Cyberpony Y2K

Minuette found the place that the Discord agents had been hiding in easily enough.

Indigo sat in front of it, talking to Lyra about something.

"They got away," Minuette said, stepping close to them. "They had a...weird car. The damn thing was driving itself. I have the Wonderbolts loading it up, and we'll take it back to Canterlot to get a proper look at the thing. Whatever else happened today, I think we learned that we have ignored Discord for far too long."

"Someone who claimed to be their leader showed up," Indigo said. She took a document from Lyra, handing it to Minuette. "Those are her demands."

"Didn't you try to arrest her?" Minuette frowned at her.

"Uh, yeah. She caught the bullet."

"You're joking."

"I wish I was. Besides, with how casually she just walked in front of me, I knew she had some sort of ace up her sleeve, or is likely just a front for their real leader. I didn't have the firepower to take her on."

"No firepower?" Lyra glared at her. "Where's my gun?"

Indigo winced. "Right, um...so I was about to shoot the Diamond Duster in the face, right? I was about to. Sniper shoots the gun out of my hand." She held up her hand, showing a small hole straight through the palm.

An unfamiliar android stepped over, holding up the pieces of the gun in a plastic baggy. Lyra made a pained sound, taking it and staring at them.

"If you wanted to keep it as a memento, you should have left it at the Canton," Minuette said. "Used a different gun in the field."

"I've used it for damn near five years," Lyra growled, shoving the bag into her coat.

"Minuette, you think you could take Lyra back to Canterlot with you?" Indigo said. "I've got one or two things to wrap up here."

"What about Discord? Do we think there were only...three agents here?"

"It was an arms deal," Indigo said. "There's about a thousand rounds, lead and gemstones, up on the second story. Those two had just finished a purchase, and were sitting around, hiding in a storage building for Everfree. And stealing food, too." Indigo ran a hand through her mane. "I've got to go explain to one Miss Gloriosa Daisy about where her eastern wall went, and the other damages caused. Oh, and I've got to finish tracking where Fleur ended up, and finish sorting things on that end. Good thing Sweet Apple Acres is nearby, because I'm gonna need some cider at the end of this."

Minuette chuckled. "Drink responsibly, Zap." She turned to Lyra, and her gaze soured. "And you. You'd best be thinking how you're going to explain this whole thing to the Princess. She's losing sleep trying to figure out where Fleur went and explain to the other nobles how everything is perfectly fine, and someone, somewhere along the line started a rumor that it was the f...freaking gryphons." She cleared her throat, then continued. "So now Princess Spitfire is also involved explaining why we don't really want to obliterate Gryphonstone."

"Well, we also need to send a rather lengthy requisition report to Princess Starlight," Lyra said. "She is not going to be happy, either, let me tell you.'

Minuette stared at her. "Do you think I'm joking? Do you have the slightest idea how much trouble you're in?"

Lyra simply smiled. "That's for Princess Midnight to say, Minuette. And speaking of which, we should move rather soon. I'm due to change my bandages, and you...were about to go into a surgery, right?"

Minuette grimaced, then turned to Indigo. "You think you can finish up on your own?"

"Yeah," Indigo said. "I'll be in town a few more days. I met Sour Sweet, by the way."

"And?"

"I don't think she's a Changeling, nor rogue. She claims that she didn't say about Octavia because...Octavia was Goldbricker's groundskeeper."

Minuette groaned. Lyra glowered, eyes narrowing. "Recruiting her might be problematic, then," she said.

"That cetainly explains her behaviour," Minuette said slowly. "It was a few years ago, and...to be honest, I was somewhat distracted that night. I never got a good look at the groundskeeper."

"I did, but I haven't seen a picture of 'Octavia'," Lyra said. "We can worry about that later, though. We ought to head back as soon as possible. Indigo, stay safe. Discord might have more agents in the area."

"Got it. Uh, by the way, one last thing?"

Minuette and Lyra turned back to her. Indigo held up her hand, pointing to the hole in it. "Got a glove I could borrow?"

The stark white gloves she had been given did not do her outfit any favors, but then again, her old hands had been white.

Indigo stepped up and knocked on the door of...'Shy's General Care'. A second, much smaller hospital further from the center of town.

The door opened, and a small, yellow pegasus with an unruly pink mane looked out. "Sorry, I'm seeing to another patient right now," she said. "Is this urgent?"

"I'm here to see Fleur de Liss," Indigo said, pointing to her badge. "It's about the attack on her."

The doctor's face immediately fell into a glower. "Is that so," she said.

She didn't move.

"Doc, that means I'm coming in," Indigo clarified.

She stepped aside, opening the door. "Fleur, an Inquisitor is hear to see you," she called out.

Indigo stepped past the doctor, Fleetfoot trotting in right behind her. It looked more like a cottage than a medical center, complete with a few animals floating about.

Some of them seemed to be wild.

Fleur de Liss sat on a sofa, with a startlingly large cat besides her that she was petting. She looked haggard, bags under her eyes, mane like it hadn't been combed in a week, with a bandage over her forehead. "Well?"she said.

"I'm here to give you a...proper explanation for what happened," Indigo said. She moved, sitting directly across from Fleur. "Know that you are not under arrest, okay? We're cool."

"Then why was Lyra Heartstrings trying to kill me?" Fleur demanded.

Indigo looked back at the doctor, then to Fleur again. The doctor knows everything Fleur does, anyway. "Recently," she said, "we ran into an...unusual creature of unknown origin and violent intentions. It had the ability to shapeshift, and mimic other ponies with startling accuracy. We killed the first one, and this is the second one. It mimicked Lyra Heartstrings and attacked you for unknown reasons." She straightened in her seat, scratching at her wrists. "It wasn't really Lyra Heartstrings. Just something that made itself look like her."

Fleur frowned.

"I've sent word ahead to Canterlot. The ponies at the Royal Treasury are going to reimburse you for your lost androids, and the damage to your manor. I can escort you back to Canterlot, if you'd like, but we believe the danger to you to be over. There may be...more Changelings, however, and we would appreciate it if you would keep quiet about this. We don't want them to figure out how much we know."

"I don't believe a word of that," Fleur said. "Reimburse? What about--"

"As an Inquisitor, I have the Right of Silence," Indigo interrupted firmly. Fleur frowned, looking confused. "That means that by law, you cannot tell anyone about this. Either of you." She gave a firm look to the doctor, then returned her gaze to Fleur. "The penalty for breaching this is, at minimum, loss of your noble title and subsequently, eviction from your estate in Canterlot. At worst, you could go to jail or be exiled from Equestria, without trial."

Fleur just stared.

"Just for the record, I did try asking first," Indigo said, "but stopping the bad guys takes priority. You will be quiet about this, Fleur." She stood up swiftly, then said, "Do you want me to escort you back to Canterlot?"

"Go fuck yourself."

"Got it," Indigo muttered, heading for the door. "Good day to you, too." She strode out, immediately heading into town with Fleetfoot marching behind her.

"That went terribly," the android commented.

"Yeah, no shit, Sherclop," Indigo replied. "I give her a week before she breaks silence."

"And....you're not going to fake evidence?" Fleetfoot asked. "Pre-emptively...get rid of her? You've done it plenty of times before."

Indigo hesitated. "Nah. I'm not certain enough that she will break her silence." And...I'd rather not. I'd really...rather not. "Welp. Let's go find Gloriosa."

Fluttershy closed the door, then spoke calmly, and slowly. Like she should, however angry she was. "We said...that you needed to go along with her excuse," she said. Slowly...and calmly. "That you shouldn't antagonize her. And you certainly, certainly don't let her think you're going to talk about it anyway."

"I—did you hear that bullshit? Reimburse the lost androids? Fuck that! She murdered them! Murdered my--"

"ENOUGH!" Fluttershy turned, glaring at Fleur. Fleur cringed away, eyes going wide and pupils small. "Did it help? At all? Or did it just put you in even more danger? After all that work we did just to keep you alive? How two of are agents are trekking through the Everfree Forest, just for you?" She turned, striding towards Fleur. "It's not worth your life just so you can lash out at somepony, Fleur. Never trade your life for your fury."

Fleur stared at her, mute in shock. Fluttershy sighed, sitting down besides her. "Sorry. I lost my temper."

"I think I...rather needed to hear that, so thank you. I didn't just...jeopardize the entire operation, did I?"

"I don't think so. We expected her to be ready to sling the Right of Silence, but you're high nobility. Your death would...upset the other nobles. The nobles like to pretend they're untouchable." Fluttershy adjusted her seating, making herself comfortable.

"Yes," Fleur said with a smile, "yes we do."

Fluttershy winced. "I didn't...mean anything rude by it."

Fleur chuckled, leaning on her side. "Fluttershy...is it...okay...if I sleep here?"

"Yeah. You can sleep now. And we'll talk again later."

"Alright...thank you."

"It's fine. I'd do it for anypony."

"And that marks the end of that chapter," Sunset said, slinging her cloak onto the nearest chair. She passed by her office's table, meeting Rainbow's gaze.

"You could have mentioned you planned on handing out our demands," Rainbow said slowly. "It would have been helpful."

Sunset stretched her neck, joints popping. "Probably. But we've all gone over that list a couple dozen times over." She looked to the shower, then back to Rainbow Dash. "And they won't listen to it anyway."

"We overextended," Rainbow continued. "They're going to crack down on us now."

Sunset shrugged, then stretched her hands over her head. Her second pair of hands stretched in front of her, shiny plating reflecting off them. "Once Rarity revealed herself to save Fleur, it was going to happen. Perhaps it would be better if she hadn't done that. But she did, and that's that. Help me with my breastplate, would you?"

Rainbow stepped over, fiddling with the clasps. "If I hadn't moved in to save Rarity all those years back, we wouldn't have Diamond Duster."

"True," Sunset said, setting the armored breastplate she wore down. Then, she stepped into the shower, turning the water on. She closed her eyes as the hot water streamed down her face. "Fleur is going to be a useful tool."

"How do you think Celestia will react? A proclamation?"

"She hasn't so much as left her room in decades. Since I was a Princess. Once again, nothing will change."

"I suppose so," Rainbow said with a nod. "But...Midnight?"

"Rainbow Dash, please," Sunset opened one eye, squinting at Rainbow Dash. "I'm in the shower. I'm chillaxing."

"Fine," Rainbow said, turning to leave. She'd certainly have rolled her eyes if she could. "I'll go out and patrol. We'd best...think about our next move."

"It's quite simple, really."

Rainbow Dash turned back, looking at Sunset.

"We're going to kill Midnight," Sunset proclaimed.

Rainbow Dash closed the balcony doors behind herself. With an echoing boom, she soared into the sky.

Sunset turned to the shower wall. "Midnight," she promised herself, "then Spitfire. Then Starlight. Then Trixie. Then Flurry Heart. Then Cadenza." She took a deep breath, then promised herself again, "Then Cadenza."

"I suppose that's an end to all that, then?" Octavia asked.

"I suppose so," Applejack said. "The Pies told me the operation on Fleur was a resounding success, and they're analyzing the chip. It won't take long to reverse-engineer it, they said, and it'll be helpful to the cause."

"As long as it doesn't explode?" Octavia clarified.

"So long as it don't explode," Applejack agreed. "But this is the start of...well, the real deal. We've already sent out word to the other bases. The revolution has, officially, begun."

"It began twenty years ago," Octavia commented. "The Inquisitors just didn't know it yet."

"If you want to put it that way, it started a very long time ago," Applejack said. "How's it going out there?"

"I met Sonata, but the other Sirens have so far made themselves scarce," Octavia said. She picked up a plastic fish off the desk, looking it over.

"Did she lick your cheek?"

"You rat bastard," Octavia hissed, "you knew she would do that."

"Kinda? I wasn't certain." Applejack chuckled.

Octavia scoffed, but moved on. "Well, things have been going...well. I'm off to play on stage in half an hour."

"Twenty-seven minutes," Adagio Seven corrected.

"Twenty seven minutes," Octavia told Applejack. "I expect Sonata will be dropping in 'just to say hi' again soon. She's done that a few times now. The Inquisitors haven't called back, though. I'll keep an ear open for them, though. Do...do let me know on what happens to Lyra."

"It won't be up for the public to hear about, sugarcube," Applejack said. "Lord knows, she has it coming at this point, but See Saw might not be able to figure out what happens."

"I know. She's very good at what she does, but...the Inquisitors don't make their punishments public." Octavia checked her watch. "I've got to go. If I head to the stage now, I should be able to avoid Sonata coming up to...mingle."

"Gotcha. And she's...content with letting 'no' be 'no'?"

"Willing to? Yes. Content to? Far from it. She seems extremely pissed off that I am not attracted to her."

Applejack laughed again. "Well, I've got work of my own to attend to. You take care, and stay safe."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Octavia said. "Bye."

"Goodbye."

Octavia hung up, then let out a slow sigh. "Okay. Time to play then." She got up, picked up her violin, and then headed out the door.

"You're going to do the same piece you played for Sonata, right?" Seven asked.

"Yes, but the full thing," Octavia replied. "Not just the part I played for her."

"I see," Seven said. "I'll be helping from backstage as best I can."

Octavia nodded her thanks. It seemed thinks were calming down...for now, at least.

She paused, turning to where one of the other patrons was watching her. Octavia frowned, looking at her. "Can I help you?" she asked.

The griffon shook herself, meeting Octavia's gaze. "Nah, sorry," she said. "Just had to stop and think if I left the kettle on or not." She gave an awkward chuckle, then hurriedly walked away.

"I don't have time for this," Octavia muttered to herself, walking away.

The griffon watched her for a moment, then hurriedly strode back to her room. She threw open the door as quickly as she could, storming inside.

"Rough," Gilda said, "we have a problem."