Sins of Harmony
Volume 2: Enemies Unbound
Chapter 37: Mares Night out, the Watchers.
Late Evening
May 30th, 1006 ANM
Maldives, Entity's volcanic island.
Everything was going according to plan, even if Garnet intended to intervene.
Musing over its usable assets, the Entity focuses its energy to the first units it had created. Like all others, forged inside the secondary magma chambers that lay beneath the island.
Already, as the Entity focused its centre within the volcano itself, the smaller parts of itself it could create, its army of pawns, was ready to expand.
It had already created miniscule sentries, which were in fact pumice stones on the island, in the water and in the obscured skies as the island erupted.
Every fragment of pumice and ash from this island, was filtered through the Entity's energy. Every fragment gave it senses, so nothing could get through, save for beneath the water, where it made do with larger forms on duty.
Focusing itself, it had 3 larger forms dispatch down the main magma chamber, composed of extremely durable rock, and forged metal. Down deep into the earth's mantle, to begin travelling across the earth's mantle to another opening.
It knew what Garnet was planning, and it knew it was a weakness it had. Even if temporary given its power increase.
Still, it wasn't a being made weak by ego or impatience. Any precaution was appropriate.
Early Morning, before sunrise.
May 31st, 1006 ANM
Everfree Forest, Harmony volcanic crater.
Nobody was there to witness it, but the largely dormant lava lake where the Tree of Harmony once was bubbled once more.
It periodically bubbled, as expected with how it formed. Unlike natural eruptions, this one saw 3 forms, sphere shaped, all but leap out of the edge of the lava lake, to tumble down its sloped rim.
The lava dripping off or solidifying to crumbling rock, the 3 shapes, made of tungsten shells, unfolded.
Their insides flashed briefly as they changed, revealing the sliver of white/blue Entity energy that fuelled them. Morphing, they formed 4 legs, a flimsy tail, and a head and neck. Each the same, save a few features.
All 3 now shifted their tungsten coatings, that layer of rock outside actually not very thick. They weren't combatant units, but recon.
The Entity's energy set to work, what would be called magic changing the 3 to differing pony forms. As some flashes subsided, an Earth Pony, a Pegasus and a Unicorn all stood in place.
Each was of dark grey fur and a silver mane and tail, with a white/blue set of 4 eye dots, encased inside a white circle mark on their flanks. The eye dots were wider apart with the upper pair.
The 'cutie' marks were that of the Entity's 'face', or rather, what those 4 shimmering dots passed for as either a face or its eyes.
More yet, each could freely alter its gender if needed, or subtly alter its form, being a Unicorn, Pegasus and Earth Pony as the only form constraints.
Inspecting each other briefly, the 3 disguised ponies turned differing directions. This was what the Entity needed them here for, and what it didn't have the power to do from the other side of the world. Now, its assets could detect the Element bearers.
The Earth Pony turned north east, headed for Manehatten. The Pegasus turned West, and slightly north, headed for Cloudsdale, with its magic able to let it walk in the clouds with them. The Unicorn turned directly west, headed for Canterlot.
All 3 set off, wordless, knowing how to blend in with the populace, but unyielding in their task they were created for.
The first of the Entity's instruments to venture beyond its island and territory. Known to it as the Watchers, and unknown to all others.
As fate would have it, the Earth Pony watcher would have the most mixed difficulty with its marks. Manehatten was a big city, and word of 3 known mares like that travelled easily.
On the other hand, Manehatten was a big city...
Late Night
June 2nd, 1006 ANM
Manehatten, downtown, Blazing Saddle nightclub.
Over the blaring music, the stallions and mares bodies moved in an orgy of chaos, rhythm and energy, each there to blow off steam in one way or another.
For 3 mares, one of whom this idea had been, such 'steam' was being made to come to this city because of a potential threat to their lives.
"WOOO!"
Even from at the bar, where Rarity and Applejack sat, Pinkie's shrieks of excitement could be heard over the music.
"Pinkie's havin' fun!" Applejack said.
"Yes, she is! I had my doubts, but this was a good idea!" Rarity commented, swaying a little in her seat. Even though she would be avoiding the dance floor, the bar looked enticing. Anyway, she was certain she had an eye out on any unsavoury characters here, and a good knowledge to only buy bottled drinks.
Still, tonight proved she had a weaker liver than her farm pony friend certainly.
"Y'all alright Rares!?" Applejack asked, laughing as she was a bit red faced herself. Blinking a bit, Rarity brushed Applejack off with a laugh, though her sentences started trailing a bit:
"Oh, I'm fine Applejack! I wonder if the barpony has any more of this wonderful, urrm, what's that say, its a little blurry!" Rarity gestured, a little shaking in her hoof as she moved the bottle to Applejack. Looking at the bottle, Applejack snickered as she realised why Rarity had become so inebriated.
"Rarity, ah think y'all may have chosen somethin' a little strong to have this much of."
"Oh nonsense, I'm fiieeine." Rarity stood up, but she stumbled backwards a bit, into the back of an unsuspecting stallion.
"Watch it lady!"
Giggling, Rarity grabbed Applejack, not as drunk as her, by the neck: "Isn't that stallion sweet, he called me a lady! Well, lets show the dance floor what a lady can do with a cowpony!"
"Uh, Rarity, ah think maybe you should-"
"Come on, it will be fun!"
"Rariteeee!" Applejack was just drunk enough to not have a solid stance, so she was helpless as Rarity dragged her down the steps from the bar, into the writhing throngs of the dance floor below.
The lights flashed overhead, music blaring and vibrating the dancers to their bones. Applejack stopped resisting, the drink she had finally catching up, as the hypnotic beats took her body motions.
The world blurred, as all 3 Ponyville mares got lost in the throngs of the night club beats.
Each other's voice was slightly slurred, Rarity's most notably. Right as Rarity began drawing closer to Applejack, faces getting closer, Pinkie leapt out and grabbed them suddenly:
"Come on girls! Let's hit the big city hard!"
All 3 laughed as the pink one among them led them on, blending in among many ponies that were leaving the night club, intent on it being just one stop among many this night.
20 minutes later
Manehatten, downtown, nightclub lane.
Laughter and drunken talk mixed with the base vibrations from the music clubs that night.
Walking up the lanes, the dark grey Earth Pony Watcher, disguised as a Stallion, had heard rumours of 3 Element bearers heading here tonight. Not by name of course, but by description of their appearance and Cutie Mark. Pink, Orange and Yellow, and White and Purple, with corresponding blue balloons, 3 red apples and 3 bluish/white diamonds to each.
It seemed that the Paparazzi were only interested in the Harmony bearers when they were with the Princess, or had recently done something noteworthy in their eyes. A trip to Manehatten was hardly noteworthy, and what little paparazzi tried were beaten back by the bouncers.
And now, such paparazzi were what the Earth Pony Watcher used.
Ahead, it was following some Unicorns, one with a camera and another a microphone and notepad. Those 2 thought they were well hidden in their overcoats.
Ahead, the Watcher saw the 3 mares, its targets at last, waltzing down the road, clearly headed for a nearby club. And clearly, drunk, by their meandering footsteps.
All it needed was a clear line of sight.
The Watcher changed its act, as the Entity was versed by others experiences it had access to in its knowledge to simulate a pony out on a wild night. Or, make that two.
In an alley way, like splitting cells, the Watcher divided into 2, now a pair of twin brother stallions. It would pretend to be a pair of brothers, out having a good time.
The Stud, gay nightclub.
The bouncer, a burly stallion, was facing a standard night, but those 3 mares had been tailed by some paparazzi. A quick flex of muscles scared them off from the front door.
His next entries were a pair of twin brothers, dark grey in colour with silvery manes. Both were still sober it seemed, but clearly excited. They paid their dues, 20 bits for entry into the night club each, and entered.
Still, those Mares earlier were a minority in this club, but were actually at an advantage because of it.
It wasn't called the Stud for no reason.
Both Watcher stallions, operating as one mind, split up, already seeing the 3 Mares in question. Amidst the throngs of people dancing, or standing, they manoeuvred through them with ease.
With the gracelessness of a drunk, while the other watched to make sure it had the right ones, the first Stallion 'brother' pretended to knock into all 3 mares by accident.
Unseen by them, the faintest flecks of Entity coated pumice were flecked onto their coats of fur each. The brother's hooves awkwardly brushed them off in apology, but was really rubbing in just enough of the pumice to reach their skin beneath their fur.
Now, this specifically marked energy, inside that pumice, would seep into their pores. It was good they were drunk, their pores were opened all the more. Now, with its 'essence' inside their bloodstreams in time, it would be able to track those 3, and soon the other 3.
But, nothing more beyond that. More action required a greater presence of the Entity, but all it needed was to track them.
The Watchers had accomplished their task, the Entity already sensing all 3, the 2 Earth Ponies and the Less Powerful Unicorn, in its sensory wealth.
"Again, real sorry ladies!" The sheepish looking dark grey stallion wandered off into the crowd throngs, while Rarity said in a giddy voice: "A lot of nice stallions in the city, aren't there?!"
"More incomin'!" Applejack cheered as a sight emerged on a nearby stage, while Pinkie hooted at the sight of them. Rarity felt a blush creep into her face, while the place erupted in cheers.
This was a place that catered to those only interested in the male form. Even though there were a fair number of mares here, they were the minority.
On stage, the buff stallions pulled their usual routines of showing off, greased fur reflecting the overhead strobe lights.
As the 3 looked around, the music would become gradually muffled, along with their dancing, more drinking, and whatever they ended up remembering.
Manehatten, downtown, Centurion Royal Hotel.
Floor 12, room 34.
All 3 Mares didn't quite remember how they got back, but if it hadn't been for some royal guards assigned to the 3, only 6 of them, spotting them, they'd have made a scene going through the lobby for sure.
The night before, or earlier this morning to be precise, the guards had escorted the 3 mares up to their hotel room and bid them goodnight. A good rest would do them well.
All the guards understood how burning off stress can help, as they knew the tension all 3 must be under. They didn't need a scene to be caused however.
A massive headache throbbing, Applejack shifted out of bed, groaning lightly.
Groans beside her, in her bed, mirrored hers.
Darting her eyes, Applejack paused as she saw Rarity, looking equally dishevelled, asleep like a log in her bed. Who knows what must have happened when they got back..
"Oh boy.."
Thinking hard, Applejack saw flashed of memory. Rarity getting drunk, Pinkie dragging them on a cross club tour, that stallion bumping into them in the gay club, the oiled up fur of the stallions there, Rarity's drunken lips coming to meet..
"Oh buck.."
"Urghh..my head." A certain voice sounded, right as Applejack stood up from the bed. Rarity's eyes fluttered open, but snapped wide open as she saw Applejack off the bed.
"Did we?"
"Ah don't wanna know." Applejack said, grumbling from the headache she had.
"Where's Pinkie?" Rarity groaned.
"Morning girls."
A calmer, but normal voice sounded, as Rarity and Applejack saw a familair pink mane, curly still, poke into the bedroom door, along with a smell of cooking:
"I'm making pancakes, come on before I make them too yummy for me to resist!"
Pinkie disappeared from the bedroom, leaving Applejack and Rarity to share a dumbfounded look.
At the kitchenette of the apartment, Pinkie prepped breakfast for the 2 hungover Mares. She however, seemed like her normal self somehow.
Despite having consumed just as much alcohol as both of them had each at least.
"Last night was great huh? Wanna do it again tomorrow, or maybe tonight?"
Pinkie happily spoke as she turned around, getting Applejack's apple syrup pancakes, and Rarity's honey glazed pancakes out.
"Yeah, listen sugarcube. I may well sit out if you go out again." Applejack said, still a little drowsy.
Eyes red with blood vessels, Rarity said with as little grumpiness as she could: "Not everypony has your, stamina, Pinkie."
"Really? You both seemed to have a lot of stamina when you went into Applejack's bedroom." Pinkie said, through a mouthful of pancakes.
A pact was struck between Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity that day. Never speak of that night ever again, for Applejack and Rarity's sake.
Just the looks on their faces as Pinkie said what their 'stamina' that night entailed was something she'd always recall and laugh about.
All the while, it had been a success for the Entity, now that it had all 3 of them under its tracking. Now that left just the other 3:
2 in Cloudsdale, one of whom was well known for her overt flying displays as a Wonderbolt Reserve, the other being with her often.
And the last one in Canterlot was a Princess, so no trouble finding her.
The Entity is marking up its temporary weaknesses for tracking purposes. It knows Garnet is targeting it through them, so it needs to keep track of them, know if they're in danger and so on.
And there are 2 reference gags, relating to the names of the 2 nightclubs they go to.
One is a famous comedy film.
The other is a well known racehorse breeding facility in Ireland, with an extensive history to itself.
Also, I'll be honest. I wanted to devote chapters to the Mane 6 who won't be as involved with the actual conflict, not until the endgame section that is.
Because next time the Garnet/badlands gathering plot, where Starswirl/Min Wei/Blacksaddler and Baldrek are venturing picks up, they'll be much more numerous.
And before the endgame begins, one last plot thread must be woven, but not too big, relating to the Oceanic Alliance and certain pieces of technology coming back, which made appearances in the first 5 chapters of Volume 1. As well as a certain individual who went AWOL earlier this story.
As usual, please review/critique as one would.