Sins of Harmony

Volume 2: Enemies Unbound

Chapter 9: Deception's trail, targets.


February 9th, 1006 ANM

Sri Draka, Baragh clan colony.

It had been hard for Razak to leave Kynok and Lucius, but he knew he was better off here than under house arrest at the Hephaestus HQ.

The company was in disarray, stocks had fallen sharply when the scandal hit, Maurik had stepped down indefinitely, the secret research divisions, especially the weapons, genetics and aerospace divisions were badly cut.

Shreya, to save her own company, had cut any deals with the Hephaestus Group that had been sealed within the past 5 years, as a penalty, but she was privy to the inside knowledge. She had only cut ties so her own stock didn't plummet.

Being close to Maurik had its own rewards besides that of body, but of information as well.

The weapons supposedly used had thought to have been discontinued from the Hephaestus experimental line, but the casings found on the sea bed had shown to have the Hephaestus logo on them.

And now, he stood in Sri Draka because, unlike his other clones, he had an official citizenship.


Smoulder's cave, front entrance

"Are you sure you're fine?" Smoulder asked.

"Yes...Mostly. I just don't know who would do this?" Razak wondered.

The smaller purple dragon, with them all in their natural sizes here in the hillside settlement, was dwarfed by his dark red fire drake 'mother'. They stood in front of the cave, as Razak had been adjusting to potentially living here long term.

"I think somebody who hasn't benefited from the group. The company has just as many enemies as friends." Smoulder knew this too well, by her own history with the group, even if not as long as others.

She looked at Razak, asking honestly: "You have been behaving a bit odd, and I'm wondering. Would you be more comfortable with Kynok and Lucius than here?"

"No! Well, its just a big change. I've always only ever come here for visits, even if some were long. I mean, that place was my home just as much as this place, and now I might not be able to really go back." Razak admitted. He didn't want to hurt Smoulder's feelings.

"I know. The clan members here had it rough for some when we moved from the mountains to the coast. Change scares everyone, but if you ever need to talk, you have me or Cal." Smoulder wrapped a wing around Razak, as he stared out at the distant ocean.

But she too had her own questions.


Later that night.

Smoulder's cave, rear section.

Razak had settled in one of Smoulder's small cave sections, a tarp of sorts dividing it from the rest of the cave, like all the sections.

Smoulder felt Cal'vel shuffle slightly beside her, his blue scaled arm wrapped around her frame as he awoke midsleep.

"You still up?" He asked groggily.

"I can't sleep. I just keep thinking about Varkan and Faral, and this whole mess." Smoulder admitted. Cal'vel rubbed his head against her neck, murmuring as did so:

"Varkan will be fine, Faral too. They're survivors, him especially. They won't be found unless they want it, they can disappear too easily."

He pulled Smoulder to face him as they laid down on their front, as he muttered: "And you have this home of yours, the clan, your sister to visit, even if the company goes downhill." He paused for a moment, saying: "And I'll be here with you, and Razak. We'll stick together through this mess, whether it gets better or worse."

Smoulder gave a happy rumble in her throat, as she snuggled into Cal'vel's arms. She was the same length and height, but he had arms separate from his wings to hold her, and was bulkier in build. She was more slender, not as strong but a force among Fire Drakes.

Even so, she couldn't help but worry about her other allies and friends, especially the 2 that had disappeared under cover.


February 10th, 1006 ANM

Late Afternoon

New Changliea, Metamorcus.

Changeling parliament.

It had been painful to hear all the negative words being thrown at the Hephaestus Group by the parliament members, but the people and their representatives had spoken.

Chrysalis and Al'kur had been present there, witnessing but not taking part in the discussion as per the laws. Royalty fell under Executive government, not Legislative as Parliament did.

Now standing in the hallway as the meeting for the day ended, talks turned inevitably to the 2 standing before them, one of whom had come here seeking solace, as he was a trusted friend to the other, who was a citizen of this country.

"And you're sure he is telling the truth?" Chrysalis asked.

"Absolutely, I was one of the last to see Varkan before he vanished, when he was rushing to alter his appearance with Faral. I read his mind unknowingly, and I saw the bomb was a setup, planted." Caarim explained.

Beside him, Ohmen was in his mutate form, only matched by Al'kur in overall height, a few inches over Chrysalis: "He's right. And the letter Varkan left in my apartment said to wait for further contact. They'll be contacting from public means only, so don't try finding them."

Ohmen had the letter on hand, which Chrysalis hovered before her face and Al'kur's. Indeed, it said that by using public means, such as internet cafes or so on, they'd avoid detection, as they were knowledgeable to outwit even the best tracking methods.


Changeling royal palace

Later that evening

"Ah Ohmen, come inside."

Chrysalis greeted the former Hephaestus member as he walked into her office. Ohmen smiled a bit as he sat down in the chair opposite her, the desk between them.

"So, about that diplomatic trip to Equestria leaving in a few days. I was wondering if I could tag along with it?"

Chrysalis had some thoughts about that. The 'fence mending' trip to Equestria, the second since the Changelings went just 4 months ago as well. It was something she had to help with, as it was just about 5 and a half years since her skirmish in Canterlot with the royal wedding. Ever since then, the trade deals had been mending the Changeling republic and New Changeliea, both of which had been struggling since Changeling independence in 980 ANM. It had been during a series of bad harvest years that a skirmish to plunder love was undertaken.

As known, it had backfired. But, as the Oceanic Alliance was under formation, Varkan had approached with trade alliances with the Hephaestus group, and in turn, opened up more trade opportunities. If Hephaestus embraced the Changelings, other corporations would follow.

That is, before the recent scandal that is.

There was still some poverty, but it was quickly falling. Even so, mending relations with Equestria was a useful thing to do.

She leant forwards, brushing away a strand of her dark green mane that had come loose from her royal styled hair:

"Why tag along?"

"Well, I have some ties to the rulers there with last year's events. I want to enlist some help with investigating this scandal from them. Also, personal reasons."

"Hmm, personal reasons?" Chrysalis could sense the mild love emanating from him, being a changeling and all. She knew just what the personal reasons were.

"Well, hearts and hooves day will be coming up while you're there, and there's a mare I've been contacting since the dragon migration ended last year, by telegram letter." Ohmen admitted, rubbing the back of his head a bit.

Chrysalis smiled a bit, but knew that he already had a good reason to come along: "Alright. I'll have you put on the accompanying guest list. Do you want Caarim also?"

"I didn't think of it, but could you?" Ohmen replied, surprised.

"I can, and consider it done. Who's the lucky mare?"

"I'd rather keep it quiet." Ohmen said quickly.

"Ah, fair enough. Well, who did you have in mind for helping with this scandal?" Chrysalis probed further.

Thinking for a moment, Ohmen admitted: "Ones able to get information from anyone, or ones that can get places fast. I was hoping for a royal assistance if possible."

"One of the Princesses?" Chrysalis wondered.

"Sure, they have 4, I'm sure they can afford to lose 1 to some international affairs and investigation." Ohmen reasoned.


February 13th, 1006 ANM

Canterlot, Royal Palace

Evening

As Luna finished raising the moon outside, Celestia had one last matter she wanted to tell her sister before she took over for the night.

Walking into the throne room, Luna was surprised to see Celestia still standing there.

"Sister? Is something wrong?"

"No, its just something I didn't have time to say before you had to raise the moon. Concerning the Changeling diplomatic visit over the next few days."

Luna's eyes narrowed a bit, but she restrained it. There was some bad blood still between Equestria and Changelings, namely the Canterlot skirmish just over 5 years ago now. But, this would be the second visit, and last time Chrysalis and her delegation had visited, it had gone off without a hitch.

"What's the matter?"

"Well, you're aware of the recent scandal with the Hephaestus group, being a suspect in causing the tsunami." Celestia said. Luna was still in disbelief, and like many who had known them, knew that causing such destruction benefited them in no way.

"A frame job by what facts there are. What is the new concern?"

"Ohmen Magnes and Caarim, will be coming. They've requested audiences with all 4 princesses, starting with Twilight on the 14th in Ponyville. They'll be here on the 16th, and finish with the Crystal Empire on the 18th." Celestia said.

"What could they want?"
"Ohmen said in the letter that it was concerning help with investigating this scandal. Caarim reports that Varkan was completely unaware of the bomb used, or planted as he says Varkan suspected. At least, before he disappeared."

Luna thought for a moment, as she surmised: "Well, we should accept their visit then. I see no reason to doubt them. I knew Varkan, and he didn't strike me as authorising this atrocity."

"Or letting anyone get away with it if he can help it." Celestia added. She knew first hand how violent he could get with those who wronged him. She would feel sympathy for those who framed his long worked company endeavour if not for the risk that the guilty party caused the earthquake.

Giving a smile, Celestia said: "Come on, night falls earlier in the winter, so lets head to dinner."

As she followed her sister to their dinner, or breakfast in Luna's case, Luna found herself reflecting how this ritual had been carried out both before and after her banishment. Every morning and evening, they always had at least 2 meals together to ensure they could talk, over private or ruling matters.

Tonight though, considering what tomorrow was, Luna coyly asked Celestia:

"So, any plans tomorrow?"

Celestia laughed slightly, saying: "None that you'll know until Discord inevitably begins them."


Same exact moment

10 miles outside Trottingham, west forest river.

Discord had stopped here, as he usually did between Ponyville and Canterlot during long range teleport jump trips.

Before he made his next 100 mile jump to get to Canterlot for the night, he felt a fuzzy, not quite uncomfortable itch crawl up his spine.

"Huh, that's odd. I could swear someone was talking about me." Discord scratched his chin as he felt his neck.

Shrugging it off, he knew his plans for tomorrow were sound, as he'd run them by Fluttershy and some of her more romantically fluent friends. He hadn't consulted Pinkie, because he wanted to woo Celestia, not give her a heart attack. And Rainbow Dash, despite his own habitual, chaotic tendencies, had some perhaps too brash proposals.

With another finger snap, a pinkish-blue flash teleported him further to Canterlot.

Of course, Celestia wouldn't meet Discord until the next day.


February 14th, 1006 ANM

1 hour after midnight

Hundonesia

Bundur Lumpang

Ja'kra Favela

Throughout the economic growth of the Oceanic Alliance nations, traces of the poverty pasts of some of the nations still existed, though they were slowly disappearing faster than they could grow.

Ja'kra was one of many shanty towns, or favelas, whichever term was preferred. The poorest of the poor worked and/or lived here, as well as immigrants, or those put out of a job for various reasons.

Hundonesia had been plagued by poverty in the past few decades, as its population boomed after it industrialised. Only now was it entering the so called 'developed' stage, where birth rates began to fall, and population growth stabilised.

As such, Ja'kra would vanish over time. But it was about as desirable as a Favela could get.

Being sandwiched between a railway line and the highway, it was noisy at times. However, across the railway and highway, there was always employment for quick jobs available.

Best of all, being 5 miles south east of the Bundur Lumpang town centre, it was right along the highway/railway link to the city's satellite city further southeast, which held the Kilegon ferry service.

From there, one could catch a ferry, across the Vunda straits, with a nice view of the Krokotua volcano in the distance across the straits, still re-growing since its disastrous 853 ANM eruption blasted the island apart.

After arriving in Kilegon, it was a straight shot along the highway, provided one could get a lift, to the Hundonesian capital of Kakarta.

At least, that was the plan.

Luckily, Varkan and Faral had managed to secure a ferry ticket through a local Cattle trader. They'd offered hard goods that they'd robbed for him, quite easily, so that he would purchase 2 ferry tickets for them with his money on their behalf.

It was the only part of the journey that would be done by 'legal' means. All else would be hitchhiking or other means.


Trying to sleep as another freight train rumbled past, Faral looked around as she tossed beneath the rag that was called a bed cover, the floor her mattress.

They'd rented a local room at a hotel, which was pretty much a shack with a shared toilet near a market.

Varkan slept beside her, wrapped in his own covers. She and him had painted themselves as a light grey shade of colour with body makeup paint. Good thing about scales was that they could be colour disguised easily.

Now Faral was a lighter grey than she normally was, and Varkan had restrained his wing remnants as he had under his Karrav disguise, and was much lighter than his normal black colour too.

Both wore baggy clothing on purpose, to look like shanty folk and to hide some of their physical features.

Varkan had donned some prosthetics, adding bulk to his skull that made him just look like a lanky male Komodo, and not a more streamlined Wyvern.

As she tried to sleep, Faral knew that once they got across to Kakarta, they could stay in better accommodations, getting local jobs that paid better, and then get to work on investigating this scandal.

Her eye twitched as Varkan snored slightly, as a train horn blew in the night. She didn't know how he did it, but she sure as hell couldn't get to sleep.


Things get moving while other things get ready, happy or not so [out of necessity].


Next few chapters will be more investigative, with character interaction apparent. As a note, this story will be less about introducing characters, but more elaborating on them, whether they are killed in the end or not.

Garnet's schemes, and the Entity's actions, won't really develop far until later. Simply put, Garnet's looking for assassins, now that Smoulder is separated from her big power, influence and resources with Hephaestus.


And his scheme to put Hephaestus in the toilet has succeeded, but more on the why later.


As usual, please review/critique as one would. Though in depth reviews of the overall story are more than welcome.