//------------------------------// // 11 - Before the big day - Side B // Story: If Chaos prevails... // by The Marshmallow //------------------------------// While in the most luxurious mansion in Canterlot the King was introducing her soon-to-be queen to the Princess, in a cave a few hours by train from there some ponies, most of which deprived of any political power, were talking about them. The room was small and bare, just a few lights allowing them to see each other and a round table large enough to have them all seated around it and to keep a few documents on it. "Since nopony is missing, I believe we can start our meeting." As it was customary, the former Princess spoke first. Before introducing the day's agenda she gazed at her comrades, searching for any objection, but only found ponies nodding at her words "Rarity and Shining Armor just came back from Canterlot. Although neither managed to be chosen, Rarity stayed until the end of the selection, and wishes to report the information she collected." Celestia seemed... Worried. Both her expression and her words didn't betray any significant emotion, but both twilight and Sunset were certain something was up. They didn't know what, though, as the brief version of Rarity's report was only given to their leader. "Thank you, princess." Rarity didn't lose time, either, she was eager to reveal the information she collected. there was an excited smile on her face as she spoke: "I have found Discord's weakness!" The ponies at the table looked at each other almost in disbelief at the outrageous claim. Some also exchanged a few whispers, while Rarity waited a few more seconds before continuing her speech. A bit of suspense was well deserved, for such an important revelation "His behaviour today was mostly in line with our assumptions. Rash, unpredictable, illogical, self-centred and always trying to have fun at someone else's expense." Many memories of the day were now replaying in her memory. In a few moments, he even thought he could be pleasant. "Also, terrifying if he wants to." The memory of his threats to Rainbow Dash almost made her shiver. "I was surprised to see how much he values his advisor's opinion, and I dare say how much he cares for her." Sunset Shimmer just rolled her eyes, as she was sure any ponylike emotion must have been alien to the lord of Chaos' mind. Shining Armor harboured similar feelings. Moondancer and Filthy Rich were unconvinced, too, but were seriously considering the idea. The first to object, somehow to Rarity surprise, was actually fancy Pants: "You mean miss Pinkie Pie?" Rarity simply nodded "I can't say I know her well, as she is almost never present to my meetings with Discord... But I'm surprised." The Stallion looked pensive, trying to fit the news in the set of information he already had. He did not doubt Discord's inherent ability to care for somepony besides from himself, but was quite surprised by the specifics "She hasn't been his advisor for that many years, and I haven't heard of Discord getting especially close to previous advisors..." He heard that more than a few became insane by working so closely to the Lord of Chaos, and more than a few fell victims to Discord's Chaos magic as soon as they started to bore him. many thought pleasing Discord was actually impossible, so the advisor position was deemed so risky that few wanted it, despite the pay and all the privileges it entailed. "Are you completely certain?" "I had a hard believing it too, but I can recognize affection when I see it!" be it navigating the most diverse social situations, learning how to act every part, or maybe just her soft spot for cheesy novels, she deemed herself a master in recognizing emotions. there was no way she could be wrong. "I see. everything considered, she seems quite the fun, pleasant mare. I can see how discord might like her." "Please, Rarity, go on. What are you suggesting?" Twilight did not reject the news but certainly did not accept it acritically either. The gears in her brain were turning quickly, so to consider or the different scenarios unfolding before them. And she couldn't wait to know all the details, as that was realistically the most interesting lead that the resistance had... at the very least in her lifetime. "Thank you!" the smile was even larger than it was before. After all, she could now introduce what she was most proud of: her arrangements "Since I was given the chance, I took some liberties. In the first place, I convinced Discord to let me make the dresses for the wedding, which means I will have the chance to observe Discord further. Also, as Pinkie Pie seems to deal with most arrangements for the ceremony, I will be able to contact her easily." Everypony looked quite impressed, Fancy pants seemed even proud, but that wasn't all. "Also, I know for certain that she will take part in a magician's show in the last day of the celebrations!" That was the privilege of passing the first round of selection and getting out of the throne room with Trixie. But did she just received and reported the information? To think so would be not to know Rarity at all. "Applejack, do you remember when I wanted to throw away a broken wardrobe in my boutique, but instead you helped me fix it?" The orange mare raised an eyebrow at the question, as she couldn't see any link between the previous topic of conversation and that "Ah sure do. And honestly, more than helping, I reckon fixing that for ya" "yes, yes..." rarity blushed a bit. "You know, I might have volunteered you to to build props and magic boxes for the show!" The cheerful tone of rarity didn't sit well with Applejack, whose eyes went wide. "Ya did wha-" "I thought it would give us another chance to get in contact with her, and it seemed natural to choose a mare I trust completely!" her words and smile were quite persuasive, but... "Ya ain't sweet talking your way out of this. I have no idea how to make that stuff!" She was honestly worried. Not only she would have to stay away from the farm for days, but having to contribute to the celebrations was very dangerous. If something went wrong because of her, Discord would have most certainly punished her severely. And what would Big Mac and Applebloom do without her? "Couldn't you suggest some carpenter, instead of me?" "You can hire one. I convinced the magician to be quite generous with the budget!" Once again, Rarity's persuasion skill had proven to be top notch. "What you, what we, have to do is dealing with Pinkie Pie." She was quite serious in her words. "Ah see. 'Guess we can work that one out." Her friend's confidence had managed to calm her, somehow. "Then, what are you suggesting we do?" And, as everypony else, she was just waiting to know the most important detail. How to actually capitalize on what she had found and done. "Well, isn't that obvious? We convince Pinkie Pie to help us!" She now looked around the room for a few moments, as if waiting for cheers, but soon realized they wouldn't come. Her confidence vanished pretty quickly, seeing as nopony was saying anything and just looking at her. "You are extraordinary, Rarity..." Filthy Rich commented first, with an ambiguous smile. He knew very well her capabilities. How easily she could fit in every environment, how smart she was. And also what her fatal flaw was "But still very naive..." The fashionista's ears quickly lowered in embarrassment. "Asking Discord's advisor to help out? Great way to get caught!" Sunset Shimmer was looking at Rarity in disapproval. "Or to get her in trouble if she accepts", added Filthy rich with a dry tone. As much as it pained her, Twilight had to agree with the two of them. The risk which such a strategy implied was just too much. Especially when the logical solution was a different one. She exchanged a glance with Celestia and felt they were sharing an understanding. She finally understood what worried her, and had to agree. Especially since, most certainly, it was only a matter of moments before somepony spelled out the most logical solution "We have to foalnap her and use her as a hostage to bargain with Discord." It was Sunset Shimmer to finally give voice to the idea. She was completely serious, and her voice didn't let any emotion transpire. "W-what?" Rarity voice was full of honest surprise, an emotion somehow shared by Applejack and Moondancer. She thought she was prepared to do anything for the cause, but that seemed just so extreme "B-But she really seem a good mare! I think she might be reasonable and help us!" "If she is any loyal to Discord", said Shining Armor, "She will refuse" And that was, despite (or maybe in virtue of) his simplicity a pretty solid argument, constructed on a very reasonable assumption and a logical conclusion following it. "Ain't that...Kinda wrong?" It was almost surprising to hear Applejack, such a level headed mare, have her softness get the best of her. "She's still a pony!" But Sunset Shimmer rebuttal was quick to come, told with an almost offended voice "You think I like the idea? But it is the only way!" "My little ponies..." The voice of Celestia was calm, almost soothing, and yet firm. Any debate stopped instantly, and every eye was on her. All the ponies in the room were waiting for her guidance, as they always did. "I don't want this issue to divide us." A few of the ponies couldn't but feel a bit embarrassed at her words and at her gentle gaze. "As much as I would like to, I can not see a viable alternative to this. I can only suggest we make sure in every step of it not to do harm upon anypony, and to treat the royal advisor herself with the utmost kindness." Everypony was in awe as her words, and most nodded approvingly. She was just so reasonable, so merciful, and yet so decisive. Even rarity and Applejack were now certain it was the way to go, while most of the feeling of guilt was washed away even from the other ponies. Twilight didn't like it. Sure, she wasn't immune to Celestia's charisma and recognized how good her suggestion was. What she didn't like was reaching the conclusion like that, in a way that somehow excused all the ponies of every fault... Except for Celestia. she was taking the burden of the decision upon herself as she had done many times throughout the centuries. The least she could do as her second in command was not leaving her alone "Fancy pants, can you tell us all the information regarding security before and during the celebration?" the question surprised him a bit, but his answer came fast nonetheless "Sure." He looked throughout a few documents on his table, and then reported everything he knew "As every year, Discard has called many soldiers from the border areas to ensure maximum security. We are talking about six times the usual amount of guards, including a few elite corps, overseeing every detail of the preparations day and night." That was, by itself, quite impressive. Hardly enough, though, to stop mares as well versed in magic as twilight or Sunset "Furthermore, it is impossible to teleport in or out from Canterlot's centre, as Discord has set a powerful barrier. The exact positioning of the barrier makes sure that there are only eight passages where ponies can go in or out without flying, and guard posts have been set on each. That is, if we exclude a few ancient tunnels Discord doesn't know about." That was almost all, he only had a few notes left "And finally, if we use any powerful magic while we are in Canterlot, Discord is bound to notice. That is, essentially, an immediate failure." "Thank you" Twilight had been taking notes and was now scribbling idea at a surprising speed with a pencil levitated by her magic. That wasn't as convenient as being helped by Spike, but by sacrificing her calligraphy her speed was by no means lesser. Her pensive look lasted some thirty seconds, and then she raised her eyes from the paper "I think I have a plan". Everyone barring Celestia and Sunset couldn't believe their ears. They knew she was smart, but that went far beyond any reasonable expectation. "it's just a first draft, so it has a lot of room for improvement, but please hear me out." She blushed a bit at everypony's reaction and tried to minimize the fact. She was quite certain that until the sixth or seven drafts it would have been far from acceptable detail-wise... But was quite confident in the outline. "If I recall correctly, while the stage is usually the are that is most carefully guarded, only performers and assistants are allowed in the backstage. Not even guards can go there. This means it is the best, probably the only, time we will have a chance of getting extremely close to her with no guards around. Enough to capture her, that is." And while getting in the backstage would usually be the hardest part, they already had a few tickets to the place "I should act as Rarity's assistant. If, as I understand, the marriage is expected to be the closing act of the celebration the bride will be there. And so will we, to fix her dress until the last moment. Applejack and an actual carpenter will be there too, obviously." "Ah see..." Applejack had nothing to say for now, while rarity was nodding approvingly, glad her arrangements were helping. "We will have to convince the magician to employ pinkie in some kind of disappearance act. If I know exactly the position and the shape of the machine, I should be able to teleport her to me from a few forelegs away, possibly in a wardrobe we will bring there and on which I will have cast a silence spell" That was essential, because teleporting somepony else, and somepony far away at that, was quite a difficult feat. she would need some time before teleporting again. getting caught right then, after all that effort, wouldn't have been nice "rarity, you will send me away with an excuse, and I will get to one of those tunnels" She was now looking at fancy pants "If I know the exact position of them I can reach one of them and teleport inside." "That is a great plan!" Moondancer was looking at her with admiration through her glasses. At every word of Twilight she was just in awe, especially considering that the plan was thought of in less than a minute. Still, a question naturally arose "What about Discord, though?" "I was getting there" She sighed. Not in annoyance at her comrade's question. But just because getting Discord away was the most essential and most difficult part to get right. "I'll need time, that's right. And time without Discord nearby" It pained her to ask what she was going to ask, but it was the only way, wasn't it? "Our militia should approach Canterlot during the show from caves northeast from the capital. If previous similar events are a good reference..." Battle of Neighara falls, 230 DE. Battle of South Canterlot, 670 ED. Great Changeling War, 905 ED. The sample size wasn't as big as she would have liked, but the few cases suggested a probability of 100%, which she could not ignore " It's likely that Discord will deal with that by himself, leaving Canterlot for at least a few minutes." "Twi, you can Count on us. We have been waiting for this for like... Forever!" Their 'General' spoke with a wide smile, giving a wink at her sister, as if saying he had her back. Going against Discord? It was scary, an impossible battle even. But that was the battle their army had been preparing to face as long as they could remember. They were ready! "It will be a massacre. Unless he starts playing around, our data suggest he can deal with a soldier in a matter of seconds. Our only weapon is actually numbers. The more ponies we send against him, the longer he will take..." She was deeply sad. it seemed easy to talk of soldiers as if they were number, but she knew most of them personally, a good few on a first name basis. And her brother would have been in there, too "returning is not certain, let alone returning unharmed..." "As I said, you can count on us. Nopony will need to be forced to come. We are ready for this" "But..." There was nothing she could do. And yet, she was simply too worried. especially for her brother's fate. "No." Sunset Shimmer took the chance to give her own suggestion "Twilight will need some backup if something goes wrong. A few of our best soldiers should be in the crowd, ready to act if it is necessary. And you should be one of them." Twilight eyes sparkled while she looked at Sunset. The silent 'thank you' she was giving her was as clear as it could be. Shining armour was not of the same opinion, though "But-" "You and twilight make an excellent team. Furthermore, I am more used at dealing with Chaos magic. I should be able to hold him for longer and to minimize the collateral damage" The answer was quick, precise, and incisive. There was no answer to that. "I see. It makes sense." And even Shining armour had no way denying it. "Very well." And Celestia talked again, finally, after listening very carefully to every word of her students and her comrades. "I have no objections to the plan. And if there isn't any, I believe we can work out a few more details, and then go on to the next topic. I would like to know more about this 'Fluttershy' you described me earlier..." A little smile on her muzzle, as calm and collected as she always was. And as it often happened when she spoke, there was in fact not a single objection.