Corrupted Strategy

Chapter 2

The blaring of an alarm clock caused me to awaken from my fitfull sleep. I rolled over to see that it was already late in the morning, almost noon in fact. I tossed aside the silken blanket that had been holding back the biting cold of late fall. Now shivering I made my way to the balcony, and opened the curtains, bathing the room in the orange glow of the sun, and warming my coat significantly.

As my mental faculties slowly rebooted, my thoughts turned to the events of last night. My sudden arrival in an alternate timeline...again, The Elements being used to free my mind at long last, the subsequential emotional outburst, and the story of my past. I know I told Rarity that I knew what I was going to do, and to an extension I did, but what I failed to mention was that I was utterly at a loss for how to go about it.

'Hmm, I wonder if Princess Celestia is busy.' I turned my head to the door of my room, I mentally shrugged, and made my way to the door. Before I had even made it halfway across the room I heard a knock at my door. 'Strange, wonder who that could be?'

I finished my leisurely trot to the other end of my room, and slowly opened the door. On the other side giving me a warm smile was Princess Celestia, she also appeared to have a tray of small sandwiches wrapped in her telekinesis.
"Good morning Grand Strategy. Are you feeling any better this morning?" She asked kindly.

"Good morning Princess. Yes I am feeling much better, especially since now when I wake up I can move on my own accord." I greeted her with a small smirk.

"You seem to be taking things rather well, considering. May I come in?" She asked.

"Of course." I stepped aside to let the larger mare into the room. "And to be honest I haven't thought about my past much. Aside from yesterday that is. Currently I'm more concerned about my future."

She made her way past me and set the small tray on the table, grabbing a teacup from the set I didn't notice she'd brought. "Yes, that is why I am here, if only in part. Tea, maybe a sandwich?"

I shut the door, and trotted to the other side of the table. "Yes, please. What kind of tea is it?"

"Earl Grey, and before you ask the sandwiches are daffodil and cheese."

"Huh, so you guys have Earl Grey too? That's handy." I sat down, and before I knew it I had two small saucers sitting in front of me, one for the sandwich the other the tea. I dug in with all the royal tact of a diamond dog.

Celestia chuckled lightly. "Hungry, are we?"

I swallowed a hasty bite. "Sorry, the last meal I had was before...your execution. I am still so sorry."

"Please you have nothing to apologize for, and I just figured you had slept through breakfast. It seems I was correct." She began slightly sipping her tea, putting my manners to utter shame.

I hastily finished my sandwich and gulped down my tea. When I finished she offered another, I shook my head, but didn't say no to the new cup of tea she was pouring me. "Thanks. Listen, Princess-"

"Celestia will do just fine, if you would. You are a fellow alicorn after all." She chastised with a small laugh.

"Alright...Celestia. I cannot thank you enough for what you, Luna, and the others did for me." I took a far more appropriate sip of my tea, planning to savour it this time.

"We could not stand idly by while you suffered. We won't hold you accountable for 'your' previous actions. However what you do from now on is an entirely different story. So what do you plan to do?"

I leaned back with a long exhale. "To be honest I know what I need to do, I just don't know how to accomplish it just yet. Give me a moment to think." Celestia gave a small nod, and I began to rationalize my situation. 'I need an army. A very large one at that, but how to get it?' I sat there and pondered my options for a few minutes, Celestia sitting, and watching patiently.

"I've got it! Changelings!" I suddenly exclaimed. Celestia's face scrunched up in obvious confusion and distaste. "Changelings?" I looked up at her a large grin beginning to form. "Exactly. Changelings are insectoid, highly industrious, and if this dimension is like most others I've 'heard about', then they'll also have some form of hive mind." I shot up, and started pacing, my mind working in overdrive.

"If I can make a deal with Chrysalis, and align at least a small portion of her hive with my cause, that'll solve a lot of my problems, resources in particular. Celestia how far is their hive?" I stopped dead in my tracks, and looked to her expectantly.

"The exact location of their hive is unknown, but we do know it is somewhere in the southern area of The Badlands. That would be a weeks journey by air at least. I could provide an airship for transport, but I do not think this is a wise decision. I myself have not met The Changeling Queen, but if she is anything like the rest of her kind she will not be easy to coerce."

"I know, but it's the only concievable option I have. Short of asking you for a large portion of the countries industrial resources, which we both know won't happen. Thankfully I am the creator of magitech, so I know it's applications quite intimately, I just need designs that can outmatch my old ones." I began my pacing anew, pouring out my inner dialogue in front of Celestia. "Hmm. I'll need a workspace, somewhere secluded, and that can afford to take a lot of punishment."
As I rambled on I failed to notice Celestia's own ponderings. "What about my, and Luna's old castle?"

I stopped again, and looked at her in bewilderment. "What! I can't do that! I refuse to turn a place you once called home into a workshop, let alone a weapons testing facility!" I all but shouted.

"Please I insist. As it stands our old castle is wasting away in a forest none, save a very select few, would ever enter. It was our home yes, and I would hate to see it damaged further, but having it sit there and waste away is worse. It would be better if it had purpose, and you won't be able to change my mind. I'll have your citizenship papers finalized, and the castle with the surrounding area in your posession by the time you return from The Badlands."

I considered arguing further, but I knew I wouldn't be able to change her mind if I tried. Instead I returned to thinking on my options. "Wait a minute. I just realized I've had a massive oversight. You said you haven't met the Changeling Queen correct?" Celestia looked up from the tea she'd continued drinking. "Yes, I have never once met her in person...that I know of mind you."

'Hmm, pre-wedding invasion, that's handy.' I looked to Celestia still pacing. "Do you know of a griffin engineer by the name of Oberon?"

"Not that I can recall. Is he a friend of yours?" Celestia had a small smile on her face.

"Not really, he was among the first griffins to be...assimilated by Nightmare Moon." Celestia's smile disappeared. "However he is the most brilliant airship engineer in The Empire, if he exists in this timeline, he'll be of great help."

Celestia's gaze turned down in thought before answering. "If he does, then I may be able to pull a few favors with some of the ambassadors, we'll see if we can't find your engineer."

"Now if you'll excuse me I must return to Day Court, I'll send a messenger to the airship docks to reserve passage for you to The Badlands. Good Luck." With that final farewell she left my room, taking the lunch trays with her.

I made my way to the door leading to what I assumed to be the bathroom. I opened the door to find the inside fairly spacious, and containing more hygenic supplies then I'd use in a year. I trotted to the fairly large tub and turned on the water, letting the water fill I inspected the various shampoos to figure out what to use. Once I was satisfied with my selection I turned the water off.

The bath had been quite relaxing if uneventfull, and after the post bath routine of brushing my main, tail, and teeth, I was happy enough with my appearance to leave the bathroom. Once I was in the room proper I began to remake my bed, satisfied with my quick cleanup I began my way to the door again, and again there was a knock before I reached it.

Opening the door I saw a young pegasus stallion, a courier by the looks of it. Rather than saying anything he simply stared at me. After a few seconds of awkward silence he shook his head and addressed me. "Terribly sorry your highness. I have a message for you. Princess Celestia has reserved a transport airship for your journey. It's in dock P-7, The Lucky Mare, I believe."

"Thank you, and don't sweat the staring. I know that I'm a bit of a shock. Goodbye, and please send my thanks to Princess Celestia." I walked past him and into the hallway as he called out his own farewell.

I quickly backpedalled, and returned to my room. "Heh. Almost forgot my cloak" I said to him sheepishly. With my wings covered to somewhat hide my alicorn nature I felt prepared to show myself in public. I passed him once again, closing the door behind me.

I quickly made my way through the palace hallways to the nearest exit. As I passed through the overly large doorway I noticed the two solar gaurds salute me. 'Hmm. Celestia must have spread the word of my existance.' I found myself in one of the smaller gardens on the side of the palace grounds, thankfully one with a path directly into the "industrial" parts of the city.

Despite being the capitol of Equestria the industrial sector of Canterlot really only housed the airship docks. Despite this Canterlot was a trade hub, and thus had a large portion of the city dedicated to said dockyards and several maintenance facilities.

When I reached the outskirts of the massive airfield I took a few moments to apprectiate the beauty of dozens of airships, all different in role, design, and size, flying in a swarm of air traffic so thick the sun barely reached the landing platforms below. 'It's official. I'm getting an airship at my earliest convenience.' I smiled to myself still staring skyward. 'Or better yet I'm building one myself.'

I reluctantly tore my gaze from the spectacle, and headed toward the platforms. The overall design and layout of the docks itself reminded me of Cloud City, with several corridors and bridges connecting circular landing areas of various sizes. The complex itself was extended from the city proper having it's own dedicated support structures tethering it to the far side of the mountain.

I navigated the crowd of ponies ,(and several griffons) along the main pathway from the city to the entrance. An archway which reminded me of a massive metal detector rose above the bridge like path, on it's side was a cartoonish depiction of what could only be a changeling with a slash through it's center. 'Changeling detectors at the airport. Interesting.' After making my way through the threshold I followed the pathways to P-7, while on the way I noticed a distinct lack of military airships. 'Perhaps they have their own seperate dockyard? I doubt with how prolific air travel is in Equestria that they wouldn't have at least some combat craft.'

Shaking my head to clear my musing, I focused on the path, only to find myself at my destination. The platform itself was medium sized with a rectangular cutout on the far end of the platform. Filling the space was the gondola of a decent sized arship maybe 75 meters in length, it had two ramps on either side extending to either side of the cutout. The balloon itself had a large band of metal wrapping around the center with the gondola attached to the bottom most section, on the sides of the band two pylons extended outward, each with a large propeller engine attached to their ends.

Several members of the crew were loading large crates into the gondola, with several pegasi mechanics checking both engine pods. A tan pegasus stallion with a jet black mane and tail stood the center most part of the platform overseeing the progress. I made my way toward him, figuring him for the captain. As I got closer I noticed something odd about his cutie mark. 'Wait. Is that? That looks like a Tibanna gas refinery. What the fuck?' I stopped and shrugged to myself. 'No way. I must be imagining things.' I continued my way towards him, he seemed to sense me and turned to face me just before reaching him.

"Oh, hello there. You must be my client." He spoke with a voice that sounded vaguely familiar for some reason.
"Yes, I am. I trust you know the nature of my journey?" I knew he did, he didn't seem like the type to take a job on a limb, I just wanted him to talk more so I could place his voice.

"Of couse. I was quite suprised to find a messanger from Celestia herself requesting transport for friend of hers. So I'm guessing by the horn on your head, and the wings you haphazardly covered on your back, your not some run-the-mill-tourist." He said nonchalantly.

I gaped at him for a moment. "Are they that noticeable?" I asked a hint of fear creeping into my voice.

"Honestly? No there not. I just happen to be good at seeing things that aren't supposed to be seen. That, and I can't think of anyone short of royalty that would want to go to The Badlands." He replied shrugging.

"I see. Well it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Grand Strategy. And yours would be?" I said.

"Shouldn't it be Prince Grand Strategy?" He asked, annoyingly skipping my question.

"Former Prince more like. I have yet to recieve the title in this Equestria." I answered.

He raised an eyebrow. "I see, I think. Anyway it's a pleasure to meet you as well, my name is Land Over Horizon, but you can call me Land'o."

'You have got to be shitting me.'

"I...buck it. How long until take off?" I asked with a shake of my head.

He raised an eyebrow again, but answered anyway. "In thirty minutes. If you want you can head on inside. Your my only passenger for today."

"Thanks. Dear Faust I need to clear my head." I nodded to...Land'o, and made my way up one of the ramps to the interior of the ship wherein I stopped dead in my tracks. Despite the highly industrial outward appearance of the airship, the internals looked like a five star hotel. My eyes nearly bugged out over the lavish decorations. The floors were carpeted with what appeared to be the Equus equivalent of Persian rugs, while the walls were covered in gold trimmed wallpaper, and several high quality pieces of art hung from them. One piece in particular caught my eye.

It was a beautiful painting featuring Cloudsdale at a distance during sunset, creating a nearly orange sky. The name of the painting was one the bottom corner, it read Cloud City. 'Oh come on! What's next, am I going to find a DL-44 in my dresser? Is a wookie going to pop out of my closet? Or maybe we'll be buzzed by a YT freighter?'

With my frustrations slightly vented I headed down a hallway leading to the living quarters, picking a room at random I entered and locked the door behind me. I took a moment to take in the room, noting it was fairly sparse by comparison to the rest of the ship and it's fancy decor. I made my way to the writing desk postioned at the far end of the room, sitting down I opened the saddle bags at my side and levitated a few key items out onto the desk.

I frowned down at the objects, they looked simple enough, a couple of composition notebooks some filled, but most blank, and some black ink ballpoint pens. Standard Earth office supplies, less standard in Equestria. 'Note to self: Invent the ballpoint pen.' The most unique things in them however were their contents. All of my designs from my time as Nightmare Moon's slave.

Most of these were failed designs or half baked concepts at best, regardless the successes and triumphs of my work were also stored within their pages. This of course made them an invaluable tactical asset, especially for what I was about to do. First I studied the designs failures and successes alike in an attempt to come up with ideas to counter them, most notably more advanced defenses would be needed. I opened a fresh notebook and began jotting down notes and vague concepts.

Before my work could begin in earnest however, somepony knocked at my door. Without getting out of my seat I turned around and opened the door. "Yes, who is it? I have important work to do and not much time to do it."
"My somepony sounds busy." A voice rang out from the open door as Land'o stepped in. "I came to tell you that we are about ready for take off, so you may want to hold onto something."

"Wait. How did you know I was in here?" I asked genuinely curious.

"You mutter to yourself when you 'work', quite loudly as well." I was suddenly thankfull of the red fur that concealed my blush.

"I know it's none of my business, but why were you muttering about Nightmare Moon for? Your not one of those cultists are you?" He asked slightly concerned.

"No, I'm no cultist. I was enslaved by her. She mind controlled me and forced me to make her war machines so she could take over Equestria. These papers that I am going over here, are schematics for those machines." I answered.

"I...see. I'm sorry, I didn't know." He said.

"It's alright as you said you didn't know." I gave him a small smile. "So you said we would be taking off soon?"

"Yes. As I said you may want to hold onto something take offs aren't smooth. I'll leave you to your work." With that he left.
I turned back to the opened books, frowning once more. 'I have a lot of work cut out for me.' I leaned back and stared at the empty ceiling above me. I was forced out of my thoughts by the sudden jolt of takeoff, several of the pens and books on my desk fell to the floor. As I bent down to began collecting, my eyes focused on a design that one of my books had opened to. It was one of the more outlandish and intricate designs I never had the time nor resources to fully develope. At that moment inspiration struck as I began copying it's desing onto a fresh page, making modifications along the way.

All the while a single phrase dominated my thoughts. 'Jaffa...kree!"