Discord smiled. "That might well have something to do with it. I suppose it also makes it harder to attack, and look more imposing. Not a bad idea really, so long as you don't like natural light." He took another look around the courtyard. "It doesn't look like there's any hierarchy among these Changelings; I suspect they all receive orders directly from Mauron, and barely interact with each other, from what we've heard. I suspect we could quite safely stand here a while to get a gauge of the comings and goings of the tower."
From the look of things, the guard was changed once every thirty minutes, and every hour somepony would head into the tower for about five minutes before returning long enough to sit a 25 minute watch.
"What do you think Frozen; head in on the hour, or take the places of the two guards and then just run in when nopony's looking?"
"I'd say we should replace the hourly guard," he said, "only, when we enter the tower we don't come back out. That gives us 15 minutes to find and dispatch Mauron before an alarm is sounded."
Discord smiled and nodded, a cigar appearing clenched between his teeth. "I love it when a plan comes together!" When the next hour rolled around, they pressed forward, ready to enact their plan...
(Lol A-team) Frozen teleported to behind the approaching guard that was preparing to take the watch, and used magic to knock him out. He then motioned for discord to get into position.
As soon as the guard approached, Frozen signed over as the next guard. The changeling perked up when he noticed Discord. "Who'sss that?" Frozen perked up, "Oh him? He's in training, new guy y'know?" Frozen nodded to Discord. "I ssssee," said the changeling, "All done, the mistresss is waiting."
Discord nodded to the Changeling as they passed. "In training indeed!" He muttered haughtily, once they were out of earshot.
Discord muttered something about being the one who trains as they made their way up through the tower. The interior was nowhere near as bleak as he had imagined; the walls were decorated with inlays of stones of many colours, white quartz, red marble, blue granite; all arranged in beautiful patterens, and studded with glittering gems. "Well this is much nicer than our tower. I'm a little jealous." He said, taking it all in.
"We could always move to this one!" He chirruped jokingly. "But, in all seriousness, I think I understand why Mauron has them mining, she wants gems!"
"Yes, and gems can be used to create all manner of magical items; we must be wary." Discord replied, checking his surroundings with a cautious eye as they continued up the stairs.
Frozen began to use his magic subtlely, to scan the area and search for any magical traps that could be waiting to snare them. The climb up the tower was long and arduous, but soon enough they arrived at the door to mauron's chambers.
"Only two today?" Inquired a sharp voice as they entered. It originated from what appeared to be a earth pony mare, sitting on an elevated throne at the centre of the room; her coat and mane were nondescript shades of grey, she wore elaborate armour, forged of some kind of obsidian, and clearly designed for form rather than function, but Discord barely saw any of that; he was fixated by the red jewel embedded in the pendant she wore around her neck; he knew he was supposed to be doing something, but he just couldn't look away...
"Huwuh?" Discord mumbled, tipping over and faceplanting. The grey mare chuckled; evidently this was not unusual behaviour for Changelings granted access to the tower. "Aheh, lets try that again," He said quietly, picking himself up and looking a little sheepishly back at Frozen. He turned his attention back to Mauron, careful not to look at the pendant. "Mauron! Your reign of terror is at an end!" He announced, casting aside his disguise and drawing himself up with a flourish.
"Wha- Get them!" Cried Mauron in outrage, signalling the two changeling guards beside her throne. They bowed to her and advanced on Frozen and Discord, horns lowered and glowing ominously.
Frozen stepped up onto his hind hooves and channeled cold air between his hooves. He glared at the changelings, and was about to strike when he remembered the one he had saved. He blasted their hooves with ice, freezing them in place. It was not of their own will that they fought, so he intended to immobolize them until the spell holder could be destroyed.
