Chapter 18 - Examining the Witnesses
The pair walk down the corridor together. Arc looks to Goldstone and frowns.
“Are you clear on the plan?”
Goldstone groans. “Sadly, yes.”
“You scratch my back, I scratch yours.”
“I must admit you’re quite the negotiator, Lord Arc.”
“Only when I have to be.”
The pair enter the Dining Room. Arc looks over to Trixie standing with some guards in a corner. She salutes but says nothing. Arc clears his throat.
“If I could have everyone’s attention please.”
Gestal looks to them, surprised. “Lord Goldstone?”
Ember frowns. “I thought HE was in the dungeon!”
“Indeed he was. However the situation has changed.”
Tugem raises an eyebrow. “Has it now?”
“Yak hear that bad griffon poison princesses!”
Felix nods. “Indeed. And that the poison was found in his luggage.”
Arc nods. “That is correct. Would you please rejoin your group, Lord Goldstone?”
“Of course, Lord Arc. Please know that the Griffon Kingdom does not hold this matter against either you or the princesses.”
“Thank you.”
Goldstone walks confidently to his seat next to Gestal and Ghaleon. Twilight looks to Arc nervously.
“But if the poison was in his luggage…!”
“I believe it was planted there by someone else.”
Fiona gasps. “That’s a very bold claim, Lord Arc!”
Iris nods. “Indeed. Do you know who the culprit is?”
“I do not.”
Felix looks around. “Then are we not ALL in danger?!”
The Marquis clears his throat. “I am certain Arc has a plan to expose the guilty party.”
Sereb nods. “Indeed.”
Arc sighs. “It’s not quite that simple. Our perpetrator is certainly a crafty one. After all, they were able to make it appear Lord Goldstone was the guilty party by somehow entering his room and planting evidence.”
Goldstone frowns. “It could be any of you!”
Ember stands angrily and points a claw. “Or it could still be YOU!”
Ikis nods. “That is certainly a possibility.”
Fluttershy cowers back. “And a frightening one at that.”
Rainbow Dash frowns. “So how are we going to figure out who really did it?!”
Twilight puts a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “Perhaps it would easier to figure out who isn’t guilty.”
Applejack turns to her friend. “How?”
Pinkie shrugs. “Let’s just ask everypony!”
Arc nods. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Rarity looks to him, confused. “Really?”
“I mean what Twilight said. Who couldn’t be the guilty one?”
Brightwing bares her gums menacingly. “Someone here has been bad?! Brightwing will punish them!”
Arc turns to Twilight and her friends. “All six of you were either aboard The Equinox or in town when the poisoning occurred. Therefore none of you could have done this.”
He looks to the others.
“That leaves literally everyone else here though.”
Goldstone clears his throat loudly. “You mean other than me, correct?”
Ghaleon frowns. “Shut up, Goldstone.”
Felix eyes the griffons suspiciously. “Perhaps they’re a good place to start though.”
“Very well. Let’s go over the evidence, shall we?”
Arc clears his throat before continuing.
“At some point between last night and this morning both princesses were poisoned. Since they had no contact with anyone here after the celebration, it stands to reason the deed was done in the timeframe of those twelve or so hours.”
Twilight frowns. “Maybe it wasn’t. Who saw them healthy last?”
“Princess Luna’s most trusted Hoof Maiden, Eventide Shine. She brought them tea this morning after breakfast.”
Rarity frowns. “Perhaps you should speak to her, Arc.”
“I already have. She was very nervous. Almost paranoid at my questioning.”
Ember looks hopeful. “Do you think she did it?”
“Doubtful. Princess Luna has spoken very highly of her. That and she would be a fool to risk her job along with imprisonment over willfully administering a non-lethal poison. However, Lord Goldstone was caught on camera speaking to her as she was heading to the princesses’ room.”
Rutherford glares at Goldstone. “Yak want to know why!”
Goldstone sighs. “That tea smelled amazing. I just wanted a cup.”
Ghaleon rolls his eyes. “You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”
“Can I help it if I like tea?!”
Ashe looks to the pair. “Please! There is a time and a place for everything, you two. And this in not it.”
Arc nods. “Yes. Let’s continue.”
He turns to Gestal, Ghaleon, and Ashe.
“Here’s what I’ve learned.”
Arc begins pacing in front of them as he pulls out his notepad.
“Lord Goldstone apparently tripped and fell into Princess Cadance. In the process he spilled her drink. He then insisted that she take his glass in apology.”
Ember points a claw. “See! He gave her a poisoned drink!”
“I don’t believe so, no. After all, both she and Princess Luna are ill. Had his drink been poisoned, only Princess Cadance would be sick.”
Fiona puts a paw to her chin. “Could he not have covertly done so?”
Goldstone points an accusatory talon at the Abyssinians. “HA! You two are the sneaky ones!”
Rutherford turns to the monarchs. “Puny griffon right! Kitty king show all how he move so well!”
Arc sighs. “I suppose that’s a possibility, Prince Rutherford. But let’s look at all the evidence before making accusations. You told me that a cupcake tasted bad during our talk.”
“Yak still think it poisoned!”
Trixie steps forward. “You were checked for poison last night, sir.”
“Yak not believe pony doctor!”
Arc frowns: “She’s my personal physician. If she says everyone is clean, everyone is clean.”
Applejack sighs. “We’re getting off topic here.”
Twilight nods. “Yes. Is it possible somepony also put something in Princess Luna’s drink?”
Arc nods “It is. However, Princess Luna didn’t actually drink anything last night.”
Fiona turns to Arc, confused. “But we saw her glass touch her lips.”
Felix nods. “Yes. However she never swallowed.”
Kane frowns. “Could she have known about the poison?”
Ikis shrugs. “Perhaps. Or maybe she was merely being cautious. I smelled something amiss that night.”
Iris turns to him. “As did I.”
Rainbow Dash looks hopeful. “Any idea what it could have been?!”
Ikis shrugs. “Something from many long years ago.”
Iris turns to him. “You believe so too, old friend? I simply though myself to be smelling it in error.”
The Marquis turns to Ikis. “Was it dangerous?”
Ikis sighs. “Sadly I cannot remember. Perhaps we should continue.”
Iris nods. “Yes. It may come to us in time.”
Arc continues looking over his notes. “Very well.”
Applejack looks around. “Did anypony leave the Dining Room early last night?”
Rainbow Dash frowns. “Yeah! Maybe somepony snuck into the princesses’ room!”
Tugem nods. “Kane and I did take a walk at one point.”
Arc looks up from his notepad. “Yes, you two were together the whole time though, correct?”
Kane nods. “That we were. I can vouch for Prince Tugem. He did not enter the princesses’ room that night.”
Tugem gestures to the large wolf. “Indeed. Nor did Kane.”
Rutherford eyes them suspiciously. “Where you two go then?!”
Kane frowns. “Just for a walk to get some air.”
Tugem nods. “Yes. It was just a time for some friendly conversation. It turns out Kane and I have much in common.”
Sereb raises an eyebrow. “Do you now?”
“Yes. He and I share the ideal of wanting to be… more than we currently are.”
Kane turns to his mother. “We were discussing different ways to better ourselves, amongst other things.”
“What else, Kane?”
“A few things actually. But the topics of our conversation is not the issue here. There were others who spoke to one another last night as well.”
Kane turns to Gestal.
“Such as this one here constantly turning everything into a lesson for his cub.”
Ashe frowns. “My father was simply trying to pass on his knowledge and experience to me!”
Kane frowns. “It would be better for the young one to learn for herself.”
Sereb turns to him. “As you did, brother?”
“What do you mean, Sereb? Our father taught us.”
Iris nods. “As is hers.”
Kane shakes his head. “Bah! Politics is a useless skill anyways. Such things make you weak.”
The Marquis turns to Kane. “Not true, young one. The ability to defuse a situation quickly and quietly through only the spoken word is certainly a strength.”
Ikis nods. “Agreed. I saw Lord Arc use this very skill to stop Dragon Lord Torch from invading Equestria not long ago.”
Ember smiles. “Yes. It was quite impressive.”
Tugem frowns. “He certainly did not use such a skill when taking down my tribe’s captor. Judging by her bruised form when he freed us, that is.”
The prince looks over to Trixie. She turns her gaze elsewhere as a look of shame crosses her face.
Arc sighs. “I tried to, but she wouldn’t see reason. So I had to take more… drastic measures.”
“Trixie is sorry for what she did to your tribe, Prince Tugem. Lord Arc did what he had to in order to stop me.”
Gestal nods. “He also did the same to a group of rebels whom had taken myself and our nation’s leaders hostage.”
Ashe shudders as Arc looks away and sighs.
“Not my finest moment.”
Ghaleon nods soberly. “It had to be done.”
Gestal clears his throat loudly. “Indeed. However I did see Prince Tugem drink an inordinate amount of champagne before leaving the room.”
“It was quite tasty. And ogres can certainly hold their own.”
Gestal narrows his eyes. “I’m sure you can. However it seemed quite strange to me that Princess Luna kept her eye on you during the evening.”
Twilight turns to Tugem. “I’m sure she was merely curious regarding your species, sir.”
Tugem frowns. “Perhaps. I too noticed her looking in my direction several times during the festivities. But I also saw something very interesting regarding Lord Goldstone and Queen Fiona.”
Arc nods. “Yes. You said they talked at length.”
“That is true. However I distinctly saw her put something in his drink.”
Goldstone grabs his throat. “What?! Should I be tested?!”
Arc sighs. “You certainly can be. However, Queen Fiona already confessed to attempting to play a bit of a joke on you.”
Ember frowns. “That’s not very reassuring.”
Fiona sighs. “It’s true. I tossed in some Abyssinian Itchweed for a bit of… innocent fun.”
Gestal narrows his eyes. “That is going a bit far.”
Ashe puts a talon on her father’s arm. “Perhaps not, father. I’ve read about that very plant. It’s only supposed to make one sneeze uncontrollably if taken orally.”
Felix nods sadly. “Yes. However that glass was apparently the one Lord Goldstone gave to Princess Cadance.”
Twilight gasps. “What?! Will she be…!?”
Arc turns to her. “Calm down, Twilight. Redheart has already examined and disproven that theory.”
“Thank Celestia!”
Fiona bows her head. “I am very sorry for the trouble I caused with my little prank and hope we can all move past this.”
Goldstone stands up angrily. “You’re SORRY?! I fully intend to…!”
Arc clears his throat loudly.
“I believe what Lord Goldstone means is that this isn’t something one easily, or quickly, moves past.”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
Felix sighs. “While I am loathe to admit it, Lord Goldstone may not be the guilty party here.”
Ember thinks for a moment. “But who else could have done it? The poison was in his luggage, after all. Unless… unless it really was just a ploy to redirect our attention elsewhere!”
She looks to Kane.
“What about him?! I saw the way you looked at Sereb last night!”
Kane narrows his eyes. “What about it?!”
Ember points an accusatory claw at him. “You’re jealous! A blind dragon could see it!”
Fiona nods. “I too noticed that.”
Felix sighs. “It was a bit disconcerting to say the least.”
Kane frowns. “Me?! Goldstone has been talking down about every member around this table since he arrived!”
Sereb growls. “Brother!”
Iris nods. “He’s right, you know.”
The Marquis tuns to Kane. “What?”
Kane bares his teeth. “We of my tribe hear EVERYTHING! Your smallest whispers. That which you try to hide. Even what you say in nearby rooms does not escape our attention.”
Goldstone raises an eyebrow. “Oh really?! Then what did Prince Tugem say to the Dragon Lord when he ‘accidently’ bumped into her last light?!”
Sereb turns to Goldstone. “He was merely complimenting her as a fellow leader.”
Tugem nods. “It’s true. I believed she looked especially beautiful that evening and wished to tell her. However, I didn’t want to draw attention and cause her undue stress.”
Ember nods. “Right. Prince Tugem was only being polite.”
Brightwing giggles. “Ogre nice to Dragon Lord! Even if he doesn’t smell like other friends!”
Ember hisses at the small dragon. “Brightwing! That’s rude!”
Trixie steps forward. “Sir, as I said earlier, I’ve sensed some strange magic at work here in Light’s Hope since I entered the building.”
Rutherford rolls his eyes. “Bah! Magic of no importance here! Not while we have a very bad traitor in our midst!”
Sereb turns to him. “We should not discount any new information so easily, Prince Rutherford.”
Goldstone shakes his head. “Agreed! That kind of power seems to be more trouble than it’s worth!”
Ghaleon nods. “Perhaps you should consider restricting its use in your land, Lord Arc.”
Arc shakes his head. “No. It’s what makes one third of the population special.”
Rarity nods fervently. “Right! Magic isn’t bad!”
Tugem looks to Rarity. “I agree with the fine young unicorn. However, some whom use it are… less than scrupulous.”
He turns to Trixie again as she speaks.
“Trixie made that mistake in the past. But she has learned there is another path.”
Ashe looks confused. “Another path? What do you mean?”
“Trixie was sent to Tartarus for the crimes she committed. But her friends did not give up on her. Lord Arc along with another friend willingly came to Tartarus to see to it Trixie made it to the Gates safely.”
Arc nods. “Right. However she was able to walk through on her own, showing she was repentant of her previous crimes.”
Trixie nods. “Yes. Trixie now serves as a guardian of the princesses as a willing penance for her past crimes.”
Tugem frowns and folds his arms over his chest.
“As noble as that may be, we still are no closer to discovering our traitor.”
A voice rings out from the doorway.
“I believe I may have the answer to that question.”
Rose enters the room and walks over to Arc. She hands him several pieces of paper.
“The top one just came in from Canterlot, sir.”
Arc reads the paper over and frowns as he looks up.
“It would appear we have our traitor.”
Rainbow Dash grins. “Great! Who is it?!”
“I’m not fully sure. But this information narrows it down a bit. There are now only four suspects.”
He looks over the assembled group before continuing.
“Goldstone, as the poison was found in his luggage. Kane, as he left the room and was in the vicinity of the princesses’ room. Eventide Shine also had opportunity to do the deed by adding the poison to the tea she was delivering. And Prince Tugem, as he also left the room.”
Ember frowns. “I suppose that does narrow it down a bit. But how can we be sure who really did it?”
Ghaleon chuckles. “Yes. Do tell.”
“Let’s think about this for a moment. Someone here is certainly guilty, after all. I don’t suppose anyone would like to just confess?”
He looks around the room. No one speaks.
“Very well then. Here’s what I believe happened. The culprit somehow slipped the poison in either their drinks at the party or their morning tea.”
Everyone’s gaze turns to Goldstone.
“Yak say griffon lord reek of treachery!”
“I’m INNOCENT!”
Arc nods. “Agreed. Lord Goldstone was merely a patsy. A false lead to take the blame for the crime. The culprit administered the poison and then stashed some of it in his luggage. An open and shut case. He goes to jail, our nations part on less than friendly terms, and the true culprit gets away scot-free.”
Ashe shudders. “It all sounds so neat and tidy.”
Arc nods. “It would be if not for one small detail.”
Iris looks to Arc. “Oh?”
“Price Tugem and Kane weren’t exactly truthful in what they told me.”
Sereb narrows his eyes as he turns to his brother.
“Kane, what have you done?!”
“Nothing! All that I told you was the truth!”
Tugem nods. “As was my testimony.”
Arc nods. “Agreed. What you told me was the truth. However, it wasn’t the WHOLE truth.”
He holds up a paper. The Marquis eyes it.
“What is it?”
Ember grits her teeth. “It’s a picture of Tugem coming out of his quarters!”
Felix turns to Rose. “But what does that prove?”
“That he potentially had a chance to gather the poison from his room.”
Tugem sighs. “It is true that I went back to my room. But it was merely for a fresh tunic.”
He gestures at his chest.
“While I am loathe to admit it, perhaps I did have too much to drink last night. At some point I… miscalculated and dribbled some on myself. Seeing Kane leave gave me an excuse to excuse myself.”
Kane nods. “Indeed. But we returned shortly and did not enter the princesses’ room.”
Rose looks to those assembled. “That is true. The surveillance cameras show that you two returned to the festivities after your talk without any further detours.”
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out another paper.
“I have here an analysis of the poison. It shows that the physical properties of the powder have a tendency to stick to everything they touch.”
Goldstone raises an eyebrow. “What does that prove?”
“That whomever held the sack of poison wouldn’t have been able to administer it without getting trace amounts of it on themselves.”
Ikis frowns. “How do we test for this substance?”
“The easiest way would be with this.”
Rose removes a small bag from her pocket and hands it to Arc. He turns to Tugem and tosses it to him.
“Catch!”
Tugem does so.
“Open it up and tell me what you see”.
Tugem pulls out a few dried buds as he looks over to Arc.
“What is this?”
Fiona looks confused. “That’s Abyssinian Itchweed.”
Felix raises an eyebrow. “Strange. Why isn’t it working?”
Iris turns to Arc. “Perhaps he is immune?”
“Not exactly. Let’s see your hands, Prince Tugem.”
“But… what the…?”
He looks down to see a thin layer of pink slime in each palm. Kane appears confused.
“Where did that strange substance come from?!”
Twilight frowns. “It’s a chemical reaction of some kind.”
Arc nods. “Right. A component of the poison mixed with the Abyssinian Itchweed makes them both break down into that substance.”
Rose grins. “But it wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been handling the poison earlier!”
Arc motions to Trixie. She and her guards surround Tugem. He looks at Arc angrily.
“This is preposterous! I came here peacefully! Why would I have…?!”
A familiar voice rings out from the doorway.
“Yes! Why indeed?!”
Everyone turns to see another Prince Tugem standing in the doorway. Ember frowns.
“What the heck?!”
Brightwing giggles. “Yay! More friends! Copies of friends?”
Arc looks back and forth. “This is… unexpected.”
The newcomer points an accusatory finger at Tugem. “I’m the true prince! This is an imposter!”
“No, he’s the imposter!”
Applejack turns to Arc. “Great! Now what?!”
“Rose, scanners.”
Rose sighs. “They both appear to be completely identical.”
The Marquis growls. “There must be a way to be sure.”
Arc nods. “There is. Both princes remove your outer robes.”
One of the Tugems frowns. “Whatever would that prove?!”
Trixie glares at them, her horn aglow. “Just do as Lord Arc commands, sir.”
Both ogres do so. A guard collects the robes and brings them to Arc. He turns to Rarity.
“Would you please examine these?”
“Yes, of course.”
She walks over as the guards hold up the robes and carefully examines them.
“They both appear to be sewn from the same materials and are very well made. But there’s just one difference.”
Sereb looks confused. “A problem?”
Rarity points a hoof at one of the robes. “This one has some rather… interesting stitchwork, while the other bears the hallmarks of Inky Rose. A fashion designer in Canterlot.”
Arc turns to the Tugem surrounded by guards.
“I thought you said this was your first trip to Equestria.”
“It… it is. My father sent one of our tribe to purchase this from Miss Inky Rose’s fine establishment.”
“Did he now? Because I sent someone to ask her about this.”
“Yes?”
Arc narrows his eyes. “And she’s never seen an ogre.”
Rarity gasps. “So this ISN’T made by Inky Rose?”
Arc frowns. “Oh, it was. But the one whom picked it up… WAS A STALLION!”
Quickly stretching out his arm, Arc casts a Telekinesis Spell and slams the imposter prince against the wall. Holding him there Arc calls forth his helmet and looks at his foe through the True Sight enchantment. He gasps.
“It CAN’T be!”
Ember turns to Arc. “Who is it?!”
Without answering her, Arc turns to Twilight.
“Use the Elements on him!”
“Right!”
The Mane 6 hurry to take their places in front of their target. Focusing their powers they unleash a torrent of magical energy. The ogre cries out as he is forced back to his true form. Arc releases his hold on the stallion and allows him to fall to the floor in a pile of cloth.
“Let’s me show you all who this REALLY is.”
Grabbing the clothes with his magic Arc tosses them aside. Upon uncovering the stallion, he clenches his fists angrily.
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Nice Combo, an extra layer with extra distraction.
WhatsZephyr doing there?
twist's and turns and klifhanger !
10602865
Oh, but wait! It gets MORE complicated!
10602890
Indeed. By the Volume Finale every aspect of this plot will be clear to all. My wife LOVED the finale almost as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Buckle up and grab your popcorn. We're not through yet!
10604904
Whoops! That was definitely a typo! Fixed it.
Seeing Goldstone finally get thrashed a little was sooooooooo good!
10736062
Indeed. But he needs to answer for SO much more. Fear not, as his time is coming.