//------------------------------// // Prologue: Mother Knows Best // Story: Temporal // by FaleYur //------------------------------// The picture-frame cracked and distorted under a scarlet cloud of energy, crumpling the laminated memory inside like a hurricane attacking a shack. It revolved slowly, curling into a neat sphere of bronze, paper and glass before throwing itself violently against the wall. The ball rolled slowly to rest at the trembling, powder-blue hooves of a unicorn, standing in the doorway. Tears dripped onto the lush carpet on which the former picture now lay, discolouring the fabric. Silence reigned for a second before a light sigh came from behind the desk stationed in the middle of the room. The terrified unicorn at the door opened her mouth to try and rectify her situation, but a soft whisper followed the sigh, effectively shutting her down. “Could you please repeat that dearie?” The unicorn’s eyes dilated in terror. A quiet squeak escaped her lips instead of an answer, and the tall chair behind the desk swiveled to face her. Cold blue eyes appraised the quivering show-mare, not even trying to hide the loathing behind them. “I asked you a question.” When no answer came from the unicorn, a red haze surrounded the periwinkle tip of her horn and slammed her head down into the desk, forcing her to kneel and grinding her cheek into the oaken surface. Tears pooled under her, wetting her coat and smudging the paperwork adorning the wood. The unicorn heard the chair get pushed back, and the hoofsteps coming from her tormenter began pacing back and forth behind her. Finally, Trixie spoke. “P-please, I-I tried-” A crimson hoof slammed onto the desk in front of her muzzle, shaking the sturdy piece of furniture. Hot breath washed over her free ear. “You tried?” came the reply, lowered to a dangerous murmur. “You had the amulet in your hooves, the power of all its wielders inside you, and yet you failed to defeat a single unicorn? Again?” “Y-you don’t understand!” Pleaded the show-mare, “S-she is so powerful, she-” The glow surrounding her horn wrenched her head up, craning her neck backwards to look into steely irises. “You need not explain your failures to me, wretch.” She hissed venomously. “I should have known when I sent a reject to do my work that she would fail.” Trixie’s head snapped forward again, her muzzle colliding with the desk with a wet crunch. The magic restraining her dissipated, and she fell limply to the floor in a heap, clutching her nose. “It is obvious that I can no longer rely on you to carry out my bidding.” Continued the red unicorn. “I see now that Twilight Sparkle is obviously beyond your scope of power… or anyone else’s for that matter.” Trixie rose to her hooves shakily, attempting to stem the flow of blood coming from her broken nose. “A-all I need is one more-” “YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH CHANCES!” the show-mare shut her mouth immediately, but the damage had been done. The balled up picture shot up and connected with her temple, sending Trixie back to the carpet and leaving a ragged gash along her hairline. The scarlet unicorn contained her rage before speaking again. “It seems that I must take matters into my own two hooves.” She mused, disregarding the bleeding form in front of her. Trixie stirred at these words and moaned. “N-no…” The pony laughed coldly. “Now, now dear, don’t argue with your superiors.” She crouched down to Trixie’s level, holding her head up in her magic. Tears mingled with the blood staining the show-mare’s ruffled fur. “Mother knows best.” She dropped Trixie’s head to the carpet and trotted towards the door humming a happy tune. She opened the door and looked back at her daughter’s broken form with a smile. “Don’t you worry, mommy’s going to take care of everything...” She closed the door quietly and walked down the hall of her estate with a fire in her eyes, Trixie’s echoing sobs following behind her.