Chapters During the War: A Secret Mission
The doors opened to Canterlot Library as ponies entered. The light of mid-day was muted and subdued by the beige art-deco interior and the half closed venetian blinds hanging from the scatterd windows, the library was built to hold knowlege before there was a thought of it being welcoming and everypony knew it. There at the main desk stood the only pony in the world who could call it home. Besides her the pile of books waited to be returned to their proper places and under the curve and veneer of the kiosk her prided card cataloge. The Library hadn't seen use this much since the Fire of '35 when it was made into a temporary barracks, but with the war going on ponies from all over were trying to learn what they could about the fighting overseas.
The day was the same for Twilight Sparkle as it had been for many years. She was fond of her work and it was the place where she shined but she missed her friends. It had been nearly five years since she had seen them all together. Twilight new something bad was going to happen, it never crossed her that it would set them all so far apart. She was alone.
There was a small radio on the desk, it was low to not disturb the readers but the voice from it was unmistakable, Celestia was adressing her ponies to tell what they all needed to hear.
" My Dear Subjects, I want you all to hear this most urgent news" nearby ears peaked as ponies listened to their queen. "The ponies of the resistance have endevoured greatly on your behalf to sabotage the advance of the dragon enemy but their efforts are against a strong foe who seeks to destroy our happy land and on the night of May 9, 1941 two towns of the northern front had been surrounded and our lines of communication to our fighting ponies there ended abruptly."
By now a crowd had gathered and the force of the loudspeakers raised, and a rare gasp or two was heard from the otherwise silent ponies.
"We fear the worse my ponies. This loss leaves us all as dishearted. This is a trying time for Equestria and I ask of everypony to remember the loved ones you have away and to not give in to doubt. To everypony I ask that you aid this effort in anyway you can. Let us prevail and defend ourselves, our freedoms, and our happiness befor it is taken forever. I will now have the Minister of Defence, Sir Wingston Colthill, address you all with homefront duties and plans for the co..."
Twilight saw what had happened to the ponies listening intently and quickly turned off the set, as the warm glow of the radio faded the color flushed from ponies faces and a frown was not rare. Celestia's words were daggers to a nearly lost land. The ponies around her were wandering off back to what they were doing, Twilight thought to herself of what she could do to turn this war around but what could she do? She had tried to speak with Celestia but no luck. There must be more than organizing Scrap Drives and hanging posters for Pony-Bonds. Twilight sighed and returned to the books. What was she to do?
During the War: A Secret Mission
The day after the broadcast came and went, but this morning was going to begin different. Today Twilight was going to make a change in the war and it definately was going to be busy even by her standards. She planed to meet with the Mayor and other important citizens of Canterlot in the hope of gaining a way to see Celestia. She quickly brushed her mane and set it together, she looked over her schedules and made time where possible. Twilight could never know just how long it would take but she would find a way.
Library work went quickly and Twilight set off with as much determination to reach Celestia as to finish the last chapter of The Maltese Pheonix. The streets of Canterlot were bustling with ponies here and there going about, the main road congested with soldier ponies being moved out, and Wonderbolts passing overhead every few minutes or so on drill soon to be sent to the front. Twilight made her way to the Town center to speak to the ponies. Passing boarded shops and homes, blackout was enforced during the night and the Defence Wardens used the light of day to test the quality of preperations. The numbers of hoofprints left in doorways seemed uncountable. Twilight thought bleakly "So many ponies away from their homes. We all owe them so much. With their stength combined we just have to win, Right? Wait why am I asking a question to myself?” A chuckle came out and she hurried on her way.
Twilight entered the mezanine and marched to the directory desk. A deep green pony sat there, distracted from her work, she looked at a small picture frame and a fought back a tear. The picture was facing away from Twilight, and she asked politely to be directed to Mayor Proudhoove. The green pony pulled herself back togeter and replied “Oh, Hello.” She began to look for that day's appointment clipboard, Twilight saw a nameplate beside her reading Star Charmer.
“and are you Twilight Sparkle?” Star Charmer asked.
“Yes, I am here to see the Mayor Proudhooves.”
“and what is your appointment concerning?'
“When did you make this apointment?”
As Twilight began to walk up the stairs to the Mayor's office she turned around. Star Charmer was looking at her photograpgh again. Twilight could see it was young Colt in dress uniform. Twilight went back to Mrs. Charmer, “Your son?” she asked
“ Oh, no, I am sorry” Twilight placed her hoove around Star Charmer ”He might still be alright. He looks strong and noble.” Twilights thoughts turned quickly to her brother and what he could be doing. Would they send out the Royal Guard to frontlines if the worst came? “He can handle himself no matter what, Mrs. Charmer. I know.”
“Thank you. Twilight” Mrs Charmer dried her tears with a hankerchief from the desk and told to Twilight ”Now hurry on, you have an appoint...”
Twilight ran off. With no warning the ponies of Canterlot were in terrible danger. Bolting through the doors and out of Canterlot Hall Twilight saw it. Beyond the glowing shields a dragon the size of Appleoosa. A blood-curdling shriek the dragon let out as it breathed torrents of flames against the shields of Canterlot. The red of the flame seeming to blend into the scales of the beast did only heighten its terrorizing attack.
Twilight ran quickly down main streets and back alleys leading ponies, and foals to the shelters. After an eternity of ear splitting noise there was sudden silence. The dragon could not break through the shields and vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The attack was over, Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. Nopony seemed harmed and all that happened was a disruption of shedules. When Twilight returned to Canterlot hall she learned just what was disrupted. There was no possibility of seeing the Mayor who was off reorganizing the town. Twilight asked where she could find him but nopony could know certainly.
With a heavy heart Twilight returned to her Library. Her assistant Merrifeather was waiting to learn what had happened and twilight went through every detail. “Merrifeather? Did anything happen to the library during the commotion?
“No” Merrifeather said quickly. ”but before that a message arrived by courrier”
“Let me have it, please.”
Twilight quickly opened the letter and was surprised by its brevity, it was more a not than a letter and it read-
“Twilight, Come to the palace.
-Princess Celestia”
During the War: A Secret Mission
“Merrifeather, Hurry and get your coat.” Twilight said strongly. After a brief moment Merrifeather replied
“Why Twilight? What is happening?” she said while fiddling to get on a heavy navy coat.
“I do not know for certain, Princess Celestia needs me and it is dangerous to go alone.”
“Do you think it is about the Dragon Raid earlier? I never thought they could reach this far and that the precautions were silly.
“Never think a precaution is unjustified” Twilight cautioned ”If the shield and alerts were not in place who knows what would have happened.” Time passed and Twilight spoke again “ Princess Celestia knows how to keep us safe. She would probably want for me organize some sort of relieve program, or something. It has been too long since my adventures to go back into the field.
The two set off. It was nighttime by now. The only noise came from the few ponies still making their way home in the total darkness of the blackout and the words between Merrifeather and Twilight. After a long ways they had reached the palace and were quickly shown in after a guard recognised her. Princess Celestia they found was in the Royal throne room preparing to leave, when approaching her the Princess called out “ Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, I am so very happy you could make it in time. Please, you must follow me, it is not wise to speak here.
They followed Celestia off the palace grounds into a private car that was waiting.
“Oh, Princess Celestia, I would like to introduce Merrifeather my assistant at the Canterlot Library. She has been a great help to me and I am helping her to persue her studies”
“And what is it that you wish to be my dear?” Celestia inquired.
“Not quite be, Your Majesty. There is something I have been wanting to make for some time. We know very little about the creatures not native to Equestria and the largest maps in Canterlot only show the world out to the travels of Marco Perlino.”
Celestia was attentive towards the young foal and could see the use of the endeavour. “ Yes, I will agree, Equestria has progressed so much in such a short time but still knows so little.”
“Twilight and I have spent two years now trying to piece together the world outside of Equestria. I can only imagine how helpful this work could be. We want it to be more than just a map. Twilight had the idea of listing animals as well. I mean, we do not even know for certain where the Dragons come from. We have chartered their migration through Equestria but there is no location for their home. Far to the North is what we believe yet do not know for certain.
The car made a turn down a small alley and back out towards a larger side street. The headlights shining dimly against the brick and thatch of passing structures and from a distance seemed a floating beacon to anypony it passed
“Twilight seems quite the good influence on you.” The Princess Complimented “I wish only it were safe to send out ponies to learn more of our world.”
They slowed to a stop at the entrance of a large but other wise unassuming timber-frame structure on a street it blended with perfectly. The with the only marking being the 10 etched above the doorway. “10 Downriver Street” the driver said. Celestia thanked the driver and lead her two passengers into Equestria's war rooms.
During the War: A Secret Mission
As the door opened a wall of sound rushed to greet them, a hodge-podge jumble of talking, typewriters, and ringing telephones. The Princess gracefully lead the ponies beyond the battery of typists clacking away at important communique to be distributed as well as the letters to loved ones of the fallen. They past arrays of odd machinery the likes of which Twilight and Merrifeather had never known were possible, incandescent screens of green and grey illuminating the faces of the operators. Twilight was amazed at these new surroundings and had to quickly regain her place near Celestia as she walked on.
The Princess stopped at a door at the end of a sizeable map room. A wall nearby held glued to it a map of all the known world, several times the height of Princess Celestia. As a few pegasi scrambled overhead rearranging marker pins and adding new ones a group were gathering around the only furnishing in the map room, a large table with chairs in the center.
Celestia spoke “Twilight, What I am about to tell you is strickly confidential. I may only tell it to you and Merrifeather must stay out side. Do you understand?”
Twilight turned ”Merri, you must stay out here,” she said “I do not know how long this will be but I will come for you as soon as I can.”
“I understand Twilight, Go on” Merri said gently nudging Twilight. Merrifeather turned towards the wall and began to study its detail as Celestia and Twilight went through the door.
Beyond the door was a small plain room holding a telephone with scattered blank pages on an average rectangular table with three chairs around two on the far side where Celestia made her way to sit down and one opposite.
“Please sit Twilight” Twilight did so as the Princess Continued “Twilight Sparkle my most faithful student I understand you were trying to reach me to help with plans for the..”
“Yes, Your Highness,”Twilight interjected “I wanted to try and...”
“But I have a much larger call for you. Did you hear my radio address the day before last?”
“Yes I did, It is why I tried to find you to help”
“Good. Then as you know there are two towns in Garland now all but lost. I had sent an agent of mine to a secret rendezvous point in Criniere du Cheval to a collect sensitive information that her network would only trust to her. She was nearly out when the dragons encircled the town and began to reign fare from the skies. We do not know if she is alive or if she made it out. She was set to return yesterday but has not done so. Twilight I need for you as the only pony I believe can do this to accept this mission”
“Of course Your Highness, anything you would need, but how do we know these files, I assume, were not destroyed?”
“At the start of this conflict I distributed special paper to all O.S.P.S. Operatives. They have been enchanted to be indestructible as well as being able to be read by only the ponies I allow.”
A glow overtook the light of the room, Celestia's horn began a spell and surrounded Twilight. Twilight felt a strong pressure against her eyes which quickly went away as she heard a slight click in her ear.
“Which you now are, Twilight” Celestia began as she raise a paper titled in large print “Twilight Sparkle” from the desk.
“Thank you Your Highness. Now, How will I tell this pony when I see her?”
“Twilight, the agent was your good friend AppleJack”
During the War: A Secret Mission
The rest of the meeting seemed a blur. AppleJack. Gone? This was her constant thought. She remained in a daze until the door opened and Twilight heard Merrifeather's voice
“ ...those capabilities. I would think the best place for an installation like that on the southern coast would be the near CherryGlen. The rock formations there would give excellent protection as well as camouflage” The meeting that was happening had long since ended and there were only Merrifeather and the pony she was speaking too remaining. She turned away from the aged grey colt besides her “Twilight you're back” she said before resuming speaking “Thank you for the consideration, Sir Wingston”
Merri went briskly to Twilight. Merri's eyes widened and concern took her face. “Are you all right?” she asked “You look terrible”
Twilight forcefully shook her head to regain all her capacities. “I'm fine, just some bad news, I can't talk about it.” Twilight gazed about randomly “How long was I in there?”
“Two hours or so” Merri answered as Celestia went and stood besides her ”I made myself useful though. What are we doing now, Twilight?”
“We need to get the best ponies I know together to...”
“Ahem.” Celestia said “Merrifeather, I have asked a great deal of Twilight today. Would you be so kind as to go and find her a taxi?”
“Oh, yes Your Highness” Merri replied and trotted off
Celestia waited until Merri was safely away before she began again ”Twilight, Merrifeather is a good friend I can see but we can not endanger her if she knew what was happening.” Celestia paused as she saw Twilight's physical response to these words, Twilight tensed as her face became shallow and sullen, she had understood and the Princess knew there was nothing else to say on the subject.
“Twilight? If your plan is to get them all together again, Who will you find first?”
“Well, The easiest to find would be Rainbow Dash. She is the Head Wonderbolt so you will know where she is and Rainbow might even know where some of the others are.”
“Twilight. Rainbow Dash quit the Wonderbolts some time ago.”
In the parked taxi the rays of morning began to settle on Twilight's head resting in her hooves against the window. Her thoughts were uncontrollable and went where they pleased regardless of her efforts to guide them. Applejack dead, Rainbow quitting her dream, and her friends nowhere to be found.
“Where too?”
Twilight thought and said ”Wherever you can find somepony you are looking for.”
“Well lady, I am not sure I could do all that. What you need is one of them Private Eyes, I'll take you to the best one I know” the driver said and chuckled ”You know, usually I take ponies when they don't want to be found, not the other way round.”
The car stopped close to a dilapidated brick tenement house or that was the closest description Twilight and Merri could decide on. One of the brass mailboxes read Daring Detectives and on the third floor the found it. A half glass and half wood door with black lettering outlined in gold, as they entered a shout rang out at them “You! What are you doing here!?”
During the War: A Secret Mission
“You! What are you doing here!?” Twilight immediately recognized the voice of her dear friend and the once high flying Wonderbolt. Her hooves resting on her desk facing the door. The office was small and in some disarray. Papers were scattered on filing cabinets and the large desk before Rainbow Dash which also had the other items needed by a detective's office, lamp, pens, magnifying glass, and writing pad. A low whirl came out from the ceiling fan which barely churned the air of the room.
“Of all the doors in all the cities in all Equestria you walk into mine. I know already why you are here.”
“Wait, How The Princess told me this was the highest secret. That noone else knew.” Twilight said back
“Her name is Merrifeather, my assistant” Twilight answered quickly wanting to get to the business at hand.
“Well MerrifeatherMyAssistant and Twilight, unless you need some case solved I am a bit tied up with my nap at the moment.”
Merrifeather stayed silent until now “Pardon me Miss Dash, I can not see why you are being so mean. Twilight came here for your help, and its important official matters.”
“Merri, I'll level with you.” Rainbow removed her hoves to the floor and looked on to Merrifeather “Would you be Smiley Horsepost if someone saying they're you friend does't even drop a word in three years and then suddenly comes in only to ask for something?”
Merri thought and blushed “I guess not”
Rainbow's voice softened “But we're still pals Twi, what do you need?”
“Rainbow.” Twilight hesitated “A.J. is gone”
Rainbows eyes sank “Oh no. How?”
“She was over there in one of the towns attacked. Celestia needs us to find something she had. I do not know what to do. It was only luck we found you, it would have been easier if you were still a Wonderbolt. Why did you leave? It was your dream.”
Rainbow looked out the row of windows behind her desk. The half open shades striped her face into bright and dark patches. She breathed deeply and exhaled. ”Twilight, It was never about being a Wonderbolt.” Twilight began to move closer to comfort her friend but stopped as Rainbow began speaking again “It was about being the best. When you are the tops, the best of the best, what do you do? You get bored. Here is always a new case a new puzzle always a test of my skill” Rainbow raised her head “and I love it.”
Rainbow stood. “Come on, I know who we need to see to get over there.” They locked the door and went to the street for a taxi. Rainbow all the while going on.
“There's the singer at the Blue Swan. She owes me big. I got her off a while back after they found a stiff in the trunk of her fancy Cogburn Roadster. I planned to use her to bring down the Big Boss she works for, been trying to find something to bring him down for two months now but this beats some racketeer anyday. Real scum I'd say, fingers in most the town, seems to think everything belongs to him. I'll get that crook one of these days."
During the War: A Secret Mission
“Well, here we are everypony.” Dash said “The Blue Swan Ballroom, not the place you'd take your best gal but they can put on a good show for the seedy customers that want to dance away their pay.”
“Are you sure it is safe, Rainbow Dash? Merri asked “There won't be any bad men right?”
“I can't guarantee something like that kid, just keep to yourself and you'll be fine. The place is deserted in the day, only the band's left to practice.”
As they entered into the dance hall they began to hear the music, playing slow and sweet comforting as a mother's arms but sad as leaving behind home. They took a seat at one of the many booths lining the walls, this one in particular was the best for there use, the dim lighting practically hiding them from view. They sat and watched as the music played and out came the head liner, her sculpted mane glistening in the spotlight and skin glowing, almost transparent. Out came her song over the loudspeakers
“Don't know WHY?
“Life is bare, gloom and misry everywhere
Merri watched amazed, entraced by the song and feeling from her. Rainbow caught on and mentioned over “Yeah she sure can sing the blues, comes out smooth as velvet and reaches down to the heart.” Twilight leaned over to Dash asking “How is Rarity going to get us over to Garland? Does she have a boat now or something?”
“Nah, she has the Big Boss wrapped around her hoof. He has shipments of contraband war goods coming in all the time and it should not be a problem getting aboard as long she can tell us when the next one leaves.”
“Twilight!” Merri said out “ the pretty singer just went to her dressing room. Should we go?”
Twilight was close to answering her when Dash spoke first ”Yeah Twilight come on. Stay here kid, if anyone asks say your the trumpet player's kid. Celestia knows he can't keep track of how many he has anymore.”
As the two entered the dressing room they knew it was hers, frills, flounces, buttons and bows everywhere. Fainting couch and bed surrounded a large vanity stand with a series of steamer trunks in a corner Rarity sitting at her mirror was a hint as well. She saw them enter but never turned round and powdered her nose as she spoke.
“So soon Dash? What brings you round? And Twilight! So lovely seeing you again! How long has it been?”
“Quite a while, I know but Rarity we have terrible news”
Rainbow took over being the stronger pony with bad news. Rarity made good use of her couch at this point and the next half hour went to calming her down from the state she was in. they had only just finished telling her what they needed when a knock came at the door. A stagehand's voice came through with news “Miss Rarity, de Bossman here for you”
Rarity was swept into a small panic “Quick, hide,” Rarity looked about the room quite quickly “ummm, oh dear, behind the trunks. I do not know what he would do to Dash if he found her.”
The door opened and in he walked taller that Twilight had ever seen seen him with only a glimpse of the purple and green to know who it was. Now behind Rarity, who was back to the mirror, his arms wrapping around her as he spoke
“ How was rehearsal today? Perfect as always I would imagine. You look beautiful. The usual Wednesday planned tonight? Go see a picture show and then dinner befor you're on?
“Yes that sounds divine, but Spikey darling I have some news I need to tell you. A good friend of mine needs me, I can not say how important this is but I need one of the boats to take me to Garland. Can you do this for me? Please?
“Anything for you dear, you can leave after the show tonight. Who is the friend?”
“Grosgrain, a dear old friend of mine who used to help with my dresses, she needs help coming back to safety with what is happening.”
Twilight and Dash waited until the two had stopped speaking and enough time had passed that they must have left the building. They rejoined Merrifeather who had ordered a milkshake from the diner during the wait. They waited and watched the pony come and go, dance and watched, they ordered dinner and followed Rarity's car to the port.
Twilight grew afraid for Merrifeather. She told her about the tabs running with the grocer and baker, and watched from the stern as Merri faded into the dark night. Twilight wondered if it was best to leave her and sat silently as the cold sea air blew by. Thoughts drifting like the waves of the seashore. How could it have been so long since she found her, that parchment colored filly sound asleep on a pile of books in the Canterlot Library, left abandoned, to young to even speak.
