It was a little bit funny, walking boldly through the streets, even as guards everywhere began stopping mid-patrol, pointing me out to each other and begin pursuit. I had a similar fantasy where I would walk through the streets of Canterlot and all the rough, military stallions would stop and stare at me, but because I was so attractive and not because they wanted to arrest and execute me for throwing a bomb at their commander's face. I must have picked up a dozen by the time I reached the Defence District, they didn’t even try to arrest me, clearly my brazen attitude of walking up to the Fort in broad daylight without even attempting to disguise myself gave them pause for thought.
The courtyard before the Fort was just as I remembered it being when I came here on my infiltration mission, as in it was mainly occupied by soldiers taking part in training drills. As I made my way between them to the fortress gates which no longer stood open, but were still flanked by several guards, the soldiers began to stop their drills as they saw the me and the dozen or so guards following me at a distance, whispering among themselves. By the time I reached the closed gates, every soldier in the courtyard was staring at me, most looking confused, some looking angry. The guards at the gate looked at each other awkwardly as if silently nominating who would approach me.
After a silent argument, one of them reluctantly stepped forward, putting himself between me and the Fort entrance. He didn’t say anything, but because his helmet was off I could see his mouth desperately working to find something to say.
“Hello there,” I greeted clearly so my voice carried over the court yard, the old saying ‘famous last words’ came to mind as I continued. “I have an appointment with Typhoon.”
I really had to question the competence of the Liberator army, that they felt it necessary for over a dozen city guards, half a dozen gate guards and two full drill platoons to apprehend me and escort me through the Fort to Typhoon’s office. It was only when we reached the staircase that a few soldiers had the inspired idea of having just a handful of ponies take me upstairs while the rest got back to work, rather than leaving the front of the Fort completely unguarded. Naturally they searched me, but of course I had left my weapons, bags and heirlooms back on the barge, there was no way I was letting them get confiscated, especially the last items.
The entrance hall of the Fort had been considerably more deserted on this occasion that my last visit, Maverick had explained that after our last operation, Typhoon had tightened the security so nopony was allowed access unless they presented evidence of their business, which then had to be verified inside before they would be permitted access. Apparently this just put most ponies off from coming at all, and the city was beginning to encounter a number of problems as a result. Of course the only evidence of my business I needed was for my face to match their description, they didn’t even notify Typhoon to tell him they were bringing me up, he was certainly in for a surprise when they did.
“So…” I began in as casual a voice as I could muster as the much smaller group of ponies ascended the staircase to the third floor. “Anypony read any good books lately?”
“You’re trying to get punched, aren’t you?” a mare asked, giving me a withering look.
“I’m just trying to be friendly,” I replied coolly. “But if you don’t want to be my friend, that’s fine.”
“I read the latest Harry Trotter book over the weekend,” one of the stallions said, earning a glare from the mare who had spoken first.
“Well at least you’re friendly,” I said to the stallion before sticking my tongue out at the mare. “I haven’t read the latest one, is it any…”
“You!” a voice roared further down the hall we were walking.
I looked forward, expecting to see Typhoon, but instead was surprised to see Spoon Bender storming towards us, two nasty looking bruises on his face from where I had hit him with the helmet.
“You…” he seethed as he stopped in front of me, the other guards looked a little confused. “You… got captured… by them?! No, I was supposed to be the one to capture you and make you pay!”
“Actually, she turned herself in,” another one of the guards informed him.
“T… turned herself in?!” Spoon repeated, his eye twitching. “This… this can’t be!”
“What on earth is going on out here?” an authoritative voice asked from behind us.
We all turned in unison to see the a familiar pegasus marching towards us, still wearing the same black military uniform with all the same medals, but now one half of his face had the reddish brown fur stripped away, the flesh underneath blackened and distorted. Even with his injury, Typhoon still stood taller than anypony around me and radiated power like few others could. The guards around me all sidestepped to either side, allowing my presence to speak for itself. When his eyes met mine, he didn’t respond, he didn’t even react.
He stood still for what felt like a very long time, staring back at me with an emotionless expression. The guards around me all began to shift and fidget uncomfortably, suddenly regretting their decision to bring me directly to him. Eventually one of them found the courage to speak, although his voice trembled the entire time.
“She just turned herself in Sir,” he explained. “She just walked up to the Fort and… and said she had an appointment with you.”
Typhoon still didn’t speak, but his eyes began to narrow slightly.
“She didn’t bring any weapons with her Sir,” said the mare who had subtly threatened to punch me. “And she came alone.”
“I came to negotiate,” I said at last, in the strongest voice I could muster, even though my bravery was steadily draining in his presence.
“Negotiate…” Typhoon repeated in a low, rumbling voice that made all the guards around me take one simultaneous step back. “You did this to me… and now you walk right up to my front doors… turn yourself in and expect me to negotiate?”
I drew in a long breath, preparing myself for whatever came next.
“Yes,” I said simply.
Typhoon stared, then his mouth began to creep into a smile and within a few seconds he was overcome with loud, barking laughter. This shift in demeanour seemed to disturb the guards even more than when they thought he was angry; even I was starting to feel pretty disturbed.
“You are something else,” Typhoon growled at me when he ceased his laughter, although his smile remained. “I’m going to enjoy killing you, but right now…”
He raised one of his forelegs and gestured down the corridor.
“Soldiers, you are dismissed,” he ordered. “As for you, you know the way to my office.”
I let out the breath I had been holding, flashed him a quick smile before turning and making my way to where I knew his office was as he began marching behind me. The guards who had escorted me began shuffling awkwardly before steadily making their way back the way we came, Spoon Bender however, remained standing, unable to register what had just happened.
“Sir, I don’t think…” Spoon began to say, his voice shaking with barely contained anger.
“I thought I told you to leave,” Typhoon said calmly as he walked straight past the other stallion, not even sparing him a glance.
“Yes, but I don’t think you should be negotiating with that… that witch!” he continued, pointing an accusing hoof at me. “At least let me stay with you in case she…”
“In case she what?” Typhoon interrupted, stopping and turning to look at Spoon Bender who quelled beneath his gaze. “Do you think I am not capable of defending myself against one mare?”
“Of course not Sir, it’s just…” Spoon tried to say.
“Just nothing!” Typhoon snapped. “And what happened to your face soldier?”
“That was me, sorry,” I explained. “I did it yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” Typhoon repeated, looking to me now.
“He helped me get into the city,” I explained, seeing the blood drain from his face as I did. “He could have had me captured as soon as we reached the gates, but he chose not to.”
“Sir, I can explain, I was only trying to…” Spoon began desperately.
“Get out,” Typhoon said in a low, threatening voice.
“Sir?” Spoon uttered hopelessly.
“Get out of my sight,” Typhoon continued. “Out of my Fort, and out of my city! I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses, you had an opportunity to apprehend this mare yesterday and you failed to take it. As far as I’m concerned you’re no better than a traitor, so get out before I have you dragged off to the dungeon.”
Typhoon didn’t wait to see if he would leave, he simply turned on the spot and carried on towards his office. I didn’t dare wait to follow him, but I cast on final look at Spoon Bender who looked as if his whole world had been destroyed. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, I never thought that Typhoon would do something so harsh, but when I considered what he probably had in mind for me, I knew Spoon Bender got off lightly in his books. As we entered Typhoon’s office together, I thought back to my briefing from Maverick the day before.
“You want me,” I began after a long moment of silence. “The most wanted mare in Port Mule, to try and negotiate with the stallion who I threw a bomb at? Do you have any idea how insane that sounds? I’ll be killed before I get within a hundred yards of the front gates.”
“It’s not as insane as you might think,” Maverick replied a little smugly. “You injured Typhoon, something very few ponies have managed, but you also did something that nopony has managed.”
“What?” I asked flatly.
“You injured him and got away,” Maverick explained. “Not only that, but you single handedly destroyed his prized Dreadnaught and all his plans to take over Equestria…”
“Remind me why he isn’t going to have me flayed alive?” I interrupted sarcastically.
“You also got back into this city despite his increase in security,” Maverick carried on, ignoring my interruption. “If you walk up to that Fort tomorrow and ask to see Typhoon, I have no doubt he will agree to meet with you.”
“Please, do explain,” I said with a little sigh.
“Typhoon can be a hot head,” Maverick began. “But he’s a true soldier at heart, as such he respects strength. After everything you’ve done, he will no doubt see you as a strong opponent, by turning yourself over and showing you have no fear of him you’ll only cement that idea in his head. This will allow you to talk with him, and you need only get one line in and I can guarantee your safety.”
“What line is that?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.
“Just say, Maverick has guaranteed my safety,” he stated. “Typhoon will know what that means and after that he wouldn’t dare harm you.”
Typhoon invited me to take one of the seats in front of his desk, as I sat down he began fiddling with the broken remains of an hourglass.
“I liked this hourglass,” he told me. “Was breaking it really necessary?”
“It was an accident,” I replied. “And how did you know that was me anyway?”
“I didn’t,” he explained, taking his own seat behind the desk. “Not for certain, but you just confirmed my suspicions. So, you want to negotiate with me, how about we start by negotiating why I shouldn’t have you publically executed at sundown.”
“Because Maverick has guaranteed my safety,” I relayed, word for word.
Typhoon’s eyes widened slightly and his head snapped up, his eyes darting about the high vaulted ceiling, as if he expected to see somepony hiding just overhead. When he looked back down, he looked a little annoyed by whatever the safety phrase meant for him.
“I really hate that guy,” Typhoon muttered before he addressed me properly. “So tell me, why has my old friend only now decided it’s worth negotiating?”
“Because he needs you,” I replied, receiving a quirked eyebrow in response. “And you need him too. Face it, your big plans for Equestria are finished, you’re neglecting your role as a leader and very soon Port Mule will collapse just like Pivot did… thanks to your efforts.”
“You think Port Mule will ever sink that low?” Typhoon said with a bark laughter. “Look outside, this city is thriving, my recent neglect in favour of security will have no lasting effects.”
“I wasn’t referring to your economy or your politics,” I explained. “I was referring to the Children of the Earth.”
“You mean that little gang of earth ponies nestled up in Cragsburg?” Typhoon asked sceptically. “You’ll have to try better than that if you’re planning on scaring me.”
“Little gang?” I repeated in disbelief. “Wow, Maverick was right…”
“Right about what?” Typhoon asked, suddenly curious.
“You’ve become so fixated on Equestria that you haven’t even looked into your own backyard,” I retorted. “The Children of the Earth have become more than just a ‘little gang’, you can stop your campaign against Pivot because the Rebels don’t control it anymore. The Children of the Earth took it over days ago, they rounded up everypony in the city, cutting the horns and wings off unicorns and pegasi.”
“You’re lying,” Typhoon replied in a wary voice.
“You’re blind!” I snapped back. “Panchea is in chaos and you don’t even realise it, you’re too busy trying to drag us into another war, and for what? Who exactly are you fighting for? Because it doesn’t look like you’re representing the citizens of this country when you don’t even know how much they’re suffering. This country needs strong leaders now more than ever, Arcana is dead if you didn’t know, Maverick has next to no power outside his increasingly exclusive faction, and you’re fixated on conquering Equestria. Why on earth do you care so much about Equestria anyway? You got your independence; you won, so why can’t you stop fighting?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand!” Typhoon shouted back, finally sick of me talking down at him. “You may be an exceptional agent now, but I look at you and I know you never fought in the war. You never saw first-hand what the Equestrians were willing to do to keep us under Celestia’s iron hoof, everypony who died in that damn war died because they didn’t give us what we asked for! You ask why I’m fighting, it’s so nopony ever has to suffer under Celestia’s tyranny ever again!”
“And you’re so much better?” I asked in a calm voice. “You, who actively stunted the economy of Pivot, and the rest of the country by extension, just so you could weaken those who were once your allies. You have one of the largest armies in this country, and yet you don’t use it to restore the peace and put down groups like the Children of the Earth who are actively killing and torturing innocent ponies. Your actions and your neglect have led to hundreds, if not thousands of ponies in this country suffering, does that not sound like a tyrant to you?!”
Typhoon sat in his chair, looking like all the air had been squeezed out of him. He wore a rather gaunt expression as my words echoed in his head.
“You said you were here to negotiate,” he said in a low voice. “What are Maverick’s terms?”
“First, you need to drop this insane crusade against Equestria,” I began. “If you feel like there is some problem with Equestria that needs correcting, you can address it peacefully in the future, but you will do nothing that will harm the chances of an alliance with them.”
“An alliance?!” he snapped, suddenly active again.
“Yes, an alliance,” I repeated. “Port Mule may be doing well from its trade with the southern continents, but other cities rely on Equestria’s exports. Secondly, you will unite the Liberator armies and the Rebellion armies under that same banner again, we’re going to need the numbers if we’re to… to…”
My voice failed me as the office and Typhoon began swimming before me. I tried to speak, but my mouth began feeling very dry and my head very heavy. I thought I could hear Typhoon speaking, but his words were drowned out by a loud humming noise that seemed to fill the air all around me. I saw the blurry figure of Typhoon stand up and I tried to do likewise, but my legs began to wobble dangerously as soon as I did. I felt myself falling to the ground as the office before me stopped swimming and started fading away altogether instead. The last thing I made out before I slipped into unconsciousness, was Typhoon leaning over me.