Band of Five Attributes (Re-Written)

“Well, it seems like we already have someplace to start.” Nagare commented, looking at the guard who gave his leader the report. A smile adorned his face as usual, but his eyes had small glimmers of hope brimming within.

“Indeed it does.” Celestia agreed, turning her gaze to the white pegasi present briefly. She then turned her attention to the unicorn. “Is there anything else you’d like to share?”

“Well...uh..” The guard started, eyes widening a bit. He was sweating now, and his ears fell flat.

“No need to be nervous. Now, tell us what you’ve found out.” Celestia repeated, her voice still calm and soothing.

“The s-stallion w-with the cannon s-suffered from an i-injury.” The guard answered, shaking a bit. “He cannot move for a while.”

Nagare’s smile almost instantly faded. He looked at the guard, disbelief growing in his face. He slowly raised a hoof as if to either question or object to the words the guard had spoken, only to put it down when no words could be formed by his moving lips.

“What...sort of injury is he dealing with?” Luna asked, eyebrow raised.

“F-from what I was told, he received horrific wounds in one of his back legs from the gaskin down.” The guard answered. “They had the doctors in Manehatten repair the whole thing.”

“I once had an injury like that.” A pegasus said, looking at his fellow pony. “Took me weeks to recover from it.”

“Were they able to save his leg?” Luna asked, a stoic look on her face.

“They’ve been able to do so, but he’s staying put for a few days at least.” The unicorn answered again, this time sighing afterwards.

“And what of the mare with the alleged yoyo?” Celestia inquired, eyebrow arched upwards. She looked rather troubled by something.

“She insists on staying with him, and keeps telling the doctors over and over again that she’s from another world...or something.” The guard replied. “Nopony knows what to make of it, really. The doctors think she’s a loon.”

“I’ve stood idly by long enough.” Nagare said, hints of anger now present in his voice. His eyes glinted with rage as he stared at the guard and his ears were folded back on his skull. He then stomped one of his hooves, face darkening under the shadow of his hair as he did. “Would one of you please take me to them as soon as you can?!”

“Please, do calm down. I shall have the guards set them straight, hopefully with words.” Celestia stated as she turned to Nagare, a bit louder than normal herself. She returned her gaze to the guards and nodded. “Two of you, take this stallion to that hospital at once. Everyone else, return to your posts.”

Two pegasi stood in place as the others, including the grey unicorn, did as told. They trotted out of the room posthaste. Then, the last two guards and Nagare also left, leaving Celestia and Luna alone in the nearly empty throne room.

Celestia looked at Luna, horn lighting up in a golden glow. A quill and scroll appeared out of nowhere, and the quill begun jotting something down on the scroll.

“What are you doing?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m going to be asking all of the citizens throughout Equestria to immediately report strange occurrences to the guard. Considering we were attacked a few moments ago, I feel as if I really don’t have much of a choice.” Celestia answered, watching as the quill was still jotting down things on the scroll.

“Why would you say that?” Luna inquired, putting a hoof to her chin.

“Taking into account our earlier guest of sorts, who’s to assume the Quartet isn’t making more monsters? Nopony knows their motives; Nagare said so himself. Even I couldn’t tell what it is they’re plotting.” Celestia replied, the quill near the bottom of the scroll.

“So, what you’re saying is it would be safe to assume the worst.” Luna stated as the quill was lifted from the scroll.

“Something to that degree.” Celestia said, reading what she had written on the scroll. Then, she showed it to Luna.

“Are you truly sure about this?” Luna asked as she read the document again with widening eyes. “What if we need to involve the Elements of Harmony? What if we need to form a temporary alliance just to--”

“I am truly sure about this, though I cannot be certain what will happen when the ponies of Equestria report the…” Celestia paused, walking past her sister with narrowed eyes, the quill and the scroll floating alongside her as she moved in sync. “...unusual occurrences to the royal guard. Or how the guard will react, for that matter.”

“I can only hope for the best, sister. However, I shall also prepare for the worst.” Luna said, looking at her sister.

Celestia turned around to look at her sibling. “There simply is no other course of action. I have a feeling all of Equestria is at stake.” She said.

Three cloaked figures, two of whom were limping, hid in the shadows of an alleyway. Shouting unicorns galloped past the alley as if their hooves were ablaze. One looked above to see a rising full moon, its light gracing her uncovered muzzle to reveal a hue of purple. She looked at the other two before removing her hood.

“You sure about this?” She asked, sighing in the process.

One of the other figures sat down on his haunches before using a hoof to remove his hood, revealing an orange pelt. “Positive, Yuuki. You saw how they snapped when Blade reminded them of what they thought he was.” He answered.

“I hope I don’t have to defend myself against them.” Yuuki sighed.

The third cloaked figure removed his hood, revealing a grey pelt and a horn on his forehead. “They’ll treat you as those who house fugitive criminals--not kindly.” He said, his voice stern.

“And why do they see you as a criminal?” Yuuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s no time for that. We have to get to the train station now.” The stallion replied, almost hissing as he spoke.

“You heard the unicorn.” Said the orange stallion, getting up onto his hooves.

“Don’t we need tickets?” Yuuki protested as she began to trot down the alley.

“I told you already; I found three of them recently.” Spoke the unicorn, limping behind the mare. The red stallion trudged alongside him.

“I sure hope they’re not expired!” Yuuki cut back, raising her voice in the process.

“If they are, we do the next best thing.” The unicorn replied as the mare took a right. He and the other stallion followed.

“Blade, I hope you’re not talking about my yoyo or Rekka’s cannon.” Yuuki sighed, an irritated tone in her voice.

The unicorn shook his head as he trudged along. They emerged from the alleyway and into a walkway with three railways on top of rocks below said walkway.

“Is this the place?” Yuuki asked, glancing around a bit.

“It would be the case.” Blade answered, finding a wooden bench and putting his whole body on it as though he were about to take a nap.

“Looks deserted…” Rekka commented before the sound of a train whistling in the distance hit his ears.

“Maybe not…” Yuuki sighed.