The Equestrian Event

“C’mon, c’mon,” Jay muttered to himself as he raced his bike alongside the train tracks that extended over the rugged mountain terrain.

The small black earpiece continued its soft, ringing tone as it attempted to make contact with its partner in Canterlot. It was the fifth time that Jay had attempted to call Luna since he had left Ponyville.

The earpiece uttered one final ring before going silent, signifying that no one had answered.

“Shit,” Jay thought. “No way I’m getting there in time at this rate. Unless…”

Jay eyed the tracks next to him. They were fairly wide and seemed to be well maintained. If he were to ride along the rail ties, there was a chance he could make it to the city sooner. It’d be risky, though. Once he was in between the metal railing, there wouldn’t be much room for error. The bike’s wheels wouldn’t be able to clear them without some assistance.

“Ah, screw it,” Jay thought. “We’re on the clock.”

He clenched his teeth and braced himself, firmly grasping the handlebars. Jay then pressed his boots down on the footholds of the bike, while simultaneously raising himself up from his seat, knees bent. He waited until he found a patch of ground that was close to the tracks before attempting to swerve the bike.

As soon as the bike hit the small rise of dirt, it was up in the air. Not more that a second later, its rubber treads collided with the ties at the center of the tracks. The frame of the bike dipped for just a moment before the wheels began to bounce up and down along the wooden boards. It seemed that the suspension system was still working as intended.

Jay breathed a small sigh of relief at this and allowed his form to relax. He gave his earpiece a small tap as he listened to the repetitive thumping of the tires skipping over the wooden ties.

“Ice!” Jay said shouted over the wind that was threatening to drown out his voice.

“You still there? How are things going?”

“Your friends are quite curious,” Ice responded as soon as Jay had finished speaking. “They want to know why you are here, who you really are, and why you left.”

“Is that all?” Jay chuckled. “I thought we already covered that. Just give them a more complicated answer. You know the restrictions. Try to shift their focus if they get too nosy.”

“Why did you leave in such a hurry, sir?” Ice asked. “I don’t believe you ever gave me a reason.”

Jay couldn’t help but smile at Ice’s phrasing. She didn’t just believe that he hadn’t told her why he had left, she knew for a fact that he didn’t.

“I didn’t want to worry the others,” Jay said. “They’re spooked enough as it is.”

“It must be something serious if you’re requesting emergency equipment drops in broad daylight,” Ice remarked. “Are we expecting trouble?”

“We’re always expecting trouble,” Jay said, flashing a quick glance at the cargo fastened to the side of the bike. He twisted the throttle grip as far as it would go, altering the steady thump of the tires to a consistent hum.

“I believe that’s referred to as, ‘paranoia,’ sir,” Ice said. “By the way, how are you feeling?”

“My head’s still pounding, I’m possibly suffering from psychotic tendencies, and I feel like my stomach is trying to eat itself,” Jay replied. “But other than that, I think I’m okay.”

“Glad to hear it,” Ice chirped. “Try not to strain yourself. We don’t know the full extent of Miss Sparkle’s endeavors.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jay said.

He blinked a few times against the force of the wind, his eyes tearing up as he did. In his rush to get going, he had forgotten to put on his shades. It was a decision that had come back to bite him.

“Sure you will,” Ice giggled. “Let me know when the show starts. I’ll bring the music.”

Jay laughed at the comment as he recalled images of films he used to watch in his free time, many of which were made long before he was around. The flickering scan lines against the monitor, the cheesy acting, and the outlandishly implausible situations which the protagonists were always able to overcome.

He began to imagine how ridiculous it would be if the sound of synthesized music began to play as he rode across through the valley. All the while, groups of cameras would follow his every move, eventually culminating into the what would probably be the one of the most laughable montages ever conceived.

“I’ll try and remember that,” Jay said. “Call me when something interesting happens.”

“Yes, sir,” Ice said. “Good luck.”

With that said, the call ended.

“Something tells me that I’m going to need more than luck,” Jay muttered, his eyes continuing to water. It was becoming a serious distraction.

Making sure to keep his attention focused on the tracks ahead of him, Jay lowered his left hand to his waist and began to blindly feel for the flap of his messenger bag. Finding it, he rummaged around inside until he located his glasses. He quickly pulled them out and put them on.

“That’s better,” Jay said, blinking the tears out of his eyes. He took hold of the handlebars with both hands again and continued to ride. But not before giving his earpiece another light tap.

“Someone’s bound pick up the phone,” Jay thought as he listened to the device ring.

“Sooner or later.”

******

“I can’t believe you!” Celestia cried, slamming her hoof down onto the table. A few of the dishes rattled from force of the blow, the sound echoing through the main dining hall of the palace.

Luna slowly sipped at her coffee as she listened to her sister’s furious remarks. It was about the only thing helping her stay awake at the moment.

“What has gotten into you?” Celestia continued, rising to her hooves and beginning to pace around the room. She quickly flashed a commanding glare at the servants who were attending them. They took the hint, making themselves scarce, less they to wish to suffer the princess’s wrath.

“Sneaking off at night, meeting with strangers in secret, and then granting said strangers access to royal assets!” Celestia ranted. “Honestly, Luna! Do you really think that thing can help, or are you just trying to undermine my decisions?”

“As I recall, it was the council’s decision, not yours,” Luna sighed, taking another sip of her drink. She found these one sided conversations to be rather boring.

“That is not the point!” Celestia retorted. “You went against the direct order of the royal authority.”

“Correction,” Luna prompted. “The council decreed that they could not accept Jay’s help. I am not affiliated with the council, nor do I take orders from them. Nor do you, for that matter. As long as you are in power, they are only advisers. I took Jay on as an informant. Who I employ in my guard is my concern and mine alone.”

Celestia gritted her teeth as she listened to Luna’s explanation, but she knew that her sister was right.

“You’re treading a very thin line, Luna” Celestia warned. “I suggest that you take caution.”

“Likewise,” Luna replied, setting her now empty cup onto the dining table. “Now, seeing as you have exhausted all of your current hostilities, I should be off.”

“Somewhere you need to go?” Celestia asked, not overly expectant of an answer.

“I feel like taking a rest for awhile,” Luna said, getting up from her chair and walking to the door. “Or, at the very least, some quite time to think.”

“Finally taking my advice?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“So it would seem,” Luna mumbled.

As Luna opened the door that lead out to the hallway, she was almost knocked to the ground by a pony who happened to be entering the dining room at the same moment.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re-” Iris Scroll began to say, before noticing who it was that he was addressing. “Oh! Forgive me, princess. I didn’t realize that it was you.”

“In quite a rush, aren’t we, counselor?” Luna asked, once she had regained her balance. “Is there something you need?”

“Just to speak to Princess Celestia,” Scroll said, pushing up his spectacles. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Of course,” Luna replied. She stepped past Scroll and into the hall, leaving the counselor alone with her sister.

“What is it that you wish to discuss, counselor?” Celestia sighed. Sliding back into her seat. She lifted one other the pastries from the tray in front of her and took a frustrated bite. The tray was almost empty, as Celestia always seemed to eat more when she was perturbed.

“Well, I’ve been doing some research in regards to this ‘Marker’ just as you had asked,” Scroll said, fiddling with one of the saddlebags that he was carrying on his back. “The archivists and I have scoured just about every document we could find, but we’ve had no luck in finding any references to it. Other than the record of the mining incident, of course.”

“I see…” Celestia said, leaning back in her seat. “Anything else?”

“At one point I consulted with Counselor Cloud Quill on the matter, but he had little to offer. Which reminds me…” Scroll said, withdrawing an envelope from his bag and presenting it to the princess. “He asked me to deliver this to you.”

“Thank you, counselor,” Celestia said, taking the letter and setting it on the table. “Is that all?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Scroll said, bowing his head. “I will take my leave.”

With that, Iris Scroll departed from the dining room, leaving only Celestia.

The princess closed her eyes and took a deep breath, resting her hooves on the table. When she opened them, she found herself staring at the envelope that she had been given. Celestia sighed and casually opened it, expecting another appeal to consider hiring new help at the palace. She unfolded the letter that was inside and began to read.

“I have important news to discuss with you regarding the investigation, though it must be in private. I fear that there are conspirators in our midst. Meet me at the top of the eastern observation tower. I’m aware that it is currently under construction, but it is the most secluded place that comes to mind. Please, make haste. I will await your arrival. - Cloud Quill”

Celestia frowned as she put down the letter. She found it odd that Cloud Quill would be one to call a secret meeting with her. It the idea didn’t sit well with her for some reason.

“I might as well hear what he has to say,” Celestia thought, rising up from her seat and slowly trotting to the door.

“Perhaps it will be something of interest for once.”

******

Luna opened the door to her bedchamber and let out a drowsy yawn. The room was dark, the curtains drawn over the windows and the lights all doused. It was just like Luna liked it.

The furnishings were sparse and simple. Not nearly as elegant as the rest of the palace, but still practical.

She walked over to her bed, which was rather accommodating in size. It was of the canopy sort; long lengths of dark cloth wrapping around the posts that made up its frame.

Luna pulled back the sheets that covered the mattress and started the process of removing her regalia. However, as she was attempting to unclasp her collar, she heard the sound of a soft beeping.

Luna’s ears perked up at the noise and she began to scan the room, trying to determine the origin of the sound. Her gaze eventually came to rest on the vanity that resided at the other side of the room. She cocked her head in confusion and trotted over to investigate.

The vanity tabletop was covered with very little in terms of cosmetics. Only a few bottles of eye shadow, a small jewelry box, and a single silver brush. Luna opened the jewelry box to find the earpiece that Jay had given her.

It was pulsating with a blue light and emitting a series of beeps, signalling that someone was attempting to call.

Luna delicately lifted the device out of the box and placed it in her right ear.

“Hello?” she said, staring at herself in the mirror.

“Luna?” Jay’s voice answered in surprise. “Is that you?”

“Yes,” Luna said, wincing at the volume of Jay’s voice. It was accompanied by what sounded to Luna like the rushing of wind, along with another noise that she could not identify.

“It’s me. What do you need?”

“I’ve been trying to call you for the past twenty minutes,” Jay said. “Where are you?”

“In my room,” Luna answered, looking back at her bed. “I was about to go to sleep. Why do you ask?”

“Look, don’t ask how I know, but I think something is about to go down,” Jay said. “I think you and Celestia are in danger.”

“Jay, if this is supposed to be a joke, I don’t find it very funny,” Luna sighed.

“You think this a crank call?” Jay yelled over the wind. “I’m serious, Luna. Where is Celestia?”

“The dining hall was the last place I saw her,” Luna said, now very much alert. She could sense the urgency in Jay's tone.

“Was she with anyone else?” Jay asked.

“I was the only one with her,” Luna said. “Although…”

“What?” Jay asked. “What is it?”

“Perhaps it is nothing…” Luna said. “But, as I was leaving, Counselor Scroll was intent on discussing something with Celestia.”

“Do you have any idea what he wanted to talk to her about?” Jay asked.

“He didn’t say,” Luna replied, trotting back to the nightstand where she had left her crown and hastily placing it back upon her head. “They may still be there.”

“Okay,” Jay said. “I can see the city now. I’ll be there as quick as I can, but I need you to warn Celestia. This pendant of yours should get me into the castle, right?”

“Yes,” Luna said, trotting to the hall door. “Wait, just how are you getting here?”

“I’ll explain later,” Jay said. “Just find Celestia and hope.”

“Hope for what?” Luna asked, throwing her door open and galloping down the hall.

“That I’m wrong,” Jay said before hanging up.