Bon Bon Before the Bug Bear

Sweetie Drops arrived back in Canterlot later that afternoon. She immediately set off for the castle and the new agency she was proud for be a part of. Even though her first assignment was really not that big of a deal, it was to her. She had never been special before. No pony ever even looked her way. On top of that, this mission allowed her to meet a very friendly and weird Pink Pony and Lyra. When she thought that name, Lyra, she got butterflies in her stomach. Wait what was this feeling she was having. She never felt this way before, not for a stallion or a mare. It was very weird and confusing all at the same time.

She made it back to the castle without incident and proceeded to her office. Once down the stairs and into the main part of the agency, she approached her boss.

“Sir, what do I do with this?” she asked.

Duke Spirit turned around with a somewhat look of shock on his face. “You are back already? You mean to tell me you caught the little buggers?”

“Yes sir. They are all in here. Locked away in suspension,” Sweetie Drops replied proudly.

“Good work Agent Sweetie Drops,” Duke Spirit said. “Go and give them to Lock and Key. He is in charge of the vault.”

“The vault sir?” Sweetie Drops asked.

“Yes, it is where all the little pests of Equestria spend Eternity. The Big ones get sent to Tartarus,” Duke Spirit explained.

Sweetie Drops knew of Tartarus; it was a place of legend and horror. Every evil thing ever known ended up there. That thought did not deter her from her duties, she trotted right over and handed the little box with all the Perasprites to Lock and Key. He proceeded to check them in and catalog there entry, then the little box was tagged “WARNING EXTERMLY DANGEROUS” and sent off to a shelf deep within the vault.

With that done Sweetie Drops went over to her desk to file her after action report. It did not take long and she was very detailed in her report. But she did leave out the part about the pony polka and Pinkie Pie. She did not want to get into any trouble on her first assignment. After she was finished with the report she took it over to a series of pipes in the far wall. Placed the scroll in the little glass container in the tube that was marked “Princess Celestia”, put it into the tube and away it went.

“Agent Drops,” a voice called from across the room. “I have a mission for you”

It was Duke Spirit calling to her. She turned around and trotted over to him.

“Yes sir, what is next?” She eagerly asked.

“We have had reports of a creature in western Equestria. The details are sketchy but it seems this thing can change its appearance. We are not sure of its origins or intent. Your mission is to find it and determine its origins and intent,” he explained. “This is an information gathering mission so do not take any action unless you deem it a threat and necessary.”

A shape shifting creature was defiantly different. In all her years in the archives, she had never once heard of such a thing. This was going to be great; she loved to discover new things about this world. With a nod she started to trot off and gather her gear she would need for this mission, but before she got too far Duke Spirit stopped her.

“One more thing, since this creature can take the shape of anything we will be placing a few protection spells on you as well as an emergency teleport spell. That way if you get into any trouble, you can get out of there quickly. On top of that, there is a code that we can identify that it is you upon your return to Canterlot. We will say “All is well” and you will return “in Equestria”.

It did not make much since to Sweetie Drops of why they would need such a silly little phrase such as this, but it must be for the best if they were giving it to her. She just nodded in the affirmative that she understood. Now that there exchange was done Duke Spirit walked off back to his business and Sweetie Drops continued to gather her gear for this mission. Being that it was recon and nothing more she picked up some scrolls and quills along with a pair of spy glasses, best to observe from afar until she had some idea of what she was dealing with. With all her gear in her saddle bag she placed it on her back and off she went. It did not take long to reach the top of the stairs. When she got there, she remembered another artifact that just might help. That and she forgot to return the one she borrowed for her last mission.

She walked into her old office and opened the rolls of inventory until she found what she was looking for. She placed the harp on the shelf were she got it from and walked down several rows and over a few more. There it was just where it should be, the “All Seeing EYE” as it was called. It was not really an eye but a clear crystal ball. This was just not ordinary crystal ball though it was used by Star Swirl himself to see the truth in pony’s and creatures alike. She knew this one would do what she intended this time. That was if she could figure out how to use it. Before she left the Castle she took a short trip to the Castle Library in hopes to find a guild book to the artifact.

Once in the Library, she found rows and rows of history books, magic books and even some fictional reads. She proceeded to walk up and down the rows of books looking for something that might give her a clue. Lost in her wondering in the library, she all of a sudden felt pain and came to an abrupt stop.

“Ouch!” a voice exclaimed.

Sweetie Drops a little dazed looked up and saw who she bumped into, it was Twilight Sparkle. If anypony knew where she could find the clue it was her.

“Oh I am sorry.” Twilight said. “I did not see you there. I guess I was caught up in what I was doing. There are not many ponies in here like ever.”

“It’s okay. It was my fault I was looking for a book and not watching where I was going,” Sweetie Drops replied.

“What are you looking for?” Twilight asked. “I bet I could help.”

“Oh, well thank you. See I work in the Relics archive and this just came in and I do not know what it is and was hoping there was some information on it,” Sweetie Drops lied. “I must be able to catalog it properly.”

Twilight took the crystal ball with her magic and examined it for a minute. “It looks like a plain, old crystal ball to me.” As she stared into it her eyes glassed over and she took on a kind of zombified look. Just a few seconds later she snapped out of it and exclaimed. “WOW, I never have seen anything like it. Wait here I have an idea on where to look.”

She then almost dropped the ball as she took off down the row of books and turned the corner and was out of site. That pony needs to get out more Sweetie Drops thought as she carefully placed the Orb back into her saddle bags. Come to think of it, I never got out much either. It did not take long and Twilight was back in front of her with a dusty, old book.

“This is the Book of Sacanas, it tells of many old relics and magical items.” Twilight exclaimed almost filly like tone to her. “Let us see here, Staff that will make the owner be able to absorb the magic of the Alicorns… Why would somepony do that? Magical Talisman, Magic Mirror, OH her we are, THE ALL SEEING EYE. This magical relic will allow the user to see into a pony’s sole and see them for who they really are. WOW this is great.”

“HHHmmmm, that is interesting. So how does it work?” Sweetie Drops inquired.

“Well from what I can tell all you have to do is look threw the Orb at the pony you want to see and it just shows you.” Twilight explained.

That was not a very scientific explanation but it would have to do. There was little time and she had to get going. She thanked Twilight and started on her next mission. She trotted out of the castle and down to the train station. Once again she found herself on a mission she was not quite ready for but this is her new role here in Equestria. Her ride took her west past Ponyville on across the Smokey Mountains and threw the Unicorn Range onto Van Hoover.

The train came to a stop with a loud screech in the Van Hoover station and it jolted Sweetie Drops awake from her sleep. She heard the conductor say “Last Stop VANHOOVER.” This was it, she was here. It was time to get to work. Being that she had never been here before she had no idea how to even get around. So her first stop was to a little souvenir shop at the station where she picked up a map of the city and surrounding area.

Where should I begin my search, she thought. I do not even know what I am looking for. As she stood there looking at the map she was bumped into and almost knocked off her hooves.

A real shy and quiet voice said “Hey, watch were the buck you are going!” The voice was feminine but raspy and kind masculine at the same time.

Sweetie Drops looked up from around her map that she was studying and saw a light blue Pegasus with a rainbow main and tail.

“Oh I am sorry. I was just thinking about something and did not see you coming.” Sweetie Drops replied. “I guess I should not have been standing in the main traffic lane.” She kind of chuckled. “My name is Bon Bon and I am just here on vacation. And you are?”

Since she had been using the name Bon Bon she figured she would stick with it. After all she could not reveal her real name or purpose here.

“Names Rainbow Dash,” She replied with a proud and confidence to her. “Best flier in Equestria.”

“Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash. What brings you to Vanhoover?” She asked.

“I am here to see the Wonderbolts Show,” Rainbow Dash Replied. “Best fliers in all of Equestria, next to me of course.”

Sweetie Drops had seen the Wonderbolts perform before. Of course they were regulars in Canterlot. She thought long and hard on how she could use this to her advantage in this mission for it was the most challenging to date. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. And this was one of the busiest times of year for Vanhoover especially with the Wonderbolts in town.

“Say you think you could show me around town. I have never been here before and I am embarrassed to say that I am kind of intimidated by it,” Sweetie Drops told Rainbow Dash. Not technically a lie but not all the truth either and she did it without flinching. ‘Hey I am getting good at this’ she thought.

“Sure, I got nothing to do before the show and it is not till 5 o’clock. Follow me.” Rainbow Dash said in a hurry of excitement and flew off down the street with a rainbow trail following her.

Sweetie Drops just stood there in disbelief on her speed and wondered how in Equestria she going to keep up with this one. Just then she saw her coming back rainbow trailing behind her. She skid to a stop just inches from Sweetie Drops and chuckled a little.

“Sorry, I forgot you were an earth pony. I guess we will walk,” Rainbow Dash said with a small blush crossing her face.

They started walking the way Rainbow Dash had taken off just moment before. They walked and talked for a good portion of the morning and into the early afternoon. Sometime around 1 o’clock they stopped at a restaurant and had lunch. Sweetie Drops had her usual salad but she was shocked to see the carb load that Rainbow Dash packed down. With lunch finished they continued about their day. Vanhoover was a fairly large city but nowhere near Canterlot or Manehatten. Around 4 Rainbow Dash checked the time on the town clock and said “We got to get the stadium if we want to get good seats.”

“You go, I do not have tickets. Besides I want to walk around some more,” Sweetie Drops lied.

“OK, but maybe we can meet up after the show? I really enjoyed talking with you today,” Rainbow Dash replied. There was something in her voice that Sweetie Drops did not want to misinterpret but sounded like she might be into mares. This was nothing new to her of course for she herself favored mares over stallions, but to have one just so obvious about it was new to her. But then again she may be misreading the whole thing.

“Sure, I think I would like that,” she replied.

“Great! See ya,” Rainbow Dash said and was off in a flash trailing a rainbow dust trail behind her.

What a strange day it has been so far Sweetie Drops thought as she continued threw the town searching for who knows what. She walked up and down the streets periodically looking threw the eye to see if there was anything amiss. Nothing, maybe the reports were wrong, maybe there was nothing here to find, or maybe it was not it town. The thought hit here like a bolt of lightning. She took off for her hotel to gather some supplies that she would need, it was still a few hours before dark so if she hurried she could make a sweep of surrounding forests.

Soon after she got clear of the city limits and into the forests she started her search. She had to set up a pattern so she did not cover the same ground twice. With the map she picked up earlier that day she set up a grid and away she went. Sometime just before sunset Sweetie Drops was starting to get hungry and tired. The sun was getting low in the western sky and shades of orange and red started to appear, soon it would be to dark to continue. So took out her map and plotted the best route back to the hotel. Just then a rustling sound came from the bushes just in front of her. This startled Sweetie Drops for there was no sign of life all afternoon, not even a bunny.

Cautiously she slowly inched forward, peering into the bush. NOTHING, she crouch down and pounced threw the bush and landed hard with a thump on the other side passing right threw the bush. Once again NOTHING…? This puzzled her, she defiantly heard something but all she saw was a broken tree stump. BUT there was something off about it; there was not fallen tree near. It defiantly looked like a tree fell but where was the rest of it? So she trotted over to it and thumped it. Strangely it was solid and not hollow like one would think.

She stood there staring at the stump for a few minutes and then started to pace around a little, looking at the bushes and the surrounding trees thinking. She could not quite piece it all together. She was on here 4th circle around the small clearing and she noticed the stump was GONE! Ok this is getting weird, she thought. She trotted back to the spot where the stump was and started to look around there. As she was looking and wondering she was not paying too much attention to her surrounding and she bumped straight in to HERSELF?

“WHAT IN EQUESTRIA!” she exclaimed.

Sweetie Drops stared at herself and she stared back. They paced around and around each other as the stare down continued. Finally the real Sweetie Drops said “OK this is crazy. What are you?”

In a flash of green fire a black pony, well kind of a pony appeared. It was all black with holes in its legs, a hard carapace on its back and chest with wings and a horn. The winds had holes in them as well. As Sweetie Drops stared at the creature that just appeared it spoke.

“Please, do not be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” It said in a rush.

Shock covered Sweetie Drops face, her mouth went dry and she started to feel a rush of fear. But she clamped down on her fear and replied to the creature. “Who and what are you?”

“My name is Thorax and I am a changeling,” it responded.

A changeling Sweetie Drops thought well that makes sense. That explains so much of the reports. And so much of the eye I brought a lot of good that did. But that is not the point her. These thoughts rolled threw her head like lightning, but this is not time for this. “What is a changeling exactly?”

“Well it is kind of hard to explain. I guess the easiest way is to say we can take the form of anything,” Thorax replied “We feed on emotions, Love mainly. Our society is class based with our Queen as a leader.”

“Why are you here?” Sweetie Drops asked.

“Well I am running away from the Hive. I just cannot stand it there anymore. See all the other changelings are either drones or worriers. I am neither; I mean I am a drone but hate taking Love from others,” Thorax explained “I would rather share love, but that is just a dream.” His tone was sad and depressing. It was pretty clear that he really did not like being a changeling.

They talked for a while, Thorax telling his tales from his time in the Hive and Sweetie Drops telling him about her life, well before the agency. As they talked an idea came to her, she started to wonder if she could convince him to be a spy for her. It would be a wonderful thing to have inside intelligence on a species such as this, maybe even an early warning on any trouble that might arise.

The conversation went on for a good while with Sweetie Drops thoughts racing the whole time; she paused for a sec and said. “Thorax, I have a thought. Now I am going to let you in on a little secret, but you have to keep it to yourself. Can you promise me that you can do that?”

“I guess so,” he replied.

“No Thorax I mean it, it is very important that you tell no pony,” Sweetie Drops tone was flat and serious.

“Can I ask you a question first?” Thorax replied.

“Most defiantly,” Sweetie Drops responded.

“Are you my friend?” He shot back.

“Yes Thorax, I am your friend.” She replied with a sincere tone.

“Ok, then YES I CAN.” He was bouncing as he replied.

“OK here goes. I am an Agent with a Secret Anti Monster organization out of Canterlot. My job is to find, identify, and capture if necessary any and all Monsters that are a threat to Equestria.” It came out it a rush, it almost sound made up as she said it. “But do not worry, you are not the threat we thought, but your kind is. I need you to do me a favor. But I can tell you, you are not going to like it.”

Thorax smile slowly turned into a frown as he listing, He knew what she was about to ask him to do and he she was right he did not like it. As he listened and thought his own thoughts, which was not allowed in the hive, it did occur to him that it might just be a good idea. As he suspected she ask him just as he thought.

“So what do you think? Can you keep an eye and ear out for anything that might be a threat coming from your hive toward Equestria?” Sweetie Drops finished up.

“I think I can, I mean yeah. But how am I going to warn you?” He inquired.

“HMMM, have not thought about that yet. I am sure I can come up with something,” her reply was slow but had a hint of thought going on. “For now we will just meet in a central location from your hive say once a month?”

“I can do that; I will make it look like I am going on a patrol,” Thorax answered.

“Where exactly are the hives? Sweetie Drops inquired, she had not thought to ask until now.

“They are north west of here. I would say about a day’s walk.” Thorax said. “Once you hit the edge it is not hard to see.”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I told you that Changelings eat Love, well they absorb all that is good around them so the land is dry and barren,” Thorax explained. “As you can imagine it is a horrible place.”

“So no life at all not green grass, no flowers?” Sweetie Drops was horrified. She did not even want to venture into such a place. “Ok then we will meet here once a month around noon.”

“That will be good. Can we go into town and walk around a bit. I really like being around ponies. You are all so kind and full of hope and love. Not that I would steal any, but I am starving,” his words came a little rushed and she could hear the desperation in his voice.

“Tell you want, you can have some of my love for a snack. That should hold you for awhile,” Sweetie Drops offer was sincere and Thorax could not believe it.

“No one ever offered to feed me freely before, are you sure?” He asked.

“Go ahead,” she replied.

He gently opened his mouth and Sweetie Drops felt a tugging at her mind and just like that she felt a little of her Love for that new Mare she meat a few weeks back slip away, not gone mind you, but just a little of it was gone. Thorax was very careful not to drain it all and leave her with some to remind her of it. It was a very weird and interesting experience all at the same time. Although it was not one she wished to repeat anytime soon, that being complete and Thorax not so hungry anymore they set off for town. As they approached town a thought flashed across her mind and as she was about to say something there was a green flash to her right were Thorax as walking, she looked over to see a non descript pony there in his place. I guess he has done this before. She thought. The disguise in place they continued on into town.

They spent most of their time walking around and pony watching but they did visit some of the local shops and what not. As they walked and talked Thorax became more and more comfortable in his pony body he started to be less nervous and his body language showed it, at least what she could tell. Most other ponies do not pick up on the small tells of other ponies when it comes the them being nervous or telling a lie, which most ponies are terrible at in the first place. With her new carrier in the agency, she had become quite good at deception and lies. She still is not used to it all and really hates lying, but she does understand why she has to do it.

The sun was starting to set and night was upon them as they reached the far end of town. Sweetie Drops completely forgot about the Wonder bolts show that day and her meeting back up with Rainbow Dash, just as that thought flashed across her mind, she came flying out of the stadium with that signature rainbow trail following her. She saw Sweetie Drops and made a beeline straight for her. She skid to a halt just inches from Thorax’s face and blinked at the pony before her.

“Ha-ha sorry. Hi I’m Rainbow Dash. Who are you? Are you one of Bon Bon’s friends?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yes, although we just meet this morning. Are you a friend of hers too?” Thorax replied. But something bothered him. Rainbow Dash called her Bon Bon not Sweetie Drops. He wondered which her real name was. “OH sorry, so silly of me I am…..” Oh no in all his excitement to go into town he did not think of a name for himself. He looked around real quick trying to come up with something.

“Tree Stump” Sweetie Drops said quickly. “His name is Tree Stump. He is a lumber jack pony here in Vanhoover. I meet him as I was exploring the forests outside of town.”

“Nice not meet you Tree Stump, you missed a great show.” Rainbow Dash said with great pride and enthusiasm for her heroes.

“Yeah I never get to see the shows always working.” Thorax said. He was starting to get nervous again and it was showing. Sweetie Drops picked up on this right away and cut into the conversation that was becoming awkward rapidly.

“Hey Tree Stump, we are going to miss our dinner reservations if we do not hurry.” Sweetie Drops said in a rush like it was the truth. She was getting really good at this.

“Oh right, I forgot all about dinner,” he said “Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash. We better get going”

“Oh ok well, see you two later” Rainbow Dash replied.

Thorax and Sweetie Drops started off in the direction of restaurants in town and Rainbow Dash flew off to who knows were. In all her life she never met a pony that high strung. Or fast for that matter, she had to one of the fastest Pegasus ponies in Equestria. By this time it was getting pretty dark out and the street lights were being lit. The soft light of the candles in the street light cast a orange glow over the town that gave it a majestic and serene look to it. They both knew there time was running short, Thorax had to return to the hives and Sweetie Drops mission was complete, it was time to return to Canterlot.

“Thorax, it is time to part ways for now. But I will see you again next month. Do not forget.” Sweetie Drops reminded.

“I won’t. It was really nice to meet you. I will miss you,” Thorax replied a hint of sadness in his voice; she could tell he did not look forward to them parting ways and him returning to the hive.

“It was a pleasure, I will miss you too. I wish we had more time to spend together. I am just getting to know you. Tell you what, next month we will spend that day together just like today. I really had a great time walking and talking with you.” Sweetie Drops let it all out at once almost as if she was practicing that. It kind of surprised her that she even would suggest that. After all he was just an informant. Maybe there was more too it then that.

“Deal!” Thorax exclaimed with joy filled all the one word. He turned and started back to his hive.

They parted there ways and Sweetie Drops made her way to the train station, her adventure her was done and she completed her mission with a bonus to boot. She identified a new species not ever recorded before and made an ally within as well. This could mean better things ahead for her. She boarded the train with all the day’s events swimming in her thoughts and just could not help but wonder what was next.