Still Three Hundred and Sixty-One days until the next Summer Sun Celebration
Shining beat hooves through the streets of Canterlot, sweat dripping from his face as he raced through the bustling city. He got worried looks from the populace; a DEqI employee galloping through the city center was for sure a cause for concern if there ever was one. He easily ignored all of the stares though.
He was going as fast as he could to get to his grandmother’s storage unit. He desperately needed to find something, anything, on Galea that he could use. Lying to her face that he knew what she did and it actually working had not been in the gameplan for today, so now he was scrambling to find something on her. Twilight Satin had a file on everypony in Canterlot, surely she had something on Galea.
Hooves struck cobblestone as he continued his gallop. It had been a long time since he had done something this strenuous, and it was taking its toll at the moment. Every muscle in his legs stung, his lungs were on fire, and catching his breath was damn near impossible. Getting there quickly and finding what he needed was more important than air at the moment.
Getting to the storage facility from the palace took about ten minutes of straight sprinting as fast as he could go. He entered the rows upon rows of little metal boxes and came to a skidding halt in front of the unit he knew the combination to. Without magic, he fiddled with the lock for a few seconds before managing to punch in the correct numbers with his hooves and tossed the lock to the side. With a heave he threw open the rolling door.
“I was wondering when you were going to stop by.” Shining almost had to pick his jaw up off of the floor. Sifting through boxes in front of him was Bon Bon from Ponyville. The cream colored mare was sitting on a cot, a box open in front of her and a nearly full notepad beside her.
“I-I need something. Anything on Galea.” He wasn’t even going to ask when she got there, how long she had been in here or why she had a cot. The response he received was a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, you and me both Shining Armor.” Bon Bon returned her attention back to the file she was looking at. “Did you know there’s enough dirt on ponies across Canterlot to-”
“Convict the entire nobility for corruption and more? Yeah.” Realization flashed across Bon Bon’s face as she put the file she was looking at. “Yeah. You didn’t think Galea did it herself, did you?” Bon Bon shook her head and swallowed whatever she was about to say, obviously picking her words carefully.
“O...kay…” Shining stepped forward while she thought and he began to pick up boxes, looking for something on Galea. “Hey! Hey! Don’t mess up my system!” The mare stood up from her cot and rushed over to him. “Slow down, alright! Why do you need something on Galea?”
“Because I told her I had something on her.” The look he received from Bon Bon just reminded him how stupid he was. “I know! I was stupid, alright. I panicked and I needed to do something to make sure I wasn’t used as bait?”
“Bait for what?”
“That depends on how much time you got.” Shining Armor replied with a heavy sigh.
--One recap later--
“Sweet Celestia.” Bon Bon’s head was in her hooves as she listened to Shining’s tale. He told her from the moment Cadance revealed the betrayal of his trust up until today. She knew everything now,including that Celestia was gone and Cadance had somehow disappeared. Was he supposed to tell her those last two things? No, but he felt as though he could trust Bon Bon with a secret or two. “So how fucked are we?”
“With Galea in charge?” Shining sighed and sat next to the mare. “Very.” Both ponies hung their heads in a mix of thought and disappointment. “She hasn’t told me everything, she’s preparing for something else and I have no clue what it is. We can’t deal with whatever it is and Cadance though, and her just thinking she can scheme around it is only going to get somepony hurt.” He turned to Bon Bon, his eyes pleading with the mare beside him. “I need something to get her to see reason.”
Silence followed, one that saw Bon Bon get up and start pacing between stacks of boxes. Shining followed her with his eyes as the mare muttered curses under her breath.
“Do you know why I changed my name and was in Ponyville?” Shining shook his head to the negative. “Well-” Bon Bon stopped and looked at him, chewing on her cheek and swallowing her tongue at the same time. “-a couple of years ago, right before Variance became the head of DEqI, I was looking into the death of Captain Knock Out. I had seen the reports of his carriage crash, I read through them over and over and over and over again, but they didn’t make sense.” Bon Bon’s eyes turned from worried to filled with a fiery passion that Shining hadn’t seen from anypony in a very long time. “Every day they inspect the Captain’s carriage for any defects, just like they do with Celestia’s. I went back months in the reports to see if there was any indication of possible faults. Nothing, and it’s not like those ponies are bad at their jobs! No! His carriage was sabotaged the day of the accident, after the inspection and before he left.”
“What?” Wrapping his mind around the possibility that Knock Out was murdered was near impossible. He was strict and tough, but he was mostly a universally liked member of the guard. The hulking black stallion had been polite, charismatic when needed, and believed in metering out justice fairly and from a pious place. Who would do that? “No…” He looked Bon Bon square in the eyes and shook his head. “No no no, that’s not possible. Galea would never-”
“-Galea would never leave a trail, Shining!” Bon Bon interrupted, her voice raised and fiery. “As soon as he died, she was made interim Captain. She denied a magical energy scan of the carriage, she said it was a clear mechanical failure!” Bon Bon let out a venomous chuckle. “Wanna hear the kicker?” He wasn’t even afforded time to respond. “The crash wouldn’t have killed him. It’s impossible. The two ponies pulling it survived with no injuries. They hit their heads and they passed out, but they knew they weren’t going fast enough to kill him. They knew it!” Bon Bon finally stopped pacing, a crazed look in her eye. “And who was the first pony on the scene? A medic? More guards? No, it was Galea herself.”
“Bon Bon, she wouldn’t.” Shining was doing his best to rationalize all of this new information in his head, but that was too tall of a task even for him.
“What makes you say that, huh? She used your grandmother’s information to dismantle the entire nobility, Shining Armor. She wanted to use you as bait for a crazy alicorn! She’s crazy!” Bon Bon put her hooves on his shoulders and pressed her nose against his. “I brought all of this to the previous head of DEqI. Every single shred of evidence I had. I explained how it all fit together, how we needed a thorough investigation. Do you know what happened?” Shining shook his head. “He said he would get me an audience with Celestia so I could lay this out with her. The very next day, he resigned and was replaced with Variance. Then. THEN! Then I’m fired and continually harassed and hounded by DEqI spooks. They monitored everything of mine, Shining. They went through every bag of garbage I went through, they read every piece of mail I ever sent or got. They were sending me a message.”
“Dear Celestia.” Shining lightly pushed the mare away from him. That really did explain everything about her, and if it was all true he couldn’t really blame her at all. “Well, if that’s what she thinks I know then it makes sense why she let me go.”
“Yeah for now.” Bon Bon added on. “Until she realizes that getting rid of you is easier than risking being exposed.” The mare reached out and flicked his horn. “Doesn’t look like you can defend yourself at the moment either. So stay on your guard.” An icy chill fell over the room as Bon Bon’s voice lowered. “Or else you’ll end up like Knock Out.”
----
Mia strolled through the dirt streets of Ponyville, smiling at those who strolled by her and offering a warm greeting to anyone who seemed to need one. After their little talk this morning, Applejack had sent Mia out into the town to think and spend the day how she wished.
That had mostly consisted of the newly re-minted pegasus just wandering through the apple orchards and then Ponyville itself to get to know her new home. She had been at odds with herself throughout her journey through the small town. One part of her wanted to tell Applejack everything and just regain the trust of the farmpony, the other part was terrified of the rejection and persecution she might face.
Would Applejack understand? The simple mare seemed too honest not to go telling about her true identity to the authorities. On the other side, Applejack just poured her heart out to Mia and expected the same in return.
“Mia!” She was yanked out of her thoughts by somepony calling out her new name. Her head swiveled to find the source, only to see Miss Cheerilee coming out of Sugarcube Corner with a cupcake in her hoof. “Mia, dear!”
“Oh, hello Miss Cheerilee!” Mia called back with a wave and a genuine smile. The two met halfway in the middle of the street. “Aren’t you supposed to be at school with the foals?” The clock in the center of town did say it was about noon or so, and Applebloom did say that school usually got out closer to four.
“Well-” The earth pony chuckled with a little blush. “-one of my students came in sick and...well...they got sick in class. Which caused a bit of a chain reaction.” Cadence recoiled at the thought...and the smell. “So while the schoolhouse is being professionally cleaned today and tomorrow, I’m off!” Despite how much the teacher said she loved her foals, there was a little bit of glee at the mention of being away from them for the day.
“Oh. Well...I’m sorry?” Cadence cocked her head to the side with an awkward smile. “Hopefully you’ve had a good day other than that.” The smile was returned with gusto from Cheerilee.
“Oh, just fantastic really!” Cheerilee seemed to sing with joy, a smile as bright on the sun on her face. “I had been looking at this sofa in Davenport’s shop and since I finally had the time, I bought it. Oh and of course I bought some quills for the foals while I was there, he always seems to have a sale going on or something for them.” Cheerilee stopped, realizing that she was railroading the poor pegasus with her errands. A blush worked its way across her features and she cowered away. “Oh dear, I’m sorry. As I said the other day, it’s not often I get to talk with someone around my age.”
“It’s fine, Miss Cheerilee.” Mia suppressed a giggle and rested a hoof on the earth pony’s shoulder. “I understand.” Cheerilee rose again, that blush not leaving her face. “I’m glad to hear you’ve had a good day.”
“Please Mia, call me Cheerilee. Only my students and their guardians call me Miss.” Mia responded with a simple nod. “Anyways, what are you up to? I figured you would be on the farm with Applejack, or does she have you out running errands?”
“No, she gave me the day to myself to...think about things.” She needed to put that as gracefully as possible. No need to raise alarm. “So I was just getting myself acquainted with Ponyville.”
“Well it’s a charming little village.” Cheerilee answered wistfully. “It doesn’t get much more cozy than Ponyville, you know.” As if to punctuate the statement, the schoolmare turned around to take the view of the hamlet in.
“I’ve noticed.” Mia thought for a second and looked at her hooves. “Say, do you mind if I take you up on that offer of getting to know you better?” Maybe making a new friend, getting a more local perspective on things would help Mia come to a decision on what she should tell Applejack.
“Oh yes of course!” Cheerilee seemed to bounce with pure glee at the thought of it all, her emerald eyes shining bright. “Well I just had a snack, are you hungry?” Mia couldn’t help but beam at the other mare’s enthusiasm. How long had it been since another pony had shown her such genuine joy about spending time with her? Even before her imprisonment in the castle? Only Shining Armor…
“I suppose I am, yes.” Mia hadn’t been giving much thought to her stomach at all, but the mere mention of food elicited a growl from it now. “Anywhere in particular you were thinking of?” Of course now that her mind was on food, her stomach wouldn’t cease the growling now and she was aware of the rather light headed feeling coming over her. Skipping breakfast hadn’t helped at all. “Preferably somewhere with quick service?” A blush crossed her pastel pink face and the pegasus sheepishly smiled at her new friend.
“Well there’s a wonderful cafe by the town hall. It has outdoor seating and it’s always really quick.” That’s all Mia needed to hear, so with a nod the two started off towards the center of town. The two mares walked side by side through town, the summer sun beating down as they trotted.
It was a rather short walk, and when they arrived they were immediately seated at a nice table outside. The menu was quite simple, a selection of sandwiches and soups with predictable sides. To anypony from Canterlot this would be rather pedestrian fare, but Mia hadn’t sat down to eat at a restaurant for seven years or so. This was practically gourmet!
“Do you know Lily, Cheerilee?” Mia shifted a bit uncomfortably in her chair, unsure if the teacher wanted to talk about younger ponies she might’ve taught. “A little earth pony filly, pink with a gold mane.”
“Oh yes.” Cheerilee looked up from her menu, a rather sad look in her eyes. “The poor dear. Her mother is in the hospital and from what I heard it isn’t a good outlook.” The mare let out a deep sigh and hung her head. “I think it all took a toll on her, she’s not as...mature as her sisters. Skyward Glory tried her best to help, but her health just...it didn’t help. You know?”
Mia’s blood ran cold as the name was spoken. Skyward Glory. The kindly pegasus who ran the orphanage in Canterlot and Vinyl Scratch’s sister. That all seemed like a lifetime ago, and it was in a way. But she was here, in Ponyville, and it was possible that Vinyl would come around. What then?
“Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that.” Mia effortlessly slipped back into the conversation, never showing her true emotions to the mare across from her. “Well I’ve met her a few times, and she even helped me out of a tight spot when I found myself lost in the Everfree...so I was hoping to thank her.”
“She’s so sweet.” Cheerilee responded with a soft smile. “Usually she’s either at the flower shop with her father and sisters or at the hospital with her mother.” After that they both looked back at their menus.
The waiter came and took their orders, a simple veggie sandwich with some hay fries on the side for them both on Cheerilee’s recommendation. There were small musings on the nice summer day, how quaint and cute the houses and rolling hills were. Their food came quick though, hampering any real talk.
Mia had to admit, the food tasted delicious. It was so simple but filling, each bite making her smile grow wider and wider. Yes the Apple family had fed her, but this was different. Eating out in the open with another pony, food made to order. It was the pinnacle of her liberation, peak freedom.
“So are you looking at getting a job here in town, Mia?” Cheerilee put her sandwich down and wiped her mouth. “No offense to you, but the work they do on the farm isn’t exactly work for a pegasus.” It was punctuated with a small chuckle that made Mia suppress a smile of her own.
“Oh trust me, after the first day I realized I wasn’t built for that kind of work. But I figure that I’ll take some time to get to know the ponies around town first, getting my name out there will probably help get a job, won’t it?” Mia wasn’t too keen on an actual job, she had never had one in her entire life. Sure she was a princess, but that wasn’t the same as an actual job like these ponies had.
“Well, I know the town is looking for a librarian.” Mia’s ears perked up at the suggestion. “The old one, well she passed on a few months ago and the town has been looking ever since.” The pegasus chewed her lip as she thought it over. A town librarian? That didn’t sound like too bad of a job. “I looked into it, comes with your own space above the library. You’re paid by the town well enough, and it’s easy enough.”
“You thought about leaving your foals?” It was a surprise to be sure. In the very short time that Mia had known the mare, it seemed like teaching was her life. She was so enamored with the foals in her school.
“It was a moment of weakness, I’ll admit. Some days are…” Cheerilee sighed and looked away, towards the school beyond all of the buildings. “...tougher than others. Sometimes you just need to look at something else to get perspective.”
“Oh, do I understand that.” Mia said with a nod. “I’ll look into it, I’m going to assume I go to the town hall to apply?” A nod in response to her question. “Thank you, Cheerilee.”
There was a long silence between the two where they finished their meal. There were little glances and smiles exchanged, small little talks where they complimented the food. It was simple and nice, something that Mia had missed so much.
“This was lovely Mia, and don’t worry about the bill. I’ll handle it.” Cheerilee beamed at the pegasus across from her. “We’ll have to do this again sometime, maybe as a celebratory meal once you become the town’s new librarian.” The small laugh that punctuated the statement brought a blush to Mia’s features. “Also-” Cheerilee took the quill from the bill left behind and jotted something down on a napkin, sliding it over to Mia. “-my address if you ever need me. After school hours, of course.”
“Thank you so much, Cheerilee. For all of this. It really was wonderful.”
----
“Well you won’t have to worry about Ray for the night.” Vinyl announced as she closed the door to her apartment. It was a good thing that Twinkle was sitting on the couch with a box in front of him, or else she would’ve felt really stupid about saying that out loud.
“Yeah, why’s that?” Twinkle asked, briefly looking up to flash a tired smile at her before going straight back to looking at a file open in front of him. “Did she decide to go back home already?”
“You wish.” Vinyl flopped on the couch beside the other unicorn unceremoniously , leaning her head on his shoulder. “We went down to Sandy Echo so we could get in touch with her batpony side. She’s staying down there for the night to get better...acquainted, I guess.” It wasn’t the ending that Vinyl had expected to the trip, but it wasn’t an awful one. “I’m proud of her, y’know.”
“Well I can’t say I approve of all of that...but if it gets her out of our manes for the night.” Shining shrugged, only drawing a sigh from Vinyl. “Sorry, Vinyl-” Shining put the thing he was reading down again and rested his head on hers. “-it was a day, one where I learned a bit more than I probably should have. Stressful to say the absolute least.”
“Wanna talk about it, Twinkle?” Vinyl offered, wrapping her hooves around him and giving the larger stallion the best squeeze she could.
“I don’t know if I can, Vinyl.” Another sigh escaped his lips and he closed his eyes. “Just...let’s call it politics. Nothing good can come of any of it and it’s just going to be messy. I’m handling it.” He was hiding something from her, she could always tell when he was lying. It had become more common lately, maybe something she should be concerned about. For now she would just let it slide, if it was important he would tell her. Her chin was pulled up to look at him with a hoof. “I’m okay. You’re okay. We’ll be okay. I promise.”