Celestia's Clandestine

Chapters

Hoe Down
The Letter
Covert Agents
Our Mission
The Brokes
Twisted
Betrayal
Change of Plans
Revealed
Wedding Bloods

Hoe Down

The Letter

"Sorry," the dashing red stallion said, his deep voice like music to Tealove's ears, and as she watched his blonde mane fly, she stuttered for words, for an 'it's alright,' but the sentence wouldn't come out. And that's when it happened. She felt a jerk deep in her gut, making her nauseous for only a second, then she was once again swept into the whirlwind of moments that made no sense, but sent tingles up her spine because of the firm hoof still wrapped around her-

"Excuse me!"

Suddenly, Tealove was thrust from her thoughts and plopped back beside the half-set table in her store, Tealove's Tea Room. She quickly shook herself then turned to face a customer that she hadn't noticed had come in.

"Sorry, not trying to be a bother," the business stallion said as he pushed his glassed farther up the bridge of his muzzle, "but I've come to pick up the order I put in two days ago for a relaxing luncheon in the fields after the ponies finish Summer Wrap-Up. Is it ready?"

(Oh shoot. The luncheon!)

"Um..it will be done by noon!" Tealove stumbled to reply and only after she put on her biggest smile was the stallion satisfied.

"Then I will see you then. Cheerio!"

Once Tealove was in her shop alone, she pretty much toppled to the ground. She only had three hours to make a luncheon for all of Ponyville plus had to move it to the fields! (And not to mention make it look pretty! That's the whole point!)

Tealove knew she needed to get working and knew she shouldn't have let herself sleep in that morning and knew she should have at least offered a hoof during the Summer Wrap-Up duties, but she hadn't. Didn't. And now she out there alone. (Not a hoof at my side. Aren't I so pitiful?)

As Tealove stirred one of five pastry batters in her large, fancy kitchen, she found her busy hooves slowing to a stop, her mind wandering to the night before. To the red stallion she'd ran into. What had happened back there? She'd never felt anything like it, not only the heart swelling sensation, but also how she had seemed to be sucked right out of the real world and into her own world. Or another world. That had never happened before....(focus, girl!)

Twelve dozen tea cakes later (and not to mention the alfalfa sprout sandwich bites, cucumber creams, sweet teas, miniature cupcakes and about a million other things!), Tealove was bulldozing out the door with a full cart of Tea Room cuisines behind her. She dashed down the streets (please don't let the deviled quail eggs get swooshed!), skid around lamp posts, galloped across the bridge, then there she was. And there everypony else was!

"You're late," the business stallion who had placed the order grunted as Tealove stood, frozen and horrified that she had been tardy at the field's edge, "but no worries, dear!" he assured her, "Everypony has been busy playing games and such. I didn't even notice you were late until I checked my pocket watch!"

Tealove forced herself to breath then nodded at the stallion, "I'm..sorry. It will be ready in just a moment, then-"

"But of course I'll have to demand a full refund for your being past time."

"What?!" Tealove cried, but quickly tired to remain calm and not break down, "Um..how about we discuss this later? There are some ponies..staring at us."

"Oh, of course!" the stallion exclaimed with a snort, "Do your thing and I will distract them!"

(Okay Mister let's-help-but-make-her-life-miserable.)

Within minutes, the luncheon was ready and the field looked like a meadow of treats and flowers. Tealove leaned against her cart, exhausted, but proud of her fast work. (Just the right sprinkles on the cupcake, if I do say so myself.)

Tealove smiled as the luncheon's guests began seating themselves, everypony grateful to have a break from their Summer Wrap-Up work, and as she gazed across the sea of manes, she spotted him. Blonde. Red. Apple cutie mark. And then it happened all over again.

Tealove was sucked from the present, but instead of flying off to moments that made no sense, she found herself gazing down at a dark castle kept together by sappy green goo. And it was a castle she knew all too well-the palace of Queen Chrysalis.

That's where her mom had died-where she'd been murdered. Where Queen Chrysalis had given Tealove the most unforgettable birthday present of her life. The place where Tealove had been foalnapped, where her parents had burst in to save her, where her mom had sacrificed herself in exchange for her daughter's freedom. The castle of her nightmares.

Tealove struggled to shake herself from the scene, but the image wouldn't budge, and soon she found herself blurring into the very throne room that she'd been imprisoned in seven years ago. (No! Stop it! Get me out!) In that throne room was none other than the Queen of the Changelings, gazing into a glass sphere filed with green wisps that formed ponies form other places in Equestria-Tealove had seen her use this before. That was how Chrysalis knew her parents were coming to save her, how she knew to send her minions to stop Princess Celestia and Luna from coming in time to defeat her, to save their subjects.

"Oh, the little Coverts," Queen Chrysalis smirk with a throaty laugh, "Thinking they can stop us! And what's this, Celestia? Training your pets to do your bidding? How humorous. Well, think again, Princess, for I will rise and you shall-!"

"Tealove!"

Slightly shaking and with one trickle of cold sweat running down her face, Tealove was jerked out of her thoughts to find herself facing a mare with blue and pink curls and a cutie mark of small candies. Tealove had never seen her before (mostly because I practically never left my Tea Room, but you know) and fumbled to reply to the slightly concerned looking pony (who also somehow knew my name....).

"Uh..I, uh..yah?"

The mare gazed at her form top to bottom then said, "I have a letter for you," and from her saddle bag produced a cylinder container big enough to hold three scrolls and was sealed with the Royal symbol of the meshed Celestial Sun and Lunar Moon. Written across the container were the words 'Addressed to Miss Tealove Van Clovers, Ponyville. Received from Canterlot, Princesses Luna and Celestia. Important. Speed Mail. Reply at once'.

Tealove took the parcel with her hoof, "Um..t-thank you, Miss.."

"Just Bon-Bon," the mare corrected then took a second helping of mini bunt cakes from Tealove's cart and whispered, "Open it when you're alone. When you're sure you're alone," and then she left, trotted off, all smiles and cakes, as if nothing at all had happened.

Tealove stared until Bon-Bon disappeared into the crowd.

(What was that all about? And why the hay do the Two Sisters care about contacting me? I'm surprised they even know my name, but....more like, what was...what I saw? With Queen Chrysalis? And why?)

The Letter

Covert Agents

Her curls were now just locks of frizz, her hoofs now raisins form all the dishes she'd washed, her eyes could barely stay open, they were getting blood shot and puffy, but Tealove kept working.

She was back in her Tea Room, late in the night, closing down the store and making sure everything was spit spot for the next day. She could have been done hours ago, but Tealove slowed her work to perfection speed (as I call it), but being slightly OCD wasn't the real reason she was lengthening out her work. It was that letter. The letter that was then laying on the spotless counter, right where Tealove had left it when she'd come back to the Tea Room after the Summer Wrap-Up luncheon. Every now and then she'd glance at it, put down the pastry cream mixer she'd been scrubbing for about an hour and reach for it, but then thoughts of what the letter could be shot into her mind. (It had to be horrible. I was told to open it in secret! What if it self destructs and blows Dad's..I mean, my Tea Room up! Why can't I just pretend I never got it? Why do ponies have to talk to me? What could the Princesses want form me?!)

Eventually, around midnight, Tealove had nothing else to do. Every teaspoon, kettle, tray and whisk had been soaked, scrubbed, rinsed, sanitized, soaked again, scrubbed..(you don't want to hear the rest. I'll put myself to sleep if I list it off) and now it was time. It came down to this. (Just me and the letter.)

Tealove took in a deep breath as she suddenly noticed how quiet the Tea Room was..and how alone she was...(and how vulnerable!). Technically, it was the perfect time to read the letter, so Tealove finally forced a hoof around the scroll container, swallowed to sourness rising in her throat, then (just in case it does self destruct) trotted out into the cold night to open the case.

The moon shone high above her, the silence and open space seeming to beg the darkness to make something bad happen as Tealove popped the lid from the letter and tipped it carefully over onto the cobblestone street around the corner from Ponyville plaza. Out of the cylinder slid a parchment scroll tied in ribbon that resembled Princess Celestia's mane (not too bad so far), a smaller, folded piece of paper and finally, a little pearl plopped onto the floor with a soft 'dink'. (Okay...)

Tealove's twisted stomach (that was so regretting eating all of the leftover mini cream puffs) loosened a little. It seemed like just a letter. Perhaps an invitation to cater a tea party at Canterlot! (What an honor that would be!) Tealove let the thought lift her heart a bit then tugged at the scroll's silk ribbon and unrolled the parchment to begin reading.

"Dear Tealove Van Clovers,

You are not just an earth pony. You posses more magic in you than some unicorns, and it is because of who you really are. Your true

identity has been kept quiet since your birth, even your own parents-who I am sorry to say are not your real parents-did not know who

their 'filly' really was, but this very confidential information has leaked over the years and as your powers are growing stronger, I believe it

is time.

Tealove, you must report to the Canterlot palace immediately. You are not safe where you are-you're being watched and you need to

come to Canterlot as soon as possible. Once you are there, request that the guards bring you to the throne room 'as fast and quick as a

zipping moon beam across the sun of the morn'. You must, for the situations are dire and we need you immediately.

I am sorry that I cannot explain more, but you will be informed more upon your arrival at Canterlot. Travel quickly and safe. I have two of

my most trusted ponies on guard in Ponyville, ready to escort you safely to the palace. Don't worry about finding them, they will find you

first.

Your Majesties,

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Tealove stared. She blinked. (That light from the lamp post at the corner must have been on full blast cause the glare kept making my eyes water.) Her stomach felt empty now, a caved out pit. She squeezed her swollen eyes shut then reread the letter again. And again. It was seriously there. That was seriously the signatures of the Princesses. This was real. But it couldn't be!

Tealove read over the first paragraph. (They must have the wrong Tealove Van Clovers. I'm just as magical as a burnt eclair without a filling! And my parents...) Tears started to well up in her eyes again, but Tealove forced them down as prickled of anger began to rise from her gut. (How dare she say that about my parents! They're my real parent! The hay bag..the nerve!) But then she remembered. Tealove had never seen, out of all the scrapbooks her mom had made, there weren't any picture of Tealove being in the hospital after birth. (Mom would never miss a documenting opportunity as big as that!) Now that she thought about it though, Tealove had never seen any picture of her before the age of two. Not one picture of her as a little filly being passed around to all of her eager aunts and uncles so everypony could have a chance to cradle the new born in their arms...

(No! It wasn't true!) Tears were trickling down Tealove's cheeks now, and even though they tickled at her suddenly burning face, she didn't wipe them away. (It can't be!)

Tealove threw the scroll aside and let herself sob. She was angry at Celestia for keeping such a secret, angry at her parents for some reason she couldn't name! Heart broken that she was angry about them... Everything she'd known to be true! Down the drain! Why didn't anypony tell her? Who could she trust now? (Nopony...nopony cares. You're an orphan. Nopony loves you!)

Tealove choked as her tears blurred the streets and quickly snatched up the folded piece of paper to give her mind something else to brew over. Anything else than her parents.

On this paper was a picture. A picture (that really didn't help the situation!) that stopped Tealove's heart, that stopped her very breathing. Even the tears froze for a moment.

This picture was of a small filly. Green coated, blue maned (which would have been like mine if it hadn't been cut so short and was sticking up like a stallion's mane) with eyes as blue as crystals. And this filly was in Canterlot. In the palace. Tugging at the flowing ends of Princess Luna's mane as Princess Celestia, mane up in a towel and looking quite groggy, held out a bottle in failed attempts to distract the little filly. And the picture was dated. (My birthday.)

Tealove quickly scanned over the words below the picture that read 'Along with this picture is enclosed a pearl. This will be your means of communication once you join with your escorts. They will explain how to use it. Please place it in your ear for now'.

Tealove glanced at the pearl, eyes drying now, then gingerly rolled it around in between her hooves. It looked like any normal pearl that would be on a necklace, just like the edible ones she topped mini cupcakes with. (But in my ear? Surely there was a more natural way to wear it?) Even though Tealove thought it to pointless, she followed her instructions and fit the pearl in her ear, but what she wasn't expecting was that as soon as the pearl made contact with her skin, it latched on like a magnet (or a hearing aid). This spiked a little something inside of Tealove's skull, though she couldn't tell if it was pain or a jolt of excitement, either way, she felt ready to face the world now. To leave Ponyville. (More like to leave behind Miss mule, but a change in scenery is always well appreciated too.) And most importantly, to find out who she really was.

Tealove shoved the small note back into the letter casing, but as she reached for the scroll, her hoof made contact with a sticky goop ball instead of parchment. (Oh no, not gum!) But when she turned around, she found that there wan't a scroll in sight. Not even a ribbon. Just a small patch of green goo that was beginning to quickly harden. Tealove's heart stopped. (Man, if that keeps happening, I'm going to die soon.)

It was a feeling she knew all too well. The crystallizing of Queen Chrysalis's pods. It was true. She was being watched.

********************

It was pretty easy to get packed up and ready to go. After her dad had passed, Tealove' step-mother had taken pretty much taken every one of her personal belongings to 'humble my dear daughter during this time of trial'. (Yah, well what would you say if I stole all of your posh stink bomb perfumes to humble your ugly face?)

After five minutes of jumping at every sound and almost fainting from holding breath while Miss mule went downstairs for a drink, Tealove's room was almost totally empty. So with one last glance at the house, Tealove took the safest way out (following the squirrels down the tree near my window) then (freedom! I can't believe I'm finally doing this...) took off towards the Ponyville Express.

Tealove's heart pounded against her skull as Ponyville zoomed past her. (What am I doing? How do I know this whole thing isn't a lie?) Multiple times she stopped and even twice turned back to Sugar Street, but this was her chance. Her only chance to leave, to start new. Totally new. And every time she considered returning home, this one thought drove her to keep galloping forward: (hey, as long as I can make my mini cupcakes where ever I'm going, everything's perfect! Except for mom and dad..but...oh. I want to to know who I am. That too.)

"Can I have a ticket to Canterlot, please?" Tealove asked as she nervously scanned the shadowed Ponyville train station.

"Well, of course, m'am!" the young stallion behind the glass whinnied then, using his horn, slipped a shining golden ticket across the counter, "Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to donate to our sponsors, the Shiny Hoof Foundation for...!"

"Mhm," Tealove nodded distractedly as she trotted towards the bench by the train tracks, still looking over her shoulder in case Miss mule came suddenly swooping down from the sky, fangs ready to drag Tealove back home, but the sky was clear. Too clear. The moon wasn't up that night. Only stars. (Weird. I thought Princess Luna never did New Moons.)

Tealove took a seat on the bench and gazed up at the train schedule. Her escape would arrive in half an hour. (I have to wait? What kind of Equestrian society do run?!) So she waited, tapping a hoof against the cement ground as the minutes slowly ticked by, but remained patient. (By the time that train does come, I'll be dead and gone!!)

The night aged on, the shadows seeming to grow darker as Tealove waited, struggling to stay awake and constantly nodding off. Once she even had a half-asleep dream about arriving at Canterlot just to have Celestia morph into her step-mother (let's call her Madam stink. Miss mule was getting old) and to have all the blood sucked out her by the fake Princess's fangs...

Tealove jerked awake with a squeak. The train tracks focused back into view after a moment of blinking, then Tealove shook herself as if that would erase the dream and began listing off the ingredients and directions on how to make a mini eclair to distract herself. She was beginning to relax again when she reach the half teaspoon of vanilla, but then something out of the corner of her eye suddenly caught her attention. A shadow. Followed by another one in the same shape that zipped across the landing to the ticket stand. And the ticket stallion wasn't there anymore.

Tealove jumped to her hooves, keeping her saddle bag close as she squinted into the dark, "Hello?"

No response. Tealove was about to sit back down when a stallion's voice replied, "Hi there!" then the ticket booth pony trotted out of the shadows.

Tealove let out a long sigh, "Oh! I thought..you probably shouldn't..lurk in shadows like that...you might scare somepo-"

The stallion punched Tealove square in the muzzle, sending her to the ground with a horrible nose bleed, but he just laughed and whispered, "Oh please. Lurking in the shadows is what we do. Come on boys!"

Tealove blinked furiously, trying to bring her eyes back into focus as three other black shadows appeared from behind the ticket stallion-who wasn't the ticket stallion anymore! As his friends came up behind him, the pony began to fizz green until, form the hooves up, he was twisted into his true form. A black, fanged, winged and holed pony-a Changling. And as he transformed, so did his friends.

Tealove screamed, "Somepony he-!!" but before she could finish, the lead Changling jumped on top of her, its touch chilled Tealove to the bone and sent a violent shudder through her body once her bucked her in the stomach.

"Ack!" the mare choked, "Get OFF!" and as she wound up to return the blow, the other Changlings joined the dog pile and set to work biting at their victim's limbs. Pain shot up Tealove as if it were traveling straight through her veins to her heart where she felt a jerk inside of her chest. (Are they venomous? Am I being poisoned?!) But instead of making her weak, the sudden stab of pain blew through Tealove like a gust of fighter charged wind and quicker than a whisk, she bucked away the biters, sunk her teeth into the closest hoof to her and head butted the lead Changling as hard as she could in its chest.

"Agh!!" the pony creature yelped and he fell back, allowing Tealove to hop to her hooves and give the remaining attackers a swift buck in the flank.

"Somepony help!" Tealove yelled toward town, "The Changl-!"

But then a hoof was stuffed into her mouth and she was tackled, "Shut it, Sweet," the pony pinning her down growled, "Nopony's coming to help you. Not when we're-!"

"Oooooh, can't I take just one sip?" a Changling butted in, "The love in this one is even sweeter than the stuff in Princess-"

"Shut up!" the leader snapped, "Don't you listen at all? Queen Chrysalis said to leave this one until-"

"But can't we just have a tiny lick?" the other persisted, "It'll give us the energy to make it home with our load!"

Tealove wriggled desperately under the Changling's weight. The other pony-things were considering their companion's suggestion! No. As her captors discussed the pros and cons, Tealove was reminded of the torment she might be feeling within moments. She knew what it felt like to have the love sucked out of her, to have the very light and soul taken from you. It had happened that night-the night, before her mom pleaded that Queen Chrysalis take her instead. She only knew what it felt like for a few minutes, but her mom had experienced that until death. She couldn't feel it again-wouldn't.

"Well, I vote yes and that's final," one of the Changlings was saying.

"Well, of course you do, Bit, but what does blaze think, eh, boss?"

"I don't see why not, so..just a small lick of each of you!"

The group of Changlings cheered. Tealove's scream was muffled from the holey hoof still shoved over her mouth. (No, no, no,no! This can't happen again! Not again! I can't-!) Tealove buck at the Changling on top of her with all her might, thrashing and biting at his hoof, but her whole body suddenly became limp, everything so numb that her brain couldn't take control. It was happening.

Tealove saw the image of herself as a filly, her mom and dad with her as they hugged under the sunset. But then the memory turned brown, curled like a burning piece of parchment until it was just an empty feeling inside. (No..stop..) Then she saw her dad and her a week after her mom's funeral, holding each other tight, being too alone to let go. The feeling had been so strong, the warmth had brought her to tears, but then it was whisked away. Burned, charred, crumpled like until there was another hole in Tealove's heart. (No! Dad! Please) Then the next memory appeared-the father-daughter dance. (No, not that one!!) She felt it's overwhelming love, the deep connection between he and her dad as they danced into the morning-but then a green flame began licking at its edges and soon it was curling to emotionlessness.

Tealove struggled, but her limbs wouldn't respond. She tried to buck and hit, but she felt as if she was in a deep, horrifying sleep, never to wake and only to have all of her life taken from her until she was just a colorless, withered reed of-

"NOPE!"

As abrupt as a switch on a beater, Tealove was wrenched from her tormenting misery and thrust back to the present. She blinked, dazed. There were no Changlings above her. Her memories were slowly returning to feeling as she breathed in the fresh air that pleasantly stung and her chest. There were distant cries to her her left, but when she tried to stand, her knees buckled and completely gave out. Then a Changling, looking awfully beaten, swooped to the ground and snatched her up, then desperately began flying away with her, though weighed by its load. Tealove was too dazed to process much of it though. (Give me a break, I'd just been practically tortured!)

"E-nope!"

Before the Changling could get far off the ground though, he was suddenly bucked out of the air and thrown to the ground, but Tealove flew the opposite direction. That's when she started to come to. And started to scream. But just before she could hit the ground at bone breaking speeds, she was caught by two strong hooves. It was so abrupt that it took her a moment to realize that she could stop screaming. She looked up for her savior as she was set on the ground just to find-

A broad, red coated stallion standing above her nodded approvingly, making his blonde hair bob, and said, "Yup," as if he was now satisfied with his work. It was the stallion.

"Wh..I..who..?" Tealove stumbled for words. (All this is too much-it's making my head spin.)

But before the stallion could explain, a Changling came bolting towards him, fangs bared, hissing, just to be bucked in the face and shot all the way across Ponyville. Tealove's heart jumped. Until the stallion was tackled by another Changling.

Tealove cried out and instantly tried to jump to her hooves to come to the rescue, but before she could even topple over, a blue and pink maned mare came raging across the train station platform and knotted the Changling before it could do more than punch the red stallion. Tealove was taken back. And prickled with a bit of jealousy. Who was-?

"No worries, Tealove," the mare said as the stallion and her leaned over Tealove (it was Bon-Bon! How-), "You're with us now. Covert Agent Sweetie Drops and Maximus at your service."

Covert Agents

Our Mission

"Looks like Equestria isn't big enough for another princess, is it?" Queen Chrysalis snarled to the green pod hanging from the ceiling of her dark throne room. The flickering of green flaming torches lining the walls were reflected on the Pod's crystallized surface that the Changling Queen gazed into, trying with all her might to keep herself from unharnessing her powers to steal every bit of love form her prisoner. But it was so strong, so sweet...she could smell the very essence of it flooding through her victim's veins...

"Well, looks like Equestria is just big enough for a Queen," Chrysalis laughed, saliva strung across her fangs as she hungrily licked her lips, dreaming of the victorious moment that would soon be-

"Your Highness?"

Tealove almost jumped out of her coat when a Changling entered the room, interrupting the shared thought between her and the Queen.

"Huh? I-What?!" Queen Chrysalis snapped, but the Changling just blinked its reflection less eyes, glancing at the hanging pod.

"You do know that prisoner is unconscious, right, you Majesty?"

"Of course I know!" Chrysalis roared, "Now LEAVE!"

Tealove felt the ground shake form the Queen's sudden outburst and cowered on the filthy stone floor, wondering why the two didn't acknowledge the mare standing in between their argument.

"Um..of course, your Grace, but I've come to report..we failed to captor Swe-"

"Tealove, snap out of it!!"

Then, with a stiff jerk that lurched behind her skull, Tealove thumped back on the ground of the train station, hot, dizzy and ready to puke.

"Come on, we've got to get out of here before they return with backup," Bon-Bon was saying as the blonde stallion shoved the unconscious Changlings into a nearby hollow tree that appeared to have been opened by a door in its trunk.

"What..who is-"

"For now, call us Bon-Bon and Big Mac," the mare quickly replied as she helped Tealove to her hooves, gesturing to the stallion called Big Mac to join them, "The train will be too slow. I'll just transport is to Canterlot."

Tealove wearily glanced to Bon-Bon's forehead, "But you're not a uni-"

"Hold on tight!"

And before Tealove could blink, there was a blinding flash of yellow-white light, then the air totally shifted and the three ponies were sucked into a whirlwind of illumination, twisting and turning, spinning and tumbling until everything went dark and the group landed on the tile floor of Celestia's throne room. Tealove scrambled to her hooves (again) , her mane mussed form the trip, then her mind went blank (and it never does that).

Before he stood Princess Celestia, (so you're the one I owe all the thanks to) mighty and graceful, but intimidating. The Princess looked down at Tealove with a smile, gentle, compassionate and that quickly soothed the mare's nerves.

"Tealove," the Princess nickered, "I'm happy to see you made it here safely, but I'm sure you need your rest. Bon-Bon, would you please show her to the-"

"I'm not tired," (a.k.a I'm dying of sleep deprivation) Tealove quickly said, "I'd like..explanations."

Celestia was surprised at first, but then regained her smile, "Of course. Sweetie, Max, you're dismissed for the night."

"Thank you, Princess," Bon-Bon bobbed her head gratefully while Big Mac nodded, "Yup," then the two left the room. (Wish I was Big Mac's partner..)

"Now then," Princess Celestia led Tealove to one of the many stained glass window scenes across the walls, "Your story begins here. With the Sky."

The Princess lightly tapped the colored glass Sun and Moon then a tingle of magic flowed, spiraling form her horn onto the window's surface, then the scene came to life.

"One day every year," Celestia narrated as the two lights in the glass sky separated and began rising above the mountains of Equestria, "Luna and I have no power over the Sun and Moon and one night, the two rise as if they were tied together."

The window lit up a silvery blue and yellow as the Princess continued, "When they reach their highest peak, their beams of light combine to form-"

A small filly morphed into the scene, growing as it slowly landed on the wind swept grass, the Sun and Moon once again combined, the now-mare sparkling with magic, then the window returned to stillness.

"You are one of the Children of the Sky, born with the name Sweet Pea and the powers of both Sun and Moon, the powers beyond that of any alicorn's, designed to save Equestria and us all in times of need. You were cared for by Princess Luna and I, sent into the world with a family enchanted to think you as their filly until now because your powers have grown strong enough that it is time to harness them properly by accepting your birthright position in Equestria's secret organization, Celestia's Clandestine, as my newest Covert Agent Sweet Pea. And now I ask..do you accept?"

Sweet Pea's-(I'll stick with the name Tealove, thanks)- Tealove's head was throbbing. What had just happened? Lies. A mistake, surely. How could the Princess tell such a lie. Such a planned out, factly lie with its own window.... Tealove stared into Celestia's eyes. (That sure doesn't look like a lying face...but that's what they want you to think.)

"I know it's a lot to take in," Princess Celestia comforted, (no dur!) "but it's true, and we need you here. Your powers have been almost a legend in the Clandestine while you've been gone, the Sun and Moon being the brightest I've ever seen when you were born... The others will be very pleased to meet you if you choose to accept. But..you see," Celestia began walking with Tealove down the halls of the palace, "Princess Luna has gone missing and I believe we've located her within the walls of the rebel society seeking to overthrow Equestria. They call themselves the Brokes. The Broke Equestrians and we've already executed three that have attempted to kill me as I slept."

At the very mention of killing and death, Tealove's blood curdled as the two trotted up the stairs.

"The situation is dire, but it is your choice if you'd like to join. If you choose not to though, I'm sorry that I must drain you of your non-earthpony magic..to keep things low key. (Well, now I'm definitely not going to join) But you may tell me your decision tomorrow morning."

Tealove was led into a large bedroom where Celestia first brushed her mane then tucked her in bed (which was only a little weird, but I didn't say anything because I guess, when she was caring for me as a filly, it was normal) and before she closed the door, the Princess whispered, looking worn out and relieved at the same time, "It's great to have you back, Sweet Pea," then Tealove was alone. In the dark. Trying to focus on the decision before her instead of falling asleep (well, after all that, how could I say no? Thanks again, Celestia).

As Tealove lied there, her thoughts wondered to Ponyville, to her parents' house (ugh, how could I have left Madam stink there alone?), to her apparent birth place (the sky. right), then to her real name. (Sweet Pea. I don't even like peas.) She ran the name through her mind, then she began whispering it to herself over and over again. (Sweet Pea...it's not the worst name ever.) Then she decided. She would do it. She'd join the Clandestine. For her mom. For her dad. She'd save Equestria. She'd save all the little fillies that were at the edge of loosing their loved ones. She'd save them from her misery...but for now, she was going to sleep until three in the afternoon and not even Princess Celestia would stop her.

*********************

"The name's Beach Mark," the sun tanned, unshaven, broad stallion said, flashing a movie star smile as he trotted around Tealove, taking in her every detail, "but you can call me Baye."

Tealove scowled at the stallion who wore a ruffled, collar-up shirt under a black vest with a tape measure lying across his neck. (Who is this guy, a seamstress?)

"How about I call you Mark," Tealove suggested through gritted teeth.

Beach Mark shrugged, looking at his reflection in his polished hooves, "Whatever you like, Sweet."

That morning, Tealove had been woken up early by a wide awake Bon-Bon and after a relaxing but rushed bath in the palace'e gigantic tub, Tealove had been ushered to a quick bran biscuit breakfast then handed over to Mark for some 'business' before her welcoming in to the Celestia's Clandestine.

"Nice flank," Mark observed as he measured every inch of Tealove while recording his findings on a notepad (which, even though he wasn't a unicorn, was floating in a yellow glow), "Where'd you get it?"

(If this guy keeps staring at my flank..) Tealove gritted her teeth and stiffly replied, "I got my cutie mark from owning a Tea Room back in Ponyville...and stop calling me 'Sweet'!"

Mark gave Tealove a little shove in the flank to get her moving and onto the raised metal podium across the spacious, but mechanism crowded chamber, "Eh, it's not my fault your name is Sweet Pea, my Sweet."

(Oh. Right. How could I forget?)

"Now stand still, Sweets!"

And before Tealove could protest or even yell at Mark for calling her 'my Sweet', six robotic arms flew from on top of the podium she stood on, wrapped themselves around her legs to keep her from struggling, (but that didn't stop me form screaming bloody murder at Mark) then a giant, cylinder shaped object came down from the ceiling and locked itself around Tealove.

"Cool it, girl," Mark's voice projected inside of the small space that looked like the inside was made form solar panels, "It'll just be a minute."

(A minute until death! Let me out of here this instant, you undeservingly handsome jerk!!)

So with one loud beep, the wall that blocked all of Tealove's view lit up with green grid lines that blinked until another beep sounded, then Tealove found herself covered in glowing lines and when she tried to jerk away, the robotic arms tightened their grips.

"Let me out!!" Tealove shrieked.

"Now, Sweet, do you really think Celestia would send you here to die?" Mark's voice echoed into the black cylinder, "It's just a simple scan, so hold still before you ruin another one."

She didn't have much of a choice really. The wall that wrapped around her was way too tall to jump out of and there was no way she was tearing away from those arms. (They'd tear off my legs before I'd even try to jump. Thanks again, Celestia.) So Tealove did what she was told and held still as a series of beeps reverberated through the scanning space, the grid lines projected onto her body making close up angles of Tealove enlarge themselves on the black cylinder wall. (Do I really look like that from the top? Sweet Celestia, I need to fix my mane! Okay, seriously? Was the cutie mark and blank flank really necessary to document?)

As each minute went by, more and more pictures were brought up (thankfully Mark's voice stayed quiet..at least that), then the images turned to diagrams of Tealove's dimensions, then they turned to pictures of her insides (EW! Was that necessary too?!) then to charts and graphs of her sugar levels, attention span, muscle percentage vs fat, how long she could run a speed of ten miles per hour (that and the fact that I had more muscle than fat in me was the only thing I was sort of proud to see) and a million other pieces of information that Tealove never thought were possible to figure out with just one simple scan. Even moments that stuck out most in Tealove's memory appeared on the wall, playing over and over, and Tealove watched them fondly, looking at each as if they were her best treasures until they were covered by a chart of her heart rate, determination and ability to stay conscious when bleeding (seriously, all this would have been nice to know quite a while ago).

Then all the images, charts, graphs, memories and more abruptly disappeared. Just like that, Tealove was in the dark, the colors and light of it all still etched into her eyes, then the grid lines returned to their original positions on the cylinder wall and the whole scanner lifted itself back into the ceiling. The robotic arms finally let go, the podium lowered itself level with the floor, then Tealove stepped off to face Mark, who was holding (or rather, making float by some unknown force) a small chip labeled 'Sweet Pea'.

Mark shot Tealove another movie star grin then began trotting to different corner of the room, "Now we can get to work," and for some reason, (probably because of the jungle of machinery he was leading me into) Tealove's stomach churned at the end of his smug tone.

For the next ten or so hours, Beach Mark ran tests, simulations and experiments with Tealove as his only focus. Tealove went through hundreds (thousands, more like) of courses beginning with a gun chase through 'Manehatten' (I'd say I did pretty good for having never been taught how to use a gun) while wearing goggles that morphed the space around her into Marks' choice of life threatening experiences. (That one took up most of the time and would've been fun if I almost hadn't dyed like a million times.)

Then the two continued with obstacle courses, gymnastics, aerobics, aquatics, cardio, aerial and zero gravity work outs (that last one seemed unnecessary but was the only fun one), then the simulations shifted. Tealove then went through countless tests on her hours of studies, brain exercises, decoding messages and speed learning three different languages, then next was centered around magic and even through all the inner core, inner mind, central focus, magic surfacing exercises, the conclusion was made that Tealove had no sign at all of having any special powers that exceeded that of an earth pony's. (Funny because according to the scanner chart, I'm 103% magic.)

"Well, Sweets," Mark sighed, reviewing his records on the day's work, "I've got a lot to report to Celestia! You can return to your quarters now."

Tealove, sweating, shaking, brain throbbing and scarred for life, was on the verge of (dying) collapsing, but when she was told she was free, the energy to gallop out of the room at lightning speed suddenly bubbled to the surface and she was out of there quicker than you could say 'Sweet Pea'.

As Tealove was plowing through the corridors, (only the thought of a nice long vanilla cupcake scented bubble bath motivating me to move my sore-beyond-aching body), she rounded a corner to find herself crashing and tumbling into another pony. (Ow, my..everything.)

"Sorry," Tealove mumbled, her voice cracking (because of how many times I'd screamed while being chased by magic hoarding serial killers that day), but the the pony she'd stumbled into stood and agreed, "Yup,", It was him.

"Bi..Big Mac," Tealove blushed furiously, staring t the ground as the stallion gave her a hoof and helped her up, "Um..thank y-" then it happened again. Tealove was swept from the evening chill of the palace, away form Big Mac's deep green eyes, and dropped into (Ah! Oh wait..) Celestia's sleeping quarters. (Hm, that's new.) And to the mare's surprise, the Princess was asleep. (Well, no, duh, but if she's asleep, the why am I-?) Then the balcony window slowly drifted open.

Tealove jumped, but there was nothing there. The muffled noise of shuffling hooves and clanging golden armor was coming form the other side of the door-the guards were keeping watch. (Should I alert them? No. A loose window hinge isn't very-) Then a black figure silently flew into the room and pressed itself flat against the wall. (Okay, freak out time.) Tealove was about to make a run for the door, but the the black cloak came flying straight at her. She didn't have time to move, the impact was coming, (will he kill me if I'm found?!) she braced herself and then......nothing happened.

Tealove opened her eyes. The pony had passed right by her-no, through her. (Am I dead? Half-ghost?) But before she could ponder more on that, she spotted the shadowed intruder looming above the Celestia. Then a knife was produced form the cloak. The Princess slept on. Tealove's eyes grew wide. The blade was being raised (do something, Tealove!!). The moonlight was reflecting off the knife's shining surface, piercing Tealove's eyes, the the pony reared onto its hind legs, ready for victory, and then-

"AHHH!" Tealove's eyes flew open. She was laying in her bed, a wet rag on her forehead, two ponies above her, her stomach a clenched fist, tugging upward, nauseating her past the need to puke, making life itself feel sickening.

"Thank goodness," Bon-Bon sighed, "What happened to you?"

"Celestia! Tealove gasped, sweating cold and shaking uncontrollably, "She-her room-pony!"

"What?" Big Mac asked, instantly causing Tealove to blush under his gaze. It only took her a moment though to gather the courage to say,

"Come on!" the she jumped form the bed, staggering only a moment then was caught by Big Mac before she could collapse. (Please kill me now. Or stop time. I wouldn't mind either.)

"You need to rest," Bon-Bon said matter-of-factly, "Besides, we can't just go barging in on the Princess because you had a dream about her."

"Yup," Big Mac agreed, which mad it harder for Tealove to disagree.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to erase the horrible 'dream' she'd just had, but it wouldn't budge.

"Well...," Tealove ended up saying, "I'm going," and with that, she galloped out of the room, only bumping against the corridor walls a few times and tripping on the stairs twice until Celestia's room came into view, the door guarded by six stallion soldiers.

"Halt!" one bellowed, "Nopony disturbs the Princess while she slumbers!" (Then maybe you should stop screaming.)

"But you have to look n!" Tealove dried desperately, "I saw her! Somepony's in there! They came through the window and-"

"And how did you see into the Princess's quarters?" a guard demanded suspiciously.

"Uh...a dream?" Tealove struggled to explain, "More like a vision...I don't know, but you have to look because now before Celestia is dead!!"

The soldiers exchanged glances then their leader said, "And how do we know you're not the pony who-", but before he could finish with his suspicions, Tealove bulldozed past them and shoved open the door to reveal-

"Princess Celestia!!!" the guards shouted.

There in her bed was the Princess, gashes and stabs staining her sleek, blood rolled coat, the red liquid spilling onto the sheet, dripping to the floor where a knife lay. The knife.

"Quickly!!" the lead guard commanded, "Search the room!! You three, take the Princess to the Infirmary immediately!! NOW!!"

The rest of the stallions swiftly carried out with their orders and soon Tealove was galloping along side a stretcher carrying an unconscious and ominously pale-gray Celestia.

"I she going to be alright?" she managed to desperately ask, barely being able to hear over her hammering heart and wanting to cry and puke at the same .

The guards didn't reply.

When they reached the Infirmary, every royal nurse and doctor was woke to give their full attention to the Princess.

"First Princess Luna goes missing, now this!" one of the mare doctors sobbed, "What are we going to do?"

Tealove was only a bit grateful when she was ushered out of the Infirmary (I wasn't sure how much longer I could control myself while staring at the Princess's marred body), but now she could do nothing but worry. (Who's to rule Equestria if both Princesses are dead?!)

"What...did we miss? We were looking everywhere..for you!" a panting Bon-Bon asked when Tealove ran into her and Big Mac when zombie trotting down the stairs, deep in thought.

"Ye..p," Big Mac said in between breathes.

It took a while, but as the ponies trotted towards the bed chamber level, Tealove managed to explain everything she'd seen, starting with the 'dream' and ending with the Infirmary. The other ponies were left in silence. The Bon-Bon glanced at Big Mac (which made me wish it was just me and him in the hall) who nodded, "Yup," then she cleared her throat.

"Due to...recent event," the mare explained, "I think it'd be safer for all of us to sleep in the Common Room tonight. You coming?"

Tealove sighed. (I'm not sleeping in a room alone for at least a month, so..) "Yah," she replied, so the three trotted to the bed chamber's cozy Common Room filled with squishy furniture and plates of desserts that Celestia had turned down so her guests could enjoy. Tealove assisted Bon-Bon in creating a makeshift bed (made of two couches we pushed together and threw blankets over) while Big Mac gathered some treats to snack on. But by the time we meet together again, Big Mac had eaten almost all of the apple fritters.)

Tealove stared up at the ceiling dotted with tiny glowing stars, heart fluttering and making her feel light headed and giddy as she lied in between Big Mac and Bon-Bon. (Was this what friendship felt like or was it because Big Mac just gave me his last apple fritter? It was probably that last one.)

"So where are all the other Clandestine members?" Tealove whispered as the three nibbled (well, Big Mac scarfed) on their dessert.

"They're everywhere really," Bon-Bon replied, "stationed in different parts of Equestria to keep an eye out for trouble."

"And," Tealove asked nervously, "What will the Clandestine do without Celestia?"

Bon-Bon didn't answer, so Tealove bit her lip and quickly tried to fill the silence by turning to Big Mac and thoughtlessly saying, "I think the apple treats are the best. I make them at my Tea Room back in Ponyville!" (I've actually only eaten an apple about five times in my whole life.)

"Yup!" Big Mac nodded, happily stuffing his mouth with apple danishes. Tealove sunk deeper into her cover and smiled sheepishly, giving him the apple tart she was about to eat.

As she rolled over to find a comfortable position for the night though, she felt something digging into her ear.

"Ow!" Tealove quickly got up, her hoof automatically flying to her ear. The she remembered.

"You okay?" Bon-Bon asked.

"Yah, it's just...I was told to put this pearl in my ear and I don't know what it's for."

"Oh, right!" the mare laughed, "I forgot to explain. It's how we Clandestine ponies communicate. Just imagine Discord tap dancing and you'll be able to talk into it. Everypony else in the Clandestine will be able to hear you so don't say anything private. Believe me," Bon-Bon's expression contorted, "I was the laughing stalk of the Clandestine for weeks...but when you're done talking, think of Celestia slapping Discord across the face, then it will deactivate. Got it?"

Tealove stifled a grin, "Um..yah, but...Discord?"

Big Mac laughed, "Yep!"

"Hey, don't ask us," Bon-Bon giggled, "Celestia was the one to make it up. You can ask her, but the last time somepony did that...,"

This time Tealove let herself laugh with the others.

"I'm going to bed now," Bon-Bon declared after all the chocolate treats were gone, "See you in the morning,"

"Good night," Tealove whispered then bravely rolled on her side to say the same to Big Mac.

He replied, "Yup," then rolled on his side and instantly fell asleep.

Tealove's heart soared, but she had a harder time relaxing. Images of Celestia's teared, blood stained body kept flashing through her mind, imaginations of cloaked ponies shooting towards her with a knife stopped her from drifting off, but after a few hours of trying to slow her heartbeat to match Big Mac's breathing, the day's work caught up to her and she fell asleep. It was a shallow rest though. (I just kept pleading that I wouldn't be swept off into another 'dream'-vision thing. Why did I keep having those anyways? And how?)

With these thoughts and more, Tealove drifted off, fearing that with Princess Celestia and Luna powerless, Equestria would bee doomed.

That night was another New Moon.

Our Mission

The Brokes

Lightning surged through Tealove's body like a crashing wave of energy that vibrated straight down her bones. She felt the whirlwind of power spin around her, whipping her mane and tail, then the surge began pooling just behind her skull and with one giant explosion of magic, the pressure released. It traveled down to her limbs, regrouped at her hooves, then escaped into the outer surface of the wispy sphere she stood in, crackling until it zapped the air around her, illuminating the whole room.

Tealove wanted it to last forever. The energy, the strength, the power she felt inside that was finally being freed-it was the best feeling. She caught a glimpse of Beach Mark on the ground below, stole a glance at Bon-Bon and Big Mac beside him-her heart soared, rose to the sky she'd been born from. And it all felt right.

Blinding light suddenly covered her vision, shining out form her very insides, all she could see was an endless white, burning only a bit at her right hind leg's hock, and just when Tealove thought she was going to go blind, color was morphed back into the world. She felt the spark dying, her heart returning to her chest, then the wisping crystal aura began to become thinner and thinner until she felt her feet touch the ground. Then reality came back to her and Tealove was released from the wind and her curly mane fell perfectly back on her shoulder. She felt new, reborn, though the world was much less amazing than the light she'd experienced, it would have to do.

Tealove took in a deep breath then turned to the watching ponies. Mark was in awe. Bon-Bon was actually grinning. And Big Mac (I felt my numb face flushing) was smiling.

"Welcome to Celestia's Clandestine, Sweet," Mark declared, "You're officially in."

"Sorry Celestia couldn't make it," Bon-Bon said as Mark went off to fetch their things, "She always comes, but..you know."

"Yup," Big Mac agreed, but Tealove saw that he was gazing at her instead.

Tealove held her head high, proud of the step she'd just taken, then put forward her right hind leg to show off her newest pride and glory. On the outer side of her leg, right under the hock, was the Clandestine symbol, engraved into her skin, never to be removed. It was a Celestial Sun, half made from the upper half of their Princess.

"Alright!" Mark exclaimed as he returned, handing each pony a saddle bag and when he reached Tealove, he said, "Good luck, babe."

The mare scowled, but not even Mark could ruin her mood, so she grumbled, "Thanks," and hurried to join Big Mac and Bon-Bon at the threshold.

The ponies had been woken early that morning to prepare for the long journey ahead of them. Tealove had been relieved to see the Sun shining at dawn-that meant Celestia was alive and at least well enough to use magic. And though the three hadn't been let in to see the Princess, Mark had given them all the instructions they'd need.

"It's sort of exciting, isn't it?" Tealove whinnied as the ponies trotted out into the cool morning breeze, each bundled up in a sweater and hock warmers (which don't warm you at all! We just use the to cover our Clandestine branding), "A trip to Las Pegasus sounds awesome!"

"Yup," Big Mac replied and Bon-Bon chimed in, "We've been three times, but we've always been too busy there to enjoy the experience..and this time will probably be the same." (Well thanks for that, party pooper.)

"Well, do you think we'll have a few minutes to look around?" Tealove persisted, "Because have heard they have the most amazing productions and cuisine! Plus there's Tr-"

"We probably won't," Bon-Bon cut in, splashing into Tealove like a blasting hose on a fire, "Now everypony take a ticket!"

Tealove and Big Mac each took their golden train ticket to Las Pegasus then the three trotted across the dewed grass to sit on the very platform bench that Tealove had been attacked on two nights ago. As Big Mac took a look at the provided map of Equestria and Bon-Bon sipped at her Star Bucked Coffee, Tealove kept looking over her shoulder, scanning the pretty much totally empty station for any suspicious looking ponies. Ponies that might jump out with a knife or a-

"It's here!" Bon-Bon exclaimed, making Tealove jump as the Canterlot Express puffed into the station.

"All aboard!"

Right once the ponies took their seats on the train, Tealove dumped out her sweater pockets, quickly arranged everything on the bench then stepped back to admire her work with a huge grin.

"What's with all that?" Bon-Bon asked indignantly, pulling wind swept Big Mac back into his seat before he leaned out the window far enough to fall.

"What?" Tealove asked, gazing over the tea party and card games she had set up, "You don't really expect me to sit here for three hours doing nothing."

Bon-Bon rolled her eyes, but when Big Mac saw the mini apples cakes Tealove had whipped up just for him, he came running to join the party. (Victory! Now to trick him into saying more than 'yep' and 'nope'.)

"So, Big Mac," Tealove began casually as the stallion downed five mini cupcakes in one bite, "You live in Ponyville?"

"Yup."

"And what do you do there?"

Big Mac chewed for a moment then replied, "Sweet Apple Acres," and returned to his food. (Well, it's a start.)

"And..what's your favorite type of apple? I like the..red ones. Because they're crunchy!"

Big Mac swallowed then said, "Honey Crisp."

Tealove blinked, "Because..?"

"Oh," Big Mac quickly wiped his lips free of frosting, "because they're the sweetest."

"So you like sweet things?" Tealove pieced together, her hear pounding even more than before, "I love making desserts! Are you more of a chocolate pony of a chewy, hard type?"

"Chewy." (I can't believe he's actually talking to me!)

For the rest of the trip, Tealove spent her time sipping lemon tea and trying her best to force as many words out of Big Mac as possible. The ponies ate every last crumb of pastry and only when she was bribed with fudge brownies did Bon-Bon join and when Tealove brought out the card games, the three ended up screaming as they played. (Let me tell you, the competition was pretty fierce.) And before they knew it, the conductor's voice was calling through the cars, "Welcome ladies and gentlecolts to the ever fabulous Las Pegasus!".

"Already?!" Bon-Bon unexpectedly cried, pulling at her mane that was sprinkled with pastry crumbs, staring at the card Tealove had just put down that announced her the winner.The other two stared at Bon-Bon. (Well, I never thought I'd see that come out during this trip.) Bon-Bon sheepishly grinned as Bi Mac replied, "Yup," and began helping Tealove stuff everything back int her jacket pockets, and once everything was zipped and harnessed, the ponies made their way off the train.

Stepping off the platform was like stepping into a whole other world. Sidewalks packed with ponies styling the latest fashion, streets zooming with the newest cars, music and lights transforming the atmosphere into a party house. Glowing advertisements, giant bill boards, skyscrapers, every store a pony could dream of, the smells of a million different foods either coming form the cafes and outdoors restaurants or the many food trucks lining the streets. Everything was bustling, just the sight of it all was a roller coaster for the senses and as the ponies began trotting into the fray, it was hard to stay focused.

"Look! Oh my gosh, guys, look!!" Tealove cried, galloping as fast as she could to slam her face flat against a store front window.

"What are-" Bon-Bon started to ask, but then she saw the curly pink print on the glass and her eyes narrowed, "Really? Right no-?"

"Yep!!" and sure enough, Big Mac had his face flat against the window too, gazing longingly into the most famous tea time shop in Equestria.

"Tres Bella's Cafe is the most amazing place in all of the world!!" Tealove gushed, "It's the most famous, delicious, most beautiful cafe ever! It caters for all the biggest events-like the Grand Galloping Gala! And the Princess's Tea Parties! And snack times! They've traveled to every corner of Equestria, under the sea, to all the different species-and every pony, monster, deer, bug, zebra, donkey, griffon- everyone, everybody loves them!" the mare sighed dreamily as Big Mac started to fog up the window and Bon-Bon joined them.

"Wow," Bon-Bon said, scanning the window displaying a royal tea party scene, its fancy table overflowing with Tres Bella's specialties, "they do look...but we have to get going, so take your last looks and let's go!"

"But..," Tealove pressed her muzzle harder against the glas as if that would allow her to be sucked into her paradise, "I'b albays dreamb of tasting beir food..just to smell ib abb woulb be an honor! And-"

"Okay, Bon-Bon peeled Big Mac and Tealove off the window, leaving giant smudge marks, "Let's go before someone goes off on another Tres whatever's tangent!" (Noooo! But I can feel their strawberry scones drizzled in vanilla bean glaze with french creme filling calling me!!)

The ponies shoved their way through the bustle of the city until Big Mac finally managed to hail a taxi, then they squished in and rode deeper into the sparkling metropolis.

"Oh, look!" Bon-Bon cried, pointing to their left, "The Ghost of the Opera is in town! Oh, we have to make time to see-!"

"Now, Bon-Bon," Tealove interrupted as if she was explaining to a filly why two plus two was four, "We have to get going, so take your last look before I have to claw you away from the window seat!"

Big Mac chuckled, "Yep!" as Bon-Bon instantly blushed pink, giving Tealove her first feeling of superiority in the group.

Twenty sports cars, six taxis, five stoplights and one near crash experience, the ponies fond themselves staring up at the glass skyscraper that reached so high it disappeared into the clouds.

"Wow. Mark wasn't kidding when he said Celestia got us the best suite in town," Tealove grinned as they walked into the glamorous warmth of the hotel.

Almost everything was a white or cream color (it's a miracle how they keep things from staining!), crystal chandeliers tinkled on the ceilings, a neat lounge stood off to the right of the glass double doors, fresh complimentary cookies were set on every corner (which Big Mac quickly helped himself to) and classical music dancing through the air set the refined, but cozy mood.

"Good morning, beautiful ladies and fellow gentlecolt!" a young stallion bell hopper exclaimed as he approached the ponies, "Welcome to the Suites of Pegasus! I can take your luggage up to your room and you three just get comfortable, relax and feel free to help yourselves to anything you see!"

Tealove grinned as she unzipped her sweater, "Thank y-"

"We'll take our things up ourselves," Bon-Bon quickly cut in. Tealove shot her a look (you could at least be nice abut it!).

"If you're sure, madam," the bell hopper said, a bit taken back, "I'll just hoof over your room key and you can be off!"

Bon-Bon took the keys and as they trotted towards the elevator, Tealove called back, "Thank you!", then joined her companions as the elevator door slid shut.

Big Mac punched the level fourteen button, then the soothing piano music began and the elevator dinged until it jerked around for a moment and came to a stop at the tenth level. The doors slid back open and in trotted a mare with a light blue coat, a lime green, straight mane and tail that swept elegantly to the floor, each with one streak of white and a cutie mark that was a teaspoon sprinkling sugar down her leg.

"Hello," she said in a British accent that tugged something in the back of Tealove's brain, "What bring you three to Las Pegasus?"

Tealove was about to reply, but before the words could escape her throat, her eyes locked with the mare's and instantly, a harsh gust of wind seemed to force Tealove's knees together, causing her to collapse, breathing as if she'd just run a mile, and just as she caught a glimpse of the mare screaming and pointing at Tealove, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she was swept away.

"An exchange, sir?" Queen Chrysalis crooned, "Oh, I' d be so honored!"

The stallion she spoke to was tall, broad and wearing a trench coat and hat that kept every other aspect of his appearance a secret.

"Yes," the stallion replied, "but only on one condition. If you and your Changlings assist in-"

"Yes, yes, I know," Chrysalis waved his sentence away, "I know your conditions, but there's only one condition that I will work by."

"And what would that be?"

Chrysalis grinned, hungrily licking up the saliva strung across her fangs, then asked, "Are you willing to kill to get what we want?"

The stallion smirked, "Never has bothered me, never will."

An evil grin curled up the Queen's face as she declared, "Then it's a deal! Now to carry out our first attack on-"

Suddenly, a splash of freezing water was dumped onto Tealove's face and she jerked forward, sputtering and choking, sweating and shaking. She was in bed, sinking into one of the fluffy mattresses in their hotel room, Bon-Bon, Big Mac, and the elevator mare standing anxiously at her bedside. Big Mac was holding an empty coffee mug in his mouth that read, 'I heart My L.P Casino'.

"Bloody hay," the mare-who looked almost totally different with her mane in a high bun and glasses-whispered.

"Tealove!" Bon-Bon exclaimed, exasperated, "What happened?"

Breathing hard, Tealove managed to reply, though her voice was raspy, "I..don't know. But I saw..,"

"You're seeing things," the mare softly said, and the way there wasn't even a hint of doubt in her voice scared Tealove.

"No, I..how long has it been?"

"An hour," Bon-Bon replied.

"Tealove fell back into the pillows and let herself sink in as images of Queen Chrysalis ran through her mind. That reminded her of her mom and dad..and her tenth birthday..Tealove quickly blinked back tears.

"You scared us so much, Sugar Kiss almost called the ambulance!" Bon-Bon exclaimed, then squeezed her eyes shut, opened them to reveal glowing irises, then somehow made a rag on the bedside table levitate to pat Tealove's face dry. Tealove quickly glanced at Sugar Kiss (don't use your magic while she's in here, hay bag!), but thankfully, she was too busy folding a hotel blanket to notice.

"Do you have these visions a lot?" the British mare asked just as Bon-Bon finished blinking furiously to return her eyes back to normal, causing the rag to fall lifelessly to the table, "What first caused you to have them?"

Tealove shifted nervously under the covers, (how do I know I can trust you, eh, Britt?) but now that she thought about it, everything she'd seen had started...after she'd seen Big Mac.

"It..started after I hit my head," Tealove shortly explained (it's not a lie!), "I'm fine though..let's go get lunch now, shall we?"

Big Mac glanced at her suspiciously, but thankfully Bon-Bon filled the silence.

"It's only ten thirty!"

"By the time you get through these bloody streets," Sugar Kiss laughed, "it will be lunch time." She unpinned her silky mane that fell perfectly to the floor then pushed her glasses to her forehead, "Mind if I join you? Desserts are on me!"

A huge grin spread across Big Mac's face and he cheered, "Yup!"

"Sure," Bon-Bon shrugged (why can't I just keep my big mouth shut?), "But we have no idea where we're going, so you can choose the place."

(Ah, thanks a lot, Bon-Bon! I just hope we end up at some fancy, clean place with mini bunt cakes and china cups.)

Three jerky cab rides later, the four ponies were seated on barrels at a wooden table, eating barbecue veggie roast burgers and glugging giant mugs of cider, all while watching a hoof fight go on across the wood plank and dirt floor restaurant. (Restaurant?! Madhouse!! And who eats food this big?! Obviously Big Mac because within ten minutes f being there, he'd already gobbled up two burgers. Gross.)

"This is the best lunch I've had in ages!" Bon-Bon declared, helping herself to some fries that their waitress had just set on the table. Sugar Kiss seemed to glow a bit more than usual then turned to her left.

"You enjoying the food? Big Mac? Tealove?"

"Eyup!"

"Um..," Tealove glanced down at the inch wide burger she had carefully cut out of the original one that was now pushed to the side, "Best..lunch I've had in ages!"

"That's what she said," Big Mac mumbled just loud enough for Tealove to hear, his cheeks lie a chipmunk's, stuffed with fries.

Tealove blushed, but could help sheepishly grinning, then she forced herself to pick up the burger (geez, this thing is heavy! That can't be healthy..) and decided to give it a chance. (Only because Sugar Kiss kept glancing at me like she was concerned..plus Big Mac was nudging me and nodding towards the burger, and I can't just ignore him...I don't even think my mouth can stretch wide enough to bite this!)

So with one deep breath through the mouth (so I didn't have to inhale all of that barbecue sauce), Tealove opened her mouth as wide as she could and (this better not make me obese!) she took one small nibble off the side. And Sugar Kiss burst out laughing.

"What kind of bloody bite was that?" she loudly laughed, "Don't tell me you've never eaten a burger before! Everypony who's anypony loves them!!"

Then she kept on laughing, hiccuping, giggling into tears. And Tealove was humiliated. She wanted to sink into the ground, escape from the shrieking laughter of Sugar Kiss, the stifled giggled form Bon-Bon and especially the throaty chuckle from Big Mac. If only she could rewind, refuse to let Sugar Kiss join them for lunch, transport herself back to her Tea Room so she could hug her kitchen aid mixer and mini cupcake tins and cry in a corner. (Okay, I'm only exaggerating a little...but I would hug the mixer.)

But instead of crying, Tealove managed to fake a laugh until their waitress came to their table to pass out to-go bags, and even though Tealove packed the rest of her burger away, she had no intention of eating it (even though all I had nibbled off was the bun).

"Any other plans for today?" Sugar Kiss asked cheerfully as the ponies stood at the street curb, Because I know the best place to spend the afternoon!"

"Actually we-" Tealove began, but then Bon-Bon cut in and said, "We don't have anywhere to be until dinner, so you can lead the way!"

"Brilliant!" Sugar Kiss exclaimed, "Follow me!" (It just keeps getting better and better.)

So for the rest of the afternoon, (four hours!!) the ponies shot across Las Pegasus's biggest and most extravagant shopping center, and even though Tealove would have preferred that Sugar Kiss had not been there, she couldn't helping enjoying herself as they tried on pretty much every piece of clothing in pretty much every store. Plus it was hard to not have Sugar Kiss's enthusiasm rub off on you. But after the first hour, Big Mac was dead bored, so the mares made a deal with him that for every forty five minutes of shopping, they would take him to the food courts for a break. There wasn't even one complaint after that.

"Bloody hay!" Sugar Kiss panted, collapsing into a pink plastic chair in the by the Fillydelfia food stand, "My hooves are going to be sore for days!"

"Totally worth it though," Bon-Bon grinned, falling into the seat next to hers and Tealove's, "I haven't been shopping like this since I joined t-"

Silence. Tealove froze under her pile of shopping bags and boxes. Big Mac froze just as he was setting down his Fillydelfia foo tray.

"Join the-?" Sugar Kiss began to press, but before she could finish, Tealove's leaning tower of bags flew in every direction. She pretended to clumsily try to catch them and in doing so, sent Big Mac's soda flooding onto the table.

"Sorry!" she cried, unusually ungraceful as she dumped the napkin container onto the mess, "There was a..on the floor..."

"Oh, hunky-dory," Sugar Kiss laughed and while she helped to sop up the mess, Bon-Bon mouthed 'thank you' to which Tealove gave a small grin.

"We should get going," Bon-Bon said after the table was once again dry, then she glanced at Big Mac who was still gobbling down a veggie dog, "I don't think we can afford anymore hours anyway."

Sugar Kiss giggled then began to rummage through her herd of shopping bags, "Alright, but before you go, I have a little something for each of you!"

After a minute of searching and mumbling about 'rubbish' and 'tosh I don't even remember buying', Sugar Kiss produced three parcels and handed one each pony.

"Open them when I'm not around though," she added before Big Mac could tear his apart, "But I hope to see you three soon! It was such fun to spend this time together! I know we don't know each other that well, but..I would consider you three my best friends."

(Oh, cream cakes, now I feel bad.)

"We definitely will do this again," Bon-Bon said as she hugged Sugar Kiss, "Thanks for taking us!"

"And for the gifts," Tealove whispered as she was squeezed by Sugar Kiss, "Whatever they are."

"Eyup!" Big Mac nodded and was about to join the other two mares at the door, but Sugar Kiss threw her arms around him before he could decide to pass without a hug. (Get your British hooves...)

By the time Bon-Bon, Big Mac and Tealove made it through the rush hour traffic and to the Suites of Pegasus Hotel, the sun was setting and Tealove's arms were as heavy as led form carrying all of her shopping bags.

"Hello and welcome back to the Suites of-" the bell hopper began, pushing forward his rolling carriage, but Bon-Bon quickly led the others past him.

"Thanks, we got it."

Then the elevator door slid to a close.

"You could try to be nice to him," Tealove suggested with pursed lips. Thankfully the cheery elevator music filled the silence. And during that, Tealove remembered. Remembered that that was the very place she'd been swept off her hooves. And she couldn't keep that secret anymore..or everypony would be left thinking she had a habit of fainting. (How lame.)

"Okay," Tealove sighed once the door to their suite was shut, "I've got something to tell you guys. So you know how I keep..collapsing? Well...Sugar Kiss was right. I've been seeing things..since I first bumped into Big Mac."

The other two ponies stared. Big Mac seemed a bit redder than usual too.

"Like what things?" Bon-Bon asked warily.

"Like..Queen Chrysalis. And Princess Celestia..being attacked."

"Chrysalis!" Bon-Bon cried, "And that's how you knew about Celestia..so what did you see when you collapsed fainted in the elevator?"

Tealove bit her lip and flopped onto her bed, "Chrysalis again..with some other stallion. They were talking about an exchange, but I don't know what about."

"We need to tell Celestia right away," Bon-Bon concluded, "She'll know why it's happening and what to do..but we'll send it later. Right now, we need to get ready to look our best!"

Tealove's heart flew a small wing beat upward-the thought of getting all fancy and dressed up was a relief amidst the other ones about Chrysalis. Plus she'd never been to a fancy dinner party, so even though the ponies wouldn't be there for the fun, Tealove was still bubbling with excitement.

"Okay," Bon-Bon declared once Big Mac had left and closed the door that separated the two connected suites, "You'r going to have to tell me what looks the best because I barely know how to dress up for an academy dance."

Tealove giggled as she dumped all her shopping bags onto the bed and began arranging outfit possibilities (I do consider myself quite the fashionista), "If you say so! But you have to help with my hair since I'm choosing your dress."

"Deal."

Big Mac ended up knocking on their door twenty times in one hour before the mares were ready, the first being ten minutes after he'd left to his room. (That's also when Bon-Bon and I shrieked at him for expecting us to be done so fast.) When every eyelash had been curled and every hoof shined, Bon-Bon and Tealove finally let Big Mac to enter the room, and when he did, he was hit with a pair of gorgeous mares now closer than ever.

"You look absolutely dashing!" Tealove cried, gazing at the tuxedo Big Mac was in, thankful that the blush was hiding her burning face.

"Thanks," he proudly held his head high, but bucked it back down to say, "You look great too."

Tealove flipped aside her bangs from the bun Bon-Bon had styled and swished her blue dress that had a leg slit just high enough to display her cutie mark (looks like Miss Mule's fashion's are rubbing off on me), "Thanks you."

"Come on, you two!" Bon-Bon called from the door in her white chiffon slit dress, half her mane pulled back by a golden bow, "The party awaits!"

The stars shown brightly in the sky, twinkling and casting shadows across the now sluggish Las Pegasus, the lights of the city staining the horizon, the noises now muffled as Big Mac, Bon-Bon and Tealove stepped out of their cab, facing an dark alley with only one lamp post hanging stationed over the gloom.

"Nice scenery," Tealove mumbled as the ponies wearily trotted down the brick corridor, "Are you sure this is the place?"

"One of our Coverts is disguised as a Broke and they said this is it, so..," Bon-Bon tried to confidently say, but her voice trailed off.

As they came closer to the alley's end, Tealove froze. There was something, sort of a tingle that had jerked behind her skull, but this time, she wasn't swept off. But she did see something.

"What?" Big Mac whispered close to Tealove's ear, but then he saw it too and Bon-Bon gasped.

The wall to their right was melting, morphing, being erased and replaced by a heavy wooden door with a brass handle and hinges. And before the ponies could take a breath, a small rectangle at eye level on the door slid open, revealing two staring eyes.

"Password," the deep voice rumbled.

Tealove glanced back at Bon-Bon (you're supposed to know what to do!), but she was just standing there, as clueless as the rest. Until their was another jerk behind Tealove's skull and she found herself saying, "Sugar sweet," before she could even think it through. (What was that? I don't even know what-)

"Correct," the voice said, then the rectangle was slid back into place, and after a moment of scraping chains, clicking locks, whistling magic and sliding bars, the door opened up to a small stone chamber where a black unicorn stallion in a white tuxedo stood.

"Welcome, fair gentlecolt and mares," his voice rumbled as Big Mac protectively led Bon-Bon and Tealove into the crammed room.

Tealove tried to say something in return, but not a word came out. Once the wooden door was clunked shut behind them, Tealove sort of panicked in the pitch black as the mystery stallion re-locked the entrance then used his magic to make it melt back into the wall. Then, without a word, he trotted past the ponies to the opposite wall, tapped his horn three times on the stone while mumbling furiously to himself, then it too morphed into a door, only this one was made of elegant white marble.

"Enjoy your stay," he said, almost sounding sinister, and at the end of his words, the new door instantly swung open and the three ponies were blinded with a sudden blast of bright lights.

Over the threshold was a giant room, to the right a dimly lit lounge, to the right glowing a dance floor, in front of them was an elegant bar and what was beyond that, they couldn't see. The place was filled with mares and stallions, most traveled in couples, linking hooves and all very nicely dress, drinking from slender glasses and lightly hatting as soft music played in the background.

It was a whole different world. Relaxing, but there was something sharp that Tealove sensed in the air. Then she noticed. Every single pony there was branded on the bottom of their left hoof, and it was a symbol Tealove had been trained to hate, to attack. The crest of the Brokes. And now they were locked in.

Locked in the Broke Equestrian headquarters.

The Brokes

Twisted

"And I'll have an apple cider," Big Mac was saying, "Shaken. Not stirred."

"I'll be back with your orders in a moment with your orders," the bar tender mare simpered, then swept off from the counter.

"Okay," Tealove said once the mare was out of ear shot, "what's up with the 'shaken not stirred'?"

"It's what the spies say," Big Mac grinned, "Plus it tastes better that way."

Bon-Bon giggled (that's new) as the mare returned, using her horn levitating four drinks.

"Here is your strawberry chocolate drizzled frappe, miss," the bar tender proclaimed, setting down Bon-Bon's drink, "The monsieur's cider. Shaken, not stirred."

"Eeyup," Big Mac accepted in thanks.

"And your green tea!" the mare concluded.

"Thank you!" Tealove piped, breathing in the soothing fumes of herbs from her drink, but the bar mare didn't leave and set down the fourth drink next to Tealove's.

"The colt across the way bought this for you," she briefly explained then trotted off to take another couple's order.

Tealove glanced to the other side of the bar counter to see a stallion of a light brown hue sitting alone, black mane like a fan down the back of his head, wearing a tux with a wilting rose in the pocket. he was stirring around a glass of water and suddenly looked up, dark eyes locking with Tealove's, and she instantly felt her cheeks turn pink (that's only a little awkward..but I can't like him! That's Big Mac's job!).

"Don't drink it," Bon-Bon said flatly.

"Why?" Tealove asked as she tore her eyes away from the stallion's, "that would be rude."

"Hello," she hissed, "we're in enemy territory. You can't trust anypony. What if it's poisoned?"

"Yep," Big Mac nodded curtly, "Don't trust him."

"I think I'd be able to tell if it's poison," Tealove mumbled, "And could you tell if it was?"

"Of course I can!" Bon-Bon exclaimed before she could think.

Tealove smirked, "Then tell me," she slid the drink across the counter, "Tell me if it's poison."

Bon-Bon glared at her, but quickly shook the expression away and sighed, "Alright."

From under Bon-Bon's belt was produced a small paper packet that seemed to be a sugar pack, but when she opened it, the powder inside was almost totally transparent. So with one delicate tap, the packet's contents were sprinkled into Tealove's tall, thin glass and instantly dissolved into the liquid.

"If it bubbles," Bon-Bon stated, "it's poison, toxic, drugged, disease or is concealing a bomb or weapon of some kind."

"Really?" Tealove asked, exasperated, "Why would it be concealing a bomb?"

"Hey, you're a newbie to the Clandestine," Bon-Bon reminded, "You have no idea how many Coverts have died because they were too lazy to check their drinks for bombs."

Tealove gave a nervous gulp.

The ponies watched the drink for a whole minute, but nothing happened. Not one bubble.

"Okay," Tealove sighed after the second minute licked by, "I'm just going to drink it now."

"Fine," Bon-Bon grumbled, sitting back and sucking on the straw to her frappe.

Tealove wished Bon-Bon would just relax, but forced herself to remember the amazing time they had getting ready together and how she'd been so determined to make Tealove's mane perfect, and at the thought, she smiled (at least Bon-Bon cares about me dying as much as she does about my mane). And when Bon-Bon caught Tealove smiling, her expression softened too and she managed to give a small grin. (Hey, we just stared at a drink for two minutes of nothingness. When you think about it, that's pretty hilarious.)

"Excuse me," Tealove called to the bar tender, "Can you tell me what this drink is? Because if it's...it's just that I don't drink."

"No worries, dearie," the mare said, "That's today's trifle special; raspberry freeze cream atop a puree of mint and vanilla fluff, drizzled with a dark chocolate melt and sprinkled with wafer strips . Enjoy!"

(My mouth is watering just hearing that. Only me?)

"Lucky," Bon-Bon muttered as Tealove scooped into her extravagant milkshake-like trifle.

Tealove smirked, "Don't you wish you had a secret somepony? I should probably go talk to him."

"Nope!" Big Mac exclaimed so suddenly it made the two mares jump.

"It's fine, Mac," Bon-Bon assured him, "Just be careful, Tealove. And remember, we're here to get information on Luna's imprisonment, so try asking him if he's heard of anything while you're over there."

"I will...and it's actually convenient for you two that I'm leaving because everypony around here is in pairs and if both of us were hanging onto Big Mac..,"

The mares giggled, but Big Mac remained amused.

"Don't worry," Tealove breathed into the stallion's ear, "I'm just hunting for information."

"Also," Bon-Bon added before they parted, "Your name is Tealove, not Sweet Pea. From now on, your code name is Tealove."

(Well, that will be hard to remember.)

"I got it," Tealove assured her, then, with one deep breath in, she began her graceful trot across the bar to the isolated stallion.

"Hello," she greeted as she swept into the stool next to the surprised stallion, "The drink was delicious. Thank you."

"Anything," he replied with a smug grin (was that even a real sentence?), "You look great tonight."

(I wasn't sure if I was supposed to say 'thank you' again, so I just moved on.)

"So..what's your name?" (Always a good place to start.)

"Call me Flare," the stallion declared, "You?"

"Tealove, and it's a pleasure."

Twisted