“Applejack,” Twilight rebukes, the farmmare wistfully staring out the back of the train. Even though they left Ponyville an hour ago she still hasn’t moved. “It’s fine. Pomarbo isn’t going to burn the farm down while you’re gone.”

Applejack huffs, her slouched posture not shifting one iota. “Eeyup,” she admits.

“And,” Twilight continues, “neither is he going to get sucked into the Cider Squeezy.”

Applejack doesn’t react beyond a halfhearted, “Eeyup.”

“Everything’s going to be fine.” Twilight rolls her eyes as scattered groans from her fellow Elements meet her declaration.

“Eeyup.” Applejack sighs, apparently deciding staying silent won’t end Twilight’s torment. “Ah’m just frettin’ a bit ‘bout ‘Bo. Ya think he’s gonna be okay with, even with Miss Tiara sleepin’ over?”

“Bow chicka wow wow,” Pinkie Pie chimes in, much to the amusement of the other mares.

Applejack snorts. “Ah wish. That colt’s more interested in what goes in an’ outta the Cider Squeezy.”

“Mm. He’ll come around, one day.” Twilight offers her an encouraging nuzzle, little more than brushing the side of her head against Applejack, then moves on to Rarity and a half tan, half cerulean pegasus with a mane six shades of gray. “Really?”

“I had the colors on hoof,” Rainbow Dash retorts unapologetically. “Don’t judge me.”

“It’s not that I’m judging you,” Twilight claims. “It’s that we’re trying to be less conspicuous, not more.”

“And who would think to impersonate a famous pony like Daring Do?” Rainbow Dash nods confidently. “It’s the perfect plan!”

“...Right.” Twilight glances at Rarity, who busily spreads more dye along Rainbow Dash’s coat. The unicorn has on a full length burgundy coat that at least covers her cutie marks but leaves her distinctive tail free. Likewise, her wide brimmed black hat fails to conceal her styled mane.

“Relax,” Rarity reassures with a wink Twilight does not find particularly reassuring. “Remember the color changing spell Trixie taught me?”

Twilight frowns. “The one she used with the roses?”

“Precisely.” Rarity’s horn flares, and her mane and tail turn a too-bright green with garish orange streaks. “See?”

“You’re right,” Twilight snarks. “Nopony would ever suspect somepony so fashionable to not dye their mane and tail if it was such a hideous color.”

Rarity squints at Twilight, trying to figure out if she’s being insulted or not.

Twilight moves on to Fluttershy, who is staring out the window as they near the base of Mount Canterhorn. Nearby birds flit up to her, though they struggle to keep pace, hurriedly chirping their news before the train speeds off. “Anything going on?”

“Nothing they can tell,” Fluttershy answers, reserving a soft grin for herself. “It’s kind of fun playing Spymaster, isn’t it?”

“Barrels of fun,” Twilight says, turning to Pinkie Pie. She sighs. “And speaking of barrels.”

“Look,” Pinkie Pie says, exasperated, as she guards a giant barrel full of fireworks. Green, purple, blue, and red tips haphazardly poke out in every direction. “If you didn’t want me to bring along all the untested fireworks I got from Trixie, you should have specified that instead of saying I could bring one.”

It’s Twilight’s turn to roll her eyes. “You can’t strap six dozen sparklers to each other and call it a simple cake.”

“Excuse me,” Pinkie Pie retorts, “this ‘cake’ is six baker’s dozen Romane Legion Candles strapped to a Sparkler to End All Sparklers, thank you very much, and I can and I did.” She sticks her tongue out at Twilight before going back to warily scanning their closed environment. “I just have to make sure Applebaum doesn’t catch a whiff of this and we’re golden.”

Twilight groans, plopping down next to Celestia. The eternally busy Princess has a far-off look, horn glowing a soft gold, likely engrossed in reading the thousands of reports she sifts through each day. She doesn’t want to bother her, not if she doesn’t have to, and there are already plenty of distractions aboard their private car on the Friendship Express.

Twilight cracks open her book on magical barriers, having read through the thick tome twice already, and goes back to thinking about how to best break through whatever defenses Emperor Spike has constructed. So much depends on what type he uses it’s almost not worth thinking about, similar to studying Chess openings with Doug and Cozy Glow. Even so, more preparation won’t be wasted, so back into her book her muzzle goes.

They arrive at the Lower Canterlot Station, grumbling about having to swap trains. It would be a tad conspicuous otherwise, even if Spike had not enacted a provision that all travel to and from the Crystal Empire must be done by either Crystal owned and operated enterprises or after going through an onerous (and expensive) application process. He claims it is for security reasons, but many contend that it is to line his own pockets. To be fair, these are the same ponies who would gladly line their own pockets if they think they can get away with it.

With all the preparations for the Equestria Games, travel to and from the Crystal Empire has gotten both quite crowded and quite lucrative. They pack themselves in one of the squat changeling-built haulers, having to double up on the cold seats on their third of the car. Nopony seems to pay Celestia much mind, though Twilight cannot say whether that is from some spell of hers that she cannot detect (though being able to detect the spell would ruin the point) or the fact that her wings stay firmly pressed to her sides.

“Well, well, well,” a familiar voice announces as the crowded train begins moving. “Hello, L-S-B-F-F.”

Twilight looks over to see none other than her brother staring her down. She scowls at her presence already being noticed. Her tone matches his, high and aloof. “Hello, B-B-B-F-F.”

“Now,” Shining Armor concedes, though he remains aloof and condescending, “I know you’ve harbored a grudge ever since I left home with the Helm of the Sibling Supreme.”

“Grudge?” Twilight scoffs, coming off far more grudge-bearing than she means. “What grudge? Just because you’ve had it way longer than you should have and I never got a chance to win it back!”

“Then now’s your chance to become Sibling Supreme Forever.” Shining Armor grins as stars sparkle in Twilight’s eyes. “But just because you’re my little sister doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on you.”

“Of course.” Twilight smirks knowingly. “I see you’ve noticed my Sparkle’s Seven. You may be a master of shields, but I have every angle covered.”

“That’s quite impressive.” Shining Armor doesn’t sound impressed. “But I knew you would do something like that. So I’ve assembled a team.”

Introduction music plays, upbeat drums and a guitar riff that sends excited tremors down Twilight’s legs. She turns to glare at Pinkie Pie, though the party pony doesn’t relent or even apologize at hyping her brother’s team. What, she doesn’t deserve accompaniment?

Out of the crowd of ponies behind Shining Armor steps a light blue stallion with a dark blue mane.

“Commander Soarin,” Shining Armor introduces as Rainbow Dash’s eyes bug out; Twilight has to magically restrain the now-tan pegasus lest she charge forward. “Will be in charge of aerial reconnaissance.”

Soarin snaps off a crisp salute as Rainbow Dash struggles.

“Come on, Twi!” Rainbow Dash pleads, to no avail. “It’s Soarin!”

“No fraternizing with the enemy,” Twilight states, growing incensed at her brother’s tactics and the fact that it’s working.

“Please?” Rainbow Dash grovels. “Just a little fraternizing?”

Twilight sighs. It seems unbecoming for an Element of Harmony to beg for something, and even worse to be the one making them do the begging. “Fine,” she relents, releasing Rainbow Dash from her hold.

The tan pegasus zips over, giddy as a filly, prancing in place. Soarin merely raises his head in greeting. “So, were you planning on a grid search? Random? Gradient-based depending on the likelihood of finding the Helm?”

Before the two pegasi can discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of different kinds of searches an aquamarine pegasus steps forward. He shakes his drawn-up golden mane, grinning with a certain leer at Rainbow Dash.

“In charge of disguises,” Shining Armor states, smirking at Twilight. “Zephyr Breeze.”

“Wha… Rainbow Dash? Is that you?” Zephyr Breeze laughs as if at a joke known only to him. “Girl, I could recognize you anywhere; you didn’t have to wear all that for me!”

“I take it back!” Rainbow Dash shouts, frantically trying to flee, but there is nowhere to run. “No fraternizing! Absolutely no fraternizing of any kind!”

“Aww,” Zephyr Breeze purrs as he steps next to Rainbow Dash. “You don’t have to hide your feelings from me.”

Fluttershy comes to Rainbow Dash’s rescue. “You managed to find a job? All on your own?”

Zephyr Breeze shrugs. “You know how it is, sis. This breeze is gonna blow.”

“You can blow right out of here,” Rainbow Dash mutters.

“Aww, why so harsh?” Zephyr Breeze sniffs at Rainbow Dash’s mane, long and uncomfortably for the mare. “I hear you give a pretty good blow. Ever thought of getting one?” He blows a short gust at Rainbow’s mane, lifting the red strands, then inspects it from every angle. “Mare, you could definitely use some conditioner, a gel to keep those tangles away, maybe even a braid…”

“I’m glad to hear you are learning a lot at mane therapy school,” Fluttershy covers as Rainbow Dash fumes.

“And,” Shining Armor continues, “to keep the guards distracted, I have enlisted the premiere party pony in all of Equestria.”

“Excuse me,” Pinkie Pie states, crossing her forelegs across her chest as Twilight glances at her, “but the premiere party pony is sitting over her, thank you very much.”

“You might be the premiere party planner of Ponyville,” an orange coated and brown maned earth pony states coldly, his yellow shirt matching his cutie mark of a split grilled cheese sandwich. “But I’ve traveled all across Equestria in search of parties in need. The name’s Cheese Sandwich.”

“Pinkie Pie.” The pink party mare meets his cold stare, neither of them budging and yet somehow stretching so far forward that their muzzles mash into each other. Then they both burst into laughter along with explosions of confetti, the squawk of a rubber chicken, and a single blaring horn. “Two party planners? This party’s gonna be the best!”

“Hah, I don’t doubt it!” Cheese Sandwich grins, competing with Pinkie Pie for who can get the widest smile.

Pinkie Pie beams as she pronks next to him, a smile wide enough for two ponies. “Fraternizing’s back on the menu!”

Twilight groans. There goes another of her Friends to the Shiny side.

“And while those guards are distracted,” Shining Armor continues, smirking at Twilight’s glower, “We’ll need somepony to break in. The muscle of the team, Big MacIntosh.”

“Eeyup,” the powerfully built stallion rumbles.

“Now hold on’a tic!” Applejack stomps over, glaring hard enough to shake the large green apple off her brother’s flank. “What in the hay are ya doin’ here?”

“Come on, Applejack,” Big Mac states in his deep, somber voice. “You’re always goin’ on these adventures. Ah jus’ thought-”

“Ya thought wrong!” Applejack huffs, scratching at the floor as if to charge. “No fraternizin’ goin’ on here!”

Big Mac bullies over Applejack. “That Ah might like to have some hero stories of mah own, instead’a just chores’n helpin’ out when Ah can.”

“But you’re a stallion,” Applejack emphasizes, drawing nothing but scornful looks from the others.

“Ya may not’a noticed,” Big Mac states slowly, “but we’re all stallions on this team.” He snorts, trying not to look at Zephyr. “Mostly.”

“Look at you, still openin’ that big mouth’a yours,” Applejack spits out. “Who’s gonna look out for Pomarbo while you’re gone?”

“Granny,” Big Mac says, letting Applejack’s scoff hang. Even Twilight knows Granny Smith despises the Cider Squeezy, leaving Pomarbo essentially unsupervised.

Shining Armor continues on as though he expected the heated reaction from Applejack, Big Mac slipping to the background, “And, to help on the information gathering, Prince Blueblood.”

A well-built alabaster stallion smoothly glides forward. His dapper quartersuit likely costs more than the train, black silk trimmed in cobalt with a large bow tie. A long, thin and pristine bag rests at his side. He gives a flip of his golden mane, which sends the rest of the train into tizzy murmurs.

“Pardon my presumption,” Prince Lunaris Blueblood eloquently asks, slipping a green and orange rose in front of Rarity, his charming smile melting away any lingering animosity in the room, “but if fraternizing is still an option?” He gives a short, graceful bow. “I was looking forward to matching wits or steel again, whichever the lady prefers.”

Rarity accepts the rose, desperately trying to fan the blush from her face. She steals a glance at Twilight, getting a grudging okay, and speedily zips to the large unicorn’s side, fretting that she didn’t bring anything equivalent to wear.

“And last, but certainly not least, to help with the magic side,” Shining Armor introduces, smirking all the while, “Princess Luna.”

Twilight isn’t sure how she didn’t notice the cobalt alicorn, but there she is. Her star-studded mane flows freely, her peytral has been polished to a mirror shine, and her sinister gaze slips past Twilight’s defenses to eat at her confidence.

“Sister,” Princess Luna glibly calls, regarding her fellow Princess with a barely-concealed look of derision.

Celestia, who had for the most part remained out of the way during the introductions, slowly gets to her hooves. The light surrounding her horn winks out, her full attention now on Luna. She seethes, a detestation Twilight has rarely, if ever, seen in her before. “Sister.”

“Still sore thy were not chosen for the winning side?” Luna smirks, a wave of her wing indicating the members of Shining’s Seven behind her. “T’was not I forced to slink to her student’s side and beg like a noble to be admitted.”

Celestia gasps. “Noble!” She scowls, eyes rimmed in red. “You take that back this instant!”

“We are neigh afraid of thou,” Luna states, returning a cold and hard look. “As they say these days, ‘Bring It!”

“Now, now,” Twilight chides, getting in between the fuming alicorns. At her power she could certainly bring Luna to a standstill, but stopping Celestia is another story. “There won’t be any ‘bringing it’ or foalish displays of power. We are here to test the defenses Spike put up around the Crystal Empire. Got it?”

Luna snorts. “Thou needeth thy student to defend thyself?”

“She is not defending me,” Celestia returns just as hard. “She is defending you.”

“Fillies,” Twilight growls out. “Do I need to come over there and tweak your ears?”

It works for Doug, and she desperately hopes it works for her.

“Fine.” Luna haughtily sticks her nose in the air. “We shall see thy pitiful efforts on the battlefield.”

“Fine.” Celestia sticks her nose up as well. “We shall do the same.”

Twilight sighs as the two alicorns return to their respective sides, slumping down.

“So much for arriving incognito,” Applejack remarks, still glaring at Big Mac.

Twilight merely smiles. “Everything is going to be just fine.”

Next Chapter: Ch. 144 - Careful Planning, Part Three Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 13 Minutes