In our previous volume, Arc leads Rarity upstairs for a good night’s sleep as Derpy does the same with the girls. Giving her some night clothes, the pair lie down together. Nervously, Arc confesses to Rarity what he did to manipulate Hammer as well as his new found feelings for her. Accepting his honesty, Rarity assures Arc that he did the right thing. The next morning Arc and company walk to Shelly’s Kitchen for breakfast. After introducing Rarity to Lily, they sit down and order pancakes. Taking Rarity upstairs to meet Shelly, they tell her of the trouble back in Ponyville. Rarity heads downstairs to tell the others of their plans to eat upstairs as Arc watches Shelly.
Rarity and the others return shortly with stacks of pancakes, plates, cups, and silverware. Derpy and the girls set the table while Arc gets Shelly’s nutrition drink ready. Sitting down together, they talk about the trouble back in Derpy and Rarity’s homeland. Telling Shelly that there is an individual whom is manipulating the ruler of the land as they eat, they are able to convince her of the normalcy which Arc and Rarity have in returning. Clearing the table, they help Shelly back to the living room before Derpy and the girls head downstairs to help Lily run the restaurant. As Arc and Rarity are left together Shelly, the phone rings. Rarity answers it and informs them that it is a man asking to speak to Arc. Thinking it to be Frank, Arc takes the call. The caller reveals themselves to be none other than Wiseman. He tells Arc that Hammer has met with treachery from Stingray and to meet him in the restaurant parking lot immediately. Sereb joins Arc as he hurried downstairs. Finding his Jeep Arc gets inside to find Wiseman in the passenger seat. Driving to the base, Arc pulls over and gets out with the others. Wiseman transfers the sigil enchantment from Eidolon’s Ward’s gauntlet to his new one. Lending his power, he also helps Arc Blink down into the base. Meeting heavy resistance, they follow Wiseman to the detention area. Finding Stingray outside waiting for them, she calls forth a large contingent of new battle androids. Finding them MUCH stronger than the last, Wiseman picks them all up, crushes them with his magic, and allows the parts to fall to the ground around them. Arc engages Stingray only to be thrown violently across the room. Wiseman takes over and impales the young woman with wooden shrapnel from her own attack. Allowing her to live, he, Arc, and Sereb head for a steel door. Knocking, Diva opens a small shutter thinking it to be Stingray. Ripping the door off its hinges, Wiseman immobilizes Diva as Arc grabs Hammer. Leaving the room, the masked man then helps Arc opens a portal back to his Jeep. As they return to the outside they find that Wiseman has vanished. Arc and his trusty steed help Hammer into the vehicle and hurry back toward town.
Returning home, Arc helps Hammer inside and to the bathroom. Having urinated herself earlier, he carefully lowers her into the shower. Staying with her, Hammer tells him of the events leading up to her capture and how Diva had tortured her. Thanking him for rescuing her, Arc helps her back to the bedroom to dress her properly before laying her down. Sereb enters the room to inform him that the others have returned. Heading downstairs he brings them up to speed on his earlier actions that morning. Asking Rarity to follow him to meet Hammer, she agrees. She and Hammer nervously exchange pleasantries as Arc looks on. Mentioning that she too is interested in joining the herd, Rarity is taken aback by the young woman’s forwardness. Helping her downstairs, they sit down to a simple lunch. However as they eat a call comes over Arc’s earring from Cadance. She tells them of Decimus’ actions the past few days, including his taking into custody Steel Hammer and Silver Hammer. Telling the others to get packed, Arc prepares to return to Equestria within the hour.
Meeting up in the living room, Arc calls for Sunburst to open a portal in the next few minutes. Entering, they find themselves in the Crystal Castle’s Throne Room. Arc introduces Hammer to Cadance and those assembled. Cadance tells him of the multi-faceted mission to infiltrate Canterlot Castle. She gives him a blueprint of the castle and his objectives which include sabotaging the new airship, stealing the blueprints, kidnapping Hard Hat and Stellar Flare, and rescuing the Hammers. Leaving via sigil to his airship, The Equinox, Cadance reassures Sunburst of his mother’s safety during the mission.
Arc and his friends appear in his room aboard The Equinox. Laying down, Arc, Rarity, and Hammer rest as the ship is loaded for its mission. Sometime later Arc is notified via his earring of the ship’s imminent takeoff. As it does so he and the ladies head for the window for a view of the city below. Marveling at the Crystal Empire, Hammer appears transfixed. As they reach cruising altitude Arc heads to the Bridge with the others to announce himself. Giving the orders from Cadance to the captain, he orders his squad summoned to the Bridge. When they arrive he lays out the general plan to infiltrate Canterlot Castle. As Arc’s party regroups in his office he tells them everything that must be done the following night along with its importance. Returning to his quarters with Hammer and Rarity, Arc opens a portal to allow the rest of the Element Bearers to come to him. Auriel and Rose accompany them. Informing them of the mission ahead they agree to help as well before retiring for the night.
As the ship nears the castle, Arc and his forces shrink themselves down and stow away in Rainbow Dash’s saddlebags. She runs out onto the deck and deftly flies down to the castle gardens below. Making sure the coast is clear, she calls out. Arc slices a hole in the bag and helps the others out before returning them to normal size. Splitting up, Hammer and Rainbow Dash head for the hanger. Locating the new airship, they enter and head for the Bridge. Faking that she’s being attacked, Rainbow Dash is able to convince the guards on duty to try and help her. As they do so, Hammer takes them down two by two. Entering the Bridge they plant the explosives on the O.R.B. controls before making their way toward Engineering. Hearing a patrol, Hammer grabs Rainbow Dash and hides them both in a nearby room. As they pass Rainbow Dash accuses the woman of hurting her mammary glands. Hammer, not realizing that pony anatomy is different in that regard, apologizes. Rainbow Dash, seeing it to be an honest mistake, forgives Hammer as the pair joke around about the whole ordeal as they leave the hanger. Detonating the explosives, the pair run off to join the next team in their mission. Decimus and the Scarlet Filly run up and survey the damage. Talking to one of the guards they learn that a human mare was responsible for the damage to the ship. Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy are joined by Hammer and Rainbow Dash as they prepare to make their own move. Dressed as nurses, Rarity and Fluttershy run up to a door claiming Twilight is sick. After being admitted they quickly put something on Twilight’s horn and explain the situation to her somewhat. Applejack, Hammer, and Rainbow Dash attack the guards and enter the room together. Locking the door, Applejack bucks a table through the patio door and hurries to tie up Twilight as the others make their escape.
Sereb, hearing the window being smashed with his keen hearing, notifies Auriel and Rose to begin their assault. Wearing black robes, they attack the guards on duty in front of the Archives before breaking in to find the notes and blueprints of the new ship and its addons. Hearing Decimus and Scootaloo approaching, Sereb breaks windows, topples statues, and even brings down overhead lights to slow them down. Finding what they need Auriel takes a secret passage to escape while Rose jumps on Sereb’s back and rides away. As Decimus attempts to give chase a patrol hurries to his side with orders from Celestia for him to report to Twilight’s room. Doing so, he and the Scarlet Filly learn that two imposter nurses entered her room while the guards outside were attacked. As they are busy with Twilight, Arc and his squad attack the dungeons. Entering the high security area, Arc finds his two friends strapped to a torture device and barely alive. Putting Steel Hammer on Xenos’ back he takes Silver Hammer in his arms and carefully heads back toward the Hanger. Entering his ship, he learns that everyone other than Scootaloo is aboard. As she volunteers to stay, Arc orders the crew to take off and blast their way out. As they do so Decimus watches them fly away angrily.
Heading for the Infirmary, Arc is told by Redheart that his friends are critically injured. Heading to the Cafeteria he finds Max and makes inquiries about Stellar Flare and Hart Hat. Max leads him to their bunks and aids him in waking them with smelling salts. After showing the pair the heavily wounded Hammers, they are convinced to hear him out. Calling a meeting of his forces along with the Bridge Crew Arc explains the true mission they just completed. Stellar Flare and Hard Hat agree to join him in going against Decimus. As the meeting breaks up for the night the captain and commander head to the Infirmary to see the patients for themselves. Redheart tells them of a prolonged period of massive injuries and scars that litter their bodies. Suspicious, the pair leave with more questions than answers.
Landing in the Crystal Empire, the Hammers are airlifted to the hospital as Arc and company follow them on foot. Entering the hospital they are let to a private waiting room as the doctor examines them. After a nearly twelve hour wait a nurse arrives to escort Arc to the patient’s room. As he looks over his friends, the doctor explains the hard truth about the pair’s condition. Broken ribs, punctured lungs, failing organs, and more. As Scootaloo arrives with Platinum Valve the doctor breaks the news of her mother potentially being paralyzed. Leaving the pair to check on his other patients, the doctor gives them some alone time. As he holds Platinum Valve in his arms Arc vows to kill the one whom did such things to her parents.
Returning angrily to the Crystal Castle, Arc barges into the Audience Chamber with his friends at his heels. Reporting the success of his mission, Arc then informs them of Steel Hammer and Silver Hammer’s conditions. As they talk, a guard enters quickly with a missive from Canterlot. As Cadance reads it she informs them that it is a personal letter from Celestia herself. She demands the return of The Equinox as well as compensation for the damages to her ship and castle. Agreeing to deny the request, or any admittance of guilt on the part of her or the empire, Cadance watches Arc head back to the hospital with Scootaloo and Rose. As he leaves Rarity announces her intentions to help Arc rest. The others naturally agree to help with the plan.
Arc and Shining Armor return to the castle together. Leading the man to a very posh room in the castle he reveals a nice suit in the closet. Leaving to allow Arc to change, he goes to tell the others of Arc’s acceptance of their plan. Showering, Arc gets some basic dating advice from Cherry whom also helps calm his nerves. Dressing, Arc combs his hair nervously before a small knock at the door brings him back to reality. Answering it, he finds Rarity dressed in her formal dress. She leads him to another room with a small table and two chairs lit by candles and a romantic fireplace. Trixie emerges from behind a curtain dressed as a Hoof Maiden and serves them juice. Pulling out an order pad, she takes their dinner orders and head to the kitchen. The mares within help Hammer cook spaghetti and homemade pasta sauce, both for the couple and themselves. Trixie returns to the room with the food and serves the pair. Leaving, she waits outside and looks at the stars.
As the pair uncover their food they begin to eat. Arc marvels at the sauce’s flavor and implores Rarity to try is. Worried that she will stain the dress Cadance had made for her, Arc suggests that she take it off. Doing so, Rarity eats the spaghetti and agrees with Arc’s assessment of it. As Trixie returns with another bottle of juice she points out something on Rarity’s face. Escorting the mare into the nearby bathroom Arc hears her scream out momentarily. Rushing inside, he sees Rarity rubbing her face with her hooves as Trixie stands to one side. Frantically asking him to leave the room, Rarity wallows in self-pity. Trixie convinces her that Arc is more interested in what’s on the inside than the outside. Asking again for her dress, Trixie retrieves it and helps Rarity put it back on. Returning to the table, the pair finish their meal. As Trixie brings the cart back to the kitchen after being dismisses for the evening she notices everyone else’s mouth stained red from the tomato sauce. The mares talk about whom will get to date Arc next after it is suggested that Auriel and Hammer go on a double date with Arc.
The pair sit together for a time before heading to bed together. Arc voices his concerns that Rarity and the others may be under a similar spell that inhibited them before and asks that they get checked out. Falling asleep in each other’s arms, they are awakened early the next morning by Trixie. Telling Arc that he is needed in the Audience Chamber, they part ways while Rarity heads to get her friends. Meeting them outside the room, they enter together. Cadance informs Arc of her suspicions that something has happened to Celestia as the sun has not yet been raised. Preparing to do it himself, Arc is told that it is likely a ruse by Decimus to lure out either him or Luna. As they discuss what to do next Scootaloo runs in with a missive from a recently arrived messenger. Reading the note, Cadance tells everyone of Celestia’s intention to do whatever is necessary to retrieve The Equinox along with the other information stolen from Canterlot. At the suggestion of Arc, she writes a message back declaring her intention to safeguard the land with appropriate force if needed.
However, many questions yet remain.
Will Hammer be able to keep to the straight and narrow? Why did Stingray betray Hammer? What is Decimus REALLY up to? Why did he take down the Hammers? How mad is Celestia going to be after Arc’s mission? Will there be any lasting problems stemming from Arc’s infiltration of Canterlot Castle? What will Celestia do now that there has been an attack on the castle? Will the Hammers be alright? To say nothing for Platinum Valve’s state of mind. Was that REALLY the best time for a date? How would a double date work out? What will come of the hostilities between Canterlot and the Crystal Empire?
Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.