Broken Mirror, Part One

Canterlot Vale Estate, Present Day

“So let me get this straight. You were captured by a group of humans…

“And experimented on.” Finished Dusk. “Wasn’t the brightest part of my life, but it happened. Now, that isn’t to say that some of the implants haven’t been-”

Archer held her hand up to interrupt. “If it means anything, I’d like to continue this tomorrow.”

Dusk glanced down at his watch, noticing it was almost six o’clock in the evening. “I’ll be damned… Yah, I don’t see a problem picking up tomorrow.”

Archer nodded in agreement while Dusk walked out with her to the door. “Do you need a ride back to town?” Asked Dusk.

Archer shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

“Alright then. Have a good night kid.”

Archer walked out the villa’s front gate, staring up the mountain towards Canterlot. “As if Dad running around in battle armor wasn’t enough…” she muttered.

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It was an hour walk up the mountain to the city, mostly on steep grades along the relatively new road. Archer was regretting asking for a ride, spurred on by the burning in her calves.

HONK HONK!

Archer turned around as a Warthog pulled up, an old earth pony in royal guard armor in the driver’s seat. “Need a lift?”

Archer was tempted to say no, but her cramps ordered otherwise. She quickly strode over to the passenger’s side and hopped in. “I’m staying at the Overlook Hotel.”

The stallion nodded and threw the Warthog in drive. “So how’d your interview go?”

That caught the mare by surprise. “How the hell-”

The stallion held back a smirk. “That was my grandson. He called me once you left, said you might need a ride.”

“And here I thought I was on my own…”

“Trust me when I say that Dusk is the last pony to forget about anything.” Assured the stallion. “Anyway, I’m Meteor Shower.”

“Figured that much.” Archer sat back, looking out the side of the Warthog as they entered the city. For the duration of the ride, Archer spent her time flipping through her notes, having consumed the majority of her notepad throughout the day.

“So how far did you get?” Asked the old stallion.

Archer shrugged. “Up to where he got kidnapped.”

“Ah…” Meteor drove the Warthog right up to the hotel door. “Just don’t expect him to talk about his time with ONI. The only pony who he talked about it with is Dart, but she’s kept her lips sealed on the matter.”

Archer hopped out of the Warthog and turned to face the General. “So expect there to be some holes in the story then?”

“Not holes per say…” Meteor sat back in his seat, throwing the Warthog into park. “Tell you what, Dusk isn’t the only source of information you can tap.” Archer looked at the stallion with confusion. “I’ll get you copies of all of our reports and files on the end of the war with the Enclave, assuming you’re interested.”

The mare leaned back into the Warthog deep in thought, suddenly looking up at Meteor Shower. “Count me in.”

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Canterlot Vale Estate, the Following Day

Dart walked back to the Villa door the following day, fresh notepad in hand. “Ok, should be easy enough…” Knocking on the door was easy enough. Seeing a tired Dusk was a different flavor of surprise all together.

“Morning kiddo.” In his free hand, Dusk was holding a mug of black coffee.

“This isn’t a bad time, is it?”

Dusk shook his head. “Nope. Just didn’t get much sleep last night.” As the pair walked back to Dusk’s office, they passed a green mare snoring away on the couch. Dusk shut the door to the office and lit his horn off briefly. “No reason to wake up Dart… Now, where were we?”

“Well, you were captured by some humans…”

Dusk snapped his fingers. “Ah, so let’s skip ahead to when I got promoted to command a contingent of supersoldiers on a human ship then.”

Archer sighed. “What?”

“I’m serious!” Insisted Dusk. “It was a few days before I got home… Wait, hold on a second.” He fished a picture out of his desk and tossed it to Archer. “Now, let me tell you about when I met Tom Lasky and Sarah Palmer.”