Fallout Equestria: Of Quills and Blades

Chapter 2: Best Decision Ever

"Yes! I'm going on a quest of self-discovery! I need to learn what it means to be a dragon!”

With scroll in hoof and lance in mouth
You went to Everfree
Where was your destination, north or south?
Such questions did not plague thee

It didn’t matter why you came
Only what you came to do
Not for glory, not for fame
Only what you came to gain

For you
*** *** ***
There comes a time in everypony’s life when they do something they didn’t think entirely through. A time when you encounter a giant wall of consequences you didn’t realize were there until you galloped right into them. These are times when mistakes happen and, for whatever reason, you felt that day was the day to make them.

Today was my day.

I looked out on the crowd as I saw Spoiler waving the book in the air; her lips mouthing words of accusation. The worst part is this wasn’t just another bout of jealousy. This was her catching me in the act of doing something horrible. For years she and her parents had waited to hurt my family in some way and finally they could. They found the weakest link.

Me.

I looked to my Mom with pleading eyes “please, I can explain.”

Her eyes turned hard. The ever present look of incredulity turned into one of stark disapproval. She then swiftly turned to the overpony and declared “I am going to take Recap back to an interrogation room where we can question her. These are serious accusations. Ones she will answer for if they are true. Security! Grab that book. It is evidence.” Only my mom could make a monotone voice sound threatening.
I looked at my Mom in shock. Not because I couldn’t believe that this was happening. I knew my Mom. She played things by the book and adhered to historical precedent over all else. If Spoiler’s accusations are proven true— no. When Spoiler’s accusations are proven true, I would be given the full punishment as dictated by the stable’s precedent for handling plagiarism.

“Young filly, you will come with me”. The overpony was looking down at me. I wanted to shrink back or hide behind some of my mane. Anything but go with him. This day was getting worse and worse.

After a few moments hesitation, I followed the overpony to his office. Accompanying him was a pony from security, my Mom, and my… aunt; who suddenly seemed much perkier than she had been before.

The overpony looked sternly at us all “all right, let’s see this book. And Recap, please hand over your manuscript.” I complied. There really wasn’t much else I could do.

“Ok, let’s see here. Hmm, first lines are the same. A couple of name changes here. Hmm. Actually, what am I doing. Recall would you mind skimming this for me?”

“Most certainly sir.”

My Mom was always an excellent skimmer. It helps that she is able to remember everything she ever reads. As a matter of fact I am surprised she isn’t. “done”

The overpony looked at my Mom “oh, well. That was quite fast. And what would be your evaluation of the situation Recall?”

“I am in the opinion that young Fairest Recap has committed plagiarism of the first degree which is defined as the keeping of undiscovered documents from the community, editing said documents with no meaningful changes, and then presenting said works as her own. Precedence has shown that such blatant disregard for the values of our Stable require one of the most severe of punishments. It is my recommendation that she be restricted from participating in exhibitions or any other non-work related duties for a period of five years; as precedented by incident 7B that occurred 105 years ago.”

And there it was. Her monotone proclamation washed over me as I looked around the stark room. Despite being a capable writer, the current overpony had the decorative capabilities of… you know what. I am out of analogies right now. This day sucks.

My Mom was looking at me with disapproval while the overpony had a look of profound sadness. As opposed to my aunt who looked on with a barely suppressed look of glee. “Well Recap, the overpony began, “nopony knows precedent like your mother and I am afraid my hooves are tied. However, before we make this sentence official there is one matter we must resolve.”

He looked at me expectantly and said that one word that would come to haunt me. “Why?”

Now, the dramatically appropriate thing to do in this moment would be to say “why what?” or maybe that was just nerves desiring to deny this was real. Regardless, it was pretty obvious that now was not the time for theatrics. So rather than digging the grave deeper I answered hoping to placate him at least somewhat. “I. I didn’t want to be a disappointment again. Every time I go to one of these events, ponies come up to me with that look. That accursed look of hope. Hope that I will be able to change their lives with a few short words. I never do.”

The room was silent. I was ready. I would have no chance to distinguish myself for five whole years. The only good thing about this is I would be free from their glances as there would be no reason to look my direction in the first place. No reason to have hope. That was the only good thing that came from this.

Wait.

“ok then,” the overpony began, “in that case I hereby pronounce you stripped of your right to participate in all sorts of academic and literary contests, ceremonies, and anything else that is like that. Ok, everypony, now that the unpleasantness is over lets go get a drink”
Before they could leave I quickly waved my hoof in the air as if I was a young filly in pre-school again. “Wait! Wait! Actually sir, there is one other thing I would like to add!”

The overpony looked truly startled at my sudden outburst. Not surprising considering that such an outbursts was completely out of character compared to how I had acted in the entire meeting. My mom looked on with a mixture of curiosity and concern all while my aunt looked somewhat upset about the whole interruption. Oh, I am sorry? Did I interrupt your post-execution drink excursion? Sorry but I am not feeling particularly sympathetic right now.

“There are several aspects to this I had not yet related! Last night I was brought a coffee from my cousin. And, as my Dad will attest, I did not return home until morning. Furthermore, I had the distinct disheveled look of someone who had been asleep all night. Thing is, I have no memory of anything after the coffee arrived. I think I was drugged!”

“Also, I did not sign up for the annual contest. No one told me that I was participating in this larger event! It was my aunt and uncle who orchestrated it! Also, let it be known my intention was not to try and destroy the competition! Merely to be appreciated and left alone for once. That is all!”

The overpony looked at me with that same sad look. “Recap,” he almost sighed, “even if all of that were true which I am not particularly inclined to believe right now considering the nature of your crime, it does not change the terms of your punishment. You chose to plagiarize and whether you meant harm or not, you still committed the act. We cannot abide that. We cannot continue living our lives as we had. That would be turning our backs on everything that made this stable what it is today. So the terms stand. As per the, um.” The Overpony scratched his chin with hoof and seemed to be straining his neck in some of strange attempt at increasing his ability to remember something.

“err, well. Whatever the incident is called. The stipulations are five years of non-participation. Or the submission of a work of equal value to the Stable as the one that had been plagiarized. These are the only ways you can end your sentence. Ok everypony, dismissed”.

My eyes went wide in realization. I could end it with a good story! I had a chance!

“now, please go return to your quarters for the night and, on the way, please put this book back on the shelf while you are at it. In a place ponies can see it though. I imagine a lot of them will be wanting to view it as it is the first completely original pre-war era work we have added since the Stable’s inception.”

I slowly began trotting down the halls towards the library leaving the office. Ugh, more murals. What I wouldn’t give for just one blank wall to stare at. However, they bugged me less than before. Ideas were swirling in my head. A plan. A hope to get out from under this punishment. Something to redeem myself but how?

Without thinking I entered the library and tried to find where I originally had found the book. It was then I realized I didn’t know the author’s name. So I flipped the book on its side to check. There was no name. There was however a short annotation .

“Inspired by the poem based on the adventures of Sir Bright Hope of Equestria. The first pony to ever return from the Castle of Two Sister’s alive”

Wait, the story was real? What else was in there, an artifact? Yes. Something of immense power that Sir Bright Hope was trying to obtain. Or was it to stop? Maybe it was to guard it against somepony else? It doesn’t matter I have the book right here.

My mind began racing. Would it be possible to look into this story? From what I can remember the stable recorded reports of bombings all over Equestria. Almost no place was left untouched except one place. The Everfree forest; the location of the castle.

“I could get a story. A story that no one would forget. I would just need to find a hero for it and write about it. That is all I need”

And before you ask the question, I did not find it odd I was talking to myself. I often used it as a tool for getting my ideas out. A brainstorming method.

“It makes sense. After all, think of every other disaster Equestria has ever encountered. Nightmare Moon? Heroes arose to take care of them. Foreign invasion? The same. Every villain that Equestria ever encountered gave rise to a hero to defeat them. The war had destroyed Equestria but who now was the villain? Perhaps I could find answers in that castle.”

I need to write a checklist. Shower brainstorming time.

And for the first time that day I smiled. Time to plan. Time to prepare. For tonight, I leave the stable.

*** *** ***

Water cascaded over my mane as I thought. What to do. What to do.
First, obstacles

1. How to get the Stable door open?

2. Hunger and thirst. Rations for the journey. At least 2 weeks. Preferably a month’s worth

3. Security ponies guarding the door. Won’t let me past

4. Ponies calling attention to my presence due to my recent…. Indiscretions. Primary concern is Spoiler and parents.

5. Outside: Likely high amounts of magical radiation. Need RadX and Rad-Away

6. Civilization may have evolved into a world driven by super intelligent radiation immune super ponies. Probably need a weapon. Just

in case.

Drip, drip, drip.

Ah darn it. “Mom! Dad? The water distribution talisman is on the fritz again! Hello?

A few cold wet moments passed as no response was heard. Ugh. Ok, I guess there is going to be a bit more static in here today.” My horn glowed as suddenly a small cloud began to form above my head as the condensation in our quarters was magically relocated and condensed.

“GAH! Cold! Freakin condensation spell. There has got to be a simple way to adjust temperatures. Now where was I?”
Objectives to accomplish before opening the vault

1. Go into security armory. Obtain a weapon and whatever said weapon runs on. Lots of it.

2. Cool looking clothes and gear.

3. Saddlebags. To store stuff in.

4. Prepare a recording to be played at my departure to declare my great intentions. Stick nearby door for applause and then dart

dramatically into the radioactive wasteland.

Ok, first objective. Find a method to leave the stable. Perhaps it is a password? Or a super-secret key? It doesn’t matter really. I need to get into the overpony’s office and find out. And for that I will need to hack the door or something of that sort. I think the office is accessible via a hoofprint scanner. That should be simple to fool. Illusions, after all, are my specialty.

I quickly dried myself off, made my mane presentable (well, close enough), and then left.

I began walking out of the room and into the hallway. “ugh, why can’t we have a single blank space on the wall?”

To my surprise, a voice answered me: “because not all of us are a fraud such as yourself cousin.”

Oh. great. Spoiler alert. The yellow mare preened at me tossing her mane in what I can only assume to be some sort of show of superiority. Or a muscle spasm. “Oh cousin, look at you. Such a mess. Such a state! And to think that with such a promising mark of three Quills you would end up like this? Although, the middle, and might I add largest one does look a lot dirtier than the other two. I guess best of two out of three is better than none” Her smile washed over me like some sort of awful acidic ice water.

“It has to do with my talent Spoiler. Imitative illusions? Ring any bells? What I do at my job every day? Illusions are not flawless. That is why the middle one looks more worn. They are not perfect copies”

My cousin looked at me smuggly “oh, that is how you interpret it, is it? I think you have the comparison right. After all, isn’t what you submitted today an imperfect copy of the original? Changed by your own tampering. Not for the better I hear”

Now, your average pony would respond to such an accusation by lashing out; whether it be verbally or physically. I, however, was not your average pony. My dad had trained me well.

“Well you know the age old adage Spoiler. Tis better to have reached heights only to fall from them, than to have never risen high enough to fall in the first place.” I flashed a grin as she stood there in shock and anger. Mostly anger.

Now, remember what I said about average ponies lashing out physically? *WHAM!*

I was on the ground.

She hit me! I rolled over to see another hoof aimed for my head. I rolled again. Oh thank Cellestia she missed.

At this time I did the only thing I could think of. I breathed deep and yelled. “Help!”

Fear entered my cousin’s eyes followed by a glare that seemed intent on disintegrating me on the spot. I heard the sound of hooves galloping.

One set of hooves departing and another arriving.
The security pony saw me lying on the ground and asked:

“What happened here miss?”

I flashed the officer a smile and winced as I felt the entire right side of my face ache with the effort. “I was just bucked to the floor for walking down the hallway, my good security pony. You know relatives. Always get uppity when you don’t agree with their claims of innate superiority”
The security pony eyed me as if weighing the worth of my words. “So why did you call for help then if you have no intention to tell me what actually happened?”

I grinned, slightly to avoid causing more pain and replied “why to stop them from continuing of course! Thanks for coming,” and I began trotting down the hall. As soon as I got around a corner I ran to the first window I could find to see the damage. hmm, a little bruising around the eye. Could be black soon. At least it should get me some badass points out there. Unless they have been mutated beyond the ability to get a black eye! That would suck.

And with that thought I started heading to the overpony’s office.

*** *** ***

So apparently I am quite the celebrity now. Whereas before I would get the occasional look of recognition, now everypony knew me. And the reactions I got now had so much more variety than before! Whispers, pointing, and awkwardly leaving rooms I entered were all part of the delectable feast of reactions. While I applaud their efforts in variety, I feel like their choice of reaction is lacking in its positive effects.
Luckily I eventually got past all the stares and found myself before the overpony’s office. Checking my surroundings for observers I backed up into a nearby corridor and began casting a spell. If you could call telekinesis as a spell that is. I could feel the metal knock with my magic as a firm “clang clang” rang from the overpony’s door. Five seconds. 10 seconds. 20 Seconds. 40 Seconds! Yes! He must be gone. Or asleep. Hopefully not asleep.

I approached the door and simultaneously begin casting the illusion over my hoof as I lifted it to the scanner. Now, normally replicating somepony’s hoof print would be impossible due to the sheer amount of details involved but, for better or worse, I have something called Tinkerer’s Syndrome.

Tinkerer’s Syndrome describes those ponies born with a natural aptitude for modifying spells to the point of said modification occurring at a subconscious level. In this case, I could somehow know how to replicate the overpony’s hoof because I seen him so many times before. My case of Tinkerer’s Syndrome was particularly severe version wherein I would not only modify my spells subconsciously but actually cast whole spells without a conscious thought regarding it. Yes I know it sounds awesome but you turn your birthday pie into sardines once and it stops being cool.

Unfortunately, there are also less than fun side effects common to all with Tinkerer’s Syndrome. When I was a foal I discovered that I had subconsciously modified my telekinesis spell so that I could feel via whatever I carried as if it was a part of me; which was great until I discovered that any force acted upon the object I was holding I would subconsciously transfer to myself. That was when I discovered never to play keep away with a pony capable of throwing a ball the entire atrium’s length in a single kick. I still have nightmares of falling through the air surrounded by sports balls.

Wait, you getting distracted. Focus Recap.

The door slid open smoothly and I slipped inside.

“ok, now to find the password, switch, or whatever else opens the vault.”

That was when I saw it. A giant terminal in the overpony’s office marked “backup vault door controls”. It even had a giant red button! Now I have never professed to be a particularly mature pony and it would be dishonest for me say that somepony in that room didn’t see the candy red button and attempt to prematurely open the vault. Because that is exactly what happened. Thankfully, I was foiled.

A message flashed on the screen: “Please enter verification code overmare/overstallion to verify opening of Cloudsdale Vault 22.” 3/3 tries remaining.

Oh, umm. Hmm. Ok. Password time.

Cloudsale was known for? Clouds? No, too bland. Weather. That’s like naming your dog, dog. Pegasus? Way too bland. Wonderbolts? Closer but still too easy to guess. Oh I know! Rainbow Dash!

With a few telekinetically pressed keystrokes I entered in that famous Ministry of Awesome mare and it beeped at me. Incorrect? Huh. Well I guess it could be the Wonderbolts but I doubt that would be— “DING”. Oh, that was it. Wow. That is some awful security.

As I looked at the terminal I noticed several options come up. At the top it displayed the words “Overpony personal console.” Huh, I guess the terminal was multipurpose?

I began typing and perusing the materials as I saw an audio log which automatically made it interesting. Why? Because media had taught me well! That’s why!

Being somewhat bored I downloaded it onto my pipbuck and began playing it as I messed with the options under the open vault command. Hmm, open at midnight? That seems dramatically promising. And push! There, all set.

The recording began. Male voice. “Aww, yes. That was wonderful Review”

Wait, Review? Who was talking to my aunt?

“oh it was nothing Mr Overstallion. Recap is so oblivious to her surroundings. It was so simple to change her entry. She didn’t even blink when the invitation arrived. It was simply marvelous. And Recap utilizing that undocumented book was more than we could have ever hoped for”.

“No thank you. And please, call me Overrated. That is, after all, my name”

Oh! I forgot about that. The overpony had one of those weird three part names. Overrated Short Epilogue.

“ooh, well thank you. Now, I hate to be a bore you my dear but I have to ask. Did you get the right security ponies on board for tonight’s little escapade?”

The overpony, no— That didn’t fit anymore. Overrated laughed. A deep guttural laugh. I was familiar with that laugh but it had never sounded so… sinister. “Hah! Of course. We aren’t the only ponies to believe that Art and Recall have had too much time in the sun. It is time to share the wealth. The note has already been planted in her room. By tomorrow morning there will be nothing left but a dead mare, a suicide note, and two grief-stricken parents too scandalized to obtain the overponyship for quite some time! And with that grief I imagine their creative abilities will be quite stunted as well”

WHAT?! Dead? I was… what is going on?

My aunt joined in with a light titter of a laugh of her own. I always wondered if she ever laughed genuinely but even here, in this recording, it sounded forced. “hahahah, oh wonderful. Absolutely splendid. Once they are out of the way we should be able to easily put in place the right ponies to encourage the judging for future overponyship. Everypony need not know that they are being ruled by a small oligarchy rather than an overpony. And it is all thanks to little Recap for making this possible”

“ah, she of the slanted account. May her memory never fade from our hearts”

I hear the clinking of glasses and the recording went silent.

I rushed back to the terminal. I had to let everypony know! They were going to use me to completely supplant our leadership! Well, technically one of the supplanters is our current leadership but you know what I mean! When I got back to the terminal I saw, in flashing red letters “warning, unauthorized download detected. Entering security lockdown. Please contact your administrator for assistance”.

No! no no no. I set the door to open at midnight! I need to change it! I couldn’t change it. Oh Luna… Cellestia. Is this like some sort of pre-emptive moon banishing I don’t know about? Did I break some great taboo and now I must be punished? ARGH.

Its ok Recap. You just need to stay around until midnight. You can do this.

I went to the door, resumed the illusion over my hoof to get out, dismissed it, and ran. I would hide in the security pony locker-room. They always have extra lockers in there and I may have learned I can fit in one if pressed to. Why do I know this? Umm, well. I wanted to describe the cramps one would get if stuffed inside a locker for several hours. To add some realism to a story of mine and, well, it worked. I also was sore for several days.

Today was different. I needed supplies. Supplies security had. And hopefully me hiding in security itself will be considered so brash and idiotic that no one would consider to look there. You know, one of those situations where the closer you are to danger, the farther you are from harm. Of course, it helps to be small so you can fit in lockers. Not that I was super small. I was quite average. Security just had big lockers.

Sadly this means I will be carrying around security patrol rations rather than the wonderful apple tarts the kitchens make but it is better to live with dry apple bars than to die with delicious, succulent apple tarts… ugh. I forgot to eat dinner.

And so I traveled down the corridors hiding from every sound and, especially, every security pony. All while rehearsing two speeches in my head. One for my parents and one for the stable as a whole. They might not believe there was a conspiracy going on and I couldn’t stop them by staying. However, I could stop them by leaving.

Strange how excitement can turn to sadness so quickly

*** *** ***

You know, normally choosing to go and hide in security when several security ponies were assisting the overpony in executing me would be absolutely idiotic. It kind of still is. However, there were two things that convinced that going there was the right course of action.
First, they had weapons, rations, and maybe some sort of barding that should help me out in Equestria proper. Second, I knew the secret of the “One Way” spell! Before you ask, no I won’t tell you what it does yet. It’s a surprise.

I was on my way to security being as sneaky as I could. Shuffling along the floor, hiding under tables, composing my own theme song in my head. The works! So why then did I have to use this spell? As I was going down one particular hallway I saw one of the security ponies down at the opposite end of the same hallway. He looked at me and then started trotting towards me. So I did what anypony would do. I turned around so fast I somehow managed to step on and trip over my own tail. I then scrambled to my hooves and ran. I took the first turn I could hearing shouting from behind me. Luckily the corridor was empty and a dead end at that!

After I had rounded the corner and gotten about halfway to the end I turned. My horn flashed as a clear two dimensional rectangle superimposed itself between me and where the guard would soon turn the corner.

Cla cla clop. Clop. And turn. He looked right at me or more right at the magical rectangle between us. He scratched his head with his hoof and turned around. I heard him asking if anypony saw a yellow filly come down that way. I looked up into a mirror opposite me and saw… nothing.

Ah, what a beautiful spell. It was originally designed to make tours in the museum more personal by erecting these flat illusory panels that would display all the objects but filter out ponies. Unfortunately, it was largely scrapped due to the two dimensional nature of the panels.

After all, you start looking at the flat surface from the wrong angle and the objects in the illusion became distorted; like if you looked at a painting from the too harsh of a viewpoint. This completely ruined the experience. Or should I say “distorted the experience?” Ehh?

Yeah, ok. That was bad.

That time was not a complete loss as that year of testing gave me plenty of time to learn how to recharge the spell matrixes and, consequently, learn how to create my own portable version of the spell. What this meant is I was uncatchable as long as whoever was looking for me kept their distance and was always positioned perpendicular to the illusion. Simple enough, right?

So I went on my way looking for anypony that seemed to be searching for somepony. Luckily the stable was relatively quiet which meant alert security ponies where… rare. I honestly think they would rather be relaxing playing Blackjack or Gin Rummy rather than patrolling the stable.

Somewhat understandable as it was probably the most boring job that anypony can be assigned to.

And there it was, the security station. Or is it barracks? Something like that. Its gleaming grey walls a testament to order amidst the chaos of color that most sections of the stable all too proudly displayed. Ah, peaceful grey walls.

Now, a smart pony would ask why I didn’t just disguise my entire self as the overpony or one of the security pony and a smart pony would have a point. However, what the smart pony is not considering is the fact that while I can disguise my coat and mane the color of my magic would stay the same. The same color my horn would be glowing as I waltzed in there. That and usually a unicorn channeling a spell is not particularly warmly received by the security staff.

I leaned around the corner to take a look inside. One pony was sleeping, another one at the desk seemed more interested in staring at the wall than looking out for a ne’er-do-wells. It seemed like I was home free. And then I heard it. The sound of hooves trotting. Normal yes? No. They all fell in a strange pattern. A four note beat that he somehow maintained while walking. Lawful Virtue. The greatest stickler for the rules the stable had ever seen and he was looking right at me.

“ATTENTION! VERY IMPORTANT PONY ON THE FLOOR! RECRUITS, SALUTE!”

And then then the entire room became a swarm of chaos as it seemed to explode with hidden security ponies who all began to line up and salute… me?

Lawful Virtue just stood there. Starring like the rest. What was I supposed to do? Oh, idea.

“umm, at ease?”

“YOU HEARD HER! BACK TO YOUR POSTS OR I WILL SHOW YOU THE REAL MEANING OF DOUBLE TIME”

Wow, somehow the memory of him never quite lived up to the… volume he exuded.

“So, uh, hey there Virtue. How are things in Security?” I asked the still rigid grey buck with the white mane.

“THINGS ARE OPERATING AT PEAK EFFICIENCY MA’AM. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU MA’AM”

“Actually yes. Could you, quiet down a bit? I think my ears are beginning to ring”

“MA’AM YES ma’am”

Oh thank goodness. He stopped. “Thank you Virtue. Now I was wondering if you might be able to help me. You see, I am doing some research for something I am working on and I wanted to better describe what it was like to fire a gun. However, being as that I have never fired one before, I find myself at a loss. Could you show me how?”

Lawful Virtue gave me a hard stare. It almost felt like a mountain wall had grown eyes and decided I was worthy of its scrutiny.

“Ma’am, you are lying to me. You were just reprimanded for delivering a work before the stable that was not your own. I do not believe that even your parents could have come up with an entirely new concept in part of an afternoon. Now unless you have something else to waste my time with I will be departing for my duties”

Wow. In my head I imagined this going way smoother.

“If that is all ma’am, I am going to leave”

Oh no! What do I do? What do I do? Wait…

“WAIT!”

And suddenly every security pony in the room looked at me. “Umm, wait Lawful Virtue. I Uhh…” My voice dropped to a whisper, “I found something and I need to show somepony. I think you should be the one to hear it first. You might not be head of Security but you are her right hand buck. Can we go into one of the back rooms to talk privately?”

Virtue looked me up and down. I could feel his eyes and the eyes of every pony in the room starring right at me. I feel like my special brand of stealth could use some work.

And then he grunted. “Hmm. Ok. But if you attempt to dispense any more falsehoods to security staff I will have you reprimanded for suspicious activities.”

As we walked into the back of the station I noticed the walls were no longer grey. Each hallway was painted a different color and this one was given an almost sickeningly bright pink color that led to rooms marked “interrogations”.

“Hmm, cozy”

*** *** ***

The recording crackled as it came to an end.

“And do I want to know how you obtained this recording Recap?”

I don’t know what my expression was when I answered but I think it is safe to assume that it screamed guilty. “Umm, not if what is on the recording is more important than where or how I got it.”

He smiled at me. He actually smiled at me. Or maybe his face was having some sort of spasm. I don’t think I have ever seen Lawful Virtue smile. “Well, in that case I won’t ask. Unfortunately you indicated you triggered the alarm somehow? Odds are the terminal has already had its contents erased. And if what you say is true about certain less than scrupulous security ponies joining the Overstallion… (he sighed) well, I am afraid I cannot offer you protection without possibly endangering you. The fact that you would share this with the first security pony to confront you shows a startling combination of resolve and naïve stupidity however.”

He just… did he just call me stupid?

“Would I be correct in assuming you came here to procure arms in order to protect yourself?”

Hmm, well that is technically true. Just protection from radioactive mutant super ponies rather than the more tame security ponies of the stable.

“yes, that is why I came. Also to hide. I have a idea to prevent their plan from succeeding but unfortunately I cannot make it happen until midnight. Can I hide around here until around then?”

The big buck continued to stare as if, by looking me over, his eyes would start monitoring my heart-rate so that he could see when I was lying. Finally, after about a minute, he spoke “do you plan on killing any security staff if they assault you at the over-stallion’s behest?”

Oh. Um. Wow. I didn’t even think of that. I didn’t want to kill somepony. I would actually like to keep the number of dead ponies to a nice round zero if I can help it. I looked up at him.

“A life is far too valuable to be thrown away because of a corrupt leader. I want to merely stay alive. If you give me the tools I will do only what is required to do just that and go no further.”

One of his eyebrows went up. Impressed maybe? Hopefully?

“ok. I don’t know what you have planned Recap and I don’t want to know. If I knew I would probably have to do things that could get us both in trouble. In fact, I think it would be better if we pretended this was me questioning you regarding the priceless book you were supposed to have returned to the library which you had earlier plagiarized.”

Wait, the book? I looked back at my saddlebags and… oh. There it was. Sticking up out of the bag. I had been in a rush when I left the Overpony’s office and apparently it never settled into the bag resulting it being displayed for all to see.

I looked at Virtue and laughed nervously. “heheh, whoops?”

The stern expression intensified as he replied “Hmm, quite. Now let’s get you down to the armory. We have some non-lethal options for you. Also, I expect to hear NOTHING about what you do today all right?”

I met his eyes and, oh wow. He was really serious. I didn’t realize he was capable of making a face like that. Part of me was certain he was going to shoot me.

As we made our way down to the armory with my “escort” I realized I would need to ask of him one more favor.

“Hey Virtue?”

“Yes Recap?”

“Could you also do me a favor or two? In case tonight goes badly?”

“As long as it does not violate my oath as a security pony of Stable 22 and will not endanger anypony that dwells within I shall consider your request”

Wow, a simple yes wouldn’t suffice? He is so wordy.

“Ok. I need two recorders. The first I will need you to plug into the main security announcement terminal and set to go off at midnight. The second” A tear escaped and floated to the floor below my face. Where had that come from? “The second is for my parents. They need to know what is going on. And I want them to know why I am doing what I am doing tonight. Can you deliver that to them?”

He sighed. “Look Recap. I can try but you are asking a lot from me. It will not be easy for me to distance myself from you if the Overstallion succeeds. However, in you I see the look of a pony desiring redemption. There is nothing of greater importance than redemption. I will acquiesce your request.”

Suddenly, I felt joy. “Thank you!” And my hooves found themselves around his neck as I hugged him with all the relief induced strength I could muster.

“Let’s try to keep this professional Recap. You are still in trouble for today’s events and I would prefer if my operatic historical performances were not canceled due to my fraternizing with a delinquent.”

I let go and smiled quite embarrassed. “oh, um. Sorry.”

“Ah, here is the armory. Now let’s get you ready.”

I couldn’t help it. I squeed in excitement.

*** *** ***

I looked good. No, better than good! I looked downright alluring in this stable 22 barding. After dropping me off at the armory Virtue had showed me a most unique weapon. It was what he called an energy pistol but… different. This particular model could operate with two different types of batteries or charge packs or whatever they are called. The first caused it to fire a red beam of magical energy that scorched whatever it impacted. That being said, there may be a burn mark along the roof of the armory that wasn’t there before I practiced. The second type, which he did not let me practice with, are a set of special cells that were meant to overload the magic in any pony it hit. Rather than disintegrating them it merely knocked them out as they entered sensory overload. He then explained to never fire it at anypony casting a spell as the sudden influx of magic would disrupt whatever spell they were casting and could have very… unpredictable results. I also heard the word “prototype” and “largely untested” but that usually just means it is just that much more awesome.

Oddly enough, he only gave me 5 batteries for that mode of fire.

“This stuff is really hard to make Recap and I don’t trust your aim enough to really make use of more” he had told me.

Apparently non-lethal weaponry was never mass produced like most of the other products of the war. I guess it makes sense as a bunch of stunned Zebras weren’t exactly the key to winning a war.

He had left me alone after giving me the two recorders. I chose to take the opportunity to sneak in and take a few weeks-worth’s of rations from the storeroom.

After I was done recording the message for the stable, I entrusted it to him and reiterated the instructions. That said “set it to go off at midnight” is really simple but you never know! Just in case.

Sadly I couldn’t come out and accuse the overpony. After all, any accusation I made so close to my sentencing would be viewed as libel; a shoddy attempt at trying to regain favor I didn’t deserve. However, I could tell my parents the truth.

Drip.

Drip.

Tears again?

I looked down as I felt more coming and played the recording for Mom and Dad. One last time. I have to make sure it was right.

“Hey Mom and Dad. So you are probably wondering why Lawful Virtue is at your door in the middle of the night with a pipbuck recording of all things. Well, stuff is happening. I discovered that aunt Review and the overpony have been plotting a takeover of the stable. They were going to use my humiliation today as the first step towards discrediting you both.

They (sobs), they were going to kill me tonight. Make it look like a suicide. Apparently a suicide note has already been planted in my room. They hoped to use that to make you both incapable of working due to grief. They also hoped that you two being known as the parents who birthed the Stable’s largest failure and social pariah it has ever seen would prevent you from being too influential. I am so sorry Mom. Dad. I am so sorry (muffled crying). I am going to make it better. I am going to make up for my mistake.

Tonight I leave the stable. That book I read? Yes, the same one I claimed as my own? It is based on true events. I am going to go out into Equestria, find a hero to go there. I will come back with the greatest story this stable has ever seen! I promise!”

My voice cracked with those last words.

I will be back! And you will be so proud.

From (more sobs) your little Synonym Bun.

And now, I wait.

Footnote:
New Perk: Educated Guess…er: You know very little about computers but you do know history! As long as you know the name and a little something about the place in which a computer resides, the difficulty level of the hack goes down one level (ex: hard to medium).