Chapter 10
The full moon was a welcome sight for Gallant Lionheart. He preferred more visibility after dark. He looked forward to wearing that armor for the first time, after he had had a small chat with Lapis about it. He repeated the mantra to himself. "The armor is what you could be.... with eyes that see in the dark... hooves that make no sound. Ears that can hear the wind in its lairs. Some even suggest... sharp white teeth." The unicorn unconsciously grinned at the thought and visage of it all. He also entertained the thought of finally showing up Snapdragon at the armor ceremonies.
Lionheart's evening walk helped adjust himself to the now evening schedules. He would only see the sun before and after duty, and on the rare day occasion. For now, he continued his walk back into Canterlot Castle, and soon down to the dungeon area.
He didn't even bother to stop at Cepheid's cell- the alicorn was usually asleep once it was full dark, without fail. This would make the second part of his task much easier. Seeing no one else about, he tapped lightly on Strife's cell door.
~~The time draws near, sunderer of races.~~
~~I WAS sleeping,~~ Strife grumbled through the static in his mind. ~~what do you want?~~
~~Merely giving you an update. The Armor Ceremonies are in two days. You and your "Partner" will use what is in the envelopes to get you out of your cells as the crowd cheers their new soldiers. Report immediately to Lapis when you arrive~~
~~You're apparently bored, anypony would know this~~
~~Very well. Lapis wishes to speak to you personally about some earth pony history and an artefact he found. He says you might be able to answer some questions.~~
~~...fine. And Cloud Slayer?~~
~~The pegasus? We have someone insane enough in Drakengard to make armor for her.~~
~~Make me what???~~ Cloud Slayer's mindvoice cut in, startling the two males.
Lionheart composed himself. ~~Something that will make sure that the next time you see Rainbow Dash.... let's say it'll be the last time anyone sees Rainbow Dash~~
~~ooo...~~ Her Voice of the mind faded but laughter could be heard from her cell.
~~And what does Lapis need from me?~~ Strife pulled the subject back.
~~A weapon was discovered in the new mine being constructed in Drakengard. The weapon appears sapient, and has an outright hatred for spellcasters that mirrors your own hatred. Perhaps there is a correlation?~~
Strife didn't answer immediately. ~~I think you DO know something,~~ Lionheart accused.
~~Not your business, and I can't answer that question until I see it with my own eyes!~~
~~Very well. I have delivered my orders. Once Equestria is ours, you will have the honor of disposing of Twilight Sparkle. Cloud Slayer, the same for Rainbow Dash. Two Elements thus removed. I look forward to it.~~ One ear caught hoofsteps. ~~Remember your orders~~ The unicorn trotted away as another guard approached.
Strife was left for a few moments with his own thoughts. A weapon that actually hates spellcasters? He "knew", but would not admit anything until he was before Lapis Umbral himself to explain.
----------------------------------------------------
Princess Celestia hadn't completely settled in to sleep that evening, too much on her mind. The Armor Ceremonies were not meant to create such a stir! messages from Stalliongrad, Hoofington, La Cheval, Hoshiba, Saddle Arabia, and dozens of other small kingdoms and townships sending complaint after complaint of this "escalation" - she had written and duplicated the explanation so many times already the statement flowed through her mind like a mantra. She caught herself writing it when attempting to add an entry to her journal after sunset, a single candle and the moon -
A full moon? Celestia took a moment to run the calendar through her mind. There was just a full moon a few evenings ago. She could write no further. With a thought she teleported from her quarters to Princess Luna's, who was already preparing for other evening activities.
"Sister, you're disrupting the calendar," Celestia began sternly. "We have enough tension outside Canterlot to cause issue with other allies."
"Twas necessary if there were to be ceremonies for the Phalanx soldiers. The smiths requested a full moon to complete the enchantments in time, as there was a delay in gathering the proper moonstones for the chestplates."
"Our outside allies are already clambering over the thought we are preparing for war, and now this?"
"There would be no time to notify all of Equestria of this necessity. It would have been misinterpreted regardless! I will not have Armoring day soiled with a lack of completed work."
"You did this at the request of the Canterlot smiths, then?" Celestia tiredly realized. "There will be a lot of questions come Armoring day."
"There are always questions, sister, when it comes to the Phalanx. The Soldiers of the Night have very strict requirements and each regimen has specific conditions. That was established long before the Discord wars, and traditions that must be maintained. Improper forgings of the Armor could lead to... very improper soldiers." Luna looked away at that realization.
"And sometimes you consider Solar Guard traditions stolid and old-fashioned? Some see the Phalanx traditions as sadistic and draconian."
"Let them think thus!" Luna protested. "They will be grateful of our methods when the walls of Canterlot are beseiged by monsters that can see us in the dark!"
"You should have at least consulted me before doing this, Luna. Had I been already asleep when you raised this full moon, I would not have been able to explain such to the dignitaries."
"It would be MY explanation to give, sister. They barely accept your words- consider how well mine will be received."
Celestia lowered her head. "These are stressful times, sister. This is not how I wanted Twilight Sparkle to enter her newest duties."
"Trial by fire is the method used before my return, sister," Luna reminded Celestia. "Twilight Sparkle still needs to learn one very valuable lesson, that not all answers are in books or scrolls. She will see that the answers to Equestria's dilemmas are not so night and day."
The two sisters sat together to calm each other's stresses. They could not show weakness to all those who would be attending the upcoming ceremonies.
----------------------------------------------------
Hatchet grumbled to himself as he continued to clean the forges. He'd piled his test armors in one corner, completed armors to the mannequins. Water was brought to "patch" the frostforge's cracks, and many of the tools still unaccounted for. He looked again at his Phalanx creations, especially his own. The rush had been incredible, as if he had been charged by a lightning bolt from the sky. His muttered complaints muted at the memory, he resumed his cleanup, shoveling some of the dust out the one available window to his forge.
The evening was clear despite his and Slurry's work at covering Drakengard. He needed moonlight while he had been forging, as per the process of setting the moonstones on the chestplates. It was unusually bright that evening; weren't they on a waning crescent? A second glance outside confirmed it - the moon was full tonight!
"I'm not wastin THIS!" he shouted, gathering some of the leftover iron, powdered moonstone, and timberwolf ash. "I'm gonna make this thing scare boss out of his hooves when I'm done!" Dropping the implements at the only good table close to the window, he cantered back to the mannequin with his iron ally.
----------------------------------------------------
Night Ash trotted from Malachite Braid's shop, saddlebags filled with the completed necklaces. She paid extra for the rush work, and tipped generously per Lapis' orders. Thankfully that nosy Fire Ruby was with other customers! She had the necklaces, she had the notes, she needed now only board the train and return to Drakengard. Ignoring the curious glances from the locals, she trotted proudly to the train station.
Her pace slowed as a chill washed past her. The borders of the Empire weren't solid, so the frozen wastes occasionally seeped into the kingdom proper. The winds past the barrier had picked up, and she could "see" that the snow was coming down much harder. Concerned, she approached the ticket office to inquire.
"Sorry ma'am," the conductor explained. "All trains are cancelled until the storm subsides."
The unicorn knew she couldn't remain in the Empire too much longer. "Time is short, the event is near, where I need to be far south of here! Past San Palomino and Macintosh hills, and from there further south still!"
The conductor nodded. "I understand that, ma'am, but there was snow on the schedule today to keep the tracks open for tomorrow. I can control the train schedule, but I'm just a crystal earth pony, can't control the weather."
"You lack pegasi to clear the snow and continue your constact traffic flow?"
"The snow's going to be worse than that. Area's Been declared a no flight zone until she's done." The conductor nodded to an ice-blue unicorn who seemed to be controlling the fresh snowfall. Night Ash nodded curtly to the conductor before approaching the other unicorn.
The pale blue unicorn savored her snow - and proudly showed it in her snowflake of hearts cutie mark. She conjured freely, whipping the winds about and pouring thick white snow all around the borders of the empire. Her red and pink mane flowed slightly with the seeping winter winds, her blue eyes closing for a moment to savor the breeze like a fresh round of spring flowers.
"Your timing is poor, stirring up such storms!" Night Ash's normally calm demeanor had faded. "Save for after the travel, not before! Your winter winds blow at a bad time - clear your snows from the travel lines!"
The unicorn eyed the bespectacled zebra, unimpressed. "My name is Snowcatcher," She informed the complaining pony, "And schedules are schedules. There was no major travel until tomorrow, and the lines will be clear in the monring. Please don't disturb my work." To emphasize her point, an errant blast of winter wind made the zebra stumble.
"If this poorly you treat a guest, perhaps someone should cancel your Pony Games request!" Night Ash's horn lit in a challenge. Snowcatcher wasn't impressed.
"I know you Zebra aren't used to this weather where you're from, but I have a schedule to keep here per Captain Skystrider, the head Weather Pegasus from Canterlot, and I intend to keep it. Now let me get back to work!"
Night Ash refused to back down- stirring the winds herself, she pushed some of the snowstorm through the barrier and let a drift wash over Snowcatcher like a wave. "Snow for you in a closer view, and I cleared the train tracks too. Farasipunda calls me home, enjoy your snow out here alone!" She brusquely turned back toward the train station for her ride out of the kingdom.
-------------------------------------------------
Twilight Sparkle slipped out the front door of the library while Spike slept. The sun had not risen, but a full moon would be more than enough light. She wanted to get to the train station unbothered, and purposefully scheduled to be out on the first train to Canterlot. While she should wait until Spike woke up to send her last letter, any other literature she may need should be in the Canterlot archives. She could read the other two tomes at her leisure on the train, as long as she was sitting alone.
She'd even contemplated teleporting or flying on her own to Canterlot, but was unsure of her upper limits of endurance, even in this new form. The train ride would only be a couple of hours, the flight likely much longer. Not even Rainbow Dash flew to Canterlot alone. Adjusting her cloak under her saddlebags, she took a deep breath and started her walk to the train station.
Her wings itched under the thick cloak, begging to spread. She wanted to fly again, but at the same time keep her hooves in the grass. There again, she could teleport to the train station, it isn't far.... why all these emotions all at once? Her confusion slowed her walk, a breath escaping as she tried to clear her mind. She had to walk to the train station and be ready to board the first train to Canterlot, hopefully for some rest before her all-important meeting. Dignitaries? Militia leaders? Who would she encounter on her arrival....?
Even the ticket office hadn't opened yet. Twilight found a bench and settled in with one of her books. This will be a long day...
-------------------------------------------------
"..... 93, 94, 95, 96. Sorry, Mr. Rich, that was all we were able to get this season."
Applejack's apology to the tycoon pony was heartfelt. He had watched her count almost with defeat, as though she already had the number in her head. Filthy Rich offered a small smile in gratitude regardless. "Not every year gets you the full 100 jars, Miss Applejack. I know that you still provide a quality product."
"There were circumstances-" Applejack attempted to continue the apology but she caught Big Macintosh shaking his head to her. She took a breath and started over. "Things have been hectic here at the farm. Tryin to finish the harvest and get some of our regular applebuckin done before we pack up for Canterlot."
"Canterlot??" The normally unflappable business pony was taken aback at the name. "You have an invitation to the Armoring Ceremonies tomorrow? You must be very proud."
"Ah guess," the farmpony sighed. "We had a request for Zap Apple Jam but you're always our first customer. Couldn't even fill that." Her mind flashed briefly back to Spike interrupting the harvest.
"But it's still Canterlot," Filthy Rich insisted. He turned back to his loaded wagon and gave one box back to them.
"Now hold on a second, we don't want no charity!" Applejack protested. "You paid us for 100 jars of Zap Apple Jam-"
"And I got my order," The tycoon pony replied smoothly. "Since I will not be able to attend the Armor Ceremonies in person, I would like Sweet Apple Acres to represent me at the ceremonies with these six jars. Given the limited quantities this season, payment has been adjusted for inflation due to scarcity. Of course, there's always loss and damage in transport of product, so 90 of the 100 jars will arrive at my warehouses safely."
Big Macintosh brightened but didn't have to say anything. Applejack was about to speak but was nudged aside by Granny Smith. "You learned quite a bit from your family, didn'cha, you sly talker? If we gotta product that's scarce, I think you should be payin more than a 'scarce' price!"
Applejack was lost to the conversation, head jerking back and forth between the businesspony and her grandmare.
"You're absolutely right," Filthy rich agreed. "an extra two bits per box should cover the 'scarcity' fee."
"Two bits per what?" Granny Smith leered, leaning in to the stallion.
"Two bits per jar, I misspoke. That will also cover the sponsoring fee if you will place my labels on the jars next to yours."
"Granny, that's -"
"That's how business is done!" The elder pony finished for her grandaughter. "Now git these jars in our wagon, we're gonna be at the station first thing in the mornin!"
-------------------------------------------------
Rarity hadn't slept or eaten since Spike's visit, still frantically assembling dresses and accessories for the ceremonies. She made some simple modifications to one of her dresses from when she visited last with Fancy Pants, hoping that would do for the train trip. She would need a completely new ensemble for herself AND Twilight with no time for her to model anything. Hoping against hope that Twilight's new post hadn't made her "taller" she read over a few designs, hastily penciling in adjustments at the shoulders for her new wings. She had some odds and ends from a few days before but many of those were incomplete. She had just placed an emerald on one outfit when she heard a THUMP! at her door. Startled out of her "zone" and already short on patience, she stomped to the door to see who would be disturbing her.
"Good afternoon and wel-aAAA~!!!" Her attempt at a pleasant greeting ended with the heap of a crosseyed pegasus pony on her doorstep, holding up one envelope with her rename on it. "uhm... thank you?" She shakily added as she magicked the letter from the carrier, who stumbled to her feet and ambled off as though nothing had happened.
The letter, she observed, was addressed to her "Care of the Carousel Boutique". Curious, she opened the note to see that it was not from any of her usual clientele.
"To Rarity:
Please accept this as a formal invitation to be a spokespony for up and coming fashionistas at a Canterlot seminar the day after the Armoring event. We were made aware you would be in town for the ceremonies and hope to meet with you once the festivities have ended. Please bring some of your materials and sketches to inspire a whole new generation of artisans!
Macey Sacks"
"MACEY SACKS!! THE MACEY SACKS OF SACKS FIFTH FURLONG???? How did she know? Who told her? I'll need more samples! More dresses! More accessories! My Sketchbook!"
The swirl of her mind sent the room in motion as she spun and fainted away. Opal padded past her unconscious master and curled up on the invitation.
-------------------------------------------------
Strife paced nervously in his cell. In a couple of days he would be back under the hoof of an alicorn, but one that had something that he knew he needed to see. He knew that time would be short, guessing that his new employer planned an offensive shortly after the grandiose ceremonies. He knew that whatever the "artifact" was, the description that Gallant Lionheart gave him stirred a memory that he refused to share. His previous failure already on his record, but what he could do next could potentially backfire. Time was of the essence, forgiveness before permission.
He deliberately faced east, the hope that the Voice of his Mind would be heard and not rejected.
~~Brothers, I bring news.....~~
-------------------------------------------------
Rainbow Dash's cloud-clearing duties failed to take three words out of her mind... "Just in case". Why shouldn't she be just escorted in to work with the Wonderbolts at the ceremonies? She's progressed a lot since the Best Young Flyers competitions (saved some lives!). She excelled at Academy and even had a captain's badge to show for it. Yet she had been asked to pack her gear "Just in case"? It made no sense. Did that mean she was going just to be "volunteered" for winter cloud duties over the railways to the Crystal Empire? Or relegated to sitting in the stands while Star Hunter or Midnight Strike got to fly with the famed aeronautics team? Maybe they were saving her for the Equestria games? She hadn't heard anything about that either. She kicked the clouds harder as her frustration mounted, her busy mind steering her off course -
"OW~! Hey, stay out of my vector! You're not the only one clearing today!"
Dash winged back, spotting a slightly smarting Thunderlane shaking out a hind leg. "Already daydreaming about the Wonderbolts stuff tomorrow at the Armoring Ceremony?"
"I don't have to daydream," Dash blustered. "I'm a guaranteed shoo-in to work with the team!"
"That's not what *I* heard," the dark pegasus bragged. "There's a few spots open, but they haven't picked anypony yet. I'm gettin my hoof in the door!"
"For what? Getting sick on Tornado day? Getting a hoof-load of Rarity at Academy?"
"Is she gonna be there?" The stallion ran a hoof through his pale mohawk. "I need another hoof-full of her, heheh....."
"YOU," Dash retorted, "have as much chance with Rarity as you do of working with the Wonderbolts, and have as much chance of working with the Wonderbolts as your little brother Rumble does!"
"Oh yeah? Rumble's gonna be doing YOUR job while you're sitting in the stands!" Thunderlane dipped a wing to get back to work. "Remember, Spitfire doesn't play favorites...."
That left Dash's wings drooping. Was he right...?
-------------------------------------------------
Fluttershy paced back and forth in her bedroom, placing things in a saddlebag then taking them right back out. There would be a huge crowd in Canterlot for the cermonies, and she wasn't fond of crowds. There would be a lot of noise, and she wasn't fond of that, either. She would at least be with her friends. That was something to focus on - her friends would be there. Would Twilight be sitting with them? That means the other Princesses would be sitting with them! Oh, dear, it only felt worse for the pale pegasus. She sat herself on the bed to ponder how she could possibly get through all that noise, music and crowds. Her wings were already locked from the thought of it all!
Her indecision paused for a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting company the day before such an important event, and the mailpony knows that she has a box for letters. She quietly tread down the stairs and peeked through the top half of her door.
The guest stood proudly on her doorstep - a dark brown unicorn with a shaggy darker brown and gray mane and goatee. His tail had red and white streaks in it, but stranger still were his eyes. Despite his stature of absolute calm, the yellowed eyes and red pupils darted playfully about until he recognized he had an audience. "Ah, Fluttershy!" The unicorn proclaimed with a royal bow. "Permit me to be your escort to tomorrow's festivities. I worry that you would be so frightened traveling alone."
"I- I'm sorry," Fluttershy replied in a squeaky whisper. "I've never seen you before."
The unicorn smirked and magicked the front door open. "Nonsense, my dear, I've been here before! You were gracious enough to keep an eye on me for a few days while other Royal business was attended. So now I am here to return the favor." A glance to the front door and the unicorn closed them. "Now then, I-"
Fluttershy was already under a a table, trembling. "Please leave... I don't know who you are and I didn't ask anyone to be my escort."
The unicorn's confidence melted with the fear in her eyes. "Oh, I thought we had been properly introduced."
His horn flashed a brilliant white for an instant, the unicorn vanishing from her view. She remained under the table, waiting a few seconds to make sure whoever that was, was gone. She peeked up from her mane to lock stares with those same red and yellow eyes on a much different creature. She crawled out from under the table to see that it wasn't a unicorn visiting - far from it! Curled up on the confines of the table she had hidden under coiled a rather monstrous sort. The creature himself had the head of a grotesque pony, but his head was adorned with one horn and one antler. One paw leonine, the other a bony set of eagle talons. His bat wing and bird wing flapped playfully, his hind hoof maintaining tenuous balance as his dragon-clawed hind leg grasped the side of the table. The chaotic creature offered the slightest of smiles, his jutting fang harmlessly adding to his odd visage. He playfully leaped from the table so she could see him completely.
"SURPRISE! I didn't want to scare you, but I see that my disguise will be so perfect...."
"Discord???" Fluttershy finally said. "but .. but why did you scare me like that?"
"Again, NOT my intention," the monster reminded her. "I'm here to do a favor as a friend. You see, I know how scary and loud such events can be, and you have such fragile, tender ears..." this mentioning placed a pair of very soft earmuffs in place. The chaos creature gently pulled one back so she could continue to hear his explanation. "I'm well aware that this is much too important an event for you to miss, so I came up with a brilliant plan of my own! Other ponies would be scared to tears if I were to show up looking like this, but the Princesses didn't wish for me to miss out! I told them 'oh, but if all they could see was a pony, there should not be a problem, right?' and Celestia replied -" Discord's lionpaw suddenly a Celestia puppet - "'Discord, you may do so but you will be under Fluttershy's constant supervision. She will be the judge of your behavior.' As though I would misbehave?" A halo materialized over his head, only to ring around a horn at Fluttershy's stern mother-gaze. "They're too good at this, " he deflated as the puppet disappeared.
"But if you do behave yourself," Fluttershy reassured him, "then everyone can have fun at the ceremonies tomorrow."
"Of course!!" he exclaimed, saluting her and then bowing once more. "We shall be on the train in the morning with your friends."
"Do they know?"
"Absolutely not! And they shouldn't, to maintain my disguise." He was instantly a unicorn again. "You will call me Wild Card. I'm a family friend from Las Pegasus who needed someone to escort him. That way you yourself are not being escorted."
She brightened, then hugged "Wild Card". "You'll have so much fun tomorrow...."
"WE will have so much fun tomorrow, dear. I promise."
-------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Cake hadn't been in the kitchen for most of the afternoon, leaving a frazzled Mr. Cake trying to keep up with Pinkie's bouncing about. Only a few desserts were complete, and the delay in getting fresh cooking supplies only slowed him further. Once another round of treats sat in the ovens, he tiptoed upstairs to check on her.
Mrs. Cake paced around the room, peering back at her little twins. Both were being fussy but not loud. Pumpkin cake whimpered from under a couple of blankets while brother Pound Cake leaned against the cool wood of the crib. He wasn't flapping his wings or pounding the mattress, and sister Pumpkin wasn't chewing the blanket. "They're both feverish," Cup Cake told her husband. "I'll have to have Nurse Redheart stop by tomorrow."
"What are we going to do about the dessert order for the ceremonies?" Carrot asked his wife. "Pinkie's been helping but you know her brand of help...."
Mrs. Cake looked back at the little ones. "Pinkie will be more than helpful with the desserts. I'm not going to travel with these two and give everyone whatever's bothering them."
'Aww, the twins are sick..?" Pinkie appeared seemingly from nowhere, startling the parents. "We should let them try some of the treats we're bringing to Canterlot! They'll smile and giggle again just like they did when Spike was here!"
Carrot was about to scold Pinkie, but his wife spoke first. "Pinkie, whatever's gotten them sick can't be fixed with a treat."
Pinkie stoped to think. "but... o/` a spoonfull of sugar - o/`"
"No, Pinkie," Mrs. Cakequickly replied. "You two finish up what you can. I need to make sure that these two feel better and rest until Nurse Redheart drops by in the morning. Princess Celestia would have loved to see the twins, but they can't travel if they're ill."
Pinkie saluted. "You can count on me!"
Mr. Cake wheeled. "The new batch is burning!" He galloped downstairs.
Pinkie blinked at the revelation. "Next batch!" she announced and tumbled away.
Before Mrs. Cake could shush the silly pink pony, she heard a faint giggle from the twins. She turned back to them, seeing they had both been watching. "You two need sleep," she cooed, quietly humming a lullaby to them.
-------------------------------------------------