//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Lost Reflections 
// by Purple Patch 
//------------------------------//

Pipsqueak wasn’t happy.
His mother had reprimanded him sharply on the way home yesterday for staying with Dinky.
He didn’t understand why.
What was so bad about spending time with a filly?
What was so bad about Dinky?
Nothing. Nothing at all. She had few if any negative qualities he could think of. Derpy had raised her just right. She was as kind, hard-working and cute as her mother and as smart, funny and determined as her father. He couldn’t remember how many times the little filly had gotten him out of a scrape at school or on the way home.
Dinky had always been there for him.
Why didn’t mother appreciate that?
He knew he’d have to ask soon. He felt like he’d been sitting in his room, rearranging his O&O figures forever.
Braving himself, he made his way downstairs.
He only realised how different his mother’s house was to Derpy’s flat.
Where the Doo family household’s floor was covered entirely by fluffy carpet you could go to sleep on and hard but smooth walls that Derpy had once said she didn’t mind being drawn-on, the house he lived in was based on hard, black wooden floorboards and chalk-white walls with open beams that he suddenly felt looked rather unwelcoming. As the house wasn’t so much old as...sick.
Many houses in the working districts of Trottingham looked this way. Though the city was so close to Canterlot, there was still a great difference between the living conditions of the rich and of the poor. Celestia, Fancy Pants and various other philanthropic figures were doing all they could to change that but it was a daunting task and not one Pip expected to see completed for many years.
He found his mother washing clothes in a wooden tub.
So she hadn’t finished work when she’d picked him up.
Pip had so hated Proud of Parents Day at school. After hearing Diamond Tiara gushing over her father’s business and Apple Bloom giving the full history of Granny Smith’s exploits and Sweetie Belle bringing in her father’s own hoof-ball, how insignificant he felt telling the class ‘My mother washes clothes’.
It had everypony laughing.
Until Miss Cheerilee had stepped up and pointed out how much ponies need clothes washed every day.
Then when Dinky pointed out it was just as important for ponies to have their mail delivered.
It felt like that was the time they really saw how much in common they had with each other.
His mother had to see that somehow.


“Mother?” he asked tentatively.
Nancy looked up, her eyes tired and stinging from the steam but she smiled.
“Hello my lovely” she cooed “Everything alright?”
“Um...sort of...” he mumbled, tottering down to meet her “I...I need to ask you something”
“Of course”
“Well...you didn’t want to talk about it yesterday”
Upon realising what her son meant, Nancy rolled her eyes and sighed, frustrated.
“Pipsqueak, I told you. You’re too young to be hanging around with fillies. What have I told you all these years?”
“It’s not just that, is it!” the little colt blurted out, tears appearing in his eyes “You’ve never had a problem before. I go to school with loads of fillies. Why Dinky? Why do you hate her?!” His voiced cracked on the last few words.
“Oh sweetheart” Nancy drew her fore-hooves out of the tub and wrapped them around her son’s little shoulders “Look, this is important. I don’t hate her, Pipsqueak. You know that don’t you” She sighed “I don’t hate her...but I don’t think she’s a good influence on you...”
“But why not? She always helps me with my homework and lines for plays and everything”
“Pipsqueak, listen to me. That filly has not been brought up right” His mother’s tone had grown grim “If her parents are anything to go by...”
“Wh...What’s wrong with her parents?”
She gave him a look.
“Pipsqueak. They’re nice enough, I know that as much as you, but I hear very worrying things about them. Things nopony should ever hear about. Her father didn’t know he even was the father till she came out! And as for the mother! She wrecked the town hall, Pipsqueak. 	You don’t leave your children with her!”
“But mother, there was a reason for that...”
“Pipsqueak” Her voice grew outright stern “She’s not a responsible pony and neither is her daughter. She’s nice, that much is true, and you might think that makes her safe but we grown-ups know better. If I left her in your care, who knows what could happen?”
“But mother...”
“Pipsqueak” She clutched his shoulders and looked him in the eyes “You don’t want to make me worried now, do you”
The little pinto looked down at his hooves.
“Okay mother...” he mumbled “Can I still see her at school?”
“Yes, yes, Pipsqueak, you can” she smiled and gave him a pat on the back “Now...Blue’s coming over with Tungsten later today. You want your room tidy so you can play with your models, don’t you”
“Okay” He tottered back upstairs.
As she watched him go, Nancy gave a sniff and went back to the tub.
She hated doing this to his son but she knew she’d hate it even more if he came to any harm thanks to her.
This Dinky seemed like a safe enough pony but, Nancy remembered grimly, she'd once thought the same about her husband.
He'd had hurt Pipsqueak enough already.
She wasn’t about to do the same.


*


Even the carriage ride up to Invitro Hall seemed unfriendly.
The house’s grandness added to the injustice concerning those who lived there.
Raven Inkwell couldn’t help but scowl as they neared it.
‘How dare she continue to live so richly after what she’s done’
Beside her, Grand Duchess Bustle Bloomers gently petted her dog.
“Horatio does so hate coming here” she muttered “It is a shame...old Fancy has fond memories of this place. Of course that was with its old owners Count Stained and Countess Cylindrica...whom their daughter never fails to dishonour”
When they began working, Raven Inkwell and Bustle Bloomers hadn’t had much of a partnership. The old matriarch had intimidated the bright young secretary and the two hadn’t much to talk about other than how Fancy Pants had been getting on.
But slowly they’d grown on each other, each one determined to make Countess Magnifying Glass pay for the crimes they knew she’d committed.
Today was a disappointment.
Nonetheless, they tried their best to be upbeat.
“I see you’re wearing those new glasses my nephew got for you” the Grand Duchess pointed out.
“Oh yes...” the prim little secretary gave them a light adjustment “Do you like them?”
“They suit you very well, dear. Do you know, with that neckerchief, you’re the spitting image of my cousin, Crinoline”
“Um...thank you” Raven gave a polite smile as the Grand Duchess pondered a moment.
“Or was it Pannier? Was she the one who tried to seduce my husband...or the one who pinched our silver? Now I know it wasn’t Incontinentia Buttocks, she was the one who ran off with that bearded fellow with the lisp”
“Ahem, Grand Duchess?” Raven Inkwell asked, hoping to change the subject.
“Miss Inkwell?”
“You’ve always seemed very close to your nephew...if you don’t mind me asking...”
“Spit it out, dear” Her manner was curt but not unpleasant.
“Well...do you have family of your own?”
Grand Duchess Bustle Bloomers gave a chuckle.
“Of course, Miss Inkwell. Perhaps you’ve heard my husband mentioned in passing somewhere? Windcheater. A retired Wonderbolt”
“Really?” Raven Inkwell’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look too impressed, he wasn’t that good. Well, he can still do a decent loop-de-loop now and again but he’s better at his treatises and puts lot more work into them, hard luck for the rest of us. Don’t mistake me, I love him dearly but, goodness, the stallion could bore for Equestria! I tell you, dear, sex for Windcheater is having someone listen as he reads aloud his theories on the emergence of liberal feminism in Southern Zebrica”
She ignored Raven’s sudden blush as she muttered aside.
“If someone invented a complete work on philosophy that said ‘Oh you magnificent stud! Nopony can do it like you can!’ after closing, he’d probably take it for his mistress”
“...I’m...sorry to hear that”
“Whatever for? He’s not unpleasant in the slightest and I was no stranger to bores even before I married him. He was kind, handsome, sociable and of a healthy background and our marriage would bring our families great mutual benefit. I wasn’t leaving him alone for any of my awful cousins to snatch up!” She chuckled.
“And...did you have any children?”
“Oh yes. One son, Leotard. He’s just turning twenty-eight. Though let’s just say I haven’t as high hopes for him as I have for Fancy”
“Ah...is he...” Raven searched for the right word “...irresponsible?”
The Duchess measured the question.
“Irresponsible, no. Thick as two hefty slabs of peat, most certainly. I don’t hold it against him though, we’ve raised him right. He treats mares extremely well, useful for securing marriage ties, and I dare say his ballet-dancing is some of the best in the city” She sighed “But Fancy’s always been the go-getter. A great deal of our family’s hopes and ambitions rest with him. Has he met all of them? Perhaps not. But let me assure you, Miss Inkwell. While I can’t say I have never been disappointed in him...I can say, without a shred of doubt, I have never been ashamed of him”
“If it helps, Grand Duchess...We think he’s done a good job”
The Grand Duchess chortled.
“Let me tell you something dear. The beauty of our system is that everypony smart enough to run for government knows better than to want to. That’s why they hang around on the sidelines, out of sight of both the hopeful smiles and the miserable scowls, seeing while unseen, knowing but unknown, reminding those in the centre who really makes the changes. With all these Alicorns and Bearers and Princesses all higgledy-piggeldy near and far, one does lose track so easily, but it’s ponies like us, Miss Inkwell, that keep it all on track”
Raven Inkwell found herself marvelling at the Grand Duchess, filled with curiosity at what was either immense cynicism or buoyancy.
Their cheer diminished somewhat as the carriage stopped outside Invitro Hall.
The two mares braced themselves, as if braving a griffon tavern brawl, and strode in.


Countess Magnifying Glass was not looking any better than she had been last time they’d checked on her.
She was hunched over the fireplace, staring intently at the smouldering logs, her hooves shaking on the arms of her chair.
Were they bleeding?
Raven and Bustle gave each other an uneasy look.
This was a mistake, they knew it. She wasn’t safe, to herself or to anypony else.
But the Princess’s word was clear.
“Mrs Glass”
The elderly mare’s head snapped round like a wolf with the scent of blood. A scowl of indignation was etched upon her features.
“What?” she growled.
Raven Inkwell took a step back and cleared her throat.
“Mrs, Glass...The Princess...had heard your plea”
The Countess’s yellowing eyes widened.
“And?”
The secretary fought the urge to grind her teeth.
“She agrees...Your house arrest will end by the end of the week”
There was a pause.
Then the Countess slowly got to her hooves and smiled which, from a mare like her, looked out-of-place at best.
“Ms Inkwell, Grand Duchess, I and all of Invitro Hall thanks you with every inch of our being”
‘You feeble-minded little nags! You’ve just signed your death warrants! You’re first! For what you dared to put me through, once I’m done with the main threat, I’m coming after you first!’
“The Princess believes your house arrest has proven its point” Raven Inkwell continued “In the wake of your charges of treason being dropped, no further reprimand needs to be taken”
“Please, tell the Princess, on my behalf, that she is a kind and forgiving monarch without equal”
‘And a pathetic little fool...but I’ll be telling her that myself when I have her at my mercy!’
“Right...well...” Grand Duchess Bustle Bloomers made no attempt to hide her dissatisfaction “If that will be all, Miss Inkwell, would you mind waiting in the carriage a moment? I must have a private word with Mrs Glass”
‘Countess Glass you miserable old harpy! I’ll carve it into your flesh one of these days!’
Raven Inkwell left, ignoring the sneers and jibes coming from the onlooking Monocular and Binocular from the stairway.
In the smoking room, Bustle Bloomers and Magnifying Glass faced each other, their jovial faces betrayed by abject hatred for each other in their eyes.
The Countess saw fit to prod.
“Grand Duche-”
“Now my good mare,” Bustle Bloomers cut her off “Let’s not lie to each other, it’s so unbecoming. If you believe the Princess is unaware of what you’ve done, you are mistaken. More importantly, if you believe I am unaware of what you’ve done, you are gravely mistaken”
The Countess gave an attempt to chuckle incredulously but it came out like a cough of sorts.
“Grand Duchess Bustle Bloomers, I cannot imagine...”
“Well I would start quickly if I were you, Mrs Glass”
“Is this necessary?” the Countess’s voice was joined by the sound of her subtly grinding her teeth “I have only disdain for the mare I once was, I want nothing more than to mend ties with my niece and any other I...”
“Oh do shut up” Bustle Bloomers snapped, causing the Countess to step back in alarm “Honestly, you wouldn’t fool my son with this false penitence of yours, let alone my nephew. You have nothing in your mind but schemes and dreams of vengeance for the injuries you alone have brought upon yourself”
The Countess’s smile was growing more and more forced.
“I assure you-”
“I assure you, Mrs Glass, that while it is true I cannot make you pay the crimes you’ve committed in the past, I can most certainly  make you pay for the crimes you will commit in the future. I know what you did to my nephew and I know what you did to my brother and his wife...and I can only imagine in some dark, sick pit of my mind...what you intend to do to my new niece-in-law...” she paced towards Countess Magnifying Glass, her calm, collected smile still reigning her features “As I said...I cannot prove anything...and I must learn to accept that...” She stared the speechless Glass matriarch dead in the eye “But know that I am waiting, interminably waiting, for any opportunity to take action...So should I discover you have some sordid scheme hatched with whatever morally-bankrupt band of cutthroats you’ve been cavorting with...and this scheme involves my family, in any way...” she smirked “Then you and I are going to have a falling-out...in a manner that will ruin what little is left of your body, mind and soul”
The Countess’s smile curdled on her lips as she found hind-legs meet the wall behind her as the Grand Duchess finished her piece.
“You are not the only one with friends...friends who don’t mind a little blood and tears”
A deep growl came from Horatio, canine teeth bared at the Countess, as Grand Duchess Bustle Bloomers left Invitro Hall without another word, leaving the Countess seething by the fire, her head filling with ideas on how she would get even with this new enemy of hers.


*


The Bearers of the Elements of Harmony bowed at the hooves of Princess Celestia who bid them rise and spoke.
“I trust the Doctor had given you some amount of insight on where we stand with this unseen foe”
“We’ll be bringin’ him to justice, yer highness! Doncha’ worry none!” Applejack stamped a hoof over her chest.
“I am glad to hear it but be aware that it will take a great deal of time to draw him out...and perhaps even more time to bring him down for good” Celestia gave a sigh “In the wake of the attack on Boulette City, our battalions we sent there have confirmed sightings of several known international criminals that we believe are working for Cascadius’s Mercenary Army...we are not certain if these criminals are unaware they are being watched...or that they have no intention of causing further havoc. I fear for our soldier’s lives and for those of Boulette’s citizens”
“Do we go to Boulette City to face them?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly.
“I believe it would be in our best interest. These mercenaries focus on fighting large groups of enemies in highly destructive ambushes. Duelling solo with ponies who have faced down the greatest threats to Canterlot and Ponyville may end differently for them. I am entrusting you with preventing these criminals from causing any more destruction. However...if you find out Cascadius walks among them, do not approach him. Contact me or my sister immediately. Is that understood?”
Twilight saw worry in the Princess’s eyes.
Of course, she was there when Cascadius slew those who bore the Elements before them.
“We understand, Princess” she said, bowing “We’ll head to Boulette as soon as possible”
“Thank you, my most courageous ponies. Gather any belongings and meet with Representative Carcassonne at the train station. She will get you on the fastest route to the outskirts. Good luck to all of you”
Celestia bowed her head in gratitude, placing the necklaces of the Elements around the Bearers before they headed out.
The Princess watched them leave, hoping to Laurelore that they were prepared for whatever would to take place in Boulette.


They met Carcassonne, a scarlet-coated unicorn mare with a blue and yellow streaked mane, at the station.
She gave them a coy smile and noticed the young dragon carrying the luggage without much strain.
“So you’re the baby dragon I’ve heard about!” she said with awe “Delighted to meet your acquaintances. I don’t have to take a second glance to know which one of you is Rainbow Dash” she chuckled.
“That’s me!” the cyan pegasus shook her hoof “When do we get to kick flank?!”
“Not till we reach Boulette” she said “Apologies everypony, I don’t normally get involved in Element matters. This’ll all be pretty new to all of us” She opened the doors to the train “After you”
The train was expansive and fairly frugal, devoid of much decoration and glamour, but Carcassone showed them their cabin in the VIP section, a comfortable quarter for a day and a night’s ride.
Each of them sat down and deposited their luggage in the overhanging compartments. Rarity noticed Fluttershy seemed to fussing terribly over hers, which was curious. That was her job.
“Fluttershy, dear?” she said, causing the yellow pegasus to squeak in alarm “Is everything alright?”
“Um...ooh-er...of course...” Her tail seemed to be tweaking and turning of its own accord “Nothing’s...nothing’s the matter”
“Darling, something seems to be terribly wrong with your tail” Rarity said.
“Oh no! No! Nothing wrong at all, I simply have um...um...that illness where your tail starts to um...”
Fluttershy’s trailing pink tail had begun bouncing wildly on the end of her flank and tickled the inquisitive Pinkie Pie’s nose.
“...ah-Ah-AH-TCHOO!”
The force of her sneeze blew back Fluttershy’s mane and sent a small white ball flying out of her tail and hitting the door of their cabin, sliding down with a whine, collapsing on the floor, slowly getting up and shaking its head.
As the seven mares and Spike stared at the sight, Pinkie Pie gave a mighty gasp.
“It’s happening!” she bellowed “ I knew this day would come! I knew it all along! Fluttershy! Poops! Rabbits! You all thought I was crazy but I knew!”
“Ah shoot, not him!” Spike groaned out of hearing as the Bearer of Kindness frantically picked up and nursed the pet she’d failed to hide.
“Oh Angel! I’m so sorry! You’re not hurt are you?! Oh come here, little bunny” She cradled him in her hooves and gave him a kiss on the forehead which seemed to cheer him up, though he scowled noticeably at the pink mare who’d thrown him across the cabin.
“Shy...you brought Angel with you?” Rainbow Dash asked with concern.
“Well...his birthday’s coming up...and I hope we’re back in Ponyville when it happens but...I just want to be around, just in case...anything happens” Her voice descended to a worried squeak as she hid her face behind her mane.
Angel drew himself up and patted her on the head. Applejack craned over and did the same.
“Doncha’ worry none ‘bout it, Flutters. Ah ain’t gonna’ let nothin’ happen to you or yer little critter”
“Are pets allowed in the train?” Twilight asked Carcassonne, who shrugged.
“I’d say they’re allowed if the Princess says they are”
“Um...I don’t think the Princess did say they are”
“No...But she didn’t say they aren’t”
“Just keep him away from me” Spike grumbled, remembering his ill-fated pet-sitting a while back as he eyed the bunny with a vengeful glare.


*


“Right, now I’m going to turn up the frequency a little more while keeping the funnel widened and the grid down. If we’re lucky, the surge will pass through you, bounce back off the walls, expanding as it does so, and encompass the room. It should work very quickly and...your consciousness throughout shall be fairly brief. Are you comfortable in there?”
The voice of Bovril, Cascadius’s weapons expert, entered the testing room through a speaker as the tinker adjusted his pulse cannon.
Behind the tektite compound reinforced glass, an unwilling test subject brought over from the Crossfort writhed in the manacles on his hooves, his mouth open wide in a scream unheard from outside the room.
Bovril only paid it mild attention.
“Just relax, this will all be over very quickly. Now then...” His hooves carefully tuned a dial on one of the handles of the cannon, fitted through a vacuum pipe in the walls to keep the pulse safely inside the testing room, as his other hoof gripped the trigger.
Like most ponies used to manual labour, Bovril was able to stand on two back hooves for a short amount of time, twenty seconds at the most by his last count.
In the case of prolonged usage the cannon was equipped to be held over the shoulder but he held it in both fore-hooves for precision.
The weapon-smith fastened his goggles and clutched the handles tight as the cannon whirred into life.
“And...Fire!”
With a feral electric growl, a pulse surge erupted out of the cannon’s mouth like a flurry of lightning, veering wildly off from side to side and ended up tearing the right half of the test subject’s face and body wide open in a series of massive charred patches across his body as he flailed around, his mouth open and closing frantically as his split-in-twain face contorted with agony.
Bovril raised his goggles and inspected his cannon.
“Now how in Equestria did that happen? Good grief, it shot completely off course” He looked up at his tester and spoke sincerely.
“I am terribly sorry, that wasn’t meant to happen at all. Please don’t panic. If you’ll just bear with me a moment, I’ll sort this whole thing out at once”
He closely inspected the various nodes on the cannon and slapped his forehead in revelation.
“Oh, bother! I forgot to turn off the cooling cells! There we are” He retook his position “Now it should work fine. Hold still a moment and...Fire!”
This time the pulse exited the cannon in a great thundering bubble of pressure, passing through the test subject who seemed to flatten significantly, the front of his body compressing into the back of him. As the bubble hit the wall behind him, it bounced back as Bovril predicted, in a mighty wave that slammed back the way it came, ripping the subject out of the manacles and sending him toward the glass. 	The unfortunate pony’s body was spread a great distance across the wall before Bovril in a manner best left undetailed.
“Ah, there we go! Much more like it” Bovril said brightly, evaluating the cannon’s effect “Sufficient backfire off surface but stops when coming into contact with the cannon’s stream. Perfect! Now I must find a way to turn off the cooling cells on priming. We don’t want such sub-par results in the field...although...” he gave an enlightened smile “If I narrowed the funnel to improve focus and fitted an electromagnetic charge...a tracking bolt of flesh-rending energy could prove very effective...and I could probably fit it on a smaller cannon too...Ah yes, progress indeed...” He jotted down notes and figures on a clipboard as the intercom buzzed above him.
He switched it on and held the microphone in front of his mouth.
“Hey, Boff mate!” Balisong’s voice called “Boss Cass wants you up in the lobby. We’re getting some wet-work scheduled”
“Very good, Miss Balisong. I’ll be over shortly. While you’re there, would you please send down another test subject? I’ve rather worn out this one”
“Will do, guv’. Love to see your toys in action. Sound like right beauties if you’re getting through this many testers!”
“Oh indeed!” he chuckled “Also, tell Corax I’ve made him some pasta sauce”
“Eurgh! Really?!”
“That was a bit low-brow wasn’t it. Sorry. I’ll talk to you later”
Bovril switched off his equipment and locked up the laboratory tight before he made his way to the lobby.


Cascadius was at the head of a table that maps, profiles and notes lay upon in abundance. Bloodhound, Miura and Agravain sat at the sides while Royal Flush was standing in the corner looking terrified as he often did since his arrival.
“Bovril. Good to see you” the paymaster greeted him jovially “Agravain tells me your work on the project runs smoothly”
“Yes indeed, Mr Cascadius. We are, at present, incubating it in crystal shards of Imperial jade and amber. It will allow it to conduct the contrasting forms of magic contained within and make it impervious to most forms of conventional magic at any level”
“Good stallion. You two have done well. So I’m giving you a treat” Cascadius pushed forward a map, glancing at Royal Flush.
“Flush. Pour Bovril a drink, would you?”
Grimacing, the former Senator poured a glass of fine white wine for the weaponsmith.
“Not to worry, Boff. If he was trying to poison you, I’d know...Isn’t that right, Flush”
“Yes...of course” he mumbled.
“I don’t want to take you down to the cult again” Cascadius threatened, smiling calmly as he always did “You really don’t want to see what they’re doing to their new Oracle”
Bloodhound gave a dry chuckle as Royal Flush swallowed hard, remembering what he’s seen done to his daughter last time he was down in that cavern.
“Please...” he murmured “I’ve done as you asked...I won’t...I won’t try anything, just please let us go...”
“As ever, Senator, you fail to understand the situation” the paymaster shook his head “What the Cult of Piggsicorn do to your wife and daughter is beyond my control. All I get to do is decide whether or not you have to watch”
There was a pause as Royal Flush stared at Cascadius with a face ridden with horror.
“That’ll be all, Mr Flush” The paymaster gestured to the corner of the room where the former Senator meekly retook his position.
The four mercenaries surveyed the map.
“Lambasar proved very capable. The government square is fully detailed” Miura explained “However, it’s likely that’ll be the place most well-guarded. We don’t want to cause a scene until the Elements show up”
“You’re quite certain they’re going to appear in Boulette?” Cascadius asked.
“Positive” Bovril answered “Balisong and Agravain have surveyed the communications around the city from the interception platforms. The Elements are due to appear in the city in a day’s time, accompanied by Representative Carcassonne”
“Ah that nag” Bloodhound growled. Aside, Royal Flush gave a sickly expression at the mention of his political nemesis.
“From what we can tell, not many of the remaining higher-ups are best pleased about it” Bovril continued as Agravain produced several profiles of Boulette’s officials with the messages they sent to one another.
“Advantageous in theory” Cascadius mused “But in practice will take time we don’t currently have...”
He looked up and addressed his four subordinates
“Once Blue Murder is finished with her son in Trottingham, inform her of the details and take her with you. Make your presence known in one way or another. Miura, your place will have to be filled by Corax. You can’t reappear while they’re on the alert”
“Understood, sir”
“Right. Now this is important” Cascadius rose to his hooves and put both forelegs on the table “When you see the Elements, split them up and make sure they can’t communicate. Agravain will take care of that”
The silver crystal pony nodded.
“I don’t expect you to win, not easily. In fact, I’d be ready to come home with plenty of cuts and bruises if I were you. But remember this. Knowing your enemy is essential to destroying them. Fight them their way and then fight them your way. I expect you to take notes. And above all...have fun”


*


Luna’s Observatory was a place few were privy to enter.
The doors were guarded by powerful illusion magic. One of Luna’s most powerful spells, any who came across the room uninvited would walk away, believing what they’d seen to be a mere dream.
Luna had gathered the lord minister, the Mayor of Ponyville, Princess Celestia’s former student and the zebra hermit together.
“Thank you all for appearing on such short notice” She began “I bring you here to inform you all of a growing threat to our land and ponies. A threat that, we are told, none of us are prepared for. A threat that goes beyond black magic or devilry or foreign invasion”
She glanced at the reaction. They seemed concerned but not frightened.
Good.
“Some of you already know them. Only I and Mister Fancy Pants know of their leader...”
“Only marginally, your highness” Fancy Pants admitted “The entirety of our relationship involves him torturing me in various degrees...” His tone darkened “And murdering my parents”
The Mayor gulped noticeably.
Luna sighed.
It had many centuries since there had been war in Equestria and the crime rate was so low nowadays, one found it alarming to suffer a theft let alone a murder.
The ponies she and her sister treasured were facing something unreal to them. More unreal, ironically, than demons, ghosts or undead leprechauns.
“On that day, fearsome henchponies of unknown allegiance attacked Canterlot Council Hall and attempted to assassinate leading political figures. They numbered three dozen strong at our last count...But it has been seven years since...Miss Zecora, if you would...”
The zebra bowed and stepped forward, bearing several letters.
“This foe grows stronger than we assumed. Left unchecked and our kingdom is doomed”
She produced a hoof-full of letters, signed with the seal of the United Zebrican Conclaves.
“These letters here I hold in hoof - do carry unreserved proof - of mercenaries far and near - flocking to the same frontier. The fractured Ivorium Empire - keep order with a force for hire. Warlords rich in gold and slaves – sworn enemies of our Conclaves. Here I must confess in truth - I used to fight them in my youth”
Fancy Pants took a look at one of the letters, causing his face to brighten.
“Kintampo! Why, Miss Zecora, you’ve been working with a dear friend of mine”
“Indeed, the king of the western coast – defeated Schnortel and his host - You aided his royal majesty - in matters of our strategy. Whilst I, a humble shaman mare - cast tricks that caught them unaware” She smiled.
“But back to matters of importance - Among these treaties and concordants - Tell of their army's mass defection...all fled, and all in one direction”
She showed Luna a collection of maps and reports. The Princess of the Night grimaced.
“It is as I feared. The ceasefires between the Ivorium States Warlords and the United Zebrica Conclaves has caused by a mass defection of the mercenary armies the Ivorium States depend on. And those armies are heading North...towards Equestria...”
“Dear Alicorns, they...” Mayor Mare murmured “They’re not building a gang...they’re building an army!”
“Exactly. An army comprised of the most efficient and the most cold-hearted killers known to living things. The worst ponies currently living in this world are marshalling outside of our gaze in numbers and weapons we cannot contemplate”
Sunset Shimmer stepped forward.
"The Elements won't be enough. Facing down this horde of experienced killers alone will be impossible, even for them" she said "And our conventional forces aren't used to this sort of threat. They might be able to stop them but not without casualties beyond the weight we can bear"
"Indeed, Sunset Shimmer" Princess Luna said grimly "To combat this force will be an arduous ordeal. One with a cost we can scarcely contemplate"
She paced across the room
“Now...in order to face this enemy, strength alone will not be sufficient. We must fight them with their own weapons. By that I, of course, do not refer to their wanton destruction and callousness...but to their secrecy. Behind their backs, I and a hoof-full of individuals I trust with my life have been preparing for the return of this nefarious force of warmongers” She gave them a determined glance.
“They expect us to be weak. They expect us to be scared and stupid. They expect us to fail...They...Are...Wrong”