A Silver Sky: Four Little Ponies

--Chapter 20: Checkmate--

“My word, Rarity,” said Fancypants. “You look like hell.”

Rarity glowered in response as she stood at the entrance to Fancy’s mansion. Around her neck was a metallic collar, with a heavy-looking chain attached to it. Next to her stood Diamond Tiara, wearing a smaller version of the same collar. Both chains were being held magically by Triage, who stood before them both, and gave Fancy a respectful bow.

“My looks are of no consequence,” Rarity said. “You have your offering and you have me. Now take me to my sister.”

Indigo Dream, who stood next to Fancy, let out a dismissive chuckle. “You’ll see your sister soon enough, dear,” she said.
“But there’s still the little matter of the Circle’s justice. Once we’ve passed our judgment, then you and Sweetie can have your tearful reunion.”

“Go ahead, Indigo. Make your little jokes,” Rarity said. “Only someone as empty as yourself would make light of the bond between two family members. I’ve come here prepared to die for a chance to see my sister. Would you do the same for one of your brats?”

“A Dream doesn’t lay down her life for anyone, dear. We let others lay theirs down for us,” Indigo said. “That’s just how it works when your family is of such profound value to Equestria. Not that you would understand.”

As the two mares bickered, Fancypants leaned down and looked the filly accompanying Rarity in the eye. She responded with an intense, unwavering gaze.

“Oh, but you are a confident filly, aren’t you? I can tell,” Fancy said. “What’s your name, little one?”

“My name,” Diamond Tiara responded, “Is far too good for the likes of you.”

Diamond had once heard her father use that phrase when a prospective business partner had arrived late to a meeting. She had always wanted to use it herself.

Her self-satisfaction was cut short by a harsh tug at her collar, which sent her tumbling to the ground.

“I thought I told you to behave, dammit! Sorry about that, Fancy," said Triage. "Her name’s Diamond Tiara. She’s got a hell of an attitude.”

“Oh, how wonderful to hear!” Fancy said, as he kneeled down again to look the filly in the eyes. “I do so enjoy breaking the willful ones.”

This time, Diamond Tiara said nothing.

Fancy clapped his forehooves together, and led the party toward the grand hall, where the rest of the Circle was already assembled.

The room was huge, and was most commonly used as a ballroom. It was illuminated by several large chandeliers that shone with perpetual candlelight, which reflected off the gold-plated walls to create a bright ambiance invoking the colors of the sun itself. On this occasion, a stage had been erected on the far side of the room. It was to be the site of Rarity’s judgment.

As Fancy entered, with Indigo at his right, the assembled Circle members immediately ceased their small talk and turned to greet him. He smiled and nodded as the pleasantries followed his hoofsteps. Behind him, a veil of silence fell over whatever area Rarity was walking in. Most ponies looked at her with scorn, or turned their heads in disgust.

Rarity scanned the crowd. Many of the ponies were obviously feigning their revulsion. A few risked giving her slight nods.

Her allies had distributed themselves evenly throughout the room, so they would not be bunched together in the event of an altercation. Good, Rarity thought. Their numbers are greater, but surprise is with us. Fancy has no idea what's coming, and that should make all the difference.

She made note of the fact that security in the room seemed to be tighter than usual. Guards stood against the walls, most holding spears or swords. There were at least a dozen of them in plain sight, and there was always the possibility of more hidden in the crowd.

Rarity had anticipated this. Fancy had to plan for the possibility that someone would attempt a last-minute rescue. But the guards’ unwavering stares still made her nervous.

She refused to let this show outwardly. Instead, in keeping with her credo, she kept her head held high, despite the considerable difficulty of doing so while wearing the collar.

She walked not with the demeanor of a prisoner, but with the air of a conqueror.

“My goodness,” Indigo whispered in her ear, “You really have no shame left at all, do you?”

“I am a lady,” Rarity responded. “I have lived as one. And I shall die as one.”

Indeed I shall, she thought. But not today.

*******

“Silver Spoon, slow down!”

Silver stopped dead in her tracks in response to Twilight’s cry. After several minutes of running, Twilight was glad to catch her breath. But Silver looked annoyed.

“I told you,” she said. “Call me Gentle Step! Do you have any idea how much trouble we’ll be in if anyone finds out the illusion spell is broken?”

“Silv- um, Gentle Step, there’s no one around,” Twilight said. “Which, actually, is kind of weird. All week I’ve had that silent pony following me around, keeping me from looking in places I don’t belong, and now he’s gone. And so are all the servants. What’s going on?”

Silver Spoon sighed. Best to just be straightforward, she though.

“Fancypants is the leader of the Circle,” Silver said. “Twist is here, and I need you to get her out.”

“I knew it!” Twilight said, in a satisfied tone. “I know Fancy was connected to them! Why else would he have been trying so hard to trip up my investigations all week?”

Twilight began waving her hooves in the air in exasperation. “Every time I thought I’d found something, he’d have Gaze pop up with an invitation to have some tea or something. And before I could say no, he’d whoosh me away with his weird teleport spell and I’d be in the garden or in the sitting room, and Fancy would talk my ear off for hours about –“

“Twilight!”

“Right!” Twilight said, with a purposeful nod. “Is Twist in one of these rooms? He didn’t hurt her, did he?”

“I, um…” Silver looked down at the ground. “Twist has…been through a lot. And she’s not alone. Follow me.”

Silver Spoon led Twilight to a small open area near some living quarters. It was the area where one normally requested teleportation to the Gallery, but there was no attendant present.

“Good, that makes things easier,” Silver said. She turned to Twilight. “Twist is being held underground. And there’s other foals down there, too. At least a hundred. You need to get them all out. And you need to do it fast. Fancy is distracted right now, but I don’t know how long that will last.”

“Over a hundred foals?” Twilight said. Suddenly she seemed to turn pale. “Oh, no…this is that room the Circle has, isn’t it? Where they keep foals locked up to…”

Twilight’s voice trailed off. The only noise she made was that of a tiny, almost painful-sounding shudder.

“Fancy calls it the Gallery,” Silver said. “Twist has been in there for months.”

“The Gallery?” Twilight said. Her tone sounded like that of a pony who had just tasted something rancid. “Is all this some kind of joke to him?”

“Fancy likes to collect things,” Silver said, somewhat mechanically. “Let’s not talk about this anymore, okay?”

“But how can they…” Twilight took a deep breath. “No, you’re right. We can’t dwell on this. Just tell me what I need to do.”

Silver stood on the spot where the attendant normally stood. “The Gallery is deep under the mansion. There aren’t any doors in or out. You have to teleport straight down.”

“How far?”

“He said it was about a hundred…feet?” Silver rubbed the back of her head. “I was hoping you knew what that meant.”

“It’s an ancient form of measurement, used mostly by the old dragon tribes. It’s just like Fancy to use something so archaic, that showoff,” Twilight said. “Anyway, it should be roughly comparable to a hundred hooves.”

“It’s just solid rock from here to the Gallery, though,” Silver said. “Um…what happens if you miscalculate?”

“Modern teleport spells have a built-in safeguard against appearing inside solid objects,” Twilight said. “The spell would just fizzle out before I actually vanished.”

“Okay, good. Um, listen, Twilight,” Silver said, shuffling her hooves. “When you get down there, you might see some things that…you might not like. The Gallery is a very…rough place. And there are armed guards down there. I’m sorry I’m asking you to risk yourself like this. You’ve been so nice to me…”

“Silver Spoon,” Twilight said. “Last week, I made the undying ruler of Equestria angry at me. I’ve been investigating a cult of evil ponies who don’t like to be exposed. And as it turned out, I just spent seven days living with their leader.

“So I’d say it’s a little late for me to worry about risking myself.” Twilight managed a weary but meaningful smile.

Silver smiled back. “It’s been a strange few months, alright,” she said. “Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Twilight said. “Wish me luck!”

Twilight closed her eyes. There was a slight, otherworldly humming noise in the air, as the unicorn’s horn began to glow. Silver took a step back.

And then the air around Twilight exploded.

It wasn’t like the bright purple flash that usually accompanied her teleports. It was louder, brighter, and more destructive. A large singe marked the spot in the carpet where Twilight had stood. The unicorn lay on the ground, with a thin sliver of smoke coming from her body.

“TWILIGHT!” Silver shouted, running to the unicorn’s side. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“Some kind of magical feedback…” Twilight said, as Silver helped her to her hooves. “I started to teleport, but it felt like something blocked me. Like a counterspell or maybe a barrier…”

Silver felt as though the world has just fallen away beneath her hooves.

We were so close…

“Silver?” Twilight said, sensing her change in mood. “What’s wrong?”

“No…” she said softly. “They didn’t make it in time…”

*******

Fancypants smirked as he took Rarity’s lead chain in his hoof, receiving it from a bowing Indigo. With a sharp, unnecessary jerk, he led Rarity and Diamond Tiara up to the stage at the far side of the grand hall.

He took his place at the center of the stage, with Indigo Dream standing at his right, and Rarity and her offering on his left. The murmurs of the crowd were silenced when Indigo raised her hoof for order.

“Loyal ponies of the Circle!” said Fancypants. “You have my sincere thanks for joining me here this evening. I only wish it were under more desirable circumstances.”

He glared at Rarity, then continued.

“This order is founded upon certain principles,” Fancy said, “We have banded together in recognition of a simple fact: that certain individuals within our society have proven themselves superior to the common rabble, and as such, are deserving of certain indulgences. We recognize the pursuit of personal pleasure as a noble and necessary end. We protect each other from the prying eyes of the world, while consolidating our power and safeguarding that which we have acquired through hard work and sacrifice.”

There were a few murmurs of agreement from the crowd, though most of the ponies present had heard this rhetoric from Fancy before. Rarity noticed that the three Dream children, who stood together at the head of the crowd, seemed more impressed than anyone else.

I suppose such an ideology would appeal quite well to a pack of spoiled brats, she thought to herself.

She glanced at Diamond Tiara. The filly stood straight up with a stoic expression on her face, refusing to show a trace of fear, or any other emotion.

She most likely had no idea how badly her legs were shaking.

“But all of these ideals depend upon the unwavering loyalty of each and every Circle member," Fancy continued. "There are many in society who frown upon our way of life, and would do us harm if we were discovered. That is why trust is absolutely paramount to our continued survival. In the past, there have been ponies who have broken that trust. We have dealt with them, usually with minimal fuss. But the crimes of the unicorn who stands before you tonight are of a particularly odious nature.”

Rarity turned her nose up defiantly. There were murmurs from the crowd.

“Miss Rarity’s actions at this year’s Gathering go beyond mere insubordination,” Indigo said, stepping forward. “She did not just disrespect our noble leader, she publicly humiliated him. It was my opinion at the time that Rarity should be expelled from the Circle. But Sir Fancypants chose to show her mercy. And now, we see the full extent of his generosity: rather than dispose of Rarity like the filth she is, Fancy welcomed her to his home tonight, to allow her the privilege of a full hearing. In accordance with the practices of the original Circle, such an event allows the accused to plead her case before her peers, before sentence is passed by the Circle’s leader and his second.”

Indigo walked over to Diamond Tiara and began to slowly pet her mane. Diamond shut her eyes and whimpered. “And as a gesture of her good faith, she has even brought us a new playmate. You’ll all be getting to know her soon, I’m sure. Now, tradition dictates that-“

“Get your hooves off that foal, Indigo.”

Indigo’s eyes narrowed as Rarity stepped forward, to the extent that she could under the confines of her chain.

“You’re forgetting the most important part of our deal,” Rarity said. “I will see my sister. If she is unharmed, then this farce may continue. If not, Triage will take Diamond Tiara home and I will not indulge your little show trial a moment longer.”

“You speak as if you have a choice in the matter, sweetness. How amusing,” Indigo said. Her horn began to glow, and an unconscious Sweetie Belle rose up from the midst of the crowd.

“I had a friend hold her for me. Don’t worry, she’s completely fine, just under a sleep spell.”

Rarity, fully aware of her position, did her best to keep her composure at the sight of her sister. For the most part, she succeeded.

“My love…” she whispered.

“Here, would you like to say hello? Let me rouse her for you,” Indigo said. A tiny light flashed in front of Sweetie Belle’s face, and the filly’s eyes began to open.

“Wha?” Sweetie said groggily, as her mind came to grips with the fact that she had awakened in midair. “Where am…”

“SWEETIE!”

Rarity smiled, holding her front hooves outward, as Sweetie was slowly levitated toward her.

“Sis?” Sweetie said. “What are you doing here?”

As she came closer and closer to Rarity, Sweetie’s mind quickly pieced together what was happening. Fancypants was here. And there were so many ponies. And Indigo, and Rarity in chains…

Suddenly, Sweetie remembered the last thing she had heard before falling asleep.

“Tonight, you’re going to watch your sister die.”

“SIS!” Sweetie Belle cried, reaching out toward Rarity. “Run away! They’re going to ki-“

Then, in a flash of light, Sweetie Belle was gone.

*******

“I don’t get it,” Peregrine said, as he sat by Aurora and Twist. The three of them sat a fair distance from the entrance to the Gallery, just out of earshot from the guard who kept watch over the door. “It’s not lights out yet, but we haven’t had a patron in hours. Or what feels like hours, anyway. Where is everybody?”

“You’re actually complaining about getting a break?” Aurora said. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Oh, think about it for half a second!” Peregrine said, a bit more indignantly than he’d intended. “We never get a day off unless it’s right after a Gathering! Something big must be going on if no one is coming down here.”

“He’s right,” Twist said. “Maybe the royal guards thowed up, and everyone in the Circle got arrested!”

“Well, that’s great news,” Aurora said. “Except for the part where the royal guards probably don’t know that we're down here.”

“Oh yeah,” Twist said. “Well, Thilver Thpoon said something big was happening in a week, and I’m pretty sure it’s been seven days thince then.”

“I know, I know. Look, you guys keep telling me it’s our last chance. I’m doing my best, okay? The extra pressure isn’t helping,” Peregrine said.

“Really? I work pretty well under pressure,” Aurora said.

“Guyth, stop,” Twist said. “We just need to find a way to get into the outer chamber and give it our best try, okay? Since I can’t fly or do magic, maybe I should be the one to distract the guards, while you two-“

Twist was interrupted by a bright flash of light on the far end of the room. Every head in the Gallery turned toward the anomaly. It was too far away for Twist or her friends to make out exactly what had happened.

“There she is,” said the guard by the door. “LISTEN UP, BRATS! YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE, GOT IT? WHAT’S HAPPENING OVER THERE IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!”

Two guards trotted in the direction of the flash, and Twist thought she heard a filly crying out.

“A new arrival?” Aurora said. “That’s strange. They usually bring them in through the front door. Why all the secrecy?”

“Today just gets weirder and weirder,” Peregrine said.

Aurora sighed. “That poor foal,” she said. “Maybe later, we can talk to them? Put them at ease?”

“Maybe,” Twist said. “Or maybe we can get them out of here.”

*******

“WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HER?” Rarity shouted, pulling violently at her chains.

“She’s fine,” Indigo said. “I just sent her to the Gallery. Not my idea, mind you, I wanted her to stay here to witness your fate.”

Rarity turned to Fancy, enraged.

“This wasn’t part of our deal, you pompous son of a whore!” she shouted.

“Miss Rarity! Such language!” he said, smirking. “I think it’s time you learned to hold your tongue. Indigo?”

Indigo’s horn flashed. A moment later, Rarity’s screams were silenced. She continued to struggle and stamp her hooves in defiance, but her chains held fast.

“The arrogance!” Fancy said. “To invoke the terms of a deal which you yourself had no intention of following.” Fancy turned to the guard closest to the stage.

“Restrain Miss Triage, if you would be so kind.”

Triage, who had been standing at the foot of the stage, began to back away from the guard as he approached.

“Fancy, what the hell are you-?”

Triage heard a soft whooshing sound and a moment later she was tackled from behind by Gaze, who pinned her down as the first guard pushed her head to the ground.

“My dear friend Indigo told me an interesting story as we were walking to meet you,” Fancypants said. “She told me how she had gone to visit Rarity in prison. How Rarity had fallen into an uncontrollable rage during their talk, and had sworn to – what was it again, Indigo?”

“She said she was going to kill me,” Indigo said. “And then she promised she would get her sister back, and burn this mansion to the ground, with Sir Fancypants and I inside.”

A litany of gasps could be heard from the crowd.

“And lo and behold, the next time we see her,” Fancy said, “Rarity suddenly announces how terribly sorry she is, and even vows to give herself up so long as we let her see her sister and give her a hearing inside the mansion.”

Fancy shook his head, with a triumphant smile on his lips.

“Honestly, my dear,” he said. “Did you really think your little outburst wouldn’t make its way back to me?”

The crowd had abandoned its respectful silence by now, and a steady hum of frenzied muttering echoed through the room.

“And then there are the chains,” Fancy said. “They’re what confirmed my suspicions. As soon as Triage first jerked on them when we met you at the entrance, I realized your true intent.

“I’m quite fond of playing with chains, you see,” Fancy continued, “And normal ones don’t sound quite like that. These are magically weakened. I recognize the spell. They’re strong as steel now, but I imagine they’ll rot away with the utterance of the right magical phrase from either yourself or Triage. A shame my guards aren’t letting her speak.”

Triage lay restrained on the ground as a guard kept his hoof on her head, burying her face in the carpet and muffling her screams.

“So I’m afraid, my friends, that due to Rarity’s dishonorable conduct, there will be no hearing tonight,” Fancy said as he once again addressed the crowd. But this time his tone was more direct, and far less jovial. He slammed his hoof down on the ground for emphasis as he spoke. “Instead, you shall all bear witness, as this ungrateful country nag helps me demonstrate exactly what happens to any pony who questions my leadership of this Circle.”

Rarity looked out at the crowd in desperation.

Hoity! Sapphire! Do something!

Scanning the crowd, she saw Hoity Toity who was making his way toward the door, trying his best to make himself look inconspicuous. Sapphire Shores, meanwhile, was doing her best to look as outraged at Rarity as the ponies immediately surrounding her. She, too, kept looking back at the door, seemingly waiting for the chance to make her escape.

Rarity grimaced. Those cowards, she thought.

Fancy’s horn glowed a deep red. At that moment, the collar around Rarity’s neck began to glow the same color.

Fancy gave the chain a powerful tug, sending Rarity falling to the ground. He then approached her, looking her right in the eye. Rarity's expression was furious, but Fancy could see a helplessness in her eyes. He relished it.

“Remember when I used this trick on your sister?” Fancy said, indicating the red glow around Rarity’s collar. “I imagine it will hurt a great deal more when I contract a metal collar around your throat.”

His horn flashed, and the collar contracted ever so slightly. Rarity gasped.

“I’d ask if you had any last words,” Indigo said, “But given the circumstances, I suppose that will remain a mystery for the ages.”

“And so the circle closes around you,” Fancy said, watching the collar slowly contract. “Checkmate, my dear.”

[NEXT: Triumphant]