//------------------------------// // 42: Into the Fray // Story: Death of a Queen // by Arkane12 //------------------------------// Twilight slipped into the wheelhouse. As always, Captain Shield stood at the helm to keep the ship steady. At the captain’s side, Thorax and a gold-clad stallion were debating over the map laid out on the table. Several other soldiers were gathered around the room, keeping watch with binoculars or reading off the various instruments around the cabin. Dusti offered one final confident nod to Twilight before she disappeared below deck. “Princess. Glad you could join us,” Captain Shield said, his eyes still locked on the horizon. “How are things up here?” “We’ve got our heading. Once we get a little closer to our destination, we’ll descend to the base of the mountain to unload the troops.” “And just how sure are you that it’s safe to land?” Thorax interrupted. “This storm has some serious power behind it. Even if this thing can stay airborne, it’s going to take a beating if you leave it out in the open.” “She’ll hold together,” the captain assured him. “I still say we’re taking too many chances.” “Do you have another idea?” Twilight asked, taking a place closer to the windows. One of the soldiers offered his binoculars, but she refused. “I do, actually. I say we take the ship down, drop off a small scouting party, then get this heap back into the sky. It minimizes exposure to the elements that way.” “And in the process, we leave our ground team completely isolated,” the captain argued. Thorax rolled his eyes. “And why is that a problem? Are you expecting trouble, Captain?” “Always.” “Chrysalis isn’t a threat. Once we find her, Twilight and I can talk some sense into her.” “I won’t put the Princess in danger like that.” “There is no danger, Captain.” “That’s not a chance that I can take. You were wrong about her before.” “Enough.” Twilight stomped her hoof, her wings flaring outward. “I’m in command here. I’ll decide how we do this.” “Of course, Princess.” The captain bowed his head. “Fine.” Thorax nodded. “What do you think we should do, Twilight?” “I think we’d be best off with Thorax’s plan. If the storm does take a toll on the ship, we don’t have a ride home. If we run into trouble or need a pickup, we can signal the ship with magic. Besides, marching in there with an army probably won’t send the right message. A small team will attract less attention and has a better chance of tracking her down.” Adrenaline coursed through the princess. Her breaths felt heavy. Every soldier in the room stood tense, watching as the chain of command resolved this little knot. “Thank you, Twilight. I’ll grab my things from my cabin.” Thorax descended the stairs. Twilight finally noticed the tension in the air. “Is this a problem, Captain?” she asked. “Of course not. We’ll do as you command, Princess. We’ll be arriving within the hour, so I’d recommend putting your team together as soon as possible. Give them time to prepare.” “Any recommendations?” “I volunteer.” Private Glaze stepped forward from the group. “Quartz?” Twilight studied the pegasus. “You want to come along?” “I’ve got extensive training in tracking and scouting. I think I’d be perfect for the job, Princess.” Twilight looked to Captain Shield. “Thoughts?” “Honestly, Princess? He’s being modest. Private Glaze is an exceptional tracker. He’s still green, though. That’s a big risk to take if you end up in a fight.” Glaze squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s my fault that Chrysalis escaped Canterlot, Princess. I want to do my best to correct that mistake.” “I understand. Go get your gear together, Quartz. You’re coming with us.” With an anxious nod, Quartz withdrew to his quarters below deck. He and Thorax were forced to squeeze together as they passed on the stairs. “He seemed excited,” Thorax noted. He had his saddlebags draped over his back. Twilight’s bags floated beside him. “He’s coming with us. I’ve been assured that his skill as a tracker will benefit our search.” “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Twilight,” Thorax said, offering her luggage. “What’s the problem?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. She set her bags on her back and buckled them into place. “I told you before, this storm is dangerous. The ship can get us close, but we’ll still have to make a small journey on foot to the cave entrance. My chitin can protect me. You’ve got your magic. How do we get him inside?” Twilight paled. A cough surged through her suddenly dry throat as she diverted her gaze from Thorax like a child unable to meet their mother’s glare. “I . . . need to use my magic?” Thorax scanned the faces in the room, finding comfort in their shared confusion. “Is that an issue?” “Well . . . you see . . . It happened like this . . .” Twilight scratched the back of her neck. “Twilight, is something wrong with your magic?” In response, Twilight poured her magic into her horn. A pink bubble of energy rippled outward, growing nearly to the size of an apple before shattering and sending Twilight recoiling. “It hasn’t worked quite right since I returned from the Nightmare World. It is coming back slowly, though. I was kind of hoping I would be back to full power by now.” “But you’re not?” “No.” “So, you can’t keep up a shield?” “No.” “And without a shield to protect you . . .” “I’m still coming with you. Alicorns aren’t fragile.” “I don’t like this, Twilight.” “Your Majesty, I have to agree with King Thorax,” Captain Shield said. “It’s dangerous sending you out there without your magic.” “Well, it’s a good thing she’s got a couple mages on her payroll, isn’t it?” Every head in the room turned toward the voice. Lieutenant Diamond stood at the top of the stairs, her bags packed and horn aglow with its yellow aura. “Lieutenant Diamond, are you volunteering for this mission?” For the first time since they arrived, Twilight saw Captain Shield tear his gaze from the open sky. He watched his underling with concern. “I am, Sir. If the Princess allows it.” “Are you sure, Dusti?” Twilight asked. The unicorn saluted. “Ma’am, I’m a soldier of Equestria. I’m honored for any chance to serve the Princesses. Even if I have to dig my way through a changeling hive.” Thorax cleared his throat. “And what about your magic? You’ll need a shield big enough to cover two other ponies besides yourself, possibly for an extended period of time. Can you manage that?” “Been setting up shields most of my life, King Thorax, Sir.” “Quite a few of our company owe the Lieutenant their lives,” Captain Shield explained. Several of the crystal soldiers bowed their heads in quiet agreement. “I’m sold.” Twilight nodded. “And it looks like you’re ready to go.” Dusti shifted the packs on her shoulder. Glaze reappeared from below deck, laden with his own bags. He took position beside his superior officer, studying her equipment. “You’re coming with us, Lieutenant?” “Of course, Private. Someone needs to make sure you don’t screw this up.” “I think that’s our team, Captain,” Twilight said. “I couldn’t have picked a better one, Princess.” The grey stallion turned toward his underlings. “Listen up, you two. You’re heading into unknown territory. Combat isn’t expected, but you must be prepared for anything.” Dusti’s magic gripped at the pommel of a dagger tucked into her armor. Glaze checked the crossbow and quiver hanging from his pack. The captain continued his briefing. “You’ll be accompanying Princess Twilight and King Thorax as they make their way through the hive in search of the target. You are to follow any orders they give. King Thorax may not be Equestrian royalty, but he speaks with my authority. Of course, Princess Twilight’s orders supersede anything else. Is this understood?” “Yes, Sir,” the two said in unison. “Glad to hear it. I’m counting on you two to keep them safe and bring them home in one piece. Princess? King Thorax? Anything to add?” Thorax stepped forward. “I know Queen Chrysalis can be a little . . . unpredictable. But I need you to remember that we aren’t here to start a fight. She is not to be considered hostile unless blood is drawn. Can you do that for me?” “Yes, Sir.” “Of course, Sir.” “Good.” Thorax returned his focus to the world outside the cabin. “This mission will be dangerous. I don’t want either of you putting yourself in harm’s way unnecessarily. Don’t forget, if you get yourselves hurt, I’m the one who has to report it to Shining Armor.” “We’ll do our best to keep the bad news to a minimum,” Dusti promised. “Good.” “If everything’s settled?” Captain Shield waited for confirmation from all four members of the team. “Then we can begin our descent. The target is just ahead.” He pointed out past the bow of the ship. Against the endless sea of black clouds, a small stone peak speared through the sky. The Captain pressed one of the buttons on the nearby console, causing the loudspeakers to crackle to life. “This is Captain Shield. We’re beginning our descent. All hands stand by and hold tight. This could get a little rough.” He removed his hoof from the console. “Princess, are you ready?” Twilight closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath. “Let’s do it.” Shield nodded solemnly, allowing a moment of silence before barking his orders to the gathered crew. “I want engines off.” “Done,” A stallion said. “Open the lids just a little. I don’t want to fall out of the sky.” “Affirmative, Captain,” said another. “Take it slow.” Twilight kept her focus out the window. She could feel Thorax, Dusti, and Glaze standing at her side. Each of them shifted nervously as the ship sank into the blackened clouds. Lightning flashed across the deck, leaving small black specks across Twilight’s sight. Thunder screeched like a raging dragon, rattling the glass in the windows. The rain started instantly as they broke the cloud cover, the individual drops invisible within the sheets of water that poured across the screens. The image of the mountain before them blurred. The wood beneath them creaked as the ship lurched hard to the side, sending a few of the more unsteady ponies crashing to the floor. Even Dusti lost her footing, collapsing onto Glaze and nearly toppling him as well. “Captain, we’re getting a little close to the cliffs!” One of the lookouts screamed. “I see that,” Shield groaned, pulling the wheel hard to the opposite side. The lumbering ship started to turn, but it struggled against the gale. All the while, they descended toward the base of the stone tower. Each bolt that illuminated the sky sent the shadows scurrying in every direction, giving the rock the appearance of a gargantuan beast, writhing beneath the force of the storm. “Brace yourselves!” The call echoed through the cabin. Twilight grabbed on tight to the handrail beneath the windows. The others in the room followed suit, gripping to the cold metal as if their lives depended on it. She tried not to think about the fact that might be the case. Her thoughts were interrupted by the crunch of wood as the ship struck one of the hive’s spires. The force jerked her to the side, forcing Thorax to catch her. Captain shield battled valiantly against the helm. “Get me a status report,” he commanded. A crewmate picked up some sort of communication device. A hushed voice spoke through it. “Hull’s cracked. Outer armor is dented but holding fast,” the stallion reported. “Ground team, you ready?” Twilight glanced back and forth to her friends, waiting for their input. “We’re ready, Captain,” Dusti announced. “Good. Then I’ve got an idea. Cut the engines.” The electric whine in the air ceased. Only with its absence did Twilight finally notice. With it gone, the ambiance from outside only grew louder. The rain pelted against the glass with a devastating force. Slender hailstones chipped at the deck. “Twilight, you’re sure this thing will hold?” Thorax asked, his voice quivering. Her mind blanked. “It’ll hold,” Shield interjected. The ship met the mountain face again, shaking loose a small avalanche down the slope. The wind didn’t let up, keeping the ship against the stone and producing a maddening grinding sound. “You sound pretty sure—” “It’ll hold,” Shield repeated. With a shout of frustration, he yanked the wheel hard to the side, pulling them away from the falling stone. At the moment, Twilight silently thanked Celestia that she hadn’t eaten recently. The same couldn’t be said of the rest of the crew, if the pale green faces were anything to go by. “Target’s dead ahead, Captain.” Glaze pointed toward a gaping maw in the mountain face. “I see it.” “We’re still too high, we’ll have to make another pass.” Dusti shook her head. “We don’t have time for a second pass,” the Captain argued. “We can’t make that jump.” “No, but the ship can.” Dusti and Glaze had only a brief second to dread the meaning behind the Captain’s words. “I want all valves released. Fully. Now.” “Twilight, if we survive this, you owe me.” Dusti looped both of her forearms through the railing. Glaze kept his head down, bracing. Thorax remained standing; determination carved deep into his face. Twilight, meanwhile, thought back to her first few days of flight training. More specifically, Rainbow’s advice on what to do if she crashed. She let her muscles slacken with a gentle sigh. The princess squeezed her eyes shut, doing her best to stay calm as her hooves lifted off the deck. The storm’s fury faded beneath the sound of the howling wind. Then that too faded. Drowned out by the sound of crunching metal as the ship crashed into the dirt.