//------------------------------//
// Well That escalated quickly! 
// Story: Arc Angel 
// by Valorousspectre 
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I was always rather proud of the Guard's alarm system. At least when it's confined to the castle.

It's a simple procedure that's undeniably effective. Depending on what's going on, a different alert signal will sound through the ears of all guards in the castle. But only their ears. In the office of the Captain and I believe there's one in the private rooms of both Major Princesses (And no doubt soon to be one in Shining and Cadance's rooms) is a set of lodestones. Now, as you've probably guessed, gemstones can store magic, but it slowly bleeds out over time and it can't hold powerful spells. Any gem can hold an illusion because they're simple. Sure adding parameters to solidity, sound and such things can be a pain and does tend to make them last less time overall, but it still works. A lodestone on the other hoof is quite rare. A lodestone is a magical artifact capable of storing magical energies far beyond their gem counterparts and are almost always found perfectly cut in the wilderness. It's a strange thing. Sometimes, they're found with a set of holes in them that look like tiny fang pierced them, other times like big fangs pierced them. Like a dragon bit it, then decided otherwise and left it be. These stones are always drained of power.

Anyway.

When the alarm for an intruder goes off, the guard are able to become much more alert quickly and automatically go to defend the main exits. Basically trap the intruder in, and apprehend him before he can leave without alarming anypony. It's a simple thing to do and understand. But as I've just found out, it's not so simple trying to get around it.

I'm hiding in a small alcove off the main pathways of the castle, cringing back in the shadows whenever a unicorn trots by, his eyes alert and flicking around. This has gone from an easy way in to hell on an express elevator carrying more than it's intended weight. It' absurd. The illusion that cloaked me is failing, and my voice has returned to how it was, which means I cant speak anymore. I'm considering taking the pendant off in fact. The illusion is weak now and I'm almost positive it'd be easy to see through it even if you aren't a unicorn. It's not like it's going to do a whole lot of good to me anymore. The problem remained however that I had nowhere to put it. With a shrug I wrapped it around my hoof. It won't activate the magic like that, and it won't impede me. So now I guess I look and sound normal.

This is not going how I hoped.

Another patrol marched past me and I froze, tense. They apparently didn't see me, so I relaxed and breathed easy. I wish Spring hadn't taken my damn bags. They'll be in the Captain's room in the prisoner belongings chest no doubt. A drag, but I really need my stuff.

Okay. So what do I need to do? Get out and survive. Part one; Get my saddlebags back, Part two; Acquire food from the kitchen. The amount of food I had been given dropped exponentially when Spring joined me. Part three; Get the hell out of the castle, Part four; Get to the Somerset Glades without being killed along the way or captured. How do I do all this? First I head to the Captain's room, then I descend to the lower levels and into the Kitchen. I'll have to get to the store room, which means going through the kitchen itself. After that I'll try for the service passage heading out of the kitchen. That should get me out and well away before they think to look there. As for getting to the Somerset Glades....

I have no idea.

A map would be helpful, but the cartographers guild delivered straight to Celestia herself, who then made copies and put one in Luna's room as well. Obviously sneaking in either of these rooms would be suicide. So I suppose I'll have to improvise.

Just my luck.

Well, I may as well start now. Another patrol marches by and I take a deep breath to steel myself. Ignoring my aching head, I bend the light around me to render myself invisible and start up the corridor, leaving the shelter of my alcove. The Captain's quarters isn't that far from the Guard Common Room, so that's where I'm headed. I give a cursory thought to getting some armour, but discard the idea as soon as it occurs to me. It'd be a waste of time, and I'd be clanking as I walked. No deal. Dodging patrols turns out to be relatively easy. Just standing still as they pass works wonders, even on the unicorns, but I can feel my tenuous hold on the spell slipping every so often and I have to reinforce it again and again. Bypassing the Common room with a pang of loss, I observed the Captain's room. Apparently, he hasn't seen any point in keeping guards there. I suppose it's because this is the last place I want to be. Cautiously, I nudge the door open. I can see him as well as hear him in my head and physically as he spoke into the lodestone. It was... disorientating. Thankfully the door is well looked after and it doesn't squeak. The chest is just by the door. I reach forward and flip it open as quietly as I can, reach in and grab my saddlebags. They were right where I thought they'd be.

Then something else caught my eye. 

As I flipped the saddlebags onto my back a strange cloak leaped up into my optic sensory perception. It was a strange cloak, and I couldn't tell what colour it was. It seemed to shift as I watched between greens, reds and browns. With a glance at the still occupied Shining Armour, I grabbed it too and bolted. No way was I staying any longer than I had to. Now to the next area. Since I've gotten my bags, and this strange cloak of which I am now stuffing into my saddlebags, I have to descend into the lower levels.

The kitchen.


~*~


Now it should be said that never in the history of the castle has there been an orderly kitchen until recently.

Some of the best chefs in Equestria, and some from other places, have worked and slaved over grills, pots and pans in this magnificent place, but never has it been so in sync and so organized as when Silver Stake took over the kitchen as head chef.

Silver is an older stallion with a white mane shot through with gray. His blue coat had faded over the years and he had silver streaks on his muzzle, but his eyes were hard and sharp and his tongue was razor sharp and quick to bite. If there was anypony not of the guard to fear in the castle, Silver was him. He might not have been the best cook in the world, but the other staff respected and trusted his judgement, and his strange ability to tell precisely what should go one when and how everything should work. He was not afraid to get rough if required, and his burn scarred fetlocks had thrown one too many dishes aside as 'tasteless' or 'bland'. That's not to say he was cruel. Every piece of aggression was met with an equal amount of tender affection in the form of soft words, gestures or helpful advice and he never abandoned a team mate. he was perhaps the most complex stallion I have ever met, and I'm glad I met him with Spring else he might have turned me inside out with a word. He was, peculiarly enough, a pegasus stallion who hadn't opened his wings for years. They were more aesthetic than practical now, and he barely bothered to preen them. Nopony knew why he hadn't opened them, they just knew he didn't fly anymore.

"More heat on that soup! Cut those carrots finer Edgy! Make sure those potatoes are washed to perfection! Celestia wants the king to have only the best we can offer! Hawke!"

"Yes Sir?"

"You're making the mash! Do it just like last time, I've never tasted better mash!"

As I watched, the young earth mare blushed and her colleagues winked at her.

"Thank you sir, I'll make it even better."

"That's what I like to hear! Move your flanks! Only three hours before we serve!"

Blistering hot grills, small wall mounted top down grillers called Salamanders, A massive stove top with twelve different gas burners on it, Three massive deep fryers and a whole range of culinary equipment and machinery I don't even know the name to.

Welcome to the kitchen.

Trying to ignore the constant shouts is easy. Dodging every single pony that was rushing around like a headless chicken was fucking murderous. Ducking, Weaving and occasionally jumping, I tried wildly to dodge the kitchen staff, at one point even having to sweep around Silver himself. I swear he glanced at me, but he didn't seem to see me, because he kept going. My head is killing me, and I can feel the illusion beginning to fade. Desperately I pump more power into it. My head feels like it's going to split but I finally make it to the storage room. But I can't go in without somepony else opening the door, or ponies will get suspicious. Thankfully I didn't have to wait long before Silver came along and opened the door, hurrying into the room. I followed, careful not to bump into him or anypony else. It was to my great surprise when the door slammed shut behind me. I spun around to see Silver glaring at me, even through my light bending.

"You can drop the invisible act now lad," He said quietly. He has a really thick accent, like he was from some far off place. he drew out his o's and a's. It was strange, but not unpleasant. With a gulp, I let the field drop around me. He was still glaring at me. He glanced at the now closed door, of which he stood by, then back to me.

"I hear yer gettin' Nightspring inta trouble," He growled at me and I swallowed, shaking my head. Where the hell had he heard that!?

"No sir!" I quickly replied, as quietly as I could whilst still being heard by him, "I'm not intentionally doing so, no. I'm trying to leave her here sir, so she can't."

The old stallion huffed and jerked his head to the racks upon racks of supplies all around me.

"Strange story. Ain't every day I get a visit from the Prince. He reckons that I should give ya whatever supplies ya need and send ya on yer way. I say why? Why help a crim? And he just looked at me and smiled. But I ain't one to go back on an order, or on my word."

His eyes narrowed as hope flared in my chest.

"But if I hear 'bout ya again, or ya show yer face in my kitchen again before you clear ya name as the Prince seems so positive ya will, I'm afraid I won't have the same leniency. I'll be forced to turn ya into the cap. Got it lad?"

I nodded quickly and he huffed again.

"Take what ya need."

He watched me as I slowly started taking bits and pieces from the store room. Only a few apples, because I was over them, some turnips, vegetable stock for soup, oats and other things that were essential. Then, out of a whim, I looked up at a shelf of chocolate and glanced back at Silver. His eyes were glinting mischievously.

"Ya know, normally I'd kill ya if a lad looked at Celestia's chocolate like that. But since you seem so hopeless, I'll let ya have a piece."

Suddenly feeling overwhelmingly guilty, I looked back at the chocolate longingly, before shaking my head and leaving it be. Maybe some other time. I looked back at him and bowed.

"Thanks sir. I won't forget this."

He grunted sourly and jerked his head to somewhere behind me.

"Normally, I'd let ya out the service passage, but they went and blocked that off too. You're gunna have to go through someplace else."


Shit. There goes that idea.

With a sigh I nodded. He smiled.

"Don't ya worry about your little disguise in the kitchen. We won't rat ya out lad. Let's go."

With a nod, I left  him and went out of the store room...

And right into the eyesight of three Royal guards.

Fuck.

"There he is! After him!"

With a curse I sprang into action, disregarding the aching in my hooves and my head. Stealth was not an option anymore. I plunged recklessly into the sea of ponies making up the kitchen staff and the guards did the same. Pushing, shoving and apologising, I ran through the crowd when suddenly it parted and a pegasus guard was leaping at me! With a reaction faster than I could think I dived low, shooting under him as he faceplanted into the ground. I got up an kept running as a crowd gathered around the injured guard, asking if he wanted assistance. By the time the other two had realised I'd left, I was running back up the stairs. But I could hear them in my ear.

Target found, lower levels, kitchen. Going upstairs now, anypony able to intercept?

Intercepting at the top of the steps. Don't worry, he won't escape us.

Well, we'll see about that. I reached the top of the steps, leaping up them three at a time before a wall of magic appeared before me. With a surge of adrenaline I brought my magic to bear...

And got more than I bargained for.

A flash of light and a bang followed by screams later and the two guards from the top of the stairs were unconscious and the wall's power flowed into me. I could feel it, My headache was fading. Now it was more like a headache, less like somepony was trying to cut my head open with a rusty spoon. I could run with that. I didn't slow down, rushing up the next staircase, listening as they set up a blockade on the next floor. With a surge of inspiration, I hit the top of the stairs and leaped to one side, several bolts of magical energy missing my by inches and one clipping my fetlock as I hit the bannister and leaped off of it, landing on my hooves on the other side of the barricade and instantly galloping again. My hooves were killing me. They felt like they were going to fall off at any minute and I could feel the burn where the magic bolt had hit me pulsing with pain.

The next staircase was blocked by a contingency of guards, and I had no wish to try and go through them. With more now hot on my heels, I bolted to the left and deeper into the castle. That was when the bolts started flying past my ears, their incessant sparking making me yelp and try to force myself to go faster. My lungs are burning, and I can't feel my hooves anymore. just as well, they were hurting so much before. Without a thought I plunged into a room and slammed the door shut. Panting I turned around to behold the stunned look of a noble pony, at least twelve pairs of guard eyes and the eyes of King Chlorophyll and Princess Celestia.

Celestia dammit, I had to turn into the throne room didn't I?

"What on Equestria is going on here!?" demanded the noble, who I now recognized as the reviled prince Blueblood. Irritating stallion. I glared at him, still out of breath and Celestia's brow arched. Chlorophyll looked a bit... shocked, but otherwise unaffected.

"My little pony..." Said Celestia quietly, making me gulp in dread, "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in your cell?"

Shit. She knew who I was. Of course she did. She's Celestia. With a gulp, I raise my head high.

"Because I'm not guilty," I shot back at her proudly. Or I hope it was proudly. It was difficult to keep my legs from quaking under her glare, "And I will not be judged for crimes I did not commit."

There was a long silence. Then I was running again as she waved a hoof to the guards and they sprang into action. With a desperate cry, I bolted again, around one guard. Another glanced me as he tried to tackle me and I heard a pot whistle past my head as I fell, rolling before springing back up and galloping again. Not knowing where else to go, my eyes fixed on a door off to the left and I bolted for it. I heard somepony scream 'No!' before I busted through the old door and rushed up the stairs. It seems I'm in some sort of tower and I can hear stamping hooves behind me as I bound up the steps, hoping I hit the top before them.

I did, and what I found there confused me.

I hit the top, spun around and slammed the door shut, sliding the bolt home just as the others reached me and started banging on the door. Turning around searching for escape I was met by the gaze of an intensely old stallion. He had a long white beard, and his entire coat seemed to be that grey that one develops in old age, his mane and tail were the same white as his beard and he was leaning on a cane. He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes strangely golden before he looked to my saddlebags and then to the window. I was dimly aware that the pounding on the door was still going. The old stallion nodded to my bags.

"One way out," He croaked out quietly, "One item to keep you alive. Just don't shout as you dive."

What he said didn't compute before from somewhere within the shock of white mane a horn glowed and the cloak, the cloak I'd taken from the office of my former CO, floated out from the bag and settled on my back, the drawstring tying themselves around my neck. I took a few steps forward before the door gave out and the guards burst in. Without anyplace else to go and with no other thought other than that I was going to die, I leaped out the window, shattering the glass into billions of pieces as I fell