//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: Coffee // Story: Battle Ready: Envy // by D101 Reviews //------------------------------// Applejack had decided to discuss whatever Sky had to say over some coffee at a local cafe. Avoiding Sugar Cube Corner was a good move on her part as well, as Pinkie Pie was sure to announce the arrival of a Warhorse General to anyone who would listen. No Applejack needed to speak to Sky privately for the time being. Maybe once she'd got answers from her, she could bring the issues to Twilight. No matter how hard Sky tried to play innocent, Applejack could tell she was lying. "Do you frequent this coffee house a lot?" Sky asked as they sat down at an outside table. Applejack shook her head. "Ah leave that kind of thing to Rarity," she explained. "She's the one to drink at one of these places." Sky nodded in understanding. the waited came to their table and the two mares placed their orders. The waited nodded, twirled his snooty moustache and stalked back off to inform the stallion behind the counter of their requests. Applejack looked at Sky, arms folded. Sky looked back her hands resting patiently on the table top. "How long do I gotta wait for you ta give me a straight answer?" she asked after five minutes of uncomfortable silence. "Do you wanna know what my first chapter of training as an officer was?" Sky said casually. "The silent treatment?" Applejack sighed. "Resistance to torture," Sky replied just as casually. "Anything you can think to throw at me AJ I will shrug off because that's what I'm trained to do. Any form of interrogation you care to try will be ineffective so if you're getting any answers, it'll be on my terms." Appeljack scowled. "Don't I deserve to know something at least?" Applejack growled. "I helped ya'll fight Wrath remember?" "Indeed you did," Sky acknowledged. "But unfortunately neither you or your friends are officers in the Warhorse army. I don't even think you have a rank." "Doesn't anything we did at that tomb count for something!" Applejack hissed. "I mean, come on! You're in Equestria, which means something's going on! And I know you aren't here just lookin' out for Battle. Twilight said he wouldn't be coming for any diplomacy for a while." Sky's face was stoic, but there was a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes. For a few moments she said nothing. "Envy," she muttered quietly. "Wha?" "Envy!" Sky hissed, louder. "The Commander is preparing for the arrival of Envy." Applejack raised an eyebrow, but felt a shiver run up her spine and and icy grip clasped at her heart. She hadn't felt like this since she had first stepped into the tomb of Wrath. The waiter arrived and set down two cups on their table. Sky took her cappuccino, and stirred the contents with a spoon gently, before knocking back a small mouthful. Applejack picked up her own cup with a slightly trembling hand and took a sip of black coffee. She set it back down with a more stable hand before looking at Sky. "What?" Sky looked even more uncomfortable, before leaning in conspiratorially. "The Commander doesn't want me to speak of this but you are right you deserve to know," Sky explained. "He wanted to tell you all when he returns from Canterlot but you have pressed me, and I feel I must answer." "Why do I feel like what you're telling me is real bad news?" Applejack muttered gloomily. "Because it is," Sky sighed. "You know Wrath was one of seven beings, one of seven Sins?" "Sweet Celestia," Applejack breathed. "You ain't tellin' me what I think you're tellin' me?" "Another Sin is rising Applejack," Sky continued brutally, looking into her murky cup. "And it pains me to tell you that we think it was buried somewhere here, in Equestria." Applejack dropped her head into one hand in despair. She didn't know how the other girls had been affected by the battle with the forces of Wrath, but Applejack still woke up in the middle of the night in the throws of some recent nightmare. Indeed, Applejack had awoken in such a manner only that morning, sitting bolt upright in the darkness of her room, drenched in cold sweat, her mind reeling with memories of the battle on the ice fields and the cold glare of Wrath's eyes, the glint of metal and the stench of blood. Even thinking about it now brought a chill to her heart. "So..." Applejack said at last, her throat dry. "Ya'll think that there's another Sin here in Equestria?" "Yes," Sky said simply. "And is this one as bad as Wrath?" Applejack asked. Sky mulled the question over, her mouth twisting as though tasting something unpleasant. After a few minutes she took another sip of her drink. She swilled that around in her mouth as she thought of an answer before she set the cup back down. "I don't know," she said quietly. "The accounts of the Sins from the time of their first appearance are sketchy at best. We only know how bad Wrath was because he was released." "He what?" Applejack spat a mouthful of coffee at the ground before she looked back up at Sky. "Say that again." Sky put her head in her hands before she sighed. "I can't believe I just said that," she murmured. She drew in a deep breath through her nose and sat up. "Yes, you heard right. Wrath was released; set free by a mad cult who worship the Sins as Gods. The Commander believes that they're here now, in Equestria, and are already preparing to set the next Sin free, which is why we're here. To find and stop them and, failing that, prepare a defence if Envy is released." Applejack nodded dumbly, before draining the remains of her coffee. "Ah just hope he ain't as bad as Wrath." "She." "Wut?" "In all accounts Envy was described as being female," Sky explained. "As for being as bad as Wrath I have to say again we just don't know. However, looking at Equestria, I'd say she may not have had too much of an influence in Equestria's weather patterns." "Beg pardon?" Applejack said blankly. "Remember the domain Wrath had conquered?" Sky reminded. "It was not always the barren icy wasteland Wrath had turned it into. It was a thriving and pleasant country, much like Equestria. Even after Wrath was entombed, his power still froze the lands around him. But look here. The weather in Equestria has been the same ever since Ponies first settled here." "Ah guess your right," Applejack muttered. She sighed. "Why Equestria though? And why now?" "We are approaching the time of Zenith of Envy. That's why it's happening now," Sky replied. "This is the time in which Envy was born, and the star of her birth will be a beacon of power to her, making her strong enough to break through the barriers on the inside of her prison, while her followers will break open the outer seals to let her loose." "I got it," Applejack sighed. "End of Equestria type thing, lot's of pony-folk in danger. I get the picture." "Good to know you understand where we stand," Sky replied. "I do have one question though," Applejack said as Sky took a sip of her cappuccino. "Oh yes?" "Why're you down here in Ponyville while the other Generals are up at Canterlot?" Sky bit her lip in frustration. "The Commander wished me to watch over his younger brother. He thought that this smaller town would be a better place for Blueprint to spend his time in Equestria than the hustle and bustle of Canterlot. Therefore a guardian was supplied. I can certainly say it's an honour to be considered the only one suitable to be guarding a Prince... and yet..." "Ya'll wanna be doing something important?" Applejack finished. "Yes," Sky whispered. "I know the Commander is fully capable of organising our forces without me, but I feel I can be of more help up in Canterlot than down here... babysitting." "Sounds to me sugar cube that you think Battle's tried to get rid o' ya'll," Applejack said. "Yes," Sky whispered. "A foolish idea I know. The Commander values all three of his Generals in the highest esteem, and has been my friend for many years. I merely wish I was up there, helping him." "You ain't up in Canterlot sugar-cube because Battle has a job he thinks is even more important than attending some stuffy ol' meeting'," Applejack reassured. "Protectin' his kin." Sky smiled. "Thank you for your words," Sky smiled. "Are you sure you're the Element of Honesty and not Kindness?" Applejack chuckled. "Honest words ain't often kind, but they're always true." Sky smiled again before a small look of realisation came across her face. "I don't suppose the Element of Honesty would consider paying for a cappuccino?" she chuckled embarrassedly. "I... uh... that is to say the Commander didn't finance me with any local currency." Applejack looked at Sky, before she let out a short guffaw of laughter. "All right sugar cube. Jus' this once ya hear?" "Just this once," Sky said. She allowed her gaze to wander toward the skies. The bright clear sky looking pleasant and cool. It seemed to suggest that nothing could possibly go wrong. How Sky wished that such a thing were true.