FSE

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Chapter Three

Whispers and Rumours

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"What do you think, cousin?"

"I think we have rarely seen a land so ill protected. With their alicorn rulers gone, the country will be easy to take."

"And are you still bored?" The tone was mocking. The other snorted softly.

"Perhaps..."

"I saw you looking, what has your interest dear cousin?"

"Probably nothing but there may be a few females of interest," he said. The first male laughed darkly.

"Well yes. If nothing else, they are pretty to look at. It's been years since we have added to our slave stock. It is about time our kingdom advanced again."

"I don't doubt we will succeed."

"With Celestia gone, we can finally make our move. Once we have the Crystal Heart, the rest of our plan will fall into place. By then, even Celestia won't be able to stop what is coming."

--

Flyingstar made her way through the woods. She needed to get out of the castle for awhile and breathe in fresh air. The city life was intensely uncomfortable. She felt some guilt for leaving but Twilight promised she didn't mind. Star was only going for an hour or two after all. Applejack had filled Star in on both the meeting with King Dainn and the awkward tour that had followed.

He had apparently asked many questions about the castle's architecture as well as its history. Twilight had been able to answer well enough, sounding as she always did, as though she had swallowed a textbook, but Applejack couldn't help but feel as though the caribou were testing them.

"You think I'm being paranoid?" Applejack has asked. Star had shaken her head.

"I, of all ponies, would never accuse you of that," she had answered.

Flyingstar paused right on the edge of the trees, her ears pricked. She could hear the clanging of metal and the distant rumble of many voices. She had reached the edge of the caribou's camp. She had a commanding view from her thicket in the woods and didn't dare step further out. Down the ridge and into a little valley was a mass of red and gold tents.

In the gloom of the late afternoon, she could see the outlines of several large males. To her surprise, she also caught sight of a few smaller, curvaceous looking does. They seemed to hurry from one tent to another without stopping or talking. She wandered why none of them had come with the king to meet Twilight and Luna?

Star watched for a long time, feeling unexplainably worried. Her skin tingled under her indigo pelt. For one chilling moment, she got the impression that just as she stared into the camp, something or someone was staring back.

She stayed perfectly still. With the low light, thick trees and her own dark pelt she was positive she was well hidden and yet she could feel eyes seeking her out. There was a lot of movement in the camp. As she listened, she heard the noise of some large animal. It was a deep snuffling bark, almost dog like. She strained to see in the growing dusk, but nothing stood out.

She stayed there for a long time until the creeping sensations faded. Then, very slowly, she backed away into the wood and headed back to the castle.

--

"They look like they're having fun, don't they?" said Princess Luna. Twilight laughed nervously. Luna had been rather shocked when she had woken in the late afternoon to Twilight crashing into her room. It had taken a long time to calm Twilight down enough to get the full story from her.

"Why are you so worried? Everything seems to be going fine," Luna added, her muzzle twitching with amusement. She had confessed that she, too, had not heard of the caribou kingdom directly, though she did recall seeing some texts on them. This lack of information only distressed Twilight further but for the moment, they had agreed it wasn't important.

"I just wish I knew more. What if they have some traditional greeting, or saying, or dance? What if I say something offensive!?" Twilight fussed. Luna shook her head.

"Just be yourself Twilight, everything has worked out well so far." Twilight nodded, trying to control her breathing.

The two princesses looked around the massive hall. It was awash with light and colour as ponies danced and laughed along side the twenty or so caribou that had arrived with King Dainn.

Even Twilight had to admit, dressed in a sleek white tuxedo, his antlers gleaming, and a small, wicked smile made the male something to look at. In fact, all the caribou that had come with the king were male and there wasn't a scrawny one among them. This did not go unappreciated by the mares and fillies of the crowd. Heck, even a few of the stallion stared.

The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, much to Twilight's immense relief. As King Dainn came up the steps to greet them, he bowed low. Twilight felt herself flushing.

"Princesses. Thank you for being our gracious hosts and offering your hospitality and sanctuary," he purred in his deep voice. Luna dipped her head in return, her bow much more elegant than Twilight jerky little nod.

"Of course. We will always offer help to those who need it," Luna said. King Dainn reached into his coat pocket and took out something that caught in the light. It was a stone, deep blue in colour and gorgeous. Pinkie Pie, balancing on the banister nearby cooed at the sight.

"Princess Luna, this is a Star Jewel from my native land. It is our offering to you for your kindness." It glowed as Luna lifted it up. The Star Jewel sparkled vibrantly, seeming to capture every ray of light from the dancing lights above. Luna stared at it with wide eyes.

"Pretty!" Pinkie Pie squealed. Twilight quickly placed herself between the king and Pinkie, just in case the mare decided to have an uninvited closer look.

"It's beautiful. I thank you King Dainn." He bowed again.

"It is said that the Star Jewel can chase away nightmares and leave the dreamer to sleep serenely, though, I will confess, these are mostly folk stories," he offered with an amused smile. Luna smiled back.

"Well, I could never say no to an offer of peaceful sleep," she laughed and gave Twilight a wink. Twilight studied the jewel. It looked very valuable. She hoped that they didn't regret giving it away. As the king engaged Luna in conversation, Twilight was able to slip away. She was desperately grateful for Luna's wisdom and support. The alicorn spoke easily with the caribou king as though they were old friends. If only Twilight had been able to express the same confidence and sureness herself.

"Cupcake?" Said a soft voice. Twilight looked up to see Star standing beside the table of refreshments. Twilight made her way over.

"Pinkie really outdid herself," Twilight said. Some of the cupcakes even had little antlers made from pretzels and chocolate. Apparently, several of the caribou found these hilarious. She watched one tawny colour male laugh as he picked one up.

"This actually seems to be going really well," Twilight said excitedly. Star nodded, helping herself to a pink frosted cupcake.

"Sure does. Look at them go!" Applejack laughed as the same tawny male took off around the dance floor in a sort of jig, swinging a giggling mare in to join him. Rarity had dressed in one of the ostentatious dresses she owned. She walked as though her hooves were golden, her white nose turned up. The mares watched as Rarity poised herself by the stairs. It was rather obvious, at least the Applejack and the others, Rarity would have liked to be asked to dance.

She wasn't left waiting long. As the music slowed down, a stallion came timidly forward towards Rarity. He was beaten to her by a large dark grey caribou with black antlers. He bowed low to her, his antlers arching. Rarity flushed as he guided her to the middle of the floor, swaying with her. The stallion was left to sulk by the drinks table.

"She's enjoying that way too much," Rainbow Dash said with a slightly evil smirk.

"Leave her be, Rainbow Dash," Applejack warned. Pinkie Pie squealed, bounding over to them.

"They love my cupcakes! Do you think Kind Dainn will want another party? Oh, we could have one a week! Every week!"

"Slow down there sugar cube, this is all very new. We don't want to scare them off," Applejack said. In truth there was one young caribou that was staring at the violently bouncing pink mare with some concern. As Twilight looked around the room, there was one visitor who didn't look to be joining in.

The white stag, Svend, was leaning causally against one of the pillars, staring into the crowd with a slightly bored expression. That was okay though, wasn't it? So the stag wasn't much for parties, that was fine. Plenty of ponies didn't like the all-out parties Pinkie threw. Twilight tried to fight down that same uneasy feeling she had carried all day.

"Are you alright?" Flyingstar asked softly. Twilight leant against the crystal mare's flank, soaking up her warmth.

"Yeah, it has just been a big day," she replied. Star nodded and then followed her gaze. Twilight felt Star stiffen. Svend had taken his eyes off the vast crowd and was looking this way.

"Do you want to be introduced?" Twilight offered. Star seemed transfixed. Her right ear drifted forward and then back; her muscles ridged.

"Star?" the indigo mare jumped as though she'd been bitten.

"Pardon? Oh, no, that's alright," Star said hastily.

"I know he looks scary, but he ain't to bad," Applejack put in, but Star shook her head.

"No, that's quite alright. Maybe next time," she said. Twilight couldn't blame her. The stag didn't exactly put off an aura of friendliness. When she next looked over, the male was gone.

"Let's dance!" Pinkie squealed, grabbed Twilight around the neck and dragged her forcefully towards the dance floor. Flyingstar watched them go. Applejack snorted and headed over to a small group of earth ponies. Rainbow Dash was now preoccupied in a loud and energetic conversation with a mare named Spitfire, whom Star now knew to be the captain of the Wonderbolts.

Star made her way over to the drinks table. She was really struggling. She was doing well to hide it for Twilight's sake, but Applejack's narrowed eyes told her that she hadn't manage to fool the earth pony quite as easily. Parties were loud, noisy, crowded and full of ponies she didn't know. They were a summary of everything Star didn't like but if Fluttershy could be here to support Twilight then Star could to.

She was so preoccupied in her thoughts she nearly stepped into someone.

"Oh, pardon me," she said, then froze. She was staring at the white chest of the male caribou. She looked up into sharp green eyes.

"The pardon is mine," he rumbled. His tone was like molasses, but his gaze was so calculating that Star's fur stood on end.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked. She blinked, taken aback.

"I don't dance," she said awkwardly, then, without thinking, she added,

"You don't look as though you dance either." The smile he gave her made her breathe halt in her throat.

"I don't usually. Unless the occasion calls for it," he murmured, stepping into her space. Star hesitated, rocking back on her hooves. When she inhaled, she smelt pine and leather.

"Cousin, come, meet Princess Luna." Distracted, Svend turned to his king. He bowed low, murmuring a greeting. When he glanced back over his shoulder, the lovely little mare he had been talking to had vanished.

--

"So, you have found something for your boredom?" Dainn asked, amused as stripped off the restrictive clothing.

"I believe I have. Did you see her to?"

"The crystal mare? Yes, I have never seen one up close before. A pretty thing, I will admit. Your newest project?" Dainn asked with a smirk.

"She will be."

"I imagine we will be spoilt for choice soon. They aren't all quite so dim though."

"No, the crystal mare and the Princess's earth pony friend do not trust us."

"Well, they can't all be naïve and stupid. I believe Bjorn wishes to make the earth pony his. He's always enjoyed strong willed slaves. They take longer to break in." A dark chuckle.

"Aye, that I do."

"We will need to time this carefully," Svend reminded the king lightly.

"We will. With the Star Jewel in place, Princess Luna will soon be trapped in her world of dreams, unable to wake. With her out of the way, that leave Princess Cadence. You have the fragment?" Dain asked, his eyes bright. Svend held up the black crystal.

"Of course."

"Once we have infected the Crystal Heart, the love of her citizens will fail and her powers will be drained."

"The Crystal Empire if strong. We may have trouble from her unicorn mate until the heart is completely infected," Bjorn pointed out drily. Dainn smirked.

"Ah, but they are parents first and rulers second. They will not risk the life of their foal."

"An alicorn foal could make things unpredictable," Svend interjected.

"Perhaps but one untrained infant should be taken care of easily enough. The sedative is strong enough to knock out a dragon. It is simply a matter of ensuring the infant takes it. These ponies are so disgustingly trusting, I don't doubt one of our does will make sure it succeeds."

"And the Elements of Harmony?"

"We have already made preparations. If they cannot return to the tree to retrieve the elements, they are little more than ordinary ponies."

"It may be difficult to convince the public that we have dealt with their leaders." Svend muttered as he studied his blade.

"This takeover needs to happen swiftly and quietly. The royals must be removed with little more than a day between them. Without their leaders, the ponies will panic. The males will join us. Some will fight, but most will fall in line."

"And Twilight Sparkle?" Bjorn asked, eyes blazing with interest.

"She is young. We will make an example of her. We will take those ponies Equestria sees as their protectors and teach them to kneel. With them at our feet, any resistance will soon die out."

"The castle is vast. There is a chance some of them might escape," Svend pointed out.

"That is where our dear hunt master and yourself come into play, dear cousin. Soon. Soon we can move forward and take Equestria back."

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END

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