The alarm bell rang out into the night, brassy tones echoing off of the walls. Twilight shot out of bed, worried at the noise. It was two hours before the boat was supposed to arrive, and if it was early then a runner would have been dispatched to her chambers in order to wake her. She listened carefully for the pattern of the bell. Two strikes, then one, then two again, which meant that a party was back and they had seriously wounded individuals among them. Her mind went from being partially addled with sleep to razor sharp in moments, and she quickly trotted over to the wooden chest at the foot of her bed. The clasp was bathed in magic for a brief moment, and then Twilight withdrew several objects. She heard Tarantella sit up in bed.
“Twilight? Are you all right?”
Twilight slung her crystal over her neck, and fastened a cloak around her shoulders. A brief application of magic banished tangles from her mane, and the mirror showed that she was ready to go. She turned to Tarantella. “The boat is back early, with wounded. Odds are good Radiant Zenith is treating them, but I need to be down there.”
Tarantella nodded. “I shall alert the medical staff we have on call. Would you like me to fetch Glimmer as well?”
Twilight headed for the door. Her chambers were warded, meaning nopony would be able to teleport in or out, including herself. “Yes. I will be looking for her after I have collected my ponies, but send a messenger to the Library in order to be safe. Get her ready, and also have a messenger dispatch a message to the Queen. Inform Chrysalis that I await her company in the Library at her earliest convenience, and that the matter before us is an urgent one. And tell her I may have found a candidate for our plan.”
With that, she stepped over the threshold of her door, and with a rush of magic, she was gone.
Twilight focused on the docks near one side of the castle, willing herself to appear there, whole and unharmed. Years ago, it would have been no easy task for her, but now it was such a trivial thing that she occasionally did it without thinking, crossing distances that were unheard of for teleportation without any serious effort. So it was that she coalesced on the docks, the report of her arrival sounding through the night like thunder. The wind caught her cloak as she strode towards the vessel, just in time to see the limp form of a Pegasus being lifted from the boat. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized that it was Night Light.
She sensed the ponies lining the docks bowing to her as she strode past, but she was unable to greet them as she was accustomed to doing, having eyes only for her wounded agent. Her horn lit as she surveyed the damage done to one of her best agents. Radiant Zenith was there already, murmuring ceaselessly over the wound in his chest, a wound which surely would have been fatal had not one of the Changelings applied some of their ichor to it. Her horn gleamed silver in the predawn light, as the flesh of his chest writhed and twisted. He coughed, expelling ichor from his lungs, and his breathing was returning to normal. As she watched, an arrowhead worked its way out of his chest, clattering to the docks below before Twilight picked it up. She gave it to a nearby pony, a Condotteri.
“Take this to my study, and leave it in the care of your Condottiero. Do so quickly.” she said, and the Pegasus snapped a quick salute before speeding into the night. Twilight swept the crowd for the remaining ponies. She saw Silent Shield talking with his troops, and Golden Radiance was assisting ponies climbing to shore. As she watched, a graceful unicorn mare with a coat of white climbed out of the boat, moving to stand by Night Light. A moment later, she was joined by an orange Pegasus.
Twilight allowed them a brief moment with Night Light, enough for them both to see that he was being treated. She looked to the castle, and saw lights burning in the windows, and torches winding down the path from the walls to the docks. The Pegasus would live, of that Twilight was certain. But his road to recovery would be long without magical help, and she needed every agent healthy and fighting fit for what she had planned. She made a mental note to have him treated by unicorns exclusively, in order to help the healing process.
She stepped forward, Scootaloo’s eyes widening as she spotted Twilight behind her friend. She nudged Sweetie Belle, and the two of them sank to their knees in a bow.
“Please, don’t. I consider you both friends, and you’ve been through far too much to be bowing to me.” Twilight said.
Sweetie Belle rose to her hooves, looking at the mare in front of her. When she had last seen Twilight Sparkle, the mare had seemed approachable, friendly and open to all. She was neurotic, a bit messy at times and hyperorganized at others, and most of all, she was very practical looking, a voice of reason in times of need. A shoulder to cry on if needed, or a friend to laugh with if you had no reason to be crying.
The mare that stood before her was Twilight Sparkle, but at the same time, she was not. She carried herself with confidence and authority, her head held high and her bearing approaching something that could be called regal. A dark grey crystal flashed at her throat, and a cloak of black and grey caught the wind behind her. Her face, though it remained kind, was lined with wrinkles, and the three colors in her mane caught the torchlight and exposed strands of silver through the purple, pink, and red. So too had her body changed. Bands of muscle rippled under her skin, and her coat gleamed slightly in the dim light, whether from health or magic it was impossible to say. The pony Sweetie Belle had known in Ponyville was a hero and a friend. This Twilight was a leader and a champion.
Sweetie Belle noticed something else, as well. She had not acted to attack Twilight. The crystal had truly worked, and she was free.
“I’m glad you decided to join, Sweetie Belle. We are always looking for resourceful ponies here. You and I have much to discuss. You as well, Scootaloo. I’m here to take you up to the castle. I have a bit of a…proposition for you both. No obligations, no promises, but it’s big.” Twilight said. “And at the end of it all, you’ll have the truth you’re looking for, Sweetie Belle. I promise that, at least, regardless of whether or not you accept my offer.”
Sweetie Belle’s mind raced. She was being offered a job already? She looked to Scootaloo, who looked back at her. Their eyes met. A nod was shared, and the two curious ponies stepped forward. Sweetie Belle felt Twilight’s magic wrap around her gently, and with a dizzying rush of air, the trio reappeared in the castle.
Sweetie Belle assessed her surroundings. The oblong room she was in was paneled wall to wall in wood and shelving, upon which books were tightly packed, jostling for her attention. Tomes of knowledge on plant life, ancient dances, history and philosophy, and so many other subjects were on display, the biggest repository of knowledge Sweetie Belle had ever seen, including the Archives in Canterlot. Benches lined the walls, upon which were perched a few studious looking ponies, engrossed in thought. Each inclined their heads in respect to Twilight as she walked by, smiling and returning their greetings warmly. They walked through the very center of the room, passing under a gap in the ceiling. Sweetie Bell gasped to see that for at least four floors above her, the library stretched on.
“Trans-dimensional room.” Twilight explained. “Essentially, this place is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.” She stopped in the exact center of the room, planting her feet in the center of a circular woolen rug, interwoven with intricate patterns and runes.
Scootaloo nudged her. “Watch this.” she muttered, indicating Twilight.
The purple unicorn cleared her throat, and her horn lit up as she spoke clearly and concisely. “Arshibal, I need you!”
There was a sudden rush of smoke and the smell of burnt incense, and a form coalesced in front of Twilight. It was a diminutive bipedal creature that was covered in iridescent scales, with a pair of dragonfly wings protruding delicately from her back. The air around her shimmered, and a voice rang through the air from an indistinguishable face. “Lady. How may I serve thee? Art thou seeking knowledge?”
Twilight bowed in respect. “Hail, Head Librarian. I am seeking not a scroll or tome, but one who searches for knowledge within thy demesne.”
The creature nodded. “It is within thy right to call them so. Who dost thou seek?”
“I seek three. Bring me the Changeling Glimmer. Bring me the smith Birchwood. And bring me the Gryphon Mahtaram. Do this and you shall have my thanks.”
The figure bowed and was gone, presumably off to find the parties involved. Twilight turned to Sweetie Belle. “That was a demon. They tend the Library and several other places. They are courteous and friendly, and are eager to help spread knowledge whenever they can. They are, however, bound and constrained by certain rules, which I shall inform you of later. Chief among them is that you do not remove books from this Library. They used to kill those who tried, but I have ordered them merely to detain offending parties instead. It will be unpleasant for you, however, and they will look on you less than favorably for the transgression.”
The air shimmered once more, and resolved itself into the forms of a bulky Earth pony, a slender Pegasus with a coat of white, and a Gryphon with a russet coat, who peered around cautiously as they finished appearing. The demon was last to appear.
“I have performed as asked, my Lady. Do you require anything more of me?”
Twilight smiled. “No, Arshibal. You have performed admirably, and with commendable haste. You are dismissed from your tasks, and may continue with your work.”
The demon bowed and vanished once more, and Twilight stepped out of the circle. The two ponies before her bowed courteously, and the Gryphon inclined her head. Twilight responded in kind, allowing the ponies to rise and giving the barest of nods to the Gryphon. She continued her walk, approaching an intimidating set of double doors, intricately carved with images of the forest surrounding them, from trees and rocks to stags and dragons and other, less savory things. Twilight placed one hoof on the door, focusing magic into the wood. She pushed, and the door swung open on silent hinges to reveal another room, this one smaller and cluttered with maps and charts. The five filed in behind her, and as they crossed the threshold, the door shut. Sweetie Belle looked behind her to see that they had apparently entered through a simple wooden door hardly taller than she was.
“It goes many places.” the Gryphon said, indicating the door. “All over the castle, and some places besides, for those with the knowledge.”
They gathered around a simple wooden table, one that was suspiciously clear of academia. Twilight looked at them each in turn. “Firstly, I would like to thank you all for attending. There was to be a sixth slot filled, but Night Light is currently in care for an arrow wound and will be unable to join us. However, he shall be briefed when he is in recovery.
Some of you I have known for years, longer than this rebellion of ours has been going on. Others have served under me faithfully for nearly as long as the Ever Free has existed. I know you all to be the very best and brightest this movement has to offer. And I mean that truly, for each one of you. It is for this reason I bring you together, because you are the best in your respective fields, and you have exactly the right skillsets I need for this assignment.
Now, I want you to understand that this is secret. So secret, in fact, that some facets of my intelligence program and many of my military commanders are unaware of my designs. Also, this mission I am about to propose is highly dangerous, and there is a very good chance that you will not return. Knowing this, if any of you do not wish to serve me in this, I will understand. Leave now, and no action will be taken against you. Are there any who wish to depart?”
There was a silence that seemed to stretch on interminably. Twilight smiled as not a one of them made a noise of protest.
“Very well then. Some of you are unacquainted, so I will make introductions.”
She indicated the snowy Pegasus to her right. “This is Glimmer, a Changeling and assistant of mine. She has been chosen for her excellent analytical mind and ability to anticipate the actions of others. In addition, she has been commended several times for exceptional bravery on espionage missions throughout Equestria.”
The Gryphon was introduced next. “ This is Mahtaram az Durmasagarti, a daughter of the King of the Durmasagarti Brood. She is an excellent diplomat and warrior. A finer shot I have never seen, and her instincts have served her well in both major battles of this war. She evacuated wounded at the battle of the Whitetail Woods, and was responsible for the destruction of no less than three airships during the final battle of the Red Rock Campaign. Officially, she has been censured by her homeland and is considered a refugee. However, she still visits with King Durmasagarti himself, who is our greatest ally in the Court at Ashtar Sharestan.”
The Earth mare bowed her head humbly as Twilight continued. “This is our master smith and inventor, Birchwood. She has been with the rebellion since its inception, and is responsible for the invention of flash powder, though she and I are the only ones with the knowledge to make it. She served for two years in the Regulars before joining up, and has an extensive knowledge of physical sciences.”
Scootaloo’s wings buzzed as Twilight pointed to her next. “This is Scootaloo, also known as the Runner. She is the most successful courier for our cause, and has never failed to make a delivery, passing through checkpoints and hotspots with ease. I personally have seen her fight, and I can guarantee that she will be able to hold her own.”
All eyes were on Sweetie Belle as Twilight smiled at her. “And this is Sweetie Belle, recently of Canterlot, who joined our ranks mere days ago. I have known her for much longer, however, and I can say that she is one of the more intelligent mares I have met. Even before making it here, she was captured by Dawn Division, and with no prior training, resisted interrogation and torture to an astounding degree. She is an excellent mimic, and she likely knows Canterlot better than any of you. She is also related to Rarity, the Bearer of Generosity. Her sister, to be exact.”
Introductions completed, Twilight addressed the whole table once more. “Each of you is an excellent operative on their own. Even Sweetie Belle, with no training, performs better than most ponies for the job I have in mind. As individuals, you are strong. But for this mission, you will be embedded in Canterlot for one night, just one night. That night, however, will determine the outcome of the war. On the Midwinter Solstice, during the longest night of the year, you will be infiltrating Celestia’s Winter Gala. Your goal is one that we have continuously strived for. Ponies have died to bring us the information we now have, far more good mares and stallions than I would care to admit.”
Twilight unfurled a map of Canterlot Castle. “As guests, several of you will be attending the party in order to gain access to a secret passage. At the end of that passage lies a door, and there, bound in chains, will be your objective.”
There was a collective intake of air from the assembled agents. Surely she didn’t mean…
The leader of the Ever Free nodded. “Yes. You’ve been hoof-picked to free Princess Luna and get her out of Canterlot.”
There was a mutter from the assembled Ever Free members. Twilight held up one hoof. “That’s not all. Normally, I’d be waiting on sending you in until we could be assured of victory, but certain events have transpired that need Luna’s expertise in the field of magic. And time is of the essence, or this rebellion will be crushed within the next year, guaranteed. Midwinter’s Eve is the height of Luna’s power, and if you can get her out of the cell she’s currently in and out into the moonlight, there is no way you won’t be able to escape the city.”
The five looked at one another in a new light. If they were going to succeed, they would need to work together, to come up with a plan and figure out who was responsible for what. They would need to requisition supplies, plan out a route, come up with backup plans…
Twilight spoke once more. “I’ve talked to Grapevine about this. He’s moving a very few agents back into Canterlot, though for the week leading up into the Gala, you will be staying in a safehouse in Manehatten. Birchwood has access to all the materials she will need, and we’ve managed to secure tickets for four ponies so they will be able to enter. You have one month to train yourselves for this mission. Report back here tomorrow at noon to meet with your trainers, and we will begin then. Any questions?”
There were none.
“Then I wish you a good evening. Rest, recover. Remember, secrecy is paramount, and we cannot afford to let this mission fail. Succeed, and you will be heroes. You are all dismissed.”
The group turned to leave, shuffling out of the door, except for Sweetie Belle, who remained in the study. For the first time since she had arrived at the castle, she spoke. “I came here for the truth, Twilight. If you want me to be a part of this, tell me the whole truth, not the partial truth we just heard.”
The purple unicorn chuckled. “You’re sharp, Sweetie Belle. I suppose, after all that you’ve been through for this, I owe you some measure of honesty.” Her horn glowed, and a heavy iron box covered in preservation runes appeared on the desk. Twilight laid a hoof on it. “Tell me, what do you know about the Element of Magic?”
The mountain under Canterlot echoed with the sounds of falling rock. The darkness of the caverns was seemingly lit by a small sun, light from which refracted through a thousand thousand facets, giving the entire room a gentle glow. Again came the sound of rock being struck with great force, echoing around the deeps.
Celestia stood on an outcropping of crystal, her horn gleaming as she examined a crystal held in her grip, flakes falling from it as she brushed off more chips of stone. It was a tiny thing, a rough sphere of flawless crystal that she was even now polishing with her magic to a high sheen. She looked closely. Any imperfections could prove fatal to Shining Armor, and detrimental to her plans. After her thorough examination, she smiled happily. It had been a long time since she had made one of these, and even longer since she had used one. But she still had her craft, and the crystal was well within acceptable parameters.
A soulbind was a tricky business, she mused as she ascended back into the lower vaults of the Castle. She had honestly thought such a thing would never happen again, but such is fate. She would give it to Cadance come sunrise, so that she could imprint herself onto it. And if Shining Armor was to have any hope, she would have to do it right. There would be no second chance.