The prison stank. What it stank of, Twilight didn’t dare speculate.
Two hours of it was a bit much, though.
Whereas the outer streets of Arabia Phoenix had lustre, the interior of the Watch Headquarters had nothing but the dullness of sandstone blocks. She reared up and peered beyond the iron bars of the window. Shaded alleyway greeted her, barrels and crates piled up as though trying to climb the walls either side, and in the sunlit distance stood the city’s water tower like a wooden bucket on a tripod.
The base of the window was level with the alley floor. She turned around.
Beyond the much larger bars of her cell door, the room did not venture far before meeting chairs and boxes. Steps opposite led up a narrow passageway – so narrow it was almost total shadow – to a doorway partially obscured behind the low-hanging ceiling. This was a room that didn’t care about its occupants; they were stuffed in there like junk until someone could find a use for them.
Apart from that, she had: one bunk bed; one pot in the corner releasing the unpleasant stink; a view of the neighbouring cell through the bars.
And Spike.
Pacing up and down, he kept mumbling to himself. His eyes were wide.
She went back to the window. Easy spells stepped forwards and whispered in her ear, but she glared until they stepped away. No breakouts. That wasn’t right. This had to be done fairly and properly.
“Don’t worry, Spike,” she said gently. “I doubt we’ll get much punishment for charges like those ones.”
“I’m not worried.” Spike hugged himself so tightly his claws scraped against the scales on his arms. “Why should I be worried? Just because the others’ll be worried sick about us, and we’ll be stuck here, and we probably won’t even see them again until the vacation’s gone, and we’ve ruined Pinkie’s plans, and our stuff is all still back at the hotel, and I don’t know if we can even reach Celestia this far away –”
Gently, she placed a hoof on his shoulder to stop him pacing. If nothing else, it meant her gaze didn’t follow him back and forth like a tennis ball.
“The Saddle Arabians are tough but fair,” she said, remembering Celestia’s words from what now felt like weeks ago. “I’m sure we’ll be fine so long as we don’t step on anyone’s hooves.”
“Ha,” muttered the thief.
Twilight glared at the top bunk. Ostensibly, they were sharing a cell because Saddle Arabians believed that the first step to reform was to learn to tolerate even the most degenerate of compatriots. However, she privately suspected it was because a wrong word or a bad move between prisoners would soon provide any nearby Watch Ponies with free – if sadistic – amusement.
So far, the thief had contented herself by resting on the bunk and napping for the last two hours or so. This was the first word she’d spoken.
“You seem awfully relaxed,” said Twilight. Bile clawed at her throat.
“When you’ve been in the business for as long as I have,” said the thief to the ceiling, “one jail is pretty much like another.”
Disgust clenched Twilight’s jaw. How can she be so unrepentant about this? She stole my book! She tried to steal from the Paradise Museum! She’s… She’s…
Yet even in her head, her Canterlot upbringing refused to employ a dirtier word than “awful”.
“You should be thinking about what you’ve done,” snapped Twilight.
“Yeah!” Spike leaped out of Twilight’s reach. “How dare you try and steal the Guidebook! It’s not just some prize. It means a lot to us.”
The thief rolled forwards onto her haunches. Her gaze, when it met theirs, was pink. Each eye looked like a blood-pack that had been partly bleached.
She shrugged. “Preach it to someone who cares. Anyway, I’d be more concerned about your… elemental prospects, Little Miss Magic.”
Elemental? Magic?
“My prospects!?” Ignoring a warning in her head, Twilight gritted her teeth before adding, “What about yours!? What were you thinking!? Do you have any idea what the punishment is for theft in Arabia Phoenix!?”
“Ha.” The smirk tugged at the thief’s mouth. “What do I care?”
“For unicorns, the punishment for theft is…” Even faced with that smirk, Twilight momentarily rammed her lips shut. “Is… Look, it’s really not nice. To stop you committing crimes again, they… they cut off your horn.”
For a second, the thief’s eyes widened. Her lips eased apart for the gape. Obviously, this was the first she’d heard about it.
Then the smirk sealed them shut. “That’s what you think. By the way, many thanks for making things easy for my colleague. Not that it’ll matter in the long run. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?”
She’s trying to bait you. She’s trying to make you angry. Don’t fall for it.
“You’re planning an escape,” said Twilight. “Do you still have more of those explosives? Why did you do that to the museum?”
“We needed a distraction. And an emergency escape hatch. But mostly because it made me laugh.”
Twilight ground her teeth. The warning in her head reached critical point. Elemental. Magic. She knows what I am.
But… so what? Lots of ponies probably know what I am by now. It’s not a secret. Lots of Equestrians were there at the medal ceremony, and at the wedding invasion. Ponies talk. Perhaps they talk all the way across the border and beyond.
Spike waved his fists in the air. “You don’t know who you’re messing with!”
“Actually, I have a pretty good idea.” The thief leaned back, forelegs folded behind her head. “Which is more than can be said for you two.”
“Huh.” Spike folded his arms, scowling. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Twilight saw the thief turn to stare at her. It wasn’t a nice stare. It was the stare a cobra might give to a mouse, seconds before its squeaky demise. The thief licked her lips.
“Quite a powerful magic you’ve got packed away in there. Shame if a horn like yours parted company with its head.”
She’s a sadist. I’ve seen eyes like those before. She won’t dare lash out or shoot spells at either of us, so she’ll hit us with words instead. The important thing is to ignore her bluff.
Her gaze drifted to the barred window. Rainbow Dash had said the hole had been ten feet wide. Then she'd chased after the earth mare. Two hours had passed. And the pegasus still hadn’t appeared yet.
Where are you, Rainbow?
Spike raised his fists again. “Just try it. I dare you.”
“Spike!” Panic flickered through Twilight’s mind. “Let it go. She’s not worth it.” If she does anything to hurt you, I swear –
The thief waved a hoof airily over her chest. “I’m wounded! What a nasty thing for Celestia’s protégé to say. I thought they were all gracious in Canterlot.”
She sat up. Hastily, Spike backed into Twilight’s neck and chest.
“At least I’ll have the pleasure of your company for the next few hours. Maybe even days.” The smirk slithered across the thief’s crimson face. “You’ve got to sleep sometime. And I’m a very patient mare.”
Keys jingled. A lock clicked. All three of them watched the door shudder and ease open.
Wrapped hooves heralded blue sleeves of the Watch uniform. The scowl soon stepped into view. Spike clung to Twilight’s forelimbs. She could feel his claws digging into the skin.
“Stay where you are,” snapped the Watch Pony on approaching the cell’s iron lock. “Any attempt to escape will be treated with the utmost severity.”
One click later, the door swung open on squealing hinges. The Watch Pony focused her scowl on Twilight.
“You.” Foxtail whipping behind her jerking head, the Watch Pony stepped back. “Come with me.”
“What’s happening, Officer?” Twilight said before Spike released his grip.
The Watch Pony’s scowl sharpened; she could have used it to slice through the bars. “The Commander wishes to speak with you. Apparently, you’re getting a reprieve.”
Behind them, Twilight heard the shocked gasp of the thief.
“All right!” Spike hopped on the spot and punched the air. “Justice prevails! In your face, Book Burglar!”
On the bed, the thief spluttered. Twilight didn’t trust herself to look round. She was already having trouble not laughing her head off.
Passing the Watch Pony, however, her inner laughter subsided to weak chuckling. Such was the scowl aimed at her that she tried to hide her neck. Even ascending the steps behind the hopping Spike, she felt the skin on her back prickle with a hundred imaginary daggers fired from that face.
Up ahead lay the main desk. Despite the filing cabinets and the notice board on the wall, this room was stylistically no different from the cell downstairs. Crates and barrels lined the far wall.
A Saddle Arabian horse sat behind the desk, bearing the blue body suit of the Watch. However, Twilight noticed the crescent moon intersecting the scimitar on each of his front sleeves, and immediately thought: Commander. A Commander of the Watch, here, in this little place? I thought they worked at the Imperial Palace?
He looked up and immediately shot to his feet. The effect was like watching an albino giraffe stand to attention. Having knocked his chair over in his haste, he reached down and righted it.
Spike and Twilight exchanged glances while he hurried round the desk with a beaming smile flourishing on his face. “Ah, Miss Twilight Sparkle. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
His stick-like forelimbs seized her hoof and shook; her leg burned under the strain. “You know my name?”
“But of course! Your exploits are spoken in hushed voices throughout the taverns and inns of Arabia Phoenix. I myself hear the nobles of the palace speak of marvels.”
Her leg was still shaking when he let go. Only after he let go and bowed did Spike manage to grab it and hold it steady, and even then the bones tried to shake themselves out.
“Ah, but where are my manners? I am Commander Zahir the Supporter, leader of the Arabia Phoenix Watch.”
She watched with boiling embarrassment as he stood upright again. Surprisingly, he fell silent after that, apparently waiting for her next move.
“Um…” she said.
“What’s this all about?” said Spike. “You’re letting us go?”
From the right came a snort. All heads turned. The Watch Pony – Djinni, Twilight reminded herself – leaned casually against a filing cabinet, her glower trying to incinerate the wall behind them.
Zahir snapped; his rush of words darted across the full range of his native tongue. Guiltily, Twilight wished she hadn’t mastered the Millenoctibus language so well.
“I’m sure she means well,” she murmured.
Zahir stopped mid-rant and gaped at her, a reaction she was used to getting by now. Throughout, the Djinni had acknowledged no one.
“Aha,” he said, conjuring another smile. “I should have guessed. You are, after all, a scholar of great renown.”
“Well now, I wouldn’t say that –”
“Oh, you bet she is!” said Spike. “I reckon by now she’s read every single book in the Golden Oaks Library.”
Zahir nodded and returned to his post behind the desk. “Naturally. Please take a seat, Miss Twilight Sparkle.”
As she did so – Spike taking the chair to her left – Twilight swore she heard a disgusted gagging noise from the direction of the omnipresent glower. When Zahir reached for the glass jar, however, she sensed movement. She looked; the Djinni’s gaze snapped to the water sloshing over the lip.
“Refreshment, Miss Twilight Sparkle?” said Zahir.
“I’ll have a glass!”
“Here you go, Spike the Dragon. May I just say what an honour it is to meet a fine young specimen such as yourself? Dragonkind is most welcome in our city. Many believe you bring good luck.”
“Heheh, that’s me all right.” Spike gargled before gulping his drink.
While he gulped, the Watch Pony coughed and shuffled away from the desk. Her gaze was firmly on the glass.
Twilight took in her own empty glass on the desk and noticed with interest that Zahir did not have one of his own. Back in Canterlot, that had usually meant her interviewer – say, a tutor – was about to perform some disagreeable duty.
Next to his hoof, a brass lamp stood like a refined kettle. Twilight's gaze switched between that lamp and the Djinni.
“You’ll have to excuse Sergeant Blue Shift,” said Zahir. “Djinn such as her are not renowned for their good manners.”
“Under the circumstances, I think I understand where she’s coming from,” said Twilight. Immediately, Blue Shift cooled the glower and raised one eyebrow at her.
“Interestingly put.” Zahir returned the water jug to the desk. “Djinn are highly efficient workers. Being spirits, they do not need food or drink, they do not need rest, they do not even sleep, and – most fortunately for us – they can never disobey an order. Be it bribed, threatened, or worse, nothing less than its own destruction can stop a Djinni once it is under your command.” His hoof patted the brass lamp.
Twilight shivered.
She stared at the raised eyebrow of the Djinni, trying to imagine what it would be like to find herself compelled to follow an order. Like her limbs were being pulled on strings, or like some worm burrowing into her head, or like a burst of emotion shoving her aside within her own head. She imagined a foreign voice echoing around her skull. It could say whatever it wanted: arrest anyone on sight; attack this pony; steal this artefact; kill. And those strings would pull, that worm would break into the depths, that emotion would sweep her away…
“Blue Shift?” snapped Zahir. His hoof pressed against the lid of the lamp. “I believe you have a fugitive to find. Buff-coloured coat, young adult –”
“I did provide the description, sir,” said Blue Shift.
“Well, you’re not currently needed around here! Go!”
Her insolent glare should have made him burst into flames. Instead, she kicked herself off the cabinet and marched stiffly to the exit. Zahir’s head swivelled to follow her. Only when the door slammed did he pull a smile out of nowhere.
“Of course,” he said as though there’d been no interruption, “the price of such efficiency is a certain lack of intelligence. So long as you control the ‘anchor’, they cannot twist the meaning of your words. Your will is their will. Alas, when one commands a legion of such spirits, one cannot be clear with all of them at once. There are… complications.”
He’s working his way towards an excuse. Twilight sagged in her chair. This isn’t out of the goodness of his heart. If Pinkie’s taught me anything, it’s that some smiles are only skin deep. And his is barely sitting on top of the epidermis.
“Commander Zahir,” she said. “May I ask under what legal nicety I’m receiving this reprieve?”
His smile tightened to a thin line. Evidently, blunt speech wasn’t on his list of virtues.
Zahir coughed to break the silence. “We understand that you were, after all, well-intentioned. And clearly, if there had been a minor miscommunication issue – I fear Blue Shift’s report was unhelpful in certain respects – then I fail to see why a pony should be so unjustly punished.”
“But isn’t the law on Arabia Phoenix clear on the subject of civilian interference with Watch business? According to the Guidebook, Saddle Arabian philosophy demands competence and clear demarcation to establish peace, order, and trust among the public. Jeopardising the due proceedings of peacekeepers is a serious breach of those principles.”
Zahir goggled at her. Much as he was doubtlessly used to legal technicalities, he’d probably never heard them out of any criminal’s mouth – at least, not accurate ones – and certainly not when it was against the criminal’s own case. A mare who’s her own lawyer may have a fool for a client, but this client appeared to have a fool for a lawyer.
He burst out laughing. “Well said, Miss Twilight Sparkle. But look: surely you don’t want to be arrested?”
In all honesty: no, not really. If nothing else, it rather spoils the vacation. “I don’t think the law is interested in what ponies want. It could get messy.”
She felt a nudge in her ribs. Spike whispered, “What are you doing? He’s letting us go!”
“Yes,” she whispered back, “but it’s the principle of the thing. This is the law.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“It’s a matter of respect.”
“It’s a matter of getting out of here.”
“I… I’m sorry, Spike. I have to do this. It just feels wrong.”
“Very well, Protégé of the Princess,” said Zahir, placing hoof against hoof and both elbows on the desk. After regarding her for a while, he continued, “I’d like you to understand that we Saddle Arabians have always been good friends with Princess Celestia. And, by extension, with Equestria.”
Twilight’s stomach sank to the bottom of the depths. No… You wouldn’t dare… “Commander Zahir, please see sense –”
“Believe me, I understand what you’re saying.” For the first time since the interview had started, Zahir swallowed. Unlike the illusory smiles, this gesture seemed entirely intentional. “But how would it look if, upon her first day in our fair country, a close friend of the Princess ended up in a common jail?”
Now that Celestia loomed in her mind, Twilight’s thoughts tumbled down a new slope. What would Celestia think? Me, her student – breaking the law? She’d never look at me the same way again.
“You see, Miss Twilight Sparkle? While we and Equestria have an understanding, it has not always been a pleasant one. Even now, our diplomats tiptoe around certain issues, certain… subtleties, if you see what I mean. Only mutual respect and caution have kept both sides from… unpleasantness. If a very important pony – from Celestia’s own right hoof! – were found rotting in a jail, there would be questions.”
“I’m not a very important pony!” she wailed before she could stop herself.
“You kinda are,” said Spike, shrugging helplessly.
“Your good friend is right,” continued Zahir. “Maybe our diplomats could smooth it over. But maybe they couldn’t. There are many on both sides who do not like the alliance. Heated arguments would only be the start, and in Saddle Arabia, ‘heated’ is not just a colourful word. Even with Celestia the Princess of the Sun desiring peace, she could not defy everyone.”
Twilight sighed. And she’d know it was my fault. I’d never do that to her. I’d rather… I’d rather… Oh, no.
“But,” she said dully, “if it was a mistake, if the story wasn’t true, then no one could say anything?”
Zahir nodded, a teacher encouraging a promising pupil. “After all, Djinn aren’t perfect. Once we capture the thief's accomplice, who could say what really happened? Explosions, running, confusion: a lot of things can be lost behind a mist of uncertainty.”
“OK,” groaned Twilight. She pulled at her own eyelids, hoping the snap back would wake her up. “It appears I have no choice. What do you want me to say?”
Disappointingly, she heard a not-so-subtle “YES!” from Spike.
“Only that you will forgive us for our most shameful blunder, Miss Twilight Sparkle.” Zahir reached under the desk. When his hoof came up again, he was balancing –
“The Guidebook!” Twilight said.
“The Watch is always happy to help.” Zahir let her levitate it from his grip. “I fear the cover has been scuffed, but your book appears to be in one piece. And here are your saddlebags. It would be most cruel of us to hoard your belongings!”
Summoning the saddlebags to her, Twilight looked down. The “scuff” was a pale streak right across the front. Her ears drooped.
Zahir coughed again. “Oh dear. I do hope this brings you contentment, Miss Twilight Sparkle?”
“Hm? Oh.” She nodded once. “All things considered. This isn’t mine, really. It was a gift.”
“I’m sure your generous friend would understand.” He gestured to the exit. “Please, devour the delights our humble city offers its most esteemed guests. Our hospitality is our gift to you.”
Twilight let the Guidebook float alongside her. The instant she turned around, she did not look back at him once. Her stomach hit the bottom of the deep sea of her soul, and from the feel of it, it was dissolving away in a deep-sea vent. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to kick, scream, or to find a hole to bury herself in.
Spike held the door open for her. “Well, that could’ve gone a lot worse.”
Waiting until the door shut again, she raised her head to the hustle and bustle of the river of citizens flowing both ways. Carts and laden pack donkeys ploughed through the currents. Merely watching them was washing the worst of the acid out of her belly, but she could tell the next few hours were going to sting.
“This is wrong,” was all she could think to say.
“You don’t deserve jail, Twilight. Only a crazy rule would do that to you for helping someone.”
Why doesn’t he understand? This isn’t about what we think is crazy or deserving. It’s like Zahir said. We’re guests, and we should respect our host’s rules so long as we’re in this country. Maybe Celestia would respect me more if I went back in there, contested it…
No, not if it means piling more troubles onto her crown. What kind of student would do that to their own mentor?
She glanced at Spike, who watched her as though preparing to jump should she explode. “You didn’t have to get dragged into this, Spike.”
Winking, he straightened up. “Hey, you know me. Happy to stand by your side, even if it is in the same cell!”
“So what should I do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t say anything different in case the Saddle Arabians find out, but… I can’t just lie to my friends either. They’ll want to know what happened.”
“Ha! Then tell them, duh. It’s not like they’ll blab it to everyone.” He rubbed his chin. “Maybe Pinkie Pie… but the others are clean. And if all else fails, you could make her Pinkie Promise.”
“Huh. I guess there is that. But still –”
Someone within the crowd shouted, “Aha! Twilight! Spike! There you are at last!”
They both spotted Rarity leaping through a gap between two camels, followed by Applejack simply bulldozing through a gang of pegasi. Flapping wings rained feathers down upon her Stetson.
“Did you know we were at the museum!?” Rarity said this with no small amount of giggliness, yet her eyes stretched under some latent shock.
Twilight gasped. “Not when the wall exploded?”
“We were lucky.” Applejack took off her hat, the better to beat the feathers off. “Both of us left a couple of minutes before. How 'bout you?”
“I caught one of the thieves!” Spike’s chest could’ve plugged manholes.
“Oh well done, Spike!” Rarity patted him on the head, earning a blush and a dreamy grin. “But you? All alone!? You could’ve been hurt!”
Twilight chewed her lip. OK, now’s the time to tell them. They’re your friends. Just be honest. I mean, Applejack’s standing right there.
“Er…”
Twilight shook the thoughts out of her head and realized Applejack was saying something.
“I'm sorry?”
“You OK, Twilight?”
No! I got in the way of a police officer and ended up in a jail with a thief trying to frighten the life out of me, and I almost caused an international incident, and the only way to solve it was to do the one thing I swore I’d never do when visiting another country!
“No one was hurt,” she said.
Technically, it’s not a lie. Nevertheless, she squirmed. Applejack gave her a raised eyebrow that made Blue Shift look like an amateur.
“Thank goodness for that,” said Rarity, whose curls were coming undone. “Although of all the things to happen on what’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation!”
“How’s everyone else?” said Twilight. She didn’t like the way Applejack’s stare narrowed into a sniper’s scope.
“Couldn’t say,” said Rarity. “I certainly hope they were nowhere near all this chaos!”
“But I caught one of the thieves,” said Spike, apparently hoping for another head-rub. “And they said it’s just a matter of time before they catch the other one. Problem over, right?”
“Yeah,” said Applejack slowly. “Ah reckon you’re right, Spike. Problem over.”
She stretched a forelimb over Rarity’s shoulders; the unicorn was starting to shake.
“It’s been a heck of a wake-up call for all of us,” Applejack continued, “but Ah think the best way of goin’ forward is to forget about it an’ enjoy our free time. Why, Ah’ll bet Cranky, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Matilda are all waitin’ for us at the Café right now. Let’s not disappoint ‘em, eh?”
“I could see the smoke. There was so much smoke –” Rarity swallowed. “I-I mean… you are absolutely right, Applejack. Let’s… Let’s just enjoy things, shall we?”
“Attagirl! A nice cool drink’ll make us feel better, don’tcha think?”
“Sounds good to me!” Spike waddled forwards, sticking out what was technically his chest but which was superseded by his round belly. “Wait till I tell everyone about my daring capture of the deadly criminal mastermind! How we fought claw-to-hoof…”
Placing the still-levitating Guidebook into her saddlebag, Twilight followed them while her head drifted through a daze. Two hours ago, I was showing Rainbow Dash a statue…
“Has anyone seen Rainbow Dash?” she said suddenly.
General head-shaking. A frown passing between Rarity and Spike, who’d briefly taken a breath for the next chapter of his improvised oral saga.
“Ah’m sure she’ll be there.” Applejack waved the others onwards and fell in next to Twilight. She whispered, “Something happen, Twilight? Ah couldn’t help but notice the Watch HQ behind you.”
Twilight opened her mouth…
Unbidden, the thief's words crossed her mind: Quite a powerful magic you’ve got packed away in there. Shame if a horn like yours parted company with its head.
There’s the other one still at large…
She swallowed. “Maybe later. I’d rather wait until we were all together. Or back at the hotel. In our own rooms.”
Applejack shrugged. “Fair enough. But Ah can tell something’s buggin’ you. You know we’re here for you, right Twilight?”
“Of course!” Less loudly, she added, “Of course. I’ll… just feel better once we’re all together.”
“That’s the spirit! You and Rarity had a bit of a nasty shock, is all. Nothin’ to be ashamed of. It won’t spoil our vacation one bit. And besides, we’re together again now. Nothin’ we can’t deal with once we’re together, ain’t that right?”