Once per Day

I licked the inside of my freshly cleaned teeth and sighed in relief. Among the loot my pals found in the jail, we'd plundered some spare and unused military kit, including some extra bags we'd loaded with food, coins, and fresh toiletries, like my shiny new toothbrush. Of course, Sneaky was more focused on valuables, and Nettle had an eye for tools of violence, but between the three of us, we managed to pack a decent bit of supplies for our travels.

Speaking of.

"Where the hell should we even go?" I asked as I adjusted the packs hanging on my left shoulder. I glanced toward the town we were carefully skirting the edge of. Despite our efforts, a few of the local ponies were casting looks our way.

"Anywhere but here. Honeysuckle'll be awake soon and she'll be combing this whole place!" Sneaky replied. "She'll probably be sending word to Canterlot, too." Nettle grunted and pointed ahead.

"I know place, maybe one week away on road," he declared, picking up the pace slightly to begin leading us. "Maybe not most ideal for pony and wizard, but at least that mean ponies might not think to look there." I nodded and followed along, but Sneaky let out a groan.

"Please tell me it's not a cave," she pleaded.

"No. Low-cost hotel," Nettle replied, at which she perked up.

"Oh! That's not so bad." Nettle smiled for the first time since we'd met.

"You say because you not know," he chortled, which caused Sneaky to wilt. "Cave maybe better. We see how you feel later." I hummed at his words before noticing the suitcase he was carrying. In addition to the stack of spears he collected, he insisted on grabbing the case.

"So, what's in the suitcase?" I asked, drawing his attention briefly my way.

"Not know. Haven't opened."

"So, why do you want it so bad? You robbed a noble for it, didn't you?"

"Just rich pony, not very noble," he grunted before casting a critical eye towards the town. "But realize there not much difference in big pony cities. Only steal suitcase to punish rich pony."

"Punish him?" I murmured, at which he growled.

"Rich pony laugh at me, then tell bodyguards to attack. I smash them then beat his head. Take suitcase to punish further."

"Makes sense. But damn, he really just tried to have you assaulted for no reason?" I huffed. Sneaky snorted and shook her head at my question.

"That tracks for any noble pony, Victor," she declared with a sour frown. "A lot of them can get away with all kinds of garbage, cause a lot of them run things on the princesses' behalf all across Equestria since they can't be everywhere at once."

"Man, and I thought this place was just a cuddly kid's cartoon," I muttered, glancing towards the town as we passed onto a main road heading south.

"What?" Sneaky asked. I glanced down at my pale, recently-severed hand instead of answering.

"Then again, guess it wasn't very cuddly or kid-friendly for that psycho to slice off my squeezing hand, huh?" I sighed and adjusted my bags again. "Well, we live and learn." I grunted as I walked into Nettle, who had stopped marching suddenly.

"Hey! You're those three creatures Ms. Honeysuckle arrested!" A she-pony.. Mare! That was the word. A mare just ahead on the road spat. Nettle, Sneaky, and I shared a look before I cleared my throat and offered her a smile.

"We, uh, made parole," I explained.

"What's parole?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah, and why do you have all that stuff?" Another more masculine voice added. I blinked and looked around to realize we were gathering a small audience of nervous and or pissed off looking little ponies. Turning to my cohorts, who gave me an equally bewildered pair of looks, I sighed.

"Fucking, sleep," I groused as I hurled my spell at the small crowd.

The doors to the throne room swept open, revealing the anxious faces of Twilight Sparkle and company. The unicorn galloped in ahead of her friends to the center of the room where her mentor was waiting.

"Thank you all for returning," Celestia greeted with a slight bow of her head as the group came to stand before her. "I know you were preparing to return home, so I offer my apologies for immediately calling upon your aid once again."

"Aw, it ain't nothin'. Least you caught us before we was on board the train!" Applejack replied with a chuckle before shaking her head. "But, shoot, we just sealed that varmint Discord a few days ago! How's he already breaking free?" The rest of the mares nodded at her question, looking expectantly at the princess.

"Indeed you did," Celestia replied with a hearty, frustrated sigh before adopting a severe expression. "I fear that Discord, just before you imprisoned him, summoned an Avatar of Chaos." The mares shared a look while Twilight recoiled.

"A what?" She muttered. "I've never heard of such a thing." Celestia's horn lit up and a small set of scrolls materialized beside her.

"Discord has summoned a being and granted them a small boon in exchange for linking himself to them. As they grow in power, so too will the bonds keeping him sealed weaken," she explained, unfurling the scrolls and handing them to Twilight after looking them over. "Had I not received this report from Lieutenant Honeysuckle in Ponyville, I might have only suspected such a development. These, however, all but confirm it in my mind." Twilight took the scrolls in her magic and began to read them aloud.

Incident report addendum S.S 105. C

Peculiar speaking biped discovered in the company of wanted thief Sneaky Salvage during initial arrest. Believe to be sapient subspecies of great ape. Officer unequipped to make accurate assessment.

Proclaimed ability to use magic, but managed to incapacitate before biped could demonstrate in a manner suggested to be violent. Additionally, seven thin books were in its possession containing strange arcane symbols officer was unable to translate. Suspect that books are a magical device the biped managed to activate.

Relocating biped to Ponyville criminal holding. Requesting transport to Headquarters for questioning and study.

Lt. H.

Incident report addendum S.S 105. D

Books confiscated from unidentified biped mislocated. Officer suspected biped, but suspicion deemed insubstantial after internal discussion with unit.

Theft likely, but no signs of infiltration discovered. Biped remains in custody and pacified. Do not believe this to be genuine, but suspicion deemed insubstantial after internal discussion with unit.

Requesting Thaumaturgic Recon specialist for further investigation of missing items.

Lt. H.

Incident report addendum S.S 105. E

Biped and cohort Sneaky Salvage at large.

Biped discovered to be in possession of missing items mentioned in S.S 105. D and incapacitated unit with unknown spell. Several articles removed from barracks and jail. Itemized list included. All articles of class B or lower with one exception of a fleeting, yet personal value to Officer.

Biped and thief escaped by main Ponyville road, heading south according to witness reports. Biped utilized similar spell to incapacitate several citizens. Individuals were otherwise unharmed. Testimonies collected prior to Report.

Requesting permission to pursue escaped biped and thief. Requesting permission to enact lethal force on biped per Rare and Dangerous Creatures protocol DCCA 19-92-M.

Lt. H.

Upon finishing, Twilight brought a hoof to her chin in thought. "An unidentified bipedal creature capable of magic?" She murmured with wonder. Celestia nodded and turned to face the rest of the group.

"Indeed. Luckily, we seem to have caught this avatar while they are still weak. If you can apprehend them, we may be able to remove the link they share with Discord," she declared with a firm, solemn nod.

"Why don't we just blast them with the Elements?" Rainbow tilted her head and asked. Celestia hummed in response.

"I suspect this creature is not entirely evil, but simply misguided or was perhaps misled by Discord. It would be a shame to use the Elements against them without confirming their ill intent," she declared but then wore a far more severe and critical expression. "However, I will trust that to your discretion. I do not deny the likelihood that this creature agreed to Discord's pact due to malice." The girls all recoiled at her expression, but after sharing a look, all smiled with confidence.

"You can count on us, Princess!" Twilight declared, puffing her chest out, the sight of which drew a smile from her mentor.

"Thank you all. Lieutenant Honeysuckle will be in Canterlot by day's end to make a full report visit and her cousin, Duke Blueleaf. She is not yet aware of the true nature of this creature," Celestia added, pacing before the group. "She and her squad will be pursuing the escaped thief, who they believe is still in the creature's company. Thus, it could be to your benefit to all travel together. Again, I shall leave this to your discretion."

Honeysuckle's eyes were locked on the painting hung above the unlit fireplace within the dim, wood-paneled lounge. It presented a scene of a white earth pony stallion with a black mane and beard leading a plucky army of ponies across the Crystal Mountains amid a terrible snowstorm that said stallion was weathering with heroic resolution in his eyes.

"Impressive, is it not? I only just had it commissioned," came a voice that drew her attention to the door where Duke Blueleaf stood leering with pride at his portrait and a bandage wrapping his scalp.

"It is very well painted. Just a shame it only reflects fantasy," Honeysuckle replied.

"Fantasy! The nerve," he snorted, trotting up beside her and thrusting a hoof at the portrait. "This perfectly encapsulates my courage, my dynamism, my-"

"Lack of any experience with the military?" Honeysuckle interjected, drawing a choking stammer from the duke. "As I recall, you flunked all your classes at the academy." The blustering stallion whipped his head around to glare at her, but she maintained her even expression. After a moment, the duke's face softened, though still with a hint of contempt.

"I hope you didn't come all the way here just to insult me," he declared, looking her up and down. "You find my bag?"

"Oui," she replied, at which the duke smiled bitterly, scanning the dark room.

"So, where-"

"It was stolen again. By the same brigand, I believe," she interjected, again drawing a series of startled exclamations from the duke. "If you hadn't demanded I not report the fact you were robbed, and that I deliver it personally and secretly, I could have had a courier deliver it." At that, the duke gnashed his teeth with a hiss.

"Absolutely not! Those peasants in the guard might've gone through my private things!" He shrieked before flinching from his volume and glancing over his shoulder at the door. Honeysuckle rolled her eyes in response.

"Bien sûr. Well, lucky for you, I believe the brigand is traveling in the company of another quarry of mine. So, I might be able to secure your secret bag for you." The duke smiled warmly and let out a sigh.

"Meno male! You had me worried there-"

"Unfortunately, I will be in the company of Twilight Sparkle and her associates." And with that, all warmth vanished from his face.

"Cazzo! WHY?!" He roared.

"They are being sent after an ape that was in the company of Sneaky Salvage. I am not certain why, as I believe I could apprehend her and her ape on my own now that I-"

"Then tell the princess that! Che cazzo stai a fa?" He spat with an annoyed and desperate shake of his head. Honeysuckle adopted an angry sneer in response.

"While I have the option to pursue them with only my unit, I am thinking that if the princess believes the situation warrants the deployment of the Elements of Harmony, then I am in no position to argue," she huffed. "I have no interest in compromising national security to do you another favor."

"Che palle," Blueleaf groaned, biting his hoof and scanning the wall before turning back to his cousin. "C'mon, can't you just-" He paused and tilted his head one way, then the other, getting a look at both of Honeysuckle's sides. She realized what he was doing and immediately recoiled with a gulp as his eyes locked on her face.

"Where is it?" He asked with a near imperceptible hint of mirth. She recognized it immediately, however, and grimaced in response. He smiled. "You lost it?"

"Non, it was stolen!" She desperately retorted, stamping her hoof. "I did not-"

"Well! Non ti preoccupare, dear Cousin! I know how important it is to keep secrets!" Blueleaf chuckled, taking a few steps forward to lean into her face with a smug grin. "Which is why I'm going to keep this a secret from your father." Honeysuckle grimaced again with a barely contained whine.

"And uh, in exchange, I'm sure you can, ah, repay in kind?" He gave an expectant, smirking leer. Honeysuckle snarled her lip for a moment or two before looking off to the side.

"Bien sûr."

"Aha! Meraviglioso," the duke chirped with a pleased chortle as he turned and strode out of the room. Left alone, Honeysuckle bared her teeth in a frustrated sneer before uttering a quiet sigh and staring up at the painting on the wall.