“And you’ve scoured Princess Twilight’s archives?” Time Turner asked. He hurried to catch up to the two mares. They stepped lightly, since they weren’t burdened with a coat and heavy, metal gear. “And you’ve found nothing?”
“We’ve found everything we could,” Daring replied. “Looked through my collection, too. Nadda for the usable info, but it’s a start.”
“So what’s the plan?” Time Turner looked to the rooftops. The sun set behind the crystal castle, turning its blue surface a deep purple. It loomed overhead as they drew closer. “Very, very few ponies are allowed in the sealed archives for obvious reasons.”
Daring Do shook her mane. “Obvious reasons? Like what?”
Care flipped up the collar of her plaid jacket as a chill wind brushed past. “Not much. Just a few of Sombra’s spellbooks, a complete history of Starswirl’s mirrors, everything we know about Ahuizotl’s Sun Devices, a few shadow trinkets, three swords that can control the weather, and Princess Sparkle’s thesis on stealing magic.” She smirked. “Nope. Nothing that we wouldn’t wanna give the general public access to.”
“Okay, okay, the message is clear, Cap.” Daring returned the smile. “I figured we could just ask Luna. If we tell her why we’re going in, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Time nodded. “And if she refuses?”
“In the unlikely event that she’s gone bonkers and can’t see reason…” Daring extended her wings. “I’ve gotten into and out of tighter spots.”
“You’re talking about breaking in.” Care’s jaw dropped. She shot Time a glance. “She’s talking about breaking in!”
“As a super-extreme last resort!” Daring waved a hoof. “Just in case things go belly-up. In that very unlikely, hypothetical event. Don’t overreact”
Care stomped a hoof. “I might not overreact if you weren’t so glib about—”
“Ladies, please.” Time Turner stood before the castle door, the edges of his duster swaying in the breeze. “We are guests here.”
Care trotted past Time and Daring, her eyes narrowed. She gave the door three solid whacks.
They waited.
“You know, it’s a big castle,” Daring said. “Maybe he’s got a ways to go to reach the door.”
Care knocked again.
They waited.
Time Turner took a step back and looked up. “You know, the castle doesn’t look so bad if you see it in the right light.”
Care pounded the door until it opened. She stumbled through with the force of her swing and found herself eye-to-eye with Blankety Blank.
“S-Spike turned in for the evening. Sorry I took so l-long.” His ears twitched as he averted his eyes. “C-come in. Please.”
Daring Do galloped into the hall. “Come on, guys! I’ve got my notes in the library. Maybe we can cross-reference mine and Time—”
“Wait!” Blankety coughed into his hoof. “Wait. I n-need to speak with C-captain Carrot.”
Daring Do skidded to a halt. “Okay. Spit it out, stallion.”
“A-alone.” Blankety Blank pulled his ears down to match his drooping shoulders. “S-sorry, Miss Yearling, Specialist Turner. It n-needs to be alone.”
Time turned his eyes up in thought. He leaned towards the small, white earth pony. “Have we been introduced?”
“N-no, I don’t believe so.”
“Really?” Time lifted an eyebrow. “Because you remind me of…” He shook his head. “Well, a very long story. Never mind, then.”
He lifted an armored hoof to Care. “Are you alright with this?”
The skin around Care’s eyes tightened as she looked from Time to Blankety. “Yeah. Yeah, I am. I think it’s time Mister Blank and I had a good, long talk.”
Daring wrapped a foreleg around Time’s. “Fine. We’ll just be on our way and let you and Mister Blank have a little”—her eyebrows danced—“alone time.”
Time looked down at Daring. “That is very clearly not what is happening here—”
“Shut up and go with it.” Daring dragged him away with small, jerking movements. “See you guys later. Feel free to stop by when you’re done. We’ll be working hard.”
“This is hardly working,” Time Turner mumbled as he rounded a corner with her.
Care took a few steps towards the throne room. She looked back to see Blankety Blank staring after Time and Daring, his ears perked and his eyes intent.
“Hay, wasn’t there some big, super-important thing you had to risk showing your face over?” Care slumped against the throne with a butterfly emblazoned on the top. She didn’t dare sit in the chair itself. “You can question the wisdom of that particular relationship later.”
Blankety approached slowly. He sat across from her, his back against the throne with the glyph of an apple. He looked from his throne to hers. “Symbolic much?”
“Can we please get this over with?” Care wrapped her mane in a tight ponytail. “I have a job to do.”
Blank flinched. He took a breath before speaking. “B-Blueblood’s in danger.”
“That’s your job, huh? Blueblood’s bodyguard? That sucks.” She pulled off her jacket as the fires of friendship beneath the throne warmed her. “He hit on me once, when I first joined the guard. That didn’t last too long.”
“S-sorry.” Blankety Blank rubbed his hooves together. “N-no, I’m not his bodyguard. I’m m-more of a shadow. I f-follow him and watch to m-make sure the ponies who want him d-dead… don’t get wh-what they want. It w-was supposed to be t-temp-temporary, but I can’t get solid evidence.”
“What? You want my help to get it?” She held her forelegs out. “Dunno, if you’ve noticed, but I’ve kinda got a lot on my plate already. Now if you’ll excuse me—”
“I th-th-ink the assassin m-might be working with them,” Blank said in a rush. He continued as she sat back. “S-same modus operandi. Royalty targ-targeted at social events. D-Dulcimer tried to p-p-poison Blueblood. Th-the assassin stabbed Celestia. Th-they might be connected.”
Care’s ears snapped forward. “Dulcimer? The Viscount?”
“Y-you know him?”
“I know of him. You don’t get to be Captain of Celestia’s Personal Guard without knowing all the nobles.” Care rubbed her head just below her horn. “Never saw him as the murdering type. How do you know it’s him?”
“Because…” Blank brushed his light blond mane. “Because I know what he wants.”
Care let out a loud breath. “If you know it’s him, then nail him. If you don’t have solid evidence, use yourself as a witness. Why come to me in secret? Why not just give your testimony in court?”
Blank looked at the thrones all around. He nibbled his bottom lip.
Care stood up. “If you wanna double up investigations, you’re gonna have to give me something to go on. Why should I trust you with our information?”
Blankety Blank sighed. He lifted a white hoof. It burst into green flames.
Care nearly fell on her rear. She scampered across the room, gathering her jacket up in a spell to snuff out the fire. She let out a “Whoa!” when the searing green spread to every corner of his body. She slid to a halt and grasped the jacket.
The fire died. A few cinders drifted down to the crystal floor here and there. In Blankety Blanks place, a small, black changeling sat. It lifted its head, bringing its blue, multifaceted eyes to bear. A smile traced its way across half of its face. A fang slid across a hard lip.
“All th-things considered, y-you probably shouldn’t. Trust me, I mean.”
Care’s hoof came out and struck him in the throat. She pressed him against the throne’s armrest, her eyes steely and her horn aglow. “What did you do to the real Blank?”
“I am—” The changeling choked. “I a-a-am the real Blank! It’s a—hack!—a cover. I m-made him up myself.”
“Why should I trust you?” Care snapped. “Why shouldn’t I just end you right this second?”
“What r-reason did I have,” the changeling gasped, “to show m-myself to you?”
Care scowled. “I dunno. Suicide by guard?” She lifted her weight from him and let him tumble to the floor. She pulled on her jacket, but left it unzipped. “So you’ve got my attention. Now what? What’s your game, changeling?”
“My name’s s-still Blankety Blank,” the changeling said. “You don’t n-need to just drop it.”
“Answer the darn question!”
“I work for Twilight Velvet. On the p-police force.” The changeling extended shaking, transparent wings. “J-just ask her. She’ll v-v-vouch.”
Care kept her eyes on him as she put a little distance between them. “What if I don’t believe you?”
“Th-then Blueblood dies. And m-maybe a whole l-lot of other p-ponies, too.” He bowed his head, pointing his horn away from her. “P-please. Chief Velvet’s coming to Ponyville soon. You c-can ask her then.”
Care stood still for a moment, doing nothing but breathe and think. She gave him a curt nod. “Fine. But I’m not taking my eyes off you for a second. Not one.”
“G-good,” the changeling said. “Then m-maybe we’ll actually w-work together.”
Care snorted. “Come on. Let’s show Daa—Yearling and Turner.”
“N-no. We can’t tell them.”
“Are you nutso? Are you bonkers? Do you even give a flying feather?” Care pointed down a random hallway. “Do you think for even a second that I’m gonna let them be oblivious to the changeling living right under their noses?”
“No,” the changeling said. “Y-you’re too smart for that.”
Care gave him a double-take. She sat down and scuffed a hoof.
“But I hope th-that you’re also sm-smart enough to understand…” The antennae atop his head wriggled. “To-to understand that telling them would take up t-time we don’t have. Best to wait and l-l-let it come from a m-mouth they trust. Th-that trusts me.”
Care inclined her head. “You could be buying time.”
“Yes. Y-yes I could.” The changeling sighed. “In th-the end, it’s your d-decision.”
Care pressed her lips together. She jumped to her hooves and trotted towards the library.
“But r-remember that I just put m-my life in your hooves!” The changeling’s horn flared as he followed her, shrouding his body in fire and replacing black chitin with white hair. “If you d-decide to turn me in, y-you’ve basically killed me! D-d-don’t let all your guilt cl-cloud your good judgment—”
“You stay out of my head!” she shouted. She whirled on him and bumped her snout against his. “Stay out of my mind, stay out of my thoughts! Don’t even think about feeding off of my emotions!”
He gritted his teeth as his pupils shrunk. “It-it’s not exactly something I c-c-can turn off.”
“I don’t take kindly to people digging through my private feelings,” she growled.
“No… I’m sorry.” He took a step back and shut his eyes. “Y-you’re just… practically broadcasting it.”
Care’s face softened and her cheeks flushed. She stomped a hoof. “Alright, then.”
Blankety Blank opened his eyes. He hunched his shoulders and ducked his head. “‘Alright,’ what?”
“I’ll keep your secret until Twilight Velvet comes.” She narrowed hard, pink eyes. “If you can keep mine. Fair’s fair?”
Blank nodded. She marched away, double-time.
“Sh-she wouldn’t want you to be s-so hard on yourself, you know.” Blankety cantered to follow her large strides. “Celestia w-would understand that m-mistakes happen.”
“How dare you try to speak for her?” Care said, though there was no force behind her voice. There was just a heavy tiredness. “What makes you think you know her so well?”
“Sh-she’s the most amazing pony I’ve ever m-met,” Blank said. A small smile touched the corner of his mouth. “Th-this shining beacon of h-hope and wisdom.” The smile faded. “And sh-she needs us. She needs her knights.”
Care’s ear twitched. Blank caught the shift, but ignored it.
“She saved my l-life, you know.” Blankety Blank watched the crystalline floor. “She’s the s-strongest pony I know.”
“Strongest pony,” Care said. “The strongest pony in the entire world. But not invincible.”
“N-nopony is,” Blank muttered.
***
Hurricane hugged the corner of the hallway. The big pegasus who had carried her from the warehouse was talking with an earth pony security guard a few feet away. She waited as their conversation on sports dwindled. When they had exhausted their supply of game scores, the big pegasus motioned for the door.
“Lunch hour for me,” he said. “What’d you bring?”
“The wife packed asparagus. Again.” The earth pony stuck his tongue out. “She knows what that stuff does to me.”
“Yeah, and so does everypony else at the Blueblood estate.” The big pegasus chucked his shoulder. “Come on, Crab Apple, let’s get lunch hour over with.”
“I’m telling you, Zephyr,” the earth pony said as they trotted away. “It’s like she’s trying to poison me with these horseapples.”
Hurricane squinted as they disappeared down the hall. “Thou dost not know poison, foal.”
She bent down and crawled towards the doorway. She sneered. Her room had been unguarded. Her weapons had not been returned, but it was no major loss. There was barely anything between her and the outdoors. Perhaps this Dulcimer was not merely playing the fool.
She hesitated with her hoof on the handle. Dulcimer could be playing her for the fool, of course. It was a dire choice, either way. She stiffened her back and pulled the handle down. Better to be hunted down by the unicorn than to be under his roof and command.
Outside, rosebushes lined the walls of the manor. They grew tall, twice as high as her head. The flowers were dim and brown because of the chill fall air. Hedges were planted around the edge of the property; a wall to keep out intruders.
They couldn’t keep her in. She grinned and ignored the burning sensation in her cheek. She spread her wings and took off.
She jolted to a stop in midair. Sharp pain ran through her rear-left leg. She looked down to see a thorny vine wrapped around her ankle. It dragged her closer to the rosebush.
The bush snarled.
She jerked away, snapping the vine. Another lasso struck her front-right leg. It was followed by several more clawing at her. Her eyes widened as the rosebushes collapsed and twisted around themselves. Wood snapped and crackled. Legs took form. Sharp fangs, long ears, blazing eyes.
In concert, the rosebushes reconfigured themselves into timberwolves. They leaped and dragged her down to earth. They swarmed, biting and clawing and scraping and barking. She bucked one to pieces, but it was replaced by two more. They restrained her six limbs and went for her throat.
“Enough!”
The attack ceased. The timberwolves slid away, expanding and falling apart. Within a minute, the wolves were once again unassuming bushes decorating the manor grounds.
Hurricane rolled over and examined her body. She hadn’t suffered anything more than minor bruises and scrapes. She looked up at the open doors to see a small, thin earth pony with a slack, brown mane. She pulled herself upright. “To what do I owe the assistance?”
“We haven’t been introduced,” the pony said. “I’m Scuttlebutt, personal aide to Viscount Dulcimer.” He gave her a cheese-eating grin. “I suppose you’ve realized that escape is very unlikely.”
“I shall be ready for it, next time.” Hurricane spat on the ground. “Unexpected though they were, timberwolves are not durable in the slightest.”
“How adorable. You think that’s all you need to fear?” Scuttlebutt gestured to the upper windows of the mansion. “You’ve been watched since you arrived.”
She looked up. In the higher windows, a pony sat with a bow. The notched arrow aimed directly for her heart.
“Blueblood is paranoid,” Scuttlebutt said. “Dulcimer, moreso.”
Hurricane frowned. “Blueblood knows I am here?”
“Not in the slightest. He’s in Canterlot, grieving for his nearly-departed aunt.” Scuttlebutt all but glided down the steps with smooth, serpentine movements. “But his security still has its job to do protecting his home.”
“And thus Dulcimer benefits.” Hurricane folded her wings across her back. “I am surprised the dastard has not come to gloat personally. Why did he send thee?”
“He didn’t. Frankly, my dear, I’d like to keep this conversation between the two of us.” Scuttlebutt rolled his eyes. “Three of us, I suppose, if you include Fletcher up there.”
Hurricane glanced at the bow. The string slacked as Scuttlebutt got closer to her.
“The purpose of this conversation is not to force you to stay.” Scuttlebutt’s smile evaporated. “It’s to make you want to stay.”
“Through threat of force?”
“Through promise of victory.” Scuttlebutt leaned close to her ear, prompting the hair on the back of her neck to stand up straight. “You see, Commander, we serve the same master.”
Hurricane leaned back. “I serve not Dulcimer—”
“Not Dulcimer,” Scuttlebutt said. His left ear twitched down at an odd angle. “I have made sure the mirror is secure. Far from prying eyes who do not share our sympathies.” He lifted a package from his back and presented it to her. “Here. A token of my loyalty.”
She carefully lifted the lid. A set of fifty throwing knives lay inside, created to her exact specifications. Not an ounce out of place, not a symbol distorted.
Hurricane kept her mouth in a thin line while her heart rate increased. “Indeed. Then you understand what I must do.”
“I understand that you have a better chance of success if you stay with Dulcimer for a time.” Scuttlebutt’s cheese-eating grin encompassed his entire face.
“Does he share our cause?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Scuttlebutt rolled his eyes. “He has far too much ambition. He would never allow the rightful rulers of the land to take control. He wants the crown.” He shrugged. “Still, he is useful as a pawn.”
Hurricane frowned. “It is a dangerous game you play.”
“It’s a dangerous game we all play.” He bobbed his head from side to side. “And like most, it’s a game better played with friends.”
Hurricane nodded slowly. “You have been in contact with… with the sisters?”
“I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you if I hadn’t been given permission.” Scuttlebutt opened his beady eyes wide. “They hope they have your cooperation.”
Hurricane worried her lower lip. “What of Dulcimer’s plans for Blueblood? Shall I slay the prince as he has requested?”
“Blueblood doesn’t factor into our long-term plans. Do what you wish.” Scuttlebutt jerked his head towards the door. “It will probably ease any concerns Dulcimer has about you. We don’t want the viscount to suspect your true loyalty.”
“I only wanted to do what was necessary, Scuttlebutt,” Hurricane said. “I do not wish to see innocents caught in the crossfire.”
“There will always be innocents in the crossfire, Commander.” Scuttlebutt smiled. “A crying shame, I’m sure.”
Hurricane seethed. “Do not be so glib about—”
A cloud of smoke flashed through the air, trailing sparks. It swirled before Hurricane’s face before flashing and dissipating. A scroll, sealed with a simple wax circle, fell into her waiting wing. She bit the wax in two and let the paper fall loose. “Our contact in the Royal Guard says they are moving Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle in mere days.”
She lowered the scroll and looked off into the middle-distance. “And that Blueblood insists on carrying them in his personal airship.”
“Well, well, well. Three birds with one stone.” Scuttlebutt chuckled. “Seems some innocents can’t help but jump into the crossfire, hmm?”
Hurricane shut her eyes. Her ears drooped as she hung her head.
“Unfortunately, your custom armor won’t be done by that time. You’ll have to make do with what the security detail can offer you.” Scuttlebutt slithered up the stairs and held the door for her. “Still, I think the world-famous assassin has her next target.”
Hurricane stepped inside. She removed the thin, light knives from the box and slid them between her feathers. She flexed her wings and watched the wingblades shine in the sunlight. “Dulcimer promised me soldiers.”
“Exactly correct.” Scuttlebutt gave a sharp whistle. “Zephyr? Come here, will you?”
The big pegasus rounded the corner, his large, pale yellow forelegs pounding the carpet. He grinned and flicked his light gray tail. “Orders, sir?”
“Hurricane here has a mission for you.” Scuttlebutt turned to her. “Zephyr here is the head of security, and a high-ranking member of our little coup. He’ll act as your lieutenant.”
Hurricane looked him up and down with a furrowed brow. “Very well. The airship departs in two days, and we shall attack in three. Be ready at that time.”
Zephyr gave her a light nod and turned for the hallway.
“And Zephyr?” Hurricane said.
Zephyr pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow.
“Please…” Hurricane whispered. “Leave Blueblood to me.”
Scuttlebutt escorted her to her room. She lay on her soft bed and cranked on her radio. The signal came through much clearer through the high-quality setup than through her homemade contraption. She covered her muzzle with a foreleg and allowed the music to wash over her ears.
“Platinum… I am so sorry.”
***
Lunch was quiet at Canterlot Castle. Luna spooned potato soup into her mouth as the griffons dug into their servings of fish. She smiled. Even though she had access to silverware, the little Stella was still getting garlic butter all over her feathers.
Luna looked at Andean, who was also smiling at his daughter’s antics. He caught her eye and dropped his smile.
“I’m surprised you decided to dine with us, Princess.” He twisted his head to the side to look her in the eye. “I had assumed you had other things to deal with.”
“I have no excuse for being a neglectful host, King Andean.” Luna bowed her head, mostly to avoid his condor-like stare. “I only wish I could make this stay in Equestria a less somber affair.”
Andean brought his giant talons together and hunched over the table. His sheer bulk covered nearly a quarter of it. “Then shall we at last talk turkey?”
Stella giggled. Corona shushed her, but also had a smile on her beak.
“Talk turkey?” Luna’s ears fell back. “I’m unfamiliar with the phrase, but I can assume it’s a pun.”
“It just means to talk frankly. Without pretenses.” Andean clicked his beak. “I want ambrosia. I need ambrosia.”
Luna sighed. “Have your talks with the breezies borne no fruit?”
“No fruit and less medicine.” He pointed a nail. “But you Equestrians supply them with the pollen to make the ambrosia. You have the highest ambrosia concentration outside of Breezy Bastion itself. We already have a trade system in place, and we can no doubt simply make arrangements.”
Luna spread her wings halfway. “King Ursagryph, all our ambrosia is already spoken for. It is bought by hospitals and pharmacists and universities. Not only that, but the breezies make an agreement with all their trade partners not to export it. They like their monopoly, Andean. They aren’t going to give it up, and they will not appreciate a trade violation.”
Andean laid his head in his talons. “For once, Luna, can we not make this about politics?”
Luna opened her mouth. No words came out, replaced as they were by a tiny squeak. She tilted her head. “I-I am sorry?”
“Politics were designed as a structure. A skeleton to hold up the workings of a society. It was designed so that life would run smoothly.” He slammed a fist on the table, rattling the dishes. “What good are politics if they get in the way of what people need?”
“This isn’t just about politics, Andean.” Luna took a deliberate slurp of her soup. “It’s about honoring our word to the breezies.” She waved her spoon in a little dance through the air. “Celestia told me you hadn’t offered them iron. I’m sure they would appreciate access to something in relatively short supply in the rest of the w—”
“I’m not trading our iron!” Andean roared. He stood on his hind legs and propped himself on the table. His wings spread as his fur bristled.
Both the Royal Guards and the Blitzwings standing at the walls snapped to attention, spears and volleyguns at the ready.
Luna set her spoon in the bowl. It clinked loudly in the still room. “Corona, perhaps you should show your sister the Stained Glass Gallery.”
Stella had covered her head with her wings. She peered from between the feathers. “But I wanted to hear a story from you, Princess.”
“Do as she says, Stella,” Andean said. He sank into his seat with a deep huff. “There are things we need to discuss alone.”
Corona took Stella’s talon in hers and pulled her gently to the door. Natter bowed and led them down the halls, his throat bobbing.
Luna drew herself up. She sat in the perfect posture for a princess: Back straight, head up, forelegs together, tail beside her right hip, and wings folded at her sides. “Andean, why won’t you trade your iron? There is nowhere richer than Felaccia.”
Andean rubbed his eyes. When he met Luna’s gaze, they were pale and cold. His wrinkled face sagged as if it held a great weight. “You would do… anything to save your sister, correct?”
Luna tried to keep her face still. A faint twinge in her cheeks pulled her mouth down. “Aye.”
“Now the question is…” Andean Ursagryph tapped the fish bones on his plate. “Would you sacrifice your kingdom and everypony in it for your sister?”
“Wh—what? No!” Luna pushed her chair away from the table. Her ears lay back against her head. “I… I have a responsibility to—”
“As do I.” He ran his talons through his thick, feathery beard. “Terrible times are on the horizon, Luna. I feel it in my bones. I’ve seen it in my dreams. It’s not just my death that’s been prophesied anymore. A darkness engulfs the entire world. Swallows it whole. It’s cold and oppressing and smothering…”
A shiver ran from the tip of his bear’s tail to the point of his beak. “It’s evil, Luna. I find that word to be naïve and childish, but there is aught else to describe the presence I felt.” He clenched his fists, nearly drawing blood from his palms. “We need that iron for our defense. We need it for our war machines and our weapons. We need it to fortify our homes.”
Luna brought a hoof to her chest. She took a steadying breath. “Are not the dark times already here?”
Andean snarled. “You think it can’t get worse than a couple of princesses on bedrest?”
He shifted his massive frame. His rear claws scraped against the floor. “Sparkpowder, the fuel behind our volleyguns, was also a dead end with the breezies. It seems they have little desire for explosives. I have nothing they want. Nothing. Nothing!”
“I can’t help you, Andean,” Luna said. “Perhaps Celestia, in her infinite wisdom, could find a solution, but I can’t.”
“Then let me speak with Celestia,” he hissed. “Let me see her. Let her do her job and—”
“She’s in a coma.” Luna’s voice shook. “She’s in a coma, and hasn’t woken up since she was attacked.”
Andean stared in silence. Not a feather moved. Not a muscle twitched.
“I’m sorry.” Luna turned away. “I wish for all the world that I could simply give your people ambrosia, but—”
King Andean Ursagryph stood, sending his chair clattering to the floor. His talons left deep scars in the tabletop. “You’re a better liar than I thought.”
He swept out of the dining hall in a flurry of feathers. His Blitzwings followed close behind, joined with a small attachment of Royal Guards.
Luna’s voice cracked. “I will require a walk. I need to clear my head.”
The guards that remained stood in silence, their thoughts to themselves.
Luna licked her dry lips. “You are dismissed.”
She vanished in a cloud of blue embers. The guards filed out two-by-two, headed to other posts or the barracks.
One guard wasn’t supposed to be there. He took a scrap of paper from his side-pouch and held a pencil in his mouth. He wrote a few notes down and squirreled them away.
Though the golden armor enchanted his coat white and his mane blond, he was still noticeably individual within the ranks. He slid easily into the routine, a routine he’d been part of for years.
Nopony noticed that the guard wasn’t supposed to be there, because everypony knew his face.
***
Luna sparked into existence in the castle gardens, just beside the large oak tree. The leaves were completely gone from its branches. It was, for all intents and purposes, dead to the world.
“No,” Luna said. “It is not dead. Merely asleep.”
“Funny you should mention that.”
Luna whirled on the deep, forceful voice behind her. She let out a sigh and shook her head. “Shardscale, you startled me.”
“Wow. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I snuck up on somebody.” Shard held a hand over her mouth as she coughed a deep, wet cough. She groaned and rubbed her scaly green chest. “Listen. We gotta talk.”
Luna brought her eyebrows low. “You are unwell, Chronicler?”
“Well, it’s not so much unwell as just…” Shard waggled a claw. “Yeah. Kinda unwell. For the most part okay, but...”
She pinched the bridge of her snout. “Look. I can’t stick around here anymore. I gotta get a move on.”
“I beg your pardon?” Luna’s tail flicked behind her. “No. No, you can’t leave now. Why would you? There are things you must record, things you must learn. You said you would help me!”
“I said I would help, yeah. But this is…” Shardscale wrapped herself in her leathery, flowing wings. “Luna, it’s getting cold. Autumn’s almost over. Winter comes next. I can’t stay for winter.” She touched a clawtip to her side, which glowed faintly. “My fire couldn’t handle it. My heart couldn’t handle it.”
“You’re abandoning her!” Luna shouted.
Shard flinched back. Tears sprung from the corners of her eyes, sizzling as they dripped down her cheeks. “That was uncalled for.”
“She’s still in danger, Shardscale.” Luna flared her wings. Shadows pooled around her legs. “How can you even think of leaving her alone?”
“Because my fire could go out!” Shard pushed against the ground and lifted her body. Her scales shone in the midday sun. “If I’m caught out in a snowstorm, the fire in my heart could die. Then I’d be in my hundred-year sleep two centuries too early and I’d be no help to anybody!”
Luna’s coat darkened a shade. “You would leave because you’re afraid of a little sleep?”
“I have a responsibility, too!” Shard bared her fangs. “Dragons still need to be informed. Equestria relies on me for outside news. If I go to sleep now, when I wake up all my friends will be dead!”
Luna gritted her teeth as her eyes glowed.
Shard sucked in a breath. She let the muscles in her arms slacken. “Well, I guess you of all ponies could understand that, couldn’t you?”
The shadows slipped away. The glow died down. Luna’s mane fizzled as her coat brightened. The rage left her face, leaving it hollow. “Go.”
Shardscale rubbed her upper arm. “Luna, I’m sorry.”
“Just. Go.”
Shard searched for a word, but came up empty. A heavy sigh escaped between her teeth. She spread her grand wings and gave a single flap. The wind howled past Luna as the dragon lifted into the air, hoisted by the force of her downward stroke. Shardscale soared through the clouds, becoming a green speck in seconds.
Luna’s chest tightened, threatening her with hyperventilation. She forced herself to breath at a normal rate. She clutched the sides of her head as the world swam before her. She leaned against the ancient oak with no memory of having stumbled over to it.
Her eyes fell on the Dream’s Keep.
“Celestia. Yes. I should go to comfort Celestia in her dreams.” Luna wiped away tears that had sprung unbidden to her face. “Don’t worry. I shall not abandon you. I’ll not leave you cold and alone.”
She spread her wings to fly to the tall tower. She swallowed a small lump in her throat as the black hair around her cutie mark tingled. “Yes. No need to worry. Remember, Luna, you’ll always have me as a friend.”
Well that was convenient: this updated literally the day I caught up. Luna's doing a pretty good job of pushing everyone away. And that line at the end... I sense a relapse on the horizon
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Don't worry, I personally think that hitting that balance between pacing and description is one of the hardest aspects of writing. Very few authors can hit it. Hell, even after all of these years even I don't think I'm always on the mark. it's just one of those things you're always going to be working to improve I guess.
Hmn. Two predictions, Blank is a Knight like Daring and Turner, and Care will probably be one as well by the end of the story.
Timberwolf security that disguises itself as landscaping? That might just be my favorite idea ever.
Lovely. Then again, if they needed new knives they needed new metal, and if they needed new metal maybe that will allow Andean to track down the movement of it. After all, from a little later down:
He's really not into anyone other than gryphons having it, so I doubt it's easy to get ahold of in the middle of Equestria.
Anyway, I just hope that before the end of things Hurricane finds out exactly how many innocents and heroes she had already killed and nearly killed. I hope she chokes on the revelation. (Wow, that came out harsh, but I'm inclined to leave it as written, I'm pretty pissed about what she did to Twilight.)
I wonder how the conspiracy is planning on handling Andean, he seems like he'd react fairly unpredictably to news like this. Loose cannon, party of one with armed escorts.
Crap, we're down one dragon, that's some serious firepower to lose. Ehh, maybe she'll show back up with some help at a critical moment.
Things definitely keep getting darker.
I take it FOA requests are not a big thing in Equestria?
Someone has some war stories from the Canterlot Invasion.
Now Blank is a knight? Man, Celestia will let anyone in! (What's he the knight of?)
Quite a thorny predicament our dear Caney has gotten herself into. I wonder, are these wolves created with unicorn or earth pony magic?
What a !
Nice going Hurricane, talk to every NPC and you get the ammunition reload. Put 5 0 on the board!
Interesting... My first guess is Malestia (Maleficent-Celestia) and Vampirella Luna (that's what her outfit in Reflections made me think of). Especially when you consider the implications of the mirror dimension rules, and the possibility of Malestia and Sombra PRIME hitting it off...
Nah, I'm actually going to guess this is proof that Sonata and her sidekicks are definitely behind this plot to corner the market on Equestrian tacos. Or Rarity and Sweetie Belle deciding to make themselves princesses by more direct means?
Snitches get stiches! Pretty sure Pinkie Pie taught us that lesson.
Daaawwwww.
Man, screw you Big Bird. "OH look at me, I want all the magic healing juice but also all the Iron, it's so unfair that I have to share, WAH!" Breezies are like 2 inches high and live in a pocket dimension the size of a city block, how much iron could they actually need?
Ohhh, so he's a doomsday prepper! (Also he gets visions like Celestia does). He's probably going to start cornering the market on canned beans as well. He's still going to have to cough up some iron to get his ambrosia though.
Not sure if he means "I can't believe you convinced me she wasn't in a coma until now." or "Your claim that Celestia is in a coma was delivered very convincingly, even though I know it's a lie." Ah well, the gryphs were getting just a little too cozy around Canterlot anyway, I think we all knew that it couldn't last.
That's a brilliant interpretation of why dragons need 100 year naps (and retroactively horrifying to remember that time Twilight and friends got Spike dunked in the freezing lake as a prank). But where is the smoke coming from? The smoke that can blanket the land? Also, Shard scale should really see a doctor, she don't look so good.
OH crap, everyone forgot how important it is not to make Luna feel super-lonely!
I feel like we the audience need to check which type of universe is the Heart's Promise: Is it the type where Luna went Nightmare because of a mental illness, or one where she was possessed? Mental Illness kind of makes sense because we have yet to see a single reference to the race of nightmares in previous stories, even when we have all the sentient races around a table, chatting about the exhaustive list of known sentient races, and nightmare spirits on the moon would probably have been brought up. Possession would let you tie into some of the great adjacent worldbuilding you've done already though.
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How serendipitous!
It's a hard position she's leaving herself in. It's sure to drum up a little drama here and there. Just a little.
Oh, come now. It's not like she has a history of violence, dark possessions, and megalomania!
Oh.
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Fair predictions. Can't say yes or no to whether Care gets an actual title at any point in the story, since it's spoilers either way.
Mine, too! I already used it in one story, and have been practically grasping for another opportunity to use it. Turns out paranoid princes and shrieking shrubbery go hoof-in-paw.
Quite right on all accounts. What luck he might have actually tracking it is a different question. It's very similar to the question of how they managed to smuggle it into Equestria.
Fear not, she shall know the cost of her deeds.
That would be an awesome cavalry. Whoosh! Fwoom!
What can I say, I like Nightmares.
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That's far too funny. It hurts.
Dunno how Indiana Jones I'm really making her. Sure, the whole "professor" angle is fun, but I can't imagine Yearling heading a class with any real success. Sounds more like a comedy that might merit writing at some point.
That's right. Every random background character and element has a name, history, relationship with other characters, and a rabid fanbase.
Unless she multiclasses... Friendshipmancer plus Immortal plus Summoner plus Barrier Warrior plus Alchemist plus--
Yeah, we can stop there.
Honorary, nothing. She's not one to do things halfway.
Dastardly, devious, and diabolical! And people wonder why the ponies are always grumpy about the poor, mistreated changelings...
Now there's a scary-yet-true thought. Felaccia has its share of anti-dragon strategies.
It's pretty blatant speciesism. It's the griffon royal guard, darn it, and there's gonna be griffon royal guards! None of those foreign-born losers, either. They gotta be solid, homegrown stock.
And she'd be right. Though I often joke that chocolate was made on the eighth day, because the Creator had just one last brilliant idea.
Oh gosh, it's priceless. Sombra's butt needs its own villain song.
Thus the dark tag. Don't expect gut-wrenching despair to last more than a couple chapters at a time, though.
The Mayors of Equestria would argue that those items are locked away due to a clear and present threat to national security. Thank you for your concern.
She was still thirteen, and living in Manehattan. First she heard of it was the headlines the following morning. That's not to say the danger changelings present is not drummed into the minds of new recruits...
Patience.
No, I don't mean that he's the Knight of Patience, I mean that you need to have patience for the story to reveal it in due time!
Neither. It's a headcanon of mine that timberwolves are a byproduct of the Zap Apple process, brought to life by the mystical energies of the tree. They act as a natural deterrent for animals that would want to eat the fruit of the tree. Including ponies. Zap Apples obviously need to go through their whole cycle to be fully matured, so any interference before that time would end up being bad for the tree. Timberwolves make sure that doesn't happen.
And if you can harness Zap Apple magic...
I fully expect you to keep up the running tally of wingblades now, you know.
How horrifying.
And here you thought Sweetie Belle overcoming her problem with singing was a good thing!
ForEEEEVVVVVEEEERRRRR!!!
Scientists speculate that it equates a metric bear-buttload.
Alas, it's a dilemma he's not quite ready to work through yet. Something might need to push him over the edge.
Or someone.
I'll only tell you because it'll be immediately obvious in his next scene: it's the former.
Why do you think the poor guy was so tired all the time!?
The fire goes out, but the embers still smolder. Plus, you gotta believe a dragon has more than carbon dioxide coming out their exhales.
Somebody call the fun police!
It would be odd to suddenly introduce all the collected background I had in Blueblood's Ascension, despite how neat it was. No, things'll have a slightly different bent in this story. While still trying to keep close to the comics canon. Mostly.
Besides, the age-old answer to so many "If, but, and or" questions is: Both.
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Ahhh, but I didn't say teaching classes, did I? I mean when she was taking Archaeology 102 to get her PhD, there was always that group of annoying stallions that would dominate class discussion with tirades about how Equestria oppresses the native species of South Amareica by not giving them the 800*+ weather they demand, and how once they graduate these socially conscious ponies are going to take direct action under the leadership of the anonymous author of those college newspapers, "A. H. Zoitl."
As said rabid fanbase, I concur. That reminds me, while Diamond Tiara was off stripping-but-let's-pretend-it's-not-stripping, who was taking care of Dollar Dillo? The fans demand to know!
I think she got all of those by the end of season 4, and if she does a bunch of diplomacy we're gonna have to add "bard" to the list (unless Friendshipmancer is just a fancy name for bard).
Meanwhile, whenever Blueblood has to actually remember how to do any royal duties, you can hear him mumbling under his breath "Oh I'm just a bill, and I'm sitting here on Canterlot Hill..."
Well I'd say Peppermint Twists, but then we'ed be getting into a liturgical argument, and I doubt anyone wants a flame war.
Ok, that makes me feel relieved, so only current and former Mayors of Equestria can have potentially studied secret knowledge of terrible artifacts buried in ancient Minotaurian Tombs, for example? Good to know.
I know he's not that, clearly Tank is the Knight of Patience!
That's almost exactly my headcanon! I always figured Zap Apples were basically Timberwolf seeds, and somehow old Timberwolves can turn into the tree, but the process can be short-circuited (otherwise the Apples would never have been able to plant that orchard). Oh snap, I think we finally figured out a good reason for Vampire Fruit Bats to exist, they're probably the primary reason Timberwolves aren't more common!
I sure hope the Apple family is real careful about cleaning up every dropped Zap Apple from their orchard.
Lost her old set, so 50 now, I believe.
True, true, but imagine the villain songs as those two courted each other!
Deep down, we always knew Equestria would end not in fire or darkness, but in squeaks.
Somehow I doubt Andean's state visit to Breezy Bastion went well, honestly the least-bad option is if he just got stuck in the portal like Whinny the Pooh.
Somehow I doubt that incident ever found its way into a Friendship Report.
Help! They're beating me with their wacky batons!
Ok, I now imagine when everycreature else was talking about all the known sapients back in LM, Celestia just grinned awkwardly and coughed into her hooves "don't look on the moon."
I suppose accepting nightmare possession is a pretty big red flag as far as mental illness indicators go. Also, I can't argue with the rightness of using multiple Trixie tags to indicate someone is crazy!
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Hrm. Nice save. I remember us speculating on Caballeron and Daring's history having to do with him failing her on some occasion or another. A whole dang collage conspiracy could be building beneath the surface. Alumni Illuminati, you might say. Or Illumipony. And since Caballeron's gonna be working with Al Goreizotl...
All of my business communication classes were overflowing with political discussion. So I have somewhere to draw inspiration from, at the least.
They don't normally wear clothes.
Holy cow, that's digging deep! I haven't thought about Diamond's pet since I completed that story!
You may very well be rabid.
Of course, now that you've mentioned him I've got to give him a part in Sugar, Snails, and What That Entails. Preliminary thoughts place him with a very old, very lonely Filthy Rich.
Friendshipmancer may be multiclassing in itself, what with the high charisma and magic and defense. Twilight has to have taken Songwriting 050 as an elective. She certainly never got beyond that level.
In his defense, Schoolhouse Rock is my go-to for counting by fives.
Ah. The timberwolves were certainly missing a natural predator. A little Zap Apple corruption is a very cool and creepy way to produce monsters.
The timberwolves as seeds thing is pretty neat. My first thought was that since they fall apart so easily, the timberwolves couldn't be tough enough to be seeds. However, I suppose that's why they can also reform so easily. Combine, even. We could be looking at the Timberzilla as some sort of giant seed pod.
The fruit disappears after the cycle is over. I think the issue is probably both picking all the apples they can, and keeping as many fruit bats away as possible.
Biiiingo.
Ooh, you'll love my
Ohh! Ah! Ugh!
Toxic Love!
This is why the king delegates.
On the contrary. It could be a very heartwarming one about understanding each other's limitations.
They weren't really talking about all known sapients. They were just discussing the most recently discovered ones.
Crazy like a fox.
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There would pretty much have to be, after all. I mean, Dr. Caballeron is presumably no longer a respected teacher at Canterlot U if he's openly roughing up ponies, but he used to be, so I bet a certain Knight found him doing a little extra-research on dangerous artifacts and forced him to abruptly change professions to mercenary scholar in the wilderness.
I bet those pony thugs who roughed up Daring are technically listed as graduate assistants to Dr. Caballeron, from some university in a country without extradition treaties to Equestria. They get course credit, but it's probably not from anyplace accredited.
Mind blown. Didn't Al Gore, playing himself on Futurama, once warn us that Global Warming was in part caused by Dark Wizards? That guy doesn't miss a trick! This makes me realize that Daring Do only publishes some of her adventures, the ones that make good books. That time she caught Ahuizotl going around giving a power point presentation on (the need for) Global Warming... Not really epic enough for the fans, ya know?
Full confession, I was that guy in those business communication classes.
Fine, Caberet dancing. You can't tell me ponies don't have that, Pinkie almost
startedstopped a war with it! Pinkie didn't charge a cover though, or sing Hey Bit Spender.Naw, the doctor said I was fine. Then he left to go get a shotgun, so I'll let you know how that plays out.
Well at least he'll have something. How has that story not even started and I already have the feels?
I think we can guess her singing teacher, "Love is in Bloom" was probably the final project!
Sure, but he probably mixes them up from time to time, and then the royal tea ceremony is scheduled to be held at Conjunction Junction.
Yes! And how is Timberzilla traditionally defeated? "We'll just take all the component pieces and seperate them by a large distance, so it can't reform!" Thus ensuring seed dispersal.
A Tim Curry reference? In the world of Villain Songs, there can be no higher compliment!
Doesn't the word "delegate" mean "to lead from behind?" I think the poor Griffon watching their step in Breezie Bastion is probably whichever one made a joke about Andean's enormous "leadership." (Hey, it's something he has in common with Celestia!)
I could totally see Twilight cheerfully dictating a Friendship Letter like this to Celestia, I just feel she would have a rather... heated response about
childassistant endangerment not being an appropriate topic for Friendship Experiments, and a threat of an A+++- if something like this happens again.Fair enough, though I still imagine Celestia frantically jumping in front of a telescope when the delegates try to look at the moon. I love the my new annotation for Lord Mayor Applejack, by the way.
A fox in your incurably rabid fanbase, maybe!
Wow, Murphy is working overtime here.
Andean continues to be my favorite completely-at-odds-with-Equestria foreign leader.
And... yeah, it must be brutal to basically have the breezies probably tell the griffons that they basically don't get healing.
All the conspirators are insane they speak of rightfull rulers when those are their targets.
Hurricane doesn't care about innocents because she targeted innocents.
Interesting secret mirror masters, and the possibility of my favorite princess's showing up. Let's go.