//------------------------------// // Unexpected Diversion // Story: Chessboard Gambits // by Ebonysdagger //------------------------------// As night settled and servants were discovering dead masters a small group of Solar Guard stallions followed the decoy changelings Twilight and company had set up. They were not very good at it if the changelings had been asked as they knew they had a tail not long after it started. Black cloaks hardly hid shiny gold armor from eyes that could see in the dark. They relayed back to their queen about the situation. “Twilight, it would seem our decoys have picked up some guests. I’m about to tell them to shake them.” Chrysalis told her partner. “Oh no don’t do that. Lead them here. I haven’t had fun in ages and this might be an amusing diversion for the evening.” The purple alicorn looked up from where she was recording down everything Chrysalis had informed her of Sombra’s past intentions based on his emotions. Spike began to laugh. The queen merely quirked an eyebrow before nodding her head and relayed the request. Lead them to where we are. Sparkle seems to want to do something with them. “There, it is done. Why did you want them lead here?” Spike continued to chuckle as he answers for Twilight. “Only two kinds of ponies stalk Twilight while in Canterlot. Those out to either rob or kill her or autograph hounds. Either way we are in for a show.” Twilight finished up her notes and turned to the other two. “Let’s meet our guests, yes?” The three walk toward a dark corner of the lab and phase through it back to the living room in the house as Chrysalis assumes her previous disguise. Not two minutes later the decoys entered the room and returned to their usual appearance. They quickly latched onto the ceiling just in case they needed to act. Twilight opened the door and stepped out while talking to her companions about something at random when she spots the group that had been following the changelings. Judging by the looks of things this was perfect for Twilight’s purposes. The formation of the followers was arranged around the door to prevent escape which was to be expected but the military precision spoke of those where trained in this ruling out fans. There were two to either side and one directly in front of Twilight all of whom were pegasi. Directly behind the one in front of her was a unicorn that was apparently there to act as the group's caster if it came to that. “Oh? What is all this?” Twilight looked them over without much concern while Chrysalis decided to stay quite and observe. If nothing else she could claim she was a hostage. Spike’s eyes narrowed as he had seen this arrangement before while Twilight was raising him. His right claws twitched at his side as he held back to watch as was the standard practice for this situation. Why draw attention to the very deadly baby dragon yet? The leader of the group seemed to be confident his crew had found an easy target. A new princess who had lived the easy life of a pampered pet of the princess would be a cake walk for his men and himself. He almost felt like he was stealing from his employer’s with this job. “Forgive us Princess but we really need you to come with us. There has been an emergency and we’ve been ordered to secure all important governmental officials.” The pegasus commander decided it would be best to lure her away from her companions. No need to kill more than he was paid for after all. “I don’t think I will, commander. You have the stink of someone else’s gold on you and I’ve learned long ago that only means trouble. Seriously though, how long did it take until after my brother left for you to begin selling out to whatever noble would pay you to do their dirty work?” The commander hissed at this not expecting his mark to see through him so easily. At a nod of his head his soldiers drew their weapons as the mage backing him up readied his defensive spells. “So you are as clever as your transcripts say. A pity we’ll have to kill your companion and the lizard but we’ll have to do what is necessary.” As he said this he drew a collapsible spear out from his side and readied it. Just as he was about to yell for his men to attack he stopped being able to move as Twilight looked directly into his eyes. He felt fear begin to seep in and take over his mind to the point he couldn’t move even so much as a facial muscle to show his horror. Then his men also became rooted to the spot as Twilight began to speak. “Commander, I’ve had assassins better than you trying to kill me since I was five. Your little ragtag group doesn’t even merit a foot note in comparison to those that have been sent by rivals to deal with me.” Her eyes shift to the mage behind the commander. “By the way, how does it feel to know that your entire unit is going to die here and now and you could do nothing to stop it?” Before he could answer Twilight walked into the spear. The head and shaft disappearing into her barrel and yet causing no harm even to the hairs upon her leaving the group confused for only a moment. Suddenly something wet splashed on the back of the commander and he felt the fear spell that had held him in place recede only to be held in check by an even greater fear. As the mage gurgled from the spear protruding from the middle of his throat the tip of a spear head was just touching the commander’s rump. Spike at this point was chuckling at Twilight using the old dimensional fold trick to redirect the weapon into and out of one of her opponents. Chrysalis was more or less floored at this display and could only watch in surprise. The other guards held their place as they could tell all it would take is one more step on Twilight’s behalf and their commander would be joining his mage. “A shame it is that those transcripts don’t tell you any of my real abilities, wouldn’t you say commander?” Twilight simply reaches up a hoof and taps it into the commander’s snout before pulling away from him. “Now then, let me show you what I can really do.” The two pegasi on either end of the formation turned their weapons on their nearest comrade even as they struggled to control their own movements before falling on their own swords so to speak. “Really, no mind protection at all? Someone didn’t really want you to succeed did they? Are you just a distraction I wonder?” Twilight walked around the commander and motioned for her company to follow her. Spike waddled along to catch up and Chrysalis paused as she passed realizing that the commander was dead too after careful examination. Oh his body was still fine but there was no longer a mind in it to drive the thing. Perhaps a double cross might be best if it waits was her thought as she walked on. “Aren’t you worried someone saw that?” Chrysalis asked Twilight even as they approached the train. Chrysalis’s guards having caught up with them minutes ago after having taken the bodies from the front of the house and hiding them inside while relaying to their Queen there was no blood left to clean up when they had stepped back out. “No. Spike if you would elaborate for our dear friend.” “Basically one of the first things Twilight learned was how to cast a Not My Business field. It is fairly standard curriculum at House Star given what they tend to specialize in if you really think about it. She cast that spell as soon as she stepped outside. She has it down to the point that she could probably herd some elephants through the middle of Manehatten and no one would know.” The young drake seemed to be rather smug about what his adoptive mother could do. Chrysalis made note of this even as she followed the other two onto the train as it set off. They just made it out of Canterlot before guards arrived to shut down the train station. A commotion at the door woke Celestia from her slumber. As she stood up to see what was going on there was a knocking at the door. “Yes, what is it?” One of her guards’ voice seeped through the door in response. “Princess Celestia there has been a murder. It would seem the admiral has been murdered in his home. Preliminary reports indicate the perpetrators might be connected to the issues with the isles.” The solar princess muttered a curse to herself as she set about getting presentable. “I’ll be right there. I assume my sister has been informed?” “Yes your Highness. She is already orchestrating a shut down of the city in case any of those responsible are still inside the limits. They’ve just closed the train station not five minutes ago.” “Was there anything else I should know about?” “Supposedly a mare was kidnapped too but that part of the reports has fallen under scrutiny.” Celestia opened her door and stepped out into the hall to be lead by her detail toward the throne room. “Why is that?” “The reports are that the mare was one Sunset Shimmer. All our information indicates she is still in that other world so we are trying to figure out who this supposed kidnapped victim was. For all we know it was a changeling collaborator to the assailants.” “Great, possible changeling involvement always makes these disasters that much more fun.” The solar mare stepped out into the room with a sigh. “Sister, I take it you’ve been informed of the situation. I can give you the reports I have here on what has been discovered.” Luna floated over a report on what was found at the scene of the murder and waits as Celestia reads it over. “Do you have any sensor trained soldiers in your ranks Luna?” “Yes, some of the Night Caste has been trained as such. Why?” “There is some speculation that there might have been a changeling involved. We need to know if there was and if it was on the side of the attackers or if she was legitimately taken.” “I’ll send word to my stallions to check it out. If you will pardon me sister?” Luna turned to leave and did so once Celestia nodded. Luna took wing toward her tower and her favored communication medium, a mirror, to relay a message to her agents. Hopefully enough evidence of a changeling would be found to get the nobles up in arms. Not that the murder of one of their own would not do so but it would help push them further. At sea not far off the coast of Equestria and sailing in from the isles was a small speedy ship carrying a bit of precious cargo. The Eclipse, as the ship was named, was to deliver a new kind of metal that had been found deep in the Boar tribe’s territory to port. Currently no ships were being allowed through unless they were inspected and this metal was definitely something that would get them stopped if it had been found. Not more than a few more nautical miles were crossed before the boat was hailed and blocked by the navy’s inspection ships. A few minutes of exchange between the captains and a flash of a paper freshly arrived granting passage and the ship was on its way. The crew of the ship had been tense not entirely trusting the paper but it had checked out and got them through. Now they could only hope their cargo was worth the hassle that was involved. A bright sun shiny day started off in Ponyville and all was right with the world as far as the residents knew. A train was ready and waiting to depart toward the Crystal Empire around noon. It was just being held up by Vinyl Scratch’s roadies loading the oversized equipment she had on board. Stepping off the train was a brown unicorn that then offloaded his three rather large bags. As he hired a cart to carry them into the town he looked over the place. It would seem his niece had settled into a lovely town. Hopefully she could remain here and from the reassurances of his Queen he was sure she could. “Now then, where was that confectioner’s shop?”