Cyberpony Y2K

She got up, as her job required, quite early. Her first task, every morning, was to head to the front gate.

"Morning," she told the two security androids. Both fine Ronin models. Very high-end home security models, though some argued the Flash-points were better. Octavia thought at least a good quarter of those ponies were just mad that Canterlot had confiscated their Wonderbolts.

"Morning, Miss Melody!" the first said. "All's quiet."

As usual. "Good. Why not you head up and swap out with your replacements?"

"Yes, Ma'am," they both said. The second, however, paused beside her. "I saw the Boss up and about during the night," he said. "I checked, it was him, but...he's looking kind of frazzled. Maybe you could check up on him?"

Frazzled? That was not a word that most would attach to Goldbricker. Especially when he'd looked fine when she'd seen him. "Alright," I said, "I'll check on him. Go get your batteries charged before you fall over."

Octavia stepped away, heading back for the manor. She found Goldbricker in his office, holding one hand to his head, as he examined his computer screen.

"Sir?" Octavia said politely, knocking on the door frame.

Goldbricker waved her in wordlessly.

"Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes, fine," Goldbricker said absently.

"Really, Sir? Because you're not known for late night pacing."

"Let me guess: the door guards?" Goldbricker met her eyes.

Octavia nodded. "You spooked them so that they're worried about you, Sir."

Goldbricker sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"Sir, maybe you should try and get some sleep. Your...'airs' aside, you do work most days."

"I can't sleep, Octavia."

"Well, one sleepless night isn't anything to worry about," Octavia encouraged. "Perhaps you just need some rest, sir."

"Octavia..."

"Yes, sir?"

"I haven't slept a wink since the anesthetics wore off," Goldbricker said quietly. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands, watching how she'd react.

"I...I don't understand, Sir," Octavia said. "What do you mean..."

"I mean just that," Goldbricker replied.

Octavia stepped around the desk, then spared a glance at his computer screen. Up and front was an email from the doctor that had installed the cybernetic in Goldbricker.

I am dreadfully sorry to hear all this, but do not be alarmed. It is just your body acclimating to the chip. It can take a considerable length of time, depending on the pony. There is nothing much to be done, but you'll recover soon.

Doctor Cadduceus

"Two. Goddamn. Months," Goldbricker growled. "They told me there would be no long-term side-effects. They told me that it was as simple as putting in hair extensions."

Octavia stared at him in shock for a moment. "I...I don't know, Sir." She paused. "I...if I do recall..."

Goldbricker looked at her, frowning.

"Just...something Fancy said once. He had a friend who knew a doctor that specialized in cybernetics. I don't know much beyond that, but maybe a second opinion would help."

Goldbricker nodded. "Perhaps. I'll give him a call."

"Alright. If you're not feeling well, take it easy, Sir."

Goldbricker chuckled. "Well, you don't have to tell me twice."

As he seemed mostly fine, Octavia moved off to do her work for the day. Make sure the androids had swapped out alright, head to the gardens to water everything, and, as it was Thursday, give Goldleaf her next music lesson.

As Octavia was quickly realizing, she was a prodigy. With more practice she'd very quickly surpass Octavia. And even her other teacher, whom Octavia was reasonably certain was better than she herself was, even if she didn't want to admit it.

Goldleaf, grinning ear to ear, set down her violin. "Well?"

"Excellently," Octavia informed her.

"Oh, I can't wait for the school talent show!" Goldleaf said, throwing herself onto her back and kicking her legs into the air. "Do you think they'll love it, too?"

"Well, if my own musical career was anything to go by..." Octavia said, before trailing off. "Treble's teaching you the guitar, and you're just as good at that and like it more. How about you play that?"

"And look like a punk?" Goldleaf, still lying on the floor, frowned up at Octavia.

"Anypony who knows you won't think that," Octavia replied. "And besides, guitars haven't been considered 'punk' since the eighties."

"That was only a decade ago, Miss Octavia," Goldleaf said dryly.

"And you're barely a decade old."

"I'm fifteen!" Goldleaf snapped.

"What? I thought you were only fourteen."

"Come on...you're as bad as Dad," Goldleaf complained. "I turned fifteen last March, and you know it."

"Alright, alright," Octavia chuckled.

"Miss Melody?"

Octavia paused, then pulled her communicator off her belt. "Yes?"

"A guest is here, saying she has an appointment with Mr Goldbricker," the Ronin said.

"That was...fast," Octavia muttered. "Suspiciously so. I'm going to check with Mr Goldbricker, but if she starts going on about our car's extended warranty, send her on her way."

"Heh, alright, Ma'am. I'll tell her to wait a moment."

"Alright. I'll head down there." Octavia hung up, then turned to the pouting Goldleaf.

"Sorry. But I do have a job to do." Octavia smiled, then stood up. "Keep practicing. You'll be a great musician someday, I just know it."

"Heh, thanks, Miss Octavia!"

Octavia got up, dialing Goldbricker as she walked towards the property's front gate.

"Yes? What is it, Octavia?"

"Were you expecting the second opinion to arrive today?" Octavia asked.

Goldbricker hesitated. "I mean, she did say as soon as possible," he admitted, "so it's on me if I didn't think she meant today. Bring her up here and we'll hear her out."

"'We'?"

"Yes, of course. I want you with me."

"Sir, I must inform you that medical knowledge is well and truly beyond the limits of what I can teach myself."

"I'm not certain how I feel about this doctor. Fancy Pants swears by his friend's honor, and she swears by this doctor's honor, but...you know, that only goes so far. You turned out alright, I suppose. I just wish it had been somepony from Canterlot or some such, and not Ponyville, of all places."

"Ponyville?" Octavia asked. "That's...that small town outside the Everfree, right?"

"Yes, which is not the only thing the town is known for." He paused for dramatic effect. "The other thing is that it's where Sweet Apple Acres makes its home."

"Yes, I'm aware of their base of operations," Octavia said, pushing out onto the lawn. She looked up at the graying sky, watching pegasi move storm clouds about. I forgot that was today, she thought. The doctor had made their trip knowing the weather was going to be bad? Interesting.

And, hopefully, not a desperate con artist trying to make a move.

"Alright, I see her," Octavia said. "I'm going to let you go now."

"Thank you. Let's just hope she has an answer for me."

Octavia hung up, then stood in front of the gate. "You would be Doctor..."

The mare wore a traveling coat, which seemed too big for her. Her mane was unruly, but humongous, bunching up all the way to her hips. She cringed when Octavia spoke, and mumbled something under her breath.

"I'm terribly sorry, I didn't quite catch that," Octavia said apologetically.

The doctor's guard android gave her a polite nudge. Octavia shot her gaze to it, seeing a fairly large android in a brown duster and worn, faded stetson. Her attention was brought back to the doctor when she spoke, however. "I'm...I'm Doctor Fluttershy. This is Applejack. We're here about the, uh...call we got from Mister Goldbricker. I told him...that I'd arrive as soon as I could. Sorry it took so long, getting a train ticket at the last minute was harder than expected."

Octavia blinked. "Well, um, he was under the impression that you wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, so don't worry, you're not late." She snapped her fingers, and the Ronins moved to open the gate. At the sound of the finger snap, though, Fluttershy flinched, pressing close to her android.

Octavia examined the android closely. Painted orange, with a screen to simulate eyes, but not a mouth. More commonly seen in worker androids than guards. And she assumed it was a guard, because Fluttershy did not look like her parents let her leave the house without her six-foot, sturdily-built combat droid.

Or...maybe she was making assumptions. Fluttershy, upon examination, was older than she looked. Octavia almost wanted to say late thirties, but...couldn't quite tell.

"This way," Octavia said, beckoning them to follow. "We're happy that you could make the trip."

"So am I," Fluttershy muttered to herself, probably not intending to be heard. She stayed silent, doctor's bag swinging at her side as she trotted behind them.

Octavia lead the way, choosing to stay silent herself.

Like this morning, the door was open—he didn't always close it, but it was worrying to see that he had kept it open for such an extended period of time.

Octavia knocked on the doorframe. Goldbricker waved her in, scooting his chair an inch or so forward. Octavia moved, pushing two seats forward, one for the Doctor, and the larger one for the android.

'Applejack', if Octavia remembered that right, took the seat hesitantly, then gave a small nod of appreciation to her. Octavia smiled to herself, wondering how anypony could think they weren't real ponies, before sitting down besides Goldbricker.

"Well, it was...Doctor Fluttershy, correct?" Goldbricker asked.

"Yes," Fluttershy said, seeming to relax. She clicked open her bag, pulling out a binder, and began to flip through it. "I heard you were having troubles after installing a Class Three CyWear reflex chip?"

"Yes. My normal doctor simply told me that it is...just acclimating, but...he also neglected to mention that there would be any side effects, short term or long term." Goldbricker, wearing a bitter smile, gestured to his sides. "I felt it wise to get a second opinion, though...I'm a little surprised at the haste of your arrival."

"Oh, sorry," Fluttershy said. "I thought...you'd like me here sooner, so..."

"No worries, my dear," Goldbricker said, smile becoming more genuine. "I did go ahead and procure these..." He pulled out a small document from his desk. "In case you needed to know more about my specific reflex chip."

Fluttershy shook her head, causing Goldbricker to frown. "Pretty much, they're all the same," she explained. "I'll take a look at that in a minute, but those documents are generally the last thing I look at." She looked down at her checklist, examining it carefully. "So, Mr Goldbricker, I'm going to ask you a few questions, okay? Think carefully about these." When Goldbricker nodded, she continued. "Have you been suffering from insomnia?"

"Yes."

"Since you got the chip?"

"Yes."

"Did you have trouble getting to sleep before then?"

"No."

Fluttershy checked that off, then asked, "How has your hearing been?"

"I..." Goldbricker paused, then thought about that. "Well, a little stuffier, I suppose, but...I am getting old, and I was thinking I just needed to go at them with a Q-tip or something."

"Hmm," Fluttershy said. "What about smell?"

"My sense of smell has been fine, my dear," Goldbricker said slowly.

"And your eyesight? Has it gotten worse?"

Goldbricker remained silent for a long moment. "Yes."

Octavia gave him a sharp look.

"My dear," he said, perhaps addressing Octavia, perhaps Fluttershy, "I am getting rather up in years. Those things might just be aging."

"Did either start before the reflex chip?"

Another long pause. "No."

Fluttershy checked off another box. "Do you know how reflex chips work, and why they all tend to cause the same set of problems?"

"Can't say I do, Doctor."

"They boost your reaction time by increasing the speed that your brain sends signals through your nervous system," Fluttershy explained slowly, "using an artificial electric current. The electric current can cause damage, including the main primary senses that connect with the brain, such as sight, hearing, and smell. All of those can be damaged by the reflex chip."

"So, it's broken, you're saying?"

"No. I believe it is working as intended."

Goldbricker leaned forward. Octavia stared at him, as he openly glared at the doctor. "Explain to me...what you are saying."

"All of these things are just normal parts of what the chip does," Fluttershy said simply. "Most cybernetics cause bodily damage while installed. Reflex chips are just...particularly bad about it."

"I've seen plenty of ponies walk around without any apparent discomfort from their prosthetics," Goldbricker said.

"Well, they might be using lower-end ones," Fluttershy said. "Older or otherwise cheaper models aren't as aggressive. They tend to have less of the extra technology, like mimicking feeling receptors, so they usually don't cause any damage. Or, perhaps they're just hiding the damage. Pretending everything is normal." Her face grew somber. "I know that most ponies would prefer to do that."

"So. What's the fix?" Goldbricker asked.

"There isn't one."

Octavia gaped at her. Goldbricker leaned forward, clasping his hands and leaning them on his desk. "So you are telling me, that there are fatal flaws in the cyberwear that most ponies use, and that the ponies who design them are aware of this, and yet do nothing to change it? And nopony talks about this?"

Fluttershy flinched from his tone. But she did not back down. "Yes. That is what I'm saying."

Goldbricker's face grew dark. "I am afraid I must ask you to leave," he said.

"Mr Goldbricker--"

"No. You must leave," Goldbricker interrupted. "Thank you for coming out here. But now, you must go."

Fluttershy stared at him for a moment, then stood up abruptly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help," she whispered, before fleeing the room. Octavia thought she heard crying beyond the faint hoof falls.

Applejack stood up, her chair making a relieved creaking sound. For a moment, she looked like she was about to say something, but then she moved to follow her charge.

Octavia closed the door to the office. "That they would even suggest something like that," Octavia said. "I have rarely seen such...such...such audacity...it's preposterous, too! Why hasn't anypony sued them? If there is truly physical damage, then that can be presented in any court, and even if the company was declared innocent, ponies would gossip."

"I've heard..." Goldbricker paused.

"Heard what, Sir?" Octavia asked, when he didn't continue.

"Why not you head on to your other jobs?" Goldbricker said instead of answering.

"Sir," Octavia said, annoyed.

"Octavia. You have work to do still, and I...I have to think. And also...do my least favorite thing in the whole world."

"What's that?"

Goldbricker looked up, meeting her eyes. "Hard work," he said with perfect seriousness.

Octavia was still snickering to herself over that last comment hours later. Of course, it made sense that Goldbricker would check to see if anypony else had made such a claim, but the joke removed the last of her worry. He didn't expect anything to come of it.

She resolved not to worry about it either.

Octavia, finished with her tasks, stepped into the small lodge to the side of the manor. Gold Star ensured that it was plenty comfortable for her. Goldbricker, for all that he was a wonderful, wonderful stallion, had heard her say it was, "Plenty good," and was content to leave it at that.

Thanks to the mare of the house, the house was well furnished, with plenty of cabinets, decorations, furniture, a TV, and a gamestation. The last one didn't see much use, unless Goldleaf roped her into playing, but Octavia had played a game or two. Work done for the day, she briefly considered returning to Rise of Daring Do, but decided to put off thoughts of that until she'd fixed her dinner.

Which, until she went to the store, was ramen noodles. She grimaced, then opened the cupboard.

The noodles were gone, replaced by a note. Octavia took it, carefully reading the gold pen.

Dearest Octavia,

Quit being a silly filly. I've taken away your ramen noodles, and put actual food in your fridge. The stuff in the bin with yellow tape on it is leftovers and should be eaten tonight, or be thrown out tomorrow.

Octavia chuckled. She's more caring than Mom is, she thought to herself.

She put the note back, then stepped over to the fridge. She opened it, and quickly found the bin in question. She popped the lid open, looking inside. And grinned.

Pasta salad. Gold Star's idea of a joke, perhaps? She did have an odd sense of humor.

"Well, as much as I'd like to reject this on principle, your pasta salad is delicious, Miss Gold," Octavia chuckled to herself. "And...instant ramen isn't."

The light cut off.

Octavia paused, blinking, and then counted to ten. The light didn't come back on. Grumbling one or two unladylike words, she put the pasta salad back and checked her watch.

Seven-forty-eight. She had twelve minutes to fix the power before the storm was scheduled.

She threw her vest back on, put on the thick gloves for messing with the power box, then headed out.

The sun had set, but there was still enough light to see by. Like Equestria hadn't quite realized it was supposed to be night. Octavia quickly trotted for the gate, toolbox rattling in her hand, before she stopped.

"I'm sorry, but it is rather late for a visit," she told the guest beyond the gate. "Perhaps I could take a message?"

"Hmm...get your porch light fixed?" the mare said, with a musical, lilting laugh that didn't hide her unease.

Octavia couldn't make out too many details, but the mare appeared tense, carrying a big instrument case. Lyre, if Octavia was any judge.

"Duly noted," Octavia said, giving her toolbox a shake. "What brings you out here at this time?"

The mare reached up to her coat, then touched something off her chest. A purple, six-pointed star. "Lyra Heartstrings, Friendship Inquisitors, second-class," she said. "I'm here on duty, I'm afraid, and have to talk to Mr. Goldbricker tonight."

Octavia paused. She turned to the Ronin on her left, who shrugged. "She only just arrived. We hadn't talked to her yet," he said.

Octavia looked back to her. "This couldn't wait until the morning, could it? I really should fix whatever's wrong with the porch's power." And whatever shorted out my fridge.

"No, Miss, I am afraid not," Lyra said simply. There it was again—she was speaking to musical tunes. Well, everypony knew the Friendship Inquisitors were strange—the name aside. And if she were here to make an arrest, she'd have shown up with Wonderbolts, not on her own.

"Let me call up to Mr. Goldbricker first," Octavia said, pulling out her phone.

The Inquisitor didn't say anything. Octavia called Goldbricker.

It took him an extended length of time to answer. "Yes, Octavia? Is something the matter?"

"A Friendship Inquisitor is here," Octavia said, choosing to be direct. "She says she needs to talk to you. Tonight."

"I—a what?"

"A Friendship Inquisitor."

Goldbricker didn't answer right away. "Well, send her up," he said.

"Yes, Sir, right away," Octavia replied, hanging up. She looked to the Ronins, then nodded. "Open the gate."

The gate pulled aside at the click of a button, and Lyra stepped across the threshold. "Don't fret," she said, giving Octavia an encouraging smile. "I just have a few questions that I need answered."

"Well, yes, but I'm worried about the...haste of the issue, perhaps? This way." Octavia began trotting, and the Inquisitor moved to stand at her side.

"Speed is often important, in my job," Lyra said simply. "What about you? You look like a mare who knows when a job needs to be done quickly."

Octavia looked at the toolbox she was still carrying. "Yes, I do," she said dryly.

Lyra laughed. "I must apologize for that. The light issue seems...pressing."

"The Ronins have night-vision," Octavia replied, "but the power cut off in my house. If I don't figure out what's wrong, I'm in serious trouble."

"Oh, my. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...ah, well. I suppose I couldn't help it. Here, take my number..." She handed a small card to Octavia. "Let me know if I caused any trouble, okay?"

"Uh...alright?" Octavia took it, then slipped it into her pocket.

"You were ready to go and fix it yourself, I see. Not many ponies—especially, non-pegasi ones—go out and fix their own electrical problems." Lyra gave her an appraising look. "Are you an electrician, by any chance? Or something more mechanical?"

"Groundskeeper," Octavia answered. "I dabble a lot, though."

"Ah. Quite the busy worker, then." Lyra grinned. "It's a lot of work to practice so many skills. Good luck."

"Thank you," Octavia said, then stepped into the dining room. "Sir, this is Lyra Heartstrings." Octavia stepped aside, letting Lyra step fully into the room.

"A pleasure, though I do say that the hour is rather late," Goldbricker said. "Octavia, why not you take Goldleaf off to bed now?"

Goldleaf bristled in a way that made Octavia sure he'd been trying to send her out since he got the call. "Dad--"

"Sweetie." Goldbricker looked at her firmly. "Go to your room."

Goldleaf huffed, but stomped past Lyra. Silver seemed to have already powered off, so Octavia took her role.

"I'll take your leave," Octavia said, closing the door behind her.

She turned, facing a scowling Goldleaf. "Why can't I hear, too?" she said.

"It's grown-ups talking. You'd find it boring."

"I'm almost an adult! I need to not be treated like a child," she snapped, stomping away and sitting on a nearby bench.

Octavia sighed, stepping over towards her. "Well, you do still act like one."

"You can't count my annoyance at being treated like a child as acting childish!" Goldleaf declared.

"What about when you destroyed a twelve-hundred bit rose, playing with your ball in an area that you know you're not supposed to play in?"

Goldleaf cringed. "Okay, so sometimes I act like a child," she admitted. "But surely I can hear this!"

Octavia opened her mouth to reply, but shouting interrupted her. She and Goldleaf turned, listening as Goldstar and Goldbricker both shouted.

"Or...maybe you can," she said slowly. "Come along, let's get you to bed."

"You...you don't think they're in actual trouble, do you?"

Octavia shook her head. "Of course not. Even if the discussion is getting heated, they haven't done anything." She hesitated. "Well, maybe it was a missed tax statement or something. Who knows what makes them send out Inquisitors these days? Now, come along. Your father told you to go to bed."

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Goldbricker shouted. "GET OUT, I SAY!"

Octavia sucked in a deep breath. She wasn't aware of all the rules involving Inquisitors, but she did know that kicking them out was not an option.

She heard Lyra say something. To which Goldbricker shouted again. "I'M NOT SAYING IT AGAIN! GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY--"

BANG.

The gunshot echoed around the house, rattling in Octavia's skull, before sinking down into her heart and settling like a weight, making her breath catch.

There was a long moment of silence, before Gold Star screamed. "YOU BASTARD! YOU RAT-BAST--"

Another gunshot. This time, Octavia heard a soft thump. Silence fell. No more shouting. No more arguing.

Lyra didn't say anything. Octavia waited, tense.

"M-mom? D-dad?" Goldleaf whispered.

"Goldleaf, we need to go," Octavia said quietly.

"MOM! DAD!"

Hoofsteps. Coming right for the door.

Then the doorhandle lit up in a light-green glow.

"Goldleaf, run!" Octavia shouted, pulling out her gun. She fired into the door, hearing the Inquisitor cry out in pain. Octavia took off, grabbing Goldleaf and dragging her along.

A shot rang out, and a green trail of light burst through the wall ahead of Octavia as she turned a corner. She cursed, throwing Goldleaf to the ground, and then fired blindly around the corner. No rewarding cry of pain this time.

"Keep running! Don't look back!" Octavia said. She turned her attention to the walls, listening to the sounds of the Inquisitor draw close.

She had examined where the wires were, after all.

Octavia plunged her fist into the wall, ripping loose a bundle of live wires and throwing them onto the carpet. Sparks lit up immediately. The Inquisitor rounded the corner, and Octavia immediately opened fire. Lyra, impossibly fast, ducked back around the wall.

Octavia took off, running after Goldleaf as the house's fire alarm went off. "Come on! Get out the--"

Pain. Sear, mind-numbing pain as a bullet hit her arm. Octavia screamed, falling to the ground and rolling. She gritted her teeth, then stumbled to her hooves and charged for the door.

Before she got out, somepony collided with her. Octavia tried elbowing her, but hit the lawn face-first. Her gun landed just out of reach, and Lyra put hers against the back of Octavia's skull.

"Don't. Move," she hissed.

Octavia fell still, breathing shallowly.

Then she heard a cracking, crumbling sound, followed by a massive crash.

"NOOOO!" screamed Goldleaf. "Silver—Silver was--"

Lyra lunged, grabbing Goldleaf before she could go back inside. "Come on, kid! Anyone still in there's dead by this point," she said, taking an elbow to the face for her efforts.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Goldleaf punctuated the order by biting Lyra's forearm. Lyra gritted her teeth, dragging the young filly away from the building.

Wonderbolts flew overhead as the rain finally began pouring down. Eight o'clock, she thought numbly.

A large van pulled up, and from it poured Wonderbolts and Praetorians. The fire department, seemingly, hadn't arrived yet.

A violet pony in a matching jacket jumped out, with a small, timid-looking blue unicorn behind her. Both had six-pointed stars on their chests.

The violet unicorn charged forward, and bellowed, "HEARTSTRINGS!"

Lyra looked up, meeting the newcomer's gaze. "What the fuck happened here?" she demanded. "You were supposed to talk to them! Ask questions! Not burn the fucking house down!"

"She started the fire," Lyra said, nodding to Octavia.

"Where's Goldbricker?" the other Inquisitor asked, looking around.

Lyra hesitated. "Deceased. Him and Goldstar both."

The senior Inquisitor sucked in a deep breath. The timid one froze.

"You better have a damned good explanation for this," the senior snarled. She paused, then looked to Octavia. "Come on, up you go," she said, pulling Octavia to her feet. "Let's get hat arm bandaged."

Lyra set Goldleaf down, and the little filly rushed over, supporting Octavia, and then roughly shoving the Inquisitor away.

The Inquisitor glared, but didn't say anything. She turned and gave a look to Lyra, and as she did so, Octavia picked up her gun, hoping no one saw. They marched up to the gates in silence. "What about those two?" she finally asked, nodding to Octavia and Goldleaf.

Lyra didn't respond. She stood, looking back at the burning house.

"Lyra!" the Inquisitor snapped. "Get over here."

"Why'd you send me here, Twilight?" Lyra asked.

"What?"

"Why...why would you send me here?"

Octavia didn't stop to figure out what Lyra meant by that. She just shot the faulty power box.

It exploded, spewing sparks all over the the three Inquisitors, and the light above them exploded as well.

"Run!" Octavia shouted, shoving Goldleaf along. She fired her last few shots over her shoulder, and was rewarded by somepony crying out, as she lead Goldleaf out into the city, several shots going over her head.

The rain began pouring harder, visibility limited to within a few feet. Octavia ran, hooves slipping over slick concrete. "We...have to get to Fancy," she said hoarsely. Her arm throbbed. She couldn't hardly move it, couldn't hardly walk..."Fancy...will take us in."

Goldleaf stopped abruptly.

"Gold...Goldleaf," Octavia said. "We have to keep moving. Fancy's doorman knows me...he'll let us in."

"Fancy's...doorman...you...you let her in."

"What?"

"You let her in," Goldleaf whispered. "You...it's all your fault!" She shoved Octavia, throwing her away. Octavia stumbled, colliding with a garbage can that fell over.

"I hate you!" Goldleaf shouted. "It's...it's your fault Mom...and Dad...and...and Silver! All of them are dead, and it's all your fault!"

"Goldleaf, wait--!"

Goldleaf didn't, though. She simply turned, and ran into the night.

It took a long minute before Octavia manged to get up. "Got to...to find her...she'll get hurt--"

Somepony grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth. Octavia struggled, but found herself pulled out of sight, gun wrenched from her grasp, and mouth covered by a metal hand.

"Shhh, sweetheart," a raspy, mechanical voice said. "She'll hear you."

The timid Inquisitor suddenly appeared, looking left and right. She stepped over to the garbage bin, examined the trash, then stepped around it with a sigh of relief. Then, she hurried on.

Octavia had quit struggling, and her captor carried her a different direction, towards a car.

"First time getting shot, sweetheart? Don't worry, I know how much that hurts." Octavia took that moment to examine the figure.

An android of some kind. Plated armor, rough, with sharp edges, under a ragged, torn cloak.

And her face...designed like a mare's face, with red lines painted from the eyes to her chin. Like tears of blood.

"Diamond...Duster?" She kicked, but the android was stronger than her.

"Easy does it now, sweetheart. If I'm to find the kid, I need you to cooperate."

The car door opened, and Fluttershy stepped out. "Oh, goodness," she said. "Come on, get into the back. I don't know if that Inquisitor's coming back." She paused, then turned to the Diamond Duster. "What about Goldbricker?"

The android shook her head. "No clue, sweetheart. His house was burning when I got there, and was swarming with Inquisitors and Wonderbolts. I can't fight my way through that."

"Goldbricker's...Goldbricker's dead," Octavia forced herself to say.

"They killed him?" Diamond asked. "He's not a noble, but still...he's popular enough so that everyone will hear that he died."

Fluttershy wiped tears from her eyes. "Get in the car. We'll get you to a safe spot. Diamond, find Goldleaf." Diamond nodded, then leapt away, too fast for Octavia to track.

"Octavia," Fluttershy said firmly. "If that Inquisitor comes back, we can't take her."

Octavia, numb, got in the back. Fluttershy moved in behind her, rather than taking shotgun.

"Miss Melody..."

Octavia looked up, at Fluttershy's crying face. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think...I didn't think they'd just kill him over that. I thought..."

"We thought," Applejack said from the driver's seat, "and the Boss ordered that we tell 'im the truth. None of us thought they'd up and kill him, straight out. We thought...he could change everything. Ponies would listen to him." Her hands gripped the steering wheel. "Fuck them. Fuck those bastards."

Octavia closed her eyes, leaning back. "Yeah," she agreed, "to hell with with the Inquisitors."

Vinyl leaned back, synthwaves motionless.

"Well?" Octavia said.

"What happened next?"

"Nothing, really."

"Nothing?" Vinyl bolted back upright, eyes going up and down. "Nothing? What about Goldleaf? What did you do next? Where did you go? Was Silver Star okay? How did the Inquisitors cover everything up?"

"Rarity never found Goldleaf. The next day, the Inquisitors found her in the hands of some...unscrupulous ponies. She was adopted by a noble family up north, near Trotson. I don't know if Silver got out...they...the newspapers didn't bother mentioning recovered property." Octavia grimaced. "Lyra claimed that she was investigating them because of a possible connection to Discord—which, Fluttershy's visit aside, was tenuous at best. She claimed that she killed Goldbricker because he pulled on her. Gold Star, I could believe, but Goldbricker never touched a gun. He found my and Gold Star's hobby ridiculous." She chuckled to herself, then pulled her legs up, hugging them to her chest. "For...for my birthday, he got me a special violin. The bow was solid gold." She didn't bother wiping the tears from her eyes as she said it. "I think it went up in the fire."

Vinyl hugged her. "I'm sorry to hear that, Tavi. That's...that's awful. That they just...killed them all, and...and got away with it."

Octavia nodded. "I ever see Lyra again, I'm going to blow her brains out."

"But...you're meeting with Inquisitors soon."

Octavia hesitated. "They released a statement at the time. That...me and Goldleaf were considered innocent. So, even then, I'm clean on record, and...while I'd hate to pull this one, I am a high noble. Just because I haven't talked to my parents in over four years doesn't mean it's not true." She gave a bitter smile. "Granted, a similar position didn't save Goldbricker, but we learned that Lyra was 'sternly reprimanded over the fiasco'." The statement was more of a joke to her than anything else. "If any of the current Inquisitors remember my face, then nothing should come of it. And they don't seem to remember my name, either."

"What if they want to talk to you because of that night?"

"Then I should be fine either way. They publicly announced I was innocent. And I will be at the Dazzle Den."

Vinyl sat still for a moment. "And...you joined Discord after that?"

"It was...a long debate I held with myself." Octavia smiled bitterly. "I stayed with them for a while, laying low, and only later learned that they wouldn't have let me leave if I'd thought of it."

"Ugh. Stupid shadowy conspirators," Vinyl muttered.

Octavia chuckled. "Yes, well, I stayed at their Manehattan branch for some time. And eventually, made my way to Ponyville, and enlisted." She straightened her back, sitting upright. "The rest, I suppose, is just history."

"Huh. I guess I'm living my own history, huh?"

"That is...one way to look at it," Octavia said dryly. "Well, I've got to go home and make sure everything's in order. Want to head with?"

"Alright," Vinyl said. "Got plenty of charge...oh, right. Damn, that is really convenient."

Octavia smiled. "So I'm told. The rest of us just drink coffee to go without sleep."

A quiet laugh was shared, easing up Octavia's old pain. It had been a while since she'd shared that story. But it was pretty often that she thought about it. Sharing it...sharing it was easier, somehow.

Maybe she'd find relief one day.