Cadence stood in the doorway leading towards destiny. And yet she found her legs unwilling to carry her onward, for beyond the doorway and the chest high marble railing of the balcony in front her, still moist from recent rains, waited every pony in Canterlot that could squeeze into the palace courtyard. Nervous energy brought her gaze to Shining Armor who stood stoically on her right flank. His uniform bore a black sash in mourning, but he welcomed her attention with a wink and loving smile.
“You can do this, Love.” It was just a few simple words, but it did wonders to steady Cadence’s nerves. “Just breathe and go out there.”
“The crowds can wait a moment longer if you need it,” Sunset Shimmer offered kindly to Cadence’s left. “Remember what she taught you, and forget your advisors for the time being. The masses must see you as strong and resolute.” Being a civilian, Sunset was only garbed in a black veil.
It still felt odd to Cadence though. Corona practically raised you since you were six, and yet you recovered in a day? I wish I had your strength, or your ability to hide the pain at least. Shaking out of her musings, Cadence nodded hastily. “Yes, yes of course.” Performing that very breathing exercise a few more times, Cadence exhaled enough stress where she felt like she could walk outside without fainting now.
With momentary jitters, she crossed the threshold. It was only a few steps really, But that is all it took for the crowd of ten thousand ponies standing in the courtyard, with a few hundred pegasi perched on what rooftop space the guards allowed, to see their goddess. Despite being a pegasus from birth, Cadence went lightheaded at the sheer drop, and nearly stumbled from the vertigo of staring down so many faces. Both Shining Armor and Sunset noticed Cadence wobble a bit, but could not act to steady her, lest they reveal any weakness in her.
I finally understand what Twilight meant about standing flightless on the edge of a cloud. Sudden remorse compounded onto the sorrow that was already pervasive in her heart. Cadence couldn’t dwell on her lost friend. Not now. Doing her best to stand strong, Cadence spoke to the hushed crowd. “Queen Corona… Has passed into Celestia’s embrace.”
The news confirmed what many already suspected, but it still caused many to weep openly. The queen had lived through four wars, and reigned over two of them, to many, she had been one of the best. Cadence had to resist looking to her husband for comfort. She was queen now, and Cadence had a duty to appear strong in front of her subjects. “Corona was like a second mother to me, as she was to us all. As I accept the burden of the crown, I promise to you all that I will do all I can to live up to her legacy and more.
“The great project of reunifying ponykind will remain our holy mission. Even if it takes another thousand years, my reign will not end until Lunaria has fallen, and our species stands as one!” Though Cadence threw strong conviction in her words, she felt hollow saying them. For in her heart of hearts, she found only disquiet. Cadence stood with her wings flared in silence as cheers erupted from the crowds, echoing her fears that real peace was impossible. Defeating Lunaria... That's what they want to hear. But how can it actually happen? Even Shining only thinks his reforms will at most take the continent. They'll never let us win at sea. The emperor will never accept a peace longer than he needs to recover from a war. Not so long as we continue enstripement.
Is that our fate? To fight each other into oblivion? The crowd’s cheers grew louder when some of the guards took the initiative to slam their spears and add their own warcries to the cacophony. Equestria has rested enough from this long peace. The common folk don't even need an excuse to fight at this point do they? The legacy of the armada of old echoed just as loudly now in Cadence’s soul as it did when she was still a pegasus. What was it that daddy used to say? Conflict lives within us all, not just ponies. The world would go mad without an enemy to fight.
It was not the will wage war itself that left Cadence despondent, but the seemingly unattainable victory over Lunaria. A thousand years of conflict… Perhaps our direction needs a compass.
She gave a few more lines, perfectly delivered words that well hid her lack of enthusiasm. Cadence listened to the crowd chanting her name and soldiers echoing her praises. At that moment, realization struck her. Is that why I’m here? To be that compass? Could I drag our race into a permanent peace, kicking and screaming if need be?
By their very nature, speeches were scripted affairs, and even with this new revelation, Cadence needed time to mull over it further, so when the crowds started to calm a bit, she further silenced them with a gesture, then stepped to one side and ushered Sunset Shimmer forward with a wing. “To aid me in ensuring Celestia’s dream is fulfilled, there is no one more qualified to be my right wing, than Corona’s favored, for despite her age, she has the intellect of one three times her age. May I present, Wing of the Queen Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset was well known in Canterlot, and when she bowed before Cadence, the crowd cheered in approval. “I give my life and my wisdom to you, my Holy Queen, for crown and country!”
Soldiers and citizens alike echoed her oath, “For crown and country!”
Sunset continued on with reverent fervor, surpassing even that of the Inquisition. “A new age is upon us! For the first time in millennia, an alicorn goddess leads our great nation. Lunaria can never again claim any moral right to exist. Which is why her holiness and I have an announcement to both Equestria and Lunaria alike. Those who wish to defect to Equestria, need only approach the Queen, bask in her purity, and be washed of the sin of abandonment their ancestors committed.”
Murmurs ran along the crowd, but it wasn’t as overly negative as Cadence feared it would be. The church always says Luna seduced many away from Celestia’s light, it only makes sense to use that rhetoric against them now. At the very least, these defectors won’t be enslaved. Even still, Cadence questioned just how many would actually accept the offer, genuine or not. I couldn’t get anypony to agree to unstripe those who are already here, but maybe with time… Cadence’s thoughts drifted back to who would have been her future sister in law. If only you hadn’t been chased away, Twilight, maybe together we could have fixed things together. Cadence was glad that Sunset had offered to do most of the speech today, and as her Wing carry on, Cadence slipped comfortably into silence, letting Sunset enthuse the masses.
When it was over, and the three of them retreated to the hallway, Sunset had to take a drink of water to wet her throat before addressing the others. “That went well, your Holiness. I dare say the offer of amnesty was better received than I had feared. It might even prove to be a stroke of genius in unbalancing the Lunarian response.”
Nodding in agreement, Shining Armor put a hoof on Cadence’s withers and gave her a reassuring smile. “Public speaking will get easier, and your first time leading one was a good one.”
Truth or lie, Cadence opted to believe him. “Thanks, honey. I can only hope the emperor doesn’t try to launch a war too quickly. He’s going to see this as a provocation.”
“Everypony will.” Sunset walked over to a nearby guard who handed over a docket before she returned to the couple’s side. “Which is why I already ordered inquisitors to the likely border clashes that are sure to erupt before long.” She handed them over to Shining Armor. “Here, in case your official copy gets… edited.”
Shining Armor fumed, but accepted the documents with a few words of gratitude. As he skimmed it, Sunset addressed them both. “The Lunarian hardliners will come for us, and now that you wear the crown, we’ll have the undisputable just cause to win this war, and however many more it takes to annex Lunaria.” She focused on Shining Armor causing him to look up at her. “Provided your revised tactics work out, and that our generals follow them.”
A grim expression fell over Shining Armor, and he dropped his hoof. “I can not speak too kindly on the common sense of my peers. Salt Spray seems to be coming around at least after the revised trials.” He put the documents back inside the docket for later. “Which is why I would ask for your approval of a new reform I have in mind.”
“Another?” Sunset groaned, barely resisting the urge to rub away a growing headache. “The corps you command might as well be an entirely new branch of the military from the Royal Army. You would not believe how many complains I hear about from lower officers and soldiers who are moved in and out of your command. Until your reforms are tempered in the fires of war, what you’ve already asked for is straining even my patience.”
“Well I would like to hear it,” Cadence commented with a friendly wink to the general.
“I’m sure it is a sound one,” Sunset stated curtly, before the stallion could speak. “Do as you will with your own command, but you should pay heed to how much your peers find you distasteful. A divided army is a defeated army.”
Shining Armor chewed irritably on his cheek. It took him longer than he liked, but he nodded in temporary defeat. “As you wish.”
Cadence roped him into a hug and nuzzled his cheek. “Come on. We should give our final prayers at Corona’s tomb before sunset.”
“Yes, I suppose we should.”
Of them all, Sunset was the most visibly struck by the suggestion, as she dipped her eyes. “Your Holiness. If it is not too much to ask, would you allow me some time to do the prayers in private? I won’t take long.”
Cadence let go of Shining Armor, as the couple’s mood went somber. “Take as much time as you need, Sunset. You above all, knew her best.”
A frigid autumn evening greeted Twilight Sparkle and Pinkamena as they trudged through the streets, coming back from their latest foray into looking for a manor to settle in. The brisk wind tore at their clothes, casting Twilight’s scarf about with wild abandon. Yet the city must work through the cold, and the papercolts were no exception. The mares passed by one such boy waving newspapers and crying out, “Read all about it! Queen Cadence offers amnesty while opening more slaver farms along the border! Disappearances on the mainland at record highs!”
Twilight almost bought a paper, but ultimately declined to. Equestrian papers were full of propaganda with an ounce of truth, no reason to think Lunarian ones are any better. Odd really… It’s not like our nations are lacking in real reasons to fight each other.
One glance at the ponies around her, worryingly proved her correct on both points. Numerous ponies who were reading said newspapers were venting frustrations to their fellows. Righteous anger was thick in the air, and all it would take is the wrong set of eyes recognizing her. Oath or not, you’re an Equestrian by birth, Steel’s words echoed in Twilight’s mind, making her anxious at those around her.
“Amnesty?” scoffed a pony Twilight slid by. “I’d sooner go for a swim with lead boots before I believed that.”
“She’s nothing more than a puppet! I bet she’s not even a real alicorn!” decried another, eliciting growls of agreement.
Twilight had to come to a quick stop when the mare to her immediate left turned to face the previous speaker. “Oh she’s real alright, but those Canterlot nobles have blinded her just like they did to Celestia, believe you me.”
“Why hasn’t the emperor launched an invasion to free her by now?” yelled another, causing a great many ponies to be whipped up in angry agreement. “It’s high time we stormed Canterlot itself!”
I’d better get out of here before they recognize me and wheel out a guillotine. Twilight didn't even want too whisper a warning to Pinkamena in case their accents gave them away. As the pair fled, she made sure not to look into the eyes of any of the rows of ponies on the verge of becoming an angry mob, and went straight for the hotel she was staying at three blocks down. The cold will probably drive them to a bar sooner or later.
The Quiet Embassy was a moderately decent hotel, and hopefully would live up to its name today. It was where Twilight and Pinkamena were staying until they decided where to live for good. The hotel was a pricey, yet tolerable expense now that she had just signed the license agreement with the last shipyard in Tranquility.
Despite the chill rattling Pinkamena’s bones, Twilight’s shivering was more focused on anypony inside who looked about ready to start demanding Equestrian blood. “Let’s hurry and get you by the fire,” she whispered to her life-long friend as she guided them to the lounge instead of the elevator, knowing they kept a toasty fire.
“S-sounds good,” Pinkamena replied behind chattering teeth. Snow whipped into the hotel until the bellhop made sure to close it quickly behind the mares. They exchanged simple greetings with him, as the pair were familiar faces, having resided here for some time now. They were about to do the same to the front desk when the earth stallion occupying it jumped from his chair.
“Lady Twilight, you received a caller while you were out.” He rounded the desk with a note in his mouth.
Wrinkling her brow, Twilight paused and took the note into a wing. “Another suitor or a demand that I leave town?” she guessed with a sigh at the emotional rubber-banding such letters gave her. She fished out a few slips for the appropriate tip and gave it to the receptionist who graciously accepted before returning to his post. “Now that I have an income, every stallion who can stomach a hybrid’s been at my door.”
“You really should look at the silver lining, My Lady,” Pinkamena said with a jittery smile. “Marriage equals legitimacy after all.”
“I suppose we are in short supply of that,” Twilight agreed with a hopeless sigh as she read the note. “It was a Mister Clipped Wing. Apparently he’s from that pegacorn group.” You'd think he'd have enough self respect to get a new name. Twilight crumpled the note and started walking towards the lounge fire to dispose of it.
Following after her, Pinkamena was feeling warm enough to stop her chattering teeth. “You mean the ones who Steel recommended to us?”
A tired, shivering sigh escaped Twilight. At least with only a scant few pony outside of the staff close by, she felt safe from any possible mob. “Yes, and I already wrote them that I’m not interested.”
“I don’t know, My Lady, they actually sent a representative this time,” Pinkamena eyed the note when Twilight hesitated to discard it into the fire. “Maybe they’re doing more than just humoring him.” Pinkamena laid down on a toasty cushion near the fire. The warmth of it making her melt a little into the downy velvet.
Thinking it over a few moments longer, Twilight eventually shook her head and decided to toss the note anyway. “It’s possible, but I want no part in a pity group. We’re not a real tribe, just some unlucky…” Something ugly was sitting on the tip of her tongue, but she caught herself so Pinkamena wouldn’t chide her for it later. “Doesn’t matter. Cursed or not, I’ll make my own way.” She sat down next to Pinkamena and leaned against her, uncaring of the public space. “Besides, I’m looking forward to working with this Gold Trestle fellow. Applejack made him out to be an agreeable fellow.”
A voice within Pinkamena reeled, saying it was improper for a servant and lady to do as such, but that voice was but a whisper now. Pinkamena closed her eyes to enjoy the company. And there they stayed for a spell, uncaring of passers by.
It was not until the bell tolled when an aged, thready stallion cleared his throat nearby, making both mares jump a bit. “I’m terribly sorry, but you wouldn’t happen to be Lady Twilight Sparkle, would you?” They met a face grinning ear to ear.
His excitable demeanor went above what Twilight had expected from Applejack’s description of the wisened stallion. He must be desperate if he’s this chipper. Applejack mentioned he never had success getting a noble backer. His withered outstretched hoof shook, but she couldn’t tell if it was from age or jitters. Nevertheless, putting her best face on, Twilight stood up and accepted his hoof, while Pinkamena did the same and positioned herself behind her. “That’s right, and you must be Gold Trestle. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise, likewise” he replied hastily, sweat threatening to drip from his chin. He at least looked like he was trying to unwind the wire-tight tension that was keeping him emotionally stiff. “Applejack told me you’re interested in investing into bringing my oil engine to life.”
Twilight heard a barely uttered giggle of approval from Pinkamena, but she kept her gaze fixed on the old stallion. “That’s right. I’d very much like to see what you have before I consider any action.” Honestly, I’d rather work with you on it, but my gut tells me he just wants the money.
“Of course, of course,” Gold Trestle shivered a bit and tightened his time-worn coat a little bit more. “My workshop is outside of town.” He hesitated a bit before pulling out a piece of paper. “Which is a relief honestly. The climate around the capital’s gotten rather too hot for my liking, if you catch my meaning.”
Twilight thought back at the growing mob around the newsstands with trepidation. Could that be happening all over the city? I knew Cadence taking the crown would do no favors for the long peace, but this might be going faster than I ever imagined. Perhaps I should be looking for an estate further afield. If for nothing else, than to escape the mobs before they become a problem. Breaking her musings, Twilight used a wing to smooth her static-frazzled mane a bit. “I had other plans today, but perhaps we can go to your house now and wait for things to cool off, yes?”
The beige stallion didn’t bother hiding his relief as he sighed and sagged heavily before catching himself and resuming a more dignified posture. “I thank you, My Lady. Please, my carriage should still be waiting outside.”
Gold Trestle’s workshop was indeed a ways away. Twilight, Pinkkamena, Rainbow Dash, and Gold Trestle himself were riding along as the cobblestone road turned to dusty paths and the blue skies started to tint orange. They had long passed the outer reaches of the city, and yet Twilight and Gold Trestle were still throwing ideas back and forth about inventions both of them had thought of and the excitement only grew on how they might be constructed. The engineering chatter had flown over Pinkamena’s head within hours, but she could still chime in a bit or two about how to procure pieces or materials. Rainbow Dash wisely escaped it all by volunteering as the driver once they passed the city limits so the drivers could depart.
All conversation was cut short when his home finally came into view when they crested a hilltop. Rainbow calling out caused the three other riders to poke their heads out of various windows. There, resting on the bank of a quick moving stream at the base of a grassy hill was a wheelhouse attached to a barn and a weathered two story family home. The mountains behind his property reminded Twilight of home, and she looked out at them with homesickness squeezing her chest. Doing her best to focus on the present, she gazed out longingly at the mountain range stretching south as far as the eye could see. Even from the barely pathed road, Twilight could see the scattered ruins of a stronghold that still clung to the sheer cliffs. Any symbols were too far to identify, but a single wind-torn banner of faded purple remained along the lowest battlement.
Twilight cooed at the prospect of investigating the ruins first hand, and briefly considered the idea of claiming them as her new home. It’d be a pain transporting things up to it, but the view… “Amazing. Who built those?”
Rainbow Dash spoke up with a sandwich in her mouth and crumbs flying with every word until she used a wing to hold it. “That’s Talon Point. Don’t remember the year, but it was the first sky-castle we took from the griffins ages ago. Stopped being manned once we pushed the freaks past the ridge, and the castle was too far away from the frontier.”
Furrowing her brow, Twilight looked the soldier over. “That reminds me. Why haven’t I seen any griffins in Tranquility? This is their homeland right?”
“Was, their homeland,” Rainbow cut in sharply, almost dropping her sandwich. “Now it is ours. And before you ask,” Rainbow added before taking another bite. “Those hybrid freaks eat us. …No offense.” Rainbow grinned sheepishly at Twilight’s slight scowl. “The uh - last war happened because the bastards rounded up half a town and decided to have a buffet. So no, they can rot in the brown plains for all I care. At least until they give us a reason to take that too. Who knows, might be silver there.”
“Oh… how dreadful.” Twilight slid back into the cabin. If they eat ponies, then why did Queen Corona invite a griffin ambassador to Canterlot? Surely there’s a limit to the old ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ adage.
She had no time to share such thoughts with Pinkamena who almost immediately started fussing over Twilight’s hair with a comb now that they were seconds from Gold’s home. Her static frazzled hair was as obstinate as Granny Smith being presented with some pears to eat, but Pinkamena managed all the same. As for Twilight, she weathered the rough combing with the calm demeanor of an admiral.
The carriage came to a rocky stop, jostling the passengers a bit as Pinkamena put on a few last touches to Twilight’s hair. “You really need to grab some of that lightning resistant hair wax.”
“I’ll think about it,” Twilight grumbled. She hated putting anything more in her hair or coat outside of shampoo. A so-called leave-in product? Not happening.
Twilight disembarked the carriage, finding Rainbow Dash already unhitching herself, and had the forethought to brush the crumbs off her uniform that had surely been there moments ago.
Gold’s home was a clash of old and new. It’s timbers were discolored from age, and the wood porch seemed to sag to one side. However there were multiple cloth windmills around the property, two of which were on the roof. Two gleaming chimneys were letting off a steady stream of soot and water vapor. Multiple wind chimes rang the pleasant melody of the easterly winds. The smell of wood rot and machine oil were heavy in the air, all of which teased Twilight with ideas of outright building her home instead of buying one.
A second carriage was parked near the barn. He owns two? Well, if I were looking to garner a patron, I’d want to use a better carriage than that one. I wonder if he rented the one we rode in on. The idle curiosity didn’t bother Twilight until she saw Rainbow strapping on her wrist revolver. The act put her a bit on edge, as Rainbow only did that near the industrial district. Twilight scanned the grounds a bit more thoroughly while Rainbow loaded its six chambers with brass cartridges. The barn was quiet, as well as the house, there were a few cats lounging about, but ultimately nothing that would have set the soldier off.
“Do you live alone?” She asked Gold Trestle as he gingerly stepped off the carriage with Pinkamena’s help.
“Oh no. My wife, Topaz, should be around somewhere. She’s a bit of a napper, and it looks like she left the stove on,” he fussed worriedly at the fuel usage. Make yourselves at home though while I prepare some butterfly tea. If the fire’s still going, then there’s no point in wasting the coal.”
Pinkamena skipped over to Gold’s side. “Maybe she’s making supper. I could help make more portions for all of us if she didn’t expect guests.”
“I could always eat,” Rainbow added as she followed along in the air. Her nervousness had only gotten worse, and she was scanning every visible hiding spot, sensing something the others were blind to. Even her ears were twisting this way and that, searching for anything amiss.
With her belly rumbling from the hours-long ride from Tranquility, Twilight’s agreement made it unanimous. “Merchant’s Creed two hundred fourteen: Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.” She found it difficult to focus on Gold Trestle regale about past inventions anymore with Rainbow’s contagious paranoia. Looking around as well, Twilight couldn’t help but to notice the thinning grasses around the house were at varying heights. They must be short on funds if they’ve resorted to eating the lawn… Or maybe rural ponies just eat it as snacks.
Twilight’s nerves got the best of her and she walked over to be just underneath the thestral so she could whisper up at her as the rest stepped onto the deck. “Is something wrong?”
Reluctant to take her eyes off the house’s curtained windows and corners, Rainbow spared the pegacorn a hasty glance. “Had a dream about this house, or at least one that looks just like it. Can’t remember much except that it was covered in blood.”
She made no effort to lower her voice, but Gold and Pinkamena were so deep in their conversation that they missed her. “It’s just a dream,” Twilight said diplomatically, trying to calm the thestral before her nervous energy could spread to the group.
Leveling a frustrated scowl at Twilight, Rainbow almost said something, but grumbled and returned her gaze to her surroundings. “I hope so.”
Gold led them to the side door, chattering about cooking recipes with Pinkamena, something the mare could talk for weeks about. The interior was a respectable kitchen that Twilight could have easily seen in a Canterlot home. It had two exits into other rooms and a pantry that was closed. Still, it was clean, well kept, and there was the faint pleasant aroma of coffee in the air.
A pity the brew is probably cold and foul by now. I’d rather have that than tea right now.
Gold Trestle tutted in quickly dismissed annoyance as he approached the stove that was indeed still warm. “Topaz, you know better.” He claimed a teapot off the counter, and filled it in the sink. “Please, everypony, have a seat while the water boils. I’ll get Topaz so we can see about dinner.”
Pinkamena was about to respond when a sharp, distinctive click came from the exit leading to the front hall. No one heard it, save Rainbow Dash who, to the alarm of the others, raised her pistol in a flash and fired a shot before the rest of the pony could reveal themselves.
A masculine cry of pain heralded the heavy thump of a body upon the wooden floor. Panic descended on the group. Gold Trestle was stunned to inaction at the sight of a stranger bleeding all over his floor. Pinkamena reacted instantly and shoved Twilight under the table, all while Rainbow aimed at a mare coming in from the other hallway, barely registering the weapon strapped to her wrist before firing a shot, perforating the target’s neck and dropping her in an instant.
Suddenly, the pantry door was kicked open by a unicorn with a simple gun already pointing at the soldier. Rainbow was still in the middle of recocking her revolver when the third assailant fired off a hastily aimed shot, hitting her in the gun-leg. A second mare burst in from the exit and leveled a pistol at Twilight and Pinkamena. “Don’t move!” Rainbow’s screams of pain and curses drew the newcomer’s eyes to her, and then to the fallen soldier’s revolver. She wrenched the strap off, eliciting renewed screams, and tossed it away, to insure Rainbow couldn’t grab at it. Not that the soldier was capable of it as she cradled her badly bent leg, the bullet had hit bone. “Corn Cob, see to the wounded in the front room.”
“Sure, boss,” the pantry unicorn grumbled while levitating a field surgeon’s kit off his back.
An earth pony came in from outside, while a pegasus stallion stepped over the dying mare and fully into the kitchen. “Can’t believe she heard us over all that yammering.”
“She’s a bat, ya idiot,” the mare in charge chided angrily. “He shoulda cocked his pistol before they arrived.” Now that Corn Cob had Rainbow at a closer gunpoint, the soldier focused on the unicorn and subtly bundled her good legs under her to spring at him. The stallion was half distracted by his medical bag, and the others were still watching Gold and the mares.
Before Rainbow could pounce, Twilight cried out to her. “Rainbow, don’t!”
Rainbow’s lunge sputtered right as she attempted it, and all eyes went to her. She glared tear soaked, red-rimmed eyes at Twilight and whisper-shouted. “What are you doing? They’re going to kill us!”
Twilight studied the leader briefly before focusing on Rainbow. “If that were the case, they wouldn’t have brought a medic, let alone offer you aid. Please, let them help you without a fuss.”
A long moment of bewilderment crossed the leader’s face, as if she were shocked Twilight gave the warning at all. Resolve returned her expression to a grim one. “You best do as she says, batsy,” the leader chimed in, her aim never moving from Twilight. “I’d rather not send one of Luna’s soldiers to an early grave, but I will if you force me.”
Seething at her injury, Rainbow Dash dearly wished to stomp them all under hoof, but the amount of blood coming out of her leg forced her to back down. She lowered her eyes in regretful submission. “Fine. But if you mess me up any further I’m biting your nose off.”
The surgeon had to keep from recoiling at the potentially very real threat. “Keep that up, and I’ll wait until you turn bluer than that before bandaging you.”
He dragged Rainbow into the air with his magic, and carried her out into the receiving room. The other ambushers helped move the other injured ponies before they returned to hold the group at gunpoint.
The pause from Rainbow’s removal gave Twilight a chance to study the assailants more closely. The one giving orders was a grey earth pony with greying pink mane. She looked like she only recently left the prime of her life. She had more scars than wrinkles, going from her face to her barrel. Black glasses rested on her brow, and her stern countenance left Twilight with the impression she was used to being in charge of surly ponies.
Twilight spared a brief glance at the two gunponies who stood in the hallway entrances, thus blocking any chance at running away, not that Twilight could bring herself to abandon Rainbow. These two ponies held themselves with an undisciplined, tough guy posture. Highwayponies most likely. But the leader and medic? Mercenaries or former military I’d wager.
At last finding his voice, Gold Trestle slowly stood back up from the floor as to not panic anyone into shooting him. “What did you do with Topaz?”
The leader gestured to a chair with her gun, and made sure to keep her hostages well out of arm’s reach. “She’s tied up. You behave, and you might just live to free her.”
Unseen by the old stallion, the two mercenaries in the hallway glanced worriedly at each other. “Tied her up… sure did.”
The wisened stallion stumbled a bit as his hip threatened to give out. He all but fell into his original chair. Pinkamena and Twilight gingerly stood up as well. Pinkamena was sweating profusely, unsure where to stand to shield Twilight. “What do you want from us?”
“A ransom, I’d wager,” Twilight suggested, watching the grey earth mare closely. She was guessing, but Twilight hoped money talked just as much among criminals as it did merchants. Both parties are one and the same every so often. “I’m sure there were easier places to kill me if that’s all you wanted.”
A barking, bitter laugh of approval slipped from the leader’s lips. “Tis true.” She took closer aim in between Twilight’s eyes so the noble could stare down the barrel of her gun. “The name’s Fey Hunter, and I wanted you to know why I’m about to send you to Tartarus.”
This is personal… Twilight’s mouth went dry and her wings started wobbling at the gun pointed at her. Her horn started sparking madly, but that didn’t stop Pinkamena from fully interposing herself between the grey mare and Twilight.
“Then you better kill me first, because I won’t give you a clean death if I ever find you.”
“Yeah, I heard how feverishly devoted you are,” the grey mare replied, not moving her aim. “Might be doing you a favor in putting you down too, slave.”
Righteous fires burned in Pinkamena’s eyes as she made a sudden jump at Grey, only to be tightly held back by Twilight. “I am not her slave!”
Glancing behind her, Twilight saw the other gunners were tensing, and aiming at Pinkamena. Turning to the leader, Twilight used a wing to pull Pinkamena back a bit. “Why do you want to kill me?”
The grey mare was unsettled by Pinkamena’s display, and was actually grateful Twilight had taken the fore. If nothing else, because it gave her a clearer line of shot. “Because you left my father to rot in slavery, and I want to know why.” She tried to hide it, but emotion made her voice crack and her aim to wobble just for a second. It was also enough for Pinkamena to stop straining against Twilight’s hold.
Twilight averted her eyes a touch. “You mean Grey Hunter, don’t you?”
A dark smirk curled the corner of the mare’s lips. “I’m surprised you even know his name.” She took a step forward, the revolver held steady. “I ran across the other slaves you just so happened to free at the Salty Tart a while back. They told me two of their number were scum. One a murderer, the other a known con artist tricking military families out of their savings with a fake rescue mercenary company. Both were summarily executed once the Unshackled identified them. And you let those dead stallions get on that boat instead of my father.”
“I-I didn’t know.” Twilight stammered.
“Horsefeathers!” Fey Hunter turned her aim and fired at the table, making everyone flinch. She pulled the hammer back and aimed at Twilight again, an act made difficult with Pinkamena trying to force her way in front again. “If you knew your slaves’ names, you’d know how they ended up striped. You didn’t care who you sacrificed, just somepony to save your own skin.”
“That’s not true!” Twilight rebuked with taut emotion of her own. The heartache of that night returned in force. Twilight ignored the weapon in favor the pony holding it. “You don’t understand the Solar Church. A Lunarian’s life before enslavement is withheld from a buyer because it could lead the buyer to mistreat the slave in acts of petty revenge.”
“She speaks truly,” Pinkamena chimed in hastily in Twilight’s defense. “Aside from my name, slaves don’t remember anything before being striped. And reds have it even worse. Even if Lady Twilight had asked, your father couldn’t have told her who he was beyond that.”
It lasted only a few moments, but Fey Hunter looked away to think. Her brow quickly knitted, while the armed ponies behind Twilight groaned impatiently.
“What are you waiting for?” The pegasus chided impatiently as he waved his gun in Twilight's direction. “You already told them why they need to die. Get it over with already.”
Fey stomped a hoof and shot the light fixture in the hallway. “I hired you for your gun, not your tongue. You would do well to remember that fact.” The last few words were spat with such visceral rage that it cowed both of them.
When Fey glared at them long enough to be satisfied she was in control once again, she returned her attention to Twilight. The earth mare was taking slow, deep breaths to regain her composure. “Even if… if what you say is true, it doesn’t change what you did.” Fey spoke with heartache tearing up her eyes. “My father was a hero, and got captured making sure his regiment escaped to the last. He should be here, not those dead stallions!” With shaky aim, she fired at the mares, missing only because Pinkamena threw Twilight to the floor. “And certainly not you!”
“He's still a hero!” Twilight cried out, stopping Fey from pulling the hammer back with a shuddering gasp. With her horn sparking furiously, it was getting difficult for Twilight to look Fey in the eyes due to the light. “None of those stallions knew each other that night.” She grabbed the table to hoist herself back up and used the effort to try and reign in her wild magic. “If your father is the hero you say he is, then he would have seen the other stallions as brothers. By your own account, he would have made the same choice the night I fled Equestria that he did in the war.”
Fey finished cocking the revolver and took aim once more. Twin rivers of damp fur spread from under her eyes with raw emotions marring her speech. “He wouldn’t have done a damn thing to save you!”
“So you’re going to dishonor his final sacrifice?” Gold Trestle butt in, having been almost forgotten by the others. Fighting against his usual frailty, the elder marched as close as he dared to the mare still pointing a gun in his direction. He leveled the harshest glare of disappointment his old face could muster. His sudden aggression finally made Fey point her gun towards the stallion. To his credit, Gold didn’t flinch while staring down the barrel of a gun. “Blessed are those who sacrifice for us all. The soldier, the peacekeeper, the healer. They above all others bask in Luna’s grace. Grey Hunter is a hero twice over. What utter shame he’d feel if he knew his own daughter killed somepony he saved.”
“H-he wouldn’t save an Equestrian.” The tears fell freely from Fey’s eyes and her lips threatened to start trembling.
“And if that was required to save his brothers?” Gold asked sternly as he bore his gaze into Fey’s eyes. “You’re so focused on the two criminals. What about the others who owe him their freedom?”
The room fell into oppressive silence, save for the crackling of dying coals from the stove. With a heavy thud, Fey’s gun-leg dropped to the floor as Gold’s words struck home. “You-” Fey started at Twilight before clamping her mouth shut again to compose herself. “You - you are not worthy of what he did for you.” Fey found more strength to control her voice and tears. “Remember that!”
Is she actually going to let me go? Twilight wondered, not daring to voice the question.
Disengaging the hammer of her revolver, Fey took off the gauntlet and holstered it before shouting an order at the two ponies in the hallway. “Tell Corn to pack it up. We’re leaving.”
“Boss ain’t going to like this,” the earther of the pair warned. “They know two of our names and all of our faces. I couldn’t care less about your little cry session. I ain’t going to hang for this.”
Fearful that Fey might have to reconsider, Twilight was almost in a panic to speak first. “What if I paid a ransom and swore silence on what happened here? Say… ten thousand slips.”
The stallion’s eyes lit up and gave an impressed whistle. His friend waved his gun at them. “Double it, and ya got a deal.”
“F-fine, it’s agreed. Just tell me when and where to drop the money.”
“I’ll tell you where,” Fey Hunter yelled in order to silence the thugs. “You two get Corn and the others so we can clear out.” She returned her glare at Twilight, utterly dismissing the greedy ponies. Her face was still damp from tears, but her mask of composure had returned in full. “Let’s get one thing straight. If I ever hear of you debasing my father’s sacrifice, I won’t bother with showing my face when I kill you.”
Nodding meekly, Twilight held her breath as Fey turned to leave. “You’re staying at the Quiet Embassy, right? Drop the money off in the green trash can back behind the kitchens by tomorrow night.”
“Behind the kitchens, got it.” Twilight did her best to put on a resolute face, but inwardly she was utterly drained.
Fey Hunter scowled one last time before slipping away outside.
There was a pregnant pause as the door shut. Everyone in the kitchen remained tense until the front door slammed shut and the sound of a carriage pulling away became distant. Once a feeling of safety returned, everyone sagged like deflating balloons. Gold Trestle was the first to summon the energy to move again. “I have to check on Topaz!”
Twilight could barely do more than nod. “Yes, yes of course.” The image of that gun barrel point right at her clung to her mind’s eye, even more so than the mugging in Manehatten. “Pinkamena…”
She reached out with a wing to try and grab onto her old friend, and felt immeasurable relief when Pinkamena was still there, and all but collapsed into her embrace.
“The last time we had a gun pointed at us, we ended up on an Inquisitor’s bad side,” Pinkamena complained with the flattest tone she could muster. “Can we try avoiding doing the same to the Lunarian authorities?”
Twilight had to drag her head over to glare at Pinkamena. She couldn’t find the strength to laugh or reprimand her for such a thing. “Your comedic timing needs work.”
Unintelligible cursing from further inside drew their attention. “Rainbow!” both cried out. They bolted in the direction she had been taken. They found her tied down to a table covered in streaks of blood. The thestral was struggling against her bonds, spitting curses every time her movement shot pain through her injury. Evidently she still had plenty of blood to spare. They quickly ran up to her, and removed the piece of wood swerving as a gag. Rainbow spat to get the foul taste of wood varnish out of her mouth. “By the emperor’s balls, I thought you guys were dead after those gunshots.”
Going red in the face, Twilight helped Pinkamena undo the knots, and get Rainbow on her hooves. “It’s a long story. We need to get you to a hospital.”
Cradling her leg, the injury had only been crudely sewed up and heavily bandaged. Now that she was freed and standing on her good legs, Rainbow struggled to speak past the pain. “He stopped the bleeding at least.”
“We need to get you to a hospital. Pinkamena, help her into the carriage while I check on Gold.”
Lingering only long enough to see Pinkamena nod, Twilight sprinted up the stairs and followed the sounds of sobbing. Through an open door leading to a bedroom, she saw Gold Trestle trying to carry a limp form on his back. Cupping her mouth with a hoof, it was clear who the victim was.
Finding her word a moment later, Twilight scrambled to his side. “Please, let me carry her. We’re going to the hospital.”
Prideful grief brought some old vigor to his bones and he kept marching for the stairs. “The closest hospital is an hour away at least.” It was more of an admission of hopelessness than a reprimand. “I don’t know if she’ll-”
“She’ll make it if you let me help!” Twilight declared with enough false bravado to shake the old pegasus together. “I’m no medic, but I learned a thing or two from a martial instructor. I’ll do what I can, but we need to get her out of here.”
A glimmer of hope finally made him nod his acquiescence in letting Twilight shoulder his wife. Taking great care, Twilight carried an unconscious Topaz to the front porch. Pinkamena was already strapping herself to the carriage.
The next morning, Gold Trestle, Pinkamena, and Twilight arrived at Tranquility Lunist Hospital. Having dropped Rainbow and Topaz in the doctors’ care the previous night, the three had not slept a wink after retiring to the hotel. The only thing Twilight was able to do to keep her mind from falling to a cascade of worry was to visit a bookstore.
It took some time before a doctor arrived to speak with them, and when he did, they were ushered into the wards for a bit of privacy. The doctor escorting them carried patient papers in his magic, and stopped walking once he felt they wouldn’t be disturbed too much. He turned and eyed the group with a comforting bedside manner. “Do you wish for the good news or bad news first?”
Gold already knew his wife would have fared poorly, even with what first aid Twilight could administer, but it was the ignorance of her condition that was worse. “Please, doctor, how’s my wife? Can I see her?”
With a sympathetic, weak smile, the doctor nodded. “Soon. She’s resting right now. But I don’t know if she’ll walk again. The worst of her injuries are her broken rear legs. Were she younger, I’d imagine she’d make a full recovery, but at her age…” He shook his head. “What matters is that her head injury didn’t include anything more than a slight fracture in her cheek and severe bruising along the skull. That at least, should recover.”
“She was always a vain one,” Gold tried to joke, but his spirit wasn’t in it.
The doctor spotted an orderly and flagged him down. “Green Bean, please escort this gentlecolt to the north ward, bed sixty five.”
“Yes, doctor.” Green gestures Gold to follow. “Please, this way.”
Once the old stallion was walking away, the doctor was able to smile more warmly. “I very much prefer giving good news. Lieutenant Rainbow Dash’s broken cannon was thankfully only fractured, not shattered. More importantly, it appears she avoided gangrene. She’s truly one of Luna’s favored.”
Placing a hoof to her chest, Twilight sighed deeply. Pinkamena likewise felt relief flood her. “C-Luna knows I’d never hear the end of it if Rainbow lost that leg.”
“Indeed.” The doctor adjusted his glasses. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait before visiting her though. A captain is debriefing her, and informed me she is not to be disturbed for the rest of the day.”
“Surely they’d make an exception for me, I’m the one who got her into this mess.”
“Possibly,” the doctor shrugged, his mind already moving on to his next patient. “The captain is still here, so if you wish to present your case, you had better do it before he leaves. Rainbow Dash is residing on this floor. West ward, room B twelve.”
“You have my thanks. And, doctor, I’ll be paying for Mrs Topaz’s treatment.”
He arched a surprised eyebrow. “How very generous of you. I’ll inform the staff to have the bill waiting in the lobby. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Twilight turned to her old friend with a hard expression. “Pinkamena, why don’t you go down to the bank and withdraw the funds we need.”
A wrinkled brow and down cast eyes marred Pinkamena’s expression as she waited for the doctor to be out of earshot. “That mare, Fey… She knew where we’ve been staying. That means she could attack us whenever she wants.”
Twilight patted her dear friend’s back with a wing, and tried to give a reassuring smile, but she could barely muster even that. “All we can do for now is never give her a reason to. Besides, one more knife at my throat and I can start a collection.”
“Oh so now you’re the joke teller around here?” Pinkamena asked with unamused sarcasm. “But seriously, what are we going to do about her?”
“We can figure that out later.” Twilight hugged her undeclared sister, an act Pinkamena reciprocated in earnest. Both mares found strength in each other, strength enough to keep walking with heads held high. “For now, we pay the ransom. It’ll set us back, and we can figure out how much when I get a look at the account books.”
As it typically was, Twilight had to be the one to end the hug. “I’m going to see Rainbow and Golden before I join you back at the hotel.”
The first thing that jumped to Pinkamena’s mind was to stay and protect Twilight, but two of Rainbow’s subordinates caught the corner of her eye. They would have to do. “Yes, my lady. Please be safe.”
With one last attempt to smooth Twilight’s spark-frazzled mane, Pinkamena ran off to the bank. That left Twilight to make for Rainbow’s room. Gold probably needs more time before he’s willing to entertain a visit.
The hospital’s signs were easy enough to follow, and it wasn’t long before Twilight found the right set of rooms. A pegasus air corp captain leaving one of them was all the indication Twilight needed to know she was in the right place. She bounded forward as the captain closed the door, and he noticed her approach before he could start walking off. “Captain, a moment of your time if I may.”
The captain’s eyes took in her colors, sparking horn and bald wings in a flash. “You must be Lady Twilight Sparkle. It is kind of you to check in on Rainbow, but I’m afraid she needs her rest.”
“My apologies captain…”
“Glider. At your service.” He dipped his head in respect that surprised her.
Holding out a couple of books, Twilight spoke with a touch of pleading. “Captain Glider, I know Rainbow well enough that she only likes to rest after exerting herself. Bed rest will drive her mad without distraction.”
A wiry grin spread across his face. “Is that so? Very well, you may see to her mental health. However, since the lieutenant was absent for much of what happened, I would appreciate it if you could fill me in on what transpired after she was removed from the kitchen.”
Pulling the books back into the crook of her folded wing, Twilight hesitantly shook her head. “I wish I could, but in order to secure my life, I had to swear not to speak of who did all this. The why of it at least, is because they had a grudge against me.”
Clearly displeased, the captain sighed and rubbed his neck. “I see… Then I won’t ask you to go against your word. It’s all some ponies have. Now, if there’s nothing else I have reports to file.”
“I would be remiss if I did not mention her admirable defense. Faced with such an ambush, it is a wonder she shot at as many as she did. For what it’s worth, Captain, Lieutenant Rainbow Dash deserves commendation.” He stared at her, unmoving, long enough for the pause to become uncomfortable for her. Twilight had to fight the urge to fidget under the scrutiny.
“Do you… mean that?”
Wrinkling her brow in confusion, then repressing a scowl of irritation, Twilight eventually settled on an indirect response. “Captain. Were it up to me, I would be honored if Rainbow Dash remained my guardian upon her recovery. She is an excellent soldier and dare I say it, a good friend.”
He went wide eyed at her stern declaration before his features softened a bit. “Really now? I had planned to reassign her back to her original posting after she heals. But - in light of this, I will leave the option to her. If you are speaking the truth, then I’ll find out soon enough. If that is all?”
Quite eager to be rid of me, it seems. “Nothing, I won’t keep you any longer.”
He gave a curt nod and flew to the nearest window. Even after all these years, Twilight was still struck with envy at such liberty. Shaking her bald wings in frustration, she knocked before entering Rainbow’s room.
Within, the hospital room was quite similar to Equestrian standards. A metal cot instead of a wooden one though. It had a decent enough mattress by the looks of it. A window, some visitor chairs, and some cheap looking painting on the wall rounded everything out. The thestral sagged into her pillow with the vacant eyes of a pony bored beyond imagination. A feat Twilight found quite impressive given the short time since Rainbow had been left alone. The soldier eyed the door, but didn’t bother shaping up her posture when she saw Twilight.
“Rainbow, I wanted to thank you for what you did back there.” Twilight pulled the visitor chair over so she could sit next to the stricken pony.
“Yeah…” Rainbow groaned as she rolled onto her side so they could look at each other properly. “I got sloppy though. I should have played it smart and told everypony I thought something was up when we got there, but I couldn’t tell if all the noise were muffled hoofsteps or stuff like all those stupid wind chimes. Not that it mattered, you got out of it without me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Twilight cautioned with a wag of a wing-finger. “Because you removed two of them from the room, I might not have been able to talk them into letting us live.”
The suggestion mollified Rainbow a good deal, letting a weak smile play through. “Yeah… how did you manage that?”
Should I tell her? Rainbow was there, but she only heard one of their names. Might be best to play it safe. Hesitantly, Twilight shook her head. “I’d like to tell you, but part of the deal to save our lives was to say nothing about who was there and why.”
Huffing, Rainbow turned her head to stare at the pale white ceiling. “Really? Well I didn’t make such a promise, and I already told the captain everything I did know.”
A smirk played on Twilight’s lips. “I had hoped you would. They can’t blame me for that.” Sighing her bit of smug satisfaction away, Twilight placed the two books she had been carrying onto the nightstand next to Rainbow. “Here, I got you something to pass the time.”
“What’s that?” Arching an eyebrow and turning to look, Rainbow blew a raspberry. “I hate books.”
The hackles on Twilight’s neck rose sharply, but she kept her cool. “Come on, everypony likes a good story!”
Rolling her eyes as hard she could, it wasn’t like Rainbow could just leave anyway. Swiping the top book into her hoof, Rainbow glanced at the cover. The artwork had a brown pegasus being chased by sea monsters, and that alone kept Rainbow from tossing it aside that instant. “Daring Do and the Hunt for Red October.” Despite an inkling of interest, she read the name with as much disdain as she could muster.
Restraining herself from excitedly clapping her hooves, Twilight pointed at the pegasus with a fan girlish squeal. “This is the first book in the collection. I was surprised to see the series managed to reach store shelves across the pond. I owned all of them back in Canterlot.” A pang of homesickness threatened to weaken her smile.
With a groan so epic a bard would have wept, Rainbow dropped the book on the floor. “Look, it’s bad enough I had to read books for officer training, I am not reading unless the emperor himself commands it.”
Giving a brief disappointed scowl, Twilight put the book back on the bed. “Reading is for everypony. You might hate it because of textbooks, but give fun books a try, I know you’ll love it.”
“Whatever.” Rainbow rolled over to face away from Twilight. “Thanks for checking in on me, but I’m tired.”
The movement nearly knocked the book back to the floor, but Twilight was prepared this time and grabbed it before it fell. She placed it back on the nightstand loudly enough to let Rainbow know it was there. “Alright. Rest well, Rainbow Dash.” And with that, Twilight departed, giving the obstinate thestral one last glance before shutting the door.
Once she had been alone for a miserably boring hour, Rainbow tilted her face and cast an eye on that completely uncool book. It certainly wasn’t enticing in the slightest, no sir. Might as well have been a plate of rotten fruit. She found herself rolling over to let her injured hoof rest on the bed, certainly not to actually reach the cursed thing. She only wanted to look out of the window, that's right. Yet again, she found her eyes drifting to the end-table.
“Sea monsters, huh?”
Rainbow’s dismissal of books in general aside, the visit had done much to lift Twilight’s spirits. She needed it in order to face Gold Trestle. The ward she found him and his wife in was quiet, save for the snores of sleeping patients, and the distant clop of hooves on the dense wooden floors. The ward was quite large with a high ceiling that arched towards a single point. Arcane etchings covered the dome with a softly glowing pale green crystal the size of an adult alicorn resting in the center. Upon seeing it, Twilight realized there was a spell field active, but it seemed to do nothing noticeable. That is until she saw the same soft glow coming from the frame of each patient’s bed. A mass sleep spell. It only took a cursory study to see many of these ponies were in as bad a shape as the doctor claimed Topaz was in. For the pain, I imagine.
There were a number of visitors in the ward, causing Twilight to search past the rows upon rows of beds until she saw Gold Trestle at a bed close to a window. He had a small wind chime hanging in front of the glass and patted it with a wing just enough to have a few notes ring out. Like most of the other patients, Topaz was blissfully asleep.
The only chair around was the one Gold had brought in himself, so Twilight opted to stand. Her hoofsteps announced her arrival, causing the aged pegasus to look away from Topaz. Anger, fear, hope, and resignation warred over his face. At the moment, he settled on subdued and offered her the chair. “Lady Twilight.”
She waved her wing in a respectful dismissal. “Please, I can not take your seat.”
Pride might have made another stallion insist, but old bones and weary muscles forced his hand. With a brief word of gratitude, he heavily sat down on the wooden chair, posturing it so he could see both his wife and Twilight at once. “I know what you’re thinking, My Lady. Do not blame yourself for the actions of others. They are accountable to themselves, no matter what excuses they may concoct.”
A thin, pressed frown crossed her face and her ears wilted. “You are too kind, good sir. But my actions still led Fey and the others to do what she did.” Twilight glanced around for any eavesdroppers, and wasn’t comfortable using names.
To that, Gold blinked and studied Twilight with a bit more earnestness. “You speak correctly. Forgive my earlier platitude. It is rare to find wisdom and youth in one pony. That is unless,” he added with a much needed hint of joviality, “you’re actually much older than you look.”
Despite herself, Twilight managed to give a short, choking laugh. “No, I’m afraid I’m only just passing my first score on this earth next month on the tenth.”
The first thought that struck Gold was to compliment her upbringing, but thought better of it. Instead he let a brief silence clear the air as he stroked a lock of hair in Topaz’s mane. “I’m sure you’ve already spoken to the doctor if you found your way here.”
Running her parched tongue in whatever moisture was left her mouth, Twilight nodded. “I did… We should thank - Luna that Topaz will live.”
“Aye… We have much to be grateful towards She who protects.” Gold cast an eye towards the pegacorn, a question on his lips was pulled back in lieu of a different one. “Tell me, Child of the Sun, what do you think of the Night Mistress?”
“What you might expect, I’d imagine.” Twilight wasn’t sure if any other answer would sound sincere.
A smirk played upon his features, but his focus never left his wife. His short, gentle strokes with the brush brought him some measure of peace. His usual shakes were subdued as he took extra care to avoid the bruises or bandages. “Whatever your stance is, Luna has taken a liking to you.”
Drawing her head back a bit and wrinkling her brow in confusion, Twilight quickly pondered what to make of that. “You believe she had a hoof in getting our captor to leave us be?”
“I have never been a good salespony. Luna know how many times I've bungled attempts to secure funding. And yet last night...” He paused his brushing a moment as his muscles tired. “I felt the right words just come to me.” He gave Twilight a playful smirk. “There’s a reason why it’s called having a silver tongue, and She was always fond of its luster.” He resumed working on Topaz’s only uninjured leg, and the act was simple enough that he didn’t need to control his shakes as much.
Looking around for anyone who was paying too much attention to their conversation, Twilight was glad to see the only ones nearby were either sleeping patients, or in muted conversations of their own. “The Solar Church has a... less flattering interpretation of such things, but never tried too hard to deny Luna's way with a crowd.”
Gold pulled out a small metal hoof-file after noticing some blemishes Topaz's ordeal had caused to her hooves. “Won't do to have you wake up fretting over trivialities now will it?” The old stallion's whispers were not as quiet as they had once been, and he was embarrassed when he heard polite snickering behind him. “You are a strange mare, Lady Twilight Sparkle,” he began, trying to distract her. “Whatever her reasons, Luna has taken an notice of you.”
“As have too many others as of late,” Twilight said with contained trepidation.
He got to work gently smoothing away the blemishes on the hooves he could safely tend to. Every stroke was slow as he had to control his shakes for each movement. “Aye, it would be wise for those around you to tread with care. And in light of that, I’m afraid I will have to rescind my request for patronage, my Lady. I won’t have the time to spend on the workbench anymore, and to be frank, I can't risk Topaz or myself getting drawn up into another incident. I want to impress upon you, that I hold no ill will towards you for last night, but staying in your circle is too dangerous for these old bones.”
Nodding slowly, Twilight sensed the polite dismissal. “I’ve already told the doctors that I’ll be covering your costs. I won’t accept prideful refusal.”
“Then perhaps you can settle on taking my drafts,” he offered kindly. “I have more ideas than time, I’m afraid, and if a keen mind such as yours can bring even one of them to life, I’ll be satisfied.”
“That is - agreeable.” Twilight bowed before him, waited for him to return the gesture, then departed, unsure of where her hooves might take her.
At the designated time, Twilight found herself behind the Quiet Embassy. With Pinkamena and her soldier escort waiting back on the main street, Twilight walked down the side alley which was thankfully unoccupied. At least, so it seemed. The stink of molding food waste was distrubed by scavenging rodents who fled upon Twilight’s arrival.
There were a number of battered colored trash cans, but only one was green. Paranoia made Twilight hesitate at the edge between the alleyway and the waste collection area. The streetlights did nothing to help all the way back here. She swept the lantern in her mouth from side to side, trying to illuminate any ambushers. I don’t think Fey would suddenly change her mind, but those brigands she worked with seemed the type.
The shadows either kept their secrets, or there was indeed nothing waiting for her. Trying to shove her fear down, Twilight gripped the carpetbag full of slips tightly to her chest as she gingerly made her way to the correct trash can, stepping over refuse and puddles of foul water.
Upon reaching the can, she set the bag down on a dry spot. The smell of it all was horribly offensive, far more than she expected. Ugh, do they not have reliable trash removal services? Perhaps that’s how I could shape the world, she half joked, a sanitary revolution.
Resolving to bid a hasty retreat, Twilight threw open the can to toss the bag into, only to give off a muffled shriek at what was sitting on top. She dropped her lantern and barely managed to keep from stumbling backwards and landing on the fetid ground. The glass on the oil lantern had cracked, but it was otherwise still intact.
Her eyes swept the area, and still no threats emerged. Grimly, she reclaimed her lantern and steaded herself for the grisly sight just to confirm it was what she thought it was. Sitting on top of heaps of food waste were the two severed pony heads. Before she could turn away from the sight of it, she recognized their faces. It’s the two surviving brigands that Fey Hunter had with her. Or not anymore.
A piece of paper was clamped in the jaws of one of them. Cringing at the whole thing, Twilight raised her lantern to see if it had writing on it, and indeed it did.
This is what happens to honorless dogs. Keep your money, and keep your word.
Now more than ever, it felt like someone was watching her. Twilight scanned the rooftops and windows this time, but she saw nothing. That didn’t mean no one was there. Giving a firm nod to the shadows, she took the note in case it could link the murders to her somehow and stashed it in the bag to be disposed of later. After returning the lid on the green can to delay its discovery, Twilight shakily reclaimed her money bag and departed, not once looking back.