Cloaks and Side Characters
As the train slowly pulled into the Canterlot Station, The Doctor couldn’t help but worry about what was going to come after he stepped onto the platform. So far, Zecora’s premonition of the trails set out for The Doctor had all come true. Fighting The Rani and her Purple Fear spewing Mare-Do-Well TARDIS and outsmarting the cloaked figure and her army of metallic grey Cyberponys was hard enough, but this next trial was going to take place in the most populated city in Equestria. There was more life at risk now than before, and The Doctor was scared stiff to face it.
Oddly enough, he wasn’t afraid at all before he, Derpy, and Dinky had met Twilight the Ponyville Station a few hours ago. He didn’t even think this trip up to the capital city of the ponies was going to turn into a trial, just a quick two day trip to drop off Dinky at her father’s for the week long holiday. The time colt even suggested taking the TARDIS before the lavender unicorn he had saved the life of before busted in, panting from running and asked the group to come root for her at this odd tournament. Even then it didn’t seem strange, then they all met Rarity on the train.
“Why would we all be on the same train, going to the same place, at the same time?” The Doctor asked himself out loud.
“What?” Derpy asked, looking at her best friend.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing Derpy. Just thinking out loud about... Fish.”
The grey pegasus cocked her eyebrow at the strange brown colt, “Fish?”
“Yes, fish...” The Doctor replied, “I’m wondering if they can talk here like you ponies can.”
Derpy laughed at the thought, “Now that’s just silly! Talking fish... That’s like eating a unicorn sandwich.” The mailmare walked onto the platform, leaving her companion shaking his head clear of the thought of telling Derpy about Britains eating horses. As the group stepped out of the train, the bright lights of Canterlot greeted them cheerfully. The residences of the Canterlot Elite shined in the dark night, the night clubs boomed with the various wubs coming from the dubstep playing DJs, and in the distance Canterlot Castle stood on the mountain side, a beacon to the rest of Equestria.
Rarity’s eyes glowed as she viewed the tiny diamonds of light shining in front of her, and she failed to notice another familiar face as it regally walked up to her.
“Miss Rarity, is that you?” Fancy Pants asked, smiling under his expertly kept moustache.
His voice made Rarity jump a foot into the air, literally. She turned as she glided down, her smile threatening to rip off her face. “Fancy Pants!” the fashionista cried as she hugged the tall unicorn. “Its been so long, how are you?”
The light blue maned unicorn hugged his admirer back, he became accustomed to her affection from her last few visits to his home city, “Very good, actually, you remember Fleur, correct?” The colt stepped aside to reveal his companion, Fleur du Lis. The tall, slim unicorn bowed her head to Rarity, but her eyes were filled with loathing at the little dressmaker. Fancy then turned his head to see the others behind Rarity, “Ah, I remember you, young lady.” The suave colt said as his eyes rested on Twilight, “The rest of you must be Rarity’s friends as well, I’m guessing you’re all heading towards the castle as well?”
“Oh, but of course.” Rarity answered for the group, “Our first stop is always the castle, got to have our audience with the princess’ now don’t we?” The alabaster mare laughed, hoping her Canterlot friend would join in.
“Indeed.” Fancy Pants said, cortling along with his Ponyville friend, “Why don’t you ride with us, we have a carriage waiting just outside the station.”
“Oh how simply marvelous Fancy, you really do think of everything.” the fashionista said, following the taller colt. Behind her, the rest of the Ponyville ponies followed, Dinky looking up at Twilight with confusion in her little eyes.
“Who’s that guy?” she asked.
“Oh, just a friend of Rarity’s.” Twilight answered, she never really kept up with the exploits of Fancy Pants, “He’s also a Duke in the Equestrian Royal Family.”
“Oh... What’s a Duke do?” Dinky asked again.
Fancy Pants turned his head to the side as he walked, “Not much, little filly. Not much at all.”
***
As the coach left the steps of Canterlot Castle, The Doctor entered the foyer for the third time since his arrival in Equestria. It was as huge as ever, but at the top of the grand staircase was a sight he was not used to, a pink alicorn standing next to a large white unicorn in blue guard’s armor. The time colt was just about to ask who these two ponies were, when he saw Twilight bolt past him in a flash of lavender.
“Cadence!” she yelled as the pink alicorn ran to her as well, then the two stopped at the bottom of the stairs and did something so strange that even The Doctor didn’t understand it.
“Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!” the two said, doing a strange dance to the little rhyme.
“Is... Is that normal?” The Doctor asked, the spectacle almost making him speechless.
“For Twily and Cadence it is.” The white colt said as he descended the staircase, “I’m guessing you’re...”
“The Doctor, just The Doctor.” the time colt said, his hoof extended to shake the armored pony in front of him.
“Ah, so you’re the one who saved my sister?” he replied as he shook the brown colt’s hoof, “Nice to finally meet you. I’m Shining Armor, Twilight’s big brother. And this,” Shining said, turning to look at the alicorn, “Is my wife, Cadence.”
“Hi, I’m Dinky.” the sound of the little unicorn’s voice echoed as she interrupted the conversation, “And this is my mama, Dit-um, I mean Derpy.”
“Muffin, don’t be rude.” Derpy scrolled her daughter.
“No, no, it’s fine.” Shining gave Dinky a little nuggie in her blonde mane, “Twily was a little like that when she was a filly too.”
“Shining...” Twilight blushed as she gave her brother an annoyed look.
“Oh, like it isn’t true Twilight.” Cadence said, smiling at the pony she used to foalsit. This just made Twilight smile back, just as Princess Celestia entered the foyer.
“Good, you’re all here.” Celestia said, “Please, everypony follow me to the dining hall. It’s time to announce who’s competing in the tournament this year.”
***
The dining hall was lined with servants, all holding large silver domes that held a trap of food on their heads. The table in the middle was long enough to sit a few ponies, but for now it only had the ponies from Ponyville, Fancy Pants and Fleur, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and Celestia. The sun princess sat at the head of the table, the seat to her left was empty, but The Doctor could assume that is where Princess Luna was going to sit.
“Twilight,” Derpy began to ask the unicorn sitting next to her, “I’ve been meaning to ask, where’s Spike?”
“Oh, he’s helping Big Macintosh with fixing up-”
“I HAVE TO POWDER MY NOSE!” Rarity yelled awkwardly, then excused herself from the table.
“... Ok?” Twilight said as she watched her friend leave the large dining room. “Anyway, Spike’s helping Big Mac with-”
Suddenly, the doors to the hall burst open and the thundering of trumpets filled the air. A bespeckled, weak looking unicorn ran forward, clutching a scroll with her magic before stopping and unrolling it. “Hear ye, hear ye.” she began, “Presenting, his most royal majesty, the Prince of the Western Islands, the Champion of the Waves, Prince Augustus Blueblood!”
Slowly, another tall, white unicorn walked into the hall. His long blonde mane blowing in the breeze made by his own servants, and a bright red rose popped against his white formal jacket. “Hello Aunty Celestia, pleasure to see you again.” Blueblood said, his eyes closed as he spoke in a regal tone.
“Ah...yes. Nice to see you too Augustus.” Princess Celestia said back, “I thought you were busy with royal business in the Gryphon Kingdom.”
“Oh, I was Aunty, but when I realized that it was time for the grand tournament once more I rushed back here as quick as I could.”
“I see...” Celestia looked at Cadence, then Twilight. Both ponies gave her a look that basically said ‘he’s your great great great nephew, we aren’t saying anything.’ “And, I’m to assume you have a student.”
“Of course,” Blueblood responded, then he stepped to the side and cleared his throat, “May I introduce a representative from the Gryphon Kingdom, and my personal student... Gilda Lightfeather.”
From behind Blueblood came a large, furry animal, half lion and half eagle. Gilda looked at the ponies gathered around the dining table and scoffed, asking herself how she got into this boring gig. The prince said that all she’d have to do is kick a couple of unicorn plots, and she basically jumped at the chance to do that. After all, these pathetic dewbs where some of the same ponies that laughed at her when she visited Rainbow Dash in Ponyville... Gilda shook her head, it didn’t matter anyway. Dash wasn’t here and there was no point in worrying about that... that loser anyway.
“Princess,” Fancy Pants said, “I’m guessing there’s no rule against how long a student has to study under their teacher...”
“Unfortunately no, Duke Fancy Pants.” Princess Celestia sipped her tea, eyeing Blueblood’s obvious attempt at trying to make a name for himself by going against the norm, “However, I think Luna, Mi Amore, and I will vote on the matter after the tournament is over.”
Fancy Pants and Cadence nodded at this, while Blueblood and Gilda took their seats at the end of the table opposite to Celestia. The Doctor turned to Twilight, a curious look on his face, “I don’t really know a lot about physiology in this dimension, but does she stand a chance against unicorn magic?”
Twilight nodded, “It depends on how fast she can move. It takes a lot of concentration to use spells on creatures or things heavier than an average sized pony, and I know gryphons are at least fifty pounds heavier than most ponies. And they’re faster than most too.”
“Most?” The time colt asked.
“Well, a normal pegasus has about 10 wing power units behind their flight, gryphons usually have maybe 12.” Twilight explained, “But pegasi like Rainbow Dash or The Wonderbolts have at least 15 w.p.u.”
The Doctor nodded, then turned his gaze to Princess Celestia. “Princess, I was wondering where The Rani is? The last I saw, General Stormbreaker was transferring her to a prison here in Canterlot... Or at least that’s what he told me.”
“No need to worry Doctor,” The sun princess said, finishing off her tea, “General Stormbreaker is one of the most capable soldiers in my army. You can even ask Prince Shining Armor if you wish, he is the Captain of the Equestrian Guard.”
Twilight’s brother nodded, swallowing a mouthful of dandelion salad. “Stormbreaker was the colt who trained me when I first entered the Royal Guard, I would trust that him with my life.”
***
“I’ve lost my patience with all this.” Stormbreaker yelled, gritting his teeth hard. “Where is she?”
“Patience Stormy,” The Rani replied, an amused smile crossing her lips at how frustrated the general was. “I’m sure our little friend will be here shortly.”
Stormbreaker growled a bit, but closed his eyes to try and calm down. He had always loved the sounds of the Canterlot Dungeons, from the rattling of chains to the sound of the wind whistling through the walls. To the general, it was as if this room was the one room in the castle meant for him. Just then, the heavy wooden door leading to the dungeons opened with a creek, then closed just as fast. Finally, the pony the two had been waiting for finally entered. The cloaked mare quickly descended the long stone staircase to the depths of the castle, her alabaster hooves showed clear as day in the dank dungeons.
“I’m happy to see you two are here.” The cloaked figure said, “Let’s get down to business.”
***
Celestia’s servants had already begun to place out the desert, the princess’ favorite chocolate cake, when the doors to the dining room opened once more. This time, it was Luna standing at the entrance of the large hall.
“You’re a bit late, sister.” Celestia said, a kind smile shining through the room, “Had a long night?”
“No older sister, I was just getting my student ready.” Luna said triumpatly, as if she had already won the tournament.
“Student? I didn’t know you were training anypony.” the sun princess replied.
“Well, I had kept it a secret from all but my night guards. I’ve been training her for about two years now,” the princess of the night turned her gaze on Twilight, “and I believe your student knows mine very well.”
Suddenly, the dining hall was filled with a flash of bright purple magic as a light blue pony appeared a few feet in front of Princess Luna. The unicorn was clad in a tall, pointed, purple wizard’s hat along with a purple cape, both covered in stars and moons. The unicorn’s Cutie Mark was a crescent moon with a magician’s magic wand in front of it. There was only one pony with that kind of Cutie Mark that Twilight knew of... And the lavender unicorn was not happy.
“Trixie.” the Bearer of Magic said.
Trixie Lulamoon smiled cockily at her rival, “It’s the Great and Powerful Trixie to you, Twilight Sparkle. And it is Trixie who will take this tournament’s trophy, not you.”