//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Crossing the Rubicon // by Blade Star //------------------------------// The warm afternoon sun shone down on Canterlot, its warming rays coating the city. The glittering towers of the castle sparkled, as did the many opulent buildings that played a part in making the city so famous. But there was one little corner that, despite the hour, remained in shadow. It was down in the Old Quarter of the city, in a small square within the maze like back alleys and side streets that made up the oldest part of the city. The store itself was nothing remarkable. Nested between a bakery and a small concern specialising in rare books and deluxe editions, it was quite easy for a pony to overlook it. It had no great display to catch the eye and draw attention to itself in its spot down the dead end alleyway. In fact, the only sign was a small wooden one, hanging just above the door. The background was a burgundy red, with gold lettering which bore the legend ‘Elusive’s of Canterlot – Fittings and Alterations (Est. 957 CR)’ All in all, it was a small, out of the way place, and certainly a far cry from the far more well known grand stores that dominated the main thoroughfares of the city. Yet despite this, as the front door opened, making the small brass bell above let out a soft chime, perhaps one of the most famous, beloved, and indeed wealthiest ponies in all Equestria stepped out. Dressed in her regalia, her crown resting comfortably atop her head, there stood Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Empress of the Crystal Empire, Princess of Love, and niece to Princess Celestia herself. Stepping out into the sunlight, she smiled and took a moment to enjoy the open air the small square provided. As she did so, she was joined by another pony. He was about average size for a stallion, though a far cry from her husband, Shining Armor. Although like the prince, his coat was an alabaster white. And just like Shining, this pony was a unicorn as well. A slightly sharp looking horn protruded through a well maintained deep purple mane. Stepping out of the store, he joined the young alicorn. “I trust everything was to your liking, your highness?” he asked, his accent holding notes of Canterlot in a somewhat high falsetto. Cadence smiled and nodded to him. “It certainly was, Elusive,” she said kindly. “As ever, you have out done yourself.” She paused to chuckle. “You know, you and my sister in law’s friend look so much alike, that sometimes I wonder if the two of you aren’t long lost siblings or something.” It was now Elusive’s turn to chuckle. “Ah yes,” he agreed with a knowing smile. “Many ponies have commented on the aesthetic similarities between myself and dear Rarity, to the point where on a few occasions I’ve even been mistaken for the poor mare. Hence why I felt compelled to do something to differentiate myself.”He gestured to the deep crimson waistcoat he was wearing. “It certainly does help you stand out in a crowd,” Cadence agreed. “Although I must say, I’m not sure even Rarity could perform such work on short notice. I really am sorry to put you out like this.” Elusive took the mare by the foreleg. “Nonsense, my dear! It was a pleasure to be of service,” he assured her as they both began to walk up the alley and away from the store. “Now, I’ll begin making your alterations this afternoon, and providing my supplier comes through I should have…” That was as far as he got. Cadence was first aware of a sudden flash of light behind her. For the briefest of moments, her mind put it down to a flash of lightening, or a camera flash from some reporter sneaking a picture for some gossip rag. By the time she reminded herself that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and that there was nopony else about, the heat, and the blast wave that followed it, arrived. With an irresistible force, the alicorn was thrown off her hooves and thrown to the floor as debris rained all around her. Her vision swam and her ears were ringing as she lay dazed for a few seconds. Fortunately, her alicorn physiology provided her some protection, and shortly after, she was able to force herself back onto her hooves. She was not seriously injured, she knew that much. She could stand, see, hear, and certainly smell thanks to the acrid smoke now filling the air. Turning around, she looked for the source of the catastrophe. What had once been an innocuous looking store front was now all but an inferno. The windows and door had been blown out, with a good portion of the interior ejected through them onto the street. Shattered glass and broken masonry lay all around as thick black smoke continued to billow out, and alarms rang out. Reflecting on how close she had been, and pondering that exiting the premises a few seconds later might have spelt her doom, her thoughts now turned to her companion. With a start, she looked around for Elusive. As the residual blast wave pushed smoke in their direction, she struggled to see. “Elusive!” she called out as she made her way across the street. A moment later, she came across a form in the smoke. The white coat was now sullied with smoke, the purple mane was burnt in places, and the bright waistcoat was ripped and torn by shrapnel. He was however, as far as she could tell, alive. Although unlike her, he had not fared so well. It was quite clear that his injuries were serious. Gently lifting him up in her forelegs, she did her best to comfort him. “Hang on, Elusive,” she pleaded. “I’ll go get help.” The previously keen blue eyes now fixed on her own, glossy and unfocussed. “I’m ever so sorry, princess,” he said in a far away voice. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to have that dress ready for you after all.” And with that, he lost consciousness. What came next were only intermittent flashes for Elusive. Brief seconds of consciousness punctuated by long periods of darkness. He recalled lying there in the street, a frightened Cadence standing over him, a couple of RGMC ponies from the Royal Guard loading him onto a stretcher, the vile smell of a hospital, and the unwelcome feeling of his body being pumped full of opioids. Beyond that though, he knew nothing of the world until he opened his eyes a day or so later. He was first brought back by the sound of an EKG incessantly beeping close at hoof. Momentarily, his eyes opened, confronted with the bright, artificial light of a hospital ward. As the world came back into focus, he groggily looked around and was surprised to find out that he wasn’t alone in his new accommodations. Sitting in a nearby chair, regarding him with a slightly detached expression, was a mare he hadn’t seen for the better part of a year. She was somewhat larger than the average pony, perhaps a shade shorter than Cadence, though far more strongly built. Her eyes were fixed on him, taking in every last detail without showing a twinge of emotion. She was clearly not a Canterlot native. Unlike the rich citizenry that called the metropolis home, the only garment she wore was a simple, coal black shemagh, which was wrapped around her neck and shoulders, suggesting the mare was of Saddle Arabian descent. Elusive however, knew this to not be the case. While he had no doubt she would have a grasp of their notoriously difficult language, it wasn’t her native Ponish, and with the evening sun lighting the room somewhat, he knew that the natives of that province, would right now be busier with other activities, and not paying call on bed bound friends. As if the battered stump of a unicorn horn wasn’t a dead giveaway. Elusive found himself smiling as he once again reunited with one of his closest friends in a hospital bed. “My dear Tempest,” he said, his voice hoarse and weak. “We really must stop meeting like this.”