The Maud-churian Candidate

It was unprecedented that Maud would reject an assignment. It was unprecedented for that matter that anypony would decline duty to the ESB. That could indeed mean an end to that pony agent's relationship with the Bureau.

Maud pondered what could be the ultimate crux of this as she twirled some small rocks around on a table in her hotel room. It had become clear. All the time she had served with the Bureau was about crushing the free will of ponies a handful of bureaucrats considered "problematic" to society. Someponies else deciding who needs to be changed. It only now occurred to Maud how arrogant this line of logic was.

"Who watches the watchers? What if they are the biggest problem with this society?" Maud thought.

The conscience issue struck Maud. She had been willing to rehabilitate her own sister Pinkie yet the thought of figuratively taking a mom away from her daughter was just too much. Maud was a pony of strong convictions when she had them and there was no condoning what the Bureau wanted her to do now. She looked at her badge quizzically.

Midnight eventually rolled around and Maud attempted to go to bed. That night Maud slept haphazardly and dreamt of a shadowed pony watching her. "Maud, Maud, Maud" was all he said.

Maud awoke to a knock on the hotel room door. She moved slowly to answer.

"This was to be delivered to this room without question. Doesn't say to who but it is stamped official royal business so who am I to doubt it?" the courier said and left a certified envelope on his way.

Maud knew what to generally expect and opened the envelope. She began reading the letter contained therein.

Agent Pie:

You requested feedback and guidance. The answer is that you should complete your assignments without question. There are procedures for correcting insubordination in every profession. With something as important and classified as the ESB there are of course higher measures of correction. You know too many high end state secrets for this attempted insubordination to be tolerated. This action borders on treason against the Royal Order. Consider yourself mandatorily discharged from the Bureau. It turns out that there's only one way out of the Bureau.

Best wishes in your remaining time,
The Board

"Oh that's so ominous." Maud said aloud cynically.

Maud knew she had to really watch her steps now. Something in her heart told her to go back and tell the truth to Derpy Hooves and her daughter Tippy. She owed them and everyone targeted for the deprivation of free will the truth. Equestria deserved the knowledge of and abolition of the ESB itself.

"They won't win." Maud added with determination. She then threw her badge on the floor and stomped it into power with one strong leg motion.

As a pony as versed in the ways of the intelligence underworld Maud knew how to make her steps. A sniper could be anywhere. She donned a vest that resembled her usual drab (but was enchanted to be arrow proof) and left the hotel.

Life was now an entirely different game for Maud Pie. She had not only been separated from her established career but she had become a fugitive wanted silenced. And yet nopony in regular society would know it. All the common ponies knew was Maud Pie the emotionless rock farmer.

She proceeded to make her way to the house of Derpy Hooves and Tippy. All the while her mind was rife with thoughts of the entire situation. It was a wonder how Princess Celestia could allow such a great violation of pony rights like the ESB operation to go on. Did she know the finer details of what was happening? She'd have to answer for it one way or another when Maud exposed it, or so Maud was determined.

The entire way Maud was routinely looking over her shoulders. Any commoner pony who knew her would have taken the unusual speed of her movement with curiosity.

She reached the gate to the Hooves house. Tippy was outside playing with a ball. It reminded Maud of when she and Pinkie wear fillies having fun on the very rare occasions they could on the rock farm.

Tippy looked at Maud.

"Hey, you're the Baking Society whatchacallit pony! I'll tell mommy! I hope you brought some tasty goodies!" The fun and upbeat filly said as she darted inside.

Maud was lightly pleased that she would at least probably have a warm initial reception. Getting to the truth with Derpy Hooves would almost certainly be tougher.

It then crossed Maud in full force what could happen if she was seen by the watchers attempting to communicate with a task subject. Was this a good idea? Could everypony here be at risk? It was possible. Still, Maud felt it morally imperative to save this family from the clutches of the mindwash agenda.

Derpy arrived at the door.

"Hiya Miss Zesty! Come on in, I'll start some tea for us." Derpy said with mild cheer.

Maud was led inside and given a seat as Derpy went to the kitchen for the aforementioned tea. Maud quickly pulled out her note pad and began to hurriedly write.

This is the new itinerary. If I succeed in exposing this unjust program the Hooves family will be the first but certainly not the only ones delivered from the cruelty. My point now until my very end is to overturn the injustice I've helped strengthen in Equestria during my career in the ESB....

At which point the energetic Tippy walked up.

"Whatcha writing? A tasty new dessert recipe? A party list? Oh oh or a...." The cute filly began.

"Just some better thing I mean to do." Maud answered plainly and almost boringly.

Derpy returned to the dining area with a tray with tea cups balanced on her back with her wings. For such a supposedly clumsy mare she was well balanced and purposeful about handling the tea now.

In watching this it occurred to Maud even more now that Derpy had been marginalized wrongly as having a personality problem when in fact her vision and coordination issues were never her fault. If this was the case the ESB should have its name really taken through the mud she thought.

"Tea's ready Zesty!" Derpy said still using Maud's earlier pseudonym.

Maud took her cup and had a sip.

"Thank you Ms. Hooves. This may seem strange to you, but things of a very dynamic nature are going on. I wanna talk to you about a new recipe, a recipe of justice for you and your daughter and perhaps all Equestrians. And call me Maud." Maud began.