Four cloaked unicorns were on patrol, walking through the endless maze of crystal passages beneath Canterlot.
“Why do we have to do this? Couldn’t they have gotten some of the newbies to do this?” the largest of them, Icely, grumbled from beneath his shadowed cowl, causing the other three to groan. “I mean, come on, the royal wedding is just around the corner. Security up there is tighter than Tarta-” His ranting was cut off when a dark gray hoof was shoved into his mouth.
“Be quiet” Briar whispered, “I think I hear something up ahead.”
Icely paused and perked up his ears, the others doing the same and the gray hoof was lowered. After a few seconds, they all heard the sound of something being dragged.
“I didn’t think there were any maintenance crews coming down anytime soon,” stated Sugar Apple, her voice twanging ever so slightly. Their final companion, a shorter figure called Joyful Day, nodded her agreement.
“There aren’t,” said Briar. The others tensed at her statement, and she signaled for them to keep moving quietly. As they slowly crept down the crystalline hallway, the sound of dragging grew louder, until it stopped when they reached a four-way intersection.
A hoof went up in a signal to stop. The dragging had stopped right around the corner. The ears of all four ponies twitched, trying to listen. Icely was about to move forward, when a voice started talking, and he froze.
“Ya know, you’d think a princess would be lighter.” The voice was gruff and two-toned.
Eyes widening, Briar signaled to the other three to ready themselves.
“I know right?” another said in another two-toned voice, “Princess of Love? More like Princess of Cake. Oh, wait, that’s the other one!” Both voices began laughing while the four unicorns charged up spells.
The laughing abruptly stopped. “Hey, you feel that?” the first voice said, sounding confused.
“It feels like,” the other said, pausing mid-thought.
“Gle-” The first tried to finish, but he was cut off by a blast of magic arcing towards him, as the unicorns jumped around the corner.
As they came around the corner, the ponies saw two creatures covered in black chitin with solid blue eyes that held no pupils. It looked like they had been resting on one of the walls, but one of them now slumped down as the stunning bolt hit his chest, having been shot from the still-wisping horn of the short unicorn. Her cowl now blown back to reveal a crazed fire in her eyes and a smile on her face as she readied another bolt.
The remaining creature’s back opened to reveal a pair of insectile wings as they tried to flee. They took off, flying high in an attempt to get out of range and away from the ponies.
Icely guffawed as he watched the attempt, placing a barrier in front of the creature to stop its escape.
It didn’t even have time to react as a stunning bolt hit its back. The creature fell but was caught by Briar in a growth of dead vines before they could hit the floor.
“Alright!” The gray unicorn shouted after setting the creature down. “Fan out and find the princess they were talking about. She has to be around her somewhere.” The other unicorns nodded, and began looking.
The search had been going for a total of five seconds when an accented voice called out “Uh, guys, I’ve found the princess, but I think we need ta’ send a message to the Umbrum,” the owner of the voice pointed an orange hoof towards a previously unseen alcove. “I think we’ve got a problem.”
A scream and then a thud echoed through the tunnel.
***
Umbrum Silver Scales was having a wonderful day; there were no disasters to avert, no meetings, and no one to bother him for the next four hours. He had even gotten a cup of his favorite peppermint tea, just to sit and relax in his office.
He sighed and sat down on his plush reading couch, the latest novel by Blood Revenge in his magic. Then it all came crashing down with a burst of green flame appearing over his desk, turning into a single piece of paper that floated down to settle on the surface.
“Horseapples,” he cursed as he set down his tea and book. It just had to happen right when he was getting comfortable. What was it now? Maybe a golem got free from the lower catacombs?
Silver rose from the couch and walked over to his desk, grumbling all the way. When he got to his desk, he sat down in the not-so-plush chair—an heirloom of his position, but dear Luna was it uncomfortable—and picked up the paper in his magic to take a look. At the top of the page was a stamp in the shape of a bramble.
Dear most honorable Headmaster Silver Scales,
While on patrol this morning, my group stumbled across something of the utmost importance.
An exasperated sigh escaped his mouth. They were being stiff and formal; this couldn’t be good. He probably wasn’t going to get to read his novel this morning. He took in a deep breath, bracing himself, and continued.
We found Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who was in the process of being kidnapped by a pair of insectile pony-like creatures. The creatures were covered in black chitin and lacked pupils in their eyes. We do not know what they are but were able to apprehend them with a stunning spell each. The important matter though, is that her highness Mi Amore Cadenza was able to see the face of one Joyful Day, and potentially one Sugar Apple, before falling unconscious due to shock and/or fear. We await your orders on the matter and request that you respond post haste.
Your faithful subordinate, Briar Thicket
“Buck,” he stated and slumped back into the chair. This could not be worse. Two teachers exposed, potentially their entire existence revealed, and a princess is not someone that can be bribed to keep quiet.
“Okay,” he said to himself, sitting back up. “This is going to be alright. I can do this.” Quickly retrieving a pen and paper from one of the desk drawers, he wrote out a message.
Check for any injuries. If it is safe to move her, do it, if not, send me another message. I will come with a medical team.
He then pulled out a bottle of dragon fire from his desk. The paper was held over it and the container was unstoppered. Green flames shot out of the bottle, leaping hungrily to consume it. Silver whispered two words, “Briar Thicket,” and the paper went up in smoke, along with his hopes for a peaceful day.