//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Ponyville // Story: Diaries of a Traitor part One: The Letter // by Paradox Theory //------------------------------// I woke in some sort of cottage. It smelled of the forest. Little critters scurried back and forth. I heard a few hushed voices. "He needs a hospital." Said a mare, "He can't stay here." "I'm sorry Aurora, But until I ask a few questions, I can't let him leave." Said another mare. "You foal, this letter he holds is dangerous, I won't let you hinder it!" Said a stallion. Blank Slate. "FOAL? You don't realize who you're talking too!" The mare said enraged. "I'm taking to a purple unicorn who was favored over the other 299 in her class. A unicorn who has been sheltered and fed by gold and silver. A unicorn who thinks her curiosity is more important then her mentors letter!" Blank retorted. The whole world went silent. In a flash, I was out of bed and running at Blank. As I pushed him out of the way, a blast of pure magenta magic seared pass. Everypony stood still as I stood up. "I'll answer the questions. First step in gaining trust is honesty, and I'm going to be just that." Some hours later found us at some royal court in Princess Twilight's castle. "What do you want to know first?" I asked Twilight. "Why are you, the son of a traitor, delivering an important letter to Celestia?" Twilight asked. "First, I don't claim my father. Second, he is the reason that I'm doing this. I wish to prove my trust." I answered, never breaking eye contact from Twilight. "But what's so important about this letter?" Twilight asked. "No clue," I shrugged, "I never did open it. Rhombus told me it was for her." Twilight's eyes went wide, "Rhombus? Where is he?" With a gulp I answered, "Dead." Twilights jaw dropped. "D-dead?" "He was attacked a few seconds before I found him. The wound was fatal. I couldn't help." Finally, Twilight looked down. "He was a good friend of my family. He was holding the letter you say?" I nodded, "He told me that this letter will change everything. I knew that it must be done." Twilight smiled. "Then I believe you. You were honest, as this castle makes it impossible to lie aloud. But even then, you didn't try." I smiled back, "Then we must be off, it's a long trot to Canterlot." Twilight cocked her head, "Trot? What about the train?" Blank stepped forward, "We believe others are tracking us. It will be easier to go on hoof." "But Swift, your concussion?" Twilight pressed. "Is fading, luckily Aurora had made me slower then I usually would be." I answered. Twilight put a hoof to her chin, "Let us lead you out of town then. OH!" She gasped. "What?" I asked in curiosity. "Why don't we have Spike send the letter?" Twilight asked me. "Because of its contents, I won't allow it." I replied, sliding the letter across the table, "Scan it for yourself." Twilight did so, and slowly her eyes widened, "I agree, I think it's best if you keep it." Then promptly slid it back. "We would like some company to the town limits though." "Of course." Twilight smiled. I smiled back. Everything was so quiet that it seemed nothing could go wrong. . . . . that's when I requested a shield. "But, nothing's happening. Why would you want one?" Twilight asked me. "Trust is a two way street. I'm trusting you. Now I'm asking you to trust me." I told her. "Somepony is following us, please raise a shield." Twilight nodded, "Alright." The summoned a shield, right as a dart hit it. I tried not to smirk, "Told you." Everypony looked at the dart in total surprise. "Reveal yourself." I said to nopony in particular. A dark brown earth pony stepped out from the shadows. "You, you remind me of your father. I was younger then you are now when he went crazy. Seems I should've gone looking for you." The mysterious pony said. I arched an eyebrow, "You knew my dad? How is that news?" The pony smiled, "I have been tracking the pony who took my wife. I think it's Ironic that the traitors son was the one who did it." "Your wife?" I asked, "If she had seen this letter at one point. Then it had made quite the journey. . . " "What are you talking about?" The pony growled. "I found a guard holding this letter, he gave it to me with one mission: It must go to the Princess." I explained. Suddenly, the pony jumped at me, only to hit air as I took off to the sky. The pony turned in mid leap and tried to shoot another dart, only for a bright pink pony to absorb it with her mane. To this day, only Pinkie Pie scares me. With a flair of my wings, a blue rainbow maned pony kicked a lightning cloud. The earth pony dodged, only to step in a blackish purple rune. Suddenly, dark tentacles leapt out of the ground and surrounded him, tying him down. I walked up to the captured pony. "My name is Swift Justice, son of Spring Gust. And I am going to prove it." No pony said a word as we sat in the Ponyville prison. "Your mother was General Gust?" The earth pony, who was named Bright Blade, asked. "General?" Aurora whispered. "Yes. Both my parents were working for the Princess. My mother was a General. My father, he was a master technician. And from what I heard, an Advisor to the Princess herself." I answered. "So, what does this mean? is this letter truly what you say it is? Or is it more dangerous then we thought?" Bright asked, his eyes watching the letter. I studied him, "So, your wife, did she mention who gave her the letter?" Bright shook his head, "No. She did not." I put a hoof to my chin. What was so important about this letter? "Now that I have some questions , I think you know what I want. . . . " Bright said without breaking eye contact. "Are you sure you want the letter opened?" I asked him. "Two unicorns have already said that it is dangerous." "Then my contract is forfeit." Bright sighed, "And here I thought I was getting closure. . . . " I looked to the letter, "If we do open it, then you must let us take it to Celestia afterwards." Bright nodded, "I agree to the terms." I nodded then opened the letter. Dearest Final, As you know, Equestria is unawares of the events that are transpiring. Sealed inside this letter are the keys to taking this world. By the time you read this, a guard will lie dead. . . Second gulped at that. Beware though, it seems a pegasus has been traveling towards us. I have one final set of instructions for you and the others: Do not let Celestia see the pegasus if he brings this letter to her. Kill him at all costs. Your faithful follower, Greed. ----------------------------------------------------- "Uh Swift, are we opening the letter?" Asked Aurora, who had been rocking me. I shook my head, "No, it's better if we didn't know." Bright sighed, "Then at least let me protect the letter until we give it to Celestia. That's when I'll ask to read it." Everypony looked at me, "I guess you're one of us now." "Oh, Swift?" Aurora asked. "Yeah?" "Who's Final?"