~~~~~~~Twilight City, two hours later~~~~~~~

Twilight Shadow was officially done with half measures. For months now, she had been as strictly hooves off as Celestia was when it came to running her city. That was going to change today. It had become painfully clear to Twilight, as evidenced by her own closest subordinates actions, that she did not merely need to command the city. She needed to command its respect.

So. They wanted a Queen? They would get one.

From the instant she left the Hall grounds, she was followed by a pair of bulky looking earth pony's in dark purple armor - shaded after the color of her own mane. She barely gave them a glance as they passed, mimicking her own teachers aloof reaction to such necessities. She strode down the street of her city with her head regally held high, her eyes lazily brushing over the workers, the merchants and the common pony. For it was her city, even if she hadn't really ruled it yet as a proper Lady ought to.

She'd have to ask Rarity later for tips on how to be a proper Lady. For now though she needed to instill a little devotion, and maybe a little bit of fear. She didn't need to be a Lady for that, just the Shadow Queen. Her city was rife with those who were 'Touched' by the shadow - every third pony or creature, if her eyes did not lie. They would all have to fall soon enough, but Twilight was certain Pinkie Pie would handle that little detail herself.

She smirked a little at the thought of Pinkie's 'party' - which no doubt would become an orgy of shadow energy and new converts. She would task Winterlight to ensure as many of the untouched guests did not remain so for long. It was enough to make a graceful smile cross her face. A good look to wear amidst her ponies, she thought as she strode amongst them.

The creatures gasped and bowed to her as she crossed into the busy marketplace square, once nothing more than bare shells of stone. Now, every piece of produce and every sundry product imaginable was being sold from the stalls. Something had guided her steps here, and it didn't take long to figure it out. Not because of anything mystical, but because of the little pegasus colt who scampered up to her. "M'lady, M'lady!" He piped up in an absolutely adorable Trottingham accent. Wait a moment. I know this child. Twilight thought as he continued to speak in that squeaky, yet oddly sophisticated voice. "You must help us! The bad stallions are trying to hurt poppa!"

Pipsqueak! That was his name, thought Twilight. What on earth was he doing here? Twilight had been certain he was still living in Ponyville. At the very mention of 'bad stallions', Twilight felt her blood begin to boil a bit. "Take me there immediately, young one." Her voice rolled commandingly, the very sound of which parted the crowd before them. The little colt took off at a speedy run and Twilight followed close behind him .

The guards took off at a run behind her, and within moments Twilight was confronted with the scene of the disturbance - Four tough looking stallions - two earth ponies and two pegasi were looming over a battered wooden food stand. Behind the stand, a weedy looking earth pony wearing a pair of spectacles and a magnificent silver mustache to go with his shock of graying hair trembled in fear. The vendor had obviously been beaten and abused, and a trickle of blood trailed down from his forehead. "Look pops." spoke the biggest of the earth ponies, with a wicked looking scar along his jaw, a muddy brown coat and dark greasy hair. "You pay Mr. Rich his cut, and we ain't got no problems! You don't pay, and we got problems. Really is dat simple."

Twilight hushed Pipsqueak with a hoof and slowly walked up behind the toughs. The poor mustachioed earth pony looked up to see her, his eyes suddenly going wide. For a moment, all was silent - until a beatific smile spread upon the vendors face. "M'lady." he whispered softly, in the same thick Trottingham accent as his son.

The four tough-ponies turned around slowly to look back - and then a little bit up and the liquid maned Twilight Shadow. Her eyes were violet dragon pupils and narrowed in anger, and her voice soft. "Well. What seems to be the problem here, citizen?" Her words were soft, and directed at the vendor behind the stand. "Are these gentlecolts bothering you?"

Pipsqueaks father nodded shakily, and Twilight's smile went from gentle to ice cold in the space of a single moment. The four ponies, suddenly realizing their situation all tried to bolt in four different directions at the same time. Twilight simply sighed, grabbing the power silently as her horn lit up with dark violet magic. Four tendrils shot out from her shadows like the darkness made real, and each grabbed a fleeing ankle of one of the four ponies. They yanked hard, sending the gang of stallions tumbling into the flagstones of the square with all the grace of a sack of flour.

Twilight slowly turned in place, as though she would move at her own pace to deal with the miscreants - and not a step faster. In truth, she had the leisure - her shadows had a firm hold on the terrified foursome and were dragging them back towards her across the stones. "Perhaps you think this sort of behavior is acceptable in my city." Twilight kept her voice sweet, almost reasonable as the four figures stared at her in fear. "Perhaps you think such things are beneath my notice." her shadow power deposited all four ponies in front of her, as a wide circle of watchers crowded around. "And perhaps you believe the wealth of your patron will protect you and he from retaliation."

Twilight leaned down, her voice loud enough to hear all across the square as she spoke again in a hissing, angry tone. "You would be thrice mistaken." Twilight's hoof slammed into the stones of the square. The shadow she cast across the ground liquified and began to spread under the frozen bodies of the criminal ponies. "And for that, you will be punished. Begone from my sight." For a moment, nothing happened - and then all four of the criminals sank into the mire of her Shadow and out of sight, screaming in terror all the way.

Silence reigned over the square for a few minutes, and Twilight took in a deep breath and exhaled it. Smiling slightly. There. That ought to send a little message. I'll have Winterlight deal with them later. For now, the four miscreants would find themselves in a cell beneath the Hall. Twilight turned to face the crowd, holding her elegant head up high. "Let this be a warning to any creature or pony who thinks that they can flout my laws, or bring harm to my citizens. I will not tolerate such behavior in my city." She turned back to the street vendor, who was embracing his young son tightly. "Might I know your name, gentlecolt?" She asked softly of the mustachioed stallion.

The vendor nodded. "M-my name is Hoovington Tomahto, M'lady. Thank you so much for saving me and my son." Hoovington's smile bloomed brightly, and Pipsqueak wriggled out of his arms to cheerfully wave at her. "He told me that you were one of the kindest mares he'd ever seen, and one of the bravest too. I'm glad to see the little scamp wasn't bragging. "

Twilight nodded in acceptance. "Has this happened before? To others?" She looked around the crowd, her voice carrying to the many ponies that stood there. Many of them nodded unhappily. Far, far too many of them.

Voices began to pipe up. "Filthy has been trying to lean on us all!" Cried out one of the vegetable vendors - from his coloring and cutie mark, he was one of the Carrot family. "He's been using his thugs to try and force us out of town!" yelled another vendor, this one a purveyor of household goods. Dozens more voices joined the first two, each of them with a grievance against Filthy Rich. The crowd was demanding action, and suddenly a thought came to Twilight. You wanted to send a message, Twilight. That dark, raspy voice spoke. Here is a chance, gift wrapped and tied up in a bow for you.

Twilight tried to tune out the mysterious voice of her Shadow and raised a hoof imperiously to the crowd. Silence quickly settled over them as they watched in anticipation. "I heard your words, and I agree. This 'Mr. Rich' must be held accountable for his actions. There will be a reckoning, I can promise you all that! Twilight City will be a place where any creature can live and work in safety! It will be a place where everyone has an equal and fair chance to make it! I give you my solemn vow, that these malicious acts end today!" Her speech thundered out over the crowd, and could be heard to the far edges of the market square. For a moment, Twilight wondered if she had perhaps laid it on a bit thick.

Then Pipsqueak popped up on to the top of his father stand and cupped his hooves around his mouth. "Let's hear it for Lady Twilight, protector of the common pony! Hip Hip!" Much to Twilight's amazement, the crowd suddenly burst into sound all around her. "HUZZAH!" The crowd roared, some of them throwing hats or other light objects into the air. Twilight blinked at them. She'd expected fear, perhaps apprehension. This? "Hip Hip!" Proclaimed Pipsqueak again, now held high above with his father's hooves. "HUZZAH!" Roared the crowd again, many of their faces split with grins.

Then it hit her. These ponies, these common everyday folks had just watched some upper crust pony beat down the minions of those who lorded over them without so much as a second thought. She'd read the vague reports about the wealthy magnates trying to take control over the industry and economy of her town. But Twilight didn't understand the politics, or even really the mechanics of that. Such things had always been an abstraction to her - numbers on a sheet of paper, mathematics that were simple enough to decipher. Somepony had the means to make the numbers move his or her way, such was the way of the world.

In small town Ponyville, there were no such need for such things. So much of the economy was purely local that it never entered into the discussion. In Canterlot, the whole city was owned and ruled by the elite already - so such movements never crossed the eyes of Celestia's most gifted student. And now here, she stared into the eyes of the common working ponies. No different than her closest friends in Ponyville. They had come to live here, believing that one like her would at last bring equality to things. Was this what Tantalus was talking about? she thought faintly.

He had spoken of countless threats to Equestria. He had spoken of the great nations which surrounded her beloved land, but he had also told her there were threats from within. Have we all been blind? her thoughts raced for a few moments, trying to consider what she had learned.

There was a righteous anger in the crowd - and a righteous, fierce pride in their cheers. "Death to Filthy Rich!" cried out one of the many working ponies, and dozens more brandished their hooves in the air. "Justice for the common pony!" Cried out another, and more hooves and claws raised into the air in approbation.

They had needed a leader, one powerful enough and decisive enough to do what they could not do alone. Somepony who could give them the means to fight back, against those that sought to maintain the status quo for their own petty gains. "Hip Hip!" Cried out Pipsqueak one more time, his father tossing him into the air joyfully.

Twilight Shadow looked out over the crowd of workers, farmers and craftsponys. Of single-cart merchants and bakers, of common cooks and weather-team workers. Pegasi, unicorn, earth pony, thestral and so many others were crowded around the square. They came here for you, Twilight. For you to lead them to a better tomorrow. Twilight held her head high and smiled as brightly as she could, thrusting her hoof up into the air as so many in the crowd had done before. A symbol of defiance, a promise to her people, a declaration of war, and the crowd roared in response. "HUZZAH!"

~~~~~~~~

"You hit them how hard?" Rainbow Dash asked somewhat wearily. She wasn't angry, per se. Just a little bemused. There was no helping Pinkie being Pinkie after all. "Well whatever." Dash shook her head and a grin split her face. "S'good to see you Pinkie." The two old friends hugged fiercely for a moment before separating.

Dash had actually gotten in a full two hour nap, for which she was quite thankful. She'd awoken to find a scene of minor destruction around her - and Pinkie Pie talking amiably with Ribbon. It hadn't taken long to get the full story, and so now Rainbow Dash was peering into the hole Pinkie had made in the tile roof, hoping she wasn't going to end up having to pay for the repairs. Not that Dash was going to complain about the rescue.

Pinkie grinned at her. "So Dashie! I see you had a run in with Mistress Twilight too." She purred out the words, causing Dash to blush brightly. Pinkie giggled again and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. "Aw, no need to be embarrassed Dashie." Pinkie smiled softly, some of her bubbly energy subsiding for a moment. "I've never partied quite that hard before last night. It was..." She shivered a little, and Ribbon gently squeezed Pinkie's shoulder. "It was amazing." Pinkie whispered, looking almost glowing in her contentment.

Dash couldn't help it. She grinned and plunked her flank down between an old friend, and a new one. "Yeah, it was, wasn't it?" Pinkie and Dash laughed in concert, soon joined by Ribbons stifled giggles. They laughed together for several long minutes, all the stress of Dash's past day melting out of her. "Aw, criminy. We're a real coupla grown up mares, aren't we Pinkie?" Dash chuckled out, as Pinkie nodded in enthusiastic agreement. "Look at us, blushing over a little sex." She paused. "Really hot, kinky sex truthfully."

Pinkie grinned slyly. "Mmm, you're not kidding Dashie. That was one heck of a party!" She laughed and leaned over the edge of the hole in the roof. "So are you gonna properly introduce me to your new friend or what?"

Dash blushed and grinned, hooking her hoof towards Ribbon. "Oh yeah. This is Ribbon Bound. She's kinda my boss now." Pinkie giggled a little and Dash hid her blush. "And before you ask, no we haven't done anything... too.. um." She paused. "Well, okay she gave me one hell of a nibbling but that doesn't count I think."

Ribbon rolled her eyes and smiled at Pinkie Pie. "Nice to meet another friend of the Mistress. I don't suppose you'd be willing to help with our sparring sometime, would you? I've never seen an earth pony fight like that before." Ribbon's tone was bright, even though she and Dash were now seriously slacking off.

Pinkie winked. "I could do that for ya. I warn you though, Pinkie Style isn't something you can be taught! You gotta learn it for yourself, Rawr!" She did her favorite combat pose, up on her rear hooves and forehooves raised menacingly into the air. It startled a cheeky laugh from Ribbon and an eye-roll from Dash. "But seriously, sure." Pinkie went back to semi-calm mode. "I'll be happy to help out, and I can make friends with all of your friends too!" Pinkie clapped her hooves together excitedly. "So, you're both coming to my party right?"

Ribbon blinked and Dash rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Pinkie? You've been here less than a day and you're already planning a party?" Dash paused for a moment and laughed softly. "Aw, who am I kidding. I'm surprised it took you this long. Just promise me Sugarcube Corner is gonna cater." Dash waggled her eyebrows at Pinkie. "I want some of those crunchy-crumb muffins."

Pinkie winked. "Gonna be more than just muffins, Dashie. I'm throwing a whole new kind of party now - Mistress Twi is probably gonna love it way more than my old kind." she winked slyly as Dash looked at her in puzzlement. "Aw, C'mon Dashie. You can work it out."

Dash blinked at her for a moment, and then lightly facehoofed. "You're going to throw a Sexy Pinkie Pie party, aren't you?" Dash asked somewhat lamely. Pinkie giggled and blushed in response and Dash sighed a little. "Well I suppose this sort of thing was inevitable. We're all grown mares now. Just promise me you wont try to cover everypony in frosting like the last time you tried this."

Pinkie gasped and stuck her tongue out at Dash. "You promised me you'd never talk about that!" Pinkie grumbled out. "How was I supposed to know cinnamon did that sort of thing to other ponies fun bits?"

That got a burst of bright chiming laughter out of Ribbon. "Oh by the Shadow, you two!" She brandished a hoof at Pinkie and Dash, who both grinned unrepentantly. "Now look, as much fun as this has been Private Dash and I need to get back to work, Miss Pie." Dash grinned sheepishly as Ribbon held a hoof to her heart as she spoke. "But I promise we will both attend your party."

Pinkie bounced up to her hooves, and gave Ribbon a sly smile. "Excellent! I can't wait to see you both there!" She smooched Dash in a sisterly manner on her cheek. "I'm gonna go make some more friends! Bye, Dashie!" And off Pinkie went - bouncing across the rooftops with nary a care in the world.

Ribbon stared after her, and couldn't help but ask. "Is she always like that?" Ribbon's voice queried, followed by "Like, that energetic and strange and... Did she really spray an entire room of ponies with cinnamon frosting?" Ribbon cleared her throat, hoping that the question didn't come across as rude.

Dash just chuckled, tugging her flight suit into place. "Ribbons, back in Ponyville we've got a saying. That was just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. Trust me, its easier than trying to explain anything that mare does.

~~~~~~~~

Twilight's hooves continued to carry her down the streets, though it had become clear that word was already spreading before her like a red carpet. Twilight turned to one of those stoic guards which had been following her and spoke quietly. "Get me Captain Winterlight, and tell her to bring reinforcements. She is to meet me in the business district." The guard nodded and trotted off speedily.

'Mr. Rich' could only be one pony, and Twilight winced at the thought of how Applejack was likely going to take her next course of action. I'll make it up to her, somehow. Or rather, she'd have to make it up to Granny Smith who no doubt would be the one to raise pure Tartarus. Twilight was not about to let that stop her though. The four stallions in the town square had been just one part of the example she was intending to make. No one can escape Justice. Big or small.

She frowned a little as they turned into the wealthier part of her town - where much of the construction had been completed some months ago. I wont be able to just dissapear him either. There will need to be a public accounting. A result so definitive that everypony knows exactly what happens to those who seek to oppress others. If Twilight was being honest, it meant she was going to have to punish him directly to illustrate the point. She ruled here, and that was that.

That came with qualifiers, of course. She would need some co-operation from the wealthy and powerful. She simply needed to make it clear that it wasn't her job to go courting them. It was their job to come to her, and it was in their best interests to abide by her rules. Moments later, her thoughts were interrupted by a fully uniformed Winterlight, along with five tough looking Shadowbolts. All of them Thestrals, except for the Captain. "Your will, my Queen?" were Winterlight's only words, delivered with a gentle intensity.

They sounded far more sincere than they ever had before, and Twilight arched an eyebrow at her. "You didn't tell me that there were thugs strong-arming and beating the local merchants, Captain." She spoke in that same too soft tone. No need for yelling or screaming. Twilight was superb at conveying her disappointment without such histrionics. " I expect you to make it a point to bring a stop to such behaviors in the future. But we'll discuss that failure later. Right now, we're going to make an example of one of the offenders."

Captain Winterlight, to her credit did not try to beg or plead. She simply nodded. "Yes, my Queen." Then fell silent as they marched in time past little clumps of well-to-do watchers. They were mostly unicorns of course, as always seemed to be the case. Yet there were definitely clumps of earth ponies and pegasi scattered amongst them. Twilight did not pay them much mind, but she made note of the discrepancy. Perhaps the crown could work to change this imbalance, given a little money and time.

The Rich household stood out on the street. Twilight knew Filthy Rich had a reputation for extravagance and ostentation that amused even his peers. "Secure the house." Twilight spoke gently. "No one leaves, no one enters until I say otherwise." Winterlight saluted crisply and quickly began to bark out orders to her subordinates.

Twilight knew none of this would hold up in a court. In fact, the basis of this entire action was laughable at best. But that doesn't really matter. Now does it? No. The ponies and creatures in the square had spoken, and there was to be a reckoning. I will need them far more than I will need one more wealthy socialite. Her thoughts began to growl as she slowly mounted the steps of the far-too-fancy home, the shadow driving her anger to greater heights. War is coming soon. The enemies of Equestria will not wait forever. Twilight thought grimly, as she ascended the front staircase. And If I want to win that war, I'm going to need the common citizen to stand by my side. And if those same citizens had demanded that she be their sword of vengeance, so be it.

Twilight's powers filled her up like an empty vessel, her mane dripping with shadow energy. Her power lashed out, obliterating the hoof-carved wooden doorway that stayed her inexorable march into the building. If she had to do violence so that good citizens never needed to be afraid of losing all they had at the capricious whim of the wealthy or the criminal, so be it.

Twilight's hooves carried her inside, onto the Cashmare rugs and past the terrified help of the house. She spoke softly as she passed them. "Go to my Hall. You will find work, and be safe there." She would need proper servants anyway, as the Shadowbolts were going to be busy soon. The maids scampered out of the door at top speed, stammering fearful thanks to her as they ran. If Twilight had to accept that her old life would never return so that Equestria might know true Justice, so be it.

Twilight could feel the inhabitants of the house, reaching out through the shadows to hear and see and smell everything that she needed to know. Two little foals huddled in a closet in a downstairs room, rank with fear and uncertainty. The lady of the house was in the bath, apparently oblivious to the intrusion - or perhaps, she didn't even care about the noise. The stallion she sought had been thwarted in his attempt to leave via the windows, and was now being held in place by Captain Winterlight. Twilight smirked softly and continued up the stairs, making sure her hoofsteps could be heard by all in the household. If she had to become the Boogeymare of every creature who thought they could exploit and oppress her little ponies, so be it.

Twilight passed ornate doorways and ancient classical paintings. Trappings of wealth and power that meant nothing to Twilight Shadow. They were ultimately ephemeral in the end, they would pass and she would remain. They could not shield their owners from her wrath, and they could not stay her hoof when need demanded. There would be those innocents who would be hurt in the crossfire, but Twilight could heal their wounds when the threat had passed. If Twilight had to bear the burden of being the one who would do what was necessary no matter what, so be it.

Her power lashed out again, shattering the door to the office where Filthy Rich lay under the iron hoof of her Shadowbolts. His eyes were wide in panic, focused on her as she slowly advanced into the room. She would not hurry. She knew the story of this moment would be retold throughout the entire land. Every one of Equestria's foes would know that Twilight Shadow cared not for their whims or plans. She would go about her own, in her own good time - Dismissive of anything they might try to do to stop her. If Twilight had to become the dark queen of Equestria to protect the ones she loved, so be it.

Twilights hooves came to a stop, looming over the prostrate body of Filthy Rich. "Move." She gently ordered Winterlight, who quickly retreated to the windows - where all of the other five Shadowbolts watched her behind those blank golden goggles. Filthy was babbling something to her, incoherent threats, promises and pleading. Twilight Shadow cut those words off with a tendril of her power, wrapping around his face and neck tightly. If Equestria needed a leader who would make the hard choices and not flinch from them when the need arose, so be it.

Twilight stared into those fearful eyes for a moment, knowing there was no going back from here. But what else could she do? Once, long ago - Celestia had banished the pony she loved more than any other to the moon in order to save the world. Celestia had been willing to tear her own heart out for the ones she loved. Could Twilight be willing to do any less?

There was no need for words. No dramatic declarations of intent. The tendril of shadow squeezed and then yanked hard, and Twilight watched coldly as the pony's neck snapped under the pitiless strength of the Shadow. The body flopped to the floor in silence, and Twilight looked up to see the pride in Winterlight's gaze.

Twilight turned away silently from the body and began her slow walk back downstairs. The tale would spread. Justice would be brought swiftly upon those who thought they could harm innocents without consequence. The world needed to be taught a lesson, and sometimes those lessons needed to be definitive.

So be it.