..."

"What?! After this... You must be bucking insane if you think I'm gonna..." Before Lightning Dust could finish, Trixie tossed another smoke pellet to the floor.

xxx

Staggering forward Lightning made to blow the smoke away, only to be remained, painfully, of her broken wing bone. A flash of green shone through the purple smoke, causing the vapor to shimmer and fade. Blinking repeatedly, Lightning's eyes centered on a lit candle placed delicately on the windowsill, bathing the modestly size bedroom she'd found herself in in a warm orange glow.

The room seemed average enough, window opposite the door. Bed to the left, bathroom door to the right. Although aside from these few basic features, the room seemed rather bare. Although given the inn's clientele, or at least those that Lightning had met, she assumed folks didn't make a habit of staying here more than a few days at the most.

The bathroom door swung open. Trixie's coughing and shivering form fell through to the floor. Shakily, the mare forced herself to her hooves, breathing steadily in and out as she lent against the doorway. Lightning briefly considered patting the mare on the back. But given the circumstances, she didn't think she could trust herself not to bash the distracted unicorn across the head and run. Looking up at a confused Lightning Dust, a weak smile grew on Trixie's face.

"He-he, teleportation, always a little off to the left. I can guess you have have allot of questions right now, Not that I blame you. After a job interview like that, I imagine anypony would." said Trixie, uneasily walking over to the bed and sitting on the floor against it. Lightning Dust took a deep breath in and exhaled, she'd been beaten, bruised, broken a bone and threatened with magic. If Trixie didn't answer her questions, there would be Tartarus to pay.

"Good, because you owe me big time! For starters, why the buck did you..."

Trixie held up a hoof, stopping Lightning in her tracks.

"Before you continue. You should take this for your wing." said Trixie, pulling out a vile of gold colored liquid with a cork over the top. Gently she rolled in over to Lightning across the hardwood floor. Lightning held the vile in her hoof, pulling out the cork with her teeth she knew the scent immediately.

"Luna's Kiss? Where did you get this? The plants for this potion exist in the southern most jungles... Nopony ever travels down there." Lightning Dust was amazed. 'Luna's Kiss', named after the Princess who'd discovered the concoction, was considered by most Ponies to be a miracle cure. One mouthful, such as the one held in Lightning's hooves, was said to cure almost any physical ailment. She had only sampled it once before, it had been given to her by her sister in-law after she'd fractured one of her fore-hooves the day before her Wonderbolt Academy entrance exam.

All the ingredients were located in the deep south, a rough terrain full to the brim with sweltering jungles, massive swamps and a great many uncharted deserts and canyons. So gathering all the necessary plants was no easy task. Yet this mare had one that she was just giving away? There had to be a catch.

"You're just gonna give this to me?" asked Lightning Dust, sitting on her flank opposite Trixie. The unicorn just smiled and nodded.

"And after everything that happened... downstairs I think? You expect me to just drink this, and trust that you didn't do anything to it?"

Trixie nodded again.

"If you didn't trust me in some way, then you are a fool to even bother coming here in the first place. I mean lets be honest, if I had wanted you dead, I'd have done it by now. I could have let that Diamond Dog squeeze you into jelly. Or let the landlord feed you to his pet monster out back. But I didn't!" said Trixie, pulling out a vile of orange liquid from her cloak and downing the contents in one gulp. "(Sigh) Bitter-Root syrup, horrible for the taste buds, but works wonders for headaches."

Lightning rubbed her temples in irritation. It was true, at anyone point that night, Trixie could have finished her off or left her for dead, and yet she didn't. Besides it wasn't like she had much to lose. Knocking back the vile, she downed the sweet liquid as fast as she could. The taste was heavenly, like drinking actual moon beams, no wonder it was called Luna's Kiss.

Trixie smiled, and from Lightning's point of view, it seemed genuine.

"Okay, now that that's out of the way... ask whatever you please." said Trixie. Lightning had been ready to tear Trixie a new one, but the sweet taste of the 'Luna's Kiss' potion had certainly lifted her spirits. If the potion work correctly, her wing should be repaired by morning. While a great many questions filled her mind, one stuck out slightly more than the others.

"Where did you get this potion?" Lightning asked.

"Lets just say that for the right price, you can get anything from anypony... plus a few family connections help. I've carried it for years and never needed it, seemed a shame to waste it." said Trixie. Honestly it didn't really answer Lightning's question, but then again, compared to the others she had in mind, she didn't really care.

"Uhhh, alright. So... When we were downstairs, why didn't you help that Griffon? Why did you leave me to do it? And for that matter, why'd you threaten me in the first place?!" said Lightning, the throbbing in her wing dying down. Trixie rubbed her temples with her hooves, her eyes returning to meet Lightning's.

"(Sigh) Alright, first things first. I wouldn't have let any harm come to Sevichi or her egg. Despite what you may think after tonight, I am not a monster. And as for why I let you get involved, that was your job interview... I'd spied on a number of the Dog packs meetings in the woods outside, I'd heard of their plan to attack tonight and, knowing what I know about you and your impulsiveness, I sent the letter so you'd arrive precisely on the day when the attack was scheduled." Lightning stifled a laugh, although clearly Trixie wasn't amused.

"Oh please! You? Your not a monster?! Are you bucking kidding me?!! You put a newborn and a mother in danger, and all for some stupid test!" Lightning yelled.

"I had the situation well in hoof! I was more than prepared to teleport them both out of harms way if you hadn't reacted in time." Said Trixie, so matter-of-factly. As though it should have been obvious to her.

"W-well that's not good enough. You can't just play with Ponies... or Griffon's lives like that. What if something had gone wrong? What if..." Trixie's self assured attitude was beginning to get to Lightning, already she could feel her anger returning. It seem like Trixie really didn't understand why Lightning was so worked up over this.

"What if this? What if that? Let me tell you something Lightning Dust. What if's do not matter! That fact is, nothing went wrong, the Griffon and her egg are safe and the Diamond Dog Pack will have scattered by now. So remind me... exactly what was the problem again?" asked Trixie. At this point, Lightning couldn't decide whether not this mare was being condescending.

"The problem?! The problem is that you can't just play with Ponies lives like that, what if somepony had gotten hurt, or worse. This is not a game."

Trixie's smile only widened.

"Concerned about hurting somepony? Being a little hypocritical aren't we Miss Lightning 'Tornado' Dust?"

Lightning felt as though she'd been hit right in the stomach. That comment shut her up quick, worse still she'd walked right into it.

"... and as for the part about this 'Not' being a game. Trust me Lightning Dust... In Equestria, we are all part of a much larger game. Everyday the higher ups lord over the common Pony and, as they put it, 'lesser races' as though we're nothing. They are the Ponies with the most power, the most friends in high places, the most gold-bits or simply the Ponies that should happen to stumble upon an assortment of ancient magical rocks." Trixie was now standing, apparently having regained her strength. Lightning wasn't sure when the Unicorn had lost it, but then again, she wasn't a Unicorn herself and didn't really understand teleportation magic or its after effects.

"They play with our lives like we're nothing. They call us Villains. They brand us as monsters before they even get a chance to know us. They ruin lives with nothing more than a few harsh words, and a hoof full of hastily written letters... And what do they get when the proverbial dust has settled and the storm of hate has passed?!" asked Trixie, pacing around Lightning Dust. Lightning Dust knew better than to answer.

"They gain the title of Princess and all that comes with it! They are rewarded with the rank of Wonderbolt! They're given Equestria-wide recognition and praise, all of their achievements known realms over; while all of their less than noble acts are either brushed aside or simply ignored!" Trixie was seething. It was obvious to whom she was referring. Much like Lightning, Trixie was clearly no fan of the Elements or the recently titled, 'Princess of Friendship'. Looking up, Lightning's eyes met Trixie once again. Somehow, instead of the white hot searing fury that Lightning had been expecting, she was instead met with a look of sympathy, a look of understanding, a look she'd seem in her mirror oh-so many times.

"W-what happened to you?" asked Lightning gently. Trixie calmly breathed in and out a few times before she spoke.

"I come from a very well to-do Guild in Canterlot. Ever since I was a small filly, it had been my dream to finally leave my Guild and venture out into the world. I have always loved illusion based magic and spells, the trickery, the act of making the impossible seem possible for even the smallest foal. Seeing the look of wonder and awe in the eyes of my audience, oh yes, I love everything about it." said Trixie. She looked as though she were recounting a cherished memory to a dear friend. Lightning had to admit, Trixie did make the idea of attending a magic show sound fun. "I even made up a little title for myself. 'The Great and Powerful Trixie', I'd talk in the third person and, eventually, she took on a life of her own as my alter-ego. Somepony without limits, who's knows no fear and makes even the most cynical Pony believe. Buck, sometimes I fall into my Trixie persona without even thinking about it."

"So when my time came. I packed my bags and invested in a traveling stage coach, complete with real working stage. My parents and siblings of course were against me leaving. They warned me of the harsh nature of Ponies outside of Canterlot's walls, but like a fool I didn't listen. Now don't get me wrong; for a while everything was going great, for two years I traveled from place to place, wherever the road might take me. I met many wonderful and diverse species and I've so many incredible stories to tell. But of course, after a while, the yearning for ones Guild, or in your case Flock, becomes too much, and so after many sold-out shows in 'Applewood', I steered my traveling stage in the direction of Canterlot. But unfortunately on the way, the wheel of my coach broke off and I had to stop for a few days in a little town called 'Ponyville'. It was there, that everything went horribly wrong."  Lightning Dust didn't like how much darker Trixie's voice and demeanor became at the mention of the town.

"I put on a free to attend show in the center of town. Mainly it was a chance to practice my skills, for the performance I had planned for Canterlot in the coming days. I performed a few simple tricks to get the crowd warmed up, a levitation here, a flowers apparition there, and the crowd was eating it up. Or at least they were. I notice right away that something was off with the audience, several Ponies in the crowd wore scowls and had wormed their way up front. Naturally as an entertainer, I was used to the occasional heckler or nonbeliever. Yet these Ponies were starting to get under my skin." From what little Lightning knew about Unicorn magic, illusion magic was down there with healing magic as one of the more under appreciated forms of the arcane arts. Unappreciated to the point where some Unicorns refused to acknowledge it as real magic, likening it to the act of pretending to bend spoons by thinking or distracting a cat with a noise maker.

"The Ponies, who I'd later discover were the Elements of Harmony, called me fake, a show off, a braggart, boastful... They actually called me 'Boastful'. Me! A Stage Magician. A Bucking Entertainer! A Bucking Showmare" Trixie had to stop for a moment and collect herself, once again breathing slow and steady. Lightning didn't like the way this story was going, it was starting to hit a little too close to home.

"Wait? Rainbow Dash? The self proclaimed, 'All Around Greatest Pony Ever', called you boastful?" said Lightning. If there was one thing she knew about Rainbow from her time at the Academy, it was that Rainbow Dash was the single most, braggy, showoff-ish, standoff-ish and interrupting-ist Pony she'd ever met.

"I know right! And what was I supposed to do? Tell them to relax? That it was all just an act? Let me tell you, admitting to hecklers at a crowded show that it is all an act... for any entertainer, is career suicide. My reputation would have been ruined, my respect as a show mare would have been destroyed. So, in not one of my prouder moments, I challenged the hecklers to best me in whatever they please. They each bum rushed the stage just to challenge me. Naturally I bested the three that made the most insults. That rude country thug Applejack, the Loud mouth whiner Rarity and of course the ever in-your-face Rainbow Trash. In my haste to dispel the hecklers however, I told the tale of me slaying an Ursa-Major."

Lightning face-hoofed, what Pony would believe a story like that?.

"It was going to be spectacular. It was going to my grand finale, I had planned to make what I thought at the time was an Ursa-Major appear nearby and I would put on a show fighting it off. The Griffon's of Shrapnel Point loved it when they saw it. So how was I to know these Ponies would take the story to heart. (Sigh) Needless to say, after laughing off the hecklers, which the rest of the town Ponies did as well by the way, I didn't have the drive to finish the performance. So I shot off a few fireworks and moved by still broken stage out of the town square."

All a part of the act. Now that did make a lot more sense. But what did Trixie mean when she said "What I thought was an Ursa-Major"?.

"Needless to say, the hecklers didn't bother me again, although these two annoying fan-ponies wouldn't stop bothering me. But after the first day was over, my wheel was fixed and I was ready to hit the road again. Little did I realize that my trip to Canterlot, would actually take me another three years, and counting..."

"Oh Celestia! What happened? I know it involves Princess Sparkle-Butt and Rainbow Crash so tell me... What happened?!" said Lightning Dust leaping to her hooves. While it sounded more impatient than anything, in reality Lightning was ridiculously anxious. This whole story was coming back to her, her father had told her about it from one of his newspapers. Being a Celestia Loyalist, her father made sure to keep up to date will all news concerning both the Princess and those closest to her. Although the version Trixie told was heavily altered from what her father had read.

"The two fan-Ponies ran into the Everfree Forest... and lured an Ursa-Minor into town, just so they could watch me defeat it." Trixie said as she slumped to the ground. For Lightning, it was like looking at herself, and yet she felt as though she was actually seeing Trixie... the real Trixie for the first time.

"I stood up to the beast as best I could, but what good are tricks and illusions against a mindless beast. Illusion magic is all about misdirection and glamour, best used for self-defense. There aren't a great many offensive illusion spells, and since everyponies magic is different in some form or another, it wasn't like I could miraculously perform a destructive fire spell or something of the like. But then again... I'm not the Element of Magic!"

Now the story was coming full circle, Lightning knew the next part well enough. The Arch-Mage fought off the Ursa-Minor and saved the town, at least that is what she'd heard. A giant star bear attacking a small town, wasn't something that would go unnoticed by the press.

"The former Arch-Mage Twilight bucking Sparkle, lulled the beast to sleep and brought it back to the Everfree... and who did they blame for the Ursa attack? Me! Not the rotten children that lured the beast into town... Me! That rampaging monster destroyed my home and all my things, then just to add insult to injury, I was chased out of town by a mob of miserable towns Ponies!" said Trixie, her mane now obscuring her face. Lightning held her own head in her hooves, she understood now. This Ponies story matched hers, eerily so.

"All the news reports made me out to be a monster. They blamed me, saying it was I who lured the Ursa into town. That I was so self absorbed that I would risk lives for the sake of my own ego, or at least that was what the towns ponies had told the press. I was ruined! My career was as good as dead. I couldn't perform... everywhere I went, I was laughed at, chased, my new coach was repeatedly vandalized, I was repeatedly harassed by the town guards and some Ponies went so far as to threaten me if I didn't leave. I was a joke and an outcast, eventually I had to settle for grunt work on a rock farm alongside some farmpony named 'Maud'." Lightning honestly wanted to rip herself in two. On the one hoof she was still weary of this mare, she clearly had allot going on psychologically, yet on the other hoof she wanted desperately to rush over and embrace the poor Unicorn. Their stories echoed one another so closely they were interchangeable, the only difference being some circumstances and the victims involved, namely Trixie and herself.

"I learned fast that day as I ran for my life from Ponyville, tears burning in my eyes, just how cruel the world could truly be... when the wrong Ponies had power. I couldn't return home, I couldn't face my Guild, not until I'd redeemed my name. The Arch-Mage and future Princess of Friendship ruined my life! The same way she and her friends would eventually ruin yours. I knew the day I read your story in the newspaper, that you and I were kindred spirits. For a long time I actually blamed myself for what happened. But that all changed when I read about you... and I realised, it was all their fault. Because they'd done it again to somepony else! And believe me Lightning Dust, after some digging, I discovered that we aren't the only ones who've been affected by the Elements. You, Myself and the Diamond Dogs were just the tip of the iceberg."

"Eventually I went back to that town, now with the Alicorn Amulet in hoof, too..." Trixie stopped mid sentence, her hoof reaching up and rubbing along her bandaged horn. Lightning could just make out a dim green glow coming from behind the bandages.

"Y-yeah... Go on... The Alicorn Amulet..." said Lightning. Trixie either didn't hear her or didn't care as she stared off into space, her hoof still rubbing along the length of her horn.

"Trixie... Trixie... Snap out of it!" Shouted Lightning, slamming her hooves to the floor. This seemed to work as Trixie turned back toward Lightning.

"Hmmm, wha? I-I'm sorry, what was I saying?" said Trixie in a disturbingly calm manner. Lightning didn't know whether to be confused or scared. Maybe this mare really was mad, or maybe three years of hatred had made her that way, but who could tell.

"Where did you go just now? You were talking about something called the Alicorn Amulet, then you just stared into nothing... Are you alright?" asked Lightning Dust. Trixie looked genuinely shocked, like a patient in hospital that just spotted her doctor panicking.

"Oh right, that... yes... Listen, I'll tell you in the morning... I need... I need to sleep for a while. I will answer any other questions you may have tomorrow as well as an advance on your first payment... as an apology for the trickery earlier. For now... I need to rest. Goodnight Miss Lightning Dust. May Luna bless you with pleasant dreams." said Trixie. Giving Lightning Dust a peck on the cheek as she hastily left out the door.

Lightning was quick to rush over and lock the door behind the mare. It wasn't the fact that Trixie had kissed her that bothered her, although that was a factor. It was more that Trixie didn't even seem to realize that she'd done it. It was as if, after mentioning this, 'Alicorn Amulet', whatever that was, Trixie had just withdrawn into herself, leaving a cold lifeless shell behind.

This was all too much for Lightning right now. Inside, a nagging voice told her to just pack up and leave, that she would be safer and better off in the long run... But she couldn't. For the first time after months of loneliness, she finally had somepony who understood and sympathized with her.

'This mare might be bucking insane... But I can't say her story doesn't sound familiar. I guess hearing her out over breakfast couldn't hurt... and that bed does look allot more comfortable than my sleeping bag.' thought Lightning.

Sighing internally, Lightning trotted forward and blew out the candle, leaving the moon as her sole source of light. Lightning hopped under the covers of the bed, her back to the wall. She was right, the bed was comfy. Turning her gaze to the locked door as she began to drift off, it dawned on her that the possibly crazed mare could teleport and therefore the lock was pretty useless... but simply having it there helped and as Lightning Dust's eyes closed, she wondered.

'Where did I leave my cloak?'

xxx

Outside the front of the Black Chariot inn, a yellow and orange Pegasus in full Wonderbolt uniform landed. The mare yawned as she stared up at the Black Chariot sign.

'(Yawn) This looks like a good place to crash for tonight. I'll hit town tomorrow after some chow.' the mare thought, as she trotted towards the entrance.

"Look out Ponyville, Spitfire has arrived."

xxx