“HAPPY CORONATION DAY!” Confetti and streamers flew in all directions with a loud bang, courtesy of the screaming pink mare. “Long live Queen Princess Amber Glitter!” Pinkie said with a wide grin, holding a cake that most ponies were sure wasn’t there the moment before. Amber Glitter rolled her eyes and smiled at the exuberant pink earth pony, nodding her thanks as the small party of friends sat around the food-laden table to celebrate a private coronation party. The public celebration was in occurrence outside in the city proper itself, while the newly crowned Amber Glitter, the Mane Six, and the Colt Trio had a small feast in Amber’s new chambers.
“Wow,” Purple Heart mused from his seat beside Amber Glitter. “I’m surprised the table isn’t creaking under the weight of all this food.” No sooner had he spoken did Pinkie Pie place the cake she had summoned onto the table. A low creak sounded through the room as the table sagged comically under the additional weight.
“I stand corrected,” Purple Heart murmured, standing from his seat.
“Was that really necessary?” Wits End said. “Now we have to do our part to save this poor table’s life.” He pick a donut off of the half-collapsing table, taking a large bite out of it. “I’m doing my part,” he said through the dough and frosting.
Light Patch snagged several items from plates around the middle of the table. “For the good of the table, I shall eat this food without guilt!” the pegasus half shouted before digging into his first selections. “You know, I really hope that most of the food we’re eating here doesn’t count towards our weights when we get outta here. If it does, I’m gonna be waddling around for days trying to work off all of the feasts we’ve gotten ourselves into.”
“Just up your endurance stat,” Wits said, swallowing the the rest of the donut. “Takes care of your equip load, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows, earning a look of exasperation from Twilight.
“I’m just sad there’s no sushi,” Purple Heart said, plopping back down in his seat before reaching to grab a piece of confectionary. “Gotta have my raw fish ‘n’ rice.”
“Sushi?” Amber Glitter echoed. “Raw fish? You have strange dishes where you come from.” Guilt flashed briefly across Purple Heart’s face and he smile weakly at the golden unicorn beside him.
“We’re strange colts,” he replied, munching on the piece of condensed sugar. “No shame in that.” Powder rained down from his chin as he spoke.
“I can attest to that,” Twilight spoke up.
“Indeed,” Rarity agreed. “Although, they are irksome at times.” The fashionista leveled a glare at the grey pegasus across from her.
“Oh come on, we’re not that bad,” Light patch said, pausing from his valiant attempts to save the table. “Okay, I’ll admit we’re not the most normal, but from our perspective you six have some kind of strange habits as well.”
“Define strange,” Applejack said, eating a candied apple.
Wits End stared at the farmpony for a moment. He dusted his hooves before gesturing to all three colts. “This. This right here. This is the definition.”
After a moment, Applejack nodded. “Yeah, Ah got it now.”
“So,” Rainbow Dash grunted as she shoveled a slice of cake onto a plate before fluttering over to a lounge, “what happens now?” The ponies all looked at the blue pegasus.
“What do you mean?” Amber asked.
“Well, we just helped you claim the throne and knocked some less than nice ponies out of the running,” Rainbow Dash explained. “Now what?” Silence fell on the party as the ponies thought of what was to come next.
Wits End cleared his throat. “We could invade Phloren and Ghuilder.”
Twilight pointed a hoof at the mint-colored unicorn. “No.”
“Yes, no invading please,” Purple Heart said. “I’d like a bit of a break from life-threatening situations, thank you very much.”
A small smile graced Amber Glitter’s lips as she looked at the nine other ponies. “You could become advisors in my court,” she suggested. The nine ponies looked at her in surprise.
“Okay, I said a ‘break’, not indefinitely,” Purple Heart reiterated.
“You can be the Commander-in-Chief of my armed forces,” Amber decided, pointing at Purple Heart before gesturing to each other pony in turn. “Training, drills, that kind of stuff and leading during war, which I hope won’t be for a while. Wits End can be the political advisor or a diplomatic ambassador. Fluttershy can be in charge of wildlife protection, Pinkie can supervise any events and parties, Rarity can be my personal seamstress, Rainbow Dash my personal bodyguard, Applejack the victuals consultant, Twilight can be the castle archivist, and Light Patch...” She fell silent as she considered the grey pegasus.
“If you say court jester… I’m going to go full on Joker here,” Light Patch said, looking thoroughly unamused.
“I was going to say spymaster,” Amber said innocently.
Wits End spat out his drink. “What?”
Purple Heart began to choke on a cherry danish and Applejack began to pound on his back.
The rest of the Mane Six stared at Amber Glitter in astonishment.
Coughing several times after his throat was cleared of delectable, though dangerous danish, Purple Heart blinked blearily at the queen. “Why would you make him,” he jerked a hoof at Light Patch, “the spymaster?”
“No one would expect him to be the spymaster,” Amber explained.
“Yeah, but that’d probably backfire on you every time I forgot what my job was, because I wouldn’t expect myself to be the spy master,” Light Patch responded before setting his food down for a moment. “And look, while I’m honored you would offer me a place in your court, let's face it: you just can’t put this kind of crazy awesome in a cage. I’ve gotta be free baby, cuz I was born to be wild.” The pegasus stallion finished in a sing song voice.
“Stop that, stop that! No singing!” Wits barked. He turned to face Amber again. “He is right, though. We’re a party of adventurers, not politicians or nobles. We’re not trained for any of those roles. Besides, putting us on your court would likely sabotage all that good standing you earned with the nobility. Better you get some ponies that know what they’re doing.” Amber nodded slowly and turned to Purple Heart.
“And what do you have to say?” she asked, her face blank. Purple Heart didn’t meet her gaze. “Purple?” she prompted, an edge added to her voice. The purple earth pony looked up at her, silent anguish in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak…
...And there was a knock on the door.
Amber sighed in exasperation, glaring at Purple Heart before she leaned around him. “Enter!” she called. The door hinged open to reveal a young pegasus colt fluttering nervously outside.
“I have a message for Purple Heart,” the colt squeaked, lifting a small envelope. Amber’s left eye twitched in irritation and she looked at Purple Heart.
“You have mail,” she huffed. The purple earth pony winced as he stood and walked over to the messenger pegasus.
“My thanks,” he said, digging a hoof into one of his bags for a tip. Passing over the bits and taking the envelope, he smiled and nodded at the young pegasus. “Off you go.” The colt smiled and saluted before darting out of the suite, leaving Purple Heart alone by the door. Several seconds of silence passed as he opened and read the message, broken by the intermittent chewing of foods from deeper in the room.
Pinkie slid slowly in from the purple stallion’s side. “What’s the letter say, Purply?”
The purple barbarian jerked in surprise and glared at the pink earth pony. “It’s really cryptic,” he said. “No name on the note, just asks to meet in the lower city while the festivities are still in swing. I’m gonna go see what this pony wants.” He turned to leave and had almost made it out the door when Amber called after him.
“We’re not done talking!” she snapped. “We need to sit down and chat!”
“Yes ma’am!” Purple Heart barked, turning on a dime to salute fearfully. “Just let me contact my loved ones before you kill me!” He dashed away, not caring what response there was. Amber huffed and looked at Wits End. Her face softened into a mask of resignation.
“You’re all leaving, aren’t you?” she asked softly.
The unicorn’s mouth formed a thin line. “Boy, the timing on this is terrible. Actually, I’ve got something to attend to as well. Having to do with a certain, uh…” He glanced over at Fluttershy before leaning closer and lowering his voice, “a certain letter that you may have seen a couple of days ago, with some advice not to panic.” Amber’s brow furrowed as she recalled the letter in question, then realization flooded her face.
“Ah,” she mumbled. “Very well.” She nodded once at Wits End, almost in dismissal before leveling her gaze to rest on Light Patch. “What about you? Any secret engagements to attend to?”
The pegasus stallion paused to think for a few moments. “I got nothing,” Light Patch began to say before the door opened allowing Just Duty to enter.
“Forgive me for interrupting, your majesty” the blue grey stallion said, giving a quick bow, “but I don’t suppose I could borrow a few moments of Light Patch’s time? There is a conversation I’ve been hoping to finish with the bandit king of the food plateaus of partyshire.”
Amber just waved her hoof, her face scrunched in annoyance. “Guess all the colts have better things to do,” she muttered. “Go on.”
“See, this is why I couldn’t have been a good spy master; even I wasn’t aware of my secret comings and goings,” the pegasus said, getting up to meet Just Duty in the hallway. As he passed Amber he stopped and turned to her. “For the record, though, I am sorry and I’ll be back ASAP.” And with that, he passed through the door.
Wits waited until the hoof-falls stopped echoing through the doorway. “I’ll be back as soon as I can as well,” he said, turning back to Amber Glitter. “With any luck, by the time I’m back, we’ll both be rid of an issue.” He bowed his head before trotting out the door.
Twilight watched the newly made queen for a moment. “Amber? Are you alright?”
The New Queen of Roania nodded slowly as she sat down, forcing a smile onto her face. “I’m fine. Just letting the realization set in.”
“Realization of what, darling?” Rarity asked.
“Things will be a lot quieter without you nine here,” Amber said, smiling sadly.
* * *
Holdfast closed a storage trunk of personal effects, setting it next to the others. “Take these,” he said to a servant in his personal employ. “Put them with the others. I’ll be out in a minute. We leave immediately.”
“Yes, my lord.” The servant bowed, levitating the three trunks behind him as he left. He, and Holdfast’s other personal servants, would be waiting outside of Gallopilli’s walls; just in case the new Queen decided to come after him in force.
Once the unicorn was gone, Holdfast sighed; the sound turning into a growl by the end. He turned to a painting on the wall; an original work depicting a rope bridge leading to a snowy mountainside, a stone keep at its top. After one last moment to take in the sight, he stepped forward, tearing the painting down the middle to reveal a hidden safe. With practiced ease, he opened the safe, retrieving a small bag of gems and a rolled scroll, setting them on a table next to a simple telescoping rod.
Out of idle curiosity, he picked the rod up. It had been the first clue that had led him to Boomer’s involvement with the bandits that had attacked Road’s Crossed; found in a mislaid crate of weapons and other wartime supplies. It was hollow, with its inner diameter just large enough to hold a sword’s hilt, and a mechanism inside that would lock whatever was placed inside in place. Holdfast frowned and let the rod drop back onto the tale.
“Going somewhere?”
Holdfast whirled around to find Wits End leaning against the doorframe, his face set in a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “Ah, you.” The snow-white stallion set the contents of the safe on a table nearby. “I suppose you must be commended in some respect. I knew you were working against me, but I never expected you to approach it from such an angle. Lost lost niece of the king? Very unexpected.”
“I have hidden depths,” Wits said, shifting his weight slightly. His cloak moved enough to reveal the hilt of his blade. “Are you planning on a trip?”
“Playing coy now?” Holdfast shook his head. “As if you don’t know. I gave you an order to remove Amber Glitter. Instead, you put her on the throne. I highly doubt you kept what happened from our new queen, so I’m making the choice to leave before she can act on anything we might… regret.” He looked the unicorn over. “Unless you plan on… acting on it yourself?”
“I thought you said that you ‘know me’?” Wits End raised an eyebrow. “Besides, Amber is out of the running for the throne, isn’t she? I’d say I fulfilled your order, wouldn’t you?”
Holdfast shook his head again. “Obviously, I’ve missed some of those ‘hidden depths’ of yours.” He turned, retrieving the scroll. “Then I’ll fulfill my end as well. The scroll is yours.”
Wits End took the scroll, looking over it without unrolling it. “So that’s it? I betray you, you pay me for it, and then you just waltz off into the sunset?”
“I might have underestimated your resolve,” Holdfast said, “but I still know how you operate in these sort of situations. If you were planning to finish me off, you wouldn’t have gone through everything that you have. You’ll let me go because you’re not a killer; nothing more, nothing less.”
After a moment, Wits End tucked the scroll into his cloak, looking down at the floor. “Perhaps you’re right…”
Holdfast smirked. “Then you’ll excuse me if I don’t wish you the best, Mister End.” He started to move toward the door, but stopped when Wits stood up.
“There’s just one thing,” the mint-colored unicorn was saying, his eyes staying down at his hooves. “You said before that you knew me. That I was too good of a pony to try anything.” He looked up, a hardness in his eyes. “The ponies I travel with are good ponies. Purple Heart, who fought in the Coliseum for his freedom. Light Patch, who befriended the outcast of the nobility. Twilight Sparkle, who never stopped questioning if we were doing the right thing, and for the right reasons.”
Holdfast’s smile started to falter. “Are you giving me a speech on friendship, mister End?”
“Not quite. Do you remember Fluttershy?” Wits watched the older stallion for a moment. “I thought not. She’s the one you threatened first. The one pony who wouldn’t raise a hoof to fight back. You knew her weakness, but not her name?”
After a second, Holdfast barked a laugh; one filled with more malice than Wits End had expected. “Do you name every chess piece when you play, mister End?”
“That’s what I thought.” Wits End’s face fell into a strange, emotionless expression. “The ponies I travel with are good ponies,” he repeated. “I... am not a ‘good pony’. I lie. I cheat. I keep secrets from the ponies closest to me. But I pretend to be a ‘good pony’ when I’m around them, because they inspire me to try harder to be like them.”
Holdfast’s jaw was set. The mint-colored unicorn’s face was unreadable. “What’s your point?”
“No real point,” Wits said slowly. “Just an observation.”
“Then get it over with,” Holdfast growled.
“The observation is this.” Wits End paused for a moment. “Those good ponies? Amber Glitter? Fluttershy?” Another pause. The unicorn’s eyes took on a strange glint. “They’re not here right now.”
Steel flashed. Holdfast reeled backwards, one hoof over the newly formed cut running along his right foreleg from hoof the shoulder, splitting the hoof itself into two separate halves. “What’re you-”
“You got one thing right about me, Holdfast,” Wits End growled, placing the tip of his blade on the ground and kneeling to put himself level with the sprawled stallion. “I won’t kill you. That I don’t have in me. Instead, I’ll tell you this. You’re leaving. Right now. You’re running away from this castle and the good ponies in it. You’re running fast, and you’re running far, far away. Because if I see you again,” Wits bared his teeth in what no-pony would mistake for a smile, “we’ll both find out what happens when I stop pretending to be a ‘good pony’. Now, start running.”
Holdfast scrambled to his hooves, sprinting three-legged past the kneeling pony and out the door, leaving a scattered bloodtrail behind him. After a minute, Wits End sighed and stood, wiping his blade clean on the already ruined carpet. “I hope you keep running,” he muttered, pocketing the bag of gems and the rod from the table, “for both our sakes.” The mint-colored stallion sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and headed back to the party.
* * *
“I’m kind of surprised you aren’t busy at one of the other larger parties,” Light Patch said, following the stallion out onto a small balcony.
“Hah... Being who I am makes parties awkward. I could join a commoner’s party, but I am not among my people so it would only make them nervous to have a noble in attendance. And other nobles consider me lower than them because of my town’s small size and largely unworkable land.
“Besides, I have been busy ‘til now assisting her majesty with the flood of ponies hoping to get the kingdom’s laws changed.” He snorted in annoyance. “Many nobles are hoping to use the newer, and allegedly softer, ruler to have certain laws affecting them or, more honestly, their heavy coin purses struck from the books. Though, there are more than a few hoping to have new ones added.”
“Sounds like oodles of fun,” Light Patch noted dryly. “How could you ever pull yourself away from such riveting and wonderful work?”
The older stallion snorted in laughter. “It was that I’d finally run out of it, for today. Though, I suspect that tomorrow will see a new flood.”
“Most likely. Amber is probably fairly pleased to have somepony to weed out the chaff for her though,” the grey pegasus said, trying to pick out the market district of the town.
“I’m sure she is, though she’ll have to find somepony else as I plan on heading back to my town in the next couple of days. I’ve been away much too long because of everything going on here. Everything that began since your group showed up,” Just Duty said speculatively.
“Hey, we’re adventurers: we go looking for trouble, and sometimes it comes looking for us,” Light Patch retorted defensively.
“Oh, I’m well aware. I did a little of that on my own in my younger days. It’s a part of how I became the noble I am. Slay a few monsters, save some ponies, gave out justice to several bandits, raiders and a few other criminals, and I was awarded leadership of Ibnutas Pass: the town I saved.” Just Duty stood there, silent as he explored old memories, and missed the raised eyebrows from Light Patch at the familiar sounding name.
“I’ll keep that advice in mind when I’m ready to retire from adventuring,” Light Patch said, snapping the earth pony with him out of his nostalgia. “Though I’ve gotta ask: Ibnutas Pass? A fairly different name for a pony town isn’t it?”
“It was named after the explorer who found the pass through the mountains and the plateau the village itself is centered on. He was a Griffon explorer known for traveling by hoof.” Just Duty paused. “I suppose for him the correct terminology should be claw rather than hoof. In any case, he traveled by land mostly rather than using his wings. And not a small feat, considering he traveled over most of the known world by that point.”
“Sounds like quite the explorer,” Light Patch said aloud. Where have I heard this story before... he added, mentally comparing what he was hearing to one of his favorite explorers from his world.
“As pleasant as this has been so far, we’ve strayed from the reason I’ve asked to talk with you alone. Do you remember the question you asked me, back when we first met?” the older noble asked, looking at the brown and pink maned pegasus. “Back at the ball.”
“You mean the philosophical one, about whether or not you’d use time travel punish a pony before they could commit a crime?” Light Patch asked, trying to think of any others he might have asked.
“Yes, that one, I’ve been mulling it over in my mind since you’ve asked it, and I wasn’t able to answer right away,” Just Duty said, but before he could continue Light Patch interrupted him.
“What was going to be your answer before everything happened?”
“Originally, I was going to answer that no, I wouldn’t use time travel to punish ponies for crimes they hadn’t committed yet. Perhaps to stop them right as they start, but because of the interruption, I was left with plenty of time to ponder the question. And after having so long to ponder it, I believe my answer is yes, I would use time travel to capture and punish ponies. They have committed the crime in the future; it is destined to happen.”
“But you could use the time travel to influence them in other ways. You could help them find work if they stole because of a lack of money,” Light Patch countered. “Or grant them charity.”
“And when the charity runs out, they will need money again. And if there was work to be found, they would have already found it,” Just Duty replied tersely. “And again they will have to choose: stay on the path of good and continue to suffer, or stray and steal. If you go back to help them again, it simply means they have once again committed a crime. A crime they chose, and that is the issue: choice. That evil is a choice that can be picked, but with the time travel, I could seal that path, I believe.”
“But is it worth the loss of free will, the loss of choice? What if the ones with time travel define good in a way that most others don’t? What if those in control of the time travel become corrupt, or what if one must do the wrong thing to do the right thing?” Light Patch paused as if searching for the right words. “If you are forcing others to follow your ethics under threat, are you yourself still just in your actions?” The two ponies lapsed into silence, both thinking. “Unless you’ve got something else to say, Just Duty, I think I should be getting back to the Princess and her gathering.”
“I have provided you with my answer… I believe that was the extent of my summons,” the older stallion responded absentmindedly. “With luck, we shall get to talk again before we depart ways.” Just Duty watched Light Patch depart before he turned to look at the stars. If I deny others choice, are my actions still just? Just Duty repeated in his mind. As long as I acted for the good of all ponies, how could I do wrong at all? With that final thought, the lower noble made up his mind and left the balcony to do something he’d been hesitating to act on.
* * *
Purple Heart looked apprehensively around as he cantered slowly down past Gallopilli’s dark and dirty alleyways. The message had been rather lacking of detail regarding where the sender wanted to meet. Just walk around the dark alleyways of the lower city near the wall and the sender would find him. A symbol had been stamped at the bottom of the note: a small tree inside a circle, the thin roots and leafy branches radiating out to brace the ring in soft curves. Competing the symbol was a sun and crescent moon on either side of the tree’s trunk. It was stamped in a dark green color, like healthy lush foliage.
Or the sickly green of a corrupt infection.
Purple Heart glanced cautiously down yet another alleyway, noting the shadows and possible hiding places the dark figure could be dwelling within.
“Hello?” he called, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the alleyway. “Anypony here?” Silence answered the purple stallion’s question. Then there was a flicker of movement in a shadow near a doorway partway down the side street. Rather, something detached itself from the shadow of the doorway and moved to the center of the alleyway, its form still wreathed in shadow.
“You led me on a merry jaunt through the city,” the purple stallion snapped, frowning past his nose at the shadowed figure as he walked hesitantly towards the figure. “I assume you want to talk to me?”
The figure moved into the moonlight, walking bipedal on reverse jointed legs. It was male as its chest was flat and its shoulders broad. Its muscular and tall physique were bare of clothing and lacked genitalia. The figure was a silvery grey, like a marble-granite that shone in the moonlight and towered over Purple Heart. Long arms ending in five-fingered hands hung limply at its sides while a pair of four-toed feet clacked sharply on the cobblestone street. A blank face with a royal nose and grim mouth was etched upon a head that was covered in long white hair that had been pulled back into a tail.
The one defining feature that the being possessed was a symbol spanning the length of the being’s chest. The symbol was painted on its chest with dark, sickly green ink, much like the paint that made up Purple Heart’s own barbarian tattoos, differentiating them only by color. Purple Heart blinked at the symbol. It was the same one he’d seen at the bottom of the message. And it was identical to another he knew all too well...
The creature’s green eyes blazed like small flames from under a furrowed brow that rose as it looked down at the purple earth pony.
“Indeed, little barbarian,” the being rumbled. Its voice was a deep baritone that seemed to shake the very ground. Window shutters shivered and clattered from the vibrations of the being’s voice.
“Why?” Purple Heart asked, unconsciously backing away from the being. The grey figure chuckled deep in its throat as it noted the reaction and crouched down to look Purple Heart straight in the eye, its elbows resting on rigid knees.
“Simply to give you a warning, little barbarian,” the being crooned, reaching out to pat Purple Heart on the head. A vein in the purple earth pony’s forehead pulsed as he was petted by the being.
“Piss off,” he grumbled, pulling his head from beneath the being’s questing fingers. The being’s face fell, saddened.
“Now that’s no way to treat an old friend,” the grey figure whined in an amused voice that had no business coming from such a being. “You should heed my advice.” Purple Heart’s eye twitched.
“What advice?” he asked cautiously. The grey figure straightened and clasped its hand behind its back as it gazed down at Purple Heart again.
“Be careful around the mares,” it boomed. “They are wary of you and your two friends. The purple winged one with the horn is very curious about where you three come from. Watch yourself. You might not be happy with what happens when they find out who you truly are.” The being turned on its heel and had almost disappeared into the underbelly of Gallopilli before Purple Heart overcame his fear.
“Who are you?” the purple stallion asked, trying to keep his voice from quavering. The being looked over its shoulder, a wicked smile splitting its grey face.
“Bael,” the being replied. “My name is Bael. And I am your greatest enemy.” And with that, it disappeared into the shadows of the city. Purple Heart stood rooted for a long time while panic ran wild through his mind, his face drawn and terrified. The seedlings of doubt and fear had begun to sprout in the purple barbarian’s mind. He turned slowly and began to stagger out of the alley, thoughts of what had just transpired running rampant around his head.
“Aw carp,” he whispered, his dumb walk speeding up to a dead sprint towards the castle. He had to tell Light and Wits about this.
Things had just gotten a whole carpload worse.
* * *
Light Patch quickly strode back down the hallway, still thinking about his recent conversation with Just Duty. Reaching the door, he shook his head to clear his thoughts, saving them for later. Fun now, vaguely troubling thoughts later, he said to himself, readying to open the door. With a smile, he shoved the door open and swaggered in. “You may now behold, the glory that is me,” the pegasus stallion said dramatically.
Amber looked up from where she and the Mane Six were lounging, passing the time until the three colts returned. “How was your chat?” the golden unicorn asked, her voice containing the mildest edge as she looked at the arriving pegasus expectantly. The other mares perked up and turned to Light Patch, interested expressions all around.
“It was interesting. He was answering a question I’d asked a while ago. Then we got into some discussion of philosophy. When is it okay to do the wrong thing to do the right thing, heavy stuff like that,” the Pegasus replied, sitting down on a spare seat, “What about ya’ll? Did I miss anything interesting?”
“You could say that,” Twilight said slowly. “I was running Amber through some of the basic lessons of rulership that I’ve learned from being a princess. We should-”
“Establish her as the darling of the kingdom.” Wits End trotted into the room, cutting in before the purple alicorn could finish. “She’s young, she’s attractive, and she’s a mare. Those three qualities will give her some leeway until she can cement her rule.” He turned to Twilight as the newly crowned queen blushed. “That’s what you were gonna say, right?”
“...No. Where have you been?”
Wits thought for a moment. “Elsewhere.”
“Thanks for the information…”
“That was extremely specific, thank you,” Light Patch deadpanned.
“Ah’ll say,” Applejack snorted, eyeing the mint-colored pinto critically.. “Ah take it you ain’t gonna tell us details until yer good ‘n’ ready, huh?”
Wits End coughed. “So how’s the party going?”
AJ frowned. “That ain’t an answer, Wits.”
“How’s the party going?” the unicorn repeated.
“We need a new table!” Pinkie Pie shouted, holding up a piece of broken wood.
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Is that one of the table legs?”
“Yep!”
“Why did you- Never mind.” The multicolored-maned pegasus turned to the two colts. “After you three left, we moved from eating to lounging. Twilight’s been teaching Amber about being a ruler, and the rest of us have been doing something like this.” She turned onto her back and snored loudly.
Silently getting up, Light Patch grabbed his pillow and lifted it over his head. Without warning to any pony, he chucked it at the still fake-snoozing Rainbow. The rainbow maned pony sprung up and looked around before narrowing in her glare at the one pony without a pillow. “She told me to do it,” he said, quickly pointing at Twilight, “Royal order and everything.”
Twilight leveled her gaze at the grey pegasus. “Are you aware of the ‘eye for an eye’ method of settling grievances?” she asked, passing another pillow to Rainbow Dash.
“Yes,” the grey pegasus squeaked before turning to look at Rainbow Dash lining up her shot. “Where’s a red shirt when you need one?” he whined before diving to the side.
The door to the suite banged open to reveal a panting Purple Heart, his eyes wide with panic as he sucked in lungfuls of air.
And got hit in the face by a pillow.
Light Patch trotted over to where Purple Heart stood in stunned silence. He reverently removed his helm placed it to his barrel. “Your sacrifice is appreciated, and it shall never be-” Before he could finish, however, a second pillow flew straight into the side of the grey pegasus, who fell to the ground gasping. “I’m hit, medic!” he half screamed, raising a hoof into the air before going into an overly dramatic death scene that most present quickly began to ignore.
Shaking his head of the surprise and shock from being hit by a pillow, Purple Heart blinked around, noting the curious looks he was getting.
“Um...” he mumbled. “Back.” Amber arched an eyebrow at the purple barbarian.
“Anything interesting happen?” she pried. Purple Heart glanced around, almost skittishly before looking at Wits End.
“Ehm...” Purple Heart muttered. “Sort of. I’m a little shaken up from the revelation, but I’ll get over it. Maybe.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Wits asked. “Whenever you give me that look, I get the urge to find a nice deep hole to hide in.”
“Oh, I think I’d join you in that hole,” the purple earth pony commented. “Cuz I’m terrified now.” The ponies blinked. If Purple Heart was terrified of something, there was definitely a reason to be concerned.
“What, pray tell, terrified you?” Rarity asked stiffly. “It must have been truly horrific to make you this skittish.”
“And you’d be right,” Purple Heart agreed, avoiding the fashionista’s question. “Gimme some time to think on it. I’ll get back to you then.”
Twilight frowned. “That doesn’t sound ominous.” She turned to the now completed party of ponies, plus Amber Glitter. “In any case, Amber is now the queen, and she’s set up to rule the best she can. I’d say that this… quest?” She looked at Wits End, who nodded. “This quest is now over with.” With that statement, two words wormed their way into the minds of the adventurer ponies.
“Leveled up.”
Wits End nodded. “I’d say you called that pretty well, Twilight.”
* * *
Just Duty trotted quickly through the castle, hoping to catch up to the pony he wished to speak with. Nodding to the guards, he sped through the castle entrance just in time to see the pony in question crossing through the castle wall gates. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, the old paladin took the steps two or three at a time. Once at the bottom, he bolted again through the gates and caught up with the limping pony. “Holdfast, I wish to have words with you,” the older stallion said, slowing down to follow beside the ex-chancellor.
The snow-white stallion hobbled to a stop, looking over his shoulder at the pony following him. The noblepony those stallions had on their side, Holdfast thought. No threat now, but still an annoyance. “You’ll have to excuse me, Lord Duty, but if you wish to speak with me, you’ll have to do so on the move.” He glanced down at his wounded leg, now wrapped in bandages. “Fortunately, we wouldn’t be moving too fast.”
“That is acceptable,” the blue grey noble said with a nod before looking down at the bandages. “I would offer to assist your wounds, but alas, my blessings have faded taking their magic with them. I bid you a speedy recovery in anycase.” The stallion looked around at the courtyard before turning back to Holdfast. “I was hoping you might have some information I’d find useful. I was curious if there were any rumors or stories about magical artifacts with time control powers or,” the stallion glanced around again as he hesitated, “possibly even the ability to influence minds.”
Holdfast raised an eyebrow. “Where is this coming from?” he asked, continuing to limp his way down the town streets. A thought struck him and he chuckled. “Could it be the Baron has his eyes set on something a bit higher than his township? The newly claimed throne, perhaps?” Just Duty snorted in annoyance.
“No, but a question got me thinking about ways one could better the world,” the earth pony’s eyes took on a faraway look, “and maybe it’s just an old pony’s sense of nostalgia acting up, but being around the adventurers has…inspired me to try my hoof at one last adventure; another attempt and righting the wrongs.”
“Hmm.” Holdfast turned his head forward, watching the townsponies as they passed by the two stallions. “Righting wrongs, you say? By removing troubledoers before they can act, I assume?” He scoffed. “You’d be better off using that power for your own good, rather than deluding yourself like that.” He looked sidelong at the stallion. “Consider this the advice of a pony who’s tasted power: either learn to appreciate your place in the in the pecking order, no matter how low it may be, or give up on those illusions of yours. They’ll hold you back from making real changes.”
The blue grey stallion snorted in anger this time. “I hold no illusions,” he snarled. “I do not seek power for my sake like you do. I seek it to protect others from those who would do them harm. And to save them from themselves. As a paladin, it was my job to see justice done, and good flourish.” He finished, anger etched into his face.
Holdfast chuckled, seeing the rise he got out of Just Duty. “Then perhaps you should’ve stayed with your covenant.” He shrugged, wincing as his weight shifted to his wounded leg. “Or not. Perhaps a paladin’s place is to struggle for his entire life, whether it’s by the blade or by the pen. In that case, your philosophy and your position go hoof-in-hoof. Regardless, you’ll have to struggle without my help. I’ve spent the better part of my life serving this court. I’ve no intention to make my last act here assisting in another power struggle if it doesn’t serve me.”
Just Duty blocked the snow colored pony’s path. “You self serving ba-”
“Now now,” a deep voice rumbled from the darkness of a side alley. “Let’s not get crude, little ones. That would be detrimental to this budding relationship.”
“Relationship?” Holdfast growled as he turned toward the voice. “I’ve had just about enough of relationships for one day. Keep to your own affairs.”
“If I could, I would,” the voice chuckled. “But I can’t, so I shan’t. Besides,” a tall figure, masculine in appearance and bearing, detached itself from the shadows of the alley and moved into the open, towering above the two stallions on a pair of reverse jointed legs ending if four toed feet that clacked against the cobblestones, “I think we all might have something in common.”
Holdfast pulled back, instinctively putting Just Duty between him and the creature in front of them. The larger earth pony, upon seeing the creature, reached for a warhammer that wasn’t there. Silently cursing, the blue grey stallion readied to charge the creature instead. “If we had anything in common,” Holdfast sneered, “then I would be very surprised. What do you want? Keep in mind that one shout is all it would take to summon the town guard to strike you down.” The bipedal figure chuckled again, lifting a hand to pick his nose with the smallest finger.
“That would be rather problematic, don’t you think?” he sighed, his tone amused as he withdrew his pinkie and blew the offending booger away. Then his face became grim, his tone threatening. “You don’t exactly seem like the combative type. I could deal with any guards that should come to your rescue. And that’s not to say that I couldn’t...disable you first.”
“You could likely disable one of us in time, but to disable both of us before either could shout? I doubt it. I may not be a paladin any longer but it’s training still holds some weight. You will not find me easy to disable,” Just Duty replied looking for the beast’s weak points if it came to battle. “But the fact that you’re still talking suggests you have more to say.”
Holdfast grimaced. “Then speak and get it over with.” A smile curved the being’s grey face.
“This is just a suggestion,” he said, “but wouldn’t it be beneficial for the both of you to help each other in Just Duty’s little hold? Holdfast could rebuild his connections there in safety and provide information regarding any interesting artifacts he may come across in return for housing and protection.”
Just Duty frowned as he dropped his battle stance and looked at Holdfast, clearly thinking about the creatures suggestion. I don’t like how he implied that Holdfast needs protection from something, Just Duty thought, but if any pony could find the information I’d want, it would be Holdfast. And as I’ve learned from being a noble sometimes to fight fire, you need to use fire. “I suppose I could be persuaded to offer Holdfast the suggested support,” the ex-paladin said finally, “but if he has any current knowledge of an artifact with the powers I’m looking for, I would like it now, as a show of good faith.” The being flicked his green eyes to Holdfast expectantly, prompting the unicorn to speak with his gaze.
“Absolutely not,” Holdfast growled. “I have no reason to do any such thing. I can establish myself elsewhere just as easily.” He shot a snide smirk at Just Duty. “I could set up in the baron’s own township without anypony being the wiser.” He turned back to the creature in front of them. “And I most certainly wouldn’t consider the advice of anypony- or any creature like you, without knowing what they would gain from it first.”
The grey and green being sighed. “My name is Bael,” he said, “and as far as I know, I wouldn’t gain anything. Except perhaps the assistance of you two.” Bael leaned forward, his face coming extremely close to the two stallions. His green eyes flashed once, sparking with daemonic fire. “Allow me to let you both in on a little secret: I know who’s pulling the strings. I know who even the gods themselves bow to. And what’s more? I know how to usurp him.”
Bael thought that he had just successfully convinced the two stallions to join forces with him and each other. Satisfied he had spoken enough, the grey figure settled on his haunches. To Bael’s surprise, Holdfast burst into short-lived laughter. “The creature is a comedian!” he cried, stepping out from behind Just Duty. “Gods can’t be usurped. They’re concepts; something the masses pray to in hopes of random chance saving them from their fate. That’s why they’re gods.” He turned away, facing the town gates. “Work on your delivery, creature. Maybe the next pony that passes by will be of weaker will than I.”
Bael sighed, shrugging as he rubbed the back of his neck with a long-fingered hand. “Shame you didn’t take me up on that,” the green-eyed being mused. “I would’ve thought you wanted to get back at Wits and his for booting you so unceremoniously out of the high classed life you held, so many strings at the tips of your hooves.” Bael straightened and stretched, grunting in satisfaction as bones popped along his back. “Guess you aren’t the pony for revenge. Read you wrong then. Ciao.” Bael turned and slowly began to meander away.
The snow-colored stallion froze. One word the creature had said had stuck in his mind: revenge. “And how, exactly,” he said slowly, “would doing as you say help with that?” A satisfied smirk curved Bael’s lips as he did a smart one-eighty turn back to face the two stallions.
“Rebuilding your network in Baron Duty’s town would be quicker and easier than having to screen, in pony, any prospective holds you might find refuge in,” Bael pointed out. “Cultivating a beneficial relationship between the two of you would provide security for both parties. You provide information on potentially successful business ventures that could swell your shared coffers while he provides station, housing, and a secure sphere of influence for you. Beyond that, it’s up to you. I didn’t major in organized crime, I’m just throwing out suggestions.”
Holdfast thought for a second. “And your suggestions are… what? Out of the kindness of whatever you have for a heart?”
Bael snorted. “Oh, I’m certain I have no heart, being a creature of pure rage.”
“You seem fairly temper for a being of pure rage,” Just Duty responded from the side where he’d been observing the conversation. “I would expect more spittle and foam from a being that claims as such.” Bael chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.
“Guess my progenitor gave me a bit of his restraint,” he rumbled. “Without it, I would’ve probably done something...drastic after your first refusal. As for ‘kindness’-” he said with air quotes, “I’m doing this out of a need for assistance. I’ll admit it, I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I can get by. That doesn’t mean I can plot like you can. So you could say this is a means of convincing you to utilize my services. You may have a bone to pick with a certain mint-colored colt, but I have my sights set on one of his companions: Purple Heart, Champion of the Royal Coliseum.”
“The barbarian?” Holdfast considered what the creature had offered. If I didn’t have to hide my actions, he thought, then I could establish my contacts in no time. “I’d need complete autonomy,” the snow-white stallion said, addressing both Bael and Just Duty. “No questions as to where the bits come from, and no ponies sticking their noses into my business; or that of the ponies in my employ.” He turned back to face the two. “And the unicorn colt is mine to deal with. Whatever your respective relationships with his companions, his end will be by my hoof, and mine alone.”
The ends justify the means, Just Duty thought to himself. “As long as you try to not kill the rest of the them other than your targets, I will not actively hinder you,” he said, fighting to keep the remnants of his paladin instincts under control. I can always turn on them as well, should the opportunity present itself, he further added in his head. “And as for your autonomy, as long as you can keep your dealings under enough wraps that I don’t have to stick my nose into them, you shall have it. But I can’t promise I may be forced to act against you as the crown dictates, or if my subjects lives are endangered.”
Holdfast smiled; an expression that didn’t reach his eyes. “Then congratulations, Lord Duty. Your township is about to become the jewel of Roania. You’ll have what you came to the capital for.” He turned to Bael. “Just for my own curiosity: Grim Hammer. Was he your doing?” Bael grinned and waved his hand. A spool of essence tapered from his fingertips and coalesced into a craggy, lifeless shell of a pony. With a snap of Bael’s fingers, green flames sparked beneath the pony’s cracks, bringing the construct to ‘life’. Five lines connected Bael to his puppet and he flexed his fingers, commanding the shell to salute the two stallions before it.
“That answer your question?” Bael asked, waving the hand again to banish the construct.
“Indeed it does.” Holdfast turned back to Just Duty. “I can provide you with the location of just such an artifact as you’re looking for. In exchange for a letter of introduction to your mayor to be delivered before I arrive in your little town, of course.”
“That will work,” the blue grey stallion replied nodding. “I will get the letter written tonight, and have one of the fastest messengers I have on retainer start out to deliver it as soon as it’s done. I’ll instruct my mayor to set you up with your choice of a few different houses in the town, as well as some coin from my coffers to help you get started.”
“Well then,” Bael crowed, clapping his hands, “I have a few things to deal with in the next few days. If you want to contact me, stamp any letter you want with this and I’ll receive it in due course.” Twirling the fingers of both hands, Bael created a pair of stamps that he then tossed to the two stallions. “May this venture be fruitful for the all of us. Adieu.” Bael departed, striding languidly into the darkness of the alley, his four-toed feet clacking against the cobblestones as he walked.
Holdfast watched as the creature disappeared into the shadows. “Quite the unusual creature we’ve made a deal with,” he muttered before turning back to Just Duty. “I shall leave a servant with the location of the artifact in your care.” He bowed his head. “To our new… relationship, Lord Duty.” With that, he limped toward the capital’s exit.
Just Duty watched Holdfast walk away to disappear into the dark shroud of the dimly lit streets. He then turned to observe the way Bael had departed before he started to trudge back to the castle. And now I know how the mouse felt when forced to work with the snake and cat to have it's cheese, he thought bitterly. But when all goes well, I can sever my ties and bring them both to the justice they deserve, and I can bring the world the justice it deserves.