The Step

by Pointman

Prologue

Scheduled date of the Royal wedding of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor

Canterlot Sewers, 0945 hours

Captain Piercing Lance of the Royal Equestrian Guard marched calmly through the dark, dank, putrid labyrinth of the waste management viaducts. The lack of ventilation and the overriding urge to be out in the open air would dissuade most from even considering movement through the sewers. The grey Unicorn however moved with purpose, he and his stallions had a mission to complete and they were damn well going to complete it. The sounds of combat overhead echoed through the system of waste and masked the important work that was being done below. He came upon its source, one of the open nexus ways where the waste from separate sections of the city would collect and then be funneled out to various plants where it would be processed. And it was here that he found two of his stallions drilling through the soft earth that lay below the sewers hard lining.

“Gentlecolts” he said as they looked up at their commander “Progress?”

The light gray Earth pony, Sergeant “Chemist” replied

“Well, we’re about 30 meters from target depth, we’re right on schedule, sir”

“Excellent work, and the device is where?”

The blue and orange Pegasus: Guard Corporal Wind Flare, produced a small black crystal

“Safe and secured, sir”

“Alright, once you’re done, we’ll bug out then blow the nexus”

“Bug out?” asked Chemist “I thought that we-“

“The Changling army will soon be expelled, they are bringing the 'Elements' to Chrysalis now,

and I’m afraid that it won’t be long before they are able to repel the assault”

“But-“

“The fewer questions you ask the faster we can leave”

Both stallions went back to their work, seemingly dejected by their commander’s lack of resolve

Lance, sensing that the moral of his stallions was in doubt reassured them

“Don’t worry, everything is going according to plan”

As he finished he received a telegram teleported to him by his communications officer,

a unicorn codenamed “Grapevine” it read simply: Teams 1 and 3 have reached target

depth, pulling back to rendezvous.

He turned to his stallions

“How much further?”

“Just…about…THERE, Ha!” answered Chemist

“Wonderful, corporal, the crystal if you please”

Wind Flare laid the crystal on the floor in front of him and the captain teleported the

device to the bottom of the freshly dug shaft. As he did he could hear the commotion

above begin to die down; the changelings had been expelled from the city.

“It would appear that out welcome has been worn out gentlecolts”

“And now we Step silently into the shadows, sir” came the reply

“As we have always done” He replied with conviction

They collected their gear and made their way to the spill way, where all the waste funneled out. They reached the end of the line for the explosives, which also marked the minimum safe distance for the blast zone. Chemist struck a match and lit the end of the line. None of Lance’s Stallions could ever go home now…but their actions today were in preparation for a grander cause than the lives of seven stallions.

“So it begins” Lance whispered to himself

The trio casually walked to the end of the tunnel whistling all the way, as daisy chained explosives collapsed the nexus behind them and cemented their treason.

Author's Note:

So we're starting off with just a quick intro and after this things will slow down a bit, but i hope that those that read this will enjoy the turns we take. Travel well.

EDIT: Had to play around with the formatting a bit, but hopefully the story SHOULD be easier to read now :D