//------------------------------// // 116- Eleutherios // Story: Changing Expectations // by KKSlider //------------------------------// Luna stepped up and leaned over the railing, her forehooves on it so she could raise herself up. Beneath her, the mares from earlier this night were singing, though the music and their notes were distorted slightly. Her tail was swishing side to side, in time with the jazz song’s beat. “By the stars, I can not even remember the last time I have heard music!” She said, beginning to shimmy along to the song. I hopped up onto the railing next to her. She reached over with a wing and pulled me in close. “I thought that the only thing that was missing was you,” I said, looking away shyly. “Awww, that is sweet of you,” she nuzzled me. “We shall visit this tavern of yours when we visit Manehattan. It has been longer than I care to imagine since I have been in such a place, and equally long since I heard music that was not classical. I swear Phasma, my patience for such pretentious droll shrinks more and more with each passing event.” “You know, we’re going to be together at the Gala.” “I know! It is exciting, despite the intrigue! I both dread and look to the date with anticipation. We do need to discuss the matter, so as much as I would love to just be here with you in silence, appreciating the music, we must talk business. The matter of ruling and treachery, that is.” She left the railing and sat down at the main table. I sat down next to her, and leaned in close. “I need to know what you will look like when you arrive, Phasma. Are you going as yourself, or otherwise?” “I will be going as Expected Value,” I answered, changing my form to the blue unicorn disguise. “It’s not connected to any of my identities, so I should be able to enter the Gala relatively unnoticed.” “And once you are inside, then what? Need I remind you that retrieving the Elements, getting them to their bearers, and getting the bearers in position is a planned process. An interruption could throw the entire plan out.” “Well you’ll be happy to know that I know what I’m going to do. I had to ask around and even visit a library, but I’ve got a few plans in place. Well, one’s a plan, and the other is moreso a Hail Mary.” “Hail Mary? Never heard of that term.” “Let’s just hope it never gets to that point. So my idea is to show up disguised, say hi, let you get in position and everything with the Elements of Harmony, then show myself. Best case scenario, Daybreaker freaks out and calls the Royal Guard and Division-P over, and is too distracted with me to realize the Elements are missing, or whatever your plan is.” Luna frowned, “I said already, the moment you appear is the moment she realizes that all is not well. We need the element of surprise to go along with the Elements of Harmony.” “I need to undisguise at some point, Luna. Once you have the Elements, the bearers will have to use them while Daybreaker is distracted. I understand that this isn’t preferable, but I can’t put off the distraction any longer than that. Daybreaker has to sound the alarm.” “This is the best case scenario? Pray tell me, what is your plan if things go wrong?” “Uh… gamble on how much of Celestia’s personality is still there. Look, we never had time to come up with anything else, and the Fifth Hive is already moving into the Crystal Caverns as we speak, so you’re stuck with me and my shitty plan. Now since I’m coming to the Gala, I’m going to need to know the plans for the fall of Daybreaker. I also need the layout of Locksdale, so I’m going to visit Cadence after this conversation.” Luna grumbled in frustration, “Fine. If anything goes wrong, I shall blame you and expect you to fix it. The Grand Galloping Gala can be partitioned into several sections: the arrivals, the first dances, the dinner, and then the final dances and closing. I have arranged for the thestrals to be in the prime position to secure the Elements of Harmony. Of course, I have also convinced Daybreaker to display the Elements during the Gala. During the first dances, the Elements will be swapped out for identical fakes, and the real ones will be distributed to the bearers. During the dinner, it is arranged for the bearers to be in place near Daybreaker as she delivers her speech. It is during this speech, about midway through, that the bearers shall discretely retrieve the Elements from their persons, wear them, and then use them. “Several teams of unicorn Royal Guards will be on standby to both shield the bearers, and stun Daybreaker should the need arise. Thestrals shall assist where needed as well. Cadence and I will perform our usual role during the Gala without fuss or signs of disloyalty. I will place myself next to Daybreaker while she delivers her speech, as another layer of security for the Elements of Harmony. There are additional points, during the final dances and speeches from Daybreaker, where the Elements might be used, in case our initial window is missed. As you can see, with so many moving parts, introducing more will only destroy the system.” “The best plans are the most simple, Luna.” “Wow, I did not know that! Thank you for the information, Phasma. I will immediately reduce the amount of steps needed. This is as simple as we can get away with, Phasma. Any less complicated runs the risk of simply not working, and any more would mean more opportunities for failure. The plan is, at its essence, swipe the Elements, give them to their bearers, and get the bearers into position.” “Alright, alright. I’m sorry that I’m making this more complicated.” She sighed, “It is alright. I am just frustrated that so many things can go wrong. I understand the urgency for your addition to the plan, I just fear losing the one chance we have at righting my greatest sin; if Celestia is not returned to us…” I hugged Luna tightly. She returned the hug, burying her head under my own as much as she could with her long alicorn horn. “It’s okay, Luna. It’s not your fault that Celestia fell to a Nightmare– no, I know you want to argue. Listen to me Luna.” She looked up and into my eyes. “It’s not your fault. This will be fixed. Even if it gets worse first, you will be with your sister once again. I… I know what it’s like to miss your family. I do. I promise I won’t ruin this for us. I’ve got a lot riding on it too, remember? I don’t exactly plan on getting captured by Daybreaker. I’ve had enough of Nightmares, thank you very much.” “I suppose you’ll be making your appearance during the dinner, then. We shall just… improvise if things go poorly, which I expect they shall. I was not too confident in the plan to begin with, but we will make do with what we have.” “Dinner sounds good. Though I do wonder if we can meet before then, Luna…” She raised an eyebrow, “I doubt the possibility of that.” “You don’t think we can sneak off for a dance? Not even if you got a disguise?” Luna blinked in surprise, “If I got a disguise? Now there’s an idea. I will have to think on this, and whether or not it puts any part of the plan at risk. It would be better if I were seen at all times, but…. maybe.” I gasped, “Oh my Panar, Luna! You used a contraction!” “Shit!” “And you swore! Nice! What else can you do?” Luna laughed and tapped the top of my head, “Apparently save two kingdoms at the same time. Now, the speech during which you shall reveal yourself is the State of the Kingdom speech. It is preceded by the dinner, which in turn is preceded by an honors speech. Following it would normally be a small speech or announcement of sorts. I am told that Celestia almost always uses that part of the evening as announcing the end for whatever charity raffle is being held. The Gala will never get to that point.” I nodded, “I’ve arranged a meeting with the thestrals tomorrow. I’ll get some much needed information from them, as well as inform them of my arrival if you haven’t already.” “I have,” she clarified. “Then I will just coordinate with them as much as I can. The more people involved in a plan, the harder it is to execute and the harder it is to keep it secret, but we’ll figure it out. In fact, I’m interested to learn if they can help with the Locksdale Prison breakout.” “I shall leave the matter in your hooves, young King. Now, how shall we spend the rest of our time together here? Perhaps with a dance? I must say, I am quite taken with this music, what genre is it?” “... Jazz, I think. Normally it doesn’t have lyrics, but this subgenre does. I’d love to dance with you, or learn to in this four legged new body of mine, but I do have to speak with Cadence.” Luna groaned and let go of me, letting me step away and prepare to leave the dream. “Very well then, handsome prince. You shall owe me a dance.” “Putting thought into the disguise idea?” “More and more,” she grinned. “If we can get away with it, then it shall be so.” I watched through the mirror as the brown unicorn stallion with salt ‘n pepper hair let his measuring tape slide back into its holder. Expected Value needed a suit, so I found a rather reputable shop in Manehattan that would fit one for my unicorn disguise. “That’s the last of the measurements, sir,” he said, jotting down quickly on a floating notepad nearby. “Excellent,” I said. “Now my good sir, the suit should be done within one week. If you would follow me, we can handle the receipt of sale and the check,” the pony said, gesturing towards the cash register with a hoof. ‘A week? I suppose when you’re making the shirt and jacket but not pants, things can be done somewhat quicker. Still, that won’t do. As much as I’d like to not be exposed as such and actually wear pants, it’ll only attract attention. It’s really the time constraint that’s actually causing problems.’ “One week?” I asked, thinking of a way to approach the subject. He led the way and I followed, “Yes sir. It takes time to plan out the suit, properly cut the materials, make adjustments when it is first received, and finally put on the finishing touches.” “That is a rather unworkable timeframe…. How much would it cost to get it done within, let’s say, three days?” “Three d–” the pony, Stitch Twice, cut himself off. He recomposed himself, “Ah, of course sir. You wish to have the suit prepared for the Gala or a satellite function, then?” ‘Fishing around for my price limit, are we?’ “Indeed. I was not expecting an invitation, hence the urgency.” ‘All the Gala’s attendees get their invitations months in advance. The odds of some high roller like myself suddenly finding themselves with an invitation is somewhat low, but always possible. A relative non-answer, as best as I can do. Just because I can pay exorbitant sums doesn’t mean I want to every chance I get.’ “Understandable sir, life can be surprising at times. For a rush job accomplished at the professional level we hold ourselves to, I’m afraid there is a fifty-percent fee for a three day rush order. We cannot do it any quicker than that.” ‘Pick up my suit in the morning, head to the Crystal Caves, and be ready in time for the Gala at the start of the evening. It can work.’ “That is acceptable. I am sorry to give you such a short-notice order, but–” “–but life can be surprising, my good sir,” he interrupted. “Quite understandable, if unenviable. If you are willing to pay the added fee, we shall have the suit ready in three days to be picked up. You will have to come into the shop two days from now for the adjustments, however.” “That is acceptable.” He smiled and put the notepad down, stepping behind the cash register. “Very good, sir. Now, here is the bill of sale. If you would just sign here…” I filled out the paperwork and saw the final total; it was a very, very large sum of money. I brought saddlebags and a checkbook for just that purpose, though. Bidding the middle-aged stallion farewell, I left for my next and most important meeting of the day. The thestrals had arranged a meeting by proxy. I would come with a predetermined disguise not connected to any of my previous identities, and I would be meeting a pegasus of thestral descent here in Manehattan. The meeting place was a thrift shop in the western suburbs. A bit of a ways out and closer to the countryside than most of Manehattan, but that’s what wings are for. I casually walked down several streets before sneaking off into an alleyway when no pony was on the backstreet I was walking down. Then, funneling energy into the Thread of Change as usual, I exchanged my blue unicorn disguise for a faint pink-white pegasus stallion. A little bit effeminate, but a too nondescript pony disguise tends to work in the exact opposite fashion. They always desire to stand out, and expect others to want to, as well. The Cutie Mark was a pair of dark gold cog wheels. That was what was agreed upon by the thestrals, and they wouldn’t make contact without it. Exiting out the other side of the alleyway, I took to the skies and flew westward. I sighed contently as the wind ruffled my faux-feathers and fur. That was one upside it had over flying as a changeling; the actual sensation. I think I prefer flying as myself due to the fringe feeling of body dysphoria I have every time I wear a disguise– it’s natural for a changeling to prefer our own bodies and forms over all others, but this was almost as good. I savored the moments. Flying was one of the few easy-to-access pastimes I had, and I had enjoyed it since my first time flying all the way back in the Fourth Hive. The warm sun on my back and outstretched wings, the whistle of wind in my pinned back ears, and the sensation of being free. I leveled out my wings and glided low, avoiding a large, low-hanging cloud that was practically covered in pegasus foals playing around. Several parents hovered around the cloud or sat in nearby white embankments. It was easy to forget that this was a city at times, and one populated partially by a flying species. You didn’t see cloud-based parks back on earth, after all. However, to my own disappointment, I couldn’t hum anything more than the opening verse to a song that popped into my head. I had already arrived above the designated store, and had to land. Grumbling at ruining my own mood, I banked into a spiral and bled altitude. Hitting the ground trotting, I entered the small store which sat at a street corner in a rather plain stripmall. The most interesting thing about it was the massive fluffy coats hung on display in its window. The door opened with a soft ding of a bell, not even rousing the sleepy purple pegasus mare sitting behind the counter, head in her hooves. Rolling my eyes, I picked an aisle at random and walked down it. Filled with random nick nacks that held no interest to me, I tried to kill time as I waited. ‘Alright, I’m here. The pegasus should have seen me enter, so it’s just a matter of time before–’ the soft ding of the door’s bell interrupted my thought, ‘–before they enter.’ I caught a look at my content and stifled a laugh of dismay. The pegasus, an all-black one, had a grey mane with dyed red tips. He also had several piercings, and was somewhat younger than I expected. Still, he was a black pegasus, and had a Cutie Mark of a stringed instrument, as I was briefed of. The leather satchel that hung on a strap over his back likely held the documents I sought, too. ‘They sent a punk rockstar to hand over confidential blueprints and information in an act of High Treason? That’s… okay thestrals, okay. If this dude is legit, I’ll have to take lessons from him on blending in.’ He entered my aisle, flicked his mane back, and stopped near me, looking at the useless junk on display. Another glance revealed the fact that he was actually looking at a large selection of guitar picks. ‘Huh. Look at that.’ I turned around and faked perusing the items that were behind me. ‘A large amount of sweatshirts. Panar, so many sweatshirts. For a species that goes naked the vast majority of the time, they have a lot of resold clothes.’ A light cough turned my head. The pegasus was looking at my Cutie Mark, and nodded slowly. Compared to his edgy and goth-like appearance, his emotions felt a bit more bubbly and happier than what I expected. ‘That’s ponies for you.’ “Hey there. You uh, come here often?” He asked. “It’s a bit out of the way, but I heard this store had what I was looking for.” “Right, right,” he nodded and extended a hoof, “Onyx Pick.” ‘He’s even got an edgy name, the disguise is flawless!’ “Quick Cog,” I said, meeting the hoof bump. “Nice to meet you, Quick Cog. You wanna go grab a cup of coffee, or…?” ‘A second location? Why? This one works out well enough. Just hand over the damn papers and we’re good. Hell, I was expecting a rather more upfront conversation than this.’ I shook my head, “No thanks. I heard from a friend that this store had some stuff on Clairvoyance. You seen any posters of them around?” Clairvoyance was not a band, merely a codeword. “Clair– oh. You’re Uncle Halberd’s coworker. I uh, I was expecting somepony a bit… gruffier, you know? You don’t strike me as the kind of pony he would be friends with. You’re, you know, young, and uh…. pink.” “What does that…?” I trailed off. The pony swung his satchel off his back and rifled through it. ‘Wait. He didn’t know I was his contact? What was he– oh my Panar. He wasn’t looking at my Cutie Mark, was he? Damn this pink-white fur, he was checking out my ass!’ “He said to give this to you,” Onyx said, extending out a sealed, thick folder with a wing. I took it and put it in my own saddle bags. “Thanks. Is there anything else? Like a message, or meeting, or…?” ‘Aren’t I supposed to coordinate with an operative or something? Why am I meeting someone’s punk rockstar nephew?’ “Nope, that’s it,” he said, swishing his long mane side to side as he shook his head. “But about that cup of coffee?” “I’m in a relationship.” The happiness left him like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Onyx cringed, “Horseapples! The good lookin’ ones always are…. What did my Uncle give you, anyways?” “Work stuff,” I answered. ‘I didn’t come here to be flirted with, pony. This packet better contain some much needed information that circumvents the need for a conversation, or I’m going to be very upset. Not that I can actually do anything about it, but this just doesn’t make sense.’ “Again, you don’t seem like the Guard type…” He said, looking me over. “Looks can be deceiving, Onyx Pick,” I muttered as I walked past him and headed towards the door. “Bye?” He said, the tone in his voice as confused as his emotions. I left immediately. Looking for a quiet place to sit down and read was important. The sooner I read through the materials, the better. If there was an emergency that required the meeting to be broken off, I would need to know it sooner rather than later. There was a small unused park in the direction of the city, so I flew over and found a somewhat secluded bench. At the very least, I would hear and see ponies approaching before they got close. Opening the packet, I saw a note on top of several blueprints, as well as several other documents. ‘Apologies for the rudeness, all hooves must be accounted for? What does that mean? They are being watched and can’t send a single person to meet with me? Shit, that doesn’t sound good. At the very least, they managed to give me Locksdale’s layout to give to Captain Katydid.’ Quickly skimming the rest of the files to ensure that there were no surprises, I saw that the other files included my identity’s cover story, an invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala, and some other important information. I put the file back in my saddlebags and set off from the park, back to the Fifth Hive’s headquarters. Katydid was waiting for me there. ‘At least the plans seem genuine. If they were replaced… well, if we were exposed to that point, I think we’d be fucked six ways to Sunday anyways. Maybe I can send someone ahead of time to confirm the validity of this, though.’ It would be a long, sleepless night of planning and plotting ahead.