The Fast, Dangerous and the Furious

Chapter Twenty Three: Voices from the Six

Embarrassment.

Even with roughly eight hours of sleep under my eyes, a comfortable bed, water and anything else that made a good night’s sleep, I could still feel a blush of embarrassment on my face. Through my closed eyes I could see several ponies laughing. The mental image of all my smack talk raced around me just before giving me several hard slaps.

This is what happens when you have too much confidence in your own damn skills.

Speaking of my skills, I don’t have any tracking skills. So finding Bolt Action might be a bit harder then I imagined.

I let out a low groan, slowly opening my eyes to the cloudy sky greeting me through the window. Those clouds need to go away, or at least get painted a different color. The bed squeaked from underneath me as I stood up looking around the empty room. The door had been left cracked open, but there wasn’t any noise. It was like the house itself was dead empty.

My saddle bags were missing from the usual corner I tossed them into. Retracing the events from last night I recalled they had been tossed down near my Mustang back at the market café. I tapped my hoof against the ground.

Do I really want to go work on my gliders today? Ugh. No really. I mean I normally would, but shit, I really … just do not have the motivation or focus for that right now.

Once I was positive I was unsure of what to do, I trotted down the stairs sniffing the air for the smell of breakfast. Nothing but the smell of wooden stairs. I questioned why stairs this old actually had a smell to them. “Oh, hey, good morning.” Blinking several times I took in my surroundings. Apparently I had somehow gone through the living room into the kitchen and sat down without being aware of it. Candle Light cracked a few eggs open. “You want anything?” I shook my head. For once my stomach wasn’t empty.

“Where’s Glider and the others?”

Candle Light hummed with a shrug. “They didn’t say, but if I had to guess probably making another delivery.” Right. Delivery.

That’s when it hit me.

If I have to pay them back then why the hell can’t I just work with them to steal all the stuff they’re stealing? In fact my share from the train robbery was never given to me. “Just out of curiosity, did they ever mention paying me for the job I first pulled with them?” I looked up at Candle Light. From inside the fridge I could hear the sweet sound of a Pegasus Breed calling my name. At ten in the morning. Why does that make me feel like an alcoholic?

Sizzling eggs made my ear twitch while Candle Light flipped them over with a spatula. The cooking utensil was placed to the side. “They haven’t said anything to me about it, but I bet whatever it is they owed you went into the Eclipse.” Yeah, that sounds about right. Actually, with the bits I would have made from that specific job would have covered the cost of the parts.

“Oh, good. So I’m just flat broke.”

Candle Light shook her head sympathetically. “Well, that’s not entirely true. You still owe me a ten-second glider.” There was a small grin tugging at the edge of her muzzle. She wasn’t expecting it anytime soon, which was met with a sigh of relief. “Take your time with that, I’m in no rush,” she said with a smile. “Don’t worry about it until you’re making some decent bits.” I met that statement with a nod. This was one thing I loved about Candle Light, she was always so understanding.

I feel like I could talk to her about anything, which was a nice feeling to have. Her and Glider, actually, everypony but Diesel Fuel gave me that feeling. “Heard about what happened last night, did you learn anything?” My horn lit up, floating out a bottle of Pegasus Breed from the fridge. Candle Light sighed while trotting over to the table. Her hoof took the bottle away from me before I could open it. “Diesel Fuel put Glider through that same lesson. It’s not a fun one, but it proves he accepts you as part of the family.” I looked up at her with my jaw slightly open. She nodded. “Told you he just takes some getting used to.” Candle Light ruffled my mane with the icy cold bottom of the bottle. “What did you learn?”

Umm. Good question. I learned that loosing sucks. There’s also the fact I probably can’t show my face in Fillydelphia anytime soon. It’s like that one issue of Swordmares. Only I can endure this and survive. Endure and survive. Endure and survive. “That I should really quit talking trash.” Candle Light found that humorous enough to laugh while she put the Pegasus Breed back in the fridge. From the way she was acting I was pretty sure that wasn’t the lesson I should be taking from this whole experience.

“No, that’s not quite it,” she said rather softly. “The lesson is to be humble about your skills. Don’t sell yourself short though.” There was a grin on her face. Somehow that made me smile to.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Our grins turned into our thinking faces while we each put two and two together. I got up from my seat and started waving a rag in front of the fire detector while Candle Light dumped her burnt eggs onto a plate. The beeping subsided after I waved most of the smoke away. “I guess the lesson here is to keep an eye on your food.” Candle Light was not amused. “I’ll just … library.”

*** ***

Instead of heading straight to Princess Twilight’s library, I took a detour to Diesel Fuel’s Market Café to pick up my things. There was a bit of irony I began to piece together with each step to the library. The comic that Bolt Action left me was a hard to find limited edition. Because of that son of bitch I was going to get some more cash. Looks like I won’t be going home empty hoofed today.

My hoof nudged the elegant door open, my coat was shivering from the blast of cold air coming from the inside. The first thing I noticed was that it was unusually empty today. Aside from Page Turner sitting around reading a book, which I was beginning to become accustomed to, the place had no ponies in it.

Approaching the comic book counter I pulled out my War Never Changes: Fallout Edition and placed it down in front of Page Turner. “How much can I get for this?” Page Turner’s eyes slowly looked up at me. She blinked while showing me an expression that made me almost regret bothering her. Once she saw the comic book her expression changed. Her jaw dropped while her hoof tapped the ground. Holding her hoof up, she looked around.

Motioning for me to keep quiet, Page Turner took the comic from the counter and tossed a bag of gems down in front of me. “Thanks bro,” I said swiping the money.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” she softly spoke back to me. “This is going in my personal collection.” I spared her one last look before walking up the stairs. Sounds like she’s a big fan of that series.

Books upon hundreds of books were stacked on the shelves around me. The beating in my chest became a lot rougher. I love this place. My eyes went straight to the first section I hadn’t been in yet.

Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it.

They must have rearranged the books while I was gone.

Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it.

Oh, cool. A new Daring Do book arrived. First edition. Not bad. “What’s this,” I questioned to no pony specific. Another spell book. This one came with better levitation spells. My magic might be slightly above average after dealing with the amount of infected lately, but I doubt I could use these spells.

I pushed the book to the side and stared right at a protection spell book. My hoof traced the edge of it before pulling it out of place. Flipping the cover open I read the table of contents carefully, then took a look at the different kinds of protection spells. One of them caught my interest. “Oh, so that’s why that spell shatters like glass. Looks like mine’s one of the weakest,” I found myself saying out loud. “How about this one.” My eyes kept scanning the page until I noticed a still of Princess Twilight using her spell to protect ponies from a mare named Starlight Glimmer. There was a small description on how to use the spell, but not a detailed one, sadly, I couldn’t create the spell without more detail.

Flipping the book closed, my hoof slid it back where it belonged. Interesting read, but I’ll need to find another book with Twilight Sparkle’s protection spell. Odds are I’ll only be able to use it twice in a row before getting a massive headache, but at least it will be strong enough to hold hordes of bullets back. Mental note added, learn a new protection spell.

A door slammed open a few bookcases down from me. I pulled the protection spell book back out keeping slightly hidden behind the books. A stallion walked out of a room labeled “Restricted Access: Authorized Personnel Only,” that certainly has my attention now.

“Of all the jobs I get stuck with,” the stallion grumbled to himself walking to the stairs, “can’t the little son of bitch get his own damn water?” He disappeared down the staircase leaving the door slightly cracked open. I clapped my hooves together.

I’ve outran cops. Stolen from the Redemption Casino. Broken into a glider factory. Tangled with a skilled assassin in hoof-to-hoof combat. I’m pretty sure I can check out a room with a creaked open door.

I feel like I’m overestimating my own skills again. After all there was team work involved with all of those feats. Hmm. This seems simple enough though.

Taking my inner pony’s advice, I put the spell book back where it belonged and galloped over to the door. Pushing my way inside, I carefully closed the door behind me while facing one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Dozens upon dozens of memory jewels glowed different bright colors all around a dimly lit room. I could have sworn I was inside of a dragon’s horde if it wasn’t for the shining bookcases displaying the jewels.

So many labels to look at. I started with the first one. “The Great and Powerful Trixie,” I tilted my head keeping my attention focused on the still of a performer treating everypony at the Grand Galloping Gala to a wonderful firework display. Colors were frozen mid-explosion, yet it somehow made the mare in the center stand out even more beautifully.

Turning my attention to the next shelf I found a book placed near a still of Twilight Sparkle without her wings. “That must have been prior to her becoming a princess.” My gaze fell on the book sitting next to the jewel. The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. “Why isn’t it under ‘E’?” Maybe that stallion should reorganize this place.

Continuing my venture into the storage of jewels I read each name quietly to myself.

Vinyl Scratch. Octavia. Tree Hugger?

Who the buck names there foal Tree Hugger? Then again who names their foal, Runner? What kind of a name is O’Conner anyway? That’s not even a typical pony name. I should ask him about that. Sounds like there could be an interesting story there.

I paced back and forth through the shelves of memories for what was beginning to feel like an hour. At some point I began to question where that stallion had gone off to, but it didn’t take long to figure he was buying as much time as he could to avoid seeing his boss. That did not bother me in the slightest, after all every minute I spent here was a minute learning more about the mares that once wielded the Elements of Harmony.

Eventually I crossed over into the reference guide section of the room taking note of all glider, autowagon and spell books. None caught my attention until my eyes caught the sight of a large text book facing the room like it was on display. It was titled Equestrian Cops: A Reference Guide. “Alright O’Conner, I’ll check this out for you.” The book levitated out of place while I sat down on the floor. A few pages flipped open and a jewel fell out. I focused my magic on it right away, feeling the world rip away from me.

*** ***

Twilight Sparkle sat at her desk in Canterlot with her eyes locked dead in the direction of Ponyville. The jewel spawned me a hoof step away from the Princess of Friendship with my gaze pointed down at the busy city below the castle. This memory felt different. Just sitting here next to Twilight was relaxing for some unexplainable reason. Both of our gazes turned to Ponyville and as if on cue, a protection spell around her former castle began to crash down on top of it.

My hoof traced the ground until I noticed Twilight was wearing a dark blue uniform with several stars close to her breast. I took a glance at her desk behind us finding a matching hat for the uniform. There was a jacket lying next to it that looked almost identical to Commander Easy Glider’s coat. Next to her coat was a newspaper with an article about the infected being forced out from nearby towns between here and Manehattan. “Don’t look so down Twilight,” Spike waddled over to her putting his claw on her wing. “This month alone you’ve pushed the infected back into the Smokey Mountains, put both Applejack and Rainbow Dash in chief positions in the force and made Equestria stable.”

I couldn’t believe how big Princess Twilight had gotten, she was tall. Spike literally needed a chair to even come close to resting his claw on her shoulder. Even then he of had to stand on his claw tips so he could accomplish that task. Twilight gave him a half smile, “I know I have done a lot.” She paused, staring out at Ponyville and the dark skies. “But I just don’t think it’s enough. I could … we could be doing more. Like finding a cure for all of this or even freeing the other Princesses.” She let out a long exhausted sigh. I turned my gaze to her eyes. They were bloodshot. Bags were forming under her eyes.

My hoof tapped the floor a few more times while the door was pushed open. I turned around to find Applejack wearing the same getup Twilight had on only with the addition of her trademark hat. Behind her was O’Conner’s role model. Rainbow Dash was also wearing a police uniform but with a pair of shades covering her eyes. Everything around me became transparent, including Rainbow Dash’s shades, her eyes were also bloodshot. She cracked open an energy drink while waving a hoof at the country mare. “Twilight, our teams are both ready to take down the remaining Fireflies.” Applejack removed her hat while Rainbow Dash trotted back out the door looking ready for action.

Turning my attention to Twilight I could see she hadn’t spared her friend the slightest bit of attention. Spike exchanged a few glances with Applejack before jumping down from his chair to leave them alone. Well, mostly alone. “Twi,” the country mare walked over to her placing a hoof around her shoulder. “You’ve been to the Empire again haven’t ya.” Tears began forming in Twilight’s eyes.

There was a polite nod followed by a stutter. “I … Applejack. I’ve tried everything I can think of. Twenty years of this,” she shook her head, “and I can’t break that spell.” Tears rolled down her muzzle while she used Applejack as her shoulder to cry on.

“I know sugar cube. I know.” Applejack just sat there trying to find the right words. Seconds stretched on into minutes. After what felt like several hours of sitting, a glance at the clock revealed five minutes had passed, Twilight finally looked up. “Listen, Twi. I understand you’re still hurtin’ from all of this, but you can’t keep venturin’ off inta foreign territory, territory that’s housing most of the infected these days.” All Princess Twilight did was nod politely.

Twilight pushed her friend’s hoof away while floating her hat down on top of her head. Various pistols floated up behind her, each one looking more deadly than the last. Three highly customized weapons moved out from the horde while the rest of Twilight’s weaponry returned to their hiding place inside of a drawer.

I took a peek inside her weapon drawer and fell in love with what I saw. Every pistol was organized from deadliest kill streak. This Princess has style. “Listen, Twi I have a bit of a personal request.” Twilight loaded up her weapons before sliding them inside of her coat. She slid it on and hummed. “Since the Fireflies are based near Ponyville, can we stage a rescue mission for mah sis and her friends? They were out testing a glider an … well … they’re trapped near Zecora’s.”

Twilight’s hoof struck a button on a walkie-talkie. “Rainbow Dash, get the girls to meet us at the Fireflies base in an hour. We’re going on a rescue mission. That’s an order.” Her hoof released the button. A look of astonishment found its way onto Applejack’s face. I found myself looking up to Twilight, she was ready to jump into a shit storm risking her life for her friend’s sister. Mental note added.

*** ***

I pushed myself up with a long gasp. My chest puffed in and out while I recollected everything that had just gone down inside the memory jewel. Out of everything that happened in it I took away one thing. Twilight Sparkle was a pony to look up to with admiration. This rose up interesting questions about why O’Conner joined the force.

It took me a moment to notice everything was looking lopsided. When did my head hit the floor? Oh, right when you go into one of those things you fall unconscious. I cracked my neck to the side staring at a few more memory jewels.

Curiosity started flowing through me more and more. I hate to say it but these things are like an addicting drug. Thank Celestia there aren’t negative side effects. My hoof pulled out several interesting jewels with stills depicting each of the other element bearers. “Here we go again.” I focused my magic on a topaz colored jewel feeling the world rip away from me.

*** ***

Toxin. Green toxin oozed below the cliff my host stood at, melting the buildings that were unfortunate enough not to have a protection spell cast on them. From what I read about protection spells they lasted a long time. Just staring out at the buildings still intact made me question just how long it would take before the gunk below turned it into a steaming pile of ooze.

Hope.

That word didn’t exist at this place. It was like watching a green fire burn over everything in its path while the skies darkened like a curtain for it to display all of its raw power. My host reached for the shades on her face, pulled them off, and just stared at her reflection. It was Rainbow Dash’s memory.

Off by her lone some was a griffon that was dressed in an assassin’s attire just like the one Shelby had worn. A vest lined with throwing knives. Another look was taken at the green pool of toxin chipping away at a sign declaring this place to be Twilight Sparkle’s School for Phenomenal Unicorns. Resting her hoof on a wooden sign, Rainbow Dash turned our attention to the words carved in the wood with poor craftsmanship. Chunks of rubble from a nearby building broke off splashing up a wave of toxin.

The Valley:

Twilight Sparkle’s School for Phenomenal Unicorns.

Sliding her pair of sunglasses inside of her jacket, Rainbow Dash took in a deep breath. “Long time no see, Dash.” The griffon muttered so quietly that I almost failed to hear her. Her beak turned to us, there was a long scar running down it.

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth muttering various foul language simultaneously trying to comprehend something. Once all four of her hooves were placed firmly on the ground she faced the griffon. “Why’d you do it Gilda,” she spat.

“Because he was paying,” Gilda shot back loudly, swinging her claws in Rainbow Dash’s direction. My host took a step back avoiding the griffon’s razor sharp claws. She had been expecting that. Our eyes locked. “You have no idea what I went through after seeing you in Griffonstone. I thought maybe, just maybe, friendship could actually work for griffons, but no. And my so called friend was nowhere to be found when I needed her.” Gilda’s chest puffed in and out while she gritted her teeth together. “I did what I had to in order to survive, Dash, because friendship doesn’t pay the bills. Autumnal, he pays well though. Pays well enough for the last few things his device needed.” If I had been standing next to Rainbow Dash my jaw would have dropped simultaneous with hers. I remember that day.

At this point I didn’t know what to think. These two were supposed to be friends. Now they’re on opposite sides ready to go hoof to hoof with each other. Gilda tore her gaze away from us, facing the toxin below. It was like these two just couldn’t be friends. My heart ached for them. Rainbow Dash slid her hoof into her jacket and pulled out a grenade. Silently pulling the pin out, she set it down on the ground with her hoof keeping the lever down. “Sometimes friendship isn’t magic, Dash. Sometimes it’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.” Gilda spun around flinging a throwing knife straight at one of Dash’s eyes.

She dove to the right kicking the grenade towards Gilda while she jumped off the cliff. Both fighters spread their wings taking off after one another.

*** ***

I awoke with another loud gasp for air. My eyes popped wide open taking in my surroundings faster than I thought I could. The stallion from earlier still wasn’t here or if he was he just hadn’t seen me yet. After all I was near the back of the room with a book case blocking most of my body from view. With a few deep breaths I began looking through the stills I had available in front of me.

Pushing the Rainbow Dash jewel away I focused on a light blue gem. “These things are so addicting.” A sharp pain went through my head like I was beginning to get a headache. I ignored the pain, focusing all my magic on the jewel. The world ripped away from me.

*** ***

The clip clopping of hooves caught my attention the moment I opened my eyes to a full furnished office with everything put exactly where it needed to be. A mare walked through me making my stomach want to unload everything like a clip from an assault rifle. I swallowed down whatever it was trying to fight its way out my stomach, taking the time to also move away from the gorgeous mare pacing in front of me.

Her purple mane swirled around, her white coat making the three diamond cute mark stand out even more. I turned my attention to the scale model of a large university the size of two desks sitting in front of us. She turned her attention to some paperwork on an adjacent desk giving me the chance to look it over.

Leaning in closer to the model I could see figurines placed all around sidewalks leading in different directions to buildings that hadn’t been labeled yet. There was one label attached to the model’s flooring that declared it as the new gifted unicorn school. Rarity passed through me again sending my insides into a fit of rage. Stumbling over to one of the desks, I set my hoof down ready to throw up. I turned back at Rarity, prepared to yell at the memory for doing that, but stopped when she attached a label to her work of art. “Elegant. Poise. Beauty. It has all of this and more. Coco,” Rarity turned her head to her assistant typing diligently at her computer, “take a letter to Twilight. Tell her everything is spot on and perfect!” She clapped her hooves together.

I took a glance at Coco’s name tag taking a note of her full name. I liked it. Turning my attention back to the scale model of Twilight Sparkle’s School for Phenomenal Unicorns, I began trying to figure out where it was being built at. “Speaking of Princess Twilight, she wanted me to give you this.” Coco held up a letter that was immediately levitated over to Rarity. The paper unfolded itself. I took a look over the elegant mare’s shoulder.

Dear Rarity, please send me the current designs for the main buildings as soon as possible. Through some terrible planning our hard copies over in the valley have gone missing. Don’t forget to take a break.

My grin turned into a deadpan. Talk about taking a break, Twilight needs one herself. At least I think she does. I have no idea when this takes place.

Rarity folded the letter back up before sliding it back into the envelope it came in. Her hoof went back and forth while she stared up aimlessly almost to the point she looked like she was thinking something over. Her mumbling made it impossible to understand what she was saying. Once she was done she turned to Coco. “Take the rest of the day off, I’m heading to the construction site to visit Twilight. Just make sure to leave me the blueprints for the university buildings on my desk before you go.”

The assistant looked taken aback by this request. “Umm sure. Are you sure you don’t need me? A trip to the valley is a long way from Canterlot.” Rarity hummed with a polite nod. She smiled and waved a hoof. Attached to her hoof was a phone that lit up with a pleasant ringtone. Hitting a button on the device, Rarity held the phone close to her ear.

“Keep the toxin back,” Twilight’s voice called out from the phone.

“Twilight. What’s going on over there?” The call cut to static a few seconds later leaving both Rarity and her assistant with confused looks. Rarity galloped out of the room while the entire world around me ripped away.

*** ***

My eyes popped open without my usual gasp. I just lay there trying to piece the puzzle together. Without anything to tell me when these events happened I couldn’t be entirely sure about what was going on. From what I could gather though that specific memory took place before Rainbow Dash and Gilda’s fight in The Valley.

The door knob across the room started moving. Mixed with the sheer silence of the room the door knob sounded like an orchestra trying to outplay one of DJ-Pon3’s concerts. I took a look at the other two memory jewels I had lying in front of me. They belonged to Pinkie Pie and Applejack.

Everything became transparent allowing me to see the stallion from before. He was juggling several bottles of water while trying to open the door without dropping them. I stopped using my spell. There was a door several bookshelves down. Scooping two jewels into my saddle bags I galloped forward with great haste to the only other seeable exit. I bashed the door open and slammed it shut behind me.

Immediately locking it, I turned around to face a large staircase going straight up. With no other way to go I galloped up each step as quietly as I could, but even that sounded like a loud drum being beaten senselessly. By the time I reached the top of the staircase I could have sworn my hooves had played a symphony all the way up.

I came to a stop. The room was … dark. All I could make out was the shape of long figure sitting on a throne chair that had shadows cast over it to keep the creature hidden. Rays of sunlight peeked through a pair of curtains draped down around the entire room.

Squinting my eyes a bit more I could make out a goats hoof, but next to it was a dragon’s leg. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. “So you’re the one that’s been skulking around the restricted section of the library,” the creature spoke softly to me. I froze dead in my tracks.

Okay. Run. Do as you’re name suggests and run.

Every fiber in my body screamed at me to run and that’s exactly what I did. Something behind me snapped just before I hit a wall that hadn’t been behind me before. Pain shot through my entire body while I pulled my throbbing muzzle away from the wall. It vanished with another snap. Turning around to face the creature still hidden in darkness I could make out a lions paw and claws gripping the side of the throne. “Yeah. I’m,” not saying anything anymore. Why can’t I say anything?

My hoof felt every inch of my muzzle searching for my mouth. There was nothing there. I didn’t have a mouth! “Oh hush, I know who you are, Runner.” I stopped feeling for my muzzle and sat down on my haunches. There wasn’t much I could do. A feeling of uneasiness washed over me. “You’re the stallion running around stealing from casinos, trains and more importantly you’re the one with no way of tracking down a certain escapee from District Twelve.” Every variation of the word speechless described me right now. This creature, this creature hiding in the darkness, knew exactly who I was and what I was up to.

That actually sums up my life recently. Since my escape from that place I had lost track of how long it had been. Not that I really cared to keep track. I tried to clear my throat, but couldn’t. “I know all about you, but do you know all about me? After all you enjoy reading history books.” The creature twitched, swinging its tail into view. They weren’t purple dragon scales though, sadly that ruled Spike out as the creature watching me. In all honesty I was really hoping it was Twilight’s number one assistant.

I shook my head showing the creature I had no idea who he, she, it was. “You haven’t even read Discord: Alicorn Princess?” I didn’t need to see the creature to know its jaw had dropped. It snapped its fingers conjuring up a book decorated with a draconequus on its cover. There was a horn and wings drawn on it to make the creature look like an Alicorn. I could feel my jaw lower. When had it been put back on my muzzle? “Oh fine. Here’s an autograph,” he snapped his claws making the name Discord appear over the cover.

This will be the last time you ever see me, and you might want to get those plans to a draconequus named Discord. He’ll know what to do with them.

The words of my favorite crew member ran through my head like a speeding glider. I felt embarrassed that it took me this long to figure out who this was. “I am the master of chaos, I am legend, oh ho I am Discord.” A ray of light shined down on Discord giving me a full view of his long white beard. Taking a few cautious steps forward I eventually found a cushion to sit on. “To answer your unspoken question, yes, I know you Runner. I know just about everypony running around Equestria these days.”

I found myself questioning how he could know every pony in Equestria. Even Celestia didn’t know all of her subjects. Or did she? I pondered that for a moment before focusing back on Discord. “Honestly it’s my only real form of entertainment these days what with raising the sun and moon. But really, how does one expect the master of chaos to make friends when he’s stuck on this throne raising the sun and moon day in day out?” Well Celestia did it for a thousand years. It can’t be that difficult. “Oh I know what you’re thinking, and yes, it is that difficult. You try taking over Celestia’s job after Equestria’s plot device goes off stripping me of nearly all my magical abilities.” Discord began stroking his beard, going into deep thought about what I assumed was the events leading up to that day. I mouthed the words ‘Equestria’s plot device’ a few times over.

“Well what would you call a device that actually removed the only ponies and draconequus that could do something about the problems it caused?” Fair point. Alright, Equestria’s plot device it is. I hate plot devices, they’re overrated. “All jokes aside though, we have things to talk about, don’t we.” All I did was give him a polite nod with a charming smile.

My hoof went straight into my saddle bags, pulling out the schematics for the Alicorn Sphere along with a quill. I scribbled a few notes down next to some of the more intriguing parts of the device. It wasn’t much, but I think Discord would find the notes helpful. I telekinetically floated the plans over to him. “Well if you’ve been eavesdropping on me then you know why I’m here.” Discord reached into his ear and retrieved a pair of reading glasses. It didn’t take long for my eyes to widen at the sight. He answered my statement with a hum. “My original plan was to give these to you so we could make another Alicorn Sphere that could reverse everything the original one did, but there’s a problem. Bolt Action.” Discord held up his lion’s paw, his eyes still reading the plans.

Bolt Action more than likely has the original Alicorn Sphere in his possession which makes my schematics useless since making another one would only put Equestria in twice the danger. The only feasible plan I can see is to get my hooves on the Alicorn Sphere and reverse engineer it right at that moment. Use it. And hope that the resulting shockwave purifies Equestria.

Discord hummed several times. His tail twitched like an agitated cat several times. “Yes, yes I know. Bolt Action found the map his ancestors left behind in order to find the original sphere.” He paused. Lowering the map down, Discord looked me straight in the eyes. I couldn’t see his, but I knew he could see mine. “I can’t be the one to get the sphere. My magic is only strong enough to do this job, which means I am forever bound to this throne. There is another pony,” he spoke softly.

“No. Bolt Action killed hundreds of innocent people when he attacked District Twelve.” My chest puffed in and out while I gritted my teeth together thinking about what he did. No matter how much I disliked that place I can’t sit around knowing that son of bitch did what he did. Not only did he slaughter a lot of innocence, but he also got away with his map like it was a reward for everything he had done. “That stallion needs to pay. I want to be the one that gives him what he gave,” because you get what you give in this world.

Discord, while the complete polar opposite of Celestia, was showing me that he was just as wise as the sun goddess was. In fact, he looked more like the goddesses now than in any of the stories I had read about him prior to being turned to stone. “I have no objections to that, so long as you are doing it for the right reasons.” I paused thinking about the reasons I was willing to go hoof to hoof with this bastard. He was smarter than me, probably more experience in combat, could easily outwit me, but that didn’t mean anything to me. With the right team I was able to get around the impossible. Even if I was not the one leading the team.

I slowly nodded. “I’m doing this for Equestria, especially for Twilight Sparkle. I … saw how broken-hearted she was over her attempts to free Celestia,” she deserves to have someone try to solve the problem she didn’t have all the variables to. From where Discord and I were sitting, we had all the variables and saw a solution. “After everything my friend put Bolt Action through, he won’t hide or run from me. In fact when he gets what he wants I can guarantee you he will come after my family,” because he doesn’t like to lose. Not when he’s so close to getting what he wants.

There was a long dreadfully silent pause between us. The air around me started to feel sticky, thick, in fact my saddle bags felt like a good quality gum stuck to my coat. Discord started to clear his throat but ended up hacking up a coughing. It lasted for a good minute. “Then it looks like you’re the stallion for the job, but this seems like an awfully big job that your average heist planner won’t be able to work around without a team.” That got a laugh out of me.

“I’ve already got a team,” I said brimming full of confidence.

With a snap of his fingers, Discord conjured up a plush doll of Daring Adventure. I stared at it for several minutes not moving. Sometime during our silence I heard Discord ask if I had anypony else in mind for this so called team. “I have two X factors,” I responded in a kind gentle tone. There was a chance this team in mind wouldn’t even agree to helping me, but I knew there was one mare I could go to for a job like this. Sadly she was nowhere to be found. “Seeing as how this plan of mine will more than likely end with me being shot you can keep those schematics. They might come in handy if things go wrong.”

“Runner, before you go I have something to show you, once you see them I want you to think long and hard about your answer to the question that follows.” That didn’t sound cryptic at all. It really didn’t. Actually it sounded more like he was concerned with something. “Ugh, all this seriousness is starting to bore me. Care to play a game of pin the tail on the pony?” He held up a brown tail that did not look like a comic prop. I slowly looked at my flank.

My tail was gone!

“HEY!”

Discord snapped is claws. A burning tingling sensation ran up through my flank making me want to find the nearest watering hole to stick half my body inside of it. I squeezed my eyes shut feeling something swish back and forth near my flank. Opening my eyes, I took a peek at my flank to see my tail had grown back. Ugh, never again. I’d go on a roller coaster to avoid feeling my tail grow back. “My bad,” he said with a devious laugh. I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. This guy’s a riot.

“Alright, come on Discord let’s keep it together a little bit longer,” I said between a few laughs. My comedic acquaintance reached into a bag he conjured up that very second, his claws bumped around inside making random sounds that I never thought I’d hear from a bag.

Another loud squawk came from the bag before Discord’s claw pulled out several memory jewels. Throwing them in front of me he leaned back in his throne letting his eyes snap shut. “Well, go on.” My horn lit up focusing my magic on one of the jewels. The world ripped away.

*** ***

A cool gust of wind blew my mane around gently, the sweet scent of a pine forest caught my nose’s attention. One look to my left gave me all the answers I needed. Fluttershy ran a hoof through her mane while she carefully unrolled a map with thirteen circles marked in precise places. A sweet lovable bunny jumped up onto the stone railing with his tail very nicely puffed up.

His foot thumped the map. Fluttershy smiled with a polite hum. “Angel, could you please go get Twilight for me?” Said bunny thumped the map again. I took a split moment to look at the title on the map. Instead of it saying Equestria it read District Safe Zones. “Oh no, Angel I couldn’t do that.” With a glance at the map I tried figuring out what the bunny wanted.

I spoke to the pony that couldn’t hear me, “What does he want, a monument built to the skies with his name plastered all over in his honor?”

Angel jumped onto Fluttershy’s back, promptly digging into her saddle bags searching for something. His ears popped up out of the bag, one slightly bent. He looked back up holding a red marker in his paws. Jumping back to the stone railing, Angel started marking the map. Several well drawn lines later was all it took for me to figure out it was the shape of Angel’s head.

“Son of a bitch, bunny’s got issues, but style.” Again, I spoke to the mare that couldn’t hear me.

“Angel, this is supposed to help ponies, I can’t built your own personal empire.” I cracked a smile at that. Everything changed the day the bunny rose to power. Somehow I don’t see that as being put in the history books.

Hoofs clip clopped behind me making me turn face the noise. Princess Twilight Sparkle sat down in front of me staring right at Fluttershy. Incredible. It was just incredible. In the time since I had last seen her, Twilight had grown to the size of Princess Luna. Last time she was roughly the size of Princess Cadence. “You wanted to see me Fluttershy?” Before Fluttershy turned to face her, Twilight let out a silent yawn. The bags under her eyes were noticeably gone, but from the way she was acting it looked as if she was ready to keel over.

Twilight’s attention went to the map with Fluttershy’s pet’s head plastered all over it. With one tiny almost unnoticeable spark from the Alicorn’s horn, she made the drawn bunny head disappear. A wave of astonishment washed over me. With a cutie mark that represented magic I couldn’t even begin to imagine all the spells she’s mastered or even created on her own. “Umm,” Fluttershy spoke up, “I was thinking we could maybe start working on these. They’re District Safe Zones designed to keep ponies safe from the infected.” I had to move in closer to Fluttershy in order to catch all of that.

Inching herself closer to the map, Twilight’s eyes scanned over all of the schematics. I turned my attention to it as well making note that a simple look was a good look for a map. I suppose that’s Rarity’s influence. Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Fluttershy … this is amazing … if we get to work on this now then we can even use them as havens before sending out more squads to expand our territory.” Her wisdom knows no bounds. I admire that.

“And I want to take a look back into immunization shots for the infected disease,” she practically spat out in panic of having her request turned down. “I know we haven’t had a break through, but they’re still living ponies.”

I shook my head not understanding why she would even make that request. There isn’t a cure.

Twilight gave her kind friend the most heartwarming smile I had ever seen. Matter of fact I felt like my mood was brightening up. “If you believe we can find a cure then I want you in charge of the operation.” Fluttershy was left speechless. No words came out of her mouth, at least I don’t think there were. There could have been a ‘thank you’ but I can’t seem to hear her all that well.

Twilight looked at the dark sky still smiling. It almost looked like she was at peace. “I’ll help you find a cure once I retire from the force. Then we can get the Districts up and running.”

The world ripped away from me while simultaneously slapping me with a cold bitter hoof of realization.

*** ***

“Fluttershy’s the reason hundreds of ponies were stuck in that,” my mouth zip closed. Literally. I ran a hoof over my zipped lips angrily trying to shout all the known curse words plus some creative ones I’m sure would make Lord Tirek smile with admiration.

Discord just sat there on his thrown, cleaning his hoof with some tool I didn’t even know the name of. Patiently, he waited for me to finish the tantrum I was throwing over what I had seen. “I’m not very fond of that kind of language,” Discord intoned. I slammed my hooves down on the ground, finally ending my long and very colorful yet strangely silent storm of rage. I felt better though!

The zipper on my mouth poofed away freeing my mouth to say whatever it damn well pleased. Words didn’t come out though. It was as if I had gotten every little bit of blistering fury out. “Oh how I miss those six, they were my closest friends you know.”

I smiled. My closest friends are more than friends, they’re family. I focused my magic on the next jewel.

*** ***

Mixed in with a crowd of ponies, I prepared myself for the most uncomfortable stomach turn of my life. We stood on top of a puffy cloud that was notably moving at an alarmingly fast pace. Rainbow Dash sat near the edge, checking her pistols, reloading them and strapping grenades to a belt that could wrap around her entire body. Cautiously weaving around the army of pegasi, I noticed Applejack standing in front of everypony with a pair of horseshoes on like the ones I was given. “Alright everypony, it’s time to go big or go home. Those Fireflies have declared war on us now let’s get down there and show em Eqeustria isn’t some feral wasteland!” The army cheered holding up their rifles.

Rainbow Dash flew over to the country mare, scooping her up and dive bombed straight towards an unfinished university that had several dozen buildings set ablaze. The rest of the army took to the skies for a brief moment before following their orders.

“I can’t … I can’t fly. What kind of a memory is this,” I said to no pony.

Everything around me blurred together like a horror movie being fast forward through a slaughter fest to avoid being seen by a scared foal. In the following moment everything snapped back to how a normal memory jewel felt like.

I was put smack dab in the center of a battle between armored ponies wielding assault rifles and the Equestrian army. Several buildings exploded toppling down to the ground sending up clouds of dust. Rainbow Dash rolled past me with a large red blotch on her stomach. Throwing a familiar throwing knife out from her stomach, she looked up, then ducked down while Gilda swooped down trying to impale her with razor sharp claws.

Applejack jumped up, using an overturned vending machine as a boost, and clamped down as tight as she could on the griffon. They came to a crashing halt near a half crumbled building. Gilda bucked Applejack back while throwing something down on the ground. With a mighty push against the ground the griffon busted through a window while a pony shouted out, “Grenade!” In self-defense my horn lit up creating a needless protection spell. Bombastic sounds mixed with irritating bright lights went up in front of me nearly making me feel like I was being caught in the shock itself.

Smoke was sent up in droves forcing me to slide into the only spell I knew that could let me see the world. Everything became transparent, allowing me to see even Gilda who was running up a set of stairs to a brief case on an upper floor. I galloped into the building letting down my spell. Somewhere in the explosion, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were most likely still trying to get their bearings. Turning a corner I came face to face with said mares while they bashed a window in before diving through it. Violent light mixed together with even more pompous sound ripped the entire door frame apart sending the second story toppling down in front of every entrance to the outside world.

I took cover behind the wall only peeking around the corner to see if the mares were still intact. Rainbow Dash pushed herself up using her wing to brush some debris off of Applejack. “Come on, we’ll try through the roof,” Applejack frantically spoke up pushing herself up right. Both mares galloped into the hallway I was in, heading straight for a staircase. Galloping after them we made it to the fourth floor.

BAM!

All three of us slid to a stop seeing a hole punch through the floor in front of us. Rainbow Dash chunked a grenade at the broken panels in the ceiling forcing the hidden sniper to dive down into one of the rooms. Debris came crashing down on top of everything in sight while the two mares dove under a miss placed table propping a door open. Smoke rose up forcing me to slide into my transparency spell. First thing I saw was Gilda rolling out from cover aiming to reach the roof.

Rainbow Dash stumbled out from under the table with blood trailing down her head. Several loud pants escaped from her mouth before she galloped off after her former friend. Following after her, I took a quick peek back at the table noticing Applejack was stuck under an overturned bookcase. As we galloped up to the fifth floor, Rainbow Dash scooped up the sniper rifle. A throwing knife had lodged itself inside the firearm making it absolutely useless.

The rifle was immediately ditched as Rainbow Dash turned her attention to Gilda who was waiting at the other end of the hall. Running her sharp claws along the floorboards Gilda stared Rainbow Dash down. Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the ground scrapping the ground with her hoof. A grenade exploded close to the building, the smoke rose up next to the windows while they all rattled together.

Rainbow Dash galloped off at full speed, her eyes locked dead with her target charging with just as much speed. It didn’t take one of them going through me to feel all the rage they were feeling, venting, to one another. Taking off from the ground, Rainbow Dash flung both her fore hooves forward prepared to ram Gilda with every ounce of strength she could muster up. Gilda planted her claws firmly against the ground, coming to a stop and ducking right under Rainbow Dash. The griffon rose up, impaling her claws right into Dash’s stomach. The pegasus was slammed right into wall with Gilda’s beak not even an inch from Rainbow Dash’s face.

“You thought I was going to fight fair,” she said gruffly, “big mistake.”

“No it isn’t a fair fight,” Applejack spat back, charging full force into the griffon and knocking her into a small table. Both mares stood up, pushing the table into Gilda. Her back paws shot out, pushing off against the wall behind her before summersaulting over the table dropping both paws down on the mare’s shoulders. Both of them cried out in pain. Applejack bit down on her friend’s mane before dragging her outside onto the fire escape.

I followed after them while they pulled the door shut. “What the hell AJ? We could have taken her,” the pegasus said between frantic pants. Looking over Dash carefully, I could see something was missing. Her grenade belt.

There was a grin on Applejack’s face while she counted down quietly. Every window near our vicinity exploded with fire going everywhere, the door behind us budging a little with the force behind it. “Ah left our friend a lil present.” The country mare pulled her hat down. I took a seat next to them while a blur flew past us. It wasn’t pegasus shaped. “An’ that would be Gilda?”

Rainbow Dash nodded cursing several times over. Both mares got up, kicking their injuries to the curb with several bandage rags, and galloped down the fire escape all the way down to the ground. By the time I got there the building began shaking as if an earthquake was going on. All three of us started looking around until our gazes fell on an unearthly green glow. I went straight into my transparency spell. Through the building I could see a large dam had given way to deadly toxin that was now spilling over into the area.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rainbow Dash slid under Applejack, lifting her straight up. “Hold on AJ, things are going to get bumpy!” The mare galloped in the opposite direction while several large cranes collapsed down onto a few buildings. A wreaking ball swung in our direction nearly hitting us in the flank. With a mighty heave Rainbow Dash punched herself off of the ground, colors exploding behind her with a rainbow trail following shortly after.

I came to a stop. “Okay, I can’t do that.” As I said this the memory jewels magic kicked up again, fast forwarding everything around me several moments.

Everything slowed down to just after Rainbow Dash performed her … I think it was called … a Sonic Rainboom. The fast forward put me on top of a cloud just as the two mares landed on top of it. Their army was split on several other dark clouds around the area. “Twilight ain’t gonna be happy ‘bout this.” Rainbow Dash and I nodded together just before the world ripped away from me.

*** ***

There was no gasp for air upon my return to present day. I just stared down at the ground silently going over what I had witnessed. There was one more jewel sitting in front of me. It was a pink balloon. Slowly looking up at Discord I could see his eyes were still closed.

I focused my magic on the jewel, feeling everything rip away from me again.

*** ***

Several animatronics lay on the ground in front of me while a pink mare with an equally pink poofy mane stared at her reflection. It was strange though. The mare inside the mirror wasn’t Pinkie Pie. Her mane was lying flat almost as if Pinkie Pie’s mane just up and exploded on her leaving behind a droopy mane style. Pinkie’s ears fluttered, her legs jiggled followed by her tail swishing around. “Oh. No, no, no that combo means there’s a spy in our midst. The combo you’re thinking off means there’s a party going on. Although no pony would be having a party right now since those rotten infected ruined everything!”

I swear to Celestia there is no spy around here! I slid in and out of my transparency spell noticing nothing but infected running around what looked like a carnival ground. Taking a peek out the window I could see a roller coaster with no pony in it. The sign said it was the Pinkie Party Ride. My heart began beating faster. Memories came flooding back to me. “This is … that carnival.”

“Where are you spy? I heard you!” Pinkie Pie called out looking around the room for the spy that wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

The reflection looked in my direction. “You’re such a selfish party pony. Who would ever want to party in a dump like this with infected running around the place.”

“Well screw you to,” I found myself saying to the reflection. Without so much as a second thought, I began walking around the room looking for something that might tell me when this memory took place.

“It’d be the only action you got in a long time.”

I stopped.

Pinkie Pie looked around trying not to laugh. “You told the spy!” I moved closer to Pinkie Pie, staring an inch away from her eyes wondering if she could see me. Waving my hoof in front of her face I waited for a blink or movement.

Let me get this straight. That wasn’t Pinkie Pie saying that. I swallowed slowly.

“Let you get what straight? If you haven’t noticed this mare makes no sense,” the reflection spoke. At. Me!

“Yes I’m speaking to you. Who did you expect? Little miss party planner over there.”

Okay, let’s get one thing straight.

“Let’s not and say we did.”

Pinkie Pie rolled around on the ground laughing her flank off at the conversation I had no idea she could hear or … this memory is confusing as shit! I mean seriously, I am having a conversation with a reflection. Which doesn’t even make any sense! Come on, Runner you’re more sane than this. What kind of sick form of a basic joke is this?

“You’re the only basic joke here. And who can’t even protect his friends?”

I walked right up to the mirror. Looked that son of bitch right in the eyes. This was to the bitch in the mirror, not to Pinkie Pie. The latter was a fun loving mare that was doing a damn good job trying to boost the morale of every pony around after the events of the Alicorn Sphere. This pony was being a jackass. “You’re right, I can’t protect my friends. You forgot one thing though.” The reflection tilted her head. “I don’t have friends. I’ve got family.”

I turned away looking straight at a rubber chicken Pinkie Pie was playing with. “At least I ain’t boneless.” The world ripped away.

*** ***

“What the,” my mouth zipped shut. There wasn’t even time for a gaps of air.

Discord tapped his claw impatiently at me knowing full well what I was about to say. Attempting to clear my throat, which was impossible at the moment, I instead rolled me eyes. “Are you going to get revenge by killing Bolt Action?” The question hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s what I wanted. I wanted to take another stallions life on purpose. There were plenty of reasons to go through with that plan.

I thought about everything I had been through. Everything. There was something about myself that I had realized. If given the choice I would avoid conflict. Stealth was my best friend in heists. I picked my next words carefully. “If getting revenge means stopping Bolt Action, I’ll stop him with the plan we discussed. In the event he gives me no other choice, I will put him down,” I said firmly and without question. It was not up for debate.

Nodding his head politely, Discord seemed to be fine with my decision. He knew that I knew the significance of taking another ponies life on purpose and not in self-defense. This stallion though, this stallion needed to have something done to him. Whether that was to face death or not wasn’t up to me, but so help me if I was given the chance I would take the shot and cross that sharks path with everything I’ve got.

“Before you go, I want you to know something.” Discord spoke softly. I nodded ready to hear what he had to say. “Like me, Princess Twilight outlived her friends.” My eyes widened. Those were her best friends though. To live longer than your best friends would mean heartache on an unimaginable scale. “The Alicorn Sphere’s shock wave affected her in a unique way. It prolonged her life.” I could feel my blood boiling. It was ready to burst. Questions ran through my head about if I should deliberately put Bolt Action down. “I ask you again, what are you prepared to do.”

I thought about this long and hard. Could I pull the trigger? After everything I went through I believe I would. “Same thing as before, but Discord you should know that I want it to get bloody.” Discord listened carefully to what I was saying, but said nothing in return. We both knew that he put a choice on the table for me and when the time came I would make the call whether to kill a pony for revenge or not.

Turning towards the door, I was ready to finish what was started by my friend. Discord whistled. I turn faced him. “A word to the wise. Bolt Action will have an army of Reapers. The Fireflies, what’s left of them, will want the device as well. You’ll be taking on a lot of them so be careful.” I smiled with a polite nod. It was weird, but part of me felt like I might not even make it back alive. That’d be fine with me. “Use the side entrance.” Discord snapped his fingers making a small portal open. I walked through it.

And fell.

I hit the ground with a loud smack. Slowly standing up I pictured where the portal was, then questioned why it just dropped me. “Ugh, don’t question it Runner, its Discord.” I laughed.