Chapter 7 – Pincer Attack

The small dungeon underneath Twilight's castle was not pleasant nor warm. The only light was that which steamed through thin grates which peaked above ground; though those often flowed with water and flooded the whole cavern with nearly a centimetre of water. Few prisoners had the displeasure of staying here, the Diamond Dog was not so lucky.

He hung from the wall, bound by chains which clenched down harshly upon his wrists and ankles. He had been there for two days, only given scraps for meals and the barest amount of water. Captain Rainbow Dash had visited him quite a few times, questioned him harshly, sometimes painfully; but she did nit receive the answered she was looking for.

That is why on the third day a new light breached the darkness of the dungeon, this one a soft pale purple glow which shown through the bars of the cell and temporarily blinded the Diamond Dog. His eyes adjusted to see the one Lady Twilight Sparkle standing on the other side of the bars, peering in.

“My captain tells me you have not been cooperative,” Twilight said.

“No, milady! No! Dog has told the scary-mare everything! Everything!” the Dog pleaded.

“What is your name?”

“L-luprian, milady.”

“Well, Luprian, you aren't telling my everything,” Twilight said. “So I shall ask you once; whom directed you to kidnap those people? You and your clan would not risk the wrath of the Sun Throne if you didn't have proper motivation, that suggests a sponsor, so the question is; whom?”

“Luprian doesn't know. Milady He wore a hood! Don't know! Don't know!” Luprian begged.

“Unfortunately, I don't believe you, and I am not of the luxury of kindly extracting the desired information,” Twilight sighed as her horn flared. “So I must apologize.”

Tendrils reached out from Twilight's horn, snaking through the bars and reaching out to the entrapped Diamond Dog beginning to wrap around him.

“Please! Stop!” Luprian begged.

“Relax,” Twilight said. “The more you panic the more it will hurt.”

The tendrils wrapped around Luprian's head and all the world faded away. Suddenly Twilight was in the middle of the Everfree Forest, surrounded by five other Diamond Dogs and with them stood a stallion who's body and face were concealed by fine dark green hood and cloak.

“You understand what are to do then?” the stallion said, he had a distinctive accent; Trottingham.

“Yes, Pony-Lord-Thing,” one of the Dogs said. “Dog's understand.”

“Good, and remember; if you're caught there will be no help from me, so be sure not to.”

As Twilight returned to reality her ears were assaulted by the loud sound of screaming, Luprian was convulsing violently, frothy spit building in his mouth which was flung out by the ghutteral scream launched from his throat. Twilight swiftly drew back her magical grip from him, ceasing the convulsions and leaving Luprian a limp mess covered in slobber and barely conscience.

Twilight spared him a look before she retreated up the stone stairs that led to the surface, she was about halfway up when she stopped and laid her head against the rough cold stone wall, she felt sick. The spell she had just performed, that she had forced upon Luprian, had been illegal for over a decade in Equestria because of it's dangerous an invasive nature. Yet she had used it without hesitation against a helpless creature, why? What justification could she give? She needed the knowledge of course, but was it truly worth such force?

Twilight rubbed her forehead and continued up the stairs, when she surfaced Rainbow Dash and Honey Cream were waiting for her.

“Progress, ma'am?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes, but we'll discuss it later,” Twilight said, she looked to Honey Cream. “Are the press outside?”

“Yes, madame,” Honey Cream. “Clamouring for you word.”

“Well let's not keep them waiting,” Twilight said, turning towards the front entrance.

“[i[Un instant, madame,” Honey Cream said, approaching Twilight and running her hood through her mane, straightening the loose strands. “There, perfection”

“Thank you, ma dounce” Twilight smiled and then left for the door.

Honey Cream smiled and turned to leave but was stopped by Rainbow Dash's rough hoof stopping her.

“You should be less presumptuous with Her Majesty,” Rainbow said dangerously.

“Oh, my dear belle fille, I presume nothing,” Honey Cream winked and slipped away.

Twilight emerged outside to greet the eager crowd, a conglomerate of rabid reporters and curious onlookers who vied for the word of their noble lady.

“Your Majesty! Who is responsible for these kidnappings?”

“Your Majesty! What do you say to the allegations that a unicorn aristocrat is responsible?”

“Your Majesty! How do you respond to rumours of inaction on your part?

“Hear me now and silence your voices in way of mine!” Twilight announced and the crowd quieted. “I know that many of you are concerned and indeed frightened by the unprovoked kidnappings of many of your friends and family, but as you all surely know by now they have been returned unto you, and the perpetrators caught.”

“It has been discovered that these kidnappings were carried out by a rogue band of Diamond Dog's, this small pack took it upon themselves to defy the Everfree Concords of 233, and attempted to build a slave force under the nose of the Throne, that is why I am pleased to announce that thanks to the brave efforts of our brave soldiers the operation has ceased and it's organizers dealt with. However, this ordeal has revealed much; in particular the fact that this city is at great risk, with our position at the edge of the Everfree and the Southern Frontier of Equestria we are exposed to many dangers that we may not even be aware of, this latest event being just of example of that, it is for this reason that I shall be increasing the presence and number guardsmen tenfold with this act I swear onto you, I shall keep you safe, and I shall protect you.”

Some clapped, the reporters demanded answers, some simply yelled. Yet Twilight ignored them all as she retreated back inside her castle. Once the doors shut behind her she heaved the breath she had been holding in, her heart beating fast and hard. It was something she would never be accustomed to, speaking in front of so many people. She hoped that her words would be the end of it all, but she knew better.

“Went well?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“As well to be expected,” Twilight said, strolling into the castle proper. “Walk with me.”

“You said you made progress with the Dog?” Rainbow asked, following besides Twilight.

“Yes, I managed to convince him to talk; his group did indeed have a sponsor of sorts, a stallion, but his face was covered, the only distinctive thing about him was a Trottingham accent,” Twilight said.

“Trottingham huh?” Rainbow Dash mused. “I have a few friends there who could make an inquiry.”

“Keep me posted on that, but make sure you're discreet,” Twilight said. “And get a message to our friend in the press, have him run a story about the capture of the Dog, hopefully it'll help turn public opinion.”

“And what will you do, ma'am?” Rainbow asked.

“Well it's almost tea time.”

Carousel Boutique

Rarity spooned the fourth helping of sugar into her tea and stirred, all the while she magically lit a cigarette and took a drag before then sipping her tea.

“Trottingham you say?” she asked.

“Yes,” Twilight replied, she stirred her tea though she took it black and puffed absentmindedly on her tobacco pipe. “Anyone come to mind?”

“Oh my dear Twilight, Trottingham is nothing but rabid nobility all of whom would like nothing more to undermine you,” Rarity said.

“Yes, but I imagine not all would go through the trouble of financing a rogue group of Diamond Dogs all the while risking fury from the Throne.”

“Indeed, whom would be so bold?” Rarity mused. “Perhaps a way of thinning the herd?”

“What are you thinking?” Twilight asked.

“My Fall Line is being revealed soon, and typically I throw a private showing for my benefactors; more of an excuse to keep up my little circle as it were, a batted eyelash and a kiss on the cheek goes a long way after all. Anyway, I am as popular in Trottingham as I am anywhere else, so I could make a point of inviting the most... shall we say, interesting members of Lord Green's court.”

“And I take it that I too shall be invited?” Twilight asked.

“That is the intention, yes dear.”

“At the very least it will give me an opportunity to perhaps make some new friends,” Twilight mused. “What do you know about the Lord of Trottingham?”

“Hm, Lord Forest Green, one of the few Earth Pony nobles still around, and the only one to be Lord Paramount of a city, so he must be smart, I know he's proud, some say charming but I doubt that. I know he's the one behind the treaty with the Diamond Dog's, in way that he slaughtered most of them before the throne had to step in.”

“Ruthless then,” Twilight said. “And he has experience with the Dogs, you don't think...?”

“That he's involved?” Rarity concluded. “Perhaps, at the very least I doubt he's ignorant to these goings on.”

“Well, we have one path set for now,” Twilight said. “I should get going.”

“You won't stay longer?” Rarity pouted. “I do enjoy your company.”

“Duty calls I'm afraid, thanks fir the tea.”

Oathtree

“You have a visitor, ma dame,” Honey Cream said.

“Oh lovely, who calls on me now?” Twilight asked dryly.

“A one Swift Scribe.”

“My Speaker, good, no doubt we have things to discuss, in my study?”

“Oui”

Twilight thanked her and continued on to her study, when she entered she found Swift Scribe studying her personal collection of books.

“Find anything interesting?” Twilight asked.

“An original copy of the Arcanum Imperica is rare,” Swift Scribe said, he offered a friendly smile. “And while we are on the topic of rare things, you are a rare mare, my dear.”

“Flattery won't get you far with me,” Twilight said impatiently.

“Yes, because I am not a young Prench mare or a stoic captain,” Swift Scribe said slyly.

“Excuse me?” Twilight said, annoyed. “I suggest you make a point before I loose my patience for your impunity.”

“Of course,” Swift said, offering a rather mock bow. “I'm here to inform you that you're making a mistake.”

“Oh do tell,” Twilight rolled her eyes as she sat down behind her desk. “As if I haven't heard every criticism under the holy sun.”

“Oh but I don't make this outreach of mine lightly, my constituents don't want me having any contact with you-”

“I assume they made this sentiment out of ignorance of the fact that as the Speaker, as my Speaker, that is actually your job,” Twilight interrupted.

“...No, and your assumption that they did this out of ignorance is a very big part of the problem,” Swift Scribe said with a hint of distaste. “ But if I may finish, just of there you declared to a crowd of scared people that you will be flooding this city with even more outsiders, armed ones at that, and what astonishes me is that you legitimately think this is a good idea.”

“And what would you have me do?” Twilight asked. “They're angry when I act and they're angry when I do nothing, all I know for sure is that I do not currently have the resources necessary to properly enforce my word and protect my citizens, anyone with even a hint of intelligent thought can see that this is for the greater good.”

“That isn't how the people or the Union will see it,” Swift Scribe countered. “They'll see armed outsiders, thugs, entering their city uninvited, enforcing the will of a noble whom most of them don't know enough to trust. So, the people will not be cooperative, you'll only deepen the mistrust that's already beginning to fester, and the Union? They'll jump at the opportunity, undermine you at every turn, organized protests, strikes, vandalism.”

“Are you threatening me?” Twilight said, raising and eyebrow. “Because you'll have to do better than that.”

“I'm telling you that the path you've put yourself on will only lead to struggle and suffering on both sides,” Swift said, becoming frustrated. “You can't expect to win this!”

“Oh, but I can,” Twilight said. “You resit me, I bring in more guards, and more and more, I'll declare martial law if I have to, I don't want to do it but I'm not going to tolerate blatant undermining of my right of rule.”

“You're bluffing.”

“I expect that you're the one bluffing here,” Twilight said. “Perhaps the people will be resistant at first, but who will they ultimately side with? I who will offer them stability and protection or the upstart unionists whom force them to break the law and risk their livelihood for a petty ideal of... what exactly? Stubbornness? Please don't insult my intelligence.”

“And don't insult mine,” Swift Scribe said. “ I know these people better then you ever will, I know how this will go, Mayor Mare tried resisting them too, but she learned fast.”

“You're dismissed, Speaker,” Twilight said. “Run back to your employers, while you still have some.”

“As you wish, You're Majesty,” Swift Scribe bowed. “I wish you luck then.”

Swift Scribe promptly left and Twilight leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. She sparked her magic to retrieve from her desk; a glass and a bottle of whisky along with her chess set. She poured herself a drink and took a sip while she unfolded the chessboard and placed the white queen in the centre of the board.

“The Union presses me from one side...” Twilight mumbled to herself, placing a black rook on one side of the queen. She took another sip of her drink as she retrieved the black knight. “And the nobility schemes from the other.” She placed the knight of the opposite side of the queen.

“Splendid...” Twilight sighed as she finished her drink and started pouring another one. “This is going splendid, I simply must thank Celestia for this wonderful opportunity.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait.
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