Chapter 8 – A Den of Snakes

The damp ground shook slightly from the uniform stomping of soldiers and they marched in formation. Captain Rainbow Dash marched at the front, leading the new platoon down main street, on either side of the street were crowds of people who were meant to be welcoming the soldiers but there was not a welcome face to be seen. Just a sea of faces expressing everything ranging from scared to angry, there was a hostile energy in the air as the platoon climbed the hill towards the Lady's castle.

Twilight stood on the steps outside of her castle, dressed in a military uniform; a black tunic with stars lining the shoulders, and gold accents, her sword hanging at her side and an officer's cap hung low over her eyes. She was flanked by Day Break and Wind Rider whom wore their usual armour but now were marked with purple sashes which marked them as Twilight's personal guards.

The platoon of guards marched up to the steps and Rainbow Dash called them to a halt and about faced them towards Twilight who descended the steps to greet them, Rainbow saluted hr and she saluted back before addressing the platoon.

“Good evening gentlemen,” Twilight said. “Welcome to Ponyville, this will be your new posting for the foreseeable future, so I suggest you get comfortable, it will be your duty to protect this city and it's people from all the dangers of the world, I have high hopes for you; Captain? Carry On.”

“Yes ma'am,” Rainbow Dash saluted.

Twilight returned to inside her castle where Honey Cream was waiting for her.

“Seems you 'ave been invited to a party,” she said.

“Right, Rarity always delivers, go rouse Mr. Silver; I shall need an outfit fitting for the event.”

“Actually,” Honey Cream produced a box which was bound with a red ribbon, “This came with the invitation.”

Twilight took the box in her magical grasp and opened it to peek inside, a smile graced her features.

“Rarity always delivers,” Twilight said softly, mostly to herself.

“Ma'am?” Rainbow said, she walked up from the entrance. “New bloods have been given their assignments.”

“Good, make sure we have a strong presence at the party, I want no mistakes,” Twilight said.

“Yes ma'am.”

“Shall we prepare for battle, madame.”

“Naturally.”

Carousel Boutique

Twilight rode up in her ornate carriage pulled by two of her guards, the road that Carousel Boutique stood upon was already sealed off and patrolled by an abundance of guards. Golden light was spilling out of the large windows onto the evening shaded street. Behind the purple drapes one could make out the silhouettes of a small crowd of ponies milling about.

Rainbow Dash opened he door for Twilight whom carefully stepped out, she wore the outfit that Rarity had gifted her. It was a scandalously thin silk dress which was a complimentary shade of blue; it was pinned by a golden clasp at Twilight's neck and then swooped diagonally across her chest, leaving left leg and part of her chest uncovered, the dress then hugged Twilight's body snugly and then swooped into a flowing trail which covered her back left leg but left quite a noticeable amount of flank exposed. A silver tiara topped Twilight's head and from her ears hug earrings in the shape of stars.

“Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Best not, I can handle this,” Twilight said, she looked at Rainbow Dash and caught her staring. “What?”

“Nothing,” Rainbow Dash said, quickly looking away with a tinge of red on her face. “Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Twilight winked and approach the door, an usher opened the door for her and Twilight was met with a warm embrace of fine wine, perfume, and tobacco. As Twilight stepped in the usher followed her and cleared his throat before announcing to the crowd:

“Princess Twilight Sparkle, Lady of Oathtree.”

The crowd stopped for a moment to turn to look and Rarity emerged to greet Twilight. She walked and bowed quickly before grabbing Twilight's hoof and began to guide her.

“You look fabulous, darling, come, I have someone you simply must meet!”

Twilight followed Rarity without resistance but kept an eye on the crowd, some kept curious eyes on Twilight but most went back to their conversations. Rarity brought Twilight over to meet lord whositwhatits of someplacenoonecaresabout. Eventually Twilight was able to excuse herself and slip away, she tracked down a servant and got herself a glass of wine to sip on while she observed the crowd. Twilight had faced monsters and demons, but in this gathering of nobility she felt like she was in the most danger she had ever been in.

“You look lovely this evening, Your Majesty.”

Twilight turned to see a handsome unicorn stallion smiling at her, he had deep golden eyes and golden mane and thick beard; his coat was a finely brushed white sheet. He wore a tailored white suit with a golden yellow tie, more attire of a businessmen than a nobleman.

“I don't believe we've met,” Twilight said.

“We have now, Golden Dust at your service.”

“Dust, not a noble name,” Twilight observed.

“I've heard you were a knowledgeable one, indeed I am not of noble birth,” Golden Dust said.

“Yet here you are talking to a Princess at a party full of nobility,” Twilight said.

“Well, I've made living making myself useful to powerful people, I collect favours and cash them in, I thought attending this party could be interesting.”

“I see, and what exactly do you do that makes you so useful?”

“One might say that I'm a collector,” Golden Dust said. “But not of artifacts or treasure, no, I collect the most valuable currency there is; whispers, sweet little things, an army can take a castle but whispers can bring the end to empires.”

“And how do you acquire these whispers?” Twilight asked.

“Oh I have my ways, I tend to be very agreeable, a glass of wine here, a smile, people eventually open up,” Golden Dust said. “And for a price I offer what I know to certain people, and for a price I can offer you the same.”

“I don't think so,” Twilight. “Dealing in your kind of business never ends well.”

“As you say, milady, if you change your mind... well, pray for my return, the gods won't hear you but I hear everything,” and with that Golden Dust bowed and slipped into the crowd, he disappeared like a phantom despite his bright coloured coat and suit.

Twilight took another sip of the expensive wine and continued scanning the crowd. A den of snakes in makeup, all hissing and spitting at each other, wearing false smiles which only demonstrated how long their fangs were. They would eat each other alive of given the change, and suddenly Twilight felt dirty just from being in the same room as them. But then for a moment she asked herself how different she rally was from these people, she wondered if she had fangs.

“You shouldn't skulk by your own, darling, you look like a stranger,” Rarity said, smiling at Twilight as she walked over. “And here I thought you were hear to meet with a very particular stallion.”

“Yes but I haven't seen him yet.”

“Wrong, you have seen him you just haven't noticed him” Rarity said and pointed into the crowd “He's right over there.”

Twilight followed where Rarity pointed and spotted a rather unassuming Earth Pony, in hindsight he did rather stand out in many ways. Being the only Earth Pony in the room, with his brown fur and chestnut mane and beard, his soft green eyes. He wore a brown tunic embroidered with the silver likeness of a tree, a small fashionable shoulder cape was swept over his back, all dim and drab colours, the colours of the forest. A far cry from the bright and brilliant hues of the rest of the nobility.

“Not exactly what I expected,” Twilight commented.

“And what did you expect?” Rarity asked teasingly. “Come, I shall introduce you.”

Twilight followed Rarity as they approached Lord Forest Green whom was chatting up another noble nobody, he turned as they got close and regarded Twilight keenly; and appraising look in his eye.

“My Lord Forest Green, allow me to introduce Her Majesty Lady Twilight Sparkle.”

“A great pleasure, my lady,” Forest Green said, his voice deep and smooth with that distinctive Trottingham accent. He gently took Twilight's hoof and pressed his lips gently into it. “You look very beautiful this evening.”

“My my, Rarity failed to mention she had invited a lady killer to my province,” Twilight said through a false smile.

“Guilty as charged,” Forest Green chuckled. “Tell me, how have you been finding your time as a noble lady so far?”

The question seemed innocent enough, the tone was consistent with that yet something about the gleam in his eye, the fact that his smile was just a tad too big; it tipped Twilight off that there was a more sinister subtext to this Lord's words.

“Oh it's had it's challenges,” Twilight replies pleasantly. “As everything does, but it will only get easier with time.”

“Indeed, though from what I have heard you have seen quite some amount of trouble as of late.”

That was a insult, just unsubtle enough for the meaning to get across.

“Yes, terrible business that, one would think that we wouldn't have to worry about Diamond Dogs in these times, what with House Green taking care of them so effectively in the past,” Twilight said, she knew from Lord Green's eyes that he saw the insult. This is fun.

“Indeed, but we cannot hope to track down every single straggler, this was bound to happen eventually, it's impossible to predict,” Forest Green said.

“Of course, you can't be held responsible for such random acts of violence,” Twilight said. She was sure of it, Forest Green was the stallion she that had met with the Diamond Dog, he sounded the same and his own subtle jabs had given him away. It was all Twilight could do to not show the anxious excitement to show on her face. Twilight was about to offer a fresh jab when the sound of muffled shouting reached her ears, the din and noise of the party drowned out most but distinctly so Twilight could make out shouting, chanting, and the clank of metal armour. At the moment at least she appeared the only one to notice.

“Excuse me,” Twilight said and slipped away, she wove through he crowd and approached one of her guards whom was standing by the front door.

“What's going on out there?” Twilight asked.

“Protest, large one, getting bigger,” the guard whispered back.

“Handle it,” Twilight hissed back.

Outside the guards had formed a semi circle around the entrance with spears pointed outwards like a huge porcupine, Rainbow Dash in the centre of it. Opposite of them was a shifting crowd of very angry commoners, pitchforks and all whom were coming dangerously close to rushing the defensive line of the guards.

“Disperse!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “This is an illegal gathering! Disperse and return to your homes!”

“Why do you protect those leeches!? Why do they get better protection than us?!”

“Half of us have days where we starve! Maybe we should eat the rich for dinner!”

“Eat the rich!” the crowd began to chant.

“Eat the rich!”

“Eat the rich!”

“Eat the rich!”

Inside people were begging to notice the noise, they looked up from their empty conversations and wine glasses to pea outside through the heavy and expensive curtains to see the gathering the was just outside.

“Deary deary me,” Forest Green said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Seems we've attracted a crowd.”

“Fuck me,” Twilight said as everyone in the party started to crowd around the windows. Twilight however burst through the front door, angr overtaking her.

“Captain!” Twilight yelled. “I want these people gone! Now!”

“Yes ma'am!” Rainbow Dash said, drawing her sword. “Attention! All who do not disperse will be arrested! Guard's! Forward!”

Many in the crowd screamed as the guards rushed violently forwards and began grabbing people.

Author's Note

Don't forget to comment.