"It looks deserted."
"I know." Opaque nodded. We were standing in an alleyway, surreptitiously surveying a beaten-up warehouse on the edge of town. "But that's where I trailed them to."
"Um." I thought for a moment. "Hey, Rarity. Can you get a read with the gun?"
"They're there." She nodded. Arglefraster hovered just above and to the left of her, connected tenuously to her horn. It could scan through walls. I'd never tried using it, but it should project a small heads-up display, and even highlight targets. "I can see maybe a dozen. They're gathered in a knot, and they're working fast. Maybe we could pick them off from here?"
"Won't work." I shook my head. "Arglefraster's great, but it's not really a sniper. The propulsion fields disintegrate after about five-hundred yards, or if they punch through something. We didn't want to shoot through walls. Once the field is gone, the bullet starts tumbling and evaporates quickly."
"So we need to get inside, at least. What's the plan?" Sunset asked.
"It'll be tricky, whatever we do." I shrugged. "When we were up against Shadow we had Dash, and we still barely pulled through. Suggestions?"
"We need to hit them hard, and we need to be quick about it." Applejack stepped up. "We've got one target; the painting. We need to get in, do what we can, and get out. For that to happen, confusion is our friend."
"Ok." Rarity grinned. "I say we knock on the front door."
"Ah." I grinned, hugely. "Arglefraster can do that."
Plugging my ears helped a little against the noise. Sunset watched in awe as Rarity sent a giant icicle ripping through the warehouse. It punched messily through the wall near us and threw what I could see of the interior contents around violently. We were moving as soon as we had an entry.
I had no idea how Manehatten would react to the racket. Hopefully, they would stay away. We were away from residential areas. We'd discussed asking some of Applejack's contacts to help, but decided against it; since this was a government operation, they would be chary. There was no actual reward and no guarantee they'd obey us.
I dove through the hole we'd opened and tried to assess the situation. The windigolems had indeed been gathered in the center of the warehouse, working on what seemed to be a cart. Our attack had scattered them; as we entered, they started converging on us.
Standing on the cart, directing their movements, was a pony who was clearly a lieutenant. She looked fairly normal, like Shadow had, but her crystal body was more obvious in small ways. Her fuschia mane was glassy, and her robin's-egg coat seemed transparent. Her eyes glowed red, and she had a faceted, slab-like appearance in parts. She gestured and yelled, and the windigolems surged.
I stepped forward, unlimbered my hammer, and tried to push through.
"Really wish we had air support!" I yelled. "Try for the cart! Ten-to-one, she's making her breaks!"
I heard Sunset yell "On it!" and caught a flash of cyan magic from the corner of my eye. I ducked under a blow and smashed my hammer into the attacking windigolem. As I did, Sunset appeared on the cart.
Did she just teleport? My musing was cut short as she engaged Glisten at close range.
For a second, I thought she had a chance. She didn't try to fight the lieutenant head on; instead, she cast some sort of binding and leaped into the bed of the cart.
I glanced around, trying to assess how we were doing; we were holding our own against their larger numbers and had even destroyed a few. In a few minutes we'd have victory.
But we didn't have the time for that. I wracked my brain for a way to get to the cart, and Sunset, faster. As I did, I dodged another blow and heard a scream from the cart. Glisten dove into the bed after Sunset and she came flying over the side, landing heavily on the ground. The lieutenant followed, taking a moment to kick her again, before jumping into the traces and hauling the cart away.
My heart sank as I saw her crash through a thin section of the wall and clatter off at a speed only a pegasus could have matched. We'd lost her.
I viciously finished off my opponent, turning to help Opaque. To my surprise, she was finishing up as well. Both of us joined Applejack and Rarity and cleaned up their opponents in moments. Piles of broken glass littered the floor. Windigos began forming above them but they'd evaporate in the sunshine quickly enough. I holstered my hammer and rushed over to Sunset.
"Are you OK?" I dropped to one knee and inspected her. She didn't look seriously injured.
"Yeah." She coughed. "She took me by surprise but I snapped up a shield." She slowly uncurled, wincing. "I may have a cracked rib though. She's got some weight behind her blows."
"Shadow was the same." I helped her to her feet. "Although he was a trained battlemage. If he'd been supporting these troops, we'd have had a much, much harder fight."
"Look!" Rarity yelled, holding up a rolled piece of... canvas? "She left the painting!"
"What?" Applejack and Opaque turned, just as the piece unrolled. Sure enough, that was Subtle Palette's 'Mud Pony'. It was undamaged, to my untrained eye, although Opaque gasped in shock and rushed over.
"Yeah." Sunset coughed, wincing. "The cart was mostly empty but there was this padded setup in the back, a plain wooden frame and some cushions. It was holding a mirror."
"A mirror?"
We'd made our way over to the others, and they were listening with interest. At that point, Applejack motioned to the back of the canvas.
"Look." On the back of the painting, dust and creases left an oval impression. "Was that what they were after?"
"Must have been." I shrugged. "I wonder why?"
"It's magic, obviously. That's what you sensed last night." Sunset rolled her eyes and grimaced. "And it…caught me. Or I'd have grabbed it and jumped again."
"Caught you?" Rarity gave her an odd look.
"Yeah." Her voice was flat.
"Oh."
"We need to get this back to the gallery," Opaque glanced around, "and we need to get moving. The police will have a team here in short order, and while they won't obstruct us in the end, I'm not doing paperwork right now. Let's move." She stepped out, carefully balancing the painting on her back. The rest of us followed readily.
"Sunset." I fell behind, walking next to her. "What else did you see?"
"Hmm?"
"In the cart. Something shocked you, bad. I heard you scream - before Glisten kicked you."
"Blech." She grimaced and looked up at me. I saw her eyes harden slightly and pulled out my wand. I held it out to her and tapped it to my forehead.
"Be my friend, Sunset," I awkwardly entreated. "I want to help."
"Fine." She sighed. "I saw myself in the mirror." We walked quietly for a bit. "Fine!" she yelled. Everypony else glanced back, but didn't intrude. "I saw myself as an alicorn. I was tall, beautiful. I had these wonderful fiery wings, and a billowing ethereal mane." She dropped her voice again. "I looked powerful. Strong. In control. Everything I thought I wanted, back when I was young and foolish. It shook me. But I also looked little lonely. And a little angry." She sighed.
"I don't know, Wes. Maybe it was stupid, but when I saw that…I just froze up. For a long time, that's all I wanted. Power. But then I spent years searching for my lost my brother, and I realized just how empty all of that is when pursued for its own sake. If I'd given up on Splinter, I could have ruled this city and it wouldn't have meant a single thing." She gave a small laugh. "Maybe I’m closer to believing in Celestia's 'greater good' than I thought. Anyways, I'm sorry I couldn't do better." She hung her head. "If I'd been a little stronger, Glisten wouldn't have escaped."
"You don't know that," I firmly contradicted her. "Look, Sunset. This was always long shot. Nothing would have changed that, except maybe a platoon of Shining's elite guards, or a Princess. If you'd yoinked the mirror, we might have won…or Glisten might have pulled out a trump card. Maybe if we extended things, civilians would have shown up and gotten hurt. Maybe Celestia would have found us and added her strength. I don't know what would have happened and neither do you." I gave her a pointed glare, and she nodded slowly.
"We just need to move forward from here." I rubbed my jaw. "This mirror is unsettling. Sombra is an archmage who specializes in mirror magic." I thought back to the first attack he'd leveled at us. "He tried to do something with mirrors, when he first moved against Twilight. He claimed it was a trap, but I don't trust anything he says. He's a wheels-within-wheels plotter, more layered and intricate than I would have believed. He's putting some sort of plan together, and we need to be ready, as best we can." I groaned, quietly. "I just wish I had a bit more confidence that we’re moving fast enough."
"At least you're moving." She gave me gentle nudge. "Trust me, I know what it feels like to do your best and get nowhere. You've got a few years yet before you can declare yourself a failure."
"Heh. Ok, I'll take your word for it."
"Good."
"So…you're saying it's not completely ruined?" Rarity was discussing the future of the painting with Opaque. Apparently, the thick paint Subtle Palette used wasn't suited for being rolled and unrolled.
"It may be salvaged." The gallery curator gave a hesitant nod. "Oh." She stopped; we'd reached our destination, and just outside our door was a brace of Royal Guards, resplendent in golden regalia.
"Eeep!" Sunset gave a surprisingly cute shriek and stepped behind me.
"Um, hold on a second, ponies." The others halted, and I turned back. "Look, Sunset…" I sighed. "You're with friends here."
I saw her fright recede a little as reality returned.
"I don't…have to do this," she said, slowly regaining her poise.
"You don't." I shrugged, but I was unwilling to let it rest at that; another minute, and she'd talk herself out of it. "I really do think you should reconcile with Celestia, or at least talk to her a little. Get things started. Feel the waters. I'm certain she doesn't hate you. But I can't - we won't - make you. If you want to leave, now's the time. I'll keep writing you. We can meet up later."
"Um." She paused, thinking it over.
"Only…" I stopped and caught her eye. "It's not going to get easier." Her face fell, and I knelt to give her a gentle hug. "I know that. You know that. Haven't you done enough waiting?"
"Really dear, it's alright." Sunset's expression grew surprised as Rarity and Applejack joined the hug. "If you're not ready, that's your decision." Rarity squeezed her tightly. "Any friend of Wes' is a friend of mine. Give me a call if you need a hoof."
"That's the truth. You've helped us out plenty now and back when. Drop round the farm sometime, we'll have pie." Applejack nodded. "Ah do think you should say hi to her majesty, but what do Ah know? Just, these things don't get easier."
"Thanks." Sunset blinked rapidly and sniffled a little. "M-maybe. Just for a little while."
"That's the spirit!" Opaque cheered us on. "Okay! It's been years since I've had a royal visit! We can have lunch!" She bounded forward, energy restored. "Oh! This will be fun!" I shook my head at her enthusiasm. Why couldn't I be that energetic?
"My Princess." The words gave me a little thrill as I followed Opaque into the conference room and bowed to Celestia. She was my Princess now.
Opaque, in a flurry of delegation, had ordered us lunch, let the royal guest know we'd arrived, and begged a short time to freshen up before attending her. Manes had been combed and coats brushed. I'd settled for washing my face, stripping off my cravat and vest, and swapping my shirt for a clean one. My coat needed a good cleaning, but I brushed it as best I could and it didn't look horrible. Black wool has advantages. I rinsed off my new boots and they looked fine. I would have liked an actual shower and we all needed some medical attention, but bruises, cuts, and scrapes could be plastered quickly. Sunset was sporting a taped rib.
Oh, Sunset.
"Your majesty…" I stepped forward, leaning close to Celestia. She tipped an ear towards me, curious. "Thank you for coming. We moved without your support and failed. We can detail the operation later." I lowered my voice. "However, Sunset Shimmer has joined us, at least for lunch. She…would like to talk to you, at least a little. Please, please be kind to her." I gave her my best pleading face. "For my sake?"
"Oh, Wes." Celestia gave me a gentle smile in return. "Am I so terrifying, then? Of course I'll be kind. I've wanted to talk to Sunset for years. Thank you so very much for convincing her."
"Um." I stepped back, suddenly abashed. I'd just encouraged her a little; was it really such a big deal?
Apparently so.
As the rest of the ponies filed in, Celestia greeted Rarity and Applejack warmly, but hesitantly stepped forward to gather Sunset into a gentle embrace. The rest of us shared a knowing look and turned towards lunch. Our report could wait.
"You Ok?"
A slightly red-eyed Sunset came and sat beside me. I was busily picking daisies off my sandwich, while Opaque and Applejack argued with Rarity about the proper type of apples for a slaw. Celestia sat at the other end of the table and started filling a plate.
"Yeah." She sniffled a little. "She apologized, Wes. Princess Celestia. To me."
"Mm."
"What have I been doing?" She leaned her head against my shoulder and started sniffling again. "All those years!"
I put an arm around her neck and patted her gently.
"Sssh." I gave her a gentle hug. "Things get better now." I passed her a sandwich and my extra daisies. "We move forward. One way or another. Trust your friends; we'll hold you up."
"Ahem!" Celestia cleared her throat, and we all turned to her. She had a sandwich sticking out of her mouth; as soon as she realized we were all staring, she hastily swallowed. "Um. Uh, Sunset told me how the strike against Glisten went. You all did the best you could, although I'm very worried about the implications. Sombra's an expert in resography and mirror magic, and I'm afraid the stolen artifact may be the 'Misty Mirror'; an extremely powerful relic of the old Unicorn Crown. Wes, you remember the report I had compiled?" Rarity and Applejack glanced at me, but I nodded. I hadn't even made the connection, but there had been a mirror in there that supposedly linked to another world… I had sudden visions of invading alien armies and shuddered.
"That could be bad."
"Indeed. I will be doubling and redoubling my efforts to discover his plans. The unfortunate reality is that we may actually be at war, and I have not realized it." She grimaced at that, and we shared worried looks. "Sombra is masterminding an organization of unseen proportions, coordinating a plot of appalling depth and unguessed ends. A thousand years ago, my sister and I defeated him, but it seems his plans lived on. We need to proceed with both extreme haste and caution, an explosive combination if ever there was one. I hope all of you-" she caught Sunset's eye "-can lend me your strength as we face this threat." She sighed deeply. "For now, wait on my word. I have no idea when our next lead will come, but come it will, and we must be ready." She returned to her lunch and the rest of us went back to talking quietly.
After a while Sunset joined Applejack. Rarity and Opaque took the opportunity to discuss fashion and Celestia came around the table to sit by me.
"Wes."
"Yes?"
"I apologize for this, but I didn't come to Manehatten purely to assure your safety. I pushed you to legitimize yourself as part of the Intelligence Archive because I want your help with something and that's the best support for you." She sighed, suddenly looking very tired.
"Ok."
"Wes, I don't know what Luna has told you, but the last decade or so has been exhausting." I blinked at that, bemused; I normally didn't think of decades like that. "I try to limit my involvement to the essentials. One way or another, my little ponies will continue." She smiled at the others. "Still, it's frustrating to watch opponents poke holes in everything I'm trying to create. Maybe I'm feeling the weight of my years, but it seems that as soon as I raise the sun, there's another essential thing requiring my attention. I delegate, I schedule vacations and breaks which I stick to as best I can. It's not the government that requires my effort, you know, but Sombra and his ilk."
"Not that I mind, Princess, but why confide in me?"
"Because I’m about to ask you to stretch even thinner, and I know how that can feel. I apologized, because I realize I'm asking a lot of you. I really do need help and support from the ponies around me, and you, through accident, character, and decision, are one of the few positioned to help."
"Is that what the CIA is really about?"
"Indeed. They're not servants, but my friends." She took a bite of her sandwich. "They are the few, before Luna returned, who would naysay me, telling me not what I want, but need to hear. Everything else about them, the building they use, the system they have, the magic they've set up, is all incidental to that. What use is a spy if they won't give you bad news? I've known Opaque ever since she was a foal." Celestia smiled at me. "Did you know, the first time I met her, she yelled at me? I can't even remember what it was about, but I remember looking at this tiny, bouncing yellow filly, and thinking; 'this one's a keeper'. And she has been, faithfully supporting me and not just when I ask." She gave a bittersweet grin. "One day, maybe, Twilight will conquer her fear of me and join them."
"What would you ask me?" I poured myself a glass of watermelon juice, and refilled Celestia's.
"Have you heard about the changeling panics?" I thought back to the yelling ponies yesterday, and nodded. "Do you remember the changeling Diligent paroled when you attacked Wraith's hive?" I nodded again, more slowly this time. "Well, as it turns out, there are at least two hives left in Equestria."
"At least?"
"That I know of. There may be more; it's unlikely we'll ever be completely free of imposters, given the the nature of the insects and how many ponies live far beyond my borders."
"Blech."
"Indeed. Anyways, two hives. The changeling your team captured was named Onyx. Luna removed him to a secure location and we questioned him. At length, but gently. We learned some interesting things."
"Mmm?"
"Firstly, you may have guessed this, but not all changelings feed on the same emotions. Even saying 'feed' is a bit off. Although they gather it, they do not consume it wholesale. Certain things, like their magic, or hatchlings, absolutely require it, but we sustained Onyx for quite a while on nothing more than hay, oats, and water."
"…sure." A human might get scurvy, but I guess that was reasonable pony food?
"Chrysalis' and Wraith, in order to secure what they saw as a 'permanent' source of emotion, took drastic, uncharacteristic actions. Most changelings are much more discrete, and for good reason."
"They don't want panic."
"Not if they're smart."
"Well, Wraith and Chrysalis are stupid. Ok, I can grasp that. What about these other two?"
"One of them wants peace."
"Peace?" I nearly choked on my mouthful of bread and lettuce, coughing in startlement. "With them?"
"Yes."
"You're serious." I scrutinized her expression. "Of course you are. How could you even consider that?"
"Wes…" Celestia sighed. "This is something you'll need to work through. But, no matter your personal feelings, peace is the best option. Both for us and for them."
"Really."
"Really. When has conflict ever benefited both parties?"
"Who cares about them?"
"I do." I quailed at her fierce words, but the fact that she was willing to show me this emotion touched me a little; she knew I could deal with being yelled at. "Wes, you have free reign to speak your mind to me. I'll listen to whatever you would like to say. But do not presume to judge another. I am the ruler of Equestria; under my sun, I am absolute arbitrator in this land. If necessary, I am judge, jury, and executioner. At my word, thousands have died." She stopped, and took a deep breath to calm herself.
"I…" I stopped, and took a few breaths myself. "I apologize, my Princess. That was out of line."
"Apology accepted." She nodded, and her smile returned. "Be that as it may, Wes, you are my first candidate for an ambassador."
"Me?!" I nearly fell over, from one shock after another. "After that?" I stopped, and glared. "Is this another prank? Have you gone crazy?"
"This is not a prank. When have I ever pranked you?"
"Um…" I paused, about to point to when she'd labeled me a book. "…I guess you haven't. Weird."
"I am also, as far as my sister, my own mind, and my seven independent monitoring spells indicate, in full possession of my faculties. There's a simple reason for my decision, despite your proclivities."
"This, I have got to hear."
"You cannot be mimicked. Not easily, at any rate."
"Oh." I thought for a bit. That actually made a surprising amount of sense. In any negotiation, trust was an absolute issue. If Celestia was trying to find someone who could talk to both changelings and ponies, and not have to worry about whether they were replaced, I wasn't a horrible choice.
That didn't mean I liked the idea, however.
"What would this entail?"
"Firstly, you need to meet their Queen."
"Not a Princess?"
"No, Wes. Princess or Prince is an elected title; when I commandeered the Unicorn government, I was elected. I can go no higher without a royal decree of inheritance, and the royal line may be lost forever." She shrugged. "Although the changeling Queens are self-styled, they are truly absolute rulers. I am fortunate to have escaped that, in many ways."
"Huh." I nodded. "Interesting. Ok, so I need to meet the big shot. Then?"
"If she agrees, you will work with the Intelligence Archive to mitigate the effects of the changeling panics."
"Mitigate how?"
"Ah." Celestia gulped her juice. "I did mention there were two hives, did I not?"
"Yes…"
"Well, as far as we can tell, the other hive doesn't want peace."
"Oh."
"Indeed. We are unsure what goals they actually do pursue. However, for whatever reason, they are attempting to spark panic in parts of my populace. They have begun trying to reveal changelings from the opposing hive, and even frame innocent ponies, all in an attempt to stir things up. One of my analysts has suggested they may feed off fear."
"If so, they're even more stupid…or something drives them to desperation. Ooof."
"It is concerning." Celestia gave me a grave stare. "Anyways, you would be working with changelings from the hive of our potential ally, trying to protect them and the ponies around them from the actions of the rival hive. That's where things lie. Will you do this?"
"Hold up a second." I gulped my drink. "I have to ask; don’t we have changeling wards? What's up with those?"
"A good question. But remember, the technology is new. We were surprised and dismayed to find that they only work reliably on Chrysalis' agents." She frowned. "It's possible we can re-calibrate them if we manage to scan enough agents, or another Queen."
"Ok, fair enough. But how about horn-scanning? Twilight claimed she could sense changeling magic on me…that one time."
"Horn-scanning is unreliable at best." Celestia frowned. "Twilight is extraordinarily sensitive, and even she mistook Sombra's work for changeling magic. Even so, we wouldn't be able to distinguish which hive the agent was from."
"Hrmm." I thought that over for a bit, before returning to the original question. "Your mission, should I choose to accept it," I intoned. She gave me a curious glance, but nodded. "Do I have to do this?"
"…no." She shook her head slowly. "As a guard, I may order you; as my friend, you are free to turn this down."
"Argh." I dropped my head to my hands and tried to think.
This would be unpleasant. Besides working with bugs, I would be dealing with dramatic ponies. Every day. However, Celestia needed my help. She'd as much as admitted she was low on options; I surely wouldn't be her first choice. She wouldn't hate me for turning her down, but could I do that to a friend? I thought of the bugs.
Yes, yes I could.
I turned it over in my mind a few more times. Did I want to be that sort of friend, though? Only sacrificing when convenient? I'd helped Celestia before, but this time, she'd specifically come to ask me. I thought back on all the help she'd give me, and sighed.
"I'll do it." She grinned. "But!" I held up a finger. "I'll need you to pay me. Oats and wheat are fine for fuel, but to stay healthy I need green vegetables and protein all winter. I can't eat hay! I've been planning on buying dried beans and rice in bulk, and cider too, if I can get it. I'll start a root cellar and freeze what I can, but with everything going on…it's getting tricky. In a few months, the growing season will be over. If I'm to make it through the winter and do this work for you, I'll need extra cash."
"Oh." She looked faintly surprised. "I see. I hadn't considered that; most of my agents are independently wealthy. Name your wage."
"Really?"
"As long as it's reasonable."
"Phooey."