The Duke Abides

Chapters

Down and Out in Canterlot
Extra Life
New Associates
Opening Gambits
White to Move
Sharp Play
The Highest Stakes
Dealing In
Black to Move
Best Laid Plans
Put Up Your Dukes
A Loyal Servant
The Duke of Hazards
Duke It Out
The Duke Abides

Down and Out in Canterlot

Greengrass sped up his pace slightly as he entered the ballroom set aside for the Canterlot Trade Show. He had so many schemes revolving around the show, plans for half the businesses that had shown up to buy, to sell, or just to show off their wares, that he could scarcely wait to get started. He knew what the ponies there would want; he knew what he could provide them; he knew what objections they might raise and how he could most conveniently sidestep them. He could play them against each other and tear them all down, or unite them into one large industrial union, or bolster only Fisher’s industries and weaken just the Apple Trust, or vice versa. He could do all these things, and many more… and all he needed was for the ponies there to talk to him.

He paused for a moment before shaking his head briskly and moving on. Yes, he’d had some setbacks on that last front, a few minor problems, but that was surely over now. These ponies were from the business and industry sectors; they weren’t really part of the Court. Granted, the Courtiers weren’t speaking to him… for the moment… but there was no reason why the industrialists would be the same way. They needed political representation; he was a Duke. A non-voting member of the Court, to be sure, but still a Duke nonetheless. That had to count for something.

The ballroom was the next door on his left. He smiled, straightened his suit, and stepped into the ballroom. His mood brightened immediately as he looked out at the ponies. He could see their weaknesses at a glance, with this one needing a quick infusion of bits to make infrastructure repairs, that one eager to finally rise up and topple a rival, those three in a bitter feud that was dragging down all their businesses, and that small one in the back new, inexperienced, and totally out of his depth, in desperate need of a mentor to show him how to survive in the business world. Greengrass could help any and all of them get what they wanted, so long as they let him. And he wouldn’t ask for much in exchange. Just the start of rebuilding his political career, of regaining his seat, and of resuming his ascent to the top.

Allowing these thoughts to further buoy his mood, he made a beeline for the first table that he was interested in – the booth of the Apple Trust, showing off their newest tractors and fertilizers. “Hello there!”

“Hello!” said the stallion in charge, a dapper, older pony named Orange. “How can I help you?”

“Well, I’m looking for a good company to invest with!” Greengrass grinned. “I don’t suppose you’d know one of those?”

Orange laughed. “The Apple Trust is always happy to have new investors. Let’s talk. I’m Resplendant Orange.”

“Duke Greengrass. I—“

Orange blinked, tilting his head. “Wait, hang on. Greengrass?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can help you.” Orange smiled in a dismissive manner. “Please, excuse me.”

He’d been hearing that for months now, but hearing it from this particular pony caught Greengrass by surprised. “I’m sorry? You’re saying you don’t want my investment?”

“No.” Orange turned to another pony that had walked up behind the Duke. “Ah, Jasmine! How can I help?”

Okay, well, the Trust is very large. Perhaps my enemies in the Court tipped off the bigger companies that I’m not very popular these days. I’ll start with the smaller ones then.The Duke resumed his cheerful expression, bowed goodbye to Orange, and trotted over to a set of small booths for local businesses that had only barely finangled an invitation to the trade show. “Hello!”

“Greengrass? Sorry, but we’re not interested. Word is, dealing with you’s a real bad idea.”

“Yeah, right. Don’t want your dirty money. Everypony knows what you tried to do at the Gala. Go spin.”

“Sorry, Duke, but I’ve already made a deal with Vicereine Puissance. No offense, but I hear she’s got more to offer, and her name’s not toxic, you know?”

“Wait, who are you? Never heard that name before.”

 Greengrass brightened. “I’m a Duke at the Court. Now, if you let me help you, I can use my connections to—“

“Oh, wait, Greengrass? Yeah, I remember that name. Um.” The pony flipped through a notebook. “Boss said that I can ‘t make any deals with you under any circumstances.”

“…oh.”

“Archduke Fisher won’t let us talk to you.”

“But—“

“No!”

“But--”

“Scat!”

“Hey, aren’t you that idiot that had a breakdown in front of the whole Court? Haw haw! That was hilarious to watch!”

“You know, you should be more circumspect when speaking to a noble—“

“Noble? Heard you got fired!”

“Actually, I’m still a Duke.”

“Well, yeah, but you can’t vote or do anything, right?”

“I can do many things!”

“Alright, what have you done since the Gala?”

Silence.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Much later, Greengrass scowled from the back of the room. He’d tried thirty-odd stalls, with no success.

Some were already working for Puissance, Fisher, or other big-name nobles, fine. Some were just shy about politics, a few were arrogant enough to think that they didn’t need any help, two or three were so stupid they would be useless anyway. But the rest…

He stomped on the ground, perhaps a little harder than he needed to. The other nobles had leaked to the industrial and business sectors that Greengrass was toxic and that they shouldn’t deal with him. And they’d done a thorough enough job that not one pony in there would deal with him. That hurt. He hadn’t been able to make a political move in months, not so much as one vote or one bill passed or failed due to him. He’d been looking forward to the trade fair, honestly, he’d been looking forward to it too much, because he’d thought – hoped, really – that he wouldn’t be blocked from this venue too, that he could get back into things. Into the Game.

But it was not to be.

Across the room, he saw Fisher talking with one of his ponies. They seemed to be marketing some kind of new drill bit, diamond-studded and magically enhanced, that could supposedly cut through quite a bit with just a light buck to the flat end. Useful, Greengrass thought. Although the hidebound traditionalist that was Fisher wouldn’t be able to see the uses. Greengrass --

“Sad, Greengrass?”

Greengrass turned to see Puissance. She was traveling lightly for her, with only about a dozen ponies in her entourage. Her silk clothes were lined with silver and platinum and sparkled from the diamond dust woven into them; they probably cost more than the total value of half the merchandise in the ballroom. “Not really, Vicereine. How are you?”

“Splendid. I love trade fairs. So many new things.” Puissance smiled, looking as close to happy as she ever did.

“I always thought you liked the old.”

“I like it all.” Puissance chuckled. “And yourself? I can’t imagine it was a productive day. You must know by now that no pony in here will deal with you.”

“I suppose you had nothing to do with that?”

“Of course I did!” Puissance smiled slightly. “As did Archduke Fisher, and Archduchess Nobility, and all the others. Honestly, Greengrass, it’s not often that Luna gives us permission to completely lock out a rival, and in public no less. You can’t really blame us for taking her up on it.”

Greengrass said nothing.

“Honestly, you should consider taking a vacation for a few years. Perhaps by then she’ll have forgotten what you tried. Or not.” Puissance laughed. It was not a nice sound. “Well, I should be going. There is the most wonderful little business from Cloudsdale that I’ve had my eye on.” She trotted off.

Greengrass tried to think of some biting retort, but he couldn’t. If everything had gone as planned, if Trixie hadn’t beaten him, he’d have had Puissance on the ropes by now too – he’d bailed her out of a few political crises, all he’d had to do was secure the Elements and he could have shown the world that she was waning as he waxed – but it had all fallen apart. Trixie had outmaneuvered him. Poisoned him, actually, into having a mental breakdown on the Court floor. His scheme to snap up the Elements was ruined, and he’d taken the entirety of the blame. It looked like Puissance, Fisher, and even Trixie had manipulated him, not the other way around.

“I’m too young to be getting too old for this,” muttered Greengrass, as he cast a baleful eye over the fair. If he couldn’t make any deals, there was little point in him being there any longer – her certainly didn’t feel like sticking around to chat – so he might as well go home. Or back to his garden. At least there, things worked correctly. He had just obtained a new shipments of fresh Prance roses which he thought would work perfectly along the southern wall, and now was as good a time as any to start planting them.

“Sir?”

He turned to see his secretary, Notary, who as usual seemed to have popped up from nowhere. “Ah, Notary. Any progress?”

She shook her head. “Hay & Alfalfa Incorporated were unwilling to speak with me.” They hadn’t been at the convention, which had indicated to the Duke that perhaps they were on the outs and could use more political support. Evidently not. “However, I did learn that one of the high-level clerks in that organization has a fondness for salt. We could exploit that.”

Greengrass shrugged, already starting to lose interest. Notary was a superlative assistant, but she wasn’t having any more success than he was. The clerk probably wouldn’t pan out either. Nothing did these days.

Still, some comment seemed required, so Duke said, “Well, we tried, and that’s all we can do. An interesting night’s work, and I suppose tomorrow is another chance.”

“Tomorrow?” Notary’s voice was slightly disapproving. “The night is still young, sir. We can try to work the trade show two or three more times.”

“Ah, it won’t be of much use, and you know it. I’m going to my private residence.”

“Again?” Now Notary’s voice was almost… disappointed? “You’ve been there every night for the past two weeks. Three of those nights, you did nothing else.”

“Could we perhaps talk about this later?” Greengrass didn’t like to blow off his secretary like this – Notary’s advice was very valuable – but he was feeling tired, and stressed, and he really did just want to get to his garden. “Surely any issues with my recent schedule can wait a few hours.”

“I will meet you then.” Notary paused. “You will be there, I trust?”

“Of course. I always keep my promises to you.”

Notary nodded and trotted away, leaving a puzzled Greengrass behind her.

Things seemed so much better, Greengrass thought, when he was back in a world that he could still touch.

He delicately inserted the spade into the soil and dug a small, perfect hole, then gently lowered the rose in. The thorns brushed against his coat but did not sting him; he was far too experienced by a gardener to let that happen anymore. Once the plant was secure, he gently packed the dirt back in, then added fertilizer and water. “Perfect.”

Despite the season, Greengrass’s garden was in full bloom. Built in the cavernous basement of an abandoned building, it filled the entire room with riotous color. There was a large flower section, and a section for fruit-bearing plants (Greengrass was especially proud of the grapevines trailing up a false wall), and a small ‘park’ section with shrubs, small trees, and a few paths and benches. Near the end was an open area that was soon to be occupied by a gazebo. Greengrass liked the idea of letting the vines and climbing plants crawl up its trellised walls, making a sort of plant cave that he could sip in and perhaps enjoy a nice glass of wine. He could even arrange the flowers on those plants to make a vertical plot, which would look splendid in that corner of the room.

He had dreamed – he still dreamed – of making all of Equestria into something very much like this garden. It would be so enjoyable to carefully tend to the country, help it grow, weed out the bad elements, and watch it bloom and flourish before him. To lead the country and be its gardener and caretaker, enabling it to reach its fullest potential by eliminating all that dragged it down -- Greengrass could think of no more enjoyable way to spend his time. Working in his personal garden was fun, which was why he made it a point to do so at least every few days, but he really did want to go to the next level. One could only grow so much in a basement, after all. Why settle for growing plants when one could grow ponies, for cultivating plots instead of communities? Greengrass wasn’t the sort to settle.

But now the way was blocked. He was barred from the Court, and Luna had shown no inclination to let him return. He no longer begrudged Trixie her victory – it had been a masterful play, one he’d never seen coming – but he could not deny his growing frustration, and worse, his apathy. It had been months of no progress, months without gaining a single thing in the political realm. It was like he was a youth again, still trying to figure out why his gardens never seemed to work. No matter what he had tried them, his plants had wilted, or drowned, or been eaten by rabbits and other pests. And it was the same way now. Like he was up trying to smash through a concrete wall; he was getting nowhere and wearing himself out trying.

The Duke shook his head. He wouldn’t think of those things now. He was in his secret garden, where he went to play and to get away from the troubles of the Court. The task before him was still to plant the rest of the roses. Politics could wait.

After all, they’ve been waiting a lot lately…

No. Roses now, politics later. Greengrass began to dig again, preparing to plant the next rose.

Notary was waiting for the Duke when he returned to his quarters. “Still up?”

He couldn’t explain why he felt so tired. It wasn’t the gardening; that didn’t drain him like this. But he just wanted to go to bed and forget about the latest failure of a day. Nonetheless, he had an obligation to Notary, and he would meet it.

“Of course.” Notary paused. “Sir. I’m worried about you.”

The note of concern in her voice was not completely alien – Notary had expressed her concerns before, usually when the Duke was embarking on some wild political scheme that had a decent chance of sending them both to jail or the hospital – but the pleading undertone was new. Greengrass hesitated. “My political problems are mine, not yours, Notary. I appreciate your concern—“

“Not about that,” she said. “So long as you keep trying, you will overcome this obstacle, as you’ve overcome all the others. But you aren’t trying anymore.”

“That’s not true. If I weren’t trying, I don’t think I’d have worked half as hard these last few months.”

Notary frowned. “You can lie to the other politicians, but please don’t lie to me or yourself. I’ve been keeping track. In the first half of this last month, you spent twice as much time, on average, in your secret hideout than before the Gala.”

“I told you, it’s not—“

“Then, these past two weeks, you’ve spent four times as much. You haven’t shown up at the Court for three days in these past weeks, and the days you do show, you try one or two things that you know won’t work, and then leave right away. When you’re in the Court, we’re both still working hard, but we haven’t tried anything new in a month – just the same offers and deals that aren’t being accepted.” Notary sighed. “Sir, I’m sorry, but I think you’ve given up.”

Greengrass stopped himself from saying something rude. Notary’s counsel was very valuable, after all. “I’m not one of Fisher’s machines, Notary. So I’m in a slump. I’ll get out of it. You know me; nothing keeps me down for long.”

“Very well. What are your plans for tomorrow?”

The question caught Greengrass unprepared. “Uh.”

“Or the day after?” Notary raised an eyebrow. “Before, you always were full of ideas – more than we could ever implement. I happen to know that, in the next four days, there are at least two major concerts, two conventions, and a secret meeting between Fisher and his business captains to discuss expanding their agricultural operations. We could get involved with any of those, but I’m worried that we won’t – and for no good reason. Or that, if we do, we’ll make the same few offers to those ponies that we did last week, and to the same affect.”

Greengrass sighed but said nothing. He didn’t have any new ideas; he couldn’t seem to think of any. Nothing worked. Was it that he wasn’t trying? Maybe in part; yes, it was true that he was spending more time planting and less time politicking these days, but that wasn’t the only reason. He was just… stuck. Like Trixie had broken his engine and he couldn’t restart it.

Notary asked, “Are you going to keep on going, just as you’ve been doing?”

What else can I do? “Yes.”

Notary paused for a long moment. When she spoke, it was quietly. “I work for you,” she said, “Because I believe that you will ascend higher than the other politicians and business leaders who desired my services. You have the ability to rise to the top and take over this nation one day. You have the ability to govern this nation one day.” She locked eyes with him. “But only if you strive for it. If you give up and resign yourself to remaining in this position…” She couldn’t finish.

“I’m no use to you, is that it?” Greengrass suddenly felt very tired.

Notary looked away. “I didn’t say that. But… if you aren’t going to try, if you have no ideas and intend to keep merely using the same ones that aren’t working, then I will need to look for new employment.”

Greengrass wanted to say something, but it was like his mind was mired in mud. He found it hard to even think of her leaving. He’d made plans in case Notary left, of course, but it had been far too long since he’d seriously considered them. Notary had been with him for every step of his political career so far. He came up with the political moves, and she used her myriad of talents – secretarial, criminal, all sorts – to help him pull off his schemes.

But what can I say to her? She’s right. I don’t have any ideas for how to get back into the Court. Greengrass bowed his head slightly. “Fine. Good luck. I’ll write you a recommendation if you need it. Now – I really do need to sleep.”

He moved into his bedroom and shut the door with a slam. It was a long time, though, before he fell asleep.

Notary shook her head. She’d been hoping that threat would spur the Duke back into form, when nothing else had worked. She hadn’t expected that he would crumble completely like that.

I suppose it could be considered to be for the best. If he’s really down and out, then I do need to find an employer who isn’t. Notary forced herself to turn and start leaving the room; she couldn’t quite explain why her body seemed to reluctant to leave. I’ll start with Puissance. She should know by now how talented I am, and she has the resources to let me fully utilize my talents.

When her body still hesitated, she frowned. He was a boss, like any other. Yes, we got along well, yes, I thought he had what it took, but I need to be rational about this. I have ambition too, and I won’t squander it by mourning for his ambition.

She exited Greengrass’s office to return to her own quarters – she had a small apartment in Canterlot, for when she needed to be away from the castle. She could deal with finding a new employer next evening.

Damn it, Greengrass… I really thought you could do it. For Trixie to beat you is one thing, but to break you…

She couldn’t finish the thought, and she left in a rush.

Extra Life

Maybe I should just go home, mused Greengrass.

It was late evening, about a week after Notary had resigned. Princess Luna Equestris had just lowered the sun, and the Night Court was beginning to kick into operation. He heard voices chattering through the hallways, those of servants and pages gossiping about their masters, soldiers and guards checking orders, and the Courtiers themselves, weaving the strands that tugged a whole nation. But he, of course, was not among them, and he could find no way to change that.

Of course, the thought of giving up and going home was anathema to the Duke. Ruling the country was his main goal, his one greatest ambition, and to leave now would forever taint his chances. He could lie and say that it was just a strategic retreat, a grace period to allow the memory of his collapse to fade, but he knew that wouldn’t work. He’d forever be known as the pony that couldn’t hack it, the one who, when bested by a young student, had to go home and lick his wounds. He could wait thirty years after that and never regain what he had lost.

So Greengrass sat on his bed and wracked his brain and tried to come up with some way back into the Game. Some strategy he hadn’t yet devised. No Courtier would deal with him, no noble, businesspony, or industrialist would give him the time of day, but there had to be something he could do. Some way to scam or swindle his way back to his seat, where he could begin rebuilding his power base.

If only he could think of it.

As Greengrass dressed and left his quarters, he mused on how other ponies – those who hadn’t started ennobled, but had been given seats later in life – had done it. A few had simply bought the seats, of course, sponsored by the large Trusts and corporations that wanted more overt political control. Some were recognized for meritous service by Luna or her aides and rewarded for it by a seat. That was how Baron Mounty Max had gained his title, for example; he’d saved several foals from a rock slide, been turned into a hero by the press, and had been ennobled a few weeks later.

Perform some service? The Duke had considered that. If he stopped thinking of himself as an ex-Courtier and acted just like any other pony who did not currently have a seat but wanted one, he supposed he might be able to win his seat back (or at least some seat) by performing some act of great valor or merit for Equestria. But he’d considered this before, and the problem was always the same. To win a seat by that method, one had to be personally approved by Luna Herself. That would never happen for the Duke; no matter what he did, she would never give him back the seat.

Besides, he wasn’t his father, and thank the stars for that. Greengrass shuddered briefly at the thought.

But that left him where he was before, out of ideas and –

As he passed the Quill Café, he saw Ruby Inkquill purchasing a hot chocolate.

It took Greengrass a moment – I’m out of practice at this, he thought – to realize why that was so odd. Inkquill ran the Canterlot Library, or more precisely, one of the external storage wings, where they kept the books that they owned but that weren’t checked out frequently enough to merit shelf space in the main library. She was a strict creature of habit, having never, as far as Greengrass knew, deviated from her routine as long as he had been at Canterlot. And, according to that routine, she should have been at work by then.

Greengrass wondered if he was misremembering her routine, but he didn’t think so. He’d embarked on a few ventures that had required access to the archives; so many ponies thought it was inaccessible that they would trust anything that could be found therein. Simply plant an old diary, say, containing some fictitious crime, arrange for it to be discovered, and voila, one had blackmail material for something some other pony’s ancestors had (not really) done. “Do you really want the world to know that your grandfather stole half your family’s land from the Starlight clan? They’ll sue to get it back. But I can keep it secret if you help me out…”

So he knew her schedule. He’d timed his own infiltrations of the archives, and Notary’s as well, around it. He was certain, then, that this was a deviation. Still, it wouldn’t be impossible for even her to break her routine. She wasn’t somepony like Octavia, who would probably rather jump off the Eastern Tower than miss a day of practicing. So this didn’t necessarily mean anything.

Deciding to find out, Greengrass looked around and spotted a foolishly unattended donut sitting on the table in front of him. He plucked it up and rewrapped it so that it looked fresh. Then he approached a waiter. “Excuse me, I think this was delivered to me by mistake? I heard the mare in front of me order it.” He pointed at Inkquill.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” The waiter took the donut and trotted over to her.

Greengrass slipped into the crowd and kept his gaze fixed on Inkquill. The waiter was approaching her, he tapped her on the shoulder, and –

Inkquill jumped like she’d been stung like a bee.

Greengrass blinked as the librarian wheeled around. It took her a moment of looking at the waiter for her calm grin to reassert itself. Once the waiter left, she looked over her shoulder a few times before returning her focus to her large cup of tea. And that look on her face, the slightly strained expression, the faintest hint of shame, made her look… guilty?

Like she’s worried about being discovered. She’s doing something she shouldn’t, and she really doesn’t want anypony to know. It’s not a vacation, then, and I doubt it’s simple tardiness – it’s more than that. Something’s not right.

Could she have been bribed, or threatened, to leave the archives for a short time? It wasn’t impossible. It wasn’t terribly bright on the part of whoever had done it, but Greengrass knew there were a few idiots in the Court. If they wanted to mess with the archives, or even hold a secret meeting there…

Greengrass began to leave the Café. It was probably nothing, but just in case…

The archive door was locked, and Greengrass decided not to try to break in. Any marginally competent plotter would have a pony watching the door. Besides, Notary was much better at that sort of thing than he was.

Instead, Greengrass walked around the outside of the archives room until he turned the corner and came to a small staircase. This led up into a part of the castle that was used mostly for storage. A lot of Courtiers didn’t know where those stairs went or even that they existed, but getting complete architectural plans of the castle – and memorizing them – had been one of Greengrass’s first tasks when he joined the Court. So he reached the level above the archives without difficulty.

The Duke paced off twenty steps from the top of the stairs – this would put him directly above the first few shelves of the archives – and then knelt down and began to work at the floor.

Installing a few discrete eavesdropping holes had been one of the other first few tasks that he’d undertaken upon arriving at the Court.

The stone hadn’t been raised up in a while, but Greengrass was able to lever it up with a thin metal rod that he’d brought, and he was soon able to lean down and press his ear against the hole. Sounds from the archives below drifted up to him.

“…I’m not sure about this.”

“Why? The money’s good, and it’s not like we’re being asked to do anything crazy.”

“Yeah, I get that, but still. That’s the thing. It’s a lot of money for random nonsense.”

Secret meeting then. Greengrass could not hold back a smirk. Amateurs. You don’t have a secret meeting somewhere like this. Go to a café or park, where nopony will notice or care that you’re talking! Here, you might as well have a giant sign above you proclaiming that you’re doing something you shouldn’t.

“Look, are you in or not?”

“I… alright, fine.” Greengrass heard the sound of a quill scratching over parchment. They were making this new pony sign some kind of confession or loyalty oath, then, something that would implicate him if they were caught, so he had an incentive to be careful. “There. Happy?”

“Next meeting’s at the time listed on that parchment, in the west wing of the observatory. You won’t regret this.”

“What? Why there? It’ll be packed.”

“Nope. We have a stallion on the Canterlot weather team who knows the forecast. It’s scheduled to rain then. Clouds everywhere. We can clear out any stragglers.”

“…alright. See you there. Hey, did you get that book yet?”

“Got it.” Greengrass heard the sound of a book being removed from a shelf. “Let’s get out of here. Inkwell’ll be back in a few.”

Inkwell returned in five minutes. Greengrass strode into the archives at ten. “Good evening, Inkwell.”

Inkwell glanced up at him, rolled her eyes, and returned her gaze to the book in front of her. “What do you want?”

“An Overview of Irrigation and Agricultural Water Practices, by Coldwater Fountainmaker. My fiefdom is beginning some new agricultural projects, or at least we want to, and I need some research,” lied Greengrass. The book was real, but he had no intention of reading that snooze-fest. He just needed to get near where he’d overheard those ponies, so he could try to find the missing book. It was probably research that some industrial group or noble backer wanted (and wanted to make unavailable for rivals), but knowing what the book was would help him figure out who, exactly, had taken it.

Inkwell sighed and began to look through a catalogue. “Row thirty-four, on your right, third shelf from the top.”

“Thank you!” Greengrass smiled genially and began to trot forward.

“I’ll get it,” said Inkwell, rising to her hooves. “You wait here.”

As expected. Inkwell didn’t like other ponies, particularly ponies who weren’t librarians or researchers, rummaging through the stacks, and she did have the right to insist upon retrieving books personally. She’d won that right after some moron had spilled an extra-tall coffee all over some ancient and irreplaceable ledgers and diaries. “As you wish. I’m in a bit of a hurry, though, so—“

“Hmph.” Inkwell began to move to the back.

Greengrass gave her ten minutes. That would be enough time for her to realize that the book had apparently been misplaced or lost (Notary had stolen it six months ago, in preparation for a scheme such as this one). After that, he called, “Is everything alright?” He waited a moment. “Do you need help?”

“I’m fine!”

“Inkwell, if you can’t find it, I’d be happy to lend a hoof.”

He smiled to himself as he imagined what Inkwell was thinking. She’d be wanting to return to her own book by now, would be leery of other ponies coming in while she was in the back, and would also have reason to fear Greengrass making a complaint against her. After all, she’d promised to get him the book, and now she wasn’t doing that. She’d have to—

“Alright. Get back here.”

Greengrass trotted over to her, then, with her brusque permission, began to move away. He soon made his way over to where he’d heard the ponies talking before. Most of the books were there, and the ones that weren’t had little slips in their spots to indicate the expected date of return. He was looking for a slot either without such a slip, or with a forged one, and –

Wait, there. It was the only completely vacant slot in the row. Greengrass trotted over, making a note of the location and the books around it.

“Section…” Greengrass paused. “Political Theory? Okay, books around it… Effective Protests and Demonstrations?? Slowdown and Shortages – How Small Businesses Brought Down the Sofa Conglomerate . Luna and Her Henchmares: How Even Small Ponies Can Win Out Over Dictators. How is that one even legal?”

What in the world was this?

“Greengrass?”

Greengrass hurried to the end of the row and smiled at Inkwell. “Any luck?”

“No. But I did find other books that might be useful instead.” Inkwell gestured at the door. “And I would be most happy to check them out for you.”

“I would appreciate that. Thank you ever so much.”

As Greengrass walked away from the library, he began to trot. He had to think about this.

“Did I really just blunder into some kind of anti-Court society?” mused the Duke.

That seemed phenomenally unlikely. Even assuming everything was as it had sounded, it was far more likely that he’d found a group of dorks who thought they were being edgy by having secret meetings and reading ‘forbidden’ literature that wasn’t even really forbidden (it was in the publically accessible archives, after all). That would be the most likely explanation…

If it wasn’t for the mention of money. The one pony had mentioned being paid a lot, and the other hadn’t sounded surprised or indignant, indicating that he was probably receiving a fair amount of bits too. Someone rich was backing this.

Could it be real?

Greengrass paced as he thought. If it was, if by sheer chance it was really a pro-Celestia group that had bribed Inkwell, then that meant…

He smiled. He felt the rush again, the familiar sense of having a scheme and the means to pull it off. He could infiltrate the group, discover who the leaders and backers were, and then expose them. Publically. Luna Herself would have to reward him for unearthing a cluster of… well, if he tried he could probably make them out to be some kind of terrorists. She’d have to give him his seat back, unless she wanted to look like she was weak on national security, and give her enemies in the Court plenty of ammunition to go after her with.

Yes. That could be it.

He glanced to one side before remembering that Notary had resigned. This would normally be where he explained his plan to her and she checked it for problems. But she wasn’t there. So he’d have to think of her objections on his own.

Well, first of all, if the group was real – an honest-to-goodness collection of anarchists or political zealots who wanted to do something bad to the government -- and they discovered him, they would kill him. He’d be outnumbered, and he had none of his usual set of guards or minions. He couldn’t hope to fight them all off.

Second, if he infiltrated the group, but it was discovered by the guards, Shadowbolts, or another noble’s investigation team before he himself exposed them, he’d go down with them. And that was a significant concern. The group was completely inept; Greengrass, after all, had found his first clue about them largely because they’d gone to the bother of sending Inkwell away rather than having their clandestine meeting somewhere sensible. He knew what they wanted because they’d only taken the one book, instead of several to divert suspicion. Yes, they seemed to have money from somewhere, but that just meant they had a member with money, or an idiot backer who’d been snowed. If he did infiltrate the group, he’d have to move very quickly, lest he be arrested as well.

Third, if he infiltrated the group and they actually managed to pull off something serious, Greengrass would be doomed no matter what he did. Even if he took down the group later, if it had, say, burned down half the castle, or taken hostages, or abducted somepony, whatever credit he got from taking them down wouldn’t be anything against the punishment for assisting (or appearing to assist) with whatever they did.

So, for this to work, he’d have to get into the group without arousing suspicion, somehow prevent them from doing whatever it was they planned on doing (they had said it was just ‘nonsense,’ but Greengrass was reasonably certain that the ‘nonsense’ was just to lure ponies in – if a lot of money was moving around, somepony wanted something significant from them), unmask the leaders, and expose them, all before the Royal Guards, Shadowbolts, or a team working for another noble (like Fisher’s Unicorn Special Forces, which were now part of the castle’s security team), discovered and arrested all of them.

Yes, Notary would definitely tell him to forget this idea.

But he couldn’t dismiss it. Here was his chance. If he did this, if he pulled it off, he’d be back in. He’d be in the Game again, and he could resume his political life. Not just like before, but even better – he’d be the only pony in the Court who had come back from political exile. ‘Even Luna Herself couldn’t keep him out,’ they would whisper. He’d have a few months where he could get whatever he wanted, where…

Okay, that was getting ahead of himself. For now, it would be enough to visualize being back in his seat. Yes, the risks were great, but the alternative was unthinkable. He would not retire to his home and live the next fifty years in idle luxury, or puttering around his own little fiefdom. No, Greengrass was a pony who needed to grow. To cultivate. He would not be satisfied with just a petty fiefdom.

The observatory – that was the next step. Greengrass began to put together his disguise, whistling merrily.

“Notary.”

Notary glanced up to see Majordomo, the… well, majordomo, of Archduke Bobbing Fisher. He was an orange-ish unicorn whose face always seemed to be locked in a sneer. She nodded at him. “Yes?”

“Please come with me.”

Notary raised an eyebrow, but followed Majordomo. What would Fisher want with her? Probably to purchase Greengrass’s secrets; she’d had a few requests for that already, but those weren’t for sale. She wasn’t going to sell the secrets from a past master to a new one; only an idiot would hire her if she did that, and Notary did not want to work for an idiot.

Majordomo led her into the section of the castle reserved for the offices and quarters of the nobility, and then up the stairs until they reached Archduke Fisher’s door. It was ornate, Notary noted, with the Fisher family crest cut into the wood, and the logos of Fisher’s flagship companies etched all around the border. One of the etchings still seemed fresh – Digger Industries, the company that had developed his new drill bit. The others were older, some almost ancient. The Fisher family had been at the forefront of Equestrian industry since time immemorial.

Majordomo unlocked the door and showed Notary inside. It hadn’t changed much since the last time Notary had snuck in there (Fisher’s locks were top-quality and immune to even Notary’s powers, but one of his junior pages had proven amenable to a hefty bribe). The main room was well appointed, with multiple bookshelves full of tomes on the law and on magic, and a large desk at one end. Doors lead to the quarters for Fisher and his closest assistants, and also a few offices for business meetings.

Notary glanced at the desk. It bore mostly work-related items; a few books, a quill and ink, papers, a lamp. There were two exceptions. One was a small tray with miniatures that seemed to represent Fisher’s industries – a tiny tractor, a tiny drill bit, a small building, and more. The other was a chess set, large and ornate, and with the pieces set up as if in a game.

Archduke Fisher was not in, but two members of his Unicorn Special Forces, or USF, were standing by the door to his bedroom. Notary recognized both of them. One was Turquoise Blade, a tall and elegant mare with a sword at one side and a sharp horn that she’d dyed to match her ocean-blue coat. She was a champion fencer who used her telekinesis to manipulate her blade; she’d been in the Equestria military until Fisher had convinced her to join his team.

The other was a tall and stocky unicorn stallion, with a lightning bolt cutie mark and a tan coat. He was…

“Captain Lightning.” Notary inclined her head. “Hello again.”

“It’s just Lightning now, thanks to that sun-spawn you called a boss.” Lightning turned to Majordomo. “Fisher isn’t seriously thinking of hiring this mule, is he? I know I’ve told him what she’s done.”

“One mustn’t blame the servant for the sins of the master,” said Majordomo. “And one mustn’t let personal conflicts get in the way of important work.”

Important work?

“Sure, but one shouldn’t trust rats and mules with important work either. Does Fisher really want to be associated with her? She’”

“Apparently, since he asked me to come here,” said Notary.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“You entered the political arena of your own free will,” said Notary, “Offering yourself as a trophy of Nobility’s so that she would vote how you wanted regarding military affairs. If you did not want to risk losing, you should not have been in the Game.” That was a line Greengrass had often uttered, and Notary agreed with him.

“This is no Game, you little—“

One of the office doors opened, and Fisher stepped out. A bill floated before him which Notary recognized as a recent military appropriations act. Fisher was examining it carefully. A quill floated in front of it, scratching comments as he walked.

Nopony said anything until Fisher had seated himself at his desk and set the bill down. The two soldiers had moved to stand at attention and maintained this pose; Majordomo faded back behind a smaller desk, where he resumed his own work. Fisher he glanced up. “Miss Notary. I’m glad to see that Majordomo found you.”

Notary inclined her head.

“I understand that you are looking for a new master.” Fisher made more notes on the bill. “As it happens, I have need of an assistant.”

“What would my tasks be?”

“On paper, you would be my secretary and personal assistant. You would assist with clerical work, such as filing papers and transcribing letters. You would also schedule appointments and handle the logistical side of things; reserving conference rooms and the like.”

“And off paper?”

Fisher shrugged. “I am conducting an investigation of a recently formed group in the castle that could prove dangerous. You will assist with it, using some of the… less public skills that you displayed while working for your previous boss.”

“What group? And what exactly would I be doing?”

“I won’t tell you yet. I need to know if I can trust you first, Miss Notary. For all I know, this ‘resignation’ of yours is just a ruse, and you plan to report your new master’s secrets back to Greengrass at the first opportunity.” Fisher’s voice betrayed no emotion.

“That would hamper my ability to change employers for real, should such become necessary,” pointed out Notary.

“I’ve learned that ponies do not always make the rational decision. Be that as it may, I do promise you that if, when I tell you of your other duties, you object, you may resign at that time with no penalty.” Fisher crossed out something on the bill. “Your day will begin when I wake, two hours before Court business starts, and will end two hours after the Court closes for the morning. Unlike some of the ponies here, who are only politicians, I must also manage my business empire, and I take a close interest in the affairs of my fiefdom as well – after all, it is on the border and all.” He sounded serious, Notary thought – quite different from the jocular Greengrass. “I’ll match whatever Greengrass was paying you.”

Notary named the figure, expecting Fisher to tell her to stop lying – Greengrass had paid her quite well.

Fisher didn’t bat an eye, though. “That sounds about right. Do you have any questions?”

Notary hesitated. She felt like she should turn this offer down. She didn’t need the money, and the mysterious ‘secret duties’ was a red flag. Yes, Fisher said she could quit if she didn’t like them, and yes, he might just be concerned that she would betray him, but…

“If you serve me well, of course, you would have substantial opportunity for advancement.” Fisher said. “As I’m sure you’re aware, I head many corporations. They require capable administrators. After a sufficient period of proving yourself, if you wanted, I would be pleased to transfer you to a management position in one of those businesses. You are unusually young for such a position, but I’m given to understand you are unusually skilled as well. Or, you could stay here.” He turned a page in the bill with his telekinesis. “Assisting me, an archduke… perhaps soon, a viceroy.”

“So you’re seeking to move up in the Court?” Now that did interest Notary. She had no interest in employers with no ambition.

“Yes.”

“The next rank is ‘viceroy,’ but there can only be one viceroy or vicereine of each tribe. Do you have a plan for dealing with the Starlight clan?”

“Yes, repealing that restriction. If there are, say, two unicorns capable of the job, and no earth ponies, why shouldn’t there be two unicorn viceroys?” Fisher finally showed an emotion, snorting derisively. “But, if that cannot happen… Night Light has picked a fight with Luna’s favored student, his own daughter is a fugitive from justice, and the Special Forces will soon demonstrate that they are far more important to the safety and security of this great nation than his son’s Guards. Now they share the duties of defending the castle with Armor’s soldiers, but soon it will be clear that they are far more capable than his motley brigades. Once the Forces prove themselves, I feel that I will be able to surpass Night Light without undue difficulty.”

That was more ambition – and sensible ambition, at that – than Notary had sensed from any of the others that she had talked with over the past week. Excluding Puissance, who had flatly said that she wasn’t interested in somepony as ‘plain’ as Notary, most of the ones she’d talked to had either expressed no interest in advancing, or only wild ideas that could never work. Fisher seemed to have a real plan. There was potential, there.

“Do you accept the job?”

Notary was not a politician; she knew that Greengrass would be able to see better than her if she was agreeing to a bad deal. But he wasn’t there, and she would have to do this on her own. She would be careful and wary, but she would take this opportunity. “I do.”

“Archduke,” cut in Lightning, “Wait. I protest. She’s betrayed numerous ponies for Greengrass, including me. Whatever talents she has, there must be an honest pony out there with the same ones.”

Fisher looked annoyed for a second, but then the moment had passed, quickly enough that Notary wasn’t sure if it had just been a trick of the light. “I appreciate the concern, and believe me, I’m taking that into consideration. While she is in my employ, a USF member will watch her until she proves that she deserves my trust. Does that satisfy you?”

“…Okay.” Lightning nodded and resumed standing at attention. Notary, for her part, bumped Fisher up another notch – she knew too many nobles that hated any criticism from their servants and bodyguards. That Fisher was willing to accept such comments was a point in his favor.

“Very well. Your office is the fourth door from the right. You start tomorrow.” Fisher then glanced at Majordomo. “Let her in tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Archduke.”

Fisher turned back to his bill, and Notary got the sense that she was dismissed. “I will see you then, sir.”

Fisher made no comment, and Notary left.

New Associates

Infiltrating the group wasn’t terribly difficult.

Greengrass had gone into the observatory shortly before closing, entered the west wing, and left a message (typed out so he couldn’t be identify by the writing) to the effect of, “I am a friend and support your cause. I have resources to help you. If you are interested, send a representative to the Inky Quill café tonight.”

And then, because this group seemed to like the sort of Daring Do-esque dramatics, he’d added a few more lines to entice them. Instead of a simple description, or better yet, a seat location, he said, “I will be the pony wearing the thick brown cloak and hood. Every ten minutes, I will scratch my nose. If you send a representative, have him or her walk by my table, pause, and say the word ‘apples.’”

Even Greengrass had found that silly, but the secret agent theatrics were apparently convincing, because within an hour a tallish mare walked past Greengrass’s table and then said – yelled, really – “Oh, horseapples!”

Greengrass had spoken to her. She’d tried playing it coy, but he’d played a better offense and she’d told him all about the group.

“Why do you want to join us?” she had asked.

Greengrass had raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t the question be, ‘Why is your group worth my time?’ You are not the only such group in the city, you know. What makes yours special?”

“I – uh—“ This was clearly not what the mare had been expecting. “What I mean is, why—“

“Look, I’m busy. The goals I am pursuing – that I had hoped we could pursue together – cannot wait. If you will not demonstrate to me the validity of your organization, I will find another. You can explain to your superiors why you don’t have my vast resources.”

“Resources?”

Greengrass opened up a saddlebag and took out a pouch of worthless metal shards, which he jangled as if they were money. (Actual bits in a bag were heavy enough that they didn’t jangle well. Metal shards, if they were big enough, provided the expected sound much better than real money.) “Yes. But if you don’t want them—“

“Oh, we do!” The mare gulped. “Look. You already know what we do, right? We’re tired of the Court oppressing the common ponies like us. Of the Courtiers passing laws based on what’s good for them, and not the ponies that actually make the country work!”

“As am I,” said Greengrass, his voice beckoning the mare on.

“We’re protesting them! Small acts of sabotage, to slow down the Court and make it harder for them to operate. That sewage backup last week that got the Council rooms shut down? That was us! When the Secretary of the Court’s logbook and schedule went missing, so they had to cancel the Court for the day? That was us too! Schedule slip-ups, burned refreshments, everything of that kind – we’re doing all that to stop their machinations. We are going to make it impossible to run this Court, until they have to give in to our demands!”

“What are they?”

“Add more seats to the Court, and have those be filled by ponies elected by the various communities! Eventually, we want it to be entirely elected, but we’ll settle for now for half and half. The noble families will get exactly as much say as the views of the ponies who do all the actual work.”

Greengrass bit his tongue so he didn’t burst into laughter. The Court would sooner burn down Canterlot Castle and fragment into independent fiefdoms than do that. Voluntarily relinquish power? It would never happen. “Ah, a more democratic perspective. Precisely my viewpoint!”

“After all, why should those ponies get to decide how our lives go but remain unaccountable?” The mare grinned. “Alright, I think I’ve made my point. Ready to join us?”

“Of course!”

“Now – please don’t take offense – but we need you to sign this.” The mare produced a paper, which pronounced that the signer was now a member of a dissident group plotting the eventual overthrow of the Court. “’This is just so that you don’t betray us later—“

“I’m glad to see that your security is so tight. You can’t be too careful with these things,” said the Duke, signing the name Hugh G. Belly and showing the mare a few legal papers with that same name on them. This was a fake identity that Notary had helped design for him a while ago; ‘Hugh’ had a fictitious address, employment records, even a short stint in prison for salt smuggling. It would stand up to substantial scrutiny, which was more than these idiots were likely to be able to procure. “Shall we?”

“I’ll take you to meet the group!”

‘The group’ was the Canterlot Common Pony Supporters, or CCPS (pronounced ‘cee-ceeps.’) They were wearing concealing outfits such as cloaks and parkas, except for the unicorns, which were casting illusion spells. Greengrass thought this was stupid, since any real law-enforcement agency that found out about them would easily be able to arrest them all and find out their real identities, but Hugh G. Belly just said it was ‘a brilliant security precaution.’

Because the group was cloaked and disguised, Greengrass wasn’t able to identify more than a few of them. (He wished he still had the services of Octavia Philharmonica, who could identify ponies by their voices or gait, but he would just have to make do without her). He was pretty sure that the squat one on the far left worked in the kitchens, and the short one near the center of the group represented a minor pear-growing concern that wasn’t good enough to merit the favor or aid of the Court. By and large, it looked like most of the ponies there were like that – servants and the most minor of nobles.

The leader was a tall pony – very tall, actually, near Luna’s height -- who wouldn’t give his name, and despite the group’s democratic pretensions, he seemed to be making all the calls. After briefly greeting ‘Belly,’ he immediately returned his attention to business. “Alright. Like I was saying, I think we need to step it up to the next level. Now, starting five days from now, the Court is going to have several sessions on which businesses to fund in the next year –“

“Their own!” yelled out one of the group’s members.

“Yes,” said the leader. “Their own. Once again, they’ll put their own welfare over that of the nation.”

Greengrass blinked. Unlike the others, the leader’s comments sounded almost perfunctory. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“But to justify their corrupt decisions, they’ll need research. I’m thinking we want to prevent that research. Let’s make the library unusable.” The leader grinned. “A few burst pipes.”

“There’s a big magical spell in the library to stop the books from getting wet,” said one of the other ponies. “On the shelves.”

“Yeah, but the library itself will still be under two feet of water. Besides, we can steal some of the most important books.”

“Which ones?” asked the Duke.

“One of us works in the library and has access to the check-out lists,” said the leader. “We can determine, say, the twenty or thirty books that are most commonly checked out during the ‘Court ponies pick which businesses to boost’ weeks, and which can’t be easily obtained elsewhere – Court books, or stuff that’s only owned by the Canterlot library. Then we just steal all the copies of them.”

Any books that rare would probably not be publically available, thought Greengrass. If the group actually tried this, they would have to break into the library’s security, and unless the fugitive Twilight Sparkle was among them, that was not likely. They’d be more likely to just get caught.

“That’ll show them!” yelled the mare.

The meeting soon turned to the newest members. There was a cook who felt generically unappreciated, a farmer who hadn’t gotten the bailout she needed to stay afloat, the son of a baron who was basically engaging in standard teenage rebellion. And then Greengrass found himself called upon. “And what about you? Why did you decide to join us?” asked the leader.

“I just couldn’t take the depredations of the Court anymore,” said Greengrass, bringing to mind the sad history of ‘Belly.’ “Honestly, between the greedy ones who only care about their own profit like Puissance, and the lazy ones who don’t want to do a lick of work like Luna’s student Lulamoon, it’s clear that all they do is take from us to get out of doing an honest day’s labor!”

“And they ruin innocent ponies in doing so,” commented another pony.

“Yes,” said Greengrass. “Like that Duke Greengrass fellow that was exposed during the Gala. I read in the papers that he committed all manner of depravities!” His fall had been a convenient time for every noble with dirty secrets to pin their crimes on him. Greengrass had noted sardonically that, according to different newspapers, on one cold winter morning he was in six different dwellings doing six different devious, dastardly deeds. He had been swindling a widow out of her life’s savings in Trottingham, pushing a small raincloud company out of business in Cloudsdale, orchestrating the collapse of an anti-mob task force in Prance, and even worse deeds elsewhere. (In reality, he had been at home, eating toast and jam and deciding how best to flatter Fragrant Posey into voting his way on a lumber bill). “Bribery, blackmail, extortion, theft, frame-ups…”

“And I heard that he tried to drink the blood of the Element of Magic to gain her power!” chimed in the mare who had met Greengrass earlier.

Greengrass blinked. “…yes, of all of Greengrass’s many sins, surely among the worst is his… vampirism.” These ponies are idiots.

But it worked, and Greengrass found himself accepted by the group. A few even commiserated with him and offered him help getting back on his hooves. Greengrass accepted their well-wishes with grace and aplomb. “What about you?” he asked the leader. “What led you to this cause?”

“The Court… well, an agent of the Court hurt a very dear friend of mine.” And that was all Greengrass could get out of him.

Most of the rest of the meeting was just plotting future crimes. Greengrass spent his time trying to identify the other ponies, although he had little luck. But there was one interesting bit at the end.

“By the way,” the leader said. “We still could use a pony on the pageantry committee. If you know of any likely ones, tell me about them two nights from now, when we meet to back up the pipes.”

The ponies murmured.

“Alright. Let’s go. Remember, two nights from now, the Hoof and Horseshoe Bar. It’s closed while the owner’s away, so it’s the perfect place to meet.” The pony nodded. “Good luck, and may we bring down the corrupt Courtiers who ruin our lives!”

“Okay,” said Greengrass. “Most of those ponies are complete morons, but they haven’t been caught yet. What does that mean?”

It wasn’t just good leadership. Good leadership would involve choosing ponies that weren’t idiots to join his cause. Good leadership would have jettisoned the blazingly obvious secret locations, and would have either a better system for ensuring that no pony’s real names were discovered, or would forego the idea entirely, on the basis that if they all got caught they were doomed no matter what.

It wasn’t just luck either. The ponies had been successful a couple of times – Greengrass recalled the incidents of sabotage that the mare had mentioned. That would take at least some skill and planning. Resources too; messing with the castle’s plumbing would likely take decent tools and a map of the castle pipes. Plus, the ponies in the castle archives had mentioned that they would be getting money, and Greengrass hadn’t sensed that any of those ponies had access to a lot of it. All that indicated that they had somepony competent backing them… but again, that pony was apparently willing to put up with a lot of incompetence.

“Alright, think. A group of idiots that is nevertheless successful and has rich backing.” Greengrass sighed as he sat at his table to have his breakfast before bed. “Assuming the backer is competent, he has to know that he could get better results out of them…”

Well, wait. He didn’t know who had actually sabotaged the pipes. Maybe there were a few ponies there that were competent and a group of idiots surrounding them. Which would mean…

“Fall guys,” he said, nodding. “That makes sense.”

The plan made sense now. Some backer secretly sponsored a group to engage in minor sabotage around the castle. The events were happening on certain days when the Court was doing certain things, and Greengrass would guess that those things were things the backer didn’t want going on. The leader, the only competent plotter in the group, was probably in on it and making sure the group did what the backer wanted. Inevitably, the group would be discovered, and the grunt workers would take the fall while the backer (and the group’s ostensible leader, probably) faded into the background.

“Okay. I need to get the leader’s true identity, and the backer – and fast, before whoever’s behind this decides they’ve gotten as much mileage as they can out of it.” Greengrass thought. He had to demonstrate his ability and prove to the leader that he’d be much more useful in the inner circle than out of it. Then he might be able to meet the backer, at which point he could bring down the organization.

And he had to do it all without actually committing any serious crimes that would make the whole thing pointless, and before the group screwed up and was caught for real. That mattered too.

“But if it was easy, it wouldn’t be much of a Game.” Greengrass grinned. He felt alive again, for the first time in months. It was him, his wits, and his resources against the group and the shadowy backer behind them. He would play, and he would win. That was all there was to it.

What could go wrong?

Notary considered herself to be relatively imperturbable. She took things in stride, kept her cool, and was in general a consummate professional. Yet, there she was, in Fisher’s office, utterly consumed by one single emotion.

Jealousy.

As she watched, Fisher picked up another blank form. He creased his brow in thought, and his horn glowed. And then, magically, the ink in the pot receded a little, and words appeared on the page at the speed of thought.

In about two minutes, he finished writing the five page letter. In another flash, the envelope was addressed. “File this with the rest of the outgoing mail, Notary.”

Well, they were making good time at least.

Notary had been mildly surprised by Fisher’s work ethic. Most employers she’d considered took a little time to ease into the work day; while Greengrass, for instance, could hit the ground running if he had to, he liked to start with a nice meal and perhaps a cup of hot chocolate before digging into things. Not Fisher, though; precisely two hours before the Court had opened, Fisher had exited his room, gone directly to his desk, and begun dictating orders to Notary.

To be fair, there was a lot of work to do. Fisher maintained a very close watch on his companies and his fiefdom, and there was no end of paperwork that had to be completed – it seemed like most major decisions still routed through him. “Notary,” Fisher said at one point, “Get me the files on the Tractor Trust – third bookshelf. Look up for me the gross tonnage shipped in the last ten years.”

“Yes, sir.”

Notary didn’t do nearly as much paperwork as she’d thought she would -- she did some, of course, most of the routine filing that wasn’t worth Fisher’s time – but her job was more often that of a reference librarian and mail clerk. She looked up the facts Fisher needed and navigated his complicated filing system to get the appropriate forms sent to the appropriate places. The time went quickly, though Fisher made no small talk and was all business. Notary said almost nothing but “Yes, sir,” unless it was reciting a figure from a book.

During the night, Fisher insisted that Notary and a few other servants accompany him around. Greengrass had often mocked this habit of Fisher’s, and indeed, they weren’t all necessary, but Fisher did it regardless. This was something Notary couldn’t figure out, especially as the servants didn’t do much besides tell Fisher how great his schemes were. (She hoped that he didn’t really need that kind of ego massaging; that was a very bad sign in an employer). But he conducted his Court business with the same serious and blunt nature, and Notary had to admit that it brought results. Although, of course, his success could also be due to his Special Forces that were patrolling parts of the castle. They were intimidating, after all.

(Notary had kept an eye out for Duke Greengrass, but she hadn’t seen him. It was like he had vanished completely from Court life. She did a reasonably good job, she thought, of forcing herself not to think about that).

When Court business was done, Fisher and Notary returned to the office for another two hours of business work. Only at the conclusion of that did Fisher dismiss Notary with a curt, “Same time tomorrow.” And then he returned to his quarters, and Majordomo was shooing her out the door.

She returned home, ate a hasty meal, and went to bed. And in a few hours, she got up to do it over again.

It was a few days after she was hired that Fisher kept her late. “You’ve done everything I’ve asked of you, correctly, and on the first try too. Well done.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Also, I’ve been watching to see if Greengrass sticks his head back up. He hasn’t acted on any of the information you’ve had the chance to absorb, which indicates to me that you haven’t been feeding it to him. After all, with him as desperate as he is, I doubt he would wait if you gave him anything actionable – he would use it right away.” Fisher nodded slightly. “You will begin the other portion of your duties tonight.”

“And those are?”

Greengrass inclined his head at Turqoise Blade, who stepped forwards. “In order to demonstrate our utility, the Archduke wants us to destroy a dangerous group within Canterlot.”

“My Forces are more than capable of winning in a fight, but there’s always the concern that we might miss one,” said Fisher. “And they may have secret assistance, from rich or politically connected ponies, who could escape if the group itself was defeated. For the sake of Canterlot, that is not acceptable. Your task will be to assist my team in ferreting out each of the members of the group and identifying them.” He rose. “Let me be very clear – while I will give you the resources you need, do not expect me to bail you out if you are caught in a compromising situation. I am needed to run the Special Forces, my businesses, and my fiefdom. I cannot endanger that to save you.”

Is that because I’m not a unicorn? But Notary just said, “Of course, sir.”

“Blade will brief you on what we know about them. You may use any of your skills to gain the information I seek.” Fisher checked his watch. “As for scheduling, you will report to work at your usual time tomorrow. Instead of accompanying me during my time in the Court, though, you will begin your infiltration. You will return by the end of Court hours for the remainder of my business work, and will also inform Blade and myself of what you know.”

Notary nodded. “In that case, what I will try is—“

“Blade will inform you as to what you are to try,” said Fisher.

“I have some experience in this area, sir,” said Notary, her voice stressing the fourth word slightly. “Turquoise Blade does not.”

Fisher opened his mouth, looking angry, but then paused. “…very well. Part of being a good manager is knowing when to be hooves-off. But I trust that you will bring me results, Notary. We have little time.”

“Do I have a deadline?”

Fisher glanced at a calendar. “Princess Cadence is having a major celebration soon. The group will probably try to disrupt it, so we need to shut them down by then. That’s the deadline. Bring me the names, Notary, and I will reward you handsomely.”

And that was that.

“Archduke, may I say something?” asked Lightning.

“Certainly. Your counsel I value.” Fisher shook his head. Blade had taken Notary into a side room, but it still aggravated him that his secretary – an earth pony not even half his age, with none of his experience, would dare offer her own strategies instead of using his. There was a reason he led a dozen companies, was a powerful and prominent politician, and was the Canterlot Chess Champion for six years in a row, while she was a common criminal with above-par filing skills.

“I was surprised that she believed that she had won your trust in only a few days. That sort of thing takes months.”

“She’s not a politician; she has no framework to evaluate that,” said Fisher, already returning to his business documents. “I’m sure that Greengrass handled that for her in the past. Does it matter?”

“She could figure out that you’re… well, that you want her in particular very badly.”

“So she asks for a raise. I’ll give it to her. She knows her skills are very difficult to match, especially combined with her professionalism.” Fisher turned a page. “But I want her in particular, for at least a few weeks. This group, the CCPS, has to be my priority. After your failure in Ponyville, I need a victory to justify the existence of the USF. This is the closest one I can get.”

“Yes, archduke.” Lightning bowed. “And… do you want me to keep an eye on her?”

“Not yet. The leader of the group is clever; if he does discover Notary, I don’t want to risk losing you as well. The USF cannot afford to lose again.” Fisher nodded. “But perhaps later, as the time draws near.” He smiled slightly. “And don’t worry. If she does betray me, or work against me in some way… I’ll let you handle the punishment.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The two lapsed into silence, and Fisher continued with his work.

Just like old times, thought Notary, as she returned home. Weeding again, just for a new master.

She sighed. She did not like Fisher much at all; he was brusque and difficult to talk to, he often seemed annoyed by Notary’s ideas and suggestions, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t think of her as much more than one of his chess pawns. But he was the best she could do, so she’d make the most of it.

Besides. If nothing else, his appreciation for quality work and his zeal to get everything right was obvious. He did listen to her, even if she had to push a bit, and it wasn’t like Greengrass always followed her advice on the first try anyway. So Fisher was sensible, then, and seemed to respect her. If she did a good job, she could advance. They both could, and that was what Notary wanted.

Nodding to herself, Notary got into bed. It would be a big evening.

Opening Gambits

It had been a while since Greengrass had done this sort of work. He’d used Notary for it, as well as his other agents. But he didn’t have them – Notary had quit, as had his other employees, and Puissance had snapped up his old network of spies and loyal servants – so he’d have to do it alone.

“Besides,” he told himself, “I’ve done this before. I can do it again.” He grinned. “I’m getting back in the Game, and that’s what matters!”

He trotted out his door. He felt invincible. Nothing could stop him now!

Except, as it turned out, a locked door.

Greengrass frowned as he examined the pesky obstacle. It was a standard door, wooden, with an old keyhole that could probably be picked in about thirty seconds by a competent thief. Notary could have done it in fifteen, he was sure, and his expert, Lockpick, in about eight.

Greengrass tried the door, but merely hoping that it would unlock itself wasn’t enough. The door remained stubbornly closed.

After the CCPS meeting had concluded, Greengrass had drifted near some of the ponies that had stayed behind and mingled. Two of the ponies had been discussing having to put up with ‘obnoxious guards who take them for granted,’ and one had smelled strongly of garbage. That had brought to Greengrass’s mind the idea that this pony might be one of the barracks janitors. Because weapons and sensitive materials were stored in them, the barracks had separate janitors from the rest of the castle, and it seemed likely that one would be dissatisfied enough with the arrogant Guards to join the society. As such, Greengrass had hit upon the idea of slipping into the barracks and trying to identify him; that could be a key first step in ascending in the group and joining the inner circle.

If only he could get in.

“Okay,” he muttered. “I can start a ruckus out here, wait for them to come out, and sneak in behind them… but then the pony I’m looking for will be out here too, in the middle of whatever I do. I can pound on the door and demand entry, but I don’t think—“

“Can I help you?”

Greengrass turned to see a Royal Guard. He couldn’t place the Guard’s name; he was probably new. There had been a rash of hiring after Corona’s escape from the sun, and many of the Guards were still relative neophytes. And he wouldn’t recognize Greengrass; the stallion was in disguise – coat dye, mane dye, and a fake cutie mark of a smiley face (a store in town sold novelty fake cutie marks, useful for foals who wanted to pretend they had gotten their marks early, or pranksters who wanted to secretly put them on their friends and tease them about having gotten cutie marks shaped like toilets or rocks). So he wouldn’t know that Greengrass was pony non grata in the castle.

Hmm. He could use that.

“Yes, I’m supposed to be in there right now but the key they issued me doesn’t work.” Greengrass took a random key out of his saddlebag and gestured it at the door. “I’m worried that if I’m much later, the Captain will be angry. I’m sure you know how he gets.”

 The Guard smiled at that. “Captain Armor’s on the practice field right now.”

“I know – I’m not supposed to meet him, I’m supposed to be setting up my presentation in there. If it’s not ready when he gets back, well, that’s bad for me. Can you let me in?”

“Sure. Pass?”

The Guard passes were extremely difficult to forge, for obvious reasons. The actual physical pass itself was challenging, though not beyond Greengrass’s capabilities – forging documents was an important skill for a politician. But the passes were imbued with a magical beacon as well, cast by Shining Armor himself. Greengrass didn’t know the spell, and even if he had, he would have needed a unicorn to duplicate it.

But the guard wasn’t a unicorn. That didn’t mean that he couldn’t verify the pass, there was probably some way to do it, but if he was new, and…

“Here.” Greengrass took out his forged pass. It looked accurate to the eye, though it didn’t have any magic. “Can you let me in now?”

“One sec.” The guard placed the pass against the wall, then tapped it in a specific spot. As Greengrass had expected, nothing happened.

“Okay? Now?” asked Greengrass, as if everything was fine.

“It’s not giving…”

“What are you talking about? Shining tested that spell in front of me to make sure it was working – it was two nights ago, in his personal quarters, on his coffee table. Aren’t you doing it right?”

“I’m trying!” said the flustered guard, tapping it again. “But…”

“They told me that if I had the pass, even if the key didn’t work, somepony would be able to let me in!” said Greengrass, allowing some stress and frustration – and just a hint of panic – to creep in to his voice. “I was counting on this, it was vital…”

As he ranted, he carefully watched the guard out of the corner of his eye. The guard would, of course, be considering strongly the possibility that he really was screwing up triggering the spell on the pass – he wasn’t a unicorn and couldn’t sense those things. He, who was new, would worry that he might really refuse to let in an important visitor, and that he would be punished or look stupid. He would think that Greengrass had called his Captain by just the name ‘Shining’ and had visited his residence, which implied a close personal relationship. And he would say…”

“Alright, alright.” The Guard unlocked the door. “How long will you be?”

“Just a few minutes to get things set up. Thanks!”

Greengrass entered the quarters, set his saddlebag (full of junk) on a table in the middle, and hurried over to the janitor’s office. The barracks were deserted; most of the Guards were training at this time of night, and those that weren’t were either on vacation, on sick leave, or on guard elsewhere in the castle. This was thus the perfect time for the janitorial staff to clean the place, and thus the best time for Greengrass to sneak inside.

A few ponies were by the janitor’s office. One was too tall, one too fat, one a mare, and…

“Guess I gotta mop up the sweat again,” muttered the fourth.

Greengrass smiled. That was it. That was the same voice. (Well, he was pretty sure it was the same voice. That would have to do.)

“Excuse me,” he said, approaching them. “I’m giving a presentation. Could you,” he gestured at the CCPS pony, “Help me get a table moved around?”

“Sure,” grumbled the pony, walking over with Greengrass.

“Thank you! I’m Salescolt. What’s your name?”

“Mopmaster Swish.”

Greengrass had what he came for. Now it was time to leave. He—

The barracks door opened, and a unicorn came in with one leg in a cast and a large bandage wrapped around her horn. “Evening,” she called out. “Don’t mind me, just got a bit clumsy on the last lap of the obstacle course.”

“Oh, Icemare! Could you look at this?” The first guard, who had been working on some paperwork on his bunk, trotted over to her. “I think this pass is malfunctioning.”

Uh oh.

Greengrass hastily excused himself from Swish and, using the rows of bunks as cover, maneuvered his way around to the barracks entrance. He’d had an escape route in mind, of course, thanks to his knowledge of the castle’s architecture, but it wasn’t optimal. If he could just sliip out of the room.

“What are you talking about? This pass never had a spell on it. It’s a fake.” The unicorn frowned. “Where did you get it?”

Greengrass took off at a dead run.

He made it out of the door before the guard yelled, “GET BACK HERE!” and took off after him. Greengrass fled at a dead run for the stairs. If he could get down them –

He almost made it.

Greengrass heard steps from far too close behind him, and turned just in time for the earth pony guard to tackle him. Greengrass cried out as he banged his shoulder against the ground, and then they were both skidding down the stairs.

BONK. Greengrass yelped as his head hit the wall. He’d be feeling that for a few days.

But the fall managed to get the guard off of him, and Greengrass was able to get to his hooves and make it to a small closet. There was another door on the other side which led to an old, disused passageway, and a large vent in there that led to a laundry room a few floors down. If he got there, he’d be safe.

Into the door, out the other one, and into the vent just before the guard entered the passageway. Greengrass watched and waited for the guard to run past the vent before he backed down it and made his way to the laundry room.

I got bucked and banged up a lot less when Notary was here, Greengrass thought to himself. But that was no way to think; sure, he might want Notary’s help again, but he couldn’t have it, and that was that.

He groaned. He had to keep going; he wanted to find out two more names today. And he had to ditch this disguise too. But first… a painkiller might be in order.

“Wait a minute. You’re not the famous chef Pomegranate Passion! You’re a fake!”

Greengrass looked up from the stew he was mixing. “Excuzes-moi?” he demanded. “And just who do ze think ze are? Hmph!”

One of the other ponies Greengrass had eavesdropped on after the CCPS meeting had mentioned working in the castle kitchens. Her cloak had shifted, and Greengrass had caught a glimpse of her cutie mark, a ladle. So he’d changed outfits, put on a fake cutie mark of a durian, and bluffed his way into the kitchens in the guise of being an ‘expert’ who had been brought in to show them a new dish.

But he hadn’t found that pony yet. Of course, it could be her day off or something, but it was still frustrating. And now it looked like his disguise was failing.

“I,” said the objector, “Am the chef in charge of this kitchen! I know cooking, and you clearly don’t! Look – right there, you used the wrong spoon to stir that pot!”

Seriously? “A true chef knows that, rather than being bound by ze hidebound rules of ze traditionalists, we must improvise and forge our own rules!” said Greengrass.

“I don’t think so—“

“Anyway,” said Greengrass, resolving to push harder, “I think now is ze time for ze serving! The dish must be carefully ladeled into ze bowls. Is there any pony in here with ze penchant for ladleing?”

After some murmuring, one pony with a ladle cutie mark did approach. Greengrass nodded to himself; this was the CCPS pony. “What is your name?”

“Nourriture, sir.”

“Ah, good, and—“

Another pony entered the room, whom Greengrass recognized as the head of catering and kitchen scheduling for the castle, and the head chef turned to her. “Excuse me, but did we actually have an expert scheduled to come in and,” he sniffed, “Train us?”

“Uh, no…”

“As I thought. You are an imposter!”

Greengrass smiled winningly, then ran for the door. The saucepan only caught him a glancing blow on the head.

And so it went. Greengrass visited a gambling parlor to find a frequent customer, a café to locate a waitress, and even the sewage department on the outskirts of Canterlot to find a worker. In each case, he was able to get the name he wanted. But he also suffered quite a bit in doing it.

I’d try to find Notary, but she’s not going to come back on my say-so. I need to prove that I’ve still got it… he grumbled to himself, as he sat in his bed with an ice pack pressed to his head. Who would have thought that such a slim, little waitress could buck so hard?

But he had the names; that was what mattered. He could implement his next step very soon indeed.

“You have everything you need?” asked Majordomo.

“Yes,” said Notary. She adjusted her saddlebag, which contained the various tools and documents she thought she would need. “I’m still curious as to how Fisher obtained this information.”

“He has other spies,” said Majordomo. “And you don’t need to know more than that.”

Notary raised an eyebrow. “We’re on the same side.”

“Let’s just say I’m not fully convinced of that.” Majordomo smirked. “Don’t get arrested.” And he turned around and walked back into Fisher’s office.

Rolling her eyes, Notary trotted out into the Court. Fisher’s information had told her what the group was doing, and how they acted. She had to do something similar, enact some kind of of act of sabotage of her own, to get noticed by them so that they would trust her--preferably without getting caught by the actual security forces in the castle.

But that wouldn’t be too difficult. This was what she did.

Notary had come up with four possibilities for sabotage which the Archduke had approved of. First was the castle’s food.

Notary slipped into the kitchen, which seemed to be a bit more chaotic than usual for some reason. She took advantage of the commotion to make her way to the back of the room, unnoticed by all. She quickly found herself by the pantry door, and she entered without fuss.

The large box in the back of the pantry was for rare and special ingredients; the foods that Princess Luna had prepared when she was to entertain foreign dignitaries, for instance. Spoiling them wouldn’t cause any major fuss in the cancel, since the foods weren’t slated to be used for a while, but the servants and cooks would know. Word of that problem would get out, and that was a good start.

Notary picked the lock to open up the box, and then began to scratch the runes off of one of the sides. It didn’t take much before they flashed and stopped glowing – after all, it wasn’t like anypony had really thought that somepony would attack the box.

There. Notary sealed the box and trotted out of the kitchen. One job down.

Second was weather.

Notary was not a pegasus, but it wasn’t too difficult to break into the Canterlot Weather Bureau. The lock would have been tough, but there was a small vent in one side that Notary was easily able to pry up. The vent was wide enough to easily crawl through, and by the time Notary had popped out the other end, she was in the middle of the complex.

She took out some papers from her bag that indicated a forged weather schedule, identical to the real schedule except for a single unapproved rainstorm. This would only affect the very outskirts of Canterlot, and even then not very much, but it would still be noticed by the ponies involved. They would complain, they would grumble, and that was all Notary needed.

“Hey!” A pony poked Notary. “You, get these reports to Rushing Wind’s office, pronto!”

“Yes, sir!” said Notary, a peppy lilt in her voice. She accepted the papers, looking up Wind’s location on an office map, and trotted in that direction. The best disguise was to do actual work; the Duke had taught her that, and she’d found it to be true.

The papers were dropped off. Notary rapped on the weather manager’s door and told him that his ex-wife was at the door screaming about something (Notary had done some research during the day; the weather manager’s marital problems had been tabloid fodder for months). She caught the door as he ran out and quickly searched the office, replacing one date on the big weather calendar mounted to the wall and the smaller backup one that he had in his desk.

And then she was casually taking a few papers to the front, slipping out the door, and moving to her next target.

Third was clothes.

Notary had a special disdain for Upper Crust Tailors, which was practically the official clothing store of the Court. They had been one of Greengrass’s closer allies, and one of the first to vehemently distance themselves from him after his fall. They blamed him for all manner of things, most of which he hadn’t done, and published a self-righteous editorial about how good it was that bad ponies like Greengrass were removed from the Court. Now it was time for a little payback.

Easy. Stay focused on the job. Don’t do too much; if the guards investigate, that’s going to cause problems. Just enough to get some rumors started.

She didn’t need to break any locks to enter the store; she just put on a fancy hat and dress and walked in. “Excuse me. I was looking for a new hat?”

The salespony took a few moments to notice Notary, which gave her time to examine the merchandise. She didn’t usually wear that kind of thing, and so wasn’t entirely sure on how to evaluate it, but on the whole it didn’t impress her. The dresses were frilly and would get in the way of any real physical activity. She couldn’t imagine crawling through vents or climbing up through rafters in one of them.

“Oh?” said the salespony at last. “A new hat? Well, we’ve got plenty of those!”

Notary went through the store, selecting several large hats – and into each one, she stuffed a small dress or other item of clothing. Then she went into the dressing rooms with the items and took out a small bottle and brush from her bag. It was but the work of a few minutes to apply the green, fuzzy-looking dye to the outfits.

Then she went to the clerk, thanked the clerk for his time and said that she’d come back in a few days with her decision, and by the way, there were a fair number of outfits in the dressing rooms that really should be reshelved.

She left, nodding. The clothes would go on the racks. In some time… probably a few hours… somepony would notice the paint that looked like mold. There would be a small panic and the store would be closed for a few hours, throwing off the plans of the nobles who wanted new clothes, until a fungal expert showed up to tell them that, no, it was just an odd dye – probably spilled on the clothes in the factory.

Notary smiled. One to go.

Last was music.

Notary looked at her tools, then into the next room, where Octavia Philharmonica had left her cello for a few moments.

I don’t think so. Three’s enough. Notary was not as… eager as her former employer had been, and she was somewhat more risk adverse. Octavia could hear Notary coming even when Notary was being as quiet as possible, and besides, she checked her instrument fanatically. No matter what Notary did to it, it would be fixed before her next show.

So Notary turned around and began heading back to Fisher’s offices. Yes, she had certainly done enough.

“Good job,” was all Fisher said, when he informed her what she had done. “So they know you exist now.”

“Yes. As you said that you had a lead already on a few of their identities, I can simply perform another act of sabotage while they are around.”

“Perfect.” Fisher returned to his work. “But back to your official job…”

And so two hours passed before Notary was dismissed. Afterwards, Fisher mused at his desk. “Majordomo.”

“Archduke?”

“Has Golden Breadloaf arrived yet?”

“Five minutes, archduke.”

“Hmph. He’s late…”

Breadloaf appeared, smiling weakly. “Archduke. I need your help. The ingredients I was storing in the castle kitchens, the rare fruits, apparently they’ve spoiled. Your fruit import business could bail me out. I’ll pay you--“

Fisher cut him off with a growl. “I’m not susceptible to bribes, Breadloaf. I have more important things to do than picking the pockets of the Canterlot merchants. I want your political support. I know you’re close to Fragrant Posey. You will lean on her to support the Special Forces.”

“Your personal army? I can’t—“

“They aren’t mine!” Fisher scowled. “I created them, but they work for the castle now.” This was a sore spot for him – sometimes it seemed like the chief impediment to their obtaining political support wasn’t Trixie, but fears that they would serve Fisher’s selfish desires and not the government’s purposes. Could nopony conceive of the idea that Fisher was selfless, and the USF too?

“I… I wasn’t—“

Fisher turned back to his papers.

“Alright! I just – I need those tonight or my restaurant can’t open!”

“You’ll have what you need.”

After Breadloaf, as well as a representative from Upper Crust’s store (who needed some PR control due to the ‘mold outbreak’) had come and gone, Fisher chuckled. Yes, Notary certainly was a useful mare to have around. She had the perfect set of skills to be a useful piece for him, and lacked that certain big-picture intuition that would have let her see how he was using her.

After all, all good servants could be split into two groups. Those who accepted that they were his pieces, and those that didn’t know it. Notary was in the latter group, and she’d do quite well there, whether as an attacker, defender, or sacrifice. She was flexible, that was the thing, like a…

“Rather knight-like, I’d say,” mused Fisher, moving a piece on his board. Yes, that fit Notary well. She could sneak around the other pieces, winding up in places where she probably shouldn’t. She wasn’t as useful to him or the country as the Special Forces or Majordomo, but certainly more useful than most of his clerks and grunt employees. And, of course, the thing about knights was that they were generally the most useful at the beginning of a game.

By the end, they just didn’t matter as much.

White to Move

It had been a few days. Greengrass had collected a total of about ten names, or one-third or so of the ponies in the CCPS. He was ready for the next phase of his plan, which was convenient, since the library heist planning session was that night.

“Ah, Greengrass!”

Greengrass turned. It was early in the evening and he had a few hours to kill before meeting with the CCPS for the library heist. He was still skeptical that anything would actually be accomplished, but he was willing to be convinced otherwise. “Fancy Pants! It’s been a while!”

Fancy Pants smiled gregariously. “Well, yes. The Gala was a bit rough for you, I understand.”

“You could say that.”

“But I could use your help. You see, Fleur’s out at a show, and Posey’s got a touch of feather flu.” Fancy smiled. “So I have nopony to play chess with.”

“Princess Luna won’t give you a game?”

“What, like I would stand a chance against her? Come on, Greengrass, it’s no fun to play somepony who’s practically mastered the game.”

“That would explain why nopony plays with Fisher,” acknowledged Greengrass. “Well… why not? I’m up for a game.” He had to admit to being curious as to what Fancy Pants wanted, and it wasn’t like he didn’t have time. “White or Black?”

“Oh, my defense needs practice, so I’ll be Black. Shall we?”

The two were soon seated at a table in a quiet café a few blocks from the castle. A waiter brought them their drinks and then left the two in silence. Greengrass had to admit that it was a good chess venue.

“By the way, I’ve heard that you and Notary are no longer working together. Condolences,” said Fancy Pants.

“I imagine we’ll both get by,” said Greengrass, dryly. “We’re hardly married, after all.”

“Of course.” Fancy Pants smiled and began to set up the pieces. “Still, you two did seem like good friends, and it’s always sad when friends separate. But I digress. Shall we?”

“Yes.” Greengrass moved his king’s pawn.

After ten minutes or so, and a few moves from each player, Fancy Pants cleared his throat. “So!” said the advisor to the throne. “What have you been up to lately?”

“Not much, sadly,” said Greengrass. “But, between you and me, I think that will change soon.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Couldn’t say,” said Greengrass, smiling slightly. “You know how it is.”

“I suppose I do.” Fancy Pants thought, then moved his knight into the center of the board. “I certainly hope it’s nothing too aggressive, though. The rumors I’ve heard about you – that you tried to seize control of the Elements – well, I hope it’s nothing like that!”

“Oh, I’m ignoring the Elements for the time being. You could say I’ve learned my lesson.” Greengrass brought up a pawn two squares to attack the knight.

“I don’t just mean with them. You know, Greengrass, some might say you’re fortunate to have done so well after your… fall. You maintained your wealth, title, home…”

Ah, so that was it. Fancy Pants had never liked Grengrass, probably due to Greengrass seeing through his nitwit persona, and he wanted him to leave the Court. Greengrass smiled. “And I should be grateful for what I’ve got and retire to my fiefdom?”

Fancy Pants waved a hoof. “Just putting it out there.”

“My dear Fancy Pants, surely you don’t think that it’s things that make a pony happy. Well, Puissance and her ilk excepted. But I could never be satisfied just… sitting on my flank, wasting away in idle luxury.” He shuddered. “I suppose some ponies might be satisfied to reach a certain rank and then relax, allowing their lives to slip away as they lose themselves in physical delights, but I’m not one of them.”

“Greengrass, are you trying to say something?” Fancy Pants’s voice was mild. He moved a piece up. “I certainly hope you aren’t referring to me.”

“Of course not,” said Greengrass.

“After all,” mused Fancy Pants, “There’s another kind of pony, you know. The kind never satisfied with what he or she has, who always wants more, even when they have to put everything they already have on the line to get it. I’m afraid those ponies,” and his voice was harder now, “Often wind up having lost everything they ever had… and it’s only then they realize that, yes, they did like what they had before. I’m glad I’m not one of them.”

“I certainly hope you aren’t referring to me,” said Greengrass.

“Of course not.”

They played in silence for a few more minutes before Fancy Pants made a slight miscalculation, moving a pawn up two squares when one would have been preferable. “Oops. Are we playing touch move?”

“Of course,” said Greengrass.

“What, for a friendly game?” Fancy Pants chuckled.

“Are we friends now?” Greengrass raised an eyebrow. “Honestly, Fancy Pants, I didn’t think you liked me very much.”

Fancy Pants raised his glass to acknowledge the point. “How do you define a friend?”

“Hmm.” Greengrass thought about it. “Hard to say. A pony one confides in, perhaps.”

“Well, I guess we aren’t friends, then,” said Fancy Pants. He moved. “Too bad… I like making friends.”

Greengrass castled. His king’s bishop’s pawn had already captured and moved off the file, giving his rook a straight shot at Fancy Pant’s pieces. “And you want to be friends with me?”

Fancy Pants considered. “Good point.”

After a few more moves, Greengrass thought that he had Fancy Pants at a slight disadvantage. The advisor had a small material advantage, but Greengrass had a better position, and was taking the initiative. “Ready to concede?”

“Never,” said Fancy Pants, with a slight smile. “Why, would you, in this position?”

“No,” said Greengrass, automatically. “But then again, I was never very good at conceding.”

“Yes… that’s certainly true.” Fancy Pants hesitated. “Nonetheless, I would advise you very strongly to consider it in some occasions. Even a grandmaster can wind up outclassed, and the penalties for losing at the highest levels can be… severe.”

Greengrass hesitated for a fraction of a second. Does he know what I’m doing somehow? He’s friends with all kinds of high-ranking ponies, if another noble is investigating the group, it could have gotten back to him. But if he did know, he would have told the guards and we’d all be arrested. Still, he clearly suspects I’m doing something, and for whatever reason he wants to warn me…

Wait, why would he want to warn me? He hates me. Perhaps he wants to spook me. Maybe me backing out is exactly what he wants.

Then again, he might want me to think that backing out is what he wants, and not back out, which is what he actually wants.

That kind of logic went nowhere fast, so Greengrass put a stop to it. “Thank you for your concern. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you care so much.” He smiled warmly. “But it’s just not in me to give up before a game is over. I suppose it’s just a little weakness of mine.” He moved a piece. “Any other advice?”

“In that case, no. None you could use.” And now Fancy Pants’s smile was definitely wintery.

The game took two hours, and ended in a draw.

Sharp Play

The next meeting of the CCPS was in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the town. Greengrass knew that he shouldn’t help the group with anything, as that would ruin his plans, but he was finding it hard to avoid yelling at them about their novice-level mistakes. Still, somehow, he endured, and put the next step of his plan into action.

When the leader entered, Greengrass immediately took him aside. “Can we talk later?”

“About what?”

“I want in.” Greengrass modulated his voice to sound hard and serious. “To the real stuff.”

“This is real.”

“You know what I mean. When I said I was going to contribute my resources, I didn’t mean to the jangle-ante civil disobedience stuff you talked about last time. I want to go bigger.”

The pony shifted slightly on his hooves. “Why?”

“Because I hate them,” said Greengrass, figuring this would be the most likely motive to garner results. “The Court and their myriad depravities. I hate the way that nothing in Equestria can get done unless it benefits some lazy noble who never leaves his mansion except to collect taxes. I hate how the idiotic machinations take precedence over actually governing the country. I hate how my – how a close friend of mine lost their home because it was in the way of some baron’s pet project. I want to wreck them.”

“Motivation is one thing,” murmured the leader of the group. “But what do you have to offer? I’ll tell you right now, we don’t need money or supplies.”

That was interesting… so the existing backer was covering everything. But that could wait. Greengrass said, “I’m the best in the city at uncovering secrets. You want the nobles to do anything? If you’re a commoner like us, the only way to do it is to blackmail them.”

“Interesting. I suppose I should ask you to prove it.” The pony chuckled. “Of course, I don’t really know that many secrets of the nobles. So I couldn’t verify anything you said.”

Greengrass passed him a piece of parchment. “I found this out in two days.”

The pony looked at it. “Hmm. You’ve identified a fair chunk of us. After one meeting.”

“Yes.”

“Mmm. And I know you’re not in the Guard because…?”

“Those ponies aren’t in jail, are they?” Greengrass smiled. “Plant a tail on me if you think you have to; I don’t mind. But I’m tired of the Court ruining everypony’s life. I want to help bring them down. And I think you’re the stallion to work for.”

Greengrass nodded to himself. The information he’d gathered demonstrated his ability, his speech would hopefully indicate passion, and his slightly reckless act of flat-out admitting what he’d done to the leader would hopefully convey that he was not a political expert, and so could be discarded if he became a liability. Maximum benefit, minimum risk.

And the leader said, “Well, it’s certainly possible that I do have a few bigger things in mind. Maybe you are the pony to help with them.” He nodded. “Let’s see how you do on the raid tomorrow night. If you do a good job, we’ll talk.”

And Greengrass had his in.

The plan for the library raid was to first soak the library by causing a pipe collapse in the ceiling, then steal about thirty important books in the confusion.

Greengrass volunteered for the second task, as it would better demonstrate that he was uniquely talented. After all, members of the group had already caused pipe failures in the castle. But that did cause a problem for Greenrass, namely, figuring out how exactly he was going to appear to steal the books.

“The easiest option,” he mused after he returned to his quarters, “Would be to just steal them as planned. Apparently, one of the group members works in the library and will be removing a lot of the security spells, so stealing them directly wouldn’t be too challenging in the chaos.” But the big problem with that, of course, was that Greengrass was planning on eventually revealing the group to further his political career. If he committed crimes while with the group, or even directly assisted with their crimes, it would be an excuse to deny him a reward, if not punish him outright.

“Okay, I could steal them, and return them a few days later. The library will be flooded, probably closed for a few days, it won’t surprise anyone to find that the ‘missing’ books were just dumped in a corner somewhere.” But that wouldn’t be enough. They would still have been technically ‘stolen’ for a few days, and while it wasn’t much, Greengrass had a feeling that Luna would seize on any excuse to deny him credit.

“I could have them marked as checked out before the raid. Then, even once we stole them, nopony would think anything of it; they wouldn’t know there even was a theft. Whichever name I used would be blamed for being overdue. I’d never get in trouble for it.” But then nopony in the Court would worry about the books being gone – after all, they were officially signed out and everything. The CCPS leader would surely notice that nopony cared and would wonder why.

“So if I can’t steal them, steal and return them, or have them be checked out…” Greengrass paced. “That doesn’t leave – wait.”

He grinned. “Aha. That’s the way to do it.”

“Hello, Page Turner?”

Page Turner, assistant library to the Canterlot Castle Library, looked up at the Duke. “Yes?”

Greengrass hefted a large bag of bits onto the counter, and a piece of paper with the names of the books on it. “I’d like to buy these books, please!”

“… buy?”

“Yes!”

“You can’t buy books.” She spoke as if talking to a child. “This is a library.”

Greengrass smiled winningly. “But you have so many of them!”

“Do you know what a library is?”

Greengrass shrugged. “Look, I’m offering three times the market price for those books – and nopony ever reads them; we can check the punch cards if you don’t believe me. You can buy copies of all those books, they’ll be here in a week, and do whatever you want with the rest. Put it in the library fund… maybe a little bonus money…”

“So, you’re telling me that you want to buy some books at three times their price from the library, instead of going to the bookstore and buying them at market value.”

“Well, yes.”

“I suppose you’re just feeling fiscally irresponsible today. Or do you have an actual reason?”

“Oh, you know. The bookseller clerks can’t keep their mouths shut when a noble buys a bunch of books, and the next day, everypony knows. I’m sure you heard the scandal when Duchess Healthy Lunch, the health-food nut, was caught purchasing Devilishly Decadent Desserts. Don’t want them to know what I’m doing.” Greengrass winked. “Whereas you, why, I know you can keep a secret for me. We do go back a ways, after all.”

“We used to. But that ended a few months ago.”

“But that was months ago! Let’s bring that friendly relationship back now.”

“Yes, of course. Because I have absolutely no problem with betraying my new employer and the Court to help you in exchange for nothing but a few bits.” Turner rolled her eyes. “Go away, Greengrass.”

“But—“

She stood and spoke more loudly. “I’m not selling you the library’s books. Go away!”

Greengrass sighed, then turned, passing by the patrons and staff that were blatantly eavesdropping. And when he was out the door, he grinned.

“Exactly as planned.”

The next night, the Duke met with the other group members in a small conference room. Greengrass nodded approvingly; since this meeting was important, it looked like the leader was actually picking a sensible location.

“Team One, go in first and do the pipes, just like last time. Team Two, wait until everypony starts running from the library. Most of you will be appearing to ‘help’ with the cleanup, so we don’t arouse suspicion and can vouch for each other. As for grabbing the books—“

“I’ll do that,” said Greengrass.

“Fine. Take two others, get all the books into these bags.” He passed Greengrass two duffels. “Those are enchanted to block the library security spells. Get the books and get out.”

“Check.” Greengrass smiled. “Let’s go strike a blow against the Court!”

“Woohoo!” yelled Mopping Swish.

Greengrass resisted the urge to bonk his head against the wall.

The raid itself went perfectly.

The pipes burst at exactly the moment the specified time, and ponies began fleeing the library a few moments later. Greengrass and the others, wearing concealing janitor’s outfits, hurried in right afterwards. The shelves and tables were dry, thanks to the protective magics around them, but the floor and other furnishing were quickly drowning. The remaining patrons and staff were running around in a statle of total confusion. It was the perfect atmosphere for a theft.

Most of the CCPS ponies began ‘helping’ get things under control, though careful observation would reveal that they weren’t really doing anything. Greengrass made a beeline for the desk and leapt over it, then put his plan into action. It was a good plan, but it did require speed, so he’d have to be fast.

There -- that drawer was dusty and looked less worn than the others; it clearly wasn’t often used. Greengrass jimmied it open and shoved a bag of bits – bigger than the one he’d showed Turner – into it. He also included the list of books, and a forged ‘receipt’ in page Turner’s writing.

“Hey, aren’t you coming?” yelled Nourriture.

“Yes!” Greengrass took off with the bags and hurried into the stacks to get the books.

In the short term, he’d steal the books, and the CCPS would notice and approve. Later, the bag of bits would be discovered (probably in three or four days, once the library dried out), but that was exactly what the Duke wanted. Combining that with the receipt and the public argument he’d had with Page Turner, everypony would assume that Greengrass had tried to buy the books, failed the first time, but later succeeded when he’d offered her more money. Even better, it wasn’t illegal to buy books from the library (librarians were not generally supposed to sell them, but if they happened to do--such as for a fundraiser--it was quite legal to buy them), so Greengrass wouldn’t be in trouble for it. The guards would probably show up subsequently and demand the books back, and Greengrass would return them, but that was okay. The only snag was the CCPS leader getting suspicious about the books being recovered, but Greengrass could just say that the government had quickly reprinted them, and tried to save face by blaming a down-and-out noble who had nothing to do with anything.

He grabbed the books and left the library. Nopony challenged him.

And later, when he spoke to the leader and showed him the stolen books, the leader smiled and said that, yes, they could meet to talk about getting involved “at a higher level.” Noon the next day, in the Western Garden. The time wasn’t pleasant, but Greengrass didn’t care. He bid the leader farewell, talked to the other ponies in the team (accepting congratulations and compliments with aplomb), and then went back to his quarters in good spirits.

He’d done it. He was in. All was well.

Earlier that night, just as Greengrass was getting up and starting to fill up his bag of bits, Notary had already been hard at work in Archduke Fisher’s office.

“File the third quarter earnings with the others. Bring me the Digger Industries files.” Fisher’s horn glowed, and words appeared on the page in front of him. “And mail this to the Canterlot Press.”

The last one was odd enough that it gave Notary just a moment of pause, but she took it and put it in her outgoing mail. “First class or regular?”

“First class. I want the city to see this as soon as possible,” Fisher growled.

Majordomo entered the room. “Sir, Justician is here to see you.”

“Ah, good. Send him in!”

Notary rose – Fisher didn’t usually like her sitting in on his business meetings -- but Fisher shook his head. “I trust your stenography is in good shape.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Take a record of this, then.”

Justician was a black-coated pegasus with white bands around her legs and barrel; Notary had met her a few times before and had noted that she looked like an inverted zebra with wings. The pony ran a major charity initiative in downtown Canterlot, and was a frequent guest at Fancy Pants’s charity balls and auctions.

“Archduke,” said Justician, smiling. “I’m glad you could find time to see me.” (Notary began to take the record, typing down what Justician said on a fancy new typewriter).

Fisher gestured at a seat in front of his desk.

“May I assume that you do want to donate to the Orphan—“

“No. You may not.”

Justician paused. “Er… then why did you ask me here?”

Fisher gestured at a copy of the Canterlot Press. “Tonight’s edition.”

“Ah. But, uh, that hasn’t hit the stands yet…” Justician gulped.

Fisher turned the page so that an editorial was displayed. “The one in which your most recent editorial will be printed. ‘Rampant tribalism in the Court.’” He began to read it. “’Despite the progress and prosperity of our age, and the generally enlightened attitude of our citizens, we cannot help but notice a dangerous retrograde trend in some of our most esteemed Courtiers. We refer not only to the merely corrupt, like the now-infamous Duke Greengrass,’ – well, I suppose that part is acceptable – ‘but also tribalist beliefs, which have been cropping up everywhere.’” He looked at Justician severely. “’In fact, it is rumored that some of Greengrass’s associates aided him because they wanted to take the Elements, now split equally among the three tribes, and redistribute them to just one.’”

Justician was sweating. “I don’t see why that bothers you, I mean, you’re not one of those tribalists, right?”

Fisher gave him a long glare. “Skipping ahead – ‘We also urge ponies in the Court to be wary of single-tribe groups. The Unicorn Special Forces, for example, put together by Archduke Fisher. Why restrict them only to unicorns? We urge the Archduke to open up his unit to all willing and able soldiers.’” He threw the paper down. “You are a popular pony, Justician. When ponies read this, they will want me to swell the ranks of the Special Forces with earth ponies and pegasi.”

“That is why I wrote it, yes.”

Fisher rose. “This editorial is not getting printed. I have already spoken with the editor and made it very clear that this is a national security concern and he had better comply. And if you ever try this again, with this paper or any other, I will personally ensure that every one of your foundations collapses.”

“What?!” Justician shot to his hooves. “But—“

Notary barely saw her move, but Turquoise Blade was suddenly behind Justician, sword drawn. The pegasus froze, looking scared. Fisher waited a few seconds to wave Blade off.

“The reason I have only unicorns, and no other tribes, is not due to simple personal preference. These ponies are going to be the forefront of Equestria’s defense. They need to be as capable as possible. And they – they alone – are the only tribe capable of the magic that we need to keep our neighbors at bay.” Fisher’s eyes flashed. “The griffin armies to the north would love to seize a few of our provinces. To the south, tapirs prowl, capable of walking through our dreams and stealing our most secret thoughts. Or, suppose we forget them for a moment – think of Corona, the Tyrant Sun. We cannot withstand her if we water down our military by adding ponies that cannot use magic!”

“But earth ponies and pegasi can do things unicorns can’t—“

“Really? Like what? I know half a dozen spells to strengthen the body and increase its stamina. I know spells to give unicorns wings, or straight-up levitation and cloud-walking abilities.” Fisher shook his head. “I have nothing against the other tribes. Growing food and manipulating the weather is important work. But in the area of defense? Let’s not lie to ourselves. We need the most capable ponies, and that means unicorns.”

“But—“

“If the USF is not accepted, if we do not receive the resources, funding, and recruits that we need, then Equestria will not be able to defend itself. Therefore, I will not allow statements like this,” Fisher shoved the paper at Justician, “To be seen. Go. Do not do this again, or you will regret it.”

Justician left.

Fisher let out a deep breath. “Did you get all that, Notary?”

“Yes, sir.”

Fisher shook his head. “Majordomo!”

Majordomo entered from a side room. “Yes, sir?”

“Is this… nonsense, really as widespread as Justician made it sound?”

Majordomo hesitated. “Well, obviously no sensible pony agrees with him, but there are some bitter and resentful members of the other tribes, and even a few unicorns, who are inclined to support him. For the same reason that they disagree with you about the Elements.”

“The Elements.” Fisher snorted. “The Elements are supposed to be Equestria’s biggest magical weapon, and four of them can’t do any magic at all. Let’s not even get into one of them being half-blind, four of them can’t cast magic! It’s simply not possible that they can use the Elements at their full potential.” He shook his head. “We have to beat them, Majordomo. For the sake of the nation. The country matters more than Lulamoon’s ego.”

“Yes, sir.”

Fisher sighed and turned back to his desk. “Our plans?”

“Underway. The Elements will be humiliated.”

“Good.” Fisher checked his clock. “Notary, it’s time for you to go infiltrate the CCPS. Go. I have other concerns right now.”

Notary, restraining herself from snapping in his face, rose and left.

I’m surprised he even deigned to hire me. After all, I’m an earth pony who isn’t growing food. I guess I don’t have value.

But he was her employer, and she would loyally carry out his wishes. That was what she did.

And so she put on a concealing cloak, then headed to the library section of the castle. Fisher’s spies had told him that the CCPS would be planning some kind of heist or attack there, so she would get there early and reveal herself to them.

She didn’t have long to wait. No sooner had she made her way to the pipes above the castle and begun working on them than she heard hoofsteps approaching. She intensified her work, succeeding in getting the pipes half open before the CCPS ponies arrived.

“Hey!” One of the ponies hesitated. “Did you run ahead?”

Notary looked up and put on a guilty expression. “I’m not doing anything! I – uh – wait, why are you carrying tools? These pipes aren’t due for maintenance for another month.”

“Then what are you doing?” challenged one of the CCPS ponies.

Notary hesitated, then looked down. “Alright, you caught me. I was trying to break the pipes. Please don’t arrest me—“

“Why?” The pony’s voice was gentle.

Fisher had told her what this group’s angle was. “I don’t know, I’m just mad. Vicereine Puissance imprisoned my cousin on some nonsense charge so she could seize his property. I’m just… I want to get back at her, at the whole Court that does things like she does, but I don’t know what to do. I thought, even if I could just bother them—“

“Wait a minute.” One of the ponies nodded at her saddlebag. A little bit of green paint was leaking from it. “Upper Crust Tailors? And, wait, the other stuff that we didn’t do? Breadloaf’s food?”

“Yes.”

“Fillies and stallions, I think we have a new member of the team.” The lead pony nodded. “We’re the CCPS. And we’re taking down the Court, one act of sabotage at a time.”

Notary blinked. “Really? You’re not going to arrest me?”

“Nope. We’re going to help you. Welcome to the club!”

Notary returned to Fisher’s office having secured an offer to attend the next CCPS meeting.

What would Greengrass think? I’ve been doing very well lately; I’ve succeeded in everything I’ve done for Fisher and soon he’ll be on the ascent with his USF. He valued ambition and skill, what would he say?

Probably something like, “Good job, but Fisher’s a snake. Be careful of him betraying you.” But she thought she was doing pretty well on that front too. She’d been seen in public with him, so it wasn’t like he could have her take the fall for something without looking bad for hiring her. And she hadn’t signed any papers with her name except for his business correspondances that needed notarization. (She had been a bit concerned that he might be able to get her to sign something, then use his telepathic-writing spell to somehow reword the paper to say something incriminating, but she’d watched him carefully and he didn’t seem able to do that. If he made a mistake, he always corrected it manually or started over).

And now it was time to report her success. Notary trotted to the office, only to meet with an unexpected obstacle.

The door was locked.

“You’re early.” She turned to see Majordomo approaching. “You don’t go into the Archduke’s office until he asks for you.”

“Would he really object to me doing work early?”

“Yours is not to question him. Do as you’re told.”

Notary gave him a wintery smile. “You know, Archduke Fisher’s usually able to hide his bigotry, or come up with some justification. You, not so much.”

“Hah.” Majordomo grinned. “I’ve served Fisher for twenty years. He’s not just a politician and an industrialist; he’s a historian. And I am too. It used to be that unicorns ran the entire country.”

“Actually, that’s a myth. The three tribes unified after the Warring Tribes period and—“

“Lies. Unicorns ran it all. Earth ponies grew the food, weather ponies shaped the weather, and unicorns handled industry and government. And everything was run well.”

Notary rolled her eyes. “Really? Unicorns used to run this country, and it was great, so let’s go back to that?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

“Well, Corona also used to run this country. And I hear she did a pretty good job for the first few millennia.” Notary’s eyes twinkled. “Why don’t we invite her over, then? I’m sure she has all kinds of useful advice.”

Majordomo paused. “Wait, no. That’s different.”

Notary was about to respond, but an explosion from within Fisher’s office cut her off.

“Out of my way!” Majordomo shoved Notary aside and quickly unlocked the door. “Are you alright, sir? Sir, I – hey, you’re not allowed in here!”

Notary poked her head inside and saw a quartet of ponies – two unicorns, one pegasus, one earth pony – in black outfits. The pegasus had a blackened head; it seemed she’d tripped a magical trap on Fisher’s desk and had been blasted away. Notary recognized the unicorn as a mercenary that had recently been seen with Vicereine Puissance. Ah, politics.

She turned to Majordomo. “The USF is the best military force in the country, is it?”

“Shut up.”

“They’re doing a great job—“

Majordomo’s horn flashed, and Notary found that she was suddenly unable to talk. Her eyes widened in pure anger.

Majordomo strode into the room. “Surrender now, and the Archduke may consider mercy.”

“Why?” The unicorn laughed. “We’re just about done.” She smiled, and her horn glowed. “That’s our ride. See you.”

The four ponies glowed, and vanished –

Only to reappear a moment later, with a fifth.

“What?” yelled the pegasus. “You idiot! You said you could teleport us!”

“I did! Something yanked us back here!”

Turquoise Blade and Lightning trotted out from a side room. Blade’s horn was still glowing. “That would be me.” She turned to Lightning. “You want them?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Early birthday present.” She smiled. “Have fun.”

“Hey!” One of the earth ponies began to run over. “You let us go, or—“

Lightning bucked him, and his horn flashed. There was a noticeable ‘zap’ as the blow connected, and then the earth pony was flying into the nearest wall. “Thanks. Awfully considerate of you.”

“No problem.”

The pegasus took off for a window, but Lightning cast a quick lightning bolt at her, zapping her out of the air and into the floor. “I feel bad taking them all, though.”

The other three ponies charged at the two. Lightning ducked under the earth pony’s blow and hit him with a lightning blast that sent him flying into the air, parrying a blast from the teleporter unicorn as he did so. Blade, meanwhile, sent her sword into the air and slammed the broadside of it against the other unicorn’s head, knocking her out. “Alright, I got one. Last one’s all you, Lightning.”

The teleporter unicorn backed up, then erected a shield. “Now just hang on!”

Lightning went to Fisher’s desk and picked up one of his new drill bits. He tossed it in the air, then bucked it at the last robber. It passed through the robber’s shield, shattering it, and then sliced a sizable chunk of his mane off before falling to the ground.

“Ah, good. So they do pierce defensive magic too,” said Lightning, as the teleporter collapsed in shock and fear. “I was wondering about that.”

Notary blinked. The two had just taking out five robbers in about thirty seconds.

Majordomo sneered at her. “Yes. They are.”

She scowled at him, then trotted around the robbers and over to her desk. Lightning, however, moved to intercept her. “Hey, Notary. I’d just like to say that, if you want to go against Fisher, I’m entirely in favor of that.”

“And why is that?”

“Because he said I could be the one to hunt you down.” Lightning grinned.

Notary, implacable as she was, could not deny a slight twitch of fear.

Fisher looked at the message and sighed. His source in the Shadowbolts told him that the spy organization had discovered the CCPS.

If they busted the group, the USF wouldn’t. That wasn’t acceptable.

Well, he’d just have to deal with them too, then. And he’d accounted for this; he had a strategy already set up. It would just be a little more work for Notary. That was all.

The Highest Stakes

Duke Greengrass was not a superstitious pony. He walked under ladders with ease, laughed at the black cats which trotted across his path, and had never once thrown a horseshoe over his shoulder for good luck. (He’d thrown a few when fleeing some enemy, but that was a different matter). Greengrass prided himself on being rational, reasonable, and not held hostage to ancient tales.

Nevertheless, he still found it a profoundly disconcerting experience to be out in the garden at high noon.

There were a few guards stationed outside, of course, but even they tended to be in buildings, nooks in the walls, or at least under shade. Greengrass avoided them as best he could, taking a meandering route to the particular spot in the Western Gardens where he was to meet the leader of the CCPS.

The Mirror Square was pretty much what its name sounded like – a garden plot of roses, even on each side, and surrounded by mirrors. At night, Greengrass knew, the moonlight would bounce from mirror to mirror and create a dreamy, almost ethereal effect. Walking through the field during a full moon was like floating in a moonbeam, or so the Canterlot Castle Garden Newsletter said. It was one of the more notable and beautiful features of the garden.

At night.

At day, Greengrass found that he couldn’t look directly at it. The sun was blazing overhead and blasting light from mirror to mirror, reflecting until it looked like the roses had their own little sun overhead. Greengrass had considered numerous risks when embarking on this venture, but he hadn’t realized that blindness was one of them.

Squinting, Greengrass made his way around the square to a bench. On that bench, he found a cloaked figure.

The leader of the CCPS.

“Belly. Glad you could make it.”

Greengrass saw the leader, more or less. He was clothed in some kind of spell that blurred his features and body. That meant he was probably a unicorn, and Greengrass was able to determine that he had a fairly athletic frame and a reddish-white coat. More than that, though, was beyond him. (As for disguises, Greengrass had just opted for dyes for his coat and mane, and the cutie mark that Belly was supposed to have, a plate with a big carrot on it).

“Glad to see you.” Greengrass sat. “Let’s talk.”

“Alright.” The leader nodded. “But… one warning, Belly. You can back out now. Once I tell you what’s really going on, I won’t be able to let you quit so easily. Okay?”

Ah, so after ths, he would be ‘committed.’ Greengrass smiled to himself; that could only mean that he’d be getting some useful information. All he really needed was the leader’s true name, and that of his backer, and then he could arrange to have their next plot exposed by the guards and bring down the group. “Tell me.”

“I’m serious. I’m about to tell you everything – what I want and why I want it. If you try to quit or tell the guards, after this – I will destroy you. In a very literal sense. And trust me, I might not look it, but I’m a great fighter.”

“Understood.”

“Alright, then. I guess it began six months ago, when I was a simple businesspony.” The leader looked into the mirrors; Greengrass noticed that the blinding glare didn’t seem to trouble him much. “I ran a small farming organization – I did the business, had about forty earth ponies doing the actual farming. Nothing extraordinary, but we did alright. We sold tropical fruits – mangoes, coconuts, papayas, that kind of thing. And we were doing well too. We’d actually just landed a big contract with some catering companies that would have taken us to the next level.”

“But that wasn’t in the Court’s plans.” The pony hissed. “It started off small. One of our farmlands was hit with locusts. Okay, that affected a bunch of farms in the region. Maybe it was just coincidence. Another got mold. Two of our major clients canceled, saying they wanted apples instead – apparently they’re cheaper, and Horsefeathers to anypony who points out that they don’t taste half as good or have half the nutritional value!”

Greengrass nodded. “How did the Court get involved?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We suffered setback after setback. The weather schedule suddenly had three straight weeks of sun, which dried out our crops. When we got rain, it was practically a monsoon, drowning what was left. A tax inspector came by and said we were delinquent.” The pony shook his head. “There was no other explanation.”

For a run of bad luck? Greengrass didn’t hear anything that sounded out of the ordinary, or even as a result of plotting. Weather mismanagement happened, as did bug infestations. The most the Court could be blamed for was not helping the farm out.

“The Court was behind it. They hated us, and I knew why. They didn’t want a small upstart competing against their favorite groups, the Apple Trust, Hay & Alfalfa Inc., the Tuber Union… the big companies that donate buckets of bits to Courtier scum. That’s why they caused all those problems. That’s why, when we sent in petitions demanding aid, they were refused.”

“So you want to take on the Court because of that.” Greengrass nodded. “Makes sense. They—“

“No. After all that, I just wanted to get drunk. But I found a new purpose.” It was hard to tell through the illusion, but the pony seemed to smile. “You know what I realized? This kind of thing was inevitable. I mean, the Court runs in the dark, right? Where all the sneaky, wicked dealings going on. What hope did I, a farmer, have against them? I mean, you can only grow things in the light.”

Greengrass suddenly had a very bad feeling about where this was going.

“And then I ran into this… not a pony, something else… zebra, I think she was. She made it all so clear. The Court is corrupt, and Luna – their leader – is even worse. She condones their playing with our lives. She doesn’t care for us; she wouldn’t mind if ten thousand of us vanished tomorrow. But who else is there? Celestia? Surely she's even worse… according to Luna’s history books and teachers.”

The pony took out a small necklace. Greengrass recognized it as a blazing sun – Corona’s crest.

Greengrass was beginning to feel nauseous. Oh no.

“Once I realized that, once I realized that the Court was hopelessly corrupt and the only thing to do was tear it all down and have a true leader come in to fix things… well, then it was simple.” The pony laughed. “So yes, I want to go bigger .I want to rip down the walls of Canterlot Castle, scattered the guards, and summon Princess Celestia Solaris to separate the good from the bad, banish the depraved Courtiers to the sun, and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for the common pony. I want Luna and her minions in chains before her, receiving the judgement they deserve. I want revolution.” He sighed in contentment. “I admit that we started small. Pipes and stolen books won’t kill a Court, but they’ll make it just that little bit harder to run. Weaken the Court and make it just that bit more likely for Celestia to succeed when she returns – and she will return. But with you, I think we can do something big.”

“Did you see her when she returned?” The Duke could not avoid asking.

“No. Had a big party on Longest Night, crashed right before she showed up. Wish I had, though. I mean, I’m sure I’d have been terrified, but to have seen her glory…”

Greengrass felt that he had a pretty good idea of why this stallion couldn’t run a farm, and it had nothing to do with the Court. He was crazy, stupid, or both. “Uh. These big plans. Any particular ideas?”

“Not yet. Obviously, I’ve no desire to get arrested and sent to Luna’s prisons. But something… grand. You can help me think of it.” The pony grinned. “You’re with me, right?”

Greengrass heard a slight buzzing. It sounded like a spell being charged up. He had a feeling that a ‘no’ answer here would result in him being blasted halfway to Ponyville.

“Of course.”

It was three in the afternoon, but Greengrass couldn’t sleep.

Bad enough to be helping some kind of sabotage-focused protest group, but a Corona-worshipper? Forget breaking pipes, the kind of schemes the stallion had proposed involving property damage on a vast scale, injuries, deaths. Greengrass had probably already committed high treason just by talking to him.

“Okay, hold it together. I can beat this.” Greengrass knelt and checked to make sure that the rose was planted correctly. At least his secret garden was still secure, even if his position was not. “I have ninety percent of what I need.” The leader, apparently having decided that there was little point in keeping the groups’ members secret from Greengrass any longer, had told him the names of the other group members, in case he wanted to coordinate with them on his own.

“All I need is his name, and I’m sure if I research farm failures in the last few months in that province, I can find it, and the name of the backer.” Even the leader didn’t know who the backer was; after arriving in Canterlot, he’d found letters in his residence. The letters had been instructions on retrieving money and setting up the CCPS, apparently, the zebra had promised that something like this would be available, and so he hadn’t questioned them. But Greengrass guessed that, even if just by watching that pony’s house to see who delivered the letters, he could trace them back to the backer.

“Get the names, expose them at their next stunt, and then it’s even better. I didn’t just bring down a bunch of saboteurs, but a full-fledged traitor. I’ll get my seat back for sure!” Assuming the stallion didn’t figure out what he was doing and kill him, and that the Shadowbolts didn’t move in first and arrest them all, and that the group didn’t do something so damaging that Greengrass would have to go into hiding regardless. Assuming all that, he’d be in the clear.

Greengrass considered, for one moment, throwing in the towel and just going to the guards with what he already knew. He wouldn’t get his seat back (or anything, really), but he’d get out in one piece. Notary would be recommending that, he knew, if she were here. She would be strongly recommending that.

But she wasn’t there, was she? Besides, Greengrass hated to quit, and he wanted his seat on the Court back so badly that he could almost taste it. The group’s leader hadn’t done anything big yet and hadn’t sounded like he’d had concrete plans that would take less than a few weeks to implement – and many of those plans were flat out impossible (no, they couldn’t smuggle Celestia into the castle without anypony knowing. Even if they were able to talk to her without being incinerated, Greengrass highly doubted that Celestia would want to be put in a box and transported by courier into the Court.).

He would stay the course. Yes, this was a lot harder than he’d aniticpated, and a lot more dangerous too, but so long as nothing else went wrong, as long as there were no more surprises, he could handle it. He was good at the Game; he could play it and win. “Besides… what else could go wrong?”

Greengrass moved on to the next rose. Just a little longer, he told himself. Just a little longer and he’d be back in the Game.

The CCPS meeting that night was in the observatory again.

The meeting began late. The leader arrived ten minutes behind schedule, sweating like he’d just been in a brawl with somepony. Nonetheless, he opened with a triumphant proclamation that the Court was in chaos over the book theft. (Greengrass hadn’t noticed any such thing, but then again he’d had his mind on other problems as of late). He announced that their next plans would be even bigger, and perhaps a bit more dangerous, so they should all get ready.

And then he said, “By the way, some of you have recommended to me a new member. She was instrumental in several independent acts of sabotage, and I’m sure she’ll be a helpful addition to the team.”

He waved a hoof at the door, and Notary stepped in.

 Greengrass stared.

She was wearing a cloak, yes, and she’d taken some pains to disguise her gait, but he knew his former assistant. That was Notary.

She took one glance at him and almost stumbled over her hooves.

No. No, no, no… Greengrass thought.

“Now, if we can move on to other ideas…”

If I destroy the group now, she might go down with it. She’d go to jail with them…

“I think we can agree that the gardens are perhaps uniquely vulnerable. If we let the birds loose, for example…”

Notary’s not a lunatic, she wouldn’t have joined this group because she agrees with their methods, she’s being used here by whoever her new master is, but I don’t know who that is because I’ve been focusing on this…

“Furthermore, the birds and the gardens are a personal pride of Luna’s; she shows them off to foreign dignitaries, and by damaging them we prevent her from being able to conduct her business…”

Now I have to destroy these idiots and the leader, and somehow save Notary too… but I don’t know how, even I can’t win a Game in a crippled position…

“…Alright, I think we’re done. Let’s meet again, here, tomorrow!”

Greengrass realized that he’d missed almost the entire meeting. And he thought, I don’t think I can handle this.

There was too much. Not only did he have to watch out for the guards, for the idiots in the group, for a crazy Celestia lover, but now suddenly there was Notary, another player with another angle that he didn’t understand. He still didn’t know the leader’s identity, or the backer’s, and the guards could swoop in at any moment, and…

And I think maybe I should have gone home. But I can’t even retreat now; that lunatic leader might come after me…

“Wait.” The leader approached Greengrass as he turned to join the others in leaving. “Could you hang around for a few minutes? I want you to see something. The reason why I was a bit late.”

Greengrass shot a frantic look at where Notary had been standing, but the assistant had already left. What now?

Not knowing what else to do, he followed the leader into a hallway. “What?”

“Look!” The leader opened a door that led to a small storage room and hurried in. Greengrass followed to find the leader standing over the tied up and gagged form of a pony in a waiter’s outfit. She had minor injuries – she’d been fighting, and recently. Another pony, dressed as a janitor, was unconscious behind her.

“What – what is this?” managed the Duke.

“Told you I could fight.” The leader laughed. “Got a message from our backer today. The Shadowbolts were on to us, they sent spies.”

Greengrass could only stare. …Could this night just please end?

“These are Shadowbolts. That you say you attacked,” managed Greengrass. “How can you tell?”

Great. If the Shadowbolts know about this… okay, calm, they don’t necessarily know my real identity, that’s not the end of the world, but if they’re getting ready to bust the team…

“Yeah. Look, they hide it well, but they have official insignia on them – you know, in case they have to make an arrest.” The leader searched the saddlebags of the bound captive and quickly took out a small disk with the Shadowbolt’s Crest on it. “See?”

“You beat her?”

“I’ve got good magic,” said the leader.

“I didn’t know that mango farmers had that kind of power.”

“Celestia Herself has blessed me.” The pony smiled and gestured at his necklace. “I received this from the backer just after entering town. It amplifies my power tenfold!”

Wonderful. So this guy had artifacts as well. Greengrass forced himself to remain focused and speak, rather than collapse into a gibbering mess. “…I hate to ask this, but what now?”

“I was reading some old books. There’s a magic purification spell that removes the corrupted aspects of a pony and leaves them pure and whole. Celestia Herself invented it. By using it on the spies, they can become pure again, able to serve the true ruler of the country!”

Greengrass would have bet everything he owned that using some kind of ancient sun-spawned magic would be more likely to either kill her or render her into an obedient zombie than actually make her not-evil, or whatever it was supposed to do. “Uh. That sounds dangerous.”

“Who cares? They serve the Usurper Luna.” The leader frowned. “You’re not getting cold hooves, I hope.”

Greengrass debated bucking the leader and running like mad. Maybe if he got home and hid well enough the group would collapse, the leader would take all the blame, and nopony would think to look for Hugh Belly, or find him if they did search. This situation was now completely beyond him; nopony would seriously expect him to solve this kind of thing on his own, and it wasn’t like the guards would believe him if he told them that a selection of servants in the castle had joined up with a sun-worshipper, captured Shadowbolts, and were planning to free all of Luna’s birds.

He could do it. He could excuse himself, leave, and go home to his fiefdom. Let the lunatics and guards fight it out. Maybe he would be able to return later to pick up the pieces.

But he didn’t.

Greengrass himself wasn’t entirely sure why. Some of it was that, for all his sins, he wasn’t a sociopath, and didn’t actually want (relatively) innocent Shadowbolts (or ponies mistaken for Shadowbolts) to be ‘purified,’ whatever the Hay that entailed. Some of it was that he was no quitter; he desperately wanted to return to the Game and didn’t want to surrender what seemed to be his only chance. Some of it was a flash of contempt – at this moron who seriously thought that Celestia would be good for the country, and at the noble backer who had set him up as part of some idiotic scheme that had a huge chance of blowing up in his or her face.

And some of it was Notary. If he left now, she was doomed – she’d be destroyed when the group fell, unless her new master was very smart and very willing to go to bat for her. And in this particular instantiation of the Court… that was not likely. He was no longer her master, but she had served him long and well, and he’d grown to like her. For her to be wasted on this bunch of morons was… not tolerable.

All those factors, and half a dozen more. Greengrass himself was not aware of the summands, but he knew the result. He wouldn’t leave. He would go forward, on the knowledge that he was betting everything. A failure at this point would likely kill him or have him sent to jail forever… so he just couldn’t fail.

But he still had a chance. He was good at the Game – one of the best, even. He would succeed.

“No, I – I just meant that you can’t purify them yet!” Greengrass laughed. “They're Luna’s henchponies, right? Obviously their hearts are totally black. If you just purify them right off the bat, there’ll be nothing left! They'll die! It needs to be gradual.”

The other pony paused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, get them away from Luna’s corrupting influence. Put them in a secret room somewhere. Have them fed fresh fruit and grains and pure water. Explain to them the error of their ways.” Greengrass was lying as fast as his mouth would work. “Then, once they're already almost pure, if you use the spell, they'll be wholly clean and ready to serve Celestia!”

“But…”

The leader was clearly out for blood. Greengrass stepped closer to him. “Celestia wants to protect and guard all her ponies, right? What would she prefer? Saving these two, or just blasting them?”

“…you’re right. Of course, you’re right. I have just the hiding spot. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they can’t get away and that they comes back to the Light.” The leader cast a spell, and he and the captive vanished.

Once Greengrass was sure they were gone, he let out the breath he hadn’t known he was holding. Now he had to keep the Shadowbolts alive (and how had the backer known about them anyway? What was going on there?), and save Notary, and bring down the group, all without being arrested or banished or sent to the sun or bucked off the tower by a Celestia-obsessed nutjob. And he had to do it before the Shadowbolt leader realized that agents was missing. They were a relatively loose-knit organization, he knew, and operated fairly independently, so he might have a couple of days before the absences were known… but no more. He had to wrap this whole thing up in a few days.

This was proving to be a harder round of the Game than he’d have thought when he started.

But there’s no use whining about it. It’s the Game; I need to figure out the politics and weed out my enemies until Notary and I are the only ponies left. This is how the Game works. The stakes are a bit higher than usual, but… yes. I can beat this and save myself and Notary. It’s what I do. He smiled fiercely. It’s what I love to do.

What in the world was Greengrass doing as part of the CCPS?

Notary wasn’t able to figure it out. Some scheme to get back into the Game, yes, but she couldn’t figure out what it could be. How could joining a group that was breaking things in the castle help him?

Maybe he was trying to infiltrate them, like she was? But he didn’t have Fisher’s USF or an equivalent, so how could he bring them down? Go the guards? But they’d arrest him too…

And then there was the other thing. She’d trailed Greengrass and the leader to the side room and heard their conversation. She was reasonably certain neither of them had noticed her; she’d wanted to alert Greengrass, but didn’t think she could do so without tipping off the leader as well, and that could have gotten ugly. The leader had just beaten two Shadowbolts in a fight, and while it was true that the Shadowbolts were spies and investigators, not soldiers, they were still supposed to be fairly tricky to take down.

So now the leader wanted to kill two Shadowbolts, and Greengrass was keeping them alive. Well, it would make him look good, but that meant the Shadowbolts were on to the whole thing, which upped the stakes for everypony involved.

Notary’s head hurt.

It had been a long night. Fisher had started her out by having her sneak into the leader’s house and try to steal information on the backer, such as letters. She’d been able to find one in the trash – ripped up, of course, but she was more than capable of reconstructing it. She’d taken it back to him, and he’d told her the next part of his plan.

“I want to try to fool the leader. With this letter, we’ve got the backer’s writing style, signature, everything. I’m going to forge a letter telling him to do something revealing.”

“I can do it,” offered Notary. “I—“

Fisher tapped his horn with a hoof.

“Oh.” Right, it would be easy for Fisher with his writing spell. All he had to do was visualize how he wanted the script to look and it would appear.

“So you can write like anypony,” she’d joked. “Can you sound like them too?”

Fisher had seemed annoyed, but his horn glowed, and he replied in Notary’s voice. “Yes. Now back to work.”

He’d forged the letter and had Notary deliver it to the leader’s house. At least she hadn’t had to enter this time; she’d just slipped it into the mail slot. Then she had to leave to go do stenography for Fisher again, and after that she had to hurry over to the CCPS meeting. And then, finally, when that was done, and she was more confused than ever, she still had one more task.

Break into the leader’s house again, but this time, instead of getting the backer’s letters, she was to look for the names of ponies in the cult. (Why couldn’t she have done both the first time? She had no idea, but Fisher was being stubborn again and wouldn’t listen to her suggestions).

So Notary once again approached the house and jimmied the broken window, then slipped inside and began digging around. The house was big, and a mess, with everything dirty and in disarray, excepting the shrine to Corona in one room. Finding anything in particular would be a challenge.

Well, at least the leader wasn’t home.

After half an hour of digging through random piles, Notary happened upon a lockbox. It was big and sturdy, and looked like it had been both locked and bespelled – it was shining, a sign of ostentatious magic. It was the only locked thing she’d found so far, and it looked newer than the other furnishings.

“That’s not suspicious at all,” she muttered. That was something the Duke would say, and—

Okay, again, focus. Worry about the Duke later. Focus on the job now.

She didn’t want to risk picking the lock; the spells on the box could do almost anything to her. So she opened her bag and took out one of Fisher’s new drill bits, which she’d mounted for herself on a little hand drill. She’d seen them cut through magic, and while they probably couldn’t beat every spell – Shining Armor’s Aegis, for example, was supposed to be nigh-invincible to cut – she guessed that this lunatic probably didn’t have that kind of magical firepower.

So she carefully began to drill into the back wall of the box.

With a flash, the glow vanished.

Notary smiled. She’d have to see about getting a few of these for herself; they would come in handy in a lot of places.

Notary drilled through the wall and was able to stick a hoof in to start taking things out. “Here we go…”

And lo and behold, the first document was an old deed to a farm. It was made out for one Mango Mania.

“Is that it?” she mused.

Other documents in the box included newspaper clippings about the farm, which she saw had gone bankrupt recently due to bad luck and worse weather. There were a few hoof-written rants about the Court. And then there was a series of letters describing a zebra he’d met who had taught him about Corona.

And, at the bottom of the box, was a set of signed papers – he’d made the group sign loyalty oaths. Notary smiled and looked over them, memorizing each name.

“Perfect.” This was everything except for the backer’s name; she could tell Fisher, he could break up the group, they’d both ascend, and—

She paused on the most recent name on the list. “Hugh G. Belly,” she read. One of Greengrass’s aliases.

Right. She was to tell Fisher all the names. That would include Greengrass, wouldn’t it?

Notary never drank on the job, but as it happened, she’d finished up in Mango’s house a lot earlier than expected. So she went to a local bar, sat in a corner, and tried to figure out what to do.

“I work for Fisher now, not Greengrass. Greengrass certainly didn’t have any problem with asking me to help him take down ponies that I worked for before we met.” But she couldn’t make herself believe that. She’d been with Greengrass for a few years now. They’d had a lot of adventures together, and they were alike in so many ways. They made a great team, and…

“Friends? I don’t know…” What did that even mean, anyway? Greengrass had gone to bat for her when he didn’t have to. When her brother had been trapped in some kind of pyramid scheme back in Moscolt, Greengrass had put his business on hold and gone there to extricate him. When her pegasus cousin had graduated from Flight School, when she’d told her that she was going to audition for the Wonderbolts, Greengrass had given Notary personal days so she could go cheer her cousin on. And she’d done the same for him -- there had been times where Greengrass hadn’t wanted to bother her with some problem, she’d found out anyway, and she’d gone to help him. That was what they’d had.

What would he say, if he knew what she were thinking? Well, she had a pretty good idea. “Notary, you work for Fisher now. Do your job to the best of your ability, like when you worked for me. If I lose to you and Fisher, it’s my own fault for not playing as well as you two.” And then he’d chuckle and say something like, “But watch out – I’m a pretty good player, and I won’t go easy on you!”

No, he’d bear her no ill will. But that still didn’t make it any easier.

She could just not report the name, or report it as Hugh Belly. She could not report it and warn Greengrass. He’d have to flee, Fisher would never know, and…

I’d know. I’m not in this just because I want to have a high-paying job. I could work for a rich idiot and sit on my flank all day and make buckets of bits by massaging their ego. I want to do useful work and serve a king. And both parts of that mattered. Yes, she wanted to serve the highest ranking pony she could. But she also really wanted to serve them, not just sit on her flank and collect money for massaging egos and handling the occasional message. She did not understand ponies who didn’t want to change and influence the world, who only wanted to do minimal or irrelevant work for a munificent paycheck. Other ponies seemed to like that sort of thing; she found it repulsive.

That was why she had never once asked Luna for a job, after all. Luna Equestris was nigh-omnipotent. She didn’t need servants. She tolerated them for… well, Notary didn’t know why, but she knew that she didn’t need them. Luna could make the rivers run backwards and the mountains fall into the valleys if she desired. She didn’t need a messenger, secretary, or assistant. Greengrass, and now Fisher, did.

So, no. She wouldn’t flake on her duty. She would serve, and serve well, because that was what she did and who she was. And she’d still try to save Greengrass; there was nothing in Fisher’s scheme that required his destruction (it wasn’t like he was even really part of the group), but she’d still carry out Fisher’s orders to the letter.

“Sir. These are the names of everypony in the group, excepting only the backer.”

Fisher’s gaze was one of pure astonishment. “Really? I – I didn’t expect you to find them so quickly.”

Notary nodded. “I work fast.”

“Well, uh, good job. Take the rest of the morning off.” Fisher stared at the paper. “Anything else I should know about?”

“Yes. The Shadowbolts have discovered the group.”

Fisher nodded. “I figured they would do so about now. How do you know?”

“The leader caught two of them and captured them.”

Fisher looked surprised. “…he didn’t kill them?”

Notary sighed, wishing she could forestall this moment forever. But she could not. “No. Duke Greengrass persuaded him otherwise.”

The reaction was electric. Fisher’s head shot up as he stared at her, and then down to look at her list. “Greengrass…”

“I don’t think he’s really part of the group. I believe that he is trying to bring them down for the same reason we are – so he can gain political power.”

“Yes, yes, of course, but… alright. Notary, thank you. Your help was invaluable; you’ll find a bonus in your pay for this week.” He paused. “I’m… surprised that you told me about the Duke, though.”

“Greengrass instilled in me the value of loyalty to one’s employer.”

“A true virtue. Thank you again, Notary.”

When she was gone, Fisher sighed. “The Shadowbolts… Lightning. Turquoise.”

The two entered. “Yes?”

“We’re moving up the timetable. We have most of the names; we have a message conduit to them with Notary; I want them gone in three days.”

“Yes, sir,” they said, in unison.

“By the way, Lightning, you’re in charge of the operation.”

Lightning blinked. “I -- I mean, thank you, but why?”

“It seems a mutual friend has joined the group, and I thought you might like to affect his capture personally.”

Lightning scanned the list that Fisher gave him, and then grinned. “No. No way. Really?”

Fisher grinned as he moved a piece on his chessboard. “Yes. Now, to be clear, his presence changes nothing about our strategy – I just thought you’d want to know.” He chuckled. “We’ll take them all down. And you can be the one to do it.”

“And… Notary, sir?”

“Notary?” Fisher smiled. “She sells her services to the highest bidder. She’s a common criminal, who is only serving this country because I am paying her more than those who would have her ruin it. And – perhaps more importantly – she’s part of the group, now, isn’t she?” He smiled. “The country is better off with her in jail.”

“Thank you, sir!”

He chuckled as his soldiers left. Yes. This was perfect. Not only would the USF be bolstered, not only would he prove that they – and only they, not the Royal Guard or Shadowbolts or Night Guard or whoever – could defend the castle, but he’d take down Greengrass too. That monster, who corrupted the Court for his own ends, who thought only of his own power and glory and cared nothing for the country – he’d be in jail. Forever. As well as his chief minion, Notary. And maybe others. Notary and Greengrass were so corrupt, they’d be certain to flip on their other associates. He could take down the whole ring.

And they were only the beginning. Puissance too, and all the other corrupt Courtiers – and then the merely inept, like Mounty Max. He’d leave the Court in the hands of competent, quality leadership, like himself, Night Light, and the other nobles who could be trusted to do right by the country. He’d reserve the country’s slide, fend off Corona, and lead the way into a new era of prosperity and peace.

“Was there ever any doubt?” he mused.

Dealing In

“Alright. What do I know?”

Greengrass was back in his quarters, sitting at his desk. When he spoke, it was no longer with the despair that he’d been feeling before he met the group, or the utter hopelessness from when he’d learned just who he was dealing with. His voice was sharp and tight, a veteran player in the greatest Game in Equestria.

“So who’s involved? First, the CCPS. Most of them are lower-level servants who are disgruntled for one reason or another. Their goal is just to cause minor chaos and hope that it brings about political change.” Greengrass leaned back. “The leader. He is using the CCPS to damage the Court because he thinks it will help Celestia somehow. Me. I’m trying to infiltrate the group to expose them and regain my seat.”

And now for the one that he wasn’t as sure about. “The backer. I don’t know why he’s doing this or what he hopes to gain from helping the group. Could be another Celestia worshipper, but I would hope that nopony in this city is that crazy – she showed up here and almost blew the place up. If I had to guess, they hope to gain from the CCPS’s sabotage – maybe the sabotage is hitting some rival of his or hers especially hard, or maybe they want the castle to appear insecure for some reason.”

Greengrass couldn’t think of how to figure out the backer, but there was another mystery to be solved anyway. “Lastly, Notary, and her master.” He’d found out, just from asking a few ponies, that she’d been seen in Archduke Bobbing Fisher’s entourage. “Why are they involved?”

The natural answer was that they were doing the same thing Greengrass was; trying to infiltrate and destroy the group for political gain. But there was a big problem with that theory. “Notary’s good at a lot of things, and she’s a passable spy, but she’s better in the shadows. Fisher would be better off using her to trail the members, search out their identities, steal evidence… not show up in plain sight and join them.”

Okay, so what would Fisher gain by planting Notary in the group itself? For that matter, why did he need anypony in the group at all? Greengrass had been forced to join the group because he had nopony to help him do anything, so he had to do it all himself, and his particular set of talents hadn’t let him find what he needed any other way. Fisher was not in that position. He could use a network of spies to find out the things Greengrass had joined the group to learn. Besides, planting a member would open that pony up to arrest if the guards found the group. What would the gain be?

“So what can a pony inside the group do that one outside it can’t?” Greengrass mused on that for a while. “Talk to them, I guess, in confidence… convey messages? But why would he need to do that? The only pony who would need to talk to the leader is the backer, and the backer’s been doing it for a month already by anonymous letter. Why would Fisher need to talk with…”

Wait, something else had happened on that same night that Notary had joined. The leader had fought the two Shadowbolts. And, sure, that could be just a coincidence… but it probably wasn’t.

“Fisher’s USF is involved in the castle’s defense now. He might have been able to learn that the Shadowbolts had discovered the group.” Greengrass nodded; he thought that he’d figured out a piece of the puzzle. “If the Shadowbolts bust the group, Fisher doesn’t benefit. So he needs a trusted member in the group to warn them if some other team gets close. And that’s what he did – Notary joined, and gave them a message tipping them off about the Shadowbolts. Now Fisher has more time to destroy them before the Shadowbolts or Royal Guards do.”

But that still didn’t answer the question of why Notary in particular had to be the messenger. Fisher had enough resources that he could have used any number of better candidates, and kept Notary for more useful tasks. Was it just to hurt her, to open her up to the risk of being captured? But Fisher was resourceful and intelligent, a consummate chess player. He wouldn’t ‘sacrifice a piece,’ as he’d call it, for no reason, especially not one as valuable as Notary.

“I don’t get it.” Greengrass sighed. “Fisher’s good at valuing his agents and using them effectively. He’s quite a strong player, at least when things go according to his plans. He’s weakest when dealing with the unexpected. But I don’t think anything unexpected came up yet, so that doesn’t help me—“

Well, no. There was one thing Fisher couldn’t have expected – that Greengrass himself would be in the group. Granted, Fisher probably knew that by now – Notary had recognized him, and she was professional enough to inform Fisher – but whatever Fisher’s plans were, they couldn’t have included Greengrass. Maybe he could use that. Some public challenge of some kind, or a public tantrum, to throw a new variable into the Game. That could spook Fisher, maybe cause him to make an error down the line.

“Fisher wants to take the group down, probably publically, to show off the USF. Therefore, I should be able to push him a little without him just destroying it right away – if he does that, then I’m done for, but he won’t get the political benefits that he would from stopping the group in the middle of some kind of sabotage. So I can rattle him and yell at him, as long as I don’t seem competent enough to actually screw up his plans.”

Furthermore… suppose that Fisher really was planning on hurting Notary, for whatever reason. Greengrass would want to try to prevent that, if he could. And that would be easiest if Fisher didn’t think to defend against it… meaning, it would be easiest if Fisher thought that Notary and Greengrass were on the outs. Some kind of public argument, where Notary scorned and repudiated him. Greengrass would hate doing it, but he knew how to push Notary’s buttons and how to evoke contempt and scorn from her.

Why should I care what she thinks of me? She’s my employee… not even. She quit. Why should I be upset if, for this plan, I have to make her hate me?

He sighed again. She was the closest thing he had to a friend, a pony who shared his dreams and ambitions, who (had) supported him in a quest that most others would have dismissed as insane and unachievable. They had been very close. So, yes, this would hurt.

But it had to be done. Not just for the Duke’s political career, but for her sake as well.

“Rattle Fisher, without looking too threatening. Offend Notary. I think I know just what to do.”

The Duke rose and went to bed. That night. He’d move that night; he had to, it was the earliest opportunity and the Shadowbolts would be virtually certain to move within the next few days. But that night, he’d put his plans into motion.

“I look perfect,” mused the Duke, checking his reflection in a mirror a few hallways down from the Chamber, the room where the Court voted on various bills and heard proposals.

“You look like a drunken vagrant.”

Greengrass turned to see Vicerine Puissance, who was staring at him with a mixture of contempt and amusement. “Really? That’s just what I was going for!” He’d spent a substantial amount of time messing up his coat and mane just so, practicing a loud, brash, yet somewhat fearful tone, and even gargling with bourbon so that his breath smelled of cheap liquor. He wanted to look desperate. Desperate enough to make Fisher think that he might do something crazy, and to arouse Notary’s contempt.

“I have to admit, it’s fascinating to watch you struggle to get back into the Court. It’s like you weren’t listening when you were told never to return.”

“Oh, I’m dreadfully hard of hearing some days.” Greengrass chuckled. “Terrible weakness, that.”

“Well… if you have to do something, at least make it entertaining, Greengrass. I’ve been dreadfully bored.”

“My dear Vicereine, I can personally assure you that you will love the show.” Greengrass smiled. “Cross my heart.”

“Well, you can still talk a good game, anyway.” Puissance laughed. “Good luck.”

The two walked until they made it to the Chamber. Greengrass let Puissnace go in first so he could get himself in character. So here’s my persona: I’m at the end of my rope, desperate, doing anything I can to stay alive and not wind up in jail or bucked off the castle towers. I know that talking to Fisher is desperate, but I’m far enough gone to try, and I don’t care how bad or embarrassing I look if it will let me have the slimmest chance of staying afloat. So, basically, my persona is my actual self. Great.

Greengrass entered the room.

It was just like he remembered. Bills hadn’t yet been brought to the floor for the night, so Courtiers were milling about, talking with visitors and the press, making deals with each other. Servants were running to and fro, conveying letters and libations. A few musicians were at one end of the room, playing a tune to a small but appreciative crowd. The Royal Guard, along with a few members of Fisher’s USF, were patrolling, and that one pony at the bar whose eyes kept darting about was probably a Shadowbolt.

For just one moment, Greengrass felt like he was home.

Then the ponies noticed him, and the whispering began. They parted around him, forming a dead zone that none dared cross. Greengrass brayed nervous laughter, located his target, and made a beeline for Fisher.

“Archduke!”

Fisher turned. He had a full entourage with him; half a dozen sycophants, and Notary too. Notary’s gaze was one of astonishment; Greengrass forced himself to ignore her. No other ponies were by them except for the musicians, who had stopped playing and were watching the impeding showdown.

“What do you want, Greengrass?” asked Fisher. He had an ugly smile on his face. Ah, yes, he knows I’m in the group, he knows he could destroy me at any time by telling the guards. He only hasn’t yet because he wants to take down the group publically and bolster his USF’s public image. Well… I’ve got some plans of my own. Let’s see who wins.

“I want to make a deal with you!” said Greengrass. “About your mutual friends! We’ll deal with ‘em together!”

Fisher laughed. “You’re pathetic. Get lost.”

“Well, what if you can’t do it alone? Without my help—“

“I’m confident I don’t need a corrupt, disgraced politician, Greengrass.”

“It’s for the good of the nation!”

“You wouldn’t know what that was if Luna shouted it in your ear with the Royal Canterlot Voice.”

Ouch, thought Greengrass. Fisher could come up snappy hypotheticals.

The Archduke turned to go, but Greengrass stepped in front of him. Greengrass smiled the smile of the desperate, and prepared to speak. But he didn’t speak – he suddenly felt the urge to sing:

Earth pony! He gestured at himself. Unicorn! He pointed at Fisher. An intriguing collusion!

Fair exchange, hoof and horn, comradeship in profusion!

Fisher raised an eyebrow. “Are you drunk?”

Greengrass grinned. And the appeal, partner (partner)

Of this deal, partner (partner)

Is we all, stand to win, you and me, the nation also!

Fisher tried to walk away, but Greengrass again ran in front of him. He was surprised that the musicians had gotten in to it (they were playing along, and it was they who were adding the repeated ‘partners’), but then again, it was well known that ponies would break into song at the slightest provocation. It was just a quirk of their species.

Don’t break my heart, partner (partner)

Just be smart, partner (partner)

Prove to us that your love for this land’s, pure as snow in Moscolt!

Fisher scowled. “Get out of my way!”

”Thank the stars, we are civilized!

And our word, can be our bond! (Be our bond!)

We can turn this into friendship for life!

And beyond!

Fisher laughed, a long, deep, and mocking sound. And he began to sing as well.

”Patriot! He pointed at himself. ”Selfish brat!” He gestured at Greengrass. ”That’s how I’ve always seen us!

Not much help, stupid prat, for agreement between us!

There’s no deal, partner (partner)

Who’s your real, partner (partner)

Could there be, just a chance, that you’ve got, some troubling allies? He grinned knowingly.

Greengrass didn’t have to fake the fear that came over his face.

That’s not true, partner! (partner)

How could you, partner, (partner)

Think I’d want, to pursue, any deal, save our alliance?

How could you, he pointed again, Only think

Of your selfish ambition, or breaking my position?

Will you risk them staying alive, letting those saboteurs thrive, He let the words hang for a moment, For our personal competition?

Fisher did indeed look surprised that Greengrass was going this far, but then he grinned. “I’ve got you. You’re done for, and in a few days, you’ll rot in a cell where you belong,” he hissed, directly in Greengrasss’s ear. Then he brought up his voice. “There’s NO DEAL!”

Greengrass gulped, then hurried over to Notary. This was it – he’d have to fool her, to convince Fisher that the two of them were through in case he needed to work with her under his nose later. He began:

Silly colt! He tapped his chest, then pointed at her. A mare who,

He should not have let walk out!

There’s no hitch, that we two,

Can’t untangle and talk out!

Notary frowned. “Duke. This is embarrassing,” she began. The Duke ignored her.

And the appeal, partner (partner)

Of this deal, partner (partner)

Is we both, stand to win, we’ll bring back, the golden era!

He swept his front hooves high into the air, as if to demonstrate how great they could be together. He realized, belatedly, that he didn’t even need to fake this part all that much – he wanted her back, by his side, helping him. (For her part, she was looking mildly repulsed by the Duke’s humiliating display.)

Stick with me, Notary (Notary)

Leave him be, Notary (Notary)

In return, we will rise, higher than, fabled czars of Moscolt!

“Stop it!” Notary looked both embarrassed and offended. “This is ridiculous. I resigned, Duke. I moved on. And if this is what’s become of you without me I’m glad I did.”

“But—“

She cut him off, opening her mouth to sing.

Are you sick? Are you mad?

You still don’t understand

Why I left you, why I dropped you?

Greengrass turned, suddenly conscious of everypony in the hall staring at him. It was like at the performance of the Symphony for Moon and Sun, except then he’d been one of the Court mockers, laughing and singing at the apparently-doomed Lyra Heartstrings. Now he was the target.

And they began to sing.

Who’d ever think of such a squalid, depraved ending?

Watch the Duke descending

Just as low as he can go!

Notary looked away.

I’m learning things I didn’t want to know.

The Duke glanced around the room. Every face was looking at him, full of contempt.

Who’d ever guess the Duke would be here losing, flailing

His final gambits failing

As his dreams die in the air!

Notary retreated behind Fisher.

I wish I had it in me not to care.

Fisher laughed.

Let him spill (spill)

Out his hate

Till he knows he’s deserted!

There’s no point (point)

Wasting time

Preaching to the perverted!

Greengrass took another step towards Fisher. Fisher looked startled, his horn glowed, and then two members of Fisher’s USF were trotting over. “Is there a problem?” one asked. Greengras blinked, recognizing the pony as the former Captain Lightning.

“No, it’s fine,” said Fisher.

“Hey!” It was one of the Royal Guards. “No chatting. You’re on duty.”

Greengrass rolled his eyes. Fisher’s USF was so arrogant, it was amazing they’d ever been put to work as another castle security force. In fact--

Oh.

Oh.

And Greengrass understood.

Hours passed, but Notary barely noticed them. She felt like she was in a daze.

“Notary?”

Notary looked at Fisher. “I’m… I’m sorry, sir. What was that?”

“You don’t look well.” Fisher paused. “Why don’t you take a few hours to rest? Meet me back at my office for our morning work session, but until then, go home.” He looked almost sympathetic.

Notary hated to take sick time, but just this once, she felt that she needed it. “Thank you, sir.”

She began heading home, but took a detour and wound up in a bar. She liked this particular place; a large building with lots of nooks and crannies, where patrons could nurse their drinks or eat the (surprisingly good) hay fries in peace and privacy. One of the owners was a unicorn who frequently scanned the place for magical bugs, and the bouncers were good about finding lurking eavesdroppers and showing them the door. Though near a Court that was all about secrets and spying, it was a rare place where one could be (relatively) unafraid of being overheard.

“Moscolt vodka,” she said to the bartender, deciding that she would have a drink from her hometown. She felt like she needed one. “And a plate of hay fries, extra relish, and one pickled apple.”

Once she had her food, she slipped into a booth. How could she have been so wrong about Greengrass? He’d totally collapsed. She felt like an idiot for thinking he could have been a king.

“Notary.”

Notary turned to see Greengrass sitting across from her.

She opened her mouth to tell him off, but paused. He looked different. His gaze was sharp, his coat and mane were fixed, and even his motions were steady and calm. He didn’t look anything like the drunken moron that had sung to her a few hours ago.

“Greengrass, what—“

“Listen. Fisher is going to destroy you. When he takes down the CCPS, you’re going down with them. That’s why he had you join the group.”

Notary stared at him for a moment. Then she said, “Greengrass, you taught me enough about loyalty that you can’t seriously expect me to believe my master would—“

“I taught you about loyalty, and about recognizing when your master is being disloyal to you. Notary, think. Why would he have you join the group? What can you do that his USF can’t?”

“I don’t need to hear this—“

“Notary!”

Notary glanced back at Greengrass, to see that the stallion was looking away from her, like he was ashamed of something. “Please. Just listen. You can tell Fisher all about it later if you want.”

Notary hesitated, but she couldn’t reject him entirely. She said, “I’m listening.”

Greengrass nodded, sat up straight, and took a breath. When he spoke, he no longer looked ashamed – rather, he seemed almost like a teacher who wanted to convey an important lesson. “Your skills are primarily strongest in two areas. One, clerical work, and two, information retrieval – picking locks, forging security clearances, that kind of thing. You’re a good actress, but it’s not your specialty. Fisher has an entire paramilitia behind him. If he wanted a spy, he could use one of them, or probably draft a Shadowbolt. Why would he need you for that job?”

Notary said nothing.

“He doesn’t need you to find information on the group. I’d be surprised if he didn’t have another spy, one you don’t know about, in their ranks. No, he needs you there so that you can be busted.”

“That would hurt him.” Notary allowed just a touch of smugness into her voice. “I’ve made sure that I was seen with him, so if I’m hurt he looks…”

She trailed back. Greengrass was shaking his head.

“Notary.” She recognized this tone of voice; he’d used it before, when he’d wanted to teach her a political lesson. “What does Fisher want?”

“I can’t—“

“I don’t mean, things he’s told you personally. Pretend you’re some new Courtier who’s never met him and only heard his speeches. What does he want?”

Notary thought. “For the USF to become the premier Special Forces unit in Equestria. For them to defend the castle and the nobles, and fight off the big monsters that the army can’t. The Tyrant Sun, Grogar, beasts like them.”

“Yes. What actions has he taken to that affect?”

“He’s been heavily pushing bills granting them more funding and backing. He wants to open up a recruitment center in Trottingham.” Notary paused. “Is this going somewhere?”

“What is the chief objection to the USF?”

“That they’re unicorn-only.”

“No.” Greengrass shook his head. “The Wonderbolts are pegasus only, yet nopony objects to them. Fisher’s personal tribalism draws some ire, but the USF as a whole? Not nearly as much.”

“Then what is it?”

Greengrass looked slightly disappointed. “Let’s say one of the USF soldiers came in here right now, and I asked you to describe her to me – we’ll use Turquoise Blade to be specific. How would you do it?”

Notary blinked at the non-sequitor. “I would say, ‘that’s one of Fisher’s USF. She’s blue, with a sword and—“ she trailed off. “What?”

Greengrass smiled slightly. “Fisher’s USF?”

“Yes. Why?” She paused. “Wait. They technically work for the castle now, right? Not him?”

“Yes!” Greengrass smiled a little. “Odd that you, one of the most perceptive ponies in the castle, forgot that.”

He said nothing more, and Notary struggled to get her thoughts in order. “Okay, so a lot of ponies still think of the USF as his. Well, he founded them, paid them until recently, commissioned their uniforms and weapons, is their biggest supporter…”

Something occurred to her.

“When we went after the Elements. One of our tactics was to point out that they were under the control of Luna or Trixie; that they might not be loyal to the Court, or in Trixie’s case, the nation.”

“Yes.” Greengrass seemed almost pleased.

“And it’s probably more pronounced now, since Fisher literally created the force from scratch as his private security, and only recently brought them into public use.”

“So. Notary. How can he solve this problem?”

Notary thought for a few long moments. “I… I don’t know.”

Greengrass paused. “Come on, Notary. You’re almost there. I need you to understand this.”

Notary took a deep breath. She didn’t know what to think about Greengrass anymore; all she could do was focus on the problem. “Well, logically, the USF has to look independent. Fisher could retire from public life to make it clear that he won’t control them…”

“But he won’t do that, for obvious reasons.”

“Right. Or he could directly appoint some other pony to be in charge, put them under Shining Armor, for example.”

“If he thought that any existing force was good enough to trust with that responsibility, he wouldn’t have fought so hard for the USF. He’s expended a lot of political capital on it.”

“They could take some action against him.” She stopped. “…like arresting one of his servants.”

“And not just any servant.” Greengrass lowered his voice. “One of the best secretaries and spies in the castle, assistant to the infamous Duke Greengrass, who brought down nobles and ruined companies, only losing to the Element of Magic herself. Not to mention, a servant in his inner circle. A servant who has been seen publically with him, follows him around as he conducts all his business, handles all his correspondence… his right-hoof mare.”

Notary could only sit, frozen, in place.

“When the CCPS is arrested by the USF, you’ll be arrested too. You’ll be sent to jail forever, and the USF will have shown that they will choose the nation’s safety over Fisher’s own interests. Fisher wins.”

“But why me?” her voice was small. “If he was doing that, he should pick one of his long-term servants like Majordomo.”

“Well, first of all, he hates you. You’re an earth pony who dares to play at politics, instead of tilling the fields. You’ve associated with somepony like me. I’m sure you’ve talked back to him a few times – he’s all about strict chain of command; he hates when his ‘subordinates’ disagree with him. On a personal level, he’d love to see you suffer, and for the country, I’m sure he’s convinced himself that it’s better off without you.” Greengrass nodded. “And second, he probably thinks his other servants and employees are more useful than you. Has he used you for anything besides infiltrating the group and clerical work?”

She shook her head.

“He can find another secretary if he has too. He wouldn’t want to have to replace a trained USF member, or Majordomo.”

Notary was silent for a long moment. Then she said, “I can’t accept all this just on your say-so. I work for Fisher. I owe him my loyalty. You taught me that.”

“I taught you to value loyalty… not just in yourself, but in others too. If Fisher is doing what I think he’s doing, he’s betrayed you. You owe him nothing.” Greengrass rose. “Investigate this. Please. We don’t have much time. The Shadowbolts are missing two agents; once they discover this, they’ll strike, and that’s probably going to be in a day or two.”

“Without proof, if I went snooping through Fisher’s things…”

Greengrass said nothing.

“What would you do?” she asked at last. “You value loyalty. If you were in my position, and somepony told you this, what would you do?”

Greengrass spoke slowly, as if struggling to put his thoughts into words. “I would investigate it. And, if I found nothing, I would confess my mistake to my employer. Who would likely fire me, but...” he trailed off. “Well, I never claimed to be perfect.”

Notary rose.

“What will you do?”

“I don’t know.”

Notary returned to Fisher’s office at the same time as the Archduke.

“Are you able to work?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Soon they were in his office, the Archduke commanding and Notary carrying out his orders. File this, sign that, check a fact or a figure… it would be easy, Notary thought, to lose herself in this rhythm and persuade herself to ignore the Duke’s advice. It could be a trick; she’d thought it herself, that Greengrass would have no qualms about going after her and Fisher. But there was something stopping her from believing that was all it was.

I’ve heard him lie a million times… that didn’t sound like a lie…

But what proof could she even look for? It wasn’t like Fisher would conveniently leave written confessions lying about. And she couldn’t even search the room anyway; she wasn’t allowed in without him, and the door had the latest in magical and technological security. Even she couldn’t break in without a few hours and probably a unicorn assistant.

What evidence would there be? If I was arrested, what would he need to prepare for?

The only thing she could think of was that he’d need a new secretary, and that was such a banal and silly answer that she had to choke back a laugh.

Then again… one of the things I’ve been doing for him is prepping employment paperwork, he likes to get that ready a few days before he actually starts sending it out. If he really is going to need a new secretary, he’s probably already drafted the notices and the forms for the applicants…

She got up and approached the filing cabinet with employment paperwork.

“Where are you going?” Fisher asked.

“One of the applicants for the position of Head of Development at Digger Industries wanted to verify that we received her paperwork.” Notary reached the cabinet. “Since she has political connections, I thought it best to check.”

He’s not good with surprises, Greengrass said, so hopefully he won’t be as suspicious about this as he should be…

“Alright, hurry up.”

Notary nodded and opened up the ‘new positions’ drawer. She moved passed the Head of Development folder, a few others, reached the end, and…

And there was a notice, dated three days in the future, asking for applicants to be Archduke Fisher’s secretary and personal assistant.

Notary throttled back her shock of betrayal and anger as she shut the door. “It’s there.”

“Good.”

Somehow – Notary didn’t know how – she made it through the rest of the morning. It was busy, that helped.

“This is a lot of expense requests,” she commented, making an effort to be normal. “Are you funding some kind of party?”

“Yes, there’s a celebration for Princess Cadence tomorrow, and I am donating to the event.” Fisher’s horn glowed, and another voucher was filled out. “A rather large party.” He paused. “Incidentally, I want to talk to you about that.”

“Yes?”

“The CCPS will likely target that event. Join them. I want to have detailed knowledge as to how they’re getting in to secure areas, what precisely they’re doing, and so on.”

I’ll bet that the message you had me deliver Mango, the fake backer messages, told them to attack this event. You’ll arrest all of us there. “Yes, sir.”

“Wonderful.”

When it was time to go to bed for the morning, Notary had to fight not to flee the office. But she controlled herself as she walked away from the noble quarters and in to the common parts of the castle.

All this work to destroy me… the whole fake job and everything. I’m surprised he didn’t bother with Greengrass. I guess because he’s already down and out. She paused. Although I was with him… he wasn’t really worse off than I was. It’s weird that he wouldn’t target the Duke too.

If he did go after Greengrass, how would he do it? Well, Fisher was an industrialist. He’d probably target the Duke’s businesses.

Notary desperately wanted to talk to the Duke, but she decided to make a quick detour. If everything would come to a head the next morning, she needed to know if the Duke was being targeted as well.

When she entered Greengrass’s rooms, she found him awake and sitting at his desk, even though it was already late morning.

“First, you were right.” She bowed her head. “Fisher is planning to betray me.”

Greengrass let out a heavy sigh. “Notary, I’m so sorry—“

“Second, the bust is happening in about twenty hours. There’s a party for Princess Cadence, Archdukes and up only. The CCPS is going to attack it and be arrested by the USF.”

“Okay, we—“

“Third, I went to Mango’s house, and I caught him leaving with food. I tracked him to an abandoned warehouse a few blocks away. I think that’s where he’s keeping the Shadowbolts.”

“Wonderful. And—“

“Fourth, I found out who the backer is.”

“What?!” Greengrass jumped up to his hooves. “Who? How?”

Notary’s smile was strained. “I realized that, if Fisher spent this much effort trying to destroy me, he’d likely have something planned for you too. You haven’t been paying as much attention to your businesses as you should have been , sir.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“I checked with your bank. It seems that your stone business recently opened up a new storefront in Canterlot.”

“What?!”

“That’s what their papers say. And that storefront requires a lot of up-front capital” She took several papers out of her saddlebag. “It’s been transferring money to the ‘new location,’ which is a shell business and… well, I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice to say, that money is winding up in a certain abandoned house in the eastern part of the city. Which is owned by Archduke Fisher.”

Though an experienced, and often cynical, politician, it took Greengrass a few moments to put it together. “Fisher’s been using my money to fund the CCPS.”

“Yes.”

“He’s… he set it all up. He’s the backer.”

“Technically, you are.”

Greengrass couldn’t say anything.

 “He founded the group," continued Notary. "I don’t know how he found Mango Mania—“

“Who?”

“The leader. But he did. He used your money to enable Mania to start the CCPS and have them wreck havoc. The group wants democratic reform, Mania wants the Sun, either way, they caused some minor havoc. Fisher then made sure I was part of the group, and he’ll have them all arrested tomorrow at Cadenza’s party. I’m caught as part of the group, and you would have been caught for funding them.” She paused. “That’s why it had to be me in particular. If you’re the backer, it makes sense that I’d be the messenger between you and Mania. Of course, now that you’re in the group too, that makes things even easier for him.”

Greengrass said nothing.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry.” Notary looked away. “I shouldn’t have quit on you so easily. I know a large part of this is my fault and—“

“Stop it.”

Notary looked at Greengrass, who seemed uncomfortable.

“I let you down. I let myself go in the months following my defeat. I was not a worthy master. Even then, you did not betray me; you resigned officially, and you haven’t taken any of my secrets to other masters. You behaved professionally in every way, despite my failures. Don’t blame yourself for any of this. Fisher and I can share it.”

They looked at each other, and then both bowed in unison. Greengrass said, “Notary… I need you for this. I can’t beat Fisher alone. Will you join up with me again?”

“Gladly.”

“Perfect.” Greengrass grinned, showing teeth. “Because I have an idea, and if it works, it just might save both of us. Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go!”

Black to Move

“Greengrass!”

Greengrass started. He’d been finishing up his plan, writing out some papers that would be of use when it came time to that night’s activities. It was eleven AM, long past the time when the Duke would have been asleep normally, but he had his and Notary’s lives to save – he could forego sleep for a day.

Evidently, so could Fancy Pants.

“Fancy Pants!” Greengrass went to the door and let the unicorn in. “Hello! How can I help you?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Fancy another game of chess?”

Greengrass mulled it over. He was just about done with his papers. Next up would be the documents Notary would need, but she could probably handle those herself, at least the first parts. Besides, he had a feeling, somehow, that Fancy Pants might have something important to say. He did seem to be very well connected, after all. “Certainly.”

He took out a set, and soon the board was ready on Greengrass’s desk. Fancy Pants, who had White this time, moved first. “I must say, your office is rather empty. But I suppose that’s due to the hour?”

“Not really. Most of my staff left me after the Gala.” Notary was his again, of course, but she wasn’t in. He’d sent her to go free the Shadowbolts, on the basis that, not only would he get in trouble if it came out that he could have freed them but hadn’t, but he didn’t actually want them to get killed by some lunatic sun-worshipper. She’d been unsure if she could do it alone, given Mango’s unusually strong magic, so he’d given her a bag of money and told her to find and commission Ox and Bear to help. They didn’t work for him anymore, but there shouldn’t be any problem with Notary hiring them ‘on her own.’

“I suppose good help is hard to find.”

“Yes. Well, that makes it all the more important to hold on to such help when you find it.”

Fancy Pants smiled. “I thought you were the pony who didn’t like just holding on to what one had?”

“I would hope that one could do both.”

After a few moves, Fancy Pants paused. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”

“Well, I might not answer, but feel free to ask.”

“You’re so open about your… ambition. Where did that come from? Your parents?”

Greengrass laughed. “Embarrassed, Fancy Pants?”

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

Greengrass was normally circumspect, but if his plans worked, he’d be a political superstar in less than a day … and if they failed, he’d be doomed beyond anything Fancy Pants could do to him. “Because my ambition highlights your lack of it.”

“Oh, really now.” Fancy Pants tittered. “I hardly think that’s fair.”

Greengrass moved a pawn. “Can we talk honestly, without all this… pointless circumlocution? Just this once?”

Fancy Pants stared at him, then nodded wordlessly. He moved his light-square bishop.

“You don’t need to play dumb. I know quite well that you’re a lot smarter than you look. You have the brains to get a seat in the Court, and to rise rapidly. A friend of the princess, connections with businesses all over Equestria… you could be an archduke by the time you retire.”

Fancy Pants shrugged.

“And yet you show no desire to try. Content to be Luna’s advisor forever. It’s something I don’t understand.”

“Contempt, Greengrass?” murmured Fancy Pants. “Really? After all the things you’ve done,” and his voice rose, “You show contempt for me?”

“Everything I have done has been in service of my goal and my dream. What have you done in service of yours? Do you have any?”

“Yes.” Fancy Pants smiled, but there wasn’t much mirth in it. “I do.”

“A big dream?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Personal, local, or would it affect part of the nation?”

“Every bit of it.”

“Well,” Greengrass said, leaning forward, “I would hazard a guess that you could accomplish it more easily from a seat on the Court. You’d still be Luna’s friend, still have your connections, but then you would gain money and political power. You could affect whatever changes you wanted.”

Fancy Pants nodded. “Yes, of course. I could. I’ve thought of it, even.”

Greengrass raised an eyebrow.

“I mean, you’re right. I could probably get a seat relatively easily. I can’t imagine that, say, Mounty Max could put up much of a struggle.”

“No, very little. Honestly, I think if you offered to take his seat from him, he’d just give it up. Everypony knows he doesn’t like it.”

Fancy Pants nodded. “And then it wouldn’t be too hard to move up. I might not have your intelligence network, Greengrass, but I do know a few things… the nobles would have to make way for me. My rise might be even quicker than your own.”

“So… why not?” Greengrass castled. “Don’t want the risks?”

“Because I’d rather not pay the cost.” Fancy Pants castled, mirroring the Duke. “Just because I have a dream doesn’t mean that I’ll throw out all my scruples to accomplish it. Why, would you?”

“I don’t have many to throw out.” Greengrass smiled genially. “Let me turn your question around. Where did your… lack of ambition come from?”

Fancy Pants was silent for a long moment.

Then he said, “My father, really. He was the sort of noble I’m sure you’d scorn as an idiot. Generous to the poor, kind to the downtrodden, a just and fair judge whenever cases reached his desk. He had no seat on the Court, but he had a little influence on those Courtiers who valued honesty and integrity, and he did what he could to ensure that righteous and proper actions were taken by our government.”

“So he raised you to follow in his footsteps.”

“Well, he tried. It didn’t work.” Fancy Pants put his piece down and stared at Greengrass. “I was a… well, I’m not sure what word you would use. But I wanted on the Court. I saw what some of the nobles were doing, how they were making out like bandits and obtaining vast sums of money, how they could use political power to rearrange the world in their own image and take what they wanted from it. I wanted in. I would have done anything to get it, and I did.”

“Really? I can’t see you as being the delinquent sort.”

“You didn’t know me as a youth. There was this one chap, Baron… Cyan Hoof, I think his name was. He was in a weak position, enjoying parties and golf outings more than shoring up his political situation. I came up with this splendid smear campaign to level him, bribed a few of the other nobles to sponsor me for the seat once it was open, everything like that.” Fancy Pants tilted his head, thinking. “I had a rather large celebration the night before, actually. I was excited that I would finally be on the Court, able to profit, unlike my fool father.

“But, after the party, when I came home, I found that… well, my father, he was in a sickbed. It seemed that another pony wanted Cyan Hoof in the Court; he would vote her way reliably, and he provided a useful buffer against young upstarts like myself. She had planted evidence framing my father for something or other. She falsified his business records to make it seem like he was embezzling. When I got home that night, all that ‘evidence’ had been discovered, and everything my father had spent his life building was gone. His career, his charitable organizations… crumbled to nothing.”

“I’m… sorry,” managed Greengrass.

“Don’t be. It was my fault.” Fancy Pants shrugged, returning his focus to the game. “I retired from political life for the time. My marefriend left me once she found out what had happened because of me; I think she was afraid she’d be targeted too. I cared for my father until he died, and then… I came back. But my father taught me a lesson about blind, ruthless ambition.”

“Well, I’ve always believed that how our parents nurture us has a large effect on who we are.” Greengrass hesitated, then decided to tell the story. It would be nice to finally tell somepony, besides Notary, and he was pretty sure that his family history couldn’t be used against him. “I mean, my father… he never taught me much, but I did learn one thing from him.”

“I knew your father; he worked closely with mine. They did a lot of good together.”

“Ah, yes. Greenmeadow, the pony of the citizenry! A loyal bureaucrat who sought no glory, took no money, but gladly devoted his life to advancing the country!” Greengrass laughed. “You know, for a time there I think he even believed his own press.”

“So he wasn’t as selfless as I’ve heard?”

“My father was… well, he wanted things out of life. Money. Power. Like Puissance, except not quite as creepy about it.” Greengrass shuddered. “Greenmeadow entered the Court fully prepared to graft as much as he possibly could.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yes. But a funny thing happened.” Greengrass chuckled. “You see, he realized that, if he reveled in corruption right away, as soon as he took his seat, he might be removed and a more honorable pony put in his place. So he told himself, he would work honestly – just for a month or two, build up a track record, and then go searching for bribes.

“But, well, after a couple months, he still didn’t feel quite safe, and so he worked honestly for half a year more. And then he realized that he could get a higher position, be put in a more important committee, with a correspondingly greater opportunity to profit – if he just did good work and was noticed. He got the committee, he prepared to accept a hefty bribe in exchange for a vote, and then realized that he could maybe win himself a baroncy… if he worked with impeccable integrity for just a little longer. And that was how he lived the rest of his life. Every time he grew close to taking what he wanted, he became aware of some other opportunity. Some reason to delay his gratification, so that he could shore up his position, or open a door to even greater rewards.”

Greengrass looked at the chess board. “My father worked here for fifty years, and never did what he wanted a day in his life. He wasted his life, and told me so himself.” He shook his head. “I resolved… never to be like that. I know what I want. I know what makes me happy. I will work for my heart’s desire; I will accrue any cost for that goal. Whatever happens to me, win or lose, I will not die of old age in a sick bed lamenting that I never tried.”

“Any cost?”

“Oh, you know what I mean.” Greengrass moved another piece. “By the way, your defense is slipping.”

“Is it?” Fancy Pants moved a knight to fork two of Greengrass’s pawns. “There’s a word, you know, for ponies who will accrue any cost to get what they want.”

“Motivated? Zealous?”

Fancy Pants’s gaze was wintery. “A motivated pony might pay any cost. One who just accrues any cost, perhaps leaving other ponies to pay it – a ruined career, a broken marriage, a crushed business – well, there’s another word for those ponies. I—“

There was a rapid knock. “Fancy Pants? It’s urgent.”

The pony seemed surprised. “Greengrass, I apologize—“

“Oh, no trouble at all. I need to think about this next move anyway.” Greengrass smiled as Fancy Pants got up. Who would track him here? Must be urgent…

As he studied the board, he heard Fancy Pants gasp. “What? Impossible!”

“It’s true…”

That’s… odd…

Greengrass felt mildly annoyed by Fancy Pants’s insinuation that he was some sort of evil sociopath. He wouldn’t do anything to win, after all. Wasn’t he releasing the two shadowbolts, even though it wasn’t really his responsibility and it could blow up in his face? There’s three possibilities there. One, all the shadowbolts knew about the group, and they just sent those two. In that case, releasing them doesn’t change anything, in terms of what the shadowbolts know and what they’ll do. Two, only those two knew, they were captured before telling anypony, but they’ll listen to Notary when she asks them to give us a day to take the group down ourselves, since right now all the evidence is framed to implicate me. If they listen to her, nothing changes. And three, if they don’t, if they go right back to headquarters and tell them about the group and we all get arrested in ten minutes, then I’m sent to jail forever. I’m taking a big risk for two ponies I don’t even know.

“I’m sorry.” Greengrass turned to see Fancy Pants looking at him from the door. “I… I have to go. Urgent business, some… old friends came in. Can I see you later? We can resume the game then.”

“Why don’t we talk at the party for Cadenza?”

Fancy Pants paused. “…that party is for Archdukes and above. You weren’t invited.”

“Oh, I’m crashing.” Greengrass smiled cheerily. “See you there!”

And when Fancy Pants was gone, Greengrass allowed himself a smile. Yes, he’d be there – triumphant. He’d weed out Fisher, destroy the CCPS, and be back in the Game.

That was all there was to it.

Best Laid Plans

It was three in the afternoon, and time for step one of the six-step plan: arrange that Mango Mania would be ready to storm a random noble’s office.

Greengrass now had Mania’s address. He went to the abandoned home in his ‘Hugh Belly’ disguise and knocked sharply. “I need to talk to you!”

He’s a religious zealot. It shouldn’t be hard to convince him to do what I want, if I just tell them that it’s what Corona wants too.

Mania opened up the door. “Belly?” He quickly urged the Duke inside. “What is it? How did you find me? Did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“The Shadowbolts escaped somehow. I don’t think they know who we are, but we’ve got to move fast. They’re smart, and pure evil, and—“

“Wait.” Greengrass smiled genially. “Don’t worry. They aren’t stronger than Celestia, right? And I think she’s with us.”

“…what?”

“I was sound asleep,” said the Duke, in a tone of reverent exhilaration, “When I had the strangest dream. I was outside, in a field of poppies, when I happened to look up and see that the sun had changed into a fantastic image. It was an alicorn, with flowing rainbow-colored hair and a massive horn—“

“Celestia!” gasped Mania. “You had a vision!”

“The sun spoke to me. She said that our time of triumph was almost at hand, that soon the corrupt government would fall and She would take Her rightful place on the throne – and that we would both be well rewarded.”

Mania beamed.

“But, she said, there is one possible problem. One of the nobles has almost discovered our group – I think those weren’t Shadowbolts, I think they were his agents -- and must be dealt with.”

“What?! Who?”

“I don’t know yet. She said that this noble would be revealed at the next meeting of our group, the one we’re having tonight.”

“Okay. Well, we can deal with that then.”

“You and I.” Greengrass nodded. “After the meeting, let’s deal with the noble. We’ll give him or her a chance to repent and join the Light, and if that fails…”

Mango’s sun pendant flashed. “We deal with him then.”

Okay, I need to make sure he doesn’t actually hurt Fisher. Well, hurt him too badly at least. “Perfect.”

Step two, three-thirty in the afternoon. Ensure that the Royal Guards (and NOT the Unicorn Special Forces) would be ready to storm the same office.

If it wasn’t for the USF, this would be a trivially easy task. Greengrass and Notary could just anonymously tip off the guards that Something Bad was going to happen in Archduke Fisher’s office a half hour before Cadenza’s celebration, and a few guards would show up to check it out. But now that the USF were helping with castle security, that wasn’t a safe option. They might be sent instead of the Guards, and they were of course still loyal to Archduke Fisher. They wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.

If it wasn’t for the party, it still wouldn’t be a terrible problem. Notary did her best to stay on top of the Guard schedules, and would be able to find out who was in that part of the castle that night. She could attract their attention and lead them to the office. But because of the party, the schedules were all completely screwed up. Most of the Guards would be at the celebration (along with the Night Guards, probably, some Shadowbolts, and part of the USF), and she couldn’t be sure what the revised patrol routes in the rest of the castle were.

So Notary had to first somehow find out who was still available, then contact them. The obvious solution might have been to look at the roster in the Office of the Royal Guards. However ,that Office was defended a lot more fiercely than the barracks that Greengrass had (barely) broken in to a few days prior. There were two armored guards on duty at all times, and the entire area was spelled to set off alarms if any unauthorized ponies entered. Even once inside, it would be nearly impossible to break into any particular offices to do anything – and then there was the issue of getting out. Notary had known a few personal assistants and minions who had tried to illegally access the Office; none had succeeded and all were in jail.

Fortunately, the castle’s Accounting and Personnel Office wasn’t nearly as well defended.

Notary picked the lock to get into the foyer of the Office, then made her way into the records rooms and found the file cabinet for requests for vacation and sick days. The castle staff had to know who was present so they could allot resources and staff for them. If half the Guards were out sick, for instance, then the amount of food set aside for them needed to be decreased. If a Lieutenant, or another Guard with his own office, was away on duty, then his office had a different cleaning schedule. Things like that.

Notary began paging through the files until she found the list of Guards scheduled to be out that night. Most hooves were on deck, but there were about ten that weren’t there. Notary looked at the listed reasons. Two were sick, two were on long vacations in Prance, one was on unpaid leave for getting drunk at a banquet and tossing a tapir ambassador into a seven layer cake, and five were off duty at home.

Notary checked those guards’ files and found their home addresses, then left and began to hurry out to find them. She’d leave them each a letter telling that an emergency had come up and they had to be by Fisher’s office a half-hour before the party.

If they believed the notes, great. Even if they thought it might be a trick, they would still have to show up. After all, if the notes were false, somepony was trying something that required misleading the Guards, and the Guards would want to find and arrest that pony… so they’d go to the rendezvous and be ready to arrest her. Either way, they’d be there, and then they could nail Fisher.

Step 3. Point Mango in the direction of Fisher.

The meeting of the CCPS that evening, in a small, empty storage room squarely in the middle of a cavernous basement, was a tense and agitated affair. Except for Notary (who had to work on other parts of Greengrass’s plan; Greengrass had told Mango that she was ill and couldn’t make it), every member of the CCPS was there.

“I received notice from our supporter about a celebration being held to honor the corrupted Court,” intoned Mango. His eyes were bright, almost blazing. “We are going to disrupt it!”

He outlined a plan for general sabotage. When the event started, there would be a long dance period before the speeches and the food. During that period, the leader would make a ‘sign’, and the other ponies would begin wrecking the place. “Pipe bursts, a couple of you can get by the food and salt it, you three break into the cloakroom and steal everything. Make it the most chaotic night in the castle’s history!”

“I don’t know,” said Mopping Swish. “This is a lot more public than the other stuff. What if we get caught?”

Greengrass smiled to himself. Mango didn’t care about that, he thought that his victory was preordained.

“We’ll be so sudden they won’t know what hit them. Wear the fanciest clothes you have to disguise yourselves. And get ready – I have a feeling that tonight’s activities are going to be of the utmost significance. This could be the action that makes the Court realize it must change its ways, lest these acts continue!”

Greengrass was standing very close to the storage room door. Distantly, he heard something clatter to the ground – the tin cans he’d set up by the basement door. Nopony was supposed to be here at this time; this basement was empty and unusued. That meant the newcomers had to be…

“Hush!” hissed Greengrass, catching Mango’s attentions. “The Guards!”

Mango blanched for a moment, then began talking loudly. “…Anyway, that’s why the right fertilizer is the most crucial ingredient in growing mangos! As you can see—“

The storage room door opened, and two USF ponies walked in. “What’s going on? Why are you down here?” demanded the leader.

“We’re discussing farming,” said Mango, looking somewhat cross. “Every room in the castle’s being used for planning for this big party, and since we’re not invited, we had to cram down here.”

The two looked at each other. “Why are you wearing cloaks?”

“Look.” Greengrass pointed to a huge spider that was spinning a web in a corner of the room. “They’re everywhere in here, even on the ceiling. I wore this cloak so that they wouldn’t fall on my mane or coat.”

“So did I!” said Mopping Swish, quickly.

The two USF members looked at each other again. Greengrass smiled to himself. He’d tipped them that there was some sort of smuggling operation going on in this basement, led by a quartet of rough and tough mob ponies from Manehattan. But there were clearly no smuggled goods in the room; there was nothing in the room at all.

“Some idiot jumping at shadows,” muttered the leader to his companion. “Saw these bozos and thought he was in a Daring Do novel. Come on.” The two left.

The meeting resumed, even tenser than before. And afterwards, when Greengrass pulled Mango aside, Mango immediately said, “Those are Fisher’s soldiers. He must be the one who found out about us!”

“Let’s go deal with him. At… how about half an hour before Cadenza’s celebration?”

Mango paused. “Is that enough time?”

“I feel it’s exactly the right amount.” Greengrass smiled. “Besides. I think I have something that will help it go faster. I’ll get it to you at midnight, okay?”

“…okay. It seems like Celestia’s talking to you; if she’s with us, we can’t possibly lose.” Mango nodded. “We’ll meeting outside his office and barge in. If he accepts what we say, fine. If not…” He smiled. “We deal with it.”

Step 4. Prevent the USF from interfering.

Notary couldn’t arouse Fisher’s suspicions, so she had to go to his office at her usual time and help with his business duties.

She would somehow have to arrange for any USF soldiers that weren’t already slated to be at Cadenza’s party to be there anyway. Most of them would be there – they were going to bust the CCPS there, after all. But there would probably still be a few wandering around the castle, and that could cause problems. If any of them came by the office when Mango showed up, Fisher might be able to salvage the situation.

Unfortunately, Fisher no longer technically controlled the USF, so Notary couldn’t simply forge orders from him and arrange for the unicorns to get them. She’d have to be sneakier about it.

“Archduke,” she said, as she settled into her desk.

“Yes?”

“During my investigation with the CCPS, I became aware that they might be working with another dissident group.”

Fisher straightened. “…you learned this when?”

“Earlier today. I was tracking Mango Mania and I saw him entering a bar that is known to have… criminal elements. I followed him inside and saw him talking with a small group of ponies. They looked athletic, and judging by their clothes, they belong to one of the Manehattan syndicates.”

Fisher took a few seconds to say, “…alright. Thank you for telling me.”

She bent over her work, but she heard Fisher summon Turquoise Blade. “Go to the USF patrols in the castle. Tell them that they all need to be at Cadenza’s party. There’s going to be more hostiles than we thought.”

“Yes, sir.”

Notary smiled to herself as she filed some papers that she’d written up just a few hours ago. Things were going great.

Step 5. Make Mango as overconfident and cocky as possible.

Greengrass looked at the papers that he had forged. After writing on them, he’d put them near a lamp to get them to crinkle nicely, stained them with a very light coating of sepia-toned paint, and delicately tore a few holes in a few specific places in the pages. The papers looked hundreds of years old, now. It wouldn’t fool any scholar, but Mango was an incompetent fruit farmer. He wouldn’t know the difference.

Greengrass went to his house, knocked on his door, and gave him the papers. “Ancient sun magic,” he said. “Simply cast this spell and you’ll be able to smite the unrighteous.”

“Perfect!” Mango took the spell and read it over. “I’ll try it now.”

Greengrass hoped that he’d copied the spell out of the book correctly. He wasn’t a magician, after all. Mango read it over, focused, and…

His horn glowed like a massive torch. Greengrass had to look away. It was like there was a lighthouse perched atop Mango’s head.

“Perfect!” Mango grinned. “Of course, it won’t smite us because we’re righteous, but – that light, it’s so pure and strong, it will destroy any of Luna’s depraved minions!”

“Wonderful,” said Greengrass, marveling that a prank flashlight spell he'd learned about in a joke book was proving so useful. “I look forward to it.”

And step 6. Ensure that Fisher was in his office.

At about three in the morning, one hour before Cadenza’s party, Notary turned to Fisher. “By the way, sir, the Digging Industries tax statements came in today.”

“The… the what? Those aren’t due for two weeks.”

“I think they wanted you to check them. They got tangled, or something, and—“

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?!” Fisher scowled. “Hurry up!”

They raced back to his office, where a very large pile of tax files had been neatly left outside.

“What is this?” Fisher began scanning through them. “These are a total mess!”

Notary was no accountant, but she knew what tax statements looked like. And Greengrass had shown her, with glee, how to take a simple six-page statement and turn it into a thirty-page nightmare of circulars references, bad math, and hay soda spills. “It says they need it back in two days,” Notary stated blandly.

Fisher’s eyes narrowed. “I’m firing somepony over this.” He looked at his desk. “This needs to be finished before the party. Majordomo! Cancel my appointments. Notary, I hope you’re good at math.”

“Yes, sir.” Notary sat down. “Quite good.”

Greengrass carefully pulled up a dandelion that had somehow taken root in his garden.

This was it. This night would indicate whether he got back in the Court, or was arrested and sent to jail forever. There was no turning back; there was only the Game, and his own talent and skill versus that of Archduke Bobbing Fisher.

“I can beat him. I’m better than him,” Greengrass muttered. “I’m faster to adapt to changing circumstances. I’m bolder. What’s he got that I don’t?”

Well, he had a paramilitia, a higher title, and political influence. In any kind of dispute, his word would be taken over the Duke’s. He had powerful friends. That sort of thing.

“So he’s got more material than me. I can still win.” Greengrass shook his head. “I have to win.”

When the time came, Greengrass rose up from the dirt. He looked at his garden, aware that this might be the last time he ever did it. He wondered, briefly, if it would have been smarter to just give up on politics and go home after Lulamoon had ruined his career.

But he shook his head. “If I gave up when things were hard, I’d never have gotten this. I couldn’t even grow grass, and now… now, this is one of the best gardens in the city.” He nodded. “I’ll get my seat back. I’ll resume my career.

“And one day, I will rule this country.” He grinned. “My own garden, to nurture and tend to. That’s my goal. And if I can’t try for that… well, would jail really be any worse than a lifetime in exile at home?”

He strode out. He had work to do.

It was just about time.

Notary almost dropped the paper she was biting into when Fisher said her name, but it was just to tell her to get the fifth volume of the tax code from his bookshelf. She got up and did so.

The minute hand on the clock moved to the ‘6’.

Notary took a deep breath. “Sir, I think it would be best if I got my slide rule. May I?”

“Fine,” muttered Fisher, not paying attention.

Notary went to the door, opened it, and stepped outside. As she shut it, she held it so it didn’t quite catch, and then began trotting swiftly away.

Not even one minute later, Greengrass and Mango Mania trotted into the hallway. “Why don’t you do the talking?” said Greengrass. “You’re better at speeches than I am.”

“What should I say?”

“Just introduce yourself and me, and talk about our group. You know, big, powerful, blessed by Celestia, going to wreck Cadenza’s thing…”

Mango nodded. “Got it.”

He reached the door, smiled, and then burst through it. Greengrass followed, shutting it behind them.

And thirty seconds later, Notary hurried back down the hallway, four Royal Guards in pursuit. Okay, future note – insulting Shining Armor works a little too well to rile these ponies up. She ducked into a small nook, hoping that the shouting would start soon.

“You little brat,” hissed one of the Royal Guards. “How dare you—“

“WHAT?!” screamed a voice from Archduke Fisher’s office.

The guards stopped and stared at each other, and then the voices continued.

Fisher stared in incomprehension as Mango began to rant.

“So, you thought you could stand up against the forces of righeousness and Light? You thought you could take us on?” he cried.

Turquoise Blade and Lightning stepped out of a back room, but Fisher waved them off. Majordomo retreated until he was standing with them. Fisher stared at the intruders. “I’m sorry, but who the Hay are you?”

Ah, thought Greengrass. Of course. Fisher never met this idiot himself. He just had Notary, and before her probably Majordomo, drop off messages and money. This should be good.

“I’m Mango Mania. Formerly just another pony who was ruined by the machinations of your corrupt Court! But now I have my own group of ponies who aren’t going to take it anymore. The Canterlot Common Pony Supporters. We’re going to make it impossible for this government to run! It’s corrupt and decadent and…”

As Mania began going over what else the government was, Greengrass smiled to himself. This was perfect. As long as Mania confessed to everything, things would remain on track. Then the guards would come in and Greengrass would initiate the next phase of his plan.

Fisher evidently had no idea what was going on – but of course, he hadn’t expected anything like this to happen. Greengrass could practically hear him trying to figure out if this was going to ruin his own plan of arresting the group at Cadenza’s party. “Get out of my—“

“No! We won’t leave!” Mania laughed, well, maniacally. “The CCPS has been shutting down this castle for a month now! Busting pipes, spoiling food, stealing books. Now we’re going to destroy the party for Princess Cadence! We will bring wrack and ruin upon you! We will upset your—“

Evidentally, the mention of the party was enough. The door burst open and the Royal Guards ran in. “Stop! You’re under arrest!” yelled one.

“What?!” Mango turned to stare at the guards. “Impossible! Celestia Herself has blessed us!”

One of the guards turned to look at Greengrass and Fisher. “One of you mind explaining?”

Fisher opened his mouth, but Greengrass got there first. “Explaining? Certainly? The Archduke and I became aware of this ‘CCPS’ group a while ago, and we’ve been working to expose them. I recently gained the confidence of their leader, Mango here, and was able to induce his confession.” He smiled broadly. “You can arrest him now.”

“WHAT?!” yelled Fisher and Mango, albeit for entirely different reasons.

“I’m not employing you!” roared Fisher, sounding more irritated by the suggestion than the actual situation.

“Oh, don’t be so modest. I admit that you were the brains on this little operation, and I just did as you asked.” Greengrass chuckled. “I mean, if you weren’t involved, why would we be here at all? With our public… animosity, surely we can all agree I wouldn’t give you credit for exposing a terrorist group for no reason?”

The guards glanced at each other, and Greengrass smiled to himself.

Fisher can deny it, but then he’ll have a lot of awkward questions to answer. Like – why are we here, then, if I wasn’t working with him? Why would I give him credit for no reason? Why is Notary both one of his employees and a member of the group, if he’s not involved? Plus, if he does deny it, the Guards will have to search his office to find out who’s telling the truth, and Notary planted those employment contracts stating quite plainly that we infiltrated the group on his orders. Not to mention, with Notary working in his office, he has to know that it’s possible that she found some evidence implicating him in stealing my money to fund the group… or, for that matter, that she could have planted some. Denying that I was with him could lead to that evidence being found when the guards try to sort out which of us is being honest, and could land him in very hot water, as that would indicate that he founded the whole group and was responsible for everything. He’ll have to go along with my story.

“You liar!” Mango screamed. “You betrayed me! You betrayed Celestia!”

“My loyalties,” said Greengrass, as primly as he could, “Are to the true leader of this nation, Princess Luna Equestria. Of course I’m not one of Celestia’s acolytes. Do I look crazy?”

A guard moved to grab Mango. (Fisher and his employees, for their part, seemed to be paralyzed in shock). Mango shoved him away, but then the other three tackled him and began cuffing his hooves. “I’ll destroy you all!”

“Not a chance. We’re arresting you.”

“No.” This seemed to break through Fisher’s logjam. “No, you can’t!”

Second, this way, the Guards make the big arrest of the leader. Not the USF. All that planning, and the USF just looks like chumps who had to have the Royal Guard take care of the problem. Fisher won’t benefit like he was hoping – he won’t benefit at all!

One of the Guards looked at Fisher. “Were you really working with him?”

“Uh.” Fisher stared.

Third, the great Archduke Fisher, reduced to using the outcast Greengrass? He’ll be humiliated! Sure, it’s better than possibly being arrested, which is what could happen if he denies it, but… I think Fisher’s star will be descending rapidly in the Court now.

“I’m happy to be of service!” said Greengrass, grinning brightly. “A loyal servant of the Court and Equestria, that’s me!”

And, fourth, now that somepony did see fit to ‘use’ me, that should make it easier to get back into the Game. After all, clearly I’m back in play. I think I already know what my next moves will be…

“Now, to be fair, I can’t take all the credit for helping Fisher. My personal assistant, Notary, did so as well.” Notary stepped into the room. “And she’d be happy to testify to anything this group did, as would I.”

“I thought she worked for Fisher?” asked one of the Guards. (Mango was screaming something, but nopony was listening to him).

“We were all working together,” said Notary, in her clipped tones. “After this bust, of course, I was going to return to Greengrass.”

“You were not!” Fisher almost screamed, as if desperate to challenge some part, any part of the story.

“Your employment notice for a new secretary is in the third drawer of your fourth filing cabinet,” said Notary, in clipped tones. “The Guards can check if they don’t believe me. For that matter, the contracts we both signed agreeing to work for you, stipulating our duties and pay, are in the second drawer of the second filing cabinet.”

One of the Guards shrugged and trotted over. “Yep,” he said, upon finding the various forms Notary had listed.

Fisher’s eyes narrowed, and Greengrass had to fight back laughter. He understands. But now it’s too late. The only sensible thing for him to do here is—

Mango sprang at the Guards, horn glowing brightly. Blade and Lightning moved to intervene, but Fisher was faster. His horn glowed, and suddenly Mango was flying into a bookshelf and collapsing under an avalanche of legal tomes.

—Is go along with it. There’s too much indicating that we’re working together for him to get out of this, and if he tries, I might be able to have him nailed for founding the group in the first place. Saying, ‘yes, it’s true, arrest Mango’ is the only sane option. I know Fisher hates to lose, but…

Fisher’s expression shifted from rage, to panic, and then a smug sneer. His eyes sparkled. He did not look like a pony who was about to surrender.

…then again, he founded a sabotage group in the castle. Maybe sanity is expecting too much from him.

Fisher stared at Greengrass, eyes full of malice, and then began to trot forward.

Uh oh.

“Yes, of course. It’s all true,” said Fisher, in an unctuous voice. “Thank you, Duke Greengrass, for bravely going undercover and extracting the confession. I must commend you. Notary, you as well. Magnificent work. But we can hardly stop now – we have to wrap up the rest of the group!”

“They’ll be at Princess Cadenza’s party,” said Greengrass.

“Exactly.” Fisher got the list of names of the ponies in the group from his desk and passed it to the Guards. “I’ll go with you. We’ll make sure to catch every one of these saboteurs. Since this was my operation, I’ll take responsibility for completing the arrest. Lightning, Turquoise Blade – you make sure that Mango here is delivered to Foalsome Prison. I think they’ll have a lot of questions for him.”

A Guard paused. “Er, shouldn’t we stay with the prisoner—“

“Well, the USF does have legal authority to transport prisoners.” Fisher grinned. “Of course, if you’d rather deliver the prisoner and do paperwork for an hour than go to the party and make public arrests, I—“

The Guard laughed. “Yeah, good point. You sure your USF can handle him?”

Turquoise Blade stepped forwards. “We’re quite capable of it.”

“Wait a minute,” said Greengrass. “I—“

“Now, Greengrass, relax. I told you, I can handle it from here. You’ve done enough.” Fisher grinned. “Why don’t you wait in my office? I’ll be back soon and I can give you your bonus.” He began to trot out, the Guards following.

“Wait!” yelled Greengrass, trying to figure out what last-second gambit Fisher was initiating. “I—“

But the Guards and Fisher, now outside the door, didn’t even seem to hear him.

“Soundproof spell,” commented Turquoise Blade, brushing past him. “Don’t bother yelling.”

Greengrass blinked. In the room were himself, Notary, Majordomo, a handcuffed Mango, and the two USF soldiers. If the USF were going to do something to them, he’d be hard-pressed to stop it.

And then, after a few minutes, Turquoise left the room without expression. Lightning grinned viciously at them, then followed. Majordomo was the last to leave, slamming the door behind him.

Mango screamed something inarticulate from beneath the pile of books.

Notary ran over to the door. “Locked,” she said, trying it. “And it’s probably enchanted too.”

Greengrass frowned. “What’s his game now?”

Fisher’s horn glowed slightly as he cast the intricate, complicated spell that could let him ‘throw’ his voice to their ears without moving his mouth. He’d found this spell years ago, in an old book, and insisted that every member of the USF be able to use it to both ‘send’ and ‘receive.’ The USF soldiers were required to always have the ‘receiving’ part of the spell active, whenever they were on duty – precisely for moments such as this, when he’d have to talk to them without alerting others. (Fisher was something of an exception to this rule, only activating the ‘receiving’ part for himself when he was expecting messages. But he so often had very important business and thus couldn’t be disturbed by an excitable USF soldier.)

“Lightning,” he whispered, casting the ‘receive’ portion of the spell as he did so. “You wait by the office. Do not let anypony inside escape. I will return later to deal with them.”

“What if,” Lightning responded, using the same spell, “Mango attacks Greengrass?”

“Then that solves a lot of our problems. If they destroy each other, that would be a very good thing. But it doesn’t matter either way, in terms of your duties. Just don’t let any of them leave the room.”

“Yes, Archduke.”

“Turquoise Blade. Get Mesmero, tell her I will pay double her usual rate. She should be stationed outside the party. Have her come to… Conference Room E, in the 5th floor of the Eastern Wing. I will lead the Guards there. She is to give the Guards false memories of having been on patrol for the last hour, and having seen nothing.”

“Archduke… I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Shining Armor has unicorns who—“

“Yours is not to question me. Do it,” responded Fisher. “Majordomo.”

“Archduke.”

“Get to the party. It… it is vital, absolutely vital, that the CCPS attack and the USF defeat them. The nation needs them; without them, we have no viable defense against Corona – that idiot Lulamoon can’t do it, and the Guards could barely defend the city last time. So. Without Mango, we will have to induce their attack ourselves. You know the members of the group and what they look like. Find them and tell them to wait for a signal – a bright, sun-like light, in the northern window of the room. Then get to the auxiliary storage room just off of the party room. You and I will summon the light at the appropriate time. Then the CCPS will attack and the USF will defeat them. Exactly as planned.”

“Archduke.” Blade’s voice sounded a little more urgent. “I really don’t think—“

“Do it,” ordered Fisher. “The USF is vital to the safety of this nation. It must be given all the resources it needs. Ergo, it needs a resounding victory. We would not be in this situation if you had not failed in Ponyville, but we are. So this is what we have to do.”

Fisher broke off the communication and smiled at the Guards. “You know, I don’t think I’ve expressed enough my gratitude towards the ponies like you who help keep this castle safe…”

Greengrass hammered on the door. “No use.”

He looked around the office. There were a few doors, but they probably just led to Fisher’s bedroom, other living areas, and maybe a storage area or too. There was a large window at the other end of the room that overlooked the castle’s western courtyard. If they hadn’t been something like ten stories up, it might even have been a viable escape route.

“The window?” offered Notary.

“Probably spelled more heavily than the door, and neither of us can fly anyway. No, there’s got to be a safe way out of here.” Greengrass sighed. “Just give me a few moments to think—“

With a bright flash of light, books were thrown in every direction. Mango jumped to his hooves, shackles broken and dangling around them. His pendant glowed with a bright, blinding light.

Greengrass looked at the sun-worshipper who had beaten a Shadowbolt in a fight and gulped.

Put Up Your Dukes

Mango roared, “TRAITOR!” and leapt at Greengrass, who only barely managed to dodge.

“Notary, hide!” The Duke yelled, and then he had to dodge another charge. When he was able to turn to look for her, she was already gone. He made a note that, if he survived this, he really had to pick up some tips from her on doing that.

Mango spun around, pendant glowing. Greengrass tried to dodge, but he wasn’t anywhere near fast enough. Mango slammed into the Duke and, though the Duke was an earth pony, knocked him sprawling on his flank.

“Now wait a minute!” cried out Greengrass. “Just hold on—“

“You lied to me! You betrayed me! And not just me, but Celestia as well!” Mango’s horn glowed a bright, frightening orange. “You will pay!”

Greengrass was not great in a fight. He was reasonably well built, of course, and he had an earth pony’s strength and stamina, but he was not at the level of a soldier or a Guard. Mango didn’t look all that strong, but he was fighting with righteous fervor and he had that weird pendant that Fisher had provided him. Plus, he had magic.

I wouldn’t mind getting toasted by this nut so much if it didn’t back up Fisher’s stupid point about how unicorns are inherently better fighters, thought Greengrass.

Mango fired a bolt of energy that the Duke, again, couldn’t entirely dodge. He yelled out as it crashed into him, and then he was flying backwards and slamming against the wall.

He managed to get to his hooves. Nothing was broken, although his back hurt terribly. “You’re just making it harder on—“

He was able to dodge the next blast by throwing himself to the side and slamming into a desk. He fell to the ground and rolled to one side just before Mango blasted it apart.

I’m not going to win this fight, he thought. Mango would likely destroy him, and then hunt down and destroy Notary.

No. Greengrass would have shaken his head, if he’d ached less.I can’t let that happen. I have a nation to rule and a garden to grow. I need to live for that, and Notary, and--

The Duke managed to get to his feet in time to dodge the next blast, but he couldn’t keep this up forever. If Mango was able to cast this kind of magic now, it was no surprised that he’d been able to ambush and overwhelm a Shadowbolt.

Greengrass looked at the unicorn, trying to draw some information by using his talent. What was Mango’s weakness? Besides his general insanity, and devotion to Celestia, and his lack of resources; he knew all those, but they wouldn’t help Greengrass now. What was the thing about Mango that he could exploit to win this fight?

Pendant.

Right, that sun pendant was amping up the mango farmer. He knew that already. It didn’t help him if he couldn’t get close enough to grab it.

Maybe he could try guile. “If you’re so strong and blessed, fight me without your magic trinkets!” yelled Greengrass. It hurt to talk, but he pushed on. “Take off your pendant and duel me with nothing but your own power! I don’t need a token to fight you, and you’re apparently blessed by Celestia – surely you don’t need something like that.

Mango blinked. “Why would I take it off? It’s giving me power!”

“To show you don’t need it.”

“…that would be stupid.”

Great. Now was not the best time for this pony to do something smart.

He leapt at Mango, but the unicorn dodged. His horn and pendant glowed, and when he kicked Greengrass – though only with a glancing blow – it sent him sprawling into a row of filing cabinets. The Duke’s head rang.

Greengrass rolled over just in time to dodge a blast of energy, but he was nearing the end of his rope. He could outfox any political enemy, but when it came to straight-up physical combat, he couldn’t do it. He needed help. He—

A small white blur darted out from under Fisher’s huge desk. It jumped on the desk, then sprang onto Mango’s back for a moment before jumping off. Mango roared and tried to buck it, but the blur – Notary – was already running into one of the side rooms.

“Nice try. You didn’t even scratch me!” roared Mango. “Now I will destroy you and him and Fisher and everypony who stands in the way of the Sun!”

His horn glowed. Greengrass tried to get up, but he was a second late and knew he wouldn’t be able to avoid it. He tensed up –

And nothing happened.

Greengrass stared. The glow from Mango’s horn was sputtering, and the farmer produced little more than a small puff of energy. “What? No! My power!” He glanced down. “My pendant!”

Oh. Right. Notary must have stolen that.

The Duke groaned as he heaved himself to his hooves. He was more of a match for Mango if magic wasn’t involved, but he was still woozy from all the hits he’d taken. He looked around to try to figure out a new strategy, but couldn’t come up with much besides escaping out the window. Even then, it was probably enchanted with all kinds of nasty defenses to block thieves, and…

Wait…

Greengrass strode towards Mango. putting himself between the unicorn and the window. Mango stared at Greengrass, then leapt at him in blind fury. The Duke threw himself down, and Mango smashed into the window. The glass shattered, but Mango managed to catch himself before he went flying out.

Dang.

Then the spells on the window triggered, blasts of energy that rocked Mango several times before sending him sprawling to the ground. Mango did manage to get to his hooves again, somehow, but it took little more than a tap from the Duke before he was down for the count.

Greengrass swayed and said, “Ow.” And then he fell on his flank.

Notary helped Greengrass onto a small divan sofa. She got Greengrass some tea from Fisher’s kitchen, and then began exploring the room.

“I can’t pick the lock,” she told him, five minutes later. “I don’t have my tools, and when I tried using a pin it melted. Fisher has some heavy magic on the door.”

Greengrass forced his scattered thoughts together. “What about those drill bits he invented? Can’t those cut through even magical locks?”

“Low-level magic, like Mango’s lockbox. Fisher’s door is likely to be much more formidable.” Still, Notary opened up a box on Fisher’s shelf and removed a few drill bits. She took one of them, then bucked it at the door. The bit touched the door, something rippled, it dug a little deeper--

And then Notary to dive for cover as the bit was hurled away from it and smashed into a bookshelf, embedding itself in an ancient collection of treatises.

“Okay, so that’s no good… wait, do you hear something?”

Notary listened. “Sounds from the hallway. I think the bit cut through the silence spell, at least. Maybe we can yell for help.”

“I don’t think we’ll be able to explain this one away easily to any random passerby.” Greengrass sighed, holding his head. “Okay. I need to think. Fisher… I need to figure out his next move.”

He settled back on the sofa. “Here’s the thing… if Mango had killed us, or we killed him, that would embarrass him and the USF. The Guards knew it. Mango was supposed to be in their care. Therefore, the Guards knowledge will somehow not be a problem for him. Maybe he’s going to tamper with their memories? Make them forget he had Mango?”

He paused. “But what does that get him? That’s a really high risk just to have Mango try to kill us. Fisher could go to jail for that. He wouldn’t take that risk without a better reason, so there’s some other reason why he wants to mess with the Guards’ minds…”

Notary said nothing.

“If the Guards knew what happened here and made it back to the other Guards, the attack on the party couldn’t happen. Then the USF couldn’t stop it.” Greengrass groaned. “Horsefeathers. He still wants the attack to happen. He’ll probably launch it himself, then hide.”

“That… but what if he gets caught?”

“He’s not thinking that far ahead. Or, maybe he’s convinced himself that it’s worth it. I don’t know.” Greengrass groaned again. “Okay. We need to get out of this room and stop him before he launches the attack. On a national level, the attack could injure ponies if the USF isn’t fast enough. More personally, without the Guards to tell the world we were working with Fisher, he’ll still sink us for being in the group and funding the thing.”

“I’ll look for other ways out.”

Greengrass settled back on the couch as the world slowly stopped spinning. “I’m sorry,” he managed.

“For what?”

“I should have seen this coming. I know Fisher, I know how badly he hates to lose and how he… zealous he can be. I should have had a backup plan in case he targeted the Guards, or—“

“Sir?”

Greengrass turned to see Notary frowning at him.

“You didn’t dragoon me into this. I’m here of my own free will. Because I believe that, together, we can rise to great heights.” She smiled slightly. “I still believe that. No apology is necessary.”

Greengrass chuckled. “Alright then.”

Notary completed her search of the room without finding any more exits. “The only way out I see is the window. I think Mango set off all the guard spells.”

“I can’t climb that, though. Not even if I hadn’t just been thrown across the room a few times.” Greengrass struggled to his hooves and was mildly surprised that he didn’t fall over. “Maybe a rope…”

“I can climb it.”

Greengrass paused. “I know you’ve done some climbing, Notary, but—“

“I’ll be fine.” Notary smiled again, though Greengrass could tell she was faking. “It’s just a short climb down to the next roof. I can run across the rooftop, and the next one, and get back into the castle in the Hall of Portraits. There’s a window there with a broken latch. Then I’ll just run back here and try to open the door from the other side, or get Ox and Bear to break it down or something.”

Greengrass wasn’t sure what to say. “Notary, honestly, I appreciate it, but that is incredibly dangerous. I—“

“If Fisher pulls off his scheme, we both go to jail forever, right?”

“Well… yes.”

“Then I think the risk is worth it.” Notary began walking to the window. “But I want you to do something for me.”

“Name it.”

Her voice grew tense. “Bury Fisher.”

Greengrass thought, briefly, of what Fisher had done. Especially what he had done to Notary. She had given him her loyalty, worked for him professionally, though he intended to ruin her former master and friend. And in return, he’d been plotting from the beginning to dispose of her – not even as part of some intricate strategy, but just due to his contempt of her. She’d given him her all, and he treated her like a disposable tissue.

“I promise,” he said.

Notary laughed, a surprisingly bright sound considering the circumstances, and then climbed out the window.

Notary hooked her hooves into a few cracks in the wall and began climbing down. She made no complaint; this was part of her job, now, and she would attend to it with her customary care and diligence. She would climb down the wall and--

“HEY, NOTARY!”

Notary couldn’t help but look up.

The former Captain, Lightning, was perched on a small outcropping. He laughed. “I knew it! I knew one of you would try to go out the window!”

Notary began to climb down faster, hooves and legs scraping against the rough blocks that comprised the castle wall.

Lightning’s horn began to glow. “This is revenge, Notary!”

A Loyal Servant

Notary glanced down. The next roof was below her, not too far but not a safe jump either. Dropping from this height would hurt, but being blasted by Lightning and falling off the castle would probably hurt a lot more.

“Your boss cost me my career. I lost everything I cared about thanks to his machinations.” Lightning grinned, horn crackling and sparking. “And you helped him. You deserve this!”

He shot a massive blast of electricity at her just as Notary let go. She was trying to catch on to the wall a few blocks down, so she could then drop from a lower height, but she missed and fell to the roof below. Pain shot through her side as she hit. But nothing was broken, and Lightning was still coming, so she forced herself to her hooves and began running across the roof.

“Get back here!” She heard Lightning begin to climb down the wall, and dodged another blast of electricity that slammed into the roof beneath her hooves. “I won’t let you get away a second time!”

Lightning’s a soldier. He’s more physically fit than I am. Notary grimaced. This was going to hurt. She wished the Guards would show up – she’d have to escape from them, but she’d probably have an easier time dealing with ponies who wanted to arrest her than one who wanted to obliterate her, and they wouldn’t let Lightning toast her – but of course most of them were at the party for Cadenza, acting as security. This part of the castle exterior was deserted. No Guards would intervene.

And then there was no more time for thought. Lightning reached her level and began chasing her, shooting blasts of, well, lightning at her. Notary did her best to dodge, but she was hampered both by Lightning’s position behind her, and by her difficulty in not running off the rooftop and plummeting to the courtyard in the dark.

Greengrass had me memorize the castle’s architectural plans. This roof should connect with another, lower one just over there— She heard a blast and threw herself flat, feeling a few minor sparks as the lightning touched a couple errant hairs on her mane but otherwise shot harmlessly overhead. She got back up and resumed running —So if I can get to the edge of the roof and jump down, then I’m on that other one and that leads to a thin balcony that goes around the Hall of Portraits. The window—

The next blast singed her, and Notary couldn’t hold back a yelp of pain. Lightning’s shots hurt.

Lightning cried out something behind her, but Notary ignored him. She couldn’t run like this for much longer; she was already starting to feel a stitch in her side. But she couldn’t stop and hide for too long, because once the party started, the CCPS would attack and then she and Greengrass would be ruined. She’d just have to push on.

The next roof was up ahead. She jumped for it a few moments early, trying to avoid Lightning’s next blast. She dodged the shot, but almost missed the roof and only barely grabbed on to the edge with her forehooves. She felt a sudden sense of nausea as the rest of her body swung below, dangling freely over the empty courtyard.

Come on!

She pulled herself to her hooves and quickly ducked behind a small architectural flourish, a pile of stones half her height that had probably never served any practical purpose until that moment. She tried to breath as quietly as she could, and listened.

It’s dark, he’s got to be having trouble seeing me—

She heard a zap, and leapt out from cover just before Lightning blasted it to pieces.

Glancing at him, she saw that his eyes had taken on a reddish tinge. She recognized this as the sign of a basic see-in-the-dark spell; most of the soldier and Guard unicorns knew it. Evidently, the USF knew it too. But she didn’t have time to think on it more, because she had to run.

Lightning’s blasts burned her twice more, the second one almost knocking her off the roof. He was getting closer too, gaining on her as her strength began to flag. She narrowed her eyes at the wall she was rapidly approaching. If she could just get into the room, she might be able to hide well enough to slip away. She was almost there, she was at the balcony running around the building, she was at the unlocked window and opening it –

Lightning’s blast hit her directly in the back.

If she wasn’t an earth pony, if she didn’t have the constitution and stamina of an earth pony, she’d have been knocked out immediately. As it was, she was only sent tumbling through the window and sprawling onto the stone floor of the Hall of Portraits.

For a moment, she couldn’t get up. She hurt all over; her back had been blasted and her front had slammed into the ground. She was starting to feel dizzy. And she could still hear Lightning approaching, rapidly nearing the room. He’d get inside, and it would all be over.

I have to keep trying. I won’t let my ambition and dreams be destroyed by one unicorn with a few spells. I’m capable. I can get out of this.

She somehow managed to drag herself into a dark corner of the deserted room – of course, the Hall of Portraits was mostly used by the highest levels of the nobility to show off their personal art collections; they would all be getting ready for the party. That was too bad, but she couldn’t do anything about it now.

“Hey, Notary.” It was Lightning, hopping nimbly through the window and landing lightly on his hooves. “Surrender now and I’ll go easy on you. Promise.”

Does he really think I’ll fall for that?

Notary began to slip along the wall. The door she wanted was across the hall, and it was even open, which was a welcome stroke of luck. If she could get there without being seen, she’d have a chance.

Lightning began looking around, his eyes still glowing that strange red color. Notary saw a book somepony had left behind, and quickly picked it up and bucked it across the room. It slapped against the opposing wall, distracting Lightning long enough for Notary to make it several more feet.

“I’m done with this,” hissed Lightning. “Notary, I’m finishing this now!” His horn blazed, a bright, almost blinding glow .”I’m—“

Notary guessed that he couldn’t shoot while he was charging his spell. She took off at a dead run for the door, running through it and slamming it behind her. She put on a burst of speed; this straight hallway would be a problem if Lightning got a clear shot at her.

The door behind her exploded off its hinges.

Notary threw herself down, again, but this time her luck ran out, and a piece of the door slammed into her head. She saw stars.

There – a door to her left. She couldn’t remember where it went, but she knew she couldn’t last in the straight hallway. She took it, hearing Lightning running up behind her. The door led to a small conference room, and –

And many ponies were there; at least twenty ponies in a room that could comfortably seat perhaps twelve. They were milling around, a few holding drinks. It looked like a meeting that had just broken so ponies could get coffee and snacks.

She skidded to a halt before anypony noticed her and immediate assumed her best ‘professional servant’ look (or as good a look as she could with her various new bruises). Then she ducked behind a stout pegasus, who was expounding on her wonderful investment strategies, and began sneaking across the room.

Lightning skidded into the room. “Hey! You—“

Everypony turned to stare at him.

He hesitated, his eyes losing their red glow. “I apologize,” he said, stiffly. “I’m looking for a white-coated earth pony, off-white mane, cutie mark of scrolls. Has she been in here?”

The other ponies shook their heads, clearly not paying him much attention. Notary was all too familiar with the ponies in the room, the rich and powerful who rarely saw servants unless some task had not been completed correctly. She was practically invisible to them.

She collected a tray and picked up a few dishes, making sure to keep as many ponies as she could between her and Lightning. The door at the other end of the room, she recalled, led to a servant’s passage, and then a staircase that would take her back up to the noble quarters. If she could get there, she could start figuring out the next part of the problem, how to unlock Fisher’s door and get Greengrass out.

She was very close to the door, the tray of dirty dishes balanced on her back, when the crowd unexpectedly parted between her and Lightning. She glanced in his direction just in time to see him look her way. He paused, then grinned.

Notary opened the door and exited, then hastily put the tray down and ran off.

Through the servant’s passage. Up the stairs, into the noble quarters. Then she had to climb still higher on different staircases, moving from the Lords and Baronets to the Duchesses and Countesses and finally reaching the level for Archdukes.

A blast zipped over her shoulder, digging a furrow into the stone wall.

Gasping and panting for air, Notary staggered to Archduke Fisher’s door. Her hopes that the door would be easier to open on this side were quickly dashed – the lock was shining with some kind of magical spell; she wouldn’t be able to pick it even if Lightning wasn’t pursuing her. There were no ponies around that she could use as witnesses to stop Lightning from zapping her; they were all heading to the party.

No. I can’t fail now. I can’t fail myself and Greengrass. There wasn’t much panic in her thoughts, just a simple dictum stipulating that she could not fail. It simply wasn’t an option. Her job was to serve Greengrass, to serve him loyally and well; to fail now would be to fail her most fundamental duty.

I worked all my life to acquire the skills to be useful in almost any situation. I have to know something that will get us out of this…

Lightning chuckled. “Time’s up, Notary.”

Notary backed against Fisher’s door, the inklings of a plan forming in her head. That thing Greengrass did, just a few minutes ago… yes… She wasn’t good at politics, she wasn’t good at manipulation, but she would need to use those skills to survive the next two minutes. “You really hate us, don’t you? For costing you your commission.”

“More than you can imagine.”

“Then how can you work for Fisher? All those ponies in the CCPS, whose lives are about to be over, they’d never have done any of it if he hadn’t funded them. If he hadn’t founded the group.”

“That’s different. They’re responsible for joining.” Lightning grinned.

“Okay, what about the Shadowbolt spies?”

Lightning flinched, and Notary knew that her guess was correct. “He knew about the spies," she continued. "I figured out that message I delivered to Mango was about them. Fisher knew that the Shadowbolts were getting ready to bust the group, so he tried to get Mango to stop them first.”

“That’s – that’s different.” Lightning’s grin was gone; he looked furious. “The USF is essential for the nation.”

“What do you think will happen to those spies now? They failed to take down a mango farmer. They needed Duke Greengrass’s help to stay alive – meaning they're indebited to him, and me. There’s no use in a secret agent who owes favors.” Notary shrugged. “Their careers are as gone as yours is.”

“Shut up!”

“And you support that kind of thing now. I guess it’s different when—“

Lightning’s horn glowed. “All I know is that Fisher is right. That you and Greengrass are depraved and need to be removed from the Court – by any means necessary. We would have settled for having you arrested, for going down with the CCPS, but now? Now I’ll remove you permanently!”

Notary watched his horn glow. The first part of her plan, angering Lightning into blasting her – while she stood in front of Fisher’s warded door – had worked. Now she had to enact the second step, surviving the forthcoming blast. It had taken him about six seconds to cast the spell earlier – she had a highly accurate sense of time, another of her many skills -- and she counted them off in her head. She would have to time this perfectly.

He fired.

She flung herself flat.

The spell slammed into Fisher’s door and blasted it to pieces, sending wooden splinters flying everywhere. Notary cried out as a large splinter struck her rear right leg.

A crackle of energy announced the anti-thief spells on the door. They formed into blasts of energy, and shot at Lightning—

Whose horn glowed. The energy blasts dispersed.

“Nice try. But Fisher trusts me, because unlike a rat like you, I’m worthy of trust. He gave me the keys to the place, as it were.” Lightning approached Notary, who couldn’t get up; she was out of energy. “Now what? How does it feel to be in my position from a year ago, Notary? Helpless against some force you can’t possibly stop?”

“I’m not helpless,” she managed.

“Oh?”

“I remember something that I think you forgot.”

“What—“

And then Duke Greengrass barreled out of Fisher’s office, bodily slamming Lightning into the wall. Lightning was a soldier, but even he was stunned by the sharp impact. He fell to the ground, and a few bucks knocked him out.

Greengrass hurried over to Notary. “Are you all right?” He sounded worried… almost afraid.

Notary smiled slightly. “Fine. But, sir…”

“What?”

“When you rehire me, I want hazard pay.”

Greengrass couldn’t help but laugh as he got Notary on to his back. “When I hire you back, I’ll pay you whatever you want.”

The Duke of Hazards

“What are you going to do?”

Greengrass had tended to Notary as best he could. He’d shoved Lightning’s form into a nearby storage closet. And now he was getting a few things from Fisher’s office and putting them into a saddlebag.

“We have about ten minutes before the party starts. The attack will probably happen that. I have to stop it, or all of this was for nothing.”

“How?”

“I’ll think of something.” Greengrass shrugged. “I have the advantage on him. He really is a terrible loser, and he’s not good when he’s off plan – and right now, he’s far off plan. What’s he got that I don’t?”

“A paramilitary force providing event security… a ticket allowing him inside the event itself… the favor and trust of everypony in there…”

“You know, Notary, sometimes you’re a very depressing pony to talk to.”

Notary smiled weakly.

“Alright. I’m ready to go.” Greengrass hefted the saddlebag onto his back.

“What can I do?”

“Stay here and heal…” Greengrass trailed off. Notary, he knew, would not want to be treated like a helpless foal. “Actually, no. Fisher has false evidence implicating us in the group.”

“The list I gave him of group members, and probably some forgeries as well.”

“You know his filing system. Find them and destroy them. Or,” Greengrass smiled and gave Notary an additional instruction. “How does that sound?”

“I can do that.”

“Good. I’ll be back in… oh, half an hour. You’ll know if I succeeded because I won’t be in chains.”

Notary grinned. “Bury him, sir.”

“Trust me, if I pull this off, he’ll never forget it.” Greengrass smiled. “And afterwards – I think we both need a vacation. Or you, at least; I might need to remain here to obtain a seat in the Court, but—“

“Sir, if you think I’m letting you out on your own after the past two weeks, you’re crazier than Fisher is.”

Greengrass laughed. “Fair enough. Alright, Notary. Time to go.”

The party for Cadenza was being held in one of the most ornate ballrooms of the castle. It wasn’t the Grand Ballroom, of course, as there wouldn’t have been enough guests to fill it, and ponies tended not to have as much fun in cavernous, half-empty rooms. But it was the Prance Ballroom, a smaller room on the eastern side of the castle, which was just as ornate and elegant, though only half as large.

Greengrass arrived at the tail end of the rush, and almost ran into Archduke Fisher. He hid behind a column in the entrance hallway (which itself was ridiculously ornate) and eavesdropped.

Fisher was talking to a motley crew of Royal Guards, Unicorn Special Forces, and a few Night Guards. “…I fear he’s going to try and crash this event. Princess Cadence does not need to be disturbed by some corrupt and depraved fool like Greengrass. If you see him, detain him.”

“Is he a danger?” asked one of the Night Guards, brusque and to-the-point like most of them. “We can suspend the event until—“

“No!” Fisher blinked. “I mean, he’s not a danger like that. But he’ll probably try some stunt, and even if he doesn’t, he’s not invited. Just – just keep an eye out, will you?”

The USF saluted, which made Greengrass roll his eyes. Hmm. I wonder why everypony thinks they still work for him?

Greengrass faded back a little, taking shelter in a storage room to one side of the hallway. Okay. So Fisher’s being cautious, either that or he somehow learned I escaped. So now not only do I not have a ticket, the Guards are all watching for me. The Royal Guards and Night Guards will probably just throw me out, but the USF are liable to knock me unconscious if they can get me alone. I either need to sneak in and prevent Fisher from signaling the CCPS, without any of them seeing me, or I need to find a legitimate way in. Who’s running this thing anyway?

It wasn’t Luna Herself, or Her staff. Parties like these were undertaken by the nobility, as efforts to show off their personal wealth and to curry favor with the Court. Greengrass had hosted the one for Cadenza last year, Fisher had done one for Luna several months ago, Nobility, Blueblood… who had it this time?

He didn’t know. He’d been disconnected from Courtly events for long enough that this one had slipped by him.

Cursing his lack or preparation, Greengrass casually walked across the hallway, hiding behind the straggling visitors and peering into the ballroom. There were a lot of wall-hangings, ornaments, and knickknacks in there. Too many, actually. The room was awash in silver and platinum treasures, some of them seeming ancient. Who has all those things? And who’s the sort of pony to fill a room with everything she has instead of just choosing a few items that work together… oh.

Vicerine Puissance.

And, at last, luck was with him – she was always a few moments late to any event she attended. That way, the other ponies could watch her enter.

The clock struck 4. Greengrass left the entrance hallway, entering the larger hall that fed in to it. Ah – there. Vicereine Puissance’s palanquin, surrounded by her assistants and servants (and a few Night Guard bodyguards) and born on the backs of four pegasus-unicorn hybrid ponies, all decked out in the fanciest outfits of the past millennium.

Greengrass hastily stepped in front of the carriage. “Puissance! I want to talk to you!”

“Hey!” One of the Night Guards jumped between Greengrass and Puissance’s palanquin. “Out of the way!”

“I need to talk to the Vicerine. It is very important.” Greengrass paused, then decided that he’d humiliated himself enough in the past few days that a little more couldn’t hurt. He bowed down, then prostrated himself before the ponies. “I would be most grateful.”

Puissance laughed from within the palanquin. “Alright, alright. But honestly, Greengrass, you should bow more often. It looks good on you.”

Greengrass resisted the urge to insult her. “Vicerine, you’re in charge of the party. Can you let me in?”

“I can invite whoever I please. But… why would I?” Puissance laughed again. “Your good looks and charm aren’t enough, I’m afraid.”

“Ah, but Vicerine, I can give you something that you want in exchange.”

There was silence for a moment. Then: “Bearers – lower me.” The pegacorns bent, allowing Puissance to step out of the palanquin. “Greengrass, rise.”

Greengrass got up. Puissance was wearing regalia of the sort that Luna had worn centuries ago; a fine black dress with thousands of tiny diamonds and pearls that sparkled like the stars and were scattered in the forms of Luna’s favorite constellations. It would cost tens of thousands of bits to manufacturer, could never be bought for any sane price, and had not been produced in centuries. Puissance, Greengrass recalled, had three similar dresses.

“What could you possibly give a mare who has everything?”

Greengrass smiled brightly. “I’ll give you this – if I get into that room, there is a staggeringly high possibility that I will be thrown out, possibly violently, maybe stripped of my title and fiefdom, and perhaps even sent to prison forever!”

“Tempting.” Puissance smiled; it was pure malevolence. “And you want this why?”

“Because, should I succeed, then there is a high probability that Archduke Fisher will be thrown out, possibly violently, maybe stripped of his title and fiefdom, and perhaps even sent to prison forever. So you see, you can’t lose!”

“Hmm.” Puissance paced for a few moments. “You know, Greengrass…”

“Yes?”

Puissance smiled again. “You always know just what a mare wants.”

Greengrass had nothing to wear, but that was fine; Puissance seemed happy with the idea of the Duke humiliating himself in front of all and sundry. She let him walk in front of her. “You can be my trumpeter,” she decreed.

“Your what?”

“Can you play the trumpet?”

“…no?”

Puissance sighed. “It doesn’t matter. This one plays itself.” One of her servants brought out a small box and gave it to Greengrass. It was a large trumpet, studded with emeralds and all sorts of other jewels, and gilded in gold. “It was a gift from a dear griffin friend of mine.”

“I didn’t know that griffins played the trumpet.”

“Well, when you move in the circles I do, you pick up a few things.”

Greengrass smiled at the Guards as they approached the door. Two Royal Guards, with a USF lurking behind them, moved to intercept him. “You’re not invited,” said one Royal Guard.

“He is now.” Puissance said, from within her palanquin. “He’s with me.”

Greengrass waved cheekily.

The two Guards looked at each other, then stepped back. The USF soldier, Turquoise Blade, frowned and stepped closer. She seemed shocked to see him, which Greengrass couldn’t really fault her for. “This party is for Archdukes and above, and a few business interests which the Duke does not—“

“As well as the servants and staff of the ‘Archdukes and above’. The good Duke here has agreed to wait on me head and hoof tonight, so I deigned to allow him to accompany me.” Puissance chuckled. “Isn’t it a sight?”

The few ponies still outside were laughing at Greengrass, who sighed to himself but just kept smiling brightly.

“Now! I believe we do need to enter. Forward!” called Puissance.

Greengrass waved once more at Turquoise Blade, and then he was moving into the room.

Fisher peered out from the small window of the side room. “Are you on track?”

“Yes, sir.” Majordomo was sitting in the center of the room, focusing and drawing magical energy into himself. “Cadenza should arrive in about ten minutes. I will be ready by then.”

In order to sell the CCPS as a legitimately threatening group, Fisher had been hoping that Mango would use the sun talisman to do something powerful and dangerous. Mango, however, was no longer available, so Fisher and Majordomo would have to do it themselves. A simple shockwave spell would move through the room, shatter most of the glass, and knock ponies to their feet. Then the CCPS would stampede in – they were waiting for a signal; that would be a clear one – and the USF could move in and arrest them.

Fisher smiled slightly. Majordomo was already a strong magician (his whole family was; they’d served Fisher’s clan for generations in large part due to their magical prowess), and he had some help as well. Ponies like Puissance thought the only way to get powerful artifacts was to buy them or have them made, but Fisher’s industries were always moving through unexplored areas – his mines digging ever deeper under the ground, his lumber company cutting into ancient forests. There were all kinds of treasures that had been lost to the ages, and his industries had standing orders to send him reports whenever they found abandoned settlements or ancient shrines. Fisher had gained a few things that way – like Mango’s sun pendant, at some long-lost shrine to the Sun, or the magic-amplifying bracelet Majordomo was wearing now.

Yes. He can make a powerful enough shockwave to send them all flying. Only the USF will be ready. Only they will—

Archduke! It was Turquoise Blade. Duke Greengrass has entered the party as part of Vicerine Puissance’s entourage. The Guards refused to stop him.

WHAT?! Fisher turned back to the window, and he saw it himself – Greengrass was blowing some ostentatious trumpet to announce the Vicereine’s presence. No! Stop him! Do whatever you must, but the moment he leaves Puissance’s side, drag him out of the party!

Turquoise Blade’s next comment had a note of honest warning. Archduke. Maybe we should put off this plan. We can launch the CCPS at any time, and—

Do not question me. Tell the other USF members to get him out of here. Get close to him, use a muting spell so he can’t protest, and block him off so he has nowhere else to go but with you. Do not let the Guards stop you; say it’s a matter of castle security. No, say the Shadowbolts asked you too. They won’t question that.

“Archduke?” Fisher turned to look at Majordomo. “Is there a problem?”

“No. No problem.” Fisher scowled. “Just keep going.”

Greengrass finished pretending to play the trumpet. He noticed all the ponies in the room staring at him and laughing amongst themselves Yes, yes, the once-great Greengrass, now a humble servant of Puissance, another of her many toys and possessions. Can we move on now?

Cadenza would arrive shortly. He had to find Fisher before then.

“Splendid.” He turned to see Puissance descending from her palanquin. “Well, be off with you, Duke,” she murmured. “You’ve got an Archduke to find.”

“I do. I—“

He noticed two USF members cutting towards him. As soon as he looked directly at them, they noticed him and immediately changed course.

Glancing in a reflective ornament, he saw two more sliding up at him from behind.

Great. I need to keep these ponies off my back until I can find Fisher…

Well, Fisher wasn’t in the room – at least, Greengrass didn’t see him, and the moss-green pony was difficult to miss – so he was probably in the only other place he could be, that storage area in the back. Greengrass needed to get over there. But he knew he couldn’t evade the USF for that long; there had to be at least twenty of them in the room.

They can’t drag me out if everypony is watching me, so…

He glanced at the stage, where a quintet of musicians, led by the impeccably honest Octavia Philharmonica, were warming up. “Puissance, what’s the music for tonight?”

“Cavallian formal dances, mostly. Why?”

If I’m dancing, dancing wildly, all eyes will be on me…

“When do they start?”

“Upon Princess Cadenza’s arrival.”

The USF were getting very close now. Greengrass resisted the urge to shudder. He’d be relatively safe while he was near Puissance, since he was part of her entourage, but she wasn’t going to hurry over to the back storage area just for his convenience (and, besides, he didn’t want her around when he attacked Fisher. She’d find some way to ruin them both and profit handsomely from the event). And as soon as he left her side, he’d be dragged away.

“When is that?”

“… eight minutes, give or take.” She smiled coyly. “Would you like it to be earlier?”

“Yes, that would—“

“Wonderful. I’ve heard such amazing things about the Greengrass family treasures.”

“We have treasures now?”

Puissance laughed. “Not as many nor as rare as mine, perhaps, but still… it was said that your grandmother rescued a tapir prince from an ambush and was granted a fine ruby crown in return.”

The crown or my life? Well, Puissance certainly knows how to drive a hard bargain. I should be glad she’s not after my fiefdom at this rate. “Fine. I’ll give you the crown if you start the music right now.” The USF were within ten feet of him.

Puissance smiled broadly, then flapped her wings and floated into the air. “Miss Philharmonica! Princess Cadenza should be welcomed by the music of her homeland. She will be arriving shortly, so please begin at once.”

Octavia bowed, and beckoned her quintet. In seconds, they began to play.

As Puissance landed, Greengrass was already tossing the trumpet to another member of Puissance’s entourage and hurrying into the crowd to get into the center of the room – that was the dancing area. He slipped right past a USF soldier, who was blocked from catching him only by the chance appearance of a waiter bearing a large tray of drinks. Then he was in the center of the room, looking about frantically for somepony to dance with.

Puissance, for her part, floated up into the air and flew to a little balcony, where she would have a good view of what she felt would be a fantastic show.

“…back in my day, they called parties like these ‘shindigs!’ And everypony who attended, every stallion anyway, wore fedoras and trenchcoats…”

Greengrass shoved past the old pony, a Mr. Waddle whom he vaguely recalled as being a friend of Archduchess Nobility for no reason that he could discover. I need a pony to dance with…

The crowd was, fortunately, beginning to vacate the dance floor as the music, an old-style Cavallian waltz, picked up. Greengrass looked around frantically – a few USF ponies were approaching him – and then smiled. He recognized one of the ponies. “Applejack, is it?”

Applejack, decked out in a fancy dress, turned. “Ah… Duke Greengrass, right? Saw ya at Trottingham several months back.”

“Indeed. Here to represent the Trust?”

“Well, we do—“

“Wonderful! May I have this dance?”

“Uh… okay?”

“Splendid!”

The Duke spread out his hooves to clear the immediate area, then began to waltz. He knew how to dance well, but unfortunately, that wasn’t what was needed. He wanted every eye on him, which meant his dance had to be… something special.

He began to dance in wild, exaggerated motions that just managed to meet the beats. “Come on,” he told his neighbors, who were looking at him with bemusement. “Let’s dance!”

Applejack chuckled. She wasn’t a great waltzer, but she seemed to know the steps. “Ya’r havin’ fun!”

Greengrass only smiled.

Archduke. There’s a problem.

Fisher growled. What now? He approached the window – and stared. Duke Greengrass and some pony he didn’t recognize were dancing – poorly – in full view of all the ponies. Most of whom were staring at them.

No! “What is he doing?!” he demanded.

Majordomo had finished his preparations and stepped over. “I think that’s the Cavallian Waltz, Archduke.”

Fisher was tempted to throw one of his chess pieces at Majordomo’s head. “That is not what I meant. Just… never mind. Cadenza will be here any minute; we launch the attack the very moment she gets in this room. He can’t get to us in that time.”

Puissance grinned. “Duke, you surprise me yet again," she said to herself. "No resources, no allies, barely any plan, but… ah, but unmatched ambition. And isn’t that enough, really?”

She moved along the balcony a little, to get a better view. She had formed an identical assessment of where Fisher was likely to be hiding, and of what Greengrass’s goal was. Judging by the USF’s movements, they were trying to stop him. She grinned. This was so much more interesting than another boring banquet-and-dance for ponies who didn’t have a fraction of what she did.

“Ma’am?” Puissance turned to look at her Night Guard bodyguards, who had followed her up into the balcony. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, it’s quite fine.” Puissance nodded at the floor. “I just love watching… dance.”

“Uh… yes, ma’am.”

Fisher or Greengrass. Which one would survive the evening, and which would would suffer a serious, perhaps fatal blow? If Greengrass lost, would that be it for him, or would he perhaps just have to surrender his title, or his land, or his dear personal assasstant Notary? If Fisher, was that it for him, or could he scrape by simply by throwing Majordomo to the timber wolves?

Puissance did not sing often; she often seemed immune to the bursts of song that occasionally seemed to infect groups of ponies. Her last song had been at what was supposed to be Octavia Philharmonica’s final performance, and then it had been the whole Court singing. But she did sing now, not loudly, but just audible enough for herself and her Guards to hear it. She looked down at Greengrass, she glanced at Fisher’s hiding place, and she sang:

The one above, the one below,

Place your bets, which of their heads will roll

Made in Her, She glanced at one of the posters depicting the defeat of Corona by Luna; her glance was at Corona, Image we,

Are at least, as greedy and mad as She.

For my eyes, what a glorious sight!

Greengrass, the businesscolt turned on you.

And you say, “Oh the Court is my life!”

Well, he’ll take care of that for you.

She chuckled again. Let them squabble; they had both moved on her at various points in the past, so she was happy to see either one fall.

Archduke Fisher, Duke Greengrass

Love the titles, they’re lovely epitaphs!

Never did, what you should,

And, you claim, it was all for the nation’s great good.

What a lie! A notorious lie.

Fisher, the schemer has turned on you.

And you say, “Defense weighs on my mind,”

Well, he’ll take care of that for you.”

She spread her wings. Please get those foals off the Court!

‘Fore the end of this party, one of their parts will end.

Loosen up your chains, Guards,

What are we waiting for, here’s where the shrewd get ahead!

Oh, please wipe that smile off his face,

Or at least take him down, drive him into the ground!

Loosen up the chains, Guards,

What are we waiting for, here’s where the shrewd get ahead!

Greengrass was making his way obliquely across the room, the crowd moving and laughing so that they could see his antics. The USF had given up on hoping for him to brush up against the edge of the circle, and two pairs of the paramilitia had formed dance couples and were meandering towards Greengrass. Once they got close enough, if they could step quickly and switch partners, they could maneuver Greengrass out of the circle.

Greengrass seemed to notice this. He picked up his pace, much to the consternation of his inexperienced partner, and began angling away from the USF pairs. The two pairs changed direction to move more towards him, in the most amusing race Puissance had ever seen.

Puissance wished she had brought her photographer along. But she hadn’t, so she would just have to enjoy the moment while it lasted.

All they want, is to rise

In the Court, that a foal could surmise.

Be my guest, take each other

Down, and let, your titles go to another.

Such disgrace, you’ve forgotten your place!

You foals, your betters have turned on you

And you say, “But I must win this race,”

Well, I, will win it all – not you!

Please get those foals off the Court!

‘Fore the end of this party, one of their parts will end.

Loosen up your chains, Guards,

What are we waiting for, here’s where the shrewd get ahead!

Oh, please wipe that smile off his face,

Or at least take him down, drive him into the ground!

Loosen up the chains, Guards,

What are we waiting for, here’s where the shrewd get ahead!

Greengrass had made it about three-quarters of the way across the room. Octavia glanced at Puissance, a check to make sure that they’d be in the right place when Cadenza arrived. Puissance smiled to herself and decided to mess with Greengrass a little. She made a specific gesture, the agreed upon signal to speed up. Octavia nodded, and a moment later the magicians were moving at double time. Puissance laughed to herself as Greengrass struggled to keep up, then adopted a grotesque imitation of the Duke’s voice.

”Please miss, for me, miss

Won’t you see if you see, miss?

Oh such disgrace

In the Court I have lost my place

I used to have it around

But Lulamoon kicked and it fell to the ground

Has anyone seen – no need to be mean –

My dignity, seat, or my place?

Please, miss, for me, miss

Won’t you see if you see, miss?

I sought to rule the nation

Now I’m disgraced far below my own station

I’m really not totally sure, but

I think that my dignity’s down in the sewer!

Has anyone seen – no need to be mean--

My dignity, seat, or my place?

Puissance laughed as the song ended while the Duke was still a few feet from the door. “What now, Greengrass?”

“Wow! Ya’r a… strong dancer,” said Applejack.

“Thanks,” murmured Greengrass, as the band paused to change their music. They’d start playing again in a minute, but he didn’t have that long.

“Ah gotta get back ta ma family, an’—“

“Alright, so long.” I guess she’s not a zombie anymore. Four left hooves, though. Could use some dancing lessons.

Greengrass began walking briskly towards the door. The USF began to move in on him as the circle of spectators began to fade away, but he should make it. He was close, and –

A USF member, Turquoise Blade, casually stepped in front of the door and paused, like she was taking a breather.

Dang. Now… uh…

And then a passing waiter tripped and spilled a tray of drinks all over Blade.

“Hey!” Blade scrambled away, but somehow got tangled in the waiter’s hooves and fell on top of her. Greengrass took the opportunity to hurry by and make it to the storage room door.

As he opened it (the storage room was not often used and so had no lock), Greengrass glanced at the waiter. She looked familiar. Wait. Is that the Shadowbolt I…

But then he was inside the dark storage room. He quickly shut the door and turned. Now he could find Fisher and—

The next thing he saw was Fisher’s hoof as the Archduke bucked him in the head.

Duke It Out

“The silence spell is cast, sir. Nopony outside this room can hear us.”

Greengrass groaned. “Really, Fisher, is that—“

Fisher bucked him again, sending him sprawling to his belly. “I am officially done with you,” he hissed.

“Well, nice to see you again too.” Greengrass thought furiously. How many times has he bored me to tears discussing his chess victories? He loves to talk about when he wins. He shouldn’t be hard to manipulate—

“Shut up!” Fisher bucked Greengrass a third time, sending him skidding into a wall. “I am done with you and everypony like you! Do you have any idea what it’s like, to sit on the Court and watch as you and Blueblood and Puissance and every depraved beast with a seat appropriates the resources of Equestria for your own private amusement?!”

“…what?”

Fisher gazed at Greengrass with undisguised hatred. “I have labored for this country every day for my entire career. Whenever I act, whatever I do, my first thought is always how it will affect Equestria. And you – you enter the Court and immediately start maneuvering for your own private gain! Your own promotions, your own advancements, money, political allies… you make me sick!”

Greengrass could only stare at Fisher as he managed to get to his hooves. “Seriously? Did you forget that you worked with me a few months ago?”

“An unfortunate necessity. But I do what I have to do in order to defend and bolster the nation. Even work with beasts like you.” He was serious, Greengrass realized, he genuinely meant every word. No wonder he hadn’t conceded earlier – he was as zealous as Mango. “We both know that the so-called Elements of Harmony are not capable of defending this nation. Trixie Lulamoon is a lazy, ignorant, selfish idiot! She cares only for herself and her own personal gain, she scorns decent work, and she in general has no value whatsoever. Much like yourself, Greengrass.”

“What does that have to do with—“

“It has everything to do with it!”

Fisher bucked Greengrass again. The Duke slammed into the wall. His saddlebag ripped and the contents were thrown into the wall, several of them shattering. Greengrass slumped over them, apparently not willing to get up again.

Majordomo whispered, “Archduke, I’m ready, as soon as Cadenza enters I’ll cast the spell—“

“Mmm.” Fisher turned back to Greengrass. “The USF are Equestria’s only hope to defend against the monsters that threaten us. Do you really believe that Lulamoon and her band of half-wits can stand up to the Tyrant Sun? Four of them can’t even cast magic; one of them is half-blind! Of the other two, one values an earth pony as her ‘mentor’ and the other is a lazy moron who wasted every chance she’s had.” Fisher shook his head. “If the Unicorn Special Forces are not made as strong as possible, we have no chance.”

“So you founded a sabotage group and plotted to have them attack this party so that the USF could stop them and look like heroes?”

“They are heroes, but the rest of the Court is too corrupt and venal to see it.” Fisher’s eyes blazed. “You wouldn’t understand, Greengrass, but it’s agony sitting on the Court and seeing the nation run by a group of Courtiers whose only thought is their own profit. I, who want only to see the country safe and prosperous, have to struggle through every day while you ponies try to drain its riches for your own pockets! I honestly don’t know how Luna does it.”

Fisher shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t understand. But some of us – a few of us – do consider how our actions affect the nation as a whole. What matters more, the comfort of three dozen nobles, none of whom has an ounce of integrity; the comfort of Princess Cadenza, or the safety and security of the whole nation? It’s obvious. The only thing to do was… well, this. Attack the party to bolster the USF. It is the option any true patriot would take.”

“And exposing the Shadowbolt spies? You told Mango who they were and Mango almost killed them! What if I hadn't been there to save their lives?”

“Again, it was necessary. The USF must save the day. They are more important to the nation than a few spies that couldn’t take on a Royal Guard in combat, let alone one of the USF.” Fisher scowled. “The sacrifice was worth it, Duke.”

Greengrass paused. “If you think all those actions are justified, fine, but framing Notary and me for your actions? I thought you were so selfless and honest that you would be willing to own up—“

Fisher shrugged. “Somepony would ask how the group obtained the money and resources to pull off their attacks. Somepony has to take the fall.”

“…you’re the one that did it! If you truly believe this is the right thing to do, you should stand by it! I’m sure it’d be even more impressive if the USF had to arrest you as well.” The Duke was unused to the emotion he felt, it was a stab of moral righteousness. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.

Fisher shook his head. “But I’m needed to serve the Court. As one of the few ponies on it who actually works for the nation, I can’t leave it. But somepony like you? A selfish schemer, a lying thief who twists everything to your own ends? The country is better off with you in jail.”

“So the ends justify the means.”

“When the ends are for the good of Equestria, yes, they do.”

“And Notary?” Greengrass frowned. “You employed her—“

“Another common thief. Sure, you and she were innocent this time, but my concern isn’t the justice of the moment. It’s for the country as a whole. And the country is a whole doesn’t need you two. An ambitious rat who knows more about picking locks and forging documents than on the duties she should be mastering.”

“And those are?” Greengrass couldn’t resist it. “Farming? Because we’re earth ponies?”

“I – she’s a secretary. If she wanted to serve the nation that way, she should be perfecting her stenography. But instead she learns the skills of a criminal. We don’t need her.” Fisher shrugged. “Just like the CCPS needed a backer, they needed a communications link between the backer and the group. She fit the bill, and she should be in jail anyway. Two birds, one stone.”

Greengrass stared.

“What? Lost for words?” Fisher laughed. “This is the part, Duke, where you’d try to bribe me, usually. Only that won’t work. I’m not like the other Courtiers. You can’t bribe me with money or power; I only care about those insomuch as I can use them for the good of Equestria. What, don’t understand that? I’m selfless. You’re a selfish monster.”

“I am selfish,” said the Duke, slowly. “But I’ve never done anything as mad as this.”

“You would have if somepony had thrown you ten bits for it.”

Greengrass opened his mouth, then paused. “No, actually, I don’t think I would.”

“Then you don’t even have the courage of your own selfish depravity. But I have courage to spare! You’ve never dealt with a pony with convictions before, Greengrass!” Fisher’s horn glowed, and Greengrass cried out as his limbs suddenly failed him. It was like his entire body had fallen asleep, except for his head. “I will launch the attack as soon as Cadenza arrives—“

“She’s here, Archduke,” whispered Majordomo. “Just came in.”

“Fine! Majordomo, do it! Summon them!” Fisher grinned. “I will arrest you myself! And when the courts see the evidence I planted on you, they’ll convict in minutes, and—“

There was a sharp rap on the door.

Majordomo and Fisher looked at each other.

“You might want to get that,” said Greengrass.

“…don’t be absurd,” said Fisher, in response to Majordomo’s look. “Nopony has heard us. There’s a silencing spell.”

“Those only work if they’re intact,” said Greengrass.

“Of course it’s intact, you…”

Fisher’s horn glowed, and he stared above the Duke, at the spot where he’d hit the wall. Among the shattered trinkets, there was what looked like a slice in the wall of silence.

“But… no, no that can’t be…”

Fisher’s horn glowed, and Greengrass cried out again as his body was thrown across the room. Why is it that everypony’s first action is to beat me up? It’s unfair. Fisher ignored this, rushing over. He kicked through the wreckage of the Duke’s things, until he found…

One of the drill bits from his office.

“Oh, right. Those cut through a lot of low-level magic, I heard. Thought I might try it here.” Greengrass grinned. “So!. What were you saying about founding the CCPS, using them to capture and possibly hurt a Shadowbolt, having them attack this party, and framing me and Notary for the whole thing?”

The pounding grew more insistent.

Fisher was stupefied for just one moment before he leapt into action.

It was true. He could sense the agitation on the other side of the door, like an angry mob was getting ready to break it down. Greengrass had destroyed his silence spell with his own technology, and now Fisher would be arrested for –

No. That couldn’t happen. Such an action would doom Equestria. Without Fisher, who would lead the Court? Ponies who wanted only money, like Puissance; or power, like Greengrass? Naïve simpletons like Mounty Max? Idiots like Prince Blueblood? Absent ponies, delinquent in all their duties, like the earth pony vicereine, whoever the Hay she was?

No.

Fisher honestly did not care what happened to himself. He knew that he wouldn’t like jail, but he’d go in a moment if he truly thought it was better for Equestria. But he didn’t think that. He had to stay out of jail. He had to!

Fisher was not good at most aspects of speed chess, but his endgame skills were still second to none. He glanced around the room as the pounding on the door grew louder. There was him, who couldn’t be arrested, there was Greengrass, who couldn’t be framed at this point – every pony had heard him talking to the CCPS leader, and –

And there was Majordomo.

Who never spoke in public; that would be inappropriate for a servant.

Fisher cursed Greengrass as he dashed over to Majordomo. There was only one move, and yes, it was necessary, but it would still hurt.

“What?” whispered Majordomo, eyes wide with fright.

Fisher tapped him with a hoof, casting two quick spells as he did so. Majordomo squeaked as he fell on his flank. At the same time, he used his ‘send’ spell to contact the USF. “Teleport me out of here!”

He vanished out of sight just as the door burst in and Guards swarmed into the room.

Greengrass groaned as he got to his hooves. He’d taken a lot of hits that night. Maybe, he thought, he should see a doctor. That might be wise.

Guards poured into the room – Royal Guards, Night Guards, the USF. And Puissance, for some reason. She was looking like Hearth’s Warming Eve had come early.

“Where’s Fisher?” demanded Captain Shining Armor. “Greengrass? Where’d he go?”

“First things first.” Greengrass went to the ruined saddlebags and took out the other thing he’d taken from Fisher’s office; the list of ponies who were part of the CCPS. Notary and ‘Hugh’ had been the last two on that list, so Greengrass had of course ripped the paper at that point. “These are the ponies in the CCPS. They’re supposed to attack this party once somepony gives them a sign.”

“Here.” Shining Armor floated the paper over to the Night Guards. “Detain these ponies. As soon as possible.”

“Sir.” The Night Guards began to run back into the ballroom.

Majordomo’s eyes were wide; he looked frightened. “Now, I think you’ll see—“

Everypony stared. Majordomo sounded exactly like Archduke Fisher.

Greengrass could have slapped himself. Right, didn’t Notary mention he could do something like this to his own voice? Of course he can do it to others… and he never speaks in public, so nopony knows that Fisher and Majordomo don’t sound alike. Plus, dang, I didn’t actually refer to Fisher by name…

“What? I don’t – wait –“ Majordomo realized it. “Wait, this isn’t how I sound, this isn’t, uh, this isn’t me.” He began looking around frantically as the Guards began circling him. “No, wait! I didn’t found the CCPS or frame anypony or hurt either of the two Shadowbolts, I didn’t even know they were spying on the group!”

“How did you know there were exactly two Shadowbolt spies?” asked another of the Guards.

“Uh—“

Shining Armor turned to Greengrass, with an air of settling something. “Duke? Were you talking to Majordomo just now?”

Greengrass opened his mouth, then closed it. Eventually he decided to be discrete until he could figure out if there was still a chance to nail Fisher. That was what Notary would have suggested, and this time, he was going to listen to what Notary would have recommended. He tended to get bucked in the head a lot less when he did that.

Besides, he really was feeling kind of woozy.

“I’m sorry?” Greengrass swayed a little. “Is there a doctor around?”

He fell on his flank, then pitched over. The last thing he saw before blacking out was Turquoise Blade putting chains on Majordomo’s hooves.

Fisher reappeared in the noble quarters.

Right. Okay, I can salvage this. There’s plenty of evidence I made up implicating Greengrass and Notary in my quarters. Evidently, those two broke out, but they wouldn’t have had time to find it all. Hay, Notary wasn’t there; she’s probably running back to Moscolt right now. I need to get it and show it to the Guards. That will create some doubt as to whether or not Majorodomo—

Notary trotted past Fisher. “Oh, Archduke?”

“… what?”

“I resign.” Notary headed down the hallway towards the stairs. “Effective immediately.”

It was such a strange comment that Fisher didn’t know how to react. With an effort, he made himself turn around. He was Archduke Bobbing Fisher, the rock on which Equestria rested. Things would work out; they had to. The country needed him. He would just go to his office, and—

“Archduke!”

It was one of his pages, one of the ones he had follow him around at night to provide a measure of the gravity appropriate to his position. “What is it, Quick Trot?”

“Your office! It’s on fire!”

“… what.” Fisher couldn’t even muster up any rage.

“It’s on fire! The whole thing’s burning down! I mean, I think it is. I only just got here, since, you know, you’re not here and I can’t go in your office without your permission—“

“Shut up! Look – how far along is the fire?” Fisher picked up his pace.

“Oh, it’s almost out, Archduke.”

“Well, that’s—“

“I mean, I think everything’s burned up by now, so it’s gotta be almost out! Er, that’s good, right?”

Fisher rested his head against the wall. I hate you, Greengrass.

The Duke Abides

Greengrass awoke in a hospital bed. “Oww...”

“Hey!” A nurse ran over as he tried to get up. “Take it easy!”

“What day is it?” he managed.

The nurse ignored him, shoving him back into the bed. “You’re not getting up until we can run some more tests. You took quite a beating.”

“Trust me, I know.”

Greengrass was able to look around enough to note that he was in the castle infirmary. There were a few other patients, though none that he recognized from Cadenza’s party; from that he concluded that the attack had been successfully stopped.

Despite everything, I pulled it off. I’m still great at this Game…

Notary came in half an hour later. When she saw that Greengrass was up, she started; Greengrass smiled slightly at that. “Hello, Notary.”

“Sir.” Notary trotted over to his bedside. “You’ve been out for about two days. I’ve been handling your affairs in the interim.”

“What happened?”

“Majordomo took the fall for everything. It seems that he, in a fit of ill-conceived fervor, decided to bolster the USF’s reputation by creating a sabotage group and having them be stopped by the unicorns. He committed a great many crimes in the process, including providing funds and a magical sun pendant to a Celestia-worshipper, exposing Shadowbolts to the group, and, in the end, inducing the group to attack Cadenza’s party.”

“Fisher?”

“Is leading the charge against Majordomo. He wants it to be very clear that he keeps his own house in order.” Notary’s voice turned slightly scornful. “The USF too. They arrested Majordomo themselves, and four other of Fisher’s employees who were, apparently, in on it. Majordomo is finished, and Fisher humiliated, but the USF looks sterling. They can’t help it if some lunatic tries to make them look good in a bad way, apparently... although Fisher's efforts to have them replace the Royal Guard are on hold. It seems he's no longer considered a good judge of character.”

“That’s about what I expected.” Greengrass shifted so that he could sit up better. “And us?”

“You and I were understood to have infiltrated the group seeking to expose it. We of course could not go to the Guards because Fisher would have suppressed any real investigation, so we instead confronted Fisher directly. We defeated his cultist and one of his USF in his office, then exposed him directly at the party. It all went as planned, though unfortunately Mango Mania somehow burned Fisher's office down while we were out saving the day. He's alright, but it seems that certain documents Fisher expected to find implicating us--documentation of your financial backing of the CCPS, our names on Mania's list of supporters-- were destroyed in the blaze. If they ever existed at all, of course."

“You searched my home and yours for other evidence Fisher might have planted, I hope.”

“Of course.”

“So…” Greengrass began to tick them off. “We stopped a sabotage group from crashing Cadenza’s party, and Fisher is not only humiliated but loses his secretary and personal assistant of twenty years, plus other staff, and his legislative efforts are torched too. That sounds about right.”

Notary smiled.

“That said, the next time I embark on a scheme without you, yell at me, would you?” Greengrass grinned. “I don’t get hit in the head nearly as often when you’re around.”

“Of course, sir.” She paused. “I’m…happy to be back.”

Greengrass smiled. He would have said something, but words weren’t necessary.

Greengrass was well enough to leave the infirmary a day later, and he made his first destination his quarters. He decided that even Notary couldn’t object if he took a day or two off and slept.

On his way back, by coincidence, he ran into Archduke Fisher.

“Bobbing!” Greengrass grinned. “How lovely to see you! Shame about Majordomo, but I suppose that’s what you get when you don’t hire the best.”

Fisher stared at Greengrass with pure, unadulterated hatred. “I will crush you.”

“Yes, that worked so well for you the last time you tried.” Greengrass chuckled.

“Your depravity will not be allowed to continue. Do you know the history of this Court, Greengrass? Every now and then, there’s a period where corrupt and vile ponies like yourself somehow obtain power. Those eras end, Duke. And this one, I think, will end very soon.”

“Not by your hoof.” Greengrass shook his head. “You know what your problem is? You treat the Court like it’s your favorite game.”

“You’re the one who calls this a Game. To me, it’s a duty. A sacred—“

“It is a Game, but not your game.” Greengrass smiled politely, every inch the lecturer instructing a student. “You’re a chess player. And in chess, all that matters is snapping up the enemy king. What’s that phrase you told me after you won the Canterlot Chess Championship? ‘No price is too great for the scalp of the enemy king?’ But that’s not how the Game works.”

Greengrass strode around Fisher. “You see, in the Game we play, you don’t get all your sacrificed material back at the beginning of the next round. Each little operation we try doesn’t start from scratch. The ‘pieces’ you throw away? They stay lost. And you don’t know how to play a Game like that, where pieces besides the king are important and need to be protected.” He shrugged again. “Your loss.”

“I had you!” Fisher hissed. “You got lucky. You got very, very lucky. I was one move away from your total destruction.”

 Greengrass considered. “Well, yes, you were. You did almost have me, but you put too much focus on bolstering the USF, and by the time you wanted to deal with me, you didn’t have the material left.”

“What the Hay does that mean?”

“It means you would have won if you’d managed to keep Notary.” Greengrass lost his smile. “You betrayed her. You sacrificed her for the sake of the USF--for the sake of showing they'd be willing to arrest one of your staff--and when you needed her to deal with me, she was already gone. She would have followed you into Tartarus; she would have brought wrack and ruin upon me if you’d given the word – but the one thing she couldn’t accept, that cost you her services, was your plans to betray her.”

“Like you wouldn’t discard her in a heartbeat if she became an impediment to your plans,” snapped Fisher.

“I’m not a chess player, Fisher. I’m a gardener. What kind of gardener sacrifices his most prized flower for the growth of his plot? Maybe I could get a boost, in the short term, by sacrificing her – I’m sure many nobles would pay me dearly for her now. Another if I sacrificed my other resources; my bodyguards, clerks, business partners… oh, I bet I could even wrangle a promotion to Archduke. But what would I end up with, selling my flowers to expand my garden? A huge, barren plot.” He paused. “I weed, Fisher. I take out the impediments to my success. I don’t take out my allies.”

Fisher said nothing.

“Set aside questions of right and wrong; I think we both know that such questions don’t have much to do with how we work. It was bad play.” He pointedly turned away from Fisher. “And that is why you will never defeat me.”

“Archduke.” It was Turquoise Blade, one of Fisher’s subordinates in the USF. “Princess Luna has requested your attendance. Urgently.”

“… yes, of course.” Fisher began to walk off. “Be careful, Greengrass. You’ve made a powerful enemy.”

Greengrass smiled placidly. “Anytime you want to try again, Bobbing, I’d be happy to finish what you started.”

Fisher had no response.

“That was a bit harsh, wasn’t it?”

Greengrass looked up from his tea. It was a few hours later, and he was drinking a mug of tea in a common drinks lounge. “Fancy Pants? Whatever do you mean?”

“Oh, I heard through the grape vine about your little spat with the Archduke.” Fancy Pants sat by the Duke, and ordered a fine Prance wine from a passing waiter. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of you being so fierce, even after Lulamoon showed you up at the Gala.” He smiled slightly. “This one was more than just a Game, wasn’t it?”

“I have no idea to what you are referring.”

“Oh, you don’t need to be coy.” Fancy Pants leaned closer to the Duke. “You were mad about what he tried to do to Notary, weren’t you?”

“And just what do you know about that?”

“I hear things,” said Fancy Pants, blandly. “But honestly, why should you be ashamed of it? You care for her, you didn’t want her to suffer a terrible fate, so you acted to save her. That’s something to be proud of. Noble, even.”

Greengrass raised an eyebrow. “Well, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Fancy Pants thanked the waiter, who had come back to deliver his drink. “But, you know, Duke, something occurs to me.”

“…that I deserve a special reward for, at great cost to myself, exposing the CCPS and whoever was in charge of it?”

“No. That there’s a lot of ponies… in jail, in the Mild West, one who works for the Princess now… who also had close friends that didn’t want them to suffer terrible fates.”

Oh. Greengrass’s shrugged. “Are you referring to those who stole from me, those who betrayed me, or both?”

“Both,” said Fancy Pants, easily. “I would hope that seeing it almost happen to a friend of yours would give you more… empathy for those others.”

Greengrass was silent for a moment. “Most of those ponies in the Mild West that you refer to chose to go there, willingly, instead of suffering the prescribed punishment for crimes against me. When a gardener steals a bag of money from me, and he would rather live in exile than go to jail, shouldn’t I be seen as doing him a favor by allowing it?”

“And the rest? Those whose only crime was disloyalty?” Fancy Pant’s voice took on an edge. “Octavia Philharmonica, say?”

“…it’s part of the Game. The potential for reward is great – just look at Puissance, who could probably purchase every other noble on the Court and have change left over – and the risks are great too. Octavia knew what could happen when she entered politics. She made a bad move by betraying me. Why should I protect her from that?”

“So if Notary really did go to jail thanks to Fisher’s machinations—“

“I thought we were all agreeing that it was Majordomo.”

“ Whoever. If that happened, your only concern would be whether it was good ‘play’ or not? You’d feel no concern for Notary if you had to determine that she bungled her plan and deserved to be caught?”

Greengrass was unable to answer for several moments. “Ah… well, the play is of course…”

Fancy Pants shook his head. “If that’s true, I pity you, Greengrass.”

“…I don’t mean to be rude, but is there a point to this conversation?” Greengrass sipped his tea. “I’ve things to do.”

“Yes, of course. Well, to get down to it – as I understand it, the current rumor is that you undertook this whole effort, exposing the group and all, in order to try to regain your seat in the Court.”

Greengrass debated his response. “I think that would be appropriate, yes. Certainly I did more than Mounty, and he got a seat.”

“I see. But in order to get your seat, you opted to destroy the group and, hopefully, their noble backer.”

“Yes…?”

Fancy Pants smiled, and there was something a bit… predatory, Greengrass thought, in it. “I must tell you then, Greengrass, that you cannot regain your seat that way.”

“By serving the nation?”

“By destruction.” Fancy Pants sipped his drink. “That’s what you’re good at, isn’t it? Each step you took up in the Court was over the broken career of some other pony. You solve your problems not by building up your allies and yourself, but by identifying your enemies and crushing them. Even this time, you didn’t try to launch some great public works project, or build up the careers of ponies that could help you later, or anything like that. You found something you could break.”

“What’s the difference? I won, and—“

Fancy Pants’s glare froze him, and the white-coated pony continued. “You are no longer in the Court. Winning is no longer enough. To get your seat back, it can only be by Luna’s personal favor. And I can personally assure you, as her friend and confident, that so long as all you can do is destroy, so long as the ponies you weeded out continue to suffer the effects of your actions, the Court has no need for you.”

Greengrass began to rise. “Well, I—“

“Sit down.”

Greengrass wasn’t sure what it was, but there was a tone in Fancy Pants’s voice that made it impossible to disobey. He sat.

“You were removed from the Court. Many wanted you exiled, or at least barred from the castle, but you were given another chance, to see if you had learned your lesson. And yet, each scheme you came up with was another plan to tear down somepony so you could build yourself up. This one was no different. If it wasn’t for one thing, your ‘reward’ for exposing the CCPS would be a well-paid ambassador position somewhere far, far away.”

“And the next time a group like that arises? Without me--”

“Oh, there are ponies whose job it is to seek out enemies to the nation and destroy them. But they aren’t in the Court, and for very good reason.”

Greengrass made the connection. “…you aren’t in the Court.”

“No. No I am not.”

They stared at each other for a moment, until Greengrass said, “I believe you mentioned something preventing my exile?”

“You saved the Shadowbolts,” said Fancy Pants, simply. “For no apparent reason, at no gain to yourself. You showed that you can, in fact, be constructive.”

“I see.” Greengrass settled back in his chair. “So you’re saying I can’t get my seat back until and unless I make restitution to the ponies who stole from me and ‘build them up’?”

“In part. As for the other part, until you can actually show that you’re able to build ponies and institutions in general up and not just tear them down… you might accrue all manner of rewards; I understand you’ll be receiving a medal later for exposing the CCPS and Majordomo, but you won’t get within a hundred feet of your old seat.”

Fancy Pants rose. He smiled and said, briskly, “Well, good to see you’re back on your feet. I’ll check up on you later. In fact, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

He left, and Greengrass had to take a few moments to steady himself before drinking his tea.

“I don’t know if I can bear it, Notary.”

It was the next morning. Greengrass had been subdued, and Notary had asked him what was wrong. So he’d told her about his conversations with Fancy Pants.

“I destroy things. I weed. That’s my talent.” He sighed. “It’s all the same, isn’t it? Who cares that I succeed by knocking the others down instead of growing over them? It’s the same result.”

“Honestly, sir, I think you’re being too hard on yourself. You have numerous successful businesses—“

“It isn’t that I can’t do it.” He paused. “Okay, in gardening, I can’t garden except by vigorous weeding. But yes, I’m sure I could run, with immense effort, successful businesses and political efforts, like my father. But I’m not my father, and I’m not going to live like him. I might as well give up and go home if the alternative is to spend my life denying myself anything I enjoy.”

Notary paused. “Can I ask you something, sir?”

“Always.”

“Didn’t you get… any pleasure at all, from knowing that you’d saved me?” She paused. “I was happy when I thought that my actions would help save you, and not just because you’re my employer, or because I want you to be king.”

Greengrass was about to give a joking reply when he paused. “Er…”

“The problem with your father was that he didn’t do or gain what he wanted.” Notary trotted over to Greengrass’s desk. “Suppose for a moment that you found you liked… being constructive. Would you really have any objection to growing, not weeding, if it was a more effective way to win the Game and rule the nation?”

The question startled Greengrass. For so long, he’d been convinced that all he could do was weed his way up, that he hadn’t considered many alternatives. “I suppose… I mean, if I really did enjoy it, but…”

They looked at each other.

Greengrass broke the silence first by laughing. “Well, it’s something we don’t need to think about for a while anyway. Seeing as how we still aren’t part of the Court, and we’ve both been given our medals and whatnot, what would you say to a vacation? I hear Prance is lovely this time of year.”

Notary nodded. “While I usually don’t take vacations, I suppose a few days off could be relaxing.”

“Splendid!”

The two laughed and continued their plans, for vacations, for food, for anything and everything frivolous. Though two of the most ambitious ponies in the Court, they allowed thoughts of politics to pass from their minds for the moment. They were still alive, free, and working together once again.

For the moment, that was enough.