Chapter 7
Twilight paced in the main library, magicking the curtains closed to the outside world. "I can't believe even all that disguise didn't work!" She complained loudly, tail and wings ruffling in further frustration.
"Maybe changing the colors on it..." Spike uneasily suggested. "Or adding a Mustache!"
"Or telling Pinkie Pie that I'm not supposed to be seen!" Twilight insisted. "I finally get out of the library without being mobbed, and was almost to Golden Harvest's when Pinkie comes bouncing by as if I wasn't wearing anything! Next thing I know all of Ponyville is kneeling! Spike, some of them were SINGING! UNGH~~!!!" Twilight banished herself under one of the library tables to sulk.
"Twilight, you know they're just doing it because-"
"I KNOW why they're doing it," Twilight grumbled. "I'm just ME, okay?? I'm just the same librarian who wasn't even born in this town!"
Spike offered to comment but stopped short as something caught in his throat. He gagged, then belched out a mouthful of green flame, materializing into a scroll at Twilight's feet. She magically gathered the scroll to read it.
"My faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,
I would like to request your presence in Canterlot in three days' time to witness the initiations of the new members of the Solar Guard. Your brother, Prince Shining Armor, and Princess Cadance will also be attending the festivities. Please expect to stay overnight as there is someone else I would like you to meet. I await your response.
Princess Celestia"
"Solar Guard?" Spike queried.
"My brother is going to be there- and I can talk to Cadance. Start packing things up, Spike, given our 'warm reception' in Ponyville it might take a day or two just to get to the train station!" Twilight sighed and just flopped under the table. Spike offered a sympathetic look before preparing her saddlebags.
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Fire Ruby did indeed bring Malachite Braid to the mysterious zebra, but had to hurry to the storeroom before she forgot.
She quickly wrote down a few simple words: "Unicorn zebra", "Farasipunda", "Silver" "gray diamonds". She added "Elements" and left the scroll on a table near an open window. Once she was back in the store proper, a hoof scooped the scroll away and was swiftly carried to the Crystal Castle.
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Gallant Lionheart and Snapdragon glared at each other from opposite sides of the pegasus track. Both had completed the first two parts of the Tower Shield test, but neither stood steady as they tried to buck their 50-stone block apart. The first few strikes hurt Gallant Lionheart's hind legs, and he took a moment to catch his breath as he saw Snapdragon stumble from his efforts. Lionheart glowered across the track at his rival, finally seeing Snapdragon's actual colors - mostly a deep magenta with a yellow and orange mane cropped short. In that form, Snapdragon did not look anywhere near as intimidating! Lionheart forced a smirk before he returned to bucking at the stone.
Snapdragon locked gazes with Lionheart and kicked his stone harder, a tacit comment to what would happen should they cross paths. The brown unicorn responded with a similar strong kick, an unspoken dare to try. They continued kicking away at their stones as though trading insults with each action.
Princess Luna sat a short distance away, watching the nonverbal contest. Emerald Charm glanced over as well. "Princess Luna, will they fight again during this trial?"
"They shan't - though they somewhat are at the moment, learning that some arguments aren't resolved with hooves, but with accomplishments. They try to top each other in every task, channeling all of their ability to goals and not each other. Some of their aggressions will be sated in mock combat, and once they are both in true Phalanx armor it will be a treat to watch."
"A strange lesson," Emerald Charm admitted. "Given the nature of true Phalanx armor."
"But one ingrained nonetheless. How fare the other trainees?"
"We are down to forty-five recruits, the others too injured or resigned."
"Those that are out of the training, check with every able-bodied recruit that remains. Princess Celestia is doing the same. They will have work outside our militias. When you have completed such, report to Golden Silver and inspect the new armors."
Emerald Charm saluted and winged off.
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Hatchet marveled at his completed creation - his first suit of Phalanx Armor! Lapis requested a large suit constructed first, in hopes of putting Sandstone in said barding. The pegasus had reveled in the process. Despite the strictest structure and almost ceremonial construction of said armors, the process brought very pleasing results. He wished he could have made a suit for himself, first, but would certainly add it to the list.
The scrolls that "boss" had written out for him covered the entire process - one scroll unfurled halfway across the room in its detail! Hatchet never thought he'd take to something so... regimented. He read both scrolls thoroughly, trying to memorize them so he wouldn't delay or endanger any point of the process. His mind understood the process, but his heart BEGGED to innovate with it! Double the amount of ash and moonstone, fold it in sharper edges, mold wing-blades in with the designs! And on the wing-blades, small "catches" to sling bladed weapons at other pegasi or ground based enemies! Maybe even add "tusks" to the helmet so he could rake at an opponent's face in close combat! Oh, the possibilities! He knew he had enough extra parts to make such a suit, but was unsure Lapis would allow him the time.
He gathered a pencil in his mouth and hastily sketched out his idea, adding underneath the steps he would alter. He put questions around the design as well - is purple the mandatory color? Can he use something other than a blue moonstone? Can other gems/ash be added to the formula? What more could he do to make this armor SO scary that he might even be cheated out of a fight? The pegasus cackled at the notion; he would never be cheated out of a fight, he would just make sure his opponent died tired.
"Fascinating work, Hatchet."
The poor pegasus launched into the ceiling at the sudden appearance of Umbral. He landed on the desk facing his master. "Oh, hey boss.... heheh.... just playin with the design."
The Shadow of the Moon looked over the design, comparing the notes. "I would be VERY careful about increasing the dosages of ash and moonstone," he critiqued. "While I have no issue with the additional weapons and offensive capabilities, adding more of the enchantment could be extremely dangerous."
"Yeah, but you WANT dangerous, doncha?"
"I have an upper limit of 'dangerous'," Lapis replied with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Something you might not know about the armor, Hatchet, is that it, in itself, is alive. It WANTS an owner, and sometimes it wants to own its wearer. I'm sure you have heard the stories of the armor rituals."
"Oh yeah!!!" Hatchet eagerly responded. "This armor likes to beat its wearers up or kill em - or sometimes the new soldiers kill each other! Izzat really true? Sounds like a good time to break out the popcorn and watch."
"This magic is like fire. You can harness it it, you can bend it your uses. But, let it grow too strong, control is lost and it shall consume you. Even I do not wish death on an ally," Umbral responded evenly. "But I will make you a deal. Finish up a few more suits, and you may make one to your design. However, do NOT increase the dosage of the enchantment material."
"No?"
"I don't wish to lose a good armorer over his own creation."
Hatchet glanced back at the suit he made for Sandstone. "So what if Sandstone loses his mind in that thing? None of us can slow him down as he is now."
"Leave that to me."
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Gallant Lionheart hurt. He hurt a lot. It hurt to walk, it hurt to breathe, it hurt sometimes to blink his eyes.
But he, along with Snapdragon, had completed the trial of Tower Shield. Nowhere near as fast as the legendary earth pony soldier, but it was done. Lionheart wobbled through the halls of Canterlot Castle, still in his training armor. Princess Luna had reprimanded them again after the trial completed for taking too long. While inwardly savoring Snapdragon's wings getting stomped, he shuddered at how hard she could strike with her wings. He pondered for a moment if Master Lapis hit even harder since there were no feathers pulling that punch.....
He still had to take care of his dungeon duty, so he carefully walked down the stairs into the area, stopping only briefly at Cepheid's cell. The alicorn lay asleep, still in irons, but his color seemed brighter. His body was darker yellow now, and the streaks in his hair were turning red. Maybe there was something to what had happened to him as Prince Hellstorm. The unicorn shrugged and continued to Strife's cell.
The dark green earth pony was awake, glowering out the window on the door of his cell. ~~About time!~~ he managed, the Voice of the Mind still hard for him to completely grasp.
~~Good, you've got this part figured out. The armor ceremonies are in a few days, so I've assembled a good time for your escape.~~ Lionheart dropped an envelope out of his heavy armor and slid it under the door. ~~Open this as you hear the crowds at Celestia's Armor ceremony. I don't believe anyone will be down here.~~
~~what's in this?~~
~~Your freedom.~~
Strife glanced at the envelope before kicking it back towards his bedding and covering it with hay. Satisfied, the unicorn then visited the pegasus prisoner.
Cloud Slayer was still sound asleep, thrashing about on her bed in some active dream. Lionheart chose not to wake her this time but sent the envelope under the door as hard as he could. He saw it skid across the floor before sticking to her bedding. Good enough.
~~When Cloud Slayer wakes, Strife, tell her not to open that envelope until she is told.~~
~~I make no guarantees. She's a pegasus, and very impulsive~~
~~Try to make this a guarantee. Master Lapis will not be pleased if his company shows up early.~~
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Elsewhere on the grounds, Thunder Arrow and Flank Attack continued their overview of the Solar Guard tryouts. Count Solaris attended that day, standing in for Shining Armor. They had divided the recruits into their three respective groups to continue their testing, only to bring them together late in the day for mixed combat. All three understood the need to face other races after the fiasco of dealing with the Changelings. Princess Celestia had assured them that between the surprise of the attack, the abilities of the creatures and that they do vaguely resemble alicorns, it still was a tremendous blow to morale for much of the established militia. With many volunteering as temporary militia in the Crystal Kingdom, there would be an increased need for soldiers in both areas.
"Not a bad crop," Thunder Arrow observed as a courier brought the flight test results. "Most of the pegasi here are coming in at a minimum of 7.8 WP. Couple of stragglers, probably dropping out soon enough." He peered to Flank Attack's checklist, which the earth pony kept close to his broad chest.
"Some of these farmers are getting soft," he snorted as he read over his numbers. "You'd think a 30 stone drag and a 70 stone cart would be foal's play for them. Not impressed."
"All I've seen is a lack of strategic ability amongst the newcomers," Solaris added. "Many leap into combat readily. That is not how the Solar guard works."
"How many of em washed out of Phalanx camp?" Thunder Arrow asked. "I heard they've dropped half of the applicants already."
"Maybe we should look at their tactics, that would actually get us some soldiers...."
"Flank Attack, their methods can be TOO harsh," Solaris scolded the earth pony captain. "Are you aware that applicants die in their tryouts?"
"I thought it was just at the armor ceremony," came Thunder Arrow's surprised response. "I know those they've lost either failed the second physical, got hurt over-training or just quit."
Flank Attack just shook his head. "No one should say 'too harsh' when it comes to militia."
A commotion erupted in the pegasus soldiers' camp as a smaller white pegasus rocketed from the group, several in pursuit. "STAND DOWN!!" Thunder Arrow demanded. A few slowed, but that white pegasus had too much of a head start. "WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT, SOLDIER?"
A silver pegasus swooped back toward the captains. "Hot Head is at it again, sir."
"He doesn't come back, he's out. Should he come back, he'll be reporting to all of us."
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Princess Cadance and Shining Armor finally had some time to not think about the Empire or Canterlot. They chose an afternoon to walk through a lustrous garden made by the natives. They marveled at quartz orchids, ruby roses and violets of varying shades of amethyst. The deep emerald stems had the glow of summer grass, and the breeze over them brought faint chiming music to their ears. Shining Armor, lost for words, simply took in the mysterious music. Cadance, with permission of the jewel-gardener, selected a pale ruby rose for her mane.
"Never seen anything like this," Shining Armor finally observed, "Much less heard." His ears continued to twitch to catch every note.
"Ornamental, but still gorgeous," Cadance admitted. "So many things about this empire lost in time... I'm almost surprised your little sister hasn't moved up here to our library."
"Don't say that too loud - Twily would get lost in there. I wouldn't see her for a decade!"
Giggling, Cadance looked around the garden - perhaps at all the Empire she could see. "I'm still so looking forward to the Games," she sighed. "So much preparation still to be made. The stadium is perfect and you said the teams were coming along?"
"Princess Cadance!"
The couple turned to spot a bright red earth pony cantering up to them, a scroll sticking out of his saddlebag. He slid to a stop before them and knelt. "Forgive the intrusion, Princess Cadance, but we have intel of a stranger in town."
"Trailblaze, this close to the Games I would think we would have visitors from all over Equestria. Why is this any different?"
The earth pony grinned and tossed the scroll to her. "There was a lot of bits involved, raised some red flags. And the order is pretty specific."
Cadance looked over the scroll. "Shame that these notes aren't."
"She likely had little time, where she is currently working. I was unable to ask questions."
Cadance showed the note to Shining Armor. "I don't even know what a 'Farasipunda' is."
"Some kind of bear?"
Cadance re-read the notes out loud. " 'Unicorn zebra', 'Farasipunda', 'Silver' 'gray diamonds','elements'.... what does it mean?"
Trailblaze lowered his head. "I just got it here quick."
"Elements..." Shining Armor repeated. "The Elements of Harmony?"
"We'll have to bring this along when we go back to Canterlot. Your sister will be there, maybe she can decipher all of this."
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Emerald Charm had finished the first half of his errand - of the 55 out of the Phalanx tryouts, some went back to the Solar Guard, some were injured. About two dozen would be available for whatever other purpose the Princesses had for them. It didn't mean a lot to the lunar soldier; nothing meant much since he had been awake for so long. Allowing one long, laborious yawn to relax himself, he glided in toward the royal forges, where the activity was loud and constant.
The forges had several ponies - most of them unicorns - in the process of hammering out armor pieces for Solar and Lunar guard. The process was very efficient - under the tutelage of master smith Golden Silver, the armor pieces were stamped out and molded by the apprentices to be enchanted later. The only standout was one enormous, solid black earth pony stallion wearing a wrought iron hoof guard, stomping out the pieces without the use of a tool. Each impact rang louder than the apprentices', a tower bell among wind chimes. The sparks only highlighted his musculature, and his iron-gray eyes looking to nothing else. The stallion's mark - a gray anvil - told everyone he was bred for this duty. His concentration broken by the arrival of the lunar guard, he lowered his iron-shod hoof to the floor authoritatively, casting sparks toward the new arrival. "The princess sent you?" He asked simply, a voice deeper than even a Lunar guard's.
Emerald Charm almost saluted the smith. "Princess Luna ordered me here, Iron Forge. Do you or Golden Silver have an update on the new armors?"
Iron Forge snorted in frustration, steam from his nostrils despite the warmth of the room. "This takes time. The apprentices are fearful of the Phalanx armor, so only Golden Silver and I have been working on them. The armors will still be ready for Ceremony as ordered. There has been a delay on moonstones from Fillydelphia, they were low on stock." The stallion's glare reflected his impatience.
"Carry on," Emerald Charm tried to reply, but could taste the nervousness in his own voice. He flew off before his unease cost him some reputation.
A tan unicorn trotted out as the Lunar guard left. "More questions? Why do they interrupt you and not me?"
"You hide too much, Golden Silver."
"Perhaps my duties keep me elsewhere in the forges."
Iron Forge smirked only briefly. He had work to do.