Contest In Equestria

Scootaloo and I were left alone to explore once we'd reached the section of the castle where the royal courthouse was. Unfortunately, we grew bored rather quickly. There really was nothing much interesting here other that the building itself and after the fourth massive hallway with hard floors, white walls, pink tapestries and stained glass windows that depicted daily life in Equestria of sorts... it all looked the same.

We were asked to return to the large stone doors the four princesses had disappeared behind when the clock tower chimed again. However long that was from now though, I had no idea since a clock was something I hadn't seen in quite some time. Sweet Apple Acres ran off the clock of the sun and I don't think Applejack knew the meaning of the phrase "Twelve o'clock break."

One thing I did notice while Scootaloo and I wandered, was the amount of guards that were present. It seemed like every ten paces we took there was another pegasus, unicorn or land pony dressed in that incredibly shiny gold armor with a stern look on it's face. They were all stallions, too. Something that made me think that the majority of males here must be pressed into some sort of service given the disproportionately small number of them compared to females.

"I'm hungry..." Scootaloo dragged her hooves beside me in a miserable voice as we turned down yet another hallway, this one with windows showing scenes of life in some pegasi city.

"Yeah, me too. Let's ask the next guard where there's some food."

We didn't have to wait long. A green land pony guard was tucked into an alcove just ahead and when we approached, his jade colored eyes flicked to mine briefly before returning to his stoic, forward gaze.

"Excuse me, where can we find some food around here?" I asked politely. I was almost startled by how loud my own voice was in this quiet, reflective expanse.

The guard's face didn't move.

"Helllooo?" Scootaloo added, her face cocking with mild annoyance, "Can you hear us?"

Again, nothing.

"Well, that's rude!" Scootaloo frowned.

"Nah, I bet that's just his orders or something, Scoots. There are guards in places from my world who do this, too. Some of them are even tourist attractions because of how stiff and still they have to be."

"Wait, you mean they're not supposed to talk to us or something?"

"Probably not. I don't think it's his fault, anyways. Come on, let's find somepony else to ask."

Scootaloo paused for a moment, a mischievous grin spreading over her face. She was bored and hungry. Two things that always lead to her being a stinker.

"Scoot..." I warned with my own small smile.

She flashed her tongue out at the guard, making a scrunchy silly face at first. When that produced no reaction, she stood on her hind legs and stuck her front hooves on the side of her face, smooshing her cheeks together to purse her wiggling lips like a fish.

"Come on, silly pony." I said, laughing a little and tugging on her harness. "Let's go."

"Go? Where would you two be going now?" came a gravely voice from behind that made both of us jump. I whirled around and found myself face to face with a dark brown unicorn stallion. His fiery red mane was cut impossibly short, something that reminded me of a marine's buzz cut. But it was his face that jarred me the most. A patch covered his left eye in the middle of a massive scar that traced a thick, jagged, lightening bolt of a pattern from his forehead down to his muzzle, causing his mouth to be slightly misshapen.

"Mason... I didn't hear him..." Scootaloo blurted out with wide eyes. She echoed my own alarm perfectly. Her hoof steps had echoed loudly in this place and you would think that anypony walking behind us would be easily heard. The fact that this stallion had just appeared was rather unnerving.

"Young mare, learning to hide your hoof steps is one of the first things you learn in The Royal Citadel. Considering I am it's commander, I would do well to be a master at it." His face was stern and hard as he said this. Not a glint of warmth existed in the one burning, red eye that surveyed us.

"I... I'm sorry." Scootaloo stammered and pressed against me, her flank retreating behind my leg.

"We were just looking for someplace to get some food, that's all." I said, wanting to be away from this pony already. He felt dangerous for some reason. Most likely that damn scar.

"Two floors down, Take the stairs at the end of the next hallway. And don't insult any more of my guards on the way. This is not the time to take protocols lightly."

"Yes... yes sir." I replied, trying to get out of this with as much dignity as possible. We'd been here less than an hour and already Scoots and I had managed to piss off the commander of The Royal Citadel... whatever that was... by insulting a guard. "Come on, Scootaloo..." I said, pulling her along with me.

"Scootaloo?" His ears perked up suddenly, "You are one of the requested audience for the sentencing today?"

"Ye.. yes? Whipwind is m-my father."

He stepped towards her and brought his muzzle close to hers, his eye narrowing dangerously, "You would do well to stay away from crowds, young mare. There are many who would like such a prize as you to bring to enemy headquarters, you know. You're not safe."

"What!?" I placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping him tightly and no longer concerned who or what he was. I wanted answers. "What are you talking about? What enemy? Who's after Scootaloo?"

His muzzle remained a flat line of hardened guile as his eye bore into mine. "I suggest speaking with the princess about that, human... if indeed that's what you are." his eye scanned over me, "But watch your back." The commander turned and moved, silently stepping away from us down the hall, not looking back over his shoulder.

"M-Mason? What did he mean by that? I'm a little freaked out now." Scootaloo looked up at me with anxious eyes.

"I dunno, Scoots." I said, looking after the commander with doubt, "But I ain't letting anything happen to you. Come on, lets go find some-"

A pealing bell rang out loudly, cutting off my words effectively and reminding us that we had somewhere to be.

"That must be the bell Celestia told us about. Lets go. We'll eat afterwords."

We ran quickly back the way we had wandered and turned the final corner to where the large stone doors were, pulling up to a stop when the small crowd of ponies there caught us by surprise. They didn't notice us at first and continued to file into the large room inside as Scootaloo and I made our way to the back of the line. I received the customary stares and glances my presence usually had around groups of ponies. It wasn't so frequent anymore in Ponyville now that everypony in town was used to me. But up here, I guess my appearance was still something new.

The room beyond the doors was an incredible space of royal fussiness. It looked like a courtroom of sorts. More hard, white walls and floors with a long judge's bench at the far end that had four thrones behind it, each occupied by an alicorn. Twilight sat on the far left next to Cadence who in turn sat next to Luna and then Celestia at the far right. Tall flags hung in the still air behind them on poles, four total that concealed their markings but matched in color to the alicorns who sat in front of them. The one behind Twilight matched her coat perfectly.

Directly in front of the bench was a tall, narrow grey cage that contained a very familiar pegasus. He was the grown stallion version of Scootaloo, complete with purple mane and tail of the same shade. The last I saw him he had been turned into a living statue in his home up in Cloudsdale by Celestia after handily beating up myself, Applejack and Rainbow Dash in a fight for Scootaloo's return. He had almost killed Applejack that day and the poor farm pony spent weeks in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

But he wasn't a statue now. He was very much alive and breathing, his back towards us with no room to turn around as we filled in between the rows of low benches that lined this side of the room. The ponies near us selected seats at random and just when I was about to pull Scoots into a row, the doors boomed shut and Celestia knocked her hoof loudly on the wooden bench in front of her, bringing the room to a dead silence.

"Are the requested audience members here in accordance with the convict's wish?" her regal voice rang out clearly.

Scootaloo's ears flattened, embarrassed suddenly that she would have to call attention to herself. I stroked her neck and gave her an encouraging nod. "Go on, Scoots. It's alright." I whispered.

She was just opening her mouth to speak when a mare's voice rang out from the opposite side of the general seating area we were in. "Yes, Princess. Nightleaf is here."

I felt Scootaloo go rigid under my hand. "M... Mamma?!" she cried out, turning towards the sound.

"Poptart?" a dusky, dark blue colored pegasus mare with silver mane and tail hair came rushing towards us from the other side of the room. Scootaloo scrambled to meet her and in the large center isle they met in a dramatic hug, Scootaloo nuzzling her fiercely.

"Scootaloo, I'm so glad you're alright. I'm so glad you're safe." the mare cooed.

"Mamma.. why wouldn't I be? Where have you been? Why did-"

The knock of Celestia's hoof came again, cutting of the reunion with the mare that I had no doubt was Scootaloo's mother from her description. The room turned from watching the unexpected reunion back to the proceedings at the front.

"Please, this is not the time. I do not wish to be rude but we are here on official business. I see that both Nightleaf and Scootaloo are present. Step forward and take the seats of honor to my left." she held her hoof out, indicating a small platform with several seats to that side.

Scootaloo gave me a nervous look before she followed her mother to the front of room. Whipwind's head came up as they passed behind his cage and everyone could hear the snorting intake of mock amusement that came from him.

When they were seated, the group of ponies in the benches with me all took their seats and I followed suit, already wishing for this to be over with so I could get something to eat. Also I was dying to ask somepony about the threats mentioned by the commander earlier and the hyper-tense feeling of needing to know was putting me on edge.

My eyes flicked to Twilight Sparkle who looked completely ill sitting on the bench up front. She was chewing on her bottom lip and her eyes were wide and anxious, a sign I knew well from our time spent together that something was really bothering her. If it was this proceeding or the news that Celestia told her just before, I couldn't know. What I did know is she didn't share the same poised and dignified look as the other three up there. She looked like a young, nervous filly pretending to be an adult and a part of something she had no idea how to handle.

"Whipwind." Celestia began, "You have been found guilty of the following crimes: Assault of a pre-cutie mark filly, two instances. Neglect of a pre-cutie mark filly who is your daughter, one instance. Assault on a mare with intent to kill, one instance. Attempted murder, three instances. Treason against the royal co-"

"Treason?! Ha!" Whipwind suddenly barked out in a chewed up voice that sounded like he'd been drinking gravel for the last month, "I don't recognize your authority to be treasoned against, Celestia. Just because you were given the power to make the sun rise and set doesn't mean everypony should worship you."

Celestia looked as if she barely heard him and continued her list of charges when he'd finished. "Treason against the royal court, one instance. Conspiracy to commit Treason, three instances. For these crimes you will now be sentenced. According to tradition, you have been allowed to request your audience and they are present. Speak your words, Whipwind."

"I've got nothing to say to them, princess. I just wanted to see if they had enough guts to show up. I see my useless wife thinks she has eluded her role in life by trying to clear herself of the Sarin addiction. But I can smell it on her." his face turned towards Nightleaf and Scootaloo, "Not so easy, is it babe." his voice had a sneering quality to it that made my wings tingle with irritation.

Both Scootaloo and Nightleaf glowered at Whipwind, their expressions remarkably similar as they held each other for support.

He turned back to the bench. "Look at the four of you... all high and mighty, sitting up there like you actually matter around here. You stupid alicorns have no idea just how big this world is. You think that just because Equestria is filled with cowed and docile ponies, content to live out their lives like sheep, that everything is fine."

"You are trying my patience Whipwind." Celestia warned, "Use this time to start healing the damage you've caused rather than spread it."

"Heal?! There will be no healing until the rightful race of the Pegasi is in control of Equestria!" Whipwind raised himself up to his full height in the cage, "Too long have you sat on that throne and pretended to be in charge of things. Your own arrogance has made you weak and stupid!"

"Try us no more, Whipwind!" Luna erupted in anger, her voice deafeningly loud "Your time to speak is over!"

"No... It's is just beginning."

A pegasus, blood red in color from his mane to it's tail, stood suddenly and began to chant. It's voice took on an immediate, supernatural quality and the words reverberated around the chamber with incredible fullness and power that rumbled in my chest.

"Kulesh Grmalmada Bethedo Melia! Volgar Himvela Nogthanu!"

"No! It cannot be! Those words! That magic is-" Celestia stood her eyes growing wide and then she stopped, seeming to freeze in place with her mouth half open in mid speech. It was like someone had hit the pause button on life as the mysterious words reverberated in the large chamber, weaving it's sound around the room like and invisible blanket. At the start of the chant, several ponies had gotten up to move away from the stranger but now they stood still, their eyes locked in a wide, frightful stare.

But I remained unaffected. The shock of the sudden events serving me well by freezing me with indecision as I sat impassively on the bench, wiggling my fingers and toes enough to realize that whatever spell had frozen the ponies around me... I was still able to move just fine. Not to say the words didn't have an effect completely. My wings felt sluggish and numb while the feeling of the words rumbling in my chest gave me a sick and uneasy feeling. But other than that, I was pretty sure I could leap out of my seat at any time.

The blood colored pony continued his chant as he began to move forward towards the cage, pushing the frozen bodies out of the way with a hoof and causing them to tip over like statues where they landed with awkward stiffness against the ground. He reached Whipwind's prison and started to fiddle with the lock on the backside where the door was. My heart jumped to my throat when I realized his true intention. He was here to help Whipwind escape! I had to do something. I couldn't let this psychotic asshole get free again. With everypony frozen like they were... who knew what that nut job would do if given the chance.

Slowly and quietly I got to my feet, unhooking the umbilical strap from the harness and wrapping it around my fist like a makeshift mace with the heavy metal buckle dangling of the free end. I had one chance to knock this stranger out with it and hoped to hell that he doesn't have some other magic that actually does have more than a glancing effect on me.

I crept up behind the distracted, chanting pegasus and pulled the strap back, spinning it once over my head to gain momentum before I lashed out, striking hard and true against the side of his skull with a sickening, hallow crack! He reeled and stumbled towards the alicorn bench in a daze, the chant cut off mid word.

But he did not fall.

"Shit." I swore and jumped at him, giving him no time to collect himself before I heaved a massive kick between his rear legs with my foot that sent him sprawling with a howl of pain. Remaining on the attack, I raised the strap to strike again but he recovered quickly, shaking his red mane and scrambling away from me towards the bench, coughing and gasping for air.

"W.. what are you that does not... heed the magic of Shandor?" he spat, squaring off several feet away from me with blood running from the side of his skull. The eye on that side of his head seemed out of focus and not tracking me like the other did.

"Dunno, asshole. You can call me Mason, though. But you better come up with something else besides your little song if you want to get Whipwind out of here." I sneered, trying my best tough guy voice. It was hard. Adrenaline was pumping though my body strong enough to cause my jaw to tremble with every word.

"We see you now, Mason. We see you very well. You are marked." he grinned and began to chant again.

"Fuck no, you don't!" I grunted and lunged forward, whipping the strap out at his face again, interrupting his words and causing him to duck out of the way to avoid it. He slid to my left and started to back away, me matching his every step to keep him just inside the range of the weapon I had.

"Very effective hooves you have there, creature." he smiled, continuing to backstep away from me, "A shame they will be torn off of you someday soon. You'll pay for this interruption, Mason. When my master hears about thi-"

I whipped the strap out again, encouraging him to keep moving towards the door just as he was. "Fuck you and fuck your master. Whipwind 'bout killed me and my friends and I ain't lettin' you have him!" something inside me giggled with mad amusement that those words came out with Applejack's accent tinting them.

"The Flock will remember this... and we never forget." he smiled before leaping to his wings, slamming into the closed stone doors and shoving them open before disappearing. I stood for a moment, catching my breath and debating chasing after him before remembering Scootaloo. I jumped over several downed ponies and racing towards the platform where she and her mother were.

She was motionless in her mother's embrace, her eyes shimmering with life and wet tears that dripped down her face fur. "Scoots? Oh shit... Scoots? How do I fix this?" I said embracing her stiff body and was relieved to feel her warmth and heart pounding strong.

I turned my head to the alicorns. "Celestia? Anypony? What do I do?!"

A low, slow laugh rang out in the stillness after my desperate plea had echoed away. Whipwind was apparently unaffected by the spell and his orange head was now turned towards me.

"Well done, human. You managed to save everypony here... for a time. I was so looking forward to ripping Celestia's throat out with my teeth, too." he smirked.

"Fuck you, Whipwind! How to I get rid of this!"

"Oh, it will wear off shortly. I'm sure Celestia and her mixed blood kind will have much to thank you for, too. Enjoy it while you can..."

"What's happening? Who was that pegasus?" I said, closing the distance to his cage with angry, long strides.

"I have to thank you, human. Your interference a while ago brought me out of a slump I was in. I was half crazy with addiction when you last saw me and not up to my best abilities. The last few months as a statue has really cleared my head. And you're welcome by the way. I recognize that feather pattern of your wings... It's my bloodline's own. Very fast and powerful... you should feel honored." he nodded amicably enough.

"I try to forget where they came from as much as possible, to be honest." I frowned and gripped the strap tightly in my hand, wishing I could smack him through the bars. "Who was that? What is The Flock?"

Whipwind's mouth turned up in a smile and his only reply was; "You'll see."

"M... Mason..." came the strangled voice of Twilight Sparkle from behind me. I whirled and saw her blinking, her mouth moving with pained stiffness.

"Twilight!" I cried and ran to her, stroking her mane awkwardly, not knowing what else I should do. I looked quickly over to Scootaloo but she seemed frozen still. "You can move?"

"Protection... spell. Almost... got it... before." her eyes rolled in her head with frustration, each word looked as if she was fighting an invisible restraint on her muzzle.

"What can I do?! Tell me, Twilight? How do I help!"

"Almost... over... Wait..."

And so I did. I couldn't think of anything else to do except return to Scootaloo, passing by Whipwind who's purple eyes followed me mockingly as I went. I stood beside the orange girl I loved and stroked her mane, thinking about getting the guards. But what good would that do? The one responsible had escaped and there was nothing they could do to help anyways. Celestia would take care of things as soon as the spell wore off.

So I waited.