//------------------------------// // The Challenge // Story: Operation Shield // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// The Everfree Forest holds many secrets, some better kept than others. One of those secrets was what Agents of Chaos P1 and P2 grandiosely called "Fort Chaos", their hideout while on assignment in Ponyville. Because of the necessity of needing to operate relatively undetected, the two Agents of Chaos did not take up residence in Ponyville itself but decided to locate a hideout close enough for easy access to the town while also being well hidden at the same time. The Everfree Forest, despite the unease it caused, was the obvious place for the Agents to hide. The structure itself was known to exist, but was not of much interest. Considering its stone construction, its design resembling depictions of old military structures and its location within sight of the Castle of the Two Sisters it was speculated to have once been a military checkpoint guarding a route to the old castle - when Princess Celestia abandoned the Castle of the Two Sisters, this structure was swallowed by the Everfree Forest along with the castle and fell into ruin. Shortly after being assigned to Ponyville, Agents P1 and P2 took advantage of the books of the Golden Oak Library (careful not to make it too obvious to Twilight Sparkle and Spike what they were doing) to find out about the structure, and occupied it as soon as they recognized that nopony would expose them. Interestingly, it showed signs of having recently been occupied by somepony else for some time - definitely an equine of some stripe, albeit one that liked to paw the ground a lot and bring in strange smelling flowers judging from their investigations. This encouraged them to improvise a crude alarm system and keep constant watch for intruders when not working in Ponyville. It was in this watch capacity Agent P2 was acting now as he waited for the return of his partner, who had traveled into town in disguise to purchase some supplies. Agent P1 was flying just above the ground, both to avoid leaving an obvious trail of hoofprints and to reduce the chance of setting off the alarm system accidentally. As P2 sees P1 come in, he moves from his watchpost to direct P1's approach in order to avoid setting off the alarm system as he comes in for a landing. "Man, these bags are heavy." Agent P1 puffs out as he sets down in front of P2 at the door to "Fort Chaos". "Nothing to be seen except some of the native bugs. Did you get any more information from Agent Snake?" Agent P2 asks as he helps his partner remove the saddlebag he had carried the supplies in. "Affirmative. He sent direct orders to disrupt the operation in town and rile up the Ursas 'if it can be done without serious risk to life or limb'." P1 answers. "I don't think there would be a way to do that without risking life and limb." P2 replies with concern. "Nah, I think we can just settle for sabotaging the project. Besides, I already had a plan even before I got the formal notice. We execute it tonight." P1 affirms. "What kind of sabotage are we talking about?" "You'll see. It'll be fun, trust me." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEANWHILE IN CANTERLOT... "Lieutenant Supercell, Lieutenant Tempest, you're with me. The rest of you make sure to get those transfer requests in, the more the better! I want to see the Captain's desk swamped with them, you understand me?" Lieutenant Captain Aten speaks in the debriefing room to the pegasi Lieutenants arrayed before him. "Yes sir!" the Lieutenants arrayed before Aten replied, half dozen or so moving and speaking in ego-stroking synchrony. These Lieutenants, all pegasi and members of the morning shift, were hailed by Aten and his supporters as "most loyal servants of a noble cause" and degraded by Aten's detractors as "lackeys" (among other things). Aten essentially controlled the morning shift through them, using their choleric personalities to keep the other Lieutenants and the lower ranks in line with his "affirmative action" policy, as well as carry out what was generally referred to as "shenanigans". Aten getting news of having to pull double shifts had greatly irritated him, as he believed the regulations that prevented Shining Armor from pulling double was an excuse to show even more favoritism toward the unicorn. Thus the "shenanigan" Aten had in mind, namely ordering his Lieutenants to put in so many different transfer requests for different ponies between the morning and afternoon shifts (which only needed Aten's and Captain Gibraltar's sign off while Aten temporarily controlled the afternoon shift) so as to clog the bureaucratic machinery with paperwork. In order to unclog the works, Gibraltar would have to deny most or all of the requests, which then Aten would use as "evidence" of unfair treatment of pegasi. Another "shenanigan" Aten had in mind is what he needed the two Lieutenants for - the Lieutenants would act as backup for a direct attack on Shining Armor. Comparing his ability to that of his younger sister was always a good route to get metaphorical shots in, and he decided to strike while the iron was still hot. "Are we going to mess up Celestia's favorite?" Lieutenant Tempest asks Aten eagerly as the three pegasi travel toward Shining's quarters. "Not mess him up directly, just put him in a very uncomfortable situation." Aten explains to the eagerly listening Lieutenants. "Another attempt to make him feel inferior to his overpowered little sister." "It didn't work the last time you tried that tactic!" Lieutenant Supercell points out. "We weren't thinking big enough last time. This time, it'll be big enough." Aten replies, an evil grin spreading across his face... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Aten, I know you've had a long day, but I just got up. I haven't had a chance to get to the reports yet." Shining calmly tries to explain to the escorted Aten when the latter knocks on the door to his quarters. "I'm not here about the reports, Shining Armor." Aten replies in a condescending tone. "You're not?" Shining asks in confusion, taking a sip of coffee from the mug he was levitating beside him after speaking. "No. I've recently heard of your sister's impressive performance in Ponyville against the Ursa Minor, and am convinced that you are capable of similar displays of power." Aten answers in what seems to be rehearsed tone, prompting Shining to do a "this again?" eyeroll before taking another sip of coffee. Aten was undeterred, however, and continued on: "I therefore challenge you to make a shield big enough to cover all of Canterlot! Not just the castle, but every building in the city! Then, and only then, will I be convinced of your superiority." Shining Armor just chuckles at Aten's speechifying. He knew Aten would not change his mind even if he could bring "eternal night" like Princess Luna had tried to do. Like at previous times, he just wrote it off as more of Aten's usual bluster. "You may laugh now, but in a few days we'll see who is laughing Shining Armor!" Aten challenges, giving a glare back as he begins to leave, his escort joining him in the glaring. "That pegasus is messed up in the head. Shield covering all of Canterlot indeed!" Shining thought to himself, chuckling as he took another sip of coffee...