Back on Duty

Gregory was just putting away his paperwork when his eye landed on the crystal pendant Twinkleshine had given him. He'd told Celstia he would return it, but perhaps it would be better to just leave it in his office as a conversation piece. Perhaps losing what it had cost would teach that annoying mare a lesson about pranks. He picked it up and let the thing dangle from his fingers. The gem spun slowly until the symbol of Twinkleshine's cutie mark was facing him. Three stars, cut expertly through the oval gem, so that he could use it as a stencil if he wanted. He shook his head and decided to give it back, after all. It seemed far too personal to keep around, even if he never intended to wear it. Twinkleshine should have it so she'd be able to give it to someone who meant more to her. Maybe the jewel could be redeemed from its present role of a trick gift for political gain.

Greg heaved a sigh at the confusing situation and grabbed his pen to continue his work. Before it even touched the paper there was a quiet knock on his door.

"Huh? Come in!"

It opened a crack and Star Bright stuck his head inside. "I h-hope I'm not disturbing..." he said and fell silent, grinning at Greg with his ears flat in supplication.

Luckily it wasn't hard to guess that the stallion wanted to come in and chat, so Greg put his pen down and invited him: "Not at all. Come in. What's up?"

Star Bright's smile went from rigid to relieved and he slipped fully inside the room. He made sure to close the door carefully before walking forward and jumping up on the extra seat. It was higher than most pony chairs, because Gregory didn't appreciate leaning over his desk to look down on the guests in his office, nor did he relish the idea of sitting higher than them. That sort of stuff worked well for Celestia in the throne room, but she had earned the privilege many times over, at least if the official histories were to be believed. The Princess had tentatively admitted to him that some of the reports were a little embellished, but only where it made for a better story. Besides, it had been other ponies who wrote the accounts and she had simply never bothered to correct the few minor discrepancies.

"S-So..." Star Bright began nervously when Gregory hadn't said anything in a few minutes.

"Oh, sorry. Just thinking. What's up?" Greg asked again.

The unicorn swallowed and flashed him a weak grin. Then, eyes wandering around the room as if he was unwilling to face Gregory' gaze, he asked: "Um, I just wanted to know how- y'know, how Blossom is doing."

"Last I saw her, Fluttershy was teaching her some elementary school stuff. Reading and basic maths, I think."

"T-That's good," Star Bright agreed. "Maybe I can help with that?"

Gregory began to understand where the conversation was going and he didn't know whether he should be pleased or worried. He decided not to bring it up straight away, though. "Probably. If you can stand to explain such basic stuff. I mean, you're studying astronomy and that's pretty advanced. Blossom is more at the... well, two plus two equals four level, if you know what I mean?"

Star Bright nodded, his smile undiminished. "That's no problem. I'm sure I can help out w-with math at least!"

"Okay, I'll mention it to Fluttershy. Wanna tell me why you're so interested in helping? I haven't seen you do any actual work around here," Gregory joked. Perhaps some humor would help him break the ice and get Star Bright to admit why he was there.

"Har har har," the unicorn mock-laughed. "For your information, Ms. Nutmeg recommended me for a raise last week!"

Gregory chuckled at the stallion's defensive tone before reaching across the table to give him a pat on the head. "I know, just joking with you."

The moment of silence stretched and Greg was about to ask Star Bright to go on, but the pony spoke up first: "Um, I kinda like Blossom."

There it was, the blush, the folded down ears, the nervous shuffling of hooves on the chair. It was surprisingly easy to read. Perhaps, Greg thought, he was finally getting a handle on equine body language. "Yeah, she's nice," he agreed, keeping his tone and his face neutral.

"I was wondering..." Star Bright continued, but paused to think about what he was about to say next. "Maybe I could join you two for muffins someday? Or m-maybe, I could take her? Y'know, just for muffins?"

Gregory wondered if Star Bright saw him as some kind of a father figure to Blossom and wanted to get his approval. Come to think of it, that wasn't all that far from the truth.

"Sure, I don't see why not."

Star Bright grinned and started to relax, but Greg lifted a finger and the unicorn froze.

"Just one thing. You know about her past, right? She's been stuck in that mine and whipped to work. It's... well, it's affected her. How could it not?"

It didn't seem possible, but Bright's ears drooped even lower and he sighed. "I know. She told me some of it."

"She... how can I put this. She acts younger than her age in some ways, I'm sure you noticed. Then again, in some things she seems too old." Gregory was remembering Blossom's attempt at eliciting favors with her body that first night.

"I- I don't think I understand," the stallion said. "Too old?"

Sighing, Greg decided to just give it to Star Bright straight: "She used to, well... 'offer herself' to her cowork- make that co-slaves in the mine so they'd do some of the work for her, or give her treats."

Star Bright's eyes went wide and he stared at Greg without blinking for a few seconds. Then his face crumpled and he lowered his gaze down to his hooves. "That's- that's aw-awful," he mumbled.

"Just so you're warned. If she ever tries something like that with you-"

"Celestia, no!" Bright burst out, jumping to his hooves on the chair. "I'd never! Greg, you know me! I swear I wouldn't take advantage like that! Yeugh! I'm not some kind of a monster!"

The outrage was a bit much, but Gregory believed him. He gave Star Bright a slow nod. "I know you wouldn't. I just need you to understand what Blossom is going through. Actually, I think she likes you too. If you could be patient with her, I think she could use your help."

"Of course! Anything!" Star Bright said, sitting back down. His breathing was faster and his ears flicked every now and then. "Jeez, I hope you toss those responsible in prison and then throw away the key..." His muzzle scrunched up in distaste and for a moment it looked like Star Bright was about to spit. "Horrible..." Then, suddenly, his head whipped up and he looked at Gregory in wonder. "After all that," he said slowly, "Blossom is still this nice? She's the sweetest pony I know!"

"Yeah, it's amazing, isn't it?" Gregory agreed, smiling.

After a few seconds Star Bright murmured something with Gregory didn't quite catch.

"What was that?"

There was a vivid red tint to the stallion's muzzle as he repeated himself more loudly: "She's really cute..."

Again, there was nothing to it but agree. After more awkward silence, Gregory sighed. "Well, as long as you know about her situation and can be patient with her, I don't see why not. She seems to like you back, too. Although that might just be because you bring her sweets."

"S-She said that?!" Star Bright exclaimed, suddenly sitting up straighter and perking up his ears so as not to miss a single word.

"Yeah."

He struggled with the next question, avoiding Greg's gaze and twitching his ears. At long last the pony continued: "I have some, uh, some muf-muffins left from lunch..."

It wasn't all that hard to guess where Star Bright was going with that and Gregory decided to take pity on the poor guy: "Well, why don't you grab them and take them upstairs? I'd say you shouldn't ruin Blossom's appetite for dinner, but she'll probably just have more sweets then, too, so I guess that's fine." Greg chuckled at his next thought and when Star Bright gave him a questioning look he explained: "If you're not careful she's going to get so fat."

Star Bright joined him in a chuckle and then stood up. "I'll just go and-" he began.

"Oh, yeah, sure. Have fun!" Gregory wished him.

When Gregory was alone again he settled back down in his chair and looked over the paperwork on his desk. It was getting late in the afternoon and there wasn't a whole lot left for him to do. The foreign policies could wait and Ms. Nutmeg was looking for records about Blossom's parents. The afternoon would soon become evening and when Greg focused he could hear the difference. There was usually a very faint background noise when the offices were in full swing and there was noticeably less of that right then. He shrugged a little to himself and tidied away the rough sketch of the form he had been preparing. Celestia would need to look it over to make sure he'd captured all the important species and as many reasons for immigration as would fit, and then he could give it to the printers for a trial run.

Any modern society ran on paperwork and forms were the backbone of bureaucracy. Hopefully having a standard questionnaire for immigrants would allow the ponies to speed up the process. Greg nodded to himself at a job well done and leaned back in his chair. Celestia wanted them to have dinner together with Luna, Eli and Blossom, but that wasn't for another hour or so. Enough time for a shower and a change of clothes.

First, however, Greg needed to visit the bathroom. He heaved a satisfied sigh and pushed himself upright. He made his way to the door an opened it. He was starting to get used to the fact that there were always guards outside these days, even if he didn't much like the fact.

Needs must, after all.

"Silverwing," he greeted the guard in charge of his detail. He glanced to the other side of the door, too. "Longstride."

Both ponies gave him friendly nods, before going back to scanning the hallway for danger. Following their example, Gregory looked in both directions but didn't see a single staff member.

"Any trouble out here?"

The corporal shook his head, a motion which made his armor clank. "No sir, all quiet."

"I need a quick break. Are you going to follow me to the toilets?"

The guards glanced at each other, then the officer grinned at Greg. "If it's just over there," he indicated the door with a hoof, "I think we can wait here. You'll yell if anyone attacks you, right?"

"Of course."

True to their word, the guards stayed put while Greg hurried to do his business. Just as expected, the facilities were completely deserted and he was back in his comfortable office in a matter of minutes. He took the chair behind his desk when a faint noise caught his attention.

It was coming from Twinkleshine's pendant. Greg picked it up and watched with curiosity as light pulsed up and down the golden chain. "Huh, weird," he said as the gem dangled from his fingers. "I thought there was no magic in this..."

A feeling of dread and foreboding made him hurriedly drop the item back on the desk. He stood up to leave the office and ask his guards for help, but there was a soft pop of air in front of him and suddenly a pony was standing in his office. Greg barely registered what was happening and his attention was completely consumed by a pattern of fine scorch marks in his carpet around where the unicorn had appeared.

There was very little he could see about the newcomer, except that they were dressed in black. Some kind of a mask hid their face, except for their eyes.

Gregory opened his mouth to shout, but a solid fist of air smothered his entire face.

"Tut, tut!" the intruder said. "We can't have any more guests to our private party, now can we?" The horn was already glowing blue, but it intensified and the light seemed to fill the room. As Greg tried to claw at his face to free his mouth, most of the magic concentrated around the door. "There," his attacker said with smug satisfaction. "No one is getting in now, and no one will hear you."

Greg was urgently looking around the table for something to use as a weapon, but once again his assailant was too quick and simply pushed him back down into his chair and wrapping him up in what felt like bonds of steel. "Please, don't get up for me," she said, a little purr in her voice identifying her as a mare.

The plug of air vanished and Greg found he could breathe again. He sucked down an urgent lungful of air and struggled vainly to free his hands. "Who-" he gasped. "Why?"

Twinkleshine's pendant began to glow again, and the new mare retreated to the edge of Greg's office. "Hold on a sec," she told the man.

There was another magical pop, and another pony in the middle of the office.

It was Silver Morning.

"Fuck, not you too?" Greg almost whined in dismay.

The mare, not wearing her guard armor, sneered and advanced on him. "Too easy."

Gregory was still taking big breaths, even though his throat had only been blocked for a matter of seconds. "Why?" he gasped, trying to think of a way out of this situation. Maybe if he kept them talking for long enough, Celestia or someone would come by. "What do you hope to gain by killing me?"

Eyes widening in surprise, Spring Morning shook her head. "Killing you? Oh, not at all, human," she reassured him. "You are much more valuable to us alive."

The unknown unicorn spoke up at this and by the way Spring Morning grimaced it seemed like the newcomer was in charge. "Don't struggle and you won't be harmed."

Gregory was glad the desk was between him and them, but with their magic tying him down there was nowhere to go. Even if he could, by some miracle, free himself and incapacitate one unicorn, the other would merely have to think and he'd instantly be bound up in magic again. At least they said they weren't going to kill him. Gregory didn't know how much his attackers might lie to him, but he did believe that part.

"So, w-what happens now?"

Spring Morning glanced at the other pony before returning her stare to Gregory. Yes, there was a definite chain of command there. The newcomer, however, didn't seem particularly interested in talking. She glanced around the office.

"So this is where Celestia keeps you? Not even a window, huh? Like even she doesn't want ponies seeing her disfigured pet."

Gregory opened his mouth to argue, but then realized there would be no point. These people, whoever they were, had their minds already made up. "Is Twinkleshine one of you?" he asked. If he survived, any information he might glean would come in useful in weeding out the group.

"Ha!" the unicorn barked. "She's just a useful tool! She did exactly what she was supposed to do!"

The pony lit up her horn and Gregory flinched, expecting a blow or something, but all that happened was that Twinkleshine's pendant floated up from the desk. The mare inspected it for a moment, then dropped it on the carpet and stomped it, hard. There was a faint crack as the fragile stone shattered.

"Nice of you to leave it in your office like that, exactly as we hoped. It led us straight to you."

Greg closed his eyes, suddenly overcome by great weariness. "There was something in the gem after all... But Celestia looked at it!" It was hard to believe that the Princess, with her mastery of magic and centuries of experience, would miss something like that, but he had seen it happen first-hand.

Both unicorns laughed at this. "It seems your precious Princess isn't as powerful as you thought," the unknown pony said.

Spring Morning added: "Bummer, isn't it?"

"Now, if you would kindly stand here," the black-clad unicorn pointed at a spot on the carpet. The magical ties around Greg's hand and torso loosened.

"What?! Why?!"

They wouldn't just kill him, at least Greg knew that much. They'd said so and he believed them. Alive, he would be a powerful tool against Celestia and his gut clenched up at the idea. He wished at the same time she wouldn't obey any demands they would undoubtedly put to her, but he also didn't want to die. It was a mess, whichever way you looked at it. Gregory felt his hands bunch up in fists almost without conscious controls. These bastards have been one step ahead of them the whole time and now they were taking him God knows where to use as a weapon against Celestia. The powerless feeling reminded him of some of the kidnapping cases early in his career, except now he was a part of it, rather than just reading about it. For a moment he considered punching the unicorn with her insolent grin, but the way both she and Spring Morning watched him made it plain that he wouldn't succeed. They could still change their minds and kill him to send Celestia a gruesome message.

The two seemed to understand exactly what was going through Greg's mind and their smirks grew wider, which only served to infuriate the man more.

"We checked all the guards!" he almost snarled, glaring at Spring Morning.

The mare giggled softly and shook her head. "It was so easy to fool you that it's almost sad. Too bad Shining is no longer Captain of the guard. I bet he'd never let this many of us join!"

There was one last, faint hope which Gregory seized on: "Well, you'll never get me out of the Castle, so you might as well give up now. Maybe I can get the Princess to go easy on you."

This time they both laughed. "Don't worry, monkey," the unknown unicorn almost purred, "we'll get you out. Just stand here, please."

Suddenly Gregory realized what they were going to do and his face twisted up in panic. "Wait! No! Not a teleport! Please!"

It wasn't a choice he could make and Spring Morning grabbed him roughly with magic. Her grip was like iron and it pulled with immense strength. Greg could either walk, or be dragged and it seemed the mare didn't care which it was. He still tried to grab the table and keep himself in place, but to no avail. He let go before they simply broke his fingers or dislocated his arm. The powerful magic all but hurled him at the carpet and Greg collapsed on the floor between the two mares, groaning.

They just ignored him and lit up both their horns at the same time. That's why there had to be two of them, Gregory realized, but it was a weak thought under the sudden panic. Twilight had only teleported him a few feet and it had been the worst experience of his life.

This would probably be a significantly larger distance. He reached out a hand to the unicorn in supplication. "No, don't-"

Everything went black.