Forty-nine days since Luna's return.

“WHAT?!”

Duke Heavy Lifter could not believe his ears. Before him, his messenger trembled in quiet fear as the Duke hyperventilated at the news brought before him.

It was a group of polite declination to a social gathering hosted by him. A social gathering meant to cement his standing among the others of his faction. A social gathering that was meant to display his prowess and for him to proclaim the rise of the Zealots once again.

So why, why have all the invitations to his party members been refused? Why have they all declined to come and congratulate him for building ties with the Military? He had invested a major portion of his fortune in this! Couldn’t they see that he is sincere?

“Milord, there’s more.”

“What?” Duke Heavy Lifter snapped. He hoped for the messenger’s sake that this is good news. He could not bear it if it…

“An invitation to a party at the Weathervane Hotel. It is to my knowledge that the others.” The messenger indicated the pile of refusals, “will be attending.”

Duke Heavy Lifter took the invite presented by the messenger in his aura, skimming over it briefly before his eyes contort in pure rage.

“THEY ARE GOING TO HIS PARTY?!”

Fifty-Five days since Luna's return.

I overlook the gathering from my vantage point at the beverage corner. All had been going well, and as I foresaw. No Canterlot noble would not want to miss a party hosted by the one who had just gained the favor of Princess Celestia mere weeks ago.

Taking a sip of the Griffonian White Wine that I had kept stocked in my cellars for who knows how long, I let the burning taste permeate my throat. The bitter burning taste.

I could never get used to consuming alcohol.

I had been nearing the end of this current plan I concocted. It had been quite the bumpy ride, however I had been remiss to not milk every advantage I could get from the chance given to me by Princess Luna’s return.

When ruling a country from the shadows, every bit of resource counts. Especially those that could not be traced back to you.

Now, I contented myself with the sight of Duke Heavy Lifter, my newest victim, being admonished by his fellows for that seemingly selfish maneuver to gain the favor of the military.

He had been far too rash. Failing to consult with his fellows had shown that he does not respect their opinions. Providing the resources himself shows that he does not trust the others fully, or that he wanted all the gains for himself. Furthermore, acting out of the blue had caused the remaining nobles to view him as unpredictable.

Nobles like stuff that they could predict. I can personally attest to that.

Time to strike while the iron is hot.

I took my leave of the refreshments corner and approached Heavy Lifter’s group. At the sight of me, they quickly cut their chatter and changed the topic. If I had not been well versed in such arts, I would have thought that the nobles had just been chatting idly.

There are many who fancy themselves chessmasters. Let’s just say that the net total of ‘chessmasters’ in Canterlot I know of currently amounts to one.

“Ah, and here is the star of the day!” A pony exclaimed, can that cheer and smile be anymore forced? “My dear Count, so kind of you to join us!”

Let’s face the truth, you probably distaste my presence as much as I you. However, your faction had its uses so you will be quite low on the extermination list.

Yes, I have one. Life is a bed of roses, white roses that are thorny and coated thoroughly with blood. It’s not a pretty sight all the time.

“Thank you, Viceroy Ardent Cause. Something just came to mind and I find it of utmost importance to do.”

“And pray tell what it may be, Count?” Another pony asked. I was literally head over heels inside, laughing at how hard they are trying to not spit in my general direction.

Smoking hot iron, time to strike before it turns to slag.

“Duke Heavy Lifter! I must say that you have done Equestria a great service!”

The duke cringed as multiple hot glares had just been shot our way. I had to pretend to be oblivious to it, however, my sadistic self is already grinning from ear to ear, hidden in my mind.

“I must say that I was quite surprised-“ Not. “-when you had so generously donated almost one million bits to the Eastern Front.” I bobbed my head up and down for emphasis, “Equestria will feel much more safer thanks to you.”

“I see,” the duke barely choked out. “you’re welcome.”

“I will not be disturbing your conversation now then.” I flashed a winning smile at the group before leaving. Seriously, that group is so fun to watch.

The minefield had been set, and the explosion came in the form of soft reprimands from Ardent Cause.

Fall, Heavy Lifter, fall. You had flown too high, so fall.

Phase two is complete.

It had taken some effort to not literally burst with anticipation. However, now that the party is over, I believed that it is time to add the finishing touches to the dear duke.

“Skylight, please fetch Duke Heavy Lifter before he leaves. I wish to discuss something with him.”

It took a while, but it was not long before the unicorn required stomped into my lounge.

“There had better be a good reason for this.”

My, he is pissed. Not surprising, considering how he likely blamed me for all that occurred during the event.

“My apologies, Duke Heavy Lifter, but I trust that you enjoyed the party?”

“I bloody well did not!” He snapped in response. “You have no idea how humiliating it is, do you? To be invited to your occasion when everypony else declined mine! And you had to come in and make things worst! Do you have any idea what I had been through?”

Yes, I do. I planned it all. And it is time.

So very much about time to take what I came for.

“I know,” I replied softly, apologetically, “that’s why I asked you to come here. So that I can apologize to you myself.”

I see that he had been taken aback by my response. Inwardly, I grinned. The fish is hooked.

“I had originally thought to host this party in your honor. However, circumstances and reactions during the event led me to believe that your actions had not been as well-received as I thought they would be.”

He nodded, enraptured. The data had been correct. All he wanted was someone to respect him, to see things from his point of view.

He just wanted someone to understand.

The line grows taut, time to reel it in.

“Funny, isn’t it? I thought that the others would have been happy that someone had done something for the country, that he made it safe. How was I to know that they would act opposite of what I believed?”

“I don’t understand?” Duke Heavy Lifter replied, his voice filled with doubt, “this was all for me? You did not do this to slander me?”

“Yes, it was all for you.” Just not in the way you think before and now. “I could not exactly ignore and fail to congratulate someone who did something for our home, now can I?”

Duke Heavy Lifter went silent, eyes contemplating this turn of events. I could tell he had not expected this, not that I expect him to. Like I said, there were many who fancy themselves chessmaster, but in Canterlot, there is only one.

“I see,” He spoke up. FINALLY! I did a mental dance of delight when I heard what he said next. “It seems that I have misjudged you... Count.”

And the fish is caught.

“Yes,” I smiled, “I won’t take up any more of your time. But I am glad that you accepted my apology.”

Run the pony around your maze enough times, than offer to show him the way out. All his hate at you will dissipate at the moment of escape, but he will be none the wiser that he just came out into a more elaborate labyrinth of your own design.

This is the start of quite the beautiful ‘friendship’.

Now he is mine. An ally that did not know all that he had suffered, all that he had endured had been orchestrated by the one who he now believe to be a friend that had never been an enemy. He will serve much more loyally, his chivalry driving to prove himself worthy of our newly constructed alliance.

Like I said, there are many who fancied themselves chessmasters, there are many who thought me a chessmaster alongside them. However, there is only one chessmaster in the whole of Canterlot.

And I am not him.

You can't be a chessmaster when you are a piece upon the board, can you?

Laws of Power Number Three: Conceal your Intentions

Author's Note

Who saw that part coming? Welp. I must say that due to Finals, I would have to be taking a break from this story until December. So, just because I do not upload anything for the next two months, it does not mean that this story is dead. It's just on hold. For now.