A Spark of Light
Star Catcher and the other Representatives quickly found their discussions interrupted as the magically carried voice of Shining Armor sounded through every hall, tower and room of the castle. “Your attention please,” he said in a calm, confident tone, “all Congregation activities are suspended at this time due to an emerging situation. There is no cause for alarm, but until we have investigated and dealt with this situation, we are securing the capital and all dignitaries. At this time, the palace staff will escort you to individual suites in the west wing of the castle. We apologize for any inconvenience, but your safety is of the utmost importance.”
As the last fading echoes of his voice faded from the air, the nobles of every tribe began murmuring uneasily to their neighbors or arguing about the unexpected delay in the proceedings. The noise quickly increased until Star Catcher stood up and called order to the hall in the only way she knew how. “A-Ten-shun!” she called out in her best field commander voice, brash and bold enough to cut through the noise, startling those in the front rows with the force of personality behind her staggered call. “You heard the Paladin-Commander!” she said with a stern expression. “Right now, there's nothing to worry about, so there's no use fretting until we know what's going on. When the staff gets here, just go to your rooms and wait it out. If it's anything serious, we'll be notified and a course of action will be decided upon.”
The various nobles in the audience settled down, grumbling and looking either abashed or angered that she had called them out and restored order as if they were raw recruits. Those that were angered and stared at her were each met with hard eyes that showed no amount of give under their ire, while those who were abashed avoided making any eye contact with her. A few minutes later, the palace staff and guards entered the hall and began escorting the nobles out. The Representatives had to wait a short while longer as they ranked high enough to warrant an officer as an escort.
“Shining!” Twilight called as she saw her brother making his way through the crowd with a doe-eyed, starstruck maid. “What's this all about?”
“It's snowing outside,” Shining Armor replied with an odd look, as if he couldn't quite believe it himself. “There's not a cloud in the sky and there's no magic behind the snow either. Pinkie was the one to alert me to that bit of information, but that's not the oddest part. I've recently received reports from some of the Aven reconnaissance groups that the snow is falling only in specific areas, not deviating in the slightest despite any wind. It's... Spelling out something that has me a good bit worried.”
“Well, spit it out,” Star Catcher snapped when she saw that Shining was hesitating. “We don't have all day.”
Twilight shot her a look but didn't say anything as Shining put a hand up to stall her. “'It's showtime,'” he said with a worried expression. “That's what it says. I don't know what this is, but if it has something to do with the odd cracking noise from earlier, then we may have a lot more on our plate than we realize...”
“Take us to Starswirl, Shining,” Twilight cut in immediately. “If any of this may be related to something sealed away long ago, then the library is the place where we'll find our answers.”
“I can take you, little sis, but the others will need to go to their suites,” he replied with a glance to the others. “No offense intended.”
“None perceived,” Maud replied.
“I would like to go with you as well, Twilight,” Star Catcher replied. “Ever since my encounter with Starswirl, I've put in a good bit of time in a library here or there and may be of some use if only helping to find the proper books you may need.”
“That would be much appreciated,” Twilight replied with a smile. “Spike always did complain about needing more help when we get lost in our research.”
“Commander Shining, would you be so kind as to pull rank and have Medico Fluttershy and Scout Flash Sentry brought to the tower as well? They're under the command of Rainbow Dash and I wouldn't mind having them act as my escorts instead of pulling away a potentially needed officer.”
“Family?” he asked with a knowing smirk. Star nodded and his smirk widened into a smile. “I'll pass along the request. Thank you as well for understanding my needs, Miss Catcher.”
“When will Pinkie Pie be here?” Maud asked as Star was about to reply with a cutting remark about being called 'Miss.'
“She's already here, just waiting for your other two sisters to show up,” he replied with a smile. “It shouldn't be much longer.”
“Of course, thank you,” she replied with a small nod of appreciation. They waited and watched for Maud's escorts to show up for a few minutes and were rewarded when a trio of obviously well trained women showed up, led by a maid as well. All three of them were wearing a mixture of leather and chain mail armor with a medley of weapons that had Star Catcher raising her eyebrows a bit when she realized that they were assassins' weapons, the spell breakers and wing clippers among their arsenal making her immediately wary of the trio. These three were not to be tested right now, especially with tensions high.
“Pinkie,” Maud said with a small smile. “What happened to your date?”
Pinkie immediately flushed and looked away before she replied with a terse, “She's settled in the Castle. Like you should be soon.” She turned to the light gray haired girl with a long length of coiled chain at her hip that had an octagonal rod of slotted metal at both ends which appeared to be her main weapon and said, “Blinkie; you're our forward. Ten meter lead and authenticate any potential threats before engaging. Non lethal force, but subdue without hesitation.” Blinkie nodded and walked off to the same exit several nobles were being led out through and slipped through the press without a problem. “Inkie, offensive spell breakers. We want to protect Maud, not incite anyone.” Inkie, the dark haired woman nodded and locked a pair of blue-gray metal bucklers onto her gauntlets as she scanned the crowd.
“You always surprise me when something like this happens, Pinkie,” Shining said with a chuckle. “You're normally so happy-go-lucky, but when the ball drops, you put up with no nonsense and put down any trouble before anyone realizes it's a problem to begin with.”
“It's my job, Shining,” she said with a small smile. “And I do it well. We may not be a large force like your guards, but when you're in my line of work, you don't want to advertise the presence of a highly trained fighting unit outfitted to deal with any amount of danger despite the tribe. Not many people would be happy to learn that there's effectively an assassination squad in their city, even if we're a security force.”
“True enough,” he replied with a laugh. “Anyway, I'm taking Representatives Twilight and Star Catcher to Starswirl's tower. If anything comes up, you know how to get in touch with me.”
“I'll keep you posted,” she said with a little smirk. “I'll have my Timberwolves in the wings, so we'll support your scryers with information.”
“Much appreciated; now get going. We have a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it in.”
“Right.” She turned to Maud and took up her place behind her while Inkie took the front. “Let's get going.” Without anything more to say, the three walked off, the crowd parting easily for them, especially when they noticed their expressions and eyes.
“They certainly play no games,” Star said with an air of professional appreciation. “With the precision they use, only a group of Stormbrothers or Sisters would stand a chance at taking them down, but that's not even considering their extensive countermeasures...”
“They're no joke,” Shining supplied with a smile. “I'm just glad they're on our side. I saw a mock battle with five-to-one odds, equally split between all three tribes against Blinkie, Inkie and Pinkie. There was no contest with all three of them working in perfect harmony. It was a frightening sight to behold, watching them rip through their opponents like they were practice dummies.”
“I'll have to hear about how they came about, but let's get a move on,” she said as she ended their conversation. “I'm sure Starswirl's completely oblivious about what's going on right now, so we'll probably need to pull him out of his current project and get him up to speed.”
Twilight giggled in agreement before the gem in her forehead flared to brilliant life, lilac wisps billowing out to form a small ring around the three of them, which rapidly shaped itself into a glyph. “We're already there,” she said happily as reality folded around the three without a flicker or a noise, their surroundings simply becoming something entirely different.
“You finally figured out sigil based teleportation?” Shining asked as he looked around in a moment of surprise. “That's gotta be a huge feather in your cap, sis.”
Twilight let out a snort of amusement and waved it off as she strode forward into the maze of books where they now found themselves. “I learned that almost a month ago, Shiny,” she replied with a laugh and a smug expression. “I extrapolated the sigil structure through several charcoal rubbings from the remains of known Alicorn cities. A year and a half well spent there.”
“I'd make a comment about how you'll never find a boyfriend, but I know you're married to your library,” he replied with a chuckle as she gave an indignant squawk, continuing on before she had a chance to reply. “I'll head back out to pass the request on to Commander Dash to send Fluttershy and Flash Sentry to be your escorts. With the knowledge we have, there will be no scrutiny passed onto the Avens for any part in this. We know you could whip up a storm if you wanted to, but your weather working is far from subtle. If anyone has a problem with it, they can just take it up with me.”
“Thank you, Shining Armor,” Star said with a small, genuine smile. “It's very much appreciated.”
“Not a problem, ma'am,” he replied with a half grin before turning and heading out of the library.
“That brother of mine...” Twilight said with a huff and a small smile of her own as she turned to Star. “Sorry about his attitude. He was extremely serious while in training, but as he rose in the ranks, his attitude took a decidedly odd turn...”
“It's just how it is when you're in the military,” Star said as Twilight started slowly walking off into the library in search of Starswirl. “Either you become hard and ever-serious; giving everything an undue amount of consideration before acting, or you become like Shining Armor... Nonchalant in outward appearance, but with a hidden current underneath just waiting for anyone unwary enough to get pulled under by his easy grasp of a situation...”
“I suppose you have a point, but I just wish he'd stop with the teasing... It's like he never grew up,” she said with a small huff.
“Just enjoy it while you can,” Star said with a small smile. “Because you might not have him there to tease you if his duty causes him to pay the ultimate sacrifice.”
“I know,” she replied in a small voice. “I may gripe about it, but I still love him despite the teasing.” Star Catcher didn't say anything, instead just giving her a reassuring smile which Twilight returned a bit timidly. They didn't say much as they moved through the stacks, Twilight leading the way confidently. They spent almost ten minutes searching before Twilight picked up her pace and hurried to a small door tucked between two shelves and opened it to reveal Starswirl standing amid a vortex of silvery blue energy that pushed them both back a couple steps without it stirring even a single gust of wind. He was wearing a simple set of robes colored a deep shade of blue with a silvery trim. The smooth pate of his bald scalp glimmered in the shimmering light while his eyes shone like a set of beacons in a sea of darkness. They noticed a small smile that was barely visible through the unruly salt and pepper beard that gave him his trademark title. He was softly chanting in the ancient language of the Alicorns, a lilting dialect that ebbed and flowed with a natural music all its own. He slowly raised his hands and brought them together in front of his chest; the vortex of energy suddenly stopped and was drawn into the space between his hands faster than they could blink. When he opened his hands up, a silvery blue butterfly barely larger than the ends of his two thumbs put together fluttered up and out, dancing on ephemeral wings.
“What was that?” Twilight asked in a breathy whisper. “I've never heard of a spell needing so much energy and a chant like that to summon such a small spell construct...”
“It's called a Harmony Charm,” Starswirl replied in a light tenor as a smile spread across his face. “It's a construct that passively dissuades inharmonious thoughts from those around it and warns whoever created it of the source of particularly strong feelings that can't be dissuaded by the Charm. Basically a warning against any who seek to sew chaos among our midst.”
“Wait, you know what's going on?”
“What's going on?”
“It's snowing.”
“In the middle of summer?”
“That's what I thought, but there's more to it than that. Shining Armor said that the snow's only falling in such a way that it's spelling out words despite any wind.”
“Interesting...”
“That and from a few accounts, the snow is not magical in nature as well.”
“You don't say...”
“Okay, you two, let's stop with the back and forth or we're never going to get anywhere,” Star Catcher cut in with a smirk.
“Oh, Star Catcher, it's ever so nice to see you again,” Starswirl said with a broad grin. “What brings you here?”
“I'm the Aven's representative this year,” she replied with a long suffering sigh. “Not that I had any real say in it...”
“Ah, yes... Politics...”
“Anyway, I'm here to help you and your second in command do some research, even if it's only to help hunt down books.”
“Splendid! In that case, let's get to researching,” he said with an almost manic grin. Twilight gave a little snort of amusement as Starswirl practically scampered out of the door to find out the cause for this mysterious snow. Star gave a little chuckle and turned to Twilight.
“I see he hasn't changed a bit since I last saw him,” she said with a wistful smile. “Funny how the years change so much, yet certain things stay the same...”
“I couldn't agree with you more there,” Twilight replied with a knowing smile. “Anyway, daylight is burning and we need to get to work.”
“Of course,” Star replied as she turned to leave only to stop when she saw Shining Armor leading Flash and Fluttershy down the aisle. “Hey, you two,” she said with a smirk. “The Commander give you two any guff over your reassignment?”
“Not really,” Flash replied with an easy smile. “She just read the orders and sent us on our way. We're auxiliaries anyway, so it's not like we're exactly needed...”
“If anything,” Shining cut in with a casual air, “she may be called out on favoritism by allowing your own flesh and blood escort you around the castle.”
“How'd you find out?” Star asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I just asked them and they told me,” he replied with a smile. “Simple as that.”
“You two...”
“It's not like it's a national secret or anything,” Flash responded with a wave of his hand. “Besides, you know I take after you with my ticklish wings, Auntie...”
“That's beside the point,” she replied with a faint blush at one of her private weaknesses being outed. “You should always look three steps ahead whenever anyone does anything.”
“I know, and I did,” he replied with a small smile. “There's nothing for her to turn this into a profit unless she somehow manages to completely circumvent the chain of command and start her own revolution...”
“Don't put anything above her. Even if she wears the same uniform, she's the daughter of one of my enemies,” Star said with a distasteful grimace. “There are strings that can be tied to you without your realizing it or consciously agreeing to it that can bind you tighter than a set of wind braces...”
“If I become a puppet of Commander Dash, I could say that there are worse fates,” he replied with a stroking of his chin. “Besides, it seems like everyone in her unit tends to dance to their own tune, so I may as well cut a rug if I can return a harmless favor in exchange for being able to guard my Aunt...”
Their little argument was cut short by Twilight's barely stifled giggles. “No, no... Please continue... The potential fate of the world can wait a bit longer...” Star and Flash both blushed profusely and scratched the backs of their respective heads and refused to meet Twilight's gaze. “But we really should get to work...”
“Right! Of course, Miss...” he said as easily as he could.
“Twilight, Twilight Sparkle,” she supplied.
“Miss Sparkle!” he exclaimed with a clap of his hands. “What a wonderfully expressive name!” Fluttershy rolled her eyes from where she stood. “I'm just so thrilled to make the acquaintance of one of Equestria's most recognized scholars, right next to Starswirl the bearded, of course...”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Twilight replied with a smirk. “Show me you know your way around the stacks and we may be getting somewhere...”
“The stacks?” he asked with a cautious glance behind him before looking back to Twilight. “I'm not sure if I may be able to help you out there very much, but there's nothing wrong with giving it the ol' collegium try...”
Shining took that moment to finally give in to his sense of humor and gave Flash a slap to his shoulder with a bark of laughter. While they were chuckling, Twilight and Fluttershy's eyes met and were rolled in near unison with expressions that said that they'd never fully understand the opposite gender.
“Anyway, if you two are quite done with... whatever it is that you're doing...” Twilight said in a long suffering tone of voice that she used when dealing with unruly children. It worked immediately as the two gave each other a half foot of space and put their hands behind their backs. “I'll have you two under Star Catcher's immediate supervision. She knows her way around here and can point you two in the direction of any books we may need. Any questions?” Flash and Fluttershy both nodded that they understood. She summoned a piece of parchment and a quill and began writing out a preliminary list for them to pull out. “Now, if you happen upon Starswirl in the middle of a row, skip your book and find another.” The two nodded and looked to Star Catcher to subdivide the main list and give them their own individual lists of books to hunt down. “Here you go, Star Catcher, and happy hunting. I'll be waiting for you in the central study room if you're looking for me,” she finished with a bright smile before turning to leave.
“Okay, kids...” Star said with a smile as she cracked the knuckles in her left hand and looked the list over. “Time to get to work...”