As Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo began their daily trek to their Clubhouse after the end of the day, Scootaloo was preoccupied with the mirages she had seen.

"Hey, Scoots?" Applebloom asked. "You ever believe in Ghosts?"

"Why's that?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, Granny Smith says Ghosts are more than just...ghosts." Applebloom said. "She told me that Ghosts come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one goal."

"What kind of goal?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"To "punish the evil and aid the good"." Applebloom said. "She says if I ever see one, I should thank it."

Scootaloo nodded, and sighed.

"Hey, speaking of Ghosts, I think I saw some." she finally said. "When I finished my test, I looked out the window and saw four mirages or something like that."

"You did?" Applebloom said.

"Yeah, they disappeared for a bit, but when Diamond Tiara was teasing me, one of them dumped water on her." Scootaloo said. "I swear it's true. I wrote a note to ask Twilight about it. The thing is, they weren't ponies."

That made the other two fillies pause, letting Scootaloo continue.

"They looked like a minotaur, only a bit smaller and without the crooked legs." Scootaloo said. "And before they vanished, one saluted me like a Royal Guard would."

"A ghost saluted you?" Sweetie said as they entered Sweet Apple Acres. "That's definitely something you'd talk to Twilight about."

"Maybe we could get our Marks in Ghost Hunting!" Sweetie Belle said with excitement. "That's something we haven't tried yet!"

"Well, seeing as we're near the old barn…" Scootaloo said. "Let's make a plan there."

As they recited their usual rallying cry and headed for the barn, Applebloom stopped in front of the door,.

"What's up?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"The door's already open, and it's supposed to be locked this time of year." Applebloom said. "Plus, check out these hoofprints."

As the fillies looked down, there were several long footprints clearly visible in mud tracked in front of the door. Applebloom pulled the door open, and light filled the room. To the fillies, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

As they advanced in, they didn't notice one of the mirages move on the top level.

====

"Shit." Gates cursed, looking over the hay bale he was sitting against. "We've got company. It's three of the kids from the school."

"How are you sure?" Sipes asked.

"Because I saluted one of them after I dumped that water." Gates said. "Adams, any way out from our end?"

"Not without making a lot of noise." Adams replied. "Should we scare them off?"

"No, that'll draw too much attention." Gates said. "Trevor, move to the bottom level and shut the door. We're initiating First Contact, but keep it quiet and contained."

"Roger."

As Trevor slowly moved onto a hay bale and past the three fillies, he moved into position near the door. When Gates gave him a nod, he pushed the door shut, darkening the room.

"What's that? Who turned out the lights?" one of them cried. As they looked around, they suddenly saw a small blue light appear above them.

"Stop yelling, and we'll turn some lights on." a voice spoke, masculine and authoritative. "Just stay quiet."

As the three fillies nodded, there was a dull click, and light filled the room. The three fillies saw a flashlight leaning against a hay bale…

...and the four mirages from earlier standing near them. The one in front nodded and sat down, slowly turning from invisible to visible in the process. The others followed suit, and looked at the three of them with expectation clear in their expressions.

"You're the ghosts I saw, aren't you?" Scootaloo asked. "Did you dump water on Diamond Tiara?"

"Yep." the leader said. "I'm not a bystander, if you get my meaning. I solve my problems directly."

"Thanks." Scootaloo said. "She's a bully, down to the bone."

"I figured." the leader said. "I heard her teasing you."

"Well, I owe you one." Scootaloo said. "I'm Scootaloo, that's Applebloom and Sweetie Belle."

"Nice to meet you." the leader said. "I'm Gates, that's Trevor, Sipes, and Adams. We'd prefer to keep our full names secret."

"Is that why you saluted me?" Scootaloo asked. "Are you like a Royal Guard, or something?"

"Not really." Gates said. "We're elite soldiers representing our nation's government and diplomatic interests. We came here due to a series of events in our world that were rather...unsettling to us."

"What kind of events?" Applebloom asked.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that at this moment." Gates said. "However, we are investigating them, and have reason to believe that whoever set these events in motion came to this world."

"You mean they came to Equestria?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"If this world is Equestria, then yes." Trevor said. "However, we don't know who or where they are, or what their goals consist of."

"We're still in a mess on our end…" Gates said. "And we're in need of answers to questions we have. Is there local leadership, a high-placed authority figure around here that we can speak to? Or is there a person who can alert your nation's ruling party?"

"If you mean you want whoever's in charge, that's Princess Twilight." Scootaloo said. "She's a friend of ours, and she might know what to do."

"Where's she currently at?" Adams asked.

"Her castle, here in Ponyville." Scootaloo said. "It's a giant crystal tree, you can't miss it."

"We'll head there, then." Gates said. "You three, keep quiet about us being here until a later time, okay?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Scootaloo said. "If we come with you, we could back up whatever you say to her. And besides, don't you need a guide or three?"

"Maybe." Gates said. "Anything else?"

"Well, Ponyville's pretty busy around this time, so you'll be seen in an instant." Sweetie Belle said. "We know a few shortcuts that'll get you there, no problem."

"Alright." Gates said. "Guide us there, we'll owe you one. Don't worry about visual detection, our Camo can turn us invisible. However, you need to keep pace with us. If we move too fast, we can be seen by anyone."

"Okay." Applebloom said. "Is there any way you can talk to us if you're invisible?"

"Only one." Gates said, tossing her a small earpiece. "Let me see your ear for a moment."

To Gates's relief and Scootaloo's confusion, he found that he could fit the small radio into Scootaloo's ear with no problem.

"Okay, that thing I just put in your ear is called a radio." Gates said. "It'll let all of us talk to you while we're cloaked."

"Can I take it out?" Scootaloo asked

"Yep. Just pinch it and pull, and you take it out whenever you want." Adams said. "Just know that you'll need to keep your voice down."

"Right!" the three fillies said.

"Alright, let's move!" Gates said. As Sipes opened the door, the four Ghosts cloaked up and assumed a diamond formation around the fillies, as to not get lost.

"Can you hear me?" Gates asked.

"Yep, loud and clear." Scootaloo said.

"Good. Once we get to this Castle, we'd like our radio back." Gates said. "Okay, let's move!"

As the seven of them cut through the orchard towards Ponyville, Applejack approached the barn.

"I told Applebloom to stay out of this barn!" she sighed. "Seems she needs a little reminder about that. That is, if I can find her."

As Applebloom set out to find her sister and her friends, Applebloom shuddered slightly.

Author's Note

Update!

Next time-After several close calls on their way to the Castle, the Ghosts make first contact.