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Bluebone and Blueblood ... nnnngh. I have more in store for them both.

CHAPTER 24

“Son.” Bluebone snorted, managing to condense over a decade’s worth of contempt and hatred into the word.

“Father.” Blueblood replied with equal venom in his tone.

“I won’t waste time. You are to give me access to your funds, and hire the best team of lawyers in Canterlot to get me out of these trumped-up charges.” Bluebone snapped, pacing back and forth in-front of the doors of Blueblood’s mansion, furious at his treatment. His son had point-blank refused to allow him into the ‘Blueblood Mansion’, treating his own father like a beggar …

Oh, he’d all but disowned Blueblood when the wretch had sided with Celestia after his elder sister had ‘disappeared’ shortly after speaking out in favour of the mud-ponies and the feather-heads, but it wasn’t as if he had kicked the boy out onto the streets! He’d only intended to teach the weak little boy that only with wealth and power could a Unicorn assume their rightful place in society. A lesson the little bastard had learned all too well.

Bluebone had only left his snivelling excuse for an heir a few bits to his name, enough to ensure he didn’t starve and would live long enough to sire something that Bluebone could take and mold into a proper heir if Blueblood had refused to bend to his will, but the little bastard had instead turned around and built a mercantile empire by cutting into his own father’s companies with some of the most ruthless tactics that Canterlot had ever seen, bought his way back into the nobility and been a constant thorn in the Shadow Court’s side ever since by going out of his way to oppose their efforts with the aid of every wretched social butterfly that flocked to the realm’s ‘Prince’.

And despite exhaustive digging by both Bluebone and the Shadow Court itself, the prat had done it all with his own bits, with not even a single loan from the whore-Princess, Celestia. If he wasn’t such an embarrassment, cavorting with mud-ponies and feather-heads as often as he did Unicorns, Bluebone would have brought his son back into the fold purely for having the stones to take on and beat some of the biggest conglomerates in Canterlot as a meek little child.

“Ah. And what do I get out of this?” Blueblood asked, stone faced with a gaggle of his servants, all pretty young Mares from all three Tribes, clustered behind them, cameras and recorders trained on the two Stallions.

Little bastard! He’ll go running to that bitch on the throne the instant I say anything about the Shadow Court, and he’ll have proof that even I can’t bury with those cameras!

“You will do as you are told boy, or so help me …”

“You’ll what? Hit me? I’ll have you in jail for assault, which might be a drop in the bucket considering the charges you already face. Try to take my wealth through the courts? You don’t have the time, and you haven’t got a viable claim to one tarnished bit, and you know it.” Blueblood sneered, but his stance remained strong, unyielding. When did that snivelling little whelp turn into a Stallion? “I will make you a deal, however. I will give you the funds you need to fight the charges levied against you, if you’ll answer the question I’ve been asking you for the past twelve years: Where is my sister, Rosette?”

“… I have no daughter called Rosette. Rosette is the name of a filthy traitor who chose to spread her legs for a filthy mud-pony.” Growling, Bluebone glared at his son, looking for any sign of the weak, cowardly child he’d thrown out of his house-hold for his insipid devotion to that harlot.

Nothing. Not even an eyelid batted. No tensing at the corner of the mouth to bite back on an insult, no flare of the nostrils in anger. This was his son, as galling as it was to admit. There was no sign of the simpering dandy that flocked to every gala or the crying brat who’d been a disgrace to the Blue House.

“Then I have no time or bits to give to an ignorant bigot. Get gone from my land, before I sic the Diamond Dogs on you.” Blueblood said, grinning, before taking a single smooth step back behind the double-doors of his mansion and slamming them shut as his father roared in rage and pounced for his traitorous son.

A minute later, when the red haze lifted from Bluebone’s eyes and he stared at the deep dents his iron-shod hooves had left in the cherry-wood doors, the faint yips of an excited pack of Diamond Dogs from the other side of the mansion tickling his ears, Bluebone couldn’t help but chuckle.

My son indeed. Bastard. If he’d shown that kind of spine ten years ago, I’d never have had to throw him out. Bluebone thought with bitter pride, seeing himself out through the long limestone path and out onto the streets, slamming the gates shut behind him as the yipping of the Diamond Dogs grew louder, the pack of mercenary guards loped into the front yard of the mansion, looking around for the ‘intruder’ on the premises. I need an heir, somepony I can rely upon to carry on the cause when I am too old to continue, or if I should fall. The line of Princess Platinum cannot falter now, not when we’re so close to our destiny!

“I take it your little reunion with your son went as well as could be expected?” Bluebone felt his anger surge again, but maintained enough control not to rush forth and trample the arrogant smile off of ‘Captain’ Rosebush’s face. Of all the things, a Pegasi commands the Palace Guard, and one of common blood no less! Celestia tramples our proud traditions out of spite.

“Ah, Rosebush. How nice to see you. I am assuming that Celestia has given you orders to ignore the law and harass an innocent Pony before his day in court?” The white Unicorn replied in a tight voice, imagining the Mare strapped down with her wings slowly being pulled off by his magic to soothe his frustrations. “I’m certain that wouldn’t look too good in front of a jury, the Royal Guard trying to pressure an innocent Pony into a confession?”

“You’re hardly innocent, Bluebone, as twenty-seven different Ponies can attest from that little stunt you engineered at the Bronze Leaf, let alone the dozen folders I have on you in my office back in the castle. In fact, I think I’ll have one of those fancy new video-cameras lined up to record the whole affair when they testify against you, so I can fall asleep to your reaction to it every night.” The pale-cream Pegasus beamed happily. Bluebone wondered why the Captain of the Royal Guard would be so confrontational with somebody of his reputation, but a quick glance around the street showed an unusual number of burly Stallions in trenchcoats standing around idly, all of them looking in his direction. “Oh, I wonder, did you have any designs on the top bunk in your cell? I have the distinct feeling you’ll be on the bottom, however.”

“One day, little Filly, you’re going to pay for all that trash talk.” The aging Stallion replied firmly, stalking away and grimacing as the Pegasi flapped overhead, still beaming that idiotic grin at him. “Unless you intend to take me into custody, I suggest you bugger off. I have more important things to do than bandy words with an overgrown pigeon.”

“Oh, what’s the matter? It must be terrible, to have all your assets frozen because you are under investigation for dealing with a terrorist group within Gryphonia, giving them bits for their bloody diamonds so they can keep buying supplies, and keep harassing the poor Guard Ponies on the borders.” The Pegasi taunted him again, and it took a great deal of effort for the aging Noble to not do the world a favour and blast the Captain out of the sky.

Probably what she’s hoping for. Assaulting a Royal Guard is grounds for imprisonment, an Officer of her rank would have me thrown straight into a cell, regardless of who did it. It would be all they would need to declare me a hostile witness and they could skip a trial by my peers.

“Nothing to say? Pity. Well, I suppose I’ll hear everything when you make your plea-bargain for exile, rather than prison.” The Pegasi taunted, and then Bluebone almost missed a step and fell.

“What?”

“You’re a snake, Bluebone, the lowest of the low. When the pressure is on, you’ll sell out the rest of your little den of vipers to get your own neck out of the noose, just like every other scumbag I’ve had to deal with.” Rosebush sneered, flapping in a tight circle over Bluebone’s head, the trenchcoat-wearing Stallions all following them, glaring at the aging Unicorn. “So here’s the deal, approved by her Royal Highness: You squeal like a good little piggie and give us the names of every member of the Shadow Court, from the janitors all the way up to your lieutenants and suppliers, and Celestia is prepared to let you go into exile. You get to leave Equestria under whatever excuse you want, on your own hooves, and crawl under whatever rock suits your fancy. Or you refuse the plea-bargain and go to Horseshoe Bay, and you can bet your last bit we’ll have the mother of all horn-mufflers waiting for you when you get there. No magic, no friends, and a prison full of the worst of Equestria’s criminals, many of whom would be more than willing to do your little Shadow Council’s dirty work and silence you.”

Bluebone stopped and stared up at the Pegasi for several moments, before his face split into a victorious grin.

“And this is why Celestia never should have put a feather-head in charge of the Palace Guard.” The aging Unicorn sneered, the Pegasi above him missing a wing-beat and had to flutter her wings rapidly to stay in the air. “If you really had anything on me, you empty-headed little commoner, you wouldn’t be offering me a deal, you’d be sending me to Horseshoe Bay and letting matters take their course while you focused on the rest of my … companions.”

Chuckling, Bluebone trotted away, leaving the Pegasi scowling in his wake, the ‘disguised’ Stallions all rushing over to her.

“Ma’am, do you think it worked?” One asked softly as Rosebush dropped down from the air and landed with a soft thump, glaring at the retreating back of the white Unicorn Noble.

“We’ve baited the hook, now we just have to see if the fish will bite. Bluebone will have to call our ‘bluff’, that we don’t have enough evidence to convict him and come into the courts underprepared, or he’ll think we do have enough, and he’ll cut a deal with us to save his own neck.” The Pegasi replied in an equally soft voice as her Royal Guards formed a protective circle around her, the group trotting back towards the castle. “With the Princess demanding we free up the Cell of Ultimate Confinement for her latest prisoner, we need to keep Bluebone and the Shadow Court as off-balance as we can till those mercenaries can stand trial.”

“But Ma’am, we don’t actually have any proof that Bluebone actually hired them. All we have is their testimony that they were hired on behalf of Bluebone by a middle-man. A pony they couldn’t identify because he was wearing a mask and a full-body suit that masked their coat and cutie mark. A pony we can’t find.” A second Royal Guard muttered nervously.

“It’ll be enough. Their testimony that they were hired to kidnap Night Light, on behalf of Bluebone, was enough to give us the legal opportunity to shut down Bluebone’s resources. No bits flowing in or out of his pockets means we can finally put the pressure on the rest of the Shadow Court without Bluebone bribing or threatening everypony involved into submission.” The Pegasi explained, smiling wickedly. “The thing with the Shadow Court is that they’re at best a cult dedicated to removing Celestia, at worst a hostile political movement. And the thing about Canterlot’s Nobles? They’ve never been able to hold it together when the prize is within reach unless Celestia is overseeing them directly. Not once in the history of Canterlot has any political bloc ever not started fighting amongst themselves when their shared goal is within reach without the Princess holding the reins.”

“All we have to do is make it look like Bluebone is going to sell the rest of the Shadow Court to us in exchange for freedom and they’ll launch an assassination attempt against him. Then not only do we have a reason to lock that horrible Unicorn away till the end of his days, for his own protection of course, but we’ll have a legally water-tight excuse to start raiding the mansions of the known Shadow Court members for information, and lock down their resources in turn.” Rosebush explained as the group of disguised Royal Guards flagged down several carriages to take them back to the castle. “Whoever hired those Mercenaries did us a huge favour. That said … keep pushing to find out who they are. It’s the one weakness in our case against Bluebone and his Shadow Court, and if our case fails because of it, any future attempts to try and pin Bluebone and his Shadow Court to the wall will be smeared with accusations of Celestia and the Royal Guard chasing after them for personal reasons. Nothing we throw at them will stick, and it’ll be just more fuel for the fire they’re building under our Princess’s plot.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So.” Twilight said awkwardly, looking around the table, where so many Ponies had crammed themselves. “Hell of a morning.”

“Tha’s one way to say it, sugar-cube.” Applejack muttered, kneading her hat between her fore-hooves as Spike walked around the library’s kitchen table, handing drinks out to the seven ponies that had crammed themselves into the Library’s kitchen “So … wha’ we gon’ do now? You an’ Luna’ll be livin’ in Ponyville, an’ Trixie is … stayin’ with y’all?”

“For the time being, yes. And Trixie, stop fiddling with that collar. If it comes off, you go with Sunset into the Cell of Ultimate Confinement.” The blue show-mare flinched under the glare of Luna, who had claimed ‘her’ spot at Twilight’s side and had wrapped a midnight blue wing around the other Princess to ward off the clingy, smaller Unicorn. “That collar will surpress any demonic powers you may develop and allow the Royal Guard to keep track of your movements. If you remove it, we will have to assume you are intending mischief, and that will end poorly for you.”

“Tri-Trixie would never … it is just … heavy. And awkward.” Trixie mumbled miserably, her hoof trailing over the heavy, solid-gold collar around her neck, little more than pair of twisted rods of gold that had been wrapped around the base of her neck and then sealed seamlessly.

“Well, it’ a bother fer sure. After all that effort to get that grub out to your camp, now Big Mac’s gotta go bring it back to the library.” Applejack pointed out, earning tired nods from Twilight and Luna. “An’ how’re you gonna explain the Royal Guards? An’ who’re these ‘agents’ Princess Celestia was talkin’ about?”

“Yeaaaaah … kinda disturbing to know we’ve had royal agents running around town, reporting on us all to the Princesses without us knowing.” Rainbow drawled, giving Luna a short glare as Rarity and Fluttershy flinched and huddled together.

“Every town within the borders of Equstria has a number of Royal Agents living amongst the populace. They are our eyes and ears, keeping watch over individuals of importance to the realm as well as being our first line of defence in-case of an emergency.” Luna shot back, frowning at the rainbow-maned Pegasus. “Celestia started the practice a few hundred years ago as she withdrew the Royal Guard from the peaceful regions of Equestria when she was demilitarizing the nation, part of a non-aggression-pact she had made with the Minotaurs and Diamond Dogs. Against most threats, the Royal Agents serve quite well, but for situations like Changelings, Ursa Minors and other extreme incidents … not so well. And they do not ‘report’ to me, only to Celestia.”

“I … should have said something earlier to you guys about it, but as Celestia’s personal student, I kinda grew up with them around me, so they just … it never seemed like an issue to me.” Twilight sighed and leaned into Luna’s wing, before shaking her head and pulling away. “Uh, the camp, yes, I think Luna and I can go pick up the supplies tomorrow and bring them back here, rather than pull Big Mac away from the farm again, and then … then we’ll ask the Royal Agents to meet you all here, and get everybody up to speed on who is going to be joining our social-circle for … for the foreseeable future. Oh Faust this just keeps getting better and better …”

“Oh come on Twilight, Celestia hoof-picks her Royal Agents, they’ll be fine.” Spike pointed out, carrying his empty tray away from the table.

“Like she hoof-picked Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight shot back. “No offence meant to either Princess Celestia or her Agents, but given everything that’s happened to Ponyville in the past three years, what the absolute buck? Have they been on an indefinite coffee break?”

“Or like she picked you!” The Drake retorted, sticking his tongue out at his sister. “And look at what you’ve done for Equestria! Saving it from Changelings, reforming Discord, turning an entire town of Ponies into lunatics fighting over your childhood stuffed toy!”

“Oh that is not cool, Spike!”

“Hey, I’m just sayin’ …”

“NOT! COOL!”

“Uh, ‘fore this gets any weirder … I’m gonna go get Applebloom an’ her friends after school an’ take ‘em back to the farm for tonight. Might be safer if’n we keep the Cutie Mark Crusaders all together an’ confined-like, away from … away from things they ain’t gonna unna’stand.” Applejack muttered as Twilight and Spike gave each other matching glares, shooting a nervous look at Trixie and her new tail. “Y’don’t mind, Rares?”

“Let me see, you’ll keep my sister occupied for the night while I catch up with my work? No, I see no problems at all, Applejack. I’ll even call us quits for that punch you gave me earlier.” Rarity smiled warmly. “In fact, I’ll even pop down to the Cake’s shop and buy desert for your family’s evening meal.”

“Awwww, shucks Rares, that’d be just fantastic. It’d be nice to have something different at the table, other’n apples … not that apples are bad, jus’ … nice to have somethin’ else to offer our guests.”

“Uh, Rarity, I know it’s none of my business, but I really don’t think giving the girls sugar before bed-time is really goo-ow!” Fluttershy murmured quietly before squeaking in alarm, looking under the table, and then at Rarity, with a stunned expression.

“Ssssh!” Rarity hissed, equally softly, before turning back to Applejack with a beaming smile.

“Trixie is somewhat afraid for her future.” The blue show-mare muttered, eyeing the deranged Ponies that she shared the table with trepidation. “Do you … do you really think the Elements of Harmony can absolve Trixie of all her … problems, Miss Twilight?”

“They didn’t fix Discord’s attitude, pretty sure they can’t fix yours.” Rainbow offered cockily, and earned a pair of kicks under the table from Twilight and Applejack.

“Uh, in regards to the tail, more than likely, yes. The other … other thing? I … I have absolutely no idea. Maybe? If it’s not harmonious with the rest of you, they should be able to either seal it or otherwise take it away, if not … the Elements of Harmony won’t do anything.” The purple Princes gave a nervous smile at Trixie, who appeared to melt at the sight. “Oooooh-kay. Memo to self: definitely adding locks to all the doors then. Uhm, Luna, are you sure that Trixie shouldn’t be in Canterlot? Being protected by the Royal Guard, in Canterlot, I mean.”

“Between the tensions at the Gryphonia border, maintaining a sufficient Guard presence in the towns and villages to keep any criminal elements from trying to cause problems, in addition to having to guard Sunset Shimmer and then Queen Chrysalis surrendering at the southern border … quite frankly, Twilight, I would be surprised if we had any Royal Guards who are free to be put on such duties.” Luna offered with a sigh. “Nobody is more unsure about our current … living arrangements than I am, but for now, this is the best solution we can provide without throwing a potentially innocent Pony in the dungeons.”

Trixie and Fluttershy shared a startled meep, while Rainbow just rolled her eyes and scoffed.

“Alright … alright. Okay then, girls, we go about our lives as best we can for now, and tomorrow I’ll introduce you all to the Royal Agents. Let’s go show the rest of Ponyville that everythings A-Ok!” Twilight said after several moments of silence, standing up and stepping out from under Luna’s wing. “Rarity, any rumors you hear, I need to know about. Fluttershy, if any of your animals have seen or heard anything odd, please pass it on to either Luna or myself. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, anything you can do to distract the townsponies and lift their spirits would be greatly appreciated.”

“An-and what do you wish Trixie to do, Miss Twilight?” Trixie asked eagerly, her long, leonine tail waving in the air.

“Trixie … you’re helping Spike shift all his stuff down into the basement, and after that, assisting him with cleaning up the library. Luna and I have some … shopping … to do while we meet with Mayor Mare and try to assist Celestia’s damage-control.”

“Woo-hoo! I finally get my own minion!” Spike cheered, pumping both claws into the air.