The Sentinels: The Conversion Bureau

Twilight was holding her head out the window of the moving van gazing ahead at the barrier that protected Equestria from the rest of the world, which was just now coming into view. The barrier that could only be seen by those with magic, namely unicorns; and that humans were incapable of passing through. To Twilight it looked like a giant bubble giving off a soft white glow, but to humans it would seem like an invisible brick wall, ‘It’s a wonder that nothing has ever crashed into it, especially considering how much it’s apparently grown since we began moving out of Equestria.’ Twilight thought.

When Twilight first began working at the Conversion Bureau, Princess Celestia had informed her that the barrier surrounding Equestria had once extended only a short way off its own coastal border, but as the islands population increased and more humans chose to undergo conversion the barrier expanded. It was a phenomenon that researchers were still examining, the only thing they were able to determine thus far was that the barrier was efficiently decontaminating the planet as it grew, and this became even more apparent when it finally reached the mainland earlier this year.

She pulled her head back inside the van. The original interior had been torn out and redesigned to accommodate up to five ponies in relative comfort. There were five small cots arranged around the van, each large enough for a single pony to rest on. In the corner was a tank of fresh drinking water and beside the tank was a bale of clean hay, for if anypony got hungry during the trip.

The transport van Twilight boarded had left early the previous evening, and they had traveled all night only stopping twice to let the ponies out to stretch their legs and to relieve themselves. It was now nearing midmorning as they approached their destination. Twilight walked to the front of the passenger area and slid open a panel revealing the front seats and the driver.

“We are here now Bradley.” Twilight said to the driver, knowing very well that he couldn’t see the barrier himself, “You can let us off now.”

“Sure thing Miss Sparkle,” replied the driver. He was a middle aged man, balding with a rather large gut hanging over his belt.

The van came to a stop and a moment later Bradley opened the back door. Twilight and four other ponies hopped out of the van onto a grassy field. She paused a moment to take in the scenery. Straight ahead was the ocean, the salty scent was carried to her nose by the gentle breeze blowing off the water. Off to the right was a dense forest of maple and oak trees which ended right at the edge of the barrier.

Twilight turned to face the driver again, “Thank you for your help, and have a safe drive back.”

Bradley replied with a simple “Any time,” he then closed the back of the van, climbed back into the driver seat, started the engine and drove off the way he came.

Twilight looked back at the four once-human ponies she traveled with. Two of them were pegasi; one was white with a fire red mane and tale, the other light blue with a dirty blond mane and tail. There was one earth pony with a grey coat and navy blue mane and tail. The last was a beige unicorn with an orange mane and tail. All four of them were male. The unicorn was staring intently at the barrier, but Twilight noticed that the blue pegasus was wearing a sad expression.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked the unhappy pegasus. “You said your name was Marcus right?”

The pegasus replied, “Yeah, that’s my name. I was just thinking about my parents is all; will I ever see them again?”

Twilight remembered the married couple at the orientation asking about their son’s whereabouts. ‘Those must have been his parents,’ she thought. “Don’t worry. Your parents will be staying at the bureau for about seven days, and then they will be taken to Equestria just like you are now. After that we will do everything we can to get you back together with your family.”

The pegasus brightened up after hearing her answer and excitedly struck up a conversation with his friends.

Twilight watched them talk and laugh a little longer before finally announcing, “Alright now, our transportation to Equestria will arrive shortly, so we should probably go inside the barrier to wait where it will be safer.”

Marcus piped up, “Barrier? Where? I don’t see it!”

“It’s right in front of you, you dolt,” sighed the beige unicorn.

“Only unicorns and other creatures able to use magic can see the barrier,” Twilight informed the group.

The unicorn stuck his tongue out at Marcus who suddenly looked crestfallen.

Twilight giggled at this before saying, “Alright, come on now.”

Sure enough, as they passed through the barrier Twilight could make out what appeared to be their ride approaching from the distance.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, standing out of sight just inside the forest was a man wearing a white robe with gold trim. While evident that it once it held a dignified appearance, the robe was now tattered and covered in dirt and dust from years of travel. From within the shadow of his hood watched a pair of winter-sky blue eyes which boasted an unfathomable wiseness. The man known as Raymond watched the events before him unfold. He watched as the five ponies were let out of the van. Watched as the van and its driver sped back in the direction they came from. And he watched as the group of ponies walked through to the other side of the barrier.

“Now, let’s see how they are going to cross to the island,” Raymond said silently.

He noticed that Twilight was watching the sky. He looked up as well and noticed two small dots heading towards the shore. As they drew nearer he could make them out to be two carriages, each one painted a golden colour, and each one was being pulled by a team of two pegasi, all wearing golden armor. ‘I should have known this wouldn’t be easy,’ he chided himself.

Once the carriages touched the ground Raymond began to scan them carefully. ‘No compartments on the insides, nor handholds on the outsides,’ he thought. ‘The wheels however… yes, the axles, they appear strong enough.’

He waited until the carriages were facing out to sea and the ponies were situated inside, two to one carriage, and three to the other, as they were both relatively small. When he was certain that no one was looking his way, Raymond darted out from behind the trees and through the barrier. He sprinted across the field and slid under the carriage that held only two ponies without making even the slightest of sounds. Once there he wrapped his arms and legs around the axles of the carriage to secure himself, just in time too. As soon as he was in position the armored pegasi started to run. Before they reached the shoreline the pegasi started to flap their wings and the carriages lifted off the ground, rising higher and higher into the sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~

They flew for two hours before the island appeared on the horizon. Twilight smiled and said to Marcus, who stepped over beside Twilight to look for himself, “There it is Marcus, your first glimpse of Equestria.”

Unbeknownst to the two ponies in the carriage, they had a third passenger who was also viewing the same sight. Raymond, whose arms and legs were beginning to get sore, was grateful that he would be able to set his feet on the ground once more.

Not long after they were flying inland, those on the carriages could begin to make out a large castle situated on the side of a mountain with many towers of all different shapes and sizes jutting skyward. The castle looked to be made of a white stone, and the roofs of the towers were mostly golden coloured with bits of purple here and there.

“That is Canterlot castle, home of our Princesses Celestia and Luna,” Twilight mentioned to Marcus, although Raymond was listening in as well. “Canterlot is the capital city of Equestria, and our current destination. When we arrive, a decision will be made as to whether you and your friends will stay in Canterlot to learn about our customs and lifestyle, or if you will be taken to Ponyville instead, which is where I currently live, to experience the same lessons.”

Raymond noticed that they were beginning to descend, and that they were nearing the outskirts of the city. He waited until the last possible moment, and then dropped from his hiding place to the ground below, which was still a good eighty feet away. When he let go however, his robe managed to get caught in one of the carriages wheels for a moment before it untangled itself. This caused the carriage to bounce suddenly and both passengers stumbled. Twilight managed to regain her balance, though Marcus was not so lucky and fell on his face.

“Ow… What was that?” he complained while rubbing his sore nose.

“I’m not sure,” replied Twilight as she looked over the edge of the carriage. She thought she saw something white disappear into the treetops below them. ‘Did that just fall off the carriage,’ she thought, not wanting to scare Marcus, ‘I’m going to have to report this to the Princess.’

A few minutes later, Raymond emerged from the small grove of trees he fell into rubbing his head. Nothing broken, no cuts or bruises, and other than a strong dizzy sensation and a growing weakness throughout his body Raymond was fine.

“I didn’t think I would feel the effects this strongly,” he said weakly. “I’d better finish what I came to do quickly before my time runs out.” And with that he headed towards the city; that is until a magically amplified voice from behind stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Halt trespasser!” the owner of the loud voice yelled.

Raymond turned around to see who the voice belonged to, and he saw that it was an alicorn who had spoken. Her coat was dark blue and a white crescent moon was clearly visible on her flank. She had a flowing ethereal mane and tail which reminded Raymond of a starry midnight sky and from under her forelock glared a pair of dark cyan eyes. Upon her head just behind her long horn rested a tiara of black obsidian, and an obsidian peytral plate emblazoned with the same moon as the one on her flank covered her chest.

“Ah, Princess Luna,” Raymond bowed low. “It is an honor to finally meet you.”

“I see my reputation hath preceded me,” responded the princess flatly. “I haven’t the slightest idea how thee managed to infiltrate the barrier protecting this fair land, nor how thou art still able to continue drawing breath; but for thine wellbeing and the protection of this land I must have thee removed from this place, with force if necessity bids it!”

“I can understand your concern Princess, but I cannot leave until I finish what I came to do,” Raymond calmly responded.

“So be it,” Luna growled. “Then it is with force that I shall have thou removed!”

The princess of the night jumped high into the air, and plunged toward him.

Not bothering to move, Raymond muttered to himself more in resignation than as a question, “Why must it always come down to violence?”

He locked his eyes with those of the Princess of the Night and extended his arm, his palm facing his assailant. Luna was perplexed by the man’s action, and her breath caught in her chest when his palm began to glow with a faint blue light. She didn’t know what the man was trying to do but some nagging suspicion in the back of her mind was telling her to change course, however before Luna could respond she found herself trapped in a translucent blue orb. Startled, she tried kicking the barrier, but to no effect. Her horn emitted its own blue glow and released a bolt of magic that was absorbed into the thin membrane.

Angered, Luna regarded Raymond, “I have no idea how thou art are doing this, but I demand that thou release me at once!”

Even as Luna spoke Raymond was lowering his arm and the orb descended as well. Once it made contact with the ground Raymond dropped his arm, the orb fading along with the glow of his palm. Once Luna was free he collapsed to his knees, sweat beading on his brow and his breath coming in short ragged gasps.

At first Luna was furious, but she calmed down significantly after seeing the state that the man was now in.

“Thou used magic, but humans are incapable of such a feat,” the Princess stated.

“Perhaps humans are incapable of using magic, but maybe not, and maybe they simply lost the ability to do so,” Raymond responded cryptically, seeming to have regained enough strength to stand.

Luna lowered herself into an attack ready position, but the man just raised his hand again.

“Relax, I mean no harm in my visit,” the man said steadily. “Though I do have a goal to accomplish and only a short time left for me to complete it.”

“And what is this task that thou hast chosen to pursue?” Luna inquired.

“I have come to observe and no learn, nothing more and nothing less,” Raymond calmly replied.

“So, thou art a spy,” was Luna’s immediate accusation as she prepared herself to attack the man once again.

“How can someone be a spy if they’re not working for anyone?”

“How do I know that thou art telling the truth?” Luna retaliated.

“Point conceded,” Raymond said with a faint smile. “Nevertheless, I’ve come here to observe and that’s what I’ll do. Accompany me if you wish, the only thing I ask is that you do not inform Princess Celestia of our encounter, or that I can use magic. I was hoping to remain anonymous for the time being, but sadly you discovered my presence.”

All Raymond received in response was a skeptic look from the regal equine.

“I promise that I’ll answer any questions that you and your sister may have at a later time,” he finished as he turned and stumbled towards the city.

The Princess of the Night simply stared after the man in mild confusion. Unsure as to what she should do, Luna spread her wings and took off into the afternoon sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere in Canterlot city, Twilight was saying goodbye to Marcus and his friends after she led them to where their instructors on pony culture and life were waiting.

“Now, to go see Princess Celestia,” Twilight said trotting off towards the castle, happy to be able to see the Princess again after so long.

Soon after, she reached the main gatehouse to Canterlot Castle. One of the guards, a white unicorn stallion clad in golden armor, strode forward to meet her.

“The Princess has been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” the guard said gruffly. “Please come this way.”

Twilight fell into step behind the guard as he escorted her to where Princess Celestia was waiting.

After several minutes of walking the pair arrived at a large solid wood door decorated in golden painted designs. The guard opened the door and stepped to the side allowing Twilight to enter.

The royal audience chamber was a large ornate room with grand marble columns supporting the high ceiling. There were several stain glass windows depicting key historical events, at the end of the room was a large golden framed window overlooking the royal garden. Gazing out this window was none other than Princess Celestia. Her coat was purest white, sparkling amethyst eyes that spoke of wisdom gained from living countless ages. Her mane and tail a bright ethereal rainbow, seemingly alive as they gently fluttered as though caught in a slight breeze. Her cutie mark was that of the sun, which she used her magic to raise every morning and lower each night. Resting just behind her horn was a golden tiara inset with a glittering amethyst, and covering her chest was a golden peytral plate with another embedded amethyst. Upon hearing somepony enter, the alicorn ruler turned around, galloping towards her was Twilight wearing a big smile on her face.

“Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,” the princess greeted warmly, a smile spreading across her own face, “I’m so glad to see you again.”

“I’ve missed you so much Princess,” Twilight said as she nuzzled up against her mentors side. Being six feet tall, the princess was still a fair bit taller than the unicorn.

“Tell me, how are things at the bureau?” Celestia inquired.

“Everything is running quite smoothly,” Twilight eagerly replied. “The humans still seem to have mixed emotions about it all even after signing in at the bureau, but after the conversion process they all seem to enjoy being ponies just fine. One problem I think we should aim to fix as soon as possible is reuniting families that get separated converting at different times.”

The two of them, beloved mentor and faithful student, spent a long time simply talking and catching up on events both inside Equestria and out.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the city, Raymond was wandering the streets between the clean, white stone buildings. He watched the citizens go about their daily lives while trying to draw as little attention as possible, which was proving to be quite difficult considering how many ponies there were. To Raymond it looked as though the city was nearing overpopulation, stores were incredibly crowded and at times it was hard to walk without bumping into somepony. He had no trouble navigating the crowds of ponies himself, anypony who noticed him either stared at him in fear or quickly moved out of his way. ‘Understandable,’ he thought to himself. ‘Most of these ponies have probably never seen a human before, and they definitely know that humans cannot even cross the barrier.’

Raymond was aware of one set of watching eyes in particular. Shortly after entering the city he felt Princess Luna circling high above his location, he couldn’t see her though so he assumed that she was using magic to conceal herself.

Despite the looks he was receiving, Raymond managed to accomplish what he had set out to do, not to the extent that he wanted, but to a satisfactory amount nonetheless. Everypony seemed friendly and kind to each other, not a single pony showed a hint of hostility to another except for a few pranks he noticed being pulled for fun. He smiled; even in the center of such a busy city a calm peacefulness permeated the air.

‘I’m sure kings of old would have dubbed this place utopia,’ was Raymond’s last thought before succumbing to his growing weariness and blacking out.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna watched the man from high above the city street, unnoticed by all except for the most perceptive of eyes as she drifted by in the form of a blue wispy mist. She did not trust the man enough to leave him be, yet she felt inclined to honor his request in keeping silent to her sister about meeting him. She felt compelled to believe that he meant no harm, yet she was frightened by what the appearance of this man might mean for the fate of Equestria.

Her conflicting thoughts were soon interrupted when the man she had been watching collapsed unceremoniously to the ground. Luna was taken by surprise, the way he walked and observed his surroundings did nothing to indicate anything wrong with him, ‘Perhaps this is what he meant by not having much time.’

She started drifting towards the unmoving body, but she stopped her descent when she noticed a small group of Royal Guards hurrying towards the scene of the disturbance.

Following through with the man’s request Luna turned and flew back to the outskirts of the city. Not wanting to go back to the castle quite yet anyway and not being needed to raise the moon for a few more hours, she decided to continue her leisurely walk through the peaceful areas surrounding Canterlot.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the royal audience chamber, Twilight and the princess had begun to discuss more serious issues.

“Up until now we’ve only been telling the new ponies why we decided to move out of Equestria once we have brought them here, that we are beginning to experience the problems of overpopulation. The new ponies are accepting of our situation and they support our choice for the most part.” Twilight said to Celestia. “But we need to start telling the humans this information also. They believe we are keeping secrets from them, so more and more people are starting to refuse to go through with the conversion.”

Twilight paused for a moment before continuing, “The humans are beginning to suspect our situation, since the only real traffic across the barrier is out into human cities while no new ponies have been allowed to take up residence in Equestria.”

“I completely agree with your observation Twilight,” Princess Celestia replied. “We do need to start being more open with the humans about our situation. Concerning the flow of ponies out of Equestria, I am hesitant to even allow many of the ponies who wish to move to human cities to leave.”

“Why is that?” Twilight asked in surprise. “That won’t help our population crisis at all.”

“That may be true,” Celestia responded with a frown. “But I am wary of the Human Liberation Front, they have been peculiarly quiet during these past few months and I fear they are planning something big. But what worries me most is the fact that I have felt a magic unknown to both myself and my sister Luna probing Equestria, almost as if someone is searching for something.”

Puzzled, Twilight asked “But how is that possible? I thought there wasn’t anyone with magic outside Equestria.”

Princess Celestia shrugged, she was about to say something when the door swung open and two guards entered.

“Your Highness!” one of the guards announced, sounding slightly flustered. “A human has been found in Canterlot City!”

“What?!” Celestia exclaimed, shock clearly evident on her face.

Twilight, sharing the same expression as the princess, turned to look at the guards. Sure enough, on a stretcher carried between the two of them a human lay face down wearing a dirty white and gold robe.

The princess rushed over closely followed by Twilight, and the guards set the stretcher down on the floor.

“Is he dead?” Celestia asked the guards.

“No Your Highness, he is just unconscious. Several eye witnesses reported that he was walking through the center of the city before he suddenly collapsed.”

This seemed to unsettle the princess even more. With a hoof she rolled the man over onto his back. As the body rolled over the man’s hood fell away, revealing a head of jet black hair and silver highlights.

This elicited a gasp from Twilight. “Princess Celestia, I recognize this man!”

The now more than surprised princess looked at her, waiting for Twilight to elaborate.

“When I was getting ready to leave the orientation at the bureau yesterday, this man approached me. He said his name was Raymond, and he asked if he could accompany some of the new ponies that were being transported to the barrier. I told him he could not as it is against our security regulations. After that I turned around just for a moment to pick up some things I had dropped, and when I glanced back he was gone. I didn’t even hear him leave.”

Celestia was silent. She examined the man carefully and after a few moments she noticed a strange silver key hanging from a chain around his neck. She reached out to touch it, and instantly recoiled, appearing to those watching as though something just burned her hoof.

“That key is enchanted with an incredibly old and powerful magic,” Princess Celestia stated grimly.

“Do you think that is how he managed to get here?” Twilight asked, concern showing in her voice and the way she held herself.

“I cannot be sure,” the princess replied. “Twilight, I want you to take this man back to the bureau and question him. For all we know he could be part of the HLF.”

“I understand Princess,” Twilight said with determination. “I will not let you down.”

“Good, I will have a carriage prepared for your departure immediately. Guards, take the man and escort Twilight to the courtyard. Your transportation will be waiting for you there.” The princess of the sun ordered.

Twilight and the guards bowed to their princess and left, the guards picking up the stretcher again before exiting.

After they left and the door had closed, Celestia returned to the window she was looking out when Twilight had arrived. Her mind going over all that had just occurred. She sighed, ‘All we can do now is wait and see what happens.’ Celestia stared at the sun setting over the horizon and said quietly, “Where did you go Luna? It’s getting late my dear sister.”