Chapter Seven: Talk of War
Battle and Shining Armour strode up the spiral steps to the council chamber, taking them two at a time. Behind them, Daisy Cutter and Arson came at a more leisurely pace, Juggernaut and Tactical bringing up the rear. The Merciless and the others of the guard remained in the courtyard, practising manoeuvres, training with the Canterlot guard.
The two unicorns stepped into the chamber and Battle saluted. "Celestia."
The white alicorn turned from the window she was staring out of to look at Battle with a kind and sincere smile as always.
"My dear Battle. So good to see you again after all this time," she said smiling. "I wish it could be under better circumstances."
"Join the club we've got jackets," Battle replied sighing, pulling out his favourite chair from the table and sitting upon it. Shining sat down beside him as Celestia took a seat on the opposite side of the round table. A few moments later Luna stepped from the shadows and sat by her sister. Daisy Cutter and Battle's two Generals through the doorway and took seats by their respective monarchs. Tactical walked in last, sitting as far away as she could from anyone else.
"I assume what your father has already written to me in his last letter still stands true?" Celestia asked.
"It is unfortunately," Battle confirmed. Daisy Cutter cleared her throat.
"Forgive me for asking Princess Celestia, Prince Battle-"
"Commander if you don't mind," Battle corrected. "It's a personal thing. I'm only a Prince for public relations."
"Commander Battle then," Daisy Cutter remedied, "Forgive me, but what exactly are we dealing with here?"
Battle shot a sideways glance at Shining Armour before answering. "How long have you been a member of the Royal Guard Captain?"
"Almost as long as the Prince," Daisy answered, confused.
"I see," Battle nodded. "So I assume you were left in charge of the guard in Canterlot when Princess Twilight Sparkle was kidnapped just over half a year ago?"
"Yes sir."
"And none of the other guards have informed you of what occurred during the battle to rescue Twilight?"
"Here we go," Tactical muttered under her breath.
"I have heard stories sir," Daisy Cutter blushed. "But, from what I've heard..."
"Go on Captain," Battle prompted. "We're all friends here, better to speak your mind."
"The things I've heard can't be real," Daisy snorted smiling. "I mean, a half pony, half dragon beast the size of the castle? Commanding a legion of monstrous creatures? It's the stuff of fairy tale."
Battle's lips twitched into a smile themselves. "It's good to get this straightened out at the beginning Captain. That way you think us all gibbering lunatics."
Daisy Cutter frowned. "Are you telling me this beast existed? Impossible. It's nothing more than a tale surely."
"Fairy tales all start somewhere Captain," Battle rebuked. "And Warhorse has some frightful bedtime stories we like to tell little foals. Like the story of how Warhorse was founded by seven mighty warriors, who turned themselves into creatures of absolute and perfect destruction. Seven creatures who darkest and most powerful evils became their one defining characteristic and gave their new names to the Seven Deadly Sins. Wrath, Envy, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony and Pride. The beast you have heard described by some of the Canterlot guard is the Sin of Wrath."
Daisy Cutter turned to Shining Armour for support.
"I can vouch for Commander Battle's words Captain," Shining said. "I was there myself. I saw the creature he describes."
"I see," Daisy said softly. "But... what does that have to do with our current situation."
"I mentioned Seven warriors," Battle reminded. "Wrath may have fallen but the other six live still. Imprisoned yes, but that could all change. Within a matter of weeks if we aren't careful."
"What Battle means Captain," Celestia said softly. "Is that we are dealing with a group of ponies unknown to us who wish to release one of the seven Sins from their prison here, in Equestria."
"Right," Daisy Cutter breathed. "So... how bad is this Sin?"
"Envy?" Battle tapped the table with one finger. "That's the distressing part. I don't know. The only way I knew of how dangerous Wrath could be was with first hand experience. With Envy though? I have no idea."
"I see," Daisy muttered.
"Is there anyway we may identify the members of this cult you mentioned?" Luna asked, leaning forward.
Battle tossed something small and silver across the table towards her. "That is the ring all the members of the Cultoribus de Peccatis wear," he explained as Luna examined it. "I doubt they'd be stupid enough to walk around with it on their fingers all the time but it's the best we have right now, until we actually catch one of them."
"It is a small lead, but given what you have presented us with any lead is a good one," Luna muttered.
"Of course finding the followers of Envy is all well and good," Battle said, "But it won't do us any good unless we chop off the head of the dragon."
"Which means?" Daisy said slowly.
"We find the Tomb of Envy and make sure they'll never be able to open it," Arson said.
"Do we have any idea where it is though?" Shining asked.
"We have no idea," Battle admitted, blushing slightly.
"At least we know it to be in Equestria," Tactical muttered darkly. "Shouldn't be so hard searching an entire kingdom."
Battle scowled at her.
"What? It's called being honest," she said, shrugging her shoulders as Battle rolled his eyes.
"Can we get a map in here?" Battle sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. Tactical rolled her eyes in return and her horn glowed bronze, before throwing her hand out. A three dimensional map of Equestria appeared on the table, covering the entire table and providing a birds-eye view of the entire kingdom.
"Your welcome," Tactical said sarcastically.
"Can we put the personal dispute aside please?" Battle snapped. "There is a kingdom to save here."
Tactical stuck her tongue out but said nothing. Battle rolled his eyes silently but stood up and looked over the map. Shining Armour followed his example, and Celestia watched the two stallions carefully.
"I think we need to work in a grid search," Shining Armour muttered. "After all we don't know exactly where Envy was buried."
"Yes," Battle agreed. "For all we know he may be buried under Canterlot and we'd never know." He looked up at Celestia. "And yes I accept the invitation to the Gala." She smiled, before s serious touch returned to her expression.
"So where should we start our search from?" Shining asked.
"Tact, can you put a grid on this?" Battled asked. Instantly a grid appeared on the map. "Okay, now highlight segments that contain land governed by Equestrian rule." All the appropriated squares glowed with bronze light.
"I recommend starting here," Daisy Cutter said, pointing to an uppermost left square. "That way we can work our way down and across the kingdom."
"Good plan," Battle muttered. He seemed to mull something else over.
"Problem?" Celestia asked.
"We can't have all our troops in one location," Battle replied. "We need to have them spread in a fashion that has an equal reach over all of Equestria, so say if we had maybe four de-facto headquarters across the country?"
"Are you sure it's a good plan to spread our forces out?" Shining asked. "This is a Sin we are talking about."
"Believe me I know," Battle sighed. "But we need to have our troops arranged in a fashion that means all of Equestria is easily and quickly accessible for our troops, even if it is not all of them."
Arson nodded but didn't speak, he was busy examining the map.
"Three locations you say sir?" he asked.
"At the least," Battle replied.
"They cannot be near civilisation," Luna said, looking to Celestia. "No doubt a large military presence would upset our subjects."
"Agreed," Celestia said. "Do you think you will be able to find a suitable locations that will suit Battle's and indeed your own military's needs Prince Shining?"
"Yes ma'am," Shining Armour saluted.
"Then get to it," Celestia said, before turning to Battle. "I shall leave informing the Element Bearers to you Battle."
"That's code for Twilight's gonna chew me out, isn't it?"
"Oh yes."
"Wonderful."