The train skidded to a halt at the train station in the desert town of Appleloosa. It opened its doors to let passengers embark and disembark. Among the disembarking passengers were Betty Pringle and a task force of CPD officers. One of the officers took a look at the town and furrowed his eyebrows under his sunglasses. “So this is where those UniMagix terrorists fled to. A town full of Earth Ponies. The perfect hiding place.” He commented.
“Ah, we don’t know that for sure.” One of his colleagues said. “We’ll have to ask around.”
“Right. Never take a suspect’s word for it. Everypony have a copy of each photo?” The first officer asked.
“Yeah we do Sarge.” Sarge’s group replied.
“Right.” Sarge nodded. “Somepony go with Pringle. Everypony else, fan out. Horn Pulse the group when you have an address.”
“Right.” The group replied before dispersing. Heading into the town.
Back in Canterlot, all the Nobles that sent threats to Sparkler had been gathered and were now sitting in a conference room at the CPD. All of them looked particularly unhappy to be there. Finally, one of them spoke. “So. I take it nopony has any clue why we’re here.”
“Nope.” One of the other stallions said. “We have no clue Hoofington.”
“Oh so the great Stalliongrad can’t use his big brain to figure out why we were forced to come here?”
“Careful Blueblood, don’t pick a fight you can’t win.”
“I am the nephew of her Royal Highness Princess Celestia. I can take on anything.”
“Oh yeah? Wanna take a potshot at me?”
“Why you—“
“Ahem!” Before a fight could break out. The six Nobles heard a new voice and turned to see Chief Quill standing there, with an unamused look on his face.
Sensing that Quill wasn’t in the mood to be ignored, the Nobles all sat down. Quill started walking around the table, giving the Nobles a nasty look. “I take it you’re all wondering why I had you brought in.” He said.
“Is this gonna take long Chief?” Silver-Mane asked. “I’m a very busy stallion today, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The other Nobles voiced their agreement that they hadn’t done anything wrong. Quill shook his head and turned so he was fully facing the table and the Nobles. “Is that right? None of you did anything wrong? You all can’t come up with a single reason why I would bring you all here?” The Nobles all shook their heads, answering Quill’s question. Quill lit his horn and summoned a file. “Oh. Ok, so I guess that means none of you remember THESE!” In a quick fashion, he took out the contents of the file, the threat messages that the Nobles originally sent to Sparkler, and slammed them down onto the table so the Nobles could get a look at them.
The Nobles took a few seconds to look at the notes...and all of them shot glares at Quill.
“What are you doing with that Falsicorn’s mail?”
“These are meant for her eyes only!”
“Not only is this a breach of privacy, these notes are frankly none of your business!”
Quill just laughed. “Hahaha! That is where you are all wrong!” He started circling the table. “Threats to an innocent pony’s livelihood is very much my business. Doubly so when they are intended to scare said innocent pony into agreeing to amputation just because she was born with extra bits—“
“She was NOT born an Alicorn Quill!” Silver-Mane shouted, cutting Quill off. “You are not born into greatness. You must earn it. And that FALSICORN has definitely not earned it!”
Quill shot Silver-Mane a glare. “Oh? You can’t be born an Alicorn? Is that right?” Quill lit his horn and pulled down a sheet of parchment hanging from the wall. “Then explain to me Silver-Mane, how is it SHE’S an Alicorn? She couldn’t possibly have done anything attention grabbing at her age right?” He asked as he pointed to a picture of Flurry Heart.
Silver-Mane looked at the picture and just rolled his eyes. “That’s an error that we shoulda corrected.” He said simply.
“You are SO lucky Princess Cadance didn’t hear that!” Quill said as he let the parchment roll back up. “Ever since Sparkling Medley came out as an Alicorn, you all have done nothing but ostracize her, calling for her immediate descension without proper justification. And now these foalish threats. I don’t suppose anypony would like to tell me what the endgame is here?” He asked the Nobles.
None of the Nobles spoke up. They all just sat there with crossed forelegs. After a few seconds, Quill sighed. “Of course not. How could I be so delusional as to think you’d willingly tell me anything.” He said sarcastically. He had known full well they weren't gonna talk. “Listen here and listen well. Princess Celestia and I are sick and tired of your shenanigans, and we won’t put up with it anymore. So either this Falsicorn crap ends right now and you all admit that you won’t win this one. Or you all can spend some time in a jail cell for harassment. Your call.”
The room fell into silence as Quill and the Nobles fell into a staring match. For the next few moments, nopony spoke.
Finally, the silence was broken. “Are we done here?” Asked a Noble.
“Hold it right there Hurricane.” Quill responded. “Nopony leaves until I get verbal confirmation you’ll all end this ridiculous crusade.”
“If we do anything else I’m sure you’ll hear about it and you can smile as you throw us into the slammer. Happy?”
“Get out of my station. And know that we’ll be watching.” Quill said. “Oh, and just in case I haven’t convinced you yet not to take anymore action. Investigators Nosey Pants and River Song have been assigned to Ponyville. So seriously think about it before you give me a reason to put you in the slammer. Because if I get one word about an incident involving Sparkler caused by Nobles like you, I will come after you.” He added.
The Nobles just rolled their eyes and started getting up to leave. Quill watched as they walked out the door. But he stopped one of them. “Ah, not you Silver-Mane.” He said.
Silver-Mane stopped just short of the door. He groaned and turned to face Quill. “Whatever it is Quill it can wait another time.”
“Nope. You aren’t going anywhere til tomorrow. Yer spending the night here.” Quill responded.
“What?!” Silver-Mane exclaimed. “You can’t do that!”
“Oh, but I can.” Quill replied. He lit his horn and summoned the note that Silver-Mane had sent Sparkler. “Not only are you the ring leader in all this Falsicorn crap. But you, in this note, go on to berate her, attack her legitimacy as an Alicorn, and most disturbing of all, you go one to use her young charge as leverage. That’s just wrong in of itself.”
“I really don’t see the problem here.” Silver-Mane said.
“You don’t see that what you’re trying to do is wrong?!” Quill exclaimed. “Your little war against Sparkler boils down to three reasons. Hate, Jealousy, and Racism. And ALL of them stem from the simple fact that she was born an Alicorn.”
“How many times do I have to tell ponies one isn’t—“
“Finish that sentence and I will glue your mouth shut!” Quill cut Silver-Mane off. “It IS possible to be born an Alicorn. It’s happened TWICE now! So stop saying otherwise!”
“Well she’s still unworthy of her status!” Silver-Mane responded.
“Unworthy? Ha! If you want to call saving a foal’s life unworthy then go right ahead.” Quill fired back.
“That’s not enough.” Silver-Mane said dismissively.
“Well good for you. But your still spending the night here. Lieutenant, take him to where he’s staying.” Quill ordered.
The lieutenant nodded and proceeded to escort a reluctant and angry Silver-Mane out. Leaving Quill alone in the room. He took a deep breath, let it out, and smiled. “Ooh that felt good.” He mentally gave himself a pat on the back. Over the years he had dealt with a variety of shenanigans the Nobles were responsible for. It felt good to at last show them who was boss.
Right then, Switch cautiously entered the room and turned to look at Quill. “Uh, Chief. We just got a scroll from Appleloosa. Erm, they believe they located Sparky’s and Misty’s place of residence...and want to try something.” He said nervously.
To be continued...