A small crowd of local residents, unicorn students, and faculty were gathered on the lawn near Twilight’s Tower. The students stood apart from the grown-ups, murmuring to each other.
"What's going on?"
“Don't know. I just heard an explosion and then a pink aura appeared around the tower.”
“Probably Twinkle practicing potions again,” a filly snorted, rolling her eyes.
“I don't know," said a studious looking colt wearing thick black framed glasses. "I thought I heard a voice say 'You shall not pass'."
The filly snorted again. “You sure that wasn’t the Potions professor talking to you?”
“Oh, Ha-Ha!”
None of those gathered noticed the three teen-aged ponies who disappeared down an alley between two nearby buildings.
Jewel led the way, following the cobbled street as it wound its way past several upscale buildings. She knew this neighborhood all too well. This was the elite district, where her father had once lived. The houses here were beautiful, many of them built from the same materials as the royal palace, and intricately designed. One mansion, in particular, sported a porch with tall, fluted marble columns and a statue of Princesses Celestia and Luna on each side. It had a horseshoe shaped drive and a flowerbed full of orange roses and white day-lilies. Jewel stopped in front of the mansion’s black iron gate.
“I believe we’re far enough away, now,” she panted. “We can rest.”
“Thank Celestia!” Zany flopped down, leaning against the fence. He was breathing heavily. Sweat poured from his forehead. Jewel looked at him worriedly.
“How do you feel? Are you still weak?”
Zany shook his head. “No. I’m just not used to running everywhere like this. Man, I hate being without my magic!”
“You might want to build up your strength," said Applespike, smiling mischievously. "Twinkle did suggest I get you a job bucking apples.”
“Gee, thanks,” Zany replied sarcastically, giving his friend a dirty look. “Sheesh! Like I’m the first colt to ever drop a filly on the dance floor.”
“Shhh! Keep it down, you two,” Jewel hushed them. “This is an elite neighborhood. I don’t want the gatekeeper chasing us away.”
“So, where are we going?” asked Zany, lowering his voice. “We sure can’t go back to the tower. And what about Twinkle? She’s gonna freak when she finds us gone. Not that I’d mind seeing that…” he added with a grin.
“I sent her a message right after you put up the shield,” said Applespike. "To let her know Goodnight and his gang were at the tower.”
“Did you hear back from her?”
“Not yet,” Applespike replied, looking worried. “I hope the message was able to get through the shield.”
Zany considered. “No reason why it shouldn’t. The shield only blocked anyone from entering the tower. It wouldn’t stop a magic message from being delivered.”
“I hope she contacts us soon,” said Jewel, glancing nervously down the empty street. “They’ll be after us before long. Nothing keeps Goodnight and his team down for long.”
“I don’t know,” said Applespike, thoughtfully. “That Marshmallow Bomb stuff is pretty hard to get rid of unless you know how.” He grinned. “I remember it took Zany almost all night to get all the foals and parents unstuck after Nightmare Night.”
“And if Goodnight and his crew do get loose, they’ll still have to find us,” Zany added. “Which will be hard to do, considering I interrupted their locator spell.” He held up the purple jeweled barrette for them to see. Gently, he brushed back Jewel’s mane and slid it into place. “We should be okay for a while.”
“Thank you, Zany,” Jewel murmured gratefully.
“Just what do you think you are doing here?”
The Chaotic Three almost jumped out of their fur. Standing on the other side of the black iron gate was a tall unicorn stallion wearing a gray gatekeeper’s uniform. He glowered down at them, his nose wrinkling.
“This is a private residence,” he coldly informed them. “You need to move on.”
“We are so sorry,” said Jewel, using her most regal voice. “We didn’t mean to be a bother. We were only resting…”
“Then I suggest you rest somewhere else,” the gatekeeper interrupted brusquely. “This is a private residence.”
“Excuse me,” said Applespike coolly, his country accent becoming thicker and slower. “But we ain’t on your property. This here’s a public street and you don’t have the right to chase us off of it.”
“This gate is private property,” replied the gatekeeper, sniffing as if he smelled something bad. “And you are blocking the drive.”
“Blocking?” asked Zany. He looked pointedly up and down the street then between the iron bars of the gate. “I don’t see anyone trying to get in or out.”
“That is neither here or there!” The gatekeeper picked up a stout stick with his magic and poked the colts through the bars. “Now move along!”
“Boys, please,” Jewel hissed, trying regain control of the situation. She smiled politely to the stallion. “I am so sorry. We will—OH!”
She cried out as the stick roughly struck her on the shoulder. Applespike bared his teeth, his eyes glowed bright green.
“That tore it!”
WHOOSH! The gatekeeper let out a frightened whinny as a bright green flame suddenly turned his stick to ash.
“ARGH! Call the police! Call the Royal Guard! Call the—”
“Oh, zip it!” snarled Zany, waving his hoof.
“UMF!” A zipper appeared on the stallion’s mouth.
“Wow,” said Zany, looking at his hooves in surprise. “Looks like I’m back in business!”
The frightened stallion fled to the gatehouse and slammed the door. Jewel grabbed her friends galloped with them down another street. They passed other mansions, some with iron gates and some without, but they did not stop. Finally, they reached a small plaza with a large white marble fountain. The three sat on the downwind side and let the mist cool them off.
“Well,” said Applespike, after a while. “I always wondered why your Daddy was so willing to up and leave Canterlot for Ponyville. Now, I know.”
“It is beautiful,” replied Jewel, looking around sadly. “But some of the ponies here can be quite cruel. They treated my mother badly and were mean to Gemstone. That’s why Daddy moved the family to Ponyville.”
“This town needs an anemone!” cried Zany, blowing on a noise maker.
Both Jewel and Applespike looked at him strangely. “What would they do with a spiky sea critter?”
The draconequess rolled his eyes. “No, no! One of those things that makes you go to the bathroom. You know--”
“We get it! We get it!”
Zany sighed and leaned his head against the cool marble. “So, what do we do? Move on or just wait for a message from Twinkle?”
BRAAAAAAP! As if on cue, Applespike belched. A few nearby ponies turned up their noses in disgust. In front of him lay a folded piece of notepaper. Jewel picked it up and opened it.
“It’s from Twinkle!” she said excitedly.
“No kidding,” Zany muttered. “So, what does it say?”
“Sorry for the delay. I was out of parchment. I had to borrow this from the pony at the ticket office. If you must leave the tower, head towards the palace. Don’t try to go in one of the main entrances. Dad’s back in Ponyville and none of the guards know you. Cut through the Canterlot Gardens to the back of the palace. There’s a service door there. It’s usually guarded by an older pony named Silver Spear. He’s a close friend of Dad’s. Just tell him that you’re friends with Twinkle Sparkle and he should let you in.
Signed Twinkle Sparkle
PS: Don’t do anything to get Silver Spear in trouble. I mean it, ZANY!”
“Humph! As if I would ever do such a thing!” Zany snorted indignantly, a halo appearing over his head.
“Do you know how to get to the Canterlot Gardens from here?” Applespike asked Jewel.
The little unicorn stood up, tossing her mane back as she examined the different avenues around the plaza.
“That street over there,” she said, pointing to a broad road across from them. “That should take us to the main entrance.”
The Canterlot Garden was one of the most popular tourist sites in Canterlot. The beautiful combination of seasonal flowers and striking artwork made it must-see for school field trips, artists, and plant enthusiasts alike. It was too late in the day for any school field trips, but there were still plenty of tourists to blend in with. One large group was made up of elderly mares wearing floppy straw hats. Every last one of them had some kind of flower for a cutie mark.
“Wow,” Applespike murmured to Zany. “I haven’t seen this many old mares since Granny’s last birthday party.”
“It’s the Equestrian Garden Club,” Zany murmured back. “Mom’s a member of the Ponyville Division.”
Jewel sandwiched herself between her two friends and they all slipped past the gate unnoticed. They followed the stone path past beautiful displays of flowers and statuary. Jewel gazed at the grand statue of a mare standing on her back legs while proudly waving a flag. The sweet smell of roses and the heavier perfume of gardenias hung in the air. The little unicorn sighed, wishing she could stop and enjoy it.
“Well, well, looky here,” said Applespike, stopping suddenly.
They had reached a fork in the path. In front of them was a tall stone pedestal with no statue on it. Applespike pointed to a plaque below it.
Here once stood the stone statue of Discord the Draconequess. Disharmony freed him from his prison but love freed his heart. Let this empty pedestal bear testimony to the freedom only true love can bring.
“How sweet,” murmured Jewel.
“Yeah,” said Zany, sniffling a little. “Mushy.”
“Ooooh, Mummy! Look, at the pretty unicorn!”
Jewel froze as a tween-aged filly wearing a pink pinafore and holding a flower shaped balloon pointed her out to a middle-aged mare.
“Look, Mummy! She looks just like that pretty model from the magazines!”
The mare, a fancy unicorn with an expensive saddlebag laid across her back, sighed and gave Jewel only the barest glance.
“Yes, darling, she is pretty. But you know the real Jewel would not be running around Canterlot like that. And certainly not with those two ruffians.” She added with a sniff.
“Let it go, Zany,” Jewel hissed as the draconequess glared after the rude mare. “We don’t want to cause a scene right now.”
“Of course not,” said Zany, grinning meanly. “I promise she won’t find that tarantula in her saddlebag until she gets home.”
“Zany!” Jewel sighed but couldn’t help giggling at her friend. “I do wish I had had time to grab my traveling cloak. I don't want anyone recognizing me and giving us away.”
Applespike tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“I may have just the thing,” he said, reaching into his saddlebag. They watched curiously as he fished out a square of green crystal candy.
Zany laughed. “The Zany-Apple Color Change Candies!”
“The one and only!”
Jewel looked at the candy dubiously. “Um, is that what you gave out at the Gala? That candy that changes the color of your face?”
“Yep. Delicious and safe to eat!” announced Applespike.
“Wears off after two hours or can easily be removed with a simple spell,” added Zany.
“Why do you sound like an advertisement?” Jewel asked, looking at them strangely.
“We’re hoping Granny Smith will give us permission to sell them,” Applespike explained. “We’re still working on our pitch.”
“I see. And how is this going to help?”
“It’ll disguise your face, silly,” said Zany. “Anypony looking at you will think you’re sick and they’ll leave us alone.”
Jewel gave them a deadpan look. “So, I’m supposed to be sick. But, I’m well enough to go for a stroll through the Canterlot Gardens?”
Zany shrugged. “Didn’t say the plan was perfect.”
Jewel sighed. “Oh, all right. Give me the candy. I suppose we can bluff our way through if we have to.”
She levitated the candy into her mouth and sucked on it. It tasted like sour green apples. She couldn’t feel anything happening or sense any magic, but the delighted grins on her friends’ faces told her it was working.
“Whoa, green is definitely not your color,” snickered Applespike.
“And the purple spots make you look like a toadstool,” added Zany.
“I don’t care if it makes me look like a five-headed hydra, as long as no one recognizes me,” replied Jewel, with a prim toss of her mane. “Now, come on. The palace is this way.”
They took the path to the left and trotted in the direction of the royal gate. As Zany predicted, most of the ponies took one look at Jewel’s sickly face and hastily turned away. They had almost reached the garden’s famous hedge maze when they found their way blocked by a group of the same elderly mares they had seen earlier.
“Traffic jam up ahead,” said Zany, conjuring an air horn.
“Don’t you dare!” Jewel punched the draconequess on the shoulder. “You’ll give the poor ladies a heart attack.”
“Let me handle it,” said Applespike, stepping forward.
“Are you sure the Infinite Iris display is this way?” he heard one of the mares ask, holding up a map. “I thought it would be in the greenhouse.”
“Oh, no, darling,” another replied. “It’s near the lily pond along with the new statue of Mage Meadowbrook, the healer.”
“Oh, I’ve heard it’s a lovely statue!” said a mare with a rosebud for a cutie mark. “And that the pond was remade to look like her bayou home!”
“Um, excuse me, ladies!”
The mares ceased talking and looked questioningly at the young dragon-pony standing before them. Applespike smiled and gave a polite bow.
“I’m sorry, but do you mind if me and my friends cut through? We’re in a bit of a hurry.”
“Such a charming young man!” cried the mare with the rosebud cutie mark. “Such lovely manners! Of course, you may come through. Let’s move aside, girls so they can…Oh! My goodness!” The mare gasped in horror as she caught sight of Jewel. “You poor child! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?”
“Oh!” cried Jewel, feeling like a deer caught on the railroad tracks with a fast approaching train. “I…um…”
“It’s all right, ma’am,” Zany cut in smoothly. “She just came in contact with some Poison Joke is all.”
“Poison Joke?” another mare looked at him quizzically. “You must be mistaken, young man. There is no Poison Joke in the Canterlot Gardens. I think she's having an allergic reaction to something.”
“Allergic reaction!” cried a unicorn mare with a lily for a cutie mark. “You cannot mess around with an allergy!” She grabbed Jewel’s face with her hooves. “Can you breathe, darling? Do you feel dizzy? Is there any swelling? I’ve got an Equi-Pen in my purse if you need it.”
“Oh, no! No! No! No!” cried Jewel, pulling away. “My breathing is fine, thank you.”
“Are you sure, dear?” asked the mare levitating a rather large hypodermic needle. “I really don’t mind--”
“SPIDERS!”
The ladies of the Equestrian Garden Club screamed as a swarm of inky black spiders suddenly appeared from the grass at their feet and attempted to climb their legs. The mares forgot all about Jewel as they reared and bucked like colts at a rodeo, trying to shake off the spiders before galloping away. The spiders chased them a little way before melting back into the grass from which they came.
Jewel gave Zany a look.
The chaotic colt just shrugged. “Well, at least we know their hearts are okay.”
“Aha! There they are!"
Goodnight and his cohorts appeared amid the chaos of the stampeding mares. A small velvet bag floated in front of them.
Jewel gasped. “My bit bag! Oh, no!”
The three stallions broke into a run.
“This way! Into the maze!” cried Zany, pushing his friends inside. They raced down the hedged corridor then turned into the first hall on the left. This took them down another corridor to the right which hooked around and led into a dead end.
“Now what?” Jewel asked desperately. “No matter where we hide in here, they’ll find us with that locator spell!”
“We’re not gonna hide,” replied Zany, his eyes glowing white.
A white, glowing spiral appeared on the green hedge in front of them, parting and bending the branches into a circular shaped hole. Zany leaped through, then motioned to the others to follow. A series of holes appeared in the hedges ahead of them, then closed back after they passed.
“We’re cutting straight through,” Zany explained. “But those losers are gonna have to follow the maze. It’ll buy us some time to get to the palace.”
“There’s the exit,” said Applespike, taking the lead. All three burst through the last hole and galloped towards the exit.
POP!
Goodnight, Mountain Mist, and Fair Weather appeared in front of them. Applespike stopped so hard he almost sat down. Zany and Jewel skidded to a halt behind him.
“Well, that didn’t work the way I hoped,” muttered Zany.
Goodnight pointed his horn towards the draconequess and fired his gray-green spell.
“NO!” Jewel leaped forward, producing a blue bubble around herself and her friends. The Tatzlworm spell struck the shield and quickly fizzled out.
Goodnight’s jaw dropped in surprise. “W-what? How?”
Zany threw his arms around his friends. Crash helmets appeared on their heads.
“Magic Health Bubble. Bye!”
With a sizzling hiss like a Romane candle, Zany shot into the sky dragging his friends along with him. The dragon-pony closed his eyes and tried not think about what would happen if they fell. He opened them again as blasts of green and yellow magic zinged past them.
“Get us out of range!” he hollered in Zany’s ear. The chaotic colt nodded and put on an extra burst of speed. They were soon as high as the highest tower in Canterlot, the city spread out below them like a foal’s toy town. The Garden was far below and the ponies, mere dots.
Suddenly there was a red flash from one of the spires. A firework exploded nearby, forming the shape of a lightning bolt superimposed on a capital C.
“They’re calling out the Canterlot Royal Air Force!” Jewel shouted. “We need to get out of here!”
Zany dove and swung in a wide arc around the palace. Both Jewel and Applespike gasped as they glimpsed the valley far, far below. Zany turned, flying lower until they were at the same height as the palace towers. He grinned as they approached a tower with a telescope and a silver crescent moon emblem on the balcony.
“Permission to buzz the tower,” he said in a staticky sounding voice.
“Huh?”
They zoomed past the tower, close enough to blow open the curtains and make the telescope spin on its tripod. Zany zipped away, snickering as he heard the Canterlot Voice bellowing behind him.
“WHO DARES BUZZ OUR TOWER WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP?”
“Zany!” cried Jewel. “We don’t have time for this!”
“Head for that balcony!” Applespike shouted, pointing to a large balcony with an arc shaped door.
Zany zoomed down and made a neat three-point landing on the balcony. The three quickly slipped inside, pulling the curtain closed behind them. VROOM! The shadows of three Pegasi zoomed past the curtain. The three waited in silence until they were sure they were gone.
“Do you think they saw us?” asked Applespike.
“No, I think they would have followed us if they had,” replied Zany, popping away their crash helmets. “I think we’re safe for the moment.”
“Where are we?” asked Jewel, cautiously lighting her horn. The room looked like a posh apartment, the walls painted a soft blue. There was a sitting area with fluffy cyan-colored cushions and a low heavy-looking table.
“I'll be doggone!” said Applespike, his eyes lighting up. “This is the room we got together in after the Gala! Here’s the table where we ate!”
“And that balcony is where we shared our first kiss,” Jewel blushed as she lovingly nuzzled his neck. “How could I forget?”
Zany rolled his eyes at the lovebirds. “Get a room, you two,” he muttered as he turned away to check the hall. He quietly opened the large wooden door and listened carefully.
“No sound of alarms—yet,” he reported. “We should be okay as long as we stay out of sight.”
“What about Goodnight and his locator spell?” asked Jewel, worriedly. “There’s no way we can hide from that!”
“Well, they’re out there and we’re in here,” said Applespike, putting a protective arm around her. “And I’m pretty sure the guards won’t let ‘em in.”
“You don’t know Goodnight,” she replied, leaning into him. “He can be very persuasive.”
“Your parents will be here any minute,” said Zany. “Then Goodnight and his pals can’t—”
BRAAAAP! Applespike slapped a hoof to his mouth as he burped up another letter.
“Excuse me,” he said, smacking his lips in distaste. “Eww! I wish Twinkle would quit using that notepaper. It tastes worse than Granny’s herbal stomach medicine!”
“What does it say?” Jewel asked eagerly as Zany unfolded the note. “Are my parents here yet?”
Zany quickly read the note. “There’s been a delay,” he said, his face falling. “Cows on the track. Twinkle says it could be another hour before the train comes.”
“Another hour!” cried Jewel.
“Yeah,” he sighed. “That’s what it says. I’m sorry.”
Jewel hid her face in Applespike’s fur as the dragon-pony nuzzled her comfortingly. Zany was about to say something when he heard the muffled sounds of hoof steps coming from the hall. He put a hoof to his lips, then quietly slipped over to the door to listen.
“I know this is highly irregular, sir,” a deep voice echoed down the stone corridor. “We don’t normally allow civilians access without clearance...”
“We never allow civilians access without clearance,” a gruff voice replied.
“Yes, sir. But this fellow was very… insistent. Something about foalnapping…”
The sound of heavy hoof steps could be heard coming down the hall.
“I assure you, Captain, this is necessary.”
Zany gritted his teeth as he recognized Goodnight’s smooth voice.
“The poor child is in the hooves of two miscreants, one with strange powers. Luckily, I have a spell that can neutralize him…”
The chaotic colt did not wait to hear more. He raced back to Applespike and Jewel and threw his arms around them. A second later,the big wooden door flew open. But the friends were no longer there.
POOF!
The three found themselves in what looked like a large and very elegant bathroom. The walls were grayish-blue with an enormous silver mirror along one wall. Underneath the mirror was a marble vanity with a silver basin. Across from this was a large white claw-footed tub, surrounded by a gauzy white shower curtain with silver edging. The room was steamy and filled with the smell of camphor and peppermint.
Jewel wrinkled her nose at the smell.
“Goodness, where are we?” she asked.
“We’re in a room on the other side of the palace,” Zany explained. “That should give us time to discuss our next move.”
“Uh, maybe not,” said Applespike, pointing a trembling hoof towards the tub. "Look!"
The gauzy shower curtain pulled aside, revealing the round, fat face of an elderly powder-blue unicorn mare. Her mouth and eyes were opened wide in anger and shock.
“AAAAAAAAAAH! REGGIE! THE PEEPING TOM IS BACK!”
“What, again?” a muffled male voice cried from the next room.
“Drat it!" groaned Zany. "I thought they would be gone by now."
“AAAAAAH!” the unicorn mare screamed again. “AND HE’S BROUGHT FRIENDS!”
“Madam, please calm down,” said Jewel. “I assure you, this was an acci—WHOA!” She ducked as a bar of soap flew past her head.
“Don’t try to reason with her,” cried Applespike pushing her towards the door. “Let’s just get—HEY!”
A stream of hot water sprayed over him and Jewel, soaking them thoroughly. The dragon-pony blinked water from his eyes and caught sight of Zany getting whacked on the bottom with a bath brush.
“Get us out of here!”
“On it!” The draconequess took a step towards his friends and slipped on the bar of soap. His friends watched helplessly as he face planted on the tiles .
“Ow!” he groaned, rubbing his nose.
“I say, what is going on in here?” The door flew open revealing a fat unicorn stallion wearing a gold-colored smoking jacket and carrying a cane. He eyed them all, his gaze falling on Zany.
“You again, you dirty-minded little miscreant!” he cried raising his cane to strike. Applespike jumped between them, grunting as he took the hit meant for his friend.
“Thanks,” said Zany.
“I owed you one,” the dragon-pony shrugged.
“Stop that this instant!” cried Jewel, knocking away the cane with her magic. The unicorn stallion lost his balance and fell on his back with a painful thud.
“REGGIE!” cried the old mare. She glared at the intruders. “You brutes! How dare you harm my husband! You heartless scoundrels! Take that! And that!”
The three scrambled out of the way as bottles of shampoo, mane conditioner, and bath salts flew at them. They maneuvered around the prone stallion and dashed into the sitting room.
“Get us out of here!” Jewel cried.
“I’m working on it!” replied Zany, trying to think.
Suddenly, the door to the apartment flew open. None of them had time to react as a gray-green spell struck Zany in the side. The draconequess hit the floor, groaning in pain.
“Oh, man. Not again.”
Goodnight coolly stepped into the room followed by two unicorn guards. Applespike pushed Jewel behind him.
“Freeze!” cried the guards, their horns aimed at Applespike.
“Please, don’t shoot!” cried Jewel, throwing her arms around the dragon-pony. She buried her face in his coat and sobbed. “We-we give up.”
“No!” murmured Applespike, holding her to him. “I-I Pinkie Promised...”
"You've been hurt enough because of me," Jewel whispered. "It's better this way."
Goodnight stood over them, grinning in triumph. He grabbed Jewel roughly with his magic and pulled her to him.
"End of the road, foalnapper!" he said to Applespike. "Now, you'll pay for your crime."
“What?!” cried Jewel. "I wasn't foalnapped! I--UMPH! Goodnight quickly gagged her muzzle with a spell and dragged her to the door.
“Thank you, gentlecolts, for your assistance,” he said to the guards. “I'll leave you to your business while I escort this filly home.”
“No so fast, sir." A tall Pegasus guard wearing a Captain's insignia blocked his path. “Foalnapping is a serious offense. We need to make a formal report.”
Goodnight snorted. "Of course you do. But don't you think the poor filly has been through enough?" He made show of hugging Jewel and caressed her mane.
The Captain stood stone faced. "Rules are rules, sir. I'm sorry."
Meanwhile, Applespike was wracking his brain. There had to be a way out of this! The two guards were no longer aiming their horns at him, but they were both alert and watching him. Zany lay at his feet, shivering, unable to do anything. Doggone it! He thought. There has to be something I can do! Suddenly, his eye fell upon a nearby table. It was covered with parchment, inkwells, and quills. His eyes widened as an idea blossomed.
"Excuse me, sirs," he said to the guards, using his best manners. "May I please write my folks and let 'em know where I am? It won't take but a moment."
The two unicorn guards glanced at each other then nodded. "Okay. But no funny business."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
Applespike wrote a quick note. Carefully, he rolled it up and breathed a gentle flame. The guards were surprised but said nothing as the magic smoke wafted from the room.
Meanwhile, Goodnight was still arguing with the Captain of the guard. The big stallion had drawn himself up to his full height so he could look down at the shorter officer.
"You are being very heartless, sir," said Goodnight sniffing. "She has been through so much. Surely, you wouldn't have her relive it?"
"I apologize, but I need her testimony," replied the Captain firmly. "As she is the victim, it is crucial we get her statement."
Goodnight gritted his teeth in frustration. Blast this stubborn Pegasus! He briefly considered teleporting them away, but that would bring the whole Royal Guard down on his head. He tried again.
"Sir," he said quietly. "Surely we can come to some sort of an agreement." He lifted a bag of bits so only the Captain could see.
Jewel saw the look on the Captain's face and knew he wasn't having any of it.
"How dare you try to bribe a Royal Guard! I know my duty and it is--"
"What is going on here?" a regal female voice demanded.
Everypony froze.
It was Princess Celestia.