//------------------------------// // Ch. 26 - Blackmail // Story: A Trail Leading Home // by Hades Shadow 92 //------------------------------// Chapter 26 – Blackmail – The sounds of laughter could be heard in the morning of the Everfree, feminine and quite lively. The forest seemed to glow from the excitement.  “Zala, you are truly a delight, who shines immensely bright!” Zecora said, still getting her breath back from her laughter.  “You as well Zecora, this morning has been wonderful. You simply must share your tea recipe with me.” Zala said, sipping at her tea.  “A fair exchange must be made. What would you be willing to trade?” Zecora said, smirking.  “Well, I suppose for such a delectable beverage, one must be compensated with something just as delectable. I do recall you enjoying my daffodil bites.” Zala said, smirking as well.  Zecora’s eyes widened at the suggestion, and her mouth had the tiniest bit of drool before she quickly wiped it away.  “Yes, yes I believe that will suffice. They are quite nice.” Zecora said, trying to regain her composure.  Zala giggled and went to pick up her tea cup again, but her hoof missed and tipped the cup over, spilling it all over the table and the floor.  “Oh Zecora, I’m so sorry. I’ll clean this up right away.” Zala said, getting up from her seat and moving to the kitchen. “Oh please Zala my friend, this mess I will attend.” Zecora said, getting up as well.  Zala had already gotten a towel from the kitchen and was already cleaning the floor by the time Zecora had kneeled down to the floor. When she did, she put her hoof on top of Zala’s to stop her, making the other zebra look up immediately.  Both mares stared at each other, unblinking as their eyes locked. Zala couldn’t help but smile as she stared into Zecora’s blue eyes. A blush started to form on Zecora’s face as she still had not removed her hoof from Zala’s. The moment was something special to behold, so quiet and serene.  CRASH! Both mares bolted up and looked to see that somepony had kicked down Zecora’s front door. Two guard ponies were marching into the house, moving towards them.  “What is the meaning of this!?” Zala demanded.  The guards ignored her question and surrounded Zecora, blocking her paths of escape. Then another guard appeared from the doorway. This one had a much more decorated armor plate, medals and other rewards on his chest.  He walked up in front of Zecora, “Zecora, you are under arrest. You will come with us.”  Zecora looked at him in shock, “Under arrest? An explanation I must request!”  “Resistance is not in your best interest. You will come with us.” The guard said.  The guards at Zecora’s sides put shackles on her legs, shocking the mare and causing her to look at Zala with fear in her eyes.  “Captain, the prisoner is secure.” The guard said.  Zala immediately grew a look of rage on her face, “Now hold on. You can’t just barge in here and shackle her without some kind of explanation. Where is your warrant for this?”  The captain immediately lit up his horn and revealed a piece of parchment, floating it in front of him, “This is a warrant for the arrest of the zebra Zecora.” Zala’s eyes grew wide, the parchment looked legitimate.  Before she could respond, the guards pulled at Zecora’s shackles and marched her out the door. Zala came out of her shock and followed them, not stopping her protests.  “Think fast kiddo!” Tala said, throwing something through the air.  Comet eeped and lit up her horn, a thin magical shield popping up in front of her, blocking the rubber ball and making it bounce back towards the griffin.  “Auntie Tala, you have to give me more warning!” Comet complained.  “Hey, Starlight said you had to practice your new spell. I’m just being a helpful Aunt.” Tala said, picking up the ball.  “It’s not that easy, especially when you don’t give me time to thin- OW!” Comet said, rubbing her nose after Tala had thrown the ball at her again.  “You gotta think faster kiddo. Shields are only good if you get them up in time to block.” Tala said, throwing the ball again.  Comet was ready this time and the shield appeared again, this time a little more solid than the last. The ball bounced harmlessly off it and bounced back to Tala.  “See? Just like that. I told you I knew what I was doing.” Tala said proudly.  “Yeah, you’re a natural magic instructor. Did you do this for Daddy too?” Comet asked.  “Sure did.” Tala smirked.  “Yeah, only it was mud pies rather than a rubber ball.” Trail said, coming out of the house with glasses and a pitcher of lemonade.  Comet laughed at that, and Tala only whistled innocently. Both soon joined Trail at the back porch to enjoy some lemonade.  “You are really improving Comet. Starlight only taught you that spell yesterday.” Trail said, smiling at his filly.  “Thanks Daddy. Making the shield is easy, but making it more solid and keeping it up is hard.” Comet said.  “Yeah, but you are already doing better than I did. Took me almost a week to even get a shield up.” Trail said.  Comet’s smile grew, “Really?”  “I can vouch for that. His face had so much mud on it, he could have passed off for some spa pony regular.” Tala laughed.   Comet laughed while Trail groaned at the joke. He poured everyone some lemonade and they enjoyed their quiet time together.  But suddenly, a loud knock came to the door.  Trail turned to the house, “Now who could that be?”  All three went inside, making their way to the front door, and just when Trail opened the door, he was pushed to the ground by a guard.  “What? Hey, what’s going on? Get off of me!” Trail said, the stallion guard pinning him to the ground.   “Hey! Back off!” Tala said, her feathers ruffled and eyes glaring.  “It would be in your best interest not to resist Mr. Blazer.” Another guard said, this one wearing a captain’s uniform.  Trail was dragged out of his home and had shackles placed on his legs. When he got to his hooves, he saw Zecora there as well, hooves also bound.  “Zecora, what’s going on?” Trail asked.  “I do not know my friend, for I wish this nightmare would end.” Zecora said.  “Brother!” Zala said, having caught up to them.  “First Zecora, now my brother, what is the meaning of this?” Zala demanded.  “We have a warrant for their arrest and now we must take them before Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The guard captain explained.  “What the hay for!?” Tala yelled.  “That is not your concern griffin.” The captain spat.  Tala immediately grew angrier, almost charging at the captain before Zala stopped her.  “Sister you mustn’t.” Zala said.  “Daddy!” Comet said, pushing past everypony to hug her dad.  “Comet, everything will be ok. Princess Twilight will sort this whole mess out.” Trail said.  “Let’s go. Move it.” A guard said, pushing Trail away from his filly.  Trail and Zecora were led down the path and towards Ponyville, Twilight’s Castle being their destination.  Tala, Zala, and Comet were right behind them.  Twilight was sitting in her study, enjoying some tea and sandwiches with all her friends. The elements of harmony, Starlight and Spike all sat in the throne room, all laughing and having a good time.  “So then I said, “You can't have a party without a cake, silly!” Like, who doesn’t love cake?” Pinkie Pie said. “Yeah, everypony loves cake. Especially Mrs. Cake’s.” Rainbow said.  “I agree, but Pinkie, everypony has different tastes. A birthday ice cream sundae is still a nice treat.” Twilight said.  “I guess, but I could have made them a ten layer cake!” Pinkie Pie shouted.  “Well I’m sure they appreciated the gesture, but a party should be what the birthday pony wa-” Twilight said before being interrupted by the door slamming open.  Everypony turned to see two guards escorting Zecora and Trail Blazer in shackles, and their captain entering just behind them.  “Captain Pompous Star, what is the meaning of this?” Princess Twilight asked.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, we come before you today to inform you that you are part of an investigation by the royal guard.” Captain Star stated.  “Investigation? Into what exactly?” Twilight asked.  “The incident in the Everfree forest during your school field trip. We have learned of what happened and were given orders to apprehend Miss Zecora and Mr. Blazer.” Captain Star explained.  “That incident was resolved long ago. This is unnecessary. Captain, I order you to release those two immediately.” Twilight ordered.  “I’m sorry Princess, but my position states that I only take orders from Princess Celestia. As she is the head of the Equestrian Government, the chain of command would only fall to you if she and Princess Luna were unavailable.” Captain Star said.  “That is ridiculous. This is my castle and these are my friends and subjects.” Twilight said.  “You can set them free, if you do the right thing Princess.” Another voice said, entering behind the Captain.  Everypony gasped as Lord Rhinestone appeared before them, his lawyer Tally Mark at his side as well as Tourmaline.  Twilight glared, “What are you doing here?”  “How rude Princess. Is this how you treat guests here?” Rhinestone scoffed.      “You are not a guest. Now what is going on here?” Twilight demanded.  Tally Mark stepped forward, “Princess Twilight, I have here a formal document that will result in a lawsuit against your school.”  “Lawsuit? For what?” Twilight asked.  “For endangering several of your students and entrusting the safety of those students in a small hooffull of adults, including a zebra with no formal occupation and an adventurer known for reckless behavior. As well as your unjust punishment of Tourmaline.” Tally Mark stated.  Twilight and the others all gasped. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.  “That is a load of horse apples!” Tala said, having caught up with everypony. Zala, Tala and Comet all entered the room. Starlight immediately went to comfort Comet who was crying at this point.  “This lawsuit will be taken in front of the supreme court of Canterlot in a few days time.” Tally Mark said.  Lord Rhinestone walked forward, “Unless we can come to an agreement. This situation would not look good on either of us. Surely your school doesn’t want this sort of thing getting out.”  Twilight immediately glared at the stallion, “Are you blackmailing me Lord Rhinestone?”  “Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer the phrase, “giving some healthy advice.” He said.  Rainbow shot up, “You seriously intend to take this to court? You have no case! We’ve already talked to all the other parents, all of them agreed with our decision.”  “Yes, your opinion that my son was to blame for all of it. I’m sure the court would want to hear both sides of the story.” Rhinestone said, looking at Rainbow with a bored expression.  “More like you’ll just bribe the judge and jury to see it your way, am I right?” Trail spat.  Rhinestone turned to the stallion, “I’d be careful about making such accusations in your position.”  The noble turned back to the Princess, “Now let’s get this nasty business over with. I will agree to terminate this lawsuit and have Trail Blazer and Zecora released. All I ask is that my son be reinstated back into the School of Friendship, with a clean slate.”  “WHAT!?” Everypony shouted.  “You honestly expect us to just let him come back after everything he did?” Rainbow shouted.  “You rotten little varmint!” Applejack shouted.  “Name calling, and here I thought I was dealing with adults. That is the deal. If you refuse, then I will see you all in court.” Rhinestone said, not moving from his spot.  Twilight looked at Zecora and Trail, bound in chains. She couldn’t believe she let this happen. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.  “Tick tock Princess Twilight. I am quite a busy stallion. Your school’s reputation is sparkling clean. I would hate to put such a black mark on it.” Rhinestone smirked.  Twilight glared at him but it soon faded into a defeated look.  “I accept your proposal Lord Rhinestone.” Twilight said softly.  All of her friends looked at her in shock, but the look on their friend’s face told them they could not argue. There was no way out of this without somepony getting hurt.  “Excellent. You’ve made the right decision Princess.” Rhinestone smiled.  He gave the captain a wave of his hoof and the guards all nodded and removed the shackles on Trail and Zecora. Both ponies moved away from the guards and towards the group standing with Princess Twilight. Trail stood with Starlight, hugging Comet tightly while Zecora went to Zala shaking.  “I have my son's belongings with us. I trust his old dorm is still available. Captain, do escort him to his room and help him unpack. I must return to Canterlot. Come Tally.” Rhinestone said, turning towards the door.  The Captain did as he was asked and took Tourmaline, who made sure to give Comet a nasty smirk. Tally Mark ripped up the parchment with the lawsuit on it and followed her employer.  Rhinestone turned to the Princess and smirked, “I told you Princess. Never make an enemy of the Rhinestone family.” He then left and disappeared from sight.  Twilight fell to the floor and cried, her friends all coming to hug her. Comet broke down in Trail’s chest, Starlight petting her mane to try and calm the filly down.  Zecora was still shaking slightly, Zala giving her a hug for comfort.  Tala screeched in fury and clawed at the floor in rage.  How did things go so wrong?