Twilight's gaze lingered on the pair of ponies seated on the couch together. Fizzle was in a fitful rest, her hind legs giving an occasional kick. Luna's graceful neck lay over her and if not for the dark aura of Luna's magic the two could have been mistaken for taking a Sunday afternoon nap. Twilight chewed her lip and worried. Midnight Tonic had carefully removed Fizzle’s barding and had used his magic to repair two broken ribs. He had then applied a salve and wrapped her chest with bandages, leaving instructions for the captain to take it easy for an hour. He had then retreated outside to stand with the other guards.
Her reprieve was broken by a soft touch on her withers. Princess Flurry Heart had cozied up to her aunt and was trying to get her oversized but still too short wings around her. "I hope aunt Luna can help her," the young pony offered.
"She's in good hooves." Twilight smiled. The concern on her niece’s face made her deeply proud of the young pony. "Now come on it's your turn."
Flurry Heart giggled, "There's no turns in War silly." She moved to resume her seat.
Twilight, Cadence and Flurry Heart sat around the low table, a deck of playing cards was divided among them. Flurry Heart sat happily munching on carrot sticks and holding her cards aloft in her magic. The trip to Canterlot had lost its appeal quickly as both her parents had been in meetings all day. Sunburst was nice, but it wasn’t the same as spending time with her parents. Sitting here wither her mom and aunt playing cards was the highlight of this vacation.
"There aren't any other card games we can play? I hate War." Twilight's reserved mood crashed
"Mom says that's ‘cause you can't memorize everypony’s cards."
Twilight scowled, "Games, and card games in particular are supposed to help a pony exercise her memory and mental quickness. They can help with statistical analysis and probability even." Twilight’s lecture had turned to more of a rant. If it bothered Flurry Heart, it didn't show. Her smile even grew wider as Twilight's speech became faster and more frantic. She was happy she'd be able to tell dad that she got aunt Twilight’s hair to do that thing all by herself. Come to think of it...
"What is War good for? It doesn't teach anything except to play the hand you're dealt. Ugh War, not helpful in any way in my opinion.” " Twilight continued until she saw Flurry Heart’s hoof waving in the air. "Yes?"
"Where's Dad?"
Twilight paled, "Ah...yeah dad, where is your dad. That's is a great question. Right Cadence?" Twilight's rant quickly turned to panic.
Cadence sat staring off into the corner of the room, her expression didn't change nor did her eyes blink.
Twilight reached out softly with her magic and gave a gentle shake and squeeze to Cadence’s shoulder. The older alicorn jumped slightly at the contact her eyes finally blinking several times. She turned and looked questionly at Twilight.
"Where is Shining Armor?" Twilight prompted.
"Oh? Oh! right. Honey, daddy had an emergency..." Cadence paused desperately trying weigh the pros and cons of not telling her daughter more than she needed too. "He went back home and said we should stay here until he sends for us." She did her best to put a large grin on her face but she was sure that it was unconvincing at best.
Flurry Heart watched her mother for a short time, she was upset about something but Flurry Heart wasn't sure what about. She really didn't care anyway, extra days in Canterlot! That alone made her forget the odd look she was getting. She sprung to her hooves and danced around the small table. "Woohoo!!! Staying in Canterlot! We're staying in Canterlot!"
The noise and motion broke Cadence’s stupor and she found a moment of joy watching her daughter prance around just like Twilight used to.
"I'm sorry Twilight I'm not very good company right now I just want to know what's going on." She glanced at the alicorn and unicorn sleeping on the couch. "I just need something to take my mind off things." She fixed Twilight with a poignant look lifting her eyebrows in askance.
Twilight's head dropped and she sighed I'm going to regret this. "Alright, just don't push it, OK?"
Cadence looked genuinely hurt, "Come on Twilight my interest in your personal life isn't just meddling, I want you to be happy, I want somepony to make you happy. If anypony deserves to be happy, it's you."
"What if being alone makes me happy?"
Cadence sighed, "Twi, this isn't about a few nights a week reading a book or locked in your lab doing research. We're talking about every minute of every day, alone. Do you really not want to hold hooves with somepony special? Or make a romantic breakfast together? Do you want to preen your own wings or brush your own coat, forever? To never be...amorous with somepony?" Cadence cast a quick glance at her daughter then leaned forward and fixed Twilight with a hard stare.
"What does amorous mean?" Flurry Heart asked.
"Older pony things, sweetheart." Cadence’s smile returned as she addressed her daughter. "Being alone is a curse Twilight, the worst ponies can suffer. You are surrounded by many mares and stallions, anyone of them could be right for you."
Twilight smiled her strained smile. How many times would she have this conversation? She knew that Cadence meant well and she did want to have what she and Shining Armor had. Plus, darn it, she was right. Twilight relished her study and personal time. She was the Element of Magic, but Twilight had never stopped being a student of magic. It was great to study with Starlight and exchange papers with Moondancer. But when the experiments were done and the correspondence complete, with the lab locked up and the books closed. Twilight Sparkle lay alone in her bed thinking, wondering, hoping that one day her bed wouldn't be so empty and cold. That a kind voice would one day be there to great her in the morning. IF that was to happen maybe it was better to have this conversation in a safe place away from ponies who would be less than receptive.
She took a deep breath.
"Love....and..." she stopped and started again. "I'm not..." Cadence and Flurry Heart tilted their heads. "I don't know who or what I want right now or even if what i want possible."
Cadence chuckled, "Love isn't complicated Twilight you-"
"It's not for you!" Twilight interrupted louder than she intended. "I don't have that kind of courage to just approach somepony and tell them I may love them. To put my heart in their hooves and take theirs in mine." Cadence’s surprise softened into a loving smile and she gave Flurry Heart a tight squeeze before standing and moving around the table to sit at Twilight’s side.
"Wait!" interrupted the smallest alicorn, "I thought that that pony was your special somepony." Flurry Heart's tiny hoof was pointed at the unicorn resting against Princess Luna.
Twilight smiled, "No silly. Fizzlepop is the captain of my royal guard."
Flurry Heart looked confused. "Yeah, just like Dad, and his special somepony is his Princess." The logic could not be refuted.
"Well," Cadence began "that's not how it always goes. Remember dad was Princess Celestia’s captain for along time, but he was still my special pony." The young filly looked confused.
"I don't have to marry dad when he's captain of my guard?"
The older princesses giggled and Cadence magicly lifted the filly in her magic and brought her close. She wrapped her legs around Flurry Heart and kissed her forehead just under her horn. "No silly filly you can't marry daddy and hopefully dad won't be captain long."
Flurry Heart began to nod then stopped, "Why?"
"Because I want dad to be the Crystal Emperor soon." Cadence declared proudly.
Flurry Heart nodded again but still looked puzzled.
Cadence turned back to Twilight a hungry smile on her face. ”And why didn't you just tell me this before when i was asking?"
Twilight sighed, "I didn't tell you because I don't know what I want or what I'm doing when it comes to that. I know that sometimes ponies get hurt, but being the one potentially doing the hurting...I have to be sure I don't do that." The pain was etched on her face, the droopy ears and eyes the self hating grimace. Twilight couldn't even look up and make eye contact she was so ashamed of herself.
Cadence didn't know what to say to that. She had suspected that Twilight would have some trouble where love was concerned but she was certain that Twilight would rise to the occasion. Despite her fears, she was a mare that had never shied away from any challenge before.
What ever Twilight's issue was, it would have to wait. After a short uncomfortable silence the front door opened and Flash Sentry followed by Princess Celestia stepped into the room. Stepping to the side, he snapped a crisp salute. Before Cadence could speak he shook his head. "There was no evidence that Captain Armor ever went to the station, he probably never even left the Palace."
Celestia walked past the Captain to stand over Luna and Fizzlepop. She stared intently at the duo, "The trains north are still suspended until morning, just in case." Her horn lit as she gently probed the sleeping pair. Thanks to their ethereal manes it had been ages since she was able to brush the locks of hair from her sister’s face, settling for a soft caress to her cheek seemed the best alternative. She turned and sat down before the sofa. Her horn lit and a familiar tea set appeared on the coffee table.
Celestia hated this, back to waiting once again. Always waiting on somepony else. The Princess of the sun held no disillusions about her role in the world, government after all was what kept everything moving in this day and age. There were times, however when she wished her role was more active and more involved but she had long ago hung up her sword. Now here was Luna, her baby sister, back on the front lines, she hadn't lost her edge or her desire for adventure it seemed. Celestia's frown was becoming more and more pronounced as she found opportunity to use it more.
A quick flash of her horn and she was ready to serve. "Come Captain sit with us, we must wait until Luna is done." Celestia sat and took several breaths, ages of hiding her personal tells of anxiety and apprehension making it seem that she was much more at ease then she actually was.
Unaware of the issues that currently plagued the royal family and unable to contain her excitement Flurry Heart deftly leaped over the small table. "Grandmare!"
Gone were the days when the youngest alicorn could have easily grabbed on to and held fast to Celestia’s head. But the young princess either didn't care or didn't notice. Her arms and wings extended as far as they could then wrapped securely around the white princess’s neck. "I missed you!" she cried happily as she did her best to crush the neck of her captive. "Me and Sunburst saw all your pictures in the great hall today!"
“Sunburst and I.” Twilight corrected automatically.
Halfway through the deep breath that she would need to explain the convoluted royal family tree Twilight was interrupted as a golden magical aura clamped down on her muzzle. Surprised she looked to the Sun princess.
"Hush." she smiled.
Celestia decided that she might need to get use the odd things. For just as she was not used to catching up to the almost insubordinate Captain Fizzlepop, she was also not use to being struck unresponsive by a single simple word. Every manner of honorific imaginable had been applied to her name during her reign, but there were a few that she wished came with more frequency. Among others she'd longed for ages to be graced with the wonderful title of 'mom' and though Sunset Shimmer was separated from her by the multiverse she considered the prodigal unicorn her daughter in every way.
She had tried to keep Twilight at a much more painless distance since that relationship had taken its course. The wound of Sunset’s betrayal and her own mishandling of the unicorn left the edges of her heart raw and aching, she was not willing to duplicate such feelings again. Still, she considered her protege her daughter in many aspects and hoped that Twilight reciprocated her feelings.
Perhaps it was do to her being older when Cadence came into her care, perhaps it was the recent loss of her sister. Whatever the reason, she held the ascended pegasus further from herself, maybe she wasn’t ready for a family.. Whatever it was, it had a hoof to play in calling the Princess of Love merely her 'niece'.
Yet hearing the tiny alicorn place upon her a much coveted title released a flood of tears that Celestia knew were buried somewhere deep within her. She was immediately overwhelmed with the desire to pinch her cheeks and make annoying cooing noises. She settled instead for a great hug which squeezed the tears out of her eyes to roll down her perfect cheeks.
"Well you just tell 'grandmare' all about about it!" she placed the tiny princess on the ground beside her and listened intently as Flurry Heart babbled on about the grand art gallery and the wonderful paintings and sculptures she had seen. Though the tears burned her eyes and her cheeks stung from the constant smiling Celestia, the grandmother, hand never been more content.
Twilight watched the scene with mixed feelings. The bliss on Celestia's face was infectious and even though she tried her best she couldn't smile for her mentor. First, because Celestia still held her mouth shut. Second because she had been denied a chance to share a bit of helpful knowledge with her niece. And third, because Cadence was missing the whole thing once again staring off into a random corner of the room, her eyes no longer red and puffy but still visibly upset. Stymied as she was Twilight was not going to let the tender moment be lost for the young mother. She reached out with her magic and tapped Cadence gently on her shoulder. When their eyes finally met she motioned over to the hugging pair.
Cadence, confused and hurt glanced over and instantly her heart felt lighter. Her beautiful daughter smiled and laughed as she blissfully told Celestia of her busy day touring the palace, and spending time with Sunburst. All the boring activities that she had complained about became the most wonderful story that she just had to tell. Cadence smiled as she saw Celestia's entire world fall away and nothing but Flurry Heart was important.
"..and that dragon was breathing fire on you, like FOWWWWSSSSHHHH!" the tiny alicorn cupped her hooves around her muzzle then trust them outward mimicking the great gout of flame depicted in the painting. "But how...how come the dragon looked so sad?"
Celestia had been listening intently her eyes widening at the correct times and her ears perking forward when appropriate. But to her great delight she realized they weren't the practiced motions of 'Princess Celestia'. She wasn't reacting as a statesmare did or should. She was profoundly happy to be reacting as an engaged half of perfectly wonderful meaningless discussion, and she couldn't have been happier.
"Well," she began. "Dragon Lord Torch and I have an...interesting relationship." The tiny pony began to nervously chew on her hooves as she stared at the Princes her eyes growing wide. She chuckled, "Oh it's not that interesting you see..."
But as soon as she defused the tension Flurry Heart immediately lost interest. "Oh and next to that was the window of you and Queen Nova. She's so pretty. Do you know her?"
Celestia blinked. Flurry Heart wasn't some noble making small talk or a political rival looking for an opening. She was a child. A child currently looking up at her with wide excited eyes waiting for a story not a political maneuver. Fortunately Celestia was up to the challenge.
Though she was out of practice she allowed a measure of excitement and girlishness to creep into her voice. "I do! And she is. Oh my dear you should have seen her." Her horn lit in bright gold, she spread out the hair of her flowing tail in a wide fan which she flapped several times. "Her tail is so beautiful and big!"
Flurry Heart squealed in delight as Celestia fanned her tail over her head several times. Her tiny hooves reached up and played with the hairs. "Did you have tea together?"
"We had a lovely talk about our kingdoms becoming much better friends," she explained. "And there was a lovely banquet with the best seaweed and fish I have ever eaten." She shivered. "It was so slimy, it tickled my insides." She seized the tiny pony with her hooves and began tickeling her mercelessly. "Like this!"
Twilight’s feelings didn’t improve, though seeing her mentor so happy brought a smile to her face. Celestia's smile, her real smile, was fleeting and it never really seemed to reach her eyes. Now, her smile and laugh were so pure and unreserved it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"Twilight you're glaring." Though the quiet whisper in her ear startled Twilight but she was able to keep herself from crying out in shock. Cadence had leaned over and after watching the tender scene was going to reiterate the importance of family to her sister-in-law.
The scowl on Twilight's face stopped her cold. "Are you OK?"
"I'm fine," she responded quickly. "I'm glad they're having a good time. I’m worried about Fizzlepop." Her eyes never left Celestia and Flurry Heart. "She's one of the strongest fighters I know Cadence. I can't imagine what it would have taken to beat her. I can't believe I just sat here while something like this happened." Her breathing began to shorten and the shorter hairs on her head began to spring out of place. "I don't know how i'm going to make this up to her. I told her nothing would happen to her. I'm not that important, I'm not worth protecting."
Cadence’s heart fell as she watched. Though she was speaking rapidly and not breathing properly Twilight’s volume never increased nor did her demeanor change. The scowl remained firmly on her face and there was a there was a hardness in her eyes that profoundly unnerved her.
"You shouldn't talk like that Twi. Don't jump to conclusions." she pleaded.
Twilight blinked, "When I lear-" She stopped herself as she saw the aura around Princess Luna's horn wink out. The Lunar princess's eyes snapped open. With a flash of light and the faint sound of tinkling bells Twilight was at Luna's side.
Luna looked at the purple princess, not at all surprised that she was the first thing she saw. Her jaw was set and there was a sharpness in her eyes that Luna hadn't seen since Twilight left the palace with the magic of all four alicorns contained within herself those many years ago.
Twilight said nothing. Luna nodded. "To me ladies, captain!"
In a flurry of hooves and feathers the gathered ponies positioned themselves around the couch and the slumbering captain. Luna did a double take as she noticed her niece sitting in the circle. The small princess noticed the eyes upon her, she giggled into her hoof and waved at the princess then sat as regally as she was able, happy to be included with her fellow princesses.
Luna smiled back at her and lit her horn once again. In turn she leaned over and touched Celestia's horn, Flash on the brow, Cadence's horn, Twilight's horn and with a wink Flurry Heart's. Her magic spread to each and soon the apartment was filled with the calm sound of the slumbering.
*****
Celestia opened her eyes. She was not one to panic, but when nothing but blackness greeted her her heart began to beat faster in her chest. She tried to jump to her hooves but she found herself floating aimlessly in a great void. Her hooves found no purchase and her wings beat uselessly. She turned quickly as she plainly heard her name called out in the void.
As she turned to find the speaker the world exploded into existence before her. Five ponies sat in the walkway outside the royal apartments. Celestia cast her eyes about and saw that the immediate area past the gardens toward the kitchens and toward the the ballrooms began to fade and lose color until they were lost in the inky blackness of the void. Her eyes fell on Twilight and she ceased thinking about their location. Celestia paid great attention to her protege. Twilight’s tells were varied but well known to her.
"I'm glad that you're OK. I'm so so sorry." Twilight's fore legs were wrapped around Fizzle’s neck her face buried into her shoulder Twilight's voice was even and calm, devoid of the frantic nature she normally displayed.
"It's not you-" Fizzlepop began.
"SILENCE!" Twilight snapped. The ponies around her were shocked. Twilight had reached that volume before but never had that tone come from the purple princess. "I know I didn't DO it, but I didn't stop it either. You are a great captain. I know a captain puts herself in harm's way for her princess. I'm not just your princess. Fizzle...I'm your friend, and I failed you. Hold me accountable. Let me apologize." She had pushed away from her hug and looked hard into her captain's eyes.
Fizzlepop tried to sever eye contact with the princess, but Twilight didn't back down, her eyes were locked and her jaw set in a grim frown. Celestia found herself shifting nervously from hoof to hoof as the two stared at each other. Finally Fizzle dropped her eyes and sighed. She met Twilight's eyes again and nodded, "Later?" she offered.
Luna had herded the remaining ponies together near the center of the gardens. Twilight and Fizzle stepped up to join them and Luna nodded to the unicorn. "This is your show, as they say, captain."
"Wait!" Cadence placed a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Where's Flurry Heart?" Several heads turned to and for looking for the tiny princess.
"Worry not, she slumbers. Though she cannot come here with us I didn't have the heart to send her away. Her dream shall be pleasant and exciting."
Cadence chewed her lip but nodded.
Fizzlepop turned toward the gathered ponies her face a mask of uncertainty, she looked at Celestia, "After our conversation I went back to keep an eye on the aviary. It just seemed obvious that we were all looking at the trains so I followed a hunch. You can see me in the alcove there."
On cue they all moved forward to see the captain standing in the shadows not obvious but making no real attempt to be hidden either.
"First though..." She hesitated as all eyes turned toward her. "I haven't been very friendly to any of you and...I...I want try to be." She met the eyes of each in turn. "Princesses, Captain, I'm sorry." She nodded deeply.
Fizzle’s timing was perfect. The initial shock was just beginning to wear off when the sound of hooves on stone could be heard. The ponies spread out as the sound grew louder. Fizzle’s eyes narrowed as Raven Inkwell emerged from a side room and began walking toward the gardens. She moved with a large bundle of papers tucked under a foreleg. Her current course would bring her right alongside Fizzlepop as she entered the gardens.
"Why isn't she using her horn?" Twilight asked aloud. Ever observant she was quite pleased with herself for noticing. She turned to her companions to speculate. Her self satisfied smile faltered as every other pony fixed her with odd looks.
"That's not Raven," they all said.
Twilight looked shocked, then embarrassed. Her ears drooped.
"It's ok princess." Fizzlepop said as she lead Twilight closer. "IF we work together all the things we notice will add up to something."
Celestia nodded. "I've know Raven for roughly ten years, this pony doesn't move like a secretary she moves like a soldier."
"She's wearing steel shoes." Luna added. "Three at least but it's more likely a full set. You can hear the difference on the stone."
Flash brought his hoof to his chin. "How accurate is this Princess Luna? Can we make judgments based on what we see here?"
Luna smiled patiently and ruffled Flash's mane with her wing. "Captain do remind me to have you flogged later. This assault happened not one hour ago. It is as fresh and accurate as it ever will be. Perhaps after a day the details will start to fade until lost. I'd say three days at most is the acceptable time frame for such a venture. Then details will be forgotten and the mind will begin to fill in the missing pieces."
By this time not-Raven had reached the stationary Fizzlepop. The pair glanced at each other. As soon as not-Raven turned her head and stepped even with the captain, Fizzlepop struck.
The gathered ponies gasped as Fizzlepop's steel shoe tore a chunk of marble from the floor. Cadence was shocked. "You could have killed her!" Twilight was likewise at a loss. She met her captain’s eyes pleading for an explanation.
Luna's horn lit and the combatants paused mid conflict. Fizzlepop directly above the imposter as she was currently extending her hooves upward. "Twas a fine strike captain, but we must agree with Princess Cadence. We would have learned nothing had you succeeded."
"I also must add, my little pony," Celestia normally tempered her actions and responses for ponies who were unfamiliar with the harsher side of life. "I'm extremely disappointed in you, and in you Princess Twilight." Here however, amongst the leadership of the nation, among ponies whom she thought knew better her wrath was unrestrained. "To kill in the heat of battle is one thing, for a common soldier." Her eyes held a subtle glow, and her main and tail began to whip widley back and forth. "You are not common soldiers. You are two of the most powerful ponies in your positions. I expect better than that from you!"
Twilight stared at her mentor terrified and shaking. She'd always feared coming down on Celestia's bad side and this was every bit as awful as she expected it to be. Had she been in the waking world she was certain she'd be swallowing a mouthful of her own bile or sitting in a puddle of urine, probably both, definitely both. She nodded mutely unable to tear her eyes away from the angry princess.
"From now on I wa-"
"I wasn't going for a kill Princess."
The glow completely drowned out Celestia’s pupils and the vibrant colors of her mane and tail receded as the angry orange of a blazing inferno replaced them. "I'm not used to being..interrupted, Captain". She advanced menacingly on the captain.
Fizzlepop flinched as Celestia practically spat her title in her face. She set her hooves and hunched her shoulders ready to be on the receiving end of more than the insult.
"Sister!" Luna was aghast. If she didn't know any better Celestia was two breaths away from striking the captain.
Celestia rounded on the darker princess. "Perhaps this is your doing?" she eyed Luna suspiciously. “You always were to ready solve problems with the sword.”
Luna's eyes widened in shock and indignation. She lit her horn and charged it considerably.
Celestia backed off a step. She was in quite a predicament. Here in Fizzlepop's mind she had no magic and if Luna decided to try something she had little defense. She cursed her sister, this must have been her plan from the start. Using her student's little damaged captain as an excuse was so obviously a falsehood, how had she not seen it? The only question was, how deep was Twilight in this plot, it's mastermind perhaps. She had to be, Luna wasn't this cunning. She should have known better than to trust another prized student. The little whore had been planning this from the start! She bared her teeth and snarled at the opposing ponies. Twilight's head would tumble from her shoulders for this outrage!
Luna's magic was loosed and the six ponies found themselves encased in a massive purple bubble. Several things happened at once. Luna collapsed as she had to expend more dream magic then was probably wise, her reserves having not yet refilled from the turmoil she and Fizzlepop had endured. Twilight and Celestia clutched their stomachs with their hooves and covered their heads with their wings. They were both noisily sick and great gouts of reddish black smoke poured from their mouths.
Twilight heaved several times. The crippling fear she had been suffering from had vanished the instant the dream bubble formed. She felt like she had swallowed a bag of broken glass and was certain that expelling it was wreaking havoc on her insides. She could feel Fizzlepop standing above her hooves resting on her back offering support and comfort.
Cadence had jumped to Celestia’s side and knelt beside her. More afraid than she had ever been Cadence, did what she could to help the larger Alicorn. She leaned over and began to whisper faintly into Celestia’s flattened ears. "You're ok. Please be OK. Get it all out. I'm right here. I won't leave you." She furiously kneaded Celestia’s heaving side, like a worried mother cat ministering to her kittens. The contact and the movement seemed to help the convulsions as the smoke continued to poor out of the unfortunate mare.
Celestia was in pain and confused. Her throat was raw from the heaving and she was certain she'd never speak again. It felt as those a river of broken ice shards had been released from her stomach. Destroying the inside of her body on the way up her throat. She cried as the pain intensified but she also cried for the shame.
Where was this coming from? How could she think those things about Luna her dear sister? She loved her and was so happy to have her back. Fizzlepop was rough around the edges but she was honest with the all the Princesses and brought a sense of comradery to the royals. Plus her disregard for the Princesses status was refreshingly liberating. With great force of will she looked toward Twilight. While Cadence and Fizzlepop were between them, for a split second she saw her. Prostate on the ground, eyes scrunched up against the pain, tears flowing freely. She longed to go to her side and apologize, but another wave of pain and bile wracked her body.
Flash moved to support the Night Princess. Luna flopped a wing around around his shoulders and tentatively rose to her hooves. She looked down to the churning smoke beneath her hooves. "The Tantabus will feed well tonight,." she mumbled. She placed her hoof to her head. "I have no earthly idea how this is happening. Only my magic should work in this place, but clearly something is influencing them, perhaps all of us." She indicated the outside of the bubble.
Flash looked up and his eyes widened. A red mist covered the mindscape writhing and coiling like a snake around every surface. Every sconce, every flower was entwined by the mist. The prone form of not-Raven and the frozen form of Fizzlepop was covered in it. It writhed around them and did it's best to consume the pair.
"This entire place should be still. Tis naught but a memory. Yet whatever that is..." she shook her head in confusion.
Flash shrugged glancing at Fizzlepop and Twilight. "I still have memories that make me feel sick."
Luna's next statement died in her throat, she blinked. "Captain, that flogging I promised you… cancel it." Flash sighed. "Take me over to Princess Cadence." Luna leaned heavily on the pegasus.
The last dregs of smoke fell from Celestia's mouth. Tears still fell from her eyes and her sides has stopped heaving. Her breaths were deep as she gained control of herself. Luna shrugged Flash off near her older sister. She swept Cadence up in her wake and stepped to the edge of the bubble. "Forgive me, what do you see?"
Cadence looked passed the transparent barrier, annoyed. "Captain Fizzlepop and a fake Raven fighting, frozen."
Luna shook her head, "Do you see the mist?" she pressed.
Cadence looked again and squinted harder. Indeed as she widened her perspective she could see the streams of red mist coursing around the combatants and the gardens. "What is that?" she asked squinting.
"Forgive me again." Luna lit her horn, grabbed a hold of the Princess of Love’s head and shoved it through the translucent barrier.
"HEY!" Cadence tried to no avail to resist the pull of Luna's horn, all four of her hooves angled and straining to pull her head back in to the protective area of the spell. Just as she was getting use to the idea of her aunt treating her like a house plant she was jerked back under the effects of the spell.
"Notice anything out there?" Luna asked conversationally.
"Not reall-woaaaah!" Luna moved her head back past the bubble.
"Interesting." she mused.
"Not from thisside!"
"Captain observe!" Luna preceded to pull Cadence’s head once again back under the bubble. Flash watched as the red mist coiled and flowed to fill the space that once was filled by the head of the love princess. With another shove Cadence’s head again breached the barrier.
Flash's eyes narrowed as the red smoke was immediately repelled. It fled from Cadence as if startled then continued to pull away from her. "You, yourself gave us the clue. Tis some manner of negative emotion, and our resident bundle of love keeps it at bay." She pulled Cadence back once again and nuzzled her gently. "Well done niece." With an unceremonious pat on the rump she sent her back to Celestia’s side.
"Eeeep!"
Cadence's glare softened as she sat near her aunt. Celestia's condition immediately began to improve and she finally began to breathe normally. She used her wings to wipe the remaining tears from her eyes and leaned heavily on the smaller alicorn
"Flash move!" Flash jumped aside as Fizzlepop quickly carried Twilight to Cadence’s other side.
"No, don't" Twilight gasped between words. "Not worth it. Rather die" The reddish bile continued to spill from her muzzle. Cadence raised a wing and Twilight buried her face under it like a terrified sick foal, unwilling or unable to face the gathered ponies. She groped around until she was able to pull the wing down over her head. The heaving sick noises were soon replaced with sobbing.
Luna hesitated. They needed answers, an assault had occurred right in the middle of the palace, their own home. If this was prelude to some action or attack... "I'm sorry sister, dear Twilight we must press on. You are protected from whatever that is so we must continue. It seems the rest of us are either unaffected or untargeted."
Celestia raised her head high and took several deep breaths. Composure was her middle name and she'd be thrice damned before she allowed a memory to break it. She steadied herself against Cadence’s side, still too weary to stand and nodded to her sister.
Twilight was not so eager. Her loyal captain placed a hoof on her withers. At the slight contact Twilight jerked away huddling close to the pink alicorn of love. "Don't," she whispered.
Luna sighed, defeated. She hopped that Twilight would rally and join them, her insights and sharp mind could prove invaluable.
The remaining ponies gathered and watched as the melee resumed.
Flash watched with unease as not-Raven raised her hooves up to intercept the falling captain. His eyes widened in shock as her magical aura began to creep up her arms. Flash had to catch himself before speaking out. He knew that Raven's magic was typical for a unicorn, levitation, dictation and the like. He was unaware that she knew any spell that made it necessary to channel through the hoof.
The gathered ponies never got to see what she was up to however. Fizzlepop elected to fall on the outstretched hooves before the magic reached them.
Luna was very impressed the captain was able to make such a quick decision in the midst of combat, quite a risk taker. Apparently not-Raven didn't appreciate it. The magic instead redirected to her rear hooves, Flash, Celestia and Cadence gasped as two pink spherical bubbles grew rapidly form the frogs of not-Ravens rear hooves.
They were apparently very tangible, for the speed of their growth added to the very sharp kick that not-Raven made against their surface was enough to slide the prone pony along the marble floor and out of the shadow of Fizzlepop’s descending body.
"That's Shining's shield spell!" the crystal princess cried.
Celestial nodded her consent.
"Lots of ponies can make shields." Flash countered.
Cadence rounded on him. "Not that fast, or precisely," she declared.
Flash had nothing to say to that. He studied the second exchange watching the way the ponies moved. Fizzlepop was aggressive and decisive something he had suspected but watching the lithe unicorn in action was certainly a thing to behold. It wasn't aerial combat but there was certain beauty to the dance.
Not-Raven's movements seemed to flow from one to another. She parried one strike and used the momentum of the move to carry her into a retreat from a wicked rear hooved roundhouse kick. Patient and calculating, never using too much or too little force, just like Shining Armor. Watching the secretary move in such a manner was disorienting. The sight of Not-Raven breathing hard and overmatched confused the pegasus.
The gathered ponies watched intently as Fizzlepop moved in on the clearly overmatched pony. Only Luna raised an eyebrow as they watched the final exchange. Well done. she silently congratulated the imposter.
Celestia winced as once again Fizzlepop attempted what she considered a killing blow. The uppercut was close enough to shave a bit of fur from Not-Raven's cheek as it passed. There was a communal gasp as two pink spherical shields began to form from the ground up as Fizzlepop’s forehooves came down. The timing was perfect, the hooves meet the marble the exact moment the shields closed around the ankles instantly locking them to the ground.
"That's Shining Armor." Flash pointed an accusing hoof at the small unicorn. "He's used that technique against me on more than one occasion."
Cadence and Twilight perked up and moved to the edge of the bubble. Cadence’s breathing became short and distressed, and Twilight had to furiously rub the tears from her eyes so she could see.
Fizzlepop stared at herself pinned to the ground. The thought of witnessing a defeat she didn't even remember was completely foreign to the warrior. Like it was somepony else who had fallen for the simple trap. The thought didn't comfort her for long, only the childlike voice in the back of her head quietly crying foul for the use of magic kept her from counting the match as a total loss.
Fizzlepop struggled uselessly as a the pony in question retrieved her dropped papers. Twilight had to rub at her eyes again and make sure there were no tears distorting her vision. The entire stack, which was six folders full of paper lay neatly upturned on the ground. Yet no twine or binding was being used to keep them together. No magic was used to pick up the stack, Not-Raven casually grabbed it by the middle and the entire thing moved. The loose ends didn't even flutter as they were retrieved.
Twilight cursed, without her magic it was impossible to tell if it was some physical trick or if some magical illusion was in play. She watched as the pony moved to stand over Fizzlepop. What she heard both touched her heart and infuriated her.
Fizzlepop pleading for her princess's life. Calmly staring into the eyes of, for all she knew, her killer. Then in a sharp harsh blow it was over. The imposter delivered a solid strike directly to the pony’s upturned jaw. Fizzlepop collapsed in a heap. She was about to rush to her captain’s side, but Luna was already there.
The scene grew fuzzy and began to lose all color. The lines that defined certain shapes began to bleed into each other until nothing was left but a jumbled mess of black, whites and grays.
Luna looked over to the quiet captain, her eyes full of awe and respect. "It seems I have once again underestimated you captain." She stretched a wing over the unicorn and draped it over her shoulders. "Twas a marvelous fight and for you to be prepared to meet such an honourable end..."
"Not so honourable," Celestia interrupted. "At least twice you tried to kill."
Luna was already shaking her head. "You've spent too long with a scepter in your hoof, sister. Have you forgotten the things we… I did to protect our little ponies and their fledgling nation? That was a time when we trusted our captain’s to know how best to respond to a threat, a trust Fizzlepop deserves." Luna looked deep into Fizzlepop’s eyes and knew she was right. “Captain Fizzlepop should be commended for her quick thinking and selfless attitude.”
Captain Fizzlepop pursed her lips and her eyes wandered upward, "I really don’t know Princess, I don't quite remember this yet. I've only seen it from the outside. But no, your highness I wouldn't kill wantonly."
Celestia sighed and shook her head. The lights around them seem to come back on and once again they were seated in the center of the gardens a glance toward the doors confirming that the memory had restarted. Luna stepped away from the captain as Twilight slowly wrapped her wings and arms around her once again. "I'm so sorry, Fizz," she said again.
Not wanting to interrupt another quiet moment between the pair Luna stood at Celestia’s side, waiting for not-Raven to appear. "If what we suspect is true, and Shining Armor is indeed behind this..." she let her statement trail off.
"That is the key." Celestia said indicating the bundle that Shining Armor was carrying.
"I can't believe he's all right." Cadence had quietly stepped to the other side of the princesses and Celestia gave a slight jolt of surprise. She hadn't heard the movement or felt it at all.
"She's moving just like Shining, look at that strut!" Cadence's tone was confused and annoyed all at once. "Those are his eyes too..." Her voice trailed off and she stared at the image of Raven just before Fizzlepop struck. The more she stared, the easier it was to see her beloved hiding just below the surface. While Cadence had rarely been interested in watching martial training of the crystal ponies, she begrudgingly accepted the fact that their presence in and around the palace kept her family safe. Yet the subtle movements and the easy way she carried herself left no doubt in Cadence’s mind. Shining Armor was there before her wearing another pony’s form.
The bundle bounced away and instead of falling and scattering papers all over the ground. It came to rest on the steps leaning impossibly to the side still in a bundle. As soon as it left Fizzlepop’s field of vision the lines around it began to blur and it's color began to fade.
It still vaguely retained its shape and color but longer Fizzlepop focused on fighting Shining Armor the more abstract it became. Twice the color and definition returned to the bundle as Fizzlepop must have glanced at it or seen some small part of it. Celestia and Luna stared at the bundle willing it to give up some clue as to what it was and what this entire situation might mean.
Cadence could only stare at Shining Armor disguised as her aunt’s secretary. Stare and worry, and wonder. The lovers were as close as two ponies could possibly be, yet there had never been any indication that Shining was capable of such clandestine actions. And now they did seem clandestine to Cadence. She had to remind herself that Shining used to serve the greatest chessmaster in the known world. Celestia was a cunning diplomat, and accomplished statesmare, not always in a benevolent sense, if the stories were to be believed. Though she trusted her adoptive aunt, here now, watching her husband wearing the body of another, a mare no less, doubt crept into the corners of her mind.
Finally as the combat was once again coming to a close the gathered ponies got their first clue. As Shining Armor called up the two shields that caught Fizzlepop and held her fast, the illusion, for that's what it proved to be, around the bundle collapsed. The elder princesses stared as the bundle of papers faded away to reveal, what appeared to be an oversized cast iron oven.
"Princess Luna, please stop the memory and move us closer, Twilight! Fizzlepop! I need you here, now!" The urgency in Celestia’s voice was the only thing that caused Twilight to release her captain from her grasp. Silently the ponies gathered to stare at the object. It was a squat little thing, wider than it was tall and would have reached Celestia's shin had she been standing near it. Circular in shape it was little larger than the bottom tier of the cakes that Celestia loved so much. It was made of what appeared to be darkly colored iron and was bound around with a silvery chain of mythril links.
"Our first clue, though I'll admit has me more confused than worried," Celestia stated.
"Raven would have had access," Flash commented.
"But...for what purpose?" Luna asked aloud.
Twilight leaned heavily on Fizzlepop and said nothing.
"What is it?" Fizzlepop finally asked when it was apparent that nopony would be explaining.
Celestia swallowed, "This brazier contains both the last pieces of Queen Chrysalis's throne, which retain its effect. It held very powerful magic nullifying effects. Strong enough to stop even Discord's magic."
"More potent than the Obsidian Orbs?" Fizzlepop asked.
Luna nodded, "In its own way. It will not physically trap a pony but imagine a portable mile wide area where nothing but changeling magic will function."
Fizzlepop let the implications sink in. "I think that's all we can learn here I'd like to wake up now."
The elder princesses nodded their agreement.
Princess Luna lit her horn reached out to touch Princess Cadence on the horn. *pop* she was gone. With two more popping sounds Celestia and Flash were also gone. Luna allowed Twilight to cling a bit longer to her captain before also touching her horn *pop*.
Luna then bowed low to the unicorn captain. She raised her head and winked *pop* she too was gone.
Fizzlepop stood for several seconds waiting.
"Am I supposed to know how to, oh never mind." Her body began to fade from view as she felt the familiar stirrings of being pulled from sleep.
As she faded from view the gardens, a disguised Shining Armor, and an unconscious Fizzlepop also began to fade.
*pop*