//------------------------------// // Interluder V // Story: Crushed: The Beginnings // by Silent Wing //------------------------------// “So how bad is it?” The pink alicorn worriedly asks the small council. It is a council which consists of three more alicorns, the Captain’s of each Guard, the pony I put in charge of the search, and a Griffon. Why a Griffon was invited to this meeting by me, no pony dares to ask. Knowing that I would never do something like that without a good reason. “Fourteen of the sixteen prisoners have already been captured and were returned to their cells.” The Captain of the Night Guard explains. “But we are unable to find any trace of the remaining two.” “Who are we talking about Captain?” I ask the pony in question, already having a good guess who it could be. Hopefully, I am wrong. “The centaur Tirek and the former griffon emperor Bloody Talon.” The Thestral replies, confirming my worst fears.  “The stories about Bloody Talon are real?” Lieutenant Grimfeather replies shocked as this particular piece of information is revealed. ”I always thought he was just a tale you tell to frighten little chicks.” “I am afraid so, my friend. But he isn’t the reason you are here.” I reply as calmly as possible, making his look of shock turn into one of confusion. “You are here because I want you and your Steelwings to take care of Tirek, permanently!” The last word of this sentence makes all warmth disappear out of this room. Some of the ponies even gasp in shock, never have they heard me talking like this before. Which is quite understandable, since I believe that every creature deserves a second chance. But not Tirek, he is just far too dangerous. “With all due respect Princess, but why send a group of mercenaries against one creature and not your own Guard?” Captain Shimmer Shield of the Royal Guard asks surprised. “Because Tirek would just absorb your magic and then you would be as helpless against him as a young foal against a pack of timberwolves.” Luna replies in my stead, and thanks to how blunt she is about it, there aren’t any further questions asked. “In that case, I need all the information about him you have, Princess.” Lieutenant Grimfeather requests immediately and after a moment of thought, he adds. “Also a few unicorns for quick communication between the individual units would be greatly appreciated.” “Of course, we provide everything you need for your hunt.” I reply with a smile before I send him and the Guards ponies off, so they can prepare everything necessary. After they left and only us alicorns are left, I turn my attention towards the youngest pony present. “How are you holding up? Court doesn’t give you too much trouble?” “Shouldn’t we talk more about the other escaped prisoner, than about something trivial, like this?” Cadence asks instead. It’s understandable that she is worried about him, but sadly there isn’t much we could do right now. “I am afraid that there is nothing we can do about him. As long as he doesn’t want to be found, we won’t find him.” I answer truthfully. Whatever Cadence wants to say in return is lost to us when a Guard interrupts us, telling us that Rumble and Wingy accidentally activated the magic rune in the throne room and are nowhere to be found. Cadence thanks him and before any of us can say anything, she leads us to where they disappeared from. She tells us that she knows exactly where they are and that we also have to use the rune if we want to go and get them. Luna and Dusty are the first to use it before I step onto the rune myself and activate it with a small charge from my magic reserves. The result is immediate and I find myself in the air before gravity takes hold of me and I fall into something soft and mushy. “Where the buck are we?” I scream while watching Cadence appear in mid air, seconds before falling to the ground. The horrible smell of this place finally hits me and I only now realize that I am covered in garbage. “Canterlot waste dump. The filthiest place in all of Equestria.” She replies surprisingly chipper, but not any less covered in filth. “Mind explaining to me why you installed a rune-like this in the throne room?” I ask annoyed. The longer we talk the smell worsens until it becomes unbearable and I quickly use my magic to cover my nostrils. “A noble is like a pet. With the right training, they can learn very fast.” Cadence replies with a wicked grin on her face. I want to remind her that this is no way to treat your subjects, as annoying as some of them can be, but I can’t.  Everything in me screams that this is just wrong, but I only have to think how some of the nobles will react, should they ever end up here, to stop myself from doing so. I swear to myself that I will never use this rune*, before I turn my attention to something more important. “Okay, how about we find the two missing foals and then go all to the Spa?” Needless to say that everypony agrees to this. *She stayed true to that promise until a noble requested permission to tear down an orphanage, so he could build a “humble” home in the center of Canterlot, which was barley sixteen hours later!