Trixie vs. Equestria

by PaulAsaran


The Gentlepony

Traveling to the outskirts of Canterlot should have taken them a couple nights, but of course word had spread by the time Trixie and the others left Ponyville. Though they had escaped the town without incident, it seemed Celestia was expecting some sort of assault; patrols passed overhead regularly and the group was forced to hide on multiple occasions. In the end it took them nearly twice the time to get to Pinkie’s restaurant, which they finally found shortly after sundown of the fourth night. The place still had a clean look to it, as if it hadn’t been empty at all for the past two weeks.

Pinkie brought them below the structure, where Fluttershy’s animal friends were still hiding in obscurity. The bats that roosted in the darker portions of the caverns knew the tunnels well, and Fluttershy was able to convince them to guide the ponies to the slums.

Everything seemed to be going well, though nopony could be referred to as happy. Rainbow and Applejack maintained continuous scowls; Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie were despondent; Rarity fretted constantly over the dirty conditions, albeit quietly.

Nye was with them, trudging along with head perpetually lowered. But there wasn’t sadness in his eyes – they were focused, sharp and ominous, and his lips were set in a tight frown. They were all sure to give him some space.

Trixie remained alert, her eyes instinctively darting to the shadows that bordered the light of the unicorns’ horns. She had one pony on her mind: Fine Crime. He had once told her that he was always watching. She didn’t know just how true that was, but she wasn’t about to take any chances. If the Archons were waiting then she wanted to see them first, if possible.

It seemed like they’d been traveling for hours. Without a sun or moon, there was no way of knowing. Regardless, they finally reached a part of the tunnels that Trixie recognized. She had the others wait and moved ahead, just to make sure her memory was correct, and was able to locate the slums. She kept hidden within the tunnels, staring down at the depressing sight before her. All those broken and miserable ponies, victims of a world a thousand years in the making. Trixie pitied them, and once again felt that familiar vehemence towards those who’d chosen to ignore them.

It was about time these poor souls made themselves known.

She returned to the others, mind working and eyes hard. They fell upon Fluttershy.

“Tell the bats we can take it from here. I know the way.”

Fluttershy nodded and waved at the animals roosting in the ceiling. “Thank you, friends! You can head back now.”

As the bats flew into the darkness, Trixie gestured for the others to follow and made her way through a different tunnel.

“Umm, Trixie?” Applejack caught up to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “If the slums are thataway, why are ya takin’ us this way?”

“Because we’re not going to the slums,” Trixie declared. She fixed her vision on the darkness before them.

Rainbow appeared overhead with an expression similar to Applejack’s. “We’re not? Then how are we supposed to get to the castle?”

Twilight was at Trixie's side opposite Applejack, studying Trixie with peering eyes. “What are you planning?”

Without pause, Trixie guided them through passages she was well-familiar with. “First of all, I’m not bringing all of us into the slums right now. We’d stand out like sore hooves. Second, Fine Crime almost certainly expects us to come up the elevators. I won’t be surprised if the castle is crawling with guards right now.”

“But there’s nothing we can do about that,” Fluttershy pointed out from behind. “Is there?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Trixie paused before a split in the path and turned to Nye, who sat and gave her a focused, heavy-lidded look. “Nye, you still have Luna’s protection, don’t you?” He nodded. “Good. I want you to find The Gentlepony. Bring him to her tomb.”

Nye’s anger faded quickly, his eyes going wide. “Whoa, whoa! Hold on – The Gentlepony? You want to talk to that guy? What for?”

Trixie leveled her most determined expression at him, jaw rigid. “Can you do it?”

He straightened and set his own jaw with a grim frown. “He’ll talk to me, you’ll see. Give me a few hours.”

Trixie waved her acceptance and he turned to walk down the tunnel that opened to their left.

“Alright, everypony,” she said, heading down the other tunnel. “This way.”

Pinkie caught up, eyes roaming the shimmering crystal hall. “Did you say we were going to a tomb?”

“I didn’t think there would be ponies buried down here.” Rarity was also eyeing the walls as though she expected to see bodies in them.

“There can’t be – the crystals are too solid for that,” Twilight declared, though there was doubt in her tone.

Trixie ignored their continued speculation, her mind set on her next objective. She guided them through the long passages, easily recalling her surroundings and knowing they were close. They turned that familiar corner to find the broken Twilight, still encased in her crystalline grave. Trixie’s eyes locked on the alicorn’s face as she approached, her mind going respectfully quiet.

“Whoa.” Rainbow flew close to the crystal wall, studying the body. “There was another Twilight? How come I never heard about this?”

“Oh, this must be that imposter,” Rarity noted in a haughty tone. She flushed and crnged at Trixie’s glare. “I mean, that’s what I heard.”

“That pony gave me the guidance I needed to get through these past few weeks.”

Trixie turned her harsh gaze on each mare to emphasize her seriousness. “She sacrificed her life. I only spoke to her once, but it was enough that I was able to get this far. By extension, none of you would be here if she hadn’t risked everything to see me. She deserves our respect.”

“And she has it.” Applejack removed her hat, having never taken her eyes off the body. Her eyes were wide and she lingered at the corner of the exit. The hoof holding her hat was trembling.

From behind her mane, Fluttershy cast a soft frown Trixie’s way. “W-what happened to her?”

When she heard the question, Trixie abruptly realized that Twilight – the still-living one – was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and went back through the tunnels, gesturing for the others to stay behind. She found Twilight hunched over in the darkness two corners down, shaking like a leaf.

“Twilight, you need to come.”

She shook her head vehemently, unable to meet Trixie’s gaze. “N-no… I’m partially responsible. I d-didn’t help her. I can’t go in there – it would be w-wrong.”

Trixie sat before her old rival and wondered how to handle this. On the one hoof, Twilight was right to feel guilty. On the other…

“What’s more disrespectful? You being in her presence, or ignoring the lessons she was trying to teach us?”

Twilight looked up through her mane, lips quivering. “T-teach us? What do you mean?”

Trixie offered as comforting a smile as she could manage. “I didn’t figure out the Elements on my own. Twilight told me what I needed to know. She came to me and entrusted me with the knowledge just before she died. We are here only because of her.”

Twilight turned away, eyes moist. “But I didn’t help her. I let her escape Tartarus, but if I went any farther than that Celestia would have had my head. So I… I just sent her on her way. If I had done the decent thing… s-she… she might have lived.”

A tear fell down Twilight’s cheek, and Trixie lowered her head in thought. She couldn’t imagine that kind of guilt. As a deep silence passed between them, she wondered about Twilight’s actions and the deceased Twilight’s fate. Yet she couldn’t be angry; she just felt sorrow. At last she stepped beside Twilight and wrapped a hoof around her shoulder.

“What you did was wrong.”

Twilight cringed, her brow furrowed. She seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown.

“The other Twilight is gone, true, so she can’t forgive you. You’ll have to learn to forgive yourself.”

“B-but… But h-how do I do that?”

Trixie shook her head and patted the despondent pony’s shoulder. “That’s up to you, I suppose. But I think if you went in there and paid your respects, and worked to help us finish what she began… it’s a start, isn’t it?”

Trixie waited patiently as Twilight thought on her internal conflict. There was no need to hurry, so she gave the pony all the time she needed.

Finally, Twilight stood. “It’s a start. I… I’ll try…”

They made their way back, Twilight’s hesitant movements determining their pace. She paused on several occasions, during which Trixie would wait and provide some comfort: an encouraging word, a pat on the back. Gradually they reached the tomb. The others rushed to them, voicing their support and helping Twilight the rest of the way.

They all paused before the enclosed form. Twilight moved close to gaze upon the shattered body of her doppelganger. She pressed a hoof to the crystal surface, her entire body quivering. “I… I wish I knew who she was, where she came from. I feel l-like… like I should have figured that out.”

Trixie approached and stood beside her friend before turning to the others. They watched in respectful silence, for which she was grateful.

“Everypony, I know most of you never knew who this other Twilight was, but she’s important to me. If we succeed, it will only be because of the few words she offered me. So just in case, if things go… poorly? Or even if we succeed, and I’m not around… Well, y’know…”

She bowed her head, trying to find the words. Why was it so hard to say? Why was she filled with so much emotion over this? She bit her lip and turned to look up at that poor, tortured body in the crystal in search of inspiration.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Rainbow’s words. “We get it, Trix.”

“Yeah,” Pinkie added. “She’s super important.”

“We’ll honor her, no matter what happens,” Fluttershy declared.

“I’ll personally upgrade this place,” Rarity announced. “An important pony needs an appropriate home.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Applejack said. “We owe it to her, after all.”

Twilight set a hoof to Trixie’s shoulder, but when Trixie looked she was still gazing up at the entombed body. Tears cascaded down Twilight’s cheeks, and the sight almost made Trixie lose control of her own emotions.

Then, to Trixie’s surprise, Twilight turned and embraced her.

“We’ll honor her,” Twilight whispered through her tears.

“I p-promise, I will never forget this moment.”


Some hours later, Trixie awoke to find somepony pushing against her. She rolled over in her sleeping bag to find Rainbow Dash’s eyes filling her vision. She waved the pegasus away and sat up, rubbing her eyes. “My turn, already?”

Rainbow shook her head. “They’re coming.”

Trixie snapped awake. “How close are they?”

“Ten minutes?”

Trixie nodded and stood. “Perfect. Let’s wake the others. I think everypony will want to hear this.”

It didn’t take long for the others to get up, and soon they were all standing in a circle. “So what exactly are we doin’ with this guy?” Applejack asked.

Trixie’s voice was confident. “He’s going to help us get into the castle safely.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Help us? How?”

“Don’t worry,” Trixie replied with a smile. “I know almost exactly what I’m doing.”

Twilight gestured to the others. “So what do you want us to do?”

Trixie shook her head. “Nothing. Just be here with me. If he’s the kind of pony I think he is, then The Gentlepony will know who all of you are. It will provide some weight in my favor, if you know what I mean.”

Rainbow frowned. “So we’re what? Showpieces?”

“I don’t mind staying in the background,” Fluttershy noted from behind her mane.

“Are you sure I can’t throw a party, or something?” Pinkie dropped to a playful pose, tail swishing high in the air. “I hear he can be a real McGrumpypants.”

Applejack snorted in an effort to contain a laugh, and Rainbow Dash patted Pinkie on the head. “I think she’s got this.”

Pinkie reared back to shrug with a sigh. “Just thought I’d offer.”

“We’ll do as you ask,” Rarity agreed, “but do be cautious with this pony, won’t you?”

“Trixie?”

Twilight gestured, eyes shifting to the side. Trixie followed, and they paused in a dark corner of the tomb. Twilight spoke in a hushed whisper, “Are you sure you want to use The Gentlepony?”

Trixie nodded. “I may have only spent three days down here, but that was all it took to figure things out. We need the slum ponies, and he’s the key to earning their help.”

“I figured it was something like that.” Twilight rubbed her chin with a thoughtful frown. “Still, it’s The Gentlepony. I lived in Canterlot most of my life, and I can tell you that his name scares a lot of ponies up there. How do we know we can trust him?”

“We don’t,” Trixie admitted. “But we’ll never even get close to Celestia if the castle’s swarming with guards, which it mostly certainly will be. He’s her enemy, Twilight.”

Twilight shook her head. “The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. They say he’s manipulative – a schemer. He might take advantage of us.”

Trixie sighed and rested a hoof over Twilight’s shoulder. “Twilight, where did you get all your information on this stallion?”

Twilight tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Well… It’s sort of common knowledge in Canterlot.”

“And who is usually the source of public perception?” Trixie pressed. “For all we know, every negative thing ever said about him was concocted to harm his image. Now I don’t trust him anymore than you do, but I’m not going to condemn him on hearsay.”

Their ears perked up to the sound of hoofsteps coming from the tunnels. Trixie leaned close and lowered her voice. “Let’s find out for ourselves what kind of stallion he is. Any other method is untrustworthy.”

Twilight chewed her lip, eyes locked and hard on the tunnel ahead. “Alright, Trixie, we’ll try it your way. Just don’t make me regret it.”

They returned to the others. Trixie turned to face the tunnel, mentally preparing herself for this meeting. The others stood to either side of her, stern but silent. The hoofsteps grew gradually louder, and at last Nye appeared. He paused, studying them as if to make sure they were all present, then turned and gestured.

“Trixie, The Gentlepony.”

A tall, white unicorn stepped out from behind the corner. His mane was a soft azure, nearly matching his hard eyes. He bore a rather fancy mustache, and his worn grey suit spoke of former nobility. The effect was punctuated by the monocle over his left eye. The most striking of The Gentlepony’s features, however, was the crack that traveled along the entire length of his horn.

A tense silence filled the tomb. The Gentlepony stared at each of the mares one at a time, his expression stern. Trixie felt she should let him have his first look, so she said nothing. Her patience was rewarded by the small smile that formed beneath that mustache. He turned his eyes to her.

“So, you’re the young unicorn I’ve been hearing so much about these past couple weeks.”

Trixie returned the smile, though she wasn’t at ease just yet. He had lost his hard manner and now seemed entirely relaxed, but there was a certain something in his eyes that made her uneasy. “I was about to say the same thing about you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I doubt you learned much, having only been in the slums for three days.”

“You might be surprised,” Trixie countered. “Thank you for agreeing to see us on such short notice.”

His smile grew wry as he tilted his head. “I was curious. It is not often one meets a fellow enemy of the state. I imagine the charges against you are trumped up – particularly the one about forcing Princess Luna back to the moon.”

A spark of anger ignited in Trixie, and she had to struggle to keep from snapping. “Is that what they’re saying about me now?”

“Oh, it’s widespread,” he acknowledged with a nod. “Frankly, I don’t care what you did to get on Celestia’s bad side. You did, and that is enough to at least earn my attention.”

Trixie glanced at Twilight, who returned the look with a taut frown. “An enemy of my enemy, is it?”

The Gentlepony raised a hoof. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, hmm? I am not so quick to judge.”

Trixie’s set a hoof to her chest. “Neither am I. Your reputation precedes you, Gentlepony, but I don’t base my opinions on reputation alone – not anymore.”

His smile became a smirk. “Yet reputations provide some foresight. I have heard of your exploits, how you were the first to defeat all of Princess Luna’s ex-lovers. I assumed it mere exaggeration, but I see they are all present and accounted for. Even Miss Sparkle, whom I was certain wouldn’t be here.”

He offered a polite nod to Twilight, who hesitantly returned the motion.

Trixie frowned and studied The Gentlepony. “Well, if your reputation is accurate, you are little more than a manipulative vagabond. Greedy, selfish, indulgent. Hardly worth my time. If I were to rely entirely on that we would not be speaking.”

The Gentlepony laughed. “Touché! I may find this trip worth my time after all. So tell me, what does the Great and Powerful Trixie want with a lowly unicorn from the slums?”

Trixie took a step forward. “Hardly low. You have the ears of the most powerful gangs. You can do in a short time what would take us months. We need your help, Gentlepony.”

“My reputation is indeed exaggerated.” Lips set in a posh frown, he paused to wipe his monocle with a surprisingly clean cloth. “You make me sound like some sort of Godpony in a crime drama. I am a mere barterer: no more, no less.”

“Do not mince words with me,” Trixie hissed. “You’ll not find me easily deterred! I know that you are the most powerful pony in the slums. I know that you were thrown down here by the Archons for your anti-government views and growing power amongst the nobility. You have no reason to love Celestia, and that is why you will help us.”

He peered at her, ever calm and patient. “Perhaps I do have the kind of power you suggest. Perhaps not. Why not tell me what you’re really after, Miss Lulamoon? Only then can we know if I can be of assistance to you.”

Trixie nodded. “We need a distraction. A big distraction, large enough to force the Royal Guard to come out in force from the castle. That is what I want you to provide.”

He leaned back, eyebrows rising. “I say, that sounds like a tall order! Pray tell, how do you intend for me to enact such a distraction?”

Trixie had been thinking on that for some time. “A riot. Have the slum ponies mob the tunnel through which the royal guards deliver food. Make them fight to keep your ponies down here.”

The Gentlepony’s expression grew stern. “That is a tall order, Miss Lulamoon. They are hardly my ponies. I can only coerce, not command. Besides, why would anypony risk his or her life on a fool’s errand?”

Trixie stomped her hoof with a snarl. “Ponies are starving. They are sick – dying! Many have done nothing to deserve being thrown down here, and even if they did they do not deserve this kind of treatment. If they can make enough noise, their presence would be ignored no longer. Have them do it for their own future!”

The Gentlepony shook his head with a sneer. “Absurd! You would have them launch an all-out assault on the surface? Those are royal guards up there.”

“There are hundreds of soldiers in the city and castle,” Trixie pressed. “You have thousands of ponies down here. A veritable army of unhappy ponies desperate for a change!”

He gestured to the tunnels behind him. “Have you seen the ponies that live down here? They are sick, malnourished, untrained and divided! You are asking thousands of feeble ponies to stand up to healthy, well-trained and well-equipped soldiers. Forget the numbers: it would be a slaughter. We cannot possibly win such a confrontation.”

“You don’t have to win,” Trixie declared. “You only have to distract, and get those soldiers out of the castle. That is the important thing.”

Confusion mixed with his anger. He considered her, eyelids low as he peered. “You would have them sacrifice their lives for a distraction? What are you planning to do?”

She glanced to her new friends on either side of her. They all shared firm expressions, each nodding in turn. They were all behind her, and that only redoubled her confidence. “We intend to face Celestia.”

The Gentlepony’s expression remained stern, but he seemed to have been shocked into silence. For several seconds he could only stare. At last he sucked in a deep breath.

“You are insane.”

She took another determined step towards him. “We can do it. We have a good chance of beating her, but first we need to be able to get to her.”

His lips moved soundlessly, his hard eyes locked with hers.

“Even if we could get the soldiers out of the castle,” he said at last, “there’s still the Archons to consider. Do you think they aren’t aware of this plan of yours? They will be prepared for you. They are prepared for everything. How do you propose to get past them?”

Trixie matched his harsh gaze. “I didn’t say it would be easy.”

He thought on this, rubbing his forehead while studying her and her friends. “I wasn’t lying when I called this a tall order. So tell me, Miss Lulamoon: what’s in it for me?”

Trixie opened her mouth, only to have Rainbow Dash abruptly appear over her head. “You mean besides finally getting rid of Celestia and being able to get out of here? What the buck more could ya want?”

Twilight let out a groan. “Rainbow... get back here.”

Trixie lifted a silencing hoof. “She raises a good point. What more could you want?”

The Gentlepony eyed Rainbow as if she were a weed in need of plucking before turning his attention back to Trixie.

“I would prefer some kind of reassurance. I’ll be frank, I see no reason to expect this plan of yours to succeed. Quite the opposite, in truth. So—” he removed his monocle and struck Trixie with a scowl, “—in the likely event that you will fail, what could I possibly expect to gain from this little act of rebellion?”

Trixie was stuck. She had nothing to offer that she thought would persuade him. She hesitated, scouring her mind for some sort of advantage.

She came up blank. Seeing no other option, she rolled the dice. “What would you suggest?”

“Hmm…”

He frowned in thought and rubbed his chin as he glanced at each of them, then at Nye. His eyes roamed the tomb, then returned to Trixie. There was a long pause, but his eyes kept shifting to the side.

Then he smiled and pointed.

“I’ll take her.”

Trixie blinked and turned to follow his gesture. He was pointing at Rarity, who was now sunk low.

“M-me? Whatever would you want me for?”

He raised his head in a gallant motion. “Your reputation precedes you, Lady Rarity! A pony of class and distinction, and all through her own efforts. It would be a privilege to have such a fine mare at my side.”

“Now wait just a minute!” Applejack stood before the fretful Rarity, eyes locked on The Gentlepony. “Ya can’t just decide ta take her! She’s not property ta be bartered.”

“I concur.” Twilight stepped up beside Trixie with horn flashing. “This is not a deal we could possibly agree to!”

“Yeah!” Pinkie appeared at Rarity’s side. “What kind of Gentlepony are you? More like a Gentlemeany!”

The Gentlepony sneered and rubbed his mustache. “What sort of vagabond do you take me for? I am merely a stallion with standards. You asked what I would accept. I want the Lady Rarity as part of my retinue.”

“And w-what will you do with her?” Fluttershy asked as she rubbed Rarity’s back.

“I am a businesspony,” he snapped. “She is a mare of some distinction. I could use a proper adviser. You may be surprised to hear it, but intellectual, educated and capable help is hard to come by down here.”

Trixie frowned, realizing that her hooves were tied. Not in that she had to accept the terms, but that she had no authority to do so. She turned to the red-cheeked Rarity. “It’s not my decision to make.”

Rarity, still on her knees, tilted her head at Trixie… but then seemed to understand Trixie’s meaning.

Twilight shot Trixie an appreciative look before kneeling beside their friend. “Don’t do it. You have no idea what he really intends to do with you.”

“Yeah.” Rainbow hovered close even as she peered at The Gentlepony. “He could just be a creep.”

“He’ll just have to ask for something else,” Fluttershy agreed.

Rarity looked to each of them, then eyed The Gentlepony. Her cheeks puffed as she blew out a calming breath.

“Thank you, girls. I think I know what to do.”

With that she stood, and the others gave her space. She walked ahead of them to stare The Gentlepony down, expression rigid. “You want me?”

He offered a charming grin and nodded.

“Fine.”

“Rari—!”

She raised a hoof to silence the others, eyes never leaving The Gentlepony’s. “I have some conditions of my own.”

His eyebrows raised and his smile broadened. “I would expect no less. Do tell.”

“If we fail to defeat Celestia, then I will stay with you,” Rarity announced. “But I cannot abandon my friends. I must go with them to the castle. It is the only way we can win.”

He turned his head to peer at her through his monocle. “That hardly seems like a fair exchange. You could die in there, and then what would I have?”

“You are supposed to be a businesspony,” she noted, tossing her mane with a tilt of her head. It was almost as if she were putting her haughtiness on display. “I would assume you understand the concepts of risk and reward. You cannot have one without the other.”

The Gentlepony paused to think on this. After about a second he broke into laughter, shaking his head with a grin. “I must say, you are going to make an excellent adviser! You are most certainly worth the risk. I accept.”

He turned to address Trixie. “But I must warn you that there are no guarantees. When I said I can only coerce the gangs, I meant it. My word holds weight, but they are still gangs, and a troublesome lot. If I cannot do as you ask, then consider the deal off.”

Trixie sighed in relief and nodded. “I think that is only fair. Thank you, Gentlepony.”

He nodded, then turned to Nye. “Mr. Stone, would you accompany me? I want to have somepony dependable at my side who can alert these ladies to my success as soon as possible.”

Nye was standing by the wall, well apart from the scene. He looked to The Gentlepony with a face as hard as stone. “You got it.”

The Gentlepony turned back to Rarity, his smile back just as quickly as it had gone. “Lady Rarity, I look forward to seeing you after this is over. In the off chance that you do succeed, I hope you will consider partnering with me in the world above. I can think of no finer pony to have as a proper business partner.”

Rarity considered him before offering a smug smile of her own. “I shall consider it, Gentlepony.”

“Please,” he replied as he turned away, “call me Fancy.”

“Ah can’t believe ya agreed ta that,” Applejack told her as soon as Fancy and Nye had gone.

“I really don’t think you should have,” Fluttershy added.

“There was really no other option.” Rarity held her head held high and brushed her mane in a playful manner. “Besides, can I help it if I am in high demand?” She giggled as the others facefaulted.

“I told you we should have thrown him a party,” Pinkie declared, “but nooo, don’t listen to Pinkie Pie! Maybe if we helped him be happier he’d have been easier to convince. You’d be surprised what a few balloons and some cake can do.”

Trixie went to set her forehooves on the unicorn’s shoulders. “Well I for one am very appreciative. Thank you, Rarity. I really had no idea what I was going to offer him.”

Rarity patted Trixie’s hat with a confident smile. “Think nothing of it, darling. This is far too important to bother with half-measures. Besides, we’re going to win! What do I have to worry about?”

“I wish I shared your confidence,” Twilight admitted, ears laid back.

“Oh, what nonsense!” Rarity wrapped a leg about Trixie’s shoulder and grinned. “We have the Elements of Harmony. We have the Great and Powerful Trixie! How could we possibly fail?”

“Yeah!” Rainbow flew a flip and hoof-pumped. “Get with the program, guys. We’re gonna win this, you can bet your last bit!” Trixie rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway.

Twilight giggled, but then turned her attention to Trixie. “So… a riot? That was your big idea?”

Trixie nodded. “Can you think of a better way to force the guards to abandon the castle?”

Twilight thought for a few seconds, head low. “Well… no.”

“What does it matter how we get rid of ‘em?” Applejack asked. “As long as the job’s done, right?”

“But… but ponies could be hurt,” Fluttershy noted. “Maybe even k-killed.”

“It’s a certainty,” Twilight acknowledged. “Are we willing to go that far?”

Trixie stepped back and gestured to the body entombed behind them.

“Many ponies have already paid that price. Most of them had no idea that their deaths were at the hooves of Celestia’s madness. Thousands upon thousands of ponies have been broken and destroyed by the effects of her rule. How many more are we going to let suffer without acting?”

Trixe lowered her hooves, staring at them in solemn contemplation. She found herself thinking on her most recent battle.

“I nearly killed Luna to spare her anymore pain. I’m all in, because this is worth it.”

Nopony was willing to argue.