Equestria At War - In the Shadow of the Sun

The quaint, cute yet classy coffee house was bustling with activity. It was a most comforting building, all wooden inside with a cozy atmosphere one could describe as a "constant Hearth's Warming" - without the repetitive songs and intrusive advertising. Crystal Ponies were all around, reading newspapers and drinking coffee, tea, water - no alcohol in sight. The establishment also included a bakery, and even a little booth for newspaper; which Colton was glad to see was up to date, in comparison with Jagged Hope.

"This sucks." Gomer sighed, folding his talons as a sleepy Plymouth rested his head on his shoulder. "I've never had to meet a fixer in a place that wasn't a bar, pub, brothel, or whatever. Hell, I've met fixers in pachinko parlors, sewers, and even on an airship once. And this is where we're meeting them?"

Umfuni frowned at Gomer. "You don't know anything about the Crystal Empire, do you?"

"Never had to. 'Specially not when the Solar flag's over it." Gomer shrugged.

The zebra sighed. "The Crystal Empire has a vastly different culture from Equestria for many reasons. One of them is the fact that alcohol isn't really in fashion to be drunk in public. Not prohibited - but it's just not considered to be a cultured thing to do. Instead, the crystal ponies have developed what is known as a coffee house culture. Instead of bars and such, they gather here."

"Drinking coffee is their definition of a good time?" The griffon asked, as Chari returned after giving their orders to the staff.

"It's not just about the coffee." Umfuni smiled. "Coffee can also be...a ticket. You can just buy a cheap espresso, and spend the time here. And to spend time here means a lot of things. For one, this is a place to get a newspaper, and also discuss it with others. This place is also popular among intellectuals, so one may expect to find philosophers, scientists, and artists here." The zebra explained - as happy to speak as a musician to freely play a fiddle. "And it's also been reported to be the place for many of the world's finest, or at-least most interesting. The elements of harmony certainly must've been here. Well-known communists might've come here too. I even asked the staff earlier; rumor has it they even saw not-then Président Vérany sitting a table away from not-then dictator Beakolini. Some believed that even Posada was having a conversation here with Serov, and it ended with Posada calling him a "jingoistic false revolutionary", storming out and leaving the stallion to pay the bill. Heard somepony call it the "red versus blue" incident."

"Eesh, small world." Gomer commented.

Umfuni giggled, understanding that Gomer was slightly getting into it. "You see, it's a hub for ideas, discussion, debates - but all of it not muddled by the distortion of being drunk. Sober, intellectual thinking - warmed by a cup of coffee as the outside colds rage on. For what gives more development and health to a mind than a conversation in which you understand - you do not yet know the world inside out?"

Cipher's eyes drifted from a newspaper up at Umfuni. "...Yeah, now I know you're from Kasa. And now I can definitely guess that you were around Kexa's time." Cipher blinked as he looked up from the newspaper, having partially immersed himself in an article about a failed expedition into the Everfree Forest.

"Speech is a good skill to practice, in this line of work too." Umfuni smiled at him.

The sound of rushing hoofsteps was heard as a disheveled mare ran up to the table, in her mouth a newspaper that was crumpled up heavily. She spat it out on the table. Plymouth was just a little surprised, waking up from Gomer's shoulder to see he received a mare's saliva-added newspaper, instead of his coffee.

"Sorry I'm late!" The mare said in a cutesy way. "I was in a bit of a tight spot. Had a bit of a tail I needed to shake off."

"...You were followed?" Colton rose a brow, mild tension building up in his shoulders.

"For a lil' bit." She giggled. "But now they're in a dumpster a few blocks down though, so s'all good!"

Plymouth levitated the newspaper up a little and grimaced as he saw the saliva drops drip onto the table. "Are you Garde--?"

"Yup! Nice to meet you!" The mare snatched the newspaper with a hoof and took a seat. "Crystal City's best fixer! At your service. What can I do for ya? Forgery? Cleanup? Getting you someplace you're not supposed to be? Just a disclaimer; creature trafficking is out of the question. Both due to my ethics, and the fact that prostitution's legal here anyway - the puppet government fought hard to keep it that way. You'd be selling wool to a llama."

"We need to make contact with the Floral Heart." Colton stated.

"Eeeesh. Okay, so this is gonna be one of those calls." Gardenia sighed and put away the newspaper into her saddlebag, only to then take out another newspaper. Cipher squinted his eyes, and smiled. It was clever, what he saw; the newspaper contained all the relevant information that this fixer used on a daily basis. All she had to do was decipher it in real time, but at that point she probably had it all memorized.

As she scanned the paper, Plymouth leaned in. "Are you sure there aren't any spies here?" He asked.

Umfuni blinked. It was a fair point - he remembered that spies loved these establishments. Yet Gardenia waved a dismissive hoof.

"Nah." She said. "Not right now anyway. It's all regulars today. And the recent news that the spies could eavesdrop on? A discovery of a new species of bird, the news of an archeological trip that ended up to be a logistical disaster, and a new fresh season of opera which the Crystal City will be able to enjoy starting next week. Nothing that spies are gonna feel like diggin' around in. Unless the color of Anna Neightrebko's panties is a matter of national security for our favorite spicy version of sunbutt."

Gomer rose a brow - this one was certainly an eccentric. "What about the invasion of Nova Griffonia?" The griffon crossed his talons.

Gardenia licked her hooftip before flicking a page. "The invasion of Nova Griffonia, huh? Heh. You really think there's any discussion needed - when all the discourse can really be summarized in, let's say...Six words?"

"What six words would those be?"

"Daybreaker is a batshit crazy bitch." She smirked.

This prompted all to smirk somewhat...Umi then leaned in with a question.

"You really have faith that we aren't Daybreaker's spies, ma'am?" The zebra asked, earning a half-condescending, yet half-warm smile. It was cute - to her - that he was concerned about the fact.

"Daybreaker utilizes less diverse groups. Maybe changelings make sense post-VOPS integration, and I can imagine maybe a Zebra - maybe. But a griffon - that's iffy. Besides, I know that your group has a batpony, and that she's currently in the apartment you've booked." Gardenia casually said. "Daybreaker wouldn't risk a thestral to get so close."

"...How do you know about her?" Colton said, tensing up somewhat.

"There's eyes and ears everywhere." She giggled. "And I contact them before meeting outsiders, so they can help estimate how trustworthy they are. It's a nice collateral if my client tries to screw me over, too."

"Charming..." Plymouth muttered, thanking a waitress as she brought them a tray of coffee cups. Plymouth and Chari opted for Café au lait, Cipher was given a Stalliongrad-style Raf coffee, Colton went for (according to the others) an eye-rolling Americano, Umfuni asked for a very sweet vanilla coffee that was practically a milkshake, and Gomer innocently ordered a coffee with whipped cream...

"Gardenia, my little mouse!" The waitress gasped. "I didn't see you come in!" She said, leaning in as the two mares exchanged cheek-kisses.

"Hey gorgeous! Glad to see I caught you on your shift." Gardenia responded. "Can I get the usual, hun?"

The waitress beamed with a smile. "I'll get it to you as fresh and potent as I can, whatever it takes me!"

"Ain't gonna be able to make it fresher than your smile!" Gardenia exclaimed, prompting the waitress to run off giggling.

With a sigh of relief, Gomer deviously grinned once the waitress turned away, before reaching into his jacket to produce a flask of whiskey, which he poured right in - making himself an Irish coffee.

"Poor Raz..." Chari sighed. "I can't imagine how she feels alone in that apartment, knowing that going outside poses danger to her if she's seen by Solarists."

"She's probably sleeping. Besides, girl has experience living under the nose of regimes that want her gone." Cipher noted. Yet, he considered his own words. Indeed, the thestral had a relatively limited amount of life experience under regimes that didn't either want her gone, or tried to radicalize her. He wondered what she'd be like if she wasn't smuggled out of Chiropterra...He did not want to imagine a Raz neither without her Wingbardian accent, nor dropping bombs on Equestrians.

"Heeeere we are." Gardenia smiled as she tapped the paper. "Floral Heart - loyalist organization few even hear of. Gets the name from the florist shop where they connect new members. A front, basically." She said.

"How do we get in?" Colton asked.

"With a password." She giggled. "Duh. First you need to say the phrase--, ah fuck it, Imma just write it down." She produced a pen and used her mouth to write a sentence on a torn off, blank newspaper piece, before sliding it over to Colton. He looked at it, before starting to read it outloud.

"I'm looking for a bouquet that's magnificent enough to mend a broken heart - so radiant it can outshine the sun...?" He looked at it, before looking at her.

"Yes - though you can change the pronoun to "we" - otherwise it has to be word for word." Gardenia said. "That's step one. Outta two."

"Alright, what's the second?" He asked.

"They ask who's heart. That's...when things get trickier." She said, before taking out another newspaper and ripping out a page, before sliding it over to Colton. The first side of the page contained a crossword, a caricature of Queen Chrysalis, and phone numbers for advertised businesses - and the second contained a lifestyle article, an interview from Princess Cadence, and the debate on whether or not milk should be added to tea.

Colton caught on fast - and slid the paper over to Cipher.

"It's a code." Cipher flatly observed.

Gardenia nodded. "This is a daily paper, and each edition features a new password. The Floral Heart has their own little conventions for decoding it. I never learned it. Had a guy here who tried, though."

"What'd come of that attempt?" Colton asked.

"Had to go to the hospital; he slammed the table out of frustration so hard it knocked over his piping hot latte all over his thighs and flank. Hope it missed his in-betweens, guy was a good fu--..."

"Cipher - can you do it?" Colton interrupted.

"Already seeing the patterns." Cipher smiled. "I can see some potential links between the interview and lifestyle article. Crossword might have a hint too, though it'd be too easy. Could be a fake out. Maybe the caricature has something."

"What about that milk-tea debate?" Chari leaned in.

"A red herring supposed to frustrate you." Cipher simply said. "Or just a leftover article for free space."

Umi blinked. "You can really tell all this having read it for such a short time?"

"It could be worse." Cipher chuckled. "I'm looking for a single password. I remember when I had to decipher a five-hundred world letter in Wingbardy - the letter in question was disguised in a cookbook. And I got a head start because Plymouth was able to beat a quarter of the needed information out of a fascist ."

"World's best can opener - if mouths were cans." The unicorn smirked as he drank.

"What do we owe you, Gardenia?" Colton asked.

The fixer used the pen once more on another torn out blank paper - scribbling on it before sliding the price over to Colton...Who blinked at it for a long five seconds.

"Well...You're certainly eating well tonight." Colton sighed as he went for his wallet.

"And so are my kids." The mare smiled. "I keep putting off my promise of taking them to that new Kirin restaurant. Might as well make it tonight since I'm finishing work early. Heard they got killer dumplings."

"I will make a partial deduction because you didn't give us the second half of the password, however." Colton firmly said.

"Fine by me. Dock 5%." The mare shrugged. "I'll skip dessert."

"20%." Colton said.

"Aw, you can't make me skip the appetizer either." Gardenia frowned. "10% and I'll hook you up with a discount for the local gun dealer? Dude owes me anyhow."

"15%." Colton said.

"...10%, gun dealer discount, I pay your bill...And a kiss on the cheek? I mean I could offer something else but y'know, I'm a bit of a prize for 10%, heh."

"...That's not necessary. The earlier offer will do. Minus the kiss." Colton said, and slid her the money. The mare smiled, and gave a salute, before walking off to catch up with the waitress, sneaking up on her to spank her on the flank, as uncouth the deed was in such an establishment.

Cipher nodded as his eyes scanned the newspaper like a machine, going left and right at an almost uniform pace. "...I think I'll have it done before tomorrow afternoon. Let's go back to the apartment after we're done here."

Chari smiled in agreement - and sniffed...Looking at Gomer and then at his cup. She frowned as she smelled the whiskey beneath the whipped cream. "...Alcoholic."

"Prude." The griffon scoffed.

"Calling me a prude, of all things." She scoffed back.

***

The bell gently rang as the door bumped it. The aroma of fresh flowers instantly settled into the noses of the team as they entered, with Gomer's eyes watering as he now discovered that he was allergic to some flower - and he wasn't sure which one. It was hard to spot the culprit plant, as the flowers were so plentiful that it was hard to see the floor, walls, and ceiling in some parts of the room.

The bell ringing prompted a young stallion to pop up from under the counter. He was smiling warmly at the visitors. Colton stepped forward along with Cipher, while the rest lagged behind; Umfuni taking an interest in some colorful flora he had never seen before in Griffonia, while Chari eagerly admired tulips or roses. Gomer opted to step outside after the fifth sneeze.

Plymouth did not have any interest in flowers whatsoever; knowing that he couldn't bring any of these to Mochi anyways - not before they wilted.

"Good afternoon." Smiled the shopkeeper, a young and cute stallion with a cute, wide grin; a smile forged by years of professional training. "Welcome to the Floral Heart. What may I help with?"

Cipher and Colton both leaned into the counter. "We're looking for a bouquet that's magnificent enough to mend a broken heart - so radiant it can outshine the sun." Colton said, standing on his hind-legs and putting his front hooves on the counter.

"Is that so?" The shopkeeper's smile did not waver - but one of his hooves slinked under the counter. In response, Cipher placed a hoof a bit closer to his inner pocket in his jacket, very slowly and gently. "And who's heart does it happen to be?"

"...An owner of a lonely heart."

"..." The stallion kept smiling and looking at Colton...Then at Cipher...

He then put his hoof back on the counter, and dropped the smile. He nodded with a somber look. He approached the front door, and beckoned Gomer inside. Once the griffon entered, the shopkeeper locked the door.

"Follow." This florist said, and started to walk into the back area.

As the group walked past, Ciper saw the sawn-off that was underneath the counter, already loaded and positioned for a quick-draw straight to the forehead of any potential customer. He whistled softly. "Is that a hoe?"

"No, it isn't." Chari tried not to laugh.

***

A powerful, white light - cast by the lamp, was able to pierce the darkness of the damp and empty passage; not even the rats dared live here. The wind howled, like ghostly apparitions. For all the group knew - this place may as well have been haunted.

"So who are you?" The florist asked as they walked through the tunnel - an intricate system which was built in tandem with the Crystal Empire metro system. Colton knew what had happened here; for the metro was flooded by Daybreaker once she discovered that Sombra's remnants had used it to establish their headquarters when she retook the Empire. Their short resistance was both figuratively and literally washed away with the tide.

Perhaps it really was haunted.

"SIB." Colton simply said. "New Mareland."

The florist shrugged. "Never heard of it. Never really cared for Griffonia either. I heard you New Mareland types haven't done much though - neither during the war, nor after."

This irked Cipher somewhat, who slightly accelerated to walk beside Colton. He wanted to say something - but Colton extended a wing to block him, shaking his head. They wanted trust - not to win a petty argument.

"So, who are you?" Umfuni asked instead. "I've never heard of a "Floral Heart"."

"We're what's left of the real Crystal Empire." The florist said. "News of Sombra's death in Canterlot, and the defeat of his offensive army - thanks to Daybreaker's Ascension - came quickly here. The Sombrists here were occupational garrisons, and armed a little worse than a defense force. Overnight they became a flimsy resistance in an occupied land."

Colton nodded to himself; this much he knew, that Canterlot was a death trap for the four armies that attempted to march into it. Communists, Lunarists, Changelings, Sombrists; all of the best sent to siege it were wiped out in a day.

The florist continued. "Our own army's remnants gathered to fight the remnant Sombirsts, but then Daybreaker came and destroyed them all in three hours. We thought we could celebrate until we realized what Daybreaker was."

"She did some shit to you after the fact, I'm assuming." Plymouth spoke up.

The florist could only nod. "She wasn't hostile to Cadence herself - she needed to retain old leaders under her hoof. Even had a creepy, motherly fucking attitude to her from what we saw. But, she wasn't pleased with the idea that there were Crystal - not Solar Empire loyalists. Daybreaker came here to sort out who could be loyal to her, and who's too loyal to the "old" Crystal Empire. Many of them were killed when they attempted to resist, or sent to Fort Cherish."

"Fort Cherish!?" Chari exclaimed. "You...You know about it?"

The florist sighed. "That's why you're here, huh? Yeah. It's a horrid place - a labor camp that's housing anyone Daybreaker doesn't fancy from this region, and POWs from the war. You've got Sombrists, Changelings, a few communists, and old Crystal Empire loyalists - sharing cells, horrid labor, and what little scraps of food they can get. It's so bad that you can actually trust your own cellmates; nobody has the strength for prison rape or shanking."

"..." Umfuni frowned deeply at such words, looking down at the puddles that disappeared into the darkness once the light no longer illuminated them.

"We're here." The florist nodded, and approached a metal door. He banged on the door with a certain rhythm. He then heard a knock in return. Then, he knocked some more.

After the impromptu drumming session, the door slid open with an obnoxious sound of iron dragging against old cement. They were greeted by a pony - who wore the traditional Crystal Empire Royal Guard armor.

"Who's this?" The guard asked.

"SIB." The florist stated. "New Marelanders."

The guard looked over the group - and gave a short nod, stepping aside for them to enter. The florist however remained, and turned back to go to his shop.

The group went through the damp basement - up the stairs and into finer rooms. At first the area looked like the same run-down and dark tunnels. Yet the more they went on, the cleaner and more proper the area became, looking more like a fine cellar.

"...What is this place?" Gomer asked the guard.

The guard smirked. "Where do you think? I thought my uniform was a dead giveaway. And this ain't a themed strip club."

"...Wait." Umfuni blinked. "Are we in the Crystal City's castle!?" He asked, immediately double-checking his surroundings to confirm the theory.

"..." The guard smiled wider. "Come. Let's introduce you to the boss. And his missus."

***

Shining Armor and Cadence sighed at the same time as they sat in the makeshift planning area in the musty part of the cellar. Shining sat at a table, while Cadence leaned against the wall reading over some files.

"Any news from our envoys to the other groups, honey?" Cadence asked, shuffling the files to the next one - which contained information on recent reports on one of the Solarist generals - one she was judging whether or not could he be persuaded to defect. After reading the short paragraph describing how he bribed a journalist to hide the fact he was seen with prostitutes who cosplayed Daybreaker, she decided it was a lost cause to have him join. She used a spark of magic to burn the paper in an instant.

"Nothing good." Shining sighed. "Most cells are spooked after hearing about the Nova Griffonia invasion. They think if Daybreaker is going to start cracking down, it's going to be now. The envoy to south Equus reported that he wasn't able to make contact with the thestrals, and the envoy we sent to the East Coast has gone quiet. Best case - decided to stay with them; I know the guy always wanted to fight directly rather than do it our way. Worst case..."

Cadence frowned, and threw the files aside. "I don't understand why Daybreaker launched this invasion. What triggered it? War? Now - of all times, knowing she's still fighting what's left of Equestria?"

Shining turned to look at her. "Well - from what I gather, it's the Weter Central Hospital bombing." He said. "Nova Griffonia pinned the blame on the Solar Empire and began to crack down on its spy network; and the Solar Empire believed this to be a false flag - that they themselves bombed it and are trying to justify war against Daybreaker."

"A false flag - even though the whole world knows Nova Griffonia is too weak to face the Solar Empire?" Cadence sighed.

Shining shrugged. "They took advantage of Nova Griffonia's situation. They used rumors that Virgillia has been gaining influence in Nova Griffonia politics, and they were able to spin the idea that country was full of jingoists and anti-pony purists. Spun rumors that the Mad Tremble exists in a less potent form and has infected the cabinet. The sad thing is, considering Nova's internal political situation...They had enough material to work with, to make it all somewhat convincing."

"Ugh..." The alicorn sighed. She was unable to resist. She needed her beloved. She approached him - before crawling onto his lap and hugging him while he sat on the chair.

He smiled, wrapping her hooves around her and burying his face in her neck, and her mane.

"The world sure got scary all of the sudden in the last decades, huh?" She whispered softly.

His hoof gently stroked her mane. "Maybe. But I have reasons not to be scared so much." He whispered back.

The mare chuckled, rocking a little bit as she nuzzled him softly. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Shining smiled. "You. Being with you lets me fight my fear. And Flurry - to do everything for her sake."

Cadence let out a soft giggle, and sighed - both in sadness and peace. She pulled back a little - and gazed into his eyes. Yes; it was all terrifying. She couldn't imagine Equestria and the Crystal Empire would come to this...But perhaps the old answer to many of her problems and fears in life remained the same, and it remained standing strong. Love triumphed. Love; a warm insulated cabin in the middle of a raging blizzard.

She pulled her husband into a deep, passionate kiss of nothing else other than pure adoration. Love. Connection. The feeling of having the entire world - right here, right in-front of you, and--

"Damn, I've never seen a resistance leadership this cute." Gomer casually commented.

The alicorn and the stallion she was kissing yelped - both falling off the chair as they scrambled to face who appeared. Seeing the guard that escorted them, they identified that this was a controlled visit. Still - such a rude interruption did not leave them smiling.

"W-Who's this!?" Cadence barked at the guard.

"Your royal highness." Colton stepped forward, as the rest of the group waited by the door. "Agent Colton; SIB. New Mareland. We--"

"New Mareland!?" Both Shining Armor and Cadence exclaimed in unison.

"Twilight!" Shining cried out.

"Is she o--" Cadence started.

"Arrived safely in New Mareland, ma'am." Colton shut them up with a warm smile. "She's safe and with her friends; currently with the President in order to establish some private diplomatic connections."

The couple sighed in relief - smiles came to their faces. Now, they had a reason to be happy to see the intruders. Muscles released tension, and shoulders dropped, jaws unclenched. Now, the air wasn't as heavy and oppressive.

"Thank you so much. Truly." Cadence whispered, leaning into her husband.

Shining nodded, standing strong to support her. "Yes - for protecting my sister...Well, I understand that there's always a political motive with these things, but...Thank you for shouldering the risk, and the burden that comes with Daybreaker's attention..."

Plymouth listened to the words and zoned out for a time, looking at nothingness.

"So..." Cadence stepped forward. "What can we do for the SIB, Mr. Colton? I assume we're friends?"

"Daybreaker endangers Western Griffonia, if not all of it." He answered. "Yes. We're friends, ma'am. We need your help - both in general, and on a certain manner."

The alicorn nodded, and beckoned the team over.

***

"How'd you find out about the Floral Heart?" Shining asked - as everycreatue now stood at a square table, around a map of the Crystal Empire; with orange marker used to specify Solar military installations.

"Phone call from a certain..."Corvus"." Colton said. "Heard of her?"

"Corvus?" Shining Armor asked. "Yes - we do actually know her. Partially."

"You do?" Cipher leaned in.

Cadence nodded. "Mm. She sent us envelopes with crucial information that allowed our movement to thrive. If not for her, we'd probably be found out by now..."

"...So she's trustworthy." Umfuni noted.

"That sure is a relief..." Chari sighed.

"...We need Fort Cherish." Colton said. "According to Corvus, a VIP is located in a secure level of that prison. Codename Mirage. Do you know anything?"

Shining frowned...And Cadence frowned at the sight of him. She put a hoof on him to comfort him, but he shook his head - opting to look Colton in the eyes as he spoke with full honesty.

"It can be anyone." He said. "Some of my best are imprisoned there." He softly spoke as he stared at the map on the table...Fort Cherish was already marked, with many annotations. "...And some of Sombra's and Chrysalis' best."

"Sir." Cipher looked up. "Tell me about Fort Cherish. It was a castle refurbished into a prison?"

"Yes." The unicorn nodded. "It's an old one, too. Built in the 700s. When Sombra came, we used it as a supply storage, and when he took it he already set to make it a prison. Daybreaker saw his work and finished it - only she seems to have modified it to be a labor camp more-so than just a dungeon."

"How difficult is it to enter?" Gomer asked.

"Easy." Shining laughed. "Go outside and say exactly what everypony thinks of her. You'll even get free transport there."

Gomer wasn't able to suppress a smirk, laughing out briefly and with heart. "Okay wisecolt, I got it. Then, how easy is it to break into?"

Shining's smile dropped the instant. "Tough. The amount of guards is basically that of a company - two hundred-fifty or so. They were tested for their devotion. They have no connection to us, the Sombrists, or the changelings. So, they don't feel so bad about oppressing all their prisoners, ponies or not. My hunch is that she's gathered such racists that they don't even consider Crystal Ponies to be one of theirs. Nasty right-wingers who have connections to some nasty groups. They also answer directly to Daybreaker."

"...We need to get in." Cipher said.

"I see..." Shining Armor sighed. "We've had a plan that we've been putting off due to the concern of capable hooves. Maybe you're the spark that can help us get a catalyst in for the plan."

"What kind of plan?" Colton leaned in.

"We'll break the prisoners out with force." Shining simply said.

The room - except for Cadence, looked in silence with widened eyes; unsure just how he could so calmly suggest such a vague idea.

"I mean, that's what we'd ideally like to do." Plymouth scratched his face. "But y'know, simple's not equal to easy."

Shining had already shook his head, affirming his confidence. "I'm in contact with the prisoners. On my signal, they are going to revolt. However, without external help, it's suicide." Shining explained. "The guards have military-grade - not riot - equipment, and will use the revolt as an excuse to execute the prisoners, as they probably already wanted to. But if we can support the revolt - destroy their infrastructure, guard towers, MG nests, and their armory - in a coordinated strike...we have a chance."

"And how do we do that?" Cipher asked.

"We'll send in our loyalists." Shining said.

"You're going to blow your secrecy." Plymouth said. "If they find out it's you, then...Daybreaker's gonna have your head. If not the Princess's too..."

"Which is why we intend to completely cut off Fort Cherish from any communication and leave no witnesses." Shining pointed at the map. "We will use coordinated sabotage and air tactics, before infiltrating via helicopter. To leave no evidence, we need to completely destroy the place. For that, we have a solution. We learned that a high-yield bomb is placed under the foundation of the fort; which will detonate in the event of enemy capture or successful prisoner revolt."

"How are you ensuring it won't detonate prematurely?" Umfuni frowned, at the idea that the prisoners were forced into such hopelessness.

"The bomb will only be on a timer." Shining said. "The guards then have twenty minutes to board transports to escape, but the bomb's activation will produce an alarm. We cannot defuse the bomb - but we can launch the attack by destroying their transport. It should buy us time. Once that alarm rings, we're going to wrap up as fast as we can. However, we really need to buy ourselves at-least half an hour to secure a transport for all prisoners."

"All prisoners?" Chari asked.

Shining nodded. "Changelings and Sombrists too."

"...Are you sure that's wise?" Plymouth asked.

"It's the right thing to do." Shining said. "They're helping us escape, and have even agreed to resume their status as POWs under the legitimate Crystal or Equestrian government...Anything to get out of Fort Cherish."

Gomer scratched his chin. "...So how do we prevent them from using their radios, contacting outside help? Prisons of this profile can have QRFs that are going to arrive to help."

"That's..." Cadence sighed sadly. "Where I come in."

"Ah?" Gomer turned his head to her.

"..." She sighed deeply. "I am going to commit that which I can only call a sin. Something that no princess should have ever considered - something that is going to make me sick to the stomach to look myself in the mirror. But it must be done." She said. "I am...I'm going to engulf the Crystal Empire in a blizzard."

"...Wait." Umfuni leaned in. "Ma'am - are you talking about the Crystal Heart?"

"..." The Princess nodded. "I am going to order a fake terrorist attack that allegedly destroys the Heart. And I will come there to mend it. The blizzard comes slowly to the city - but is faster and stronger outside, so it'll reach the prison faster than it reaches the city. However, I cannot have it rage for long. If I do...it may kill thousands if I do so, if not more. The blizzard will begin once you are in position - and you will have half an hour of blizzard to start the combined revolt and attack."

"There's no other way, huh..." Cipher sighed.

Cadence closed her eyes. "One single transmission out of that prison can end the future of the Crystal Empire...And your mission, should this "Mirage" creature be there as you were told by Corvus."

"Wait, but the blizzard is going to mess with us - especially if we're going in by air." Colton noted. "It'll screw up the planes and helos, won't it?"

"Not quite." Cadence smiled softly. "I have a certain pony, Sunburst. He's going to lead a group of unicorns who have their horns enhanced by my magic. He'll instruct them to make a protective bubble to block the prison from the blizzard, activating it once all of ours are in range. Sadly, the bubble alone won't stop any radio, and the bubble is just there to fend off the blizzard, not act as a force field. It should be big enough to also allow the aircraft to comfortably circle around the castle. Either way however - you're right; timing is everything, and you must arrive to the radius at the exact time."

"I understand..." Umfuni whispered in thought. "But, can we do anything to mitigate the damages of the blizzard to settlements outside the city?"

"...Not without arousing suspicion." Said Plymouth, who said exactly what Cadence did not want to admit.

"We..." Cadence sighed. "We will perform all necessary reparations, at any cost."

"..."

Colton sighed. "Then let's do it. My team's at your disposal, Captain. Princess."

Shining Armor smiled. "Thank you. It will be an honor to work with you to return the real Crystal Empire, and Equestria."

...

"...Ma'am?" Cipher suddenly spoke up.

"Yes?" Cadence turned to him.

"...Where is...Princess Flurry Heart?" He asked.

At these words, Cadence's heart became heavy. She sighed deeply, and walked over to a chair. Shining looked at Cipher. Not with anger at bringing up the topic - but apologetically and with understanding; the white stallion felt guilt that he hadn't been able to warn him prior.

"...In the court of Daybreaker." Cadence whimpered, shaking. "It's...It's her way of keeping me in check. I...I get to see her once a month..." She said, shaking her head. "...So, I'll get to see her after tomorrow...For just..." She sniffled. "For just one tiny, little...insignificant hour."

"I-I'm so sorry to bring it up, ma'am." Cipher frowned.

"...No, it's not your fault." She sighed. "...Of all the awful things that have happened due to Celestia being replaced by that...thing...That is the one thing I can't understand - can't comprehend. That one thing that kills me inside...If this is how she keeps me in line, I fear to imagine what else she does to others...Especially those with families."

Remembering Clement, Plymouth softly bit his lip. Remembering, furthermore, Mochi...He whispered - "Fuck.", and moved away from the table.

Umfuni too frowned deeply - the idea of being robbed of a child making him shudder.

Cipher's attentive ears picked up on Plymouth's cursing, and his attentive eyes picked up on the sparkle of Cadence's tears. His sixth sense allowed him to feel the dread in Shining's silence. "...Can we do anything to save her?"

"..." Cadence sighed. "The moment I find out what to do?" She softly said, looking into his eyes. "I...I won't merely ask you to save her. I will force you to. I'm sorry."

"..." Cipher looked at her, and then at Colton. The two stallions exchanged a look, and in the end, both nodded to each other. "We understand, ma'am."

After the painful silence, Shining looked at his wife for a time, and then sighed before turning to Colton. "Come. I'll acquaint you with the leaders of our teams. We're going to execute the plan whenever you're ready, and once we can get everypony on board. With luck, we can execute the plan tomorrow."

"Captain." Cipher spoke up. "You said the job has an air element...We got a capable omnipilot. Think you can get her a job?"

Shining smiled. "A real omnipilot? We've just the thing. How does she feel about F-4 Phantoms?"

Gomer sighed, rubbing his face with a talon. "Fuuuuuck, we better tell her as late as possible, or she's gonna be soaking wet over it and not shut the fuck up about it until the op."

Chari giggled. "Maybe, but keep in mind that it's a two-seater. You know how Raz gets when she's assigned co-pilots."

"Right." Cipher chuckled. "Captain, you better make sure whoever is gonna be the gunner has a very, very strong stomach."