Assertion - Chapter 2: Corrosive Relationships

Assertion
Written by Sectus
Co-written by RWG

CHAPTER TWO: CORROSIVE RELATIONSHIPS

"I'll ask again. Have either of you set hoof near the observatory today? I don't care if you were meeting somepony, or if you just popped in to take a shit."

The abrasive police pony had been quick to antagonize the two friends, asking them question after question right after having been permitted entry to the tree home. She had been sure to formally introduce herself before harassing them too harshly. Her name was Spearhead, and she was a Sergeant with the Ponyville Police Force.

"We were at Fluttershy's return party all evening!" Twilight Sparkle shot back. She was growing irritated by the rude and insulting behavior that the police pony held. She was standing her ground between Sergeant Spearhead and Fluttershy. The latter was huddled beside a bookshelf, sobbing into her pink mane.

The Sergeant, however, was becoming tired of asking the same question time and time again, yet still yielding no new results.

"Look, the fact of the matter is that a pony is dead. My job is to find out who did it, and why," Spearhead growled, stomping a hoof against the wooden floor.

"Well, you still haven't told us who it is that was killed. Would you care to grace us with that information, or is it 'classified'?" Twilight spat venomously.

The beige-coated mare inched towards Twilight, as the two mares stared each other down during a prolonged silence.

"It's. Fucking. Classified," Spearhead intoned, her face now mere inches away from Twilight's. "Just because you're the Princess's personal bitch doesn't mean you get to subvert authority. Now sit down, and let me ask the questions."

Twilight took a seat, and Fluttershy took one beside her. Spearhead's questions were what one might expect, she asked them about their whereabouts, witnesses, "Do you know this pony?" and other such things. Unfortunately, none of the questions seemed to help the investigators get any closer to finding the murderer.

Eventually, after many long-winded explanations and detailed descriptions of who and what they had seen, the disgruntled sergeant left the library in a rather irritable mood, slamming the door behind her violently.

It took Twilight a few moments to coax Fluttershy out from behind her study desk, but eventually the two friends bid farewell and parted ways for the evening.

***

Twilight didn't sleep. Not even a wink. The whole night, all she could think about was the murder, the police mare, and the observatory.

"Why the observatory?" she pondered, "Were they trying to steal something? Or were they just /really/ anxious to try the new telescope?"

Twilight found herself pacing over the problem in the wee hours of the morning. She tried to keep her noise down to avoid waking Spike, but the natural "clip clop" of her hooves soon got the better of her, and the dragon awoke with a loud yawn.

"T-Twilight?" The baby dragon called in a rather groggy voice, rubbing his eyelids as he hopped down the stairs. "What are ya doin' up so early?" He asked, his voice carrying a tone of curiousness as he inspected his rather frazzled looking mentor.

"Thinking," Twilight responded simply, stopping in place and pressing a hoof to her chin as she inspected the ornate ceiling of the wooden library.

"About what...?" Spike asked quietly, scratching the back of his head with a claw. Not long after, his mentor had resumed her pacing along the same path she had been when he arrived.

"That police mare that showed up last night. Sparehead or whatever..." Twilight mumbled, now fixing her gaze on the floor in front of her as she trotted to and fro.

"P-...what? Police mare?" Spike sputtered incredulously, his eyes widening. What had Twilight done to attract the police to the library of all places? Surely she couldn't have done anything serious enough to involve law enforcement.

"Yes, a police mare ... she said that there had been a murder last night. Apparently it was near the observatory just outside of Ponyville," she responded, again stopping in her tracks. This time she stared out the window near her desk, her eyes narrowing as she watched the empty street outside.

"Murder!?" Spike gasped, falling back onto his rump in surprise. It wasn't the fact that somepony had been murdered that surprised him, it was the casual, almost care-free attitude with which Twilight had mentioned such a thing. Murder was something that hadn't happened in ages, not that he had heard of, at least. He had read about death in wars and famine in many of the books that Twilight kept around the library, but had never heard of such a thing happening in Ponyville. This village seemed far too peaceful for such a thing. The very idea put the young dragon on edge.

Twilight's response was as cold as it was intimidating.

"She said that she wouldn't tell me who was murdered. I think I need to see the princesses about this. Personally."

***

It wasn’t long before Twilight had left the library in search of her friends. She had spent most of the morning informing them all of where she was going, and what she wanted to know. The only one of her friends that she would allow to come with her, however, was Fluttershy. Her pegasus friend was the only pony who had been with her aside from the other various police agents, and Twilight figured that it would be best to have somepony to back up her word.

A few hours after leaving her home, she sat beside Fluttershy. The two of them had boarded the single available train bound for Canterlot. All about the car they sat in, various ponies were milling about their business. Talking to friends, cuddling a lover, playing little games. The sight of this made Fluttershy miss her dear friends, causing her to sink lower in her cushioned seat.

"Um, Twilight?"

"Yes, Fluttershy?"

"That pony at the observatory, do you think he'll be alright?"

"You mean the one who was murdered?"

"Um, yes."

"Fluttershy, he's dead. Or, she's dead, or... somepony is dead."

"I- I know that. But will they be okay?"

***

The entire trip to Canterlot still loomed before the two of them, and conversation didn’t have much to offer. After about an hour and a half of riding, however, the pair of the arrived at the gleaming, golden gates of the city of Canterlot. The capital of Equestria, as with all other places, had apparently amped up the security.

While the Canterlot guards still acted as a military force, they now only held dominion over the royal palace, and the boarders of the golden city. A group of the guards clad in shining barding stood in front of the gates, which stood open at an angle. Inside, the two mares could see that a new group had taken the security of Canterlot into its hoof.

The Canterlot Police Force, or ‘CLPF’.

Officers stood all around the train dock, organizing the outbound crowd into lines, patting them down and inspecting them for any unwanted or illegal objects and weapons. Off to one corner, a pair of police stallions had a mare and her foal backed into the corner as they read over her passport information. One of them chuckled heartily at something the other had said, apparently frightening the mare and her child.

The train pulled to a stop beside the dock with a hiss, the doors to each car sliding open and allowing the occupants to file out.

"Please await instruction from your dock operators," a dull voice announced over a loudspeaker as everypony began filing out of the train cars.

Twilight looked all around the station, unable to make much sense of things as she heard shouts over the outbound crowds as they moved slowly towards the cars. As she scanned the area, a distant yell was repeated, this time, however, it was painfully close to her ear.

"Elements! Priority access! Move along!"

The stallion's shout rang sharply in her ear. She rubbed at it with a free hoof before replying.

"I'm not deaf! You could have asked nicely!"

The police stallion, apparently recognizing his rudeness, blushed the faintest hue of red before apologizing repeatedly, and stepping away from her and Fluttershy.

"Some ponies..." Twilight grumbled to herself, walking past him and towards the platform's exit gate.

Fluttershy, however, remained completely silent as she followed behind the haughty librarian mare. Her entire return to Ponyville had been confusing and frightening, and now the next thing she knew, she was being dragged along to Canterlot to bother the princesses. /At least I could cheer up the bear tigers,/ Fluttershy thought, thinking back on her trip.

"Twilight?...Not to be rude or anything ... but uhm ... is it really a good idea to bother the princesses?" Before the lemon-coated pegasus was able to finish, however, Twilight cut her off.

"Look, Fluttershy. This is important. Somepony /died/ over all this," she shot in an irritable tone. "I don't know how, or why, but I'm going to find out, and /you/ are going to help."

This served as more than enough to shut the timid mare up.

***

The streets of Canterlot were ... organized. Everything seemed to work like clockwork since the last time Twilight or Fluttershy had been here. Sure, the citizens were somewhat unpredictable, but the police forces guarding the gleaming city functioned almost like robot-ponies. /A silly concept,/ Twilight thought to herself, but it was hard not to imagine it given their behavior. On nearly every street corner there was a mare or stallion dressed in the intimidating CLPF barding, several clunky gadgets and devices strapped to their sides or in saddlebags. Every now and then they would change places, swapping positions with a partner on an opposite corner.

Another thing the mare-pair noticed was that all of them had sun glasses. Not a single one lacked them, and they all blocked out their eyes, adding a certain fine touch to their intimidation factor. Their eyes could somewhat be tracked, however. Every now and then their head would turn, looking in the direction of somepony they thought was suspicious or out of place. Occasionally, an officer might reach out, stopping a citizen and speaking words that Twilight and Fluttershy were unable to hear over the low murmur of voices that filled the tidy streets.

Despite this, the two mares pushed on with their journey.

A crackle of static came from a nearby officer as the two of them passed,

/"10-13M *ppzzhhht* ... Reports of a suspicious earth pony in the market district ... units be advised ... *ppzzhhhtttt*..."/

/So the Canterlot police forces were looking for someone as well. That has to mean that the murders aren't just in Ponyville,/ Twilight thought as she kept walking, trying to ignore the continued radio chatter emitting from a passing officer.

***

If the security in the city was oppressive, it was a killing choke-hold upon approaching the palace. Every few feet there stood a large carriage baring the CLPF icon, each with several steel boxes inside baring what Twilight and Fluttershy could only guess were more 'containment weapons'. The bridge to the palace itself was barricaded with heavy sandbags, police stallions and mares all standing around them, checking over maps that had been laid down on collapsible tables and stools. There was even a sort of mobile water-cooler with plastic cups included.

As they approached, an older looking mare with significantly more stripes on her barding than her co-workers spotted them.

"You there, stop!" she ordered, stepping towards the pair and holding out a hoof defiantly. "What is your business here, if any?"

"We are here to see the princesses," Twilight responded simply, her head tilting in confusion. /Surely this pony knows who I am...?/ Despite how arrogant that sounded in her head, she kept her mouth shut.

"A lot of ponies come here to see the princesses, girly. Only a few of them actually have good reasons. Take a hike, pipsqueak."

Twilight blinked in confusion. She gave a gentle sigh, trying to elaborate.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle," She added, giving a soft smile to the older mare.

"And my name is get," the officer responded, grunting.

"Get what...?" Twilight asked, an eyebrow raising at the odd name.

"Lost!" the mare shouted, growling at Twilight before turning to head back to the group of police ponies.

Twilight simply grumbled in response. She was in no mood to put up with such stubborn behavior from her so called protectors, and was just about to give that mare a good talking to when a gentle voice spoke from behind her.

"Now, Broadside. You remember what I told you about aggressive behavior, yes?"

Twilight froze in place, the voice of Princess Luna as stunning and commanding as ever. The night princess stood tall, her regal blue mane shining and gleaming with white stars, clashing heavily with the bright afternoon sunlight.

"Shit..." the police captain muttered under her breath, turning to face her superior. "Uhm, yes ... sorry your highness ... I was just conducting a uhh...loyalty check! That's it, a loyalty check!" the older mare reported eagerly, waving a hoof to add emphasis to her point.

"Not necessary, captain. This is Twilight Sparkle, my protege," the princess informed her with a nod of her head.

Before the captain could retort, however, a crackle burst from her radio.

"*Pzzzhhhhttt* ...Uh, control... we have reports of a uhh... *pzzzht* ...break and enter by an earth pony. Assistance requested, advise. *pzzzhhhtttt*"

The aging police mare grunted, pressing a hoof to her forehead in irritation.

"I'm sorry princess...I've gotta run, duty calls and such..." she spoke with a defeated tone in her voice. She lowered her voice to a whisper, leaning down to Twilight. "You're lucky..." she muttered, before turning and cantering off down a side street, two officers soon following after her.

The night princess gave a soft smile as the police captain hurried off, before turning her gaze to her pupil.

"Come, my student. I am sure we have much to discuss..." she spoke softly, walking in the direction of the palace with her pupil, and Fluttershy, close in hoof.

"Um, Twilight, I thought you were Princess Celestia's student," the yellow pegasus whimpered, curious over the princess's word choice.

"My sister grew too busy to teach," Luna explained, "Royal duties are taxing nowadays. She asked for me to take over Twilight's studies."

"Oh..." Fluttershy mumbled, lowering her head nervously. She felt somewhat ashamed for not knowing this beforehand, and she could not tell why.

***

The Canterlot Palace was almost dead silent. Most of the attendants and aides were out performing duties elsewhere, or helping with the CLPF in the pursuit of crime. This left the castle holding only a few dozen security agents, a chef, and two maintenance ponies, princesses not included. Rather than detract from it, the quiet, calm feeling of the palace seemed to add to the wonder of being inside it. It was almost relaxing to be here in such an ancient structure. It seemed to bubble over with the knowledge of days gone by.

The throne room into which Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Princess Luna stepped held only an unoccupied throne that either princess would use depending on whether it was night or day in Equestria. Each window depicted a historic scene in vibrant color, most of them baring images of ancient villains that had been defeated by either the princesses, or the elements of harmony. Through these detailed scenes, sunlight gleamed, filling the chamber with a warm, glowing feeling that resonated in the very soul of anypony who stepped inside.

"Where is Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked curiously, her head tilting and delivering a gentle smile to her newer mentor. She had been re-assigned to Princess Luna during Fluttershy's absence. This had been a very shocking decision for Twilight, but upon elaboration she agreed, and was now studying under the princess of the night to further develop her skill in higher, and more dangerous magics.

"She is attending an important remembrance event in Hoofington. On this day about five hundred years ago, a band of soldiers died to protect the small village that would soon become Hoofington," the princess responded. There was a deep tone of sadness in her voice, and it occurred to Twilight that the princesses might have actually been there to witness such a thing. No doubt such historic events would have more of an emotional impact on them than ponies living today.

Twilight's mind was abuzz with suspicions, however. Why would their day-bringer leave the capital immediately after hearing of a murder in one of her cities? Surely the princess would have cancelled her trip despite the event, and gone to Ponyville to help calm her citizens?

"Why did she leave, though?" Twilight asked. "Isn't this murder more important?"

The night princess gave a sigh, before explaining.

"It took quite a bit of convincing on my behalf, but I do not want the fallen heroes of Hoofington to be forgotten. Celestia has always attended that event, and I will not allow this day to be any exception. Her attendance is considered one of the greatest honors."

"Couldn't you have gone in her place?" Twilight questioned. Although she couldn't explain it, she felt rather disappointed in the princess of the sun for not being more dedicated to a murder, of all things. Twilight couldn't help but feel slightly disrespected at the idea of Celestia leaving right after somepony had died.

"Like I said, my dear Twilight Sparkle, it is a tradition for her to attend. I would have gone myself if not for this horrible occurrence."

This explanation didn't exactly satisfy the purple mare. /If it was any other day, the princess would have gone to Ponyville first thing,/ Twilight thought.

Fluttershy stepped forward, half-hiding behind her pink mane.

"Well ... why aren't you there now?" she asked gently, her confidence growing after being in the room with the princess for an extended amount of time.

The night-bringer apparently found Fluttershy's assertiveness amusing, as she gave a quiet chuckle before answering.

"I do have other things to attend to as a monarch, dear Fluttershy."

***

"It just doesn't make any sense, Fluttershy," Twilight mused as the pair sat on the train, which wobbled slightly as it passed a rocky mountain on its way back to the rural village of Ponyville.

"Why would the princess even consider leaving Canterlot in a time of crisis? Her ponies will think she is abandoning them."

"I don't think it is as serious as you think, Twilight," Fluttershy responded quietly, sitting on the soft cushioned bench next to her purple friend. "She was just attending a memorial..."

Twilight continued to turn the situation over in her mind, re-thinking every aspect of what she had learned from this trip to Canterlot. She did admit that the princess had a /reason/ for leaving, but it still didn't seem much like Celestia to just vanish into thin air without making a speech, or at all informing her citizens. Ponies would be worried, asking why their day-bringer had left without even so much as mentioning the murders. Though it was more disrespectful than strange, Twilight still had her suspicions of it all.

Fluttershy, however, was more concerned with the problems that would come in the future. Would more ponies be hurt? Who would be the next pony to fall victim to one of these seemingly random and senseless murders? More importantly, what kind of pony would have the will to take the life of another? The thought frightened the lemon-coated mare, and she tried to push it from her mind, focusing on what the pair of them were going to do once they returned to Ponyville proper.

Eventually, the colorful train tugged itself into the Ponyville station once more, letting out an audible hiss as the doors slid open once more. There were only a few passengers on the train other than Twilight and Fluttershy. Twilight gave a small noise of surprise as a blue-coated mare with a rain cloud cutie mark bumped past her.

"Oh, sorry," the mare apologized quickly, before dashing off and out of the station. She seemed in quite a hurry, and was toting several saddlebags filled to the brim with complicated looking equipment.

"That's...okay?" Twilight returned in a dazed manner, unaware that the mare had already ran out of sight by the time she had replied.

Twilight scratched at her head, gazing out in the direction the mare had fled. Though there were only a few passengers sharing the train with Twilight and Fluttershy, there had been quite a few ponies waiting to board the train to where ever it was heading next. The blue mare was lost in an endless sea of ponies, about a tenth of them with the same color coat as she had.

"Twilight?" came a concerned voice from behind the unicorn, "Are you okay?"

Twilight pulled her gaze away from the crowd, and turned back to Fluttershy. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little confused, is all."

"The big city does that to me, too," Fluttershy mused, as she and her friend waded through the crowd and away from the Friendship Express. "Maybe Rarity could possibly arrange us a spa day? It always helps me unwind after a stressful day."

"Yeah," Twilight spoke thoughtfully, her eyes seeming misty and distant as the crowed cleared, and the pair of friends stepped down off of the platform. "I think I'd like that, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Oh, how wonderful!" She exclaimed, wrapping her forehooves around the purple unicorn. "We'll have so much fun, it'll be a perfect day off!" It wasn't normal for Fluttershy to be this eager and excited, and Twilight had to admit, it amused her.

***

The two friends spent the remainder of the day relaxing. Their first stop was at the spa Fluttershy had mentioned. They were presented with several different relaxing therapeutic treatments upon Fluttershy's insistance that 'Rarity sent us'.

Near the end of their treatment, just as they were about to clean off from a mud bath and leave, one of the attendant ponies who had done their massages trotted over, smiling.

"Did you enjoy yourselves, ladies?" She asked enthusiastically, beaming at each of the mares.

"Oh, yes. Very much. It was very nice," Fluttershy complimented the attendant mare, before gathering up her things and heading out the door.

Just as Twilight was about to follow her friend, a hoof prodded her flank. Twilight recoiled slightly, and turned to face the spa pony.

"Your receipt, madam," said the blue spa pony.

She handed Twilight a small piece of paper. A very modest sum of bits was totaled at the bottom, and it had a peculiar smudge of lipstick in the left-hoof corner.

Twilight nodded, and stashed it in her saddlebags, levitating out a small bag of bits in the process.