The Trimunative

Chapter II: The Manacle

Elation. This was the only word to describe the feeling that Armour Rose had on account of the fact that his plan had begun. He had a very devious brain.

As a Noble Arch-Duke, he had been well versed in the ancient art of deceit. Equestria was a very corrupt principality. The Nobles held more political sway than even Princess Luna. Rose had been a grand orator, using the court to destroy and engulf the smaller noble houses, while slandering any who opposed his behemoth of political power.

Until, of course, his arrogance got the best of him and his power collapsed into itself, with the help of a disgruntled Princess and a well-meaning best friend.

The plan was simple. First, ally himself with the most foalish of the Bearers of Harmony. Second, use the foal as jumping point to the rest of the Bearers. Thirdly, exterminate the remaining New Lunar Republicans. Fourth, implicate Luna, to create a power vacuum that he and his Trimunative would no doubt fill. Finally, gain even more titles to pass on to the next Armour Flower generation.

This was, by noble standards, an innocent plan. Rose was handsome; he looked like most stallions of royal decent, mid-neck length blonde hair and blue eyes. He used his looks as shamelessly as his oratory skills. These looks made him look as harmless as the rest of the Trimunative, but his military skills made him a force to be reckoned with.

“That was too easy…” he thought, strolling off to his barracks “You would think that a Bearer of all ponies would at least try to resist seduction…”

“Lord Armour! Lord Armour!” Chainmail called, flying off to his General.

“Yes Lieutenant?” Rose answered, slightly irritated by his Lieutenants inability to take charge.

“Lord Armour, you have a visitor.”

“Did you catch a name?”

“No, but she looks familiar…”

Rose sighed “Fine.”

“Follow me, then, Lord Armour.” Chainmail said, always honoring his superior.

0--------------0

“Rarity! Rarity!” Spike awoke Rarity from her sleep.

“Oh yes dear?” She got up from her inexplicably acquired sofa “What is it?”

“Are you okay?” Spike asked, concerned about the fact that she was unconscious and alone in her shop.

“Perfect, couldn’t be better. What did you want, Spikey-Wikey?”

“This is the day that I usually come over, remember?”

“Oh, of course, how could I forget? But I really don’t have any work for you. So why don’t you take a day off I don’t think Sweetie Bell is doing anything, if you would like to spend some time with her…” she suggested.

“Perfect, my chance is right now!” Spike thought “Rarity… if you’re not doing anything… maybe you might… consider…”

“Consider what?”

“Going out with me sometime?” Spike produced a sapphire out of seemingly nowhere.

Rarity looked horrified. She felt bile rise in her throat, but managed to swallow it and put on a fake smile befitting of a noble “Oh Spikey-Wikey… no, no, no, no, no, no…”

Spike looked crushed. Words could describe his feelings of sadness, anger, betrayal and hatred he felt as tears filled his ducts.

“You’re a very nice dragon, but you’re just… not my type…”

“Oh, what is your type, tall, white and rich?”

“Spike, what has gotten into you?”

“At least I’m not a stuck-up, social climbing liar! The only thing you care about is yourself, even then your friends!”

“Spike, that really hurts…”

“Oh, I’m so, so sorry! You cry at the drop of a hat, and you’re the meaning of greed! I have no idea how you become the Bearer of Generosity is a mystery to everypony you meet!”

“Spike, that’s enough!”

“Forgive, most beautiful mare in all of Equestria, I just want to speak the truth!”

“I’m going to give you one more warning to leave…”

“Of course,” Spike began to walk out “wouldn’t want over stay my welcome.” The door slammed behind him.

Rarity wasn’t sad. She was over reacting, not out of sadness, but more self-pity and anger towards Spike than anything else.

0--------------0

Spike ran at speed that was new to him. He ran at a cowards speed.

He was angry. Not at Rarity, but more at himself. He couldn’t believe what he said to the mare he felt so many feelings for, the mare he loved… He couldn’t go back to Twilight, he was too embarrassed. He also, had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide from everypony else. He knew he was different, he always knew that, but he never truly realized how much being different could hurt.

“Hail!” a solider stopped him “Young drake, what are you doing here?”

Spike rubbed the tears out of his eyes “I’m the librarians assistant…” he mumbled.

“So why are you running from a mare’s house with tear in your eyes?”

Spike looked at his feet, waiting for the solider to leave him be.

“I understand.” Spike was surprised. Was it that obvious? “Come; let’s get you a hot meal and a talk with the Arch-Duke.” The solider offered his tail.

“Who is the Arch-Duke?” Spike asked, unsure of the newcomer’s kindness.

“The Arch-Duke is experienced in matters of the heart.”

“Why are you being nice to me?”

“As a solider for the great Prince and Arch-Duke, I am trained in chivalry, kindness, generosity, honesty, and combat, it’s pretty much our job.”

Spike was impressed enough to follow the stallion to his camp.

0--------------0

As Rose and Chainmail walked to the freshly erected barracks that had already been assembled in Canterlot, Rose couldn’t help but notice the soldiers speed at digging the moat. They were either really loyal to their Arch-Duke, or really desperate to return to Stallionsgrad.

“And who is the visitor?” Rose asked.

“The one with pink mane, yellow coat and the butterfly cutey mark. See her?” Chainmail pointed Fluttershy out.

“Another Bearer!?” he thought, barley silencing himself.

“Okay, I shall see what questions pertain to. You lead the troops until I relieve you.” Chainmail saluted. “Madam, I am the leading officer.”

“Oh, well I uh really need to talk to you…” she mumbled.

“And what is it that you wanted to talk about, Miss?”

“The animals.”

“What about the animals?”

“I need to ask if you are here for hunting…”

“Hunting? That is ridicules; we are here to build a wall around your town, nothing more.”

“A WALL?” Fluttershy cried.

“Y… yes?” Rose was now quivering.

“What about the animals?! I feed them every day, what will they do without me?”

“I… did not know about any anima-“

“WELL WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?!”

“Build around your house…?”

“BUILD AROUND? Well, um actually, that’s a pretty good idea… Thank you… Could you tell me what your name is?”

Rose had never been in fear that a peasant would kill him before. Until now of course “I am General and Arch-Duke Prince Armour Rose the ninth, Lord of Stallionsgrad. And your name is?”

“I’m Fluttershy…”

“Unique name, so I guess that would make you the Bearer of Kindness, pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh well um uh *squeak*!” And with that she fled to her small house.

“Interesting mare.” he thought while walking to his office. He had to think of how he would get the rest of the Bearers of Harmony on his side.

0--------------0

“Arch-Duke, sir, you have visitor.”

“Come in.” Armour Rose said, hiding a notebook in his desk, and sealing it shut with magic.

“Sir, this young drake is having filly troubles.” The solider said while walking, Spike on his back.

“He has filly troubles?” Rose said, looking at Spike in disbelief. The soldier nodded, and Rose sighed “But how could such a… handsome dragon such as you have troubles with mares?”

Spike’s cheeks turned scarlet, and he stayed silent.

“Humph. You make me sad. Private Blacksmith, leave us.”

The Private left after giving the dragon an apologetic look, lowering Spike to the floor, while he produced an apple and took a bite out of it. “So, you’re the Arch-Duke?”

“Yes, I am General and Arch-Duke Prince Armour Rose the ninth, Lord of Stallionsgrad. And what is your name, love struck one?”

“Spike…”

“Ah. Do you have any occupation to speak of?”

“I’m the librarian’s assistant…”

“Wondrous.” Rose had often given advice on mares to his subordinates, mostly for fun. “So, tell me about this mare that you have your eyes on.”

Spike’s eyes lit immediately. “She has the most beautiful coat, snow white, and an even more beautiful mane and tail, the perfect shade of violet.”

“She sounds lovely.” The joke was not lost on Rose. He knew the mare, and he actually felt a twinge of guilt.

“She is lovelier than all of the flowers in Equestria, lovelier then Celestia herself. I’ve only known her for a year, but I love her more than anything…” Spike felt guiltier than he had ever felt for anything. Ever.

“So, why did this demigoddess drive you to tears?”

“She… she rejected me…” Spike began to sob.

“Is that it?”

“What do you mean is that it? She REJECTED my affections and a sapphire I made for her!” Spike felt bad for snapping, but he didn’t care.

“I mean, I could help you. I am quite the mare’s stallion.”

“You don’t understand. She sees me as a little colt…”

“Then make her see you as a stallion-err-dragon.”

“How?”

“It would take a lot of work.”

“I don’t care! I would go to the ends of the world for her!”

“It would require you coming here every Sunday…”

“I don’t care!”

“You would have to learn how to use a sword…”

“I don’t care!”

“You would have to wear heavy armor…”

“I DON’T CARE!”

“You would have to enlist.”

Spike grabbed Rose’s chest plate and said: “I. Don’t. Care.”

“I like you. Private Blacksmith!” The soldier in question opened the door and saluted his Arch-Duke. “Create a suit of armor for the drake. Oh, and get a piece of metal with a handle on it for him to defend himself with.” The solider nodded, took the dragon’s measurements, and galloped to the smith’s tent.

“But… what does this have to do with winning her heart?”

“It will convince her that you are, in fact stallionly, and I’ll make sure that you’re posted at her place of work for half of the day, every day.”

“What about the other half of the day?”

“You’ll be ‘posted’ at the library. Now, tell me, where does your mare work?”

“The Carousal Boutique.”

Then Rose drew a map of his patrol. “Bring me the librarian.”

“But she’ll never agree…”

“Do as your Arch-Duke says, Private.”

“Yes Arch-Duke, sir!” Then Spike thought about something. “Arch-Duke, sir, may I ask you question?” Rose nodded. “Do you have a fillyfriend?”

“Oh, yes.” Rose opened the sealed drawer and pulled out a picture.

“WOW!” Spike yelled “Your fillyfriend is supermodel Fleur de Lis?” Rose nodded. “You must be the smoothest stallion ever! She even turned down Prince Blueblood! Well, I guess I’ll go grab Twilight Sparkle. Bye!”

“Spike.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to need that picture back.” Spike blushed, and placed the photo back onto Rose’s desk, and he was out of the soldier’s camp in minutes.

“Ah, I finally get to rela-“

“Hay thur sugurcube!” Applejack randomly burst through the door.

“Yes, madam…?”

“Ah got’s eh bisnes prapazision for ya.”

“And what would that be?”

“Apples.”

“Apples?”

“Lots an’ lots o’ apples.”

“For what?”

“Eatin’! Yer colts hav’ been buyin’ apples nonstop.”

“Fine, how much for five-thousand apples, milady?” Rose asked, not a touch of humor in his face.

“Ff- fi- five thousand?”

“Yes, I’ll take five-hundred a day, every day for ten days, and, if my colts like them, then I will take every apple you harvest, every day, every week, every month, every year, other than, of course, the ones for you and your employees.”

Applejack collapsed to the floor and started to kiss Rose’s hooves. It took two soldiers to restrain the thankful mare.

“Okay, I guess I’ll relax no-“

“Hey Colonel!” he heard a tomboyish voice call out through his window.
He trotted up to the window to reveal a very energetic Rainbow Dash.

Rose asked a simple, tired question “Yes?”

“I wanna to lead your sky brigade!”

“Firstly, I am General and Arch-Duke Prince Armour Rose the ninth, Lord of Stallionsgrad, not a Colonel. Secondly, due sexism rampant in the military ranks, no mares are allowed in the military.”

“Oh yeah? Think you colts are so tough, try this!” With that she charged at Rose, which he quickly deflected with magical force field. She bounced off, and in her embarrassment flew away.

“Idiot. Now time to re-“ And then all of a sudden Twilight Sparkle burst through the door, with Spike on her back.

“General, I have to ask you about what you have been telling my baby dragon.”

“Oh, but of course. Private Spike, off to the smith’s tent with you!”

“Yes sir, Arch-Duke sir!” Spike saluted Rose, and then ran off to the soldier’s camp.

“And you must be Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic. I dabble in magic, myself, though they’re mostly mili-“

“You know why I’m here.”

“But of course. Madam, I assure you that your baby dragon will barely even leave your house.”

“I don’t want him hanging around drunken soldiers.”

“And he won’t.” Rose pulled out Spike’s schedule “This is all he will have to do.”

Twilight quickly scanned the map. “But this just has him going to the library and Rarity’s shop, like he already does. Why would you even need him?”

“To be honest…” Rose looked out of his window. “I felt bad for the little guy.”

“But why?”

Rose sighed “One of my colts found him running away from the Boutique with tears in his eyes. He realized what was happening, so he bought him a meal and brought him to me for guidance. It turned out that the mare of his dreams had rejected him and his homegrown sapphire. And, to add to it, I have a date with that mare tonight.” Twilight gasped “So I’m trying to make him feel better by giving him a job near her.”

“Well that’s a… interesting story.”

“I’m writing a book about it, you see.”

“Funny.”

“I try.”

“Well… I guess that was very nice of you Mr…”

“I am General and Arch-Duke Prince Armour Rose the ninth, Lord of Stallionsgrad.” Rose never thought he would get bored of saying his own name.

“Interesting name.”

“So is Twilight Sparkle.”

“Thank you. So you mentioned you knew a few spells…”

“Mostly militaristic spells, but, that is what my cutie mark is of. And I am of royal descent.”

Hours went by as they prattled on and on about spells, seals and enchantments waiting for Spike to return.

“And so she charged at me, I thought she was crazy, and I just cast a defensive cube spell and she pathetically bounced off.”

“Sounds like somepony I know…”

“Umm… guys…” Spike questioned, walking through the doorframe.

“Oh hi Spike. I guess I’ll see you around, Rose.”

“Same to you, Madam Sparkle. And Private.”

“Yes sir, Arch-Duke, sir?”

“Take these…” Rose levitated a book and rose plant to Spike.

“Ponies and Prejudice?”

“I’m sure you know what to do with these.” Spike saluted.

Twilight cast Rose an obliviously obvious coy look as she and Spike departed.

Rose looked at his clock, realizing that he had half an hour to get ready and get Rarity. He gave a tired and annoying sigh.

0-------------0

“Lieutenant Chainmail!” Rose called.

“Yes Lord Armour, sir!”

“Grab another Pegasus and prepare the chariot. I have an appointment with a young mare.”

“And what of Miss De Lis, don’t you think it’s a little wrong to do that?”

“Lieutenant, you helped me ‘redistribute’ my brother’s money to fund the Prench expedition, remember? You have no right to question my morality.” Rose reminded

“We never did find that ancient Pegasi colony…” Rose slanted his eyes at him “But of course! Cloud Chaser! Prepare the chariot! May I ask where we going, sir?”

“The Carousal Boutique, you have one minute to prepare the chariot, Chainmail!” Rose thundered.
“Celestia help you Cloud Chaser, I will have sent back to flight training, one minute, Carousal Boutique!” Chainmail disliked being loud, but his job depended on it.

“It’s ready, sirs!” Cloud Chaser called out, hoping to curb his superiors’ aggression. And with that, the trio departed.

0--------------0

Rarity had finally done it. The object of her loosely and quickly placed emotions. Her romance novels had been correct. She had been correct. And she didn’t care about what Spike said.

“Third time’s the charm they say…” Rarity thought. She made an outfit befitting of the Grand Galloping Gala for this occasion. Then she heard the knocks. “Coming!” she cried.

Rarity opened the door, revealing the handsomely dressed stallion and chariot.

“You look stunning. Here, straight from my garden.” Rose complimented, levitating a beautiful rose unto Rarity’s dress.

“Oh, thank you darling… You look very, very handsome.”

Rose wretched on the inside, but he was smart enough to hide it, instead offering small smile. Rarity accepted, and the two departed mounted the chariot headed for A Slice of Canterlot.

“Lieutenant, Sergeant, meet us here in exactly two hours.” Rose demanded.

The two stallions saluted and said simultaneously “Yes, Arch-Duke, sir!”

“So, tell me about your family…” Rose asked, just trying to make the dinner go by faster. What he didn’t expect was Rarity blathering on and on for forty-two minutes for something he cared so very little about. He knew the time because he counted it.

“Do you have any family, dear?” Rarity asked, sounding almost innocent.

How he wanted to say: ‘Oh, my brother killed my parents, so I and my evil, maniacal Trimunative hatched a plan to kill him to rocket us into power at the expense of Princess Luna’s power. Did I mention that Prince Blueblood and Fancypants are also in my Trimunative? Why am I telling you this? Not because I am bitter at them for leaving me in the dust in Ponyville. I can tell you that right now.’ But instead he went with a simple “It’s not a good subject.”

“Oh I’m so sorry about that, darling…”

Rose drank his entire glass of brandy in one gulp then asked “So, tell me about dress making…” He was very, very, very, intoxicated, but he thought the more he drank, the more Rarity would stop seeming to act like a banshee. He was wrong.

Another hour went by. The only reason Rose hadn’t vomited or smelt badly of alcohol was through magic. He almost fell asleep twice. He stopped caring about what Rarity said an hour and a half ago.

Rarity was smitten. This Noble stallion had been listening to every single word that she said, and hadn’t shown the slightest sign of boredom on his face. Yes, smitten was the perfect word.

Rose watched the clock behind Rarity intently. It was his only hope. Rarity ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, not that he cared, it was nothing to him, but he thought she was just trying to spite him now. He gave a bottled up exhale when he heard his chariot pull up. He paid the waitress in cash, much to her surprise, and had to stop himself from pushing Rarity over and darting for the door. Instead he slowly made his way there, with Rarity at his side.

“Lieutenant! Sergeant! Onward to the Boutique!” The soldiers obliged and they quickly made their way to Rarity’s shop.

0--------------0

“Thank you Rose, I had a magical evening…” Rarity granted Rose a single kiss on the cheek.

“Wait.” Rose still had a finale ace up his sleeve. This quickly got Rarity’s attention, as his horn began to glow a brilliant red, and a light show began. Rarity was amazed, and, as Rose had predicted, it sealed her affections. As Rarity looked around to thank him, he had already left. She had believed it was of shyness, and not out of spite.

0--------------0

As Rose finally made it to his bedroom, he simply collapsed in bed. He was, however, surprised to find a partner in his bed.

“Hey Rose…” It was Fleur.

”Of all things that could happen, this was the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!” That is what Rose thought, until a mare with a violet mane appeared in his door way.

And with that, Rose passed out. Rarity, as it turned out, was a manacle, nothing more, nothing less.

0--------------0

A/N: Tell me what you want to happen next in the comments, I’ll try to work it in.