"Come on, follow me. We can talk in my workroom, it's the most heavily shielded place in this house. Nothing can get at us in there, and we can discuss this in safety. Hey March," called Quickstar. "Your sister's here, and we're going to eat in the workroom together!" "I hope you don't mind," Quickstar continued, returning his attention to Intrude, "but I don't like having discussions like this on an empty stomach, and I took the liberty of preparing enough for the three of us." As they entered the workroom and the door closed behind them, the passive shields sprang into place, and even the noises outside seemed muffled. Crystals, gemstones, scales, test tubes, and other various mysterious tools of both science and magic lined the walls. Quickstar shoved one of the tables away from the wall with his magic and pulled up three stools. He set the soup pot on the table and doled out portions into the bowls he had brought. "Now, eat up and tell me everything that happened after I left."
Intrude opened her mouth to speak, and was interrupted by a loud bunch of tumbling hoof steps as March ran up to her, eager to hear, and see her. She continued. "I was angry and worried about March. I left.." she said. "It took powerful magic to magic away even you two, though.." A thoughtful expression crossed her face. "What exactly does your cutie mark represent, anyway? If you don't mind me asking."
"My cutie mark? I've got a talent for finding clever ways to use simple spells. It's the course I teach at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns." Quickstar took a sip of his soup. "And of course they were using powerful magic, they're alicorns. Why did you think I asked to study their magic?" He frowned. "What worries me most is that I'd really intended to use that opportunity to covertly apply a couple spells to them while their defenses were down, as a sort of insurance in case they weren't as good as their word, but they saw through my ruse in an instant. It was almost like they read my mind. I don't suppose they mentioned anything about that after I was sent away?"
"Unless you're the element of honor, I don't.. think so." she said. "Perhaps you can find a hidden meaning?" she said. "You see, my special talent is basically.. thoughts. If you'd like, I could show you what you didn't see. From my perspective, of course, but I can make it so none of my feelings or thoughts come into your mind. Just what happened if you were standing in my place.. Feel free to decline, if you wish. Many ponies dislike the idea that thoughts can be transmitted." A rare hint of a smile played on her face. "Perhaps it's why I'm not liked much." March nodded emphatically, drinking his soup.
Quickstar smiled, his eyes widening in interest. "Seeing memories from another pony's perspective? That's quite an advanced spell, one that I've never experienced and would love to see! Others might fear the unknown, but I personally relish and seek it out. Go right ahead."
She closed her eyes, and her horn glowed, a grey aura surrounding it. A similarly colored stream of power came from the horn, and almost.. danced in front of Quickstar. Quickly, it went into his ear, and entered his brain, where memories flooded in.
Lancer headed back to Ponyville and had managed to catch up with Crimson shortly after she left. Lancer explained what had happened and why she agreed to help Tremallion. Crimson, as she thought, was reluctant at first but agreed with her shortly after. They headed back to the Tavern where they seen Fire waiting out the front. She wanted something, maybe help with her assignment. The two cousins walked over to her as Fire noticed them come into her view.
(I'll take that your post happened before the siege started Crim? Cause Ponyville is currently under cannon bombardment.)
"Woah! That was quite a rush!" Quickstar shook his head a little as the new memories settled and he examined them. "Huh...Essence-sensing? That's how they did it? Interesting..." The gears began turning in Quickstar's head as he began processing all the information he had. "So, they have powers similar to Snow's Essence powers, but much more experience. They have an enormous army and claim that Celestia is a liar and a usurper. They summon various ponies and tell them that they are bearers of some sort of 'Elements of the Ancients', but don't seem to care about their loyalties. They return us back to where we came, but then immediately launch a violent attack on the town most of us are in, conflicting with their claim that they will only attack anyone who gets in their way." "Therefore...they are playing a much deeper game than they appear to be. Most important right now is for us to learn the truth about what happened all those years ago between Celestia and Tremalion, but directly asking them about it is pointless. One of them will be lying, and the other will be heavily biased. We need someone else who is likely to know the whole story, as well as a way to shield ourselves from that Essence-sensing, because otherwise we'll never figure out who the liar is." He thought a bit more. "Alright, I've got the makings of a plan. We'll need help from Snow on how to shield from Essence-sensing, and from Twilight Sparkle on getting an audience with the princesses. And considering that Snow seemed to favor Tremalion heavily in the meeting, I'd say Twilight would be the most likely to be in danger now." Quickstar looked up from his musings at Intrude. "Well, I'm not sure who to believe, but I'm going to stop at nothing to find out the truth, and that begins at Twilight's library. Are you in, or are you out?"
"Excellent. I'll tell you more of the plan on the way, but right now, there's one more detail to attend to." Quickstar glanced over at March. "What are we going to do about your brother? The shields on this room are powerful, but they were made to keep accidents in, not keep attackers out. I wouldn't be entirely comfortable leaving him here on his own. Do you know anypony who can keep an eye on him until things calm down?"
1 hour Before the siege: "oh, hi guys. Just came here for a quick drink. Anyway what do you think about this Tremalion fella. Personally I think it's high time we have a change of leadership". As fire drank a glass of champagne she spoke again. "I'm heading back to ponyville. Should be a good time to chat with the others. You have to be friends to work at peak condition". - - Auto Merge - - 5 minutes till siege start: As fire arrived in ponyville she stood in the town square. Admiring the view before taking a break and visiting twilights library. Fireheart was always a reader, Especially in political thrillers and gallant heroine's.
That was all Quickstar had needed to hear in order for the last few pieces of the puzzle that was Intrude to fall into place. Abusive father, missing mother, now old enough to be considered an adult, so she takes her little brother and goes off on her own, with no thought given to whether or not she can find the means to support them both. Probably unconsciously associates failure to manage on her own as meaning she has no choice but to return to her former life with her father, resulting in cynicism and fierce independence. Unwise when looked at objectively, but completely understandable, and admirable that she has the determination to not give up. There was an old saying that even the deadliest poisons could be used to heal in the most minute quantities, but in this case, Intrude could probably be said to have an extreme allergy to deception. If she caught Quickstar in even one lie, all the trust she had in him would be lost forever. So the best way to prevent that from happening...was to simply not lie. "You're quite welcome, little stallion," Quickstar replied, returning his attention to March and smiling at the colt's manners. "I actually like it better when I'm cooking for more than just myself. More of each ingredient means it's harder to mess up the measurements, so you and your sister are free to stop by for dinner anytime you want." And so, after a short detour to drop off March, Quickstar and Intrude carefully made their way towards Twilight's library.
"Welcome my Protector, I'm glad you could have answered my summons at such a terrible time." Celestia told Dark as she approached the Princess. Dark saluted, "Of course, but what did you summon me for Princess? Canterlot is still in need of preparation for any attack!" "Don't worry Dark, my sister and I will take care of Canterlot, but we've found that Ponyville is currently under seige by the attackers and we need you to go take care of it, after all, Ponyville is in the Capital Region." Celestia told Dark. Dark bit her lip, "My Princess, if you don't mind me asking, but...What is your side of the story to this? I just know that this Tremalion guy summoned me to this ruined building in the middle of a forest to tell me and some other that we these "Ancient Elements" like the Elements of Harmony and that he claims that you are a usurper." Celestia sighed, "So that's what this is about? Tremalion was never one to let go of something...Dark, follow me." Celestia then took Dark around her throne to a pair of doors she had never noticed and motioned her through. Inside was a hall much like the hall of stained glass that showed important moments in Equestrian history, but this one was...different to say the least. Its beginnings covered a period of great turmoil wrought by war and the unstability that followed before it finally started to resemble the other hall of glass. "Since you came back, well I thought you deserved the truth. What Tremalion told you...it is true, I did purposely overthrow Equestria's old government in my youth. But what he didn't tell you, and something I didn't even know myself, is that the amount of use the Elements of Harmony went through those first years trying to get the turmoil under control resulted in me becoming who I am now. I do not wish for war or power any longer. Tremalion, I think those thousand and some odd years did something to him, I can feel it. I feel like he isn't the brother I used to know, and unless something changes soon, I worry he may snap." Dark swallowed, "What do you mean Princess?" "I mean him sweeping me and Luna off the throne, giving us a punishment he sees as many times worse than the banishment we gave him and insert a brutal regime to crack down on insurrection before any smackings of this 'democracy' come about. Tremalion was never one for doing things in an elaborate, thought out way, that's more Heculius' style." "But...Couldn't you stop him?" "No, not anymore. Since the Elements of Harmony were severed from their attachment to me and moved to Twilight and her friends, I am considerably weaker, and Tremalion is powered by blind vengence, trying to get back at me for all the wrongs of my past. If Tremalion and I were to face each other, that would be the end. Dark, Equestria's best hope right now is stall, and hopefully convince Heculius to try and stop Tremalion. Remember Dark, we all must pay for our sins sooner or later, but I never thought mine would come back to haunt me like this...You're dismissed." Dark bowed and left Celestia alone, suddenly infinitely more worried about what was to come than she was before she walked into Celestia's throne room, then she remembered Snow was in Ponyville, and took off faster than she ever had before to round up her personal squad to head off to Ponyville to aid in its defense.
Kleft's aimless wandering around sent him back to the same spot three times already. He was beginning to snort with frustration and the beginning effects of adrenaline. He could hear shouts and explosions in the distance, but saw nothing. Kleft nearly shouted out in pure frustration, but stopped himself when he saw a party approaching him. He shoved his anger into his fye and cleared his mind slightly. As he approached them, he recognized one as the pony who had wished to be teleported away earlier. "You- yes, I remember you from earlier. You were one of the 'elements' that alicorn was talking about. You left to find information, yes? You wouldn't by chance know what the hell he meant?"
Intrude was quiet. The shack had smelt of liquor, and she pondered the wisdom of her choice. "We'd better be careful. Twilight is really protective of the princess."
(I'm surprised Kleft didn't react to the gong I ran into not far from him.) Dreamer stood up, rubbed his head, and grunted. "I need to start watching where I go..." He turned toward the small road next to the restraunt and ran into it, opening a small door on the ground and jumping into tunnels beneath ponyville. 'please let this still get to the farm...' He took off down the tunnel, leaving the door open.
"Exactly, and we can use that to our advantage," explained Quickstar. "Right now, we're undecided about our loyalties, so the best approach is that by helping us, they are winning us onto their side. Twilight's an intellectual, like me. We tell her that we don't want to take Tremalion's story at face value and are making sure to 'check our sources', and I'm sure she'll help us in a heartbeat. With her trust in Celestia, she'll be sure that learning the whole story will convince us to side with them." In truth, Quickstar wanted to get this over with as soon as possible and get March somewhere better. He wished he could have left the colt in his house, but the workroom was hardly foalproof, and he didn't want to come back from all this and discover that all that was left of him was a few scorch marks on the floor. He peeked around the corner of a building, finally spotting their goal. "There's the library. It seems to be clear, for now. Come on." They hurried across the street and banged loudly on the door.
