private The Tyranny of Princess Cadence

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

 (OOC: Arrow should've known better XD).

 

Arrow frowned, tensing slightly as Myra moved to walk next to him. She was making strange noises under her breath, and her horn was shooting sparks. The hairs stood up on the back of Arrow's neck as they entered the deserted alleyway, and Arrow was suddenly grateful for the sword hanging by his side.

 

Still, glancing back at Enid following behind them, Arrow tried to assuage his growing concern - he wanted to be able to trust her.  

 

Don't listen to Harmonic, Arrow told himself. Stopping halfway down the alley, and glancing first left then right, Arrow turned to face Enid, uncomfortably aware of her sister next to him.

 

"Enid..." Arrow trailed off, uncertain how to begin. He reverted back to the comfort of his own time and  culture, drawing himself up straight. "Miss - Enid, to be frank, there seems to be a prevalent misinterpretation among the ranks as to the nature of our...relationship."

Edited September 1, 2013 by Ano170

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Agent505,

 

Cicada nodded. "I will take you there at once," she said, then took Harmonic to where Cadance had said to go. The guard passed them in with barely a nod.

 

@@Concord Discord,

 

"That mad mare? No way!" Sanura replied with a snort. "I serve the true Princesses, Celestia and Luna. If you also wish to serve them, then perhaps you'd better come back with me."

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170, @@Pripyat Pony

 

Enid sat down, tilting her head as Arrow began speaking to get a better hearing. "Relationship". The word rang in her ears, familiar and comforting, yet at the same time it scared her. Her smile dropped along with her ears, and her pupils dilated as she recoiled slightly, yet still held her attention firmly on the stallion. 

Picking up her sister's discomfort, Myra stood tall and stepped by her side, once more glaring at the stallion.

Her eyes opened wide, and at the same time her lower eyelids narrowed her focus on him. She looked more like a bouncer at a club who was itching for a fight, than Enid's sister. 

_____

 

"Ah! Harmony, Cecy, there you are!" Cadence bounced as the pair entered the room. "Take a seat, we have much to discuss...Harmony, I trust you have been informed of the situation, yes?"

"The roots of Lieutenant Steeleye's betrayal run deeper than they appear ma'am. Setting his sights on not only the Empire, but the Queen and hers too? What was he hoping to achieve?" 

"It doesn't matter, he's been dealt with. It seems your thirst for blood comes in useful every now and again."

"Indeed it would, ma'am." 

Cadence sat down on a chair knocking some papers over a table with her hoof. 

"We have a problem, Cecy, Harmony. As you know there's been recent events that have made it...abundantly clear that there is dissent growing within the Empire and its citizens..." she yelled out in an erratic manner. "I ask your suggestions before we move on to other matters..."

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

Seeing Enid's reaction, Arrow took a deep breath before continuing. "I am aware of course that this is through no fault of your own, but, well, I want to...to make things clear between us."

 

What am I doing? Arrow wondered to himself - he was still trying to convince himself that this was unnecessary; that there had been no misinterpretation between Enid and himself. Besides, if Harmonic found out I had a family...

 

Arrow shook his head to clear it.  There's no way he could hurt them - they're in the past. A more chilling thought occurred to Arrow. If he found out about the time travel crystals, though...

 

Enid and Myra were mute, but Arrow had seen how well Harmonic seemed able to understand them.

 

I can't tell them everything, Arrow realised.

 

"I want to tell you the truth." Arrow stated, even as he felt his gut twist at the slight false implication he had already made. "I didn't want the Commander or Cadence to know, but, I..." Arrow swallowed. "I'm married. I have a foal back home - where I'm from, far away. They're waiting for me..."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Agent505,

 

"Perhaps a public demonstration of what happens to those who betray us," Cecy replied. "Of course, I don't mean the prisoners that I questioned. They proved their loyalty when they spoke of Steeleye's plot. But maybe we need to make an example of somepony who seems to not quite understand exactly how this Empire runs. And also, as a comparison, a public reward to a pony who has served us loyally."

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170,@@Pripyat Pony,

 

"Hang him...outside the doors to the palace...string up his corpse as an example to others ma'am." Harmonic grunted casually.

Cadence shook her head dismissively. "As tempting as that sounds, I like Cecy's idea...but who where you thinking? Do we know another who was working for the lieutenant? I understand we put down the insurrection as soon as it arose..."

"Arrow!" Harmonic barked "He's been trying to manipulate the Onyx guard as of late...if he's been working with him...make an example of him, if anything."

_____

 

Enid's face dropped further, and he ears folded by her cheeks in an exaggerated manner before she stood up, and began to take a step forward. 

Myra's gaze hardened and she began pacing impatiently for a moment, before Arrow began speaking. Seeing Enid begin to move, she lunged forward, barging Enid to the floor and then leaping into the air at Arrow, her armour clunking heavily as she kicked off and headed to knock him down too. 

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

Arrow leaped back with a yelp, narrowly avoiding being knocked down by Myra - she glanced against him, sending Arrow spinning for a moment before he regained his balance, wings extending with a flourish as he crouched in a fighting stance, instinct taking over. He let out a slight growl of his own, and almost drew his sword before stopping abruptly.

 

No sense in escalating the situation any further. He told himself, instead taking to the air in what he hoped was beyond Myra's range, though he could not be certain.

 

"What are you doing?" he demanded of the mare, even as his eyes cast a worried glance at Enid.

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170,

 

Myra landed with an uncanny precision, kicking off of the floor with her hooves almost the instant they landed, in a way that caused her to literally spring back at least half way to where she had leapt from, before she finally landed on the floor silently, her snout crinkled in rage while her horn started glowing bright blue, with the same intensity of the magic she had used before to help destroy Appleloosa.

The tip of her horn turned white and formed a small sphere, and then suddenly there was an enormous puff of smoke, accompanied by the sound of a muffled explosion. When the smoke cleared after several seconds, Myra was lay on her right side, eyes closed and blood trickling from her nose, her head jerked back at an unnatural angle, causing her charred mane to cover most of her face, along with her blackened and steaming horn. Both her left legs twitched every now and again, seemingly in slow motion, while the rest of her lay there motionless.

 

Enid was lay in a relaxed manner a few feet from where she was initially before she had been knocked over - the almost ever-present smile returned to her face, seemingly devoid of any emotion from the prior events. Her own horn was glowing with a purple aura and she was looking over at Myra as she lay on the ground. She cast her attention over to Arrow in the air, and with a backwards tilt of her head, she suddenly levitated his sword from his scabbard and stuck it into the floor at the side of her, before removing her helmet in the same way and planting it on the handle.

She leaned over to one side, resting her head on the helmet as she encased his tail in her magic, giving him the slightest downward tug to see if he would land. She continued to smile at him emptily, drawing patterns in the dirt with her hoof as she begun...humming melodically...

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Agent505,

 

"My thoughts exactly," Cicada replied, with a smile. "Of course, an execution would be far too quick; far better to have it more longer and drawn out. To my mind, a live, broken victim is a far better deterrent towards would be rebels than a dead one."

 

@@Justin ZW,

 

Zecora gazed into the cauldron. She had filled it with clear water and thrown in a hoof full of powder. At first, the water was a pale blue, but then it changed to pale pink, the colour of Cadance's coat. Zecora looked, more eagerly. She was certain that the explanation of what had sent Cadance mad was within her grasp... and then, she saw. A horn sliced off an evil unicorn stallion, who had taken control of the Crystal Empire. Sombra. He was dead, tho; this could not be his work!

 

But then, a close up to the sundering of that horn. It was not a clean slice, but one which caused tiny fragments of horn to sheer off from the main part. The fragments most of them bounced into the ground and were lost, but one flew into Cadance's right eye and stayed there, poisoning her mind. It was right there; the cause. What the solution would be, Zecora didn't as of yet know. She had to send what she'd learned to Swordpoint, even tho he and his army had left Canterlot. Perhaps a pegasus could take the message?

[Concord Discord 35]

@@Concord Discord,

 

"That mad mare? No way!" Sanura replied with a snort. "I serve the true Princesses, Celestia and Luna. If you also wish to serve them, then perhaps you'd better come back with me."

He was surprised at the mare's sudden reaction. He thought about the offer for a while, then said:

"If it means ending that tyrant's reign of evil, then I shall."

 

Maybe then I can finally redeem my terrible actions, he thought.

 

At that, he followed this mare.

Edited September 2, 2013 by Concord Discord

[Justin ZW 396]

@@Avolon

 

Swordpoint shook his head. "No. I do not wish to risk alerting anyone of our presence. We will spread the word by mouth." He then glanced at Golden Age. "And Golden Age... that means that your musicians should stay quiet, as well. We are drawing nearer to the empire, and none of us could possibly know whether or not Cadance's spies are near."

[longgone 873]

@@Avolon

 

Swordpoint shook his head. "No. I do not wish to risk alerting anyone of our presence. We will spread the word by mouth." He then glanced at Golden Age. "And Golden Age... that means that your musicians should stay quiet, as well. We are drawing nearer to the empire, and none of us could possibly know whether or not Cadance's spies are near."

 

"As you wish" he said with a salute. He turned to face away and yelled to his sergeant. "Bully! Get the lads up...by mouth...". The back of his head hid the rolling of his eyes. He knew perfectly well they were closing distance, and he understood the importance of silent marches, but he had had enough of them, that's all they did. He thought until he saw the Crystal Empire with his own eyes, he wouldn't bother being silent. 

 

"But do tell me sir," he said with an irritated grin "When will I get the chance to use 'em? I know silent marches and what not can be vital in certain situations, but, well, unless we're only a few miles from the bastards, then I don't see the need for silence."

[Justin ZW 396]

 

 

"And that," Swordpoint replied with a firm glance, "is why I am your commander. You are too eager, Golden Age. Combat is not about glory. It is a true test of wit and strategy." He stared into the distant woods, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I respect your skill and devotion to your cause, but you have yet to learn the greatest lesson of warfare. Not every battle is won by galloping into the fray with arms drawn."

[Ano170 162]

@@Ano170,

 

Myra landed with an uncanny precision, kicking off of the floor with her hooves almost the instant they landed, in a way that caused her to literally spring back at least half way to where she had leapt from, before she finally landed on the floor silently, her snout crinkled in rage while her horn started glowing bright blue, with the same intensity of the magic she had used before to help destroy Appleloosa.

The tip of her horn turned white and formed a small sphere, and then suddenly there was an enormous puff of smoke, accompanied by the sound of a muffled explosion. When the smoke cleared after several seconds, Myra was lay on her right side, eyes closed and blood trickling from her nose, her head jerked back at an unnatural angle, causing her charred mane to cover most of her face, along with her blackened and steaming horn. Both her left legs twitched every now and again, seemingly in slow motion, while the rest of her lay there motionless.

 

Enid was lay in a relaxed manner a few feet from where she was initially before she had been knocked over - the almost ever-present smile returned to her face, seemingly devoid of any emotion from the prior events. Her own horn was glowing with a purple aura and she was looking over at Myra as she lay on the ground. She cast her attention over to Arrow in the air, and with a backwards tilt of her head, she suddenly levitated his sword from his scabbard and stuck it into the floor at the side of her, before removing her helmet in the same way and planting it on the handle.

She leaned over to one side, resting her head on the helmet as she encased his tail in her magic, giving him the slightest downward tug to see if he would land. She continued to smile at him emptily, drawing patterns in the dirt with her hoof as she begun...humming melodically...

 

(OOC: Well that escalated quickly ).

 

"W-what are you doing?" Arrow flinched as Enid took his sword. He was stunned by the sudden blast, and Enid's act of violence towards her sister, and even without  the mare tugging on his tail he likely would still have dropped to the ground in shock.

 

He sat heavily, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, staring at Enid from a few feet away.

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170,

 

Enid laughed silently, visibly making the motions with no noise, save a few breaths. 

She stood up and calmly walked over to Arrow, tilting her head in the opposite direction while she stared directly into his eyes with a grin. Her magic faded from her horn and from Arrow's tail as she touched her horn lightly to his forehead, before suddenly snapping around and charging the same spell Myra was about to use, obliterating the side of a house behind them. She pointed out to her sister on the floor, and then gestured to Arrow, before placing her hoof on her chest and nodding happily. 

 

Suddenly her face dropped in realisation and she jumped over to her sister, nudging her with her head and trying to lift her up. She turned to Arrow, banging her ears with her hooves and pointing at the palace. 

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

Arrow remained frozen as Enid walked over to him, flinching internally when she pressed her horn against his forehead. He jumped when Enid turned and blew up an unlucky wall, suddenly shaken back into movement. 

 

"You saved me." Arrow murmured. He supposed at first that he should thank Enid, but then, looking at Myra's body on the ground, it occurred to him that this event may not be something Enid would like him to be thankful for. Instead he watched the mare in silence, not really sure what he should do - there were going to be repercussions for this, he knew, but Arrow also knew now that he couldn't abandon Enid to face them alone; he had done enough of that to other ponies in the past.

 

Watching Enid nudge Myra, Arrow felt his gut twist and his own ears droop. His eyes furrowed in confusion, however, at Enid's charade - was she concerned that those in palace would have heard the sounds of the explosion? Or did she want to take Myra there? Still lost for words, Arrow shook his head in an attempt to convey his misunderstanding.

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170,

 

Enid stamped a hoof on the ground, before yanking Myra's hoof and tugging her backwards with all her strength. She wasn't sure if it was because she was weak, or because Myra was deceptively heavy, but she couldn't move her much more than a couple of inches by herself. 

She tugged and tugged, stopping briefly to cover her ears and point at the palace again, before returning to try and pull Myra away.

 

@@Pripyat Pony

(So, i'm going to wait for you to reply, before I post a reaction to the noise either from Harmonic or from a castle guard) 

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505, 

 

Finally understanding as he saw Enid trying to pull Myra away in the opposite direction from the palace, Arrow rushed over to help. He was relieved that Enid didn't seem to be planning on taking Myra to the palace - really, he supposed he should have given Enid more credit - but Myra would need medical attention of some sort, assuming she was still alive...

 

Taking another of Myra's hooves, Arrow began heaving along with Enid, straining against the weight of Myra's armour. An idea occurred to him, and he stopped, placing Myra's hoof back down carefully and turning to Enid. "Why don't use your telekinesis to put her on my back, and then to lessen her weight?

 

Part of Arrow questioned the reasoning behind helping the pony who had just tried to kill him, but he knew he owed it to Enid.  

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170,

 

Enid stared at Arrow momentarily, confused as to why she hadn't thought of that idea. Shaking her head, she levitated her sister and dropped her on Arrow's back heavily, before turning and quickly galloping off down the street, pausing to turn around at the end and check to see if he was following. 

Edited September 2, 2013 by Agent505

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Concord Discord,

@@Justin ZW,

 

Sanura led the stranger back to camp. She took Curse straight to Swordpoint. "Sorry to interrupt," she said, "But I found this stranger wandering nearby. He wishes to fight with us."

 

@@Agent505,

 

Ooc: I already did reply. Right above the part where I talk about Zecora finding out why Cadance is evil.

[Agent505 661]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

(That is...very true, I apologise)

"I'll summon the guard...we'll fish out the traitors yet, ma'am." Harmonic snarled, glancing around the room

"If you two both agree that is best, I won't argue. Now onto the next matter...Neighagra falls. Sanguine should be there by now, and I expect his troops have already begun making short work of -"

"Princess Cadence, ma'am!" Cried a guard as he burst in through the heavy wooden doors, panting heavily "The Empire is under attack! The lower section of the city has been hit by some sort of magical energy from an unknown source, The bakery is...gone!" 

"W-what?" Cadence jumped up in her seat, taking to the skies momentarily before swooping down in front of the guard. "Where are the patrols? How did Celestia manage to get the drop on us? You incompetent fools!" She reared up and pushed the guard to the side before charging out of the doors.

Harmonic briefly gave Cecy a look of assurance, followed by a slight grin as he began galloping out of the room to catch up with Cadence. 

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

"Oof!"

 

Arrow grunted in pain at the sudden weight of the armoured Myra being dumped on his back. For a second his legs buckled, but he managed to stay upright and eventually to move, albeit slowly. He struggled towards Enid, wondering just where the mare was planning on going - no doubt the entire guard would have been attracted by that explosion...

 

"Enid," Arrow panted as he caught up to the mare. "Would you mind...taking off... Myra's helmet... or something? We're not... going to get... very far at this rate." 

[Agent505 661]

@@Ano170, 

 

Enid sighed heavily in frustration as Arrow struggled to carry Myra, she was already at the end of the street and had had to make her way back down to him. She lifted herself up onto his back, pushing his head down as she pulled Myra's helmet off, followed by unclipping her armour and sliding it off with her levitation and placing it over her own as best she could - it restricted her own mobility thanks to the added weight and awkward positioning, but she didn't let it slow her down as she bounded off down the street quickly.

[Ano170 162]

@@Agent505,

 

 "Thanks," Arrow panted. He paused a second to get his strength back, slightly embarrassed - especially after seeing how well Enid managed carrying Myra's armour on top of her own - and then trotted to catch up to the mare again, matching her pace now with relative ease.

 

Shifting Myra's weight slightly on his back, Arrow tried to distract himself from the panic that was beginning to stir in the pit of his stomach, now that the shock of what was happening had worn off. He forced himself to try and plan - Myra was going to need medical attention; they all needed to avoid the Empire's guards and somehow they would have to avoid punishment for blowing up half a building.

 

As Arrow considered this, and his conversation with Harmonic earlier, the same thought kept occurring to him, however much he tried to avoid it. 

 

We need to hide - or run.

 

"Enid," Arrow finally said, giving the mare a sidelong glance but not meeting her eyes. "What are you planning to do? Where are you planning to go? There's nowhere safe in the Empire anymore..."

[longgone 873]

"And that," Swordpoint replied with a firm glance, "is why I am your commander. You are too eager, Golden Age. Combat is not about glory. It is a true test of wit and strategy." He stared into the distant woods, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I respect your skill and devotion to your cause, but you have yet to learn the greatest lesson of warfare. Not every battle is won by galloping into the fray with arms drawn."

"I've seen hell in me career. Bloody Solar heathens tryin' to massacre me boys, no office to ye sir, changeling colonization...an' I can't go back to any other job, army life is all I've known. Glory is the only thing I've got left. Don't ye love it sir?

 

He lifted his brim and walked to another side of his commander, a genuine smile showing on his face.  . "The long lines o' spears, shining in the fair sunlight? Those fine, orderly lines! Makes me heart soar, it does! The glorious charge of the lads, their war cry piercing the ears of the devil himself as they charge into the depths of hell! Fills me with a fire sir, a burning passion. To see those lowly bastards laid asunder fer the glory o' Equestria!" There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke this with great enthusiasm. One would've thought he would've broke into song and dance over the matter.

 

"I'd die fer her sir, she's the only thing that keeps me with you lads, with that bloody Celesetia, me undyin' devotion to our land. When the Equestrian maiden calls out in distress, I sound the call to arms without hesitation and take me place amongst the ranks."

 

(I like Goldie representing majority of the attitude of the American Civil War XP)