//------------------------------// // Chapter 0:5 - Seeing Pink // Story: Camaraderie is Sorcery // by FireOfTheNorth //------------------------------// Chapter 0:5 – Seeing Pink Year 989 of the 4th Age Pinkamena looked up in wonder as the wagon rolled beneath the towering white walls of Balte-Maer. Though Balte-Maer was the smallest of the Three Sisters (the powerful cities on Equestria’s eastern coast), it was far larger than anything the filly had ever seen before. Until now, the largest settlements she’d visited were the village of Holderton growing up, and Dodge’s Crossing, where she’d met up with her current companions in her journey across Equestria. The Renegades’ Troupe was a band of traveling performers that Pinkamena had immediately identified with. Though still a child, Pinkamena had left her family’s farm and had been journeying haphazardly across southern Equestria on a self-imposed quest to spread joy throughout the land. The Renegades’ Troupe was in the business of spreading joy to ponies as well, though they turned far more of a profit and had a much easier time of traveling. Many had been skeptical of taking Pinkamena in at first, but by the time they had made it to Balte-Maer, they had all taken a liking to the filly, even if she was a bit tightly wound. Several members were giving her lessons in performance, both with voice and with instruments. As they trundled through the streets of Balte-Maer, many ponies commented on the wagons draped with brightly colored banners. A few clever ponies followed, knowing that performing troupes often did their first show for free to help spread the word. The troupe’s leader had been to Balte-Maer before and knew that there would be no shortage of locations to perform at; the city was filled with coliseums, amphitheaters, and squares. Scouts were sent out to find which locations were vacant at the moment, but before they could arrive, a pair of guards wearing the white and blue of the ducal house approached the column of wagons with spears at their sides. “Melodia of The Renegades’ Troupe,” one of the guards addressed the troupe’s leader, who had hopped down from her wagon to stand between it and the armed ponies, “Duchess Seaspray commands your troupe’s performance at the Sapphire Palace.” “But of course,” Melodia replied wisely. A refusal would likely get the troupe banned from the city, and if the duchess enjoyed their show, they could expect a hearty reward. Led by the ducal guards, The Renegades’ Troupe continued through the city, on a slightly different course. Pinkamena continued to marvel at the soaring structures of stone throughout Balte-Maer, their domes and columns shining in the sunlight. Atop a hill near the center of the city, the snowy buildings gave way to well-tended gardens surrounding an opulent palace. The Sapphire Palace, named for the blue tiles adorning its exterior, was the seat of the ruler of the Duchy of Balte-Maer, and its wealth mirrored the riches of the duchy. The performers hastily unpacked their wagons within the palace’s courtyard, under the supervision of more ducal guards. They would need to leave behind many of their possessions, since there was no way to bring a stage or other large items into the palace’s throne room, and no reason to either. That they had changed out of traveling clothes into their performing attire before entering the city expedited the process, and soon they were ready to present themselves to the duchess. When they arrived in the throne room, it had already been prepared for them. Space had been cleared, and chairs had been provided for most members of the duchess’s court. Duchess Seaspray herself sat at the head of the room upon a throne into which was carved waves and shells. The duchess was young, only six years older than Pinkamena herself, but had an air of authority about her. She wore her crown as a pony born to it, as indeed she had been. Though the troupe would be performing for the whole room, the only pony’s reaction that mattered was the one seated upon the throne. At a signal from the duchess, the troupe launched into their performance, and Pinkamena was swept along, doing the part she’d been trained for. The nobles of the court laughed and cheered, but their voices seemed very far away to the filly. She stumbled mid-performance as images flashed before her eyes, a sense of urgency behind them. The other members of The Renegades’ Troupe looked upon her with concern, and one tried to usher her away, but Pinkamena found a strength she hadn’t known and broke free. “You’re in danger!” she yelled as she galloped toward Duchess Seaspray. Ducal guards rushed to place themselves between the filly with the crazy mane and their sovereign, drawing swords to hold her at bay. The performance came to a sudden halt as the other members of the troupe looked aghast at Pinkamena. Members of the court whinnied fearfully and called for more guards to protect them as well, perceiving the performers as a threat now. “Is this a part of your performance?” Duchess Seaspray asked, unamused. “You’ve got to listen to me!” Pinkamena said desperately, “They’re going to kill you!” Ducal guards around the room leveled their spears and began to surround The Renegades’ Troupe, pressing in, but the duchess raised a hoof to signal them to halt. Rising from her throne, she stepped through her baffled guards, who parted for her to make way to the crazed filly, who was noticeably shivering now. “Who is ‘they’?” the duchess asked as she proceeded past the final ring of guards between her and Pinkamena. Pinkamena closed her eyes, and more images danced across the inside of her eyelids, forming a more cohesive picture. “Him!” the tiny pink pony said, pointing a hoof at a mustachioed lord standing next to the throne, then pointing at another noble, “And him!” “Such accusations!” the first accused said, “Is this your idea of comedy?” “Your Grace, I urge you to back away,” the second said calmly, “The foal is obviously possessed.” “Is that so, Bishop Dolus?” the duchess asked without looking away from the shivering Pinkamena. “She exhibits none of the signs,” the elderly mare said as she stepped forward through the crowd of ducal guards, leaning heavily on her crosier, “It is far more likely that she is a magically-sensitive oracle, though I’ve never seen it manifest quite like this.” “Assassins! Waiting in the corridor to your bedchamber!” “Captain, take a detachment of guards and investigate,” Duchess Seaspray ordered the ducal guard at her side, and he rounded up a few of his fellow warriors and left the throne room. A few minutes later, Pinkamena’s shivers stopped, and she nearly collapsed to the floor before steadying herself. The ducal guards returned, fewer in number and blood on their armor. “It was as she said,” the captain reported, “Two assassins were lying in wait to ambush you. One gave us chase.” “A pity you were unable to catch them alive.We might’ve discovered the true perpetrators of this plot,” the mustachioed noble said, and Duchess Seaspray whirled to face him, “Your Grace, somepony has tried to pin this heinous act on me using this foal.What reason would you have to distrust me?” “She was right about the assassins; I can think of no reason not to trust her in this matter either,” the duchess said coldly, and the mustachioed stallion stiffened, “My father-in-law and the admiral of my navy, both key in securing my claim to the throne after my father’s death. Together you would control the duchy through my simpleton of a husband and the seas through your ships, but there was one obstacle in your way. I wasn’t the weak filly you thought I was, and so you would need to get rid of me if you wanted your own aspirations to soar.” “Your Grace, I have only ever been your loyal servant,” the admiral said plaintively. “To my face, yes, but I now begin to wonder if my navy is truly mine. No matter; if not, then it will be soon,” Duchess Seaspray said, “Captain, escort these stallions to the dungeons, and find out if they had any more accomplices in this conspiracy.” Though the two stallions Pinkamena had pointed out loudly protested being dragged away, none of the other nobles came to their rescue. Though many feared they could be dragged off just as easily, and without evidence, as a whole they were satisfied with this turn of events. When powerful nobles fell, others would have the opportunity to rise to fill their positions. “Rot from within must be cut out before it can spread,” Duchess Seaspray said quietly before facing The Renegades’ Troupe, “I apologize profoundly for the trouble my guards subjected you to.You shall all receive a great reward, for the performance, and for the actions of your smallest member.” Pinkamena stood proudly, now fully recovered from the ordeal of her visions. The guards wavered nervously, but none made any moves as the rest of the troupe rushed forward to embrace the filly and congratulate her with awe at her abilities. “Little one, you may have just saved my life, and so deserve a special token of my gratitude. Guard, the admiral’s telescope,” Seaspray said, and the nearest ducal guard rushed to retrieve the telescope from the belongings that had been stripped off the conspirator in a hasty search, “Take this, the telescope of the Admiral of Balte-Maer, as a reminder of your service to me. If, in the future, you need anything of me, present this telescope and I will do my best to help you.” The Renegades’ Troupe sent up a cheer for Pinkamena, and some of the ducal guards joined in. The pink foal beamed with joy. Not bad for her first major performance.