The Piebald diaries

As Princess Luna fired through the dungeon wall, unsure whether or not there was actually somepony important beyond the smoke, I remembered what it was like finding this place. I went for a walk with Luna to forage for food. She agreed and I was ecstatic. As we wondered through the forest, we found a peach grove. It's fall, so the peaches were nice and big. The laves were also a beautiful combination of gold and orange. I was a smooth talker, and as we spoke, I think we got closer, at least, I hope we did. At any rate. As we walked through the peach trees, we saw a chariot flying over our heads. We both knew what that meant: Princess Celestia. Our time together would have to wait, Rarity was in danger. We tailed her back to this prison, being extremely careful not to get caught by her pegasus guards. They were the tell-tale sign of Celestia, for she was one of the only ponies who used pegasus guards. As we followed her, I wondered exactly how far down the Equestrian chain of command Princess Celestias corruption went. Did it extend down to the police or the normal guards? Did they understand what they were doing? They probably thought they were doing the right thing, and that they were just following orders. Did the wonder bolts know? Race pegasi would be an excellent cover for special operation missions. As we neared the door way, we saw two dead guards. "These cuts look fresh," I said, bending over to take a closer look at the bodies. "They look like they were made with something real sharp." Then I remembered Rarity putting the razor sharp gems inside her suit. "Rarity did this."
"I concur, Spirit." Luna took a look around and then lowered the sun and replaced it with the moon. "We will need the cover to make an effective escape," she explained.
"Huh, smart." We entered the prison and we passed by many dead unicorns while exploring. The corpses hadn't begun to stink yet, which was nice. As we ventured forth, we saw only a few traces of Rarity. Some hoof steps coated in blood. As always, she pain attention to almost every detail. As we explored the prison more, we passed through a barracks. There must have been at least 20 dead unicorns in there. The floors were drenched in blood. For Rarity to have done this, all of this death in the wake of her arrival, her mission must have been important indeed. But then I realized something... Most of these guards weren't wearing any armour. Which meant they still had armour in here. Before we left the room, I had to salvage some supply. "Luna, wait."
"Hmm? What is it, Spirit?" she inquired.
"This could be the last time we get this opportunity. There aren't many hostiles here. So we can... you know..."
"I'm sorry?!" She blushed at my poorly worded request. "Spirit. I like you, but not that much."
"Um, I meant we could take there armour and mod it with your magicto make it more, I dunno, 'Lunar-ee." Then I paused as I considered what I said earlier. "What did you think I meant?"
She blushed even more as I asked that. "Nothing! We-I wasn't thinking of anything!"
"I'll take your word for it, your majesty. We really could use some armour, though."
"Right, good idea, Spirit." She used her horn to open up the armour lockers on the other side of the room and coated me with the enchanted steel. As she clothed me in the armour, it changed, going from a golden and silver style, to a deep blue and silver motif. On my chest was a shield was her own personal emblem: A crescent moon with wings.
"Hmm, not bad." I lloked over the whole of the armour. It looked like she put blades on the helmet for the future battles we'll no doubt fight. There were three, one on each side and one on the top of my head. They were slightly curved and extended slightly past my snout. "Yeah, I like it!"
"I thought you would, Spirit." She walked around me, looking at all the details, making sure all the details were the way she expected. "You're an earthpony, so I enchanted it to help protect you agianst spells and blasts. We believe we may hath outdone ourselves." I wasn't sure whether or not she let the royal canterlot voice out on purpose to be playful, or by accident. "Now, let us have our turn, shall we?" She took the remaining armour from the other armour lockers and covered herself in a set of armour meant to allow her a full range of movement, flight, legs, the works. It was vaguely remenisent of hat she had looked like as the dreaded Night Mare Moon, but differnt. Itmatch my own armour pretty well, only the winged moon was on the helm, with a hole to allow her horn to extend properly. It was a slightly darker shade of silver with the same shade of indigo as my own. "Well? Do you like our armour?"
I returned the favor and looked over to see if all the details were good. "Good maneuverability, and aerodynamic. Looks like it covers up everything that needs it and, on top of that, the craftscoltship is beautiful." I smiled as I prepared for a compliment. "It matches you perfectly."
I think she was about to say something else, but then we heard a loud bang come from inside the prison. "Did you hear that, Noble?" I only nodded as she took on a serious countenance. "We must make haste if we are to save Rarity! Come, my friend!" We both ran as fast as we could until we heard some faint talking on the other side of the wall. We both nod as her horn glows a deep shade of violet. I back and prepare to charge in. When I am finally able to make my attack, she makes her own, blasting through the heavy stonewall.
"Somepony need a rescue?!" I asked triumphantly as I ran through the smoke and the fog of the blast. I saw five ponies in there. Celestia, Rarity, somepony with a green mane and purple coat, and the mangled, bloody body of what I think was once a white unicorn. His horn had been cut off. Ouch. Then it registered who it actually was: Fancypants. Damn it. I actually kind of liked him.
"Celestia!" Luna said, shocked at what she had seen. She saw the same picture I did. A dead pony, a tortured pony, and a pony about to be executed by the tip of a knife. "What have you done?!"
"Hello, little sister." She took a smug attitude as if she had been expecting this all along. "Miss Rarity was just about to defect to my si-" But before she could finish her sentence, Luna fired a blast of purple magic at her, knocking her to the other side of the room.
"Spirit! Get Rarity, we're leaving. NOW!"
"Yes, ma'am," I answered, kinda shocked. It was first time she ordered anypony around like that. I briefly wondered if it was weird that I got turned on by that, but then quickly regained focus. "Rarity! Time to go!" I cut through her restraints as I ordered her.
"No! Not with out my Spike!" She answered adamantly. But Spike was dead, wasn't he? We all saw him fall back in Ponyville almost two years ago. And then it hit me.
"Sweet mother of Luna!" I wasn't sure what to think when I saw him. The purple unicorn WAS Spike! I was speechless, but not frozen. I quickly exercised my helmets blades to cut through the leather straps keeping Spike in place. I moved quickly to make sure he fell on my back. "Alright, we got him. Now?!" Rarity nodded, gathered the jewels scattered across the floor, and then ran through the hole in the wall. "Luna?! Time to get out of here!"
"Right!" She let out a flash from her horn, blinding her sister still on the floor from the earlier blast. We made a mad dash for the exit, following Rarity. She was great at remembering details, so we all trusted her directional instincts. As we left this heinous place, three Celestias pegasus guards appeared from on high. They attempted pursuit, but Rarity used what little strength she had left to gun them down with her jewels. Clever, converting a normally innocent, if not slightly greedy, special talent into a weapon of war like that. But love makes you do clever things.
We disappeared in the night, with the princess of the moon as our ally, and the ball in our court. It would be foolish for Celestia to attempt a search at this time. So as long as we kept moving, we would be safe, at least for a while.

We all stopped for rest after nearly a day of traveling later. Rarity was drained of her last once of strength nearly seven hours ago. Luckily, I was able to easily carry both her and Spike on my back. Strength earned from years on the orchard was finally earning it's keep, I guess. Even so, I was exhausted. Luna offered to take one of them a few times, but of course I had to act like a big strong colt and do all the work for her. I am an idiot. I dropped like rock after she said we could stop. We were near the top of the mountain, overlooking the town of Foalbokin. I shook my helmet off and took a good long nap. I think I deserved it. It wasn't until after I woke up when I fully took in all of Spikes transformation. Rarity had apparently woken up moved next to him while I was asleep, evident by the fact that I dropped her (Yes, dropped her. I was carrying two full grown unicorns for almost 24 hours. Get off my back.) I think three or four trees away. It was good news for Spike, I guess. I mean, other than the cuts and bruises and maybe a few cracked bones. He was in terrible condition, but look at him and Rarity. Everypony in Ponyville knew how he felt about her. A few of us even though Rarity harbored the same feelings. She just kept a better poker face about it. She almost never went out with anypony except her friends. I guess she was holding out for a miracle of some sort. Well, happy birthday, Rarity. You get a miracle. I sound mean because I'm still tired. You try sleeping in armour. The princess took watch as we rested. We couldn't really move anywhere until Rarity woke up, and this armour wasn't really inconspicuous. I hovered in a state of half-asleep for almost an hour. It was then that Rarity decided to wake up. She walked over to me like she wanted to say something. "I wanted to say thank you, Noble."
"For what, exactly, Rarity? All I did was save another pony for a friend. You would have done the same for anypony else." I saw guilt all over her face as the words left my mouth.
"Yes, well, you see..." I knew then that she was about to tell me something I really didn't want to hear. "I-"
"Rarity?" we both heard Spike call out from under his tree. Wierd. I thought he would be asleep for at least half a day. I guess his spirit still retained some of that famous dragon resilience.
Rarity immediately stopped her sentence to go tend to the former dragon. "Yes, Spike?" I had to get up to see him, too. This was way to interesting an opportunity to pass up. "What is it, my love?"
"I just wanted to say," he grunted as he spoke. He was in terrible condition, to say the least. "I'm glad you came. Love you"
"So am I, Spike." A tear formed on the white unicorns cheek. I had to fight back own tears, as well. "And I love you too."
"Didn't you used to be a dragon?" I had to kill that much sweetness right there, or else I might be sobbing by the time Luna got back.
Spike just gave a wry smile as he answered the stupid question. "Yeah. I got better."
"Hmph, not by much, Colt." I looked over his injuries again. He can move, but he'll slow us down, probably by a couple of days. And we were supposed to meet Fancypants in Fo-... "CRAP!!!" Then it hit me. Fancypants is dead! Who'll be waiting for us now? "Rarity, who's gonna be waiting for us now? Fancypants was going to meet us in Foalbokin, but now he's dead!"
Rarity wasn't sure what to make of the situation. "We shall go anyway! I doubt the princess knows of our secret meeting."
"But wasn't that prison relatively close to where we were heading?"
"There was a document stating that he had been captured in Canterlot, not Foalbokin. Even so, he had been captured days ago. He would not have stayed in a town like Foalbokin for long."
"Documents could be easily faked, Rarity. And if we're wrong, then we would be walking right into a trap. Celestia might be a monster, but she isn't stupid. She's been doing this kind of thing for over 1,000 years."
Rarity took a moment to digest what I just said. She knew I was right. The meeting wasn't for a two days, but still. Celestia was as cunning as hay. "Very well. We shall decide upon our next course of action when Luna returns from her scouting mission.
"Hello, everypony," She dropped out of the sky like a rock with legs. "Did I miss anything?" We all looked at her, surprised at what had just happened. And perhaps a little amused.
"We were discussing our next course of action, Princess." I said, sounding official. "We were supposed to meet the unicorn, Fancypants, at the inn in Foalbokin, but he was killed in Celestias dungeons. Rarity thinks the documents stating his death are official, but I say it's a trap. What do you think we should do?"
Princess Luna considered for a moment at what she should do. She knew, or thought she knew, her sister better than anypony else. She knew she had to take some caution as leader, but still. "Noble Spirit, did Celestia get a good look at you?"
"What?"
"You were wearing armour, were you not? Hence, the chances of her knowing who you are is slim."
I stood up as straight as I could. I was being given a solo mission. I was honoured that my princess would allow me such liberties to act on her behalf! "No, Princess Luna. She did not get a good look at me."
"Very well. You, Noble Spirit, shall go to the village of Foalbokin to rendezvous with whatever representative that Fancypants may have set up in the event of his absence!" She paused as she searched for the next words to say. "Should it be a trap, you shall have the least chance of being discovered among any of us. And should the worst befall you. Well, make sure it does not! Do you understand, Sir Noble Spirit?"
"My princess, I shall not fail you. Simply allow me the time to get my effects together and I shall depart within the hour!"
"Very well, Sir Spirit. Carry on."
It took a few minutes to get all my armour off. Rarity helped with that. She also took out some of the gems that had not had blood spilled on them and broke them to be less... weapony. She told me to sell those for food and other essentials. I'm running out of pencils, so I guess I should probably get some of those as well. As I was about to leave, saddle bags with a small amount of food, I approached Luna. "Princess Luna. In my journey, I think it best to leave behind my journal behind."
"And why is that, Sir Spirit?" She was still speaking all official.
"Well, in case I get captured, they would find out who I was and use my journal against you. Also, would you do me the honour of writing in the next passage of it?"
"Sir Spirit, I would be elated to record my personal thoughts in your journal."
"Thank you, Princess, also," I paused, not quite sure how to say it. "I'm not really a knight, though."
"Is that right? Well, then you should kneel before your princess." I kneeled as she commanded. "Do you, Noble Spirit of Ponyville swear to protect and serve your Princess Luna and her kingdom from evil?"
"I do so swear, My Princess."
"Do you swear to safeguard the helpless and speak the truth, even if it leads to your death?"
"I do, My Princess."
"Then that is your oath." I rose from the floor and she walked ever closer to me. "And this is so that you remember it." She lowered her head and kissed me on the cheek. "Arise, Sir Noble Spirit, First Knight of the Order of the Silver Moon." I simply nodded as I then turned around to head to the town, blushing. I need to remember not to fail her.
As I walked away, knowing my mission, I could barely hear her utter the words "Please come home, Spirit."

As I strode through the camp, I had recalled the last thing I hath said to Spirit. "Please come home." Few accepted us, the princess of the night, as readily as he had. He had been our friend for ages, and now he was willing to die for my cause and me. He trusted me to write in his journal, so I shall have to remember not to abuse his trust and read further into his own personal thoughts. He has said that his records of his life date back to a time when he was just a young colt, so I are, indeed, curious. Nevertheless, I shant do it, for he has blessed me with a sacred trust, and to break that trust would be tantamount to betraying Spirit himself. So instead I shall record the events leading up to the day my guards and I crashed into Ponyville. Hmm. My guards. This was the first time in many months since I had considered them. I remember my captain, Maelstrom, and how I saw him fall. His dying orders were to scatter so the princess would not be able track me down so easily. My own fifty elite guards, scattered to every corner of across Equestria. But I have begun rambling as well as allowing my Royal Canterlot seep into my writing. So I will now tell the beginning of this tragic tale. And the story of my sisters tragic fall from grace. It was a day like any other. My sister had just concluded her raising of the sun, and I had just completed my watch of the night. As I was walking to my quarters to get some rest, I noticed my sister, walking through the royal bush maze. She was wearing an odd green cloak to allow her to blend in with her surroundings. Indeed, it was only because of her mane protruding slightly that I was able to see her at all. "Curious," I had said to myself as I saw her. I wondered what possible reason she could have for sneaking around as such. So I had decided to follow her. There must be a reason, I thought. As I flew down to the maze, flying from cloud to cloud, I eventually saw her each a pair of statues. They were over a thousand years over. Built by Celestia to commemorate our victory over the vile Discord by Marble Column, famous architect and sculptor. She twisted my statues horn, her statues right wing, and discords manticore paw. A secret entrance opened in-between all of three of the status. "Interesting," I whispered under my breath. As she entered the underground tunnels, I waited. For nearly five hours, I waited for her to exit what may be either a secret get-away from her responsibilities as head princess, or something else entirely. As she exited her catacombs from within her cloak, I bided my time. As soon as I saw that it was safe, I swooped in, quiet as a fox in the night. I used the same combination as she had done. Horn, then wing, then claw. A secret entrance opened up. How exciting! I had not felt a burst of adrenaline like this since the failed Changeling invasion at my nieces wedding a few years ago. As I walked through the underground tunnels, I noticed few guards stationed here. And the few that I had noticed, I avoided. It seemed to me that if Celestia kept only few guards around this place, she wanted to keep this place as secret as possible. I thought I heard screams coming from across the halls, dismissed it as my own fears taking hold of me. I know now that it was as I thought, but I could not conceive of it back then. I trusted my older sister implicitly. She had forgiven me and given me a place at her side, as it had been before jealousy took my soul. But I ventured forth, knowing that while I may not like the answers to my questions, I had to know. For the sake of our kingdom, I had to know. I wondered for what seemed like ages until I saw door with two guards keeping watch over it. They did not matter, for I would find the deep dark secrets my sister had kept from me. I moved swiftly and silently through the shadows, and appeared just in front of them. Before they could even respond, I cast a spell upon them. I did not wish to harm them, so I used a simple stasis/memory wipe spell. There they stood. Unaware that anything had even happened. As I walked through the heavy marehogany door, I noticed a desk. Curious, I opened it to find some royal scrolls with what I feared: my sisters own royal seal. Scared to death, I opened the first scroll. It spoke of a war nearly caused by the griffons and how she saved Equestria. It told of how she instigated a war between the dragons and the griffons, although it was vague on the details. Griffons are faster than the pegasi, to be sure, and with nearly three times the ferocity. But even they could not survive the dragons as an enemy. The dragons caused a near genocide of their race and it was only the timely intervention of my sister that protected them from total annihilation. The was more, as well. Assassination orders dating back hundreds of years. I could not believe it. I remember wanting so badly to scream out to the heavens, to vent all my sadness right there. But I could not, for that would alert the guards. But what I could do was escape the palace of the butcher and find the six bearers of the elements of harmony. Even if I could not find the elements themselves, I was still powerful enough to challenge my sister for the throne and take it from her vile, blood stained hooves. I made haste as I flew through the underground corridors to find the exit. And as I reached the exit, I met my sister.
"Luna," She gave a look of disapproval as she greeted me. "You have found out?"
"Found out what, Sister?!," The anger seeping into my responses mattered little now, for now she knew that I was aware of what she had done after my banishment. "Found out how who murdered an entire civilization?! How you have secretly been murdering innocent beings of every race across Equestria?! How could you have done this?! ANY OF THIS?!
"Ironic, isn't it? You tried to make yourself the sole ruler all those centuries ago, and yet here we are, discussing my crimes." She took a pause as if she were going to tell a long story. "Nearly 200 years after your imposed exile, the griffons began a forced incursion into our lands. And as you know, they are faster and more ferocious than almost any pegasus. But that was when it occurred to me. Dragons hold little loyalty to outsiders. Rather, they based it upon either honour, or payment. I offered them a mine filled with gold and gems, and they obliged the obliteration of the griffons."
"What?"
"Really, it only took five full grown dragons to do the job. They are almost invincible in battle, you see. And after only a few thousand griffons were left alive, I stopped them appearing the heroine of their race. Me, the very pony they sought to take the land of. And ever since then, I've kept them from uniting by-"
"By assassinating any griffon among them who could take command!"
"Yes. Griffons are a brutal race, but they are also a splintered society. It takes a truly strong griffon to unite them. And so long as I could keep them from uniting, they could never again be a threat. As for all the other assassinations, they were made to look like accidents. Anytime time somepony got two close to knowing," she walked next to me and put her mouth next to my ear. "Well, pop went the weasel."
"Monster!"
"Well, isn't that the night calling the kettle black. You, who only a few years ago, was force of legendary evil, whom plotted to thrust Equestria into eternal night."
"Jealousy tainted my soul, Celestia. And perhaps fear invaded yours where faith should have been! Please, stop this!" I pleaded with her, tears welling up in my eyes. "We are together again! We can defend our land together! Like we did against Discord!"
"My naive little sister. You are now in the same boat as I am. Even if we did stop the assassination of griffon leadership, anypony who finds out would have to be dealt with in order to preserve Equestrian law and peace. You have no choice but to side with me, for the sake of peace, we must stand together."
"Does Cadance know?"
"She does not, but then, the Captain is very good at keeping secrets."
"Shining Armour knows?!"
"Now don't think that he is an assassin, dear sister. As captain of my royal guard, he is privy to details like that. And besides, he understands the necessity of this..."
As Princess Celestia struggled to find the right word, I took the liberty of helping her to find the perfect one, "Corruption?!"
"Sister, we had no choice, the Griffons were at our door step. Besides, standing against me again would only show you to be a monster, like all those years ago. Now, stand by me, Princess Luna. Because for us to preserve the peace, there is no other way."
At that second I took a moment to stare into the fountain that hid the gate way to the underground. I looked at my reflection and considered what could be done. Do I save Equestria by protecting the sins of my sister? Or do I thrust Equestia into a civil war? And then my answer was as clear as day. "Sister, I have made my decision."
"And? What have you decided, Luna?"
"I cannot allow your corruption to continue. I'm sorry."
"I see. And there is no changing your mind?"
"There is not."
"Well, then. I'm sorry to say that your services as princess will no longer be required." And then she sent me flying through the maze, obliterating all in the path of the mighty beam of her magic. I had to escape. I wasn't to terribly injured, so I struggled to my hooves. This time, she will not merely send me to the moon, but kill me instead! I opened up my wings and took to the skies, quick as I could.
I soared as fast as I could to the clouds. My older sister might be more powerful than I, but she was a fool if she thought I merely slept during my banishment those years ago. Besides, in my spare time, I had practiced weather control in Cloudsdale. If she intended to take me, she would have to work for it. But first things came first. "I have to find my guards!" I whispered under my breath. I doubted they could do much, but they could spread word of my new found cause to bring my sister to justice! And even though my sister had the trust and adoration of the masses, I had something she did not! I had friends across the whole of Equestria, of which she had no idea. "I have to find Maelstrom!" I flew through the Canterlot skies, manipulating the weather as I went.
"You can't hide from me, Luna!" She shouted as she searched the cloud coverage for me.
I knew I couldn't take the defensive forever, so I decided to take the fight to her, at least for the moment. "Who said we were running, Sister?!" I appeared in front of her like a wraith and unleashed a powerful flash, blinding her, at least for now. I had the momentum, so I had to find a way to keep it. I fired a beam of my own at her torso. It was not strong enough to kill her, though that's how I intended it. Instead, it sent her plummeting to the earth. As she fell to the cobble stoned streets of Canterlot, I realized something. There were innocent ponies down there. I swooped down to the city as fast as I could, causing a sonic boom in the process, and knocked my sisters trajectory off just before she landed on a small family of unicorns, the apparent father bearing a small blue mustache. She crashed into a small cafe and I landed triumphantly. "Ugh," my injuries had been more serious than I had thought. I touched my hoof to my side where she had shot me, and I was bleeding more than I had thought. I stuggled to stay as stoic as I could. I had to show her that I would not be such an easy prey. "Remember this day, Celestia! For this day, We struck you down and spared you. And on this day, you have brought upon your own reckoning!" She just laid there, injured and angry beyond compare, glaring at me with the hateful intensity of one thousand suns. Now was my time to make my escape. She would no doubt send a few of her strike teams out for me, so I had to make sure she couldn't catch me. As I entered my own guards barracks, I nearly collapsed on their stone floors. My captain, Maelstrom, ran to my side. I explained everything to him and he called all guards to the barracks. There, he developed plan. 24 teams of two would take as many chariots as they could to every corner of Equestria. As I faded in and out of consciousness, he used whatever first aid her could to stop the bleeding. The wound was not a mortal one so long as I rested, but he had to first get me to safety. As each and every one of my guards prepared to disembark, we were met by Celestias own elite pegasus corps. 15 of them stayed behind to confront them. All 50 of them. I tried to cry out but I hadn't the strength. Maelstrom sent his two finest soldiers with me: Thunder Striker and Wind Flash. As we fled, a few of them tried to follow us, but they were all struck down by Maelstrom.
Eventually, after personally sending what I had assumed was 17 of Celestias pegasi of the gates of Tartauros, I heard him shout to the heavens. "I'm ready! How 'bout you?!" The next thing that I knew was Twilights home with bandages on my waste and the face of Noble Spirit watching over me. But I have written enough of this, I think. If Spirit reads this, he will know greater than anypony else of the reasons I fight. But for now, I have some feelings that must be confronted.

I guess I should probably start off from when I left the camp, so I guess I'll do that. As I walked for nearly three hours to Foalbokin, I couldn't help but realize that my birth day was the day of the alleged meeting. Wow. Over two years of running from Celestia and her royal guard with Princess Luna. Although, there are worse ponies to run from evil alicorn princesses from. Heh. You know, if not for her, I wouldn't have even joined up on this epic adventure to over throw Celestia. In fact, she was the whole purpose of my being here. To protect her, the noble princess who would protect her subjects from the tyrant of the day. She is my weakness and my strength. My first and last priority. She is my purpose. Strange to think I could adequately protect the only possible rival to the strongest being in all of Equestria. But love does that to a pony. Did I seriously just say love? Heh. Well, my expertly executed poetry aside, I should probably get on with the story. As I entered the village of Foalbokin, I wondered whether or not it was really a trap. It seemed perfectly normal here. No guards, just police. And there wasn't even that many of them. But Celestia has perfected her craft over a thousand years. She for sure would have learned how to make a flawlessly constructed trap. And then I remembered Fancypants, the unicorn that was supposed to meet us here. Rarity had held him in such high regard. The spirit of generocity, taken aback by the kindness of one of the most important ponies in Canterlot. The image of his decimated carcass clung to my mind like a fly to honey, only not nearly so sweet. From what I read in Lunas entry, she had saved him that fatefull day she rebelled from her sister. As I walked through the town, I stumbled upon a bakery. I counted my money and realized that I had just enough for a small cake. My first thought was immediately to get it for Luna and myself to share. She would like that, I think. So I walked in and purchased it. It was a red velvet with chocolate, her favorite, if I remembered right. I then realized that since the meeting was in the morning, I probably ought to call it an early night and rent a room at the local inn. So I rented one at the Foalbok Inn. The fairs were cheap, but clean. At least that was what the sign said. As I set the cake down upon the night stand of the room I rented, it occurred to me that the cake probably should have waited until tomorrow when I left. Oh well, can't change the past. When I woke up the next morning, I remembered the meeting place. Rarity seemed sure that Fancypants would have set up an alternative person to meet. She was sure it would be his wife, Flur De Lis. I wasn't so sure he would put his own wife up to this, but I've been wrong before. Like thinking that Scootaloo wouldn't break up with me. Of course that was sheer stupidity on my part. She has NEVER been one for bluffing, and I shouldn't have called it. As I walked to the outskirts of town, I took in the surroundings carefully. There were plenty of trees. Excellent for an ambush. There were hills everywhere. Easily defensible in case there was an attack. If this was a trap, it wouldn't be a mere ambush, it would be a slaughter. I didn't like this at all. But there was still no signs that they were setting up for an attack. I kept my guard up anyway. As I entered an old house that had seen much better days, I noticed a simple shadow in the old home. Strange. It looked like a cloaked figure, so I persisted. Eventually, when I was a mere few yards away from the shadowy figure, I called out. "Are you a friend of the unicorn once known as Fancypants?"
"No, but you are," The cloak was shed, and it was royal guard. I recognized him as the one and only captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard: Twilights brother, Shining Armour. "Colts! Sieze this terrorist for treason!"
"Crap, I knew this would happen." I did too. I guess Luna was banking on the belief I was smart enough not to make it so obvious. I was too. I was wrong. And that always seems to happen at the worst times. "Well, you got me, Armour."
"You know me?"
"Sure! You're Twilights sister aren't you?" Then it hit me. It was time to play a game that I always won but hated being so good at. It was time to play evil psychologist. "Tell me, Shining. Does Twilight know who's side you're on?"
"My loyalty is to the princess."
"Right, but why? Is it because you choose to be her little toy soldier?" The guards began to restrain my body with their magic. No matter. My greatest weapon was my tongue right now." He was only silent. "Does Twilight know what you do?"
"Traitors have no right to speak. You will be sent to the royal Equestrian prisons for processing and interrogation. And you WILL tell us everything you know about Princess Lunas plans."
"I'd be more concerned about your own princesses plans, as oppose to mine. Now what about your parents? They probably don't know about your work as the leader of the princesses thugs. Tell me, what would they think if they found out?"
"You're wasting your time, Foal. I don't break so easy." But he was breaking. Any sibling of Twilight would not have given up their conscience so easy for the sake of "peace and order". No, I had to push further until I made him snap. Until I made him \i hurt\i0 . It was fighting dirty, but sometimes, you have to in order to make a pony see the error of their ways. In other words, I was going to take him on a huge guilt trip.
"No, you’re probably right," I said nonchalantly. This next move was sure to make him give. He budged a little bit when I mentioned his sister, so this next move had to make him squirm. "I mean, if even Princess Cadance feels fine with you doing this, I guess you should feel fine about it."
"Be quiet." I felt a brief surge of emotion in his voice. Bingo.
"But I guess being practically raised Celestia, not having a heart will eventually happen to a princess." I knew what I was saying wasn't true, but if I could just get him to release his bubble shield, it would be an even fight.
"I said shut up."
"But you know, I'm surprised she isn't here herself. I guess she was to busy, or too afraid," and this next part might even make the colt go mad with blood lust, but that was the point. "Of what she would want to do if she ran into Twilight. And you know what? I bet that she would like it!"
"That's it!" And with that, he slammed me into the wall with his bubble shield. I did not know he could do that. "I'm sure Celestia wouldn't mind you being a little bruised up!" He released me from my bubble. My time to shine.
I was laying on the floor, playing the weak helpless earthpony until his colts went to lift me up so that Shining Armour could kick my ass. Bad mistake on their part. "Bad move, friend." I wriggled free easy and then rammed into Armour. He was knocked down, but not out. As his colts came from behind me to provide back up, I jumped back to get a extra close shot at their faces and kicked with strength that Big Mac would be proud of. As they fell to the floor, still breathing, I saw Shining Armour standing on all fours. We circled each other for a few moments. I had an idea of what he was capable of, but he was sizing me up. He expected an easy capture. Earth ponies aren't supposed to be able to fight that well. He had to have been in his mid-thirties. Just past his prime. But maybe he was allowed eternal youth, as the husband of a princess. Either way, this wasn't going to be easy. I had already given myself an edge the way I didn't like. Which meant he was angry. Which made him predictable. And on that thought, he attacked. He tried to ram me with his horn. I backed up, dodging just in time, and slammed on his helmet with both my front hooves. Now! He was disoriented, so now I had to make my final move! As his ears were still ringing, I charged at him, intending to knock him out and leave. Twilight was a friend of mine, so I couldn't bring myself to kill her brother. But then HE fought dirty. He used his horns magic to throw my cake at me. Red velvet blindness coated my eyes. It was a delicious disaster. I heard him running at me, so I instinctively jumped to the side to avoid get skewered... and instead leapt straight into a table. There I laid, ready to get captured and interrogated by the evil princess. All the things I left undone or unsaid to all my friends. I wouldn't get to see Apple Blossom grow up. Or see what would happen with Rarity and Spike. I wouldn't be able to see Luna or tell her how I really felt about her. Luna. That one name repeated itself through my mind over and over and over again! I was wrong to give. I was still in this fight! Come the gates of Tartouros or the end of Equestria, I was still in this fight! I rolled to the side to avoid getting struck by Shining Armour, and prepared to wipe the scarlet pastry from my eyes as I prepared for round two. That was, until, I remembered something that just came back to me.

I heard a huge crash through the door. I also heard the flapping of a few pegasi. As I wiped the cake from my eyes, I saw all my old allies in front of me, forming a phalanx of friendship. I saw and noted each and every one of them. Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Thunder Striker, Wind Flash, Big Macintosh, Pinkie Pie, some blue unicorn with blue a blue mane, and Scootaloo, surprisingly enough, were all in front of me, defending me. As they stood there, Shining Armour and the two colts under his command regrouped and took positions next to him. Twilight looked shocked and in awe of what she had caught her brother doing. Neither of them could really think of anything to say. Applejack came over to help me up while we all watched for what would happen next. "Big Brother?" Twilight started timidly. She couldn't fathom having to actually fight her brother. I guess Luna left that part out. I would have too "Shining? What are you doing?"
"Twilight. I'm sorry you had to see this." He took a solemn pause. He was struggling to think of an explanation that would suit his sister. I doubt he would have been able too. "But this? This it what it takes to keep Equestria safe." Poor answer. I probably couldn't have done any better, though.
"And what is "this", Shining?" She desperately needed to get to the bottom of this. If she didn't, she would burst into tears. I think we were all on the verge of seeing them like this. "This assault on an earthpony trying to stop a tyrant that we trusted?"
"Twilight, what we are ordered to do saves Equestria from anything that would harm it. From within, or from without." He looked to the side because he couldn't bear to look her in the eye. "We need to do this. For the sake of everypony."
"Is that what Princess Celestia told you, Shining!?" Anger crept into her voice. But so too did more sadness. "Is that why she killed all those ponies?!"
"She's protecting Equestria, Twilight. It's steep cost, but it has to be do-"
"Is that what she told?!" She cut him off abruptly. "Do you have any idea what you sound like? You sound like a, like a-"
"Like a toy soldier?" He was staying calm. New respect was found for him. I'm not sure I could have stayed stoic like that. "You don't understand, Little sister. Equestria needs to be protected this way! If not for what Celestia has done, we would have fallen centuries ago!"
"Is that the lie she told you, Shining? Is that how she chooses to convince you?" The first tear fell from her cheek. "Or is that what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night?" She was fighting back the tears with every ounce of strength she had left. "Brother, please! Don't do this! You're a good colt! And you have Cadance and a family! You can join us and help sa-"
"Help save Equestria? Equestria is already safe, Twilight. It took sacrifice, but I guess you never understood that, did you?" He started to show his anger. "You were taught by the princess! You got everything you ever asked for! I had to work for my position! You think everything happened because it was meant to? NO!! It happened because Princess Celestia took it upon herself to sacrifice a few to protect the many!"
Twilight bowed her head down, trying to hold back the tears. I totally forgot. Celestia was like a second mother to her. She had practically raised Twilight. So now, it was like she lost two of the most important ponies to her. In one foul swoop, she had lost almost everything. I saw crystals fall from her face. Her eyes began to flood. I would have stood up and struck him down right then and there, but Thunder Striker beat me to it. He landed in front of Twilight, rage burning within his eyes. "Shining! Heads up!" He plowed into him as fast as he could. All we saw was a grey blur. As he held up Shining by his armour, we all thought Twilight was going to lose a brother in more ways than one this day. "Talk to her like that again! See what happens!" The rage in his voice was greater than anything I had heard before. "I DARE you, Captain!" But his anger was distracting him, for he was flanked by both of the captains colts, their horns charged for a blast at point blank range.
"Thunder," we all heard Twilight speak out against Lunas guard defending her. "Don't. Please." She turned around and so Thunder threw Shining to the ground. Twilight acknowledged me and motioned for me to follow her. "We're taking him with us."
"You know I can't let you do that, Twilight." Shining Armour tried to deny her.
"You want him, Captain?" She turned around to look at him, rage now filling her eyes and her horn glowing brighter but also more controlled than the two guards' horns. "You are more than welcome to try and take him." Shining Armour was stunned to see his little sister like this. "No? I didn't think so. Come on, everypony. We are leaving." As we left the house as we found it, in disrepair, Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Canterlot Guard just stood there and watched dumbfounded. That's when I think it occurred to him: his little sister was all grown up.