Chapter 24
(Reminder that I own nothing!)
‘Thought’
“Dialogue”
“Words in a foreign language.”
“Quoting in thought”
***
"What do you mean they have been killed?!" Celestia practically screamed into Luna's ear. Under normal circumstances, Luna would tell her to 'use her inside voice' and follow it up with a harmless mocking or playful jibes. Unfortunately the circumstances were far from normal.
"Yes, Your Highness. They were ambushed early yesterday, sometime just after sunrise.” A stout looking Solar guard stood at attention as he delivered the grave news. "There was only a single survivor, a cook by the name Trail Mix. He is in the hospital here in Canterlot and is being treated for his injuries."
"And what of the cargo? How much was lost?" Luna spoke up. Celestia shot her a look but somepony had to worry about consequences beyond the tragic loss of life.
"There was no sign of the special cargo when we spotted the site. The manifest we recovered claimed that they were transporting three kilofeathers of platinum. All other cargo was burned, but a team was sent to recover what they could," The Guard rattled off the circumstances of the mornings gruesome discovery while maintaining his mask of stoic professionalism.
Luna shot Celestia a worried look. "Three kilofeathers..." Luna said worriedly. At the sight of the Night Princess' nervousness, the formerly stout guard suddenly looked shaken.
Celestia shot her sister a small glare. She was worried, nay terrified of the potential consequences of the terrible news, but she knew better than to spread her fear to her subordinates. Even if she wanted to do nothing more than hide under her bed like a little filly, she had no choice but to act the part of the unshakable leader. "Do not worry, my little pony, this will be dealt with swiftly. When you are done here, order the castle to full alert, ready the unicorns, and muster the regulars. I also want all the deactivated reserves in Canterlot to report for duty in three hours at the most. Ensure that the scouts comb every inch of ground between here and the borders. Finally, you are to set up checkpoints and roadblocks on any roads that pass within a two hundred kilohoof radius of Canterlot or the site of the attack." Celestia stamped her hoof as if to punctuate her orders.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The guard saluted and ran out of the throne room, no longer looking nervous but filled with determination.
Luna watched the guard depart and, once the doors thundered closed, turned to her sister with a worried look. "This is a disaster! That shipment was a closely kept secret! How could this have happened?"
Celestia frowned and kept her gaze on the distant door. "I do not know, but we will find whomever is responsible for this," she hissed.
Luna winced at that look. Memories of the last time she had seen her sister so worked up crept into her mind like stubborn vines. After only a few short minutes, as if by an unheard signal, both royal sisters rose from their thrones and headed towards a small door hidden behind a curtain. The door opened into a short hallway, just wide enough for the sisters to comfortably walk in single file. The hallway ended in a cramped, round room furnished with sparsely with simple chairs, a large table covered with a scale model of the Equestrian landscape, and heavy, red curtains covering one half of the room’s circumference. Two ponies in rumbled military dress were already looking over the map when Celestia and Luna entered.
"Would you mind explaining why one of my guardsponies practically broke down my door a moment ago, Your Highnesses?" A grizzled looking, grey pony said in a voice that sounded more like shifting stones than should be possible.
"In a moment, Major Steel. For now, have my orders already been distributed?" Celestia asked as she took a seat the circular table.
"Yes, Your Highness. As many of our forces as possible should be deploying in moments." The grizzled old stallion pulled open one of the thick, red velvet curtains that encircled the room. The occupants all turned to see dozens of silver and gold armored pegasi lift off and quickly fan out over the city.
"Very good. First things first. General Faux, I would like for you to pull half of the garrisons from each city and spread them out to cover as much of the borders as possible. We cannot allow our target to escape." Celestia gestured to the model as she spoke.
"B-but Your Highness, t-the c-c-changelings—" General Faux answered in her distinctive stutter.
"This is far more pressing. The changelings are a mere inconvenience in comparison!" Luna interrupted. "All of Equestria may be in danger if we fail!"
"W-w-what is g-going on?" General Faux asked, a sliver of fear only momentarily rising to the surface before the copper colored mare managed to get ahold of herself.
"This morning, a shipment of platinum and human artifacts from the Everfree City was attacked and their cargo was stolen," Luna answered with a grave look on her face.
"How much?" Major Steel asked, eyes wide in shock.
"Three kilofeathers," Luna answered.
The two officers' mouths fell open, and General Faux shivered in fear.
"Kilo..." Steel trailed off. He hadn't been privy to the situation beyond the bare basics. "Unenchanted?" He breathed, wincing as Celestia just nodded.
"Oh t-this is bad." General Faux curled her forehooves in and rocked back and forth like a terrified foal. "B-bad, bad, bad, bad, bad," she muttered.
"Get a hold of yourselves! We must contain this!" Luna hissed at the terrified officers, snapping them out of their stupors.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Both shaken officers saluted, and after a moment of regaining their composure, began to pore over the model on the table, General Faux rapidly moving pieces around while Major Steel began writing out the orders at a pace that would give Twilight Sparkle a run for her money.
"Do you think it will be enough, sister?" Luna turned to Celestia, who was looking less and less confident with every passing moment.
Celestia stared at the rapidly moving pieces without muttering a word.
***
Runic Nexus looked up from his tinkering as a familiar mare slipped through the door to his office. Bunsen Burner was panting and seemed twitchy and unsettled, but that was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. The saddlebags on the mare’s back held his complete attention, swollen with a pair of small boxes that had the Guildmaster grinning with giddy anticipation. “Is that what I think it is?” Nexus asked as he quickly abandoned his workbench. The mysteries of human technology still eluded him, and he was thankful for the distraction.
“Yes, Guildmaster, this is what the griffons found.” Bunsen Burner pushed her glasses up her nose before levitating the two boxes out of her saddlebags and onto Nexus’ desk. “The leader also had a message for you, sir,” she said as she opened the lid to one of the small boxes, standing aside as Nexus looked on with that almost manic smile.
Nexus had never seen anything so glorious in his entire life. Inside the open box was trinkets and ingots of all shapes and sizes. Rings, necklaces, pendants, all tagged with their purities, and there was so much. “What did he have to say?” Nexus asked almost absentmindedly as he stared down at the treasure.
“He said... He said to never contact him ever again, and that if we wanted to end the world that he would have no further part in it,” Bunsen Burner said, slightly nervous that the Guildmaster would become angry at the Griffin leader’s insolent words.
Nexus just threw his head back and laughed. “Smart chicken,” he said as he carefully levitated the boxes of precious metal, careful to keep his magical field only on the containers and far away from the trinkets inside. He made his way over to a large, black safe. The surface was inscribed with many complex ruins arranged alongside carved gems in dizzying patterns. “I assume that he is already making for the border?”
“He did seem to be in a great hurry after he turned over the packages,” Bunsen Burner said as she watched over the Guildmaster’s shoulder as the stallion quickly shut the safe and touched a large ruby in the center of the door with a hoof. The gem hummed and the seams in the hunk of metal vanished, rendering it one continuous cube of inscribed and bejeweled metal.
“How unique,” Bunsen Burner said, pushing up her glasses again. She stared with open curiosity before remembering who else was in the room and quickly backing off and doing her best to look the dutiful lackey.
“Isn't it though? I came up with this a few days ago. It should keep anypony from finding the platinum, magic or no magic,” Nexus said as he returned to his workbench. “How hard was it sneaking into Canterlot? Have the Princesses discovered their loss yet?” Nexus asked as he picked up and examined a strange cylinder that was once attached to the human device strewn all over his bench.
“It wasn't too difficult, sir. I saw the guard beginning to mobilize moments before I entered the estate.” Bunsen Burner nodded and did her best to look totally collected, despite the fact that the mobilizing guard had terrified her.
“Good. They shouldn't have had time to set up the sensor spells yet. Good job getting here so swiftly, Miss Burner,” Nexus said as he touched a pair of leads to the cylinder, only for it to suddenly pop and sizzle, burning up in moments. Nexus frowned and grunted. It was obvious he was playing with something far beyond his understanding, and the stubborn mysteries of the human technology were frustrating him to no end, ruining his good mood.
As the tiny device smoked, Bunsen Burner remembered something important she had seen on her way into Canterlot. “Oh, something else you may be interested to hear, sir,” Burner said excitedly, hoping her news would please the obviously angered Guildmaster. “On my way into Canterlot, I happened to pass by the male human, umm John I think his name is. Perhaps you could ask him for his aid in understanding whatever you hope to learn from his people?”
Runic Nexus was about to tell the mare to make herself scarce when he froze. That was a good idea. No, that was an excellent idea! “What a wonderful idea, Miss Burner. Would you please see to it? I would be very interested in whatever insight a member of his race could offer me,” Nexus said, a smile slowly creeping back onto his lips.
“Right away sir!” Bunsen Burner said, pushing her glasses up again before darting out the office door.
Nexus smiled to himself. Such a competent young mare in his organization made him brim with pride. Perhaps he would promote her after this and see what she could do as a full Craftspony. Hmm, he would need to get her an office, workshop, her own supplies, and research stipend... The stallion’s thoughts trailed off into the familiar realm of paperwork as he retrieved several forms from his desk and set about filling them out.
***
I hummed with interest as I looked into the fourth shop I had been in on my own. After dropping Elly off at the hospital and making sure she was all set, the girls and I had started wandering around the city. I was reluctant to leave the readhead alone, but, surprisingly, Pinkie Pie had offered to watch her, and I gladly took her up on it. I had felt guilty leaving her there alone while we went out, but she assured me that I needed to have some fun and that she didn't mind.
I had stuck close to Twilight and the others at first, but they had slowly split up as they each indulged in their own unique interests. I had separated from Twilight when she decided that she wanted to visit another book store, the seventh one in a row. I told her that I was going to wander about a bit and see if anything drew my interest, and she had reluctantly agreed with the caveat that I not leave the general area. I attracted some odd looks and stares but resolved to ignore it as I set about looking at the various shops. I was a bit disappointed that Spike hadn't come along. I could've used some 'guy time' but sadly he had stayed at Twilight's library.
Surprisingly, I ran into Rarity while wandering around. We decided to wander around together for a while. The refined mare and I had never really had gotten much of a chance to speak, and she hadn't seemed too terribly interested in involving herself with me much. It reminded a lot of most people back home, and it was actually kind of refreshing. It didn't take too long for Rarity's friendly habits to show up, and after only a short time, we were chatting and joking like old friends.
“What do think of this one?” Rarity asked as she pointed out a set of earrings in a case. “Do you think they would look good on me, darling?” She fluttered her eyelashes at me, and I snorted as I held back a laugh. After we had chatted for a few minutes, I had discovered she had a nice sense of humor that was usually lost on her friends. She was kind of witty and sarcastic and, thankfully, she stayed away from any more poking at the relationship between Elly and I. If she hadn’t, then I might not have been able to appreciate her sense of humor quite as much.
“Honestly, I can barely tell you apart from each other,” I said as I examined an odd looking, short lamp.
“Ah, I forget I am speaking to such unwashed rabble with no eye for beauty,” Rarity said, throwing her nose into the air in an exaggerated caricature of how I imagine high class ponies probably acted. I chuckled and turned to look at some other oddity while Rarity continued to look through the jewelry.
I was about to take my leave and hit a different shop when I heard Rarity clear her throat behind me. She was standing next to the door and giving me a pointed look.
“You simply must remember to hold the door when you’re with a lady, John." She grinned at me from behind a thin facade of high-class pomp.
I sighed and held the door. She barely got through with all the bags she was carrying with her horn. She headed out into the street and I rolled my eyes at the giant mass of goods floating behind her. I idly noticed a few guards running down the sidewalks but didn't pay it much thought since Rarity seemed unconcerned.
“John, be a dear and take some of these things will you?”
Without waiting for me to answer, she passed me three huge, heavy bags and wandered to the windows of some nearby shops. Well that was one downside; she seemed a little pushy with things like 'proper' manners, ah la carrying a lady's things.
As we walked down the busy market street, Rarity suddenly stopped and pointed to a pair of ponies on the other side of the road. “That,” she said matter-of-factly, “is Fancy Pants, the most important socialite in Canterlot.” I followed her gesture to find a well-suited, heavily built stallion with a vibrant, slender unicorn mare beside him. After a short wave to the couple, she then went on a long-winded lecture about the social hierarchy of Canterlot and pointed out various ponies as we walked. I couldn’t follow and eventually ended up tuning it all out in favor of walking along and staring up at the clouds or taking in the sites of the city.
After a long bout of walking and absently nodding at what she was saying, Rarity shouted, “John! Where are you going?” I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head as I realized I had ended up walking off when she had stopped.
“We’re here! Didn’t you say we would have lunch at the Chateau Caballus? Here it is.”
I must have idly agreed to lunch while she was rambling on and failed to notice.
We sat down outside and in no time were waited upon by a overdressed, gray unicorn with a thin moustache. He held his notepad and pen primly above his head. He didn’t even seem to give me any odd looks like many of the ponies we had passed on our way here.
“For zee lady?” he asked with a terrible French accent. No, seriously. It sounded like his nose was congested. With tar.
“Yes, hello, I shall have the gazpacho and the soupe du jour with café de vanille and Crème Brûlée for dessert.”
“For the...gentlecolt?” he asked, strangely unphased by me, though his accent briefly disappeared. A true professional he was.
“Can I have…” I looked at the menu, but considering I couldn't even read pony, it was an exercise in futility. “Umm... French fries?” I asked looking at the waiter, smiling hopefully.
“French Fries?!” Rarity snorted, making me jump, “John, dear, you’re in Canterlot. Tastes are… different.”
”Frites de pommes de terre salée. S’il vous plait,” she asked the waiter for me. I groaned and rubbed my eyes. The waiter gave me a look that could only mean ‘cheapskate’ and departed.
I caught a glimpse of a pony wandering down the street eating a doughnut. I sighed, wishing I had been listening enough to ‘git while the gittin’ was good.’
The waiter returned with our food and bills. I looked at mine helplessly, still not able to read. Rarity took it for me. When she saw the price for my meager plate of chopped and salted potatoes, she gave the waiter a foul look which he returned with a smirk. I felt really bad when Rarity begrudgingly paid. I cleaned my plate; it was the least I could do.
Rarity was still in the middle of her soup when a blue mare walked around a corner up the street. The moment I came into view, her eyes locked onto me. I looked behind me, hoping she was looking at someone else. No one there.
The mare pushed her glasses further up her nose and drew herself up. “Excuse me, Mister... Err... Umm... John the human?” She said, looking just about the most awkward I’ve ever seen anyone.
It was actually kind of funny despite the tension I felt, but I managed not to laugh and instead answered with a simple, “Yes?”
“I'm Bunsen Burner from the Enchanters Guild here in Canterlot. I noticed you when you came into town this morning. My Guildmaster has been studying the possible comparisons between human technology and enchanting, and he would like to talk with you sometime today... if you wouldn't mind coming by,” she said after recovering from her initial awkwardness.
“Enchanting?” I said to myself, the word jarred my memory, and I pulled out the carved sapphire from my pocket. This little thing let me understand the language. I considered for a moment. It caught Rarity’s attention; she let out a small gasp. I looked over to her and saw she was staring at it intently, her pupils were as wide as dinner plates.
Bunsen Burner, oblivious to my thoughts, glanced at the gem before doing a double take and starting. “Oh, wow. That’s brilliant,” she said, suddenly plucking it from my grasp, ignoring the annoyed look Rarity and I both shot her. She started to read the inscriptions to herself, a lot of jargon I didn't understand at all. “Who made this?” She asked after a moment, looking between Rarity and myself.
“Um, Twilight made it, didn't she?” I looked to Rarity, who just shrugged.
“You would know better than me, darling. I’m afraid I was busy at the boutique while that was happening,” Rarity said before taking a sip of some weak smelling coffee.
“Hmm Celestia’s protégé, Twilight Sparkle? I suppose that explains things then. Truly an innovative piece of work,” Bunsen Burner observed, setting the blue gem back in my hand. “So, would you mind dropping by? We would appreciate it,” the blue mare finished, pushing her glasses up her nose once again and pasting an awkward smile on her face.
I thought about it for a moment. I did kind of want to checkout something as impressive sounding as a guild of enchanters. But then again I had agreed not to go too far, and I still felt kind of guilty running around and having fun without Elly. Not to mention that I was still uncomfortable about the whole magic thing in general. Ultimately, my curiosity won out, and I nodded to myself. "Well you've piqued my curiosity. What about you, Rarity? Feel like coming with?" I asked, turning to the white mare.
Rarity waved me off and set about fussing over her appearance. "I'm afraid I have other arrangements, darling. You go ahead if you like; I will tell the others where you've gone off too."
I smiled and motioned for Bunsen Burner to lead the way, and with a quick thanks and farewell to Rarity, we were off. The walk was... interesting to say the least. Everywhere I looked, the Equestrian version of soldiers choked the streets, and every question I asked about it was met with a dismissal. "It's probably just a drill." Or something similar.
Finally, after a good twenty minutes of walking, we came to a large, stately manor house perched high up on the mountain side. The climb coming up to it was more exhausting than my ego would allow me to admit, and it was a huge relief that the walk back to the hospital was going to be almost all downhill.
I whistled in appreciation and tilted my head back to take in the full view. The house sat on heavily landscaped grounds and was nearly at the same elevation as the castle thanks to its position on the mountain side. Bunsen Burner held her hoof against a golden plaque set into a brick wall that ran all the way around the outside of the manor until it ended at a steep rock face. The large, gilded gates clicked open with a buzz after a moment of waiting and she ushered me through.
"Nice place you have here," I said, trying to start up some conversation. The walk had mostly been in silence, and it was quickly beginning to become a little awkward, a running theme with Bunsen Burner, it would seem.
"Thank you. The Enchanters Guild is one of the oldest institutions in all of Equestria. We take a lot of pride in having an impressive estate," Bunsen replied as we headed up the steps and into the manor.
Once I made it through the door, the interior surprisingly looked a bit like a high school. The hallways were long and filled with large cabinets and lockers and branched off into dozens of rooms, each with a gold plaque with the room number engraved on it. A quick peek into a few of them confirmed that a few were actually classrooms while the majority were filled with workbenches and various, strange looking tools.
“So who is this Guildmaster guy?” I asked as I stopped looking around and returned to walking side by side with the blue mare. I casually shoved my hands into my pockets as Bunsen seemed to chew her answer for a moment.
“Runic Nexus, he’s ahh, unique stallion, ambitious and very competent,” Bunsen replied as we began climbing up the same wide stairs that ponies favored and forced me to watch my step. “He took over a little while ago when the old Guildmaster died, elected for being one of the most brilliant stallions in the guild. One of the best Guildmasters we've ever had if you want my opinion.” I nodded and we stayed quiet the rest of the way up the long, strangely spaced, stairs.
Finally we came to a large wooden door the plaque in the center read, “Runic Nexus: Guildmaster.” I suddenly felt a little nervous about the whole thing. A suspicion surfaced in my mind. This meeting was probably going to be more interesting than I had originally planned on.
***
Faint scribbling and the slow beeping of a heart monitor pierced the silence of the small room on the third floor of the hospital. The occupants either too occupied or too unconscious to notice Rainbow Dash clinging to the wall outside the window. Rainbow Dash cursed silently to herself. "Ugh. Why, of all ponies, did Pinkie Pie stay behind?"
Rainbow Dash crept closer, hoping to get a better look at what was going on in the room beyond the glass. She held herself stuck fast to the wall, pushing against gravity with her wings. She slowly reached out to attempt to silently slide open the window.
Ever so slowly the window began to creek open.
"HI DASHY!"
"WAAAAH!"