Of Dragons and Magicians

Chapter 8

"Revealing the Truth"

Almost as quickly as they realized it, Pinkie Pie and Trixie found themselves in Twilight's throne room having just been roughly taken back by the royal guardsponies. Trixie didn't take this very well and having been through a rough experience that was a threat on her life was not helping at all.

"What is the meaning of this, Twilight Sparkle?" she demanded, stamping her foot on the ground. "Are you trying in any way to cause the Great and Apologetic Trixie more harm?"

Of course, Twilight knew she wasn't, but the manner in which they were just forced back to the castle caused a great deal of concern. Taking a heavy sigh, Twilight trotted over to the two ponies and began to tell them what was happening.

"Of course not, Trixie," said Twilight, placing a hoof around Trixie's neck, but she roughly turned away. "I mean, really, I'm not! It's just that I was summoned to Canterlot while you and Pinkie were gone and I learned more about the ponies who tried to kill you."

Being her typical self, Pinkie got into Twilight's face and was wanting to learn more. But, Twilight knew that this was no time for another of Pinkie's shenanigans and levitated her away, giving her space.

"This is serious, Pinkie!" snapped Twilight, glaring at the pink pony. Taking another deep breath using her calming technique, Twilight continued her revelations.

"What did you learn about them, Twilight Sparkle?" asked Trixie, her voice now filled with concern. "The Great and Apologetic Trixie demands to know!"

"It turns out they are actually a group of ponies who are trying to create their own Equestria," continued Twilight. "They grew up in the Ponyville Orphanage and claim to want to create their own Equestrian government as revenge for the loss of their parents."

The shock of the reveal caused Pinkie's hair to become straight to coincide with her sadness on the matter. In fact, Pinkie couldn't figure out who to feel sorry for: for either Trixie or the ponies who had tried to kill Trixie.

"But what do they want with me?" wondered Trixie, pacing back and forth around the throne room. "I was never accomplished with the tasks that you accomplished, Twilight Sparkle."

"It turns out that they also want me too, Trixie," replied Twilight, walking back to her map. "I found out that there is a list of ponies that they want to eliminate, including us."

"What do you mean 'us'?" asked Spike, looking over to Twilight while sitting on his throne. "Am I on the list as well?"

"I don't think so, Spike," replied Twilight. "But knowing that you are my number one assistant, there is no question that you would be."

It was then that Twilight turned her attention back to the matter at hand. Trixie's benefit was only a few days away and all was going to be in attendance, including the Princesses. Unless these precautions were taken, many ponies were going to get hurt.

"But, what about the benefit?" asked Trixie, worriedly. "Should I cancel my performance?"

"Absolutely not, Trixie," replied Twilight, firmly. "That will only send a message to the ponies that we will bow down to their level and that they have won. No, we need to send a message to them that we are not going to let their goals get in the way of yours. If you want to redeem yourself in the eyes of Equestria, then you are going to get that chance."

Just then, Spike belched up another letter from Celestia and Twilight read it almost immediately. After reading it, she turned her attention back over to Trixie.

"That was from Princess Celestia," said Twilight, getting off of her throne. "She says that Discord has been tasked with stopping the group. We all want you to have this benefit, Trixie, so you have nothing to worry about."

But while this was a welcome sigh of relief to Trixie, Spike wasn't completely convinced on the matter. He knew very well that Discord was able to betray them once and he was certain that he would betray them again.

"Huh," grunted Spike. "I certain won't think he will succeed. He messed up last time and he will mess up this time."

Twilight only turned back to give Spike another one of her hard stares. This wasn't a popular choice to her either, given her continued distrust of the ex-master of chaos, but it was something that they all had to go with.

"What?" remarked Spike, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm only saying that he will mess up, Twilight. I think we should have gone after them."

Twilight had no words to respond and instead turned her attention back to Trixie, who clearly had something to say about how rough the guards were to her.

"Look Trixie," said Twilight. "I know you are sorry for what you did the last time you were here and I know that you want to redeem yourself in the eyes of Equestria. But, we need protect ourselves from these ponies who want to harm us. Your benefit is important to us and the last thing I want is for ponies to get hurt. As for the guards, let me talk to them about what happened."

Trixie then realized that Twilight was truly caring about her well-being and felt a sense of security upon hearing those words. As Trixie headed off to bed, Pinkie realized that she needed to get back to Sugarcube Corner and was just about to leave when the guards stopped her from leaving the throne room.

"You aren't going anywhere!" snapped one of the guards, pointing his spear at Pinkie's throat and causing her to tremble in fear.

"Of course, she is," replied Twilight, sternly. "She's Pinkie Pie, you know, the element of laughter and the pony who shares my role with several other ponies?"

Embarrassed at hearing this, the guards lowered their weapons and stood at ease while Twilight trotted over to them.

"I want you to protect my friends, not rough them up," ordered Twilight. "Trixie has already been through enough as it is. Your comrades are in several different parts of Ponyville and I have already ordered them to stand their ground when my friends are around. You know what they are and what they look like, so there was absolutely no reason for your actions tonight."

Both guards gave each other a worried glance and felt like complete idiots for what they did. Nevertheless, they continued to listen to their youngest superior.

"Furthermore," continued Twilight, lowering her head for a moment before raising it back up. "If you see any suspicious ponies around Ponyville that are intending to set off bombs, you are to engage them and subdue them without hesitation. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, your highness," replied the guards, saluting them.

"Good," said Twilight, feeling satisfied that the guards were listening. "Now, you are to take Pinkie back to Sugarcube Corner and stand guard. Your replacements will come at dawn and you are to not fall asleep, is that clear?"

After another salute, the guards led Pinkie out of the throne room and back towards Sugarcube corner, her mane and tail returning to their normal curly state upon hearing Twilight scold them for their actions towards her and Trixie.

"I hope that you know what you are doing, Twilight," said Spike. "If these ponies you say plan on attacking the benefit just to finish off Trixie…"

"They aren't just targeting Trixie," interrupted Twilight. "They want to eliminate us all and they will stop at nothing to do it, even if it means hurting other ponies. Until these ponies are stopped, we are all in great danger."

So, both Twilight and Spike went to bed that night, still trying absorb all that was happening around them. Meanwhile, the Orphanage ponies were planning their next move…