Chapter 5: Plotting and Planning
Deep within a tunnel network, a small creature with a leather coat pull a rusty wagon along behind him. Stopping in an open chasm, he sniffed a nearby wall. Liking what he smelled, he started digging at the wall until a grapefruit size emerald popped out. Picking it up, he tossed it into his wagon and grinned, “What a good find it seems.” He started pulling his wagon as he talked to himself in a raspy tone, “Those silly ponies left such big amount of gems behind. It’s too fun hunting them.”
As he rounded the bend that left the large room, a loud pop entered his ears from behind him. Looking behind himself, he saw an oversized creature with a pony under its arm. The miner hid behind his gem filled wagon as the creature tossed the unicorn off to the side.
“Unbelievable! I so close to having Equestria back under my rule,” the beast whined as he snapped his fingers. A throne of considerable value appeared as he fell into it. “No matter, my plans for a new Equestria have just been prolonged.”
The dark grey unicorn with golden armor stood up and shouted at it capturer, “Equestria will never be yours, Discord!” The draconequus sighed and snapped his fingers making a cage of blue light around the unicorn.
“You know,” he said casting his gaze from his prisoner, “I rather not listen to you right now. I have better things to do right such as how to get rid of this problem known as Midnight Nyx.”
“Ha!” he heard a mare reply to his statement, “I thought you were all about making little defenseless ponies suffer.”
The draconequus gave a chuckle, “Oh, you have it all wrong my sweet; I enjoy making everypony the subject to my pranks.” He took the six jeweled artifacts that floated nearby him and tossed them to the ground and encased them in a similar cage of light.
The spy’s eye’s shine in whole hearted greed as the gems sat there on the ground. Turning to floor beneath him, he started digging.
Unaware to the eyes on him, the ruler of chaos summon a black and white checkered board in front of him, “Let’s see, the first time I was imprisoned, it was just the princesses.” Three little clouds popped over the board, two on one side and one of the opposite sides. From the solo cloud’s side, a miniature statue of the draconequus stood facing the two replicas of the alicorn rulers on the other.
“They were able to beat me because they fought with everything they had and had nothing to lose and so much to gain,” he continued to speak to himself as the statues charged each other only to have his replica get knocked over. Snapping his fingers again, the statues righted themselves and return to their starting positions.
Six little clouds appeared, flanking the alicorn sister’s. When these clouds faded away, six statues of ponies stood in their place. “The last time I was free,” he said gazing back at the elements to find them unmoved. “The princesses had Twilight and her little pony friends to protect them.” He watched as the six mare tokens move in front of his as he charged them. “At first I had won but, it seems that they were able to rebuild their friendship before I could take on Celestia and Luna.” The statues moved forward and knocked Discord down for a second time.
After resetting the board again, the statues of the bearers disappeared but left behind a statue of Nyx in their wake, “Now I have this knight in my way. And she will hunt me down, I’m sure of it.” He thought hard has the statues dance on the board.
“Hey, keep your dirty claws off those,” he heard his prisoner whisper something; “Those belong to the Princesses of Equestria.” Looking around, he saw a furry paw reach out of a hole and ensnare one of the remaining four elements.
Catching the claw with as it dove back into the hole, he said, “Well, well. It seems that we have a little thief in our mists.” Pulling the on the claw, a creature was pulled out of the whole and through the light cage. In its free claw hung the two missing necklaces that started to slip free as it cowered under the gaze of the draconequus.
“I may have stolen them myself,” he started looking proud of himself, “But I do hate when others steal from me.”
“S-s-sorry,” The creature stumbled over his words. “H-h-hornclaw d-didn’t k-know th-the jewels b-belonged t-t-to you.” He dropped the gems on the chessboard that he floated over.
“No harm done,” Discord said using his magic to move the rest of his stolen loot off the ground and onto the chess board with the others. “But if I see you snooping around and trying to take these again, I’ll make sure that getting fixed will be the last of your problems.” The treasure hunter cringed in fear at those last words. He was then tossed to the hole he dug through, but rather than going down the hole, he ran over to his wagon and started pulling it away.
The chaotic being went back to thinking when he saw the gemstone shaped as a purple diamond covering the space next to his statue. Grinning at the idea that appeared in his mind, he shouted back, “Diamond Dog, how about coming over here for a second.” The hound flinched at the call. Turning around he brought his wagon back into the cave.
“Ok, mutt,” Discord began eyeing the gem filled wagon that the dog protected.
“H-hornclaw,” the dog corrected him.
“Hornclaw,” he restarted, “I take it you really like gems, am I right?”
“Oh, yes, yes, the precious gems Hornclaw likes very much,” the dog said nodded at the mention of his collection. He looked down at his small horde as the draconequus moved toward him.
“What you planning you fiend?” The guard asked but was merely waved off by her captor.
Snaking his arm around the dog’s shoulder, the being of chaos said, “Well, I know a place where you can get twice the amount of gems you would find here and get them without all the trouble of digging them up.” He took a look into the glowing eyes as the hound prospected the huge pile of gems in his mind.
“Where is this place you speak off?” Hornclaw asked as he fiercely grasped the draconequus’s shoulders.
He grinned at the eagerness in the beast, “Oh, I’ll share its location, on one condition.”
“YES! YES!” the dog pleaded, “TELL ME WHERE ME PRETTY GEMS SLEEP!”
Picking the dog up, the draconequus return to his throne and chessboard, “You must do whatever I ask you to do until I release you from your duty.”
“AGREED,” the hound replied without giving it a thought, “NOW TELL ME WHERE HORNCLAW CAN FIND THE PRECIOUS GEMS?”
“Why they’re in the Canterlot Royal treasure hold of course,” This seemed to give the dog some pause. Snapping his fingers, the ruler of chaos continued, “Shoot, right. You would have to find a way in there for you to get them. Don’t worry, I’ll think of something.” The purple jeweled necklace floated up and wrapped itself around the dog’s neck like a collar, “Until then, how about holding onto this for me. Think of it like a sign of my promise.”
“Discord, you fiend,” the unicorn snapped, “How dare you give the elements away like some sort of party gift.”
The draconequus paid no attention to his captive pony as he placed the dog down on the ground and patted his head, “Now you go run along and start working on your hoard of gems and I’ll start thinking on how to get you into Canterlot.” Hornclaw, acting like the dog he was, followed orders and ran down the hallway grinning like a fool. Once the dog was out of sight, he turned to look at his captive pony. He was taken aback slightly when he saw the once dark grey unicorn stallion was now an azure mare with silver mane and tail.
“Well, you’re not what I expected from the usual guard stereotype,” he stated before recovering and walking over to the cage where his prisoner was taking off her armor.
Disgusted, the unicorn tilted her nose up and commented, “Hrmp. Aren’t mares not allow to be part of the Royal Guard?”
“Of course they are,” he stated as he switched to a more charming voice, “But never has a mare so beautiful such as you, ever put their looks at risk by being part of the guard.”
Refusing to look at the draconequus, she spilled her reasons, “It’s only a temporary job until I can get enough money to sustain myself for year or so.”
“Ah,” Discord said snaking around the cage, “So you aren’t a guard at heart; figured as much. Your beauty should be on display on the stage.” He caught one of the mare’s eyes opening and allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up. “Yes, the roar of the crowd as they shout out your name, cheering you on as your prepare for your next trick. But alas, being part of the guard is no way a valid approach as it ruins one’s… talents.”
“HA,” the unicorn snapped at him, “You think I’m all talk and no walk. Well, release me from this magic draining prison and I’ll show you how magical I truly am.” A little voice in the chaotic ruler’s head shouted in victory as he snapped way the cage of light.
The unicorn’s horn shined brightly as she waved around like a wand. “Listen closely, my draconequus captor, as I transport you to a far off place while you don’t move an inch. Close your eyes and picture what I say.” Discord grinned as his eyes closed. “You’re on a white sandy beach, where the smell of the salty ocean tickles your nose and the sound of the crashing waves. Their rhythmic beating could put you to sleep like a lullaby. You’re in lawn chair on this beach, soaking in the rays of the sun and drinking the milk of a coconut from its open shell.”
Within the draconequus’s ears, he heard the crashing of the waves. The smell of the salty brine tickled his nostrils as he felt the comfort of plastic brush against his backside. “Now, open,” he heard his travel guide tell him. Opening one eye before the other, he was greeted by the beach his captive spoke of and found himself relaxing on a chair with his drink in hand.
“I must say, this is not bad,” he said before adding, “but it would be so much better if the sea was made of melted fudge and the beach was ice cream.” Before he could add more to his world, the sky turned pink and crazy as his suggestions were added to the imaginary world. Taking a scoop of the ice cream sand, he feasted on it, “Much better.”
After his treat he felt the world around him shuddered before disappearing all together. Looking around he saw his prisoner standing right where he left her with the soil dug up a bit. The unicorn herself was breathing slightly as she smiled, “That’s not all.” She waved her horn around once making it shine once more. Her coat darkened into a reddish black tone while her mane went a forest green. Her body grew to the size of her captor and wings appeared from her sides.
“See,” she said breathing heavily, “I can make myself appear to be want ever comes to mind.” The alicorn shifted into a large dragon that filled the room around Discord who look on in approval. But with shudder from the beast, it vanished leaving the unicorn out of breath.
“I see,” he said clapping his hands in approval. He then took a knee in front of her, “You have a fondness for illusionary magic. That’s quite a fantastic ability and it can be used for both combat and performing.” He picked her up in both hands, “But there are two flaws in your bag of tricks I see. One, you can’t move while the magic is in play and two, you can’t hold it for long.”
Smirking, the unicorn guard remarked, “Just long enough to make money in shows.” The draconequus looked back over to the chessboard where the remaining five elements sat.
“I like you,” he stated as he returned his gaze to her. With a poke of her belly, he added, “What’s your name again.”
Cringing at the abuse of her body, she replied, “Trick Mirror, my stage name will be Master of Illusions.”
“Trick Mirror, huh? Ahh, such a fine name for a Master of Illusions,” he said dropping her. “But alas, your talents are nothing next to mine.” This seemed to insult the unicorn’s pride, as intended, “I could perform all of that with just a snap of fingers. I can hold it for any desirable amount of time. The best part,” he floated over to her face, “I can move around while using it.”
“Oh yeah,” she shouted back with rising confidence, “give me some time and I’ll have you stuck in a dream for the rest of your life!”
“That’s even if you have the power to keep it up,” he counter summoning an apple and taking a bite from it. This hit the unicorn hard as she stood wide eye in truth of the subject. Grinning at his pending victory over the mare, he tossed the apple over his shoulder. It hit the cage of light that surrounded the elements and both apple and cage exploded in a small puff of smoke. “How about we make a deal, you work for me now and I’ll give you the power to truly become the ‘Master of Illusions’ you want to be,” he summoned another element off the his chessboard as he spoke.
“You wish for me to commit treason? Absurd,” the unicorn said sticking her nose in the air.
Walking away with the necklace floating next to him, he said, “Then you’ll have to wait until your term as a guard is up.” The unicorn opened her eyes, “You’ll have to deal without sold out shows that last into the night.” She lowered her head, “You’ll have to-”
“Ok, I’ll do it,” Trick Mirrored caved in. Discord turned around and picked the pony back up, “But we have one problem. How are you going to deal with Nyx?” This question got her dropped down on her flank, again.
The draconequus started think hard once more as he return to his throne, “Right, I got this knight in my way and I can see she is the type that would never back down. If there was only some sort of weakness I could exploit, then I can get rid of her.”
“I think I may know that weakness?” the traitor said. The chaotic ruler looked around his chair at her. “Family.”
“Well of course its family, everypony has a- WHAT?” he replied with a shocked look on his face.
Trick Mirror nodded, “Just like the princesses have nieces and nephews, Nyx has a brother and sisters. In fact, about a week ago, her brother-in-law told the princesses that his wife was meeting her in Ponyville for a party.”
This little news about his foe got the draconequus interest as he dived deeper, “What else do you know about Nyx?”
“Little in fact,” the unicorn replied kicking a bit of dirt up. But her ears perked back up as she added, “But I know who would.”
“Then seek the pony out,” he said waving his hand as he return his gaze to his chess board.
“One problem,” his new minion pointed out, “If I go out there, ponies will recognize me and start questioning me. I can’t cast my magic and move at the same time.”
Discords looked at the floating red gem beside him and said, “Then take this. It holds the power that I promised you. Give it a tap, and all of your dreams will come true.”
******
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Rolling out of bed, Spike lazily looked up at the clock on the wall. 5:21am is what it said as the rhythmic ticking carried on as he shook his head, “Who in Equestria could be here this early. It’s not even sunlight yet. Autumn doesn’t even get up this early and she always wakes me up.”
KNOCK! KNOCK!KNOCK!
“Coming!” he shouted back. Lowering his voice he continued, “Please don’t tell me Nyx is just pulling a fast one on me with whole Discord thing. I already ruined the library floor last night. I don’t need the whole tree to burn down.” As he walked through the first floor of the library, he was greeted by the angry chipping of both the sparrow and phoenix as they were awakened by the knocking as well.
“Yeah, yeah, I know guys, just give me a second,” the dragon said to the birds as he reached the door. Opening it, he was greeted by a white pegasus wearing golden armor. Behind the guard were another pegasus and a unicorn unloading a chariot.
“Mister Spike?” the pony in front of him asked. With a nod of his sleepy head, the leader of the trio of visitors removed his helmet. The illusionary magic disappeared as the white coat shifted into a rusty orange and the mane and tail was a white hue with traces of cyan streaking threw it. The stallion appearance also shifted into a more female body type as she continued, “I do believe you received your sister’s report on the situation at hoof?”
Tossing his head back, he said, “So it was all true.” He gave the door a kick in anger before looking back at his guest, “So you’re the group that is searching Ponyville and the surrounding area?”
“Indeed we are, sir,” she looked back at her company. “Ash Shield, Ebony Wing, front and center you two.” The two soldiers stood at attention and marched over to introduce themselves. Both stallions bowed to their host before turning back to their packs. “Would you mind if we use your establishment for our time here?”
“Don’t you have a place here already?” the dragon asked, “I swear, you look familiar to somepony I used to know?
“Just because my mother grew up here with your sister,” the aged flyer said as she put her helmet back on, allowing the magic to change her back, “that doesn’t mean my family still has the old house.”
Gesturing for them to enter, the dragon headed for the stairs, “Alright then, I got plenty of room. Just allow me to get the attic window open so you can get that chariot inside before the townsfolk start wondering what is going on.” Turning to the chariot, the lead mare took some supplies in her wings and teeth and marched through the portal with Ebony Wing right behind her. The unicorn, Ash Shield, started to levitate the chariot up into the air as the attic window opened up. Standing to the side, the dragon watch as the unicorn skillfully placed the vehicle of sky travel among the boxes of old books.
When he reached the first floor again he was greeted by the sight of the three guards removing their armor as the family pets started to get back to sleep. As his named suggested, Ebony Wing was a pitch black stallion with matching mane. “Come on, private,” the mare said pointing at the unicorn, “Remove the helmet. This is an undercover assignment.”
“Leave Ash alone, Commander,” other pegasus in the room said defending his fellow member, “He doesn’t like his mane color.”
Opening her wings to make herself threatening, the commander of the squad replied, “I don’t care if it’s a zebra mane or as magical as the princesses’, remove that helmet now, private.” Doing as he was told the golden helmet fell off revealing a curly mane of swirling pink and purple with a strand of white while his straight tail was a solid royal purple.
Unable to hold his mirth in, the dragon fell down the remaining steps in laughter. Sighing, the unicorn stated, “Blame my grandmother for such coloring.” From his pack he took out a small purple beret and did his best to cover the embarrassing hair with it.
“So be it, your highness,” Ebony joked as he trotted over to kitchen, “Moring cup of coco anyone? I brought some Zebra mixes.”
Getting back to his feet, the dragon called to the stallion, “I would like one, but use the mix I have in the cupboard over the sink for mine.” Taking his seat in the chair, he took in a deep breath before letting his tone became serious, “Who was the one?”
“Hmm?” the mare replied looking back around to the dragon.
“The unicorn that Discord took?” the dragon said closing an open book that was left there from his rampage last night. He let his tail place it on a stack of books near his stand.
“A mare by the name of Trick Mirror,” she stated taking a seat by the table, “Expert at spellcasting and a wizard at illusion spells. Despite only signing up for a single term, I can say without a doubt that if anypony can get out of that draconequus’s grip, it would be her.”
“I don’t know,” Spike replied as the hot chocolate was brought out. He took hold of his mug and quickly tasted it, “Discord has ways of changing a pony.”
Ebony started to shake as he placed the tray down on the table, “Don’t say things like that. It’s not wishfully thinking.” Spike casted a questioning glance from the black pegasus to the leader of the squad in hopes of getting an answer.
“You’ll have to excuse the green horn, sir,” she said giving the nervous guard a slight kick to the leg with her own hind leg. “I had received reports on his… involvement with the mare that was taken captive just before we left.”
Taking another drink from his coco, the dragon asked, “Isn’t that against the rules of the guard?”
With a nod, the mare pegasus stated, “It is, but right now we need every stallion and mare if we want to find Discord before he causes anymore trouble.” With a shrug the dragon downed his drink. He looked at the pot as it gave off an exotic smell. Sighing a bit, he filled his mug with the foreign brew.
“Uncle?” he heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs. “Why are you so loud this morn-” Starlight stood at the threshold to the second floor looking down at the scene below. Her sleepy eyes tried to focus through the sand in them as she continued, “Oh visitors, I’ll get the water started.”
“No need to, Starlight,” her uncle called out as she slowly made her way to kitchen, “It was already taken care of. Come sit down.” Doing as she was told, the unicorn marched her way over to the table, sat down and planted her face in an open book.
“So, sleepy,” she muttered before the sounds of soft snoring leaked out of her muzzle.
Taking a blanket from her pack, the leader of the guards spoke quietly, “It seems our conversation will have to continue later today.” Looking at her fellow guards, she added, “Wing, take our stuff and have Spike here show us to some rooms. Ash, when shops start opening, go get us some supplies. There are more mouths to feed here now so we are going to need to pitch in on the food. I’ll take first shift.” With a salute and a ‘Yes ma’am,’ the squad began to carry out their duties. The commander draped the blanket over the sleeping mare before leaving the library and taking flight.
Spike looked at his niece before taking a sip from his mug, “I hope this situation won’t get out of hand.” He recoiled from his the taste of the exotic mix, “Nothing like Zecora’s brew.”
******
Spectrum Storm started his normal flight route along a trail of prepared clouds. Flaring his wings with the rising sun, he took off. He smashed into each cloud, making the puffs of condensed water disappeared behind him. Shifting his wingspan a bit, he did a hard right turn into another cloud before nose diving on another one about twenty or so feet above the ground. Pulling up mere inches away he zoomed across the surface of the ground as he raced toward a hill.
Focusing in, he increased his speed as he stayed a mere feather width above the soil. Using the slope as a ramp, he fired off the ground and into a row of three clouds that were place in zigzag formation. Wheeling around he approached the final cloud on his run.
He was about to turn the cloud into vapor when a rusty color pegasus landed on it. Halting, he flew idling was stating, “Excuse me ma’am, but your interfering with my training and my job.”
The mare looked over her shoulder at him. At first, neither flyer said a thing as she sized him up. Her eyes grew as she suddenly blurted out, “Spectrum?”
Remembering the voice, the white pegasus’s body went rigid aside from the wings as he gave the mare a salute, “Commander Cloud Chaser.”
“There is no need to salute me now, Storm,” the pegasus guard responded. “You’re a civilian now. Unless, you were planning to sign back up with the guard?”
“No, ma’am,” the weather patrol stallion replied. “Just old habits die hard.”
“Yet it’s always the young ones that die first right,” she replied. The stallion looked off to the side, “I take it I got the nail on its head? Come on, Storm are you really beating yourself up over that even after a whole winter to cool off. No pony is blaming you for what happen in Cloudsdale. It could of happen to anyone of us an-”
“But it didn’t happen to just anyone of us, ma’am,” he interrupted looking back at her with fierce blue eyes, “It happen to me.”
“Didn’t you think you were going too far with withdrawing from the force,” the guard pleaded with him.
“Have you ever looked into the eyes of somepony who you tried so hard to save, but failed in the end?” he replied giving her his glare. Unmoved by the frightening appearance, the pegasus shook her head in reply. “Then you don’t know what I felt that day when I brought that filly’s body to her parents.” He looked toward the rising sun to his right.
Trying to get in the pegasus’s face, the Cloud Chaser countered, “What about supporting your family, Sergeant? Are you sure about leaving the guard after what you told me last year?”
“I’ve been sending money to them each week with my job here on the weather patrol,” he said kicking the cloud that the commander had left, “and step-mother’s eldest should be starting a job at the weather factory anytime soon.”
“So you’re just going to sit in this town for the rest of your life? Working at a dead end job?” she asked as he started to fly away, “So much for the great Rainbow Dash family name.” The comment did nothing to slow the leaving pegasus. Taking off after him, the elder mare added, “Look Storm, I could use a buck like you for this assignment. The guard has too many green horns these days and we could all use your talents right now.”
The white pegasus stopped and looked at her, “So you’re not here to convince me to sign back up with the guard?”
“No,” Cloud Chaser replied, “In fact, I didn’t even have a clue you were here until now.” Storm started flying away. “Think about my offer, Sergeant. I know you could do a lot of good for Equestria.” The white pegasus looked over his shoulder once before heading over to deal with another patch of clouds. The guardsmare watched as he disappeared before taking flight heading away from a large pile of ruins, unaware of the mare that walked away from the rubble and disappeared in a flash of light.
*******
It was midday when the pegasus finished his task and flew over to a small hill and waited. He stood there taking in deep breaths, allowing the smell of the grass creep up into his nose. He flexed his wings as he gave his neck a slight twist. Reaching down, his wings flared up once more before he started flying again. The second his hoofs left the ground an orange streak flew past him.
Looking at his former commander as she carried out her assignment, he finally put together the answer to the question he removed from his mind earlier that morning. Taking off, he flew over the large library tree. Landing at the door, he gave it rap.
“Come in,” he heard through a sea of laughter. Pushing the door open he saw not only Iris Drop, Autumn Gold and Starlight with the dragon but two stallions he knew right off the bat. They recognized him as well.
“Well stick a horn on me and call me an alicorn,” the black buck said waving a hoof at him, “If it isn’t Spectrum Storm! I thought you went back home to your family.”
Autumn interrupted with a hoof pointing across the table at the stallion, “Hold up fer a second, are ya telling me that ya know Storm?”
“Know him?” Ebony laughed. He picked up an empty cup and held it up to the white stallion, stating, “Shoot, this guy was top of his class back at Junior Speedsters Flight Camp. Nearly broke the record for fastest lap time his senior year.”
“Have you been hitting the cider early, freshman?” the white pegasus said taking a seat next to Iris who started fixing her mane.
The stallion held up both fore hooves as he defended himself, “I haven’t touched the stuff.”
Ash spoke up, “Aside from last night. Personally, I don’t know how you manage to fly straight on the way here.”
The pegasus tapped his chest before saying, “I got Wonderbolt blood in me, Ash. I could fly straight in my sleep.”
Storm stood up and countered, “So do I, yet I haven’t even seen a Wonderbolt to that. And why did you hit the cider?”
The black stallion rubbed a hoof on the back of his head as he gave a weak laugh, “Mare troubles.”
“Speaking of which,” Ash interrupted as Autumn was about to point something out, “Cousin, could you do something about your friend.” He shifted his eyes toward the yellow unicorn as she and the brown prankster walked out of the kitchen with a tray full of sweets between them. Coco greeted the newcomer with a cheery wave.
Using her magic the unicorn floated the tray down in front of the guard unicorn and flashed him a charming smile. He returned the smile with a nod and a grin which made the mare blush as she returned to her baking partner. Ash leaned over to his cousin and whispered, “She is starting to make me feel uncomfortable.”
“Well, don’t tell her who your grandmother is then,” his second cousin whispered back. “Or you’ll never get her off your back. Trust me these ponies can get pretty crazy.” The mere thought of it gave the stallion a chill down his spine. He looked up in time to see the brown mare push her friend over to him and made her sit down.
“Hehehe,” she laughed weakly, “So, Ash Shield, what are you doing here in Ponyville?” Sweat beads started leak from her forehead but was quickly damped away with a tablecloth.
Clearing his throat, the unicorn replied politely, “Well, madam, my friend and I had gotten some vacation time. He was having some troubles with his mare friend and I found out that my cousin was staying here. So, I figured on bringing him here for some rest and relaxation while I spent some time with my favorite cousin.” Autumn looked at him with an unbelieving glare.
Storm spoke out, “Stop shoveling the fertilizer, Ash. You two aren’t on leave.”
Everypony in the room gave him a stare as the black stallion spoke up, “And what makes you think that, huh? Is this another one of your wild guesses?”
The weather patrol pony glared at him as he stated with a rising temper, “I had a talk with Cloud Chaser this morning. Your commanding officer slipped the word ‘assignment’ by accident.” Ebony gulped as the stallion turned his gaze to the dragon, “What happen in Canterlot, sir?”
Tension shifted in the room as everypony that knew of the coming of Discord remained silent. Spike leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his interlocking claws.
Coco was the first one to speak, “Let me go get the butter knives.” She slowly walked to the kitchen door as if to follow through with her plan.
*******
The city of Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, stood proudly from the mountain side it was carved into. Its shining ivory towers gave off a beautiful glow to the streets below as one mare walked through the busy streets.
She weaved through hordes of merchants hawking their wares. She walked around a group of foals as their toured the streets on a field trip. She ducked under a levitated couch on its way across a street. She was a mare on a mission.
Walking down familiar streets, she approached a doorway. On the wooden door was a craving a Six pointed star with several other stars imprinted around it. Adjusting her outfit, and withdrawing a small notepad and pen, she knocked gently on the door.
“Can you get that, dear?” the mare heard from the other side of the portal, “I’ve almost got these reports finally graded.
A stallion much closer to the door replied, “Sure thing!” The visitor watched as magic took hold of the door and pulled it open. Standing in the doorway was a slender stallion with a book floating at his side.
Lowering his reading glasses, he asked the visitor, “Can I help you, miss?”
“I have come to talk with zhe sister of Midnight Nyx,” she stated with a flick of her head.
Looking over his shoulder he shouted, “Dawn, somepony is here for you.” He was responded by the sounds of hoof steps hastily coming across the wooden flooring. Looking at the stairs, both ponies watched as Morning Dawn came running down the stairs with saddle bags floating to her sides.
“Erebus, have you looked at the time?” she asked magical tossing the bags to him.
Catching them in his own magic, he replied, “I have the day off dear, no need to worry about it.”
Dawn gave him a quizzical looked, “What about that meeting with Luna?”
The stallion thought for a bit before hitting himself just underneath the horn, “Sweet Supernova, your right.” With that he placed his bags on his shoulders and was out the door before the guest could say otherwise.
Dawn started to turn back to the stairs we she caught the visitor with the corner of her eye, “Oh, hello. Umm, may I ask, who are you?”
“I?” she replied recovering from the crazy scene before her, “I am zhe writer, Zap Notes. My book company haz started an endeavor worthy of my talentz.”
“What kind of endeavor,” the mare said as she gestured her visitor into her home.
Accepting the invite, Zap Notes made her pen dance upon the note pad, “Zhe History of Midnight Nyx.”
“Isn’t there a book already about her?” the hostess asked as she offered a tray of refreshments.
“Bah,” the unicorn said waving a cyan hoof at her, “zhat poor excuse of a story iz not what zhe poniez want. Zhey want the true history of zheir heroine.”
“I’m not sure I can give it to you?” the mare asked taking a seat herself.
The unicorn gave her head a slight toss to the side, making her golden mane fly out of her eyes as she asked, “Are you not zhe sister of Nyx?”
Morning Dawn nodded, “Yes, I am. But I made a promise with her not to share her past with journalist.”
She tapped the red gem around her neck before slightly increasing the glow on her horn. The lightning bolt jewel gave off a shallow glow that was hard to see, “Bah, we’ll just zay zhat we got the information from other pony. No one haz to know.”
Looking up at a picture sitting on the mantle as she felt a change in thought process, Dawn gazed as her alicorn sister who was sharing the moment with the rest of her family at her daughter’s birth, she sighed, “As long as no pony is hurt from the release of this information.”
“Trust me when I zay, not a zingle one,” Zap said grinning wickedly as she rubbed the red lightning bolt necklace around her neck again.
Dawn could feel a strange comfort as she started, “Well it began one night…”
********
“Th-this is just awful,” Luminance spoke up after another cloud of silence settled into the library. Everypony had just heard with pained expressions as the dragon recapped the report he got from his sister. The undercover guards (now uncovered) filled in the remaining gaps of the report he left out.
“It can’t be all that bad,” Coco said with a forced smile, “I mean Nyx nearly had him beat. All we need to do is find him and she’ll be there to send him right back to stone.”
“Finding him isn’t going to be as easy as it sound,” the dragon said with his claws still interlaced.
Ebony stood up, “And why not? He is the only being in all of Equestria that would have a hard time hiding. Guardsponies are everywhere now.”
“I’m just running off a theory Twilight had going a while back,” everypony went silent at the mare’s name the dragon had spoken. He got up from his chair over to where Pee Wee was watching. Pulling a hoof-made book with spiral rings as its spine, he returned to the table and flipped through its pages. “I find it strange that Twilight was running this theory before this crisis ever became apparent,” he placed the notebook on the table open on a page with tons of notes written on it. “But it could provide something of worth.”
“What is all of this, Spike?” Autumn asked as she stared at the list of notes.
The dragon started reading as he replied, “Research notes Twilight started taking before… before she got sick.” Starlight casted a small glance at the dragon who quickly brushed aside a tear.
He hummed as he read in silence, thinking over what his caretaker had wrote on the pages long ago. The others sat and watched with baited breath as he thought. Then with a sudden movement of his tail, he picked up the writing quill and flipped the pages to an empty one. “Thank you Twilight for being such an egghead, cause you write everything down,” the dragon said as he started marking the blank page, “I just wish you used easier words.”
“What have you discovered, sir?” the white pegasus said.
The dragon paid little attention to him as his claw worked furiously on the paper. Once he finally dropped the quill in its inkwell for good, he held up his work, “Ok, what Twilight theorized is that Discord’s mind, chaotic as it maybe, is rather quite orderly. If this theory proves right though, we won’t be seeing Discord until he is ready to strike.”
“How can ya be so sure?” the farm pony asked.
“Think about this for a moment,” he started point to his work, “Discord was imprisoned for a thousand years in stone before he escaped a hundred years ago only to be placed back into stone by your grandmothers. What Twilight’s theory is, that while he was trapped in stone, his mind started thinking over and over and over on how things will turn out during the next time he gets out. He ran every possible scenario in his mind and built countermeasures to get around them. That is why he was able to cause so much devastation the first time he was loose because he knew how to get around each possible obstacle that came at him.”
“But you just said he was encased in stone by our grandmothers,” Iris spoke up with a raised hoof.
“Yes,” the librarian said pointing a free claw at her before taking the quill, “Because something got added to his system of possible scenarios that he didn’t have time to counter.” He started drawing a line on the massive network of spider webs that he made earlier, “Discord’s had planned the whole thing out up to the point when Celestia sent all these letters that Twilight was sending to her over our time here in Ponyville,” His line continued down a preset path until it broke off, “This new problem he face was one he didn’t see coming and so he was unprepared to face it. Thus he was turned to stone.”
“Now what has this have ta do with now?” the orange mare said. Luminance nodded in agreement.
The dragon started another line that took a different path, “Unlike last time, where the princesses didn’t react fast enough to his return, Discord was tossed into a fight right off the bat with them. This was a fight he knew he could win because of the fact they were no longer bound to the elements which they used against him when he was first imprisoned. But like last time, something was added that he didn’t prepare for.”
“Nyx,” his unicorn niece said for him.
With a nod, the dragon continued, “So, since Nyx was a new element to his plans, he might just wait until he has all possible countermeasures to her planed out.”
“And with the elements under his control,” Autumn said out loud, “that means that our only way to beat him is Nyx.”
“So in other words,” the black stallion said, “We need to find him fast before he can counter Nyx.”
“Well then,” came a mare’s voice. The gathered ponies looked around to see Cloud Chaser walking in, “I suggest you get flying, private.” Without another word, Ebony was off through the nearest window as his commander walked up to the table. She looked at the dragon who was sitting down, “I take it you have informed them about the problem at hoof.”
“They are,” the dragon’s niece replied for him, “And they knew about it before hoof as well. I figured that they should be involved as well.”
The commander gave her a stare that made the mare back down, “Citizens should not worry about such matters at this time.”
“It does matter, ma’am,” the pegasus stallion still in the room interrupted, “For not only are you addressing the grandchildren of the bearers but every pony should know about the risk that Discord proposes.”
“And cause wide spread fear across Equestria?” the commander countered giving him a glare yet he didn’t back down, “Storm, you should know what happens to ponies when they hear about something dangerous. Chaos will be rampant all across the land and he wouldn’t have to lift a hoof to make it.”
“Wouldn’t it be claw?” Coco asked raising a hoof. Her friends gave her a strange look, “What? Discord has claws right?”
Getting back to the commander, Storm countered, “Spike just said that Discord won’t come out of hiding until he is ready to act, ma’am. We can prepare the populace before he makes his move. Preparedness is the key; you should know that since you’ve work with my father before, ma’am.”
“And I wish I still was working with him and you sergeant. I’ve told you before, I need good flyers. And prepare the populace for what? The end of harmony? There is no way to prepare anypony for that.”
“JUST LIKE THERE IS NO WAY TO PREPARE A PONY FOR DEATH!” Storm barked back at his ex-commander. The whole room went silent at the outburst. Iris reached out to comfort her friend but he marched out the door and took flight.
She followed him to the portal before looking back and saying, “He is just thinking about everypony’s safety. He truly is. I just… don’t think he can express it the why he wants to.” She took off after him.
Sighing, Cloud Chaser walked over to the table and sat down, “That colt is more fragile than he looks.”
Spike was the first to speak up, “I take it there was a reason why Storm arrived here before last winter?”
“Yes,” he was answered, “yes there is.”
*********
Luna’s moon graced Ponyville that night with its radiance, giving one mare enough light to move through the night. She walked up the hill that overlooked the village, stopping only once to grin at the lights below. Hearing wings, she ducked underneath a tree and waited as a pegasus flew overhead. She waited for the sounds of the flapping wings to pass by before continuing her hike. From a grassy knoll to dirty soil, the unicorn marched on, humming a tune as if she was on cloud nine.
Rounding a bend she stopped and looked her destination. In front of her was marble stones tossed about as if a tornado had passed through. Columns, both broken and fully intact, laid about in a pick-up sticks game. The cyan mare took a deep breath and grinned wickedly as she marched into the ruins.
Walking about, she gazed at the destruction that took place. Not a single wall was untouched as where one section stood, another was impaled on it. Burn marks dance a crossed a wide collection of masonry. Hearing a crunching sound, she stopped and looked down. Underneath her hoof was a section of a glass window that looked similar to the night sky.
The sound of wings made the unicorn duck underneath a piece of marble that had fallen over on a broken pillar, making a small lean-to. The sound of wing beats got louder as it passed overhead. She released her breath she held when she heard the hooting of a barn owl before it took a nosedive. The sound of a crying rat revealed its successful hunt.
Tapping the lightning bolt necklace under her dress, she started casting her magic. Moments later a face appeared on the marble above her. “You rang?” he said with a gentlemanly tone.
Looking up the unicorn spoke, “Discord, hurry up with zhe portal. I don’t wantz anyponiez to zee me.” The draconequus rolled his eyes before snapping his fingers to make a portal appear under her. She reappeared within his lair while the beast of chaos was feasting on a cotton candy cloud.
Whipping off pieces of the sticky sweet from his face, he greeted his guest, “Well my dear how was your trip to Canterlot? What did you learn?”
The unicorn flicked her horn as her cyan coat shifted into an azure tone and her golden mane went sliver, “It was wonderful and as for the information I received, well…”she chuckled before finishing, “I’ve learn so much that it would make you horns curl.”
Discord placed a lion finger to his lips, displaying his interest, “Oh, I like this already. Begin please.”
Trick Mirror pulled out her notebook from earlier and flip through the pages before beginning,” Well, I have one question before we begin, do you happen to know the name, Nightmare Moon?”
The draconequus thought hard before replying, “Yes, I do believe so. She is what Luna turned into after I was imprisoned for the first time.”
“Yes,” the unicorn interrupted, “But she was reverted back to her old self when Twilight Sparkle and her friends used the Elements on her the day she returned back to Equestria from her thousand year long imprisonment on the moon.”
“She turns me to stone and banishes her own sister to the moon,” the king of chaos said off to the side, “and Celestia calls me a fiend.” He returned his attention to the mare in front of him, “But how does Nightmare Moon relate to Nyx?”
The unicorn flipped to the next page and smiled wryly at him, “After you were turned to stone for a second time, a cult of ponies rose up. These cultists were called ‘The Children of Nightmare’ and they performed a ritual to bring Nightmare Moon back in a body of her own. Celestia was able to stop Nightmare Moon from returning that night, but failed to stop it from creating something. What was created was Nyx.”
“An alicorn, born from a spell,” he tossed the thought around in his mind. “That’s a new one. I must say I can see the resemblance between the two.”
The unicorn continued to flip through her notes, “I got an idea on how you can defeat Nyx during my little chat with my ‘contact’.”
He looked at her before picking her up, “You must be mistaken. I’m the mastermind here so allow me to think of the plans.”
“Oh,” she flashed him slight pout. “This has to do with the element you gave me.” He looked at her before looking down at the element.
Bringing his eyes in contact with her, he stated, “There is more to this tale then you let on, my dear Trick Mirror.”
Smiling back, she said, “Indeed…”