The Conversion Bureau: Ties

by Skybreeze

Chapters

Joshua Winters
Arival
Restless Dreams
Tonight your host is....

Joshua Winters

The Conversion Bureau

Ties

A MLP:FiM fanfic by Skybreeze

Chapter 1

Joshua Winters

Joshua opened his eyes to the darkness around him. The man’s nose felt stuffed up from the dust in the utility hospital room. The old tired man’s face was damp and cold. As he began to shift his body weight, his metal flask, now empty, scrapped against the utility room’s floor. Wiping his face the tired janitor collected himself before exiting the small room. The old yellow cart was still intact and needed tending outside. Joshua had left trash from the hospital rooms pile up well beyond normal levels and it needed to be emptied.

Before he could however, each floor needed the bathrooms cleaned before leaving. Regardless if they needed them or not, it was a rule insisted on by his superiors.

Joshua sighed as he walked over to the men’s bathroom. Pulling out a sign from the side of the cart labeled ’NOT IN USE’ the old man placed it on the door.

“EXCUSE ME, CAN SOMEPONY LET ME OUT?!” shouted a strange voice behind the bathroom door.

Joshua opened the door and saw to see a small equine figure trot out. The beige earth pony sighed and blinked as he looked up to him with large green eyes. “Uh… th…thank you for letting me out,” said the pony in a medium pitched male voice as he blushed deeply though his fur.

“I’m really sorry to trouble you, I could not get out and uhh….” The pony turned his head and lowered his voice. “I um…well…you see…I’m not used to these kinds of bathrooms and…”

Joshua resisted every urge to shout and sigh at what the pony was trying to say. He did not want this equine to think him rude. The old janitor hated these freaks as he thought of them. These ponies, pastel colored monsters showed up out of nowhere and now were everywhere.

“I’m here to clean anyway, don’t worry about it,” Joshua said as he fished for a trash bag in his cart and cleaning supplies.
“Thank you sir, I have to go.” the pony said as he raised a hoof and smiled. Desert Sand then trotted over to the elevator, out of view.

Joshua shut the bathroom door behind him he began to clean up the accident. The middle aged man wondered what some Equestrian is doing here, in a human hospital of all places. Anger and harmful thoughts invaded his mind. This hospital was the last place he expected one of those aliens to come. Joshua thought he was safe from their influence.

“It is not her fault! Come be one with us! We offer happiness in our lands!”

Every day after work he would be harassed and heard these and many other phrases. They said the same thing, a better life only at the cost of his thumbs. Joshua would not stand for it, he hated these ponies. Every time they spoke it felt like it burned at something inside.

“NO,” he thought as he reached for some toilet cleaner as he scrubbed the bowl. The only way he would be at peace he thought, was if he downed the Draino at his feet.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and chimed a tune. Joshua reached into his pocket and noticed a new message displayed on the screen.

“Come to my office, we need to discuss something in person,” displayed the text on his old phone.
The old janitor entertained the thought of putting it in with the Draino in the bowl. He gripped the phone in his hands and squeezed hard in anger, nearly cracking the screen. “What could he want all of a sudden? Does he want to get on my case about how I’m cleaning again?” he thought as he worked to finish up his current job.

Not the job he was intending to work at, much less forced to. Joshua didn’t care which floor it was of the Brooklyn Hospital center, the floors were always the same. He cleaned the hallways or bathrooms, or picked up trash bags in each room on each floor. Pick a random floor and do the same thing on each floor. Waste enough time to fill up a day and the man was allowed a place to sleep.

Joshua stored the yellow cart back in the utility room and walked to the elevators. He pressed the call button and began to think back. As his memories stirred in his mind he rode to the 9th floor, awaiting his boss’s news.

****

*6 months prior*

Joshua walked up to the porch after a long walk. The man fidgeted in his old coat up to the door. He was both glad and exhausted, but happy to be home.

Some of his acquaintances at work joked about how it’s hardly a house. Almost a shack in size but still it was home to the Winters family. The home had two bedrooms and a living room that shared a kitchen and one bathroom. The outside had paint flaking and fading off from time. One of these days Joshua toyed with the idea to repaint over the unusual choice the previous owner used, light pink.

Outside he saw the lake view behind the house as Joshua turned the handle. The door never needed to be locked so there was no need for him to fish his pockets for a key. His family believed the community to be very trusting to allow the door unlocked during the daytime. Opening the door the tired worker is greeted the same way every work day.

“Hi dad!” shouted a young boy in the living room.

“Glad you are home, what kept you?” a sweet voice exclaimed while sitting on a small cloth couch. ”It is kind of later than normal.” She sat with one arm on an old cloth pillow and smiled as she saw him. Chess was now distracted from watching the news to greet him.

“Had another guy quit, well forced to since he was injured on the job. More work for the rest of us,” Joshua said as he began to take off his old jacket.

As the middle aged man sat his dirty gloves and jacket down, Joshua leans over to for a kiss. He could feel warmth calming them both down as they embraced. She was his true love, and loved everything about her. The smell she had of her old perfume, the long orange hair as it shined golden in the living room light. Joshua didn’t care how badly off his job was, his family was there every night and he was there for them.

They broke their kiss and Chess sighed and smiled slightly. “Dinner is almost ready, why not get cleaned up until then?”
Joshua nodded and walked off to their bedroom, disappearing around the corner.

The small 14 year old youth rolled his eyes and leaned against the edge of the couch. He was slightly annoyed but the fault was not with his parent’s display of affection. Lucas instead kept watching the holotv in the living room.

Lucas didn’t have many friends during this time of year, most moved away. None are his age, not that it mattered since 6th grade. The young boy has not attended school since he is over age for elementary classes. The only form of education was from government issued, mandatory classes on his old computer.

Instead Lucas kept his focus on the news displayed on screen. He scratched his head of dirty blond hair and half listened to the program.

“The small, nearly 50 yard bubble out in the Atlantic continues to expand and remains to be a mystery,” spoke the female news anchor on the screen.

Lucas sat alone on the couch confused and annoyed at the program. None of his shows were playing all day; instead it was replaced by constant, repetitive news all day about this ‘bubble’.

He sighed and walked outside and attempted to find another distraction. Lucas didn’t go outside without shoes not since he was much younger. The boy learned his lesson when his feet stepped on round pointy seed ‘stickers’ in the grass or splinters on the old dock.

The lake was dry and the shore extended past the seawall to almost past the dock. Lucas could not swim anymore since it was so shallow and also because the water is slightly toxic. He instead stood on the dock thinking to himself.

Before he could zone out his surroundings, the noise of a car reaches his ears. Lucas glances over and sees it pulling in front of the house. The teen thought it was strange to get visitors by car in this town since most could not afford one.

****

Joshua finished his daily shower and put on his night casual clothes as he heard the knock on the door. “I’ll get it!” the damp, middle aged but fully clothed man shouted as he walked up and opened the door. Chess sighed from behind the small kitchen as she made dinner from their protein rations.

Opening the door Joshua let out a gasp as he saw his surprise waiting on the other side. A tall, slightly overweight man with dark hair stood in front of him. It was a man Joshua knew all too well from a long time ago. An old friend from over 2 decades ago stood in front of his home with a large grin on his face.

“Hello Joshua! It’s me, Robert remember?” said the overweight balding man as he held a small briefcase.
“HEY! Wow man it’s been what 5 months?”

Robert folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. “More like 11 something, you never did have a good idea of remembering time.” Joshua laughed and waved his old friend inside. They both then sat on the living room couch as Robert placed his small bag on the living room floor.

“Good to see you Robert, just in time too though this is a surprise,” Chess said
“All the way from New York to visit us, how are things there?”

The 3 of them continued their discussion, catching up on current events. Lucas joined in as they all shared dinner together at their table. Time passed as the group talked about current and past events.

“…And then Lucas was sent home from school that day for it! He must have been 8 or 7 when it happened,” as Chess said as she and the other adults laughed.

“ugh mom!” Lucas squealed as his face turned bright red.

The night went fast as they all laughed at old stories each experienced. Lucas was the most embarrassed by the stories told about his childhood. The young boy quickly ate dinner and retreated to his room as the others continued.

Robert then itched his clean shaven beard and asked “Say Josh why don’t we go to that old bar and get some drinks? I would like to see if that place is still open after all this time.”

“Seriously that dump?! They had terrible stuff then and it’s worse now.”

****

“Wow yuck you weren’t kidding man!” Robert said as he tried to keep his drink down. The balding man ignored the angry glares he got from the old bartender washing mugs.

“I tried to warn you!” Joshua laughed as he continued drinking.

“I’ll bet up in that nice, cold city you’ve got better. Why did you come back to this dump anyway?” asked Joshua as he continued to chug down.

Robert sighed as he placed his cup down on the old bar table. He mentally went over the question his friend asked him.

“Because I can’t stand that you still work in that old mine anymore for those bastards.” Robert cracked the joints in his fingers one by one as he let his words sink in. “I came here because I got you something you wanted, a job opportunity where I work.”

Joshua narrowed his eyes on the cup in front of him and blinked as he processed this new information. The brown haired man didn’t know if it was the alcohol affecting his brain or if he was tired from work. Every piece of old man’s brain was screaming at himself to jump at this chance of a lifetime. Joshua was happy but not surprised at the news. He knew the second he saw Robert that it was for a good reason.

In all of Joshua’s 37 years Robert Stansley was his only and best friend besides Chess. All 3 grew up together in the town of Haven and had many experiences together. Robert was even best man at his wedding 16 years ago.

He remembered how he never once dropped the rings Joshua worked so hard to buy then. Then Robert disappeared into his new life and job. They didn’t hate each other, only that they didn’t have much to say to each other.

Robert stood up and began to get ready to leave. “Talk it over with Chess first. If you want to go then here is some instructions and one plane ticket.”

“Only one?!” said Joshua as he raised one eyebrow.

“Sorry it’s all I could afford for now; consider it a late birthday gift.” He mentally thought Joshua would be more grateful as he heard the news. Robert paid his bill and slipped quickly into his long coat.

“You will have the same job as I do, it’s mostly accounting work.” He reached into his pocket and slipped a small card on the table. “Here is my card, let me know what your decision is.”

Joshua didn’t turn to face his old friend and spoke. “You are leaving already then correct? I kinda figured you wouldn’t stay long”
Robert smiled and shook the hand of his old friend. “It’s good to see you again, let me know what your decision is.”

****

“You know what I’m going to say about this,” Chess said as she slipped into her light purple night gown. “Only one ticket and a chance at a better life for all of us,” she said while placing her glasses on the night stand. Joshua sat on their twin bed thinking over what to say. It was an outcome he didn’t like but hated where their current lives would lead them.

Only a few jobs remained in the city, the only work remaining was contracting work in the old mine on the edge of town. Ferven allowed anyone to work and offered stable income, provided people could last collecting old resources in terrible and hazardous working conditions.

Joshua turned and kissed his wife and spoke, “I know you will say no, I would say no as well, but I don’t want my son to do the same kind of work I ended up doing when he gets older.”

They were both silent as they knew what was going to happen to them. Joshua would be apart from his family but their small home they lived would eventually be gone. The home all 3 lived in ever since his uncle passed away and gave it to their family. The Winters family lived in well before Lucas was alive.

Joshua and Chess knew that this town had no future. The company, Ferven only wanted resources from the mine and wanted anything to bleed it dry. Once there is nothing left, all the jobs will be gone, and the remaining people in town would be unemployed. This outcome won’t come for some years but it is not an outcome they will or want to wait for.

The middle aged man could barely keep up with his job as it is. More than once he caught himself almost making, what could have been a fatal mistake.

Today had been no different for Joshua. He knew the man for a long time. Mark had injured himself in the same area Joshua was nearly about to work at. Only it was luck, perhaps bad luck, which Joshua wasn’t nearby for him to be called to that spot.

“The mortgage is paid for the month, once I have enough money I’ll send more plane tickets back to you,” the old tired man said as he scratched his face. “It will be ok, really I promise,” Joshua said with a light kiss.

Both released their consciousness and their worries for the day. They would enjoy one last night together before he would leave in the morning to catch his ride. The couple in their slumber could feel warmth as they held each other close.

****

*1 month later*

Joshua sat in the section B7 terminal of the airport. The man was nervous but happy that he was going to see his family again. Resting the back of his head against the wall as he sat in his chair and thought to himself. The view in front showed a dark filled, cloudy sky through the large window.

Joshua’s new job had been a relief. Gone were the days of bruising random parts of skin or muscles. Gone were the lunches he could only eat partially, due to glass and rock shards on the end of his meals from his hands. Numbers were what he was concerned with instead of his back giving out from heavy lifting.

He didn’t notice all of the other visitors in the terminal watched in disbelief at the monitor displaying the national news. Each one of them spooked at what they saw except for Joshua. The news program displayed an alarming image. A giant bubble in the Atlantic was now much larger than it had been a month ago prior.

This impenetrable, radioactive bubble now became a large threat for everyone. It had begun to show what appeared to be land recently on the other side. Nobody could get inside to find out about this mystery island behind the barrier.

Previously this island was a simple but alarming mystery, now as it grew it started to give out excess bolts of radioactive, unpredictable energy that now caused harm for anything in its path.

The news anchors on the screen started shouting loudly as the signals faded in and out. Lights started to flicker and go out as parts of the city had blacked out. Finally Joshua started to notice what the problem was but it was too late. He didn’t react in time to notice the plane catch on fire in the air.

Arival

The Conversion Bureau

Ties

A MLP:FiM fanfic by Skybreeze

Chapter 2

Arrival

Joshua stood in his boss’s office quietly. His arms loosely limp on each side and expression grim. The man’s health physically was fine, but his mind was gone. Once again Joshua let his mind slip, not paying attention to his surroundings. He let his mind wander, distancing it from the reality of the situation most of the time. The man failed to notice the polite and friendly stranger that rode with him in the elevator. Even failed to notice when his boss was talking, directly at him.

“Wake up!” screamed Becker in his office at the man standing in front of him.

“Oh…right sir,” Joshua said as he stood in the doctor’s office, forcefully breaking him of his trance.

Doctor Becker wrinkled his brow, burning holes through the janitor’s skull with his gaze. The doctor had grey hair with a matching mustache. He wore a white lab coat over a blue button up shirt and grey slacks. In his left hand was his clipboard. Every time Joshua saw him he always had that with him. The only times he did not was when a cigarette replaced it.

Doctor Becker’s office seemed like it was cramped on one side. His desk was against the wall on the right side view of Joshua. Pictures and plaques filled up the shelves covering the desk walls. Piles upon piles of paper and debris covered his desk. It was barely an office, resembling a closet between rooms.

The janitor had been on his way to Becker’s office as soon as he saw the note on his phone. Joshua dreaded what the doctor was about to say to him. The doctor had been right about his funds 3 months earlier. He was left with no money in his account but the man was not the only one. Ever since the blackout 5 months ago many records electronically were destroyed or lost.

“You need to pay attention to this, this is important,” Becker said as he sat in his old red work chair behind his desk.

It was always important, Joshua’s debt was important, providing a place to sleep was important, his family was…

“I’m bringing you in here because your previous work ethics won’t cut it. Starting today, we are under new management.”

“Sir?” Joshua said as he raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, I know all about what you’ve been up to. You show up late to work every day, sneak out back to drink on the stairway, you are rude to patients, or just neglect your duties.”

Just then the office door opened and a beige earth pony trotted inside. His hooves softly clopped against the old carpet with each step.

“Dr. Becker! No need to be so harsh on the janitor. Why this nice stallion was kind enough to help me earlier!” beamed the small equine as he grinned up at Joshua.

“I’m a human, not a stallion, horse.” Joshua responded bitterly.

The doctor did his best not to grumble rudely at the small pony. Becker sighed as he desperately wanted a cigarette to help him through this change.

“Ahem….Oh excuse me, I didn’t properly introduce myself earlier.” The pony said as he attempted to deflate the noticed tension in the room.

The pony turned and faced Joshua and once again extended his right front beige hoof. The pony’s eyes gleamed light brown above his slight friendly grin. His fire red mane covered one side of his neck and was short on top. A similar fire like hairstyle was on the pony’s tail. A green cactus proudly displayed as the colt’s cutie mark on his flanks.

“My name is Desert Sand and I come from Fillydelphia. I’ll be overseeing this building as it is converted into a Conversion Bureau over the next week or so.”

“What?!” thought Joshua, his attention fully aware now.

This was the last place he expected to be changed into a Conversion Bureau. One of the last few holes left to escape to in the city. Ponies were everywhere Joshua went now. They were in his stores, theaters, even bars. Each always said the same thing if it was a “newfoal”, that is: a pony who used to be a human.

“Why haven’t you converted yet?”

The only main reason was that the Equestrian barrier is radioactive to humans. The ‘deadly bubble’ was expanding at a slow pace out in the Atlantic. Scientists called it ‘thaumatic radiation’ after an unfortunate discovery months prior. It was found to be only lethal to primates. Other creatures had no ill effects when in contact.

Humans fired their weapons in a constant barrage that became known as the “Three Days War”. Not that their weapons could do any harm. Anything such as bullets or missiles merely turned into harmless objects like petals or bubbles. By then the barrier had stopped releasing excess radiation into the sky. Shortly after that, the Equestrians made their presence known to the world. The ponies brought gifts at first and bright smiles. Baskets filled with fresh produce to the leaders of the world. Even one shiny apple was worth a fortune. Real, organic food was hard to come by.

The thought of new land to explore and settle became the talk of the world for almost a week. Humans hoped for a way to be let into this new land. Overpopulation was an issue as well as clean air. Newsfeeds that managed to get close enough caught glimpses of greenish landscape. It looked much brighter and cleaner than anything that was left on earth.

The truth of the matter was that humans could not physically enter the lands of Equestria by any means. This news angered many countries, accusing this new race of invasion. Princess Celestia, ruler and goddess of Equestria along with her younger sister Luna could not allow humans to enter even if they wanted. So an alternative had to be found, and fast.

The result was Conversion Bureaus, clinics or hospitals that would allow a simple and permanent change from human to pony. The process was free, given the person signed away their name. Humans would enter, stay seven to fourteen days and experience the best food and living expenses the world could offer. Randomly three times a day someone would be called for their turn for conversion.

The conversion process was simple, painless, and quick by drinking a solution commonly referred to as “Potion”. The fluid is a combination of human technology and Equestrian magic. Little is known on how scientists managed to produce such a substance in a short amount of time. Once someone drinks a few ounces of this nano-magic, grape tasting fluid, they would turn into a random pony type. Those that underwent conversion did not get to choose what type they turned into: either earth, pegasus or unicorn pony.

In just 5 months, conversion bureaus became steadily more common. The first few opened up closest to the barrier in the north eastern states. As time went on more and more were spread outward to many locations across the world.

The whole idea was barely tolerable for Joshua, even when he didn’t see them at his job. Now the realization that he would have to deal with it from now on stirred angry thoughts in the janitor’s mind.
“I wanted to let you know that you don’t have to worry, hardly anything is going to change around here. All the patients will either be moved or the ones that can’t will remain, until they get better or are willing to undergo conversion.”

Joshua could not believe this was happening so quickly. His feelings of anger and shock weren’t hidden well. Both Becker and Desert Sand noticed his grim expression. The two looked at each other with thoughts of concern.

“Are you going to be alright?” asked the small pony.

No, Joshua was not alright. The man wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, and didn’t care who heard him. He wanted to scream just as loudly as he did five months ago. It was his only response to the vision the man saw that day. An image of a wrecked plane on the ground seen through the glass burned into Joshua’s skull as well as his fingers. He barely remembered curling up on the spot, screaming until his lungs nearly gave out.

Events of that day were foggy at best from that point. The man didn’t pay attention then either. He didn’t notice the others screaming, or who helped him outside to his car, or the automatic weapons going off around him. Nothing made sense to him anymore. Because he didn’t pay attention once again, Joshua did not notice the person he hit with his car on the freeway.

The sound was loud, the impact worse. Joshua’s airbag went off right at impact, covering his face with hot plastic. As the car swerved in circles across the road, the defeated man simply let go of the wheel, ready to take whatever hits him next. The man was knocked out and left him and his car a wreck. At least he didn’t pay attention to how painful the final impact was.

“Joshua I know this must be a difficult change for you.” said Becker.

“…Yes sir”

“But this may prove to be a good opportunity for…”

“NO! I will not get converted because of this.” Joshua interrupted quickly.

“Nopony is asking you to convert. It has always been your choice. Why not stay home with some friends or family for a little….”

“BECAUSE YOU PONY FUCKERS KILLED THEM!” shouted Joshua.

Desert Sand shrank and flinched at hearing that. It felt like he was punched suddenly and left him without breath. His eyes grew wider than the already massive disks in his skull. The pony was shocked. The thought was impossible, unthinkable.

“N-no… ponies could never k-…take a life,” the equine squeaked out.

“Desert, his family was victims of the arrival incident.”

Desert felt saddened by the news. He was briefly informed on the events when he took this position. When the realm of Equestria rose out of the sea, the magic was unstable, chaotic. Excess magic shot violently out into the atmosphere for a few days after expanding rapidly. The result was blackouts, riots, and a long 3 day war.

A war where humanity tried to throw anything they could to stop the barrier. From small to large weapons, battleships and planes firing rounds constantly with no effect. Civilians took up arms and rode out on stolen boats in the thousands from New York. In the end the humans that came into contact with the barrier fell over and died. Magic has a negative, sometimes lethal effect on humans as well as electronics in high density or long exposure. Thaumatic radiation was what it was named after the incident.

The pony felt there was a deep sadness and pain coming from Joshua the moment they met in the bathroom. The equine thought the man was simply lonely, possibly lacking any sort of friendship. Though Sand knew what it felt like to be alone, he could not imagine losing somepony that close. The thought of one’s life, many lives, gone in a single instant sounded terrible, unthinkable.

This was not what he expected when he signed up. This new world was like nothing Desert had ever imagined. The horrors that were mentioned that came from the Everfree forest were better than what went on here. On earth Desert was met with mixed responses toward him. Some were positive, some ignored him, and the worst was those that hated him or even wanted to kill him. The human standing in front of him was the worst combination.

“I’m sorry for your loss, but nopony caused the chaos that happened on this side. In fact, Celestia did what she could to contain the danger, and…we are trying to help everypony so, that they don’t have to suffer in this world.

“Joshua you need to calm down, what happened was an accident,” Becker said in a louder tone.

“How can you expect me to be calm? Because of you, I’ve been stuck here in this fucking place!”

“Damnit Joshua!” Becker shouted as he slammed his hands on his desk. “It was an accident. Their leader admitted as much.”

“ADMITTED!? SAYING SHE WAS SORRYWILL BRING THEM BACK? She was never even put on trial, none of you animals were.”

It was all Joshua could stand any longer. The feeling was returning again, that hole tearing feeling inside. Many times since the accident, this feeling would return. Every time it was no less painful than the last. He had to leave, escape, something to get away from this. He had worked as a janitor for Doctor Becker for many months, endlessly every day to pay off his hospital debt.

“We just want to help you, please-”

Sand pleaded weakly, but by then Joshua was out the door. The man could no longer understand words and was very far gone, in more ways than one. Silence once again filled the room, with the ambience of light electronics buzzing softly. Sand was speechless and in shock. He could do nothing but stare firmly at the slightly open door at the end of the room. To him, every life was sacred and should be cherished. The pony learned that lesson many years ago as a foal growing up.

A soft click was heard in the pony’s ear. Turning he saw Becker pick up what appeared to be a strange rock or slab, the slab was glowing with an eerie dim light through its cracks. Sand could hear the man sigh softly as he pressed his fingers on some of the cracks, each making a strange sound.

“Jaquoline, call security now and tell them to get here.”

“WAIT!” screamed the small pony. “Just leave him alone for a while.”

“Out of the question, you are an Equestrian ambassador, if anything were to happen-”

“He hasn’t done anything yet, I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Before Becker could argue, the pony was out the door. Desert’s hooves clopped softly on the marble floor with each step as he walked down the hospital hallway. This was not how the meeting was supposed to go. He was supposed to get acquainted with everypony, well everybody. It was by far the worst introduction yet for the whole day. All others would have to be on hold until this matter could be straightened out.

How far does this man hate him or his kind? Was Princess Celestia truly responsible for what happened as the man described? The idea sent shivers down his spine and tail and terrified him. She could not have known that would have happened. Did she ever talk to this man, explain it personally? What if this man decides to take action because of these feelings? Has he done it already?

Sand suddenly felt slightly scared. Thoughts of what happened to the original ambassadors at the first bureau danced in his mind. Was something like that going to happen again? Was he in danger? One thing was made clear, for the first time in his life, another being hated him and it was not a good feeling.

*****

Becker leaned against his old chair, deep in thought in his office. Sighing he debated on the decision to call security anyway, despite Sand’s request. This was not the first time Joshua had exploded in front of him. The janitor was trouble but the doctor expected as much. Becker was sympathetic to his feelings on the issue a great deal. Almost he understood too well what it could have been like.

“Doctor shall I call security?” questioned the nurse on the line.

“That won’t be necessary, thank you.”

Becker hung up without a second thought. Many times he thought of just putting in a request to send Joshua away, for a closer look at his emotional state. Each time something came up that changed his mind. One deciding factor rested on his desk in a small frame.

Staring back at him was a smiling girl, no older than 7 with dark brown hair. The girl had a blue striped shirt and was holding a large rubber ball. Next to the frame was a note that was delivered just a few months earlier. Words on the note were simple but easily understood. Although the words stung, it ultimately was for the best. Doctor Becker did not want to wish anymore harm to her.

“TOOK EMILY, GOING PONY”

Restless Dreams

The Conversion Bureau

Ties

A MLP:FiM fanfic by Skybreeze

Chapter 3

Restless Dreams

“39…40…41…42” Joshua counted with each sit up.
Joshua lay on a blue plastic mat on the grey concrete floor. He had retreated to the 12th floor, well past any floors of activity. People did not work on this floor because it was an abandoned part of the building. To Joshua’s front are wooden walls through an open door. Windows also are covered up with and nailed similar material. Cables and loose wire decorated the sides with old graffiti painted in red. Either side of the man in the room was metal frame beams, supporting the building with exposed walls.

Above is a sea of cables and wires, a lone light hangs in the ceiling but has long since worked. If not for the light through the cracks in the window, the room would be in total darkness. The 12th floor was a nice place to collect thoughts or to be alone. Joshua did not sleep here but often came. He could choose any floor above 10 up to 16 as they were the same. The only thing that awaited him on these floors was darkness, dust and silence.

Joshua sat up on the mat and let his muscles calm down. His eyes looked down on his old tired hands. They were dirty, and filled with grime or cuts. The man would wash them, but then soon he would have to wash them again shortly after. On his left ring finger was one of his last remaining possessions, his wedding ring. Parts of its shine had worn with time and scratches could clearly be seen. The man sighed and thought to himself.

“Um, hello, Winters sir?” said a strange but familiar, masculine voice in the darkness.

Joshua became surprised at hearing another’s voice. He blinked and coughed some of the dust filled air in the room as a response. How did they find him up here and why are they bothering him? After hearing some soft clopping sounds against the floor, he instantly knew who it was. His first instinct was to get angry, shoo him away. The man simply was too tired to get into another argument again and instead decided to ignore the voice.

“I thought you might be thirsty and a bit hungry. I brought some for you if you would like.”

The man blinked in surprise and became curious. The pony brought him food by himself? How did the equine bring it exactly? The species doesn’t have hands but remembered they held things in their mouths…muzzles or whatever. Joshua was hungry but his feelings toward ponies were not the best. This was a pony he shouted at, yelled profanity at, and wanted nothing to do with. Yet here he was trying to be just nice. This caused the man some guilt at his previous actions. With a sigh he made his decision.

“….Alright, I’ll have some,” he said with a slightly bitter but defeated tone.

The beige pony beamed as he trotted slowly around the corner and coming into view. The food tray rest firmly and perfectly balanced on the pony’s back. This was very odd and it seemed impossible to Joshua. On the tray contained many different kinds of foods. A small and hot bowl of what appeared to be tomato soup with green cut vegetables on top with crackers, a small salad with a small portion of dressing, and a tiny pastry that looked like an orange tart. Finally there was a small tea kettle with 2 tea cups. The cups looked handmade, or hoof made if it was the case, with equine designs on them.

All of it almost made Joshua’s mouth water and caused his stomach to groan in anticipation. He had not seen such good food in a long time, not since he last saw his family. He sat up straighter on the mat and still marveled on how all of this was still perfectly balanced on the ponies back. With ease, Desert reached around with his long neck and firmly gripped the tray in his muzzle before setting it down in front of him. The pony calmly sighed as he sat on his haunches on the concrete floor.
The man began to reach out with his dirty hand nervously to the display in front of him. Joshua paused and blinked before looking back up at the pony in front of him. Desert was giving him a small non offensive smile from the other side of the room. This caused Joshua some discomfort and slight anger. The smile alone was almost enough to throw the food in the pony’s face. The pony saw his expression and quickly frowned and looked to the side. Joshua then simply put his arm down and stood up, ready to walk out of the room.

“I can leave you here to eat in peace if you like.” the pony calmly, causing Joshua to halt his departure.

Joshua thought for a moment and closed his eyes. He thought these ponies were monsters that came and wanted nothing but genocide of his race. In all the 3 months, the man has had contact with them, they were never rude to him, never wanted to hurt him.

“I hope this is ok for you to eat.” Sand said calmly and politely.

“Why would it not be ok to eat exactly?” Joshua asked cautiously.

“Well I tried to get everything fresh from the kitchen, it should be ok.” Desert quickly explained, though slightly shocked at the insinuation.

Was there something wrong with the food Joshua thought? It still irritated him that he found him when he was trying to get away from everyone. Joshua just then picked up on the pony’s hint. It was a completely vegetarian meal. There was not a single trace of meat on the tray. He knew ponies didn’t eat meat and it was now common knowledge that conversion bureaus didn’t serve them. Had they replaced all the bad hospital food already this fast? It still smelled nice and his body was practically begging him to try some.

With a sigh he sat back down and picked up the soup bowl and spoon. He noticed the bowl was warm but not hot. The man wondered how much the soup had cooled down as he dipped his spoon in the bowl. After tasting the first bite, Joshua was almost overwhelmed by the flavor. Not only was it not scalding hot but it was much better tasting than it looked. Each bite was more satisfying than the last. Only with each bite did he experience a hint of sadness that he could not explain.

The pony became ecstatic and he could not maintain his growing grin. “He loves the food! Oh thank Celestia for that.” The pony thought to himself. His ears drooped slightly in relief.

Joshua noticed quickly the pony’s express and his own face turned to a scowl, screaming for him to cut it out. Desert lowered his ears in response and returned to a neutral expression. Just that smile those ponies always had bothered him on an unknown degree. He saw that smile on almost every pony he met. That nice expression went along with their behavior. They always tended to be friendly, trying to be a pretty little helpful pony spirits. Those smile burned something fierce inside every time.

While Joshua was making quick work of the food in front of him, he noticed the pony pour tea into a teacup. The aroma of the leaves caught his nose. Joshua could not pinpoint the type of flavor it was. It smelled sweet and seemed safe enough. Desert noticed the confused look on the man’s face.

“This is a special blend of mine. I learned it when I was just a colt. Would you like to try some?”

Joshua was curious but hesitant. He briefly wondered if the pony was trying to drug him, maybe trying to slip him some potion in the drink. This idea was quickly pushed aside as he saw no sparkles in the drink indicating the nanites normally found in potion. It also didn’t appear that the pony was trying to deceive him. He had grown used to others acting for their own personal interests. Few people whom he had met didn’t act this way but it was enough to make him learn the value of being cautious. Taking a sip from his tea cup gave him fewer answers about its origin than before. Now along with a tangy sweetness was something like spice. It was sharp and strong almost spicy. He had to know what this mystery tea was.

“Who taught you how to make this again?” Joshua asked as he took another sip.

“Oh well you see a dragon taught me how to make it.”

“Excuse me but DRAGONS?! What, ow but how did, how can….just…DRAGONS!” blurted out Joshua as his confusion hit its peak. The response caused Joshua to choke and cough, and nearly spilled his cup over.

“Oh, I’m so sorry I completely forgot they are not exactly common here. Are you alright?” Desert said with a concerned look on his face.

The man simply shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. Dangerous, fire breathing dragons were in that realm of talking ponies and they expect humans to just GO there? How could they fight back without any hands? Even worse is that perhaps there were humans who KNEW there were dragons or other dangers but still abandoned their species anyway. Completely crazy he thought to himself.

“I’m sorry if that topic disturbed you, there has not been much contact with them. That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about however. It isn’t anything bad.”

Uh oh, here it comes, the question almost every pony asks him. Well his answer is and will always be no, no matter how many times they ask. He was not about to give up his fingers just because of good food. How could he join a race that was responsible for his family’s death?

“I looked into this ‘debt’ of yours and I’m sorry that it happened to you and your loss. Since the building will be converted any patients who had debts will be resolved and canceled. This includes you Mr. Winters.”

Huh? Did he just hear that right? His debt gone, just like that, no strings attached? He owed tens of thousands of dollars during his unintentional stay at the hospital, and in an instant it is no longer an issue? Joshua did not know how to take this news. He was confused but he knew he should be happy. This would mean he could leave anytime. He could quit his job, but where would he go? It was all that he had left in his life. Normally he would show extreme bitterness and hate to this alien species, so why was he acting so strange, was it the food? He could not accept their kindness, no matter what they did for him. Nothing they did could bring them back.

The man never thought about what he was going to do after his debt was paid, it never crossed his mind. Would he go back to Haven, try to pick up whatever was left of his home and start over? All it would do would buy some time before the barrier would come close in a few years. However, there was nothing left in Haven. The house is likely sold off for a fraction of a fraction of what it was worth. It was worth more than money to him, but his family meant much more than that.

“You’re welcome to stay here if you like so long as you don’t offend or hurt anyp- I mean anyone else.”

“And why would I hurt anyone else exactly?” the man asked with an angry louder tone.

“OH, I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to insinuate that at all. I don’t think you would harm anypony-uh ah I mean anyone…ugh.” Desert quickly said noticing again the tension in the room, waving his front hooves in slight panic.

The pony was really starting to become irritating now. Always apologizing, why can’t he just shut up and leave? Instead of saying thank you, he felt that familiar rage once again take control. He constantly showed bitterness, anger and resentment. Even though the man felt his anger, he could not shout and tell him to leave. The whole situation made him suddenly feel very awkward. Desert noticed the sad expression on his face again and frowned slightly.

“Would you like to talk about it some, it might help if I lend an ear.” The pony said as his ears dropped as low as they could.

Why does he want to know exactly? There were only 2 people who knew everything that happened after he crashed in the car. One was likely drinking themselves into a coma stupid and the other was not on the best terms with. He did not talk to others about his problems and hoped he would simply forget them, but never did. Joshua sighed and thought back to those memories months ago.

“I learned you were in an accident, and that you were in a coma for nearly two months. I don’t know much more than that other than this debt you mentioned. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but it might help you overcome the-,”

Joshua interrupted by slamming his fist into the tray, doing his best to hold back his emotions. This caused the pony to become slightly frightened and shivered slightly. Joshua sighed once again and rubbed his temples with his hands.

“If you really want to know I’ll talk. I’d rather be alone right now, but if I tell you can you leave me alone? I’ll tell you, only because you want to pay my debt and that meal helped.”

Joshua began to tell his events from before, recalling details ever since he woke up 3 month’s prior. Only two months after his accident and the death of his family.

*****

(3 month’s prior)

Doctor Becker took a breath of his cigarette as he sat in an outside smoking lounge. The lounge was fenced off for many years with only one door leading back into the Brooklyn Medical hospital. This used to be an entrance for the building decades ago, but now it is closed off indefinitely. The old doctor always became annoyed when he journeyed across the building for the one spot where he could smoke. The walk lasted a fair chunk of precious minutes he had for his break, but the dose of nicotine during the day kept the man’s sanity in check.

The hospital became crowded after the arrival of Equestria, with patients either wounded from the previous riots or from acts of violence by the local extremists. Because of workload, the doctor got little sleep and his eyes were showing signs of fatigue. His addiction helped however, Becker was also used to pulling long shifts over the years of his career.

Becker would watch the streets from behind the metal grate of the lounge. In his lifetime he saw many people across his vision. Some even were of the wounded he helped get back on their feet. One thing the doctor noticed was a new surprise one day as it came into his line of view. He saw his first pony walk down the street, more accurately it galloped. The small pony must have been in a hurry to be someplace fast, or it was being chased, Becker didn’t really remember.

The doctor would only see that one pony for almost a week before he got a second sighting. As time went on, the number increased to where he was seeing dozen, perhaps hundreds of varied ponies during the week pass his view on his breaks.

“Doctor, I’ve been trying to find you!” shouted a female nurse as she ran into the break room.

The nurse looked about 27 and was a brunette with her hair tied up in the back. She wore a matching blue shirt and pants and had a clipboard in her hand. Her eyes were blue and were wide and alert. She was breathing hard due to her frantic sprint to locate him. The doctor gave a sigh and turned his head to the distraction.

“I’m on a break Jacquelyn, come back in 7 minutes,” said the irritated doctor in his chair.

“But doctor I’ve been calling you on your cellphone for a while now!” shouted the nurse.

“I had it turned off, and you can stop shouting. I know he’s awake,” Becker said as he pushed his cigarette into an ashtray.

“Ugh, you’re being difficult about this again.”

“That’s what my ex-wife said you know.”

The nurse did nothing but glare at the dark haired man with glasses as she crossed her arms.

“…Fine, let’s go, any luck finding his friend?”

“None doctor, she didn’t leave any contact information and she has not visited in a few weeks. Not since her husband pa…”

The nurse cut her sentence off, instantly remembering the experience that woman gave while at the hospital. Losing loved ones not uncommon in the hospital, and she saw many families lose loved ones that day. She only remembered seeing his face once when he brought Joshua in. The man’s face was angry and tired. Before he said his name, the man was gone. She only knew he passed on somehow likely due to the war that started that day. The mystery woman simply cried in silence while Joshua simply laid silently in a coma in bed, unaware of anything around him.

Her name was Rebecca and she was to be married to the late Robert Stansley. Her eyes were amber and her hair short and curly. She wore a light red tank top and a business skirt that day. The woman overheard her screaming something into the phone that day, something about a promise to never go somewhere. Jacquelyn never fully understood but assumed it must have been that man’s final message.

The two walked down the marble hallway as Becker greeted each person he met, instructing them on what to do. How would this man react to ponies she wondered, she knew he had never seen one since he was in a coma. Her thoughts became interrupted as she finally listened to the conversation Between Dr. Becker and Dr. Menza.

“Yes Dr. Menza but I told you, your patient is Ms. Vicky Chambers not that Turkish man. This is not your operation” Explained Becker flatly.

“But the Mr. Ozma was brought in first! They need me as their neurosurgeon in there!” Screamed Dr. Menza.

The Neurosurgeon looked to be in his early 20’s Jacquelyn thought. He had straight, black hair and a clean shaven face. His face covered by a mask and gloves on his hand ready to enter the quarantined room. The surgery room was kept closed off to anyone to keep the area clear of contamination and disease. Other surgeons were glancing back and forth between the two with confused looks on their faces.

“The fact of the matter is that Ms. Chambers happens to be a celebrity, and it would look bad on the hospital as a whole if something were to happen to her,” Becker said coldly to the neurosurgeon.

Dr. Menza clenched his fists in anger and glared madly at him.

“So this is what it is all about then?...Fine, keep him stable until I get back.”

Jacquelyn was stunned. Was this the hidden truth of how this hospital worked? Did all hospitals work like this? The nurse found herself frozen in place unable to move. How could Becker simply say it like that with such ease? Glancing up she saw Becker stare at her with an irritated scowl.

“Keep it together Jacquelyn, we have work to do.”

“Yes Director.” She said weakly.

*****

Joshua stood before on his rusted old dock and stared out into the lakeside. It was autumn and multi-colored leaves were starting to fall from trees, landing on the ground or water. The water was much higher and he noticed the boat was still in the dock. He remembered he sold it years ago and didn’t understand how it was here. This lake had not looked so alive for over a couple of decades.

“Do you remember our date out there on the lake? You borrowed your uncle’s barge and we sat there for a long time. We hugged together on the slightly dirty seats and you were too lazy to clean them,” called a sweet voice behind him.

“Chess!”

It was her again! In his view was a beautiful scene with his wife in the center of his vision. She was smiling and standing in a white dress while her orange golden hair shined from the setting sun. They both stood on the old dock for a small moment.

“Is…is it really you? Oh how I’ve missed you, I knew you could not be dead!”

A single hand harshly pushes him off the dock and Joshua plummets into the shivering water. The soaking man tries to kick and push to stay afloat, gasping and coughing for air.

“Aaaa! Why did you do that for…Robert!?” Joshua said as he struggled in the afloat. Something was unusually keeping him heavier than normal, attempting to drag him down.

Robert merely smiled in his 3 piece business suit as he looked down and began to laugh loudly. The struggling man was unable to keep above water and his body began to slip under the surface. His body weighed down by some unexplainable force. Joshua needed air quickly and began to panic for his life. As much as he tried to push himself up the harder it became.

Finally he broke the surface and looked up into the sky but for some reason he still could not breathe. Relief would not come and it started to not matter if he was above or below the water. Joshua looked over to the dock and saw Lucas collapsed on the dock and shivering.

“Lucas!”

He tried to swim over and pull himself out, however his vision changed to below the water again deeper than before. Again Joshua tried as hard as he could to swim to the surface, using all of his strength left in his body. The man broke the surface again but still could not gasp for air. As Joshua looked over he saw himself in his old clothes next to his wife.

“Who are you!?”
The doppelganger said nothing and started to reach his hands around Chess and began to strangle her neck. Her eyes grew wide with terror as the woman tried to pry the attacker’s hands off.

“Get off of her!” Joshua screamed and lashed in the lake, trying desperately to pull himself out.

With a thud his wife collapsed next to her son and he saw himself grinning at his work on the dock. Joshua gave up his struggle, it was over for him. The man didn’t care anymore and noticed once again he was under the water near the bottom. The old man released his cares and closed his eyes to the dark waters around him.

*****

Joshua began to hear something softly in his ear, a small beeping sound in the distance. He had no idea what it was and felt very tired. The noise began to grow louder as his consciousness returned to him. Finally he attempted to open his eyes. A difficult task to do, he could barely make them twitch which was more than the rest of his body at the time. Cracking his eyes open he was temporarily blinded by the light in the hospital room.

He was in a white room with a curtain to the left. A small IV unit strapped to his arm was on his left side and his upper body was propped up slightly by the bed. He was wearing what appeared to be some sort of itchy hospital gown. Then he noticed the smell in the room, it was an awful smell mixed in with chemicals. It hit him all at once, the smell was coming from his own body.

Joshua began to question many things. How did he get here, when was it, what happened to him? The man noticed the large Holotv shown for patients in the room as it sat on the other end of the wall. Holotv’s were a somewhat recent advancement in technology, replacing the old flat screens half a decade ago. These new TV’s helped reduce weight and was less expensive than the prior models.

Turning his head to the left he noticed a tray that he could reach. On the tray sat a simple black remote. The man attempted to lift his arm but it proved to be somewhat difficult. It was not paralyzed but simply asleep, like the rest of his body for who knows how long. With effort he managed to move his left arm enough while keeping the IV unit plugged into his joint to grab the remote. Satisfied with his prize he turned on the HoloTV.

He saw some sort of news program with two individuals on the screen. He wasn’t sure if he could call both individuals since only one of them was human. The other creature seemed to look like a white equine with a strange multi colored mane. It flowed in the wind even though both appeared to be indoors. What was stranger was that this equine was speaking and had a horn poke from its head. A gold grown rested on the top of the head indicating it must be some sort of royal.

“Huh I thought this was the news, is this some sort of cartoon?” Joshua thought to himself.

Suddenly he heard the door open to his left and a man stepped inside wearing a suit covered by a white lab coat. He wore a tacky red tie with a simple badge hanging from the shirt pocket.

“He must be a doctor around here. I really am in a hospital.”

“Good morning Mr. Winters, I am sure you have many questions but I will answer them to the best of my ability. I am Doctor Becker, the director of the Brooklyn memorial hospital.”

“W…what happ-”

“Happened to you?” interrupted the doctor as he tilted his head down to look down on the man. “You got into a wreck Mr. Winters, and this all may be a bit hard to take in. You have been in a coma for 2 months.”

Doctor Becker reached for a nearby chair and sat next to the bed. His fingers flipped through the papers on his clipboard and scanned the contents.

“You were in rough shape when they brought you in. A few broken ribs, head trauma, and a long nap. Could say worse for the car they found you in.”

His body shook slightly with hands gripping the covers. He could do nothing but listen to more.

Your friend vouched for you and told me your story….I am very sorry about your loss,” said the doctor with a sad expression on his face.

“I was in a car I think…I was waiting for something…at the…”thought Joshua as he lay on the hospital bed.

Joshua’s eyes grew wide as the thought finally hit his mind. The man’s eyes became dilated and twitched slightly and he was soon once again filled with a sense of dread. He had forgotten the one most important fact before he was in a coma.

“Chess, Lucas….oh god…I was at the airport waiting for them…”

The doctor sighs again and places the clipboard on the nightstand and looked in Joshua’s face.

“I understand you are employed at Bluecorp before your accident. It was explained that ever since certain…visitors arrived that company went under. I’m sorry again but you no longer have a job. Now we are not cruel people here, we can’t expect you to pay right away. What we or should I say I can do is offer you a job here while you work to pay off your debt.”

“WHAAAAT?! No this can’t happen to me, where is Robert now?”

The doctor sighed and felt like he was starting to get a headache.

“Stop sighing! Where is he?” shouted Joshua as he gripped the covers.

“I’m sorry again Mr. Winters, he passed on shortly after you arrived. His girlfriend used to visit you, sometimes would just sit and read books while she waited for you to wake up.”

“This can’t be happening to me! Robert, Lucas, Chess…oh god, THEY ARE ALL DEAD!”

The doctor was about to say something when the news on the holo changed and became louder. Images of an overhead view of what appeared to be a building come into view. It looked like a lot of people were outside protesting with police barricading the front. The female news anchor began her speech.

“We interrupt our interview with her highness Princess Celestia to bring you this latest update on the attempted bombing of the downtown New York Conversion Bureau. Equestrian ambassadors Twilight Sparkle and Rarity noticed that a small girl had deadly high explosives wired to her. The girl and the citizens of the building remained unharmed as police and federal agents try to find the attempted killer responsible. Likely this is the result of the extremist group the Human Liberation Front. The child’s mother named Susan Becker, claims to be not associated with the man responsible for the attack.”

Beckers eyes grew wide in shock and his mouth gasped open. Just in a single moment, a terrible truth was revealed to him. He reached for where his cellphone was in his pocket and instantly swore, remembering he accidentally left it back in the smoke room. Sparing no time he rushed out of the hospital room and ran down the hallway for fear of his daughter and ex-wife’s safety. The doctor thought to himself that he should have never left her, but he didn’t want to give up his smokes. That was the dealbreaker, his addiction or his family. She could not take anymore of his cruelty and bitterness.

Again Joshua was alone, scared at every piece of news hitting his mind. He continued to stare as once again the white equine appeared on screen. The figure appeared to be giving some sort of speech.

“And that is why we here of the Equestrian lands will not take this attack lightly. The HLF have continued to be enemies of both mankind and pony folk alike. This attack unfortunately will lead to closure of the bureaus until proper security can be adequately supplied.”

“The HLF, Human Liberation Front, who are these people? What the hell is that thing on the screen?” thought Joshua as he frantically tried to pull his IV needles out of his body.

The equine figure who named herself Celestia shinned her horn in a golden light on the screen. For some reason this caused Joshua’s frantic mind to halt as he faintly remembered something about that glow. Then it came to him, that golden glow, he had seen it before. It was the same golden light he saw that day 2 months ago. He remembered a flying golden light above the wreckage of the plane, lifting it into the air. Joshua recalled screaming at the window, beating his hands madly against the window in confusion before being pulled away.

*****

Becker ran down the marble hospital doors and raced to the nearest desk phone. In front of his path was Dr. Menza’s scowling face staring back at him.

“You bastard, Mr. Ozma is dead now thanks to you.” the Neurosurgeon said flatly.

Becker shoved the doctor aside, paying no attention and knocking him to the ground and continued to run.

“COME BACK HERE! THIS IS NOT OVER!”

The Doctor finally reached the floor desk where Jacquelyn was waiting. She was holding the receiver in her hand and shaking. Her expression was grim and in shock at what she just heard as was everyone else nearby.
“Doctor I…It’s your wife on the phone…I mean Ex.” She said with a concerned voice.

Becker sighed and reached for the phone receiver. He had not talked to her in a month and a half. They were together for almost 8 years until the divorce papers came. Despite his addiction he still cared for her but was unable to show it.

“Susan are you both ok?”

“Apollo, we are both here at the bureau. They brought me in for questioning. We are a bit shaken up but we are still alive.”

Dr. Becker knew they were both alive from what the broadcast explained earlier but was still terribly afraid for their safety still.

“Is Emily there Susan, can I hear her voice too?”

There was some talking in the background that Apollo could not hear. He could faintly hear his daughter’s voice along with other female voices he did not recognize. There was a woman crying the other end but it was not either voice. Finally he heard some breathing come closer to the phone.

“Daddy?”

“Oh my sweet little angel are you ok? Daddy will be coming right over.”

“….I’m scared daddy.”

*****

Joshua continued to hold tightly onto a crutch as he made his way to the front of the hospital. He was still dressed in his hospital gown and an open wound was on his arm from the pulled IV. The man was weak due to his coma and could barely walk. Surprisingly he didn’t run into any nurses along his way. Joshua figured the hospital must be in an uproar about the recent attempted bombing across town. After walking through the automatic doors and into the afternoon sunlight he saw the strangest sight of the day.

Ponies from every corner of his view went about their daily routine. Some flew, others used their horns for magic, and some grew plants with ease creating gardens out of nothing. He could not believe his eyes and questioned if any of this was real. Joshua’s body gave out and he collapsed on the ground while continuing to stare. A lone light green pegasus with a yellow mane flew up to him. The mare had teal huge eyes that displayed looks of concern and worry.

“Um mister are you alright?” asked the pony.

With all of his pain and all of his loss he simply expressed a single strange gesture. Joshua began to laugh uncontrollably on the hot concrete entrance, generating more attention of the equines around him.

Tonight your host is....

The Conversion Bureau

Ties

A MLP:FiM fanfic by Skybreeze

Chapter 4

Your host tonight is…

A lone lavender unicorn stood tall and alone on a cliff. Her view gazed down at the vast gorge below. Luna’s night fell across Equestria as her bright moon and stars twinkled in the sky. Luna’s moon lit the night, but at the moment was not brighter than the mare in the darkness. Her mane and tail now ablaze, shined brightly in the night. She stood tall on her 4 hooves, looking over a tall cliff near a dense forest. The pony’s teary eyes closed shut and her expression hurt and grim.

Twilight was shocked by the most recent events that fell over the New York Conversion Bureau. Not only her but everyone became traumatized by the events that took place. A bomb, was discovered by her close friend Rarity by luck alone. Had she not noticed, nothing would have been standing for very long. The cream white colored mare noticed a small girl’s doll. The child coveted the toy with her life at her time in the bureau. The pony would have simply dismissed the toy, but noticed some of the stitching out of place and lazy compared to the rest of the doll. The work was done almost hastily as if to hide something inside. Her second hint, was the strange aroma coming from the small human shaped doll.

At first the girl protested, claiming that she recently lost the doll, when a ‘strange man started seeing her mommy’. Emily did not like this man despite what her mother said. His grin was unsettling, and his head devoid of hair. The nose was fat, his body large and muscular. The man never spoke a name, but she felt one constant feeling around him, a sense of danger. The stranger terrified her, on a level she had not known before. Whoever this stranger was it was not her daddy whom she deeply missed. Emily remembered the fights that occurred nightly just before he left.

“There you are!” said a voice from the dense forest. “Your friends are worried sick about you for days now.”

The tall, dark purple mare kept her distance from the silent unicorn. Her teal eyes never turned away from Twilight as she spoke. The alicorn’s indigo, star lit mane waved against some invisible wind in the night. She was Princess Luna, pony of the night, and younger sister to Princess Celestia, pony of the sun. The mare spent days looking for her sister’s most prized pupil and longtime friend.

Twilight did not turn to greet her princess, did not bow or acknowledged her presence. The unicorn remained as she had been for a long time, enraged, and hurt. Yes, she knew that all of her friends had deeply worried about her. They would be feeling the same on some level after the events. Rarity and Spike both frantically looked for her for days. Eventually the duo settled staying with Pinkie Pie at Sugar Cube Corner. The pink earth pony had been completely not herself, as her mane had been limp since the event, and she had not cracked a single smile.

They had returned to the safety of Ponyville, far out of the reach of those that tried to wrong them. Each of Twilight’s friends dealt with the events in their own ways. Some eventually came around faster than others. Fluttershy passed out for long periods of time, and barely ate. Rainbow dash decided to comfort her, knowing she would be affected worse than the others. It even affected the rainbow maned, blue pegasus. Her usual boastful, carefree nature now silent, and unwilling to fly far from her friend. Applejack simply stayed with her family. While the earth pony didn't lie to her siblings, she didn't completely tell them what happened.

“Twilight I know that…”

“NO!” The mare screamed as her flames and emotions flared. “I am NOT, going back there to that awful place. They tried to kill me, my friends, and everypony there, and they even tried to use a child to do it. It is beyond sick.”

Luna’s expression remained still, and her gaze focused on her friend. The alicorn of the night mentally became concerned for her, and her wild use of her magical ability. Any other pony would have experienced burnout, and at worst would have lost their ability to use magic for the rest of their life. She knew this mare was one of the most powerful in Equestria, there was others more powerful but to experience such level at such a young age was unheard of.

“I know Twilight, and you don’t have to anymore. You and your friends have already gone above and beyond by even going in the first place.”

“Why…why are we even doing this?”

“You know the reason Twilight.”

In her heart, Twilight knew the reason, the same reason that was mentioned over and over in her mind, ever since Celestia told her. It was about the survival of another species. Twilight knew about the other races in Equstria. She was told the stories about the diamond dogs, majestic griffins from across the sea, and the powerful dragons that rule the sky on the outskirts of the kingdom. All of them were allowed to be brought in by Celestia out of compassion. Once again a new species was running out of time and needed a new home.

“But I h..I ha…”

“Hate who tried to do this to you?” Luna interrupted her, expression became grim.

“I don’t know, but it just hurts to think about it.”

“Hate….leads to nothing but bad decisions.” Luna’s thoughts became distant, and her own guilt returned briefly.

“My own jealousy, hatred, and suffering are what led me to have my sister lock me up for my actions for a thousand years. If it had not been for you and your friends, I don’t want to know what I would have done. I know you are hurt, but holding onto hatred will bring you nothing but grief.”

A few uncomfortable minutes of silence followed. Neither saying a word, and both did not move or leave. Finally, Twilight sighed and her flames died out, and her mane returned to its original color. It was a mess of burnt hair, and very messy. Tears once again flowed down her face. The mare’s exhaustion finally caught up with her, as she started to collapse onto the ground. Luna quickly caught Twilight before she hit the ground in her magic. The unicorn’s breaths became shallow, and slow. The lavender unicorn finally found out how much her equine body needed rest. Twilight didn't know her limits. Constantly she was tested, throwing her life on the line for her friends many times over. She had saved Equestria from eternal darkness, eternal chaos, and monsters that threaten ponies from every dark corner of the empire. The mare cared deeply for her friends, and wanted nothing more than to help them and her mentor Princess Celestia.

“You haven’t had anything to eat or drink since then, have you?” Luna floated an open canteen over to the mare, and lifted her head with a hoof. “You need to drink something, but take small easy sips.” The mare was suddenly so very thirsty for anything. She eagerly washed it down, thankful for each drop. With each sip of water she began to feel better and better, only occasionally coughing up water.

“I don’t know if I can go back, everypony is counting on me.”

“It is your choice to go back or not, we only want the best for you. At the very least return to Ponyville.” Luna thought for a moment before coming to a decision. “There is….somepony who would like to meet you, and is here right now.” Luna said as she turned to her back, and nodded to a distant small figure, standing next to a mare.The two ponies looked at each other, and the older nodded in approval for the younger to approach. A small filly stepped out of the dark forest, and trotted unsteadily on her amber colored hooves. Her ice blue tail tucked subconsciously as she walked. The young filly stopped a few feet, and simply stared at the large princess, and unicorn mare with her large cyan eyes. She was amazed at the sight of the alicorn’s star filled, indigo mane. She had never got a good look at it during travel and it was her first time viewing it up close.

“Twilight, this is Emily Becker.”

The mare blinked through her tear filled face, and turned to look at the small unicorn foal. Quickly she rubbed her tears away from her face with her hoof. The filly shifted somewhat uncomfortably at seeing the unicorn mare's appearance. Emily remembered this unicorn from before at the bureau, before her conversion. She listened in on her speech she gave to everyone and what they were doing, and what they would become.

At first she was unsure if she would be comfortable with becoming a pony. Even after seeing her friends and peers coming to her school completely equine, the filly was unsure. What drove her to change her mind was her mother’s boyfriend. He despised ponies and would say horrible things about them. Emily’s friends said they were still the same afterwards and even liked what they became every time. She could not understand why someone would be those awful things he mentioned after they changed. They seemed nice, even some of the schoolmates who sometimes picked on her, started suddenly apologizing for how the acted before, wishing they could be friends.

“Oh Celestia, Emily are you alright?” Twilight said as she slowly and unsteadily rose to her hooves.

Emily took a few steps closer with her hooves. “I think so, it feels really good but I’m not so used to..aaaah!” She said as she quickly regained her balance from nearly falling over. She had been doing that a lot since her conversion, just hours prior.

“Careful there, just think of trotting without thinking of the steps, and let your body do the rest on its own. Oh! Where are my manners, I’m sorry you caught me like this. Let’s try this again, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Your name is Emily correct?”

The small unicorn nodded slightly and trotted closer to the older mare. This isn't how she remembered the lavender unicorn. The mare looked slightly dirty and her mane was messed up. This did not frighten her however, but made her concerned.

“What happened to your hair um….miss Twilight?”

“Oh…you mean my mane?...!” Instantly Twilight caught flashbacks of meeting a similar unicorn and saying those exact words. The thought made her do something she had not done in days. It caused her to laugh and smile, instantly forgetting what she was feeling, moments earlier. Emily seeing the mare’s mood brighten, began to laugh and smile, though unsure why, it just seemed the right thing to do. The two girls soon started laughing together at how silly they were acting, as if the two were the same age.

“haha..oh I don’t know *snort* why that was so funny…haha” Twilight said as she covered her mouth with a hoof. “Oh wow you turned into a unicorn Emily, like me! You know unicorns can do magic with their horns? With enough practice and study, we can do all sorts of things with them.”

Emily’s already large eyes widened at that thought. Emily once saw a magician earlier in her life at a party performing different tricks. Was that the same thing she thought? What does having magic mean? Once she saw one of her ponified classmates try to levitate a cup in front of his peers during lunch. He barely got it to slide across the table. Afterwards the pony was exhausted and looked like he ran a marathon, or well galloped now that she thought of it.

“What magic can I do?” Emily curiously asked the mare.

“Oh that’s easy! You can do things like this to start out.”

Suddenly Twilight started to levitate the empty canteen around in her horn field. She slowly moved it across the small filly’s view. She was amazed, never had she saw something like this before, but did not disbelieve it either. In her mind what she was seeing was real. Nothing was telling her what she was looking at was false or some trick, and it made her happy.

“But if you want to learn how to do other spells than just levitation it takes some study, dedication and practice. The trick to magic is making something you want, actually happen! But just to start out, I can give you a tip to start.”

Emily nodded and sat on her haunches, her mind fully focused on her first lesson in magic. She felt excited at the thought of learning magic. Luna simply smiled and stayed quiet as Twilight continued her lesson. The night goddess was relieved that Twilight was showing signs of feeling better. She would never forgive herself if anything were to happen to Celestia’s most faithful student, and longtime friend.

“The first thing to try for a while is just getting your horn to glow. After that, levitation should come easy to you.” Twilight said in a proud tone.

Emily looked a bit sad, and lightly kicked the dirt with her hoof. The filly had something on her mind as she looked down. Earlier today she had been a normal girl with her mom, and walked on two legs. Now she was in a strange new place, in a foreign body, and could barely walk. It was not that she didn't like her new form. She actually made the decision to change with her mother. Now Emily knows what her friends felt after their conversions.

When Emily woke up on the conversion metal bed, she was absolutely and completely happy. During her conversion she experienced what many newfoals did, a conversion dream. In her dream, she remembered seeing many ponies, or, what she thought was the idea of ponies. They looked equine in shape, but had a bit of transparency to them. She remembered seeing endless fields of grass, large ponds of water, and many trees. Before she knew it, she found herself floating towards a large castle at a great speed. The castle looked like something out of a fantasy, only much more detailed. The large castle didn't seem to be on solid ground, so much as she saw a divide of a sky, both behind and above and below it. One side had a view of daytime as bright as a noon summer day, the other had a view of a clear winters night sky filled with stars and a large moon.

Inside the castle were two large beings in a large throne room. The room was filled with mural glass windows, and banners hanging from the ceiling. In the center, near the throne, showed two large beings, and what appeared to be a doorway to what seemed like an infinite space of night and day.

“My little pony, what is it that you seek in equestrian life?” said the being of the sun.

Emily knew what she wanted, it was the same thing that has been on her mind ever since. As she stood looking down at the ground in front of twilight, the filly carefully thought about what she wanted to ask. Her mind was suddenly filled with hope, and she desperately did not want to be let down with the answer.

“Can….can magic really do anything?” asked the filly.

“Well with enough study magic can do many things, like appearing from one place to another. What is it you want it to do?” the mare asked curiously.

“Do… you think magic can bring my dad to me?” she asked as she looked up at the mare’s large eyes.

“I…well you see…” Twilight said as she folded her hooves in front of her.

“That’s what I asked the large pony in my dream.”

“This one speaks the truth Twilight, every human who undergoes conversion must have a conversion dream.”

“I heard that newfoals experienced dreams in great detail, that’s incredible! What did the large pony say Emily?”

“She said that if I come to Equestria, that I may meet my dad again.”

“If Celestia said that, then I believe that it will require a different kind of magic for that. I won’t promise you that you will meet your dad, but if you keep up with your magic you might find a way.”

Emily beamed and grinned wider than when she first woke up as a pony. Her smile warmed twilight’s heart more than the fire in her mane from before. Once again she felt hope for the new species, that they would make it in their homeland. The filly was galloping and shouting with glee in circles around Luna and Twilight, which made them both chuckle. Yes, everything will be just fine.

******

Desert Sand was full of hope as he set up his shop stand. His new batch would surely sell more than the last he brought with him. The tent he set up in the Manehattan marketplace was white with blue stripes, and a simple folded table between him and the street. Celestia’s sun shined brightly in the morning equestrian sky, and ponies began their daily routine. Well-dressed stallions and mares trotted down the cobbled stone streets of the marketplace, with their snouts raised to the sky. The stalls sat near the market square, just close enough to be in the shadow of one of the tall skyscrapers of the city.

“Fresh exotic tea for sale, made with fresh leaves. Come and try some, there are plants for sale too!”

It had been his special blend he spent years developing and refining, and he was the only one who made it with a certain special ingredient, for its unique flavor. Even though his special tea was a hit back home in Phillydelphia, he rarely stayed in one place. Desert simply wanted to get as many ponies interested in his tea all over Equestria.

“Mmm…yes, the flavor does have an unusual aroma, but it is not unpleasant. Do you agree, Marble Gold?” said the mint green stallion unicorn. A pair of local ponies happened to run into Desert’s stand, just as he was finished with his preparations for the day.

“Well yes Silver Lace it does, I think we will take two…but oh um what are those there?” The cream yellow mare said as she pointed her hoof at one of the plants.

“Why that is the other item I am selling today for such nice customers! These are my own grown cacti plants straight from the southern desert!

Desert’s hopeful expression was full on his face, but not for long. For as soon as he saw their scowls and disgust he knew what they were going to say next. It was the same thing every time.

“You have got to be kidding. They look incredibly sharp and have no sense in elegance and beauty like the trees in this town. Let us go Silver Lace.”

“Yes I agree, you make wonderful tea however.”

As the two ponies trotted out of view, the earth pony sighed and looked at his displayed potted plants. They were in simple clay brown pots with fresh soil, still in an early state in their life. It was true that cacti were sharp to the touch. However, the stallion adored them since he was a foal. Once by chance, he saw one while stranded at a train station, that he happened to spot one away from the track. In his life he never saw anything so strange, and mysterious in his life. Desert also noticed that they were few in number, and very lonely.

Wild buffalo would stampede across the desert and sometimes seeds of cacti would attach to them to travel to a new destination. Over time, buffalo would not get caught in the cacti’s seed traps and they steadily grew smaller in number. The reason Desert knew this was because the cacti told him. It was not told through words but with something else. It was something that only an earth pony could interpret, that is if, their talent allowed through a type of sense. Earth ponies while all had a sturdy build and increased strength that rival pegasai, or surpassed them, some could communicate with flora. A few could even control how they grew. For the small colt all it took was a simple conversation.

Since then it had been the stallion’s destiny to understand everything about the plant, and why they exist. For years, decades, he wandered the desert alone in an attempt to repopulate the species across Equestria. It also earned his new name and cutie mark in the process.

Desert attempted to cheer up his small potted plants, by giving them a drink of water, from a pail held in his muzzle. It had been a slow, but promising morning for him. His first customers arrived in the morning, and earlier than he expected. He was not in town every day, and only earned enough bits to fund his expeditions. Setting down his water pail his equine ears picked up a strange noise in the distance. He saw the market square suddenly filled with ponies, and they all seemed to be in a commotion about something.

The stallion quickly became curious and trotted over, leaving his stand unattended. He was not concerned that his goods would be stolen as such acts were uncommon in Equestria, but not unheard of. The noise from the crowd grew louder as he approached. Something must be really off or unusual for the ponies to be this lively. The closer Desert got to the front, the more the unmistakable image of the royal Equestrian emblem came into view. Royalty was here in Manehattan, and accompanied by armored guards. It was not just any royalty that visited. She was perhaps the single most powerful allicorn in Equestria, as far as Desert knew.

“We of the Royal house of Equestria are seeking able pony volunteers to help a dying species. Our land has come into contact with a new world unlike anything we have ever seen. We welcome them but not in the form of another species, but our own. Those that come will do so on hooves exactly like your own, in bodies like your own, and will be in great number.”

Desert’s equine ears and expression was focused on the immortal princess as she spoke. He never saw her in his entire life. To most ponies, she was well known but not seen, except when she was on business in foreign lands. He never saw Princess Celestia, because, most of the time he was far away from any settlement. The way she spoke was graceful, and calm, but also commanding, and urgent. To see the most powerful being in Equestria ask for help outright in pony ,must mean it is very serious.

“If you volunteer you will leave your homes for months, possibly years. The land is far from the safety of Equestria and vast, but shrinking by the day. By going, you would be doing a great service bringing aid to those needing it. To all willing, I and everyone thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Once the speech was over, everypony simply conversed with each other. Most of the ponies were either troubled, confused or shocked. Not a single pony stepped forward to volunteer, but who could blame them? Leaving your home, your family for months or years to a foreign land to help a mystery race? Desert knew the reasons against going but for the earth pony, he had nothing but his plants. He had no close family or friends not out of anything negative, but because he was so focused on his work. He had accomplished a great deal in the years he spent in the vast desert, and left him somewhat content with his life. His plants needed him, but knew something else needed help even more. Weighing his options carefully he did the only logical action in his mind, he stepped forward.

******

“Following a 2 day closure of the downtown New York Conversion Bureau after the attempted bombing, plans have begun to reopen the facility with increased security. Some of the new policies include metal detectors and stationed guards around the clock. Those that sign up will be required to surrender all items of value before being allowed to stay for disposal. While such items can’t currently be taken across the barrier anyway this won’t have much of an effect on those converting. Coming up next dragons and griffons, are they really a threat? We will go into this after...”

The female news anchor on a dimmed holo tv was interrupted, when a half empty liquor bottle smashed into the console.

“God damn ponies, I’M SICK OF THESE PONIES!” shouted a tall bald man at his now broken screen.

The man didn’t care if his holotv is damaged, his plans were almost ruined and had cost him too much in the process. It had been so simple, once he returned the doll with the explosive, his message would be sent. At first he wanted just Susan’s money she had acquired being the ex-wife of a successful hospital director. Once he knew that she was going to donate all of her assets away, his anger was fueled. She was never told his real name, he would only tell her his name was Chompsky.

Chompsky was a proud man and a successful one. He never intended to join the HLF, which was the plan, until his source of his wealth was in danger. Through a series of deals and plans, and a lot of social climbing and backstabbing, he grew to be in control of many companies. His wealth grew from controlling many of them through debt and fear. The man was one of the single most wealthy and powerful individuals and not a single person knew it in New York. He could have exposed himself and easily would run for president without competition. That is if he ever wanted to get shot by his enemies. Chomsky was content with how things were, and as he put it “ran this bitch”.

Once the ponies came, they offered an alternative to earthly life. It was a way to escape not only the cycle of debt, but also the approaching Equestrian barrier. New York was the first in its line of targets and could not be stopped by any means. Or so it was told by the media that this was the case. Most of his businesses were stationed in New York and with the town swallowed, soon, he would be in deep financial trouble. With no other alternatives he found a way to fight back, with the HLF. There were many people willing to join their cause since the 3 day war, and all of its lives it claimed. They all wanted blood.

Chomsky looked about 6’4 and wore a white button short sleeved shirt, with black suspenders. His face was almost squashed with a wide nose. He was bald but not because of losing hair but because he preferred it. Nobody noticed anyway, it was always covered with a badly worn cowboy hat. Something that irked Susan and many others who thought it was bad taste. The man was now standing in what remains of an apartment, now torn to shreds. His couches torn and turned over, as were many things in the apartment. The room was in chaos however there was a copper metallic smell gradually filling the room. It belonged to a man living just a short time ago, now limp on the floor.

Tony Frank II also known for his extensive engineering skills, assured him that the bomb would detonate within 90 seconds in the targeted area. Once it didn't go off, Tony speech was reduced to mumbling words for his defense. This continued before and after he was brutally beaten for his failure by the angry man. He didn't care if the body was found, and had means to dispose of the body without trace. The man was untraceable by any means, like a phantom or specter in the world he thought. What Chompsky did care about was if they ever linked the bomb back to him, and his face. This means he would have to lay low for the time being. It was certainly not a victory at all for him, and his group. The angry man decided to wait for a few months,to plan for his next move.