Vilotyne

by Lemuractionnews

Chapter 2

Vilotyne didn't bother getting up early as he usually did the next day, he knew that he had time to kill and had heard from a peasant yesterday that the princess was still healing from her wounds. A single ray of light hit one of his green, half opened, eyes and he doubled back as he brought a hoof to his face to shield himself from the onslaught of sun.

"How ironic..." He muttered to himself grudgingly as he threw himself out of the bed. After he had put on his coat and hat he walked down the hallway, past the steps, right past the Innkeeper who stared at him intently, and out onto the street. The sky was whitewashed from the night's downpours and the clouds had retreated over the mountain peaks leaving a pale blue sky hanging over the damaged slate roofs of the city. Turning his head towards his right he could see the palace towering over the rest of Canterlot like a giant among a company of dwarves.

His body beckoned him to that giant and he soon felt his legs trotting over to meet the palace. The silent gray stallion thought little and when he did, he thought of what was to come in the future. He walked through the streets full of broken merchandise stalls and burnt out houses. As he passed what was once a luxurious cottage he noticed posters tacked up on the broken walls. 500 bit reward for information on the capture of any changling scum. As his legs brought him over a tiny bridge that stood over a small brook he stated inside his head what he perceived as the obvious. She's going to have to make an appearance and she knows it.

It took him a good hour to traverse the broken landscape of the Capital and to find his way to the palace gates. Vilotyne leaned against a produce stall and looked across the courtyard at the unfolding scene. A white unicorn with a very gaudy appearance stepped up to another officer just inside the gates.

"Ah, Captain of the Guard Shining Armor I presume?" said the lanky earth pony under his breath. He had studied the royal family and was no stranger to their faces. He adjusted his perch and continued to watch.

Shining Armor said something inaudible from where Vilotyne was eavesdropping and then hurried off to another part of the castle grounds. The remaining officer gave some signals to his men and they proceeded into the plaza in formation. Once in the middle the guards formed a circle with the officer standing inside. All eyes were on him as his husky voice bellowed out of his body and out onto the crowd. His tone was like a politician who had just secured a nomination, secured and official but a little bit frightful at the same time.

"Her majesty, Princess Celestia, requests an audience tomorrow morning at ten o'clock in the castle courtyard, all subjects residing in Canterlot should be in attendance! The castle grounds will be opened at nine, until then you must wait at the gates. The princess wishes to remind everyone that you are completely safe within Equestria's borders and wishes all of you a speedy recovery from this recent attack."

With that the unit refiled and retreated back inside the gates. The peasants went back to their shopping and Vilotyne got what he knew was coming. Heading back the way he came, the panama hat donned pony thought to himself half seriously: Better get some sleep, getting their early will be my strategy. As he turned onto the street where the Inn was he noted a cart outside that said "Arbor's Carpentry" and he had to hold back the urge to break out laughing. When he was in sight of the Innkeeper again she yelled out confidently:

"HEY! THERE'S THE SMART BASTARD!" Her eyes were full of the pride she had lost yesterday. "Now that I got those stairs extended, I would like you to pack your crap and get out! I mean, unless you can pay for another night that is. I doubt it though, a guy who has to blackmail his way for a night's rest can't be too wealthy!" Her voice was full of malice. Looking around Vilotyne could see a number of other code violations that he could exploit but he merely looked her in the eye and spoke in a calm voice:

"Allow me to extend my sincerest apologies miss." He took out his coin purse and threw the entire thing onto the table "I don't think that I shall be needing that after tomorrow, it should cover your damages" He grinned at the completely shocked mare across the counter and made his way towards his room.

---

Celestia's voice came softly at first and then broke into a blind rage.

"How... how DARE you?!" She spat back at the strangely dressed stallion in disgust. "I have not suffered an indecency such as this for decades! GENERATIONS!" The look of determination vanished off Vilotyne's face and one of amusement took it's place. Celestia didn't realize that she was yelling in the royal Canterlot voice now and the more outrage she showed, the more the thin pony's smile widened. Everything is falling into place. he thought smugly.

"How can a simple earth pony contain either so much contempt or so much foolishness as to challenge me?" The white mare hacked out a sickly cough and raised her head slowly to look out into the audience. A pit in her stomach opened up as she was met with faces of ponies racked by terror. Foals started crying and a unicorn in the back fainted, looking to her right she noticed a distinct lack of a certain minister. Oh no... Celestia was searching her mind for what to say when a voice cut the silence like a hot knife.

"So you see, my friends, that what must be destroyed if we are to survive this frightening new world! This charlatan" Vilotyne declared, raising his hoof at the princess once again "Denies the fact that there continues to be a danger from the changeling scourge as long as their leader still breaths and as so long as the Alicorns continue to oppress the normal pony folk!" The audience listened as if under a spell, their eyes locked on his.

"You speak blasphemy!" cried the princess from atop the balcony.

"Listen, we don't need to be arguing this." Cadence proclaimed stepping from the sidelines.

"And why not?" Luna said doing the same. With this notion the crowd went into an uproar again.

"You're with him?" Cadence asked in an accusing tone.

"No, but he has all very good points" Luna claimed.

"You power hungry wi-" the pink Alicorn started but was cut off by an annoyed Celestia.

"ENOUGH!" her voice traveled out to all parts of the city. Everyone stood still as they heard their leader's hacking cough again. Her voiced was venomous as she address the outspoken stallion still standing tall on the podium.
"You... I never want to see you again" Her gauntletted hand pointed towards the gate of the castle.

"As for everybody else, I would like to think of this as a minor speed bump in our road to recover..." She let out her hardest cough of all then lost balance and fell against the railing of the balcony. Time stood still as her gaze shifted from face to face until it finally settled on him. He was holding back a smile and she could tell. He planned this. She fell the rest of the way down and her head smacked against the tile with a loud thump. The disgruntled monarch of this seemingly peaceful and happy empire was hauled back to her suite on a stretcher.

After her sister was carried away, the lunar princess stepped up to the edge of the balcony and stated in a flat tone:

"No further questions" she gave Vilotyne a curious look and then she briskly walked away. Cadence stared at Luna insolently as she strolled past and remarked in an annoyed tone:

"Obviously..."

Comments

[agoodtime]

OMG I JIZZED AGAIN

[Lemuractionnews]

723732 thanks

[Lemuractionnews]

723915 Thank ya

[RedvsBlue327]

Well, I see you took my advice for this guy, he seems much more believable as a sentient being now! This was a good and neccesary chapter to add to build on this guys character.

And I must say, even I'm surprised about him throwing that much of his money away.

Hmm, it can't be out of kindness... maybe he's cocky, or maybe bribing the innkeeper in a way she won't notice to keep her off his back.

Or maybe the bag is filled with shells.