Starlight Glimmer's Diary Day 407
This morning I was awoken with a shake which was far from gentle. My vision impaired by sleep and fatigue, I could only see the form of my assailant. In a moment of panic and instinct, I used my magic to pin my attacker against the wall. Adrenaline flowed into me as I jumped from my bed, and all my fatigue disappeared.
"Starlight!" the pony said. "It's me!" With my vision restored, I saw that the pony shaking me was, in fact, Cinnamon. She was looking at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. I let my spell dissipate before rushing over to her.
"Cinnamon, I am so sorry," I told her.
"S-S-Starlight," Cinnamon said. Her voice was shaking as she tried to speak, and I could hear the fear in it. "A-a-are you okay?"
I sighed heavily. "Yes. I am alright, just... stressed."
"But why did you attack me?" Her eyes briefly darted to my cutie mark, which was still an equal sign from last night's makeup.
"I don't know why, but will you please forgive me?"
"O-of course!" she exclaimed. "I-I understand that you're stressed, no problem. I promise."
After a few moments, my curiosity got the better of me. "Cinnamon," I started, "why did you wake me up?"
"It's Twilight," she informed me.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked. If something happened to her, all my plans would be ruined.
"She is beginning to freak out. She's been shouting at me through the door, and was beginning to buck the door before I left."
"Let's hurry then." I expertly applied a fresh coat of makeup before rushing towards Cinnamon's house. As I opened the door, I heard the voice of a certain alicorn crying to be let out.
"Cinnamon, you must stay out here. Do not listen in," I commanded her. "This will probably take some time."
"O-of course," she replied. "I have some errands to run anyways. I'll just come back later." Cinnamon left her own house in record time.
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the room and put up a bubble of silence. Twilight was watching the door intently. As soon as she saw me, the shouting stopped. She seemed to have healed nicely from her injuries, and looked to be nearly entirely healthy.
"Good morning, Twilight," I greeted her with a smile. "I heard you were being troublesome?
"I want out," she demanded.
I paused for a second. "You know why I can't let you out. Not until I do some... unfinished business."
Twilight's shoulders slumped slightly, but quickly righted themselves. "Do you really think this is right, forcing ponies to accept your detrimental ideas?"
"Detrimental? No, they aren't detrimental. But you won't see that, will you?" I mused aloud. Snapping back to reality, I addressed her again. "Twilight, you will stop this foolishness, now."
"Or else what?" she asked. "You've already taken everything from m---"
For the second time that day, I had a young mare pinned against the wall. Twilight showed less fear than Cinnamon had, but I know that was just a front.
"What can I do?" I slowly approached Twilight, my face in a sneer. "I will do everything I can do make ponies see the truth, something you seem unable to take!" I was in front of her now. I forced her down onto her knees, and looked down at her. "You will do as I say or else I will do what I have to." I let the spell go, and turned around. I was about to close the door when I turned back and gave her a final command. "I hope I won't hear of you being troublesome again."
With that, I left. My bubble of silence popped before I got out of the house. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a guardspony attempting to remain inconspicuous while watching me. With a grimace, I returned home to get ready for the day. After another hour, I was ready.
I walked out and found Double Diamond talking with some ponies and holding a bag. He saw me walk out of the house and gave me a nod. I returned inside, and waited. After five minutes, Double Diamond knocked on my door. After letting him inside, I went straight to business.
"How did your research go?" I asked.
"It went well," he answered. "I think I may have found a way to... handle, Rainbow. Until she is one of us, of course."
"Of course. What have you come up with?"
"If we can convict her of a crime, it will provide the reason we need to keep her here in one of the prison houses."
"That won't work. We can't have investigators here, everypony else won't see that the reeducation houses are needed."
Double Diamond smiled, as if he expected my idea. "However, it won't go to court if she pleads guilty or not contested."
"That would still merit an investigation. We can't allow any outside pony to look into this."
"Then there's only one solution left, we have to use a very... strange rule."
"What rule is that?" I still have no idea why he didn't just start with this. Double Diamond reached for the book he had brought and opened it to bookmarked page.
"'If a Princess is on hand, and there are more than three witnesses to a crime, then the Princess can take the role of Judge. An investigation is not needed, only the witnesses should speak to the Princess alone, so that the testimony can be known. After each witness has spoken, the Princess will decide the fate of the accused.'"
I looked at him, a smile now on my face. "That is perfect. I'll have to think of something." My mind flashed full of plans, but none seemed appropriate. This problem will need a special touch, perhaps from a few friends.
"Will that be all?" Double Diamond asked. "If not, I have four new stallions to see and instruct." He grimaced at the thought. Teaching new friends was a good way to get close to them, but it was tedious.
"Thank you, Double Diamond. Good luck with those four stallions." I waved a hoof goodbye as he left. I planned for an hour before I returned outside. It was about time for a certain white stallion to leave.
I was almost to Shining Armor's room when he walked out carrying a pack. He gave me a look of annoyance.
"Hello, Starlight," he said dryly. "No need to remind me, we're already packing up."
"That's not what I'm here for," I replied with a forced smile. "I'm actually here to lead you to your thank you reward."
"That really isn't needed." He tried to step around me, but I quickly backed up into his path again.
"It really is the least we could do to thank you and your stallions for bringing three ponies back safely."
"You know, I find it odd how three ponies go missing all on the same day. What are the odds of that, right?" He looked at me, as if challenging me to admit my guilt.
"It was a very busy time with the festival." I shrugged. "These things happen, I guess."
Shining Armor stared at me a moment longer. "Fine, take me to what you want to give me." He motioned to a few guardsponies behind him. They all nodded in reply and I felt as if a cannon ball had dropped through my stomach.
I quickly led him to the warehouse where the surprise for him was. He was unimpressed.
"Cider. The gift you want to give us is cider?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Of course. It is the last barrel, and is the most concentrated," I replied with another forced smile. "I thought you would enjoy it."
Shining Armor walked over to the barrel. Using his magic, he opened the top and peered inside as if searching for something. Finding nothing, he replaced the lid and turned to me.
"Thank you," he said stiffly. "I'm sure my stallions will enjoy this." He began to levitate the barrel as he turned to leave.
"You don't like cider?" I asked.
He just shrugged, and said nothing further. Walking him back took a much shorter time than expected. It appears that Shining Armor's magic is strong.
I broke off from him when he was nearing the guardsponies. I saw Double Diamond walking with four stallions, who all held books. Smiling at his success with them, I returned to my house to plan. I have a few plans ready, but I cannot put them to paper yet.
After the hour of thinking, I needed to do something easy, like giving some good news to some new friends. I sent a group of fillies to bring me Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. They arrived very quickly.
As they entered my humble home, I began.
"You all lived in Ponyville, right?"
"Of course, darling," Rarity answered with a smile.
"As you may know, there is a rule against leaving the town." I saw some heads nod. "Well, that rule will soon be abolished, and I would like to offer the chance for each of you to return to Ponyville when Twilight and I go there." Everypony smiled, even Applejack who already knew.
"That is going to be super duper mega times great!" Pinkie nearly shouted with a smile.
"So, I assume you will all be coming along?" I smiled, already knowing the answer.
"Of course," they all said as one.
After some tedious small talk, I bid them a good afternoon. From a brief look outward, I saw that the military had left our town. Checking upstairs, I found my enchanted quill broken in two. All the work put into that quill is now gone, wasted. I had hoped it would last longer.
Seeing the sun slowly approaching dusk, I decided to use the fading light to visit Twilight one more time. After grabbing a few books from the shelves, I departed. Cinnamon had returned from her errands, and was smiling when I arrived.
"Starlight," she greeted me at the door, "I don't know what you said or did, but Twilight is being a model patient. At this rate, I should be able to, safely, let her out in a few days."
"That's good to hear," I replied with a tight smile. "Mind if I go in and visit her?"
"Of course! Go on ahead. I... I have to go talk to... uh... Sugar Belle about some muffins." With those final words, she trotted out her door. Smiling, I opened the door leading to Twilight's current residence. Inside, the Alicorn princess was lying down, looking absolutely bored.
"Good evening, Twilight," I greeted her. "I hear you've been a very good patient, so I brought you these." I levitated over the books I had brought. They were mostly history, but also one of my personal books. It was titled Das Equality.
Twilight glared at me for a moment before reaching out to grab the books. I quickly pulled them back.
"Twilight, have some manners at least," I admonished. "When a friend gives you a gift, you say, 'Thank you.'"
Twilight's eyes continued glaring, but after a few seconds they darted to the levitating books. Reaching out again for the books, she said in a whisper, "Thank you." It sounded more hateful and angry than a proper degree of gratitude, but I let it slide. Progress is progress, after all.
"I'll leave you to your books now. Have a good night." I walked out the door and locked it behind me. From inside, I could hear pages being flipped. What she will find in Das Equality will truly be enlightening.