Chapter 28: Deception is NOT Key

"Please remain calm."

"Right."

Dash lashed out with everything she could: restrained legs, wings, even teeth. Unfortunately, the knots tying her down wouldn't budge. Her neck throbbed with pain, and sweat poured down her forehead. Being tied down was one thing, but awkwardly in a chair was another.

"You've been taken into protective custody. You will not leave this room without supervision. You will not attempt to escape. Is that clear?"

Dash didn't reply. She merely stared furiously at her captors. At least they had the decency to keep her in her own quarters, but being locked in like an animal was not at all pleasing. The amount of men in black she had to deal with lately was too damn high.

'I should start a political party…' Dash thought.

"We'll be in touch."

With that final comment, the three ESS agents filed out of her room.

"Hey! You! Are you just gonna leave me here!?" Dash protested, yelling at the top of her lungs.

One suit paused at the door. The agent turned about and stared at her with a smirk.

"Yes."

Then he left.

The moment the door closed, Rainbow was at it again. Thrashing about, she tried everything in her power to get free, or at least get at the rope.

Thud.

"Oh great," she sighed aloud, "No closer to being free, and I flipped the chair on the side."

The marble floor of the bedroom contorted her face into unsightly shapes. Dash would have laughed at her appearance in the mirror, but under these circumstances, even her sense of stretched humour was strained.

She sighed once more, and rested. Having been captured forcefully was bad enough, but have a syringe jammed in your neck was even worse. It still hurt her considerably.

"Shadow… what have I done…"


"It's done sir. We've completed it."

Standing in his office, Silverhoof looked out onto the skyline of Canterlot. His skyline.

"Mount it on my wall."

"Yes sir."

A knock at the door drew his attention. Where was his secretary?

"I told you not to disturb me! Who the devil-"

Turning around, Silverhoof halted mid sentence. He frowned at the sight of his guest.

"So, the enigmatic trickster. The jester to none."

Razortooth stepped into the office past the fearful secretary. The door closed behind him, leaving Razor alone in the deep red office with two ESS agents, an unknown pony, and the Director.

"Getting poetic are we?" Razortooth returned, "Director, I thought you should know-"

Now it was Razortooth's turn to pause. Not only in speech, but in step. He stared for a few seconds at the vast painting now being fixed to the wall. Words could not describe the many mixed feelings that bombarded Razor's psyche. This was unexpected: A large portrait of Silverhoof, in regal uniform.

"Don't you think it makes me look rather dashing?" Silverhoof chuckled, opening a drawer and producing a small vial of port. Pouring a glass, he continued, "History truly is written by the victor. Everyone has forgotten what happened all those years ago… how Celestia rose through a storm of blood and ash. We don't, but we hope that Celestia will be a thing of the past in due time, don't we, Colonel?"

"Indubitably," Razortooth returned, sounding bored.

He did a good job masking the inner terror that he felt. This was beyond his calculatiosn.

"What do you want?" Silverhoof asked abruptly.

"I did what you asked. Though, I still believe that deception would have…"

"Please, please. My dear Razortooth. We both know your tactics are no longer useful here."

The changeling frowned, and retorted, "Clearly we have judged the situation differently."

"Well, let me show you how I see it:

Lying, cheating, it won't work,
Death and blood are necessary quirks,
A seed of doubt, works slow as sludge,
Oh Razortooth you have misjudged,
Him.

Conquering Shadow requires,
A certain bit of guile and charm,
But you must not be afraid to,
Dish out pain, and some harm,
Can you see the soldiers marching?
This rebellion comes to term,

For conspiracy,
Deception's not key,

Shadow stalks and causes problems,
Appaloosa, Canterlot,
Worthless words and little action,
Will not save, our great plot,
Lies can only get you so far,
All you do is all for not,

For conspiracy,
Deception's not key,

Storm and Dash are the commanders,
One here, one there,
Uniting all against us,
Allies they have everywhere,
Do you really think a simple lie,
That they'll really care?

For conspiracy,
Deception's not key,

Razortooth, come on and listen,
The main point is what you're missing,
A bit of blood and some trauma,
Will finalize our little drama,

Now you see what we must perform,
A flash of blinding bravery,
This is not the time for lying,
Not the time for subtlety,
Shadow must die, quick and angry,
Now I've told you, you should see,

For conspiracy,
Let the soldier bleed,
For conspiracy,
Let the widow weep,
For conspiracy,
Deception's not key"

"You're a fool Silverhoof," Razor stated, turning around to leave, "Even if you win this battle, you won't win the war."

Silverhoof snickered. "Coming from the creature that lost the last one?"