The Old Order

Canterlot Castle has very few holding cells as the crime rate was not high amongst the pony community. For many, the cells would be considered normal since most of their occupants would be thieves or con-artists. Each cell has a window with steel bars containing magic to prevent anypony from escaping. The beds provided are made with a wooden frame, layered with hay, and pillows filled with feathers.

However, there are more well secured cells, separated from the others, by large metal double doors. Behind the doors, is a small dome shaped room, only illuminated by a oil lantern hanging from the ceiling. Inside, there are three cells; these cells were made with the hardest metal materials known to ponies. The cells contain magic symbols to suppress any sort of magic user. The walls are sound proof and no windows of the outside world are provided. For oxygen, there are a few small vents provided. The beds are of the same material as the standard cells, which seem to be the most comforting thing inside.

Princess Twilight Sparkle waits inside the dome with a few guards equipped with spears. For inside one of these cells, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are questioning the mysterious pony. Seeing what happened to the Royal Guards, the purple pony could not help but feel worried for the two princesses. Their magic is no exception, as it also subdued within the cell. Although Twilight insisted that the princesses take a few guards with them, the mysterious pony refused to talk or give any information unless they were alone.

As the time passes, she began to grow uneasy with the quiet. The fact that the guards were trained to concentrate on their royal duties and their silence made Twilight all the more uncomfortable. She was not sure about how long she has waited, but to her it has seemed like long hours. Twilight could not help but wonder if it was nearly time for the moon to be raised.

Despite Twilight's curiosity, she decided that she was not being helpful waiting. She asked two of the guards to open the doors for her as they were too heavy for her to push. Being too close to the cells, her magic was not strong enough to open the doors herself. As the doors opened, she suddenly began to hear the sound of multiple ponies on the other side.

"What do you mean we can't see her!?! That's our friend in there!!! You know who our friend is right? PRINCESS TWILIGHT that's who!!!"

"Our orders are not to let anyone disturb the princesses! Now leave or we will escort you out by force!"

Twilight recognized one of them to be a female raspy voice.

"Oh my, maybe we should just wait. I'm sure she is fine."

"Ah come on Fluttershy! We can't just leave her in there! What if something is wrong?"

"Rainbow, will ya calm down! Y'all not helpin' anypony by gettin' us thrown out."

"OOO OOO OOO!!! WE COULD HAVE A "WAIT FOR TWILIGHT TO COME FROM BEHIND THE DOOR" PARTY!!!"

Although the door, was slightly cracked open at that point, Twilight was able to hear the sound a party cannon with some confetti getting through.

"Pinkie, your confetti got in my mane!"

Twilight could not help but give a slight giggle. The room on the other side grew silent and the doors finally opened. Out of that dark room was a shining atmosphere for Twilight. All her friends smiled at the sight of her. Without warning, they charged through the guards to give a group hug for Twilight. All the Mane Six were laughing at the rejoice. The embrace was warm, but short lived as it broke and Rarity was the first to speak.

"Darling, we were so worried about you. Word quickly spread about the attack on Canterlot Castle."

"How did you make it through? The castle is on high alert and guards are patrolling around the clock."

Rainbow Dash hovers closer to Twilight, "It wasn't easy at first. The guards were such a pain in the flank and refused to let any of us in. Luckily we ran into Spitfire and Soarin. They got us inside by claiming we were suspects involved in the attack."

"Easy enough since y'all acted suspicious by getting caught every single time you tried sneakin' in."

Rainbow Dash blushed slightly at Applejack's remark.

Fluttershy stepped in, "Twilight, is it true? Are we under attack from a big scary dragon?"

A confused Rarity speaks, "Dragons? I heard it was Changelings coming back for revenge."

"Oh, maybe it is Discord playing a prank and soon we can drink chocolate rain!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

"As fun as that sounds, I am quite innocent." Discord suddenly appears, sitting on top of Pinkie Pie's head. He grabs of chunk of Pinkie's curly mane and eats it. "Oh ho hoo, anypony else would like some cotton candy?"

"OH I DO! I DO!" Pinkie whips her mane towards her face and start biting off her own mane. Strangely enough, she enjoys it the sugary goodness of her mane.

"Discord!" Fluttershy shouted.

"Oh very well." Snapping his claw, Pinkie's mane was restored, but she ended up spitting out a pink hairball.

"Discord, did you have anything to do with this? If you did, we will not have our weekly tea time tomorrow."

"But Fluttershy I-"

"Wait Fluttershy," Twilight interrupted, "it was not Discord. The pony is being questioned by the princesses as we speak. His magic was powerful, but it was not in Discord's fashion. There was no disorder or chaos in his attack."

"Twilight, that is one of the nicest things anypony has ever said about me."

Magically appearing, the Mane Six are dressed up as if they were going to the Gala. The dresses could be compared to the styles of the Reneighssance Era. They sit around a white table with a bouquet of flowers in the center. Discord, on the other hand, wears a black beret, holding a drawing pad and drawing charcoal stick. "It makes me happy that you see the artist within me."

"Yeah, that was not really a compliment." Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

The Mane Six quickly get out of their clothes. "Wait a minute sugarcube. When you say, 'the pony' do you mean to tell us that only one pony attacked the castle?"

Everypony, excluding the guards, had their eyes on Twilight. "Yes, it is true. He is no ordinary pony though. He is very powerful and he was able to fight off the Royal Guard."

"But you seem to be okay. I guess your magic was too much for him. Huh Twilight?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight looked down for a moment before continuing her sentence. "Actually, I was only able to stop him because...well he just stopped."

"What!?!" The rest of the Mane Six questioned in shock. There was a long pause before Rarity breaks the silence.

"What do you mean he stopped?"

"Well, after seeing the guards I couldn't just stand there. He was about to break the final line to the princesses. I was preparing a spell to counterattack, but...he just stopped."

Discord puzzles at this light of new information, "Hmm...tell me Twilight, does this pony wear a white robe?"

Twilight's heart starts to race as she is flabbergasted at the question. "How did you know?"

Behind her, the doors began to open and the princesses came out. "I believe that you are about to find out."

The guards, the Mane Six, and Discord bow at their royal presence.

"Thank you for waiting Twilight. I see your friends are here as well." Celestia and Luna walk towards Discord.

"Discord, we need to speak with you on the matter. As for you Twilight Sparkle, he wishes to speak with you...and your friends."

"With me? But-"

Luna interrupts, "He will answer all your questions. You will soon understand."

Although Twilight was nervous, she was much more comfortable facing him with her friends behind her. They proceed through the double doors first and wait outside the mysterious pony's cell.

Twilight turns to her friends. Looking quickly over all the them, Fluttershy is obviously more nervous than she is as her body is shaking in fear. Pinkie Pie and Rarity seem anxious to enter. As for Rainbow Dash and Applejack, they give the impression that they are ready for anything behind that door. "I am so happy that you girls came here for support. At first, I was scared to face him alone, but with all of you here I feel like we can handle anything." If there was any self doubt in any of the ponies, there was no trace of it left. Everypony looked to Twilight and nodded with a smile of confidence. Without saying another word, Twilight signals a guard to open the door and the Mane Six enter the cell.

Inside, the cell is bigger than the others. There is no torch or lantern inside the cell, but the magic emblems within provide a light blue covered glow. In some ways, it resembles Luna's night sky and illuminates enough of the room. In the center, there is a pony cuffed on all four hooves with chains tied all around him. The pony has his head down with his hood still on. Twilight is the first to move forward and the rest of her friends soon follow. They stop a couple feet away.

The pony's head is kept down; not making eye contact with any of them.

"Hello? I am Twilight Sparkle. This is Appleja-"

"I know who they are." The pony interrupts. He slowly begins to raise  his head to them. The Mane Six are startled as they notice a small white orb underneath his hood. The white orb seems to be where his left eye would be. "What is your first question?"