“Making sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?”
The voice was frighteningly familiar, and it sent a cold shiver running down the grey serving pony’s spine. He wasn’t supposed to be outside the hall that lead to the Elements of Harmony. He wasn’t supposed to be using magic to allow him to hear the conversation unfolding within. He wasn’t even supposed to be alive, but the events that were transpiring were simply too important to ignore. His entire future rested on remaining undetected, and Discord threatened to expose him while he was still vulnerable.
So very vulnerable, he thought wearily. His head was throbbing from the exertion of magically improving his hearing. Normally, he could cast such a spell without conscious effort, so small was the amount of magic required, but his circumstances were far from normal. The problem wasn’t using the magic, since he had more than enough to enact his spell. The problem was diverting his magic away from the crucial task of containing the cancerous corruption that constantly threatened to consume him from within. Every trickle of power that he used to disguise himself as a unicorn servant, to improve his hearing, or to temporarily sicken another servant so that he could take their place, was power that wasn’t dampening the painful intrusion of the so-called King Sombra’s madness.
He listened as Discord continued to taunt, mislead, and otherwise manipulate the Elements of Harmony. He didn’t particularly care about Discord’s machinations, since they were foalish in both conception and execution. Discord’s chaotic nature meant that even if he made a plan, he did not tend to take it seriously, and preferred to treat things like a game. To a being with his power, it was little more than a game, but even when the stakes were an eternity sealed in stone, Discord still gave the other players room to maneuver.
“... The fate of Equestria is in your hooves.” he heard Celestia intone solemnly, and took a step back from the door so as not to be hit when it opened. Moments later, the six ponies who were the current controllers of the Elements of Harmony rushed past him en route to the castle labyrinth. He sighed mentally as he released the hearing spell, and redirected the magic to dulling his pain.
Discord, apparently, wanted to continue playing with the Elements of Harmony, for he didn’t even return to gloat once Celestia was alone. This was fortunate for the grey pony, for he was afraid that Discord might, without the distraction provided by the Elements of Harmony, recognize him. If that were to happen, then he would be completely undone, although Discord was not the only threat in this regard.
It was not long until Celestia exited the hall at a near gallop, paying no attention to her surroundings. He suspected that he knew where she was going, and it was essential that he interrupt her. He broke into a gallop and said in a loud, yet polite, voice, “your Highness. I have a message for you from Captain Armor.”
This announcement got Celestia’s attention, and she slowed her pace to allow him to catch up. He held it out before him with his magic, and she took it distractedly, without a word. He neither knew, nor cared, what the letter contained. All that mattered was that he be the one to deliver it. She finished reading it, and began to refurl it as she spoke. “I need for you to return to Captain Armor, and tell him that his presence is required in the gardens immediately. Once that is done, you are to go to the north tower where you will find the unicorn seer Claire. She too is to be ordered to the gardens without delay. You may tell them that I will meet them there.” Without further delay, she turned her back and galloped out of the tower.
He would have smiled, were he not in such discomfort, but Celestia was acting exactly as he had hoped. Knowing that time was of the essence, he galloped out of the hall, heading for the royal barracks where Shining Armor would be waiting.
The trip was uneventful, since most of the castle staff, guards, and visitors were busy trying to manage Discord’s jokes. Strange things were happening throughout Canterlot, and everypony was scrambling to undo or minimize the damage. He entered the barracks, finding Shining Armor in full shining armor, surrounded by a crowd of messengers and officers.
“Captain Shining Armor,” he announced in a loud, clear voice. “Princess Celestia requires your immediate attendance in the Castle Gardens, where she will be waiting to receive you.” His voice cut through the chatter like a hot knife through butter, leaving only silence in its wake. For several seconds, Shining Armor looked dumbstruck, disbelief clear on his face. It seemed that he was unable to comprehend why, in the middle of a disaster like this, Celestia would call him from his duty to visit the gardens. Eventually realization dawned on him. His disbelief was momentarily replaced by fear, though it was only visible to one who knew to expect it.
Shining Armor turned to another pony standing beside him and whispered instructions into his ear before heading for the door. The crowd parted to let him pass, and he strode calmly past the serving pony before breaking into a gallop once he was out of sight.
Breaking into a gallop as well, the grey pony followed Shining Armor until he entered an empty corridor. Then, with a wince of pain, he teleported in front of the Guard Captain, and with another jolt of pain, forced him to stop moving.
The white stallion in his shining armor gave a gasp of mixed surprise and outrage. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded angrily.
Time was still limited, and there was much he needed to accomplish in a very specific way. “Be silent,” the grey pony commanded authoritatively. “I am about to modify your memories, and you will allow me to do so without resistance. Do you understand?”
The Captain of the Royal Guards almost laughed at the absurdity of this statement, but regained control at the last moment. “I will do no such thing, and to even suggest such an action against the Captain of the Guards in a time of crisis is treason.”
“No it isn’t,” the grey pony said with a chilling smile, “for I said that you will allow me to do it.”
“No I won’t, and I command you to release me. Whatever it is you want, we can surely discuss it when Equestria isn’t being menaced by at least one crazy spirit.” Shining Armor made an effort to sound reasonable, but this wasn’t the time for reasoned debate.
He needed to frighten Shining Armor, since no amount of friendly persuasion would convince him to give somepony else access to his memories. “At least one?” he said quizzically. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“There is more than one spirit imprisoned in Canterlot, and if the one got free, then we need to make sure that the other is still contained as well. That is why I need to get to the gardens. To make sure that things don’t get any worse.” Shining Armor was starting to struggle against his magical bonds, but as painful as it may have been for the grey pony, he wouldn’t let go.
“Too Late,” the grey pony remarked simply. He allowed his disguise to fade, and smiled with genuine pleasure at the terrified expression on Shining Armor’s face. Standing as tall as Princess Celestia, with a horn of translucent crystal and wings folded neatly against his side, the Spirit of Order inspected the captive Captain.
“Yo- you’re the other one? How did- why- how long- what are you doing here?” Frightened though he clearly was, the Captain was still trying to analyze the situation, to no avail.
“Yes, the other, forgotten, but certainly not crazy, one,” he said conversationally. “Celestia told you my name is Concord, that I am the spirit of Order, and that I am at least as dangerous as Discord.” Seeing the look of surprise on the captain’s face, he responded in a faintly amused voice, “oh yes, even as a statue, I was aware of everything that happened around me.”
“To business,” he said, voice losing all warmth. “You are going to allow me access to your memories.” Shining Armor resumed struggling again, having stopped out of surprise when Concord revealed himself. “Struggle all you want, but understand that I am no less powerful than Discord. Discord, however, likes to play games, whereas I have no such inclination. You may not believe me when I tell you that I have no interest in causing problems for Equestria, or that I am trying to cause as little damage as possible. But you must believe that, when faced with more than a thousand years in stone, I will do anything,” he said menacingly, “to avoid that fate.”
“So you want me to believe that you are demanding access to my mind, yet mean no harm to Equestria?” Shining Armor asked incredulously.
Concord simply nodded. “You are going to be asked to determine if anything has changed about my statue since the last time you inspected it. If you say yes, then Celestia will know I am free, and will have the Elements try to imprison me once more. The only changes I will make are to your memories of your first inspection of the statue, and of this conversation. Nothing else will be modified, you have my word.”
Shining Armor scoffed at this, saying belligerently, “like there’s any way that I’d be able to tell if you kept it.”
Concord made a show of sighing regretfully. “Since you think so little of my promises, then please feel free to dismiss what I say I will do if you refuse my generous offer. I can achieve my ends with or without your willing assistance. If, however, you choose to resist, then my first act is to eviscerate the Elements of Harmony.” The Captains momentary confidence disappeared immediately. “I only have to remove one to ensure at least a temporary respite, which means that I can keep your sister alive to suffer for your refusal.” He didn’t particularly like resorting to threats like this, since all they did was make ponies hate him. However, in this case, unless Shining Armor relented, Concord would have no choice but to kill him, at which point the threats wouldn’t matter. Adopting a cold sneer, he continued, “you can only imagine the pain that a ‘crazy’ spirit can inflict when he gets truly angry, and her death would be a long time coming.”
This threat clearly made an impression on the Captain, but Concord knew that Shining Armor was hoping that, by delaying, he could effectively alert Princess Celestia, or at least put her on guard. “I understand that it is your duty to protect Equestria, so allow me to change the parameters. The moment I think that Princess Celestia is aware of my escape, she will be reduced to a pile of dust. The kindest thing you can do for Equestria is to. Not. Get. In. My. Way.”
Shining Armor refused to look at him, and Concord was running out of levers that might move the resilient Captain. Deciding to use his least favorite approach, he started to walk towards his solemn prisoner. “There is one other thing I suppose I could try,” he said in a low, thoughtful voice. “It has a good chance of being detected, but given the hectic circumstances, it might just work.” Shining Armor looked up, and Concord could see the unrestrained hatred in his eyes. “All I have to do is take over that little mind of yours, and you can be my puppet. Then, if I am discovered, I can make you punish dear little Twily for your obstinance.” He spoke as if the idea amused him. “I can even force her to forget that I am controlling you, so she will never understand why her brother hates her so much.” He stopped abruptly, and looked at Shining Armor with an eager gleam in his eye. “You know, this sounds like such fun, I think I’ll do it anyway. Who cares if Celestia and all those others have to die? This will only hurt for a moment.”
He magically probed the edges of Shining Armor’s consciousness. The magic would feel cold and deliberate, but it was intended to intimidate rather than cause harm. The whole point of convincing Shining Armor to let him modify his memories was that he must leave no trace of mental alteration.
“N-NO! Please!” Shining Armor shouted frantically. “I- I give up.” he said desperately. “Just... please don’t hurt her. Whatever you’re doing this for, it isn’t her fault.”
Concord nodded, and the almost manic gleam left his eye. With a defeated sigh, the mental barriers around Shining Armor’s mind dissolved, and the Lord of Order set to work.