SWWC Side Story 3: Taking Off the Hat

Saffron sat there for a good ten minutes shaking. Her emotions were a wreck and her mind couldn't process anything. This was truly her darkest moment of this whole experience. Was all of this worth it? She was no closer now than at the start from her perspective. Just what did she learn in all this?

As her mind wandered, a door opened and the elevator dinged. That was when things got even stranger. Two pale white beings devoid of facial details outside of green manes walked into the room. One ran over to the two suitors that the monstrous mare from before had been using. Before Saffron could process why they were here, the figure stabbed both stallions swiftly in the brain stem.

Her eyes widened and she tried to react only for the first one to stand in her way. She froze as it held a sharp object to her throat. Saffron remained still as the second pale creature poured out green liquid over the body, quickly melting their entire bodies down to a fine mush without damaging the floor at all. After which they vacuum it up and swiped away the surface. In seconds the whole scene was completely clean.

The first one pushed her away as the second walked over to Vignette, melting her down as well as the couch and removing all evidence from the room. The only thing that still affirmed to her that it all happened was fresh in her mind. As the second worked, the first pulled out some much cleaner and nicer clothes for her and waved their hand over her.

Like as if the most efficient spell, it cleaned off her whole body just like the shower, but with far greater details. She barely couldn't even feel the previous impressions against her pussy. It was the weirdest and most uncomfortable feeling that she had ever experienced. The figure placed the clothing down beside her and walked away.

The clothes were fitted perfectly to her body and were extremely comfortable. They were completely unlike the sexy attire of the last few missions. In fact, she almost felt like a noble mare wearing this. However, it didn't feel right at all, given where she was. She didn't say anything, but her eyes leered over to the figures as they gestured her back to the elevator.

Saffron took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Her eyes locked on the figure, seeing that it didn't move nor lower their weapons. It was clear that she had no choice but to obey and follow. She couldn't tell if these things were ponies or even alive. But either way, they weren't going to kill her if she listened. Not when they took so much trouble to clean up the mess and put her in the nicest clothing yet.

Once inside, they typed several floor buttons in a sequence like a combination lock. The doors closed and the elevator shook violently, but didn't move up or down. She held her hand to the wall to brace herself. It felt like the whole building was spinning around her. Then with a final shake the door dinged and opened. Despite seemingly not moving at all, the opening led to a new room that wasn't there before.

Outside was the most extravagant rooftop garden, undercast the black crystal that held Canterlot, over shining the crater that haunted her this whole time. Saffron stepped outside and was awestruck with how beautiful it was. It was decorated like a royal chamber, everything was made from the finest materials.

She was taken to the center, a large round table. There were already other figures present, leaving behind a massive offering of food. All of it drew her attention so strong as the details were so familiar. Then it hit her, the food looked exactly like they had came her father's restaurant.

The truth hit her with such joy that she didn't even need to fight herself to sit down among the incredible display. Saffron felt her previous tears of sadness replaced by happiness and joy. Touching food reveal they were so real, and warm, like they were made seconds ago.

The guards moved aside and let her eat to her content. Saffron savored the taste and the memories of each bite lacing her mouth. She couldn't stop smiling, feeling her heart beating again with more effort than she had in months. The pain of what happened was being pushed aside, and she was able to relax and enjoy herself. It took her a solid minute before she choked and needed a drink.

On that cue, the elevator open against to reveal the leader of this table. She was stopped mid-bite at the appearance and name tag in plain sight. An old purple stallion with a teal in a fine suit with a yellow tie and a brown vest. Arriving at the far end of the table, he draped his lab coat of the chair with his cutie mark emblazoned upon it. A flickering flame, which meant only one thing.

"Dr. Firelight..." Saffron quickly cleaned off her face. "I've found you..."

"Yes, you have, my dear Saffron." He snapped his fingers, and the pale figures left the room, vanishing into the elevator. "Please, sit and eat your fill." He smiled and sat down, taking a plate. "Crave these exact copies... of the greatest food your father ever made for me."

"Copies..." Her eyes widened as the detail felt so real. However, another thought ran through her mind that left her even more sickened. "My father... worked for you monsters--" She was stopped at his laughter.

"Vignette Valencia, Dr. Pitch and the other ones you seduced..." He cleared his throat to make sure every word came to her as clearly as possible. "The company has been around for thousands of years and there are too many departments to keep up with. Yes, your father worked under one of our lesser sections, but never made contact with either of those two."

"He didn't know what you were doing here!" She slammed her fists into the table, making the plates and cups jump. "That's absurd. My father would never agree to such things. He's a loving stallion who wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Yes, which is why he had to keep a tight lip when we used certain meals he made for our purpose." Firelight poured himself some wine, taking a sip. "I had hoped his craft still holds true in his daughter long after his passing. And judging by your performance, that sadly not the case."

"No..." She gritted her teeth. "I'm nothing like my father. And he would hate what I've done to get here..." The mare shoved the plates away and stood up. "And he would never work for such a monster, no matter the reason."

"Even if that reason was to save all Equestria?"

"What?" Her eyes widened and her mind raced as a screen above them descended. "What are you talking about? How are such whorish actions required in saving the homeland?"

"Foolish mare, I stated before there are many departments. Dr. Pitch and his demented daughter only covered a single area. We have many venues, ranging from peaceful to warlike." He snapped his fingers and images flashed on screen, showing her everything.

"Shortly after the founding of Equestria, Lord Red foretold the fate of everything playing out now. It was the last message he gave to the princesses before the traitor Rex Moba cast him beyond reality." The image showed a giant centipede vanishing with his last words scrolling out. "The prophecy stated that Equestria's destruction would come to pass five thousands years later. Modern day..."

The screen split in half and shined the black crystal thousands of miles above them. "Our founder assumed this meant that cursed centipedes return, but she was wrong. It quickly became clear that this disaster would come at the hands of another we weren't prepared for. The princesses have been blind to our findings and refused to accept this impending danger."

"I don't believe you." Saffron's eye narrowed, not buying any of this. "The princesses would never allow Equestria to fall. They have worked tirelessly to keep it together for generations."

"And now they are dead!!" He slammed his hand down. "They hold no will in this place anymore."

"No..." Saffron tried to argue. "They aren't dead, just trapped."

"Believe what you will. Truthfully none of us have been able to break into that black crystal." He sighed and took a long drink. "But that didn't stop us from doing our jobs."

"And what is that?" Saffron shivered at the possible answer, yet the reveal only left her so confused.

"The founder..." He turned the drink over the food, pour out the maroon liquid over the meal. "The founder's word... She is our will... The founder!!"

"Who is this founder?"

"No!" Dr. Firelight stood up and approached Saffron. "Don't say it so commonly, she not no mere common pony. She is the founder of everything all around you." He spread his arms out. "Her vision guided not our company, but everything Equestria. Her word is absolute, and her will must not be questioned."

"You're not answering me!"

"The founder... is god and devil to all of us." He smiled wide, his eyes beaming with pride. "She saw the first ponies rise from the muck." Getting right in her face, he took her by the collar and pulled her away from the table. "She guided the first unicorn to her horn and held the pegasus up with her wings. The earth ponies march in her forgotten footsteps. All of us, ever since she united us."

"What does that have to do with me?!" She pulled herself back, knocking his grip loose. "Or my father?! He didn't deserve to be dragged into this mess. None of us did!" She pointed to the black crystal and demanded. "Enough explanation. Bring my father back to me."

"Your father is gone." Dr. Firelight sighed, pulling her hand down. "Everypony up there is doomed to be consumed by the evil tyrant our founder desires to defeat." He pulled her into his shoulder and wrapped his hand over the back of her head. "You must understand... I know your pain. I lost my own adopted daughter, Starlight Glimmer on the same day that thing appeared. But the ones up there... Everything we have lost are beyond our grasp now."

"No..." Saffron struggled. "They aren't! There has to be a way to get them out of there." She pushed him back, her tears flying from her face. "If you can make all these horrible devices and machines... then you have to have something that could free them."

"Sadly, we don't--" Without warning his head was blasted clean off by a spell. The blood splattered over her and threw him over the table and far from her. Saffron jumped and looked to the doorway. To her surprise it was Hoo'far held his staff high upon entering the room.

"Thank you for keeping him distracted." Hoo'far rushed in with a smile. "I was worried even with the cameras offline that one of those pale assassins might step in the way." He walked over and stabbed the bottom of his staff into Dr. Firelight's hand.

"Hoo'far, what are you doing?!" Saffron yelled in disbelief.

"What do you think I'm doing?" He pressed several buttons on his staff as the top open to reveal a vial of blood. "I needed hurry up and claim his DNA, and reach our final destination. The idea was for you to seduce some semen out of him, but things got complicated." He chuckled and took hold of the vial, grabbed her hand and racing them both back to the elevator, glaring at the body the whole time.

"How did you even get up here--" She was stopped upon seeing powder over the buttons.

"Finding the right combination wasn't that hard once I knew you were up here. However, finding our final target proved more troublesome." He pressed the floor buttons in a different sequence as the door closed. A pocket opened under the numbers revealing a petri dish where he poured out the blood. The elevator started to shake and the screen above read. 'DNA recognized: Dr. Firelight, clearance granted.'

"Where are we going?" Saffron demanded. "If this is our final destination, then I need real answers, not that shit he was peddling me!" She threw out her hands and her voice grew with rage.

"I'll explain everything once we reach the Altar of the Pale Mare." Hoo'far sighed. "I can't tell you until you've seen it with your own eyes." His hand pressed the dish back into its pocket as the elevator moved. "Just know, everything has been building up to this. Today we find out what happened to Canterlot!"

******

Soon after the door closed, the room was ever so silent upon the cold visage of Dr. Firelight's headless corpse. That is until the body got back. The neck wound morphed and twisted as the skin turned pale white. Stretching outward and taking shape of a new head, with a green mane.

Standing up, seemingly unharmed by the attack. He held up his wristwatch and spoke with a different voice. "This is 053, everything went according to plan. They will firmly believe you are dead, Dr. Firelight."

"Good..." The real master of this game watched from the shadows among a room of crystals. "The founder's will shall be complete." He observed the images of Saffron and Hoo'far arriving at their next destination. "Thank you two, for help me clear out the disgusting ravel." The unicorn pressed a button revealing the corpses of all stallions Saffron 'seduced'. Each one was being ripped apart and replaced by the same pale blank-faced creatures with green manes.

******