/Good day to you, my lovely readers! Today's thanks goes to Guest for the review, and for the interesting idea. Who knows, maybe Pinkamena will go Cupcakes! (Which isn't mine) I really like that idea, so I just may use it. Okie dokie loki, time for the chapter then. Enjoy!/
Twilight sends us off hurriedly. Th black film is there and gone in moments, and we arrive at our destination.
"Canterlot Castle? Are you sure, Twilight?" I ask. This is where Celestia and Luna's bodies are, after all. Surely they are being used as a sort of beacon for the terrorists.
"It was the first place that came to my mind!" Twilight cries, horn sparking frantically. "I can only use my teleportation spell so many times in the same hour!"
Well then. I see where this is going. It seems that now Twilight can't get us out of here. Smashing. While Cadence tries to calm her sister-in-law, I take in our surroundings. We are on the roof of Canterlot Castle, not inside. Not necessarily outside, either. I gaze across the skyline and down to the city. Of course, I was right. Terrorists have ravaged this city as well. No, not just ravaged. This is not like the Crystal Empire. They have completely taken over the once-beautiful city.
The streets are smeared expertly with what I am going to imagine is red paint. DOWN WITH THE TYRANTS they spell. More expert calligraphy covers the buildings. SURRENDER some read. Others say things like FRIENDSHIP WILL FALL. Paintings of our once-regal monarchs lay in the center of the city. Most burning. Others hung up high, smeared with large red Xs over their faces. I turn. On the roof of the castle, where the flag of the sun and moon once flew, a new flag is erected in black.
FREEDOM STANDS.
It felt like such a normal day. The girls and I were simply walking through town, back to the castle after a well-deserved celebratory brunch at Sugarcube Corner. We'd all gotten used to life without Rainbow Dash. Twilight had assured us that when a threat arose, she would return. She was the Element of Loyalty after all. She wouldn't leave us and never come back, right?
Well... That's when the first attack came.
A boulder was flung at us from a catapult. A warning shot, it seemed. After that, a multitude of pegasi dive-bombed us, carrying unicorns firing attack spells at us. We ran. We ran as fast as we could back to the castle and as soon as we got there, Twilight put up the strongest force field she could manage. We kept her calm and safe, to ensure as much focus as possible was on the shield.
"Surrender, Princess of Friendship!"
And so, the first call of war rang out.
"This was not a good idea, Twilight." Pinkamena states blankly.
"I know that, Pinkamena!" Twilight cries in a panic. Cadence shushes her calmly.
"Don't lead them to us." She whispers.
Twilight breathes heavily and shakily in and out, trying desperately to calm down. Fluttershy hugs her tightly, whispering something inaudible in her ear. Eventually the young princess calms down. I clear my throat.
"There is only one thing to do, girls. We must stay completely out of sight until Twilight can perform her teleportation spell once again." I say.
"Where do you expect us to go, Rarity?" Applejack asks. "We can't very well stay up here, we'll be seen!"
I roll my eyes and sink down to the ground, making myself as difficult to spot as possible. I slink across the roof and down onto a balcony, keeping out of the doorway. Applejack stares down at me as I climb down to the street, concealing myself in some bushes. All the girls watch as I smear myself in mud and brush my mane out of its curl with a spare branch. I peer out from behind the branch and dip my hoof in a small puddle of blood, which I wipe all over myself.
I am no longer Rarity, Element of Generosity. I am Rough Cut. Revolutionary!
The girls stare down at me, completely baffled. I grin and take a bow as each one follows suit, dirtying themselves up as well. Pinkamena will now be known as Terror Decor. Fluttershy is now Millennium. Applejack is Kickflip. Cadence is Manic Heartbreak. Twilight is Mantra Flash.
We step out of the bushes and skulk about the city, attempting to look as casual as possible when we are suddenly caught by a beat-up stallion with his wings outstretched.
"Who're you six?" He asks, voice rough and scratchy.
"Terror Decor, sir." Pinkamena steps forward. "We're part of the Manehatten branch of recruits."
"Manehatten branch, huh? Well step back in line, soldiers." The stallion says.
"Yes, sir." Pinkamena says.
We line up and the stallion shoves us forward. I can't help but notice Twilight's fixed gaze as he does so. She knows this stallion. But never mind that, we have disguises to keep up. I send her sharp kick to the knee, and she gets her head back in gear. The pegasus stallion marches us through the doors of Canterlot Castle.
"I found a group of soldiers from the Manehatten branch wandering around, ma'am." He says.
A nearly unrecognizable unicorn mare stands guard before the door of the throne room.
Trixie.
I can tell she recognizes us by the shocked look that crosses her face, quickly replaced by a smirk.
"Send them upstairs." She orders. "I'll be right there to... Speak with them."
"Yes, ma'am." The stallion says, shoving us forward once again.
We walk nonchalantly up the stairs and into an empty room. The stallion stands beside it, minutes later met by Trixie. He leaves, Twilight staring at him all the while, a look of pain in her eyes. Trixie slams the door and advances on us threateningly. A downright evil grin stretches across her face.
"Twilight Sparkle." She snarls.
"Trixie." Twilight growls, taking a step forward.
I glance at all the girls. This is it, isn't it? My heart drops in my stomach. I'd been sure my disguises were absolutely fantastic, too. Fluttershy trembles. Applejack bites her lip. Cadence is prepared to die for the second time. Even Pinkamena shakes in the grasp of death. But Twilight stands strong.
"I thought you'd be dead..." Trixie cries suddenly, pulling Twilight close to her.
Twilight's eyes widen in shock and she shoves the other unicorn off her.
"What in Equestria are you talking about?" She demands.
"Honestly, Twilight, you didn't think I was this awful, did you?"
Trixie leans over and winks at us, a genuine smile on her face. Well then. What follows is a long, heated conversation as Twilight tries to justify what just happened. Trixie explains herself. She had been living in Saddle Arabia when the terrorists attacked, working on meditation techniques to better herself. When she heard the news of the attack, she planned to stay hidden until the terrorists were defeated. She expected Princess Twilight Sparkle to be able to take care of it in a snap.
But when the reigning monarchs were killed, she knew that this was not something Twilight would be able to handle. This was not going to blow over. So she left Saddle Arabia as a missionary, hoping to find Twilight and bring her back with her. She was picked up by the terrorists when she passed through Canterlot, however, and taken into the soldier program when she convinced them she was an independent revolutionary. She couldn't escape, and eventually moved herself up the branch of power.
She's been waiting to get us inside this whole time.
/BOOM! Longest chapter yet! They're going to get so much longer from here. I promise. Also Trixie is in this story, too. I'm sure you guys can guess who the pegasus stallion is. Zecora will probably get some love in upcoming chapters, too, so get excited! See you guys next chapter./