//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: To Infinity // by PaisleyPerson //------------------------------// Chapter 5 I returned to the castle ruins, but almost immediately began pacing with impatience. What was taking so long? Had the tatzlwurm not sensed the presence of a new star flower? Was it not coming? Or had Buster been caught? Or killed? Was my plan thwarted? What if- “Mistress!” Buster howled, dangling precariously from a plunderseed vine above me. Evidently, the cloak had worn off. He clung for his life with one paw (literally, as the vines were still slowly draining his energy), and kept the corkboard tucked beneath the other. The plunderseed lowered him a little more through the hole in the roof so he didn’t land quite so hard, but once it let him go, the diamond dog still rolled a good couple of feet. The corkboard went flying, too, and I caught it with the amulet’s magic. Once Buster had stopped rolling, I also applied a slight age spell to reverse my darlings’ effects. I had, admittedly, been accessing the amulet more frequently. The power was like an addiction, especially for a pony who had previously had no magic at all. “At last, we’ll see what Twilight has been up to.” I moved the board over to my workstation, and began scrutinizing every note and ribbon attached. “Mistress-!” Buster scrambled back to his feet. “Hush! What have I told you about interrupting me while I work?” “But Mistress!” “SILENCE!” With a whimper, he quieted. I was finally able to concentrate on deciphering their notations. I was horrified to realize how much information they had managed to gather in such a short time. Twilight really was as smart as they said. Although, it did appear as though Discord had made a few of the major deductions before his untimely death. He was the one who had figured out that the plunderseeds gave off a magic signature, and he noticed Buster’s tunnel. Reading further down his note, I found it almost hilarious that he had as good as outright told Fluttershy that he was dead, but the mare refused to believe it. The things ponies did for love. I still held the advantage. They now suspected that I was connected to the house, and therefore the plunderseeds, but they still didn’t know how the pieces fit together. Unless and until they realized that it was my amulet that had infused the plants with their power, they were still dead in the water. “It appears as though I was worried for nothing, Buster. They have learned nothing of consequence about me.” “But Mistress, they have learned things about the plunderseeds.” “Not enough to do anything about it.” “You don’t understand! Before I left with the corkboard, Princess Twilight began reorganizing the girls, so I listened in a while longer. She thinks she can develop a weed killer strong enough to get rid of the plunderseeds.” “WHAT?!” I yanked on the hem of his jacket, bringing him almost to the floor so he could be eye level with me. “Why didn’t you say something?! What is Twilight planning? How is she going to make the weed killer? Has she figured out it was my amulet that infused the plunderseeds?” “I didn’t understand most of it, Mistress,” he helplessly shrugged. I threw him back and started wearing more holes in the floor, grumbling all the while. “I don’t think she knows it was the Alicorn Amulet, but she did say something about enchanting the weed killer to counteract the magic in the vines.” “Then it’s only a matter of time before she realizes where their magic originated. That will be the last piece of the puzzle she needs to link this all back to me. They’ll begin pouring all their energy into hunting me down.” “I’ll protect you, Mistress,” Buster proudly puffed out his chest. One of my plunderseeds flicked the back of his head, producing a yelp from my useless sidekick. “Fool. The amulet is all the protection I need.” “But if that’s true... then why do you need the plunderseeds at all? If Twilight’s magic is no match for the amulet, then why didn’t you just defeat her straightaway?” “Because, idiot, I can take on Twilight Sparkle, but even the Alicorn Amulet can’t fight all of Equestria. I need the plunderseeds to wreak chaos and disorder, distracting everypony while I move onto the final stage of the plan.” “Final stage? I thought the plunderseeds were the final stage.” “Of course not, dimwit!” I swiped at him again, but he actually managed to dodge this time. Slightly impressed with this level of coordination, I left him be. “The plunderseeds are just a distraction. No, Buster, we must think bigger than plunderseeds if we’re to watch the world crumble. We’re going after the Tree.” “The Tree?” “The Tree of Harmony, imbecile!” “I know that, Mistress, but what exactly are you planning to do to the Tree?” “Once my plunderseeds drain most of the Tree’s power, we’re going to replace the Element of Magic.” “You want to heal the Tree? But that will kill the plunderseeds!” “We aren’t going to put the Element of Magic back, fool. We’re going to replace it with something else. Something far more dastardly.” The jewel glinted around my neck. Buster gasped. “You’re going to replace the Element of Magic with the Alicorn Amulet?” “Exactly. The Tree will try to access the amulet’s magic to heal itself, but in doing so, will become more and more corrupt. The Tree is these ponies’ last line of defense. If we get rid of it, the plunderseeds can do the rest.” “It certainly sounds... thorough, Mistress.” “We must be, Buster. I won’t let my life’s work go to waste.” “Of course not, Mistress.” “Now, you must go back. Find Twilight Sparkle, and buy us as much time as you can. Hide their weed killer. Cause a distraction. Split the girls up. Anything! Whatever you do, just keep them away from here.” “Hey there!” We whipped around to the very pink form of Pinkie Pie. “You! How did you-!” “Wow! You’re really tiny! Twilight sent me and my Pinkie Sense to go looking for the culprit, but you can’t be her! You’re so young!” My eye twitched. “Don’t talk to Mistress like that!” Buster growled. “Whoa. But you could be him. Are you him? You’re big and scary enough to be him. I guess that would explain the tunnel to Canterlot, huh?” “Ha! Don’t make me laugh! This insolent fool couldn’t button his own jacket without me!” I snorted. Buster’s ears flattened in displeasure, but he said nothing. Pinkie’s face suddenly contorted into a vicious frown. “Hey, that’s not very nice. He might be a giant, creepy diamond dog, but he’s still got feelings.” “This giant oaf will do whatever I tell him, however I tell him,” I stomped. “But wait... I thought he was the bad guy. So if you’re in charge of the bad guy, then you’re like the ULTIMATE bad guy! What a big- er, little- meanie!” I was practically vibrating with anger. “YOU WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN?!” “Little meanie! Little meanie!” she chanted, dancing around as she sang. “BUSTER!” “Right away, Mistress.” “Uh oh.” Pinkie finally froze in Buster’s shadow. “EEP!” She darted the other way. “After her!” Instead of replying, Buster let out a genuinely terrifying roar before charging off in pursuit of the pink pony. I waited patiently back in the ruin, still trying to figure out how she got past the plunderseeds. I suppose I would never know. It was Pinkie, after all. “Dashie! Escape Plan Cupcakes!” I peered out the window to watch. “I thought we agreed on Escape Plan Rainboom,” Rainbow corrected. It took a good bit of straining before I spotted the pegasus flying above. “Fine! Escape Plan Rainboom! Just help!” “Gotcha!” Rainbow Dash swooped down from above, and caught Pinkie by the arms. Buster was finally catching up, and he leapt with a grace I hadn’t realized he possessed. Though Rainbow was already taking off with her cohort, Buster grabbed Pinkie by the ankles. “YEEEEP!” “Hey! Let go!” Rainbow’s well-primed wings beat harder and faster, just barely countering Buster’s weight. The three of them dangled midair for a moment, until Buster’s additional weight finally proved too much. Gradually, Rainbow Dash began to sink. “DAAAAAASSSSHHHIE!” “I’m... trying...” Rainbow’s face contorted, and her wings were obviously strained. Yet, to my great disbelief, the Pegasus with the Rainbow-Colored Mane began to rise once more. “No! Impossible!” I was awestruck rather than angry, at this point. If my henchman was unable to retrieve the ponies, I could always step in with my amulet. It was truly a spectacle. The pegasus was pushing herself harder than ever to try and save her friend. A pity, for it was all in vain. Rainbow had just cleared the tree canopy. I thought I would have to send my plunderseeds after them, but Buster prevailed at the last moment. With one paw still wrapped around Pinkie’s ankles, he used the other to reach back and grab a sturdy tree limb. No matter how much effort Rainbow put into it, she was unable to break free. At last, fatigue won her over, and she collapsed. “Dash!” Pinkie’s hold on her was the only thing keeping Rainbow from tumbling to the hungry vines below. “Dashie! Are you okay? Whoa!” Pinkie squealed when Buster yanked the both of them back to safety, and tucked one pony under each of his arms. Still watching from the window, I nodded with satisfaction. I waited a moment longer to make sure that the plunderseeds were clearing a path for them, and then slid down to meet them at the door. “Just who do you think you are? Let go of me!” Rainbow had evidently been revived by the time Buster hauled them in, for she was kicking and fighting again. “Put them there, Buster.” At my command, a net materialized on the floor, and when my diamond dog tossed them in the center, the net magically snapped taut without any suspension. “Ooh! Magic tricks!” Pinkie applauded. “No... magic amulet!” Dash corrected, jabbing in my direction. “Oh, you noticed? Isn’t it beautiful?” I spun once to model the piece. Pinkie gasped. “You’re the filly that was being mean to the cutie mark crusaders!” “Is that what those three little fillies call themselves? Yes, I did have a run-in with them. Annoying little brats, aren’t they?” “Look who’s talking!” Rainbow shot back. “I see you haven’t lost your spirit, Rainbow Dash. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that soon enough.” “H-How do you know my name?” “I know everything there is to know about the Elements of Harmony, so of course I deemed it necessary to also investigate their bearers.” “Ugh! Targeting the Elements again? With plunderseeds?! How unoriginal can you be?” “Didn’t you get mad at Discord for saying that?” “Yeah, but it sounds way cooler saying it to the culprit’s face,” Rainbow glared. “Oh! Let me try! Um... you won’t get away with this!” Pinkie pounded the floor, ears back, eyes burning. She couldn’t be serious. “Our friend Twilight will come looking for us!” “Yes... Twilight.” I began pacing. “This changes things... you girls have certainly altered our time table. We’re going to have to speed things along... I can’t have Twilight coming in and wrecking all my hard work.” “What do you want me to do, Mistress?” “Hush, Buster, I’m thinking.” “Um... excuse me? Are you going to kill us?” Pinkie casually raised her hoof. “Perfect. Just how I wanted to go out. Murdered by a power-crazy kid.” “You’d do well to clamp your muzzle shut,” I rumbled. “She doesn’t like being called a child,” Pinkie failed to whisper. “I AM NOT A CHILD! I AM OLDER THAN YOU KNOW!” I came nose to nose with the pink pony with speed that could only be described as supernatural. “So you are the Infinity that bought the Canterlot house,” Rainbow deduced. I threw my head back and straightened my mane to calm myself. “I ask the questions here,” I coolly stated. “Nailed it!” The mares high-hoofed behind me, giggling like the foolish school-fillies they were. “QUIET!” I rubbed my temples. “Are you going to kill them, Mistress?” “Believe me, I’d like to,” I glared behind me. “But they’re too valuable. I need them alive. We can use them to lure in the rest of the girls.” “We’re going to capture all the Elements?” “Yes. But we must be quick. Gather the rest of the mares that represent Elements of Harmony, but save Twilight Sparkle for last. She’ll come quietly if she realizes her friends’ lives are on the line.” “Very well, Mistress.” “And be quiet about it. The last thing we need is to alert Twilight of what we’re up to.” “I won’t let you down.”