//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Mother Moon, Cousin Love // by ShadowStar_IMHP //------------------------------// The royal grounds were now filled with guards. “There is a threat to Canterlot itself. An unknown force is making its way here. We will not be waiting. Captain Shining Armor, you will be in charge of the defense of the city. I will lead a force to face these intruders.” Luna spoke up to the assembled troops. Off to the side, reporters were scrambling the news of a possible threat already starting a panic reaction. “We have full faith in our Royal Guard, so much so the Royal Wedding between Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor will go on as planned. Equestria has not been invaded for over a thousand years. This has not been done by being weak. Over and Over forces have tried and failed. Dragons who ignore the treaties are driven away, Gryphon raiders sent home limping, Diamond Dogs whimpering, all because of our Guards protecting the land. All that without the assistance of the Elements of Harmony.” Luna takes a breath, just over a year ago, she was one such force. “Now those Elements are here in the royal vault ready to be used by the bearers. Not even Discord could stand against them. A force of cowards who hide in the shadow is no match for us. Now my ponies we set out to show these intruders the error of their ways.” Luna hid her anxiety in front of the troops and the news ponies. In her heart, she wonders if this was wise, something was nagging at her wanting her to stay here. ---------------------- In the crowd, a group on nondescript ponies watched as the troops marched by. A grand display of the might of the royal guards. The smile of a soft blue mare hid the pleasure Queen Crystalis had seeing Princess Luna fall for the ploy. She turns to a tan stallion taking a moment to remember the drone cover name. “Bookworm, what are these Elements she was talking about?” The stallion pushes a pair of glasses up his muzzle and replies to his queen. “Six magic gems from what I can detect, each keyed to a pony. When all six are used together the magical effects are amplified, they were used to turn Discord into stone, twice now.” “Are they a threat to my plan?” “The Bearers have to be in sync, and together for them to work. Discord tried to drive an emotional wedge between them, for a time it worked.” “Discord skill at manipulation of emotions is sloppy, I would have to figure a way to make sure they don’t interfere.” Crystalis turns and heads for the Club Arcane. “Come we have work to do. We have a bachelorette party coming after all.” ------------------------ 42 Nodes marched with the rest of the disguised Changelings. Deep in his gut, the pains of hunger rippled. This attack was wrong he knew, but they were desperate. It all Discords fault he had a fine gig being Mixer. He glances at 49 that smile on the face of the pegasus mare was one of anticipation. 49 was a pathetic infiltrator to arrogant in his mind to serve properly. Once more he wonders why she was there. ~It’s a setup I know it is, but how do I get out of it?~ Looking to Luna he remembers the playful flirting he has done to the Princess, it was nothing more then just the teasing any bartender would do. They both knew it was meaningless but there was a budding friendship that helps keep the hunger away. He shakes his head clear of the thoughts. “Something bothering you Commander?” Princess Luna asks with no hint of the playfulness she showed at the club. “Just worried about the coming battle your Majesty.” “Indeed, I too fear the harm that may come to you and the other guards. It true I enjoy sparing and testing my mantle, I don’t look forward to combat itself. There is no joy in it, just the knowledge that for any pain we have is caused by protecting those we love that keeps me focused.” “For those we love...” He played the part of the guard but those words echoed in his mind. ------------------------------- “I believe you, Buster, there bad ponies who can hide like other ponies. The grown-ups are too loopy headed to know they are here.” In the playpen, Nightshade tries to comfort Buster. “But... my daddy?” “He safe, the bad ponies put him to sleep. I remember long ago they did the same to crystal ponies.” “Crystal Ponies?” Buster shook his head, okay if Princess Nightshade says his dad was safe then he believes her. She is a princess after all. The third of the foal trio was lowered into the playpen with her stuffed bunny in her grasp. “There you go Cream Puff your friends are already here.” Gentle Breeze says as she pats Cream Puff on the head. Right away the unicorn foal notices something was off with the other two. “What wrong? Buster got a stinky diaper?” “No my Daddy, not my Daddy, but Nightshade says my daddy sleeping and another pony my daddy.” Buster nods it makes clear sense to him. “Okay...” Cream Puff looks to Night. “What he mean?” “There bad ponies around now but grown-ups don’t know. They look like other ponies, one now looks like Buster’s daddy.” “Oh... What we do about it?” Nightshade stood up and started pacing thinking. “I need help from grown-up... can’t trust any pony but who to trust?” “Mommy good!” Cream Puff states matter of fact. “No your mommy can’t help she makes cake not fight bad guys. Buster Daddy now captured because of they afraid he fights them.” Nightshade thinks and nods. “I tell Peppermint, he knows Zebra stuff.” “But Pe...Peep... Pepper... Stripe guy doesn’t understand us. Like all grown-ups, he doesn’t hear us.” Buster speaks up. Thinking about her toys Nightshade comes up with a plan. “Okay, you two I need you to do something for me. We need to be safe so all need to be in the same place. Now watch me and I teach you to say my name like a grown-up.” ------------------- Gentle Breeze started preparing today's crafting project. She set down the cards and crayons to the foals. “Okay everypony. We going to make wedding cards for Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.” “Who Shining Armor? Is he nice? Does Princess Cadence love him?” Peach Blossom asks waving her hoof in the air. “Shining Armor the captain of the Royal Guards and is very nice, so nice that Princess Cadence loves him very much. Just think how happy they are getting cards made by you.” “Oh, I can draw hearts!” Peach Blossom starts drawing on her card. Gentle Breeze lifts an ear hearing something strange from the playpen. Ever since the cookie incident, she has been on high alert when it comes to the royal pain... princess so she turns to look at what goes on. There in the playpen, Nightshade was sitting in front of the other two repeating sounds, that was soon repeated by the foals. Gentle Breeze moves closer to hear better. “Nigh... Nigh... Night... Shave... shade... Shade. Nightshade! Nightshade, nightshade!” Azusa Moon joins Gentle looking at the chanting babies. “She got them chanting her name. I’m so writing Celestia about this.” “Yeah. This is weird even for an alicorn foal.” Nightshade turns her head smiling at the two caretakers and waves her hoof. Having heard them talk about writing to Celestia just confirmed that those two were still them. After all only a few ponies know about how Celestia was keeping tracks on her. She would have to make sure that the letter was destroyed.