//------------------------------// // The Worlds Like Jewels // Story: My Little Teelo: Masquerade // by Ardwolf //------------------------------// In which we discover the efforts of others, well meaning or not, must be factored into one’s own considerations. Dear Diary, Hi, it’s late Sunday night and I’m a bit tired, so I’m gonna try and keep this short, ok? It seems like I’m gonna have to be a lot more careful around Lady Silkwind. She’s absolutely fantastic at making you relax and enjoy yourself—and if I hadn’t been watching her like a hawk I’d have spilled more beans than that dog in the baked bean commercials! She invited Truth Speaker and me to dinner and since Teelo was down for the count and I kind of wanted to get to know her anyway I decided to go. We met at the only restaurant in Hejm that serves outsiders (because Hejm doesn’t get a lot of tourists, go figure). It was run by a family of minotaurs, just like the trading post and the diners were a combination of all the ambassadors in Hejm. There was even one Diamond Dog, although from what I could tell (he was sitting at a table on the other side of the restaurant) he seemed very different than most of his kind, much more refined and wearing a full set of clothes. I heard most Diamond Dogs are kind of crude. Trolls don’t like them much because they tend to be flexible when it comes to other people’s stuff, if you know what I mean. Silkwind and her bodyguards were the only griffins in Hejm. Like Rainbow Dash, being in places they can’t fly makes them twitchy, but you wouldn’t have known it with Lady Silkwind. She’s all about the lady-like exterior and genteel refinement. The food was great! They actually had meat and potatoes. Like the trading post the potatoes (kind of like au gratin but chunkier) were really spicy, I guess that’s a minotaur specialty or something. I had some kind of milk this time, too. They said it was cave lemming milk but it was really good, creamy and slightly sweet. Lady Silkwind never actually asked many questions. Instead she kind of made polite observations and let us take the conversation wherever we wanted. The only times she asked questions they were oh so innocent…but I noticed they always spurred the speaker to give more details. LOTS more details… The odd thing was she paid as much attention to Truth Speaker as to me. She got him talking about Canterlot’s nobles, and oh didn’t Truth Speaker have some funny stories! I have a feeling he shouldn’t have said as much as he did, but then again I’m not an ambassador so what do I know? When it was my turn she got me talking about Earth…but nothing too secret, nothing about nukes or armies or stuff. Not that I know much about that kind of thing. No, she got me talking about school, which classes I liked, what I thought about boys, what the politicians debated that caught my interest (which wasn’t a lot, because boring!). Now that I think about it, one of the things that fascinated both of them was my trip to the zoo last summer. They were a bit shocked at first, I think, and really had a hard time with humans being the only intelligent species on Earth. Truth Speaker kept making sure (although he was polite about it) that ponies on Earth weren’t earth ponies (the people kind). Looking back on it I can see why he was kind of spooked about me talking about Earth’s ponies as animals. I guess it was kind of a Planet Of The Apes vibe for him. Silkwind seemed fascinated that we don’t have any dragons or griffins or pegasi, you know, no actual mythological beasts of any kind. That led to a discussion of biology and evolution and how things on Earth kind of run themselves, you know the sun and moon and weather. I told them what I’d learned about how scientists were able to learn about the deep past, you know, the origins of the universe and all that astronomy stuff. Both of them were absolutely floored when I told them that Earth had been around for like five billion years. Truth Speaker said that Equis wasn’t anything like that old and Silkwind said nobody really knew how old their world was, but surely it couldn’t be anywhere near as old as that! I didn’t argue with her, but unless we’re in a different universe or something it has to be, right? Maybe I’ll ask Teelo when she wakes up. Anyway, I had a really good time, but I don’t think I’ll make a habit of it. During the whole dinner I had to keep reminding myself she was a spy, and a really high ranking one to boot. I’m sure she was pumping both of us for as much info as she could get, but it didn’t feel that way, you know? Maybe James Bond types don’t really need guns to accomplish their missions. I always thought the whole “irresistible charm” part of his personality and all those women he seduced was just a male fantasy. But after seeing Silkwind in action I’m not so sure the “charming spy tricks info out of victim” part of the Bond films is all that wrong. Anyway, it’s late so I’m headed to bed. Love, Emma ooOoo “Let me see if I understand you, young unicorn,” Hoë Towenaar said mildly, showing no sign of anger. “You are saying the dragon that Rimor recruited attacked us here? Leaving us with less than five percent of our standing forces, both skeletal and zompony? As well as the loss of a windigo patrol? Then it rampaged through the base destroying all of our research laboratories? Including my own?” “Correct,” Sombra said levelly. “The dragon was full grown, and quite powerful. So powerful in fact it nearly destroyed my body when I attempted to kill it. Even with the aid of two draugrs all I managed to do was lure it away before it burned the library. It is currently scouring the mountains trying to find me.” “Losing the library would have been an unmitigated disaster. I must commend you for saving it. However, I trust you appreciate the magnitude of this—event?” the demon cloud asked in a kindly tone. The unicorn sighed. “I am aware, yes. It completely disrupts our plans. The loss of an entire windigo patrol is particularly galling.” “Today has not been a good day for us,” the demon cloud said in a sad tone. “In addition to the unfortunate incident here the attack against the troll queen was quite disappointing. She managed to destroy the entire force arrayed against her including the zompony shells Verlei and I were using. Worse, somehow she managed to destroy the two draugr escorting us as well. I fear this may require us to abandon our ambitions for the time being in order to withdraw and regroup elsewhere.” “That could take years,” Sombra said moodily. “Centuries, I should think,” Hoë Towenaar replied glumly. “Still, we have the time to rebuild. We of all creatures need not worry about time’s relentless predations. However it is extremely vexing.” “What of Rimor?” Sombra asked with an edge in his voice. “If anyone is to blame for this disaster it is him. If he hadn’t recruited that dragon we would not be having this conversation.” “The young often seek someone to blame when fortune frowns on their endeavors,” The demon cloud said in mild reproof. “Rimor’s unique abilities are unlikely to appear again, especially not in a pony. He made a crucial error in judgment, it is true. However he is but an infant even compared to you, Sombra. Only he can create draugrs. Given enough time he will become a seasoned immortal, like you did. Besides, even I suffer the occasional misjudgment. There is no doubt I underestimated the troll queen. So you see, not even I can predict every possible misfortune that may upset our plans.” “We were so close,” Sombra snarled. “We were,” the demon agreed. “But we play the long game, my friend. I have existed for over a million years. And in that time I have come close to total victory on many occasions. It is vexing. But sooner or later we will win. After all, we only have to be lucky once. Our adversaries have to be lucky every single time.” “We have lost the element of surprise,” Sombra said bitterly. “Celestia knows we exist now. She’ll be watching for us. She may even keep hunting for us as we rebuild.” “True,” The cloud agreed. “But mortals have short memories. In time we will be forgotten by everyone save Celestia and her sister. In the mean time we will be studying our opponents, especially these new players, the humans. Perhaps we can insert agents into their world. Think of it as a learning opportunity, young unicorn.” Sombra snorted. “I am no longer a student, Hoë Towenaar.” “Now, now. The wise are always seeking knowledge,” the demon replied in a brighter tone. “After all, what use is immortality if you never learn anything new?” ooOoo “Oh, no, foul hell spawn,” Faust muttered as he gazed into a large crystal ball sitting on a ring of three rearing unicorns. “That will not do at all. The Slange will never taint the sweet air of this world. That I swear.” The fae suddenly grinned. “Perhaps a small gift of our own is in order, since Sombra seems so fond of giving them…” He turned to contemplate a miniature chest of plain appearance. “Yes, I think that would be exactly what I should do. She gets so few gifts in truth and that is certainly a shame. I’m sure she will treasure this one as she does all gifts given from the heart.” He stroked the chest, and then paused as another idea occurred to him. “Perchance it is time to loose the hounds as well,” he chuckled to himself. “We would not want our young queen to become complacent, now would we?” ooOoo Luna yawned as she approached her chambers, the early dawn light filling the corridor with a rosy glow. She nodded to the pair of pegasi in the blue and black armor of the Lunar Guard that flanked her doorway, lighting her horn to part the doors. With another yawn she starting doffing her crown and peytral as she passed through the reception hall to her bedchamber. Absently mindedly placing the decorative regalia on the partial equiquin designed to hold her regalia she turned back the sheets with a lazy motion of her horn, only to tilt her head in curiosity as her action revealed an ornate scroll tube lying on the mattress. There was an unexpected thump behind her. Startled she spun in time to see a thin humanoid figure vanish into thin air, leaving only a large crate sitting on the floor. The crate was ornate, carved with woodland scenes and stained a deep cherry red. It stood nearly as tall as she was. “GUARDS! TO ME AT ONCE!” She bellowed in the Royal Canterlot voice. The doors to her chamber burst open and the two guards charged in, clearly ready for trouble, one on the ground and one in the air. “Yes, Princess Luna?” The flying guard saluted her, his partner rapidly scanning the room for the problem. “Evacuate the tower immediately,” Luna ordered grimly. “We have an intruder, one that dared to invade this very room! It was a biped, perhaps a human female, although it vanished before We could get a good look at the rogue. It brought that crate and apparently left a scroll in Our bed. Summon the entire Lunar Guard to cordon off this tower. Make sure they are fully armed and armored. Then summon Wind Shimmer, along with and as many of the Horns as she deems prudent for investigation and possible containment of a magical hazard. I go to alert my sister.” Then Luna teleported out as her guards retreated, closing and locking the door behind them. One guard pulled a gem from within his armor and smashed it under his hoof as his partner flew off down the corridor. Immediately a loud wailing alarm echoed from the smashed gem, echoing down the corridors like a shriek of pain. Within seconds members of the Lunar Guard were converging on the alarm signal like a sea of blue and black armored steel. As the guard relayed the orders given him by the princess his partner was saluting the Captain of the Night Watch. ooOoo Celestia was just settling into her throne to begin court when she heard the faint shrieking of the alarm in the distance. Before she could do more than swivel her ears Luna appeared in the throne next to her. “Sister, there is an intruder!” Luna said urgently. “A biped appeared in my chamber and left a large ornate box and a scroll before teleporting away. I have had my guards seal off the Tower Of The Moon and begin searching for them.” “A biped that can teleport?” Celestia asked worriedly. “Was it a Diamond Dog?” “Neigh, sister. We believe it was a human female, although she disappeared too quickly to be completely sure. The only thing We can say of a surety is that she had a very long white mane. We do not believe We had seen her before. It was not Lady Teelo or her friend, nor Evelyn nor Rosalyn Parker. Whoever it was stood as tall as you, sister.” “The ruby?” Celestia asked, eyes widening. Luna shook her head. “We carry that cursed stone with Us constantly, sister. And We burned the parchment containing the spell it carries.” “Then it seems another one was created,” Celestia said grimly. “Most likely more than one. It appears our enemies have decided to strike again. You’re in danger, Luna.” “As are you, sister. Not to mention Twilight Sparkle and Cadence,” Luna said pointedly. “Alicorns are remarkably hard to injure it is true, but anyone who can pierce the veil is not to be taken lightly. Thee should don thy armor at once, dear sister. We certainly plan to do so immediately. Come with Us now.” “Agreed,” Celestia nodded sharply, and then raised her voice. “Day Court is adjourned, my little ponies. Summon Captain Strong Shield to the armory,” she added in an aside to the guard stationed at the foot of the throne dais. “At once, Your Highness,” the guard nodded sharply and started away. The two alicorns teleported out, leaving dozens of stunned ponies chattering at each other in dismay. ooOoo Faust, once again gazing into his scrying ball shook his head. “Who knew alicorns were such nervous Nellies? He giggled suddenly. “Isn’t she going to feel silly when she finds out what it is? Now, about that other present…” ooOoo Earth, Monday morning, June 9, 2013 7:30 AM Eastern Standard Time Admiral Spears came into his office and sat his briefcase down behind his desk. He frowned as he spotted a single sheet of paper on his desk with a bit of handwriting on it. Sitting down he picked it up and read the brief message. So small to cause so much fuss, wouldn’t you agree? Yet a strange attractor none the less. Enjoy. Turning it over revealed the message had been written on the back of an 8x10 photograph of a rather scantily clad woman. His eyes widened slightly when he recognized her. Studying the picture more closely he could see she was standing in partial darkness, the light coming from her left, leaving the right side of her body cloaked in shadows. He squinted, trying to see what she was holding in her right hand. It looked like a knobby stick of some kind, held at a downward angle, away from her side, the end vanishing in the darkness by the time it passed her knee. Her only garments were a halter and loincloth, both purple with intricate lines of bright red forming patterns, including one that might be a dragon’s head. A harness of leather straps circled her torso, doing absolutely nothing to aid her modesty. Looking closely he could see gold and green gems decorating the harness on the left side, the right shrouded in shadow. Wide armbands adorned both her upper arms, the one in the right occluded but the left one gleaming golden in the light with some kind of decoration on it. On her head was a heavy golden headband with a pair of red gems set in the front, one above the other. A chill ran through him when he realized it wasn’t just a headband. Not taking his eyes off the picture, he reached for his intercom. “Yes sir?” His secretary responded cheerfully. “Arrange a meeting with the President at his very earliest convenience,” he growled, “concerning a breakthrough on Project Silverlight.” He turned off the intercom before she could respond, staring hard at the teenage girl in the photograph. “One mystery solved, Your Majesty,” he said wryly, “so many new ones to go…”