Chapter Four

Sometimes the truth is in plain sight. It would require a knowing smile to solve the issue.

"So you wish to take a mission." Tadaomi said as he stood in front of the green room. Also known as the debrief room. This is the room used for both mission control and to talk about classified information, normally anyways. Not this time around however.

Twilight nodded, "Yes something to take my mind off... of that."

"Did you know that not every mission require murder? Since I do not want to give you another assassination mission. In our campus, each student can only do one a week. While other missions can be done daily." Tadaomi explained.

"What about unique missions?" Twilight wondered.

"Those are special. And will only come up whenever we say so. Anyways. I want to actually grant you a different kind of daily quest." he explained.

"Let me guess. It is one to calm me down with. Something somewhat soothing. Correct?" She asked.

Tadaomi smiled and nodded, "Surprisingly these are actually quite popular. Since when you are a part of this campus it is also important to blend among citizens. Since that is an important action when escaping a crime scene. Or better yet, to allow yourself some time to recover."

"And to make that easier. You give us something specific to do correct?" Twilight deduced.

Tadaomi nodded, "Yes. So today I made sure to hide this quest. So that I could give it to you." he said as he proceeded to give Twilight the quest.

'Quest type ordinary. A simple resting mission. Go to Ponyville and go to the famous sugarcube corner. Eat a few cakes and acquaint yourself with the local baker. Bonus points if you make friends with her.' The quest stated.

"Points?" Twilight asked.

"Right. You get bonus points on your test by completing quests like this one. Let's say you get a low score. Quests like these can save your test. By obtaining bonus points." Tadaomi explained.

"I see. A friend huh. That will be mighty difficult." Twilight admitted.

"What do you mean?" Tadaomi asked.

"I know some of the baker's background. She and I aren't to different. And not for the right reasons. However my inability to show my emotions properly might make it hard." Twilight stated.

"You mean Pinkie Pie correct? Well she tries making friends with everyone." Tadaomi stated.

"I know." Twilight said saddened.

"Do you know her?" Tadaomi said as he just stepped on a landmine. He realized this right after saying so. But it was too late.

Twilight looks at Tadaomi. Showing an emotion she hasn't shown in ages. Sadness. A tear streaked down her face. "Yes. I met her... She met me... It was such a rare thing. We befriended each other, even if she was merely a guest. However she knew... that something was up. I told her to stay away. I didn't want to fall into the same trap. She understood and left." She explained.

"I wonder if she remembers." Twilight muttered. Tadaomi was able to picture the scenario. It too, made him a bit depressed.

"This is Pinkie we are talking about. Surely!" Tadaomi reassured.

"I will take it. It has been a while since I had anything sweet. But... I don't have any money." Twilight admitted.

"Don't worry. Here take these." Tadaomi said as he hoofed over roughly fifty bits.

"Okay. I guess I will visit good ol' Cotton Candy." Twilight said while leaving. Making Tadaomi slightly confused at the nickname.

As soon as she was gone, Tadaomi basically collapsed in relieve. "Thank goodness. I was worried that I nearly set off another memory." he said.

"Yes. Next time be more careful." Koro-sensei said from around the corner.

"Of course. Now, let hope that this break will do her some good." Tadaomi hoped.

Meanwhile Twilight was using her advanced eye sight to not get lost. Which was effective since the base was a practical maze for outsiders, after which she exited the campus, the exit was right below Canterlot, and headed to the train station. There she got a ticket, waited for the train. And headed to Ponyville as soon as the train arrived. The train trip itself was uneventful, which Twilight did enjoy. She was a quiet pony anyways. Not much for chatting.

As soon as the train entered the Ponyville station. She got off her seat and waited at the door for it to open. After it opened, Twilight jumped out. And casually walked towards the big festive looking building. Sugarcube Corner. While walking towards it, she noticed a bunch of looks of empathy.

This probably due to the fact that she had cyber implants all over her body. Making ponies believe that she had some kind of serious incident. And was forced to live with implants like that. Which garnered both pity and jealous looks.

Twilight paid it no mind as she continued to calmly walk to Sugercube corner. As soon as she was nearby, her nose implant smelled a bunch of sugar. Something she hasn't had in... like atleast four to five years. Not that she needed it, it wasn't going to help in a survival situation.

However today she got a rare chance to eat something... sweet. As soon as she entered the bell at the door rang. And she heard a familiar voice shout that, whoever they were, was coming. Twilight meanwhile calmly walk towards the counter as she looked at the cakes and the like.

"Welcome to Sugar-" Pinkie started only to cut herself off, when she saw who entered.

"It... has been a while. Cotton Candy." Twilight said, using Pinkie's nickname.

"Twilight." Pinkie simply said, as a tear was released. She then quickly but carefully gave Twilight a hug. Twilight returned the hug quietly."

"Where have you been?" Pinkie asked as she made Twilight follow her into her bedroom upstairs.

"I have... gone somewhere safe. Somewhere those... people can't touch me." Twilight carefully explained.

"Good! I saved you some candy rocks. Since I know you don't really like cake." Pinkie said as she grabs the candy rocks out of nowhere.

Twilight gave Pinkie a small smile, "Thanks."

Pinkie then gave Twilight the rocks. As she proceeded to carefully and calmly ate each rock. One by one. To Twilight, this was heaven. Since these rocks are one of few things in life that gives her hope. It reminds her off... a certain alicorn friend.

"I hope these are better than the last... rocks..." Pinkie said as she mentally cringed.

"Yes. Atleast these have taste. The last was... well. For a lack of a better word. inedible." Twilight said. She didn't cringe, but was slightly sad.

"How are these new friends of yours?" Pinkie wondered.

"Protective but also confused. They are trying to piece together on the truth of my past." Twilight admitted in between the crunching sound in her teeth.

"I see. I understand why. If it wasn't for... them. This would have never happened, right?" Pinkie asked.

"I am unsure. Whether my future would differ or not. Is of no concern. Atleast I am now finally safe. I have a place I can call home and a place where I can do... tasks. Fulfilling tasks." Twilight simply stated.

"Still trouble showing emotions?" Pinkie asked saddened.

"Yes. It is slowly improving. But like your sister Maud. I am not very expressive. And just like her, we have similar ways of showing our emotions, but that doesn't mean we don't truly show it." Twilight said.

"I see." Pinkie said as she casually stood up to get more sugar rocks.

It is then that Twilight stood up high. Something triggered her sensors of danger. Not far behind was Pinkie's pinkie sense.

"Pinkie. Grab your adoptive parents. And head to the basement. We got hostile company!" Twilight requested.

"Alright." Pinkie said. Before running down, she saw Twilight suddenly carry a hitman crossbow. However she knew that Twilight was carrying it for protection.

Pinkie rushes downstairs. Shut down the kitchen. And grabs the rest of Cakes family into the basement. And not a moment to soon. As soon as they entered the basement. A massive explosion can be felt, as the side of the first floor took damage from some kind of explosion.

"Twilight the cyborg... I finally found you!" One of the prison keepers shouted.

"Fuck off." Twilight said angry. She also used her magic to give Koro-sensei a small tug. A warning tug.

"Don't you fucking use magic. You little cunt!" The prison keeper said swearing.

However Twilight didn't listen. She immediately switched out the anti-Koro bolt for a metal one. And shot at the stallion without any hesitation. The stallion barely avoided the attack. He levitated his magnum and shot at Twilight. She too, barely dodged the shots fired at her.

This shooting fight continued on for several minutes. Until Twilight realized that Pinkie's house was being destroyed by her past mistakes. This made her break one of her emotional barriers. As she turns on the special murder aimbot she had been programmed with, she begins to speed reload and fire her crossbow. Faster than any pony normally is able to do so. Turning her crossbow into a machine gun shooting bolts instead of bullets.

This was quickly overwhelming the prison keeper. Sadly for Twilight, he had called for backup. And this caused the fight to go from one vs one. To one vs twenty in mere moments. She was being overwhelmed one to twenty. However the warning tug was finally showing its effect.

The warning tug showed its effects as agents from Tadaomi's force arrives in droves. Turning the fight from one to twenty. To one hundred to one in an instant. Two thousand agents absolutely destroyed the prison keepers forces. And destroyed any hope for future back up from arriving.

Not much later, a disguised Koro-sensei arrived on the scene. Also ready to take action when required. However the fight was already over. Tadaomi himself arrived soon after to clean the bodies up. Twilight was luckily uninjured. Not even a bit a blood splatter was seen on her skin.

"Shall we go back home?" Koro-sensei asked.

However Twilight shook her head, "I want to talk with Pinkie and her friends some more."

Koro-sensei and Tadaomi smiled, "Alright. Give us a call when you want to go home. A simple magical tug will do. Our people will assist you in getting back home." Tadaomi stated before everyone, Koro-sensei included, left the scene.

Twilight then proceeded to walk downstairs on the badly damaged staircase. And knocked on the basement door.

"Cotton Candy. It's safe." Twilight said.

Pinkie then opened the door, allow Pinkie and the Cake family to inspect the damage.

"Pinkie explained that you are called Twilight correct? My name is Carrot Cake. And this is my wife, Cup Cake." Carrot introduced.

"Nice to meet you. I knew you existed for some time. However at the time, I thought that Pinkie had made an imaginary friend... again. Since we never met before. Anyways it is good to see, that you are more than that." Cup explained.

"It is good to meet you, Mr and Mrs Cake. My name is Twilight... I do have a surname. But I have forgotten." Twilight introduced.

"Amnesia right?" Carrot asked.

"Yes. Something like that. Anyways, sorry about the damage. I can get someone to pay for it. I... Do not have that kind of money." Twilight stated.

"It's fine dear. In Ponyville someones house gets destroyed every week. The mayor will make something happen. Why don't you two continue to hang out? Let the adults figure this one out." Carrot requested dismissively.

"Sure. I will still see if my... caretakers. Get you some money to pay it off." Twilight said stubbornly.

Cup and Carrot blinked, before laughing. "You are very similar to Pinkie. Twilight seriously, there is no need. I promise that there is no need." Carrot said while smiling.

"Okay." Twilight said drooping.

Pinkie then proceeded to calmly walk alongside Twilight away from the disaster zone. After a while of being quiet, she finally feels the need to ask.

"Have you really decide to take on those... Tasks?" Pinkie asked worried.

Twilight sighed before drooping deeper. "Yes. I had no choice. Those ponies are still after me. That group that attack us just now. Was those prison keepers."

Pinkie's eyes widen, "Oh no. But why? Haven't you received enough punishment?!" she said angrily.

Instead of answering, Twilight hugged Pinkie. "Don't worry. I haven't fallen into darkness entirely. I have you, among some others, to avoid such a future from happening." she said determined. Showing her first emotion truly in a long time.

Pinkie smiled, "Alright. Now then, shall I introduce you to my Ponyville friends?"

"Sure." Twilight said, in a monotone voice. But Pinkie could tell that Twilight was actually a bit happy right now.

While walking to each location, Twilight was introduced to Ponyville itself first. As Pinkie talked and she talked about the Ponyville, its history and also some tit-bits. She did so... slowly. Which slightly shocked ponies surrounding Pinkie. Twilight noticed this, but said nothing about it.

"Anyways this the apple orchard. This is were Ponyville started. In here also my friend Applejack lives. And... actually there she is!" Pinkie said slightly louder. As she points at a orange earth pony with a apple for cutie mark and sporting a wild west hat.

"Applejack!" Pinkie shouted, Applejack looks up and smiled.

"Pinkie whatcha doing on mah farm?. And who is this new friend of yours?" Applejack asked in a southern accent.

"This is Twilight. She... is a good friend I made a long time ago. We lost contact, but she recently reappeared." Pinkie explained. Twilight merely nodded, not saying anything.

"Ah see. Well Twilight it is finally good tah meetcha. I was honestly worried that mah friend had lost her marbles when she made a new friend, which we never met before." Applejack said.

"I met Pinkie a long, long time ago. Before she left the rock farm." Twilight calmly stated.

Applejack's eyes widen, "That is a mightly long time ago. So whatcha doing on mah farm?"

"Just getting a tour of Ponyville from Pinkie. Meeting her current friends. You know the drill." Twilight simply replied.

"Ah do. So where to next?" Applejack asked curious.

"Fluttershy. She is the closest on the tour." Pinkie answered.

"Isn't Rainbow closer though?" Applejack asked.

"..." Pinkie didn't answer for a moment. Applejack saw a flash of worry cross Pinkie's face. This surprised Applejack, but she did not comment on it.

"Is she a bit hyper?" Twilight asked.

"Yes." Applejack and Pinkie answered without missing a beat.

"Perhaps that is why." Twilight offered.

"Twilight... Has a troubled past. And due to this, she has trouble dealing with certain... personalities." Pinkie stated worried.

"Is that why yah all are bit more quiet than normal?" Applejack asked.

"Yes." Pinkie said somewhat timid.

"I see. How about this, yah all go to Fluttershy to meet her. And I go to Rainbow to warn her. Deal?" Applejack offered.

"That would be great." Pinkie said, giving Applejack a humble smile.

"Before I go, I have one last question." Applejack said.

"Yes?" Pinkie asked.

"That explosion... Did you destroy your oven again?" Applejack asked.

"No. Outsiders destroyed nearly the entire frontal section of the building." Twilight answered.

"Why?" Applejack as she glared at Twilight a bit.

"Because of my troubled past... I am being hunted by my... abusers." Twilight quietly said.

Applejack's look went from annoyed to shocked instantly. However before she could ask more, Pinkie dragged Twilight away toward Fluttershy. Applejack shook her head, before running towards Rainbow's cloud house.

Twilight looked slightly worried at Applejack before walking back alongside Pinkie. Twilight meanwhile tried to take the scenery in, but everywhere she looked. Her mind constantly give her "memory recovered" warnings. It was causing her to get a bit dizzy.

"And here we are. The quiet cottage where Fluttershy lives." Pinkie said. However Twilight mind began glitching. This house triggered a very powerful memory. So powerful, that Twilight stumbled a bit. Pinkie didn't notice. However someone did. Someone that had been watching Twilight since Canterlot.

Pinkie knocked on the door. And not a moment later, Fluttershy opened the door.

"Oh hey Pinkie." Fluttershy said, the moment she looked towards Twilight she was about to hide. Until she noticed something.

"This is Twilight... And she is here-" Pinkie was about to explain only for Fluttershy to cut her off.

"Your friend doesn't look very well." Fluttershy said worried. Pinkie instantly snapped towards Twilight. And Twilight chose that exact moment to faint.

"Twilight!" Pinkie shouted scared. Fluttershy meanwhile kept her cool, and dragged Twilight into her humble home.

Even the past will eventually catch back up. And not just the bad parts. Also... the good ones.

In the bushes that overlooked Fluttershy's cottage. A strange stallion in metal armor stood. His horn lit up as he spoke using telepathy towards the unknown. "Your highness?" ??? asked.

"Yes?" ??? replied confused.

"I found someone matching the description of the pony you mentioned." ??? stated calmly.

"But...? Surely something makes that assumption hard. It always does." ??? asked knowingly.

"Yes. The pony is mostly made of parts that belong to a cyborg. However what little it has as fur, it is purple. The hair color is a match. The magic signature is close to perfect." ??? reported.

"That's..." ??? said hopeful.

"That is not all. According to miss Pie. She is suffering from some kind of amnesia. Induced by a troubled past." ??? explained.

"It would fit the timeline. And it would make sense. But surely you have more damning proof, no?" ??? asked.

"Yes. She dropped a single piece of hair during an altercation at Sugarcube corner. It tested the DNA. It's result is positive." ??? reported.

"Meaning?" ??? asked excited.

What ??? said next, confirmed the suspicion of ??? "Yes. She is without a single doubt. Twilight Sparkle."

Author's Note

And that is where I shall end this chapter. A bit of a cliffhanger, isn't it? I felt that this chapter was long enough. And I was running out of ideas. Also it seems ??? has found her finally. Who is ???...? You might ask? Well, read the next chapter to find that out!