Empire of Mercy
Copyright© 2025 by Daelyx Len Auphydas
Chapter 21: Cabal
“Name and rank, for the record.” The guard at the front of the residence greets a presently fuming Nimbus Kicker as the pegasus lands with a powerful impact in front of him.
“Cut the horseapples, you know who I am.” Nimbus Kicker growls out, stamping the ground and flaring her wings out. “Get out of my way. I’m here to speak with your master.”
The guard-stallion recoils slightly and glances at the sharp blades on either of the pegasid’s wings. She is fully equipped for combat, having come straight here after getting off duty. Still, nervous or not, the guard holds his ground. “And you’re certain nopony saw you approach?” The Legacy estate behind him is thankfully in a somewhat obscure part of Canterlot, nestled between two of the mountains the city was built into the side of, and thus largely shielded from the cities prying eyes.
Nimbus Kicker narrows her eyes and seems about to resort to drastic action when a voice behind the stallion calls off the guard. “Nimbus Kicker! Welcome, welcome. At ease, guardsponies. Let her in. We have much to discuss.” Sir Platinum Legacy greets the pegasus warrior graciously.
“About time...” Nimbus Kicker mutters sullenly, trotting inside and following the head stallion of the house on the familiar route in silence. As important as the matter at hoof is, there is still some level of proper protocol to follow, the only thing that keeps them comfortably hidden away from prying eyes. With only the most surreptitious glances to be sure no servants, courtiers, or rogue family members are watching, the noble leads the way into the archives.
Numerous coffers and chests line the halls, but Platinum Legacy ignores all of them to seek out one in particular, an ordinary-seeming wooden chest in the restricted section. Opening the coffer, the stallion touches the cerulean orb inside and instantly vanishes in a flash of light, momentarily later followed by Nimbus Kicker doing the same.
The pegasus blinks and shakes her head, eyes straining to adjust to the darker conditions of the crystal caverns underneath Canterlot. No matter how many times she is teleported by one of the cabal’s artefacts, she was not able to get used to it.
But that is neither here nor there; ignoring the other four ponies in the chamber, Nimbus Kicker rounds on Platinum Legacy as soon as she gets her bearings, snarling. “What was that? My niece was right in the line of fire, if I hadn’t stepped in something could have happened to her!”
“And because you stepped in, we had to cut the day’s operation short.” Growls out the form of Pluto Critical, another core member of the noble cabal, from his seat in the chamber.
The ponies are in an ornate, if somewhat dim and under-furnished chamber deep in the caverns below the Canterlot undercity. Three of the cabal’s members are present in the flesh; another two are present in spirit at the least, utilizing calling stones to project their minds and voices where their bodies cannot reach. The ringleader, Platinum Legacy, holds up a hoof. “That’s quite enough, you two. The day’s operation was still a partial success, after all.”
Nimbus Kicker snarls at the older stallion. “Like hell it is! I’m here to make sure my clan has a future, whatever the cost. You will keep my niece, and any other Kicker for that matter, strictly out of danger. Period.”
Platinum Legacy narrows his eyes. “Is that a threat I detect, Nimbus? Need I remind you the position that you are in?”
Whatever sinister tone the unicorn had tried to impart is evidently lost, as the pegasus simply laughs him off. “Oh, please. You know perfectly well what will happen if you touch a hair on my mane. You don’t scare me, Legacy. My clan are more than capable of bringing your whole enterprise crashing like a house of cards if you start trying to bump us off. You need us, and don’t you forget it.” Nimbus Kicker jabs the stallion in the chest with one hoof. “Who else is going to reshuffle the guard schedules when you need it, hrm? I have understood and tolerated the need for hostile actions against those still loyal to Celestia, but placing my kin in danger firmly crosses my line. Am I clear?”
“Enough, already. I tire of your foalish theatrics.” The bored voice of a pony entering the chamber causes Nimbus Kicker to stiffen in surprise, the pegasus craning her neck around to see the newcomer.
The Chiropteran is slinking into the room, head held high and fully equipped with jet black, baroque armor of archaic design. Bat wings neatly folded onto her sides, the glistening dark metal of wingblades providing a contrasting parallel to Nimbus Kicker’s own. She didn’t think she’d ever seen the bat-winged mare not fully equipped for combat, even though there is no possible threat other than her erstwhile aristocratic allies.
“What is she doing here? You showed her the way in?” Nimbus Kicker hisses out, infuriated, to Platinum Legacy.
The ringleader’s mouth twitches up in the slightest hint of amusement. “Nimbus, please. We have been allied for long enough, it is high time we brought our brethren up to speed.”
“Are you out of your mind? They’re not even of noble blood!” Nimbus Kicker retorts. “Whatever happened to preserving our bloodlines rights?”
“It is true, we are not of Celestia’s nobility.” The Chiropteran states. “But we are all to be the chosen kindred of our true Monarch upon their return to this mortal plane, are we not? Best you keep that in mind before you speak, next time.”
Nimbus Kicker’s expression hardens, shooting daggers with her eyes towards Platinum Legacy, who is visibly, if silently, gloating. Of course he doesn’t see any problem with this; to him, the cult’s beliefs are simply an easy excuse for allegiance against Celestia’s reign. To him, when Celestia falls and Nightmare Moon fails to return to Equestria, it’ll be open season for the nobility to take their rightful place.
But Nimbus Kicker knows better. She’d seen the face of the fallen alicorn in her dreams, knew quite well that should the cabal succeed, it will mean Nightmare Moon’s return. Idly, she casts a look at the Chiropteran. Does she know that most of her allies don’t truly believe in her deity? She can’t be sure, her face totally dispassionate as always.
The Chiropteran tilts her head very slightly to Nimbus Kicker, observing her reaction. “You need not be so concerned, scion of the Kicker clan.” Is her voice mocking, or is she actually trying to be reassuring? It’s impossible to tell. “Our illustrious monarch is willing to forgive your predecessors’ missteps. Your allegiance in this hour of need is more than enough to gain Their favor. So long as you remain true to the cause, you need not fear. After all, were it not for your beloved Shadow Kicker, your kindred would not have your connection to our liege. Truthfully, I must confess a certain degree of envy.” A thin-lipped smile finds the Chiropterans face.
Nimbus Kicker hardens her gaze and looks away. Clearly, she’d already shown too much. “I can only pray that is true.” Is all she hisses out. Pray to whom, exactly? A sardonic voice in the back of her mind ponders.
“Enough of this squabbling, already!” Chancellor Ivy proclaims from his throne; or more accurately, the dim silhouette formed of magical light in the shape of Chancellor Ivy proclaims, with the actual pony still being away at his manor in eastern Equestria. “We have more pressing issues to consider. Canterlot is still breathing down our necks for that diversion stunt you had us pull. Not only did your assassination attempt fail, but Celestia’s new tax policies are being pushed through regardless.”
“We are quite well aware of your predicament, Ivy.” Platinum Legacy states. “I had hoped that keeping a low profile, perhaps throwing up a couple false leads, would be sufficient to divert Celestia’s attention. But it would appear that the Princess has more care for that ... snivelling commoner than I’d have thought possible. I had hoped it would not come to this, that with the proper... encouragement, Celestia would see reason. But at this point, it seems practically confirmed to me that she is fixated upon ousting the very families who founded Equestria, and upending the natural social order. As such, I have made overtures to our allies to begin preparations for a more extreme solution.” The aristocrat nods to the Chiropteran.
“I could have told you that.” The bat-winged pony retorts. “We have wasted ample time with your hesitancy. I am glad to see that you have finally realized where your loyalties truly lie. The usurper betrays all who are loyal to them, in time.”