The Royal castle of Canterlot was more than Trixie ever expected it to be. She always dreamed of being able to perform for the princesses. Though under the circumstances both her and Gilda were in took most of the luster out of the whole thing. The two were lead the throne room by armed guards with spears. Trixie had her book and gem in a saddle bag lent to her by one of the guards. "You two stay here! We will summon Princess Luna and the guard who was attacked to begin you're questioning."
"Whatever..." Was all Gilda said as the guards left; Trixie could tell she was trying her best to hide she wasn't fully recovered. When the guards left she turns to her. "I'll admit I owe you one for this. If you haven't stepped in I would have been in deep crap."
"Just keep a level head and we should be out of here."
"Excuse me..." The two looked back as a gray earth pony with black mane and purple colored eye's. Her cutie mark was a purple treble clef. "Are you two here for the addition? Maybe a silly question but I've been trying to gather the other musicians for an early practice."
"This early?" Gilda questioned.
"We are to play for the coming guest of the Princesses. I'm not about to have a repeat of the Grand Galloping Gala."
"The... Grand Getty what?" Gilda then noticed Trixie's eyes light up.
"You played for the Grand Galloping Gala?"
"This will be my second year as lead cello. The Princesses are going to make up for last year and... well as Princess Luna said it. "Double the fun." The gray mare then came closer to the two. "My name is Octavia. May I ask what happen to you?" She then turned to Gilda.
"I really don't know other then it was lightning that hit me. Now I'm being questioned over it. A total waste of time if you ask me."
Octavia raised a brow at this "Sounds like what happen a few days ago. I was in the castle when that guard was brought back. Princess Celestia seems to want to keep the whole thing under wraps. Princess Luna on the other hoof wants to get to the bottom of it. Those wounds didn't look like they came from lightning."
"What do you mean?" Trixie asked.
"There was a small wound on his hind leg that-"
All three jumped as two large doors opened from behind. Princess Luna stepped though followed by a rather young looking guard who was out of his armor. He was like the other guards of the night but his mane was short. His leg was bandaged along with his noise. His light green eyes kept to the floor as he limped behind the Princess. His cutie mark was two small crossed blades. Both Trixie and Octavia bowed, Gilda seemed confused at first but quickly followed the others lead.
"Octavia please wait outside. This is a bit of a private matter."
"Yes your highness." She ran for the doors as two of Luna's guards closed it behind her.
"I'm very sorry, if I knew you two were still healing then I wouldn't have you two brought here. I understand the griffin was attacked in the same sky's as Dirk." Luna looked over as Dirk kept his gaze to the ground.
"No offense Princess but I really have no idea what happen other then blacking out after hearing thunder." Gilda quickly spoke; her nerves seem a bit shot.
"You didn't hear a strange mechanical sound before the thunder?" Luna then asked with a little more concern. This time Gilda was silent as she rubbed her head.
"Things are a little blurry about the whole thing."
"E-excuse me your Highness..." Trixie hoped she wasn't overstepping her boundary. "Octavia was telling us how something was off about both wounds. How do those connect?"
"Yes good point! Dirk's wound had a small piece of metal in it. Did you have the same thing as well?"
"I-I don't think so. The doctor just told me not to fly for a few weeks a-and some other crap."
"Dirk please tell us your encounter of that night."
"Yes your Highness." The young stallion took a step forward as he looked right over to Trixie and Gilda. "That night I was taking patrol over the Everfree Forest. There has been a report from a local of Ponyville that animals have started to go missing. I did a fly over patrol around the forest and found a small campfire with what seemed to have an animal cooking over it." He paused as Trixie and Princess Luna both gagged at this. "I looked over the scene and heard a small mechanical sound followed by a bang. I was readying for an attack and took off over the tree's for an over view when a second bang happen. That's when my leg was hit and I fell to the ground. Before I could make out what hit me I was struck by a blunt object. I didn't wake till the next morning by a pack of timber wolves running away with injured pack members."
"I see..." Princess Luna walked over to one of the stained windows. "My sister asked me to forget about this incident and let her deal with it. Yet I haven't seen her take any real means to find out what happen. She even seemed to ignore it as she went to the Crystal Empire yesterday. As Princess of the night I cannot let this go. Especially as it happen during my time of rule!" She sighed before turning back the group. "For taking you from the hospital before you could recover please stay in the royal guest rooms."
"Hey that sounds awesome!" Gilda couldn't hide her smile even if it was going to kill her.
"It an honor! T-thank you..." Trixie added.
"Dirk I personally written your leave papers. Take care of yourself and get well."
"Yes, thank you your highness." With a painful bow he limped back to the main doors as a fellow guard opened it for him from the outside.
As Trixie and Gilda started out behind Dirk; Princess Luna then called for them to stop. "Excuse me but what was your name? I was only told Gilda would only come if you did as well."
Trixie's cheeks went a deep red as she bowed, not only in respect but to hide her blush. "Trixie Lulamoon." She watched as the Princess looked as if she was trying to remember something to giggling. Again Trixie turned another shade of red. Gilda started to chuckle at this as well. "Of course the Princesses know of that humiliating night. Oh please let my life end already!"
"I must say the daughter of the writer Sabrina Lulamoon has turned out to be a bit of a mischief maker."
Speechless the blue mare looked back up at the Princess. "You know my mother?"
"We have all of her books in our library. I'll let the guards know to let you have access there so you can read them."
"Really? Oh thank you!" Princess Luna just smiled as she started for the main door. "I'm off to watch the sunrise. This is the first time in years my sister has risen the sun form the Crystal Empire. It's said to have a very unique glow to it." With that two of her guards open the doors for her as she left. "The Great and Powerful Trixie had slept long enough. Time to hit the books!"
"We were just given a free nights stay in the royal castle and you're going to spend it studying?" Gilda asked as the two were escorted to the Library. The guard opened the door for the two before she went back to her post.
"They're books my mother wrote and in a full collection!" Trixie started down the large toppling shelves. "I can't believe my mother's books were well known enough to be categorized in the royal library."
"So your royal guest as well. It has been kind of lonely in the guest wing seeing as no other musicians have shown just yet." A voice called from behind one of the large shelves. The two rounded the corner to find Octavia going though music books. "Sorry if I surprised you but I've been killing time by looking up works from Johann Sebastian Buck. I never caught your name by the way."
"Trixie Lulamoon."
"I thought you looked familiar. Me and my friend Vinyl didn't see much when the Ursa Minor showed up but I must say you put on a brilliant stage performance. Even if it was a self ego stroke." Trixie wasn't sure how to take such a back hoofed complement. "Sorry maybe that was a bit uncalled for. As a performer myself I know what it's like to get that boastful attitude. That I didn't mind."
"It was the lie wasn't it?" Gilda asked as Trixie slumped.
"Mostly..." Octavia then closed the book she was reading and put it back on the shelf. "Now what's this about a collection of books?"
"I thought you had practice?" Trixie asked as she started back down the aisles.
"Not much I can do without the rest of the orchestra. Besides I'm bored to death. You two are the most exciting thing to happen all week."
"Well egg head here can go ahead and read. I'm going to chill in my guest room, maybe check out if the rumors about the spa and dinning are true." She noticed the looks she was getting from the two mares. "What? I get to stay in a castle! I'm going to live it up while I can."
Trixie chuckled at this. "I don't blame you at all; go enjoy yourself." Gilda rolled her eyes as she headed out of the library. The two mares kept looking till Trixie gasped at the sight of her mother's book. "Every one of her books... right here." Trixie ran her hoof over the spines to the books and a nostalgic feeling came over her.
"If you're looking for a spell book then don't even bother with those." A dark, older orange unicorn with a check list for a cutie mark said from down the aisle. "Those are novelty at best."
"H-how dare you!" Trixie screamed. "Who do you think you are?"
"All you need to know is that my job is to find books used in the Centerlot Magic School. The books you were about to look at are nothing but pure garbage."
"These are her mother's books!" Octavia butted in as she took to Trixie's side.
"You're her daughter?" He then chuckled. "Sorry to hear that..." He ignored how Trixie was gritting her teeth as he went on. "You did know she was a failure to our schools entry exam?"
"That means nothing! There are plenty of unicorns who are great at magic without your school."
"Just like there are plenty of musicians who never been to a school and can play and write beautiful music."
"Octavia was it? I'm surprised they asked you to play again after the Grand Galloping Gala. Why you let that childish pony make such a stupid request is beyond me." He felt himself grow cocky as both mares were visibly upset. He was about to continue when he felt a strong grip on the back of his neck followed by a sharp prick at his throat.
"I was told our rooms were not ready yet but we can grab a bite to eat." Gilda started as she put a stronger grip on the colt as her talon was kept at his throat. "But then I overheard this bloated ass and though I'd shut em up for you guys."
"You have any idea who I am? I'll have you three rotting in the dungeons!"
"What do we have here?" The four looked back as Dirk walked up.
"Guard these three are assaulting a royal diplomat, arrest them at once!"
Gilda put the unicorn down as Dirk slowly went up to him. "Royal diplomat? Last time I checked you were just tasked your job when you couldn't handle being a teacher." The unicorn gave him a scornful look. "Also with the way you provoked the whole thing I'm willing to look the other way."
"I'll report you for this! All of you will regret this!" Dirk stepped aside as the unicorn ran out. As soon as he was out of the library Dirk grunted as he sat down to get off his leg.
"Should we be worried?" Trixie asked.
"That blow hard can't do anything. All he does is walk around here and downsize ponies. He's a few complaints from getting kick out of here himself." After a short rest he got back up. "I came back here to ask why your here?" He asked to Trixie.
"W-well I was the one who helped Gilda out."
" I wasn't about to go with a bunch of you thugs. That was until she said she would come."
Dirk just nodded his head. "Seems you two have a natural sisterhood. I'm going to stay around the castle during my leave so if he gives you anymore trouble, come find me."
"Don't you want to go back to your family and friends?" Octavia asked only to make him sigh.
"My family live too far out and all my friends are fellow soldiers. Besides if you haven't noticed I'm quite younger than the rest of the guards so I have a lot to studying to do if I want to keep up with the rest." With that he limped off.
"You stood up for me back there..." Trixie said with a smile to Octavia. "Both of you did."
"I wasn't about to let that jerk bully you around like that." Octavia answered.
"We can mark it to the start of me getting even..."
"I thought you didn't owe me-"
"Shut up!" Gilda snapped making Trixie giggle. Levitating the bag off her back she took one of the books off the shelf and added it with her mother's Master Book.
"I'll have to copy the spells over later."
"Whatever I'm hungry, let's get going." With that the three exited the library. From a table sat the elder mare with a smile on her cheeks.
"Enjoy tonight Trixie... because this is when things get messy."
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"Celestia you look worried, is something the matter?" Shining Armor asked as his wife Cadance also shown concern for Princess Celestia. All three sat in the study of the Crystal Palace.
"There have been some troubling issues before I came here. There was an attack on not only a guard of Luna but a resident of Cloudsdale on her way home in the same night over the Everfree Forest."
"Do you need me to come take care of it? This sounds very serious if it's an animal from there."
"No!" The couple was taken back by her outburst. "I...mean no. It's being taken care of as we speak." Again they sat in silents before a letter appeared from a flash of orange flame.
"A letter from my sister?" Shining Armor questioned with a smile.
"No, this is from the castle." As she read the two could see the anger taking over in her expression. "I sorry but I must leave at once."
"Princess if may I will return to he-"
"I said no! Please do this for me though. Not a word of this to Twilight and her friends."
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Later that night as the sun was setting the three parted ways "I never ate so much in my life..." Gilda said to herself as she filed her talons. "I can get use to this kind of thing. Maybe if I fake it a little I can stay a bit longer." She chuckled as her eye's felt heavy.
"She was said to be staying in here!" A voice yelled from the other side of her door.
"Hm?" No warning was given as her door was bucked in. Four guards in golden armor charged in as they held spears to her throat. "H-hey the fu-"
"Silence! You are under arrest by order of Princess Celestia!"