Chapter 5: The Most Essential Elements
Fire crackled with a spritely energy, letting heat and casting warm light in all directions of the simple cabin that was Yukon's abode. Wind and rain howled outside the window but it was entirely offset by the soft snaps of the hearth which the ponies and Spike sat in front of. The reindeer spoke slowly, patiently and with very delicate placement of every sound of his mouth, like the fact of conversation was a complicated art.
"M.B.E. covers
A dark identity; layers
It operates in.
The name I know not
For which the commerce protects,
I simply work here.
What was the reason
You came to me for knowledge
Of the M.B.E.?"
"Our friends were kidnapped this morning in Ponyville by a train called the "E. Special." owned by MBE. We came here because it's where our only clues led." said Rainbow.
"Ah saw the kidnappers get on th'train with mah own eyes." stated Macintosh. His voice had a strong notice in it that inflected a somewhat grim tone.
"Kidnapping? Strange.
Such cloak and dagger-y
Are quite unusual.
This does not sound
Like common business dealings
In M.B.E." Yukon stroked his chin slowly and carefully, deep in thought.
"I am ashamed
I cannot answer to you
For your seekings.
My knowledge has
Only some breadth. Suspicious,
The accusations.
I will question soon
In regards to this matter.
My superior."
"We need to know now!" demanded Dash, slamming her hoof on the ground as she stood. "We don't have time to just talk about it!"
"I can tell you where
Responsibility is
For a higher rank.
But further I fail
To know of. You shall then
Be all on your own."
"If that's the best we can get, then I suggest we take it." said Rarity, standing beside Rainbow Dash. "Some help is better than none."
"Great risk may involve
A next step. Your peril falls
On your own shoulders."
"We're willin' t'take that chance." said Macintosh. His resolve spoke with as great of a stance the stallion had.
"Very well, ponies,-" His speech was interrupted by a flash outside the window.
"A burst of light?" *KRACK-KABOOM* a peal of thunder roared, making the windowpanes shudder. Rarity and Pinkie Pie both jumped and shook in fear, Fluttershy ducked underneath Macintosh, who simply looked wide-eyed at the window. Yukon, as unaffected as Macintosh, continued his discourse.
"Dear me, the lightning.
Storms prevent our useful course,
To go where next.
M.B.E. observe,
On a great behemoth
Named Aurora.
Beyond that finding;
Central, will be the circle
Of M.B.E. found."
"Where is this 'Aurora'?" asked Dash, whom being so used to contorting weather, was entirely unnoticing of the opposing thundershower.
"Easy to seek it,
Aurora's place is not secret;
Hard to get in." said Yukon cryptically. He rose from his chair and approached the mantelpiece.
"However, given:
A promise made is a debt unpaid.
Take you, this." he picked up a very small lapel pin shaped like a simple steel key, with a very very small inscription on it that read simply "M". He placed it in the hooves of Pinkie Pie.
"Forever my grace
Shall be to you for your laugh.
A poem's honour
Is what binds well all
Reindeer to tell of their
Happiness and Spirit,
If not in marriage,
Then in steed. All my being
is in thankful owe." Yukon bowed low to Pinkie Pie. She bounded in joy and returned the bow, even if much more rapidly. A call came from around the doorway.
"Dearest, are you and the others coming?"
"Attentively, love!" Yukon's voice resonated like a great singers', his smile beaming.
"Come, I exhort your hunger
You must be famished."
They all were led into the cabin's kitchen. In the sizable and modestly decorated room, they were seated at a large table with wide bowls filled with a thick mushroom stew and other elements of a rustic and genial supper. Rarity seemed pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, yet Spike found it somewhat bitter. Dash and Macintosh both thought it tasted slightly unusual to their preferences, but agreed it was enjoyable nonetheless. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both thought it delectable from the first spoonful, and so Fluttershy was the first to speak.
"What made you want to work in a Zoo, Yukon?"
"It was my father's
Trade. In noble and well-proud
Service, he worked.
Father loved it
And so do I. So it goes
That my zoo has thus
Become legacy
And generational.
Restoration however…"
"Can you talk to the animals?"
"Not really, although
I understand them very well;
Thoughts and motion.
Actions I see,
The animals tell me much
Of in their minds." replied Yukon, quite engaged with Fluttershy's simple questions.
"Is this similar
To your interests, friend?
You question aptly."
"I can talk to the animals. I love to care for them back where I live." she said timidly but happily. Yukon and Fluttershy began a long conversation regarding their interests as well as for the future of the Zoo in how he might set about repairing what had been done.
"So you're all from Ponyville then? What brought you out to Fillydelphia?" asked Cari in a gingerly voice.
"We're looking for a friend. The only information we had was from a stallion in the city, who ran a parlour." summarized Rarity.
"Ah, you probably mean Whisp, if you were talking about MBE. We should invite him over for dinner some time, it's been so long." replied the reindeer, with a generous gleam in her eye. "Well, I hope we were able to help your friend-search. You'll all be staying for night, yes?" she offered politely. Thunder rumbled outside, making all the mares quickly look out at a window.
"Well…" began Dash nonchalantly.
"My insistence!
Too far is it to locate
Nightly lodgings." said Yukon.
"We sincerely appreciate your generosity." replied Rarity.
"Eeyup." concurred Macintosh.
Following supper, the hour was late, and the reindeer ensured the guests all had their own space within the living room near the fireplace, using their packed bedspreads.
"Good slumber I bid,
That fortune may find you all
Come morrow sunrise." said Yukon, blowing out a lantern in the middle of the room's ceiling, and walking carefully out of the space.
"Aren't you going to sleep too?" Cari directed at Macintosh, who was standing still and staring out the window with a silent and wordless expression, into night's restless dark.
"Ah'll be fine. Thank ye again fer yer hospitality." he replied. Cari smiled in response, and left the room in the softening orange glow of the fireplace.
All too quickly, the group realized how tired they were in the darkness, and sleep came.
In the faded light of a large burgundy-wooded study, Montclair sat poring over notes and books of information, writing up a complex draft in planning for the various already-undergoing or soon-to-be-undertaken heists and capers of his design. He stood, placing his glasses onto the blueprint that sat on his ornate draughtsman desk and walked over to a tall cabinet of wide thin drawers, pulling one open and extracting a large sheet of a floorplan, and returning it to his desk. A knock beckoned his attention from his work. The door opened at the same time that he looked up.
"Mr. Montclair, preparations are complete, should we commence the Interview?"
"Presently, Baws, presently. We shall see to it once our Guests have been accommodated from their trip."
"Mr. Montclair, I doubt the ponies will be tired from sitting in a train for more than a whole day."
"Oh go bother someone else." replied Montclair somewhat playfully, waving his paw dismissively. "I see no reason to rush things."
"Of course sir." heeded Baws.
In the guest room, Twilight stood in front of the bookshelf near the window while Applejack paced back and forth near the beds, talking aloud and occasionally removing her newly provided hat to examine it. She objected to its color and how new and clean it looked, but was rather annoyed with how little she could complain with how well the russet stetson fit her crown. More than anything, Applejack was quite flustered at the character of Montclair, how noble and chivalrous he appeared, despite having no qualms with being a thief. And how quickly and easily he seemed to have deduced her honesty.
"It just don't make no sense that he'd steal somepony's things and then just be all fine with it! He can't be all 'right in the head'."
Twilight pulled a book out from the bookshelf, examining the title. "Hmmm… Most of these are historical reference to architecture and art…"
"Twilight, are you listnin'?"
"Sort of. I'm seeing if there's anything useful in here…" replied Twilight, pulling a few more books from the shelf.
"Useful for what?"
"I don't know, any kind of helpful knowledge, something."
"What do you think of Montclair?" Applejack had a certain difficulty with pronouncing the name correctly through her accent but somehow she managed, as if out of some kind of mysterious unthought-of respect.
"I don't agree with what he does, no."
"Well, I-" a knock interrupted Applejack's reply. With only that moment's notice, the door opened and one of the unicorn guards, still wearing a gray vest and hat stepped inside the door.
"Miss Twilight. Please come with me."
"Me? What about Applejack?"
"Now, Miss Twilight, if you don't mind." insisted the guard in a tone which neither of them liked very much. Twilight gave a look to Applejack, in hope and trust of fates unknown, and Twilight approached the guard. The two of them exited the room, leaving Applejack alone with her thoughts.
The guard led Twilight down the hall away from the rotunda and through a large decoratively carved pair of doors into a tidy-looking study. A variety of large drawer-chests and file cabinets filled the room, except for a big black box-like object near the back. As they approached, it became clear it was a makeshift room separator using large light-blocking curtains. The guard ushered her inside, and behind the curtain was a small square table with stools at both ends, one of which already sat another one of the guard unicorns, although his hat had been removed, his hooves resting on a small set of stationery. Above him dangled a small tin can via a string, which lead up and out of the curtained space behind the curtain on the other side. Unseen observers apparently would be viewing (or at least hearing and replying to) whatever would be happening.
"Good day Miss Sparkle." said the guard, nodding politely. His voice sounded far more well-spoken and approachable than the guards that had escorted her and Applejack from the train earlier.
"Hi. What's going on?" she said, looking around the space.
"This is the Interview being conducted by Mr. Montclair to ensure that you and Miss Applejack have relatable levels of honesty."
"Why?"
"Mr. Montclair intends to inform you on a certain 'Finding Spell' to locate the Gem. However, he doubts it'll work unless you and Miss Applejack are on the same level, so to speak." said the guard. He shuffled the papers a little, looking down to ensure they were in the right order. "It also serves the double-purpose of verifying facts he has on you and your friends."
"Why would he want to know about that?"
"Mr. Montclair keeps excellent records of all beings involved in his endeavours." said the unicorn. He gave Twilight a personable raised-eyebrow. "(I suspect it's a habit of his to keep things super-organized or have complete collections or whatever.) Whatever the reason, he thinks this interview will serve both those interests. You'll participate then?"
"Well, since I'm already here." said Twilight, slightly resigned and ever-so-partially annoyed by the rhetorical question. She sat down.
"Good." The unicorn looked down again at his papers, what little friendliness he had indicated, fading into a non-biased tone. "Some of this will be in yes or no questions, some of the answers will be left for your own words. However the first half will be all yes or no. This is the first question; Do you understand?"
Twilight slightly adjusted herself in position and in mind, realizing the exam-like nature of the situation.
"Yes." she replied simply.
"Your name is Twilight Sparkle; mare unicorn, resident of Ponyville, native of Canterlot, librarian of the Books and Branches Library, appointed and funded by Princess Celestia At Her Majesty's Pleasure?"
"Yes."
"You are Master's Apprentice-apparent to Princess Celestia, the Co-ruler of the Principality of Equestria, and have been so since you were young."
"Yes."
"You have genetic parents whom you are in regular contact with."
At that, Twilight hesitated. She tried to be in regular contact, truly she did. But oftentimes study or things with her friends would delay or belay a given letter for weeks. In the back of her mind's eye she bit her lip at the question, and made a mental note to make a higher point of it for the future. But honestly,
"…Yes."
"You love your parents." Of that there was no doubt.
"Yes."
"You have siblings."
"Uh… yes.." Twilight felt she should have seen that question coming, but like the contacting her parents question, it was undesirably penetrating in so few words.
"Are you in regular contact with them?" he wrote something down.
"..Sort of? Spike often acts a lot like a littl-"
"Yes or no." interrupted the guard.
"..Can I pass?"
The guard's ear perked upwards at the can above him, and his look returned back at the papers in front of him.
"Fine. Moving on, you enjoy having friends."
"Yes." Again it was a question that seemed almost needlessly straightforward.
"You have six best friends."
"Er.. seven, if you include Princes-"
"Yes or no, Miss Sparkle." "This guy doesn't really lend himself to compromise." Twilight thought.
"No, I have seven."
"Of these, five of them are the Elements of Harmony."
"Yes."
"Do you think this is a coincidence?"
"…That really puts a big step of faith into whether or not destiny is a real thing."
Behind the curtain, Montclair listened intently to Twilight's reactions, alongside Zoroko, transcribing the exchange. Montclair spoke to himself quietly.
"Clever filly." he spoke into the can suspended from above. "Pass the question."
The guard wrote on the page again.
"Do you trust your friends?"
"Absolutely."
"Do you believe your friends trust you?"
"Yes."
"Would you trust your friends if your life depended on it?"
The most infinitesimal smidgen of hesitation crept into some ill-begotten nook of Twilight's mind.
"Yes."
"Would they if they depended on you?"
The hesitation grew a tiny margin.
"I think so, yes."
"If you had to choose between saving your own life, or the life of a friend, who would you choose, yourself or your friend?"
There Twilight caught-on to the instantaneous argument of her innermost morals. However, a recollection quickly shut them up. "Friendship is knowing who to put ahead of yourself."
However her studiousness spoke first.
"That isn't a yes or no question."
"It's still one or the other. Friend or self?"
"My friend."
"On to the elements.. Pinkamena Diane Pie."
Twilight adjusted herself in her seat as the test seemed to turn in subject matter.
"Mare earth-pony, resident of Ponyville, baker for the Sugarcube Corner and tenant of the proprietors, the Cake family. The Element of Laughter."
"Yes, that's all correct."
"Is Pinkie Pie always representative of Laughter?"
An interesting question to be sure, Twilight had to think for a moment on it. She held her hoof to her chin.
"This is one of the My-own-words questions?"
"It is."
Twilight continued thinking.
"Not really always, just, most of the time. Someponies don't react in the best way to her, since she's pretty unpredictable and... Well… the way she acts is entirely all her own. I know that there are some folks in Ponyville who don't really get her, or didn't mirror her happiness at meeting for the first time. I know I didn't. And she can get pretty down if it seems no one likes her. But if there's anypony in the whole world who knows how to forgive and forget, it's Pinkie. Laughter I guess is just the audible part of her that shows it. She's a great friend."
The guard wrote something on the paper and spoke again.
"'Lady' Rarity. Mare unicorn, resident of Ponyville, owner and shopkeeper of Carousel Boutique, private fashion designer for commission or personal service. The Element of Generosity."
"I think she prefers Miss over Lady, but then again it's kind of weird thinking about it. Me and my friends just call her Rarity. But the rest of it's all right."
"Is Rarity always representative of Generosity?"
"It's odd when you ask it- Rarity no doubt is one of the most generous ponies there is. But the weird part is that while being like that, she's often not all that selfless. She can be pretty attention-seeking and vain, even to a fault. But her friends usually point it out to her before she gets carried away. When she gets into a giving mood, she often entirely forgets how much work her promises can add up to. Someday I hope she'll learn how to properly balance selfishness and selflessness."
"Could you describe her family?"
"Her family? I don't see her parents much. Sweetie Belle hangs around with a few school fillies like Applejack's sister. I don't pay attention to them very much actually- they're way too energetic for me to keep up with."
"'Fluttershy'. Resident mare pegasus of Ponyville, native of Cloudsdale, civil freelance animal protection worker…" the guard raised an eye at his paper as he read it. "No other details provided…? -The Element of Kindness."
"She lives in a cottage near the Everfree forest, and I don't think she actually has a formal job. She just does what she does for her own past-time."
"How representative is she of her element?"
"How high is up!" chortled Twilight. "I don't think you'd ever be able to find a kinder gentler pony anywhere ever. She's shy and easily scared but her tiny sort of ego really makes it surprising how big of a heart she has. She's patient, honest, modest, loves to help, but how shy she is can make it hard to be herself. It's why I tell her to be bolder, but she's sort of slow to change. Not that that's really a problem…"
The guard wrote again.
"Rainbow Dash. Mare pegasus, resident of Cloudsdale and Ponyville. Municipal weather patrol and control. The Element of Loyalty."
"Oh my, where to begin with her? She's a great pony, probably the best flier in all Equestria. But she can be egotistical and a bit brutal. Then again, I'd much rather her be harsh with her honesty than any gentle liar. She's fun to be around because of how she likes action and excitement- assuming she's not having a nap."
"Loyal then?"
"Always."
"…Alright. Applejack Apple. Mare earth-pony, resident of Ponyville, farmer and part-owner of the Sweet Apple Acres property. The Element of Honesty."
"Applejack.. she's kind of like Rainbow Dash, but more down-to-earth, if you get what I mean." replied Twilight with a twinge of humour at the reference. The guard remained stoic and wrote something else. "She loves her family and her farm- I don't think I know anypony who works half as hard as she does, and I guess one of the best tells that she's really honest is that she's a bad liar. I think though her pride is actually a kind of a big fault. She's honest to anyone except herself, ironically."
"Could you describe her family?"
"She lives with her granny, her brother and her little sister. I don't see Apple Bloom much, she hangs around with Sweetie Belle and a few other school fillies... Big Macintosh stays on the farm a lot and we don't talk much- he's a stallion of few words, if any. Granny Smith is, well, kind of weird a lot of the time, but I guess she's earned the right to be eccentric if she wants to be, since she's so old."
"Do you think of Big Macintosh as a friend, or perhaps anything else?"
With that, Twilight's head bobbed backwards in surprise at the somewhat obtuse query, not really knowing what the guard meant.
"Well, I guess I think of him as an acquaintance. I really don't know him all that well since I almost never see him unless I go to the farm or he comes to town. Did I mention he doesn't talk much?"
"Apart from your assistant Spike, have you ever considered the fact that he is the only male within the circle of your friends?"
Twilight's surprise turned into a suspicious sneer at the implication, wordlessly questioning the practicality of the answer with her face.
"What has that got to do with my honesty?"
The guard's expression betrayed a feigned insistence on neutrality, leaning more towards some kind of personal fancy.
"To verify what extent you're willing to be open to us. He's a fine stallion to be sure, don't you think so?"
Twilight's reticent sneer remained.
"…I guess." she said, with a raised eyebrow. The guard shuffled his papers in such a way that it obscured his mouth, seemingly finished.
"And you know what they say about stallions with big hooves…" murmured the guard in a voice that was louder than he had intended. As soon as he uttered it, his eyes flared slightly at his slip.
"Big shoes?" replied Twilight, growing slightly more weirded out. The guard subconsciously thanked a sweet nothing at the miss of the euphemism as he covered his tracks, responding
"..Yyes."
"She must not get out much." quipped Zoroko quietly, focusing on his typewriter. Montclair's eyes burned at the slight, staring at the zebra. He slapped him on the back of the head. The subdued *thwack* from behind the curtain indicated to the guard that the Interview had been largely concluded, for which he was most grateful to be escaping from his impropriety.
"This concludes the Interview, Miss Sparkle. You will be escorted back to the guest room while we analyze the results. Thank you for your participation."
"Okay." said Twilight, in an ever-so-partially grateful, ever-so-confused tone. The curtain was pulled open and the two guards from before escorted Twilight out of the study.
Without knocking, the first guard pushed the door open, making Applejack jerk her head upwards from a wall panel near the bookcase. It seemed the guard did not notice, and Twilight was pointed into the study. Without a word, the guard exited and close the door again once she entered.
"Twilight?"
"That was weird." she summarized.
"What'd they want?"
"They asked me a few questions about my friends and who I trust. It was pretty simple but some of the questions were pretty strange." Twilight tilted her head noticing Applejack's continued stance leaning forwards near the bookcase. "They said the interview was for seeing if I had the same "level" of honesty as you, Applejack." Applejack was listening but still focusing on the odd corner of the room.
"Well maybe we won't have t'worry about whatever it is they wanted you for if we can escape. C'mere." Twilight followed and looked at the same place her friend was. The wall was engraved with a repeating rectangular pattern all along the bottom edge, at least to a whole pony's height. But Applejack seemed intent on focusing on the bottom corner of the rectangle nearest the bookshelf.
"What?" said Twilight, not understanding.
"Look, this corner here." Applejack pointed her hoof to a tiny seam on the edge of the rectangle, as if the one panel was a separate piece of wood that fit perfectly. "It looks like it's been cut. Maybe this is a secret door." Twilight examined the panel herself.
"You're right, it must be. Look at the top edge, the wood grain doesn't match up." Applejack did so and noticed. Twilight bent very low, as if she was trying to lick the corner where Applejack saw the gap.
"Twi? What are you doing?"
"…I can feel a little bit of air movement on my lips through the crack." she stood upright. "It's hollow behind this panel."
"Well then let's open 'er up. Stand back." said Applejack, turning around and readying herself to buck.
"No Applejack, that'll make a bunch of noise. Try pushing on it."
Applejack backed up and pressed on the panel with her rear hooves.
"No dice. It's solid as a rock."
"There must be a secret opening to it somewhere…" said Twilight. She began examining the bookshelf.
"Twilight, this ain't time to read, it's time to escape!"
"I read in a book once…" reminisced Twilight, browsing the titles left to right, then down a row. She stopped at an unobtrusive grey jacketed book that had garnered some dust.
"The Right Way to Do Wrong: An Exposé of Successful Criminals, by Harry Hoofini" "Harry Hoofini was a famous escape artist. Maybe this could-" Twilight pulled the book and found it was tied to a string that led into a small grommet hole in the back of the bookcase. She pulled the book further out and the string went taught. Tugging on it, the string would not budge. She pulled harder and the string gave way, letting out only but an inch more, before stopping solid again, followed by a rather pronounced *clack*.
Twilight and Applejack stopped. She replaced the book, noticing the string still taught as if it was being wound back up. The panel swung open to reveal the darkened and graying joists in an unlit passageway in-between the panels of the guest room and whatever room was on the other side of the wall. Twilight admired the curiosity.
"Nice work Twi."
The hollow emptiness of the passage in-between the walls beckoned both intrigue and caution with a very quiet murmur of air moving through.
"It's awful dark in there. And I still can't use my magic, how are we going to see?"
Applejack lit and grabbed a candleholder from near the beds. They ventured inside the passage, noticing it went probably half the height of the room but barely a pony's width wide, making the space somewhat tight and very narrow. Brownish pipes spanned above, and the wood made the sort of creaking that one could feel underhoof but made no sound.
Twilight looked back to see that the panel door had some kind of blue-pedaled mechanical system that drove the hinge, and that it could be opened from the passageway's side. She pressed the pedal and the door slipped closed and locked. Travelling some distance down the passage, they came to a stairway within the passage. They continued up the narrow stairs, until it levelled off again and turned sharply. Following in it, eventually it lead to the passage bending as if it surrounded a round room.
"We must be above his trophy room."
"No.. That's not right, it can't be." replied Twilight. "I sort of remember how the rooms and halls were shaped, if we're going out and between them. If we were above his trophy room, this passageway would bend to the left, not the right."
Light issued from further beyond the bend. They cautiously moved forwards and found the light's origin- gaps in the passage led behind a series of thick, densely clustered pipes straight up and down, that prevented direct viewing of obviously some bright thing in the room that they lingered above. They walked a bit farther and found another gap, again covered with pipes, although not as thickly clustered, but the pipes themselves were larger. They peered through the gaps and found another room, ornate like the trophy room, but it had no glass cases in it. They tried to look downwards and saw a large console with numerous buttons and three keyboards on it.
A prominent clash of doors opening drew their attention to the opposite side of the elliptical room, showing Montclair being followed by Baws, Zoroko, and a guard unicorn that Twilight identified. The well-dressed diamond dog sounded displeased, as if he had been very angry recently but was calming himself.
"…None of it. You should thank your stars that she didn't catch on."
"It won't happen again, Mr. Montclair." replied the guard.
"That's the guy that interviewed Me." whispered Twilight. Montclair continued.
"The 'big hooves' business was- ergh…" Montclair put his paw over his face as he walked, and then stopped. "…I really don't care what you think or read about when you are not on duty, Mr. Roy, but if you must be dedicating yourself to thoughts so rash, please do make a point of differentiating such pursuits from your voice, or I shall make you wish you had." he finished emphatically and with a subdued inflection of rage, pointing one of the claws of his paws between the eyes of the unicorn.
"Yes, Mr. Montclair." replied the guard sheepishly. Montclair turned to face the console.
"As you were."
The guard turned and closed the doors as he left through them.
"Big hooves?" asked Applejack, slightly confused.
"He said in the interview that I'd know what's meant by Big Macintosh having big hooves."
Applejack nodded at Twilight. Then her expression switched to a bizarre shape that was half embarrassed and half incensed, her mouth open about to ask something.
"Big shoes?" continued Twilight. Applejack's face melted quickly back into something more common but also elusive in regards to her true thoughts.
"Yeah, that sounds' about right." she replied. Technically Twilight's question had been answered, but with lack of substantial context, she left it, knowing it perhaps was not a matter to pursue at current –especially considering how unexpected Applejack's reaction was. Montclair sat down in front of the console. With the tap of a button and pulling out a large wooden knob, Twilight and Applejack heard a shudder and then all the pipes in front of them made a very soft *whud*. The entire room became silent, and they held their breath, feeling slightly exposed by the gaps between the covering pipes.
"So then. Miss Sparkle's results," began Montclair, extending his arms outwards to space his wrists before coming to a ready position in front of the console's keyboard. "Can we trust our essential elements?" he began playing on the keyboard, emanating throughout the hall a sweet spritely song from the pipe organ, resonating with a likable charm.
"Honesdy is not often equal, bozz. Anyone who says dey're perfect is lying." said Zoroko. "Aldough it was nice to get some facts about her straight."
"Her cooperation I'm sure will come if we do as we say we'll do." said Baws. "If we say they won't be hurt then that's what will happen. If we say lunch is served, so be it." said Baws.
"Am I not a dog of my word, Baws?" replied Montclair. "I never thought those things were in question."
"Of course, Mr. Montclair."
"In regards to the morality questions, would you say they fit her bill?"
"I suppoze so," returned Zoroko. Montclair pulled a knob on the console and the sound grew louder and grander, into a rich bombastic timbre which almost deafened Applejack and Twilight as they stood behind one of the ranks of pipes. The music obscured their hearing of the conversation.
"Let's keep movin'." suggested Applejack. They walked cautiously and quietly, although easily drowned out by the pipe organ. The passageway turned into a small, still squarely shaped cave made of some soft grey stone. A tiny window on one side gave Applejack sight, which she then let Twilight look out. They saw that they were overlooking the large cavernous space of the apparently subterranean train depot, where several of the red-striped coaches sat by themselves. A couple of ponies where making themselves busy with what looked like either cleaning or repairing the train. At the far wall they could see that the cars were closed-in by large thick metal doors- One of a group of three, adjunct two other rail platforms in the cavern, which sat empty. On the opposite end of the rails for the platforms, the tracks continued into tunnels that went into darkness.
They continued on through the cave keeping quiet, and the passageway came to a sharp turn, and then another. In a small alcove of the passageway they found another doorway entrance with a blue pedal and machine attached to it. Being only narrow enough for one pony, Applejack snuck forwards and gently pressed the pedal, making the passageway door creep forwards and open to about the width of an inch, before she stopped and peered out. The edges of her sight made her think the passage door was hidden inside a wooden wardrobe. The room she looked into seemed rather stark and painted with a light gray. Out of the furthest edge she could see what appeared to be metal bunk beds.
"The Broncos won? That's a surprise." said sturdy male voice. Applejack's heart leapt at the surprise, and she turned her view out the crack to the other direction to see a doorway from which the voices were coming from.
"Yeah. Eight-five is what I heard. Not too shabby for the first game of the season." said different male's voice.
"Maverick's gonna be so mad when he finds out he lost, Lone." said another.
"Seventy bits, fair and square. I'm just happy Lady-Luck decided to smile." The voices laughed, and sources became visible; three dark-coloured unicorns entered through the doorway, wearing nothing except steam emanating from their freshly showered bodies, one of them carrying a towel over his neck and another holding his own towel aloft with magic. Some warm feeling sourced in Applejack.
"Applejack?"
"Nothin!" she said abruptly, pulling away. Twilight looked at her befuddled.
"What?"
"Er- I mean, I see Montclair's guards."
"Let me see." They shuffled awkwardly but quietly, allowing Twilight to see the stallions just as they passed out of view. "Looks like a staff barracks. This must be where they go when they're not on duty. Let's keep looking around."
"Right." Applejack took satisfaction that her expression couldn't be noticed in the dark. They closed the secret door and continued. Eventually the passageway led to an attic-like space with nothing in it but insulation, some roof beams and metal pipes venting out of the ceiling below them. Twilight coughed carefully at the stuffiness of the air in the space.
"This looks like a dead end." she said. Applejack cautiously balanced herself on a middle beam and walked down to one end and looked down through a grate.
"It's a kitchen!" she observed. Through the grate she could see a few different cooks preparing some meals- four different varieties were apparent. Most of the chefs were preoccupied with feeding some variety of a large group, preparing food that looked appetizing and very much like a large work-lunch, half suitable for ponies and half suitable in all likelihood for diamond dogs. Another small few of the cooks seemed to be preparing some kind of special meals, for two diamond dogs and for two ponies.
"He wasn't lyin' about the food stuff, looks like. They must feed an' army!" said Applejack quietly. Appetizing aromas of caraway and cinnamon drifted to her nose. "Smells awful good too." Some unwanted and unintended gurgle in her stomach at suddenly feeling hungry caused Applejack to belch accidentally. One of the chefs below looked up and Applejack turned away, hiding herself from the vent.
"…Ah it's just a little burping-beetle." quipped the chef, and continued with his work. Applejack sighed in relief.
"Applejack!" whispered Twilight. "C'mon, if they're making lunch then we've got to get back to the room before they serve it."
Applejack returned the way she came, and the two of them exited back into the passageway, all the way back and around, overlooking the organ hall. Montclair was still there but his comrades had departed, and he was still engrossed in his piece of music, which sounded as if it was soon to end as the rivulets of the notes rose up and down, and his paws swam around the rows and registers of keys.
As they rounded the bend of the passageway just near one of the pipe ranks, Twilight's flank bumped a protruding nail.
"Ow!" It made her bump away from the wall and into the supporting strut for the rank's pipe cluster with an obtrusive *thump!*. The music climaxed with a discordant tone, sounding like Montclair had been distracted by an offending non-musical noise.
Applejack and Twilight froze in position.
Montclair paws returned to the keys and continued playing the piece as if his off-key pause was part of the song, playing rapidly and amusedly. Twilight looked at Applejack and the two thought the same thought.
"That was close."
They returned to the room panel door, opening it with the blue pedal, and shutting it by pushing it closed. Twilight and Applejack noticed each other, covered with a tiny layer of dust.
"Yeesh." remarked Twilight.
"Rarity'd have a heart attack if she went in there." joked Applejack, who shook herself off. Twilight seeing her do so did likewise, making a small grayish billow come from her hair.
As soon as they settled, the door knocked and opened, revealing Baws, holding a thick brown book.
"We've conferred that Miss Twilight's honesty will be acceptable. Miss Twilight," he held up the book. "Please study the contents of this book related to the Gem of Euphony, as well as the Finding Spell. We plan on making an attempt at its discovery later today, if possible." he placed the book in front of her. "Thank you for your assistance regarding the matter."
"No problem." said Twilight, slightly suspicious.
Baws didn't evoke much of a reaction beyond a nod, and exited the doorway. Twilight felt an odd blump of numbness, and then remembered the Disenchantment Chain on her horn. She picked up the book, it being surprisingly heavy for her since it had been such a long time since she last actually had to open a book without magic. She loaded it onto a small desk with a chair that sat near one corner of the room and opened it up.
"So we're gonna actually help this thief guy?" asked Applejack.
"Well, since we don't really have any other choice, and if it means going home." Twilight replied. She flipped to a page and started reading.
"If you're gonna do that, then I'm gonna come up with a plan B for escapin'. I just don't trust that Baws feller."
"I don't either, but I think Montclair might honest enough."
"…Maybe…"
"Regardless what happens, you were right when we were back on the train. All we have to do is keep out of enough trouble and our friends will find us eventually."
"Yeah. Friends never let each other down." agreed Applejack.
Montclair sat, having returned to his study, listening to a secret sound pipe mounted in his table. He sat back in his chair pensively.
""Our friends will find us"? Why would they be missed?"