City of Brass

by Beegirl Scribbler

Chapter One: Preparations

For the first time in many, many years, the streets of Canterlot's Second District have fallen into a deep silence. Not a peep can be heard. Neither a corrupt guard's bored whistle nor an unwary tourist's cries for help are to be encountered by a wandering writer's eager eardrums. A cricket, dying of being trodden upon by the hoof of a monk who has taken a vow of solitude and quiet, making a choking chirp to challenge this churlish chapter of Canterlot, can be heard loud and clear over the deafening din of the Second District's unprecedented hush.

The citizens of Canterlot certainly don't like to talk about the Second District. Those of Ponyville and similar frontier towns tend to enjoy chuckling over any tidbit of gossip that challenges Canterlot's unending assertions of superiority, but those who live nearby prefer to feign ignorance. Surely, these amused claims that the second of Canterlot's three districts is so unpleasant can only be madness, nonsense spewed from the mouths of uneducated rednecks.

Not even a silver wyrm as bright and shining as Canterlot can lack any sort of stolen horde to sleep upon, of course. This is understood. The Second District overcomes such understandings by being so reliably corrupt that one could set one's watch by it were it not for the fact that it is unpleasant every moment of every day and night.

Which brings us back to the point. The District is quiet. And this is remarkable.

——

Fancypants frowned at the five sheets of parchment before him. Each page was covered with identical near-illegible scribblings.

“Hm.”

Rarity beamed. “Is it not absolutely fabulous?”

They were in her room at Canterlot Castle. Fancypants understood that she and several of her friends were staying here, awaiting the passing of another test issued to Princess Celestia's star pupil.

Rarity had called him over a few hours ago, saying she'd taken his advice and begun to keep a journal. It was approaching evening now, but he'd obliged. It was good that she'd begun to look into alternate means of self-expression (not to mention employment), given the recent unfortunate incident back at Ponyville.

This hadn't been exactly what he'd expected.

Fancypants leafed through the papers. Most of the writings were full of the frivolities his esteemed acquaintance tended to focus on, and every subject had been shoved between the same painfully purple prose. But this last page—from the current night—disturbed him.

He glanced around. Rarity's room was split into two halves: one lavishly decorated and very neat, and containing a great deal of luggage. The other was slightly messy, but it contained very little. Only a small bed, in which now slept a yellow pegasus mare.

He turned back to Rarity, who was still grinning. He coughed. “Ah, Rarity, this is just a bit concerning.”

Her grin faded. “Why? What? Is something the matter with it?”

“Not exactly.” Magically adjusting his monocle, Fancypants turned and looked out the window. “The writing itself shows some potential, though I believe you find yourself too easily bogged down in metaphors and, ah, purple prose.”

“Oh, but I adore...um, right, of course, not the...” Fancypants heard Rarity tapping the floor. “...not the color. Silly of me.”

“Yes, I would suggest you stop using the violet ink as well. But that isn't my concern.” Fancypants looked back at Rarity. She appeared a little crushed—perhaps not used to her work being criticized. “Your work mentioned something that has me just a bit worried. Your words on the Second District.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.” Fancypants lowered his voice as Rarity's friend stirred in her sleep. “I may have to send a chap down there to investigate.”

Rarity blinked. “Have I uncovered something?”

“Hm. Not to worry!” Fancypants tried to look a bit brighter. “I'll not send anypony I value too highly.” He winked. “I'm quite certain it's nothing. But the Second District is very rarely as quiet as you write.”

He lowered the book onto Rarity's dresser and headed for the door. “I'll see to it that it's addressed. And you'll have a more comprehensive review in the morning!”

“Of course.”

——

Rarity watched the door close, feeling very uneasy. She wasn't sure why. The Second District was a villainous hive, but it had never before started more than a few riots. Surely its silence could only be a good thing.

She glanced out the window. It was a beautiful night. The stars shone humble against the endless blue expanse, and the moon was dark. Luna had the flu, or so the rumors had stated, and Celestia was unwilling to delve too deep in Luna's domain now that she'd returned. But the darkness only further accentuated the stars above, in Rarity's opinion.

She gave a faint smile. It was a beautiful night. A beautiful night to spend with—

“He's scared.”

Rarity let out an "Eep!" as she jumped and turned. Fluttershy was awake, eying the door. “What's that, darling?”

The pegasus sat up in her bed, wrapping a blanket around herself. “Um..." She looked away from Rarity's curious gaze. "One time, I was with Angel Bunny in the Everfree Forest.”

Rarity frowned. “Fluttershy, you really shouldn't go there at all. It's a most unpleasant area. Not fitting for one of your...um...”

She looked away, scratching her head. “Not that I mean to say...well, it's just...”

Fluttershy went on, ignoring Rarity's fumbling. “We went a bit too far picking berries, and Angel suddenly got really tense." She pulled the blanket tighter. "I...I think we were in a part of the Forest he hadn't been in before."

"You should never—"

"He tried to act brave, but I could tell he was scared. He hurried me out of there." After a moment's thought, Fluttershy shrugged. "We lost our berries.”

She lay on her belly. “He looked like Fancypants does now.”

Rarity looked back up into Fluttershy's calm blue eyes. “You...think Fancypants has been frightened by something.” She thought little of the theory, and her tone reflected that despite her best efforts. Fluttershy winced and curled up in the bed, looking at her pillow.

Rarity's eyes widened. Her heart sank. There I go again, driving her into her shell. I am the very worst of friends. “Oh, I'm sorry.”

"Um, it's fine."

"No..." Rarity took a step toward her best friend, then stopped. I'm too scared. I'm certain Rainbow Dash never has this trouble with Pinkie Pie. I am such a dreadful friend. “I...well, I hardly mean to contradict you, but...”

“No, it's fine.” Fluttershy lay back down, and closed her eyes. “I, um, must have been wrong. He just seemed scared.”

Rarity frowned. She levitated the papers she'd showed to Fancypants into a drawer, then got into her bed.

Nonsense, she thought. A bit of peace and quiet never hurt anypony.

——

Meddling Mingli's Measured Magics was generally a fairly safe shop. Relatively speaking. It was in the Second District, after all.

Certainly, there had been unfortunate incidents. The time Mingli had put the Alicorn Amulet in the hooves of a bitter unicorn showmare tended to stick in his mind, for instance.

Now closing up for the night, he shrugged. I knew that device was trouble the minute I got hold of it. Still, it did get me a fair penny.

Not that he was so easily bought for the truly dangerous items, of course. The Alicorn Amulet wasn't so...dangerous. It was just a bit feisty when...

He chuckled, adjusting his spectacles. Who am I fooling? The Alicorn Amulet's most definitely the nastiest item I've ever got in here. Thank goodness he's gone.

He turned the OPEN/CLOSED sign over in his teeth and set it back against the door. And he nearly jumped out of his hide.

A bedraggled blue unicorn mare stood right outside.

Well, well, well. He adjusted his spectacles, grinning. Think of the Nightmare, and it shall appear.

He unlocked the latch and opened the door. “Good evening, traveler. I fear we've just closed.”

Trixie scowled. Her pale mane was wet and ragged, and she was missing both cape and hat. “Good evening, Meddle.”

“Ah, I prefer Mingli.” The shopkeeper shrugged, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, to what do I owe this hilariously unwelcome visit?”

“The Humble and Sympathetic Trixie—”

“Beg pardon?”

Trixie's eyes narrowed further. “I am not here to make trouble.”

“Well, that works out tidily, as I am not planning on allowing you to do so!” Mingli started to close the door.

The silver-maned unicorn cast a hoof to the streets behind her. “She would wish to take a walk with you.”

“Really.” Mingli filled his voice with skepticism.

“Trixie does not intend subterfuge!”

“Then 'Trixie' must be going by the wrong name.” Mingli adjusted his spectacles. “As I recall, the real Trixie tried to steal my amulet, then purchased it and broke the door on her way out. Then she got me—sorry, the Shifty and Dubious Mingli—in quite a bit of trouble when she attacked the Princess's favorite pupil with merchandise provided by him (Mingli, that is to say).”

“I did not—” Trixie cleared her throat. “I have a business proposition that could stand to benefit us both. Substantially.”

“Interesting. Wait, my mistake, it's not interesting in the least bit.” Mingli straightened his cap. “Why would I trust you at all?”

Trixie levitated something out of her bag: a tiny, shiny ruby. She set it on a shelf next to the door. Mingli looked at it, and his eyes widened.

He looked back at Trixie with a friendly (and very false) grin. “Allow the Shifty and Dubious Mingli to accompany the Great and Powerful Trixie on a most enjoyable stroll through the Second District.”

——

“And you believe you can procure more of these fire rubies?”

“Trixie does not think. Trixie knows." Trixie and Mingli were taking a simple walk around the block. This part of the Second District wasn't usually too dangerous, but it was best not to take chances. Especially given how little they liked one another.

Trixie shook her head, continuing. "She will, however, require equipment from your store.”

“The more you speak in that ridiculous 'third equine' manner, the less enthusiastic I feel about this project.”

Trixie closed her eyes, struggling to contain her irritation. "It's a habit, nothing more. I have learned my lesson."

"You do not learn, Trixie. You pretend. I doubt you've the vaguest notion as to what humility actually is!" Meddling Mingli gave a faint giggle. "Humble and Sympathetic. Such garbage! The only sympathy you get is from fellow rats."

"As if you've ever shown any compassion for anything that couldn't exterminate you."

"At least I know how to smell the poison. You'll eat whatever's shown to you. No caution." Mingli grinned, adjusting his spectacles. He peered beyond to the dark street they traveled beside. "Too self-absorbed to realize there even is an exterminator. After all, who would ever want to be rid of the Great and Powerful..."

Scowling, Trixie increased her pace, moving ahead of Mingli a bit. The last thing she wanted was to hear criticism from his sort.

This project had all the makings of a disaster, she knew. Any project that depended on somepony as unreliable as Mingli bore that flaw. The shopkeeper feared her, and he tended to sabotage those he feared. And he was far too afraid of the law for her liking.

Not that this caper was strictly illegal, of course. Trixie had learned her lesson from the recent debacle in Ponyville. Nopony would get hurt. It was just a very dangerous mission that would require some dubious equipment to work.

And as long as she could avoid getting analyzed by Meddle, the caper could give her prospects a substantial boost. And any boost was something sorely needed right now.

Trixie rounded the street corner, still deep in thought, and realized she wasn't alone.

There were seven muggers present. Five earth ponies, two pegasi. They all were armed, though the weapons varied from crossbows to broken signposts. In addition, three of the earth ponies wore armor.

Trixie glanced behind her. Mingli was approaching, rummaging in one of his pockets with his snout. She tried to signal to him to stay put, but he didn't notice.

She turned back to the muggers. Their leader was approaching—a beige pegasus with a black eye. Unfortunately, Trixie recognized him, which was a sure sign she'd spent far too long in this district. "Good evening, Boiling Point."

"It's Boil to you, unicorn." Boil's eyes narrowed. "We met?"

"Trixie may have seen you around."

"Who are you—" Mingli came around the corner and froze. "Oh, dear."

Boil spat out a cube of salt. “Well, well, well.” His eyes narrowed. “Trixie Lulamoon.”

Mingli's eyes darted between Trixie and the gang. “Ah, we appear to have made friends.”

“Certainly not." Trixie kept her gaze firmly on Boil as Mingli moved to stand beside her. "Trixie does not consort with reactionaries."

“Oh, yeah?” The pegasus raised an eyebrow. “Word's about you picked a fight with our favorite Princess's..." He paused, spitting again. Several of the other muggers spat as well. "...with her favorite little 'proteege'. That sounds like a reaction to me."

Trixie scowled. She glanced at Mingli. "Boiling Point is eager to interpret any act which irritates the Princess as an act of rebellion."

"Ah..." Mingli adjusted his spectacles. "Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to humor the pegasus with the spear?"

He gave a nervous chuckle. "After all, he does have a spear.

Trixie raised an eyebrow. "And what is wrong, shopkeeper? Afraid of a skirmish?"

"Just like a unicorn," Boil growled, "lookin' to involve others in her fight."

"And you seek to fight Trixie seven against one!" Trixie scowled at the pegasus. "And you call her the coward?"

"Like you'd fight fair."

"Like you know the meaning of the word!"

"I oughta—"

A voice sounded from across the street. “Gentlecolts, please!"

Trixie and the rest turned to see a pair of yellow, scarlet-maned unicorns stepping out from the shade of a nearby alleyway. They each wore matching straw hats and striped blue-and-white shirts. One of them had a handlebar mustache; the other was clean-shaven. Both were grinning.

“Well, what have we here, Flam?” the clean-shaven pony asked.

“Flim, I believe their sort call this a 'mugging'.”

“Hm.” Flim sniffed, tilting his head. “Crude term, but I suppose it's serviceable."

“Yes, quite so.” Flam rolled his eyes. "One can hardly expect much of their sort, of course."

"Of course."

Boiling Point glared. “What d'you want, unicorns?”

“Oh, nothing at all. We're just taking a trot outdoors, enjoying the fresh air...” Flam chuckled. “Oh, and my brother and I thought you might want to know a patrol of guards is headed your way."

Everypony stood still.

“Might want to clear off if you've issues with them,” Flim added.

Boil looked at his compatriots. He started to speak, then fell silent. He looked back at Trixie, eyes narrowed. "Okay. You get a pass this once. It happens again—"

"Hoi! Boil!"

The eleven ponies looked up, and Trixie spotted a dark pegasus mare circling overhead. The pegasus winked at them and flew over to land on a nearby roof. “He's full of it!" She leaned over the edge, grinning. "There's no guards anywhere near us. Smooth sails, Boil!"

Flim adjusted his shirt collar. Flam did the same.

"Oddest thing," Flam muttered.

"Must have cleared off," Flim murmured.

"Nice night, isn't it?"

"Yes, very—ah." Flim fell silent as a spear point was jabbed right at his throat.

Boil grinned. “Oh, it's odd, alright." He raised the spear over his head. “That was a real bad move."

Flim and Flam gave identical nervous laughs. Boil's eyes narrowed. "Pray to your precious pony princess, unicorn." With an indistinct shout, he brought the spear down.

Trixie reflexively averted her gaze. But she didn't hear what she expected. Indeed, she didn't hear anything. She looked back up.

The spear point was inches away from Flim's head, but it was not going any closer. It was as if an invisible claw had grabbed hold, and no matter how hard Boil struggled, he couldn't complete the blow. "What in..." He looked around, eyes widening. "Who's doing this stupid—"

His eyes flashed gold. He vanished.

The disappearance happened without a sound. Besides the eyes' flashing, there had been no effects. Trixie knew magic. This hadn't been a teleportation—at least, not one she recognized.

Where Boil had stood now lay a common brass lamp. Everypony stared at it. A few seconds passed, in perfect silence.

Boil suddenly reappeared on the ground next to the lamp. He was now hugging his sides, shuddering uncontrollably.

"Hey!" the pegasus mare above shouted. "Boil! You okay?" Boil didn't say anything. He stared at the lamp, looking utterly terrified, and slowly edged away.

Trixie felt as if a skewer had gone straight through her stomach.

She fell to the ground, letting out a cry. She knew this feeling. She'd only felt this sick once before, when she'd first donned the Alicorn Amulet. It was the feeling of alien magic.

“Trixie?” Mingli asked. “What's—”

There was a flash.

It wasn't very bright. Trixie wasn't sure if it was just her, or if everypony had seen it. Perhaps it was just a symptom of the sickness.

But the nausea had faded. And when she looked up, the lamp had been replaced with a pony.

The pony's coat was a pale metallic gold, as were his eyes. He had a messy silver mane, though his face was oddly youthful. On his flank was the image of a plain brass lamp.

On his back sat a strange lizard-like creature. It had extremely large eyes, a wide grin, and six sinewy legs. Something about the creature made Trixie want to avert her gaze, and she did so. The pony was a good deal more interesting. He grinned, looking at those around him. “Ah! Excellent!"

He tapped the ground with a hoof. "You're all here."

Trixie looked around, hearing voices. Ponies were beginning to appear out of thin air. Many of them looked like they'd just been in bed, and they all looked extremely confused.

Bilious Brass raised an eyebrow. “Well, you all know who I am, so I don't see much point in dilly-dallying.”

Trixie started. Why do I know his name?

“I'm here to help you.” Bilious looked around and frowned. The cobblestone beneath him rose slightly, putting him above all those present. Trixie noticed a few pegasi falling to the ground, including the watchmare.

Bilious's grin widened to unhealthy proportions. “I'm here to make things as they're supposed to—hey!”

Behind him, one of the muggers was loading a crossbow. Trixie watched as the crossbow seemed to...break apart. All its pieces stayed together, but they looked like they'd been put back like a puzzle. The mugger blinked.

Then, the pieces separated and flew upwards, instantly warping back together to form a sphere around the mugger's head. There were only three tiny holes at the top for air.

Bilious giggled. “Anypony else want to try that?”

After a moment of silence, Flim and Flam stepped forward. “Who are you?” Flim asked.

Trixie cleared her throat, unwilling to be outdone. “Indeed. Your name explains nothing, so who do you think—”

She found she couldn't speak. His horn isn't glowing, she thought, mind racing. I've never seen these spells before! What is this? Who's the caster?

Bilious loomed over Trixie. He wasn't especially large (in fact, he was a bit smaller than average), but the pillar allowed him to tower above her. “Well, then. If my name has failed to make plain my purpose, I suppose I'll have to pick up the slack. Cue it, mares and gentlecolts.”

He hopped off the pillar, grinning, and started to sing.

He walked around Trixie, forcing her to turn to keep an eye on him.

He turned and jabbed Mingli in the chest.

He leaned in and whispered in the shopkeeper's ear. Despite the distance, Trixie could hear his words clearly.

Mingli leaped away, eyes narrowed. Bilious Brass shrugged.

A blast of dark energy issued from Brass's horn, sending Mingli flying through a nearby window.

Brass began strutting through the crowd. Ponies were giving him quite a wide berth now.

He beamed at Boiling Point. The pegasus cringed away, falling over on his back. Brass turned and started bouncing down the street, smirking.

Flim stepped forward. “And where will we stand?”

Flim and Flam flew up into the air, and they began to spin wildly above Brass's head.

Flim and Flam landed on either side of Brass as he leaped high over the other ponies' heads. Suddenly, all the buildings were ablaze. Over screams and shouts, he continued.

The flames died, and thousands of golden bits shot out from the tops of the houses and fell into the crowd. Excited shouts sounded as some of the ponies started scrambling for all they could reach—while others simply watched Brass in awe.

Trixie headed over to where Mingli had been thrown. She paused, glancing back. Boil was getting up and laughing. “Yeah! Be prepared! We'll be prepared, alright.”

Flim cocked his head. “For what?”

Brass turned to him, eyes swirling. “For the signal I'll bring!”

Boil blinked. “Oh, y'gonna light a fire?”

Brass's eyes narrowed to slits. “No, you idiot, a different sort of signal. The coming of your civil war.”

“Great idea!” Boil beamed. “We'll burn down that stupid unicorn castle!” He bounced up and down, giggling. Trixie turned away as he started to sing to himself. He must be concussed.

“You idiot!” Brass snapped. “You don't want to win the war!”

“Hey, but you said, uh—”

“The war is a diversion for a greater war! A war for justice! Stick with me, and you'll never have to set hoof in this ghetto again!”

“Alright!” Trixie heard Boil cheer. “Long live Bilious Brass!”

She crept into the house as the crowd echoed Boil's shout. A battered Mingli was already getting to his hooves. “We've got to get to my shop,” he hissed.

“Long live Bilious Brass!”

"Right." Trixie's horn glowed, and a small invisibility spell fell over the two of them. They ran back out as the ponies Brass had gathered began to sing. The ponies were banging their weapons against the ground, enforcing a harsh beat.

Trixie and Mingli ran down the street. She heard Brass's voice from high above.

Trixie tripped, falling to the ground. She saw Mingli hurry ahead and open the door to his shop.

Trixie got to her hooves. She felt something rush by her, and there was a yellow flash from inside the shop.

Propelled by a glob of yellow energy, Mingli went flying from the door. Bilious trotted out of the shop and turned to Trixie.

She bolted to Mingli, levitated him with her magic, and ran. She wasn't too far from the entrance to the First District. If she could just get clear...

Trixie felt Mingli wriggle free of her telekinetic grip—already a bit weak, as telekinesis was hardly her forte—and heard him land behind her. She turned, eyes wide.

“Go!” he shouted, not looking her in the eye. He reached into his pocket, and procured a strange winged device in his teeth. He shouted something illegible.

“I—”

He flung the device from his mouth, and it flew into the air, streaking straight towards Brass. “Get word out!”

Trixie turned and ran.

She heard an explosion, and she felt a crossbow bolt puncture her side. Finding it didn't hurt as much as she would have expected, she just kept running.

Trixie swerved to the side, dodging another bolt by luck. The gate was in sight...

Trixie's horn glowed. She felt another bolt graze her neck, but it didn't matter. Eyes glowing faintly, she focused her magic on the gate ahead.

A hole appeared in the steel bars, and Trixie tumbled through. She crashed into the cobblestone street beyond.

She blacked out.