Canterlot Castle
2nd of Ananta, 1114 AU, 0530
For many ponies waking up at five-thirty in the morning wasn't something you did of your own accord, often times it's one of the pets that had gotten into trouble again or needed to be calmed down. Others found themselves awaken with cold sweat dripping and fearful eyes darting to find something only they can see, although that number has diminished greatly since about a year ago. Some even set the alarm to the incorrect time.
There are many reasons for waking up so early and none, absolutely zero, are voluntary. Although they can get close, for example a job that is in the earlier hours of the day when the sun and the moon either fight for dominance or completely disappeared. You could say that is voluntary, I mean you willingly signed up for a job that would require bed before sundown and rising before the celestial bodies have decided if it's night or day yet. None know this better than two job expertise, servants and soldiers, and right now Elite Guard Captain Prancer was really wishing that the former wasn't included with the latter.
As it were the hallways of the inner Palace always had had a sense of scale, like noBODY could ever hope to match the castle in size, grace, magnificence, and most importantly, power. Then again, considering that the princesses themselves live here you would expect that. Although Prancer still couldn't wrap her head around how they managed to keep several hundred thousand tons of stone hanging from the side of a mountain, she wasn't an architect but something like that just doesn't sound smart.
Right now however, these hallways felt narrow and claustrophobic. Servants everywhere threw themselves into the nearby rooms in order to avoid the entourage yet kept the doors just open enough to see what was going on. Prancer could almost sense it, no, almost see it as she walked down these different yet familiar halls; fear.
The reason they were walking through the palace right now, in the wee hours between night and day, was because the higher ups believed that it would cause less attention and tension as they moved the... asset to the meeting. What with the changeling invasion and all of that, ponies could hardly get a wink of sleep for fear of being kidnapped and replaced by some bug who was going to steal the love out of those you treasure closest. But then again, even those you love could be a ponynapping, love stealing, scary bug everypony could potentially be a threat. Hence the secrecy.
But it appeared not to be working, don't get that wrong, the way through the rest of the town had been pleasantly uneventful. Here in the palace though the maids, janitors and so on tend to get up early than those in the city bellow, likely trying to get the early tasks done early as to not get yelled at.
Out of the barely cracked open doorways they stared at the group as it went on it's way through the castle, trying not to be seen. 'Trying' because it was actually really easy to notice, even if you didn't see them sprint into the nearby doorway pastel colors did nothing to help you in stealth. Seriously, how that mare with pink fur and a white mane thinks she can adequately spy on a bunch of soldiers is almost insulting.
Of course it wasn't only the lower rung ponies getting antsy, the escort had passed by at least a dozen guards by now and they too were scared even if they made quite the good effort at not showing it, a couple small steps to get away from her squad however, spoke more than a few words can. Not that it didn't make sense that they were all acting like that however, when you saw the red uniform of the Elite Guard, especially one with two thick black strips, you knew that you wanted to be as far away from were ever they were going as possible.
Speaking of said squads, the ones currently escorting the the one between them were by far no rookies. All of the soldiers currently following the Captain were at least an arms-sergeant or higher each of them equipped to the teeth in order to fight anyone stupid enough to stop them, or even the asset if they felt the need to. By far the most dangerous of these professional killers was Elite Captain Lighting Prancer, and she was very, very pissed at the moment.
While it was somewhat because she felt rather put upon of the duty of transporting something of such high value, most of that anger was directed toward the being they were currently guard-slash-protecting.
The captive themself though was almost the epicenter of calm and neutrality, walking straight as if on a tight rope and not even glancing at the various ponies around them. Their chains and manacles wrapped around their body and legs giving jingles as the group trotted along. And oh, how long they trotted for.
I've gone through mazes with my little sis less confusing than this, Prancer thought to herself, and not nearly as long either.
She spared a glance to make sure they were still heading in the right direction. A painting here, a bust there, and a door leading to a balcony gave her assurance that, yes, they were heading in the correct direction and hadn't gotten lost yet.
The twists and turns gone through with a sharpness that many would find intimidating, although the Elite Guards were anything but subtle. But even their intensity was starting to waver at the ludacris amount of times they've turned and reformed like they were trained to. The one in chains took it all in stride and just lazily but steadily walked with the rest of the group, much to the ire of the Guards.
Eventually the labyrinth had to end and the group found themselves in front of a door with a very important mark on the front, one of a sun. The Captain walked up to the door and knocked, trying to gain the attention of the very important pony inside.
Her bearing breaking as something else was heard breaking on the other side of the door.
She immediately slammed into the doors, muscles straining against the large heavy obstacles, trying to get into the room. The guards behind her didn't hesitate for a moment, three had their weapons surrounding the prisoner and the others backed their captain up as she threw the doors aside.
The captain charged in screaming, "Your highness, are you hurt, did anypony get into the room, is their another invasion!"
The rather large pony already in the room just stared wide eyed at the soldiers in front of her, specifically the one screaming her little head off, "Do not worry my littl-"
"Are you sure your highness," Prancer dashed forward to get a good look at the other pony, she got very close, "no intruders or dangerous beasts have been in here! Perhaps a pony wishing to take advantage of you while your loyal guards were away!"
Her highness for her part just sat and stared at the obviously stressed pony in front of her, "Why would you assum-"
"If there is you need only say the word and their lives are forfeit," Prancer declared slash yelled to her superior, "I will personally be apart of the vanguard to find said intruder and bring... them..... to......... justice." Her speech was cut short as a hoof started patting her head.
"Don't worry my little pony, nothing has happened and there is no need to worry. Now please take a deep breath and calm down," the pony mere inches away told her.
That's when Prancer realized what she had just been doing and in an instant she had backed up several yards and was apologizing to the pony she had just yelled at, "Please Princess Celestia forgive me of my intrusion of your personal space and jumping to conclusions."
Princess Celestia simply sighed and stared at the pony bowed before her. You train your soldiers far to hard Cross, I mean come on, she's not even blushing, not even a tiny little bit.
"Rise my little soldier and state your business for being here," Celestia told Prancer.
Prancer's face stiffened slightly as she rose from her bowing position, "We have escorted the asset as was ordered to your office ma'm."
Celestia's eyes narrowed a bit and simply nodded before telling Prancer to call the V.I.P. in. During the few seconds the captain took to order up her new.... guest, Celestia looked down under her desk where the remains of a shattered plate sat hastily thrown under it. She could still the the pieces of frosting covered holiness in the small scrap pile, Damn, that would have made me feel a lot better afterward.
When her guest walked into the room covered in chains and wrapped in white fabric Celestia could barely contain a frown, this was by far the last pony she wanted to see walk into her room. When the arrival sat down in a chair in front of the desk Celestia ordered the captain to remove the asset's mouse piece.
When she did the being in front of Celestia looked right into her eyes, "Thank you your Majesty."
"And good morning to you too, Dr. Rare Measure," Celestia said back.
The pony in front of her simply grinned slightly, a tinny bit of madness reaching her dark eyes, "Will we start with small talk, or get right to what you really called me from my nice warm cell for."
"I think getting to the problem right away will do for now," Celestia stared back, "and I assume you already have quite the educated guess on why you are here today."
"Well isn't that obvious, considering my special talents, I assume you have a problem and want my help in fixing it," Measure said, "and you've called me here to give me a choice on whether or not to help you in this little endeavour of yours."
"You are correct as always Miss Measure, and I assume you've already considered your answer for said choice," Celestia glared back a little.
"Of course I will agree, I just need to know when I get started, and how quickly I will get my first shipment," Measure stated, "and, of course, the list of potential workers."
Measure was the only one smiling in the room, and the rest hated her for that too.
Six hours later, Canterlot Palace
Mint Heart stood their, in her element, nothing breaking the focus of her work, distant noises drowned out and voices flew right into a brick wall. She was totally in the zone right then. Until a guard barged in and told her to get up and get to an office on another floor.
Giving the other pony a slight glare she stood up from the book she had been reading aloud and apologized to those around her, "Sorry little ones, but miss Mint has to go for now."
The news was greeted with a chorus of awws by the foals around her, Mint smiled a little bit at the sound, "Don't worry I'll be back in a tiny bit, just don't get in trouble any of you. Including you Marks," she added afterward. Said filly just looked slightly abashed and turned to look at the ground, the other foals laughed a little at the one called out.
After putting the book away and leaving the small daycare and clinic that the palace staff use to put their young while at work, she headed to the designated room. Mint Heart knew the Palace like the back of her hooves, just like all the other staff, but she had never actually gone into any of the offices she was being directed toward. She really hoped this didn't mean trouble.
She made it there relatively quickly by using the staff's corridors and rooms as short cuts, passing by many of her fellow workers along the way. As she opened the door leading to the room she took a quick scan of the room, the room was very spartan in nature, with only a desk, a filing cabinet, paper and various writing tools. As she stepped through the portal a voice called out to her.
"So your finally here eh," a deep voice called out to her, "about time."
Mint turned to the desk quickly to find something that stilled her heart in an instant. A pony with a grayed mane and fur with a three nailed claw mark running across his face, the pony was wearing a red uniform. Mint opened her mouth to scream.
"None of that will you," Mint immediately closed her mouth, "good now take a seat and let me tell you why you are here." Mint simply nodded and did as the aging stallion asked.
"I'm not one for small talk, so let me give it to you straight," the soldier said, "your being given a job offer..."
Half an hour later
Mint stood there again, just outside the door to General Cross's office that she had just left. She could still hear the pony inside writing things down. The only thing that had her attention at the moment however was the small letter levitating a foot away from her face. The letter bobbing up and down as items being used in levitation are want to do.
I'm so sorry little ones, Mint thought as she turned to walk away, but their is a certain some'pony' that I need to talk to right now.
As she walked along she took a different route, as she had other places to be at the time than the daycare. Though it still hurt a little, to leave them behind.
While Mint walked she couldn't have helped but ponder on what she had just learned, even when she passed by a pair of her coworkers she didn't respond to their hellos. Things seemed to blur out as she walked along deep in thought.
Some of it was about how bad of luck she had to have had if the General specifically picked her out of all of the other workers. She was just one of hundreds of ponies who could fit the bill for what they need, but it just had to be, had to be her.
The majority of it though was how her superiors were going to react to this information, her handler was rather loose with his staff and he trusted her a lot from what the others are telling her. She couldn't even begin to imagine how he would react to something this important, thrust upon her. Likely the least important of all of his underlings.
She passed by another corridor and then into a staff room. The building felt as if it was caving in on her, much like her own thoughts. Her shoulders sank and her steps were becoming slightly heavier as she walked along, eyes dragging themselves with the marble floor.
The horn atop her head still glowed however, and it still carried that letter. It felt heavier than before and it felt like it was getting heavier by the moment. Mint was almost tempted to throw it away, run to her handler and get transferred, maybe to a nice place in the country side. But Mint kept a hold of that letter like her life depended on it. This letter, this small piece of parchment with ink scribbled with patterns on it, is by far the most important thing in the world in her view right now. So much depended on her getting this letter to her superiors right now.
Mint's speed picked up almost imperceivable as she walked down a set of stairs down to a lower level. This letter meant so much, she cradled it close to her body, as if to protect it from harm.
The floor itself seemed to call to her, telling her to simply fall to the floor and get carried away to be cared for. The guards at the doorways felt unnaturally large and intimidating. Their armor growing spikes and there spears twisting into cruel weapons on the shadows upon the ground.
Eventually she made it to the door, she could hardly breath, was she suffocating, she was suffocating. A simple movement like knocking on a door seemed to be a million times harder than it should right then. Her muscles seemed to give and sway under the weight of gravity.
Just a little closer, Mint willed herself to move the hoof forward.
The hoof made contact in one of the most pathetic knocks to have ever graced the planet. But now the flood gates were open and time and time again Mint's hoof struck the wooden portal harder and harder. Even when a voice from inside told her to stop that hammering she didn't, she wasn't listening to anything at the moment.
When the door finally opened to another stallion, this time however younger and only wearing a pair of reading glasses, Mint almost knocked his teeth out. Luckily the stallion at the door had some good reflexes and managed to both lean back and grab at Mint's descending hoof in short order.
"Mint Heart, what are you doing here," the stallion said to her, "you look like you just had a race with a griffon, who didn't like being beat."
Mint simply stared at the stallion, threw her letter in his face, and collapsed into a ball of patheticness in front of the door.
The other pony took one look at the letter and one at the pony on the ground before sighing, "Alright, let's get you inside and you can tell me all about what happened. And what this," he gestured toward the letter now lying on the ground, "what this means."
