private The Tyranny of Princess Cadence

[longgone 873]

"I have moral values, lad" he said. "I won't lay a hoof 'pon somepony that hasn't done me wrong. Besides, I've survived under her Celestia's little reign for e'er since the persecution. Thrown in Jail, once, but I've stayed out of the the crown's clutches. Besides, you have the element of surprise, surely any advantage he has in strength will be overcome then, yes?"

[Justin ZW 396]

"I have moral values, lad" he said. "I won't lay a hoof 'pon somepony that hasn't done me wrong. Besides, I've survived under her Celestia's little reign for e'er since the persecution. Thrown in Jail, once, but I've stayed out of the the crown's clutches. Besides, you have the element of surprise, surely any advantage he has in strength will be overcome then, yes?"

Dawn Wing shook his head. "No matter. I suppose I'll be able to take him out. Be ready to march tonight at midnight." Dawn Wing smiled vindictively as he left the barracks.

 

 

Swordpoint found the room where Rainbow was staying and entered. "Rainbow... have you spoken with the princess?"

 

Rainbow looked up. "Yeah... She says she's going to order the army to march soon. And... she wants you leading it."

 

Swordpoint sighed. "I thought we were waiting to see if they would attack once more?"

 

"She said she didn't want to take the chance of having more ponies killed," Rainbow told him. "I think you should let Dawn Wing lead the army and stay back..."

 

"Put it out of your mind," Swordpoint said firmly. "I will serve Equestria whenever I am needed. Now please... try to sleep."

 

Rainbow sighed and lied down on the bed, and Swordpoint joined her. Rainbow fell asleep quickly, but Swordpoint lied awake.

[longgone 873]

Golden Age extinguished his pipe and eventually walked down to where his men were camped. He was happy to see they were packing up rather efficiently. "Hate to say it lads, but it's heavy marching order, we're taking every thing with us, we aren't coming back until war is over." 

 

He couldn't help but observe the mass of ponies and wonder how many of them he would have to part with by wars end.

[HigurSan 195]

@@Pripyat Pony, @@Agent505, @@Ano170,

Crystal Empire: Steeleye Sungazer

Darting Route nearly bit his tongue off when his teeth clenched together in frustration. His failure to accurately judge where Chrysalis would be located may have cost him his one chance to do her in. Still, when one was an assassin, one of the most neccesary traits in order to accomplish a kill was patience. You had to be williing to stay perfectly still and hidden until the target finally moved and became vulnerable. While the pegasus was certainly not a trained assassin, he did know this basic tenant of the profession. As such, he quitely flew away and quickly stowed his gear in his secret stash atop the tower. He knew that Steeleye would likely wake up soon and that he was going to have to think quickly if he wanted to come out of this scott free.

 

Steeleye had indeed woken up quickly. As soon as the explosives crossbow bolt had detonated he was fully aware, leaping out of his bed and grabbing a weapon. When scouting in enemy territory, there was always a chance that an attack might occur in the middle of the night. Being practiced in rapid awakenings, he was fully armored and armed within a minute and a half. He immediately noticed the absence of Darting Route, and hoped that he had nothing to do with what was going on. The pegasus in question soon glided in through the open window with an apology on his lips. "I apologize about going out without telling you, but I needed to stretch my wings and night seemed the best time to do it without being seen." Steeleye had to agree, though he was still suspicious.

 

"You know whats going on?" he asked. "Sounded like something big went off." Darting shrugged in response. "Not sure what could've made a racket like that. It think it might've come from the ante-chambers though. I should probably stay here. It'll take me a bit to get re-disguised and our cover would be blown if someone saw me." Though Steeleye still had his doubts, he agreed and rushed off through the castle. Instead of his garnish formal armor, he was now dressed in his rough and ready scouting suit. It was made of light weight but super hard wooden plates sewn into leather with a silk undershirt. Over this was his cloak, one that was mottled grey, brown, and green to disguise himself in a number of enviorments. At his side were twin stilleto daggers, perfect for quick, clean, and silent killing. He used these by levitating them with his magic.

 

Arriving in the entrance chambers, he witnessed Harmonic making a complete fool of himself, as well as one of the soldiers under his command. "Oh hay," he muttered under his breath before speaking up to address Chrysalis. "I think it would be appropriate for me to apologize in Lady Cadence's stead at this time, though I am only a Lieutenant in rank Madam Chrysalis. Not all of us are as... passionate as the General here. I expect you will have some guards assigned to your escort already, but I would be more than willing to assist in any manner that I can." His tone was carefully cultivated, clearly acknowledging that he was quite a few rungs down the ladder in comparison to Harmonic and Chrysalis, but still with confidence and capability.

[00Pony 287]

(@@Agent505, I'll probably have her released in the next day of the rp.)

@Pripyat Pony,[member=Higurashi

]

 

Throughout the entire ordeal - Harmonic squaring off with Cadence, and the eventual explosion - Sanguine and his present followers had remained silent, off on the sidelines.

He had to admit, he admired Harmonic's resolve, however foolish.

A few of Sanguine's followers had gotten struck by the shrapnel of the blast, including himself, a shard lodged sideways in the bridge of his nose.

 

Despite the pain, the crystal stallion didn't react much. His skin was tougher than normal ponies - an attribute shared by all crystal ponies - so he was mildly surprised the shard had managed to break it, but then again, there was some decent force behind it.

 

Two others entered eventually, Arrow and the one he believed was called Steeleye. He didn't know the latter very well, but he seemed capable to Sanguine.

 

What the assassin was thoroughly miffed about, was that someone had managed to get the shot off. While one of his followers were on guard duty. He felt Cadence would most likely have a few choice words with him about this, but he decided to go about business as usual, given the situation, "You two!" He shouted, pointing at two Pegasi in his group, "I want you two to figure out exactly where that shot came from. If you can - though if they were smart they would be long gone - find the attemptee. If not them, then go find the pony who should have been on duty there! Bring him to me. I will deal with him accordingly."

 

He motioned with his hoof, "Go!"

(Why do I imagine him sounding a little like Vaas all of a sudden?)

Edited July 10, 2013 by 00Pony

[Justin ZW 396]

 

 

(OoC: If Goldie wants to help save Swordpoint, now is the time.)

 

Dawn Wing strolled quietly through the palace. Your number is up, Swordpoint... I'm not about to be upstaged. He opened the door to the room where Swordpoint and Rainbow were staying as slowly as possible.

 

Swordpoint heard the door open but did not move. I do not know who that is... but such guile is surely a sign of trouble. I shall give them the pretense that I am asleep.

 

Dawn Wing carefully walked over to the bed and took a dagger from behind his wing. Goodbye, you asshole. The ball is in my court, now. He lowered it to Swordpoint's throat.

 

Swordpoint acted quickly, teleporting behind his intruder and kicking him in the flank. "Who are you and who has sent you, fiend?!" Dawn Wing was thrown to the ground, and Swordpoint recognized him at once. "Dawn Wing?! What treachery is this?!"

 

Dawn Wing spat some blood out of his mouth and snarled. "You're pathetic, Swordpoint! This is my army, and I won't have you taking my glory!" He got to his hooves quickly and spread his wings. A green aura surrounded him, and he teleported behind Swordpoint, grabbed him, and threw him to the ground. "That's right, you incompetent fool! I've been practicing ever since I learned that pegasi can master magic!" He poised himself, ready to bury his dagger in Swordpoint's throat.

 

Rainbow jumped out of the bed. "What's going on?! Who is that?!"

[Agent505 661]

@@Pripyat Pony, 

 

(...)

 

Harmonic was quite surprised he had managed to catch the queen off guard so easily, but he didn't hesitate in striking out. He managed to land a few blows, with a surprising resilience from Chrysalis, before there was a green flash...

 

Suddenly, there was nothing, save from an intense buzzing that circled around inside his head. There was no chance to defend again whatever thoughts he had been thinking at the time starting to blur, until they eventually faded into each other, becoming a single grey mass. There was also the fact he had no desire to beat the queen into oblivion anymore, instead, he found himself almost wanting to protect her. Of course, none of this was able to be seen from the outside aside from a couple of strained grunts as the unicorn tried to fight himself in order to land one last hit - all that was visible from the outside was that he had stopped attacking her, stepped back and gazed into the distance with a hollow stare, as if he could see right through everything and was staring at something from miles away.

_____

 

Cadence was about to lie down on her bed after todays ordeals, when there was a splintering explosion and the palace felt like it shook slightly. She jumped up, suddenly a lot more alert than she had been as her crystal guards flanked her from all angles, surrounding her and blocking off the doors to her room. They where nothing to be sniffed at, every single one of them where crystal unicorns - physically superior to any other race, and their magical prowess was something to behold when seen in full potential. Their physical appearance shared that of the Earth Ponies of Equestria, much larger than you would expect from a crystal pony, even more so when it was coupled with their elaborate golden plated armour, orange gryphon feathers dangled around their neck and lined their helmets, magic-link chainmail draped under their armour shone against the light in an almost blinding fashion when caught at the right angle...

She sighed, unsure of entirely what to think, other than Celestia had retaliated. "Come, take me outside, I want to see this in person before I call my remaining troops to order" Cadence called as she marched out of her room and into the throne room. "Harmony! Come down here, armour up an-" she paused as she opened the door to the hallway...

 

Before her was a sight she didn't expect to see, especially not within her own empire. Harmonic was...compromised, no doubt from his own actions. The Crystal Onyx looked on edge, as if they didn't know whether to help their commander or let Chrysalis serve him on a platter. Arrow was brandishing a weapon and looked to be running towards the queen to attack, all while Sanguine and his assassins where casually leaving the scene and Steeleye seemed to be holding a conversation with Chrysalis. Standing there, mouth agape, Cadence could barely speak. The guards' training took over, and their spears crossed in front of the princess as others protruded towards the changeling. 

"What in the wor-...what is going on here? Harmony, Sanguine, Arrow, Steeleye - what is the meaning of all this?" 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Agent505,

 

Chrysalis looked over towards Cadance. "This pony here," she said, pointing with a hoof at Harmonic, "Attacked me as I was leaving. I had no choice but to defend myself. I put a spell on him to stop him from attacking me. He seems to want to damage our newly made alliance."

 

@@Justin ZW,

 

Sanura had a gut feeling that something was in the air. After she and Swordpoint had left Zecora's hut and returned to Canterlot, she had spied out the barracks, listening and watching. This was enough for her to realise that somepony wished harm to Swordpoint. During the time spent with the pegasus, Sanura had grown to like and trust him and she didn't wish anything to happen to him. When she saw a pegasus heading towards the room which Swordpoint shared with Rainbow Dash, she followed him stealthily. When she saw what the stranger was doing, she stood in the doorway, her hoof knives at the ready.

[longgone 873]

The sergeant was in a rather large dilemma. Should he forfeit Swordpoints life , someone who hasn't wronged him, for some fool that he could sense was a tad power hungry at the least? 'Twasn't a very honorable thing to do. 

 

Rekon I can put up with Celestia's balderdash fer a while longer. I can't betray Swordpoint like that..."

 

He hurried up to the castle, taking his experienced A company in case things got hot. He slowly navigated the corridors. Goldie tried to draw his sword as silently as possible, but the quiet scraping of metal couldn't be helped as it was unsheathed. He eventually came upon the room that Swordpoint was residing in, at least he assumed it was from all his yelling. He looked at Sanura with a small grin "What's yer plan, lass?" he asked eagerly.

[Agent505 661]

(I got bored, so I posted - also, I forgot to mention you all last post so I apologise for that) 

@@00Pony @@Ano170 @@Pripyat Pony @

 

Cadence simply stood there, astounded at the accusation and still fairly dumbstruck by the commotion, still she could easily believe he would do something that rash, it wasn't unknown for him to be...edgy at times. "I...what? I can't..." she took a step forward as she tried to formulate words, but her guards pushed her back and tightened their cross spear formation. "Let me through, didn't you hear her say we are allies? Sheesh..." she sighed, forcing her way out of the circle as the guards returned warily to attention. "Chrysalis...I...I know, what Harmony can be like at times, but for him to straight up attack with no provocation? There's either something getting him on edge, or..." she paused momentarily, realising that implying Chrysalis did indeed provoke Harmonic might not be the best thing to say "or he's got an ulterior motive." She sighed, shaking her head sadly. "Guards! Take him down to the dungeon and lock him up - make sure to get his horn too." Without a word, her guards formed around him and one of them hit him in the head with the blunt end of the spear, knocking him out cold.

 

"What of the others? What of you?" She asked Chrysalis before turning to face them "What did you all see? What happened?"

Edited July 10, 2013 by Agent505

[HigurSan 195]

Crystal Empire: Steeleye Sungazer

"It rubs against my pride Lady Cadence," he said with a touch of apology in his voice. "But I know very little of why this incident would have occurred. A moment." One of Steeleye's scouts seemed to have materialized next to him when no one was looking. Looking at a short message he was given, he burnt it to cinders once he was done. "Apologies for that. I am informed that there was an issue of trust on General Hamony's part, as well as what seems to be a lack of info, or miscommunication. The most likely reason is that the argument was over -who- was to escort our esteemed guest out of the castle." He bolstered his daggers in his belt. "There is... some debate amongst my associates as to one point, that being who or what caused the explosion."

[Ano170 162]

@00Pony @Ano170 @Pripyat Pony @Higurashi @@Agent505,

 

 

(OOC: I'll just mention everyone who has a character in the room for now, I'm too tired to think straight. XD).

 

Arrow had stood in a barely controlled stance since the monster had first spoken to him, bewildered as to what was going on. First Harmonic had frozen, apparently under a spell - a thought which gave Arrow more satisfaction than he cared to admit - and then Steeleye, a Crystal Empire soldier Arrow admittedly knew very little of, had appeared, apparently backing up the monster's claims of an alliance with the Empire. It was Princess Cadence herself entering, and ordering Harmonic to be taken to the dungeons, that had finally caused Arrow to drop his sword with a clatter onto the floor in shock, embarrassment and confusion.

 

"An alliance?" he murmured to himself, quietly so that nopony else could hear. "With that thing?"

 

Indeed, looking around at the guards - some of Sanguine's ponies, he believed - who had been watching events unfold impassively until now, Arrow began to feel even more foolish; they should have been his first clue that things weren't what they seemed.

 

Tuning in vaguely to Steeleye's explanation to the princess, Arrow knew that he too should be preparing to explain himself to Cadence; after all, he was still one of her newest and least known generals, and it was imperative that he earned her trust and favour, but in spite of all that Arrow simply could not take his eyes away from the strange creature before him. What had Princess Cadence called her? "Chrysalis" wasn't it?

 

Finally, Arrow bent down, grasping the hilt of his sword in his muzzle once again, and softly sheathed it. Unaware of her rank as a queen and unable help himself, he turned to Chrysalis.

 

"What-" he began, but corrected himself. If this creature truly was a new ally of The Empire, Arrow knew he would do well not to insult her. "Forgive me my ignorance, but who are you?"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

The sergeant was in a rather large dilemma. Should he forfeit Swordpoints life , someone who hasn't wronged him, for some fool that he could sense was a tad power hungry at the least? 'Twasn't a very honorable thing to do. 

 

Rekon I can put up with Celestia's balderdash fer a while longer. I can't betray Swordpoint like that..."

 

He hurried up to the castle, taking his experienced A company in case things got hot. He slowly navigated the corridors. Goldie tried to draw his sword as silently as possible, but the quiet scraping of metal couldn't be helped as it was unsheathed. He eventually came upon the room that Swordpoint was residing in, at least he assumed it was from all his yelling. He looked at Sanura with a small grin "What's yer plan, lass?" he asked eagerly.

Sanura saw Goldie standing near her and realised that he was on the same side as her. She replied, "I say we sneak into the room and put our weapons at the assassin's throat. With the two of us helping Swordpoint, he'll be outnumbered and won't be able to do anything to stop us overpowering him."

 

@@Agent505,

 

Chrysalis smiled, ruefully. "I suppose, like many ponies here, he doesn't quite trust me, yet," she said. The Queen had seen how the land lay, and played her cards accordingly. "Despite the fact that he picked a fight with me, I wouldn't want him executed. I'm sure he'll be quite willing to support our alliance once he comes to his senses."

 

@@Ano170,

 

Chrysalis turned to face Arrow. "I am Queen Chrysalis," she replied. "The Queen of the changeling Hive. And who might you be?"

 

 

 

@,

[longgone 873]

Sanura saw Goldie standing near her and realised that he was on the same side as her. She replied, "I say we sneak into the room and put our weapons at the assassin's throat. With the two of us helping Swordpoint, he'll be outnumbered and won't be able to do anything to stop us overpowering him."

 

@@Agent505,

 

Chrysalis smiled, ruefully. "I suppose, like many ponies here, he doesn't quite trust me, yet," she said. The Queen had seen how the land lay, and played her cards accordingly. "Despite the fact that he picked a fight with me, I wouldn't want him executed. I'm sure he'll be quite willing to support our alliance once he comes to his senses."

 

@@Ano170,

 

Chrysalis turned to face Arrow. "I am Queen Chrysalis," she replied. "The Queen of the changeling Hive. And who might you be?"

 

 

 

@,

"Right then, on you're go" he said, gesturing towards the entrance with his sword. "Ballyhooly!" he whispered. The Sergeant appeared out of the crowd. "Get a prisoner detail ready!" The pony simply nodded and disappeared back into the crowd of blue. 

 

I never liked power-mongers anyway

[Ano170 162]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

(OOC: I think I'll have to make this my last post for tonight unfortunately, it's getting rather late).

 

 Arrow blinked, digesting the new information. He had no idea what a changeling was, and he was not sure he wanted to find out, but he had the good sense to know it would be better not to be impolite to any sort of queen. She had apparently agreed to help the Empire after all, not that Arrow did not suspect she had her own motivation for doing so.

 

"Well then I am both honoured and pleased to meet you, Your Highness." Arrow responded with a little bow of his head. "My name is Arr- ah, General Arrow that is. I must apologise for the earlier misunderstanding; I was under the clearly false impression that Your Ladyship meant to do Princess Cadence and the Crystal Empire harm."

 

Arrow could not help smiling ruefully. Turns out you were just teaching that Harmonic a lesson - good on you.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

"Right then, on you're go" he said, gesturing towards the entrance with his sword. "Ballyhooly!" he whispered. The Sergeant appeared out of the crowd. "Get a prisoner detail ready!" The pony simply nodded and disappeared back into the crowd of blue. 

 

I never liked power-mongers anyway

Sanura adjusted her hoof knives and, turning her back to the door, kicked it with both hind hooves. The door crashed down; as it did so, Sanura swung round and was by Dawn Wing in a flash, both hoof knives held at his throat.

 

"Yield or die, turncoat!" she hissed. "I wouldn't try to take me on, if I were you." She knew that Goldie would have her back.

 

@@Ano170,

 

"Clearly a simple misunderstanding," Chrysalis replied. "I'm sure it will not happen again. I have, after all, made this alliance with the Princess for both our benefits."

[Agent505 661]

@,@@Pripyat Pony, @@Ano170,

 

Cadence sighed at Steeleye's account of the situation, turning to face him to reply "Commander, Harmony. Although he'll be lucky to retain that rank after this..." shaking her head, she suddenly came to a realisation "How do you know of this, Steeleye? I thought you had retired to your wing for the night? How could you possibly have seen this?" 

 

Placing a hoof on her head and gesturing out to the door, Cadence started walking past the guards and towards the door. "Chrysalis I must apologise again, this behaviour is unacceptable, not only from one of my own, but in regards to the treatment of an alliance of the empire. I will see him dealt with accordingly, we'll hold a meeting first thing in the morning before anything else to decide his fate."

 

"As for you, Arrow." She turned again and stood up straight, giving a slight nod as she spoke. "While brandishing a weapon in the presence of a guest is a punishable offence, and threatening use of a weapon against one carries the penalty of exile, you where acting on instinct. Wrongly so, but at least you took initiative in the situation, and you have made attempts to rectify it."

 

(Last post for me tonight, i'm also going to move things along for the empire to the next morning sometime soon so we can continue with our "plans")

[00Pony 287]

@@Agent505,,@Ano170,,

 

Sanguine watched his Pegasi leave through the window, before turning to Cadence and the others. He didn't speak, knowing that the othe witnesses would explain the situation. After they were finished, he stepped forward, "I have sent two of my followers off to search for the source of the projectile that was launched at our guest,"

He glances out the window, adding with a slight growl, "And if not that, then at least my followers who let them even have the chance."

[longgone 873]

Golden Age walked in. He pointed his sword at Dawn Wing's heart and pressed it hardly against his chest. "Get the bastard into custody, find him a nice cell."

 

Two of his men walked in, one grabbed the left hoof and the other grabbed the right. "Ye alright Swordpoint, me darlin'?" Goldie said with a grin. 

Edited July 11, 2013 by ~HistoricallyInaccurate~

[HigurSan 195]

@@00Pony,  @@Agent505, @@Pripyat Pony, @@Ano170,

Crystal Empire: Steeleye Sungazer

He quickly glanced at the one named 'Sanguine'. They had not met face to face before now, but Steeleye knew of him, though only a little. He was clearly not a pony to be messed with. "It seems my own sources are a little lacking sir," he said politely. "Please tell me of any and all findings that you uncover." In the back of his head, he was a bit worried but his face nor posture showed a hint of it. He had a short list of projectiles that could explode and none of the one's he knew of would be in the possession of the enemy. Turning back to Cadence, he addressed her cordailly.

"I know of it because it is my job to know it madam," he said warmly. "Information collection, storage, and usage encompasses a wide range of things and I pursue all of those things. I am somewhat sure that is the reason I am a Lieutenant in your employ. As for how in particular I know about -this- event, with the exception of your Ladyship's own private quarters and other specific areas, I have numerous different methods of watching, listening, and other things as the need arises. This time it would be one of the magical wards cast upon the chandeliers. Whenever they are lit, they record motion of both animate and inanimate objects."

Edited July 11, 2013 by Higurashi

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 20]

(OOC: this section is when golden age and dawn wing are talking)

Phylomon barely could believe what he was hearing he could not believe that Dawn Wing was a traitor he rushed out of earshot before the conversation ended. Phylomon rushed out into the courtyard and waited to spot Swordpoint. finally Phylomon spotted Swordpoint he waited for Swordpoint to land on the balcony to make sure it was him. Phylomon rushed to Swordpoint's room on the he saw Golden Age behind Saunra he slowed down and came close behind Golden Age and waited.

[00Pony 287]

@,

 

Sanguine turns his attention to Steeleye, examining the stallion silently before nodding, "I'll see what I can do."

 

He wrinkles his nose slightly, wincing as the shard digs deeper. Sanguine sighs, mumbling to himself, "I'll have to get this dug out eventually."

[Agent505 661]

@,@@00Pony, @@Pripyat Pony, @@Ano170

 

Cadence raised an eyebrow for a moment, looking skeptically at Steeleye before looking down at the floor at chuckling to herself. "Of course, i'm sorry Steeleye, it's been a long day - I don't know how I forgot." She took a moment to look around the room and think on what to do with the situation. 

"Alright, everypony, take a rest. You should all retire to your rooms, I expect you all here first thing in the morning - we need to...discuss...what is to be done with Harmony in regards with his outburst. Crystal Onyx, fall out and worry not, unless Harmony is to be executed, you will still serve under his command alone." 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Chrysalis said, "I'll return tomorrow for the meeting, that is, if you would like me there. In the meantime, I will go back to the Hive with my changelings."

 

She felt that she needed to be back home to plan what she was going to do, and to brief her jerd on the Canterlot plot.

[Agent505 661]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

"Of course, Chrysalis. Harmony will remain detained until we come to an arrangement for a punishment for his actions. Please however - Harmony was acting on his own accord - if you would have it, our arrangement still stands." She opened the door and stood against it, keeping it back. "We will start the meeting early-ish, around nine...you may return whenever you wish."