//------------------------------// // Inside Job // Story: A Golden Afternoon // by Gallifrey //------------------------------// A Golden Afternoon by Gallifrey Chapter Eight Inside Job Twilight woke to the cold clang of metal on metal. Someone had opened the door, and a blaze of light streamed in– it was in fact merely a small lantern, but it shone like the Sun to those who lived in perpetual night. Get behind me, said Celestia to Twilight. The sound of hoofsteps drew nearer and nearer, as did the light. Rounding a corner, Luna squinted to see who it was. "Master Macintosh?" she said, surprised. Setting the lantern down, the face of Big Macintosh revealed itself. "Eyyup!" he said. "You might be wonderin' why ah'm down here..." He reached round to the saddle bag he was wearing and jangled a set of keys before them. "How did you get those?" asked Celestia breathlessly, as Twilight peeked her head around the Princess' frame. Big Macintosh just tapped his nose knowingly. "Being the steward 'round here does have its benefits. Ah've been waiting for the King to be busy so you can get out. He's playing some fancy game with hedgehogs and flamingos– never understood it mahself. Now, let's get y'all outta here." Big Macintosh searched for the correct key, and once they were out, they tip-hoofed their way up stairwells, through rooms and corridors, until they reached the handsome oak doors, painted with the promise of freedom. "Thanks," said Twilight simply and gratefully, hugging the red stallion. "Aw shucks, ain't no problem Miss Twilight. You best get out before you're seen." "Stop right there, criminal scum! "Aw honeysuckle," cursed the stallion. Two guards had found them. Bolting for the doors, the four ponies threw themselves into it, forcing them open into the early morning. Sprinting across the grounds, they made a beeline for the tall iron gates. The alarm had already been raised however, and more guards at the gates hurried to wrench them shut. "We're trapped!" yelled Big Macintosh. "Stop!" shouted Celestia. A cloud of dust kicked up as they screeched to a halt. "Twilight, Luna, we need to teleport out of here now!" Go to Applejack's, she added with her mind. They nodded and Twilight grabbed Big Macintosh's hoof. "Brace yourself, this is gonna feel weird," warned Twilight. "What d'ya–" Big Mac began, but he was silenced by a sudden constricting feeling around him as well as a dissolution of reality. He couldn't breathe, and he started panicking a little bit; but as soon as it began, it was over– He gave himself a once over, and then he toppled to the floor. "Never again," he groaned. "You're welcome," said Twilight, helping him up. The stallion looked up to the barn house he was now in front of. "Where is this place?" he asked, apparently not recognising it. "This is the home of Applejack, Guardian of the Stars," said Celestia. "Though I don't suppose you know her," she added sadly. "Can't say that ah do," said Big Mac absently as Applejack left her house to greet her new arrivals. "Boy howdy! You got out alive!" she said, sounding surprised and relieved at the same time. She looked at Big Macintosh with a curious eye. "Have... have we met, sir? You look awful familiar." "You look awful familiar to me too ah reckon," said the stallion. Twilight, Celestia and Luna gave each other hopeful looks and trotted inside at Applejack's invitation, sitting themselves round the kitchen table. Celestia closed her eyes and a few seconds later, bright sunlight streamed in through the windows, bathing them in warm orange glow. Collapsing into her seat, Twilight blinked at the influx of light, still not adjusted from her dark confines. "It's nice to have it back," said Celestia serenely. "But we have more pressing matters at hoof. We need to stop the King, and fast." "Yes, but how?" questioned Luna, resting her head on a hoof. Celestia paused, as if wondering whether to voice what was on her mind. "There was something the Cheshire Cat said to me at one point that piqued my interest... I suspect it's merely wishful thinking on my part... but it makes too much sense." "Tell us anyway," said Applejack, "anything is better than nothing right now." "It's that poem it likes to recite," said Celestia, "particularly the verse "She took her vorpal sword in hoof: Long time the manxome foe she sought– So rested she by the Tumtum tree, And lay awhile in thought. "It's as if it knows something we don't," Celestia speculated, "and I happen to know about such blades." "Hey! Vorpal weapons are my territory," barked Luna. Celestia graciously gestured for Luna to continue. "Ahem, as I say: vorpal blades are fashioned from starlight, namely by myself in years long passed. Unfortunately, and to my regret they were used to devastating effect shortly before my... absence... but let it be known that they are swords of unparalleled beauty and menace. But we are in luck, my little ponies," she said, turning to Applejack, "for we have the largest single source of starlight but a hundred yards away!" "That's true!" said Applejack, "You're more than welcome ta use it if it's gonna set things straight 'round here." "But first," said Celestia, holding a hoof up, "we need to consider the previous way you defeated Discord, Twilight. I feel as though the Elements will play an important role in this." Twilight, who had been sat listening quietly, blanched. "What?! Princess, you can't be serious! Half of them don't even know who they are!" "Is it so?" said Celestia with furrowed brows. "Nevertheless, I have full confidence in you as always, my faithful student." Twilight responded by placing her face firmly into the table in front of her. Princess Luna was sitting by a small fire, magic flowing freely through her horn, as she sang sweet melodies to the starlight in her thrall. It was night, and the Princess bathed in the light of her Moon as she fashioned the starlight to her designs. The air carried the blending of many flowers; it was like travelling back in time for the alicorn. Memories of long ago, as well as certain types of pudding swam through her consciousness as she wove the light together. So deep was her reverie, she didn't realise someone had approached her out of the dark. "How long until it is ready, Luna?" asked Celestia. "You never did have any patience did you, 'Tia?" she chuckled. Celestia frowned. "Play nice. I just want this nightmare over with, it worries me. Especially now I've learnt that he's stripped the ponies of their very personalities again, it's almost like killing them..." "Don't worry, I shall be done in a few hours; by the morning, dear Twilight will be able to save Equestria yet again I'm sure, but... sister, there is something that bothers me greatly about this." "What is it?" asked Celestia, "What is this sword's purpose if not to kill?" she said, her usually steady voice wavering slightly. "Will our young unicorn have to murder him?" If Celestia was shocked by this thought, she didn't show it. She merely sat in silence, staring up at the stars, sparkling like the tears she was trying to hold back. "I... uh, I have considered this," she croaked at last. "I don't know what else to do. There are no Elements of Harmony here, so that's out of the question. The Cat is reciting its poem as though it knows this must happen... if there is a way around it I know it not, which is why I'm trusting this task to Twilight: if there is a way, she will find it... is that selfish of me?" "Yes, it is a little," replied her ever honest and blunt sister, "but I agree, there is no better pony for this than young Twilight Sparkle." "I just don't want him to die..." Celestia whimpered. Luna gave her a glance of sympathy, then returned to her intricate designs. Everything was spinning. Her life, her friends, they flashed before her eyes, galloping into view to be swiftly jerked away. There was a hall, there was a choice, there was darkness... Twilight awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright. She took a cautionary sweep around the bedroom: everything seemed to be in order, from the moonlight peeking between the curtains, to the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. "Just a dream, dreams can't hurt you... as far as I'm aware." She slipped back between the sheets and made an attempt to render herself unconscious for a few more hours, to no avail. Grunting in irritation, she cut her losses and decided to simply wake up. Meandering sleepily across the room, she half walked, half stumbled down the dark stairs of Applejack's house to the kitchen for some juice. Twilight's ears twitched, she could hear a voice on the air. Levitating her cup of apple juice, she ventured outside to find the Princess of the Night at work. "Oft I heard her sing a song, A song of silver misery, Through the dawn the heavens broke, I wonder if she thought of me. "An emblem of stony grey, An ode to years long gone by, Lace the truth with honeyed words, The flames of war billow high..." Twilight approached her quietly, listening intently to the song being sung, coming to rest beside the alicorn. "Goodness Twilight, you should be resting!" said Luna, surprised at Twilight's sudden appearance. "I couldn't sleep, besides, your singing is much more restful than an unfamiliar bed." Luna's cheeks tinged pink at the compliment as she turned over the sword she was crafting. It was almost finished now, the handle and crossbar engraved with many intricate swirling details. Jutting out, shiny and razor sharp was the blade, which held lethal potential. Twilight gulped at the sight of it. "I'm sorry," murmured Luna, as she filed the blade further. "Will you be able to wield it if necessary?" Twilight remained silent. "I thought as much. You should get back to bed. I'll use my magic to give you a restful sleep." Twilight nodded and croaked a "thanks." Adjusting the crescent Moon's course through the heavens, Luna could've sworn she saw two eyes swim into existence over it, smiling down at her. "It's over... it's done," sighed an exhausted Luna, leaning over her finished artwork. For it was a piece of art, dazzling keenly in the young day's light, like a glint in an eager eye. The sword's creator retired back to the house, where upon she entered a breakfast scene. Sunlight danced across the kitchen, and Applejack was methodically flipping pancakes over her shoulder onto the dining table, where the rest were sitting with hungry and grateful eyes. There was a collective "Ooooh," of admiration as it was laid between the pancakes and juice. Celestia looked at it with a mingled look of hope and loathing, whilst Twilight's expression was unreadable. Reaching out a purple hoof, she grasped it by its hilt and the blade shone brilliant white for a second. Surprised, Twilight looked to Luna for an explanation. "I-I don't know what that was," she said, a curious look on her face, "I've never seen a vorpal weapon act as such before..." She frowned and picked it up herself, nothing. Frowning all the more, she passed it around the table, from Celestia, to Applejack... it happened again. "What is it doing?" asked Twilight, "Why Applejack but not Celestia?" Luna gave a shrug that clearly said: "I don't have a bucking clue," and looked at Applejack, who seemed to be in a daze. "AJ, you alright?" asked Twilight worriedly. "Ah'm fine..." she said slowly. She shook her head and took in her surroundings with confusion. "Princesses, why're y'all here in my house? Is somethin' important going on? And what's this here shiny sword?" She passed it to Big Macintosh while Twilight took to observing her shrewdly. Big Macintosh grasped the sword in his large hoof, but there was no burst of light. He was however, in the same state as Applejack, confused and slightly disoriented. "Uh, sis, what's going on? What are the Royal Sisters and Miss Twilight doin' here? Not that ah'm complaining o' course," he added kindly. "It's always nice to have such purdy guests after all." "Alright, simmer down you," said Applejack, rolling her eyes. Twilight, Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Twilight. "That Big Macintosh is flirting with us?" whispered Celestia hopefully. "What?! No! Well, maybe a little, but no!" said Twilight, flustered. "That sword seemed to restore their memories to before Discord's influence affected them." "How convenient," said Luna dryly. "That aside, this gives us a distinct advantage," said Celestia. "You're right, it'll be a lot easier to confront him if the girls are in their right minds. It's just like last time I guess." "Except he's progressed further than last time and is far more dangerous; promise me you'll be careful." Twilight stood up, looking determined. "I promise," she declared. "With my friends beside me I know I can achieve anything." Celestia smiled weakly. "Exactly the answer I hoped you'd give," she murmured. Meanwhile, Applejack and Big Macintosh were watching the unfolding conversation with mild interest. "What in the hay are they talkin' about?" asked the red stallion. "Beats me if ah know, but I'm guessin' the gist is that Discord is back– again and it's up to us ta stop him– again." She took hold of the sword from Big Macintosh and admired it appreciatively, but not appreciatively enough to notice the two tiny gems of purple and orange that had appeared on the crossbar.