//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Great Conspiracy // by YoungQuillMaster //------------------------------// Celestia was awoken as her cart jostle as it hit yet another bump on, what she could guess, was a long and winding road. She groaned as the chains sapped yet another portion of her strength. “You’re awake, I see.” A voice said from behind her, slightly muffled by the sacks of hay and other objects. “I’ve only woken up myself.” “You know,” Celestia began, “When I said all those years ago that we’d see each other again someday I never implied it would be under circumstances as these.” Artemis chuckled slightly. “Well, I certainly guessed it would be just like this.” Artemis stated with heavy doses of sarcasm. Suddenly the jabs of poles caused the two regal ponies to cry out in pain. “Silence, there’s no reason to talk you two.” The gruff guard barked at them. Celestia grumbled slightly as she settled in deeper into the sacks around her, the bag of apples under her causing each bump’s pain increase tenfold as her pain in the landings were compounded on the uneven surface. “Well, aren’t they pleasant?” Celestia muttered with clenched teeth. Artemis snorted, another bump causing the wind to be knocked out of him. Suddenly the cart came to stop, followed by the sound of chains rattling and the turning of gears, scratching against each other as, what Celestia could guess, was the opening of a gate. The cart began moving again, another jolt following as the cart rose up onto the cobble path, making the large bumps turn into a constant jostling as they moved over each stone, dipping into the gaps between stones, which felt more like gigantic valleys as Celestia and Artemis were thrown about. Suddenly the tarp was thrown away, and the supplies were taken out, leaving only the royals in their black chains. The ponies pushed them out slowly, their limp forms flopping onto the path with a grunt and a thud. The guards ushered the two to their hooves with agonizing pain, each gritting their teeth as they fought past the pain the chains delivered to them. The two leaders walked up before flipping their hoods back, exposing their wide grins. “Welcome, Celestia,” Sire began. “And welcome, Artemis; to the castle of the Alliance, we hope you enjoy your visit, it shall be a long one, no doubt.” Majesty finished, her smile growing more maniacal and devilish. “Guards, please, remove their chains. We wouldn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable during their stay.” Sire ordered with a grin. The guard quickly removed the chains from the princess and prince, unlocking the several locks that were scattered across their links. Celestia rolled her shoulders, her strength growing quickly as the magic of the land flowed into every fiber of her being. “I suppose there’s a catch to our new found freedom.” Artemis stated while stretching his limbs, low pops cracking through the air. Sire and Majesty shook their heads, their grin still plastered from ear to ear. “No, we have no reason to keep you anymore, the ponies of the world now know, and will find out if you block the path and will know whom to blame. There is no reason to hold you back.” Sire explained. “Go on, rally forces and attempt to take us over, but know you’ll have a mod of the common ponies on your tails.” Majesty said with the tone of a chess master knowing their opponents every possible move and knowing how to counter it. The two royals looked at each other and then spread their wings and took off. The two ponies flew higher and higher, rushing away until a wall of magic appeared as they struck it, sending them plummeting to the ground in their still slightly weakened state to the utter confusion and horror of Sire and Majesty. “What have you done; what has happened?” Majesty roared while turning to face the ponies behind her, nostrils flaring in anger, looking around at the ponies around her as a wild animal trapped in a cage. “Why, we have only done the next step in the greater plan.” A pony replied, emerging from the shadows slowly. “There has been no error, I assure you.” “Are you insane?” Sire shouted in anger, furry in his eyes burning straight into the pony’s form. The pony came out further into the light, followed by her counterpart. “Are you?” The stallion asked pointedly. Sire and Majesty walked angrily towards the two ponies. Six of the guards quickly circled around the two newcomers, separating Sire and Majesty from the two new ponies. “Letting those two just up and leave? How foalish can you be and still expect us to still follow you without question?” “By not letting them leave you make them both martyrs and make the other ponies search for them with even more strength!” Majesty shouted at them, not at all hindered by the guards. “But if you had let them go they would have returned to their kingdoms and the ponies would have seen us as the heroes, especially after they would doubtlessly attack us, killing the ponies that joined the halves!” Sire blasted in furry. “But instead of trusting our joint judgment you just had to stick your hoof in the door and ruin all we had planned.” “Well,” The mare began, stepping through the line of guards, “There are many of us that believe you’re time as leader has come to an end. Many of us believe you overstayed your welcome when you denied our right as bringers of the new age to rules these lands.” “Nopony was going to rule anything because the princesses’ only flaws were that they separated the world in two!” Majesty roared. “There was no reason to usurp them!” “Then you have abandoned the Alliance and can no longer even attempt to lead it.” The stallion stated simply. “Guards, take them and the prince and princess to a nice holding cell.” The guards quickly threw the same magic leaching chains over the two, who simply stood still, glares still boarding into the two revolutionists. The locks snapped shut as the guards began to lead them away. “Take us prisoner, throw us into the deepest, darkest cell you can find, just know you’ll be the reason the Alliance fell.” Majesty said as she was pulled away. “We’ll have had no part in the Alliances fall as we were removed from our leadership. You’re killing the flower of our great new order by slowly snipping the roots and leaves away.” Sire stated with his gaze still fixed on the mare who had betrayed him. “Believe me, Sister, you’ll soon find that the burden of leading this order and always trying to be one step ahead of the enemy.” “I believe I can manage with my reflection at my side.” The mare replied with a smirk. “Ponies of the Alliance,” She began, directing herself towards the ponies around her in the courtyard and everywhere else in the close vicinity, “It is time to fully remove the guise of secrecy, it is time to fully reveal ourselves.” “What are you doing?” Sire shouted in desperation, straining against the chains around him, but found that the chains took more effort than he had exerted. “My name, my true name, is Inkpot, I am the sister of Sire, or should I say En Passant.” Inkpot revealed, her smile growing. “And I am Quill Scratch; my sister’s name is Checkmate.” The counterparts shared in a light chuckle, to the furry of their siblings. “The era of secrecy is over! All ponies of the Alliance are encouraged to share their names that all ponies may know whom they share with!” Inkpot and Quill Scratch proclaimed proudly, causing the voices of many ponies to join in the chorus of cheers. Sire and Majesty, or En Passant and Checkmate, were dragged away, their strength almost complete taken away already as their bonds continued to sap them dry. Artemis groaned as he woke up slowly from his uneasy sleep, a pain jabbing into his skull, and really, everywhere else too. He heard a painful sigh beside him, and when he looked, he saw the weak form of Celestia in the darkness. Artemis looked around the cell, and the grimy stones and dim lighting with chains wrapped around him told him they weren’t in the castle’s infirmary, or any friendly place for that matter. “I see you’ve woken up…,” A raspy voice commented from the other side of the cell, “I assure you that none of this was intended, but my sister saw it to be good to restrain you two, capture me and my reflection in this cell and take over herself.” Artemis looked over to the two ponies that sat on either corner of the room. “Sire… Majesty…?” Artemis questioned. “Weren’t you the leaders of all of this?” He asked as he looked over the two ponies that were in chains like his own. “The operative word is ‘were’.” Majesty stated with her head hung low in anger. “My brother led a revolution against us and took the order from us. We intended to let you go back to your lives and allow you to continue to rule.” “There’d be changes, of course,” Sire admitted, “If nothing more, to accommodate for the inherent intricacies for ruling a nation of doppelgangers successfully, but we never intended to take you off the throne, that would only cast us in a negative light.” “While as absconding with the two kingdoms’ most important ponies wouldn’t?” Celestia asked as she emerged from her unconscious state. “I’m sorry, but I think that that would definitely cast you in a very negative light.” “Maybe for the higher classes that depend on you to keep their facades and livelihoods together, but in the eyes of the commoners we would have done what was necessary and would be quite highly esteemed.” Majesty replied. “But now that our siblings have usurped us both the Alliance is subject to their whims. Who knows what they see fit to do? For all we know, they might try to destroy Canterlot and forcefully take over Equestria with a bloodbath of a war.” Sire groaned as he leaned back and hit his head on the stone wall. “So much for any chance at peace with the world, now we’ll doubtlessly be attacked and destroyed for naught because of their stupidity and ambition.” Suddenly the sound of a lock clinking along with the jingling of a ring of keys filled the air, causing the ponies to fall silent. The door to the cell slowly opened, revealing four guards and the jail keeper. “En Passant, Checkmate, the lords of the Alliance have sent for you to come with us to meet with them.” One of the guards stated; silhouetted against the brighter light of the corridor. “What is it this time; want to finally finish me off so there’s no more competition?” Majesty groaned. “If they had any bit of a strategic mind they’d really should.” “They are going to question you as to the whereabouts of the Hidden Castle.” The guard informed. “And for you own sakes I’d suggest you tell them exactly what they wish.” “Oh really? I thought we could just beat around the bush while having tea and crackers and never have to worry about what we had to say or do.” Sire stated with a level of sarcasm that was almost tangible as it dripped off of each word. “To your hooves, we mustn’t keep the lords waiting.” The guard said as he and his comrades walked in and got the two ponies to their hooves forcefully. “You know, if you can throw our names around like Nightmare Night candy you could simply refer to them by theirs. Or would that be disrespectful to refer to the very pony that opened the door to share names and break our secrecy?” Majesty jabbed. “Their names are Inkpot and Quill Scratch in the case you’ve forgotten.” “Move, En Passant, we don’t have any time for this nonsense.” One of the guards barked, pushing Sire out the door, causing him to stumble and fall as soon as he got out and plow face first into the stone on the other side of the prison corridor. “That might have gone better…” En Passant groaned in pain as one of the guard ponies gripped into the chains with his teeth and pulled the weakened stallion back up. “Go on, get moving!” One of the guards shouted as he pushed Majesty out of the door. The cell door closed behind them and the clank of the lock rung out before all the ponies moved away. Celestia shifted up to the door and looked out of the small gap between the bars and into the corridor, watching as the two ponies were dragged away by the guards. “They might be as much of victims as we are now…” Celestia mussed as she went back to her corner, leaning against the crook in the wall, resting her weakened body in an attempt to gain an amount of strength. “Maybe they are, or they’re planning something that requires them to go behind the scenes.” Artemis stated. “It wouldn’t do to let our guard down; let us be vigilant and wise, lest they should betray us and show their true colors.” “Indeed, we mustn’t let our guard down.” Celestia agreed. “But I can’t help but wonder what they might be doing if they are just trying to divert our attention while they work.” She admitted. “Well, when it happens we’ll know whether they were diverting us, or truly were betrayed by their comrades.” Artemis stated, shifting in his chains in an attempt to get more comfortable. “Hopefully whatever happens happens soon. I have a feeling that these chains might have certain unspeakable effects if worn as jewelry for an extended period of time.” Celestia nodded in agreement, rolling her aching shoulders. The door to their cell opened once again as two new ponies were thrown in, both groaning as they struck the ground, bits of hay flittering up into the air before slowly drifting back down. The door was once again closed behind them with the dull sound of the lock shutting once again. “Ouch…,” One of them groaned, “I guess we aren’t going to see if the guards have anything to report then?” She asked; the pony’s voice very familiar in Celestia’s ears. “I guess not, but now we know where they’re set up at least, that’s a plus… of sorts.” The other replied; his voice making Artemis’ ears perk up. “D-Dusk Shine, is that you?” Artemis asked as he struggled over to the ponies, Celestia right beside him, but heading to the other pony. “Twilight, are you alright, what happened?” Celestia asked as she approached her former student. Twilight and Dusk looked up towards the voices, and once they recognized the faces, both of them sprung up and embraced their old mentors. “Princess Celestia, you’re alright! We were so worried they might have done something terrible to you!” Twilight said into Celestia’s shoulder as they hugged. “Artemis, I’m so relieved you’re alright!” Dusk said in the same way as Twilight. The ponies shared a moment of silence as they let the moment of relief sink in as they shared in the calming embrace. The ponies eventually broke apart. “So this is where you’ve been all of this time?” Twilight asked, looking at the cell around them, examining each nook and cranny. “No, we’ve been many places during the last few days. It has been quite the ordeal.” Celestia replied with a shake of her head. “Indeed, it has been quite a lot for just a few short days.” Artemis agreed. “But tell me, how did you come to be here, and why aren’t you wearing these chains?” He asked, looking the two ponies over, who both were without any chains around them. “That is a good question… maybe they forgot.” Dusk stated. “I’ll try my magic; see if we can get out of here.” Dusk lit his horn, and a very faint purple aura started to form around his horn before being leached into the surface of the chains around Celestia. “What the…?” He said before crumpling to the ground in agony. “What’s wrong, Dusk, what’s happening?” Artemis asked, getting a bit closer to his fallen former student. “G-get away! Back off, please!” Dusk begged as he put his hoof to his head as a wave of pain flooded over all of his senses. “The chains latch onto any magic source and begin to drain it, even if they aren’t around said source.” Artemis and Celestia drew back as Twilight helped Dusk get as far away as possible. “The chains… their magic absorbing powers are based on the fact that they had all traces of magic removed and are now trying to replace what they’ve lost.” Twilight stated as she looked over towards the chains around the two alicorns. “They are so devoid of magic that they’ll latch onto anything and everything that even remotely shows a bit of magical power.” “Indeed,” Celestia said while she examined her own chains carefully, “These could very easily be converted into a very devastating weapon if they fell into the wrong pony or thing’s grasp. Imagine if a block of this was to be placed in Manehattan, or even worse, Canterlot.” “The whole of the city would begin to fall to the magic absorbing properties of the stone.” Artemis stated solemnly. “Soon the entire city would be defenseless and any attacker could just walk in and take over without even trying as long as they showed no signs of magical potential.” Everypony in the cell shuttered in horror at that notion. “It would be absolutely deadly…,” Twilight breathed, “Nopony would be safe as soon as they showed any magic. An earth pony would only have to ten to a small garden, a pegasus would only have to push one cloud, and unicorns would only have to cast a levitation spell or even the most basic spell to begin to be effected.” “But…,” Dusk thought for a second, “Like any weapon, it goes both ways, affecting whomever it finds using magic without discretion.” Dusk stated. Twilight’s eyes lit up as she understood where her counterpart was heading with this line of conjecture. “We could incapacitate any guard if we can only get them in hear and show a bit of magic to us.” Twilight finished. “If we get a unicorn guard it would be extremely easy, and another pony would be only a bit harder.” “Well, I suggest we try it, the sooner the better.” Dusk stated, getting to his hooves, only to fall back down with a grunt of pain. “On second thought, Twilight, you can figure something out, I just really feel like lying down, yeah, lying down is good.” Twilight nodded before approaching the door of the cell and looking around what she could see through the slats of metal. “Guard! Guard! Come quickly, please!” She shouted out in a shrill tone before jumping behind the area where the door would open. The sound of tingling keys and the lock opening soon came as the guard began opening up the door. When it opened, it revealed a unicorn guard using his teeth to hold his keys, which he was putting away. Twilight dove forward and grabbed the keys in her teeth and pulled them out of the guard’s mouth, throwing her head back and letting go of the keys, letting them fly into the cell behind her. The guard acted on reflex, not even thinking a second, and lit his horn to wrap a levitation field around the keys and bring them back, and the bubble of yellow magic formed for a second before it popped and flew into the chains’ surface, along with the aura around the unicorn guard’s horn. Twilight quickly shoved the guard inside the cell, right up against the two royals, who stood still as the chain around them began leaching the magic from the writhing unicorn. Twilight quickly picked up the keys in her mouth, and using her tongue to flip through each key, she began attempting to open the locks on the chain. “Great work, Twilight.” Dusk said with a grin. Twilight nodded as she continued to work through the keys before on finally slid into the lock and turned slowly, unlatching the lock, letting it fall to the ground. Twilight repeated the process with the other locks, and soon had the chain off the two royal ponies and wrapped around their guard. The four formerly captured ponies quickly made their exit, Twilight closing and locking the door behind them as the other three went down the corridor. Before she went to catch up to them she strained her neck to get her mouth above the bottom of the window. “W-wait, those are the only keys for this area! If you throw them in they won’t be able to get me out of here! Please, don’t do it.” The imprisoned guard begged. Twilight spat the keys out and caught the ring that held them together on her hoof. “Trust me, they’ll figure a way out to get you out of there, though it will involve the destruction of the cell’s security for a short while, something I’m not entirely against actually.” Twilight stated before putting the key ring back into her mouth and straining her neck once again to get her mouth to the bottom of the window, which was at eye level, and then promptly tossing them inside, clattering on the stone floor. Checkmate and En Passant sat down at the table in front of their siblings, Inkpot and Quill Scratch, their chains removed. Silence reigned over the room until the guard finally left the room, guarding the door without a word. “Well done, I believe everypony believes the revolution was a true one.” En Passant congratulated his sister with a smirk. “This will prove to be a great advantage at a later date, especially after the two ponies in the dungeon escape.” “I certainly hope it will; I wouldn’t want to be the cause for this plan to fail in any way.” Inkpot stated. “This plan has been brilliantly flawless this whole time, anticipating reaction and every eventuality perfectly. It would wound me to cause its downfall.” “Good, then stick to your part and it shall be unhindered.” Checkmate said with a nod. “Now, again I wish to reiterate that the princesses and princes will still rule, but shall be merely constrained by the will of the commoners more so than before, a just payment for their abuse of power in years previous.” “Indeed, it shall be glorious retribution for their actions against the ponies of Equestria.” Quill Scratch chimed in. “And soon we shall see the turning of a new age, brought about by the ponies on whose back this empire is built.” Suddenly a guard burst through the door, gasping for air as if he had been running a great deal. “Inkpot, Quill Scratch, the prisoners have escape!” The guard shouted completely out of breath. Inkpot slammed her hooves into the table and stood higher as she shoved the seat back with her hind legs, Quill Scratch opting more for standing up completely without touching the table, his chair clattering against the wall. “What, how did this happen?” Inkpot asked with her ire evident in her voice. The guard trembled as he desperately tried to catch his breath again. “They… they tricked a guard into coming closer and used the chains to sap him of his magic before putting him in the cell with his keys inside. The guard was able to summon the strength to get his keys and open the door before collapsing where his reliever found him.” The guard replied. En Passant and Checkmate both chuckled lightly at the news. “It seems your reign of the Alliance is already springing leaks.” En Passant noted with a grin as he looked up to his sibling. Inkpot grimaced at the truth in her brother’s voice. “Lock these two back in their cell until further notice and start searching the castle for the four of them. They couldn’t have gotten far in their condition.” Quill Scratch ordered, the guard nodding before charging out, leaving the two ponies on either side of the door to chain En Passant and Checkmate and lead them back to their cell. “Just wait, brother, you’ll soon see how wrong you were to attempt to take control of the Alliance.” Checkmate taunted as they walked away. Soon enough the room was quiet, Inkpot and Quill Scratch merely standing at the table, looking at each other.