The Accord

Following their scout's map the two reached the border to Canterlot, sure enough there was a unguarded sector of the border into the Canterlot Mountains, the two manage to sneak into the mountain side's woods undetected, though the area they trot through leaves them unsettled to say the least. Alot of objects in the woods have embering arcane runes strew about them. Through the designated tunnel lie the lake they spoke off. No time like the present to take a drink out of it for Broadsword.

"Ahhh, spring water. I can get use to this stuff very quickly. It's better then the rubble filled water in Old Ponyville."

"One perk of living in Stormwing Territory," Storm said, smirking. "Is that all your water is always fresh, and the weather is always perfect for crops." He looked at the lake with disgust. "Meanwhile, The Archmagister uses enslaved Pegusi to keep things fresh."

"Well then maybe you can do the Hornless Minotaur a favor and send some of your weather buddies over and give them some fresh water." Dunking his head completely in the water to wash his face, raising it back up and shaking the excess off.

"Right," Storm snorted. "Because Commander Dash is so generous when it comes to giving supplies to those outside of Stormwing, I'm sure she'd be happy to lend a helping hoof."

"I also bet Commander Dash doesn't give a single fuck about the Hornless Minotaur to care that someone helps it out. Besides we have a trade system and plenty of mercs to hire, so long as you follow the golden rule inside the place. No fighting inside. It's so simple even a bandit can figure it out, and them come as dumb as a sack of rusted bits."

"Indeed," Storm said, only half listening as he scanned the surroundings. "Alright, now we're in Moon and Star Territory, but now comes the hard part: Getting into Canterlot. I have a Unicorn friend who's pretty high up in society here; he can get us into the city. But once there, the Inquisitors will watch our every move. We'll have to be careful, because I really don't want to go back to the Inquisition prison."

"Once we get inside leave the next part to me, like I said it will all come together once we find Pitch. But for now this is your show. By the by, if we do get in a scrape, can I ask how you plan to defend yourself? You don't appear to have any weapons on you, unless your hiding one really well..."

"Of course," Storm reached in his Saddlebag, withdrawing a survival knife. "I'm a Skirmisher, so my weapons are usually light. However, I packed even lighter on the weapons this time around simply because we don't want to get bogged down in a stand-up fight with the inquisitors. We'll want to get in and out as fast as we can. So if for some reason we need to make a run for it, I brought a few toys." He withdraws a small red ball.

"Smoke bombs huh? Splendid. Well atleast we have a precautionary measure. I know my weapons are pretty hefty, but I'm more then certain my abilities of handling a sword will prove I'm more then capable of lobbing off a head or two from a robe wearing pansywaist." Broadsword patted his plate buckler with a smirk and readjusted his sheath. "Not to mention even if I'm out of weapons, the sheath is triple layer steel plating, it may not cut but it can sure cave in a skull."

"These were made by some of my contacts in the Everfree. It makes a cloud of smoke that brings tears to the eyes and makes it difficult to inhale. In unicorns, it messes with their concentration, making near impossible to cast spells. I also brought regular smoke bombs to cover escapes or act as distractions. And then there's this beauty," he takes out an object that looks like a cannonball, but smaller with a fuse attached. "This marvel was given to me by a friend in Earthborn. He called it the Bucking Bronko. Launch it by bucking it with your hind legs, and watch the fireworks when it goes off."

"...No. Fucking. Way. You have a Bronko?! I've only ever heard of these things,  the only time I've ever seen these was duds, or used ones in battlefields!" Oh jeeze, Broadsword looked like he was a foal opening up a birthday present. Though it just occurred to him he was getting alittle to excited, he stiffened up hoping his outburst didn't attract any unwanted attention.....nothing seemed to occur, thus he looked back at Storm with a big child like glaze in his eyes. "That, is so, boss!" He mutters.

"Yes, yes it is." Storm replied, obviously bragging as he put the bomb back in his bag. "I had a lot of friends before the war that got to very prominent positions within the different Houses. So I get to test out all this new gear, and give Moon and Star a few nasty surprises every time I go on raids."

"I hope you know that if we don't end up using that thing, I'm going to steal it." Broadsword grinned recomposing himself to make sure they we're being watched; hopefully this friend of Storm's will show up soon enough so then they can find Pitch. That will be the hardest part, considering taking down an Inquisitor doesn’t strike Broadsword as the main issue.

"Alright, now we have to take a small hike through the woods. Desert has a house in this small forest that he likes to stay at when he's not in Canterlot. We'll most likely find him there. We'll be popping in kinda unannounced, but that shouldn't be a problem. He's a trusted Unicorn that the Inquisitors don't even bother really watching, which makes him the perfect Stallion to get us in."

Their travels through the mountainside woods would grant them access to a small cottage, just as Storm proclaimed it would be. They appeared to be at the south of the cottage, the back visible to them. Broadsword without hesitation readied his blade within his mouth. Nodding at Storm to take the lead, seeing a strange bandit looking pony approach your house may not be the best welcome to an ally of theirs.

Storm rolled his eyes, and approached the Cottage. He banged on the door with his front hoof.

"Desert! You up yet?"

A muffled groan could be heard from inside, followed by the trotting of hooves. The door opened, revealing a brown unicorn that with a black mane. The stallion looked tired, and was glaring.

"Storm, what an unpleasant surprise." He grumbled

"Now is that any way to greet an old friend Desert?" Storm asked, an innocent smile on his face.

Broadsword all the while watched their flank keeping a eye out for any uninvited guests to this little reunion. All seemed quiet, thus the blade returned into it's sheath, turning himself to finally take notice to the new face.

"An old friend who has a “Kill-Capture” order on his head from the Archmagister herself." Desert answered flatly. He eyed Broadsword. "Who's this?"

"This is Broadsword, my companion." Storm answered. "I'll explain more once we're out of the open."

"Right, you both should come inside." The unicorn waved them in. "Won't want an Inquisitor to stumble upon us."

"Mighty sporting of ya Dezz" Broadsword ushered himself inside between the two ponies with little hesitation."

"You always attract the most brutish company." Desert muttered.

"Look who's talking," Storm said, still smiling. Desert shut the door behind them, and Storm's demeanor became deadly serious. "I'm sorry for coming unannounced."

"It's no trouble," Desert said, giving a small smile. "It's actually good to see a friendly face. So, what brings to hell Storm?"

"We're going after Fact Finder."

"...By 'go after', do you mean...?"

"We're gonna buy em some nice flowers, take em on a stroll around Canterlot, maybe even siphon the stars from the sky so we can spell 'I Love You' to seal the deal. What do you think it means? Rip his heart out, show it to em, then eat it." Broadsword had an odd way of telling jokes.

"You know what I mean. I'm going to do what Commander Dash is always preaching. Eye for an eye. Tooth for a tooth."

Desert shot a glare at Broadsword, before looking back to Storm.

"Are you sure that's what you want? Fact was our friend once."

"I'm sure. I don't need you to agree with me or even for you to understand, I just need your help. Can you give it?"

Desert hesitated a moment, then reluctantly nodded.

"Alright, I'll help."

"Well alright! The accord continues!" Broadsword placed a hoof abruptly on Desert's shoulder with a smirk and a playful shake of the poor rigid unicorn. Though Broadsword 's ears peeked up as he remembered something else.

"Just remember Storm, that’s not all we're here for." Broadsword revealed the Dispel Blade from the sheath and presented it to Desert Sun. "I also need your help with something else, do you know what kind of gemstone this is? I need to get more, much more." Broadsword showed off the small pale gemstone in the center of the hilt, with a tap of it form his hoof.

"Well I'd certainly hope I know it, I am a scientist after all." Desert said, using his magic to bring the glasses sitting on the nearby table and place them on his eyes. He studied the stone for a moment, before saying. "Ah. Well, I've got good news gentlecolts, you can take out two birds with one stone."

"How so?" Storm asked.

"It just so happens our old friend has a large supply of these particular stones." Desert answered.

"Where would Fact get his hands on these kinda rocks?"

"You should know. He stole them from you."

"You mean THOSE stones?" Storm asked, brow furrowed. "The ones we never got to sell?"

"The very same."

"By Celestia, I thought they were worthless..."

"Do these particular stones have a name Storm?" Broadsword said retrieving the blade once again and drawing it within the studded iron. Returning a fix on Storm as the plot appears to thicken.

Storm had to think for a moment.

"I think... I think they're called Kokari Stones if I remember correctly. We got a bundle of them during the Archaeological dig we preformed before the Princesses disappeared

We thought they were nothing more than fancy rocks at the time."

"Fact seems to think they're more."

"Do you know what he's doing with them?"

"No, he doesn't speak to me much anymore..."

"Well don't worry because I can think of a more poetic way to use it. Shove it right through his grey matter." Broadsword said matter of factly.

Desert rolled his eyes "I assume this brute your traveling with has a use for the stones?"

"Correct. We have an agreement, he helps me take out Fact, and he gets the gems."

"I never knew you to be in the company of common thuggery."

"I thing you've been spending too much time in this place, you've built quite a superiority complex."

Broadsword threw and chummy arm around Desert and smirked in a very down to earth tone, having a real heart to heart talk with the persnickety and snippy snob unicorn. "Let me drop alittle bit of science on you my friend. You may think of me as a brute, but my little brain hatched an idea from this whole mess with these little gemstones of yours."

Broadsword released his captive; his grip on Desert was almost in the same style as a headlock to merely frazzle the pony. Broadsword turned to a nearby vase on a mantelpiece and trotted over to it and observes it while he spoke. "Consider the following. These gems have the power to completely negate magic if given the proper use. Fact discovered this and now has a whole warehouse full of the stuff. Seems mighty shady of you ask me. Who’s to say he wouldn't have the brass orbs to stockpile the stuff to snuff out some of Twilight's best men? What good can magic attack do, if it just fizzles out before it hits the target? He could slowly usurp the throne, and what resistance would be able to strike at him? The city would eat itself inside out with civil war. What we're doing might just be a huge charity run for your little wizard friends."

"Is... is that POSSIBLE?!" Storm stuttered, shocked at the theory. "Could Fact really be trying to overthrow the Archmagister?"

"Well... it's possible." Desert admitted, obviously still a bit peeved at Broadsword. "I never imagined that Fact even had the ambition to do such a thing. But your brute does have a point, it does seem suspicious that he's just sat on them all these years. He could be planning, preparing to set events in motion..."

"Now then I purpose we strike a deal here. I have an ally that Storm I know would just be dieing to meet..." Broadsword turned his head to him and gave a playful smirk. "When we find him he can help us find the stockpile, and even help us get a better shot at Fact. So how about we play this out as such. You..." Pointing a hoof to Desert. "Will get us inside and accompany us to finding my friend. Once we find him and strike a deal with him to get us closer to Fact, you will give us afew hours to do the deed. While me and Storm take care of Fact, you will alert the Inquisitors about a possible traitor set to strike against the throne. We grab a sizable amount of gemstones, flee the scene of the crime, Storm gets his revenge, I get some new batteries for my sword, we save Canterlot from a possible rebellion, head back to the Hornless Minotaur, have some pints and get shitfaced. Questions? Comments? Well come on children, raise your hooves."

"That would be a sound plan, but there's an issue. Just look at Storm to know what I mean." Desert pointed a hoof at the soldier, who was currently looking at the floor.

"I bet I can guess what you're thinking." Desert said."

"Really? And what's that?" Storm growled.

"You're thinking about what the end result a civil war within The House would do. You know it severely weaken their forces, so much so that Stormwing Forces could finish them off once and for all. Or maybe get Earthborn to do your dirty work for you. But you also know that if Fact wins, there's a large possibly that he might survive all of it. So you're asking yourself one question," Desert looked Storm straight in the eye. "Who do you hate more? House Moon and Star, or Fact Finder."

"May I remind you all, that my idea of civil war was an idea, we have no sound proof that Fact would pull it off, I mean Twilight's got the whole Astral Plane or whatever it is on her side, I doubt afew rocks are gonna debunk her magic." Broadsword interjected.

"But there's still a chance..." Storm said quietly. "Can we really afford to ignore it?"

Broadsword's expression turned stern, grasping his sheath ripping it off it's buckle he slammed the iron rod down into the earth mere inches infront of Storm's face, crafting a thunderous thud to spook some sense into him. "WAKE UP STORM! We're about to take action on the whole matter you dumbass, why do you think we came all this way? Either we do this now or walk away forgetting it happened."

"If you want to hear what I think," Desert said slowly. "Go home. Let events carry out the way they will. Revenge won't bring you anything but more pain."

"Revenge is a funny thing." Storm said quietly. "It won't bring the dead back, and it won't bring the dead happiness. It probably won't even bring me happiness. But it will gnaw away at me until I either feed it, or it destroys. And if it's between me or him, the way I see it, it might as well be him." Storm looked up, a new fire in his eye. "We're going after Fact."

"Atta boy!" Broadsword gave Storm a pat on the back with a hoof, returning the sheath back upon the buckle. "So then I guess the plan is still on, unless there are any other objections."

"I still think this is crazy," Desert said, shaking his head. "But If you insist, I'll still help."

"Good. Now what's our plan for getting in?" Storm asked. Desert considered.

"The easiest way would be for me to enter into the city, passing you two off as cheap bodyguards I hired to help me gather research. That should get you in without arising suspicion."

"Can do." Broadsword smirks. "Atleast I know I fit the bodyguard part nicely. Once we're inside and alittle deeper into the city, you leave finding Pitch to me."

Cody Davis 4/10/13 10:54 PM

"Agreed," Storm said. "I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for a Changeling."

"Wait, did you say changeling?"

"Long story, tell you on the way..."

Broadsword threw a hoof to his face shaking his head, his eyes clenched tightly. "You know you didn't have to announce the "C" word Storm....but let's just go." Broadsword alittle peeved that Storm threw that little bit of information out, even though they were looking for a changeling, telling everyone about it wasn't the brightest idea. With that Broadsword walked outside hoping they would keep questions about Pitch to themselves for as long as they possibly can.

"Desert is risking his life to help us with no reward his own." Storm said. "I'm not gonna have him walk into the frying pan with us without telling him what's going on. Besides, he won't talk."

"Who would I even tell?" Desert asked. "Better yet, who would even believe me? It's not like I could even prove it..."

"Alright alright, let's just get into the city first." Broadsword huffed out loud in a slightly aggravated tone.

The trio continued the short hike for a bit, the trip mostly dominated by silence, before they reached the gates of Canterlot. As expected, armed unicorn guards stood watch over every inch of the entrance.

"Identification." The lead guard said as they approached, eying the two Earth Ponies warily as he did so.

"Right here." Desert said, handing his ID over. The guard read it over, then smiled

"Ah, hello professor. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier."

"It's no trouble, it's like this every time I come to the city."

"I hear that." The guard glanced over at Storm. "May I ask who these brutes are?"

"I was attacked several nights ago in the forest, I hired these two as my bodyguards for protection while I gather my research."

"Did you report the incident?"

"Of course. But the law enforcement cares little for what happens outside of Canterlot. Understanding, all things considered."

"No kidding. With both the Pegusi bastards and the Earth pony assholes both pushing on our borders, it's a wonder anything gets done." The guard eyed Broadsword. "Are they cheap?"

"Oh you know how these brutes are," Desert said, a dark smile on his face. "Just kick some tin their way and they're more than happy."

"Indeed. Just keep your dogs on a leash. We'll have to put them down if they become a problem."

"I understand."

"Alright, so long as you do. Enjoy your stay in Canterlot Professor." The guard waved the trio through.

Broadsword awaited for the three of them to be without of earshot from the guardsmen before biting the bottom of his lip and mumbling the following out through his lips. "I wish to have you two understand it took alot in me to not just ram my skull into that guardmen's forehead when he gave me that look..."

"I know exactly what you mean..." Storm Grumbled.

"Oh I don't think it was that bad."

"Shut up Desert..."

"That's 'shut up please my Lord' to you bottomfeeder!"

"If we weren't in Canterlot right now, I would feed you your own teeth..."

"Alright well listen up, walk us into the nearest alleyway, the darker and isolated the better..." Broadsword muttered under his breath.

"You got it," Desert said, complying with the instructions. "But if I actually do get mugged, you will actually have to act as my bodyguards..."

"That'll be debatable, but we'll cross that bridge if or when we get to it." Broadsword gave a sinister and childish chuckle at the idea.

"Storm, your friend is making me nervous." Desert said, turning into the alley.

"Should have been nicer..." Storm replied.