Zecora

Chapters

The Case of Zecora
Operation Integration
Uppity Unicorns
Irascible Earth Ponies
Pursuing Pegasi
Emissaries
Ponyville Rendezvous
Into the Forest
Contact
Oaths Taken

The Case of Zecora

"Ahh, good, this week's friendship letter, on schedule as usual!" Princess Celestia comments with a smile as the scroll transported by Spike's magic breath reforms just above Celestia's desk in her office and drops down on the desktop.

Eagerly, Celestia levitates the rolled-up scroll and opens the seal that keeps it rolled up. The scroll unrolls while still being levitated in mid-air, and Celestia begins to read the letter written inside:

"Dear Princess Celestia,
My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your 'cover' is; it's the 'contents' of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle"

When finished reading, Celestia lets the open scroll float back down on the desktop, covering over the work the sun princess had previously been focusing on before the arrival of the friendship letter. She could guess that the lesson was related to a "special" Equestrian, but she would need more information to figure out precisely what to make of it - it was time to pull out the "magical security cams".

A rectangle of yellow-colored unicorn magic appears to one side of Celestia, an image resolving in the rectangle of a scene in Ponyville. Mentally, Celestia "flips" through several images of different viewpoints, then directs one to fast rewind backward until something catches her attention - more specifically, the time when Twilight and her fellow poison joke-affected Element Bearers break into Zecora's hut.

"A zebra!" Celestia exclaims under her breath as she watches the confrontation on the screen. "Well, something will have to be done about the property damage, but a real zebra hiding in the Everfree Forest... no wonder there were misunderstandings."

"Raven!" Celestia calls as the "screen" collapses into a line of yellow magic that abruptly disappears.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Raven asks as she looks up from her own work nearby.

"Summon the Captain of the Guard in here, tell him I have something that deserves his attention." Celestia replies.

"Right away, Your Majesty." Raven replies obediently.

MORNING OF THE FOLLOWING DAY...

"Thank you both for showing up on time. We'll get started on this briefing right away." Captain of the Guard Gibraltar addresses in the officer's meeting room to the four in attendance: Lieutenant Captains Aten and Fidelitas as well as their respective secretaries - Lieutenant Amarna for Aten and Lieutenant Scriptor for Fidelitas.

"I am very much grateful for my counterpart showing up early." Aten replies in an annoyed and disinterested monotone, glaring over at his counterpart who he usually could barely stand being in the same room with. Similarly, Amarna glares at his counterpart in more-or-less deliberate imitation.

"Yes, well anyway, attention to the screen!" Gibraltar snaps out, causing all of the others present to snap to attention. The room goes dark - caused by Gibraltar using his unicorn magic to remotely operate a lightswitch - and a white screen appears next to where Gibraltar is standing.

While Gibraltar is talking, he remotely switches between images and uses a pointer he is levitating with his magic to make his presentation: "As you may be aware, Twilight Sparkle and the citizens of Ponyville have recently made contact with this individual, depicted in this image graciously provided to us by Her Majesty Princess Celestia. According to reports, this individual depicted here, going by the name Zecora, is a zebra that makes residence within the Everfree Forest itself. Besides the interest in Zecora herself, there is a likely historical connection to explain her presence in the forest."

Seeing the image of Zecora projected on the screen, Fidelitas and his secretary showed great interest, while Aten and his secretary show looks of confusion and vague repulsion. The emotion must've been noticeable by Gibraltar, because he continues right on that topic: "In the time of the youth of the royal sisters, Luna discovered a tribe of zebra living in what is now the Everfree Forest. Although they did not join the Equestrian kingdom at that time, Celestia allowed any zebra that moved into Equestria of their own free will to become a citizen upon taking an oath of loyalty. Despite the zebra tribe having long since disappeared into the mists of history, the offer made by Celestia still stands, and she has tasked me to send orders to Ponyville with making that offer in mind as well as to determine official compensation for damages caused by Twilight Sparkle and her friends."

Gibraltar pauses for a second before continuing, taking note of Fidelitas and Scriptor showing rapt interest while Aten and Amarna showing great apathy: "For this operation, which I have dubbed 'Operation Integration', I have determined that Lieutenant Crispin posted in Ponyville will be able to handle this operation himself. To that end, I have drawn up orders for all guards native to Ponyville to be sent there temporarily for the duration of operation. This will involve some shuffling of assignments, which is why I am briefing you on this mission. Hopefully, you will not need to be involved directly, but you will be provided by Lieutenant Biro with the details about the shuffling. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." all four other officers in the room reply, giving a salute as they speak.

"Very good." Gibraltar states as he remotely flicks the lights on again. "Aten and his secretary are dismissed back to their posts. Fidelitas and his secretary are to proceed to their office and prepare for the shift change. Dismissed!"

A LITTLE LATER...

"This is outrageous!" Aten exclaims, papers flying as he slams forehooves down on his office desk.

"Oh I definitely agree, sir." Amarna comments in a dead-pan tone, calmly typing away in a corner of Aten's office.

"You read the report?" Aten asks, turning his full attention to his secretary.

"I didn't need to, sir. Seeing a picture of the zebra myself told me all I needed to know." Amarna answers.

"Going to town cloaked, stamping the ground, stripes with rings, speaking in rhyme, herbal magic, her taste in decoration... it's like everything wrong with unicorns and earth ponies in one unappealing package! And now the Captain wants me to send my stallions to do something for her those backward 'Ponyvillans' can do themselves?! Buck that, says I!"

"Sir, you do realize there are other ponies listening, right?"

"I don't care, Lieutenant. I'll say and do whatever I want, and the Captain can't touch me. You remember why, don't you?"

"Of course I do, sir. You know the secret Princess Celestia keeps in the castle statue garden."

"Exactly. And that's why she won't lay a hoof on me, and she won't let the Captain lay a hoof on me. It's the ultimate in job security!"

"Of course, sir."

"Besides, I have my own friends with their own plans. You'll see, Lieutenant. You'll see."

It was thus that shortly after the setting up of "Operation Integration" - in fact, in the very same mail parcel with the orders going out to the members of the Royal Guard stationed in Ponyville - that this coded message went out (rendered in plaintext here):

"TO AGENTS P1, P2 - HIGH PRIORITY

Recent incident with Zecora will lead to interference from Canterlot. NON-INTERFERENCE MUST BE ENFORCED. You are authorized to use all available tactics and measures necessary to ensure enforcement. MAKE SURE OPERATION INTEGRATION FAILS.

Agent Snake"

Operation Integration

"Hey, I can't see! Shove over a bit!"

"Shush, they'll hear us! There's only so much room to share with these windows..."

"Sorry, but I still can't see!"

Agents P1 and P2 in Ponyville were jostling to share space peeking through a high window of the Ponyville Town Hall to spy on a meeting that was set to begin. Already ponies were beginning to file into the room, aiming for the large circular table in the middle - there were cushions instead of chairs around it due to the short nature of the meeting in the question.

First in was Mayor Mare, escorted by Aide Cherry Fizzy. Mayor Mare was looking around the room, prompting the two spying Agents to temporarily hide again. Hovering in mid-air as they were outside the building, they were painfully aware of the potential of drawing outside attention, even though both were pegasi logically expected to be peeking through a high window. A quick check behind them confirms nopony is actively watching them, and when they turn attention back to what is going on inside the building they see the Royal Guard members marching in - although not in uniform or armor, the syncing of the hoofsteps echoes intimidatingly in the meeting room and again reminds the two Agents of the danger they were currently in.

The marching stallions split into two rows, one going around each side of the circular table until the heads meet up on the other side. Once the lines meet up again, the march stops and the stallions turn to face around the table. The stallions salute Mayor Mare, who is sitting on the cushion directly forward from the door where the stallions came in, before taking seat on a cushion previously placed near the table.

"Thank you all for coming. Aide Cherry Fizzy will now take attendance." Mayor Mare says to start the meeting, gesturing toward the aforementioned stallion sitting to her right as he speaks.

"Lieutenant Crispin?"

"Present."

"Guard Upper Class Noteworthy?"

"Here."

"Guard Upper Class Caramel?"

"Here."

"Guard Upper Class Meadow Song?"

"Yep."

"Guard Lower Class Lucky Clover?"

"Here."

"All present and accounted for, Mayor."

"Thank you, Aide." Mayor Mare replies, shuffling papers as she speaks. "As I'm sure you gentlestallions were informed by Lieutenant Crispin here, the purpose of this meeting was to outline the execution of 'Operation Integration'. The Lieutenant will now giving a briefing on the orders regarding the operation."

"Thank you, Mayor." Lieutenant Crispin picks up as attention focuses on him. "This morning, I received post from the Captain in Canterlot with orders to implement 'Operation Integration' on my own authority, as a follow-up to our preliminary investigations into the recent incident with the poison joke-affected Element Bearers. In light of these new orders, I am having to temporarily suspend the original intention to eliminate most of the poison joke currently infesting the entrance area to the Everfree Forest."

Crispin pauses and observes the others in the room as they exchange uneasy glances. Mayor Mare had declared the flower a public health hazard and ordered the extermination of all flowers found in areas easily accessible to the public, but the orders of Canterlot now trumped that, much to their chagrin.

"Yes, I understand that Canterlot's priorities are not necessarily the same as ours, but as officers of the Royal Guard, or servants of the princesses of Canterlot in the case of Mayor Mare, we have obligation to follow their orders first. Sadly, we do not have enough supplies or soldiers to do both the operation and the original cleanup at once, so the operation takes precedence." Crispin tries to reassure.

This speech was met first with polite coldness, then skeptical looks, and finally shrugs of resignation. After all, what was the point of trying to defy the will of the princesses?

"If there are no objections, then, we shall proceed according to the Lieutenant's direction." Mayor Mare adds as a conclusion, and the silence in the room speaks enough. The spying Agents make a mental note about the uncleared poison joke for later, convinced it will be useful in another plan, then focus back on the meeting.

"The first objective of the operation is the declaration of Zecora as an Equestrian citizen. The Captain feels that would be improper without giving compensation for the damages that were caused, something Twilight Sparkle has already promised in principle but has not worked out the details yet. Mayor Mare will take care of the task of working out the compensation, based on the reports I get about the incident." Crispin states, and the others in the room nod in understanding.

"The second objective is to interview the Element Bearers to get a more complete record of the incident and aid in avoiding future trouble. This task will be distributed as follows: Cherry Fizzy will interview Twilight Sparkle, Meadow Song will interview Applejack, Caramel will interview Rarity, Noteworthy will interview Rainbow Dash, Lucky Clover will interview Fluttershy, and I will interview Pinkie Pie. Do we all understand the tasks assigned to us?" Crispin continues explaining.

The others in the room nod, some showing excitement, others worry. Since they had been assigned the interviews instead of being chosen for the task, some weren't very good fits for their interview subjects, not to mention the prospect of interviewing some of the Element Bearers seemed to be a hopeless task. Still, they had their orders and they had to try their best to carry them out.

"Anything else to add?" Mayor Mare asks after a long, somewhat awkward pause. Agent P2 watching secretly from the window opens his mouth to say something, but quickly his partner clamps his forehoof over it, and when P2 looks over P1 just shakes "no" silently.

"There's no use disrupting things now. We'll get our chance on the interviews." P1 whispers to his partner as the forehoof comes down. They hadn't been detected, but seeing the stallions beginning to disperse means their window of opportunity to avoid detection was closing, so they flew away to a waiting high cloud as quickly as they could without drawing attention.

"So what's the plan?" P2 asks when the two Agents of Chaos reach the cloud, landing on it and laying on its top thanks to their innate pegasi abilities.

"They're going to move as quickly as possible, so we'll have to keep up with them. Just try to frustrate the interview process by causing a commotion. I'll take Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. You take Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Don't stay too long, because we need to hit three targets in quick succession." P1 explains to his partner.

"Should we split the cloud and each of us take a piece?" P2 asks.

"Yes, it'll help with the getaways. We'll meet up just outside town, by the Everfree Forest. If neither of us shows by sundown, assume the other was captured and proceed back to Fort Chaos to await further instructions." P1 replies.

"Got it, let's go." P2 returns, lifting off and grabbing one of the cloud ends with his forehooves.

"Indeed, this promises to be quite fun." P1 echoes, also lifting off and grabbing the opposite end of the cloud with his forehooves.

A quick tug on both ends pulls the cloud into two pieces, each piece landed on by a different Agent. The two Agents share an evil smirk as they go off their separate ways to wreak havoc with Operation Integration...

Uppity Unicorns

"Keep sorting those, Spike. I gotta attend to somepony."

"Where'd you stop?"

"300s, somewhere."

"Oh that's real helpful..."

Twilight Sparkle chuckles at Spike's eyeroll as she proceeds toward the front of the Golden Oaks Library. As she passes by, she checks the shield bubble she had cast around a podium displaying a certain book by tapping it with a forehoof. Satisfied with the bubble's solidity, she continues on.

Displayed on the podium encased by the small force bubble was Twilight's copy of the "Super Naturals" book that had caused so much consternation for her and her friends in the recent poison joke incident, and not surprisingly had become the most popular book in her library, hence the protective bubble. Below the bubble was a standard "no touching" sign as well as a list of bookstores where copies of the book could be purchased. Some of those stores had already run out of stock due to the new found demand, and earlier that day she had gotten a letter from the original publisher asking her to contribute to writing an anecdote to include in a reprint run of the book. She had to admit it wasn't exactly the way she wanted to get into the book world, but it was better than nothing.

As Twilight passes by, the Agent of Chaos P1 peeks a look over a conveniently large book covering his face and tracks Twilight with his gaze. He had come in some minutes before in anticipation of Cherry Fizzy's arrival, and judging by the stallion that had come in P1 could tell it was time to make his first strike, the eager grin safely concealed by the book hiding his face.

"Hello sir, is there something I can do for you?" Twilight Sparkle asks Cherry Fizzy with practiced politeness and a small smile.

"Here on official business, Mayor Mare and Lieutenant Crispin want me to get some more information about compensation for Zecora." Cherry Fizzy firmly replies.

"What are you looking for information about?" Twilight asks.

"Here, read this." Cherry Fizzy answers, pulling out a scroll from the saddlebag he was wearing.

Twilight Sparkle takes the scroll with her unicorn magic and unrolls it while it floats in mid-air. The spying P1 takes a quick opportunity to check that Spike isn't watching him - and indeed the young dragon is distracted by his work - and sets down the book covering his face. He watches Twilight silently read the contents of the floating scroll, then roll it back up.

"Well of course I want to give compensation to her for the stuff we destroyed, I've already told Mayor Mare about that, but trying to figure out how exactly to compensate for the exotic stuff that was broken... the books aren't helping, sir." Twilight says to Cherry Fizzy with a shake of her head.

"If you can't come up with a good idea for compensation, why even bother? Why not just leave her alone?" Agent P1 speaks up to interrupt, causing both Cherry Fizzy and Twilight Sparkle to focus attention on him.

"Anything is better than nothing, sir." Cherry Fizzy replies with a somewhat cynical tone.

"Besides, I am responsible to Princess Celestia for the duration of my assignment here. I am a representative of the princess, and if I do nothing what would that say about her to Zecora?" Twilight adds.

"She looks like she would want to be left alone, so just leave her alone." P1 tries to argue. "Leave her alone with her herbal magic, her unusual taste in decor and living conditions, her stripes, her manner of dress. She's so different you might as well just leave her alone and let her dictate the way she ought to relate to the outside world."

"I can't deny that you might have a point, but I also can't deny the prejudice that seems to color your statements." Cherry Fizzy replies with a suspicious glare.

"Additionally, Equestria was founded on the principles of equality and cooperation between the three different founding races." Twilight starts adding, sharing Cherry Fizzy's suspicions. "Over the history of the kingdom, there have been many examples of extending the same privileges to other races, including zebra. Just because of what Zecora prefers to do and where Zecora prefers to live doesn't mean we shouldn't at least make an effort to include her. Any lingering misunderstandings will be worked out, and she will be free to visit and interact as much as she wants. She is no more 'different' than the three different races are to each other, and that principle needs to be respected and upheld."

"I also would like to add, sir, I am here on official E.U.P. Guard business." Cherry Fizzy firmly states. "You interrupt such matters at your own peril."

At this point, P1 considered his options. He didn't want to get into a fight with a heroine of Equestria and Element Bearer, particularly with a Royal Guard backing her up, and he had other targets to get to. Folding was his best option even if it aggravated him, so he simply got up from where he was sitting and walked past the other two ponies out the door, glaring the whole way out.

"What's wrong with him?" Twilight asks Cherry Fizzy.

"Beats me. I figured it would take some effort to get Zecora accepted, but looks like it's going to be harder than anypony thought..." Cherry Fizzy replies with an uneasy look on his face...

MEANWHILE, AT CAROUSEL BOUTIQUE...

"Sweetie Belle, can you watch Opal a minute?"

"Uh..."

"Thanks a lot, dahling. One of the neighbors just came in and I really do need to talk to them."

"But sis...!"

"It'll just be a minute, dahling. Promise."

Agent P2, sneaking a peak from an open window, sees Sweetie Belle pouting in annoyance at Opalescence, Rarity's pet cat, who in turn returns the annoyed look and poofs her fur with a sniff before turning and slinking away with a stuck-up expression. Meanwhile, Rarity has turned her back to where P2 is looking from to talk to the waiting Caramel, which gives him an opportunity to sneak in and hide behind a mannequin. P2 sneaks between mannequins, trying to disguise himself with Rarity's display clothes, while Caramel talks with Rarity:

"Good day, Caramel. I do hope those nosey gossip rag reporters aren't bothering you and your roommate, I simply refuse to be interviewed about that dreadful poison joke incident! I do hope they will soon find someponies else to bother..."

"No Rarity, I'm not here about that. Here on business."

"Business? Like a tuxedo? Or maybe a nice hat, I've got plenty of those for you to look at if you want one!"

"Not that kind of business, Rarity. Royal Guard business."

"The princess gave you orders?"

"Sort of, yes. Here, I want you to read this."

At this point, Caramel pulls out a scroll and Rarity gives it a skeptical look as she "takes it" with her light blue unicorn magic. She unrolls and begins to read it; by now, P2 is wearing a hodge-podge of various accessories and is trying to go for a dress when a hissing noise startles him and causes him to freeze in place.

He looks down to see Opalescence at his hind hooves, hissing and spitting at him with a very suspicious glare, and P2 realizes he has to think fast to avoid becoming her next scratching post.

"Go on, go on, shoo, shoo!" P2 says in a stage whisper, trying to get Opalescence to go away without blowing his cover in the process.

"Opal, leave the modeling dummies alone." Sweetie Belle says to Opalescence as the filly trots over to pull the feline away. However, she herself has attention drawn to P2's awkward frozen pose and stares suspiciously at the pegasus stallion desperately trying to look like a model.

"Rarity would never put those accessories together. What's going on here?" the confused filly asks, prompting P2 to break into a nervous sweat and start looking around for an idea what to do next. After a moment's hesitation, P2 flings off some of the accessories in Opal's direction and snatches up Sweetie Belle!

"Hey, put me down! Help!" Sweetie Belle shouts, realizing that she was being abducted by the pegasus stallion. This draws the attention of Rarity and Caramel, but Opal is in the position to act first, latching onto one of P2's hindlegs as he desperately tries to stumble his way out of Carousel Boutique.

"I'll deal with this." Rarity says to Caramel as the latter watches the in-over-head P2 try to shake off Opal while also holding onto Sweetie Belle, a feat of balance the pegasus was having trouble performing.

It was not surprising then when Rarity trotted after him and launched on her hind legs into a solid right hook he toppled over backwards, Sweetie Belle spilling to the floor and Opal detaching from the hindleg. Rarity glared down at the knocked over stallion, who ditched the remaining accessories in random directions and took off as quickly as he could, his plans in ruins.

"Very impressive." Caramel comments with an approving nod as Rarity brushes off the shaken-up Sweetie Belle using her hooves.

"Thank you, dahling. I've dealt with sneaky thieves a few times before." Rarity comments with a sly smile that showed there was a strength hidden behind her fashionista facade.

"Now, where were we? Oh yes, the questions about the poison joke incident..." Caramel comments, returning to his mission now that the intentions of the Agent of Chaos had been thwarted...

Irascible Earth Ponies

"You've gotta be kiddin' me, Granny!"

"Now Applejack, you know what they say: 'A good businesspony never wastes an opportunity!'"

"Yeah, but over a stupid joke that Spike made up?!?"

"What stupid joke?"

"Look at this thing, Meadow Song!" Applejack exclaims as she shoves a poster into Meadow Song's face, not even bothering with a 'howdy' or 'how do you do?' due to her irritation at the depiction of the poster's contents. Watching the whole scene is Granny Smith, Applejack's siblings Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom as well as Agent of Chaos P1. The lattermost was peaking down from a small cloud above but off to the side (so that his presence wasn't exposed by the cloud's shadow) while the rest were standing nearby.

Meadow Song pushes back slightly to get a distance far enough to actually read the poster, then slowly repeats verbally the words on the poster: "Make your martini Apple style... Exclusive 'Appletini' mixers available soon at a Rich's Barnyard Bargains near you, pick one up today!"

"You see the problem here?!? They're determined to make me a laughin' stock!" Applejack exclaims in anger, flinging the poster away vigorously as the other Apple family members snicker in the background.

"Yeah, I... I really don't see that as funny..." Meadow Song weakly replies, looking over at the tossed-aside poster in confusion.

"Now now Applejack, the deal with Mr. Rich is already signed, can't go back on it now!" Granny Smith points out, referring to Mr. Filthy Rich, the owner and founder of the business on the poster.

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh adds with his usual brevity.

"And besides Applejack, you're just upset the whole thing made you look bad." Apple Bloom also chips in - Applejack feared the fact that Apple Bloom was ultimately right in trusting Zecora was something that the younger sibling would never stop bragging about (although later it was found that those fears were mostly unfounded).

"Very funny." Applejack replies with a glare in Apple Bloom's direction, sitting down and crossing forelegs in a pouting pose.

"Well, I think it's very funny. In fact, I think it's buckin' hilarious!" a male voice exclaims from above, the others turning to see Agent P1 peeking down over the edge of a small cloud. P1 had moved his cloud platform above the crowd, tauntingly out of reach of even Big Macintosh standing on his hind legs.

"Whadda you want?" Applejack snaps out, the others joining her in the glaring disapproval.

"All I'm saying is that 'Apple-tini' is a very fine name for you, filly. In fact, from where I am looking, it fits all of you in a way." P1 replies with a smug grin on his face.

"What do you mean?" Big Mac snorts out, his usage of a full sentence an indication of the growing emotional tension in the situation.

"You don't have wings, and even if you did you would just fall right through the clouds. You're confined to the earth, to crawl around the ground like bugs." P1 begins, confident in his taunting by being out of reach of any apparent reprisal. "Teeny-tiny bugs, crawling around in the dirt. That's what you are."

"We'll make you eat those words!" Applejack shouts at full volume, the taunting having enraged her.

"No decent pony of Equestria is allowed to run down the Apple family and get away with it!" Granny Smith adds with as much gusto as she can muster.

"What could you possibly do to me? I'm out of your reach, mud ponies! Deal with it!" P1 mocks again, this time collapsing back onto his cloud platform in riotous laughter, just to rub it in even further.

While Apple Bloom and Applejack glare helplessly at the mocking pegasus, Granny Smith gestures over both Big Macintosh and Meadow Song, and when Applejack next glances over in her peripheral vision she sees the three huddled in some kind of whispered conversation.

"Granny's up to somethin'." Applejack comments in confusion, turning her full attention to the huddle, which prompts Apple Bloom to copy her older sister's actions.

"Granny's always said she has a plan for dealin' with pegasi that like to make fun of us here. Never seen it in action though." Apple Bloom comments in turn.

The three ponies in the huddle nod to each other and break out of the huddle, Big Mac positioning himself facing the bottom of the cloud P1 is currently laying on top of. P1's mocking laughter has degraded into simple mockery, teasing the stallions below.

Applejack and Apple Bloom watch in surprise as Meadow Song jumps onto Big Mac's back and Big Mac rears onto his hind legs, Meadow Song shifting to balance on Big Mac's upraised forehooves! Big Mac then gives a mighty heave to launch Meadow Song into the cloud above, the impact breaking the cloud and tumbling the unaware pegasus to the ground.

This kind of launch, later deemed "the alicorn toss" after a famous usage by Shining Armor with Cadance that helped save the Crystal Empire, had originally been developed by several different earth pony clans independent of each other as a means of countering mocking pegasi or other persistent large aerial menaces. The surprised but impressed Applejack and Apple Bloom gallop toward the stunned P1, who just barely had enough sense to start running away as fast as his hooves could take him. The two Apple sisters give chase, but Apple Bloom quickly tires and fall back. Applejack gives up after P1 crosses the bounds of Sweet Apple Acres - she felt the point had been made.

Agent P1 kept running until he was a good distance away from the Apple family estate. From that point on, he would never set hoof anywhere near that location again...

MEANWHILE AT SUGAR CUBE CORNER...

"Well of course I'd like to talk all about it with you, sir, but Mr. and Mrs. Cake are out looking at new cooking equipment right now and there's only Twist in the back." Pinkie Pie was saying behind the counter to Lieutenant Crispin.

The words draw the attention of Agent P2, hiding his face behind a newspaper to avoid being recognized by the cafe's other patrons. After narrowly escaping the debacle with Rarity, the Agent had to spend some minutes in hiding and he was afraid

"Twist? Who's Twist?" the earth pony Lieutenant replies to Pinkie Pie in confusion.

"She goes to the school Cheerilee teaches at. I think she's a classmate of Apple Bloom, too." Pinkie says, pointing a forehoof into the backroom where a small filly without a cutie mark could be seen. Crispin could make out a poofy, bright red mane and tail against a cream-colored coat as well as purple glasses currently spattered with cake batter as she tries to operate a mixing machine.

"What's she doing back there?" Crispin asks Pinkie.

"She's on a 'cutie mark quest', and right now she's trying baking. I suggested she change the 'quest' to a 'crusade', to make it sound better, but she has a lot of trouble with that word." Pinkie explains with her usual eager grin.

"I see." Crispin comments, looking past Pinkie into the backroom to see Twist straining on her hindlegs to reach a switch on the machine. A moment later, Twist looses her balance and tumbles head first into the bowl of the machine - thankfully the machine was not on, but the bowl was full of batter that could've choked her to death.

"Something... oh, oh goodness!" Pinkie exclaims as she turns to follow Crispin's gaze and sees Twist's hindlegs sticking out of the bowl in helpless flailing.

Pinkie rushes to Twist's aid, yanking the younger filly out by the hindlegs and sending both of them tumbling to the backroom floor. Twist starts coughing, her face and mane covered in batter and her glasses missing. Crispin also leaps into action, pushing himself on his hindlegs and over the counter through the backroom doorway to help Pinkie out.

"You two alright? Is she choking?" Crispin asks Pinkie as he helps the latter back onto her hooves.

"I'm (cough) fine, but (cough) thith ithn't working Pinkie." Twist replies with extreme disappointment in her lisp-affected voice, her coughing bringing up a bit of inhaled batter.

"Aww, don't worry, just help out at the counter OK? We can try something else next time, like candymaking!" Pinkie states optimistically as she fetches a towel for Twist to use in wiping her face and mane clean.

"OK, but I can't find my glatheses! I think they're thill in there!" Twist exclaims, pointing to the mixing machine.

"I'll get 'em out, don't worry. I know you can't see anything without 'em." Pinkie continues reassuring, tossing Twist the towel to use.

"You know, that's exactly what's wrong with you earth ponies." a voice comes from behind Crispin, in the main area of the shop. He turns to see P2 looking back, forehooves on the counter and smug grin on his face.

"I can assure you, sir, everything is under control here." Crispin replies bluntly, as out of the corner of his peripheral vision he sees Twist toweling herself off and Pinkie with a forehoof in the mixing bowl, searching for Twist's glasses sunken to the bottom of the bowl.

"But the filly doesn't even have her cutie mark yet, and you're having her work with professional equipment!" P2 exclaims - having gotten the attention of the other patrons as well as Crispin, he decides to press his point fully.

"Sir, it is a long tradition among earth ponies..." Crispin tries to explain, but is cut off by P2 again.

"Slavery! It's slavery, that's what it is!" P2 exclaims again, slamming a forehoof down on the counter for emphasis. "You earth ponies put your foals into all kinds of demeaning labor in hopes of snaring them for life! If they get a cutie mark in some kind of entangling, confining means of labor, bam! Snared for life!"

"Please don't bang on the countertop, sir, the owners of the establishment won't be happy with you." Crispin calmly replies, after P2 bangs on the countertop again.

"It's a conspiracy you earth ponies all engage in! You think it's wonderful, I say it's confining! You're just hoping to deny that filly her true destiny, and you should be ashamed of yourselves!" P2 continues ranting, banging on the countertop yet again.

"I'll deal with it." Pinkie says to Crispin, after the former had fished Twist's glasses out of the mixing bowl. The little filly was now busy licking the batter off her glasses and wasn't paying attention to what was going on.

"How?" Crispin naturally asks.

"Watch me." Pinkie replies with a wink in Crispin's direction, while P2 looks on in puzzlement. Meanwhile, the crowd behind him is rapt on what is going on at the counter, the usual activities of the cafe having been suspended to watch what was going on...

Pinkie puts on a mean glare of a face, and P2's confidence deflates as rapidly as the poof of her mane and tail seem to, the mane and tail taking on the straight curtain of a style that she was born with and shared with her sisters. P2 looks back for support, but finds only rapt curiousity - if he was going to get in some kind of trouble, it didn't seem likely anypony else watching would help him.

Pinkie refuses to let up the intensity of the glare as she slinks toward the counter and puts forehooves up, getting right in P2's face. He can't back up without falling over on his back, and so is subjected to a close-up view of a face that would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life.

"Listen here, buddy." Pinkie begins in the most angry, sinister tone she can bring up. "I don't know what your problem is, but you are no longer welcome in this establishment. You have FIVE seconds to turn around and walk out that door or I'll bake you into my next batch of cupcakes! GOT IT?!"

P2 stumbles and falls backward due to his involuntary step back in fright, facing a Pinkie giving the most evil, sadistic smile he had ever seen before. He looks around for anypony to come to his defense, but none seem willing to do so - either because of his previous remarks or the scariness of Pinkie's display. As soon as he gets on his hooves, P2 gallops away, slamming the door open and nearly running headlong into another pony before disappearing from view.

Satisfied with what she's done, Pinkie "shakes off" her alternate persona - most stare in shock, a few bang a hoof on the table as a sign of approval and entertainment. Quickly, Pinkie's mane and tail reinflate back to their regular poofy appearance, as does the beaming enthusiasm of her expression. Crispin is left stunned, Twist shocked and scared a bit.

"Does... do the Cakes know about that? What about Twilight Sparkle?" Crispin asks Pinkie in stunned curiousity.

"Thath thome freaky thit, Pinkie." Twist comments, prompting Crispin and Pinkie to look down at her in surprise over her word choice.

"What? My dad thaid ith not a thwear word if you can't thay it right." Twist replies innocently, causing Pinkie to break out in chuckles and Lieutenant Crispin to do the only sensible thing he could've done - slap forehoof to face...

Pursuing Pegasi

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO PISS THEM OFF SO MUCH?!?"

"I DON'T KNOW, JUST KEEP FLYING!"

The Agents of Chaos P1 and P2, zooming side-by-side across the sky over the outskirts of Ponyville, look back at their fixated pursuers, the result of the most unsuccessful attempts at interference yet. They knew they had to make it to the tangling cover of the Everfree Forest, or their careers as Agents of Chaos would come to an abrupt end.

Leading the pursuit were an extremely ticked-off duo of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the two mares keeping pace beside each other despite Fluttershy's reputed weakness in flying compared to Rainbow Dash. Just behind them was a small flock of various species of bird, including an eagle and a falcon that would later compete to become Rainbow Dash's pet. But none of the avian members of that chase squad could compare in fearsomeness to the manticore also involved in the aerial chase, nicknamed "Manny Roar" by Fluttershy.

The chase had started out badly enough for each Agent of Chaos separately - P1 getting his face caved in by Rainbow Dash's hoof upon apparent recognition by the rainbow-maned pegasus, and P2 getting thoroughly chewed out by Fluttershy, again apparently after being recognized, before she ordered her avian friends to start attacking him. Both Agents retreated in quick order, prompting the intended interviewers - Guard Upper Class Noteworthy for Rainbow Dash and Guard Upper Class Lucky Clover for Fluttershy, respectively - to rush away a call for a general pursuit. This spared the two pegasi Element Bearers, who had been the most embarrassed by the poison joke effects, from the indignity of having to recollect those memories, but also prompted them to go after the Agents themselves as they realized calling for support would take too long in order to be of any good.

The Agents being chased individually were heading in the same general direction - back to the Everfree Forest - and had just joined up, hoping that by working together they could both escape in one piece. There was no cloud platform for them to use or hide with - both platforms the agents had used had been hastily abandoned once pursuit began - and in the open sky there was no real good chance to escape. It was the forest, or a prison cell.

"I swear that filly is deceptive! How was I supposed to know she had command of the birds and beasts?!" P2 exclaims to P1, both looking back again briefly.

"Never mind about that! Dive for the forest!" P1 exclaims, pointing a hoof down at the line of the Everfree Forest below.

Immediately P1 and P2 go into a steep dive, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash's pursuit close behind. At the tree line of the Everfree Forest, the two pegasi agents level off and zip at full speed into the forest canopy, willing to bear the slapping of leaf and branch in order to loose their pursuit. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash drop to just about ground level and transition into a full galloping landing on the ground, sparing looks up into the canopy, while the manticore Manny Roar attempts to directly follow the pegasi into the tree line and sadly finds himself tangled in tree branches, the roar echoing across the forest as he swipes and twists to try to free himself.

"Shoot, I... think we lost 'em." Rainbow Dash replies in breathless frustration as she skids to a stop, scowling at the obscuring trees above.

"We'd... better go help Manny." Fluttershy adds just as breathlessly, pointing up to the tree where the manticore is currently jammed tight.

"Got it. I think they... learned their lesson anyway... do it all again if they ever show their faces around town once more!" Rainbow Dash continues in her bombast, flying up with Fluttershy to help pull Manny out of the tree.

After some yanking, the manticore finally is pulled free, sending the two pegasi fillies flying back into the branches of another tree, only giving a moment's cushion before tumbling to the ground. Rainbow Dash feels a knock on her head as she falls, and Fluttershy ends up on her back when she thuds on the ground.

"Ow, it's supposed to be 'Rainbow Dash', not 'Rainbow Crash'." Rainbow Dash mutters to herself as she rubs a bump on her head with a forehoof. When she looks over at Fluttershy, she finds the other filly has already righted herself and is making her way over the manticore, who is trying to lick a combination of sap-sticky leaves and twigs out of its fur.

"No silly Manny, they're not going to come out that way. Here, let me help you." Fluttershy replies in a motherly tone as Rainbow Dash gets onto four hooves and starts over to beside Fluttershy.

"I was going to ask, Fluttershy, that manticore looks familiar." Rainbow Dash comments.

"Same one I pulled the thorn from. He comes by my house from time to time, usually bringing another sick animal for me to care for. I decided to call him 'Manny Roar'." Fluttershy replies with obvious pride in her tone as she helps pull out sticky leaves and branches from Manny's coat.

"Well, either he likes it or he just likes you pulling sharp objects out of his fur." Rainbow Dash comments again after looking at the manticore's grateful expression in the direction of the modestly smiling Fluttershy.

"What are you going to do about those pegasi?" Fluttershy asks as she continues her work, obviously referring to the two pegasi stallions they had been chasing.

"If I knew where they were hiding, I would trash them in their hideout! But we have no idea where they're hiding, and we need a smart cookie to have any idea where to look. If somepony hasn't already told Twilight about this, I'm going to right now!" Rainbow Dash exclaims with a determined look on her face...

LATER THAT DAY...

"After my own experience, and the experiences of the other reports coming in, I have to agree with you Miss Twilight Sparkle - there are two pegasi attempting to sabotage this mission." Lieutenant Crispin replies honestly as he sorts through the written reports in Golden Oaks Library.

"There were also two pegasi that attempted to sabotage the early warning system started after the Ursa Minor incident, right?" Twilight asks, her concern a mirror for the Lieutenant's own.

"Correct, and we have reason to believe they have been causing trouble in this town almost since Princess Celestia assigned you here to Ponyville." Crispin affirms. "Sadly, we have no idea where they hide out between attacks other than somewhere in the Everfree Forest, but to search that big and dangerous area is beyond the capabilities of the force I have command of currently. I can only react instead of counteract."

"So what are you going to do?" Twilight naturally asks.

"Call for reinforcements. A party from Canterlot is going to have to finish the work of making Zecora an Equestrian citizen." Crispin answers.

Twilight's face took on an uneasy look. It wasn't that she felt the Lieutenant was slighting the capabilities of her or her friends - not even Twilight herself had authority beyond her reputation and connections at that time - but that his statement had unsettling implications, that the fight in Canterlot against the Agents of Chaos had spread to Ponyville and that it could be avoided no longer...

Emissaries

"So there are Agents of Chaos in Ponyville, Captain?"

"According to Lieutenant Crispin's report, Your Majesty, yes there are. We do not yet know exactly when they arrived there or if any incidents can be attributed directly to them, but we do know that there are two Upper Class Guards that were sent to 'investigate and monitor the town government on a standing basis' shortly after Twilight Sparkle's assignment there, according to Lieutenant Captain Aten. It is likely that was a cover story for the dispatching of the two Agents, who are working together undercover as a pair."

"Do you know what their civilian identities are?"

"I have been able to obtain their civilian identities based on the report of the dispatch, but Aten insists they are not Agents, and due to the loss of records in the tower archive attack we can't find any supporting evidence for them being Agents. I've tried to get Aten to issue a recall order, but he insists the posting was legal and without evidence of them being Agents he won't do anything. I have sent instructions to Mayor Mare and the Ponyville government to transfer them to Canterlot if they were arrested in the town boundaries, but that's as much as I can do from here."

"What about the hiding place?"

"All Lieutenant Crispin knows is that it's somewhere in the Everfree Forest. Unfortunately, he only has resources to guard Ponyville and its surroundings from the Agents' attack - there is no way he can spare any stallions to search the forest for their hideout. That is why he called for reinforcements, Princess Celestia."

"So reinforcements we will send. I will not permit them from interfering with affairs there! I may be able to utilize their efforts as a means of facilitating the friendship lessons Twilight Sparkle is learning, but I will not permit them to meddle directly in the process."

"Your Highness, surely Twilight Sparkle and her friends could take care of this themselves, considering how well they handled the dragon...?"

"No Captain, not this time. My assignment for handling the dragon was for the benefit of Twilight Sparkle and the filly Fluttershy. There is no more benefit to be gained by them if I were to send them to do this. As the Lieutenant has requested, I will send one unicorn and one pegasus I trust to Ponyville. They will execute the previous mission, accompanied by an earth pony from the Lieutenant's command as per the standard tradition of such missions. I will give the Lieutenant the option of making the choice of the earth pony to go with the two emissaries. Understood, Captain?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I trust you will make your selections and have them on my desk by the end of the day?"

"As always, Captain."

Captain Gibraltar was about to move onto the next topic of the meeting when he was interrupted by shouting, followed by the clatter of objects being knocked to the floor. The Guard Captain and Princess Celestia only spare a moment to look at each other in surprise before rushing out of the meeting room in the direction where they heard the shouting coming from.

In front of them, as they approach the source of the shouting, they are further surprised to see Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire being forcibly tossed through a doorway to impact against the opposing wall! Captain Gibraltar and Princess Celestia slam on the metaphorical brakes and witness Lieutenant Captain Aten leap out after Spitfire, landing on top of her and smacking her a few times before Gibraltar can intervene to pull Aten off.

"Let me go, sir! She's gone absolutely bonkers!" Aten shouts, trying to wriggle out of Gibraltar's hold as Celestia helps Spitfire back up - it is clear that Spitfire has received a black eye already as well as several other bruises, doubtless from Aten's hooves.

"He's trying to undercut my authority, Captain!" Spitfire shouts back, pointing an accusing forehoof at Aten. "I've seen one of his Lieutenants in whispered conversation with Misty Fly - the Lieutenant Captain is in conspiracy against me!"

"I will remind you both you're supposed to be professional officers, not spatting little fillies!" Gibraltar shouts in disapproval, and a similar disapproving look crosses Celestia's face briefly.

"She started it! She's spouting nonsense, sir!" Aten loudly replies.

"I don't care who started it, I'm finishing it! And this is the last time I want this happening, UNDERSTOOD?!" Gibraltar shouts in his best drill sergeant voice. Both Aten and Spitfire give grumbling acknowledgements to that effect - it was rare nowadays Captain Gibraltar raised his voice like that, so when he did so it didn't matter your rank, you did what you were told.

"Captain Spitfire, I would highly suggest not antagonizing the Lieutenant Captain by visiting his office. If you have complaints, take them to Captain Gibraltar from now on." Celestia suggests to the annoyed Spitfire.

"But Your Majesty...!" Spitfire objects, her expression flipping to dismay, but Celestia raises a forehoof to shush her again.

"There will be harmony, Captain. The issue is settled." Celestia firmly replies, her tone one indicating that she did not want Spitfire arguing the point.

Spitfire is left in total dismay as Aten calmly brushes himself off and straightens his armor. The combination of his unshaken attitude and the smug smile he flashes in her direction tells Spitfire all she needs to know - Celestia has, wittingly or not, given him carte blanche to attack the Wonderbolts as much as he likes, with almost no way of stopping him...

LATER THAT DAY...

"And now they are sending emissaries, WA! Can't those two buffoons over in Ponyville get it right?!" Agent Snake exclaims in his mountain interior lair, forehooves stomping on the rock floor to make a cracking that echoes through the tunnels.

"I'm sorry to hear their efforts did not work out, sir. Hopefully, they can stop the emissaries once they reach Ponyville." Agent WA comments.

"With Operation Whirlwind preparations underway, I need them there and doing their jobs correctly for it to succeed. The plan is contingent upon the Element Bearers being too distracted to travel to Canterlot and use the Elements of Harmony against us." Snake continues to explain.

"It's that vital to the plan?" WA returns.

"Correct. What I intend to unleash upon this kingdom - the 'chaotic one' - could only be stopped by the Elements. Celestia cannot stop them, even with Luna by her side again. Releasing the 'chaotic one' is all that matters to me now, and you are my emissary to disaffected pegasi to help with this, you understand Agent?"

"Yes, sir. But you still promised me you would make me a Wonderbolt Captain!"

"And I intend to keep that promise, Agent. As long as you succeed in recruiting the disaffected applicants rejected from Wonderbolt Academy, you will be their Captain against Spitfire. That is what you have been doing, correct?"

"Yes sir, through consultation with another Agent. Captain Spitfire..."

"Yes, yes, I am aware of that. It's too bad you got caught, I don't know how or why. The point is there are ways of dealing with her to prevent her messing things up, up to and including elimination if necessary."

"Would elimination really be necessary, Agent Snake?"

"Not for right now, containment is working. But elimination will occur when Whirlwind is executed, and you will become Captain unopposed. You understand, WA?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now go, and make sure to keep me informed on the recruitment process."

"Yes sir." Agent WA, aka Misty Fly, replies with a salute, before turning to leave. Unseen to her is Snake's treacherous smile - he only intends to honor his commitment as far as it suits his ambitions. The Agent, emissary to the disaffected and recruiter for chaos, would be expendable on the day of Whirlwind...

Ponyville Rendezvous

Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor wistfully gazes upon an untainted moon from his cabin window as the overnight train to Ponyville slides gracefully through the night. Observing the moon and the changing of its phases now unmarked (Princess Celestia called it "unmarred", doubtless because it was punchier in terms of effect) by the exiled Princess Luna had greatly fascinated the night shift workers in particular, and Shining himself knew that this fascination made it easier for Luna herself to believe those who said her night truly was, and had always been, appreciated.

His gazing is interrupted by the sliding of the door into his cabin. Surprised to hear the noise, he turns around... and chuckles in relief when he recognizes Lieutenant Stratocumulus, a blush barely detectable in the low light, had opened the door. Shining Armor and Stratocumulus had been chosen together by Celestia to be the emissaries to Zecora - it was Shining's first trip to Ponyville, and besides the exciting prospect of new sights and sounds there was also the hope that he would be able to see his little sister again for the first time in many weeks - the ache of his heart he normally kept submerged beneath his military manner had partly come to the surface, but he was not inclined to tell this to a subordinate that probably could've guessed it anyways.

"Can't sleep Lieutenant?" Shining Armor asks the pegasus.

"No sir, afraid I can't. Too used to the night shift." Stratocumulus replies with as frank as honesty as he can muster.

"Don't blame ya. I'm really too anxious myself." Shining comments as Stratocumulus moves beside him to join in the moon gazing.

There is a moment's pause as both stallions share in the appreciation of the moon's beauty, and then Stratocumulus breaks the silence with a mumbled question about Ponyville that Shining doesn't quite pick up.

"Sorry, repeat that Lieutenant?" Shining asks as he turns his attention to the pegasus beside him.

"Have you ever been there, sir?" Stratocumulus repeats asking, this time speaking more slowly and loudly in order to be sure the question was heard.

"Me? No, never been there before. Despite how close it is to Canterlot, it's kind of a backwater. Earth pony town and its traditions, you understand. Most of its value is in its location, you see." Shining replies honestly.

"Like the Everfree Forest and the Apple clan farms around it?" Stratocumulus ventures a guess.

"I see you did your homework." Shining replies approvingly. "Basically, yes. Still, its where all the Element Bearers minus my sister ended up, and that's why she's there now, learning about friendship."

"You miss your sister, sir?" Stratocumulus asks again.

"What brother wouldn't miss a little sister like her?" Shining replies with a chuckle. "I'm not going to deny, Lieutenant, some days it's harder than others. But I understand why we are apart. Princess Celestia has us apart for very good reasons, and I trust that she knows what she's doing. All I can do is play my part in helping Luna, and trust that Celestia has the best in mind for all of us."

"I guess that's all we can do, sir. There's no good alternative, after all." Stratocumulus replies with a shrug.

"You can say that again, Lieutenant." Shining says with a shy smile before turning his attention back to the moon in the sky. Stratocumulus joins him shortly afterward, and the night hours pass quietly on the train to Ponyville...

IN PONYVILLE, THE FOLLOWING MORNING...

"Twily? Spike? Twi-ly? You in here, little sis?" Shining Armor asks as he sticks his head through a window of the Golden Oak Library in Ponyville, eyes darting around looking for any sign of his sister or her dragon assistant.

"Sir, there are ponies staring at us." Lieutenant Stratocumulus replies uneasily, looking around at the couple curious citizens of Ponyville wondering what in Equestria a Royal Guard in full armor was doing poking his head into the library.

"I'm aware of that Lieutenant!" Shining snaps back, resisting the urge to turn his head around due to the small dimensions of the window risking damage from his horn swinging into the framing around it.

"I will also remind you, sir, that we will be late for the rendezvous with Lieutenant Crispin if we don't continue moving..." Stratocumulus continues on, still looking around between the onlookers.

"Fine, fine, Lieutenant." Shining Armor grumbles out in reply, carefully working his head back out to avoid damaging anything with the swinging horn. His grumpy mood is quickly directed toward the onlookers, who after one glare decide it is time to move on and find something else to curiously stare at.

"Feel better, sir?" Stratocumulus tentatively offers.

"No Lieutenant, I don't." Shining bluntly replies, causing the pegasus with him to not consider making any other suggestions. Reluctantly, Shining Armor assumes his march step into the town and Stratocumulus falls in line behind him.

Both stallions, in full armor, assume their presence in town would be very noticeable, and that soon Shining would have his reunion with his little sister anyways. For right now, though, he needed to rendezvous with Lieutenant Crispin in the town square and pick up the third member of the party that would visit Zecora...

And indeed in the town square, wearing their fulldress uniforms instead of the Guard armor (which was not available to them at the time), was waiting Lieutenant Crispin as well as his designated candidate to fill the third spot in the party to Zecora. Crispin had chosen him both because of him being an earth pony (necessary as a representative of all three main races was needed for any actions the party took to be officially approved) and as part of the Apple clan was a distant relative.

As Shining Armor and Stratocumulus approached, Lieutenant Crispin and his designated choice saluted. The two armored stallions stopped facing their counterparts and Shining Armor ordered the two saluters to be at ease. Meanwhile, a few ponies were watching the scene from behind some barrels placed at the edge of the square - unknown to the Royal Guard members, Agents of Chaos P1 and P2 were spying on them, gathering as much information as they could before setting up their strike.

"I'm honored to finally be working together with you on an assignment, sir." Lieutenant Crispin says to Shining Armor, the admiration clear in his tone of voice.

"Save your praise for your relative. We both have relatives we are proud of, and it's important to remember, Lieutenant, they are the real heroes of Equestria. We are just extending and consolidating their work." Shining Armor gently corrects.

"Of course, sir." Crispin gamely replies - he wasn't about to argue the fact his distant relation Applejack as well as Shining Armor's younger sister were both worthy of great honor as heroes and Element Bearers.

"Very well, then, to business. You've selected an earth pony from your command to fill the third member of the party, as per standard protocol for the swearing-in of new Equestrian citizens?" Shining Armor asks.

"Indeed I have, sir. This is Guard Upper Class Meadow Song beside me here." Crispin answers, pointing to his companion. Meadow Song in turn nods in affirmation to the other two Royal Guard stallions.

"Pleasure to be working with you sir." Meadow Song adds quickly.

"If I recall correctly, Guard, you are also a member of the Apple clan, and have a standing assignment guarding Princess Luna when she is about in the afternoons?" Shining Armor asks Meadow Song.

"That is correct, sir. I was on the afternoon shift with you before you were promoted to Lieutenant Captain, but never directly under your command until now." Meadow Song replies affirmatively.

"I see, very interesting. Lieutenant, do you have the materials to perform the swearing-in ceremony?" Shining Armor turns to ask Lieutenant Crispin again.

"Of course, sir, we'll go through the checklist and brief everypony on their particular duties..." Crispin replies, beginning to pull objects out of the saddlebag he was wearing.

The spying Agents P1 and P2 take this as a cue to beat it while remaining relatively undetected, while the assembled Royal Guards are distracted. They had enough information to plan their next strike.

"Oh goodie, we get to humiliate the shining one!" P2 squees out, the 'shining one' being the Agents of Chaos term for Shining Armor.

"Don't get too excited, we still need a plan. Thankfully, we still have the rest of the day to get something done, and I already have an outline of one." P1 calmly counterpoints.

"Yeah, but all day? Won't that be enough time for the Element Bearers and those guards to join forces?" P2 comments.

"Nah, those guards are still on the night shift schedule, they'll be sleeping through the heat of the day. Besides, the Friendship Bearer and her dragon companion are on a wild goose chase for poison joke groves on Sweet Apple Acres - none of the Element Bearers will ever know until its too late because of that note I put up on the library door!" P1 proudly explains.

"Yeah, they'll be out of the way until it's too late for them to do anything to help!" P2 gleefully adds, reveling in the thought of sending Equestria's recent heroes fruitlessly around in circles until the realization of the trickery came through to them.

With the Element Bearers temporarily distracted, Agents of Chaos P1 and P2 could focus on dealing with Celestia's emissaries. And just like with the distraction, the attack plan would deal with the dangerous blue plants called "poison joke"...

Into the Forest

"Finally! I was wondering if they would move out before it got too dark to see!"

"Quiet P2, they'll hear us if you keep blabbing! Is the trap ready?"

"Yes it is, P1."

"Good, we'll deploy it while they approach the seeded bed. Stay in the treetops to avoid detection. Let's go!"

The sun was rapidly descending toward its usual resting place when the trio of Guard stallions finally moved out to the Everfree Forest. Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, Lieutenant Stratocumulus and Guard Upper Class Meadow Song, the latter in dress uniform and the others wearing glinting armor, stepped along the path into the Everfree Forest the Element Bearers had taken to reach the Castle of the Two Sisters.

Not surprisingly, there was only one good path to take through the forest, presumed to have once been a road that lead to the now-ruined Castle of the Two Sisters. All other destinations in the Everfree Forest were reached through narrow branches off this main path, only some of which were currently marked, and Zecora's residence was off one of those as-yet unmarked branches, so Shining Armor was levitating using unicorn magic both a crude parchment map and a lit torch in attempt to find the right turn off and not get lost in the darkness. After all, unlike the experience of his sister and her new friends, Shining's target destination didn't rise out of the forest canopy like the castle ruins did.

Lying in wait at the specific turnoff was Agents of Chaos P1 and P2, ready to spring their trap in the treeline above. Their plan was two-prong, depending on the three Guard stallions being affected by the poison joke and being forced to turn back once they realized they were affected. The mission would thus be thwarted, at least temporarily, and the Agents of Chaos would have more time to implement another plan, although what that exactly was they hadn't figured out yet...

"Poison joke dead ahead, sir!" rings out from the ground level, the cue for the Agents to get to their positions in the treetops above. Awkwardly they position a large bucket filled with the dangerous blue flowers - one they had taken great care in filling to avoid falling to the poison joke effects themselves - so that it could easily be dumped onto the stopped stallions below. They freeze in place when one of the stallions - Meadow Song - briefly looks up in their direction, but the trees provide enough cover to avoid detection.

"So this is the flower that caused my sister and her friends so much trouble?" Shining Armor observes, his caution balancing his curiousity to observe the flowers from a safe distance.

"Sir, what are we going to do? Surely we're not going to try to walk through them!" Lieutenant Stratocumulus comments.

"We need to clear them out because they are in the way to the turnoff we need to take." Shining Armor replies, taking a glance at the crude map lit by torch. While he ponders what to do, the unseen Agents above ready to dump their bucket.

"I wonder, though, how these plants ended up here. They look like they were placed instead of..." Shining speculates, his concern mimicked by the looks on the other two stallions.

"On three, dump." Agent P1 whispers to P2, who shifts to ready himself to push over the bucket filled with poison joke.

"Did you hear something, sir?" Meadow Song comments, looking around in concern. Both Shining Armor and Stratocumulus shake no in response to the comment.

"One... two..." P1 begins counting...

"ROAR!"

The heart-stopping noise that comes from directly behind the two Agents in the treetops startles them into falling off balance, the bucket tumbling after them. The blue flowers inside the bucket shower down on the two Agents as they fall down.

"It's a trap sir!" Meadow Song shouts as the three Guard stallions scatter away from the spot they were standing, the two pegasi Agents and their bucket with its bright blue contents landing just moments later. Right after impact, another roar is heard from the tree and the two Agents take off on hoof as soon as they can get back upright, wondering how in Equestria this plan went wrong so quickly.

Shining Armor encases himself and the objects he's carrying in a shield bubble, poison joke plants being pushed away by the forcefield. He catches a glimpse of a large shadowy figure - possibly a manticore, he reported later - fly out of the tree the two Agents of Chaos had just tumbled out of.

"Sir, the plants are all over!" Stratocumulus exclaims, snapping Shining's attention back to the dilemma of his fellow stallions. Shining quickly notes that both Stratocumulus and Meadow Song are surrounded by poison joke plants that had been dumped from above, making it impossible to move safely more than a step or two.

"Hang on one second." Shining Armor replies, trying to focus on keeping his powers in control. He grits his teeth and slowly smaller forcefield bubbles encase both the other stallions.

"Will this keep the poison joke out, sir?" Stratocumulus asks as he looks around inside his small magenta-colored bubble.

"Should. Roll toward me. The bubbles will join together on contact." Shining Armor clips out in his intense concentration - the multitasking he is trying to perform is taxing on him, more from lack of focus than any apparent weakness on his part.

Stratocumulus and Meadow Song look at each other, exchange shrugs and slowly step - rolling in the forcefield bubble - toward Shining's location. Poison joke plants are squished underneath and pushed away by the glowing bubbles, and the two stallions are relieved when their respective bubbles indeed join with Shining's to form a larger sphere that encases all three stallions.

"Sorry about that - tough to focus on so many things at once." Shining comments with a relief in his voice after the joining up.

"Never mind about that, sir. We're just glad to stay unaffected. Are we going to proceed?" Meadow Song replies graciously.

"Yes, but I'm marking the location on the map. Lieutenant Crispin may want to investigate this incident later." Shining answers, using his unicorn magic to pull out a charcoal pencil from his saddlebag and making an "X" on the crude map for future reference.

"Don't try to leave the bubble for now. We'll keep moving inside it until we get to the river crossing. Understood?" Shining Armor continues to address the other two stallions, putting away the pencil he had pulled out.

"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Stratocumulus and Upper Class Guard Meadow Song reply simultaneously, saluting as they speak.

LATER, AT THE RIVER CROSSING...

Shining Armor held the torch up to see the crude writing on the sign better, while Stratocumulus and Meadow Song stand back looking around for any other potential threats. Just like the main road, to get to Zecora's hut they needed to cross the river that ran through the Everfree Forest.

"I'm curious how Zecora gets across this river - you'd get all wet trying to swim across." Meadow Song comments.

"Judging from the posts driven into the bank, there was a hoofbridge here, but it's fallen into the river now. Completely useless." Stratocumulus replies with a sad shake of his head.

"The map shows a bridge still here, so it might've been sabotaged by those two pegasi causing trouble around here. This sign has new writing on it." Shining Armor adds, squinting in the torchlight to try to figure out the text.

"What does the sign say, sir?" Stratocumulus asks.

"'Bridge out - please ring bell for Steven Magnet'... Who's Steven Magnet?" Shining Armor returns.

"No idea, sir. I don't think the Lieutenant knows either." Meadow Song replies, and Stratocumulus shakes his head to affirm Meadow Song's speculation.

"Well, wading would ruin everything on us, so I suppose we should hope the bell works..." Shining Armor comments again.

The bell in question seemed to be a fair sized older model (Meadow Song later said it seemed to have been used by the Ponyville Schoolhouse at one point), with some exterior rust but still appearing to be in good working order. The bell's rope began glowing with Shining Armor's magenta-colored magic and then was tugged in one direction so as to ring the bell. The action was repeated a few times, each time a medium-tone "gong" sound emanating through the forest. A few birds are disturbed by the noise, then settle back into the trees after it has died out.

There was a disappointing stillness after the birds had settled back in, and then the low burbling of the river was interrupted by waves and shadows barely visible underneath the water. Due to the relative lack of moonlight, the three Royal Guard stallions could only see the outline of the shape that rose with a dramatic splash out of the river, but could only come to one conclusion: the river's "sea serpent"!

The trio involuntarily backs away a bit as the larger creature lets out a long yawn and then mumbled speech the stallions recognize: "At this hour, who could possibly wanting to cross the river at night...?"

"It knows our language?" Meadow Song comments in surprise, nervously exchanging looks with Stratocumulus.

"They're like the dragons, smarter than usually given credit for. I knew there was one here in this river, but I didn't expect to meet him." Shining comments as the sea serpents bends down to study the Royal Guard stallions more closely.

"Odd for ponies to be wanting to cross at this hour. I hope you haven't interrupted my beauty sleep for some trivial reason." the sea serpent warns, staring down suspiciously at the three stallions on the bank.

"I am Shining Armor, Lieutenant Captain of the Canterlot Division of the E.U.P. Royal Guard. I and my subordinates here are here on official business of Princess Celestia and need passage across the river." Shining Armor calmly states, using his unicorn magic to pull out from his saddlebag a copy of his orders from Princess Celestia to visit Zecora, then holding it in the torchlight for the sea serpent to read.

Once the sea serpent has had a chance to read the orders, his attitude starts to improve, although the interrupted sleep still makes him annoyed: "I see. I'm Steven Magnet, it's been my job to help with the river crossing since the ropes of the bridge around here were cut. I'll let you cross, but make it quick. I need my beauty rest, you understand don't you?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you very much, sir." Shining Armor replies with a relieved smile as he puts the orders copy back away.

As Steven reluctantly positions himself to provide a bridge across the river, the stallions able to tell he was muttering under his breath because of the interruption, Shining gestures Stratocumulus to act as spotter while Shining himself and Meadow Song prepare to traverse the humps of Steven's improvised bridge.

"Once we get across, remind me to note down the broken bridge for the report, Meadow Song." Shining comments.

"Yes, sir." Meadow Song replies with an amused smile, prepared to cross behind the Lieutenant Captain with Stratocumulus now hovering beside the bridge to catch either of the other stallions should they slip.

Slowly and carefully, Shining jumps between the humps and then onto the far bank, Stratocumulus moving beside him the whole time. Once Shining is across, Stratocumulus resets his position back so that he can watch Meadow Song as he follows Shining's lead in jumping between the humps. Meadow Song makes it across safely, but notes that the bridge really needs to be rebuilt as soon as possible.

"I agree, Guard." Shining laughs in reply to Meadow Song's comment.

"That's everyone?" Steven asks, having repositioned himself again facing the other bank.

"Yes, sir. Thank you again, sir." Shining replies with a salute, the other two stallions quickly joining in.

"Sure, sure, now if you'll excuse me..." Steven Magnet replies with a toothy yawn before slowly slipping back into the river.

The three Royal Guard stallions watch Steven swim away, then turn and look further down the path. In the darkness of a quarter-moon night, the Everfree Forest looks even more intimidating than when Twilight Sparkle and her soon-to-be fellow Element Bearers faced the perils of the forest.

"Resume formation! Onwards!" Shining shouts, starting forward down the path. The other two stallions slip into line behind their commander, and down the path they go. Next stop: Zecora's house...

Contact

"Moon pies and nacho cheese-flavored chips?"

"We eat what we want to eat, sister."

"Just don't talk with your mouth full, like you do in the Oubliettes and Ogres club."

"Whatever."

Princess Luna glares in irritation at older sister Princess Celestia as she uses unicorn magic to shove another moon pie into her mouth. Celestia chuckles a bit in response - it wasn't like she was criticizing Luna's choices of snack food. Sure, there was the occasional comment about a princess eating "commoner's food", but Celestia gently reminded them most of that "commoner's food" was something new to her, and besides it helped Luna adapt to the modern world. Celestia herself preferred her calorie-laden snacking more sophisticated, but to force Luna to act the same way would've been the same mistake.

"Thou art here to watch the ceremony?" Luna asks Celestia, gesturing to the glowing screen in front of her. This screen was her access to Celestia's "magical security cam" used to monitor Twilight Sparkle's time in Ponyville. This night, however, it was turned on the efforts of Shining Armor and his companions as they traveled through the Everfree Forest to Zecora's residence.

"Yes indeed, sister. I am as interested in the success of the mission as you are." Celestia replies stately, as if they were in a formal meeting instead of what was supposed to be a casual hangout. This kind of thing was still new to Luna, and Celestia had to meet the formalism half-way in order for Luna to be comfortable in the circumstances.

After this, though, any pretense of formalism is dropped as Celestia sits on the long cushion beside her sister and begins herself munching the snack foods arrayed in front of them on a low table. Currently, the image on the screen showed Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, Lieutenant Stratocumulus and Guard Upper Class Meadow Song travelling through the Everfree Forest...

MEANWHILE...

"Let's see, we should be close..." Shining Armor comments, looking up and back from the torch-lit map to the dark path again as his group is moving.

"Sir, there's someponies ahead on the path!" Lieutenant Stratocumulus comments, speaking from his position flying slightly above his comrades.

Immediately the group halts, and Shining Armor looks up the path over the top of the map. Sure enough, he glimpses the figures of two pegasi stallions side-by-side facing the trio ahead on the path, wings open and within a stone's throw of their destination of Zecora's residence. Shining Armor recognizes that their opponents of the Agents of Chaos have decided to provoke a battle here, but he and his comrades are ready.

"In the name of Agent Snake and the chaotic one which he serves, we will prevent you..." one of the two pegasi stallions (later revealed to be Agent P1) begins threatening in a very serious tone, only stopping when the Guard stallions start chuckling (as do the two Princesses watching everything on their magic screen).

"What's so funny? Stop laughing, this is serious!" the speaking stallion exclaims indignantly.

"Sir, why are you glowing?" his partner asks in surprise.

As the Guard stallions continue having a good laugh, Agent P1 looks down at a foreleg to see he is glowing a bright orange color - the generally unfortunate side-effects of the previous poison joke exposure! Mortified, he looks over at his partner, who is also glowing (a bright pink, in his case) and shares his mortified look, before both freak out, yelling in panic as they scramble back into cover and away from the area as fast as they can. Both the Guard stallions, and the Princesses watching remotely from Canterlot, have a good laugh at the expense of their enemy.

"Should we... we go after them... sir?" Meadow Song asks when the stallions finally catch their breath.

"No, no, it'll be easy enough to catch them now. If they were affected by poison joke, they won't have a way of curing themselves without risking arrest. Sure we'll tell Lieutenant Crispin about it, but as far as they're concerned they're trapped in the forest." Shining Armor reassures.

"In any case, we still have a mission to finish." Lieutenant Stratocumulus adds, pointing toward the tree where Zecora was residing. Surprisingly, the commotion had not drawn her attention in any way, perhaps because of the hour they were visiting.

"Well, regardless of whether she's awake or not, we have an obligation having come so far now. Straighten up!" Shining Armor affirms, the three stallions taking a moment to check that everything was in order.

During this check, and the final approach, the two Princesses watching via their magic screen were rapt in their attention, using unicorn magic to shovel in mouthfuls of nacho cheese flavored chips without even turning gaze away. On the screen they see the three stallions stop in front of the door and Shining Armor knock on it, his privilege due to him being the ranking officer in the group.

Shining Armor steps back, joining his two subordinates in standing at attention, as muttering in a language he doesn't recognize is heard coming from the other side of the circular door. Finally, it opens and the stallions see Zecora for themselves for the first time, the zebra quite clearly surprised at what she was seeing.

"Stallions three, what at this hour can I do for thee?" she asks, giving the stallions the first taste of her seemingly-compulsory rhyme. This briefly throws the stallions off track, Shining looking at his subordinates in confusion, who only give shrugs back.

"Greetings Miss Zecora, I am Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor of the Canterlot Division of the Equestrian Royal Guard, I and my subordinates are here on official business of Princess Celestia." Shining Armor begins to formally announce. "We apologize for the late hour of our visitation, but we had to travel all the way from Canterlot to get here."

"What business does the Princess want of me? Does it have to do with the six fillies?" Zecora asks in reply, the Guard stallions quickly guessing the "six fillies" referred to Twilight Sparkle and her fellow Element Bearers.

"Er, yes. Partly. It's tough to explain it standing outside in the dark, ma'am. We would like to come in and sit down, to explain things more fully than we could standing around out here." Shining Armor replies, trying not to trip over his words as he speaks.

Zecora takes a minute to consider what exactly to do, while Stratocumulus and Meadow Song exchange glances once again, wondering if their efforts would even yield anything. Finally, though, Zecora pushes her door open wider - a positive sign to the stallions.

"You decided to come all this way, so for the night I will let you stay." Zecora states - the stallions recognizing pragmatism had temporarily suppressed whatever doubts she might've had about them.

"We thank you very much, ma'am. You two, follow behind me in." Shining Armor answers, first to Zecora and then to his pair of subordinates.

Due to their larger size, Shining Armor and Stratocumulus have to duck down passing through Zecora's doorway to avoid hitting the top of the circular opening. The two, along with Meadow Song, follow Zecora further into the confines of her tree residence, moving around the cauldron in the center (Shining Armor noted some marks it bore on the rim resulting from when it was flipped over by Rainbow Dash) to the opposite side from the one facing the door.

"Still some battle damage, I see." Meadow Song comments, pointing to some items that still showed damage from the misguided break-in attempt Twilight Sparkle and her friends had performed.

"Some damage cannot be repaired easily, as you stallions can see." Zecora sighs out as she pushes the door closed. "Perhaps you stallions would like some herbal tea?"

"Should we sir?" Lieutenant Stratocumulus asks his superior officer, Meadow Song's curious expression indicating he also wanted to know the answer to the question.

"I don't see why not. Go ahead, Miss Zecora." Shining Armor answers, hoping he was not repeating the mistakes of his sister and her friends.

While Zecora was preparing to stoke the fire that had went out again, the three stallions jockeyed for sleeping positions on the floor. It was at this point that the rapt Princesses watching remotely in Canterlot began speculating between themselves:

"Will he tell of the connection? And what about those other two stallions?" Princess Luna asks of her older sister.

"I don't know if Shining will say anything, Zecora may not ask about it. In any case, they still have the oath that needs to be delivered." Celestia gamely replies, not wanting to arbitrarily rule anything out yet.

"Of course. Then our attention will be kept to this." Luna says, shoving yet another moon pie in her face before turning her attention back to the floating screen...

Oaths Taken

Princess Celestia looks over at her sister Princess Luna as the latter continues to shove nacho cheese-flavored chips into her mouth. There would never be quite the same level of trust and cooperation between the two immortal sisters, of course, but Celestia was greatly pleased the old divisions of responsibility and trust had mostly been restored between her and her sister. The sister Celestia looked at now was still not fully recovered - some of the old powers and majesty had yet to reappear - but enough had been accomplished to get back the sister she had never stopped loving.

It might've been odd to think of friendship as an investment, but when measured in terms of time and energy it was an apt metaphor. Shining Armor and Cadance (among others) had been investing friendship heavily into Luna, just as they had done previously with Twilight Sparkle, and both investments were starting to pay out dividends - not in money, of course, but in accomplishments and relationships. Like with others before, her faith in those she had chosen to save Equestria had been proven right, and the future seemed to be bright regardless of the cloud of the Agents of Chaos...

"Sister, they are about to give the oath." Luna says to Celestia, snapping the latter out of her thoughts.

"Oh right, it's important to see that." Celestia answers, using her unicorn magic to shove a moon pie into her mouth afterward.

Both alicorns turn attention back to the floating screen in front of them, which shows an interior of Zecora's residence in the Everfree Forest. On the screen, Zecora herself looks on curiously as Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor pulls out a scroll sealed with Princess Celestia's personal insignia. Shining Armor breaks the seal and unrolls the scroll, clearing his throat before beginning to read the text on the scroll:

"By authority of Princess Celestia, ruler of the Kingdom of Equestria and the domains around it, the representative stallions of each founding Equestrian race shall administer the oath of citizenship to make Zecora the zebra of the Everfree Forest a full and equal citizen of the Kingdom of Equestria, as well as accept any requests for compensation of as-yet unpaid damages inflicted by Twilight Sparkle and her fellow Element Bearers previous to this date."

At this point, Shining Armor pauses to give Zecora an opportunity to make any requests she wanted to, but instead Zecora more modestly in her rhyming ways: "Understanding and not compensation is what I seek, but I would be a fool to refuse an offer made so meek. I only request a supply of herbs stable, so that of remedy making I will be more able."

Shining Armor looks over at his comrades - Lieutenant Stratocumulus and Guard Upper Class Meadow Song - who give a shrug as if to acknowledge her request isn't unreasonable. Considering the poison joke in the forest, having a ready antidote to its effects would be a major plus in the future.

"I will relay your request to Princess Celestia. I imagine there will be some arrangement set up by her to let you order from stocks in Canterlot instead of having to scrounge around in the forest. If there is nothing else, we can begin the oaths." Shining Armor comments.

Again, the senior Guard officer falls silent, and Zecora continuing the silence indicates she has no other requests to make, so Shining clears his throat again and looks back down at the unrolled scroll:

"I, Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, speak on behalf of the race of unicorns that Zecora the zebra is henceforth endowed with the full rights of Equestrian citizenship." Shining Armor formally states, his tone hiding the relief inside that he was able to make an important contribution in erasing a mistake his sister had made (although it not be until much later that Zecora knew of the connection).

"I, Lieutenant Stratocumulus of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, speak on behalf of the race of pegasi that Zecora the zebra is henceforth endowed with the full rights of Equestrian citizenship." Stratocumulus says, his part of the oath, after a moment's pause.

"And I, Guard Upper Class Meadow Song of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, speak on behalf of the race of earth ponies that Zecora the zebra is henceforth endowed with the full rights of Equestrian citizenship." Meadow Song concludes. Like Shining Armor, Meadow Song had a connection (marriage into the Apple clan) that made him glad to be contributing to this mission.

"Now then, Miss Zecora, we will need you to recite the Equestrian Oath of Loyalty and Citizenship after the three of us stamp the statement of the oaths being administered." Shining Armor comments while using his unicorn magic to stamp down his Lieutenant Captain's ink stamp on the appropriate documents.

"I'm afraid that might not be possible you see, because of the rhyming practiced by me." Zecora cryptically replies, causing Meadow Song and Stratocumulus to exchange looks before the latter gives his Lieutenant's ink stamp on the document.

"Miss Zecora, none of us doubt your skill in rhyme, but this really must be done..." Shining Armor patiently tries to explain, only for him to be stopped by Zecora shaking her head.

"Of a poison joke prank I am heir, so I must rhyme even though to others it is not fair." Zecora replies again, her tone being something of a shrugging indifference, as if she had gotten used to the compulsory rhyming.

Shining Armor turns back to look at the other stallions, who both shrug at him in turn - they didn't seem to believe her explanation either, but without any evidence against it they decided to take Zecora at her word. Meadow Song makes his own ink stamp on the oath document, and Shining Armor has to figure out how to get Zecora to agree to the oath.

"Will you stamp a written version of the oath instead?" Shining Armor asks Zecora - the standard alternate method for anyone that couldn't say the oath properly. Zecora this time nods in response, to Shining's relief.

"Alright, give me a second to write it down." Shining says to Zecora, with a relieved tone in his voice.

"Do we need to keep watching?" Princess Luna back in Canterlot asks of her sister, while the screen still shows the inside of Zecora's residence.

"Nah, Shining's a professional, I'm sure it'll be accepted. And if not, I can make a decree exception." Princess Celestia answers, the screen beginning to shrink away and then disappear under her command.

"I am still disappointed that he has not said anything of the connection to Twilight." Luna comments, referring to Shining Armor being Twilight Sparkle's brother.

"The Lieutenant Captain is not under any obligation to disclose this information. Besides, I am certain it will come up in conversation with Zecora considering they are staying the full night with her." Celestia says reassuringly.

Luna gives a skeptical look in response, but shoves another moon pie in her mouth to keep from saying something snarky in response. And her skepticism was well justified, considering later it was revealed that Zecora was more interested in the Apple clan by conversing with Meadow Song than anything else - Shining was rarely involved in the conversations, according to his reports, and Zecora did not learn of that particular connection until much later...

MEANWHILE, IN THE MINES BELOW CANTERLOT...

"Arise, flyers!" the cloaked Agent Snake proclaims to the bowing pegasi before him, addressing them in a torch-lit cavern. The "flyers" in question - the faction of Wonderbolts that belonged to the Agents of Chaos - rise from their bowing positions and return to the at-attention stance they had been in before.

"Fellow winged ones, I have summoned you down here tonight for a very special purpose." Agent Snake begins to address. "The organization called the Wonderbolts has over its history become corrupted and softened by the influence of the horned ones and earth ponies. Now Captain Spitfire and her allies will sell it out entirely, betraying a fellow winged one to support Celestia's favorite. I am tasking you to purge the Wonderbolts of their corruptions and return the organization to its roots in glorious military battle of the air!"

The Wonderbolts in question knew of exactly what Agent Snake was talking about - mid-air fighting between two pegasi, similar to what humans would've called "professional wrestling", sometimes strictly for entertainment value and sometimes to the death. It worried the group, particularly its unofficial leader Misty Fly, that they couldn't tell which version of this activity Snake was proposing they would go back to.

But they also knew that they stood to gain nothing by staying loyal to Captain Spitfire and the standard stunt displays that had been the "business" of the Wonderbolts for many years. Spitfire had already publically denounced Lieutenant Captain Aten for opposing Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor's efforts to rehabilitate Princess Luna, and it only seemed to be a matter of time they would be forced into supporting Shining Armor as well - a distasteful prospect at best considering Celestia's obvious favoritism. Therefore, the whole group decided to throw their lot with the Agents of Chaos in order to neutralize and eventually destroy Spitfire's career.

What they didn't know was that Snake was intending to destroy without rebuilding anything on the ruins. Spitfire would fight any challenge to her authority to the bitter end, and in the process shatter the Wonderbolts as an organization. Once the Wonderbolts were destroyed, the Agents that had been a part of it would no longer be useful - and every one of them would die.

"To that end, I am reviving an old name for the Wonderbolts - the 'Blue Thunder'." Snake continues explaining. "Agent WA will be its Captain, with Agent WD being its Lead Wingpony. You Agents are to prioritize following their orders over those of the corrupted Wonderbolts, and to ensure WA and WD will become the leaders in place of the current ones. Do you understand your mission?"

All the assembled pegasi nodded in answer to the question. Agent WA corresponded to Misty Fly, the current Wonderbolt #3, and Agent WD corresponded to Lightning Streak, a lower-level Wonderbolt member that was also the father of Lightning Dust - the high rank for a minor member was an attempt by Agent Snake to assist recruiting Lightning Dust into the ranks of the Agents of Chaos.

"Good. Now you will take your oaths as the founding members of the Blue Thunder, ultimately to replace the Wonderbolts." Snake firmly states, making it crystal clear they were being set as an opposition organization against the Wonderbolts while pretending to continue loyalty for the moment.

The Wonderbolts assembled before him look on rather grimly, but raise forehooves anyway, knowing full well they were already too deeply involved to back out now. Which ultimately was what Snake was counting on - pitting two big egos against each other, with destructive consequences. Snake knew he could win any contest against Spitfire, and her fall would advance his plans. The dice, as they say, were cast...