The camera mare entered the carriage. The moderately sized vehicle usually has its roof retracted on normal circumstances but considering that a process of interrogation was going on, Rockwell had it out for privacy reasons. The camera panned its shot on the carriage’s interior. The windows on both sides were closed with curtains further concealing the view from the outside. Rockwell was sitting beside the camera mare and was looking firmly at Mayor Inkwell who was sitting on the seat adjacent to him and was sandwiched between two royal guards whose side gazes were fixed on her. The glow on their golden armor were the only source of light inside.

“So in summary,” Rockwell said, eyes still fixed on Inkwell’s. “The reason why you wanted to wipe out the four groups is because you think that managing them as mayor is way too hard of a job for you? And the reason why Blurry and the thestrals are in on this scheme of yours is because they want the outskirts to be only theirs? A place where she and her kin can call their own?”

“It sounds much grander when Blurry says it.” Mayor Inkwell replied.

“Nevertheless, it’s still quite stupid. Especially in your case, treating Ponyville’s mayoral as some sort of pre-retirement vacation career?” Rockwell scrunched his muzzle. “Really? Look, I know that your previous job of being Celestia’s assistant is a very taxing one, considering the fact that you’re assisting the mare responsible for running this entire nation, but choosing to become Ponyville’s mayor? That’s a really bad career switch. You do know this town faces trouble on a weekly basis, right?”

Both royal guards nodded silently.

“This town attracts problems like magnet is to metal. I’m pretty sure some kind of anomalous phenomenon is responsible for it but that’s a tale for another time. I mean,” Rockwell scratched his chin before continuing. “You could’ve chosen other places instead of this. Baltimare’s a nice place. Have you seen Baltimare? You definitely should have chosen Baltimare.”

“What’s done is done, Agent Rockwell.” Mayor Inkwell said glumly. “You’re better off sending me away now.”

“For the sake of exposition, I can’t let you go just yet.” Rockwell quickly replied. “And what’s up with this girl’s plan? Killing off entire races just so her kind could be the dominant ones in that particular area? Bit too much, don’t you think?”

“Blurry has a way with words when it comes to persuading others. But now, when you say it like that...”

“It kinda comes off as needlessly stupid?” Rockwell finished her sentence.

Mayor Inkwell could only nod shyly. Her glasses drooped down her snout as she did.

“Well that’s how they always operate.” Rockwell leaned on the back of his seat while crossing his forelegs. “Even if they have nothing, they still have their charms. And those things alone are guaranteed to earn you a following that would blindly follow even the most heinous of commands. But still, genocide? Can’t they just move into someplace devoid of competition instead of usurping an already occupied one? There’s a lot places in Equestria that are thestral friendly. I heard Hollow Shades is one of those places, I dunno. I might have to request HQ to have somepony survey that area in the future.”

“Like I said before Agent Rockwell,” Inkwell replied, head looking down. “What’s done is done. You may catch me, but never Blurry. You will never catch Blurry.”

Rockwell raised a brow at Inkwell’s statement. “If a mayor like you speaks so highly of her, then she really must be great, huh?”

Mayor Inkwell suddenly raised her head and matched Rockwell’s firm stare. “She’s a much bigger threat than me.”

“Considering you’re now captured, she is by default.”

“Do not underestimate her, Agent.” Inkwell said, the tone of her voice sounding bolder than before. “She’s the one who orchestrated all of this. I only provided her with the means to do it.”

“Oh good.” Rockwell gave a rather obvious eye roll. “Stupid funds stupid. Thanks for the free info though.” He stood up from his seat and headed for the door, the camera followed. “And don’t forget your seatbelts, the ride will start any moment now.”

“That information was not for free, Agent Rockwell.” Mayor Inkwell said as Rockwell opened the carriage door. “I am just telling you of the inevitable that is yet to come.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Rockwell waved her statement off as he exited the vehicle. “Give me more of that cheese and I’ll have enough to make me a sandwich.”

As the camera properly got out of the carriage, the vehicle immediately moved forward and raised itself into the air. The camera panned its shot back to Rockwell who was now standing in front of Octavia, to whom the agent has given permission to eavesdrop the entire interrogation process.

“Was that actually true?” Octavia asked the agent. “The inevitability of their plans?”

“I love a good a challenge, so they better.” Rockwell quipped.

“I have to give the mayor credit on this one.” Octavia said as she hoofed the phonograph that she confiscated earlier back to Rockwell. “Despite whatever terrible fate awaits her, she still maintained her courage and composure till the end.”

“Eh.” Rockwell shrugged. “It’s called last-minute smugness. It’s meant to spit your enemies for the last time. She wouldn’t have donned that look if we had just played this on her.” He gave the phonograph he was holding a slight shake.

“Alright. First of all, Agent Rockwell...” Octavia began. “That is very disgusting! That method’s exploitative and brings out the vulnerability of its victims.”

“That’s kinda the point.”

“Although it amuses me greatly that you succumbed to my demands and surrendered the device to me rather easily. That’s very uncharacteristic of you actually.”

“What, so you were saying that we should we go to the werewolves’ houses now?”

Octavia’s ears perked up. “Beg your pardon?”

“Okay then. To the werewolves it is!” Rockwell said as he trotted to the direction of the Outskirts. But he immediately stopped like he just remembered something.

“Oops.” Rockwell said as he brought his vanisher ward out. “Gotta flash the guards first.”

The afternoon sky has already turned into soft pinkish hue when Rockwell’s group arrived at the werewolf part of the Outskirts. As they approached the house of the wolves’ leader Luminous, the camera observed that this usually sleepy part of town was now slowly waking up. There were now thestrals trotting in the streets while some can be seen busying themselves inside their homes. And adding the fact that the leaves of the Elm trees were falling everywhere really makes one wonder if they’re still in Ponyville.

Upon reaching the doorstep, Rockwell gave the door a gentle knock. It didn’t take long for somepony inside to respond. A green mare with red mane opened the door. Her mane was unkempt and her body was slightly shivering. The cup filled with coffee in her hoof was probably the reason for her jittery appearance.

“Mrs. Mondegreen?” Rockwell asked.

“That’s me.” The mare replied.

Rockwell showed Mondegreen his I.D before replying. “Good evening, ma’am. I’m Agent Rockwell from the Bureau of Secrecies and I’m here regarding the vampire-werewolf hostilities in the area. Is your husband home? I would like to have a word with him.”

“Oh. He’s at work right now. But he’ll be home shortly.”

“Really?” Rockwell raised a brow. “He still went to work after all that.” He made a flailing gesture with his hooves near his face as if to symbolize the beating that Luminous got from the previous night.

“Despite his looks, m husband is quite durable.” Mondegreen said, a hint of pride in her voice. “It’ll take more than a few scratches from the vampires to keep him down. Why don’t you come in? I’ll have some coffee ready for you while we wait.”

“No thanks. We’re leaving shortly anyway. But please tell your husband to gather all the werewolves in front of the Carousel Boutique at seven-thirty tonight. Miss Scratch and her cabal will meet them there to peacefully end the hostilities once and for all.”

Mondegreen’s eyes narrowed at Rockwell’s request. “This is not a trap, right?”

“Dear Celestia, I hope not!” There’s worry in Rockwell’s voice. Be it genuine or faux, nopony could really tell. “Because if it is, then one ivory furred pony will surely have her body inside out and dried under the hot sun tomorrow.”

“Agent Rockwell!” Octavia scolded him and his not so vague threat.

Rockwell turned to look at Octavia while scratching the back of his head. “What? What’d I just say?”

On top of a house near Carousel Boutique, 7:30 pm

The camera panned on the edge of the house’s roof, where Rockwell was helping Octavia climb up the rooftop of the house.

“Why do I have to be up here as well?” Octavia protested. “I should’ve been down there with Vinyl and her cabal.”

After Octavia got up on the roof, Rockwell moved on to find himself a clear view on the boutique. The camera followed the agent. Its shot focused on where he was looking. Standing in front of the Element of Generosity’s clothing shop was a couple of ponies amounting up to the dozens. There’s no doubt that these were Vinyl and Luminous’ groups. Distinguishing the members of each group was quite easy. The ones wearing glasses or any snazzy outfit belonged to the vampires while the ones who had bushier fur or whose mannerisms slightly resemble that of a dog’s certainly belonged to the wolves.

“Trust me,” Rockwell said to Octavia as she stood beside him. “You don’t want to be down there with them right now. The vampires are a proud race. I’m pretty sure that they don’t want anypony to see them in this state right now, let alone the ones close to them. And besides, the view’s much better from here.”

“At the expense of good audio that is.”

“Ssh, I’m listening.”

Octavia replied with an eye roll.

The crowd below the group was getting quite lively. Everypony was chatting with everypony. Although the camera can’t make out what they’re saying due to how far it was from them. The camera centered its shot on Vinyl and Luminous, who were now approaching each other. The two conversed for a while, although it was Vinyl who did most of the talking. Once they’re done with their brief chat, they gave themselves a hoof bump and a small shake.

The two leaders also gestured for their members to do the same. They had everypony form two lanes, one for the vampires and one for the werewolves. These lanes of ponies would then approach each other and do what their leaders did, which was to give the pony in front of them a hoof bump and small shake right after. The vampires marched forward and engaged the hoof bumping. They then expressed some apologetic words at the werewolf they were making peace with, of which the recipients accepted wholly.

Once everypony has made peace with each other, they broke off their lanes and went on in their separate ways. One could tell that the mood has improved a bit.

“It took a while, but at least this part’s finally done.” Rockwell said while stretching a foreleg, it made some cracking sounds the longer he did it. “Now all that’s left is Blurry and her bombs.”

“What about the other thestrals?” Octavia asked Rockwell. “Shouldn’t you round them up along with their leader as well?”

“Nah, it won’t be necessary.” Rockwell said, still stretching. “What Blurry has going on in there runs like a cult of personality of some sort. All you have to do is to take out the root and the entire plant withers up and dies.”

“We are not a cult!” The loud voice from behind them made Octavia jump up in surprise. The camera turned around to see who it was, the others did as well.

It was the mayor’s assistant, Blurry. She looked just as stoic as before. But her yellow eyes were filled with fury. They were not directed to the camera or Octavia. They mostly focused on the sole stallion that ruined pretty much everything she has planned, Agent Rockwell.

“Great, you’re here.” Rockwell said casually to Blurry. He had a hoof cupping all the pockets in his suit, as if looking for something. “Makes my job easier then.”

“We are a mighty race.” Blurry took a step forward as if to emphasize her words. “A mighty race with a noble cause!”

The camera panned back to Rockwell, who was still preoccupied with searching every nook and cranny of his pockets. He kept on cupping his pants and jacket until he finally found what he was looking for. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, grabbed a stick and bit on it. It was only then that he eventually gave the thestral mare a piece of his attention.

“You call genocide a noble cause?” Rockwell said. He was cupping his pockets again, probably looking for his lighter.

“We were just trying to find a place we can call our own. And if it’s at the cost of a few lives then so be it.” Blurry’s tone was deathly serious, although her face did show signs of irritation upon noticing the agent’s lack of interest in what she’s saying.

“You could find other places, you know.” Rockwell said, finding his lighter finally.

Blurry took another step. “You have ruined my plans, plans that have taken ages to complete! And you have taken them down within a single day!”

“Oh you flatter me.” Rockwell was now attempting to light his cigarette. The camera could see Blurry’s left eye twitching slightly from what the agent said.

Blurry took several steps closer to Rockwell. “The carefully planned feuds, the painstakingly built magic totems, my base of operations, and my sole benefactor...I will make you pay for all of this.”

As Blurry approached the agent, Rockwell suddenly tossed her a bit which hit her forehead and landed on her snout. This stopped her from closing the distance between them.

“There’s the payment.” Rockwell said, still focused on lighting his cigarette stick. “Now, the carriage that will take you to the bureau takes about twenty minutes to get here. So how about we go grab some coffee first while we wai-”

Blurry threw the bit back into Rockwell’s face, this time much stronger. The bit flew straight into his mouth which split his cigarette stick in half and also his upper lip. Rockwell took a step a back in pain and surprise. A foreleg was touching his lip, caressing the freshly opened wound.

“You will pay in kind, Agent Rockwell. You will pay in kind.” Blurry was holding a strange device on her hoof. The camera zoomed in on it to examine it further. It was made of the same crystal like the bombs they found on Blurry’s hideout. It also has the same orb that the device was attached with, only smaller. Blurry looked down on the orb and pressed it. She then looked back at Rockwell, now smiling.

All of a sudden, certain parts in the outskirts shone a bright purple light. The same light could also be seen in where Everfree was supposed to be. The purple light looked the same as the one in Zecora’s house, when Rockwell accidentally detonated the crystalline bomb. And just like the one in Zecora’s these series of lights were silent and faded just as fast.

“What the!?” Rockwell cried out once he realized what those lights were. “Did you just-”

“I detonated all of them, Agent Rockwell.” Blurry finished it for him. “That’s what happens when you ignore my warnings.”

Rockwell didn’t bother giving the mare a reply. He just spat out his cigarette stick while dragging a hoof down his face in frustration. He gave a small barely audible groan afterwards.

And then he suddenly charged at Blurry.

The camera took a short a moment to process what just happened. Rockwell was now moving fast. But apparently, Blurry was faster. She easily blocked Rockwell’s blow which was coming from his right foreleg, like she had anticipated it. Rockwell pulled his right and instantly switched with his left. Blurry blocked that as well. Rockwell hopped away to prepare himself for another charge and dashed back with just much speed as before.

The two immediately traded blows with one another once Rockwell met Blurry face-to-face. But from the looks of it, it appeared that only Rockwell was on the offensive. Blurry on the other hoof, was just blocking his attacks like they were nothing. But Rockwell’s blows did slowly push Blurry towards the edge of the roof. This was probably Rockwell’s plan. If he can’t beat her with his hooves alone, then he might at least recruit gravity’s help.

It was only then when Blurry was on the verge of falling did she dish out her first blow on the agent. It was a direct hit on Rockwell’s left cheek. Blurry’s sudden attack stunned Rockwell, which allowed him to be tackled by her and sent his body down the roof’s surface.

Blurry kept the struggling Rockwell on a tight hold. Despite his attempts of setting himself free, it was all futile. And when he attempted to raise his head even for just an inch, Blurry would drag his head up by holding his mane and shove it down the roof again, smacking his head hard on the roof’s hard clay tiles.

“I did say earlier that I’ll have your face kissing the ground.” Blurry said to the downed Rockwell, her voice oozed with sadistic pleasure. When Rockwell tried struggling again, she once more dragged his head upwards and smacked it down the roof. Blood could be seen splattering on the now fractured clay tiles.

“But wait,” Blurry playfully said. “This is not the ground!” With that said she carried the gradually weakened Rockwell using the back of his neck like a kitten and soared into the air. Once she reached an adequate height above the ground she dropped Rockwell like a piece of trash.

“This is!” Blurry called to Rockwell as he swiftly fell. His body gave a loud thud as it forcefully hit the dirt.

“Agent Rockwell!” The camera panned to the now panicking Octavia as she hurriedly made her way down the house. The camera however, decided to stay on the roof, still keen on recording whatever it is that will happen next.

Despite suffering from a rather high drop just now, Rockwell managed to bring himself up, although barely. He slowly pushed himself up. His body was shivering, quite possibly from the sheer pain he was experiencing. The camera panned back to Blurry who was still hovering midair. From the looks of it, she doesn’t look quite impressed at what the agent was doing. As the agent was still struggling to get up, she zoomed in towards his direction and tackled him once again.

Blurry’s actions took Rockwell by surprise. It sent him rolling on the ground, a cloud of dust surrounding appeared in its wake. Once Rockwell was on the ground again, Blurry landed herself on Rockwell’s chest in an attempt to immobilize him. It was quite effective. Rockwell now had a hard time moving anything below his torso; he could only depend on his forelegs from the Blurry’s onslaught.

And what an onslaught it was. Blurry gave no quarter when she assaulted Rockwell. Before the agent could cross his hooves to protect himself, Blurry was already drilling through his chest. Each swift blow that landed on Rockwell made him cough up blood violently or made his hooves flail in an erratic manner. Blurry’s attacks were so relentless that the camera mare has thought that the agent’s ribs were turned to powder by now.

“Please stop!” The camera centered its shot to the source of the voice. It was Octavia and she finally made her way down the house. “You’re killing him!”

The camera switched back to Blurry, who appeared to have taken notice of Octavia’s pleas for mercy. She gave the mare a menacing grin and continued back on beating up Rockwell. But this time, she’s now focusing on his head. Her blows were just as powerful as before. It’s like this mare has bottomless stamina to spare. Now that Blurry was focusing on his head, Rockwell now has the opportunity to use his forelegs to defend himself.

But that proved to be futile either as Blurry’s attacks tend to go through whatever sliver of defense he managed to muster. Every time the mare’s hooves landed on Rockwell’s face it sent the ground rippling. Small shockwaves of dust could be seen appearing around Rockwell’s head, like earthen halos. It’s a miracle how this guy still managed to stay awake during this ordeal.

“Octy?” Vinyl’s voice could be heard not far from where the fight was happening. The camera focused its shot on the vampire mare. She was with Luminous and a few of her vampire companions. “Octy is that you? And is that-”

“Vinyl!” Octavia cried in panic, interrupting the mare. “Help the agent! Please!”

Blurry ceased her pummelling on Rockwell and decided to take a look at the new arrivals. Her eyes went wide upon realizing who it was. “You!?” She said aloud. “This is impossible. How did you survive the explosion?”

“Explosion?” Vinyl lowered her glasses, revealing a pair of red eyes that were narrowed on the thestral. “Is that what those glowing things near our houses are!?” She turned her head to Luminous. “Yo! This mare just blew our houses up!”

Luminous’ face was instantly filled with fear and confusion. “What?”

The camera panned back to Blurry. Probably fearing that she’ll get outmatched and outnumbered, she has now risen herself from the ground, leaving the motionless Rockwell bleed helplessly on the dirt. “I’ll get you next time.” She looked at the wolves and vampires with intensity. “And consider this a warning in case any of you wants to go after me.” She pointed a hoof at the agent that she had just given a brutal beating to.

Once she issued her warning to everypony in sight Blurry then spread her wings and took off to the skies. But as she flew herself up she noticed the camera taking footage of her. She zoomed in on the mare holding the camera and gave her a swift kick with her hindleg. The camera’s view went violently spinning after the contact. A mare’s shriek could be heard in the background as the shot spun itself down the ground. Fortunately, an incomprehensible grey blur swooped in to the camera’s rescue and had its view stabilized as it landed on the ground.

“Good job Dusty!” Luminous called out. The camera mare centered the shot to the one who saved her, it appreared to be Dusty, Luminous’ daughter. The mare’s werewolf form slowly faded away as she approached her father, who petted her mane generously.

“Rockwell!” Octavia cried again, urging the camera to focus back on the downed agent.

The camera got a closer shot to Rockwell’s bloodied form. The agent’s suit was tattered all over. And his shirt that has been white this afternoon was now turned scarlet from all the blood that escaped his body. On his chest area there appeared to be small protrusions, like tiny wooden splinters that may have been part of something whole before Blurry pulverized the Tartarus out of it.

Octavia opened Rockwell’s jacket, revealing the broken dragonflare and shattered glasses. She picked those things up and tossed them at the side. She also picked up the splinters that were lodged on the agent’s chest.

“Should we take him to a hospital?” Luminous suggested.

“N-no time for that.” Rockwell said, attempting to get up. But he immediately went into a bloody coughing fit and was forced by Octavia to lie down again.

“Don’t push yourself.” Octavia said, she made the worry in her voice apparent.

“You two, group leaders.” Rockwell looked at Vinyl and Luminous. “I want you to gather all the members back here as soon as possible so that I can prepare to evacuate you guys into Everfree. Ponyville’s no longer a safe place for you if that maniac’s still out there. Your groups will be moved into...” He stopped briefly as he went into another coughing fit. “The Everfree tower where my fellow BoS agents will protect you until that (Beeping) mare is apprehended.”

Vinyl and Luminous was about to say something when Rockwell shakily raised a hoof to silence them.

“And please,” He continued. “I don’t want any resistance on this one. I can’t afford to lose any more of you now.”

Vinyl gave Rockwell a silent nod of agreement before walking away with her companions. Cliff Hanger, who just witnessed Rockwell’s fatal beating, took one last look at the battered agent. And as he turned away, a small mischievous smirk could be seen forming on his lips.

“I-I’’ll go check on my wife first and then I’ll gather them back here again.” Luminous said as he briskly trotted towards the Outskirts.

“Right, mom!” His children exclaimed before hurrying themselves up to follow him.

Rockwell gave both groups a small bloody smile as they trotted away from him.

“We should really take you to a hospital.” Octavia said, still picking the splinters in his chest.

“You know,” Rockwell said, shakily placing another cigarette stick in his mouth. Due to how weak his body has become, he had hard time doing a mundane thing such as this. At least Octavia was considerate enough to help him do it, of which he gave her a gratifying nod. “Just by killing the ghosts and aliens, that mare may have just brought Equis unfathomable horrors from the sci-fi and fantasy side.”

Octavia had to actually stop what she was doing upon hearing Rockwell’s words. “Really?”

“If not handled correctly, the extraterrestrials and the ethereals could wage war upon us. But that’s not the worst case scenario though.”

“How could there be anything worse than two powerful factions waging war on Equestrian soil?”

“The paperwork that comes with it.”

Author's Note

It's about time I put some bump on this thirteen chapters worth of smooth sailing. Thank you for reading.