Twilight and the Spartan Stallion 2

Part 5: Opening the Border

“Commander Lion Heart! Commander Lion Heart!” A pegasus with grey fur and a black mane landed hard, bearing the flag of a messenger on his back. “Where can I find Commander Lion Heart?!”

“Whoa-whoa-whoa there, son.” A stallion grabbed the flustered, gasping pony by his saddlestrap before he plowed into a nearby wall. “Easy now, you’ve got a message for us?” The soldier tried to steady the fretting, dancing-on-his-hoofie-tips colt. He was barely old enough to be wearing his uniform, and had all the tell-tale signs of a pony that had probably just been sent on his first mission.

“For Commander Lion Heart and his second in command!” The messenger said, huffing and haulking and panting wildly. The poor kid was about to keel over when his destination pony emerged from his command tent.

“What’s all this rabble?” He wanted to know, scowling. “What’s yer name, son?”

“I’m Steel Wing, sir!” He slapped his own helmet, ringing it like a gong with his hoof. A few of the nearby vets smirked. “I have a message from her Majesty Princess Celestia!” he said, wrenching open his saddlebag and removing a canister. It was silvery, gilded with gold and scorched on one end to melt the gold seal on.

Commander Lion Heart’s eyes widened. He’d only ever seen such a thing in his training manuals. “Feed and water him.” He said shortly, snatching the canister and rushing to his tent again. “Captain, with me!” A stocky-looking mare followed in after him as he set it on the table. “Do you know what this is, Captain Terra?” he said with a smooth, low voice.

“I do, sir.” She reached to her wing sword, turning the handle this way and that until it snapped off. A little scroll popped out and she unrolled it. On it was a complex series of letters and numbers. She nodded at him.

Lion Heart took his spear from where it leaned in the corner of his command tent, snapping the head off on the ground. In the hollow shaft of his weapon was another little scroll. He pulled it out and unfurled it. “Pull in our witnesses.” He nodded. Captain Terra waved in a pair of guards. This was serious business, and two witnesses were required by protocol. The two stallions stood there, stock and stiff while the canister was forced open. Inside the silvery canister was a smaller, golden canister with a long strip of numbers etched into it. Commander Lion Heart snatched it up before anypony could see them. “Read!” He snapped to his second-in-command.

Captain Terra quickly looked down at the scroll that had come from the inside of her wing sword’s handle. “Reading, sir! Nightmare-Nightmare-Echo-Five-Five-Six-Muffin-Two-Poppy-Poppy-Marshmallow-Two-Two-Two-Nine-Discord-Harmony-Harmony-Flank-Sugar-Seven! Do you concur?!” She said aggressively.

“I concur!” The commander snapped back. The scroll and the golden canister matched serial numbers. He passed it quickly to her, and she unscrewed it, taking off the golden layer and revealing a black, colored glass layer. “Blimey…” she mumbled in awe.

“Protocol!” snapped her commander, making both witnesses jump.

“Ahem!” Captain Terra turned the glass container over and over until she found the tiny printed numbers on it. “Read!” she said officially to her leader.

Commander Lion Heart puffed up a long breath to read his own scroll loudly, “Equestria-Harmony-Two-Two-Three-Six-Flank-Flank-Sugar-Nightmare-Muffin-Muffin-Two-Four-One-Discord-Sugar-Ivory-Three-Three-Nine-Twilight! Do you concur?!” he barked the last bit at her. The two witnesses looked back and forth, gulping. This was scary.

“I concur!” The captain set the glass canister on the table, her face set in a scowl of intent. So, it was genuine. Princess Celestia had sent them a message so secret that it had been flown by pegasus, sealed in layers and layers of magic, and required their most complex military protocol to access. It must’ve been dire indeed. Raising a hoof, she smashed it on the table, sending shards in all directions. A golden scroll lay on the table. An emergency message from her royal majesty. A real life emergency message. The four ponies in the tent stared at it. The paper was of finely spun gold, the seal was bright red with a ruby set in the middle and the ribbon jet black.

Lion Heart Snatched up the letter in his hoof, touching the seal with his other. “I am Commander Lion Heart of her Majesty’s Equestrian-south-central Badland’s border outpost. This message is meant for me.” He told the seal. The ruby glowed brightly and he held his breath until the ribbon burst into ash and the gem tinked to the table. He let out the breath. There were stories that those who tried to force the seal on such messages were blown to smithereens by its protective spells. Swallowing, he unfurled the message to read it.

Abandon your post. Return to Canterlot. Leave all doors and gates open.

No royal seal, no signature, no nothing. Just three short little sentences. There was a long, tense silence. “What is it?” Captain Terra asked, flapping her wings in impatience. Leave it to a Pegasus to break a ten-ton empty silence.

“Pack your things Captain.” said the Commander in a soft voice, his hooves shaking a little. His eyes betrayed confusion and mild fear before he crumpled the letter and destroyed it with a zap of unicorn magic. “Tell the boys we’re… going home.” It almost came out like a question.

“Yessir!” All three guards turned and left the stallion alone in his tent. He stared at the rest of the canister pieces, and vanished them as well. He’d followed protocol, but he didn’t understand the message. Had his platoon done something wrong? No. No if that were the case her majesty would’ve sent troops to replace his own. The border of the Badlands was always watched by the Equestrian military so that a sudden Changeling invasion could not be brought upon them. But to abandon the fort entirely? Lion Heart saw a glimpse of a chess board in his mind’s eye, and his particular rook was being sacrificed. He’d lived at this fort for almost three years, other than the usual days of personal leave. He’d be sad to see it go. Whatever move her Majesty was making, he didn’t have to understand. He knew he had to obey, though. He threw open his chest and started hastily packing.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Chrysalis sat upon her throne, favoring one of her behemoths with head rubs. The other jittered jealously on his dozens of legs. He wanted head rubs too! Why did only the other get head rubs?! While the Changeling Queen pored over a tablet of matters of state, she frowned a bit. She’d expected some sort of response from Celestia by now. Even a denial or rebuttal for negotiations. None of her scouts or spies had reported any sort of Equestrian military movement to her… yet. She didn’t trust the ivory bitch not to try and make a swipe for Twilight Sparkle. Some token rescue would be sent, no doubt, she was not stupid. Turning one of the resonance crystals up to favor the room with lighter music, she scanned down the latest ledgers of facts and figures. The population was, of course, on a steady decline and—!

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

Two changelings crashed into each other in front of the throne, drawing her eye up from her work. She cocked an eyebrow. Ambassador Doppleganger and High Warlord Mandible. They glared at each other as polar opposites tended to do. She did enjoy their little tiffs.

“News from the north!”

“News from the north!”

“Stop copying me!”

“Stop copying me!”

“Shut up!”

“Shut up!”

Chrysalis pushed the head of her petting behemoth away, setting the tablet down as well. “Silence.” She raised a hoof as she rose to her feet. Both hivelings obeyed, bowing low. Tossing her sickly green mane a bit. “One after the other, speak. Warlord, you first. I do enjoy hearing bad news first, as you always seem to be full of it.”

“My Queen, military movement to the north! Equestria has abandoned a fort in the central northern border of the badlands!” Mandible said, briefly pulling a map to show her. There was a big red circle on its location, a drawing of a pony, an x, and a number zero next to it. How astute. She would have to praise her scouts for their artistic skills. “I think those wretched Princesses are trying to coax a move out of us. Lul us into a false sense of security!” he said sourly.

“You know for certain it was completely abandoned?” Chrysalis said with a mild frown.

“Yes. I sent a single drone in to sniff about the premises. He came back with three command sabers and a sack full of pony food!” he said incredulously. “They just dropped everything and left!”

“Hrm.” Chrysalis said, scratching under her chin a moment. “Distribute the sabers, take the food to my prisoner quarters, to Twilight Sparkle.” She stopped a moment. “Neigh, give it to Ambassador Doppleganger. She’s seen him before, and I doubt you would make a good impression on her.” Much to the Warlord’s credit he smiled with all his fangs, but said nothing about that comment.

“Yes, my Queen.” He bowed. “And what of the fort?”

“That’s actually what my bit is about, your majesty.” Ambassador Dopplganger pulled a scroll with a white seal on it to show her. “From a scout who ran into a messanger on the edges of the wastes. It’s from Princess Celestia.”

“Give me that!” Chrysalis snatched it eagerly, popping it open and unfurling it:

To Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Empire,

In regards to your demand for the presence of Shining Armor in the Changeling Empire, I’m afraid I must decline. He is being held against his will in Canterlot and I dare not lift a hoof against a fellow alicorn that wishes to keep him safe. Cadance is quite protective, after the last time you met.

Please return Twilight Sparkle and her foal to the closest Equestrian fort or border patrol. Many ponies are upset about her kidnapping and I cannot be held responsible for what happens if this request is ignored. I will give to you Fort Petalbrow, which sits on my southern border, to sweeten the deal. Our cultures are quite different and I am perfectly willing to forgive and forget if you will but return my faithful student to me.

Regards,

Celestia Cosmos Corona Solaris Equiness, Princess of Equestria

“Dripping with sugary idiocy as usual, you great white bitch.” Chrysalis balled up the letter with a frown. She thought for a few moments. “'Cannot be held responsible', pffft! Warlord Mandible!” she turned to the waiting battle leader. “Converge all your scouts and spies in the immediate area on Fort Petalbrow. Raid it for any valuables, then burn it to the ground. Do not leave until no stone stands atop another.”

“On my honor, my Queen.” He bowed, donned his helmet and strode away with a happy fire in his eyes.

“What should I do, my Queen?” Ambassador Doppleganger asked softly, looking up at her.

“You have orders to feed Twilight Sparkle.” Queen Chrysalis said, looking at him sideways. “Did you not hear me?”

“O-of course my Queen!” he bowed low, ever the submissive servant, and turned to leave.

Chrysalis returned to her throne, sitting hard and pondering over Celestia’s letter with narrowed eyes. Would not be held responsible? What, was Princess Luna going to do something about it, then? She doubted it. Twilight Sparkle was Celestia’s student, but she would not send an army down into the hive itself for the rescue of one mare and her foal. It would be suicide. Not with ten thousand ponies could she uproot the hive. She sat on her haunches, bridging her hooves and resting her chin on them. Someone else was coming, she deduced. Someone Celestia did not control, someone she obviously thought could do some damage. But whom? This was no longer the era of Starswirl the Bearded. No pony could simply waltz across the border and into the badlands, go down into the hive and challenge them without dying first. “Hrm.” She said in a slightly troubled way. She reached over, rubbing the head of one of her behemoths. The other jittered, grumble-whining angrily. He NEVER got head rubs! Why?! Why did he never get any head rubs?!

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

“Twilight Sparkle, I—!” Ambassador Doppleganger pushed the door open and it SMASHED into his face when the mare squawked in embarrassment. He saw what spots for a few moments, then saw the purple aura fading from the wood from where he lay on the ground.

“I’m nursing! Keep out!” Twilight shouted, red-faced. She’d been spending the past few hours learning to nurse while standing. It wasn’t so bad, really, but she didn’t need anypony… or changeling, watching her do it.

“What? Nursing?” he wanted to know, pressing an ear to the door. Not being a mammal himself, he had no idea what she was talking about. “Oh! Is your foal hurt?!” he pressed the door open. “Quickly, let’s take her to the medical—!” SLAM! He got face-smashed again, this time his curved horn was caught in the wood. “Hyynnn!? Hrrrgh?!” He tried to pull himself off of it, but he was stuck there. The twin behemoths guarding the door rumbled with close-lipped laughter, watching him struggle. “Don’t just stand there!” he barked at them, “Help me!” he flailed about until one of them kindly leaned over and unstuck him. She lifted him up, kissed his head, sat him down, and patted his head like he was a lost wormling. He sighed loudly, flailing to fix his mane from the cow-lick he’d gotten from the kiss.

“Keep out!” Twilight said again, angrily. There was some squealing from inside the room. “Oh no no no sweetie its okay!” now she was fussing over her foal. “Not you, you’re okay. You’re okay, sh-sh-shhhh…” The purple mare sat, stroking her young lovingly and holding her in her front hooves. The foal fretted, looking up at her with big soft innocent eyes. Momma had been shouting, she sounded so mean! Her eyes watered, and she began to wail again. “Ohhh sh-sh-shhh…” Twilight coddled, standing up and over her. “It’s okay, it’s okay look!” she… well… waggled herself a little at her daughter. The foal caught the idea and shoved her head up under Twilight’s undercarriage again, quieting. “Whew…” Twilight’s head sank tiredly as she tried to stay still. The nameless foal fed herself eagerly, suddenly detatching herself and letting out a proper belch--- before keeling over to sleep. “More and more like your father…” Twilight murmured, fussing over her tiny mane. She took the scruff of her neck in her teeth, lowering her into the nest and covering her with lots and lots of little blankets.

Ambassador Doppleganger was still regaining his senses when Twilight opened the door and stuck her head out. “There you are!” he said, trying to stand upright and not look like he’s just been bested by behemoth kisses and wooden doors.

“It’s you again.” Twilight said suspiciously. “Ambassador something-or-another.”

“Doppleganger.” He said, wilting that she’d not remembered his name. “I’ve got a nice surprise for you. Some food, from a pony fort to the north.” He showed her a bulging sack with Equestrian writing on it that he couldn’t read.

“That says ‘laundry’ on it, Ambassador.” Twilight said, blanching a bit. He stared at her. Then at the writing. He pulled the bag open, revealing what looked to be a mixture of little boxes with food pictures on them. “Let me see.” Twilight rolled her eyes, magicking one to herself. She didn’t leave the doorway, but held one up to herself. The box was four inches squared, and the picture was of a half-corn on the cob. It was the smallest possible box one could get to fit one of those in… a military efficiency box. She flipped it open. Sure enough, inside was a dried corn on the cob. “Huh.” She said with interest.

“You like them? Take it! It’s yours!” Doppleganger said cheerily, giving her the bag.

“You said these came from a fort? How did you get them?” Twilight wanted to know, picking up another little box that had an apple on it. The next one had a hoof full of beans on it. The next had cherries. They were military rations, but adding water and heat would make it real food again.

“Apparently Princess Celestia just gave us a fort, right there on the border.” The Ambassador smirked. “She usually keeps it so well-guarded too, I can’t imagine why.” He suddenly slapped a hoof over his mouth. “You didn’t hear me say that! You’re not supposed to know about that.”

“I won’t tell…?” Twilight said softly, cocking her head. While he fretted and looked around for other witnesses (the behemoths, of course), the purple mare was looking through all the food. “Thank you, Ambassador. This is very kind of you.” She turned to return to her sleeping foal and quarters. “I’ll try to make sure they don’t hurt you too much when they come to rescue me.” There were a few chips of ice in her tone, but the smile was genuine.

When the door closed behind her, Doppleganger shuddered a little. For all too brief of a moment, he could almost see his Queen in Twilight Sparkle. Only she said such mean things and still smile about it. He chuckled a little. He quite liked this little pony. “Hm.” He said shortly, turning and walking away.

Twilight returned to the nest where her foal lay, smiling quietly. If she knew anything about her mentor, it was that she played a grand game of chess that most ponies could never understand. Much less changeling diplomats. It was against the law in Equestria to venture into the badlands. Nopony ever came back alive. If they weren’t killed or captured by the changelings, the badlands themselves would kill you. But if the Princess was gifting a fort to the changeling empire, it wasn’t out of the kindness of her heart. ‘Remember Twilight,’ Celestia in her mind’s eye said, ‘If you ever get forced into conflict, it’s always important to know where your enemy’s eyes are. If you can control their gaze, you have a great advantage.’

Twilight furrowed her brow, scuffing a little bowl she’d been given from a tray of food before. Pouring some water from a pitcher, she heated it with magic and dropped in some corn on the cobs from the little boxes. This was much better than the ratty food she’d been getting lately. Though she craved butter, salt, and sugar very much, a nice cooked vegetable was certainly high on the list too. Plus, her foal would get the nutrients through her milk. She checked over her shoulder for the sixth time, watching the little napping bundle. While she watched the corn cook, she sat on her haunches and stared at the wall, trying to piece together her Princess’ plan.

She’d just put a lot of Changeling eyes on that fort, wherever along the border it was. If she’d given it to them, every changeling within a hundred miles would probably flock to raid the place and get everything they could out of it for the hive. Monsters or not, the Changeling Empire was not wasteful for anything they found. They might not take the building, as above-ground structures were not their way, but anything that wasn’t nailed down would probably get taken. It would take days, no doubt, to grab all that cargo and take it back home… Twilight’s eyes lidded. Right there on the border. Where all the guards were. No guards, nopony keeping anypony from simply crossing into the badlands… her face suddenly blanched. Celestia wasn’t sending an army to come fetch her, no that was too obvious. But with the changelings swarming all over that fort, they wouldn’t be watching the border either, and a few ponies could sneak into the Badlands when they weren’t looking.

Twilight went and leaned over her foal, nuzzling her. She shifted onto her back, blinking blearily at the big warm thing. Was it the big warm thing from before, the one that had breathed on her and let her hold it with both hooves? Oh, no it was Momma. “Wuh-lahhhhh….” She yawned, curling up to sleep again.

“Daddy’s coming, my little filly.” Twilight giggled a little, speaking in a hushed voice. She wuzzled the tiny little warm body, settling next to her while her simple dinner cooked. “Daddy is coming for us, and Princess Celestia just opened the way for him.” The nameless foal turned, pressing up against her for warmth with a quiet burbling sound. “I really should name you.” She mumbled, smiling tenderly. She stroked the foal’s withers a few times, pondering down a list of some nice names for her.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

“Why are you doing all this in secret, sister?” Luna whispered fiercely. Celestia had just finished telling her about the fort that she’d sent word to be abandoned. The Royal Sisters were alone in Luna’s chambers, and several wards of sound-proofing had been placed around the room itself.

“Plausible deniability, Lulu.” Celestia smiled rather sagely. “If we publically do nothing, Chrysalis will foresee no attack. Her spies cannot report anything I have not actually said outside this protected room.”

“You could’ve at least told her friends! They are suffering because of your callousness!” Luna protested. “And I! I went behind your back to equip Spartan and send him south!”

“As I knew you would. If not, Spartan would have probably stolen his armor none the less.” Celestia nodded apologetically. “I do not mean to use you, sister, but acting skills were never your forte. Much that of Twilight’s friends. They must believe that they have lost Twilight for good. Chrysalis’ spies will report they are staying at home, and by the time Spartan arrives, well…” she trailed off.

“It will be too late.” Luna said, smiling warily. She touched her nose. She could still feel where the saucepan had hit her in the face over a year ago, if she wiggled her nostrils just so. “What sort of casualties to you expect.”

“I’m not sure.” said Celestia with a frown. “But, knowing Twilight and Spartan as I do, I expect they will make it back safely. Have faith, sister.” She brought up a nice smile at last. Only Luna was old enough to see the ancient cruelty there, in the slight twinkle of that ageless gaze. Her sister hoped there would be suffering. A lot of suffering. But that innocent smile? Nopony ever expected the rage boiling within the sun goddess. Her most beloved subject had been stolen, so she’d opened the borders for a one-stallion wrecking crew to pass through and wreak havoc. The most powerful thing she could send other than herself. It was almost cruel, in a way. The changelings would not understand what Spartan was when they saw him, and by then it would be far too late to stop him.

“Spartan will no doubt reach the border soon.” Luna said conversationally, going over to the scrying pool. “Let’s have a look and see what he’s doing.” She ignited her horn to warm up the birdbath-shaped artifact. “Hopefully he’s not galloping full-tilt all the way there, he would drop dead.” She mumbled, concentrating as the magic took hold. Celestia nodded, coming over as the shapes in the water began to swirl into focus.

Spartan Shield was laying curled up in a heap with two other stallions next to a crackling campfire. “Huhm. Not what I was expecting.” Celestia admitted with a scandalous, trollish smile. “But, Spartan Stallions did share love with both genders, so—!”

“SISTER!” Luna squawked. “He would not!” she peered more intently over the image, letting the scenery around them unfold in the waters. “Oh look! They’re already in the badlands!” she said, pointing quickly. “It is a desert, Tia, they are no doubt curled together for warmth, look how thin the blankets are!”

“Defending him, Luna?” Celestia cocked her head in surprise.

“W-well,” Luna said, looking to one side. “He is not a bad pony, sister. I do not think he would be… unloyal, to Twilight with another stallion.” Her cheeks colored a little. “He is not the careless death machine he once was…”

‘Spartan, I know we’re pressed together for warmth and stuff— but I hope that’s your hoof I’m feelin’ there.’ said the skinny stallion of the group in the image. Celestia threw her head back and laughed while Luna gave a royal facehoof. Spartan gave a black chuckle, murmuring an apology as the pile of stallions shifted. The big red stallion grumbled, but didn’t protest. It was this or the icy chill of the Badlands at night.

End of Part 5 Next Chapter: Head Rubs Estimated time remaining: 15 Minutes