Renaissance

Act III: Luminescence
Chapter VII: Survival Tactics

Fleur de Lis never thought she could become so exhausted from a session of intimacy. Even though it had been a day since she shared that session with Daybreaker, she still felt a little worn out. But as she stepped off the train platform in Crystal City she hoped that slight exhaustion would subside soon. I can't believe she made me go for thirteen rounds... I know she's a goddess, but I'm just a unicorn with a marecock, ...which is still a little sore... I just couldn't stop getting hard for her... She sighed, wondering if Daybreaker had a slight limp after all they did the day before. But her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed how empty the streets were. Wait... Where is everypony? Even all the shops are closed... She looked around in both curiosity and worry. What happened while I was gone? She picked up the pace, making her way to the Crystal Palace.

It wasn't just one part of the city either, as she approached the Crystal Palace, she hadn't seen a single soul. She furrowed her brow, wondering if a spy or assassin from one of the Equestrian Empires had made an attempt to end somepony's life. The doors to the Crystal Palace were the first place she saw somepony, four Crystal Guards and four Peacekeepers each stood before her, one of the Peacekeepers speaking up as they saw her. "Peacekeeper Fleur! Quickly, get..." She felt a hand on her left shoulder, the Crystal Guard next to her looking intense. The Peacekeeper turned back to Fleur, her expression just as somber. "...Recite the Peacekeeper Oath, immediately." The Peacekeepers and Crystal Guards brandished their weapons in the ex-model's direction.

Fleur blinked in slight shock, wondering why they were so defensive all of a sudden, but recited the Oath none the less. "In brightest day, in blackest night, we fight for what is right. To protect the world from devastation, to heal those who are hurt by any nation. We stand in the middle of any war, and it is Harmony and Peace that we fight for, Omnia Vincit Amor!" She stood proudly, her left hand over her heart, standing her glaive up straight by her side with her right. The Crystal Guards and Peacekeepers each let out a deep sigh of relief, and stopped pointing their weapons at her. Fleur put her glaive on her back once again. "What's going on? We only recite the Oath if-"

The Peacekeeper who had spoken before answered her swiftly. "A changeling was found out yesterday, and two others followed suit, saying something about the Changeling Nation rising from the ashes of their defeat. Princess Cadance and Director Fluttershy fear that Chrysalis is planning to attack the Crystal Empire, so Princess Cadance ordered everypony to lock their doors and stay safe in their homes until she's sure the Empire is safe. As our most accomplished Peacekeeper, Princess Cadance and Director Fluttershy will want to talk to you directly about the matter. Get inside, quickly." The Peacekeeper turned around, opening one of the doors to the Crystal Palace, which Fleur hurried on through, the door shutting tight right behind her.

Fleur had to take a deep breath and process everything. The foyer of the Crystal Palace was heavily protected, Crystal Guards and Peacekeepers each three feet apart, standing by the walls. What in Tartarus is going on lately? Everything is moving so fast... She rubbed her head for a second as she began to walk again, making her way towards the Tactical Operations room. First I find Sassy injured and have to carry her away from a battlefield, then Daybreaker herself wants me to help her get pregnant and create a Solar Dynasty, and now the Changeling Nation has recovered from their defeat at the hands of the Solar Empire, possibly planning a takeover of the Crystal Empire...

She nodded to the Peacekeepers standing outside the Tactical Operations room, and they opened the doors for her, Princess Cadance's voice welcoming her as she stepped in, the Princess of Love standing next to Director Fluttershy at the map table. "We have to be prepared for them to come through the border, Fluttershy. I know the last thing you want to do is purposely put the Peacekeepers in danger, but as long as we have at least a few good mares and stallions stationed at the border for reconnaissance, we'll at least get a heads up if the changelings cross it." Cadance was obviously stressed out from the situation, having personally dealt with Chrysalis once before.

Fluttershy nodded solemnly, looking at the map. "I-I understand, Princess... I just wish there was some other way we could do it... I just think... what if the changelings discover our reconnaissance team and capture them? They could be taken prisoner, o-or worse..." She looked up from the map as Fleur stepped up to the other side of the table. "Oh, Fleur! I-I was wondering if you had returned from your trip home yet. I hope things weren't too bad for your mothers... D-Daybreaker is so scary..." She curled a lock of her mane around her finger nervously. "I-I'm sorry to say that we have a situation here in the Crystal Empire now, that we'll need your help with..."

Before the ex-model could console Fluttershy and help her worry less, Cadance spoke up once again. "Fleur, out of all of the Peacekeepers, you've always been the most ready to volunteer when it comes to particularly dangerous missions, I assume since the guards let you in you know what we're dealing with?" She put her hands on the map, leaning against the table, the border where the Changeling Nation meets the Crystal Empire right between her hands. "We need somepony to carry out reconnaissance operations at the changeling border. I'm sorry to ask this of you, but we regretfully don't have any choice in the matter."

Suddenly, a mint green flash of light appeared behind Fleur, and the three ponies at the map table turned to see none other than Starlight Glimmer and Trixie Lulamoon standing before them, Starlight quickly speaking up. "We're here to help! I saw how everypony here is barricaded in their homes and knew something was wrong. We followed Fleur and heard about the changelings, but the guards wouldn't let us in! Trixie isn't a changeling in disguise, and a changeling wouldn't be able to pull off the multiple-pony teleportation spell that I just cast to get in here." She saw the surprised and confused looks on Cadance and Fluttershy's faces. "...I hope Fleur told you about us before."

Cadance looked to Fleur, who nodded, and the Princess of Love nodded back. "As I just told Fleur, we need a reconnaissance team at the changeling border. We need to make sure we know they're coming through as soon as possible. If they cross it, that is. We're not completely sure what Chrysalis is up to, but I don't want to take any second chances. That evil bitch tried to ruin my wedding and take over Equestria in the process, and I won't let her invade my land and harm the innocent ponies who live here! They've been through enough, especially those who had to escape the war in Equestria!" Her swear made Fluttershy cringe for a moment, but she nodded none the less, agreeing with Cadance's statements.

Fleur finally took her chance to speak up, albeit tentatively. "Princess Cadance, if I may make a suggestion?" The Princess of Love raised a brow, nodding at the ex-model. Fleur continued. "I know this might sound a little- okay, really crazy, but... What if instead of sending a team out for just reconnaissance, we sent a team into the Changeling Nation? Not to fight, but to... Negotiate terms? As Ambassadors, if you will?" Fleur immediately regretted speaking those words, Cadance looking almost livid. "Please, hear me out! We're surrounded on three fronts here, and gaining an ally who specialises in subterfuge and deception would give us-"

"You must be out of your mind if you think I'm going to work with that twisted insect, Fleur! I don't know why my aunts won't see sense and stop carrying out their stupid war against each other, but I am not going to let changelings occupy the Crystal Empire, no matter how much they could 'help' us with their vile tricks!" She was breathing heavily, having lost her composure. But when she saw everypony's slight fear at her anger, she sighed, trying to relax. She fixed her slightly ruffled mane with some help from Fluttershy as she spoke. "Listen, I know what you're trying to say Fleur, but I just don't think it would end well, for any of us."

Fleur paused in thought for a moment, bringing her hand up to her chin. "Then what if..." She snapped her fingers as she let go of her chin. "What if we at least tried to form some kind of temporary peace treaty with Chrysalis? The Changeling Nation may have recovered somewhat from their defeat six months ago, but there's no way they're already the unstoppable force they were back then, once again. I know you don't trust her, but considering the state of her nation, she has to be at least partially open to the suggestion of postponing a war with the Crystal Empire." She stands proudly. "I'll be the one to personally cross the border and discuss the matter with her."

It was surprisingly Starlight who spoke up next, seeing where Fleur was coming from. "A war with the Changeling Nation would weaken the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadance. It would be more vulnerable to an attack by Daybreaker or Empress Nightmare Moon, and the former I'm sure would jump at the chance to obtain more land for her own Empire. Empress Nightmare Moon at least understands the value in having neutral ground for anypony who doesn't wish to participate in the war or wants to escape it. But if Daybreaker were to come and try to claim this land as hers, Empress Nightmare Moon would retaliate and send troops up here as well to prevent her sister from taking it."

It was even more surprising when out of all of the ponies in the room, it was Fluttershy who spoke next. "A-And we still haven't heard back from the teams we sent to offer an alliance with Yakyakistan, Olenia, and the Polar Bear Communities... We don't have their support yet, s-so if we were attacked..." She shuddered in fear. "W-We wouldn't have any reinforcements or aid to back us up, and what Starlight said might actually happen... The Peacekeepers aren't trained in warfare, they're m-meant for defensive purposes and reconnaissance, not fighting on the front lines... It would be even more dangerous than what Fleur is suggesting..."

"Alright, alright! Let me think..." Cadance leaned on the map table again, letting out a deep sigh, looking at the map for a few moments, everypony remaining silent for her. After a few more seconds, she stood up straight, a solemn expression upon her face. "I still think it's a bad idea, but you all raised some good points, so... We'll give it a try." Before Fleur and Fluttershy could salute however, the Princess of Love continued. "But I want you to exercise extreme caution in this matter. The Changeling Lands aren't something to be taken lightly, and their capital is quite a ways past the border. My only concern is that if you get in any fights along the way you won't have a healer with you."

Fleur hummed in thought, crossing her arms. I've been meaning to study some healing spells, but because I've never done anything like that before they would have been rudimentary at best anyways... "Well, Starlight is pretty powerful, I suppose she could teleport us away if we got into trouble. ...But I do see your point." Everypony was once again silent for a moment, but one of them wasn't simply standing in place. Trixie, who found it annoying she couldn't really come up with anything to say about the changeling situation, was at the food and drinks table. She looked over a bottle of wine and let out a hum, as if judging it's quality.

"I..." Once again everypony was surprised to hear Fluttershy speak up. "I'll go with them..." Before Cadance could object, Fluttershy looked to her gently but confidently. "You're right Princess, we don't have any healers who aren't busy taking care of ponies who are already hurt and need the help a lot more... And well... I've taken care of animals all my life, and have studied a lot with Nurse Redheart since the war in Equestria began..." She then looked at Fleur with pride. "And I trust Fleur to make sure I'm safe. She cares so much about helping other ponies, and she was so upset the other day when she found out her friend had gotten hurt. I know she wouldn't let that happen to me."

Trixie walked back over to them, holding some peanut butter crackers, having just finished eating one, and finally got her chance to speak up. "Well, is it finally all settled then? Trixie is ready to go and kick some ugly bug butt already!" She munched on a peanut butter cracker, everypony else looking at her with unbelieving expressions, before Trixie looked back up at them and was surprised they were all looking at her. "What? Trixie loves peanut butter crackers, don't judge her!" Fleur couldn't help but giggle, and the rest of the ponies followed suit, Trixie let out a huff of annoyance, blushing lightly.

"They're really good, okay?!"