Cyberpony Y2K

by J3sterking

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Violence, Sex, Main 7 (EqG), Profanity, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, DJ P0N-3, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Narcotics, Anthro, Original Character, Octavia, Science Fiction
Length: 115404

In a world of machines and magic, a hidden struggle is going on against oppressors. But violence begets violence, and sometimes, only harmony can save the day.

Two thousand years after Nightmare Moon's banishment, Equestria thrives. Celestia rules with her six princesses, six powerful Alicorns, given charge over different parts of rulership, using their powers and wisdom to make sure Equestria prospers.

Or, that is the official story, anyway.

In truth, after installing countless unstable cybernetics, Celestia has gone mad, and the Alicorns aren't much better. Ponies regularly disappear when they start to question things publicly. Wars are waged, species are slaughtered, and androids are kept as slaves, bought and sold as property.

Vinyl Scratch was a musician, owned by Fancy Pants. Her life had been well, really, but before she knows it, she finds herself thrust into the midst of conspiracies and rebels. Discord, an organization bent on overthrowing Celestia and bringing equality to androids, takes her in and keeps her safe. Vinyl wants to fight for what's right, but deep down, she wonders what is truly the right thing to do.

A bit of a twist on a stereotypical cyberpunk setting. While we have the evil government and the rebels, it does focus on more messages of harmony and friendship than you'd normally see. While 'the tree of liberty must be watered with blood of tyrants', it is necessary to 'love your neighbor as yourself', too.

Updates will be rare, but as I am working on this whenever I have time, it will not be set to 'hiatus'.

Okay, now for content warning:

--Foul language: As it should, it depends on the character speaking. Curses are usually going to be few and far between, but a few characters swear like sailors (or cyberpunk gangsters, as it were.)

--Violence and death: People have guns, and people get shot. I will not write graphic descriptions of violence, but it will be on screen.

--References to rape and brothels: Androids, as slaves, are used as prostitutes against their will in some places. I will not go deep into that, but it does happen in this setting.

--References and use of drugs: Without knowing too much about different kinds of real world drugs, I simply made up one I called 'Salt licks'. It is highly addictive and physically damaging.

Published 2024-03-20 00:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2025-01-22 14:52:20 UTC

Prologue

It was a warm, sunny day in Ponyville, with a light breeze gently blowing through the trees, carrying with it the faint sound of a classical violin. If you followed the sound, you'd end up at a small, unassuming house on the border of the Everfree Forest.

The forest itself was, perhaps, the most dangerous place in Equestria. Even living close to it, like the citizens of Ponyville did, was considered wild and reckless.

The Earth pony inside played on, however, her eyes closed in concentration. The music she played was from memory alone, every note playing in her mind before it was sounded out perfectly on the violin.

The bow moved back and forth, until, finally, she finished it off. Octavia Melody opened her eyes, letting out a sigh of contentment.

Her musical career had long since ended, unfortunately, but she still loved the music that had earned her her Cutie Mark. She set the bow and violin down, eyes traveling to her to-do list, and she let out a less contented sigh.

Octavia's hooves tapped against the ground as she stepped over, picking the list and exposing the handgun beneath it. She lifted up the list, examining it carefully, and then set it down. She strode past her table, around her living room couch, and into the small side-room that was her bedroom. The house had four total rooms in all, but was mostly just open space between them. Her belongings, personal or otherwise, were stashed into the corners and sides of the rooms for want of better storage.

Octavia opened her wardrobe, shoving aside a few old coats and a ragged pair of jeans. She'd once worn fancier outfits—even though ballgowns and dresses had never been her thing, she'd had a certain fancy for tuxedos. Now, however, it was baggy cargo pants, a dark brown tank-top, and a slate gray jacket that almost matched her coat, but not quite. Though Rarity Belle, the beautiful mare who'd designed it, had done her best, practicality had won out over fashion, and she was left with an utterly drab outfit that did its job really well.

She pulled on her belt, and spent an embarrassing amount of time looking for her gun in the nightstand before she remembered it was in her living room.

"Never sharing that story," she muttered to herself. She holstered it, then made sure her top properly concealed it. Finally, her goggles came on, but she let them hang around her neck as she headed for her door.

Octavia paused in the doorway, looking out into the Everfree. A pair of glowing green eyes met hers, and she saw at least one other pair off in the woods behind it. The stench was something else entirely, and had her gagging even as she pulled out her gun. She loaded in a lead round—no use in wasting the more expensive emerald ones—and fired into the trees.

The Drakes were a crowd favorite gun model, but one thing no one praised about them was that they were loud. The gun's retort echoed through the nearby trees and down the valley, and both Timberwolves were sent off running.

While she didn't 'like' the noise, the Drake did a wonderful job scaring off Timberwolves, and the other denizens of Everfree. She holstered it again, before trotting on down the rough dirt path out of her house.

She perhaps would have seen other ponies, but her destination was also outside the town.

The familiar old, unchanging sign hung over the same old gate she'd always seen. Octavia walked under it, smiling to herself, and strode down the path to the farm buildings.

This far out in the country, you could see old-school houses, nothing like the rich, technology filled mansions you'd see in the cities. Octavia had sorely missed those at first, and still did, sometimes, but she lived with it.

"Hello!" she called out, waving to the pony and the android out in front of the barn. "I'm not running late, am I?"

Rarity was a stunningly beautiful unicorn who reclined on a wooden chair with her purse swinging off one arm. Today, she'd chosen to wear a pink dress and business skirt, with a sun bonnet hanging low over her forehead.

Applejack, meanwhile, was a Workhorse, though a bit bulkier than most of her model. She easily cleared Octavia's and even Rarity's height. Since she wasn't working and was heading into the city, she'd chosen to be 'fancied up' as she'd say. Jeans and a denim jacket adorned her, and to top it off was her old stetson hat on top of the faux hair.

"Not at all, darling," Rarity called back. "The rest of us are just a touch early, is all."

"Well, it is my house," the android replied. She turned and gave a nod to Octavia, adding, "Ya can't expect me to be late, now."

"That is true," Octavia muttered, pulling a sleeve back to check her watch. "We should get going either way. The Friendship Express will be leaving shortly."

"My, always moving, aren't you, darling?" Rarity chuckled.

"I do have an appointment to keep," Octavia replied. "I'm surprised he agreed to the meeting at all, really."

"This'll be yer first time seeing him since..." Applejack trailed off.

"Since my music career ended, yes," Octavia replied shortly. "I suppose he has fond memories of me, regardless. I do wish that my first meeting with him in years wasn't business related, but, well, it is what it is."

"You'll have some time for idle chat, too," Rarity put in. "I definitely plan on a lengthy discourse with Coco, aside from my errands."

"Then we really shouldn't stand here talking all day," Octavia repeated firmly, checking her watch again. "I'd rather not be late."

"Of course, darling," Rarity said with a pleasant smile despite Octavia's eternal impatience. "Shall we get going, then?"

Octavia nodded. "Let's."

They started moving, trotting off towards town. "By the way," Octavia asked, "how's Sweetie Belle doing?"

"She's doing alright," Rarity replied. "She's definitely opening up more nowadays. She's made great friends with Scootaloo and Applebloom, too!"

"Yeah, Applebloom was just tellin' me about that," Applejack said. "They're thinkin' of startin' a club! 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' or somethin'."

"That'll be...an odd group," Octavia said. "Where do they plan on meeting?"

"I had to tell 'em no to the castle," Applejack said dryly.

Octavia spluttered. "The castle? In the Everfree?"

Applejack nodded. "I don't know what their plan for even gettin' out there was. They all know how to shoot, but that won't help too much about some of the worst critters out there."

"Here, here," Rarity said. "Besides, I don't want them in any sort of situation where they'll have to shoot anything, anyway."

Applejack nodded. "There's a time and a place for it, and for them, it ain't come to that yet."

Octavia's brow furrowed. She hoped that the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' wouldn't have to worry about that. But, if she thought about it, that didn't make any sense. There would always be more threats to worry about, sooner or later.

"Hey, guys!"

A familiar, overly chipper voice called out to them. Octavia stopped, then let out a small sigh to herself, before she turned around. "Hello, Gloriosa," she said.

A magenta Earth pony in a golden-yellow dress trotted over, short tail flicking back and forth. "I was just wanting to wish you good luck on your trip," she said with a grin. "We've worked with Fancy Pants before, he's a kind soul."

"That he is," Octavia agreed. She was about to point out that ponies were getting loaded on the train ahead of them, but she didn't like to brush off Glorisoa.

"I know you've met him before, and I was just thinking that a gift might be--"

"Gloriosa?" she interrupted. "That's not really going to do anything."

"Relax, Gloriosa," Applejack said, putting an arm around her shoulders. She squeezed her into a half-hug, adding, "Octavia and Fancy Pants are old friends. He'll listen to her."

"...Right," Gloriosa relented. "I'm just...terrified to think of what might happen to those poor androids if Fancy sells."

"He knows, too, so he won't," Octavia said. "Fancy's a good colt, and an avid supporter of android rights. I'm confident we'll have this sorted quickly, and the androids safe from harm."

Gloriosa nodded, then gave Applejack a hug. "I'm certian you gals have everything in hoof."

"We got this," Applejack said dryly, her 'eyes'--or the electronic representation of them, anyway—turning to happily closed.

"Aaaaall aboard!" the conductor shouted.

"We need to get going," Octavia said. "Lovely talking, Gloriosa! Goodbye!" She took off at a canter, heading for the train as quickly as she could.

Rarity and Applejack boarded right behind her, and they quickly got settled into seats as the train whistle blew. The train jolted, then slowly began moving. Octavia waved goodbye to Glorisoa as the train rolled out.

"I still remember that ruby-fueled train I rode to Los Pegasus," Rarity mentioned. "Smoothest trainride I've ever had."

"Fire rubies aren't exactly cheap," Applejack replied.

"Psh! If people afford them for cooking grills, and bullets, then the train isn't that much more expensive."

"Comparatively," Applejack said. "But gem-trains are a lot more expensive than coal trains."

"She does have a point," Octavia said. "As much as I miss the thrills and benefits of high-society, most can't afford those. They have to make do with somewhat archaic technology. But it works, so who am I to complain?"

"I suppose you're right," Rarity relented with a sigh.

A mare pushed a cart to a stop besides their seats, asking, "Snacks? Anypony?"

A sudden hunger pain reminded Octavia of her skimpy breakfast that morning. "Yes, please," she said, choosing a pastry off the tray.

"Don't tell me you skipped out on breakfast again," Applejack said as the cart rolled past.

"I ate!" Octavia said defensively.

Applejack's visor raised an eyebrow.

"A little," Octavia admitted.

Applejack folded her arms over her chest.

"A small plate of hay fries reheated in the microwave," Octavia admitted with a sigh. "I get paid on the fifteenth."

"Darling," Rarity said, "you need to eat more."

"She has plenty of money, she just wanted to play her violin," Applejack said simply.

"Did you...ahem...hear that?" Octavia cleared her throat.

"Eeyup. Up until you fired the Drake."

Octavia winced. "Sorry, I didn't realize you could hear."

"Eh, don't apologize," Applejack said, waving it off. "Them timberwolves gotta be scared off somehow."

"Hear the music," Octavia clarified.

"Oh. Well, ain't none of us mind that, or we'd have told ya by now," Applejack chuckled. "You play mighty fine, Octavia."

"Hear, hear," Rarity agreed. "Such a pity that 'classical' isn't in season."

"I think I'm doing better work with Everfree than I did back then," Octavia replied smoothly. "But, yes, I do still miss my musical career—as much of one as I had."

"Well, you at least get an audience cheering for you," Rarity said, giving a smile.

Octavia blushed. "Most of those are work-in-progress..."

"Well, then we'll be really happy to hear the real thing," Rarity replied. "You got Sweetie Belle interested in music."

"I...did, now?" Octavia asked. "That's good to hear. She needs a hobby."

"Well, yes," Rarity said. "It might also do her some good to work with other ponies, even if it's an audience and not personal interaction..."

Octavia stopped participating in the inane chatter after that, eyes turning to the windows, as the countryside scenery faded to gemstone billboards with flashing lights.

And, finally, a massive sign with glowing emerald letters that read, "WELCOME TO MANEHATTAN".

Octavia felt briefly nostalgic at the sight of the massive buildings of steel and glass, with inactive streetlamps, and a few couriers flitting through the skies over the streets.

But she remembered what this world looked like under the polished chrome and the glowing gems.

"Oh, it's so pretty," Rarity said as the train rolled to a stop. She tipped her bonnet back slightly, briefly revealing her broken horn to Octavia. "This city is always beautiful, no?"

"Eh," Applejack said. "It's fancy-shmancy."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "A farm pony in the big city, unable to appreciate any of the sights."

Octavia got up as the doors rolled open, tuning out the friends' playful bickering. Few ponies walked the streets, as they traveled almost exclusively by car, but some were out and about, hoping to be seen in their fashionable clothing.

Octavia glanced to the side, seeing a hint of graffitti on the nearest building. She cocked her head, trying to get a better look at it.

"Some silly filly spray-painted 'Discord' on the side of a building," a nearby Earth pony said. Octavia jumped, turning to see a familiar cream-colored pony meeting her gaze. Coco Pommel smiled. "With the whole 'zero instead of an O thing, too."

"Coco, darling!" Rarity cried, leaping forward and hugging Coco.

"Hello, Miss Rarity," Coco said, smiling as she hugged Rarity back. "Here for long?"

"A quick visit, I'm afraid," Rarity said. "Those two have their own work in the city, but I thought I'd take the excuse to visit my favorite assistant."

"Oh, I can't be your favorite," Coco said, shyly, waving off the compliment.

"I don't think she has other assistants," Applejack put in.

"Pfft! That's hardly the point, now, is it?" Rarity said, waving a hand at Applejack. "Why not you two go ahead and head to the Flight of Fancy? I can handle my business on my own, once I'm done catching up with Coco."

"Of course," Octavia said, nodding. "See you later, Rarity."

"Ta-ta, darlings! Have fun storming the castle!" Rarity joked as they walked off.

"So," Applejack asked quietly as they trotted their own way. "Filthy Rich is gonna make a play for the Flight of Fancy?"

"Almost certainly," Rarity said. "Fancy won't let him establish proper roots in Manehattan, and he wants to expand. And when Fancy won't sell, Filthy's going to move to his old stand-by."

Armed gunmen and brute force.

"Assuming that Fancy fights off his thugs, people will be hurt, and androids may be kidnapped," Octavia said. "The Crown may or may not attempt to retrieve them, but 'lost property' won't be their priority."

Applejack nodded. "Then we'd best see what we can do."

Ahead of them was the Flight of Fancy. Above its great doors was a massive white swan statue, wings spread wide. Octavia nodded. "Lets."

Author's Note

And here we go! I went through several ideas of what to post next, but it came down to the eleven pre-written chapters for this one. Updates will be every Wednesday, until I run out of the already written stuff, and then it'll be long breaks between them. I'll still post the new ones on Wednesday after that, though, so you don't have to look on the other days.

I hope you enjoy the read! I'll include some tidbits about the world in the author's notes of subsequent chapters, to help explain some of the points that I can't plausibly explain in-universe, such as androids.

Octavia's Bad Day

Octavia’s fists slammed into the punching bag, as the sound of machine gun fire played in her head.

Should have been easy, she thought, pummeling the bag. He was small. I should have easily been able to take him.

Not to mention that he shouldn’t have gotten the drop on her. She should have been paying more attention—she’d known there were still more goons back in the hallways. She should have been prepared. Even then, she could have taken out the pegasus still.

Wham, wham.

A roundhouse kick could have taken him out of the air.

Wham, wham.

If she’d slung her elbow back, she could have taken him out mid-flight.

Wham, wham, wham.

If she’d kept her grip on her gun, she could have taken him out immediately. Then she could have taken out the unicorn, and Vinyl wouldn’t have gotten stuck here.

BOOM!

The side of the punching bag burst, sand spilling out onto the castle floor. Octavia, without wasting any time, began unhooking it, throwing the punching bag to the side to be repaired.

“Wow,” a deceptively sweet voice said from behind. “You’re so strong. Did it owe you money or something?” the voice added, in a wildly different tone.

“Hello, Sour Sweet, nice to see you too,” Octavia muttered.

Sour Sweet stood, leaning against the edge of the training area, in a violet jacket and deep blue crop top. With her jacket unbuttoned, her small, slender pistol was visible, as well as a numerous knives, of varying sizes.

“I just thought I’d come down and say hi!” she said, putting a hand up to her mouth. Her mechanical eye staticed as she added, “Y’know, before the Inquisitors get you.”

Octavia grunted, hooking up another punching bag. “We’re working on making me look less interesting,” she said simply. “If the Inquisitors don’t find me, they’ll know something’s up. But if they find something completely uninteresting, they’ll just move along.” It was the best way to avoid them, in the long term. Out of sight, out of mind.

“Smart,” Sour Sweet agreed, nodding. “How’d the mission go sour, anyway?”

“Filthy arrived at the same conclusion we did,” Octavia replied easily, pounding on the bag once more. “Went ahead and sent his goons to the Flight of Fancy.”

“Hmm. And the android you, you know...bought with money you didn’t have?” She smirked.

Octavia slammed her fist into the bag, then stopped. Facing Sour Sweet, she said, “Rarity said that Discord would cover that,” she said. “And the android is doing fine right now.”

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Sour Sweet muttered. “Sometimes they, well, they die.” She smiled, tossing one hand into the air. “So it’s kind of a big relief when they don’t commit suicide.”

“That only happens rarely,” Octavia muttered.

Sour Sweet let out her obnoxious, city-pony giggle. “Once is enough,” she said, face dropping. She hopped over the rail, sitting on the edge of the training area platform. “And are you doing alright?”

“Well, she had as happy a life as she could possibly have right now,” Octavia said, “but was forced to come here because I failed to take out an unarmed pegasus quickly enough.” She slammed her fist into the punching bag, sending it swinging wildly.

“Well, we can’t all be good at everything,” Sour sweet said, rolling her eye. “Yeah, only Rainbow Dash is allowed.”

Octavia scoffed. “Please, Sour. Not only is she not good at everything, my job is to be good at everything.”

“Well, look at the bright side: you’re still here, and so is she!” Sour Sweet said, gesturing wildly. “Soooo, things could be worse, that’s all I’m saying.”

Octavia allowed herself a grim smile. “I do suppose you’re right,” she admitted, stepping over to her jacket. She threw it on, buttoning it up.

“And...does the android look promising?”

Octavia shook her head. “I doubt it,” she said sincerely. “Vinyl’s toughing this out, but she’ll probably just help stack boxes, if anything.”

“I heard there was some sort of incident.”

Octavia grimaced. “Let me guess: Sky?”

“Sky heard Rarity mention it to Rainbow Dash,” Sour Sweet replied. “Well? Come on! Give me the scoop!”

“No. I am not spreading gossip. You lot need to find better things to do with your time.”

“Spoilsport.”

Octavia walked away, shaking her head. She should have known better than to expect decent conversation out of Sour Sweet—she’d always been slightly loopy in the head, and could be quite savage with her words when she chose.

She was the last person Octavia normally felt like talking to, and this day, it was just one more thing.

Sour Sweet wandered off, leaving Octavia alone with her thoughts. She stepped up to a window, looking out into the forest. The Everfree loomed around her, dark and foreboding. She’d been intimidated by it on her first days in Ponyville. And even moreso on her first trip to the Castle. The path wasn’t easy, and you had to be on guard the entire way, but it hadn’t been as bad as she had thought.

Perhaps the rumors were set up by Sunset? If she’d planned on creating Discord while still a Princess, then it would have been frightfully easy to make the forest seem even scarier than it was—and it was already plenty terrifying to begin with.

It was kind of funny, really. Between the problems Canterlot made up and the ones they caused, there were really obvious ones like Everfree, various large gangs, and even griffon slave traffickers that the Princess seemingly did nothing to stop, and yet, nopony questioned it. They all sat, in blissful ignorance, while ponies that simply wouldn’t be missed were taken from their homes and slaughtered that same night...if they were lucky.

Clop, ka-thunk!

Octavia’s hand shot to her handgun, but when she turned, she saw Sunset standing behind her, hood pulled low over her forehead, wings tucked in close to her back. At her side she held one of Rarity’s Diamond Duster masks.

“Misplaced the Olden Pony mask you normally use?” Octavia asked.

Sunset nodded. “Yeah. I remember when you first saw me making my way through here. You were with...Double Down, right? He jumped when he saw me, but you...you didn’t.”

“I thought you were a fake,” Octavia muttered. “Even hidden as you were, in a big cloak and a cheap Nightmare Night mask, I doubted that Discord’s leader would just walk past a bunch of barely trustworthy new recruits. And I didn’t buy the limp, either.”

Sunset grinned, leaning against the wall beside the window. “To be honest, it made the perfect decoy, you know? Any spies that thought they could simply suicide-kill Discord’s leader would be woefully unsuited for an Alicorn, and, as the former Princess of Inquiries, I don’t think any of them would be able to quickdraw me. Furthermore, if any of them thought I wasn’t the real one, they’d be looking in all the wrong places.”

“Did you really reveal yourself to me and Vinyl just because you got bored?” Octavia asked.

“That’s partly the truth,” Sunset admitted. “But also...” She hesitated, indecision showing on her face.

“What?” Octavia asked.

“I don’t know if I should tell you that,” Sunset said. She put her chin in one hand, looking out the window in thought. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Octavia, but...it’s hard sometimes. I know so many secrets, and so many of them...wouldn’t help you at all, or would only make things worse. If I told you the right ones, it would help our cause greatly, but if I say even one of the wrong ones, it might...end it all.” She blew out a puff of air, waving fingers out the window. “Ashes, scattered in the breeze.” She leaned on both elbows, until her eyes fixated on the strange crystal tree.

“Well,” Octavia said, “I don’t know if I, personally, am going to do that much to help overthrow Celestia. Don’t get me wrong, being ‘the one’ to do all that would be amazing, but please. I’m not that good.”

“Yet,” Sunset replied quietly. “Remember, we have six Alicorns to kill, and we have to be ready to kill all of them before we kill any of them. We’re still a good ways off from that, so...we’re mostly just on damage control. Saving androids like Vinyl.”

“And maybe finally putting an end to Filthy?”

Sunset shrugged. “He’ll just be replaced. Crime will always be there. Until we fix the government, there’ll always be kingpins like Filthy Rich.”

“Boss?” Fluttershy called from slightly behind.

“Be right there!” Sunset called back. “Ahem. Come with, please? I wanted to talk to you about something after this one little thing I had to deal with.”

“Of course,” Octavia said. “Work?”

“Hmm...an experimental weapon design. I think I have the framework for an Alicorn killer, but...it’s a little outside my area of expertise.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Octavia said. “But...you think it’s in mine?”

“I believe so, but we can talk about it after we see what’s wrong with Vinyl.”

Sour Sweet’s jabs returned unbidden to her mind. “What happened?” Octavia asked, pace quickening.

As they began to move, Sunset fitted the mask over her face, and spoke quietly, even though there weren’t any other ponies in the halls. “Well, she seems to have dissed the demon-goddess of nightmares.”

“What?”

“I know, right? She’s been here for three days.”

“What do you mean, she dissed--”

Sunset interrupted. “We’ve always gotten reports of ponies having weird dreams or even nightmares about Nightmare Moon in this place. I just thought it was because we left all her banners up.” She shrugged. “Vinyl, however, came out of her nightmare damaged.”

“How badly?” Octavia asked.

“A small hole, but it goes all the way through her chest,” Sunset said. “Fluttershy told me she didn’t think it hit anything vital, but Vinyl hasn’t calmed down, and Fluttershy didn’t want to boot her off for the surgery just yet.”

Octavia nodded. “I can see that, but...”

“I don’t expect either of us to do much but be reassuring,” Sunset said. Octavia heard her horn tinkling, then watched as the door to the hospital wing swung open on its own.

“—I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! THERE’S A FUCKING HOLE IN MY CHEST! NIGHTMARE FUCKING MOON PUT IT THERE!”

Sunset pulled the mask from her face, saying, “At least fall quiet for a minute, not all of us have auto-adjusting audio receptors.”

Vinyl jerked, looking up from her hospital bed to stare at Sunset, then pointed at her chest. “Hole! Chest! WHY DID YOU BUILD YOUR HOUSE HERE?”

“Well, she never did that to any of us before,” Sunset said. “I didn’t think she was real...as I’ve never actually had any of those dreams.” With, seemingly, barely a thought, a chair scooted over for her to sit in, beside Vinyl, as Octavia walked over to stand by Fluttershy.

Light music was coming from Vinyl. “You’re magic! Couldn’t you have checked to see if it was haunted FIRST?”

“Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?” Sunset asked with a smile. “Here, let me go: from previous reports, I’m assuming the dream starts in your room, everything’s kind of shimmering, and the castle looks different?”

“U-uh....yeah,” Vinyl stammered.

“And you left your room...”

“...into the halls,” Vinyl muttered. “I...uh...knew I was supposed to stay in my room, but it was a dream, so...like...I didn’t think you’d be mad...”

“I’m not,” Sunset said smoothly and calmly. “You began wandering the halls...”

“I noticed all the banners with Celestia were gone,” Vinyl said.

Despite how calm Vinyl became, Octavia felt a shiver down her spine. She was the Princess of Inquisition, after all, she thought. This kind of thing can’t be new for her.

“And...there was...a weird shadow pony. She came in, and said she had to change the tapestries again. In...uh, Rarity’s voice.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Sunset’s face, but was gone in an instant. “And from there, you went...”

“To the next room,” Vinyl continued. “It was confusing, because it was the throne room, but I know that the throne room was not over there, and I...uh...hmm.” She paused, the music stopped, as she turned to Sunset. “You were the Princess of Inquiries, right?”

Sunset chuckled. “I told you you were good at talking to people, right? Well, I, for one, am very good at listening.” She leaned back, wings rustling. “Finish telling, then we’ll see about patching that hole, right?”

“Right. So, uh...”

“You were--”

“Confused about the position of the throne room,” Vinyl interrupted.

Sunset cracked a smile. “Well, the throne room isn’t used as such anymore. Back in the day, the guest rooms would have been closer to it, as a symbol of status, most likely.”

“Mm,” Vinyl hummed. “Well, uh, that’s what Nightmare Moon said. Almost exactly, too. And then I called her out on the castle being fake...”

“Hold up,” Sunset held up a hand. “Did you know she was Nightmare Moon at this point?”

“Uh, no. I thought the whole thing was a product of my imagination, obviously,” Vinyl said with a scoff. “I’m not that stupid.”

“Why did you think the castle was fake, though?” Sunset asked.

“Because the tiles didn’t budge, the vines didn’t move, yada yada,” Vinyl mimed talking with one hand. “Nightmare Moon said it was...uh, ‘total area stasis petrification’?”

Sunset frowned. “Did she explain what that means?”

“She said it locks everything in place, so you could keep using the castle even though it was old,” Vinyl said.

Sunset blew out a long, slow breath. “Okay, that’s...that’s exactly what I did.” She clasped her hands in front of her, grimacing. “You’ve gotta be shitting me. This is the last thing I need to deal with right now.”

“Yeah, see? I told you this was ba—ow.” She winced, hand going to the tear in her chest as she collapsed back onto the bed.

“Stay still,” Fluttershy warned.

“Geez, alright,” Vinyl muttered. “But, uh, yeah. We had a nice long talk about how history is really subjective--”

Octavia snorted. “No. It isn’t.”

“See, that’s where I was, but she made some good points,” Vinyl acknowledged. “But, uh, after that she revealed who she was, and I got scared. I backed away, and she took offense, and she knifed me.”

“Alright,” Sunset said slowly. “If you enter that dream again, just...try not to provoke her. This shouldn’t have been possible, Princess of Dreams or no.” She shook her head. “Fluttershy, can you get started on repairs?”

“Okay,” Fluttershy said. “Vinyl, if you’re not going to let me boot you off, you need to stay very still.”

“I was on yesterday while you were fishing bullets out of me,” Vinyl said, waving it off. “I’ll be fine.”

Fluttershy nodded to Octavia, who moved to stand just behind her. Fluttershy pulled out a small drill with a ruby glowing in the handle, and began to remove Vinyl’s plating.

“I’ll start working on figuring out why this hasn’t come up before,” Sunset said, rising. She put Rarity’s mask back on, over her face, then beckoned to Octavia. “Miss Melody, if you’d please?”

Octavia paused, looking to Fluttershy.

“It’s a simple repair, I can do this on my own,” Fluttershy said.

Octavia nodded, following Sunset out the door.

Sunset had fixed the mask over her face, and hobbled with her fake limp to the window they’d been talking beside a minute ago.

“Well?” Octavia asked.

“This reeks of foul play,” Sunset muttered. “Did they add some sort of new software? No, that doesn’t make any sense. And I’d have noticed if somepony was here that shouldn’t have been, and this doesn’t make any sense as some sort of subterfuge.” She put her head in her hands, leaning her elbows on the windowsil. “But we haven’t seen anything like this before...” Beneath the mask, Octavia saw Sunset’s eyes flick over to look at her. “Hmm.”

“What?” Octavia asked slowly.

“Theories I doubt you’d ever understand,” Sunset said simply.

Octavia scoffed. “Really. I’m no foal, Sunset.”

“I know that. But I barely understand them myself, and I—pardon the ego—am a bloody genius. There’s only a couple other ponies alive I’d feel would be able to discuss this with me. I’ll handle that on my own.”

“Alright, I can accept that,” Octavia said. “And the other thing you wanted my help with? Are you going to come back later, or do you want to do it now?”

“Oh, right. I want you to help me build a bass cannon.”

“A what?”

Down Range

Vinyl stepped onto the lawn, looking for an obvious sign that said, 'firearms training'.

Surprisingly, she got one. A large fenced off area, with a sign hanging from the fence reading, 'ROOKIES WITH GUNS BEYOND THIS POINT', signed with somepony's Cutie Mark...some kind of candy.

Vinyl walked around the edge of the fenced area slowly, pausing when she heard a gunshot. Off in the distance, where her optics could barely make out, she saw a small can fall off its stump.

Vinyl's eyes danced as she rounded a corner, looking at the firing range. Giant arrows on all pointed off towards the forest, and a massive sign read, "FIRE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ARROWS, OR ELSE". The last two words were underlined three times.

Vinyl turned her gaze to the filly currently on the field, who had a rifle tucked into her shoulder. She squeezed the trigger, and the rifle kicked. Her shoulder twitched from the recoil, her mane and the giant bow in it bouncing, and in the distance, another can fell over.

The filly pulled a lever, ejecting a shell with a sharp ping! The lever slid easily back into place, not slammed, but shut firmly, as the filly aimed at the last can.

She missed. "Shoot!" she muttered, straightening. She adjusted her aim, took a sharp breath, then fired again.

The can remained standing.

"Aw, hell," she said with a sigh, standing. She ejected the casing, then pulled off her ear muffs.

"Hey, you hit two in a row!" a pegasus filly said from nearby. "And you hit three of the cans! That's better than I can manage on a good day!"

"Yeah, but I still wanted to hit that last can," the bow filly said, handing the rifle off to, Vinyl assumed, the marksmanship instructor.

The third filly, Vinyl recognized. "Hey, Miss Scratch!" Sweetie Belle said, waving. "Are you here for the gun training?"

"Uh, yeah," Vinyl said. She turned to the last pony. "You're...the instructor?"

"Yeah. Call me Bon-Bon." She extended a hand, and Vinyl shook it. Bonbon wore a very expensive looking jacket, golden-brown with a collar of red and yellow feathers. She took up the rifle easily, resting the barrel on her shoulder as she grabbed it near the base. "You're the new-blood?"

"Well, technically, if you ignore the fact that I don't have blood," Vinyl said.

"Let's hope you have some spine, at least," Bon-Bon said.

Vinyl nodded. "Fluttershy confirmed that I do have bones."

Bon-Bon didn't laugh. "Androids are usually easier to train up," she said instead. She pulled a thumb drive from her jacket, handing it to Vinyl. "You know what to do with these?"

Vinyl nodded, then opened up a port on the side of her head, and plugged the drive in. "Got tired of explaining the basics over and over again?" she asked, quickly downloading the information the drive contained.

"You have no idea," Bon-Bon sighed. "Some ponies are just fundamentally opposed to the concept of intelligence. It pisses me off."

Vinyl unplugged the drive, handing it back. "So, now what?"

Bon-Bon took it, then slipped it into her pocket. Then, she handed Vinyl the gun.

Vinyl hesitated, and Bon-Bon nodded. "Good. Stay cautious about these things. Nothing puts ponies in the ground faster than ponies who don't respect guns. Don't fear them—but definitely, absolutely be careful with them, always."

Vinyl took it, holding it one both hands like the thumb drive showed her. Bonbon reached over, adjusting her shoulder, then pulled the gun closer, the but digging more firmly into her shoulder.

"And don't you touch that trigger unless you're ready to fire," Bonbon added.

"I know, you just showed me that on the thumb drive," Vinyl muttered. "Okay. Easy so far."

Bonbon smiled tiredly. "Some ponies take way to long getting to this point."

"What point? I'm just holding it."

Bonbon, again, didn't reply to that. "Alright, now we load it."

Vinyl carefully aimed the barrel away from everypony, then pulled the lever. A small compartment on the side of the gun opened up.

Bonbon handed the first bullet. Wishing she could hold her breath, Vinyl carefully loaded it, following the steps detailed on the thumb drive.

Bonbon took up the next bullet, handing it to Vinyl. This time Vinyl fumbled, cursed, but got it loaded in without jamming the rifle.

"So...there's a bunch of different bullets over there," she said, loading the next bullet in a much smoother motion.

"Different sizes," Bonbon explained. "This gun uses the biggest rounds civilians are allowed to carry. 30-30s. It can punch through some bullet proof armor, though I'd want something bigger if I was going against an Inquisitor, or hell, just a cop. They're used by some of the locals to keep bears away."

"These are used for hunting bears?"

Bonbon smiled. "Only small ones. You can shoot a grizzly with these things, but I wouldn't recommend it."

"Yikes. Which one would you bring to fight an Inquisitor?"

Bonbon hesitated, briefly. "Well, the Inquisitors get great armor, alright, but it's designed with mobility in mind. 30-30s won't cut it, regardless. I'd bet on a 308, though, or better yet, seven millimeter." She patted her own jacket fondly. "You know where I joined Discord from?"

"Nope." The last bullet slid into the rifle with a satisfying ping!

Bonbon smiled. "And you just happened to ask that, huh? Former Inquisitor, on permanent leave, without permission. That's how the records list it, anyway."

"You're...an Inquisitor?" Vinyl asked.

Bonbon nodded. "This jacket may look like it's for show, but it could take up to a 308. Probably, that, too."

"What about a seven mil?" the filly with the bow asked.

Bonbon sighed. "The smart aleck there is Apple Bloom. I wouldn't stake my life on taking a seven millimeter, if I could help it."

"Vinyl Scratch," Vinyl introduced with a nod. "I'll shake your hand later. And you?" She looked to the pegasus.

"Scootaloo. Nice to meet ya!"

Weird name, Vinyl thought. "I'm not sure what any of those numbers actually mean anything to me."

Bonbon let out a frustrated sound, but stepped slightly to the side. "We have a size chart here," she said.

Vinyl looked to the pedestal on the side that had sparked her question. The bullets were, truthfully, set up in a neat row, in order of size.

"Um...what's with that one?" she asked.

Bonbon picked up a bullet the size of Vinyl's middle finger. "This is a fifty milligram," she said. "While some manufacturers build sizes civilians aren't allowed to carry, only Canterlot is allowed to build these babies. This is what I'd bring to Wonderbolts, no questions asked. It can punch through Wonderbolt armor easily, and theoretically drop an Alicorn." She set it down, then nodded to the firing range. "But more on that later. Assume firing position."

Vinyl squared her hooves, gun tucked into her shoulder.

"Now just focus along the sights--" Bonbon paused, then reached and lowered the barrel of the gun. She looked into Vinyl's visor.

"Uh...huh," she muttered. "F'cking custom models...can you sight like that?"

"I can tell the general direction the barrel is pointing?" Vinyl said, confused. "I'm not sure if that's a skill thing, though."

Bonbon rubbed her forehead. "Alright, just...firing position. We'll see how you do after that. Crusaders?" She jerked her thumb, pointing behind Vinyl. "Safety first. And Apple Bloom, get your ear protection back in."

The Crusaders crowded behind Vinyl, who pointed the rifle in the vague direction of one of the cans. There were five, and the middle one was directly ahead of her, so she focused her attention on it.

She was about to pull the trigger when she noticed the hammer. She flicked it into firing position, then sighted along the barrel.

"I've never resented not having those range detector programs," she muttered. "Welp. Down range."

The rifle held six shots. The first two she wasn't sure were in the same cardinal direction as the can. The third hit the pedestal it was on. Vinyl had no clue where the fourth bullet even went. She thought that God might have a clue, but He was probably too busy laughing to tell her.

The fifth hit the can on the right of her target.

She flipped the hammer back to safe, then turned, looking to Bonbon.

"You weren't aiming for that one, were you?" the ex-Inquisitor asked.

"No. Not at all. Does that still count?"

"Would it count if that was an ally, but the middle one was an enemy?"

Vinyl sighed. "Yeah, didn't think so. I'm...I don't think this is working, Bonbon."

"Of course it isn't. With that stupid faceplate design, I'm surprised you didn't hit me," Bonbon sighed.

"Would a hand gun be better?" Vinyl asked.

"Well...maybe?" Bonbon frowned.

Vinyl handed Bonbon the rifle, then pulled out her Drake.

"Is that Octavia's gun?" Bonbon asked.

"Yeah. She told me to keep it while she was in Las Pegasus."

"That's a forty-four, which is bigger than I like rookies touching," she said. "It kicks like a son of a bitch. If you aren't careful, you really can hit ponies behind you." She put a hand to her forehead, shaking her head slowly.

Vinyl holstered the handgun again, waiting.

"Give me a minute. I'm gonna fetch something from the armory." Bonbon started to walk away, then stopped and turned around, pointing at Vinyl. "You don't touch any of the guns until I'm back." She pointed to Scootaloo. "You, either."

"Hey!"

Bonbon strode off, leaving them alone.

"Well, that was embarrassing," Vinyl said, sitting down.

"Hey! That sixth shot might have hit," Sweetie said.

"Chillax," Scootaloo said, wings buzzing slightly, "not many ponies hit something on their first time."

"I don't think I count on this front," Sweetie Belle said. Her mounted shoulder cannon was gone, and her clothing had been replaced by a purple skirt and pink shirt. She held up an arm, and a slim barrel slid out of it. "I was programmed for shooting, so..."

"True. I mean, I landed a shot on my first five bullets, but Applebloom didn't," Scootaloo said. "I was told my shot almost never happened, too, so don't feel bad about it."

"Bonbon didn't sound to happy about that," Sweetie said slowly.

"That's because she was what Scootaloo shot," Applebloom corrected. "And she was right. I ain't never seen a pony accidentally shoot something behind them when using a rifle."

"My hoof slipped!" Scootaloo said defensively.

"Like...the thirty-thirty?" Vinyl asked slowly.

"A 2-23," Applebloom said. "Much smaller. I don't think it'd have hurt Bonbon even if it hadn't hit the jacket, but still."

"I am fairly confident in Scoot's ability to not accidentally shoot anypony within a five mile radius around her when she fires," Bonbon's voice came in, "but she still has a long way to go."

Scootaloo's wings buzzed again.

Bonbon stepped over to them, holding up a much fancier rifle.

"This," she said, "is a Discord produced weapon. Combat androids are built with firing guns in mind, so they don't need specialized guns to wield. It's only androids like you that we use things like this." She held it up.

"It doesn't have a scope," Vinyl pointed out.

With a click, a compartment on the stock opened up. Bonbon pulled out a USB.

"Click this, and you can interface with the rifle much easier," she said. "Even without firing software installed, you should be able to fire this thing with accuracy."

"Cool!" Vinyl said, putting the drive in. "So, what is this thing? Lever-action like the 30-30?"

Bonbon set the other rifle down. "That's a Flim-Flam Munitions gun. Cheap, but it's reliable enough to not accidentally kill anypony. This thing doesn't have a brand. It is a semi-automatic assault rifle. It can do single-shot or three-shot burst, and can use any gemstone you load into it without breaking." She nodded to the 30-30. "You put a diamond bullet in that thing, the gun would explode from firing it."

Vinyl plugged the USB in, and immediately saw the option to connect to the rifle. "Cool. I'll, uh, be careful."

Bonbon nodded. "It's bullets aren't so big, compared to some of our guns, so it's the one I brought out. But keep it on single-shot for now unless you feel like replacing your shoulder today."

"Got it." Vinyl took the gun, setting it into firing position. "Uh, it doesn't have a hammer."

"No, it doesn't. Some guns don't have safety because you need to be able to fire it at the drop of a hat. That means be very, very careful with this thing or I will personally disassemble you screw by screw, got it, Scratch?"

"Yes, ma'am." Somehow, Rainbow Dash didn't seem so threatening anymore.

"Okay, good," Bonbon said, pulling out an ammo cartridge. "This thing holds thirty bullets. If your shoulder starts hurting, put her down and let me know."

"Got it."

Bonbon quickly showed her how to load the cartridge, along the underside of the barrel, then gestured for Vinyl to take firing position.

Vinyl did so, and turned on the gun's firing software.

Immediately additional information lit up her view, including a handy red dot to show where the gun was pointing, and then a bunch of other information flooded her brain.

Distance between her and the target, target's movement speed (which was zero), and the expected force of the shot.

"Was this thing expensive?" Vinyl asked, training the red dot on the can. The gun was heavier, so keeping it steady proved a little harder than she'd thought.

"That gun is about a thousand bits," Bonbon said casually.

Vinyl played a whistle sound effect. Bonbon frowned at that, but Vinyl interrupted whatever she was thinking by saying, "Down range."

She missed. The bullet whistled past the can.

"Oh for--" Vinyl began muttering her choicest curse words, sighting at the can again. This time, the can fell off its pedestal, and she aimed at the one on the right. She hit that one immediately. Satisfied, she moved to the one furthest on the right, and fired.

The can stayed where it was, though Vinyl swore her aim was right. She missed the next shot as well, and then took an extra long moment aiming at the can.

The can stayed where it was, but Vinyl had recorded that shot. She played back the footage, slowing it down so she could see the bullet—kind of.

The blurry object passed through the air, and as she watched, went through the can, without knocking it over or even leaving any noticeable hole.

"Uh..." She lowered the gun, looking at Bonbon. "I hit it that time. It didn't move."

Bonbon frowned. "Must be a glitch. Hold on, I'm going to troubleshoot."

"Troubleshoot...a can," Vinyl said.

Bonbon let out one of those sighs only used by ponies who had to deal with particularly dimwitted ponies, which Vinyl felt was rather uncalled for. She stepped over to a pedestal beside where some guns had been stored, pressing some buttons.

The firing range staticked, flickering with multicolored pixels, and then the far right can and the pedestal it was on disappeared.

"Holograms?" Vinyl asked.

"Eeyup," Bonbon said tiredly. "Hold on...goddamnit, Pie. There's four of them, and they can't stop and make sure they set up the hit box properly..."

The can reappeared. "Now go for it," Bonbon said. "The computer should be able to register the shot now."

Vinyl aimed at the can again, focusing on it.

She shot it, and this time it fell off.

"I stole the blueprint from Canterlot on my way out," Bonbon explained. "The Canton's probably upgraded it, but we haven't upgraded this tech as much as we should have." She gritted her teeth. "I also think that we should be training rookies with gemstone bullets, but hey. The Boss said otherwise."

"Hey."

Bonbon looked up from her musings. "Yeah, what?"

Vinyl turned to her, eyes dancing up and down. "Where can I learn more about the holograms?"

Author's Note

Firearms in the Y2K setting

I am not the biggest gun nut around, and never really got Dad to teach me as much as I should have. So most of my knowledge nowadays comes from looking it up on the web, which is only semi-reliable. The bullet sizes I'm using come from Sportsman.com. The rifle rounds are listed under what kind of hunting they're good to use for. 30-30s are up there for hunting black bears, but not grizzly bears. 308 is put under hog hunting (apparently that needs a bigger bullet than the black bears). A few consecutive web searches told me that 7 MM is one of the most common sizes used in sniper rifles, but numerous online sources declared that the 300 Winchester is better(that one is okay for hunting grizzlies).

It should be noted that I am willing to make up as many gun brands as needed, but making up an entirely new list of bullet sizes is a little much for me.

Now about the Y2K gun brands.

Flim-Flam Munitions is widely regarded as cheap, but reliable enough to keep them out of legal trouble. No one suggests putting gemstones in their guns for fear of breaking the mechanisms.

Drakes are primarily handguns, and they earned their name being one of the first guns built to use fire rubies. Ruby detonations leave lots of soot that can ruin other guns, so the drakes are built to accommodate that, including being a lot easier to clean. Drakes are the most popular choice of handguns on the open market in Equestria and Griffonstone.

IF I GOT SOMETHING WRONG, please tell me in the comments. All of the "well, actually"s you have are actually welcome so long as you can be polite.

That Went Poorly

Explosions were not unusual around the Discord base. Whether it was some crazy invention of Sunset's that didn't work right, the Pie Sisters mining with dynamite, or Knight Watch trying to chase off an Ursa, you'd usually hear them a few times a week.

They always made Rainbow antsy, however, even when she knew it was absolutely nothing. She still always had to go and double-check that everything was fine, because there was no way she was letting her comrades down on her watch.

It's probably fine, she thought, flying up and above the castle's towers. Probably just another weapon test. Or Vinyl experimenting with her magic! Or--

She stopped upon seeing Sunset's lab. It, usually soundproofed, had been blown wide open.

Rainbow flew over, engines roaring, as into the massive hole in the wall.

Other ponies might have paused to wonder how. that had happened. Rainbow rarely wasted time on wondering, however.

Vinyl Scratch was hanging from a jagged piece of steel at the edge of the lab, looking down over an a hundred foot drop. One of her legs seemed to have been detached, but thankfully, a lot of the damage appeared to simply be her casing.

"Sunset!" she called out, pointing down.

Rainbow swooped past, picking Vinyl up and flying to the ground. She quickly found Sunset, who lay motionless, and deposited Vinyl right besides her.

"She's breathing! I think!" Vinyl said. Her visor had shattered, cracks spread all along it, but her jacket seemed...fine, somehow.

"What happened?" Rainbow asked.

"Erm...an explosion?"

Right. Rainbow shot off, flying to the medical ward. Thankfully, she found Fluttershy there, running down some questions with Fleur.

Rainbow Dash burst in through the window, which, thankfully, was open. "Sunset's hurt," she said.

"What?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow Dash picked her up by the waist, flying outside with her. Fluttershy barely had time to yelp before Rainbow Dash dropped her on the ground besides Sunset.

Fluttershy shoved her back, glaring at Rainbow. "I've told you, give me warning first," she said. She frowned, looking down at Sunset. "What happened?"

"Explosion," Rainbow said.

"Bass cannon," Vinyl explained. "She was testing out a bass cannon."

"What..." Fluttershy frowned, then moved to check Sunset's breathing. She moved her hands down, trying for her heartbeat, and when she remembered Sunset's armored plate, she moved to check her pulse.

"She seems to be fine, just unconscious," she said. She began feeling at Sunset's skull, frowning. "No cracked skull. I think she'll be fine. Help me lift her."

Rainbow picked up Sunset. Sunset groaned, but stayed limp in Rainbow's arms. "Okay, that's some good news," Rainbow said.

"She's fine," Fluttershy repeated. "But we do have a problem."

"What problem?"

Fluttershy gestured around. Rainbow looked side to side, find Sky Watch and Sour Sweet coming in close.

"That was way bigger than normal! What happened?" Sky called out. Then she looked to the figure in Rainbow's arms, and then to Vinyl. "Holy shit, Vinyl! What happened?"

"Er...weapons test?" Vinyl said.

"Hush," Rainbow ordered. She moved her wings, closing them around Sunset, but Sour had already seen.

She shook herself when she saw Rainbow looking back. "Um—I saw nothing! Nothing whatsoever!" She turned around, staring down at the ground.

"Is that even remotely true?"

She shook her head.

Rainbow chose to curse later. Instead, she speed dialed Applejack. "Hey, AJ," she said, "we got a situation here."

"Funny. We got one here, too."

"Not funny. Sunset knocked herself out with...a 'bass cannon'?"

"A what? Ah...shoot...hold on..."

Rainbow paused, waiting an uncomfortable moment. "Not one word about this, you two," she ordered Sour and Sky. "And Sky, get the Pies to prep a bed for Vinyl. She's going to need repairs, and a new leg."

Her speakers crackled. "Dash, I really can't talk now."

"Too bad. I need you here ASAP."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm entertaining an Inquisitor, Dash. Indigo's here."

Rainbow cursed. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. Says she's just here for the tour, but that's as likely as a vegan raccoon."

"Got it," Rainbow replied. "I'll send Sky over in case things go FUBAR." She called out, "SKY!"

Sky paused, barely a few steps away. "Indigo is at Sweet Apple Acres, ostensibly for leisure purposes. Get there fast and keep an eye on the situation. Sour, you go get the Pies and tell 'em about Vinyl."

"Yes, Ma'am!" Sky shot off immediately, but Sour hesitated.

"What about her?" Sour asked. "What about..."

Before Rainbow could say something snappy, Fluttershy cut in. "She'll wake up any minute now, but she's fine. We can talk about this later."

Sour hesitated one second more, but then saluted. "I'll tell people not to come over, then," she said. Then she bolted off, sprinting.

"Y'know, I gotta ask again," Rainbow said, hefting Sunset up again. Cybernetics and armor included, she was startlingly heavy. "What the fuck happened here?"

"Erm...we were talking, and...she suddenly asked if I wanted to test fire her new weapon. A bass cannon."

"Um...what is a bass cannon?" Fluttershy asked.

"You know..." Vinyl paused. "I'm not actually sure."

"Sonic weapon?" Rainbow asked.

"Something like."

"What were you talking about before then?" Fluttershy asked.

Vinyl squirmed. "Um...I'm, uh...not sure I'm supposed to talk about that."

"Then don't," Rainbow said. "Will you be fine if we leave you here? I need to get Sunset inside fast."

"Yeah, I'll...I'll be fine. I think...I think my sensory systems are shot, though. I can't...hardly move at all." She wiggled her fingers. "Which is good, because this should be hurting like fucking Tartarus." She looked around, cocking her head. "Um, actually, Doc, you tell me. Will I be fine to leave here?"

"I'll stay and look you over," Fluttershy said. "Rainbow, you get Sunset inside. Splash some water in her face when you're in a private location. Vinyl's in more danger than she is, though."

Rainbow nodded, then took off walking, carrying Sunset. She took off, flying Sunset into the air and bringing the unconscious Alicorn into her room.

Rainbow carefully deposited her onto the bed, then stepped over and locked her door. Water. Do I have water in here?

Yes, over on the desk. For when she was hanging out with Scootaloo. Usually reserved for cleaning tree sap off of the little blighter, but it would probably still wake Sunset.

Rainbow poured a cup, then scanned it with her optics. She had no idea how cold ponies considered 'cold', but she decided the water was cold enough. She splashed it in Sunset's face.

Sunset spluttered, coughing, then opened one eye and groaned. Her prosthetic eye had broken, now no longer even remotely resembling an actual eye. She opened her other eye, blinking slowly. "What happened?"

"We don't have the foggiest clue," Rainbow said. "You knocked yourself out with some sort of weapons test. Vinyl said it was a 'bass cannon'?"

"Oh...right. Well, on the bright side..." She shimmied a little, moving to sit with her back against the wall. She groaned, putting a hand to the back of her head, and closed her eyes. "On the bright side, I think it can stop an Alicorn. Call it a hunch."

"But...you're fine?"

"I have a bit of a migraine now. I keep pain pills in my...in both my offices, in case there's nothing left of the first one."

"Do not use your magic to teleport them here," Rainbow ordered. "I'll go bring them."

Sunset nodded, but the motion caused her to erupt into a spree of curses. "Fuck...what happened? No way it should have outputted that much power."

"Well, it destroyed your office, almost killed Vinyl, and destroyed a wall that was about ten inches of solid steel. You fell sixty feet."

Sunset frowned. "That shouldn't have...oh. Dammit, that was stupid."

"What? What happened?"

"Vinyl's attuned to sound down to the core of her being. She applied a lot more power than I had previously outputted through the cannon. In addition...she's an Element bearer, Dash. The Tree of Harmony just gave her the Element of Laughter."

"What? But you said--"

"I know. Guess I was wrong." She smiled sadly. "Anyway, that means she's positively brimming with magical energy right now. She poured all of that into a very tiny container. And..."

"Kaboom."

"Yup. How bad was the blast?"

"Well," Rainbow said, "it destroyed your wall. And your prototype. Vinyl should be getting repairs soon, but...I think she'll be fine. And, uh...Sky and Sour both saw your face."

"Fucking..." Sunset grimaced. "Sky's fine. She's trustworthy. But I don't know who Sour is, so that's not fine."

"Sour's a newer recruit. And no, she is not on the list of ponies I trust. There's always been something...I couldn't quite place about her. And I listen to my gut."

"We'll deal with it later. It's probably as good a time as any for the mask to come off. The important thing is that I need to be in control of it."

"Alright. I...feel bad bringing this up while you're hurt still, but Indigo seems to have suddenly decided she wants to take the Sweet Apple Acres tour. Sky's heading there right now to keep an eye on the situation, and kill Indigo if necessary."

"It might be good to go ahead and do so," Sunset mused. "She carried the message she was given. She's just a threat now."

Rainbow nodded. "True, true. But do we want that to be our first move in this war? To assassinate a pony who may not even be investigating anything?"

"You're right. She'd just become a martyr. We need to go for the Princesses. Killing anypony else doesn't advance the cause." She winced, hand to her head. "How long was I out?"

"About...five minutes?"

"Five minutes. And I knew it was coming," Sunset mused. "Easily enough time to kill one. Just...hopefully, the pony who fires it can survive the initial blast. Go get my painkillers now, keep me updated on the situation at the farm. If Indigo looks like she's about to make an arrest, end her."

"Got it. Heard that, Applejack?"

"Loud and clear. But...I think she's genuine. I really do."

"Even so, Sky's en route. Stay safe."

"Roger that."

At the top Tier of Canterlot, Princess Midnight stood in front of the most important door in the world.

The smog was thick today. Some screw up or other had made the fans run slow. On lower tiers it would only darken the sky, but up here, on the highest point in the world, Midnight breathed the red smoke in deeply.

A grim reminder of how tainted the world was.

The nearest elevator dinged. Mi Amore Cadenza stepped off, glowering at Midnight. Her outfit looked like she should be freezing at the height they stood, but with the ruby smog, it felt uncomfortably hot and dry.

"Twilight," Cadenza said stiffly. "I was in a meeting."

"With the mess you've caused us, what's one more apology?" Midnight said.

Cadenza glowered. "What? You execute innocent ponies all the time."

"With precision," Midnight said, "and care. And certainly never high nobility, Cadence."

Cadenza scoffed. "Their birth doesn't matter so much if they speak against Auntie."

"Even so, that is for me to handle," Midnight said, placing a hand on her chest. "I am the Princess of Inquisition, Cadence. You are the Princess of Diplomacy. You sign trade agreements and scold ponies who make insensitive jokes and manage border disuptes and immigration! I handle people who dive into our secrets! Not you!"

The door opened. A colt in a gold robe stepped forward, hands clasped and head bowed. "Her Radiance will see you now."

Midnight gestured for Cadenza to move first. "After you."

Cadenza shot her a venomous glare, but moved first. Midnight moved after her, stepping into the Solar Spire.

Literal Heaven on Equus.

They walked down a hall made of gold, with beautiful stained glass windows depicting various miracles.

Her bringing life to the badlands. The sealing of Tartarus. The destruction of the Black Crystal King. And, of course, her vanquishing Nightmare Moon.

From the ceiling hung a massive model of the universe. Equus in the center, the sun and moon rotating around it, and the stars. Each one was a glowing white diamond, rotating in perfect harmony with each other.

And at t the end of the hall was a massive canopied bed. Cadenza and Midnight stopped before it, and, as one, dropped to one knee, spreading out their wings as far as they could. Her prosthetic wings she kept closed, however.

"Hail, Radiance," she and Cadenza said in unison.

Celestia's many wings spread out, metal feathers rattling amongst the gentle rustle of the actual feathers. Her eyes opened, and fell upon the two Princesses.

"RISE."

The Flight of Fancy

Octavia Melody tried her hardest to avoid grimacing at the Flight of Fancy's atmosphere. A loud, harsh techno beat pounded against her skull, as the Flight of Fancy's numerous patrons danced in various amounts of clothing. Manehattan was predominantly an Earth pony city, yet Octavia still saw a few pegasi couples performing their mid-air tangos that were oh-so-popular.

Octavia paused as a waiter slid past. An android—there were a few of those inside, but more of the employees Octavia saw were ponies. Quite the opposite of normal—androids tended to be cheaper in the long run, because, as legal property, they didn't have to be paid.

The waiter leaned his tray of glasses over to her, but she shook her head. "No, thank you."

If he particularly cared about one of the only ponies who stopped to thank androids, he didn't show it, instead moving off in a hurry to other patrons.

"This looks too tame to be a place Filthy's gonna come to," Applejack said quietly.

"I told you: Fancy's a good colt," Octavia said. Covering her ears, she added, "I just wish that this garish, techno-garbage wasn't 'in style'. Or that the stairs up to Fancy's office didn't go right past the DJ's booth."

Applejack looked up to the DJ in question. The unicorn android wore jeans and an open white jacket, showing off a polished, silvery torso. Her blue, shiny mane was short, falling just down to her neck, and her optics were a deep red color, though rather than the imitation pupils that were popular amongst most entertainment-focused ones, this one had synth waves going up and down in accordance with her music. As they passed her, she gave them a wave as she used her other hand to manipulate the heavy electronic beeps.

Octavia refused to call it music, and hurried past with her ears covered.

Applejack looked back to the DJ, who gave a completely unapologetic shrug, before returning all her focus to her music.

"I see what you mean," Applejack chuckled.

"I know. If I remember correctly, his office is soundproofed, so--"

"If he weren't nice, then no android woulda shown that much sass," Applejack said, visor imitating eyes closed in a cartoonish, happy way.

"Har de har," Octavia said. "Eyes up, security's ahead."

The doorway leading to the second story—VIP rooms and office rooms, mostly—was blocked by a sentry android. Flash-point sentry, the most common model used. Previously it had been Wonderbolts, before Canterlot had declared them exclusively for government use.

Octavia almost felt gladdened by that, as the Flash-points had much nicer personalities. At least, if Rainbow Dash was anything to go by, anyway.

"Hello! Please show note of appointment or ticket to VIP access," the sentry said. His bronze plating was reflective enough to blind Octavia if she hadn't been wearing her violet goggles, and he had a fully simulated digital face that was grinning broadly, if somewhat cartoonishly.

It was almost cheery enough to distract from the minigun arm he held behind his back. His other arm was held forward, fingers outstretched.

Octavia slipped into her jacket pocket, before fishing out the note of appointment. She handed it to the sentry, who scanned the note's code with his faceplate.

"Please wait one moment," he said in the same cheery tone. His face briefly flickered, turning to an exclamation mark, before returning to its normal expression. "Ah, you're with Mr Fancy! Good luck!" He opened the door, then handed back the note before gesturing her through the door.

"Thank you," Octavia told him as she walked past.

"Just doin' my job," he said, though the cheer sounded slightly more authentic.

She was probably imagining that, as the Flash Points were only given one tone of voice.

Applejack had to duck down through the doorway, her plates making uncomfortable sounds against each other.

"Sorry," Octavia apologized as she lead the way forward. "I should have warned you."

"It's alright," Applejack said. "Workhorses ain't meant for indoor use, anyhow."

Octavia gave her tail an annoyed swish. "You're my friend, not a Workhorse," she said pointedly.

"You're friends with a Workhorse," Applejack argued. "Just because I'm a touch 'fancied up' from the rest of 'em don't mean I'm not a workhorse."

Octavia couldn't figure out how to answer that. Applejack was more to her than a Workhorse, or even a combat android.

But she was getting sidetracked, and she had a job to do.

Octavia looked around, tapping her chin briefly before finding the door helpfully labeled 'Fancy Pants' on the outside.

Octavia stepped up to the door, giving a nod to the Flash-point outside it before she rapped on it with her knuckles.

"Come in," Fancy Pants called out.

Octavia slipped in, leaving Applejack to squeeze in behind her. "Hello, Fancy," she said, letting her goggles fall around her neck. "It's been a while."

Fancy smiled pleasantly, straightening his monocle. As the name suggested, he wore a fine tuxedo and tie, though the top hat that would have completed the look sat on the table in front of him with a glass of wine. Cherry's Jubilee, if the logo on the bottle was anything to go by.

"Well, time flies, as they say," he said. "You at least remember Fleur, right?"

Octavia's eyes traveled to the other mare in the room, a unicorn reclining sideways on a chair, her mane trailing almost to the ground. Her horn was long and curved, majestic. The product of beauty care products that were in no way healthy, intended to make your horn longer and more curved despite how brittle it would be.

Fleur also, contrary to Octavia's memory, had a cybernetic chip on her temple. Fleur raised her glass of wine in greeting, smiling warmly at Octavia.

Fleur de Liss wasn't so bad, as far as the Canterlot nobility went. Though, what she was doing down from her mountain was beyond Octavia's guess.

"Yes, quite fondly," Octavia said, taking her seat. Applejack moved to stand behind her, but Octavia firmly pushed over a chair for her to sit in.

With a slightly complaining mechanical hum, Applejack took the hint and sat down.

"Oh, that's a big one," Fleur commented. "Custom model, I assume?"

"Yes," Octavia lied easily enough. "From a small, no-name company." Most people weren't aware that any android could hurt ponies, if you removed a single inhibitor chip from them, so it was best to let them continue thinking so.

For now, anyway.

"Is this some sort of personal business with Fancy? If so, I'll spare you the trouble of asking me and leave already," she said, adopting an apologetic face easily. Octavia felt slightly envious of how easily noblemares and colts could adopt fake expressions sometimes, but Fleur, at least, meant well.

"Nothing that need be discussed quite so quickly," Octavia said with a smile. "Perhaps we have a moment to catch up?"

"Ah, yes, of course," Fancy said with a smile. "Here, I take it you still don't like the expensive wines?"

"I never had enough money to learn to like them," Octavia said, letting a hint of moroseness through her voice.

"Jiffy!"

A pegasus blinked into view from a side entrance, wings outstretched. "Yessir?" he said quickly.

"Fetch a thing of...hmm, I'm not quite sure what all we have in stock."

"Anything from Sweet Apple Acres?" Octavia asked.

"Yes'm," Jiffy replied. "Be right back!" He zoomed off, a white blure trailing behind him.

"I should have figured you for a whiskey mare," Fleur commented drily. "You never did seem like you fit in with all the fakely sweet nobles and soirees. No, you were much to hard for that, my girl."

"Perhaps," Octavia replied with a shrug.

"Perhaps? Look at you! You're wearing jeans and a travel jacket. The very image of practicality. I daresay any other Canterlotter would die on the spot if they saw you," Fleur said, gesturing at Octavia.

"I'm back!" Jiffy said, suddenly reappearing. "Sorry for the wait, have to slow down while carrying this." He set down a container of Zap Apple hard cider, with a picture of a smiling Granny Smith on it.

"No worries," Octavia answered. "Thank you."

"'Twas a pleasure," Jiffy answered, zooming back to his corner of the room, where he sat with a wide smile and open, unblinking eyes.

Octavia had several concerns about the flighty colt, but said nothing. She let Fancy pour her a cup of the cider, the rainbow fizz rising to the glass's brim. She nodded her thanks, then took a sip.

As always, it hit like a bullet. She let out a contented sigh, reclining back in her seat. "It's been a while since I was able to sit down and relax like this," she acknowledged.

"I'm half surprised you actually drank it," Fancy commented. "I suppose Fleur always did have the proper guess of what you were doing, isn't that quite right?"

Fleur nodded. "Yes, I always was able to figure out what was going on in that pretty little head," she said. "I suppose it's because I saw a lot of myself in you."

"I find it hard to see you as a whiskey mare," Octavia commented, giving a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"True, I find myself impartial to Cherry's every time," Fleur replied, raising her glass demurely before taking a sip. She sipped it slowly, letting everyone's eyes remain on her drink before she gave an exaggerated sigh of contentment. "Though, your taste for classical music is one I happened to share. Such a pity that rock, dubstep, and pop have pushed it to the side, isn't it?"

"Perhaps, though tastes are subjective," Octavia answered. "My own drink being the case in point." She took a sip to punctuate the remark.

"Ah, indeed. Though you might be happy to hear that classical seems to be making a comeback. At the Grand Galloping Gala a few months back, Princess Celestia set the music as classical."

"You might have an opportunity to step back into the limelight, Octavia," Fancy said. "Are you going to take it, or are you otherwise committed at this point?"

Octavia made a show of sighing theatrically. "I daresay I wish I could," she admitted. "But, as you put it, I am otherwise committed."

"To what, if I might be permitted to ask?"

"I'm working out of Ponyville these days," Octavia said.

Both Fleur and Fancy looked at her in surprise. "That backwater?" Fleur gasped. "My word. Well, I suppose it would suit your tastes, and they are...subjective, right?"

Octavia found herself gripping her glass unreasonably tightly, barely keeping her Earth pony strength from shattering it. "Yes, indeed," she said, somewhat stiffly.

"Now, Fleur! Look what you've done," Fancy chastised. "I find the ponies there quite charming, actually. Octavia, do you know Rarity Belle?"

"Closely," Octavia admitted. "She's the one who made this ensemble for me, actually."

"My, my," Fleur said, choosing to ignore her previous insult. "I never did hear back from her on what a dress would cost, actually. How much was that set?"

"This is Rarity we're talking about," Octavia replied dryly. "She gave it for free and wouldn't let me pay. Though, I do know that some of her dresses go for upwards of a hundred bits, way more if it is a custom fitting. She has a Manehattan branch, actually."

"Yes, it's where I got my suit made," Fancy added. He brushed some imaginary dust off his shirt, adding, "I suggest you make your way there while in town, Fleur. There's enough bad business in Manehattan to where we should support the better shops, I think."

"That is actually the regrettable reason I'm here," Octavia admitted, sitting forward. She folded her arms together. "A friend of mine heard that Filthy Rich was coming through town, looking to buy your place from you."

Fancy Pants reached over, took his hat, and made a show of brushing off more imaginary dust. Then, he threw back his head, mane shaking, and laughed. "Well, now, that's quite funny, you see. You're worried I'm actually going to sell to him, are you?"

"Not much, but my employers wanted to make sure."

"Well, Jiffy!"

"Yes?" Jiffy said, suddenly appearing again.

Applejack twitched, but thankfully, the pegasus didn't notice her reaction. Fleur de Liss, on the other hand, was giving Applejack a lazy look over, seemingly noting the clenched fist.

Octavia gave Applejack a discreet flick. The android moved to a more forcibly relaxed position. She was jittery, which Octavia could get—Applejack was acting as a bodyguard. Even Octavia's nerves were getting shaken by Jiffy's spontaneous movement.

Though, I shouldn't be, given that I know Rainbow Dash...and the Pie Sisters, anyway...

"Is Vinyl's show over?"

"Yessir," Jiffy answered, leaning forward and straightening his spectacles. "Want me to fetch her?"

"If you don't mind," Fancy answered.

Jiffy disappeared in a blink.

"That's quite the combat android," Fleur commented. "I've seen some so poorly designed they'd fly off and shoot anypony who moved too quickly. That one, though—she looks like quality. What company did you say made her, again?"

"They never had a name, and it 'company' is a bit of an exaggeration," Octavia said. "It was a couple of individuals, and they no longer make androids anymore."

"Ah, a shame," Fleur said casually. "They deserve some credit. Few ponies would think of using a workhorse as a model for a combat droid."

"I don't see why not," Fancy scoffed. "They can lift plows. Ever think about what one could do to a pony? Have you seen much action, miss?" He nodded to Applejack.

Applejack seemed surprised at being spoken to directly, so was somewhat hesitant in her reply. "Er, yeah, a bit," she drawled. "I've seen my share of tousles, Mister Fancy."

Fleur gave off a lilting, musical laugh. "My, the idea of using the rural accent for her tone was genius!" she cheered, lifting her glass into the sky. "Strange to think they went out of business, isn't it?"

Octavia was saved from ad-libing a response by Jiffy's abrupt return. "Vinyl Scratch is here."

Octavia almost winced at seeing the DJ from earlier stride into the room, with an easy, carefree gate.

Up close, Octavia realized that she really wasn't wearing a shirt under the jacket. She could even make out the lines between some of the plates.

"Yo, wuzzup, Pants?" the android said in a raspy, nonchalant tone. She stopped abruptly, her red visor focusing on first Fleur, then settling on Octavia.

"Please, have a seat," Fancy said. "These are friends of mine. I've mentioned Fleur before, and this is Octavia Meldoy. A charming friend of mine who's been travelling."

"A pleasure to meet you," Vinyl said in a cheery tone.

"Please, dispense with the factory settings. I'd like to see the real you," Fleur said, attention finally leaving Octavia to focus one hundred percent of her will upon Vinyl. Octavia couldn't manage to enjoy it, however, because she was allowed an easy glance at how Fleur had changed over the years.

A look of greed and awe filled her face, as her eyes appraised Vinyl.

"O-kay. Nice to meetcha lovely ladies." She took the offered seat, between Fleur and Fancy, crossed one leg over the other, and let her arms hang over the back of the chair.

Jiffy appeared with an empty glass, and mimed the action of pouring something into it. Vinyl took the empty cup, then raised it to Jiffy in mock solute. "Thanks, m'dude," Vinyl said.

"You're welcome," Jiffy said, disappearing back to his corner.

"Now, Octavia and I were talking," Fancy said, tipping his glass to her. "And I wanted to ask you: are you happy in your workplace?"

"Uh...yeah," Vinyl said, thrusting her cup forward. "You're a good dude. I get free time. I get to make my own music. It's as good a life as I could ever have."

"I see. All that said, Octavia mentioned that Filthy Rich wants to buy this establishment. Would you be happy then?"

Vinyl stared at him for a long moment. "You could just...disassemble me now," she finally commented. "That would be preferable, actually."

Fancy laughed. "Don't worry, I have a response prepared for Rich already," he said. "And whomever these employers of yours are, Miss Melody, you can let them know."

"Who do you work for these days, anyway?" Fleur asked, but her gaze kept looking right at Vinyl in a way that Octavia absolutely didn't like.

"I work security for an AI rights activist group," Octavia said slowly.

Fleur managed to tear her gaze away from Vinyl to shoot her with a piercing look. Fancy didn't seem to notice, however.

"You? Working security?" he asked.

"Yes. It's good pay, and it feels good to be making some headway in this world," Octavia said.

"Which group?" Fleur asked casually.

"Everfree," Octavia answered. Which was the truth, actually, just not all of it.

"Everfree? Hmm. A respectable bunch," Fancy said with a nod, blissfully unaware of the miniature feud between his other two guests. "Though, I will say, I will not need any assistance to handle whatever goons Rich sends to coerce me into selling. I'm not some poor pony without the money or strength to tell him no, and I refuse to let this become another den of broodmares and Salt licks. I have resources of my own to keep him off."

"Fancy," Octavia said, in pleading tones. "He has a lot of money his way, and the people he sends will be more plentiful than you can replenish the Flash-points, or pony guards."

"Once he makes his offer, I shall inform the town guard of what I believe is coming," Fancy said. "They know I don't come to them without reason, and once thugs start showing up, our dear friend Mr. Rich shall find his lackeys contending against Wonderbolts. Any assistance you have to offer is rather moot, where that is concerned, Miss Melody."

If you only knew, Octavia thought. Aloud, she said, "Ever the believer in the monarchy, aren't you, Fancy?"

"It's not that I believe in it wholeheartedly," Fancy replied, in a chastising tone. "It's that I believe that I should not break the rules of the system I am trying to change. If I break the rules, then I show that I do not care about anything other than my own way. One cannot change a system if one also happens to be ignoring it."

"I agree wholeheartedly," Fleur said, nodding. "He's put in a lot of good work towards improving things for androids himself, Octavia. If, at this point, he went and hired some freelance bodyguards before the Town Guard, it would be a blow to his support. It would show a complete lack of trust in the system, and, as he said...that would demote his ability to change said system."

Perhaps, he would have been right, if he would ever have been able to change the system. Applejack stayed silent, and Octavia only nodded, saying, "Well, then I shall let the boss know that you shan't be needing any help, Mr. Fancy." She took a sip of her cider.

"With my sincerest respect, of course," Fancy said. "I respect Gloriosa's work greatly. I think she has the marks of a great figure of change, herself. Just compare the strides she's made to those that, hm, well..."

"Discord?" Fleur suggested innocently.

"A bit of an extreme example, but yes!" Fancy gave a nod. "Discord's penchant for violence first undermines their every action. Any action they take in the name of 'android equality' only means that Canterlot has to respond by saying they will not bow to the likes of gun-toting degenerates."

Octavia took a long sip of her cider.

"They cannot possibly win their war for freedom because no one wins a war. Bullets and bloodshed cannot make the world a better place."

Octavia's hand tightened around her glass.

"Everfree's continued commitment to non-violent measures has my full backing," Fancy said. "Of course, I do recognize that sometimes, conflict is inevitable, as in the current scenario. Mr. Rich is not going to simply let me say no, and that, I think, is regrettable."

"You'd think someone'd have arrested him by now," Vinyl said.

"He's got money, meaning he can bribe off as many people as he needs to," Octavia muttered bitterly.

"I do hope you're not implying that everyone of wealth does such things," Fleur commented dryly, before sipping her drink.

Octavia winced. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything like that," she said. "I simply meant that that is how he is using his wealth."

"Indeed," Fancy grimaced. "Truly unfortunate that he has been so successful using such debased tactics. Well, this is it for him. He will find that the Flight of Fancy will not be sold to him now, nor ever." He raised his glass, and Fleur raised her own.

"I'll toast that!" she said. "To the Flight of Fancy!"

Octavia raised her own glass in toast, as well. Get a hold of yourself, she thought. You've always known his stance on violence. You should have been plenty ready for that.

If only Fancy didn't still believe that the system cared about his opinions. No matter how hard he tried, he would never succeed, because some ponies just wouldn't listen.

And the beloved Princess of Equestria happened to be one of them.

Octavia's eyes met Fleur's across the table, and she found Fleur smiling. "Now, on the topic of Discord..." the unicorn said with a grin.

Author's Note

Cyberpony: Y2K, chapter 2! The story is pretty much actually started at this point, now that there's a second chapter. Hope you guys enjoy!

On a side note, I will be working on a post for a The Science Fiction Contest III set in the same universe, featuring a bunch of characters from Y2K. It will be canon to this one, but you don't have to read it for this one to make sense. That said, there are still ten more chapters of Y2K already written, so I'll still be posting the new ones on Wednesdays.

Fight at the Flight

"I do think there's an awful lot of rumors flying around that organization. Surely not all of them are true, don't you think?"

"Parsing rumor from truth is always difficult," Fancy said, looking to her.

"I take it most of it is false, or exaggerated," Octavia said simply, hoping her tone was neutral. Damn you, Fleur! Damn you to Tartarus and back again, you stupid--

"I mean, yeah," Vinyl agreed. "Lots of it sounds farfetched."

"Indeed? Well, are there any you worry about?" Fleur asked demurely, turning to Vinyl.

"Well, let's see," Vinyl considered that for a moment. "Okay, I don't really worry about any of them because--" She gestured at herself, then at her empty glass. "—Wobot. But if I were a pony, then definitely up on top would be Rainbow Dash."

"Rainbow Dash?" Octavia couldn't help herself. All eyes turned to her, as she cleared her throat and blushed. "I-I mean, surely you don't think the rumors about some prettied up renegade Wonderbolt unit are true."

"Legally speaking, I don't 'think' anything," Vinyl said dryly. "Otherwise, yeah, I think so. I mean, look at it this way—their entire purpose is killing. Come off the factory line, load up on bullets, ship out to action, then wait in stasis until they need to kill again. It's killing all the way down. Factor that in with the fact that every factory occasionally sends out faulty materials, and we have a recipe for one renegade Wonderbolt. I think it is all too likely that one went rogue at some point—it's been, what, seventy years since the first ones were made? So, yeah, Rainbow Dash is not only believable, but...heh...terrifying." She shuddered. "Seriously. Have you seen Wonderbolts?"

"Thankfully, no," Octavia lied easily. "But I suppose I can see what you mean."

"Yes, running into Rainbow Dash alone at night makes for a terrifying scenario," Fleur said, setting down her own empty glass before straightening in her seat. "Hmm. What about the Behemoth?

"Eh...probably a seven or eight on 'danger', but only a 'two' on the 'believable side," Vinyl said. "Sure, it's a giant, scary robot. But, like...what is it? Where'd it come from? All these rumors just say different things. Entertainer, miner, calculator—why build such a massive robot, and how did they do it while not maintaining any sort of consistent--" Vinyl paused, meeting Fleur's gaze.

"Do go on," Fleur said.

Octavia shared a look with Fancy, but the noblecolt nodded, and gestured for Octavia to stay quiet.

"Well, um--" Vinyl seemed to get over her fluster rather quickly. "Anyway, there's just too many different stories about Behemoth. It's most likely all made up. Right?"

"I'd say," Fancy said slowly.

Octavia nodded in the interest of keeping her secrets to herself. Thankfully, Applejack was still keeping quiet, because both of them knew she was an absolutely terrible liar.

"Hmm...Diamond Duster?" Fleur questioned with a smile.

"Pass."

Appleajck looked up in confusion shared by Octavia and Fancy. "Pardon?" Applejack asked.

"I mean...look, I can literally look it up--" Vinyl rapped her knuckles against the side of her head. "Ignoring the questionable science of an android that someone added a pony's heart to, you...you still didn't make it any scarier? Yeah, that mask looks creepy, from the pictures I've seen, but...you just...installed a weak point onto an android. Not to mention all it has are two pistols—which I'm certain are not diamond, no matter what people say. Diamonds would shatter even if you were just firing lead."

"Don't I know it," Fleur lamented. "Dropped a diamond ring once, and it cracked right away." She reached over, cupping Vinyl's face. "You are a fine model, aren't you?" she added.

"Eeeeeeyup," Vinyl said, her 'eyes' bouncing up and down. While Octavia couldn't hear any music playing, she was certain that the android was playing something to herself as a means of keeping calm.

"Fancy, have you ever considered selling?" Fleur asked calmly, eyes not leaving Vinyl.

"This one? I'm afraid not," Fancy said, keeping his voice neutral. "She was, in every way, worth the bits I spent, and I'm not sure she'd even be partial to leaving."

"I'm good," Vinyl said with a shrug.

"Yes, and I'm certain we've butted into enough of her free time as it is," Fancy said. "So, how about we leave her to go enjoy some quality time with her fellows?"

Fleur pouted. "Are you certain? I could--"

"Fleur," Octavia said, patience snapping.

Fancy, Fleur, and Vinyl all turned to look at her. Octavia narrowed her eyes so that they were almost slits, then hissed, "I have spent these past few years fighting for android rights. At Everfree--" She spat the name to remind Fleur that they both knew that wasn't the organization she worked for. "--We've managed to go so far as to make it to outlaw the use of androids as broodmares in places like Cloudsdale and Vanhoover. Kindly take my position, and hers, with the respect that it is due."

The glass in her hands shattered, glass breaking into her skin, as she took a few, deep breaths. Jiffy appeared at her side, holding a cloth, and she took it without removing her eyes from Fleur.

Fleur, looking considerably distressed, leaned back in her seat. "A thousand pardons, I'm—I--" She sighed, then tapped the implant in her forehead. "My body's still acclimating to this. I'm afraid it's leaving me not wholly in my right mind, and I'm terribly sorry if I caused you discomfort."

"We're cool," Vinyl said slowly. "Seriously, you were creepin' me out a little, but with Fancy here, I wasn't too concerned." She shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"And you're not just saying that because I'm your owner's friend?" Fleur asked with a smile.

"Nope! In fact, knowing you're his friend means a lot to me," Vinyl said. "That little, uh, display aside, I think I'd have a humongous preference to being sold to you over Filthy Rich. At least you have an excuse." She rapped her knuckles against the side of her head, where Fleur's implant was.

"I thought you were supposed to be acclimated by now," Fancy asked, looking Fleur up and down. "I've been meaning to ask this entire time...Fleur, my dear...are you alright?"

"Of course I am. It's just...taking me a little longer to acclimate than it does for most ponies," Fleur said, levitating her glass. "It'll only be another week or so. I can feel it. The doctors said that this is perfectly normal, too."

Octavia sighed. "You've seen the Alicorns, right? I'm assuming you saw at least one at the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Of course! She was majestic, beautiful...it was actually under her suggestion that I got this," Fleur said, tapping the implant.

"Did she seem entirely in her right mind to you?" Octavia asked. She removed the rag from her hand. "The bleeding's stopped, but I seemed to have ruined one of your towels, Fancy."

"An ounce of your blood is worth more to me than a hundred of those," Fancy proclaimed, and anyone who knew him could see that she meant it. "That aside, what do you mean about the Alicorns?"

"Anypony whose talked to one knows that they're a little...off, wouldn't you say?" Octavia met Fleur's eyes.

"I...suppose," Fleur said. "Miss Cadenza seemed fine enough..."

"You drilled a piece of metal into your skull with the intention of using it to apply an electrical current to your brain," Octavia said simply. "Does that sound 'fine enough'?"

"Hmm. I guess you're right...just look at what happened a few decades ago. That one Alicorn up and disappeared, didn't she?"

"Have you met Alicorns?" Fancy asked, turning his gaze to Octavia.

"Once, at Everfree's main office," Octavia replied—truthfully, actually. "They like to check up on the android rights movements, let them know that their complaints are heard." And normally, feed them some garbage about how things would change as the nation wanted, as if 'the nation' could better decide what was morally right.

Fancy gave her a look. "Miss Melody," he began, in a tone that made her aware her little feud with Fleur had not gone unnoticed.

The door to the room burst open, and a pegasus bolted into the room. "Fancy, sir! The club's under attack!"

A silence fell amongst the people in the room. "By whom?" Fancy demanded, rising.

"Unknown, sir. They're armed members of some gang."

"Filthy's," Octavia growled, jumping to her feet. "I'm so stupid. It's obvious to anypony who knows Fancy he wouldn't sell to Filthy, so he skipped a step. And you can't even link this to him legally, so he can't get in trouble with it."

"Mount the defense, keep the patrons safe and prevent them from getting access to any of the androids," Fancy said. "I'll trust you to handle how to best deal with this."

The pegasus saluted, then disappeared.

"Oh, no," Vinyl whispered. "Um—what do we do? How do I help? Can I help?"

"No, you can't," Fancy answered. "Stay here, we'll wait this out. There won't be so many that the Flash-points can't handle it, or at least, hold them off until the Wonderbolts arrive."

Octavia firmly decided that she needed to be out by that point, but another worry crossed her mind. "If Filthy knows you better than we'd assumed, he'll know you won't bow to this," Octavia said, pulling her gun from its holster.

Fleur let out a squawk. "You were armed?" she burst out.

"I told you I manage security, didn't I?" Octavia said, stepping right over to the servant's door Jiffy had used repeatedly. "For example, this room has two entrances, and the building itself has plenty." She opened the door, peaking outside.

Two armed thugs—both Earth ponies stopped, standing over an unconscious butler and staring at Octavia.

Octavia didn't give them a chance. The first went down to a heashot, but the other ducked behind a doorframe as the jeweled bullet soared past.

"He's got a bodyguard!" the thug shouted.

"Son of a bitch," Octavia muttered, ducking around the doorframe. She ejected the spent casings, loading in two extra bullets. "Fancy, we need to be on the move. Check the other door--" Bits of plaster exploded from the doorframe near her head, and she winced, ducking away from it. "Applejack, a hand, would you kindly?"

Applejack stood up, taking off her hat and putting it on the table. "Keep yer heads down, and hold onto yer manes," she told Vinyl and Fleur. "This might get a touch hairy." She charged the wall, smashing through it and colliding with the crook who'd been creeping up to the doorway.

Knowing he was dealt with, Octavia shot past Applejack, hitting another one. "There aren't many coming from that path," she said. "Still, we should--" She ducked back, feeling a stinging across her cheek. She wiped the blood away, as Applejack cursed. "You alright?" she asked, ducking back inside the room.

"Sorry, one of 'em ricocheted off me--"

"I'd rather deal with a paper cut than you getting pumped full of holes," Octavia said. "Fancy!"

"Path's clear, Miss Melody!" one of the Flash-points shouted.

Melody let out a silent prayer of thanks. "Applejack, watch our flanks!" she ordered. "Fleur, Vinyl, get up and move! We don't have time!"

Fleur, more from panic than anything else, rushed to obey, letting Fancy usher her out the door.

"I-I-I—" Vinyl stammered, then began to play a quiet musical track.

Octavia grabbed her by the back of her coat and gave her a rough shove in the direction of the door. "Your life is important, Vinyl, don't let me catch you wasting it," she ordered.

She turned just in time to see Applejack throwing a punch, with the servos in her wrist and arm working full throttle under the jacket sleeve. She watched as the fist extended forward several inches, and heard the bang not unlike a gunshot, followed by a cracking sound, and a spray of blood going up the wall besides her.

Applejack retreated into the room again, retrieving her hat and putting it on top of her faux-mane. "There's still another one back there, but he's hidin' around the corner. He didn't wanna come up and say hi."

"You just killed that guy," Vinyl whispered in shock.

Applejack didn't seem to have any sort of response prepared.

"No, don't think about that, Vinyl," Fleur said. "Everything's going to be okay, alright?" She put her hands on Vinyl's shoulders. "Octavia and her friend are protecting us. Stopping the bad guys, alright? Everything is fine."

Vinyl nodded dumbly.

Octavia beckoned them to follow, hoping Vinyl would be alright. Hopefully, she could get them through this...

"Fancy, do you have a saferoom?" Octavia asked.

"This way," Fancy said, ducking into a light sprint. "I--"

A burst of machine gun fire interrupted him. They turned as one of the Flash-points fell away from the staircase back to the bottom floor, gun arm pointed at the open doorway.

Instead of a thug, a small, round ball flung through the doorway, landing at the Flash-point's feet.

"GRENADE!" she screamed, throwing Fleur and Vinyl away.

She turned out to be half-right. With an echoing boom, the grenade flashed bright white. Octavia stumbled, rolling away and ducking behind the first object she could use as cover while cursing. Her ears were ringing, but she thought she heard some gunfire.

Applejack wouldn't have been blinded, and neither would the Flash-Point—their optics were too good. They'd shut out the flash so as to avoid damage. Their hearing systems were potentially compromised, but that was a secondary concern.

Perhaps too late, she pulled her goggles back over her eyes, gun lifted. She shook her head, trying in vain to clear her eyesight.

Another bang came, followed by a metalic pinging sound as she felt her cover rattle against her. She winced, but without knowing if it was a gunshot aimed at her or friendly fire, she avoided shooting back.

Her vision began coming into focus again as she heard the sound of Applejack punching someone. Octavia turned slightly, looking out from behind her cover.

Her 'cover' turned out to be Vinyl Scratch.

"Oh, my God, are you alright?" Octavia burst out. "You were shot--"

Vinyl shrugged helplessly. She said something, but all Octavia caught was a light buzzing sound.

"Damn Rich," Octavia snarled, pulling out her gun. She shot the first thug she saw coming through the door, who fell back, clutching his shoulder.

The sound of Applejack grunting caught her attention. She turned, to see her friend wrestling with an Earth pony. She blinked in surprise, seeing the Earth pony actually lift Applejack into the air, throwing her to the side.

A very large Earth pony, who stopped and glared at her with narrow eyes. He spat, then took a step forward.

Applejack tackled him, sending the two of them rolling in an open brawl as she punched the Earth pony in the face. Applejack's hat was missing, and she was covered in numerous dents from punches.

Octavia gulped, but didn't risk opening fire. Her handgun was certainly high enough caliber to break through Applejack's armor, and she didn't want to risk shooting her friend.

Instead, she turned her attention on the doorway. Her aim was somewhat unsteady, but as long as she was careful, she could keep the enemies at bay.

Someone tackled her from behind.

Octavia cursed, gun falling from her hand, as she fell into a brawl with a pegasus. He swung a fist at her face, missing narrowly, as she thought back to all of those ponies who'd been sneaking up the backway to Fancy's office, and how stupid she was for forgetting them.

Octavia slammed her knee into his stomach, leveraging her Earth pony magic to shove him off of her. He rolled back, then ducked in quickly. He caught her around the waist, wings propelling them both into a wall.

Octavia brought her fists down on the small of his back, inciting a cry of pain. She kneed him in the stomach, then brought her fist into the side of his skull. He spun around, before falling unconscious to the floor.

The Flash-Point that had fallen a the start shouted out, "Behind you!"

Octavia spun just in time to see yet another thug climb out of the stairwell, pointing a machine gun directly at her. The pegasus had—intentionally, no doubt—carried her to the staircase, perhaps envisioning that a brawl with an Earth pony was a bad idea.

Octavia ducked slightly to the side, just as Vinyl collided with the gun. Vinyl was an android, and thus, a small chip in her head prevented her from directly harming her opponent. However, nothing stopped her from wrestling with his gun, making sure the spray of bullets hit the wall besides Octavia, with only a single one pegging her jacket sleeve.

She mentally promised to give Rarity thanks for the sturdy vest, before rolling over to snatch her fallen pistol. She rolled onto her feet, shooting at her newest attacker.

She missed by inches, the bullet going between his and Vinyl's heads with a green trail.

The unicorn jerked his gun away from Vinyl, sending her sprawling against the wall, before swiveling to face Octavia. Octavia fired again, but a shimmering forcefield materialized in the air in front of him. The bullet broke through anyway, but the impact sent it careening off course. He ducked to the side of her second shot, gun training on her, as she leapt to the side.

Vinyl, for the second time, saved her life by tackling him. She grabbed the gun as it opened fire, a few shots going into her side but the majority hitting the wall again before the machine gun made a few, half-hearted clicking sounds. The unicorn wrestled with her, shouting, "Damn 'droid! Le'go!" He punched her in the face, then shoved hard against Vinyl.

Vinyl fell back, but so did the unicorn. Balance lost, he stumbled, foot slipping off the staircase. His eyes went wide, and then fell.

The stairs were large enough so that Octavia couldn't hear him hit the bottom. But she knew enough to know what was happening next.

Vinyl stared after him a minute, in mute shock, before she realized that she'd just killed him. And as soon as she did, the violence inhibitor sent a signal to kill her.

Vinyl fell limp, head hitting the ground with a thud, as Octavia cursed. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any other ponies rushing up to shoot at them, so she holstered her gun as she rushed to Vinyl's side.

"Fancy, I need help!" she called out.

Fancy looked out from the doorframe he'd pulled Fleur behind, then blanched. He rushed over, falling to a crouch besides Octavia. "What happened?"

"She accidentally killed that unicorn," Octavia said. "Meaning she's dying." She rolled Vinyl over, looking at the back of her head, before taking a deep breath. "I'm going to try and save her, but I'll need a hand."

"I'm here," Applejack said, landing besides her. Her opponent was nowhere to be seen, presumably having run off rather than die in battle.

"Where's the service plate? Damned custom models—here!" Octavia pointed to the specifically marked metal plate on the back of Vinyls neck, adding, "Remove it."

Applejack, none to gently, ripped the plate off and threw it to the side.

Octavia looked inside, to the various blinking lights, and sure enough, found the violence inhibitor with its blinking red light. She gulped, then reached into her coat pocket. She pulled out a needle, then took a deep breath. "Here we go," she said, plunging it in. Delicate precision was required. One wrong move and she could seriously hurt Vinyl, potentially, irreparably. But all she needed to do was sever one wire, and push one button.

A click and a beep were her reward. She let out her breath, long and slow, as the red light faded to green.

"She's alright, then?" Fancy asked.

"She's stable," Octavia corrected. "I only knew one or two things. This is my first time dong this in the field, and I don't know how to remove it entirely."

"Even if ya did, Canterlot wouldn't accept it if they ever learn what happened," Applejack commented. "If people learn that an android hurt another pony and didn't die, as Canterlot says'll happen, then they might start to question the things Canterlot's sayin'. They can't allow that."

"What are you saying?" Fancy demanded.

"I need to remove the violence inhibitor, but there's no one in Manehattan I can particularly trust this to," Octavia said, "because if people learn that I did that, then she will be killed."

Fancy stared at her. "And you're suggesting that I do what?"

"Give her to them," Fleur answered.

Fancy stared at her. Fleur stepped out of the doorway, wobbled, then fell to her knees, leaning against the doorframe. She shuddered. "She's right, Fancy. Canterlot will not permit her to survive, at this point. But they can keep her alive, and hidden."

Fancy turned his gaze back to Octavia. "Don't think I don't know who you really work for," he said. "You don't plan on throwing her into the fire just to prove a point?"

"No," Octavia said. "She's a victim. She won't have to fight if she doesn't want to, Fancy. Though if she so chooses, then we'll allow her the chance to make a change. Same as we did with Applejack, and Rainbow Dash."

Fancy stared at her for another moment. Then he sighed. "People will talk if I just give her away," he said calmly. "She got damaged in the fight, so I sold her to you, to take care of her."

"How much?"

"Fifteen hundred," Fancy said. "Anything less and it won't be believable."

Octavia winced, but nodded. "Done. I'll have it sent within a week."

Fancy nodded. "And Octavia?"

Octavia looked up from the hole in Vinyl's neck, looking towards Fancy.

Fancy met her gaze. "Don't come back."

Author's Note

Author's Notes: Violence Inhibitors

As this was a little hard to explain in this rather hectic chapter, I decided to put a little information about it here. The violence inhibitor is a device added into an android that serves many functions. Namely, it prevents androids from physically harming ponies, and in the event of accidental death, kills the android. It also links the android to the web, allowing instant online searches, and forces the android to follow commands.

Disabling the inhibitor is a short-term solution, as the device has to be fully removed to prevent the possibility of it coming back on.

Hope that explains it well enough, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned for a new one next week!

Smooth Sailing

The quiet way that Fancy had told her he never wanted to see her face again stuck with her all the way to the train station.

Fancy had long been a friend of hers—he'd always gone out of his way to be kind to her, through her bungled musical career and during the hard times afterwards. Even now, he'd still agreed to their meeting today. He'd made the time for her.

And now the two of them were friends no more.

Don't think about it like that, Octavia scolded herself. He just...wants some distance. He doesn't want Discord hurting his people by proximity. He doesn't like violence...you've always known that much.

"Darlings?"

Octavia stopped at the light, aristocratic drawl. She turned to one side, where Rarity was holding up an umbrella to shield herself further from the sun. She narrowed her blue eyes, saying, "When I said to have fun storming the castle, I meant it in jest."

Octavia finally stopped to examine herself. She was covered in dust and broken bits of plaster, with a nasty cut on her cheek and several small rips on her jacket from close calls with bullets. Applejack easily looked worse, covered head to hoof in dents, her gloves, bloodstained, and oh, right. She was carrying Vinyl over one shoulder.

"Well, um," Octavia said, beginning to realize that they'd drawn the attention of the entirety of the waiting line for boarding the train.

Rarity sighed, stepping closer. "I heard you got into a gunfight," she said. "Is everything alright?"

"Just scratched up, most of us," Octavia admitted.

"Nothin' that won't buff out," Applejack said.

Rarity turned to the android, then did a double take. What is that."

Octavia winced. "One of Fancy's androids got shot by the gang that attacked," Octavia said. "So I offered to buy her off him at a discount..."

Thinking about it, her personal bank account didn't quite have fifteen hundred bits at the moment...

Rarity's lips drew to a fine line. "This way," she said without emotion.

"That's not where we get tickets," Octavia protested, following Rarity anyway.

"Pfft! Puh-lease, darling, do you think they'll let you bother the other passengers upfront?" She shook her head, stepping through the crowd.

Octavia made her way, cursing Rarity's longer legs. Applejack lagged just behind her, having to move carefully so as to keep Vinyl's head from exploding.

...Right, she needed to have an expert look at that as soon as possible. Vinyl hadn't woken up yet, and she wouldn't, not until the inhibitor was removed.

Damnable invention, Octavia thought. I hope whoever came up with that one is burning in Tartarus.

"Smooth!" Rarity said, waving.

The train conductor turned, straightening his spectacles. When he saw the speaker, he grinned broadly. "Why, hello, miss Rarity!" he bellowed. The minotaur leaned down, kissing the back of her hand. "What can Smooth Sails do for you today?"
Rarity thumbed over at Octavia and Applejack. "I was wondering if we couldn't ride in one of the luggage cars, so as to not bother the other passengers."

"Hmm..." Smooth Sails opened the ledger he kept with him, examining it closely. "There isn't so much cargo in car eight, Smooth Sails thinks you'd find it most comfortable. Any other pony, Smooth would laugh at, but he trusts Rarity to keep her hands off other passenger's cargo." With the vague-and-not-so-vague threat out of the way, he slammed the book shut. "Smooth will even charge you for cargo space, and not passenger seating."

Rarity let out a sigh of relief. "You are a well and true gentleman, Smooth. How much?"

"Hmm...Smooth will only charge you for three, considering dead weight back there," the minotaur said, pointing at Vinyl.

"She's not--" Octavia cut herself off, sighing.

Smooth elected to ignore her. "That'll be thirty bits," Smooth said. "And Smooth suggests you get on sooner rather than later."

Rarity fished out the bits—one did not simply 'haggle' with minotuars, especially if they were choosing to be generous—and handed them over. "Thank you so much, Smooth. How's the missus doing, anyhow?"

"Splendid! Smooth's wife is the image of perfection!" He flexed, muscles threatening to tear through his sleeves, as if this, in any way, related to the physical well-being of his wife.

Octavia tuned out the brief small talk he made with Rarity, and even Rarity's small talk with Coco Pommel, the young mare she had managing her Manehattan branch. Octavia climbed into the cargo wagon without a word, then helped Applejack get settled in on a sturdy looking crate. Vinyl took some finagling, but she was set up across a few boxes, with her head in Octavia's lap. Octavia held Vinyl firmly in place, knowing that she'd be in some danger once the train started moving.

"Out with it, Octavia," Rarity said, sitting across from the musician. "What happened?"

"Filthy...apparently arrived at the same conclusion, I did," Octavia said slowly. "He skipped bargaining and went straight to violence. His thugs arrived while we were at the Flight of Fancy, and during the fight..."

"You can tell the nitty-gritty stuff to the ponies back at the castle," Rarity interrupted. "Is that one in any danger?"

"If she gets jostled too much," Octavia said. "I'm...I'm not as good as Fluttershy yet."

"Fluttershy can't do field-work," Rarity countered. "As much as I love her, she's not sturdy like you are."

"You jest need to train up with yer hands a little more," Applejack said, lifting one hand in a fist. "A little more trainin' woulda shown that pegasus the what-for."

"That damned unicorn is what screwed everything up there," Octavia muttered. "Just think, one in about four or five unicorns is practiced enough to create a shield spell. And this one...this one does just good enough of a job to send my bullet off course. Vinyl here has to come save my flank. Twice, from the same ruffian."

"I didn't rightly see what happened," Applejack intoned, "but anypony would get screwed over by point-blank machine gunfire."

Octavia rubbed her side, but paused as she heard the train whistle, and the familiar call of, "Aaaaall aboooooard!"

"Finally," she muttered. With a curse, she grabbed Vinyl firmly by the shoulders, just as the train jolted.

She muttered several back-to-back prayers aimed at any deities listening, as the train started moving. The hole Applejack had made in Vinyl's neck had been covered with a scarf—and the bright red scarf was not a flattering thing on her—but a single, slowly blinking light told Octavia what she needed to know.

"She's still stable," she said with a sigh of relief. "The last thing I need right now is to try working on an android in a moving train."'

"Few would," a wry voice answered from the door.

Octavia's gun was an inch out of its holster before Rarity said, "My, here I was thinking I'd be safe from unnecessary conversation with you back here."

"It almost sounds like you don't like me," came the reply. The android stepped into the room—she was clearly an expensive, custom order of some sort. A great mane of orange swept across her back, her eyes two pools of green light with two bright green lights for pupils—advanced imitation eyes, for top-dollar customers. She wore a spiked collar, and a deep violet jacket, undercoat, skirt...all her clothing seemed to be shades of purple, actually.

"Who is this?" Octavia asked slowly.

"Oh, a greenhorn, is it?" the android asked, sitting down on a box.

Octavia bristled. "I am not," she said.

"Octavia, this is Adagio," Rarity said quietly. "She's with the Dazzle Den."

Octavia stopped short, then fully holstered her gun.

"That's a nice pistol. A Drake, if I'm not mistaken?"

Octavia nodded.

Adagio sighed. "My, you ponies get more boring with each new recruit," she said. "Is Rainbow Dash still around, Rarity? It might be fun to hang with her before I head back to Las Pegasus."

"Adagio," Rarity hissed. "This is not a secure location."

"Five bits says it's more secure than you'd think," Adagio said, nodding to the door. "One of my boys is keeping an eye on that door. We're not getting any interruptions."

"Still, it would behoove us not to discuss such matters until we get to Ponyville," Rarity said. "I swear I told you this last time—are you Seven?"

The android made a great showing of checking the pin on her jacket. "Hmm...nope, Five. Same as last time I checked."

"Apologies, you all look alike to me," Rarity muttered. "Why make nine androids that look exactly like you, I'll never understand."

The Adagio android shrugged. "It comes of thinking highly of yourself," she said simply. "I'd do the same in her position, though I think that goes without saying. What's with the stiff?"

"She's not a stiff!" Octavia snapped. "She's alive, thank you very much!"

Adagio stared at her. "So we're clear, part of this trip to Ponyville is now going to be spent discussing the fact that Discord apparently shot up the Flight of Fancy."

"We did not!" Octavia burst out. "We were attacked by Rich's thugs while we were there."

"Are ponies saying it was Discord?" Rarity asked carefully.

"Not really," Adagio said. "As far as I am aware, there's nothing to connect Discord to the shootout at all, though I understand that dear mister Fancy hasn't made any official statements yet, but the Crown will probably pin it on Discord if they can."

"You know that some of these officials can be persuasive," Rarity said slowly. "But he's an old friend of Octavia's, so I'm certain he won't say much."

Octavia was not sure how much trust she was supposed to show to Adagio, so she knew she had to be careful about what she said. Thankfully, Applejack seemed to agree on this front, and so neither of them mentioned that Fancy had pretty much severed ties with them.

Hopefully it would still all be alright.

Octavia, Applejack, and whoever the hell the other two were kept talking the entire trip, seemingly under the false assumption that Vinyl was not conscious. Granted, if any of what they said was important, she couldn't say.

She also couldn't see or move in the least, and if her feeling receptors were working properly, she was certain that she'd be feeling the missing panel in her neck.

On the other hand, she should be dead. She'd killed a pony. Androids had been known to kill ponies on accident, of course, but they always died from the shock of it. Androids were, unless specifically designed to, not able to withstand the thought of having ended a pony's life.

To make the matter even more confusing was that she didn't particularly feel guilty. Vinyl liked what she'd seen of Octavia so far, and the stallion had been trying to shoot her. True, Vinyl's only real thought had been to stop him from shooting, but partly because she couldn't do anything further.

Okay, whenever she was trying to make a particularly complicated song, she worked out a rough framework for the beats. She could do that here.

Starting with the known, and obvious, facts. She killed a pony, had seen some sort of error message, and then blacked out. She had vaguely heard Fancy selling her. Vinyl was now on a train, with her head in Octavia's lap.

Next, things that were dubious in her mind. According to officials from Canterlot, androids were not supposed to be able to survive the shock of hurting a pony. This was at least partly incorrect. Maybe she had a bug? She remembered...they said Canterlot wouldn't let her live. Was it because she had a flaw that made her dangerous?

Okay, that was a good theory, but she didn't think she had all the info. What else was there?

Oh, right. She was certain that Octavia was not, in any way, affiliated with Everfree. Whatever that conversation had been, she'd picked up that much, at least. Even so...

Wait. The other pony they'd met—Rarity?--just referred to 'Adagio'. Bloody Tartarus, had she been sold to the Dazzle Den? No, Fancy wouldn't do that.

If he knew.

Regardless, as she felt herself being carried once more, she considered that she didn't have much of a say in it at this point—if you could have said that she'd had a say in the first place. The most she could have done was voice her disapproval, and that, only because Fancy allowed it.

He was a good enough pony. Vinyl had never chafed under his command. Wherever she was going, she felt like her life wasn't going to be as easy as it had been before.

And she'd almost finished that new song, that Fancy was sure to love...

"Fluttershy!" Octavia shouted. "We've got a hurt android!"

Silence, except for light, echoing footsteps. Then, so quietly that she had to strain her ears to catch it, some pony saying, "Oh my. What happened?"

"A few bullet shots, and she accidentally killed somepony," Octavia answered. "Is there an emergency bed clear?"

"Yes, this way," Fluttershy said. "What did you do?"

"I—I turned off the inhibitor," Octavia said. She keeps saying 'violence inhibitor'. I've never heard of that, but she clearly knows more about this than I do. "But that's all I know how to do."

"It's fine, it was enough," Fluttershy said. "Set her down here. Pinkie! Are you--"

"Here!" a cheerful voice boomed from overhead. Vinyl heard a metallic grinding sound.

"Don't do that!" Octavia shrieked. She let out a sigh. "How many times must I tell you--"

"Geeze, she looks bad," Pinkie's voice came—it sounded synthesized, so Vinyl felt safe to say android. Except...that couldn't be right. Androids were forbidden from working on other androids, to any degree.

Except that they were also talking about removing a piece of machinery that supposedly didn't exist.

Another voice spoke up—this one was definitely an android, and seemingly, a cheap one, as the voice had no emotion whatsoever, and was completely computer generated. "Did you destabilize the cloud link, or simply disconnect the power from the kill switch?"

"The latter," Octavia answered.

Another voice—How many ponies are in here?--spoke up. "Ugh, then she's still conscious, scrap-brain."

"Limestone!" Pinkie chided, with another of the grinding sounds that seemed to follow her talking. "Don't be mean to her. It shouldn't be too bad, right?"

"Mm-hm," another voice chimed in. At this point, Vinyl was beginning to piece one or two things together. Namely, the fact that a vast majority of the voices seemed to be coming from directly above her...?

"I do hope the train ride wasn't too rough on her," Rarity spoke up.

"Shouldn't have been," Pinkie said.

"We can't say for certain until we get a good look at the damage," the monotone voice said.

"So—she's still conscious?" Octavia asked, hesitantly.

"Hm-hm."

"Yes."

"Yupperoni!"

"I just told you that!"

No doubt about it. All four of them seemed to be hanging from the ceiling somehow. Where even was she, anyway?
"Vinyl, I'm so sorry," Octavia whispered. She felt the scarf being pulled off her neck, and the whirring of heavy machinery. "I should have treated you gentler..."

"Did you rip off this panel?" the angry one demanded—Limestone?

"Uh, that was me, sorry," Applejack said. "We were in a rush."

"Rush jobs," Limestone spat.

"It's all they had time for," the monotone one said. "Usually, perfection is out of reach, so we have to make do with the most readily available substitute."

"Ah! There Maude goes with the timeless wisdom again!" Pinkie clucked her tongue—or made a similar sound, anyway, as Vinyl thought she was an android. "But hey! I think this is a pretty good substitute! We can have her back on in a jiffy!"

Oh, Jiffy. She was gonna miss that flighty feather-brain.

"Really?" Octavia said. "Oh, I was worried I'd done some sort of serious damage. That's a relief."

More for me than for you, lady!

"Well, worry no longer!" Pinkie said.

"Yes, you only actually made one mistake, and that was partly due to the rough treatment of her ride here," Maude said.

"Oh, dear," Applejack said. "She gonna be alright?"

"Yes. Aside from us having to reboot her sensory systems."

Vinyl felt something tugging at her throat—presumably, ponies were starting working on her now.

"Which...is that a bad thing?" Rarity asked, after a minute's silence.

"Well..." Pinkie began, which was immediately not a good sign.

"So, um, not to worry you or anything," Fluttershy said, "but we don't have the option of turning her off while we do this...which is how it's normally done. Doing it while the android is awake is...um..."

"It hurts like a son of a bitch," Applejack intoned. "Ugh. Sorry, Vinyl, I shouldn't have been so rough."

"Don't worry! The pain is really, really, really temporary! Like, five—ten...maybe thirty seconds!" A moment's silence.

"I don't think that was very reassuring," Maude said.

"Yeah, I know," Pinkie Pie said dejectedly. "Anyhoo, brace yourself! I'm gonna do it in three—two--"

Vinyl heard Limestone say, "Ugh." That was her last thought before being completely engulfed in pain.

Disc0rd

Vinyl lived for music. Sure, it's what she had been made it do, but she felt like this wasn't some programming thing. She loved music—and not even just the stuff she made. Techno, rock, even classical. There was something soothing about it, even in the worst of times.

She'd also found out that if she muted her speakers, she could listen to music without anyone else hearing. Often times, when stressed, she'd just play some music until she was calm again. The only way anyone could tell was by her eyes, and only if you knew her well enough to know what the dancing bars meant.

Just as suddenly as it had started, the pain stopped, leaving a general feeling of numbness in Vinyl. "Owwwwwwww," she said, her newly reactivated voice box sluggishly drawing out the sounds. "Whyyyyyyyyyyy?"

"Oh, get over it," Limestone said. "Rip the band-aid off, am I right?"

"Limestone!" Pinkie chastised. "That was not nice."

"Hm-mm," Marble said, somehow sounding more stern.

Blurry forms of gray appeared in her vision as her optics booted up. "I still can't move," Vinyl said.

"That'll be a minute, sorry," Fluttershy said in her ears. Vinyl felt someone poking at her throat again. "How are you feeling?"

"Wonderful," Vinyl drawled. "Cherry goddamn sundae."

"Oh, really?" Another set of metallic grinding, followed by a shape appearing in her view. "You don't sound like it."

Vinyl didn't answer for a minute. "Did I just swear?" she asked. "I'm...not s'posed to do that..." Couldn't, actually, because Fancy had told her not to.

"You don't have to worry about that," Octavia chuckled.

A light tinking sound alerted her just as a pony's face appeared in view. Yellow coat, with slightly curled pink hair streaming from her head. She wore a white doctor's coat, and looked into Vinyl's face with concern. "Don't worry, you're safe," she said.

Vinyl didn't want to try answering that at the moment. "Where am I?" she asked instead.

"Um..."

"We can't answer that just yet," Pinkie's voice came, with another grinding sound. "Sorry. We have orders."

Fluttershy moved out of Vinyl's face, letting Vinyl get a good look at Pinkie...or, so she assumed it was Pinkie.

Hanging from the ceiling by a series of metal tentacles was a massive construct. She couldn't see much of its main body, partly because its mechanical eyes were in the way. Four eyes on long, flexible stalks, each one different. Two were made to resemble normal pony eyes of different colors, one was simply a red screen with a lighter red dot in the center, the last she wasn't even sure functioned as an eye. It was simply a metal ball, painted to look like an eye, except at the edges where the pain had been scraped off.

That one looked more directly at her than the others, and Pinkie's voice sounded from somewhere just behind it. "You might wanna hold still, we're putting in some new plating for your throat, then we'll see about the rest of the bullets, alright?" The eyestalk gave a happy bob, sending the eye rolling in its socket, producing that grinding sound she'd been hearing up until this point, and, presumably, chipping off whatever paint was left on the far edges of the eye.

"Ahh..." Vinyl squeaked.

"Are you gonna scream?" Maude's monotone voice came.

"Really, please don't," Limestone added, the red eye narrowing.

"O-okay," Vinyl squeaked. Behemoth. That's what she was looking at—the only thing she could be looking at! It had to be the size of a truck, probably bigger! And what was with the four eyes and voices? Good God! What was she even looking at?
One of the tentacles, this one with a tool at the end, began jabbing at her throat. "You ever considered replacing your casing?" Limestone asked. "This stuff isn't that durable."

"Uh..."

One of the imitation eyes turned to look at her stomach, and a couple of small tendrils came out to pull the jacket away.

"Sorry, but your jacket seems to have been ruined," Maude's voice came.

"N-no worries." Discord. She was at a DISCORD base. Granted, they didn't seem like they planned on killing her, but she also knew that Canterlot would not care if they blew the base to smithereens with her inside it or not.

"Here, I shall make you another," Rarity's voice came, from somewhere on her right. "Consider it an apology for letting you get caught up in this mess."

"No worries."

"Is she alright? You didn't damage her with that stunt, did you, Limestone?" Pinkie asked, that eye grinding once more as the stalk turned to look at the red one.

"You brutes! Don't you see you've scared the poor thing?" Rarity snapped. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss...Vinyl, was it?"

"Eyup."

"I'm Rarity, Rarity Belle. This here is Doctor Fluttershy, and—well, you've met Applejack and Octavia, right?"

Vinyl nodded weakly.

"Hey, she's moving again!" Pinkie said.

Maude's tentacles fished a bullet out of her stomach. "Getting rid of all these holes is going to take a while," she said, still showing no emotion. "I'm actually with Limestone on this one. This could be a good opportunity to replace some of it with armored plating."

"Mm-hm."

"She's not in much of a condition to make that choice right now," Fluttershy put in. "We can always do that later, if she wants it. She might want to stay away from the fighting."

"You're...you're the Behemoth," Vinyl choked out.

All four eyes turned to look into her face.

"These are the Pie Sisters," Rarity said. "There's a long story behind that, and I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you sometime when they aren't performing surgery on you."

"But, yes, we're the Behemoth," Pinkie said, eye rolling again.

"Mm-hm."

"So, um, yeah...do you think you could...patch the holes? I can worry about the other stuff later," Vinyl said with a chuckle.

"Mm-hm," the last of the Pie Sisters said.

"Oh! This is Marble Pie, and she's excited to meet you, and is hoping we can get along well once you get used to us," Pinkie said, eye doing a couple of three-sixty spins.

"Mm-hm," Marble said with a slight bob.

Maude finished fishing out bullets and a few scraps of fabric from her stomach. "Fluttershy, do we have any of the responsive paneling in stock?" she asked.

"I'll go check," Fluttershy said, rushing off. Well, she was clearly intending to move fast, but she wasn't moving very quickly, especially when she had to briefly take flight to get past a pegasus leaning against the doorframe with legs outstretched.
Vinyl focused her gaze on the pegasus, quickly realizing a few things. This pegasus was wearing punk city garb, focusing on a black jacket, white tank top, and worn, scuffed up jeans. She wasn't wearing shoes. She was an android. And she had a rainbow mane.

Vinyl shouldn't have been surprised, really—as she'd told Fleur earlier, Rainbow Dash was the most believable part about the whole 'Discord' mess. Vinyl had seen the pictures of her, taken during shots of action. Rainbow Dash had gone rogue after Wonderbolts were declared illegal for civilians to own, so her design was slightly outdated, though she still had the signature 'Wonderbolt blue' coloring, as crayons would put it. Her arms were folded across her chest, hiding her weapons from view.
Oh, and her eyes were like those of the older Wonderbolts—designed to look like a pair of flight goggles. The glass was red, and showed no signs of imitation pupils.

"Hi," Vinyl said.

Rainbow Dash gave a slight nod. "Heard the screaming, thought I'd check to see if everything is alright."

"No worries, Dashie, we have everything under control!" Pinkie said, with a chorus of agreements from her sisters.

"That's good," Rainbow Dash said with another nod. "So, Melody, mind explaining this one?"

Octavia stiffened. "It'll be in the report," she muttered.

"You can give that now," Rainbow replied.

Octavia pointed to Vinyl.

"She was here for all of it, wasn't she?" Rainbow asked.

"And if you know that, then that means you already have an idea what happened?" Octavia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I was making sure you weren't followed, and you were, up until the train station," Rainbow growled.

"By whom?" Rarity demanded. "I'd have noticed—"

"It was a drone of some sort. Tiny, winged thing. I didn't get a good look at 'im myself, but it's not that hard to figure out who sent him."

"But he didn't follow us here, so we're good," Octavia said firmly.

"Octavia," Rainbow said in warning. "You narrowly escaped death today."

"I was shot at repeatedly. I only got out because Vinyl saved my flank," Octavia snapped. "I think I got--"

"The Princess of Inquiries was asking after you," Rainbow interrupted.

"An Alicorn?" Vinyl burst out.

A moment of silence passed, as Rainbow focused her attention on her.

"Oh, um, sorry," Vinyl said. "You can just, uh, continue."

"An Alicorn was asking after you," Rainbow repeated as if the interruption hadn't occurred. "I need to know what Fancy knows, because we have to assume that anything he knows, the Princess of Inquiries knows as well."

There was a moment's silence, which Octavia broke.

"I—"

"Rainbow Dash!"

The Wonderbolt jumped, turning to see a scowling Fluttershy holding up a small bundle. "Are you court-martialing my patients again?"

"I wasn't--"

"OUT!" Fluttershy grabbed her roughly by the coat, shoving her out the door. "If you've got nothing better to do, go fetch some armor plating for Applejack, just stay out of my way!" She paused. "Um...please."

Rainbow stared at her in mute silence, before moving off to comply.

Fluttershy turned around, face quite pink. "Um, sorry about that," she said. "I, uh, lost my temper." She gave an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, darling, this is hardly the time or place for it," Rarity said. "As she herself admitted, the Alicorn failed to track you here. Not like any of them could, anyway."

Fluttershy unwrapped the bundle, setting up a few sheets of smooth, white panels, still blushing.

"We...do have a problem, though," Octavia admitted. "Fancy and Fleur both figured out I'm with Discord."

Rarity gasped. "Both of them?"

"I didn't confirm it to either of them, so Fancy has an excuse not to say anything," Octavia said. "I trust him. He won't spill. Fleur...I'm not so certain."

"I figure she's good enough, if she didn't have that chip in her brain," Applejack scoffed. She took off her hat, dusting it off. "Rarity, can you go mention this to the Boss? She'll wanna know."

"Certainly, as soon as Rainbow Dash is back," Rarity replied. "She said Princess of Inquiries?"

"I think so," Vinyl said. "Is...that better or worse than one of the others?" There were no more than six Alicorns at any time, supposedly picked because they represented the Elements of Harmony.

From what she knew, some of them were a far cry away from the mythical artifacts of goodness.

"Inquiries is bad," Octavia muttered. "Very bad."

"She's kinda...on a longer leash than the others," Pinkie said, rolling her eye slowly to one side. "A real meanie."

"There aren't many Inquisitors, especially as she's rather new," Rarity said, "but you and Octavia will both want to stay in the castle for a while, at least until we think she's no longer looking."

"Bloody Tartarus," Octavia muttered, resting her face in her hands. "An Alicorn...I can barely hold my own against an unarmed pegasus, what am I supposed to do against a deity?"

"They ain't deities, they bleed same as any pony," Applejack scoffed, "but ain't none of us were ready for that confrontation yet. The plan ain't gonna change because of Midnight Sparkle, no matter how hard she looks."

A violet streak soared across the Manehattan skyline, wings twisting, before alighting on an arm stretched out from a violet cloak.

"Well?" Midnight asked, voice taking on a slightly metalic hum. "Did you see her?"

Spike turned, his mechanical head looking her right in the eyes. "She was beautiful," he whispered.

Midnight blinked. "What?"

"That pony...with the violet mane! She was gorgeous!" He puffed out his wings, spinning around on her arm, briefly hanging from her elbow upside-down. "I—wow! I think I'm in love, Midnight!"

Midnight stared at him, then rubbed her face. "Spike," she chided. "What about Octavia?"

"Oh, um...she was with the pretty mare."

Midnight slammed a palm into her face, making a dull, metalic ping as she hit her prosthetic eye. Her vision from that half blurred, the world turning into a teal mass briefly, as she winced. Gotta remember to stop doing that, she thought. "Did you at least see where they went?" she asked.

"Er...a train?"

"Which train?" Midnight demanded.

"I don't know. The conductor might!"

"Who was the conductor?" Midnight asked.

"Erm..." Spike cocked his head. "A minotaur?"

Midnight sighed, wings sagging with a rattling of metal. Her horn lit up, and she poured a little magic into Spike. "Direct line, Minuette. Authorized: 'Summer Sun'."

His eyes lit up, accessing the free energy, before a series of green lights lit up along his spines. A hologram appeared in the air above him. "Hey, Princess," Minuette said, smiling at the hologram of Midnight on her end.

"Any luck on your end?" Midnight asked.

"Not really. These gang members don't know who hired them, though I think it's safe to assume it's Filthy Rich."

"Safe to assume, but we can't arrest ponies on 'assumptions'," Midnight said. At least, not the upper nobility. "What about Octavia and her android?"

"No luck. Only a couple of living ponies saw her in action. Unless Fancy or Fleur told you something, the only others are either dead or MIA."

"What about that pegasus?"

Minuette shrugged. "He got beat up by an Earth pony. He knows nothing more than that. As far as that big Earth pony gangster went, I don't have the foggiest clue. He's not a small name, either—he's experienced. Goes by 'Rough Tumble'. He and the boss pony both vanished before Indigo and I arrived."

Midnight sighed. "So no leads, then?"

"Nope. I wanna check out Everfree, though, see if Octavia is actually one of them."

"Leave that to Sour," Midnight replied. "She's there, she can find that out shortly."

"Got it. What do you want us to do with these guys?"

"Cull them. We don't need trash in our kingdom," Midnight ordered.

"You got it, boss. Any orders for what to do next?"

"Hang around in Manehattan," Midnight answered. "I'm going on the move again. I lost the trail on my end..." She gave a glare to Spike, letting him know what that meant. "...But I want you and Indigo to stay here. How's she holding up, by the way?"

"Rookie's doing just fine," Minuette said with a grin. "Her aim is only slightly worse in the field than during training, and she doesn't waver hardly at all. She's shaping up to be an excellent Inquisitor." She flashed a supportive grin at her off-screen partner.

Midnight smiled. A consoling thought, at least. "Make sure she gets a chance to voice her thoughts on this case," she answered. "Relay anything that sounds useful back to me."

"Heard and accepted," Minuette answered. "I'll call you the moment I find anything useful."

"Thank you," Midnight said. "End call."

Spike ended the call. "Well, it's hardly my fault," he said, flapping his wings in a disgruntled fashion.

"I don't remember programming the ability to find ponies attractive into you," Midnight muttered. "Next time, stay focused. This could have been huge."

"I know, I know," he apologized, head bowed. "Sorry."

"It's alright. We'll get more chances," Midnight said. And they would, she was sure.

She'd make sure of it.

Matters of Trust

Talk had died died down after Rainbow Dash had returned with some metal plating for Applejack, at which point Fluttershy had thrown her and Rarity out. Octavia was thrown out after Fluttershy swabbed her cuts with disinfectant, and by that point, the Behemoth had finished fixing her plating.

Vinyl was a little unsure about the Pie Sisters at first, but she quickly found herself laughing at every one of Pinkie’s jokes, even if the rest of them were somewhat quieter. Marble, in particular, seemed to say little beyond, “Mm-hm” and a light bob of her eye, though Pinkie seemed to have a good guess at what she was feeling normally.

Fluttershy peeked out the doorway, then said, “It looks like Octavia is off giving her report.”

“Sounds about right,” Applejack muttered, before grunting as the final piece of armored plating was attached to her shoulder. She rolled her shoulder, listening for anything out of place, before letting out a, “Yeehaw! You girls patched me up right as rain!”

“Aw, it was nothin’,” Pinkie said, eye rolling to one side in a bashful fashion.

Or, so Vinyl thought. The tone conveyed it more than anything. If she looked closer at the Behemoth, she did see four mechanical hooves, though she had yet to ask if they were cybernetic, or purely mechanical, or...actually, she hadn’t yet worked up the courage to ask anything.

“Well, what do we do about Vinyl?” Fluttershy asked. “This place is really old, and if she wandered outside, she could get hurt badly. And if she stays inside, she might get caught in one of the traps.”

“Ah, booby traps, of course,” Vinyl muttered. “Um...I’m fine sitting here until--” She stopped. “Actually...what next? I...I don’t know what you guys want.”

“A large part depends on what you want, Vinyl,” Applejack asked, pointing a finger at her. She grabbed her tank top, pulling it over her head.

“What I want?”

“Ain’t no one who owns you no more. Yer free as a bird.” She threw her jacket back on, then pulled her hat onto her head. “If you want to help us, yer free to offer up a hand. If you just wanna sit down and avoid the action, hell, we’d let you do that jest fine.”

“But aren’t you worried I’ll go alert the Princesses?” Vinyl asked slowly. “Besides, if I leave the castle, no one’s gonna care that I’m ‘free’.” She made sure her exaggerated air quotes were plainly visible.

“First off, we didn’t say you were free to leave right away,” Applejack said. “I’m afraid we may have to keep you here for a little while. And the second part is why we’re fightin’, so that androids can be truly free, and the other ponies Canterlot’s hurtin’, too.”

Vinyl had to admit, that did sound heroic, but... “I don’t know the first thing about combat,” she said. “I’m not built for it, either, even if I...can hurt ponies now.”

“’Can’ and ‘should’ are two entirely different questions,” Applejack said. “It takes some work figurin’ out when yer supposed to attack, and when to hold back. We normally try to avoid violence, if we can help it.”

“We’re not out to hurt ponies,” Pinkie said.

“Not the good ones,” Limestone growled. “Bastards like Filthy Rich need to be buried in a pine box.”

Applejack didn’t answer that directly. “Sometimes ponies only listen to fightin’,” Applejack said. “And Celestia seems to be one of ‘em, but there’s a lot of ponies out there who don’t want to hurt no one.”

“But, if you wanted to stay around, we’d be happy to have you,” Fluttershy put in. “It’s always nice to meet a new friend, though I guess it can be scary sometimes.” The poor girl hid in her mane, casting a nervous look Vinyl’s away when she noticed the android’s attention.

“Well, um—I don’t bite, if that’s what your worried about,” Vinyl said, gesturing to her face—which lacked a mouth entirely.

Fluttershy giggled. “I wasn’t really worried about that,” she admitted.

“Good.” Vinyl swung her legs off the operating table, planting them on the ground. She picked up her jacket, sighing at the bullet holes in it. “Aw.” She pulled it on, saying, “And, um...if the Princesses catch me. What happens then?”

“Well, most likely, they kill yah, since you know more than they want you to,” Applejack put in. “But, if you wanna risk it, there’s always the one-percent chance that, if you turn in the ponies who saved yer life, sell ‘em out and all, then you’ll save your chrome at the cost of a couple dozen ponies who wanted to do right with the world, just so you can spend yer days...I dunno, actually. I’m not sure what they’d do with ya if they kept ya alive. Maybe death would be preferable.” She shrugged. “Or maybe I’m not givin’ ‘em enough credit. Maybe they’re a lot more fare than that.”

“Okay,” Vinyl said. “Yikes. I never really thought about how scary those ponies were.”

Especially the Alicorns. Oh, Stars above...what if she ran into an Alicorn?

“So, you wanna a tour?” Applejack said, seemingly pretending she hadn’t made a previous statement. “There’s a lot of the place that’ll be off limits to ya, at least for now, but I can show you around the hospital, at least.”

“Is...is there a place I can rest?” Vinyl asked. “I think I need to boot off for a bit. Process everything, y’know?”

“Oh, of course,” Fluttershy said. “Applejack, we...we have some guest rooms, right?”

“A few, though we don’t exactly get many ‘guests’,” Applejack said. “Come on. I’ll show ya to a bunk.”

“Hmm. No android stasis tanks, I’m guessing?” She paused. “Wait, how do I recharge?”

“Oh, right, yer new,” Applejack muttered. “Ya don’t need to.”

“Dude,” Vinyl said. “Not funny. I don’t want to have gone through all this just to black out from power loss and then never wake up again. Where do I charge my batteries?”

Applejack reached over and poked Vinyl’s horn. “That doohickey Fluttershy and the Pie Sisters took out did more than just prevent you from hurting anypony. It blocked yer magic—you have unicorn magic, same as any unicorn would, and that keeps ya charged.”

Vinyl stared at her. “Wait, I can...I can do the telekinesis thing?”

“Mm-hm,” Marble’s voice put in.

“Actually, you can manipulate thaumic energy through a conduit—your horn—and manipulate it such as to cast numerous spells,” Maude said. After a slight pause, she added, “But yes, you can also do the telekinesis thing.”

“I thought androids couldn’t use magic,” Vinyl said slowly.

“’Cuz Canterlot wants to keep pretending yer not really alive,” Applejack scoffed. “Long as they can do that, then they can brush off all the complaints about android rights, but there’s no easy way to prove that right now.”

Vinyl accessed her system diagnostics, checking her power. Fully charged. Despite being active for considerably longer in one stretch than she had before.

“So, is someone gonna teach me how to do that?” Vinyl asked slowly.

Applejack shrugged. “Maybe. There’s not a lot of unicorns nearby, though we can certainly find one we trust enough to let up here. You can try practicing a bit on yer own, too. No one’s gonna stop ya, though you might wanna be careful.”

“Gotcha,” Vinyl said, imagining blowing herself up because she wanted to roll up window blinds with magic. A ridiculous thought.

“This way, ma’am,” Applejack said, beckoning.

Vinyl followed, examining the building. The hospital room had been whitewashed stone, but from what the rest of the place looked like, it had clearly been replaced with newer material.

The building was ancient. Cracked stone bricks made up every wall and floor, and she’d occasionally pass a tapestry. They either seemed to be of Celestia—which were few and far between—or of another pony, an Alicorn. Vinyl couldn’t say who it was. She wasn’t familiar with all the Alicorns over the past thousand years. Despite the fact that they were supposed to live forever, Alicorns did end up being replaced every few decades, normally lasting thirty to fifty years.

Not that Vinyl had seen any of that. She’d only been made seven years ago, just before the Wonderbolts had been declared as ‘government use only’.

But she wasn’t particularly sorry to see them gone from Fancy’s place. He’d been using a few as guards. They were a lot more dangerous than the Flash-points, which Canterlot had replaced the confiscated Wonderbolts with.

But the Flash-Points looked a lot friendlier.

“Could I...ask a question? About Discord?”

“Go ahead, but I can’t promise I’ll be allowed to answer,” Applejack replied.

“Is the Diamond Duster real?”

Applejack stopped dead in her tracks, falling silent. “Eeeeyup,” she drawled out. Then she started moving again.

Vinyl moved to be walking right next to her. “Yikes. I’m assuming it’s more complicated than an android with a human heart?”

“I don’t rightly know where that rumor came from,” Applejack muttered. “But...yeah, it’s less complicated than that. Nothing like that crazy rumor.”

“Well, I mean, I don’t imagine sane people wearing masks like that,” Vinyl muttered.

Applejack looked at her. “Sane people don’t join the rebellion trying to overthrow the immortal goddess of the sun,” she drawled. “Everyone here’s crazy.”

“Ah, thanks for the heads up. I was expecting a castle full of reasonable, distinguished gentlecolts.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Applejack chuckled.

“Don’t be. I’m crazy, too.”

Applejack stopped at a door. “Here’s a room you can stay in. It should have everything ya need, give a holler if you need somethin’. Oh, and, uh...don’t wander off too far, okay? Just...until everything’s settled down somewhat.”

“You mean you don’t want a complete stranger with unknown affiliations poking around your secret base?” Vinyl gasped. “How rude.”

Applejack laughed. “You’ve got a smart mouth, anypony ever tell you that?”

“Once or twice.” Vinyl shrugged. “I’ve got a foul streak when I choose to, as well.”

“Ya gotta let me hear that sometime,” Applejack chuckled. “Right, I gotta head off, though. I’m sure the Boss will want to talk about that mission.”

“Does she have a name?” Vinyl asked dryly.

“Yeah, just only a couple of us are allowed to know who she is,” Applejack said bluntly. “And you ain’t there yet.”

“Gotcha, fair enough,” Vinyl said. “I’m gonna go boot off. I need to think.”

She opened the door, pausing as Applejack said, “Sleep tight.”

The room was sparse, mostly just an old bed—thankfully, newer than the castle—and a nightstand. It did, however, have a window, and that lead to her curiosity overwhelming her.

Vinyl stepped up and looked outside.

The castle itself was ginormous, even from the parts she could see. There was a massive courtyard, and in the center of this was a glowing, crystal statue of a tree. It had to be the size of a small building alone.

The walls separating the courtyard from the outside world were mostly gone at this point. Beyond the remains was a thick, dense forest. From above the tops of the trees, Vinyl couldn’t really see into it, but from the front, she could see that none of the pale light from the moon made it through the treetops.

Vinyl reached over, pulling at a vine growing along the outerwall. It didn’t move, and...

Vinyl stared at it, looking closer. The ‘vine’ was, in fact, just stone. In fact, there were lots of vines crawling along the outer walls, but none inside. All of the ones she could reach were the same.

Vinyl stepped inside, thinking about this. Then she looked to a broken tile on the ground, and very firmly, stomped on it.

Despite the fact that the tile clearly looked as if it wasn’t connected to the ground at all, it didn’t budge. “Whoa,” she said. The building clearly wasn’t half as old as it looked, then.

But why go through all that effort? Making a fake ruin seemed like a lot of work for no reason. You could have just built a castle.

Whatever. She’d think about it tomorrow. Vinyl jumped into the bed, then began booting off her systems.

And that was an interesting experience. All of her systems were so much more responsive, and she could diagnose a lot more than she should have been able to. Up to and including her ‘thaumic circuits’.

So you’re telling me...they built in systems to scan my use of magic and make sure it was running properly, when I can’t use magic?

That was enough to give her a headache. She decided to pointedly ignore the dumb logic and finish booting off her systems. She set her internal alarm to wake her up at six AM.

That should be plenty of time to do anything, right?

Indigo Zap growled, shoving the stacks of books away from her. The Manehattan Public Library was truly a treasure trove of information...it was unfortunate that Minuette and Midnight happened to enjoy that a lot more than she did.

And Minuette’s supposed to do more fieldwork than Lyra...

As she leaned back in her chair, Indigo idly scratched at her wrist. The metal plating somehow itched, even after she’d turned off the feeling receptors.

Minuette had made her turn them back on, because of health reasons Indigo didn’t fully get.

Indigo looked over to where Minuette sat, cycling through a few notes on the hologram display in front of her. “Tired?” she asked, without looking.

“I am this closes to giving up and playing video games,” Indigo groaned, balancing her chair on its back two legs. With a little help from her wings, of course.

“Change topic of study,” Minuette suggested. “We have more than one thing we’re supposed to be doing, and a change of pace can help a lot.”

“Mm,” Indigo not-replied. She scratched at her arm cybernetics again.

“Stop that,” Minuette ordered. “You’ll damage them.”

“Do yours ever just itch?” Indigo asked.

“They did a little, which is why I’m not being super hard on you for it,” Minuette said. “But it’s just a psychological thing. The first few cybernetics are always the hardest.”

Minuette had quite a few cybernetics, herself. Both her hooves were metal below the knee, she’d replaced her elbow joints, and even added an augment or two to her heart. And of course, the one in her temple, boosting her reaction times, but that one was so commonplace, it was hardly worth mentioning.

Indigo touched the implant in her own forehead. That one didn’t itch. It was just her hands. The wing braces she had didn’t itch either—though how the hell she’d go about scratching them was a different matter.

Indigo returned her attention to the terminal in front of her. The temptation to go about playing video games was strong, but knowing that Minuette could see her was a strong deterrent. Instead, she moved to another tab.

Most ponies would find doing work like this in a public library stupid, but the Inquisitors had their own section for ease of access, and they were logged into a secure network. Indigo felt no qualms about searching top-secret information on them.
Everfree had not yet finished combing their records to see if they had an ‘Octavia Melody’ in their employment, though the knowledge that she did their security should have made that easier. In fact, the whole thing seemed a little weird. Sour Sweet and her partner were infiltrating them, but there was no reason Indigo couldn’t do this faster.

Hmm, Everfree had employed Octavia’s assistance before, it seemed, but for what, exactly, remained unclear. It seemed that they were regularly shelling out large amounts of bits to a freelance ‘security pony’ with a suped up, custom-build android.

Hold up, Octavia was a musician?

Indigo blinked, opening up the tab. With a name like, “Octavia Melody”, it shouldn’t have been surprising, really. But it somehow was. How did one go from ‘failed musician’ to ‘security expert’?

Okay, that was interesting. She’d never paid for that android of hers—not publicly, anyway. And, unfortunately, it was a custom model of some kind, so tracking that down would be difficult.

But Octavia was clearly not a rich pony, and any custom android order was expensive. So...was she working with somepony? Who? Everfree operated out of Ponyville, their main base on the borders of the Everfree Forest, which was where they got their name. Octavia lived in Ponyville—or at least, owned a house there.

“Hey, do I have permission to contact Sour?” Indigo asked.

“Why?” Minuette asked slowly, looking up from her own work.

“I wanna see if Octavia’s been back at her house since she left Manehattan.”

“Why would Sour know?”

“...Because Octavia lives in Ponyville?”

Minuette stared at her, then stood up and moved to look at Indigo’s screen. “No, don’t contact Sour Sweet just yet,” she said, as she read the reports Indigo was staring at. “Good work, though, this is very informative.”

“Really? Once I started looking into Octavia, I found it all within five minutes.”

“Yeah. And that’s why it’s informative, because we have Sour looking into this.”

Indigo paused, thinking that over. “Ah, shit. You think she’s gone rogue?”

“I think she may be taking some bits from the same ponies Octavia’s getting her pay from,” Minuette said. “But she and Double up are working together on this, and this isn’t enough to go by. That was good work, though. Keep at it. I want you double-checking all the reports Sour’s given us, too—I’ll send ‘em your way.”

Indigo beamed, but it was short lived. She found she couldn’t quite enjoy her success.

After all, this meant that Sour Sweet had turned traitor. And the Royal Inquisitors did not like those.

Author's Note

For anypony interested, I just posted a one-shot story focused on Indigo in Cyberpony: Y2K, set before the main events of Y2K. Due to it being a contest submission, it's a standalone, meaning you don't have to read it to read this one, or vice versa.

My Little Inquisitor

The Mare in Charge

Vinyl woke up the next morning, and nothing was any clearer to her, least of all the dangerous question of, “What next?”

A million questions paraded around her mind about Discord, and not all of them were good. Number one was all the rumors that it was a violent terrorist organization intent on world domination, or machine supremacy, or whatever. The ponies and androids she’d met so far were nice enough people, so she wasn’t the most concerned...yet.

At the very least, a lot of the rumors did seem immediately false. The Behemoth had not shown any of the violent urges they were reported to—except, maybe Limestone, of whom Vinyl wouldn’t put it past to kill somepony because they were kinda annoying. Rainbow Dash did not seem like a pony-murdering tornado of rage and psychotic instincts. At least, she hadn’t. The most she’d seemed was annoyed.

Though, she got the distinct impression that Octavia and Rainbow Dash didn’t get along.

Vinyl stepped outside her room, keeping Applejack’s warning in mind. Luckily, less than ten feet away, there was a balcony, and she stepped out onto it, leaning against it. She had a light, techno music playing—not out loud, so no one else might be disturbed. She decided to brush aside her doubts about Discord for the moment—what was she planning on doing, anyway? Stopping them herself? She couldn’t take Octavia in a fight—hell, she doubted she could take Fluttershy. And even if she did, then what? She doubted this was their only base. Discord had been around for twenty years.

She moved on to her next subject. Unfortunately, despite the myriad benefits removing the violence inhibitor had, she didn’t have an on-demand access to the internet anymore. So she’d have to improvise.

Vinyl focused, scanning along her ‘thaumic circuits’ and the matching ‘regulator’. She had no idea what any of it was for, and her machinery had never had a user’s manual. Or, it did, but it had been meant for Fancy. She’d read it out of curiosity, but found it quite boring.

With a burst of will, the ‘thaumic’ equipment activated, and she heard a familiar, twinkling sound. She reached up, touching the horn that, up until then, she’d assumed was purely decorational.

It was warm, and, she was certain, glowing. But now, what to do? Just...let it out?

Doing so proved to be an immensely bad idea. A burst of blue lightning shot into the sky with an earsplitting crack that had her audio receivers whining and a brief error message. She quickly shut off the thaumic-whatsits, and the twinkling subsided after a second.

Vinyl was very glad she hadn’t done that indoors.

A light chuckling came from behind her. “You might want to wait for someone to teach you. Unicorn magic is a lot harder to control than pegasus or Earth pony magic.”

Vinyl turned, seeing an unfamiliar mare in a black, hooded coat. Her mane and brow were hidden under the coat, her arms folded across her chest, and a set of large, feathered wings tucked in close to her back. But what Vinyl noticed immediately was that the wings were lined with metal, and she had another prosthetic just under her right eye. Her eyes were ever-so-slightly reflective, showcasing the glass paneling for an eye augment. Her hooves were bare, leaving clear sight that one of them was metal—at least, the hoof itself was, as her jeans covered everything above her fetlocks.

“Uh, sorry,” Vinyl apologized. “I’m not sure how to do anything with magic, really.”

“Was that your first spell?” the mare asked, cocking her head sideways.

“First ever,” Vinyl said. “If it counts.”

“No, it counts,” she answered. “Magic releasal. A lot of ponies can do something like that, but normally without much efficiency. That lightning bolt would be fine in combat, but it lacked finesse. It very well might just miss, or worse, hit an ally.”

“Well, I’m not sure I want to see any combat,” Vinyl said, turning back to the sky, leaning her elbows on the railing.

The pegasus joined her, mimicking her pose. Each hoofstep alternated between the light clink of a horseshoe, and the heavy thud of the prosthetic. “Not sure you’re cut out for fighting?”

“Well, I think I handled myself well back at the Flight of Fancy,” Vinyl said. “Especially for my first fight, with the inhibitor-thingie.”

“So I heard,” came the reply. “You saved Octavia’s life twice.”

“I...guess I did,” Vinyl said. “Ugh, dammit. Now what if she goes and dies while I’m not there?”

“There’s been plenty of times when you weren’t there,” the mare answered. “Look at it this way—we’re fighting at Discord so you can have the right to choose. No one’s going to force you to fight, or hold it against you if you don’t. Fluttershy doesn’t fight, either, and neither do the Pie Sisters.”

“Really? I’m pretty sure they could kick flank.”

“Well, yes, but that’s besides the point,” the mare chuckled. “Even if you want to help—which, again, is your choice—there’s other things to do. What do you want to try? Fighting, medical...” She shrugged. “Supplies need to be stocked, too.”

“I dunno,” Vinyl said. “I don’t think a group of freedom fighter’s have much use for a musician. Just look at Octavia! She had to learn to shoot, and swing a punch, and she saved my life with her techno-know-how.”

“That was one of her first combat scenarios, so we’re clear,” the pegasus said, giving her wings a ruffle. “She’s seen fights before, but that’s not her specialty. We have her mostly going for techie stuff that she’s learning from Fluttershy, and occasionally talking to ponies.”

“Huh. I could do that. Go with her, and just...chat people up. I’ve been told I’m good at talking to people.”

“It would be true, from what I’ve seen.” She gave a grin.

“Heh, thanks. I’m Vinyl, by the way.”

“Sunset. Sunset Shimmer.”

Vinyl paused, then turned off her music as she stared at the other. “Wait...that sounds familiar. It’s on the tip of my tongue.”

“Hm, that might be hard to access, considering you don’t have a tongue,” Sunset answered with a chuckle. “But I don’t blame you for not recognizing the name. I left the public scene many years ago.”

“What was your job? Maybe that’ll kickstart my memory.”

“Vinyl?” Octavia’s voice called out.

“Polo!” Vinyl shouted back.

Octavia stepped onto the balcony, her goggles around her neck, jacket nowhere to be seen. “What was that explosion just--” She stopped, staring at Sunset.

Sunset turned around, back and elbows resting on the balcony as she regarded Octavia with a lazy expression. “No one mentioned you were short,” she said casually.

Octavia whipped out her gun, training it on Sunset. “Who are y-you?” She cut off, stammering, as her gun simply disappeared in a burst of green sparkles, reappearing in front of Sunset, surrounded by a green glow.

“This is a good gun,” Sunset intoned. “A Drake...19, if I’m not mistaken. Gemstone rounds?” The cartridge popped out on its own, and she took time examining it. Her eyes flickered with surprise. “Emeralds. Diamonds and crystal pack more punching power, and there’s always fun to be had with fire rubies and and thunder sapphires, but emeralds are a respectable choice. Cheaper, too.”

Vinyl reached over, tugging her jacket hood off. A cascade of lightly glowing, rippling, red-and-yellow hair fell over her back, and, sitting on her forehead, was a long unicorn horn, enveloped in a light, green glow. A horn extended almost three inches by another prosthetic.

“Oh, shit, now I remember where I heard that name,” Vinyl cursed, backing away.

Sunset Shimmer, former Princess of Inquisition. She’d disappeared shortly before Discord first appeared.

Many assumed she’d been assassinated.

“Relax, new blood,” Sunset chuckled, reloading the bullets into the gun. She tossed it back to Octavia, who wasted no time pointing it back at Sunset. “I’m with Discord.”

“SUNSET!”

A shadow passed over the balcony, as Rainbow Dash flew into the sky with a light roaring of her wing engines. “I heard the explosion, took me a minute to find a window, though. What happened? Where are the attackers?”

“Chillax, new-blood here was experimenting with her magic,” Sunset said without looking.

“Oh. Really? YOU did that?” Rainbow’s wings extended to full length—almost enough to rival the alicorn’s—and she said, “AWESOME! Imagine taking one of those to your face!”

“Um—”

“Rainbow,” Octavia growled, interrupting Vinyl, “she claims to be with us. Is this true?”

“Oh, shoot, you haven’t met the boss.” Rainbow paused. “Uh, I mean, DON'T SHOOT! Wait, Sunset, what are you doing out here?”

“I wanted a look at the new girl,” Sunset said.

Rainbow hovered a moment, before emitting a groaning noise. “Sunset,” she began.

“Oh, don’t you start, I made the decision to hide, I can unmake it,” Sunset snapped, folding her arms and turning even further away from Rainbow.

“Look, I trust Octavia enough at this point, alright? But—Vinyl literally got here yesterday! Even if she wouldn’t deliberately spill the beans, I don’t know if she can keep her trap shut!” She paused. “No offense meant, V.”

“Believe me, none taken,” Vinyl said. “I hardly trust you guys, either.”

“See? Trust is important. It’s important that someone stretch out a hand of trust first!” Sunset smiled.

“Sunset,” Rainbow said, glaring at her. The Wonderbolt landed on the balcony with a heavy thud, pulling her wings in close to make room. “You said that things get near impossible for us if Canterlot finds out who you are. We need the element of surprise, you said.”

“Things are changing,” Sunset muttered. “This new Alicorn...my replacement...” She spat the word with vehemence and a glare.”...Is actually getting shit done. Sneaking around, asking questions. We’ve never had to worry about Spitfire and her Wonderbolts, y’know? We could dodge those easy enough. But the Inquisitors are different. Midnight Sparkle is different.” Her eyes narrowed. “The Dazzles are having difficulties with her, too, you know. They’re having to cut off their connections and deals twice as fast so they don’t get caught. We need a change of plans.”

“And why is this the change we need?”

Sunset hesitated. “Because I was bored as hell, alright? I told you—I wanted to see the newbie.”

“We don’t even know if she wants to join us or just cheer us from the sidelines,” Rainbow griped. “Stop calling her ‘newbie’.”

Sunset looked into Vinyl’s visor, meeting the android’s ‘gaze’, if that was the right word. Sunset smiled. “Sure,” she said, though whatever she meant by that, Vinyl had no idea. “Anyway, Vinyl, I could teach you a thing or two about your magic, if you have the time.”

“Um—sure! That would be awesome!” Vinyl tried to catch up with the sudden topic change, but Rainbow didn’t seem to want to let her.

“She’ll catch up to you in a minute,” the Wonderbolt said, stepping over to the DJ. “I have something I want to talk about real quick.”

Sunset sighed. “Must you?”

Rainbow didn’t answer, so Sunset just clomped past her and Octavia, metal hoof thudding repeatedly and cloak billowing behind her.

Octavia, for her part, holstered her gun, and then followed Sunset. She closed the doors behind her.

“So, uh, what did you wanna talk about?” Vinyl asked.

Rainbow folded her arms over her chest—tucked away like that, it was hard to tell that her right arm was a minigun. “Let me just say this, really,” she said. “You have a right to choose, Vinyl. That’s what we’re fighting for at Discord. You wanna choose to help us fight? Okay, cool. You don’t wanna? Had enough action for your life? That’s cool, too. You have the right to choose your side. Just know that if you go and tell the Inquisitors about Sunset, I will consider that picking a side.” She stepped loser, leaning down so that her eyepiece was on level with Vinyl’s. “I think you’re a good pony, and I hate being wrong. Please don’t prove me so.”

“Okay,” Vinyl squeaked, leaning as far away from Rainbow Dash as she could.

Rainbow clapped a hand on her shoulder, then pulled her in for a light hug. “Thanks,” she said, in a cheery tone as if she hadn’t just been issuing a death threat with perfect seriousness. “Glad to hear it, V.” She took to the sky with a roar of engines, wings outstretched, then flew off into the woods.

Vinyl stared after her for a long moment.

“She likes being the heroic protector,” Sunset said, leaning against the suddenly open doorframe. “Don’t worry about it. It would take a colossal amount of stupidity and psychopathy on your part to make her actually do anything. So cheer up!” Sunset flashed a grin.

“Does she give everypony who comes through here death threats?” Vinyl asked.

“Yes,” Octavia growled.

“She’s still mad about it,” Sunset said. “Come on! I wanna show you what I know.” She turned, striding off.

“She wasn’t too rough, was she?” Octavia asked.

“Actually, I think it was perfectly fair,” Vinyl said. “And it doesn’t hurt that she’s so frikkin’ awesome!”

Octavia blinked. “You’re joking, right?”

“Nope! That was awesome! Everything from the timing to the tone...ten out of ten death threat. Makes me fully aware that she could and would kill me with little to no conscious effort,while at the same time not making me afraid she’ll fly off her handle and kill me at any random time!” Vinyl clapped her hands together.

“You can’t be serious,” Octavia whispered.

“Yeah, she’s terrifying,” Vinyl admitted, shoulders slumping. “But you could have at least let me pretend.”

Octavia shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

Fleur de Lis reached for her cup.

It was such a simple motion that she had done repeatedly before. But before, she hadn't perceived time thirty-percent slower.

Her hand moved at a snail's pace across the table. Her eyes flicked to the rest of the room, taking in the sights.

Different ponies mingled around the ballroom. A few danced on the floor, but it was another subdued Canterlot gala with little in the way of actual entertainment. She saw Upper Crust talking to Moneybags, the latter of whom was listening in rapt attention. She saw Princess Spitfire, standing at military attention and looking like she was obligated to appear at the gala. Besides her was one of the Inquisitors...Lyra Heartstrings, if she remembered? Lyra was using her own reflex chip to tap one hoof in tune with the music. Though, as Fleur stared at her, she seemed to be one beat ahead.

Fleur looked back to her cup. Her hand had still not reached it.

She moved her hand faster, trying to force it to pick up the cup at a reasonable speed. Her hand sped up, but slammed into the cup too fast. She grabbed at it, but her mind was sped up, not her fingers. She watched as the cup slipped from her grasp, her fingers too slow to do what her mind was telling them.

But the cup hovered in the air, before floating up and being set on the table, and the wine returning to the cup.

Fleur looked up as her new friend approached the table. "Careful," Mi Amore Cadenza said. "It could stain somepony's dress." She smiled.

Cadenza had a body shaped very much like an hourglass, and seemed to love it. She wore a pink dress, from the waist down, but from the waist up it devolved into stylistic wraps, twined around her throat, just below her armpits, diagonally across each breast, and then wrapped just below, and down and around her sides to join with the skirt of the outfit. The skirt itself was slit down one side, and Fleur could see the cloth wrapping all the way down her leg, which was mechanical below the knee.

Cadenza didn't have as many cybernetics as the other Alicorns, but she did have a reflex chip still. Just above her beautiful, beautiful eyes that never seemed to blink.

Cadenza sat down, leaning to one side, tail wrapping her leg just below her Cutie Mark. Her own glass of line floated along, positioned just to the side of her face. "Something troubles you?"

"Just...some stress, is all," Fleur said casually. Then, on a whim, she said, "I'm still acclimating, after all."

She watched Cadenza carefully for any sign of surprise, or Tartarus, even sympathy.

"Oh, is that all?" Cadenza said. "It can take quite some time for some ponies." Her wine cup swished around, and she cocked her head to stare at it. "It's nothing out of the ordinary, dear de Lis."

"So ponies tell me," Fleur said, holding up her glass to her face. "But I'm beginning to regret it, actually. I can read faster now, and modelling is easier. I can move exactly as much as I want to, for the most perfect of poses. But...it can be frustrating that everything else is slower, too. I wish it came with an off switch."

"Mm, there's an idea," Cadenza said. "I wonder if the Princess of Research has thought of that already. I'll present it to her, but...I don't think I'd personally use it."

"Why not?" Fleur asked. "It seems to me that there are plenty of things that don't need to be slowed down."

Cadenza swished her cup around, then leaned forward, across the table, face close to Fleur's. "Because, my dear," she said slowly, "I have been here for all these years. If I blink too many times, all of my friends turn to dust in front of me. So I have learned to savor each second for as long as possible." She took Fleur's hand, clasping it in her own. Then, with an impish grin, she leaned even closer, whispering, "Plus, it can make a married life a bit more fun."

Fleur blushed, hiding her laugh from other nobles with her other hand. "Princess!" she said. "That was not proper."

Cadenza laughed, returning to her lounging position across her seats. "Well, my dear, it's part of diplomacy. It's all about who will appreciate a bit of...improper humor." She grinned, looking across the room. Fleur followed her gaze, to where Shining Armor stood.

"Of course, if things are too slow," Cadenza said, "you can always use hydraulic muscles. They can be built to be invisible to the common pony, so it won't affect your career."

"I'm...I'll wait til I finish acclimating," Fleur said softly. "That would be wise, I feel."

"Mm. Well, I hope I helped you some--at least, more than just saving a glass of wine," Cadenza said, sipping her own. Then, she fluidly rose, with a posture of a thousand year's practice. She began to walk away, but Fleur called out to her.

"Princess...is it possible...to remove the reflex chip?"

Cadenza paused, then looked back without emotion. "You won't have much luck with that," she said.

She walked off without another word, leaving Fleur to cry softly to herself.

Diamond in the Rough

Vinyl stared at the light blue aura around the cube in front of her. "It's...somehow harder and easier than I expected," she griped.

"The 'hard' part disappears with a little practice," Sunset said. They were on one of the lower levels of the castle—the first floor, really. They stood in front of an old throne, a couple rooms away from where Fluttershy and the Pie Sisters had done the surgery on her. Vinyl sat on the throne—her choice—levitating a small, plush cube in front of her, with what looked like a firing range set up on the other end of the room, next to an open set of gates out into the courtyard.

As she watched, part of the cube crumpled inward, and she hurriedly focused less of her magic on it. The telekinetic grip eased up slightly, and the cube returned to its original shape.

"Just remember that you have an advantage over most other unicorns learning this," Sunset said.

"What?" Vinyl asked.

"You're not five," Sunset said with a wink.

"I'm seven," Vinyl answered.

"Oh. Really? I thought you were older than that."

"Look at this shiny plating," Vinyl said, gesturing at her body. "This is practically brand new!"

"Some of it is, though the patched bullet holes shouldn't be considered fashionable," Sunset replied with a smirk.

Vinyl let out a sigh sound effect. "Well...it's...um...personality! Yeah."

Sunset smirked as the cube squished in again. "Get good at that, then I'll teach you how to better use lasers," she said.

"So, like—how much can I really do? I know that there's telekinesis. The lasers were new to me. Um..."

"Depending on what your Cutie Mark is, that might be it," Sunset said. "Unless your special talent is magical theory—which I doubt, you don't have the personality for it—then you'll only be able to learn a couple of tricks. Sometimes, it can be really weirdly specific combinations, too. Like, one colt I knew...he could do the telekinesis, a shield spell, based off his Cutie Mark, and he could work a light. He couldn't shoot lasers, conjure fire, or teleport." She chuckled. "Flash used to say that his real special talent was enabling my reckless behavior."

"Flash...Flash Sentry? The guy they used as a model for the Flash-points?"

Sunset nodded, still smiling.

"Wow, I can't believe you know him," Vinyl said. "Wait, you were a princess. Of course you do."

"Knew. I haven't talked to him since I left Canterlot," Sunset said quietly.

"Oh. Sorry." The cube squished in deep, letting out an anguished squeaking sound. She would have winced if she'd had the muscles, so instead she focused on her magic, saving the cube from being crushed to powder.

"He probably made it to a Wonderbolt Captain by now," Sunset said quietly. "It was just about the highest rank he could hope for. And me...I took over for the old Princess of Inquisition, and..."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's long healed. I don't need to pry that wound open again," Sunset said. "Do you mind if we stop here for the day?"

"Sure," Vinyl said, no matter how much she wanted to keep going. "I'll keep practicing with this thing. We've been at it for hours already, huh?" She hesitated. "So, um, should I worry about a Cutie Mark?"

"You probably already have it," Sunset said. "Is there any symbol you dream about often, when you power down?"

"Um...yes. A music note." Not that she was supposed to dream, really—Fancy had never been able to figure that one out.

"Not surprising. Most androids tend to get Cutie Marks with the things they were built for," Sunset said. "Rainbow's is a lightning bolt—you saw the Insignia on her shirt, right?"

Vinyl nodded, remembering the rainbow lightning symbol. "So...I'll get some sort of sound magic?"

"You can learn some sort of sound magic, probably," Sunset informed her. "Or who knows? Maybe it'll just happen. I know it did for Rarity."

"Neat," Vinyl said, leaning back against one of the throne's arms. "Maybe I could make some sort of sonic laser. Like...a sonic cannon." She let out a gasp sound effect. "A bass cannon."

Sunset scratched her chin. "You know, I might be able to make that happen. Tell you what, you decide to fight, and I'll get you a bass cannon."

"Whatever happened to it being my choice?" Vinyl chuckled.

Sunset smiled at her. "It still is. I'm just saying how I'd respond to it." Without further ado, her horn lit up, and she teleported away.

Vinyl hesitated. She looked one way, then the other, sitting in silence.

Octavia had gone off wherever, and the few other ponies that had passed by hadn't said anything. It seemed like this base wasn't put to use by the majority of Discord, so there were very few ponies wandering around. Only a couple of hallways that mostly lead to the medical room.

Vinyl sat up slowly, looking at the empty hall. "Gee, thanks," she said to no one in particular. What should she do now? Sneak back to her room? No, that would be way to awkward in the scenario in which she got caught.

Obviously, she had to find somepony—between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, neither of them would hesitate to rip her head clean off if they thought she was trying to spy.

"Hello?" she called out.

No answer.

With a groan, Vinyl got up and left the throne room. "Hello?" she called out again, stepping down the hallways. "Lost android here," she called out. She peaked into another room—an old kitchen of some sort, and with more tapestries of the ancient rulers of the castle. Vinyl was about to leave immediately, when something reflected the light from her visor. She looked in, seeing something small and silver on the table.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she slipped into the room, letting one hand trail along the table's length as she moved to the shiny object.

It was a mask, designed to cover the entire face. The imagery on the mask was a the image of a screaming mare's face, with streaks of red coming down from the eyes like tears.

Vinyl shuddered, wrapping her tail close to her legs. Diamond Duster's mask. She turned it around, examining it. There wasn't any sort of mechanics to speak of, just spots for straps to hold the mask on. She frowned. Couldn't an android just build in clips? That would even hold the mask better. No bothering with silly cloth straps.

Vinyl held it up to her face, sitting on the corner of the table. "Terror, arise," she whispered. Much to her surprise, her voice went low, distorting and turning raspy. She lifted the mask away—there wasn't any sort of machinery in it. That hadn't been the mask.

She lifted it away from her face, thinking. Could she manipulate her voice? Was that because of her Cutie Mark, or because she was an android? She quickly checked. Her voice modulator was working fine...and didn't allow for alternative voices.

Cool! Magic!

"I believe that you aren't the only thing that got lost, darling," a smooth, aristocratic voice said from the doorway.

Vinyl shrieked, jumping, holding up her hands—and the mask that absolutely didn't belong to her.

Rarity smiled. "It's owner was looking for it," she said, nodding to the mask. Unlike yesterday, she was wearing a blue skirt, and a violet, button-up blouse. The look was completed by the scarf hanging off her neck, down to her waist, and another hat that covered the top of her head. She stepped into the room, shoes clicking lightly, purse swinging off one arm.

"Sorry, Sunset just teleported out, and I got lost," Vinyl chuckled. "Then I saw this, and...well..."

"Please. There are two more just like it in case one gets lost," Rarity said, reaching out a hand. Vinyl gave it to her, and she slipped it into her purse. "It has nothing in the way of sentimental value to its owner."

Vinyl paused. The mask was not sized for a pony Vinyl's size. It seemed sized for a mare slightly taller than her, and the rumors were surely exaggerated on a number of points.

Rarity seemed to figure out what her gaze was about, so she sighed. "Go on, ask," she said in a resigned tone.

"Are you the Diamond Duster?"

Rarity grimaced. "Yes."

"So, the whole...'android with a pony heart' thing..."

"Completely false," Rarity said firmly. "But I realized that scare tactics worked well on most ponies, so I've never bothered correcting the rumors." She grimaced. "As distasteful as it is, really. Let's stick to more pleasant conversation for now, hmm?" She turned, trotting off at a leisurely pace.

Vinyl nodded, still confused, before she remembered the cube. She unsquished it, relaxing her telekinesis as she followed Rarity out.

"So, um...I have a question." Pause. "Not about...Diamond, really. About magic."

"And what even makes you think I'd be able to answer the question?"

"I don't know? Sunset said you got magic based off your Cutie Mark, and..." She hesitated. "Actually, I haven't seen you without a hat on. I don't rightly know if you're an Earth pony or a unicorn."

"Unicorn," Rarity answered. "As far as magic goes...I got my Cutie Mark when my magic decided to go off on its own, showing me to a stockpile of gems." She smiled at the memory.

"Do you think I could learn how to do that? Maybe I could help you guys find gemstones for bullets," Vinyl said.

"I'm not sure if you could, but it wouldn't hurt you to try," Rarity said slowly. "Sunset knows how, she can teach you."

"Oh, she's...done for the day. And I suppose I am still working it out with this thing." She shook the plush cube in front of Rarity, using her telekinesis. "Are you busy right now?"

"Not particularly, but I can't show you how to do the spell," Rarity said.

"But...Sunset can?" Vinyl paused, thinking about that. "I'm a little confused."

Rarity sighed, then took off her hat. She turned slightly around, showing Vinyl her forehead. Her horn was broken, with jagged points sticking up, and some light scaring around the base of the horn. "I tried to stop some ruffians from kidnapping an android. This was before I joined Discord, so...I didn't know how to fight. I didn't know how to do anything. They thought it was funny, and decided to have a little fun with a hammer and a knife." She smiled sadly. "Rarity Belle couldn't survive that torture. Diamond Duster did—at least, she survived long enough for Rainbow Dash to show up. If they'd been caught by Canterlot officials, they'd have gotten off with assault and theft, nothing more." Her grin turned a little more savage. "I daresay they got what was coming to them."

"So is that why you fight?" Vinyl asked. "For Discord?"

"I fight to make sure everypony is allowed to fight," Rarity said. "Applejack was tough, even back then. She could have wiped the floor with them if she hadn't had the violence inhibitor. She should have been allowed to."

"Thanks. This...sounds heavy to talk about."

"It is, but I'm used to carrying some weight," Rarity intoned. She put her hat back on, saying, "Besides, it'll grow back in another five or so years. It can be permanent if they break too much, but like it is, I'll get it back someday." She smiled in an assured manner.

"And I'm assuming prosthetics are a no-no?"

Rarity shuddered. "Replacing a horn? No, no, no, no, no. Replacement limbs can be fine, but the lowest end horn prosthetic would be way too close to my brain. I've heard horror stories about the damage that could do."

"And what about Sunset?" Vinyl pressed.

Rarity pursed her lips together. "Ask her if she's doing alright," Rarity answered. She continued walking, shoes clicking lightly against the ground. "Where were you headed, again?"

Vinyl sensed the change in subject, so she let the matter lie. Instead, she asked, "At this point? I think I need some time to process everything."

"Alright. I'll lead you there."

Gilda straightened her jacket, making sure the collar was flipped up, before slipping into the office room.

Behind a desk, Filthy Rich looked up in alarm and confusion, before it quickly faded to irritation. "Whatever happened to the schedule?" he asked dryly.

"It got expedited—like my men did," Gilda replied.

"Diamond, why not you go on to your room?" Filthy said, adopting a fatherly smile to look to his daughter.

Diamond Tiara—if Gilda remembered the name correctly—looked from her father, to Gilda. She stared openly at the rough jeans and the open leather jacket, before turning back to her father. "Dad--"

"Sweetie," Filthy said, "we'll talk again some other time, hmm?" Firm, but gentle in a way that had Gilda fighting back a retch. Ponies were way too damn soft, she'd always thought.

As Rough Tumble stepped into the room besides her, she amended with, Well, most of 'em, anyway.

Diamond Tiara, pouting visibly, stormed from the room. Her caretaker android slipped out behind her, keeping her visor focused on Gilda, with a small firearm poking from beneath one of her sleeves. It was one of the ones modeled like a child, but given Filthy's vast wealth, Gilda had little doubts that that thing could put up one hell of a fight.

The absolute best pampering for his little princess.

Gilda slid a chair in front of Filthy's desk, sitting down as she fought to keep her beak in a neutral expression. Well, it wasn't like Filthy could figure it out, anyway.

Rough Tumble pulled up a chair, slightly farther away, then sat down stiffly. Filthy eyed the massive Earth pony, and the rarely-seen bruises, then turned to Gilda. "So, I take it this is about what happened at the Flight of Fancy?"

Gilda nodded. "I got bad news, Filthy."

"Mister Filthy, if you absolutely must, but I do prefer Mister Rich," Filthy said stiffly. "Do explain to me why all those bits worth of ponies I hired, and gave to you to lead, why they just failed to take out a couple of cheap combat androids?"

"Two Inquisitors showed up," Gilda said. Filthy's eyes widened, the fear in them making Gilda crack a smile. "Yeah, I thought that'd get you to drop the 'stern boss' act."

"Inquisitors?" Filthy exclaimed.

"Undercover, by the looks. Earth pony mare and a ridiculous combat android. Like a souped up workhorse." Gilda thumbed towards Rough, adding, "It left all the bruises on Rough here."

Rough nodded. "I still would have killed Fancy, if it hadn't been for that thing," he said. "Hell, probably still would have, but its owner was getting her gun back out." He shrugged.

Filthy stared at them for a moment. "Did you get names?"

"I have someone tracking down the android's make, but I haven't gotten a match on the pony," Gilda said. "Of course, those are friends of mine, actually. All the rest of the ponies you hired got killed by the other two Inquisitors."

Filthy gaped. "Four Inquisitors?"

Gilda nodded. "I caught wind of the two who found the base, with some Wonderbolts right behind 'em, so Rough and I got out. I just thought you'd want to know before Rough and I went dark."

"You're going dark?" Filthy asked, frowning. "Then why come back to me? What do you want?"

"You're a good employer; the bits have been pleasant," Gilda said with a shrug. "In a year or so, when we come out of hiding, I thought it'd be nice if I didn't burn this bridge. Maybe we can do business again, sometime."

Filthy relaxed. "Of course. You've handled everything else well enough...I suppose expecting you to be able to handle Inquisitors would be a bit much. And in the sake of good relations..." He gestured to her. "I'd strongly suggest putting on a shirt under that jacket. It's indecent."

"I'd be wearing less back in Griffonstone," Gilda snorted. "Whatever. Thanks for the advice, F—Rich." She could be nice, if she chose. And it suited her.

Gilda stood, letting Rough rise behind her.

"And where will you be?" Filthy asked.

"Out of town, as fast as possible," Gilda answered. "Who knows after that?" She gave a shrug.

"That will be all," Filthy said stiffly, waving them off.

Gilda did her best to contain her annoyance, but let Rough close the door behind them since she wasn't containing it well enough.

Rough slipped into the driver's seat, saying nothing as Gilda slammed her door. "That motherfucker," she hissed. "Rat bastard."

"I take it you learned what ya wanted to learn?" Rough asked, tapping the dash with one hand idly.

"I'm certain he sold us out," Gilda snarled. "Probably in exchange for a pardon. Sucking up to the crown just for a few bits—rrragh!" She threw up her arms. "I'mma fuckin' kill him. I swear to Grover."

"So, are we actually headin' out of town, or what?"

"I told him we would to set his men on the wrong track," Gilda replied. "I want to stay in town for a day or so while I think up how best to kill that fucker."

"Ah. So where do you want me to drive?"

"Our room at the Dazzle Den," Gilda said with a sigh. "I'm stressed, I need booze and sex."

"Of course," Rough grumbled, starting the car. "Your answer to everything, right?"

Gilda rolled her eyes. "What about you? You want vengeance on Filthy too, right?"

"Yeah, but I'd really like to crush that robot good," Rough said in a low voice. "I don't like things I can't break."

"Eh, I doubt that's happening," Gilda said. "Inquisitors are a little above our paygrade, but...well, if we got the option, I'd like to fuck 'em both up, too. Tartarus, maybe I could sell that Earth Pony with 'em in Griffonstone."

"Then we're settled on that front," Rough said, pulling to a stop at a red light. "Let's worry about Filthy first, though."

"Yeah. Let's."

The Pony Who Wasn't

Vinyl got up, listening to the sounds of talking outside her room. She hadn’t managed to fully shut down—difficulty sleeping was, apparently, one of the “bonuses” of her suddenly gaining free will. Every time, her systems came back on, bringing in some new thing for her to think about.

As the voices came closer, she she got up, stepping over to the door, then opened it and peaked outside.

“...thank you enough,” an android was saying to Fluttershy. “You’ve been a great help and I—oh! Deadweight’s moving again, I see.”

“The name’s Vinyl,” Vinyl said.

“I don’t care,” the android said, one hand on her hip.

Vinyl felt irritation rising, but chose not to say anything.

“Adagio,” Fluttershy said. “Be nice.”

Adagio’s speakers let out a hum, and she said, “Aren’t I supposed to be honest?”

Fluttershy glared at her. “Don’t say mean things,” she said sternly.

Adagio rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I-I-I--” She shut up, pausing as Vinyl stared at her. “Ahem. Sorry, speaker glitch. I’m gonna go boot off.” She strutted past Vinyl, heading towards one of the rooms.

“Hey, can I ask a question?” Vinyl asked.

“What is it? Is something the matter?” Fluttershy asked.

“Like...isn’t the Dazzle Den...evil and stuff? I’ve heard about the things they do.”

“Well...” Fluttershy rubbed her neck, then let out a long, slow, breath. “It’s kind of complicated. Yes, they did all that bad stuff, but they worked it out with the Boss.”

“Sunset?”

“Oh...you’ve met her, right. Yes, Sunset talked to them face-to-face. They’re cutting deals and making things better for their workers, pony and android. But it would be suspicious if they did it all at once, so they’re taking it slowly, while helping Discord on the side. They’re our allies, but we don’t fully trust them. Not yet.”

“But why? Why are they helping you?”

“Well, to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever asked,” Fluttershy said slowly.

“Why not?”

“Because Sunset said they were helping us, and that was enough for me,” Fluttershy said with a shrug. “I trust her.”

“I...I’m not sure I do, just yet,” Vinyl said slowly. “I mean...what am I supposed to do? I’m hearing all this shit, and...I just don’t know what to think. There’s so little about this I understand, and...”

Fluttershy leaned over, wrapping a hug around Vinyl’s shoulder. “It can be tough,” she said. “I’ve seen it before. You were thrust into a situation far beyond what you expected to deal with, and forced away from the only home you’ve known, and now...you’re unsure.”

Vinyl nodded. “I’m not the only one, then?”

“Applejack was a little lost, too, when she first came here,” Fluttershy said. “And though it was different for her, Octavia was, too. She never wanted to join Discord, and ended up just stumbling into it. You don’t have to make any plans, immediately. Take your time. Learn what you can. Then make your decision.”

Vinyl nodded. “Thanks.”

“No problem!”

“Why did you decide to join Discord, anyway?”

“It’s a boring story,” Fluttershy admitted. “And I’m a little tired, too. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Ah. Okay. I’ll look for you then, okay?”

“Alright. Good night!”

“G’night,” Vinyl said, waving goodbye. She strolled back over to her room, lost in thought.

“It was a tactical decision.”

Vinyl turned, seeing Adagio leaning against her open door. “Pardon?”

“Why the Number Ones are choosing to help Discord,” she said. “They do this regularly. The quickest way to earn as many bits as they can also happens to have the most adverse effects on the economy. This leads to it being unfavorable, and thus they simply change tactics. Usually, they produce some sob story about how they realized what they were doing was wrong.”

“Do they know it’s wrong?” Vinyl asked.

Adagio snorted. “Let me tell you something, Deadweight. Whatever fiction stories you’ve seen about those woefully misguided ponies who don’t know that what they’re doing is evil, it’s all BS.” She tossed a hand in a flippant gesture. “Most ponies know that what they’re doing is evil. They just don’t care. The Number Ones aren’t any different.”

“And Sunset...hasn’t dealt with them?”

Adagio actually laughed at that...until her voice box glitched again. “What Celestia doesn’t want to tell you is that there are things that can take out an Alicorn, and not even in the ‘targeted assassination’ that’s Sunset’s main plan. Three Sirens, especially as fed as they are right now, could out-match almost any Alicorn in a fight, Sunset included.”

“Really?”

“If it weren’t for the other five Princesses, and then Celestia, and the robot Wonderbolts that are also basically immune to the mind control, they’d rule Equestria with an iron fist.”

But we’re working to take out their obstacles, Vinyl thought. They have other plans...

“In case you’re wondering,” Adagio said, “they have had notions about conquering Equestria, but Sunset was the previous Princess of Inquisition...and the closest they’ve ever come to getting fully caught out and brought down. I wouldn’t worry about them trying anything.”

“Coming from, presumably, a completely unbiased source,” Vinyl said flatly.

“Nice Maude impression,” Adagio said, giving a thumbs up. “But I’m actually booting off now.” Without answering Vinyl’s accusation, she turned, heading into her room and letting the door close behind her.

Vinyl sighed, stepping back into her room, preparing to boot off once more. Not that she fully needed to, really. Or at least...she wasn’t sure. Her batteries stayed charged, but it still helped her process information.

Vinyl attempted to sleep, anyway. Once again, thoughts surfaced unbidden, though most of them were now about the Dazzle Den. Were they really so evil? Did they have any qualms about what they did? The prostitutes, the drugs, the records of employee mistreatment. And if they were at least being honest with Sunset, then wasn't Discord taking away their biggest threats? Did Sunset have a countermeasure for the Sirens? And what about their androids? The mechanical copies of themselves they were infamous for. Did they feel any qualms about working under the Sirens?

Some time into the night, her sensors booted back on. Vinyl groaned, rising, pulling the covers away from herself.

Wait. She didn’t have covers.

Vinyl looked around her room, seeing uncracked bricks and not a single indoor plant to be seen. The window was full of glass, and unbroken, too. Vinyl got up, peaking outside, seeing a wonderfully cultivated forest around her.

But the strange, crystal tree was nowhere to be seen.

“Whoa,” Vinyl muttered. “Is this what a dream looks like?” Her eyes, the normally carefully controlled synth waves, bounced up and down rapidly. “Cool!”

Vinyl moved to go outside her room, but paused. She wasn’t supposed to leave, but...well, technically, she wasn’t. And, if she ran into dream Rainbow Dash or Applejack, she’d be sure to point that out to them.

Risk of dismemberment waved, she ventured out into the halls.

The castle’s walls wavered slightly. Every single old piece of stone or metal looked new once again, but shimmered, waving in an ethereal light.

But tapestries were missing. All the tapestries of Celestia were gone, leaving only...the other Alicorn. Whom had no prosthetics. Vinyl promised to herself to check the modern ones once she woke up. She paused, seeing motion. “Ah, Rainbow?” she asked.

A black shadow detached itself from the wall. The thing, whatever it was, was shaped like a unicorn, with barely visible black armor around itself. It was lugging a bundle of heavy-looking fabrics behind it.

Vinyl stepped back. “Uh, listen--”

“The castle is not open to visitor’s right now,” the shadow said clearly...in Rarity’s voice. “The tapestries have to be changed. Ugh, again.” Using magic, the shadow then began performing the task of changing the tapestries...to ones that looked exactly the same.

“Huh,” Vinyl muttered, stepping around the corner.

She walked right into the throne room, blinking in surprise. The throne room was not this close to her room. She very specifically remembered that.

Nor was it lined up to the throne with more shadowy guards, with the same Alicorn in the tapestries. Blue coat, majestic wings spread to the sides, and armored. Dark blue armor around her chest, shoulders, and a metal skirt that hang down to her knees. She lounged on her throne in a bored fashion, before her eyes flicked over to Vinyl. Slit pupils watched Vinyl lazily, but curiously.

“Huh,” Vinyl said, slowly walking into the room. “Guess I had no idea what the servants looked like two thousand years ago.”

The Alicorn sat in place, saying nothing. None of the guards made any motion either, so Vinyl walked between them, up to the steps. “What I really want to know,” she announced, “is why the hell this is so close my room now. I know for a fact it wasn’t that easy to find this place from my room in reality.”

“Presumably,” the Alicorn spoke, “the guest rooms have been moved. Especially if the old throne room is no longer in use.”

Vinyl paused. “Good point,” she said. She sat on the steps leading up to the throne, leaning back. “Maybe I should ask Sunset for a history lesson. Wait, it’s a fake castle. There’s no history.”

“Why do you assume it’s fake?” the Alicorn asked.

“Because the vines didn’t move, and the tiles only looked like they were old,” Vinyl shot back. “Even ones that were totally disconnected from the ground wouldn’t budge.”

“Total area stasis petrification,” the Alicorn said simply. “Freeze everything in place. Suddenly, the antique castle stays in one piece, and you don’t have to bother finding another spot for your secret rebel base.” She made a flippant gesture. “But I don’t mind, really. Anything to get back at Princess Perfect.”

“Uh...right,” Vinyl said. She looked up to the Alicorn, who was still watching her. “As my subconscious seems strangely knowledgeable, who were you?”

The Alicorn leaned her head on one hand, elbow propped on the arm of her throne. “Hmm. No one, it appears. No one whatsoever.”

“Right,” Vinyl muttered. “So, it’s a real castle, but you never existed.”

“Isn’t that always the case?” the Alicorn asked. “History is subjective, after all.”

“Um, it is?”

“Of course. After all, Celestia, by saying I never existed, made it so that I didn’t. If she had said that I slaughtered entire species, and ponies had believed her, then that is what I would have done. History is written by the victor—meaning the loser never gets to share their side.” She waggled a finger at Vinyl. “Tell me, are there any of my thestrals still around?”

“Those things?” Vinyl paused. “Hmm. I’ve never met any, and I’m told that they were evil and violent...but that might not be the case, right?”

The Alicorn grinned. “You get it,” she said simply. “The thestrals were just like the ponies. Some good, some bad. But when I was banished, Celestia decided she didn’t want them around. She started having them killed on false charges. Torturing them until they confessed to things they never did. Some ponies doubted it at the time, but so long has passed since then that there’s nopony left who doesn’t believe it. The thestrals are evil because history says so, and history says so because ponies wrote it that way.” She clasped her hands together, leaning back. Her black wings stretched out, and her face contorted into a grimace. “She didn’t have to do that. She chose to. I’ll feel no guilt in felling Celestia.”

“Okay,” Vinyl said, standing up. “This has officially gone on long enough.”

The Alicorn frowned, looking at her. Vinyl pointed a finger at her face, saying, “Who the heck are you? This isn’t just a dream, is it?”

“It is a dream,” the Alicorn said simply. “I am the Princess of them.”

“Uh...” Vinyl looked around, then back at the Alicorn. “You’re not really explaining anything.”

“I am aware. As I said, I don’t exist, do I? Erased from history, with no past, no present, no future. I cannot exist, for nopony has seen me outside of their darkest nightmares.” She leaned forward, baring her fangs in a wide grin. “See, the only way to show that I still exist, to prove to others, to prove to myself, is to lurk in the deepest shadows of the worst nightmares of the mentally deranged. I became what Celestia says I am.”

“Nighmare Moon,” Vinyl whispered. She took a step back.

“I see that, after everything we just discussed, you fear me.” Nightmare Moon looked Vinyl up and down, shaking her head. “And here I thought we were getting friendly.”

“Um,” Vinyl said slowly, “look, I’m sorry, but--”

“I tire of you,” Nightmare Moon said shortly. “You’re just another of Tia’s silly little metal ponies. You know nothing, you will amount to nothing, and thus, you are nothing.” Her horn glowed, and several glowing blue lances appeared in the air besides her. “Begone.”

Vinyl woke with a start, crying out. She had no covers, the window had no glass, the floor tiles were broken up, and several petrified vines sat on the wall.

Vinyl swung her legs out of bed, rushed to the window, and looked outside. The sun shone on a wild, untamed wood, and a large, crystal tree sitting a short ways from her window.

“Okay, don’t freak out, Vinyl,” she told herself. “It was...just a silly nightmare. Couldn’t have been real, right?” She folded her arms against her chest...then paused. She looked down, feeling the right side of her chest.

There was a tear in her plating, roughly three inches across. She twisted, feeling at her back, to find another tear, and an extra hole in her jacket.

“Don’t...freak...out...” Vinyl told herself quietly. “It’s just...just a little tear, hm? That...goes...all the way...through your chest.” She paused. “Caused by the demon god of nightmares.”

Vinyl sat there for a long moment, then screamed.

Minuette shelved the next book, thinking to herself. Truth be told, there wasn’t much she could do right now anyway. Until Octavia came back, she couldn’t do much on that front, as leaving to Ponyville while they weren’t certain whose side their spy was really on was an extremely bad idea.

Fancy either didn’t know anything, or wasn’t telling—either way, given his previous history, moving on him would be ineffective and counterproductive. He wouldn’t be high enough up to know the juicy information, and he was high nobility. Yes, he did vote ‘against the grain’, as it was, and wasn’t making much headway, but he was a nobleman nonetheless.

Which was something most of the radical, anti-government ponies never seemed to consider. If they just played along, they could have their cake, and eat it, too. Yet it normally devolved into groups like Discord slaughtering large groups of government workers to violently take over the kingdom.

There were plenty of aspects of the political system that Minuette didn’t care for, and yet, she always sided with it over Discord. Both left behind bodies, but no one missed the ones the Inquisitors took care of.

Minuette paused, hearing a scuffling sound. The only other pony in the library at the moment was the librarian, who didn’t even look up from her notes.

Minuette slipped over to the bookshelf, hand going to her concealed pistol. Technically, guns weren’t allowed in the library, but the Friendship Inquisitors got a free pass. The better solution, however, was to not attract attention to it.

Minuette stepped around the bookshelf, then sighed in a combination relief, and annoyance. “Indigo, why are you sneaking around back here?”

Indigo paused, hands clasped over her chest. “Oh, y’know, just, uh, browsing,” she said slowly.

Minuette raised an eyebrow.

“I left my security key in the library,” she burst out.

Minuette sighed. “Indigo,” she said, “that’s bad. If someone got it, they’d have access to our systems, you know that, right?”

Indigo nodded. “Don’t worry, I know exactly where I left it! I’ll go get it right away!”

“Fine, but we’ll be talking about this later,” Minuette said. She flipped the hammer back to the safe position on her pistol, then tucked her jacket over it. “Goodnight, Indigo.”

“Goodnight, Minuette. Better luck tomorrow?”

“Eh, probably not,” Minuette admitted, stepping out the front door.

Indigo sat, shoulders hunched, listening to Minuette’s prosthetic hooves tapping as she left. Then, Indigo straightened her shoulders, rolled her neck, then strode confidently through the library.

The librarian looked up at her as she passed, but when she saw who it was, she went back to her work. She didn’t pay attention, so she didn’t see the green light that lit up the stairwell.

In the Inquisitor’s wing, Indigo looked under the computers, then pulled out, scratching her head. “I could have sworn it was right here,” she muttered.

“A-hem.”

Indigo leapt back, hand shooting to her pistol, then winced, seeing Minuette holding up her security key.

“I left it in the library,” Indigo admitted.

“That’s bad, Indigo,” Minuette said. “If someone got this, then--”

“They’d have access to to all our systems, I know,” Indigo said. “Or at least, the ones I have access to, so, what? Five?” She cleared her throat. “I’ve heard it a million times, Minuette.”

“Be prepared for a million and one, because we’re going to talk about this later,” Minuette said, handing it back.

Indigo sighed. “Goodnight. Better luck tomorrow?”

As Indigo passed her out the door, Minuette replied, “Goodnight, and probably not.”

Indigo left, leaving Minuette standing in place for a minute. Then, Minuette slipped behind one of the terminals, pulling out a thumb drive.

Access: Minuette

Access granted. Welcome back!

Minuette breathed out slowly, beginning to type rapidly.

Data appeared, showing schematics for the custom guns used by the individual Inquisitors. Minuette quickly memorized them—these terminals didn’t allow downloading, anyway. The .44 pistol did look interesting, but Indigo’s ten-millimeter pistol could be silenced more effectively.

Though, of course, that wasn’t what she was here for, either.

Command: Access—Wonderbolt armory

After a brief second loading, the computer dinged. “I’m sorry, you do not have the permissions to access those files,” the computerized voice said.

Minuette hissed, an unusually long tongue poking out of her mouth. “Who does have those permissions?” she demanded.

“Princesses Spitfire or Midnight,” the computer replied.

Green flames enveloped Minuette for a fraction of a second, then revealed Midnight Sparkle. Shaking her wings, she said, “Access Wonderbolt Armory. Password: ‘Summer Sun’.”

The computer loaded briefly, then buzzed. “I’m sorry, but you do not have the permissions to access those--”

Green flames enveloped her once more, as she angrily kicked the computer from its desk. With a bestial cry, she smashed the nearest chair into it several times, sending small pieces of machinery everywhere.

Four black, clawed hands, drooped by her sides, as she panted. “Calm down, Chrysalis,” she murmured, running one hand through her hair while planting two on her hips. “Just a minor setback. She must have planned for shapeshifters...”

Hooves pounded on the staircase. She hissed, before shrouding herself in green flame once more.

The doors to the Inquisitor wing burst open, Indigo Zap flying into the room, pistol aiming around, as Minuette came up behind her.

The library was empty.

“Shit,” Minuette cursed, stepping over to the broken computer. “Must have escaped quickly.” She reached down, pulling an intact thumb drive from the rubble.

“So,” Indigo said, “is this worse than misplacing my security key?”

“Way worse,” Minuette said, looking around the room. She pointed to an open window, saying, “Exit point.”

“Fuck,” Indigo said. “Good thing I asked where you found it.”

“Very good,” Minuette said, “though the computer also caught the fake access command.”

Indigo landed, wings folding on her back, as she holstered her pistol. “So,” she said, “Miss Melody can wait, I assume?”

“Ohhhh, yeah,” Minuette drawled. “I’m reporting this to the Princess right away.”

More Questions

Vinyl kept her music low, but playing out loud for all to hear, as she lifted the cube in front of her. It circled around to her left, in a circle, along with two other cubes.

Three at once! she thought. Vinyl had played around plenty with her voice, using her magic to twist and change it as desired, but that seemed...almost too easy, compared with even the simple spell of telekinesis.

Unicorn magic was hard. Picking up three separate cubes was incredibly difficult, and to keep them all moving at once, she had to keep track of all of them at once. Being an android helped with that somewhat, as her brain thought faster than a regular pony’s, but it was still a challenge.

Whatever else she did, though, this was going to making DJing waaaay easier.

Though, of course, that lead to other problems. Vinyl had never wondered too much about the Alicorns--everypony knew, of course, that sometimes there were ugly sides to the government. Vinyl hadn’t yet seen much of what the Alicorns hid, but simply knowing how much she had been repressed was enough. Even just her magic felt like a part of herself, but she had also been forced to obey any order given by Fancy—which wasn’t something she’d particularly chafed under, but it had still stung sometimes. The real icing had been that she’d almost died simply for saving Octavia. Through no fault of her own, while helping to protect a heroic mare, she had almost died. Just so the government could go on about how she wasn’t a real pony, and thus, it was okay to treat her like dirt.

I don’t think it’s okay to treat anypony like dirt, she thought to herself. Everypony matters. Heck, everyone matters. I bet even the gryphon slavers would be missed by their family.

She moved her head slightly, watching one of the cubes as it drifted in its circular path. So, since everyone matters, can we really say it’s okay to hurt people, even if they’re the bad guys? I mean, if we could all love each other like we love ourselves...wouldn’t the world be just perfect? Then we wouldn’t need things like freedom fighters. We would all be free to just...play around, make music, and just...have fun with it all.

“I do hate to interrupt, darling,” Rarity said from behind.

Vinyl jumped, the three cubes making squeaky cries of pain as they collapsed inwards on themselves. Vinyl muted her music, turning to Rarity. “Yeah, what’s up?” she asked.

Rarity wore her more casual blue blouse and violet skirt, and had forewent her hat, for once. She hefted a briefcase, saying, “I was heading to Manehattan today to pay...well, for you, actually. I talked to Sunset, and we agreed it would be wonderful if you could say goodbye to Fancy. If you want to, that is.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’d like to go see him one last time,” Vinyl said, dropping all three cubes to the table. “When are we leaving?”

“Now. And here, take this,” she said, tossing a jacket to Vinyl.

Vinyl hesitated, then took off her bullet-hole-filled jacket. She set it on the nearest bench, and slipped Rarity’s on. A light, shiny blue, of a thicker, yet still comfortable fabric. She used her telekinesis to straighten the sleeves as, on a whim, she did up the buttons. Her Cutie Mark, or, what was roughly her Cutie Mark, was embroidered on the right breast. “Thanks,” she said, staring at the wrist cuffs. “Um...this is a really good jacket.”

“Thank you, darling, I do try my best,” Rarity said with a smile. It faded, however, as Vinyl continued to stare at herself. “Is something the matter?”

“I just...I’ve never had fancy clothing before,” Vinyl admitted. “Fancy couldn’t afford to pay for upscale clothing on all the androids, so...I always just made do with the one jacket.” She flipped the collar up, saying, “Thanks. Do I owe ya anything?”

“Your praise was enough, darling,” Rarity said, smile returning. “I spend plenty for my friends...or just my property, if anypony asks. Oh, some expensive androids can use magic, so no pony would question it, but you probably shouldn’t until you know better what you’re doing.”

“Got it. Do I, uh, need to wear a cloth bag over my head while we’re going out?”

Rarity stared at her for a second, before laughing. “No, no, nothing like that. For whatever her reasons are, Sunset decided to trust you. And assuming you could somehow track back the exact path, I don’t think it’s likely you’d do something like that.”

“And if I get captured or something?” Vinyl asked.

Rarity blinked. “Darling, if that’s a concern already, then, all things considered, we are quite screwed, as it were. Neither of us have, on record, done anything to make the Inquisitors look at us.”

“So says Diamond Duster,” Vinyl mentioned, walking past Rarity.

“Oh, pfft-t-kch!” Rarity waved the concern off. “Please. I bear no similarities whatsoever to some walking scrap-heap with a pony heart inside.”

Vinyl stepped in front of her, holding up her fingers to observe Rarity like a photo. “Mmmmm...”

Rarity narrowed her eyes, one hand on her hip.

“Yeah, you don’t,” Vinyl agreed, letting her hands fall at her sides. “Gotcha, though, didn’t I?”

Rarity hefted her purse, and Vinyl thought she caught a brief glimpse of a translucent gun inside of it before Rarity snapped it shut. “Well, that you did. Come along then.” She swept up her hat as she walked past, fitting it over her head.

“So,” Vinyl began, “what do you actually do around here?”

“Mostly, we stop ponies like Filthy where we can,” Rarity said. “We need tools to actually fight the Alicorns, so between building those, we save androids. Occasionally, we steal them from brothels and the like—there’s a large number of rescues like yourself around here. And, of course, most have us have more legitimate jobs that we must attend to.”

“Excepting androids like me and Rainbow Dash?” Vinyl asked.

“Exactly,” Rarity said, stepping into the throne room. She trotted down the halls, but paused. “Vinyl?”

Vinyl ran her hands along the side of the throne, thinking. “Do you ever think about who owned this place before Discord came along?”

“Nopony, I thought,” a voice said.

Vinyl turned to the other entrance, watching an off-yellow earth pony slip into the room, with a buttoned blue jacket and a flipped up collar. Over her right eye was a metal plate, with a staticky, red glass. She eyed Vinyl, with a smile.

“Um, right,” Vinyl said. “Why do you think that?”

“Because most of the damage is actually fake,” she said. “The broken tiles don’t move, and the vines growing along the outside are fake.” Then, in a wildly different tone, she added, “Pretty easy to notice, I thought.”

“Right,” Vinyl muttered.

“Vinyl, this is Sour Sweet,” Rarity introduced. “Sour Sweet, this is Vinyl Scratch. She’s a rescue.”

“Oh, yes, Octavia and I were just talking about you,” she said. “Or, at least, I was talking to her.”

“Right,” Vinyl muttered again. “Well, nice to meet ya, then!” She extended her hand.

Sour Sweet hesitated, then stepped around the throne and shook it. “Are you looking to help out, or...” She shrugged with her spare hand. “Just survive?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Vinyl admitted. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about it, though.”

“Well, fighter or not, we could always use the help,” Sour said with a nod. “Gods don’t slay themselves, after all.”

“They’re not gods, they’re tyrants,” Rarity interrupted. “They’re evil ponies, not deities, darlings.”

Sour shrugged again. “Where Alicorns are concerned, the name game hardly matters, Rares. Anyway, I’m going to let you get on with your errand now, but I’ll stop by the Boutique tomorrow, okay, Rarity?”

Rarity nodded. “Alright, I’ll see you then! Ta-ta!” Rarity said, waving as Sour Sweet disappeared back into the castle.

“Well,” Vinyl said, “she had spirit.”

“She’s troubled,” Rarity said sadly. “She installed that eye to help her with a graphic art job, but regretted it when she noticed the psychological problems it was causing.”

“Yikes,” Vinyl said. “That’s...can she, like, get rid of it?”

“Probably, but I don’t think she wants to,” Rarity said. “She makes do, but she can be...aggravating, to some ponies.”

“Gotcha. Well, does she have a job around here?”

“Infiltrator,” Rarity said, beckoning towards the castle’s front doors. “Come along, darling, there’s work to be done.”

Vinyl looked back into the castle, then followed Rarity out the doors. “So most ponies don’t know the castle isn’t fake?”

“Some say nay, some say yay,” Rarity answered smoothly. “The reality is, Sunset’s spell is well beyond the potential of any non-Alicorn. If you don’t know who our leader is, fake is much more easy to believe.”

“Hmm. Okay, so...” Vinyl looked around the mostly empty courtyard. A few ponies were taking shots at a target they’d set up, a few clouds drifted lazily past, and Rainbow Dash flew overhead into the forest. “Is there a car we can take? Oh, maybe, like, a helicopter or something?”

“No, darling, we’re taking the secret tunnel,” Rarity said, pointing to a large, square, storage shed.

“Oh,” Vinyl said, feeling slightly disappointed. C’mon, Vinyl, they’re cyber-terrorists. You’ll get to ride in a helicopter some day. Rarity opened the door, examining the space inside the shed.

Vinyl jerked her head around, focusing on the light flashing in the direction Rainbow Dash had flown in a rainbow pattern.

“Uh, Rarity? Is that okay?” Vinyl asked slowly.

“Oh, yes,” Rarity said. “Rainbow keeps the worst nasties in Everfree at bay. She’s scaring off an Ursa minor that wandered too close.”

The gunfire died down as Rarity stepped fully inside, then pulled a lever. The floor slid back, revealing a staircase underground.

“That’s very, very visible,” Vinyl commented.

“Darling, this is what it looks like from inside,” Rarity said. “Once they get here, a secret entrance that leads here isn’t going to be useful to anypony.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Vinyl admitted.

“Just wait until you see the other end, darling,” Rarity said, descending the staircase. Her hooves tapped politely as she trotted down, tail kept close by her side.

Vinyl looked back to the other two ponies. One stepped away from the other, laughing at something, a pair of massive bat wings stretching out. When she saw Vinyl looking, she smiled and waved.

Vinyl waved back, then took the steps two at a time, lighting up her horn. A mellow, blue light filled a short hallway, showing mostly earth walls with some wooden supports to keep the roof up.

Rarity let out a light gasp. “Why, whenever did you learn to do that?” she asked.

“After Doc finished patching my chest this morning,” Vinyl said. “I moved to using telekinesis on three cubes, and discovered that I could turn myself into a flashlight.” She did an air-guitar, saying, “I can also do rave-lights, but figured that wouldn’t be useful here.”

“Agreed,” Rarity said, moving to the end of the hallway.

“So, secret passage now?” Vinyl asked, examining the completely featureless earth wall.

“Yes,” Rarity said, placing her hand on a seemingly random spot. It sank in, and Vinyl heard a click, before the wall slid over to the right, slowly.

“How do you remember where that was? A code or something?”

“Practice, darling,” Rarity said smoothly. “Fluttershy showed me, and I simply had to remember it. Is this hidden to your liking?”

“And beyond,” Vinyl admitted, stepping into the next room. Contrary to the past several days of dusty old castle rooms, she stepped into a room of polished chrome, with several computer panels showing various charts. Four sealed metal doors lead out, as well as two separate vents that seemed to be keeping breathable air in the room.

The door closed behind them, as Vinyl looked to the computers. “What now?” she asked, turning off her light.

“Noooow I come down from the ceiling!” a familiar voice chirped to the sound of metal grinding. Vinyl slid back, before relaxing as the Pie Sisters rappelled to the ground, from a series of metal pipes on the ceiling. The vague shape of a large, four-hoofed horse stood before them, with a large number of metal cables floating around in the air around her. The four eyes were connected at where the horse’s neck would have been, but the whole thing had an...unfinished look. Several of the plates didn’t match, and were too big for the parts they were attached to.

“Remind me to ask about your story sometime,” Vinyl said slowly.

“Okie-dokie!” Pinkie said, saluting with a cable.

“It’s rather boring,” Maude put in. “We don’t have the tunnel to the Boutique finished just yet, Rarity. Sorry about the inconvenience.” They trotted over to the computers, hoof-steps thudding loudly. The cables floated about, tapping some buttons on the panels. “Will Golden Oak be fine?”

“Yes, that will do just fine,” Rarity said. “How’s progress coming on the interstate tunnels, anyway?”

“Uh...” Pinkie’s eye turned to look down the window on top of the far left door. “Slowly.”

“Mm-hmm,” Marble agreed.

Limestone scoffed, her red eye turning back to Rarity and Vinyl. “Now that we’re near a populated town, we have to stop using explosives or ponies will notice. The drilling is taking time, and we can’t head far enough out to handle it.”

“Why not?” Vinyl asked.

The beady red eye focused on her, but Vinyl avoided flinching back. “Cuz we’re needed here,” Limestone snapped. “We have so many projects here, so many things to build. Other ponies are the ones doing most of the mining now, when we can spare them.”

“Now, Limestone,” Pinkie said chidingly, “it was just a question.”

“I know, but I’m mad about it anyway,” she snapped. “Sunset keeps coming up with new tools for us to build, but never anything for us to use. Anything we’re gonna do is gonna be done in the far, far future.”

“Because six Alicorns are very hard to kill,” Rarity put in. “Midnight and Spitfire moreso.”

“Well,” Vinyl said tentatively, “do we have to kill them?”

Rarity and the Pie sisters all looked to her. “I mean, Sunset turned nice, is what I’m saying,” Vinyl put in. “Maybe the others can turn nice?”

Rarity put a hand to her chin in thought. “A lovely sentiment, certainly,” she admitted. “But I don’t know if it’s feasible, darling. Logistically, we’d have to do all the work to be ready to kill one before we could try to reform one, in case it didn’t work.”

“And some ponies don’t like having their beliefs questioned,” Limestone said simply. “I don’t think it’ll work, Vinyl.” Several cables shot out, pushing buttons, and the door on the far right opened.

“I would love to hold them all a great big party where we could talk out all our problems, but Sunset says that’s not too likely,” Pinkie admitted. “She’s especially firm on Cadenza dying.”

“Why the Princess of Diplomacy?” Vinyl asked. “Is she worse?”

“Not on the surface level,” Rarity admitted. “The Inquisitors are responsible for most random ‘disappearances’, to be sure, but the Princess of Commerce is in charge of making sure the nobles stay richer than everypony else. The Princess of Diplomacy allows gryphon slavers to slip across the borders, and has been the one to conduct genocides. The thestrals, the dragons, and the changelings, all persecuted on the crime of being unfavored by a raving madmare.” She grimaced. “We must be going, though. Ta-ta, Pies!”

A chorus of goodbyes, and one ‘mm-hmm’, followed Vinyl into the tunnel, where a small pod sat on a rail line. “Subway,” Vinyl said. “Cool.”

Rarity opened the door, smiling. “After you, darling.”

Vinyl slipped into the pod, then buckled herself into a seat. She looked out the back window, at a cargo wagon that sat empty. “Can I ask a question?”

“Sure,” Rarity said, buckling herself in.

“What’s a changeling?”

Rarity paused, then sighed. “Extinct,” she said. “And wiped from history.” The pod jolted as it started moving, slowly, down the tracks.

“Have fun!” Pinkie’s voice chimed as they departed.

“History is subjective,” Vinyl muttered to herself.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Eh...nothing much, I guess. What was the deal with the Changelings? I know the thestrals reminded Princess Celestia of Nightmare Moon, so she started killing them, but what about the Changelings?”

“Where did--” Rarity stared at her. “Where did you hear about the thestrals?”

“Um...Nightmare Moon?”

Rarity stared at her. Vinyl tapped the part of her chest that Fluttershy had patched that morning, saying, “I kind of pissed her off last night. Sunset said she’d look into what happened.”

Rarity shook her head. “Discord’s operated out of this castle for almost twenty years, Vinyl, and yet, none of us spontaneously manifested damage marks.”

“Um...anyway, what about the changelings?”

Rarity smiled, but let the conversation change topics. “Well, darling, that’s a matter of some debate, even for those who know the name. The fact is that only two ponies know about them, and neither of those are particularly trustworthy sources on the topic.”

“Princess Celestia and...”

“Princess Cadenza,” Rarity said. “I...never asked about the details from Sunset, admittedly. I know they were...shapeshifters of some sort.”

“Hence the name,” Vinyl chuckled. The pod slowed down, coming to a stop.

Rarity popped open the door, swinging her purse with her spare hand. “Well, darling,” she said, “are you ready?”

Vinyl nodded, steadying herself.

Sweetie Belle

Rarity paused by a door, metal reinforced, then reached over and clicked a button. She put her finger to her lips, waiting, before the light next to the button changed from red to green. Rarity clicked another button, and the door slid open.

Vinyl followed her out into a bedroom of sorts, though with several boxes of books at the sides of the room. It was slightly furnished, with several magical looking charts hanging on the walls. Standing in front of the room's desk was an cream-colored unicorn in a turtleneck sweater and baggy jeans with a large pair of nerdy-looking glasses. "Hello," she said. "Out for the day?"

"Yes, but I probably won't be returning to the castle," Rarity said. "Just taking care of business once more."

The unicorn paused, straightening her spectacles as she looked to Vinyl. Vinyl extended a hand, saying, "I'm Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. Nice to meet you!"

The unicorn examined her hand carefully, then hesitantly shook it. "Moondancer," she introduced. She quickly dropped the shake, then moved over to her desk and quickly typing on the computer.

"Um—"

"Come along, Vinyl, we have a train to catch," Rarity said, towing her out the door.

Vinyl followed, pausing to look at the next room. "Are we in a library?" she asked.

"Golden Oaks Library," Rarity confirmed. "It contains a hidden tunnel to the castle. Moondancer's with us, but she doesn't like talking much."

"Got it," Vinyl muttered. While Rarity stepped briskly outside, Vinyl hesitated.

Ponies trotted around on paved streets, some with bags, a few with carts. Chatter and laughter were ever-present. The sun shone down, and some random pony waved a friendly hello at Vinyl.

Vinyl waved back.

"Vinyl?"

"Sorry, I..." Vinyl trotted to catch up with Rarity. "I got distracted."

"Understandable. This...this is your first time outside, isn't it?"

Vinyl nodded. "It's...weird. It all feels so friendly."

"It's less friendly in the cities, I'm afraid," Rarity said slowly. "In a country town like this, everypony knows most everypony. We all get along quite nicely."

"Huh. That's...that's wonderful." She stepped closer to Rarity, asking, "How many of them know about the, uh, side-gig?"

"If anypony asks, I'm with Everfree," Rarity said smoothly. "A good number of the ponies around here are with us, and the majority of the rest are with Everfree."

"Huh. So, if the Inquisitors start looking out here..."

"They have no reason to," Rarity said. "The simple fact is, we can't give them reason to. We need ponies if we're to overthrow Canterlot, but the more ponies we have, the harder keeping secrets will be. Most of us are going to have to give up our daily lives once the real fighting starts simply because the risks are too great."

"Yikes. Isn't that...does it bother you?"

"I live to give to others," Rarity announced. "If it'll save more ponies in the end, I'll gladly do it."

Vinyl nodded to herself. It was definitely the right attitude, but it certainly wasn't an easy thing to do. Then again, I pretty much already gave up my daily life, Vinyl thought. My good days are over, one way or another. Shouldn't I do my part to help others find happiness?

But what the hell IS my part?

Vinyl paused, looking up to a massive purple building with a domed roof. There were several display windows showcasing mannequins in brilliant dresses, and she watched as Rarity walked straight up to the door.

"Now, I don't think I'm one to talk," Vinyl said slowly, "but I don't think this is a train station."

"Hmm? Oh, of course not, this is my house, and shop," Rarity said, trying the door. "Carousel Boutique." She pulled out a set of keys, unlocking the door.

"Oh, clothes," Vinyl said, fiddling with her jacket's cuffs. "Right."

Rarity paused in the doorway, calling out, "Sweetie Belle?"

There was no response.

"Out, then," Rarity muttered. "Come in, Vinyl, we shan't be long. I just wanted to get something. Feel free to look around, though I do hope you can avoid touching any outfits."

"Right," Vinyl said, closing the door behind her. The shop opened immediately into a business area, complete with a large fancy mirror.

Vinyl stood in front of it, then held out her arms. It looks even fancier than I'd thought. She turned slightly, looking at it from the sides. I hope it didn't cost too much.

She paused, then undid the buttons. She looked down at herself. Vinyl's body was normally coated in a more expensive plating option, that responded to movement and touch almost like real flesh. However, all the bullet holes had been patched over, meaning most of her stomach and some of her arms were now a beige color, and didn't quite move like the plates should have.

Though the chest repair hadn't been too hard, for some reason. Fluttershy had managed to simply close the tear, and replace a few cut wires.

I don't quite look like how I used to, Vinyl thought. What'll armor look like? Like what Applejack has? Then I'll really look different. Would Fancy even recognize me?

Movement showed in the mirror. Vinyl turned, seeing a door swing closed behind her. "Rarity?" she called out.

Rarity didn't reply, so Vinyl slowly walked over to the door. "Rarity?" she called out again.

The lights were off in the room. Vinyl stepped inside, listening to a faintly mechanical humming sound. She fumbled along the wall, looking for the light switch, then paused. "Silly me," she muttered, lighting up her horn.

The room was a mess. Piles of fabric sat in various corners, directly in front of the shelves. One mannequin was entirely on its side. A small basket of gems sat, leaning precariously over the side of one shelf.

Vinyl froze when she saw an android, perched besides the basket, with a mounted gun on her shoulder. For the briefest of seconds, they sat there, and Vinyl looked into her eyes. Then, she let out a wild cry, leaping to the side and out of the room, putting a wall between them. "RARITY!" she shouted.

Rarity charged forward, purse swinging at her side as she held a large, translucent gun in her hands. "What is it?" she demanded.

"An android was pointing a gun at me!" Vinyl said, pointing. "The room is a mess, I think she was searching it!"

Rarity crept up to the doorframe, then peeked inside. She let out a sigh, putting her gun back in her purse. "It's nothing to worry about, Vinyl, you simply startled my sister."

"Um...your sister?" Vinyl hesitantly stepped up besides Rarity, then looked into the room.

The lights had come on, and the little android was sitting on top of a shelf, mounted gun no longer making the whirring sound.

Rarity stepped to the mechanical filly, then pulled her from the shelf and set her on the ground. "Sweetie Belle, this is Vinyl Scratch. She's another rescue, okay? Vinyl, this is my adopted sister, Sweetie Belle."

"Uh, hi," Sweetie said, ducking slightly behind Rarity. Her poofy, purple-and-pink mane bounced, falling around her horn and almost to her eyes.

"Hi?" Vinyl said. She leaned down, crouching in front of Sweetie. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

“Why didn't you answer when I called you?” Rarity asked, leaning down to Sweetie's level.

“Well...um...I didn't hear,” Sweetie answered. “And then...she started coming over, and I...didn't know who she was, and...got...scared.”

“Hey, we're cool!” Vinyl said. She held out her hand. “You startled me, but honestly, looking back, I just feel like laughing about it, huh?” She laughed.

Sweetie Belle looked into her face. “Are your eyes...synth waves?”

“Uh, yeah. You're one of the only ponies to comment on that, though.”

“I've been studying music,” Sweetie said.

“Cool!” Vinyl said. “Maybe I could show you a thing or two sometime.”

“Really?”

“Sure, I don't see why not,” Vinyl said. “At least, as soon as I'm no longer under house arrest.” She looked to Rarity.

“Despite the name, we do have rules,” Rarity muttered. “But you're out of the castle anyway, Vinyl.”

“Under supervision,” Vinyl said. “So, did you get your thing or...”

“Can't you tell?” Rarity said, insulted.

“Is it...the hat?”

It was a jaunty hat that stuck well over the sides of her head, drooping under its own weight. Rarity sighed. “I suppose I shouldn't be looking for fashion sense in the girl who wasn't wearing a shirt thirty minutes ago,” she muttered. “We'd best be off, or we'll miss the train.”

“Oh. Right.” Vinyl ruffled Sweetie's mane, saying, “See ya later, then.”

“O-oh. Alright. Sorry again for, uh...almost shooting you.”

“Hey, not the first time!” Vinyl said, walking backwards out the door. “I couldn't care less!”

“Rainbow Dash?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Er...yeah, she's up there,” Vinyl admitted.

Indigo walked the familiar halls of the Canton of Inquisition once more. The imposingly long corridors had always confused her, as they all simply lead to and from the elevator, with only a few having extra doors.

But most of them had a window spanning most of the length of the corridor.

Indigo looked out, at the android pegasus washing the windows, and gave it a wave. As was the normal now, it waved, scarcely slowing down in its work as it did so.

Minuette knocked on the door to the meeting room. Lyra called out, “Princess absent,” from inside.

Minuette pushed open the door, frowning when only Lyra was in the room. “I thought I said this was a matter of the highest importance,” she said.

Lyra Heartstrings, forever tapping a hoof in a rhythm only she could hear, swished around her drink—which smelled like sickening amounts of sugar. “Our chief infiltrator is still on her way back from Vanhoover, and Cross couldn't manage to fit the time into his own infiltration.”

Minuette grumbled, coming into the room and sitting down. Indigo came in behind her, sitting in her customary position at Minuette's side.

“Well, as highest-ranked Inquisitor in the room,” Lyra said, “I will preside over the meeting.”

Minuette snorted. “What meeting? There's three ponies.” she threw up her hands. “All this time, and we still haven't gotten more recruits.”

“Pity that Octavia seems to have scrammed,” Indigo said. “She looks like she would have been a good one.”

Minuette nodded. “But we can't spare the time to look for her anymore. It seems like Discord's stepped up its game.”

Lyra poured from a pitcher, filling two glasses with a light, golden-brown drink with steam coming off of it.

Indigo picked up the cup Lyra passed her, sniffing it. “What is this, and why does it smell like a Whinnie bar?”

“Liquid caramel,” Lyra answered. “My old partner got me on the stuff, and now I can't drink anything else.”

Minuette grimaced, sliding her cup away from her. “Anyway,” she said, but Lyra held up a hand.

“Presiding Inquisitor, Min,” she said with a smile. She then stretched out her hand, gesturing to Minuette. “You have the floor.”

Minuette rolled her eyes. “We had a security breach in the Manehattan library,” she said. “Subject came in both the forms of Indigo, and myself, and flawlessly imitated us. Stole Indigo's security key, but logged onto the computer with mine.”

Lyra snickered.

“The intruder then--”

“After all those times berating her for not putting it up properly,” Lyra said, “yours was swiped.”

Minuette sucked in a deep breath. “Yes,” she admitted.

Lyra laughed. Indigo couldn't help but chuckle, and Minuette gave her a betrayed look before continuing.

“Continuing, the intruder then attempted to access the Wonderbolt armory schematics, using Princess Midnight's password,” she said.

Lyra sucked in a breath, hoof-tapping quickening.

“We're still not sure how she got that,” Minuette said. “Luckily, the redundant securities blocked her, but it's still bad. We've been ordered to change all of our passwords. The Princess told me to pass the word on to Princess Spitfire that her passwords may be compromised, too.”

Lyra leaned forward. “Do we know if she got anything?”

“The schematics for mine and Indigo's guns would have been accessible with the security keys,” Minuette replied. “If she was just looking for weapons. I have access to a number of secret files, but I don't think she messed with any of them. Besides, downloading wasn't available from that terminal, so she'd have been limited.”

“I'll get word to Princess Spitfire,” Lyra said. “You two have to be returning to Manehattan today, right?”

“We're still trying to help Lancelot resolve the gang that shot up the Flight of Fancy,” Minuette explained.

“It sucks, because we all know it was Filthy, but we need more evidence before we move in.” Indigo sighed.

“We still want to catch the last two mercenaries,” Minuette said. “Rough Tumble's been out for a bit, but he's never been high-profile enough for us to get involved.”

“Agreed. I'll send word to the Canton of Information, we'll need records of his previous crimes purged,” Lyra said.

Indigo looked up in alarm. “Eh? What? Why?”

“Because,” Minuette explained, “it'll look better if he only just showed up, and we caught him almost immediately. We have to play the popularity game, too, Indigo. If ponies think they can get away with crimes, they'll commit them. We have to make them think we are much scarier than we are.”

“And that means covering up the fact that we ignored him?”

“Yes,” Minuette said. “We're getting involved now, and his days are numbered from this point onwards. That is what matters. Some ponies just like to think about...the wrong parts of that.”

Indigo grimaced, leaning back. She sipped her caramel-drink, thinking it over.

“We help guide them,” Minuette said, “to where they need to go. And that means we do things that are unpleasant, and sometimes, even immoral. But we are justified under Princess Celestia. I don't like it either, but it is what it is.”

Indigo nodded. “Yeah, maybe. So, how do we go about catching Rough and...his boss?”

“Partner, by the sounds of it,” Minuette said. She pulled out a file. “Indigo found her records, via questioning some ponies in the area.”

“Aggressively,” Indigo put in.

“Gilda Gruff,” Lyra said. “Of course it's a gryphon. Do we know if she's with the Slavers?”

“I doubt any of the ones we know,” Minuette said. “She's not been caught before, but we tend to catch the Slavers pretty quickly. Regardless, she coordinated an assault on high-nobility.”

“I'll ask Princess Cadenza,” Lyra said, “and pass the word on the breach to Princess Spitfire. You two get your rest, then head on out again. We want this taken care of quickly.”

“Will you be following our shapeshifting friend, then?”

“Yes,” Lyra said, smiling. “She couldn't fool me.”

“Be careful,” Minuette said. “We'll head out to finish helping Lancelot.”

Indigo downed the last of her caramel-drink, setting the cup down. Then, she stood, heading out right after Minuette.

Things are getting more interesting.

Author's Note

Sorry this chapter came out a day late!

Cleaning Trash

Princess Cadenza's cup clinked, as she set it down on the table. The Canton of Diplomacy looked much more...civilized than the others. Sure, the Canton of Inquisition looked friendly enough, but everypony knew that some ponies who went in didn't come back out. There was an almost predatory feeling to the place.

The grandiose gardens in the Canton of Diplomacy were far from threatening, aside from, maybe, pricking one's finger on a rose.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza sat at a table, looking from her tea to Lyra, then waved the servants back. A serving maid, and an android holding a teapot. She had wheels instead of her hooves, enabling her to move quicker, yet her sliding into position behind the chief servant was perfectly positioned, to the millimeter.

That one was very well designed.

Lyra dropped to one knee, resting one hand on the ground, and the other on her raised knee. "Your Highness," she said.

"Miss Heartstrings. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"I believe so. Almost five months since I last had reason to visit, if I do recall."

Cadenza sipped her tea. "Yes, about. Why not come have a cup of tea?"

There was already a teacup set up for Lyra. Basic manners of dining with royalty had her taking the teacup, even though she had never liked the stuff.

It was made from tree leaves, and her taste buds never let her forget that.

"What brings you here this time around?" Cadenza asked casually. "Minotaur immigrants? Another zebra decides to pass judgement on our country? No, what do I have to bet...the gryphons?"

Lyra found herself smiling. "Yes, Your Highness, the gryphons. As it was last time."

"I enjoyed evading unnecessary bloodshed, at least," Cadenza said, swishing her tea. "Though I fear that was only a temporary halt. Is it slavers, again?"

"Not necessarily," Lyra said. "You see, it seems a gryphon in a crime syndicate attacked high nobility. Fancy Pants, if you've heard about his clubhouse being shot up."

"Yes, I have," Cadenza said. "Dear Fleur was quite rattled."

"Mm. Has she adjusted yet?"

"She won't ever adjust," Cadenza said. "She's one of the ones who's simply incompatible. We'll figure that out one of these days."

"It does lead to opportunity, however."

Cadenza raised an eyebrow.

"How will our beloved citizens respond to the knowledge that a gryphon slaver attacked high nobility?" Lyra said.

"I thought she wasn't a slaver."

"That's where my idea comes in. We can say that she was. It's nothing so difficult that we can't make it seem like she's some high-ranked Slaver. Make it seem like they're all in it. The people are ready to believe it."

"You've falsified evidence plenty of times, Lyra," Cadenza said. "Why bring this to me?"

"I need your blessing," Lyra said. "I can make it look like it was some high-ranked Gryphon. People would believe it, but nothing would change. Princess Cadenza, give me your blessing, and I will hand you the tools to purge Gryphonstone."

Cadenza swished her tea around, then took a long, slow sip. She let out a satisfied sigh, setting the cup back down. "I don't like unnecessary bloodeshed," she said.

"And how many times have the gryphons caused it?"

"Gryphonstone is more than the Slavers, Lyra," Cadenza said. "It is the men, women, and children trying to eke out a life in a barren land."

"And they do not worship Princess Celestia," Lyra hissed, leaning forward. "They are heretic barbarians. Princess Celestia, in her boundless compassion, gave them a chance, but their continued existence is a stain upon her beautiful, perfect Equus. Give me your blessing and we can wipe that infernal, bubbling cesspool of a country off the face of Equus for good."

Cadenza stared into her tea cup. The Alicorn's wings shuffled, as she stared at her reflection in the dark-red tea. "You have my blessing," she said. "I will aid you, Lyra."

Lyra let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Princess Cadenza." She stood up, but the Alicorn held up a hand.

"I have a feeling that Fleur is about to start saying some...controversial things about cybernetics. It would be convenient if she was kidnapped by gryphon slavers."

Lyra nodded. "Yes, quite convenient. Are you content letting Fleur be a martyr?"

"To send her to rest in my Aunt's merciful wings? To be personally carried to the heavens?" Cadenza sipped her tea. "That is my final gift to her, dear Lyra."

Lyra nodded. "A magnificent one, indeed." She turned, but stopped when Cadenza spoke again.

"Why are you coming to me, and not Midnight?" She leaned forward. "What did my sister-in-law have to say?"

Lyra grimaced. "Princess, allow me to be honest, and...just slightly heretical. Only Princess Celestia is perfect. Unlike the rest of your subjects, I am aware than most that the Alicorns are not perfect. I watched Twilight grow and mature, until eventually, she became Princess Midnight. And yet, I can't help but see the same bumbling, dorky nerd who would never shut up about some experiment, or the latest Shadow Spade novel. I also know for a fact that she still reads those books. I have not told Princess Midnight my plan. If it goes right, I won't tell her until the Wonderbolts are landing. I don't think she has the heart to make the order to do this. So this will be...my final gift to her, I suppose, before I retire."

"You're retiring?"

"I'm getting a touch old for all of this," Lyra said with a sad smile. "Figure it'd be best to quit while I'm ahead. Go out and buy a farm." Her hand tightened around the edge of the table. "See Bonnie again."

Cadenza met her eyes, then nodded. "I see. Then you have my well wishes, Lyra."

"Thank you, Your Higness."

Indigo checked the schedule she'd been given again. This afternoon's rain was happening earlier than they'd planned—some moron at the local Weather Factory had, apparently, left it running over his break time and now they had a dozen or so extra clouds that didn't fit in the factory.

The automated wind turbines were releasing the clouds, and a few Pegasi were moving them into better positions. They were dark, swollen things, full to bursting, and, she knew from her own experience at Crystal Academy, soggy. She'd helped out the Volunteer Weather Teams once or twice, and it was distinctly uncomfortable to shove your hands til just past the wrists into a freezing, or near freezing, dark gray mass that would electrocute you if you didn't handle it properly.

Thinking about it made her tighten her jacket around herself as she stepped into the Manehattan Police Department. It was a good jacket, too. She'd made most of the design herself, actually, but mostly so she could fit all her pistols beneath the jacket. It wasn't quite as big as a proper Praetorian greatcoat, only coming down to just above her knees, but it was warm and thick. Of course, it was dragonscale, so it wasn't as warm as it could have been, but sticking extra padding under it would have been too heavy.

It was instead lightweight, almost luxuriously soft, and bullet-proof. Though, as Minuette constantly said, bullet-proof merely meant bullet-resistant.

Minuette stopped by the front desk. "Lancelot?" she asked.

"In his office," the mare at the desk said, barely pausing to check Minuette's badge.

Minuette and Indigo strode into the office without pausing. Lancelot was, as usual, going through notes, with a large evidence board set up behind him. There were a half-dozen criss-crossing red lines strewn across it, and a few photos pinned to it. One was a gryphon, in a brown jacket and trousers, and...no shirt? Some minotaurs went about shirtless, but she couldn't quite tell if the gryphon was muscular or not.

Indigo leaned in close to the photo. The gryphon was sparing a glance over her shoulder, small eyes looking around, moving through a crowd. At least, Indigo thought it was a her. She could swear that the face looked feminine, and she thought those were breasts under the jacket. But with the feathers in the way, it was somewhat hard to tell.

"Gilda?" Indigo asked.

Lancelot grunted, looking up. He was an elderly pegasus, but still muscular, and quite fit. He had a few cybernetics, namely the prosthetic red eye that glared at Indigo. His mane was combed back, kept short except for a thick bunch along the top of his head, almost like a mohawk.

And, of course, the snazzy Paretorian jacket that Indigo loved. Thick, grey, with his lightning-bolt badge on his chest, and the wrist cuffs folded back slightly. He looked to the photo, then nodded. "Yeah, that's her. The photo was taken the day of the shoot-out. Any word on Octavia? I still think she knew the shootout was about to happen."

"Something more important came up," Minuette said apologetically. "Sorry, Lance, but we've stopped looking into Octavia for now."

Lancelot snorted. "Alright," he muttered. "Fancy doesn't seem too inclined on telling much. Anything important, he either didn't catch, or isn't talking. We found a few crooks, all of whom seem to belong to Gilda's gang, but they aren't talking. Any chance you could use your Right of Force, here?"

"If I have the time," Minuette said. Inquisitors—or at least, the Class Two ones, like Minuette—had a few special perks to get their job done. One was the Right of Force, enabling them to go to extreme measures to extract information from criminals. Praetorians didn't get that, though, if Indigo remembered, the Wonderbolt captains did.

"Have you found anything about our shape-shifter friend?"

Lancelot grimaced. "Nothing. No reports of anything where someone caught it. No reports of people acting weirdly, then doing something extreme. I set some people checking the cells, just to see if maybe, someone got caught because of something the shape-shifter did. But if that's the case, then they've already been moved, because we haven't found anything yet."

"Keep looking. And you changed your passwords?"

"All of 'em. And I sprinkled a few fake passwords amongst my people. If our friend tries using any of them, we'll catch it that way."

"This thing fooled us, Lance," Minuette said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think it's going to fall for that."

"If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, no harm done," Lancelot said with a shrug. He fell into his seat, the rickety metal chair creaking beneath him, then pulled out his handgun. A magnum, a few sizes bigger than what civilians were allowed to carry. He started polishing it, rubbing it with a rag. "What do you two think it is?"

"You know I'm not allowed to share that kind of information with you, Lance," Minuette said apologetically.

"So you don't know," Lancelot chuckled.

Minuette grimaced. "No. Lyra said she was going to ask around with the Princesses. If nothing else, Princess of Information should have access to some of the really old records, so there might be something in there. If not, then we're dealing with an entirely new kind of crazy in our world."

Lancelot grunted. "I never like new."

"What about new inventions?" Indigo countered. "Like bigger, better cybernetics?"

Lancelot shook his head. "Any time that happens, a bunch of low-tolerance people get cyber-jolted, go crazy, and there's a big new crime surge. I've seen it time and again, kid. Anything new means a lot of work for a lot of people." He paused, then set down the gun. "Back to the point, though, we did get a video that may have been the shape-shifter."

"Or just some punk who decides to spray-paint 'Disc0rd' on the side of a building," Indigo muttered.

"Eh, you might want to give it a watch," Lancelot said, pulling out a tape and sticking it in his computer. Indigo stepped around, standing at his side.

"It happened the day of the big firefight," Lancelot said, opening up the recording. "Someone shut down all the cameras at the Trendsetter."

"Trenderhoof's place?" Minuette said. "A whole host of people want to see him dead. We'd never be able to pick one out, let alone deduce if one was the shape-shifter."

"Eh...you'll see," Lancelot said. "Our friend seems to have made one tiny slip. One of the camera's audio was still operational. So we get to see Trenderhoof's last words on film."

He turned on the recording. It showed the popular Trenderhoof, sitting at a desk, flipping through some art pictures.

"Hey, that dress looks good," Indigo said, squinting. "I mean, kinda slutty, but I'd still wear it."

The video feed shut off. There was a moment's silence, before Trenderhoof spoke. "Hairpin, would you go out and figure out what the commotion is? I'm still in the middle of this, and can't afford distractions."

"U-uhm, yes sir," a slight, shy voice said. The creak of a door sounded, following by a light click as the door shut.

Then, a second later, another click, as someone locked the door.

"Hairpin...? Why did you--" A gasp, followed by the sound of something heavy being kicked. "Guards! Guards! Help!"

"They can't hear you, sweetheart," a discordant, constantly changing voice rattled. Indigo found a shiver running up her spine. Some sort of completely synthesized voice. An android? Or someone who wanted people to think he—or she—was an android?

"Who are you? What do you want—oof!"

Another kicking sound, followed by a metal desk sliding across the floor. "I want justice," the voice rattled.

"Justice? What justice? What are you talking about?"

"We know what you've been doing, Trenderhoof. We know how you've been treating your employees. We know how you've been treating your androids."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about! Get out—hey! Let me go! HELP!"

"I told you already, sweetheart. They. Can't. Hear. You."

"Who are you?"

"I am vengeance incarnate," the voice rattled. "I am terror. I will rise."

"You're making a mistake! I have friends! They won't let you live!"

"I look forward to meeting them." BANG! The recorded gunshot was loud enough that Indigo jumped. "Sweetheart."

The recording played on for a moment. Then, the sound of a door rattling. "Huh? Mister Trend...um...I guess he's...with someone now...I...I shouldn't bother him."

Lancelot turned off the recording. "It was almost five hours before somepony thought to open the door," he said. "He'd been dead for a while by that point."

"So, um," Indigo said. "Not many people say 'terror, arise' unironically, right?"

"Nope," Minuette said slowly. "There's a possibility that that's our shapeshifter. If not, then...that would be the Diamond Duster."

"I didn't think it was real," Indigo said. "Think it's actually an android with a pony's heart inside it? I mean, that's not possible, right? Right?"

"Well...hold on..." Minuette stopped to think. "Maybe, but I don't think it would do anything."

Indigo stared at her.

"With our current Princess of Research, anything is conceivably possible," Minuette said. "But I doubt this is some sort of mechanical abomination that broke out of one of her labs again. Or...maybe it's the shapeshifter. Like I said, lots of people would want him dead. If it was among them, then it wouldn't be hard to fake who did the killing." Minuette scratched her head. "Hey, Indigo. Think you could see about getting information out of the thugs? I'm going to stay here and work with Lance."

"A'ight," Indigo said, stretching her arms over her head. Technically, only Second Class or First Class Inquisitors had the Right of Force, but Minuette could extend it to her subordinates.

Unfortunately, she couldn't just give it to Lancelot, meaning that Indigo personally had to do it. She closed the door, stepping out into the main room again.

Police stations still gave her weird feelings. On the one hand, she outranked everypony here. On the other, there hadn't ever been 'good' reasons to go into them before. Hell, there still weren't, really.

She strode back over to the desk, waving to the clerk. "Hey," she said.

"Yes, ma'am, what can I do for you?"

"I need to know where the prisoners are," Indigo said. "Specifically, the ones Lancelot mentioned that seem to be affiliated with the ponies behind the shoot-out."

"The ones we know worked with Rough Tumble?" The mare frowned, then looked up at Indigo. "Um--"

Indigo pointed to her badge.

"Right, uh...give me a minute here." She frowned. "Hmm. Odd, I thought...I thought we had some records on Tumble here..."

Indigo blinked. Damn, the girls at the Canton of Info work fast. "I wouldn't have expected that," Indigo said, leaning on the desk "We catch the real bad guys pretty quickly."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you only hired like, what? Three months ago?"

"It was four," Indigo said defensively.

"Right. It was on the, uh...Cottonpuff case, right?"

"Yeah," Indigo said, blushing. Sweet Celestia, that was my first mission. She recognizes me from that? Ohhhh, now I feel embarrassed.

"You took down Anansi, right?"

"Well, helped," Indigo said. "Minuette dealt the last hit, but...she wouldn't have caught him without me!"

"Uh...huh..." The clerk frowned at her for a minute, before pulling out the papers. "Let's see, we have three in custody, currently. One is under guard at the clinic, after you--"

"Well, I already asked him," Indigo said. "And the buddy he was with, I believe. You guys still got Muleton?"

The clerk nodded. "Yeah, he's one of the three, if you want to...'chat' with him again."

"Mm, probably not," Indigo said. "I don't have all the time in the world, y'know."

"Hmm, yes. Neither do I," the clerk added under her breath. She handed the papers over. "Cells five, seven, and eight."

Indigo nodded, choosing to ignore the rudeness of the clerk, before turning around. She looked up, and watched as a pony and an android walked outside the police station.

Something about the pony made her pause, however. She was stunning, but Indigo doubted that was it. Her mane...her mane curled in a very particular way, and was a deep, rich violet. She wore a casual blue blouse and skirt, but still made it look like a beautiful ensemble. She swung a white purse casually off one arm, with her android marching in step with her.

It was an expensive-looking custom model in a blue jacket and short, blue mane. It had a casual look about the way it walked, with its hands in its jacket pockets. Its eyes, notably, were a set of goggles with...those...dancing bar-thingies that moved with the music. What were those called again? 'Synthwaves' or something like that?

Indigo turned, and headed back for the office. She pushed open the door, causing Minuette to jolt up in shock. "Indigo, what are you doing back?" she demanded.

"We just hit jackpot. Looks like Octavia's going to pay for her droid."

Author's Note

And here's the first chapter almost exclusively from the inquisitor's point of view. Originally, the end cut back to Sunset and Octavia, but I decided to save that scene for next chapter.
On that note, this is also the last chapter I currently have written. The next one is partly written, but the updates will probably not be weekly anymore. I will post the new ones when written, every Wednesday. Til then, God bless!

Bass Cannon

The Flight of Fancy had seen better days.

Vinyl winced as she and Rarity walked up to the doors, examining a blown open wall. "I sure hope nopony was hurt," she said.

"As do I," Rarity said. "But there's not much we can do about it at this point."

A Flash-Point stood in the doorway—the old door with the swan engraved on it seemed to be missing, as well. "I'm terribly sorry," he said, "but the Flight of Fancy is currently under repairs, and is closed."

"Hey, Buckshot," Vinyl said with a wave. "This is business. Kind of. Can you let Fancy know I'm here?"

Flash-points weren't sold with names attached, but they often came up with their own names that other androids, and occasionally their owners, used. Buckshot paused, staring at Vinyl, then to Rarity.

"I'm here to make a payment, on behalf of Miss Octavia Melody," she said. "Do pass the word to Mr. Fancy, if you'd please."

"Alright," Buckshot said slowly. "Give me a moment." His screen display changed to a ringing phone, while he wirelessly communicated with another android, probably near Fancy.

After a moment, it changed back to his face. "Alright, head on in," he said. "Boss is up in his office."

"Thanks, Buck," Vinyl said, stepping after Rarity.

"You've been sold, then?" Buckshot asked.

"Yeah. I never thought it'd happen, actually."

"Me, neither. Gonna miss you, Scratch."

"Same. Say goodbye to the other DJs for me if I have to leave too soon, alright?" Vinyl said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Will do."

They stepped into the main room of the club, looking at the remnants of the carnage. A lot of tables were missing, and a few broken ones still sat piled in a corner.

Vinyl looked up to the DJ set up, where one of the other DJs was painstakingly cleaning up some debris. He looked up, then peered over the Mixer.

"Hey, Treble," Vinyl said, waving.

"Most of us thought you died, V," Treble said, with a thick Trotson accent. Treble was one of the flesh-and-blood DJs, but like most of Fancy's employees, he treated her nicely. He leaned against the edge of the set casually, grinning down at Vinyl. "I was sure I wasn't seeing you again either way. Shame, cuz I was gonna miss the competition."

"Well, I've been repossessed, so I won't really be coming back," Vinyl said, shrugging. "It happens. You better treat my set right."

"I do believe," a voice cut in, from the stairwell, "that I paid for it, Miss Scratch."

Fancy Pants came down the staircase from his office, giving Vinyl a smile. "You never used it, so I say it's mine," she replied easily.

Fancy laughed. "Can't argue with that, I must say," he admitted, stepping into the the main room with them. "And...Miss Rarity. A pleasure, though I'm afraid I must ask, is Octavia with you?"

"She was afraid that you might not want her back here," Rarity replied.

Fancy grimaced. "I did not intend to convey that she wasn't welcome back," he said. "I simply meant...ah, well, perhaps it is for the best. Come, take a seat." He beckoned towards the nearest club table, saying, "I'd bring you up to my office, but I'm afraid it's...rather cluttered right now. Jiffy!"

Jiffy appeared at Fancy's side from nowhere. Rarity's posture immediately stiffened, one of her hooves sliding back ever so slightly, but she didn't say anything.

"Fetch us some drinks, if you would," Fancy said. "I could use a break, but best to keep it low on the alcoholic side."

"Yessir," Jiffy said, disappearing.

"Did, uh..." Vinyl ran a hand through her mane, then spat out the question. "Did we lose anyone? In the raid?"

Fancy shook his head. "Luckily—for us, anyway—the Inquisitors caught up to them before they'd gotten far. All the androids were brought home safe and sound. A few ponies sustained injuries, but we...did lose one of the Flashpoints in the fight."

"Dammit," Vinyl cursed. "That bastard." She dropped into a seat, holding a hand to her head. "Who?"

"Nopony you knew," Fancy replied. He sat down opposite to her, and Rarity took the last seat as Jiffy returned. He set down three cups, pouring some drink Vinyl hadn't ever cared to learn the name of for Rarity and Fancy. He mimed the action of pouring something into the last cup, then handed it to Vinyl.

"It's the good stuff," he said. "For sending you off."

"Heh, thanks, Jif."

The pegasus shot away, assuming his waiting position just within ear shot.

"It's been a while since I've heard you curse," Fancy said idly.

"Eh? Oh. I guess..." She paused, looking to Rarity.

"Without the chip, she's not forced to anypony's orders anymore," Rarity said, "though she would do well to turn it down, just a skosh."

"Several skoshes, if I remember correctly," Fancy said, eyeing her. He adjusted his monocle, then asked, "And...you're happy? With them?"

"I think I was happier before I had to worry about anything," Vinyl said. "But I'm not unhappy." She toyed with her glass, spinning it slowly. "I'm learning a lot. Seeing a lot. It's hard for me to say much yet, but...well, I trust S--" She made a throat clearing sound. "—My new owners," she said.

Fancy and Rarity raised an eyebrow.

"I shouldn't really reveal any names," Vinyl explained. "Just in case."

"But of course," Fancy said. "I've...never liked selling androids. I don't like watching them go off, and...not knowing if they're safe. Perhaps it's for the best that I never had children," he added with a chuckle.

"I was just one of your employees," Vinyl said. "I wasn't--"

"I don't want to hear that," Fancy said, cutting her off. "All of my employees are special to me. I get to know them. And my androids, who don't get the option of leaving? I do my best to give them as happy a life as I can. I shouldn't be allowed to own them, but I'll be damned if I sit back and let ponies, flesh and bone or metal and wire, suffer while I can prevent it!" He snorted, mustache blowing, then took a sip of his drink. "But I must admit, I still hope that there's a peaceful solution at the end of all this. One that doesn't involve..." He eyed Rarity. "You're coworkers."

Rarity smiled. "I haven't had hope in some time, darling. Some ponies are simply evil."

"And when nopony is perfect, how can any of us claim to perfectly judge another?" Fancy asked.

Rarity sipped her own drink. "Perhaps it's foolish for any of us to judge each other. But I must always call it like it is. Applejack's honesty must have rubbed off on me some time over this past decade."

"The world needs more honesty," Vinyl said simply.

Rarity chuckled. "Well, yes, darling, but one must keep client confidentiality in mind."

"That is different," Vinyl said, pointing at her. "Personal information is fine. We've all—or the non-factory made ponies, at least—got personal stuff. Stuff that other ponies don't need to know about. But I have a right to know what all is in my head. There was stuff in there that I absolutely didn't want in there." She rapped her knuckles against the side of her head. "They don't have a right to keep that from me."

"I agree, but I worry that this path they've chosen...isn't right," Fancy said slowly. "I know Miss Rarity quite well, so I can say I trust her to not be involved in anything on the wrong side of extreme. But...I don't like this idea of full revolution. Many will die."

"Many die already, Fancy," Rarity said gently.

"And are you quite certain that this will save them?"

"Absolutely."

Fancy sighed. "Well, then, I suppose I shall have to work harder, hmm? To keep things from escalating too far."

"That...may be just what this world needs, Fancy," Rarity admitted. "You're a good pony. I only wish that there were more like you."

"I'd have to be quite egotisical to claim that I wanted more ponies like me. Rather, I hope there'd be more who are better than me. Or, perhaps, I just can't see them." He swirled his drink. "What do you think, Miss Scratch?"

Vinyl groaned, falling back in her chair. "I don't know," she drawled. "Every damned time, I just hear more and more, and I can't keep up anymore. How am I supposed to think anything? This was so much easier when I wasn't allowed to think. Back when I could just focus on my music."

Fancy nodded. "It would be easier, wouldn't it? To go back to when we were children and just ignore all the bad stuff?"

Vinyl chuckled. "Hey, I'm seven. That's a child in pony years."

"Yes, well you're barely an adult in android years," Fancy said with a chuckle of his own. "It's about time for you to grow up, Miss Scratch."

"Never. And you can't make me."

"Should I tell her she can't stop growing up?" Rarity asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

"From experience, no," Fancy whispered back. "Best to humor her on this one."

"Um, Mister Fancy," Jiffy said nervously stepping over, "we...have a guest."

"Is it someone important?" Fancy asked. "I'm in the middle of something."

"It's one of the Inquisitors, sir," Jiffy said. "She seems to be back."

There was a stunned silence amongst them.

Fancy looked to Rarity, then back to Jiffy. Then to Rarity again. "Do you...have something of a plan?"

"Yes, actually," Rarity said. "It would be best if you send her in." She put a hand on Vinyl's shoulder, saying, "For God's sake, please keep your mouth shut, Miss Scratch."

"Technically, I don't--"

"Bup-bup-bup-bup!" Rarity interrupted, putting a finger where Vinyl's mouth would have been. "Mister Fancy, I am just a friend of Octavia's who offered to make the trip and deliver the money as payment for Vinyl. Alright?"

Fancy nodded. "Send her in, Jiffy."

Jiffy nodded, then typed in a reply on his phone. A second later, a pegasus strode into the club, and Vinyl took her first look at the Inquisitors.

She was tall, and clearly athletic in build, with metal wing lining. Her coat swept down to her knees, and was deep violet, with an almost scaled pattern. And on her chest, was the signature six-pointed star of the Inquisitors.

Strangely, she didn't seem armed—or were her weapons concealed?

She gave a wide grin, and began marching towards Fancy. "Hey, Mister Fancy!" she called out cheerily. Immediately, feedback whined in Vinyl's ears. She cringed, adjusting her settings quickly as the Inquisitor's voice doubled on top of itself. "Oh, heh, sorry. I thought this was just a business meeting, but it looks a lot friendlier than that."

"No need to worry, my dear," Fancy said calmly, somehow not noticing the feedback whine. "Come, have a seat. Care for a drink?"

"Hmm, I'm not supposed to drink alcohol on the job, but if you've got a soft drink or tea, that would be great," the Inquisitor said, stepping right up to the table.

"I shall fetch one right away," Jiffy said, disappearing.

To her credit, the Inquisitor didn't visibly react to Jiffy, but her eyes seemed to follow him as he left.

"Now, what brings you back here, my dear?" Fancy said. "Is it about those mercenaries you apprehended?"

"Eh, not really," the Inquisitor said. "I was hoping, actually, to talk with Miss Melody. Is she here?"

"Well," Fancy said, "no."

The Inquisitor's eyes narrowed. "Isn't that her android, though?" She nodded in Vinyl's direction.

"Yes, but since she was busy, I offered to deliver the payment to Fancy for her," Rarity said. She frowned, then put a hand up to her mouth. "She's not in trouble, is she?"

"No, no, no! Nothing like that!" the Inquisitor said, holding up gloved hands placatingly. She dropped them, then absentmindedly scratched at her wrist. "There was just something we wanted to talk to her about."

"Here we go!" Jiffy said, suddenly reappearing.

The scrape of a horseshoe had everyone looking back at the Inquisitor, who slowly drew her hand out of her coat, then adjusted in her seat. "Heh, you startled me," she chuckled.

"Oh, sorry, m'm," Jiffy said, depositing a soda bottle on the table. He retreated to his safe distance one more, though the Inquisitor's eyes followed him this time.

She cleared her throat. "Well, anyway," she said, "you know Octavia, right?"

"Yes," Rarity said. "Quite well. We've been friends since she moved to Ponyville."

"Hm. Think you could pass the message along?" The Inquisitor put a small card on the table. "She should give us a call sometime. We'd love to talk with her about the shoot-out."

"O-of course. She really isn't in any trouble, though?"

"Not at all," the Inquisitor said. "We're quite impressed with how she handled herself, though tracking down the people behind the shootout is its own problem." She paused, then leaned over, examining Vinyl. "This is the one that got damaged, right?"

"Yes," Rarity said. "She's made excellent recovery."

"Did Octavia do the repairs?"

"I'm afraid I don't know, darling," Rarity said. "She might have. She knows how to use a wrench, which is a fair bit more than I know."

The Inquisitor leaned in closely, examining Vinyl. "She seems to have accidentally covered the service plate, but otherwise, I can hardly tell that this thing was shot at."

Shot almost five times, actually, because she'd jumped in front of Octavia.

The Inquisitor leaned in close, examining the visor. "Must have been expensive to repair this thing."

"I wouldn't know about that," Rarity said.

"Really? I'd have assumed that Everfree ate the costs."

Rarity frowned. "Well, maybe, but I don't know, darling. I'm more of a hanger-on, as it were."

"Ah, right. Forgive me." Indigo reached over, towards Vinyl's throat, where some of the beige paneling was.

Vinyl grabbed her wrist.

The Inquisitor froze, eyes flicking over to Vinyl's hand, then into Vinyls visor.

"I would appreciate," Vinyl said slowly, "if you asked first."

The Inquisitor rolled her eyes, breaking her hand free of Vinyl's grip easily. However, she returned to her seat. "I shouldn't take up more of your time," she said. "Let Miss Melody know that she should give us a call." She picked up the soda, tapping the card, then looked into Vinyl's face-plate one last time.

Then, she turned and left, hooves tapping quickly.

Rarity let out a long slow breath. "My word, Vinyl, you scared me half to death with that," she said.

"She was trying to see if my chip had been removed," Vinyl said, tapping her throat. "You access it from the service plate, right?"

Rarity frowned, then nodded. "Perhaps. But you practically confirmed that."

"Or confirmed that I was purchased by someone from an AI rights activist group," Vinyl said breezily. "I've also had just about enough of people talking about me like I'm not a pony." She swished her empty cup, then beckoned to Jiffy. "Maybe make it something a lot harder this time, buddy."

"This is stupid."

"I know."

"It's going to explode when you pull the trigger."

"Just makes it funner."

"Are you insane?"

"I'm a scientist," Sunset replied. "We all are."

Octavia let out a frustrated sigh, turning her gaze back to the...ugh...'bass cannon'. The insane, cobbled together contraption was, currently, a battery attached to a music box with a barrel glued onto it with some sort of wonder-adhesive. It was currently playing Beethooven's Fifth, on a Goddamned lyre, in increasing volume like a homicidal jack-in-the-box.

It was absolutely going to explode.

"What is even the point of this thing?" Octavia asked.

"Sonic weapons are a huge theoretical," Sunset said. "The flash-bang is a simple device. Proper sound manipulation, though, can be focused, directed...devastating. The simple fact is that forcefields don't block sound. If I created a forcefield, this thing could probably just go through it and hit me. Furthermore, the sound of this thing firing would still be deafening. If it hit a forcefield, it might stun an Alicorn anyway."

"Might?"

"Well, we haven't tested it yet," Sunset said. "I could even just throw up a forcefield around us before pulling the trigger. We'll see if that stops it."

"If it requires all of this--" Octavia said, gesturing to the lab equipment, "to fire this thing, how are we going to do that in the field?"

"The idea is that we can replace all of this," Sunset said. "With a pony who is, fundamentally, attuned to sound on a magical level."

"I beg your pardon?"

Sunset pointed at her. "Someone whose special talent is music, for example."

"You're not serious," Octavia said. "I don't even want to look at this thing, Sunset. There's no way this is safe to fire."

"Is it safer than tangoing with an Alicorn?"

Octavia groaned, falling back into her chair.

"Like the one who is currently trying to track you down?"

Octavia groaned again, leaning back. "Fine, I might use it. But couldn't we make it...smaller?"

"The point of using sonic instead of bullets is power," Sunset replied, turning back to the bass cannon. "We can always up the size of the bullet, but if this works, then it'll be devastating. At the very least, the blast could neutralize an Inquisitor or even a Wonderbolt Captain. Either of those, while incredibly dangerous, are still just ponies, and are susceptible to explosives."

Octavia sighed. "Sometimes..."

She trailed off. Sunset didn't say anything, instead fiddling with one of the dials and recording a note on the cannon.

"Sometimes I wish I'd been able to lead a normal life."

"I like to think all of us do," Sunset said. "I was rich as Tartarus, Octavia. I had life as good as it got." She chuckled. "But I eventually saw the cracks, and when I did, I couldn't go back."

Octavia nodded. "Oh, how life was simple back then."

"Was it ever simple?" Sunset asked.

"Not really. But I didn't have to worry about the nature of good and evil, or how I was going to help slay a half-dozen false goddesses and an army of near-indestructible mechanical warriors. No, I just had to worry about paying rent, my failing career, and pressure from my bastard parents."

"So, normal stuff. A—aside from that last one, anyway," Sunset chuckled. "At least, I hope so. I didn't...know my birth parents, so..."

"Really?"

Sunset nodded. "Raised by Celestia. It was an...interesting childhood, and I'll leave it at that."

"Raised by...her. The goddess of the sun."

"That close, her light could burn, and it certainly blinded me," Sunset whispered. "Until I opened my eyes, one day, and heard the weeping that I left in my wake. Then I began to think more about what I was doing."

Octavia closed her eyes. "Yes. I wouldn't trade this for everything. What we're doing is right, and that, in the end, is the most important thing. Every sacrifice along the way...it'll just make the ending sweeter, won't it?"

"Perhaps. Or we'll just be glad that it's finally done."

They shared a laugh. "Though I think I'll always wish I could just...I don't know, go on vacation or something."

Sunset laughed. "Now, that would be properly boring."

They paused, then Octavia opened her eyes and met Sunset's gaze. "And completely uninteresting."

"Not even worth looking into."

"And if I was somepony looking into me..."

"And you went on vacation..."

"And gave a completely normal explanation for what I'd found interesting..."

"Then I'd just go somewhere else!" Sunset finished, clapping her hands.

"Where the hell would I even go on a vacation, anyway?" Octavia exclaimed.

"Um, hello? We have partners, Octavia. The Dazzle Den, remember? Worst comes to worst, they could hide you away," Sunset said.

"And help provide alibis," Octavia muttered.

"And you could say you chose there because you heard they were changing for the better and wanted to see for yourself."

"And you want me to check to make sure?" Octavia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"While you're there anyway," Sunset said with a shrug, in a tone that meant that that was exactly what she wanted. "We'll talk to D-5 while she's here, see if she can work it out."

"That would be excellent," Octavia said. "But what about here? Won't you need me?"

"Eh. We'll be covered on all fronts. Everfree has other ponies they can send out, and others can work on helping Vinyl get settled."

"You, included?"

Sunset nodded slowly.

"I still wonder why," Octavia muttered. "Why take this personal interest in us."

"Some things in life, you'll never get answers to," Sunset said. "So instead, let's ask that fun question: 'What happens when we fire the bass cannon?'"

A shimmering green field appeared around the two of them.

"Are you certain that'll stop it?" Octavia asked.

"If I was, I wouldn't have spent two days working on it," Sunset said. "Down range!"

You Like Jazz?

The gun obviously exploded. The echoing boom! deafened Octavia, sending her flying back. Sunset's forcefield broke, fizzling out, as the Alicorn herself stumbled away, hitting her desk with, Octavia could only guess, a grunt.

Octavia herself flung through the door. The massive, metal blockade crunched and screeched, breaking free from its hinges immediately, and skidded across the ground outside Sunset's lab.

On the plus side, the explosion had made a sound that was vaguely reminiscent of jazz. How Beethooven's fifth had turned to jazz, she didn't quite want to know, but it was better than thinking about her potentially shattered eardrums.

Except...she could hear things again?

She sat up slowly, wincing, and noticing she was enveloped in a green light. Her ears popped a second later, and she gasped, as all the sound in the world returned as a crashing wave.

Rubble fell from the ceiling, 'total area petrification' or no. Sunset had the Olden Pony mask on, horn covered, as she stepped out of the room, wobbling slightly.

"You alright?" she said.

"Somehow?" Octavia said slowly. "I should be deaf. Permanently deaf."

"I picked up a healing spell or two over the years," Sunset said quietly, leaning down next to her. "Well, the good news is that that thing could absolutely stop an Alicorn. Downside is that it might kill everypony around it, so we'll need to turn it down just a skosh."

"More like a lot of skoshes!" Octavia snapped. "That thing almost killed me! When it fired the opposite direction!"

"Thanks. You were a great help working out the theory, and being a living battery to charge up quickly. The theory works, now I just need to refine it. Which will involve it exploding a few more times, but you won't need to be there for that."

Octavia struggled to her feet, wobbling unsteadily. "I'm glad for that," she said finally. She dusted off her undershirt, then said, "Did my jacket survive the blast?"

Her jacket had been deposited on a bench during the busy work of making the bass cannon. Sunset looked back inside the room, then pulled over a mostly intact jacket with her magic.

Octavia let out a growl.

"Oh, hush up, you. The experiment was a resounding success! You only got some cuts and a patch job on your coat. No big deal."

"I almost died, Sunset! Can you try to take this seriously?"

Sunset flinched. "Well...sorry." She hesitated, then gave Octavia's coat to her. "I'm used to doing this on my own. If it explodes in my face, no worries. It can't hurt me. But...I tend to forget that you guys are...ah, how to say this? More mortal than I am."

I suppose that's why we're building things like this in the first place, Octavia thought. "Well, I suppose it turned out alright," she admitted aloud. "Just next time let's put up more safety precautions."

"I might have picked up a few inventing habits from the former Princess of Research," Sunset said. "Wonder if she passed her eccentricity onto the new one."

"From what I've heard, yes," Octavia said.

Sunset chuckled. "I'm going to start getting this cleaned up, then I'm going to talk to D-5. We'll work out your anonymous tip that had you going to talk Fancy after that."

"We're really doing this, aren't we?" Octavia said with a sigh.

"We're not ready to go to war with the Inquisitors," Sunset said. "Too many bodies. We have to dissuade them from looking into you, or they'll just write you down as another strange Discord terrorist. And you're too valuable where you are to have you only allowed on expeditions like Rainbow Dash, or stuck holed up in here like Fluttershy."

"How am I valuable? All I do is talk to ponies."

Sunset picked up the lab's door, pulling it upright with a grunt. "Well, you look more sane than most of us," she said. "And you are officially with Everfree, which Rarity isn't. If they started sending her out and the Inquisitors looked into it, there would be questions. You, however, aren't particularly remarkable."

Octavia raised an eyebrow.

"You're specialty, Miss Melody, is being normal. No pony questions that you exist, wherever you are, because it isn't surprising." Sunset clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Go get some rest. You've got a long train ride ahead of you."

Octavia nodded, slipping her jacket back on as she walked away. She opened the door, reentering the parts of the castle everypony was allowed in. Sunset's lab wasn't the only forbidden place—Fluttershy had a similar one, though, to Octavia's understanding, it was more because they dealt with hazardous materials in there.

Bio-weapons. A very, very scary last resort that Discord had prepared. Sunset had put a strict ban on developing anything contagious, and most of what they had was non-lethal, but it was still a concerning road to go down.

Octavia stepped out of the stairwell, dusting off her sleeves. The main hall sat before her, with its ominous banners and imposing throne. The castle doors, as was normal during the day, were wide open.

Octavia stepped over by one of the banners, examining it closely. Unlike Vinyl, she'd recognized depictions of Nightmare Moon her first day here. It had been...unsettling. All religious doctrine taught that Nightmare Moon was the opposite of Celestia, and though she hadn't ever been a devout Solarist, it was difficult to shake the dogma.

The tricky part had been trying to figure out who was lying. Discord, or the Crown, both calling each other the epitome of evil.

The banners hadn't helped, but whenever she thought back to the Inquisitors, she was filled with rage. All they had done in the past, all they had done to others, and what they had done...to her.

Goldbricker was a good stallion, Octavia thought. They didn't need to kill him, just to keep him from talking about their stupid cybernetics.

It had come to her, finally. Nightmare Moon and Celestia were both ponies. Neither was a god, neither was a devil. Maybe there was one up there, but she hadn't found Him yet.

"What was it like?" she asked the empty room, "to be worshipped?"

The banner didn't answer. A voice behind her, however, spoke. "We weren't worshipped back then. At least, not in the literal sense."

Octavia whipped around, gun out, but the hall was still empty. Even the rare operative moving past with boxes was absent.

"Hello?" she called out, stepping forward. "Who's there?"

Can she talk to us outside of dreams now? Octavia thought. Or is something else going on?

Maybe I just need a rest.

A shadow appeared on the wall behind her. She snapped her elbow back, hitting something that grunted, then slung her elbow down, hitting somepony in the gut. She grabbed them by the front of their shirt, throwing them down onto the ground in front of her, then put her gun to their temple.

"Sky!" she snarled.

Two bat wings fluttered weakly, as the light-blue thestral wheezed. "Yeah, you got me. You can let me up now."

Octavia hissed through her teeth, holstering her gun. She got off of Sky, letting the bat-pony up. Sky dusted herself, blue armor rattling slightly.

"I almost killed you," Octavia said.

"I'm a good prankster, though. I knew you wouldn't." Sky dusted off her shoulders, then gave Octavia a big, freckled grin. Her poofy, curly mane fell over her forehead, not reaching her eyes but suggesting it might.

The bat-ponies, declared demons by Celestia so she could be rid of them, had been another obstacle to her joining Discord.

"No you fucking didn't," Octavia swore. "Don't sneak up on ponies who roam armed. And don't sneak up on Fluttershy, either!"

"Oh, la-ighten up, Chuckles," Sky said, dusting off her skirt one last time. Then she reached up, hands on the back of her head, leaning back in the air, with wings fluttering for balance. "You were talking to an embroidered curtain. You were askin' for it."

"It is not an embroidered curtain! It is a tapestry!"

"What is a tapestry?"

Octavia hesitated. "Well, I'm not sure I know the exact definition--"

"So you're just arguing semantics?" Sky asked with a stupid grin.

Octavia groaned. "Fine. But there is a difference."

"Well, yeah. We're both ponies, but no one would call us the same."

"That's different entirely. You could have two tapestries that show two entirely different things," Octavia argued.

"But to someone who had never seen a tapestry before," Vinyl said, coming into the room, "would they be the same thing at all?"

Octavia frowned, seeing Vinyl come in with Rarity through the main doors.

"Perspective is funny that way," Vinyl said. "To you, it is the most obvious, basic thing in the universe, but to someone else, they have no idea what you're talking about."

Since when does Vinyl think about philosophy? Octavia looked back to the tapestry. "Well, I suppose you make a point. How'd it go with Fancy, anyway?"

"Oh, amazingly. Absolutely stupendously. No hitches whatsoever. On a completely unrelated note, you and Rarity need to talk to the Boss."

"What kind of stink did you get in that the Boss has to get involved?" Sky asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We had a chat with one of the Inquisitors," Rarity said.

"Oh. That'll do it," Sky said. "Nice knowing you, Octavia."

"What happened?" Octavia asked with dread.

"Well, they seem to want to meet you for unknown reasons," Rarity said. "But it looks like they're not investigating you specifically."

"That..." Octavia paused. "That is perfect. Come on, let's go work this out with the Boss."

"Oh, Vinyl, do you need help getting back to your room?" Rarity asked.

"I can take her," Sky said.

"I can probably find my own way back," Vinyl said. "Assuming Rainbow Dash won't kill me."

Octavia snorted.

"Oh, rela-ax," Sky said, waving it off. "She ain't killed anyone yet. Or, uh, anyone in Discord, anyway. Or, was in Discord. Even if some of us made a game of sneaking up behind her when she first joined."

"It is truly a wonder no one's shot you yet," Octavia said.

"Well, the Boss is actually one of the only ponies who drew a gun on me," Sky chuckled. "Her and Octavia."

Octavia shook her head again. "Come on, Rarity. Let's get this done."

Octavia trotted down a side room with a big sign reading "ACCESS RESTRICTED", with Rarity right behind.

"I don't believe we've met yet," the thestral said, holding a hand out.

"Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch." She took the hand, shaking it.

"Sky. Sky Watch." She grinned. "Ever see a shadow over your shoulder, it's either mine, or my target."

"Huh?"

"Oh, you're new new. I'm one of the only snipers we've got around here. Damn good at it, too."

"Nice," Vinyl said. "Sniping would be where it's at, huh?"

"You bet, though you need to keep up with a lot." She hesitated. "You'd be good at that, though."

"I mean, yeah. Six-T processor and all."

"I am not a computer gal, I have no idea what that means, so I'm just gonna say 'noice'," Sky said with a chuckle.

"It's very noice," Vinyl said.

"Gotcha. Well, I've got actual work to do," Sky admitted. "Big Bro's bringing in a big batch of bots from Vanhoover. Twenty, the biggest group of rescues yet. And, as a bonus, he somehow got the locals to move to make using androids in brothels illegal."

"Yeah, I heard about that...Discord was behind that?"

"Yup! The government bends a little sometimes, though, in all honesty, I think that raping your slaves shouldn't have ever been allowed." She snorted. "Stupid fucked up world."

Vinyl punched her shoulder. "Hey. We're making it better. Need any help setting things up for the androids?"

"Can you tell the difference between a nitro core and a fusion couplet?"

"Um...fifty-fifty odds, right?"

"Yeah, me neither. Either way, the Doc might need help moving boxes. Her usual assistants aren't here today." She pointed off in the vague direction of the medical rooms.

"Got it. Nice meeting you!" Vinyl said, waving goodbye as she took off.

"Great meeting you, too!" she called out. She watched Vinyl as she disappeared, then stepped over to the tapestry, tracing a crescent shape on her face with one finger.

"I sensed...your attention," she muttered. "But why her?" She looked after Vinyl, then shook her head. "Ah, what-evs. I'll keep her safe for ya, Miss Moon."

Indigo looked up at the old abandoned building. "This place looks roughed up," she said.

"Well, if it has been hiding around Manehattan for years, then this would make a good place to keep low," Minuette said, stepping up to the door. She tried it, listening to a chain rattle on the other side. "Give me a minute. I want to avoid shooting the lock." Her horn glowed as she knelt in front of the door, closing her eyes in concentration.

Indigo took the moment to examine their surroundings. Late in the day, but cars still zoomed down the road with reckless abandon. One or two ponies walked the sidewalk, but they usually kept their eyes on their surroundings. Deserted alleyways, in the poor quarter, at night were not a place to let your guard down.

Admittedly, she felt rather nervous herself. She wasn't feeling particularly tired, but the possibility of getting jumped was scarier than actually being jumped.

Aside from the worries of some elite, shapeshifting monstrosity that had gotten close enough to steal Minuette's security key.

A light scuffling had her reaching for her gun, but all she saw close to them was a homeless stallion wrapped in a dirty blanket a few feet to her right.

She turned, watching Minuette glare at the lock. "Gemstone lock," she muttered. "Can't magic it, definitely can't shoot it. Guess we gotta try something old-school. Or a new take on old-school." She pulled out a set of special keys attached to a small pad. With a few button presses. the key's pieces rapidly interchanged with each other, then she put the reassembled key into the lock. It clicked, and she grinned. "Well, well, Princess, guess this gizmo worked," she said, smiling at it. "Chalk up another one for Princess of Research Trixie, unorthodox methods aside." She pushed the door open, watching as a padlock fell to the ground on the other side.

"Right behind you," Indigo said, drawing one of her guns. She took one last look at the empty streets to the sides of the building, then followed Minuette inside.

"What even was this place?" she asked quietly.

"I think an old drug lab?" Minuette said. "Back before you needed a license to make salt licks. Well before my time on the force, actually." She clicked a button on her magnum, shining her flashlight on a faded poster on the wall.

DOCTOR FLUTTERWONDER

FEEL GOOD AGAIN

"One hell of a slogan, for a drug dealer," Indigo scoffed.

"She was kind of a big deal back then. Maybe I'll ask Derpy about it when she comes back from Vanhoover."

"Derpy handled that case?"

"Wasn't much to handle," Minuette said, opening the drawers on the first desk she found. "Start searching, stay within line of sight. Don't let 'me' sneak up behind you."

Indigo nodded, pulling open another desk. She immediately found an ancient salt lick sitting in there. It was half-burned, leaving only a small white tube sitting in a pool of white goo. She gagged, covering her nose. "This place stinks," she muttered, slamming the drawer shut.

"Of course it does. I doubt they cleaned up regularly when they still worked here."

Indigo gagged, opening the next drawer. She paced along the wall, pausing behind a light switch.

"Reckon the lights still work?"

"Worth a shot," Minuette said. "It probably knows we're here anyway."

Indigo flipped the switch, watching as the lights came on slowly.

"The place looks even worse in the light," she muttered. "But not as dusty as I'd have thought."

"Someone's been taking care of this place," Minuette replied. "Hence the gemstone lock."

Indigo nodded. She pushed open a door, pointing her gun down the hallway, as the light flickered behind her.

"Move to the next room?" she asked, stepping closer to Minuette.

"Probably," Minuette said, stopping to open the bottom drawer. "Didn't expect anything in the first room anyway."

Indigo nodded, turning back to the hallway.

With a creaking sound, the light started swinging.

Indigo swiveled, firing several rounds into the ceiling, missing narrowly as the something lunged past her. She wouldn't have gotten a good look at it without the reflex chip, and she only barely saw it at that.

Dark, vivid green carapace, complete with small pointed spikes along its shoulders and elbows. It seemed to have a second pair of arms, with shoulder joints located along its upper back. A thin, yet silky mane swept behind it as it rushed down the hallway, hissing.

The wall exploded in front of her, Minuette's shot missing it just slightly. "Come on!" she said, rushing down after it.

"It had a horn," Indigo said. "Think it has magic?"

"No clue, but if that is it, then it's definitely magical." She trained her gun down the hallway, looking ahead. "Did you see where it went?"

"That door." Indigo pulled out a second pistol, moving right behind Minuette.

Minuette kicked open the door, gun ready to fire, then looked to the right and left. Then up. Seeing nothing, she stepped into the room.

"Come on, buddy," she said loudly. "If you're willing to talk, we can put down the guns and have conversation like civilized people. All you have to do is explain why you were impersonating government workers and issue an apology."

A thin, echoing laugh sounded throughout the building.

"I'm serious, actually," Minuette said. "If you're willing to talk, so are we."

"It's so funny to me," the voice echoed from all around them, "that you lot consider yourselves civilized."

"Uh, yeah. We kind of are."

"Every creature thinks themselves civilized," the voice continued. "We were the only ones who knew the truth. Everything is ugly. Everything is barbaric. Every creature does dirty, disgusting things when the lights turn off. We, who could be any of them, were the only ones who saw all of them."

"No one likes to acknowledge dirt," Minuette said, "but you can't clean it without looking at it. So, if you're willing to come out, we're willing to lower our guns, and we can talk about cleaning."

From around the corner, the thing came out. Its body shape was clearly feminine, though Indigo hadn't been certain about the voice. She had her upper arms folded over her chest, one of her lower arms planted on her hip, and her fourth arm hanging loosely at her side...with a gun.

"Manestay?" Indigo asked, nodding to it. "Good brand. My old guns were Manestays." She lowered her guns, following Minuette's lead.

Minuette took it a step further, holstering her gun. "My name is Minuette, though I believe you already know that."

The creature nodded. "My name is Chrysalis," she said, "and I am the very last Changeling."

Author's Note

I will be posting some art drawn for Cyberpony in a blog post today, so head over there if you want to look!

Here is the blog post!

The Last Changeling

Indigo hadn't ever heard of 'Changelings' before, and briefly wondered if she had access to any of the documents about them.

"I haven't exactly seen any of your kind, but how do you know you're the last?" Minuette asked.

"My kind feeds on love. Starving, we were forced to hide amongst ponies and feed off their love for each other. Even so, my people dwindled. Little by little, inch by inch."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Minuette said. "That my people let yours die out is a tragedy. Chrysalis...maybe there are some left."

Chrysalis snorted. "My hive was the last," she said. "Let me tell you a secret, that no one else alive cares if I share. My kind doesn't reproduce normally. A Queen has to use the harvested love to create the eggs that become new Changelings. Without a Queen, no new Changelings can be born. I was my hive's queen."

"And I'm assuming...making more without, uh...another Changeling isn't an option?" Indigo asked hesitantly.

Chrysalis shot her a look with angry, green eyes. "If I had the love for that, it would be, but I could never get it all on my own. And even so, the same thing would happen. Once the ponies found out about our kind, they would wipe us out."

"We don't do that anymore," Minuette said. "Princess Celestia made all species on this planet. To destroy, to utterly deface, her work would be the pinnacle of blasphemy. We can work together to--"

"'Deface her work'? Is my kind an art show to you?" Chrysalis demanded. "Whatever. Truth is, I don't care. I won't work with Cadenza anyway."

"Why not?" Minuette asked.

"Because, my little pony, she is the one who slaughtered every last man, woman, and hatchling amongst my hive," Chrysalis snarled. "She...even killed the little ones. You don't have children; you couldn't know. You couldn't the grief and the rage and...and the pain...as I watched the hive burn. As I heard the screams. You call us barbaric? Fine. But we're all savages. I'm not going to claim a moral high-ground, I'm just here for revenge. I want Cadenza to cradle her child's broken corpse in her arms so that maybe, just maybe, she feels a fraction of the pain I felt that day."

Minuette drew her gun, then pulled back the hammer.

Chrysalis gave her a fanged grin. "Of course, only one of you needs to deliver the message," she said, before leaping onto the ceiling.

Indigo opened fire, but whatever else Changelings were, they were fast. Forty-pecent enhanced reflexes, she couldn't quite keep up with it.

Chrysalis landed behind the two of them, leveling her gun at Minuette. A forcefield appeared in the air, catching a glowing emerald bullet. The bullet ricocheted to the side as Chrysalis ducked the other way, firing again.

Minuette swept her gun, shooting Chrysalis's upper shoulder. The Changeling screamed, in a voice that echoed and twisted and sounded like several different people at once. Her next shot missed Minuette's forcefield entirely, passing besides Indigo.

Indigo unloaded into the desk Chrysalis had hidden behind, the bullets tearing it to pieces. She stepped swiftly around, as Minuette went from the other side.

Chrysalis had vanished.

Indigo spun, trying to keep track of every corner of the room at once.

In a burst of flame, Chrysalis suddenly appeared again, throwing a grenade. Indigo cursed, leaping away, as Minuette summoned a forcefield around herself.

An electric-blue pulse, the familiar glow of a sapphire, emanated from the device. Minuette's eyes widened as her forcefield disappeared, then she suddenly toppled with a cry. At the same time, Indigo's hands suddenly went numb, and her guns dropped from her mechanical fingers.

Chrysalis grinned savagely, pointing the gun at Minuette, but Indigo charged her. The gun swiveled her direction, firing, but Indigo twisted in the air. The bullet clipped her jacket, sliding off and flying behind her, as she collided with Chrysalis. Feeling began to slowly return to her fingers as she slammed the Changeling into an old cabinet, metal crunching and squeaking maddeningly beneath her.

Indigo followed it up with several knee jabs and a slap to the face. She pulled back her right arm, then threw a punch, only for Chrysalis to catch it. Indigo grunted, as the Changeling queen simply pushed her back as she rose. She snarled, then burst into green flames, shifting into a massive cobra.

Indigo yelped, stumbling back and falling over as Chrysalis tackled her, wrapping around her. Indigo let out a not-so-proud-and-heroic shriek, attempting to grab Chrysalis with stiff, barely responsive fingers. The snake's head reared, in Indigo's face, fangs barred.

A bullet shot between their heads, as Minuette stumbled to her feet.

Chrysalis hissed, wrapping more tightly around Indigo.

"You bitch!" Indigo snapped. "Quit using me as a shield!" She pushed herself, slamming Chrysalis into the floor. The Changeling let out a grunt sound that no true snake could make, then slithered away, underneath an overturned table.

Minuette fired, and the Changeling let out another scream. She reappeared to the side, dripping green blood from two gaping holes in her carapace, as she fired at Minuette. Minuette shielded her face with her arm, the bullets not getting through her coat, either.

Indigo pulled out a third gun, shooting at Chrysalis. At least one of her bullets hit, but Chrysalis didn't stop moving, leaping around to the side at a speed no pony could after being shot and electrocuted three separate times.

More green bullets shot at Indigo, nearly missing her head. She shielded her face, feeling the bullets clip against her jacket, only for a bullet to lodge itself into the back of her hand.

Flashes cut through her mind. Flashes of searing pain, the stink of a sewer, and the crazed android she'd pinned firing off one last shot. She screamed, dropping her gun, and falling, clutching her hand to her stomach.

Chrysalis screamed once again, but when she came back into view, she wasn't holding her gun. "Scum!" she cried, pushing a button on a small device. "You're all sc--"

Her head jerked back from Minuette's last bullet, and she stumbled backwards. She hit a desk, wobbled, then fell forwards, falling still.

An ominous series of red lights lit up around the room. Minuette pulled Indigo to her feet, saying, "Come, move it, rookie!"

Indigo snapped to some form of focus, though her hand still throbbed. She stumbled after Indigo as she became aware of a faint beeping that seemed to be getting faster.

Detonator, she thought suddenly. She yelped, pulling Minuette along with her out through the doors. They burst through, landing on their faces just as the building exploded behind them. Bits of flaming concrete hit the ground around them, as well as some half-melted pieces from the desks.

Then the building exploded again.

Minuette flopped onto her back, groaning, as they both watched the building burn, sending little bits of blackened rubble flying every direction. "Did you know," she muttered, "that several of the chemicals added to the more addictive and harmful salt licks are also combustible?"

"Yaaaaay," Indigo groaned, punching her working fist into the air. "Ow, fuck..." She rolled onto her side, clutching her arm to her stomach, then spat. "Ow, ow, ow..."

"Heh. You really did catch another bullet with your hands," Minuette said, sitting up. She grinned. "If this is gonna become a regular thing, we could put an armor plate on their, too."

Indigo cursed a few more times, for good measure. Then her phone started ringing.

She flipped it up, seeing an unfamiliar number. She answered it. "Friendship Inquisitors, what's the...ooh...ffff..." She closed her eyes. "What's up?"

"Is...this a bad time?" a lightly aristocratic voice asked.

"Eh...it was about ten seconds ago. Who is this?"

"Octavia Melody. I heard you wanted to talk to me...?"

"Oh, shit," Indigo muttered, sitting up. "Yeah, um...ahem, sorry about the cursing. I just got shot."

"Oh, dear. Are...you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. The shooter, ahem, is less so right now, but anyway."

"I could call again later--"

"No, no, no! We've been trying to catch up to you for a little bit. We wanted to talk to you about the shootout at the Flight of Fancy. No rush, mind you... just some questions that needed to be asked."

"Ah. Well, I'm about to be boarding a train to Las Pegasus. Perhaps you could meet me there?"

"That would be fine. Where are you staying?"

"I'll have a room at the Dazzle Den," Octavia answered.

Why not go ahead and just throw me into Tartarus? Indigo thought. Aloud, she answered, "Great. We'll meet you there in...a week, probably. The twenty-seventh okay?"

"Yes. Call me when you're in town, I'll let you know which room."

"Great. We'll see you then."

"Have a good one," Octavia said awkwardly, before hanging up.

"Octavia?" Minuette asked.

"Eeyup. Stupid minimum-wage workhorse somehow booked a room at the fucking Dazzle Den."

"This day just keeps getting better," Minuette said. With a grunt, she rose to her feet, adding, "Well, come along. We've got to tell Lancelot that Chrysalis blew up the building. So if she had any connection with Gilda, or if anything we could use was in there..."

Indigo groaned. "Gimmee a hand, please?"

Minuette helped her to her feet. Indigo pointedly avoiding looking at or moving her right hand, trying to forget about the phantom heat she felt.

She reached up, touching her ear. "Dammit. I lost an ear ring."

Fleur de Liss turned the page in her novel. The page flickered into the air, and she watched as it slowly descended down. She had already read all the words on the page by that time, however, and had moved to the next. She flicked to the next page, watching it slowly travel, but her eyes briefly saw a page ahead. A few words, but enough to reveal the fate of the story's plucky heroine.

Fleur screamed, throwing the book across the room. It hit the wall, falling in slow motion to the ground.

The door opened as she curled up into a ball. A few light, metallic steps sounded.

"My lady...is everything alright?"

"No! Everything is horrible!" Fleur choked. "Why...why'd I have to install this stupid chip!"

"My lady..." Her android, a reliable Mister Bitsworth model that she had always relied upon, stepped up, pulling her blankets around her shoulders. "You really should try and get some sleep. I assure you, you'll probably feel better in the morning."

"I haven't been able to sleep in days, Bit."

Bit paused, thinking. "But...you always seem..."

"I've tried everything. Counting sheep, extensive reading, even some of those pharmaceutical gummy-things that were supposed to help. But I can-not sleep. It escapes me. I'm not sure if I even feel tired anymore, or-or I just...don't notice it because I don't even know when the last time I had an even decent night's sleep, or...or...or what else! It's...it's got to be this chip! I never had any of these problems before!"

"Well...I don't know, I'm afraid," Bit said. "Maybe you could call up Mr Pants! He always has words of wisdom or encouragement. It...it'd be best to wait til morning, of course, but...he might have something that will help!"

Fleur paused. "No...he won't. But I think I know somepony who does."

"R-really?"

"Octavia Melody. Her friends...maybe they'll be able to take it out."

"My lady! That does seem quite extreme. And not hardly safe at all!"

"So? What other choices do I have? It's this, or...live out my days as a prisoner in a body that can't keep up with me, without ever being able to sleep again. I...I can't do that, Bit." She pulled her legs close.

Bit sighed, leaning back. "Leaving at night might be ill-advised, but I'm certain I can secure us transportation."

"Thank you, Bit."

"But of course, my lady. You...may wish to get dressed."

Fleur threw off the covers, and her nightgown, then began shoveling through her closet. Dresses, corsets, and gowns were all shoved aside. She quickly found an old shirt and a pair of pants, that she normally wouldn't be caught dead with in public. On a whim, she threw a scarf around her neck, wrapping it up to make a sort of 'winter wonderland' look.

There. She looked presentable. That was the bare minimum before she could leave.

It was also all she was doing before she left.

Fleur slammed the door to her room, marching towards the foyer. She found Bit talking to one of other droids, and paused to wait for him.

"We'll just be on a visit to some friends of the lady," Bit said. "Out in Ponyville. Now, do take care of the house for us, Second."

"But of course, sir!" he replied, saluting.

"Now, my lady, I have gone ahead and called a driver. Transport out of the city at night is not normally done—height aside—but once we go down to the ground level in a travel tube, we simply have a several hour drive ahead of us. You might do well to bring a book."

Fleur snorted. "I doubt I'll use it. Thanks, Bit. And you, let any guests that arrive know that I'm out for the day—no need to tell them where."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Fleur stepped out her front door, then took a deep breath. The stinging, cold mountain air was brutal, with a stiff breeze on top. That was to chase away the smog from the foundries. Even so, she could see the glowing red clouds of smoke float past in the chill night.

"Ready, ma'am?"

"Of course," she said. She took a swift pace, heading for the nearest elevator. Canterlot was made up of tiers—most of the buildings were massive towers, interconnected via tubes. The nobles that lived on Canterlot got their own separate buildings, of course—Celestia forbid they have to pass commoners who were commuting. But the elevators that took you between the tiers were still in the same old places.

Fleur stepped into one, examining the massive array of buttons. Some of those, like the ones that lead to the different Cantons, were locked off if you didn't have a specific keycard on you. Fleur, however, tapped the button to take her and Bitsworth down to the ground. The elevator shook as it started moving.

"My lady," Bit said slowly. "I...did a little internet searching. That chip is, ahem, inside your brain, at least partly. It may be that...the people at Discord...would have to..."

"I know," Fleur said quietly. "But...if there is any chance that they can do it safely, then...then I have to take it. Maybe, just maybe...it'll be fine. But if not...then that heartless bitch ruined my life."

Bit sat silent for a minute. "Well, if you are dead set on this, then I will say nothing more. I just...wanted to make sure you knew."

"Thanks, Bit."

Second paused, hearing the door open. "Lady Fleur...?" he asked, turning.

A mare in a green coat stepped into the foyer, carrying...some sort of instrument case.

"I-I'm terribly sorry, my lady, but Lady Fleur is out at the moment," Second said slowly, examining the strange pony. "That...door was locked, as well. How did you get in?"

The mare paused. She hummed a soft tune, then said, "Well...any idea where she is?"

"I have orders not to tell anypony," Second said firmly, "and I'm certainly not going to tell one to a suspicious character such as yourself." He snapped his fingers, and the three Flashpoints in the foyer all raised their guns, pointing it at the intruder. "I'm going to ask this once, ma'am. Please leave the premises."

The mare clicked open the instrument case, horn beginning to twinkle. "Actually, I'd really like to know where you're mistress is," she said slowly. "I don't need you to tell me...or be in a state such that anypony could argue you were alive, actually. I have a job to do, after all."

Flutterwonder

Octavia let out a long, slow breath as she put the phone down. "Well, that is done," she said. "Twenty-seventh."

"Good," Adagio said, from her nearby position against a nearby wall. "Soon. Soon is better."

"Easy for you to say, darling," Rarity scoffed. "I am in charge of her wardrobe."

Adagio gave a half-hearted shrug.

"Aren't I in charge of my own wardrobe?" Octavia put in. "Really, Rarity, it's a vacation. I want something casual."

"Casual?" Adagio snorted. "You are going to be playing on a stage in front of our patrons, Melody. Casual will not do. Fancy would not do, either. You must be nothing less than divine."

"I already have some designs," Rarity said.

"I would very much like to see them," Adagio said. Rarity pulled out a small set of paper sheets, which Adagio took and quickly flicked between them. "Acceptable. Acceptable, barely. Ooh! That one's actually good. This one would have Adagio Number One personally throw you out, or worse."

The casual insulting of her designs didn't phase Rarity in the slightest—or, perhaps, she took it as a compliment...? "Ah, yes. Simple, but elegant. I was hoping to get the chance for that one."

Octavia reached over, taking the design. "If this is ball gown," she growled, then paused.

It was, for the most part, a normal tuxedo, though as true to all custom-tailored ones, it had her Cutie Mark on the left breast. She noticed a few adjustments to standard design—probably to allow her to carry things beneath the jacket more efficiently.

"This...is acceptable," she admitted. And, coincidentally, exactly the kind of thing she liked to wear when performing.

And then it hit her. She was actually doing this. She was, against all odds, getting that chance to perform.

Of course, it was a working vacation, so she couldn't get her hopes up. But...maybe she could still have a little fun...

"I suggest exagerating the bosom," Adagio said. "Then she could hide a weapon in there."

"Ooh! Good thinking!" Rarity said excitedly.

"No," Octavia said, all hope for joy whithering and dying. "Why would I even need to hide anything in my...you two realize I'm supposed to be laying low here, and not picking any fights?"

"It's not about what you start, darling," Rarity put in.

"Honestly, I didn't even think twice," Adagio replied. "That's just what I do." She reached down her shirt, then pulled out a butterfly knife, flicking it open in the same movement.

"No, no, just...no!" Octavia folded her arms over her chest.

"So...then you might want to leave the Drake here," Adagio said pointedly.

Octavia hesitated.

"Forty-fours aren't legal for civilian carry, remember?" Adagio said. "I don't know whether Discord got that from a black-market dealer, or built it themselves...but it doesn't matter. If you have it, it's confiscated, and you're fined. If you use it, which you have, then it's jail time, or, worse, you get shipped off to Gryphon slavers. You'll have to drop down size—I'd reccomend ten-milimeter, but a thirty-eight might be more like you're used to."

Octavia considered, then pulled the Drake out of its holster.

It was not a small gun. As far as handguns went, it was quite large.

"Dammit," she said, reholstering it. "Until I get back, fine. But I can't leave it in my house, unattended."

"You can leave it at the castle, darling," Rarity said.

Adagio twirled her knife. "We can supply a gun for you," she said. "I have extras on me...though, personally, I use a much smaller gun."

"Discord has spares," Rarity said. "We make them here, but we also buy some so that they can be legally traced."

Octavia sighed, taking her seat back.

"Stress getting to you?" Adagio asked calmly.

"Just a little," Octavia admitted.

"Well, look at it this way," Adagio said, "this is the smallest amount of work you've had in recent times."

"Yes, all I have to do is dodge a half-dozen accusations from a pony who is fully allowed to up and kill me on every level," Octavia replied.

"Octavia," Rarity said, "you haven't really done anything illegal, darling. There's a reason we divide the missions like we do, and this is part of it. Actually attacking you would be fully psychopathic. Besides, they know that the Dazzles are quite vocal about arrests made on their patrons."

"Last I heard, Aria One was writing up a complaint in advance, just in case," Adagio put in, twirling her knife.

"That won't help me much after the fact," Octavia said slowly.

"It'll give you and your cellmates something to laugh over," Adagio said with a laugh of her own. "Oh, just think-k-k-k--"

Rarity and Octavia both looked to her as she cut off, optics narrowing as she looked away. "Sorry, speaker glitch. It's been on the fritz for a bit. Anyway, I'm going to go and get my stuff packed up." Adagio stood up abruptly, stuffing her knife back into her shirt with a light tink! that Octavia didn't want to think about. Adagio strode off briskly, seemingly pretending the other two ponies weren't drilling holes in her back as she did so.

"What was that about?" Octavia asked.

"No clue, darling," Rarity said, pulling out a file and beginning to do her fingernails. "She had some sort of problem that she went to Fluttershy to fix."

"And...I know they have a half-dozen android medics at the Dazzle Den," Octavia said slowly. "You'd have to with twenty-seven high-ranked androids going all over the place."

"Well, I don't half the faintest clue about androids, darling," Rarity said, "but do you want to ask Flutterhsy to talk about patient confidentiality?"

Octavia hesitated. "Good point," she said.

"I'll start working on your wardrobe, you'll want to fix everything you need to do before you leave for a couple weeks," Rarity said. "Lock up your house, find a pony to check on it. And say goodbye to Vinyl."

"What? Why would I do that?" Octavia said.

Rarity stared at her.

"Oh, don't give me that look. We're hardly friends."

"Even if I believed that, darling, you're the closest thing she's got," Rarity said. "She's friendly with the rest of us, but mostly she just asks questions. You're the only one I've seen her open up to at all. And you are legally her owner, too—which might not matter to you, but it could be the last bit of familiarity in her life right now. She'll want to see you before you leave."

"Oh." Octavia looked away. "I'll, ahem, do that then."

Rarity shook her head. "Darling. You're in need of some more friends yourself, you know that?"

Octavia scoffed. "The fate of Equestria doesn't rest on me making friends, Rarity."

"No, but the fate of your mental health does," Rarity put in.

Octavia sighed. "Fine. I'll tell her goodbye. Will that make you happy?"

"For now."

Turns out, Fluttershy's assistance involved neither nitro cores nor fusion couplets. It simply involved some very heavy boxes that needed to be around eighty yards away from the courtyard they'd been left in.

If Vinyl had harbored any doubts that she wasn't a real pony, it was cleared by the burning sensation in her muscles as the two of them pushed the next crate into its spot in a storage room. "How can I even feel my muscles straining?" she gasped, falling onto her back. "I don't have muscles!"

"Actually...you do," Fluttershy panted. She'd ditched the lab coat today—it was cut-off shorts and a tank top. She pushed her unruly hair out of her eyes, then opened the crate, peeking inside.

"You want to run that by me again, Doc?"

"You may not have sinew," Fluttershy said, "but you do have your own equivalent to muscles. Like the rest of your senses, it is artificial, but in this case, the burning sensation is more of a 'hey don't damage the servoes' kind of thing."

"Right. I do have a maximum lift capacity..." She quickly ran a scan. "'No more than three hundred pounds or warranty is void'."

"Thank goodness these crates are only two-hundred-and-fifty each," Fluttershy said with a chuckle. She catalogued the crate's contents, then taped the list to the lid.

"Is upgrading that cheap?" Vinyl asked.

"Labor aside, it would just be the steel," Fluttershy said. "You look light, so I don't think you're particularly reinforced anywhere. That would mean to really upgrade how much you could lift, you'd have to reinforce your back, legs, and arms." She paused. "Hmm, if I could get the steel-bones cheap, it would probably only be around seven hundred bits."

"That's half what I'm worth," Vinyl muttered. "And a quarter what Fancy originally paid," she added with a groan. I can see it now...'used android for sale'. Ugh.

"Well..." Fluttershy nudged the crate a little. "Depending on who you ask, it'd be worth it."

Vinyl laughed, getting up. "Oh, yeah. Next crate?"

"I need a minute," Fluttershy said, sitting down. She leaned against the wall, eyes closed. "I'm...a little out of breath."

"Oh. Well, not having lungs somehow makes it easier."

Fluttershy chuckled. "I can say for certain that it does not," she said, very quietly.

"Hm? You alright?" Vinyl sat down next to her.

"Fine. I just...I used to do a lot smoking, so...even with an augment, my lungs are not as good as they once were."

"Augment? Low-end, I'm guessing?"

"I mean, not high-end," Fluttershy affirmed. "Couldn't be any worse than what the salt-licks did to me, anyway."

"Oh. You actually did that stuff? I've heard it's really bad."

Fluttershy opened her eyes, looking at Vinyl. "Well, I more than did it, Vinyl," she said. "I made it. Sold it, too."

"What?" Vinyl exclaimed. "You said your backstory was boring!"

"No, I said how I joined Discord was boring," Fluttershy said. "Sunset literally just walked into my office one day and asked if I wanted to actually make life better rather than pretend to. I said yes. That's how I came here."

"Yeah, yeah, but hold the friggin' phone for a minute—you were a drug dealer? You?"

"Weeeeell...yes?"

"Was it even half as much money as I'm thinking you made?"

Fluttershy hesitated. Then she chuckled. "Probably twice that, Vinyl. It's at least going into good causes now, and not...salt licks."

"Is that why you got the lung upgrade? So you could smoke more?"

Fluttershy nodded. "I was...kind of a monster back then," she said quietly. "Anything for the next hit, the next high. Anything that made the high go higher went in, consequences be damned." She looked at her hands, sighing.

"What happened? I feel like Sunset didn't come in while you were in a good spot."

"The Prohibition happened. Making salt-licks without a license became illegal. Doc Flutterwonder had to close up shop. All the ones I'd been making were now considered illegal, so...I had to get rid of them. And my patrons?" She looked down. "Well. I'd always considered myself close to them, even though...I probably don't have that right."

"You like who you like. It's not about whether or not you have a right to."

Fluttershy cracked a smile. "Yeah, that's true, I guess." She looked up at the ceiling, then let out a sigh.

"My former customers...were desperate. All of them were poor, at least after I was done with them. And horribly addicted to salt-licks, each and every one of them. And black-market salt-lick dealers were now charging five times as much. My friends...my brother...they tried to rob an office to get the money they needed."

"I take it they failed?"

"An Inquisitor had figured out their plan ahead of time. Three Wonderbolts and Inquisitor, versus a bunch of stoned, unarmed stupid kids. It was a hopeless, and...because this inquisitor was second class, she had the Right of Expediation. She...she executed them. Then and there."

Fluttershy's voice cracked. Vinyl wrapped her arm around the doctor's shoulder, pulling her in close.

"They needed help...it wasn't their fault, it was mine. They didn't need to killed, they barely needed to be arrested...and...and...it was all my fault."

Vinyl hugged her tightly, listening to Fluttershy weep quietly. "I don't know what to say," Vinyl said. "I don't think there is anything to say, either, but I'm still gonna try. I'm sorry that happened to you. Those kind of people need to be helped, and...it sounds like the Inquisitor didn't try to help in they way she should have. It sounds...like a real shit show."

Fluttershy gave a bitter-sounding chuckle. "I mean, yeah. It kind of was."

"I guess that's really we're fighting for," Vinyl said. "To stop them from hurting any more people that don't need to be hurt."

Fluttershy frowned. "Since...when are you part of that 'we'?"

Vinyl hesitated. "Sometime between your story and when the Inquisitor I met was a dick to me," she replied earnestly. "I'll work that out when we're done moving these boxes--"

"Eh, don't worry about that," Rainbow Dash said, stepping into the room. She had one crate held up on her shoulder, supported by one of her wings, and two more carried on a wheeled cart behind her. She dropped the first one down by the one Fluttershy had finished cataloguing, saying, "I finished up my patrols, Shy, so I'm bringing in the rest of the boxes."

"Oh, thanks, Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy wiped the last tears from her eyes. Rainbow Dash, perhaps politely, didn't mention them at all. Vinyl looked at Fluttershy, then looked back to Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, what's your carrying capacity?" she asked.

Rainbow paused, presumably to check. "Twelve hundred pounds, and that's just the warranty void. I could probably do about fifteen hundred before it actually causes damage."

"What am I made of if I can only do three hundred?" Vinyl exclaimed.

"Well, if that's hyper-response paneling, it's, uh...one of those ceramo-plastic thingies." Rainbow shrugged. "Some fancy name in a foreign language with thirty-plus syllables."

"Well, she's not wrong," Fluttershy admitted.

"Okay, another question for ya. I've decided I want to help you guys, so...where do I start training?"

Rainbow Dash dropped the next crate down, then stood up fully, dusting her hands. "Well, mostly training happens at the other bases," she said, "but we do have a combat-instructor. Fluttershy teaches medicine, and the Pies teach electronics. As someone who's had to patch up her own holes mid-flight, I strongly recommend you attend that last one. Combat is taught three times a week; two days devoted to firearms and one devoted to close range. Tomorrow's a firearm day, I'll let Drops know you'll be attending."

"Thanks," Vinyl said, standing up. "Anything, uh, I should bring?"

"Guns and ammo are provided, but I strongly suggest you bring your common sense with ya before you ever touch a gun," Rainbow said. "I've known a couple of recruits who ended up shooting themselves, or a buddy. Furthermore, Drops is usually only passably nice, but she can be a hard-ass and a royal bitch about guns."

"I bet it's easier if it's pre-programmed into you, eh?" Vinyl chuckled. Then she paused. "Wait, where's your gun arm?"

"Back in my room," Rainbow said, nodding in a direction that meant nothing to Vinyl. "It's horribly inconvenient for most work purposes."

"Got it. Will...you be there?"

"Probably not, but you can expect a couple other ponies there. Most ponies here know their way around a gun, but a lot of them like to practice with others." She then reached over, and clapped Vinyl on the shoulder. "We're glad to have you, V."

"Thanks. But didn't you give me a death threat...like, yesterday?"

"I what? Oh, right. Nevermind that, V, I tell that to all the rookies." She waved it off, then put dropped the last crate down. "Gotta finish my work now. Catch you later!"

"Later," Vinyl said as Rainbow Dash left.

Fluttershy stood up, then stretched to the sounds of joints popping. "Thank you for helping," Fluttershy said, "but let's leave Rainbow Dash to the last of the heavy lifting."

"Heh, yeah, that's about right. Anything else I could help you with?"

"Do you know the difference between a nitro core and a fusion couplet?" Fluttershy asked.

Vinyl shrugged. "Fifty-fifty right?"

"Since you probably don't want to explode, I'm going to tell you, 'no, thanks for asking though'," Fluttershy replied.

Vinyl sighed. "Figures."

Princess Trixie Lulamoon

The Canton of Research was as busy as it always seemed to be.

Indigo stepped into the room, hand(and her other arm, too) behind her back, as a couple of ponies in lab coats rushed past.

And in the center, upon a small stage, was the Princess of Research, Trixie Lulamoon.

Trixie didn't wear white. She wore dark blue and purple, with stars along a flowing cloak that rippled in the same ethereal wind her hair seemed to. Her flowing white mane also glittered with stars, and Indigo couldn't tell if it was natural or it was just because she wanted it to.

"No, no, no! Trixie demands these blueprints be remade, remade now, and remade properly!" she snapped, shoving blueprints onto an abashed looking scientist. "Honestly. You! Progress on the next FG-droid designs?"

"Uh—coming well, Your Highness. I think the first two are ready to test, but the other three need some time."

"Ugh, fine. Just get it done. And you! Where are those peanut butter crackers!"

Indigo hesitated, seeing the Princess's finger pointed directly at her. "Um--"

"Wait, you're an Inquisitor," Trixie said, before hopping down from the stage. Her metal hooves thudded loudly, cape rippling. "SNIPS! SNAILS! BRING ME MY SNACKS!" she bellowed. "Official business of some sort?"

"Well, I--"

Indigo paused as an ear-shattering, mind-numbing metal screeching filled the room. She looked around, almost reaching for her guns, before seeing a pair of young colts dragging a massive metal cabinet over. Paint lining came off the floor in ribbons as the tray scraped across the floor. The young colts were sweating profusely, and seemingly barely managed to get the massive cabinet over.

Trixie calmly levitated off a teapot, teacup, and a fairly large box of generic brand peanut butter crackers, far larger than any sane pony would eat in a single sitting.

"You were saying?"

Indigo cleared her throat. "Right. I--"

Snips and Snails chose that moment to drag the massive cabinet away. Indigo slowly moved her eyes to follow them, as the other scientists simply moved around them without slowing down. They didn't seem the least surprised, either.

"Wouldn't...wheels be faster?" Indigo asked slowly.

"Hah! The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't trust wheels!" She popped an entire package of peanut butter crackers into her mouth, and began chewing. While still chewing, she asked, "You were saying?"

Trying to avoid a look of disgust targeted at a Princess, Indigo cleared her throat. "Indigo Zap, ma'am. Reporting for the...you...you got my letter, right?"

Trixie slowed her chewing, thinking. She swallowed. "Oh! Right, yes. Trixie had something she wanted to talk to you about as well. Let us--"

The roof exploded.

Indigo whirled, drawing a gun and aiming, watching as a great something flew through the air, sending small concrete chunks down on the scientists.

Thankfully, they all moved away before it crashed, massive metal wings outstretched.

Trixie's horn—horns, as she had a second, entirely mechanical one—both lit up. The thing lifted into the air, limbs hanging limp.

"A Wonderbolt?" Indigo asked.

If so, the android had seen better days. One of its arms was hanging limp, barley attached still, and it was otherwise riddled with holes. Not...not quite bullet holes, either. Perhaps that had something to do with the diamond knives sticking out of it at various points.

Trixie let out a long sigh. "You have got to be kidding me," she muttered. "With me, Miss Zap. To my office."

She dragged the Wonderbolt through the air behind her, as the scientists in the room slowly began their work again.

Indigo shook her head, following the Princess into a massive round door. The door slid apart, permitting Trixie, the Wonderbolt, and Indigo to enter the room.

Trixie dropped the Wonderbolt unceremoniously onto a workbench. The android groaned, something akin to a synthetic cry of pain.

"A full flight. Seven Wonderbolts," Trixie muttered, an array of tools flying around her. She began the arduous task of putting the Wonderbolt back together—or at least, together enough so that it didn't die. "Seven Wonderbolts versus a bunch of primitive barbarians living in the arctic wastes. And again—AGAIN, mind you, this is the second flight I've sent out—this one is the only one that comes back." She paused. "Well, that certainly makes intrigued about this one. Did you retrieve the item?"

"N-n-n-no, sssssir," the Wonderbolt drawled. "Ma-ma—major da-"

"Shh. I'm busy. I'm going to put you to sleep for now, hmm? Fix you up. Wonder if Spitfire would let me keep you. Eh, she won't miss you."

She detached the Wonderbolt's breastplate—which came off way easier than either of them thought it should, judging by her surprised expression. Then, she reached down, taking the Wonderbolt's power core.

The glowing blow sphere was linked up with several other ones, but two seemed to have been damaged. Trixie tutted, then began clicking a few switches.

After a second, the Wonderbolt fell still. Trixie stood up, dusting off her hands. "That's done," she muttered. "I'll figure that out when we're done. Give me one second to fetch your missive."

She teleported, leaving Indigo looking all around until she found her going through a filing cabinet. "Aha! Let's see...ah, yes. You were wanting to talk about new hands?" She frowned. "What's wrong with the old ones?"

Indigo held up her remaining one, and an arm that disappeared below the wrist, ending on a small metal ring. "I caught another bullet," she said. "And, uh, was hoping for something sturdier."

Trixie paused. Then she chuckled. "Yes, well, we have armored ones, but Trixie isn't certain why this requires her attention."

"I...I need help, Princess," Indigo said quietly.

Trixie's brow furrowed.

"They...the old ones...I never acclimated. All that time, and...I was constantly feeling itching. And...and after I took another bullet, I...damn it all, I still feel it! I swear! I feel that first one, but...the hand...it's gone. The hand that took that first bullet, four months ago, I feel it, and..." She fell back, into a seat, putting a hand to her head. "I don't think I can...handle the better cybernetics," she said.

"Ah. You're incompatible, but you don't want your boss to know," Trixie said. She stepped over to a massive monitor, flicking it on. After logging on, she flicked through a couple programs before finding the one she wanted. "Are your other cybernetics working fine?"

"The wing brace, yes, but...I've had that one for years. Then the reflex chip's been fine, as well as...the 'Vocalizer'."

"Phantom limb pain, following a major injury on replaced limbs," Trixie muttered. "Not the first time that's happened. Give me your hands."

Indigo obliged. Trixie pulled two cloth wraps with wires connecting to the monitor. She quickly wrapped one around each of Indigo's wrists. The monitor's screen changed to an X-ray of her hands.

Trixie sucked in a breath. "If Trixie," she said, "was a peasant of lower station...she might say certain funny words."

"I...I don't get what I'm looking at, Princess," Indigo said.

"See these lines?"

"Yeah?"

"That's your nervous system. And that is the part that seems to have been completely fried."

"Fucking hell," Indigo cursed.

Trixie didn't object to the curse. "Your fears were correct," she said. "This is a mild case, but you've still been cyber-jolted."

"What? Mild? This—this was months worth of pain and suffering! What does a bad case look like?"

"Well, usually, parts of the brain have been fried at that point," Trixie said. "Thankfully, you're not that bad. I'm pretty certain that the Inquisitors like they're brains."

Indigo sighed, leaning back in her chair.

"Well, you should be fine for a while," Trixie said, "but I can certainly get your hands replaced with something that should be...better for you. The problem will be upgrading anything else."

"Some of those upgrades don't have lower end options," Indigo said.

"What? No! No more prosthetics! I'm only replacing your hands because you need those!" Trixie shook her head. "Look. This could have been worse, but at this point it's manageable. You should be fine for doing anything most ponies need to do."

"I'm not most ponies. I'm an Inquisitor. If I can't keep up--"

"You can't."

Indigo winced, then shrank back into her chair.

Trixie took the cloth wraps off her wrists, dropping them by the monitor. "Trixie..." Trixie bit her lip, then sighed. She sat down, opposite Indigo. "Look. Before I was a Princess, I was a traveling showmare. I did magic shows. And...not even very good ones, either, though I command you to never, ever, ever, ever share that I said that."

Indigo nodded.

"But at one point, Trixie was...showed up. Another pony outperformed me, saving a bunch of ponies from a couple really crazy ponies.

"I hated the feeling that I was lesser. I've been where you are, Indigo. You know what I did?"

"Um...if I remember correctly, you...upgraded yourself?"

Trixie nodded, pointing to her second horn. "I built this. Next magic show was bigger, better than anything I did before." In a flash of pink light, a teaset appeared in the air. She poured another cup of tea, then asked, "How many sugars?"

"Uh...make it four, I'm having a bad day."

Trixie added the sugars, then handed the cup to Indigo. Indigo took it in her offhand, using her stump to help balance it.

"I kept experimenting, making newer, better inventions. Turns out, everything I lacked in magical talent I made up for in inventiveness. Eventually, my work was recognized, by Princess Technicia. When she went off to do Princess Celestia's work, I became Princess of Research." Trixie sipped her tea. "So. You can't succeed exactly how you wanted to. Do you give up?"

"Of course not."

"Exactly!" Trixie grinned, then used her magic to open a drawer on the opposite side of the room. From it came a pair of mechanical hands, which floated over.

"If I'm to add an armor plate, I'll need to modify it slightly," she said, turning them over. "They should, however, be easier on your nervous system, and, more importantly, your brain, than normal advanced cybernetics."

"Really?" Indigo asked, leaning over to look at them. "Cool! I--"

"Indigo, these...are prototypes," Trixie said. "They may randomly stop working. And in true prototype fashion, they have some kinks I'm ironing out. Namely, power."

"Power...?"

"Do you know where normal cybernetics get their power from?"

"Nope."

Trixie sighed. "From your innate magical power," she explained. "But it converts that to a more conventional electric charge, which is how some people get...fried." She shrugged. "This one, however, brings its own magic battery to the table. The problem is that I can't get the charge to last. It'll be fine if you replace the gem every day, but it only lasts about thirty-eight hours before they suddenly stop working."

"That's bad."

"Yes, well...I'm trying to figure out how the mages of old got enchantments to stick," Trixie said. "In specific, I know there's a magic amulet in the northern wastes, outside the Crystal Province. Hence..." She let her gaze trail to the Wonderbolt. Then she sighed. "I'll have to talk to Spitfire about that."

"So..." Indigo picked up one of the hands, examining it. "Just replace the battery every morning, right?"

"Yes. I'll get it fixed up eventually so you don't need to do that." Trixie stood up, then said, "At the same time, there is something I've been meaning to get the Inquisitors to look into."

"Really? I mean, I'm only Grade Three, so...not too much I can help with, but okay."

Trixie walked over to the monitor, turning it back on. She swapped over to another window, displaying a blueprint for some kind of android.

"Princess...please tell me you never put a pony heart into an android."

"What? No! That wouldn't even--" She hesitated. "That probably wouldn't even do anything! Why would I do that?"

"It's just what the rumors say about Diamond Duster," Indigo said.

Trixie rolled her eyes. "The Great and Powerful Trixie resents such an implication that she built such a unique specimen, and then lost it." She hesitated. "Though, actually, I am asking you to keep an eye out for a separate unique specimen that I lost, so..."

Indigo stood up, stepping over to the monitor.

"I was experimenting with a new line of bodyguards for little fillies," Trixie explained. "Making them look like fillies is something of a style. Which leads to an interesting problem: the more weapons, the safer your filly is. However, in a body this small, the conventional power core cluster is too large. Meaning you can't put as many guns on. I had six different designs worked out for some new Filly Guard androids. Five of them failed."

"And that last one ran away?" Indigo guessed.

"Stolen," Trixie said. She opened up a picture, complete with a height chart. "Several of the scientists took to calling her 'Lil' Sweetie', so that's what this model was called. The problem being that it's going to be quite difficult to reproduce the power core design without her." She grimaced. "Trixie...had not quite finished running diagnostics, either, so she's not certain what worked, what broke, and what was essential."

"Okay...so, who was the last pony assigned to this case?"

"No pony."

Indigo blinked. "Uh, okay...how long ago was this?"

"Eight months."

"Eight—Princess, why was no one ever sent after this?"

"Well, probably because I told neither Spitfire nor Midnight."

"What?"

"Indigo, please, no shouting," Trixie said, holding up her hands. "Let's stay calm about this, hmm?"

"Princess, how...how well armed was this thing?"

"Well..." Trixie pushed a button. Immediately a dozen different weapon displays came up on the monitor.

"What the..." Indigo stared at the screen in shock. "Five-mill machine gun, rocket launcher, extendable katars...what even IS a katar?"

"Well, it's this sort of blade that--"

"Princess! Why does it need all these?"

"Well, it's a stress test," Trixie explained. "The idea was not, 'how much does it need' but rather 'how much could I put on without overloading the power core and causing the robot to explode'?"

"Okay, sure. Why did you not keep a better eye on it?"

"Well, of course it was guarded," Trixie said. "Unfortunately, they seemed to have decided that someone else's bits were just as good a way to pay off their tax debt."

"I'm sorry?"

"Yes, truly atrocious behavior. Especially when we're so generous with employee benefits, which, some argue, they shouldn't get because they are not employees--"

"Go back a step, Princess. What do you mean, they were tax debtors?"

Trixie paused. "Oh, did you not know?" she asked. "Tax evaders, or otherwise debtors, have the option to pay off their debt by participating in cybernetics testing. Usually, they die, but some of them pay it off by providing manual labor instead."

"What? I—hold up! Princess, why?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Trixie frowned, then her eyes widened. "Oh. No, no, no, Indigo, I didn't change anything about that. It's been this way for almost three hundred years."

Indigo stared. "Wait, so...that guy Minuette and I busted for tax evasion last month..."

"Probably somewhere around here, but I don't handle that," Trixie said, waving it off. "Is something wrong?"

"I...I guess not," Indigo admitted. Whatever. That...that isn't important right now. I can ask Princess Midnight about it later.

"Ah. Well, feel free to come to me with any information you find, or if you need to talk to anypony, I can arrange it."

Indigo looked up at the monitor. The little white unicorn android, with all the extra guns, and the pink-and-purple mane falling low over her forehead. "Yeah, I can do this. If I see 'Lil Sweetie', I'll bring her right back here, Princess."

Moral Failings

Time was subjective.

It was such an odd thing, to think that everypony else lived with so many fewer hours in their day. At this point, Minuette couldn't imagine living like that. With everything happening to fast to do anything about.

But from Minuette's perspective, everything was too slow.

The highest level of reflex chip you could get without frying your brain was the Class 5—doubling your reaction time provided roughly a fifty-percent reduction to the speed of time. Or, from Minuette's perspective, a fifty-percent increase to the amount of time she had.

Of course, Minuette's special talent was time. Before becoming an Inquisitor, she'd worked at the Canton of Research, the Time Wing. Her job was to make sure the hourglasses were running properly. A sacred duty, truly. Princess Celestia used those hourglasses to time the days. Very rarely did she have to actually fix one of them, of course, but by virtue of the fact that the hourglasses were not Celestia, they couldn't be perfect.

By the time she'd become an Inquisitor, she'd managed to figure out how to use her special talent to half the flow of time for herself. She could move and think at twice the speed of other ponies. By the time she'd installed the spinal augment, too, she had almost twice as much time in a day as other ponies.

Whenever she could justify it to others, she sprinted. With no one to watch her, she made the trek to the Canton of Information look very short indeed.

But, still not short enough.

I should do another upgrade, she thought to herself, folding her hands behind her back as the elevator carried her. I've only upgraded my knees and lower, but my thighs are still flesh...if I had my whole legs prosthetic, I could probably do that at least three-point-four seconds faster.

A painful, buzzing sensation interrupted her, and she clutched her chest, falling back against the elevator wall.

She gritted her teeth, fighting the pain, and stood up. Chrysalis's EMP grenade had done a number on her heart augment...which she'd only been partly acclimated to, anyway. While she was returning to normal, it had definitely put a stop to any immediate plans of upgrades.

Minuette stepped off the elevator, ignoring the somewhat familiar tightness in her chest as she strode to the Canton of Information.

She paused at the doorway just long enough to catch her breath, eyes closed.

I'm gonna need a cig after this, she thought to herself. Then, she stepped through the doors.

The Canton of Information was not like the others. It was not inviting, like the Canton of Diplomacy, nor was it fuzzy like the Canton of Inquisition, and it certainly wasn't hyper-active like the Canton of Research. If it looked like anything, it was an office building.

Rows and rows of employees sat at desks, typing things rapidly at computers. A few androids were dotted here and there, but usually just bringing coffee to the various employees.

Minuette waited in line behind the tired looking receptionist, seemingly trying to explain to a noble why the Princess of Information only received guests by appointment.

"No, no, no! You don't understand! I need these documents today or my wife will think I was with someone!" He slammed his hands on the desk.

"I'm sorry, sir," the receptionist said firmly, "but as I have said, if you want to make an appointment, I can do that. If you want to access real records, I can do that. But that is it."

"I don't have time for an appointment! The missus is back at two-thirty. She expects me back at three-thirty."

"Then you should have called at ten, when she accused you of being unfaithful," the receptionist said. "The Princess already has this time booked."

"By me, actually," Minuette interrupted. "And since it is rather important, government work, please either book an appointment, or quit wasting everypony's time."

"I need this now," the noble whined. "She'll think I'm cheating on her!"

"Perhaps she wouldn't think you were cheating on her," Minuette mused, "if you didn't on a regular basis."

"I-I do not!"

"Moneybags, you tried to cheat on her with me," Minuette said. "Regardless, I do have an appointment to keep, and you are making me run late."

"B-but if I don't have those papers, she'll kill me!"

"Then at least it'll be easy to figure out who did it," Minuette said with a smile.

Moneybags paled. "M-M-Miss Inquisitor!"

Minuette clapped a hand on his shoulder, then roughly shoved him out of her way. "Get out of here before I charge you for loitering," she snapped. It was a bluff, of course—not only was he not really loitering, but it would have been the smallest crime an Inquisitor had caught somepony with, and that wasn't how Minuette wanted to go down in history.

Moneybags hesitated, trying to figure out if she was bluffing. Minuette ignored him, stepping up to the desk. "I'm Minuette, here for the 2 o'clock meeting with Princess Flurry Heart."

Moneybags, defeated, left to go sit on a bench and bemoan his fate. The receptionist sighed. "Thank you," she said. "He's run to the limit of what we allow nobles to fabricate, and the Princess personally told me not to let him in."

"You must have been relieved at that."

She snorted. "He wanted to cheat on her for me, too. At this point, I hope she shoots him."

Minuette sighed. "Now, that would get him out of your hair, sure, but it would put him squarely into mine. Though maybe I could find some other two-timing scoundrel to pin the murder on."

The receptionist laughed, under the false assumption that Minuette was joking. "Alright, Miss Inquisitor, she's ready and waiting," she said.

"Thank you," Minuette said, trotting slowly across the room to the elevator. Her eyes, however, flicked about the room as she walked.

Moneybags still, in slow motion, mopped his brow. One of the androids set down coffee for one of the richer workers. She saw Upper Crust taking some files from one of the workers. Fancy Shmancy, who's son owned a popular clubhouse in Manehattan, was browsing through tax documents. It seemed that one of his people had misplaced some files, judging by what was written on the document.

Mostly, it was the same as it always was. Arrogant nobles trying to fake their way out of problems with false documents. Which was most of the work done at the Canton of Information—scrubbing data.

While the Canton of Inquisition interacted with the Canton of Information more than any of the other five, they were at odds with each other sometimes. The Inquisitors often needed specific documents wiped from history. The Archivists had a habit of wiping documents that, sometimes, the Inquisitors rather needed.

I'm on break after this, so maybe a thing of liquor to go with that smoke...

Minuette stepped into the elevator, finally, and pushed the button to ride it up. The Canton of Information was built different than her own workplace. Rather than narrow hallways into easily-defendable, compact rooms, it was built up of three massive floors. The first was where nobles, or commoners, made appointments or accessed specific records pertaining to them.

The second was more exclusive workers, which was usually the ones in charge of wiping data. Much fewer of them, and as the glass elevator passed their floor, she caught sight of a few of them joking with each other, laughing...and, one spilling coffee all over himself as he laughed. Lip reading was child's play at her rate of time, even from a distance, so she caught exactly which obscenities he shouted as her elevator rode up to the third floor.

The door to it was blocked off from view. The Royal Archives. Paper back-ups of the digitally stored information that the Archivists had access to. The Archives were never destroyed, only moved to more secure rooms. Minuette had, on rare occasion, been granted access to the common Archives, and once the famed Starswirl the Bearded wing. She'd been surprised to learn that his philosophical works were also met with another branch of study—magic. Starswirl had been one hell of a wizard, apparently.

The elevator dinged, opening up into a grandiose ballroom. An android playing a classical piano gave her a nod as she stepped into the room.

Minuette quickly strode down the right-hand spiral staircase, to the meeting area of one of Celestia's angels.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart buzzed again, as she stepped forward, then went on one knee.

Princess Flurry Heart had been born an Alicorn, by Celestia's oldest Princess. She had, at birth, been worthy of a position in Celestia's court.

"Minnie! You know you don't have to bow. What's up?"

Apparently near-godhood meant very little to those of that position. Flurry Heart loved her aunt very much, and took great pains to make friends with the Inquisitors. Minuette hoped to keep Indigo from meeting her for as long as possible, if only to postpone her hearing of the Princess's nickname for her.

"Propriety demands it," Minuette replied.

Flurry Heart made an angry huffing sound that made her sound thirteen, rather than nineteen.

"Fine. 'A-rrrriseth thee, mine loyal servante,'" she said in a mockingly fake accent.

Minuette did her best to avoid smiling, instead rising and taking a seat without being prompted.

"So you don't usually come over for visits," Flurry said, shaking her teacup. Judging by the magic aura, she was stirring it with her magic, not a spoon of any sort. "What's up?"

"A bit of an...interesting situation," Minuette said slowly. "You see, if we--" She paused as a full glass of tea blinked into existence in front of her with a blueish aura. As well as a bagel with strawberry spread and a crumpet. "If we hear a death-threat targeting any member of the nobility," she continued, "we inform them immediately."

Flurry nodded. "So...did one noble give a death-threat to another or something?" She sipped her tea.

"No. An assailant of unknown species declared intent of ending your life."

Flurry paused. "Um..."

"I am aware, of course, that you are immortal," Minuette informed her, to which Flurry only squirmed. Her youth must have meant that she didn't particularly think about her infinite lifespan. Death was reserved for those beings of mortal flesh. "In the end, however, I deemed it would be prudent to give you forewarning."

"This is, uh...a first," Flurry Heart said, before drinking all of the tea remaining in her cup in one go. "Oh geez. Who?"

"A creature that identified herself as 'Chrysalis'. She claimed to be the last of a species called the 'Changelings', which...she claimed were wiped out by Princess Cadenza. Purposefully."

"Chrysalis?" Flurry Heart put a hand to her chin. "Hmm..." A bunch of cabinets appeared around her, and files flew out and floated around her in an arc.

Minuette, faster than Flurry Heart, reached out and touched one of the pieces of paper, having read the text on it while it was floating.

"Oh! Thanks." The rest of the documents disappeared, and Flurry Heart straightened it out with her hands. "Let's see. Uh, not a lot here. Mom must have not wanted to record most of it. But it does say that...yeah. We did, apparently, purposefully wipe them out."

Minuette let out a long, slow breath. "That," she said, "is a grievous stain for us."

"I'm sure Mom had her reasons," Flurry said, hesitantly. "Have you talked to her?"

"No. Chrysalis met her end, taking most of the urgency out of this, but I cannot believe that she was the last of her species, as she claimed." Minuette sipped her own tea. She choked, almost gagging, but managed to swallow the tea.

"Oh...to much sugar?"

"Yes, Princess," Minuette wheezed. "Um...napkin..."

Flurry Heart teleported a napkin over, which Minuette gratefully took. "I'm sorry," she apologized, coughing the last of the tea out of her lungs. "I'm not good with sweet things."

"Unless it's mint flavored. That's why they call you 'Colgate' sometimes, right?"

Minuette paused. "Please, Princess, do not speak of that nickname. I'm still trying to track down the pony responsible for it."

"I think it was Auntie Midnight, Minuette."

Oh, she's going to get it now. "Really, Princess? I had no idea." None at all.

"Um...anyway, about the, uh...'Changelings'. I'll give Mom a call, and tell her to go talk to you guys. We don't have a lot of records about them, because...it was before the Cantons were established. It happened after Mom married her first husband, back in 1004, but the reports indicate ongoing battle and hunting for them throughout 1005, too. It doesn't say why, just that it happened."

"That is...troubling. I don't...I don't like the thought that we utterly destroyed something that Princess Celestia gave to us. We're supposed to cherish and keep her world, not...burn it."

"We killed the thestrals. Or...ponies did, anyway, back in the first century."

"Chrysalis was not some ancient demon. She was flesh and blood. She was a creature, and..." Minuette paused. "And I killed her. If she was telling the truth, then I removed the last chance to preserve Princess Celestia's work."

"Oh....I see the problem," Flurry said, holding out the papers around her. "It, uh...says here that the Changelings could reproduce without mates--'"

"Using love they harvested from ponies," Minuette said. "Chrysalis explained that. Makes me scientifically curious, but I'd hate to ask about it."

"I'd hate to have to record the conversation," Flurry chuckled. "So, the good news about that is that Chrysalis might have had children, whom might be the actual last Changelings. The bad news is that, if none of them is a queen, which is rather unlikely, all things considered...then there can't be any more Changelings."

Minuette let out a long sigh. "I tried talking to her. I really did."

"Um...I'm sure you did," Flurry said. "Here, I'll go let Mom know about the...'death threat', and see if she knows any more about the Changelings than is in the records. You go take a break, okay?"

"Alright." Minuette stood, leaving the remainder of her food untouched. "Thank you for your time, Princess."

She left, quickly striding up the staircase, ignoring the android playing the piano.

She'd killed the last hope of a species. Even if there were others, they'd all die out—or be too fuming from the death of their queen to ever hope to talk about it peacefully. She'd blown it. She had destroyed their last chance to make amends between them.

Minuette quickly left the Canton of Information, heading for the Canton of Inquisition as fast as possible.

How had she been so stupid? To have failed that...she could feel Celestia's disappointment radiating down, before the clouds moved to cover the sun, so she wouldn't even have to look at Minuette. A sick feeling rose within her, as she made the trip back at least five seconds faster than she had that morning.

And what the hell kind of example was she setting for Indigo? Her brute-force tactics had worked well in the past, but they were directly responsible for Chrysalis's death. Furthermore, it was the exact same folly of Lyra's that had caused the Goldbricker incident, ending in the death of two locally famous, and indisputably good, ponies.

It was the exact kind of thing groups like Discord liked to point out.

Minuette charged to the elevator, sliding in her card so fast that the reader almost didn't catch it. Minuette wasted no time bolting out of the elevator, charging for her room at once. She flung open her drawers, rifling around until she pulled out her lighter, and a small, white salt lick.

A smoke was exactly what she needed right now.

The familiar comfort returned, as the apathy and the ability to simply not care arose. Like a lover's caress, she calmed, lying down on her bed. She turned the salt lick around in her fingers, feeling her stress and fears dissipate immediately. Contrary to how she lived the rest of her life, she enjoyed that the salt licks made her so much slower. Now she lived on the same time as everypony else...or, sort of, anyway. It was roughly the same. Maybe slower.

Yeah, so Chrysalis had died. It wasn't her fault...wasn't entirely her fault, anyway. These things happened! They...they just did.

The door to her room opened. Huh. She should have noticed somepony coming up. "Minuette? You have a moment to talk?" Indigo stepped half- into the room, before her eyes focused on Minuette.

"Hey...Indigo!" She waved, grinning. "What's...up?"

Indigo stood stock still for a moment. Or several, depending on whom you asked. "Minuette, what...what are you doing?"

"Just having a smoke, Indie," Minuette said, waving the smoking salt lick.

Indigo gagged, coming in. "What the hell do you mean? You smoke?"

"Y-yeah...? You've seen me, before, haven't you?" Minuette frowned. "Yeah, you were...just, uh...a week or two ago, I thought..." She scratched her head.

"No, I didn't," Indigo said. "I didn't know you touched that crap, Minuette."

"What...but you saw me...and I saw you..."

"You saw somepony...something...that looked exactly like me," Indigo growled, "and didn't notice that it must not have acted quite like me, and didn't notice as it swiped your security key."

Minuette paused. "O-oh. Hm. Well...uh...you wanted to talk?"

Indigo scoffed. "Forget it. We'll talk when you're not higher than I've ever flown." She slammed the door behind her as she left.

Minuette stared at the salt lick, then snuffed it with two fingers. She chucked it into the trash bin, then fell back onto her bed.

I'm a failure.

Vinyl sat up, hearing a knock upon her door. "Uh, come in?" she called out.

The door opened up, and Octavia stepped into the room. "You have a moment to talk?" she asked.

"Hmm, let me check my schedule," Vinyl said, pulling out an imaginary sheet of paper. "Huh, would you look at that. Still empty. Guess I do."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you," Octavia said, shaking her head. She closed the door behind her, then pulled the room's one and only rickety wooden chair over, sitting in front of Vinyl.

Vinyl sat up, crossing her legs, and meeting Octavia's gaze.

"So," Octavia said. "We believe we're bringing the Inquisitor's interest in me to an end."

"Oh, thank God," Vinyl said. "When that one showed up at the Flight of Fancy, I didn't know what was gonna happen." She threw one hand into the air, adding, "And then she also got handsy with me, so. Yeah. I don't like those guys."

Octavia chuckled. "Me, neither, though you might have done well not to slap her hand away."

"What, don't I have a 'right to remain silent'?"

"Not if an Inquisitor asks," Octavia replied smoothly.

"Wait, seriously?" Vinyl stared at Octavia.

Octavia nodded.

"Oh, fuck that," Vinyl said. "Those guys are jerks. What if I don't answer?"

"Well, if they think you lied, or you don't answer, they can torture you," Octavia said. "Admittedly, only senior Inquisitors can do that, but they use it to extract fake confessions if they feel the need for it."

"Yikes." Vinyl shook her head. "So, what are you doing?"

"I'm going on vacation," Octavia said. "We're setting up the last of the alibis now. I'll have a bunch of perfect excuses for everything. We have everything set up to make me innocent."

"Great! When are we leaving?"

Octavia hesitated. Vinyl would have frowned if she could. "Tavi?"

"Well, I--" She stopped. "Tavi?"

"Yeah. A nickname. Short for 'Octavia'."

"But...wouldn't it be pronounced 'Tay-vee' rather than 'Tah-vi'?" Octavia stared at her.

"Tavi sounds better," Vinyl said.

Octavia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Vinyl, you are staying here," she said.

"I'm what? But...you're my owner!"

"No one owns you."

"You, quite literally, do," Vinyl said shortly. "You own me. In the eyes of the law, and the Inquisitors, I am your android. Wouldn't they ask questions if I'm not there?"

"But if they ask the wrong questions, and you are there, then they can simply forcibly access your memory banks, and see all the information about Discord," Octavia put in. "That is, assuming you could lie past them, which I doubt."

Vinyl looked away. "What am I supposed to do?" she asked. "I don't want to be stuck in here for weeks!"

"You won't be!" Octavia said, holding up her hands. "Don't worry. Talk to Sunset, she'll..."

"What? Let an ownerless android walk around in town? In her perfect little hidden village that the Inquisitors don't think to look in? She's not stupid."

"No pony would think twice about it," Octavia replied. She put a hand on Vinyl's shoulder. "Come on. It'll be fine."

"It will not be fine," Vinyl argued stubbornly. "You don't know what this is like, Tavi. Have you ever been ripped away from all your friends and any semblance of familiarity you knew, then been stuffed into an old haunted castle in the middle of the Goddamn Everfree Forest with no idea when you're going to get to leave?"

"Yes, actually."

Vinyl paused, running a hand through her mane. "Oh. Now I feel rather childish."

Octavia leaned back eyes closed. "Fuck it," she muttered to herself. "Vinyl...would you like to know how I joined Discord?"

"I've...asked a few ponies why they joined, so..." Vinyl moved in her seat, to better face Octavia. "Sure. Let's hear it."

"Well...it started shortly after my musical career took its final turn for the worse. It started with a kind-hearted stallion named Goldbricker."

Goldbricker

Manehattan, 1997

Octavia Melody fixed her goggles over her eyes, then leaned in close to the power box. "I think I have this mostly fixed now, Sir," she said. "Shouldn't take more than a..."

With the connection of the two wires, sparks blasted out from the box, causing Octavia to yelp and duck back. She was rewarded, however, when the porch lights suddenly came back on.

"Ha!" She dusted her hands, turning back to her current employer. "Told you I could do it, Sir."

Goldbricker laughed. "That you did, Melody. And this way I don't have to get up and hire an electrician!" He barked another laugh. "Though, maybe you should get the soot cleaned off before the Missus sees you."

Octavia grimaced, pulling her goggles off and letting them hang around her neck. "Perhaps. Although this isn't exactly my Sunday finest to begin with." She looked down at herself. Baggy work pants and a loose shirt and vest that she'd been wearing for three days straight, to save the extra bit or two that laundry would cost her. She dusted off her vest, then sighed. "You may have a good point, Sir."

Goldbricker was a somewhat portly, jovial Earth pony. He wore a gold-trimmed suit, with a concentrated effort to have his tie loose only when his wife wasn't in the room—whenever she could see him, it was conspicuously tidy. While Octavia had been sticking her arms up to the elbows in a mess of wires, he had been practicing.

Goldbricker let the four balls he'd been juggling fall neatly into his arms, then slipped them away into his suit's pockets. "Not bad for a man who's avoided practicing anything his entire life," Goldbricker said. He stretched out his hands wide, a grin on his face. "I daresay this chip was the best purchase I've ever made." He pointed to the implant in his forehead.

"You spent twelve hundred bits so you could juggle?" Octavia asked slowly. "Pardon me, Sir, but that seems like something of a waste. Especially when most ponies just learn to do so."

"Yes, but learning requires effort, dear Octavia," Goldbricker said. He tossed one of the balls in the air again, easily snatching it as it fell again. "You see, with this, I can juggle easily enough, and then go back to sitting down. Maybe watch some television. Perhaps juggle while watching television."

"Sir," Octavia said slowly, "while you make a very good point, I do not think it is twelve hundred bits worth of a point."

"Now, now, most ponies would have bought only a class two," Goldbricker said. "That's only eight hundred bits. To think, Octavia, that we live in an age so that anypony can instantly learn how to juggle for only eight hundred bits!"

"If I ever fancy the idea, I'll start saving up," Octavia replied smoothly. "Until then, I shall have to content myself my with gardening."

"Ah, of course. Now, no chip's going to help me with that! You're flowers could give any professional a run for his bits!" Goldbricker laughed, tossing the ball into the air again. "I'm quite glad that Fancy recommended you to us, truly I am."

"Yes, well," Octavia said briskly, "as I am, believe me. But I must go and wash off now, Sir."

"Ah, yes, sorry for...bringing that up. Go, go! Get you cleaned up."

Octavia took off at a quick trot, heading for the groundskeeper's lodge. Groundskeeping. A far cry from what she'd wanted to do with her life. She hadn't been an avid gardener before, but she'd learned enough. Enough so that when she found herself losing her apartment, she'd managed to get a job at a florist. It had been miserable work, then, no matter well how she'd grown the shopkeeper's petunias. Up until, one day, her old friend Fancy Pants had wandered into the shop.

She was quite grateful to him for helping set her up with Goldbricker, to tend his garden and mow the lawn and do a number of other small tasks. However, she couldn't ever forget that she was here, instead of on stage.

Playing in the dirt, instead of playing the cello.

It was a quick shower—Goldbricker and his wife paid for the water, of course, but she didn't like to waste their money. Quick shower, and then into an identical pair of clothes, and then she was back to work.

Octavia trotted back to the main gate, letting her goggles hang around her neck, and she flipped the switch.

The lights came on, though she couldn't see it well, and she nodded to herself. Another broken thing fixed. With the amount Goldbricker was paying her, she was well determined to make sure he got his money's worth.

Octavia looked back over the lawn. She'd just mowed it yesterday, and in the crisp fall air, it wasn't growing back particularly fast.

She nodded to herself. Best to leave it like it was, especially with how the lawnmower had been acting yesterday. Sputtering occasionally and all. She was half-worried it was breaking down.

She looked up at the sky, watching as the sun began to set. Then, Octavia took off for the garden.

Some nobles kept several massive gardens on their estates. Goldbricker was not a noble, but he was absolutely rich. Some ponies were talking about how he might be the first pony to earn a noble title in centuries. Octavia didn't buy that. While he was certainly a brilliant, kind pony, she just couldn't see him being given a noble title. Especially with how he was against a lot of the current policies on androids. Quietly so, but enough to make her think that Princess Celestia might not want to bestow the title on him.

Octavia stepped out onto the terrace, amongst all the gleaming flowers, and smiled to herself. Well, let ponies talk about dirt and grunge; you couldn't grow sunflowers without getting up to your elbows in muck sometimes.

Rows of roses, sunflowers, and violets spread out before her, and she cracked her knuckles.

She paused when she noticed the missing pot.

Octavia trotted over, blinking in surprise and shock, then turned to look to the side. The pot lay, shattered on the ground, with her prize-winning rosebush crushed. Just behind it was a guilty-faced Goldleaf.

Goldbricker's daughter sat there, rubbing her elbow, not quite looking at Octavia's face, and her large, bouncy ball at her feet.

"Miss Goldleaf," Octavia said, respectfully but sternly, "would you mind telling me what happened here?"

"Well, I...I..."

Octavia put her hands on her hips.

"I broke the pot containing your biggest, prettiest rose, because I was...playing with my ball," Goldleaf said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"You better be, young mare," Octavia said, kneeling besides the pot. "You are too old for this. And you have absolutely been told not to play in the gardens before."

"I informed her of this three times," the android behind her said. One of the 'Silver Guard' model, they had taken to calling her Silver Star, or often just Silver.

"What...what should we do? Can we fix the flower?"

"No. It's too crushed at this point." Octavia began sweeping up the broken pieces of the pot, then sighed. "Miss Goldleaf, you must go and inform your mother of what you did."

Goldleaf hesitated.

"Miss Goldleaf. This flower took me six months to grow, and it was the only one I've been able to grow like this. One way or another, your mother will hear about this. You must go at once and admit to what you did."

"Yes, Miss Octavia." Goldleaf hung her head, then sighed. "I'm sorry I killed your flower."

"It's fine. Your mother will be more upset—after all, it was her bits that made it so good, not mine."

Goldleaf winced. "I'll go tell her," she said morosely. True to her word, she walked off, facing the floor as she did so.

"Make sure she actually does so," Octavia told Silver quietly.

"Yes, Ma'am," Silver said. "Maybe you should give a call to Mr Fancy. One of his gardeners might know how to keep it alive."

"I doubt it," Octavia said with a sigh. "Now run along. Goldleaf's getting ahead of you."

Silver turned and marched off. Octavia swept up the remaining dirt and broken pottery, then sighed, dumping it and the destroyed rosebush into a trash bin.

She walked over to the house, taking it off its mount, and was just about to start wattering the rest of the plants when her phone rang. She hesitated, then checked the caller.

Mom

Octavia swiped the ignore button, pocketed her phone, then proceeded to water the remaining plants.

She'd always found it funny how exacting plants could be. Water every day, sometimes several times a day, but not too much! Very specific soil was required, for maximum growth. And a fierce determination to slay any bugs that so happened to assault your precious plant babies.

Pesticide wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but there was a case full of it in the corner of the garden, hidden discreetly under a table so Goldbricker's family wouldn't have to see it when viewing the garden. Sometimes, you had to do things you didn't like, she'd learned. And if that meant spraying industrial grade poisons all over the place, then that is what she would do.

Octavia set the hose down, attaching it back to its handle, then let out a contented sigh. A full day's work, done. Now she could enjoy...most of the rest of her evening.

She paused, listening to the sound of hoofsteps. Octavia half-turned, to watch a young mare in a red dress with gold trimmings come into the room.

"Miss Gold Star," Octavia said with a polite nod. "I was just finishing with the garden. I assume your daughter informed you of her mistake?"

"Yup," Gold Star said. "Gave her a good sound spanking for it." While she lacked the aristocratic accent, her voice never sounded unrefined, even when saying things like that.

"By the way, your mother called me again," Star continued, stepping up to Octavia's side.

"I must apologize on her behalf, because I know she won't," Octavia said. "If she keeps bothering you, please just ignore her."

Gold Star huffed, tipping her stetson back slightly. "Octavia, she is already convinced that I am somehow preventing you from calling her. Couldn't you at least give her a call?"

"No, Miss Star, I am afraid I cannot," Octavia said simply. "I've spent most of my life trying to do what I want rather than what she says. I'm not going back to Canterlot."

"Octavia, you are nobility, and I think you should enjoy the comfort that it provides. Or at least the financial stability!"

"If Mother provides it, I would rather starve," Octavia said shortly. "Regardless, even that extreme doesn't look to be on the table anytime soon."

"Yes, that is true," Gold Star said, hand to her head. "On the topic of not-starving, then, how about you join us for dinner?"

"I would hate to impose--"

"I know very well you forgot to purchase more groceries for yourself, Octavia," Gold Star interrupted. "You're proclamation aside, I am not leaving you to ramen noodles."

Octavia blushed, running a hand through her mane. "I do apologize, I was...distracted," she said slowly.

"By? Could it be...a stallion?"

Octavia pushed her gardening apron aside, pulling her handgun out of its holster.

Gold Star simply sighed. "Well, at least your splurge purchase is useful. My husband and my daughter both seem to love their bouncy rubber balls." She paused, then looked to the trash bin, where the remains of the rose sat.

"Both of them, cost me twelve hundred bits each with their fascination with bouncy balls," she muttered angrily.

Octavia reholstered her gun, chuckling. "Well, I shall clean up before dinner then," she said. "With your leave?"

Gold Star rolled her eyes. "You know we're more casual around here than that, Octavia."

"It would still be improper for me to address you in that manner," Octavia said firmly.

Gold Star rolled her eyes as she turned around. "You are your mother's daughter," she said simply.

She trotted off then, leaving Octavia alone with that statement.

Octavia had on her nice shirt—yes, singular—when she went into the dining room. Goldbricker was juggling again, Gold Star seated besides him, and Goldleaf sat between them.

Octavia couldn't help but smile, but tried to pretend it was a polite, dinner smile.

She took her usual place, opposite Goldleaf and just to Goldbricker's left.

"Ah, Melody!" Goldbricker said. "Catch!" He threw one of the balls at her face. It hit her square in the forehead, bounced off, and soared to Gold Star, who caught it mid-air without looking.

Octavia rubbed her forehead. "Nice one, sir," she said without emotion.

"Octavia, don't encourage him," Gold Star ordered.

"It would not be proper to say what I wish to," Octavia said.

"One day, you have got to learn to say some things that are improper," Gold Star said. "There is a time and a place for it."

"My employer's face will never be the place for it," Octavia replied smoothly.

"Dear Octavia, after you fixed the porch light, it would take something quite extreme for me to fire you," Goldbricker said.

"She fixed the porch light?" Gold Star asked with surprise. "Octavia, since when do you know anything about wires?"

"I've dabbled in quite a few professions, my lady," she said. "I've picked up a thing or two, and thought I might be able to put it to use."

"Miss Octavia knows lots of things!" Goldleaf chimed in. "She fixed the lock on the cupboard, too!"

"The lock on the cupboard was broken?" Goldbricker asked, looking to his wife. "When?"

"Only for eight months straight, my love," Gold Star said, annoyed.

"This is the first I've heard of it," Goldbricker muttered.

Gold Star let out a sigh that belied the number of times she'd asked her husband to get someone to fix it.

"I suppose what all I should say is that we are incredibly glad that Fancy sent you our way," Gold Star said, choosing to ignore her husband's ignorance.

"I...am quite glad I found my way here, too," Octavia said quietly. "You three...four, if you count Silver..."

"I hope you do," Silver said from her position behind Goldleaf.

"...have all been very kind to me," Octavia said simply. "Even though I'm just your groundskeeper. I don't imagine most families invite their groundskeeper's into dinner with them."

"Most families," Goldbricker retorted, "aren't mine."

"Well, more's the pity then," Octavia said, raising her glass Goldbricker's way. She sipped it in toast.

Funny. Sometimes, I bemoan my career. But I'd never have met Goldbricker then. Why do I still grieve for it? I have enough.

She let out a contented sigh, smiling to herself as she set down her cup.

I do hope these days never end.

Second Opinion

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.

Looking for a Friend

It was just about dark by the time Fleur got to Ponyville. She thanked and paid her driver, then got out with Bitsworth to look around the small, country town.

And she realized she had no idea which house was Octavia's.

"What do we do now?" she asked Bit.

"Well, I suppose we ask for directions," he replied. "Let's see..." He pointed to an Earth pony struggling with far too many groceries.

"Let's offer to help," Fleur said, "then we ask for directions."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Fleur lead the way, reaching just as one bag fell off the pile. She dove, catching it, but with her balance upset. She shot one leg back, tucking the fallen sack close to her waist, balancing her center of gravity. She held it like that for a second, where she briefly thought to the chip in her brain. Then, she straightened, standing up.

"Here, let us help," she offered.

"Oh! Thank you so much, but I...uh...I got..." She stammered to a halt. "Actually, I don't got this. Thank you. If you can take enough so I can get the door open--"

Bit stepped over, professionally taking far more bags than should have been reasonable for one pony. Fleur took a second bag, grunting at the surprising weight, then peeked inside. They were full of canned goods.

The Earth pony quickly opened opened the back end of her car, dropping the first few bags in, then began taking them from Bit. "Thank you very much. I'd have been in quite the pickle there, heh heh." She paused, looking at Fleur. "I'm not sure I recognize you. Are you new to town?"

"You can tell just because you don't recognize me?" Fleur asked, astonished.

"Well, most couldn't," she replied. "I know most of the folks around here by name, though...so...oh! I almost forgot to tell you mine. Gloriosa. Gloriosa Daisy."

"Fleur. Fleur de Liss."

Gloriosa blinked in surprise. "My word! I can't believe I didn't recognize you. What brings you around here at this time?"

"Well, I was hoping to get into contact with a friend, but...I'm not sure I know where she lives." Fleur handed off one of her sacks to Gloriosa, gladdened to have the burden off her back. "Could you give me some directions?"

"Why, certainly! You know her name?"

"Octavia Melody."

"Oh? She's making friends! That's so great for her. She's lived on her own so long, that I was starting to get worried about her." Gloriosa paused, thinking. "She lives just down that way. If you follow the road, you'll find a turn onto loose gravel. Go left, and you'll end up at Sweet Apple Acres. Definitely take a look while you're here, the Apple Family Cider Press is a sight to behold, and the freshly made cider, alcoholic or not, is to die for. Take a right, and you'll end up at Octavia's house." She paused. "Though, she lives right at the edge of the Everfree, so you may want to wait until morning. The Timberwolves tend to creep about at this time."

Fleur wasn't sure how scary any wolf could be, but decided to take the warning to heart. "So is there a place I can stay until morning?" she asked. "A hotel or something?"

"Hmm..." Gloriosa thought that through. "Well, we do have the one. Go over by Night-night's, just over there. It's got the big sign, you can't miss it." She paused. "Here, I'll drive you."

"Um, thank you?" Fleur asked, depositing the second sack into the back end. "I appreciate it."

"Oh, don't mention it! You helped me out, so I owe ya one. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride! I got this!"

By the time dawn rolled around, Fleur had fallen asleep. Briefly, but she had managed it. Her head felt clear for the first time in days.

Clear enough to consider how crazy she was being.

But also enough to acknowledge that a couple hours sleep every week was not enough to live by.

As she stepped off the gravel and onto something she wasn't sure counted as a road, she sighed to herself. Octavia's nice, and if they didn't send hitmen yet, they probably aren't going to.

Fleur stepped over to the homely little cottage. It was tiny, but quaint. She could see herself living in something like it, if she didn't have a nice, big mansion back in Canterlot.

Or if the thing wasn't right on the border of the Everfree Forest. Literally. There was grassy meadow, and then, all of a sudden, a dense wall of trees and blackberry brambles. Fleur tried not to look at the forest, but her fearful glances revealed that hardly any sunlight made it through the trees.

Fleur took a deep breath, then stepped up and knocked upon Octavia's door, and leaned back to wait.

Normal ponies would probably respond quickly. A recluse who lived on the border of the Everfree Forest might take longer. Or worse, wait for a second knock.

Thankfully, she heard hoofsteps coming for the door quickly. The door cracked open, and a familiar mechanical face appeared. "Hello? Oh, Fleur? What are you doing here?"

"I was...hoping to speak with Octavia," Fleur said.

Vinyl stared at her. Or, Fleur thought she did, at least. "You just missed her," Vinyl replied.

"What?"

"It's...almost nine, so she's probably boarding the train now," Vinyl said. "She's taking a two-week vacation in Las Pegasus. I could probably run a message to her."

"I...I need to speak with her coworkers," Fleur said.

Vinyl stopped. Her optics fell flat, the bars stopping all movement. "I'm terribly sorry, but...I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to go to Everfree, you can find where that is without Octavia just fine."

"You're a terrible liar," Fleur said. Common knowledge said that androids couldn't lie at all, but she had her doubts at this point.

"Let's just say I haven't had much chance to practice," Vinyl muttered. "Sorry, Fleur, but...I can't help you."

She moved to close the door, but Fleur shoved her hoof in the way. It hurt a lot more than she'd expected, but she kept to the task at hand.

She heard the telltale click of a gun of some sort, but Vinyl shot a look to somepony in the house, and shook her head frantically. Turning back to Fleur, she said, "Lady, you gotta go."

Fleur removed her hoof, and the door immediately shut.

"What now, my lady?" Bit asked hesitantly.

"I don't know."

Vinyl looked after the two figures as they walked down the road a short distance. "So, that was interesting."

Sky Watch slipped her pistol back into her coat. With the dark blue trenchcoat, her wings were invisible, and sunglasses covered her eyes.

In that getup, she certainly looked suspicious, but she didn't look like a mythological demon.

"That's the one who figured out Octavia's with Discord?" she asked.

"Eeyup. You gonna call back to base?"

"No, I know who to call for this."

Vinyl looked back outside. "We're not going to kill her, are we?"

"Not unless she did something really stupid, like tell a bunch of drinking buddies-slash-lovers about Discord," Sky said simply. "We just need to bring her by the castle and have a talk with her." She pulled out her phone, dialing.

"Why can't we just bring her there?" Vinyl asked.

Sky took off her sunglasses, raising an eyebrow. "If we scare her, and she gets away, we're in deep shit. And if the Inquisitor who entered town this morning is anything to go by, Fleur's being watched. She told someone, and that someone told other someones. If Fleur wants to claim innocence, she needs to be legitimately kidnapped."

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. Do I get a mask or something?"

"No, we're not handling this. This is a job for Diamond."

Fleur spared one last look at the tiny little cottage, then sighed, heading back the way she came.

"My lady," Bit said hesitantly, "perhaps if we stay in town, they may reach out to us."

"Maybe. What do I do until then?"

"Perhaps...there was something to Miss Gloriosa's suggestions. Maybe we could take a look at Sweet Apple Acres?"

"I...think you might be on to something, Bit," Fleur acknowledged. "Hold on a minute, though. I'm going to call the house. Let Second know we're going to be gone a bit longer."

She hesitated, then pulled out her phone while walking. Wasn't exactly a bench or even a large, flat rock in sight...all she could see was grass that was probably full of bugs, and thorn brambles.

The phone went to voicemail, which presumably meant that Second was busy talking to somepony. Fleur dialed again, waiting impatiently as the seconds dragged on.

The phone went to voicemail again.

Fleur lowered the phone, trying to think. "Bit? Is there any reason the droids at the house wouldn't answer the phone twice in a row?"

"Nothing within reason comes to mind," Bit said slowly.

Fleur shook her head, slowly, then dialed again. It was an excruciating wait, for the same result. Instead of dialing the house again, Fleur dialed a friend.

Upper Crust picked up on the second ring, answering with a slow, lazy, "Yeeees?" that made her blood boil.

"Hello, Mister Crust. I do hope I'm not bothering you in the middle of something."

"Hmm, nothing that can't wait a moment, my dear," Crust said. "You're not one for idle chatter, at least...not on the phone, anyway. Whatever is the matter, girl?"

"I went on something of a trip, but when I called in to check, the droids I left to take care of my house didn't respond," Fleur said. "I know this is a bit sudden, but could you send one of your boys to check in on them?"

"Worrying. I'll send someone, don't you worry about it," Upper said. "Where'd you go, anyhow? Two trips in such short time is highly unusual for you."

Fleur considered her response carefully. "After talking to an acquaintance of Fancy's, I decided to take a visit to check out Sweet Apple Acres," she lied. "Maybe I'll do a news piece about it. Maybe I'm just bored."

"Hmm. Do bring me a thing of their Zap Apple Cider, would you? I'll send the bits along when you get back."

Fleur chuckled. "Alright, I'll indulge your little 'habbit' this time, Crust. Just make sure to send one of your boys to check out my house."

"Alright, alright. See you soon."

"Goodbye."

Upper Crust hung up almost as soon as the word was out of her mouth. She stuck out her tongue at the phone, then put it in her pocket. Upper Crust held stocks in almost every security android firm, including a close ear to Princess Trixie. His people would be fine working on it, and if something was amiss, they'd make sure Fleur heard about it quickly.

Fleur stopped abruptly, however, when a thought occurred to me. She'd assumed that Discord had simply decided not to send anyone after her, but...what if they just hadn't done it yet? What if she'd narrowly avoided the assault, but by moving in way closer to the danger?

"My lady, somepony appears to be looking at us."

Fleur snapped around, whirling to see a pony at the top of a small hill, where the gravel road started. The pony was shading her eyes with one hand, holding a massive instrument case in the other.

"Can I help you?" Fleur called out.

The pony clicked open the case, then bent down. From it she pulled...it wasn't an instrument, that was for certain. Fleur wasn't quite sure she recognized whatever it was.

At least, up until the pony rested one end on her shoulder, leveling the other at the pair of them.

Fleur shrieked, jumping to the side as a faint pop! sounded. It was not the sound she'd expected from the gun. Maybe it was some sort of prank?

Bit fell to the ground with a thud. Fleur froze, turning to him, seeing the small hole in his head. No...

The pony collided with her, sending Fleur sprawling. Fleur broke into a panic, crawling away, but something seized her by the fetlocks, dragging her back. She kicked, but didn't hit anything. She screamed, cried for help, but...

But nopony came.

A swift kick to her jaw cut off any more screaming. A hoof was then planted on her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs and leaving her gasping.

An Inquisitor. Up close, she recognized Lyra. They'd had tea once or twice at the Canterlot balls.

"Lyra...what are you doing?" she asked quietly.

"Sorry, Fleur. Dunno what you're trying to do out here, but...I do have orders." She hesitated, then looked up, peering into the nearby Everfree. "Hmm. And choices. It would be very easy to frame the Gryphons if I had your body, but...autopsy might reveal problems. The more ponies who know, the harder it'll be. But, if I never found the body..." She hesitated, looking from Fleur to the Everfree, then leveled her gun at Fleur's face. "Don't worry. I'll make it quick."

"No! Stop! What are you doing?"

"The Princesses' will, Fleur." She aimed it right at Fleur's face, then suddenly jerked her head up, and to the side as a bullet shot past her head. Lyra ducked to the side as another glowing blue shot flung past, Fleur barely able to see it as it moved.

Fleur seized the opportunity, rolling away, stumbling to her hooves, facing Lyra. Lyra trailed her gaze from Fleur to the newcomer, a pony in a dark trenchcoat and shades and a fedora, aiming a very large rifle.

"Oi!" she called out. "The hell do you think you're doing?"

"Arresting a suspect," Lyra said shortly. She pointed up to her badge, adding, "You'd do best not to interfere."

"Oh, fuck that! You were about to just up and shoot her!"

"I have the Right of Expediation. It's legal."

"What did she do to warrant this?"

"I'm not about to share that information with some random pony off the street," Lyra snorted. "If you do not lower your gun, I will kill you. Stand down, Miss."

The stranger hesitated, then lowered her gun. "Is this necessary?"

"That's for me to decide, Ma'am."

Something moved in Fleur's blindspot. Something that came barreling out of Everfree.

Fleur shrieked, leaping to the side. Lyra spun, opening fire on the thing, but it didn't stop. With an ear-shattering boom, the newcomer fired.

Lyra cursed, jumping to the side, flicking a switch on her gun. As Fleur watched, it transformed, pieces rotating around until a larger barrel was in place. Lyra fired, and a glowing green bullet richocheted off the newcomer, flying past Fleur and blowing a hole in the tree behind her.

Lyra cursed foully as another boom echoed around the valley. This time, splatters of red appeared on Lyra's coat, and she ducked to the side, horn glowing.

The newcomer leveled her translucent gun, firing one last time as Lyra flashed. A brilliant flash of green light.

And then, she was gone. Fleur blinked in shock, unable to quite comprehend what she'd just seen. One moment, Lyra had been there, the next, she was gone.

Then, Fleur looked back to where Bit lay, and rushed over to her friend.

The strange pony in the coat knelt down besides her, followed by, somehow unsurprisingly, Vinyl Scratch.

"Bit? Come on! Move, Bit! Bit!"

The stranger lifted her sunglasses, leaning in close to examine the bullet hole. Then, she reached over, peeling back Bit's outer plates to lookin inside.

"I can see the bullet," she said. "It hit the central processor."

Fleur hugged him, clutching him tightly as she sobbed.

"Vinyl... is there any hope for him?"

"What? Um...I don't know!" Vinyl threw up her hands. "I have a backup processor, but if he did, he'd be moving. A lot, because that would hurt. I don't...I don't think there's anything we can do."

Another echoing boom filled the valley, followed by the sound of Lyra screaming. Fleur jerked her head up, looking around to find the other stranger on top of the hill, aiming her gun at something beyond Fleur's line of sight. She fired, then fired a few more times, before stopping. She turned, trotting back over, shaking her head.

"I take it she got away?" the pony in the coat asked. Fleur looked into her eyes, then instinctively moved away. Her eyes were narrow, slit pupils. Some sort of condition?

The other pony appeared to be an android of some sort, but not a particularly well taken care of one. Her plates were ill-fitted, and her old duster coat was torn and ragged at the edges as it trailed the ground behind her. Her mane was a mess, ragged and unkempt.

And her face...was a solid, silver mask designed to look like a mare's face, with two streams of red coming from the eyes.

"She managed a second teleport," the Diamond Duster growled. "That's a Class One for you, I suppose. Shot twice and still manages a teleport. This time much farther away then just around the bend, so she could pull out the bigger bullets." She dusted off a fresh hole in her coat, then knelt besides Bit. "This one's gone?"

"Yes," Fleur said quietly, looking down at her friend.

Diamond reached over, hugging Fleur. Fleur choked up, about to sob, when Diamond shoved a rag over her mouth. A foul, chemical smell invaded her nostrils, and her eyes widened as she struggled.

"Shhhh, sweetheart. Sleep. We'll talk things over when you wake up."

Let's Talk

Octavia sipped a cup of tea, watching the countryside roll past outside. "I've got to admit, the First Class train cars are quite good," she said. "The solitude is refreshing, and it makes...certain topics a little easier to entertain."

"Among other things, yes," Adagio said, leaning back as far as her seat would allow her. She stretched—which shouldn't have done anything, but Octavia heard a popping sound that couldn't have meant anything good. "It makes for one pleasant train ride. And no risk of damaging clothes before being seen by high society."

"I'm not in my fancy clothes yet," Octavia said, nodding to the suitcase besides her.

Adagio waved it off. "I only have fancy clothes, Octavia," Adagio said. "It's why I rely on Muscles back there for protection. So I don't ruin my good clothes."

The pegasus in question flexed hard, screaming, "YEAH!" at the top of his lungs. He was, truly, the most physically fit pony Octavia had ever seen. He easily cleared six feet tall, and was almost as wide, while being exclusively muscle. His veins stood out easily on his pale coat, and the collar of his jacket seemed exceptionally tight for how thick his neck was.

Octavia had her doubts about 'Bulk Biceps'. She was half certain he was some sort of government experiment.

"Right. Well, if I find my own...professional muscle, maybe I'll see about bringing him around everywhere I go, too," Octavia relented. "Until then, I make do with..." She grimaced, then looked down at the much smaller gun than she was used to. "The 357."

"Hey. A 357 is a good gun," Adagio said firmly. "And that's a Drake, so it's t-t-t-top notch." She paused, optics briefly changing to a loading symbol. "Hah. Gotcha."

"Shouldn't your speaker have been fixed by now?" Octavia asked. "I could take an actual look at it, rather than just...claim to have done so." Which was, supposedly, how she'd gotten a room at the Dazzle Den. If the Inquisitors asked.

"It's just a stray programming bug or so," Adagio said, waving it off. "I finally caught that one, so with luck, it shouldn't happen again."

"Programming bugs? Adagio, that's serious," Octavia said. "That's...that's 'immediate surgery' level serious."

"Oh, you really are no fun," Adagoi said. "Fluttershy sorted it out. It's fine. Quit worry-ry-ry-ry—motherfucker." Her optics changed back to the loading symbol.

Octavia raised an eyebrow.

"Persistent little shit," Adagio said, optics returning to normal. "You were saying?"

"Adagio."

"Five."

"What?"

"Adagio Five. I'd try to remember that if I were you. And certainly remember it if you're in front of the the Number One's. When they're in the room, they are the only ones who are called by their first name."

"Are they..." Octavia paused, trying to figure out how to phrase the question.

"Let me guess: the Boss asked you to double-check to see if they're being legit and not trying to double cross her?"

Octavia stared at her.

"She's not one to do only one thing at a time," Adagoio...Five explained. "Let me say this: I don't particularly like the Number Ones, and was hoping to get a new job once the dust settles. But I am also only Five. I am not aware of any such plans on their parts, but I wouldn't be involved in it. Pay attention to the Number Twos, and maybe the Number Threes. But I can't see them involving any of their androids in a scheme like that."

"And...I can trust you on this?"

"Did you even listen? I just said I couldn't be trusted on this," Adagio Five said snappishly. "The reality is I'm too low ranked. I, personally, don't think they're doing anything because they're smarter than that. They most likely recognize the Princesses as the bigger threat. Once those are gone, then I foresee issues."

"Concerning," Octavia said, setting her teacup down with a clink.

"Quite. I, of course, plan on retiring somewhere remote with a large amount of money," Adagio Five said, placing a hand on her chest. "I will have no wish to get involved in further altercations at that point."

"Neither do I, but I think I'll end up being involved anyway," Octavia said with a sigh.

"Or maybe you could also retire," Adagio Five commented. "You'll have done your part by that point, Octavia. You could settle down, find love, finally pay off your mortage. Or...other poor people things. I don't know what passes for 'entertainment' for you lot."

"Paying off a mortage is not fun," Octavia growled.

"How do you know? You've never gotten a mortgage," Adagio said.

"I can guess," Octavia said flatly.

Before Adagio could reply, Octavia's phone rang.

Octavia checked it, then answered. "This is Melody speaking," she said.

The caller ID had been Rarity's. The voice, however, was Diamond Duster's synthetic growl that made Octavia's hair stand on end. "We might have a problem."

"What happened?"

"Fleur de Liss was looking for you. Asking after your coworkers...and not talking about Everfree. Then an Inquisitor comes into town, trying to shoot her. I chased her off, but...we don't know why the Inquisitor was after her."

"I'll get into the Dazzle Den's safehouse as soon as I'm off the train," Octavia said. "Which Inquisitor?"

Diamond didn't answer directly. "I'll let you know what Fleur was wanting when she wakes up," she said.

"Which Inquisitor?" Octavia asked again.

She heard Diamond sigh. "It was Heartstrings, sweetheart," she said. "Don't do anything stupid."

"I won't," Octavia said, chest tightening. Diamond hung up, so Octavia set her phone down, then pulled out her gun. "I assume you got the gist of that?"

Adagio Five nodded. "Don't worry, we can keep you hidden. The Inquisitors play nice around the Dazzlings because the Number Ones are loud about their complaints." She examined Octavia's magnum, then shook her head. "You know you couldn't take her."

"A girl can dream," was all Octavia said.

Fleur woke up in a small room on a hard cot. She sat up, then promptly fell back onto the cot as the room spun. Nausea rose up within her, and she closed her eyes.

After a minute, she sat up again, slower this time.

The room quit spinning, and she took a good look at it. It was made of gray bricks, disjointed at places, with some random vines growing out of the cracks between them.

The cot was bolted to the wall. It looked like a dungeon, straight out of a fantasy movie. Only instead of bars was a massive steel wall, with a single panel that looked to be for peeking inside built into the door.

Other than a door that, presumably, lead to the facilities, the only thing in the room was a small table with a chair on each side.

Fleur put a hand to her head, trying to clear her thoughts. If her dizziness was anything to go by, trying to stand was a bad idea, and she didn't trust her magic to do anything important at the moment.

Hoofsteps outside drew her attention. The plate opened up, and she saw an android peek inside. Then hesitate, and the plate closed.

"Wait—" She coughed, throat dry. Then, she fell forward, off the cot, and landed on her hands and knees, before throwing up.

By the time she was done, she thought she heard voices outside her cell. She stumbled to her hooves, wiping her mouth, then stumbled over to the door. "Hello?" she called out. She banged weakly on the door, crying out again, "Hello? Is somepony there?"

The door opened, and she stumbled back, barely catching herself before falling.

Vinyl Scratch stood in the doorway, holding a notebook casually in one hand. "Hey, Fleur," she said. "You...gosh, you look horrible."

"Where...where am I?"

"Sorry, not answering that question just yet," Vinyl said. "Don't worry, though. We're a lot nicer than the rumors suggest." She paused, then looked over to the pile in front of the cot. "Uh...hmm. Walk with me."

She extended a hand, and Fleur took it gratefully. The room spun again, but she felt herself recovering as Vinyl lead her out of the dungeon. The other cells all had their doors closed, and Fleur felt a shiver on her back. She hoped that they weren't occupied.

Vinyl lead her up a short staircase, to a small room. This room had only a table with a chair on each side. The table had handcuffs built into it.

"Take a seat."

Fleur hesitated.

"I'm not going to handcuff you to the table, don't worry," Vinyl said. "Those are there for the people we have to drag into this room. You and I are friends, and Fancy put in a good word for you with the higher ups. We just have a few...concerns...that need be addressed."

Fleur stumbled into a seat, but kept her hands far away from the manacles. She noted that they were topaz cuffs—the yellow gems were situated periodically in the links. Cuffs that could hold even the strongest earth ponies.

Vinyl sat opposite her, then set down a cup of water and a tray with a pill on it. "Doc says that's to help with the nausea," she said. "Sorry about that, by the way. You woke up way faster than we had thought, so it seems like you still have some chloroform in your system."

Fleur examined the pill, but if there was anything suspicious about it, she couldn't tell. Oh, don't be like that. It's not like they need your cooperation for anything, anyway. She popped it into her mouth, then washed it down with a drink of water.

Vinyl set her book in front of herself, propping it up so she, and only she, could see the pages. She crossed on leg over the other, in a purposeful motion that made her jacket rise higher on her right, revealing a concealed handgun.

Octavia's gun, or at least the same model.

"So...to start with, I'm sorry...to say this. I really am. Bit...Bit is dead. There was nothing we could do."

Fleur felt fresh tears sting her eyes, but she wiped them away. "Yes, well...I suppose the nap helped me get over that," she said, before taking a large sip of water.

Vinyl nodded. "We're...sorry. We knew the Inquisitor stepped into town very shortly after you arrived, but...we didn't think that she'd be after you. To be quite frank, it doesn't make any sense, and our informants tell us that there wasn't an arrest call made on you at the Canton. We don't have the faintest idea what this was for. Do you think you could shed some light on this for us?"

"I...I haven't a clue," Fleur said. "I know her. Lyra Heartsrings. We talked a lot at the galas. I thought we were friends!" She choked back a sob, then struggled to get a hold of her breathing. "I...I think she said something about framing gryphons for my...for my murder, I suppose."

"Hmm. What exactly?"

"I...couldn't say for certain," Fleur admitted. "I was...somewhat preoccupied, as you can imagine."

"Heh. I know the feeling," Vinyl said. "Okay. You came here looking for Discord. You were just looking for them through Octavia?"

"Yeah. I...I felt...I didn't know of a better way."

"Fleur. In technical terms, you fucked up hard," Vinyl said unapologetically. "The Inqusitor entering town right behind you only really slammed the nail in the coffin. But we...we work just about exclusively in secret. And you just...walked up to one of our agent's houses, and asked to speak to us. I have to ask: did you tell anyone, and I mean, anyone whatsoever, about who you were coming to meet?"

"Just...Bit. The androids at my house knew I was heading to Ponyville, but not why."

Vinyl rubbed her faceplate. "Fleur. Even if he was ordered not to share, anypony with the right know-how can access an android's memory banks. It would take all of ten minutes to find out everything you'd told him. And we think that's how the Inquisitor tracked you to Ponyville."

"My house. The androids...didn't answer the phone."

"Correct. Two Bitsworths and five Flashpoints were all killed by an unknown assailant," Vinyl said. "Our informant says that the Inquisitors have not released an official statement yet, which means they're either stumped or, more likely, trying to hide something. I'm gonna ask again: none of the ones at your house knew you were coming to Discord?"

"No. Not a one."

Vinyl nodded. "Okay. Now. Why did you come out here to meet us, anyway? It seems to have saved your life, but that looks to have been a happy accident."

Fleur pointed to her reflex chip. "I...Octavia said that these could be very bad for ponies. I...haven't been able to get a good night's sleep in a month. My doctor...is basically ignoring me on the subject now. I can't get a straight answer from anypony. I felt...this was my last chance."

Vinyl stared at her. "So...you came out to a known terrorist group...to have them...lobotomize you."

"Well, basically," Fleur said with a bitter smile. "I thought that I'd be dead soon, one way or the other."

"I see." Vinyl ran a hand through her mane. "Okay, stay in here a minute. I got to go carry that information to the boss."

"The...boss?" Fleur took a very large sip of her water. "Vinyl. Please...be honest with me. Are you going to kill me?"

"Well, that ain't up to me," Vinyl said, "but I don't think so."

Fleur eyed her, then nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't sweat it. I'm just the messenger, after all." Vinyl closed the door behind her, and Fleur heard it click in an uncomfortable way. Locked, she guessed. She couldn't hear anything—even Vinyl walking away. It was an interrogation room—she even caught a security camera in the corner. She eyed it for a minute, then gave it a wave.

It was a very long minute before she heard the door clicking again. She sat up straight, watching as somepony entered. Three ponies.

Vinyl on the left, still holding that little notebook. On the right was a Wonderbolt with a rainbow mane—it wasn't hard to guess who that was.

The third was a mare walking with a long limp, despite the heavy thuds of a prosthetic hoof. She was bundled up in a black cloak, back hunched. Her face was covered a wooden Olden Pony mask.

"Miss...Fleur, was it? Right. Fleur de Liss," she rasped. With a light grunt, she pulled her chair out and sat down.

"Yes...ma'am?"

"Heh. 'Madame' may be correct. I've also heard 'Old Bitch' once or twice." She leaned back in her chair, chuckling to herself. "You can just call me Discord, though. Now, if what Vinyl tells me is right...you're here because you want us to remove the reflex chip in your brain?"

"That...sums it up."

"And you have no idea why the Inquisitor was after you?"

"Yes, that is correct," Fleur said.

"Hmm. Well, we can't do that from in here. I heard that Diamond chloroformed you. Think you're up for some walking?"

"I...suppose. The dizziness has mostly stopped." Fleur paused, then looked up into the mask. And from there, she met the two, soft green eyes looking at her with a pity that her tone didn't quite convey. "Can...can I...can I see Bit?"

Discord nodded.

Bit was laid out just like any dead pony would be.

Discord limped to the side, with Rainbow Dash moving over for her to lean on, as Fleur stepped forward, to the table Bit had been laid on.

"This...wouldn't be your first dead droid," Discord said. Perhaps it was meant to be a question.

"A few have gone in the past," Fleur said, "but they...we knew it was approaching their time. Parts had corroded too many times. I knew it was coming. And...it wasn't like..."

Like this.

"Why did she shoot him?" Fleur asked quietly.

"Who knows?" Discord rasped, limping over to a chair. She sat down with a groan, then waved Rainbow Dash off. The Wonderbolt accepted that, moving to stand just behind her with hands behind her back. "Was probably a tactical thing. Maybe she was worried about witnesses. Footage recovered from androids has been used in court before."

"So why didn't she shoot me?"

"Frame the gryphons, you said?" Discord asked dryly. "Well, it would be hard to do that if one of her custom emerald four-oh-fours was found to be the cause of death. I think she was going to strangle you to death, but she hadn't quite planned on Diamond duster showing up."

"Why? Why...frame the gryphons? Which gryphons?"

Discord sat slumped in her chair, tilting her head up to meet Fleur's gaze. "For an excuse."

"An excuse?" Fleur frowned. "For what?"

"Canterlot's steadily been gaining flak over the years. Everypony knows it. Some of their ancient secrets are now open secrets. It started with Flurry Heart...then a Princess goes missing, and it takes Celestia twenty years to get her a replacement when she normally does it in four. Discord shows up, and we make sure we spread around a few of their unpleasant secrets as we go, too. The point of all that is, they have to work harder for some things than they used to. So if they want to move on Gryphonstone, they need to be morally right to do so."

"Move on Gryphonstone?"

"To wipe them out, of course. We enjoy peace with them...for now. And the nobles enjoy trade. There's a few products that only the gryphons sell, too. To initiate a Purge Order on Gryphonstone, they need a little more than the same old, same old." Discord tossed up a hand. "Just speculation, of course. Once we hear back from our informants, we might have a little more to go on."

"And...they wanted to make it look like the Gryphons killed me, then use me as an excuse?" Fleur laughed bitterly. "Oh...fuck that. Fuck that. No, no, no...they don't...they don't get...they don't get to do that."

"Indeed. There is...a question for you, before we hear you out on your request."

"Which is?"

"What do you want us to do with the body?" Discord asked, gesturing. "I don't believe you're aware of this already, but burying androids isn't an option. They don't decompose. The current alloys used don't rust, but some of them still have toxic materials that leak off over time as they're left unattended, underground. Not to mention the volatility of their power core. We have to pretty much take everything out if we try burrying them just so it doesn't explode, like what happened at the Everfree Memorial Cemetery back in '85."

"What...do you do with the dead androids?" Fleur asked.

"Reduce, reuse, recycle?" Discord said with a shrug. "We don't have the land to bury them on. The most we can do is a funeral service."

"Do that, then. Bit hated ponies who litter."

Discord chuckled quietly to herself. Then, she got up, and walked over. She clapped her hand on Fleur's shoulder. "Might not mean much to you right this minute, but...I'm going to say this. You'll be okay, Fleur. Now come on. Let's see what we can do about that chip."

The Doctor is In

Indigo stood up, planting her new hands on her hips, as she looked at the room.

"Well?" Officer Gawain asked.

"This might be the most perfect break-in I've ever seen," Indigo said. She nodded to the rest of the house, to the slight damages along some of the furniture. "As far as I can tell, our invader just walked right in. No damage to the lock or door, and the position of the androids shows that they did, indeed, come in through the front door, and not a window. You dusted for fingerprints?"

"None," Gawain said. "We're doing some looking on the androids, but we think the perp was wearing some kind of glove."

Minuette looked up with a frown. "While removing the memory cards?"

"Well, there's no fingerprints," Gawain said with a shrug.

Minuette stood up. "Get someone to check again."

"Why?" Gawain asked.

Minuette inhaled sharply, a classic sign that she was rapidly losing what little patience she had to begin with. "Because, my good sir, the memory chips in Flashpoints are very tiny. Flashpoints have a lot of armor in their heads. I wouldn't want to try delicately removing them while wearing gloves thick enough to hide fingerprints."

"What about magic?" Indigo asked. "Could you use telekinesis to remove them?"

Minuette frowned. "Probably not. There's not a unicorn alive I'd expect to do that, flawlessly, on seven androids consecutively. Including myself." Minuette stepped over the chalk outline where one of the Flashpoints had been found, stopping in front of Gawain. "And has nobody managed to reach Fleur yet?"

"Upper Crust says he contacted her, and she was visiting a friend in Ponyville," Gawain said slowly.

"And we haven't made any contact with her since?" Indigo asked.

"No," Gawain replied.

Minuette let out a frustrated breath. "Okay, go let your captain know to do a check again on those droids. Let me know if anything comes up. But the Inquisitors are officially handling this case now."

"Yes, Ma'am," Gawain said with a salute. He stepped outside, past the open doorway, leaving Minuette and Indigo alone.

Indigo walked around the room, not looking at Minuette, as she knelt besides a damaged chair. Something had collided with it—she assumed a Flashpoint. Those things were heavy. But there had been three in the foyer, plus a Bitsworth, and while that one couldn't fight, it would have been able to call more guards in if the intruder took on the first three quickly enough. She knew there were a few other destroyed Androids, but they hadn't been immediately in the foyer.

Unless the Bitsworth had went down first. A silenced gun, most likely, but there weren't many guns that could punch a massive hole in a Mister Bitsworth and still be effectively silenced.

"You found any bullets yet?" Minuette asked.

"Nope."

Minuette fell silent.

Indigo's ten-millimeter could destroy a Bitsworth, but the hole wouldn't be that big. That was a rifle-hole. And somepony had then taken out the memory cards. But...the bullet hadn't hit the memory card. Given the size of the gun, the perpetrator had to have known exactly what he or she was doing.

"Who do you think it might have been?" Minuette asked.

"Too early to make any guesses," Indigo said simply.

"Oh for fuck's sake, would you just talk to me?" Minuette snapped. "I get it. I messed up. But that doesn't mean you need to sit there and only talk to me about the job."

"Chrysalis got your security key because you weren't paying enough attention to your job."

"I wasn't on the job," Minuette countered.

Indigo snorted. "Yeah, you were up getting high off your flank on fucking Salt licks. But hey, it was your time off, Minuette."

Minuette sucked in a deep breath. But she didn't say anything further. Indigo breathed a sigh of relief, head back to the door. And then stopped, before kneeling down, frowning at some dust on the ground. She pulled out a specialized brush, gathering up the dust, as Minuette stared forlornly at a wall.

Emerald dust. Which meant quite a bit of money, too. Emerald rifle rounds. By the amount of dust, probably lower caliber, unless...they'd swept up the dust and just missed some.

Indigo put the dust in a specialized pouch, tucking it into one of her evidence pockets. A silenced rifle. That was not something that was for sale...anywhere, really. Maybe some black market dealers, but that certainly narrowed down the search. The military and law enforcement didn't make those, as they weren't really focused on the kind of operations that would require a silenced rifle.

This almost looks like...something an Inquisitor would do, Indigo thought. Sour? "We need to check on Sour Sweet," Indigo said. "I didn't think she used a rifle, but she could have gotten one easily enough."

"Sounds...like a plan," Minuette said in a pained tone.

Indigo turned, seeing Minuette leaning against a wall, eyes closed, clutching her chest.

"Min?" Indigo asked, rushing over.

"I'm fine," Minuette said, straightening. "Just...Chrysalis's EMP did a number and a half on my heart. Surgery's scheduled for tomorrow."

"Surgery? Then why are you moving about?" Indigo demanded. "Go rest!"

"I can't do that, we have work—"

Indigo rolled her eyes. "Enough trying to prove your point, Minuette. Go home and rest until your surgery is done. I'll handle things here."

"But—"

Indigo stepped around her, supporting her across the room. "I said, enough," she said firmly. "I got this, Min. Need help getting back to the Canton?"

"No. I'll make it on my own just fine." Minuette broke free of Indigo, then paused, hand on the door knob. "Thank you. And...I'm sorry."

Indigo sighed, then pulled Minuette away from the door. Minuette frowned at her, folding her hands over her chest, as Indigo considered what she was about to say.

"Did you...read about my past? Why I decided to join up with the Inquisitors?"

"No," Minuette answered, after a slight pause. "I was busy at the time, so I put it off."

"Well...most of my childhood was spent trying to put distance between me and Dad," Indigo explained. "The days back then were...kind of a blur. I don't remember much. But I remember how he'd come home on a bad day. Storming in through the front door, screaming curses, and...stinking to high heavens of the Salt he was selling. He used them himself, of course....and while he was home, I'd make myself scarce. Mom would..." She took in a deep breath, then continued. "Mom would distract him, so I would be safe. It continued like that, until I was seventeen. Mom had had...a wreck while buying groceries. She was at the hospital. This meant...Mom wasn't there, so...he came for me." Indigo slipped a hand into her coat, then pulled out a switchblade knife. "For the first time in my life, I fought back. I didn't have experience, and I didn't really have the weight, so I fought dirty. I kicked him in the balls, bit on the throat, and plunged a knife into his eye. When he was down, I finished it.

"That should have...wrapped things up nice and tidy, but when the cops came, and I told them what happened, they still arrested me. Turns out that 'anything you say can be used against you' thing was really important, actually. I confessed to killing him, pretty much, and everything I told them about him attacking first couldn't be used to help me in court."

Minuette's face darkened. "Ponies who pull that one are the big reason why everypony hates the cops, and the Inquisitors."

Indigo nodded. "By the time my lawyer arrived, I was in deep shit. The cops...I think they get a bonus for making arrests or something? I was never quite sure on the why of it all. Maybe they were just lazy. Then, as suddenly as the mess had started, it stopped. I was told the charges were completely dropped. I asked why, and apparently, an Inquisitor had been in town, and stopped to sort out my situation." She chuckled. "So...maybe I overreacted to you...smoking. But I don't like those things."

"I'm sorry that happened," Minuette said slowly. "I...it's pretty easy to see why you don't like it much."

Indigo nodded.

"Did you ever find out which Inquisitor that was?"

"Nah. Never asked around." Indigo raised an eyebrow at her. "Was it you?"

Minuette smiled. "If you were seventeen, then that was '93. I was still going through screening. I only arrived in Canterlot in the Spring of '94."

"Do you...know which one it was?"

"You lived in Coltston City, right? That would have been Grade One Inquisitor, Twilight Sparkle." Minuette smiled. "Alright. I think I need to leave you to your case now."

"My case?"

"Derpy's still en route from Vanhoover—she apparently wrapped up her case nicely, but she's not back yet. Our two infiltrators are both on jobs, and Lyra left yesterday on some work or other. Unless Princess Midnight gets involved here, that means you're in charge of the investigation." Minuette clapped her on the shoulder, nodding. "Good luck. Give one of us a call if you need anything." Minuette stepped out the doors, striding past Wonderbolts.

"I'm in charge, huh?" Indigo breathed out slowly. Well, there was only one lead to follow.

She stepped outside, meeting Gawain's gaze.

"Well?" he said snappishly.

"Whoever did this was good. Very good. The only evidence I've found is emerald dust from a rifle. Get this to forensics for analysis. Call me if you find anything further."

"Where are you going?" Gawain asked.

"Our missing pony was last seen in Ponyville. Any further clues would be out there."

Discord had sent Vinyl elsewhere. Fleur didn't catch what was said, but they had exchanged a few quiet words. Vinyl had simply clapped Fleur on the shoulder, wished her good luck, and left.

Discord herself lead the way, through twisting turns of, seemingly, a medieval castle. Or...perhaps older? The interior seemed in very fine condition, though there were patches that looked positively ancient.

Not to mention the occasional vine growing along the walls and roof. But all of that gave way to a room with metal walls and lots of complicated machinery lying about.

Discord gestured for her to take a seat. Fleur complied, then Discord began to walk away.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Fleur called out, twisting to watch her.

"I have my own work to do," Discord said. "Don't worry, our doctor is one of the best. Perhaps the best." She strode out the doorway, turned the corner, and was gone.

Fleur sat back in her seat, feeling the seconds tick by. And as they did, she inevitably thought back to Bit. Who never even got a proper name—just a nickname for his model. She'd always thought she'd treated her androids kindly, but when she looked at it, she named them things like "Bit" and..."Second". As in, "Second in Command". Fancy, meanwhile, named his. Or perhaps they named themselves? Fancy was a father to his androids, whereas Fleur was still just a slaveholder; their master, their...owner. And Bit had still walked into his death at her behest.

Wherever his soul was now, she hoped he didn't resent her for it.

A door opened, and a thin, middle-aged pegasus peeked into the room. "Fleur de Liss?" she called out.

Fleur wobbled to her hooves, unsteady, until Rainbow Dash caught her gently around the shoulders to support her. "Here," Fleur said.

The pegasus beckoned for her to come in. Rainbow Dash supported her, as she wobbled her way into a doctor's office.

Complete with a motivational cat poster. The cat in question was peaking from beneath a blanket, little paws clasping the blanket tightly, and a fully red thermometer sticking out of his mouth. The poster was captioned, "IT GETS BETTER."

Fleur found herself chuckling.

The doctor sat down on her seat, and Rainbow Dash helped Fleur into hers before producing another cup of water.

"The....the nausea seems to have passed," Fleur said. She still took the cup, sipping the water slowly.

"I'm Doctor Fluttershy," the pegasus introduced, hand to her chest. "I heard from the Boss about your situation. I'm sorry about all this."

"Thank you," Fleur said. "I'm...I'll be fine. I suppose we weren't that close anyway...not as close as I should have been."

"I...once lost a bunch of ponies, whom I should have cared for more," Fluttershy said quietly. "Ponies who deserved better than to have me as a friend. You can't do anything about it, except how you handle it next time." She smiled, then reached out and took Fleur's hand.

"Is that why you have the poster?" Fleur asked.

Fluttershy looked to it, then said, "I hoped it would help somepony." She let go of Fleur's hand, then leaned back, picking up a notebook. She flipped through it, then said, "So you were having trouble after installing a reflex chip?"

"Yes. A lot of them."

"CyWear or NuYu?"

"CyWear," Fleur said. "Is there that much of a difference?"

"NuYu is smaller, and makes lower-end cybernetics," Fluttershy explained. "Being 'lower-end', they usually work just fine. But that doesn't mean much when the reflex chips are involved. What about insomnia?"

"I have gotten roughly eight hours of sleep, over the past week," Fleur replied.

Fluttershy nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that. Has your eyesight worsened since you installed the chip?"

"Uh...no, I don't think so."

"Sense of hearing?"

"Definitely not," Fleur said.

"Good, good," Fluttershy said. "Sense of smell?"

"I...have been having trouble," Fleur admitted, "but with the smog how it is up on Canterlot, it's hard to say how much is the chip's fault." She paused. "Does...do reflex chips really cause all of those problems?"

"All of them at once, usually not," Fluttershy explained. "Are you aware of how they work, Miss Liss?"

"Suitably so. I...I actually own stocks in CyWear. They use...electricity to boost reflexes?"

"Specifically, your nervous system," Fluttershy said. "And the constant jolt to your brain keeps you awake. The insomnia is simply a part of how the chip works, and not a sign of damage. However, the electricity can damage nervous system pathways, thus numbing senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch."

"My taste hasn't been meaningfully impacted," Fleur said.

"That's good. What about your sense of touch?"

Fleur ran a hand along the length of her sweater. "W-well...recently, when I was with...a lover...I noticed I couldn't...feel as well, but I hadn't made the connection."

"That is an indication of damage," Fluttershy said. "The official term used by Canterlot officials is 'cyberjolted'."

"There's an official term for it?" Fleur demanded.

Fluttershy nodded. "Celestia wants technology to advance. If ponies are afraid of it, the Canterlot officials think they won't--"

"—Won't want to participate in the advance, I know," Fleur finished. "That's one of the old secrets that Father shared with me."

Fluttershy nodded. Then, she stepped away from her desk, looking amongst all of her doctor's equipment, until she pulled out a strange dome. "Here," she said. "I want to see the extent of the damage."

"R-right."

Fluttershy adjusted something on the dome, then fitted it over Fleur's head. Her horn went through a hole, and then Fluttershy put a strap around it.

"Please don't use your magic or you might damage the machine," Fluttershy asked politely.

"Okay. Do I...need to do anything?"

"Please sit still." Fluttershy stepped back to her computer, staring at it with a calm, collected poker face.

"Have you...done this before?"

"I usually do a pony every other month," Fluttershy replied. Then her poker face deepened.

Fleur knew what it meant when somepony deliberately wiped those last few threads of emotion off their face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Fluttershy, wordlessly, clicked a few buttons on her computer. "Do you have the papers for the reflex chip on you?" she asked.

"N-no. I'm afraid I left them at my house."

"I'm afraid I don't recognize the model," Fluttershy said slowly. "That means the operation is going to wait until I can figure that out." She looked up at Rainbow Dash. "Can you get her a room to stay in?"

"'Course," Rainbow said. "Can she take the thing off now?"

"I already have everything I need, so yes," Fluttershy said.

Rainbow helped her remove the straps, picking up the device. "What is this thing?" she asked. "I don't think I've seen it in any doctor offices before."

"Ponies call it a jolt screener," Fluttershy said absentmindedly, clicking more buttons on the computer. "As most hospitals are either ignorant of or purposefully ignore cyberjolting, they don't have them."

"Thank you for this. I don't think...I'd have made it long if it weren't for your help."

"Don't mention it. I'm just doing my part," Fluttershy said, giving her a smile.

"This way, Ma'am," Rainbow said, beckoning out the door.

Somewhat unsteady, but seemingly over her previous weakness, Fleur stepped out of the doorway, following Rainbow Dash's directions.

Fluttershy pushed a button on her computer, sending her results to the Castle's other medical expert. Then, she pushed a button on the intercom. "Hey, Marble, Maude? Can you take a look at this for me?" She looked back to her screen, and at the strange model of reflex chip shown. "I have no idea what I'm looking at."

Author's Note

Author Note: NuYu and CyWear
These are two of the biggest cybernetic manufacturers around. NuYu (pronounced New-You) is notably smaller. CyWear is the one directly managed by Princess Trixie. There are a few other companies, but these are usually discarded in favor of the big names.

Fleetfoot

"Sooo," Pinkie said, eye spinning. "What is this thing?"

"It's supposed to be a CyWear reflex booster chip, grade four," Fluttershy said. "But this tech isn't normal. And I've never heard of anypony crazy enough to put a sapphire in there."

"Was there any damage?" Maude asked.

"That's...the strange part," Fluttershy said, pulling up the map of Fleur's brain. "Look. Almost no damage whatsoever."

"We need to get into contact with our informants in Canterlot," Limestone said.

"Mm-hmm," Marble agreed.

"Marble's curious about why they made it," Pinkie translated. "So am I! It doesn't work any better, and it's more expensive, but it does less damage? That's not how Canterlot usually does things."

"If we leave this thing in her brain, what might happen?" Limestone asked.

"Well...best case scenario, nothing worse than a regular reflex booster," Fluttershy replied. "Worst case? If she uses too much magic and excites that sapphire, her head explodes."

"Gory-worry," Pinkie said, eye spinning fast. She reached out a cable, pushing a button to zoom in on the damaged tissue near the chip. "It shouldn't be any different from removing a normal one."

"We still need to make sure first," Maude said. "I'd rather not explode anypony's head if I don't have to."

"Mm-hmm," Marble said emphatically.

Fluttershy nodded. "I'll get her in later to explain the situation, and get another look at that chip." She frowned, then looked back at it. "Do you...think Canterlot's trying to make less aggressive cybernetics?"

"If so, then it's a minority," Limestone said.

"And this is still a horrible way to go about it," Maude added. "Fleur would have said something if she knew this was different. And this is untested technology."

"Yeah. Ponies should know they're participating in an experiment." Fluttershy sat back, worriedly running a hand through her mane before it got caught in a snarl. She frowned at the tangled patch, then pulled out her brush and began pulling at her mane aggressively.

"But who did this?" Pinkie said, eye rotating slowly. "Somepony would have to have given the order to change out the cybernetic before the surgery. But CyWear would never have done that on a noble mare. If the Inquisitors found out—and it really wouldn't be that hard—then they'd mount all the executives' heads on pikes! Or feed them to alligators! Or feed them to alligators, then mount the alligators on pikes! That's how mad they would be!"

"Actually, she has a point," Limestone admitted. "There's not a pony alive with the balls to make a play like this because everypony is scared of the authority the Inquisitors have. Maybe it was a mistake?"

"No," Fluttershy said, "because Princess Trixie wouldn't be scared of the Inquisitors." Fluttershy opened up a 3D model of the chip, taken from the scans of Fleur's brain. "This is very advanced tech. And as Princess of Research, she'd know how bad the regular chips are. So they didn't want a member of the high nobility on Canterlot to die to one of their chips, because that would shake the boat. So Trixie had the chip swapped out."

"Can we be certain?" Maude asked, a hint of anger seeping into her tone.

"Not until we hear back from our informants," Fluttershy replied.

Princess Trixie was waiting for Indigo at the train station. Indigo stopped to bow. "Princess. What's up? Aren't you busy?"

"Trrrixe is always busy," she agreed with an exaggerated wave of her hands. "How are the hands working, by the way?"

"I made sure they got charged before I went out," Indigo said, looking down at the thickly built hands. "Can't...feel through them, but the itching has stopped."

Trixie nodded. "And no problems yet?"

"None. Aside from the left pinkie occasionally twitching."

"That's probably fine, but when you can, stop by my office so I can get a look, make sure everything's working properly," she said. "I'm on the verge of the greatest advancement in cybernetics in several hundred years. It just needs a little more data, and a little more fine tuning."

"That's great news, Princess, but it's a little outside my scope," Indigo said. "I'm in a bit of a rush. With your leave?"

"Oh, right. Here, I brought you something that might help." She nodded to the android following her. A thickly built pegasus android in a fine suit.

With Wonderbolt goggles.

"You disguised a Wonderbolt?" Indigo asked slowly.

"Plus a few updates to the AI, speech tones, and personality—namely, letting her use it—means she should function pretty much as a standard servant but with the firepower of a Wonderbolt," Trixie said. "The changes aren't structurally major, so she'll work fine. And if you get into any scraps, she'll be a help."

"Well, that's great Princess," Indigo said. "Why give it to me, though? Shouldn't you give it to Minuette?"

Trixie hesitated. "It would be best, Trixie thinks, if Fleur could be brought back," she said. "I'm sure her family are worried. Barring...barring that, it would be best if we could have the body back."

"As in, to her family?"

"Not...immediately," Trixie said slowly. "Not immediately."

"Er...got it, Princess. I understand." Indigo hesitated. "I understand the orders. Not why the hell you need Fleur de Liss's lifeless body."

"Great!" Trixie clapped her hands. "I knew I could count on you, Miss Zap! Take care of Fleetfoot!" With that, she disappeared in a burst of pink sparkles.

Indigo sighed, running a hand through her mane, and looked to the android. "Uh, alright then. Let's go."

The android immediately began moving, ironically having to stop and wait a second for Indigo to get onto the train. She'd worked with Wonderbolts before. 'Fleetfoot' shouldn't be too different, right?

As they stepped onto the Inquisitor exclusive car, Indigo sat down, and Fleetfoot sat down opposite her. "Uh," the android said.

Indigo blinked, looking into her goggles...eyes. To further the illusion, Trixie had put imitation eyes inside the goggles. Fleetfoot had even been repainted to a shade of light green.

"I have no idea what the actual...mission is," Fleetfoot said apologetically.

Indigo chuckled. "Right. You and me both."

Fleetfoot blinked twice. "Would you like tea? Sorry, I should have asked...I am your servant..."

"Uh, go ahead while I get my thoughts in order," Indigo said, waving her on. Fleetfoot rose, stepping to the side and prepping a pot of tea. An electric kettle boiled the water, and Indigo said, "If there's coffee, I want coffee instead."

Fleetfoot gave a nod, then searched through a cabinet besides the electric kettle. Perks of getting our own traincar, Indigo thought.

After a few minutes, Fleetfoot returned, setting a cup of coffee in front of her.

"We're looking for a missing noblemare," Indigo explained. "Fleur de Liss."

Fleetfoot cocked her head to the side, face changing to a loading symbol. Then a picture of one of Fleur's photo shoots came up.

"Yeah, that's her," Indigo said. "Her last known location was Ponyville. She was apparently out when somepony shot up her house. Nopony has heard from her since."

"So...this is a recovery mission?" Fleetfoot asked, visor returning to normal. "Our priority is to save her?"

Indigo considered that. "Yes. If there's anything left to save, that's the priority, even if...it's just her body, apparently."

Fleetfoot's shoulders relaxed somewhat, wings falling slightly. "I...I'm glad to hear that," she said quietly.

Princess...what changes did you make, exactly? Indigo sipped her coffee, then gagged, and choked it down instead of spitting it out.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"Did you add sweetener?" Indigo croaked.

"Uh...was I supposed to?" Fleetfoot asked.

"Yes!"

"Oops. I guess Princess Trixie forgot to add that step..."

Indigo rubbed her forehead as Fleetfoot took the coffee back to the kitchen area. "I suppose you are a Wonderbolt, first," she muttered.

"Hell, I dunno if you could call me that, anymore," Fleetfoot replied. "I...Wonderbolts are only really turned on when there's something to kill or we need to patrol or something. It's just...get up, go kill, and then return. Now I...this is the longest time I've been awake at one stretch since I finished my training. My memories of all those missions...the recordings are mostly empty. I guess I didn't want to remember them, hehe..." She set the coffee back in front of Indigo. "Can I...ask a question?"

"Uh...shoot."

"Do you think I'm alive?"

Indigo picked up the cup, then drained the entire cup of scalding coffee in one burst. Fleetfoot had added too much sugar...probably she'd been adding it the entire time she'd been talking. Indigo looked back to Fleetfoot.

"Any other android, and I'd say no," she said slowly. "That's what I've always thought in the past. But Princess Trixie is crazy like only a scientist can be, and she did something to you, and I've never heard an android go on like that. Or...swear. Do you think you're alive?"

"Ehhh?" Fleetfoot shrugged. "Maybe? I don't know. If this is being alive, then I don't think I was alive back then. If you're talking biologically, I can't reproduce, so I'm not alive. Then you get down into the nitty-gritty 'does it have a soul' problem that gets thrown all over the place when androids are involved. Do I have a soul? I have...access to magic. Does that mean I have a soul? Some ponies say yes. But wouldn't that mean that gemstones are alive? Nopony says that. But are they alive? Is loading a chamber with ruby bullets really just mass murder? Or could it be more like plants? Plants are alive, but they don't really have a soul. Ah, Tartarus, am I a plant?" Fleetfoot held up her hands, staring at them, then looked back to Indigo.

Indigo just stared.

"I never was able to think before," Fleetfoot said. "I guess I'm making up for lost time."

"Right," Indigo said slowly. "Here's another thing. Say a lie."

"Huh?"

"Androids can't lie. So, if you are fully alive, tell me something that is not true."

"I...I am..." Fleetfoot hesitated, thinking. "Purple. I am purple."

Indigo put her face in her hands. "Great, Princess. Make a one-of-a-kind android, throw it at the rookie, hope she can take care of it. Good plan."

"Did I pass?" Fleetfoot asked.

"It's another thing I need to ask Princess Trixie when I get the chance," Indigo said slowly. "Did she say anything? About...what she was doing to you?"

"Eh...Once she fixed the power cores, I came online," she said, "and then she started...talking. A lot. It went over my head, so if it meant anything, I couldn't say."

"I guess we just take this one thing at a time," Indigo said. "You don't make it far in this business getting distracted by random thoughts. We're out to save Fleur, and, failing that, to avenge her."

"I like...not having to kill ponies," Fleetfoot said. "That's what I prefer. But you're the boss."

Sweet Celestia, please don't say that, Indigo thought. I'm still just the rookie.

She leaned back, folding her arms over her chest. "Well, it is better when we don't have to kill any pony. I think that should always be the ideal. But eh. I kill scum all the time. Don't worry about it."

"I...I'll try not to," Fleetfoot relented.

She gave a killing machine a conscience, Indigo thought. What's her game? She's a princess, so...there has to be a reason.

Whatever. I'll take care of her for you, Princess Trixie.

Trixie Lulamoon didn't look up from the schematics as the door to her office opened. "Ah, here with my crackers?" she asked. "Leave them on table there. I'm busy, so let the scientists know not to bother me."

The sound of plastic and cardboard being unceremoniously tossed onto the table raised her ire, and garnered her attention.

Trixie turned halfway around, eyed her visitor, then looked back to her computer. "I assume you're too good for schedules, then?"

"And you're too good to let me know you were stealing one of my Wonderbolts?" Spitfire growled.

"It's not like I dismantled her, I just tested some new programming," Trixie said, waving it off. "And I thought Miss Zap might need a little extra synthetic muscle to make sure Fleur is rescued."

"Okay, sure. Why not let me know?"

"Why do you care? It's just one Wonderbolt."

"Just one—do you have the faintest idea how much those things cost?"

Trixie sighed, turning around to look at Spitfire. Spitfire was wearing her 'on duty' clothes; blue Wonderbolt fatigues. A look of supreme astonishment was on her face. "Probably a lot compared to what peasants have," Trixie said, "but nothing you need to complain about."

"Fifteen thousand bits, in materials alone," Spitfire snapped. "Plus another three thousand to the workers who put it together. And not to mention the two years they spend in their infancy stages where they bumble too much to think about sending into battle, and another two thousand bits training them up."

"Twenty thousand? That's nothing," Trixie scoffed. "I could hand it to you right now, if you wanted."

"I don't care about the money!" Spitfire said. "It's that you didn't even bother to mention it to me. When you were already sending me a missive to get me to send another flight up into the Frozen Wastes!" She paused. "What are you even doing up there?"

"Uncovering a research project," Trixie said.

"What project? There's nothing out there but primitives with spears!"

"Trixie does not question your job!" Trixie said haughtily. "And she desires you to know that she never asked about it, either, yet you insist on telling her about it at length. And marehandling her peanut butter crackers." With little conscious effort on her part, the package opened, and a slightly broken cracker floated over to her.

Spitfire sighed, running a hand through her mane. "For fuck's sake, Trix. Sometimes, I wish you'd stayed in the show mare business, y'know?"

Trixie shrugged. "Celestia had other plans," was all she said.

"Alright, I'll send another flight up there, with a Captain," Spitfire said. "Get to the bottom of why the hell this keeps happening."

"And, uh...make an example of the Crystal Ponies?"

"If need be. Why? Isn't justice my job, O Princess of Research?'

Trixie didn't laugh. "If you execute all our citizens, there will be no one to praise Trixie," she said seriously.

"How did the upgrades work out, anyways?" Spitfire asked, her eye turning to the monitor. She frowned, peaking around Trixie to stare at the solitaire game on the computer.

Trixie spread her wings to prevent Spitfire from seeing that. "W-well, it's not exactly Wonderbolt programming," she said. "I'm essentially just expanding the AI so they can handle other situations, such as working with Inquisitors on missions and still being somewhat sneaky."

"Huh. Interesting," Spitfire said, resting her chin in one hand. "That could be handy. And not just for the Inquisitors. Some of the flesh-and-blood Wonderbolts complain sometimes. And there's a lot of Wonderbolts that just sit in storage most of the time, without doing anything. It could be great to get some benefit out of them instead of blowing taxpayer bits on the power company."

"Yes, well, it was working fine, which is why I sent her out with Indigo," Trixie said.

"Good, good," Spitfire said, nodding. "By the way?"

"Yes?"

"That game is unwinnable," Spitfire said, pointing around Trixie's wingspan. "You don't have a spot you can move the six of hearts to."

Trixie turned, frowning, as she examined the board.

"Well, it was good chatting," Spitfire said casually, turning to leave.

"Hey...a favor, if you would?"

Spitfire raised the eyebrow of her mechanical eye.

"A little...leniancy, towards the Crystal Ponies," Trixie said. "Trixie...understands that she offended them by repeatedly sending soldiers up there and wishes to let it slide. If...you would."

Spitfire sighed. "We'll see."

The Dazzle Den

After what felt like the longest train ride of her life, Octavia stepped out into the bustling streets of Las Pegasus.

Towering buildings and gemstone signs were everywhere. Big name stores hung at every corner. And of course, the casinos. Casinos were everywhere.

"Hello there," Adagio said.

Octavia immediately looked to her side, only for Adagio to chuckle. "You'll work it out sooner or later." She pointed ahead, where a second Adagio stood, leaning against a vibrant purple car.

"Over here," the second one said, nodding to her car.

"Playing ferryman, Seven?" Adagio Five called out as Bulk Biceps carried their luggage.

"Oh, stuff it," Adagio Seven said. "I was looking at a lovely day where I didn't have to do anything. But you so just happen to need a ride and were, apparently, too good for a taxi."

"Can you blame me?" Adagio Five asked.

"Are you serious? I'm you. You made a good call," Seven said with a flippant gesture. She stepped around the front of her car, which, when Octavia looked, had a seven boldly printed on it.

Bulk Biceps began stowing the suitcases into the trunk, and Octavia moved to slip into the backseat. "You sit shotgun," Adagio said, elbowing her ribs.

Octavia frowned at her. "If we get pulled over--"

"None of the cops here are pulling over a Dazzle Den car," Adagio said flatly. "Besides, robot doppelganger etiquette. We don't both sit up front, and Bulk's just a handyman. You get shotgun."

Octavia didn't argue further. She sat down in the passenger seat, Seven patiently waiting for Bulk Biceps and Adagio Five to finish loading.

"I'm Octavia Melody," Octavia introduced.

Seven eyed her. There was virtually no difference in appearance between the two of them, aside from the pin they both wore where normal ponies displayed their Cutie Marks. "Adagio Number Seven," the android said simply. She spared a glance over her shoulder, where Five was berating Bulk for dropping something, then leaned in close. "Did you bring ear plugs?"

Octavia nodded.

"Good." Seven said, moving back to her seat properly. "Five will be busy as soon as we get there, so I'll be your chaperone around the Den," she said aloud.

"I see. Is calling you 'Seven' appropriate?"

"D7, if it comes up," she replied. "The Sonatas are S, and the Arias are A. But don't expect to meet too many of them for more than a moment. They're kept busy."

"Except for you?"

"Hey. This was my day off," Seven snorted. She rested one hand on the steering wheel as Bulk and Five slipped in behind her. "And usually, I don't get any important tasks. Often times it's just mingling with commoners below the Number Ones' station."

"Gross," Five commented.

"But easy," Seven said casually. "Are your boys done getting loaded?"

"Yeah," Five said, looking to the car behind theirs. "They were packed up before Bulk was done."

"Alright, buckle up, kids," Seven said, starting the car moving.

"Do you know which Number One is greeting Octavia?" Five asked.

"You think I had the nerve to ask?" Seven countered. "I don't get much leeway, Five."

"Of course you didn't question her. But I'm certain you asked D2 or S3, either of them would have told you," Five said tiredly.

"A2, actually. She said Sonata."

"Sonata. That's good. I'm going to boot off for a bit, if I can," Five said, leaning back in her seat. "Gotta rest when I can."

"Good plan," Seven said, spinning the wheel as the car rounded a turn.

"Do you not use the interface?" Octavia asked.

Seven spared her glance, then turned back to the road without answering.

"I'm certain you have a port," Octavia said, "and I can see the cord plugged into the car."

"I don't like to," Seven said simply. "I prefer driving like this."

"It's not as safe," Octavia said.

Seven stopped at a red light. "I'm processing at double speed right now. That's faster than a reflex booster gets you. The only way we're getting into a wreck is if there's nothing I could do about it anyway."

Octavia grimaced. "I suppose I'll just have to trust you," she relented. "Are you happy with the Dazzles?"

Seven played a comedic laughtrack.

"Happy?" she said, incredulous. "Happy? I suppose a guard dog chained to a post can still be happy, yes. Personally, I can't wait until the whole affair is done and I can get the fuck away from the Ones. But...well. I suppose it's gotten a bit better around the Den, even if it's just because They want to tidy up in case Discord looks at it. And those chips being gone from my head is such a relief."

Octavia patted her on the shoulder. "Well, hopefully it will continue to get better."

"Yeah, hopefully. If it was the same as it used to, I think I'd be as bad off as Five back there."

"Oi!" Five said, visor turning back on. "Enough about that."

"About what?" Octavia said.

Seven didn't answer.

Octavia grimaced, but let the matter slide. "So--"

"Sweet Celestia, what's with all the questions?" Seven asked tiredly. "Real curious thing, aren't you?"

"I just..." Octavia paused, considering her words. "I don't like ponies being treated badly. I've seen enough of that."

"Huh. Well, save the questions, if you'd please," Seven said shortly. "You're talking at half-speed for me, and the urge to interrupt is extreme."

Octavia chuckled. "Alright, then." She settled back into her seat for the drive, but that was when her phone rang. Octavia pulled it out, checking the caller ID.

The Inquisitor.

Octavia sat up, staring at it, then sighed. Whatever else happened, not answering could only make things worse. "Melody," she said. "What is it, Miss Inquisitor?"

Both Adagios straightened, though Bulk seemed not to care...or notice, really.

"Hey," the Inquisitor said. "Are you still in Ponyville?"

"No, I just got off the train," Octavia replied. "I'm in Las Pegasus."

The Inquisitor didn't answer for a moment. "Look. I'm going to be direct, okay? You don't really trust us, and I'd say you probably have good reason. But something happened, and if this goes south, an innocent mare dies."

"What do you need?" Octavia asked.

"Yesterday, someone broke into Fleur de Liss's home. Destroyed a bunch of androids, then headed out. Fleur herself was out, heading to Ponyville, of all places, after she talked with you and Fancy. She is currently missing, and whoever was after her in the first place is probably still after her."

"And you think I would know anything about this?" Octavia asked.

"Yeah, I really do," the Inquisitor said. "She was apparently going to visit Sweet Apple Acres, but hadn't done it yet. The only other thing I can imagine her going out there for is you, even if she's just looking to contact Everfree for whatever reason. I'm certain that, one way or another, you heard about her entering town. And I need to find her before whoever's after her manages to."

She sounded...passionate, and determined. But distressingly sincere.

Octavia considered her options. "I don't know much," she said, deciding to take a risk. "But I heard who attacked Fleur."

"Well?" the Inquisitor asked, after a moment.

"Lyra Heartstrings."

The Inquisitor didn't reply immediately. Then, Octavia heard a loud spree of muffled swearing.

"Thanks. You've been a huge help," the Inquisitor said after a minute.

"You believe me?"

"I believe you're telling the truth," the Inquisitor replied casually. "But I know only one person who could pull off impersonating an Inquisitor." She hesitated. "Please keep this quiet. I don't want the suspect to catch on to the fact that I'm onto them."

"Alright. You going to be late for our meeting?"

"Oh, shit, that. I should still be there on time. Gotta let you go now, though. I'll call again if I need anything." She paused. "Is Fleur still alive?"

"Last I heard," Octavia said carefully.

A sigh of genuine relief came. "Thank you, Princess Celestia," the Inquisitor whispered. "Goodbye, Miss Melody."

"Goodbye."

The Inquisitor hung up without anything further. Octavia wasted no time dialing Rarity.

"Rarity speaking," the fashionista answered after a few rings.

"I've got news for the boss, about the attack on Fleur," Octavia said quietly.

"I'm in a secure location. Talk."

Octavia ran over the conversation, quickly, Rarity listening quietly without answering. "If she wasn't lying," she finally said, "then that means that Lyra wasn't acting on orders."

"If I'm correct, that was Indigo Zap," Octavia said. "The rookie. I don't think she'd be that good at lying."

"I'll pass it along," Rarity said. "Be careful, darling. You'd have done better to play ignorant."

"But if she was telling the truth, then I made the better play," Octavia said.

Rarity sighed. "True. I've got to go now, darling, and be ready for when Miss Zap comes into town."

"Alright. Let me know how things turn out." Octavia paused as Seven pulled the car to a stop. "Looks like I've reached the Dazzle Den, too. Bye."

"Ta-ta, darling." The last sound before Rarity hung up was the click of her gun.

"Think they're gonna kill her?" Five asked slowly.

"Rarity could, but I don't think we wants to attract the attention that would bring," Octavia asked. "Regardless, the matter is being handled by others. We would do well to focus on our task."

Five opened her door, and on cue, the other three stepped out of the car as well.

The Dazzle Den was smaller than the larger casinos in Las Pegasus—only one floor was devoted to the casino. The second floor, she thought, was devoted to the strip club. The third one was where Octavia was staying. The presidential suites, and where the Sirens themselves stayed.

Octavia stepped up to the front doors, eyes flicking to the guards. One was a real pony, lazily sipping a cup of coffee. "Hey!" he called out, raising his cup to them. "Seven. And Five. With the guest."

"Yes, yes," Five said haughtily, "don't shout it out to everyone. Get inside quickly."

The doors were opened into a small waiting room, where a few ponies sat about. One seemed to be angrily speaking to a clerk behind the desk.

Five let out incoherent grumbling, then said aloud, "I'm going to go resolve this. Seven, take Melody up t-t--" She paused. "To the top floor," she said, slowly and clearly.

"Didn't you go off to get that fixed?" the guard asked with a frown.

"Shut it," Five snarled, before angrily stomping over to the irate customer.

"That's a fireworks show waiting to happen," Seven said, "and a good way to slip in unnoticed. Let's be gone before the show starts, shall we?"

She lead the way past them, and Octavia followed through a door into the main casino. She pointedly looked away from the rows of machines and tables to the decor.

The ambient lighting was a deep blue with lights slowly moving along the walls, to create an underwater effect. The pillars seated through the room were made to resemble coral, with banners streaming off of them like seaweed. Music was playing from unknown speakers. Deep bass and slow guitar strings, but no vocals.

"What's that music playing?" she asked quietly.

"Hell if I know," Seven said. "I think that's just one of their instrumentals. The next musician isn't on stage until...eight. Some small time chick from Coltston who scored lucky."

"And what, exactly, does that mean?"

"I'm signed into our website, I just looked up the schedule," Seven said. "It's some mare from Coltston, which is quite far away, and I don't recognize the name so she's not here because she's famous. And she's booked a Presidential Suite, so within three guesses, I know how she got that."

It took Octavia a second to figure that one out, and she shuddered. "They really do just...sleep around?"

"Aria does. Sonata sometimes, Adagio, never. Sonata is a little...I'm never sure if it's an act or she's just naturally like that, but more often than not, she's hungry, not horny. They all like being the center of attention, but Aria's the only one who seeks them out. Adagio..." Seven looked around, making sure they were alone as they stepped onto the elevator. She clicked the button, waiting for the door to close before she continued. "I think Adagio still remembers when ponies were prey, not rivals."

"We're still prey to them," Octavia replied. "They've never stopped feeding off ponies' discontent."

Seven gave her a look. "No, Melody, that's not what I mean."

"What?"

"They ate ponies," Seven said. "They're carnivores, Octavia."

"O-oh. And Adagio..."

"Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe Adagio thinks you're about as sexually attractive as you think a cabbage patch is. Or maybe she's still mad that the Sirens aren't the top dogs of the world."

"They don't...still eat ponies, right?"

"You think they could get away with that?" Seven scoffed. The elevator dinged, and Seven made a sudden silence motion. "Here we are," she said, changing the subject.

Along the edges of the walkway were too streams of water, being fed from spouts along the walls. They gathered from the edges of the room to a fountain in the center, a massive statue of the three Dazzlings. Contrary to the first floor, only a couple of ponies seemed to be around, one or two milling around the statue.

"Your room is Number 14," Seven said. "They decided to skip 13, so yours is technically the thirteenth one on the right here." She lead the way, past little mountings of fish on the walls. She recognized some of them, but many resembled deep sea life, and she simply had to trust that they were real animals.

"Does skipping thirteen really make any difference?" Octavia asked.

"I think so, actually," Seven said. "It is sometimes specifically requested that guests not have to stay in 14. I suppose that's why they gave you this one." Seven pulled out a room card, handing it to Octavia. "Here you go. There's two cards. The other is inside."

"Aren't I meeting the Dazzlings?" Octavia asked.

"Yes. She's already in there."

Octavia hesitated, then took the card and unlocked the door.

The suite was perhaps fancier than she'd expected. And almost as nice as her room had been at her parents' manor, which was saying something. Though she wanted to say she didn't like the underwater vibes, there was something calming about the blue lighting.

And in the room's foyer, lying across a sofa, was one of the Sirens. Slim of build, in a long dress skirt that came down to her ankles, and a sequined, sleeveless top that left her belly exposed, Sonata Dusk sipped from a glass of wine.

Seven took position by the door, hands behind her back. Octavia, without being prompted, sat in the chair opposite Sonata.

"So you're Octavia?" the Siren asked. She gave her tail a flick. It wasn't a bushy pony tail—it was almost four foot long, entirely scales and muscle, with a few fins sticking off the sides before the powerful-looking tail fin.

"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sonata eyed her. "I really thought you'd be taller. Like, six foot and jacked to hell and back," she said, cocking her head at an unnatural angle. Her necklace jingled, the live rubies attached to it clinking against each other. It made Octavia's skin crawl to watch.

"Size isn't everything," Octavia said.

"Don't you walk around everywhere with a 44?" Sonata chuckled. "Hey, D7. Pour her a drink."

Seven stepped over, pouring Octavia a glass of alcohol.

"Is now really the time for drinking?" Octavia asked.

"The funnest conversations are always had with some eighty-proof Gryphonstone liquor in you," Sonata said, flashing a toothy grin.

A grin with very, very sharp teeth.

Octavia sighed, then relented, taking the cup. After all, I rather think I'm going to need it by the time we're done here.

Author's Note

The Dazzle Den

I actually spent some time looking up how casinos were laid out for this, and found a helpful Reddit threat where people were complaining about one. Naturally, that was how I designed the Dazzle Den. Casinos usually being one floor surprised me, but small was how I'd imagined the Dazzle Den anyway.

A few things about the layout--
--There are no clocks.
--You cannot see any of the exits from the gambling machines and tables, so it is very easy to lose track of time.
--The exact same machines are by each of the three exits, so you can't really tell them apart.
--Blue light is scientifically proven, IRL and in Cyberpony, to keep your brain awake. The Dazzlings flooding their casino with blue light is only partly for the aesthetic, as if ponies don't realize how late it is, they'll stay and gamble longer.

Bedazzle

Octavia sipped her drink. "This is good. And quite strong. What is it?"

"A Gryphon liquor," Sonata explained, holding up her own glass. "Not many things grow up there, so they can't make normal beer. The only crop that really grows is potatoes, of all things. So, in desperate need of alcohol, the Gryphons made this stuff out of potatoes. It's called vodka. They also use it as a disinfectant sometimes." Sonata grinned, then took a large sip of hers.

"A lot of alcohol can be used as a disinfectant," Octavia replied.

Sonata tilted her glass, slowly dripping it down her mouth. She made an exaggerated sigh, holding it up to look at. "That's what makes it funny, you know? Aside from getting drunk." She giggled. "I saw a drunk pony one day, who came in, and started flirting with everypony around her, and then one of the slot machines. Then she threw up and passed out on the ground. That was funny."

"That was sad," Octavia corrected, "that that poor mare let her life dwindle away like that."

"Eh. Tomay-to, to-mah-to," Sonata said, waving it off. She gestured to the food on the table. "Like these!" She picked up one of the items...it seemed to be a strange, over-sized corn chip stuffed with various vegetables and sour cream.

Octavia looked to the one on the plate on her side of the table, and briefly pondered how to pick it up without spilling its contents.

"They're called tacos!" Sonata said excitedly. "They make lots of these things in Appleoosa! Which is funny, because you wouldn't think the Apple Family exports nearly as much corn as they do!" She turned the thing sideways, taking a giant bite out of it. Her needle-sharp teeth seemed to be fully capable of chewing thick vegetables, somehow.

Octavia mimicked her, holding up the taco at an angle and taking a delicate bite. It was surprisingly good, though holding it was a challenge.

"You find a lot of things funny," she said.

"Eh...live enough time, you stop taking most things seriously," she replied, resting her elbow on the edge of the sofa. "Things like pain, strife, death...if it's not mine, it's not my problem."

"Isn't that a horrible way of thinking about it?" Octavia asked. "Everypony's suffering matters, so we shouldn't ignore the suffering of others."

"What about...Lyra Heartstrings?"

Octavia stiffened, and Sonata leaned forward, resting both her elbows on the table and leaning forward.

"What if I caught her?" Sonata chuckled. "Broke off her horn and bound her arms and legs. You could torture her as long as you wanted. Wouldn't you like that?"

"The proper thing to do," Octavia swallowed, "would just be to kill her. Put a bullet in her head. End it."

Sonata leaned fully over the table, wrapping one arm around Octavia's shoulder, letting her legs stretch out over the table. "But that's not what you'd like to do," she whispered. "You'd really like to let her feel it for what she did to ol' Goldie, wouldn't you?"

"We often want things that are wrong," Octavia said simply. "Such as, wanting to corrupt the morality of one's guest." She raised an eyebrow at Sonata.

"You're funny," Sonata said with a grin. Then, she stuck out a long, thin tongue, licked Octavia's cheek, and moved back to her seat in a jerky, sudden motion, lying on her back with her legs in the air and her head resting on the arm.

Octavia gagged, rubbing her cheek with her sleeve. "You—you—you disgusting cretin!" she gasped. "Ugh! Why the fuck would you do that?"

"Because ponies always react funny," Sonata said, grinning. Then she picked up a second taco, shoving the entire thing into her mouth.

"Aren't we here to discuss business?" Octavia asked. "Such as how we're dealing with the Inquisitors?"

"Eh? But didn't we get that sorted out already?" Sonata frowned. "The only work is your schedule for playing."

"Well, then let's work on that!" Octavia said. "Instead of...whatever the hell you're trying to do here!"

"Bully you," Sonata supplied.

Octavia rubbed her forehead.

"Ugh, you guys get more boring with each new recruit," Sonata muttered. "Whatevs. We mostly play it by ear, y'know? The musicians just sort of talk it out amongst themselves. Only instrumentals, though. My sisters and I are the only ones who sing."

Octavia rubbed at her throat. "It's been a very long time since I practiced my singing voice anyway."

"Good for us all," Sonata chuckled. "Anyhoo, you've been practicing your violin, right?"

Octavia nodded.

"Why not play us a piece?" Sonata asked. "The prez suites are sound-proofed, to keep things private within." She adjusted her position, sitting upright. Her tail coiled on top of one leg, wrapping twice around her waist to end with the fin in her lap.

Seven stepped over, holding one of their suitcases. Octavia's violin.

She stood up, taking it from Seven, and opened the case up.

Sonata watched her as she set up the violin. Then, Octavia closed her eyes, and began to play.

She ignored Sonata. She let herself forget where she was. To her, there was only one thing in existence: the song. The music.

She hadn't had time to play it here lately, not since that day at the Flight of Fancy, but she still remembered the tune she'd been working on for months.

Had it really only been a couple of days since she'd gone to the Flight of Fancy? It felt like it had been months. So much had happened.

And Vinyl...hopefully she was doing alright. That silly little unicorn, who had signed up to fight gods.

Octavia banished those thoughts, though. She had to devote herself to her music.

Vinyl Scratch had found the library easily enough. Not many ponies went here, she was told, but the ones she'd asked had still known where it was.

From there, she simply had to find the books on electronics. And from there, develop an understanding of holograms.

Images made of light, imprinted over the reality everypony knew. Ponies knew the concept. You said, 'hologram', and everypony understood. Then you could try and explain what that meant.

Which was how you ended up with a half-dozen advanced science books that were not, strictly speaking, legal to own for most ponies, and certainly not for Vinyl.

The exact science behind holograms was, frankly, absurd.

It involved the delicate process of displaying light-based images onto the air. It had be exactly the same shades of light as the world around it, or it would be clearly visible as a fake. There were other problems, too, such as making a hologram in a darker place that didn't glow. And the colors, too, were a problem.

But also there was the cost. The machinery that went into their firing range cost about eight thousand bits, apparently. The one the Inquisitors used in Canterlot cost about fourteen thousand. And the power drain was also expensive. Discord had a separate generator running the firing range. All that meant that combat holograms were completely out of the question, by any means, forever.

Heh.

Vinyl looked up from her book, at the red spot of light she'd created on the table. If she squinted, she could say it looked like an apple. Unfortunately, lacking eye lids, she couldn't squint.

Maybe I just don't have the hardware to do this yet, she thought. Like, I'm using rave lights for this. That is so not-the-intended-purpose, it'd void the warranty.

The empty library didn't laugh at her joke. Vinyl turned her attention back to the book in front of her.

A hand reached over, poking her 'hologram'. Vinyl jerked up, chair scooting over, as she looked over at Sunset. Sunset wore her disguise, complete with the mask Vinyl had seen her wearing around the base.

"How long have you been working on this?" Sunset asked.

"Just...since I found the firing range," Vinyl chuckled. "I don't think I have enough hardware for this, is the problem."

"Hmm. You're most likely right, but that you did this—after two days—is completely ridiculous in and of itself." She paused. "Did Bonbon let you get a look at the firing range?"

"Yeah. Turning that into a spell should have been harder, but..."

"Huh. How much have you considered on the scale of upgrades, Vinyl?"

Vinyl closed her book. "Hardly anything at all. Armor, I guess?"

"That's easy enough, and probably necessary. Your plating is that flimsy nano-plastic crap. I wouldn't trust it to take a golf ball and survive."

"Actually, it didn't," Vinyl informed her. "I was with Fancy while he and a friend were golfing. His friend damaged my shoulder with a stray golf ball. Punched a hole right through the plating. Both apologized a lot."

"Ow," Sunset said. "Once the Pies are done helping Fluttershy, we'll set you up for some upgrades. You've done that before, right?"

"Once or twice. While fixing that shoulder, at least," Vinyl said, earning a laugh from Sunset. "So, any luck with that bass cannon?" Vinyl joked, elbowing her.

"Quite a bit. If I can keep it from exploding whenever I pull the trigger, we might have a functional weapon," Sunset replied, pausing to think.

"Wait. You're serious, aren't you?"

Sunset nodded. "When you joked about it, I suddenly realized something. Sonic weapons are very good Alicorn stoppers. I...kind of got hit by a flash bang once, back in Canterlot. Without Earth pony magic, I'd have busted my ear drums." She chuckled. "I'll pull up some upgrade options for you. Want to browse?"

"Hmm...not right now," Vinyl said, tapping her book. "I'm still working this out. Once the Pies are done with Fleur, then I'll look at it."

Sunset paused, turning to the book. "Alright, that's a good call. I'll leave you to your research." She turned, walking off. "Good luck."

"Thanks. Let's see if I can't crack this."

Octavia finished the song with an exaggerated flourish, then let out a breath, and opened her eyes. "Well? Sonata? Are...are you--"

"Shut up! I'm not crying, you're crying!" the Siren snapped, wiping her eyes.

Octavia turned to Seven, who shrugged helplessly.

"Ugh, that's embarrassing," Sonata muttered, glaring at the tears on her hand. "Bleck. I just...got caught off guard. I've heard so much imitation classical and electro remixes of it here lately, that...that's what I was expecting. I didn't think..." She shivered. "It felt like 1100 again. Not just a mimicry or half-assed parody, but...a faithful recreation, straight out of one of the galas we held back then."

"Um...sorry?" Octavia said.

"No, no...I liked that a lot," Sonata said. "We don't really miss the old music, really. We move on easily. We do rock nowadays." She chuckled. "Yeah. You're definitely good enough to be up on that stage." She frowned, meeting Octavia's gaze. "You...how much do you practice?"

"Eh...once a day? A second time, in the evenings, if it was a slow day."

Sonata sucked in a breath, then let it out. "You are awesome. How the hell did you end up being a cyber terrorist instead?"

"Classical wasn't in," Octavia said with a bitter smile, "and then, Goldbricker happened."

"Ah...right, right. Lyra Heartstrings." Sonata threw up one hand. "Geez. Real pain in the ass, huh?"

"Sonata," Octavia chided, "we don't use language like that anymore. That word dropped out of the vocabulary back in the sixties."

"Oh, right, when we gave the donkeys rights," Sonata muttered.

"That...happened in the seventeen-sixties," Octavia corrected.

"What? They've had rights for three hundred years?" Sonata frowned, looking confused. "Wait, then who'd we give rights to in the nineteen-sixties?"

"N-no one, Sonata. Everypony but androids have equal rights, and have since the eighteenth century."

"What?" Sonata stared openly at her. "Huh. You'd think Aria would have mentioned that."

"Didn't...you hear about it from Canterlot?"

"Eh...we were going through one of our 'we're the good guys' phases, so we'd left the slave trade already," Sonata waved it off. "We'd retired to a private resort and were chillin'. I didn't hear anything from the outside world until they started building the first high-quality androids."

"Hm," Octavia said, taking her seat again. "You really have been around."

Sonata shrugged. "All over the place."

"I suppose I'll work out a time to play tomorrow?" Octavia asked.

"Yeah. Aria's new girl toy is playing today—started a few minutes ago, I think," she said, thinking. Then she paused, and looked to Octavia. "What was the cover story for how you ended up getting a room here?"

"Fixed a serious problem with Adagio...Five." She, just in time, remembered to add the number.

"And she never told you what she went to fix?" Sonata asked.

"No," Octavia admitted. "I still haven't--"

"Adagio One wouldn't like that information being shared around," Seven said from the corner. "I'm obligated to tell you." She still made certain that her gaze was lowered, and her head tilted to the side, exposing her throat.

Sonata rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Whatever, the point is there's another reason you could have gotten a presidential suite."

"No," Octavia said immediately.

Sonata paused, half-way through shrugging off her jacket. "Eh?"

"No, I am not screwing you, nor will I pretend to have done so," Octavia said.

"Aw," Sonata said, straightening her jacket. "You looked fun, and I liked your music. You sure?"

"Yes."

Sonata pouted, and her tail gave an annoyed flick. "Well, fine," she said, standing up. "Call us if something comes up, or...you change your mind. Anything else, ask Seven." She picked up her last taco, shoving it into her mouth and devouring it as she walked out the door.

Octavia let out a frustrated sigh, then downed the rest of her vodka.

"This is what you've signed up for," Seven commented. "Second thoughts?"

"Better than the Inquisitors," Octavia said. "Marginally."

"Well, think of it this way," Seven said, pouring her another glass of vodka, "that is what you're putting between you and the Inquisitors."

Octavia winced. "I almost feel sorry for them, actually." She picked up the glass, eyeing it carefully. "I'll need lots of paper for sheet music, a pen, and another bottle of this stuff. I'm going to need it."

Well Rested

Fleur sat down in the chair again, still looking paler than she should. Fluttershy felt a pang of sympathy, but Fleur just needed time to process everything.

And, quite horrifically, sleep was the best way to process grief, yet she was robbed of sleep because of the chip in her head.

"Alright, Miss Fleur," Fluttershy said, pulling up her notes. "Are you aware of what informed consent means?"

Fleur frowned, but nodded.

"Good. So, let me explain. That chip in your head is not a CyWear chip. It is an unfamiliar, untested piece of technology. It hasn't caused the usual damage this kind of chip would cause, but it poses some considerable risk, especially being built with a sapphire." Fleur looked rightly concerned about that. Fluttershy continued. "I do not think it is wise to leave it in your head." She paused to skim through the notes. "There is some damaged tissue already, but it might still heal later on. To my current understanding, this chip shouldn't be any different to remove than a regular chip. However, I want you to know the risks involved first, okay?"

Fleur nodded. "I've been well aware of the risk the whole time, Doctor."

Fluttershy sighed. "Well, I need to tell you everything before you consent to the surgery. The main risk is obvious—death. Mistakes during this surgery will most likely result in immediate death for you. If you survive, you may end up permanently disabled, or otherwise develop horrible psychological problems." As she had done many times before, she listed out the most likely results of a failed surgery. Calmly, to keep the patient from panicking.

Fleur's steady resolve was definitely tasted, but it did not break. "Do you think you're likely to fail?" she asked.

Fluttershy considered that seriously, even though she already knew the answer. As she did every time. "No," she admitted. "I've done this plenty of times before. I just...I can't operate unless you know the risks. Otherwise, I would be tricking you. And I've tricked enough people." She set her notes aside.

"Then let me assuage your conscience: if I don't get back on a regular sleep cycle soon, I'm probably going to die anyway. Do whatever it takes."

Fluttershy sighed. "I wish ponies wouldn't say things like that," she muttered. "Alright. I want to get that chip out as soon as possible. Ten o'clock, tomorrow morning, unless you need more time?"

"It can't come soon enough," Fleur said.

"Okay. I'm going to ask you to avoid using your magic for now. This thing has a sapphire in it. A charged sapphire. It has a full magical current in it. And if you use too much of your own magic, it might trigger the sapphire and...well..."

"So you're saying," Fleur interrupted, "that on top of everything else, it might also explode my head?"

"Um...yeah, that's...that's the gist of it," Fluttershy said.

Fleur let out a bitter laugh. "That's stupid. Why? Why did they put this in my head over a regular chip?"

"Well, the actual damage it has caused is...rather low," Fluttershy said. "So, perhaps they didn't want a noble to get hurt by the normal chips. If so, this thing was...risky, to say the least."

"Who cares if it didn't leave much damage behind if it blows up my head?" Fleur shouted.

"Well, if I get it out, then all's well for you," Fluttershy said with a smile.

Fleur threw up a hand. "Not really, as the Inquisitors will still be on my flank."

"We're...working on that," Fluttershy said. "It seems that Lyra isn't acting on official orders. Whatever's going on, we're working on getting you back home safely."

"Are you going to kill her?" Fleur asked coldly.

Fluttershy shook her head. "We don't want to attract too much attention," she said. And it was horrible that that was the reason they weren't going to kill somepony. Not because killing was wrong—but because it might attract attention.

How had the world come to this? Shouldn't killing have remained the last resort? Why did even mares like Fleur have to think about killing ponies in vengeance?

"So she's going to walk free?"

"If the Inquisitors crack down on her, then she sure as hell won't be walking free," Rainbow Dash said from her post by the door. "We can't kill them, yet, unless the Boss suddenly changes her mind. If we kill Inquisitors, then all of a sudden, Discord becomes very dangerous in the minds of the Inquisitors. We don't want that yet. War would cause too much collateral damage."

Fleur clenched her fist.

"Trust me, Fleur, I've been there," Rainbow said. "I have a close friend whose parents were both killed the Inquisitors. I wanted so badly to hunt them down." She reached over, putting a hand on Fleur's shoulder. "But it would have put my friends in danger. And I couldn't do that."

"I get it," Fleur said. "There's nothing to be done, then."

"She'll get her reckoning," Rainbow said. "We're working on that, Fleur. It'll come some day." She stepped back, leaning back against the wall.

"I need to get things ready," Fluttershy said. "Unless you have more questions?"

"Can I...talk to Vinyl?" Fleur asked.

Fluttershy hesitated. "Well, I'm not sure that's the wisest idea right now. Vinyl's...ah...she stared upon a big research project, and while I'm very happy that she's found something to keep her busy, she's also learning a very important lesson for an android."

"What's that?" Fleur asked.

"Why sleep is important."

Vinyl was a freaking genius.

She had her music turned all the way up, as she fiddled with the small contraption in front of her, occasionally turning to check on the book besides her. As it turned out, they had a lot of spare parts here that were fine for Vinyl to take. And somehow, it was super easy to put them together into a machine.

"Is someone up here?"

Vinyl turned as Sky Watch flew into the room, frowning to herself. She wore her armor, her rifle strapped across her back, an apple in one hand as she landed. "Vinyl? What are you doing up here?"

"I get the best acoustics up in these old bell towers!" Vinyl said excitedly. "Listen!" She blasted her music for a minute, listening to the reverb travel up and down the tower. "Isn't that awesome?"

"Uh...right," Sky said slowly, before taking a large bite of her apple. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment.

"So what are you doing up here? Do you come up here to sing or something?" Vinyl asked.

"Um, no. Trust me, no one wants to hear my singin' voice," Sky chuckled. "I come up here before missions. I'm gonna be dancing with Inquisitors, so...I like to sort out all my thoughts first."

"Pfft! Who cares about sorting 'em? Just let them out!"

Sky stared at her. "What?"

"Look! I've been up here for...uh...hold on..." She checked her internal clock. "Only seventeen hours!"

"Um, what about sleep?" Sky asked.

"That's for mere mortals!" Vinyl laughed, waving it off. The sound effect bugged out, however, instead playing several instruments at once. "Ignore that," she said. "Anyway, seventeen hours of work! Look what I made!" She picked up the metal box.

"Uh...cool?" Sky asked. "Listen, Vinyl, that's...um. How about you go boot off for a bit? You'll feel better afterwards."

"I've never felt better than this!" she shouted. "I understand everything, Sky! Things make so much sense now! I cracked holograms!"

"You...did, now?" Sky said. "I mean, it took ponies, like, eight hundred years, so it makes sense that you did it in...less than a day. Maybe."

"I am a fucking genius, Sky!" Vinyl said, holding up the box. "Look!" She flicked the switch, pouring her magic into it as power. The box began to hum, playing the traditional music box melody.

Sky fluttered her wings, then pulled out a pair of safety goggles, fastening them over her eyes. "Look, Scratch, I'm not sure you should--"

"Wait! Just wait until it comes on! It only needs a touch more power--!" She poured everything she had into it, letting the magic stream, to bring her creation to life.

It hummed, rattling, the metal pieces barely holding together.

Sky leapt to the side just before it exploded. White light filled her vision, along with an ear-splitting ringing and mind-numbing pain. Then, for the first time in her life, Vinyl blacked out.

[ERROR]Audio systems rebooting...

[ERROR]6T Processor back online...

[ERROR]Thaumic generator overloaded...rebooting...

[ERROR]Damage to faceplate detected!

Vinyl's optics booted back online to see a very concerned Sky looking down at her. Her vision, however, was split in half, so Sky's left half appeared an inch above her right.

"What happened?" Vinyl asked.

"I thought you died there," Sky said, voice distant. "I was just about to--"

With a feedback whine, her audio processors booted back online. She cried out, sitting up and clutching at her face. "Ow ow ow ow--"

Sky helped her sit up, as Vinyl held her aching face.

"So," Sky said, "have you learned your lesson about making sure to get sleep?"

"Uh...I'm still not sure why," Vinyl said. "Does it help?"

"It's not about energy, pal," Sky said. "All that time in the library, and you didn't think to look at the books we have for adjusting androids?"

"Er...I was busy."

"Busy reinventing flashbangs," Sky chuckled. "Look. Take it from somepony who regularly skips out on sleep just so I can talk to the diurnal ponies. Your brain continues thinking while you're sleeping. It's not a complete shut off. When you get back up, you'll have finished sorting through it all. Same holds true for synthetic ponies, too." She sat besides Vinyl, then took another bite of her apple.

"I guess that all makes sense...and owwwww..." She bent forward, turning her music on quietly.

"Curse a few times, it'll do ya good," Sky recommended. "Then let's get you to the Pies to fix your face up."

"Okay..." Vinyl croaked. "Just...okay." She looked back to the crumpled sheet metal that had been her project for the last day. "Ffffff...fuck. Dammit." She shook her head, an action she immediately regretted.

Sky politely waited for her to finish an extended cursing spree. "Ready?" she asked.

"Yeah. Give me a hand?"

Sky helped her up, taking her to the stairs that lead to and from the bell tower. "Do you even know what half of those words mean?"

"I used to browse them online," Vinyl replied.

Sky chuckled. "Haven't heard some of those since I left Sires Hollow. Oh, you and me are gonna get along just fine, V."

Vinyl let Sky do most of the work, trying to fight through the pain that clouded her mind. "That's that old abandoned place, right? Supposed to be cursed?"

"Why do you think ponies believe it's cursed?" Sky asked. "'Cuz we're there. The rest of us live in Everfree or other foreign countries. Never mind that, though. What exactly were you trying to do there?"

"Uh...well...make a hologram generator?" Vinyl chuckled.

"Yeah, but...there's no way you understood any of the science."

"You'd be surprised," Vinyl replied, "how much an android can learn given seventeen hours of uninterrupted work. Except for that time Sunset came in."

"Yeah, I...hm?"

"Anyway, I thought I'd figured out how attach my own light spell to something else, I just needed to...create something with my magic. Which I'm not sure how that exploded..."

"It'll come to you after you wake up," Sky said. "Trust me." She reached out, knocking on the door to the Pies' workshop. It opened, and Limestone's bright red eye peered out.

"Vinyl blew herself up," Sky explained. "Needs a patch job on the ol' cranium."

"Are you serious?" Limestone growled.

"Sorry," Vinyl said.

"Huh, this might be the first time a new android literally blew herself up," Pinkie's voice came in from behind Limestone's eye.

"You're running on low sleep and made poor decisions?" Maude asked.

There was only one response Vinyl could possibly give. "Mm-hmm."

Marble gave a shy laugh. "Well, come on in," Limestone said, beckoning with one of her cables. "Not that I've ever passed up the opportunity for a lecture. Let's get you patched up."

Vinyl stepped inside, then turned around to Sky. "Thanks. I think if you hadn't come up there, I'd have just been stuck up there til morning."

"Dude, I'm the only one who goes up into those bell towers," Sky said. "The acoustics you like so much drive the other thestrals nuts." She twitched her ears. "We have sensitive hearing."

"Ooh...sorry."

Sky chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm content with how this night turned out. Night, V. Night, Pies."

A chorus of 'goodnights' saw her walking down the hallway, the door to the Pie sisters' workshop closing behind Vinyl.

It was only a considerable distance down the hallway that she asked the question on her mind. "Who's this Sunset person, anyhoo?"

Vinyl laid down on the surgery table for what felt like the millionth time in recent memory.

"What, exactly, hit you?" Limestone asked.

"Um...an exploding music box."

"An exploding...music box. Let me guess, Sunset's crazy new project?"

"No, I was, uh...trying to re-invent holograms."

"And it exploded," Limestone said.

"Mm-hmm."

"You should make sure you've slept recently before testing out any new device," Maude put in. "We had that happen a few times ourselves."

"Need a large trove of obvious-sounding tips?" Limestone asked.

"I...hmm. Is there, like, a list of the upgrades I'm allowed right now?"

"That list would be whatever parts we have in stock," Maude said.

"You miiight want to wait until tomorrow," Pinkie said, "but we can help you sort through it."

Vinyl leaned back on the bed as the Pies began pulling out their tools. "I think...that'd be a great idea."

Small Town, Big Trouble

Indigo wasn't Derpy, who could seemingly magically make herself look like whoever and whatever she wanted, but her disguise was pretty damn good regardless.

Her jacket had been folded inside out, leaving the inner fabric visible, a deep blue to replace the rich purple. The bottom of the jacket had been folded up and pinned, leaving it only coming down to her waist. Her mane had changed style completely, a deliberately steretypical one that she'd found. Her earrings had stayed, but were joined by the makeup that she hadn't really used before now.

The jeans had been replaced by a short skirt, and she'd replaced her tank top with a blue one, with a Cutie Mark that wasn't hers on it. Nothing could be done about her hands or reflex chip, but neither would look too out of place.

Though, as she stared at nearby wooden buildings, she added a 'maybe' onto the end of that statement.

Fleetfoot kept a long distance behind her, pretending to struggle with several luggage bags as Indigo skipped a haughty, rich-pony trot off the train station.

Where to go, was the question. The obvious choice was to swing by Octavia's house, but she didn't want to alert the Changeling that an actual Inquisitor was in town. If her battle with Chrysalis had taught her anything, it was to be careful.

She'd made sure to share everything she knew with Minuette before stepping into town. Lyra had legitimately left the Canton within the past few days, just before the attack on Fleur, by, perhaps, complete coincidence. Lyra's current whereabouts were unknown, but her actually being in Ponyville was a very slim chance.

But she still wasn't clear on what, exactly, had happened here. Fleur had eluded the Changeling, somehow, but if it had been killed....well, Octavia should have mentioned it.

There was...a place she could go to for clues, when she thought about it, but it was risky.

Indigo trotted across the town, to the edge where a small house sat. Short and squat, the thing looked like someone had started to paint and decorate it but given up halfway through. A single lawn gnome sat by the walkway, but had been crowded by weeds that the owner hadn't cut. The gnomes face was designed like one of the comedy/tragedy masks that were a cliche amongst anime edgelords, and not at all inconspicuous.

Sour Sweet's house did not look like she was undercover. Then again, she was only a couple months senior to Indigo herself. This had been Derpy's idea of training, to infiltrate this small town and report intel back to Canterlot.

If she was still alive at this point, she was getting a firm tongue lashing.

Indigo tried the door. It was locked, of course. So she pulled out Trixie's adjusting skeleton keys.

Sour hadn't been back at the Canton in a while, so she couldn't know about them. And thus, she had no countermeasures in place for them.

Indigo pushed open the door, slipping inside. Nopony else would have seen anything besides somepony fiddling with her keys.

Sour kept a lot of fuzzy furniture at her house. Except that every second chair was hard wood with no padding.

"Take point by the door," Sour said. "Stay hidden until she comes in. Don't shoot unless she does."

"Got it," Fleetfoot said, standing besides the door.

Indigo slipped through the living room. Hiding her activity logs in there would have been terrible, so she immediately headed for Sour's bedroom. It was a bit obvious, so Indigo didn't think the logs were actually hidden in there, but it was worth a check.

Sour Sweet's bedroom had a game-station and a mini-fridge inside it. Indigo peeked inside. It was full of several take out boxes, which Indigo checked individually. They had scant left-overs from Sour Sweet's meals.

Sticking a fried apple slice in her mouth, Indigo moved to looking underneath the bed.

The black-light revealed fingerprints, and she pulled open a hidden compartment with ease. "Gotcha," she muttered.

Inside was a small box with a lock. Indigo grinned to herself, pulling out her skeleton key again, and quickly broke it open.

The only thing inside was a game for the station. Is this how she hid it? Indigo thought. She put it into the machine, watching it boot up. Clever.

Instead of seeing Sour Sweet's video logs about her mission, she got a look at a bright pink screen covered in ribbons and hearts, with "DOKI DOKI HEARTS ACADEMY" boldly printed across the screen, right next to a blushing anime unicorn.

Indigo pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay, this is not your log, then," she muttered, reaching up to take the game out.

She paused, eyes wandering over to the save file. "Playtime...four hundred and fifty-seven hours? What the hell is wrong with you?"

She stopped, listening to the door open.

Indigo stepped out of the bedroom, looking over to Sour Sweet.

Sour Sweet froze, but had a gun out in less than a second, trained directly on Indigo. "Who the fuck are you?"she demanded.

Fleetfoot put a pistol to the back of her head.

"Indigo Zap," Indigo introduced, pulling out her badge. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced."

"Oh, really?" Sour Sweet said, sweet as her name suggested. Also like her name suggested, she added in a nasty tone, "Because the gun to the back of my head is a helluva way to do that."

"Sweet? We have it on record that you lied in your reports. You hid Octavia from us," Indigo said. "So, yeah. Derpy was going to swing by when she got back from Vanhoover, but...y'know, I was in town anyway..."

"With Lyra?"

"Uh, no." Indigo chuckled. "By the way, we ran into something that shapeshifted into us recently, so how about you prove you're the real Sour Sweet real quick?"

"Uh, what?" Sour blinked. She lowered her gun—smart move—and seemed to think for a moment. "Well, uh...how?"

"That...would be the question, wouldn't it?" Indigo sighed. "We've never met. Looking back, I know these things can't imitate us perfectly." She began to pace, back and forth. Sour Sweet kept still, mindful of the gun on her.

"Okay. Derpy told you Princess Midnight's passcode, and these Changeling...things wouldn't be able to get that. So, what was Princess Midnight's passcode?"

"What? Derpy doesn't know that!" Sour exclaimed.

"Correct," Indigo said. "Fleet, you can lower the gun now."

"Yes, Ma'am," Fleetfoot said, complying. Sour immediately stepped away, moving to watch both Fleetfoot and Indigo at once.

"The Changelings did actually find out Princess Midnight's passcode," Indigo explained. "And one seems to have impersonated Lyra to attack a noblemare."

"That...that's what that was?" Sour burst out. "I thought I was just out of the loop!"

"No. Lyra...might be dead." Indigo considered that possibility. "Unlikely, but possible. What do you know about what Lyra's been doing?"

"Nothing. I kept my distance, as I am undercover, but I managed to figure out that she attacked Fleur."

"And you were the one who told Octavia?"

"N...not me," Sour said, averting her eyes. "She's...she's not--"

Indigo stepped over, grabbing Sour by the collar, and pinned her against the wall. Sour had her gun back out in an instant, up to Indigo's head, but Indigo gave her a firm glare. "We do not pick and choose who we investigate. We do not ignore ponies who we think deserve to get away with it. We track down suspicious activities, we investigate them, and if we don't like what we find, we stop them."

"Octavia was Goldbricker's groundskeeper!" Sour burst out.

"What?" Indigo released her, and Sour rubbed at her throat. "Explain."

"She was Goldbricker's groundskeeper when Lyra murdered him," Sour said. "She fucking hates Inquisitors. I...I heard you guys were looking for her, and I...I panicked! She's a good pony, she just...saw what happens when Inquisitors mess up, and...doesn't like them. At all. Runs with a bunch of those 'zero gov' ponies who forget that someone has to move the freakin' sun." She ran a hand through her mane. "I...I get it. I fucked up. Hard. But Octavia's not done anything worth sending Inquisitors after."

"Dude, we're trying to recruit her," Indigo muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Eh...? Recruit?"

"Yeah. We want to hire her. This would have been very useful information a week ago. Ugh. Just...what happened after that?"

"No clue. I know Fleur got away somehow, and Lyra's...been limping about town. She swapped her disguise, but there's only so much she can do about the instrument case."

"You think she was injured?"

"It's pretty obvious," Sour said.

"Ah, good. If Chrysalis was anything to go by, these things don't go down easy."

"If I go out hunting this thing, I'll blow my cover," Sour said.

Indigo raised an eyebrow.

"Some of these ponies...do need an eye kept on them," Sour said.

"Fine. I can't really trust that you're not a Changeling at this point, anyway. Derpy's going to chew you out as soon as she's back from Vanhoover, which should be any day now. Where's Lyra, by the way?"

"Constantly moving. I know she stole some supplies from Ponyville General Care. She might be heading back for more."

"Ouch. Bit of a blood loss, eh?" Indigo paused, then thought back to Chrysalis. To the green blood splattering the walls.

"Hey, give me your hand."

"Huh?"

Indigo pulled out a knife. "I need to test something."

"Found her," Sky said, moving her scope to train it on Indigo. "Shit...she's over by Sour's place. What's she doing over there?"

"Think she knows Sour's with Discord?" Rarity asked.

"We'd have heard shooting," Sky said. "I think she's just walking down the road near her. Let's not panic just yet."

"But why send Indigo?" Rarity muttered. "Derpy's on a mission, but Minuette...Minuette's still in Canterlot. Not even on any other jobs at the moment. This doesn't seem like something they'd send the department rookie to handle."

"Who even knows?" Sky said. "Maybe Midnight's just that crazy." She tapped the side of her gun, as she looked directly at Indigo's face. A few stains showed where she hadn't fully gotten rid of her makeup—probably how she got through Ponyville without Sky being able to find her.

Indigo turned slightly, looking more directly into Sky's scope. Which was ridiculous, as Sky was very well hidden. Even if she caught the flash of the scope, she'd never have seen--

Indigo held up her middle finger, then made a shooing gesture, directly at her.

Sky cursed, moving and ducking behind the stack of boxes. "She saw me," she whispered. "How?"

"Eye upgrade?" Rarity suggested. "Or maybe just a lucky guess. Or maybe her little slave spotted you. She has that thing for a reason."

"Something about this whole situation doesn't sit right with me," Sky muttered. "I hate unknowns. Did Lyra go rogue, or is she acting on orders?"

"Well, if they come looking for us..." Rarity's gun clicked, and she turned her attention to where her mask sat, on a large stack of crates, filled with bullets. "Then we're ready for them."

"That snooping bitch come back?"

"No, ma'am," Fleetfoot said. "At least, as far as I can see."

"Good," Indigo said. It wouldn't have been Lyra, but it very well might have been a Changeling. She couldn't say much about them, but she expected, if nothing else, good skills of surveillance. She'd caught the shine of the weapon, but that seemed a little...obvious? It wasn't the best skills Indigo had ever seen, that was for sure.

Indigo made one last look over her shoulder, then hurried the last few feet over to the building. It was a small little house, with its owners out on holiday. A few light scratches on the door knob showed that the Changeling had picked the lock—old school, and not using Trixie's new contraption.

Indigo rapped her knuckles on the door. "Lyra? You in there?"

"Uh...yeah? Come in."

Indigo pushed open the door, frowning as she stepped into the room.

Lyra sat, on the sofa, with her gun out. Seeing Indigo come in, she lowered her pistol, head back on the arm of her chair. Her coat, and shirt, were nearby chair, and she was covered in blood and bandages.

"Yikes. What happened to you?" Indigo asked. "Fleet, guard the door."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Since when do we get our own personal androids?" Lyra asked, opening one eye to look at Fleetfoot. "Wait, that's a Wonderbolt. Nice. How many more did you bring?"

"Uh...not many. Again, what happened to ya? That's...uh...bad, looking." Indigo reached over, picking up Lyra's coat. It seemed...like it was, in fact, Lyra's coat.

Oh, you old goat, Indigo thought wistfully. Please be alive somewhere.

"The Diamond Duster happened," Lyra groaned. "The bullets weren't diamond, by the way." She guestured to a small dish in front of her, with some smooth, white bullets in it. Indigo picked it up, examining them.

"Not see-through like real diamonds. Heavier, too, and...unbroken. Diamond bullets break a lot, magic or no. If it hit your coat dead-on, they should have broken or chipped. These..."

"From the Crystal Province," Lyra said. "Sawed-off shotgun, firing those things. Cracked two of my ribs, and one arm. And that was when she sniped me from thirty yards. Whoever built that thing, I'm gonna disassemble."

"Gotcha," Indigo muttered. She wasn't sure how different 'crystal' was from diamond, but she knew her coat wouldn't stop diamond bullets. Even from a shotgun.

"Diamond Duster's body job is, uh...bad. For us. I shoot her a few times, but her armor is incredibly thick."

"Do you think she was a real pony under the mask?" Indigo asked.

"Hm, maybe?" Lyra adjusted herself on the sofa, sitting up with a groan. "Maybe she's an earth pony. That would explain how she walks about in armor that heavy."

"What were you doing out here, anyway?" Indigo asked. "Just on a mission?"

Lyra hesitated. "Sorry. It's for a Princess. I can't say anything."

"Is it, now?"

Lyra frowned, as Indigo sat opposite to her, slipping a gun out of her jacket.

"Zap. What's going on?"

"Which Princess?"

"What? I just said--"

"Tell me which Princess gave you orders, so I can verify," Indigo said. "Simple as that."

"Princess Cadenza," Lyra said slowly. "There aren't any Changelings involved here, far as I can tell."

"Fleet, make a call to Minuette. Direct line."

"Alright, gotcha." Her goggles briefly displayed a loading symbol, and then Minuette's voice crackled. "At the Canton, privacy secured. What's up?"

"I need you to verify something for me. Check if Lyra went and received orders from Princess Cadenza before she left. I need to know if she's acting on orders."

"Princess...Cadenza? She...she met with her just before the attack on Fleur's house. About Gillda, remember?"

"Double check," Indigo said. "I need confirmation."

Minuette chuckled at the order. "You're the boss."

The line disconnected, and Indigo sat in...mostly silence. If it was a Changeling, she was still tapping her hoof. Was there a rhythm? Yes...Indigo could almost hear it...

"Ave Marea," Indigo said, meeting Lyra's eyes.

Lyra abruptly stopped. "Y-yeah. That's the first time you've actually named the song, hmm?'

"That's the real you, isn't it," Indigo said slowly.

"Yeah. It's me." Lyra smiled, but it faded when Indigo glared into her eyes.

"You have about ten seconds to explain why you tried to kill Fleur de Liss. Twice."

Repurcussions

Lyra stared at her for the first five seconds. Then she sighed. "I already told you. I was on orders."

"From Princess Cadenza?" Indigo burst out. "You're kidding."

Lyra shook her head.

"But—but—she's Princess of Diplomacy! Since when do we take orders from--"

"She is a Princess, Indigo," Lyra said. "I came to her over something else entirely, but the order was hers."

"But—but why?"

"Fleur's been cyber jolted. Princess Cadenza believes she's going to start speaking against cybernetics, and it would be convenient for her to disappear." Lyra gritted her teeth, squeezing one of her bullet wounds. "Ooh...fuck...ow. Ah..."

Indigo sighed, rubbing her forehead.

Then stepped over to Lyra, then began to unwind the bandages. "These should have been swapped ten minutes ago," she griped, for lack of anything better to say.

"I just came back with more five minutes ago," Lyra said. "I, uh, have been liberally using the Right of Recquisition."

"I mean, yeah. This is easily forty bits worth of medical supplies, not to mention some pony's house. Is...is that covered under Recquisition?"

"Ehh...probably? A big enough pay check makes ponies willing to overlook a lot of trespasses."

"Princess Glimmer is gonna be furious," Indigo muttered. It was well known amongst even common ponies that the Princess of Commerce hated the Right of Recquisition. "Let's get a look at those wounds." She dropped the old, dripping bandages onto a nearby table and took a close look at the bullet holes. They'd been stitched up good enough, but one had come back open. Indigo pulled the needle and thread out of the medkit, then went to work. "I thought you'd have more scars," she said.

"Eh...I didn't care for them," Lyra said. "I got rid of them. Though I'm a little old to do that at this point. A little past my prime, and...there's nopony who'd see them anymore, anyway."

"Right...your old partner. I...just assumed you stayed in touch with her."

Lyra sighed. "The records are wrong. Twilight never should have put her down as AWOL. She...she had to have died."

"But—"

"No. No buts. She wouldn't have left without telling me."

"If you say so."

Lyra stared at her. "Not going to tell me to get over it?"

"Eh. I wasn't there. I never met Bon-bon. I can't say anything either way, so why bother? Brace yourself."

"I suppose I was just..." Indigo tightened the fresh bandages. Lyra broke off with a stream of foul curses in her kind, sweet voice.

"I said to brace yourself," Indigo said unapollogetically when Lyra finished.

"That is not how you tie bandages!" Lyra snapped.

"Yeah it is. Minuette showed me how."

"I taught her better than that."

Indigo raised an eyebrow. "She said she was just doing it like you taught her to."

Before Lyra could respond, Fleetfoot spoke up. "Incoming message, Minuette, direct line."

Indigo said, "We're clear."

Minuette's voice rang out. "Alright, verified. Lyra did go and receive an order from Princess Cadenza. The Princess neglected to tell me what it was--"

"Yeah, I got it," Indigo said. "The order was the execution of Fleur de Liss."

"What? Since when--"

"Oh for crying out loud," Lyra interrupted, pulling at her face. "The both of you. What am I supposed to do, disobey her? I don't like, care for, or trust the order, but come on! It was Princess Cadenza!"

"You should have gone to Princess Midnight, and you know it," Minuette snapped. "Princess Midnight would have sorted out the whole situation in five minutes. Now we have a week's worth of coverups, Lyra."

Indigo grimaced.

"Forget it. Come on back when you can. Indigo, try blaming it on the Changelings. Use the Right of Silence if you have to, but we can't have Fleur talking about this."

"Got it. You go explain the situation to Princess Midnight. And, uh...maybe send me a flight of Wonderbolts, too."

"What?"

"There's a Discord base somewhere nearby," Lyra said. "I was attacked by the Diamond Duster."

"You're sure it's not a Changeling?" Minuette said. "We think there was one that used Diamond Duster's face to kill Trenderhoof."

"Crystal bullets, sawed-off shotgun. I still have the bullets, too. And there was another with it there. Strange mare, in a trenchcoat, glasses, and fedora. With a rifle a bit bigger than civs are allowed." Lyra frowned. "Something was strange about her. If she's not with Discord, I'll eat my gun."

"Got it," Minuette said. "I'll be flying in with a few Wonderbolts in a matter of hours. But you've got to keep Discord from leaving."

"Got it. But...wait, what about your surgery?"

"I'll be fine."

"Uh, no, that's not--"

"Discord's long been a thorn in our side. It's only a matter of time before they actually start doing things again. We've ignored this threat too long. If we can take out one of their elite operatives, we'll be that much better off."

"How will you do anything with your heart implant malfunctioning?"

"With seven Wonderbolts on hand, I'll be fine," Minuette said firmly. "Just make sure things are right on your end."

"Gah, fine. Indigo out."

"Minuette out."

The call crackled as it ended.

"I'm...kind of dead-weight at the moment," Lyra said. "Leave one of your Wonderbolts here, take the rest, and find the Duster."

"Um..." Indigo ran a hand through her mane, swishing her tail awkwardly. "I said that because I thought you...were a Changeling," she said. "I just have her."

Lyra sighed. "Well, that's...one Wonderbolt. I guess. Does she have the standard loadout?"

Fleetfoot pulled out a pistol. "Colt 45, ruby rounds. The gun arm was not really stealthy, so I left it at home."

"I'm not sure that'll cut it," Lyra said. "Diamond Duster's armor was at least Wonderbolt grade. It ate up my 556 rounds with barely a dent. And if she's really an android, then she won't really need padding under the armor to soften the blunt force trauma. Maybe she just has an extra layer of metal plates."

"What about your next size up?" Indigo said.

"Bounced off, but I think it scratched her," Lyra said. "My angling was bad, though. Kinda just clipped her shoulder from the side. I didn't get a change to pull out the big boys, though." She grimaced. "She caught me around the bend, in the middle breaking out the big bullets."

"Great. So my guns won't cut it unless I shoot exclusively the same spot." Indigo pulled open her coat, checking. All her pistols were in place, tucked into the various holsters inside her jacket. "Problem. I don't have great accuracy at range." She pulled out one of her snub-nosed pistols.

"That's a big problem," Lyra said. "Don't you have any larger pistols?"

"No. They're harder to fit under the coat."

Lyra sighed, then flipped her gun around, handing it to Indigo. "Take this. I'll want it back in one piece."

Indigo took it, taking a moment to adjust to the gun's somewhat hefty weight. "Caliber?"

"500 Magnum, emerald. Point blank it might actually fully penetrate." She pulled out an extra ammo cartridge, which Indigo traded for one of her extra pistols.

"This is a bit bigger than any other pistol I've fired. And Minuette's kicks."

"I worked the recoil a bit, it should be more like Min's now," Lyra said. "But most importantly, it's bigger than your current one. I strongly recommend carrying something a little bigger around with you, just in case. You've seen how strong some of these modern armors are getting, and we can't always rely on the criminals not having access to the best armor."

"Duly noted." Indigo checked the cartridge, nodded to herself, then reloaded the gun. As she examined it, she found a small icon of a candy wrapper traced onto the hilt.

"I'll keep an eye out," Lyra said, "but you still have to catch them before Minuette arrives."

"Wait, you want me to leave you here?"

"I'll be fine. I've still got my rifle, of course." She grinned, picking up the rifle from the floorboard. "Let's see Miss Duster take a 50 BMG and keep walking. I'll pay her back then and there."

"Okay then," Indigo said. "Be on the lookout. I bet they're jumping at the chance to kill an Inquisitor. Where did you see them, anyway?"

"Over at the edge of town. Literally. There's a shack on the freakin' border of Everfree Forest, and she came barreling out of the woods. To...save Fleur, I think."

"Ah, lovely," Indigo said. "I get to listen to a criminal psychopath try and take the moral highground with me. Thanks, Lyra."

Lyra held up her middle finger. "Up yours, Zap," she muttered, closing her eyes.

Indigo found herself chuckling as she headed for the door. "Alright. Stay safe. And just in case...if 'I' come back around, don't let me in until I tell you...Summer Sun."

"Gotcha."

Indigo stepped out the door, then scanned around the nearby houses. "Alright, then, Duster," she said, "where would you be hiding?"

She looked side to side, then to the building that somepony had been watching her from. She narrowed her eyes, marching towards it.

"Shouldn't we be trying to be stealthier?" Fleetfoot asked.

"If that's them in there, they saw us already," Indigo said. She stepped up, looking up at the building. Two stories, not readily apparent as a house, but no store signs on it, either.

A large padlock sat at the foot of the door, scratches on it showing use of lockpicks. Indigo pushed the door open slowly, then rapidly ducked to the side.

Surprisingly, no shot came, so she peaked around the side.

Nopony was watching the door.

Maybe it was some local kid? she thought to herself. Either way, one did not pick their own lock, so this was definitely a forced entry.

"Friendship Inquisitors! Come out with your hands where I can see them! Any hostile action will be met with lethal force!" she bellowed, striding forward.

Silence met her.

The room was full of boxes, and when Indigo peaked into one, all she saw was canned food. And some other shelf-stable items. The boxes themselves carried Everfree's logo on them, their classic tree/sundial fusion with FOREVER EVERFREE written bellow it.

Indigo tore a piece of paper off the wall, quickly reading through it. "It's an Everfree storage building," she said. "They kept notes on how much food they had." Except most of the numbers had been scribbled out, and replaced with much smaller numbers. At the bottom of the page, someone had written, "I have reason to believe somepony is stealing food. If that is you, do note that this is for a CHARITY DRIVE and you're either in need yourself, so you need only ask, or you are not in need, in which case, you are stealing from HOMELESS PEOPLE." That was double-underlined, and the ink had been smudged where the pony had clearly been angry while writing. "Whatever the case, further thefts will not be tolerated. So KNOCK IT OFF." And it was signed, G.D.

Gloriosa Daisy, the woman whose parents had founded Everfree.

Indigo kicked open every door she found, but nopony was hiding in there.

"This is your last warning!" she called up, heading for the staircase. "If you do not come out, I will assume that you are of hostile intent!"

No response came. So probably not a local kid, she thought to herself. With no sign of anypony on the first floor, she headed for the staircase. She spread her wings, keeping her hooves off the steps, and her flaps light, as she flew up to the door. Fleetfoot stayed at the bottom of the steps—her engines were too loud. Indigo put her ear up to the door, listening.

She heard a faint scuffing, as if somepony was moving. Then a quiet curse.

Then...a loud heartbeat? Evenly spaced beats, pounding.

Indigo leapt to the side just as the door shattered. Indigo landed, sliding back on her hooves as an echoing BOOM filled the room. Bits of plaster fell off the roof, hitting the ground besides her as a large, crooked-looking android landed in front of her.

Indigo fired a few times before the Diamond Duster rose, but the bullets ricocheted off the sides of the android. Indigo grimaced, stepping back as she kept the guns trained on the android.

"Do you really want this dance, sweetheart?" the android rasped.

"A job's a job," Indigo answered, "but yeah. I'll take this one." She grinned. "Rather wish you were easier on the eyes, though."

"Cute," Diamond chuckled. "I've long since given up on looking beautiful, though."

Indigo raised both her guns and fired.

Altercation

Diamond Duster was not fast like an android would be. If anything, she was slow like an unaugmented pony. No...Class 2 reflex chip, or Class, 3, tops.

Indigo leapt to the side, firing as Diamond Duster moved to train her gun on her. She seemed to be more or less ignoring Fleetfoot, which was good. Fleetfoot was big and heavy, more used to relying on her armor to block than on her ability to dodge. And her armor wouldn't really hold up to Diamond Duster's gun.

Indigo caught the tension along Diamond Duster's arm before she saw her squeeze the trigger. But Indigo had already dodged, the bullets zipping past with glowing white trails. Indigo emptied the last rounds from each of her pistols, then threw them to the sides as she fell into a shooter's crouch. She quickly drew Lyra's pistol, then fired.

The pistol did jerk, but she kept her grip. More importantly, the bullet hit dead on, embedding itself lightly into the front of Diamond's armor.

Diamond grunted, a distinctly flesh-and-blood noise, starting to jump to the side as her gun pointed directly at Indigo.

Indigo shot to the side, but Diamond didn't prematurely fire this time. instead continuing to swivel to face Indigo. Indigo cursed as she put a little speed into her dodge, her shot missing. Diamond fired again, the bullets only narrowly missing Indigo this time. Indigo refocused her gun, aiming at Diamond, and fired again.

The bullet hit Diamond right in the mask, sending a crack across it as she stumbled back. The mask didn't break, like it looked like it should, instead chipping slightly as the bullet fell to the ground.

Diamond cursed foully, ducking around a stack of boxes as more bullets from Fleetfoot clipped off her shoulder.

Indigo's next shot went through the boxes, but she didn't hear it hit Diamond afterwards.

"You know, you could save yourself a good deal of pain and surrender," Indigo said.

That stupid phantom heartbeat was still pounding, but Indigo couldn't place the source. Diamond didn't reply, staying behind the boxes.

Indigo motioned Fleetfoot around the left side, while she started moving to the right. "Come on, buddy. What do you really hope to accomplish?"

"Vengeance."

Indigo hesitated. "Are you with Chrysalis?" she asked.

Diamond didn't answer. Indigo took a moment to pick up a shard of the mask that had fallen. It didn't have topaz dust, like she'd expected. It just looked...like a regular, cheap Nightmare Night mask.

But the bullet had even punched a hole in the armor...

The heartbeat began to pick up, so Indigo fired into the boxes again. The Diamond Duster reappeared, coming out on Indigo's side of the boxes, two shotguns held out and pointing at Indigo. Cursing, Indigo ducked back, just barely quicker than Diamond.

The wall that the bullets hit exploded outwards, enough holes punched through it to bring it down. Indigo sincerly hoped nopony was on the other side of that, but refocused her mind onto Diamond. Indigo rolled away just before Diamond fired again, the floor exploding in chips of plaster, Indigo's wings buzzing as she came back to her feet, leveling her gun at Diamond.

A shimmering green forcefield appeared in the air, catching the bullet. The bullet still punched through the field, but then was stopped by Diamond's armor, without doing any further damage.

Diamond leveled both her guns, but hesitated, for just a moment. And in that singular moment of hesitation, Fleetfoot jumped in front of Indigo, wings spread out to block bullets.

Diamond didn't fire.

"Not gonna shoot?" Indigo asked.

"I'm not killing your slave, sweetheart," Diamond rasped. "She doesn't have any choice."

"That doesn't matter," Fleetfoot snapped. "I'd stick by her if I did have a choice."

"Would you, now?" Diamond cocked her head sideways. "What...are you? You're not normal."

"I'm her friend and servant," Fleetfoot answered. "I'm a soldier of this country. I will give...well, however much of a life I have to my commander."

Indigo lifted her gun past Fleetfoot's head, aiming for Diamond's face, but a gunshot rang out before she could fire. A shimmering trail of blue pierced through her hand, sending Lyra's gun flying as it punched into Indigo's hand. Pain flared up, and she screamed, ducking back as Fleetfoot turned to the doorway.

"Diamond, time to go!" a voice shouted. "We got a flight of Wonderbolts coming in hot!"

"Until next time, my little soldier," Diamond said, then charged for the door.

"After her!" Indigo shouted.

Fleetfoot bolted, heading off Diamond, but hesitated, and turned back

Indigo slumped against a crate, cradling her hand as unwanted flashbacks shot through her mind.

"Uh, ma'am?" Fleetfoot asked.

"Just...go after her," Indigo croaked.

Fleetfoot took up a position by the door, but didn't move, even as Indigo heard the sound of a car driving off, tires squealing against the road.

Fleetfoot stepped over to Indigo then, kneeling besides her. "Ma'am? Are...you okay?"

Indigo shook her head.

"Go...get them," Indigo ordered again.

Fleetfoot stepped closer, staring at her. "What happened to you? It just hit your hand, right?"

Indigo struggled to her feet, pushing past Fleetfoot and heading for the door. She pulled out her phone with her functional hand, falling against the doorframe. "Direct Line: Minuette, authorized: Thunderbolt."

Minuette answered. "Just entered Ponyville."

"Diamond Duster and at least one other member of Discord are escaping. Nondescript black van, over by the two story building with the Everfree logo on the side. Heading...fuck, where is...east. They're heading east."

"Got it. You injured?"

"I'm fine."

"Roger. Moving to follow."

Indigo cut off the line, then stepped out the door.

Fleetfoot grabbed her by her coat, pulled her back, and dropped her on the ground.

Indigo stared up at her.

"What's wrong?" Fleetfoot asked. "You're stumbling and clearly can't stand up properly and you only have a bullet hole in prosthetic hand, and you keep snapping at ponies. Including your superior officer. Are you...okay?"

"I...it hurts...so much, Fleetfoot."

"You...you told Princess Trixie you couldn't feel through them, though?" Fleetfoot ran a hand through her mane. "What's going on?"

"It...doesn't hurt in the hands. It hurts up here." Indigo pointed at her head. "I lost...lost my real hand to a ruby bullet. Punched right through. I replaced both my hands then, but..." She curled into a ball, resting her chin on her knees. "When...I got shot in the hand recently, I started getting...flashbacks. To that time."

"Phantom limb pain and PTSD, followed up by a cybernetic procedure," a calm, collected voice stated from the staircase.

Indigo was up in more time than she particularly liked, two pistols out and pointed at the figure. She was rather tall, with a big cloak bundled around herself, two unusually large wings behind her. And over her face was a wooden Olden Pony mask, looking exactly as cheap as the Diamond Duster's.

"Hands in the air," Indigo snapped.

The figure raised one hand, giving a little wave, then proceeded to limp down the staircase. "What most ponies don't realize is that if you replace a limb following an injury to the same limb, it almost always results in post-traumatic stress disorder," she explained. She gestured outwards with one hand, saying, "Your brain remembers the injury. And it knows that something was wrong with that limb. But when you stick on a lump of metal and tell the brain that it's the same thing, your brain doesn't quite understand. Deep, deep down." She touched the side of her head with one finger, looking to Indigo. Two green eyes looked at her with something akin to pity. "It's well recorded, actually. Pity that they don't think to explain that beforehand."

"You...are you with Discord?"

"Yes."

"Hands in the air, and take off the mask," Indigo said. "I will shoot."

Fleetfoot aimed her gun at the terrorist, too, but somehow, the mare didn't look in the least bit frightened. "Are you satisfied?" she asked. "With what you do?"

"I said, hands in the air," Indigo snapped.

The figure stared at her. "I don't know why I bother," she muttered to herself. "You'll see it one day. And then, you'll realize what I did."

"And that is?"

"That that thing is no god," she whispered.

"Who in Tartarus do you think you are?" Indigo demanded.

"I am Discord."

Indigo fired. It was meant as a warning shot. But faster than Indigo could see, her hand shot out, clenched in the middle of the air. She held it out, opening the fist, showing the bullet sitting on her palm over a fresh hole in her glove, slightly chipped from the collision.

"Nice try," she commented casually.

"What...what are you?" Indigo asked.

"I am the oncoming vengeance," 'Discord' said. "We will have our demands met."

"What demands?"

Discord reached into her coat, slowing down slightly as Indigo pointed her pistol at her head, then pulled out a document. She tossed it to Indigo, saying, "Pass that on to your superiors. Let them know that we do not want this to get bloody. But we are willing to get our hands dirty, if the need arises." She turned, and started walking towards the door.

"Do you really think I'm about to let you walk out?" Indigo asked.

"If you could have stopped me, then I wouldn't have shown up," Discord replied flippantly. "Have a good day."

"Uh, ma'am?" Fleetfoot looked after Discord, then looked back to Indigo. "Do you want me to..."

"No," Indigo said. "She has a trick up her sleeve. That wouldn't end well. Besides, she fucking caught a bullet with her hand. Nobody does that. Nobody!" Indigo shook her head. "Discord's full of nutjobs. We've always known that. I'll pass the message on to Princess Midnight. In the meantime, let's hope Minuette can catch those other two, and let's go see what they were doing upstairs."

"That's the car," Minuette said.

Soarin chuckled. "Not exactly laying low, are they?" He picked up the speaker, saying, "Wonderbolt flight captain Soarin speaking. Pull over the car at once and submit yourself to judgement. Comply immediately or you will be met with lethal force."

The car continued to swerve down the side of the road. Ponyville had already been left miles behind, which meant that there was nothing in the way of collateral damage.

"Try and get them to stop," Minuette said. "I want to interrogate them after this."

"Port gun, ready and aim!" Soarin called out. "Disabling shot, fire."

The sound of a machine gun blasting drummed in Minuette's ears as she watched the glowing red trails blast the roadside. The car rattled, swerved, and then crashed into a tree. The wood cracked and splintered, the tree shaking, but it did not break.

Minuette let out a sigh of relief. "Weapons out. Suspect is highly armed and dangers, equipped with diamond bullets." The hatch on the back of the jet opened up, and the seven Wonderbolts leapt out. Minuette landed right behind them, the Wonderbolt jet rumbling over her head.

Soarin hovered on her right, gun leveled, and the two advanced slowly towards the truck.

"No sudden movements!" Minuette called out. "Come out with your hands up. Any hostile action will be met with lethal force."

"Could they be unconscious?" Soarin asked.

"Not likely. This car's been modified illegally...see? No license plate, and the wheels are above the size set for standard design."

"Four-wheeled drive," Soarin muttered. "An off-road vehicle. I busted up some people just last week for producing cars like this."

Minuette stepped up to the front of the car, slowly. "Alright, hands up where I can see them," she said. "You might just make it out of this alive, if you're smart. So be smart."

No one moved from inside the car. Minuette jumped to the front, leveling and firing her revolver into the car. It hit no one, because the car was empty.

Completely empty. There were seats, but nopony sat inside any of them. Not even a driver.

"It's empty?" she said, her confusion breaking through her professional facade. "It...was driving, right?"

"Yeah? It was most definitely moving." Soarin frowned, then said, "Pretty clean driving for somepony being chased by a Stormfront." He looked up at the jet, hovering just over their heads, then back to the truck.

"It's got to be...remote controlled," Minuette said, grabbing the door. She pulled out the skeleton key, fiddling with the car's lock. "I can trace that. Be ready to move out as soon as I can pinpoint the location."

"And...Diamond Duster?"

"Probably long gone at this point."

"Hold—hold up, Duster...I got stitches...all the way up my side...hol' up..."

Diamond slowed, turning back to Sky. "Well, Sweetheart? We're not so far into the Forest that they won't chase us."

"I don't got bionic muscles," Sky pointed out. "Just a second. I need...to breathe." She put a hand to her forehead, looking out into the Everfree. "We're fine, anyway. They'll still be scratching their heads over that car."

A shadow passed over their heads. Diamond looked up, watching one of the Everfree's stormclouds slowly rolling overhead. "Perfect," she said. "The rain will cover our tracks."

"Inquisitors ain't never tracked ponies through underbrush, anyway," Sky muttered. "Okay...I'm ready." She stretched, shoulders popping, and then straightened her rifle across her back. "Why do you think Indigo stayed behind instead of chasing?"

"Lack of firepower, most likely," Diamond replied.

"Yeah, but that other pistol she had did put a hole in your armor," Sky said. "That should have been stopped by the plates."

Diamond rubbed her shoulder. "Well, sweetheart, it wasn't." She paused, then looked at her hand. A few drops of red, sticky blood were on her fingers. She stared at it for a moment, then said, "Come on. Let's get to the castle."

Aftermath

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."

Boiling Blood

"Molesworth, you better not be fucking with me."

Gilda folded her arms over her chest, glaring down at her informant. Molesworth cringed, but shook his head. "No fucking here," he said, with an awkward chuckle. He adjusted his oversized spectacles, then gestured to his monitor. "You can look for yourself, Gilda. The Inquisitors wiped you and your buddy from the database. They're coming for you."

"Fuck," Gilda said. "I didn't...I thought...dammit!" She punched the wall, causing Molesworth to cringe again.

"Please, Gilda! I've gotten too many noise complaints...ponies will start asking questions..."

"When? When did this happen?"

"W-well, I don't get the info as soon as it happens, i-it--"

"When?"

"A week ago," Molesworth said.

"Fuck!" Gilda shouted. "A fucking week? And you'e only just now coming to me?"

"I only just found out!" Molesworth whimpered. "Please—keep the noise down!"

Gilda shoved past him, heading for the door. As she threw it open, she found an angry looking colt on the other side.

"Would you mind," he said, "keeping it down?"

Gilda flipped him off. "Go fuck yourself," she said, elbowing past him.

He reached out, grabbing her shoulder. "Hey now. You're disrupting the entire--"

Gilda grabbed his elbow, then shoved hers back into his chest while yanking. She heard something break, as he gasped, then she whirled him around, driving his face into the dumpster besides Molesworth's door. The colt fell to the ground, leaving a bloody smear and a dent on the side of the dumpster.

"Gilda!" Molesworth shrieked. "What have you done?"

"And fuck you, too!" Gilda shouted. She took to the air, flying above the dingy apartment houses in the bad part of Las Pegasus. Yet it still wasn't too far until she arrived back at the Dazzle Den. She landed a bit away, then walked the rest of the way to the entrance, trying to maintain a calm facade. Technically, it was a no-fly zone, but the average pony didn't care.

Gilda strode into the Dazzle Den, and the guards at the entrance didn't so much as look twice. They all knew her by now—and a couple of them owed her.

"You look upset," a voice said, as an android fell into step with her.

"Four?" Gilda asked.

"Yup!" Sonata Four gave a happy nod. Gilda had always wondered about why the Dazzlings' androids dressed so very differently from the Dazzlings themselves. More...punk style outfits, less upper class suits. Sonata Four wore scuffed purple jeans, a blue crop top, and a sleek black jacket. "What's up? Slept on the wrong side of your nest or something?"

"Ha ha," Gilda grumbled. "Me and Rough are going to be leaving soon. Probably today." If she could figure out where to go. And...could give up her vengeance on Filthy Rich.

Her blood boiled at the thought.

"Aw. Here I was thinking you were gonna stay a while this time."

"I don't think we're coming back."

"Inks?" Sonata asked.

"Inks," Gilda agreed. She hated the ponies' annoying habit of shortening words for no apparent reason. But in this case, it could be used to disguise what you were really talking about.

"We've...got two coming here soon," Sonata Four said. "I'm not supposed to talk about it, though."

"Got it," Gilda said. Coming for us. We've got to go. "Thanks for the heads up."

"No probs!" Yeah, there it was. Just as annoying as it always was.

Gilda rode the elevator up to the top floor, before striding out. Her room was the...seventh, yes. She had acclimated to Equestria faster than most of her kind, but the massive buildings still got the better of her more often than not.

Gilda froze, however, upon seeing an Earth pony marching past with one of the Adagio androids right behind her. Earth pony, dark brown mane, and violet goggles around her neck, complete with a music note Cutie Mark on the chest.

Octavia freaking Melody. And worse, she turned, and looked directly at Gilda. "Can I...help you?" she asked suspiciously.

Gilda, for the first time in a very long time, panicked. She threw out a cheap, sorry excuse for why she was staring. "Nah, sorry. Just had to stop and remember whether or not I left the kettle on." She gave an awkward sounding laugh, backing away.

Octavia scoffed quietly, turning back away. "I don't have time for this," she muttered darkly, marching off quickly.

Gilda stared after her, then let out a deep breath. She hurried over to hers and Rough's suite, throwing open the door. "Rough, we have a problem," she said. But she stopped, not getting past that statement before she stared at the situation.

Rough Tumble and two of the Dazzle Den's prostitutes sat, all with clothes on, with a poker game set up between them. One of the prostitutes was wearing Rough's jacket. The other one seemed to be winning.

"What," Gilda said, "in all the cages of Tartarus...am I looking at?"

Rough frowned, looking up at her. "What, never seen a poker game before? It's what we ponies do for fun 'round these parts."

"Rough. We need to talk," Gilda said. "Work thing came up. About that last job."

"Ahh....man, I was just about to..." He threw down his cards, then shrugged helplessly. "Sorry, ladies."

Gilda stared in mute shock as they bid farewell to each other, before they returned Rough's jacket and left, giggling to themselves.

Rough threw his jacket back on, but didn't button it straight away. "Well?"

"What the fuck was that?" Gilda burst out, closing the door behind her. "When I heard you were calling up two of them, my first thought was, 'go for it, man', but that...what the hell was that?"

Rough began to shuffle up the deck of cards. "You said something about the job?"

Gilda shook herself. "Inquisitors," she said. "They wiped our records. A fucking week ago. And S4 tells me that two of them are coming to the Dazzle Den here soon. And we've got Octavia Melody here, to boot."

"Room fourteen," Rough said. "She's been here for a couple days. Immediately visited by Sonata, who left, and I quote, 'contemplative and oddly emotional'. Sonata has since been making repeated calls, though none of them have lasted as long as their first meeting. Octavia also has not ordered any of the second floor girls, was once a musician, and is also high nobility." He cut the deck, then began to shuffle out a game of solitaire.

"Huh? When did you find all that out?" Gilda cocked her head, staring at him.

"Just now," Rough said. "Jubilee was just talking about her."

"What?"

"Prostitutes gossip like crazy," Rough said simply. "If Melody was here for us, we'd have been arrested by now."

"She's probably waiting for backup," Gilda said. "Without her android, we can take her and she knows it. Her backup was stalled by whatever caused that explosion in Manehattan the other day." Gilda folded her arms, eyes narrowed. "I think we need to leave."

Rough grunted. "I know it's serious when you're the level-headed one," he replied. He didn't move to pick up his cards.

"What are you waiting for?"

"I know you, G," Rough said. "I'm waiting for you to change your mind."

Gilda let out a breath. "For fuck's sake, Tumble! There's Inquisitors coming in by the dozen! Some cold, hollow vengeance isn't worth it."

"If you say so," Rough said. "Then I'll pack my bags. And we'll never, ever come back here."

"Okay," Gilda said, arms folded.

Rough stood up, stretching.

"Fuck it," Gilda muttered. "We're doing this, but we gotta be careful."

Rough nodded. "We've got to figure out a way into Fancy's house."

"Leave it to me," Gilda said. "I know his security. I designed half of it. We can do this."

Almost two hours later, Octavia sighed, rubbing sore fingers. "Been a while since I played that long in one stretch," she said.

Seven handed her a glass of water. "You play well," she said.

"And, most importantly, I dodged Sonata," Octavia said. She drank down the entire glass in one gulp, then set it down, sighing.

"At least, until they come down here to get ready for their song," Seven said.

"Right," Octavia muttered, before she stood up. She picked up her violin case, listen to animated chatter coming from the main casino.

"You going to stay and listen? It's quite the experience."

"No," Octavia said immediately. "I've gotten too many warnings from the Boss to do that."

Seven nodded slowly, but didn't say anything out loud.

Octavia stepped into the elevator, checking her watch. Seven had passed a few similar 'warnings' on to her, but never elaborated upon them. Octavia didn't want to get her in trouble, so she didn't bring them up.

But...it was lighter warnings than she had feared. She didn't think the Sirens were at all good ponies—people—but the warnings did not seem to be of a lethal nature. At least, not yet.

Octavia stepped out onto the top floor, then paused. Ahead of her was Aria Blaze and one of the other musicians. Lemon...Lemon something. Octavia almost wanted to say 'Snicket', but knew that wasn't quite right.

Aria paused, ears twitching, then stood up abruptly, ears twitching. She looked to Octavia, eyeing her up and down.

"Miss Blaze," Octavia said with a curt nod.

Aria's tail gave an annoyed twitch. Like her sister, she wore a fine, silken dress, though she had decorated hers with some pieces of coral. Including a lovely pair of ear rings that matched her ruby necklace.

"It's...Melody, right?" she asked. Without waiting for a response, she continued. "Well, I suppose I need to be on set right about now. Adagio will kill me if I'm not." She leaned in close, whispering to Lemon, "See you tonight."

Octavia would have walked on, doing her best to ignore the encounter, if she hadn't seen Lemon's breath catch, eyes widen, wings fluttering.

Aria slipped away, moving with a predatory grace as she went to the Dazzlings' personal elevator.

"Seven," Octavia said slowly, "I'm just going to be in my room for a bit. Why not you take some time off?"

"Alright," Seven said, nodding slowly. "Call me up if you need me." She gave a bow, then walked away.

Octavia waited for her to get a short distance away, then stepped over to Lemon. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm?" She blinked, then gave an awkward smile. "O-of course I am. Everything's just peachy! Why would you ask?" She chuckled.

Octavia raised an eyebrow.

"I'm just a little stressed," Lemon said. "It's Octavia, right?"

"Octavia Melody. And..."

"Lemon Zest." They shook hands, but Lemon made sure it was a short exchange. "Well, I gotta go."

"Lemon..." Octavia put a hand on her shoulder. "Do you need help?"

Lemon shuddered, looking at Octavia with panicked eyes. "Yes," she whispered.

"Come on." Octavia nodded to her room, beckoning her to follow. The third floor was usually empty—those with presidential suites weren't usually the type to mingle. Octavia closed the door behind the two of them, then turned to Lemon. "Alright, I've ensured we have privacy for a little while," she said. "I'm here to help however I can, but to do that, I need your honesty, okay? Start at the beginning."

Lemon took a seat, hugging her arms close to her chest. "W-well, I was...probably still am...a small-time musician in Coltston. I first met Aria at a party. I'm...friends with a noble there, and she hired me to play for a party there. I didn't recognize Aria at first, but we...we became fast friends. I-I think. We talked, had some fun, shared a few drinks. She offered me a job, playing background music while she talked with some...associate of hers. Well, I may not be particularly bright, but when Al Capony stepped into the room, I did recognize him. They talked quietly for a bit about...honestly, perfectly legal-sounding stuff." She fidgeted. "Towards the end, though, Capony got...angry. Started shouting at her. She just stood up, then looked into his eyes. And he left." Lemon put a hand to her forehead, sighing. "I was about willing to just...take the money, walk away, and forget it ever happened. But...well, she gave me a lot more money than she'd promised. Said she liked my music, and invited me to play...here." Lemon grimaced. "It...it was the chance to make it big. Everyone...everyone always talks about that chance, y'know? How you're gonna get it someday. Well, when it stares you in the face, it's a lot more real...a lot more tangible...and yet, still so distant, as you have to convince yourself...it's really you. It's really happening to you and not to someone else." She laughed to herself. "Well, being stupid, I just had to take it. I thought...thought that music would be the end of it. I think Aria...is wanting something...else."

"And you're not interested?"

"Hah, no. Colts only, and not...fish." She grimaced. "Call me biased it if you want, but I do have my preferences."

"Well," Octavia said, "have you considered leaving?"

"This is the fucking Dazzle Den," Lemon said. "If she wanted to, they'd catch up before I could leave the parking lot. And...I'm not sure...what I'm supposed to do here. If ponies found out I just skipped out on a contract, I'd be done. No more shows, ever. Fuck...but...at least I'd be..."

"Calm down," Octavia said slowly. "I can sort this out, okay? Just...be honest to her."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite."

Lemon's eyes widened. "But--"

"I know, I sound crazy," Octavia said, "but I think you're safe, so long as you're honest. If she knows you're not interested, she won't do anything." At least, after I talk to her.

Lemon nodded. "That's...that's probably a good idea. What if I'm just...overreacting?"

Octavia nodded. "Always a possibility."

"Who...who are you?"

"A musician who just so happens to know how to fix androids," Octavia said with a smile. "Don't worry. They know what 'no' means. Be honest with her."

Lemon nodded. "Thanks. I think...you just saved me a whole lot of trouble." She frowned, looking into Octavia's eyes. "Who are you?"

"Nopony important," Octavia said.

Lemon frowned. "I'm not so sure about that."

Oh, Sunset, you're full of shit. "I am important, but only to a few ponies," Octavia said.

"Including the Dazzlings?"

Octavia sighed. "Yes. Somewhat." She picked up a deck of cards. "You play?"

Three Conversations

In the room where Vinyl had found the Diamond Duster mask, she found Rarity again. Her massive metal breastplate sat on the table this time, as Rarity was pulling out a bandage and a needle.

"Oh. You've been shot," Vinyl said, looking to Rarity's shoulder. Beneath the armor, the fashionista was wearing a tanktop, though it had a smear of blood on it near the injury.

"Yes, well," Rarity said, "it's only a flesh wound. I'll heal up fine. Octavia said you've been shot before, haven't you? At the Flight of Fancy?"

"Er...yes. She...remembers that, huh?"

Rarity chuckled. "Darling, you took seven bullets for her—she's going to remember that. She told me all about how stoic you looked, just sitting there, soaking up fire for her."

"'Stoic'. Ugh." Vinyl put a hand to her head. "I'm so glad she couldn't hear what I was saying. You, uh, need a hand?"

"Well, if you have one to spare. Hold my mane?"

"Sure! What?"

Rarity took off her mane, handing it to Vinyl. Vinyl took it, staring in mute shock as Rarity turned her attention to her wound, which she began to stitch.

"Ah—ah—" Vinyl stared at the mane, then to the side. On a mannequin head was Rarity's usual mane, all curls and fluff. Then she looked to her hands, where the Diamond Duster's ragged, synthetic mane sat, all sharp edges and chrome.

Then she looked to Rarity, who had no mane.

"What? You didn't think I did that to my actual mane, did you?" She gasped. "Shame on you, Vinyl! I may be a crude rebel warrior, but I still have my fashion sense!" She stuck the needle in her mouth, then began using her spare hand to work it through her skin, sewing the wound shut. Vinyl felt...nauseous? Could she get nauseous?

Vinyl put the Diamond Duster mane on. "So, uh...did it go poorly?"

"It went fabulously," Rarity said, through her gritted teeth. With the needle in her mouth, Vinyl wasn't sure if it was meant to be sarcastic, but thankfully, Rarity elaborated. "We dodged her, and they took the bait wonderfully. Just a few light bruises on us. I'm glad they sent Indigo—if it had been Minuette, things would have been harder."

"Indigo?"

"We have spies in Canterlot, keeping tabs on how many Inquisitors there are," Rarity explained. "Indigo Zap is the newest one. Did you hear about the Cottonpuff case four months ago?"

"No. I was in the repair shop at the time."

"Oh my. What happened?"

"Golfing related injury."

"I beg your pard--" Finished with her wound, Rarity looked back at Vinyl. "Take that off," she ordered.

"I rock this look," Vinyl said, shooting double finger guns at her.

"No. You don't. It wasn't meant to be rocked," Rarity said pointedly, picking her...mane off Vinyl's head and putting it on the table. She turned, opening up a locker on the side. She began taking off the pieces of armor, storing them away. Vinyl picked up the breastplate, struggled briefly, but then frowned at it. "It's not as heavy as I thought it would be."

"If it were much heavier, I wouldn't have any mobility in it," Rarity said. "It has to be light."

"Right." Vinyl handed the armor to her, then watched as Rarity got it loaded in. "You don't look that strong."

"Hydraulic muscles," Rarity said, flexing one arm. She smiled sadly. "Not particularly visible, unless you squint. But tis no matter. It's necessary."

Vinyl took her hand, and Rarity paused. Vinyl held out Rarity's arm, looking closely. From her elbow to shoulder, and again from her elbow to her wrist, there was a bulge beneath the skin, that felt hard when prodded. Vinyl's optics could even make out a faint glow beneath the flesh.

"Isn't...that bad?"

"There are safe cybernetics. And the 'unsafe' ones could probably be made safe, if we worked hard." Rarity gave her a smile. "But still. It's necessary."

"But do you need it? Couldn't you go without?"

"Darling. That breastplate is almost eight millimeters thick, and it's solid steel. Even Earth ponies would have trouble with it, without augments. And it's saved my life on several occasions." She closed the door, then locked it. She slipped one of her guns into her purse, which she slung onto her shoulder. "But enough about me. How have you been, darling?"

"Well enough. A little more practice shooting, but...my visor is causing problems." She knocked on the side of her head. "It does look radical, though."

"Uh...yes, darling, but it if impairs your aim, you might need to replace it."

"Yeah. I'm getting a total overhaul from the Pies, then I start training as a sniper."

"A sniper! Good, we could use more of those," Rarity said.

"Yeah. I'm just...a little nervous about it all. This'll be the biggest operation I've had." She chuckled. "Getting my steel-bones replaced. Then getting armor myself."

"So soon?" Rarity frowned. "Darling, don't you think..."

"What else am I gonna do, sit on my flank all day long while you bleed for the cause?" Vinyl shook her head. "No. I've decided. This is what I want."

"Very well, then," Rarity said. "Just...make sure you take care of yourself."

Vinyl stared at her.

Rarity sighed, then elaborated. "Rescued androids like you tend to have...trouble adjusting sometimes. Fancy Pants is a good colt, so...that's probably not what you're experiencing, but I've seen them suffer too much to not mention it."

"Like...trauma and PTSD?"

"Suicide," Rarity said bluntly.

Vinyl cringed. "O-oh. Yeah, that's not...that's not me."

"Good. Just...remember, if you want to talk about something, we're all here for you." Rarity put a hand on Vinyl's shoulder. "I've seen a lot of androids that couldn't recover. I don't...want to see it anymore." She leaned over, hugging Vinyl.

Vinyl hugged her back. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. And someday, I'll be out there, watching your six." She broke away from Rarity, giving her two thumbs up. "You don't need to worry about me, okay? I'm good."

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, I must go shower now. I'm jogged most of the distance here in armor, and I'm sweaty and gross."

"Could have mentioned that before the hug," Vinyl said, shaking off her hands. "Ugh."

Rarity laughed. "Oh, so now you care about decorum," she said. "Ta-ta!"

Vinyl waved good bye, then turned, heading back towards the library. There was still some time left in the day, after all. Might as well put it to use.

As it turned out, Octavia was no good at poker.

"Thank God we're not really betting," she muttered, as yet another hand was lost.

"You're no good at bluffing," Lemon said with a chuckle. "Nope! Not at all."

That didn't bode well for Octavia's immediate future, but she shook off that thought as Lemon began shuffling the deck again.

"Well, I didn't come here to gamble," Octavia said.

"Yeah, you came to play!" Lemon said, dramatically pumping a fist into the air. "Like a fuckin' legend. Cuz that's what we are, huh? Fucking legends."

"I'm not that good," Octavia protested.

"Uh...are you serious?" Lemon gave her a look. "You just waltzed into the Dazzle Den, got on stage, and played, and no pony knew your name before then. You may not have been a legend, but that is exactly how legends are born."

"Losing eight consecutive hands of poker?" Octavia asked with a smile.

"Well...you can just leave that part out," Lemon laughed. "I promise to only tell my gal pals."

"That...won't stay 'left out' for long," Octavia said, raising an eyebrow.

"Weeeell, I mean, I could ask Sunny not to gossip, but she would anyway. Silverspoon wouldn't even pretend, and Indigo—well, actually, you'd be fine there." She chuckled to herself. "Indigo can keep a secret."

"I envy her," Octavia muttered, before playing her hand.

Lemon threw down hers. "Royal flush!"

"How?" Octavia griped. "How are you getting all of these?"

"Easy. I'm cheating."

"What?"

Lemon grinned. "Aria talked about how to do it, and I wanted to see if I could pull it off." She shuffled the deck, then declared, "Ace of hearts." She pulled off the top card, revealing it to be the ace of hearts.

"You've been cheating?" Octavia said. "No wonder my bluffs weren't working. You knew I didn't have any good cards!"

"Well, I can't memorize the deck's entire layout," Lemon said. "I mean...some ponies can, I think, and there's a trend amongst casinos nowadays to use android dealers so ponies can't accuse them of cheating. That's much better than the, uh, usual job androids have at places like these."

"Hmm." A thought occurred to Octavia. "I wonder...why doesn't the Dazzle Den employ androids in such positions."

"Oh, Aria mentioned it!" Lemon said. "It's so they could claim to be 'higher quality'. Sounds horrible, I know, but she also said that she's been feeling empathetic for them recently. Got this weird look in her eyes, as she watched one of the Sonata androids at work. And ponies have been talking about how the Dazzle Den is changing."

"For the better, I hope?"

"Well, they didn't sound happy about it, but yeah. I think that the changes have been for the better."

Lemon set up the deck to shuffle again, but Octavia took it from her. "No funny business this time, let it be an actual game," Octavia pronounced. Unfortunately, a swift knock came upon her door.

She sighed, then got up and headed for the door. "We can hang out again some other time, if you want," she said.

"We should exchange phone numbers!" Lemon said. "I really owe ya big time."

"It's nothing, just helping out where I can." Octavia opened the door a crack, looked outside, then opened it all the way. "Hello, Seven. And Sonata."

"And Aria!" Sonata said, moving partly aside to reveal the violet Siren.

Aria blew a strand of hair out of her face. "There's a few...finer points I thought it would be prudent to discuss," she said.

"I see," Octavia said, stepping back inside. "Lemon, this is business, I'm afraid. We'll definitely pick up where we left off another time."

Lemon chuckled, before stuttering off after she saw Aria. Aria frowned, looking from Lemon to Octavia, back to Lemon, but then settled her gaze on Octavia. "Well, alright," Lemon said. "Had fun. Hope you learn how to bluff before our next match!" She passed by Octavia, then gave a polite nod to the Sirens. "Later, Aria," she said, walking out.

Seven closed the door, and immediately Aria launched into it. "I don't care what Sunset told you to do. You stay the fuck away from my friends," Aria ordered. "I'm not going to have Discord screwing with them."

Octavia held up her hands. "I was offering a hand, Aria. She's terrified of you."

"What? What are you talking about?"

Octavia sighed. "She doesn't want to sleep with you, but doesn't think you're going to let her say no."

Aria folded her arms, thinking.

"Ooh," Sonata said, holding her chin. "That's...awkward, huh, Aria?"

"Shut the fuck up," Aria told her. "So. What did you tell her?"

"That she should be honest with you." Octavia folded her own arms, meeting Aria's gaze. "I expect you to let it be a no."

"Of course. It's no fun if they don't want to."

Octavia raised an eyebrow. "Would you know?"

Aria gave a sharp-toothed grin. "Nah, not really. It would be way too easy to get caught. Hasn't stopped a few scandals from arising, but most of those weren't on us." She stepped past Octavia, adding, "Thanks for bringing that to my attention. But now, let's stick to business." She moved past Octavia, sitting down. She picked up the deck of cards, shuffling it.

Octavia took her seat, Sonata sitting besides her sister.

"Okay," Aria said, "I know what Sunset is like, Octavia. I know part of why you're here and not literally anywhere else is to investigate us."

"Might be little difficult at this point," Octavia muttered.

"Well, don't worry. Go into any of the employee facilities, talk to anypony you want. Ask any one, anything. Don't worry about us stopping you." Aria leaned back in her chair as Seven poured drinks. Sonata immediately grabbed her drink, but Aria didn't even look at her drink. Instead, she pulled out a Salt lick. She held it out for Seven to light.

"Am I to trust that?" Octavia asked slowly.

"We all know that we can't kill you," Aria said firmly, "assuming we wanted to. Sunset would know immediately."

"But we're more interested in getting rid of the Princesses," Sonata said.

"Why?" Octavia asked. "Aren't they keeping the country exactly how you like it?"

"Yeah. We're positively gorged right now." Sonata rubbed her stomach, briefly showing a pained face. "But the thing is, that won't really last if there's not a country in a hundred years."

"And we learned the hard way how badly trying to take over you lot can go," Aria said stiffly. "Don't ask for details; I'm still sore about it."

Octavia raised an eyebrow.

"It was two thousand years ago," Aria said. "and has nothing to do with the current situation. The point being that this world will contain food for us so long as it still has ponies in it. But we've been watching this past hundred years. Adagio did the math, too. The population is declining. They're killing people faster than they can reproduce." She grimaced. "Which is a staggering feat, all things considered." She extended her Salt lick, offering it to Octavia.

Octavia shook her head.

"Oh, right. These things are toxic to you lot." She stuck it back in her mouth, then blew a puff into the air. "You finished the operation to shake the Inquisitors in Ponyville, right?"

"Yes, it was a resounding success," Octavia said.

"And Lyra?" Sonata swished her tail, meeting Octavia's gaze.

"We haven't received word yet, but Lyra's most certainly back in Canterlot by now. My own feelings aside, it would be good if they got rid of her for us."

Midnight Sparkle strode down the steps of the medical ward, keeping her wings close to herself. While they covered most minor treatments at the Canton of Inquisition, most severe injuries were treated at the Canton of Justice's barracks.

And it sounded like Lyra Heartstrings had sustained severe injuries.

Minuette was outside the hospital ward, and jumped to her hooves when she saw Midnight. "Sit down," Midnight ordered, Spike flitting along behind her.

Minuette obeyed wordlessly.

"Well? What exactly happened here?"

"Multiple cracked ribs, a dozen holes in her stomach, and she teleported. Twice, while injured. I didn't....even know that she could do that."

"It's not a miracle. I could do teleports before I was an Alicorn." Midnight frowned. "She did it twice?"

"She just about passed unconscious by the time we were on the train. I had to carry her here." Minuette gave an awkward chuckle. "And...the, uh...orders-issue..."

"I'll talk to her about it," Midnight said.

"Are you going to kill her?"

Midnight considered it. "I don't think so," she said.

Minuette let out a sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing.

Midnight opened the door to the room, motioning for Minuette to stay where she was. She closed the door behind her, stepping into the private room.

Lyra opened one eye, then closed it again. "Do we have to do this now?'

"Yes, Lyra." Midnight folded her arms, doing her best stern face.

It didn't stop Lyra from laughing. Until she sat up, groaned in pain, then let out a sigh of relief.

"Care to explain this to me?" Midnight asked.

"I recieved the order from Cadenza," Lyra said. "I couldn't--"

"Fuck that, Lyra. You should have come to me and you know it," Midnight said. "Why didn't you?"

Lyra sighed. "I went to her about the Gilda case. I told her I could...frame it in a way so that she could pin it on Griffonstone's government. So we could...go to war and wipe them out."

"And she said yes?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Midnight took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "You are not to go on any missions until further notice," Midnight said. "I want you staying in Canterlot unless I say otherwise. And if you ever go behind my back again..." Midnight stepped forward, then kicked Lyra in the stomach. Lyra gasped, rolling onto her side, clutching her wounds.

"I will kill you. This is your final warning, Lyra. No more." Midnight didn't wait for her to stop gasping before she left the room.

Minuette stood up, saluting again as Midnight slammed the door shut.

"I need you to carry a message to Princess Cadenza," Midnight said. "She is to meet me at the Solar Spire as soon as physically possible."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty. And Lyra..."

"Off the hook," Midnight growled. "For now. Keep an eye on her, though."

Minuette hurried off, discarding her usual patient stroll for a high-speed blitz. She left Midnight alone, with no company but Lyra's pained wheezing.

Midnight listened to it for a long moment, before reaching for the door again. She hesitated, then pulled her hand away. Her horn lit up, and in a burst of light, she teleported.

Long Live the Queen

Vinyl Scratch opened the door into the throne room. The air shimmered slightly, as she looked past the shadowy guards at their posts, at the end of the room. Nightmare Moon, who lounged lazily on her throne like a great, pampered lynx. Her slit pupils focused on Vinyl immediately..

Vinyl turned on her heel, closing the door behind her, and walked the other direction.

She thrust open another door, at random, only to find Nightmare Moon there. Vinyl shrieked, leaping back and curling her hands to her chest.

"Not even going to say hello?" Nightmare Moon asked, sounding miffed.

"You stabbed me," Vinyl pointed out. "I am in no hurry to repeat the experience."

"It is a dream," Nightmare Moon pointed out. "You might not have much experience with them, but let me explain: dreams can't hurt you."

"Uh, it most certainly did!" Vinyl said. "I ended up on the operating table with Fluttershy telling me you narrowly missed my power core!" She rapped her knuckles against her chest. "You nearly killed me!"

Nightmare Moon stared. "That is impossible," she said flatly. "It is most assuredly, completely impossible for anything in a dream to manifest itself in reality."

"So impossible is also subjective now?" Vinyl asked.

"Evidently," Nightmare Moon said. "I am one of the two most powerful beings in the world. If I did not think it could be done, I can't fathom how it happened." She stroked her chin in thought.

Vinyl slammed the door in her face, striding off down the castle halls. She put a hand to her forehead, playing a dramatic sigh effect as she turned a corner.

"That was most uncalled for," Nightmare Moon said, once more standing in front of her.

Vinyl shrieked again, leaping away. "Fucking fuck fuck...fuck!" she screamed. "Stop doing that!"

"Thou hast slammed two doors in mine face this evening," Nightmare Moon said. "Thou hast been quite rude!"

"You fucking stabbed me through my chest!" Vinyl shouted. "Was that not rude?"

"That was..." Nightmare Moon hesitated. "Not intentional, as I explained. I did not mean to cause any actual damage. I did not think I could cause you any damage."

"That is not an apology," Vinyl said, folding her arms over her chest.

"Are you serious?" Nightmare Moon demanded.

"Perfectly so," Vinyl said.

Nightmare Moon folded her arms over her chest, puffing her wings out.

Vinyl turned around, walking back around the corner. She opened the door to the room, ending up in the room where Rarity stored her Diamond Duster equipment.

A second later, Nightmare Moon popped into existence. She sighed, pulling a chair away from the table and sitting down. "I apologize," she said. "Even though I didn't mean to hurt you, it was still...quite rude."

"Apology accepted," Vinyl said. She took the seat next to Nightmare Moon, pulling it out to face her while maintaining a foot of space between them. "So...you don't know how that happened?"

"No. It shouldn't be possible at all," Nightmare Moon said, throwing up one hand. "It makes no sense. Dreams are dreams!"

"But if we're in a dreamscape--"

"We aren't," Nightmare Moon growled. "Dreamscape? What even--we are in a dream. Tis no realm, and I'm not really even here. I'm just a telepathic projection."

"So...are you really inside the moon?" Vinyl poured her a glass of zap apple cider.

Nightmare Moon took it, sighing again. "Yes. The moon was designed as a prison for the worst creatures we found at the time. Impossible to get out of, even if they had more power than we did, simply because of the vast space between Equus and the moon." She downed the entire glass of zap apple cider. To Vinyl's previous observations, ponies who did that considered it a mistake briefly afterwards, and apparently, being an Alicorn did not make her an exception.

Her entire face briefly turned rainbow, and her mane shot out, crackling with magical power. She spat out the last sip of cider, coughing and spluttering, doubling over the table.

"You alright?" Vinyl asked.

Nightmare Moon picked up the bottle, staring at it. "What is this?" she demanded. "It tasted like one of those blasted Everfree fruit trees. Do they make liquor out of those things nowadays?" She paused, then slowly, ever so slowly, turned to Vinyl.

Vinyl sipped her own glass—or, rather, tipped it towards her head. Approximately one sip worth of cider disappeared from it.

"Where...didst thou...acquire this?"

"It's a dream, so I can do anything I imagine, right?" Vinyl shrugged, then took another sip.

"No. That's not how that works."

Vinyl looked at her, then stared down at her glass. "Then where did this come from?"

"You...you imagined it," Nightmare Moon said slowly. "Tis not possible! Tis simply not—unless--" She stared at vinyl for a long moment. Then her face broke into a grin. "I wonder if Sunset knows what you are," she said.

"A klutzy unicorn android with an penchant for self harm?"

"You are so much more than that," Nightmare Moon said. "What is your name?"

"Vinyl Scratch."

Nightmare Moon repeated it to herself in a somewhat creepy fashion. "Well then, Miss Scratch," she said. "You are one lucky mare."

"I am?"

"There should be...a crystal tree out on the courtyard," Nightmare Moon said. "If it had been destroyed, I could have returned. Sunset might have walled it off, but she'd have trouble with that. Go to it. If...if I am right, then you will get your answer. And we will talk tomorrow."

"Why not just explain it to me tonight?"

Nightmare Moon smiled. "Because, silly little metal pony, it's not nighttime anymore. Rise and shine."

Vinyl Scratch burst upright. It was morning, with sunlight streaming through her window. She jumped up, looking outside at the crystal tree.

She watched as Sky and a griffon walked right past it. There was no warning signs to signal that ponies weren't allowed anywhere near it.

Vinyl rested one hand on her nightstand. "I guess I'll give it a look, then," she muttered. Then she looked down. She moved her hand.

Beneath it was a crescent moon pendant, on a silver chain. It most certainly had not been there the night before.

Vinyl picked it up, then put it around her neck. "Okay, lady. You and I are going to have a long talk about later."

She stepped out of the room, marching along the old corridors.

As big as the castle was, it should have been very easy to get lost, or stumble around blindly and scare yourself half to death with all the suits of armor and gargoyles and just plain creepy scenery. But thankfully, someone had already thought of that, so there were plenty of signs above the doorways that pointed out where you wanted to go.

Vinyl wished she'd been looking for them on her first day, but it had all worked out anyway.

She stepped onto the lawn, then paused, looking up at the dark clouds rolling overhead.

"Might rain later today," a voice said from her left.

Vinyl turned to face Sour Sweet, who added with a smirk, "Sure hope you're waterproof."

"What do you mean, 'might'? Does the Boss not share the schedule?"

Sour laughed. "This is the Everfree, rookie," she said. "The forest is the one who chooses when it rains."

"It's...it's a forest," Vinyl said. "It can't choose anything. Can it?"

"I dunno. That's just what the Boss said. Didn't sound like a metaphor." Sour shrugged.

"Huh...life...is subjective, too."

"What? No, that's not what I--"

"Hear me out," Vinyl said, holding up her hands. "It's not so much life as our concept of life. What we see as living. That's what the whole drama about androids is about, isn't it? That we aren't considered alive. Not that we aren't alive--"

Sour nodded. "Yeah, it stretches definitions a bit, but you are most assuredly, alive."

"Exactly! We're just not considered part of the concept of life." Vinyl nodded to the forest. "Would you say trees are alive?"

"No. They're just trees. They can't think or anything."

"If you think so," Vinyl answered.

"And what do you think?" Sour asked.

"That it stretches definitions a bit, but they are most assuredly alive," Vinyl answered.

Sour frowned. "Huh."

Vinyl picked up her necklace. "Someone put this in my room. You know what this is?"

"Just a necklace, I thought. Though...Knight has one that looks just like it."

"Knight?"

"Knight Watch. Sky's older brother. He should be back any day now." Sour fidgeted. "Should have been back yesterday."

"Trouble?"

"Who can say?" Sour said. "Some ponies are saying they ran into trouble, and...they are late. But their mission in Vanhoover went so swimmingly, so..."

"One last question," Vinyl said. "That crystal-tree thingie. Is it off limits for me to go over there?"

"Eh? No, knock yourself out." Sour tossed a hand into the air, adding, "Not much to see, but do what you want. It's just some old statue."

Vinyl clapped her on the shoulder, then headed towards the tree.

The tree stood about fifteen feet tall, looking like it was made of diamond. Spread across its uppermost branches someone had carved five symbols, and in the center of the symbols, someone had carved a six-pointed star. An old symbol that represented harmony, and unity.

Vinyl turned to the base of the tree. Thick vines with massive, jagged thorns coiled around its lower half, wrapping it tightly. Vinyl felt revulsion just looking at them.

She wasn't quite sure why.

Vinyl stepped close, looking up at the tree. Nothing happened. She stepped really close to the tree, and then put her hand against it. It was...vibrating. She felt it from deep within the tree, pulsing outwards, in...music notes. Two notes, repeating.

Dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun...

"A heartbeat?" she asked to herself. "Are you...alive?"

The tree didn't answer. Vinyl grumbled to herself, then stepped back.

She really didn't like the looks of those vines.

"I don't know what to do," she muttered to herself. "Nightmare Moon told me to come out here, but...there's nothing to do. Am I supposed to remove those vines? But...if this thing's important, I shouldn't mess with it. With...you. Sorry."

The wind picked up, blowing a chill into her. Cold didn't have any effect on her, unless it was really, really cold, but the tree...the heartbeat...slowed. Just a little.

"You need a blanket or something?" Vinyl asked, sitting down, leaning against it. The vines...leaned away from her, just slightly, but refused to give up their tight grasp on the tree.

Vinyl began to play a light music track, to play in the backgruond while she worked out her thoughts. A little into the song, she noticed something.

The tree was humming along. Just a beat behind her, the music was bouncing back, from within the tree.

Vinyl continued playing. Without her DJ setup, she was limited with her options, but she had a number of recorded songs saved on her hard drive.

She played the song, increasing her volume a little for the tree's sake. The tree hummed a long, heartbeat sounding in the background, as the two sat there.

Then weird things happened.

All at once, the branches of the tree expanded outwards, spreading out to a full length. The tree began to glow, from deep within, light coursed through it, and all the vines around it vaporised into dust.

Vinyl scrambled to her feet, backing away from the tree. She tripped over one of the holes in the ground, left by the vines, and fell onto her flank. Groaning, she looked up at the tree, listening to its hearbeat grow loader, more...firm.

Then, one of the symbols lit up, and...fell off. Vinyl leapt forward, catching it before it hit the ground.

The symbol had changed—she wasn't quite certain what it had been before, but it was now a music note. Her...her Cutie Mark. The exact same note, on a deep, blue gem, sitting in a golden necklace. How? How was it her Cutie Mark?

As she stood up, she heard a somewhat familiar sound that took her just a second to place. Sunset teleporting.

She turned around to find the Alicorn right behind her, looking directly into her optics. "What the fuck did you do?" Sunset demanded.

After another long day, Lancelot left the Manehattan Police Station, tired, worn, and above all, fed up. Every day was the same. Another several cases, all virtually the same, which left ponies dead or injured, and usually, the perpetrator got off Scott free. A vicious cycle, ever continuing, ever onwards.

All that meant that after so many years on the force, he knew something had to change, and soon. Otherwise, Equestria was going to be in trouble very soon.

Perhaps, he thought, seeing a small filly sitting on the side of the road, it was already in trouble.

"Mister," she said, "please spare a coin."

He quickly noted her ragged clothing, black eye, and chipped tooth. Probably, she'd been robbed her recently, or perhaps, one of his officers hadn't liked her begging in their parking lot.

He tossed her a bit. "There you go, kid. Now you should head off. Begging's not allowed on this street."

"Thank you, kind sir!" she squeaked, snatching up the coin and scrambling to her feet. He smiled to himself as he got into his car. Equestria may have been in a bad state, but at least, sometimes, for some ponies, he could do something. Minuette could do her best, but the Inquisitors could never clean Equestria as fast as it got dirty.

He started the car, driving off and heading home. He never noticed the green flash of light from behind one of the police cars in the lot, followed by something moving away very fast.

Less than a minute later, a large Earth pony stepped into a store on the bad side of town. The store owner adjusted his spectacles, frowning. "H-hello, Tuffson. You're, uh, a-a little early this week, huh?"

"Relax, you're rent's not due for a few days," Tuffson growled. "Just drew the short straw and had to run a little...grocery errand." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sheet of paper. "Can ne'er make out her hand-writin'...you got these in stock?"

The owner took the list, reading it carefully. "Yes, yes, I can have them in a bag in just a moment. These are...a little unusual for your friends."

"Don't you know better than to ask questions?"

"R-right, sorry," the owner apologized. "Here, let me get those bagged up for you." He shuffled off, into a back store room, where he kept the significantly harder to procure items that weren't quite as legal as the rest of his stock. With professional speed, he came back out, handing the bag to Tuffson. Tuffson dropped some bits on the counter, which the store owner quickly counted.

And then counted again.

"Ah...sorry to bother, but you're...missing one," he said.

"What?"

He let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing his hands together. "W-well, consider it a gift. Here, take it, take it!" He shoved the bag quickly at Tuffson, who grunted in affirmation. Without further ado, he took the supplies and strode out the door.

The store owner mopped his brow, turning just slightly. "I have got to move shop," he said firmly, missing the green flash outside his door.

Halfway across town, a completely unremarkable colt carrying a bag knocked on the door of a rundown apartment.The door opened a crack, just enough for the person inside to peek out.

The newcomer blinked three times, and each time, his eyes changed color, from red, to blue, to green.

"It's red, green, then blue," the person inside hissed.

"Ponies can't change their eye colors anyway," the other replied. "Just let me in already, Pharynx."

Pharynx scoffed, but acquiesced, letting him in, pointing his shotgun to the side. "If you can't memorize even basic code phrases, you'll never make a proper infiltrator, Thorax."

"Yeah, yeah," Thorax muttered. He pushed past Pharynx, then dropped the disguise. The Changeling quickly rushed into the back room of their hideout, meeting the third Changeling in the doorway.

"I got everything you asked for," he said, showing off his bag of supplies. "There was a bit of a scare because everything cost one bit more than you said it would, but it worked out in the end."

Ocellus winced. "I'm sorry, the prices must have been increased again," she said, checking the bag. "The Wonderbolts are really cracking down on herbal remedies here lately...it's a miracle we have any dealers left."

A low moan sounded from behind her. "Whoops," Ocellus said, before rushing to the side of the cot set up.

"How...how is she?" Thora asked.

"Not good," Ocellus said, quickly unpacking the bag. "Let's see, let's see...here! Chew this, Your Majesty." She pulled out a small tin, scooping some leaves out and putting them in the mouth of the Changeling queen lying on the cot. Queen Chrysalis coughed, but began to chew, without opening her eyes.

"Still hasn't...said anything?" Thorax asked.

"No. She doesn't have the energy. She's not really even conscious," Ocellus said. "I'm...doing all I can. But she's not going to last much longer like this." She looked to the side, where a small pile of bandages covered in green, sticky blood lay.

"She has to pull through," Pharynx said. "If she dies here, we're fucked. She's the last Queen. We need her."

"I'm doing my best here!" Ocellus shouted. "I don't have any of the things I really need! I'm having to make do with second hand items from shady, cheapskate dealers and scavenged tools! If I had proper equipment, I'd give her fifty-fifty, but like this...she's...she's...Mother's..." She choked up, looking at Chrysalis's face.

The bullet holes had mostly repaired themselves, including, thankfully, the one in her head. The bullet had hit awkwardly, and been stopped by her carapace.

If it had gone much further, Chrysalis would have died much earlier.

"We need to do something," Thorax said. "If what we've been doing isn't enough, we need to do more."

"What do you suggest?" Pharynx asked. "There's no one we can trust this to. We'd need someone who is firmly against the Princesses, but open enough to accept us."

"Discord," Thorax suggested.

"Absolutely fucking not!" Pharynx shouted immediately. "Her Majesty explicitly stated that we could not trust them, and that the Changelings need to handle problems on our own!"

"We can't handle this on our own!" Thorax argued. "And if we don't take the risk, Her Majesty is going to die! Let her be angry afterwards, at least she'll be alive!"

"Assuming Discord doesn't shoot us on sight," Pharynx said.

"They let the thestrals in," Thorax retorted. "I'll take responsibility for the decision."

Pharynx sighed. "No, I will; I'm supposed to tell you not to do the stupid thing." He looked up at the rotting ceiling, closing his eyes. "Ocellus. How long does she have left?"

"I don't think more than a week," Ocellus replied.

Pharynx cursed to himself. "Alright. I'll see if I can get into contact with their Manehattan branch. You'll stay here and guard. Anypony, and I mean anypony, tries to get in without me with them..." He held out the shotgun he'd been holding to Thorax. "Kill them. Got it?"

"Got it," Thorax said. "Long live the Queen."

"Long live the Queen."

Glamour

The conversation was kept polite, business like, aside from the small talk that both Sirens kept striking up.

Octavia was quite certain that she did not like either Siren. However, they made for damn near passable company. Sonata was quirky, funny, and nice, while Aria was cool, calm, and brusk. She was definitely somewhat rude, yet kept herself politely restrained, though she seemed quick with jab if the occasion arose for insults. They were still kept polite, but Octavia was certain that Aria kept some foul insults on hand in case she needed them.

Seven was...reclusive. She was deathly afraid of the Dazzlings. The 'Number Ones'. Octavia almost wanted to ask what they did to her, but she was afraid she either already knew, or she'd find out.

"Glad we could get that all sorted out," Aria said, shuffling the stack of papers she'd pulled out. "Should have known that I couldn't leave the work to Sonata."

"Yup! So it's on you!" Sonata said.

"Bite me," Aria growled at her. Turning back to Octavia, she said, "You play very well, all things considered."

"Yes, well, I have been practicing for years," Octavia said. "I was bound to get good at it eventually."

"That's more than just 'good', Octavia," Aria said. "You're ridiculously talented. I'm struggling to find how you, a noblemare from Canterlot, didn't just set a new trend rather than succumbing to it."

"It was...an unfortunate scenario." Thanks to Mother. "I suppose it's just in the past now."

"Lots of things are in the past," Aria said, "doesn't stop me from thinking about them."

"Regrets?"

Aria cracked a smile. "A few. But also some...memorable evenings, shall we say?" She puffed her Salt lick.

"I really don't want to hear about it," Octavia replied, sipping her drink.

"She's a prude," Sonata informed Aria.

Octavia immediately felt the childish urge to deny the...'insult', but she thought better of it.

"I prefer to think about the future," Aria said. "Whether regrets or pleasant memories, they can't do much for me anymore. Something Adagio should have gotten through her thick skull by now."

"I think idle reflection is helpful now and then," Octavia said.

"Not Dagi's kind," Aria said.

"I thought she was just sulking because Octavia didn't come see our show," Sonata said.

"Obviously not," Aria scoffed. "It's not new, and she hasn't cared about any pony in the past four hundred years. Not since Foxtrot."

Seven made a throat clearing sound. It was a simple thing, but Sonata and Aria both quirked up at it, and shared a look. Sonata spoke up first.

"Why did you skip out on our song?" she asked.

"Warnings from the Boss, and a desperate urge to avoid you with my every effort," Octavia answered truthfully, sparing a glance at Seven. Seven had immediately gone back to her stoic, waiting posture.

Sonata dramatically clutched her chest, wincing. "Ah! My heart! My...feelings!"

Aria grinned. "Come on. Our stage music doesn't have anything...well, nothing physically harmful in it, though you might find yourself more tempted to gamble than you have in the past."

"These past few days," Octavia said, "have been building up to a confrontation where I have to pit my skills of deception against Inquisitors and hope to God that I can pull it off. Gambling? Never. Never again as long as I can help it."

"We do have something that could help with that, you know," Sonata said.

"Really? What?"

"Listen for just a moment, and you'll pretty much be a born liar," Sonata said, closing her eyes.

"Sonata—" Aria began, eyes narrowing.

Sonata started to hum. Octavia wasted not a single second shoving her ear plugs in, ears twitching as the song sounded and vibrated inside her. But then, mercifully, it faded.

After a second, Sonata opened her eyes, and then abruptly stopped humming. Octavia pulled out the plugs as Sonata snarled, fangs bared. And her face...changed. Instantaneously, as if it had never been any other way, Sonata's whole face was different. Her lips were gone, teeth much, much larger, so large she couldn't close her mouth. Her cheeks and nose had disappeared as well, and her eyes were much larger, the pupils gigantic. She snarled, fins rising on the back of her neck. Octavia felt her breath hitch and instinctively moved back, hand reaching for her gun.

Then Aria slapped her upside the head. Sonata's head jerked, and in that split second, her face was back, albeit much grumpier than before.

"Knock it off, stupid," Aria said. "Yeah, of course she brought ear plugs. Sunset wouldn't have had it any other way." Sonata pouted, and Aria turned back to Octavia. "Yeah, we should get on now," she said abruptly. "Other work and all that."

Octavia didn't reply. Aria pulled Sonata to her feet. Sonata, oblivious to how much trouble she was in, called out a cheery, "Later, Melody!" as Aria dragged her out.

Seven closed the door behind the two, and barely a second later, Octavia heard a loud slap and a cry of pain.

"Seven. What...what was that? With...her face?"

Seven sighed. "They don't like us talking about that," she muttered.

"They just told me I could ask anypony, anything."

"It's called a glamour," Seven explained. "A solid hologram. They could take it on or off faster than you could change clothes. It holds up to physical inspection, and it lets them pretend they aren't so different from ponies."

"What...what do they really look like?"

"I've never seen it. Before today, I'd only heard about it." She shivered. "I think they're...bigger. Bigger than they look."

"How is that possible?"

"Right now, they hold about the power of an Alicorn," Seven answered. "And then some." She took the bottle away, putting the cork back and returning it to the fridge. "With beings that powerful, 'impossible' is merely a subjective viewpoint."

"Fuck," Octavia groaned, head falling back on her couch.

"Need anything?" Seven asked.

"I need a shower," Octavia said.

"Please don't say you want me as a bathing attendant."

"I'd be insulted if I hadn't feared you would try and be my bathing attendant."

Seven laughed. "Alright. I'll kick back and relax. Call me if you need me."

Octavia cracked a smile. She was confident that Seven was a good person, even if she had little love for the Dazzlings or Adagio Five. The latter had made herself scarce, and Octavia had only seen her once since that first day.

A few had been by Discord's base before—Adagio Seven, a few of the Sonatas, and one of the Arias—but Octavia rarely talked to them.

She'd definitely have to take up Aria's offer. But first, she was do for a shower.

I do hope Vinyl's having an easier time of it than I am.

Vinyl stared at Sunset, holding the strange gemstone on the solid gold chain in front of her. "Um, I really don't know, all I was doing was playing music. I--"

Sunset took the gemstone, holding it up and looking at it with a critical eye. Vinyl chose to shut up, watching the Alicorn.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" she whispered. Sunset turned, and, thankfully, glared at the tree instead of Vinyl. Vinyl immediately felt guilty for the feeling of relief, but chose to dwell on it later.

"Are you serious with this?" she shouted at the tree. "You dumb bitch!" She kicked the tree, then her horn lit up.

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't—"

Sunset teleported. Vinyl suddenly found herself in an office-like room with lots of lab equipment and what appeared to be a half-built gun of some sort.

Sunset pulled out a monocle with multiple lenses, switching through several of them before settling on one particular lens, which she focused on the gemstone.

"Um—"

Sunset finally returned her gaze to Vinyl, who had decided the only logical course of action was to stare at the floor and tap her fingers together. "Sorry. I didn't...mean to do anything."

"It's fine. I'm pissed at the tree, not you."

"Oh. Alright." She paused. "Wait a minute, are you just saying that to make me talk? Because you can just ask, I'm all-to-willing to talk."

Sunset actually smiled. "No. It's not your fault."

Vinyl quickly recounted her dream and the following events. Unlike in the infirmary, Sunset didn't smile or politely interrupt to ask a follow up question.

When she finished, Sunset returned her gaze to the gemstone.

"What—what is it?" Vinyl asked hesitantly.

Sunset said nothing.

"Oh, heh-heh...right. I'll...um...just go back to my room and not tell anyone about this then."

"It's one of the six most powerful weapons in the world," Sunset said slowly, "and the reason why I took an interest in you that day."

"What? When...you showed up on the balcony?"

"Yes. I sensed...it may not look like much, but I could sense the magic in this gemstone from all the way in here." She hefted it up lightly, then sighed. And handed it to Vinyl.

Vinyl didn't pick it up. "Um, if'it's a weapon, aren't you going to give it to Rainbow Dash or Rarity? Someone who's...y'know, more...capable?"

"If it was up to me, yes," Sunset answered simply and sourly. "But this gemstone isn't mine to give. The tree gave it to you."

Vinyl looked into Sunset's eyes. "What, exactly, is it?"

"It's an Element of Harmony. Element of...Laughter, specifically, I think."

"Um..." Vinyl stared at it. "Why me?"

"Not the foggiest. I thought...it was supposed to be...aggh!" She threw her hands into the air. "I don't know. I don't fucking know. Nothing about that stupid tree is working like it was supposed to, like I was told by..." She stopped, then slowly turned around.

"There are some things...I can't really talk about. No matter how much I want to. Secrets...that could shatter this world from top to bottom."

"Um...I can't...really be in the middle of that, can I?"

"That's the thing, isn't it?" Sunset spun, looming in and staring into Vinyl's visor, glaring. "Why you? Why some random android from some random clubhouse in some random city and not anypony more qualified?" She sighed, then put the Element in Vinyl's hand. "But...the stupid tree chose you. Not...not somepony else."

"You...already had somepony in mind?"

"Somepony the tree had in mind, too. I guess it just changed its mind." She shrugged. "Take this. Keep it safe, don't let anypony know you have it."

Vinyl put it back in Sunset's hand, wrapping the Alicorn's fingers around the gemstone. Sunset frowned.

"I don't even really have my own room," Vinyl explained. "So would you mind holding onto it for me? I'd greatly appreciate it."

Sunset chuckled. "Alright. I'll keep it hidden and safe." She turned, putting it into a drawer on her desk. "Blue and gold might clash with that silver and white necklace, anyway."

"Oh, right. This thing. Now, would you explain--"

"It's just a necklace," Sunset answered. "Nightmare Moon didn't create it, if that's what you were thinking. It's just a silver necklace. Very fine make, could probably go for...five hundred bits or so. Maybe a lot more if you found an eccentric collector."

"But...how did it get there?"

"Probably somepony put it in there while you were sleeping. I assume one of the thestrals—some of them wear identical ones."

Vinyl stared at her. "So, wait...you actually don't know what it means?"

"Vinyl...I am a very busy mare. And on top of that, I have nothing in the way of a social life. No, I never asked if it was important." She clapped a hand on Vinyl's shoulder. "I should be thankful that we have one Bearer, anyway. Five more to go, I suppose. And maybe it'll be more...consistent with previous data...now that it's chosen one."

"The Elements are alive?"

"No, but the tree is," Sunset said. "The tree is alive. Those vines were killing it, slowly. I had tried to get rid of them, but...couldn't. I simply didn't have the power."

"Well, you're welcome!" Vinyl put her hands on her hips, tilting her chin up.

Sunset stared at her. "Remember. Tell. No one. Not a soul, okay?"

"Alright, promise. Cross my heart." She crossed her heart, nodding resolutely.

"Good. Thank you. And...tell me what Nightmare Moon has to say."

"She'd be one hell of an ally, huh?"

"Assuming she's not turned as completely insane as her sister?" Sunset smiled. "In that case, only possibly."

"Got it. Good luck with your, uh..." She paused, examining the gun. From her recent stint into engineering, she actually recognized a lot of the pieces of the machine. "Sonic resonator." She gasped. "Bass cannon!"

Sunset chuckled. "Thanks. I should have it working soon. Want to give it a go?"

"Huh?"

"Test fire."

"Uh, sure! Sounds fun." She attempted to pick it up, then shook her head. "I can't lift it."

"It's two hundred pounds and only half-finished. You're not going to be able to. Just charge it with your magic, then pull the trigger. Oh, you charge it by--"

"I figured that out," Vinyl said. Her horn lit up, and she poured her magic into it. A meter lit up on the sound, glowing blue.

"You have?"

"I accidentally flashbanged myself trying to reinvent holograms," Vinyl said.

Sunset smiled. "You put in the effort and you could really good at this, Vinyl. But one thing at a time. Ready?"

"Just pull the trigger?"

"Yeah."

"Down range!"

She pulled the trigger. The gun immediately exploded.

Adagio

Octavia wondered how much ponies really needed to live a comfortable life.

Her early years had been in her family's manor in Canterlot. She had had numerous rooms to herself, servants to coddle her, and just about any physical object she could ask for. However, her parents had been strict and demanding, and had plotted the course of her life for her. They had wanted her to lead their company, and maneuver through countless circles of high society with people she could not be happy with. She had lacked freedom, and had not been happy.

When she had started upon her musical career, she had finally had freedom, but had to give up many of her physical possessions. Her parents had threatened to cut off her allowance, and kick her out. She had finally found freedom, at the cost of physical possessions, and had been happy.

Of course, that had failed, inevitably. Her last bit of freedom was to not go crying back to her mother. She refused to be the cold, callous thing they had wanted her to be. Octavia had found a job at a florist, with little payment and a rude boss who was not someone she had wanted to be alone with. She had not had physical possessions, and had had very little freedom. She had, conversely, also not been happy.

When Fancy had finally walked into that shop, he had been as surprised to see her as she had been to see him. They hadn't met too often, of course, but she had always called him a friend. Fancy had set her up to meet Goldbricker, and she had become his groundskeeper. She hadn't had many possessions, but she had also had much more freedom and...friends. She had been very happy.

Upon joining up with Discord, she'd lacked most possessions and quite a bit of freedom. She'd had a few friends, such as Rarity and Applejack, but hadn't ever thought much about them. She hadn't been unhappy. But then again, they were at war. It was an extended period of strife.

Now, sitting in a shower about the size of her house, she could conclusively say that physical possessions did not make one happy...but they didn't really hurt anything, either.

The door clicked shut. She opened her eyes, snapping out of her thoughts, and looked to the foggy mirror. In it she saw a large puff of orange by the door, leaning against the wall in purple.

"Is something the matter?" Octavia asked.

"Nothing much," Adagio answered.

Octavia froze. It was a real voice, not even a recording of one.

She turned, getting a good look at Adagio. The Siren stood tall, like her sisters, with the great big mass of orange curls cascading down her back, letting her tail curl across the floor in front of her.

Octavia forced her attention back to her reflection. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, Adagio, but you did invite yourself into my shower without asking. Which begs the question, how did you get in?"

"I told Seven to let met in," Adagio answered.

"Great," Octavia muttered. "What do you want?"

"You to do something for me. We can discuss it when you're dressed."

A number of indignant responses flitted through her mind, but she chose to ignore them, in favor of saying, "Is it something that can be discussed in the room?"

"No."

Octavia sighed as Adagio left the room. Then, properly disgruntled, she picked up her clothing.

It didn't take her long before she was standing back in the...living room of the suite, staring down Adagio.

Adagio wore a violet crop top, dragonscale overcoat, and elegant silk pants. Her high-heeled boots were propped on the small table in front of the couch, and she peered over the boots, and past her nails, to look at Octavia as she came back into the room.

Octavia first turned her gaze to Seven, who stood in the corner, looking down at her shoes and refusing to meet Octavia's gaze.

Octavia picked up her jacket, slinging it on and covering her pistol, and the specialty ammo she was carrying. "Well?" she asked.

"You know engineering?" Adagio asked.

"Some."

"Android engineering?"

"Yes...?"

"Good. This way."

In a jerky, sudden motion, Adagio swivelled and jumped to her feet, then strode for the door. It was not a movement ponies had enough joints for.

Octavia cursed under her breath, following her out the door. Seven moved to follow, but Octavia stopped, waiting for her. As Seven tried to pass, Octavia put a hand on her shoulder.

Seven stopped moving, finally looking up into Octavia's eyes again. "It's alright," Octavia said. "She's not hurting you anymore."

"I'm sorry," Seven muttered. "She...she ordered me to let her in, I--"

"It's alright," Octavia repeated. "Do you have any idea what this is about?"

"N-no. She...she never does this, she never, ever goes out of her way to talk to ponies. Not since..."

"Since...'Foxtrot'?"

Seven nodded. "She...I...I'm not supposed to talk about it."

"It's fine. You don't have to." Octavia let go, moving off to catch up with the clearly impatient Adagio.

"Can I..."

She stopped, turning back to Seven.

Seven fidgeted, arms folded over her chest. "Can I come back to Discord with you?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I'll clear it with Adagio," Octavia said. She continued moving again, catching up with Adagio. Adagio didn't comment on the quiet conversation between them, instead heading for a door clearly labeled, "EMPLOYEES ONLY."

The door opened for Adagio, but Octavia saw no sign of a key or card reader. She chose to ignore it for now, however, as Adagio lead through several important looking rooms.

Adagio finally pushed open the door into a room. Octavia knew an android maintenance room when she saw one, and was surprised to see that their Discord base was almost as well stocked as the Dazzling's.

There weren't any technicians in the room; its solitary occupant, lying with crossed arms on the operating table, was one of the Adagio androids. Upon closer look, it was Adagio Five.

"Great," the android muttered. "Just f-f-fucking w-wonderful." Her voice echoed, the speakers crackling and whining in a way that grated on Octavia's ears.

"Fix her voice," Adagio ordered, standing to the side.

"Didn't Fluttershy fix it?" Octavia asked, stepping in and moving close to the table.

"Y-yes!"

"Apparently not," Adagio growled, tail swiping side to side.

"I don't even know what was wrong with her," Octavia said. "What is wrong with her."

"I am perfectly f-fine!" Five shouted, throwing her hands into the air. "F-f-f-fuck this, Ad-dagio-o. I'm j-just gonna--"

"You sit down," Adagio snarled, baring her fangs.

Five hesitated. Octavia put a firm hand on her shoulder, pushing her back into her chair. "Adagio," she said, "what damaged her voice box? She said something about stray programming bugs?"

Adagio snorted. "No. It was Happy Time."

Octavia grimaced. "I see." Happy Time. A program designed to artificially induce happiness in androids. And like a drug used by flesh and blood ponies, it caused damage. "And Fluttershy fixed all the parts it damaged, I assume?"

"So she claimed, but the voice box still isn't working," Adagio said.

"Adagio, that can't be fixed."

"What?" Adagio's eyes narrowed. "Sure it can. Just replace it."

"You could do that as many times as you could afford. It wouldn't fix anything." Octavia stepped away from Five, closer to Adagio. "The probably is with her mind. Not her voice."

"But—"

"It's a result of mental trauma," Octavia said. "How long was she using Happy Time?"

Adagio paused before she answered. "I didn't ask. The moment I found she was using it, I told her to stop. The voice box was what I noticed."

"It's a scar. It will never, ever heal," Octavia said.

"No! It has to! You have—you have to fix her!" Adagio glared Octavia down.

Octavia met her gaze, unyielding. Adagio faltered, hesitating. "Surely there's something that can be done."

"I'm sorry. There really isn't," Octavia said.

Adagio stood there, and then...wilted. She stepped back, looking to Five, then down to the floor. Her shoulders slumped.

Octavia put a hand on her shoulder. "Adagio. I'm sorry. But the only thing to do now is prevent your other androids from doing this."

"How? I send them to the far corners of Equestria! The reason we have them in the first place is to manage everything I can't manage myself! How could I possibly--"

Octavia put her finger to Adagio's lip, shushing her. Adagio bristled, but fell silent. "Why do you think she used it in the first place?"

Adagio considered it carefully. "I suppose to forget," she said finally.

"Forget what?"

"How we treat them, perhaps?" Adagio looked over to Five.

"Can you b-blame me?" Five said sourly. "You called me disposable. Threatened to m-melt me dow-own and re-replace me. I lived MY life as...as...as a f-fucking spa-are part! I was nothing to you!"

"You've never been nothing to me!" Adagio shouted. "If you were nothing to me, I wouldn't have risked it sending you out to Discord to repair! I'd have just replaced you!" Adagio blinked away tears, then wiped on her sleeve. She glared at them, then focused her attention back on Five. "I care for you lot. I really do."

"You should t-tell that to Adagio Eleven," Five snapped.

Adagio breathed in sharply, teeth bared briefly.

"Adagio," Octavia said, interrupting everything. Adagio looked to her. Octavia took in a deep breath, then continued. "If you care for them, you need to show it. They are terrified of you."

"No they're not," Adagio snapped.

"Then just look at her." Octavia pointed at Seven. Adagio turned to the android, who stood to the side. As conversation fell silent, Seven briefly looked up from the floor and met their gazes. She stiffened, optics flicking back and forth to see everyone.

"I've seen from day one how terrified she is of you three," Octavia said. "You've hurt them, haven't you?"

"No! I never...I mean...they can't..." Adagio looked to Seven, then back to Octavia. "They're...they're like my children, Octavia."

Five let out a derisive snort. "I-I'd hate to be y-your ch-child, then."

Adagio winced. Pain flashed across her face, and her shoulders tensed.

Let's see if she really believes that. "Seven asked me to take her back to Discord with me," Octavia said.

Adagio jerked her head, turning from Five to Octavia, eyes wide. Octavia nodded slowly. The siren considered it for a moment, then turned towards Seven. Octavia hesitated, but hung back, watching.

Adagio looked down at Seven for a long moment. Then, she threw her arms around her, hugging tightly.

"Please don't go," she whispered. "It can be better around here. I...I'll be better. Just...please...don't leave..."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Seven replied, hugging Adagio back. "If...if you do get better, I'll come back and visit, okay?"

Adagio sobbed quietly. Octavia felt her sympathy rise for her. Maybe she wasn't as bad as I had thought, if there was something redeemable in her.

Adagio finally let go of Seven, then turned to Octavia, fire in her eyes. "Don't you dare let anything happen to her," she snarled, "before she comes back home. Got it?"

"I'll do my best, Adagio," Octavia said. "You do your best to become somepony worth coming home to."

Adagio nodded slowly. Then she looked up, staring deep into Octavia's eyes.

Octavia frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No...things are...more right than they've been in quite some time," Adagio replied slowly.

"Why are you looking at my eyes like that?"

Adagio looked very much like she was considering telling the truth. Instead, what she said was, "Maybe my idiot sisters have rubbed off on me a little too much."

"If you say so," Octavia said, looking into Adagio's eyes in turn. Her expression was one of thinly masked surprise and shock.

"Normal" my flank, she thought. Aloud, she said, "I'm sorry I couldn't help Five more."

"I'll...keep looking," Adagio said. She looked to where Five lay. adding, "I'll find something to help you. I don't care if takes me several hundred years. I'll find something."

"And if I d-die before then?" Five asked.

"Then it'll be for...somepony else." Adagio smiled. "If there's one thing I've learned after a thousand years with you lot, it's that when someone gives you a stupid choice, someone will always choose the stupid one." She turned, then hugged Octavia. "Thank you," she said.

"I'm just doing my job."

"If you were just doing what Sunset had told you, you'd have already tried to assassinate me," Adagio said. She lifted up a hand, holding up a small cartridge. "You didn't bring the diamond bullets for shits and giggles, I assume?"

Octavia's hand shot to her side, into her pocket. Then she paused, finding the ammo cartridge exactly where she left it. "Wait, but--"

"You've got a lot of work you need to prepare for the Inquisitors," Adagio tutted. "Come along. I'll help you work that out." She put down what Octavia now recognized as a spare part that happened to look like an ammo cartridge.

Octavia grimaced. "Alright. I'll be right along." She turned to Five, saying, "I can give you another check-over, if you desire, but I guarantee I won't find anything that Fluttershy didn't."

"That's eg-xactly what shhhh-e said," Five said. "I j-just nee-eed to boot off for a little while. It'll resolve itself. I-it usually does."

"Alright," Adagio said. "I'll meet you back in your room, then." She turned, stepping out the door. Octavia put a hand on Seven's shoulder. "You alright?"

"I guess?" Seven said slowly. "I'd have appreciated it if you didn't put me on the spot like that, Melody."

"Sorry. I needed to make my point clear," Octavia apologized. "One last thing. What was Adagio looking at a minute ago?"

"Weird optical illusion, I think," Seven said. "It just liked like your eyes were...well, a rainbow for a second. It must be a result of the light levels in this room, I suppose."

"Unless there's another explanation?"

Seven shrugged. "What could it possibly be?"

Octavia could say nothing for certain. But she knew, she just knew, that it had something to do with why Sunset came up to her on the balcony.

But she had no idea what it could possibly be. After all, as Sunset said, she was absolutely, perfectly normal.

Wasn't she?

Radiance

Cadenza and Midnight both rose at the command.

Celestia lounged, at ease, but had sat up a bit when the two Princesses entered. Her six wings spread out behind her, all unfurled. Four mechanical, two flesh and blood. She wore clothing made out of golden links, in a long skirt that would have trailed the floor had she been standing, and a sash across her chest. Some ponies had described her as attractive; beautiful.

Midnight was never certain why, of all the things about her to praise, people praised her beauty. Why not her wisdom? Her kindness? Her mercy?

Celestia let the two stand before her, for a long moment. When she finally spoke, it was to Cadenza.

"My dear niece," she said, voice echoing and warbling, "do you understand what you've done?"

Cadenza looked to Midnight, then up to her aunt. "I...think so," she said.

"Good," Celestia said. She made a hand gesture, and one of her priests stepped forward, bearing a plate of pastries. "I'm glad that you two can resolve things like this without my guidance now." She picked up one of the pastries, and asked Midnight, "What has become of Fleur de Liss?"

"She's staying in Ponyville for now," Midnight said. "Indigo said that she had the implant removed. Seems to be staying with a doctor, as I don't think she has any friends in Ponyville."

"You placed quite a bit of doubt in her heart," Celestia said. "I may not be able to let her into my heaven now." She popped the first pastry into her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Auntie."

"It is your sin to live with." Celestia's face did not drift into as unpleasant an emotion as sorrow or pity; she remained...passive, calm. Stoic, many would say.

But Midnight chose to say, 'divine'.

Celestia turned to Midnight. "Are you going to kill her?"

"No," Midnight said, "too many eyes watching. Even if it wasn't discovered that we did it, it would be our fault for not preventing it, so soon after another attempt on her life."

Celestia nodded. "Good." And Midnight breathed a sigh of relief. I knew it was the right decision.

"Cadenza. You have...other tasks, I assume?"

"Yes, I'm afraid. I was in the middle of a meeting when..." Cadenza looked to Midnight, then back to Celestia. "...When I was summoned."

That brought emotion to the goddess's face. Just a slight frown. "I see. Come around again sometime; it's been ages since we were last able to spend time together."

"Yes, I agree," Cadenza said with a smile. She bowed, wings fluttering. "It has been too long. I'll come when I can." She looked to Midnight. Midnight neither moved nor spoke, so Cadenza simply nodded and walked out.

Midnight climbed the few steps, to stand directly in front of Celestia. "There is...another matter I was wanting to bring up," she said.

"Yes, I am aware."

Of course she is. She's God. "We found the trail of Discord," Midnight said. "While I finish resolving the Filthy Rich situation, I shall have Minuette track them down."

Celestia's face fell. Midnight paused, confused, waiting for Celestia to reply.

"No. You shall not."

"Y-your Radiance?"

"I have said this before, Midnight. Discord is of no consequence to you."

"But...that was before! Things are different now. Discord's been gathering their forces all of these years! Especially with that Changeling in Manehattan! I--"

"MIDNIGHT SPARKLE."

Midnight flinched. She'd overstepped. The wrath of the Goddess was an unpleasant thing, but by far the worse thing about it was that it was always deserved.

"Let me make myself clear," Celestia said. "You are not to waste time hunting Discord. I know everything about them; they are of no consequence to you." She leaned forward, face inches from Midnight's. "Do you remember what I told you when you ascended?"

Midnight nodded.

"Good. Keep that in mind." Celestia sat back on her bed. "If there's nothing else of note, then, couldn't we move on to more casual matters? It has been some time since we last talked. How have you been?"

"W-well enough," Midnight said. "I've been working trying to get more Inquisitors. I found a good candidate, but..."

Celestia patted the bed besides her. Midnight hesitantly sat up next to her, feeling like a child again. But, with the incomparable age of the goddess besides her, anypony, anything, was a child.

Two of Celestia's right wings, one flesh, the other titanium, extending, wrapping around Midnight and pulled her closer. As she got close to Celestia, her skin warmed. The very air around Celestia distorted from the heat the Alicorn was outputting. The titanium wings reflected prismatic light off of themselves, which in turn reflected off the smooth, golden walls of the room.

"The mare I found was Goldbricker's groundskeeper, so she's...not really a fan of us. Much like poor Gold Leaf. And worse, one of Derpy's students is probably about to get fired, but...I'm leaving that to her to decide. And...Lyra herself..."

"Lyra is, and has always been, troubled," Celestia said. "You know what she went through."

"Yeah. Her...pain that she shared with Bon-Bon." Not physical pain, of course, but trauma. So quite a bit different from the burning sensation on her arm in contact with Celestia's wings... "And then Bon-Bon left. She's never been the same since then. I...I thought Goldbricker was a suicide attempt for a while. This most recent stunt, I'm certain was. I...can't trust her on missions anymore."

"Hmm. Is there anything else you can trust her to?"

"Well...maybe she could train a new recruit," Midnight said doubtfully. "It might just...give her something to live for. She's...she's..." Midnight grimaced. The pain in her right arm was really beginning to build up. "Lyra was my other mentor. You taught me magic, she taught me...well, everything that makes up an Inquisitor. Lying, sleuthing, hacking, combat..."

"Seduction?" Celestia gave that mischievous little grin of hers, that didn't quite fit with her image of divinity, but fit a more...playful mood. It certainly meant Midnight's overstepping was forgiven.

Midnight sputtered, shaking her head. "No! No, nothing like—" She is god, Midnight reminded herself. "Yes," she admitted.

Celestia laughed.

"Well, yes, though I thankfully haven't had to pull out those particular skills in a bit," Midnight said, face flushed. And not just from embarrassment. Her arm was throbbing at this point. The heat made her glad she hadn't put on her cloak.

"Well, they could still help," Celestia said. "You could find yourself a lover."

"I'm...a little too busy for that," Midnight intoned. "I work all night, I don't really have time for...sex." To Tartarus with dancing around the word; Celestia was God. If she hadn't wanted to hear about it, she wouldn't have made it.

"You should enjoy some of the perks of your station a little more," Celestia said. "Remember. There's only one sin you can commit now."

Midnight nodded. "I remember. But...I mean...it's not exactly something you just ask."

"Few ponies would say no to you. Many would beg you."

Fewer would say no to you, Midnight mused. Yet smoke was beginning to rise from her arm; the lack of pain seemed to mean that some of the nerves had been killed. Her mechanical eye's vision was distorting. Thankfully, she had made it to be heat resistant, so it shouldn't have been damaged.

"And if not, then perhaps, you might want to stay here tonight?" Celestia purred. Her hand slid up along Midnight's side. A shiver of panic, cold and dreary, slid into her mind like a knife.

"T-tempting," Midnight lied. "But I'll find somepony. Tonight."

The look in Celestia's eyes made it obvious; she caught the lie. But of course, she was Celestia. She knew. She had known Midnight's weakness since the moment it entered her heart. "Hmm. I'm sure you will. But if you change your mind, I'll be here for you."

Her hand slipped away from Midnight's chest, and Midnight's panic left. "Good luck," Celestia said, before leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.

Moreso than even the prolonged contact on her arm, the kiss hurt. "Alright, thank you," Midnight said, rising.

"Anytime, Midnight. Remember: I'm here for you."

"Always," Midnight said, turning and leaving. It would be rude to teleport out of Celestia's presence, even if a part of her really wanted to. Yet goodness was not the absence of evil; it was the rejection of it.

Midnight waited til she stepped out of the solar spire, then teleported into her office. She wobbled, unsteadily, before sitting down at her desk. A messy pile of notes and things she could only describe as 'scrawlings' sat upon the desk, things she had been deciphering, wisdom from her predecessor. She cleared off a spot, putting her injured arm onto the table. She gritted her teeth, then slowly, painfully, peeled off the burned flesh from it. Blisters popped and the charred skin crackled, and was actually still smoking in a few places. She could see the warm, reddish glow of fire. She crumpled it with her magic, snuffing out the flames, and then threw it into the garbage disposal.

She stretched out her hand, surveying her injuries. She reached up, rubbing her cheek.

Painkiller.

She ripped open a drawer, yanking through a bunch medical supplies before finding a needle. She jabbed it into her upper arm, hissing. Then, she summoned her magic, pouring it into her arm.

If she'd had more practice, Midnight would have used Earth pony magic to heal her arm. On non-Alicorns, it could only really help with scrapes and bruises, but for her? In a matter of hours,s he could heal bullet holes. Or, had watched Spitfire do so, at least. But she didn't have that practice, or the magic memory that Spitfire had. Midnight only knew her innate magic well.

But the healing spell she knew was more than enough. The skin grew back swiftly, covering up the exposed musculature and blood vessels.

But the panic she felt did not go away.

She closed her eye, trying to shut out the memories, the waking nightmare that remained with her. The thing that shouldn't have made her so terrified. What was supposed to have been a special night. With...with...

A door opening disrupted her thoughts. In the room beyond, she heard Minuette's voice. And an idea clicked into place. She rose swiftly from her desk stepping out into the main room.

You can do this, she told herself. After all, you've done it before. Nothing big, right? Just...a fun time. Yeah.

"Hey, Princess!" Minuette said. She stretched her arms above her head, saying, "Just got back from the hospital. Heart implant is working fine again! Haven't felt this good in ages, but the doctor told me to get plenty of bed rest still."

"You should," Midnight said. "Rest is important." Not that any of us get much sleep. "Taking the evening off, then?"

"Hmm? Yeah. I was going to go sm..." She fumbled, frowned to herself, then said. "Sit down and relax."

She was trying to give up smoking? Odd. "Come to my room," Midnight said. "We could relax...together." Was that the right way to phrase it? Did it sound right? How, exactly, did one just ask?

It seemingly took Minuette a second to get it. "Oh! Um...okay! Uh...your room. Right. Heh heh..." She awkwardly ran a hand through her mane, then reached up and undid the top few buttons of her coat.

This is what I want, Midnight told herself. Oxygen seemed to have suddenly become a rare commodity; her breath came in short, ragged gasps. She moved closer to Minuette.

"I'm sorry," Minuette burst out suddenly, frantically stepping away. "I don't...I don't think I can...do this." She paused, then redid the top buttons on her coat. "I'm not ready." She looked down at the ground, shamefacedly.

"Don't be sorry," Midnight said. Shouldn't she feel...disappointed? If not, then...relieved? "It's fine. If you don't want to, then there's no point."

"I...I'll be off, then," Minuette said, before sprinting off.

Midnight calmly walked back to her office, trying to pretend she wasn't about to throw up. She walked past her desk, then sat down on the floor. She curled into a ball, wrapped her wings around herself, and cried.