Shining Armor, on their way back to Twilight's home/library explained everything. The guard Applejack and Rainbow had bucked, Steel Hoof, alongside many others had been giving information to the Princesses for the weeks they had been held captive. The news shocked and appalled the Elements.
Whereas, during the rule of Celestia and Luna, criminals such as arsonists, murderers, and the like were given a fair amount of jail time, a year or two, and 3 years under probation, where they had to do community service. Now, under Lord Knightmare, or as he called himself, and had changed soon after, Lord Tyrael, the ancient Equestrian word for "Justicar", criminals of that caliber were either forced into exile, or, execution.
"Tyrael believes that, if criminals fear him,that they won't hurt others. But how he's doing this is wrong!" Fluttershy stated, an uncharacteristic fire in her eyes and in her words. Shining Armor sadly shook his head.
"It is, but we can't openly fight him, not now. The poor and the outcasts of Equestria have ralliedwith him, alongside many of the citizens. What we need is a counter-revolution, and for that we'd need an army." Shining said, sighing, and slumping into a nearby oak chair.
"We already have the start of one, we just need more, not just ponies,we need griffons, donkies, zebras, every race that our planet of Loria holds. As long as Tyrael holds the throne, everyone WILL suffer for it, and by Solaria will we stop that from happening." Twilight said, standing on a table, having given the short speech to her friends, brother, and Cadence, who had been with Shining when they left Blackhoof, to which they all applauded with a quick stomp of hooves.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them, Tyrael had been watching them through his scrying portal beside his throne.
"So, the Elements think they can stop me from saving Equestria, no matter, they are of trivial worth in this game of mine. All of them, Celestia, Luna, Twilight Sparkle, you are just pawns on the multidimensional chessboard known as life. Once Celestia and Luna are fall, then, my dear Twilight, I'm afraid it's Check Mate" Lord Tyrael said, turning back to the chessboard placed in front of him. Using his gold on black aura, he levitated a figure resembling Twilight up a space.
"Your move."
"Did anypony hear that?" Twilight said, looking around. The members of the group in front of her shook their heads, puzzled expressions on their faces. "I thought I heard Tyrael's voice, must be my imagination." She said, dismissing it as exhaustion from the night's events. As she bid everypony goodnight, she settled in her bed, her Smarty Pants doll (the one Big Macintosh had was one of four, Shining and Cadence had the other two) as everypony and Spike, settle themselves into either a spare bed, matress, or, in Spike's case, his basket by Twilight's bed.
Yawning, Twilight Sparkle slept, but as she slept, a lucid dream came to her from the vast reaches of her brilliant mind....
(4th chapter down! Whoo!)