Chapter Nine: Envy's Agents
"So that's where we stand," Battle finished before taking a sip of his coffee.
Twilight and the other Element Bearers sat around Twilight's kitchen table, looking at Battle as he stood there. From in the library proper they could hear Sky, Arson and Merciless try to deal with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Blueprint, however they weren't listening. it felt like a lead weight had been dropped on all of them.
Twilight broke the silence.
"A Sin?" she said slowly. Battle nodded. "Here? In Equestria?" Another nod. Twilight let out a steady breath. Dash scratched the back of her head.
"When?" she asked simply. Battle closed his eyes.
"The Zenith of Envy will begin within the next week," Battle explained.
"A week to prepare for the end of Equestria huh?" Dash asked slumping back in her chair.
"Just because the Zenith of Envy begins in the next week, does not mean Envy will rise at the same time," Battle said slowly. "Our enemies will need time to prepare. One week is not enough time to prepare I think."
"Can you be certain of that darling?" Rarity asked.
"I know the incantations that are used on the tombs of the Sins," Battle answered. "I did seal Wrath's tomb did I not?"
"Albeit unsuccessfully," Tactical reminded. Battle gave her a scathing look, before turning back to the others.
"The point is, those enchantments are extremely powerful. It would take an enormous amount of magical energy to break them."
"How do you know they won't get that sort of energy within a week?" Twilight asked.
"You don't come across that kind of magic reserve in one week," Battle explained. "And you certainly can't build one in that time either."
"And by magic reserve's you're talking about a gemstone filled to the brim with unicorn magic yes?" Rarity asked.
"More or less," Battle nodded. "The type of energy reserve we're talking about would necessitate a gem about the size of the library, or some enchanted artefact capable of storing about say... one point twenty one giga joules of energy."
"One point twwenty one giga joules!?" Pinkie cried. "Great Scott!"
"I know, this is heavy," Battle agreed sombrely. Tactical raised an eyebrow. Battle cleared his throat. "Anyway, it's only an estimate, and I don't think they'd be able to gather even half a giga joule in a week."
"So by what your saying, they'll be done in roughly four," Twilight said slowly.
"If they wish to release Envy as soon as they can then yes it most likely will take them four weeks to gather the necessary energy to break open Envy's tomb," Battle confirmed. "However having said that..."
"What?" Tactical said, raising an eyebrow.
"The Cultoribus de Peccatis has already shown great cunning by dancing around in the shadows without our notice for this long," he said, almost to himself. "They know where Envy is buried, and they know we do not. So... perhaps maybe..."
"What are you thinking?" Twilight asked, leaning in.
"Perhaps they will wait?" Battle said. "Wait for the right moment to release Envy?"
"Why would they wait?" Applejack asked. "Ah mean, the longer they wait, the bigger the chance we'll catch up to them 'll be."
"I agree," Tactical said. "Why would they wait?"
"Because even a Zenith has its peak," Battle said. "My guess is that Envy will be release at the time of which her power will be greatest, and sweep Equestria clean."
"And when will her power be at its greatest?" Twilight said. Battle made a face that looked like he was sucking on the mother of all lemons. "When?" Twilight repeated.
Battle mumbled something into his hand.
"Even I have to say, what?" Fluttershy asked.
Battle repeated himself, louder. Rarity's eyed widened in horror.
"But, that's the night of the gala!" she exclaimed.
"Tell me about it," Battle said, holding up his ticket to the said gala. "I was looking forward to going. Thank you by the way Miss Sparkle for that."
"You actually got the letter?" Twilight said, surprised. Tactical cleared her throat and Battle chuckled. Twilight blushes slightly before she cleared her throat and spoke again, "Anyway, I'm assuming that Princess Celestia knows that Envy will be at her most powerful that night?"
"That she does," Battle confirmed. "She knows. We are already working on a solution as we speak, which includes finding three suitable locations for base camps across Equestria."
"Will that be enough?" Twilight asked.
"It's the best we can do for now."
Baran Invidebit stepped down the mineshaft, holding the torch high above his head, casting ring of flickering orange light around himself and his guide. He didn't exactly trust the creature that led him down the earthen passageway, but he rationalized that any ally of the Sins deserved some modicum of trust. Under normally circumstances, he wouldn't trust his guide as far as he could throw him.
The shiny black carapace of the changeling's exoskeleton gleamed with a foul perversion of flesh. Against popular belief, the holes that bored through a changeling's body were not smooth, and they were not perfect. It was as if great chunks of flesh had been torn straight from their body, revealing the sticky blackness of their internal organs. The translucent, bluish insect wings were folded neatly across its back, though they still buzzed at random intervals. The twisted horn on its forehead glowed with green fire to light the way, and its long, carnivorous fangs dripped with some kind of sizzling secretion. It's silver blue eyes gave no indication of what the creature thought. If could have a thought independent of its queen.
"How much further?" Invidebit asked suddenly. The changeling's wings buzzed angrily at the sudden sound, before they settled back into their previous position.
"Close," it said simply, its voice dry and harsh, like a snake slithering on gravel, making it difficult for Invidebit to tell if it were male or female. "We close. Soon arrive."
"I see," Invidebit muttered, deciding it would be best not to mention the changeling had already said this several times before.
They walked in silence for, what seemed to Invidebit, hours. The pony and the changeling in orange and green light. It seemed like the passageway would never end.
However, just as he was about to ask again when they would reach the bottom, the passageway opened out into a large cavern. Invidebit stopped in his tracks as he took in the vastness of where he stood.
A huge cave, with walls of roughly hewn stone and a floor of bedrock. Many holes in the walls led off to tunnels that would take the walker (or flyer) back to the surface. Changelings and ponies alike worked with pickaxe and magic to chip away stone from the walls, making the space even larger. A few flying creatures were working on creating an angled passageway, one that would allow light to pass into the chamber at just the right moment.
However the jewel of the cavern stood on the far side. Half buried under rock was a doorway for a giant. A doorway made of a gleaming black wood, carved with intricate symbols in bone and an evil golden metal. Large golden chains stretched over the doorway. Painted on the door in vibrant green colours was a grasping hand.
Invidebit's eyes widened and his mouth spread in a stupid grin as he realised he now stood before the Gates of Envy.