//------------------------------// // The Plan // Story: Armor's Game // by OTCPony //------------------------------// The day of the winter solstice was a hectic one in Canterlot. In centuries gone by, it had been the last day that ponies would be able to harvest food for the winter, and Earth Ponies in particular would race to dig up the last crops before the snows. Today, in the one thousand and third year of the reign of Princess Celestia, it was hectic for a different reason: In memory of those ancient days, it was the last day that shops could legally stay open before shutting for the eight-day national holiday of Hearth’s Warming, and even this early at eight in the morning, shoppers thronged the boulevards of Canterlot in the hopes of finding that last gift they had put off buying. His Highness Prince Shining Armor, Co-Prince of the Crystal Empire and Captain-General of the Royal Guard, watched the crowds of shoppers from a turret window in Canterlot Castle. Time was when he had been one of those shoppers, with Twily by his side and both of them trying to slip away from their parents for long enough to discreetly buy whatever gift they had picked out. He remembered walking through those streets with the cold wind in his face, looking forward to that night’s regimental dinner in the Officers’ Mess, and then joining his family for Hearth’s Warming two days later. But times had changed. He was royalty now, kept forever under the public’s gaze by his marriage to Cadance, the most beautiful and charming mare he had ever met. And now that had been solidified by the ascension of his sister, the filly he cared most about in the world, to the rank of Princess. It was almost impossible to imagine that the shy, bookish filly he had known all his life had, in less than three years, become responsible for the destinies of millions of ponies. Everything had changed. And today, he thought grimly, everything would change again, and probably not for the better. “Bit for your thoughts, BBBFF?” Shining Armor spun from the window. “Twily!” Twilight Sparkle kept her wings close to her body. Unlike Celestia, Luna and Cadance, she had not embraced the crowns and decorated vests of a Princess. Shining Armor knew that she would never see herself as anything more than a university student. She trotted over and gently crossed horns with him. “How’s ruling the country going?” asked Shining Armor “Can’t complain. How’s dealing with the integration of a long-vanished empire into the modern world going?” “It’s going brilliantly. We’re getting new investment every day, and we’re close to a breakthrough with Fancypants’ mining company...” Shining Armor was about to say more, when suddenly a piercing shriek sounded from the door. “AHHHHH!! It’s Twilight’s brother!” Pinkie Pie bounced into the tower room. Shining Armor sighed and knew he’d never be able to tell Twilight anything else today. “Hi, Pinkie Pie.” “Oh, I’m so excited to be here! It was so wonderful of Princess Celestia to invite us for Hearth’s Warming Eve! In Canterlot for Hearth’s Warming twice! How many rock farmers’ fillies can claim that?!” “Pinkie, please control yourself. This is Canterlot Castle of all places!” An elegant voice drifted through the door. Rarity gracefully trotted into the tower room a moment later, her mane perfectly styled as ever. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy followed. An exhausted-looking Spike was draped over Rainbow’s back, and they all looked like they’d chased Pinkie up the tower stairs. Rarity approached Shining Armor and curtsied delicately. “Your Highness.” “Rarity, I’ve told you. You’re Twilight’s friend; you don’t need to call me ‘Your Highness’.” “Oh, but that just wouldn’t be proper!” exclaimed Rarity. “Goodness! Is that a new uniform?” Shining Armor touched the front of his green double-breasted jacket. “Thought I should start dressing like a Crystal Pony if I’m going to lead them. This one’s based on the uniform the Imperial Crystal Army wore before Sombra took over. It’s actually about that that I wanted to speak to Twily and the Princesses today.” “And I would indeed be very interested to hear this.” Princess Celestia entered the tower room, her ethereally-floating mane just brushing the top of the door frame. Shining Armor bowed and Twilight and her friends curtsied. Spike leapt off Rainbow’s back and landed in a painful-sounding bellyflop on the wooden floor. Grunting, he pulled himself up and bowed. “Rise, my little ponies,” Celestia glided gracefully through the door. Behind her followed to smaller forms of Luna and Cadance. Shining Armor’s wife shot him a dazzling smile. “Well,” said Shining Armor. “Mares, gentlestallion.” He nodded at Spike. “If you’ll all take a seat, we’ll begin.” A couple of benches were spread in a crescent shape around a pedestal in the centre of the room. Twilight’s friends looked reluctant. “Uh, Cap’n Armor?” drawled Applejack. “Ah can’t really speak for the rest o’ the girls, but, uh, ah wouldn’t wanna be interfering in any o’ your high-falutin’ affairs o’ state. Ah work on a farm, fer Pete’s sake!” “Yeah, and Spirits know what I might blurt out after a night on AJ’s cider!” laughed Rainbow Dash. “Actually, Applejack, what we talk about today may affect every pony in Equestria. With the Princess’ permission, I hope that you’ll stay.” “That’s quite all right,” said Princess Celestia. She took a seat. Luna and Cadance flanked her. As the rest of the ponies took seats, Shining Armor summoned a crystal from his saddlebag and gently sat it down on the pedestal. He sent a jet of gold magic at it from his horn, and images swum to life in the air above. “Our world,” he proclaimed formally. “Equus.” A map of the world shimmered in the air. In the west were the two continents of North and South Amarerica, separated by the Thousand Islands Sea. Across the Promethic Ocean to the east was Mareope, and joining that continent even further east was the massive continent of Haysia, dominated by Gryphonia. The island of Neighpon sat off Haysia’s eastern coast, and a vast tract of south-east Haysia was dominated by Dragon Kingdoms. Far to the south-east in the Eirenic Ocean was Horsetralia, and to the south of Mareope, kept separate by the Mediterrreinean Sea, was Zebrica. “Equestria’s geostrategic position is unique,” said Shining Armor. He gave the crystal another jolt of magic and the map zoomed in on North Amarerica. “We’re the dominant power on the North Amarerican continent, and the difficulties of crossing the Thousand Islands Sea or rounding Cape Antler mean that we’re the natural stopping point for merchants coming in from Mareope and seeking to trade with Neighpon and the Dragon Kingdoms, and vice-versa. This coupled with our expertise in agriculture and weather manipulation, and our mineral resources and booming fashion industry, has made us one of the richest nations in the world.” Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity beamed. Another jet of magic and the map was replaced with a series of charts and graphs. “We’ve put it to good use, too,” continued Shining Armor. “Equestria today scarcely knows poverty. Standards of living and education are high, and the ponies have never been more satisfied with the rule of Celestia and Luna.” The Princesses exchanged smiles. “And yet,” said Shining Armor, grimly. “We have done little to defend our way of life.” Princess Celestia’s head shot around. Her smile had been replaced by a determined grimace. Shining Armor swallowed. He had been prepared for criticism of what we was going to suggest, but Princess Celestia had a divine, impossible beauty about her that made her rebukes all the more terrifying. “If you mean to suggest, Shining Armor, that I have become complacent in the defence of my subjects, I would hear it now.” “I would never say that, Your Highness. In fact, your policy over the past millennium has more than protected Equestria against external threats. That is, threats we could predict.” Celestia softened slightly. “Equestria’s defence policy over the past thousand years has rested on four principles,” the Unicorn stallion continued. “Firstly, our geography. We are bordered to the east and west by sea, and by desert and hills to the south before reaching the Thousand Islands Sea. The only cultures there are the Buffalo and Lynx tribes, with whom we are friendly; Dragons on migration, whom we’ve never disturbed; and until recently, the Felinia Matriarchy.” A ripple of anger went through the room. Twilight and her friends knew well what had happened to that peaceful nation at the hands of the Changelings. “We are bordered to the north by arctic ice. Beyond the Crystal Empire, there’s nothing but icy mountains and tundra.” Yet he could not help but feel uncomfortable as he said that. “Secondly, we have never entered any entangling alliances. We will trade and we will negotiate, but we will not fight overseas. We will do nothing to earn the enmity of another power. “Thirdly, our trade. There are few nations on Equus that could survive us imposing sanctions on them. Over the past millennium, Equestria has successfully defused two hundred regional crises through diplomacy and the threat of sanctions, and successfully stopped thirteen wars through the same means. “And fourth, if all else fails, we have the reputation of the Princesses. No nation capable of challenging Equestria would accept a leader willing to go up against a literal goddess. Ponies with the power to move the sun and moon are dangerous foes indeed. “Two years ago we had a fifth addition to our defences: The Elements of Harmony. Now that the Elements are active again, we have successfully faced down two of the most dangerous threats Equestria has ever faced: Nightmare Moon and Discord.” Shining Armor grimaced. “All this worked well until our wedding just over a year ago.” “Chrysalis,” whispered Cadance. The name was still bitter on his wife’s lips. “Exactly. The Changeling Attack was not something we could have possibly foreseen, and something that our age-old policies couldn’t even begin to defend us against. The Changelings don’t care about money. Even the threat of annihilation is meaningless to them if only the Queen and some of the hive survive. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. All they need is our emotions, whether it’s love, anger, happiness or fear, the stronger the better. In the end, all we had to defend us was Princess Celestia’s reputation, and because of the vast amount of love Chrysalis absorbed from me, all it was was reputation.” Shining Armor angrily stamped a hoof. “But for all its suddenness, for all the Changelings’ surprise, we could have beaten it with conventional means. I’ve spoken to officers in Gryphonia, Germaneigh, Prance and Trotaly. They all maintain that had the Changelings arrived in their capitals as they did in ours, their armies could have beaten them in two hours. Instead, we only had a regiment of Royal Guardsmen who were rapidly overpowered, and when Twilight and her friends were separated from the Elements, all we could do was defeat them with the magic of love. Cadance and I aren’t even sure if that’s repeatable.” “No.” Princess Celestia stood up from her bench. Her mane flowed fiercely and there was true anger in her eyes. “I know what you would have me do, Shining Armor, and I will not do it. Militarising Equestria would be a betrayal of everything I came here to do over a thousand years ago. Your desire to see further defence against Changeling attacks is understandable, yet I will not do what you propose. Twilight and her friends left Chrysalis and her spawn safely bottled up behind the Macintosh Hills.” “The Changelings may not stay imprisoned forever, Your Highness. They know our strategies, they’ve learned our weaknesses, and their attack nearly destroyed us. We cannot allow that to happen again. In any case, it’s not just the Changelings. Rumours of your defeat by Chrysalis last year have spread, and let me tell you, there are more than a few young officers abroad who see this as an opportunity to have their way with Equestria. I was pretty surprised that most of them did actually think you could move the sun to destroy them, by the way.” “Um, Princess?” squeaked somepony quietly. Celestia looked down. “Yes, Fluttershy?” she said softly. The butter-yellow Pegasus looked like she was trying to hide behind her mane. “Um, is that true what Shining Armor said? You... you can’t actually move the sun to destroy people?” “Well, no. If I tried that I’d probably destroy Equus as well.” “But... you wouldn’t do that either.” “Never.” “Oh, uh, good. I guess I can stop worrying about that now.” “And that’s exactly the problem,” said Shining Armor forcefully. “Our ultimate defence has been exposed for what it is. Even the Elements of Harmony are built on sand: Three months ago Twilight’s crown was stolen by Sunset Shimmer, and for a week the realm was utterly defenceless. We can’t just do with a regiment of Guards anymore. We need an army. And we need to show that we are not afraid to use it.” A silence fell over the room. Celestia looked as defiant as ever, but Luna looked thoughtful. “Well,” said Rainbow Dash after a moment. “An army sounds pretty cool. Any room for a Wonderbolts drop-out, Captain?” “You have no idea what you are agreeing with, Rainbow,” said Celestia icily. She stood and glided to the window, staring at the crowds below. “When my sister and I descended a thousand years ago, Equestria was a land torn by hatred. Even our defeat of Discord did not solve their quarrels. I saw the devastation the armies wracked, and none of you can even begin to contemplate the horrors they left in their wake! I will do nothing that might bring those back!” The Princess spun from the window, and she was a terror to behold. “This meeting is over, Shining Armor. Thank you for your well-researched talk, but that is the end of it.” And she swept from the room. Shining Armor and his audience stood in stunned silence for a moment, then Twilight said, “So, girls, uh... fancy joining me for elevenses downstairs?” “Will there be chocolate cake?” “Yes, Pinkie, there’s always chocolate cake.” “Then yes! C’mon, girls!” Pinkie bounced happily out of the room, as if she had already forgotten the scene that had just taken place. The five others and Spike followed awkwardly behind her. Shining Armor sighed and summoned the crystal from the pedestal. Princess Luna still sat on her bench. “The nightmares still haunt you, Shining Armor.” “Every night it’s the same. I still see her. Chrysalis and her flames. And what I did...” Cadance draped a leg over his shoulder. “What happened that day wasn’t your fault.” “I nearly married a Changeling! She would have let you die in those caves! And I let her into Canterlot!” He struggled to hold back tears. “It’s been getting worse as we get nearer to our anniversary,” said Cadance to Luna. “Can’t you help?” Luna stood. Her mane, dark as night, sparkled as it flowed. “I will do all in my power, Shining Armor, but you...” “...must face your fears in your own way, or the nightmares will continue,” he completed bitterly. “What can I do, Luna? Chrysalis is miles to the south waiting to invade, and Celestia won’t let us do a thing!” “I sincerely hope that you did not prepare that fine presentation just to hide a desire for revenge,” said Luna darkly, and in that moment Shining Armor saw why some ponies still feared her. “Yeah, I suppose that’s a big part of it,” he mumbled. “But there’s more than that.” “Yes, I thought I saw something when you mentioned the arctic.” “We started getting the reports three months ago,” said Cadance. “After we got back from Twilight’s coronation. Diamond Dog raiders have been seen on our borders. At first it was small; a few gems swiped from the carts outside our mines, or a farmhouse broken into...” “Then it got worse,” said Shining Armor grimly. “They started raiding homesteads even further south, and in greater numbers too. Last month we had thirteen raids, all of them involving packs of over ten Dogs. I put our Guards company on alert, but I need more ponies to guard our frontiers. That was why I sent for more officers.” “Then two weeks ago we received word from a farmer about a raid,” said Cadance, sickened. “Twenty-four Diamond Dogs had stripped the crops from his fields and left his wife badly injured when she went out to see what was happening. Well, a party that big is going to leave a trail and this was our opportunity, so we sent seven Guardsponies after them. They were to stay concealed, find their burrow, and report their findings.” “Only one came back,” growled Shining Armor. Luna looked unimpressed. “I am not a military pony, yet it seems to me that seven versus twenty-four...” “It wasn’t the Diamond Dogs that attacked them,” said Cadance. “There’s something else you need to see, Luna.” The Princess of the Night’s eyes swished from Cadance, to Shining Armor, and back again. “Very well,” she said slowly. “Where is it?” “The tower basement. Shining had hoped to show Tia as well.” Shining Armor led the way down the tower’s spiral staircase. The lower levels of the tower had not been used for centuries. When Celestia and Luna had first raised Canterlot Castle, these chambers would have stored mounds of provisions and weapons to hold off a siege that a thousand years ago had been very likely. Now they stood empty and derelict. “In here,” he said when they reached the bottom of the staircase. The air here was chilly, the walls rough and unfurnished, and the door was plain wood. He produced a key, turned it in the lock, and opened the door. A shimmering grey Crystal Pony in a uniform that matched Shining Armor’s stood waiting in the dark room. Her cutie mark was a five-pointed gold star. Next to her lay something on a table, draped in a white sheet. She curtsied as they entered. “Your Highnesses.” “Rise, Captain,” ordered Shining Armor. “Luna, this is Captain Silver Star. She’s one of my new officers in the Crystal Guard Company.” “Charmed,” said Luna, extending a hoof. Silver Star shook it awkwardly. “You want to see it now, sir?” she asked. “Please, Captain,” said Shining Armor. Silver Star walked slowly over to the table, took a deep breath and pulled off the sheet. The body of a Crystal Pony, its golden coat now lustreless, lay there. The body had been cleaned and care had been taken to lay it out with dignity, but the deep, gaping wound in its flank was clear. “This is the body of Private Gold Aurora,” said Shining Armor. “He was the only member of the patrol to come back to the Empire.” “We found him on the Northern Marches,” said Silver Star. “He was bleeding heavily from that wound and was in a severe state of hypothermia. All we could do was make him comfortable and try to work out what had happened before he died.” “And?” asked Luna. “From what he could tell us, they found the Diamond Dogs dead. They’d been attacked by something, and that same thing had attacked them.” “What was it?” “Every time we tried to ask, he just... just laughed, Your Highness. He kept saying it was impossible, that they were fairytales, whatever they were. After he died, we pulled this out of his wound.” She laid a small tray on the table. Inside was a small, slightly flattened piece of metal the size and shape of an acorn. “That’s lead. To cause that injury this would have had to hit with significant force. We don’t know what it could be.” Luna took a step backwards, and then turned to Shining Armor. “What would you have me do?” “There is something in the north, Luna, and it has the Diamond Dogs scared. It’s scaring me. We need to know what it is and what it wants. I need you to get Tia’s permission for me to raise more troops so I can conduct more patrols, and if this thing is hostile, we can’t afford to be stuck between it in the north and an army of Changelings in the south.”