The Ambassador

How easy it would be. It wouldn’t even have to be violent. A quick shot of improper medicine, and he would die peacefully in his sleep. An unfortunate tragedy. Nopony would have to know. Yes, I think that will do.

Doctor Whooves spent the entire day contemplating what his future self demanded.

But how does killing the foal of a friend possibly save my assistant? It must be a trick! Yes, a stray Changeling, or some master illusionist.

But… that me seemed knowledgeable enough. He didn’t look malevolent. He looked desperate, in fact. This foal must have a reason to die.

But what? Good Luna, does Summer grow up to be a murderer? Does he kill Muffin? Maybe he causes some national disaster. I sure looked like I had been through a great ordeal.

But I’m not a killer, I’m a doctor! I do the exact opposite!

You are a scientist. Scientists know when to act for the greater good.

Is this the greater good?

“Hi, Doc!”

Doctor Whooves leapt up out of his seat upon hearing Derpy’s voice.

“Ah, yes, Derpy my dear! So good to see you! Is my afternoon tea ready?”

Derpy cocked her head. “It’s been ready since this afternoon.” She motioned to the cold cup of tea resting beside the blank notebook on the Doctor’s desk.

“You didn’t like it?” Derpy looked a little hurt that Doc didn’t drink it. She always tried to make it exactly how Doc liked it.

“Wha- Oh, yes, of course! Silly me. Must have missed it.” Doctor Whooves tittered nervously. “Lots of work to do, today. Would you mind, what hour is it?”

“Almost 11:00.”

“Great whickering stallions! Is that the time?” Doctor Whooves rummaged for his own pocketwatch.

“Yeah. Anyway, I just came up here to tell you good night.”

Doctor Whooves nodded. “Ah yes, about time to punch out and lock up, isn’t it?”

Derpy nodded. “I finished cleaning up downstairs, but you seemed really focused up here, so I tried not to make a commotion.”

Doctor Whooves smiled. “How thoughtful. Well, once again, another job well done.” He placed a hoof on Derpy’s shoulder. “Now, you have a good night, my dear.”

Derpy smiled back, and wrapped Doctor Whooves in a hug. “Don’t work too hard, Doc.”

Doctor Whooves chuckled nervously again, returning the hug, which lasted for about four seconds. With that, Derpy trotted down the stairs, and out the door.

“What in Equestria happens to you, Muffin?” Doctor Whooves whispered to himself.

The Earth Pony sat in silence for a long time, contemplating what to do next. Eventually, he stood up, making his way to the door.

“Sorry, Rainbow,” the doctor murmured. “I’ve made my decision.”

~~~

“Looks like we’re almost there.” Greg squinted and raised a hand to block out the sun.

“Good. The others must be as tense as coiled springs by now.”

Twilight would be right up there with them. Had she ever been on a more stress-inducing adventure? Okay, well, she could think of a few, but none that led straight to disaster quite so fast. Right now, regrouping was her priority, and that was all she could focus on.

“Sucks that all this war and stuff happened, but I have to say, I’m not really eager to get back onto the spaceship.” Blazing sighed.

Twilight shot Blazing Skyward an interrogative look.

Blazing fluttered her wings innocently. “They need exercise.”

Twilight shook her head, but said nothing. There were a lot of luxuries that they couldn’t afford at this point. In the back of her mind, Twilight knew that it was all because she had blindly rushed into these problems. Well, there would be a time to repent.

As they grew closer to the tower, the group heard several gunshots go off far in the distance. Twilight felt her heart begin to pound. “What was that?”

Greg looked a little nervous. “I don’t know.”

The shots had seemed to originate from the way they had come.

“Is that one of your people?” Blazing asked.

“Probably.” Greg muttered. “If anyone needs help, they’ll pop a smoke.”

He waited for a few moments, but no signal appeared from beyond the buildings.

“Must have been one of the hunters taking down a mutt, or something.” Greg seemed satisfied with his own explanation.

Twilight hesitantly turned back around. Drawing nearer to the tower, they saw a shape lying near the door.

“What in the name of Tartarus…?” Twilight galloped forward to examine it.

The shape was that of a rotting human carcass.

“Oh, gross! Isn’t that the thing that attacked Shortstack?” Blazing immediately noticed the caved skull on the corpse.

“It is. But how did it get out here?” Twilight pondered.

None of the ponies noticed Greg holding his breath, silently observing the surrounding bullet holes and the spray of dried blood splattered across the wall.

“Somepony must have tossed it out.” Dr. Whooves mused. “I’m guessing everypony is waiting for us at the top.”

Twilight shook herself from her awake from her thoughts. “Well, what happened out here?” She gestured to the said bullet holes and mess of blood.

All three ponies felt an anvil dropping in their stomachs. Then slowly, turned to glare at Greg accusingly.

“A hunter must have passed through here and took a shot at something. Probably a mutt that smelled the meatsack here.”

“Hey!”

The ponies (and Greg) jumped at the sound of another human calling out. Far down the street, a human was sprinting at full speed, waving his hands. His footfalls echoed in the empty streets like an eerie drum.

Twilight’s ear twitched. She already knew from the sound of his voice that Roman had followed them. Roman soon caught up to them, panting like a dog.

“There’s… *pant* a big… *pant* problem!”

Will there ever not be? Twilight silently cursed.

Roman waited, catching his breath. “Caine sent me ahead of the group to find you. We have some really bad news.”

~~~

Lightning Strike scowled in irritation. Was it possible to go insane after being alone for one day?

Haunting visions of his family, tedious reminders of his desperate dependence on his job, a maze of hallways that can’t be navigated, and now a phantom noise.

“Oh yes, I am going insane.”

“Well then, why don’t you keep a journal? I’ve heard it helps. That way Angelfire can read all about your adventures.”

“My boring adventures in an abandoned space station with nothing to do.”

“Go find out what that scratching is. Maybe take a marker, so you can find your way back if you get lost.”

“I don’t really want to.”

“Don’t you like a little mystery, some excitement?”

“Damn it to the moon, for all I care.”

“Come on, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Why don’t you want to get up and do anything?”

I’m not feeling sorry for myself! I’m just…”

Lightning Strike’s voice trailed off. What he would give just for a picture of Strawberry Avalanche.

“…Lonely.”

“Look, they’re not going anywhere. Don’t you remember? They’re waiting for you. Now come on. Let’s go see what that noise is.”

Lightning Strike sighed. “Fine. It’s good to get off my haunches, anyway.”

“You bet it is. Just don’t go too far. Gotta leave some left to explore for the rest of the thousand days you’ll be spending up here.”

Lightning groaned. “How very reassuring of you, Lightning.”

“I try.”

~~~

If there was one thing Twilight never imagined seeing, it was an angry Doctor Whooves. Anger was the wrong word. Furious? Enraged? Words wouldn’t do it justice.

“Where is my wife?!”

The herd of ponies didn’t dare move a muscle.

“They’re not with you?” A small voice called out hopefully.

Doctor Whooves bellowed in rage. “What happened?!”

“M-my sister and Muffin took the human down the elevator.” Charcoal choked between shuddering sobs. “I told her, I told her, ‘Don’t go outside.’ I told her…” Roman had pulled Charcoal aside after Twilight confirmed which of the two Pegasi had been shot. Twilight had intended to deliver the news to the herd gradually, to avoid another frantic upset.

“I specifically ordered everypony to stay inside.” Twilight stated. “Why where they allowed outside?”

Again, she was met with silence.

“We have to find Muffin.” Doctor Whooves growled at Twilight. “We are not leaving without her.”

Twilight nodded. “Of course. This situation is tragic enough. We’re not leaving anypony behind.” She raised her voice so that her herd could hear.

“Caine already has a search party organized. They’re heading this way right now so they can track her.” Roman piped up.

“And just how do you think they’re gonna do that?” A voice challenged. Twilight singled out Pop in the crowd, glaring at Roman and Greg.

“We’re bringing our best hunters, and the one… that knows which direction she flew.”

“The one that murdered Ash, you mean.” Pop spat.

Charcoal finally broke down into tears upon hearing his sister’s name.

Roman raised a hand cautiously. “It was a horrible mistake. Stud is doing everything he can to right his wrong.”

Pop scoffed.

“We have to find Muffin.” Doctor Whooves repeated, more to himself. The venom in his voice was fading, and he looked as if all his energy was evaporating.

“We will,” Twilight assured him.

“We have to find her. I promised.” He looked at Twilight with helpless eyes.

“I promised her.”

~~~

Doctor Whooves fidgeted. This is it. There will be no going back. The foal looked up at him curiously, not comprehending what was going on. Doctor Whooves carefully held a needle with a large dose of heavy tranquilizer. This much would kill a Minotaur. Only a fraction will do.

He balanced the syringe with one hoof, aiming the needle at the colt.

“I’m sorry, lad. I’m sure you’re a right chap.”

I know I’m certainly not.

Doctor Whooves felt like a downright criminal, breaking into the clinic in the dead of the night. Wasn’t he? Here he was, prepared to assassinate a newborn colt, while his mother slept not five hooves away.

There will be no going back.

Doctor Whooves steeled himself. He raised the syringe, ready to just plunge it into a vein and be done with it. And he dropped it.

Doctor Whooves backpedaled, burning with shame.

“I’m not a killer.”

Doctor Whooves retreated from the clinic, throwing the syringe in a trash can on his way out. He sucked in fresh air, trying to clear his mind.

“I am not a killer.”

Oh really? Did you just sentence Muffin to death?

Doctor Whooves meditated intensely as he walked. “I will not kill.” Doctor Whooves vowed to himself.

“But I swear, I shall let nothing harm you, Muffin.”