Friendship is Deception

by Your Antagonist

Missing Reel: Chapter 12 (3/3)

A resounding BOOM shook the castle, and moments later several of the royal guards came pouring into the throne room, out of breath and shouting, “We’re under attack!”. 

“What the hay was that?!” Twilight shouted at the nearest guard.

The pegasus caught his breath and saluted before speaking, “Ms. Sparkle, these two intruders just strolled into the castle grounds and began hurling these green bombs everywhere, shouting something about claiming ‘avarice’, and they proceeded upstairs to the guest lodgings.”

It’s about time. Zecora always did enjoy taking her time with these operations.

“Claimin’ avarice? What in tarnation is that supposed to mean?”

Celestia’s eyes fell coldly on Applejack as she conversed with the guard. Don’t worry, Applejack the Honest, you’ll find out soon enough.

Twilight responded, “I don’t know, but I left Spike upstairs, and I need to make sure he’s alright, c’mon girls. Let’s—”

Rainbow Dash stopped Twilight with a wing before cutting the unicorn off. “Look here egghead, you need to stay down here with the Princesses; Fluttershy and Rarity, continue investigating; I’ll take AJ and Pinkie to find Spike, got it?” A grin began to play across Princess Celestia’s features, but she stifled the action just as quickly as it came to fruition: she couldn’t give herself away just yet, not when all of the Elements of Harmony were in the same room as herself. The way they were about to separate their mare-power at the moment worked out even better, in Celestia’s favor anyway.

Prince Blueblood’s gaze wandered over to Celestia’s, and—amidst the bedlam and frequent shouting that overtook the castle—a single nod from the monarch to her nephew spoke volumes about Celestia’s plans and Blueblood’s part in them. To convey his compliance and understanding, the Prince pounded his chest with his right hoof, and wordlessly cantered over to the faction of the elements that were en route to retrieve Spike.

After observing the rescue party for Spike engage in some pointless dialogue before galloping off to intercept her agents, Celestia’s eyes fell to Luna, who was assisting the wounded guard pegasi with Fluttershy while Rarity and Twilight sifted through the case files. The next part of her plan required some tact that would have to be employed discreetly, lest she arouse the suspicions of her sister and her pupil too quickly. Celestia analyzed the situation, pondering and calculating various scenarios that would offer the greatest chance of success for capturing her sister and the remaining elements with minimal struggle.

 Zecora had alleviated Celestia’s burdens greatly by attracting three of the more physically troublesome element-bearers, but Twilight was no pushover herself, and from Twilght’s various friendship reports, Celestia knew better than to underestimate the craftiness of Rarity and Fluttershy.

Celestia stepped off of her throne, trotting elegantly over to her sister’s side as her horn began to glow faintly with a transparent aura of magic targeting the guard. UV rays, they may work slowly, but they should brandish the desired result right about... now.

“SISTER, come quickly! The flesh of this guard hath begun to blister and burn!” Luna shouted in a panicked state, unsure of what to do or how to handle this new development.

Celestia had to fight back another grin as a piece of her plan fell perfectly into place. “Luna, lower your voice; he may be suffering from burns, but that doesn’t mean we have to add to his pain by deafening him.”

“I’m sorry sister...”

“There’s no time for that Luna, now let’s see...” Celestia observed the guard with feigned concern and confusion. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before... Twilight, Fluttershy come over here please.”

“Oh, yes princess.” Fluttershy rose uncertainly from the guard she was treating, and one of the castle medics shooed her off to Celestia’s side, convincing the pegasus that she could handle this guard’s treatment.

“At once Princess Celestia.” Twilight rose from her place behind the stack of scrolls, galloping towards the princesses with a eyes wide open in concern, though Celestia knew her student well enough to tell she was absolutely ecstatic that her mentor required her assistance.

“Twilight, what do you think is the cause of this burning? Perhaps it is chemical in nature?”

Celestia watched as Twilight’s horn began to glow as she began to observe the slowly spreading burn pattern of the unconscious guard. “His skin turns red before manifesting in a burn, and I can’t find any traces of chemicals on his fur,”

 Fluttershy took a thermometer out of her saddle bags, placing it in the guards open mouth, simultaneously laying one of her fore-hooves on the guard’s forehead “His internal body temperature seems to be normal but his external body temperature... it’s like he’s receiving a direct exposure to sunlight, but that’s impossible we’re inside... oh dear.” Fluttershy pulled out an ice pack from her saddle bags, resting it on the guard’s head.

“Direct sunlight? Indoors?” Luna looked as though she’d seen a ghost as she began backing away hesitantly from Celestia. “Sister, did you—” Faster than anypony else in the room could register, Celestia extended her left forehoof, and drove it into her sister’s face with the type of force only a sun goddess could conjure. Luna was sent flying into one of the walls, leaving an indentation in it.

As the remaining and able-bodied guards rushed over to see what the commotion was all about, Celestia charged her horn for another spell releasing a blazing wave of heat, light and flame. When the fire cleared, all that remained was armor and ashes. 

Celestia’s horn maintained its glow as she turned her attention to Twilight, who was bewildered by what she had just seen and rendered incapable of moving; she could only stare at her mentor while gibbering senselessly out of fear. “P-Princess Celestia!? What are you... what are...” Twilight’s words were lost as she slowly slipped in and out of consciousness, stumbling unsteadily in a circle. In a vain attempt to stay awake, Twilight stomped her hooves to the ground and shook her head rapidly while charging herself with a purple aura of magic, but Celestia’s magic was far too strong, and soon the lavender mare fainted, the world slipping into shadow before her eyes.

“Good night, my faithful student,” Celestia chuckled to herself before meeting Fluttershy’s terrified gaze, advancing slowly to assert her dominance over the timid yellow mare. “You know you don’t have a chance Fluttershy, so why don’t you give in quietly— Agh! what is this?”  A barrier of yellow gems coated in a light blue aura had arisen around Celestia.

“Fluttershy, hurry: that wall of gems won’t keep her restrained for long!” Rarity cried as she galloped past the presently trapped Celestia to join her friend.

“For long? My little pony, these baubles won’t hold me at all!” Celestia began thrashing about inside the wall of gems, forcing greater strain on Rarity’s magic.

“B-but Rarity, what about Twilight, and Princess Luna?”

“There’s no time, Fluttershy, we have to hurry! Now come on!” Rarity galloped out of the throne room with Fluttershy in tow, the wall of gems dispelled itself after its caster was out of range.

Celestia stomped on one of the now worthless yellow gems, crushing it into shards beneath her weight as she snorted in frustration. It’s a shame they escaped, but it’s not as though a couple of weak rats like them could muss up my plans on their own, I’ve taken their leader. I didn’t expect Luna to fall so easily, but I suppose a thousand years on the moon would make anypony sloppy. Now, I wonder how well my agents are doing. She casted her gaze towards the gardens and noted that her agents were making their escape through the eastern gate and they were being trailed by a straggler. Wait, only one? Where are the other two elements, and that zebra?  The sound of hoof-beats approaching rapidly commanded Celestia’s attention at the moment, and she turned to face a very exhausted Applejack carrying Detective Zaca.

“Princess Celestia, what in tarnation happened in here? Why’s there so much—”

Celestia sighed, turning her back on Applejack and drowning out the earth pony’s inquiries as though they were merely white-noise. Without thinking or aiming, the sun goddess lifted her left hindleg and bucked blindly behind herself, and found purchase on Applejack’s chin, sending the earth pony and the wounded Zebra she was carrying skidding across the floor. Well, that makes four out of eight now I suppose... wait a minute, what’s that?

Celestia returned her gaze to the chase in the garden below as a multicolored explosion emanated from its depths, and shattered the windows before Celestia. It looks like I might have to deal with the outside situation myself. “Anguish, Puppetmaster, come here.”

“Yes, master?” Called a meek voice from behind one of the pillars.

“My lord, what is it you require of your humble servant?”

Celestia turned to face both of her subjects, her eyebrows furrowed to show she meant absolute business. “Puppetmaster, I want you to ensure that the castle is sterilized of any trace of attack save for Luna and the two element bearers. Have them brought to the oceanside estate dungeons, and properly restrained. I will not tolerate any escapes like the zebra, do you understand me? In fact, have one of your stallions eliminate that one while you’re at it.” Celestia gestured to the injured and unconscious Detective Zaca.

“Understood, my lord.” Mayor Mare turned from Celestia, whistling in a very particular fashion. Soon after the room was filled with various black suited ponies, some of whom bore the mark of the now-dead Crossheart syndicate, and others who bore one of the sun.

“Anguish.”

“Yes, master?”

“What is the status of Malice?”

Octavia saluted before answering. “I’ve just fed her dinner, and sent her to bed, my lord.”

“Excellent, a growing filly needs her rest after all. Besides, I want her prepared for the ritual tonight. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go and retrieve our honored guests from the garden. I certainly don’t want them to miss the revival of some old friends.” Celestia spread her wings wide, and flew through her now-destroyed windows towards the explosion site.

Chapter 12 concluded, the story is now back on track.