//------------------------------// // New Findings // Story: To Fear A Predator // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// Ponyville usually was a place of free commerce and general freedoms. The town militia and cops were rather lax since they didn’t have to worry about any heretics or the like until recently. Even then, the population had largely thought the danger was over and kept at it as they usually did. Ponyvillians were hard to break. They constantly had to worry about danger, but they still kept a more free and level, if stubborn, head. This was the attitude of their founders and it stuck. That wasn’t the case anymore. Now Ponyville had a plethora of guards that rigidly patrolled the streets. They were stationed in several spots in and around Ponyville. They were professional guard, numbering up to two hundred strong. These guards had been called in by Inquisitor Trixie herself to bring law and order into the town. The ponies never said anything against it. Many thought it was safer to have all those guards around. That is until the new laws had come into place. A plaque with the rules clear as day was hung from a pole in the town square. Everyone was instructed to follow them. Some wondered why the extra precautions, but they were reasoned that there still could be danger lurking about. There was a pony that was allied with that griffon that was still loose and there could be more. That didn’t mean the ponies of Ponyville had to like it. Pizzelle surely didn’t as she walked through the town marketplace. She frowned as she saw all the guards about. Not many ponies had come out today and the few who did weren’t smiling. They seemed scared and unsure of themselves. She was glad Fiddlesticks was still working on the farm, tending to the damaged trees. She’d have gone ballistic with all these frowns. She went over to Carrot Tops cart and gave her a warm smile, “Hello, Carrot Top. Fine day we’re having.” Carrot Top huffed, “As fine as it could be. So a bushel of carrots?” “Three actually,” Pizzelle smiled. “Some of the girls are planning a little get together to talk with Sunset later, so I wanted to make some snacks.” Carrot Top looked around herself and hesitantly watched a few guards pass, “Well when you do, tell the Princess she needs to reign in that new Inquisitor.” She whispered. “She had my cart and bloody house checked. I just reported someone stealing my water gems and I’m treated as a criminal.” “What?” Pizzelle frowned. ‘Inquisitor Trixie can’t possibly think Carrot Top is suspicious.’ “Are you sure it was that bad though? I know Inquisitors can be rash, but they usually mean well. Not all the time, not all the time I tell you, but most of the time. I however did bump into an Inquisitor that-” “Do you want your carrots or not?” Carrot deadpanned. Pizzelle blushed in embarrassment, “Sorry for that. Can’t help but going on and on, you know?” Carrot Top nodded with an amused smile. “So, five bits?” “With everything going on?” Carrot Top spoke. “Twelve. I’m sorry, I have to amp up the price or I won’t be able to make it through the winter.” Pizzelle nodded in understanding and pulled out the bits. She was very lucky that she had made a killing before the Summer Sun Celebration with tourists coming to Ponyville so she had enough bits to last her quite a while. “Thank you. I hope you can find some replacement gems for your gardens. If you need any help-” “I’ll come get you,” Carrot Top chuckled. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be fine.” Pizzelle smiled and took the carrots, “Well I wish you the best. May the gods watch out for you.” “Hopefully the nice ones,” Carrot quipped and the two giggled. Pizzelle hummed a little tune to herself. While the atmosphere of Ponyville was much gloomier these days, she was sure it would get better soon. Stuff like this happened often enough in their history and she had to go through a trial or two through her adventures with Presto in her youth. So it didn’t bother her much. A little, but not a lot. That is until she was grabbed and dragged into a small alleyway. The pony who did it forced a hoof over her mouth and shushed her, “Don’t say anything until I’m done talking.” Pizzelle narrowed her eyes, before they shot wide open. This was Suri Polomare, the mare hanging around Crowland Tempo. “Look, I know everyone’s saying we’re guilty of something and they maybe right.” Suri huffed. “But this wasn’t our choice. We were paid to do this job and it was supposed to be our last… his last. My master is many things, but he is not a cruel griffon. He shouldn’t be locked up. Not for something like this. I need your help and trust me, no one will get hurt.” When Suri took her hoof away, Pizzelle looked at her quizzically. “But if he’s guilty, why should I help you?” “Because he’s just being paid to do it. He didn’t come up with this job.” “That’s not a very good excuse.” “Whatever. It’s not like he’s doing anything bad. I mean, the dragon did try and burn this town to the ground.” Pizzelle just stared at her, “.... What?” “We were paid to hunt the green drake by some stallion,” Suri huffed. “I know it’s against the law to hunt sapients, but this dragon did try and kill ponies. So… kinda a loophole?” She shrugged, “I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t know.” “Wait, what about all that stuff you’ve been doing at night? Damaging buildings and stealing energy gems? That sort of thing.” Suri’s eyes widened, “Everyone thinks we did that?” Pizzelle nodded, “You didn’t know? I know you don’t live in town, but it’s been in the town gossip for ages now.” “I don’t listen to gossip,” Suri deadpanned. She moved over and smacked her head against a wall. “This is bad. Like, really bad, mmmkay. With the dragon thing, I could make it work. This? No, no this can’t do.” Pizzelle put a hoof on her shoulder, “I know you didn’t do it.” “Why?” Suri huffed and turned to glare at her. “Even if I didn’t know this was being put on us, I can still see why. My master is a griffon. Everypony hates griffons so of course he’s going to be blamed.” “Well they did see a griffon last night.” Suri put her hooves over her cheeks, “OH! OH! So you see a griffon and you just assume it’s my master? Why? Because he’s a griffon? Oh that’s not specie-ist at all!” “Shh,” Pizzelle put a hoof over her mouth. “Be quiet. Someone could hear you. As for everything else, that’s not my opinion. I never believed that report. At least, not that it meant your master. He was a nice enough fellow and the secretary griffons are a pretty nice bunch. They aren’t like the lion griffons.” “Hate those guys,” Suri scoffed. It was known that the griffons of the Griffon Empire had, many centuries ago, committed a purge of all non-standard griffon subraces. This is mostly because of the constant fighting between the subraces and the fact that many subraces of griffons were allied to Equestria or other nations that held animosity to the Empire. There weren’t a lot of subraces left these days. Secretary, or cheetah (depending on what you prefer) griffons weren’t nearly as militaristic as the mainland griffons and had broken away over a thousand years ago. Still, they weren’t that common, at least not in Equestrian territory so many ponies just lumped them in with the mainland griffons. “Alright,” Suri started to pace. “So he’s being charged with assaulting officials, including an Inquisitor. Attacking a village, theft, and causing terror to the populace. I…” her breath started to quicken. “Oh no. Oh no no no no no no! He’s going to be executed. I have to do something.” Pizzelle took a hold of her, “You will do no such thing.” “But I have to save him.” “We will,” Pizzelle gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll get him out of there. I promise you that.” Suri looked her in the eyes, “Why should I trust you?” Pizzelle’s grin grew, “I’m the Element of Truth, dearie. I’m not really one to lie. In fact, I don’t think I’ve really told much of a lie. A little white lie here and there, but that was more stretching the truth. Anyways,” she shook her head to get back on track. “You can trust me. I’ll see if I can talk to the rest of the Elements about this.” Suri smiled, “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Pizzelle chuckled and patted her shoulder, “Think nothing of it, dearie.” ____________________________________________________________________ “I can’t believe you two,” Sunset stormed back and forth between Lyra and Twilight. Both of them were slightly scorched from Sunset’s attempts to stop the whole fight and when she turned her anger on them. “I just wanted a moment of peace. Just a moment of peace and what do you two do? Create a giant book monster and make it fight you for no reason other then to fight.” “But it was fun,” Lyra weakly defended herself. “Not for me,” Sunset huffed. ‘That poor book. He didn’t deserve to die.’ She wanted to cry about its death but that was for another time. “You two are going to pay for this.” “Okay,” Twilight smiled and pulled a giant bag, easily three times her size, of bits out of her cloak. “Will this cover it.” “Not your bits, you idiot.” Sunset groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Just… Just stay with Trixie. If you be good, I won’t kill you.” Lyra laughed, “Oh you’re silly.” “Oh she’s serious,” Twilight responded. Lyra blinked in surprise, “Huh… that would be a pretty epic fight, actually.” “GO!” Sunset used the Royal Canterlot Voice, which caused Twilight’s colors to fly off. The chaos mare blinked in surprise and teleported. Lyra shrugged and started off. Sunset sighed. ‘I really wish I could just do something to those two mares, but I’m an Element of Harmony now. Friendship is supposed to be my thing and that means not burning ponies alive. Still very tempting though.’ Her further thoughts of fire and carnage were interrupted by Lightning Dust swooping down, “Hey Sunset, Pizzelle wants to call a meeting.” Sunset quirked an eyebrow, “A meeting? Why?” Lightning shrugged, “I dunno, but she said it was important. I’ll meet you at your tree house.” With that said, she flew off. Sunset sighed and trotted after her, ‘Let’s see what it is this time.’ _________________________________________________________________ Trixie could help but smirk as she cleaned her guns. She was sitting in the Mayor’s large office, which was hers as of now. The Mayor had been moved downstairs. Outside, there were a number of ponies demanding the griffon’s head on a platter. She was too happy to deny them the request. It was perfect, actually. The more they clamored for his death, the more they would love her for doing it. ‘All is going according to plan.’ In then came in Pokey Pierce. The cop had proven useful to her these last few days. He’d been giving her intel on everypony in town. Very much needed intel that had allowed her to make leaps and bounds when it came to securing her power. ‘Perhaps I’ll give him a raise or something for his services.’ “What is it?” Trixie spoke, still idly cleaning her weapons. “I just wanted to report in, Inquisitor.” Pokey bowed his head and put a few folders on her desk. Trixie smiled, “You’ve done well, Officer Pierce. I will not forget this.” The folders themselves contained documents on all the officers and militia in town. ‘I may have to sort through those I find useful later. The others I can lay off. They haven’t done a good job anyways, what with the recent attacks and all that.’ “I’m just doing my duty,” Pokey responded. “That you are,” Trixie finished cleaning her gun. “Is that all?” “Inquisitor,” Pokey started. “There have been some… disgruntled comments running through the officer ranks. I also hear a few whispers amongst the militia that aren’t very favorable towards you.” Trixie frowned. She used her magic to pull her sword out of its sheath and looked it over, “Do you know where I got this sword, Officer Pierce?” Pokey shook his head, “No, Inquisitor.” “My previous master gave it to me,” Trixie paused. “Shortly before he died. He was a forward thinker and I wouldn’t be the mare I was now if it wasn’t for him. Do you know what he often told me?” “What, Inquisitor?” “Sometimes you need to prune the ranks of even the most faithful in order to keep the whole healthy,” Trixie spouted and swished the sword through the air. “I think Ponyville is ready for a little pruning.” She put her guns and sword back into place, “Thank you for the feedback.” Pokey nodded and left Trixie to her own thoughts. ‘I’m grateful that I’m a forward thinker too,’ she thought to herself. ‘Otherwise I would be forced to use militia and cops that hold grudges against me. They would force my hooves, cost me time, and even make me blunder. I can’t afford that. Thankfully the guards I brought in should have no problem replacing them for now. That is until I can pick and choose the new local militia and cops.’ The door creaked open, “You know, someone really needs to oil these joints.” Dot spoke. Trixie turned to him, “What is it, Dot?” Dot smirked, “Is that the tone you’re taking with me now?” He closed the door behind him. Trixie rolled her eyes as he walked over and kissed her cheek, “Dot, I am busy.” She used her magic to separate the documents. “I have a town to manage.” Dot gave her another kiss, “That can wait.” “But what about the griffon. I have to work on his trial.” Dot deadpanned, “And what are your plans again?” “... Guilty?” Dot sighed, “Is it too much to ask to at least give him a bloody fair trial, lassy?” “Don’t lassy me!” “Trix?” “IE,” Trixie growled. “There is an ‘eee’ sound at the end. Just saying ‘Trix’ sounds like I’m sort of trickster or con artist or something like that. Besides, it’s stupid.” “I think it’s cute,” Dot smiled. “Like you.” Trixie blushed, “Shut up, you idiot! I’ll run you through with my sword if you don’t be quiet.” “Funny,” Dot tapped his chin and gave a lecherous grin. “I was actually planning on running you through with my ‘sword’.” Trixie stared at him, “I’m leaving.” “What? Come on.” “That was bad and you should feel bad.” “Oh I know you loved it.” “S-Stop reading my emotions, idiot!” “Make me,” Dot shot her a challenging grin. Trixie scowled. She wanted to stab him. Shoot him. Throw him out the window. She wanted to make him hurt so much at this moment. Which is why… She pulled him into a deep kiss and pulled away, “I am going to crush your hips.” “Is that a threat or a promise?” Dot nuzzled her, secretly enjoying being the smaller of the pair. Of course, he always had a thing for bigger females. “Both~”