In the centre of the palace...

The dark, stony room with the three thrones was quiet. The lanky, bronze-coated stallion sat atop the one in the middle, ruminating. Everything was still.

Except...

The stallion coughed. "I know you're there, Haze, so you might as well come out where I can see you. I realise you must be feeling quite ashamed, but really, staying there any longer isn't going to help anything."

The room fell silent again. Craning his neck to the side, the stallion tried to glance around the corner of the room's only entrance, out into the torch-lit hallway. And, upon seeing how empty it was, he facehoofed.

"I could have sworn..." he murmured to himself, adjusting his legs beneath him. "Ah, well. She'll be in soon."

Just then, a beige unicorn rounded the corner, skidding to a halt in the centre of the chamber, attempting to bow once she reached the stallion's throne yet nearly falling on her face. "Y-your majesty!" she stammered. "Please... forgive me! We..."

"...Let the Ecuestran and her rebel friends escape?" the stallion said, an eyebrow raised. "Haze, it would be nigh on impossible for me to not already know that. I'm sure you did everything in your power to stop them. It is quite alright."

"B-but... wait... what?" The beige mare rose, looking up at the alicorn that sat before her. "You really don't care?"

The alicorn sighed. "I would perhaps care more if they were gone—if they had flown off to their damnable base and we couldn't get them. However..."

Haze blinked. "You mean... they're still here? Why in Argent's name...?"

The alicorn snorted. "It does amuse me so that ponies use our names like that. We are not gods, my little pony." He paused. "Regardless... yes. And, if my senses are correct, they're heading right towards the palace."

Haze looked taken aback. "But... why? This has got to be the most dangerous place for them right now. Don't they know that? I know the rebels are... misled, but they're not stupid. They have to know that."

The alicorn nodded. "They do. And I'm not quite sure what they want here, but I have a few good guesses. Regardless... I will be needing your assistance."

"Yes?" Haze asked. "What do you need?"

"Round up the guard," Prince Aeneus instructed. "I need you to make them think they can get inside. Then, right when we have them cornered, we strike. We should be able to capture all of them if we play our cards right."

Haze nodded. "It shall be done. Anything else?"

"No, you may go. Thank you, Haze."

With a nod and another bow, Haze trotted away down the hallway. Aeneus sighed, and closed his eyes.