The beginning of the end the remix.

“You two might just as well wait here,” Kitsu offered when they arrived at the Inn.

“Nothing doing, I’m going in,” Chrysalis stated as she pushed past.

“This early in the morning there aren’t likely to be many…

“OK, fine, I’ll wait outside.” Chrysalis had done a rather curious about-face.

Kitsu poked her head in to see a bat pony and a fox pony sitting at a table.

“Your friend seems a bit shy,” the fox offered. He was a silver fox pony with markings nearly identical to Kitsu's minus the colored stripes.

“Can’t say I know what got into her,” Kitsu offered as she entered the building. “My Name’s Tsuki. We were hoping to find a guide.”

“I’m called Loki. My friend here is Glider. We are guides. Whereabouts were you headed?”

“Mount Everhoof. We are with the Canterlot Museum of Natural History and they sent us out here to do a quick three-day survey.”

“Did they now…”

“And what if we say no?” asked Glider.

“We have a choice between finding our way and losing our jobs. The higher-ups are set on this. It has to do with some findings from an ongoing survey at the castle of the two sisters.” Kitsu let her ears droop a little.

“We’d be delighted,” offered Loki cheerfully.

“Now hold on one minute, we never agreed to nothing. Or is it you see a cute filly and suddenly you want to help.”

“Maybe. She is cute. Wonder what she’d look like all cleaned up?”

“They want to go to Mount Everhoof.”

“No harm in taking them as far as old Rusty Bucket’s place.”

Glider closed the difference between the two and whispered, “That blond is a changeling.”

“Changelings are reformed now. I’m sure she has a good reason for presenting themselves as a pony. Furthermore, if we do not offer our services they have but to cross the border and a Yak will guide them.”

“And based on the twitching of her ears she can hear every word.”

“I will guide them if for no other reason than because she reminds me of the banished princess.”

“Every filly reminds you of the banished princess.”

“So, um, are we good or do we need to make a run for the border?”

“Young miss, of course, we are good. My friend and I were just discussing our fee rate.”

“A hundred thousand bits,” Glider announced.

“We aren’t climbing the mountain!” Kitsu protested. Sure, it was an out-and-out lie, but then again, they weren’t planning on going all the way to the top.

“A hundred thousand!?” Chrysalis protested and poked her head in.

Kitsu leaned over and whispered, “They know you are a reformed ling.”

“Reformed or not, that’s a mighty steep price just to show us to the mountain. For that price, we can find it ourselves.”

“Don’t pay him any attention,” Loki offered with a smile and a chuckle, “He’s just teasing you. Thirty-five thousand to see you there and back.”

“Best I can do upfront is a couple hundred to show us the way and that’s just about cleaning me out.” Their faces fell.

“What about an IOU?” Chrysalis asked. “To be paid by the White Tower Agency in Canterlot. A voucher which I will fill out and any time you are in Canterlot you can get it paid.”

“Sounds sketchy to me,” Glider muttered. “Not to mention that neither one of us is very welcome in Canterlot.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Are we planning on hanging here in the doorway all day?” Tirek asked as he pushed his way in. “This is an Inn, is it not? Please tell me they serve breakfast.”

“Who?” Loki asked as he watched Tirek find his way to the front counter.

“His Lordship Westerly Underhill,” Kisue informed them and then went over to sit at a table next to the one they were at.

“Maybe he’s got money?” Glider asked.

“Oh, I never carry money on me. Where exactly is the help?”

“Given that no one typically ever shows up before noon they won't be in till later,” Loki informed them. “There is a continental breakfast set out if you are interested.”

Tirek looked about, spotted a counter on the far wall with an assortment of goodies, and ambled over to it. The first thing he did was find the coffee pot, pick it up, and give it a sniff. Satisfied he poured some into a cup and gave the cup a tentative sip. Satisfied, he filled the cup and set the kettle down.

“I thought you didn’t care for coffee, based on your reaction to what I made, that is,” Kitsu groused.

“Oh, is that what that was supposed to be? You hadn’t even put a filter in it.”

“I’m a tea drinker. I was in a hurry.”

“Long as we are here,” Chrysalis said as she headed for the food. Kitsu let out a sigh and followed. The three dumped their gear at the table Kitsu had sat down gathered up some goodies returned to the table and decided to relax over a bite to eat.

“What was your name again? Miss Tsuki?”

“Tsuki Nym Sparkle, and no, I can’t wire Princess Twilight for money. I’m a distant cousin, I doubt she even knows I exist.”

“I’ll help, I’ll guide you. No charge.”

“Seriously. No strings attached?”

“No strings attached.”

“How soon can we get started? We are kind of in a hurry.”

“Well, um…”

“I’ll give you an hour and then we leave.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Glider asked.

“Because we have a limited amount of time. Next week I have to be back in school. Mrs Shutter there needs to get back to Ponyville, and Lord Underhill… OK, I have no idea what he’s doing, probably a book tour.”

“OK, that’s fair enough.”

“I’ll go get my things,” Loki offered, got up, and rushed down a hallway beyond the front desk.

“Oh, alright, I’m going too,” Glider said, and followed after Loki.

“Miss Tsuki…” Chrysalis said softly. “For what it’s worth, I was thinking about going home before all this started.”

“Can’t say I blame you. Even if you don’t want to be a reformed ling, being a thorn under Thorax's hoof has a certain appeal.” Chrysalis couldn't help but chuckle at the idea.

“Did you see the paper?” Tirek asked. “Coronation of Twilight Sparkle as new Crown Princess of Equestria on indefinite hold. Says the authorities are investigating numerous acts of sabotage.”

“Just a wild guess, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that Cozy was behind it,” Kitsu offered.

“So she stirs everything up, and if certain individuals were to show themselves,” Chrysalis said in a dry tone.

“Be like walking into a hornet's nest,” Tirek replied. He thought for a moment. “What happens if we fail?”

“We can’t fail. Not just our lives depend on it, all of Equestria is counting on us whether they know it or not.”

“Can’t say it ever occurred to me I’d be playing the part of a hero someday. Kind of feels good, and exhilarating all at the same time.”

Meanwhile in Loki and Glider’s room…

“You can’t be serious?” Glider protested.

“I’m telling you she’s the banished princess.”

“Who is supposed to be in Tartarus for trying to suck all the magic out of Equestria. And then she suddenly shows up here with a changeling and a centaur.”

“Kitsumi was innocent. At least the Kitsumi I knew would never have done something like that. Not knowingly. Next, you’ll be saying that’s Queen Chrysalis and Lord Tirek with her.”

“And what if they are? Yes, I know it sounds preposterous now that we’ve said it out loud. It’s just that I can’t help but think they are up to something.”

“All the more reason to go with them.”

“I ever tell you I hate you?”

“All the time.”

The party, now consisting of five individuals in all, made their way out of town just shy of an hour later.

Canterlot City, Royal Guard Investigation Burow.

“Oh look, another telegraph from old man Commodore in Trailhead.

“So who’s he reporting as suspicious this time?”

“Three individuals arrived by boat…”

“Nothing unusual about that.”

“We have a Tsuki Nym Sparkle, oh and Mane Allgood of all ponies, and some Lord Westerly Underhill. Can’t say the name rings a bell.”

“Any info on the boat?”

“Registration number WH 1212 SY and the name is Kobayashi Maru, Riverside, Iowa. Does seem an odd name for a boat.”

“It’s a Neighpon registration. Everything they have is something or another Maru. Look, if they got past customs in Baltimare they’re fine. I swear that Pony would report the Princesses if they showed up. Just file it.”

“My hooves are killing me, why can’t we fly?” Chrysalis complained.

“Because we need Lord Underhill,” Kisu reminded her. “And these canyons are too high and too narrow for an airship.” Chrysalis was about to argue that they could have taken the airship when they turned a corner to discover the wreckage of an airship that had attempted it high on the face of one of the mountains.

“Weather closed in on them,” Loki informed them. “Killed every pony on board save one.”

“Alright, fine.” Chrysalis knew when she was defeated.

“We could stop for a break if you’d like,” Glider suggested.

“Be noon in another hour. Mrs Shutter, think you can hold out till then?” Kitsu asked.

“Mrs… oh, right. Just call me Mane. Yes, I suppose I can go that long. I don’t do a lot of walking when I don’t have to. Spend most of my time analyzing plants.”

“I will admit that I don’t care for a lot of walking either,” Kitsu offered. “That is unless a school assignment has me stumped. Then I’m back and forth like a caged animal.”

“Somehow I can’t picture you being caged, at least not for long,” Loki offered.

“So tell us something about yourself.”

“Oh, not much to tell. I doubt you’d believe me anyway.”

“He’s Prince Loki Moon,” Glider announced. “Adopted son of Princess Luna, and I’m his trusty servant. We found ourselves transported through time at the climax of the fight between Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon.”

“Oh really.” Kitsu looked over at Loki.

“I said you wouldn't believe it. We made the mistake of diving right into the middle of the fray to go after a headstrong filly who was right in the middle of the fight.”

“When the fight was over, the palace and the Everfree citadel in ruins, we went to Canterlot. At the time we weren’t sure what had happened. It was strange, the palace looked like it had been in ruins for a thousand years and the city had sprung up overnight.”

“When we presented ourselves at the gate of Canterlot Castle we were arrested for attempting to perpetrate a fraud.”

“I see…” Kitsu wasn’t sure what to think of their claim. It had all been such a long time ago. That and she knew full well what it meant when a young noble’s son was adopted into a family that had a daughter.

“Ah, I do recall records of a young prince who’d been betrothed to the young Princess. If not for Nightmare Moon,” Chrysalis announced with a big smile on her face. “The two would have grown up together and presumably fallen in love. I can picture them now, going on long walks, leaning into each other…”

“Constantly fighting,” Glider offered. “Well, they were.”

“Yes, that does sound familiar,” Tirek offered with a smirk on his face. “The two of them headlock and headlock.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Loki protested. Kitsu had held her tongue because there had been someone who she’d been best friends with who, now that she thought about it, matched the description.

“Her mom gave her a pendent, a captain’s medallion with her name added, and three gemstones. She wore that thing everywhere,” Loki offered.

Kitsu’s ears went up. None in the present day knew it had been a Captain’s Medallion. “Hang on, three stones?”

“Two stars and a moon. The moon was done with a semi-precious gemstone. Rumor had it the stones for the stars had been enchanted stones.”

Of course, the moon was a gemstone, but Kitsu had dismissed it given it was inert. Only two of the stones were important.

“The pendant went missing a few years back,” Loki continued. “When they imprisoned her in Tartarus, unjustly I might add, the pendant was placed in the palace collection. They’d put it on display under glass. The guards say it was the spirit of Nightmare Moon who had come for it in search of her daughter.”

Tirek gave Kitsu a knowing look, and when Chrysalis looked his way he gave her a wink. “Now that I think of it, she had that pendant when she fought Lord Tirek,” he offered sagely.

“I heard about that. Nearly won, but then Discord betrayed Equestria,” Glider offered.

“Everything that creature does is for his amusement,” Kitsu said in nearly a growl.

Following lunch, Chrysalis had gained her second wind and it was Loki and Glider who were feeling the miles.

“You totally fed off them, didn’t you?” Kitsu hissed in her ear as they walked down the ever-narrowing lane. “Stop that.”

“You’re just saying that because he’s your foal hood special some pony.”

“And I can’t tell him. Think about that. Think about Grogar, about how that piece of road apple ruined my life. Think about how he’s trying to take your choices from you.”

“You don’t have to remind me. You don’t think I think about it? Well, I do. He’s taken my freedom from me in a way I never thought possible. And then he gives us a task I doubt we would have had a chance if you weren’t with us.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’d have done it. It would have taken you a lot longer, but you’d have done it.”

“You bet I would have done it. I’d do it by myself if that was even possible.”

“The best protections always require more than one individual to overcome them. Let’s face it, he’s a goat. Climbing a mountain should be easy for him.”

“One would think.”

“And yet he needs the three of us to get it for him.”

“On the one hoof, his type never bothers to do the dirty work. On the other hoof, maybe he did try for it and failed. Maybe he just knows he’d never be able to. In the end, he needed some patsies to do the hard work.”

“And that’s us.”