//------------------------------// // The Game Plan // Story: An Alternate Ending to A Canterlot Wedding // by MeadowRosePony //------------------------------// "They've been in there for like, an hour now!" Rainbow Dash complained as she tried to look through the keyhole. "Yeah, they're missing the Super Secret Report Super Secret Party!" Pinkie Pie said as she competed with Rainbow Dash to peek into Shining Armor's office. "Ahm pretty sure a party's not too high on their schedule right now, sugarcube." Applejack said as she paced around the hallway. "They...don't want to party?" Pinkie Pie asked sadly as she slumped to the floor, allowing Rainbow Dash full access to the keyhole. Her mane deflated as she lay in a heap on the floor. "It's okay, Pinkie." Fluttershy comforted her as Rarity glared at Applejack, "I'm sure they loved your party, right now they just have to focus on other things." "Absolutely darling, they just need to take care of this Discord dilemma so they can properly enjoy the party. Don't listen to Applejack." Rarity said, walking over to pat her on the back. They all jumped, even Rainbow Dash, when Pinkie Pie gasped dramatically. "Don't say that Rarity!" Pinkie Pie said sternly as she started at Rarity. "You should always listen to your friends, even if they're being silly grumpy pants that don't appreciate good parties!" "Hey!" Applejack tried to protest but was shushed by Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy. "Not listening to a friend can ruin a friendship, we didn't listen to Twilight and now she's gone and we may never see her again, and even if we do she'll probably never be our friend again. She's probably already replaced us and gone to a new town and she's made new friends and forgotten our names and what we looked like and now she'll never come to her 'We're Soo Sorry We Ignored You And We Promise To Be Better Friends Surprise Partyyy...!" Pinkie Pie wailed, bursting into tears. Her friends exchanged panicked glances before Applejack stepped forward. "Ah'm sorry, Pinkie." Applejack said, reaching a hoof around Pinkie Pie. "We're all sorry, darling." Rarity said, as they all gave Pinkie a group hug. Pinkie Pie sniffled as she hugged her friends back. They were all letting out silent sighs of relief when Pinkie suddenly gasped and tightened her hold on Applejack and Rarity. "But what about you and Applejack? You two need to make up before you guys forget each others names!" Pinkie Pie said frantically, shoving her two friends together. Rarity and Applejack looked at each other sheepishly while Rainbow Dash stifled a snicker. (Barely. But hey, she made an effort, right?) "I'm sorry, Applejack darling. I shouldn't have said not to listen to you. That was unkind of me." Rarity apologized. "Ahm sorry too, sugarcube. Ah reckon Ah wasn't being very considerate of Pinkie Pie and ya were just reminding me my manners." Applejack said, grinning sheepishly. "Friends?" Applejack asked, offering Rarity a hoof. "Friends." Rarity said, taking Applejack's hoof and giving it a firm shake. "Aaawww...Yay! Now we can have a 'Rarity and Applejack Are Totally Friends Again' party!" Pinkie Pie floofed back to her normal self and bounced off to find some streamers and a banner. The girls looked at each other and sighed in relief. It was getting harder and harder to avoid Pinkamena. Discord teleported them into a tree, just outside of the castle gardens. Twilight pulled out her ski mask and invisibility cape before turning to Discord. "Remember, place the devices exactly where we planned." Discord nodded and smiled innocently, "Of course Twilight, I'll do my part. You just worry about getting into the vault." Twilight pulled on her mask and was about to don her cape when Discord stopped her. "For good luck." Discord said as he tucked a lavender in Twilight's mane. Twilight smiled nervously at him. She was so agitated that she didn't notice the flower glow black before settling into her mane. She pulled on her cape and disappeared before his eyes. Discord flicked his eyes to switch his vision to heat sense mode to watch Twilight's progress for a moment. Nodding to himself in satisfaction, he teleported to the far side of the castle to do his part of the plan. 'Good luck for me anyway!' Discord thought as he silently laughed to himself. 'Mwah hahaha!' "How could this happen?!" Shining Armor shouted, slamming his hoof on the table. Several of the newer guards flinched while Shining Armor's regular squadron traded a few worried glances. It wasn't like the captain to yell and rant like this. At least, not outside of the Academy. Shining Armor has always been one of the more level-headed commanders, though he could scare new recruits with the best of them. They guards snapped back to attention as their captain continued; now would not be a good time to be called out for not paying attention. "Discord has been in trapped in stone for over a thousand years and he chooses now to escape?!" Shining Armor looked around the room at his soldiers and forced himself to put on his Royal Guard face. It wouldn't do for his soldiers to be worrying about their commander, not when there was a job to be done. Silently taking a calming breathe, he rose from the table and started to pace in front of his unit. "Alright soldiers, listen up!" The guards all stood at attention, this was the captain they all strived to serve and impress. "We have a situation on our hooves. As some of you know, a powerful being has escaped imprisonment from the castle grounds and is on the loose. His name is Discord and he is classified as extremely dangerous. Your mission will be to find a trail and report back. Do not approach. Do not attempt to apprehend. Attempt to subdue only if civilians are present and in immediate danger. Focus on tracking and evacuation. You will be paired in groups of six. Any questions?" Shining Armor stopped and looked at the guards under his command, searching for any sign that further instructions were needed. Some commanders in the guard discouraged needing to repeat themselves. Not Shining Armor, part of what made him a good captain was his ability to tell when his troops needed further instructions and his willingness to give them. One of the guards raised his hoof. "What about Twilight Sparkle? Are we discontinuing the search for her?" Shining Armor clenched his jaw before forcing himself to relax. Another trait that made him a good captain was his ability to answer tough questions and keep things in perspective. Even when he hated himself for it. "For now yes. The main priority is now Discord. The search for Ms. Sparkle will have to wait." The guards nodded, though a few of the ones closest to Shining Armor gave him sympathetic glances. "Alright everypony, dismissed!" Shining Armor ordered. "Lieutenants Cherry Fizzy, Bronzewing and Silver Shield, report to me!" "Sir! Yes sir!" The three soldiers stood at attention as their comrades filed out of the room. As soon as the last guard had left, five mares and a dragon entered the room. "What's the plan?!" Rainbow Dash demanded. "Are we gonna kick some demon flank or what?" "Whoa there, Rainbow!" Applejack said, "Let's hear the plan first. Then we can kick some demon flank." They all started arguing over how best to defeat Discord as Fluttershy hid behind Spike, who was trying to calm them all down. "Girls!" Shining Armor quickly took charge of the situation. "The royal guards and the princesses will take care of Discord." "Then what are we going to do?" Rarity asked. "We're going to find Twilight." Shining Armor responded. "What about them?" Rainbow Dash asked, motioning towards the three Royal Guards standing at attention. "They are going to help us. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike meet Lieutenant Cherry Fizzy, Lieutenant Bronzewing and Lieutenant Silver Shield." Shining Armor pointed to each pony as he introduced them all. "Together we will conduct a systematic search of Canterlot and the surrounding areas. Rainbow Dash, Bronzewing and Fluttershy, you three will cover the sky above the city and do an aerial search." Rainbow Dash and Lieutenant Bronzewing saluted as Fluttershy nodded. "Rarity, Spike and Lieutenant Silver Shield will conduct a grid search starting at the castle and expanding through the city." Shining Armor commanded. Silver Shield and Spike saluted as Rarity nodded. "Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Lieutenant Cherry Fizzy will search the surrounding wilderness." He continued. Cherry Fizzy saluted as Applejack nodded. "Okey, dokey lokey!" Pinkie Pie sang as she pulled a spy glass out of her mane. "I will be coordinating the search party and the Discord mission from the watch towers. If any pony needs anything, there will be messengers all over the city. You can send any one of them." They all nodded. Shining Armor smiled once before narrowing his eyes in determination. "Alright then, move out!"