As the train approached Fillydelphia, the watchers up top ordered the large, heavy gate up. It slowly rose as the train made it was through and came to a slow stop. Once inside, the gate was released and quickly fell back down. Tin gently nudged Arthur and Jade, "were in Filly. Ya'll might wanna look presentable." They both quickly woke up and lightly blushed at each others sight, with their arms wrapped around one another.
The trio got out and made way to their barracks. On their way there, a few generals waited inside the train station and flagged them down. The tired trio slowly walked by them, "yes sir..."
One of the generals gave Tin a glare, "you look like you've been through hell son."
Arthur chuckled a bit, "you have, no, idea."
The same general named Lindt looked at him, "and who are you supposed to be?"
Tin interjected, "sorry. General Lindt, this is my Sergeant Spymaster Artie. Artie this is one of our many General, Omar Lindt. He's stationed here in Filly. Each general is stationed on one of the heavily fortified towns-"
Omar interrupted him, "yes yes, we get it. Get back to the barracks and wash up. I expect you three to be spick and spam, and ready to make a report. Understand." They all nodded, "good. As you were," the four generals trotted off, "talk about making good impressions Artie?" Jade lightly chuckling as Tin nudged him.
Arthur rolled his eyes, "let's just wash up. I don't wanna smell like the dead still." They chuckled lightly and quickly retreated to the barracks. They got all washed up as a group of dehorned unicorns cleaned their outfits and gear, under earthborn watch. Arthur sighed with relaxation, feeling the blood come off his coat and the bits of pony meat under his hoofs. He quietly walked out, drying his mane off and asking for assistance with his tail. Another unicorn came and quickly dried his tail off. He felt bad that unicorns lost the thing that made them so different from all ponies, much like a pegasus having its wings cut off.
Arthur got some help putting his uniform on and met up with Jade, Tin, and the other commanders. A messenger from Applejack came in. The mare presented a letter to Tin, "well...looks like Applejack and a few others want us to debrief them on what happened..."
He handed the note back to the mare and she quickly trotted off. "Times a wastin', let's get goin' then." The small group hastily finished their breakfast and made a rather quick trot to Town Hall.
Once inside, the same mare that sent them the message guided them to the room. Arthur was about to go in with Tin, but a guard halted him, "one at a time sir." Arthur looked over to Tin, "its alright. Standard protocol." Tin went in while the others waited outside. As time went on, each general went in, one by one being interviewed.
Finally Jade and Tin walked out, "they wanna see you now. Meet us back at the barracks, alright." Arthur lightly nodded, "don't fret Artie. You'll be fine." Arthur felt nervous. The guard summoned him and he walked inside.
Arthur quietly trotted inside. A guard guided him to a chair and told him to sit in it. Arthur quietly sat in it and heard several heavy clops against the stone floor. A few lights flickered on and the highest of the highest order were there. Starting with Supreme Master Applejack, General Big Mac, Braeburn, Elder Matron Granny Smith and a few other not so well known faces.
Applejack spoke, "are you SpyMaster Arthur Lights." "Yes sir." "Are you aware of why your here." "No sir." "Are you sure about that?" "Yes sir."
Applejack lightly chuckled, "at least your honest with us. Let's get started, for starters, tell us what happened on the train."
Arthur went in vivid detail on his account. Starting with the simple debriefing on what was happening, to the invasion of the laughing dead, to being summoned. "Well now...somepony can take things literal, won't you say Big Mac?" "Yes sir."
"Now then," Applejack finished taking note and Arthur slowly got up. "Where do you think your going," Big Mac said in a rather stern tone. "We...were done, aren't we," Arthur asked. "Not, entirely," Granny Smith said. Arthur quickly took back to his chair and waited.
"We know you have a unicorn daughter...are you aware of our laws Arthur." Arthur replied, "not, all of them, just the important ones." Braeburn had a rather displeased look, "was that supposed to be a joke?!"
"No sir." Braeburn continued glaring at him, "enough Braeburn." Applejack ordered him. She looked over at Artie, with one eye staring at him. But Arthur felt as if both eyes were glaring at him. "You are aware of what were supposed to do with Unicorns right."
"Yes sir."
"Are you also aware of what happens to those who withhold information about the unicorn in question." Arthur was rather puzzled, "I...I don't understand."
"What's there to understand," Applejack sounded a bit frustrated. "I thought she would be protected, and in return I'd be conscripted," Arthur said, lightly twiddling his hoofs. Applejack said, "who told you that nonsense?!"
Before Arthur could say a word, Granny Smith spoke up. "I told him that. He's the special case I told you about."
"Right..." giving her own grandmother a stare.
"Let's make one thing clear Arthur. You serve us, we don't serve you."
"Yes sir. I understand sir." Applejack continued with her statement.
"I need to keep appearances. I need to keep balance and things in check...With regret, we have to proceed with your daughters dehorning."
"What?" Arthur was trying to comprehend what was happening. He tried pleading with her, "bBut, she told me-"
"I don't care what she told you! I'm the one in charge here! You take orders from me! You take orders from your superiors! We don't take orders or requests from the likes of you!"
"But sir..." Arthur pleaded, "she's just, a filly. She's not even educated in the magical arts. She couldn't even lift a piece of parchment if her life depended on it. Please, she's all that I have left...what would you do if your only living relative was being threatened? What would you do if Applebloom was on the chopping block?" Applejacks expression slowly hardened.
Everyone else in the room dare not say a thing. Applejack quietly sighed, trying to stay collective and calm. "I suppose, I'd do everything I can to protect her." Arthur was now being aggressive, "fine, you do as your told. Then what do you when you superiors break that promise?"
She sighed once more, "I suppose, I'd be begging." "And that's what I'm doing," Arthur got off the chair, and kneeled. Pressing his forehead against the floor, tears down his face. "Please. She's all I have left. I don't care if she's surveillance or watched over. I just want her safe, and alive. I don't want her like her mother meeting the same fate, please."
In all honesty, no pony knew what to make of the sight. Most of them would've just shoed him out or had the guards carry them out. Granny Smith slowly got out of her seat, and walked towards him. The Apples kept watch on him as she approached. "Rise up, Arthur." Arthur's watery eyes looked up to see Granny Smiths', and her hoof. "Please rise."
Arthur took her hoof and quickly rose up, not needing her aid. Granny Smith turned and looked at them. "I know, I once said that magic was the strongest force in the universe...I lied. The strongest force in the universe, is a familys' love for each other. Applejack and Big Mac, you parents risked their lives so you could see a better future. Now, this earth pony. Who through his superiors talk highly of him, who willingly signed on when most would run, is begging for the only family in his life...what would your mother say now Applejack, do you think she just, risked her life for the sake of risking it? Or, did she want you to learn that there are somethings more important than keeping peace and order..."
Applejack quietly sighed, hiding her teary eye. Big Mac, didn't want to cry, his eyes were just a bit watery. Braeburn didn't have a proper response other than being silenced. Applejack collected herself once more, "very well then. Scriber, take note." The scribe got his quill and parchment ready.
He nodded at her, "let the record show that by the authority of Applejack, Supreme Commander and leader of the Earthborn House...here I say that Arthur Lights, and his daughter..." she quickly looked at her notes. "That his Daughter Aurora Lights, are hereby protected and considered untouchable for the law of dehorning." Big Mac, Braeburn and a few others sighed and gave him unpleasing glares. "I don't want to hear any word of it!"
Applejack shouted, "I have spoken, and I expect every pony to respect my word understand!" They all quietly said 'yes sir.' "Debriefing, and hearing is adjourned." She smacked her hoof against the sounding block.
Arthur was relieved once more. Granny Smith quietly said, "we'll talk more, later." She dismissed and the guards followed and escorted him out.