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Prologue
In hindsight, he probably shouldn't have tempted that fire-breathing Unicorn. It was just his luck that he now sat on a rickety old recliner within the Director’s office, awaiting a harsh reprimand, a possible demotion and hopefully some burn cream. Director Furor still remained gazing out of the single window in the room, and had yet to even acknowledge the Pegasus’ presence. Heaving a weighty sigh, Just Luck slouched slightly in his chair, every second passing adding to the realisation that this could be his last meeting with Furor. Nopony had been killed during Mission Pavilion, but he knew that didn't mean they couldn't of been injured during the escape. The fault was only his own, and Just was more than ready to live up to the consequences of his actions.
'We aren't letting you go that easily, Luck,' A gruff voice sounded from before him, making him start in surprise. 'You may have bucked up big time, but I'm afraid we -- and I still need you for a little while longer. Especially with the return of the CR.'
The dark brown stallion spun around, laying one calculating eye on him as if sizing him up for another mission. Just Luck stayed silent in disbelief, but didn't look away from his boss' glare. With a swipe of his left hoof, Furor revealed a digital file of multiple recordings that were more than familiar to him. One featured a minty blue filly running across water in pursuit of a butterfly, it dated back to four years ago and Just briefly wondered where that pony was now. On the next slide was an Earth pony who shifted their entire being into a beast, simply triggered via rage, and a Pegasus whose wounds healed faster than the most profound spells. There were ten ponies in total, all of whom he recognised from the Index.
'Why am I seeing this?' he questioned confusedly, not only had he assisted in the creation of the Index, but discovered some of these gifted ponies himself.
'Ever since you were assigned to the Rehabilitation branch, you have never failed us -- and I praise you for that,' Furor told him, sitting in the large leather chair behind his desk. 'But myself, Fidelity and others feel your time in Recovery is at it's end.'
The words hit him like a train on a track, if not harder. Everything he had ever worked for, everything he had achieved, created, discovered -- even almost died for was at it's end? Just Luck rose his head to meet Furor’s eye, making sure not to glance at the eye-patch, and nodded in glum defeat. Peering down at the silver eagle-shaped badge on his chest, the russet Pegasus unhooked it from his suit and tossed it onto the desk. The Director caught it in one clear move of a hoof, then chucked it back at him with an indignant huff. It was still as shiny as the day he’d become a member of G.U.A.R.D, the words Recovery Division written below the bird of prey. Just Luck hooked the badge back on his suit, then returned to listen to a certain earth pony.
‘I --’
Furor raised his hoof for him to stop talking, ‘What does G.U.A.R.D stand for, agent?’
‘The Garrison United Arms and Recovery Division, sir,’ Just Luck recounted from memory, wondering why he was asked such an commonly known question. ‘If I’m going to be demoted I --’
‘Nopony said anything about demotions, agent,’ Furor interrupted him without missing a beat. ‘Your time as an agent of G.U.A.R.D is merely approaching it’s pinnacle.’
‘But Mission Pavillion --’
‘Everypony makes mistakes, Fidelity has deemed all ponies involved fit to go back into the field. Despite that, you won’t be returning to Recovery any time soon, but something new.
A grin spread across Just Luck’s face, as did one on the Director’s. ‘We will be assigning you to your own individual mission, although it may be out of your area of expertise.’
His heart beat faster in anticipation and he swallowed hard, ‘What sort of mission is it, sir?'
'Let's call it a team effort,' Furor hoofed him a document as he spoke, 'with ponies who may or may not get along so well with each other. I want you to form a team of agents to take on special cases, and these are the agents I recommend.'
'What kind of "special cases" exactly?'
'Your mission overall, is to track down members of the CR, capture them and kindly interrogate them for information. They are far too dangerous to be allowed in public grounds, and we believe they are about to make their "mark" on Princess Cadence's Autumn Gala which will take place ten days from now on the Autumnal Equinox. Prepare your team for this event and see if you can discover what the CR are up to, understood?'
‘Understood. Thank you so much for giving me a second chance, sir.’ Director Furor gestured for him to leave the room, returning to stand by the window.
Just Luck wasted no time in opening the document, and was met with the profiles of four agents of G.U.A.R.D. Some of the names rang a few bells, and a certain Pegasus’ name exceeded them. The majority of them came from different Divisions, which meant they weren't going to play nice whatsoever. A rivalry between the Divisions had formed among students in the Academies, and fathom broke after graduation. No words could describe how much he was dreading this, but as Just Luck left the room with a pot of burn cream, he figured that it was a win/lose situation. The ponies in the document he'd received were... special, to say the least. But with each of their skills put together, they would fulfill this mission of theirs and be rid of the Crystal Renaissance once and for all.
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Chapter One
Solitaire liked to think that she was so much more than just a card game. But as she moved through the room of a casino, with a strut in her step and a deck of cards poking out of her leather jacket, thoughts weren’t quite enough. However, tonight she wasn’t here for a game, tonight she was here for business -- and it was best not to mix business with pleasure. Being one of the most adept infiltrators in all of Equestria was a title she wore on her sleeve. The Unicorn had a talent when it came to taking chances and coming out on top, perhaps even the reason behind her cutie mark. She’d never been caught, suspected or even noticed by the authorities for her little activities, but her gift had been observed by a certain association. The Crystal Renaissance.
‘Oi, Solitaire! Over here!’ An excited voice yelled at her from the rounded corner of the facility. It belonged to a certain cream coloured Unicorn she’d known for a great deal of time, who was waving her hoof in the air ecstatically. Someone seems happy to see me… she thought, narrowing her eyes slightly before diverting them to the entrance of the casino and back again.
After years of silence, the CR had become active once more and they weren’t afraid to show it. The general public found interest in them, ranging from people who read/watched updates on their official website (designed by yours truly) to avid supporters who hung CR banners on the roofs of their homes. Every government organisation feared them. Their ability to gather intelligence, their unspoken motive, their desire for all information to be shared with the public. For freedom of knowledge, of danger. Solitaire knew hundreds of important ponies wanted them gone, and that they wouldn't cease until they’d taken the CR out. That only fueled their appetite.
Upon reaching the table, she realised it wasn't just her friend seated there, but two other members of the Renaissance as well. Out of all three she’d known Nepeta the longest, having met her in the streets of the Crystal Empire, shortly after leaving the orphanage. By chance or maybe a stroke of luck, the Unicorn had taken her in. The mare was probably the most upbeat pony she’d ever come across, never losing that smile on her face and a glint in her lavender blue eyes. She had her red and purple mane flipped to the left of her face, wearing a mischievous grin as she gestured for Solitaire to sit on the chair next to her. Despite her discretion, she complied, slouching back and sorting through her deck of cards using magic.
‘So what’s all this about?’ She inquired, raising an eyebrow questioningly at the two ponies sitting opposite them.
If she ever needed to know something about the Renaissance, Dead End and Artemis were her stallions. Although Artemis stood as a leader of the CR, Dead End was definitely a second in command, with a lot more knowledge of the Crystal Empire. There was a strange depth to the icicle eyes of Artemis, and throughout the entire two years she’d known him she had never learnt a single thing about him other than his name. Dead End, she had spoken to a few times before, but not willingly -- he was kind of deranged in a way she couldn't describe. He currently sat mumbling to himself, red moon-shaped eyes wider than usual and Solitaire swallowed, shifting to make herself a little more comfortable. Something was up.
‘They’ll never be enough of us.’ Dead’s voice was no more than a wisp of breath. ‘But we need to act. Soon.’
Of course, and they needed her to be the lapdog as always. ‘So how am I involved in this?’ Artemis’ smile sent shivers running down her spine, but she didn't look away.
‘We’re taking action on the Solstice,’ Artemis’ voice was clarion, almost as cold as his eyes. ‘At Cadence’s Gala, and we need you to be in the room so the signal can reach into the area. To divert security.’
Time to get my infiltrator on. Ever since the formation of the Renaissance, the term 'infiltrator' had become a part of anypony's vocabulary. It was more or less a fancy word for hacker, which the CR were mostly made up of. Solitaire was proud to say she was one of their elite, and understood why they needed her assistance. They gazed at her expectantly, waiting for her response.
'What about G.U.A.R.D?'
Dead stiffed at the name and Nepeta choked on her glass of water; but Artemis remained placid. 'They shouldn't be an issue. All we need is a distraction.'
Although that last word confused her slightly, she didn't question it and nodded her head. 'I'll do it.'
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