Chapters From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
"This will be your office, Ambassador."
Wildcard, formerly the changeling known as "Eta-Gamma", walked past Princess Celestia into what was apparently his new office. It was a bare room, with only a basic looking desk, a chair behind it, and a view to Canterlot behind that. It was situated high enough in the castle that one could even see into to the Unicorn Range through the towers of Canterlot, and Ponyville in the far distance.Wildcard walked up to and tapped the desk with with a holed hoof, it was hollow.
Celestia frowned behind him. "It's the best we could do on short notice, I'm sure we can do better in time." She trotted in and looked around. The wallpaper was peeling, the floor was dusty, and the chair had clearly seen better days. It had been a long time since Canterlot had housed an ambassador.
"Perhaps you could send for something from the Hive, to liven up the place," She suggested, noting the bare walls. "In any case, you can have your pick of the spare guest quarters, just make a note of it with one of the guards. There's also lodging in Canterlot, but you'll have to pay for that yourself."
Wildcard had turned the chair towards the window, and stared outside to the lands that lay beyond. He was away from his home, and for the first time in his life he would be away for an extended time, yet he felt relaxed. He had his orders, and he was free to carry them out as he saw fit. "Represent the Hive, to the best of your abilities."
Thanks to the friendship of Celestia, he was able to fill himself with magical energy, for the first time in his life he did it naturally , without force on either sides part. It was a different feeling than siphoning it forcibly, a better feeling. He spun the chair around to face the Princess.
"Thank you, Princess. This room will be fine." He said, removing his saddlebag and placed three things on the desk; paper, a series of quills (Plucked from the wings of one of the worker drones), and a jar full of ink.
"Good, There's no official business to conduct at the moment, so feel free to take in the sights of Canterlot. A portion of the money Chrysalis requested has been put aside for your use, a hundred bits I think "
Wildcard smiled, this was more than enough money to provide comfort, and his smile blossomed when he realized it came from the money Twilight owed the hive as recompense for her misguided 'liberation'."
"Thank you, I may do just that," Wildcard said. Celestia nodded and turned to leave, dodging Princess Twilight who had galloped into the room.
"Oh, Twilight!" Celestia stumbled to the side to avoid the hasty arrival of Equestria's newest Princess. "I was just introducing our new ambassador to his office."
Twilight blushed and skittered out of the way of the Princess of the Sun.
"Sorry! Sorry!" She said hastily.
"Don't be so uptight Twilight, just don't try to liberate our friend here." Celestia frowned at Twilight, who looked up at her with a look of total abject horror.
Wildcard looked on as for a second there was total silence, and it was then broken by Celestia smiling and patting her protege on the head. She then departed, leaving the two alone.
"She's joking." Wildcard said from behind his desk. Twilight still looked as if she had been convicted of murder.
"You're sure?" She asked.
"Positive."
"How would you know?" Twilight squinted at the changeling, who had begun separating the papers on his desk. Most of them were blank letterhead, and the others had information laws and regulations of Equestria.
"You didn't bring an army." He replied, not looking up from his work. At that, Twilight relaxed.
She noted the decayed state of the room as she walked towards the desk, the changeling tented his hooves on the desk.
"Is there something I can do for you, Princess?" He asked.
"I wanted to come and apologize once again for what I did, it was... wrong." The last word was spoken as if it's utterance would bring down the fury of an angry god.
"You've already paid for it, and I owe my job to your misguided invasion. Don't worry about it." Wildcard said in return. Taking out a quill he started to write the first of his letters home before noticing Twilight was still there, staring at him.
"Yes?" He asked again.
"I still feel... like I owe you something more." She said, and tapped the desk. It wobbled and spilt the jar of ink.
"Well I'm going to need some more ink," Wildcard said, spinning his chair to the side and standing. "This desk is terrible, and will also need to be replaced."
"That's it!" Twilight exclaimed, trotting to the window. "Come back tomorrow, I'll have something for you." She glanced back at him and then flew out the window. It didn't take long before her futile mockery of flight led her down to the street below. After her somewhat jarring landing she shook her head and trotted off.
Wildcard rubbed his forehead, and then slung his empty saddlebags over his back and trotted out. If he was going to represent the Changeling Hive, then he had better start meeting the locals. First, he wanted to see how the guard felt about the new state of affairs, it had only been a day since they had "liberated" the hive, with hope they had learned something from that.
Finding his way around the castle was relatively easy, he had been on assignment to infiltrate it a few times in the lead up to the ill fated invasion of theirs a few months ago. The floor plan had to be memorized by any of the changelings assigned to infiltrating the palace, a practice which has been promised to cease with the signing of the new treaty.
Clambering up the steps to the highest turret of the palace, Wildcard found the sentry waiting up top. A blue tail stuck out to contrast the golden Royal Guard armour. His gaze was turned outside as he stood, watchful for any threat.
"Excuse me." Wildcard said, tapping the guard on the back.
The guard spun around and pushed Wildcard over as he unholstered his spear and waved it around madly, seemingly not noticing the changeling below.
"Who goes there?" He demanded, eyes darting to and fro. After a moment he noticed the changeling, and grimaced.
"Oh, Ambassador," he said, extending a hoof as to help the changeling up. "I'm sorry." He pulled Wildcard up with one hoof while holstering his spear with the other. Ponies seemed to have remarkable balance, Wildcard noted.
"I should have known better then to sneak up on a sentry, it's in my nature," Wildcard said. "And you would be?"
The pony turned back to the window. "Flash Sentry." He said, continuing to stare out.
"Fitting." Wildcard mumbled.
"Sorry, what?" Flash asked.
"Nevermind. I wanted to ask where the new Captain might be found?" Wildcard asked.
"Can't help you there buddy, he hasn't been selected yet." Flash said, continuing his ever watchful gaze. Wildcard noticed he only seemed to be looking north.
He silently walked in front to see what was so interesting, only to find a cloudless afternoon in the world. Glancing back at the sentry he did a double take as he realized his eyes were closed.
Watchful for any threat indeed.
Wildcard sighed, and departed. There was no help to be found there. He walked back down from the turret and went to the throne room, finding Celestia on the throne with a pony he had never seen before at her side. Celestia appeared to be busy- the pony held a huge stack of papers.
"Ah, Ambassador, can I help you?" Celestia asked as he walked in.
Wildcard replied with a bow before coming before the Princess. "I was wondering who was in charge of the Royal Guard now, I wanted to get a feel for the peoples opinions on.. us."
Celestia chuckled. "You're making the same mistake Twilight did. If you want to know what the ponies think of you, go talk to the ponies . I don't control their thoughts, and neither does the guard." She got up from the throne and levitated a small satchel that had sat at it's side over to the changeling.
"This is yours, go out, explore." She said, dropping it in his saddlebags. Wildcard nodded.
"Thank you, Princess. I'll do that." He said, and bowed again before departing.
Shortly after he was outside the palace, breathing in the fresh air of a late afternoon in Canterlot. Ponies gave him strange looks as they walked by, but word had travelled fast that the changelings were no longer their enemies- Whether they were friends however, the average pony had yet to judge. Taking a deep breath, he trotted down the street. The ponies gave him a wide berth, and the guards posted here and there watched him intently. All eyes were on him, judging and noting his every action. His job was to ensure they judged him well, and noted his friendship positively. Stopping before a sign- "Best Cider until Ponyville"- He looked up at the establishment it stood before: Applebucks.
A fine place to start, he thought, and walked right in.
As soon as he entered all conversation stopped, and all eyes turned towards him. For a moment there was silence as Wildcard tried to figure out where to start. The pressure was intense. Glancing around there were a few dozen tables to his side, and directly before him was a bar counter behind which an orange earth pony stood, and so did a few dozen bottles of assorted beverages.
"Welcome to Applebucks." The mare said. "Can I help you?"
Thankful for the ice breaking, Wildcard forced himself to smile and walked to the bar. "A cider please," he said.
"Certainly." The orange pony said, and turned to grab a glass. "Have a seat, friend." As she said this the rest of ponies turned back to their conversations, and Wildcard did as asked, plopping his flank on a stool. As he listened he caught snippets of the conversations.
"Is Celestia sure about this?" "I'm still pulling that green stuff out of my mane!" "I imagine the Night Guard will run them out before long."
The tone of the room was clear: Suspicion. It made plenty of sense- they had after all been invaded by the changelings only months ago, and had been rightfully paranoid of infiltration since long before Wildcard was born. It would take substantial work to change their opinions. As he listened a mug of cider slid before him.
"First one's on the house, friend." The mare said, smiling warmly across the bar. "Names Applebuck, what do they call you?" She asked.
"Wildcard, and it's nice to meet you." He replied, and took a swig of the cider. Changelings had their own, but Equestrian Cider was a legendary delicacy outside.
Immediately his blue eyes fluttered open. The changelings had nothing on this.
Noting this, Applebuck laughed. "Good ain't it?"
"It's amazing, you could buy the Hive with a barrel," He said. It was entirely truthful, his comrades would live in the trees if it meant getting their hooves on a supply.
"That true is it? Maybe with the borders open we can strike a deal later." Applebuck said. Wildcard realized the genius in her offering a free 'sample'.
"Tell me, how much for a mug?" Wildcard asked, having a sudden idea.
"Five bits." Applebuck said, and cocked an eyebrow at him.
Wildcard took a quick glance at the rest of the room. He quickly counted out twenty ponies, not counting Applebuck.
A hundred bits.
He removed the satchel from his saddlebags and placed it on the counter. "I'll buy a round."
These words are universally able to quiet even the loudest of pubs with anticipation, and it was so here. All eyes turned once again to Wildcard.
"You sure about that, Wildcard?" Applebuck asked.
In response Wildcard raised his mug and faced the others. "To friendship!" He shouted.
"To friendship!" The crowd replied, and as one they drank.
A short while later Wildcard had finished his drink, and left the jubilant ponies behind. Coming into a warm Equestrian evening he noticed how much warmer it was, despite being further north than the Hive. Perhaps it was the altitude of the mountain. That would also explain why he was so tired, despite only being awake for around thirty hours. So he trotted back to the castle, his head held high knowing he had accomplished a good days work. Sure he was broke now, but he could explain it away as a 'necessary expense', and write home for more funding. The idea that they might strike a deal for access to Equestrian cider would surely be received well.
As he trotted he noticed that a blue figure was hovering in the sky above, following him. Wildcard knew exactly whom this was, but chose to ignore her for the moment. For a moment his instinct was to hide and change form, but he repressed that. He would have to be double sure to ensure that this pony, Rainbow Dash, never had any reason to report anything amiss to the Princess- any of them. Double timing it to the castle Wildcard noticed his vision began to blur. Equestrian cider really was strong.
Coming up the entrance to the palace he stumbled past the gate guards, who watched him with mild amusement. He turned down the hallway to the guest quarters, and hiccuped as he stumbled along. The thin air was suddenly becoming a problem combined with the cider.
Finding an open door he 'trotted' in, and was about to collapse into the bed when he noticed a white maned pony staring at him.
"Sorry *hic* wrong room." He said, clumsily bowing and backing back out.
"I'll say!" the mare shouted, and slammed the door shut behind him.
Continuing his journey down the corridor he saw two guards leaving one of the rooms and approached, swaying on his hooves as he addressed them. He noticed they looked just like the sentry from earlier.
"Is that *hic* room taken?" He asked.
The two stared at him, did Flash Sentry have a brother?
"No, it's not." Flash replied.
"Then you may *hic*-" Wildcard shook his head. "Inform the pr-*hic-ess that I will be lo*hic*ing here."
One pony looked at him, his head following the wobbly movements of the changeling.
"I'll uh, I'll see to it." Flash said, and departed, glancing back as the changeling wobbled his way into the room and shut the door with a green magic field.
"It's good to have m*hic*ic." Wildcard said to himself. Staring intently ahead he manoeuvred himself to one of the two beds, careful to match their odd swaying motion, and leapt on one.
He fell asleep before he landed.
Wildcard found himself in a field lit by a full moon that hung over a small town ahead. He recognized this to be ponyville, but it was eerily still and quiet. Approaching the town he noticed eyes watching him from behind closed doors and barred windows. In the middle of the main street stood a single figure, shrouded by a cloak. The pony's glowing eyes watched his approach intently.
"They'll never accept you." The figure said.
"And why not? We're just a friendly as you are, times change."
"I may have been gone a thousand years." The figure said, and whipped it's head back to remove the cloaks hood. "But the world hasn't changed that much. The changelings have always coveted Equestria, and you always will."
"Princess Luna." Wildcard bowed in spite of his profound, mutual, dislike of the Princess of the Night.
"I am no Princess of yours, and I will have you know that I am watching you, closely ." She stared him down. "If you so much as bruise a single citizen, I will do as is my right and see to it you go home- permanently," she threatened.
"You will get no such chance." Wildcard said, meeting her gaze. "In time, maybe you will see as your sister did."
Luna snorted. "I doubt that. My sister is wise in her rule, but she is too easily trusting. Do not betray her trust or you will rue the day." Luna said, flipping her cloak back up.
Before Wildcard could respond he awoke in his room to a knocking on the door. Sitting up he was greeted by a pounding headache and the blazing morning sun in his eyes. Equestrian cider was a weapon.
"Who is it?" Wildcard shouted, rubbing his eyes.
"You're requested in your office, Ambassador." A voice outside said.
"Give me a few minutes." Wildcard replied, and got to his feet. Finding a washroom nearby he washed his face and then looked on himself in the mirror. A hungover changeling looked much like any other hung over creature, with the notable difference that the dehydration caused the blue colour to drain from their eyes, leaving Wildcards a dim grey. He took a few minutes to shower and try to make himself appear somewhat presentable before departing.
As he walked down the hallway towards his office, his head still pounding, he heard an odd sproinging sound following him. Glancing back a pink pony appeared to be tailing him.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
The pony came to his side, still jumping up and down as if a weird combination of spring and pony. "You're a changeling right? Can you change into anything?" she asked.
"Anything with the same body mass." Wildcard replied.
"So... you could change into Starswirl?" She asked.
"I suppose, that's an old unicorn wizard right?" Wildcard asked as they rounded a corner. The springing pony was not helping his headache.
"Could you? Please?" She asked, looking at him with the look of a sad puppy.
"If it will make you stop following me." Wildcard said. A green glow overtook his body, and after a moment he had taken the form of the ancient bearded wizard. His tail stopped and giggled before galloping off.
Wildcard paused to rub his forehead, and then recognized the entrance to his office just up ahead. As he rounded it and entered the room he was almost as shocked at what he found within as the pony inside was to see him.
"Starswirl!?" Twilight exclaimed. She looked, quite rightly so, as if she had seen a ghost.
"W-" For a second Wildcard was confused, but realized from the burst of laughter behind him what had happened. Dropping his disguise Twilight glared past him.
"Pinkie Pie, that's not funny!" She yelled, and then glanced at the ambassador. "The ambassador isn't a toy!"
Wildcard joined the pink pony in her laughter. "It was a pretty good trick," he said, it was certainly a fine way to prove the changelings had a sense of humour.
Focusing back at the room before him, Wildcard looked on a brand new desk carved of beautiful mahogany capped with an elegant lamp- fresh paper and ink to boot. He trotted past Twilight as she tackled Pinkie Pie outside and marvelled on the desk's beauty. His chair had even been replaced by a dark red chair that seemed fit for the Queen herself. Running his hoof along the smooth shining wood of the desk he trotted around it and put his flank down on the incredibly comfortable chair. The desk before him even had six drawers at his disposal.
"It's beautiful." He said. Twilight looked back from her tussle with Pinkie Pie long enough for the pink one to dash away.
"I had Applebloom make it, she's gifted." Twilight said. "I hope it's good enough."
"Princess, this desk is worth more then enough to be even with the Hive alone. I can't thank you enough." He said, and rubbed his forehead at a sudden pang of headache.
Twilight looked at him. "Are you hurt?" She asked.
"Not hurt, just hungover." he explained, and rolled his head on his neck.
A magneta field encapsulated his head, and quickly the blue returned to his eyes, and the pain left his head. Gasping at the sudden return to normality he stared at the pony.
"Thank you," he said.
"Don't mention it, it's what friends do," Twilight said.
Glancing back she spotted the pink pony creeping across the doorway, and then took off after her friend. Wildcard was left alone in his office, with a very nice desk ahead of him.
"It really is beautiful." He said to himself once again. "This 'Applebloom' must be a wildly respected craftsperson." He noted, taking a look inside the drawers. As he did he heard some pony trot in.
Wildcard looked up to see a royal guard approaching "Ambassador Wildcard?" the guard pulled a document out of a saddlebag. "Mail for you," He said.
"Thank you." Wildcard said, levitating the letter out of the guards hooves and opening it over the desk. The guard saluted and then left.
Wildcard had received his first real official business.
Author's Note
Thank you Perteks for correcting my spelling of "Starswirl".
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard dropped the letter on the desk, a strange feeling had come over him- it was as if his sinuses itched on the inside. Involuntarily he gasped, and gasped again, and then released a stream of sinus fluid from his nose.
"Gesundheit!" Flash Sentry, whom had just happened to be passing by, said.
Wildcard was struck still by the surprising effect, he hadn't experienced anything like this before. Shaking his head to clear the residue off his face he decided to leave it for later, surely the palace had a doctor somewhere. Regardless, he had a job to do. Getting to it he levitated the letter once more and opened it. He noticed it was stamped with what had apparently been chosen as the hives standard. It was a stylized grey representation of the crooked pseudo-alicorn the changelings had, with two holed wings mirrored at it's side on a background of dim green. He hadn't known that this 'flag' had been created, but it was fair enough. Without any further ado he opened the letter.
"From the Desk of Commander Medulla." (Wildcard smiled at how well his superior was taking to his new nickname, and apparently had taken a proper title now.)
"It has come to our attention that the rail extension is going to require considerable engineering expertise to find a suitable path through the badlands and the forest surrounding the valley; we also require steel. Your first mission will be to find us potential solutions to these logistical problems. Note that we can provide labour on our end, use this in negotiating if you wish. I have attached an order for a hundred more bits, I have assumed you have already spent the first batch- but be warned that this will be the last bit of funding until we see progress on your end. I have spoken with the Queen, and although the Equestrian government could probably service our needs fairly well, we both think it would be wise to try and engage the civilian population first, as a show of goodwill. See Princess Celestia for a list of candidates.
In addition, we have begun spawning new drones, and expect to have a surplus population in a month or two. Your secondary task will be to find candidates for work. Worker drones could work for far less then the ponies, and could be a significant source of income for the hive.
I also assume you are already engaging the population of Canterlot, and I hear Celestia has given you an office. Don't let us down. Good luck."
Wildcard sniffled (Which was odd, he hadn't done that before.), and turned the letter over. Sure enough there was a money order: a small piece of paper with the smiling face of Celestia and the words "Equestrian Central Reserve: Pay the Bearer on Demand 100 bits." and her signature. This he pocketed, while he put the letter in the top right drawer of his desk. Spinning his new chair to the side with naught but a creak, he got out of his chair just in time to see a pony knock on the open door. The door creaked in response
Then it fell off with a slam that made Wildcard almost jump out of his hide as the hair stood up on his mane and he inadvertently disguised himself- as a sheep.
The pony at the door coughed and cleared the dust with a hoof. "Sorry about the d- Ambassador?" The pony looked on, confused, at the sheep standing in the middle of the dusty room beside a very nice desk.
Wildcard collected himself and dropped his disguise, his heart still racing. "You startled me, it's an instinct. Can I help you?" As he said that he sneezed for the second time, managing to block it with a hoof.
"I see I came just in time." The pony said. Wildcard looked at him more closely, and found him to be a unicorn stallion of middle age with a white coat- with matching mane- and a cutie mark of a red cross. He wore a small hat with that same symbol on it. A small saddlebag with the same symbol hung over his back. "My names Doctor Flankenstein, I normally spend my time in Baltimare; but I came here just to speak to you, and the Princess, about an important oversight you've made." He trotted over to Wildcard and squinted at his eyes.
"You're going to die if you don't immunize." The Doctor said. With a flash he removed something from his pack and jabbed Wildcard in the arm.
"Hey!" Wildcard exclaimed as he drew his arm away. "What are you doing?"
The Doctor continued watching him, as if expecting him to explode at any moment. "I've given you a powerful anti-bacterial, since as I expected you managed to catch the cold going around." He paused for a moment, and removed a notepad from his bag.
"Do you have any travel plans?" He asked.
"I was just going to speak to the Princess concerning tracking down some logistics, I don't know if I'll be travelling. Why?" Wildcard asked in turn.
"I have absolutely no idea what that anti-biotic will do to a changeling, so I'm going to tag along. For medical science, of course. I have to speak to the Princess too, so lead on." The doctor stepped to the side and gestured to the door. Wildcard cocked an eyebrow at him and trotted to the door. His arm was sore, but changelings healed quickly.
"Hold on a second." Wildcard stopped at the doorway and turned to the doctor, pointing a hoof at him. "If you don't know what this injection will do, why did you do it?!" he demanded.
"Would you rather die of the cold? Your immune system has no defense against our diseases. We all get immunized at birth, but you? We could be carrying dozens of things, that antibiotic will keep you safe until I can get you up to date on immunizations. I hope you like needles, there's quite a few in your future." The Doctor explained. "Now get a move on."
Wildcard sighed, and trotted out the hallway. These ponies were going to drive him to drink.
Arriving at the throne room, with the good doctor in tow, Wildcard entered to find Celestia as she was perpetually- signing documents on the throne.
"Your highness" Wildcard bowed. "I'm h-"
Doctor Flankenstein brushed past him, and was met with a bemused look from the Princess.
"Princess, I must speak to you about a matter of much importance," he said.
Celestia sighed. "Far be it for me to stand in the way of your important discovery Doctor, let us have it."
The Doctor removed the notepad from his saddlebag and presented it to the princess. She continued to look at him, unimpressed.
"The changelings have no natural immunity to the microbes and viri of Equestria. Your highness if they're allowed to immigrate without immunization..." He trailed off as Celestia levitated the notebook from his hands and stared behind at Wildcard, wide eyed.
"They'll all die, every single one of them. How could we have been so short sighted?" Celestia lamented, flipping through the notebook.
"It's a list of potential pathogens that could effect the changelings, along with their common cures and immunizations. If we start on this now, especially with our friend here, we can avoid a disaster."
"Well" Celestia said, returning the notebook to the doctors saddlebag. "As loathe as I am to admit it, you've done a noble deed today doctor." She sighed again. "I suppose you're going to want something in return?" She asked.
"Only one thing."
"Yes?" Celestia asked, hesitant to know the answer.
"I want my lab back." He said.
Celestia rubbed her forehead, and the pony beside her, whom now sat on the stack of papers, grimaced.
"Can you promise, Promise me , that there will not be a repeat of the parasprite incident?"
The unicorn doctor thought for a second before replying. "Yes, I promise."
Celestia levitated a paper from behind the throne and quickly jotted something on it, signed it, and it vanished.
"It's done, I'll hold you to this promise- doctor "
Doctor Flankenstein nodded, and they both turned to Wildcard as he sneezed.
"What about the Ambassador, will be okay?" Celestia asked, looking worriedly down at the changeling.
"He'll probably be fine, I gave him a powerful antibiotic."
"Probably?" Celestia and Wildcard both asked in unison.
"Well, frankly I don't know enough about changeling physiology to know if it will kill him just as much as whatever he caught, but the chances are better."
"The chances are better?!" Wildcard exclaimed as a shiver of fear ran down his spine. He galloped towards the doctor and put his muzzle against his. "Doctor what did you do to me?!"
"I saved you!" The doctor argued. A golden field separated the two.
"The Doctor is right, Ambassador, we'll just have to wait and see."
"Wait and see?!" He turned towards the Princess and looked at her with a look of horror on his face. "How am I going to fulfill my orders if I'm dead?!" he exclaimed.
"About as well as you are right now." Celestia replied, stone faced.
Wildcard was about to explode with fury, but he released it. She was right, he wasn't exactly being professional at the moment. He backed off and cleared his throat.
"Right, well. I had some business with you Princess, as representative of the Hive," He said
"And that would be?" Celestia asked.
"I'm tasked with tracking down an engineering firm that can provide expertise with the rail line extension, and some way of providing steel," Wildcard explained.
"There's a fairly good company in Baltimare- in fact they're the company that helped repair Canterlot after your last... visit " Celestia gestured to the roof, where Wildcard could see a faint scorch mark.
"As for steel, the Crystal Empire has been found to have fairly good foundries, and has taken up providing steel for most of Equestria," Celestia suggested. "It's too bad you'll miss the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow, but I suppose there will be others," she noted.
"Thank you, Princess. I'll get right on this," Wildcard said, bowing. "I'll not miss the next."
"Happy to help, Ambassador." Celestia nodded at him, and he turned to depart. Dr. Flankenstein turned to follow.
"Doctor." Celestia said, he glanced back at her. "If he dies, you're going to find out how my sister spent the last thousand years." she threatened. The doctor grew wide eyed at the threat, and wordlessly took off after the Ambassador.
Wildcard walked down the hallway, lost in a dozen different thoughts. Chief amongst them was the fact that he could apparently drop dead at any instant, and beyond that he realized that by travelling to the Crystal Empire he would probably have to meet Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Amour.
He did not look forward to it. The Prince was liable to just end him on sight, and the Princess would surely see to it he would end up a block of ice decorating the rail station.
Rail station. The Equestrians had build quite a respectable public transportation network, and soon the hive would be connected to this. It was said that Celestia always kept the trains running on time, and that one could get from end to the other in less then an hour. The network was almost magic- except that it ran on coal.
Leaving the palace Dr. Flankenstein caught up with him, gasping for air. Apparently Wildcard was a fast trotter.
"Doctor." Wildcard said, noticing him. "You look worse then me."
The Doctor took a deep breath, and calmed his breathing. "I feel like it too, now where are we off to?"
Wildcard looked down the street, past the hundreds of ponies that lined it, at the rail station. Beyond it he could see to the far mountain range, capped with snow. He sighed, and started trotting down the street.
"The Crystal Empire," he said.
Soon enough the pair was seated on the train, after a few strange looks from the conductor- whom hadn't even bothered to check for boarding passes from the two. They found themselves alone in a car as the train departed the station into the tunnel that would lead them down the mountain. Dr. Flankenstein had picked up a copy of Equestria Daily, which he read by the light created by his alicorn.
Wildcard sneezed, and the doctor produced a tissue from his saddlebag without looking up from the paper.
"Thank you." Wildcard said, using it to clean his face. Once he was done it levitated from his hands and burst into flame.
"Biohazard." Flankenstein mumbled, flipping the page.
"Well take a look at this, you made the news two days running." Flankenstein said, moving the paper so Wildcard could see.
"Changeling Ambassador seen stumbling through Canterlot after a night of drinking." Wildcard rubbed his forehead. "It was nothing like that!" he exclaimed.
"Oh it gets better." Flankenstein said, and pointed out a section with his hoof.
"Pub patrons report the strange foreigner paid for a round, using money provided by the Crown. Your tax money at work every pony."
Wildcard gave a deep, deep, sigh. "That money was... ugh." He shook his head and turned to stare out the window at the darkness of the tunnel. He continued to stare out as Flankenstein flipped through the rest of the paper. He was then blinded by the light as the train exited the tunnel into the unicorn range. There was a load clank as the train switched tracks for the northern line, which had recently been renamed the Crystal Line, according to the billboard outside.
"Next stop, Crystal Empire." Wildcard mumbled. This was going to be fun.
Soon enough they were there, the train stopped and the whistle blared. Dr. Flankenstein got up, followed shortly by Wildcard and they made for the exit. The rest of the passengers tactically moved to the other exits.
"Well doctor, I haven't sneezed in a few hours." Wildcard noted as the walked.
"That's either good, and means the antibiotics worked, or your sinuses have dried up and you're going to bleed to death."
Wildcard gave him a horrified look, and he shrugged. "Medical scientist, I suppose we can be a bit grim. Don't worry about it too much- it's better for your health." He grinned back and they left the train.
"Ever been to the Crystal Empire?" Dr. Flankenstein asked as they stood on the station platform, Wildcard taking a look around to get his bearings.
"We felt it would be... unwise ... to send anyone here," he said, pulling a map from a nearby stand.
Dr. Flankenstein gave a hearty laugh. "Oh, I can't imagine why!" he stuck out his chest. "We failed to take over Canterlot, so we'll just go try and take on the only two people in the world able to make out a changeling on sight." He made a strange impression of what he apparently imagined the Queen to sound like.
"Very funny doctor, so funny I might bury myself so you can spend some quality time on the moon." Wildcard pushed him aside and trotted down the platform. Dr. Flankenstein frowned and followed as the train blared it's whistle and departed.
A short while later the pair had found there way to the inner city, towards the palace which seemed to touch the very sky in it's towering height above the rest. As could be expected the pair received plenty of strange looks. The people gave them a wide berth- It would be nice except for the feeling of unease it imparted as conversations silences and all eyes turned towards the pair as they walked. One would almost think the changeling was an alien, and that was somewhat true.
Finally they arrived at the courtyard under the palace, and were stopped by a guard clad in the regular Equestrian Royal Guard ensemble.
"Halt." the guard ordered. "What's your business here with this... thing." He asked Dr. Flankenstein, glancing at the changeling at his side.
"This thing?!" Dr. Flankenstein exclaimed, incredulously. "Do you not read the news, stallion? This 'thing' is the Changeling Ambassador, and we demand and audience with Her Highness Princess Cadence at once!"
The guard bolted upright to attention, and saluted the doctor.
"Right away sir!" He said, and gestured to another guard. He then led the pair forward towards the palace doors while the other guard took up the rear. Dr. Flankenstein winked at Wildcard.
"It's all in the presentation."
Soon enough they were ushered into a markedly smaller throne room then Canterlot where a pink alicorn sat on a throne made of crystal, surrounded by crystal, in a palace of crystal, on a floor of crystal. At her side was a pony Wildcard recognized quite well, his image was burned into his mind as he was briefed repeatedly on one specific detail.
"Avoid at all costs."
The two noticed the changeling and his medical escort enter the room. Wildcard was sure to act before they could, and bowed as low as possible. "Your Highness's" he said.
Shining Armour glared down at him, while Cadence looked at him with a smile. "Ambassador Wildcard, I had heard you might drop by, what business do you have with the Empire?" she asked.
"The Hive requests... if at all possible... and if of no inconvenience.." He paused for a second thinking of what else he might add to his pillowy sentence. "...if you would be most gracious..."
"Get to the point!" Shining Armour demanded.
"The Hive requests access to steel, for construction of the new rail network." Wildcard said hastily.
"I see, we can provide this. What do you offer in trade?" Cadence asked.
"Many things." Wildcard lied, he had absolutely no idea what they could offer specifically but felt it was best to work out the deal now, and deal with that later. "Worker drones can perform labour that you may rather not, we have a great deal of surplus wood, and there's always common currency," he suggested.
"I see," Cadence said. "I suppose the exact amounts you require have yet to be determined?" She asked.
"That is correct," Wildcard said. He noticed the sound of writing behind him. Dr. Flankenstein was feverishing jotting something in his notebook.
"Well, we could use some spare labourers around here, working in the foundries isn't too fun. It's also difficult getting wood in what used to be tundra and is now a series of bare rolling hills." She stepped down from her throne and looked out the window, Shining Armour still glaring at the changeling.
"I suppose..." She stared outside, something out there was fascinating.
"Shining, take a look at this." She said. Shining broke his concentration and did a double take as he saw what was going on outside. Wildcard wanted more then anything to approach the window, but feared getting any closer to Cadence as necessary.
"What in Celestia's name, the moon and the sun?" He wondered, and trotted to behind his wife. Wildcard couldn't hold it anymore and trotted over too.
Or he would if he could move his legs. He looked down and noticed they had bloated up and seemed immobile, the many holes that make up his limbs filled in. Notably except for the one in his right ear, created by a lucky miss from a crossbow bolt.
"Doctor?!" Wildcard asked worriedly.
"I don't know?!" he prodded at Wildcards leg with a pencil. "Can you feel that?"
"No I can't!" Wildcard exclaimed. The Princess and the Prince turned to watch the new bizarre sight in the room.
"Doctor!?" Wildcard asked again.
"You must be having a response to the antibiotics, I have a an anti-inflammation agent- but I have no idea what it will do," The doctor said, removing said agent from his saddlebag while levitating his notepad.
At this Wildcards wings too bloated up, falling on his back like a soggy cloak.
"Just do it doctor!" Wildcard demanded. Dr. Flankenstein nodded and jabbed Wildcard in the flank.
For a second nothing happened, and then Wildcard deflated like a balloon and his wings shot straight into the air. Wildcard and Dr. Flankenstein were left agape at the result.
"I'm solid?!" Wildcard exclaimed, spinning around to get a look at himself. The many holes that made up his insectoid body no longer existed, he was a solid mass of dark flesh. Even his wings were solid, no longer looking like a fine cheese.
The doctor jotted something in his notepad and then put it back in his saddlebag, along with the empty syringe.
"Apparently." He said, poking at at Wildcards leg with the same pencil.
"I can feel that, doctor." Wildcard said. The doctor shrugged and put the pencil back. They then turned to the two royalty whom had watched the scene unfold. However, before anybody could say anything, a guard burst in and shoved the pair of travellers aside.
"Princess!" He exclaimed breathlessly. "The rails are overtaken by a strange plant, we can't run the trains!"
Cadence and Shining Armour looked at one another, and then Shining pointed a hoof at the changeling. "You, out. We'll talk to you when this crisis is over." Without even waiting for a reply he backed his order by pushing the two out with a magic field, and slamming the doors shut with the same.
"I guess we find an inn." Dr. Flankenstein said, and trotted down the hall. Wildcard went after him, constantly glancing back at his suddenly hole-free body.
Outside, Wildcard followed Flankenstein- barely paying any attention to where he was leading. Taking a quick glance upwards, he noticed that both the sun and the moon were visible, with an eerie area of twilight in the middle. Whatever was happening, there was no getting back to Canterlot any time soon. The pair continued down the streets as, for the first time, the eyes of the citizens were on something else. It was a refreshing change of affairs. Dr. Flankenstein stopped at the end of the street, Wildcard walked into his flank as he continued to stare aloft.
"It's a little basic for somebody as important as an ambassador , but it'll do," Dr. Flankenstein said. He trotted ahead and entered the establishment.
"The Crystal Stable, very true to the gimmick." Wildcard mumbled, and followed him inside where he was negotiating with a distracted looking inn keep, whom kept glancing beyond him outside from behind a desk.
"Four-" The inn keep noticed the changeling enter. "Fifty bits."
Dr. Flankenstien gave a mock gasp. "Fifty bits? That's highway robbery!" He exclaimed.
"Good luck finding any pony else willing to rent a room to the 'ambassador' and whoever you are."
"I'm a doctor!" Dr. Flankenstein slammed a hoof against he desk.
Wildcard trotted to his side. "It's fine doctor, I'll pay," he said, producing the 100 bit note from his saddlebag.
"The other fifty will cover your dinner and breakfast." The inn keep said, placing the note under the counter, and turned away.
Dr. Flankenstien was about to protest, but he was silenced by Wildcards hoof on his mouth. He looked at the Doctor and shook his head, conflict was to be avoided. The inn keep turned back and keep placed a key on the desk. "24-C." She said. Wildcard noticed the mares cutie mark was a pile of bits.
"Thank you." Wildcard said, receiving a fake smile in response. He dragged his comrade away before he could start a fight into a hallway. They trotted down it looking for their room.
"You're just gonna let them rob you like that?" Dr. Flankenstein questioned.
"If it means getting us a room, yes, I am. I've got bigger things to worry about." While this was true, one of the those bigger things was his lack of income, which was now more important then ever.
"You're in charge, I guess," Flankenstein said.
Shortly they came to their room, and Wildcard stuck the key in to open the door. Pushing it open he was surprised to find a nice looking room with two beds, a bookshelf full of assorted volumes, and a view outside. The sun could be seen just over the horizon, and for the first time in a while Wildcard relaxed.
He then trotted in through the poster and into the room.
"For Chrysalis' sake." He groaned, and looked upon the real room. A single bed, pealing wallpaper, and a stack of old Equestria Dailys. On the wall he noticed a piece of paper.
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but this room is in renovation."
"Well." Dr. Flankenstein pushed past him inside. "It has a shower."
"That's fantastic." Wildcard said, trotting in and trying to open the window. Outside the sun and the moon still hung strangely in the sky. The window however wouldn't budge.
"Fantastic." Wildcard mumbled.
The bathroom door closed behind him as Dr. Flankenstein took the opportunity to shower. Wildcard sat on the bed and picked up one of the old papers. It was dated the day before. The cover was a shaky photo of Queen Chrysalis standing before a green cocoon; snarling at the photographer, and above it was in great bold letters.
"A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL?"
Wildcard sighed and opened the paper, he certainly had nothing better to do. There was a story inside about how the Changelings were sending an ambassador, and how Celestia in the kindness of her heart had offered him one of the "Finest offices in the castle." At this he laughed.
A short while later the inn keep arrived and delivered a meal as Wildcard emerged from the shower after a lukewarm rinsing. It was strange to not feel the water flow through his holes, and he felt oddly dirty. It was common practice for a changeling to keep their holes clean, and his brain screamed at him for not having done so. He found Dr. Flankenstein at the bed with a plate before him, passing the inn keep wordlessly as she left.
"Potatoes, carrots, and I think that's a mushroom," He said as he began to eat.
"It looks like a rock." Wildcard said, taking a carrot for himself.
"It might be." Dr. Flankenstein said through a mouthful of potato. He prodded it with a free hoof.
"Nah," He said. "Mushroom."
Wildcard picked it up, sighed, and put it in his mouth. It was bitter, dry, but it was food. He'd had worse in the Hive.
When they had finished the inn keep returned and collected the plate wordlessly. When she departed Dr. Flankenstein laid his head back on the puffy pillows of the bed, and Wildcard lay beside him. At the very least the bed was big enough for both comfortably.
"Long day." the doctor said. "Didn't expect to come to the Empire."
"Last week I didn't even know what it looked like, wish I could enjoy it more." Wildcard lamented.
"I'm sure you could get some vacation time or something if you wanted," Dr. Flankenstein suggested.
"Even if I could, you saw how every'pony' watched me, I've got a long road ahead of me if I'm to earn their trust."
"Well," Dr Flankenstein looked out the window. "The general population seems to have a memory of the last crisis, but not the one before that. Assuming you didn't cause this, they'll move on eventually."
"I lay my hopes in the lack of attention span of ponies. Chrysalis help me," Wildcard said, reaching up his hooves.
"Right now I would say you're laying your hopes in those antibiotics," Dr. Flankenstein said, and shifted to look out the window.
"And so am I," he mumbled.
For the next few hours the two slept restlessly, fidgeting as their occupied minds jostled with the many problems and complications awaiting them. When they awoke, to a knock at the door, Wildcard was thankful at least he didn't receive a second visit from the Princess of the Night.
"Who is it?" Wildcard asked, and noticed the room was bathed in the proper moonlight that it should have been hours ago.
"Her Highness Princess Cadence requests your audience." A voice outside said, and then was heard to trot off.
Dr. Flankenstein took a deep breath and then hoped up from his side of the bed.
"Duty calls," He looked out the window. "We don't even get breakfast." He shook his head.
"A hundred bits." Wildcard mumbled, and led the doctor outside.
Soon enough they had arrived at the palace, and it seemed that the doctor might be right. On their way the ponies barely noticed the pair, talking about the mysterious pairing of the sun and moon early that 'day'. It was impossible to tell exactly what time it was now, since the strange phenomenon had extended well into what should have been the night. The same guard as before noticed them, and led them to the throne room.
"Your Highness." Wildcard said, bowing once again before Princess Cadence on the throne, Shining Armour at her side.
"The railway has been restored, and I suppose you are eager to leave. I have decided to accept your offer, and as soon as you have more specifics on the amount of steel you require we will meet again and discuss the details. Inform your Queen that I also have an additional offer- I wish to meet."
Both Shining Armour and Wildcard, as well as the doctor, were taken aback at this suggestion.
"You want to meet.. the Queen?" Wildcard asked. Shining Armour stared at his wife.
"I do. If we're to be allies then we need to put our past behind us." She glanced at her husband. "All of us."
He sighed. "I guess, Celestia's always known best before." He turned his gaze to the changeling and the doctor. "Next train leaves in a half hour, get going you two," he ordered.
Feeling it unwise to stay the bare minimum of a welcome he had, Wildcard bowed and left wordlessly, the doctor on his heels.
"You should probably get a bonus for that," He said.
Wildcard smiled, perhaps he could do it after all. He wouldn't mind less adventure however.
He also wouldn't mind having his holes back, but that was beyond him. Wildcard supposed he was lucky to be alive. If the Doctor was right about his lack of immunity, he had saved Wildcards life.
Without pausing they quickly went to the train station and boarded, once again finding a car to themselves- although that was less to do with how strange the pair was and more to do with how late it was. Wildcard was amazed that Equestria ran trains so late into the night. As he looked out the window at the moonlit Unicorn Range he figured that, in the end, the day had gone quite well.
"So what's it like," Dr. Flankenstein asked beside him. "Being part of a 'hive'?"
Wildcard took a moment to consider his answer. "Ordered," he replied.
"Ordered?" Flankenstein questioned.
"The Queen decides what we're going to do, and we do it. That's it. We all have a place in the machine, and she drives it."
"I see, she seems a lot like Celestia, just more... direct." Flankenstein noted.
Wildcard nodded. "It's close, I suppose my superior would be akin to her assistant," he noted.
For a while there was silence, but there was a question on Wildcards mind that had been nagging him on and off, but never when he was in a position to ask it.
"Flankenstein, do you know how the 'raising of the sun and moon' thing works?" he asked.
"With the Princess's?" Flankenstein said. "Well, think of it like breathing. You don't think about it, right?"
Wildcard nodded.
"But if you want to, you can. You can take a deep breath and hold it. The sun works the same way- normally."
"I think I get it, is it only the Princess's that can do it?" Wildcard asked.
"Probably, but I have no idea. You probably have to be a gifted Alicorn, and I have no idea how that works."
Wildcard nodded again. Fascinating how the ponies had seemingly used magic to take control of every aspect of the world. They were as obsessed with order as the changelings were, just in a different way. They ordered the world, the changelings ordered themselves.
A few hours of dozing later the train arrived at Canterlot Station. They disembarked just in time to be blinded by the raising of the sun, and were awed by the sight of an explosion the shape of a purple star hovering over the city.
"That's new." Dr. Flankenstein commented.
Finding their way to the castle, once again noting that the crowds seemed to pay them no mind (except for a pony outside of Applebucks that raised a mug as they passed.), Wildcard felt he was starting to make a difference, if slight. Coming to the entrance to the palace Wildcard looked at his new friend.
"I think I can handle it from here doctor, thanks for the assistance," He said, extending a hoof.
Dr. Flankenstein took and shook it. "Don't think you're free of me yet, I'll be back to check on you later. You're heading to Baltimare next, right?"
Wildcard released his hoof. "Probably, I need some money first."
Dr. Flankenstein smiled. "Good, we'll head back together. I'll work my magic and get a room in the castle, don't leave without me."
Wildcard laughed. "I wouldn't dream of it doctor."
With that, the pair separated and Wildcard entered the castle. Trotting down the hallways he had a great smile on his face, after a job well done. It had been quite an adventure, and probably one of many to come, but he had made it in the end. He found his way to his office and stepped over the door still on the floor. Looking over to his desk he noticed a letter lying on it, it wasn't in an envelope and appeared to have been stained by a mug. Trotting around the desk and putting his flank squarely in his chair he picked it up.
"Applebucks: Always one for the road!"
Author's Note
Yes, I did indeed watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles a few days before writing this.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
"Applebucks: Always one for the road!"
The letter Wildcard read was written by a type writer, a luxury that he couldn't afford, and apparently from Applebucks. He supposed he had made quite an impression in his short visit, enough to make the news that day anyway. Reading on he was bemused by the preposition in the letter.
"Ambassador Wildcard, you've only been here a few days but already my pub has been overfilling with patrons wanting to hear about the 'mysterious changeling' that Equestria Daily so generously reported on. Please come by again when you have the time, I have a business proposition for you, specifically I want to sell your people cider- lots of cider. My supplier has a bumper crop of apples at the moment and we can surely both profit from this."
Applebuck had signed the letter with a stamp. "Applebuck: Owner and Proprietor." Wildcard smiled to himself and put the letter in the top right drawer of his desk. He had managed to raise the status of the changelings from "enemy" to "tourist attraction", which was a start. Thinking on what to do next, Wildcard was startled when a pebble hit him in the back of the head. Spinning his chair around he groaned when he saw a blue pegasus flapping outside the window, loath to recall the lack of glass.
"Good morning, Rainbow Dash," Wildcard said, forcing a weak smile. She glared back at him with arms crossed.
"I know it was you," she accused. "You're the one that escaped."
Wildcard clacked two hooves together. "Bravo, Rainbow Dash, you solved the mystery. Not even Daring Do could solve that."
Rainbow Dash growled in response, and her wings flapped hard enough to create a somewhat impressive tornado effect with the dust in the room. Wildcard sneezed. The blue pony smirked and doubled her effort, whipping the dusty room into a hurricane of nasal irritant. Wildcard descended into a fit of sneezing as the blue pony laughed manically.
Princess Celestia entered through the whirlwind, and with a burst of magic, removed all the dust in the room and sent it outwards in a cloud at the blue pony- whom was now grey.
"Rainbow Dash!" She shouted. "Leave the Ambassador alone!" She admonished, glaring out the window beyond Wildcard, still sneezing.
"Yes, Princess." Rainbow Dash said as she shook the dust off herself. Taking one last glance at Wildcard she flew off
Wildcard sneezed again, and was about to continue into another fit as he was surrounded by a golden field and then felt a great force on his lungs. With an odd gasp he coughed out the dust in them into a small pile on the floor. Finally free of that he cleared his throat and hastily bowed at the princess, her scowling gaze turned outside as she watched the blue pegasus departing.
"Good morning, Princess. Thank you," He said.
Celestia looked down at him, and smiled. "No need to be so formal- just call me Celestia. I'm not here on official business," She said.
"Well, then why are you here, Celestia?" Wildcard asked.
"I wanted to see this new desk our 'mutual friend' had spoken of; and by the way he's in the room next to yours now." She trotted towards and tapped the desk with a gold capped hoof. "It's nice." She said. "Really nice."
Wildcard sighed and affectionately ran a hoof across it's mahogany surface. "You have no idea, apparently Princess Twilight managed to get a respected craftsperson named "Applebloom" to make it." He stared fondly at the beautiful desk. His desk.
Celestia chuckled. "Applebloom is a school filly, she doesn't even have a cutie mark."
Wildcard looked at her confused. "A school filly? If she's so talented with woodworking... shouldn't she have a cutie mark representing that?" He asked.
Celestia shrugged. "Nopo- nobody - knows how these things work, it's just magic," she explained.
"Well," she smiled again at Wildcard, "I really should get going, you know where to find me," Celestia said and trotted to the doorway. The fallen door lay to the side.
"Before you go, what's the deal between you and the Doctor?" Wildcard asked. Celestia glanced back from the doorway, frowning.
Celestia sighed. "That's a long story I would rather not get into right now, perhaps later."
She departed without any further words, leaving Wildcard alone with his desk. He returned to his seat and removed a blank piece of paper from the top left drawer. It would probably be wise to report on his progress before heading out again. Dipping his quill into the ink bottle he began.
"From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard." He wished he had some proper letterhead, Chrysalis knew how often he would have to write that.
"I hope this finds you well, and that all in the Hive is going as well as it is on my part. I have managed to secure a supplier for steel, at considerable expense, in the Crystal Empire. They request specifics on the amounts we will require. Futhermore, Princess Cadence requests an audience with Queen Chrysalis at the soonest opportunity.
As for engaging the civilian population, I have found early success on that part. I hope soon to have solidified a deal to provide Equestrian Cider imports to the Hive, and made an important discovery brought to my attention by one of the locals. Do not under any circumstances send any more changelings this way for permanent residence. We failed to consider the fact that finding ourselves spending more time with the ponies, in closer quarters, will result in our catching of contagions. I owe my life to this pony, and will soon have a plan worked out with him to immunize any immigrants. His name is "Dr. Flankenstein", and I request any intelligence that may have been gathered about him. I also request a contigency dossier, perhaps a unicorn, should I need to leave in a hurry. "
A 'Contigency Dossier' referred to the description of an emergency disguise for infiltrators, should they need to escape in a hurry. One of the core reasons the invasion of Canterlot failed was the bridesmaids failing to have any, keeping their disguise even after being made.
The other reason was Chrysalis insisting on teleporting prisoners to the caves, instead of off a cliff.
Considering that there was still the matter of the Princess of the Night watching his every move, perhaps it would be wise to have an exit strategy.
Wildcard signed the letter, and enclosed it in an envelope from the middle drawer on his left. Magically sealing it closed (Much preferred to licking it shut.), he stuck it in his saddlebag and got up from the desk just in time to meet a guard coming into the room.
"Mail for you, Ambassador." The guard said, handing him an envelope and began to trot back out.
"Hold up!" Wildcard ordered. The stallion turned to him, cocking his head. Wildcard removed the letter from his saddlebag and offered it. "See that this makes it the hive as soon as possible."
The guard nodded and received it, "as you wish, Ambassador," and then trotted back out.
Wildcard took a look at the letter in his hoof. It was once again marked with the standard of the hive. News from home. He opened it and tossed the envelope on his desk, reading as he stood.
"From the Desk of Commander Medulla. TOP SECRET" (That was new, he had assumed these to be secret in the first place.)
"I hope you are faring well, for there is some bad news from abroad. The Griffon Kingdoms are experiencing a rather violent 'unification' which has forced the recall of all of our infiltrators. They are building for war, and I fear the consequence of this if we are not prepared if, and when, that time comes. I have an important set of tasks for you, ones that will probably take some time and will be needed to be performed delicately as you do you other tasks.
Firstly, we need to know the GDP (Total revenue) of Equestria. Secondly, we need to know the size of the Equestrian Royal Guard, and if they have reserves. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, we need to know how quickly the guard could respond to an attack on the hive. I expect that Princess Celestia will be forthcoming with the first, but the second will probably be secret information. As for the third, it will depend on what force the Equestrians would send if we sent the alert. Find this information and report it back to us.
In somewhat better news, the new hatching progresses well. The Queen and I have spend some... time... together and see a great vision for the Hives future. Your role is of considerable importance, do not let us down."
Wildcard furrowed his brow as he considered the implications of this information. He had expected to be tasked with information gathering, but doing it with the threat of war hanging over his head was another thing entirely. The treaty stated that the Equestrians should be informed of any 'pertinent information' gathered by the hive, and he would do just that. The rest of the document, however, could never be seen.
It burst into flame and disintegrated before Wildcard, and then he trotted out of the room. First, he would see Celestia. Once that was done he had to see a mare about an apple.
Entering the throne room Wildcard noticed that Dr. Flankenstein was already there, in some discussion with the princess. Waiting at the rear of the room he listened as they talked. To the side of the Princess her assistant stood, wings folded and at attention as the two discussed matters beside her.
"Well, that's exactly it your Highness. We will have to go there before they can come here . The Hive won't carry anything that can effect us ponies, but they will have to be immunized before they leave. The only reason this hasn't been a problem in the past is they always steered clear of direct contact, what with the spying and all," Dr. Flankenstein said, as Celestia read through his notebook.
"How soon can it be done?" She asked.
"It will take a while to make the requisite shots, but as you'll note all the details are there. I estimate it will take a month to make them, and a further month to immunize the hive," he explained.
"I'll have Canterlot General get started immediately then," Celestia said levitating the notebook to her assistant- who nodded and trotted past Wildcard to the exit. She smiled at him as she passed, Wildcard found himself lost in those deep blue eyes as she passed, still lost even after she had left.
"Ambassador?" Celestia asked. "You there?"
Wildcard shook his head and came to attention. "Sorry, lost in thought," He said. Clearing his throat he continued speaking as he walked to the throne. "Your Highness I have important news from our intelligence."
Celestia's gaze turned serious, as Wildcard trotted up to beside the doctor and they exchanged looks.
"I'll assume it isn't good, let's hear it," Celestia said, looking down on Wildcard from her throne.
"The Griffons are reported to be arming, and the Kingdoms are uniting- forcibly. The only thing keeping the peace thus far has been the splintered nature of the Kingdoms, and intelligence is worried that a unification could have... consequences," he explained.
"I see, this doesn't bode well indeed. Will you be able to gather any further information?" Celestia asked.
"No, our infiltrators have been forced to leave," Wildcard replied.
"Very well, I'll double the border watch. Thank you for bringing this to my attention." Celestia said.
The assistant returned, once again passing Wildcard. Her blue coat seemed to shine in the light, the cutie mark of a scroll highlighted. Her mane was the colour of a waterfall, and her tail...
"Wildcard." Celestia said again. "I'm up here Wildcard."
The assistant giggled, and Wildcard cleared his throat again.
"There was uh, one more matter," Wildcard said, "what is the GDP of Equestria?" he asked bluntly.
"Fifty million bits, per annum," Celestia replied. The Doctor whistled. "Fifty million bits." he repeated.
"Thank you for being so forthcoming." Wildcard said. "I suppose I have no more business, your Highness." He bowed and prepared to leave. Celestia however called his name, and he turned back.
"I suppose your superior also wants to know the size of the guard, and our plan of response if the Hive is attacked?" she smirked at him, as he looked at her shocked.
"I've been doing this for millennia, Wildcard. You may be the only Ambassador now, but you are far from the first." She stepped down from the throne and strode to one of the stained glass paintings. "Equestria once extended far beyond these borders, and perhaps one day it will again." She stood before a painting depicting the smiling sun shining down on a continent of blue, and turned back to Wildcard.
"Your answer is fifty thousand, twenty thousand in reserve, and we would send the Wonderbolts- followed by rapid response pegasi and the rest of the guard if need be," She explained. "We're friends now Wildcard, make sure your superior understands that." She smiled warmly at him.
He smiled in return. "Perhaps he only needs to come and enjoy your hospitality." He bowed again. "Thank you." he gestured the doctor to follow him out as Celestia returned to her throne.
As they left Wildcard glanced back the Princess' assistant, catching a glimpse of her as the guards closed the doors behind the pair.
"Her name's First Class." Dr. Flankenstein said, much to Wildcards delight. "I didn't think a hive species would be capable of love, but what do I know." he jabbed his friend in the chest.
"I am not in love," Wildcard lied, "I just like her mane."
The guards chuckled, causing Wildcard to blush and lead his smiling friend away.
"Sure you aren't," Flankenstein said, sarcasm nearly visible in his breath.
"So, what's the plan today?" Dr. Flakenstein asked, as he pulled something from his saddlebag as they trotted along.
"I've got to see a mare named Applebuck about supplying the Hive with cider," Wildcard replied, and then jumped into the air as something bit into his flank.
Spinning around he was greeted by the smiling face of Dr. Flankenstein, holding an empty syringe. "Your first immunization, I told you you'd be seeing a lot of me." He flicked the tip of the syringe and put it back in his bag. "Lead on."
Wildcard fumed. "And what's this going to do to me, make me an Alicorn Princess?"
Dr. Flankenstein put his hoof to his chin, as if considering that idea. "Nah, Dr. Larson tried it once."
"Bad idea."
Soon enough the pair was outside the palace, finding themselves under the warm noon sun of Canterlot. All around the city went through the motions of pretending to be important, as ponies went to and fro with the business of the day. They ignored the blue eyed, black coated, changeling and the doctor that walked beside him. The doctor had been right, the ponies hardly had any attention span, it only took a few days for the new arrival to become 'normal'. So they trotted down the street together, towards the pub that was Wildcards mission for the day.
Soon enough they found themselves there, just in time to find Applebuck tossing a patron out on their flank.
"It's called a tab, not charity!" She shouted at the pony, who galloped off- tipping to the side and crashing into a table. Taking off again this repeated several times as a game of pinball was played down the street.
Wildcard and the Doctor watched the scene unfold, and shared a fit of laughter before turning to Applebuck, whom had also been watching the antics of her ex-patron bemusedly.
"Good to see you again Wildcard..." She trailed off as she looked over the Doctor. "This isn't an inspection is it? I swear that rat is... my pet. That's it, my pet." Her eyes shifted from side to side and she played with her mane.
"No, this is the stallion that's kept me from dying, I owe him my life," Wildcard explained.
"Dr. Flankenstein, at your service." He bowed slightly.
"Well, so long as you aren't here to shut me down, come on in. We can talk business inside." Applebuck gestured the two follow her inside. They followed her in and were led past the patrons (a few of whom recognized Wildcard and raised their mugs) into a room in the back.
She took a seat behind a desk, covered in bags full of bits and assorted papers, as Wildcard took the seat before it and Dr. Flankenstein, left seatless, looked at the room. There was a clock that hung from the wall on the side, broken, and the window behind Applebuck was dirty with the filth of a decade of neglect such that it was opaque. Feeling out of place he left for the bar.
"So, Wildcard, how's things at home?" Applebuck asked, clearing some space off the desk.
"Fairly good, you should start seeing more of us in a few months," Wildcard said. "You mentioned a bumper crop."
Applebuck smiled, and reached under the desk for something. "I did." She pulled out a typewriter and dropped it on the desk with an audible thunk.
"Let's get straight to it. A hundred bits per barrel, and you pay for the shipping costs."
Wildcard thought about this for a moment. He had seen those barrels on his way in, and each looked to contain enough cider for a hundred or so mugs. The math was was easy, and the hive was getting the cider at an apparently large discount.
"Eighty." Wildcard offered.
Applebuck clacked her hoof against the top of the desk, thinking.
"Fine, but you also have to provide security for these until the rail line is complete."
"Agreed," Wildcard said.
Applebuck rubbed her hooves together and began typing. "That's fantastic. I'll write up a contract in a flash and we can conclude this meeting. In the meantime... help yourself," She waved a hoof towards the door and smirked as she typed away.
"Not until this is signed, You aren't going to get me drunk on the job."
Applebuck paused in her typing for a moment, and looked up at Wildcard. "You're clever, I couldn't imagine a better Ambassador." She smiled at him and then resumed typing. Clack, clack, clack.
Wildcards mind began to wander, and he found himself daydreaming about the mare he had seen in the throne room. First Class, a heck of name. In his mind he saw her looking at him, mane swishing in the wind as she shook her head in slow motion. She hovered over a seashell as the ocean behind her gently lapped the shore. He closed his eyes and sighed, lost in the imagery.
He was interrupted by a bump in the back of the head before he was quite done enjoying this.
"Sorry." Dr. Flankenstein said, holding a mug of cider. "This stuffs powerful, your countrymen are going to love you for this."
Before he could say anything there was a clang before them as Applebuck finished typing up the contract. She picked it off the typewriter and looked it over before handing it to Wildcard.
Reading it over he found everything to be as he expected. Eighty bits per barrel, the Hive covers shipping and security. That would only be a minor concern until the rail extension was finished, and then no concern at all. At the bottom was a blank spot for his signature.
"Looks good," Wildcard said, as he put the contract on the desk and pulled a quill from his bag. As he dipped it into a pot of ink on the desk he had a sudden thought, he needed some sort of stable income...
"Hold on." He said, dropping the quill. "You stand to make a considerable profit off this."
"Yes...?" Applebuck cocked her eyebrow at Wildcard, wondering what he was thinking.
"Make it ninety, and ten of those bits goes to me," He said. "I want the first up front."
Dr. Flankestein spat out his cider all over the wall, which made it stand out from the rest of the room as it was suddenly clean enough to show the flowery wallpaper. Applebuck looked at Wildcard, agape.
"I'm not going to say no, but I never expected such... pragmatism. "
Wildcard looked for the spots on the contract specifying the price, and with a light from his crooked alicorn erased them and wrote in a figure of ninety. "I have a very open mission profile, and I need currency to carry it out." He finished that, and signed his name.
"I consider it direct funding," He said, handing the contract over to Applebuck. She took it, smirking at the changeling.
"You're a crafty bug Wildcard." She signed it herself, and stood from the desk. "I'll get this notarized and send a copy to you, the first shipment should be ready by the end of the week, assuming you can have your people come pick it up. I'll have twenty barrels for you."
"I'll make sure they're here to pick it up, they won't be able to stay long so make sure that shipment is ready on the dot." Wildcard said, standing and shaking the mares hoof. She reached under the desk and pulled out a small satchel.
"Two hundred bits then, up front like you said." She handed him the satchel, and he put it in his bag. "I'll see you in a week." Wildcard said, and left the room with the doctor on his tail.
"Oh, why not." He mumbled to himself, and counted out ten bits as he walked to the bar, finding a stallion cleaning glasses behind the counter, not noticing Wildcard approach. Putting the coins on the counter the sound of gold made the barkeep turn around.
"For my friend and I." Wildcard gestured to Dr. Flankenstein, whom stood at his side eyeing his empty mug.
The two took seats at the bar and received their drinks.
"That was some crafty work back there," the Doctor said, taking a swig of cider. "I didn't know you had it in you, that's more my style." he laughed and took another.
Wildcard smiled to himself and swished his drink around before taking a swig. His eyes flew open and if he had a pupil it would have covered his entire iris. Equestrian Cider would be his gift to the hive, and they would probably build a statue in his honour after the first shipment arrived. The importation would also send a considerable amount of money to Equestria, which would definitely lighten the mood of the ponies.
It also solved his income problem, something he would be sure to not mention unless asked directly. Very directly.
As he contemplated this Dr. Flankenstein once more did a spit take beside him, resulting in an angry glare from the bar keep. Wildcard turned to him to see what the fuss was, to find the Doctor seemingly entranced by Wildcards flank.
"See something you l-" Wildcard looked back and his eyes widened to almost super-insectoid levels. There was a dim shape taking form there.
"No, that's not..." He was an odd mixture of afraid, curious, and astonished as he watched the shape begin to take form.
"I think it is!" Flankenstein exclaimed, slamming his mug on the bar and taking out his notepad. "Fascinating!"
He looked glanced up from it as he hastily wrote something, watching enthralled at the changeling's flank. The barkeep stared at it from across the bar, and several heads turned to see what was going on elsewhere in the room. Wildcard squinted at his own flank, regarding it as almost alien as he sat there and watched a rectangle form, behind it a red dotted line.
"Dear Chrysalis.." he mumbled, and downed the rest of his drink.
"I think it's... a playing card?" Flankenstein said, apparently drawing it in his notebook.
"It's an ace." the barkeep said. "Or is it a two? It keeps changing."
"Well then what's the line?" Flankenstein wondered.
"A border." Wildcard suggested. "It's a border, and a wildcard," he concluded. Sighing he tried to drink from his empty glass, frowning at the realization at it's lack of cider.
"Welcome to the herd!" One of the onlookers shouted, raising his mug in the air. Wildcard turned towards the other patrons with a look of mild horror on his face, but that changed into a smile as the rest raised their mugs in turn.
"Welcome to the herd!" they shouted.
Wildcard removed a further dozen bits from his bag and placed them on the counter. "Keep it coming."
A while later Wildcard and Dr. Flankenstein stumbled out into the evening sun. Wildcard had been the toast of the bar, it wasn't every day that a changeling earned his cutie mark, and had cut a deal to make the owner of the establishment quite wealthy. The drinks flowed like a waterfall, and the patrons had taken turns congratulating the changeling while giving their- often dull- account of their own cutie marks. Wildcards favourite was an older man with the cutie mark of a heart. He earned it when he met his lifetime love in his youth, and the two had been together since. Adorable.
"So doc," Wildcard said, stumbling along with his companion. "How'd you get yours?"
The Doctor put a hoof on his friends shoulder and waved his other in front as they went down the street.
"I cured the cold, when I was still in school." He prodded his flank with that hoof. "Had this ever since, could've had a career too." He hiccuped, and frowned. "Blew that right up."
"What's the story with that anyway?" Wildcard asked, narrowly avoiding an Equestrian pedestrian.
"One day, I'll tell you. One day." He shook his head. "Not today, too good a day."
Stumbling past the guards at the gates to the castle, whom immediately started gossiping after they had passed, they soon found their rooms. It was only evening but Wildcard could barely see straight, and his friend fared no better. They had been out rather late the night before too.
"I'll see you in the m*hic*ing" Dr. Flankenstein said, falling on his rooms door. "Maybe straighten that horn out." He pushed it open and stumbled inside.
Wildcard snorted at the suggestion and pushed his own door open. "Welcome to the *hic*." He stumbled over to his bed and flopped onto it, closing the door with a green field seconds before falling asleep.
Once again, he found himself outside Ponyville at night. He was aware enough even in the dream to know it was such, and galloped furiously towards the same cloaked figure standing in the courtyard. She began to speak, but was interrupted.
"Just shut up!" He yelled up at The Princess of the Night. "My dream, my rules. Get lost!"
With that he made her vanish with the power of his mind, her confused face shrinking into a spec and then disappearing with a spark. little did she know that Wildcard had developed the skill of lucid dreaming, which had been developed during his boredom in the Hive. It had been weeks since he had really dreamt peacefully, and he wasn't about to let another threat from Luna cap off what had been a great day. He plopped his flank down, and the scene shifted back to the beach from his daydream.
One day he would find that beach.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard returned to his office, after the first really restful sleep since before the misguided invasion launched by Princess Twilight Sparkle that had led to the treaty, and his job. He took breakfast in his room before departing, seeing the doctor quickly about his hangover before the doctor was called out on some urgent matter in Canterlot General.
Parting ways with his friend, Wildcard trotted into his office as the rain pitter pattered against the wall outside (and made a small puddle inside, he would have to get that window fixed.). Looking over his desk he noticed a manilla envelope and a pair of letters. The manilla envelope drew him in like a fly to honey- fitting considering how much like an insect he looked.
Plopping his newly marked flank on his chair, glancing once again at his cutie mark, he tore open the envelope and dumped the contents on the table. A letter, and two stapled together documents. The letter seemed the logical place to start, so he did.
"From the Desk of Commander Medulla. TOP SECRET" (Was there a secret less then top, Wildcard wondered.)
"Your recent correspondence was well received, your counterpart Ambassador Pike is anxiously awaiting the Equestrian Cider shipments, and so is the queen. As for specifics in the amount of steel we'll require, we'll first need to find a route, which requires you to finish tracking down engineers. Once that is done, contact us again and I will arrange for Cadence and Chrysalis to meet at the dedication. On the note of Dr. Flankenstein, and his discovery of contagions: this explains a few things on our end. We had recently seen a rash of sickness spread through the hive, but the Queen and I were able to sort that out with the help of Ambassador Pike. I will place him under quarantine until the Doctor can finish his work. Finally, You'll find a report on him included, as well as the requested contingency dossier.
In conclusion: Find the engineers, continue your work with the Doctor, and try to find work for the workers when they're able to immigrate." It was signed by the commander.
Wildcard noticed that this too was typed, apparently the Hive had been importing goods already. Had Wildcard not stepped in with the Equestrian Cider deal, there was good chance they could have been taken advantage of. This idea went straight to the changeling's ego. He put the letter in his desk- he would have to buy a lock for that drawer- and took a look over the other documents.
As explained in the letter the first was a report on Dr. Flankenstein, disappointingly short. All of the information contained was trivial. His birthdate was the 7th of June, his cutie mark was a red cross (Which Wildcard already knew.), and his job was the Royal Surgeon.
Wildcard paused in thought to consider that. He couldn't possibly be the Royal Surgeon, he had mentioned spending most of his time in Baltimare- which was quite a ways from Canterlot-, and Princess Celestia seemed to have a less then warm relationship with the good Doctor. Changeling intelligence in Equestria had pretty much collapsed since the failed invasion of Canterlot, with the Equestrian Royal Guard systematically driving the changeling infiltrators that remained out. Shining Armour had still been Captain at the time, and his experience with the Queen left him and his wife uniquely able to detect changelings by sight. Whether it was magic, or an odd skill, was unknown. Detect them he did, spending weeks going over the entire country.
Wildcard wrote some notes of his experiences with the Doctor and put the document in the desk- he would have to update intelligence as soon as he knew more. That done, he picked up the last document and skimmed it over. The picture of a pegasus (unexpected), was along the top. Various details such as birthdate, birthplace, favourite colour, etc ran along the page followed by a physical description. A blue coat with a turquoise mane and tail. The dossier specified deep blue eyes and the cutie mark of a scroll...
"Oh no." Wildcard sighed, and eyed the name at the bottom of the document.
"First Class."
Wildcard sat back in the desk and sunk his forehead into a hoof. He couldn't refuse the dossier, it would seem strange- and the last thing he needed was for his superior to think he was anything but impartial in his dealings with the ponies, the fact he had lost his holes and wore a cutie mark was enough already. This was the identity he was stuck with if he had to escape, his only hope was to never have to use this. Then again, he supposed if he ever did need to escape in a hurry it wouldn't matter who his was disguised as, he wouldn't be coming back. The idea unexpectedly frightened him.
He put the document with the others, and opened the first of the letters. It was stamped with the image of a pair of purple wings, he had a good idea whom it was from.
"Dear Ambassador Wildcard." (He was surprised to find that this was handwritten, surely the Twilight Princess didn't handwrite her own letters?)
"I reqest-" (Surely the Twilight Princess could spell, what was going on here?) "- your presents in Ponyville at the next possible opportunity. As Princess I have been requested to speak to you on behalf of my good friend Applejack, about work placement."
It was signed by the Princess, in a shockingly different style of handwriting that stood out from the rest. Looking closer at the letter it appeared to have scorch marks on the side, these ponies just got stranger as the days went on. Putting the letter to the side he turned to the last bit of business on his desk. Celestia's standard was on the top.
"Ambassador Wildcard, since you and your new friend had such a productive evening yesterday I decided to leave you be, and deliver this information by letter. I'll be out of town for a short while, leaving my sister in charge of the throne in my absence. I feel it would be wise for you two to talk, and put the past behind you.
Just don't do so before 7PM, she doesn't take well to the day.
P.S: Tell Dr. Flankenstein I have received word his 'lab' has been brought back to operation, and deliver to him the attached picture."
Wildcard turned the letter over and found a photograph stuck to the back. It was Princess Luna, standing in the moonlight. Oddly her mane wasn't shimmering as it had last Wildcard had seen her, and her coat was a little brighter. He wasn't sure what the implication was, but he put the image in his bag,which had been leaning against the desk. Taking a moment to collect himself he felt the wind blow some rain against the back of his chair. Celestia's letter went with the rest.
Priority number one became replacing the glass, priority number two: get a typewriter. He was sure both of these could be found in town, so he removed his coin purse from his bag and counted it out.
"How did I spend fifty bits on cider, get a hold of yourself Wildcard," he said, and returned it to the bag. Dismounting from the chair he slung the saddlebags over his back, and left his office behind. He noted the door still laying on the floor as he left
Shortly he found himself outside the palace, a swift wind driving the cold rain into his face- without a coat,or umbrella. He shivered and extended a small magical field over himself, it would do until he could find a coat, or an umbrella, or a portable magic heater. Trotting down the mostly empty streets as rolling thunder sounding from the valley below he looked at the signs of businesses as he passed them. The ponies seemed to have a near obsession with dresses and anything to do with apples, even a few apple themed dress shops. It wasn't for a good half hour until Wildcard found a suitable business to repair the glass in his office, which he entered, grateful to finally be out of the rain.
Entering the establishment: Panes and Typewriters, Wildcard shook his mane free of rainwater. Ahead of him a stallion sat behind a small counter, and was reading todays Equestria Daily, with his hooves up the counter. He was so enthralled that he didn't notice the Ambassador enter. While he trotted to the desk Wildcard was able to see the front page, and he frowned as he saw his visage splayed across with more unflattering bold words above.
"PONY-ITUS: Ambassador earns cutie mark in second night of drinking!"
Wildcard could only begin to guess what the story itself was about, but that was no matter. He cleared his throat and the stallion glanced at him. Noticing whom was standing across the counter he threw down the newspaper and stood at attention to greet the ambassador.
"Good morning, Mr. Ambassador, what can I do for you?" The stallion asked.
Wildcard had Equestria Daily to thank for the fact that, at the very least, everypony knew who he was now.
"I'm here to get the window in my office replaced, and purchase a typewriter."
The stallion cocked his head. "I thought your office was in the palace?"
Wildcard sighed. "It is, but it needs some work. The window for starters. "
"Well, my names Glass Pane, and you've come to the right place. My brother generally handles the typing side, but he's out so I can help you there too," The stallion said, and came from behind the counter. "If you'll follow me, you can choose your style and I'll have my people install it for you before the end of the day." He put a hoof on Wildcards shoulder and led him through a doorway to a room with a vast assortment of window panes.
The room was huge, and filled wall to wall with dozens of different panes of glass. Wildcard had no idea there were so many styles of glass panes, and they were all named. Glass Pane led him down the aisles explaining the difference between a "Baltimare Glimmerpane" and a "Canterlot Secure." (Glimmerpane was thinner ,and had a slight prism effect; Secure had an almost invisible metal cross-section that made it difficult to shatter.). Wildcard figured that seemed perfect for an embassy office in a palace, but he couldn't get a word in edgewise as the stallion breathlessly continued leading him down the aisles.
Glass Pane stopped before yet another one of the blur of glass panes, gesturing at it with one hoof on Wildcards shoulders. "Here we have an interesting design. The glass is actually very thin crystal, straight from the Crystal Empire. Imperial Glimmerpane, with much the same effect as it's Baltimare cousin..."
Wildcard had put up with this for hours and finally had his say. "I've seen enough, Glass Pane," he said, pushing the stallions hoof off his shoulders. "The Canterlot Secure seems like it would be perfect."
Glass Pane frowned. "I should have guessed, you've got no taste sir, no taste at all." He gestured to the Imperial Glimmerpane, "Are you absolutely sure you want something so... boring?" He asked.
"Absolutely," Wildcard replied.
Glass Pane sighed. "Fine, fine. It'll be a hundred bits for the glass and installation, if I'm correct in my guess at how big the window is."
"That'll be fine," Wildcard said. "Now, a typewriter?" he asked.
"Maybe you'll have better taste in that, follow me," Glass Pane said, and led him into another room.
The typewriter room was an almost mirror image of the first, with the hundreds of glass panes replaces by hundreds of typewriters arranged on aisles of counters. Instantly a red one in the middle of the room caught Wildcard's eye, and he left Glass Pane behind as he trotted towards it.
"The Imperator," Wildcard said to himself, looking at the placard on the counter before it. The typewriter was an amazing looking bit of engineering, with the normal dual hoof levers replaced by a hundred or so small keys, each with a letter on it. To the side of the typewriter was a special horseshoe, with a stylus sticking out. Wildcard assumed this was so the operator could press the buttons- Hooves weren't known for dexterity.
"Ah, the Imperator. A more expensive model but you can't beat the words per minute it can deliver over the binary models." Glass Pane explained.
Wildcard noticed the price. Two hundred bits. He only had fifty left over after the glass, but he had an idea.
"I can give you fifty," Wildcard said, and then leaned in closer to the pony, "and I'll make you the Hives official supplier."
The hive didn't use glass, it rarely rained in the valley and regardless, the buildings were made of solid stone. Glass Pane didn't need to know, however.
Glass Pane considered it for a second. "It's a deal, Ambassador."
Glass Pane turned to lead Wildcard back out to finalize the deal, and Wildcard couldn't help but smile ear to ear. Having an important sounding title had it's benefits, he was quickly realizing just how far those benefits extended.
After he had signed the requisite paperwork and paid the stallion, Wildcard stood outside once again. The rain continued to fall, and he was once again broke. It didn't matter, he had everything he needed for the moment and the crown covered his lodging and meals- so long as he was in Canterlot anyway. If all else failed he could probably throw his title around to get a loan anyway. He had a few hours to burn until the recommended time to meet with Princess Luna, which he wasn't looking forward to, and so hopped the next train to Ponyville. Wildcard had travelled more in the last week then in the rest of this year combined, it was a nice change of pace from waiting for orders in the Hive. It was nice to actually be able to talk to to people too, instead of having to avoid them to accomplish whatever subterfuge was ordered.
The train ride wasn't long, nor eventful, and Wildcard soon found himself at the Ponyville station. Interestingly Ponyville was a pocket of sunshine in contrast to the rest of the country. Not a cloud hung over it as the rest of Equestria was still getting drenched, and in the distance rolling thunder could still be heard. Ponyville was more or less the hub of the south rail network, and as such Wildcard knew exactly where to find the Twilight Princess. He wondered if she had caught on and realized he was the changeling she had met- and run off- a week earlier in Canterlot.
As he trotted down the main street towards the library wherein Princess Twilight Sparkle made her residence, Wildcard noticed he picked up the tail of a green pony whom was making a mockery of the stealth arts as she darted from doorway to doorway, bush to bush. Wildcard had a hunch who this was and suddenly dove down an alley, shimmering with a dull green glow as he changed form. It wasn't long before the green mare rounded the corner and her mouth hung agape at what she saw.
She darted her head to the left, and Wildcard countered. To the right, and he repeated. She caught on soon enough however and Wildcards fun was over.
"That's pretty good, but you got the cutie mark wrong." She said, and gestured at Wildcards disguised flank. He looked back and frowned on noticing that it was blank not a lyre as the pony had. The same mistake had gotten him run out of Canterlot.
"I suppose that's why I'm not a spy anymore," he said, dropping his disguise. "Can I do something for you, Lyra?" He asked.
Lyra cocked an eyebrow at him. "How do you know my name?" She asked.
Wildcard rubbed the back of his head. "We met in Canterlot... about three months ago."
Lyra looked at him, astonished. "That was you?" She pointed an accusatory hoof at the Ambassador.
"Yes, yes it was me. I'm sorry about that," Wildcard said.
"Well I don't really blame you, but did you really have to take my saddlebags? I had a few hundred bits in there!" Lyra exclaimed.
Wildcard considered this information for a moment, the invasion of Canterlot had wronged a great many ponies, but righting those wrongs might actually prove a comparably cheap way to earn some good will.
"I did, we spent that money on logistics." Wildcard put a hoof on her shoulder and gave her a warm smile. "I'll tell you what, I'll write home and see if I can't get you compensated," Wildcard offered.
Lyra returned his smile. "That would be perfect, thank you Ambassador."
Lyra coughed lightly. "There's something else I wanted to ask you, Ambassador..."
"Yes?" Wildcard squinted at the pony, this would surely be something silly.
"You can disguise as... anything, right?" Lyra asked. She circled the ground with a hoof.
"With the same body mass..."
"So, how about this?" Lyra produced a drawing (Wildcard wasn't sure from where , but didn't feel like asking.) Hovering it over with a green field to Wildcard he looked it over.
"What is this, a pony standing on two legs, with a crushed muzzle and weird tentacle hooves?" The drawing perplexed Wildcard, he'd never seen or heard of anything like this. Whatever this monster was he hoped never to see one in person.
"It's a-" Lyra began to explain but was interrupted by a voice behind them, telekinetically she snatched the paper from Wildcard.
"Lyra? Lyra what are you doing?" A tan mare stood at the mouth of the alley, peering in at the pair. She saw the Ambassador and trotted in with a scowl.
"Lyra! Haven't you learned before not to bother government officials?" Lyra turned to her admonishing friend, who looked past her at the Ambassador.
"I'm sorry about this Ambassador, she's..." Wildcard shook his head and gestured the pony be silent.
"It's perfectly alright. Your friend here is very.. imaginative. She has a legitimate grievance with the Hive, and I'll see to it we make it right."
The tan mare seemed confused by that, cocking her head at her friend. "Is that true Lyra, I had no idea."
Lyra nodded. "Well, thank you Ambassador, we won't take up any more of your time." The later mare said, and led her friend out. She glanced back at Wildcard and winked, and he departed to continue his journey to the library shorty after.
Wildcard was able to reach that without any further interruption, and knocked on the large wooden door. The building seemed almost the size of a fortress, suited more for guard outpost then a library.
Then it clicked in Wildcards mind. This was a guard outpost, albeit a well disguised one; and Twilight Sparkle, as well as her friends, were the guard. Ponyville was located at the hub of the southern rail network, and anything coming from the south to attack Equestria would have to pass near it first- most notably the Everfree Forest was right next door. It was a buffer zone, with the most powerful defenders of the country living close enough that they could halt any force there long enough; and defeat it themselves, or allow for a larger response to be put together. Celestia was a strategic genius, he wondered how long she had planned this.
"Hello?" Somebody said. The door was open but Wildcard didn't see anybody on the other side, so he figured someone had telekinetically opened it from inside. He trotted forward and tripped over a small purple dragon that had been holding the door open, the dragon faring no better.
"Hey, watch it buddy!" The dragon said, coming to his feet and standing over Wildcard as he lay on the library floor.
Wildcard looked up at him, trying to stifle laughter as he noticed he was wearing a bib with a heart embroidered on it."Sorry! I didn't see you there!" He said, pulling himself up.
"Yeah well, get some glasses," The fuming miniature dragon said, and waddled off. As soon as he left the room Wildcard fell back to the floor, rolling around in a fit of laughter.
"Hello?" Twilight looked on the scene from the top of a flight of stairs. To her it looked like a black stallion was rolling on the ground, completely out of his mind and with a bizarre looking alicorn. She put her hoof to her chin, something was oddly familiar about this pony.
Crooked horn... blue eyes..
Blue eyes?
"Aha!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing a hoof down at the changeling whom finally stopped laughing and looked up at her as he lay on his back. "Ambassador, you're looking quite..." She lowered her hoof and squinted down at him.
Wildcard cleared his throat and dusted himself off. "Happy?" He ventured.
"Insane." Twilight stated. "What exactly is going on down there?" She squinted down at Wildcard, "and... is that a cutie mark?"
Wildcard shrugged. "That's not all that's changed, but I digress- you had some official business for me, Princess?" Wildcard bowed slightly.
"I'll forgive your bout of insanity then, and welcome to the herd," She said, and gestured Wildcard follow her up the stairs to a room with a view to the town. They took opposing seats at a low table, their flanks firmly on two purple pillows.
The purple dragon appeared once again, with a tea set. He laid it on the table and glared at the ambassador before departing.
Twilight poured herself a cup of tea, and started as she sipped from it. "So, Ambassador, I assume you know my friend Applejack runs a small farm outside of town?
Wildcard was quite aware of this, Applejacks farm was of considerable economic consequence to Equestria and was labelled a 'strategic asset' by intelligence.
"I'm aware, yes. What would she want with the hive- and why not speak to me in person?" Wildcard poured himself a cup. It was a very sweet green tea, the ponies seemed obsessed with sweet.
Twilight put down hers, and tented her hooves on the table. "Applejack is far, far too honest for her own good. We're on even terms now, and I don't owe you anything. I will negotiate on her behalf, as Princess."
Wildcard was unable to suppress a slight shake of his cup, and a flutter of his eyes. The last he had seen of the Princess she was delivering him a desk, this was a side to her he hadn't seen...
...since she invaded the hive . Wildcard suddenly worried he had greatly underestimated the Princess.
"In addition..." Twilight paused for a second and looked straight at the Ambassador. "If she finds out that she wasn't paid for that desk her sister made- using a pair of her trees- I imagine she would be quite furious, and forget any deal."
He had definitely underestimated her.
Wildcard hid his emotions, which was easy considering how long he had been a spy, and supposed at the very least he had that skill to count on. He also had his wits.
"Very well, Princess, what is it then that you want, exactly?" Wildcard asked.
"It's Applebucking season soon, which if you don't know is basically the harvest. She saw the worker drones in the Hive, as did I. So what I want simply is this- labour," Twilight returned her hooves to the floor.
"Well..." Wildcard tented his own hooves, "there's a shortage of workers right now, following the injuries caused in the invasion..." (This was a bold faced lie, or rather a 're-iterpretation of the truth', the changelings healed fast.) Wildcard paused for effect, noticing Twilights eyes dart around the room, "... So I can offer you this: Thirty bits per worker, per day. You pay for their food and lodging, although that shouldn't be a major problem- just build them a barracks, and they'll eat the grass."
Twilight considered this for a second. "Hold on, " She said, and put her hooves on the table to raise herself up, glaring down at Wildcard. "I paid for that with my entire treasury- and I didn't even know I had one!" She exclaimed.
Vastly underestimated.
"Ten bits," She demanded, "and the first week is free, as a gesture of friendship ."
Wildcard began to speak up but was silenced by another outburst by the Princess.
"Don't you dare try and raise that, or I will drag you over there and have you explain why she's missing two of her trees. In person. "
Wildcard was filled with both respect for the Twilight Princess, and horror as he realized how totally he had been bested. He supposed 10 bits per worker wasn't bad... it was entirely profit anyway.
"Alright, alright!" He exclaimed, the Princess sat back down with a smile running ear to ear. "You win, on one condition."
"What condition?" Twilight asked, squinting across the table.
"You have to keep the price a secret, I can't give other ponies such a good deal, " Wildcard pleaded.
Twilight considered it for a moment. "I can tell you this, I won't advertise it- but I won't hide it either. Call it a preferred discount if you like," She said
Wildcard supposed that was the best he was going to get.
"Very well, but there's an additional important point that I need you to explain to your friend." Wildcard stood and looked out the window, outside ponies going to and fro with the business of the day.
"That is?" Twilight asked behind him.
"Changelings aren't like ponies, as you learned a week ago, workers especially. They will come with a leader, and any orders must be directed to that leader, whom will impart them down the line," Wildcard explained, and turned back to her.
"It is important, very important, that your friend never stands in the way of the workers and their leader, even if she sees something wrong. If you have a dispute bring it to me , don't try and intervene yourselves."
Wildcard wasn't lying now. If Applejack, or whoever, tried to get between the leader and the workers it would lead to confusion, or in the worst possible scenario violence if the workers saw it as a threat.
Twilight nodded. "I understand, I'll make sure Applejack does too," She said, and stood to face Wildcard.
"When will you be able to get this done?" She asked.
"As near as I can tell in, in a little over a month the first workers will be able to journey down here. We've got to..." Twilight cut him off.
"Immunize them, I know. So a month then, first week is free, ten bits each past that?" She extended a hoof.
"Agreed." Wildcard shook it.
Seeing himself out after the requisite formal fair wells Wildcard found himself standing in the rain, while as he could see the rest of Equestria was a ring of fine weather surrounding the Ponyville area. It was a strange effect, but as he considered it he noticed the time on the towns clock tower- 6pm.
The train ride to Canterlot took around two hours, and by that time Luna would be on patrol adventuring in the borderlands of Equestria, he had an hour to get back according to Celestia's estimate that she awoke at 7PM. Buzzing his insectoid wings he took flight, extending a small magical field before his face to keep it from being torn apart by the rain as he flew upwards, and soon burst through the clouds. Spinning himself around he put himself on a line with Canterlot, which was visible on its mountain perch in the distance. Taking a deep breath he dashed forward, and nearly tumbled out of the air with the unexpected power being provided by his wings. Glancing back as he flew he had a realization.
No holes.
A few minutes short of an hour later Wildcard arrived at the outskirts of Canterlot as the sun sunk over the horizon. Forgoing the entrance to the castle he flew around to where he knew his office to be, and flew in the open window.
Or he would have, had he not bought a new window earlier that day . He supposed he had to thank the reinforced glass for not simply shattering on impact, a little pain was worth the hundred bits that window had cost.
Shaking himself off he dove downwards and spun the other way around the castle, flying past a pair of startled guards into the castle proper. Darting through the hallways- quite pleased with the new power his wings had been able to provide- he skidded to a halt outside of the throne room. Taking a second to calm his breathing he ran a hoof through his mane, took a deep breath, and entered.
Princess Luna sat ahead of him on the throne, engrossed in some scroll as a bat pony stood beside her. This pony glared at him and poked her superior.
"Ah, Ambassador." Luna said, handing off the document to her subordinate. "We meet again."
Wildcard bowed. "Princess Luna," he greeted.
For a few moments the room was filled with an awkward silence, Wildcard glancing at the bat that seemed to be trying to stare into his soul, she furrowed her brow and whispered something in her superiors ear.
"He has... a what?" Princess Luna flapped her wings as she took to the air; and with a flash landed just before Wildcard, inspecting him.
"So he does." She prodded his flank with a glass shoed hoof. "Is this some sort of trickery?" She asked.
"If it is, it's not on my behalf." Wildcard replied.
Princess Luna trotted back in front of him, and then sighed. "We've gotten off on the wrong hoof, Ambassador." She trotted over to a window and looked towards the valley.
"We certainly have. Tell me, Princess, does your sister know about the little trick you played that night?" Wildcard trotted to a still respectable difference behind Luna, the glaring bat pony staring him down.
Luna laughed, it sent shivers down Wildcards spine. "You think that's a secret? Or that my sister would object? I use that form to intimidate the enemies of Equestria, to great effect." She stood bipedal and raised two hooves, outside the moon rose over the horizon. "We own the night, Ambassador. It is ours to do with as we please, and you are in our domain now," Luna said, and then turned to Wildcard who found himself speechless.
"Do not waste the tiny amount of goodwill I extend to you, I am sure your Queen could find a replacement."
Wildcard prodded the marble floor with his hoof. "I apologize, I suppose my remark was a bit far." He smiled faintly in the dim moonlight that had begun to stream into the room.
"You are forgiven." Luna smiled back, "just don't repeat that mistake." She nodded to the bat pony at her side, who approached Wildcard and extended the scroll from earlier.
He received it, and looked at the Princess of the Night, confused.
"What is this?" He asked.
"That will keep you safe if you travel at night. It is two things. First, you'll notice a spell. Cast it, and the Night Guard will come. Second, it is proof that you are a friend of mine, and you'll find it quite useful if you spend time at night, or in the mountain."
Wildcard was still somewhat confused. "In the mountain?"
Luna snorted. "Where do you think the Night Guard lives?"
The realization dawned on Wildcard. The hive had nearly zero information on the bat ponies that formed the Night Guard, infiltration was seen as far too risky with the Princess of the Night watching. It had been tried once.
Once.
"Thank you, Princess, I appreciate the gesture." Wildcard put the scroll in his saddlebags, noticing the picture of Luna as he did so. He glanced back up at the Princess, seeing her mane glisten in the moonlight- quite unlike the image of her in the photo.
Outside there was a flash of light, and then Luna turned to leave with her guard at her side.
"I fear I must cut this short, there is a disturbance in the fort." She trotted briskly past him and out the door without any more talk, leaving the slightly confused changeling in the empty throne room.
"What fort?" He asked himself, turning around to the door, trotting to the window he looked outside at the dark valley, dotted with the flickering lights of a nation going to sleep.
"She calls the old castle that." Dr. Flankenstein explained from behind Wildcard.
Wildcard glanced at him, confused once again. "How would you know that?" He asked.
The Doctor sighed, and stood beside his friend to look out at the valley. Luna had taken a squadron of Night Guards and could be seen retreating towards the Ponyville area.
"I'm ready to head out to Baltimare tomorrow, are you?" Dr. Flankenstein asked.
"I am." Wildcard said. Remembering his request from Celestia he removed the photo from his bag.
"Celestia told me to give you this, said you would know what it meant." Wildcard handed his friend the photo, and he responded with a deeply sad frown. Wildcard could have sworn he noticed a tear.
"I know, and you will too." Dr. Flankenstein put the photo in his own bag. "Tomorrow."
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard awoke early the next morning before the sun was even up to get a head start on his work. Wildcard found a note on the Doctors door, apparently he was at Canterlot General and would see Wildcard later in the day. Shrugging it off Wildcard made his way to his office, and he entered to find his new typewriter waiting on his desk, with a placard in front bearing his name, an apparent gift.
"Ambassador Wildcard" He said to himself in awe of what he had accomplished thus far.
Leaning his basic looking saddlebag rucksack against the desk (He would really have to get one of the cutie-mark themed bags the ponies seemed to all have.), he sat as his desk and beheld his new typewriter. Just like he had seen in the shop, it was gleaming red metal with a hundred or so keys, and it was all his. To the side was a note and the two stylus-shoes. There was also two letters tucked underneath, which had apparently arrived before the typewriter.
"Ink is full, take the placard as a gift. - Glass Pane" The note read.
The wind howled against the window behind him, and Wildcard smiled again as he opened the letter. The rest of the room still needed work, but at this rate he would have his own embassy building by the end of the month. Reading it by the light of his crooked alicorn (and it better stay crooked, a cutie mark was enough.), Wildcard realized it was the notorized duplicate of the contract he had signed with Applebuck, noting the first shipment will be picked up in Appleloosa in a few days. The other was the days intelligence from home, a grim report detailing heavy injuries trying to secure the Badlands from the Diamond Dogs, and intensely suspicious shipments moving from the Griffon Kingdoms to the independent states east of the hive.
Putting those letters in his desk with the rest Wildcard slipped on the styluses and set to work. Working by the light of his alicorn with his blue eyes glowing in the dark he set right to it, quickly running through a dozen pages as he doubled up on the world count entirely because he enjoyed his new toy so much. Before long he had collected his entire time in Equestria on those pages, and a copy of the contract to boot. Wildcard finally felt like a proper government bureaucrat, and with his work done took some time to explore the castle- partially because he didn't have a stapler.
After a bit of wandering the halls Wildcard found himself at the archives. Walking past the guards with a sense of purpose he strode right in to take a look around. He found a stapler at the head of the room on an empty desk, which he perused and then left- regretting that he forgot to take his bag with him. Office supply theft was a hallowed tradition in the civil services, Wildcard knew this well enough. That bit of business taken care of he took some time to stroll the aisles, finding himself intrigued by the one labelled "HX60: Early Continental History.". Walking down that aisle he picked a book at random and pulled it out, but was interrupted before he could read the cover by the blinding light of the sun coming in through the portal on the archives roof.
The morning heralded the return of Celestia, who in turn sent a herald to find Wildcard, he found the changeling standing in that aisle, covering his eyes from the sun.
"Ambassador Wildcard," The herald said. Wildcard squinted to see Flash Sentry standing with the sun beaming around his head like a halo.
Wildcard squinted his eyes at him. "That would be me."
"You're requested in meeting room two," Flash said.
"Very well," Wildcard replied, "Lead the way."
After a short walk Flash led Wildcard to the meeting room. As he walked in he saw Celestia at the end of a long table, crafted from the same dark wood his desk was. Beside her was her ever lovely assistant First Class. Infront a pegasus with a blue uniform sat opposite a stallion in a heavy suit of gold trimmed armour. On the table were quills, some neatly stacked documents on both sides, with bold red lettering that Wildcard assumed was some variation of "Top Secret". They both looked at him with the calculating gaze of experienced military leaders. First Class smiled, creating an odd contrast.
"Ambassador, It's good that you can join us," Celestia said, smiling warmly down at the changeling as he approached.
"With the current tension outside our borders, and our new alliance, I felt it proper to let you in on our security briefings." She gestured to the stallion in the armour. "This is my new Captain of the Guard; L.E Massè, and Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts." They nodded in turn as they were addressed, and Celestia gestured Wildcard come sit. Choosing between the Wonderbolts; and the Guard, he took a seat beside Spitfire. Putting the report on the desk, and the book on top, Wildcard sat at attention. They exchanged a quick nod before Celestia spoke again.
"We're still missing one, has anypony seen--" She was interrupted in her question as a blue blur flew into the room and, hovering in the air for a second, came to the ground at the front of the table.
"Rainbow Dash." Wildcard mumbled as simultaneously Celestia greeted the pegasus. She was also clad in the uniform of the Wonderbolts, a golden eagle adorning her lapel. She bowed and greeted the princess, as she took a seat beside Wildcard.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world, a real security briefing- too cool!" She didn't seem to realize whom she was sitting beside as she fidgeted in her seat.
"So what are we going to talk about first, a daring invasion to free a foreign land?" Rainbow Dash's eyes darted around the room.
The Captain shook his head. "Tried that, didn't end well." He said, and then turned his gaze to the Princess of the Sun.
"I have to say I disagree about having... the 'respected ambassador', here. We'll be discussion guard rotations..."
Rainbow Dash groaned, causing the Captain to pause for a moment.
"... unit strengths, and patrols. This is all critical information."
Celestia looked back at him. "Captain, we're allies with the Changelings now, we have nothing to hide."
The Captains head bobbled back and forth as he considered this. "Very well, but I still feel awkward."
"You're not the only one." Rainbow Dash complained to the side at Wildcard while he stared ahead at the opposing wall with the passion of somebody that really didn't want to appear phased.
"Fall in, Rainbow Dash." Spitifire ordered. The pegasus came to attention, and Wildcard was extremely thankful for this.
"Without further ado, I suggest that the Ambassador begin." Celestia nodded to Wildcard, and he spoke up. It was strange to be letting the ponies in on the intelligence of the hive, and yet it felt natural. His life training told him they were not to be trusted, but his experiences in the past week proved otherwise.
"The Griffons have been running shipments of unknown materials to a few of the independent kingdoms, we have agents in place but it will be some time before we have any useful information. Elsewhere, the Diamond Dogs have been harassing our forays into the Badlands, which has been a drain on resources. We've got to deploy most of what we have just to track them down, if the Griffons make a move now we're scattered."
The captain removed a page from before him, and considered it for a moment.
"I could spare a century, if you can send some help to bolster the coastal defense," The Captain said as he circled something on the paper.
"I'll pass that along, we would be grateful," Wildcard said.
Rainbow dash groaned again, and slumped it her chair. Spitfire leaned forward and glared at the pony.
"I can see this alliance is already proving useful. Spitfire, what do you have?" Celestia gestured to her. Rainbow Dash bolted to attention.
"I've had a long hard look at the Wonderbolts, and while we've got flair- we can't fight a war. We've got wings, we've got money, but we don't have proper training. Almost nopony has seen any sort of action either, except that 'dragon incident'. Frankly: we're in a sorry state."
Rainbow Dash flew up into the air over the chair and punched the air, Wildcard watching bemused from below.
"I've seen action, I kicked a dragon in the face- I could take them on!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire slammed her hooves on the table. "At attention cadet! I didn't call you here for entertainment!"
Rainbow Dash flopped down back to her seat and saluted.
"Yes ma'am!" She turned to her superior with her hooves also on the table. "I'm just saying that, officially, why don't we just go kick some flank and show these griffons who's boss? We can take em!"
The Captain cleared his throat, and the two pegasi turned to him.
"They outnumber the Wonderbolts thirty to one, they have weapons that can shoot fire, and they just got done a rather nasty bit of infighting, you don't stand a chance." He prodded another document with a hoof.
"We don't either," he mumbled.
Rainbow Dash leaned forward to argue the point, but was silenced by Celestia before she could.
"The Captain is right, Rainbow Dash. We haven't had to deal with a threat like this in hundreds of years. Our best chance is to ensure the peace continues, somehow."
Wildcard took this chance to speak up. He cleared his throat and the others turned to him.
"Now, excuse me, but have they not been arming for the last week? The kingdoms are unified, and if I could venture a guess the Captain's report is going to be that they've been testing the border patrols, which is why he wants backup," Wildcard said. Celestia turned to the Captain, and he nodded in return.
"They're coming, Princess, it's only a matter of time. We could infiltrate them, weaken them, eliminate certain assets..." He trailed off as he noticed Celestia's glare, he swore there was fire in her eyes.
"No," Celestia said, and leaned forward to look closely at the group in turn. "There will be no infiltration, there will be no 'weakening'. If the Griffons choose to attack, only then we will defend ourselves. We will not dirty this nation by doing anything unjust against them first. If Equestria lives, it lives by friendship and acceptance. The day I authorize a pre-emptive attack, is the day Equestria dies."
Wildcard couldn't help but be moved by the speech. So was the rest of the room, as it fell to silence.
"Now, then." She sat back in her desk and resumed her usual relaxed look. "If there's no further business, I suggest we adjourn for today." She pushed her chair back and stood. The rest followed, collecting their documents.
Wildcard stayed in his seat as the others began to leave.
"Princess, mind if I ask a question?"
She looked at him quizzingly. "Yes?" She asked.
"Why isn't your sister here, shouldn't she be in on these briefings?" Wildcard inquired.
"She has her own set of worries, the night guard- not to mention..." Wildcards mind trailed off as his eyes slid from the Princess to her aide, standing at her side like a flower in the shadow of a great tree. She met his gaze, and for a few moments they smiled at each other. Every aspect of this mare was a delight to Wildcard's senses, and he savoured this time.
The time was broken by a painful jab in Wildcards flank, shocking him so much that instinctually fell into a green field and emerged disguised, to the laughter of those around- First Class blushing and looking away.
"I've seen a lot of things in my time." Celestia laughed. "But a smitten changeling, that's a first."
Wildcard looked back at himself, noting the doctor laughing behind him, and quickly noticed his blue coat.
Blue coat and blue/white mane...
"Wha... I..." Wildcard kicked the chair back and stood, stunned in confusion, blushing as he rubbed the carpet with a hoof. "It's... instinctual." he tried to explain, still stuck in First Classe's voice for the moment.
"Sure it is buddy." Dr. Flankenstein said, prodding him in the flank. "You forgot the cutie mark."
Wildcard dropped his disguise, and lowered his head and ears in a weird combination of shame and embarrassment. He mumbled a few syllables of some unknowable words as his brain imploded in on itself attempting to fix the situation, but it was to no avail. Soon enough he found himself alone in the room, except for the smiling face of the doctor.
"You'll be glad to know that's the last one, you're all immunized now," he said.
Wildcard sighed. "Great, do you have anything for love sickness?" He asked.
The Doctor laughed again in return. "I had no idea you had such a flair for the dramatic, let's get you to Baltimare before you manage to devolve into a romantic comedy."
Wildcard nodded at his friend, and picking up his documents he left the room behind. Outside he heard a small voice clear it's throat. Turning to see First Class standing beside the doorway he lowered his ears and eyed the ground.
"I'm sorry.. about that." Wildcard said, glancing up to see First Class smiling at him.
Dr. Flankenstein kicked Wildcard, hard, in the flank, tumbling him towards her. He stopped himself just before colliding, inches away from her muzzle.
"I think it was cute." First Class said. She blushed and for a moment there was silence between the two.
Wildcard bottled up all the nerve he had, and drank it. Looking First Class in the eye he asked: "Got any plans tonight?"
First Class giggled and for a moment Wildcards heart sank. "Not at all, how about ten?" She asked.
Wildcard nodded. "We should be back by then, right Doctor?" He turned to his friend asked.
"I'll make sure of it, we better get a move on then," he replied.
"I'll see you then, meet at your office," First Class said, and with a wink departed down the hallway.
Wildcard clutched his papers with a death grip as he stood there, and had to be pulled away by Dr. Flankenstein so lost was he in his own thoughts. He returned to that beach in his mind as the Doctor pulled him down the hallway and to his office. The cold wooden floor shocked Wildcard back to his senses, and so did the sneezing brought on by the dust that covered that floor.
"Get your stuff and lets go, the train ride takes four hours," Dr. Flankenstein said. Wildcard nodded and grabbed his bag, putting his report and the book in it before tossing it over his back.
"You got a coat?" Flankenstein asked.
"No, why?" Wildcard returned.
"It's pretty cold near the coast this time of the year, but never mind. I'll set you up when we get there, I know somepony who knows somepony," Dr. Flankenstein said, and gestured Wildcard followed him out. He did so, and figured he could leave the request for coastal support for tomorrow.
Soon Wildcard was waiting at the train departure platform. The time according to a clock hanging behind him was 7AM, which left plenty of time for him to get to Baltimare, find those engineers, find out the mysterious truth behind the doctor, and return in time for his date.
Hearing the train whistle down the tunnel Dr. Flankenstein came to Wildcards side with that days Equestria Daily sticking out of his bag. Neither of them had tickets, which Wildcard quickly realized.
"Hold on a second, I thought you were getting tickets?" Wildcard asked.
The Doctor put a hoof around Wildcards shoulder and smirked at him. "You're a government official, you get free passage," he explained.
"I do?" Wildcard asked, not convinced.
"You do if you say you do," Dr. Flankenstein whispered into Wildcards ear, as the train rumbled to a stop and the conductor got out to start boarding ponies.
"Goood morning!" The conductor clacked his hooves together as he came to a halt before them. "Can I see your boarding passes, gentle colts?" The conductor smiled at the two with a hoof outstretched.
Wildcard stuck out his chest. "Do you know who we are, conductor?" He asked with the pompous tone of a civil servant.
The conductor paused for a moment and looked the pair over. Wildcard felt a twinge of nerves tingle down his spine and the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The conductor squinted and him and adjusted his thick glasses.
"Oh! Ambassador!" The conductor grabbed and shook his hoof. "Welcome aboard, I assume you've got some important business, the first class car in the back is empty today- it's all yours," the conductor said. He led the two onboard the drawn to the rear car.
"If you need anything, gentlecolts, feel free to ask," the conductor said, bowing and gently closing the door to leave the pair alone in the large, elegant sleeper car.
Dr. Flankenstein wasted no time plopping down on one of the beds, throwing his bag on the floor and stretching out on his back.
"Celestia's hoof it's good to be back on the government bit, I missed this sort of thing."
Wildcard sat on the one opposite, putting his bag on the floor.
"You used to work in government, doctor?" Wildcard asked. He knew the answer, but wanted confirmation.
"I did," the Doctor sighed, "Royal Surgeon, used to go all over Equestria- mostly just to explore, ancient alicorns don't need a doctor for much."
"So what happened?" Wildcard asked, while he rummaged through his bag for that book.
The Doctor rolled over and stared out the window as the train rumbled forward. "I tried to play creator."
He turned to match Wildcards gaze, and looked him the eye, a thousand yard stare that said more then any words could.
"You'll know when we get to the lab," Dr. Flankenstein said, and turned his gaze back out the window as the train descended into the mountain tunnel.
Wildcard let the subject rest, for the moment, and the Doctor seemed in no mood to talk. Finally finding the time to find out what book he had picked out he spent the next few hours reading it over: "A history of the early Equestrian Empire: The Dawn of the Sun." it was written by a pony named Chicago Style. Starting, as most things do, at the start of what had apparently been the "Equestrian Empire." the book described the early years, and how the city of Canterlot flourished and expanded following an event termed the 'return of harmony'. The Crystal City rose a few hundred years later, and the first fracture began when the City sought independence. It was all fascinating, but Wildcard found something important missing- there was absolutely no mention of the hive, or changelings. Flipping through the appendix Wildcard confirmed this, nothing. For at least the first few thousand years of Celestia's rule there had been no sighting of anything resembling the changelings.
So then Celestia must have been there when they were first discovered...
Wildcard was interrupted by a familiar biting pinch on his flank, and turned his head to see a floating syringe drawing a small amount of green blood. He glared at the Doctor opposite him.
"Haven't been able to take a blood sample yet, I've always wondered where your people came from, and with my lab I'll be able to start the search," Flankenstein explained. "Plus, I'll be able to see if there's any other diseases you might be susceptible to. Immunizations can protect you from bugs, but who knows if there's other long term problems," he added.
"Go back a bit." Wildcard said, watching the syringe float back to the doctors bag as the trees went by in the distance. "My origins?" He asked.
"As near as I can tell, your people are a sort of sub-species. What I want to know is when they diverged, can't have been any less then ten thousand years or so," Flankenstein said, as the newspaper levitated out of his bag.
"Oh sweet Celestia, take a look at this," Dr. Flankenstein jumped the beds and hovered the front page of the newspaper ahead of them both.
"Baltimare on alert!"
Below the headline was a darkly lit image of the city, with spotlights trained on the sky in the background. In the light could be seen dozens of tiny figures flying through the air, and a few puffs of smoke and fire.
"Turn the page!" Wildcard exclaimed, anxious to find the rest. Flankenstein did as requested and they both gazed entranced at the details.
"Baltimare on high alert following skirmish with unknown flying force. The Royal Guard is staying quiet, but with the rumours surrounding the Griffon Kingdoms it's easy to suspect..."
Wildcard looked away, he knew enough. Captain L.E Massé had hinted there was problems on the coast, but he had no idea it was of this magnitude. If the Griffons were already skirmishing on the border it did not bode well for the future, anybodies future. Wildcard got up and spent the next hour pacing back in forth along the car. Flankenstein continued to read the paper while the train continued along it's journey to the coast. The trees faded away to be replaced by the plain before the ocean, and in the distance the Rambling River meandered it's way to the coast. Wildcard paused to look out the window, and noticed an airship hanging over the river. Turning his gaze to the city and ocean ahead the train suddenly came to a screeching stop, throwing Wildcard against one of the beds.
Before either of the passengers could react there was a thump on the roof and outside armoured figures surrounded the train. Wildcard ducked under the bed instinctually, cowering under there as Flankenstein remained sitting at his, he shut the blinds with a magic field and turned his attention to the door.
There was a knock. The pair responded with silence.
"Who's in there?" A voice on the other side asked. Wildcard recognized it as Captain Massé
"Ambassador Wildcard, and Doctor Flankenstein, Captain." Wildcard replied, he got up from under his makeshift bunker and shoved his book in his pack, slinging it over his back as the door opened.
"You came at really bad time, Ambassador," The Captain said, looking past Wildcard he saw the rest of the room was empty, and nodded to his side. The sound of wings flapping overhead followed another clank on the roof.
"Cities under martial law, we're sending the train back. What's your business here?"
Wildcard was about to reply but was interrupted by the Doctor shoving him aside.
"Hold on now!" he exclaimed, pointing an accusing hoof at the Captain. "Martial law, isn't that a bit extreme?"
The Captain sighed and gestured the two follow him off the car. Wildcard did, and the Doctor did so too after some hesitation to grab his bag. On the ground beside the train they looked towards the city, surrounded by a small fleet of airships with at least a hundred pegasi visible in the sky.
"We got attacked last night, it was impossible to tell their numbers. When news got out the entire city tried to leave at once, it was chaos. The police were overwhelmed. We've shut the rail line and instituted a curfew, until Celestia instructs differently the cities locked down," the Captain explained.
"We can't head back Captain, not yet. We've got important business here," Wildcard said.
The Captain waved a hoof in the air and two pegasi came to hover above them.
"Very well, but you shouldn't stay for long. We'll escort you to wherever it is you need to go."
Dr. Flankenstein came to their side, looking at his hometown in the distance as the train rumbled it's way backwards down the tracks. "57 and 68th, on the beachfront," He said. The captain nodded and they started forward with their flying escort above.
As they approached the city it became obvious the level at which the guard was going to keep the peace. The rail line was barricaded at several points, and the river was blockaded by a frigate positioned lengthwise to block the entire passage. Above it hovered an airship far larger then any of the others. Above the city were dozens more of these ships, circling the city as every once and a while a pegasus flight returned, or departed. If Wildcard had to guess he would say a good third of the Equestrian Royal Guard was here, and a majority of their pegasi. They came upon a checkpoint at one of the roads leading out of the city, looking past Wildcard saw deserted streets, carriages parked to the side.
The Captain stopped the Doctor and Wildcard and walked ahead of them to the checkpoint, having a quick word with the guard standing beside the small wooden structure. He returned with two small cards as the guard pushed the barricade blocking the road to the side.
"Keep these with you, I realize they say you're guards, but I don't have ID cards for "Doctor" and "Changeling Ambassador"."
Wildcard and Dr. Flankenstein nodded as they put away the cards in their bags. "You sure this level of security is needed?" Wildcard asked.
"No, if they were coming this wouldn't stop them, but it gives the people some proof that we're here, and they're safe. That's more important then anything right now."
Wildcard nodded and the Captain led the group onwards into the deserted city streets. As they walked Wildcard couldn't help but feel claustrophobic as the towering buildings loomed overhead, silent monoliths. Here and there guards stood behind barricades with odd machines at their sides. They looked like cannons with thin barrels, on a rotating base that pointed skywards. Wildcard asked what they were and found out that the captain had the idea of using water pipes to direct fireworks into the sky. He had used this the night before to blind the griffons, sending them retreating in confusion. Wildcard noticed as they walked the city got progressively more and more run down, even having to step past a few potholes in the road.
After a good half hour of walking, they arrived at their apparently destination.
Dr. Flankenstein grinned and clacked his hooves together as they stopped in front of a worn down warehouse, windows covered in the grit of a decade or more of neglect. It reminded Wildcard of his office.
"Just like I left it!" he exclaimed, and giddily galloped to the entrance. Wildcard turned to the captain.
"Captain, I was told there was an engineering firm in town, you know anything about that?"
The Captain nodded. "Shoreside Engineering and Pathfinding, they built a few of those airships and plotted the new Crystal Empire rail connection, They're holed up in the city hall right now, I'll have them a representative down here, I don't want all my eggs in one basket," He said.
Wildcard nodded, he supposed there was wisdom in this. "Just tell them to hurry, I'm due back in Canterlot later."
The Captain shook his head. "Good luck getting back, that was the last train before word made it to Canterlot, and I'm not sparing an airship."
Wildcard squinted his eyes at the captain. "Then I'll fly," he stated firmly.
"It's your own funeral, I can't stop you." The captain said, and turned away. Wildcard trotted over to the 'labs' entrance as the Captain said something to the two pegasi, whom saluted and took up patrols above. Satisfied with this Wildcard entered the building.
It was far cleaner on the inside. Wildcard stood in awe of the dozens of amazing machines lining the spotless white walls of the enormous room. The floor was a gleaming white tile, and the doctor was busy sitting on a stool before some gigantic machine manic ally printing information into a bin beside him. Wildcard noticed a small vial of a green liquid plugged into the machine, and approached to inquire.
"What is all this, Doctor? I've never seen anything like this." Wildcard asked.
"This, my friend, is ten million bits and a decade of work. I accomplished great things here, and one terrible," Dr. Flankenstein shook his head and turned to look over the paper piled in the bin.
Wildcard craned his neck to take a look, but it was seemingly gibberish. Lines and lines of GAT, ATA, and other 3 letter words that made no sense. Thousand of lines on dozens of pages, each with a green rectangle beside. Dr. Flankenstein scanned them and then grabbed at one to inspect it closer.
"Wildcard, you're not going to believe me." Dr. Flankenstein said in a hushed voice, his hooves shaking as he held a paper with a series of red lines highlighting a few of those mystery sequences.
"Lay it on me doc, it's been a pretty good week," Wildcard said.
"Remember when I said that the earliest time for your peoples divergence was ten thousand or so years? According this you diverged less then five hundred years ago . As a matter of fact, genetically? You're a pony."
Wildcard looked at the doctor, who in turn looked at him as if he had seen a ghost.
"Hold on, that's.. that's impossible, I'm sure," Wildcard said.
Five hundred years, that would explain the lack of mention in that history. That also firmly planted this within Celestia's reign...
"There's more." Dr. Flankenstein said, gesturing at one of the red lines with a hoof.
"The genes that are changed, are changed in such a specific way that it can't possibly be natural, somebody engineered this on purpose." He said, and the paper fell from his trembling hooves back into the bin.
"Engineered?!" Wildcard exclaimed, and turned to face the rest of the room.
"There's no other explanation, somebody, somepony, made you ." Dr. Flankenstein rubbed his temple as he said this.
While he stared at the rest of the room, trying to think of what to think, Wildcard noticed a bulletin board with a familiar picture on it, trotting over he confirmed his suspicions.
"Is this... Princess Luna?" Wildcard turned and asked. Dr. Flankenstein looked over, and the blood drained from his face.
He slowly got up from the stool and trotted over, a familiar stare gazing past Wildcard into the unknown. He stopped beside his friend and touched a hoof to the picture.
"It is," He sighed, and turned to his friend. "It was."
Wildcard whisked a stool from a nearby machine and plopped his flank on it. "Explain," he demanded, crossing his hooves.
"I was the Royal Surgeon when she returned." Dr. Flankenstein turned to stare out one of the skylights, through the grimy stains an airship could be seen passing above.
"Her sister was concerned about her mental state, so she had me spend some time with her. I... never really had any friends, I focused on my work," He sighed again and moved a stool over to sit on, still staring upwards.
"We grew close together, and I shifted my schedule into the night. Not many ponies knew, or respected, her very much. Two outcasts, classic," He paused and spun towards Wildcard.
"If First Class asked you for the world, and you had the power, would you give it to her?" he asked.
Wildcard considered it for a second. "I would."
"I did," Dr. Flankenstein said. "It came with a price. Look at that picture, see how she looks different from her sister?"
Wildcard nodded.
"She wanted more then anything to have the shimmering mane and regal appearance of her sister, so I spent the better part of a month in here experimenting under the guise of ensuring that time on the moon hadn't caused any damage. Eventually, I found the secret to that shimmering mane- age." He turned again to the skylight. "So, using a little magic and a potion, I gave her what she wanted."
Wildcard remained silent, going through all this in his mind.
"It worked, but I was too hasty. Not only did I fail to understand that I would be taking years away from her life in the long run, but I failed to consider any other consequences." Flankenstein got up from his stool, and gently touched a hoof to the picture.
"She doesn't remember," the Doctor lamented, a tear fell from his face to the floor.
"Doesn't remember what?" Wildcard asked.
"Anything, everything from the day she returned from the moon, to the day I gave her my gift. Her sister was furious, and were it not for my past work I would be on the moon right now," he explained.
Wildcard began to understand, more then that he really began to understand who the Doctor was. Kicking the stool away he furrowed his brow and grabbed the doctors shoulder.
"Doctor, you're saying you changed Princess Luna's appearance." Wildcard said, the doctor nodded.
"Doctor, I don't have any holes anymore ." Wildcard looked him the in eye and growled. Flankensteins eyes widened and he looked at Wildcard with a look of abject horror.
"No, Wildca-"
He was cut off as the glass in the skylights shattered, covering the ground with glass. They both turned to the roof to see a dozen griffons hovering above, the airship falling in flames above them.
"This day..." Wildcard mumbled.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard stood stunned beside Dr. Flankestein, and they both stared up at the dozen armed griffons. The Griffons, in turn, looked down upon them with their massive weapons pointed downward. From Wildcard's viewpoint they looked like long barrels with a flame burning at the tip, he didn't want to know what came out.
"Face the wall!" The middle griffon ordered. His armour, Wildcard noticed, was far more aged then his comrades. The paint had chipped, and it was dented all over. Wildcard judged this to be the leader of the group. He and Flankenstein did as ordered.
Turning to the wall, with their hooves in the air, Wildcard and Flankenstein glanced at each other. Wildcard put off the recent revelations for now, survival was foremost. Thinking of what to try and do, Wildcard noticed something, a familiar smell he hadn't experienced in around a week.
He wasn't the only changeling in the room.
"Just let me handle this, I've got an idea," Wildcard whispered. The sound of flapping wings forced them into silence as they stared at the wall.
"Sergeant, check their bags!" The griffon leader shouted overhead. The sound of one of them landing was followed shortly by the pairs respective bags being ripped from their backs.
"This is an act of war, you do realize this don't you?" Wildcard shouted as he continued to stare forward.
"Celestia would surrender the city if it meant another day of peace, you're all cowards. She'll call this a "misunderstanding." The leader replied, his compatriots laughed in the background.
There was the sound of a flapping of wings and a hushed conversation, followed by the universal noise of weapons being cocked. Flankenstein glanced at Wildcard, fear visible in his eyes. Wildcard winked in return.
"So, you're both military, I have no idea what all this stuff is..." He paused as a great roar overtook the room, and they both felt the heat of an inferno behind them. "... but you can say goodbye to your fancy pony tech."
"I surrender." Wildcard said, and turned around to face the Griffon leader. He wasn't very far away, and had his weapon levelled at Wildcard and Flankenstein as the others burnt the assorted devices in the back.
"I expected no less from you, coward." The leader landed on the floor and walked towards them, Flankenstein also turning around.
"I should have you know however, that I'm not a pony." Wildcard said, and shimmered green as he assumed his 'original' identity.
"My designation is Eta-Gamma, and I've been spying on these ponies for some time." Wildcard nodded towards his bag overturned on the floor.
The Captain paused for a second, confused, and then bent over to pick up the bag. Behind him a ways Wildcard saw one of the griffons watching him intently, and their eyes flashed blue for a second.
"Attack them!" Wildcard shouted.
Before the leader could react the changeling infiltrator had already turned on the others, quickly slamming his weapon into the back of ones head and then delivering a swift kick to the another. Wildcard took the opportunity to snatch the weapon from the leaders hands, and Flankenstein did the same to another of the griffons.
"False surrender is a war crime!" The leader protested, flapping his wings and forming up with the remainder of his force in the air.
"Burn them a-" He began, but was interrupted as the door to the warehouse was kicked open and almost instantly a dozen ponies wearing white/grey uniforms streamed into the room, hurling crossbow bolts which clanged against the armour of the griffons in the air. Outgunned, they took off through the same skylights they had entered. This left the now undisguised changeling on the ground, surrounded by guards on one side and flames on the other.
Dr. Flankenstein galloped towards the burning machine that had revealed the truth moments earlier, and levitated the printed evidence out of the bin as it turned to ash and cinders.
Grasping at a charred paper, the only remaining part, he let out a scream. Wildcard trotted to the doctors side as the changeling came to his.
"Gamma, this place is coming down. We've got to go!" The changeling shouted, a machine burst into flames to reinforce the point, and one of the guards shouted something similar as they all left in a hurry. Wildcard packed up and levitated both their bags to the changeling, and gestured to the exit. He nodded and galloped off.
"Doctor, we've got to leave- now!" Wildcard demanded. The doctor looked back and him, tears streamed down his cheeks to be evaporated by the heat of the flames surrounding them.
"This was my only chance!" Dr. Flankenstein shouted, slamming his hoof into the flaming machine. "My only chance to make things right!"
"You won't have any chance to do anything !" Wildcard grabbed Flankenstein by the shoulder. "If we don't get out of here!"
The Doctor looked at him, his face contorted by emotions. Another explosion rocked the building. He nodded, and then ran for the door with Wildcard on his tail. Dashing out the door they were blanketed by dust and embers as the building gave it's last gasp and imploded on itself. When the dust had settled Wildcard brushed himself off and found his comrade looking him over, confused, standing beside their bags.
He pointed at Wildcards flank. "Gamma, why are you only half disguised? Your eyes are still blue," the changeling said.
Wildcard sighed, he was hoping to put this off for quite some time. "What's your designation?" He asked.
"Eta-Zeta." He replied, cocking an eyebrow at his superior. Behind him Captain Massé was approaching, wearing the same grey/white uniform the other guards were as they formed back up in the street.
"Well, Zeta, this isn't a disguise. Now form up, looks like the Captain wants to have a word with us," Wildcard ordered. His comrade opened his mouth to ask something, but silenced himself and took his position beside Wildcard. Flankenstein also came to his side, sharing a solemn glance with Wildcard as the Captain walked up to the trio.
"Is he with you?" The captain gestured to the second changeling. Wildcard nodded.
"Came in with the Griffons," he explained.
"Right, well, we'll do a full debrief when we get back to the town hall," The captain said, and gestured the trio follow. They did, as the rest of the guards came up behind them and they marched down the street.
The street was full of smoking holes, and the sky above them was clear of airships. Ahead the city was shrouded in a thin smoky mist.
"What happened, captain, and where's your armour?" Wildcard asked as they went.
"We were attacked- obviously. They came at us and cut through like a hot knife through butter. I've evacuated anyone connected to the government to the town hall, they don't seem interested in civilians," The captain replied.
"As for the uniforms, that's a story in itself. The Griffons haven't attacked us directly yet, they'll spray fire around you and then leave. It's a hit and run tactic. That armour becomes an oven, baking you in it. Most of the injuries we've had are heat exhaustion. So we're down to all we had left..." The captain paused, and glanced back at Wildcard.
"Winter camo."
Turning back forward as a stream of pegasi joined the company overhead, they came within sight of the town hall. A large building with a clock tower, which was at this point shattered and broken. Dozens of windows looked out from the building at the city, most of which where either shattered with a shaken looking guard looking outwards with a crossbow, or boarded up. It was surrounded by a ring of fortifications and dozens of those tubed launchers, as well as stacks and stacks of boxes. At least a hundred guards stood at defensive positions as a hundred more unarmed ponies sat around. There was a definite sense of fear in the air, as well as smoke. The city burned.
They paused at the outside of the barricade. Wildcard glanced at Flankenstein to see him pulling an empty syringe from his own flank. Noticing Wildcard he explained.
"Just some painkillers, burnt myself on that machine."
"Those are pretty addictive d--"
"I know what I'm doing!" Flankenstein snapped. Wildcard decided to leave the matter for now.
The Captain led the trio in past a hole in the barricades, and it was quickly filled in with a pile of debris when the company was inside the perimeter.
The captain turned to them, specifically to Dr. Flankenstein.
"You're a medical doctor right?" He asked.
"A medical scientist b--" Dr. Flankenstein was silenced by a wave of the captains hoof, and he pointed it to a series of tents on the grass of the courtyard perimeter.
"You're on triage, get to it." He ordered. Dr. Flankenstein nodded and trotted off.
The Captains glance turned to the two changelings. "You two, follow me inside," he ordered.
Wildcard and Zeta did as ordered, there wasn't much use in arguing. There also wasn't much use trying to run from the siege, even with the ability to disguise the griffons would be on alert for changelings now.
The inside of the town hall was in no better shape then the city itself. Overturned desks were marked with scorch marks, papers littered the floor, and glass covered it. The Captain led them to a room where the label 'mayor' had been scratched out and replaced with the Captain's name. Inside was the only well kept room in the building, a familiar looking desk with a few papers and a quill on top, and two chairs position in front. Captain Massé took the desk, and gestured the two take the chairs. Behind him was a broken window with a view of the courtyard, and the shrouded city road beyond.
"Alright now, what were you doing with the griffons?" The Captain asked Zeta.
He looked to his superior, unsure to trust the captain, and Wildcard nodded.
"I was following them, they've been on the move for so long that I haven't been able to report in nearly a week," Zeta explained.
The Captain leaned in. "Anything important, do you know their long term plan?" the Captain asked.
"To invade and occupy Equestria, starting with Manehatten and moving to Canterlot from there, using the rail line while you would be watching the skies," Zeta replied.
The captain frantically wrote this down on a sheet of paper, and folded it up. "Now I'm starting to like this alliance, thank you. As soon as there's a break in the lines I'll get this information through."
"Hold on," Wildcard said, "You can't get any communications out?"
The Captain shook his head "We're locked right down, nobody even knows we need help. There's no calvary coming."
"Wildcard, you'll find those engineers you've been after upstairs, I've got work to." the Captain said. Wildcard stood and nodded, taking his comrade and leaving the room.
"Wildcard?" Zeta asked, while the pair walked through the debris to find a stairwell leading upwards.
"It's a nickname I picked up, suits me well enough," Wildcard explained.
He pushed open a door as they arrived at the third floor, and noticed his tail had vanished. Shrugging it off he walked in to find a dozen or so ponies huddled around a radio, broadcasting apparently Griffon propaganda.
"The reign of the sun has stolen your power, made you weak. We come to free you, strengthen you. Join us, and embrace the future..."
Wildcard shut it off with a magical field, most of the dozen grumbled and trotted away, but two stayed.
"You wouldn't happen to know where I can find the ponies in charge of Shoreside Engineering?"
Slowly, they turned to look at Wildcard. He got a better look at them. The first was a stallion with a dark brown coat, the second a mare with a similar looking coat. They both had cutie marks of one half of a bridge.
"That would be us."
"Finally." Wildcard breathed. "I've come a long ways to talk to you," He said, to trotting their side.
"If you're going to try and hire us, forget it. The griffons took our headquarters because we just so happened to be renting it out to the local radio station. Forget everything, the cities burning, " the stallion said.
The radio clicked back on
"We can't win," the mare added.
Wildcard sighed, and sat beside them.
"When you invaded us, do you think we gave up?" He asked. They silently turned to him.
"The answer is no, we didn't. We fought, we fought hard and long. Are you going to tell me that we, the changelings, are braver then you?" He said.
They looked at each other.
"No." They said as one.
"Good, now you're telling me you have a high powered radio at your headquarters?" Wildcard inquired.
"That's right..." the stallion said.
"Have you told the captain?" Wildcard asked.
"We didn't see the point," he replied.
Wildcard smiled. "You just broke the siege."
A few minutes later Wildcard had explained the situation to the general, and he leaned back in his chair as he considered it.
"A bucking radio tower..." He turned his chair and looked out the window. "I never even thought of that, I didn't think this city had one," he said. On the desk behind him his helmet sat on a pile of papers.
Wildcard almost wanted to mention how scatterbrained the guard seemed to be in general, but thought against it. He really couldn't blame them for not being prepared for this. The Changelings dealt with more or less constant incursions, the ponies had known peace for millennia.
"If we go now, in force, we can take it." Wildcard suggested.
Captain Massé turned to him, and looked him the eye. Fear was visible in those eyes.
"But if I leave here, the griffons can swoop in and... I don't even want to know." His gaze turned to his desk.
Wildcard put his hooves on the desk to elevate himself. "Captain, I'm not gonna tell you how to do your job..." He paused.
"Actually, buck it, yes I am," Wildcard said.
The captain looked up at him. "Captain, if you don't get the word out as soon as possible, they're going to move on the defenceless city of Manehatten-- you heard Zeta. You need to stop backing up, you're already against the wall."
Behind them the shrouded city began to glow a faint orange as the sun went down, Wildcard remembered his date and fell back into his chair, rubbing his forehead with a hoof.
"You're right Wildcard, it's time to act like stallions," the Captain picked up his helmet and slammed it down on his head.
"I'll excuse this break from protocol so long as you and your comrade come with us, where is he?"
"I have no idea, he probably has standing orders to get back to the griffons somehow," Wildcard said.
"Well, in any case, thank you both. I'm going to find those engineers and make a game plan, you go find out how that doctor is doing." the Captain ordered. Wildcard nodded and they both left.
Outside the town hall Wildcard found the doctor sitting beside one of the tents, staring ahead blankly. He didn't seem to notice Wildcard come to take a seat at his side.
"Doctor?" Wildcard addressed. After a second the Doctor jumped and turned to him.
"You scared me, Wildcard, where did you come from?" Flankenstein asked, eyes darting around.
"I came from right... look doctor we have to talk." Wildcard prodded the ground beside him. Flankenstein returned to his seat, Wildcard noticed he was shaking.
"I know." he said.
"Doctor, did you do this?" Wildcard prodded his own flank as he asked. Flankenstein continued staring straight ahead.
"No, a cutie mark is strictly magical. It's probably because you've been swimming in magic for far longer then any of your comrades have," he explained in a monotone.
"What about my holes?"
"A response to the vaccine, I've put an anti-inflammatory in with the new ones, it won't happen again."
Wildcard gently grasped the Doctor's head and turned it to look him the eye. The Doctor's eyes were bloodshot, his pupils dilated to almost cover his entire iris.
"Doctor, are you alright?" Wildcard asked. At that the doctor slumped into his arms.
Wildcard held him with one hoof and with his other opened the doctors bags, finding a half dozen empty syringes inside when he dumped it out.
"Medic!" Wildcard shouted, clutching the doctor.
A blue coated mare turned and galloped towards them. She quickly slid to Flankensteins side and put a hoof to his neck.
"He's going into shock, grab his legs," She ordered, quickly grabbing Flankenstein's arms. Wildcard did as ordered. As she picked him up she noticed the syringes on the ground.
"That's not good," She said as they carried him off towards a white tent with the doctors cutie mark on the side. Quickly bringing him inside and laying him on an empty bed on a row of others, most of them with bandaged guards, she turned to Wildcard.
"When did he start?" she asked.
"About an hour ago." Wildcard replied.
She shook her head and grabbed an assistant. For the next half hour Wildcard watched as the two tended to his friend as he trembled in the bed. They injected him with some sort of redish serum and then the unicorn stood by his side, covering him in a blue magical field. Wildcard felt truly helpless, and thought that regardless of what Flankenstein had done, he didn't deserve this. At the end of this eternity the assistant returned with an empty syringe, and the blue mare removed a black substance from the Doctor, incinerating it and the syringe magically. She then turned to Wildcard, whom couldn't feel his legs he had been standing for so long.
"He'll be fine, we got to him just in time. He just needs rest." She patted his shoulder. "You're a good friend," She said, smiling.
Wildcard sighed and dropped his flank to the floor. "Thank you." He said.
Before he could even collect himself a hoof prodded him on the back, and he turned to see the captain.
"We're ready," he said.
The captain led Wildcard to the centre of the courtyard, where five dozen pony guards stood at attention, with an equal amount of pegasi above them. Zeta was nowhere to be seen, or smelt.
"Most of us are still holed up around the city, this is what we have to work with," The captain told Wildcard.
"Plan?" Wildcard asked.
"Pegasi are going to make a move for the outer siege perimeter to draw them off, and then we go in with bolts flying," The captain explained, and handed Wildcard a crossbow.
"Ever use one of these?" The Captain asked as Wildcard looked it over.
"No, but I've been briefed on them. I think I can hold my own." Wildcard said, cocking the bolt back and forth.
"Good, just point it at them and hope," the Captain said, and then turned to his own men.
"Air force, move out! Ground force, on me!" He ordered. The pegasi flew off with a burst of speed and wind that temporarily cleared the shroud from the courtyard, revealing a hundred ponies watching them.
"Wildcard, you're with me," He ordered, and they led the force out of the courtyard.
The twilight that had filled the city gave day to total darkness which filled the shrouded city. If Wildcard was right, then it was far too late it to make it back to Canterlot. He sparked up his horn to create a dim field of light to show the way in the fog.
He suddenly remembered the scroll Luna had given him, and slung the crossbow around his neck to get it out of his bag.
"I need a unicorn up front, pronto!" Wildcard shouted. The Captain glanced at him as one ran up from behind.
"Cast this." Wildcard handed off the scroll as the captain continued to watch.
The unicorn nodded and studied the scroll for a moment as the company marched. He then folded it up, handed it back to Wildcard, and his alicorn began to glow brilliantly. Before long a shimmering light shot out of it and into the sky, revealing a hole in the shroud where the moon shone through for a moment.
And then.. nothing.
"Alright, what was that?" The Captain asked.
"The calvary is coming, Captain," Wildcard replied.
Wildcard explained the scroll to the captain. They knew that even with Luna coming, they couldn't rely on that alone. The radio station was still their objective and they set to it, but now they had backup on the way. Plus Luna probably wouldn't expect a full griffon invasion, so it would take time for the Night Guard to fully mobilize.
She probably expected an owlbear.
Still, word soon spread back in the line that the Night Guard was coming, and morale was boosted. This was also helped by the fact that as they marched to the coastal area with the radio tower, several dozen guards that had been disconnected from the main group joined them, and their numbers grew. By the time they came to the edge of the buildings before the parking lot that lay in front of the building, they had a hundred guards in their company. Wildcard and the Captain peered though the fog as the darkened building stood above it, almost like a black monolith standing above a graveyard of wrecked carriages. There was no sign of anybody- griffon or otherwise- in the building.
Cautiously the group moved into the parking lot, taking positions behind the carriages and pointing their crossbows up at the building. Wildcard and the Captain soon found themselves behind and overturned- and quite expensive- horseless carriage with a view of the entrance.
"It's a pity," The Captain lamented.
"It's been a bad day for Equestria, it's true." Wildcard commented.
"I mean this car, they only made ten of these," The Captain prodded it with a hoof.
Wildcard sighed, and then his ears perked up as they heard movement beyond the doors. Around them the sound of crossbows being cocked filled the parking lot.
Wildcard lit up the door using his horn as a spotlight, and the door creaked open.
The Captain gestured behind him and a half dozen guards ran up silently to the side of the doorway, one of them moving to open it while the others levelled their crossbows. The captain nodded and the door was flung open, the lead pony dragging a figure out into the open and shoving him back.
It was a changeling.
Wildcard vaulted over the overturned car and galloped over, finding a cowering Eta-Zeta in the centre of a ring of confused guards.
"Zeta, what are you doing here?" Wildcard asked, coming to a stop. Before Zeta could reply a huge noise came from behind them and the sky was filled with a brilliant flash of light, followed by several more. Turning to see what was going on Wildcard threw his spotlight around the parking lot as the sound of explosions filled the air, but the shroud covered the source.
The guards in the parking lot waved their crossbows around as above them the sounds of wings, shouting, and flashes of light filled the air. An arc of flame sent a few of the guards dashing for cover as it sent one of the carriages up in smoke.
"What is going on up there!" The captain shouted, running to take cover in the doorway.
Wildcard looked up with his light peering through the shroud, he caught a glimpse of a bat wing.
"The calvary, the calvary is here!" He shouted.
With a colossal noise an explosive shockwave pushed them to the ground and cleared the shroud, it also appeared to clear the griffons who could clearly be seen hastily retreating towards the coast, following by a flight of dark figures.
Over the parking lot hovered Luna, flanked by a pair of bat ponies. Wildcard noticed that she was clad in the same armour she wore that night she had occupied the Hive, but quickly she shimmered and returned to her 'normal' self.
The guards cheered the arrival of the Princess of the Night, the Captain grabbed Wildcard and giddily laughed.
"We're saved!" He exclaimed. Wildcard met him with a smile and turned to see the Princess swooping to hover over them.
"Ambassador, we meet again," Luna said to him, and then turned to the captain.
"Captain, you stand relieved. I have called for the rest of the Night Guard, and we will drive these cowards into the sea. They will not threaten this city again."
"Thank you, Princess, but there is something important you need to know- Baltimare is not their objective."
"Oh?" She asked.
"This was a feint, their real objective is Manehatten."
"How did you come to this conclusion?"
"Thanks to your changeling friends here, " the Captain replied, gesturing to Wildcard and Zeta- whom had come to his superiors side.
"I see, this alliance is proving most fruitful. Thank you both." Luna said, and nodded respectfully.
Wildcard took this opportunity to ask his comrade what exactly had happened.
"Zeta, where's the defense? The griffons should have left at least a token force," he said.
"I heard your plan, and so I went ahead and gave them falsified orders to report back for rest and refit- they seemed eager to abandon their post here, mentioned something about 'missing the action'," Zeta explained.
"Zeta, you're brilliant!" Wildcard exclaimed tossing his crossbow the side and, hugging the changeling as he blushed back."I'm going to make sure that Eta-Eta promotes you."
Zeta looked at the ground, continuing to blush. "You don't need to do that boss," he said.
Luna cleared her throat, and Wildcard turned towards her.
"Wildcard, I owe you a debt of gratitude. You stayed with us in our hour of need, and even stood ready to help the guard in it's assault on this place." She paused for a second. "For that matter, why are you assaulting this place?"
The Captain spoke up. "It's a radio station, the griffons were using it to broadcast propaganda apparently, we hoped to use it to get an alert out."
Luna considered this for a second. "Not the best of plans, but you did what you could with what you had. Very well, I will see to it this facility is used to broadcast more... friendly material," She said, and turned again to Wildcard.
"Why did you come to Baltimare?" she asked.
"I needed to hire an engineering firm here, which led me to this place, " Wildcard explained.
"I was hoping to make it back to Canterlot tonight, but I guess that won't happen." He lamented.
"Fear not Ambassador, I will make this right. Meet me at the town hall in half an hour, and I will get you home," Luna said, and flew off.
Wildcard looked to the Captain, who nodded, and then he galloped off with Zeta close on his tail.
"Gamma!" Zeta shouted behind him. "What are my orders?"
"Accompany the Captain back to to Canterlot, and then find me!" Wildcard shouted back as he ran into the fog.
When he came up to the perimeter of the town hall, finding the ponies inside decidedly happier in mood with bat ponies milling around watching for any sign of trouble, he quickly made for the tent Dr. Flankenstein had been in, trotting in just as he legs seemed about to give way. The mare that had been tending to him sat at a small desk, looking over some document by the light of her horn.
"Excuse me." Wildcard said, and she turned to him. "Is my friend... awake?"
"On and off." She replied, turning back to the paper. "You can try to talk to him, but don't take too long."
Wildcard nodded and took a seat at his friends his side. Looking him over he seemed... older, his pure white mane was set with grey hairs and his skin wrinkled in several spots. The dark red of his cutie mark seemed slightly lighter in tone, almost a dull pink.
"Doctor?" Wildcard asked, and his eyelids opened slightly.
"Who are you?" the Doctor asked.
"It's me, Wildcard. I wanted to say I was sorry for the loss of your lab, and whatever you may have done- I forgive you."
The Doctor squinted his eyes as they looked over Wildcard. "I don't know any Wildcard, and what lab? You have strange eyes..." He trailed off.
Wildcard gasped as he realized what had happened. Before he could continue the doctors eyes closed again and he went back to sleep. For a moment he sat there in silence, the aged doctor laying on the bed before him. Wildcard nearly jumped out of his skin as a hoof touched his shoulder from behind.
"A classic case of amnesia, judging by the amount of whatever that is he took, we're lucky that's all that happened." The blue mare took a seat beside Wildcard.
"What's his name?" She asked.
"Dr. Flankenstein, Royal Surgeon."
"Ah." She said. "I'll see that he's returned to Canterlot General when he's able to move. My name is Colgate, and you can find me there for the next week or so. I'll send for you, Ambassador, as soon as he's well." She smiled warmly at Wildcard.
"Thank you. He's a good friend, he's done great things." Wildcard said, turning to leave.
"Great things." He mumbled to himself as he left.
Outside Luna was waiting, and stood beside a chariot as she spoke to a pair of her guards. Hearing Wildcard come out of the tent she turned to him.
"I have spoken with those engineers, and they say they will work for you for free. They mentioned they'll meet you in Canterlot tomorrow. For now, I give you this," She stood aside and gestured at the chariot.
"These are my two fastest fliers, they will get you to Canterlot in time for you date." Luna said, smirking at him.
"How do you know about that?" Wildcard asked, coming before her.
"My sister and I do talk you know, and you're a curious specimen," Luna replied, and gestured Wildcard take a seat on the chariot. He did, and almost immediately was thrown back as the chariot flung forward into the night sky. As they came over the fog of the city, buildings standing over it which briskly fell into the distance, Wildcard looked towards the country ahead.
He allowed himself to grin, and as the wind swept back his hair he returned to that beach in his mind. He might not be heading for that beach, but there was something more important in this vision he looked forward to.
She was.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
The trip was short, and Wildcard was amazed by the speed of the bat ponies as they carried the chariot over the clouds to Canterlot. He had never been this high before, and he could actually see the curvature of the planet. Manehatten to the north shone in the night, lit by the moon and the never-ending light of the city that never slept. Thanks to his comrade Eta-Zeta, that city would sleep peacefully tonight.
That was neither here nor there now. The world might be heading for war, his first friend might have erased his own memory in a bizarre act of repentance, and he had duties to the hive that demanded his attention.
Buck all that this was his night .
Canterlot came into view, and almost as quickly as it did the chariot swooped towards swung around the castle. Wildcard was amazed by the fact that as it swung around he wasn't disturbed at all in his seat, some sort of pony magic, he imagined. Quickly the chariot descended and came to a soft landing in the castle courtyard. Wildcard wasted no time and leapt out, surprised to see the two bat ponies come his side as he hurriedly cantered through the gate. (noting that the usual bat pony guards were nowhere to be seen, Luna had really taken the entire force apparently.)
"We'll escort you to your office, Ambassador," the one on his left said.
"You don't have to do that, really," Wildcard suggested.
"I think we do sir, you're late, " The other one said. Wildcard turned to him and the bat pony winked back.
Shortly the group came upon Wildcards office, to his astonishment the door was closed, and a new doorplate glittered in the torchlight. His name was painted on it, bordered in gold. He ran his hoof along it, it was wonderful to see. Before he was able to push the door open a hoof prodded his shoulder.
Looking behind him one of the bats cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Don't you think you're a little under dressed...?" he said, with a hissing accent that put an emphasis on the S's.
It took Wildcard a second to realize what he had meant. under dressed, date, just came from a war-zone...
Nodding thankfully at the guard Wildcard closed his eyes and concentrated, creating a 'disguise' from nothing took some effort, and it would have to look good. With a green glow that overtook himself something historical, something totally unique in the world, a totally unprecedented event took place.
A changeling used his shape-shifting abilities to look good for a mare, and not as part of a plan to take over the world.
When the green field faded Wildcard took a look over himself before opening the door. He had chosen a grey fatigue jacket with a few pockets that he wore over top a blue undershirt. A white scarf covered his neck; it was a chilly night. Opening the door he immediately spotted First Class sitting at his desk, in his chair, reading by the light of his desk lamp. She leaned back in this chair with her legs on the desk. As Wildcard approached he noticed something else- there was no dust on the floor, and the wallpaper on the walls was visible; instead of being a blurry mass of grime. Behind First Class the moon was visible hanging in the sky, watching over the world.
"You're late." She said, flipping a page.
Before Wildcard could speak the bat ponies came from behind him forward, and what followed was a seemingly rehearsed display. They came up before Wildcard and bowed.
"Thank you for your assistance, Ambassador," They said. "Thanks to you, Baltimare is safe, and Manehatten sleeps easy." They stood, and one handed Wildcard a small note. "Take this, as a sign of our gratitude," he said, and bowing again they left, gently closing the door behind them. First Class had been watching this, sitting upright in the chair holding her chin in her hooves over the desk.
Wildcard quickly glanced at the note, another one of those reserve notes. Notably, this one had the face of Luna imposed on it, her gaze scowling at the holder. He also noted it was for an entire thousand bits. He slipped this into a jacket pocket and turned to meet First Class's gaze.
"So you've had a busy day, Ambassador?" She asked, and then pointed a hoof to him. "Your saddlebags are burnt."
Wildcard took out Luna's scroll, shrugged them off, and kicked them towards the side. "So they are," he said, putting it in a pocket.
First Class turned the chair to the side and slipped out. Wildcard's heart fluttered, and his wings buzzed with it before the rest of his brain caught up with them. She wore a brown peacoat, over a dress, and around her neck a grey scarf that matched Wildcards was tied around. Over her head a beret that matched her coat, capped it all. Wildcard found himself at a loss for words as she approached him, smiling.
His brain wasn't sure, but it thought he was smiling back.
"Nice berET" Wildcard croaked. First Glass giggled and blushed.
She stopped in front of Wildcard and played with his scarf, he in turn blushed too.
"So is this real, or an illusion?" She asked.
Wildcard gently grasped her hoof with his own. "It's as real as you want it to be," he said. Behind him the door opened with a green field.
He mistook the weight of it and sent it slamming against the wall, he cringed on the impact and turned to see the damage.
Thankfully, none.
"Careful with the door, Wildcard, I just built it today."
Wildcard turned back to her. "You... built the door?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I have a lot of spare time, I like to work with wood," She said, and pointed back to the desk.
"Very impressive work, you have good taste," She said, and then gestured out the doorway.
"So where to?" she asked.
Wildcard led her out and as they departed the castle they had a conversation about that desk, First Class seemed very interested to find out that a filly named Applebloom had made it. The conversation then turned to that days events. First Class was horrified to hear of the events in Baltimare, and agreed with Wildcard that it did not bode well for anybody, or any pony. They disagreed however on whether they could return to peace before things went further. Wildcard let the matter drop, not wanting to ruin the evening. As sure as he was that the ponies would have to 'buck up' as it were, and kick the Griffons where it hurt to prove they meant business, he wasn't going to argue it tonight.
Standing in the crisp night air Wildcard was thankful for his scarf. The wind blew down the mostly empty street while the moon hung overhead, adding it's glow to that of the streetlights. He turned to his companion, also basking in the night.
"I never see the night much, normally I have to get up with early with the sun." First Class said. Looking down the roads she looked back at Wildcard inquisitively. "Where's the Night Guard?" She asked, noting the empty streets.
"Luna is taking the trouble on the border very seriously, and speaking of bats- how do we get into 'the mountain'?"
First Class gestured to the mountain looming over the towers of the castle. "The waterfall," She said, and then flexed her wings.
"They don't let anypony in though, and the wind blows out from the mountain. Can those little wings do it?" First Class teased, spreading her own.
"Oh, you're on," Wildcard said. His wings buzzed in return and he lifted into the air.
First Class smirked and shot off into the air, followed closely by Wildcard. Wildcard never ceased to be impressed by the speed and power of even an average pegasus, they put the best changelings to shame. Had he not accidentally wound up having the holes in his wings filled there was no way he could have kept up with her as they soared over the city and turned towards the waterfall.
Maybe it was a gift, not a curse... Wildcard began to ponder this but stopped himself, introspection could wait until he was back at his desk. In any case the pair came up against the winds blowing out of the mountain that First Class had mentioned, slowing to an airborne crawl as they fought that power. Wildcards wings strained against it, and glancing to his side he saw First Class powering through. Closer and closer they came to the waterfall, behind a portal could faintly be seen behind the flow. Closer and closer they came, closer and closer...
First Class was through first, disappearing through the flow of the waterfall into the cave beyond. Wildcard followed shortly, just as he felt his wings were about to give out against the force. He poked his head through the water and then, before he could catch himself, overshot the exit and flung forwards as force of the wind dissipated. To round this out his wings became little more then damp paper as the fatigue caught up with him, sending him flying forwards with no direction when they closed up.
He hit the ground and rolled, coming to a stop with the help the of cave wall. First Class stifled a fit of laughter and approached the heap of a changeling that lay on the stone floor, shaking herself dry as she did. She extended a hoof to him as he lay there,and a dark shadow seemed to move past the portal to the outside.
"You alright?" She asked, worriedly.
Wildcard rolled over and took her hoof, leveraging himself back up.
"I've had worse." Wildcard said. Turning to the cave he lit his alicorn and turned to the cave ahead. In the distance was a shimmering light, the cave itself was far larger then it had looked before. Something flew in front of the light, and Wildcard frantically searching around for whatever was casting that shadow.
"Good Evening." A voice behind Wildcard said softly. He jumped and turned to face it, finding a bat pony standing there, cringing in the harsh light of Wildcard's alicorn spotlight.
"Careful with that!" the bat complained, Wildcard shut it off and calmed himself, these bats were almost as good at stealth as the changelings were, he would have to remember that.
"Sorry, you crept up on me," Wildcard said. He looked past to see First Class smiling, and the bat turned to her.
"Good to see you, Infrared," she said. "Still guarding the door?"
"As always, First Class, who's your 'friend'?" Infrared asked. He glanced back and Wildcard noticed his eyes were a deep red, they looked almost like his own- with opposite colouration.
"Ambassador Wildcard," Wildcard said, with a polite nod. He pulled Luna's scroll out and held it open with a magic field.
Infrared looked it over and, when he was satisfied, leaned past to give Wildcard a familiar warm smile. He had seen more smiles in the last week then the rest of his life in the hive combined.
"A friend of Her Highness I see, well follow me right on in!" Infrared strode down the cave and gestured they follow. Wildcard sparked his alicorn back up and First Class came to his side. They followed Infrared down the cave towards, what Wildcard assumed to be, the inner domain of the bat ponies. He was rather excited to find out what awaited him.
Wildcard leaned over to whisper to First Class.
"You've been here before?" he asked.
"When Celestia needs to talk to Luna during the day, she sends me as an intermediary. It's a... delicate task," She explained.
"Delicate task?"
"You're not the only one that can shapeshift," First Class whispered. She shuddered at the thought of some unknown horror.
Not the only one that can shapeshift...
"And here we are!" Infrared strode into the shimmering light with the two behind him. Wildcard looked up from his thinking to gaze in awe at the sight before him.
The city of the bat ponies was nearly as big as Canterlot. It looked as if the entire mountain had been carved out, with a vast series of stone towers far below the ledge where they they stood. A staircase ran along the edges of the giant cave, and a moat surrounded the city below coming into it with a canal that ended in a small artificial lake in the middle. Directly beside them water streamed down in a waterfall. It was all lit by lanterns placed nearly everywhere, giving the cave roof the appearance of the night sky. It was absolutely beautiful to behold.
Wildcard would have to write home about this, it was a crime that ponies and changelings had lived without seeing it for themselves.
"It is quite a sight, isn't it? The first time I came here I just sat on this ledge and stared it at it for half an hour," First Class commented. Wildcard nodded his agreement, not sure if she or the city was better looking.
Infrared stood on the edge of the ledge and gestured behind him at the city. Tiny figures of bats flew to and fro in the distance. Wildcard guessed the population must be at least equal to Canterlot.
"Welcome to our humble home, I suggest you take some time to look around, maybe take in a show at the Echo Theater," He said, and with a flap of his wings pushed off from the ledge. "Enjoy your stay!"
With that, he flew off, leaving the two on the ledge.
"Well, you've been here before." Wildcard turned to First Class, finding her looking over the city. "What's good?" He asked.
She pointed towards a short circular building near the central lake. "Echo Theater is usually good, and they've got great cider."
She had him at 'cider'.
"Sounds good then," Wildcard said, lifting into the air. First Class followed and they flew down towards that building.
As they traveled Wildcard noticed that it seemed like all the bats he passed were wearing armour, even ones just milling around on the streets below. It occurred to him that the bat ponies could be an entirely militaristic culture, and these would be the reserves. If Luna wanted to she could raise an army equal in size to the Equestrian Royal Guard- instantly.
An entire race of warriors, it was exactly what Equestria needed to counter the griffons, should it come to that. The Queen would also be extremely interested in all this, perhaps enough to promote him. Eta-Eta... , equal to his current superior.
He quite liked the sound of that, and as they came down to before the circular building that marked the Echo Theater he rolled it around in his head.
Eta-Eta, Ambassador. He would probably get some more funding, a proper embassy, some warriors to command...
He sighed, and First Class glanced back at him and blushed. He realized that, at that very moment, a breeze had disturbed her skirt. Awkward, but that flank deserved no less, so Wildcard ran with it.
"So, do you get out often? Your job must be quite demanding." Wildcard asked as they trotted up the stairs to the entrance.
"It is, I mostly just get out on business. Celestia gave me the day off tomorrow, said that she would be fine without me for the day," First Class said, and stopped at the entrance. An enormous stallion of a bat pony bouncer stood there and looked them over, while Wildcard looked over a notice on the door.
"3 Drink minimum, Mares night Thursday. No foals."
Considering how much a pair of ciders had effected him before, he quickly considered the consequences of that minimum. Coming to a logical conc...
Or he would have had First Class not already been let in, thinking was for the loveless. Wildcard stepped up the bouncer who squinted down at him. Wildcard wondered how that much muscle could possibly fly.
"Ambassador Wildcard... go easy on the cider." The bouncer said, and pushed open the door with his rear hoof. Wildcard walked in as a fit of laughter filled the air behind as the door shut again.
Inside Wildcard found a mostly empty room. First Class had already taken a seat at a table close to an enormous round stage that occupied the majority of the vast building. Alone the sides were several levels of viewing platforms. On the far side from the entrance a bar was visible jutting from the wall. The theater could probably seat hundreds, but for now it was only Wildcard, First Class, and a few dozen scattered bats. A spire led down from the centre of the roof, ending in a box that had a clock on each face. The time was 11 PM according to it.
A few bat ponies actually hung from the ceiling. Wildcard would have to report that myth confirmed- and collect on a few bets. He took a seat beside First Class. They both had a good view of the stage, but it seemed that for now there was nothing going on.
There was still the cider to look forward however, and as Wildcard settled in he noticed one of the bats drop for the roof and swoop towards them.
"Good Moon to you, My name is Echo, welcome to my theater." The bat came to a hover before the table, and bowed politely as he gave his name.
"The first show of the night should be starting in half an hour, if that unicorn can be trusted, and the special tonight is a tomato soup."
"There's been a bumper crop of tomatoes." He added.
Wildcard realized he hadn't eaten since that morning, the mention of food reminded his body that it required that to live, and suddenly he felt starved.
"I'll just have a salad, " First Class said.
"The soup, please, and... perhaps a mushroom sandwich," Wildcard said.
Echo nodded. "Shouldn't take too long, Her Highness called out most of us for some alert, I think it's a drill," Echo flapped his wings and swooped backwards over the stage.
"Miss dinner?" First Class asked.
"You could say that, I don't think I've eaten since breakfast," Wildcard replied.
A curtain descended from somewhere in the rafters to cover the stage, leaving the pair in it's shadow.
"I suppose you get this a lot, but can you change into... anything?" First Class asked.
"Anything with the same body mass." Wildcard replied.
"So you could change into... Shining Armour?" First Class asked, running a hoof through her mane as she did.
If Wildcard had been drinking it would be all over the table, his eyes became wide with astonishment.
"I uhh, I suppose..." he replied.
First Class giggled. "I'm teasing, I always thought he was kind of a blowhard. Always trying to be 'gallant'. The perfect stallion for a mare with no depth. A bag of pony parts shaped into a stallion, matched with a bag of pony parts shaped like a mare."
Wildcard laughed. "I'm surprised at you, I would have thought you would have more respect for their 'highness's'"
"I'm not on duty," First Class said, and put her chin on her arms, tented over the table. Wildcard repeated that.
They looked at each other across that table. On one end sat a changeling infiltrator that a week ago had accidentally started a minor war, on the other the assistant to Princess Celestia. Between them an invisible filament of magic, which Wildcard could feel as if it was a physical thing.
"I'm not either." Wildcard said. He pulled the bill and scroll from his jacket, and dropped the disguise, leaving them on the table.
As they waited for their food to arrive, with the sound of some great project being constructed on the stage in front of them, they talked. Wildcard came to know how First Class had gotten her job: she had been a part of the Wonderbolts for a short tenure, as assistant to Spitfire's predecessor. When Spitfire came to lead them, the job became void when she turned out to be far more self reliant then that predecessor, leading to First Class finding work at Canterlot. That was a few years ago, and she had quickly worked up the ladder to the top. She in turn asked Wildcard about some of his infiltration exploits, having a good laugh at the initiation that had him infiltrate Canterlot to cancel the weekly sweets delivery to Canterlot Castle. His idea to expand that by switching the shipment to carrots is what shot him up the ranks early, and made him the premiere infiltrator after the failed attack on Canterlot a few months back.
"I was there for that!" First Class exclaimed "Celestia actually made up this 'contest' and had a few bakers bring down these absurd creations to be 'judged', for some reason they only ended up making one however, and a pink mare ate it."
"The whole thing?" Wildcard asked.
"The whole thing, I swear it was the size of her," First Class replied. "If it was anypony else they would probably be tried for treason, but those Ponyville folk get away with everything," She sighed and shook her head.
Echo returned at this point with their food, descending and with the skill of a master slid two plates before the pair before they even realized he was there. A master of stealth, a master of dexterity, a master waiter. Two mugs of cider silently found themselves beside the plates as well. They thanked him and with a nod he was back off.
Wildcard wasted no time, and within a space of seconds the sandwich had disappeared along with half of the cider. First Class seemed bemused by this, as she slowly pecked at her salad.
Levitating the spoon, Wildcard set to the soup. First Class watched with a cocked eyebrow.
"I thought changelings had to, like, steal , magic," she inquired.
"Actually we thought that too, but it turns we don't need to. All we have to do is be around... friends, and it flows naturally," Wildcard explained.
"We just can't generate it ourselves." he added.
"So doesn't that mean you're stealing my own magic?" First Class accused him, scowling.
Wildcards eyes widened with a look of horror. "Uhhh.." His mind frantically searched for some way to escape the hole he found himself in, and then tripped over itself in confusion as First Class fell back in her chair laughing.
"Got you!" She exclaimed between fits of laughter. Wildcard sighed and relaxed.
"You really did," Wildcard said. He set back to his soup as the curtain ascended, and they both gazed at the stage.
It was nothing more then a starry backdrop that ran the centre length. At the very top a wand crossed over a cresent moon was stitched on, the stitching standing out to showcase a fairly un-professional work. After a moments silence an explosion of sparks and smoke gave way to a blue unicorn draped in a starry cape, with a bent hat matching the bizarre cape on her head.
Wildcard burst out into laughter, fore-hooves slamming against the table. For a good half a minute the mare starred him down, which only made him laugh more as he couldn't possibly take any pony wearing that get up seriously. He was only silenced when his chair flew out from under him, throwing him to the ground.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie will not be mocked by you people !" The mare shouted.
Wildcard brushed himself off and pulled a chair from another table to replace his, stifling his laughter for now. First Class sipped from her cider, greatly amused by all this.
"What do you mean 'you people'?!" Someone yelled from the upper platforms. Trixie backed up and her gaze flickered around the room.
Wildcard drank the rest of his cider, and found it replaced with a full one and a plate of tomatoes. He turned to see Echo there, with a hoof to his mouth as he backed into the shadows.
Wildcard looked at First Class and nodded to the tomatoes. She smiled and picked one up. Wildcard held one in a green field before himself, lining it up.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie's use of the third person neutral plural will not be questioned!" Trixie shouted back.
"I've got a question for you!" Another voice shouted from above. "How good are you with deflection spells!"
For a second Trixie seemed confused, and then a red blur flew from above, and was caught in a blue field.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is quite good, thank you!" Trixie yelled, and sent the tomato back to sender.
Wildcard and First Class stood as one, and loosed theirs to join a barrage of a few dozen others coming from around and above them. The unicorns defenses were overwhelmed, although to her credit she sent a third of them towards the original heckler. This was all followed by another burst of sparks and smoke, and the unicorn was gone through the back of the reddened stage. The room was filled with laughter from all around.
"Hey wait a second!" Wildcard shouted over the din. "How did she get in here, she can't fly!"
"There's a door in the castle!" First Class replied. Wildcard turned and squinted his eyes at her.
"But, the waterfall?" He asked, as the room quieted down.
"That's the exit , they use it to get out quickly if Luna calls them on alert," First Class explained, and finished her cider.
"I just wanted to see if you could make it," She added with a wink.
Wildcard felt his heart flutter, and a short buzz of his wings. He had never met anyone quite like First Class, and he felt he was falling for her.
"First Class, you really do your name justice." Wildcard said. She blushed in response.
"You're just doing this so you can kidnap me, change into my form, and spy on Celestia," She said, her face suddenly serious.
Wildcard paused and tensed, unsure if it was a joke or not. He made a mental note to destroy that dossier he had on her the first chance he got.
"I'm kidding," She said, eliciting a relaxed slouch as Wildcard breathed again.
Echo soon returned with another round of drinks, and the pair spent the next half hour or so laughing and comparing their experiences with the civil services. Wildcard asked her why Celestia didn't simply call herself Queen, and found that Celestia had kept the title of Princess because she felt it made her seem younger, that and equality with the other Alicorns, but mostly for vanities sake. Wildcard detailed his involvement in the failed attack on Canterlot, and how Chrysalis had doomed their entire plan by revealing herself to Twilight Sparkle in an insane act of hubris. Just as she was about to win, just as even Celestia had turned against Twilight, Chrysalis had found it wise to reveal herself and teleport Twilight to the same place Cadence had been imprisoned. Wildcard was surprised in himself, detailing how stupid he thought Chrysalis to be. He had never so much as questioned her orders before, but with all the recent revelations, and all the cider, he started really thinking about the Queen on his own terms. He was becoming more Wildcard then Eta-Gamma.
He was glad to know that First Class found quite a few faults in Princess Celestia as well, mostly in her mismanagement of the elements of harmony, and her bizarre decision to free Discord. Apparently Equestria Daily had a field day when that had happened, devoting an entire week and going as far to insinuate Celestia had been replaced by Chrysalis and it was all a conspiracy.
"Their cover page read: Shapeshifter Aliens: More likely then you think!" First Class said and fell back into her chair, laughing.
Wildcard at this point was quite drunk, and according to the clock it was getting close to one in the morning.
"I think *hic* we should call it a night." He said, pushing his chair away and stumbling. He lost his footing and found himself on the surprisingly comfortable floor, and fell asleep.
First Class came over and prodded him with a hoof. She snorted as she rolled him over, he wasn't going to be waking up any time soon.
"Oh Wildcard, what am I going to do with you." She said, and slung him over her back. She was surprised at how light the changeling was. Taking a second to collect the scroll and bill- almost dropping him in surprise when see saw how much money it was for, she trotted to the exit where Echo stood by the doorway.
"Your friend is quite the lightweight." Echo noted.
"Oh, don't judge him too harshly. I don't imagine they get that much cider," She said, and pushed the door open.
"I suppose you are right. I'll send him the cheque," Echo said, and bowed politely as she left.
Taking flight, using her forelegs to grasp Wildcard on her back, she flew towards the ledge and the exit of the mountain. On her back the changeling breathed quietly as he slept peacefully, and she wondered what he might be dreaming of.
She had never met anypony- or anyone- like Wildcard. He was different then the other ponies, most notably in the shapeshifting abilities, but also in the fact that he seemed more straight forward, more... open, thea other ponies. Any other stallion would have taken her to some fancy establishment and spent the night going through a list of corny lines. The ritual , she had been through it dozens of times. Wildcard had no idea what the ritual was, he was a total outsider. A breath of fresh air to be around someone of the opposite sex that she didn't have to follow protocol for. They had laughed about their leaders failures, thrown tomatoes at a hack stage magician, and gotten drunk.
Well, he got drunk. She was only slightly buzzed. Little did he know that First Class had grown up in Ponyville, and the cider there flowed like a river in the spring. Or the fall. Or any time there was even the hint of an excuse to roll out the barrels.
She found she rather liked him, actually. Passing by Infrared with a smile she burst through the waterfall into the night of Canterlot.
Wildcard was shocked awake, but his cider addled mind couldn't keep it up for long.
"Just ten more minutess..." he mumbled, and buried his face in First Class's mane. She giggled, and directed her flight towards the palace. Coming to a landing outside the palace doors she cantered right on in, quickly finding Wildcard's room. Opening the door she noticed how bare the room was, it was almost like he had never actually spent any time there.
Considering what he had told her, as she laid him gently down on his bed, that didn't seem a surprise. She laid his things on the desk next to the bed and swept a wing over to pull the covers over him.
She thought he looked adorable, his crooked alicorn sticking out from his head as he curled up on his side. Didn't even snore.
With that, she left him to sleep.
Perhaps there was a future for them, together. The changeling ambassador and Princess Celestia's assistant.
Stranger things had certainly happened.
A dozen hours later the door burst open, jarring Wildcard awake. He flew out of the bed and slammed to the ground opening his eyes to see the blurry image of a blue figure in the doorway, holding.... something. A paper? If that's what it was, it was burnt pretty bad.
"Wildcard!" The figure exclaimed and galloped forward, waving the paper around.
He closed his eyes and wished she would go away, but a hoof poking at his head- which felt it might either explode or melt out of his head, proved that impossible.
"Wildcard, we need to talk."
His eyes widened and he was extremely thankful to notice that her mane was blue and white, not turquoise. He sighed.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard calmed Colgate down long enough to take a shower and make himself reasonably presentable. Whatever that paper was, she was frantic to show him. Wildcard recognized it as something from Dr. Flankenstein's lab early on, but he was too hung over to really care about it until he cleared his head. His forehooves also felt like he had been dragged by them for hours for some reason, the last night was a blur.
He had ended up in his own room though, and didn't find a member of the warrior caste beside him. So he decided that whatever happened, it was the best case scenario and he wouldn't think on it any more. Leaving the washroom a squeaky clean changeling, he found Colgate pacing in the centre of the room. A recess in the carpet traced her path as she paced in an oval, intently staring at the remaining page of Flankenstein's work.
"Alright Colgate, what's so important?" Wildcard asked, putting a hoof to his aching forehead he looked to her with a pleading expression, finding that familiar feeling as her magic healed his head.
She pointed a hoof at the bed and continued pacing. "Have a seat, Ambassador."
Wildcard did as asked, and then found Colgate staring him down.
"Ambassador, I'm primarily a dentist, but I went to same school Dr. Flankenstein did- we took genetics together. Do you have any idea what this means?" She said, and floated the paper to before Wildcard. It was hard to make out, but there looked to be three columns, a few of the columns were highlighted red across, or the two to the side had a matching green highlight.
"I have absolutely no idea," Wildcard said.
"Fine, then let me explain," Colgate's horn glowed and before Wildcard a cleaner image of the paper floated in the air, the first column shimmered into view. Around 20 boxes, each filled with some variation of ATA, GAT, or PON ran down it. Wildcard remembered Flankenstein talking about this in his lab, although that had been only two columns, so what of the third?
"This, as far as I can tell, is an Alicorn. We sequenced these genes years ago. You'll notice these two in particular, which when activated correspond to wings or horns. An Alicorn has both, only Celestia has the power to activate the other." Two spots on the column became highlighted, and then a second column shimmered in beside it. It was of the same length, and a few of the elements differed.
"This, looks to be a regular unicorn. The gene for a horn is activated, but not wings."
A third column came beside the others.
"This one is different then the others, and has a few genes turned on that I was taught were just junk PrNA. Here's the real kicker though," Colgate said. A red highlight connected the 'horn gene' across the board, and a green highlight came over the left and right 'wing' gene.
"The one on the right seems to be an Alicorn, but a few genes are switched off, I'm not sure what they corresponds to, but I can guess." This was at the top of the right column, and flashed for a moment. "On the actual Alicorn, there's a match between these mystery genes and the third," She said, and those became highlighted in green.
"So, this Alicorn share's genetics with the mystery pony?" Wildcard asked.
"I think we both know who the mystery pony is," Colgate said. Above the third column a basic doodle of a changeling appeared.
"Are you saying Alicorns are connected to Changelings?" Wildcard asked, so intrigued that he only occupied the bare edge of his bed.
"I'm saying Alicorns are Changelings, or more precisely Changelings are some strange corrupted version of Alicorns. I imagine the switched off genes would end up corresponding to magic energy, I've never seen those switched off before."
"If you're logic is right, doesn't that mean Alicorns and Changelings share the ability to shapeshift?" Wildcard asked.
"This one does, at the very least," Colgate stated.
"And if Alicorns are artificial..." Wildcard trailed off, and his eyes widened with the realization.
"Then you are too. If I had to guess I would say somepony tried to make a race of Alicorn's, and failed," Colgate said, and the display flickered out of existence.
"I wish I had the rest of this, I'll bet that I could track down whatever it is that gives you those blue eyes and insect wings too, might even explain the unisex nature of the Hive."
Wildcard was too deep in his own mind to notice Colgate talking. The Doctor was right, they were all ponies in the end. Who had made them, and why, was the central question now. He leapt up from his seat and brushed past Colgate on the way out, he had to see a mare about a pony. Colgate trailed behind as he took to the hallways of the castle.
Wildcard threw the throne room doors open, finding Celestia on the throne. She was alone if not for the guards flanking the door. They narrowly sidestepped the swinging doors as Wildcard rushed in. Celestia smiled down at him.
"Good afternoon Wildcard, you missed the bri--" She stopped when she noticed Wildcard glaring up at her, Colgate coming in behind with the paper.
"Buck the meeting, we have more important things to talk about." Wildcard demanded, and grabbed the paper telekinetically. The two guards drew their pikes and marched towards Wildcard.
Celestia shook her head, and they stopped. "Leave us." She ordered. "All of you," She added, looking to Colgate.
A moment later the door shut, leaving the Princess of the Sun and the Changeling Ambassador alone.
"So he did it," Celestia said, levitating the paper over to herself. "He found the truth."
With a flash of light the paper was consumed by flame, completing what had started a day earlier in Baltimare.
Wildcard galloped forward with a cry, sliding to a halt at the ashes of it. "Why, why would you do that?!" He demanded.
Celestia came behind him as he prodded the ashes with a hoof, and put hers on his shoulder.
"To keep the peace," She said. Wildcard turned and saw the smile had disappeared from Celestia's face. She almost looked like the Queen.
"Tell me, Wildcard, what would happen if this became public knowledge?" Celestia asked.
Wildcard considered it for a moment, and found he had no answer.
"Exactly. There's no way to know, and right now there's enough chaos that I can't allow this to become known, not yet," She said, and trotted to look at one of the stained glass windows. Wildcard noticed it was the one depicting Princess Twilight's 'ascension'.
"She wasn't my first protege, only my most successful," She lamented, and turned back towards Wildcard.
"My first, five hundred years ago, is your original ancestor." She looked him dead in the eye standing before that painting. "Her name was Crystal Star."
All the pieces began to connect in Wildcard's mind. "But why?" He asked.
"She always wanted power over all else. I tried to teach her otherwise, but she turned away from me, and embraced the sciences as well as dark magic. When I denied her the same ascension given to Twilight, she left for the forest with a group of followers. A few months later we sighted the first Changeling," Celestia explained. "I hope she has come to her senses by now, and it does look that way, but only time can tell."
"And now you know, what will you do with this information?" Celestia asked.
Wildcard considered it. If he reported this immediately chances are Chrysalis would either remove him if she didn't want this information known, or it wouldn't matter anyway. In any case the ponies had too much on their plate already to take such a revelation.
"Nothing, for now." He replied. Celestia nodded.
"I had hoped you would be as wise. Only you, the Doctor, and myself know the true extent of all this. Colgate only knows a piece of the puzzle, in due time the rest will become known to all," She said, and approached Wildcard.
"What happened to him anyway, Captain Massé reported he was injured." Celestia inquired.
"He repented," Wildcard stated.
"He 'repented'?" Celestia asked.
"He and your sister are on fair terms now," Wildcard explained.
Celestia nodded, and returned to her spot on the throne. "Very well. I don't think I can ever forgive him, but it looks like justice has been served."
The door opened with a golden field, and the guards came in to return to their positions. Wildcard bowed and turned to leave.
"Wildcard." Celestia said as he did. "There will come a time where you will have to choose your future. Remember who you are, and choose wisely."
Wildcard left the throne room, and took a walk around the castle as he ran through all the recent revelations in his head. The Queen wasn't superior, as he had always been taught, she was just a failed Alicorn. What this said about the caste structure of the hive he couldn't even begin to fathom.
And he was a pony- they all were. They were as much ponies as pegasi or unicorns.
His worldview had shifted to the point where if he was told the world was round, and orbited the sun, he would have to believe it.
In his wanderings he found himself at the stairs to that same turret he found that sentry in nearly a week ago. Wildcard clambered up the steps, maybe the view of the valley would help him clear his mind. In the turret Flash Sentry sat 'forever vigilant'. Wildcard carefully slipped past him, noticing that he was, as expected, dozing, and sat beside him to look at Canterlot and the rolling plains beyond. In the distance the edge of the badlands was visible, and beyond that was the Hive, his home.
No. This was his home.
_______________
Eta-Eta, 'Medulla', got off the train and looked over the city before him. He had never been out on assignment, he was the one that made the assignments. Still, his new rank of Alpha led him to take inventory of the Hive, and he was here to check up on the new ambassador. The Hive hadn't heard from him in a while, and after taking delivery of the cider, (which the hive greatly appreciated, Queen Chrysalis most of all) he cantered off through the ponies; feeling naked without a disguise. He wanted more then anything to cover up himself, wary of the eyes that watched him as he went to the castle. He had his obligations to the treaty though, and he wouldn't dare ignore the Queens wishes.
It didn't take long for him to arrive at the castle, and he approached the two door guards to find where his subordinate had been assigned. They told him that he was on the third floor, left side. Wildcard entered the castle and noticed how lax the security was, not a single guard asked him for a reason to be there, or for identification, or anything. If it wasn't for the alliance he probably could have walked right into the throne room. Granted he would still have to contend with a nearly godlike alicorn, but it still didn't look well on the guard. Perhaps he could arrange for some sort of drill...
In any case, he found himself at the Ambassador's office, and pushed the door open to find two ponies looking out the window.
"Where is he, the Captain said he would be here?" One asked the other.
"I thi--" The other began to reply then glanced behind to see Medulla in the doorway. The stallion nudged his partner, and they both turned to him.
"Ambassador Wildcard?" The stallion asked.
Medulla considered for a second assuming his identity, but thought against it. "No, I'm actually his superior, I was looking for him."
"Oh! That's perfect!" The mare exclaimed. Medulla noted their cutie marks formed a bridge when put together, he thought that was adorable.
"I'm Longitude, and this is my brother- Latitude. We owe Wildcard a debt of gratitude, and would be happy to help with this rail line you're hoping to construct," She said.
So Wildcard was some sort of pony hero now. Interesting....
____________
When the sun hit midway on the horizon Wildcard decided that he had enough contemplation, and it was time to get back to work. He turned to leave and was startled to see Flash Sentry staring at him.
"I didn't feel like interrupting your meditation." he said with a wink.
"I won't tell if you won't tell." Wildcard said, and then descended the stairs back into the castle.
"By the way!" Flash Sentry shouted down at him, his voice echoing. "The Captain is looking for you!"
Wildcard paused for a second, he had no idea where the Captain's office was.
"Second floor, on the left!" Flash added. Wildcard smiled and continued on his way.
A few minutes later Wildcard found Captain Massé's office. Taking a deep breath to collect himself he pushed the door and entered, startled to find two changelings inside conversing with the Captain across his desk. They all turned to Wildcard as he entered.
"Ah, Ambassador. I was just talking to your superior here. He's promised those reinforcements I requested," Captain Massé said, and gestured Wildcard come over.
Wildcard recognized the changelings as Eta-Zeta , and Eta-Eta- 'Medulla'. Zeta smiled, Eta did not. That, and Eta was the only changeling to have an iris and proper pupil in his eye.
"Good afternoon, Eta-Eta, Eta-Zeta, Captain." Wildcard said to each in turn.
"Alpha now, but thank you." Medulla said, "I'll leave you and the Captain be, meet me in your office when you're done here," He left and took Zeta with him, closing the door behind.
"Wildcard, I've been looking for you all day," Captain Massé said, and gestured to a chair before the desk. Wildcard took it.
"I wanted to thank you for your work yesterday, the Night Guard was able to fight off the attack on Manehatten so well that nobody except them and us even know there was one," He said, and reaching in his desk to pluck out two small glasses, pouring a bit of cider into them from a silver canteen on the desk. He pushed one towards Wildcard.
"No thanks, not on the job." Wildcard said. The captain smirked and downed them both.
"Your loss, although I hear you're quite the lightweight."
Wildcard frowned, and the captain laughed. He then put a hoof to his shoulder from across the desk.
"Don't worry about it friend, you've already proven yourself," He said, and fell back in the chair.
"Your commander seemed quite impressed with you, I think a promotion is coming your way!" The Captain winked and then stood, gesturing at the door.
"Go get it, you deserve it." Captain Massé said. Wildcard nodded politely and took off through the door for his office.
When he got there he found Medulla standing in front of his desk, inspecting it closely. Walking around to take his seat Wildcard made a note to find some chairs somewhere, it was undignified for all his guests to have to stand.
"You've been doing quite well so far, better then I expected." Medulla said, and prodded a document on the desk. Wildcard leaned over to read it
"I talked to those engineers you recruited, and here's an outline of the steel they'll need. Look it over and send it off to your supplier, they estimate they can have the rail line done in four weeks. Impressive really," Medulla explained.
"I'll get right on it sir," Wildcard said with a quick salute.
"One more thing before I go," Medulla said, and with a sharp whistle summoned Eta-Zeta into the room.
"I'm promoting you to Eta-Delta , Zeta here is your new assistant. Keep doing us proud," Medulla said, and departed to leave the pair together.
"So, what are we going to do first boss?" Zeta walked to the desk and asked.
Wildcard sat back in his desk, and considered it.
"There's a bill in my room, open us an account and use some of it to buy oh... a dozen bottles of cider should do."
Zeta saluted and left, the door swung silently shut behind him. Wildcard put his hooves up on the table and reclined in his chair.
Things were going to change around here.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Author's Note
Rainbow Dash sequence is pending an overhaul, as brought up by Zephyrus Scary. Expect to see it when the rest of the story is complete.
Paperwork
A week had passed since Wildcard met with his superior. A week since the attack on Baltimare, a week of nearly constant security meetings and trivial details involving coordinating the reinforcements sent up to the coast. Griffon incursions started to become an almost daily thing, and it was taxing their resources heavily. Wildcard knew that eventually they would find a weak point and break through, it was only a matter of time. What they would do with that victory was another question entirely. Would they settle for a raid, would they use it to force some concession from Celestia, or was it a prelude for a full scale invasion? The changelings still failed to insert any operatives into the Griffon High Command, they seemed to have a strange way of detecting them from miles off. They had succeeded in infiltrating the independent states however, and managed to track down the sources of those mysterious shipments. The griffons were trying to buy allies, but a quick bit of diplomacy by Celestia, combined with a few 'misplaced orders' in high places, quickly broke the burgeoning relations. As for the Doctor, he had returned to Baltimare to rebuild his lab, entirely unaware of what had happened there a week ago, as far as he was concerned the last year hadn't even happened. Colgate had asked Wildcard for more information a few times, but he was able to brick wall her with 'national security' excuses. She was persistent though, and Wildcard found her sending nearly constant requests for information to The Royal Guard, Celestia, Luna, and even the archives once. These all ended up at Wildcard's desk, and then in the bin beside it. One day she would know the truth, but not before everyone else.
Most of the Equestrian command structure forgave the changelings their inability to get any solid information on the griffons true purposes, beyond Zeta's vague warnings of a pending invasion. They seemed happy to have their help at all, but it was Spitifre to Wildcard's surprise that started to question the value of the alliance, noting an entire century was currently dug in fighting with the Changelings to secure the badlands. The rail network proceeded as planned under this high security, but it was proving costlier than imagined. Sptifire mentioned that the steel could have gone to producing those 'anti air guns' Captain Massè had used on a large scale, but she was shut when Celestia noted that weapons production would alert the populace to problems. Peace would maintained to the very last hour it was possible.
Baltimare had been explained away as an 'incident' as part of this. The scale of the cover up was huge, and for the first time in his stay, Wildcard found that Luna had actually censored Equestria Daily from reporting on the scale of destruction that day. A few bat ponies had, as near as he could tell, warned the editors to 'delay' the story, or there might be 'consequences'. So they choose to write an article rehashing the early antics of Wildcard instead. He grinned and bore it, it was better then mass panic.
Eta-Zeta found himself fitting in well, running errands for Wildcard nearly constantly. He got his shots the day after arriving, and as ordered opened the 'embassy' a bank account. A hundred bits of this went to buying a dozen bottles of cider, and a few hundred more went to furnishing Wildcard's office; which finally began to resemble and actual office fitting an Ambassador. The rest of the money Wildcard invested in Applebucks's, cutting a deal for 5% of the company. She had apparently been using the profit from trade with the changelings to expand, and would shortly be opening a second location in Manehatten. Wildcard doubted she could realize her dream of 'An Applebuck's across the street from an Applebuck's," but he was sure that the pony was smart enough with business to make them both a great deal of money. The second shipment of cider to the hive provided him with two hundred bits as well, things were starting to really look up for the Ambassador.
Wildcard had also taken First Class out on a further few occasions, always exploring some new facet of the inner mountain. Wildcard decided to keep that dossier, he found knowing her birthday and favourite colour to be incredibly useful. He did, however, get a lock for that drawer.
Today, two weeks after arriving, Wildcard was at his desk finishing his daily intelligence update home. He had added to that compilation he made nearly a week ago, deciding he would hand it off when the rail line was dedicated in three weeks. For now he only sent critical intelligence back home, only receiving it in turn. Today's briefing had revealed a potential griffon outpost on a small island east of Baltimare, the changelings could disguise as griffons and go undetected long enough to provide some basic fly-by recon. On his end he reported that the griffon's had been pressing the changelings own patrols much more then usual, the wonderbolts remained on standby if they broke through or really pressed the attack, thankfully. Not all the Wonderbolts were happy with this state of affairs, one of which in particular laid on a couch against the wall, bouncing a plastic ball against the ceiling.
"Are you always this boring?" she asked, rainbow tail swishing back and forth with the pace of the ball. Up and down, up and down... as it had for the past hour.
"You don't have to be here." Wildcard said, clacking away at his typewriter, idly aware of the pest taking up space in the room. "I don't even know why you are."
"'cause you're evil, and I'm going to prove it."
Wildcard paused and leaned past the paper. "By pestering me to death?" he asked.
Rainbow Dash turned over and met his gaze. "If I wait long enough, you'll do something evil. You're evil. eeeviiiiiiillllll, " She said, flailing her hooves. She caught the ball with her rear hoof and tossed it back up.
Wildcard resumed typing. Were it not for the fact his pony had somehow ascended to become leader of a Wonderbolt squadron, Wildcard would have thrown her out hours ago. Maybe if he adjusted the treaty, and specifically excluded the Wonderbolts...
Hearing a knock on the open door Wildcard leaned past the paper again to see Zeta standing in the doorway. Wildcard had sent him out to check on the steel supplies, he had spent the last two days following a shipment from the Crystal Empire all the way to the new line.There was a bundle of papers clutched against his chest, and he looked like he hadn't slept since he had left, which considering the nature of changeling loyalty to orders was probably true.
That fact probably made Rainbow Dash here the closest thing Equestria had to a proper changeling warrior. She had been pestering Wildcard all week out of some misplaced need to protect Equestria from the changelings. He wanted more then anything to tell her that they were all one and the same, but Celestia was right, that revelation would have to wait.
"Come on in Zeta, don't mind our 'guest'." Wildcard said, waving his subordinate on in. He had thought of promoting him, but Zeta had become his name to the ponies, and it would be confusing to have to suddenly call him Gamma. So until Zeta picked up a nickname, a promotion would wait.
"Just got back from the Badlands, everything is proceeding to schedule. Looks like a war zone down there though, those diamond dogs just won't give up," Zeta said as he trotted to Wildcard's desk. He glanced at the pegasus still lounging on the couch, mindful of the eyes watching him. Dropping his papers on the desk he leaned in to whisper.
"Why's she here?" Zeta asked.
"Because we're allies, and she can hear you." Wildcard whispered back. Zeta glanced back to meet a grin that made him shudder.
"What's on those papers, is it evil?" Rainbow Dash asked naively, jumping up and pushing aside Zeta to look them over. Wildcard humoured her.
"It's just a bunch of numbers, and dates. This looks like a telephone number?" She flipped through the pages. Wildcard found himself wondering what the 'telephone' number could be. Grabbing the papers magically, to a scowl from the pony, he leafed through and found what she had been referring to.
"783-4940-399: Golden Acres."
Wildcard leaned to the side, finding Zeta blushing and looking down across the desk.
"Well, Casanova, who's Golden Acres?" Wildcard asked, and smiled as he leaned back in his chair.
Rainbow Dash made a face as if she had tasted something rotten, and flopped back down on the couch.
"She's... a friend... we met in the Crystal Empire," Zeta replied. He scratched the back of his head.
Wildcard eyed the red telephone on his desk. He had it installed in case an emergency required contacting home in a hurry, but the potential for shenanigans right now was astonishing. He couldn't help himself, and with his hoof-stylus quickly punched in the number, throwing the receiver at Zeta. He held it like it was a bomb, and then fumbled to put it to his ear when a voice came through.
Wildcard sat back, and with a wide mischievous grin, enjoyed the show.
"Hi it... yeah it's me, Zeta..."
"Well, yes... I had fun too..."
"Here? Tonight?" He looked to Wildcard for approval, Wildcard nodded in return.
"Yeah, that sounds good. I'll see you there... Goldie," Zeta finished and tossed the receiver back on the stand.
"Ugh, you're the worst. " Rainbow Dash commented, not straying from her duty to tossing that ball up and down.
Wildcard leaned forward and smiled at his subordinate, whom was standing awkwardly and seemingly trying to curl up inside of himself as he pawed at the ground.
"Take the rest of the day off, get cleaned up, and go get her," Wildcard said, opening the door behind his comrade with a familiar green field. He had come to the conclusion that life without magic wasn't really living, how had he gotten this far in his life without telekinesis?
"Thanks boss, I'll see you tomorrow?" Zeta asked as he scooped up his papers.
"Actually, I got a letter from a bank in Vanhoover asking to hire some warriors. I'll be off to sort that out, so take the day off I guess," Wildcard replied. The typewriter clacked as he completed his letter.
Zeta opened his mouth but was shoved aside by Rainbow Dash.
She hovered over the room, looking down on Wildcard. He had known pegasi to use their wings for almost anything, but this one almost seemed like a bird in how subconsciously she constantly flew around.
"You've going to Vanhoover?" She asked.
"Yes I am, why?" Wildcard returned.
Rainbow Dash spun in the air, Zeta and Wildcard watching confused from below.
"We'll go together."
Zeta glanced at Wildcard, who looked him with a look of total horror. Zeta quickly backed out of the room and galloped off before he risked losing his night out.
Wildcard wanted to refuse, but this pony had been pestering him all week. If he did, she would probably just end up following him on the train, or something. It was time to cross this bridge.
Wildcard was extremely thankful that his phone began to ring.
"Hold that thought," Wildcard said. Rainbow Dash frowned and continued to hover while Wildcard picked up the receiver.
"You, my office, now." Captain Massé growled on the other end. There was a click followed by the dial tone.
Wildcard gently put the receiver down, and he felt his mane stand up straight. He had never heard the Captain so... enraged.
"Alright, fine. Meet me at the train station in half an hour," Wildcard said as he slipped out of his chair. He grabbed the letter hanging out of the typewriter, quickly folding it in an envelope, and made for the door.
"If I'm still alive, anyway." He added.
Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and swooped to block the door.
"Oh no, no trains. We fly. "
"To Vanhoover? That's a hundred miles away!" Wildcard exclaimed.
"It sure is." Rainbow Dash said, staring him down.
Wildcard sighed. "Fine, fine. I wasn't planning on making it back today anyway, now if you'll excuse me, that was the Captain."
Rainbow Dash moved to the side, and gave an exaggerated bow in the air.
"Don't mind me, Ambassador " She grinned. Wildcard wondered if she could sense his fear.
Without any further ado Wildcard left into the hallway, Rainbow Dash following silently at a distance she thought made her invisible. He made a mental note that this pony, while great in the sky; wasn't much of a spy.
Wildcard wasn't sure if he wanted to get this done quickly, assuming the Captain was going to arrest him or something he could get out his little pending adventure.
Wildcard paused before the Captain's office door, Flash Sentry stood beside it. That pony sure did seem to get around, Wildcard thought, and handed him the letter, he nodded as he received it.
"Be careful, he's been furious all day," Flash warned. Wildcard nodded and, reluctantly, pushed open the door.
Captain Massé sat behind his desk. On it was a single manilla folder, with a big red TOP SECRET stamp. Beside it the Captain's canteen lay on it's side.
"Sit. Read," the Captain ordered. Wildcard did as asked, picking up the folder.
"I found this while going over my predecessors unsolved cases, this one goes back almost thirty years," He explained.
Wildcard looked over the document inside. It was a single page, hand written and yellowed with age. It was a witness statement from the Vanhoover detachment of the Royal Guard, and as he read it his eyes widened. The document specified the case of an doctor stealing a baby from a hospital, only that doctor had been in an entirely other city at the time; with many witnesses. The conclusion of the officer writing the report was that changelings were involved, but he couldn't explain why. The mother was single, with the father having disappeared a few months before the mother giving birth.. It was the description of the child that really set Wildcard's mind alight.
"Black mane. Pegasus, blue eyes. Notably the child was reported to possess a crooked horn that was scheduled to be removed surgically. Holes in the legs and arms were apparent, unexplainable by the doctors at the time. I have been told to keep this from the mother, for whatever reason. Princess Luna has told me she'll be taking up the investigation herself, but I suspect something is amiss."
The document slid out of Wildcards hooves as the information ran through his mind. He was oblivious to the scowl of Captain Massé across the desk.
"Captain, do you know what this means?"
"It means you kidnapped a child!" He exclaimed, slamming his hooves against the desk.
"Captain, this child is my superior . The horn, the missing father, it makes sense. The date of birth lines up too," Wildcard explained. For a moment Captain Massé paused, and his scowl turned to wide eyed amazement.
"Sweet Celestia..." Captain Massé breathed, falling back into his seat.
For a few moments the room was filled with silence, both considering the far reaching implications of this discovery.
Wildcard rubbed his forehead. "The Doctor did say we were genetically compatible..."
Captain Massé leaned in. "But why would Luna cover it up?" He asked.
Wildcard sighed. "How would you like to explain to this mare that her child was a changeling, and the father too? Who was she anyway? This didn't go into much detail."
The Captain shook his head. "I don't know, I wasn't able to find anything more. The Night Guard might know more, I can't get into their archives."
"Well can't you just ask her?" Wildcard inquired.
"That would be an enormous break of protocol, I'm the Captain of the Equestrian Royal Guard, I know my place," He explained.
"But you..."
Wildcard nodded. "I'll see what I can do, but I warn you- I might find her position agreeable."
The Captain sat back, and sighed. "Fine, you do what's best for your people, and I'll do what's best for mine."
Moments later Wildcard left the Captain's office, closing the door behind him. Flash stood at the side.
"Were you here just to listen to us?" Wildcard asked.
He shrugged in return. "Don't worry about me, I know my place. You've got an interesting dilemma."
He was then bowled over by the force of a blue blur flying down the hallway, sliding in the air to hover in front of Wildcard.
"What dilemma, what were you talking about?" She asked quickly.
"Nothing that concerns you, Rainbow Dash. Now let's get going so we can get to Vanhoover before the sun sets," Wildcard suggested.
"I've just got to get my bag from my room, and we c-" Wildcard was hit by said bag, silencing him.
"Alright, fine. Let's go," he said. Rainbow Dash grinned eagerly and flew down the hallway, Wildcard followed- on hoof.
"Why are we even going together, I still don't get it!" Wildcard shouted behind her. She flipped around and kept up the same pace- despite being backwards. Wildcard's eyebrows twitched at the impressive move.
"Wonderbolts are flying there tonight and I want to see why everyone likes you so much now. How can anypony so uncool--" She paused to swoop under a doorway, still backwards. "-- managed to impress Celestia and Luna?" She wondered aloud.
"I don't think they're impressed, Rainbow Dash," Wildcard said as they left the castle proper to the outside.
"Well they obviously don't think you're evil," She noted.
"They don't think I'm a saint either. There's a grey area in between worship and hate- it's called respect. " Wildcard said, for a moment Rainbow Dash hovered and appeared to consider this. Wildcard really hoped he would get through.
"Whatever," She turned and with a powerful flap shot into the air. Wildcard sighed, and with a buzz of his own wings followed. At first Rainbow Dash shot ahead, with Wildcard lagging behind. She kept gesturing back for him to speed up, but he wasn't having it. It would take three hours of flight at cruising speed to get to Vanhoover, Wildcard could barely keep that up. Trying to speed all the way there would just end up with him in the ditch. Were it not for the lack of holes in his wings he probably wouldn't have been able to make it at all.
He decided he would have to take a trip to the hospital tomorrow, and have a word with whoever was in charge of the vaccines now.
Once again Rainbow Dash burst a little ahead and gestured back at Wildcard. "Pick up the pace, slowpoke!" She shouted.
"I'm an Ambassador, not a Wonderbolt!" Wildcard shouted back.
Rainbow Dash groaned, and fell back to his side. "Seriously? A school filly could outpace you."
"Yeah well, that's life kid," Wildcard said, staring straight ahead.
Rainbow Dash seemed insulted by this. "Kid?! I'm a squadron leader, I'm the only one that can do a sonic rainboom- ever!" she ranted.
"You're also dripping hubris." Wildcard mumbled.
"Hey! I earned the right to gloat, it took a lifetime of work!" Rainbow Dash shouted at him. "Y'know what? I think you're afraid," She said, and butted his side.
"Afraid of what, exactly?" Wildcard asked, scowling at the pony flying beside him.
"Afraid to act like a pony, afraid to stretch your wings and stop being so uptight all the time. Afraid to sweat." Rainbow Dash accused, and pulled ahead to glance back at him.
"You want my respect? Earn it." She said, and sped off forward. Wildcard gritted his teeth and matched her speed. She sped up again.
He matched it.
Before long the two had come to an incredible pace, still far from the fastest Rainbow Dash could go, but far faster then Wildcard had ever been. He found himself grinning as they sped through the clouds, dodging around them. Wildcard even noticed he had a green contrail to match the rainbow one that followed his wingmate. Flying over Equestria, Wildcard occasionally spared a glance down at the rolling hills of the unicorn range. They passed Cloudsdale eventually, which hung over this to the north. Wildcard noted how beautiful it was, he would have to take a trip there soon; as soon as he could find some official excuse.
Surprisingly quickly he sighted Vanhoover in the distance along the east coast. It was beautiful, and Wildcard thought it must the most peaceful city in the entire nation. The only thing across that ocean was the Zebras and the Saddle Arabians. So far were they that contact was minimal, and entirely peaceful. Rainbow Dash glanced back and grinned, spinning over on her back to swoop below the clouds. With a burst of speed she took off towards the city. Wildcard followed, straining his wings to keep pace.
Wildcard swept some sweat off his brow as they came to less then a meter above the ground, their wake rippling the grass as they flew over the plains leading up the city. Rainbow Dash sped up yet again on a final sprint, Wildcard strained his wings, barely managing to keep up. They burned with the pain of exertion, but he wasn't going to give up now. He gritted his teeth and stuck to it. Closer and closer the city came, faster then he thought possible.
Wildcard was so fixated on flying forward that he didn't notice Rainbow Dash had landed, he shot ahead into the city itself before he glanced back and realized it. Lost in a second of confusion he braked in mid air, overcompensating; which resulting in him tumbling forward through the air towards the dirt roads below. Flapping his wings uselessly he braced for impact, closing his eyes and cringing as he awaited the pending calamity.
He never hit the ground, a blue blur swept him up in as it passed below him, so close that the dirt was swept up from the ground. She braked and sent that flying forward.
Wildcard cautiously opened one eye, finding himself laying on top of Rainbow Dash. She quickly shrugged him off, and he found his shaky footing on the ground. His wings shut up tight as the fatigue caught up with them, and he panted as he tried to catch his breath.
"Thank....you..." He breathed.
Rainbow Dash hovered ahead of him, looking down with her hooves crossed. Wildcard noted how she didn't even seem to notice flying at a sprinting pace for nearly an hour and a half.
"Look, you might not be my friend, but... I guess you aren't evil either," She said.
"You almost flew as well as a first year flight school cadet, how does it feel?" She asked giddily.
Wildcard gasped and calmed his breathing. His wings burnt but it was a.. good kind of burn.
"Good." He replied.
Rainbow Dash flew down to him,
"That's fantastic!" She exclaimed, and then leaned in a little closer. "But I wouldn't write home about it," She said.
He certainly wouldn't, at this point he was hiding enough things from enough people that it was easier to just throw a blanket over his entire memory.
"I gotta go find the Wonderbolts, you do... whatever it is you do," Rainbow Dash said and flew off.
Wildcard stood there for a second, letting his mind catch up with his body. His body overrode it as it realized it had just spent almost two hours flying faster then he ever had before, and it needed food. Hijacking his mind his body forced him forward, looking for somewhere to get something to eat. Soon enough he found an establishment, bemused by the name of it enough to draw him in: Buckapples.
Inside Wildcard found a mostly empty establishment, with a pink pony behind the bar counter cleaning glasses. There were probably better places to get food, but he was curious about this place in particular. She noticed him enter and stood straight as a plank across the counter, apparently eager for business.
"Sup, name's Buckapple Pie, and this is my humble establishment. Can I get you anything?" She asked.
"What do you have to eat, I'm starving." Wildcard asked.
"Well, I've got a fresh shipment of oranges, some pears, a few mangoes..." She pointed to a board behind her. A long list of fruits and vegetables covered it, with the noted exception of apples.
"No apples?" Wildcard asked, she put her hooves on the counter and glared at him.
"No apples." She growled.
Wildcard noticed something skitter in the corner of the room, and he pretended not to.
"Alright, fine, I suppose a mango or two will do it, and some cider." He asked.
"Coming right on up!" Buckapple exclaimed, and turned to leave into the back.
Wildcard opened his bag and brought out a small notepad and a pencil. He quickly jotted something on it and tore it out, putting both back in his bag.
"Applebuck, I think I've found your first new location... make sure the health inspector is in Vanhoover tomorrow, I'll handle the rest."
Applebuck returned with the food he had ordered. Thankfully it looked like that rat was the only thing dirty about the establishment. He paid her a requested ten bits and quickly ate, and drank half the cider before leaving without any further conversation. When he was done he quickly left. Outside he started at a trot, and then as soon as he was out of sight of the building he set off at a gallop, frantically looking for the nearest post office.
He found it quickly. the city wasn't very big. The post office was across the road from the bank he had been requested to come to, which Wildcard found extremely convenient. Wildcard grinned and trotted to the bank first,, where it was replaced with a more serious expression as he pulled out the letter sent to him by the owners of this bank. He was to talk to a Mr. Pretense.
Going inside to a guarded side door Wildcard wondered how exactly ponies named their children. Was it some bizarre bit of magical foresight, luck, or was there some weird all encompassing magic field controlled everything, guiding and shaping events... some sort of..
Force?
"Yo you gonna stand there all day buddy?" Wildcard looked up to see a suited stallion staring at him. He was almost as big as the Night Guard bouncer.
"Sorry, I'm Ambassador Wildcard, here to see Mr. Pretense," Wildcard explained.
"He's been expecting you, go right on in." The guard said, and pushed the door open. Wildcard entered to a pony behind a desk that was covered in bars of gold. He was inspecting one of these as the door shut behind Wildcard.
"Ambassador, have a seat," The pony gestured to a seat before the desk, and put the bar down. "I'm glad you could make it so quickly, I respect someone who knows where the real power is."
"The real power?" Wildcard asked, taking a seat.
"Mr. Wildcard, you may not know it but Celestia only has a faint knowledge of the real scale of the economy of Equestria, I'm the one that keeps this nation running smoothly." He said, gesturing over the gold bars. "I am the one that sets the interest rate, I am the one that mints the gold. I control it all," He explained.
"This isn't about guards, is it?" Wildcard inquired.
"Quite right, I want to make you an offer Ambassador." Pretense said, and grabbed a paper from below his desk.
"I mint most of Equestria's gold, I get paid well for this... but I also pay a considerable amount of tax." He pushed the paper towards Wildcard. It looked somewhat like a shipping invoice, for an unspecified metal to be shipped from Vanhoover to the hive. It was a very expensive metal according to this. Wildcard brought out his notepad and began to jot something down.
"What I propose is this, I send some of the gold to you, and you pay me for this 'metal' in return, keep oh.. ten percent for yourselves."
Wildcard finished his note, and tore it off. Mr. Pretense smiled, probably assuming him to have written something more flattering.
"Celestia, arrest Mr. Pretense immediately. Attached you will find evidence of conspiracy to commit mass fraud against Equestria."
"I accept." Wildcard said, and took the 'invoice'. Mr. Pretense tented his hooves over his desk. "Excellent."
He pushed something under his desk and the door opened. "Feel free to come back any time, Wildcard, I may have more... work."
Wildcard smirked at him as he left. Mr. Pretense would be lucky if he didn't find himself on the moon tomorrow.
Leaving the Bank behind him, Wildcard trotted over to the post office, grinning. He realized that he had just, without even really thinking about, chosen Equestria over the Hive. Either way, committing fraud on this sort of scale during the lead up to war wouldn't help anybody... or anypony... in the long run.
Was there any real difference though, in the end, he wondered. Cantering into the Post Office he found the most unusual thing in the history of all Equestria, or the world. Possibly the multiverse.
There was no line, and a postal pony stood ready at a counter.
"Good Afternoon!" The tan coated pegasus greeted.
"Good Afternoon to you too, I need to send this..."Wildcard paused and grabbed two envelopes. Inside he stuffed each note, extremely careful to make sure the right ones went to the right people, quickly writing "Princess Celestia" on one and Applebuck's address on the other. "To Canterlot, express," He said, sliding them over.
The postal pony took them and nodded. "By tomorrow or i--" Wildcard cut him off by dumping a few dozen bits on the counter.
"Today." He said.
The stallion glanced around, and then collected the bits with a hoof. He then rummaged around under his counter and pulled out an "out to lunch" sign.
"Today." He repeated, and put the sign up on the counter. He then leapt over the counter past Wildcard, and out the door. Wildcard left after him shortly, the pony soaring into the sky and disappearing in the distance. With that accomplished Wildcard had the rest of the day to himself. Remembering the reason for Rainbow Dash coming here, he decided he would take in that show. Finding a poster pasted to the side of a building as he trotted down the road he took a close look. The image of the Wonderbolts lined up staring at the sky was overlaid with today's date, and a time: 7PM. Judging by the sun's point in the sky he figured that wasn't long from now, but wasn't sure where the event was. Looking to the sky he noticed a few ponies sitting on a rooftop, gazing upwards as well. Examining the building he noted a staircase that ran around it, perhaps they knew where the event was.
Wildcard tried to flap his wings, which resulted in a flash of pain down his back. In any case, he wasn't going to be flying to it.
At the top of the stairs Wildcard got a better look at the ponies lined up along the edge. He noticed a familiar flank and couldn't contain his enthusiasm.
"First Class!" He exclaimed, and cantered over. She got up and turned to him, smiling warmly as he approached.
"Wildcard! Fancy meeting you here!" She exclaimed in return, and got up with her hooves outreached. Wildcard met her and they shared a warm embrace.
"It is really nice to see a familiar face." Wildcard said, releasing to hold her hooves as they stood together.
"I know, I thought I was alone in this one cart town," She said, and subtly nodded to where the others sat. "Celestia sent me here as her official representative for this Wonderbolts performance, what brings you here?" She asked. They both sat, hooves still held together.
"Business, a Mr. Pretense had called me here for some sort of deal, and you won't believe what it was,"
First Class lifted her eyebrow. "Oh?" She asked.
Wildcard told her of the 'offer' Mr. Pretense had made. First Class found it hilarious, since she had recently relayed a complaint by one of the stallions tellers about poor pay. Celestia had threatened to take his job, and they both wondered if this fraud was some sort of payback for that. In any case, he would soon find himself finding what happened when you crossed an ancient alicorn capable of moving celestial bodies, one with an army nonetheless. She also introduced him to the others on the roof, the mayor of town whom was an earth pony, and his sheriff. The show was due to fly over the town, so First Class had to stay down here with them as they couldn't fly up to the pegasi cloud seating.
Wildcard didn't care, he was happy enough to be there with her. They sat side by side and waited for the show to begin.
When they did, it was breathtaking. Just as the sun finished descending over the horizon the Wonderbolts flew out from behind two clouds in two squadrons, straight at each other. From the ground fireworks shot upwards and they dodged around the explosions, circling each other and coming together, then breaking apart again. Wildcard noticed something as it went on- if he squinted and concentrated it looked quite like the Wonderbolts were holding something in their hooves as they went through this routine, and then the dual squadron motif of it all suddenly made sense.
This was a war game , dressed up to look like a flying show. Spitfire was an absolute genius in planning this. The night lighting disguised the fact that they all held mock weapons, and the fireworks firing from down below was both a fantastic display for those watching, and an important facet of the exercise- the Wonderbolts would need to stay steady under fire if they had any chance against the Griffons. Wildcard whispered his idea to First Class as the show went on.
"That really is brilliant," She commented. Wildcard couldn't help but gaze at her as the fireworks highlighted her face. He had found perfection in a mare.
She noticed him and blushed.
And then she kissed him.
Wildcards higher brain put on a hat and strode out the door. This left him sitting there, in a state of euphoric shock. Blood filled his cheeks to the point where he seemed to glow red, and his eyes glowed a dull blue.
The rest of his body emanated a faint green glow, which he would think to be unusual were his brain not stuck in a reboot cycle.
Wildcard felt a hoof prod his side, his body wasn't sure what to do with this information and ignored it. For a good half minute his nerves frantically communicated with his brain until, eventually, it managed to turn itself back on.
"Wildcard?" First Class said. "Wildcard, you there?"
He shook his head, and turned to find her looking at him with a worried expression on her face. "I seem to have drifted off for a second, what is it?" He asked.
She pointed to the ground. Wildcard followed her hoof to notice the ground was slightly green, and that green light was coming from him.
"Well this is new." He said, looking over himself. He also noticed that a euphoric sensation had taken over his entire body. It was as if his every cell was flooded with some physical manifestation of joy.
"Are you okay?" First Class asked worriedly.
"I'm the best I've ever been," Wildcard said.
He leaned over and kissed her again. For a second their lips locked and Wildcard closed his eyes. For this moment he was at the beach.
When he opened them again to see First Class's wonderful blue eyes, he wasn't disappointed to have left.
"Best I've ever been..." he repeated.
A few minutes later the show ended to applause from the four on the rooftop. Wildcard led First Class down to the street, guiding himself in the night light by the glow of his own body. She seemed pretty happy too, a smile ran ear to ear and showed no signs of fading. He barely even felt her hoof in his as they walked down the dirt road.
"So, heading home?" Wildcard asked.
"I might be, are you?" First Class asked in turn.
"I've got some more work here tomorrow, I was going to find an inn," Wildcard replied.
"Then I will too," First Class said.
If it were possible for a changeling to explode with love, Wildcard probably would have. They walked down the street, hoof in hoof, looking for somewhere to spend the night. Passerby stared and whispered to each other as a glowing, formerly evil shapshifter enemy of the nation, walked by with the Princess's Assistant at his side. Neither of them cared. Eventually they found an inn: The Noble Stable.
It sounded nice enough, so they both walked in to find an old mare leaning on a counter with a board of keys behind her. Wildcard rang a bell on the counter and she opened one eye. Seeing two ponies, one glowing green, she was startled awake.
"Who are you, and why are you glowing?" She asked quickly, bending under the desk to grab something.
"Just two ponies, we're looking for a room." First Class said. Wildcard didn't correct her, after all she wasn't really wrong.
"Right... " The mare squinted her eyes and looked them over. She stared at Wildcard intently, seemingly examining him thoroughly.
"Anyway, a room. I've got one you two might like, Honeymooners suite," She suggested.
First Class snorted. "We're not..." She glanced at Wildcard, and mouthed 'yet'.
He coughed and scratched the back of his head, glancing around awkwardly.
"Well you coulda fooled me, you been holdin' hooves since you walked in here."
First Class giggled and squeezed Wildcard's hoof gently. His wings buzzed in response, sending an arc of pain up through Wildcard's back that made him stand straight as a plank.
"Y'know what? We'll take it, why not." Wildcard said.
"Alright then, stranger. Twenty bits."
Wildcard paid her, and shortly afterwards the pair found themselves in the room. A large single bed was the highlight, with furniture here and there. They released their hooves for the first time in a good half hour and took their sides of the bed, Wildcard was exhausted and found the bed quite comfortable, quite comfortable indeed. Laying his sore back on it he turned to find First Class's smiling gaze beside him. His wings buzzed, painfully, with delight. He cringed as they did.
She frowned. "Sore wings?" She asked.
"Yeah... I flew all the way here, and I had to keep pace with Rainbow Dash too," he explained.
"Really, you kept pace with the fastest pegasus... ever?"
"I didn't think I could either, honestly." Wildcard replied.
"Roll over," First Class ordered, with a wink. Wildcard did, and soon felt her hooves massaging his sore wing muscles. He sighed with pleasure and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep.
Awakening the next morning, following perhaps the most restful sleep of his entire life, Wildcard was startled awake by a frantic series of knocks on the door. Before he could even sit up it swung open and the familiar visage of Flash Sentry galloped in.
"Wildcard!" he shouted, and slid over. "Wildcard!" He shouted again, shaking the groggy changeling.
"W-h-a-t-i-s-i-t-?" He asked.
The reply was a copy of Equestria Daily which Flash Sentry shoved in his face. Snatching it Wildcard read it, and then was so taken with fear that he fell off the bed with a scream, and as he lay on the ground he shimmered to become a shaking fluffy sheep.
It would be hilarious if not for the headline of that paper, which now lay beside him on the floor as Flash tried to shake him back to his senses. At the top of the front page were universal words of terror: Extra Edition. Below that, worse:
"RESERVES ACTIVATED; PARLIAMENT CALLED ONE MONTH FROM TODAY, FOLLOWING ATTACK ON BALTIMARE."
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
A few minutes later, Wildcard had calmed down enough to drop his adorable disguise, Flash led the trio out of the inn, and they trotted down the street. First Class read the rest of the newspaper intently while Wildcard and Flash talked. There was a definite feel of anxiety in the air, coupled with fear. Most notably, nobody had laughed at his accidental shape-shifting.
As near as Flash knew, gathered from sources within the guard and elsewhere, the griffons had attacked en masse last night, taking advantage of the Equestrian Royal Guard assuming that there wouldn't be a second major attack, certainly not with such devastating force as this one. The Griffons also seemed to have employed some new weapon, but the Night Guard was keeping any information on that well under wraps. Equestria Daily was prevented from even going near the scene, along with any other civilians. The entire area had been put on lockdown late last night, with only a steady stream of refugees coming out, and the Night Guard itself had left in the morning. Baltimare was, as near as Flash knew, a total loss.
Wildcard really didn't like the sound of something that scared the Night Guard.
Flash glanced around, while he talked, mindful of the chaos surrounding them in the city. All over the country thirty thousand ponies found themselves called up for service, and it was causing mass pandemonium as they tried to reach their assigned units. Not only that, but there was an exodus from the west- Baltimare was evacuated in it's entirety, and neighboring communities were scared off. Apparently the rail line was entirely shut down today for civilian use, strictly for ferrying reservists around.
"... and then we've got the refugees, everypony is stepping up to help, but there's ten thousand of them," Flash said.
"I'm sure we can help on our end, so long as they like mushrooms," Wildcard offered.
Flash nodded. "We would be grateful."
"So what are you doing in Vanhoover anyway, shouldn't you be helping with all this?" Wildcard asked.
"Celestia got your letter just before sundown last night, and put me on the first train down here. I was supposed to link up with the local guards and arrest that jackflank, however..."
He trailed off and Wildcard realized where it was he had been leading him. As they came around the corner of a building he saw the bank- burnt to a cinder.
"Somepony must have tipped him off, he's gone- along with half a million bits of gold," He explained, turning back to the others with the scene behind him. A few guards and ponies wearing fire resistant suits were milling around in the debris, and a pile of melted gold bars was surrounded by a wall of armoured ponies.
"Hold on, this was the only mint in Equestria, who's going to do it now?" First Class asked, stuffing the newspaper into a waste bin at the side of the road.
Flash shrugged. "That's up to Celestia, I imagine the Crystal Empire could do it," he said.
Five hundred thousand bits. Enough money to buy yourself an army. Now a pony with a grudge was out there, somewhere, with all this. Equestria was vulnerable as it was, all it needed now was some economic problems to stack on top of a city being razed and the military being mobilized. Wildcard knew well the adage 'It's always darkest before the dawn.', but there was a flipside to that coin.
It's always brightest before the dusk.
Equestria had been so bright, for so long, that it was inevitable something would happen. Whether it would survive this or prove another adage- 'all good things come to an end', true or not; only time would tell.
His waxing poetic was interrupted by a prodding on his shoulder.
"Wildcard? Our rides here." Flash said, pointing to the sky where an airship shadowed the remains of the bank high above.
Wildcard noted how huge it was, and heavily armoured. Four great engines propelled the leviathan vehicle in the rear, while an enormous guiding fin ran down the lower and upper centre. Underneath the main gas chamber was a large deck with small structures on it, it almost resembled a small village. At the very top a few small platforms set with sharp objects pointed to the sky. Neither he, nor the hive, knew the Equestrian's possessed such a vessel. On the side covering most of it was the Flag of Equestria, depicting the two alicorns that had ruled it for so long. There was a significant difference however, in that it was bordered with a dotted gold/red line. A single pegasus flew down from it, while a few dozen others flew towards it from all over the city. They joined a series of chariots in a stream that boarded the ship.
"It's magnificent, I had no idea this ship existed," Wildcard gaped in awe.
"H.M.S Magnificent, so you're right there. I thought it was just a myth, apparently it's been docked for decades," Flash said, and with a flap of wings took to hover above.
"Well?" He gestured towards the airship.
"I got some work to do here yet, I'll catch up with you two later," Wildcard said. Flash replied with a shrug and took off for the H.M.S Magnificent.
Wildcard then turned to First Class, who stood beside him. She winked and pecked him on the cheek.
"Business, business, business, I know how it is. We haven't had a parliament in thirty years, I'm going to be busy too," She said, and ran a hoof through Wildcards mane. A shiver went down his spine in response.
"Don't take too long..." She said, and took off for the ship.
She blew him a kiss on the way, leaving him struck once again. He was an Ambassador, a leader, and a changeling spy. His brain wasn't designed for this however, and she blew right past his defenses.
Which Wildcard was absolutely fine with.
Alone, again, he trotted off as the ship rumbled away from the city. The vessal was so huge that it disturbed the ground enough to kick up a storm of dust before it came above the clouds. It blew those away too before the engines slowed to push it at a cruising speed.
The griffons had a new weapon, but so did the Equestrians.
Alone again, and with one last thing to do in the city, Wildcard trotted off to Buckapple's. He realized how dumb it was to have not put some way of sending the health inspector there, assuming they did come and weren't stuck with the rest of the nation. So he was happy enough to find a Pegasus yelling at Buckapple outside the door of the establishment, flapping her wings to emphasis her points.
Wildcard slowly trotted up, listening in as he did.
"... it only takes one! One is enough! One is a hundred percent more then the health code allows!" The pegasus shouted.
"But it's gone now! Besides, how do you know it had been there any longer then the half minute you were here?!" Applebuck retorted angrily.
Wildcard broke in.
"Excuse me, but what's going on?" he asked.
"Health Inspection," The pegasus said, and flipped open a wallet with a badge and a photograph of himself. Clean Slate was his name, health inspection was his game.
Wildcard was greatly amused that it literally said that.
He looked over the Ambassador, and then grinned.
"Ambassador... have you been here recently? Your testimony would be appreciated," He asked. Behind him Buckapple frantically shook her head.
Wildcard opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden burst of introspection stopped him.
Complain about this place, get it shut down. Following this, speak to First Class and have it seized, which would be easy enough if he complained. Then Applebuck could win it in an auction, and get the location for a pittance of what Buckapple had invested. The power of eminent domain was as a superweapon, nobody could escape the wrath of a bureaucrat with a plan.
It was a perfect plan, but there was something important he hadn't considered.
It was evil, it was everything the ponies thought of the changelings before. Underhanded, sneaky, probably enough to get him promoted again just for how sneaky the whole thing was. It couldn't be done, not now.
He sighed. "Yes, and I haven't seen a more perfect establishment in my life," he said. Less a rat, it was more or less the truth.
The pegasus health inspector turned to Applebuck, sighing.
"Well I'm sorry ma'am, I guess I shouldn't have jumped the gun on an anonymous tip," He bowed his head, Wildcard could actually feel the shame.
No, wait; that was his own shame.
"Don't worry about it!" Buckapple exclaimed, and put a hoof on the stallions shoulder. "Tell you what, let's all take a break and have a few.. pears. The whole world's going crazy, we all just need to calm down for a minute," she said, and gestured they follow.
Wildcard stayed outside for a minute, eying the nearly empty streets of the town. She mentioned she had no apples...
When Wildcard entered he found the health inspector sitting on a stool at the bar, chatting away with Buckapple. Wildcard took a stool of his own.
"Well, welcome back Ambassador, you sure left quickly yesterday." Applebuck said, laying a mug of something down.
"Mango juice," She added.
Wildcard took a cautionary sip, he found it good, not nearly as good as cider, but it had a fine taste of it's own.
"Business calls," Wildcard said.
"Tell me about it!" The health inspector said, clapping Wildcard on the back. "The Princess's assistant got some anonymous tip this place was in a sorry state, and had me on the first train out. That train then got cancelled, so I had to ride with the military down here. That airship is an incredible sight, but it is not comfortable," he ranted, and took a swig of the juice.
"If I ever get my hands on whoever sent in that tip..." he mumbled.
Wildcard coughed. "So, you mentioned you have no apples, why is that?" Wildcard asked the pink pony across the counter.
"Can't grow them out here, growing season is too short," She replied.
"So why not import them?"
"Some company that exports them across the sea has exclusive rights with the closest orchards, further than that is too expensive," she explained.
"I just buy some cider since it's more efficient to transport, get it from Ponyville," she added.
"Y'know, this juice is pretty good, and I know somepony that could provide you with a couple apples were you two to partner up," Wildcard suggested.
"Partner up?" Applebuck asked.
"You send her some of this juice, and some of these fruits. She'll sell them to the rest of the country, and send you some apples. You could both profit from this," Wildcard explained.
"And what do you get out of it?" The health inspector asked. Wildcard had forgotten he was there.
Wildcard shrugged. "The Hive could always use more varied food imports," he said.
He left his address and phone number with Buckapple, promising that if she contacted him he could arrange for a meeting with Applebuck. He was quite pleased with this, it was a far better alternative, even if he would probably profit less personally from it. Applebuck could expand her export business two ways, both by sending apples to the coast and by sending these fruits Buckapple had to the hive. He could try to arrange for Buckapple to supply them directly, but Applebuck had experience in exports, and would know better how to get things going. Wildcard grinned to himself as he left, he was feeling good in the late morning sun.
With that concluded he had accomplished all of his business in Vanhoover, and with a buzz of his wings took to the sky. As he did a roar in the distance alerted him to a blue object approaching at incredible speed.
Upon closer inspection it wasn't blue at all, it was rainbow.
"Wiiiildcaaaard," She shouted on approach. "Sppiiitfiiiire..." She skidded (which was strange to see in the air, Wildcard had no idea how it was possible) to a stop. "...wants to speak with you."
Wildcard wasn't sure what kind of incredible radar alerted Rainbow Dash to his presence, but he was happy enough to get his excuse to travel to Cloudsdale.
"Lead on then," Wildcard said.
Rainbow Dash grinned and flew off, Wildcard on her tale. Thankfully she was too talkative to fly as fast as yesterday. On the way she giddily went on about how she was "finally going to see some action", and something about putting the wonder of bolts into the griffons. Wildcard knew from experience that her tone would change when she did, but he humoured her for now. As they got closer to Cloudsdale, Wildcard noticed streams of airborne pegasi converging on it in all directions. These, he thought, must be the aerial reserves. Pegasi were probably sent here, but what of the unicorns and earth ponies? He wondered this, but knew it would probably be explained soon enough. As they came through the final wave of clouds to behold the city, Wildcard found a familiar object hovering beside it. The H.M.S Magnificent hung in the air beside the city, with a dozen odd smaller ships beside it. They all were branded with that curious red/gold highlighted flag, and a few of them bore the crest of the Wonderbolts- a bolt with mirrored clouds beside, as well. These specifically had long flat decks on top, Wildcard assumed it was some sort of launching platform. The question at the top of his mind was where exactly Equestria had hidden all this hardware. He had seen airships plenty of times before, but never on this scale.
"Check it out, isn't it cool? Those griffons have no idea who they're messing with. I didn't even know we had anything like this !" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pointing at the assembled fleet.
As they flew towards the city a pair of uniformed Wonderbolts broke off from a circling patrol to fly towards them. For second Wildcard's instincts kicked in and he almost turned and ran, it was hard to shake off fear of the authorities after a lifetime of being taught not to trust them. There was a radar in Wildcards mind that he called the 'cop radar', and it was flashing.
They came to a hover before the pair and gestured they stop.
"Rainbow Dash, Ambassador Wildcard, Air Marshall Spitfire has been waiting for you, follow us," The lead one said, and then led them into the city.
Wildcard glanced at Rainbow Dash. "Air Marshall? I thought she was a Captain." He noted.
"I'm a Wing Commander now! We've all got cooler ranks, Celestia gave the order this morning," Rainbow Dash explained,
They flew down towards the city, and Wildcard was filled with awe as they flew closer to the great ship that was docked beside it. A dozen arms extended from the city, each nearly as wide as a road. Flying right beside the edge of the ship he could tell how really armored it was, thick solid steel was beset with windows here and there, and a few portholes. The flag that was painted on the side was so huge that it was impossible to see it's extent from this close. They turned and flew underneath the ship, coming on the other side to find a much, much, smaller vessel hovering in it's shadow. There didn't seem to be any gas chamber- it was literally as if a small yacht floated in the air. Instead of a sail, however, a large flag flew from it. The flag of Equestria, once again with that red/gold lining, filled the top half of the flag, the lower half was the Wonderbolts Crest. The two leading them landed on the deck, followed shortly by the two following.
Spitfire stood on the bridge of the small ship, holding a pair of binoculars and gazing out at the fleet.
"Rainbow Dash, Ambassador," She said, lowering her binoculars.
She gestured to the Wonderbolts that had led them in. "You two can go," She ordered. They saluted and, in a bit of showmanship that reminded Wildcard of how this was a civilian organization, leapt backwards over the back of the yacht as one, swooping off backwards into the distance.
"Spitfire, you get your own yacht? That's too cool!" Rainbow exclaimed, giddily trotting forward to look over the vessel.
"Well, I do lead the fleet. So I-" Rainbow Dash cut her off with an excited gasp.
"This is our fleet, we're really going to kick some tail!" She exclaimed doing a loop in the air.
"I really hope it doesn't come to that, W.C Dash. You're to report to the H.M.S Magnificent and find Lightning Dust, you'll be leading Fifth Wing," Spitfire ordered.
"W.C... so cool!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Spitfire grabbed her out of the air and drew her close.
"Play time is over, W.C Dash, this is serious. You mess up now and you don't get demoted, ponies get hurt," She growled.
Rainbow Dash stiffened, saluting in the air.
"I won't let you down!" She shouted, and flew off.
Spitfire then turned to the Ambassador, who had been gazing out at the ships. Nearly all of them seemed like just that- ships. The only one with an actual gas chamber was the Magnificent, and when he really thought about it he realized there was no way that could contain enough gas to keep it aloft.
"Now then, Ambassador, I have a request of you. Fulfill it and I will forgive your inability to honor your intelligence obligations," Spitfire said.
"First, answer me this- how do they fly?" Wildcard asked.
"Magic, what else? A unicorn just throws a levitation spell on them and we're all set. That's not a gas chamber on the Magnificent- it's a hanger," Spitfire explained.
Wildcard furrowed his brow "And what's in this hanger?" he asked.
"You'll see in due time, now what I want from you is a hundred or so changelings," Spitfire demanded.
"For the coastal patrols? We've already sent a-" Spitfire cut him off with a wave of her hoof.
"For war games, your people can disguise as griffons, use captured griffon weapons, we can stage training exercises that are closer to the real thing then possible before- with your help," she said.
"I'll see what I can do," Wildcard offered. Spitfire flapped open her wings and flew forward, nearly knocking him over as he suddenly found himself being stared down, muzzle to muzzle.
"You will help," She threatened, and lowered to the ground. "My new position gives me considerable lee-way. I'm sure it would look poorly on you if suddenly nation security concerns halted the railway construction, I could even have you arrested- you've technically violated your treaty a few times," She grinned at him and said.
"I suppose I have no choice then, you'll get your hundred," Wildcard said.
"Good, good. Now I believe you're wanted in Canterlot, so I suggest you head on that way," Spitfire said, and resumed looking over the fleet through her binoculars.
Wildcard wasted no time, and flew off. He wasn't sure which way Canterlot as from this height, and swooped below the clouds surrounding Cloudsdale so he could find some landmark on the ground to get his bearings. Just as he broke under the cloud ceiling two figures came out of his peripheral vision and grabbed him. Wildcard frantically tried to struggle free, but it was useless. Glancing to his side he yelped as he realized what had grabbed him.
Griffons.
They grinned at him, talons biting into his arms as they held him. They were greatly armored, and on their backs those same flame weapons he had seen in Baltimare were slung. Fearing for his life Wildcard struggled more, and they only tightened their grasp. To his surprise a voice came from behind them.
"Ambassador, so nice of you to drop by," Pretense said. The griffons holding Wildcard spun him around, and he saw the pony sitting on a chariot pulled by two other Griffons, equally as armed as the first.
"Pretense? What the buck are you doing?"
Pretense smirked at him, and laughed. "Oh my, I had thought you were wise, but nobody is foolish enough to accept an offer like that without haggling. I knew you were going to betray me, unfortunately proving wrong my hope you were more pragmatic then giving your loyalty so easily," he said, and with a quick gesture Wildcard was brought closer to him.
"This is your last, and only, warning. You're backing the wrong horse. Go home, let whatever happens to Equestria... happen. This isn't your fight, " he threatened.
"What could the griffons possibly be promising you?" Wildcard asked.
"Money, power, life. The Griffons are coming, 'ambassador', and not even this sudden new alliance is going to stop them. Equestria will fal l, and I will live to stand on it's ashes," Pretense replied.
With another gesture the griffons holding Wildcard released their grip, he dropped in the air before his wings opened and caught him.
"Nobody that has proven me wrong thus far has lived to regret it. Go home, and maybe you can be the first," Pretense said, and with a nod the group flew off into the clouds. Wildcard flew after them, but they were lost in the fog. Wildcard flew down below the clouds again and spotted the rail line. He followed this east to Canterlot, arriving a few hours later.
The sun was starting to set when Wildcard burst into the throne room. Celestia was speaking with Captain Massè when he strode in.
"Your Highness, Captain!" Wildcard shouted to get their attention as he galloped towards them, they turned to him.
"What is it, Ambassador?" Celestia asked.
"Mr. Pretense, he's gone over t-" Captain Massè cut him off.
"We know, we've been looking for him all day, We got a report from your people that he's hired some griffon mercenaries," he said.
Wildcard sighed. "What is going on out there? I've been out of the loop all day," He said.
"We'll talk tomorrow, for now I suggest you call home, and there's a sizable amount of paperwork in your office," Celestia suggested.
"I'll get right to it, your highness," Wildcard said with a bow.
"By the way, Wildcard." Captain Massè said. "It's General now."
Wildcard really had been left out of the loop.
He strode out of the room and soon found his office. Opening the door he walked in to find, as expected, a pile of letters on his desk. There was also a rectangular object with two things sticking out of it on the desk. Taking his seat and looking it over he found a note.
"93.5 AM is the guard frequency, keep informed." It read.
So it was a radio then. Wildcard had known these existed, but had never used one. The hive didn't pick up anything from Equestria, and had no need of their own. He switched it on and a staticy voice came through.
"... You're listening to the Everfree Network. In tonights news, everypony is talking about the events of this morning. Princess Celestia has declared a state of emergency, and called a meeting of parliament in one month. To get a perspective on what this really me.." The voice trailed away into static, Wildcard picked up and shook the radio, but that didn't seem to effect it. He sighed and put it down on the desk, about to turn it off when another a voice came through.
"...Citizens of Equestria. This is your superior speaking. I am Grand Martial Galvon, and I am responsible for what has transpired in Baltimare. You are meeting in one month to decide your future, so I give you this ultimatum: Surrender in one month, or be destroyed."
There was a click, and a return to static. Wildcard shut off the radio, and spun his chair to stare out the window.
Dusk set.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard arrived at his office to find Zeta standing outside, he smiled and greeted his comrade.
"Just got back, boss. Got any orders?" He asked.
"Go get us some food and come back," Wildcard ordered. Zeta saluted and trotted away.
Wildcard pushed open the door to find his office as good looking as he had left it. With a great smile he slowly trotted to his desk, soaking it all in. He ran a hoof along the wood of his desk, careful not to allow the stack of papers to enter his mind, and plopped his flank in the comfortable chair. It was good to be the boss. He took a deep breath, and then set his sight on the ominous stack of documents.
Wildcard flipped through these It was, for the most part, incredibly trivial. Who was to be invited to the rail line dedication? Who would cater it? Security was going to be tight, should Equestria or the Hive take the lead? Buried in it all, past a half dozen assorted businesses wanting to get a piece of the worker pie, was the days intelligence report from home. Wildcard flipped through it, while he absentmindedly fiddled with the radio, finding a station playing what appeared to be soft string music. Perfect relaxing background music.
The report was quick- the reports seemed to be getting slimmer all the time, and only had one highlight: Somebody had hired a griffon mercenary battalion based in the south. Intelligence warned that they might be showing in Equestria soon. He put the folder down and stared at the other documents as if they were a vile stain on his desk. Wildcard shot straight up in his chair, an idea had been hatched.
What he needed was a secretary. Zeta was great with fieldwork but he understood the ponies about as well as could be expected from a spy that spent his last few assignments with the griffons.
He picked up the phone, and dialled the operator, and asked for Lyra Heartstrings: Ponyville.
The phone rang on the other end long enough that Wildcard was about to put the receiver down, but a voice did come through.
"Lyra speaking, how can I help you?" She asked. Wildcard noticed something- the music on the radio stopped.
"Lyra, it's Ambassador Wildcard- we spoke a few weeks ago," Wildcard explained. "If you're willing to come to Canterlot, I have an offer for you."
"Really? I thought you were just saying that. I do have to be there tomorrow anyway..."
"That's fantastic, meet me in my off--" Wildcard was interrupted by some calamity on the other end, followed by a pony screeching "Lyyyrraaaaa!". It was even audible through the radio.
"Gottagobye," Lyra said, and with a click she hung up.
Wildcard put the receiver back down. By the end of tomorrow he would (hopefully) have a secretary, and a field man. Combine that with the income he was generating from the cider deal, and it was almost starting to look like he was running a proper operation. Granted most 'proper operations' probably didn't need to siphon income from back room dealings, but the hive didn't have that much income itself at the moment. It was, so far, all provided from gem mining in the Badlands. If he had to place a quick estimate on it, they probably only got ten thousand or so bits a month out of this. Once the rail line was complete, however, trade could begin in earnest and workers would pour in like water. Then, the Hive would be rich. Perhaps he could even take a vacation to wherever that beach was. Wildcard sat back in his chair and flicked on the desk lamp, opening his drawer he found a letter he hadn't noticed before waiting on top, oddly it was already opened. Zeta must've looked it over when he got back, Wildcard thought. He slid out the letter to read it himself.
"From the desk of Commander Medulla. Eta eyes only.
Eta-Delta, 'Wildcard', due to the current developing situation we have seen fit to modify your standing orders. I must also note that I am unsatisfied with the current intelligence situation on your end, I had expected far more insight into the workings of Equestria. Don't go native on me, 'Wildcard'.
Your orders are as follows: Represent the hive to the best of your abilities for it's continued survival and strength."
It was signed by his commander, and the Queen herself had her signet imprint.
Wildcard rubbed his forehead with a hoof. Changeling intelligence was proving surprisingly shoddy lately, Spitfire had even picked up on it. He had responded with less on his end, partially because spying on the Equestrians began to seem... wrong. They were allies now, after all. Friends . With the drawer open he collected anything important in a stack, but when he looked in the drawer he found something off, something was missing.
He dropped the stack on the desk and quickly leafed through, it was all there- including his ever growing 'Report on the Equestrian Situation', but one thing in particular was missing.
His dossier on First Class.
Wildcard frantically checked again, his heart racing. If she had found it, or any of the Equestrians, it would seem like he was a spy. Which well not entirely untrue (He had relied on it to remember her birthday, favourite colour; this was useful information.), he wasn't...
"You're just doing this so you can kidnap me, change into my form, and spy on Celestia."
Wildcard remembered their first date, First Class had joked about this. What a fool to have kept that document, a naive fool. A naive fool was what Zeta walked it on, scaring the changeling stiff as he knocked on the open door.
"Boss? You uh... you look like y-" He looked concerned as he saw Wildcard, who looked like a deer in headlights.
"Zeta! Have you been in my desk?" Wildcard asked frantically.
"Sure, we both keep confidential stuff in there," Zeta replied. "Why the sudden worry?"
"Zeta..." Wildcard paused and stared straight at his comrade. "Where's the contingency dossier?" Wildcard asked.
"Under my bed, along with my own. Figured it was safer there," He replied.
Wildcard let out a great sigh and sat back in his chair, relaxing. "Why didn't you tell me!" Wildcard exclaimed, throwing up his arms.
Zeta shrugged, and leafed through the documents on the desk. "It seemed logical, couldn't let anypony catch you with it in here, might lose your job," he said. "Man, we need a secretary or something..." he noted.
"Already taken care of, I asked a pony I met to stop by tomorrow, I'll offer her a job," Wildcard explained.
"A pony? Can you really trust them?" Zeta asked.
"Why shouldn't I?" Wildcard retorted.
For a second there was an odd silence as the two comrades stood across from each other, Zeta glanced at Wildcard and he caught his eye, something wasn't right. Wildcard suddenly had a really bad feeling, and realized Zeta had the key to his job, literally and metaphorically.
"Zeta..." Wildcard said, sitting up in his chair to face him. "What exactly are your orders?"
Another pause, the two sets of blue eyes staring at each other. Wildcard found himself wishing they had pupils, something to give some hint.
Zeta glanced away. "To serve the office of Ambassador to the fullest of my abilities." He said.
Wildcard sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "The office ?" Wildcard asked.
Zeta met his gaze, but quickly looked away.
Zeta nodded.
"Z--" Wildcard started but was interrupted when his 'comrade' darted out through the door.
"Zeta!" Wildcard screamed. Thinking quickly he picked up the phone and dialed the Generals office.
It rang... and it rang... and it rang...
" Sergeant Flash Sentry, General Massè i--" Wildcard cut him off frantically speaking into the phone.
"Flash, call the a.." He trailed off as he listened to Flash continue speaking. "... at the moment, leave a message at the tone."
Wildcard slammed the receiver down and ran out of the room, skidding into the hallway.
"Zeta!" Wildcard yelled down the hallway as he looked down it. He had one chance to put a stop to this before it went any further. Wasting no time he set his path to the throne room and shot off towards it. A few confused bat ponies made way for him, Wildcard didn't catch the tell-tale smell of a changeling so he ignored them as background noise.
Soon he burst through the doors and found one of them looking out the window, with First Class beside her. Wildcard could smell Zeta.. but which one was he?
Wasting no time, although knowing full well it was incredibly dangerous, he shrouded them both in a green field and held them in the air.
"Wildcard, what a-" First Class began to protest but was quickly overshadowed by the night guard.
"Traitor! " She shouted, Wildcard was nearly deafened by it.
"Hold on, one of y-" He was silenced as a bat slammed into him from the side. He had forgotten about the others.
"Changeling!" He yelled as he was tackled on the ground. The bat held him there and with glowing eyes snarled at him.
"Hold on, I think I get it!" The hovering night guard shouted. The second pulled Wildcard upright, and kept very close to Wildcard.
"You suspect one of us of being one of... you, but why?" She asked.
"I think my supposed comrade has seen fit to replace me, he's stolen som..." Wildcard trailed off and stared at First Class. She was shaking with fear in her green prison... but was it really her?
"It's you," Wildcard said, approaching her while he released the night guard.
"Of course it is, he stole the dossier after all," She commented, and gestured to the other bat pony who ran up to under First Class's green chamber.
"You're right, it m... wait hold on a second, how do..." Wildcard dropped that too, and turned to face the first guard..
She was gone, and with her went the smell of Zeta.
The bat pony tackled First Class as she fell from the air, and stood guard over her on the ground. Looking around for her commander she turned to Wildcard.
"So uh, do I arrest it?" She asked, Wildcard ignored her.
If Wildcard could have erased himself from reality through sheer willpower he would have, instead he fell back on releasing a war cry, and darting to the exit. Galloping into the hallway he skidded to a halt when he saw the scene outside.
Luna stood in the hallway, flanked by two guards. Zeta, in his disguise, walked behind in her shadow.
Wildcard was about to shout a warning to Luna, but to his surprise she spun around and immediately blasted the follower with a blast of energy, tossing him against the wall. With a green shimmer he fell out of his form and slumped to the ground. The two guards that had flanked Luna immediately tackled him.
"Fool, did you not think that I, the Princess of the Night, couldn't detect you from a mile away? I've known your kind for far too long to be so stupid!" Luna exclaimed and glanced at Wildcard.
"Explain your colleagues actions, immediately," She demanded. Wildcard felt another guard breathing down his neck, the bats were incredible with stealth.
Wildcard swallowed, and tried to explain. "I think he took his orders a little directly, and saw fit to.. replace me," Wildcard said. The bats picked up his battered comrade, who turned his head to glare at the ambassador.
"I did what any of us would have done, you're not one of us- you're one of them!" he barked.
"There is no us and them, you fool!" Wildcard shouted. The bats dragged him around a corner before they could speak more.
"Very well then, I assume this is a... unique situation, and I won't have to void this treaty?" Luna asked.
"I'm sure it is, he's acting alone," Wildcard lied- he really had no idea if this was plotted in advance or not. He then remembered First Class and dashed back into the throne room, finding her staring out the window. Wildcard slowly approached.
"I'm sorry," he said.
She sighed, and glanced at him. "I know things are crazy, but you scared me Wildcard, I thought you were going to betray us," She said.
"I would never do that, I've learned too much to think about it, seen too much... I met you," Wildcard said, coming to her side.
"I need to be alone for a while I'll... see you later," She said, and solemnly trotted past Luna out of the room. Wildcard thought it best to let her go.
"I'm not sure what to do with your comrade, I've seen fit to intern him in those caves your people discovered a few months ago, which I find delightfully poetic," Luna said taking a seat on the throne.
"I'm his superior, and I'm responsible for him. We haven't had a betrayal like this in recent memory... I'll have to work it out with home," Wildcard said.
"Very well, you do whatever you have to do," Luna said, as her guards came to their positions flanking the throne, one of them giving her a note.
"Ah, yes. We have business to conduct. General Massè has been pestering me with these 'Requests for Information' since yesterday, let's put an end to that shall we?" Luna gestured Wildcard stand aside, and he did so- slightly confused.
A second later a face shimmered into existence as a blue spectre in the centre of the room while Luna's alicorn shone, bathing everything in a soft blue hue.
The face appeared to be Medulla.
"As you and the Captain have discovered, not all changelings are born in the Hive. Every once and a while the Queen needs to... fill her stock, as it were. To that end she has seen fit to 'acquire genetic material'. I find it disgusting, but I digress. Your commander is the latest in that line," She explained, and the image shifted to showcase the H.M.S Magnifecent in all it's glory.
"The captain of the Night Guard thirty years ago was known as Mezza Luna. When she heard of this kidnapping she immediately ordered the fleet you see today assembled. Most of it was built in secret, by a front company ostensibly to be sold to the elite. She prepared to invade the Hive, and rescue the child."
The image shifted again, and became the burning sun that represented Celestia.
"My sister, however, denied this. It was her opinion that it was better the child grow up with it's own, a fact that Mezza Luna reluctantly accepted. Mind you had I been around, this would have ended quite differently," Luna finished, and the display disappeared.
Wildcard thought it over for a second, one thing was clear in his mind first and foremost.
"Hold on, that's..." He couldn't even say what the implication was, inbreeding.
"You're quite correct, I expect a considerable amount of magic is required to sustain the Hive when a new generation is created, specifically to negate the effects of... this," Luna said.
To Wildcard, all the events of the past few weeks suddenly came together and made sense. Luna's emphasis on crushing the hive, the sudden turn around to come to peace with Equestria, the failed invasion with the specific goal of siphoning as much magic as possible...
"If you have no further questions, I have a night to watch over," Luna said, and strode down from the throne.
Wildcard thought for a second, and as Luna walked past him he spoke.
"Why tell me?" He asked.
Luna, for possibly the first time, smiled at him. "You're the first, and only, changeling I have ever respected. This truth is yours so that you might better understand yourself. I only hope that when the time comes, you make the right choice," Luna said, and departed.
Wildcard stood in the dark, silent. For a few moments he thought on those words.
The right choice.
After a short while he trotted back to his office, finding the door still open. First Class stood behind his desk, staring out the window. Wildcard trotted behind her, and kicked his desk shut. When he heard the reassuring click of the lock he relaxed, and put his hoof on her shoulder.
She flinched, and tensed up. Glancing back at Wildcard she smiled weakly.
"There's one thing I don't understand, I've been running this all through my head and it's bugging me," she said.
"What's that?" Wildcard asked, worriedly.
"How did you know it was me?" She asked.
Wildcard paused, he removed his hoof to wipe sweat off his brow.
"Maybe it's best we don't look too f--" First Class cut him off,
"What did he steal from you?" She demanded, and pushed past Wildcard. She strode to the doorway and glanced back.
"His room, there must be some evidence in his room!" She shouted, and darted off. Wildcard dashed out after her, frantically searching for something in his mind to stop her.
"Hold on, leave that to the guard!" He shouted, she ignored him.
In much less time then Wildcard had hoped they arrived at the room that Zeta had been using- formerly Dr. Flankenstein's room. First Class bucked the door open, tearing it right off it's hinges, and galloped in. Wildcard went in after her.
She started tearing open drawers while Wildcard watched from the doorway, trying to think of something. Wildcard noticed that Zeta had apparently taken some things from home, decorative pieces of the dark stone that marked the hive were scattered around, most of which quickly found there way to the floor as First Class ransacked the room.
"It was nothing, he just stole... some money," Wildcard pleaded. First Class glanced at him, and then continued. She came to the bed and Wildcard's heart found it's way into his throat.
"Don't, don't do it!" He shouted, and dashed forward. She threw the mattress up and pulled out two folders.
"I can explain!" Wildcard exclaimed, sliding to a stop before her. In the dim light she opened the first.
"Eta-Zeta you are assigned the identity of Midnight Blossom- Night Guard, thus any escape should be performed at night. Be mindful to remember her speech patterns. Secondary objectives may include intelligence on the Night Guard on the way out." First Glass said, and tossed it aside to look at Wildcard.
"What is this, an escape plan? Why would you need to 'escape'?" She asked.
"It's in our nature, it's who we... it's who I was ," Wildcard pleaded. She opened the second.
"Eta-Gamma, you are assigned the identify of First Class- Assistant to Princess Celestia, thus any escape should be performed during the day. Secondary objectives may include intelligence on the Equestrian Royal Guard on the way out," She said, and the folder dropped to the ground. She looked up at Wildcard with a tear in her eye.
"Why?" she asked.
"It was just luck of the draw, I swear. I didn't mean anything," Wildcard said, and sat beside her. She in turn stood.
"So why keep it then? Why not send this back, or destroy it?"" She asked, and picking up the document looked it over again.
"You've actually written more stuff here. 'likes the Echo Theater'?"
"I kept it because... I wanted to know more about you, to--" First Glass crumpled it up and threw it at him.
"So why not just ask? Instead of actually getting to know me... you rely on a spy network? You haven't changed at all, it's almost ironic. You can change into anything, but you can't change your heart. You're still one of them," First Class spat, and then turned away to leave.
She paused in the doorway and glanced back. "It's over," She said, and vanished down the hallway.
Wildcard slumped to the floor, and cried.
Some time later he felt a hoof on his shoulder, opening his eyes he was extremely disappointed to find one of the bats before him.
"Come on, heart breaker, Luna wants to talk to you," He said, and pulled Wildcard up. Wildcard nodded and allowed the guard to lead him to the throne room, Where he found Luna sitting on it, flanked by guards.
"Ambassador, I don't know what you did, but I'm to make sure you keep away from First Class, so be mindful of that," She said as he entered, and gestured him forward.
"I just--" Wildcard began to argue, but Luna gestured he cease.
"I don't care. Ambassador, your private life is your own problem. I called you here on business," Luna said.
Wildcard nodded, and stood before the throne.
"These 'dossiers' that she has discovered are extremely concerning, however since they were in the possession of your ill-fated comrade I will let this slide. " Luna said.
"Once." she growled.
Wildcard bowed and left, wordlessly. His mind was a haze of sorrow and fear, when he arrived back his office he could barely see straight. The world was a fog of confusion. With a great sigh he dropped into his chair, and spun it to look out the window. Reaching back he opened the lowest drawer on his desk, and pulled out a bottle of cider.
He sighed, and drank.
Author's Note
This chapter will probably get major reworking done soon, following the publishing of the final chapter.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Intermission: Of Trains and Dossiers
Author's Note
Credit for this chapter goes to Pseudonymous .
Intermission: Of Trains and Dossiers
As the guard ushered First Class into Luna's study, she found the Princess sitting in a rather exquisite mahogany chair staring intently into the fire. For somepony like First Class who dealt with nobles on a regular basis, the intended message was clear - 'I am unhappy, and brooding over the cause'.
Her years of experience saw her build a resistance to such intimidation tactics. She knew Luna was well aware of this, as well as being aware aware of Luna's awareness of First Class's awareness, and as a result they were both aware that Luna did not need to use such methods for their intimidation value, but had an unquenchable flair for the theatric.
There was, however, no defense against the raw intimidation power of the immortal moon-mover. Still, First Class managed to enter the room without noticeable trepidation "You wished to see me, Princess?"
Luna's response was short, but held no discernible emotion "Yes. Sit."
A gesture with Luna's hoof and a soft glow drew First Class's eyes to a cushioned bench as it moved into place before to a tea table. As she begun trotting over she noticed that Luna's chair had already been repositioned to sit across from the bench. First class found this quite disconcerting, and would later look back on it with a little resentment due to it causing her hooves to get away from her for a moment. Luna watched this in silence, saying and showing nothing until First Class had taken her seat.
"Will you have tea?" Luna asked, or said; First Class was unsure if it was intended as a question or an order.
First Class nodded "Yes, please". She was a professional - resolving uncertainty was her job.
Cups appeared before the both of them, and First Class knew immediately this was going to be one of those problem meetings.
It was barley tea. She hated barley tea.
As Princess Celestia's aide it was her responsibility to ensure that when her Princess took tea that anything she could request would be in stock, and as such she was keenly aware of every variety of tea in the castle, was on a first-name basis with the various suppliers, and practiced meticulous record-keeping so her mental inventory would always be accurate. Her one 'misuse' of power, if it could be called that, was to ensure the castle stores never contained barley tea; the Princess normally took tea with her when there were no other guests to entertain, and while the Princess had yet to ask for barley tea specifically she quite often asked for anything new in stock, for or a list of teas in stock she hadn't had in awhile. Key words being "in stock". She did not know where Luna obtained this vile concoction, but First Class would ensure that however much was left was never part of the castle's stores. To date, she believed it to be the finest deception ever successfully pulled on Celestia.
Still, she followed Luna's lead and took a sip; she had asked for it, technically, and she would drink it without showing a hint of her disgust.
"Were you aware," Luna began a few minutes later, First Class's cup already half drained "that in the past year the Canterlot-Ponyville rail line has had over a thousand of what they call 'animal impact events'?"
First Class shook her head "I'm not even familiar with that term, Princess.". She relaxed a bit internally - She could hazard a guess what the term meant, but if this was about the trains then she wasn't in the line of fire.
"That would be why they use it." Luna frowned "It means the train hit an innocent creature, and hurt or killed it. They chose the term so this... charnel affront would be hidden behind sanitary words. Why has this problem been masked instead of corrected? Do ponies even know this happens at all? Do they even care? Do they think about this when they buy tickets?"
First Class paused for a moment as red flags went up - Luna was speaking to her instead of Celestia. The words "plausible deniability" ran through her head as she realized her answers could cause some rather serious problems. For her.
Officially, Luna was asking a common pony about common pony life.
Unofficially, Luna was making an end-run around Celestia so she could act on her own to fix a problem before Celestia could stop her, and use this conversation to foist it off on First Class. She had a duty to answer completely and truthfully, so her only hope would be to bend the conversation into a proper crash position in the hopes her career would survive.
First Class regretted relaxing moments prior - she shouldn't have doubted the omen of barley tea.
"The ones to talk to would be Fluttershy and Princess Twilight Sparkle; if anybody would know, and anybody could fix it, it would be them."
A good, solid deflection. The now-former elements would at least distract Luna long enough for First Class to talk to Celestia, and- Luna was glaring at her. Why was Luna glaring at her?
"I asked you." came the clipped words of the agitated diarch.
With all the calmness she could muster, First Class answered "I don't know, Princess. I suppose it's something we don't think about much; I guess everypony kind of assumes it happens. I don't think there's anypony to blame, I think it's just a sad fact of life nowadays."
First Class winced internally - it wasn't her best work, and she wasn't sure how she could recov-
"Quite." came the simple statement from Luna
This prompted an uncertain "Princess?" from First Class.
The Princess finished her tea, prompting First Class to do the same.
Setting the cup down, Luna continued "It is, indeed, a 'sad fact of life' as you put it. Ponies are mildly aware of it, but they do not let themselves become concerned with it. Until, of course, it is pointed out to them."
The bottom dropped out of First Class's stomach as she realized she had been played. She has no idea where this was going, but felt there was an object lesson in her future.
A few short stacks of paper appeared with the hallmark glow of Luna's magic and landed on the table, the teacups having apparently decided to be somewhere else moments prior.
"Following the recent... encounter, I have been researching changeling culture."
She floated the top stack over to First Class
"You may read the full report later" Luna stated casually, First Class well aware that the 'may' in this case meant she was being given permission to delay the now-required reading until after this meeting was over. "But for now, I will go over the relevant details.
The changeling practice of escape dossiers is used by infiltrators as an emergency means of escape in the event they are discovered. Their production requires detailed observation and surveillance of a pony who is well known and respected, which represents a significant investment of time and resources. As a result their usage is controlled very strictly; they are used only as a last-resort, and the punishments for misuse are... Severe.
We have determined that Ambassador Wildcard's request for an escape dossier was almost certainly sent on his first day in office. That would put it prior to your initial meeting; he could not have requested your dossier specifically. More to the point, using an escape dossier to research the background of a romantic interest is exceedingly unlikely; discovery and punishment aside, as you said, had he asked you would have answered."
First Class was visibly frowning at that point, not even bothering to hide her displeasure at this point - the fact that changelings had been spying on her for a 'significant time' just made things worse. At least it was comforting to know Wildcard wasn't as creepy as she thought he was - she was still disgusted, but would sleep better at night knowing he wasn't stalking her. Still, that left one vital question.
"What does this have to do with trains?"
To this, Luna smiled "The common link - social normalcy. Ponies use the train for the sake of convenience . They do not think of what happens to animals as a result, it is simply how things are. Meanwhile, Changelings use escape dossiers for the sake of survival . They do not think of what happens to ponies as a result, it is simply how things are."
First Class fumed at this "Does that make it okay to spy on ponies and dig into their lives? To take their identities? We're not animals!"
Luna was unphased by First Class's loss of composure "I would think each pony so victimized by changelings would rather keep their suffering than trade lots with the animals. Answer me this, however: Do you begrudge the changelings that have used these dossiers to save their lives? Do you resent that they live because of these dossiers?"
First Class took a deep breath, and held it for a moment as she calmed down. Luna had her at that, but she wouldn't go down without a fight "No. No, I can't. You're right. But now-"
Luna held up a hoof as she cut First Class off "But now the practice is over, and we will punish any caught engaging in it."
Sighing, First Class set her head on the table "I suppose I understand, but I'm still not going to forgive Wildcard - that's what this is about, right? I deserve better; he shouldn't have kept it."
Luna nodded sagely "I'm sure. Tell me, why did you drink the tea?"
First Class's ears went up at this "I enjoy tea! I take tea with Celes-"
With a shake of her head, Luna dismissed that "Excepting, of course, barley tea. Which I should note has been absent from the castle stores since you were hired, if your inventory records are correct."
Blushing furiously, First Class was barely able to speak "Oh. Um, heh. Well, I kinda asked for it."
The grin on Luna's face made it clear she was enjoying this "True, and swallowed your disgust to avoid insult."
First Class buried her head under her fore hooves to hide her embarrassment. "Okay, you've made your point."
A stack of paper landed on First Class's head "Have I? You work out of my sister's office so this particular piece may be familiar to you. It's a fairly standard document; I understand the Captain - excuse me - General ensures that there is one for every person living or working in the castle, as well as foreign officials, major domestic political figures, and a smattering of other beings of note..."
First Class whimpered "Oh, no."
Luna flipped through the remaining stacks of paper as she went on "Yes, it seems that as a matter of policy we now keep up to date dossiers . Officially, this policy was enacted following the wedding invasion as a measure to identify imposters when other methods of detection are unavailable."
First Class moved her forehooves up on top of what she now knew to be wildcard's dossier, and pressed it down into her face in frustration. It was clearly far more extensive than the one he had had on her, which she suppose was Luna's way of unofficially informing her in that the Moon Princess served as the nation's spymaster and had Wildcard under careful surveillance.
"I am a featherbrained idiot. How did I forgot about these? How could I buck things up this badly? You win, just tell me what else you have in that pile so I can leave and beat my head against a wall for a few hours," she lamented.
The remaining paper ruffled as it slid over to First Class. She couldn't see it, but she could feel Luna grin. First class rolled her head to the side, pushing the dossier off so she could look at her Cheshire-grinning diarch.
"Blank paper. I did not think the two documents physical weight matched that of their importance. I cannot and will not ask you to forgive Wildcard, only to understand how things were. Your time may be better spent talking to him instead of trying to dent the walls; remember that he is under orders to avoid you, so if you do wish to resolve this conflict you will have to approach him. I will contact Twilight and Fluttershy to see what can be done about the trains, by the way.
You are dismissed."
While normally First Class would have held to strict protocol, it was clear that Princess Luna was enjoying seeing behind First Class's proverbial mask. With that in mind, she simply tucked the report on changeling society under her wing and walked out the door, pointedly leaving Wildcard's dossier on the table.
Unseen and unheard by First Class, Luna smiled softly to herself. This would correct most of the needless tension at war meetings, and smooth operation here was vital to the war effort. More importantly this would shift the scales of debt between her and Wildcard in her favor; he would side with her, and if things go as she expected then First Class would advocate for him. Underhanded? Yes, but necessary; Celestia was the heart and soul of the nation, but war is heartless and soulless. Luna was none of these things, simply pragmatic. She could make the decisions Celestia couldn't, in several different meanings of the phrase. Celestia was not in a mindset fit for war; she would choose the most peaceful option even if it was the worst. She had spent centuries attuning herself to peace and harmony, and it was best for Equestria that she be that way. Celestia could certainly retrain herself for war, but that would take time, she would still be couched in her old mindset, and for decades afterwards she would not be quite so fit to rule in peace as she had been before.
As long as Celestia made no hard choices she would avoid the taint of war; Luna would save her by drowning out her voice on the war council. The cosmic irony of taking power from her sister so her sister could better rule later instead of keeping power and motivated by love instead of envy was not something she found funny.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Wildcard awoke the next morning with a splitting headache and a bare recollection of the last nights events. The late morning sun streaming in through the window seemed to burn through his skull as he slowly opened his eyes, finding himself laying on a couch with his desk to the back of him. On the floor were a few bottles, all empty. He groaned and rubbed his forehead, rolling off the couch onto the ground with an audible thunk. As he lay there the events of last night flooded back, much like toilet might flood a washroom- all of it unwanted.
Laying there on the floor the gears in his mind started to turn, slowly. With each throb of his head an idea repeated itself.
"Was I really that stupid?"
Zeta had betrayed him, which he should have suspected- Never trust a spy . First Class had left him, because of his idiotic insistence on keeping that dossier. To his small credit it was hard to get over a lifetime of being a spy. With another groan he came to all four, and tried desperately to magically cure his hangover.
He found to his surprise that he had no magic, for the first time in a few weeks. He sighed again and hung his head, warily trotting out the door. At the very least he could shower and look somewhat presentable- even with the way things were going he still had a job to do.
Out in the hallway he absent-mindedly bumped into one of the guards, looking up he wasn't surprised at all which one it was.
"Flash, are you spying on me or something? Why is it always you?" He demanded.
Putting a hoof to his chest Flash Sentry responded with a look of faux-shock.
"Me? Spy? That's more your style, isn't it?" He exclaimed sarcastically while he produced a folder under his wing.
"You missed the briefing, here's a copy of the minutes," he explained
Wildcard took them and frowned as he leafed through.
"I guess it doesn't look very well on me that I didn't show, huh?" Wildcard noted.
Flash laughed. "I took a look in your office an hour ago, I just told them you were sick and that was that. I've been there myself- which is why I'm taking calls for the 'general' now."
Wildcard relaxed enough to remember how much his head hurt.
"Flash could you do me a favour and just... stand there?" Wildcard pleaded while he rubbed his aching temple.
"Uhh, alright?" Flash said, cocking his head as Wildcard drew a deep breath.
With a spark, and then a glow, his crooked alicorn lit up and bathed his head in a green glow. After a few moments the blue colour flowed back into his eyes, and he sighed with pleasure.
Opening his eyes he smiled at Flash, who still seemed confused. "Thank you," he said.
"Well I'm not sure what for, but you're welcome- I guess. Anyway, I gotta do..." Flash sighed.
"..patrol schedules ," Flash said, and trotted off shaking his head.
Newly invigorated Wildcard went to his room, passing by Zeta's which he noted was now taped off- 'Crime Scene'. The door hadn't been fixed, it lay on the floor inside the doorway. Wildcard would have to deal with his mutinous comrade soon, but for now the only thing on his mind was a warm shower. Opening his door Wildcard was unsurprised to notice a few things had been moved around, the Night Guard had probably been through here. He had nothing to hide anymore- and he barely spent anytime in his room anyway.
In the shower, as he bathed in the wonderful stream of warm water that reminded him just how nice it was to be living in the castle, he had some time to think. He supposed he couldn't really blame First Class, she had done her duty for the crown she served. No, the blame rested solely on him. He couldn't even really blame Zeta- it was his own stupid decision to keep that dossier that did him in. He couldn't even find her and try to explain, or argue. Perhaps it was for the best in the end, events required his attention, the next few weeks would make or break his career- and possibly the alliance itself.
Half an hour later Wildcard decided it was high time to get to work. Closing his rooms door behind him he was startled to find a familiar face in the hallway.
"Dr. Flankenstein!" Wildcard exclaimed on seeing the familiar, yet markedly older, figure in the hallway. As always his medic bag was slung over his back, he frowned on seeing Wildcard.
"I know I'm supposed to know you, but frankly all I see is another government official. Thanks for saving me, but there's so many unanswered questions, like why I needed saving in the first place," He sighed, and Wildcard felt something in his voice.
Age
"Look, I'm sorry. I heard you were sick and came to see if I could help," Flankenstein said
"Oh don't worry doc," Wildcard laughed. "Just had a long night, I'm fine now."
Flankenstein snorted. "I'll say, by the looks of your office you had a long night ," Flankenstein smiled, "I prescribe water, maybe a good lunch," He added.
"We can both take it in my office, I had some business with you anyway," Wildcard suggested.
"I never trust a bureaucrat that offers me a free lunch..." Flankenstein said squinting "... but a free lunch is a free lunch."
Wildcard smiled, it was good to have him back.
"... Office 14B... Yeah that's fine."
Wildcard clicked the phone on the receiver and sat back, putting his hooves up on the desk.
"It'll be a few minutes," He said,
Flankenstein nodded. "Isn't government work grand? They feed you, give you room and board, and pay you too. I'm the Royal Surgeon to a pair of ancient nigh immortal alicorns, I barely even do anything ," He said, and cracked whatever the pony equivalent of knuckles were before leaning on the desk.
"So, what's your business anyway?" he asked.
"I'm assuming you've been brought up to date on the immunization project you started?"
"I have, kept pretty detailed notes- should be done in a few weeks."
"Good, that's the first good news I've heard in days," Wildcard said.
A thought occurred to him. In his desk was his 'Report on the Equestrian Situation" he had been working on. All of his adventures, discoveries, and notes were in there. Nothing improper, and he was careful to not mention anything related to their origins- but it did contain a very detailed report on Dr. Flankensteins history. A history that he himself didn't know. Was it right to give it to him, or should the past stay dead?
When he got this job he really didn't expect the constant stream of dilemmas, or war, or adventures. What he expected was to sit in a chair and write letters all day. Instead he found himself grappling with implications that effected his entire race, dealing with mutiny, and helping end a siege. He was less an ambassador and more a strange kind of mercenary.
He unlocked the desk, and put it on the desk.
"What's that? Looks important." Flankenstein asked, leaning in.
Wildcard sat back in his chair, leaving it there. In the end, it wasn't his choice to make.
"The truth, " Wildcard said.
Flankenstein cocked an eyebrow, unmoved.
"Doctor, you've made some... mistakes. Mistakes that you can't correct, not any more. You can forget this, and move on- or you can face it. I won't judge you either way," Wildcard explained.
Flankenstein picked it up, staring at it as if it held the key to the universe.
"Report on the Equestrian Situation- Classified," He breathed, and glanced past at Wildcard.
"What in Celestia's name did I do?!" He exclaimed, and flipped to the first page.
Wildcard sat back as he read, his expression changing from horror, to intense interest, and now and then he laughed. Wildcard guessed that was him coming across their adventures together. He looked up from it and stared glassy eyed at Wildcard after a few minutes of reading.
"...I artificially aged an Alicorn Princess?!" He exclaimed
"That's about the gist of it doc," Wildcard said.
Flankenstein tossed the report back on the desk, and sat his flank on the floor. Wildcard quickly put the report back in his desk, it remained his ace in the hole to repair his standing at home.
Lunch arrived, brought in by a pleasant mare that worked for the crown. Wildcard let Flankenstein ponder his life in silence, he imagined it was quite a lot to take in all at once. Flankenstein ate his lunch silently as he sat on the couch; a small pile of hay fries, while Wildcard ate his, a mushroom sandwich with imported Hive mushrooms along with tea. Wildcard took the time to go through some of the trivial documents while they ate.
"Wonderbolt flyover, too much? Would Spitfire even accept?" He was pondering this when there was a knock on the door.
"It's unlocked," Wildcard said. The door opened and a green coated mare trotted in, a surprisingly serious look on her face.
"Lyra Heartstrings, how nice you could make it- pull up a chair and let's talk." Wildcard said. Lyra did, glancing at the silent doctor and pile of cider bottles under the couch.
She shook her head and swung the chair to before Wildcards desk, sitting in it in a swift motion.
"You said you had an offer?" She asked. Wildcard was surprised how down to business she was.
"Yes, I do. I need a secretary, and since the Hive owes you restitution, I'm willing to pay you a significant amount more then usual for this, as well as housing in the castle, and a few other perks," Wildcard explained.
"How much is a 'significant amount more'?"
Wildcard did some quick thinking. His deal with Applebuck was providing around a thousand bits a month, and he was certain to get some sort of funding from home once the rail line was complete and trade began. First Class made 500, less then most of the elite but since she stayed in the castle and everything she needed was provided by the crown. Lyra would have a similar arrangement.
"Seven hundred bits, per month," Wildcard said.
Dr. Flankenstein broke his silence, whistling. "You better take his offer miss, that's more then I make," he commented.
"I'll do it, no sense going back to Ponyville anyway," Lyra said. Wildcard sensed something was off.
"Lyra, why are you in Canterlot anyway?" He asked.
She sighed, and slumped in her chair. "Bon-Bon is a reservist, she's going to be attached to the Crystal Imperial Legion. We came together to pick up her armour... and now she's gone," She explained, looking to the floor.
Wildcard suppressed a gasp. The room was almost visibly filled with a deep sadness and helpless.
Only Wildcard realized he wasn't helpless at all. He picked up the phone and dialed the General, Lyra seemed too filled with sorrow to notice.
"Sergeant Flash Sentry, wh-" Wildcard cut him off immediately demanded the General, there was a click and then his voice came through.
"This better be important," He growled.
"General, you're in charge of... everything, right? Personnel assignments?" Wildcard asked.
"Obviously, now get to the point," The General demanded.
"I want you to re-assign..." As Wildcard talked Lyra looked up, there was an almost childlook look of hope in her eyes, they even seemed to shine. "... Bon-Bon to the Canterlot Castle force, whatever it's called,"
Wildcard argued the point, hard . It took a good five minutes but eventually he started to turn the tables in his favour.
"... Yes I know she's not trained, you saying Flash is any better? ...Well alright fine he can fly, that's true... No I don't think that matters at all.... Look, General- Equestria was founded on friendship, and you have a chance to prove that..."
There was a pause in the conversation, Lyra seemed like a coil ready to explode.
"... Fine, I'll get it done... She'll be there." Wildcard finished, and clicked the phone back on the receiver.
"Well?!" Lyra asked.
"Meet her at the train station at 7 PM," Wildcard said, grinning ear to ear.
Lyra paused for a second, and then launched forward across the desk hugging Wildcard in an awkward way while stammering
"You're very welcome," Wildcard said, gasping for air under the embrace.
Lyra made a sound only describable as 'squee' when she released him, and quickly dashed to the door.
"I accept your offer, I'll see you tomorrow!" She shouted, and disappeared down the hallway. Wildcard could here her giddily laughing as she galloped down it.
Flankenstein stood from the couch, matching Wildcards smile. "That's a good thing you did just now, how did you get General Massè to go for it?" He asked.
"Well, mentioning 'friendship' is close to pulling a royal flush around here, and I promised him a new desk- same as mine," Wildcard explained, Flankenstein eyed the desk.
"That can't be cheap, it looks like the work of a master," he noted.
Wildcard span back in his chair to look out the window.
"You would be surprised," Wildcard said.
Flankenstein took his leave, mentioning he "needed to think", giving Wildcard the chance to finally go over that days briefing. Finally some light would be shed on the past few days.
Wildcard sat back and read it in the light of the afternoon sun. The meeting had started with a report on last night- Luna had been there to explain this in person. Wildcard was thankful that she seemed to believe that it was entirely Zeta, acting alone. This was true, but he had worried that his colleagues idiotic actions would cause a revival of the generalizations that changelings were evil by nature. The others agreed, after Spitfire mentioned that an investigation should be launched into Wildcard- which he supposed explained his room being searched. First Class mentioned again, during a security meeting with the entire force of the nation representative, that she felt violated by this spying. After this they finally got into the real work, Wildcard gazed intently as the events at Baltimare that kicked off the state of emergency were explained by General Massè.
"As we know, the Griffons have a new weapon. They used it to incredible effect in Baltimare, forcing the evacuation of the city. Investigations by myself and the rest of the guard have come close to revealing the nature of this weapon, but much is still uncertain. We know for sure that it's fired from an extreme range- probably from that occupied island to the east- and we know that it operates first with a massive explosion, and then with some sort of flammable agent that burns for hours. We have no insight on how to stop it."
A truly frightening description. That island was at least a hundred kilometers away. Changeling intelligence had reconned it from a distance, all they saw was a small griffon camp. If this weapon was deployable from an area like that, it could be deployed anywhere. This put the entire continent at risk, even the Hive itself. Wildcard copied this and added it to his report before continuing.
Soon enough he came upon explanation of the new ranks, finally. It was General Massè that had explained it to an apparently confused servant that had happened in.
"It's like this; The Guard cannot be both the police, and the military. In peace the guard had always been a sort of a basic militia filling both roles, but not really filling either- a sort of middle ground. With the current crisis this can't be maintained, so both of these functions have to be split off. So the trained guards are being re-formed into a proper army, while some of the reserves will operate as police for the duration of this crisis. The new ranks reflect this, soon you'll see a chief of police in each town- I believe Manehatten already has it's own police force actually. In addition this allows the heads of each branch- Air Martial Spitfire for the Wonderbolts, and myself for the Legion, to focus on defending the country instead of dealing with civil matters. "
Wildcard nodded, it was wise enough. With the 'Legion' free of civic protection and policing it could much more efficiently respond to threats, and the Wonderbolts could function as a proper force. Interesting that they kept their name, he thought- it must have propaganda value.
Putting the report in his desk he picked up the phone and dialed home, it was time to finally cross that bridge.
The phone on the other end didn't even ring. "Eta-Alpha; what is it Eta-Delta?" he asked. Straight to the point as always.
"Eta-Zeta has been arrested; after stealing critical documents, attempting to escape with a disguise, and nearly crippling the alliance." Wildcard explained.
There was a long brutal pause. Wildcard would have given his life to know what his superior was thinking.
"... that is unfortunate, we'll send a team to extract him and... deal with him."
With a click the other end hung up. Wildcard shuddered to think what 'deal with him' really meant. There had not been a recorded case of mutiny in the history of the changelings, but recent events had thrown everything in the air. Wildcard got up from his chair, it was time he paid his comrade a visit.
The caves under the palace had been explored thoroughly after the changelings had used them, and now housed a small prison. It had never been used, having been built not for any pony criminals- but specifically for changelings. A rather brilliant design, one could only get in and out using both wings and magic. This ensured that only either a pair of guards, an alicorn, or an undisguised changeling could get in and out. Numerous sharp corners and hidden outposts lay around, lying in wait to trap any attempt at escape. The bat ponies alongside a few guards were in charge of it, and one of them led Wildcard through the maze of corridors to the cells. There were only a few dozen, Zeta sat in the furthest.
" 'ambassador' " he hissed on seeing Wildcard approach.
"Zeta," Wildcard said, coming to a stop before the cell door. Wildcard let the bat pony stay, he wanted the disconnect between the two to be as public as possible.
"You realize you committed treason, right? I don't imagine the Queen is going to be very happy," Wildcard said.
Zeta snorted. "Treason? I did what any of us would have done. You've gone native 'wildcard' , you even have a cutie mark for Chrysalis sake. The only reason the Hive puts up with you is because we need this alliance. There's going to be a reckoning when this is all over, and I'll be back. I'll either have your job- or it won't exist at all," He threatened.
"won't exist at all" was the part that worried Wildcard the most, was there some conspiracy against the alliance?
"The alliance is profitable for all of us you fool, that's why Chrysalis supported it in the first place. They could crush the Hive in a moment if they wanted to- you were there when they almost did!" Wildcard argued.
"They almost did, but they didn't. They're all cowards, and if the griffons don't get them somebody else will!" Zeta exclaimed, leaping at the cell door. Wildcard allowed the bat to zap him with a tazer, he deserved it.
"You utter idiot - you're the one that went native!" Wildcard shouted, pointing an accusing hoof. "That's griffon talk!"
"Who's to say they aren't right?" Zeta asked, coming back to the door. "They respect us, as warriors. Together we could rule the continent, with our subterfuge and their power. They have a new weapon, Wildcard, resistance is useless- only together can we survive."
Wildcard barely hid his his shock. What did Zeta know about that weapon? Something had happened while he was with the griffons, something important.
"What would you know of any weapon? You were only inserted into an infantry platoon." Wildcard inquired.
"They knew I was a spy all along, this was planned well in advance. I have met the Grand Martial, after being captured. It was... painful at first. But I saw the light. Celestia can control the sun, Luna can control the moon. He can control fire ," Zeta said, staring at Wildcard with the ferocity of a wild animal.
Zeta started laughing manically, Wildcard backed away. "The Griffons are coming, 'ambassador', They're coming and you can't stop them! Equestria will fall , and I will live to stand on it's ashes!" he shouted.
Wildcard left, there was no more use talking with him. He was either mad, brainwashed, or there were elements at play here that Wildcard couldn't fathom. Gesturing down the tunnel the bat led him out.
"Is he insane?" he whispered.
"He's either insane, or we're in a lot of trouble," Wildcard replied.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
Two weeks later the, day finally came. It had taken a lot of work, dozens of letters in all directions, and a lot of bits, but it was finally here. At 5PM today the rail network would officially be opened. They had decided on a name for it too- The Harmony Line. Wildcard found it highly ironic that his signature accomplishment brought 'harmony' to the Hive, just as Princess Twilight Sparkle had attempted to do with her short lived invasion.
Arriving back at his office after the mornings briefing- which was a trivial bit of work, nothing significant had happened since Baltimare a few weeks back. He had noticed something however: ever since a few days ago First Class had stopped pretending he didn't exist, even going so far as to acknowledge his presence with a nod when he had arrived. The first time he noticed this Luna had smirked, as if she knew something he didn't. In any case the meetings were interesting at times, watching the Equestrian Royal Guard transform itself into the 'Equestrian Legion', and a much greater overlap between them and the Night Guard. If the ponies were as good on the field as their organization, then maybe they all had a chance.
Zeta was out of his hair too, a group of warriors had shown up in the night a week ago and whisked him away with nary a word, Wildcard didn't care to press home for details, he imagined his fate wasn't going to be very pretty and left it at that. Arriving at his office after the morning meeting he found Lyra at her desk, she was always up bright and early, and had been an enormous help. She took care of his calendar, dealt with the more trivial things, and made sure the office ran smoothly. Wildcard noticed that it was a rather odd setup- her desk was against the wall to the front and side of his own, but anybody that came in person was probably important, so there was no need to break the office into a front and back room. They worked quite closely too, often you would here a sort of legalese being tossed around as Lyra summarized some document. "Night Guard wants update on Diamond Dogs- suggests intervention," Lyra said as her boss walked in, pausing for a moment in typing something. She had her own typewriter, a basic binary model she had brought from home.
"Tell them we've got it under control, they've got a border to worry about," Wildcard said, putting his jacket on the rack beside his desk.
He had a jacket now. After Spitfire's reference to 'technical treaty violations' involving his shapeshifting now and then, he had thought it extremely improper to show up to meetings, or todays event, doing so. So he had taken a short trip to Ponyville and had a local seamstress make him a fair representation of the fatigue jacket he wore on his first journey into the mountain. He also had a pair of saddlebags with his cutie mark on them, finally bringing him into the mainstream pony society. He also had a bowler hat he wore when he felt like making an impression.
Sitting at his desk he sat back in his chair and felt under it for the newest addition- a small crossbow was taped to the underside. The guard knew full well he had this, he had requisitioned it from them after all. It took some arguing but after Zeta's betrayal, and the pending possibility of war, some sort of self defense for government officials seemed logical.
It only small enough that it couldn't kill anyone anyway, but it could certainly hurt.
Relaxing in his chair Wildcard put his hooves up on the desk, going over the schedule for this afternoon.
It was as follows:
3PM: Wonderbolts flyby, which was actually a scouting party to ensure nothing was going to go wrong dressed up to look like an airshow.
4PM: All guests should have arrived, security will close off the area. Equestria and the Hive took a 50/50 split on responsibility here. Wonderbolts would remain on extreme-height recon.
5PM: A short speech by Celestia, Chrysalis, and Wildcard; followed by the hammering of the final golden spike.
6PM: Dinner provided by both sides, cider by Applebuck. They had already set up a few dozen picnic tables, and the pegasi had promised a bright and sunny day. Weather management, it was a heck of a thing.
6:30+: Mingle with guests, hand over report, come home later probably drunk. (The later two were unwritten.)
Satisfied, Wildcard set it down and noticed he hadn't received anything from home today, his desk was totally bare.
"Lyra, anything from home today?" he asked. He knew Lyra knew full well not to open anything classified from home. He trusted her, but it was best she stayed out of the loop for her own sake. She had actually taken possession of the second key to the desk, Wildcard trusted her not to do anything stupid with it, and regardless she seemed plenty happy with her position.
Lyra paused in her typing again, and leafed through a stack of papers.
"Not today, but there is something interesting here... comes from some pony named "Buckapple," She said, and slid the paper over through the air in a golden field of magic.
"Buckapple, haven't heard from her in a while..." Wildcard mumbled, opening the letter.
"Ambassador Wildcard.
I have spoken with the 'supplier' you mentioned, and found her prices outrageous. I have decided on a different course of action. I have managed to secure some funding to expand my tropical fruit business here in the east, and as soon as this rail line is complete I would like to open exports to you and your people. Ever had a Piña colada?
With respect, Buckapple, Proprietor."
Wildcard couldn't help but laugh. Two competing businesses, on opposite sides the country, with mirrored names. It would be great for the Hive too, competition could get prices down.
The letter found it's way into his desk, which was starting to get full. He was going to need to buy some filing cabinets or something soon. While he was in there he pulled out the 'Report on the Equestrian Situation.", which at this point had ballooned to a hundred pages in length. The report was incredibly detailed, and he was certain that it would earn him a promotion, a good bit of money, and maybe even a small command of his own out here. A proper embassy building, with his own guards and a field man that wasn't insane? It was well within his reach.
So why didn't it make him happy?
He sighed and put it in a metal briefcase he had purchased specifically for this. Two four digit locks, thick steel, it was nigh impenetrable. Lyra glanced over.
"What's that? Looks exciting." She asked.
"This is my ticket to a promotion," Wildcard explained.
"Well that seems exciting... but you don't sound excited," She commented.
Wildcard took a deep breath, drumming the briefcase with his hooves. "Lyra, who am I?"
She seemed to consider this for a moment before replying, not expecting such a strange question.
"Ambassador Wildcard of the Changelings, a friend, and a good person," She replied.
Wildcard made a decision, and fired up his typewriter to see it through.
After taking lunch, and shortly before leaving for the ceremony, Wildcard sat at his desk staring at his own invitation.
"Ambassador Wildcard and guest "
So who was his guest? He wondered, Lyra typing away in the background.
He sighed, the choice was obvious.
"Lyra..."
After calming her down long enough to get his briefcase and coat on- said briefcase was attached to a harness around his back, one of the great things about being a quadruped was the ability to lug around a lot of stuff comfortably- Wildcard led Lyra out to the train station. She seemed absolutely delighted to be, in her own words 'an important pony'. She walked with a wide smile, Wildcard couldn't help but mirror this. Her enthusiasm towards every little bit of life was refreshing, she was everything the ponies were personified in a single light green mare.
She wasn't too shabby with a lyre either.
"Hey look! There's Fancy Pants, and Fleur Dis Lee!" Lyra gestured over at the convoy of 'high society' boarding the car ahead of them.
"Lyra you have no idea how happy I am you took care of the invitations, seriously," Wildcard noted. He didn't know any of the elite, beyond having spied on a couple of them... and stolen from a few others. When you need cash, you need cash. In any case he was never found out. One day he would have to browse the archives and see if he could total up the amount of crimes he had committed in his past career for laughs.
"Oh, you don't need to say that!" Lyra said, nudging the ambassador in the shoulder. "You've done so much for me, I'm happy to help."
The train conductor finished checking the elites and trotted up to Lyra and Wildcard. With an elegant bow he addressed them.
"Ambassador Wildcard and guest, I presume?" He asked.
"That's correct, I assume this train is going to the end of the line?" Wildcard returned.
"Quite right, we'll be picking up a few ponies in Ponyville, and then heading right down," He replied.
Wildcard looked to Lyra and smiled. "Well, let's get on with it then," he said.
On the ride Lyra breathlessly pointed out all the scenery errata to Wildcard as they passed.
"There's my old house..." ...Princess Twilight still lives in that library, weird huh?" ...Wow, what's that?"
The train rumbled and Lyra opened the window to stick her head out. Wildcard couldn't help but follow her, and they both looked up to the sky. The H.M.S Magnificent flew over, heading south. He knew the Wonderbolts were taking their role seriously, but he had no idea they were bringing that. He watched the smooth voyage of the enormous ship, surrounded by a cloud of smaller ships that shadowed it.
"It really is magnificent!" Lyra shouted over the wind, before ducking inside.
Wildcard was interrupted in his reply as the train halted, nearly throwing him out of the window before a hoof grabbed him.
"Thank you," Wildcard said. Lyra smiled in return.
"Can't let you fall out of a train, Ambassador " She said, with a mock curtsy in her seat.
Wildcard slouched back in his seat, under him was that briefcase, and inside was his salvation. To pass the remaining time he pulled his speech out of his coat and read it over, and over, while Lyra continued going on about this and that.
It was a long ride.
Eventually they arrived at the end of the line. Lyra prodded Wildcard from across to wake him up. He grabbed his briefcase and followed her out. Thankfully his coat covered it, or else he would have had some awkward explanation when his superior saw him running around with it.
"This is so great! Princess Celestia is going to be here, Princess Cadence... hey- what's a group of alicorns called?" Lyra asked, walking backwards out of the train.
Wildcard mulled it around in his mind a bit.
"An oligarchy," He joked.
"Oh, that's perfect!" Lyra exclaimed, Wildcard got the impression the joke went right over her head.
Wildcard and Lyra walked towards the open tents that stood in the plain. Everything looked just as he had expected, thankfully. A few dozen chairs were lined up before a stage on the far end, and inside the tents plenty of food was prepared, or being prepared. Wildcard squinted at the distant tree line, and was pleased to note the gleam of a few guards here and there. To add to his sense of security the H.M.S Magnificent was visible high above, like a metal cloud watching over everything. He spotted his superior flanked by a cadre of changeling warriors, and trotted over to greet him with Lyra at his tail.
"Good afternoon Eta-Alpha, you're here early!" Wildcard greeted, Lyra at his side.
"Same to you, Eta-Delta, who's your guest?" Eta-Alpha asked.
"Lyra Heartstrings, she's been serving as my secretary and you have her to thank for most of the preparations," Wildcard explained.
Lyra Curtsied, "You're too kind Ambassador, it wasn't all that," She said.
"Oh hey, If Chrysalis ordered you to jump off a cliff- would you?" She asked. Wildcard nearly fell over with shock.
"Lyra! That's h-" Eta-Alpha cleared his throat and they both turned to him.
"Yes," he replied pointedly.
"Well it's nice to meet you, Lyra. Would you mind leaving us for a bit?" Eta-Alpha asked.
Lyra nodded and trotted off. Eta-Alpha got in closer to his subordinate, Wildcard tensed up.
"I'm going ahead and assuming you've been collecting all the information you're supposed to be gathering into some gigantic collection, and you're about to hand it to me?" Eta-Alpha asked.
"I would be quite disappointed otherwise,"
Wildcard collected himself, and murdered his career.
"Nothing I haven't reported already- I should mention as well that you haven't been very forthcoming on your end," Wildcard accused.
"We've had our own problems!" Eta-Alpha shouted in a seldom seen display of emotion. The warriors surrounding the pair looked at each other.
He sighed. "Forget it, you've fulfilled your core assignment well enough, and you'll get to continue it. Tomorrow I'll be sending a pair of warriors to be placed under your command to ensure we don't see a repeat of the 'Zeta-Incident'."
"By the way, he managed to escape on the way home," Eta-Alpha added, with absolutely no sign of emotion in his face or voice as he told Wildcard that the single changeling traitor in their history was running wild .
"You're serious? You really let him escape?" Wildcard rubbed his forehead, this was going to cause problems.
"Mind your place Eta-Delta , now get back to your job- leave the real work to us," Eta-Alpha ordered.
Wildcard, in spite of every single sinew in his body wanting to do something entirely otherwise with his arm, saluted. He then turned away and quickly cantered away from his superior.
"That went well," he mumbled to himself.
He found Lyra talking with one of the elite, Fancy Pants. The aristocracy didn't even seem to have picked up on the fact the nation was rapidly heading for a calamity. Their conversation was a load of triviality, the only mention of the state of emergency was a complaint that the Wonderbolts weren't racing.
None the less, Wildcard had a job to do. He milled his way through the early arrivals, putting on a smile and engaging in horrific smalltalk with them. "Wonderful weather today, isn't it? I suppose you don't have weather control where you come from..." "Isn't it nice of Princess Celestia to let you join us?" "I hear you don't have cider in the hive, what a travesty!" Wildcards personal favourite from the day was this: "It must be terrible to live without your own magic, I would just die without it." said by a mare in a rather overdone dress whom looked like the most she ever used her magic for was levitating a tea cup.
Eventually, just after he had started a game in his head of 'count the aristocrats complaining about stupid things, take a shot for each later', Wildcard found his counterpart sitting at a table. Ambassador Pike had been the Captain of the Equestrian Royal Guard during their invasion of the Hive. It was his mutiny that had saved them- at the expense of his career.
"Eta-Delta!" Pike exclaimed on seeing his counterpart.
"Look at you, got a cutie mark and everything," he laughed, patting a seat beside him.
Wildcard relaxed, Pike was the truest friend the changelings had.
"I do indeed, It's been an eventful few weeks," Wildcard said, taking the seat beside him.
"I'll say, Equestria's in a state of emergency, the griffons are at the gates, and I'm stuck at a desk unable to do anything," Pike lamented with a sigh.
Wildcard patted him on the shoulder.
"You've already done enough, Ambassador. Without you the Hive would be a smoking ruin. You deserve your own peace," Wildcard said.
Pike shook his head.
"It's not that. The peace is nice, but I feel guilty alone in it. I want to help- somehow. I feel useless, I don't even do much as Ambassador, all of the work has been on your end," he said.
Wildcard supposed he understood. Pike was a fighter at heart, and he was relegated to a desk job.
"If things keep going at the rate they are, you'll get a chance to help- somehow," Wildcard noted.
Wildcard glanced at the sun, it was around 2:30 and the actually important guests should be arriving soon. He collected Lyra- finding her juggling apples. One of a kind...
They stood waiting for the approaching train, not sure who was onboard but Wildcard had a duty to greet whomever it was.
"So who do you think it is? Couldn't Celestia just fly?" Lyra asked, Wildcard ignored her.
The train came to a stop, and out came the passengers. Princess Twilight Sparkle and friends were out first. Wildcard swore he had only sent her a 'plus one invite', he looked to his side to find Lyra grinning back at him.
"What? I couldn't separate them! Last time some pony tried the whole town fell apart," She said.
Wildcard sighed. Heroes they may be, but they had... character.
Still better then the aristocrats though.
"Good Afternoon Princess, guests of the Princess," Wildcard said with a small bow.
She smiled at him, and nodded, the others were nowhere near as 'proper'
"I hear you've got cider, that true?" Rainbow Dash flew right up into his face and asked.
"We d-" Wildcard said, that was enough and the pony flew away.
"Those aren't Ponyville apples!" One of them exclaimed, and was off too, the pink one following. Fluttershy seemed to be following a butterfly, and Rarity had somehow already found herself in with the aristocrats, a small purple figure at her heels.
"Don't mind them, they're-" She was interrupted as Applejack tipped over a bushel of apples, tossing them all out.
"These won't do at all!" She could be heard yelling.
Twilight coughed. "So uh, Ambassador, I see you're here with Lyra?" She asked.
"That's correct, Princess. She's my new secretary, and a fine one if I do say so myself," Wildcard said. Lyra curtsied in turn.
Before they could say anything else she ran of, glancing over Wildcard saw her running over to her friends.
Wildcard let her go, he had done his job. In any case she was unlikely to care about any breach in protocol. The next guest to disembark was Celestia. Lyra curtsied on her arrival while Wildcard gave a quick bow.
"Good Afternoon Princess Celestia, I'm glad you could come." Wildcard greeted. He had no idea if she would bring a guest or not, so the invitation had been simply addressed as "Princess Celestia and company," which turned to only be herself.
"Good Afternoon Ambassador, I see you've brought a guest- Lyra Heartstrings is it?"
"Yes, your Highness. It's an honour to be here, " Lyra replied. In the moment of distraction Celestia managed to press a note into Wildcard's hoof unseen by Lyra.
"I'll leave you to greet the others , " Celestia said with a wink, leaving Wildcard to look at the note.
"In the car, let's talk." - First Class.
Wildcard quickly turned to Lyra. "I've got to take care of something, take over for me," he said. Before she could reply Wildcard was already in the car, finding First Class sitting on the far side, looking out the window. Wildcard took a seat across.
He was about to launch into a well prepared speech, but was beat to the punch.
"I've done some thinking, Wildcard..." First Class said, turning away from the window. "I guess I can't really blame you for who you.. were, but I need you to do something," She leaned in, Wildcard did as well.
"Anything," Wildcard said.
"I need you to tell me, once and for all- who are you ? Are you 'Eta-Delta', or are you 'Wildcard'?" She asked.
His reply came surprisingly fast.
"Wildcard," he replied, and swung the briefcase over beside him.
"What's that?" First Class asked.
"The lock is keyed to 0451 1138, open it." Wildcard said. First Class looked at him quizzingly and did as asked, reaching over and with a click the case swung open. She reached in and pulled out the report.
"Report on Ambassador Wildcard, First Class eyes only?" she asked, flipping to the first page.
"Oh, oh I see," She said, and put it down beside her.
"I suppose this is your way of making us even?" She asked.
Wildcard nodded "That's my hope, yes,"
First Class smiled, Wildcard as well. The familiar and euphoric feeling of being close to her filed him. His career might be circling the drain, but it was worth it.
She kissed him, and with a burst of green flame the report was destroyed.
Worth it.
Once his brain had caught up he departed the train, First Class leaving afterwards to join her Princess. Outside Wildcard found Lyra greeting Prince Shining Armour and Princess Cadence.
"... and here's the Ambassador!" She said, gesturing over. They both turned to him and he bowed.
"Good afternoon Prince Armour, Princess Cadence," he said.
"Good afternoon, Ambassador. I hope that I will be able to meet with Queen Chrysalis as we had discussed earlier, once this is all done?" Cadence asked.
Shining rolled his eyes, clearly not looking forward to this meeting. Wildcard couldn't really blame him.
"That's correct, after the speeches are done you will have a private audience," Wildcard said.
Cadence nodded. "Good, I've been looking forward to it," she said, and led her partner to the others.
Wildcard sighed. "Who's left?" He asked Lyra.
"General Massé, Air Marshall Spitire- whom I imagine while show up a bit after three- and your Queen," She said.
As if cued by her saying this Wildcard heard the sound of trumpets, and turning to find the source he saw his superior and his phalanx of warriors heralding Chrysalis' arrival. Wildcard dashed over with Lyra behind him.
"Your Highness!" Wildcard shouted, skidding to a stop. From an outside perspective it would look have looked like a crazed stallion with a unicorn at his side was rushing the Queen, which was clearly what the warriors saw too- a few of them closed in before Eta-Alpha whistled and they came to attention, forming an aisle at which Chrysalis landed at the end and strode through them.
Wildcard swore she put on weight, but no matter he bowed low, as did Lyra.
"Eta-Delta, how wonderful for you to have arranged for this display. I knew you were the right agent for this mission, and this alliance is proving most useful," She said, grinning.
"I see you have a... cutie mark? As well now. Interesting, is this a choice on your part?" She asked, towering over the Ambassador while the warriors looked on.
"Just part of doing business in Equestria, your Highness," Wildcard replied
"I see, and who is your friend?" She asked, seeing Lyra at his side.
"Lyra Heartstrings, your Highness," Wildcard replied.
"It's nice to see you're getting in touch with the locals, just be careful," She said, and trotted past Wildcard, taking the other changelings up in her wake.
She glanced back, gazing at Wildcard with a calculating stare. "Keep up the good work Eta-Delta, "
Wildcard relaxed, and turned to Lyra. She shivered and frowned. "She's... cold," Lyra said.
Wildcard had to agree. Recently he had begun to see the Queen in a whole new light, he used to respect and fear her as a leader, a driving force. Now he just feared her.
The next to arrive was General Massé, coming in via chariot. Wildcard was once again forced to dash across the field to greet him, he hadn't expected everyone to be arriving separately like this. As an Ambassador he was more or less making this all up as he went, he couldn't even imagine how badly things would have gone without Lyra helping.
"General! I'm glad you could make it!" Wildcard shouted up at him as the chariot landed.
"With the collective leadership of the entire country here, I would be a fool to miss this," He said, disembarking. Without any more talk he trotted off, Wildcard glanced back and saw him come to take a position shadowing Celestia.
"Well, he's serious, " Lyra noted.
"It's his job to be serious, now what ti-" Wildcard started to ask, but the Wonderbolts answered him by starting their flyby. Turning his head to the sky as he heard a roar echo through the plains he saw the lightning contrails as they descended from the H.M.S Magnificent. They flew downwards at such incredible speed that Wildcard almost involuntarily threw up his arms to protect his face before they branched off bare meters above the ponies and changelings on the ground. Apart they flew the outside of the valley and then joined up again, flying straight upwards. The then cut their contrails and flew into the distance, hailed by cheers from the ground. Wildcard joined them, it was an awesome display. If the Wonderbolts were as good at fighting as they were with showmanship, the griffons didn't stand a chance.
The next couple hours went by in a blur of trivial conversations with 'nobles', and ensuring that things in general went smoothly. Applejack had apparently had her family bring in a bushel of their own apples, which ended up causing a minor stir when their markedly superior selves were quickly devoured, leaving only the inferior ones provided from a generic supplier. Wildcard made a mental note: Ponies have strong opinions on dumb things, specifically apples.
Eventually time came for the speeches, Wildcard stood next to the stage. He was able to finally see the background for it, a stylized map of Equestria with a dotted red line marking the new border, a gold star representing the point where the rail line connected. First up was Celestia, a natural orator she stood smiling at the crowd with her mane blowing in the wind behind her. She cleared her throat and began.
"Gentlecolts and Mares of Equestria, and our new friends from the Hive. Today it is my great honour to be here for the dedication of this new rail line- the Harmony Line, which represents the new friendship our two nations have begun to build. We start today in a greater future, and the friendship between our two peoples will lead us all into a happier future. The magic of friendship unites us, as proven that fateful night this all began. Let it grow by the day, and never dwindle."
When she finished the ponies applauded, Wildcard was slightly amused to note that the changelings only did so after Eta-Alpha started to himself, and somewhat half-heartedly. Their tone would change as soon as they started journeying into Equestria, in time they would see as he did.
Next up was Chrysalis, who seemed to tower over the stage. As if a bizarre omen the sun moved behind the Magnificent, casting them all in it's shadow.
"Citizens of Equestria, I come before you today for the first time not as an enemy- but as an ally. Together we strike forward to a stronger future for both our nations. Together as allies we can, and we will, accomplish great things. It is my great pleasure to see this alliance come to be, and with each passing day this alliance between our nations grows stronger. This rail line represents the core ideal of that, and it is my wish that we should both benefit greatly from trade. Let the world see us together as partners, with the strength of our alliance never faltering."
In a mirror image of Celestia's speech the changelings all immediately applauding, while the ponies applauded in a style that could be described as 'gentle'.
It was Wildcards turn, and he arrived on the stage as Chrysalis descended the other side. Public oration was certainly not his forte, but part of his training was being able to ignore eyes watching you and set to a task.
"Friends, Changelings, Equestrians; It is my great pleasure to have seen the construction of this rail line since the idea was first proposed in a board room a month ago. Since then I spent my time in Equestria, and I have experienced things no other changeling has. I experienced friendship , I expected to be greeted as an outcast, but instead I found myself embraced with open arms by the unbelievably generous, and kind, citizens of Equestria. My time with you has not been perfect- as Equestria Daily will probably tell you all in tomorrows paper..." He paused, and as expected got a few laughs. ", but I have in my time come to see you all not as ponies, but as friends. I have learnt so much during my time here, and one lesson will stick with me forever. That lesson is that we're not truly different- we need not be separate. There are in the end no ponies of Equestria, nor changelings of the Hive. There is only us . Together we are one people, and I feel this bond growing stronger by the day. May we never forget this lesson, and may we remain as one into eternity," Wildcard finished and bowed to cheers from both crowds.
Walking off the stage he was ushered by a pair of guards to the tracks, where one of the engineers from Baltimare stood holding a mallet. A golden spike was halfway in, waiting to be hammered the final distance. Beside him Celestia and Chrysalis both stood, a mare with a camera waiting to get a picture of the moment.
"I think you should do the honours, Ambassador," Celestia suggested. Chrysalis nodded her approval.
Wildcard hefted it in his hooves.
"Friendship," Celestia said.
"Strength," Chrysalis added.
"Togetherness," Wildcard said, bringing it down on the spike to as the camera flashed.
With that accomplished, Wildcard turned to see First Class smiling behind him.
"That was a nice speech, I think you bridged the gap between your Queen and Celestia's speech quite nicely," She joked.
"Thank you, I assume you wrote Celestia's?" Wildcard asked.
First Class laughed, "She writes her own, something about 'a few thousand years of practice."
Wildcard shrugged, "I suppose that cuts down on your work anyway- wanna grab a cider?" He asked.
First Class smiled, and took his arm. "That would be great, but what about your guest?" She asked.
Wildcard glanced around, and then spotted Lyra. She had found one of the guards, and appeared to be getting on quite well. They laughed at something, and she removed her helmet to reveal a rose and blue mane.
Wildcard smiled, "She'll be fine."
First Class and Wildcard had dinner together, she beguiled him with a tale of her apparently having to track down and destroy a shipment of tea, which Wildcard found quite hilarious. Everyone, and every pony, else was getting along quite well too. Eta-Alpha had gravitated towards General Massé, they both appeared to be sharing war plans while Ambassador Pike desperately tried to share his own insight. Celestia and Chrysalis sat together, mostly silently. Air Martial Spitfire was notably absent, but Wildcard couldn't really blame her. If he had an airship like that, he would certainly rather be there than here. Flankenstein had turned down his invitation, apparently busy finalizing the immunizations.
"So Wildcard, what's going to happen to your 'friend?" First Class asked.
Wildcard poked at his meal, a collection of mushrooms and a pear. "I'll talk to you about that later, let's just say 'it's complicated,"
First Class laughed, "What, are you dating the guy?"
Wildcard sat back in his chair, a great grin across his face. Dusk had it's own beauty.
An hour or so later the guests began to leave, most of them having already moved onboard the train as the evening turned chilly. Those that could fly already had, and Wildcard looked for Lyra with First Class by his side to send her off before he left as well. He found her, and her (friend, partner, soulmate?) laughing at one of the benches as changeling workers began to clean the field up.
While they looked around First Class asked Wildcard a question.
"Wildcard, there's something about that dossier I still don't get..." she stated. Wildcard swallowed his fear and braced for whatever came next.
"Those numbers and weird lettering beside my picture, what did that all mean?" She asked.
Wildcard let out a breath of relief. That was easy enough to explain.
"The numbers are a colour code for coat, mane, eyes- that sort of thing. The 'strange letters' represent your voice. That's the reason we normally hold onto those dossiers instead of just memorizing them- it's incredibly complicated to assume a voice and body without seeing it for yourself. Try memorizing a random dozen digits of pi and recalling it a week later," he explained.
"Mine was longer then the one for that bat pony though, why would that be?" She inquired.
"It's harder to capture beauty," Wildcard replied, quite pleased with how this had gone. He spotted Lyra and her friend chatting at one of the tables. Workers were all over the place cleaning up.
"Lyra, been looking for you!" Wildcard greeted.
"Ambassador!" She exclaimed, "Bon-Bon, this is-"
"I know who he is, Lyra." Bon-Bon said, standing. "I wanted to thank you for what you did, it was quite noble of you. To be perfectly honest... I never expected such kindness for a changeling," She said.
Wildcard smiled. "It's my job to prove that thinking wrong, and I'm glad I did. Think nothing of it," He said.
Bon-Bon nodded, "You've got a good heart, Ambassador."
Lyra came to her side, taking her hoof in hers. Wildcard glanced down and noticed that mirrored himself and First Class.
"Would you mind if I found my own way home, Wildcard? I haven't been able t-" Wildcard cut her off with a gesture.
"Of course, Lyra. Take the night off, and tomorrow as well. You worked hard to help me set this all up, and I owe you my gratitude." he said.
"Train leaves in ten minutes with or without you though," Wildcard warned.
Lyra simply smiled and tapped her horn. "I've got it well in hand, Ambassador." She trotted off with Bon-Bon at her side.
First Glass ribbed Wildcard. "What did you do to make that one mare like you so much?" She asked.
Wildcard led her to the train as he explained, "I had her re-assigned from the Crystal Empire so they could be together, at considerable expense. I couldn't bare to see that friendship break- and I got a good secretary-" Wildcard was interrupted by a warm feeling on his cheek.
His vision blurred for a moment and he glanced away with a blush, and then he spotted it.
A small lake with a sandy beach, and a single palm tree. It wasn't an ocean beach he had seen in his mind- it was an oasis. His brain must've remembered the few times he had flown past this place and created the image from it. He led a slightly confused First Class over and beheld it.
"It's just a small lake, what's the big deal?" She asked. "Trains leaving," she quickly added.
Wildcard waved his arm, let it go. He sat on the sand and stared at their reflection in the calm waters.
"It's not just any lake, it's an oasis. Look how dry it is around here," He gestured around. It was true, this close to the badlands it was a cold, dry, grey wasteland.
"A bit of life in the waste, a bit of colour in the grey, a bit of love in a war- a ray of sun through the clouds," He turned to First Class, also looking out at the water.
"I love you," He said.
She grinned, and embraced him.
"I do too," She said.
From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard.
The next few weeks leading up to the parliament went fast. Wildcard was kept on his toes with constant updates of how the rest of the continent was more or less going insane. To everybody's vast surprise, the independent states had all more or less imploded on themselves one after the other, intelligence was fairly certain this was the work of the griffons- cutting off any potential allies the Equestrians might find. Celestia had pleaded with the zebras and others across the ocean, and was met with a politely phrased 'you're on your own." Equestria stood as a beacon of hope and stability on a continent thrown into fear and chaos. Wildcard knew that if this alliance hadn't happened, it was quite likely the Hive would be a smoking ruin right now.
The day before the parliament was to meet Wildcard arrived at his office following the morning's briefing. Security would be tight , the fleet would be positioned in the sky and a majority of the legion would be in the streets. Equestria hadn't called a parliament in nearly a half century, and the country was on edge to find out what they would be voting on. As near as Wildcard could tell, the members of the parliament consisted of a smattering of government officials in Canterlot or elsewhere, as well as all the town mayors. They would vote on issues put before them by Celestia, or one of the other princesses. Their votes were never binding, but historically the parliament had been used as an important way for Celestia to gauge the opinion of the population before doing anything potentially unpopular- mostly tax increases or major construction projects. The real power lay in the alicorn princesses, and the two representatives of the military- their votes counted.
Tomorrow they would vote to declare a state of war, which would have vast implications on every aspect of the country. The economy would be changed almost overnight as extreme taxation went into effect, and the government would take over all major production roles. Rationing would go into effect, and possibly the most important part- there would immediately be a draft. Equestria had been down this road before, and there were very specific measures in place to make sure when it did again, it did it right.
According to the terms of the treaty the 'Hive or it's legal representative', had a vote equal to that of either member of the Equestrian Military. Wildcard knew that this meant it would be him, and the last week he had been fraught with worry over this. He arrived at his office- nodding at the changeling guard that stood at the door- to find Lyra working as usual.
"Got a note from home Wildcard," she noted. Levitating it behind her as she sat relaxed, plucking at a lyre. Wildcard took it out of the air and sat at his desk, putting a warm cup of tea on it as he opened the letter.
"From the Desk of Commander Medulla.
Eta-Delta, Ambassador, Wildcard- whatever you're styling yourself now. Come to the Hive as soon as possible so we may discuss, in person, preparation for the vote tomorrow. Your vote will be important, and we feel it just as important to ensure you vote properly ."
The commander had signed it with a stamp.
Wildcard sat back in his chair, sipping his tea. The commander hadn't mentioned anything about not taking a guest, and he had wanted for some time to show his friends around his home. He was quite pleased then to see Dr. Flankenstine stride in, with First Class in his shadow. Wildcard pretended to be busy with something, he would surprise them with an invitation to come with him home.
"Dr Flankenstein, First Class, how ni-" Flankenstein cut him off, quickly swinging a chair around before Wildcards desk.
"Wildcard, you realize you're genetically compatible with ponies, right?" He asked. Wildcard did his best to look nonchalant, taking a sip of tea at the strange question.
"Well yes, b-" First Class cut him off this time, shoving the doctor aside and putting two hooves on the desk to raise herself.
"I'm pregnant," She said.
At this, a few things happened: Wildcard spit out his tea in a stream as he fell backwards in his chair, landing backwards in a pool of it. Lyra fell off her own chair, sending the lyre sliding across the floor. Flash Sentry, whom just happened to be waking by at that very moment made a 'my lips are sealed' gesture before continuing on his way. The guard peeked inside, his green eyes watching intently from the doorway.
First Class darted around the table to see if Wildcard was okay, he smiled from the floor.
"Wanna go on a train ride?" He asked, half delirious.
______________
"Next stop: Changeling Hive. Please ensure all bags are sorted in an orderly fashion so that customs may serve you quicker," An overhead speaker buzzed.
First Class and Wildcard were snuggled together in one of the seats, there weren't many travellers today- the country was on edge awaiting the results of tomorrow.
She booped her partner on the nose. "How do changelings name their kids?" She asked.
"Well," Wildcard booped hers in return, "We don't, really. They just get assigned to a caste at birth, and given a designation,"
"That's boring," She noted.
"Well, then we'll just have to think outside the box.." Wildcard said.
"I read a story once, about a race of changelings but in space . One of them turned against his people in order to what he saw was right. His name was Odo," Wildcard suggested.
"Odo, it certainly is different," First Class said, smiling.
"Odo."
After the train arrived Wildcard led First Class past the customs line, where a few ponies had their wares checked before being let inside. The courtyard of the hive had been converted into an open air market where changelings and ponies hawked their wares. Refugees from Baltimare had moved into one of the barracks, and made up most of the ponies in the hive. It was an odd sight- ponies and changelings living together, working together, and trying to get the better of each other in the market. Wildcard led her through as they slowly made their way to the fortress.
"Over there is the leader barracks, and the larger building beside it is for the warriors," He said, gesturing over to a pair of buildings.
"That one is the worker barracks, a good lot of them are in Equestria now, so it's been mostly converted to storage," He turned and gestured to a much larger building across the courtyard.
"And this.." He pointed ahead where the fortress stood as a monolith over everything. ".. is the fortress," he said.
"It's huge," First Class said, as she craned her neck up at it. "Who lives there?"
"Chrysalis, a few elite warriors, and my superior," Wildcard replied, and led her inside.
She looked around at the inside of the fortress. Stone walls, a gleaming stone floor, stone ceiling. A few lanterns here and there provided light- no windows here.
"It's..." she put a hoof to her chin, thinking of a fitting description.
"Bland?" Wildcard suggested.
"Utilitarian ," She said, gesturing Wildcard lead on.
He did, and brought her to his superiors office.
"Eta-Delta, and you brought a friend," He said as they walked in. Sitting at his desk with one of few windows to the outside behind him, overlooking the courtyard as the sun began it's slow descent.
Wildcard produced a small satchel from his coat, and handed it to his companion.
"Would you mind getting something nice for the office?" He suggested.
She took the hint and left with a nod. Wildcard sat before his superior.
"You're getting pretty... friendly with the ponies." Eta-Alpha noted.
"Just doing my job," Wildcard retorted.
"Yes well, just remember where your loyalties lie, Eta-Delta ," Eta-Alpha said, and reached in his desk for something.
He pulled out a folder, and with a deep sigh flopped it on the desk. Wildcard leaned in to look at it.
"Eta-Zeta Mutiny. Classified Top Secret," it read.
"It's with extremely deep regret that I have to admit our failure in letting him go. Read this, and then give it to the guard in Canterlot, it's beyond ourselves now," Alpha explained.
"I see, I'm sure they'll be able to help- you shouldn't have kept this form them for so long in the first place," Wildcard said.
A quick flash of anger crossed Eta-Alpha's face before he collected himself.
"I had hoped to keep the embarrassment of this to ourselves, but clearly we need some outside help on this," he said.
"Now, as for the vote tomorrow- assuming they hold the anticipated 'state of war' vote, which way will you vote?" He asked.
"I will vote yes, it's the only way," Wildcard replied.
Eta-Alpha nodded, "It's good to know you've still rational. I'll spare the speech I had planned to give you then, and send you on y-" He paused, as Wildcard stared past him with a look of total horror to the scene outside.
The hive was on fire.
