A Time of Twilight

by Skandranon

Chptr 5

The train ride back to Ponyville was silent, except for the natural sounds of the train. The
five friends all kept there peace as they came to grips with all they'd learned and seen.

A depressed group of ponies got off the train and wandered off to different directions. All
but one, Trixie with a look of determination, galloped off to the library. With no regard for
whatever laws she was breaking, Trixie used her magic to unlock the door and once inside
locked it behind her.

Inside she began levitating books off the shelves, looking at the titles and tossing them
aside, with noises of disgust at each failure. Finally a beat up brown volume caused her
to shout in triumph, as she opened it, she felt a slight sting on her flank.

Involuntarily the book had caused her to remember the switching her mentor have given her,
when she had last looked at this book without permission. She pushed the memory down,
that was the past, when she had spent her time studying and learning about magic, before
she had set out to show off all she had learned.

She flipped through the pages rapidly, stopping now and then to read a page, till she finally
came upon what she was looking for. "I knew it!" She said in satisfaction and levitating the
book behind her made her way quickly out of the library.

Some quick questions around town and she was soon sitting below a giant cloud. looking
up at Rainbow Dash's house. "Rainbow Dash get down here! Trixie needs to speak to you!"
Trixie yelled. When there was no response, Trixie let out a vexed noise, then as her horn
began to glow, yelled again, this time amplified by her magic.

After what seemed like forever a cyan head with a mane of rainbows, looked down over the
edge, "Leave me alone, I don't feel like talking to anypony right now," Dash mumbled, her
face giving signs of recently crying.

"Stop your moping Dash! Twilight isn't dead!" Trixie shouted back.

Dash's ears stood up straight and she leaped off the edge and dove/glided down to Trixie
and grabbed her, staring into her eyes with a desperate look, "What did you say? you better
not be messing with me!".

"Don't touch Trixie!" She said indignantly, as she broke out of her grasp and stepped back,
Trixie said, she's not dead and Trixie is dead serious."

"But how, I saw her felt her." Dash said, desperately wanting to believe it, but unable to deny
what she had experienced.

"Look here!' Trixie said as she opened the book and shoved it in Dash's face. Dash stared for
a minute then looked past it at Trixie with a face that said, what am I looking at? Making a
noise of exasperation, Trixie explained, "That is a spell one can use to give a pony the
appearance of death, Its frowned upon magic, but completely possible. This is what that
unicorn did to Twilight, Trixie is sure of it."

As Trixie's words sank in Dash's expression changed from guilt and sorrow, to one of joy, then
it quickly changed to anger. "Why that no good rotten, come on we have to tell the others, when
I get my hooves on him he'll wish he'd never been born....." Dash continued on into more explicit
things she planned on doing, as she hurried off towards Apple Acres, Trixie following as fast as
she could.
______________________________________________________________________________

"We need to go down there, will you give me your word you'll cooperate or do I need to truss you
up so much all you can do is hobble along?" The Stallion said looking directly into Twilight's eyes.

"I promise not to make trouble" Twilight said.

He kept staring for another minute, then seemed satisfied she had meant it. Turning abruptly he
made his way down to the town below, Twilight doing her best to keep pace. As they made their
way through the streets, Twilight looked around at the vendors and structures. It was bigger than
Ponyville, but still quite small compared to places like Manehattan and Canterlot of course.

He brought them to an inn, inside he went right up to the brown pony behind the counter, I need
two rooms next to each other and one of them needs to have a mirror." he said in a brisk manner.

"A mirror sir, that's an odd request."

"My wife here is extremely vain and can't stand going for too long without seeing herself."

Twilight almost sputtered a response at this double lie, but managed to hold her tongue just in
time, remembering her promise. Instead she looked over and glared at him.

"We do have some more furbished rooms with vanities in them for a little extra."

"Great, is there one open with a room next to it?"

A quick check and some exchanging of bits, soon saw Twilight and The black Unicorn heading up
the stairs to the left of the counter. A little ways down the hall they found the door numbers, he led
her into the first one. It was a small room with only a bed and little table next to it, following her in,
he had her lay down on the floor. She gave a sigh of resignation as he tied her legs under her again,
but didn't argue. When he pulled out the ball though, that was a different story.

"That's not necessary, I swear I won't make a peep, please, I promise." She pleaded desperately.

"Sorry, there's only so much risk I can take"he said as he gagged her, "don't worry, I'll be back soon."

She glared at him in indignation, till he left the room, locking it behind him. As soon as he was gone,
Twilight rocked herself till she rolled over to the left, managing enough momentum to wind up how she
had been. She repeated this till she was pressed up to the wall, where she put her ear to it and
listened.

"You lied to me!" She heard the stallion growl.

"What are you talking about?" She heard a feminine voice say, the voice tugged at her memory, but
was to distorted by the wall to attain recognition.

"You told me they were in your way, but thats not true is it?"

"What does it matter, from the activity in Equestria I assume you got the packages right?"

"Packages, I thought you refered to them as one?"

Twilight heard a sigh, "I do, but I know how capable you are, so tell me, did you get the elements and
Twilight Sparkle without any trouble?"

"You only hired me to get the elements! how did you know Twilight would be there."

"I have my ways." The mystery voice said in a purr.

"I told you from the beginning not to keep secrets from me, our deals off"

"You wouldn't dare! you owe me too much, don't forget that! don't question what you need or don't need
to know, I make the plans, your just an errand pony."

"I owe you nothing! oh surprised? did you really think I wouldn't find out your part in that? the only reason
I agreed to this, is because it pleased me to pit you and Celestia together, I could care less who came
out ahead. Either way, one of you would get what they deserved."

"How dare you!"

"Oh I dare, our deals off, I never agreed to pull innocent ponies into the middle of this!"

Twilight heard a loud crash in the next room, then silence. Quickly she began rolling herself back to her
original spot, as questions buzzed around her mind.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Spike let out a slight burp as green fire came out of his mouth and a familiar looking scroll appeared
from it. "What does it say?" The captain asked, looking over his shoulder at the purple dragon sitting on
his back.

"It says that he's at an inn, down there." Spike said pointing to the town they were approaching.

"Good job." The captain said as he led his squad into town at a quick trot.

A few quick questions to the locals revealed there to be two inns. The first one revealed nothing, but
the second innkeeper confirmed that two ponies matching the description had gone upstairs only a
little while ago. This caused Spike much relieve, a letter from the Princess, had said Twilight was still
alive, how else was she still able to scry her? but here was proof.

"Ok you and you, come with me, the rest of you guard the exits, we don't want him getting away." The
captain ordered his troops, then headed for the stairs.
____________________________________________________________________________________

The black Stallion stepped out of the glass covered room, fully planning to pay for the damages and
started to unlock the other room. Slight movement at the stairs caught his eye, he looked over just as
the captain reached the top step and spotted him.

"Halt! stay where you are!" The captain shouted.

The Unicorn ignored him and slammed open the door, diving in he shut it behind him and quickly locked
it. Twilight was looking at him with wide eyes as the pounding was soon heard on the other side of the
door.

"Open up!"

"Your only making things worse for yourself!"

He ignored the shouts and quickly undid the ropes on Twilight. She would of let out a gasp of surprise
if she could have, as he threw her and the rope across his back in front of his saddle bags. She squirmed
and tried to push off him, but he bucked and she fell across his back again. Turning, his horn glowed and
he galloped as fast as he could towards the far corner of the room. Twilight shut her eyes and braced for
impact, but opened them quickly as she felt a familiar chill come over her.

They were now galloping out of the shade of a tree, towards the road. The town quickly disappearing
behind them. Not till the town had been out of sight for several minutes did he slow down and finally stop.
Levitating the struggling unicorn off his back he undid the ball gag and tossed it aside. As she opened her
mouth, Twilight's words never left her mouth as she was shocked into silence as he unwound the metal
from her horn.

"What? Why?" She managed to get out in bewilderment.

"Listen to me your free to go, but I wouldn't advise it, you stand a better chance of survival if you stay with
me." He told the startled lavender unicorn.

"Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't, but things have escalated and I can help you help Equestria."

She stared for a moment, "no more bindings?"

"No, no more. we have to go now though and we need to hurry. Be ready to fight though, I won't be of much
help to anypony when we get there." He said as he turned around and headed off at a gallop, not bothering
to see if she was following.

Catching up quickly she shouted at him, "What do you mean? where are we going?"

"To Ponyville, your friends are in danger."

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[SquareZack]

FIRST POST!