The Dark Heart of Canterlot

Chapter 5: The Court Gardens

"Loud cries, soft whispers..."

The Yellow Glade

As the wind increased, a ridge of ribbed cloud sped in from the far North. The sky darkened ominously. The air chilled. The lone unicorn with the wispy mane and wild crimson eyes paused mid-sentence and wrapped his flapping robe around him. He straightened up and scanned his scanty audience with a dark, penetrating gaze.

"And worse than all that" he repeated, "is the food in the refectory. What exactly is being served from those great stew pipes every day?"

"I dunno, but I'm sure you're going to tell us" shouted a voice from the back of the small crowd and a group of mares began sniggering.

"They tell us its vegetables" the unicorn continued, undaunted, "they tell us its oats. They tell us its hay. But I have it on the highest authority that it is none of these." He paused for effect. "I can tell you now, that we are being served daily are the bodies of slain griffin Talon Guards, fresh from the front lines of war!"

As one, the audience groaned. They'd heard it all before! If it wasn't slain griffins, it was the carcasses of timberwolves from the Everfree, or manticore tails - or some other creature considered equally inedible by all but the most insane of ponies. Once there had been a rumour that even recently deceased politicians were ending up in the stew pot. Disappointed that the speaker's revelations hadn't been more original, the ponies in his audience began to drift away until only the heckling mares were left.

"I work in the kitchens" one called out. "I see the vegetables coming in. Huge and green they are..."

"Have you seen a griffin after it dies, the colour it goes when rotting?"

"Cabbages don't have wings, neither" countered another.

"In the fires of battle, it is a tactic of our forces to clip the wings from the griffin soldiers to rob them of their advantage!" the unicorn shouted back, and added triumphantly, "so they wouldn't have wings."

The mares looked at one another and shrugged before laughing. One of them tapped the side of her head with a forehoof. "Not stable..." she muttered.

"As crazy as a square circle" another added. "The quality of speakers you get in the Court Gardens these days is really going downhill." They turned as one and trooped off together, ignoring the cries of the lunatic unicorn.

"Stop! Wait a minute! I haven't told you about the scandal of the Sanctum of the Moon, or how the disappearance of seven students from the High Halls was covered up - or what really goes on at the Convocation of Highlords on Midsummer's Eve..!"

The Grove of the Crimson Willow

     Cursing the ranting buffoon behind him, an earth pony stallion by the name of Cinnamon Hooves moved away from the top of the Yellow Glade and headed down towards the raucous crowd before him. He needed to hear the odds and the form being called before finally placing a bet on one of the four fighting tree foxes.

"...and in the east corner, Bruto the Brave" the fight master - a swarthy earth pony with a missing eye - was announcing as he scribbled on the blackboard. "Four to One. In the west corner, Smarg the Mighty. Six to One. And finally, in the south corner, the current favourite, Magno the Claw. Three to One"

All around the fight master, a sea of hooves reached towards him, gold bits flying everywhere.

"Two on Bruto" shouted one. "Three on Magno!" demanded another. Cinnamon Hooves smirked. If his insider information was to be trusted - and woe betide Lemon Tail, his personal servant, if it was not - then the tree fox to bet on was Wilbus the Sly in the north corner. Although untried and untested in Canterlot, it had apparently won several vicious tree fox fights in the taverns of Trottingham. And at eighteen to one, the odds were the best on offer.

With a brief flutter of his forehooves, he checked that his silver muzzle-mask was on straight. The ancient ceremonial object with its ornate curlicues and fine filigree mesh had formally been used by ancient noblepony knights to protect their muzzle during jousting tournaments before full face helmets had been invented. these days they were usually 'acquired' by ponies you wished to conceal their identity. Cinnamon Hooves certainly did not anypony to recognise him. After all, an illegal tree fox fight was not the place for the Sub-Dean of the High Halls to be caught spending his time and money. But then, old habits die hard.

He readjusted the silver mask, raised the hood of his gown and pushed his way through the crowd.

"Twenty on north" he announced. The heavily made up pegasus mare looked up at him from lowered lids.

"Twenty, eh?" she said. For a moment she hesitated; she did not as a rule conduct business with those whose faces she could not see. But then again, bits were bits. Her hoof darted forwards and seized the pouch of gold pieces being held out to her. She scribbled out a docket, returned it and turned back to the blackboard, where her business partner continued to take in more bets. The odds on the tree fox in the north corner had shortened to twelve to one.

When the bell at the top of the Canterlot Opera House chimed six times, the pegasus closed the betting. The crowd fell silent. Cinnamon hooves, who had remained near the front of the crowd, watched thoughtfully as the four tree foxes were uncaged. Although Wilbus the Sly looked younger than the others, what it lacked in size it more than made up for in naked aggression as it leapt about the end of its leash - spitting, screeching, frothing at the mouth, trying desperately to get at the others.

"You do looked fierce" Cinnamon murmured to himself happily. "And just as well, since its too late to change my bet now."

All four tree foxes were put on tethers, long enough for each of them to reach the fight ring in the centre below the crimson leaves of the ancient willow at the centre of the garden - but not so long that the creatures could get tangled up with one another. On their ankles now were razor sharp spurs; on their prehensile tails, vicious spikes. Hunger and cruelty had turned normally affable creatures into vicious killers and the fight would last as long as it took for one of the tree foxes to triumph over the other three.

"LET THE FIGHT COMMENCE!" the pegasus mare roared, and lowered a raised foreleg.

immediately, the air was filled with a cacophony of noise - wailing, screeching, howling. And that was just the spectators. Bruto the Brave from the east corner was the first to succumb as Magno the Claw's left spur sliced across its neck. the next moment, Magno's own neck was cut as Wilbus the Sly's tail spike found its mark.

"Come on, Wilbus" Cinnamon Hooves whispered as the vicious tree fox turned its attentions on Smarg the Mighty from the west corner and the two of them flew at one another in a blur of bloodied fur and glinting blades. The pegasus mare scowled as Wilbus the Sly got the upper hoof and glanced round furtively, as if she was preparing to bolt.

"Oh no you don't" said Cinnamon, seizing the pegasus by her axillary wingpit feathers. "You're not going anywhere." The pair of them watched the conclusion of the fight. It didn't take long. Within seconds, there was a howl of pain from the vanquished and a triumphant squeal from the victor. Wilbus the Sly had done it. Cinnamon Hooves brought his leering face up close to the mare's.

"Its pay up time" he hissed.

The Fire Blossom Terrace

A slanting light fell across the ninth garden of the east facing parks beneath the Viaduct, known as the Fire Blossom Terrace. A ring of six beautiful and extremely rare Fire Blossom trees stood resolutely in the centre of the park, littering the grass with petals of creamy orange, white and red. This was the place where the almighty Highlords of Canterlot gathered together to discuss matters - for, with the complexities of their job, they had far more in common with one another than with others from their own Houses.

"I see Cinnamon has decided not to attend once again" the Highlord of the Operatic District commented.

"Too good for the likes of us" said the Highlord of the Grand Observatory.

"Like all those other confounded Sun-Deans of the High Halls" the Highlord of the Lower District announced, and sniffed. "Ever since Princess Celestia decided to take matter into her own hooves regarding the relations between Equestria and the Griffin Kingdoms, they've been insufferable"

"And they've been even worse since the Princess declared that the Council of Ministers should be moved into the Palace itself rather than the White Court" another noblepony added.

"Lording over the rest of us the whole time" another Highlord complained. "And the Princess does nothing to stop it, despite all her fine words about how equal we all are."

"Equal?" snorted yet another. "That's a good one. The Council get all the best preferments. They're all she cares about. The rest of us never get a look in."

"Its iniquitous!" said the Highlord of the Lower District

"Invidious!" said the Highlord of the Operatic District.

"Something" said the Highlord of the Moon Court, "must be done."

The Garden of the Stone Rose

"Fifty gold bits, and thats my final offer" said the tall, long horned unicorn.

"But Night Fire" said the second unicorn, "I told you, I haven't got fifty gold bits."

"Then stop wasting my time, Virgin" Night Fire sneered, and turned away.

Virgin Snow winced. He hated his nickname. However, this was not, he realised, the time to complain about its use. With the important Unicorn History examination only two days away - and himself so ill prepared - he needed all the help he could get. Night Fire, he'd overheard, had come by a copy of the examination paper. If her could just get his hooves on it, then he'd be able to prepare the answers - and pass. if her didn't, he'd be thrown out on his rump. And if that happened, his father - a big name in the Irrigation League - would disown him.

Virgin Snow lunged forwards after the departing student. "Don't go!" he cried, clinging onto Night Fire's purple fur.

"Get off me!" the taller purple unicorn said, twisting round and swatting the young student away like a bug.

"You must let me have it" Virgin persisted. "You must..." he dragged a pouch from his robe pocket and jangled it loudly. "Thirty eight gold bits, and i can get you the rest next week."

"The rest?" asked Night Fire.

"The other twelve bits" said Virgin, "I'll..."

"Call it twenty and I might be interested" Night Fire interrupted.

Virgin Snow's jaw dropped. "Twenty? but you said...I can't...it's too much!"

"As you please" said night Fire, and turned away again. This time Virgin Snow did not try to stop him. His eagerness to but the paper had alerted Night Fire to its value. They both knew that there were several students in the High Halls - students with far more generous fathers - who would pay twice as much for the question paper once word got round that it was available. And, Virgin thought bitterly, word would get round.

"Dammit" he muttered miserably, and held his head in his hooves as he sat down limply on a bench. "What in Celestia's name am I going to do now?"

"So far as I can see, you have two choices" came a deep throaty voice from behind him.

The young white unicorn turned round to see a tall earth pony standing in front of him. He was dressed in an ill fitting academic's robe/ A silver muzzle mask could be seen glinting from within the folds of the baggy hood.

"Are you talking to me?" asked Virgin.

The earth pony glanced quickly over both shoulders, then nodded. "I am" he confirmed gruffly. "I couldn't help overhearing all about your little...difficulty" he said, "and...that is...I am in a position to help you out."

"You are?" said Virgin Snow suspiciously. Nopony did anything for anypony in Canterlot without seeking something in return. He looked the academic up and down but, thanks to the muzzle mask, was unable to place him, although there was something faintly familiar about the smell of lemon and tallow coming from his robes.

"You are interested in the Unicorn History examination, are you not?"

The young unicorn nodded. "The final one" he said.

"The very same" said the earth pony, patting a pocket at his side.

Virgin Snow gasped. "You've got a copy of the question paper?"

"Better than that, I've got the answers"

The young unicorn was speechless. The answers If he hadn't been able to afford the questions, then he certainly wouldn't have enough to buy the answers. If only he could...he looked up at the cloaked pony. "H-How much are you asking for them?"

"Thirty eight gold bits" came the reply.

"Thirty eight?" said Virgin excitedly, "yes, I can afford that! Its..."

The academic raised a forehoof. "Thirty eight gold bits..." he said, eyes narrowing, "...and a small favour"

The Dawntree Plaza

As the shadows grew longer and the lamps lining the Grand Viaduct far above their heads were lit, the group of unicorn mares in the Dawntree Plaza huddled closer together. Most of them were students at the High Halls of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, who like students and pupils from all schools across Canterlot, would gather to carp and complain about their teachers. However, the presence of a Sub-Dean, professor, and various readers, both senior and junior, lent an extra weight to this evening's criticisms.

"She's so intent on appearing fair that she's forgotten all about the students" one of the mares complained, her purple curled mane hiding one side of her face.

"Yeah" another agreed, nodding vigorously. "Its like she's going out of her war to prove that everypony is equal. Why, even that little mule, Peppermint - you know, that Ponyville character - has been made a prefect."

"And since she's started dealing with the griffins directly instead of leaving it to the Council, she's been getting even worse!" added a third.

"You're right" said a fourth. "I've even heard rumours that she's preparing to increase the power and influence of Captain Stormswirl. And at our expense!" She glared around her. "It's we students - the future! - who should be up for preferments, not him!"

Virgin Snow listened as a ripple of angry agreement went round. A tall senior with an elegantly brushed mane and tail raised her forehoof to her red painted lips and whispered to her shorter neighbour conspiratorially, "They're right of course. Not that we'll ever be able to prove anything until it's too late..."

"No, that's the problem" came the hushed reply.

Virgin turned towards them and tentatively held out a piece of folded parchment. "I don't know if this counts as proof" he muttered.

The short, stocky mare to his right leaned forwards and seized the paper in her magical hold. She opened it up. The senior reader peered over her shoulder, chewing the tips of her mane as she scanned the words upon the parchment.

"By the Sun!" she exclaimed.

"Sacred Sky!" gasped the professor.

The students broke off mid gossip and looked round.

"Its in her writing" the professor was saying. "Definitely. In my position, I get to see enough of it." She turned to Virgin. "Who gave you this?"

"I...I found it" said the young unicorn stallion, his cheeks reddening.

"But how could she?" the senior reader broke in. She shook her head. "Cinnamon Hooves isn't going to be happy"

"About what?" the students chorused as they clustered round, each one trying to see for herself what was written on the piece of parchment.

"Yes" came a voice. "What exactly is it that I won't be happy about?"

"Cinnamon my dear" said the professor. "We were just..." she frowned, and handed him the piece of paper. "You'd better red this."

As the others watched, the expression on the face of the earth pony went through various changes - from bemusement, through horror, to utter outrage. "I...I don't know what to say!" he spluttered.

"Don't you worry" said the senior reader. "We won't allow that to happen."

"What? What? What?" the students were clamouring. "What's happened?"

The professor puffed out her chest, pulled herself up to her full height and turned to address them. "According to this letter - written by Princess Celestia herself - she is proposing to make Captain Stormswirl of the Royal Guard our new Headmaster when he finishes his military service." She shook her head darkly. "Its the thin end of the wedge, you mark my words."

"And what of Cinnamon Hooves?" asked Virgin Snow, just as he had been instructed to do by the character with the silver muzzle mask. "We won't stand idly by while he's dismissed."

A murmur of rebellious agreement rumbled round the group of students and junior readers.

"He's to become" the professor shuddered, "a librarian."

"Can you believe it?" said the senior reader, her mane shrivelling slightly with indignation. "Our so-called Ruling Monarch is planning on reviving the Great Library."

There was a gasp of amazement. The Great Library, with its dusty scrolls full of outdated and disproved knowledge, belonged to the past; it had no place in the Canterlot education system these days.

Virgin spoke for all of them when he cried out indignantly, "What's the world coming to when our Princess tries to use a Library to unite us instead of strong leadership?"

Another ripple of anger went round the group of students, and before long all of them were demanding that justice be done and action be taken.

"Perhaps before she gets rid of our Highlord, we should get rid of her" said one - half seriously, half tongue-in-cheek.

"Yeah" said another, warming to the theme. "After all, what use is she to any of us now? We can raise the sun and moon together now!"

"No use at all" another chipped in. "In fact quite the opposite. Actual harm, she's doing to the High Halls."

"And not just the High Halls" said another. "Every student, professor, politician and minister will suffer if her half-baked plans should go ahead."

"We've got to stop her."

"Yeah, well, if she was ever to suffer from an unfortunate accident" said a young mare with a slick red mane, "I know just where it would be."

"That mysterious tunnel of hers" said another student.

"Precisely" said the red maned unicorn with a smirk. "Walls can buckle. Pillars can crack..."

Virgin Snow looked round at his fellow students gratefully. The character in the Garden of the Stone Rose had promised him the examination answers if he could stir up trouble amongst those in the Dawntree Plaza. It had been easier than he'd hoped. These academics were a treacherous lot, he thought with a smile.

His task complete, Virgin turned and made his way down the Gardens. Now all he had to do was pick up the examination answers from the mysterious professor, and learn them. Up in the sky, the East Star began to twinkle. And as a following breeze began to blow, he caught a whiff of something familiar - lemons. And tallow...