The Eyes of Discord

Princess Celestia gently set her crown on the desk before her, pushing aside various economic reports and other papers awaiting her approval.  She studied the gem studded headpiece, unsure what to think of it.  Celestia was more than happy to serve the nation, of course.  No matter what, Equestria would always need rulers, and Luna and herself would always be willing to fulfill that role.  On the other hoof, the position came with many unfortunate complications.

Celestia was tired of being treated like more than just a mere authority.  She wished that her nation would stop elevating her to some kind of godlike status, and just treated her like they would the other nobles and authorities in the land.  Still, she supposed that it was inevitable, as technically, the entire lives of everything on the planet depended upon her and her sister.

The regal white Alicorn carefully scooped up the crown, walking over to a small chest at the end of her and Starblink’s bed.  She opened the chest, finely carved out of redwood, and deposited the crown into it.  Slowly, she eased out of the rest of her regalia, freeing her skin of the loathsome metals.  She felt cool air wash over the now bare patches on her coat, enjoying the pleasant sensation.  She quickly levitated the items into the chest, careful to arrange them in their designated places.

Then she turned to the other device that was enclosed in the redwood container.  A large hour glass slowly ran down, as it had for the past twenty four months.  There was now very little sand left in the top section.  She watched as a few more grains slowly trickled through, waiting for all of it to accumulate into the bottom of the glass.  The princess knew that it wouldn’t happen for a couple more weeks, but still, it was far too monumental to ignore completely.

Celestia could have continued her observation of the timepiece for hours, but she was interrupted.  Behind her, the door creaked open, letting in the sound of hooves clacking against the floor.  The ruler of the sun turned, watching as the newly arrived pony gently closed the door behind him, careful not to make much noise.  Celestia stood, and started to walk towards the pegasus stallion, a smile on her face.

He slid out of his General’s uniform, hanging it on the wall beside the door, and then turned towards the Alicorn.  Celestia was already beside him.

“Why, you were out late Starblink, did the inspections take longer than scheduled?” She inquired of the stallion.  Starblink sighed, and scratched the back of his head.

“There was a thunderstorm between here and Cloudsdale, so I was delayed for quite a while.  Thankfully, the weather team has it all under control now.”

Celestia admired the muscled form of her partner, pleased with his growth since their marriage.  As his soul and been bonded with hers, so had the immense power that was stored within.  As a result, he now shared her stature, and thankfully, her longevity.

“Well, it is rather late.  Have you eaten yet?”

The pegasus smiled.

“I caught a bite to eat at once I arrived back in the city.” He yawned, worn out from a day of traveling back and forth to Cloudsdale. “I think I’m just going to go to sleep.”

Celestia nodded, and then strode back across the room, setting a hoof on the raised lid of the chest, sliding it shut.  From behind her, Starblink could just barely catch a glance of the hourglass as the lid of the chest sealed close.  The pegasus general smiled.

“So they still don’t know?”

“No, they don’t.” Celestia eased herself onto the bed, covering herself with the various blankets and sheets. “And I think that is for the best.  If I were to tell them now… well, I know that it would drive Twilight mad with worry, and as for the rest, I won’t take a chance on.  Unfortunately, I only know them through our few meetings and Twilight’s letters, so I don’t know how they’d react.”

“I guess that we’ll find out soon enough.” Starblink slid himself into the other side of the bed, enjoying the feeling of the soft fabric against his weary body.  Celestia thought of the hour glass, still counting down in the chest.

“We certainly will, in just a couple short weeks.  I’m beginning to get excited.”

Starblink snorted, finding the comment amusing.

“You mean that you weren’t already excited?”

Celestia chuckled.

“I should have said… even more excited.  It will be hard on them, but it is all for the best.”

She felt Starblink’s wings slowly wrap around her body, and pull her closer to the stallion.  She smiled as he locked her in his warm embrace.

“It’s definitely going to be interesting…  Good night, Tia.”

She closed her eyes, releasing her grip on consciousness.

“Good night, Starblink.”

The master of the sun quickly fell asleep, relishing her hard earned rest after a long day of work.

<(^)>

Swiftwing whistled a tune to himself, keeping his mind occupied as he marched along the wall top of Canterlot castle.  His golden royal guard armor gleamed like the sun in the early morning light.  Up above, a large red and gold bird flew, spiraling around the castle, little jets of flame shooting from its wing tips.  Swiftwing looked up at the phoenix, admiring the magical creature.  He wished that he could join it in the skies above, but his duty came first.  Taking his eyes off of the aviary acrobatics, Swiftwing continued his patrol.

As he carried on marching, he passed another guard, going the opposite direction on the wall top.  He nodded at the soldier, another pegasus.

“Anything out of the ordinary, Bluebolt?”

The other pony halted momentarily.

Nothing worth reporting, Swiftwing.”

Swiftwing chuckled, “What a surprise.”

Without another word, the two soldiers continued their routes, armored hoofs clopping against the stonework of the walltop.  Swiftwing continued marching, his eyes scanning both the sky above and the city below for signs of trouble.  The first passerby were just beginning to go about their business in the City beyond the walls, while most of the population was still waking up.  A loud bell suddenly reverberated in Swiftwing’s ears.  The pegasus immediately tensed.  He waited a few moments, and then relaxed.

Just one strike… it’s only the changing of the guard.

He turned to look at the castle’s courtyard, and waited.  The great double doors swung open, and eight pegasi troops marched out into the morning light.  They halted once they reached the center of the courtyard, and then all turned to various points on the wall.  As one, the group spread their wings, and flew the short distance to the wall tops.

Swiftwing watched as a familiar pony arced through the air towards him.  A dark blue pegasus alighted on the wall top just a few feet in front of Swiftwing.  They both saluted, and then the newcomer spoke.

“Major Swiftwing sir, may I assume your post sir!”

Swiftwing kept his face solemn, though inwardly, he felt happy.  For some reason, these ridiculous formalities always made him feel better about himself.

“Lieutenant Clouddancer, I give you permission to assume command of this position.”

Clouddancer saluted again, “Thank you sir!  Anything to report, sir!”

“All clear, nothing out of the ordinary.” Swiftwing saluted, and then spread his wings, feeling the cool wind whip through his feathers.

Anticipating his imminent release from duty, Swiftwing launched himself from the wall top, leaving Clouddancer to his fate.  His feathers rustled as he glided down to the courtyard, joining the other guards below.  The eight pegasi formed up, and then marched into the castle, the wide doors swinging shut behind them.  A unicorn in a colonel’s uniform was waiting for them.

“Dismissed!”

The formation quickly fragmented, as the soldiers went their separate ways.  Swiftwing fell in beside his old squad mate, Bluebolt.  Swiftwing smiled, thinking back to a few moments ago.

“I swear man, every time that I hear that bell, I freak out until I know that it’s only going to sound off one toll.”

Bluebolt shook his head, suppressing laughter.

“What… that incident from your first day on duty here still haunting you?”

“Hey, dude, that was your first day too you know.”

Bluebolt just glanced over at Swiftwing, looking bored.

“So?  I didn’t freak out nearly as much as you did.”

“The bells were ringing for like five minutes!” Swiftwing was dismayed. “I thought that we were freaking under attack!  What was I supposed to do?”

Bluebolt snickered.

“Probably something other than waking up the Princess.”

Swiftwing was about to make his retort, when a timid voice from behind cut him off.

“Um, excuse me, but… what are you guys talking about?”

Both Bluebolt and Swiftwing swiveled to face the newcomer.  It was a green earth pony, decked out in a light blue uniform, indicating his lowly rank of private.  The two more experienced guards glanced at each other, before returning their gaze to the earth pony.

“I’m sorry,” Bluebolt took a step forward, “But, um… who exactly are you?”

“Um… my name is Firm Blade.  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you guys.  I’m kind of new around here.”

“Kind of new?” Swiftwing examined the earth pony. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.  Just how ‘kind of new’ are you?”

Firm Blade blushed.

“Well… it’s my first day.” The earth pony smiled a little. “That’s sort of why I wanted to hear more about what you guys were saying.  Something about your first time on duty here?”

Bluebolt chuckled.

“Yeah, that is a very fascinating story.  I would be more than happy to enlighten you…”

“Now hold on a second!” Swiftwing interrupted. “There’s no need to go telling everypony that comes randomly walking along what happened more than a year ago!”

Swiftwing could feel the heat rising in his ears, embarrassed at the thought of reliving the experience.

“Oh, but this isn’t just some random pony!” Bluebolt walked over to stand beside Firm Blade. “It’s his first day on the job!  I think that we could impart several valuable lessons on exactly what not to do when confronted with a malfunctioning alarm bell.”

Swiftwing facehoofed, slowly shaking his head back and forth.  Bluebolt grinned, and then began talking to Firm Blade.

“Well, you see, it all started when some traveling salesponies where trying to get into the castle…”

<(^)>

The shadow crept through the shrubbery, hardly visible, even in the morning light.

It’s a good thing that the royal sisters decided to put landscaping around the walls… makes it so much easier for ponies like me to do their job.

The shadow had a name.  Dark Flare, practitioner of trades that most would like to forget about.  However, to the few that couldn’t go without ponies like Dark Flare… that’s where there was money to be made.  She was a unicorn, with a black coat, and dark red mane.  She frightened most ponies, due to her sinister appearance.

Flare continued forward, crawling through the bushes, drawing nearer to the wall.  The problem of her red mane sticking out had been corrected with some simple dye.  She reached the wall, pressing her back against the cool, smooth stone surface, glancing about.  All clear.  Flare scampered to the left, careful not to make any noise.  Just a couple of meters away, a small door was recessed into the stone wall.  It was the little known side entrance, facing away from the city.

Most thieves, assassins, and other unwanted ruffians tended to avoid being seen by the royal guard.  However, in order for Flare’s plan to work, she needed to be seen by at least one, at least for a moment.  Flare moved up, pressing herself against the door.  She placed a panicked expression on her face, and then adopted her most troubled sounding voice.

“Guard!  Oh, please, anypony!  Help me!”  She beat on the door.  Although she made a fair amount of noise, she made sure to only be loud enough to attract the attention of the nearest guard.  More than one might prove fatal.  A set of hooves could be heard rushing up to the other side of the gate, along with the jangling of keys.

“Hold on, I’m coming!” The door flung inwards, pulled by a concerned guard and pushed by a devious intruder.

“Are you alright?” He was cut off as Flare collapsed onto him, pulling him down to the grass underhoof.  One of Flares forehooves slid between his plates of armor.

“What… What are you…”

The guard sighed, and then slipped from consciousness in Flare’s grip.  She gently released him, dragging him under a bush.  While she dragged him, she plucked a small needle from his side.

He’ll be awake in four hours… but they’ll figure out he’s missing before that.

Flare could only give herself, at best, twenty minutes to infiltrate the castle, and then get down to work.  She grimaced when she thought of her ‘work.’ Still, her employer paid well… and money doesn’t grow on trees.  Flare made a quick dash across the courtyard, her hooves not making a single noise.  She herself darted from cover to cover, glad for all the monuments and foliage that populated the surrounding area.

Quickly, Dark Flare entered the castle itself.  Her target was on the lower levels, hidden down several passageways.  She had been in the castle before, while traveling in the company of her sponsor.  It would be no trouble at all for her to find a way down to it.

She quickly checked the weapon concealed within her black saddle bag, tucked against her right side.  It was in perfect functioning order.  She grinned as she slid it back into the bag.  Despite the fact that her task ahead was going to be brutal, she couldn’t help but take some twisted pleasure in it.  The more adrenaline, the better… and nothing gave her a bigger rush than assassination.

<(^)>

“I do solemnly swear.”

Camera flashes sparkled throughout the large outdoor area, illuminating the scene in the setting sun.

“I do solemnly swear.”

“That I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States.”

“That I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States.”

The second voice repeated.  The area around the speakers was surrounded by more than one million men, women, and children, crowding the streets, parks, and sidewalks of Washington D.C.

“And will to the best of my ability.”

“And will to the best of my ability.”

Millions more, perhaps a billion, watched worldwide by way of television and livestreams.

“Preserve, protect, and defend, the constitution of the United States of America.”

“Preserve, protect, and defend, the constitution of the United States of America.”

“So help me God.”

“So help me God.”

The man that had been stating the lines first reached up to shake the other’s hand.

“Congratulations Mr. President.”

The crowd, which had previously been hushed, broke into thunderous applause, heralding in the new leader.  Benjamin Anderson, President of the United States of America, smiled, and waved his hand and the cheering masses.  Anderson looked out over the assembled people, his people.  A surge of pride twanged through Anderson, lost in unbelief of the moment.  After a few seconds, he collected himself.

“Thank you all so much for choosing me as our next leader in these tumultuous times.”

He spoke into the microphone, his voice blasted out over the entire landscape.

“I know, probably better than most, just how much controversy this office has fallen under in recent years.”

The crowd lost part of its enthusiasm.  Anderson continued.

“I also know, that despite the celebrations and excitement surrounding this inauguration, not many of you have any reason to trust us anymore.”

The crowd grew quite, unsure of where the president was going with his address.

“But, I tell you right now, no matter what happens, I will do what is best for this country.  I will do what is best for America, and all who dwell within it.  I hope that I will do this with all of your help.  Together, we can make this country great again, as it once was.  A symbol of peace, prosperity, and liberty, for the whole world to look at.  Thank you all.”

The crowd, after several moments silence, broke into thunderous applause.  Anderson waved, smiling ear to ear, and then walked down from the podium.  Behind him, several others were waiting to take their own turn at the stand, ready to speak about how wonderful things were going to be now.  Fluff.  Anderson sat politely, listening through the speakers, clapping when necessary.  Finally, they were at an end.  Anderson stood, said a few more words, and then strode away, several secret service agents in tow.  He walked into a large hallway, secured against the public’s peeping eyes, and began to traverse the distance.

Another man strode up to Anderson, the recent head of the CIA, as of four months earlier.  He reached out his hand, shaking the president’s.  After a brief confirmation of identity, the secret service agents surrounding Anderson reluctantly let him through.

“Well, look who’s suddenly important!”

He was smiling.

“Daniel, it is good to see you again my friend.  How has the CIA been treating you?”

Daniel Huston started to walk with Anderson, continuing down the hallway.

“Very good, how is it being president?”

Anderson chuckled.

"I've been President for less than two hours, I'm still trying to figure it out."

Dan laughed.

“So anyway Dan,” Anderson continued, “What are you doing here?”

The CIA man grew somber.

“I’m here to give you your first briefing as President of the United States of America.  The role falls to me, as a result of being

in charge of the good old central intelligence agency.”

“I’ve already attended a number of briefings, Dan.  How is this one supposed to be any different?”

Daniel halted, forcing the entire group to come to a standstill.  He stared at Anderson.

“This is the one that the public never gets to hear about.  Actually, this is the one that less than two dozen people get to hear about.  It’s a liability to know that it exists, actually.”

“I see…”

Anderson glanced around at the expressionless secret service agents.

“So, where are we headed?”

Daniel smiled.

“We have a vehicle waiting for us.  We’re going to the pentagon.”

“The pentagon?” Anderson eyed the CIA head warily. “This doesn’t have anything to do with military troubles, does it?”

“Not at all, Mr. President.”

The group began to walk again.

“This concerns something on the Twenty third level.”

Anderson glanced around the hallway, lowering his voice.

“Daniel, the pentagon is only supposed to have two basement levels, you do know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

Daniel turned off down a side hallway, walking towards a nondescript, all white delivery truck.

“But I also know that you have personally been down past those two floors before now.”

He popped open a door on the side of the truck, revealing a luxurious interior.

“However, I don’t think that you’ve ever been as deep as we’re going.”