In Her Nameby IpreferpIChaptersDawn's Early LightOur Home and Native LandOur Sacred HomelandDawn's Early LightAuthor's Note Chapter one of me trying something new. It has been about three or so years since I have tried writing fanfiction, and I try to stay away from established characters since I have no faith in my ability to recreate them (Except Rainbow Dash aka Best Pony). However, with this, I can create their bizzaro twins. Think of this as a "Mirror, Mirror" type thing. For you non-trekkies, this is pretty much a grimdark version of the show, with quite a few tweaks to suit my grim fantasies. Like, Rate, and Share please! If you like it, that is kewl, but if you dont, let me know why below. Thanks! Dawn's Early Light The dark of night was always the worst time. What should be a calm rest from the labors of the day and a respite from the duties of life seemed, to Dusk Shine at least, to be full of nothing but the promises of shades, wraiths, and other unspeakable horrors. As he tossed and turned, he reflected upon how far he had come so far, and how far yet to go he had. Minister Dusk Shine, Duke of Canterlot, Mage-Apprentice of Queen Nightmare Moon, Sorcerer of Silverton, and the Scion of the House of Two Lights lay half-asleep in his sheets. His groping fingers found the corner of his sheets, and balled them up tightly. While magic surges were no longer a danger with his training and discipline, all unicorn mages feared the loss of control a true nightmare could bring. With Tantabus watching over all ponies dreams, ever ready to punish those with traitors or evil thoughts, nopony escaped the watchful eye of the Queen's dogs. "Mom, when can I apply? Most others in my class have already moved on to advanced school! Queen Moon's last apprentice just died, so she needs a new one! Mom sighed. "Dear, becoming an Arch-Mage is no easy task. You should follow your sister into the Royal Guard, or take up studies under a more... traditional master. The Royal Academy for Gifted Foals is not an easy school to get into. "Come on, honey. Let the kid live a little, huh? He was casting cantrips at three, and nearly burned the house down at five. If anypony can make it, Shine can." I smiled, looking at dad. "Someday, I'm gonna be her apprentice! Then I can help anypony I want to, and- He shook his head. "We don't speak like that. Remember: Head down, never doubt. Think no Evil, Speak no Evil, Hear no Evil. I felt the familiar frustration. "Think no Evil... Dusk Shine awoke suddenly to the sounds of heavy boots. Normally, his tower was to be left only to the two guards trusted to his safety, as he required quite a bit of rest and quiet for his studies. Beside him in her smaller bed, Barb stirred. "Dusk, what's going on?" she asked, stretching out and blinking slowly. "I don't know. Go back to sleep, I'll check it out." Dusk Shine rose, quietly donning his evening robe, slippers, and nightcap before padding softly downstairs to the door. Horn glowing, his magenta aura enveloped the door before pulling it open to reveal a startled colt in the armor of the Night's Watch with his fist raised to knock. Behind him, a Captain and a Lieutenant stood, carefully not meeting his gaze while the poor Corporal between them held a scroll under one arm. His eyebrows furrowed, Dusk shook his head. "Uh... yes?" "Sir! Corporal Fleeting Look. I have a message for you from Queen Nightmare Moon. She requires your attendance in her throne room immediately regarding an urgent matter. You will only be gone for a few days. Major Oak Leaf and Lieutenant Silver Bar will assist Barb in packing a travel bag, while I am to escort you to the throne room immediately." Frowning, Dusk looked at the sky. "It's a bit after midnight. I need a few minutes to change into something-" he started, before, surprisingly, the Major cut him off. "Sir, she needs you now. This matter concerns state secrets and is a matter of national security. Please follow the Corporal, sir." After another moment of indecision, the young unicorn mage nodded. "Ah, of course. Um, lead the way, Corporal." Corporal Fleeting Look lived up to his name, glancing at each of his superior officers as if to pray that one of them would accompany the third-ranking noble in the land before nodding once and about-facing, quickly marching away. Dusk Shine, however, rolled his eyes. Grabbing the Corporal's shoulder, he concentrated. Space folded inward on itself. Narrow vectors aligned while raw energy was pulled from the aether, powering the rampant abuse of the laws of physics to enable positional translocation. Their surrender was marked by a single, quiet 'pop', as Dusk Shine teleported himself and the poor Corporal to the gates of the throne room. While the dizzy pegasus tried to recover his balance (and keep his lunch down), Dusk Shine walked through the great arch to approach the Obsidian Throne, upon which was seated the Sovereign of Equestria, and before which he knelt, head bowed in both respect and fear before his monarch. Queen Nightmare Moon looked down upon her most faithful student and smiled. Her wickedly sharp teeth gleamed with the same white of the perfect moon in the sky that shown down from above, with only the faint flickerings of dawn marring the perfect night above. Slowly she leaned forward and breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of the one colt she had chosen to take under her wing in over three centuries. To her eyes, Mares represented all that was well and good with ponykind, but this one colt, so insecure and innocent, had awakened a malicious streak in her. After all, the more pure and innocent something (or somepony) was, the more fun it was to corrupt. Finally satisfied, she leaned back, looking down with a gaze that was at once cold and amused. "Rise, my most faithful Dusk Shine, and do not look so frightened. I trust you have no idea why you are here?" He nodded quietly, slowly getting to his feet and standing before his teacher. "Um... no. I mean, nothing was explained except that it was important and you needed me in the middle of the night... I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that, I serve at your pleasure and... uh, what is it you wished of me?" he said, realizing he was rambling and cutting himself off. "Actually, the reason I called you here has quite a bit to do with you. You sent me a letter earlier today via Barb and her lovely dragon breath ability. Something about the Return of the Sun, how on the shortest night of the thousandth year, the Solar Tyrant would escape her prison? It was... unusually lacking in details. Particularly one with your temperament towards disorder and improper procedure." He froze. There was a small chance that he may have had a bit too much wine (that was a pretty big glass after all) and sent partially incomplete research. The last time that happened... unpleasant occurrences followed. Being turned into a mare for a week would have been bad enough, but being made to dress as one, and attend several formal events including the Grand Imperial Ball was even worse. Prince Blueblood had actually propositioned him, not knowing he was a stallion! He shuddered as he remembered the lecherous gaze of the Lord High Marshall. Curse his effeminate frame! "I... ahm... meant to make it succinct as possible, since... you know, you are so busy?" "And the drops of wine on it were unrelated, of course? Well, luckily for you, my guards apprehended a Solar Cultist today." Once again, he froze. The Solar Cult, or the Rising Sun as they called themselves, were a crimminal and terrorist organization that were believed to be funded by greedy nobles from the Crystal Empire. King Sombra had long had his eye on 'liberating' Equestria, and was happy to exploit any internal divisions he found. "The Rising Sun? I thought they were stamped out a while back. Didn't Blueblood see to it?" "I tried, but certain elements in the government with a rebellious streak obviously worked quite hard to conceal a cell or two. After all, you should know from your studies how hard uprooting a homegrown insurrectionist faction can be, when they don't like being taken alive, right, my Poppet?" Prince Blueblood, the High Marshall and Executor of the Crown entered the room, giving a short, informal bow to Queen Moon. Turning to the beet-red Dusk Shine, he gave a mocking bow, pursing his lips in a kiss. Cheeks red and eyes wide, Dusk Shine fought to keep his breathing under control while several minor nobles in attendance snorted. "Queen Moon, auntie, we brought her here as you asked. Eris is, as usual, doing her own thing, but thanks to her Chaos magic we actually took one alive. She killed three guards and a Night Watcher, but I think the cost in intelligence was well worth it. We tracked one of the final cells of the cult to a small town called Ponyville. It sits in the shadow of our great city, and is part of the domain of the Duke of Canterlot, our own dear Dusk Shine. Of course, after his father's treason and execution... I have always had my doubts about the loyalty of the House of Two Lights. Not that you would ever betray us, right Duskie?" Dusk fumed. The prince had been rivals with his father for the title of High Marshall, and it was only by dredging up a few poor decisions from his past and doctoring some evidence that he had gotten his way to the top of the military chain. While nopony could be held guilty of the crimes of his father, Queen Nighmare Moon's choice to take Dusk as a ward of the crown raised many eyebrows (and objections, quietly of course), and even more questions until his power as a mage was revealed. Thereafter, he had been treated with respect even by his detractors, as everypony eventually needed a spell cast for them. And nobleponies were WEIRD in their requests. Weird, but well-paying for discretion. "Funny, I thought your report was complete, Blueblood. Maybe-" he started, before a sigh and an angry growl cut them off. Their hatred of eachother (or at least Dusk's hatred of Blueblood, reciprocated by wry amusement and condescension) was well known in the courts, even if Dusk rarely left his tower. "Now now, children. If I wanted a show, I would either have you strip and fight, or have that fool of a jester released from the dungeons. Dusk Shine, Blueblood is right about one thing. Ponyville is YOUR responsibility, and I think it would do you well to get some practical experience to go with all that studying of yours." She rose to her feet, and the room grew quiet. "Dusk Shine, you are to go to the town of Ponyville and investigate the rumors of the Solar Cult. If you find it there, I expect you to do your duty and stamp it out. However, Blueblood has expressed his doubts as to your... mettle. Therefore I think a demonstration is in order." She snapped her fingers, and the throne room doors opened again. Blueblood and I both turned to see the guards dragging a bloody, beaten mare between them. The blood stood out in stark contrast to her cyan blue fur and rainbow mane, but the white bone jutting out from her wings told the full tale of the horrors inflicted upon her by the Inquisition. Dusk could only stare as she was dragged between them and dropped at the feet of Nightmare Moon. With a rattling cough, she attempted to push herself up on her hands and knees, even though one arm seemed badly broken. However, it was only when Queen Moon raised her hand and enveloped her in magic, lifting her to her feet and turning her around that her most prominent feature was shown. Dusk stared into her magenta eyes. Those eyes, despite the damage and pain inflicted upon the face and body of the one they belonged to, held a fire within them, a bright burning desire that stated clearly she would like nothing more than to lunge at a guard, grab his spear, and kill everypony in the room while laughing. "My dear Dusk Shine... would you mind disposing of this pest?" His heart stopped. He knew this mare... this was... the daughter of Rainbow Blitz? "Honey... I know what happened to Blitz has us all scared." "Treason? From a descendent of Hurricane? You KNOW he was only killed because he had evidence that could clear your name! Blueblood's accusations are-" His mother paced restlessly while Dusk Shine sat on the ground, playing Battleclouds with his sister. He and Gleaming Shield looked uneasily at eachother while their parents argued. "Look, the official reports say he froze during a training excercize. Accidents happen in training. The truth will set us free, I promise love. Besides, with Blitz gone someone will have to look after his daughter. I plan to sponsor her into that boarding school in Cloudsdale, the military one. It won't be easy, but at least she will have a chance at a decent life. Just don't go opening any gifts from strangers, okay?" At that point, the door opened while a filly with scruffy rainbow hair and tail entered, stretching. "Mister Night Light, when can I see Daddy?" she said, rubbing the sleep out of her red eyes. Mom and dad looked at eachother uneasily, before smiling at her. "Play with Dusk and Gleam for now, okay sweetie?" Shield and Dusk moved over to let her join their game. Her eyes met mine, and Dusk knew she recognized him. There was a long, slow, rattling breath before Rainbow Dash spat upon the ground, glaring her hatred at a onetime friend. "Well, my student? We're all waiting." Dusk Shine stared at her. Rainbow Dash, a onetime friend before she went to Cloudsdale Acadamy of Military Science, hhanging suspended in Queen Nighmare Moon's magic, glaring at him. A onetime friend, who he was expected to execute, in front of a room full of nobleponies and his most hated enemy, Prince Blueblood. His queen stared expectantly at him while his thoughts raced through his head, chasing eachother like timberwolves through the woods. Kill her? Out of the question, he was no murderer. Spare her? Also not an option, he could not help anyone if he was stuck in the dungeons or executed. A thought came, unbidden from his past, from his mentor. Queen Moon stood behind him, her sharp-nailed hands biting into his shoulders as he leaned over the projection of the complex translocation spell before him. "Remember, magic always allows for unexpected paths through a problem. Few know this, and if you ever repeat it to anypony, but I could not have defeated my dear sister through arcane might alone. My options seemed, at the time, to either submit to her tyranny or to fight and lose. However, I sought a third option, and called upon a daemon familiar to lend me strength and guidance. Information is far more useful than power, friends, money, or any combination of the three. With information, you can stop a war before it begins. You can bring an enemy low, or set an ally up high to help you. There is always another path, if you but have the information you need to make the leap of logic. He licked his lips, before a candle lit in his head. "Prince Blueblood... thank you" he said, biting back his bile as the polite phrase tried to stick in his throat. The room, filled with murmors and excitement, went dead silent. Blueblood's eyes widened, then narrowed while the Queen's eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch. "Indeed?" Dusk Shine forced a smile. If there was any way to save his friend, this was it. Option Three. "Queen Moon, this pony is known to me. Her name is Rainbow Dash, the daughter of Rainbow Blitz, the traitor. He helped hide evidence that showed my own father was... disloyal. I mean... I know it may sound odd, but with the Prince's investigation only partly complete, I think information would be more useful than a gratuitous display of blood and gore? If Rainbow Dash knows anything about the Solar Cult, maybe I could get her to reveal it." Blueblood's eyes could not have gotten any wider. "Queen, I urge you to discard such a notion. She was captured with nearly half a ton of gunpowder being transported south from the Crystal Empire. We already know there was one traitor in the House of Two Lights, and he just admitted to knowing-" he said, before the queen cut him off. "Be careful, Blueblood. My nephew you may be, but Dusk Shine is my ward and apprentice. A slight on his honor or judgement is a slight upon the crown..." she said, smiling, as the prince paled. She looked pensive for a moment before nodding slightly. "I see I have taught you well, Dusk. Do you believe you can get something from her?" Dusk hesitated for only a moment before nodding, his heart pounding. "Yes! I mean, of course. I have not been to Ponyville before, and Rainbow would know who the other conspirators are. I promise to take charge of her." After a full minute of silence, during which her eyes were narrowed and one could have heard a pin drop in the courtroom, the queen nodded. "Very well. She will be remanded to the custody of Saw Bones, and from there transported to Ponyville. I trust you will not disappoint me, student. Our Home and Native LandAuthor's Note Some of you may notice the switch to First-Person perspective. I decided to do so after my difficulties in writing the first chapter, and believe it will better enable me to immerse myself in the writing of subsequent chapters. If anyone (or anypony) objects, let me know. Dunno how I will react or what I will do, but it is nice to have feedback. For those of you interested in the technology level of this story, think of it as around the 1850s to 1900s, where the wealthy military state can afford bolt-action rifles and coal- and gasoline-powered vehicles, but pony farmers (and possible rebels) might have an easier time getting their hands on blackpowder muskets and rifles. After all, a powerful state government would keep a tight lid on technology (or arcanology) Our Home and Native Land I sat quietly in the seat of the train, the Royal Car quietly bouncing on its well-maintained shocks. The train ride from Canterlot to Ponyville was, while not long, quite twisted and winding. Though the town was only a few kilometers from the Capitol, it was nevertheless fairly backwater, all of the major roads and railways long-since rendering it out of the way. Across from me, Barb sat reading some sort of picture book about ponies with superpowers or the like, something that had never terribly interested me. Looming in the back of the car were two guards in full armor, rifles fitted with bayonets and slung over their backs. At my insistence, Fleeting Look was one of them, still a bit out of sorts in his new armor. Still, I liked ponies who did not trip over themselves to please me. Studying took alot of time, and the fawning compliments and empty promises of most folk took far too long to get by, especially since I was required to at least nod and acknowledge them. Still, the most out of place thing in the car was the shackled and hobbled Rainbow Dash, a muzzle over her face and both wings clipped behind her back. Saw Bones, the Royal Doctor, had stated in no uncertain terms that she was lucky to keep her wings. Her magenta eyes were currently closed, enjoying the first bit of uninterrupted sleep she must have had in a week or so. I could still not believe that I had avoided having to kill her... but I knew she could still suffer that fate if I could not get her to speak. The sudden screech of the brakes shook me out of my reveries, and I looked up. Barb stood, stretching before stumbling to the side and catching herself on one of the poles meant for just such a purpose. "Ponyville, Last Stop on the Line! Royal Car First, then All Others! Ponyville!" came the call overhead from the Conductor. Fleeting Look and his companion, whos name I had not gotten, both went to the door as the train pulled into the station. Pulling it open and stepping out, they nodded to me to follow, which I did after picking up my bag. Outside on the station was an unexpected site, for me at least. Ponies lined the station, all with hats off, while four soldiers from the Ponyville Millitia stood at attention, rigidly saluting. An elderly mare with a scroll for a Mark bowed deeply as I exited the train. "Your Grace, your visit is a surprise! I am Mayor Mare, the elected leader of this town. If it pleases you, we have prepared lodgings at the Town Hall or the Rich Estate, whichever you would prefer. I must admit, we are unprepared for a noble of your status here!" She slowly looked up from her bow, and I struggled to remember my schooling in social graces. "Thank you, Mayor. I, ah, would prefer to choose my lodgings so as to not inconvenience anypony. I am here by order of the Queen to... um..." What was a good word for it... "investigate..."That's it. "rumors of suspicious activity here. I hope not to be here too long. Not that your town is a bad place to be, I... I'm just really busy." I could feel the tension in the air, and a nearly audible exhalation from the crowd as the guards dismissed the onlookers. Many ponies still craned their necks to get a look at me, but they slowly dispersed as I walked alongside the mayor. "Sorry, I am not much of a public speaker. Ni-, er, the Queen told me to investigate rumors of Solar Cultist activities in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash has been convicted of associating with them and helping to smuggle supplies or something like that, but I am hoping I don't find anything here. Do you have a Tower, or some place of study I can stay?" She looked surprised. "We have a library here, but it really is not fit for one of such stature as yourself, Your Grace." I tried to avoid rolling my eyes. "Please, Dusk Shine works fine for me. I'm not one of the weird nobles from Canterlot... well, I guess I kind of am, but I don't really stand for titles and such when there are things to be doing. Like I said, I hope to just be in town for a bit to confirm everything is fine here." A short cough from behind me interrupted my attempts to play nice, and I turned to Fleeting Look, who was currently holding the chain connected to Dash's manacles. "Sir, with your permission we will take her to the Stockades or the Prison here." I shook my head, instead nodding to Barb, who opened a wooden box and pulled out a collar. Nightmare Moon's words came to me as Barb reached up to fasten it around Rainbow Dash's neck. The school of Enchantment, while often overlooked, is one of my personal favorites. While most mares will study it to become better housewives, I find the subschool of Charms to be of particular interest. For example..." she said, opening the wooden box she had brought with her when she appeared in my study, "This little device is a favorite in the Inquisition, a new toy they came up with a couple years back. It is meant to inspire obedience, and contains a complex enchantment that prevents the wearer from undertaking forbidden actions. While it cannot force a confession, unfortunatly, it can inflict pain until they speak. It can also stop them from speaking, force them to obey basic commands, and generally give you peace of mind. You will use it on Miss Dash should you ever let her off her leash. And before you go..." she said, her eyes narrowed, "I DO know of your past history with her. I look forward to seeing what little game you play... but compassion is a weakness, my student. I hope you learn it before she stabs you in the back, as training a new student will be most... tiresome. Rainbow flinched as a spark shot down her spine, and after a moment the glow settled to near-invisibility as the magic took hold. "Whaaaa-" she said, or tried to say as the magic sealed her vocal chords. Her sound ended in a choked gurgle as she shook her head, looking dazed while Barb nodded. "Looks right, Dusk. I can take her to the library, if that is where we are going to stay." Mayor Mare still looked hesitant. "There hasn't been a librarian there for nearly a decade since Elder Scroll passed away. Since then, ponies volunteer once in a while but I am sure the living space is dusty, and the books are probably all out of order and the like. Are you sure you would not rather stay at the Rich Estate?" Barb rolled her eyes as mine lit up at the "books out of order" remark. If I had a weakness, it was organizing. I could (and have done so) spend days, or even weeks sorting things. Alphabetical, subject, color, size, mass, weight (don't ever mix those up around me, for your sanity's sake), or author. It didn't matter how, just that I could categorize everything in my life. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? I think it is weird NOT to want to keep things neat! "Actually, that sounds perfect. I really don't want to inconvenience anypony, and would very much like the chance to sort- er, do something useful while I am here. Barb, can you see to getting our things to the library, and maybe get a start on dusting?" With a long-suffering sigh, she started off with the other guard. Fleeting Look, however, stayed with us. Mayor Mare lead my half-sized party toward the city hall. It was not long before our trip was interrupted once again, this time by a mare with a flat, bubblegum-pink mane. While her face and manners said "party-goer", her uniform said "military". Mayor Mare groaned, trying to hurry along before she spotted us. She spotted us. With a gasp, and a logic-defying bounce, she was instantly in front of me, vigourously shaking my hand. "Hia! I'm Lieutenant Pinkamena Diane Pie, at your service sir! Welcome to Ponyville, where the smiles are brightest and the pies are the best! I'm with the Office of Inquisition, Morale and Propaganda branch, and I am pleased to let you know that under my watch as Ponyville Morale Officer, morale has never been higher here! When did you get here, sir? Nopony told me we were going to have a noble! Ooh! We should have a party for you, unless that is not your thing in which case we can have a celebration! Then again, you look REEEEEEAAAAALLLLYYYY busy, so maybe we can just get a cake and a pie or two for you. My job is to know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in Ponyville, and since you are here that makes you one of them! Wait... if there was a crowd at the train station, that means it was YOU everypony was talking about the last few hours! And if you came here without warning, that means you are doing something REALLY important. Is it really important? I can help! I'll be back!" she said, before departing at a dead sprint. Before Fleeting Look could even open his mouth, she was gone. "Who... what was that?" I ventured, looking at the Mayor. "Lieutenant Pie, Office of Inquisition. She is our Morale Officer, your Grace. Before you ask, yes, that is normal for her. She tends to be... rather exuberant around newcomers, and takes her job very seriously. To be honest-" she said, beginning to drone on while I nodded politely. I fell back a few steps until I was beside Fleeting Look. "Uh, Corporal? Can I ask a question?" He looked surprised. "Of course sir! What can I help you with?" "I have met a few Agents Inquisitor, and a couple of Morale Officers. I thought they were all a rather grim sort... the "I will shoot you if you run away, or disrespect the Queen, or are a coward, or cavort with the enemy, etcetera." He shook his head. "No, your Grace-" "Dusk Shine. Or Dusk, please" I interjected. "Er, sorry. Uh, what I meant to say is, you are thinking of Commissars. They are also Morale officers, but are front-line combat units. They enforce discipline and order amongst conscripted or... bonded... units. They have a military code of 0201 Armed Morale Officer. Lieutenant Pie is probably an 0614, Public Morale Officer. Non-Combatant. Both are under the Inquisition, though she answers to the local Morale Commandant, which defaults to the highest military office in the local area in lieu of a designated Peace and Propaganda Corps." I nodded. "I see. So, her job is...?" "In a nutshell, her job is to spin news in favor of the Crown. If the economy slows down, she is to reassure everypony that everything is under control. She is also responsible for making sure ponies are happy with things as they are now, and to report any rebellious or insurrectionist activities. She might actually have her fingers on the pulse of any problems here in town, and could be a good place to start asking questions, sir." I nodded again. "That... is actually a very good point. You sure you are not with Investigations?" He grinned. "My father was. Military Police for sixteen years, then served another Thirty in the Special Weapons, Arcana, and Tactics unit for Deertroit." "Well, perhaps we should go speak to her later. In the mean time, I need to meet everypony on the City Council." He nodded and saluted, falling into step behind me as we entered City Hall. Six boring hours later... I shook my head as I left, rubbing my temples alongside my horn as Fleeting Look tried to conceal a yawn behind me. The poor stallion had struggled to stay awake while several bureaucrats had droned on and on about the state of affairs in Ponyville. Evidently, my father had checked in twelve years ago and had ordered them to compile a full report for his next return. Since he never did, I got to listen to them compress those twelve years into a "few hours", as stated by Mayor Mare. Never in my life had I wanted to kill somepony, but I was heavily tempted to whistle up a legion of The Crown's Finest to put an end to them and their... their paperwork. I LOVED writing, but my wrist felt like overcooked spaghetti. REALLY overcooked. Still, this late in the evening Ponyville was rather quiet. An element of Cadets were in their uniforms, proudly saluting the Flag while another pony played the final notes of Taps. Corporal Fleeting Look eyed them, before remarking "Seems like it was not all that long ago that I was doing that. Library's this way, according to one of the attendants at the hall, sir." I nodded and followed him. Soldiers, no matter their rank, occupation, or nationality, hated being stuck with bodyguard duty it seemed. I would have thought that doing nothing but standing, looking at the environment would be comforting, but all the soldiers I had known (all twelve of them, if counting more than ten minutes of interaction) hated being what I had heard them call 'glorified babysitters'. Thus, to keep them happy, I learned that it was best to make them feel like they were doing something worthwhile. In this case, letting him show me the way satisfied his need to be dutiful, and to fulfill his assigned duties (e.g. escorting one unicorn stallion) without diminishing him in any way. I had heard that Queen Moon was wont to occasionally ask guards to attend to her personally, but I could not for the life of me figure out what they were to help her with. The library was even quieter than the town, just as it should be. For the moment, at least. I swear, I could not help myself as I shrieked, preparing to unleash a world-shattering spell as what sounded like a twenty-one gun salute went off in the foyer the moment I flipped on the light. A double line of soldiers, including (somehow) some of the same ones I could have sworn I just saw lowering the flag, were standing with the ends of their rifles smoking. Thankfully, they must have been firing blanks (a dazed corner of my mind realized), as there were no shredded books. A Lieutenant, the same one from before with the pink mane, stood there grinning like an idiot. My brave escort was currently trying not to wet himself as he picked up his rifle, trembling with shock and nerves. After a moment, Lieutenant Pie stopped smiling, her brow furrowing. "Um... I guess you were right, Sergeant" she said, looking at an older stallion. "A bit over the top. Still... Welcome to Ponyville, your Grace... Dusky! Shiney? Dusk Shinier? Everypony in town gets a nickname of some sort, what w-" she said, before stopping. "I... um.... oh dear..." she said, her physics-defying mane deflating. My jaw finally unclenched. "T...thank... you?" There was a long, awkward silence before the young lieutenant dismissed the other soldiers, who seemed eager to be gone. Finally it was just us while I finally got my bearings back. "Uh, Miss... er, Lieutenant.... what was that?" "Oh! I... I just wanted to welcome you to Ponyville. As morale officer, it is my job to... make sure everypony... has high morale?" she said, uncertainly. After a moment, I could not help but smile. Here was a pony who tried to make the best of her job. Though I wanted to be angry at having the third-greatest scare of my life, I could not help but admire her resolve. "Thanks. Look, just... no loud, unexpected noises. Particularly indoors. ESPECIALLY in a library, okay? Other than that, I feel very welcome. I am, however, rather busy. Though I guess I really did need you for the next bit. If you don't mind, I would like to get settled in and then talk to you for a while." She nodded, and I went upstairs to take care of business. "-and that about sums up why I am here, Miss Pie. Any questions?" I finished, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She shook her head. "I will see what I have at the office, and send 'em your way, Dusk!" she said, grinning. Her attitude was a bit contagious, and she was the first pony other than Nightmare Moon who seemed remotely comfortable with losing my titles in regular speech. She gave a smart salute (that served well to emphasize her chest, I could not help but notice) before heading out, whistling some tune of her creation. With that, Barb approached. "So... there is only one other matter to deal with this evening. What do you want to do with Miss Dash?" she asked, looking at me. I sighed. This was really the thing that needed the MOST attention, but that I least wanted to deal with. "Can I talk to her?" She nodded, and a minute later Dash was sitting on the chair opposite me, glowering. The swelling around her face had gone down a bit, but her wings were both still tightly bound in a cast. After a few moments of silence, I sighed. "So... um... hey, Dash. Long time no see?" I started. She made a gagging noise, and I remembered quickly to add "Oh, you can talk. Sorry about that." She seemed to work her tongue around a bit before replying. "Yeah. Long time... Dusk." "I heard you were weather captain here." "I heard you were Nightmare Moon's bitch." I winced. "I am the student of the Queen of Equestria." "Still a bitch. I'm not about to make nice. I don't care what you want, Duke, but I don't rat on my friends. Especially to an Enemy, like you. Us being friends was a long, long time ago." I shook my head. This was going nowhere, quickly. "Dash... I'm sorry for what they did to you, but they caught you red-handed with half a ton of gunpowder! What were you thinking? What good could possibly have come of that? They think you are part of the Solar Cult!" "For your information, I AM a part of it. And proud to be so! You have NO idea what kind of shit is going on in most of Equestria! Manehatten's crime is out of control, Las Pegasus has a fucking NECROMANCER experimenting on ponies there, and Grypony is smuggling slaves out of Equestria with the blessing of the crown, Dusk! Open your eyes! Something has to change!" I reeled from her unexpected tirade. In the doorway, I could see Corporal Fleeting Look try to avoid hearing any of this, while Barb quietly slipped out. Rainbow Dash seemed to struggle internally, before blurting "You are not like her! Dammit, Dusk, we used to be friends before Blueballs had your dad killed! My dad and yours were friends! Why the hell are you helping that bitch on the throne! Heaven's sake, Dusk, you have more reason than most to hate them! Why ain't you HELPING us?" Why not? It took a moment for me to collect my thoughts, but my mind was a fortress. "Dash. I don't like some of the things that happen either. However, the trains run on time, there is food for everypony, the nobles are kept in check, and terrorists have a hard time getting gunpowder. Nightmare Moon may not be perfect, but she is a fair sight better than what would happen if the throne were empty!" There was a gleam in her eye. Rainbow Dash may be far more physical than most, but she was also a pony who loved to win... and was very good at it. "Who said anything about an empty throne, Dusk? Nopony wants that. I suggest you get a copy of the Elements of Harmony, though." I frowned. "That book was banned a thousand years ago. What would I want with it?" She smirked. "For a bookworm like you, I figured you wouldn't need a reason to read. Unless you wanna turn up the pain on my leash, though, I'm done talking." She proceeded to spend the next ten minutes ignoring my every question before I gave up, deciding to give it a rest for the night. I had done quite a bit that day, and needed some rest. Tomorrow would be a busy day. Corporal Fleeting Look checked in one last time, glancing at his charge before sighing with relief. Finally, I can get some work done he thought to himself, checking his pocketwatch and winding it up again. As he stepped out through the door of the library, he rippled and changed, uniform and all, into an average looking stallion in a nondescript outfit. Checking the time again to be sure, he moved around to the back of the library, pulling a bush aside. Where is it... Finally finding what he was looking for, he smiled. The small two-way radio was one of the most expensive things the local Harmony cell owned, and several ponies and half a changeling hive had paid with their lives to get it. Brushing off the handset, he lifted it to his ear. Tapping the static button, he waited for the correct pattern that would let him know it was safe to speak. The small bands between the channels the military used were safe, but off limit to civilians, hence useful for sending forbidden messages. There it is! "Harmony Actual, this is Looker. Codename Usual Suspects is safe and sound. The package is in Partytown, and we are looking for the rest to RSVP. How copy?" The voice, distorted, came through. "Looker, this is Harmony Actual. Copy Five-by-Three. New orders: Usual Suspects is to be protected at all costs. We cannot start the party without him. Follow its interactions with Spectrum. If satisfactory, we can move on to Phase Two. How Copy?" "Harmony Actual, Copy that. How do I get Uniform Sierra to meet with the others?" "That's need-to-know, Looker. Codename Hive is ready to go on our mark. Canterlot will not be able to respond with any degree of military force when the Party starts. Continue as ordered, Looker. Copy?" "Copy, Over and Out." Looker, Changeling Spy and agent of the Rising Sun, smiled as he re-assumed his guard identity and returned inside. One Thousand years of tyranny was about to end. Our Sacred HomelandMorning... a bloated red orb rising above the horizon, stretching from one side to another. The light it gave off, cool and refreshing, held nothing to the glorious light of the moon. A field of blood-red grass stretched all the way to the horizon. On it, black outlines lay in odd configurations. Soft sounds, like moaning, could be heard from them, though as the one living creature looked, they shimmered to become gruesome caricatures of ponies he knew. Above them, the bloated red sun beat its feeble fury against the ground As he looked about, a voice like thunder rumbled across the bloody ground. "TIME TO WAKE UP! "Dusk? Dusk, come on! Wake up!" I groaned, rolling over and sighing. Above, the bloated sun was just making its way over the horizon while the morning birds gave their songs. Beside me, Barb held a couple of scrolls, a quill, and an inkpot, as well as her satchel. My young assistant cleared her throat and stood back, letting me get up. As usual, she was more than a little impatient to get to work. "Dusk, today's the day. Nightmare Moon said she wants results quickly, right? We gotta get to work!" After the usual two minutes of collecting my mind, I nodded, yawning again. "Alright, let's get going. So, what's on the agenda for today?" As Barb and I headed downstairs, I took note of Fleeting Look, looking half-asleep as he stood with his spear, looking utterly rediculus next to the book cases as he struggled not to fall over. I shot Barb a questioning look, to which she replied with a shrug. "He's been like that all night, as far as I can tell." I cleared my throat. "Um, Fleeting? You can go get some sleep, if you want. I'm not heading out for an hour or two, and I can get the other guard to-" Nearly before I opened my mouth he was already nodding. "I... Thank You, my Lord. I'll... go do that thing..." he said, before staggering off towards the second bedroom. I watched him go, eyeing him with some concern, before Barb piped back up again. "I got the list for today done. First step, after checking on Rainbow Dash, is to head down to the Ponyville Barracks and talk to Lieutenant Pie." She produced a clipboard and quill, and I nodded. Looking outside, I was a bit surprised to see the other guard gone... untill I noticed two Ponyville Martial Officers standing on either side of the door. Evidently, the locals wanted to take charge of protecting me. I sighed as I wondered just when ponies would remember that, slim frame or not, I was a full grown stallion. Stepping out into the bright light of the morning, the red sun hung over the horizon, just beginning to bring an end to the night. It was, all in all, a rather sorry thing; it always looked as if it had to struggle up to its zenith before tumbling all too quickly down to its grave, only to rise again in the morning. Supposedly, when the Solar Tyrant reigned, it had burned much hotter. There were tales of how she had scorched the land, burning anypony who dared to defy her. When she had turned it upon her own dear sister, the results had been to destroy the Old Castle. Queen Moon had risen from the ashes, the victor, and our savior. At least, that was what the stories told. Both of the guards outside saluted, their gauntleted hands clattering against their polished breastplates as they stood straighter. "My Lord!" I waved at them. While it was a bit amusing to watch guards jump at my every twitch, it had gotten old after a few years. The end result was mild irritation. Barb appeared next to me, scratching one of her scale-fins. "I think the barracks are... north?" she said, before turning the map of Ponyville around. With a cough, one of the guards looked at me. "If it's the barracks you want, I can lead the way, my lord." I raised an eyebrow at Barb. "When in Ponyville, do as the Villagers do. Lead the way" I said, nodding at him. With another salute, he turned and began marching forward. I rolled my eyes and followed. The town looked quite different from yesterday evening. Mostly, the change had to do with banners displaying my Cutie Mark. A large sign let me know just how grateful the town was to have their Duke visiting, and everywhere I looked were either smiles... or soldiers. The entire town seemed to be swarming with them. At my raised eyebrow, the Sergeant I was following shrugged. "Everypony here is eager to prove their loyalty after what happened with your father, sir. We are happy to have our Duke back." I was a bit surprised at his bluntness, but if he was even the least bit afraid of a possible ill reaction, he did not show it. It wasn't long before we reached the Operations Center for Ponyville. The one in Canterlot was nearly six stories high, and covered an entire city block. This one was a single floor and looked like a converted warehouse. Still, there was a double line of soldiers standing at attention as I entered, each saluting as I passed. They, unlike the Regulars I was walking with, had the Ponyville Coat of Arms and were wearing Militia uniforms. Each of them was armed with a black-powder rifle, a wickedly sharp bayonet gleaming on the end of it. A Diamond Dog in Sargent stripes nudged one of them as I passed, correcting a perceived flaw in her stance. As I stepped inside, fifteen ponies stood at attention and saluted. Everypony was turned out in their Dress Uniforms, with spit and polish on their boots and brass. Even the bubblegum pink mare behind her desk had her poofy mane somehow looking... nearly regulation. I looked around for a moment, before remembering my duty. I raised my right hand, before lowering it, and they all sat down. The Lieutenant stood and approached. "Good Morning, Dusk! I got all the information together that you wanted. Files on the Solar Cult. Maybe you can see something in it the Investigators couldn't." "Actually, before I do that, I wanted to talk to Rainbow... is she available?" I asked, looking around. Lieutenant Pie's smile faltered for a moment, before she nodded. "Yup! She's right this way. Not very happy though... she got mad when I tried to sing to cheer her up!" She turned and led us down the hallway to the row of cells in the back. Stopping at the third to last, she reached into her mane, rummaging around until she pulled out a ring of keys. The Sergeant rolled his eyes at her antics while I tapped my foot. Finally, she opened the door before motioning me in. Rainbow looked quite a bit better. The swelling had gone down to the point it was easy to recognize her again, and she stood more easily. Upon seeing me, however, she scowled. "Back for more? What is it this time?" I looked at her before sighing. "Rainbow... I'm sorry. Look, if you just help me... I mean, I'm a Duke! I can make it go away... probably. I just want your help. If you don't help me, I can't help you. Besides... would you rather it be me, or Blueblood to find your... um... compatriots?" For the first time, her composure faultered. There was a brief look of hesitation in her gaze. It was so quick, I nearly wasn't sure I had even seen it... but there it was. Then her face hardened again. "Nice try. You don't have any of the power, Dusk! You really think that Nightmare Bitch will let anypony go? You're even dumber than I thought." I sighed, shaking my head. "Rainbow... please. I just want to help." She looked away... but not before I thought I saw her face soften again. Looking through files was boring. Books, I could handle. Endless scrolls and lectures were easy play for me. Lists about ponies, however, were about the only written text that could put me to sleep. Still, the notes finally told me something. "Lieutenant? All of these ponies are either dead or in prison. Do we not have ANY living, moving suspects to interrogate?" She looked thoughtful, tapping her chin. "Well... we do have an evidence box... but it isn't alive or anything. Do you wanna see it?" I resisted the urge to pound my skull into the desk. She was either a genius in disguise, or a complete airhead. Either way, she had a knack for surprising everypony around her. "Yes... yes, I want to see it." She smiled, before once again reaching into her mane. I paused, gaping at her, as she produced a box that could not have possibly fit in it and set it down. "I was wondering when you would ask. It's everything we confiscated from those dirty terrorists!" There was dead silence in the room, with the exeption of my sputtering. "How... but... physics... you..." After a few moments, I gave it up. This early in the morning, there was only one answer to this crazy pony, and that was resignation. Looking into the box, I saw it held mostly personal effects. Identification, keys, some bits, a broken Revolver, a bottle of old whiskey, and several bolts of fabric. It took only a few moments of searching to figure out that each of the identification cards matched a face on the list of arrested suspects. The revolver had a dusted handprint on it, while the bits each had tags and notes attached. However, it was the last items that got my attention. Picking up the bags with the fabric, I pulled them out and examined them. "Lieutenant... what are these from? This isn't from normal clothing, is it?" She looked over, before shaking her head. "Nope! They're from cloaks. Whenever we find them at night, they have these on. I dunno what to make of it, other than it helps them be sneaky. Sometimes we find them when raiding a house too, but that's SWAT's job, not mine. I just wish everypony would get along, really. Hard to keep spirits up when ponies wanna fight!" I nodded, an idea forming in my head. "That farm has wool sheep... this is wool, by the feel. I doubt Ponyville buys much fabric from outside when it can be made here... Lieutenant, is there a Tailor here in town, who specializes in high-quality fabric? The ponies who got these cloaks had to get them from somewhere, and the stitching on them is too similar for them to all be hand-made by each individual. Somepony with professional talents made them, see?" I said, holding out the fabric. She peered at it, before scrunching up her face. "Sergeant! Is Rarity open today? I bet she'd know who made these!" One of the ponies behind the desk picked up a phone, talking breifly, before nodding. "She's in. Probably going to raise Tartarus for interrupting her during her 'fashion spree', but I bet a visit from a Duke would make her happy. Want me to call ahead?" I shook my head. "Nope! Lets surprise her!" We stood outside a rather upscale-looking clothing shop. To call it that, however, would demean the work of art before us. It was done up in the height of style, although a month or so behind Canterlot. Still, it seemed to be in the process of re-decorating. "Here?" I asked, looking at my loyal guard. He nodded. "Carousel Botiquè. Rarity provides tailoring for the Guards and everyone else here in town. Those cloaks and fabric are our best clue to finding the Cultists, she would know about them." I nodded, pushing the door open. Inside was the scent of a sweet perfume and a lovely tune. A filly sat humming to herself as she tapped away on a piano, the bust of Marezzart perched on top while she scribbled notes on a sheet of music occasionally. At the bell of the door opening, however, she turned around. Upon seeing me and the guards, she stood up, knocking over the small statue as she gasped. "RARITY!" A moment later, another mare walked down the stares. Her coat was just as white as the filly, her mane a deep purple, and her outfit was exquisite. I had seen few its equal, and none its superior in Canterlot. She sighed, looking down at scroll with drawings on it as she made her way downstairs. "Honestly Sweetie Belle, I'm in the middle of-" She stopped dead upon catching sight of me. "D-d-Duke Shine! What a surprise!" she said, dropping the scroll and scampering over. In an instant, she had my hand, kissing it and looking up with some of the most perfect eyes I had ever seen. "What an honor to have a stallion of such stature in my humble abode! I wasn't expecting you!" I blushed at her treatment. "I, ah... T-thank you, Miss Rarity. I'm sorry for troubling you-" I started, before she harrumphed. "Troubling me? Please! I've been waiting for a Duke my whole life! This way~" she trilled, grabbing my hand and pulling. There was a glint in her eye I found more than a bit troubling. Hopefully, I would get at least a moment to talk... though as she started grabbing bits of outfits off her hangers, I was rapidly losing that hope. Author's Note Just so you know, the order of precedence for ponies goes as such: Trollestia (Always number one) Regent (Queen, King, Etc) Prince (Or Princess) Duke (Or Duchess) Earl (Or Viscount. My world, my rules ) Baron (Or Baroness) Knight (Sir) Freedpony (Anypony not held in serfdom or slavery) Serf Slave
Dawn's Early LightAuthor's Note Chapter one of me trying something new. It has been about three or so years since I have tried writing fanfiction, and I try to stay away from established characters since I have no faith in my ability to recreate them (Except Rainbow Dash aka Best Pony). However, with this, I can create their bizzaro twins. Think of this as a "Mirror, Mirror" type thing. For you non-trekkies, this is pretty much a grimdark version of the show, with quite a few tweaks to suit my grim fantasies. Like, Rate, and Share please! If you like it, that is kewl, but if you dont, let me know why below. Thanks! Dawn's Early Light The dark of night was always the worst time. What should be a calm rest from the labors of the day and a respite from the duties of life seemed, to Dusk Shine at least, to be full of nothing but the promises of shades, wraiths, and other unspeakable horrors. As he tossed and turned, he reflected upon how far he had come so far, and how far yet to go he had. Minister Dusk Shine, Duke of Canterlot, Mage-Apprentice of Queen Nightmare Moon, Sorcerer of Silverton, and the Scion of the House of Two Lights lay half-asleep in his sheets. His groping fingers found the corner of his sheets, and balled them up tightly. While magic surges were no longer a danger with his training and discipline, all unicorn mages feared the loss of control a true nightmare could bring. With Tantabus watching over all ponies dreams, ever ready to punish those with traitors or evil thoughts, nopony escaped the watchful eye of the Queen's dogs. "Mom, when can I apply? Most others in my class have already moved on to advanced school! Queen Moon's last apprentice just died, so she needs a new one! Mom sighed. "Dear, becoming an Arch-Mage is no easy task. You should follow your sister into the Royal Guard, or take up studies under a more... traditional master. The Royal Academy for Gifted Foals is not an easy school to get into. "Come on, honey. Let the kid live a little, huh? He was casting cantrips at three, and nearly burned the house down at five. If anypony can make it, Shine can." I smiled, looking at dad. "Someday, I'm gonna be her apprentice! Then I can help anypony I want to, and- He shook his head. "We don't speak like that. Remember: Head down, never doubt. Think no Evil, Speak no Evil, Hear no Evil. I felt the familiar frustration. "Think no Evil... Dusk Shine awoke suddenly to the sounds of heavy boots. Normally, his tower was to be left only to the two guards trusted to his safety, as he required quite a bit of rest and quiet for his studies. Beside him in her smaller bed, Barb stirred. "Dusk, what's going on?" she asked, stretching out and blinking slowly. "I don't know. Go back to sleep, I'll check it out." Dusk Shine rose, quietly donning his evening robe, slippers, and nightcap before padding softly downstairs to the door. Horn glowing, his magenta aura enveloped the door before pulling it open to reveal a startled colt in the armor of the Night's Watch with his fist raised to knock. Behind him, a Captain and a Lieutenant stood, carefully not meeting his gaze while the poor Corporal between them held a scroll under one arm. His eyebrows furrowed, Dusk shook his head. "Uh... yes?" "Sir! Corporal Fleeting Look. I have a message for you from Queen Nightmare Moon. She requires your attendance in her throne room immediately regarding an urgent matter. You will only be gone for a few days. Major Oak Leaf and Lieutenant Silver Bar will assist Barb in packing a travel bag, while I am to escort you to the throne room immediately." Frowning, Dusk looked at the sky. "It's a bit after midnight. I need a few minutes to change into something-" he started, before, surprisingly, the Major cut him off. "Sir, she needs you now. This matter concerns state secrets and is a matter of national security. Please follow the Corporal, sir." After another moment of indecision, the young unicorn mage nodded. "Ah, of course. Um, lead the way, Corporal." Corporal Fleeting Look lived up to his name, glancing at each of his superior officers as if to pray that one of them would accompany the third-ranking noble in the land before nodding once and about-facing, quickly marching away. Dusk Shine, however, rolled his eyes. Grabbing the Corporal's shoulder, he concentrated. Space folded inward on itself. Narrow vectors aligned while raw energy was pulled from the aether, powering the rampant abuse of the laws of physics to enable positional translocation. Their surrender was marked by a single, quiet 'pop', as Dusk Shine teleported himself and the poor Corporal to the gates of the throne room. While the dizzy pegasus tried to recover his balance (and keep his lunch down), Dusk Shine walked through the great arch to approach the Obsidian Throne, upon which was seated the Sovereign of Equestria, and before which he knelt, head bowed in both respect and fear before his monarch. Queen Nightmare Moon looked down upon her most faithful student and smiled. Her wickedly sharp teeth gleamed with the same white of the perfect moon in the sky that shown down from above, with only the faint flickerings of dawn marring the perfect night above. Slowly she leaned forward and breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of the one colt she had chosen to take under her wing in over three centuries. To her eyes, Mares represented all that was well and good with ponykind, but this one colt, so insecure and innocent, had awakened a malicious streak in her. After all, the more pure and innocent something (or somepony) was, the more fun it was to corrupt. Finally satisfied, she leaned back, looking down with a gaze that was at once cold and amused. "Rise, my most faithful Dusk Shine, and do not look so frightened. I trust you have no idea why you are here?" He nodded quietly, slowly getting to his feet and standing before his teacher. "Um... no. I mean, nothing was explained except that it was important and you needed me in the middle of the night... I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that, I serve at your pleasure and... uh, what is it you wished of me?" he said, realizing he was rambling and cutting himself off. "Actually, the reason I called you here has quite a bit to do with you. You sent me a letter earlier today via Barb and her lovely dragon breath ability. Something about the Return of the Sun, how on the shortest night of the thousandth year, the Solar Tyrant would escape her prison? It was... unusually lacking in details. Particularly one with your temperament towards disorder and improper procedure." He froze. There was a small chance that he may have had a bit too much wine (that was a pretty big glass after all) and sent partially incomplete research. The last time that happened... unpleasant occurrences followed. Being turned into a mare for a week would have been bad enough, but being made to dress as one, and attend several formal events including the Grand Imperial Ball was even worse. Prince Blueblood had actually propositioned him, not knowing he was a stallion! He shuddered as he remembered the lecherous gaze of the Lord High Marshall. Curse his effeminate frame! "I... ahm... meant to make it succinct as possible, since... you know, you are so busy?" "And the drops of wine on it were unrelated, of course? Well, luckily for you, my guards apprehended a Solar Cultist today." Once again, he froze. The Solar Cult, or the Rising Sun as they called themselves, were a crimminal and terrorist organization that were believed to be funded by greedy nobles from the Crystal Empire. King Sombra had long had his eye on 'liberating' Equestria, and was happy to exploit any internal divisions he found. "The Rising Sun? I thought they were stamped out a while back. Didn't Blueblood see to it?" "I tried, but certain elements in the government with a rebellious streak obviously worked quite hard to conceal a cell or two. After all, you should know from your studies how hard uprooting a homegrown insurrectionist faction can be, when they don't like being taken alive, right, my Poppet?" Prince Blueblood, the High Marshall and Executor of the Crown entered the room, giving a short, informal bow to Queen Moon. Turning to the beet-red Dusk Shine, he gave a mocking bow, pursing his lips in a kiss. Cheeks red and eyes wide, Dusk Shine fought to keep his breathing under control while several minor nobles in attendance snorted. "Queen Moon, auntie, we brought her here as you asked. Eris is, as usual, doing her own thing, but thanks to her Chaos magic we actually took one alive. She killed three guards and a Night Watcher, but I think the cost in intelligence was well worth it. We tracked one of the final cells of the cult to a small town called Ponyville. It sits in the shadow of our great city, and is part of the domain of the Duke of Canterlot, our own dear Dusk Shine. Of course, after his father's treason and execution... I have always had my doubts about the loyalty of the House of Two Lights. Not that you would ever betray us, right Duskie?" Dusk fumed. The prince had been rivals with his father for the title of High Marshall, and it was only by dredging up a few poor decisions from his past and doctoring some evidence that he had gotten his way to the top of the military chain. While nopony could be held guilty of the crimes of his father, Queen Nighmare Moon's choice to take Dusk as a ward of the crown raised many eyebrows (and objections, quietly of course), and even more questions until his power as a mage was revealed. Thereafter, he had been treated with respect even by his detractors, as everypony eventually needed a spell cast for them. And nobleponies were WEIRD in their requests. Weird, but well-paying for discretion. "Funny, I thought your report was complete, Blueblood. Maybe-" he started, before a sigh and an angry growl cut them off. Their hatred of eachother (or at least Dusk's hatred of Blueblood, reciprocated by wry amusement and condescension) was well known in the courts, even if Dusk rarely left his tower. "Now now, children. If I wanted a show, I would either have you strip and fight, or have that fool of a jester released from the dungeons. Dusk Shine, Blueblood is right about one thing. Ponyville is YOUR responsibility, and I think it would do you well to get some practical experience to go with all that studying of yours." She rose to her feet, and the room grew quiet. "Dusk Shine, you are to go to the town of Ponyville and investigate the rumors of the Solar Cult. If you find it there, I expect you to do your duty and stamp it out. However, Blueblood has expressed his doubts as to your... mettle. Therefore I think a demonstration is in order." She snapped her fingers, and the throne room doors opened again. Blueblood and I both turned to see the guards dragging a bloody, beaten mare between them. The blood stood out in stark contrast to her cyan blue fur and rainbow mane, but the white bone jutting out from her wings told the full tale of the horrors inflicted upon her by the Inquisition. Dusk could only stare as she was dragged between them and dropped at the feet of Nightmare Moon. With a rattling cough, she attempted to push herself up on her hands and knees, even though one arm seemed badly broken. However, it was only when Queen Moon raised her hand and enveloped her in magic, lifting her to her feet and turning her around that her most prominent feature was shown. Dusk stared into her magenta eyes. Those eyes, despite the damage and pain inflicted upon the face and body of the one they belonged to, held a fire within them, a bright burning desire that stated clearly she would like nothing more than to lunge at a guard, grab his spear, and kill everypony in the room while laughing. "My dear Dusk Shine... would you mind disposing of this pest?" His heart stopped. He knew this mare... this was... the daughter of Rainbow Blitz? "Honey... I know what happened to Blitz has us all scared." "Treason? From a descendent of Hurricane? You KNOW he was only killed because he had evidence that could clear your name! Blueblood's accusations are-" His mother paced restlessly while Dusk Shine sat on the ground, playing Battleclouds with his sister. He and Gleaming Shield looked uneasily at eachother while their parents argued. "Look, the official reports say he froze during a training excercize. Accidents happen in training. The truth will set us free, I promise love. Besides, with Blitz gone someone will have to look after his daughter. I plan to sponsor her into that boarding school in Cloudsdale, the military one. It won't be easy, but at least she will have a chance at a decent life. Just don't go opening any gifts from strangers, okay?" At that point, the door opened while a filly with scruffy rainbow hair and tail entered, stretching. "Mister Night Light, when can I see Daddy?" she said, rubbing the sleep out of her red eyes. Mom and dad looked at eachother uneasily, before smiling at her. "Play with Dusk and Gleam for now, okay sweetie?" Shield and Dusk moved over to let her join their game. Her eyes met mine, and Dusk knew she recognized him. There was a long, slow, rattling breath before Rainbow Dash spat upon the ground, glaring her hatred at a onetime friend. "Well, my student? We're all waiting." Dusk Shine stared at her. Rainbow Dash, a onetime friend before she went to Cloudsdale Acadamy of Military Science, hhanging suspended in Queen Nighmare Moon's magic, glaring at him. A onetime friend, who he was expected to execute, in front of a room full of nobleponies and his most hated enemy, Prince Blueblood. His queen stared expectantly at him while his thoughts raced through his head, chasing eachother like timberwolves through the woods. Kill her? Out of the question, he was no murderer. Spare her? Also not an option, he could not help anyone if he was stuck in the dungeons or executed. A thought came, unbidden from his past, from his mentor. Queen Moon stood behind him, her sharp-nailed hands biting into his shoulders as he leaned over the projection of the complex translocation spell before him. "Remember, magic always allows for unexpected paths through a problem. Few know this, and if you ever repeat it to anypony, but I could not have defeated my dear sister through arcane might alone. My options seemed, at the time, to either submit to her tyranny or to fight and lose. However, I sought a third option, and called upon a daemon familiar to lend me strength and guidance. Information is far more useful than power, friends, money, or any combination of the three. With information, you can stop a war before it begins. You can bring an enemy low, or set an ally up high to help you. There is always another path, if you but have the information you need to make the leap of logic. He licked his lips, before a candle lit in his head. "Prince Blueblood... thank you" he said, biting back his bile as the polite phrase tried to stick in his throat. The room, filled with murmors and excitement, went dead silent. Blueblood's eyes widened, then narrowed while the Queen's eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch. "Indeed?" Dusk Shine forced a smile. If there was any way to save his friend, this was it. Option Three. "Queen Moon, this pony is known to me. Her name is Rainbow Dash, the daughter of Rainbow Blitz, the traitor. He helped hide evidence that showed my own father was... disloyal. I mean... I know it may sound odd, but with the Prince's investigation only partly complete, I think information would be more useful than a gratuitous display of blood and gore? If Rainbow Dash knows anything about the Solar Cult, maybe I could get her to reveal it." Blueblood's eyes could not have gotten any wider. "Queen, I urge you to discard such a notion. She was captured with nearly half a ton of gunpowder being transported south from the Crystal Empire. We already know there was one traitor in the House of Two Lights, and he just admitted to knowing-" he said, before the queen cut him off. "Be careful, Blueblood. My nephew you may be, but Dusk Shine is my ward and apprentice. A slight on his honor or judgement is a slight upon the crown..." she said, smiling, as the prince paled. She looked pensive for a moment before nodding slightly. "I see I have taught you well, Dusk. Do you believe you can get something from her?" Dusk hesitated for only a moment before nodding, his heart pounding. "Yes! I mean, of course. I have not been to Ponyville before, and Rainbow would know who the other conspirators are. I promise to take charge of her." After a full minute of silence, during which her eyes were narrowed and one could have heard a pin drop in the courtroom, the queen nodded. "Very well. She will be remanded to the custody of Saw Bones, and from there transported to Ponyville. I trust you will not disappoint me, student.
Our Home and Native LandAuthor's Note Some of you may notice the switch to First-Person perspective. I decided to do so after my difficulties in writing the first chapter, and believe it will better enable me to immerse myself in the writing of subsequent chapters. If anyone (or anypony) objects, let me know. Dunno how I will react or what I will do, but it is nice to have feedback. For those of you interested in the technology level of this story, think of it as around the 1850s to 1900s, where the wealthy military state can afford bolt-action rifles and coal- and gasoline-powered vehicles, but pony farmers (and possible rebels) might have an easier time getting their hands on blackpowder muskets and rifles. After all, a powerful state government would keep a tight lid on technology (or arcanology) Our Home and Native Land I sat quietly in the seat of the train, the Royal Car quietly bouncing on its well-maintained shocks. The train ride from Canterlot to Ponyville was, while not long, quite twisted and winding. Though the town was only a few kilometers from the Capitol, it was nevertheless fairly backwater, all of the major roads and railways long-since rendering it out of the way. Across from me, Barb sat reading some sort of picture book about ponies with superpowers or the like, something that had never terribly interested me. Looming in the back of the car were two guards in full armor, rifles fitted with bayonets and slung over their backs. At my insistence, Fleeting Look was one of them, still a bit out of sorts in his new armor. Still, I liked ponies who did not trip over themselves to please me. Studying took alot of time, and the fawning compliments and empty promises of most folk took far too long to get by, especially since I was required to at least nod and acknowledge them. Still, the most out of place thing in the car was the shackled and hobbled Rainbow Dash, a muzzle over her face and both wings clipped behind her back. Saw Bones, the Royal Doctor, had stated in no uncertain terms that she was lucky to keep her wings. Her magenta eyes were currently closed, enjoying the first bit of uninterrupted sleep she must have had in a week or so. I could still not believe that I had avoided having to kill her... but I knew she could still suffer that fate if I could not get her to speak. The sudden screech of the brakes shook me out of my reveries, and I looked up. Barb stood, stretching before stumbling to the side and catching herself on one of the poles meant for just such a purpose. "Ponyville, Last Stop on the Line! Royal Car First, then All Others! Ponyville!" came the call overhead from the Conductor. Fleeting Look and his companion, whos name I had not gotten, both went to the door as the train pulled into the station. Pulling it open and stepping out, they nodded to me to follow, which I did after picking up my bag. Outside on the station was an unexpected site, for me at least. Ponies lined the station, all with hats off, while four soldiers from the Ponyville Millitia stood at attention, rigidly saluting. An elderly mare with a scroll for a Mark bowed deeply as I exited the train. "Your Grace, your visit is a surprise! I am Mayor Mare, the elected leader of this town. If it pleases you, we have prepared lodgings at the Town Hall or the Rich Estate, whichever you would prefer. I must admit, we are unprepared for a noble of your status here!" She slowly looked up from her bow, and I struggled to remember my schooling in social graces. "Thank you, Mayor. I, ah, would prefer to choose my lodgings so as to not inconvenience anypony. I am here by order of the Queen to... um..." What was a good word for it... "investigate..."That's it. "rumors of suspicious activity here. I hope not to be here too long. Not that your town is a bad place to be, I... I'm just really busy." I could feel the tension in the air, and a nearly audible exhalation from the crowd as the guards dismissed the onlookers. Many ponies still craned their necks to get a look at me, but they slowly dispersed as I walked alongside the mayor. "Sorry, I am not much of a public speaker. Ni-, er, the Queen told me to investigate rumors of Solar Cultist activities in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash has been convicted of associating with them and helping to smuggle supplies or something like that, but I am hoping I don't find anything here. Do you have a Tower, or some place of study I can stay?" She looked surprised. "We have a library here, but it really is not fit for one of such stature as yourself, Your Grace." I tried to avoid rolling my eyes. "Please, Dusk Shine works fine for me. I'm not one of the weird nobles from Canterlot... well, I guess I kind of am, but I don't really stand for titles and such when there are things to be doing. Like I said, I hope to just be in town for a bit to confirm everything is fine here." A short cough from behind me interrupted my attempts to play nice, and I turned to Fleeting Look, who was currently holding the chain connected to Dash's manacles. "Sir, with your permission we will take her to the Stockades or the Prison here." I shook my head, instead nodding to Barb, who opened a wooden box and pulled out a collar. Nightmare Moon's words came to me as Barb reached up to fasten it around Rainbow Dash's neck. The school of Enchantment, while often overlooked, is one of my personal favorites. While most mares will study it to become better housewives, I find the subschool of Charms to be of particular interest. For example..." she said, opening the wooden box she had brought with her when she appeared in my study, "This little device is a favorite in the Inquisition, a new toy they came up with a couple years back. It is meant to inspire obedience, and contains a complex enchantment that prevents the wearer from undertaking forbidden actions. While it cannot force a confession, unfortunatly, it can inflict pain until they speak. It can also stop them from speaking, force them to obey basic commands, and generally give you peace of mind. You will use it on Miss Dash should you ever let her off her leash. And before you go..." she said, her eyes narrowed, "I DO know of your past history with her. I look forward to seeing what little game you play... but compassion is a weakness, my student. I hope you learn it before she stabs you in the back, as training a new student will be most... tiresome. Rainbow flinched as a spark shot down her spine, and after a moment the glow settled to near-invisibility as the magic took hold. "Whaaaa-" she said, or tried to say as the magic sealed her vocal chords. Her sound ended in a choked gurgle as she shook her head, looking dazed while Barb nodded. "Looks right, Dusk. I can take her to the library, if that is where we are going to stay." Mayor Mare still looked hesitant. "There hasn't been a librarian there for nearly a decade since Elder Scroll passed away. Since then, ponies volunteer once in a while but I am sure the living space is dusty, and the books are probably all out of order and the like. Are you sure you would not rather stay at the Rich Estate?" Barb rolled her eyes as mine lit up at the "books out of order" remark. If I had a weakness, it was organizing. I could (and have done so) spend days, or even weeks sorting things. Alphabetical, subject, color, size, mass, weight (don't ever mix those up around me, for your sanity's sake), or author. It didn't matter how, just that I could categorize everything in my life. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? I think it is weird NOT to want to keep things neat! "Actually, that sounds perfect. I really don't want to inconvenience anypony, and would very much like the chance to sort- er, do something useful while I am here. Barb, can you see to getting our things to the library, and maybe get a start on dusting?" With a long-suffering sigh, she started off with the other guard. Fleeting Look, however, stayed with us. Mayor Mare lead my half-sized party toward the city hall. It was not long before our trip was interrupted once again, this time by a mare with a flat, bubblegum-pink mane. While her face and manners said "party-goer", her uniform said "military". Mayor Mare groaned, trying to hurry along before she spotted us. She spotted us. With a gasp, and a logic-defying bounce, she was instantly in front of me, vigourously shaking my hand. "Hia! I'm Lieutenant Pinkamena Diane Pie, at your service sir! Welcome to Ponyville, where the smiles are brightest and the pies are the best! I'm with the Office of Inquisition, Morale and Propaganda branch, and I am pleased to let you know that under my watch as Ponyville Morale Officer, morale has never been higher here! When did you get here, sir? Nopony told me we were going to have a noble! Ooh! We should have a party for you, unless that is not your thing in which case we can have a celebration! Then again, you look REEEEEEAAAAALLLLYYYY busy, so maybe we can just get a cake and a pie or two for you. My job is to know everypony, and I mean EVERYPONY in Ponyville, and since you are here that makes you one of them! Wait... if there was a crowd at the train station, that means it was YOU everypony was talking about the last few hours! And if you came here without warning, that means you are doing something REALLY important. Is it really important? I can help! I'll be back!" she said, before departing at a dead sprint. Before Fleeting Look could even open his mouth, she was gone. "Who... what was that?" I ventured, looking at the Mayor. "Lieutenant Pie, Office of Inquisition. She is our Morale Officer, your Grace. Before you ask, yes, that is normal for her. She tends to be... rather exuberant around newcomers, and takes her job very seriously. To be honest-" she said, beginning to drone on while I nodded politely. I fell back a few steps until I was beside Fleeting Look. "Uh, Corporal? Can I ask a question?" He looked surprised. "Of course sir! What can I help you with?" "I have met a few Agents Inquisitor, and a couple of Morale Officers. I thought they were all a rather grim sort... the "I will shoot you if you run away, or disrespect the Queen, or are a coward, or cavort with the enemy, etcetera." He shook his head. "No, your Grace-" "Dusk Shine. Or Dusk, please" I interjected. "Er, sorry. Uh, what I meant to say is, you are thinking of Commissars. They are also Morale officers, but are front-line combat units. They enforce discipline and order amongst conscripted or... bonded... units. They have a military code of 0201 Armed Morale Officer. Lieutenant Pie is probably an 0614, Public Morale Officer. Non-Combatant. Both are under the Inquisition, though she answers to the local Morale Commandant, which defaults to the highest military office in the local area in lieu of a designated Peace and Propaganda Corps." I nodded. "I see. So, her job is...?" "In a nutshell, her job is to spin news in favor of the Crown. If the economy slows down, she is to reassure everypony that everything is under control. She is also responsible for making sure ponies are happy with things as they are now, and to report any rebellious or insurrectionist activities. She might actually have her fingers on the pulse of any problems here in town, and could be a good place to start asking questions, sir." I nodded again. "That... is actually a very good point. You sure you are not with Investigations?" He grinned. "My father was. Military Police for sixteen years, then served another Thirty in the Special Weapons, Arcana, and Tactics unit for Deertroit." "Well, perhaps we should go speak to her later. In the mean time, I need to meet everypony on the City Council." He nodded and saluted, falling into step behind me as we entered City Hall. Six boring hours later... I shook my head as I left, rubbing my temples alongside my horn as Fleeting Look tried to conceal a yawn behind me. The poor stallion had struggled to stay awake while several bureaucrats had droned on and on about the state of affairs in Ponyville. Evidently, my father had checked in twelve years ago and had ordered them to compile a full report for his next return. Since he never did, I got to listen to them compress those twelve years into a "few hours", as stated by Mayor Mare. Never in my life had I wanted to kill somepony, but I was heavily tempted to whistle up a legion of The Crown's Finest to put an end to them and their... their paperwork. I LOVED writing, but my wrist felt like overcooked spaghetti. REALLY overcooked. Still, this late in the evening Ponyville was rather quiet. An element of Cadets were in their uniforms, proudly saluting the Flag while another pony played the final notes of Taps. Corporal Fleeting Look eyed them, before remarking "Seems like it was not all that long ago that I was doing that. Library's this way, according to one of the attendants at the hall, sir." I nodded and followed him. Soldiers, no matter their rank, occupation, or nationality, hated being stuck with bodyguard duty it seemed. I would have thought that doing nothing but standing, looking at the environment would be comforting, but all the soldiers I had known (all twelve of them, if counting more than ten minutes of interaction) hated being what I had heard them call 'glorified babysitters'. Thus, to keep them happy, I learned that it was best to make them feel like they were doing something worthwhile. In this case, letting him show me the way satisfied his need to be dutiful, and to fulfill his assigned duties (e.g. escorting one unicorn stallion) without diminishing him in any way. I had heard that Queen Moon was wont to occasionally ask guards to attend to her personally, but I could not for the life of me figure out what they were to help her with. The library was even quieter than the town, just as it should be. For the moment, at least. I swear, I could not help myself as I shrieked, preparing to unleash a world-shattering spell as what sounded like a twenty-one gun salute went off in the foyer the moment I flipped on the light. A double line of soldiers, including (somehow) some of the same ones I could have sworn I just saw lowering the flag, were standing with the ends of their rifles smoking. Thankfully, they must have been firing blanks (a dazed corner of my mind realized), as there were no shredded books. A Lieutenant, the same one from before with the pink mane, stood there grinning like an idiot. My brave escort was currently trying not to wet himself as he picked up his rifle, trembling with shock and nerves. After a moment, Lieutenant Pie stopped smiling, her brow furrowing. "Um... I guess you were right, Sergeant" she said, looking at an older stallion. "A bit over the top. Still... Welcome to Ponyville, your Grace... Dusky! Shiney? Dusk Shinier? Everypony in town gets a nickname of some sort, what w-" she said, before stopping. "I... um.... oh dear..." she said, her physics-defying mane deflating. My jaw finally unclenched. "T...thank... you?" There was a long, awkward silence before the young lieutenant dismissed the other soldiers, who seemed eager to be gone. Finally it was just us while I finally got my bearings back. "Uh, Miss... er, Lieutenant.... what was that?" "Oh! I... I just wanted to welcome you to Ponyville. As morale officer, it is my job to... make sure everypony... has high morale?" she said, uncertainly. After a moment, I could not help but smile. Here was a pony who tried to make the best of her job. Though I wanted to be angry at having the third-greatest scare of my life, I could not help but admire her resolve. "Thanks. Look, just... no loud, unexpected noises. Particularly indoors. ESPECIALLY in a library, okay? Other than that, I feel very welcome. I am, however, rather busy. Though I guess I really did need you for the next bit. If you don't mind, I would like to get settled in and then talk to you for a while." She nodded, and I went upstairs to take care of business. "-and that about sums up why I am here, Miss Pie. Any questions?" I finished, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She shook her head. "I will see what I have at the office, and send 'em your way, Dusk!" she said, grinning. Her attitude was a bit contagious, and she was the first pony other than Nightmare Moon who seemed remotely comfortable with losing my titles in regular speech. She gave a smart salute (that served well to emphasize her chest, I could not help but notice) before heading out, whistling some tune of her creation. With that, Barb approached. "So... there is only one other matter to deal with this evening. What do you want to do with Miss Dash?" she asked, looking at me. I sighed. This was really the thing that needed the MOST attention, but that I least wanted to deal with. "Can I talk to her?" She nodded, and a minute later Dash was sitting on the chair opposite me, glowering. The swelling around her face had gone down a bit, but her wings were both still tightly bound in a cast. After a few moments of silence, I sighed. "So... um... hey, Dash. Long time no see?" I started. She made a gagging noise, and I remembered quickly to add "Oh, you can talk. Sorry about that." She seemed to work her tongue around a bit before replying. "Yeah. Long time... Dusk." "I heard you were weather captain here." "I heard you were Nightmare Moon's bitch." I winced. "I am the student of the Queen of Equestria." "Still a bitch. I'm not about to make nice. I don't care what you want, Duke, but I don't rat on my friends. Especially to an Enemy, like you. Us being friends was a long, long time ago." I shook my head. This was going nowhere, quickly. "Dash... I'm sorry for what they did to you, but they caught you red-handed with half a ton of gunpowder! What were you thinking? What good could possibly have come of that? They think you are part of the Solar Cult!" "For your information, I AM a part of it. And proud to be so! You have NO idea what kind of shit is going on in most of Equestria! Manehatten's crime is out of control, Las Pegasus has a fucking NECROMANCER experimenting on ponies there, and Grypony is smuggling slaves out of Equestria with the blessing of the crown, Dusk! Open your eyes! Something has to change!" I reeled from her unexpected tirade. In the doorway, I could see Corporal Fleeting Look try to avoid hearing any of this, while Barb quietly slipped out. Rainbow Dash seemed to struggle internally, before blurting "You are not like her! Dammit, Dusk, we used to be friends before Blueballs had your dad killed! My dad and yours were friends! Why the hell are you helping that bitch on the throne! Heaven's sake, Dusk, you have more reason than most to hate them! Why ain't you HELPING us?" Why not? It took a moment for me to collect my thoughts, but my mind was a fortress. "Dash. I don't like some of the things that happen either. However, the trains run on time, there is food for everypony, the nobles are kept in check, and terrorists have a hard time getting gunpowder. Nightmare Moon may not be perfect, but she is a fair sight better than what would happen if the throne were empty!" There was a gleam in her eye. Rainbow Dash may be far more physical than most, but she was also a pony who loved to win... and was very good at it. "Who said anything about an empty throne, Dusk? Nopony wants that. I suggest you get a copy of the Elements of Harmony, though." I frowned. "That book was banned a thousand years ago. What would I want with it?" She smirked. "For a bookworm like you, I figured you wouldn't need a reason to read. Unless you wanna turn up the pain on my leash, though, I'm done talking." She proceeded to spend the next ten minutes ignoring my every question before I gave up, deciding to give it a rest for the night. I had done quite a bit that day, and needed some rest. Tomorrow would be a busy day. Corporal Fleeting Look checked in one last time, glancing at his charge before sighing with relief. Finally, I can get some work done he thought to himself, checking his pocketwatch and winding it up again. As he stepped out through the door of the library, he rippled and changed, uniform and all, into an average looking stallion in a nondescript outfit. Checking the time again to be sure, he moved around to the back of the library, pulling a bush aside. Where is it... Finally finding what he was looking for, he smiled. The small two-way radio was one of the most expensive things the local Harmony cell owned, and several ponies and half a changeling hive had paid with their lives to get it. Brushing off the handset, he lifted it to his ear. Tapping the static button, he waited for the correct pattern that would let him know it was safe to speak. The small bands between the channels the military used were safe, but off limit to civilians, hence useful for sending forbidden messages. There it is! "Harmony Actual, this is Looker. Codename Usual Suspects is safe and sound. The package is in Partytown, and we are looking for the rest to RSVP. How copy?" The voice, distorted, came through. "Looker, this is Harmony Actual. Copy Five-by-Three. New orders: Usual Suspects is to be protected at all costs. We cannot start the party without him. Follow its interactions with Spectrum. If satisfactory, we can move on to Phase Two. How Copy?" "Harmony Actual, Copy that. How do I get Uniform Sierra to meet with the others?" "That's need-to-know, Looker. Codename Hive is ready to go on our mark. Canterlot will not be able to respond with any degree of military force when the Party starts. Continue as ordered, Looker. Copy?" "Copy, Over and Out." Looker, Changeling Spy and agent of the Rising Sun, smiled as he re-assumed his guard identity and returned inside. One Thousand years of tyranny was about to end.
Our Sacred HomelandMorning... a bloated red orb rising above the horizon, stretching from one side to another. The light it gave off, cool and refreshing, held nothing to the glorious light of the moon. A field of blood-red grass stretched all the way to the horizon. On it, black outlines lay in odd configurations. Soft sounds, like moaning, could be heard from them, though as the one living creature looked, they shimmered to become gruesome caricatures of ponies he knew. Above them, the bloated red sun beat its feeble fury against the ground As he looked about, a voice like thunder rumbled across the bloody ground. "TIME TO WAKE UP! "Dusk? Dusk, come on! Wake up!" I groaned, rolling over and sighing. Above, the bloated sun was just making its way over the horizon while the morning birds gave their songs. Beside me, Barb held a couple of scrolls, a quill, and an inkpot, as well as her satchel. My young assistant cleared her throat and stood back, letting me get up. As usual, she was more than a little impatient to get to work. "Dusk, today's the day. Nightmare Moon said she wants results quickly, right? We gotta get to work!" After the usual two minutes of collecting my mind, I nodded, yawning again. "Alright, let's get going. So, what's on the agenda for today?" As Barb and I headed downstairs, I took note of Fleeting Look, looking half-asleep as he stood with his spear, looking utterly rediculus next to the book cases as he struggled not to fall over. I shot Barb a questioning look, to which she replied with a shrug. "He's been like that all night, as far as I can tell." I cleared my throat. "Um, Fleeting? You can go get some sleep, if you want. I'm not heading out for an hour or two, and I can get the other guard to-" Nearly before I opened my mouth he was already nodding. "I... Thank You, my Lord. I'll... go do that thing..." he said, before staggering off towards the second bedroom. I watched him go, eyeing him with some concern, before Barb piped back up again. "I got the list for today done. First step, after checking on Rainbow Dash, is to head down to the Ponyville Barracks and talk to Lieutenant Pie." She produced a clipboard and quill, and I nodded. Looking outside, I was a bit surprised to see the other guard gone... untill I noticed two Ponyville Martial Officers standing on either side of the door. Evidently, the locals wanted to take charge of protecting me. I sighed as I wondered just when ponies would remember that, slim frame or not, I was a full grown stallion. Stepping out into the bright light of the morning, the red sun hung over the horizon, just beginning to bring an end to the night. It was, all in all, a rather sorry thing; it always looked as if it had to struggle up to its zenith before tumbling all too quickly down to its grave, only to rise again in the morning. Supposedly, when the Solar Tyrant reigned, it had burned much hotter. There were tales of how she had scorched the land, burning anypony who dared to defy her. When she had turned it upon her own dear sister, the results had been to destroy the Old Castle. Queen Moon had risen from the ashes, the victor, and our savior. At least, that was what the stories told. Both of the guards outside saluted, their gauntleted hands clattering against their polished breastplates as they stood straighter. "My Lord!" I waved at them. While it was a bit amusing to watch guards jump at my every twitch, it had gotten old after a few years. The end result was mild irritation. Barb appeared next to me, scratching one of her scale-fins. "I think the barracks are... north?" she said, before turning the map of Ponyville around. With a cough, one of the guards looked at me. "If it's the barracks you want, I can lead the way, my lord." I raised an eyebrow at Barb. "When in Ponyville, do as the Villagers do. Lead the way" I said, nodding at him. With another salute, he turned and began marching forward. I rolled my eyes and followed. The town looked quite different from yesterday evening. Mostly, the change had to do with banners displaying my Cutie Mark. A large sign let me know just how grateful the town was to have their Duke visiting, and everywhere I looked were either smiles... or soldiers. The entire town seemed to be swarming with them. At my raised eyebrow, the Sergeant I was following shrugged. "Everypony here is eager to prove their loyalty after what happened with your father, sir. We are happy to have our Duke back." I was a bit surprised at his bluntness, but if he was even the least bit afraid of a possible ill reaction, he did not show it. It wasn't long before we reached the Operations Center for Ponyville. The one in Canterlot was nearly six stories high, and covered an entire city block. This one was a single floor and looked like a converted warehouse. Still, there was a double line of soldiers standing at attention as I entered, each saluting as I passed. They, unlike the Regulars I was walking with, had the Ponyville Coat of Arms and were wearing Militia uniforms. Each of them was armed with a black-powder rifle, a wickedly sharp bayonet gleaming on the end of it. A Diamond Dog in Sargent stripes nudged one of them as I passed, correcting a perceived flaw in her stance. As I stepped inside, fifteen ponies stood at attention and saluted. Everypony was turned out in their Dress Uniforms, with spit and polish on their boots and brass. Even the bubblegum pink mare behind her desk had her poofy mane somehow looking... nearly regulation. I looked around for a moment, before remembering my duty. I raised my right hand, before lowering it, and they all sat down. The Lieutenant stood and approached. "Good Morning, Dusk! I got all the information together that you wanted. Files on the Solar Cult. Maybe you can see something in it the Investigators couldn't." "Actually, before I do that, I wanted to talk to Rainbow... is she available?" I asked, looking around. Lieutenant Pie's smile faltered for a moment, before she nodded. "Yup! She's right this way. Not very happy though... she got mad when I tried to sing to cheer her up!" She turned and led us down the hallway to the row of cells in the back. Stopping at the third to last, she reached into her mane, rummaging around until she pulled out a ring of keys. The Sergeant rolled his eyes at her antics while I tapped my foot. Finally, she opened the door before motioning me in. Rainbow looked quite a bit better. The swelling had gone down to the point it was easy to recognize her again, and she stood more easily. Upon seeing me, however, she scowled. "Back for more? What is it this time?" I looked at her before sighing. "Rainbow... I'm sorry. Look, if you just help me... I mean, I'm a Duke! I can make it go away... probably. I just want your help. If you don't help me, I can't help you. Besides... would you rather it be me, or Blueblood to find your... um... compatriots?" For the first time, her composure faultered. There was a brief look of hesitation in her gaze. It was so quick, I nearly wasn't sure I had even seen it... but there it was. Then her face hardened again. "Nice try. You don't have any of the power, Dusk! You really think that Nightmare Bitch will let anypony go? You're even dumber than I thought." I sighed, shaking my head. "Rainbow... please. I just want to help." She looked away... but not before I thought I saw her face soften again. Looking through files was boring. Books, I could handle. Endless scrolls and lectures were easy play for me. Lists about ponies, however, were about the only written text that could put me to sleep. Still, the notes finally told me something. "Lieutenant? All of these ponies are either dead or in prison. Do we not have ANY living, moving suspects to interrogate?" She looked thoughtful, tapping her chin. "Well... we do have an evidence box... but it isn't alive or anything. Do you wanna see it?" I resisted the urge to pound my skull into the desk. She was either a genius in disguise, or a complete airhead. Either way, she had a knack for surprising everypony around her. "Yes... yes, I want to see it." She smiled, before once again reaching into her mane. I paused, gaping at her, as she produced a box that could not have possibly fit in it and set it down. "I was wondering when you would ask. It's everything we confiscated from those dirty terrorists!" There was dead silence in the room, with the exeption of my sputtering. "How... but... physics... you..." After a few moments, I gave it up. This early in the morning, there was only one answer to this crazy pony, and that was resignation. Looking into the box, I saw it held mostly personal effects. Identification, keys, some bits, a broken Revolver, a bottle of old whiskey, and several bolts of fabric. It took only a few moments of searching to figure out that each of the identification cards matched a face on the list of arrested suspects. The revolver had a dusted handprint on it, while the bits each had tags and notes attached. However, it was the last items that got my attention. Picking up the bags with the fabric, I pulled them out and examined them. "Lieutenant... what are these from? This isn't from normal clothing, is it?" She looked over, before shaking her head. "Nope! They're from cloaks. Whenever we find them at night, they have these on. I dunno what to make of it, other than it helps them be sneaky. Sometimes we find them when raiding a house too, but that's SWAT's job, not mine. I just wish everypony would get along, really. Hard to keep spirits up when ponies wanna fight!" I nodded, an idea forming in my head. "That farm has wool sheep... this is wool, by the feel. I doubt Ponyville buys much fabric from outside when it can be made here... Lieutenant, is there a Tailor here in town, who specializes in high-quality fabric? The ponies who got these cloaks had to get them from somewhere, and the stitching on them is too similar for them to all be hand-made by each individual. Somepony with professional talents made them, see?" I said, holding out the fabric. She peered at it, before scrunching up her face. "Sergeant! Is Rarity open today? I bet she'd know who made these!" One of the ponies behind the desk picked up a phone, talking breifly, before nodding. "She's in. Probably going to raise Tartarus for interrupting her during her 'fashion spree', but I bet a visit from a Duke would make her happy. Want me to call ahead?" I shook my head. "Nope! Lets surprise her!" We stood outside a rather upscale-looking clothing shop. To call it that, however, would demean the work of art before us. It was done up in the height of style, although a month or so behind Canterlot. Still, it seemed to be in the process of re-decorating. "Here?" I asked, looking at my loyal guard. He nodded. "Carousel Botiquè. Rarity provides tailoring for the Guards and everyone else here in town. Those cloaks and fabric are our best clue to finding the Cultists, she would know about them." I nodded, pushing the door open. Inside was the scent of a sweet perfume and a lovely tune. A filly sat humming to herself as she tapped away on a piano, the bust of Marezzart perched on top while she scribbled notes on a sheet of music occasionally. At the bell of the door opening, however, she turned around. Upon seeing me and the guards, she stood up, knocking over the small statue as she gasped. "RARITY!" A moment later, another mare walked down the stares. Her coat was just as white as the filly, her mane a deep purple, and her outfit was exquisite. I had seen few its equal, and none its superior in Canterlot. She sighed, looking down at scroll with drawings on it as she made her way downstairs. "Honestly Sweetie Belle, I'm in the middle of-" She stopped dead upon catching sight of me. "D-d-Duke Shine! What a surprise!" she said, dropping the scroll and scampering over. In an instant, she had my hand, kissing it and looking up with some of the most perfect eyes I had ever seen. "What an honor to have a stallion of such stature in my humble abode! I wasn't expecting you!" I blushed at her treatment. "I, ah... T-thank you, Miss Rarity. I'm sorry for troubling you-" I started, before she harrumphed. "Troubling me? Please! I've been waiting for a Duke my whole life! This way~" she trilled, grabbing my hand and pulling. There was a glint in her eye I found more than a bit troubling. Hopefully, I would get at least a moment to talk... though as she started grabbing bits of outfits off her hangers, I was rapidly losing that hope. Author's Note Just so you know, the order of precedence for ponies goes as such: Trollestia (Always number one) Regent (Queen, King, Etc) Prince (Or Princess) Duke (Or Duchess) Earl (Or Viscount. My world, my rules ) Baron (Or Baroness) Knight (Sir) Freedpony (Anypony not held in serfdom or slavery) Serf Slave
