“So it’s true, then?”
“Look where we are standing, Lemon. Unless we are dreaming, I wouldn’t lie about this sort of thing now.”
“R-right,” I stand still in the shadow of the castle’s column, thinking over Flash’s account. “So Sunset really WAS part of this whole thing, wasn’t she?” he says nothing, just nodding slowly. I can’t say I blame him for the weak response, given his history with Shimmer.
So Sunset really did steal the crown, she then did ‘something’ and brought people over to Equestria where they probably remain captive in the castle, with Flash here being the big lead in that little theory… but that’s all it is at this point! I’m still not sure about the circumstances regarding ‘Shimmer’ either, but I’m sure there is a real explanation for that. Maybe I have one? Honestly, I just have ideas, but all I got is guesses until we can figure everything out.
Regardless, what’s her motivation? We still don’t know the big reason why she brought all the students here, with Flash himself tossing me no helping bone. “Sorry Lemon, but I was apparently too mind controlled to remember things,” is his response to my repeated inquiry. “I’m still too busy trying to understand how to fully control an extra pair of body parts I didn’t have before,” he notes, awkwardly flapping his wings.
“You say that, but you seemed to do just fine when you saved us,” I point out to his still moving wings, though he doesn’t appear to take my comment too well by his currently shaking head.
“It was an ‘in the moment’ reaction, as weird as that sounds,” he groans. “I can barely remember what happened at all other than my wings flapping rapidly, likely reacted by instinct coming from this body," he guesses. "But we have bigger things to worry about, don’t we? If what you told me is true, shouldn’t we be focusing on saving everyone right now? We shouldn’t be wasting time.”
“We are!” Pinkie shouts from the back, suddenly fitting herself between us, looking a little worse for wear, what with the copious sweating and general nervous demeanor. “B-but we gotta be careful from now on! Or we might get hurt!”
"Huh?" I mumble, even Flash raises a brow to this attitude, probably wondering who the pony in front of us actually is. “You were the one who piled up a bunch of furniture to save me, fell out of a window, and now you are worried? Are you okay, Pinkie?”
“Of course I am!” she bounces right back, determinedly looking up at the castle as if her worried expression wasn’t there milliseconds ago. “Let’s go! We need to go back inside! Come on, everyhorsie!”
“It’s po-ny, Pinkie,” I correct.
“Ooh! Maybe I can combine all the words! Come on everyhor-ny!”
“Oh my god.”
“Wait up,” Flash mercifully interjects. “Do we have a plan to get inside? I’m sure they’ll have someone guarding the entrance.”
I begin to brainstorm ideas, thinking up of ways of infiltrating without calling attention to ourselves. It’s not easy, I’ll say that much. Considering my knowledge of the castle is basic at best, we really have nothing to go on with.
“Oh!” suddenly, Pinkie raises her hoof. “I know!”
“Does your idea involve asking ‘please’?” I ask, unable to help myself a look towards the unsuspecting Flash.
“Of course not! That’s just silly!” she replies, proving me totally wrong with a surprisingly sensible response. “No! Instead we just walk right in!” or not. Talk about records broken.
Flash shakes his head, likely agreeing with me. “Pinkie, I don’t thi-” before he can finish arguing with her, Pinkie makes a run for it. “No, wait!”
“Crap!” Flash and I run after her, hopefully not panicking too hard. But when I see her approaching one of the entrances, I’m likely going to be assuming maximum panic mode soon. “Dammit! What is she thinking?” I ask this to Flash, who seems to still be getting the hang of running and only nods. “If you mind-controlled were a threat, who knows what might happen with Pi-… Pinkie?”
We come to a stop as soon as we notice Pinkie Pie near the entrance doors, calmly waiting for us… with no one around. “Come on! What are you waiting for?” she asks us, mockingly and (awkwardly looking-ish) sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
“What did you do to the guards?” Flash asks, looking around for any armed horses.
“Nothing! They weren’t here!” she answers simply.
“How would you know that?” I ask confused. “Wait, did your Pinkie sense thingies tell you again?”
“Nuh-uh! I just knew already,” she explains confusedly.
“W-what?” I ask, still as confused. “I don’t get it.”
“Well…” she begins, taking a deep breath. “When we found Flash he jumped us really good like a big jerk for no reason at all and he didn’t talk or act normal and I bet that the other ponies must be mind-controlled too which means they are as dumb-ified as he was so *gasp* I figured out that the other guards wouldn’t be here yet forsureprobablymaybe!”
“I, er,” I won’t lie and say I didn’t put some effort into figuring out what the hell she was saying, but it thankfully clicks fast. “I won’t say that isn’t an explanation, but do what you preached earlier, and don’t just run off like that, alright? You gave me a scare! What if that guess didn’t turn out to be true?” I finish, making sure my worrying is obvious.
“I…” Pinkie freezes up, now aware of what she did. “R-Right! I didn’t think of that… I’m sorry! I just thought it would easier to show you than wait for you to come up with a plan!” she gulps a response.
“What’s done is done already,” I sigh a little frustrated with her. “In any case, if that turns out to be true…”
“We might have a chance to sneak in,” Flash completes my thought. “We should get going then, let’s not give her time to regroup,” he suggests appropriately, shooting us a determined glance. No more to say, we run back inside the castle without a second thought.
My stomach churns as we go inside, uneasiness engulfing me as the walls of the castle expand around us. I feel as if we are entering another dimension, but the shiny, crystallized surroundings fill the quota of earlier sights, only difference being a couple of hallways to either side of the hall, and a pair of steps leading up in a spiral, probably to the throne room if the mental gymnastics of my pony memories are correct.
“No one here, Lemon. What’s the plan?” Flash asks, looking at me with Pinkie joining in the stare-fest. I just realized that I’ve been made the impromptu leader of this crap operation.
“Er…” my first words as team leader aren’t exactly helpful, but thinking on my feet has NEVER been my forte. “O-okay. Let’s head upstairs!” I suggest, leading them with the flawed map in my head.
We are relatively silent, bar the sounds of our ragged breathing. There is no single exchange of words, and I honestly don’t think I could even bring up any sort of conversation at this point with the three of us here. Arriving upstairs, I recognize the halls we were in before our encounter with Flash.
“We are back here!” Pinkie points out, similarly recognizing the place. “But I don’t think that guy was part of the décor…”
“What?” I question the clear attempt at a Rarity impression, turning to what she looks at, and noticing one of the ponies I least wanted to see: a royal guard, staring at us with his glowing green eyes, who for that matter, is quickly approaching us. “Oh, crap! We are bone-”
“Lieutenant Sentry,” calls out the nameless horse in an emotionless tone of voice, shooting a flaccid salute at Flash to everyone’s shock for more reasons than I can think of. “I was send for you, but I didn’t expect to find you here. I thought you’d be guarding the entrance.”
“Er,” Flash mumbles, seemingly at a loss for words for the sudden referral as much as we are. “Y-you see, I was, er…” he looks around quickly, keeping his gaze on us. I can almost hear the gears in his head turning as he responds: “I-I was capturing these two loitering around outside, and taking them to… to the er, room…?”
Much like with Pinkie’s previous attempt at a rescue, my mouth hangs open in disbelief at how FUCKED we actually are after that. Why didn’t he just say cells? How the hell did he actually think that would actually wor-
“I understand. Allow me to help you,” the guard says without a sign of ‘mind-dumbness’ that Pinkie previously referred to.
“Whaaaat,” I slowly whisper, shaking my head just as confused.
“T-there is no need!” Flash replies nervously. “I’m sure I can make it there on my own.”
The guard barely shakes his head, tilting it to the side to look at Pinkie and I behind. “I insist. They seem like troublemakers.”
Pinkie peeks her neck towards me, whispering: “I think he is onto us!”
“Gah!” Flash gulps, taking a step back. “V-very well. Lead the way.”
Without much of an attempt at arguing, we follow the guard. It’s a miracle that we are still standing, but I guess that the seemingly improved mind control didn’t make the guy too smart… or maybe the green eyes actually lower visibility, or something.
In any case, I think it’s better than being magicked to death by the unicorn horse.
“Here we are,” he points out, opening a door and shoving Pinkie and I in without warning, closing it behind us. Locking and unspecified magic noises follow shortly after, as well as his voice behind the door: “Now, let us return to the throne room. Her Majesty has plans for us to search for the escaped fugitive,” fugitive? Problems among the ranks, maybe?
“W-Wait! I should make sure they aren’t going to try anything!” Flash’s cries of protest sound behind, but it doesn’t seem to work as their hoofsteps and voices sound off, leaving Pinkie and I worse off than even back to square one.
“Great!” I groan, the sounds of my annoyance only serving to annoy me even further. I attempt to pull the door open, but my failure is instantly apparent. “Damn it!” I shout, punching the door to no clear effect. “Grr! Stupid magic!”
“That’s really weird! I thought they were like zombies!” Pinkie points out, realizing the same thing I had. “Maybe Sunset's magickingy thing is getting better!”
“Gah!” I groan, slamming the thick door again.... it doesn't help. “I-I need to think of a plan.”
“Lemon!” Pinkie calls me almost instantly, but I ignore her, hoping she’ll just let me think. “Lemon! Look!”
“Pinkie, I’m trying to think!” ignoring my words, she continues her attention seeking by placing her hooves on my head. “Look!” says my supposed girlfriend as she forcibly turns my head, an audible pop and a sharp pain resulting in response.
“Ouch! Pinkie, that hu… hurt,” my jaw drops as my eyes fall upon a blue mare laying on the room’s bed, unmoving. Her eyes are hidden behind her long horse bangs, but the lack of cutie mark and distinguishable character traits tells me all I need to know; this, is actually Trixie. Thankfully alive, by the faint sounds of her breathing.
“Trix! You are okay!” Pinkie doesn't waste any time, jumping on the bed and engulfing the sleeping Trixie in a hug.
“Ah!” Trixie shouts, jolting awake on the spot. “What? How? Where?” she looks around wildly, stopping her sights on Pinkie and I. “Why is Pinkie Pie a horse?” she notes immediately, then looks down at herself. “Why is Trixie a horse!? What’s going on? Is this a dream!?”
I let out a relieved sigh. “I’m glad that you are okay, Trix.”
“Lime?” she looks at me confused. “What are you doing in my dream?” she looks me over for a second before saying: “And why do you look so slender? Are you a mare?”
“I’m not!” I shout annoyed. “And this isn’t a dream! You were captured by Sunset, right?”
“Sunset…” Trixie mumbles, looking down thoughtfully. “Ah!” Trixie suddenly shouts, looking at Pinkie with a panicked expression. “Okay, good! You seem to be alright,” she then follows up by jumping off the bed, only to end up tripping majestically the moment her legs touch the floor. “Ouch…” we quickly jump to her aid, helping her stand, though she doesn’t seem thrilled even after some tips on how to walk, looking wildly around the room, panicking. “Where are the rest?”
Pinkie and I look at each other confused. “The rest?”
“Our…” Trixie bites her lip, holding back her sentence. “T-The other students! Where are they? They were with me earlier!”
“We don’t know where anyone is,” I answer honestly. “I was hoping you’d help us fill that blank. We were kinda knocked out when it happened.”
“Understood," Trixie nods calmly. "Trixie does know things, and she supposes she can spend some time explaining. Though, I expect you two to do the same for me first! This is all very confusing,” we spend a couple of minutes explaining what we learned from Celestia, which isn’t really much, but Trixie remains quiet throughout. “Trixie… rather, I am not exactly sure what to say to all that, it’s honestly a little scary,” she gulps. “Not to mention it didn’t really explain much.”
“That’s what I thought!” I join in agreement.
“However, what Celestia and Flash said about Shimmer is true; she is the one who did this,” Trixie says, giving me an apologetic stare. “I’m sorry, Lemon, but I was there when it happened.”
“Oh… I mean, no, no, don’t be! I get it,” I say it, but I can’t really hide my distress. Where did I go wrong? What could have led Sunset into this path again? Is that stupid ‘friendship is magic’ crap actually a lie?
Does my theory have no legs?
“There is more,” Trixie continues. “Trixie actually confronted Shimmer when everything happened.”
“What even happened?” Pinkie asks, looking lost. “I was seeing z’s when all the weird stuff started!”
Trixie’s brow furrows, deep in thought. “Pinkie Pie is correct about it being ‘weird’ stuff.”
“What do you mean?” I ask confused.
Trixie continues frowning, humming softly to herself. “Given that the horse form isn’t normal in its own right, I suppose that what I saw wouldn’t be too farfetched.”
“Yes? That being…” I urge her to continue. I’d prefer much less vagueness to my recaps.
“Sunset Shimmer turned into a she-demon,” she begins (pretty much skipping even the build up) her brow furrowed as far as it can, as she struggles to recall the rest. “After she stole the crown, Sparkle's group and I followed and try to take it from her, and I remember Shimmer putting it on, and suddenly, transforming into some sort of devilish-looking creature with a rather creepy voice.”
“That sounds like something out of a scary story,” Pinkie points out, frightened.
“I thought this as well, but that wasn’t the end of it,” she continues on. “She used some sort of magic to control everyone in the dance!” she points out. That would probably explain how Flash got all mind-fucked-up. “Twilight and her friends tried to reason with her, but they were quickly knocked out by some sort of blast!”
I look over to Pinkie, who appears as shocked as I am. “Well, then what happened?” she asks, wasting no time to get to the point.
“Well… Trixie tried to confront Shimmer alone, b-but,” she stammers, showing the hints of a smile. “I kind of, um, jumped the gun and kinda, sorta punched her…”
“Excuse me?” I ask, taken aback for the moment. “Wait, are we sure this really was Shimmer? I think we need more details, here.”
“Trixie could have never made such mistake! But it really is all! I just jumped in from the sidelines,” she explains, apparently surprised at herself. “The hit was a spontaneous decision! And then, well… the last thing Trixie remembers before waking up is Shimmer smiling, then, nothing. Sorry I couldn’t do more.”
“It’s okay,” I sigh in resignation. “I guess I can’t really just say it wasn’t Sunset anymore, can I?”
“Open uuup!” Pinkie’s voice yells loudly behind me, and we see her try best to pry the door open, poking where she can, looking for the slightest sign of it budging to no avail. “Come on!”
“Pinkie?”
“So what happened to the girls!?” she asks suddenly on Trixie, panic cracking through her voice, her mane deflating in the most obvious parallel of her mood. “A-are they okay?”
“Trix-I-I don’t know,” Trixie looks away, mumbling a response.
“Pinkie, I’m sure…” I try to reassure her, but her expression brings me back to the reality of our situation; there is a door magically locked, and no way out. What can we do? We are totally powerless! How can two earth ponies and a unicorn even do th- “Trixie!” I feel my mood suddenly shifting, turning to cheer at my favorite show-girl-horse-pony.
“Trixie doesn’t like the hungry expression you are showing her,” she awkwardly mumbles, backing off slowly and looking more than a little distraught.
“You have a horn!” I explain quickly, looking over the phallic-shaped bone-like thingie resting atop her beautiful, BEAUTIFUL head. “Which means you can use magic!”
She reaches up to touch it, giving out a disgusted expression. “Trixie doesn’t like where this is going.”
“We can get out of here if we use your Equestrian magic!” I explain quickly, no chance to back out. Not that she has a choice as the plan forms in my head. “If there is a way to beat magic, is magic itself! Though I guess this is technically working AROUND the magic…”
“I thought you said the door was locked by some magic crap! I can’t just break that!” Trixie mumbles, slowly backing away, biting her lip in clear discomfort. “H-how do you even know it will work? Have you tried to open it harder?”she whimpers, tapping the magicked door in a supposed attempt at opening it.
“I did say it was locked, but I don’t think Sunset knew that we know of Equestrian magic! It’s pretty much the one ace we have!” I point out, feeling instantly confident. “Besides, if Pinkie can’t seem to find a way out, who else can?” I note, making an effort to point towards Pinkie, whose face seems to have regained all hope by the creepily huge grin she is giving Trixie.
“I-I’ve never done real magic, grandpa never…” she whispers, giving the door an intense look, letting out a long sigh. "Fine..."
"R-really?" I ask in sheer surprise. "Oh, Trixie, you are the be-"
"Don't push it!" she groans, slowly approaching the door. “O-okay, the Great and Powerful Trrriixie will attempt to, er, um... Lime, what is Trixie supposed to do, again?”
“Right,” guess it’s my turn to explain. “Well, since we can’t open the door, what if we just make a new door!”
“Trixie doesn’t understand what that means,” she says in response. “The point!”
“We are gonna have you blast a hole on the wall,” I point out, straight to it. “Simple, right?”
“What!? How is that magic? HOW is that simple?!” she asks. I guess the horse uninitiated wouldn’t really know about it.
“I know it doesn’t sound simple, but all you have to do is think of the magic as a sort-of energy building up on your horn! Then, once you feel enough power has been stored, you just focus it, and let it go in one shot! Blasting a hole on the wall besides the door, and theoretically giving us an escape route,” I explain, recalling my extensive knowledge on made-up horse magic.
Trixie looks at me shocked. “That was actually half-decently explained… but Trixie can’t help but wonder how you knew that.”
“Not fanfiction, that’s for sure!”
“Huh?”
“I said focus! For your fans!”
“If you are certain, then I’m willing to try,” Trixie sighs, resigned to her fate. “Well, here goes everything!” she closes her eyes, and after taking a deep breath, she begins. It’s quite clear she is already into it, as her features contour, and sweat begins to form almost instantly, and …
“Trixie?”
“Gah!” Trixie yelps, jumping in place. “Could you avoid doing that! You broke my concentration!”
“Concentration?” I ask amused. “That looked more constipation than anything,” I raise my legs over my head as she makes a very clear attempt at a hit. “N-no. Listen! All I’m saying is that you have to calm down!” no pain actually comes, instead, with Trixie letting herself fall to the ground.
“You make it sound like that’s an easy thing!” Trixie huffs annoyed. “I’m not exactly an actual magician! I do tricks! Not actual magic! Besides, this is too much pressure! A-and I haven’t exactly practiced for the past few weeks…”
“But you ARE great and powerful!” Pinkie says, holding her hoof in her own. “I know you can blow that wall to bits!”
“Trixie,” I give her my most serious look as I continue: “If there is any girl who randomly turned into a magic pony who could actually do this better than anyone else at proper magic, it’s you! Think of this as if it were a live performance! Just deal with the pressure the way you usually do.”
She mulls over my words, facing me with a doubtful look. “But do you think I can actually do it?”
“Trixie. I KNOW you can do it,” I tell her at the risk of sounding cheesy.
“Very well, then!” she stands up, “Okay, don’t think…” Trixie mumbles, looking particularly thoughtful. “Grr, how do you make it sound easier than it is.”
I shake my head. “Never said it would be easier.”
“Hmm…” she doesn’t retort, closing her eyes, and after taking a deep breath… nothing. She seems suddenly calm, almost at peace with herself. “Wait… I think I’m feeling it!” to my surprise, I see a purple light begin forming around her horn, looking unstable by the way it shakes, but otherwise actually there. “Oh, wait! Oh no!”
And now, that doesn’t sound good. “W-what?”
“I-I don’t think I can hold it” she exclaims, trembling slightly. “I-it’s too much! I don’t think I c-”
“You are doing the thing!” Pinkie exclaims excitedly from the sidelines, watching intently. “Trixie is the best! Don’t give up! You can do it!” she continues her cheering, her eyes shining with definite hope.
Trixie smirks through her concentration, and as if gaining a second wind, she stands straight, and shouts: “I am the great, and powerful Trixie! The greatest magician in the world!” as she shouts the final word, the beam of magic shoots out, but…
“Book it!” I shout, jumping out of the way of the blast. Turns out, I forgot to teach Trixie a very important detail: aiming.
The top part of the wall begins collapsing, falling debris almost hitting Trixie, who I barely manage to pull out of harm’s way. We stand back in total silence, watching as the surprisingly thick wall debris forms a small pile, leading up towards the newly formed exit.
“Woohoo!” Pinkie yelps excitedly, pulling Trixie into a hug. “You did it!”
“I-I did, didn’t I?” Trixie laughs weakly, looking at her handy hoofwork.
“Come on guys! Let’s go!” Pinkie leads the way, quickly jumping over to the other side.
I sigh in relief, turning to Trixie. “You did it, Trix.”
“I… of course!” Trixie yelps, breathing heavily. “T-t-the Great, and powerful tRixIe is… is…” without a warning, she collapses on the spot, landing face down. I swear I can barely make sense of her muffled words this way, but something akin to: “The G and P Trixie is tired all of a sudden,” is said.
Scoffing, I reach down, and do my best to pick her up. Putting her on my back as best as I can with my petite body. “You don’t seem too great and powerful right now, do you?”
I hear the low sound of a growl coming from her limp body. “Trixie scoffs back at you! I didn’t see you use supernatural powers to make a hole on a wall!”
“Alright! Touché,” I laugh. “Come on, we should go before someone shows up,” I say, carrying her towards the hole as best as I can, which is not very comfortably. I have no idea how ponies can carry anyone like this. It’s killing my back. I don’t even want to think as to how I’ll jump down.
“Lemon?” Pinkie shouts, from the other side.
“What?”
“Do you want the bad news, or the worse news?”
“How about you just tell me what’s going… on,” as I peer over the wall, my heart sinks at the sight of a dozen guards or so, silently awaiting, pointing their equally quiet but deadly weapons at us.
Oh... crap.