Arc 1- 8 (Challenged)

Incompetence From Royal Guard Kills Dozens

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By: Quill Pen

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PONYVILLE--- Ponyville has been struck with great tragedy. The terrorist organization known as the League of Justice enacted their twisted ideology against the peaceful, tourist attraction. The Royal Guard have reported that they got word of the attack at the last minute, but also claimed to be unprepared for the devastation of said attack.

Luckily, though, the Equestrian Investigation Bureau is working where the supposed defenders of Equestria have failed. Under the guidance of Director Brisk Wind, the EIB is working tirelessly around the clock to find any leads to the League of Justice and their whereabouts. Captain Shining Armor has stated that he is willing to work with the EIB to ensure that the LOJ is rooted out from Equestria.

But we must ask ourselves, how much longer can we rely on the Royal Guard’s to protect us? Especially if they are being led by a stallion who allowed the changelings to attack Canterlot, criminal lords to take over our cities, couldn’t prevent Prince Blueblood’s assassination and now failed to stop the attacks all over our fine nation?

With the incompetence running rampant under Captain Shining Armor, we can only hope that Director Brisk Wind and the Equestrian Investigation Bureau can restore order and stability to our nation.

Continued on Next Page

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Fluttershy is trying to enjoy the warm weather by feeding her chickens with Big Mac keeping her company, or as much company as the reserved stallion can give. He may be at her cabin, but he’s so quiet that he’s almost invisible. He does help her out whenever she asks, but he’s not one for conversations and he does what is asked so quickly and efficiently that the most Fluttershy can say is “Thank you” and “Good job”. Since everything is already done, save for feeding the chickens, Big Mac really has no reason to stay but Fluttershy begged him to stay. So now he’s relaxing in the shade, waiting for her to ask him of something while keeping an eye out for any trouble.

oooOOOooo

A couple of minutes of peaceful silence pass before Roar Shock and two pegasi escorts wearing suits land gracefully in front of Fluttershy’s cabin. Roar Shock recognizes Big MacIntosh immediately as the massive stallion scrutinizes him and his two guards. When he approaches the chicken coop, his two escorts stay behind to watch Big Mac closely while Roar Shock approaches Fluttershy.

“Hello there, Ms. Fluttershy. I’m Agent Bolt of the Equestrian Investigation Bureau,” says Roar Shock with a warm smile.

Fluttershy stops feeding her chickens and looks at Roar Shock nervously while Big Mac continues his staring contest, this time standing up and making the two guards shrink back slightly. Roar Shock knows that Fluttershy’s friend is not ready to buck teeth out, but he’s definitely going to be keeping an eye on him.

Roar Shock nods politely at Big Mac, who also returns the nod out of common courtesy, and approaches the fence around the coop, still keeping his warm smile. When he’s standing beside the fence he flips up a badge for the Equestrian Investigation Bureau. He puts it away just as quickly as he took it out.

“Would you mind if I had a word with you?” asks Roar Shock politely.

Fluttershy hesitantly approaches Roar Shock, when she’s at the fence she sits down and hides her face behind her enormous pink mane. Roar Shock casts a quick glance at Big Mac as stands defensively behind the timid pegasus.

“What did you want to ask me, sir?” asks Fluttershy quietly.

“You are friends with Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, correct?” says Roar Shock. Fluttershy nods and Roar Shock chuckles. “Yeah, that was a dumb question. But the next question is more serious. Those two have had a falling out and Twilight Sparkle is accusing Pinkie Pie of causing Spike’s death.”

“Ye-yes” stammers Fluttershy, sniffling after that.

“Why would Twilight Sparkle make an accusation like that?”

“I-I... I don’t... I don’t want to talk about it... if that’s okay with you I mean.”

“No, it’s not okay with me. We need to talk about it right now.”

“Oh... um okay.”

“Fluttershy!” blurts Big Mac, suddenly.

Roar Shock and Fluttershy look at Big Mac as he scowls at her, then he turns his glare to Roar Shock.

“One of Ms. Shy’s friends died and everything is fallin’ apart around her, and yer makin’ her uneasy with these questions of yers,” lectures Big Mac.

“Well my apologies, sir, but this pertains to the safety of a certain mare,” claims Roar Shock.

“Which one.”

“Whoever Mare-Do-Well is. We have reason to believe that whoever targeted the Mayor is also targeting Mare-Do-Well. We don’t know how much they know, and that is why we need to figure out who she is before they can get to her.” Then Roar Shock looks at Fluttershy, and she shrinks behind her mane again to shield herself from his gaze as Big Mac puts his hoof around her shoulder and glares at him. “Ms. Fluttershy, we know you and your friends did the whole Mare-Do-Well thing a long time ago, so please, help us help whoever was Mare-Do-Well that day.”

Fluttershy whimpers and looks at Roar Shock, her eyes shining with tears.

“Wha-what if they come for Rarity? Or-Or Twilight? Pinkie?... Or me?” whimpers Fluttershy.

“They won’t, unless you or any of the said others are the Mare-Do-Well they’re looking for,” assures Roar Shock.

“I think it’s best ya leave. Right now,” says Big Mac hostilely.

“Sir, I’m under the direct order of Director Brisk Wind of the Equestrian Investigation Bureau to find Mare-Do-Well and bring her into protective custody. So I’m not going anywhere until I get answers.”

The two pegasi standing behind Roar Shock shift uneasily as Big Mac walks towards Roar Shock. Roar Shock isn’t fazed by Big Mac’s enormous build on the outside, but on the inside he’s sweating and praying that if they get into a scuffle he’d be the first to strike and not the beast of a stallion. Big Mac scrutinizes Roar Shock for a grand total of five seconds before accusing Roar Shock of lying.

“You are accusing an EIB Agent of lying?” says Roar Shock innocently.

The two pegasi behind Roar Shock cautiously walk towards him and Big Mac.

“Eeyup,” says Big Mac, then he points towards the Everfree Forest. “Now go away before I bury you.”

The sudden threatening choice of words is enough to make Roar Shock pale and take a step back, which in turn makes his guards take three steps back. Roar Shock then nods and hovers in the air so he’s out of Big Mac’s reach for safety reasons.

“Agents, let’s give this cute couple some time to collect themselves,” says Roar Shock to his escorts, then he turns his attention to Big Mac. “As for you, sir, you best suppress that paranoia of yours when your talking to the EIB. We are your friends after all.”

“Go away!” orders Big Mac.

When they are in the clouds, Roar Shock turns around, towards the cabin and hides in the cloud with his escorts. He then pulls out a pair of small binoculars from his suit pocket and zooms in on the cabin.

“So, what are we going to do?” asks one of his escorts.

“Simple, we wait until they are on the move and then we strike,” says Roar Shock coolly.

“Do you honestly think that the mare knows who Mare-Do-Well is?”

“Oh she knows, and she’ll talk. We just need some leverage.” Roar Shock zooms in on Big Mac and gets a demented smile. “And I know just what we need to do.”

“Does it involve pony leverage?” asks the second escort

“Yes it does, we’ll strike him hard and fast. Make sure he doesn’t get a hit on you. The Apples are known to be hard kickers.”

“Oh horse apples, you aren’t seriously-”

“I am serious. She almost broke under pressure just from me talking to her. She’ll snap when there’s a life on the line.”

“But doesn’t Fluttershy have that stare thing?” asks the first escort.

“You don’t honestly believe that, do you?” scoffs the second escort.

Roar Shock smiles at the first escort. “Leave her to me, I’ll make sure she doesn’t look at you. Just make sure her coltfriend is incapacitated for the time being.”

He looks through his binoculars again and sees them leaving the cabin. Fluttershy is sulking next to Big Mac, keeping her head down, while Big Mac is walking with a furious determination not to let harm fall on her.

“Showtime,” says Roar Shock while spreading out his wings.

=**********=

“But, Pinkie Pie, where will you go?” Mrs. Cake asks while helping Pinkie Pie pack up some of her belongings in a cardboard box.

“I don’t know, but I can’t stay here,” says Pinkie Pie dolorously.

Mrs. Cake shakes her head subtly and picks up one of the blenders to pack away, but Pinkie Pie forces a giggle and gently rejects it and tells her that the blender will be her parting gift. Mrs. Cake chooses not to argue with the pink mare and sets the blender on the now desolate dresser, which is also staying behind. A couple of minutes of grim silence passes by before Mrs. Cake suddenly stops packing and embraces Pinkie Pie in a loving, yet grieving, hug, and stifles her tears. Pinkie Pie returns the hug, also crying softly.

“If this is about what happened to Spike...” begins Mrs. Cake shakily.

“It’s more than that,” says Pinkie Pie softly.

“What do you mean?”

Pinkie Pie doesn’t know how to answer that question. How can she tell one of her oldest friends, her mentor, that she was responsible for Spike’s death and that a group of assassins is coming to hunt her down for interfering with their business. Pinkie Pie doesn’t know how to tell Mrs. Cake that she has to leave because she just put everyone she knows in danger. Everyone in Ponyville just experienced what this dangerous group is capable of and how far they are willing to go to get their job done. Now she’s the job, and she can’t stay for the sake of everyone.

When Pinkie Pie is about to give a vague answer to Mrs. Cake’s question, her phone rings. Both mares look at the candy machine shaped headset shaking on the phone as it rings. None of them were expecting a call, and Pinkie Pie tries to ignore it, but the phone still rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. Finally after a minute of ringing, Mrs. Cake answers the phone.

“Hello, who is this?” asks Mrs. Cake ruder than she intended.

There is some chatter on the other end and Mrs. Cake and the stranger exchange some words for a few seconds before she hands the phone to Pinkie Pie.

“It’s for you,” says Mrs. Cake says with some worry.

“Who is it?” asks Pinkie Pie while carefully taking the phone.

“He wouldn’t say.”

Pinkie Pie hesitantly puts the headset on. “Hello?”

“Am I talking to Pinkamena Diane Pie this time?” asks a stallion on the other end with a bit of a teasing tone.

“Who is this?”

“You’ve been watching the group I’m part of for quite some time.”

Pinkie Pie’s face pales; she knew they would find her eventually, but she wasn’t expecting them to find them this soon! She looks at Mrs. Cake and politely asks her to leave. Mrs. Cake nods and leaves the room without saying a word and closes the door behind her. When her footsteps fade away Pinkie Pie moves to the back corner of her room.

“Who am I talking to,” demands Pinkie Pie.

“That’s not really important, now is it? But what is important is that I have a couple of your friends at my mercy,” says the stallion.

“Who.”

There is some movement on the other end, followed by the stallion ordering someone on the other end to speak. Pinkie Pie’s mind races to figure out who the stallion is holding, but when she hears whimpering her heart races. She knows that whimpering, and when the stallion yells at her to speak, the pony on the other end lets out a terrified squeak. Pinkie Pie slumps to the floor with her hoof pressed against her mouth and closes her eyes. Tears roll down her cheeks and she mentally murders herself for making Fluttershy a target for these ponies.

“P-Pinkie?” stammers Fluttershy on the other end.

“Fluttershy, I’m so sorry,” cries Pinkie Pie quietly.

“That’s enough! Take her to the back!” barks the stallion.

There is screaming and begging and sobbing on the other end, followed closely by the sound of a body being dragged across the floor.

“Let her go! She has nothing to do with this!” yells Pinkie Pie.

“On the contrary, she does,” says the stallion. “You have forty five minutes. If you are not at Fluttershy’s cabin in forty five minutes we will kill her and Macintosh. If you bring the guards, we will kill them. If you bring anypony else, we will kill them.”

“I can’t make the run in forty five minutes!”

“Fifty minutes then. That is all your getting. I suggest you start now, you don’t want to be responsible for the death of two more of your friends, do you?”

Pinkie Pie slams the mouthpiece down on the phone and runs out of the Sugar Cube Corner, ignoring Mrs. Cake’s barrage of questions and the ponies that stop and stare at her as she bolts out of the town. The sun is already setting; the trip to Fluttershy’s cabin is undeniably long and she knows it’ll be night when she reaches it. It’s the perfect place and time to kill her. The cabin is isolated, it’ll be night so there is plenty of places where ponies can hide with the aid of the darkness. It could all end tonight.

When Pinkie Pie reaches Fluttershy’s cabin, the first thing she notices is that most of the animals are missing, and there are a few dead ones outside, like they died defending her and the rest fled. The other thing she notices is that the cabin is completely dark and still. The tree its built in even looks dead. Her body tingles as she walks closer to the cabin, it doesn’t take a genius to know that something is off.

When Pinkie Pie enters the cabin, her eyes dart around in search for any movement until she hears a sniffling. She tries to turn on  light, but the light switch doesn’t work so she cautiously walks further inside towards the source of the noise. The place is ransacked, and she can smell death that matches perfectly with the eerie silence. As she gets farther inside, the sniffling and whimpering gets louder, and she spots two figures huddled in the back corner. Pinkie Pie squints her eyes and is barely able to make out that the figures are Big Mac and Fluttershy. Big Mac is lying on the floor, battered and unconscious, with Fluttershy hugging him and crying. She also looks like she’s been attacked, but not as severely as Big Mac. The closer Pinkie Pie gets to her, the more she sees that Fluttershy’s mane is a mess and that she’s covered in mud with some blood mixing in from a scratch on her head.

“Pinkie, I-I’m sorry,” sniffles Fluttershy.

“No. No, I’m the one that’s sorry, Fluttershy. I-You-this should’ve never happened to you,” says Pinkie Pie.

“They-They were going to kill him. They-They already-they already killed Angel and-and-I just couldn’t...”

“Hello, Pinkie Pie. Or shall I say, Mare-Do-Well,” says Roar Shock sinisterly.

Pinkie Pie jumps to face Roar Shock as he materializes out of the shadows with his escorts by his side. None of them are showing any signs of pouncing, much to Pinkie Pie’s amazement.

“So, you figured me out. I guess I didn’t try hard enough to hide my identity,” says Pinkie Pie with a threatening edge to her tone.

“The process of elimination is a miracle worker,” quips Roar Shock.

“So, is this the part where you guys kill me for meddling with your business?”

“Nope, I just came here to negotiate a place for us to have a nice little showdown. I’m thinking that construction site at the edge of your town next week will suffice.”

“Does your boss know that you’re doing negotiations with his enemy?”

“Oh he knows, he’s actually loving the idea because he really wants to test his newest student.”

One of Roar Shock’s escorts moves by the door, blocking Pinkie Pie’s exit, while the other moves closer to Fluttershy and Big Mac. Fluttershy whimpers and shrinks down while staring at the pegasus.

“Who’s this new student?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“I’m sure you’re familiar with her. A certain showpony that was um -how should I say this?- egotistical. More so than your other friend, Rainbow Dash,” replies Roar Shock.

“Trixie? Trixie’s with you?”

“I’m surprised you remembered so quickly. But yes, she is, and I myself and excited to see how she performs.”

“So she’s been trained to become a monster like you.”

“Oh we are not ‘monsters’. Nope, not in the slightest. Even then ‘monster’ is such a harsh and childish word.”

Roar Shock paces around Pinkie Pie, and her eyes follow his every move, she’s just waiting for an excuse to lash out at him. The only reason why she isn’t breaking his jaw is because they are “negotiating” and it would be tacky to punch him, plus Fluttershy and Big Mac are close by and she doesn’t want to risk any further injury to them.

“I wouldn’t even go as far as saying you’re a monster,” continues Roar Shock, “even though you and your friends took up the vigilante thing solely to teach your other friend a lesson. Protecting Ponyville was never your real intent. But enough with the lollygagging. Construction site. Ten hours after noon. Friday next week. Agreed?”

Pinkie Pie takes a deep breath and nods. “Agreed.”

“Good, that was easy,” says Roar Shock with a smug smile. “To prevent any interference you must Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony about what is to happen. That goes for you too, Ms. Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy squeaks and shrinks further behind Big Mac’s body.

“Do you Pinkie Promise to keep this to yourself?” asks Roar Shock threateningly.

“I promise,” says Pinkie Pie.

“Let me hear you say it.”

Pinkie Pie is silent and Roar Shock nods towards the escort nearest to Fluttershy. The escort knocks her on her to the ground and then presses their hoof against her head so that she can’t look at them. Pinkie Pie takes a step forward but the pegasus increases the pressure on Fluttershy’s head, making her cry in pain.

“Let me hear you say it,” repeats Roar Shock in a more sinister tone.

“Pinkie, please don’t do it!” begs Fluttershy.

“Shut up!” snaps the pegasus holding her hostage.

The pegasus presses harder against Fluttershy’s head. She whimpers and tries to break free, but that only leads to him stomping on her head and then resuming his pressing. Pinkie Pie holds up her hoof and begs them to stop.

“It will end with the Pinkie Promise,” says Roar Shock darkly.

Pinkie Pie sighs and reluctantly says: “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” while half-heartedly doing the motions.

“Good, now your turn Ms. Fluttershy.”

The pegasus allows her to get up and she also does the Pinkie Promise with the motions. When she’s done, Roar Shock smiles and walks outside with his escorts.

“Thank you ladies, it was a pleasure talking to you,” says Roar Shock.

Then the trio fly away, leaving Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Big Mac alone in the cabin. When the three pegasi are gone, Fluttershy’s lips quiver and her grip tightens around Big Mac. Then she sobs loudly, and Pinkie Pie closes her eyes and hugs her friend tightly. Fluttershy returns the hug and Pinkie Pie rocks her like how a mother would when comforting her daughter, and she runs her hoof through her mane, also crying.

“I’ll fix this,” sniffles Pinkie Pie as she wipes the tears from her eyes. “I promise I’ll fix. You’ll see.”

“N-No! You-You can’t meet them! They’ll kill you!” cries Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, don’t worry, I have a plan. I’ll stop these ponies, one way or the other.”

Pinkie Pie returns to the Sugar Cube Corner to finish packing after taking Big Mac and Fluttershy to the local hospital. Once back home, she quickly packs up her Mare-Do-Well costum in a decent sized box, and with it, her notebook and one of her blenders. All of the extras have been carefully wrapped, and to ensure their safety she stuffs the box with as many plastic peanuts and crumbled pieces of paper as possible. She also makes sure to wrap the box with duct tape and to finish it off, she attaches an envelope with a letter addressed to Octavia inside.

After making sure the contents in her box are secured she goes to Derpy’s place and asks her to deliver it to Octavia’s address in Canterlot. Derpy accepts the task after some obnoxious knocking, a couple dozen muffins, both mares begging Time Turner to let her go, and a case of energy drinks. After Derpy leaves with the box, Pinkie Pie quietly goes back to her room and calls her sister. Naturally, she gets the answering machine, so she leaves a message giving Octavia explicit instructions not to open the package and to follow the instructions on the note.

After doing that, Pinkie Pie heads over to Twilight’s house with an umbrella hat on. She feels like she’s going to be sick when she reaches the library/house since she knows that she’ll have to face a former friend that now hates her guts. She takes a deep breath, and then knocks on the door. There is no answer, so she knocks again. When no one answers the door Pinkie Pie nods and mouths “Okay”. She had been expecting that to happen, so she came prepared. She takes off the umbrella hat and leaves it at the front door with a note underneath it.

Dear Twilight,

I know you hate me for what has happened, and I know no amount of apologies will bring Spike back. But before I go, I want you to have this umbrella hat as a reminder of our friendship before everything became rotten. I’m sorry for what has happened, and I can only ask that you try to forgive me and remember that Spike died a hero. I’m guessing that our friendship is over, but I will make everything right. I Pinkie Promise.

Love always,

Pinkie Pie

=**********=

Trixie is sitting in the middle of what was once a lavish loft. The walls had expensive paintings, furniture was made with the highest quality material, and dishes so clean and pretty that they looked as though they were carved from crystal. But all the beauty of the apartment has been scarred with a brutal scuffle. The furniture and paintings are smashed, the walls have cracks and dents, and the dishes have shattered to millions of pieces, giving the floor a sparkling shine. But Trixie doesn’t care about the destruction of the loft, she’s actually smiling. Her smile is stretched across her face like it’s her greatest victory and she’s staring out the hole that was once a glass door that lead to a patio.

She’s happy to see the sight, and too happy to feel the blood trickle from her head and down her cheek, staining her silvery mane and coat in red. When the droplets splatter on the floor she chuckles quietly, and madly, while looking down on the little red circles. Then she looks at the balcony again.

“You deserved it, father,” chuckles Trixie. “Every broken bone, every drop of blood spilt, every ounce of fear. You deserved it all.”

“Do you want to claim your inheritance?” asks a mysterious voice, a stallion, with a deep, fatherly voice.

“Trixie doesn’t want his money.”

“But you’ve been through so much already. It is his gift to you.”

Tears swell up in Trixie’s eyes and yet she still keeps her smile.

“His gift to me? The Great and Powerful Trixie?” says Trixie, her voice is cracking

“Yes, his gift to you,” says the voice.

“He never wanted anything to do with me, and I with him. Now leave me be.”

“Trixie...”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!”

A small shockwave shoots out from under Trixie, blowing a circle of shattered glass and other pieces of garbage away from her. She hyperventilates and sniffles, then tries to choke back her tears. She tries to keep her smile, but its faltering, despite her best efforts.

“If only I could see his eyes,” whispers Trixie, her smile twists into a frown before continuing. “If only could see the fear in his eyes... He knew he’d be going to Tartarus... and I... I will soon join him.”

Trixie stands up and walks towards the shattered glass doors, leaving a trail of tears and blood behind to stain the floor. The sounds of the city become more faint the closer she gets to the door.

“Trixie, wait!” says the voice, panicking.

“It was always meant to be,” says Trixie in a trance, the city is now silent. “Celestia played with me from birth to see how miserable I can be. She did it... She won. She made the Great and Powerful Trixie despise everything about herself. She made me hate me”

Soon she’s standing on the balcony, and she closes her eyes and feels the cool wind whip through her mane and cool off the warm blood.

“Trixie, please don’t do this,” begs the voice.

She smiles sadly as she balances herself on the railing, she trembles for a few seconds before she is able to stand on it firmly. She sniffles and looks at the source of the voice, it’s only a shadowy figure of a stallion.

“Trixie’s final act!” says Trixie to her one audience member while trying to use her infamous boasting tone, but her voice is quivering and now tears are streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably. “She will make the life of a menace! A fake! A boastful, greedy tramp!... Disappear!”

“NO!”

Trixie throws herself off the edge and watches in wonder as the lights from the buildings zip past her in a blur, and the howling wind rushing past her brings her comfort, knowing that her miserable existence is soon to end. She doesn’t care that she’ll be going to Tartarus for this, for who she had become. It was all part of Celestia’s game after all and Celestia always win. Plus, the world would be better off without her, all the sneers and stories of her evil prove that she’s nothing but an enemy. Her death will make everything better. One less villain to deal with.

She closes her eyes right before she feels her body connect with the pavement, and-

[[[[O]]]]

She wakes up in the infirmary with a bandage with a red splotch on it wrapped around her head. She raises her hoof and touches it, and quicklt retracts her hoof, wincing, when finding out the hard way that her injury is still tender.

“You are a crazy little pony, you know that, right?” teases Wazza.

Trixie shifts in her spot and sees Wazza sitting next to her bed with a warm smile. His twin is nowhere to be seen, though. This seems odd to Trixie since the two are inseparable, but she’s not too worried about that at the moment. Right now she wants to know how she ended up in the infirmary with a head injury.

“What happened?” asks Trixie groggily.

“You do not remember?” says Wazza quizzically.

“Not at the moment.”

Wazza shifts in his seat and takes a deep breath before explaining to Trixie what happened with possibly the longest verbal detour she’s ever heard. She briefly wonders why zebras like to take forever to explain anything, but guesses that it’s cultural thing so she doesn’t pester Wazza to hurry up. Not that she can force him to do so, anyway.

“Every pony and zebra has a potential for great damage,” begins Wazza, “our mood affects the magic in all of us. For pegasi, their mood determines the weather for the cloud they are on. Sadness brings rain. Rage brings storms. Earth ponies and zebras are not special when it come to sadness, but when enraged an earth pony can become a nearly unstoppable force. While a zebra is a species that has minor psychic abilities that can be extremely dangerous if left unchecked.”

“You mean like lifting things up and all that stuff?” asks Trixie.

“No, that’s telekinesis. A zebra’s psychic ability is what led to all the stories about our witchcraft, which holds some truth, but we have done our best to keep the mind control down to self defense only. Some zebras have completely renounced this, most are weak in it, but we all have it.”

“And what about unicorns?”

Wazza leans forward and puts his hoof over Trixie’s and gives her a stern, yet worried, gaze. “When a unicorn is facing extreme emotional trauma they exert a lot of magic. Because of the diversity of unicorns your species is the most unpredictable and dangerous when it comes to this.”

“Oh no. What did I do?”

“Some can change their physical appearance, others can manipulate matter around them, others are living bombs.”

“Wazza. What. Did I. Do.”

Wazza sighs and pats Trixie’s hoof sympathetically. “You are a living bomb, Trixie. We were trying to get you test your magical level by hypnotizing you to release your emotions. Adanz touched your memory’s sore spot and you went on a small rampage.”

“Oh my goddess,” gasps Trixie while pressing her hoof against her head. “Is Adanz fine? What about the others?”

“Everypony is fine. Your mentor was able to stop you with a brick to your head before you caused too much damage.”

Wazza and Trixie exchange a chuckle while she looks up at the bandage; head injury and the events leading up to it: successfully explained in vague detail, thus is the zebra way. Trixie is relieved that no one was hurt, but now she’s worried that Gray Muffin is mad at her for her emotional meltdown. Wazza gives Trixie a reassuring smile like he knows what she’s thinking (which he probably does, since he confessed zebras hold some psychic abilities).

“I can assure you that your mentor is not upset with you, Trixie,” assures Wazza, “in fact, he was actually pleased by your power and wishes to speak to you as soon as possible.”

“Well what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” says Trixie eagerly, she feels a hundred times better now that she knows that Gray Muffin is actually proud of her rather than the opposite.

Trixie tries to get up, but Wazza holds her down and points at the bandage on her head.

“You aren’t going anywhere with that bump on your head,” says Wazza sternly.

“Oh come on! Please let me go!” pouts Trixie.

“No, a warrior needs to know when to fight, when to relax, and when to heal. You need to heal. I will grab him for you, yes?”

Trixie sighs heavily and nods, and Wazza smiles and leaves the room without another word. She is so eager in her wait for Wazza to return with Gray Muffin that she fidgets in her bed. She drums her hooves on the mattress, her eyes dart around the room, and she even moves pillows around the infirmary with her magic to keep her mind busy.

Thirty seconds turns into a minute. One minute turns into two. Two to five. Five to ten. Ten to twenty. Twenty to forty five. Forty five to an hour. Trixie groans in frustration and slumps on her bed, and then proceeds to using her magic to throw her pillow in the air and catch it in her hooves, then she repeats the process. Finally, after nearly two hours of waiting, Wazza returns with Gray Muffin and Adanz in tow. When Trixie sees Adanz the first thing she notices is that his fur is almost completely black. Her jaw drops and she points at the poor zebra.

“Did-Did I-” stammers Trixie.

“You did, and you are forgiven,” interrupts Adanz.

“Trixie, you and I need to talk,” says Gray Muffin, he does an amazing job of hiding this “pride” Wazza mentioned earlier.

“Of course, sir,” says Trixie while bowing her head slightly.

Gray Muffin glances at Wazza and Adanz. “You two, talk with the farmers about getting more of those mushrooms.”

“Yes sir,” says Wazza and Adanz in unison.

The two zebras bow and speed walk out of the room, and Gray Muffin waits patiently for the door to close, then he waits a good minute before he decides to speak.

“What you did earlier today was both amazing and terrifying,” says Gray Muffin, pride is creeping into his voice now, this makes Trixie smile. “I have never seen anything like it before. Terra was the best unicorn I had, but she preferred up close brutality over using her raw power. But you, on the other hoof, exerted immense power that destroyed the Arena and left dozens of my ponies injured. It was only by sheer luck no pony needed to be sent to the infirmary, save for you.”

“Wazza said I was a um a ‘living bomb’, what did he mean by that? I do not remember the teachers explaining this in school,” says Trixie.

“I think it’s best I show you what Wazza meant.”

“But he said-”

“I know what he said, but do you want to see something you can be truly proud of?”

Trixie instantly hops out of bed and beams at Gray Muffin while doing a small, eager dance in her spot like a filly waiting to go on the world’s greatest roller coaster.

“Yes, yes, yesyesyesyesyes... yes... sir. Yes sir,” says Trixie happily, and then she coughs uneasily because of the weight of the embarrassment she’s feeling.

Gray Muffin smirks and leads Trixie out of the infirmary, towards the Arena. As they walk down the hallway Gray Muffin explains to her that most Equestrians, particularly unicorns, don’t know about the powers they possess. He claims that the Royal Government reserves this special knowledge for their elite soldiers so that they actually know how to control it should the situation arise. He also explains how the few that figure it out, figure it out either by chance or are well informed. When Trixie asks Gray Muffin what he meant about her display of “raw power” being terrifying, his answer is something Trixie is glad to hear, but now fears losing control of her emotions more than ever.

“Since unicorns have direct connection to magic, they face more severe side effects when they lose control of their emotions. Temporary psychosis is the common of these side effects, such as multiple personalities or hallucinations,” says Gray Muffin.

Trixie gulps at the mention of “hallucinations” and she unconsciously looks around for any signs of projections of Sunshine. She doesn’t see him directly, but she swears she see his shadow melt into Gray Muffin’s. Gray Muffin notices Trixie sweating and he stops and puts his hoof on her shoulder in probably the most intimate way Trixie’s ever seen him.

“Are you alright?” asks Gray Muffin.

“I-I’m fine, sir,” says Trixie.

She smiles uneasily at him and his hoof slides off her shoulder and they continue their walk.

“In cases where unicorns unleash an extreme amount of energy due to emotional distress, such as what happened to you, there is a chance for them to black out and lose themselves in their alternate state. This is most common with unicorns like you Trixie, unicorns that are living bombs.”

Right as Gray Muffin finishes his lecture they enter the Arena and Trixie sees first hand what she had done. There is a crater in the middle of the arena with charred floor around it, and pieces of the ceiling have collapsed, revealing sparking wires and damaged pipes. Trixie’s jaw goes slack as she explores the damaged room. The floorboards creak and groan in protest, threatening to snap apart, under her hooves, and she leaves a faint trail of hoofprints in her wake. She stops by the edge of the crater and looks down. It’s not big, but the idea that she did that amazes her. A part of her wishes she could remember doing it, but another part of her is afraid that she’ll get nightmares from it.

“We are all capable of good and evil, Trixie, and I am glad you chose the good side,” says Gray Muffin with a small, proud smile.

“I did this?” whispers Trixie.

“Yes, and I believe with your gift you can kill Pinkie Pie.”

Trixie is lost in the crater, but when Gray Muffin’s message sinks in, she snaps her focus onto him, completely shocked that he has tasked her with killing the Element of Laughter.

“Wha-What do you mean ‘kill Pinkie Pie’, sir?” stammers Trixie.

“I mean exactly what I said,” says Gray Muffin sternly.

“But I just can’t kill her even if she is Mare-Do-Well! She’s the Element of Laughter!”

“There is nothing left to laugh about, not while the vile rule Equestria with their deception.”

Gray Muffin kicks some loose floorboards away and a sick smile flickers across his face as he watches the piece of wood tumble deeper into the crater. This is not the Gray Muffin Trixie knows, and frankly, his whole odd actions have been making Trixie wonder if he’s right in the head. She always thought he was a bit cynical, but now she’s fearing that he may be losing his mind.

“These criminals and their bureaucrat puppets have ruined so many lives, killed so many families, ruined dreams...” says Gray Muffin distantly. “Pinkie Pie contributed to guarding the evil that has taken hold of Equestria. Laughter or not, she is an enemy of Justice and True Harmony.”

He kicks off another piece of floorboard and watches it slide down, the same smile returns for a brief second and Trixie takes a step back.

“You know better than most what evil lurks in the shadows of Equestria.” Gray Muffin looks at Trixie out of the corner of his eye and smirks. “Few hold more pain than you, but what Roar Shock endured served as a revelation as to what must be done. He has something planned that will save Equestria, and he is honored to have you with us in our cause.” Small bits of eagerness have creeped into his voice in the latter part of his statement , like he’s dying to tell Trixie what this plan is, but won’t say anything for fear of getting in trouble.

“What are you planning, sir?” asks Trixie uneasily.

“I cannot tell you just yet, when you kill Pinkie Pie you will know.”

Gray Muffin’s odd expression returns to the cold, calculated killing machine look that Trixie knows him for and he walks towards the exit in a hurry.

“We have work to do. You are to focus on your magic for we strike next week,” orders Gray Muffin.

“What are you going to do?” says Trixie while chasing after him.

Gray Muffin then runs down the hallway, completely ignoring Trixie’s question. Trixie runs after Gray Muffin for a few seconds before she decides it’s best not to pester him. She sighs, sits by the wall and knocks a random rock away from her. Then she realizes that she has no one to help her train in her magic, or no one she knows anyway. She’s been limited to just Gray Muffin, Wazza and Adanz, and the occasional Roar Shock; everyone else either walks around, eat, or becomes her bucking bags when they try the Blitz Training Sessions, which she admits have been very helpful, despite the sore spots they leave.

Trixie sighs and gently rubs her injury before standing up and wandering the place in hopes that she’ll get jumped or something to help her train her magic.