"Geez, that looks like one of those stupid-hard jigsaw puzzles where every piece is the same color!"
"Shhh! She's trying to concentrate!"
"Well excuse me, Mr. '#1 Assistant'! Who died and made you a princess?"
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"Rainbow Dash, don't you have better things to do than argue right now?" Rarity interjects as she and Lieutenant Crispin approach the scene where Rainbow Dash is arguing with Spike. Rainbow doesn't respond verbally, but with a glare instead.
Behind Rainbow Dash and Spike is Twilight Sparkle, looking back and forth from the array of disassembled and damaged metal parts in front of her and a thick book to one side. Some parts were assembled into a short tower of sorts. Twilight is seen using her unicorn magic to pick up a part, turn it over in different configurations in mid-air and reference a page in the book, all while maintaining a look of intense concentration on her face.
"It's a good thing we found one of those manuals in that library, otherwise putting the cloud cannon back together would've been a hopeless task." Lieutenant Crispin comments about the scene. "We'll still need some new parts shipped from Canterlot though, some of the damage was beyond repair."
"That stinks! We don't even know who wanted to blow that thing apart!" Rainbow Dash exclaims.
"Or even why they would want to blow it apart." Rarity adds.
"Yes, it is rather unfortunate we have no idea who did the attack last night. No ponies got hurt, but still..." Lieutenant Crispin comments, trailing off as he looks over at Twilight working.
"You aren't gonna pack up and leave, are ya?" Rainbow Dash asks the Guard Lieutenant.
"Oh no, your friend Pinkie Pie very graciously donated use of her... 'party cannon', she called it?" Crispin answers.
"Yes, that's what she calls it." Rarity affirms.
"What's the deal with that thing anyway?" Spike interjects with a question, scratching his head in confusion.
"Don't ask us, Spike. We don't know either. She's just weird that way." Rainbow Dash answers with a shrug.
"Yes, well anyway the Lieutenant Captain is grateful for her help as well as that of Twilight Sparkle's." Crispin explains.
"I'm sure there's other ways we can help." Rarity states.
"'We'? What do you mean 'we'?" Rainbow Dash fires back with a glare at Rarity.
"Rainbow Dash, the only one of our group that isn't helping some way besides you is Applejack, and that's because she has farm chores. It's not like you can't do cloud clearing and help in some way at the same time." Rarity indignantly explains.
"Fine, you want me to help watch from the skies?" Rainbow Dash asks Lieutenant Crispin.
"Yes, you can report to Lieutenant Steelwing. He'll find something for you to do, just like he did for Fluttershy." Crispin answers.
"I'm amazed you got her to do anything at all with this. I assumed she would be too scared about the whole thing." Rarity comments.
"Well, it's very simple ma'am." Crispin explains. "We just asked her to watch to see if the Ursas were to come out of the cave while we were building the wall. She doesn't have to go in or anything, just watch."
"I understand. And please, sir, 'Miss Rarity' will do just fine. Save the 'ma'ams' for Applejack." Rarity gently corrects with a smile.
"Of course, Miss Rarity. And I promise to pass along the suggestions for new armor designs you proposed to Princess Celestia." Crispin affirms.
Rarity quickly feels the questioning stares of both Spike and Rainbow Dash on her regarding the 'new armor designs' comment. Doubtless Rarity was a fashion critic, but both of them found it hard to believe she would go THAT far.
"Don't look at me like that! Those armor designs are terribly out of fashion, you know." Rarity replies with an indignant tone of voice before turning away and beginning to walk back to her boutique.
There is surprised silence for a moment after Rarity starts away, and then Spike and Rainbow Dash share a sigh and eyeroll.
"Hey, I think I got something!" Twilight Sparkle says from behind the whole scene. Spike, Rainbow Dash and Lieutenant Crispin turn to look at a precariously balanced tower of connected parts - that promptly collapse back into a pile as soon as attention is focused on it.
"Or maybe not..." Twilight continues, looking back at those watching her with a nervous grin.
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MEANWHILE, IN CANTERLOT...
"Lieutenant Tempest, Lieutenant Captain Aten will protect us?" Misty Fly asks the armored pegasus Lieutenant.
"Yes, Misty Fly. You will have free reign until the end of the afternoon shift." the Lieutenant affirms.
"I will address the group then. Come with me." Misty Fly continues, and the Lieutenant escorts her out to where some of the other Wonderbolts were waiting.
Misty Fly was determined to undercut Captain Spitfire's control of the Wonderbolts. Consistent underperformance against Fleetfoot and Surprise put Misty's 3rd place position in the organization in jeopardy, and as soon as Spitfire came out against Aten she would use the excuse of "undue influence by him" to put Fleetfoot or Surprise in Misty's place. Misty, therefore, decided to strike first by helping in Aten's "shenanigans".
There were currently twelve Wonderbolts in total, presenting a united front in public but divided into two roughly equal "factions" behind-the-scenes. Spitfire's "faction" included her second-in-command Soarin', the aforementioned Fleetfoot and Surprise as well as Blaze and Rapidfire; all were higher ranked or relatively neutral on Aten's "affirmative action" policy. Misty Fly's "faction" consisted of the lower-ranked members - Lightning Streak, Wave Chill, Fire Streak, High Winds and Silver Lining - which either supported Aten or simply did not like Spitfire's leadership.
Misty would only address and use the members of her "faction" for the operation now. Aten's cooperation and Misty's careful shaping of the situation would keep anypony which could've interrupted the operation from learning about it until it was too late. It would also give the implication that Spitfire supported Aten's challenge to Shining Armor, which was not only completely untrue but designed to cause tension between Spitfire and most of the senior officers of the Royal Guard - a surefire way to weaken Spitfire's authority and keep her from exerting much influence outside her own command. A very unwitting Spitfire was about to become a means to fracture both the Royal Guard and Wonderbolts, with what proved to be dire consequences for both organizations...
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The waiting Wonderbolts - Misty Fly's "faction" exclusively - salute both Misty Fly and Lieutenant Tempest as they enter the room where they have been assembled.
"Greetings fellow Wonderbolts. You may notice that not everypony, particularly Spitfire and Soarin', are here." Misty Fly gamely begins. "You have been specifically selected for a special assignment, and this selection was done without the knowledge or participation of the Captain or her second-in-command."
The other Wonderbolts exchange confused glances and quiet statements of surprise, and Misty Fly waits for them to subside before continuing on: "During the long night which accompanied the return of 'Nightmare Moon', Captain Spitfire vowed in front of us all to never surrender to that alicorn. Now though she intends to break that oath by allying with the night shift commander and turning against a fellow pegasus. The lackey named Soarin' will not speak out against her. Fleetfoot and Surprise, favorites of the Captain, will not speak out either, and soon one of them will replace me if nothing is done to change the situation. This is a matter of honor and not betraying a fellow winged one in high places, Wonderbolts!"
Most of Misty's faction were stallions, and she could see their indignation of the thought of betraying a fellow pegasus rising to the surface as she spoke. They were convinced that whatever Aten's faults might've been he had to be supported because nopony that wasn't a pegasus would support him, and the "horned ones" would drive him from his position. Misty's artful twisting of Spitfire's previous words, which all the Wonderbolts had heard when they stood united in the darkness created by "Nightmare Moon", was all it took to get them to follow along with what she wanted.
Both Misty Fly and Lieutenant Tempest smirked at the indignant exclamations of the Wonderbolts in front of them after Misty fell silent again. Everything was going according to plan.
"Now you are wondering how to change the situation, fellow Wonderbolts." Misty Fly continues on. "Lieutenant Captain Aten has challenged Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor to cover all of Canterlot in a shield. We are to make sure the challenge is not forgotten or blown off. We are also to make sure it looks like Spitfire is supportive of the challenge. The Lieutenant here will provide posters which you are to distribute throughout the castle - Aten will protect you from interference while you work. Line up and receive your assignments from the Lieutenant, then make both wing and hoof speedy in the distribution. Good luck, fellow Wonderbolts!"
When Misty Fly falls silent again, she sees the lower-ranked Wonderbolts line up to obtain their allotment of posters, and the grin on her face spreads wide. Agent Snake would be most pleased, indeed...