It has been a few days since Discord was killed with the help of Excalibur, and we, meaning the resistance, were currently stationed in Manehattan, working on gathering any potential fighters. Well. . .that was what Celestia and the others were doing. Myself, having been healed by one of the mages, was currently in city hall, with a few of my agents reporting in.

City hall, like everything else under Caribou rule, had become a center for nothing but sex. I quickly had fire spells cast to cleanse it of everything the Caribou installed, and personally destroyed what didn't burn, and I was currently sitting in the main office, with two of my agents, both what I like to call "pseudo-reds", as they enjoyed having sex like a red collar, but only with those they were in a relationship with, and actually stayed in those relationships. The reason why they wished for the Caribou overthrow was because those they loved had either become abusive, swapped, or outright murdered for not following Caribou law. Only a few had been rescued, though.

The two in front of me were both unicorn mares-dehorned so as to not give anything away as to their real loyalties as their minds would be erased of each other at the end of this with their permission. One was dark blue skinned with dark green mane and tail, while the other one was oppositely colored. Wow, genetics, can you say unoriginal?

Anyway, I was looking at both of them. Fortunately, they were currently wearing the black outfits I had made for each of my agents so they could be identified when in the army and separated from the normal red collars we'd yet to decide as to their loyalty. "Report, Shadow Glade." This was the first unicorn mare I listed.

"Sir," she replied, hands behind her back. "Those morons in Horseton(1) still think Manehattan is under Dainn's control, and know little of how far we've come-that's with an 'o', by the way, sir-and has begun lowering its defenses. A quick and precise attack would result in a quick and relatively bloodless win."

I nodded. "Shadow Strike?" Before you ask, I was using their code names due to espionage reasons. Can't be too careful, even with a shit load of guards protecting each door and scanning every thing that wasn't obviously living.

"Sir, I was able to overhear from a few of Dainn's personal guard-" she was stationed in Canterlot, and you would not believe what she has to do to get out undetected- "that there is a possible mole, if not a few, within the command staff of the resistance. I was able to get a name. The morons think any who are allied with the Resistance think it's a code name."

"The name?"

"Blossomforth, sir," she replied, to which I put a hand on my chin, mulling it over.

"Order my battalion leaders to see if any ponies in their ranks match that name. If not, then tell them to order their battalions to check every single mare, but tell the first group to be cautious. Cloudsdale showed them we are a threat, and they will try to undermine us. They may anticipate us thinking it's a code name. Do you have a description?"

"White skinned with red and green hair, sir."

"Have Rarity assist, then. I'm quite certain she'll be able to tell a fake appearance easily."

The two saluted. "Sir," they said.

"Finally, once that is done, report to Celestia and the others, and. . .well, you know," I said. They nodded, and turned to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot: tell my battalion leaders this:The brightest days are followed by dark nights." A code phrase. I will not reveal what it means, not yet. Only my battalion leaders know what it means, and what to do. They nodded again, and left the room, allowing me to look out the main window, wondering why my agents from the Empire were taking so long to report.

Alas, it is just as I said this that one of them, a crystal unicorn mare named Topaz, came in.

"Agent Crystal Sheen reporting, sir." Like I said, code names.

"What do you have to report, Chrystal?"

"Sir, Shining Armor has taken in twenty more mares for himself and his guards."

"So, the usual, then?"

"That and. . .well, sir, the easiest way I can say it is that Princess Cadence has given birth to a filly, and it's a safe bet that Shining Armor will put her into slavery as soon as she is big enough."

I sighed. "No plan survives contact," I muttered. "Thank you, Crystal. Report to Fleur for the mind wipe of this meeting."

"Sir," she said before walking out the room.

"Looks like the Empire's next."

And with it, I heard Harmony say in my head, Tartarus.

Author's Notes:

1: Equestria's Houston; Texas