How the Tables Turn

Phoenix waited at the front of the crowd gathered in the cafeteria. He was just behind the long rectangular table, sitting on his haunches on the very edge of the room. He eyed the stage, waiting for a moment that was sure to come. Sure enough, two unicorn guards strode onto the stage, combining their magic to project Mistress’ voice across the room.

Phoenix shifted his gaze to the opposite side of the room. Ashes sat in the same position, waiting for Phoenix’s cue.

“Ponies of the Underground, may I have your attention, please?”

Phoenix gave a small nod. He ducked down, crawling under the table before him. Ashes did the same on the other side. They swiftly made their way to the stage, not noticed by the guards, who focused their attention on the center of the room where most of the ponies were gathered.

They stopped before the stage, ducking low. Ponies in the audience noticed them and began murmuring to each other. Some of them were glancing between the guards and the two ponies.

Phoenix nodded again, and the two of them swiftly hopped onto the stage and broke into a silent gallop to the two guards. Each one of them met a guard in a tackle and swiftly bit down on their horns. Mistress’ voice was stifled, replaced by silence as the guards cried out in pain. Phoenix and Ashes bit down harder. Pain shot through the guards’ bodies like lightning, and their cries of pain became subtle whimpers. After a few moments, they became limp, sinking into unconsciousness. Phoenix and Ashes let up on their horns, and moved to the middle of the stage.

“No turning back now,” Phoenix stated with a smirk. “It’s freedom or death.”

Ashes met him with a smirk of her own, and they turned to the crowd. Everypony stared at the two of them in shocked silence.

“Everypony. You have all been joined under the tyranny of Mistress for too long. We have been far too lenient. Look at you. You are all scarred, broken, miserable. Is this really how you want to live your life? Because this is your chance to escape. This is your chance to move to a higher calling. This is your chance. We outnumber the guards greatly. We outmatch the powers that Mistress has. She has magic, but we have strength. If we can work together, we can be free. So who’s with me?”

Silence.

Ponies in the audience took a collective step back, some shaking their heads. All but one. One pony stood out in the audience, one that watched sadistically, enjoying the show of Phoenix’s failure.

Ashes stepped forth, taking over the speech Phoenix had started.

“Remember the ponies from Tuesday? The ones who flew? The ones who took it upon themselves to put smiles on all your faces for the first time in Celestia only knows how long? A group of guards swung by yesterday, no doubt sent by Mistress herself. They brought the two of them in the hallway and ripped all their feathers out. One of them would’ve bled to death if I hadn’t done something about it. If we don’t get her out of here, she’ll die anyway.

“What did they do to deserve this? They put a smile on your faces, and in return, one of them loses their life? I’ve heard it said that no good deed goes unpunished. But, I’d say that’s one hell of a price to pay. Don’t you?”

A collective shout came from the audience, all brought together in mutual agreement, all but one pony, who watched in silent fury.

“Are you going to let them suffer any longer?”

Another collective shout.

“Then stand up and fight. If you won’t do it for yourselves, then do it for those who are getting dragged down with us. Who’s with me?”

Phoenix stared proudly on Ashes as the crowd rushed forth, breaking the rectangular tables and joining them on the stage. They all had fire in their eyes and in their hearts, ready to stand up for the ones who had shown them an act of kindness, one of the few that they had been lucky enough to receive.

Their shouts began to die down, some of them noticing a sound that didn’t belong. After a few short moments, the shouts were gone, replaced by something slightly distant and fully skeptical.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

A clearing formed in the crowd, allowing Phoenix and Ashes a space to look through.

One mare stood in the center of the cafeteria, clapping slowly, but with a piercing glare plastered onto her face.

“Utterly stirring, yes. You did a good job.” The mare got to her hooves and began slowly trotting towards the stage, joined by guards slowly filing in from the hallways. “But, I’m afraid all good things must come to an end. You see, there’s a reason Mistress knew about that flight show. And here’s why.” The mare put on a smirk as she trotted forth. Before their eyes, the mare seemed to shift and change, her features blending into new ones. Her mane and tail grew longer and became unkempt and black. Her scars melted away, and her coat became, if at all possible, a more sickly white. Her face shifted, her snout shortening, her eyes becoming cold and snakelike, her cheeks becoming slender.

Her cutie marks faded away, and were replaced by iron hooves.

The guards met up with her, flanking her, their horns flaring, conjuring knives from thin air. Four pegasi trotted out to the front of the group, armed with serrated wingblades, and crouched down, poised for takeoff.

“Kill them all.”