Archmage - Chapter 25 “Ulterior Motives”

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“Regal!” Twilight burst through the front doors to the council chambers, shouting his name at the top of her lungs. There was no response. Sweetie Belle slipped in behind her, both of them panting from exertion. “Damnit. I thought he’d be here.” She looked around the council chambers for the movement, searching for evidence of anypony’s presence. The place was abandoned. “Any idea where they might be?”

“Maybe his house?” Sweetie Belle offered, jerking her head a little. “He sent a letter to the boutique once, and it had a return address. Maybe we can use that?”

“Okay.” Twilight nodded, turning tail to leave the council chambers. Something caught her eye, though. Upon closer inspection, she found the seal for the preservation society on the bottom of a page. Gingerly, she picked up the sheaf of papers, scanning the contents. “This is… A new charter for the Canterlot Preservation Society.” She muttered, reading as fast as she dared. “He’s… This isn’t good.”

“What?” Sweetie Belle asked, peering over Twilight’s shoulder.

“He wants to put sole executive power in his hooves… Every little spell and tradition will be preserved or destroyed on his order. If this passes, it’d be terrible… Who knows what he would do with it…” Twilight rolled the paper up and carried it with her, nodding for Sweetie Belle to lead the way.

“But he might choose properly… You never know…” Sweetie Belle offered. Twilight had to admit it was honorable that Sweetie Belle would consider alternatives, but she knew better.

“No. The Preservation Society should preserve all things. They shouldn’t have to pick and choose what they do and don’t preserve. No, he has ulterior motives. Whatever they may be.” Twilight picked up the pace a little, spurring Sweetie Belle into a brisk trot.

“You’re right.” Sweetie Belle conceded, hanging her head a little. “Besides, he’s got Rarity spelled or something. She hasn’t been acting like herself.”

“That much is true.” Twilight scoffed. “Let’s hurry and find them. I need to end this.”

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“This is the place.” Sweetie Belle cross-referenced the number on the house with the envelope she carried. They had found the letter amongst the others, and it had the return address of Regal’s home. Twilight knew she couldn’t teleport inside, but she could certainly rouse Regal’s attention. Boldly stomping up to the door, Twilight pounded on it several times. There was a long pause, but Twilight was persistent. She pounded again, this time calling his name. The sound of hooves approaching the door reached her ears, and she stopped pounding. The door opened inwards, and there stood Regal.

“Archmage.” He growled, glaring at her. “Why, pray tell, are you pounding on the door to my home? Give me one good reason I shouldn’t call the guard right now.”

“This.” Twilight brandished the draft for the new preservation society’s charter at him, matching his glare. “Mind explaining yourself?”

“I don’t need to explain anything to you.” Regal growled, trying to snatch the charter. Twilight pulled it back.

“How about what you’re doing to Rarity?” Twilight pressed her advantage. “She’s been my friend for seven years. You’ve done something to her. She is not acting the way she should be.”

“What have you done with my sister?!” Sweetie Belle interjected, standing beside Twilight. Regal flagged at the sight of two determined mares standing before him, backing away a few steps. “She let Cross Stitch leave, and she’s been treating Twilight terribly! You’ve got her under some sort of spell, don’t you?!”

“S-spell? I haven’t spelled Rarity! You can ask her yourself.”

“Ask me what?” Rarity stepped into the hallway behind Regal, looking inquisitively at Twilight and Sweetie Belle. “What are you two doing over here?”

“What are you doing over here?!” Twilight leveled her gaze at Rarity.

“I’m assisting Regal with some research. Twilight, I don’t understand… Why are you here?”

“Research?” Twilight perked up a little. “Is that why you checked out all of the old preservation society charters?”

“Yes, we were looking over the older copies to get a handle on where they were and where they are now… Twilight, what are you doing here?!” Rarity stepped forward, drawing her brow down. “What’s this nonsense about a spell?”

“Regal has you enchanted, doesn’t he? He’s been manipulating you.” Twilight decided now was the time. She needed to confront Rarity on her behavior, and find out what was making her friend act so differently than she normally did. “Rarity, please, try to break it. Or let me disenchant you.”

“What?” Rarity looked stricken. “Twilight, you’re being ridiculous. I’m not under any spell! I know Cross Stitch left. He forced me to choose between him and Regal! I chose the pony who was more of a colt than he could be, of course!” Rarity stood next to Regal, her head high. “Go ahead and try to disenchant it, Twilight. I’m under no spell.” She shared a glance with Regal, who took a step back and nodded.

“Go ahead, Twilight. I’ll show you I’ve done nothing to Rarity.”

“Wait, really?” Twilight perked up. “You’re going to let me test her?”

“Of course.” Regal’s expression was serious. “I have nothing to hide. If she agrees, then go ahead.”

“Fine then.” Twilight lowered her horn and summoned her magic, reaching out to wrap her energy around Rarity’s body. She was slowly lifted from the ground, hovering a few inches as Twilight’s magic began to search for traces of spells on her. Twilight wasn’t exactly sure how a mind control spell would work, but she knew the signs and tells for every spell in Equestria, what to look for and what not to look for. Whatever it was, she would find it.

“I don’t understand.” Twilight set Rarity back down after a minute or so. “There’s nothing. No spell. You’re not enchanted, Rarity, you’re… You’re acting of your own free will.”

“Of course I am, Twilight.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “I’d have hoped you’d see the good in Regal’s plan. He means to restore the preservation society. He told you just last week how the movement was a ruse. He doesn’t mean to destroy every plant in Canterlot. He just wants to see the preservation society function properly again. Not under the control of that… Gable.” She scrunched her nose at his name, which made Twilight’s defenses rise.

“You mean to tell me that all this time, you’ve been advocating the movement, letting Cross Stitch leave, treating me like some enemy, and generally just… Being a bitch… All because you actually agree with this psychopath?!” Twilight spat. She felt her anger and frustration beginning to build up, and she had to take a few even breaths to get the passionate haze of anger to recede from her mind. Rarity and Regal were both frowning at her.

“I think it’s time you left, Archmage.” Regal said curtly. “You’re insulting me in my home.”

“Fine.” Twilight flicked her tail and turned to leave, though she paused on the threshold to look over her shoulder. She met Rarity’s gaze, looking at the white unicorn long and hard. “I thought I had a friend. Clearly I was mistaken.” Then she left. Behind her, the door slammed shut. Twilight and Sweetie Belle stomped away from Regal’s home, both of them brooding over dark thoughts. Just as they were about to make it to the street, Twilight heard the door open behind her.

“Twilight,” Rarity’s voice called to her. Twilight almost continued walking, but the sound of approaching hooves halted her. She raised her head and glared back at the white unicorn trotting towards them. “I don’t much appreciate you casting a shadow like that and then leaving. Can we discuss this? Like sensible ponies?” Twilight looked over Rarity’s shoulder, at Regal standing in the doorway. One glare, though, and he turned and closed the door. They were alone. Twilight looked back to Rarity and sighed.

“Fine. I want an answer, Rarity.” Twilight sat on the pavement, looking at Rarity with her keen purple eyes. “Why are you advocating somepony who is obviously so crazy?”

“Regal is not crazy, Twilight. Trust me.” Rarity sighed, almost as if she had had this argument before. “If you’d just sit and talk to him for a little while, I’m sure you’d see he has nothing but the best of intentions for the preservation society, and all of Equestria.”

“I did talk to him, Rarity. You were there for the lesson. The things he said were just… Insane. Rarity, please.” Twilight leaned in. “Try to listen to reason.”

“I am listening, Twilight. It’s you who won’t listen to me. Give Regal a chance to explain his motives. Please.” Rarity reached a hoof out to lay on Twilight’s shoulder, her expression pleading. “He’s a good unicorn, Twilight. He just wants to see the preservation society returned to what it was, and he thinks the best way is to disband the current one. Trust me, we’ve tried to petition Gable, to speak with him reasonably. He just won’t have it. He won’t listen to us anymore. So we have to resort to… Other means.”

“Rarity,” Twilight sighed. “There are ways to remove Gable from his position. Honest ways. Not some underhanded scheme. This whole movement thing, it’s causing an uproar. Do you honestly think once Regal shows that the movement was founded just so he could be the new chair of a new preservation society that all of his backing, which is founded on a lie, is just going to forgive him? He has ponies all across Canterlot riled up and ready to see every last blade of grass removed from the city.” Twilight shook her head once again, shrugging Rarity’s hoof off of her shoulder. “Regal knows there are other, more efficient ways to remove Gable from his office. If he truly had Equestria’s best intentions at heart, he would have used them. No, Regal has ulterior motives, Rarity. You have to see it.”

“I… I just don’t know what to say, Twilight.” Rarity sighed. “I thought you, of all ponies, would want to see the preservation society flourish once again.” The white unicorn stood up, looking pleadingly at Twilight. “You won’t listen to me or Regal. So maybe I can give you some proof. In his office, Regal has a book he keeps hidden. It’s in a false panel underneath the desk. You can throw the latch with magic and retrieve it. I don’t know what the book is, since I trust his word, but he reads it often and will refer to it whenever we draft a new charter. If you won’t listen to me or Regal, maybe you can read his inspiration. Maybe then you’ll see he has the best of intentions.” Rarity paused for a moment, watching Twilight’s expression as she processed this new bit of information. Twilight tried to make sense of what this meant to her, of how she might get her hooves on the book, to see what it was Regal had planned. She stopped when she saw Rarity’s lip tremble.

“I thought… You of all the other unicorns, would at least give him a try, Twilight…” Rarity’s chest shook with a silent sob, and she drew a shaky breath. “I don’t want to lose a friend. Do what you can to read that book, Twilight. Maybe then you’ll see that Regal is innocent. Maybe then you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” Rarity let a single tear leak from her eye. Twilight watched it drip down her chin, falling to dot the pavement at her hooves.

“Rarity…” Twilight reached a hoof out, but Rarity stepped back, shaking her head.

“Don’t. Twilight. Just don’t.” Rarity held her head high, a few more tears leaking out. “I’m betraying the one colt I believe in more than others just to keep your friendship. I hope you’re happy.” Tears still dripping from her eyes, Rarity turned and walked back to Regal’s home, leaving Twilight and Sweetie Belle shocked on the pavement. When she disappeared behind the door, the two of them still sat there in stunned silence for a long while. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak.

“I never knew she was actually supporting him…” She muttered quietly. “I honestly thought she was under a spell or something… I never would have imagined that she believed him so fully.” Sweetie Belle turned to Twilight, her own eyes brimming with tears. “What have we done?”

“Something terrible.” Twilight whispered, her eyes staring intently at the dot on the pavement where Rarity’s tears had landed. “But I’m not about to lose a friend. She wants me to give Regal a chance. Fine. I’ll give him a chance. We’ll get that book, see what it says, and maybe then I can see the reasoning behind Regal’s plotting.” Twilight looked up at the house, her mind churning with thoughts and information. “But first thing’s first, we need that book. Come on.” With Sweetie Belle in tow, Twilight turned and walked away briskly.

She was going to need some guards.

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“Regal, upon order of the Canterlot Guard, we are authorized to search your house and seize any and all items related to our investigation behind the recent attempt on Princess Celestia’s life. You are ordered to stand down and vacate the premises while the search is conducted, and a list of any confiscated items will be presented to you after completion. From there, you are welcome to dispute any seizures in a court of law. Do you acquiesce?”

“I don’t understand, sir.” Regal blinked in shock at the dozen or so guards on his front porch. “I’m not involved any way with those ponies. I have nothing but the princess’ best interests in mind… How could I have been linked to the attempt on Celestia’s life?”

“We have it from an anonymous source that you may or may not have supplied information crucial to the uprising’s recruitment process. We have authorization to take you into custody should you not agree to the search, sir.”

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. I… Can I pack a bag?” Regal asked, looking around the guard. Twilight shifted her weight, concealing herself from his line of sight behind a brawny pegasus.

“We won’t be long, sir. Just a few hours. We suspect we’ll finish around four p.m. If you honestly feel you cannot stay here after the search, then I will give you a few minutes to prepare a bag. But I doubt your house will be altered in any major way.” The captain Twilight had recruited to lead the search was doing an incredible job alluding to her involvement. Twilight was not the lead of the investigation behind the recent uprising anymore, thanks to her angry outburst that nearly claimed Harbinger’s life. But Bastion was. With a word to her mentor and friend, Twilight had been able to rouse a search party to search and seize anything in Regal’s home. Bastion had apparently twisted some forelegs to get the proper authorization, but he had done it after all. Twilight now stood concealed behind several guards, ready to search Regal’s office for the fabled book Rarity spoke of.

“Fine.” Regal admitted with a sigh. “I have nothing to hide. But I have it on your word that nothing other than evidence pertaining to the investigation behind the attempt on Princess Celestia’s life will be seized?”

“If you’re asking, no, we are not here to investigate your ultimatum with the preservation society. We can and will only confiscate evidence pertaining to the attempt on the princess’ life. On my word.” The guard answered so smoothly, even Twilight was impressed. He sounded as if he really was here only to investigate the uprising. Regal relaxed a little and stepped aside, ushering the search party inside. Twilight, to not risk being seen, quickly and surreptitiously teleported inside and down the hall a short ways. Glancing around a corner, she saw Regal didn’t even notice her. He was busy chatting with the captain of the guard. Smirking just a little, Twilight turned and dashed up the stairs.

“Office… Office… Office… Here we go.” Twilight looked in each door in the upstairs hallway, finally finding what she was looking for. A rich mahogany table sat in the middle of a warmly-lit room, and was stacked with papers and books of a legal nature. Twilight scanned these briefly, but found nothing of interest. They appeared to be rough drafts of the new charter he had penned. With Rarity’s help, of course. Twilight blanched a little and gingerly scooted the chair away from the desk. Looking underneath the dimly-lit bit of upholstery, she could see the faint outline of a false panel. Her horn glowed as she probed behind the wood. Blinking slightly, Twilight could feel the latch. Rarity had told the truth. With a gentle tug, she pulled the false panel open and caught the book as it tumbled out. Rather than look at it, she tucked it away in her saddlebags and closed the panel once more.

“Archmage.” The captain poked his head inside of Regal’s office, whispering softly. “He’s left. Did you find what you needed?”

“I have it, captain.” Twilight nodded. “Thank you for your silence on the matter.” She stood up from the desk, replacing the chair. The captain frowned a little and walked around the desk, looking under it at the false panel.

“What’s under there?” He asked, staring intently up at the underside of the desktop.

“You don’t see it?” Twilight asked, frowning a little.

“See what?” The captain asked again. “There’s nothing under here.” Twilight blinked and lit the dark underside with her horn, leaning in closer to the captain. “Yeah, just some dust.” He grunted, standing straight again. Twilight looked back under the table, squinting up at the underside. It looked completely flawless, like there was no compartment there. Twilight hadn’t realized how well-hidden the secret hiding place really was. Unless somepony specifically knew what they were looking for, they would likely never find it.

“That’s interesting. Well, no matter. I have what I came for. Thank you for your participation, Captain.”

“Thank you for the padding to my retirement fund.” The captain winked. “Mum’s the word. I expect you to disassociate yourself with this search promptly.”

“Naturally. Thank you again, captain.” Twilight slipped past him and down the hall, though she didn’t miss the friendly smile he shot her before his face turned serious once more.

“Private!” He called after Twilight. Ducking around a corner, Twilight hid from sight just as a recruit dashed forth to stand before the captain.

“Sir!”

“Search this office for pertinent information. Leave no stone unturned.”

“Yes, sir!” As the recruit disappeared into the office, Twilight slipped down the stairs and out of the back door. A quick teleport to the other side of Regal’s back fence, and she was on the road once more. The book in her saddlebags burned with the desire to be read, and Twilight could hardly control her heart as she made haste for the castle.

“Alright, Rarity.” She muttered, smiling softly. “Let’s see how innocent Regal really is.”

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Twilight took the book to the one safe place she knew would not be disturbed, and to the one pony who could give her an alibi. Luna opened the door to her chambers with a smile, ushering her inside.

“Any luck?” She asked, shutting the door behind Twilight. With a flourish, Twilight produced the book from her saddlebags, smiling deviously.

“Unless he checks, Regal won’t know the book is gone. The guards would have been unable to find it, and Regal doesn’t know that I know about his secret…” Twilight set the book down, smiling at Luna, though all she got in return was a frown.

“You mean you took this book from him without his knowledge?” Luna seemed dubious.

“Rarity told me about it.” Twilight said gently, frowning down at the well-worn cover of the book. “She said since I can’t trust either her or Regal, this would prove his innocence. That he has the best intentions at heart.”

“Well then.” Luna said gently, sitting on her haunches. “Regal likely has this book guarded for a reason. Chances are, it might be further protected. Shall we check it first?”

“Would you like to do the honors?” Twilight asked, smiling at her love. Luna chuckled and kissed Twilight’s forehead before her horn glowed with a dense hum. Twilight watched as Luna’s powerful magic wrapped around the book, caressing each inch of the dusty and worn cover. When she glanced up at Luna, however, she was frowning. After a few long moments, Luna set the book down with a soft gasp.

“An empathy spell.” She whispered, breathing heavily. “A powerful one.”

“Empathy spell? You mean…”

“This book is enchanted.” Luna nodded, swallowing gently. “So that whoever reads it will feel whatever it was the writer was feeling at the time they wrote each different word.” Luna’s expression was grave as she set her jaw. Twilight looked at the book fearfully. Empathy spells were incredibly complex and difficult to execute. Only very skilled unicorns could cast them. Regal might have been clever, but he wasn’t this powerful. Very few unicorns were. “Twilight.” Luna continued. “I got a glimpse… This book has got… Powerful, dark magic woven into it’s pages. I cannot dispel it without damaging the book. If you read this, you will be subject to it’s effects.” Luna’s tone was serious, and sent a chill up Twilight’s spine. She hadn’t noticed it before, since she had been keen on leaving as soon as possible, but now that she focused on it, the book did seem to hum with power. It filled her with a sense of dread and foreboding. She feared to read what it held. Alas, she couldn’t ignore such an important thing. She had to know what secrets it held. Swallowing hard, she slowly opened the cover.

“Stop.” Luna said, halting Twilight. “Not yet.” The princess left Twilight’s side, going to stand on the other end of the table. Twilight looked at her inquisitively. “If both of us read this book, we’ll both be subject to it.” Luna shook her head slowly, frowning a little. “As much as I dislike letting you reading such a dangerous thing, I know we need to know what’s inside. You read it, and I will monitor you. To keep you safe.” Luna clearly didn’t like this idea. The more Twilight thought about it, neither did she. But they had to know what was inside. She swallowed hard and nodded to her lover.

“Thank you, Luna. And if… If I should…”

“Stop.” Luna lifted a hoof. “I will protect you, Twilight. No matter what.” Even more than the thought of reading the book, Luna didn’t like the thought of Twilight suffering because of it. Her frown intensified, and she fixed Twilight with a meaningful look. “Just… Be careful, okay?”

“Okay.” Twilight nodded with a set jaw, swallowing hard. “Luna, I love you.”

“I love you too, Twilight.”

With a breath, Twilight opened the book.

“The Personal Journal of Archmage Blaze”