What's Yours Is Mine

Chapter 4- Seeking Fortune

It had been a few days since Swift Hoofs and Treasure Runners little escapade, and since then Golden Shine had done nothing but obsess over the orb, calling up every contact he had that dealt in ancient, magical, or vintage artifacts, almost all of the had come back with negative responses, or at least that's how Secret Script had put it.

Swift sat with the Pegasus now, In the Guilds personal bar, taking generous swigs of the cheap cider while Secret Script sipped his water-He always refused offers of alcohol-And kept up a steady stream of tidbits and snips of his main product-Information.

"So I heard Goldy has you scouring the grid for anything on the orb." Swift said.

"That is true" Script said in his smooth, soft voice "Although I have turned up nothing related to the orb itself, I have noticed a pattern among the upper class society."

"Have you? What sort of pattern?"

"Well, after intercepting quite a few questionable and incriminating letters and listening to the street for a past few days, I have noticed that there has been a surge of interest in ancient artifacts, particularly in those rumoured to contain magical power or to have come from outside of Equestria."

"Do you think it's connected to the orb? Or just a coincidence?"

"I don't believe in coincidences, the real question is; did you come across of the orb because of this sudden surge of interest? Or is the orb the cause of the surge of interest?"

"Search me mate, I'll leave you up to the conspiracy theories." Secret Script just hummed in response. There was the sound of a door opening and closing before a grumpy-looking Treasure Runner walked in.

"Swift, Goldy wants 'ta see you, best hurry up there." He said irritably, before sitting down and slamming his head on the counter with a groan, Swift Hoof smiled and got up, slapping Treasure on the back as he past.

"I'm sure that hangover will clear up soon Treasure."

"Buck off." He said in return, Swift Hoof chuckled and stepped into the staircase that lead back up to the Stallion, and by extension, his Guildmaster.

                                                                ~~*~~

Swift Hoof arrived on the upper level of the Staggering Stallion, where Golden Shine had set up his 'office' it was his place of solitude so he could manage the Guilds many escapades, both legal and not-so-legal.

The Unicorn himself was sitting at his desk, flipping through stacks upon stacks of reports, glaring at each passing one through his half-moon spectacles.

"You called Goldy?" Swift said, leaning on the door frame, the yellow Unicorn removed his glasses and rubbed his hooves into his temples.

"Learn to knock Swift" the Guildmaster opened a chest behind him with his magic, levitating out a sealed letter and a sack that clearly contained the orb.

"I've turned up an old contact of mine that deals with magical artifacts, your going to head to Stalliongrad to deliver the orb to him so it can get appraised."

"That's it? A delivery job? That's a bit below my pay grade Goldy."

"Don't get your mane in a twist, our branch up there has been experiencing some difficulties,  their reports didn't go into detail but it's clear they need somepony who knows what the buck they're doing, thus I'm sending you." Golden Shine levitated the letter and sack containing the orb over to Swift, who placed both in his saddlebags.

"Word of warning though; don't take the orb out if it's covering, it has this.... Aura about it that I don't like, I was studying it just the other day when I realized I had been staring at he thing for almost two hours, it's not natural."

"I'm sure to be careful, see you later Goldy."

"Best bundle up, it's cold up in Stalliongrad." Swift didn't respond and simply walked out, closing the door behind him, Golden Shine leaned back on his chair, rubbing his eyes and sighing, when he opened them again he was met with with the disturbing sight of Silver Locks grinning face.

Naturally Goldy nearly jumped through the ceiling "Celestia bucking damn it! There's a thing called knocking! Doesn't anypony do it anymore?"

"Sorry I started you Goldy, I guess I'm just too good at what I do." Silver Lock said smoothly.

"Ugh, whatever, anyway I got you an assignment, Secret Script intercepted a letter that spoke of some sort of library, a treasure trove of information detailing a certain nobles crusades and expeditions in search of magical artifacts, if we're going to take advantage of this artifact trend, then we'll need those files."

"Stealing from a library? Lame, can't I break into a bank or something? Heck, even the Princesses vault? Why does Swift always get the interesting missions?" Goldy mentally face-hoofed at the childish Unicorn.

"This is important Silver." Golden Shine said patiently "And if it makes you feel better, I just sent Swift Hoof on a 'lame' mission to Stalliongrad, your mission is of top priority."

"Well when you put it that way, I'll take the job, where am I headed?"

"Trottingham, The Ruby Estate, and don't muck up while in Treasures home town or he'll kick you where the sun don't shine."

                                                               ~~*~~

Shining Armour had been only just got off the train from the Crystal Empire ten minutes ago, and as such he was still stiff from the long uncomfortable ride, that didn't stop him however from standing tall and proud in wait for the Princess.

The former Captain of The Royal Guard stood in Princess Celestia's throne room, the Princess herself ordered the throne room and the hall leading up to it to be completely secure of casual listeners, the only breathing things were Royal Guards.

"Shining Armour, so good you could come to Canterlot on such short notice." Shining turned and immediately slipped into a low bow at the sight of Princess Celestia, in all of her majestic glory, her hair moving as if in a strong wind, and her white fur appearing to give off it's own light.

"Princess" Shining Armour said respectively, keeping his head bowed, he heard the soft giggle of the Princess which caused him to look up in confusion.

"Come now Shining Armour, you need not bow before me any longer, you rule a kingdom just as I, that makes us equals." The former Captain stood from his bow, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Princess, why did you call me here? Your letter said it was urgent." Shining asked dutifully, Celestia on the other hand was focused on other things.

"Princess? What did I just explain Shining? 'Celestia' will do just fine."

"....Celestia then, but about your letter?"

"Mmmm? Oh yes, that, well you see Shining, it appears one of the artifacts have turned up." The white Unicorns eyes widened.

"Really? When? How? Which one?" Celestia put a hoof to her chin.

"Well... About three days ago my spies intercepted the letter that tipped us off, I don't know how the item was found, only who found it, and the letter described the artifact as 'the orb'."

"Who found it?"

"A noble by the name of Regal Stone, I have him under watch."

"Under watch? You haven't arrested him for questioning yet?"

"Why would I? I would essentially be arresting him on no legal grounds, and he would most probably deny all knowledge of the orb, plus it would tip off his allies that we are aware of they're activities."

"You think there's a group behind this?"

"Most certainly, it would take more than the petty ambitions of one Canterlot noble to uncover one of the artifacts, so we must keep an eye out for further signs."

"Do we know where the orb is now?"

"Unfortunately no, the last letter we intercepted mentioned a trade-off with a contact, it didn't mention a place or time so it was a empty lead."

"This is troubling, what should we do?"

"Well that's why I brought you here Shining, I want to send you to Stalliongrad."

"....Stalliongrad?"

"Yes, something is stirring there that I think might be connected to these recent events, I want you to take a detachment of Royal Guards and see what's what."

"But Princess, Stalliongrad has it's own government and guard, they're independent from Equestria."

"Shining Armour?"

"Yes Princess?"

"It's Celestia."

"....Sorry."

"That's alright." The Sun Goddess said with a cheerful grin "But anyway, while Stalliongrad may have declared its independence long ago just like Prance, it still relies heavily on us, and the Duke of Stalliongrad himself has contacted me requesting aid, I hate to take you away from Cadence but this is important."

"Of course Prin- I mean Celestia! I'm glad to help."

"Good, I suggest you prepare to leave, but before you do make sure to send a message back to the Crystal Empire, ordering increased security around the Crystal Heart."

"The Crystal Heart? Why?"

"It's clear that there is a group out searching for artifacts of power, and the Crystal Heart certainly fits into that category."

"Do you think they would be as bold as to try and take it?"

"It's a possibility we cannot ignore."

"That is true, I'll make sure to write a letter, but Celestia? What about the Elements of Harmony?"

"Well, shouldn't they be put under additional protection as well? I mean they are magical artifacts."

"This is true." Celestia said "But I think what I have set up now will work, the elements are currently in the position of Twilight Sparkle, your sister, rather than in my vault as many would assume, none would guess her possessing them."

"...I don't like that idea, what if this group discovers the whereabouts of the elements? Twilight and her friends could be put in grave danger, we should warn them."

"I wish to keep this from them as long as possible, I dare not worry their minds-particularly Twilights-with this information, it is simply a risk we must take."

"I suppose your right, I'll prepare for my journey to Stalliongrad." Shining attempted to give the Princess a salute, but soon found himself wrapped in her hooves, the seasoned warrior froze mid-salute as his commanding officer squeezed him in a comforting hug.

"Be safe." She said softly, before releasing him, Shining stood there frozen for a minute before he weakly said "I will." And walked out of the throne room with a confused look on his face, as if he couldn't process what just happened.

As the dumbstruck Unicorn walked into the hall, a lone Royal Guard watched him go, pushing the doors closed with his magic and rubbing his chin slightly.

"Secret Script's going to love this." He said softly.