//------------------------------// // Rainy Day // Story: From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard. // by Gladi Writes //------------------------------// Wildcard returned to his office, after the first really restful sleep since before the misguided invasion launched by Princess Twilight Sparkle that had led to the treaty, and his job. He took breakfast in his room before departing, seeing the doctor quickly about his hangover before the doctor was called out on some urgent matter in Canterlot General. Parting ways with his friend, Wildcard trotted into his office as the rain pitter pattered against the wall outside (and made a small puddle inside, he would have to get that window fixed.). Looking over his desk he noticed a manilla envelope and a pair of letters. The manilla envelope drew him in like a fly to honey- fitting considering how much like an insect he looked. Plopping his newly marked flank on his chair, glancing once again at his cutie mark, he tore open the envelope and dumped the contents on the table. A letter, and two stapled together documents. The letter seemed the logical place to start, so he did. "From the Desk of Commander Medulla. TOP SECRET" (Was there a secret less then top, Wildcard wondered.) "Your recent correspondence was well received, your counterpart Ambassador Pike is anxiously awaiting the Equestrian Cider shipments, and so is the queen. As for specifics in the amount of steel we'll require, we'll first need to find a route, which requires you to finish tracking down engineers. Once that is done, contact us again and I will arrange for Cadence and Chrysalis to meet at the dedication. On the note of Dr. Flankenstein, and his discovery of contagions: this explains a few things on our end. We had recently seen a rash of sickness spread through the hive, but the Queen and I were able to sort that out with the help of Ambassador Pike. I will place him under quarantine until the Doctor can finish his work. Finally, You'll find a report on him included, as well as the requested contingency dossier. In conclusion: Find the engineers, continue your work with the Doctor, and try to find work for the workers when they're able to immigrate." It was signed by the commander. Wildcard noticed that this too was typed, apparently the Hive had been importing goods already. Had Wildcard not stepped in with the Equestrian Cider deal, there was good chance they could have been taken advantage of. This idea went straight to the changeling's ego. He put the letter in his desk- he would have to buy a lock for that drawer- and took a look over the other documents. As explained in the letter the first was a report on Dr. Flankenstein, disappointingly short. All of the information contained was trivial. His birthdate was the 7th of June, his cutie mark was a red cross (Which Wildcard already knew.), and his job was the Royal Surgeon. Wildcard paused in thought to consider that. He couldn't possibly be the Royal Surgeon, he had mentioned spending most of his time in Baltimare- which was quite a ways from Canterlot-, and Princess Celestia seemed to have a less then warm relationship with the good Doctor. Changeling intelligence in Equestria had pretty much collapsed since the failed invasion of Canterlot, with the Equestrian Royal Guard systematically driving the changeling infiltrators that remained out. Shining Armour had still been Captain at the time, and his experience with the Queen left him and his wife uniquely able to detect changelings by sight. Whether it was magic, or an odd skill, was unknown. Detect them he did, spending weeks going over the entire country. Wildcard wrote some notes of his experiences with the Doctor and put the document in the desk- he would have to update intelligence as soon as he knew more. That done, he picked up the last document and skimmed it over. The picture of a pegasus (unexpected), was along the top. Various details such as birthdate, birthplace, favourite colour, etc ran along the page followed by a physical description. A blue coat with a turquoise mane and tail. The dossier specified deep blue eyes and the cutie mark of a scroll... "Oh no." Wildcard sighed, and eyed the name at the bottom of the document. "First Class." Wildcard sat back in the desk and sunk his forehead into a hoof. He couldn't refuse the dossier, it would seem strange- and the last thing he needed was for his superior to think he was anything but impartial in his dealings with the ponies, the fact he had lost his holes and wore a cutie mark was enough already. This was the identity he was stuck with if he had to escape, his only hope was to never have to use this. Then again, he supposed if he ever did need to escape in a hurry it wouldn't matter who his was disguised as, he wouldn't be coming back. The idea unexpectedly frightened him. He put the document with the others, and opened the first of the letters. It was stamped with the image of a pair of purple wings, he had a good idea whom it was from. "Dear Ambassador Wildcard." (He was surprised to find that this was handwritten, surely the Twilight Princess didn't handwrite her own letters?) "I reqest-" (Surely the Twilight Princess could spell, what was going on here?) "- your presents in Ponyville at the next possible opportunity. As Princess I have been requested to speak to you on behalf of my good friend Applejack, about work placement." It was signed by the Princess, in a shockingly different style of handwriting that stood out from the rest. Looking closer at the letter it appeared to have scorch marks on the side, these ponies just got stranger as the days went on. Putting the letter to the side he turned to the last bit of business on his desk. Celestia's standard was on the top. "Ambassador Wildcard, since you and your new friend had such a productive evening yesterday I decided to leave you be, and deliver this information by letter. I'll be out of town for a short while, leaving my sister in charge of the throne in my absence. I feel it would be wise for you two to talk, and put the past behind you. Just don't do so before 7PM, she doesn't take well to the day. P.S: Tell Dr. Flankenstein I have received word his 'lab' has been brought back to operation, and deliver to him the attached picture." Wildcard turned the letter over and found a photograph stuck to the back. It was Princess Luna, standing in the moonlight. Oddly her mane wasn't shimmering as it had last Wildcard had seen her, and her coat was a little brighter. He wasn't sure what the implication was, but he put the image in his bag,which had been leaning against the desk. Taking a moment to collect himself he felt the wind blow some rain against the back of his chair. Celestia's letter went with the rest. Priority number one became replacing the glass, priority number two: get a typewriter. He was sure both of these could be found in town, so he removed his coin purse from his bag and counted it out. "How did I spend fifty bits on cider, get a hold of yourself Wildcard," he said, and returned it to the bag. Dismounting from the chair he slung the saddlebags over his back, and left his office behind. He noted the door still laying on the floor as he left Shortly he found himself outside the palace, a swift wind driving the cold rain into his face- without a coat,or umbrella. He shivered and extended a small magical field over himself, it would do until he could find a coat, or an umbrella, or a portable magic heater. Trotting down the mostly empty streets as rolling thunder sounding from the valley below he looked at the signs of businesses as he passed them. The ponies seemed to have a near obsession with dresses and anything to do with apples, even a few apple themed dress shops. It wasn't for a good half hour until Wildcard found a suitable business to repair the glass in his office, which he entered, grateful to finally be out of the rain. Entering the establishment: Panes and Typewriters, Wildcard shook his mane free of rainwater. Ahead of him a stallion sat behind a small counter, and was reading todays Equestria Daily, with his hooves up the counter. He was so enthralled that he didn't notice the Ambassador enter. While he trotted to the desk Wildcard was able to see the front page, and he frowned as he saw his visage splayed across with more unflattering bold words above. "PONY-ITUS: Ambassador earns cutie mark in second night of drinking!" Wildcard could only begin to guess what the story itself was about, but that was no matter. He cleared his throat and the stallion glanced at him. Noticing whom was standing across the counter he threw down the newspaper and stood at attention to greet the ambassador. "Good morning, Mr. Ambassador, what can I do for you?" The stallion asked. Wildcard had Equestria Daily to thank for the fact that, at the very least, everypony knew who he was now. "I'm here to get the window in my office replaced, and purchase a typewriter." The stallion cocked his head. "I thought your office was in the palace?" Wildcard sighed. "It is, but it needs some work. The window for starters. " "Well, my names Glass Pane, and you've come to the right place. My brother generally handles the typing side, but he's out so I can help you there too," The stallion said, and came from behind the counter. "If you'll follow me, you can choose your style and I'll have my people install it for you before the end of the day." He put a hoof on Wildcards shoulder and led him through a doorway to a room with a vast assortment of window panes. The room was huge, and filled wall to wall with dozens of different panes of glass. Wildcard had no idea there were so many styles of glass panes, and they were all named. Glass Pane led him down the aisles explaining the difference between a "Baltimare Glimmerpane" and a "Canterlot Secure." (Glimmerpane was thinner ,and had a slight prism effect; Secure had an almost invisible metal cross-section that made it difficult to shatter.). Wildcard figured that seemed perfect for an embassy office in a palace, but he couldn't get a word in edgewise as the stallion breathlessly continued leading him down the aisles. Glass Pane stopped before yet another one of the blur of glass panes, gesturing at it with one hoof on Wildcards shoulders. "Here we have an interesting design. The glass is actually very thin crystal, straight from the Crystal Empire. Imperial Glimmerpane, with much the same effect as it's Baltimare cousin..." Wildcard had put up with this for hours and finally had his say. "I've seen enough, Glass Pane," he said, pushing the stallions hoof off his shoulders. "The Canterlot Secure seems like it would be perfect." Glass Pane frowned. "I should have guessed, you've got no taste sir, no taste at all." He gestured to the Imperial Glimmerpane, "Are you absolutely sure you want something so... boring?" He asked. "Absolutely," Wildcard replied. Glass Pane sighed. "Fine, fine. It'll be a hundred bits for the glass and installation, if I'm correct in my guess at how big the window is." "That'll be fine," Wildcard said. "Now, a typewriter?" he asked. "Maybe you'll have better taste in that, follow me," Glass Pane said, and led him into another room. The typewriter room was an almost mirror image of the first, with the hundreds of glass panes replaces by hundreds of typewriters arranged on aisles of counters. Instantly a red one in the middle of the room caught Wildcard's eye, and he left Glass Pane behind as he trotted towards it. "The Imperator," Wildcard said to himself, looking at the placard on the counter before it. The typewriter was an amazing looking bit of engineering, with the normal dual hoof levers replaced by a hundred or so small keys, each with a letter on it. To the side of the typewriter was a special horseshoe, with a stylus sticking out. Wildcard assumed this was so the operator could press the buttons- Hooves weren't known for dexterity. "Ah, the Imperator. A more expensive model but you can't beat the words per minute it can deliver over the binary models." Glass Pane explained. Wildcard noticed the price. Two hundred bits. He only had fifty left over after the glass, but he had an idea. "I can give you fifty," Wildcard said, and then leaned in closer to the pony, "and I'll make you the Hives official supplier." The hive didn't use glass, it rarely rained in the valley and regardless, the buildings were made of solid stone. Glass Pane didn't need to know, however. Glass Pane considered it for a second. "It's a deal, Ambassador." Glass Pane turned to lead Wildcard back out to finalize the deal, and Wildcard couldn't help but smile ear to ear. Having an important sounding title had it's benefits, he was quickly realizing just how far those benefits extended. After he had signed the requisite paperwork and paid the stallion, Wildcard stood outside once again. The rain continued to fall, and he was once again broke. It didn't matter, he had everything he needed for the moment and the crown covered his lodging and meals- so long as he was in Canterlot anyway. If all else failed he could probably throw his title around to get a loan anyway. He had a few hours to burn until the recommended time to meet with Princess Luna, which he wasn't looking forward to, and so hopped the next train to Ponyville. Wildcard had travelled more in the last week then in the rest of this year combined, it was a nice change of pace from waiting for orders in the Hive. It was nice to actually be able to talk to to people too, instead of having to avoid them to accomplish whatever subterfuge was ordered. The train ride wasn't long, nor eventful, and Wildcard soon found himself at the Ponyville station. Interestingly Ponyville was a pocket of sunshine in contrast to the rest of the country. Not a cloud hung over it as the rest of Equestria was still getting drenched, and in the distance rolling thunder could still be heard. Ponyville was more or less the hub of the south rail network, and as such Wildcard knew exactly where to find the Twilight Princess. He wondered if she had caught on and realized he was the changeling she had met- and run off- a week earlier in Canterlot. As he trotted down the main street towards the library wherein Princess Twilight Sparkle made her residence, Wildcard noticed he picked up the tail of a green pony whom was making a mockery of the stealth arts as she darted from doorway to doorway, bush to bush. Wildcard had a hunch who this was and suddenly dove down an alley, shimmering with a dull green glow as he changed form. It wasn't long before the green mare rounded the corner and her mouth hung agape at what she saw. She darted her head to the left, and Wildcard countered. To the right, and he repeated. She caught on soon enough however and Wildcards fun was over. "That's pretty good, but you got the cutie mark wrong." She said, and gestured at Wildcards disguised flank. He looked back and frowned on noticing that it was blank not a lyre as the pony had. The same mistake had gotten him run out of Canterlot. "I suppose that's why I'm not a spy anymore," he said, dropping his disguise. "Can I do something for you, Lyra?" He asked. Lyra cocked an eyebrow at him. "How do you know my name?" She asked. Wildcard rubbed the back of his head. "We met in Canterlot... about three months ago." Lyra looked at him, astonished. "That was you?" She pointed an accusatory hoof at the Ambassador. "Yes, yes it was me. I'm sorry about that," Wildcard said. "Well I don't really blame you, but did you really have to take my saddlebags? I had a few hundred bits in there!" Lyra exclaimed. Wildcard considered this information for a moment, the invasion of Canterlot had wronged a great many ponies, but righting those wrongs might actually prove a comparably cheap way to earn some good will. "I did, we spent that money on logistics." Wildcard put a hoof on her shoulder and gave her a warm smile. "I'll tell you what, I'll write home and see if I can't get you compensated," Wildcard offered. Lyra returned his smile. "That would be perfect, thank you Ambassador." Lyra coughed lightly. "There's something else I wanted to ask you, Ambassador..." "Yes?" Wildcard squinted at the pony, this would surely be something silly. "You can disguise as... anything, right?" Lyra asked. She circled the ground with a hoof. "With the same body mass..." "So, how about this?" Lyra produced a drawing (Wildcard wasn't sure from where, but didn't feel like asking.) Hovering it over with a green field to Wildcard he looked it over. "What is this, a pony standing on two legs, with a crushed muzzle and weird tentacle hooves?" The drawing perplexed Wildcard, he'd never seen or heard of anything like this. Whatever this monster was he hoped never to see one in person. "It's a-" Lyra began to explain but was interrupted by a voice behind them, telekinetically she snatched the paper from Wildcard. "Lyra? Lyra what are you doing?" A tan mare stood at the mouth of the alley, peering in at the pair. She saw the Ambassador and trotted in with a scowl. "Lyra! Haven't you learned before not to bother government officials?" Lyra turned to her admonishing friend, who looked past her at the Ambassador. "I'm sorry about this Ambassador, she's..." Wildcard shook his head and gestured the pony be silent. "It's perfectly alright. Your friend here is very.. imaginative. She has a legitimate grievance with the Hive, and I'll see to it we make it right." The tan mare seemed confused by that, cocking her head at her friend. "Is that true Lyra, I had no idea." Lyra nodded. "Well, thank you Ambassador, we won't take up any more of your time." The later mare said, and led her friend out. She glanced back at Wildcard and winked, and he departed to continue his journey to the library shorty after. Wildcard was able to reach that without any further interruption, and knocked on the large wooden door. The building seemed almost the size of a fortress, suited more for guard outpost then a library. Then it clicked in Wildcards mind. This was a guard outpost, albeit a well disguised one; and Twilight Sparkle, as well as her friends, were the guard. Ponyville was located at the hub of the southern rail network, and anything coming from the south to attack Equestria would have to pass near it first- most notably the Everfree Forest was right next door. It was a buffer zone, with the most powerful defenders of the country living close enough that they could halt any force there long enough; and defeat it themselves, or allow for a larger response to be put together. Celestia was a strategic genius, he wondered how long she had planned this. "Hello?" Somebody said. The door was open but Wildcard didn't see anybody on the other side, so he figured someone had telekinetically opened it from inside. He trotted forward and tripped over a small purple dragon that had been holding the door open, the dragon faring no better. "Hey, watch it buddy!" The dragon said, coming to his feet and standing over Wildcard as he lay on the library floor. Wildcard looked up at him, trying to stifle laughter as he noticed he was wearing a bib with a heart embroidered on it."Sorry! I didn't see you there!" He said, pulling himself up. "Yeah well, get some glasses," The fuming miniature dragon said, and waddled off. As soon as he left the room Wildcard fell back to the floor, rolling around in a fit of laughter. "Hello?" Twilight looked on the scene from the top of a flight of stairs. To her it looked like a black stallion was rolling on the ground, completely out of his mind and with a bizarre looking alicorn. She put her hoof to her chin, something was oddly familiar about this pony. Crooked horn... blue eyes.. Blue eyes? "Aha!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing a hoof down at the changeling whom finally stopped laughing and looked up at her as he lay on his back. "Ambassador, you're looking quite..." She lowered her hoof and squinted down at him. Wildcard cleared his throat and dusted himself off. "Happy?" He ventured. "Insane." Twilight stated. "What exactly is going on down there?" She squinted down at Wildcard, "and... is that a cutie mark?" Wildcard shrugged. "That's not all that's changed, but I digress- you had some official business for me, Princess?" Wildcard bowed slightly. "I'll forgive your bout of insanity then, and welcome to the herd," She said, and gestured Wildcard follow her up the stairs to a room with a view to the town. They took opposing seats at a low table, their flanks firmly on two purple pillows. The purple dragon appeared once again, with a tea set. He laid it on the table and glared at the ambassador before departing. Twilight poured herself a cup of tea, and started as she sipped from it. "So, Ambassador, I assume you know my friend Applejack runs a small farm outside of town? Wildcard was quite aware of this, Applejacks farm was of considerable economic consequence to Equestria and was labelled a 'strategic asset' by intelligence. "I'm aware, yes. What would she want with the hive- and why not speak to me in person?" Wildcard poured himself a cup. It was a very sweet green tea, the ponies seemed obsessed with sweet. Twilight put down hers, and tented her hooves on the table. "Applejack is far, far too honest for her own good. We're on even terms now, and I don't owe you anything. I will negotiate on her behalf, as Princess." Wildcard was unable to suppress a slight shake of his cup, and a flutter of his eyes. The last he had seen of the Princess she was delivering him a desk, this was a side to her he hadn't seen... ...since she invaded the hive. Wildcard suddenly worried he had greatly underestimated the Princess. "In addition..." Twilight paused for a second and looked straight at the Ambassador. "If she finds out that she wasn't paid for that desk her sister made- using a pair of her trees- I imagine she would be quite furious, and forget any deal." He had definitely underestimated her. Wildcard hid his emotions, which was easy considering how long he had been a spy, and supposed at the very least he had that skill to count on. He also had his wits. "Very well, Princess, what is it then that you want, exactly?" Wildcard asked. "It's Applebucking season soon, which if you don't know is basically the harvest. She saw the worker drones in the Hive, as did I. So what I want simply is this- labour," Twilight returned her hooves to the floor. "Well..." Wildcard tented his own hooves, "there's a shortage of workers right now, following the injuries caused in the invasion..." (This was a bold faced lie, or rather a 're-iterpretation of the truth', the changelings healed fast.) Wildcard paused for effect, noticing Twilights eyes dart around the room, "... So I can offer you this: Thirty bits per worker, per day. You pay for their food and lodging, although that shouldn't be a major problem- just build them a barracks, and they'll eat the grass." Twilight considered this for a second. "Hold on, " She said, and put her hooves on the table to raise herself up, glaring down at Wildcard. "I paid for that with my entire treasury- and I didn't even know I had one!" She exclaimed. Vastly underestimated. "Ten bits," She demanded, "and the first week is free, as a gesture of friendship." Wildcard began to speak up but was silenced by another outburst by the Princess. "Don't you dare try and raise that, or I will drag you over there and have you explain why she's missing two of her trees. In person." Wildcard was filled with both respect for the Twilight Princess, and horror as he realized how totally he had been bested. He supposed 10 bits per worker wasn't bad... it was entirely profit anyway. "Alright, alright!" He exclaimed, the Princess sat back down with a smile running ear to ear. "You win, on one condition." "What condition?" Twilight asked, squinting across the table. "You have to keep the price a secret, I can't give other ponies such a good deal, " Wildcard pleaded. Twilight considered it for a moment. "I can tell you this, I won't advertise it- but I won't hide it either. Call it a preferred discount if you like," She said Wildcard supposed that was the best he was going to get. "Very well, but there's an additional important point that I need you to explain to your friend." Wildcard stood and looked out the window, outside ponies going to and fro with the business of the day. "That is?" Twilight asked behind him. "Changelings aren't like ponies, as you learned a week ago, workers especially. They will come with a leader, and any orders must be directed to that leader, whom will impart them down the line," Wildcard explained, and turned back to her. "It is important, very important, that your friend never stands in the way of the workers and their leader, even if she sees something wrong. If you have a dispute bring it to me, don't try and intervene yourselves." Wildcard wasn't lying now. If Applejack, or whoever, tried to get between the leader and the workers it would lead to confusion, or in the worst possible scenario violence if the workers saw it as a threat. Twilight nodded. "I understand, I'll make sure Applejack does too," She said, and stood to face Wildcard. "When will you be able to get this done?" She asked. "As near as I can tell in, in a little over a month the first workers will be able to journey down here. We've got to..." Twilight cut him off. "Immunize them, I know. So a month then, first week is free, ten bits each past that?" She extended a hoof. "Agreed." Wildcard shook it. Seeing himself out after the requisite formal fair wells Wildcard found himself standing in the rain, while as he could see the rest of Equestria was a ring of fine weather surrounding the Ponyville area. It was a strange effect, but as he considered it he noticed the time on the towns clock tower- 6pm. The train ride to Canterlot took around two hours, and by that time Luna would be on patrol adventuring in the borderlands of Equestria, he had an hour to get back according to Celestia's estimate that she awoke at 7PM. Buzzing his insectoid wings he took flight, extending a small magical field before his face to keep it from being torn apart by the rain as he flew upwards, and soon burst through the clouds. Spinning himself around he put himself on a line with Canterlot, which was visible on its mountain perch in the distance. Taking a deep breath he dashed forward, and nearly tumbled out of the air with the unexpected power being provided by his wings. Glancing back as he flew he had a realization. No holes. A few minutes short of an hour later Wildcard arrived at the outskirts of Canterlot as the sun sunk over the horizon. Forgoing the entrance to the castle he flew around to where he knew his office to be, and flew in the open window. Or he would have, had he not bought a new window earlier that day. He supposed he had to thank the reinforced glass for not simply shattering on impact, a little pain was worth the hundred bits that window had cost. Shaking himself off he dove downwards and spun the other way around the castle, flying past a pair of startled guards into the castle proper. Darting through the hallways- quite pleased with the new power his wings had been able to provide- he skidded to a halt outside of the throne room. Taking a second to calm his breathing he ran a hoof through his mane, took a deep breath, and entered. Princess Luna sat ahead of him on the throne, engrossed in some scroll as a bat pony stood beside her. This pony glared at him and poked her superior. "Ah, Ambassador." Luna said, handing off the document to her subordinate. "We meet again." Wildcard bowed. "Princess Luna," he greeted. For a few moments the room was filled with an awkward silence, Wildcard glancing at the bat that seemed to be trying to stare into his soul, she furrowed her brow and whispered something in her superiors ear. "He has... a what?" Princess Luna flapped her wings as she took to the air; and with a flash landed just before Wildcard, inspecting him. "So he does." She prodded his flank with a glass shoed hoof. "Is this some sort of trickery?" She asked. "If it is, it's not on my behalf." Wildcard replied. Princess Luna trotted back in front of him, and then sighed. "We've gotten off on the wrong hoof, Ambassador." She trotted over to a window and looked towards the valley. "We certainly have. Tell me, Princess, does your sister know about the little trick you played that night?" Wildcard trotted to a still respectable difference behind Luna, the glaring bat pony staring him down. Luna laughed, it sent shivers down Wildcards spine. "You think that's a secret? Or that my sister would object? I use that form to intimidate the enemies of Equestria, to great effect." She stood bipedal and raised two hooves, outside the moon rose over the horizon. "We own the night, Ambassador. It is ours to do with as we please, and you are in our domain now," Luna said, and then turned to Wildcard who found himself speechless. "Do not waste the tiny amount of goodwill I extend to you, I am sure your Queen could find a replacement." Wildcard prodded the marble floor with his hoof. "I apologize, I suppose my remark was a bit far." He smiled faintly in the dim moonlight that had begun to stream into the room. "You are forgiven." Luna smiled back, "just don't repeat that mistake." She nodded to the bat pony at her side, who approached Wildcard and extended the scroll from earlier. He received it, and looked at the Princess of the Night, confused. "What is this?" He asked. "That will keep you safe if you travel at night. It is two things. First, you'll notice a spell. Cast it, and the Night Guard will come. Second, it is proof that you are a friend of mine, and you'll find it quite useful if you spend time at night, or in the mountain." Wildcard was still somewhat confused. "In the mountain?" Luna snorted. "Where do you think the Night Guard lives?" The realization dawned on Wildcard. The hive had nearly zero information on the bat ponies that formed the Night Guard, infiltration was seen as far too risky with the Princess of the Night watching. It had been tried once. Once. "Thank you, Princess, I appreciate the gesture." Wildcard put the scroll in his saddlebags, noticing the picture of Luna as he did so. He glanced back up at the Princess, seeing her mane glisten in the moonlight- quite unlike the image of her in the photo. Outside there was a flash of light, and then Luna turned to leave with her guard at her side. "I fear I must cut this short, there is a disturbance in the fort." She trotted briskly past him and out the door without any more talk, leaving the slightly confused changeling in the empty throne room. "What fort?" He asked himself, turning around to the door, trotting to the window he looked outside at the dark valley, dotted with the flickering lights of a nation going to sleep. "She calls the old castle that." Dr. Flankenstein explained from behind Wildcard. Wildcard glanced at him, confused once again. "How would you know that?" He asked. The Doctor sighed, and stood beside his friend to look out at the valley. Luna had taken a squadron of Night Guards and could be seen retreating towards the Ponyville area. "I'm ready to head out to Baltimare tomorrow, are you?" Dr. Flankenstein asked. "I am." Wildcard said. Remembering his request from Celestia he removed the photo from his bag. "Celestia told me to give you this, said you would know what it meant." Wildcard handed his friend the photo, and he responded with a deeply sad frown. Wildcard could have sworn he noticed a tear. "I know, and you will too." Dr. Flankenstein put the photo in his own bag. "Tomorrow."