How the Tables Turn

Phoenix awoke to knocking on the front door. He opened his eyes and found his face inches from Ashes’. She was still asleep. She looked so peaceful when she slept. It was angelic. It made him happy.

He got out of bed carefully, making sure not to wake Ashes. It was a difficult feat, but he managed it eventually. The knocking sounded again. Phoenix swiveled around, checking again to make sure the knocking hadn’t pulled Ashes from her slumber, but she remained peaceful as ever.

He trotted silently from the room and answered the door. A guard stood there, waiting for him. Apparently he was just about to knock again, because he had his hoof raised. He placed it upon the ground.

“Can I speak to the rookies Rainbow and Yellow?”

“What for?”

“I’m not supposed to tell you until after I speak to them.”

“Something tells me you’re about to do more than just speak to them.”

The guard removed his sunglasses, revealing a menacing pair of red eyes staring at him through narrow lids. “Alright, let’s put it this way then. You have a choice. Either you get the two rookies to speak with me here in the hallway, or I personally take you to the Dark Corridor, strap you down, and leave you there while I speak to them, and then I come back and make your day the most miserable one you can imagine. Your call. I’m talking to them either way.”

Phoenix regarded him through narrowed eyes of his own, his blue providing a stark contrast to the guard’s red. After a moment, he stepped aside and let the guard in. Phoenix considered intervening more forcefully, but he knew it would only make it worse for everypony. He didn’t care if he was hurt, as long as nopony else was, but if he was stubborn now, they would probably take some of their frustration out on Dash and Kicker.

“Well? Where are they?”

“I’ll get them.”

He started with Rainbow Dash. He trotted into Dash’s room, closing the door behind them. He shook Dash awake and spoke in a harsh whisper.

“Wake up, Dash. There’s a guard out there who wants to-“ he made air quotations with his hooves”- speak with you. I don’t know what he wants, but you probably won’t like it. I’m sorry, but if I was stubborn about it, they probably would only hurt you worse.”

“I thought you said you were going to protect me.” Rainbow sounded hurt and scared. Phoenix drew her into a hug.

“I know, and it may not seem like it now, but by doing this, I am protecting you. I’m not sure if they’re going to hurt you or not, but if they are, then like I said, being stubborn would only make it worse. I’m sorry, Rainbow, but I guess there’s no avoiding it.”

Rainbow nodded, obviously still feeling betrayed, but those thoughts were repressed by the compassion he was showing now.

“We’ll take care of you, Rainbow. Don’t forget that. Now, I have to go wake Kicker, he wants something with her, too.”

He ended the hug, trotting to the door. He opened it and walked through, followed by the nervous Pegasus he had awoken.

Phoenix walked through the door of the room shared by Kicker and Sunbeam. Strangely, they had cuddled into each other at some point. Phoenix suppressed the thought, waking up Kicker while trying not to wake up Sunbeam. He succeeded, though it was only temporary. He whispered the same explanation to her.

Kicker seemed to take it better, accepting the turmoil with a dejected nod. “Tell him I’ll be there in a second.”

Phoenix turned to leave, not exactly wanting to know why Kicker hadn’t been startled by her position. He trotted into the living room, observing the guard who had replaced his sunglasses.

“You’re not going to hurt them, right?”

“Why does that matter to you?”

Phoenix opened his mouth to retort, but closed it immediately. Had it been any other circumstances, he would’ve responded with ‘Because they’re my friends!’ But these were guards we were talking about. Friendships were just another weakness. He cast an apologetic glance towards Dash, who was looking more betrayed than ever. He hoped she didn’t think she wasn’t his friend. She was, and he made a mental note to make sure she knew that when she returned.

Kicker trotted into the living room, giving the guard an irritated glare. “What do you want?”

“Snarky, huh? That’s an attitude that’ll get you hurt in here.”

“And I’m supposed to care?”

The guard chuckled. He removed his sunglasses a second time, facing Kicker with an evil grin. “Listen up, ‘cause I’m only gonna tell you this once, and it’s for your own good. In exactly three days’ time, your flank is mine. You’re gonna get locked in a room, strapped to a table, and whatever guard gets your name gets to do whatever he wants to you. That can be taken a number of ways, none of which are good for you. I’m requesting you specifically, so if you want any sympathy, you’ll fix your attitude. Capiche?” He spoke in the manner of a father scolding a foal.

Kicker only chuckled, and met him with a grin just as menacing. “You really think that prospect scares me, don’t you? I’ve had years of Royal Guard training, training that consists of many different fighting styles, mastery of many different weapons, but, most importantly, escaping situations an awful lot like the one you’re describing. And, since it sounds to me like these doors are locked from the outside, it’s only the better for me, because that means once I’ve got your keys, your flank is mine. That, my friend, is what I like to call ‘turning the tables’. Sound like fun?”

Phoenix stared in shock. Speaking to a guard like that was going to get her killed! “Umm, K-Yellow? You really ought to tone it down a bit. That’s a guard you’re speaking to, and even if what you’re saying is true, you’re outnumbered. Greatly.”

Kicker continued to stare at the guard, her eyes and face dripping with malice. It was a battle of pride, albeit a small one, but nonetheless, one that a Kicker couldn’t afford to lose. To lose would be a weakness on her part. She would not be the one to break eye contact first.

Finally, the guard sighed in annoyance, breaking eye contact and hoofing over the win, now speaking to Kicker and Rainbow both. “Come with me. And, Yellow, I wouldn’t try something like that again if I were you. You’re asking for trouble, and you’re in enough already.” Kicker and Rainbow exchanged worried glances as they followed the guard into the hallway. Rainbow spoke before they followed the guard outside.

“What the hay was that? Are you trying to get us killed?” Rainbow threw a hoof into the air, smacking Kicker in the face. “Don’t screw anything else up. I don’t know about you, but I want to get out of here, and I don’t want to be in a wooden box when it happens.” With that, she turned tail and trotted into the hallway. Kicker raised a hoof to her face, stroking the spot where Rainbow smacked her. It was then that she understood.

They knew about her Guard training now.

She really was asking for trouble.