Chapter 29
Ancro thought that Specs might go easy on him after his horn had been blown off. He was wrong. When she got back from running her errands she tore into him with a vengeance. Not that Ancro was complaining, he was able to keep up with the physical drills. The magical stuff was straight up killing him tough. It didn't help that her idea of helping him heal was to endanger him by throwing things at him; sharp things. Ultimately he did get a break though. It wasn't because he earned it. They were waiting for Scott to catch up on his reps. When she realized Ancro wasn't doing anything she tried out isometrics by making Ancro grow another horn.
Ancro's head was sore and he felt virtually drained as he desperately tried to keep his second horn working. Growing one was simple enough, growing a working one was kinda tricky, growing a working second horn and using it to cast fireballs was a pain. Especially since Specs had insisted that he keep his armor on as well. Ancro really wished that he had a HUD with a power gauge that would let him know when he was dipping low. The sudden headaches were getting tiresome.
“Specs, for lack of a better word, something got me high,” Ancro said, “I tasted the most wonderful thing I've ever tasted, then went limp and started babbling and drooling.”
“Sounds like an overdose of fear,” Specs answered. “Like I said in the sewers. Fear is changeling junk food, it can also be addictive and cause various other effects.” She felt almost sad that she had missed out on the experience.
“Thanks for the explanation,” Ancro said. “Now if you don't mind me asking, what's got you so mad?”
“None of your business,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
“Well I consider it my business,” Ancro said. “If you are this irate and distracted it can make it harder for me to concentrate.”
“You wouldn't understand.”
“Doesn't matter,” Ancro replied, “just get it off your back. What have you honestly got to lose? Besides, Scott's not listening.” He gestured to the griffin trying desperately to keep the small cloud he built from dissipating.
“Do you have any siblings?” she finally asked after a long pause.
“Yes I have...five.” Ancro said after doing a brief count in his head. “I'm the second oldest.”
“So you know what it's like, to be the responsible older sibling.”
“Kinda,” Ancro replied. “My oldest little sister usually took care of everyone.”
“Yes but you still know.”
“Yeah, I do,” Ancro said. Being in charge was one of his least favorite things to do but he had to do it when he was the only one around and his two youngest sisters were about to kill each other and his little brother was bawling in the corner.
“Well the changeling they captured was my brother,” she said, then stomped. “If he hadn't been seeing that stupid guard then none of this would've happened.”
Ancro gave her a knowing smile, “You know my current position with the princesses puts me at a point where I can negotiate with them.”
“You don't get it,” she said. “Ponies are least of our problems. If word gets out where we are hiding, the queen will have us killed.”
“Well then the plan is simple,” Ancro said still smiling. “The queen doesn't find out.”
“You make it seem like it's as easy as walking up to Celestia, revealing myself and asking Celestia to pretty please don't tell anypony,” she said flatly. “Besides, there are other things I have to worry about.”
“Oh, Specs, quick question,” Ancro said, deciding to drop the topic, “I don't have depth perception, how can I fix that?”
“How do you know so little?” she asked mostly under her breath. “You are proving more than capable of learning.”
“I'd love to tell you but I can't.” Ancro replied. “Now hurry up and tell me how to fix it.”
“Is it neurological or a lens problem?”
“I'm left eye dominant but favor my right side,” Ancro replied. “Kinda messes with my equilibrium.”
“I'll look into it,” Specs groaned.
She looked up as Scott swore and the taste of frustration filled the air. His latest attempt at making a cloud had fallen apart and was now fogging the room.
“Why don't you take a break and go for a walk,” she said.
---
Stigandr had put his book down. He needed to find harder reading material. Specs said that she didn't need to give him any training. Not that he felt he needed it right now, since he had the ring removed he felt like he was unstoppable magically. He almost wanted to try to lower the sun.
Bored, the unicorn stood up and started to head out. Something caught his eye, Stigandr saw that Ancro had moved one of the pawns from the chess set. Stigandr, knowing that his friend was baiting him for a long term game, moved another piece before turning around, intent on going to work. Then there was a ruckus on the board.
He spun around and saw the shadow of Discord sitting at the board. A knight moved up the board.
“Up for a game?” Discord said.
“No, I'm going for a walk,” the unicorn replied.
“Pity, and here I was going to make you an offer you couldn't refuse,” Discord said.
“Which is?” Stigandr said, stopping at the door.
“Well I was going to tell you how many praetorians are in the palace,” Discord said, “Who they are, where they are, and when they plan to attack.”
“Why not tell princess Celestia that there are praetorians in the palace?” Stigandr said cocking an eyebrow. “That kinda cuts out the middle man.”
“Yes, but if I did that you'd be stuck with that cookie game again,” Discord replied. “And I may not be able to give your friend a tug to duck this time.”
“And all I have to do is beat you at chess?” Stigandr responded. “What if I lose?”
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Discord said. “Like you or not you are far too intelligent to take a bet that you will lose.”
Stigandr exhaled and swore under his breath. Walking over he took a seat opposite of Discord and moved a pawn to finish the opening for his queen. Stigandr had wanted to put himself in a battle of wits with Discord and was glad there was nothing on the line for his part. The unicorn also wanted to know why Discord wanted nothing from him.
“You could simply tell me or I go and tell the princesses about your state of disrepair.” Stigandr said, confidently opening up for his queen's movement.
“You could do that, but then you wouldn't know their plans and how they involve you,” Discord replied, moving up a pawn. “And I assure you the praetorian's plans would go on without me and nothing would be able to help you back. Yes, I would do that out of spite. It's your move.”
---
“Here you go Twilight,” Spike said, setting down a stack of books easily twice his size. “Why do you need all these books for spell construction?”
“I'm trying to find out how to construct a geass,” Twilight replied. “If I figure out how to build one I may be able to figure out how to deconstruct one as well.” Her magic chimed as the book opened. “Wow, it never really occurred to me how complex constructing a geass could be.”
“What is geass any ways?” Spike asked.
“It's a spell that makes you do something or not do something.” Twilight said, “The changeling queen used it on my brother to make him her slave. I'm trying to deconstruct the one that is on the Triumvirate.”
“The Triuwhatvirate?”
“A Triumvirate, to put it simply, is three kings who rule one kingdom.” She said, “This Triumvirate is just some friends who seem to have gotten into something over their head.”
“Okay,” Spike said. “Aren't these the guys who broke into the library?”
“Yes they are,” Twilight said. “And the prison and the changeling of the group Ancro started a fight with Rainbow Dash.”
“And why are you helping them?” Spike asked. “It sounds like they’re nothing but trouble.”
“They held up their end of the bargain to catch the changeling spy,” Twilight said. “And while annoying, destructive, and disrespectful, they aren't all that bad.”
“Hmph,” a haughty pony said from across the library, loud enough to catch both Twilight’s and Spike's attention. Blueblood walked over and spoke, “I beg to differ. All changelings and anypony who associates with changelings needs to be locked up right alongside the annoying pests.”
“Shove it Blueblood we're busy.” Spike had met Blueblood before the grand galloping gala incident and already had a low opinion of the unicorn who said he wasn't good enough to be made into a saddlebag.
“Spike!” Twilight said. While she had no fondness for the unicorn either she still didn't want to cause any trouble or by some extension give her teacher a headache by having to deal with him.
“I was just giving my two bits before I left,” he said, still in his high and mighty tone. “I'm leaving for Baltimare until after this whole changeling business blows over. Appalling that Celestia and Luna tolerate such a disrespectful creature.”
Twilight didn't acknowledge his question and instead went back to the books, ignoring Blueblood. She was greatly relieved when he finally left the library mumbling about how Ancro needed a far more suiting punishment than what he was receiving.
“Anything else Twilight?” Spike asked.
“No I think that's everything right now,” Twilight said, then her stomach growled. “Actually if you could go and get me something from the kitchen that would be good. I think Applejack said she was going to be baking something.”
“On it.” Spike saluted and ran through the familiar halls of the palace to his favorite destination while he lived here.
---
“Sup Spike,” a layered voice casually said as the small dragon ran through the halls. He turned around and saw nothing. He could've sworn that he heard somepony talk to him. Casually he turned and kept walking. As Spike walked he heard buzzing noise follow him. Immediately he turned around and again saw nothing. This time when the dragon turned around he started casually whistling. As he whistled he waited longer. The moment the buzzing noise came back Spike turned on his heels screaming “Aha!”
“What are you looking for?” said a voice behind him. The dragon turned around and came face to face with a pair of blue eyes on a black face.
Spike lost his balance and fell on his back trying to scream as the changeling stared him down. He took in the appearance of the black bug. The dragon drank in the appearance of the creature. It's curved horn, sharp canine fangs, dorsal fins. The dragon tried to get up but ended up tripping over his own tail.
“Sorry didn't mean to scare you,” the changeling said, extending one of his holed hooves. “I'm Ancro by the way.”
“I figured that out,” Spike grumbled getting up, “and you didn't scare me.”
“Okay,” Ancro said rolling his eyes. He always liked little kids. “Didn't expect to see you here. Where you heading?”
“To the kitchen,” Spike said, “I'm getting snacks for Twilight.”
“Hey I have a quick favor to ask you,” Ancro said, then noticed the dragon's guarded look towards him. “It's nothing bad I assure you. I was just wondering what gemstones taste like, since I can't really taste them on my own.”
“You want me to describe what gems taste like?”
“No I want you to eat them so that I can taste them,” Ancro said.
“Huh?” Spike said looking up at the changeling and blinking a few times. “You want me to eat a snack so that you can know what they taste like?”
“Exactly,” Ancro said. “I may need to ask Celestia about hiring somepony to do that as benefits but that may be pushing things a bit too far.”
“Probably,” Spike replied, not entirely sure why he'd be getting benefits. “So can you become anything or just ponies?”
“Well ponies are easiest,” Ancro said. “Tried to pull off a minotaur and it was not pretty let me tell you that.”
“Why what happened.”
“You want to keep your appetite?”
“That bad?”
“Worse.” Ancro replied, “I think if I gave it some more practice I could maybe pull it off but as it stands now? I can't even transform regularly.”
“What do you meaaggh!” Spike screamed as he looked at the mixed up creature that appeared from the green flame. Ancro quickly changed back shaking off the minor headache.
“Nearly got my head taken off yesterday. Still not quite up to snuff.”
“Don't do that again,” Spike said.
“Not a problem,” Ancro assured him, “too tired for it anyways.”
---
“So Discord,” Stigandr said moving a piece up the board. He was either on terrifyingly equal terms with the draconequus or Discord was dragging out the game. Stigandr was gambling the latter. Discord was playing a strictly defensive game and try as Stigandr could, strategizing a way through it seemed nearly impossible. “Why don't you want anything from me?”
“I already answered that,” Discord said. “If I asked for anything you'd be wary and not play my game.”
“Your game?”
“Come now Stigandr,” the shadow said, moving another piece thoughtfully up the board, “do you honestly think that this is the only game I play?”
“I figured that,” Stigandr said, “I just want to know to what ends you plan to use us.”
Discord's dark chuckle left Stigandr's hair standing up on end. “To be honest I have a pot brewing for my release that holds no sway with your decisions.”
“So are we the contingency?” Stigandr replied feeling increasingly expendable to the draconequus he had used only last week.
“To some extent, but don't worry,” Discord said. “While you three are chaotic, making you into something capable of challenging the spell that had sealed me? It would take far longer than I'd like to spend.”
“So what are you planning to do with us?” Stigandr pushed, trying to get a definitive answer. “We seem a bit of a liability.”
“Come now, you are far too tense,” Discord said. “I'm not one to go around sacrificing pawns. Especially such charming ones.” With a wave of his hand Discord turned three of Discord's pawns that were in jeopardy into busts of him and his friends. “Now then, I believe it is your move.”
Stigandr calmly moved to counter Discord to the best of his ability. Something was bothering him though. It looked like Discord was holding something, but he couldn't make it out.
---
“We need to act now,” the praetorian commander said. After what the wave of fear that had hit them earlier he had convened with the other commander. The fear had hit every praetorian in the palace. They didn't know what it was from or how the ponies had used it but it had almost caused several of them to abandon their disguises. If not for their discipline they would've been completely incapacitated by it. As it stood now they were lucky. There was no clue as to what had caused it, if it was a spell or if it had been a device or a combination of the two.
“We were in position to strike the traitor yesterday but lost our shot. We have no guards on him anymore,” the other commander said. “Everything is in place to distract the princesses. The other traitor shouldn't be that much of a problem.”
“That was before we found more. There was apparently an entire nest of them,” he said. Feeling the boiling rage in his colleague the commander added, “They are being taken care of.”
“Very well,” he said, “when will you be ready to strike?”
“Immediately. One praetorian, five to distract each of the princesses long enough and.” He looked at his fellow commander, “The other three will be back within the hour. I’ll personally go and deal with the one that has taken up residence in the palace.”
Then another wave of the sweet delicious fear washed over them and the praetorians' found themselves almost lost in it. “We have to act now,” growled the other commander, “if it gets any stronger we will be forced to reveal ourselves.”
“I'll inform them to be ready in fifteen minutes,” he replied, running off as fast as his unicorn form would allow. His thoughts turned to how quickly the plan had fallen to Tartarus. 'Who knows,' thought the commander, 'I may be able to see how resourceful this traitor is myself.'
---
“Hi Applejack,” Ancro said as he walked in with Spike. “What are you doing here?”
“Something smells good,” Spike said, walking in right behind the changeling.
“Howdy Spike,” she said, completely ignoring Ancro's question and general existence. “There's some apple fritters in the oven and I think a few gems in the pantry. Looks like somepony knew you'd be back at the palace.”
“You know, I figured after I helped you would warm up to me enough to at least give me a friendly greeting,” Ancro chuckled as soon as Spike had buried himself in the pantry and he was out of earshot.
Applejack shot back with a dirty look, “I was raised that if I didn't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.” She went back to the stove before continuing.
“Why not,” Ancro said. “You act like I've gone out of my way to hurt you and your friends.”
“You don't take anything seriously.”
“Neither does Pinkie,” Ancro replied.
“She gets serious when we need her to be.” Applejack replied, “You are still making jokes after you've done been captured, and you start fights.”
“Rainbow Dash started it,” Ancro said.
“And from what I saw she finished it.”
“You seem to think winning the fight meant something to me?” Ancro smiled with a smart-ass tone. “Winning wasn't important. I just needed to have some fun.”
“Well I guess if getting your flank kicked is fun fer you then it's none of my business,” Applejack replied.
“What do I have to do to get you trust me?” Ancro said with a smile.
“If princess Celestia trusts you then so do I,” Applejack said. “That doesn't mean I have to like you though.”
“Fair enough,” Ancro shrugged. Applejack noticed the changeling switched to a Trottington accent for some reason and shouted “Oi! Spike ya ready to go?”
“Just about,” the dragon said walking out of the pantry. Ancro had to chuckle seeing the dragon carry a pile of snacks that was easily taller than the little guy.
---
“Specs,” she recognized the voice of her employer inside her ear. “For the first time in your employment you get to make a decision.”
“What do you mean?” she thought back to him. Scott was guzzling water from a canteen the changeling had brought in.
“Well you are going to have two choices,” he explained. “I'd gladly leave it in my paws but I'd be stretching myself extremely thin, I'd rather have two successes than two failures you know?”
“What are they?” she asked through grit teeth.
“Oh you are going to love them,” the voice started. “As you know I have a little bit of power, nothing truly substantial.”
“Get on with it,” she growled, feeling her blood pressure rising.
“Wow, somling's a little touchy,” the voice said, “I'm tempted to not give you the choice now, but I'm feeling generous today.” Specs waited for the voice to continue. “You know how your little brother's in prison and Ancro is at the palace right?”
“Yes.”
“Well you know there is a decena of praetorian's in the prison. They were sent to tie up a few loose ends,” she could hear the smile in his voice, “now in a few minutes they plan to kill Ancro. And with him being my favorite pawn I'd really rather not have him die. I only have so much power though. How do you think it should be used?”
(Thanks for reading! As usual feedback is always enjoyed whether if in PM form or a comment. Thanks to my editors Lone Spartan, Soulstorm65, Tsujin Rilauco, Billahsaurus101. We have officially gone through my buffer faster than I could rebuild it. Course between moving out of my parents house, job hunting, and school time for writing has been little to nonexistent. If I get a the time I may have the next chapter done by next Monday but not sure if it will be edited by then.)