Single-Chapter Stories That Needed Formatting Checks
"Mrs. Dawn, I'd love to let you just walk away, but I can't while staying within the confines of my job."
"That's... what I expected, really. Any options but 'memory wipe' and 'stay' available?"
The sound of hooves clip-cloping across the floor was cause for her to open her eyes, only to see the Director of Solar Operations, Flash Burn, smiling at her with an odd expression on his face. "No," he said, "but I have some good news; a lot of ponies are excited to have you, should you decided to stay."
"That doesn't sound like very good news. There's still the whole problem of not being able to leave the castle for six months. It puts a downer on anything like that, you know?" Radiant said.
"No, I don't. I was one of the ponies who hardly ever left the castle anyways so it didn't affect me too much. I assume it's a different case for you? You got anyone of importance who might miss you? Friends, family, significant others?" Flash replied, with a tone that almost made it sound like he cared or that it mattered. Radiant wasn't a fool. His lack of answer to her question told her that he was waiting for a decision.
If she chose to have her memory wiped, it wouldn't be the end of the world or anything. It was just that it was heavily implied they didn't have the high-level unicorns available that knew how to look through memories in exact details, so she'd probably end up with a good three months of memories missing.
Which brought her to her other choice. The option of staying. If she stayed, she'd be throwing away five months of her time to the training and bureaucracy that were involved in the new job she'd have. What that job was had yet to be determined, but she was assured that since it was a near permanent assignment she was merely being evaluated for where her skills lie at.
If she were to stay, and get through the job assignment and her training period, she'd be a member of Solar Operations for as long as she was able to work, and sworn to secrecy until she died. Depending on her chosen position, that could be anywhere from nine days to 90 years. That wasn't a prospect she was looking forward too; not being able to tell anyone of your daily activities beyond "I'm a Royal Guard". But still...
She was jostled out of her thoughts by Flash Burn saying, "If it affects your decision any, we've determined what your assignment is. Do you want to know, or would that make it harder?"
That was an odd question. Why would she not want to know? If she knew what she'd be walking away from, it would matter afterwards would it? She'd either get the assignment or not remember it, right? The fact was, though, that in reality she wouldn't be able to handle knowing or not knowing. So she opted for the safe solution by saying, "I'd like to know. It'll help, despite the difficulties that might come with the knowledge."
Flash Burn got the same strange look on his face again before it changed to a neutral one again. "Personal Guard. More specifically, Princess Celestia's."
That made it easier, at least. Guard duty was protecting ponies, no matter who said ponies or pony were.
"That helped, Director Burn. I've come to a decision," Radiant said.
Flash Burn smiled a small smile and asked, "Well?"
"I've decided to stay. The job seals the deal, Director."
That made him smile, a full one this time, and it kept as he said, "Well then let me officially welcome you to Solar Operations, Corporal Radiant Dawn." As he said it, he moved aside and opened the door and said, "I'll have someone collect you tomorrow morning. Dismissed." And then he walked out, leaving Radiant alone with her thoughts.
And as she got up and walked towards the door, an odd thought struck her. She was in it now, and there was no going back.