Little Redd: the Lost Concept of Peace

Chapter Fourteen

Forever Hold Your Peace

Twilight didn't move.  She just looked at Redd, the same way she had been the entire time she had spoken.  Rainbow Dash broke the silence.

"So are we done yet?  Can we banish her someplace now?"

Applejack glared at Rainbow.

"We ain't banishin' nopony."

"As much as it would make sense,"

Twilight finally spoke.

"we can't.  She hasn't done anything that we could object to, besides lie and work with Discord.  But there's one question I have for you."

Her gaze narrowed at the dark red eyes before her.

"Why come out now?  Why would you hide from us and try to deceive us, but then suddenly decide to throw yourself under our mercy?"

Redd sighed.

"Because I never finished.  This morning, Sunset Shimmer came to me with news that Discord was looking for me.  From there, I traveled into Dark Equestria and discovered that your dimension is to fall by next Saturday, and I didn't want to watch this beautiful land die.  As far as I know, Commander Hoofler has the plans, including mapped out positions and strategies."

Scootaloo scoffed.

"Sorry to interrupt, but the Nazi ain't got shit in his saddlebags, save a hard time."

She stepped out of the bundle of mares and trotted over to a dark purple pair of saddlebags in the corner, from which she drew a long, rolled piece of paper held together with a piece of dark green ribbon bearing a Swastika.  Redd smiled.  Scootaloo still had some cunning hidden behind all that ego.

"This's brilliant!  How'd you get it from him?"

The Pegasus scoffed again.

"Don't know if you've realized this or not Redd, but Hoofler has a soft spot for mares."  Twilight's jaw dropped.

"I never thought you'd grow up to be a charmer, Scoots."

"I didn't.  There's just a few idiots out there who can't distinguish between 'I want you' and 'You have something I want.'"

Rainbow Dash snickered.

"Like Snowflake?"

"You saw that?"

RD's expression went blank.

"Actually, I was talking about the time I... how old... ew.  You're nasty."

Scootaloo quickly averted further conversation, spreading the monstrous map across the floor.  Various red lines, words, and arrows depicting travel adorned the surface, a hole with a streak of ink torn near the middle and taped together again.

"This is the plan.  They enter this dimension in the center of Ponyville, and then they attack.  Very simple."

Twilight threw up one of her hooves.

"Wait, woah.  I keep hearing things like 'our dimension' and 'this dimension.'  What are you talking about, dimension?"

Scootaloo and Redd shared a glance, though Redd was the one to speak up.

"Discord has granted us the ability to travel inter-dimensionally, originally so that we could keep an eye on things in True Ponyville, that is, your home.  Therefore, we can move between here and there as if we were sliding into a lake.  Initially granting us direct access to Discord and his men, including the rest of the Elements."

It took a second for Rainbow Dash to respond from behind Twilight.

"... Huh?"

"We can kick Discord's ass out from under him," Scootaloo translated.

"Oh."

Celestia was baffled.  She hadn't heard of any other dimensions existing before now, and suddenly she had to destroy one.

"I say we do like Scoots over here just said.  Rush in and take 'em all out at once."

Rainbow Dash was beginning to worry the princess.

"That wouldn't be the best approach," Redd cut in.

"Hoofler's learned how to transport tanks inter-dimensionally.  That, and he has an entire Germane army over us."

"How am I gonna deal with Pound Cake?  He's hard enough as a baby, and I gotta take him down as an adult!?"

Pinkie was frantic, Rainbow was bloodthirsty, Celestia was worried, Applejack was mangled, Twilight was skeptical, and the others... the others were simply nervous.  Scootaloo and Redd seemed to be the only ponies in the room with their heads on straight.  So Redd adopted a blank expression, turned around, left the room, and came back a moment later with a certain Captain of the Royal Guard.  Shining put on his war face, and hardened his tone.

"Attention!"

Everypony quieted down and turned wide-eyed to him.

"Little Redd has explained the situation.  If we're to get through this, we're going to need the Elements of Harmony equipped to their respective owners at.  All. Times.  Including sleeping hours."

He turned to the side and began to pace, a nasty family habit.

"Ditzy Doo, the Ponyville Mail Team Captain, has been instructed to gather a messenger team and discreetly spread the word of Discord's return.  Her target being other Guard Captains scattered across Equestria."

He locked eyes with Applejack.

"Let your grandmother know that she needs to start baking.  The rest of you need to formulate a plan, as I have little to no experience working with the Elements, harmonious or not.  Meanwhile, my Guard will be undergoing preparation with a plan of their own: defend the Royal Family at all costs."

His usually bright gaze then fell upon Twilight.

"That includes you, Twilie.  All of this, the Mail Team, the Guard, your own plans, needs to be as discreet as possible.  We cannot, absolutely can not have any disruptions regarding daily life.  Discord could very well realize he's had a mole, and will likely stop at nothing to track, target, and eradicate them.  In this case,"

He regarded Redd and Scootaloo, standing off to the side next to one another.

"that would be you.  You must continue playing on his side of the board.  During your time in True Equestria, you will be monitored for safety reasoning.  If at any point Discord discovers that we know... "

Finally he met Celestia's eyes.

"... It'll be over."