's sake!" The little pony snarled at Discord before turning to Twilight and pointed at the diarchs and the draconequus, "These three screwed up and I brought them here to amend their mistakes!""Twilight, are you sure you're okay? You seemed pretty out of it earlier."
"I'm fine, Spike. Nothing a little magic can't fix. Just put a reminder for me to sign an edict to have all beverages inspected for alcohol before being distributed in parties." Why did I suddenly feel like I just had Deja Vu?
"Already in the To do list."
Earlier that day within the pristine halls of Canterlot Castle, Twilight and Spike were making their way to the throne room to prepare for day court. Though no longer feeling the effects of last night's festivities, Twilight was rather irritable after finding out the contents of the human sergeant's cider. Needless to say...
"I know I said I'm fine but I am not looking forward to Day Court!" she grumbled with a sigh, "Can't I just cancel it for the day and say I wasn't feeling well?"
"I guess you could, but Raven sent me the list of Urgent Business that needs attention that you might need to have a look at." Spike said calmly as he held out a scroll.
"Ugh! Could you read it out for me? I haven't fully recovered from the hangover," Twilight groaned as she clutched her head with a hoof.
Spike gave a sigh, "Very well," as he opened the scroll and read out its contents, "First off, a consensus for every town, village and settlement needs to be enacted to update the Equestrian map."
"Why haven't we done that sooner?"
"Apparently, it kept being backlogged in the list of priorities. Guess it's no wonder we never known about Starlight Glimmer's village til you found it on the map room. Next is... oh dear." Spike's expression went pale.
"What? Spike what's wrong?"
"Twilight, don't freak out but you know how we sent teams of Guards Ponies to investigate how Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow managed to do what they've done?"
Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"
"Well, one of the teams led by Flash Sentry went missing."
The alicorn abruptly stopped on her tracks, "Missing? Flash is MISSING?!"
"Along with his team, their resources and all their findings."
Twilight narrowed her eyes as she levitated a scroll and quill to herself and began writing furiously. When she finished, she passed the scroll to Spike and ordered, "Send this to the captain! It should have my orders to search for our missing party, immediately."
"On it!" The baby dragon took the scroll and lit it with his flames as it's remains led to the barracks. Noticing the worry on her face, Spike tried to lighten the mood, "Don't worry Twilight. They'll find your favourite Guardspony."
"I hope they do.... SPIKE!" Twilight quickly went from concern to blushing at his insinuation, "I just don't want to lose a competent Guardspony, okay!"
"And doth the lady protests too much?" Spike continued to tease with a smirk.
"I... I... URG! Just read the next one!" Twilight groaned in surrender as she hung her head low while still blushing.
Spike gave a gentle smile of victory as he continued to read out the last line on the list as they walked, "And lastly... Oh!" He paused to reread the scroll to be sure he didn't misread it, "It looks like Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Discord are coming for a visit, and they brought somepony with them."
"They are?" Twilight's face lit up, "When?"
"They are here right now, in the throne room."
"WHY DIDN'T THEY START THE LIST WITH THAT?"
"Well, apparently it was on such short notice and was treated as a surprise visit and... Hey Twilight, wait up!" Spike was cut short as Twilight started galloping to the throne room.
"PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE! COMPOSE YOURSELF!"
She skidded to a stop just outside the throne room when Kirbitz, an old unicorn who keeps Canterlot Castle in order, called her out.
"You're majesty, you may be young and new to the throne but please show proper etiquette when you're on your way to the throne room."
"Sorry Kirbitz, but Princess Celestia..."
"... And Princess Luna are in the throne room, I know. But that just makes it more reason enough to be proper when you are entering the throne room." the old unicorn scolded.
The young princess smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. I guess I was excited to see them again."
"Understandable. Just remember..."
"Oh for the love of the almighty, Kirbitz! JUST LET HER IN!"
Twilight startled at the sudden outburst from the throne room while the old unicorn groaned at the interruption with disappointment as he shook his head.
Who was that? Twilight wondered.
"I suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting," Kirbitz sighed as he opened the door, "I'll inform Lord Spike to wait for you here when he catches up."
Twilight was about to protest at the thought of leaving Spike out of the meeting but saw the old stallion's expression of concern. "Thank you Kirbitz," she nodded to him before entering through the doors.
As Twilight entered the Throne Room, she bore witness to the most surreal thing since Discord's return.
First was the nervous and terrified expressions from the sisters and Discord in the room.
Second were the noticeable bruises on them (mostly around their flanks).
And finally was the fourth pony present. She was clearly smaller than Twilight, even more so than the princesses, wore a fedora and held a scowl that screams restrained fury.
"Twilight, it's good to see you again." Celestia gave a wide, albeit forced smile.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Discord," Twilight forced a polite smile as she gave each of them a bow (she gave Discord a bemused look before giving a nod), "To what do I owe the pleasure for your visit, as well as your guest?"
"Well, you see Twilight..." Discord began before he was interrupted.
"Oh for f's sake!" The little pony snarled at Discord before turning to Twilight and pointed at the diarchs and the draconequus, "These three screwed up and I brought them here to amend their mistakes!"
The three in question shrank with an "Eep!" as the miniature pony berated them.
Twilight's eyes twitched at the vulgar language and the disrespect for her predecessors. She glared at the earth pony and flared out her wings in intimidation, "Who are you and what have you done to the Princesses?"
"Um Twilight," Luna winced at the young alicorn with panic in her eyes, "it would be better for you not to threaten her! She..."
"Lulu, did I give you permission to speak?" the earth pony glared at the princess of the moon.
Luna lowered her ears and head as she silently whimpered.
"The grownups are talking here and I expect you all not to interrupt us," she turned her glare from the frightened three to Twilight and dropped her scowl, "I apologise for that, Princess. Allow me to start over: I am Tesra Alma, Inter-dimensional Investigator. I'm here on business that concerns your little corner of the multiverse."
Tesra paused for a minute and looked back to the trio with a sinister smirk, "As for what I did to them, weeeell...."
(Yesterday, Silver Shoals.)
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"We... We... We gave the throne to Twilight?" Celestia cowered with a nervous smile.
Silence. There was a long moment of silence. Each second felt like an eternity as beads of sweat began to form on the three.
"Sunbutt."
Eep!
"Moony."
Gulp.
"Snake-ass."
Uh-oh.
"It just occurred to me how long it has been since your flanks have been acquainted with good old, Mr Horsewhip."
!!!!!
"And I think he is looking forward to catching up with you all."
(INTERNAL SCREAMING!)
"You whipped their flanks?!"
"You whipped the Princesses' Flanks?!"
"YOU WHIPPED THE PRINCESSES' BLESSED FLANKS?!"
Twilight was livid. She couldn't believe it. Somepony had the gall to actually dispense corporal punishment at the Princesses of all ponies. She didn't even know where to begin being shocked at; the question of why she would do so, the fact that this tiny earth pony managed to do so without consequence, or that fact that Celestia Luna and even Discord were too afraid to stop her.
"She whipped me too, you know." Discord muttered.
"Hey, you three deserved what was coming for you!" Tesra growled at Discord as he joined the Princesses' cowering, "Hell, I'd say you aren't punished enough for all the shit I have to clean up!"
"What in Equestria could possibly warrant that kind of punishment?" Twilight snarled at the tiny earth pony, "And for that matter, who are you to dish out punishment for what they may have done? I can understand Discord, but the Princesses?"
"I hold an authority Higher than your precious princesses, Ms Sparkle," Tesra returned Twilight's snarl with a glare that shook the young monarch, "After all, it was I who got them the job to begin with!"
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah, that's right. You thought it was the three tribes or Starswirl who gave them the throne, but no; it was I, TESRA!" She gloated with a smug grin as her expression changed resembling a certain charismatic vampire.
"Is... Is she serious?" Twilight gave Celestia a pleading look that begged Celestia to refute the short mare's declaration as something silly as Pinkie Pie's usual antics.
Her old teacher only frowned nervously and nodded.
"After dealing with Grogar, convincing Clover, Cookie and Pansy to unite the tribes, assisting Starswirl in teaching these two, and bringing Discord from Toonworld to keep everything in check; I personally crowned these two and offered them the one job I expected them keep," Tesra dramatically recalled her tale.
"Wait, YOU WERE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT DISCORD HERE?"
"Um, yeah. He's a creation from a pocket universe that monitors the multiverse. His purpose was to keep an eye for outsiders from breaking in. A job I extended to these two, which all three of them royally screwed!" Tesra scowled, causing the three immortals to wince again.
Twilight just stood there trying to process the information. He's not from Equestria? I guess that answers several questions I have about his existence. But him of all creatures was given a task as monitor? For that matter, what exactly does monitor entail? I suppose it implies that he's to protect this world from outsiders... Outsiders... Sgt Percival! Does that mean he's involved? Or perhaps he's the problem or the groups he's after might be... No, Focus Twilight! This Tesra is mad about what the Princesses and Discord had done, so...
"If you'll pardon me Ms Tesra, what exactly the Princesses and Discord do?"
"Oh, it's quite simple, your highness," Tesra replied with the mock emphasis of her title, "Do you recall when Discord was first turned to stone?"
"Yes, I do," Twilight slowly nodded.
"And do you recall when Luna turned into Nightmare moon and was banished for a thousand years?"
"Yes, I do." Where is she going with this?
"And do you recall the day they coronated you as ruler of Equestria?"
Twilight winced, "That... That is a day I'd rather forget. But yes, I do recall (however embarrassing it was)."
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing!" Twilight denied before attempting to change the subject, "So, where are you going with this?"
"Tell me, did Tia or Lulu tell you about the terms and conditions of taking their place as a ruler?"
How could she just address them by their pet names so casually? "Why of course. Raise the sun and moon regularly, oversee the country's administration, maintain diplomatic ties with all our allies, deal with disasters as they come and spread the magic of friendship."
"Anything else?" Tesra asked expectantly.
Anything else? "I beg your pardon, but what else is there?" Twilight inquired, clearly puzzled. She looked to the princesses for confirmation only to be disappointed. Celestia and Luna were now seen visibly shaking; not of anger, not of disappointment, but fear. The kind of fear that foals have when they were caught doing wrong.
Tesra in turn glared at them like a parent who was furious at what they did, "Are you going to tell her or should I?"
Celestia gulped and shamefully looked at Twilight, "When we gave the throne to you Twilight, we had you inherit all our responsibilities, this includes being this world's monitor."
The purple alicorn's jaw dropped. "I... I do?"
"If only it were that simple!" Tesra snapped, "One can only accept the responsibility as monitor from the Administrator of Toonworld! It cannot be handed over, or should I say hoofed over to a successor without the proper process! In other words, this Equestria doesn't have an active monitor!"
"B-but what about Discord? Isn't he a monitor too?" asked Twilight.
Tesra sighed with irritation, "Rogue Contingency; in the event of a monitor being corrupted or going against their duty, their status as monitor is void. Happened to Luna as well when she decided to throw a fit and become Nightmare Moon; something which I am thoroughly pissed about!"
Luna hung her head low in shame.
"Oh come now, Tess! I'm the spirit of Chaos! What were you expecting me to do, become a conjurer of cheap tricks?" the draconequus protested.
"Neeww! I was expecting you to be the snarky comic relief; not reprise your roll as Q!"
"But the audience loves Q, and I refuse to be another Loki!"
"Well, the joke's on you; you're just as useful as him!"
"ENOUGH!" Twilight gave her impression of the Royal Canterlot speech before adjusting herself once she caught everyone's attention, "So to sum it all up, Equestria doesn't have a monitor and I presume that there is a problem that requires one?"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! Give the little Pony a Prize!" pulling a Pinkie Pie act, Tesra popped behind Twilight out of nowhere and gave her a demeaning pat on her mane, "And to make the story even shorter, the current problem is massive breach in your reality."
"A Breach?"
"Eeeyup! Basically, your negligent teacher here left a giant hole in the fabric of your reality (that was caused by a powerful magical surge btw) for ten years!" She gave Celestia a quick glare before continuing, "It just so happens that we found it out just a few months ago and are surprised that it wasn't closed, let alone quarantined! And to top it all off, you have outsiders that have been coming in and out of your world for all that time."
"Wait, ten years?! You mean to tell me we've been invaded for ten years?!"
"An invasion is too late for that, your highness. You've already been infiltrated by rather insidious group."
Wait a minute. It couldn't be a coincidence, could it? "This group, they wouldn't happen to be called the New World Order, would they?"
This caught Tesra by surprise as her expression went from wide-eyed to scowling, "Where did you hear of them?"
"I've met two soldiers from another world who told me their mission was to hunt for them," Twilight replied.
"Wait, you've met the Volunteers?"
Twilight raised an eyebrow, "You know them? We rescued a Sgt George Percival and a Pvt Joshua of Cornwall."
A huge grin grew from the little earth pony's face, "Best news I heard all day! Sparkles, where are they?"
"They're in Ponyville at the moment."
"Hey, Kirbitz!" Tesra yelled, causing the room to vibrate, "Bring the Dragon in here! I'm pretty sure he's listening in anyway!"
A moment later, the doors swung open and a nervous Spike walked in, "H-how did you know I was listening in?"
"Because I can hear you breathing from the other side of the door," Tesra deadpanned, "Listen, I need you to send a note to your friends and ask them to bring the volunteers here. The sooner we can make contact, the sooner we can begin sweeping out the Order."
"Oh by all means, bring them all here like lambs to the Slaughter."
Just as Spike finished writing up a letter and sending it to Starlight, a feminine voice called within the Throne Room. The Princesses, Discord and Spike were alarmed when suddenly they found themselves surrounded by several hooded figures. Most were quadrupeds while the rest stood on tall on two legs. Among them was a woman who lowered her hood and stepped forward with a smug grin. Tesra pulls out a sawed-off shotgun from her fedora and pointed it at their leader.
"How did they get in here!?" Celestia screeched as she struggled to ignite her horn.
"Perception filter, or is it a Wallflower Spell?" Tesra snarked at their leader.
"Does it really matter, investigator?" the woman sneered, "You and your friends can all surrender now, there is nothing you can do."
Twilight fired a magic bolt to their leader, or at least tried to as her horn fizzled out. "What? My horn!"
"Don't bother casting spells; we've placed an anti-magical field within the room."
"Sister, Tesra, what do we do?" Luna pleaded answers as she, Twilight, Spike and Discord began to panic.
Celestia gave no answer as she gave Tesra a look that asks "Do you have a plan?" to which Tesra nodded with a smirk.
"You did say that this place is just surrounded by an anti-magical field, right?" Tesra gave a cocky smirk at the strange woman.
"What about it?"
"Oh, I don't. I just think it would be a shame if someone were to carry with them a non-magical teleportation device." Tesra grinned as she touched a button on her fedora.
EMERGENCY TELEPORTATION FIELD ACTIVTED!
"Everyone, grab hold!"
The alicorns, the dragon and the draconequus held on to Tesra as a pillar of light glowed around her.
"Stop them!" one of the hooded figure barked the order as the rest rushed to the huddled group.
Before any of them could reach the royals, they were enveloped by a blinding flash of light and vanished from the room.
"High Elder, they escaped!" the one who gave the order spoke.
"I can see that, you mangy dog," the woman deadpanned with a bemused expression, "No matter, it's time for plan B. Get our changeling contacts and ready the throne room. We have a few fugitives on the loose and it's time we stamped them out for conspiring against the crown and imposing as Princess Twilight."
"Yes High Elder."
"Oh and before I forget, give the order to eliminate the Alpha Site. Word must not reach Thera."
"Very well, High Elder. For the Shadow King!"
"Hail the New World Order!"