Twilight bundled up her blanket against the chilly night air, enjoying the night sky in all its glory. The moon was gorgeous tonight, full and close enough that Twilight thought she could touch it if she only stretched out a hoof. She sniffed, taking some solace from Luna’s majesty.
“Oh Princess Luna, what would you do in my situation?” Twilight bundled up closer, but not from the cold. A knock caught her attention, surprising Twilight because she’d told the staff she wished to be alone. But she won’t turn away a guest. Besides, it might be important?
“Sorry about the intrusion, princess,” Applejack said. “They told me you’d be up here.”
“Oh, Applejack.” The farmer was the last pony Twilight had expected seeing. “I’m sorry I missed our meeting, but unavoidable matters delayed me.”
“That’s alright, sugarcube. How are you holding up? Pinkie told everything. Figured you might need somepony to talk to.”
Before Twilight realized what was happening, she was spilling her guts. “It’s horrible, AJ! It was a mistake to sign that stupid Equestrian Service Act into law! And now we’ve paid the consequences! That stupid law placed a target on those poor pony’s backs!” She still remembered the slaughter, the blood pointlessly spilled in her name.
“Oh, sugarcube!” Instead of offering empty words of solace, Applejack wrapped Twilight in a hug, and Equestria’s temporary princess totally lost control. She sobbed into the farmer’s shoulder, crying tears she’d thought long dried up.
Twilight regained some measure of composure, giving a grateful smile. “Thanks. I didn’t realize how much I needed that.”
“Anytime, princess,” Applejack said, stroking Twilight’s mane. “What kinda pony would I be if I abandoned somepony in need?”
It was odd, a simple farmpony comforting a princess. But she didn’t feel any shame. Instead, the mare’s presence heartened her. It was like leaning against an indestructible wall.
“What should I do now, Applejack?” Twilight asked, returning her gaze toward the moon. “I knew I should do the hard thing and continue to support the act I hate. But how can I ask more ponies to die senselessly in my name?”
Much to Twilight’s surprise, the farmer’s expression hardened. “Now, princess, don’t you think that’s disingenuous to the brave ponies that fought and died today? They weren’t just helpless victims. Despite their lack of training, they fought Destron with grit and courage. You couldn’t ask better from anypony. You should be out there honoring their sacrifice, not up here pitying them. It’s darn right disrespectful!”
Twilight winced. This mare didn’t mince her words. “You’re right. I’ll arrange a ceremony in the morning. Tell ponies of their courageous sacrifice for their nation.”
“Right! Show Destron us Equestrians aren’t so easily cowed! Keep your head high and show your stuff!”
Despite herself, this brought a smile to Twilight’s lips. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Who said anything about easy? Nothing worthwhile in this world is easy!” Applejack said. “Like I tell my baby sister, Apple Bloom, bad harvests happen. But it ain’t a good reason to surrender. You pick yourself up and try again. Giving up is worse than failing.”
“Those are some wise words, Applejack.”
The apple farmer blushed, not used to compliments. “Ain’t nothing, sugarcube. Just advice my gran likes saying from time to time.”
“I should really make you a member of my advisory council.”
“No! My apple trees keep me more than busy! But I ain’t afraid to talk if needed.”
“I will,” Twilight said with a lighter heart. She’d do better to protect their next recruits, so this never happened again. Next time Pferdreich would learn the perils of facing Equestria.
---
“I’m back!” Trixie said, whistling to herself.
“Already?” Truthfully, the older mare had only left for four hours. Dinky had wanted to work longer on her escape plan. The brick leading toward freedom was more troublesome than she’d first expected. “Did something good happen?”
“Eh, not really. But my list of targets only has a single name remaining on it, Doctor Shinigami!”
“Nice knowing you. Doctor Shinigami is unbeatable!” Dinky replied, her tone snide. She’s met him once or twice, and the Shocker General had left an impression. He radiated power and brilliance, a rare pony among the chaff. And he was super nice, sneaking her candy treats when her momma wasn’t looking.
“We’ll see,” Trixie replied. “Ambassador Hell seemed unbeatable too, and he’s worm food! Thanks to the pony, who won’t be named.”
Despite her bravado, worry stabbed at Dinky’s heart. What would happen to her wonderful Shocker if their final General got defeated? Where would that leave her momma? She’d given her entire life to Shocker.
“How about we play some Go Fish?” Even if she couldn’t stop Trixie’s reign of terror, Dinky could at least pummel the aggravating mare at card games.
“Fine.” While not enthusiastic, Trixie pulled out the card deck. The mare hated backing down from a challenge.
If I can escape from here, I can tell Doctor Shinigami Trixie’s weaknesses. Then, we’ll set a trap and kick her butt into next week! Dinky gave her best fake smile, knowing she had the older mare.
While Trixie shuffled the cards with her magic, Dinky asked a question that suddenly occurred to her. “What happens after you beat Shocker? Will you destroy Lux and steal her throne as princess?” The older mare hadn’t hidden her contempt for the fake princess whose mother had ruined her life.
“I will beat Lux, but I’m still undecided if I’ll kill her. She’s just as uncaring for the plight of other ponies as her mother, but that doesn’t deserve death. As for the throne?” Trixie gave a dismissive snort. “Unlike most fillies, I’ve never wanted to become a princess. That’s because I’m already one, always have been.”
The fact Trixie spoke these words without a hint of irony astounded Dinky. “What then? Live your days in a sewer, like always?” Trixie had slipped about her years trapped in the sewers after her gooification.
The pegicorn paused, unsure how to reply. “Haven’t really thought about it. Defeating Shocker has been my primary concern since forever.”
“Didn’t you have some plans before your accident?”
“I like stage magic, but I never pursued it.” Trixie’s uncertain expression deepened. “My parents always told me I should set aside my silly fascination with it and focus on becoming a good, well-respected Shocker commander.”
“That’s so mean! My momma would never do that!” Despite being a Shocker Inquisitor, her momma had always been open to Dinky taking any future career she wanted. It’d earned her some flack from her co-workers, but her momma refused to surrender the point.
“You’re lucky. I’m over twenty and don’t even have a high school degree. My job prospects are hopeless! Besides, how would I even pay for an education to become a stage magician? I don’t have a single bit to my name.” Trixie sagged, the full implication of her situation striking her.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad!” Dinky gave the older mare an awkward pat on the back. It always caught Dinky off-guard how broken the Pegicorn was inside.
Not that I care. She’s trying to destroy Shocker and hurt my momma! That’s unforgivable.
“I think you’ve shuffled the cards enough,” Dinky said, noting how the older mare had absently been shuffling the cards as they spoke.
As pitiful as she may seem, she’s still an enemy. Don’t forget your goals, Dinky! For your momma’s sake, she needs to be destroyed!
---
“Ready?” Ditzy said into her earpiece. “Remember the plan. Don’t deviate unless I say so. Back me up if this goes wrong.”
“Understood.” But 1355 didn’t sound thrilled about their plan, knowing this would cost Shocker an important member if it failed. But Ditzy had little choice, knowing only she could conduct this meeting. She didn’t dare risk Doctor Shinigami. Besides, they needed the General in his lab.
From her hiding spot, a pink shape bounced across the castle courtyard. Perched precariously on her back was a humongous stack of papers, somehow keeping balance despite gravity arguing otherwise.
“Huh?” Ditzy stared at the impossible sight, waiting for the horseshoe to drop and the stack to topple over. The pink mare continued to bounce along, unconcerned about the disaster awaiting her.
“No.” Ditzy shook her head, remembering her mission. “Okay, I’m going in.”
While entering by the front entrance seemed foalhardy and reckless, this castle had once been her home. Ditzy would accept this loathsome mission with her head held high, not lurking in the shadows. She’d show the dignity her position deserved.
“Hiya!”
Ditzy screamed, face-planting out of the bush and onto the paved sidewalk. Despite the unexpected surprise, highly tuned instincts of survival activated. Her muzzle only touched the sidewalk for a split second before she recovered, her mechanical eye blazing with deadly energy. Despite being moments from a gruesome death, the pink mare only grinned at Ditzy, her muzzle too close for comfort. If the pink mare realized the danger she faced, she seemed staggeringly unaware.
To make matters worse, ponies had noticed the scene. They stifled laughter at the Inquisitor’s embarrassing situation. Ditzy memorized their faces for later punishment.
Instead of responding to the greeting, Ditzy pushed past the pink mare and marched towards the castle’s front entrance. Already her appearance was drawing attention, ponies muttering in quiet terror. In her absence, they’d remodeled the castle entrance. They had removed every sigil bearing Shocker’s mark with extreme prejudice, replaced with a new standard showing Twilight Sparkle’s cutie mark.
So tacky! Ditzy rolled her eyes and continued forward toward the main conference room.
Undaunted by the appearance of an Inquisitor, the pink mare bounced alongside Ditzy. The papers balanced on her back wobbled in beat to her bouncing. “Are you here for an appointment? Funny, I don’t recall any appointment set for this time, but we allow for walk-in political meetings! Follow me. I’ll guide you to the waiting room. Wait times can be lengthy, but a politician will speak with you shortly.”
“Wha?” Was this a castle or a doctor’s office? Before Ditzy could protest, the strange mare pushed her into a dull room. Little was inside the small chamber besides some chairs and a table covered with reading material.
“And we have plenty of, mostly recent, gardening and entertainment magazines to keep you occupied! Please be patient. Your time is precious to us!”
Before Ditzy could offer any protest, the pink mare slammed the room’s door behind her.
“Uh.” Now what? Should she wait for a representative or demand the presence of the princess? Either way, she should command more respect than this.
“Hey, let me out! I demand to speak to your princess at once!”
No response. Never mind, I’ll blast my way out. That’ll get their attention. It turned out to be a grievous mistake, Ditzy barely avoiding a ricochet as her shot bounced back towards her skull. Something about the walls reflected her attack back toward her.
“What the?”
“Oh, yeah. This is a super-secure prison-type room!” The pink mare said beyond what Ditzy realized was a reinforced door. “So don’t bother trying to escape.”
“You tricked me!” Ditzy said, outraged.
“Yep! It’s to trap the crazies and other unwanted guests.” The pink mare said. “Works every time!”
“Let me out of here, damn you! Don’t you know who you’re speaking to?” Ditzy said indignantly.
“An inept assassin?”
“No!”
“Uh, wait, don’t tell me!” The pink mare studied Ditzy’s face through a door window. “The plumber for the broken toilet on floor 2 in wing E? No. Three fillies trying to get the princess’s autograph standing on each other’s shoulders? Naw, I’m pretty sure the CMC already got their books signed. No, don’t tell me. An evil parallel version of Twilight from the conquest of Equestria?”
“What?”
“Yeah, we get those sometimes. They come in, blast magic everywhere, monologue about their evilness, give some rather flimsy backstory that doesn’t really justify their evilness, and act like they own that place!”
“No! I’m Inquisitor Doo, representative of Shocker, here to request a truce for both of our sake!”
“Really? Dang, it! That was my next guess!”
Ditzy’s temper had reached a boiling point. This foal wouldn’t delay her any longer. “Call the Princess here now, or so help me!”
“A truce? What do you mean? Has Doctor Shinigami finally surrendered?” A familiar voice said, the locked door muffling her words.
“Twilight Sparkle!” Ditzy cursed, wishing she was in a stronger position to negotiate. Never mind, she’d make do. Everypony who’d underestimated her had paid the price with their blood.
“No, I am here to offer an alliance, princess” Ditzy said.
“An alliance with Shocker?” Lux said, dumbfounded. She said that like Ditzy had asked her to grow wings and fly.
“Sounds like horse manure!” The pink pony added.
“Nopony asked you!” Ditzy snapped and cursed her loss of control. Only a cool head would allow Shocker to prevail this day. Her muffin’s life depended on it.
“I mean, I heard how you’d lost a large majority of your new recruits,” Ditzy said, regaining some measure of her usual calm confidence. “Destron attacked us too. We’re both weakened. We can’t survive without each other. If we don’t join forces, Zol will crush us both!”
Ditzy cursed the door separating her and Equestria’s fake princess, putting her into a weaker negotiating position.
“We can’t trust you!” Lux said. “You’d backstab us at the first opportunity!”
“Doctor Shinigami has given his personal assurances that Shocker will remain loyal even after Zol’s defeat.”
“Really?”
“We only ask for clemency for any of Shocker’s past crimes. A fresh start for the Combatponies. So they can reunite with their families without being wanted criminals. We’re tired of fighting, tired of running. Give us a chance, and Shocker will never bother Equestria again.”
Ditzy crossed her hooves, hoping her words struck home. Otherwise, she might lose Dinky forever. Shocker needed this alliance to work.
“And you’ll reform and start new lives?” Was that hope Ditzy heard in Lux’s voice?
“Doctor Shinigami and I swear it by our honor.”
“What do you think, Pinkie?” Lux asked her pink flunky.
“Please, I have a daughter.” Genuine tears slid down Ditzy’s face. “The monster stole her from me, and you’re my only hope of getting her back!”
“How?”
“Trixie.” Ditzy didn’t hide her contempt. “She foalnapped my daughter so she could lure me out to kill me. Trixie’s a loose cannon! She’s already killed dozens of other Shocker agents and won’t stop until she’s killed us all. And you too. In her deduced, revenge-clouded mind, you’re the daughter of the mare that destroyed her life. Didn’t she swear to kill you after finishing with Shocker?”
“I remember.” Ditzy heard the scowl in the Kamen Rider’s tone. “And she really has your daughter?”
“Yes.”
Lux hesitated, caught between doubt and pity.
“If Trixie has her daughter, she’s a real meanie jerk face!” Pinkie said, with feeling. “We need to stop her!”
“No argument from me,” Twilight replied, seeing the truth in her lackey’s words.
“If we can corroborate your story, I’ll keep an open mind,” Twilight said, making an executive decision. “Until then, you will remain in our custody.”
“That is acceptable,” Ditzy replied. “Anything to save my daughter.”
They set Ditzy free and she confronted Equestria’s princess face-to-face and they shook on the agreement. Still, this arrangement didn’t settle well with Equestria’s fake princess. She fidgeted, a nervous habit from stress. Unlike a proper leader, this pony seemed unable to control or hide her emotions. It made reading her easy. The decision weighed on her soul, but she saw the logic in Ditzy’s argument. She figured rescuing a small filly was a worthy endeavor for any Kamen Rider.
“Pinkie, I want you to contact Rarity and help her locate Trixie. And?”
“Dinky,” Ditzy replied, filling in the blanks.
“Dinky.” Twilight nodded her thanks. “You’re great at finding things, Pinkie. Together, this mission shouldn’t be difficult. Don’t confront the other Kamen Rider by yourselves. She might hurt you or slip away. Let me deal with her.”
“Got it, Princess!” Pinkie said, expression serious. “Never fear, Inquiz. We’ll find her. Then throw the best ‘Welcome to the Good Guys’ party ever!”
“Right,” Ditzy replied, lost for words. Unlike Lux, the pink mare was impossible to read. Somehow, her goofy smile hid thoughts not even Inquisitor Ditzy could penetrate. The pink mare zipped away and disappeared down a far corridor.
What the heck was that creature? No pony should be capable of moving that quick!
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Lux said, getting into Ditzy’s face. “If we verify your story, we’ll consider forming an alliance. But step out of line, and I’m Rider Kicking your butts into next week. I’m watching you.”
“Understood.” For Dinky’s sake, she’d deal with the devil and sell her soul. Thankfully, asking for Lux’s aid only diminished her pride. Besides, Trixie’s destruction would only aid Shocker’s cause. She was a wild card nopony could afford to ignore.