//------------------------------// // The First Interview // Story: Phoenix Down // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// "So I was interviewed today." "Who was doing the interview? What for?" "Lieutenant Troilus did the interview. I don't really know what the purpose was for it though..." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mention of Lieutenant Troilus perks the ears of every member of the Canterlot Castle Oubliettes and Ogres roleplaying group, and all attention to the game is temporarily dropped as eyes turn to Guard Upper Class Buck Withers, the original speaker. Even Princess Cadance, who was temporarily GMing in place of the suspended Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, peeks over the top of the privacy screen. Buck shrinks back temporarily from all the attention suddenly flung his way. "What in all Equestria could he want to interview you for?" the pegasus Lieutenant Aldebaran snorts out from across the table. He, like most of his pegasus comrades that hadn't soiled themselves by associating with the rebellious ex-Lieutenant Captain Aten, highly resented Troilus for his apparent attempt to run them out of the Royal Guard by throwing out transparently fake charges of subversion to the gossip rags and letting them inflame public opinion. "I don't know. One of his squad members told me they wanted to interview me because I had been a major victim of the Agents of Chaos and that Troilus had no particular animus against earth ponies." Buck replies with a shrug. "In hindsight, I should've listened to the voice inside saying that it was a setup, but I felt I owed it to the Lieutenant Captain to try to help him out, so I said yes to the interview." "And what actually happened during the interview?" Princess Cadance asks as the rest of the ponies at the table - Princess Luna, Lieutenant Aldebaran, Guard Upper Class 8-Bit and Guard Upper Class Gaffer - glare darkly at the suspicion of Troilus' true intentions. "I suppose it would be best if I started at the beginning..." Buck Withers reluctantly starts, describing what had happened in the interview that afternoon... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Lyacon here will be recording everything that is said and done for future reference. Let's start with your name and rank, for the record." Lieutenant Troilus states primly, Guard Upper Class Lyacon seated beside him with parchment and quill pen. Buck was seated opposite Troilus and could see the intense glare drilling into him, as if Buck wasn't being viewed as trusted. "Guard Upper Class Buck Withers, sir." Buck answers, his mouth dry but his stance unflinching despite the glare. "An earth pony stallion, not a common thing in the Royal Guard unless your hometown is Ponyville. Or you have relatives in politics, which I know is true in your case Buck Withers." Troilus states offhandedly. "Yes, sir. My family hails from the Canterlot Valley, and my father represented that area in the Equestrian Congress for..." Buck begins replying, but is cut off when Troilus raises a hoof. "I am well aware of what happened to your family." Troilus comments with slight irritation in his voice. "That despicable pegasus traitor orchestrated the deaths of both of your parents, one of your highschool friends, and came close to taking you with them. I have also lost friends and comrades to their treachery, which is why I reached out to you. To seek your help." "My help, sir?" Buck asks, wondering what exactly Troilus was talking about. "I have no particular animus against earth ponies, and if you perform well in my campaign you could even serve as a Lieutenant of mine, something that will never be available to you as it stands now." Troilus answers. Buck simply gives an aghast look back at Troilus' offer, the only sound briefly being the scratch of quill on parchment by Lyacon. When Buck finally speaks, it is in shock: "That campaign won't ever be sanctioned by Princess Celestia, why...?" Again, Troilus interrupts with a raised hoof, and the look turns more stern as Troilus speaks again: "I know you owe a huge debt to the Princess and the Lieutenant Captain, but you surely are aware that the Lieutenant Captain is in huge trouble. The Wonderbolts associated with those traitors and should've been left to fend for themselves instead of Celestia sending her favorite to protect them, that's why the riot happened! Are you serious in not hedging your bets by joining with me to deliver proper justice to those traitors out in the desert?" "Yes, sir, I am." Buck firmly answers, a determined look forming on his face. This prompts an exchange of looks between Troilus and Lyacon, and then a whispered conversation between them that they apparently thought Buck couldn't hear, but he did anyway: "Why are we wasting our time with him? He's a lowly earther, and owes too much to Shining Armor to ever betray..." "Lyacon, I am not about to give up! There's something else we can press him for anyways." "But sir! Would he even know...?" "He attends that silly group with both of them, I'm sure at least one of them has said something to him." "... Alright, sir, but I still think..." "We have him here, we might as well try." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buck must've made his curiousity a little too obvious, because Troilus gives a deathly serious glare back in his direction, causing Buck to promptly snap back to attention as a result. Troilus clears his throat and uses his unicorn magic to tug at the dress uniform he's wearing, as if trying to straighten it out. An extremely awkward silence follows for a good 15 seconds, eyes of all involved darting around the room seemingly at random. When one pony finally dares to speak, it's Troilus again to Buck, very sternly: "Let me make something very clear, Guard, I want you to ignore whatever you might have heard in conversation between Lyacon and myself. If I hear you have repeated this information to anypony else, I will petition for a court martial for conduct unbecoming a member of the Guard. Are we perfectly clear on this?" "Yes, sir." Buck answers, unnerved slightly and becoming anxious to leave as quickly as possible. "Now, even if you won't join our campaign, there is another way you can help us out, and maybe even get your Lieutenant Captain out of trouble in the process before it all comes to a big hearing nopony particularly wants to go through." Troilus tries again. "Yes sir?" Buck asks with cautious hope. "I want you to learn about what the Lieutenant Captain is doing on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala and report it to me." Troilus firmly answers. "... I'm sorry, sir, did I hear you right that you wanted me to spy...?" Buck asks again with a confounded look on his face. "You don't need to spy, just ask him or Princess Cadance what his duties are that night while you're at O&O club, or whatever it is you do with the two of them, and repeat them to me. You understand?" "... Well sir, I don't know if it will..." "Listen, Guard, you want to help your Lieutenant Captain, right?" "Yes, sir." "And you want to see justice for the Agents of Chaos over what happened to your family and friends?" "...Yes, sir." "Then do what I ask of you. I promise, it will save everypony much trouble and stress if you cooperate." "...Well, I have a club meeting later, I can try..." "Good. Then I am satisfied. This interview is over, you may leave." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The remaining members of the Oubliettes and Ogres club give glances suggesting the same thing - a dark intent on Troilus' part. Nopony speaks for a minute though, until Princess Luna finally decides to try: "I do not like this, or trust what the Lieutenant is up to is really in the best interest of everypony involved." "I completely agree." Princess Cadance affirms, turning her gaze toward Buck as she continues peeking over the DM screen. The gazes of the other members of the club quickly follow hers. "Buck, I want you to take this as a direct order from myself and from Princess Luna." Cadance begins in a very firm tone, reminiscent of the times she had to be stern with a foalsitting charge in her teen years. "DO NOT tell Troilus ANYTHING. If he corners you and demands answers, just say that the assignment hasn't been given out yet, that oughta keep him off your back - and ours. Got it?" "Yes, ma'am." Buck Withers replies with a practiced salute. "Good, alright, I think we've got this situation under control. Let's get back to the game. Roll for initiative." Princess Cadance comments, settling back behind the GM screen as the tense mood starts to calm down again...