The Era of Deception

“So let us commend these brave souls for their sacrifice and their risk in order to keep the future of Equestria from falling into darkness.” The thunderous applause of ponies stomping their hooves could be heard for miles.  The end of the ceremony had felt like it had taken forever to come again, and as always Dacker was one of the first off of the stage. Sitting through the celebration never got any easier or any less boring, so obviously it was a relief when he was finally able to scratch his snout again without looking like a snob.

"Dacker, what are you doing?"

Dacker looked up at Liferein who was standing but a few feet from him and inspecting him with a slightly annoyed expression on her face.

"Nothing your highness." He said lowering his hoof from his muzzle.

"I have told you that you are to keep your behaviors in check more than once, have I not? You are representing all of us when you are in sight of commoners." Liferein said disapprovingly.

"Yes your highness, I apologize."

"Now get yourself home with the others, its been a long day and I think we are all a little worn out by our subjects. And don't call my "highness" or other such titles, as of recently it has become common to address ones superiors by their first name and I believe it is important to join in so as not to look too old..." Liferein scrunched her muzzle slightly as she finished he statement.

"Yes, of course Liferein. Thank you." Dacker returned.

"Good night, Dacker."

"Good night, Your Highn- Liferein."

Dacker was walking back to his house in Canterlot debating the events of the day, as well as pondering the reasons for Liferein's change in title. Liferein had been the ruler of Equestria since the death of queen Platinum. Not all ponies thought of her as the ruler as much as they looked up to Celestia and Luna, but since she was their mother she basically ruled Equestria through them.

It seemed that she was trying to get ponies to think that she wasn't in cahoots with the princesses so that if she made a bad call, she would not be blamed. Although he thought this was selfish he didn't have the authority to question it and quickly put it out of his mind.

"Liferein would never lie to her subjects, she has no reason to" Dacker thought. "I am probably just over thinking things as usual."

"Hello, Dacker"

Dacker froze. He knew that voice. He couldn't place it right now but he knew that is wasn't from someone that he liked... And it was inside his head...

"Enjoying life as a noble protector of Equestria?" Came the rusty voice again.

"Uhhh, I suppose? Who are you?" Dacker returned aloud trying to not sound scared and still be pleasant at the same time.

"Such information is of no importance at the moment..." The voice replied "I just happened to notice that you were contemplating your loyalty to Liferein."

"How dare you say such a-"

"Oh Dacker, you cant deny it. Even if you weren't even aware of it, if you question the actions of anypony a part of you is also questioning your loyalty to them because of what they have done."

No matter how much he didn't believe it, he didn't have to understand phycology to feel the sinking feeling that the voice was right, even if it was only to a small degree.

"It doesn't matter" Dacker thought to himself. "This intruder must not know that i have any weakness, he must not know that he is right at all."

"Your wrong, every day that goes by my loyalty to her strengthens." Dacker said aloud once again and he realized that if ponies saw him talking to nothing they would think him odd.

There was a pause before the voice spoke again, but what was next was quite unsettling to Dacker.

"I should make it clear that I can hear your every thought to yourself and you can not hide anything, nor would I have believed you if i couldn't listen to your thoughts to get my proof." It said with a more sly tone of voice.

"Damn it!" Dacker thought to himself and instantly regretted it being that the voice in his head chimed in.

"Now, now Dacker, you shouldn't be using that language or it will reflect on us all." It said in a voice that very closely mimicked  Liferein when she disapproved of how her servants were acting.

Dacker stepped up onto his front porch. The conversation with the mysterious intruder had passed the time surprisingly quickly and even though it wasn't something he would openly admit, the talk wasn't terribly unpleasant.

"No matter how much I would like to continue having this chat with you, I am home and would like to rest for tonight." He thought to the voice even though he knew getting rid of it wouldn't be that easy.

"Very well Dacker, I shall leave you to your own time now."

"Wait wha..?" Dacker asked, floored.

"If there is one thing I am, its agreeable. So if you ask me a favor, I shall oblige. Good day, Dacker." And with that, the voice was gone.

Dacker proceeded into his house and began going over the conversation again. He found it odd that someone would go through all the trouble of breaking into his very mind, and was still polite enough to speak with him without any commands or even the slightest request. Just a chat.

However he knew this wasn't over, there was a reason for this infiltration and he was going to find out what it was. And who it was. Who ever it was was going to come back and when they did, he was going to find out who had the audacity to read him like a book. But he also had the sinking feeling that we would rather now know who it was...