Room For One More

Chapter Five: Two Trick Pony

"I don't think that's a very good idea. As in, I really don't think this is, in any way, shape or form, a good idea."

Gale

Twilight paced back and forth across the floor of the library. Her hoof stumbled on the newer portion of her floor that had been recently restored after she'd paced for so long she'd worn in a groove. The dull wooden thunk and ache in her leg kept her awake and she hadn't gotten any sleep this night. She went over what was so worrisome in her head again. Trying to figure out what had her so spooked.

Celestia had sent her a letter: check. It called on her and the elements to save the day: check. It told her what the problem was: kind of check? It gave her a way to solve it: not check. How do you deal with an army? An army of what? Demons? The very idea was hard to wrap her mind around. Why are they coming here and what did they want? More importantly, how did someone like Twilight stop them?

She pondered this for a moment before furrowing her brow and quickening her pace. How could Celestia expect someone like herself to help in this? "I'm not a soldier. How could Celestia put the onus on somepony like Fluttershy. Did she expect that we were to drop everything and fight? What did she have in mind for using the Elements of Harmony and friendship in a war! Since when did I become state property!"

Vic entered her field of vision and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Twilight! You're shouting!"

Twilight realised she was sweating and breathing heavily. She had been thinking aloud. Spike looked at her from the top of the stairs leading to their room. He flinched when she looked at him and couldn't meet her eye.

Implied in the letter was something else that worried Twilight. Something else that made her feel for her teacher. Celestia was afraid and didn't have a ready solution to the problem either. Twilight turned back to Vic who looked ready to ready to either comfort her and pull her into a hug or drop her to the ground and throw her in an insane asylum.

"I'm sorry everyone," Twilight said weakly.

Spike caught her eye and nodded. No words need be exchanged as Twilight and Spike, old friends, knew exactly what the other would say and she had already been forgiven.

Vic took a deep breath and decided her next move. She slowly brought her leg around Twilight and guided her up the stairs to her bed where she lay her down and put the covers over her. Twilight made a weak protest but was mothered back down.

"SShhhh it's okay, Twilight. Everything's going to be alright."

"B-but what if it's not? What if I do go and try to save the world but I fail or if Fluttershy or P-Pinkie Pie or someone doesn't come home because of it or- or if-"

Vic put her hoof to Twilight's mouth to stop her and climbed onto the bed next to her, stroking her mane like a mother would comforting her filly.

"Shhh you can kill yourself with 'what ifs'. Right now, you need to sleep a few hours. Then you need to tell your friends that Celestia herself has summoned you and them to Canterlot for a mission. Then you need to tell them this has been eating you up and that it has you worried sick. They'll understand, just like I do now."

Twilight leaned into her new found friend's hooves and found comfort. Her breathing slowed and, eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

Scribbles held the letter in front of her as she walked as if it was a snake that might coil around her neck and choke the life from her. She took in a laboured breath. Scribbles knew what it contained as it hadn't been sealed. As assistant to the Princesses, it was her responsibility to deliver it to them straight away. That and the fact that the messenger who had delivered it wouldn't be doing it himself as he had died shortly after arriving that very morning.

Scribbles came to Celestia's bedchambers and knocked. She heard a bit of shuffling and a loud thump followed by a stream of barely audible curses. It was still dark out and Celestia must have been asleep. Celestia opened the door and yawned, wearing a purple and pink bed robe.

" Yes? What is it, Scribbles? I was just waking up when you knocked."

"Cel-Celes-."

Celestia snapped out of her morning grogginess. She could see a small patch of blood on Scribbles left shoulder.

"What happened, Scribbles? Why have you got blood on you?"

Scribbles swallowed and tried again.

"C-Celestia? L-letter for you from His Majesty, the Gryphon King."

She thrust out the letter, taking great pains not to drop it she was shaking so much. Celestia took it and opened the slightly burnt parchment. The first half was neat and probably written by the King's own stenographer but the last half was barely legible and looked like it was written with a bloody talon rather than a quill.

Dear Princess Celestia of the Day and Princess Luna of the Night

As the monarch of the Empire of Gryphonia and its sworn defender, I am closing my country's borders and restricting all travel. I have declared a state of emergency and would ask for your aid but

Time grows short

Overwhelming force

They are comin

FIRE

HELL FOLLOWS HIM

Celestia started to shake. She leaned against her door frame and noticed the dried blood on the edges of the parchment. She looked at Scribbles to see a bloody claw print on her left shoulder.

"Where is the messenger who delivered this letter? I must speak with him."

"He's dead."

Scribbles had a vacant expression on, like she'd just tuned out of the world. She rubbed her shoulder where the messenger had grabbed her and pleaded for her to deliver the letter. She'd seen the light go out of his eyes but the thing that struck her most about him was an even tinier detail. He'd had a Trottingham accent. He was from the same city as she was. Maybe they'd met once before fate intervened and took him hundreds of miles north to serve the Gryphon king. Now he was dead. The billion choices that led him here to die turned Scribbles heart. Like some twisted choose your own adventure book.

Luna walked into the hallway and saw the two standing together.

"Ah, I see someone is up early to enjoy the day? What? What happened?"

Celestia gave her the letter and Luna read it quickly before looking at her sister.

"This is... This is bad. This is from the Gryphon King! He's declared a state of emergency?! We need to bolster our northern border garrisons and do it now.  Celestia, I'll rouse the Generals and tell them where we're getting hit from. You work on getting the battalions back from the Shimmering Islands. That's half our army out there trying to take a couple of old rocks away from some lizards. They don't matter now, Celestia. Celestia!"

"Ponyville isn't safe."

Celestia looked up at her sister with an age of worry in her eyes.

"I need to get the Elements out of there."

Luna stared at her sister before deciding not to argue.

"That's fine. We'll need them safe anyways and it couldn't hurt to have them in Canterlot when the invasion starts. You go do that and the other things I told you and we'll meet in the throne room at noon. Got it?"

"It's just... I didn't really believe Samael when he said- I thought it was just one of his tricks."

"Celestia, you have to either trust him from now on or kill him and be rid of the worry. Listen, we need to move fast. I'll take Scribbles and you raise the sun while you think."

Luna walked past her sister, blinking the sleep from her own eyes. It was late for her but she knew when duty trumped desire. Luna grabbed Scribbles as she walked by the door.

"Come on, we will get you cleaned up first before you have to go back to work... If you're asleep say, ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz."

"ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz."

"Perfect."

Luna threw the mare over her shoulder and galloped down the hall to a washroom.

Celestia was left standing there, furious with herself for trusting that wretched demon and his lies about when the demons would show up. They must have been on Earth long before Samael's supposed ultimatum. She was furious with herself for not getting Twilight and the Elements out of Ponyville sooner. She should have sent a carriage with an armed escort, not a letter. Furious with herself for not acting quicker than her sister.

Pull yourself together, Tia.

She slid down the door frame, sinking to her knees. Her vision blurred as her head swam with thoughts.

Why isn't she here now?  Is she on her way? The train ride takes thirteen hours, she could have left yesterday night. I'll send the carriage to Ponyville anyway. That way she...

Celestia stared across the hallway and her eyes slid into focus.

"Won't have a choice."

Sugarcube Corner positively vibrated with energy. Dinky Hooves, the birthday girl, stood in the centre of the room, at least, she thought it was the centre. She was blindfolded and the room was totally quiet save for the deep hum of a massive thunderhead floating somewhere above her.

Her skin tingled and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She slowly raised her hoof which she knew held a pony's tail. It wasn't real, obviously, and she thought the game Pinkie Pie had suggested was probably for a filly half her age but Pinkie Pie had sworn by it and said it just may surprise her.

She took a tentative step forward and she heard someone in the room take a sharp breath. She took another step and could feel the everyone's eyes on her as she made her way forward. She held out a probing hoof in front of her and felt it hit the wall and something else, papery, beneath her hoof. She brought up the pony tail and pinned it on the paper cut out. The whole room gasped and she slipped off the blindfold to see what the big deal was.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"

In front of her was a picture cut out of her favourite pegasus of legend, Tempest Lance, on the wall in front of her. He was a pony of near mythical status for his many brave and daring feats. He had once defeated a pirate armada all by himself by whipping up a hurricane! Tempest had once even defeated the Dragon King in single combat back when the dragons had kings!

He was Dinky Hooves' favourite pony, outside of her mother, her sister and all her friends of course who all clapped and began singing her a happy birthday while Pinkie Pie wheeled out a gigantic lightning themed birthday cake. The icing looked dark and ominous, not unlike the storm clouds that were brewing near the outskirts of Ponyville. Lightning arced from candle to candle on the cake.

Dinky grinned ear to ear, as did her mother. Derpy's youngest daughter was turning eight.

"Go on, blow out your candles, Dinky!"

Dinky giggled and tried but as lightning does not blow away with a breeze they stayed lit and sparking. Dinky put on a mocking sad face.

"Ahhh, looks like I won't get a birthday wish this year."

She stuck out her tongue and concentrated for a moment. One of the candles shuddered before fizzling out. Derpy beamed at her and her oldest daughter, Sparkler, smiled brightly. Dinky's magic was coming along nicely.

Dinky saw the shorted out candle and gasped and started to spin in circles, trying to see if her cutie mark had appeared. Alas, it hadn't. Applebloom nodded in sympathy.

"That's alright, Dinky, maybe you just need to do all of 'em at once or something."

Applebloom and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were in attendance along with most of Ponyville's youth. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stood in a corner talking about how poorly dressed everyone else was until Silver Spoon walked off to talk to Feather Weight leaving an incredulous Diamond Tiara behind. Spike had opted out of attending the party in the rare event that he had something to do at the library. He had been working on something ever since the telescope from Canterlot had mysteriously gone missing. Twilight suspected he was repairing it and intended to give it to her to cheer her up but she kept up the lie that she had no clue what he was doing or where the telescope had gone.

Also in attendance was the rest of Ponyville's population. Perhaps it was the stress of recent events that made ponies young and old just want to relax and take a load off their minds for a day. Since the national address, everyone had reason to be nervous. Mothers were pulling their sons and daughters out of school. Fathers were starting to take extra time off work to be with their families.

Things were changing in Ponyville. The landscape had changed and ponies were no longer able to come and go as they pleased, nevertheless, Sugarcube Corner had remained open and in business as the Cakes had felt that everypony needed all the good things in life that they could bring, including confections.

Sugarcube Corner always surprised Twilight Sparkle by fitting far more ponies then should be possible. The party had spilled out into the streets and though very few knew the pony of the hour and fewer still had ever cared to, all had come to celebrate a simple birthday.

Twilight chatted and laughed but those who talked to her could tell the mare was stressed out. Most assumed it was recent events or some sort of project she was working on and they weren't too far off.

The only ones who couldn't enjoy themselves, even for a second, were the multitudes of guards who were standing at every street corner and every house. They were carrying spears and rifles. Even Vic had come to the party armed, carrying a long rifle that looked out of place in such a happy occasion. She drew dark looks because of it but most kept their tongues in check and were polite to her. She was joined by her squad mates who had also come to the party armed as they shared in her duty to protect the Elements, each soldier having one element to protect.

"Where have I heard your name before?"

A massive specimen of the pegasus subspecies stood over Rarity, his deep, rock grounding voice reminded her strongly of vodka and gunpowder.

"Well, I did save the world, twice, with my friends."

"No no no... Rarity... AHA! I got it! My sister buys your dresses! My sister, Red Dawn. She lives in Stalliongrad with family. When I was last home she was in ridiculous pink frilly dress that made my eyes hurt. But then again, that may have just been my sister."

"Charming... So sorry, what was your name again?"

"Maximus Shields, heavy weapons expert."

Rarity glance over at the massive sword strapped to his back and nodded.

"I can believe that."

The party was in full swing by now and other fillies and colts were trying the many games Pinkie Pie had set up. She looked on from her chair at the edge of the room, having been prepping this party for days. Her pegasus guard sat next to her, playing with a small thundercloud, tossing it between her cyan hooves. Anyone looking at the pair might think Pinkie Pie was sitting with Rainbow Dash but the guard shucked off her helmet and a short and spiky white mane tumbled out that removed all doubt of her identity.

"Hey, this feels pretty real. How in the world did you get it?"

"Oh? My friend and Dinky's mother, Derpy. She collected all the clouds you see here."

"Must have an affinity for lightning, eh? I'd like to meet her, talk shop you know?"

Pinkie Pie gave her a confused look.

"Sorry, I figured you'd have guessed from the name, Sparks, that I was a combat weather specialist."

Pinkie Pie looked even more confused for a moment before smiling sheepishly at her guard.

"Um, no? I don't know anything about the army."

Sparks frowned and slumped into the table.

"I need to talk to someone who understands me."

"You and me both, sister."

"Eh?"

"Nothing. Heya, Applejack. Heya Derpy! Sooooo, whatcha think?"

Derpy looked around the party and beamed so brightly it lit up Pinkie Pie's face like a sun.

"Ah! I love it! I love every bit of it! The food! The drink! The whole party! Oh, right. Speaking of bits... I can pay you over the next couple of weeks."

Pinkie smiled and waved a hoof at her.

"Don't sweat it. I buy in bulk and a lot of the lightning themed stuff was leftovers from a bachelor party Spike threw. I don't think he understood what Twilight's brother meant by 'electrifying' or 'skin tingling' but he paid for it then gave me what he didn't get to use. So, you don't worry your pretty little head. It's taken care of."

"Thank you! Ohhh!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She pulled Pinkie Pie into a hug and then picked her up and flew her around the room causing a few of the partygoers to duck and laugh at the sight.

Applejack chuckled and adjusted her Stetson. Cuirass coughed and looked on.

What a weird little thing. Both of them are weird in fact. Oh well, glad I got to guard the hot one.

"That was awful generous  of her."

Applejack chuckled and smiled warmly.

"Eeyup. That's Pinkie Pie for ya. She might be a little weird at times, okay a lot weird,  but she really is a sweetheart."

Cuirass nodded, not that he understood but he had a feeling that he didn't want to pursue trying to figure out this pink mare. He looked around the party and sighed. He missed being on leave and this assignment was as close to it as he was likely to get what with the Princesses jumping the moon and calling a state of emergency. He cast his mind forward and his mood soured at all the mind numbing babysitting he was going to do.

Ha! Maybe the wolves will come and I'll get to smash a few heads, turn a few heads, get some... Nah.

Cuirass blinked and noticed Applejack had long since left him standing there and he silently cursed and looked around the party. He spotted her bobbing for apples. She dove her head under the water and his eyes lingered at the sight.

Of course, I can always pass the time in other ways.

He drew in a breath and puffed himself up to his full height of four foot eight inches. He prepped a few lines in his head and took a step towards her before an outstretched hoof caught him in the chest, knocking the ego out of his lungs.

"Oi! Watch it! Oh, hey, Gale. Still, what the fu-"

"Language, Cuirass, this is a kids birthday party."

Gale narrowed his eyes at the smaller pegasus.

"Get my drift?"

Cuirass flared his wings a little but nodded.

"Alright, I get it. I'll wait for a better time."

"Atta boy, Cuirass. Every deployment, eh?"

Cuirass took a step around him and Gale let him go.

"Something to do right?"

Gale frowned and shook his head.

"I've got things to take care of. You take care of your charge and maybe in like three weeks you can think about mounting her, if she lets you."

"Watch it, Gale, this is a kids birthday party."

Gale and Cuirass squared off against each other before going their separate ways.

Scootaloo sat with her friends, smiling and trying to have fun but not really succeeding. She looked at the door for the umpteenth time and sighed.

"He said he'd be here!"

"And I totally am."

She spun to see her brother standing right beside her. She jumped and fell out of her chair.

"Don't scare me like that!"

"What?! First it's, I miss him terribly, now it's, get out of my face?!"

"Oh, hush! You know what I mean."

"I do."

He stuck his tongue out at her and she did the same until it devolved into a silly face contest. Applebloom and Sweetie looked on and chuckled.

"She sure is happy with her brother," said Applebloom.

"Yeah, it's nice to see her like this. You notice she's been getting a lot more... mopy?" Said Sweetie Bell.

"Kind of... we should do something together. Like go on a camping trip or something. Something that families do together."

Sweetie Bell frowned.

"Can't she do that with Gale?"

"Well, he might not be around for very much longer."

"Applebloom!"

"No! I don't mean it like that. I mean, he might not be in Ponyville for very much longer. You've heard the news. The whole army is out and about. How long do you think until he has to go?"

Sweetie Bell put her hoof to her chin, deep in thought.

"Yeah, you're right. Hey! Let's get packing today! We can ask our sisters once we're done. They can't say no to us if we're already packed right?"

Applebloom snickered and buried her face in her juice box.

"Sure they can't. Right, before we do anything, let's ask Scoots about it?"

"Deal."

They interrupted the contest just as it was reaching its zenith to a disappointed Gale who cried, "Just as I had you wriggling in the crushing grip of reason."

"Hey, Scootaloo? Want to go camping?"

Gale bit his lip and folded his legs in front of him.

"I don't that's a very good idea. As in. I really don't think this is, in any way, shape or form, a good idea."

Sweetie Bell put her hooves together, pleading with her eyes as much as her voice.

"Oh, please! We'll be extra careful!"

Applebloom put on the look usually reserved for getting Big Mac to do something for her. It was weapon's grade adorableness.

"We'll get our sisters' permission!"

"Come on, big brother, look at them! They'd be heartbroken if you said no."

Gale melted under so many cute faces leveled at him. He shut his eyes, hoping their influence would break, but no, their hold over him only strengthened as he heard Applebloom sniffle.

"Oh, aright! Fine, fine! Buuuut it has to be in the city limits."

"Awwwww-wait! We can just do it at my farm! Come on girls! Let's go pack!"

They rushed from the table out the door, stopping only for a moment to wish Dinky a happy birthday. Gale chuckled.

I'm so dead.

Rainbow Dash watched the Cutie Mark Crusaders go and had a feeling she should mention something to Applejack before brushing it off.

They can take care of themselves.

Rainbow Dash went back to trying to listen to Zecora who had been talking about her home and where she was to stay now. Rainbow Dash would've offered Zecora her own home in a wing beat but having a house in the clouds prevented her from having too many guests. A striped pegasus in light golden armour stood close by, occasionally joining the conversation but mostly keeping to himself.

"Hey, Zephyr. Could she stay at the guard barracks?"

The striped pegasus smirked.

"Does she want to?"

Zecora frowned and thought about what that statement could mean. She didn't like what he had insinuated but merely replied with a scowl.

"I thought not. I suggest you talk to the Major or the Mayor. They are over there in what seems to be a heated discussion."

The Major was a brawny, thick necked hulk of a stallion who had likely earned his position for thinking he was right and being able to convince others of the same.

"Listen, Madam Mayor, this is a difficult period in time and it will get more difficult if you do not cooperate with me."

"Is that a threat, Major Ass-... Ascent?"

He tilted his head.

"I hope it doesn't have to be."

Rainbow Dash gulped but caught Zecora's eye and nodded. She would help her if needed. They approached the two who were now staring into each other's eyes like they would trade blows at any second. Zecora cleared her throat and got their attention.

"Excuse me, Mayor. I do not mean to interrupt but hear me now and-"

"Be fast, Zebra. The Mayor and I were in the middle of a discussion and I have no time for your rhyming nonsense."

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth and Zephyr, who watched on from afar, tried to imagine a scenario where this didn't go badly.

"I will be abrupt, and I do not remember asking you a thing. Besides, who died and made you king? Now, Madam Mayor, I ask for a place to stay until the forest can be made safe and this whole thing goes away."

The Major made to speak but he was cut off.

"Of course, Zecora, we can accommodate you. Just up the road is a small hotel. It's not fancy, but it's warm and cozy. I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"Ahem, that hotel you decided you have the authority to give a room away to anyone was commandeered to house my operations centre. I happen to sleep there and can't spare any room for any vagabonds looking for a handout."

Rainbow Dash flared her wings, having had enough of the major's attitude. Any insult directed at her friends was one directed at her.

"That's it! I've had enough of you!"

Zephyr, seeing his charge about to do something very foolish, leapt onto the cyan pegasus and held her down, barely, as she tried to pummel the Major into dust. He chuckled.

"I think somepony needs to calm down, lest she spend some time thinking about her actions in a very small place."

"That's enough."

Twilight Sparkle stared daggers into the Major's eyes as did the rest of the room. The children had long been ushered out of the room for fear of them overhearing any foul language that may have come from the argument. With the room a lot quieter than it had been, most of Ponyville had heard the Major's threats and creative language. Not one pony was amused.

"Zecora, you can stay with me, or Applejack, or Fluttershy. In fact, I'm sure if you asked, anyone in Ponyville would take you in. We look after our own, Major Swift. Come on, girls, we're leaving."

With that she stormed out of the room, followed closely by Vic who gave the Major an insultingly curt salute. Applejack shot the Major a dark look before leaving too. Fluttershy turned her nose up to him and stormed out, although, as soon as she left the building she started breathing heavily and clutched her chest to stop her racing heart. Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder while Blizzard, Fluttershy's protector, looked around, a wry smile on his face.

Bon Bon huffed and walked out, followed by Lyra who took the time to write, "Huff," on her notebook before leaving with her. Zecora followed Rainbow Dash out but not before giving the Major a withering glare that unnerved the veteran. He would not live this down.

The rest of the guests filed out until Sugarcube corner was empty save for the Major who by now was thoroughly angry, both with himself and with the people of Ponyville. Especially the Elements.

I'll do my duty to Celestia... and Luna. But by thunder I'll teach these yokels respect.