//------------------------------// // 07: A Game of Chance // Story: For Queen and Country // by Gherkin //------------------------------// “How can they be everywhere and we know nothing about them?” *** These ponies were more dangerous than they looked. Bond couldn’t help but be impressed by everything going on around him. The sterile lab environment was a far cry from the architecture in the rest of the castle above, where Elizabethan-esque columns and corridors were the order of the day. Scientist ponies were trotting to and fro, recording data from their experiments with new weapon and armor types. Swords, spears, maces, and even some strange looking crossbows were being wielded by various test subjects around the large, sterile room.. They would give each weapon a few test swings or shots, using items such as pieces of fruit for targets, and then furiously scribble down their results for analysis later. It reminded 007 of Q Branch back at MI6, though they had always been about developing tracking devices and the like. Sometimes even the odd exploding pen. Princess Luna cleared her throat in front of him, pausing in the middle of the large room, and he abruptly stopped looking around. She was staring right at him, with his gun floating beside her, inside of a magical aura. “Mr. Bond, your weapon.” The gun floated towards him, and he caught it in his grasp. James felt the weight of the firearm in his hands and checked the sights, before slotting it into his shoulder holster, satisfied that everything was in order. “We’ve also provided you with some additional ammunition, as well," Luna continued. Three full magazines came floating from a scientist behind her and into his hands also. “How?” James asked bluntly. Luna smirked. “We’re not stupid, Mr. Bond. We know how to easily replicate any new tech we come across. What, did you think we chop up watermelons down here just for the fun of it?” She snickered slightly at her own joke. “Besides, we’re not done yet. If you’re going to be escorting my sister and I this evening, you shall need to know the plan.” “Honestly, I didn’t take either of you for gambling ponies,” James commented, following her as she lead him towards the exit of the laboratory. “We’re usually not,” Luna replied, “but first impressions aren’t everything, Mr. Bond. My sister and I do like to take time out and have some fun. Ponies always assume we are both nothing more than boring aristocrats, but this is not the case.” Bond nodded, continuing to follow her as they exited the lab and made their way towards the regular parts of the castle. “So, what is this plan?” “It’s rather simple, really,” she told him, her hooves clopping against the marble floors of the castle. The sound echoed off the high walls of the large hallway, serving to amplify the sound. “Nothing too complicated, but we’ll explain it in detail later on, at the briefing.” “Briefing?” “A few of our guards will be attending as well, in casual uniform,” she explained. “We don’t want to attract any more attention than we need, right?” Bond raised an eyebrow quizzically. “And yet, I’m going to be escorting you. Me, the unknown creature from a strange, faraway world.” He joked as the princess turned around to face him. “To anypony else, it’ll look like you’re there to have fun, not protect us. Having armoured guards escort us only gives ponies a reason to be suspicious.” “So you want me to behave like some sort of diplomat, or something?” James could see some logic behind her idea. “If you want. Ponies will be expecting you to carry yourself in a way that is expected around royalty,” she told him, before continuing up the stairs and into the main hall. “Canterlot nobility is rather picky like that. Most tend to act towards less formal manners with some disdain.” “And what about you?” 007 asked. “What do you think about how people should behave around you and your sister?” “I spent almost the last thousand years imprisoned inside the moon, James.” Luna looked up at him for a moment, before turning away. “Truth be told, I am still getting used to modern Equestrian society. Everything seems so new, even foreign to me.” She looked up at him and chuckled slightly. “When I first returned, it took me almost an hour to just figure out how to make myself a meal with all of this modern technology.” Bond smirked. “Couldn’t you have just gotten one of the castle chefs to make you something?” She shook her head, turning around and continuing across the room to a large staircase. “I considered it, briefly. But I never did like getting waited on. It only invites laziness.” "I can understand that," he sympathised as she led him up the expansive staircase. "Though I don't suppose I've ever had the luxury of being waited on all day and night in the first place." "It is really not much to envy," the princess reassured him, reaching the second floor of the castle. "Most of the time, it feels like the waiters are just getting in the way." They entered a long hallway, which James recognised as the route to the both his and Twilight's rooms. "When is the briefing, exactly?" he asked her. "This afternoon, at four o'clock," she answered. "We'll be leaving the castle at six. For now, I've ordered for some lunch to be brought up for you and Twilight Sparkle." James raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. "Yes, I am aware of the irony, given the conversation we were just having." Luna giggled slightly and rolled her eyes as they reached his bedroom door. "Right then." James turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, before turning back to the princess. "Wait, just one more thing. Is there anything I should know about this nephew of yours? Prince Blueblood. Luna seemed to grimace slightly, but it disappeared quickly. "Not much, only what you already know. He is a distant nephew of mine and my sister." "How is it that you have a nephew, exactly? You said you were imprisoned in the moon." "My sister and I are over one thousand years old, Mr. Bond. Ample time to have more than a few suitors, wouldn't you say?" James understood the implication. "I see. So he's a prince?" "Technically, he's a Duke," she explained. "But he insists that everypony call him otherwise." "Right then." Doesn't sound like the most pleasant character. "Is that all?" "It is." She nodded towards him and turned to leave. "I'll leave you to your lunch. See you later, James." "Bye," he said simply, before stepping through the threshold into the luxurious bedroom suite. Twilight was already sitting on a sofa in the living area, nibbling tentatively on a salad. She looked up as he walked in, and smiled. "Good afternoon, James," she said cheerily. "How was it?" He paused for a second, choosing the right word with which to respond. "Rather strange, honestly. I didn't expect such heavy firepower from the researchers down there." "From what I hear, the princesses hired a lot of researchers to look into improved weapons and armour after the changeling invasion of the city," she told him, reading through a book lying next to her salad as she talked. "I've been wanting to ask. How did the princesses know you were a secret agent, or whatever you are?" Bond sat down on a chair opposite from her, pouring himself a glass of apple cider. "Like you said before we met them, they're goddesses. Practically deities. I wouldn't be surprised if they knew some sort of spell that could look into my world, or perhaps read my memories." "Memory reading spells require immense power and physical connection between the caster and the subject," she commented absentmindedly. "To be able to perform one discreetly and from a distance requires a great deal of power. It doesn't surprise me that only Celestia and Luna could do such a thing." He took a sip of the cider, and helped himself to a few crackers from a plate on the table. "Looking forward to tonight?" he asked the mare across from him after a few moments. His sudden question startled her slightly, so she looked up from her book suddenly. "Oh, I suppose so. I've never really been to a casino before, so I'm not sure what to expect. I don't really gamble. Do you?" James smirked. "Oh, a little bit, sometimes." His sarcasm seemed to fly over Twilight's head. "Well, I'm sure we'll have a great time regardless." She returned to glance down at her book, using her magic to flip the page. "It's an immense privilege to accompany the princesses on a night out." "Didn't you ever get special privileges?" Bond wondered. "Being the princess’ student, I'm sure you did. Though not spoilt, else you wouldn't be as independent and strong-willed as you've proven yourself to be." The mare blushed slightly at his compliment. "Correct with your deductions again. No, apart from near free reign of the castle's libraries, Princess Celestia didn't really shower me with gifts, just provided the role of a loving teacher." Bond’s thoughts flashed back briefly to his aunt, who had cared for and tutored him after his parents died. She had provided a similar role to the one Twilight had just described, and had been the only person he felt that he had any sort of real emotional attachment to. But that was a very long time ago. He didn’t say a word, and only nodded silently towards her, contemplating how events could transpire later that night. *** The bright, neon lights of the Royal Canterlot Casino were not easily missed, especially when it was the only building of real significance within the area. As the royal carriage turned the corner into that street, James was nearly blinded by the shining, flashing lights. Sat next to him was Twilight, outfitted in a simple yet elegant white dress, and, across from them, sat the two regal sisters and their nephew, Prince Blueblood, who had made a habit of looking at Bond with unsubtle disgust whenever their eyes seemed to meet. “It looks like we’ve arrived,” Luna commented, noticing the prince’s expression as the carriage drew to a halt. “Thank you, sirs,” she called to the guards who had been pulling. They nodded stoically, but remained silent. They all clambered out of the carriage, one by one, with James emerging last of all. Blueblood stuck close to Luna, and Bond overheard him whisper something to her. “Auntie,” he whispered, casting a backward glance at the human behind him. “Forgive me, but why did you bring the creature along with us?” She sighed lightly, but Blueblood didn’t seem to notice. “Dear nephew, Mr. Bond is accompanying us because he is an ambassador to our country, and therefore is deserving of all the honours typically bestowed upon a foreign ambassador.” “Yes, but an ambassador from where, exactly?” The agitation in his voice was quite clear at this point. Luna remained silent for a second, contemplating her response. “Well,” she said after a few moments. “That’s for us to find out, isn’t it, dear nephew?” “Yes, auntie.” The prince’s tone was flat, and defeated. James was starting to dislike this stallion more and more as time went on. Deciding not to comment on it, he remained quiet as the five of them entered the large casino. The casino floor was massive, lined with rows upon rows of slot machines, blackjack, and poker tables. It seemed that, even in this innocent looking world of magic and talking ponies, there were vices some could not escape. There was a decent-sized bar near the back of the room, and a door to the side that led into the ‘entertainment lounge’, according to a sign engraved next to it. The moment the group of them entered, they were hounded by reporters and excited nobles alike, all trying to get a word into the princesses. Out of the corner of his eye, James noticed a few of the plainclothes guards Luna had mentioned earlier discreetly pull away a few overly hyperactive ponies from the crowd. “We are just going to mingle for a while,” Princess Celestia announced, both to them and the crowd around them. “By all means, feel free to play some games and have fun.” A pile of chips, encased in her golden magical aura, floated into his right coat pocket, and he noticed that Twilight received the same gift also. “Something to get you started,” Celestia told him, with a playful wink, before turning and heading towards the door James had noticed before, her sister in tow. 007 watched them as they walked away, before turning back towards Twilight. “Well,” he started. “What do you want to do?” The mare shrugged, looking around at the flashing lights that adorned almost every corner of the room. “I don’t mind really, James. Honestly. I think I’ll just go get a drink.” “Perfect idea,” he agreed, going to follow her. Then he remembered that Celestia had left her nephew with her, and turned back to him. Blueblood looked back with disdain, before adjusting his bowtie. “And what are you doing?” James asked. “Blackjack is my game,” he answered, still not looking Bond in the eye. “If, for some unknown reason, you need to find me, that is where I’ll be.” Without another word, Blueblood trotted down the stairs and onto the main casino floor. “A drink, then?” Twilight suggested, trotting towards the bar as Bond followed next to her. “What will you be having?” “I don’t know,” he told her as they reached the bar. The lone bartender was busy shaking another pony’s cocktail. Still undecided, James spied a number of bottles behind the bar. “I think I might settle with a vodka martini, or something,” Twilight said, finishing a sentence that Bond had not picked up on. “What about you, James?” James pondered over an idea, something that he hadn’t drunk in a long time. Oh, why not? He called out for the bartender, who trotted over. He took a wary look at Bond, but smiled again. “Good evening, sir.” He turned to Twilight. “Ma’am. What can I get you?” “A vodka martini for Twilight,” James started, before turning to her. “Shaken or stirred?” She shrugged. “Shaken, stirred, whatever you feel like.” “Very well.” The bartender nodded. “And for you, sir?” “Start off with a dry martini.” The stallion in front of him went to turn around and start, before James stopped him. “Just a minute.” He pointed to a few of the dusty old bottles on the shelf behind the bartender. “Add three measures of Maredon’s, one of vodka, then half a measure of Kina Filly.” He squinted, barely making out the names of the familiar sounding spirits. “Shake until ice-cold, then add a thin slice of lemon peel.” The stallion stared at him for a brief moment, before snapping out of his stupor. “Certainly, sir.” He turned around and began to mix the complicated drink. “Gosh, that’s certainly a drink,” Twilight commented, relaxing and leaning against the bar. “You drink much, then?” “Oh, only in moderation,” he replied sarcastically, chuckling. The bartender returned with his drink, and James thanked him. “I have an idea,” he announced suddenly. “What is it?, James?” she wondered, looking up at him curiously. “Shall we go and see how the princesses are doing?” he asked, taking a sip of his cocktail. Twilight’s face lit up. “That’s a great idea,” she said. “I think they’re having dinner right now. Shall we go and join them?” “I think we should,” he replied. “I am supposed to be part of the security, after all.” Twilight nodded, and started to lead him away from the bar. They decided to cut across the casino floor, and, as they did so, they noticed Prince Blueblood a few tables away. “This is preposterous!” they heard him shout, thrusting his cards towards the dealer. Two kings and a jack, Bond noticed. Definitely not a good hand. “I refuse to play any longer!” With that, he stormed away from the table and made his way towards another part of the casino floor, crossing paths with James and Twilight. “Not having a good night, are we?” James asked, slapping the prince on the shoulder as he walked past. Blueblood turned, eye twitching, to retort, but decided against it at the last moment. Instead, he turned and walked away angrily, muttering under his breath. “James, you’re terrible!” Twilight scolded, though she failed to suppress a snicker. “Maybe blackjack isn’t the good prince’s game after all,” Bond commented wryly, smirking as they exited the casino floor and walking towards the door marked ‘entertainment lounge’. “So, James, what exactly do you call that thing anyway?” the mare wondered, nodding towards the drink that was still in his hands. She took a sip of her own martini, before looking up at him again with curiosity. Bond seemed to tense up slightly. “A Vesper,” he answered simply. “It’s a long story.” “Is there a chance I’ll hear it sometime?” “Maybe,” he replied, a little more harsh in tone than he had intended. Twilight went quiet, and looked at him with sympathy in her eyes as they entered the lounge. Okay, that’s a soft subject, she thought to herself. I probably shouldn’t go there. The entertainment lounge was a relatively large room, with a large dance floor in the middle surrounded by restaurant tables, most of them filled with happy, hungry patrons dining on fine cuisine. At the back of the room James noticed the two princesses, who were surrounded by what looked like a few higher-class nobles, all of them eating and talking merrily. “There they are,” Twilight pointed out, trotting towards them. Bond followed, eyeing his surroundings. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, so he kept moving. As walked up a small flight of stairs to where the two princesses were seated, he accidentally bumped into one of their waiters, who tripped and fell. “Sorry, sir,” the stallion apologised as Bond helped him to his hooves. “It’s fine,” James reassured him. “Are you alright?” “I’m okay, thank you. Sorry, but I have an order to fulfill.” Without another word, he hurried away. James went to turn and follow Twilight again, but something stopped him. That stallion was familiar. His voice, his colour palette. He could have sworn that he had seen the pony somewhere before. Looking back at the waiter, Bond noticed that he was trotting with an obvious limp. “You go on, I have to do something,” he called back to Twilight, before following the stallion. He heard the mare’s words of protests, but ignored them. He knew where he had seen the waiter before, and, if he was right, then everyone was in danger. He followed the stallion behind an employees-only door that led to an empty corridor. Perfect, Bond thought, quickening his pace. The waiter was still unaware of the fact that he was being tailed, something that James intended to capitalise on. He got behind him, grabbed him by the neck, and shoved him against the wall. “Gah! What in Tartarus are you doing?!” the waiter gasped, struggling for air as Bond clutched at his neck. “Save it!” he growled, glaring at the stallion. “Don’t think I don’t remember. You were there, at the old castle ruins. I could have killed you back then, but I didn’t. Doesn’t mean I won’t now.” ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about!” the waiter tried to claim, but Bond didn’t buy it. He thrust him back against the wall hard. The stallion cried out in pain, the back of his head bouncing off the concrete wall. “Don’t bullshit me!” James barked. “Why are you here? Is it to kill the princesses, is that it?” The pony struggled again for a few seconds, before finally resigning himself. He sighed, and chuckled darkly. “You catch on quick,” he rasped, still struggling for air but having decided to give up the charade. “You’re too late, anyway. Don’t tell me you’re stupid enough to think I’m the only one here.” James’ eyes widened. In an instant, he drove his captive’s head back into the wall again and, with an audible crack, he fell to the ground, knocked out cold. Without a second thought, 007 turned and ran. Hopefully, he wasn’t too late. Nobody was going to die tonight.