//------------------------------//
// Royalty, horns, taste test. 
// Story: The Triumvirate 
// by Fedora71 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 26







        “I had fun,” Firecracker said as they flew to her quarters. She still had her own room because technically she was still assigned to guard Princess Cadence, even though Cadence had also technically dismissed her. She wasn't going to knock the bureaucratic perks though. If nopony shows up to kick her out with official papers she wasn't planning on moving.
        “I'm glad,” he said. “I was especially glad that they didn't throw us out after we stayed for a half hour after closing.”
        “Well the owner lives upstairs so it's not like he was in a hurry to get home.”
        “Hey Firecracker!” The pegasus recognized the voice of Hoplon. She turned to see the large earth pony cantering towards them. “We're going to be on search duty tomorrow. Who's your friend?”
        “This is Shift,” Firecracker said, “he's a waiter at Choix.”
        “Hello,” Hoplon said, “nice to meet you.”
        “Nice to meet you too,” Shift replied shaking his hoof. He tasted concern, confusion, aggravation, and a bit of rage coming from the earth pony. Shift couldn't tell if he was jealous or just as protective as his cutie mark indicated.
        “Firecracker, you need to get some rest,” Hoplon said. “We are going to be busy tomorrow.”
        “Alright, night,” she said then as if on impulse she turned on her hooves and gave Shift a kiss. Then before the door closed. “C'mon it's not like you were gonna do it.”
---
        On Shift’s way home a cloud formation caught his attention.  Something about it was off. He knew he felt something in there. Something almost joyful and foalish. Before he could examine it further, another presence from behind caught him completely off guard.
        “Wow someling's playing a dangerous game.” The emotional scowl showed more than the tone ever dreamed to betray.
        “Hi Specs,” he said, acknowledging his sister's surprise visit. She was in a gray pegasus form that she much favored. Most likely out stretching her wings; being cramped in a unicorn form could be exceptionally annoying.
        “What in Tartarus is wrong with you?” She asked, “do you have any idea how easily you could get killed?”
        “Yes I do,” he replied. “It's just-”
        “I told you to get yourself a meal,” she continued, “not find a wife and endanger yourself or anyling else. Did it not occur to you that I'm in the palace risking my life to protect you and our friends? If you get yourself revealed it will risk all our lives!”
        “Thank you for once again pointing that out to me,” he said, “It's not like every other ‘ling we work with hasn't told me. It's not like I can't taste the fear in them every time a pony walks in. If this happens we are dead. If that happens we are dead. I know! I know damn well that a large party close to closing could easily be Praetorian about to kill us all. I know that it would be far too easy for something to fall and reveal me you or anyone else.
        “You don't think I wonder if somepony will notice that I never have groceries, or that somepony may come in and see just how bare my apartment is. I'm well aware of the danger. I'm just tired of living like it. If I'm going to die I'd rather it not be cowering in the basement while the guards beat down the door.”
        “Are you really being this stupid!”
        “I've already ordered some things for my apartment,” he replied. “I'd also like it if sometime in the future you can come by and visit with her.”
        Specs' rage left her speechless. She was risking her life dodging praetorians to train an uneducated changeling and griffin.  Meanwhile, her brother was being stupid enough to consider inviting a royal guard over to his apartment. She spared a glance at the cloud formation after her brother flew off in a huff. His attention seemed to be drifting to it for some reason. She turned away from it after not sensing anything. Maybe dating a guard was making her brother paranoid.

---
        A lone guard walked into the prison. He had the look of a young recruit, and several had noticed. Yet none said anything about it. After all, at his rank he couldn't be anything more than an errand colt. His ID checked out, as well as his knowledge of all the necessary words and phrases to allow him to pass. He didn't show any suspicious behaviors.
        Deeper and deeper into the caverns he went until he reached maximum security. He walked right past the guards stationed outside the cell. All it took was flashing a letter signed by Shining Armor. Getting his signature hadn't been easy but their spy had taken care of it. Once inside he saw a horrifically scarred changeling lying chained and shackled behind a dark blue barrier. With Shining Armor off duty Luna had taken to providing the barrier spell that was going to keep the changelings contained.
        “You are not here to kill me,” he rasped, signifying that his lungs had also been scarred terribly by whatever had burned him.
        “Its not my task,” he said. “That falls to the ones outside. I'm here for information on the changeling and his friends.”
        “Tactical or psychological?” he responded.
        “Both.”
        “Tactically they are inexperienced, but resourceful,” he said, “the changeling has knowledge of chemicals and is a clever strategist. However, he is brash, inexperienced, and rushes into situations, even if its not to his favor.
        “The unicorn has the discipline the other two lack. His mind and his emotions are tempered for combat. He can be just as resourceful as the traitor but I also felt a bit of indecisiveness in his actions.
        “The griffin is overly cautious in combat, preferring to keep his distance and rushing in when an opening presents itself. He is ill disciplined, a poor strategist but a decent tactician. ”
        “It seems they were able to defeat you,” the other praetorian said looking him dead in the eyes.
        “I underestimated them and mistook alive for unharmed,” he said, “I'm aware I will still die by the hooves of the changeling behind that door, but I wished to offer my defense.”
        “It's noted,” the changeling said
“This is fairly obvious,” The scarred praetorian said with a sadistic grin, “if you are having trouble dealing with him, his friends should make excellent bait.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” The other said heading towards door. The other commander was correct it was obvious. Although with the changeling’s guard infiltrated it shouldn’t be that difficult to kill him and leave before anypony is the wiser. If everything went according to plan the praetorians would even have some time left to torture him.
---
        “Scott you are more than welcome to play us in a game of chess,” Ancro said, noticing his friend's boredom. He offered to teach him on multiple occasions. He and Stigs always played neck and neck but his friend would always edge ahead. To this day he had never beaten them. However, their games would typically end up in the twenties when moves were concerned.
        “No, chess is too complex for me,” Scott said, “I prefer the table top strategy games like Battletech, 40k, and Dystopian Wars.”
        “Have it your way then,” Stigandr said, chuckling at the idea of chess being too complex.
        “Clever move,” Ancro complemented, “you'll probably get mate in five turns.”
        “You sell yourself short,” Stigandr replied. “You have a few ways out of it.”
        There was a knock at the door and it shortly opened. Twilight entered the room looking more pleasant than she had in the days that the Triumvirate had been under her watch.
        “You catch the spy?” Scott asked. Ancro and Stigandr gave her a nod to let her know that they acknowledged her in the room.
        “Not yet but hopefully the information you gave us will narrow down the list,” she said, then examined the chess board. Ancro figured she already figured out how to beat Stigandr.
        “How much you want to bet the Element of magic can beat you at chess?” Ancro teased. “I guarantee she'll do better than me.”
        “There you go again at playing yourself down.” Stigandr said, “And I would like to play a game with her.”
        “Maybe later,” Twilight said.
        “Everything alright Twilight?” Ancro asked distantly while fiddling with a knight. “You feel distracted.”
        “Nothing you can help with,” she replied. “Anyways I came by to let you all know that the three of you will be in the lab tomorrow for experiments.”
        “What kind of experiments?” Ancro asked.
        “I'm experimenting with ways to track changelings while they are disguised,” she said. “If I can maybe construct a device to scan them we may be able to locate the spy. Especially since you all narrowed down the list.”
        “We'd be glad to help,” Stigandr said as he moved his piece to counter Ancro's clever use of the knight.
        “How big is it going to be?” Ancro said, “Do you plan for it to detect something as abstract as love or magic?  We could always go with a swift kick to the head.”
        “Umm...” Scott said, “Couldn't we just get a buffet and have everypony eat while Ancro watches?”
        There was a stunned silence in the room. Not only was that idea good it was damn near brilliant.
        “Why didn't I think of that?” Stigandr and Twilight said simultaneously while Ancro hit himself on the forehead for forgetting such a basic fact.
        “Well I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow,” Ancro said with a chuckle. “Don’t suppose you can up my security for that as well?”
“Why?”
“Hey it’s his neck that’s going to be on the line,” Scott said sounding agitated. “If the changeling spy goes for him he needs to have as much protection as possible.”
“What I was thinking,” Stigandr said, “Also may help if you can remove the ring from his horn.”
“I’m not going to let him be in anymore danger than necessary,” she said. “I will double his guard but I refuse to allow his ring to be taken off.”
“Then you are putting him on a bullseye,” Scott said.
“There will be guards watching his and everyponies every move.” She said, “This isn’t like the ring where both princesses as well as dozens of guards were there in case things got out of hoof.”
“Yes and nothing got out of hoof,” Scott argued. “You all seem to think we are evil criminal masterminds!”
“In the ring he couldn’t get away,” She said. “Here it will be easy for him to sneak off and change and get away.”
“You still have us so why does it matter,” Stigandr said. “He’s not going to be able go far without us.”
“Guys,” Ancro said after taking a deep breath and putting on his best arrogant smile “I have no problem going in powerless,” he held up a hoof before Scott could say anything. “Think about it, if I die because of what Twilight does you guys get the rights to put that guilt on her for a very long time. Honestly it’s not like the changeling could just get one lucky shot off kill me before anything else happens and Twilight’s left with that guilt for the rest of her life.” He looked her hard in the eyes. He hated being so blunt when it came to manipulation but it was the best he could hope for.
“I’ll think about it.” She said before slowly walking off.
---
        “You okay, Entomology? Something seems to be bugging you,” Ancro asked while she strapped him up to the equipment in the lab. He put special emphasis on bugging. She was going murder him long before the praetorians got a hold of him if only everyling she cared about wasn't being threatened. Add in she still had to get these two idiots in shape to escape praetorians and the annoying fact that Ancro was very much a morning person.
        “It's nothing that concerns you.” She said as she removed the ring from his horn.
        “Actually things that don't concern me are areas of expertise,” He replied, “I'm an excellent listener, and talking about it can be therapeutic.”
        “If you don't shut up I'll gag you,” She replied.
        “Careful you may get an ulcer,” he said with the wise ass smile. Instantly she levitated a cloth from one of the tables and tied it around his muzzle, tight.
        “Is Ancro being more annoying than usual?” Twilight said as she walked into the lab with Scott and Stigandr directly behind her.
        “Wow Ancro, for once you look speechless,” Scott said.
        “I believe he may be without words,” Stigandr added. Then facehoofed. “His puns are contagious.”
        “Do we have to gag the rest of you?” Entomology growled.
        “Entomology, is everything alright?” Twilight asked. She hadn’t known her for long but she seemed to be a bit more timid than that.
        “Yeah,” she said, “Just a rough night's sleep, have a bit of a migraine.”
        The ever inquisitive Twilight looked at her but decided not to pry. Ancro tasted the lie immediately and glanced over to his friends to let them know there was more to it than that.
        “What you told me about experiment on Scott yesterday made me realize that we do not have any idea the rate of which love is gathered or how it is spread about throughout the rest of the changelings body. We know it goes to crisis areas and that more energy is pumped to those areas during times of extreme stress. It's their fight or flight response.”
        “Which is why to say if Ancro's ribs were to be broken now they'd take hours to heal, but in a more stressful situation like combat they'd take minutes.”
        “Exactly,” the lavender unicorn replied. Ancro could actually visualize Specs taking a sledgehammer to his ribs while he was strapped down like this. He needed to back off her a teeny bit. 
        “So that's how I healed from the concussion in the laundry room,” Ancro said.
        “Yes the brain and other vital organs get priority,” Specs said the hurriedly added, “Most likely.”
        “And the quicker you heal the energy it uses. Not just a faster rate that is expended but the amount used increases exponentially.”
        “Makes sense,” Scott said mentally comparing it to using afterburners on a jet. “Does this mean you won’t be putting a bullseye on Ancro’s back?”
        “If we can track where the love is going than we might not have to.”
        “I wonder if certain acts of affection can speed up the process?” Entomology said.
        “It may be the extremely close proximity as well,” Twilight added. “Or a combination of both.”
        “It sounds like first thing you will have to do either way is build something that detects love,” a regal voice said from the doorway. Ancro winced and groaned slightly as he felt the wave of power wash into the room just before he could get his blocks up.
        “Cadence, what are you doing here?” Twilight said bowing low, barely containing her excitement at seeing her sister-in-law.
        “I decided to come by and check up on you,” she said in a sisterly tone.
        “I see you found a way to shut him up,” another voice said.
        The changeling waved a hoof at Shining Armor as he walked through the door behind Cadence. Scott moved to get between his friend and the pony who in their last encounter beat one of his best friends to near death. Stigandr stood by, curiously watching. With Ancro gagged he couldn't do a lot to antagonize anypony. Even though Ancro wouldn't be bothering him on purpose. He made it a point not to be malicious but occasionally he just managed to piss someone off. Even if he did piss them off he'd forgive them.
        Ancro always saw the justification in someones actions. It was part of the reason he couldn't hold a grudge or stay mad at anyone. His friend had come to the conclusion that people and ponies alike were prone to making emotionally charged mistakes and since he healed he considered it a no harm no foul situation. Since he discovered that he healed quicker he'd probably be willing to forgive a lot more offenses.
        Shining Armor walked up to the gagged changeling and looked him dead in the eye and extended his hoof, “Thank you for saving my wife from the changelings.”
        Ancro took the hoof and shook it. Stigandr saw the subtle motions of Ancro getting ready to lunge in for one of his hugs. However before he committed to the maneuver the changeling stopped. Stigandr let out sigh of relief when he saw his friend wasn't going to do something that would get them into trouble. He was starting to think that Ancro was pressing their luck.
        “Twilight would you like to join Shining Armor and I for dinner tonight?” Cadence asked, snapping Shining Armor and Ancro out of their staring contest.
        “Of course. Where are we eating?”
        “Choix,” Cadence said. Specs wanted to scream. Why couldn't they eat at the palace like normal VIPs and not go and give her brother and friends migraines from being overloaded by the presence of the element of magic, her brother, and an alicorn? She was feeling a bit glad about being there to cover for them but wished she could punch the bastard who was threatening them.
        “Yes, I'd love to join you all,” she said. “I ate there yesterday and the food and service were amazing.”
        Ancro felt the gag wrapped around his muzzle slip off and fall to the ground. Scott had been kind enough to use one of his dexterous talons to untie the thing.
        “Thank you Scott,” Ancro said. Then looked to Shining Armor, “Glad to have you in a better mood Shiny.”
        “I didn't say I like you,” he said. “I was thanking you for saving my wife.”
        “Yeah and you didn't have to thank me for doing the right thing,” Ancro said. “Although it is appreciated.”
        “What is your deal?” Shining Armor asked. “You are polite but also an arrogant ass.”
        “It's because I'm-”
        “Don't say perfect,” Scott growled from beside his friend. If Ancro said he was perfect one more time the griffin was going to be short a shape shifting friend.
        “I wasn't going to,” Ancro replied in mock shock, “I was going to say bipolar.”
        “I can tell.” Shining Armor said rolling his eyes.
        “Not as bad as I used to be,” Ancro said with a laugh.
        “That's hard to believe,” Twilight said rolling her eyes. She had apparently been listening to both conversations.
        “Trust me it's true,” Scott said remembering multiple incidents in High School. Not fun incidents. One involved a pencil being stabbed in someones neck.
        “So we are meeting up at 7 to eat?” Twilight said swapping the conversation back to the alicorn.
        “Yes,” Cadence nodded as she and Shining left the room. “We'll meet you there.”
        “Look forward to it,” Twilight said and she levitated the ring off Ancro's horn. “Okay Ancro I'm going to need you to turn into somepony so that I can examine the spell again.”
        
---
        
        “I don't trust him.” Hoplon said to Firecracker as they got lunch in the mess hall.
        “That's what you say about everypony you meet,” Firecracker said before balancing her and Hoplon's tray on her wings and walking towards two openings on a table. “Even me when we first met. Face it, you are paranoid.”
        “I'm not paranoid I'm cautious,” he said defensively.
        “...No, I think you are paranoid,” she said.
        “I stood by you when other ponies thought you had been swapped out for a changeling.”
        “And I appreciate it,” she said setting the trays down. “But honestly assuming the worst of my coltfriend? That reeks of one of two things.” She eyed him and smiled. “Unless there is something you want to tell me.”
        “Please,” he retorted, not taking the bait. “I'd rather it be my sister.”
        “So you are paranoid.”
        “I'm not paranoid,” he said in a softer tone, “I just want you to be careful. I can't shake the feeling that he's hiding something.”
        “Fine, I'll be careful,” she said. “If I'm not guarding princesses or looking for serial killers I'm making sure Shift isn't a changeling.”
        “You could knock him out and see?” Hoplon suggested then took the blow to the back of the head. “Kidding.”
        “You better be,” she replied. “I've got enough stress on my plate today. Escorting Ancro around the palace is going to be pain enough.”
        “Wow, who did you tick off?”
        “Nopony, Shining Armor is putting me in charge of his guards,” she said, trying to word it in such a way that made it sound like he was still a prisoner. “It's only temporary though. Most likely seeing if I'm fit for command.”
        “He testing you for promotion too?”
        “Well somepony has been keeping secrets from me,” she said.
        “I'm in charge of the escort for the unicorn.”
        “Well I guess I'll see you on duty after all.”
        “Yes and in our down time we can talk about your colt friend problems.” A tray hit him on the back of the head. “Kidding.”
---
        Playtime did not like waiting. He did like having found a playmate who was so busy all the time working. He wanted to run up to her and tag her as soon as he saw her from his cloudy vantage point. His head friends told him it would be a bad idea. There were too many unfun guards and the last thing Playtime wanted to happen was to go back.
        He didn't want those ponies to tell him he was broken like some toy again. He also didn't want other ponies tagging him so often and so hard. Granted he'd always get them back afterwards. That was how you played tag after all.
        “Hey are you napping on the job?” A voice spoke into the cloud. Playtime poked his head through hoping it wasn't a guard. He wasn't sure if he could get away from them. He was relieved to see it was just some rainbow maned pegasus.
        “I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to,” Playtime always hated talking to other ponies. He'd stammer and stutter and it made him feel embarrassed.
        “Whoa calm down,” the pegasus said. “I don't work at the palace, I just don't want any ponies getting in trouble. Believe me I take my share of naps as well.”
        “I'm sorry,” he said in a voice that almost squeaked. “I was just tired a-and fell asleep.”
        Why was she putting him on the spot like this? He liked to play, he just couldn't introduce himself or deal with new ponies well. He'd find them and play a game of tag with them and that was it. There wasn't a lot of talking in tag. His head friends were getting angry. He always hated when they got angry. They kept telling him to tag but he kept telling them to stop because he'd get caught. With all the guards below them it wouldn't take long for them to catch him.
        “Like I said it's okay,” she said. “I'm not gonna get you in trouble but the day is supposed to be sunny an-”
        The pegasus that was in clouds took off towards the city before Rainbow Dash could continue, leaving the cyan pegasus confused.
        “Wow, nervous much?” she said to herself.
---
        Celestia had taken Luna's place in the Library so that her sister could rest. They had many books on magic and many subjects of magic. However, she never seemed to find what she was looking for. As well as anypony knowing anything about a group of mercenaries called the Triumvirate or any pony looking for a book on what would amount to magic that was a waste of time. A few tables over the, Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, read through several books on the subject of ravens. Celestia never considered her to have interest in ornithology. She was also mildly curious as to why she continued to pour herself into a book on riddles from time to time. She hadn't even known that the Canterlot library had an encyclopedia on riddles.
        “Celestia,” an arrogant voice said from behind the princess, “please enlighten me as to why you have three known criminals gallivanting around the palace.”
        “I have my reasons Blueblood,” she replied. She had been hoping to avoid this discussion in the first place. She loved her distant nephew dearly, having seen a potential in him at a young age and letting him explore it. He had become quite a useful and efficient administrator, however this had made him exceptionally cocky and arrogant. Believing himself to have the talent to rule with more authority than he should be given. She wouldn't mind it as badly if this hadn't led to constant questions of her authority and several failed attempts to take a bit more than he was prepared for.
        “I would very much like to know,” he said. “They broke into your palace, assaulted your guards and your Elements of Harmony, caused a prison riot with several prisoners still being unaccounted for, and most recently the changeling turned your palace into his own personal sparring ring. These are hardly the actions of a prisoner. Keeping them in anything but the most secure cell seems to be...” Celestia counted the seconds as he searched for a word that wasn't demeaning, “Unwise.”
        “Yes it does seem a bit unwise,” she said. “However, where you see a chance for punishment, I see a chance to learn.”
        “Learn what?” He said, “I've been privy to your pe- I mean, faithful student’s reports and it all looks as though we can learn nothing more from them. Changeling's cannot detect each other while disguised. They can heal from all but the most grievous of wounds.”
        “Learn of a new type of friendship.” She said, “to teach them that they can help us. I'm not foalish. I know that if there is one that is following their queen there are more.”
        “So you want to lure out those those parasites?!” he said in shock. “You would want to treat them as equals after all that they did?”
        “You act as though I plan to invite their queen over for lunch,” she said dryly.
        “They trapped you in a cocoon!” He stomped, forgetting that he was in a library.
        “I'm curious Blueblood, you were not in Canterlot when the changelings attacked. Why is this so important to you?”
        “They are vile disgusting parasites,” Blueblood huffed. “Honestly after the way I've heard the one you've kept in the palace is treating you, I'm amazed he is allowed to stay anywhere but in a cell.”
        Celestia chuckled, “Yes he has acted disrespectful, but he meant no harm by it.”
        “What do you mean?”
        “You have not met with him,” Celestia said. “If you did you'd have a bit more of an understanding.”
        “Words cannot express my joy that I haven't had to deal with him.”
        “That shall have to be fixed then,” Celestia said with a smile.
---
        “So I just heard the best bit of news,” Discord said to the Triumvirate.
        “They've figured out who we are and we can discuss it openly and get to work on going home?” Ancro said jokingly. He didn't really want that to be the answer. Yeah mortal danger and all that but still it wasn't like he'd ever get another chance at being here.
        “No,” Discord said flatly, “You guys are going to get a royal observer during interrogation.”
        “So which princess is going to give Whiskey Bravo a migraine?” Scott asked moving a piece on the chessboard. He agreed to play if he could call Ancro by that. The changeling was reluctant to go along but with all the hell he gave him, he decided to just let his friend have a chance.
        “I'm surprised you can say it with other ponies listening.”
        “What does Whiskey Bravo even mean?” Discord asked. “I spent some time browsing your internet but really nothing of any true significance came up.”
        “It's military letters,” Scott said. “So they don't risk words being misheard or confused through an accent. It also serves to provide some secrecy for special ops.”
        “Interesting,” Discord replied, but his tone said otherwise. “Anyways your royal escort tomorrow is,” he started laughing.
        If Ancro was able to change his skin's color he would've. It would've gone pale. “Is it a certain unicorn?”
        “Why yes it is.”
        “Fuuuu,” Stigandr said. “I really hope his attitude has improved since his last appearance.”
        “From what I've gathered it hasn't,” he said, smiling like the damn cheshire cat. “He's also a bit of the aggressive find, destroy, and slaughter all the changelings camp of thought.”
        “And I thought you guys said ponies were peaceful and forgiving,” Scott said folding his fore arms while laying on the ground.
        “Not the first time I've been wrong,” Ancro shrugged.
        "I figured I'd just stop by before I left and give you all the good news," Discord said, “Have the best of luck with Blueblood.”
        “Scott,” Stiggandr said after Discord had left. “Checkmate.”
        “What? How?!”
---
        Screwball had been waiting at the frigid border of the Crystal Empire waiting for her father’s next command. While he had gained considerably more power he was still vulnerable. He needed his daughter’s help and this little filly would do anything for her daddy. She needed to be inside the Crystal Empire’s borders but the stupid heart wouldn’t let her in. Each time she tried she felt it’s magic repelling her. She sulked unable to fully enter and cause the chaos that she loved so much. Her ears lifted themsel
        “Screwball,” She immediately perked up upon hearing her father’s voice. 
        “Daddy!” Screwball said floating over and embracing the much more substantial shadow of her father.
        “Did you find what daddy asked for?” Discord said raising an eyebrow.
        “Yes I did,” She said digging through the snow. “It was in the lair of a sleeping ursa major. I tried to get it to wake up but it wouldn’t get up and destroy stuff.”
        “It’s alright Screwball,” He said as she pulled out the black ivory horn from the snow.
        “What do you need it for, Daddy?” She asked floating up as her father examined the horn.
        “It’s quite dull at the palace,” he said with an evil grin upon his face, “I hope that some fear may spice things up a bit.”

(Sorry it's been a while but my life has been hectic. Luckily with my con season pretty much over and things moving along nicely at school I'll be able to update regularly. I'd like to thank a few people for helping me decide a way to write my way out of a corner. I trust you guys know who you are. Had several ideas (and 10k words of rough drafts and scenes) but ultimately went to them. Also I now have a five chapter buffer put up so the next few updates will be a regular occurrence. As usual thanks for any and all feed back.)