I got notified that I was hand pick to be in a new mission. I was excited, no ecstatic to prove my worth ones again. Cherry couldn’t show up for work because he got a letter from his sister about a family emergency, I hope he’s ok. When Steel Hooves show up at the shop and told me if I was interested, I almost scream yes but once I accepted, Hooves told me the leader of the mission was Dr. Fauna and I was hand pick by her to be her personal guard. Was this a joke, a trick or was she just crazy. How could you trust your life with another guard that doesn’t like you.

When they group up the team, we were seven solder in three armor truck and our mission was to pick up one human girl and bring her back to the base. Everyone saluted and got on the truck, I assume I was alone in the vehicle, so I turn it on but was meet with the doctor opening the door and sitting in the passenger sit and we promptly leave the base. I had so many questions for her but was it a good idea to antagonize the boss. I would sneak glances on the passenger and notices something intriguing. Dr. Fauna had a serious expression, one I never seen burning my curiosity forcing me to ask the questions piling up in my head. “Why did you pick me?”

“Why do you open your mouth for such a dumb question”

“To you want to humiliate me further or get me fire, Is that your plan?”

“Plan?” she laughs under her breath “Believe it or not I can be the nicest mare you could ever meet”. The driver stays silent indicating her feelings. The doctor rolls her eyes before continuing “To many unqualified guards look for a simple and comfy job, watching over the princess while humans do the actual work. I treated you unfairly I’ll admit but when I look into your profile and saw a hint of passion for your work and I decided to give you your old job back”. For Jetstream this was an eye opener, when she turns to the doctor, she was lazily look around at the outside world patiently waiting for a respond.

“You mean, I can have my old position back”

“And a promotion if you do a good job”

“Are you being serious?”

“I told you I can play nice”

“What the catch?”

“No catch, I still believe you screw up and deserve the punishment, but I’m willing to forgive if you do the same”. She had me there. When I thought of the even that unfold, I can see where Cherry and I fail. I was so angry at her that I never really saw my fault.

“Why now, why are you being so nice to me?” I reply.

“Like I said, I can be the nicest mare you could find. You simple don’t know me” again she had a valid response. I don’t know her well enough to be so judgmental. I always try to see the best in everypony and I can do the same with her.

“Why do you want that girl?” the burning question in my mind was finally out. She pauses and stay silence for too long making the conversation awkward.

“Humans aren’t natural” she murmurs too low to be hear from the emitting sounds of the engine.

“What?” I ask the question.

“Why did you become a guard?”. The pegasus didn’t voice her thought from the sudden question “You can answer honestly, money, comfort or recognition. It only natural to want those things but you can also recognize that you like helping other, right”

“Yeah of course”

“You work hard to stop the bad guys”

“Sure but who are the bad guys then”

“Those against progress, progress for us to live better life, progress for us to build better towns, progress for us to make advance medicine and stop diseases that plague on the innocent”

“Don’t we all want that?”

“Yes, and no. Some don’t see the valued in sacrificing one soul to save millions”

I Just let the conversation sink in. Every single word she utter just made sense to me, I sacrifice years of my life to get to where I am while I personally know other that got a free ride because they have family already working for the royal guards or they could pay for expensive exams to help them skip training.

We were never told out right what the missing was, just collect one human but it must be important. I don’t know if I believe in Fauna, but I feel the weight in her words and how much she believes in them. She returns her eyes to the outside world finally reaching the forest on our way to Ponyville. “Is us, against them” she said before falling quiet. Really leaving the driver in thought.

____________________

“How is she?” Derpy was in the medical room, watching over the girl has she sleep. “She stable” Lyra responded hearing the beeping noises of the equipment emitting a low buzzing sound around the white room. “The doctor said that she receives head trauma but if we want to get and accurate review. We have to go to a human hospital”

“Then we have to go to Canterlot”

“That what I said but the doctor is right, she in no condition to travel plus she doesn’t handled train ride very well”

The blond mare stay silence looking at the new scar the girl had. Place on her cheek the injury she receives from a weapon used against her. “How about you go home, I’ll keep watch”

Lyra knew that after spending the night over in the hospital she would be ask that but truthfully, I really don’t want to leave the strange girl alone. “I’m good”

“Have you eating anything”. Harp didn’t answer. “Can you pleased just eat something really quick, get out of the room for bit and take a shower”

Lyra look at her coat and saw the dried blood from her companion, giving her memory of yesterday event and how terrified it was but there was something even more outlandish. This thing, no, this girl spoke to me, multiple time in fact. She would talk about the incident and how she fought Trixie single handle. She would slur on her word in occasion, but she would turn back to normal the next minute. Eventually she notices I was awake and spoke to me directly and she form those word so clearly that I could still hear it on my head. “I think I’ll stay, for a bit more”

“Lyra, trust me when I say this. I understand what is like to have a friend get hurt and not being able to do anything, but this is the reason you have to go out, eat and clean up. You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of her”

Lyra look down at her coat again and thought of the consequences. Maybe she has a point, what if she wakes up and saw me in this state. She could freak out or maybe not but to I really want to take that risk. Harp sigh “Maybe your right, who would look after her?”

“Really?” Derpy had an obvious expression “I love snuggle. I’ll look after her, free of charge”

“Thanks, can you call me if she wakes up” I told her with a pleasant smile. She always been like this, always trying to help anyway she can.

“You’ll be the first one to know”

Lyra stand up feeling a million ants run around her sleepy legs. She said thanks again to the blond mare before leaving the hospital. Heading home while her stomach rumble for food. Passing next to Café Hay, she could see the familiar pink stripe mare through the glaring window. I should check up on her, even if she can be a dummy, she went through something horrible and I wouldn’t want her to go through it alone.

Harp made it home, tired and beat down. Putting her hoof on the door but she didn’t grab what she was looking for. Noticing that that the handle was still missing. She sighs and when to the windows but when Heartstrings tries to open them up, they just wouldn’t budge. She close every window in the house, well desperate times call for desperate measures. Harp grab a rock from her yard, and she close her eye before throwing the object to the window but completely missing, hitting the wall instead. Creating a small hole on the relative new house. “Great…” she said slowly feeling her anger reach it limit but keep a cool head. She grabs the rock again and successfully throw it to the window.

Hearing the crystal shatter when the rock-solid object made contact with the glass. She carefully when inside, leaving the glass in the floor pending for another time. Finally getting the hot shower she rightly deserves and walking out in a better mood. When Lyra when to the door she grabs the handle from the other side and it loosely came out. “Great, what else could go wrong” she said while watching the door open without force. I’m too tire to deal with this right now. I’ll come back and fix it later. Leaving the door gently swing open. Returning to the well keep restaurant Café Hay and upon entering I was attended by a blue mare and her name tag read Minuette. She was standing close to the entryway and gave me a smile when she saw me approaching “Hiya, table for one”

“Yeah” I responded trying not to sound shy.

“Cool, under what name”

“Lyra Heartstrings” the waitress quickly looks up to me when she hears my name.

“Is there a problem?” I ask.

“No, absolutely not. Let me show you to your table” I was sat close to the window with a view of the town. “A waitress will be with you in a moment”

“Aren’t you my waitress?”

“Ha, ha” she laughs awkwardly and left. Should I be concerned with the strange behavior I been receiving. She looks outside to the crowd thinking of the town receiving minimal damage and the folks only having minor injury, it was a lucky break but no matter how much I try to ignore it, I think they blame me for what happened. I don’t know why I think that way, maybe I see myself at fault or I feel guilty for not being able to help anyone.

“I didn’t know I had a stalker, scary” Bon Bon pop out of nowhere with her usual attitude.

“I want another waitress” I joke when I look at her.

“Aww don’t be like that Harp, how can I help you” Lyra saw Bon Bon white apron going around her waist and the hair being a little bit messy indicating that she been working hard or it been a hard day.

“A sandwich and water”

“And water?” she skeptically asks.

“Yeah, water is free right?

“Yeah, I’ll be right back” writing everything down on a small little notebook and leaving, passing through some doors where Lyra could see the kitchen. Lyra notice the waitress limping a little when she walks away with a bandage in one of her back hoofs. Waiting for a couple minute for the food to arrive. When Bon Bon approach the table, I thought she had the wrong order. She had the sandwich I ask for but with coffee, a plate with egg and bacon to the side with a small cake as desert.

“I didn’t ask for this” I told her concern for the cost.

“Is on the house” Bon Bon spoke with her usual confident attitude.

“Bon Bon, I can’t accept this”

“Why not?”

“Cuz is too much and it looks expensive”

“You don’t have to eat it all, plus is on the house”

“Pretty mare don’t have to pay” Lyra look angry for a second.

Bon Bon just laugh “No, this was a special order from the manager and the waitress told me to tell you, thanks”

“Thanks? For what?”

“For saving me and my mom” Bon Bon face soften.

Lyra look around for the other waitress and then the food, this was too much when I did so little “I’m not accepting this… Unless I have someone helping me finish all this”. The mare was taking by surprise.

“Lyra if you want it a date, you could of just ask”. The minty pony didn’t response she only look away with a blush on her cheeks. The waitress did some hoof sigh from afar telling the other worker that she is taking a break. She took a chair across the minty mare while she split everything in half. “My hero coming to my rescue again”

“Pleased, I was knock down in the first minute”

“You still ran for me when everyone else ran away” Lyra didn’t comment and let her talk “I sometime ask if you dislike me, I wouldn’t blame you if you did”

“I don’t” falling silent while we eat. When the waitress was not paying attention to me I would stare at her bright eyes but I got caught.

“What?” Bon Bon smile.

“Nothing, just thought you had pretty eyes” I said sincerely.

“Look at you, trying to charm me”

“Nope, I was just thinking out loud” putting on a serious face

Bon Bon smile while looking at the charming mare “Hey, can I ask, why did you leave town?”

Lyra was in doubt to tell anypony something so personal “Can you promise not to tell anyone”. She nodded before Lyra continue “Truthfully, I just felt alone”

“Really, but you always had Derpy”

“Is known but I always want it a large crowd to love me, be one of the cool mares”

“I always thought you were cool” Bon Bon said with honesty in her voice.

“You never made me feel that way”

Bon Bon extended her hoof to place it on top of mine but when she was close to touching me, I look outside to a blonde Pegasus running like a crazy mare in the street shouting my name. I got up and ran toward the exit to meet her. Derpy saw me and came to Café Hay fronts doors. “What wrong?” I ask her.

“Lyra, need to go to the hospital right now”

“Is she awake”Lyra ask but Derpy shook her head

“No, there trying to take her away”

“Who?”

“Some guards from Canterlot, you have to hurry”

I look back at the waitress who exit the restaurant and hear everything. I gave her an apologetic look and she nodded as she understood. “Come over sometime” the pink strip mare said.

“I will, thanks Bon Bon”

____________________

“She in no condition to be outside” one of the nurses cry out.

“Sorry ma’am, where under order” one of the uniform stallions said while pushing the movable bed out of the hospital doors. The girl was in a deep sleep while the guards made a circle around her holder paralyzing stick with a buzzer at the end. Dr. Fauna personal guard stood next to her while she had a big smile on her, but the eyes didn’t pop out like before. Jets knew this was important mission but there was still doubt in her mind.

From afar a pony was running our way shouting “Stop! What are you doing?”. Lyra show up running toward the bed just to be pick up by two guards and shove back “You can’t take her away!”. When one of the guards was about to speak, he was interrupted by the boss.

“Are you the owner of this human?”

“That right” Lyra confidence show.

“I’m Dr. Fauna and I got a couple thing to say to such an irresponsible owner”

“What?!”

“You hear me, look at the state of this girl and tell me is not your fault she stuck in a hospital bed”. I wanted to yell out no, but the words didn’t come out. “At least you’re not blind to that fact”

“Why are you taking her away?”

“That none of your concern, as far as I see it, we can provide a better server for the damages you cause”. Was she right, was I responsible for what happened, or could she get the treatment she needed?

“Step aside” one of the guards told Lyra as they put the bed inside the truck. Watching the girl disappeared for my view. Could I let them just take her away from me by the government. She was different I knew that, but I told her she was part of the family and I meant it. “No” I told the doctor.

“You have no authority here, run along” Dr. Fauna spoke dismissably.

That sentence gave Harp and idea and told Derpy to stop them by any means necessary while I ran toward the town. “Pleased, what could one pony do” one of the guards said. Hooves look at the narrow street and the houses close to the walkway. She flew to the middle of the road and lay flat while raising one hoof up “Fight the power”. Jets angrily look at the guard who had to test our luck. Another one said a joke out loud “Let just run her over”. This time he receives dagger looks from the boss.

“One more comment like that and I’ll make sure you’ll never find work in Canterlot” Dr. Fauna responded making surprise everyone how serious she took the black humor, including jets herself. The doctor leaves the group and when inside the hospital while her personal guard join. Along the walk inside the building, away from prying hear the boss spoke “Jets remember this, the right choose is never the easiest one”

Not even two minute have pass and Heartstrings return to a blonde mare wrestling four guards while she randomly shouted ‘you’ll never take me down’ in the middle of the streets. Ok, strange but I have no time now. I brought with me the only other pony who could possible help “Thanks you Twilight”

“No problem” giving reassurance to the minty pony. “Where the boss?” she asks to see who was in charge. Dr. Fauna next to guard exit the building and look at Twilight.

“Who are you?” The doctor questions.

“You don’t know me, but I certainly know plenty of you” the doctor stays quite letting the new uninvited guests to speak. “I almost didn’t believe it when I hear your name, the famous Dr. Fauna or should I say infamous”. Lyra had no idea of the direction of the conversation, but she saw the doctor face turn dark.

“I’ll ask again, who are you?”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle the princess prodigy and I demand you released this human”

“I will warned you, this human could posed a threat to everyone in this town”

“I will ask for prove and then I myself will look in to the investigation, even if I have to pull some strings to find my own friends to be in charge of this mission” Fauna turn silent and serious while having killer eyes. “I know about your past, your one of the youngest doctor to have join Manehattan most prestige hospital and quickly landed in a position of power, they even put you in charge of finding a cure for sick human but the project was quickly shut down, because it was discovered that they preform illegal experiment on humans”

“We were saving live!”

“At what cost”

“Millions!”

Everyone turn silent while looking at the two ponies arguing. “Now, I’ll say it again. Hand me the prove and I’ll take over this operation or leave that girl alone”. It was a standoff, waiting to see who will bend the knee “I can send a letter to the princess in seconds and have her deal with this situation herself”

Dr. Fauna recognized a losing battle and told the guard to drop the girl and they did. She rounded all the guards up, including the ones fighting again the blonde mare putting a good fight and got them inside the truck. “Pick your sides wisely” Dr. Fauna said to the prodigy before getting on the vehicle and leaving Ponyville. Lyra ran toward the hospital bed next to the road and almost jump on the bed to check for any wound, but she was ok.

“Twilight, thanks you, thanks you so much, I don’t know what I would have done without you” Lyra show her appreciation.

“No, I should thank you and your human for standing up to Trixie. By the time I show up she was nowhere to be seen”

“But Snuggle got hurt and it was all my fault”

“The way I see thing, I doesn’t matter who fault is it, just be there for her, ok”

Lyra nodded “What will happened to Fauna?”

“Don’t worry I’ll send a letter to the princess and I will tell her what happened today”

“Is snuggle safe?”

“If fauna smart, and believe me when I say that she is, she stay as far away”

Twilight left after making sure the girl was all right. Lyra with the help of Derpy manage to push the bed inside the hospital. Thinking of the fact that I almost lost her. Twilight left soon after, but she mentions that Fauna perform illegal experiment on humans. This was a realization that I couldn’t let anyone take away Snuggle from me.

Lyra look down at the sleepy girl with Hooves taking a side of her bed cutesy sleeping together. Hope she doesn’t get angry for invading her space, but something tells me that she likes Muffins, probably more than me. I want to protect you but is not easy. Not when I don’t know what I’m doing but just like you told me yesterday I’ll return those words to you. “Don’t worry, I got you”

____________________

The ride back to Canterlot was just as slow and awkward as the first one. Jets was unsure of what to say, so she stays quite for most of the way until we reach the base. I was desperate to say anything when the mare I hated before, look so upset for most of the ride, she never shows it, I just felt it. “Got something on your mind” she spoke as we stop the vehicle and saw the rest of the stallion get off the truck.

“I- just-… Is it true?”

“There two side to every story”

“That not the question”

“Believe in what you want to believe” when Fauna open the door to leave but she was stop by Jets.

“I just want it to say… That I understand what it means to sacrifice, every word you spoke resonated with me. I want to help you in any way I can.

“Are you sure about that, who know where I might end up”

“Is us, against them”. the words made Dr. fauna face split open with a large smile.

“You might be useful after all, I’ll see you around” the doctor responded before exiting the vehicle.

Author's Note

(Updated)