//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Planning // Story: Shattered Harmony Part 1 - The Call // by Phazon_Corrupted_Unicorn //------------------------------// Amant Septim popped into existence in the middle of a road along with the seven Changelings that accompanied him. They were all dressed in fairly rugged clothes, reflecting the idea that they were travelers. Amant glanced around, then started to trot down the road, heading for the small town nestled in a valley and bordered on one side by a large forest. he said over the hive mind. Two Changelings, each in a Pegasus disguise, took to the air. They split off in opposite directions and started to comb the town. Amant glanced around, catching sight of a large farm with rows of what looked like apple trees being the major production. He nodded, then started to head toward the edge of town, hoping to skirt the busy parts of it. It wasn’t long before one of the Changeling scouts reported finding a sufficiently obscure area, located close to the forest. Amant replied with his thanks, then headed in that direction. It took them some time before they reached the place, the scout had been hovering over it to help them find it, and Amant scrutinized it. The clearing was large, Amant estimated it being several dozen hooves across and about the same width wise. Trees bordered the clearing, obscuring much of the outside world with their thick trunks. He nodded. “Now to find out how much it costs.” He hefted a small bag of coins from his saddlebags. the second scout stated, he had been directed to the town hall after the clearing had been located. Amant replied. They fanned out and studied the clearing, mentally marking vantage points and leylines that cross it. This went on for a few minutes before the scout reported back. The scout sent back a picture of a map, marking the clearing and the location of the Apple family home. Amant smiled as he realized that it was the farm house he’d spotted on his way here. he said, turning and leaving the clearing as he headed toward the farm house, the rest of his group following him while the scout started to ask about other parcels of land. They were walking for some time, passing rows of apple trees as they did, until they finally caught sight of a red barn structure that sat in the middle of a clearing three times the size of the one they had been at. Amant strode up to the door of the home, passing by a white fence and under a sign that named the farm Sweet Apple Acres. He rapped his hoof on the door three times and waited. He knocked a few more times, not hearing anypony inside, then turned around to address the group. He caught sight of two ponies walking out from one of the rows. One was a Unicorn, white coat and purple mane that was expertly curled, wearing a large brimmed hat that shaded almost her entire body while the other was an Earth Pony, orange coat and blond mane, wearing a worn and weathered leather hat. The two ponies, mares Amant could tell as they came closer, were chatting about something. He caught the occasional mention of fabric and fashion as he stepped off the porch and headed for the two. They saw him and paused their conversation, the orange pony tilting her hat up. “Can ah help ya’ll?” she asked in a rustic accent. “Yes you can,” Amant said, “my name is Amant Septim and I was looking for a parcel of land to purchase. I happen to find such a piece, but when I inquired of the mayor she informed me that the Apple family owned it and that I should talk to them about price. I was told that they lived here, but nopony seems to be home. Do you know where I might find them?” “The Apple fam’ly lives here alrigh’,” the orange mare replied, “Ah’m Applejack, Ah help run the farm with mah brother, Big Macintosh, and mah sister, Apple Bloom. Granny Smith is probably in the house takin’ a nap, Big Mac’s in the field and Apple Bloom’s off with ‘er friends. Wha’ piece o’ property were ya thinkin’ about?” Amant glanced up at the position of the sun, remembering which direction he’d come from, then calculated the placement of the clearing. “I believe it was somewhere to the northeast of us,” he stated. “The north field?” Applejack asked. Amant nodded, then hefted over a bag of coins. “Money is no object,” he replied, “I just want a place where I can stay for a time, somewhere I won’t be disturbed. Somewhere quiet.” “Well, ya’ll’ve come to tha righ’ place,” Applejack stated, “Ponyville ain’t got much to be noisy about. Not lately, anywho.” “That’s what I hear,” Amant smiled. “Where do you come from, if you don’t mind me asking?” the alabaster Unicorn asked. “We’ve traveled far and are quite weary,” one of the six Changelings replied. He had the form of a Unicorn and his emerald eyes scanned the mare. Amant dropped the bag of coins on the ground in front of Applejack. They could hear the clink of dozens of coins within. “Like I said, money is no object,” he stated, pulling the conversation back to the main point, “I can pay anything.” “Well,” Applejack stated, reaching into the bag and pulling out a silver coin. It looked like a bit, but instead of the sun on one side it bore a crescent moon, “it ain’t really for sale.” The Unicorn’s stare, which had been on the silver coin in Applejack’s hoof, darted to her face. Her eyes grew even wider, if that were possible. “Excuse us for a moment,” she said as she pulled Applejack away from the group. Amant and his group watched them go. He was certain rural ponies would have that reaction to silver. Applejack slammed her hooves into the ground to stop her after they were far enough from the group and she spun on Rarity. “What is wrong with you?” she asked. “Darling,” Rarity stated, gesturing to the bag of silver coins that still rested on the ground, “you don’t know what those are, do you?” “Ah know that they’re just bits, though Ah thought bits were always gold,” Applejack replied. “You don’t get to Canterlot often, do you?” Rarity asked. “Of course not, Ah ain’t got much place in that fancy town.” “Then you don’t know the true worth of silver,” Rarity replied, “most of Equestria deals in gold, and those that don’t deal in gems. But the really rich nobles deal in silver. Silver only comes from one place, a single mine that only the princesses know the location. All the nobles know is that Canterlot gets a shipment of silver in every month and it’s distributed throughout the market, up for the highest bidder. Silver is so rare that only Princess Luna can wear it as jewelry. A single silver bit is worth more than a hundred times that of a gold one! If the amount in that bag is about what I think it is, you would be set for longer than you’d have to worry!” Applejack paused for a few seconds, thinking it over. “So you’re saying,” she said slowly, “that I would sell that piece o’ land for more than Ah could make in a year?” “And the best part, when they leave, you could just convert it back to orchards and still make a massive profit!” Rarity was almost giddy with the prospect of so much silver. “Well if that’s the case,” Applejack said, then turned and walked back to the seven ponies. Amant watched the two mares talking. He really didn’t have much to worry about, most ponies he’d heard of were driven by money and the amount in the offered bag was much more than most nobles saw in six months. It was certainly more than than anypony would see in this small of a town. He smiled as Applejack and the other mare came walking back. He could taste the uncertainty mixed with hope and a dash of greed from Applejack. “Alrigh’,” Applejack stated, resting a hoof on the bag of bits, “you’ve got yerself a deal. How long were ya’ll planning on staying in Ponyville?” “Just long enough to get my research and studies done,” Amant replied, “hopefully no longer than six months.” The Unicorn mare excused herself, scooping up the bag of bits and, with a squeal of glee, she ran into the house, leaving the eight ponies behind. Amant smiled, then turned to Applejack. “I apologize for the inconvenience again, but where is the closest hotel? I’ll have a building crew here tomorrow, but I would like to relax before that happens.” “Sure thing, the closest hotel is the Lonely Wanderer, it’s on the north side o’ town,” Applejack replied, gesturing with her hoof. Amant nodded his thanks, then his group strode off in that direction. * * * They walked through Ponyville, skirting the edge of town and finally coming into view of a large building bearing a sign declaring it as the Lonely Wanderer. Amant smiled. Finally he could start working on his- He couldn’t finish that thought as a pink blur knocked right into him, bowling him over and sending the two of them into a roll for dozens of hooves. When they finally stopped, he found himself staring up at a pink Earth Pony with puffy pink mane and tail, staring down at him with sapphire blue eyes. “Your highness!” the six Changelings cried, hurrying over and reaching out both hoof and magic to lift the pony off him. Before they could, the Earth Pony darted off to one side and gasped as he stood up. “Oh my gosh!” she said in a voice that conveyed way too much sugar had been eaten that day, “I don’t recognize you. And if I don’t recognize you that must mean you’re new. And if you’re new that means I need to throw a welcome to Ponyville party. And if I need to throw a welcome to Ponyville party then I need to go get streamers and balloons and food and cakes and presents and all sorts of party supplies. And if I need to go get streamers and balloons and food and cakes and presents and all sorts of party supplies then what am I standing around here for?” And with that, she shot off toward the center of town, leaving behind a dust cloud shaped just like her. Amant stood there, the dust cloud settling around him, for a few seconds as he let the incident settle into his mind. Then he shook off his fur and looked at each of his companions. “What just happened here?” he asked and the others just shook their head. He shook his head, then strode up to the Lonely Wanderer, walking through the entrance to see a Earth Pony stallion standing behind the desk, jotting something down on a clipboard. He walked up to the desk and reached out a hoof to tap the bell when the stallion set his clipboard down. “You need a room?” he asked and Amant nodded, still stunned at what had happened outside. The stallion chuckled. “You ran into Pinkie Pie, huh? Or rather, Pinkie ran into you?” he asked, looking the seven ponies up and down, who nodded. He smiled at them. “I figured as much,” he said, “most new ponies have that kind of reaction when they first meet our resident Party Pony.” “Mmhmm,” Amant said slowly, then he blinked and pulled out a small bag of coins. “Three rooms,” he said as he fished out a silver bit and placed it on the counter. The stallion eyed the coin, his posture and mannerisms becoming more uptight. “Right away, sir,” he said, turning around to fish out three room keys. Amant watched him for a few seconds, then asked, “You’re used to seeing this kind of coin?” “Occasionally, sir,” the stallion replied, laying the three keys on the counter, “I’ve had several nobles from Canterlot arrive throughout the years I’ve been open. I’m familiar with the value of silver, as well as the usual requests. Nopony will disturb you, I’ll make sure of that. Do what you will with the rooms. This,” he said as he tapped the silver bit, “is more than enough to cover any damages, even to three rooms.” “We will only be staying for a few days, until my house is built,” Amant replied. The stallion let a flash of surprise glance across his face, but it vanished as soon as it came. “You intend to stay in Ponyville, sir?” he asked. “Only for six months,” Amant stated, “by then it will not matter for our problems will be solved, one way or another. If it all happens the way I plan, you will find yourself in need of a much larger hotel.” He took the keys off the counter and passed two of them back, then turned and left the room. They strode down the hall, searching for their rooms, finding them at the end of the hall. They each unlocked the door, then walked in and closed them. Amant glanced around his room. It was sparse, only having one bed and a single table, but bore a window that allowed him to look out onto Ponyville. He pulled the shades down, then pulled a small device from his saddlebags and placed it on the table. He fed a small sliver of magic into it, causing it to glow green as runes blossomed on its surface. He raised a hoof and pressed one of the smaller buttons that ringed the center, then depressed the center. It burst into life as a large screen popped into being behind the device. Amant sat down on the bed as sixteen Changelings came into view, each one sitting around a table and watching him. Amant stated, one of the Changelings stated, With that, the device dimmed and the screen vanished. Amant snatched it off the table and placed it back in his saddlebags. He pulled out a small notebook bound with metal rings and comprised of thin sheets of metal, accompanied by a metal pen with a diamond at its tip. He flipped open the front page and, grasping the pen in his magic, checked a single box on a long list of items. He then closed it and placed it back in his bags. He leaned back and flopped onto the bed, closing his eyes for a second. a call came from over the hive mind, calling Amant back to the world around him. he asked. Amant replied, The link closed and Amant relinquished his mind to sleep as he closed his eyes and left the world behind.