//------------------------------// // As Plans Unfold // Story: MLPU: Twilight Sparkle: Princess of Thunder // by TheInvincibleIronBrony //------------------------------// Shining Armor flew through the barren, icy wastelands of Jotunheim, the biting cold of the snowy storm barely bothering him. He had told Owlowicious that he was going to make one last attempt at peace with the Windigos before the war actually started. It wasn't entirely untrue either. However Shining's disappearance to Midgard had raised the guardian's suspicions. It didn't help that Owlowicious' sight had been blocked by a spell Shining Armor had learned several centuries ago. King Frostmourne's decaying castle came into sight moments later and Shining wasn't surprised to see a small force of Windigos waiting at the front gate. "I hope you were sent as an escort. If not I'm prepared to fight my way to your king," the prince said as he landed in front of the icy behemoths. Shining Armor stood in front of the largest of the group, calmly looking him in the eye. The pale giant grunted as he stepped aside, allowing Shining to enter. Shining smiled as he walked through the group, the Windigos following after. Shining Armor glanced around at the ruins of the palace as he was escorted. It seemed as though no attempt had been made to repair the damage from his and Twilight's recent visit. It didn't take long to reach Frostmourne's throne room, the doors opening to a less than regal sight. Pillars had been toppled and the walls were crumbling. A section of the ceiling had collapsed, allowing the ever present blizzard of Jotunheim inside the palace. "What curse has brought another visitor from Equinsgard?" a low voice called from the far end if the room. Shining Armor peered through the blizzard, the silhouette of King Frostmourne barely visible. "I have come to make peace with your realm, your majesty," the All-Father said. Frostmourne growled at the thought. "You and that blasted sister of yours destroyed my home, killed my subjects, and you wish to make peace? And pray tell what have you to offer me for peace?" the Windigo asked, rising from his throne and approaching Shining Armor. "It may interest you to know my sister has been banished to Midgard. A punishment for her crimes against you," the alicorn informed in a respectful tone. Frostmourne chuckled darkly. "You expect me to believe your mother banished the heir to her throne?" he inquired, standing tall before Shining. The All-Father thought for a moment. "No. My mother has fallen into the Solar Sleep. However she named me as her heir due to Twilight's obvious lack of respect for the peace of the nine realms. It was I who banished her, in hopes it may appease you," Shining lied, in hopes it would gain him favor with the Windigo. Frostmourne tilted his head in interest. "That may be, but it was your mother who agreed to my declaration of war. I doubt she will back down when she wakes. How do you propose we keep this peace you speak of when that happens?" he asked, looking down at the alicorn. Shining Armor pretended to be caught off guard. "I... you are right. What do you propose?" he asked, praying the Windigo made the right request. Frostmourne smiled. "To prevent a threat to our treaty, your mother must die," he said calmly. Shining's eyes widened. "You must be joking. There has to be another way," he pleaded. "Nothing else will be enough," Frostmourne said, taking notice of the troubled look on Shining's face. "Perhaps it would be best to consider what is best for your people instead of your mother," he suggested. Shining Armor made a show of gulping. "You... you are right," he said, sadly hanging his head. "For the protection of my home, I will do anything," he conceded solemnly, earning a grin from Frostmourne. "But it must be you who strikes her down," Shining continued, earning a glare from the Windigo. "If I were to be caught I would be thrown in the dungeons and peace would be but a dream," he explained. Frostmourne scoffed. "And it would be any different for me?" he argued. Shining rolled his eyes. "A simple spell to disguise your true form should be sufficient. Nopony will suspect it was you," Shining offered. Frostmourne thought for a moment. "Than why must it be me? Why not hire an assassin from your own realm?" he asked curiously. Shining Armor was quickly growing frustrated. "Nopony in Equinsgard could escape the wrath of our elite guardsman, but if the culprit were a Windigo in the guise of an Equine's guardian they wouldn't even be looking for the right pony," Shining answered. "I'll also need someone who wants the job done to do it," he finished. Frostmourne sat back on the throne and thought for a moment. "Very well. We have a deal," Frostmourne agreed with a thin smile. "My guards will show you out." Shining Armor bowed before he turned to leave. A smile spread across his face as the escorts guided him back to the door. All according to plan so far, he thought as he left. /////////////////////////////////////// Shining Armor landed in the Bifrost moments later, a satisfied smile on his face. Owlowicious removed his talons from the pedestal in the center of the dome and eyed Shining suspiciously as the alicorn made for the exit. "How did your expedition fair my lord?" the owl asked, not turning his gaze from the opening of the Bifrost. Shining Froze at the question, but remained calm. "Very well. I have struck a deal with King Frostmourne that will ensure peace between our people," he explained with a smile. Owlowicious tilted his head in interest. "Good news. I had to ask though as I found myself blind to your presence on Jotunheim," he informed. "Similar to the invaders who interrupted your sister's coronation, no?" the owl asked, nor betraying a hint of emotion. Shining grimaced at the accusation. "That is curious. Perhaps the Windigos have discovered some way to hide themselves from us. I'll ask you to look into it for me," the alicorn ordered as he began walking towards the exit again. "If it was the Windigos, then I must ask, why would they mask your presence on Midgard?" the giant bird of prey inquired, remaining calm as ever. The All-Father froze again, quickly losing his patience. "Is there something you wish to ask me guardian?" Shining asked, an edge to his voice. "I am only curious about the events I've missed. It would take one an exceptionally long time to learn to cover their presence from me," Owlowicious told his king. Shining glared at the owl. "I see. You are at quite the formidable detective. It's a wonder my mother never feared you would expose her more... sordid affairs," the alicorn said, his smile returning. Owlowicious' eyes narrowed. "I am honor bound to the All-Mother. She has no need to fear me," he said, wondering what Shining was getting at. Shining's smile widened, inwardly celebrating his victory. "And now I am the All-Father and you are sworn to obey me. I advise you not to forget that," the alicorn said as he made his way from the Bifrost, leaving Owlowicious glaring in his wake. /////////////////////// Spike grumbled as he walked the halls of the palace, searching for his missing ruler. "How could he have left without alerting even a single guard?" the dragon asked himself, subconsciously reminded of how the Windigos did the same just. Few days earlier. Before his mind could wander further a pegasus guard approached Spike. "The All-Father requests your presence in the throne room," he said, turning in the direction of the throne room and leading a baffled Spike. The pair reached the throne room after a few minutes and the guard stopped at the door as the dragon continued inside, finding Shining Armor sitting on the throne, Gungnir in hand. "Spike, thank you for coming," the alicorn greeted happily. A little too happy for Spike's liking. Shining hadn't been this happy ever as far as Spike knew and the alicorn had seemed even more stressed than usual lately. "I came as fast a I could. Where have you been? Disappearing in the middle of war preparations isn't becoming of a king," the drake inquired, his voice still full of the worry he'd felt earlier. Shining Armor chuckled. "There is no need to worry about me or the war. I visited with King Frostmourne and we were able to come to an agreement that will end in everlasting peace," Shining informed. Spike's jaw dropped. "You went to Jotunheim alone?!" he shouted in shock. Shining rolled his eyes. "Yes, as we have a hundred times before," he reminded, amused at the drake's worry. "This is different. You are king now. If we lost you to a careless mistake, war would be the least of our worries. Luna is already far too busy trying to keep the citizens from panicking. If she had to take on your duties as well, it would be too much," Spike argued, as he recalled what Shining had just said. "And what is this agreement you spoke of?" he asked, unable to keep the concern from his voice. Shining smiled at the question. "We have made a deal that will ensure peace between out realms forever," he informed as he stood up from the throne. Spike waited for him to continue. "What are the terms of this deal?" he asked when Shining simply began walking towards the door to his mothers room. Shining turned to him, giving a sly smile. “Nothing that is more important than keeping the peace in our realm. A small price to pay, really.” Spike narrowed his brow, “But All-father-” "I apologize Spike,” Shining interrupted. “But, I must see to my mother. I only sent for you so you could spread the good news," the alicorn said as he opened the door to Celestia's chambers and entered, leaving Spike suspicious of his friends strange behavior. /////////////////// "That's great news!" Blossomfort shouted in the private mead hall that was reserved for Royalty and those close to them. Raindrops sipped her drink in disappointment. "I guess. I was hoping for another round with the Windigos, but at least the realms have been spared a great war," the pegasus conceded. "I'm not so sure," Spike said, not being able to shake his concern. "Shining Armor didn't seem like himself," he told his friends. "He was only recently crowned king. It's probably just stress," Raindrops reasoned. Spike shook his head. "No, that's the problem. He seemed relaxed. As though he had nothing to worry about," Spike continued. Blossomforth raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't he be? He just averted war. We should all be celebrating," she countered. "So what was the deal he made?" Spike looked up. "He wouldn't tell me. He just kept saying it would bring peace. Everlasting peace at that," he told them. "I don't know about everlasting, but peace for a time sounds good," Raindrops argued. "Well unless he's going to destroy them all," she added, laughing at the thought. Spike's eyes widened. "The Bifrost has the power to do that," he said, swallowing a lump in his throat. Blossomforth's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious? Shining Armor would never do that," she said angrily. "I'm not sure about that," Raindrops said. "He's always been protective of his home. He'd do anything to protect it." Spike took a moment to think. "There is only one who would know what Shining is up to if they knew what we knew," he told his comrades. Raindrops and Blossomforth looked at him curiously. "Twilight," Spike finished. Raindrops dropped her drink, the cup clattering to the floor. "She is in exile. If anyone even suspected we were trying to contact her, we'd be imprisoned for life," she argued. "We need answers," Spike countered. Just as Raindrops was about to reply the door opened and a guard entered. "Owlowicious demands your presence," the guard stated as he left. The trio stared at the open door with wide eyes. "We're doomed," Raindrops said, sounding defeated.