The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life - Part II

by BlueDWarrior

Rating: teen
Tags: Spike, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Human, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 68473

The continuation of the saga with Conduits of Terra and the Bearers of Harmony.

Months after the Society for the Preservation of Humanity effectively took control of the world, the Conduits of Terra, Bearers of Harmony, and the H.E.A. have to begin the process of rebuilding a world that is dangerously teetering on the brink...

Meanwhile, other factions are slowly plotting to their own ends on Earth, and things still lurk beyond the Shadows.

Both worlds will definitely not be the same at the end of this saga, but will they change for the best, or for the worst?

Notes:
1) It is VITAL that one reads A New Age, A New Life in order to fully understand where this story starts off from.
2) Do keep any discussion in the comments on-topic, any blatant crap-posting or harassment will be dealt with swiftly.

Published 2013-01-29 11:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-07-16 02:58:46 UTC

CH 1: Recovery and Preparations

The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life - Part II
Chapter 1: Recovery and Preparations

===============================
[ Safe Haven -- July 12, 2081 ]

"I wonder what I'm supposed to do with myself until my body returns to its normal size?" Blue Vague thought out loud, as he ran his hooves over the covers in his bed. He laid flat on his belly, just quietly taking in the sounds of the false waterfall behind him.

His bed, which was already a little oversized, now seemed simply gargantuan. True to what Luna said, while he was barely conscious recovering from being ground zero of a Elements of Harmony blast, it would take a week for his body to return to normal.

"Hey~ how's my big colt doing~!" Vague heard a familiar female voice perk up. It was a week that Midori Hana was well into enjoying.

The grass-green mare quickly pounced upon her mini-sized coltfriend, nuzzling him. Vague, caught between keeping face and the desire to reconnect with his marefriend, only offered token resistance.

"Ahh, come on, you could have at least let me draw the blanket over the bed..." he said plaintively, Hana finally loosening her surprisingly strong, bear-trap-like grip.

"But you're just so cute. I can't help myself~" she said lovingly, nuzzling him all the while. "Anyway how are you feeling, I heard you've finally started talking to the others outside of our little circle."

Both Vague and Hana sat on their haunches, Vague still somewhat in Hana's grip. He thought for a couple of moments, and then began talking. "Yeah, I was talking to some of the kids of the politicians and volunteers that made their way here. They were surprised when they saw me. Pretty much every Pony here is an adult, even if we kinda do look like living plush dolls in a certain sense."

"I know, they were positively gushing over you... though, not as much as me~" she said as she nuzzled her coltfriend again.

"Oh come on... anyway, they were talking about how incredibly frightened they were when the SPH stormed their residences and their parent's places of work. I think the Aguillars are taking it the hardest, since President Aguillar is apparently going to have to play the role of figurehead for the time being," Vague concluded, sighing as he finished his statement.

Hana sighed as well. She didn't have the most refined mind when it came to geo-politics or sociology, but anyone could see what was going on. The SPH wanted their cake and be able to eat it too; having control over the governments of the world, without having to sit in the hot-seat themselves. "I know it must still eat at you inside, it really eats at all of us that basically this is as far as we can go on Earth, at least physically."

"Yeah, at least we can still connect to the outside through the 'Net. Still, it's like I'm a kid locked up in the house. Admittedly it's a pretty nifty and very, very large house. But there is still that feeling of trapped. Maybe we'll have to take a break in Equestria once my body sorts itself out," Vague said, looking up at Hana's face, noting how odd it felt two-and-a-half days into it.

"I know. I also heard that the Princesses and the HEA leadership were negotiating with that Dragoness that came with Spike about setting up formal negotiations with the other major Powers in... um... wait what were they gonna call their world collectively?"

"Equus, Hana. They are calling the world they come from Equus for the sake of convenience," another familiar voice said. It turned out to be Red Blaze, with Golden Storm following her into Blue Vague's room.

Blue Vague noticed that Red Blaze's horn was alight with a telekinetic tether, so he asked the obvious question. "So what is that you got in your magic grip, Blaze?"

Golden Storm and Red Blaze smiled as she 'drug' in the gift. A gift in the form of a meter tall rubber ball. "And this is for you!" they both said in a sing-songy tone in unison.

"You... really shouldn't have..." Vague replied, honestly confused by the large, blue ball.

"We figured that you needed something to distract yourself with, while you sorted yourself out after that... incident. And we figured you wouldn't want to talk all day and night... so we all others made you this!" Golden Storm said, perching himself on the sphere, deforming it slightly under his weight.

"I'm... sure I'll have fun with it..." Vague replied again, still confused as to what he was supposed to do with a ball that was twice as tall as himself at the current time.

"Anyway, Hana, Princess Luna wanted to talk to you for a little bit in Conference Room... I think 10," Red Blaze reported to the Conduit of Earth.

"Oh alright, I guess we'll just have to continue this later~" Hana said as she nuzzled Vague again before rolling off the bed and trotting on out of the room.

I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for her... I really don't... Vague thought to himself as he looked at Hana's curves flowing past the doorframe.

He then turned his attention to the large, blue rubber ball sitting right there in front of him and the screen with an aquarium display.

Guess it couldn't hurt to give it a try... he thought as he floated himself up on top of the ball.

A few unsteady minutes of rolling around later, he found himself having quite a bit of fun with the object.

You know this is pretty fun...

=============================
[ Safe Haven: July 21, 2081 ]

"So how is everyone doing today?" Princess Luna asked of the gathered Elements for both worlds and the impressively tall (in relative terms) Spike, all sitting in one of the media rooms in the recreational area of Safe Haven.

The Princesses were spending fewer long stretches of time at Safe Haven, checking in a few times a day now while they held court back in Canterlot. The humans were actually a little more thrown off by the Princesses not being there, than they were while they were there.

Blue Vague, body returned to its normal size and proportion and attitude starting to return more to normal, was the one to answer the Princess of the Moon. "Oh we're doing fine. I dunno, the situation outside is still tense but I feel less, I guess enraged about it. I'm still angry, but I think now I got a focus for that frustration instead of just letting it fester."

"That's good to hear Conduit of Water. Using the Elements of Harmony to erase the Nightmare's influence is not permanent, but the experience and the subsequent reconciliation does go a long way to prevent a relapse, if you will. Something I myself still have to be concerned with," Luna responded, looking at Blue Vague sternly but lovingly, like a strict aunt.

I wonder how long Luna has had to sit and confront what she did over those thousand years and her two, I guess, rebellions against Princess Celestia... Blue Vague thought as he held a cup of water in his magical grip.

Luna cleared her throat and resumed speaking. "Anyway, to address you all again. Myself and Princess Celestia have been initializing negotiations between ourselves and the major nations of Equus, as you all already know. At their suggestion, they would like for the Conduits of Terra to each spend a little time to get to know the leadership of each major nation. Eventually we'd like to extend our hooves and etcetera to the other nations of Equus, but we feel we need to get those three squared away first."

"And those three would be the Dragon Nomad Central Council, the House of the Gryphon King, and Congress of Zebra Tribes?" Twilight asked, having read up some info on each nation already in the interim period since the incident with Vague.

"Indeed Twilight. We do not have a set date for these diplomatic missions, however. I figure it will take at least a month to get the terms of the negotiations and to get the other nations up to speed, and maybe a while longer to get some firm dates. The other nations are going to want to, how would you say, get their ducks in a row before entertaining myself and my sister's direct subordinates, despite you all not holding formal governmental titles," Luna stated matter of factly, inwardly dreading dealing with some of the more hardline factions with each of the other nations.

"Well, it is something to look forward to I guess. I think it'd do us all good to get back to Equestria and beyond though. I don't have it as bad as Rainbow Dash, but the whole being cooped up here just makes me a bit jittery. I think we should all find some time in the near future and spend a few days back at the Greystone Conductor, what do you all say." Golden Storm said, flexing his wings a bit to get rid of the nervous energy he had.

The other Conduits of Terra agreed, especially Blue Vague, who just needed some time away from Earth entirely to settle his own thoughts.

"Anyway, Vague, I heard about the situation with that former SPH we had treated a week or so ago. He's your father right?" Fluttershy asked, not knowing when would be a safe time to pose the question, so she just took a chance.

"Yeah, he and I have been estranged for a good 14 years now. My mother, at least according to what he and I can remember, completely freaked out when she found out I had Converted. He almost died when she fired on me and he blocked. The armor was good enough to prevent any long-term paralysis or structural damage to his body, but he's gonna need a month or so of rehab at least," Blue Vague said, thankful he was able to recount the story without choking up.

"If there's anything we can help, we'll do it," Applejack replied, tipping her hat to Vague.

Blue Vague nodded. "Appreciate it A.J. Frankly, I just want him to get back to 100% so we can start truly making up for all this lost time. I want to ask him what he and my mom had been going through out in Atlanta. We hardly talked at all once I moved in with my grandfather formally."

Everyone took some time to think about their own families, what they must have been doing and the like.

"Before I leave for Canterlot to return to my private chambers. I would like to pass along a last, important bit of news. My niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, also known simply as Cadence, and her husband Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Unicorn Guard, will be making a formal appearance here in Safe Haven, sometime in the next couple of weeks. Myself and my sister figure Princess Cadence should start getting up to speed regarding the events to date here on Earth and our larger Project, and Shining Armor wants to talk to you ten in particular. He has reviewed the data and interviewed many of those who were involved in our rear-guard action a week and a half ago, and he is deeply concerned that the Royal Guard as a whole are woefully under-equipped to be proper partners with our Human allies."

Twilight Sparkle let out a minor shriek of nervousness. "M-m-m-my brother and Princess Cadence... here... after all that went on... so soon?"

Luna sighed as she tried to calm the high-strung lavender Pony back down. "Twilight, despite the deep family connections, both are integral parts of the Equestrian government, such that it is, and the Equestrian military, such that it is. They were going to have to involve themselves sooner or later; especially your brother, given the highly militaristic nature of those that have pushed their way to the forefront of society here."

"I know Princess Luna, it's just that... I... I don't know," Twilight said, fidgeting around a bit with her forehooves.

"Don't worry Bearer of Magic, I trust that everyone will conduct themselves in exemplary fashion. Now if you excuse me, there is some sleep I must catch up on before the raising of the Moon in Equus. Good day to you all," Princess Luna concluded, as she blinked back to Canterlot in a flash of azure and indigo magic.

"So your brother is the Captain of the Unicorn divisions of the Royal Guard. It seems that your family is a bit charmed, in a sense," Red Blaze stated.

"I guess. Although it's my generation mostly. My mom and dad were, I guess middle class in your terms. Weren't wealthy, but we were comfortable in Canterlot," Twilight responded, laughing nervously.

"So who wants to play a board game on the holopad?" Pinkie Pie suggested, holding the folded up portable terminal and already wearing one of the stylus grips designed for the Ponies.

"Might as well, doesn't look like we're doing anything else important for the day," Midori Hana said, putting one of the grips on her forehooves.

Everyone else agreed, as Blue Vague got another terminal to play a different game. They had already unsuccessfully experimented with all ten playing on one board.

Well I guess we just take it day to day, until the HEA or the Princesses decide on something... Vague thought to himself as he set up a game with himself, Hana, Applejack, and Fluttershy.

==============================
[ Safe Haven: August 1, 2081 ]

"He's gonna be here any minute... any minute..." Twilight said as she kept fidgeting around. Luna had informed her three days ago that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor's meeting would happen today, and obviously today had arrived.

"Twilight, really... this is nothing for you to worry about. I swear, anytime your family comes up you become such a nervous filly," Rarity said as he patted Twilight on her shoulder.

"I just don't want anything to go wrong today... going either way..." Twilight said, starting to calm down a bit.

"We just have to have a little faith, Twilight. It is better we start getting all of this sorted out now; we all need to be better equipped if we are going to do a second version of the Conversion Movement," Blue Vague said, as he took a few breaths, wondering how Shining Armor would act since the issues of three-plus weeks ago.

A short while passed, and the civilian H.E.A leadership gathered to wait in the reception bay along with a good bit of the rescued and evacuated human military personnel. Much of said personnel had also signed up with the H.E.A. in an advisory capacity, including Capt. Rodriguez, wanting to honor the memory of Captain Johnson as best he could.

"I saw the picture of Capt. Shining Armor, he looks like a pretty stand-up stallion. Also fairly young, I guess by Pony standards," Captain Rodriguez said, as he stood next to Twilight, already hearing that she was Shining's kid sister.

"Yeah, he's the youngest out of the leadership of the Royal Guard. I think the Unicorn Commander Titan Buster is grooming him to be his successor," one of the Ponies who knew the higher echelons of the Royal Guard added.

With that said, a gust of air suddenly rushed out from a cordoned off area of the reception bay, heralding the arrival of the Equestrian Dignitaries and Military Officers.

"Well it looks like it time for the show to begin..." Captain Rodriguez thought out loud.

--==--

Eventually everyone relocated to a large meeting room a couple of floors under the main halls of Safe Haven, more than large enough to support the rather large contingent of Ponies and Humans and Spike, who found himself involved in the discussions as the lone Dragon anyone had any access to.

"Good day everyone. As you all know, I am Princess Celestia and this is Princess Luna," Princess Celestia started, introducing everyone attending on behalf of Equestria. "I would like to introduce the H.E.A. representatives and the Conduits of Terra to the other dignitaries from Equestria. The pink Winged-Unicorn to my immediate left is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, whom also answers simply to Princess Cadence. The white and blue Unicorn to her immediate left is Royal Guard Unicorn Defense Corps Captain Shining Armor. The other three Ponies attending in official capacity with me are all generals within the Royal Guard. General Titan Buster is head of the Unicorn Corps, General Southern Monsoon is head of the Pegasi Corps, and General Mountain Pass is head of the Earth Pony Corps."

The three other Ponies all nodded as their names were announced, with the others returning the action in kind.

"While I wish we were all meeting under better circumstances, we all know or can figure why this meeting was called. Shining Armor, if you would take the lead..." Princess Luna started, before acceding to the slightly startled white and blue-maned Unicorn. Everyone was introduced in due time, and Shining Armor trotted over to the head of the table to begin.

Alright Shining, here goes nothing... Shining Armor thought to himself as he stepped forward to the head of the meeting table.

"I have been reviewing the converted film sent to us, and personally interviewing the Unicorns involved in defending the Bureaus before the retreat order was given. From what I have seen and heard, simply put, we are horribly out-gunned figuratively, and literally in terms of armaments regarding the Society for the Preservation of Humanity."

"So what do you suggest, Captain Armor?" Rodriguez asked, not sure how he should refer to the guardspony speaking before him.

Shining Armor then continued. "Well, due to the nature of the arms used against us, I don't think we can make anything like it, right now anyway. A small part of it is lack of familiarity or antipathy for those types of firearms, I believe the word is; but really the major reason is that General Buster and myself figure the thaumatic-tau weaponry used by the SPH is of recent design. We'd have no real way to for you to make versions until we get our hands or hooves on actual examples."

Everyone considered things for a short while, and then eventually agreed.

Shining Armor then called attention back to himself to continue. "Now, of course we did not arrange this meeting to simply say we couldn't make magic-shooting guns, I guess, yet. My specialty is defensive magic, I wish to personally parlay that into developing armors in order to protect ourselves, Pony or whatever, against the SPH's weaponry. I believe we can develop our own offensive weaponry eventually, but we have to ensure our survivability first and foremost."

I'd like to argue with that sentiment, but we aren't going to do much good to anyone dead ourselves after hardly getting any shots off... Rodriguez thought to himself.

Shining Armor then left the head of the table in order to allow Gen. Moutain Pass to speak. "Good Morning fellow travelers. I am General Mountain Pass of the Earth Pony Corps. After much debate with the others back in Equestria, both civilian and military, I believe we don't have any choice but to engage in a massive rearmament project. As Capt. Shining stated, we should first focus on increasing the odds of our survivability against their advanced weaponry. From there, we can adapt different arms for ourselves depending on the specific situation. If the future negotiations that we are conducting with the other nations of Equus pan out... that should bring in entities that are, to be honest, more capable of designing and using offensive weaponry than ourselves."

Richard Edwards then spoke up. "I would assume you would be referring to the Gryphons, if my prior reading is correct."

"Yes, Mr. Edwards. The Gryphon race are natural predators, and thus more, how could you say, inclined to making arms than armor. Honestly, when I first read and watched humanity, I thought that you all would be more than a natural fit for each other. I see differently now, though; your behavior and ideologies are far more diverse than I thought initially," Mountain Pass replied.

Hrm, our reputation is starting to precede us... we will have to be careful when the larger negotiations start in the future... Mr. Edwards thought as his concern was piqued by Mountain Pass's statements.

Mountain Pass walked away from the head of the table and Southern Monsoon approached. "Greetings, I am General Southern Monsoon, leader of the Pegasi Corps. I wish state my own concerns regarding this rearmament project. I want to implore everyone working on the project to remember that a Pony's armor is an extension of themselves, and that we cannot fight effectively if we are not comfortable in it. I would wager Humanity feels much the same way."

Southern Monsoon acceded and allowed Titan Buster to speak. "Good Morning, as you know I am General Titan Buster, overall leader of the Unicorn Corps. I do not have too much more to add before we begin discussing materials and analyzing initial designs for the Pony and Human versions of the armor, but you all must remember this. We also must be adaptable. I have no doubt that the SPH's researchers are constantly developing new armaments, and possibly delving into the more arcane nature of Terran Magic. Thaumatologists both in the military and in the universities back in Equestria are already finding some rather, interesting, applications of this new mana. I would have no doubt the Black Shield's researchers are doing the same."

Hrm, that seems to be an apt nickname for the S.P.H... the Black Shield... Mr. Edwards thought to himself again.

With all said and done, various groups began to break off, as the Generals and researchers and volunteers began to consider the initial designs for the armors, in terms of both shape and material used. Shining Armor however, took a few minutes though to see to Twilight and her crew sitting in the 'back' of the meeting room, with Princess Cadence joining him.

"So how you've been doin' Twily?" Shining Armor asked, hugging his sister tightly.

"Just great Shiny," Twilight answered with a half-mocking tone.

"Heh, anyway, I heard of the Conduits of Terra. So I wanted to make a point to take to you all briefly before I get to work with the HEA researchers on this armor project," Shining Armor requested; the four Conduits coming to the fore of the group.

"I just wanted to tell you all, thank you. Thank you so much for everything you've done for my sister Twilight and the other Bearers of Harmony in this situation on Earth. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that we can, as both a proud Royal Guardspony and Twilight's brother, to make sure that this project works out best for all involved. Anyway, if you all come back to Equestria, I'm fairly sure that myself and Cadence would love to talk more casually about things," Shining Armor stated, noticing that General Buster was trying to get his attention.

"Yeah sure Shining, we were thinking of taking some time in Equestria in a couple of weeks anyway," Midori Hana replied, the other three Conduits nodding in agreement.

With that, Shining Armor trotted over to General Buster in order to start brainstorming for the Unicorn's new armor.

"So these are the Conduits of Terra I've from my aunts about. I can feel the power that resides in all of you, both Equestrian and Terran. You still have a lot of learn about being a Pony though. That's a life-long quest at any rate, so don't feel like you're in a rush," Princess Cadence said, with a bright smile on her face. Compared to the vibe of a pair of aunts they got from Princesses Celestia and Luna, Cadence felt every bit like a 'cool' older sister to the four Terran Conduits.

"Thanks Princess Cadence, we'd love to talk more with you and Shining Armor at a later date. I just kinda feel like you got a whole lot to discuss with us, both business and casual," Red Blaze stated, taking the measure of Princess Cadence and mentally comparing her to her aunts.

She seems less confident in who she is compared to Princesses Celestia and Luna, I thought all Alicorns were the same... she thought to herself.

==========================================
[ Ponyville, Equestria: August 8, ???+1 ]

"So where is Storm now?" Hana said as she leafed through another book on various Equestrian and foreign plants.

"I have no idea honestly. I'm thinking of putting a tracking spell on him whenever he makes his way back here," Blaze said as she performed some exercises that Rarity claimed help to improve concentration and focus.

"He clearly wasn't lying when he complained about being cooped up. Still, I didn't think he'd bolt like that necessarily..." Vague added, as he made sure that everything was in working order. The Princesses had confirmed that maintenance crews made sure that the Bearers and Conduits residences that were left completely empty would be taken care of, but Vague just wanted to check (for the third time since they had arrived the night previous) that everything was working properly.

"Truth be told, I'm glad we were clear to get away for awhile. It just feels like all that pent up stress is slowly being relieved while I'm here. I think it's getting away from the news about whatever random thing the SPH is claiming to do for the benefit of all," Blaze said as she continued on with the yoga-like exercises.

Vague agreed, as he finally felt comfortable enough to relax on a large cushion. "Yeah I see what you mean. I also think it's best to get used to this space again; we'll be on a diplomatic mission before too much longer, I feel. First time any of us will be outside of Equestria's formal borders while over here."

Just then they all heard the buzz of the doorbell. Afterwhile, they saw the familiar lavender and violet-maned Unicorn walk in, holding a formal looking letter in pink-ish stationary.

"Hey Twilight, so how are you doing this morning?" Hana asked, as she was mixing batter for pancakes.

"Fine Hana. I just got a letter from Princess Cadence. Imagine my surprise when this Pink stationery popped into my 'inbox'. So, yeah, she and Shiny want to pay us that courtesy visit here at the Greystone Conductor as soon as we can get everyone together," Twilight said, this time not as nervous about the prospect as she was almost a week ago.

"I thought Shining Armor would be tied down with the Armor Development Project?" Vague asked, not entirely sure of how the Equestrian military handled development projects.

"True, he is overseeing the project in a broad sense. But the humans and the forgeponies are handling the actual nuts and bolts as it were. That Metal Magic Pinkie found is helping quite a bit in that regard, although we want to make sure that the armor is as strong without magical influence as with. I'm sure he'd explain it better if you asked him, though," Twilight said somewhat nervously, hoping she had explained things well enough given the early stages of the project. She then noticed that the Conduits were short one, one rather excitable golden-yellow Pegasus. "Say, um, where is Golden Storm?"

"Who knows where at this point in time..." Blaze responded, still sour on the fact she had no idea where he flew off to, literally.

"Oh sure, I can get ya some," Blaze replied, realizing where Twilight was going with her comments. She blinked in and out of Storm's room with his brush, more than enough gold colored hair and platinum-blonde mane for Twilight to use.

"Alright, just follow me back to the Library and we'll get started!" Twilight said excitedly, always looking for an opportunity to try out a new or rarely used spell.

--==--

Late that afternoon, all ten of the Elements of both worlds and Spike were at the Greystone Conductor, including Golden Storm who found himself suddenly teleported into Twilight's house-tree library, and nearly crashing through one of the walls.

"You know, next time you could give a heads up when you are going to suddenly warp someone to and fro," Storm said incredulously as he walked through the door, still rubbing his neck some.

"Yeah you're lucky I managed to intercept you, otherwise you'd be headfirst through Twi's wall," Spike said as he walked through as well, still rubbing his chest some from the impact.

"Next time you can give a mare a heads up before you suddenly bolt for who knows where," Blaze replied, with the same tone of incredulousness.

"Anyway, you two and you all, my brother and sister-in-law should be here any minute. They finally managed to get time off for today, so everything should be good to go," Twilight said, as she and Pinkie were arranging the food in the rather spacious kitchen.

True to her word, not ten minutes later, there was a rapping on the door. Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were there, minus their dress uniform and formal regalia. As stated, it was to be a more or less casual visit, and a chance for Shining and Cadence to get everyone up to speed on the goings on between them and their respective jobs in general.

"Shining, you made it!" Twilight said, as she rushed and hugged her elder brother.

"I did say we were going to show up as soon as you could get everyone together right?" Shining replied, ruffling Twilight's mane some.

"Yep. Anyway come on in, we already have food and everything set up," Twilight said, letting the couple in the door.

"Oh wow, the Manehatten interior decorators certainly knew what they were doing when they put this house together. It does have that, sort of hybrid sensibility to it. Also the stripes along the base of the house in your coat colors is a very nice touch," Princess Cadence said, praising the decor and general architecture.

"Yeah, I always liked the Brownstone-style of houses back on Earth. Too bad that most of the original Brownstones were relocated under the Domes back in Boston," Red Blaze said somewhat sadly.

"So how's the first week of y'all's Armor Project goin'?" Applejack asked.

Shining Armor sighed a bit and rolled his eyes. "It's a bit of hassle so far. A lot of the rank and file are making all kinds of strange requests of the humans. And there is a bit of the inevitable clash in design philosophy. The Earth Ponies don't like the fact the humans use lightweight materials, even if the Humans prove said materials are just as strong. The Pegasi don't like the plain aesthetics, especially how gray everything is. And the Unicorns still don't trust Terran Magic to be a proper shielding mechanism. I'm confident we'll work through these issues eventually; but like I said, it's gonna be a hassle."

"Sounds like fun..." Rainbow Dash added, wondering if Shining was overstating the problem, or understanding it.

"And how have you been holding up, Princess Cadence?" Midori Hana asked of the pink Pegacorn.

Cadence rolled her eyes in much the same fashion as her husband did a few moments earlier. "Spending a lot of time answering the question 'Why I haven't appeared sooner if I was a Princess in the Royal Court?'. It's kinda hard to explain to a lot of the humans, and a few of the Ponies there, that I'm not actually a ruling party of the government yet, I probably still have a few decades before I get to that stage."

The statement piqued Red Blaze's interest. "Oh, um. If I'm not being too forward, would you mind explaining why exactly? The orientation materials didn't explain in depth about yourself. Most of what I got was that the Princesses are the only lawmakers in all of Equestria at the national level."

"Yes, but the story is a bit involved. I figure since you all are Aunt Celestia and Luna's direct subordinates you should get a more in-depth lesson," Princess Cadence said.

Aunt Celestia, the Elements of Harmony and the Conduits of Terra want to know how exactly our government works, and possibly want to know our backstories a bit. Would be it be okay if I tell them?

Sure thing Cadence, but be careful not to tell them too much about myself and Luna. I'm sure she'd want to reserve that right, and to be frank, I would as well.

Alright, Aunt 'Tia!

"Princess Celestia just told me that I'm clear to tell you all more of my back story. Hopefully it will give you some more insight into how things work in Canterlot, and why the Princesses behave the way they do."

A short while later, after everyone ate a bit and grabbed something to drink, they gathered in the recreational area to listen to Cadence's story.

Cadence sat in front of the gathered Ponies and Dragon, and began to speak. "Okay, where to begin with myself. I guess I should start at the present and work my way back a bit. Currently, my title is simply Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, which means I am formally a part of the Royal Court, but I do not hold formal political power within said court. All that really means functionally is that I can't make official decisions for the government of Equestria yet. You might be asking yourselves 'If Princess Cadence is an Alicorn, then why can't she make official decisions?' Well, there is a simple answer to that question, it's because I'm not technically an Alicorn."

Everyone but Twilight and Shining Armor looked around confused as to what the exact distinction was.

"Looking at how confused at how everyone except Shiny and Twily are, I should take a bit of time to explain the difference. I am what you'd call a Pegacorn, which is the informal term for a Winged-Unicorn that has undergone Ascension but not, I guess you could say, completely linked with their base of power on what is known as the Plane of Concepts."

Everyone looked slightly more confused, including Twilight and Shining Armor.

"Well it looks like I'm going to have to explain that as well. Ascension is what happens with any Pony with sufficient power becomes so entwined with a certain concept they begin to tap into the latent power of what makes reality 'reality'. Princesses Celestia and Luna, during the Rebellion of Harmony, which was the term for the actual fight that lead to the end of the Reign of Discord, became so immersed in the power of the heavenly bodies, they were literally reborn as the avatars of Equus's heavenly bodies. I won't go into detail about what exactly happened, my aunts want to reserve the right to tell that tale for themselves. Although I will say what happened to myself. That should probably fill in a few gaps until Aunt Celestia and Luna are ready to talk to you all about that time."

Cadence was glad to see the looks of confusion turn into looks of genuine interest now.

"Um before you continue, Princess Cadence. If Luna is the Avatar of the Moon, and Celestia the Avatar of the Sun. Then what does that make you aligned to?" Pinkie Pie asked, genuinely unsure.

"I'm getting to it Pinkie, don't worry," Cadence answered, going back to her story. "Anyway, I was not always known as Mi Amore Cadenza. I believe my previous name was Heart Linker. My talent then was being able to read Ponies' hearts, if you will, to figure out how to get them to link to something else. This had a lot of different meanings, but mostly I was a matchmaker, dabbling a bit in job counseling as well."

"Wait..." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Okay, so you had a different name, and you're constantly speaking in the past tense about that phase of your life... I don't get it."

"You do usually speak in the past tense about a Pony that is dead, no?" Cadence replied, face suddenly becoming stern.

"Dead?!" Everyone in the room replied, everyone except Shining Armor.

Cadence continued, her face showing a bit of sadness. "Yes. While the Conversion from Human to Pony does preserve the soul and identity of the Convert; Ascension is a whole other kettle of fish, to use a Human English phrase. During Ascension, the Pony that is Ascending generally has the entirety of themselves reset to nothing and reborn into a new body. Everything I know about my life as Heart Linker is second-hoof information. I am literally incapable of remembering anything of it for myself, short of reading the memories of those Heart Linker knew."

"Wow, it really is like you had suddenly died, and were immediately reborn," Rarity said, just now starting to grip with what that meant.

Cadence nodded in agreement as she continued. "I believe the incident is recorded in the more in-depth history books as 'The Summer of Love Incident'. I became so obsessed with making sure everypony knew their special somepony, I began tapping into the very fabric of reality itself. If I remember the reports correctly, the last thing anyone at Ground Zero remembered before hand was seeing my original body glowing the same shade of pink as my coat now, and then a massive wave and beam of the same pink light shooting out near... I believe it was a little north of Los Pegasus. Thankfully no one was harmed during the outburst, although there was a sudden spike in marriages and a minor foal-boom about a year later. The incident was about 25 years ago roughly, most of couples who weren't of advanced age should still be together if you want to talk to them about it."

That's just... nuts... everyone thought to themselves in unison, somehow.

"When the rescue workers found me after the magical surge died down, all they saw was a pink Winged-Unicorn foal. I was immediately taken to the nearest hospital, and Princess Celestia was called to attend to me. From that point on, I've lived my life as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, out of the sight of most until recently. Really the only Ponies that knew me outside of the Royal Court were some of the high-ranking Noblepony families and Shining's family. Mostly because somehow I got roped into being Twilight's foalsitter while she was still living in Canterlot."

All four Conduits of Terra turned and looked at Twilight, wondering just how charmed the mare was in the larger scheme of things.

Cadence called attention back to herself and concluded her story. "Anyway, getting back to the present day. I met Twilight as a foal in the park, eventually I work up the nerve to get myself hired as her foal-sitter. I met Shining Armor as a cadet in the Royal Guard, and not too long after he makes Captain, he works up the nerve to propose to me. I have no idea what's going to happen if and when I become a formal stakeholder in Equestria's government, I just hope that I'm up to the task whenever the day comes."

Red Blaze trotted up to Cadence and looked her in the eyes. She could see the nervousness of someone struggling to come to terms with their new situation still. Spike could also sympathize with Cadence, having been forced to live as an adult Dragon through no fault of his own.

"Princess Cadence... you'll make a great Crown Princess, I can see that you have a strong love for everypony and a desire to make sure they live according to what they truly want in their hearts. Princess Celestia and Luna will be lucky to have you as the third entity in a triumvirate," Red Blaze said, trying to project as much confidence as she could at someone who still outranked her in the political scale of things.

Cadence surprised Blaze by hugging her. "Thank you, Red Blaze. Believe me when I told you all, Conduits of Terra - there is a great deal you all still have to learn of yourselves. But that's a lifetime proposition, so don't rush. In any case, I think I've gone on for long enough. Let's just enjoy the rest of the evening as good friends, okay?"

Everyone agreed as Spike pulled out some records to play.

===================================================
[ Somewhere in the Everfree Forest: Aug 10, ???+1 ]

I see that you have visitors on the way, dear...

Indeed mother... would you like to end this session now?

No, I have the feeling that the guests would like to speak to the both of us...

You always had a sense for other's intentions, mother...

Midori Hana, Blue Vague, and Twilight Sparkle were walking the now fairly defined path to Zecora's Hut within the Everfree Forest. They wanted to consult with the Zebra about Blue Vague and gauge just how far along he was in his recovery and reconciliation with himself since the Nightmare Ooze incident.

"You know as long as we've been here, I've never been this deep in the Everfree..." Blue Vague said as he was one part amazed by the vitality of the forest, and one part scared by the fact it was difficult to see anything through all the trees and foliage.

"This is place is just simply... amazing. I guess Earth Ponies would spend a lot more time here if it weren't a wild zone. I heard of all the predators and monsters that still make this area home, and this is just the area near Ponyville," Midori Hana added, invigorated by all the natural greenery surrounding her.

Twilight nodded as they got within eyesight of the simple hut. "I would imagine that's why Zecora settled in this clearing we're approaching. It's about the right spot in-between Ponyville and the deep Everfree, which I doubt anyone would want to call home, unless they were born there or were a bit cracked in the head."

As they all approached the hut, Vague and Twilight picked up a strange aura coming from the edifice. Taking some extra caution, Twilight knocked lightly on the door and called for Zecora. "Excuse me, Zecora. Are you able to receive guests right now?"

"Oh yes Twilight. You and your two friends can come inside," Zecora shouted from inside.

"How did she know there were two of us with you?" Blue Vague asked, not sure if he picked up any new magic aside from what permeated the area around the hut anyway.

"I don't know, Vague. I've learned in the last few years to not exactly question Zecora when she does stuff like that, though," Twilight said as she pushed the door open.

The three Ponies were amazed by the conditions inside the hut. The inside was almost totally dark, despite the fact it was midday outside. It also felt quite cool, despite the mild heat from the summer.

"So, um Miss Zecora... did we walk in on anything that we shouldn't have?" Midori Hana asked nervously, looking at the strange swirls of color in the black background all around them.

"Actually, this might be the best time for you to visit me, given the concerns you may have," Zecora stated, still not having opened her eyes since Twilight and the others walked in.

"Okay. Now how would you know that? And this might be the first time you've talked to me, at least, without constantly speaking in rhyme," Twilight asked, also a tad off-put by the environs they saw in the hut.

"Oh, I can answer that," a strange female voice in the background stated. It sounded a lot like Zecora, except quite older. "We Zebras have a cultural trait that when we want to emphasize something, we speak rhymes. It comes from our proud oral tradition."

A lot like the African tribes back on Earth, at least historically... Vague thought to himself as they sat in the circle Zecora had drawn in white chalk.

"You always did have a bit of a habit of giving away trade secrets when you spoke to outsiders, mother," Zecora stated while chuckling a bit, finally opening her eyes.

"The Zebra Tribes cannot be isolated forever; the world is growing smaller, in a sense. We have to be prepared to receive guests far more frequently than we have been. And now an entirely new world has been joined to our own. The time will soon come where we will have to enter into alliance with the other major nations of this world," the female voice continued to speak.

"That is quite true, mother. And it appears we have two critical figures from the other world with us, given the extremely strong link with that new mana they possess," Zecora stated, as the common room of her hut turned from a strange black field to a more normal looking darkened room during midday.

"Um, not to be too forward or anything. But I don't see anyone else here beside us four, where exactly is your mother?" Midori Hana asked, looking around to see if she missed anyone.

"I am sitting before you, Green One," stated the female voice.

Twilight, Vague, and Hana reeled back a bit from Zecora in surprise. What they saw sitting next to the flesh and blood mostly monochrome Zebra, was the ghost of another Zebra that looked like a somewhat older version of Zecora, the main difference being that the ghost's mane was not styled into a mohawk, but more of a naturally flowing style, not unlike Midori Hana.

The phantom Zebra mare giggled a bit at the surprise etched into the faces and souls of the three Ponies before her. "It's always strange when outsiders react that way when a Zebra Phantom manifests. Anyway, my name is Zel'Ana, I am Zecora's mother, teacher, and in this form, mentor."

The three Ponies managed to gather themselves again, and formally introduce themselves as well. "I-i-i-I'm Twilight Sparkle, and the blue one is Blue Vague and the green one is Midori Hana." The other two Ponies waved nervously after Twilight stopped speaking.

"I see, you three are unfamiliar with the proceedings, which is understandable. When a Zebra faces death, they may join the Circle of Rebirth. However, I am one of a few who still feel they had worth," Zel'Ana said with the now trademark lyrical Zebra style.

The three Ponies finally began to relax, the Unicorns now used to the phantasmal presence of Zel'Ana. They then began talking for awhile, getting Zecora up to speed on the goings on in Earth, or at least the details she might not have gleamed from her communion with the Spirits.

"That is quite troubling indeed. Now I see why mother figures that the Tribal Congress will be forced to enter into a pact with Equestria and the other major nations," Zecora reasoned aloud, with a hoof under her chin.

"And I see the Blue One, Blue Vague, has been touched by the inner darkness of the Pony race. Your mind and heart may be purged of its influence, but the scars are still fresh, are they not?" Zel'Ana also reasoned, looking much like her daughter.

"To be honest, yes. I wrapped myself up so tightly in my own depression and anger, I just... snapped. I don't really remember the specifics of what I did as Nightmare Ooze, but I can only conclude it was bad," Blue Vague started, before taking a breath to continue his thoughts. "I honestly don't know what to think about it. A part of me just wants to bury it, and pretend it never happened. Another part of me though... another part of me wants to find some way to confront it safely."

Zel'Ana began to glow an eerie green, as a strange circle appeared under Blue Vague. Vague, rather than freak out again, felt incredibly calm, instinctively knowing that Zel'Ana's phantom magic was in no way malicious. "I want you to try and remember your last lucid thoughts before the Darkness grabbed hold of you. Can you tell us what they were?"

"I... I... I saw my mother being interviewed by the press. Even though she wore a mask, I could tell it was her by her voice and the words she spoke. It enraged me, it infuriated me, it also depressed me greatly. It was last real lucid thought I had; I couldn't take it, hearing her voice again just sent me over the edge," Blue Vague said, as if under a mild hypnosis. The feeling soon passed, as the green circle vanished from under him.

"Blue Vague, Link to the Water of the Other World... you must come to terms with those feelings. You must restrain and conquer this hostility, if you wish to make you dreams a reality," Zecora stated, both her and the ghost of her mother nodding sagely.

Yeah, but how do you conquer the darkness in your own heart? Maybe I need to talk to the Princesses about it more in depth; but I don't know when I'll be able to gain an audience with them... Blue Vague thought, wondering when they'd have any break in their preliminary negotiations.

==--==--==--==--==

Meanwhile, back in Canterlot, the pair of Princesses were putting to paper the preliminary schedule for the negotiating session to come, having finally secured an agreement from the Dragons, Zebras, and Gryphons.

"So we are to all meet in Safe Haven at the end of September, according to the Earth Calendar, yes?" Luna asked, as she prepared to hold the evening and overnight session of court.

"Yes, Lulu. The exact date is tentatively set at September 28th," Celestia answered, still writing down the lineups of dignitaries.

"I am glad they also agreed to allow the Conduits of Terra and the Bearers of Harmony to spend some time in each of their respective Capitals learning a bit of each Nation's culture. It will be helpful for when they attend the negotiations as an audience," Luna mused aloud.

"Knowing the Gryphons, they might try to work over the Conduits especially. I have a feeling Converts and Humans might identify with the Gryphon mindset the most."

"So how long do you want them all to spend in each Nation?"

"Three days should be sufficient, I'm also giving them memory crystals to record select writings so that they may study them after they leave. Speaking of 'memory crystals'. How is our project with the Magical Computer coming along?"

"The prototype is mostly stable now. There were some unforeseen issues where the artificial mind that runs some of the humans’ machines actually became a unique ego in her own right. So much of our time was spent trying to teach it ethical behavior and the like."

"Do you think you succeeded?"

"I can only hope so..."

CH 2: The New Alliance

The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life - Part II
Chapter 2: The New Alliance

---[[ September 27, 2081 @ Safe Haven]]

"So tomorrow is the day of decision, isn't it" a female voice said throughout the main computer room of Safe Haven. She was floating amongst the different monitors, using the cameras around the room to look at the various operators and guests within.

"Yes, Miss Shift. The Princesses and the HEA have been conducting talks on and off for the last six weeks. But everyone is to meet formally to finalize the treaties and make any final changes tomorrow." one of the human operators responded, noting how Miss Shift seemed to turn red when talking to Humans.

Away from the main computer room, Ponies and Humans were milling about, completing their preparations, hopefully before the deal itself was to be completed the next day. Food was being prepared, decorations and banners representing all four principles were set up in the main reception hall. All in all, things were set up to record what would possibly be the most momentous occasion in the history of both of the worlds involved. At least, that was the hope of all the people working and living in Safe Haven.

Captain Julio Rodriguez, now more or less the head of the human security forces for the H.E.A., sat in one of the common areas. The human population of Safe Haven had adjusted to the ambiance of the space-station like base of operations quite easily, most of them having lived in similar conditions one way or another anyway. He looked at one of the surplus rifles as he thought about the late Capt. Johnson.

It still hurts... We came up in the Service Academy together... And now I'm pretty much the go-to authority on military affairs for the time being...

He sat on a bench as he stared at the many tools of warfare that marked this era of Humanity, and took the time to engage in some somewhat deep contemplation about the situation.

Is this ultimately what the legacy of Humanity will be, a bunch of tools for waging war? I can't think that it'll end like this... But... I just don't know what to think about it all...

A guards-pony noticed Captain Rodriguez lying on the bench staring up into the ceiling, and decided to give the Human some company.

"Excuse me? Um, Captain Rodriguez? Wouldn't it be better to rest in your room, I can't imagine those benches to be comfortable..." she said, somewhat nervous still around all the firearms stored away for use by the Human security forces, such that they existed in Safe Haven.

"Oh, don't mind me, I wasn't planning on going to sleep in here. I was more thinking about the whole situation to this point," Julio said as he sat upright again.

"Oh, I see..." the female guards-pony said, her anxiety around the modern weapons of war obvious to Julio.

Sensing an opportunity to bounce his internal ideas off a sounding board, he decided to start a conversation. "Firearms of all shapes and sizes, that could fire all types of ammunition. Humans are extremely well-practiced at the art of warfare."

The female guard's ears perked up, and decided to respond to the young captain's assertions. "You make yourself sound like wingless Gryphons."

Julio chuckled at the response. "From what I hear of the Gryphons, I guess that'd be a fair assessment. Although seeing as we aren't raptor/feline hybrids, we had to go a little beyond the pale in developing our tools."

The Earth-Pony mare sat on the floor next to Julio, a little less anxious around all the firearms and such. "Yeah, we still have to deal with a few 'stragglers' who want to lead the 'traditional Gryphon lifestyle'. Most of the weapons they use at first blush wouldn't compare to this. But then again, being a predator by nature, they are living weapons in-and-of-themselves."

Rodriguez then began to contemplate the idea of a Gryphon outfitted like one of the SPH's grunts. "Yeah, the idea of something with a eagle's vision, a cat's reflexes, and heavy ordnance scares the hell out of me. I guess that's why tomorrow is so important."

"Yeah if we can get the Gryphons on board with the whole thing, it can go a long way to fixing what broke in this world apparently," she thought out loud, gasping at her last statement. Julio motioned that she shouldn't feel like she needed to hold anything back in this discussion.

"Anyway, while we're talking, it'd be nice if I got your name. Honestly it's hard for me to keep all you guards-ponies straight. If I remember correctly, your armor turns your coats colors like a magical uniform."

"Oh right. My name is Granite Base. I got it because I tend to act as a strong foundation for any team I'm a part of."

Hrm, I guess I could chide the Ponies for having such obvious theme naming... but we do the same thing anyway, just a few extra layers... Julio thought to himself, inwardly chuckling at how obvious some of the Ponies' names were.

The two continued to talk, comparing each other's military philosophy in an abstract sense.

"I can see why armor was the first thing you all suggested we make for this rearmament project. A world full of belligerent monsters, like yours, would tend to make you prioritize survival and continued pursuit of a goal," Julio remarked, thinking just what kind of weird world would produce such a nominally peaceful species despite all the screwed up things that apparently lived there.

Granite chuckled at the notion. "I could say the same for you all in terms of how you all think in terms of the military. At least, how the formal military appears to think. Although it seems like your 'monsters' tend to wear the same skin as you all, so to speak."

"Makes you wonder what’s better: to not be able to see the monsters around you, but then not know when they are ready to strike? Or to be able to see them all around you, and have to live with the fact that they are around you at all times?" Julio asked, as he laid back down on the bench.

"It's hard to say. I'd personally like seeing the monsters, but I can see how that'd wear on the mind too," Granite responded, taking her helmet off.

Julio noticed the well-kept and braided mane, reminding himself of so many of the female infantry he served with until that point. Shouldn't surprise me really, but she is pretty cute I guess.

He sat up on the bench, as the mare near him looked more and more comfortable in the armory now that she had someone to talk to. "I can see why you'd think that Miss Granite. Sometimes I think that's what's been happening on this side the last 50 years. People got so tired of having to worry about who the monsters were, they just retreated into this, I guess false world where the monsters were so clearly obvious."

Granite could tell Julio was irritated and depressed, and probably by far more than just losing his colleague those weeks and months ago. "I've read of the condition of much of the populace; and it does seem like apathy is the reigning sentiment. Forgive me for speaking out of turn or too harshly, but it is just so depressing to see a population as large and potentially vibrant look so... so... um..."

"Dull and gray, like a pencil sketch?" Julio finished

"Yeah, I guess that's a diplomatic way to put it..." Granite affirmed nervously.

"Well, I think it's true, at least to some extent. I think it wouldn't take much to restore humanity back to 'full color' as it were, even discounting how Ponification would literally turn you colors. At the same time though, with the SPH in charge, well..."

"Well what?"

"Let's just say that some movies produced about a century ago might start looking more prescient than they already were and are..."

"Come again?"

Julio rubbed his hand against his face, inwardly telling himself that Granite wouldn't have gotten such an oblique reference if she was a Native. "Perhaps I should go find some classic movie and comic book buffs, they can better explain it to you. We could probably both do without being around all these firearms anyway."

"Yeah, I see what you mean."

The human and pony then walked out of the armory space, hoping there was a free media room somewhere out there.

---[[ September 28, 2081 @ Safe Haven]]

"Well it looks like we are rapidly approaching zero hour..." Blue Vague said out loud to himself, as he looked out at the massive underground arena that was recently carved out. One of the benefits of being literally based inside of a mountain no one cared about.

Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were all in full regalia as they sat on rather plain looking cushions await the formal arrival of the other heads of state. The upper echelons of the Equestrian military were also represented well, dressed oddly enough in dress uniforms and in their natural colors; not that anyone noticed with Shining Armor since he was naturally white-coated. The HEA and the other volunteers also were dressed formally, with the leadership, including of course Mr. Edwards, wearing blue armbands with gold trim to separate themselves from the volunteers. The Six Bearers of Harmony and the Four Conduits of Terra were dressed in the Pony equivalent of business casual, each having an insignia of their Element stitched on a foreleg-band. Spike sat off to the side, in meditation while going over his last lessons in his mind, and hoping he wouldn't be roped into anything before the start of the proceedings.

"Alright everyone, the diplomatic corps and Heads of State from the Gryphon Federated Kingdoms, The Republic of Zebra Tribes, and the Dragon Nomad Central Council should be here any minute now. Also, please no gawking. I really don't know how exactly each race will react once they get here, and I'd like our negotiations to not stall because of a some kind of unintentional insult," Richard said sternly to all the humans assembled.

All the humans nodded and spoke in agreement.

"I'm still nervous around the Gryphons though, I guess I just have to be around them longer than three days just to get used to it," Golden Storm quipped, as the ten Elements were all clustered around each other, carrying on side conversations with passers-by and amongst themselves.

"I guess that's why some of the young Gryphons attend the flight camps back in Equestria. To get us all used to each other. I know it was nice seeing Gilda again; never knew she was a part of King Guile's core clan, though," Rainbow Dash responded, wondering if her dress 'uniform' was a little too ostentatious.

"Indeed. Apparently King Guile's house is responsible for ending the last Pony-Gryphon War some 230 years ago, wasn't it?" Fluttershy thought aloud.

"The last major conflict between the Ponies and Gryphons was officially ended with the Ceasefire of Trottingham-Rockwall approximately 234 years ago," Twilight clarified, not missing an opportunity to flaunt her truly impressive-for-her-age font of knowledge.

"Signed by King Gauss, so named because of his trademark magnetic dual-blades he wore while in battle. His funeral and the formal ascension of his son, and Guile's father, King Pyrus, was truly a momentous occasion..." Princess Celestia added, nodding as she somewhat surprised the group by coming over to talk with them before the other's arrival.

"No surprise that you'd remember something like that. I guess the feelings were quite tense back then," Vague reasoned aloud.

"Indeed. And amongst some of clans, they still are. They cling bitterly to their old lifestyle, even 200-plus years after the fact," Celestia sighed as she thought of all the skirmishes afterward that might have re-opened the old wounds between nations. Thankfully Pyrus was able to contain the stragglers until many of the Gryphons acceded to the idea of raising meat in farms.

"Anyway, Princess, not to be too much of a prying mare; but I heard that there were some concessions you had to make in order to get those three on-board. Care to give us the skinny?" Red Blaze asked.

"No, my dear Element of Fire. Though the full terms will be announced before long, so will just have to restrain yourselves until then," Celestia replied, noting how briefly disappointed Blaze looked.

"I did enjoy my time in the Zebra Savannahs though, found a lot of interesting seeds to try out here. They are extremely good at horticulture," Midori Hana thought out loud as she thought inwardly about the sealed jars full of various seeds to try out.

"Yeah. The more Ah think about it, the more Ah realize Zebras and us Earth Ponies aren't that far apart. Just a matter of perspective Ah guess," Applejack mused, shrugging at the end.

"Heh, you should have seen Twilight and Blaze back in Karrak-za-Jalve. Both were absolutely astounded by their libraries and the information networks respectively," Vague remarked jokingly, before getting a rap in the foreleg from both named mares.

"Hopefully we get some time to make return trips and study more in-depth-ly. I have a feeling that we're gonna need all the resources possible going forward, if we want to make this smooth anyway," Twilight said, while, nodding sagely. Everyone agreed.

Celestia's horn suddenly lit up, as did Luna's and Cadence's. "Hrm, I would take that to mean our dignitaries should now be here any second. All spectators are to move to the seats so that we may properly give space to our guests."

With that announcement, all but the principles and (their attendants) to the negotiations walked or jogged into the seats, as the thaumatic sensors showed that quite a number of arrivals from Equus were now Earth-side.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Fillies and Gentlecolts. I am pleased to announce the arrival of Prime Minister Al'Kadar and the Central Ministers from the Republic of Zebra Tribes," Princess Luna announced with an unusual degree of warmth.

With that, the metal doors opened and out marched roughly twenty Zebras, all varying shades of gray, black, and brown stripes on neat, white fur. The humans noted how the Zebras looked like striped and slightly larger Earth Ponies, although most knew now their magic had a different basis in it. Others noticed the flag of Zebra Republic, a vertical banner much like the Equestrian flag, except it was a simple, stylized white-and-gold Zebra head on a black background, and a pair of thin red and green stripes going cross-wise at the top and bottom. As the contingent marched toward the center stage, the flag was placed onside the flags and banners already there, the black a stark contrast to the white, gold, and blue of the HEA and the soft aqua and lavender of Equestria.

"Ah, good afternoon, Princesses of Equestria and H.E.A. leaders, this should be a truly joyous occasion," Prime Minister Al'Kadar stated, his accent sounding much like old Kenyan to the ears of the Humans.

"I see the Language Transfer spell is working as intended," Princess Luna quipped, taking great pride in her MANY contributions to the larger repertoire of Pony Magic.

"Yes, it does make this entire situation far easier if we can communicate in the terms the humans can understand without an actual middle-zebra, or middle-man as it were," Al'Kadar stated in his usual genial tone.

"Miss Hana, how are you doing my dear!" shouted a female voice from the contingent of Zebras.

Midori Hana waved at the sharply dressed white-and-dark-gray striped Zebra mare. "Oh Miss Ze'Ulra, it's been awhile. Vague, this is Ze'Ulra. Zecora's younger sister and the mare we stayed with while in the Zebra Savannah." Vague and the other non-Earth Ponies 'shook' Ze'Ulra's hoof as she quickly introduced herself to them.

"Dear Hana, have you had time to start growing the seeds I sent back with you?"

"No, we've all been busy with prep for today. I guess we'll get some time later though."

"Oh don't worry, take your time. The seeds will remain good for the next 3 years in those jars, unless the jar isn't sealed properly of course."

The two mares chatted for a brief while until a new set of arrivals got everyone's attention.

Princess Celestia then began to speak. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mares and Gentlecolts. I am proud to announce the arrival of the Dragon Nomad Central Council."

Wait... all nine are going to be here... at the same time... INCLUDING HER?! Spike thought to himself, eyes wide open like he had just woken from a nightmare.

The metal doors then opened to reveal exactly 27 Dragons, all nine of the Central Council and each bringing two of their closest aides and deputies. Wraithwind, even in while in his humanoid form, towered over the rest of the Dragons, standing around seven-and-half feet tall (his long and thick beard stretched down three feet to about his 'belly'). The humans remarked to themselves how they seemed for the most part to be leather-winged lizard-people in that form, although a few saw Wraithwind at his full size in person, which originally necessitated the carving out of this underground arena. The flag-banner they carried was burgundy, with an upturned claw that also looked like a flame given the outlines around it.

"Good day to you all. I would suppose, due to our internal secrecy, we should reveal the identities of the council so that you all may be more at ease," Wraithwind started as he cleared his throat, his accent carrying the slightest hint of German to the ears of the humans listening.

"The War and Internal Affairs Sub-Council. Headed by Bloodthorn, Razorline, and Ironguard," as Wraithwind motioned to the silver/crimson, charcoal/green, and slate-gray/white Dragons respectively

"The History and Intelligence Sub-Council. Headed by Rosethorn, Silentclaw, and Frostwing," as he then motioned to the rose-red/teal, black/blue, and sapphire/teal Dragons respectively.

"And finally the Judiciary and Core Sub-Council. Headed by Crossfire, Livewire, and myself, Wraithwind," as he pointed at a crimson/orange and a gold/black Dragon.

"We hope that this accord will mark the beginning of an age of greater coordination and understanding between our many nations and species," Wraithwind announced, with a firm yet not-overbearing voice.

The Dragons then marched to the center stage, and placed their flag opposite the Zebra flag, and awaited the final arrivals with everyone else.

"Bloodthorn, always a pleasure. Haven't seen you since the last Status of Forces meeting about 12 years ago," Southern Monsoon quipped at the silver-scaled hothead.

Bloodthorn, for her part, was professional, even if her tone of voice constantly belied a sense of annoyance at the world in general. "Yes, although I am not one for formal get-togethers. The human negotiators have managed to quell my concerns, for the time being at least."

"It sounds like the terms were agreeable to you all then. I've seen the executive summaries. I wonder how things will fare for you all?" Monsoon then asked.

"That's Intel and History's department for the most part. I'll only care if they make good soldiers afterward," Bloodthorn said curtly as she drew in a deep breath and blew out a brief flare of orange-ish flame from her nostrils.

She can be such a hard-ass, but I guess that's what makes her the premier general in the Dragon's eyes. Monsoon thought to himself as he looked at the sensors showing the last of the arrivals preparing to enter.

The metal gates opened again, and a group of eighteen Gryphons marched through, to some mild fanfare. The first thing that caught everyone's eyes was the gold and black and white trimmed banner one of the Gryphons held, beaming with pride. The humans also remarked how some of the Gryphons walked upright and others walked on all fours, but could switch without giving it a second thought. They also remarked how the Gryphons seemed to have all kinds of combination of brids of prey and big cats, including one with a strange falcon-like head and a jaguar's coat and build.

"Ah, Wraithwind, Prime Minister Al'Kadar, Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, technically, and our new friends Mr. Edwards and his merry little band," the jovial sounding Gryphon bellowed, his gold and red and black-trimmed dress regalia shimmering in the spotlights of the arena. "Today is a big, big day for all of us indeed."

I always imagined the king of the Gryphons to be a hard-ass, but he seems like the exact opposite. I doubt that's his full nature though; can't be alpha male of a giant pride of predator types acting like that... or would it be flock? Vague thought to himself as the groups began to arrange themselves according to species.

"Correct, King Guile. Today is the day we formally sign the treaty allying ourselves and the Human-Equestrian Alliance. Although I would guess after today it'd be better called the Human-Equus Alliance, wouldn't it Mr. Richards?" Celestia started.

"Yes, ma'am. Since we are entering into a formal partnership with all four of your major powers, a name change is more than called for, any of you all disagree?" Richard asked of the assembled leadership. None disagreed, and an attendant promptly typed it down as part as the official minutes of the meeting.

"Are all cameras and recording devices operating properly?" one of the engineers asked. All of the digital and analog recorders were indeed reporting all green, and the meeting was then officially begun.

Celestia strode up to the microphone and lectern, decorated with a pentagon with a sliced filled in with the major color of each nation's flag and the HEA's white. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Fillies and Gentlecolts. I am Princess Celestia, Avatar of the Sun. Despite the lack of overall audience for this occasion, we all felt it necessary to record this for posterity. Over a year ago, myself and my human allies launched the first version of the Conversion Movement. Although we were making slow and steady progress, I am willing to admit a gross error in judgment, that has cost many lives and untold damage to this planet and the psychology of those alive."

She then paused to gather herself, and resumed speaking. "This error was underestimating the depth to which the Powers-that-Be amongst humanity would go to preserve their position as the blessed and the kingmakers of this world. In retrospect, I should better prepared myself and my allies for this fact. Regardless of race or species, those who have a position of power will work to protect that position, and if possible, advance it. It is simply a fact of life that I over these long centuries, have come to accept. However, I cannot ignore the plight of humans."

"Therefore, I believe it would be in our best interest in order to enlist the help of the other three great Nations of Equus, as we have decided to name the greater world Equestria inhabits. The Gryphon Federated Kingdoms, Republic of Zebra Tribes, and the Dragon Nomad Central Council have all agreed to assist us in the re-launch of the Conversion Movement. In exchange for this, we have agreed to relinquish exclusivity to Conversion. Or in more simple terms: we will develop potions in order to allow humans to convert into Gryphons, Zebras, or Dragons."

Everyone was quite surprised by that announcement, at least those who were not previously privy to the negotiations. Although the idea did seem logical to some extent in order to ensure the support of the other Nations, most wondered just why the Princesses would give up exclusive rights to Conversion.

"Now, I will allow for each of the leaders to give brief statement," and with that, Celestia strode away from the lectern, and Wraithwind approached, raising the microphone some to ensure he did not have to shout for it to pick up.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is simply Wraithwind, and I am the leader of the Dragon Nomad Central Council. For millenia, we dragons have existed as independent souls, recording information and fulfilling our heart's desire as we wished, with as little interference as possible. However, due to the rapid metaphorical shrinking of our world, we feel it was now time to begin to open our society and culture to others. With that, I have formally agreed to allow the Ponies and Humans to recruit Humans to join our ranks as Dragons. In exchange, we will offer what material and personal support we can in the rebuilding efforts here on Earth. I believe both our species and others can benefit from increased openness by the Dragon species, and I am willing to extend claw and wing in order to help improve my nation and those we have now allied with. Thank you." Wraithwind then walked over to the table and placed a claw print and signed the treaty formally.

The audience clapped politely, remarking on how remarkably aged Wraithwind sounded, yet not sounding weak at the same time.

At that point, King Guile then approached the lectern, lowering the microphone to match his 6'3" (while standing) frame. "Thank you for the words, Wraithwind. Anyway, My name is King Guile of the House of Leo, King of the Gryphon Federated Kingdoms. We Gryphons are a species of great pride and honor, and we have recognized the great cultures of humanity and their pride in themselves and humanity at large. While we do not portend to be superior to Humanity, we believe we can help re-establish that sense of pride of self, regardless of the form they ultimately take. Like the Dragons before me and the Zebras after, I pledge as many resources in both personnel and expertise as we can manage, in order to ensure that this greater project is a more successful one."

The audience again clapped politely, noting the gregarious nature of King Guile and his seeming eagerness to engage the wider Earth.

As King Guile left the lectern to formally claw-print and sign the paperwork, Prime Minister Al'Kadar strode to the lectern, and stood atop a platform in order to appear at the same height, roughly, as the previous speakers. "Good Evening all. My name is Prime Minister Al'Kadar of the Tribal Congress of Zebras, the ruling body for the Republic of Zebra Tribes. Our species and the Ponies share common ancestry going back many eons; and although we have diverged in culture and magic philosophy since those times, we share general common cause with the Ponies. When we were informed and learned of Earth, we were initially skeptical of offering our help, to be perfectly blunt. However, consultation on the Earth and with the human representatives, and our own curiosity with the spiritual nature of humanity and the Earth itself, eventually lead to the Congress to approve the treaty. We pledge to not only aid in the spiritual development of those who agree to join our Zebra Herd, but to aid in the spiritual development of all species and peoples who decide to join in common cause with us. We believe, to a stallion and mare, that true understanding comes from both knowing what is seen, and what lies unseen. We hope, through our words and coming actions, to impart our collective knowledge to humanity, both those that convert and those that remain. Thank you."

The audience clapped politely yet again, noting how serene Al'Kadar sounded, and figured it was most likely a trait shared by all Zebra leaders.

Prime Minister Al'Kadar hopped off the platform and nudged it away for Richard Edwards, who was set to speak while Al'Kadar signed and hoof-printed the documents. "Good evening, my name is Richard Edwards, President of the Human-Equus Alliance, a group of humans dedicated to the restoration of Earth through the combined efforts of humanity and the races and species of the world of Equus. Humanity has a strong history, a proud history. We have worked throughout our entire existence to improve our understanding of the world, and then to use that knowledge to improve our own lives. We have grown and advanced from a primitive, ape-like creatures to being able to build these great wonders of the world. However, while we have improved our tools and our methodologies to life, we have not been able to quell our darker nature. Greed, Wrath, Envy, many of the negative aspects of human, and now I believe greater sentient thought, have taken deep root in the leadership of this world; with that, it has led our civilization to rot from the inside, and that rot of civilization is now poisoning our world. I once believed that humanity on its own could simply rectify our own problems if given enough time, but I'm afraid that time is rapidly running out. The Society for the Preservation of Humanity, simply known to us as the SPH, I believe cares very little for greater humanity. As it stands, I greatly fear that they have begun the final death-spiral for this world."

"The SPH will allow the lower classes to wither on the vine even further, which will lead to massive unrest. Combined with the magic that permeates this world deeper and deeper by the day, it will not be long until the SPH and their allies begin to truly abuse it. The eventual counter-action by the populace could spark a war - Armageddon - that our forefathers believed would lead to the ultimate and final collapse of human civilization. Perhaps it is the hope that the leadership of the SPH survives this final cataclysm in order to rebuild from the ashes, but we cannot allow humanity to simply disintegrate. While I do not believe that to truly save this world, all of humanity should be converted; I do believe the option must exist, in order to allow those who wish to escape the coming crossfire to do so safely. It is my firm belief that, thought the body may change, the spirit will live on; and ultimately, that is what evolution is. Though the particular bodies of those that live may change over time, life itself must never be allowed to be extinguished."

All in attendance clapped and cheered loudly in agreement.

He makes a fine leader of men, and would make a fine leader of any other species should he convert eventually. I simply hope he remains true to his word and ideals. Princess Luna thought to herself, as she watched Richard finger-print and sign the documentation. Afterward, both she and her sister signed and hoof-printed the documents, and a special magical seal was placed on all of the documents in order to preserve them for the near future.

Princess Celestia then cleared her throat, and made a final formal statement for the proceedings. "And with this, we now formally enter into alliance for the purpose of rebuilding this world to be one where humanity may live in harmony with nature, and eventually, in harmony with itself!" She and the other leaders then posed for photographs, both digital and non.

Everyone clapped in strong approval. They knew the problem would take a lot of planning and execution to solve, and they hoped events beyond their control would afford them said time.

CH 3: Time Keeps On Slippin'

The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life - Part II
Chapter 3: Time Keeps On Slippin'

=== [ Safe Haven Labs -- October 15, 2081 ] ===

It was another day in the labs, with now a veritable menagerie joining the Humans and Ponies in the space-station like, mostly buried base of operations for the now Equus-Human Alliance. There were two major orders of business staring the now expanded crew in the face. Number 1: create three new potions that would transform a human into a Dragon, Zebra, or a Gryphon. Number 2: develop new armaments for everyone involved in order to protect themselves, since they could expect all manners of resistance from the S.P.H.; and there was the little manner of the unknown entities that the Zebras, and spiritually-attuned Humans and Unicorns, were picking up in recent days. In any case, there was work to be done, and everyone silently hoped and prayed that the SPH would not be the wiser to their ultimate plans.

"So, Olway, explain to me how this whole 'potion' thing works?" Terry said as he was walking through the halls with one of the Gryphon researchers. It took awhile for the Humans to realize that the warrior-species had some incredibly sharp and bright minds amongst their ranks, although most of them were easy to pick out because of their owl-like heads.

Olway stopped for a second to think for a second on how to word it in a non-technical sense. "Well, according to the research notes and everything they showed us on those crystal bo-- well I guess I should learn the right name for it -- 'Q-Machine'. Anyway, according to the research and explanations, the potion is a complex combination of body reformation and soul detachment and reattachment. Effectively the potion creates a biologically viable and living body that the subject's soul is moored to."

"That sounds awfully complicated. I thought it just reformed the body without all the metaphysical mess?"

One of Zebras overheard the conversation and decided to chime in. "Well, from what we can tell looking at some psychological profiles, Humans have quite similar metaphysical and psychological structures. So if everything worked out the same, then the sheer amount of stress incurred going through such a thorough transformation would severely impact one's memories and mental capacity."

"Ok could you say that using less big words?" Terry asked, wondering how he roped himself into such a discussion.

"I'll try. Basically imagine the worst pain you ever felt. Then imagine that happening for about 15 minutes straight. And then that pain sears through every fiber of your physical and non-physical being. Very few would be able to endure it without major stress-induced mental and spiritual trauma."

"Yeah, that makes more sense to me, I think" Terry said, blanching at the idea of such a feeling.

"Anyway, El'Val, how goes the Zebra Potion development?" Olwan asked of his Zebra compatriot.

"According to the Doctors Isegawa, far faster than development than the fabrication of the original Ponification Serum," the green-robed and black-striped Zebra replied with a positive, but rather blunt frankness.

"Well, you all get the advantage of not having to make it from scratch. So I guess that'd account for the faster track," Terry thought aloud.

"Stands to reason Mr. Reynolds," Olwan replied rather formally.

"Oh nah, you can just call me Terry. People referring to me by my last name only just reminds me of Basic Training too much."

"Ah, so you were part of the Human's Armed Forces?"

"Yeah before they were all taken over by the SPH."

"I see, the organization that is in effective control of the major world powers."

"Yeah, who knows what ultimately they are doing with their position. Just so long as they don't find this place before we're ready to go, I can't say I'm particularly interested in knowing, either."

=== [ Manhattan, USA -- October 20, 2081 ] ===

"You know what the best part of this whole situation is? The fact that we get to run the whole country and pretty much the whole damn world from the comfort of our own little headquarters," Peter Vaughn remarked out loud, as he swirled around the glass of fine wine he was drinking while piano music played over speakers in the background.

"Yes, and our show of force has kept a lid on the rabble complaining too much about the events of a few months ago. They seem content to whine on their poorly-run websites and the like," Claire said, with a tiny flame dancing between her fingers. She had begun to adjust more to her natural Fire Magic, making sure to keep any more emotional outburst contained.

"So how exactly did you end up being the first of us figure this whole Magic thing out?" Nathan asked while cleaning his custom dual-action pistol.

"Long story short, I went to rekindle an old flame. Ended up kindling an entirely different kind of flame," Claire responded, blowing a flare at Nathan which made him jump back, despite the temperature not being that hot.

Nathan returned to this seat and shot Claire a murderous glare. "Hey would you watch it woman?! Some of us would like to keep all their flesh intact!"

"Whatever..." Claire replied dismissively as she contemplated dyeing her tips red.

"Anyway, we have been expanding upon and improving our ranks of lieutenants. Yet, I do not believe we have a strong enough core to officially depose our puppets yet. That fact honestly concerns me," Peter started, his tone deathly serious. "Not to mention that public seem to not exactly accept our authority overall."

"The fact you sound so concerned about it makes me think this is more serious than just a few intermittent protests," Claire said with some mild amount of concern herself.

Peter rubbed his hand along this temple and responded. "In the present, I am not terribly concerned. It's the future, though. If we have to move to put down insurrections too soon, we may rouse more of the rabble than is necessary. The quieter things are, the better."

"Perhaps we should move to enforce this 'quiet' we'd need," Nathan said, flipping through some recent news reports on his mobile pad.

"Perhaps..." Peter said, as began contemplating while drinking some more of his wine.

=== [ Somewhere in the Mojave Desert -- November 19, 2081 ] ===

"And what is your new purpose in life?" a rather tall, feminine, beetle-like creature with fiery-red eyes and stripes along her abdomen, said in a regal tone toward a young woman, eyes lost in a mental haze induced by active mind control.

"To serve my new Queen and her Hive with all of my heart, and to give my life to the Hive if need be," the young lady responded, speaking in the dreary monotone customary of (prospective) Drones.

"Good, that's very good. Loyalty is very important to the Hive. And I will work my hardest to ensure that every single thought you have will be to my, and by proxy our, greater benefit," Chrysalis said while chuckling to herself. The young lady just stared blankly; whereas Chrysalis's personal guard just rolled their eyes, although it was hard for any non-Changeling to tell with the distinct lack of pupils that were visible.

"Yes, my queen," the young lady responded. Chrysalis motioned with her now free arms to the escorts to take her to the assimilation chamber to prepare her body for the pod. As the human was being led away, a Changeling with white and gold stripes along his abdomen entered, somewhat off-put by his Queen's new form.

"My Queen, not that I would question your decisions, or authority, or rationale outright. But, um, why do you insist on maintaining that deviant form? It has been almost a month since we successfully assimilated a human into our ranks and... that thing appeared in our midst," the advisor asked nervously, obviously fidgeting.

Chrysalis blew off the advisors concern with her usual dismissive self. "Why keep it? This form is as legitimate as the other, for we are mimics after-all. Honestly though, I find it strange that little bit of our history appeared to be entirely lost. I have no record from the previous Queens that this kind of ability or form was available to us."

The advisor began recounting the results of their experimentations over the last few months. "The assimilation slime also appears to be more potent on this side, we have managed to get the average time down to 24 hours roughly."

"Yes it usually took 48-36 hours while in Equestria, and that was with your run-of-the-mill Pony," Chrysalis reasoned out loud, the gears turning in her head already.

"It was too bad we couldn't get the process down for a good couple of months, most of the other humans we used until a few weeks ago just disassociated into... something indefinite."

"That may have been unavoidable. Perhaps the assimilation pods needed enough genetic material in order to properly alter it later. Oh well, it doesn't matter. There are literally billions of humans, a handful missing here or there would largely go unnoticed, I'd reason," Chrysalis said with a reassuring tone as she opened the shell on her back to flare out her larger wings.

A brief flare of greenish magic from her Rhinoceros beetle-like horn signaled one of now ten H-Form (as they called it) Changelings. They were roughly five feet tall, and had rather stocky abdomens, although that was mostly their rather dense carapace. Their wings, unlike most of the other drones, were constantly covered by their rear shells, which typically had a red-seam where the two halves met. Their eyes were compound just like the standard P-Form Changelings, although red-orange instead of teal. Though the drones were technically genderless, they tended to take a form similar to their original selves, so this one was rather wide built along 'his' upper-torso like a typical human male.

"You have summoned me, my Queen?" he asked with a less-than-normal monotone voice, the mark of a Changeling that might be in line for a promotion and the subsequent freedom of independent thought.

"Yes H-000007. And if you complete the mission that I will assign to you, you will be blessed with free will and your own unique name like Advisor Arcnid here!" Chrysalis said in a tone not unlike a game-show host from the late 1970s (or the early 1980s).

Sometimes I wonder if our Queen indulges a bit too much in human media... Arcnid thought to himself as he shook his head.

=== [ Safe Haven -- January 10, 2082 ] ===

"Well, it's good to see that our version of the Training Field is working as expected. It'd be a pain to have to constantly carve new rooms to conduct our tests in," Blue Vague said as he looked around the courtyard, with neat tiles and concrete foundation walled in with short walls to mark the 'common' area; the centerpiece of the sub-space looking like a miniature version of the Parthenon.

"Too bad we couldn't figure out what kind of sculptures to fill out this courtyard with, it's kinda hard to come up with something that doesn't look repetitive after awhile," one of the Human Magi said, as he used a test model of a mass-production Q-Machine to gauge the environment to ensure it would continue to be safe for humans.

"Everything looks A-OK, thaumatic epsilon radiation is at a bare minimum. Most likely the self-contained magic flowing though the other species present," chirped the sister AI to Miss Shift, who now the Main AI of Safe Haven after she was deemed safe to integrate into the main systems.

"Hrm, we haven't come up with a name for you yet. I know the other main program wants to be called 'Miss Shift'. Have you thought of name for yourself?" one of the Dragons asked, as he checked over the armor that was to be tested for the day.

"How about... um... Alternate, like the key. We already have a 'Shift', so I guess it makes sense," the voice responded, now taking the form of a free-floating, feminine, blue fairy-like entity (as compared to Shift's red).

"So Miss Alternate it is then," Twilight Sparkle chimed in, as she looked over the armor with the others. "So are we ready to start this test?"

"Yes, Miss Sparkle, everything appears to be a go!" one of the researcher answered.

Twilight simply nodded as everything was arranged into place.

"So I heard the base of the armor is a nano-skin that mimics Dragonscale. From the abbreviated documents I read, Dragonscale can take an absolute pounding," one of the humans said as he watched the rifles have little to no luck penetrating the armor's basic covering.

"Yeah, the gems we eat are digested and integrated into our skin and scales as a, um lattice, I think the technical term was. Either way, there isn't much that isn't magically-endowed that can pierce or break it," his Dragon partner for the exercise replied.

"Of course that doesn't mean that they are un-killable, but you have to get at them while they are relatively young. Trying to kill one past 100 years old without something that can pierce adamantine-level material is pretty much a death wish on your part," one of the Gryphons chimed in, getting used to wearing the nano-skin over his lynx body.

"Man this stuff can take an absolute beating!" one of the gunners shouted, as he ceased fire and flipped on the safety on his rifle, as he walked over to check the nanoskin.

"I would hope so, there is no telling what the arms dealers on this side are cooking up while we're here in Safe Haven. So we gotta try and go above and beyond as best as we can manage," Shining Armor started to shout before he took off his earmuffs, as the Kinetic Muffler spell helped improve the natural tensile strength of the fabric.

"This stuff will probably be even harder to shoot through when we integrate it in with the rest of the armor. But each part has to be a tough as we can manage to make it by itself," the gunner concluded as everyone cleared out to run the next test.

"Alright, we're clear here," one of the Dragons shouted as Rarity and Red Blaze ceased their Flame Stream spells.

"So what does Miss Alternate say?" Rarity asked as she took off her safety goggles.

The human researcher responded swiftly. "Apparently the skin by itself can resist temperature up to 100 Centigrade without any further enhancement. So if someone wanted to throw boiling hot water on you, this stuff will block it for the most part."

"Can't imagine a situation where we'd have boiling hot water fired at us, but there's no telling with the SPH. Have you seen some of the stuff they've been pulling on the outside?"

"Yeah," Applejack said she arrived from her stress test. "Ah heard they're censorin all kinds of regular-use networks. Ah guess they don't want any kind of underground movement sproutin' up before we get back, not that they'd know that last part."

"I know, darling. It seems needlessly cruel. I also heard there were rumors of some mysteroius creatures or some such appearing near high concentrations of Terran Mana. The Zebras were talking about how things the humans considered 'monsters' or 'demons' might start showing up again," Rarity said, with all kinds of concern on her face.

"Yeah, I heard the same thing. I mean a couple of years ago I would have just blown it off. But now, well, let's say I've been made a believer of," the researcher said as he took the charred armor off the dummy for further analysis.

"So how do the Trauma Plates feel to you, my scan doesn't show any severe cleavage," another Dragon researcher said as he took his claw off the 3" thick sheet of metal.

"My magic isn't picking up any severe damage either. So that's a good thing since this stuff protects vitals, right?" Pinkie said as the silver runes faded from her coat.

The Dragon nodded with a fanged smile. "Crucial, Miss Pie. Even if they come up with something that could tear the skin part, we have to make absolutely sure that the major organs and blood vessels remain protected. At the same time though..."

"If you it make too heavy or the wrong shape, they'd be sitting ducks anyway, right?" Pinkie said, finishing the Dragon's sentence.

The dragon just chuckled as Pinkie had indeed come to the right conclusion about form factor. "Yeah, you got this whole thing sorted out."

"So how are we doing R.D.?" Dr. Jun said over a microphone, watching the odd combination of a gray blur leaving a rainbow-colored 'contrail' in the sky.

"Yeah, this stuff isn't giving me any real bad drag, given the weight. Although you might want to work on the wing-joint slots, they do kinda chafe!" Rainbow Dash replied over her mic.

"That's what I figured, we'll probably have to make them with a fairly large slot and just fill it in to fit whichever Pegasus or Gryphon wears it," Dr. Jun said as she wrote notes on her digital pad.

"It still feels a little too light to me," a male Earth-Pony guardspony said, as he rammed some tackling dummies.

"Hrm, perhaps we work on some Shadow and Explicit Magic charms that can give the feeling of increased weight. Gravity manipulation is well within the realm of both types," Twilight said as she recorded the force of the preceding impacts.

"Just so long as it only works on the Armor. Don't want my wife to ask why I'm coming home so overweight."

"I... think you're confusing weight for mass again..." Twilight said, with a bit of a correcting, school-marm tone.

"Whatever..."

"So what with the visors?" one of the Unicorn guards-mares said as she tapped against mildly flexible face covering.

"Well, it's a combination of face protection and a heads-up display, or a HUD. It's tied to both normal and Q-Machine communication systems, so we can feed information in real-time," Terry said as he showed her how different designs and user-interfaces showed up on the inside of the helmet.

"Oh, that sounds really useful."

"Yeah communication is critical, especially if you have to physically separate."

"So, Generals, how is the Armor looking now?" Dr. Hayato asked as he overlooked the data coming in at the temple like central 'station' of the Training Field.

General Mountain Pass replied first. "Everything appears to be well on track. I believe we have everything we need to start going into production. From here on out will probably just be mission-based customizations and general improvements as the situation warrants."

"Getting the Dragons onboard have really helped in this regard. I had my suspicions as to why Dragonscale was so hard to break through, and all this research, plus the Dragonification Serum Project just confirmed things," Gen. Southern Monsoon added.

"The question beyond now will, in all likelihood, be what offensive weaponry we can counter the S.P.H. any other potential antagonizing organizations with. We're not having much luck establishing contacts in on the outside world so to speak, so we can't really gleam any insight into what the design and nature of the S.P.H.'s weaponry is. Aside from what we can gather from public reports, anyway," Gen. Titan Buster said.

A familiar black and blue-spined Dragon then walked in, nodding his acknowledgement of everyone's presence. "Yes, and my ability to operate in the outside is grossly limited. If I use too much Thaumatic-Epsilon mana, I will most likely blow my cover. And being a 6' ft. tall, black dragon is a fairly poor guise; given the state of the world and how the S.P.H. are on extreme alert for anything not of Terran origin."

"I can see how that would be a problem, Silentclaw. We will just have to tackle each problem as we come to it, though," Dr. Hayato said while shrugging his shoulders. None of the others would really find anything else to say on the subject.

=== [ Safe Haven -- February 03, 2082 ] ===

"So you're serious about this Princess Luna?" Blue Vague asked with a fair bit of incredulity. He, Luna, and Celestia had all been discussing the matter on and off for several days before now, but it seemed that plans had finally become solid enough to be acted upon.

"Of course I am, Conduit of Water. The idea is to for you and Mr. Edwards to take a tour of the ruins of New Orleans proper. We feel that this is not only important in terms of determining how difficult it will be to begin reclaiming the lost cities, but in improving your attitude in general," Luna responded, while fiddling with a small drone robot.

"I see, I guess active therapy. Maybe if I went to the scene of the 'crime' it'd help sort my head out?" Blue Vague asked, trying show he was taking the suggestion seriously.

Richard walked into the room, interjecting himself into the conversation seeing as he was relevant it. "Honestly Vague, you probably do need it. I know you've been piling up quite a bit of animosity for the Domes and the SPH in general; despite that episode being half a year ago. We probably need the time to talk anyway, remember nearly a year ago when I first visited?"

Vague wanted to pretend he could blow off the both of them (somehow), but realized they were right in their assessments. "I guess I should do it... probably couldn't hurt too much."

=== [ Near New Orleans, U.S.A. -- Later that day ] ===

Blue Vague and Richard Edwards were standing on the shore of the still expanding Gulf of Mexico, Vague taking a small crystal embedded in some stone and planting it in the ground.

"So what is that for Vague?" Richard asked, noticing this.

Vague quickly explained, feeling there was no real reason to hide anything. "Oh it's a Callback Stone, it's like a mile marker on a old highway, so I can tell how far away we are. I'd need to be able to snap us back to Safe Haven without Luna or Celestia's help, in case we run into some SPH goons out here."

"You think they would be way out this way?"

"Can't be sure with them...."

Vague then used the Callback Stone to teleport in their transport for the day, a rather sleek boat with a dual-use standard and thaumatic engines. An experimental design based upon bits of leaked information gained from the 'Net.

A short while later, the two of them were sailing over the Gulf, now completely covering New Orleans proper. The trip was mostly silent until Richard took the initiative and started talking.

"It is truly a shame. Much of our generation will never get the chance to experience this city first hand. While the new Baton Rouge tries their best to replicate what old New Orleans used to be, well, sometimes you can never replace what is lost."

Blue Vague, who was manning the engine, began to think briefly of the words. "Yeah, I can guess you were probably born around when New Orleans was officially abandoned. My grandfather used to tell stories of some of the wild 'going-away' parties that were thrown in the last year the city was officially incorporated. According to him, Mardi Gras that year put Carnivale in Rio to shame; despite my pride I doubted that assertion, but I wasn't gonna argue with him."

Richard chuckled as pictured the scene nearly 40 years ago: millions of revelers as they gave the city with so much history one more grand send-off. "You know, it probably was a hell of a party. Way better than the ones that they have in the Domes. Have you ever seen someone worth $500 million ever get up on a bar and try and dance while stone drunk? It is not a pretty sight, I will tell you that much."

Blue Vague actually laughed out loud at the idea as he pictured it in his head. "Man, I guess sometimes the term rich idiots do describe a lot of them."

"Like you wouldn't believe Vague. I thank my lucky stars that I was raised outside of that environment; I guess foresight is a gift that runs in the family. Though, I wish I could have seen all of this coming though," Richard said as they weaved in and out of some of the taller buildings that were poking up over the water line.

Blue Vague just sighed as he looked out at the water surrounding the city. He brought the boat to a slow stop as he put a headset on.

"So what are you about to do, Vague?" Richard asked, as he took a drink out of a cooler.

"Going for a dive," Blue Vague stated rather matter-of-factly, as he took the measure of the water to see what magic he needed to use to neutralize the pollution.

Richard looked at Vague rather strangely given the idea. "Diving? In this morass?"

"Yeah, I've tested the idea with some of the researchers back at base. Water Magic can buffer me against the toxic elements in the water, and Storm and I developed a spell to split the water into breathable oxygen if casting Wind Magic is too much of a strain."

"Seems like you've been thinking a lot about this..."

"I guess I have. Something in the back of my head wanted me to come back here to observe. Now will probably be my best chance to observe it as is, and I want to truly understand and internalize how damaged this world is. That way, when we get to fixing it, we do it right."

Well it's nice to see that you're coming to a better understanding of things... Richard thought as he and Vague made sure the headset were in working order.

Vague slowly 'paddled' through the murky depths, using his Water Magic to buffer him against the poisons in the water, Wind Magic to ensure he had an air supply, and Explicit Magic to help propel him through.

Man, just looking at this place is just depressing... at least it seems like they got most of the stuff they could have moved out... Vague thought as he used a variant of the Cave Light spell to peer through the dark blue waters.

The whole French Quarter underwater... managed to survive 6 hurricane hits in the 21st Century without being flooded; only to fall to mechanical error and human indifference... I guess it says a lot about us... he thought as he was now on his way to the site of the original Superdome.

At least he would have been if he wasn't interrupted by Richard talking over his headset.

”Hey Vague, we got a problem. An SPH gunboat is roaming around the area. This excursion might have to come to an end a bit prematurely." Richard said, trying to keep his voice down and hoping the black amphibious assault vehicle couldn't pick up his communications.

"I understand, I'm making my way back there now!" Vague said as he immediately turned around and made his way back to where Richard was anchored.

"Damn, I heard there was some H.E.A. remnants dicking around in this area. But I'm not picking up anything," one of the seven SPH members on the Thaumatic Amphibious Assault Vehicle (TAAV) said, as he tried to pick up any communications or signs of someone else operating in the area.

"Wait, I'm getting a hit... it's a mix of Thaumatic-tau and... Thaumatic-epsilon? And it's underwater? Nothing about this is right. Nothing about our intel says the Ponies were or are capable of operating underwater!" the leader said as he watched the hits show a trail forming not too far from their current position.

"So what do you want us to do?" another subordinate asked.

The captain thought for a few moments before giving his order. "Two of you, get your dive suits on and get down there to see what's up. Radio back if you see anything of note."

The two immediately left to put on a pair of dive suits, and leapt off a dive platform.

Damn, damn, damn... Why the hell would the SPH be way out here. I need to get Richard and get back to base ASAP.... Vague thought to himself as he tried to swim as best as his Pony body would let him while trying to keep his magic use to an absolute minimum.

Not 50 meters away were those pair of SPH divers. They were looking for what was producing that mixed mana signature, and eventually they found their quarry.

"WHAT?! There is a Pony underwater. I thought they were all gone!" one of the soldiers said as his gear picked out Blue Vague's form through the debris and general low visibility.

"Stands to reason there might be stragglers. I think we should take it upon ourselves to deal with the problem!" his partner suggested, with a gleeful tone.

"Yeah we could get a nice fat bonus out of this," the first replied, agreeing quickly to the course of action.

Gotta get back.. gotta get back... gotta DODGE THAT BAZOOKA! Blue Vague thought to himself as he quickly used his Unicorn magic to throw himself out of the path of a torpedo fired from somewhere he couldn't see, the sudden flash of someone or something else's Water Magic being his only saving grace.

"Rich, we got BIG problems. I think that gunboat had divers and they found me out!" Vague shouted over the comlink, trying to figure out how the hell he was going to extricate himself from this mess.

"Vague, get yourself back here as fast as you can; I can't pull up anchor or I'll start drifting off, and I can't fire up the engines or the gunboat will probably pick that up." Richard replied as he looked around, hoping that they hadn't made visual contact yet.

That boat is completely unarmed and Richard hardly uses Magic... even a normal gunboat would tear ours to shreds... Vague thought to himself as he tried desperately to avoid his pursuers, dodging the bazooka fire as best he could.

Damnit, I need a body that's better for swimming... I'm having to use so many different spells at once I can't concentrate on any one of them... Blue Vague thought to himself as he was barely managing to dodge or counter-attack.

What am I gonna do... what am I gonna do...

Shoo be doo, shoo shoo be do~... Vague heard in his head, recognizing the voice of his Phantom but not recognizing the tune he was humming.

... What the hell was that? Vauge immediately asked, wondering who was singing in his head while he was swimming for his life.

Oh nothing, just a little tune was thinking of Master... Torra-Borous replied, looking to be of assistance to his Master and Creator.

... it sounds mildly earwormy...

That aside, it seems like you could use some assistance...

... I could but I don't think I have the time to summon you...

Hrm... indeed... although, have you considered adopting a more aquatic form?

Ok, how the HELL would I even do that?

Similar to summoning myself, use your magic to forge a temporary body... And just like my body would, it'd be made of hyper-compressed mana...

So basically I summon a shell to use while I'm in the water?

Pretty much, Master.

Blue Vague swam around looking for a spot to stop so he could generate the mana to form the body. He searched his mind for anything that would match close enough to his body so he could use as little mana as possible, and eventually settled on a form.

Celestia, I hope this works...

--

"Hey man do you see that bright blue light?"

"Yeah, I think that's our target... let's fire indiscriminately at it!"

"You read my mind, man."

The two SPH soldiers fired their underwater rifles and bazookas at the building housing the bright light, but were surprised when their shots either bounced off or were otherwise deflected.

They were even more surprised when the bright light faded, to reveal a form none of them recognized.

"What the hell is that thing? That ain’t any Pony I've ever seen..." the first soldier said so his partner.

"Is it even a Pony?!" the second asked in response.

"I guess it isn't is it..." Vague responded, surprising himself he could even speak underwater.

Ok, how did I even do that?

Well it would probably be a problem if you couldn't communicate underwater could it?

So I guess it's just built into the form isn't it... By the way, what the hell am I?!

Hrm, you seem a bit like a... merman... or... Hrm, I think I've seen something like your form before... I believe they call themselves Kelpies... I would guess you accidentally took a Pony-equivalent form...

Well at least I can swim without having to think about it...

Blue Vague immediately took off like a torpedo, easily clocking 30 knots with a combination of his Water Magic and his Kelpie-shell's fins.

"Vague, what's going on down there, that gunboat is getting dangerously close to my position," Richard said over the comlink, Vague thankful the headset didn't get lost in the transformation.

"Trying to figure out how I gave myself fins and what the heck I can do in this body?" Vague responded, not registering just how strange it would have sounded to Richard.

Wait... fins... what the hell is going on down there... Richard immediately thought to himself.

"Sir! There is something approaching at high speed towards us!" one of the gunboat operators said to the SPH leader.

"Blow it out of the water! I don't care what it is!" the captain barked out in response.

"Sir... it's surfacing... it's... a Pony?! I didn't know the little bastards could swim to be honest!" the operator said as the image of a glowing blue Unicorn(like) head popped up out of the water.

"HEY ASSHOLES! I HOPE YOU LIKE TO SWIM!" Vague shouted as he quickly dove back under.

"SHOOT THAT MOTHERFUCKER!" the captain shouted, he was not going to have some straggling Pony make a mockery of him or the latest in SPH military technology.

The order was far easier to give than carry out though, as the two gunners on the boat found actually trying to hit the Pony(-like creature) was extremely hard given its size and speed.

"Damnit that thing is moving way too fast for us to shoot ourselves; and the AI is having a hard time calculating it's path to correct for that," one of the gunners shouted, frustrated at all the wasted ammo and ordnance.

"Fuck! I told them that I needed the latest in aim-compensating AI, they probably skimped out on us again, cheap bastards!" the captain shouted, as he felt the boat rock from a pair of blasts.

"Sir we're getting slammed by it appears to be highly compressed water. Whatever that thing is, it’s clearly aquatic in nature, and is a natural in hydromancy," the operator reported back.

"Yeah thanks for pointing out the FUCKING OBVIOUS! WHY AREN'T YOU BUSY SHOOTING THE DAMN THING THEN!?" the captain shouted, his fury reaching a boiling point.

While that is a very nice vessel... I do believe it will look much better in sky blue and white than black... the Kelpie-Vague thought to himself as he dashed far out.

"Sir, the creature has suddenly swam outside of our current range of fire. How should we proceed?" the operator asked, in the brief moment of calm.

"We recover our divers and we get the fuck out of here, that's what we do. I don't get paid enough for this bullshit," the captain ordered as he sat down in a chair.

Welp, here goes absolutely nothing! Vague thought as he charged the gunboat horn first, entire body cloaked in a mix of Water Magic and a minor Explicit Magic shield.

Soon a massive explosion rocked the gunboat.

"SIR! WE HAVE A FULL HULL BREACH! Something just tore through it like a hot-knife through butter!" one of the operators shouted as he jumped up from his control panel.

"WHAT IN THE BLOODY FUCK! THEY SAID THIS WAS MADE OUT OF THE LATEST MATERIALS, WHAT IN THE HELL COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS!" the captain shouted, scrambling to gather his thoughts amongst the sirens and klaxons.

Another explosion rocked the gunboat. The operator was in full scramble mode now as he and the remaining crew members were donning pollution proof suits and life vests.

"DAMNIT! How many holes we got in the boat now!" the leader shouted as he did the same.

"Four... no... six... and none of the engines are hit... whatever that thing is wants to sink this vehicle without blowing itself to Kingdom Come."

Blue Vague floated near a broken high rise, making sure to avoid any pointy bits while he settled down. "Hey Rich, bring the boat over. We're bringing back a souvenir for the Princesses and the engineers there."

"Ok even if they are in lifeboats Vague, how am I supposed to approach?" Richard replied, as he raised anchor and started up the engines.

"I'll take care of that, Mr. Edwards!" Vague replied with the all mirth and confidence.

"Great, our latest tech is a broken wreck and now this fog is rolling in, how the hell could this get any worse." the SPH squad leader said, as he and his six mates drifted on the lifeboat.

"Thanks for the new toy, we'll be sure to send you our regards some other time!" they heard a voice shout from through the fog. When it finally lifted, they realized that whatever that, thing, was that sunk their gunboat halfway had probably just made off with the wreckage.

"I really do not get paid enough for this bullshit..." the squad captain thought out loud, as he began wracking his brain for a cover story.

"So you mean to tell me your Phantom told you to turn yourself into a... Kelpie was it... and you managed to do it?!" Richard asked of Vague, who was still floating around offshore with the wreckage of the boat tethered by his Water Magic and a Unicorn weight-reduction spell.

"Exactly... I'm pretty sure Twilight and Dr. Hayato are gonna be all over me. Even though this body is just a shell, I'm pretty damn sure it'll be useful in more situations than this," Vague said as he took a bit of a victory lap around the gunboat.

Although I wonder, how I'm supposed to change back though? I dunno if Hana would appreciate having a Kelpie as a coltfriend...

=== [ Safe Haven -- That Evening ] ===

"So you went off in the middle of the ocean, wrecked an enemy gunboat, and managed to shape-shift yourself without having it be taught to you explicitly?" Twilight asked of Vague as he swam in an impromptu tank while the mana from the emergency transformation wore off.

"Pretty much. Torra-Bourous is partially responsible for the idea though. Like I said, I got mixed up with some SPH goons and I needed some way to bail and fast."

"Necessity is the mother of invention, after all," Richard said as he looked at still Kelpified blue Unicorn.

"Anyway, you should only be stuck like that for another couple of hours at the most; thankfully you didn't try and glom all that much onto yourself, relatively speaking," Twilight said, as she and the other three Conduits walked around the tank.

"So besides the whole wrecking the enemy's latest weapons platform, how was your trip?" Midori asked, not sure how exactly to phrase the question otherwise.

"It was actually pretty good, though depressing. Yet, I think I'm starting to come to grips with everything on the outside, and depth to which everything's been broken. No one said this job was going to be easy, and I guess it's high time I stop trying to pretend that everything will have a simple fix," Vague said as he did barrel rolls in the tank.

This whole situation just never stops being weird... Storm and Blaze thought to themselves as they looked on at Hana and Vague talking through the glass.

"Wow Vague really did a number on this gunboat. Yet he managed to at least not sink it too bad. Who knows how bad that gunk in the ruins might have corroded the electronics and thaumatics," an engineer said as he looked over some of the weaponry that was being offloaded from the wreck.

On a catwalk above the wreck, Silentclaw and Princess Luna were looking at the various Human, Pony, and Gryphon engineers looking over all of the armaments and technologies that were salvageable from the wrecked gunboat. "I can feel the hum of Earth's native mana in all of these armaments to varying extents, and the engines appear to be vastly refined versions of the prototype your own vessel possessed. I believe your technicians should have a field day pulling everything apart," Silentclaw said as he looked over things with Princess Luna.

The Avatar of the Moon looked at the similarly colored Dragon with a bit of a wry smile. "And I believe you found great interest in the Conduit of Water's currently self-inflicted condition."

"Yes, and I am not sure how I so badly overlooked the solution to my predicament, myself. A Thaumatic-tau shell body would be the perfect means for me to conduct my business on this side, before we open things up again formally," Silentclaw said as he thought to himself about where exactly he should start.

"I would suggest talking to the Element of Generosity and Mr. Greer in Communications, they are our foremost Light Magicians. That should probably assist in you developing a disguise spell," Luna said, figuring out what Silentclaw was after.

"Indeed, being able to disguise myself or teach other Dragons how to disguise themselves should aid with integration and espionage on our end."

"On that note, if you decide to conduct an operation in Washington, D.C., there is a woman I would like you to speak to..." Luna started to say, as she moved over to whisper in Silentclaw's ear to finish her thought.

===[ Washington D.C. -- February 17, 2082 ]===

The day began like any other for President Aguillar. She woke up, and was trailed by a S.P.H. lieutenant or three going to the bathroom (thankfully not in the bathroom as well). She spent most of her work day, such that was left of it, surrounded by S.P.H. goons. She couldn't even eat privately; had to have at least one S.P.H. member with loaded firearm near her at all times. All in all, with all of the sturm-und-drang surrounding the Outsiders still, Mr. Vaughn did not feel comfortable removing her nor the other leaders of the biggest of nations quite yet, lest he have a full-blown counter-revolution on his hands. And so the existence in the gilded cage continued for Pres. Aguillar. Though the day did begin like many other for the last over-half-year, the evening most definitely wouldn't end the same way.

"Lovely evening, isn't it Madame President..." one of the 'guards' said to Aguillar as she and the guard walked toward Aguillar's private quarters.

"About as lovely as one could reason given I'm living in a cage, effectively," Aguillar responded, all manner of exhaustion and exasperation in her voice.

"Yes, it truly is a pity the situation is what it is. It'd be nice if something were to come along to change that, no?" the guard asked, his eyes covered by the baseball-cap-like hat the 'plain clothes' SPH grunts wore.

"Usually my 'guards’ don't strike up this much conversation with me, are you new or something?" Aguillar asked incredulously as they reached the door to her quarters within the in-the-middle-of-being-renovated White House.

"Oh, nothing in particular, just wanted to engage in some extended conversation. Would you mind if we talked things over in private?" the guard said as he placed his rifle and pistol on the floor next to the reinforced sliding doors and stepped away with this arms raised.

"Forgive me for being more than a little paranoid, but I just don't let strange men into my private quarters, even if I'm under this kind of duress," Aguillar said with a very stern, bleeding into angry look.

"Hrm, a reaction to be expected. I mean one just does not simply let a proven antagonizing force that close to them without certain cautions and conditions, if they can at all help it," the guard said, as he removed his cap.

Aguillar was quite surprised by what she saw when she finally got a good look at the 'guard'. On one hand, he looked quite young and full of life, despite his unusually pale skin. She figured he was of mostly European, descent but lived within buildings and artificial lighting for most his life, like most of the Outsiders who lived in northern temperate or Artic zones. His hair was long, straight, and jet black, although strands appeared to be an iridescent-seeming royal blue. What shocked her most though, were his eyes. They belied an incredible age, even older than the human guise of Princess Celestia she had dealt with nearly two years previous. Even then, that was a more esoteric thing she saw.

The more immediate and concrete thing she saw was that his eyes did not even appear human, not even so much as mammalian. While the eyeball shape was fairly human like, but the pupils were clearly slitted, and the irises a highly unnatural-seeming cerulean color, at least natural to anything that'd be living on Earth, per se. Even the sclera of his eyes had the slight hint of blue to them. The visage sent Aguillar's mind racing as time had pretty much come to a standstill in that hallway.

What in the hell is he... some kind of monster those on the Outside have been talking about. Damnit... no... wait... I could have sworn I've seen eyes like that somewhere else... but where, damnit... I GOT IT!

She then fixed her mouth to speak, and hoped no one was around to hear nor anything able to record. "Your eyes, they remind me of a creature I saw some time ago."

"Really now, could you describe it to me?"

"Short, purple and green, constantly eating gemstones, though I could never figure out how nor did I ask why."

"Hrm, the description does seem familiar, although it wouldn't be fair to call him 'short' these days..."

The last part of that statement set off all kinds of red flags in Aguillar's head. Damn, looks I'm gonna have to take a gamble that this thing is what I think it is, and isn't some other kind of creature...

"I think I will take you up on that offer for that private conversation..." Aguillar said, as she and the guard entered the quarters and the door was slid closed behind her.

After a few moments to accommodate themselves, the two began speaking more in earnest.

Aguillar was the first to resume the conversation. "Before we start, is there any way that you can ensure that what we say here isn't being recorded. I have the feeling despite the constant renovations, this room and a lot of others are bugged."

The 'guard' then stood up and walked toward a wall. "Let's see... hrm, no real signature of any kind of mana within the walls or anywhere near. So I would assume purely electronic surveillance if any. Alright then, simple enough fix for that. Although..."

"Although what?"

"There is one minor issue, the method I would need to employ to shield our conversation is decidedly not a basic trick, so I was suggest you stand back, and probably keep your surprise and shock to as much a minimum as possible."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see..."

The guard then took a heavy breath, as his body began to glow first the same color as his skin tone, and then turn completely black, save for traces of blue. After a few moments, his true form was revealed. A form that came as both a shock and eventual mild relief to one Melinda Aguillar.

At least he isn't a demon or something... at least I hope he isn't still...

The black Draconic figure then placed a clawed hand on the wall and whispered almost inaudibly. "Tal'a Guran Olk." A grid appeared all over the inner walls of Aguillar's Quarters, with spaces filled in by runes she noticed were not as angular as the Terran Magic runes she spied from time to time being used by the S.P.H.'s thauma-corps.

The figure then took a more solid shape as the mana used to form the false body was reabsorbed into his being. A six-foot tall, bipedal, jet-black 'lizard-man'; wings folded to his back and looking of leather, and spinal-plates and 'accents’ all a royal blue. His eyes were the same icy-blue that the human guise's were, although wider set.

That feeling of cancelling a disguise will still take adjusting to... Silentclaw thought to himself, but he figured he had plenty of decades still ahead of him to refine the spell.

"The fact that you aren't completely stupefied by my form intones you're familiar with it, or at least a variant of it," Silentclaw said, as he sat on the floor, tail over his crossed legs.

"Yes, you also made mention that it wouldn't be fair to call 'him' 'short' anymore..." Aguillar responded.

"No, it wouldn't be. Many things have changed regarding those that you met nearly two years ago now, President Aguillar. The time will soon come where you are to get reacquainted with them though."

"If it wouldn't be too much of me to ask, just who exactly are you?"

"Hrm, seeing as we are allies, if not in the official sense yet, it would be a fair question to answer. You may simply call me Silentclaw, I am head of Intelligence and Espionage for the Dragon Nomad Central Council. There will be time in the future, more likely than not, for me to more fully explain and brief you on who and what exactly I am and how that relates to the future."

"Seeing as you are a Dragon. That'd imply that you are tied to Equestria, or the dimension the Equestrians come from."

"You'd be correct in that preliminary assessment. We Dragons have entered into partnership with Equestria in order to assist their Conversion Movement, although we plan to make it far more than that."

"I see... and I would guess that the time to play the Final Trump will soon be at hand?" Aguillar asked, realizing just what was coming around the corner.

"Correct again Madame President, that was part of my reason for coming to meet you. I have an improved version of the Shadow Transport Charm, incase yours was stolen or damaged in this interim period. It will also afford a deep psychic connection to Princesses Celestia and Luna, for more precise coordination when the time comes," Silentclaw said, as he offered a necklace with several multi-colored gems, the dark amethyst centerpiece being the focal point of the Shadow Magic that'd bring Aguillar to Safe Haven should the need arise.

"Very fine jewel-crafting. The artisans in the Domes could learn a thing or two. I take it that these plans of yours would still require time to fully manifest, correct?" President Aguillar then asked.

"They are not my plans specifically of course, all of the allies have their particular inputs. You should have seen some of the discussions in the last couple of weeks alone," Silentclaw corrected mildly. He then continued. "But getting back to the point. Yes, the plan is not ready to be executed as of yet, so you will need to endure for a while longer. Although, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should be ready to go in a few weeks time."

President Aguillar sighed a sigh of heavy relief knowing that her time in her gilded cage may indeed coming to a genuine end.

Silentclaw stood up, and went to a window, whose view was obscured by the spell he cast to prevent eavesdropping from the outside, but could still see out well enough. "This world is reaching a tipping-point. The mana that was pent up for so long is gushing out more and more by the week. It will not be much longer until the population in general figures this out. To wit, you have read the increasing number of incidents of flare-ups of Thaumatic-tau outbursts from people entirely unfamiliar with magic beforehand. Compound to that, there were many creatures whose existence was dependent upon Earth's mana were reduced to mere ghosts and legends when it dried up, and they will seek to re-establish themselves on this world at the soonest possible date. Finally, there was the admitted failure of the Princesses themselves, who merely offered Conversion and a way off Earth itself as the solution, which some saw as untenable and others just merely dismissed out of apathy."

"So how do those three points all relate to each other?" Aguillar asked, trying to fit all these puzzle pieces into a coherent picture.

"Although I cannot divulge the ultimate aim of this new Movement we plan to launch, I can say this: it will be about simply more than just Converting physical form. This world is thoroughly broken, and merely trying to offload this massive population into our borders is an overly simplistic decision. And besides, with the sheer virility of the Magic inherent to this world, it would be foolhardy to simply abandon it and leave it to die."

"So the aim is to do what exactly?" Aguillar them asked, as she started to formulate in her head her own view.

"For some, the promise of an entirely new world and the chance to shed this life that has nearly crushed their soul to dust would be too great to pass up. For others, the opportunity to rebuild this world into what it should be in their own eyes is a project worth dedicating their lives to. In other words, change. We merely hope to be the agents of a change that will be positive for this and our own world," Silentclaw responded, his eyes lighting up as he seemed to come to his own conclusion while attempting to gleam the thoughts and intentions of others.

"Yes, but you know how the SPH and possibly others out there think. To ask Humans to concede their human bodies, in any respect, would be a bridge too far to say the least," Aguillar responded, playing a bit of Devil's Advocate.

"Believe me, everyone involved in the project knows this now, even if they didn't before. We fully expect resistance, possibly even war. Although, given the state of the world, radical change is probably all that is left insofar as hope for the vast majority of people," Silentclaw said, as he then resumed his countenance of someone thousands of years old.

"Things are just that thoroughly broken to where a total house-cleaning is in order, one could say," Aguillar thought as she sat in her chair.

"Sometimes, when something breaks, it is better to change the design before rebuilding rather than simply rebuilding it over," Silentclaw then suggested out loud.

"Would you suggest that there is some inherent flaw in humanity?" Aguillar then asked, wondering where the black Dragon was going with this line of thought.

"Not necessarily. It'd be better to say there is inherent flaw in all mortal sentience. Once you have accumulated enough years, you realize that. No matter how many centuries I may live, I still find myself perpetrating mistakes, and sometimes costly ones. We merely seek to arrest and reverse the downward spiral we see this world in before it reaches the Point of No Return," Silentclaw said, as he walked back toward the door.

Aguillar nodded in agreement, as she continued to process her own thoughts on what Conversion meant. Perhaps I am being myopic in thinking that Converting means 'running away'. There is nothing that prevents those thousands from returning someday. But why return if society, or the world itself, was actively hostile toward you?

She then began to think of why the Princesses apparently continued to insist on having Conversion as an option. It was then she came to something of an epiphany. Growth. People want to grow, people want to become more than what they are. The Princesses have merely created a new outlet for this desire to grow. Some will take it, some won’t, but who am I to judge whether they should or not. It is not my place to say what someone should become in life. It's just that now that decision could come with an entirely new body to go along with it.

As Silentclaw resumed his disguise and cancelled the Anti-Eavesdropping spell, Melinda asked one final question of the now black-haired human. "Given your position, you probably have been in contact with the Princesses directly. Have you heard of my family and what may have become of them?"

"Let me see... ah yes. They are all doing quite well, and before you ask, they are all still human. Your husband, I would assume, stated that no member of your family would undergo Conversion until your situation was resolved. If all goes according to plan, that resolution should come in a few week's time."

"Hopefully. Although we have a saying: 'The best laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry."

"Something to keep in mind indeed..." Silentclaw replied as he slid the door back closed.

Melinda Aguillar then went to the same window that Silentclaw looked out at a few minutes before. She looked out at all the supposed pinnacle of Humanity and what they had done in the last few months. She looked at all of the reports of incidents, accidents, and rank malfeasance perpetrated by the SPH in the last few months. She had come to her conclusion of what she would do once her time on the stage was to come back around.

This dark era of Human History will be brought to a close, even if I have do it by my own hands. The New Age of will then be written by those who deserve to lead, no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

CH 4: Strike-Back!

The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life - Part II
Chapter 4: Strike-Back!

=== [ Safe Haven -- March 15, 2082 ] ===

"Well it's nice to see that you are finally coming around to our way of thinking of things, President Aguillar. There is really no sense in bothering with the formalities of a Legislature when we're just going to hand you every edict that you will have to enforce over the rest of your tenure," Peter Vaughn said, as he sat backwards in his chair, staring at President Aguillar with a very strong and confident grin.

"If I understand the purpose of this arrangement, you are effectively consolidating all executive power to my title, and granting me the ability to declare and enact Executive Edicts. These would be equivalent to any Act of Congress, correct?" President Aguillar said, as she read over the 'proposal' with a keen eye, looking for any loopholes.

"Indeed Madame President," Vaughn started, with a rather snide and disrespectful tone. "Of course, if you issue any edict that we don't agree with; well, let's say I cannot guarantee the continued safety and well being of the populace. Because of your failure of leadership, the federal Armed Forces have been reduced to a scant couple of thousand at most. And as you have surely realized by now, the Black Guard answers only to us."

"I think it has more to do with your blatant disregard for life that isn't your own," Aguillar replied coldly, not that Vaughn appeared to care either way.

Aguillar was visibly concerned at that state of affairs -- effectively the SPH was holding hostage the continued functioning of the cities the Outsiders called home, ensuring her continued compliance in all respects.

"And if I were to refuse this arrangement?" Aguillar asked, not giving away any hint of concern as she looked straight at Peter with an even-keeled face.

"Well it'd be obvious then. You have an accident and we replace you with someone who will listen to us," Peter responded while still cracking a smile.

I would have figured as much... Aguillar thought to herself as she continued to read over the documents, still scanning for any potential loopholes.

"Anyway, I will be magnanimous and give you 24 hours to consider the proposal, that should be fair, no?" Peter said as he stood up and walked toward the door of the Oval Office.

"Yes, I guess I will see you tomorrow," Aguillar responded, exhaling as Peter closed the door behind him.

Aguillar sat calmly in her chair, as the amethyst centerpiece of her new necklace glistened and glittered.

Do you believe they suspect anything?

No, although we have to be sure that there are no kind of loopholes or anything that would void any order I would give under this arrangement.

I believe we have enough lawyers here to go over these few pages. For a major para-military organization supposedly run by the best and the brightest of humanity, they certainly don't seem to have a good sense of politics.

Not at all, I believe the years inside that cultural bubble has atrophied any sense of dealing with normal people.

Their loss is our gain, it would seem.

Yes, although I do notice one thing. If I were to leave the country for any reason and attempt to issue an order, it would immediately declare null my power and leave them the opportunity to formally appoint a successor.

Yes, that would be a problem. They could send you overseas and then attempt something while you were gone. Once you gave any kind of command to what is left of your armed forces, that'd go in violation of the order.

So the most obvious solution would be...

Making sure they couldn't send you outside of these borders...

The next day, President Aguillar with heavy heart, at least on the outside, signed the Emergency Powers Consolidation Act, which effectively gave her near-unilateral power over Congress, not that the now SPH dominated body would ever defy the Men (and Woman) behind the proverbial Curtain.

=== [ Somewhere in the American Great Plains -- March 20, 2012 ] ===

"It's always weird being out in the middle of nowhere, especially given how jacked up the ground and the sky is out this way," one of the Earth Pony engineers said, as he directed fellow Earth Ponies and a couple of humans in marking out a nice sizeable space for the prototype Q-Drones to operate in.

"I'd love to build this edifice myself, but time is of the essence," he continued, as a combination of silver, green, and blue runes produced block after block of reinforced concrete. There was plenty of material to manipulate given all the trash and waste that no one was exactly using at the time.

And so the Ponies, Humans, and machines worked under the cover of Luna's enhanced darkness, constructing what was to become the Presidential Safe House, a VERY small scale version of Safe Haven.

"So what's gonna be the deal with this place anyway once we’re done?" one of the human workers asked.

"Well this is basically gonna be where we keep the President while we go and clear out Washington, D.C. from SPH control. Apparently the SPH got it in their heads that they needed absolute and total control of the major powers so they just started issuing all these full control edicts," his human partner responded. He then went on to show on a pad how similar safe houses were being built in Hokkaido and Western Germany near Cologne.

One of the Pony workers thought about it for a few seconds, and came to the conclusion that most others who had heard the news came to. "Isn't that incredibly reckless and to some extent stupid?"

"I guess the assumption is that they aren't going anywhere. And if they tried to do something like outlaw the SPH, they'd be removed and replaced with someone more compliant," the human responded.

"Pretty stone cold if you ask me. I don't even know why the SPH wants this kind of overt power," another Pony stated for the 'record'.

"Hard to say, I guess they are just obsessed with power. Anyway it's making our job extremely easy. It's nice to have dumb opponents," the second human stated as he ducked out of the way of the Q-Drone lifting more concrete slabs to put into place.

=== [ Safe Haven -- March 22, 2082 ] ===

"It is amazing what you can produce with just a little bit of inspiration," Blue Vague said as he looked at the production model armors and armaments for the newly christened H.E.A. Advance Force. He was with Rainbow Dash and a pair of newbies to the facility, a young Gryphon and Dragon brought in to get 'battle experience', seeing as starting fights in Equestrian or nearby soil back on Equus would be a foolhardy venture at the time.

"I will say, these blades are pretty good, the material you used makes it much easier for us to use our Sword Skills on them," Graywing said, as he gripped the sword's pommel in his hand and took some cuts clear of others.

Rainbow Dash just sighed, wondering what Gilda would think if she were part of the Gryphon contingent of the Advance Force. "Just so long as you don't go crazy trying to carve everything up wearing Black when you all move out, we should be fine."

"Oh come on, a Gryphon worth his salt knows how to keep his head and emotions in check during battle," Graywing said dismissively, as he sheathed the sword.

"And yet you all still have a tendency to get a little wild when the fight gets too hectic," a young emerald-green and red-spined Dragon said, probably no more than 20 years older than Spike.

"Hah, and you Dragons are a bit too calm in battle, if you ask me. Sometimes you just have to feel the fight, Backdraft," Graywing said as he made several motions that were supposed to demonstrate a Gryphons battle-instinct, before his arm was caught and twisted into an armbar by Backdraft.

"And if you feel it too much, you end up making mistakes," Backdraft said as he torqued Graywing's arm a little more bit before letting go.

"Damn, you always play a little rough, 'Draft," Graywing complained in mild protest.

Backdraft just shrugged his shoulders as he looked on at Graywing. "Oh come on I didn't even twist that hard that time. Besides, I know you can take it."

"So I guess you two know each other?" Rainbow Dash asked, hovering over a rack of empty nanoskin suits.

"Yeah we got to know each other during the orientation process a month or so back. Honestly I was skeptical at first about this whole travelling to a new world thing; but then I wasn't doing much back at Rockfall so, eh, might as well go see the world. Or an entirely different one in this case," Graywing said, as he continued shaking his arm loose.

"I was the same way. Dural is a quiet town most of the time, and I'm still trying to figure out if I want to become a forge-dragon in Equestria or just roam like most of the others. I figure if I came here, I'd get some inspiration," Backdraft added, as he picked up a what looked like a small cannon with no obvious handgrip. "Yeah, I wonder how this thing is supposed to work?" he asked aloud, as no one could figure out at first, until a Zebra walked into the room they were all talking in.

"That'd be the Alchemical Shell Launcher V2, standard equipment for Zebra Front-Line Support," said a ash-gray and black striped Zebra. "Name's Tal'Ro, pleasure to meet you all," the somewhat older sounding Zebra stallion said, shaking Blue Vague's hoof.

"Alright so what's your story? The Zebra Tribes really aren't known for their military acumen or military anything really," Backdraft said as he sat on a bench, looking at the Zebra as he manipulated the Launcher.

"That is because, by and large, we don't speak all that much about our military exploits. Plus we do live half a world away, so you most likely wouldn't hear of the fights we've had unless they were particularly major," Tal'Ro responded, as he tested the loading mechanism.

Graywing nodded sagely as he understood the Zebra's sentiment. "He's got a point there 'Draft. Zebras don't talk all that much to outsiders anyway. I was surprised when they agreed to the Treaty in the numbers they did."

"That treaty took a good while to ratify - initially the isolationist wing of the Congress deadlocked the vote. It took several personal appeals by Prime Minister Al'Kadar in order to break the logjam and get a successful one," Tal'Ro responded as he quickly jotted down some notes.

"Well, however you did it, you're here now," Blue Vague said, with a smile on his face.

"Indeed, I have seen the Spirit of the humans here, and I sense a Will that is unbreakable. It will be needed though, there is darkness that lurks all through this world. Even if we get rid of the Black Shield, there will still be a long struggle ahead to rebuild what has been broken."

"Is that what your consult with the spirits say?" Backdraft asked, half-jokingly.

"That, and just my own observations. Yet, no job ever got done by just idly discussing the size of it," Tal'Ro responded.

No, no it hasn't Tal'Ro. If we are going to do this, we're gonna have to take it into our own hooves, hands, and claws... Vague thought to himself.

"And I am saying the new Bureaus should have a capacity of at least 1,000 at any given time," Luna said with some manner of certainty.

A certainty not quite shared by her sister. "I just do not want to create too big of a target for reprisal attack. Even if these new Bureaus would have the same, if not stronger, legal standing than those before, they would still be large targets."

Richard Edwards sat in his chair and thought for a few moments. "If you ask me Princess Celestia, I believe we should think on a larger scale than that."

"Oh? what kind of scale are you thinking, Mr. Edwards?" Celestia asked, now having gotten a sense for when Richard was having one of his ideas.

"Alright, the last run of Bureaus were located right outside of major metropolitan areas because we didn't want to be too far from the population, right? Instead, what I think we should do is angle for a carve out in the boondocks if you will," Richard started, as Luna was now paying attention as well. "I figure with the combined Terran and Equestrian Magic, we could revitalize the land and build up mixed communities."

Princess Luna then leapt to her own thoughts along those lines. "Perhaps this communities, centered around a Bureau, could serve as an innate buffer, and a place of cultural exchange."

Princess Celestia thought herself a few more moments. "Not only that, but it will allow us to lead by example. Instead of just reciting like schoolteachers how Ponies and the other species operate, we will show them live and in the flesh."

"Sometimes it is better to show than to tell, I would guess," Richard added, wondering if the Princesses really were reading his mind whenever he had his brainstorms.

"Do you think Aguillar and the other world leaders would give us such an opportunity, should we be successful in the end?" Princess Celestia asked, already figuring some of the answer.

Richard responded quickly and reassuringly. "I can't speak to the other nations, but Hayashi and Koenig should be quite grateful. We will also need presences in Europe and Asia anyway; it would not be fair to the Eastern Hemisphere if the only Bureaus were in the Western."

"I would suspect that taking 'useless' land off their hands partially, as a reclamation project, should be within reason. And besides, that is the long-term goal of this entire venture: to repair the environmental damage to Earth and foster long-term viability," Princess Luna stated firmly.

Celestia and Richard nodded in silent agreement.

The three then began discussing how to, instead of building a large building, plan out an entire community.

=== [ Safe Haven -- March 28, 2082 ] ===

"I'm telling you man a magi-bolt pistol is a better primary weapon."

"Yeah but what if you get stuck trying to fight something with a magic-nullifier or absorber, then you're just feeding it."

Fluttershy just sighed at the background conversation. "Sometimes I wonder if Humans would ever not be so aggressive."

"Eh, it just comes with the culture most of the time. At least we aren't like the Gryphons," one of the arguing humans said as an aside

"I'm just saying that katanas are too skinny, they just look like they'd break too easily."

"Hey come on, they look skinny but they work. They cut cleaner than a broadsword anyway."

"Pfft, really? That's probably all special effects in their movies or whatever."

Sometimes I wonder about that... Fluttershy thought to herself as she fluttered away from all the weapon-talk.

"So we're good to go in about two weeks? Are we reasonably sure that the SPH aren't going to try anything crazy in that timeframe?" Captain Rodriguez asked, as he was now head of the Human contingent of the HEA Advance Force.

"Hard to say, but Silentclaw has been getting some deep contacts now that he has his human guise, and his information is solid way more than it isn't. So yeah, I think two weeks is a good enough timeframe to stretch this out," Razorline said, who was the spokesdragon for the War Sub-Council and de-facto head of the Dragon Contingent.

"You know, I half expected Bloodthorn to be leading your side of this."

"Trust me, you don't want any part of her. Her idea of this operation would be probably to raze the Washington D.C.-area Domes and salt the Earth where they stood for good measure," Razorline replied, wondering just went through his superior officer's head most of the time.

"Yeah, not a Dragoness to be trifled with. She almost single-clawed destroyed a rogue clan's leadership by herself some decades ago. The survivors are still traumatized to this day," said a tiger and hawk-morph Gryphon.

"Really Trivak... Well I have to ask now - Hominid morph or full Dragon form?"

"Both. Thank the Elders she only went after the leadership. She might be cruel in battle, but she is not stupid nor evil," Trivak said, with a heavy sigh afterward.

Well, I'll have to be especially careful around her, then... Rodriguez thought to himself.

A white and forest-green striped Zebra, wearing a gold sash, then spoke up. "In any case, all of the safe houses are online and reporting all green. And we are still getting healthy signals from the charms on Aguillar, Koenig, and Hayashi. So when we are ready to move, we should be good to go."

"Good to hear General Blila. We should take the intervening two weeks for training. The Princesses and Dr. Jun finished the new line of Training Golems not that long ago, and it'd be best to try them out with the production model armors and weaponry," Rodriguez said, as waved an arm to shutoff the projection of the preliminary battle plans.

=== [ Terran Training Field inside Safe Haven -- March 29, 2082 ] ===

"So why exactly am I here and in this armor again?" Spike asked incredulously as Twilight Sparkle and Golden Storm looked on.

"Because Razorline and Capt. Rodriguez want you to get practice using that armor. Even though you aren't formally in the Dragon Contingent of the Advanced Force, you are important enough being tied so closely to Miss Sparkle over there, you need to learn how to carry yourself properly. And besides, you're an Adult Dragon (by hook or crook anyway), so this will be good for you regardless," Backdraft replied, acting the elder brother to Spike despite them looking at first blush to be the same age.

As they talked, two black Golems with silver and white trim became active, vaguely humanoid shaped in their effect. Backdraft looked at Spike and gave the explanation for the exercise. "Alright the Golems are set for normal combat, just focus on hitting them with the incantations or the weapons we're practicing with. Since we're in this space, they will just reform themselves when broken until they are deactivated again."

"So what are we going to practice now?" Spike asked as faced the golem in front of him.

"Good old-fashioned fire-breathing!" Backdraft shouted as he loosed an impressive torrent of red-orange fire at the golem immediately in front of him. The golem dodged for the most part, but it's arm melted into slag. Which, as per Backdraft's explanation, was assimilated into the golem and the arm reformed, as if nothing had happened.

Spike tried to follow with the same, but his green fire did little to nothing to damage the Golem.

Backdraft just sighed and face-palmed. "Emerald Flame? Yeah you aren't gonna torch anything but paper with that."

"Gee ya think?" Spike replied flatly.

Backdraft then continued what he was going to say before being interrupted. "But! That does mean you will be a lot better at incantations than me, as much as I hate to admit that this early..."

"Wait really?" Spike replied, this time genuinely surprised

"Yeah, let's just try it out," Backdraft said, as focused his mana. "Proc Ural!" he shouted as the fireball blasted away some of the chest armor and the left arm of his golem.

"Ok, so the beginner fireball, where here goes -- Proc Ural!" Spike shouted following Backdraft's lead. While the fireball was no bigger, it lead to a far more intense explosion, blasting away the entire upper body of the golem sans core.

While the golems were restoring themselves, Backdraft was explaining what happened to Golden Storm, who had the most utter look of confusion on his face at the whole display. "You see there are different kinds of a Flame a Dragon has. Ruby like mine means we are natural fire-breathers, Emerald like Spike's means they are natural magi. There are some others, but that'd be better saved for another time."

"You know Twilight, Magic just seems to be attracted to you. No wonder you're its Element Bearer," Golden Storm said half-jokingly.

"I guess so," Twilight answered sheepishly.

"A few years ago he was following me around like a kid brother, and now he's... well... that," Twilight thought out loud as she watched Spike being put through basic hand-to-hand combat drills by Backdraft and another Dragon.

"You have a good combat sense for someone of your experience level, but your forte is definitely Invocation. Still, you have to know how to carry yourself if you find yourself in a situation where you need to go bare-clawed..." the elder Dragon of the three said, walking all around Spike as he practiced against the hand-to-hand combat golems, yellow-gold scales glistening in the false sun.

"Yeah, not really any time to practice with all the goings on," Spike said, as was learning (the hard way) when to kick, punch, and dodge.

"Don't worry. Elders willing you'll have plenty of time to learn. Some'd argue too much time really," the golden Dragon replied.

"These things are perfect stress relievers man, don't matter what you do to them, they'll build themselves back up," one of the Gryphons from earlier said, as he swung a broadsword coated in red flames through one of the golems, shattering the left side of it temporarily.

"Yeah, but we got a job to do, before long. So don't mess around too much..." the other said as he cleaved the right side of another with an ice-covered katana.

"You know, I think the fire would work better with the katana and the ice with the broadsword," a Pony who was watching for a short while said, while off to the side.

The two Gryphons shrugged and canceled their sword art, and changed 'elements' as it were. A few moments later, they found themselves hard-pressed to argue with the random passer-by.

"Next time we argue about whether or not Ponies or Zebras would make good marksmen, remind me to just shut my mouth," a human at the firing range said, as he watched Rarity score 40/50 bullseyes on a relatively decent ranged target range.

"To be honest, I probably would have far more trouble with a firearm designed for someone with digits. These are designed to fit over the back or shoulders, and work off Explicit Magic or a psychic signal," Rarity said as she turned the safety on the rifle and walked over to her 'opponent', a Zebra that score 38/50 in terms of bull's-eyes.

"The psychic trigger as you call it is still a bit hard to trip, but better to have a stiff trigger than a hair-trigger. Anything to reduce potential friendly fire incidents," the Zebra said as he dismounted the other rifle. "You do have an amazing eye for detail and precision though. What is your stock and trade?"

Rarity beamed like a lightbulb just turned on. "If you would believe it, I am a fashion designer. I was recently featured in Canterlot's ‘Up And Comers’ Show about, I believe it was 6 months ago now."

"I heard you designed some clothes for the President's daughter when you all first got here. And here you are looking like someone that has been around a firearm more than once in her life," one of the humans said as he looked at how calmly the well-groomed white mare was handling the military equipment.

Rarity stopped to think for a few moments about the statement. Do I? I'm nervous as any other Pony... but I can't show it... this is something I'm going to have to get used to for the near future... I'm more worried about dear Fluttershy, though...

"If I didn't see it myself... I wouldn't have believed it..." Blue Vague said as he stood, mouth agape.

"She just suplexed a 5'10" Dragon, and a clean German Suplex at that too..." Rodriguez said, as he was trying to work how the butter-yellow Pegasus even managed it.

"You think that's something? You should see how she handles bears," Rainbow Dash replied, entirely unsurprised by the scene.

"OH MY... I'm... I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy said, hooves over her mouth as the Dragon was still planted a couple of inches into the ground of the Training Field.

"Oh... don't worry about it... hard heads are something we're known for. Although I'm still wondering just how you got any kind of grip on me that fast," the Dragon replied, as he finally extricated himself.

=== [ Safe Haven -- April 13, 2082 ] ===

"You look pretty nice in your white suit, Richie!" Pinkie Pie said while bounding around a bit outside one of the media rooms that was now decorated with a fancier version of the HEA's logo.

"Considering what we are doing starting today, public relations will be absolutely crucial. So Princess Celestia and myself need to make a good 'second' impression, if you will," as Richard adjusted his tie and pocket handkerchief in a portable full-length mirror, while Rarity handled the makeup and lighting.

"I estimate a 91.95% chance of positive response to the news you all are set to deliver in within the next two hours, barring unforeseen circumstance. The degrading conditions the Society for the Preservation of Humanity are promulgating should make the bulk of humanity quite receptive to the ideas and proposals you and the Principles of the Four Nations alliance agreed upon roughly ten days ago," replied a green, glasses wearing 'female' fairy floating inside of the monitors behind the cameras set up in front of the stage Mr. Edwards and Princess Celestia were due to speak at in a couple of hours time.

"I do appreciate your apparent precision in your projections, Miss Control, but you really should work on your language and communication skills. You come off so cold, sometimes," Twilight asked as she looked at Control through the teleprompter.

"I am sorry, but I do not like being overly informal, not like Alternate, anyway," Control said, attempting to maintain a calm, dispassionate tone.

"Hey c'mon Control, we're all friends here anyway. What's a little informality between friends?" the blue cyber-fae asked as she peered into the room from a different monitor.

"We are nearing zero hour for the commencement of Operation Trump Card, and it is important to maintain formality when in the middle of an operation, Alternate," the green fairy responded, adjusting her glasses. Alternate just 'sat' on a program window and was visibly pouting a bit.

Shift decided to appear to redirect Alternate to some other task. "Alright, that's enough of that Alternate, let's just go so we can support Control while we get all of this underway, you two can argue about how to talk to the operators when this is all done."

"Oh... all-right," Alternate said as she floated away to another terminal, leaving only Control again in the media room.

A mild flash of light heralded Princess Celestia and Luna's return Earthside, behind the cameras and the teleprompters.

"So I trust that everything is proceeding apace?" Princess Luna asked, indigo and blue mane floating in the non-existent breeze.

"Connections to major information hubs have not been detected. I am fully prepared to assume direct control of the major streams when the time arrives," Miss Control responded with her customary coolness.

Princess Celestia sighed a sigh of mild relief. "That is good news, indeed. A lot of this plan starting as planned hinges upon us having access to the major broadcast channels and news-streams, I believe you call it."

"If I understand correctly, this plan begins with the announcement of our 're-arrival' on Earth. Which is then followed by the US, EU, and Japanese presidents and prime ministers announcing that their nation's militaries will no longer be at the call of the S.P.H. At which point we start moving against the forces entrenched in Washington D.C.," Red Blaze recounted, as she paced on-side of the stage.

"That would be the general sequence of events, if everything goes how we think it will," Silentclaw said, sitting in a chair far off to the side, outside of the view of the cameras. He and Razorline were to watch the speech, along with Trivak and Gen. Blila in the background. None were due to show up for this message, although all of the leaders of the three nations did promise public appearances should the liberation of Washington (at the very least) prove successful.

!~~!~~!

"So, how is everyone doing, we should be ready to go sometime in the next few hours, right!" one of the human HEA soldiers said, as he put on the pale gray bodysuit and strapped on the ivory white armor. They wanted to be a clear and discernable contrast to the SPH's black, and figured white was good enough for now.

"Yeah, everyone is lookin good to go. Boy wait until they get a load of us, I'm not even sure if a bunch of those Black Shielders would even want to fight after they do," a Dragon replied, using some Invocation to change his default Ruby Red armor into his personal colors of ash gray and violet.

"Hrm, I wonder what'd scare them more, a lizardman with near impenetrable-skin, or a half-bird/half-big-cat with razor sharp talons and claws?" one of the Zebra medics asked, making sure the regeneration and vitality potions were good to go.

"Pfft, you know they'd say the big cats."

"Nah, totally lizardmen."

"Anyway, they might be more shocked they'd see us Ponies again. Pretty sure they thought they ran us out of town forever," a Unicorn Guards-stallion said, as he adjusted the visor to make sure it didn't obstruct his snout. His cutie mark of a stone striking a bull's-eye 'bleeding' through his white, gold, and blue armor like all Pony Cutie Marks seemed to do with skin-hugging material.

"Yo Rock Shot, weren't you in a rear-guard trying to get everyone out of the Bureaus a year ago?" another human soldier asked, hearing some of the rumors.

"Yeah, saw some stuff I never wanted to see, or even so much as feel, again. Nothing as gory as the humans saw outside, but it was more the fear... all of that fear in the humans coming in for treatment or emergency Conversion. Not to mention the fear in the Ponies we had to evacuate, some before they could even walk straight," Rock Shot replied, as he shook his head around to make sure nothing banged on the inner-walls of his new helmet.

"Can't really say this is revenge... but damn, what the SPH has done since then is nothing more than gross negligence in my opinion," the second human replied back.

"Yeah, the less we bring 'revenge' into this whole scenario, the better," Rock Shot concluded, as he took the helmet back off after his adjustments were completed.

!~~!~~!

"Fifteen minutes until show-time people! Miss Control, how are our uplinks looking," one of the humans in the control room asked of the green fairy, as Shift and Alternate looked on, apparently drinking milkshakes all the while.

"Uplinks are all green. I am ready to proceed once the broadcast is scheduled to commence," Miss Control responded, her 'hair' sprayed out like so many tendrils going out into the 'Net, representing all of the connections she was prepared to act through.

Across the soundproof glass, The Princesses stood to the side as they watched Richard Edwards go over his speech on his digital pad, which was linked to the teleprompter in front of him.

"So, Mr. Edwards, making any last minute edits or the like?" Princess Luna asked, while drinking from a levitated tea-cup.

"Sort of, more just reading it back to myself to make sure everything flows correctly; this isn't going to be long anyway. Our actions today are going to speak louder than any words that at least I could say at the moment," he said, glancing at the two tall winged-unicorns.

"As others have said before, sometimes it is better to show rather than tell," Celestia reasoned aloud, to the agreement of everyone in front of the sound-proof divider.

Time ticked away some more, right down to zero hour.

!~~!~~!

"You know, it is strange. About now is the time we receive our courtesy call from Washington, D.C. from the good Madame President, but she is late... by a good half-hour," Peter Vaughn remarked, as he sat in the lounge at the still-unofficial headquarters for the S.P.H. Nathan and Claire were out shopping, Nathan having been volunteered for the job by Claire. So it was just him in the large bar looking at the various news reports, looking closely to spy any unflattering news reports about the S.P.H.'s conduct of national business.

He was more than surprised when, at precisely 2:00 PM, every single holo-vision station and major news feed switched over to an image of a pentagon with five colored wedges on a white background, White, Blue, Gold, Red, and Black. What stunned him more were the gold letters over a blue banner underneath said pentagon.

"H.E.A.? That organization disappeared a year ago! What in the bloody hell is this?!" Peter shouted as he stood up, flipping the channels but finding nothing that had anything but that pentagon on it. As he was, he got a ring on his holo-cell phone regarding the service interruption.

"Peter, dear, are you seeing this? All of the screens in Manhattan just flipped to this strange logo with the acronym of that organization we crushed all those months ago on it!" Claire shouted through the phone, stamping her feet all the while.

"Yeah I'm seeing it, and I'm getting neuro-net messages that all of the stations worldwide and the major 'Net feeds are showing nothing but that as well. I want to know what the fuck is going on and why no one seems to be fixing it!" Peter said as he started rifling off messages to every major network tech he knew.

!~~!~~!

"Such pitiful encryption these computer networks use. By the time they even start figuring out how I took control, I'll be long gone..." Miss Control thought to herself, as she 'felt' her iron grip over all the world's primary communications networks. "Mr. Edwards, I am ready to begin the broadcast as soon as you give the signal!"

!~~!~~!

"Richard Edwards, you'd better give the presentation of your life..." Melinda Aguillar said, as she sat with her family, finally reunited after 8 long and grueling months apart, little Rosa having never let her go since she arrived at the Safe House.

!~~!~~!

Well Rich, time to throw these dice and see if I come up seven or snake-eyes...

"Good day, citizens of Earth. My name is Richard Edwards: leader of the Human-Equus Alliance. If that name sounds familiar, it should. For in times recently passed, the H.E.A. was known as the Human-Equestrian Alliance. Nearly a year ago, our organization was driven to the brink of full collapse, due to the collapse of the myriad governments of the world after the worldwide coups by the Society for the Preservation of Humanity. In the intervening time, the H.E.A. has bided it's time, observing to see if the S.P.H. was truly an organization designed to restore and improve humanity and the world from the unenviable position we found ourselves in. To our dismay, but non-surprise, the S.P.H. has done little more than consolidate even more political and socio-economic power within the Domes. To that end, we feel that the S.P.H. is an organization that is simply organized around the preservation and accumulation of power in a select few hands, and nothing more.

"Consider the many incidents of thaumatic accidents. The many instances of monsters or other shadowy creatures either killing or kidnapping humans. These incidents do not see any sort of investigation by the S.P.H. dominated police forces. We cannot speculate as to the true nature of these incidents, although we do have suspicions of an ulterior motive on the part of the S.P.H. As we as an organization have remained in the shadows of the world, I have remained, to the surprise I am sure of many watching or reading this message, in constant contact with the Princesses of Equestria."

Richard drew in a breath, and began to conclude his initial remarks. "Eventually, we have come to an understanding, and a realization, that we must be more proactive in our efforts to build a world that is truly for the benefit of all. That will require some stepping on toes of those who hold this world in the palm of their hands now, but no change nor progress comes without a struggle. No truly lasting gain could be achieved without the possibility of an equally lasting loss. While some may consider me a traitor to my species, it is my firm belief that those of make up the 'Equus' part of this Human-Equus alliance have so much to teach us, and that we would be utter fools to dismiss them. And with that, I would like to pass the proverbial baton to someone, or to be more precise, some-pony I believe you all should be quite familiar with."

Richard then walked off to the side as Princess Celestia stepped to the microphone. "Citizens of Earth," she began to speak, not needing any notes since her remarks were to be even more brief. "As Mr. Edwards stated earlier, we are part of the Equus half of the Human-Equus Alliance. The other members have chosen not to speak live at this point and time, choosing instead to allow myself to give brief remarks in order to set the stage. Despite the best efforts of the Society for the Preservation of Humanity, we remain in contact with the Earth. Yet, since we could not gauge the true intent of the S.P.H. and did not want to commit troops, we decided to bide our time and observe.

"To be perfectly honest. What we have seen has saddened, and in some cases, infuriated us. Instead of leveraging the Magic that has become nascent and ever-growing in this world in order to fix what has been breaking, it has instead been used to begin fueling a war-machine in order to consolidate political power. We feel this cycle needs to be arrested before it is allowed to grow out of control. I know those on this side will feel that I am overstepping my bounds when I make this declaration, but they only need consider the previous eight months. In all the time the S.P.H. has had to merely announce plans, they have not done so. Whenever the old national leaders or advocacy groups have come to air their grievances with the S.P.H., they have been rebuffed or ignored. With all of the incidents of varying natures occurring in the major population centers, there has been little to no action to address these incidents, unless it involved citizens of the Domes. I will refuse to stand idly by and watch the so-called leadership of humanity fritter away the lives of billions if I could do something at all about it. And so, ourselves, the other major nations of Equus, and humans who think along these same lines shall indeed do something about it."

!~~!~~!

For the third time in two years, something involving Princess Celestia had ground the world to a screeching halt. The Princesses of the Land beyond the Aurora Barrier had returned, and with allies apparently. And to top it all off, they all but issued an ultimatum to the self-professed axis of power of the world.

A fact that was not lost upon Peter Vaughn.

"YOU GET ME PRESIDENT AGUILLAR ON THE LINE, AND YOU GET HER ON THE LINE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!" he shouted into the holo-phone, demanding to see, in the 'flesh', the woman who was supposed to be his personal avatar of political power.

"Sir, we have not been able to locate her for the last roughly 45 minutes."

"WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T FIND HER! WE HAVE THAT ENTIRE PLACE ON LOCKDOWN 24/7! NO ONE CAN GET IN OR OUT WITHOUT US KNOWING!!"

"Well, sir, we cannot find any perimeter breaches, nor do any of the security cameras show anything out of the ordinary. But mechanical and human-conducted searches of the entire premises of the White House reveal no President Aguillar anywhere in the complex," the operator on the other end responded.

"GODDAMNIT ALL TO HELL!" he shouted as he hung up the phone. It was immediately followed by another call, this one from Strasbourg, France.

Goddamnit what is it now...

"Sir! We have an emergency. We have completely lost contact with Prime Minister Koenig in the last 10 minutes. None of the sensors we have set up in his residence record his presence, nor can we find it through our tracking scanners. It's as if he just completely disappeared!" said a SPH grunt in a weak French accent.

"Jesus... just... ok... really. You really mean to FUCKING TELL ME YOU CAN'T FIND KOENIG ANYWHERE?!" Vaughn shouted in a combination of fury and frustration. Said fury and frustration was only about to be compounded in the next phone call he was to receive.

"Leader Vaughn, we have recently lost contact with Prime Minister Hayashi. Our sensors nor his personal escorts have been able to find him for the last, roughly 10 minutes!" the Japanese SPH grunt said, apologizing profusely throughout.

"I don't need your apologies, I NEED YOU TO FUCKING FIND HIM!" Vaughn said as he hung up on both grunts.

"THIS IS COMPLETELY FUCKING INSANE. HOW DO WE LOSE ALL THREE OF THEM IN HALF AN HOUR'S TIME... THIS... this... oh no... oh no no no... THIS SHIT IS NOT HAPPENING," Vaughn said out loud as his mind was racing to a conclusion he did not want.

"This has to be part of Celestia's plan. That fucking bitch-on-hooves, if I ever get my hands on her I will saw her goddamned horn off myself!" Vaughn shouted as he looked around for someone, anyone who could tell him something useful. Meanwhile Claire and Nathan had arrived at the bar, and were trying to calm Peter down some before he went and did something stupid.

"Peter, I just received the news through the secure-link. What the hell do they mean they can't find Aguillar, Koenig, or Hayashi? That's our fulcrum of power here in the Americas, Europe, and Asia!" Claire said as she tried to sit Peter down.

"I don't fucking know. According to all of them they just poofed into thin fucking air and none of their tracking devices nor any other sensors can pick them up," Peter said, no longer shouting but still very much high strung.

"I cannot for the life of me figure out how you lose three VIPs that fast... and our techs still cannot figure out how to break the HEA's apparent grip on our communications. They have just been showing this test pattern for the last 5 minutes or so now,"

A test pattern that was about to be broken in short order.

!~~!~~!

"We will return you all to your regularly scheduled programming in due time," Richard started. "But first, we have a very special guest that would like to address you all."

The scene then shifted to a very large and remarkably green field. In front a bunker dug into said field, stood a middle-aged Hispanic woman behind a lectern with the 'true' Seal of the United States Presidency on it, flanked by a pair of human guards in white body armor.

Alright then, President Aguillar, the stage is yours... Princess Celestia said to Melinda telepathically, giving her, her cue.

"Good afternoon, my fellow Americans, and fellow citizens of the world. Over these last eight months, I will admit to having been pressured by the Society for the Preservation of Humanity into issuing edicts and orders that have gone against every fiber of my being, as a politician entrusted with the highest office in the land. Some of these things I will have to answer for eventually, but I am now committed as I have ever been to seeing through my original plans, which were the restoration of living conditions and the hope of all people, and not whomever happens to have the most money at any given point in time. To that end, I am using the power I still hold that the S.P.H. so graciously handed me, in order to issue two new edicts at the current time. First, I hereby declare that the Society for the Preservation of Humanity a terrorist organization and an Enemy of the United States of America. Secondly, I will allow the Human-Equus Alliance limited access to official military channels and whatever personnel they require in order to begin clearing out the terrorists now currently occupying Washington, D.C. Once that trash has been swept away, I shall begin formal negotiations toward a true rebuilding effort. I hope that our nation and the Nations of Equus can forge A New Age of greater cooperation and, if I may use the word, harmony, going into our now joint future. Thank you, and God Bless the United States of America and her people."

Aguillar was then immediately followed by EU and Japanese Prime Ministers Koenig and Hayashi respectively, giving edicts and expressing similar sentiment. Afterward, Richard Edwards then appeared back on the screen to give his closing remarks.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it here first. The S.P.H. has been declared a terrorist organization by the duly elected leaders of the three largest powers remaining. While I do not pretend that to mean the Human-Equestrian Alliance to now be some kind of political power, we will do our level best in order to ensure that not only those governments, but all the governments of the world are restored to their rightful owners, the citizens of their respective countries. You now have a choice humanity. You can either continue to wallow in apathy, or blindly follow the Pied Piper’s flute of the S.P.H. Or... or you can rise up, and grab your future in your own two hands. This world was not built to be ruled over like some kind of fiefdom to the benefit of a few. This was a world that was meant to be shared and presided over by all who are so lucky to be born or live here. There is a lot of work to be done, and I would hope that all those who hear or reads these words will heed them: Take your future into your own hands, and do not cede your gift of self to anyone else. Thank you, and have a pleasant day."

With that, Miss Control slowly relinquished her grip on the information channels of Earth, making sure that no one could accidentally back-trace her back to Safe Haven's computer networks.

"Control over the world's communications channels are now relinquished. Soon holographic television stations and webcasts should return to their normal slate of programming," Miss Control said as her hair returned to its normal style.

Princess Luna looked into the teleprompter as Richard was decompressing after the experience of being watched by so many eyes at once. "Excellent work Miss Control, I dare say the Society's engineers had no idea how to wrest control of the media channels away from you."

"A proper analogy of the situation would be watching a toddler attempting to wrest something out of the hands of a full-grown adult," Miss Control added, adjusting her false glasses.

My my, quite confident in our abilities, aren't we? Luna thought to herself, wondering just how well-developed an ego the three Fairy Sisters had now.

Captain Rodriguez then stepped forward from the area where the other Advance Force leaders were sitting, all discussing some of the finer points of the speeches given. "So, we should be ready to begin Phase II of Operation Trump Card before long, right?"

"Indeed, although I believe you should give the SPH a couple of hours to reveal themselves. I would guess the leaders are currently in a state of furor, if not outright panic," Silentclaw thought aloud.

=== [ Washington D.C. -- April 13, 2082 @ roughly 18:00 GMT-5 ] ===

"Sir, we have riots breaking out all over Washington D.C., the public is throwing a huge fit that we're deciding to hang around," one of the exasperated grunts told his SPH captain, already run ragged from trying to search for Aguillar in the White House before she revealed herself to be nowhere near the White House, or apparently anywhere for that matter.

"That's it! If they want this damn city back, they are taking it from us. I don't know why Vaughn didn't just deep-six her to start with, it wasn't like there was anyone to fight back against us," the Captain responded, as they boarded the Thauma-Tank to go put down another protest.

Before long, thaumatic-powered tanks and APCs were rolling down the streets of uncovered sections of Washington, D.C., as the S.P.H. tried to put on a show of force that would prove to the public that they indeed were still the sole axis of power in the world.

A status that was about to be challenged immediately.

"Sir, we are picking up several, no, dozens of high-class thaumatic signals on the outskirts of the city! And none of them are hailing our request for contact with a proper SPH signature." the radarman in the tank shouted to everyone's surprise.

"Wait, where?" The captain shouted, thoroughly confused how there could be anything like that in existence.

"North-by-Northwest sir, about 20 kilometers... Thaumatic radar counts 60 signatures and rising, it's like there is a whole damn battalion coming in out of nowhere!"

"Turn our forces around and go meet them, we will not have our superiority challenged like this!!"

With that, the SPH's black thaumatic tanks turned around and began heading north, through increasingly poorer sections of town, pretty much bulldozing anything (or anyone) in their way.

!~~!~~!

The HEA Advance Force were sitting near what used to be Agricultural History Farm Park of Maryland in an era bygone. "So, you think they're dumb enough to take the bait?" one of the HEA soldiers said, standing with a gold-yellow armored Gryphon peering at the horizon into the outskirts of D.C. proper.

"Given how they seem to react to every kind of provocation, yeah, probably," the Gryphon replied, starting to notice a dust cloud kicking up.

"Yeah I got a good one hundred thaumatically-powered vehicles coming in from the South, it looks like they're coming in hot after us. Bet that little series of speeches by the Princesses and your President got them good and riled up," one of the Pony engineers replied, as he buckled his helmet back on and boarded a sleek looking white Command Truck, as they called the vehicles that helped coordinate the forces in the field.

"Yep, alright, we're moving out North. I want them in a nice wide open space so we don't cause undue collateral damage. We're only trying to break the Black Shield, not D.C. itself, got it?!" the human field commander shouted. Members of the force from all species shouted in agreement, and the chase was then on.

!~~!~~!

"I have no idea where the hell they are going but this little chase is gonna have to come to a close. Start firing men!" the SPH captain shouted, as volleys of shells began landing in the HEA's vehicle formation. The HEA's vehicle formation began to scatter somewhat, as the both the cluster of white and black vehicles moved further and further North.

"Do we call 'em in now?" one of the HEA gunners asked, as he looked out of a viewport at the barrage of shells and streams of fireballs. Only a few hits and some moderate damage was scored on the HEA's tanks as they continued rolling north, but now slowing the pace somewhat.

"Yeah, signal artillery to start firing!" the tank commander shouted.

"What in the blue hell is all of this!" the SPH tank commander shouted, as bolts of magic and shells fell upon the SPH tank formations like hailstones, many of the tanks already starting to take significant damage.

"I thought these tanks were shielded against magic!" one of the gunners shouted at the SPH tank commander.

"They are, but not like this..." he started, before he was interrupted by direct hit in the back of his tank.

"Everyone out!" the tank commander shouted. The three men leapt from the tank as many of the vehicles began to break down or explode around them, suffering mightily under the intense barrage.

"Alright, tell em to cut the heavy artillery for now, we’re going ground combat. Are the bikes primed and ready to go?" HEA Field Commander Young asked of an operator.

"All bike sensors are reporting green, sir," one of the techs in the Command truck responded.

Paul Young scratched his beard some, and then gave the order. "Alright, tell the Zebra Corps to start launching the fog canisters. We're about to show these motherfuckers what real MagiTechnology is!"

"Sir, yes sir!" the tech responded as he tapped out the commands to the Zebra Corps helmets.

"It would seem that that is our cue, and now the Society's debt has come due," one of the Zebras quipped as he received the signal to begin launch the Fog Canisters at the SPH infantry formations.

"How do you all do that so easily?" one of his human squad-mates asked, looking on somewhat incredulously.

"It just comes to us. Now, shall we be on our way?"

"I guess we shall..." the human said as he boarded his bike and prepared to ride out.

"Where in the hell is this fog coming from, I can hardly see," one of the SPH grunts said, as he walked around in his full black body armor. He stumbled around blindly until he began to hear several things at once. Deep booming roars from some inhuman beast, shrill cries from equally-as-inhuman sounding beasts, and the synthesized roar from an internal combustion engine, which according to most people ceased production nearly 40 years ago.

"Oh god, what in the hell is all of that..." he shouted, trying to figure out what was going on through all the fog.

He looked all around, only to see the headlight of what looked to be a motorcycle. The SPH grunt quickly ducked around of the way as all he could see were faint traces of green Earth mana from the 'exhaust' of the motorcycle.

"Hey, Black Shield scum, I hope you're ready to dance," the HEA Thauma-bike Soldier shouted, as he wheeled around and dashed at the SPH grunt again.

"OH MY GOD, SOMEONE HELP ME, I NEED SUPPORTING FIRE," the SPH grunt shouted over his com-link. But it wouldn't come.

For the next 10 minutes He could hear the screams of his squad-mates, being harassed by similar, or possibly worse. As the engines and the roaring and the shrieking continued, it seemed to come from everywhere all at once.

But then it all ceased... and that is when a gale-force gust of wind blew the 'fog' away. To reveal to the SPH in just how much deep shit they were in.

!~~!~~!

"Man that fog was damn useful in getting all of us setup. They couldn't run even if they wanted to now," Commander Young said to himself, as he looked at the display on the wall of his truck. The SPH were nearly entirely boxed in. "Alright, open up a universal channel, once they see our entire force clearly, I want to see if they have the God-given sense to give up the ghost and surrender quietly."

!~~!~~!

"Oh my god... what in the hell are those things?!" one of the SPH grunts shouted out loud. There were roughly 150 meters separating the forces now. The SPH's main contingent of 5000 soldiers, at least half of their worldwide force was concentrated in the Washington, D.C. area. Something Field Commander Young was quite thankful for. And now they were being boxed in something fierce.

The SPH saw creatures of all shapes and size and color. There were what looked to be humans in all white armor with blue helmets and visors. Then there were the Dragons, many wearing red armor, looking menacing as they didn't even bother to wear helmets for the most part, instead opting for simple eye-protection. The Gryphons were clad in gold armor, some appearing to hone their claws as they stared a piercing gaze into the humans close enough to see their visored eyes. The Zebras and Ponies wore similar armor, Zebras striped in various dark grays and greens, whereas the Ponies were decorated similar to their standard-issue Royal Guard armor.

A somewhat gruff sounding man in his early 40s took up a microphone from the control truck and began to speak, audible over all com-links. "This is HEA North American Division Advance Guard Field Commander Young. You are hereby being offered one, and ONLY one chance to surrender and be taken into custody of the American Government for debriefing, detention, and trial if necessary."

"On what grounds! That damn bitch Aguillar doesn't have any power. All the Power rests in the leadership of the S.P.H. High Command!" the SPH field commander retorted, thoroughly pissed off.

"Right, the same High Command that’s defined as terrorists by no less than 3 separate countries," Young replied, as he just shook his head at the techs in the Truck.

"WE are the Power in this world! We will not be cowed by the likes of YOU! No matter how many of those damn monsters you have on your side!" the SPH field commander shouted back. One of the SPH front-liners got a bit overzealous, and fired a machine gun straight at the chest of a Gryphon.

"SEE, those Monsters cannot stand up to the might of Human ingenuity and technology!" the SPH field commander shouted, looking on at the incident through his cameras.

The Gryphon merely got back up, no worse for wear than a few dents in his gold-colored armor. "Hrm, that probably would have dealt real damage if I weren't wearing this stuff, still stings though," he replied over the com-link as a Human medic brought him a pain-reliever capsule.

"Alright, one last shot. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Choice is still in your hands," Young said, as he gave a couple of orders while muting the mic.

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK. FIRE AT WILL!" the SPH Field commander shouted, as a hail of bullets and Fire-streams sped toward the crowd. Quick reflexes by a Dragon and a Human Magi conjured a giant wall of Earth to stop most of the oncoming projectiles and flame cold in its tracks.

"Alright people, move out. We are operating under normal protocol. Take prisoners if they offer themselves, hell one of them might talk and tell us who the hell is running that operation," Commander Young ordered, as a shield went up around the Command Truck. And with that, the battle was joined.

!~~~~!~~~~!

"THERE'S WHAT?!" Peter Vaughn shouted as he was in utter disbelief at what he was hearing.

"Sir, we got some kind of combined force from the H.E.A. bearing down on our commandos north of D.C.. And quite frankly, they are getting crushed,"

"Jesus Christ almighty, ugh, bring it up on the monitors. As if anything else could go wrong today," Peter said to himself, Claire trying to console him.

This is going to cost me a goddamn fortune to recover from...

!~~~~!~~~~!

"Damnit what in the hell is that thing!" one of the SPH goons shouted as he fired at the flying golden feline/avian hybrid.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you've never seen a Gryphon before. I'm sure they had something like me in this side, even if it were in the story books!" Slingblade shouted, deciding the taunt the Black Shield by speaking directly to them.

Slingblade rushed the first grunt with an outstretched claw and swiped his semi-automatic away, leaving the human mostly defenseless and staggering away in abject fear. The two SPH soldiers around him spin around and tried to fire on the Gryphon at near point blank, but the cat-like reflexes prevented them from getting any kind of good aim on the creature.

"Hrm, now what are you supposed to do without your gun? Perhaps the two of them can cover you?" Slingblade said with a truly inquisitive tone, as he stalked around the three soldiers. He was hemming them in, driving their fear up and their logical thinking down, which further reduced the two still gun-wielding soldier's aim to next to nothing as far as he was concerned.

"You know, if you just wave the white flag, I won't have to do anything but drag you in. Perhaps if you talked like a triad of stool pigeons... you'd get let off with just some minor prison time, you never know," the Gryphon said, seeing if he could break up the little cluster.

To their credit in one respect, the three SPH grunts held together. To their demerit though, they made about the most stupid decision they would make in their short lives - they attempted again to fire again upon Slingblade.

He noticed one of the humans placing his finger on the trigger, and immediately sliced off the muzzle of the gun with a two-foot, sectioned blade, and began speaking with an eerily calm tone. "Next time, it's your arm."

The other human with gun raised it up pointing at the helmeted head of Slingblade, and pulled the trigger, firing a nice volley at said head. To the sheer terror of the three humans, the helmet Slingblade wore was just as resilient as his body armor.

"Well, it seems that I have my answer," Slingblade said despondently. He whipped his arm around and flicked his wrist, sending top half the blade screaming toward the chest of the human furthest away from him. The blade embedded itself deep in the armor of the human furthest away. Said human was staggered by the sheer impact, and couldn't react to what happened next. Slingblade dashed ahead, propelled by his wings, and jammed the bottom half of his sectioned blade into the embedded top-half, now completely puncturing the body armor and the ribcage of the poor sod. He began coughing up blood immediately as Slingblade yanked out the now rejoined blade. "Ah I do love my armor piercing Sword Art, although I had to use more mana than usual. Oh well that's war for you."

The run-through human collapsed on the ground, bleeding out as many of his main arteries were pierced. The other two just staggered backward, now completely engulfed in terror. Slingblade turned around at looked one of the humans dashing for his gun. Another flick of his wrist embedded the 'sling' portion of his blade into the outstretched hand of the human, causing him to snap it back in extreme agony.

"Now you see if you had just surrendered like nice people would, none of this would have to have happened," Slingblade said as he drove the blade back into its hilt, and nearly severed the man's hand off. His pain was short lived though, as Slingblade promptly snapped his neck.

"Frankly, I would have expected you to have been running in terror away from here by now, but I guess you are braver than I thought. Or you're completely paralyzed with fear. Oh well, I give my condolences to any loved ones you have in advance," Slingblade said, using his short sword in a more traditional sense to slice right through the third man's brachial artery.

"Whoever was paying you should have brought you some better armor..." Slingblade said, as he left the man dying on the ground.

!~~~!~~~!

"You can't seriously be trying that against me," a bright orange Dragoness said as she calmly approached a human wielding a thauma-flamethrower at her. The flamethrower was obviously having little to no effect on her.

Eventually the SPH grunt got the hint and tried something else - reaching for the nearest heavy weapon he could find, a thaumatic-propelled grenade launcher.

Hrm, now that might be a problem... Aliza thought as the human took aim.

Perhaps if the human was a little quicker on the trigger, it would have mattered more in the long run. The element of surprise was lost, though, when it took a long 20 seconds for the him to figure how out to even fire the thing. By that time, Aliza had closed the gap and loosed a far more intense stream of dragonfire at the grenade launcher. It exploded in the arms of the human, blowing off much of his arm with it, as the thaumatic propellant reacted with Aliza's dragonfire.

"Oh my, such a shame. Well, can't very well just leave you writhing on the ground like that. Zalka Yanda," Aliza said, almost at a whisper. As she grabbed the human's still existing hand, his eyes lit up as five thousand volts of magically-induced electricity flowed through his body, and stopped his heart almost immediately.

!~~~!~~~!

"What in the hell is your armor made out of?!" an SPH grunt shouted as he fired upon what looked like a Pony with zebra striped-armor.

"Such a bother..." the Zebra said to himself, as a green spell-circle appeared underneath the two of them.

Now then Al'Zaul, what phantasm should you call upon... the Zebra thought to himself while his human target remained frozen in the second circle. Oh that is a nice one indeed...

The human's field of vision suddenly went 'dark', leaving only the ground and the zebra-striped, armored 'Pony' in front of him. He couldn't figure what was going on, as he heard the ones with no horns couldn't cast spells like this, although he was about to be rudely awakened as to what exactly he drew as an opponent.

"Now then, Soldier of the Black Shield, I believe it is time for you to experience the exact difference between a Pony and myself," Al'Zaul's thought aloud, as his eyes began to glow a faded green.

The human tried to fire his gun, but the gun jammed, both the mechanical and thaumatic firing mechanisms failing. He could hardly move his limbs, paralyzed by the spell circle's interfering effects. What he then saw was a ghastly figure - a skeletal creature made of bone and sparse wolf fur; and a wolf's skull that was partially detached from the spine, ghostly yellow lights where the eyes would be were the creature fully fleshed out. The skeletal beast was several times taller and longer than the human, who was already quailing in fear at the sight.

"What in God's name is that thing?!" the human shouted as best he could, glad his vocal cords were not paralyzed.

"Just a little figure I dredged up from a spirit lake on the Astral Plane. I believe it will properly 're-adjust' your thinking," Al'Zaul replied calmly, to ensure his control over the wolf-like skeleton.

The human could not resist the advance of skeleton monster, as it reached out a bone paw and grabbed him around the head. He began to scream in abject horror as the skeleton beast fed him vision after vision of horrifying events - the dead and dying from all human wars previous, the destruction wrought as invading armies decimated their hated enemy. The horrifying screams of civllians being slaughtered by invaders. The equally horrifying screams of those being tortured and raped all through time. The entirety of the human history of warfare, in all its bloody darkness, was fed to an untrained mind; the experience feeling like an eternity, and yet was only a scant few moments of real-time. It was vision meant to crush a soldier's will to fight; and leveraging the sum total of human warfare to that point, said soldier's will to fight was indeed shattered into a million pieces.

As the creature released his head and faded back into the Astral Plane, the human began babbling incoherently, screaming in abject terror. "STOP IT! PLEASE, MAKE IT STOP. PLEASE... STOP... PLEASE... STOP."

"My vision has already ended, perhaps you should take this time to leave this field of battle lest your life ends as well," Al'Zaul calmly stated as he resumed a normal stance.

The human said nothing as he ran away, hoping to see no more dead bodies or anything of the like for the rest of his time alive.

!~~~!~~~!

"And now I finally get some payback for what you did to this country all those months ago," Terry said to himself, wearing his ivory-white armor (with the microphone muted so he could only get input).

Terry was running extraordinarily fast, though not as fast as his squadmates on thauma-bikes or anything with hooves or wings. Still, it was still faster than any of the SPH could manage unassisted, and that's all that mattered at the moment.

"What in the hell is in that armor they're using? They are way too fast to be normal humans!" Terry heard from the SPH grunt speaking over the universal channels. He was somewhat amused by the chaos and confusion in their ranks, but he knew there was a job to be done.

Terry took a couple of shots with his rifle at a pair of SPH Grunts firing RPGs at a cluster of Gryphons coming in from the east. He did not want to take any chances that the grunts were hiding some weapons the HEA hadn't planned to defend against. "Damn, I'm surprised that they hadn't used any of those Red Bombs yet," he thought out loud as he took a few moments to see if two he had shot were still attempting to fire.

That was before his sensors and warnings from the HEA's Command Truck were picking up unusually high concentrations of raw Fire Mana. Well, that's what I get for jinxing it, fuck... he thought to himself as tried to pinpoint exactly where the Bombs were being thrown or laid.

He saw the familiar shape - a black and red-striped spheroid creation that appeared to be positively glowing red. Amongst the survivors and those who have read about it, that glow was something that struck fear in all.

OH GOD WHAT?! Terry shouted in his head as he ran as far back toward the HEA's lines as he could, dodging rocket fire from the SPH. He didn't notice until a few moments later a few Unicorns running toward the Red Bombs lying on the ground waiting to go off.

"Rapid River, what are you doing? You know damn well what those things can do!" Terry shouted at the Unicorn with the whitewater-rapid-like Cutie Mark.

"Trust us, we got something just for this!" the Unicorn guards-stallion shouted back.

Terry jammed a device into the ground and created a wall of thick earth in a shallow arc in front of him. Damn this Bulwark Creator is useful, now what in the hell is River doing?

He sniped some at SPH grunts that were firing in River's general direction; while River was cloaked, he was definitely not invincible, and surely he couldn't withstand the sheer heat and energy of the Red Bomb once it goes off.

His heart sank though, when he saw the trademark red flash and the rapidly expanding red sphere of mana. Terry activated his Fire-Magic shielding (which turned his armor nice shade of pale pink) and ducked. Dammit River, why did you have to be so stupid... why did you have to be so reckless... why did you have to... be... wait why isn't the temperature going up?

He looked around the battlefield from behind his bulwark, and all of the fighting just appeared to have come to a total cease, both the SPH and HEA already falling back to their positions for the most part. The most odd sight, though, were the red spheres of mana that appeared to have stopped expanding, looking like red and pink glowing domes, all with heavily focused Unicorns in front of them (from the perspective of the HEA).

Just what in the hell is going on? Terry thought to himself as he looked around to see if anyone was aiming at Rapid River in front of him. When he saw nothing, he just stared at the red domes that usually just grew and consumed everything, after the bomb blew, just sit there nearly static. And then something shocking happened, as far as Terry was concerned... the domes shrank.

Ok, seriously... WHAT IS GOING ON! Terry then thought to himself. He crept forward from the bulwark, a collapsible shield in front of him as he approached Rapid River, and noticed with his zoom on his visor that there were other Unicorns near the other now shrinking Fire Mana domes casting similar looking spells.

"Rapid River, mind giving me the lowdown on what's going on?" Terry asked, voice relatively quiet now, over a private channel.

"Just a moment... almost done," River started to respond. And with a final, and somehow resounding fwimp-sound, all of the compressed mana in the Red Bombs were sucked away to parts unknown. And with it, any hope of the SPH would win this battle.

!~~~!~~~!

Once the devices had cooled to a dull black and gray shell, the Unicorns carefully levitated shells back toward the HEA lines. The SPH didn't protest, as their lines rapidly receded. They boarded their remaining working vehicles and booked it as fast as they could to the west, avoiding the fire of the now victorious Advance Guard of the Human-Equus Alliance.

"So what do we do now, Captain Young?" Terry raidoed in, looking at the battlefield filled with dead, dying, or abandoned SPH grunts. The leadership and able-bodied survivors were already nearly 30 miles away from the battlefield, and there were no indications of any incoming ballistic fire. As far as any of the HEA there on the field of battle knew, this fight was pretty much over for the time being.

"Have the Unicorns erect shields and we'll take our time to assess the situation, I might want to ask Razorline to come to the field as well. Perhaps the SPH could use a little fear of God stricken into them beyond what's already happened," Young responded, as he checked the radar one last time for missiles or bombs from afar before exiting the Command Truck.

The entire field of battle became wrapped in a pale blue shield, as the Unicorns who performed the Mana Drain spell on the Red Bombs were already in a thaumatic-powered armored personnel carrier (TAPC) getting an early start on their recuperation. The Gryphons and Humans began rounding up the able-bodied survivors from the SPH to be carried back as prisoners for processing, as the Ponies and Zebras started burying the dead of the SPH; thankfully, as far they were concerned, they didn't have to do the same for their side. The Dragons continued to search and watch for any stragglers to fire back at the shield, or for any unexploded Red Bombs.

As the Unicorns cleared the ambient mana and the Pegasi cleared the air of pollutants and dust, the now disarmed SPH grunts just sat around in some teleported in prisoner carriers.

"Just what in the hell are you all monsters? Where did you come from? Why are you helping the Ponies and traitors?!" one of the grunts shouted angrily at a Gryphon who really did not feel like answering questions. He eventually relented when he remembered that he was under the Gryphon Rules of War, which clearly stated that he could not severely injure or kill any prisoner that was of no threat to him.

"The lizard-men are Dragons, the striped horses are Zebras, and we're Gryphons," Graywing replied from behind the bulletproof divider in the back of the large, bus-like vehicle. The convoy of white vehicles were heading into Washington, D.C. proper.

"So what are you going to do with us all, feed us to some hellbeast?" one of the other grunts asked in a snide tone.

"While that is tempting, we're gonna do something far more mundane. Actually use your nation's POW laws to process you properly," Graywing responded, sitting back on his hindlegs and knocking some dirt out of the crevasses of his armor. "You know some of you can make your lives a lot easier if you just tell us where you got your commanders holed up," he then added, almost as an aside.

"Piss off, like we'd do anything help you monsters or your traitor allies!" one of the grunts shouted.

"Suit yourself..." Graywing said as he turned around to look at the delipidated outskirts of the nation's capital.

This was the best the humans could do for themselves, just depressing... Well, all things considered, some of them could make good Gryphons with proper tutelage... Graywing thought to himself as he could hear some faint whooping and cheering from outside.

The word was already starting to spread how the HEA were beginning to fight back against the SPH; not only fight back, but actually dealing a decisive blow against them.

=== [ April 14, 2082 and a few days following ] ===

The days after the Battle of Maryland, as it was already becoming known, saw the SPH being turned out in a major fashion in the three major capitals. Washington, Strasburg, and Kyoto all saw major fights, and all three resulted in decisive victories for the HEA. Vaughn, deciding discretion was the better part of valor, began recalling all remaining SPH forces to relatively safe areas, including Manhattan for North America.

Meanwhile, President Aguillar and Prime Ministers Koenig and Hayashi were restored to their proper seats and locations (though the Safe Houses were retained, just in case). The Ten Elements and Spike all sat with their new confidants in the Advance Force to hear of the battles near the major capitals. Though they didn't exactly care for some of the more gory aspects of the fight, they all felt they needed to hear what had to be done to get them to this point.

A few days after the Battle of Maryland, while discussions were underway on how to conduct special elections to fill the now emptied Legislatures across the major powers in other channels, HEA Leader Edwards and President Aguillar had a nice heart to heart. Their combined efforts had gained them, and potentially humanity, a huge windfall, and now they had to sort out how to begin using it.

"So how does it feel to be back in the Oval Office without omnipresent black-clad military grunts hounding your every move?" Richard said, wearing a white suit similar to the one he wore during his announcement address a few days previous.

"It feels very good, Richard. I am concerned if we are going to find people to refill the legislature in any kind of decent time-frame. I honestly do not like having all of this consolidated political power, it makes me feel like a dictator," Melinda replied, looking out at the now more blue sky around Washington, a few Pegasi flying overhead clearing the air in and around the city as a whole.

"They do amazing work Melinda, like I said in my address. What all of those species can do is simply amazing, and we would be fools to pass this opportunity up," Richard said, looking out of the same window.

Melinda thought a few seconds. "Hrm, they've even been teaching my kids: Rosa having Fire and Reggie having Earth just seems to fit, for the most part." She chuckled as she was reminded of Rosa showing her a trick with different colored fireballs.

"And I feel that they can teach us all how to use the power growing inside of the Earth day by day. The thing is, the vast majority of humanity is not going to want to Convert and move to Equus in order to learn," Richard said, in a tone that implied he was about to ask a question that might merit a harsh reaction.

"Now what could you mean by that?" Melinda asked, while still looking out at the slowly clearing skyline.

"The other principles in the HEA, as well as myself, want some of the empty land in order to construct communities to surround the Bureaus mk. II."

"Do you know what you're asking of me, Richard? Such a move would be seen as an undue concession on my part by a not-insignificant minority of the population."

"President Aguillar, we're at the point now that either we start stepping on some toes to start fixing this world and advance all of humanity, or forever leave ourselves at the mercy of the current power structure. This structure just won't collapse on its own, you know."

"Yes, it's going to have to be pushed aside actively. I just wished that the means by which we had to do that were different."

"I don't mean to imply that I want to see all of Humanity converted or the like. But, we have some truly benevolent, or at the very least not antagonistic aliens who want to genuinely help us be what we were supposed to be as a species. I just have this feeling that we were always meant to work in close concert the species of Equus."

"Do you really believe that, Richard?"

"It's hard to say, but that's just the hunch I have. The way that the converted humans that represent our Magic's four elements work with their Magic's six elements is just TOO close if you ask me."

"That much is true. I tell you what. I can get that land for you, but it's going to need to be away from major population centers, and we ask for a nominal fee. The less this appears like some kind of giveaway the better."

"I believe we can work with that, President Aguillar."

Deep within the Earth, in the slowly regenerating Shrine of the Elements, a now less-elderly and somewhat brighter looking Will of the Earth looked on at the events of the last eight months with some mild optimism, for the first time in eons.

"Conduits of Terra, Bearers of Harmony, Keepers of the Other World... your machinations are beginning to lift one of the veils of darkness on this world. But do not misunderstand. Your task to truly rescue this world is far from over..."

Author's Note

Well this is the the end of the first little arc...

The SPH has been beaten back and the HEA has some operating room, though I wonder what the Will of the Earth could be talking about when she implied multiple veils.

And just what is dear Chrissy planning deep in the Mojave?

Anyway, here are links to the SPH and HEA's Emblems:

CH 5: Building A New Hope

=== The Conversion Bureau:
A New Age, A New Life (Pt II) ===
=== Chapter 5: Building of A New Hope ===

It had been a couple of months roughly since the official end of hostilities, regarding the clearing out of the SPH from their stronghold in Washington, D.C. For the most part they appeared to have gone underground, figuratively; an irony not lost upon the HEA and the other principles.

=== [ May 04, 2082 – Safe Haven Holographic Planning Room ] ===

"So are we in agreement, Princess Celestia?" President Aguillar asked over the holophone, her new aides in close proximity as official negotiations were being concluded for the time being.

"Yes, I believe these terms are satisfactory. The offer of triple the average going rate for such land should be sufficient from a public relations perspective, yes?" The Princess responded.

After some brief consultation, Aguillar responded herself. "Yes, that should be more than enough. The more this looks like a normal land deal, the better off we will all be."

"No need to agitate anyone else out there without due cause. Especially now that we have forced the SPH to ground in some respect," an aide added, most of the others on both sides of the call agreeing.

"We should have the official documents and 'bill of sale', if you will, drawn up within the next half-hour or so. Once everything is officially signed, you all are free to start your project, within the guidelines established in our earlier agreements and treaties," President Aguillar concluded.

"Yes, hopefully the SPH will see fit to not interfere with us during construction. Although I doubt they will try anything major in the near future," Luna added, somewhat bored by all the legal wrangling from the last few weeks and wanting to flex her civil engineering muscle.

Defense Secretary Richardson, having 'un-retired' since the restoration of normal civilian government, offered to respond this time. "Princess Luna, we do not believe that the Black Shield, as some of yours call them, are a threat at this particular moment. However, we have not been able to indict anyone higher up the chain-of-command than field commanders. Whoever the real brains behind that outfit are still at large, so it would be best if we all remained on guard."

Everyone listening nodded as the meetings continued apace.

~=-=~

Meanwhile, over in a media room the that had, by this point, belonged to them by default, the Ten Elements and Spike were spending the morning looking at the various news reports, as had become their custom throughout the months they were there.

"At least the Black Shield hasn't reappeared in all this time, so I guess we're going to continue with that new project that Luna was discussing a couple of days ago," Fluttershy said as B-roll of construction crews repairing streets played on the projectors off to the sides of them all.

"Have they decided on a name for the town, or city, or whatever it is that place is supposed to be?" Golden Storm asked while laying on a couch.

"No, I heard that none of them could really decide on single name, so they are just using the code phrases each individual nation came up with," Spike said as he and Pinkie Pie were playing a game on one of the long, sheet-like, and lower-grade Q-Machine computers.

"You ever think of what'd happen if all of this were available to the public," Twilight Sparkle asked idly, as she and Shift were monitoring the news feeds for any minor skirmishes with outlying SPH cells.

Blue Vague and the others thought for a few moments, before he answered for himself. "Not to sound selfish, but I think we should roll it out first in the... um... community that ends up being built within the territory the Princesses are buying right now. Sometimes you can't push a product out to market immediately..."

"... Gotta see how a trial audience deals with it first, right?" Applejack concluded. While she had little to no idea how a computer would or should be sold; she knew that you had to test a product before selling it.

"Well... yeah, that's pretty much the long and short of it," Vague responded somewhat off-putting-ly, not expecting to get interrupted.

"I wonder what work they'll have us doing?" Rainbow Dash asked, wondering just how involved the ten of them were going to be in the repair and construction work.

"Hard to say, but we should have a lot of help. The Princesses want to have all five species living within the borders, but not packed on top of each other. I guess that'll rule out a big contingent of Dragons," Rarity mused aloud while sketching out more designs to try out when she went back to the Carousel Boutique.

Red Blaze, putting a forehoof grip on and joining Spike and Pinkie's second round, added her two bits. "It will be nice to have some relative calm, so that we can get everything going. Hopefully being out of the way like this will also make it hard for rabble-rousers to cause trouble from without."

"Yeah, but every time we get everything all calmed down. Someone comes and messes it all up..." Pinkie Pie said, snorting in exasperation.

"It is a world in transition, and we're the agents of it, in more ways than one. We'll just have to deal with as best we can," Midori Hana replied while patting Pinkie on the back, eliciting a nod of agreement from Pinkie as she put on her customary smile.

--=--

As the HEA and the American government continued their negotiations to a more or less amicable conclusion, there were very, VERY, different machinations underway within America's nominal borders.

-=~=-

"Drone H000007, what do you have to report to me this... evening I would assume..." Queen Chrysalis asked from in front of a magical viewing membrane; stretched across the walls of her throne-room. She was laying on her belly across her couch/throne in her normal teal-and-black form, and clearly in a lazy mood.

The faint-green eyed human answered curtly but respectfully. "I am currently in the Princesses' human collaborators organization branch for London, United Kingdom. While they do have reasonable protocols for security in regard to personnel, it is clearly not designed to deal with Changeling infiltration."

"Hrm, I don't know if I should be happy or disappointed in that news; it is not like Celestia to leave that kind of back-door for me. Then again, even her and her damn sister's predictive abilities are not absolute or universal. I should be thankful in the end for that. Anyway, continue as you are H000007. For now, we only need information regarding their Ponification Serum. If our researcher's predictions are true, it should make our plans far faster to execute. And the faster, the better," Chrysalis stated with clear conviction, as she 'rose' to a normal, and definitely more regal, seated position; her long insectoid wings flat along her back. "By the way, it would be even faster if you could procure a sample, if you will..."

"Yes, my Queen," the drone reported, as 'his' image evaporated from the ‘screen’.

"My Queen, do you believe that neophyte drone can get far enough into their organization to acquire the information we need?" a slate gray-striped Changeling asked of the hive leader, the gray stripes marking his affiliation with the Infiltration Corps.

"The collective memories of those we have so warmly welcomed into the Hive should prove sufficient to get into their computer archives. Perhaps if 'he' could even get a sample... oh what fun we could have. This poor planet won't even know what hit it by the time we're done with it!" Queen Chrysalis exclaimed while snickering. The snickering soon turning into uproarious laughter, one which that resounded throughout the entirety of the second Hive she had created.

=== [ May 10, 2082 – Border of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, USA ] ===

"You know, I was genuinely surprised the governments allowed us mostly free reign over this land. Though now that I look at it, I guess I shouldn't have been..." one of the Pony civil engineers stated somewhat despondently, looking out at the barren and dusty grassland that made up the border junction of the three states.

"It actually reminds of home... just less sand," one of the Dragon engineers quipped, driving the point home.

"Your Princesses and the HEA couldn't have spent that much on it, even if they were paying triple the going rate. Oh well, that's how it goes I guess," a Gryphon worker said, as he jammed a shovel in the dirt, just to see how the ground was for basic digging. The fact he had to put some effort to drive the head in implied that this was going to be a major undertaking.

-==-==-

A few tens of yards away, most of the principles of the HEA and some consorts with the American government were looking out at the 100 sq mile, perfectly square-shaped block of land they had to work with. What they saw was expected, but still sad: in that there was a whole lot of absolutely nothing.

"Ah've heard of fixer-uppers, but this is just plain ludicrous," Applejack said, almost disturbed by the fact it was deathly quiet out there save for the crew and some hardy small mammals and insects.

"Well, it's not like any of the Domers care about this land, it's practically worthless to them," Golden Storm added, almost mesmerized by how flat everything was, and how the horizon looked of slightly-tinged blue meeting slightly blotchy orange and green.

"I guess this will be a test of how well you all can leverage Magic and modern tech in terms of constructions and rehabilitation. Because Lord knows it's the only way these Plains are ever gonna be useful to anything again," one of the Secretary of Interior's aides mused aloud.

He's right... these lands, skies, basically everything is horribly damaged. We are going to be engaged in full-blown environmental engineering to make this whole project feasible. But... if we want to rebuild the Earth, we have to start somewhere... Luna thought to herself as magicked herself a large canopy to block the bright mid-Spring, midday Sun.

"So what do you think is going to be of primary concern, Princess Celestia?" Secretary of Interior White asked of the white Alicorn.

"This is going to be a massive undertaking; even though, given the scale of the planet, it is but a pittance. I believe we should focus on building robust dormitories and living spaces for the 'permanent' workers, since this is not a project where we can just warp people in and out," Celestia began to respond, but then thought to refine her statement some. "Well actually, we could do that, but it would largely be a hassle, to be quite frank. Plus, the Earth Ponies and Zebras need to build a connection to the land, in order to properly manage it. Coming in and out constantly would just needlessly stretch out that phase of the effort."

Luna, for her part, simply nodded in agreement, not needing to add anything else herself.

Celestia then concluded. "Thankfully, our combined skills should have the residences built in a few days. Contingent upon that, we should be able to start building the reservoirs and related structures by Friday or Saturday."

"Alright everyone, let's get these buildings put up so we aren't having to live out in this damn heat all day and night!" a Dragon engineer shouted, as the Unicorns started up the Q-Drones (drones powered by miniature magic-based supercomputers); and Humans, Dragons, and Earth Ponies started turning the baked clay-like soil into much more sturdy material.

-==-==-

"Goddamnit, it's been two months since everything went to pot," Peter Vaughn said, head resting in his steeple-d hands.

"At least no one has figured out we were the masterminds of the SPH. I say we take our good fortune and rebuild while we're out of the eye of the public; if it worked for those damn Ponies, it can certainly work for us," Claire thought aloud, angry she couldn't shop the way she wanted to.

Nathan was less concerned for himself, than he was for the entire structure of the SPH. "Yeah, but they apparently have reinforcements now. I say we start focusing on strike teams. Heavily armed and armored small groups that can get in, do damage, and get back out."

"Basic guerilla warfare, eh? Well we don't have much a choice right now. Start calling your contacts, we're about to go on a re-armament plan of our own..." Peter said, as he began calling contacts in the Toronto Domes to set up a branch office.

=== [ May 16, 2082 – Unnamed HEA-owned territory, Western Nebraska, USA ] ===

"So what's that thing supposed to be?" Pinkie Pie asked, as she looked at a portable pedestal-like device with several inflatable rings bolted around the top, and what looked like spouts coming out of the side. It was sitting in the bottom of a concrete lined test pit, about 300 cubic meters in volume to the top.

"We'll, Twilight had an idea. She thought it would be far too much work to just generate water using Water Magic, and it'd be better to purify water from an existing source. But given we're in the middle of the Ogilala Aquifer, but who knows what is in there at this point; and our location makes digging a tunnel straight to the Pacific a bit of a reach. So I said 'Why not make something to bring the water to us?' And there you have it..." Blue Vague said as he pointed a forehoof at the device down at the bottom of the 'pool'.

"And it would be the Water Transporter Mk I!" Twilight beamed proudly, Fluttershy quietly applauding in the background.

"So I figure by the name that it is supposed to transport water from wherever to that thing?" Red Blaze asked, teleporting down and looking around the roughly meter tall device.

"Actually," Twilight started, as Red Blaze teleported back up to ground level. "The device is a pair. We had one of the humans volunteer place the intake half a mile or so off the coast of Los Angeles. "

Twilight then pointed to a tablet screen showing the human and what appeared to be a buoy-like device tethered to his boat. "Alright Twilight, I'm anchored down. You can start the test when ready!"

"That's great, Harris!" Twilight responded, before resuming her explanation. "Simply put, that thing that looks like a buoy is the intake 'valve', and the device down there, is like the outflow 'valve'. We're just simply sucking water in one end and pouring it out the other."

"Sounds reasonable," Red Blaze thought aloud. "Although, um... what are those poles around the pool for?"

"Given it's seawater near a coastline we're using, they're odor neutralizers. To be perfectly honest, seawater smells awful," Twilight replied, waving a hoof in front of her snout; which got an exasperated snort from Vague. "Anyway, Vague, if you'd do the honors~"

"Yeah," Vague responded. His horn was then alight as his Terran Water Magic mixed with his Unicorn Explicit Magic and activated the device on both ends.

Despite some quaking from both parts of the unit, the water came pouring out of the end the four Ponies were standing near; somewhat off-color and brackish, but still water nonetheless.

"You were right Twilight, this seawater smells awful," Pinkie replied, holding a hoof in front of her nose. Twilight activated the odor neutralizing poles, which alleviated most of the issue.

"Despite the awful smell and the fact the water we're getting looks like halfway treated sewage, the experiment is a success!" Twilight stated excitedly, as she recorded the outflow rate and the stability of the devices.

-==-==-

"Oh come on it didn't smell that bad..." one of the Gryphon workers stated as he was with Midori Hana, checking an excavator that was carving out a giant cavern to be used as a first stage reservoir for untreated sewage and transported unpurified water.

"He smelled like a combination of dead fish and a waste-treatment plant. I told him to cut it off early. But no, he had to try and fill the pool up to the EXACT brim..." Midori Hana said with a mildly frustrated look on her face. Vague, for his part, was being thoroughly cleaned up from being splashed with sea-water.

"I dunno, I guess those couple of years working in a butcher's shop made me not notice that kind of smell so much..." the Gryphon stated as they drove the excavator back to the main work area to 'hand' off to one of the human workers.

Meanwhile, while clearly away from the gigantic piles of earth and whatever might have seeped in it, Rarity was looking on at the ever increasingly gargantuan pit with Rainbow Dash.

"That is a very big pit. It's already an eighth of the size of a Rainbow Pool back in Cloudsdale, and they just started on it..." Rainbow Dash said, eyeballing the three dimensions and running the numbers in her head roughly.

"I'm surprised you calculated that in your head like that, you don't strike me as a mental math type," Rarity quipped.

"Oh come on, why do you all think I'm dumb or something?" Rainbow Dash shot back.

"Well, if you would display your intelligence a little more, Dash dear, we wouldn't make such assumptions," Rarity replied with as much sternness as Rainbow did.

Dash just simply turned her head and her nose up at the fashionista.

"Oh fine, be that way..." Rarity replied.

=== [ May 20, 2082 – Unnamed HEA-owned territory, Western Nebraska, USA ] ===

Princess Luna sat in properly themed office in the main dormitory for the main workers on the project. She decided to make herself available for a couple of hours a day of direct questioning and oversight, and Applejack was there as well, looking at the giant tilling machines being operated by Zebras and Earth Ponies on a pair of monitors.

"So what exactly are they doing, we can't be looking to grow anything here so soon, right?" Applejack asked, her hat on a hat-rack in deference to the Avatar of the Moon.

"No, the first few months worth of food will be imported from Equus, as we fine-tune the land for agriculture again. We are just getting a head-start on busting this sod. At the same time, the Earth Ponies are weaving a spell to keep the top-soil, or what's left of it, from being blown away; we cannot afford a repeat of the Dust Bowl some 150 years ago in this very region." Princess Luna responded with her usual heavy detail.

"Ah see what ya mean, Ah've done some tramping around, and this soil is barely able to support the grass that's growing on it now. But that's what we're here for right, to fix it as much as we can?" Applejack asked.

Luna looked out of the window at the less-tinged blue sky above her, the Pegasi keeping atmospheric conditions optimal for physical labor. "Indeed Bearer of Honesty, our mission is to help humanity rebuild this world the best way we can figure out. It is our sister world, and we cannot leave it as it is after we've found it after so many eons,"

Applejack nodded in agreement, as she excused herself and left the office.

"I just hope the natives don't find what we're going to build too ostentatious..." as Luna looked over a large sheet of paper with a large and rather detailed pentagon-shaped settlement right in the center of the territory they were now working over.

--==--

Twilight, Vague, and Dr. Jun Isegawa stood and sat in a improvised office, as the interior of the soon-to-be waste treatment and water purification plant was being furbished by the drones and Pony and Dragon carpenters and stone-masons.

"I am serious Twilight; if and when this all ends amicably, you should look at becoming a professor or doctor in your own right..." Dr. Jun stated, while looking at Zebras and Humans testing for the most efficient mechanisms and spells for automated purification and waste-disposal.

"Oh come on, every time we get together for more than a few minutes you say that~" Twilight said while blushing a bit, slightly embarrassed when anyone starting gushing about her high intelligence.

"I'm just glad I don’t have to work over the open pools at the moment, you know it took me almost a full 48 hours to totally get rid of that smell. Hana will never let me hear the end of it, either..." Vague replied with clear exasperation, wondering why he didn't cover himself with a water-repelling spell when he knew how cruddy coastal waters could be.

"Dear husband Hayato was on the wrong end of an ill cow one day. Took almost four days to completely kill the odor, so I know what my daughter had to put up with," Dr. Jun explained, a wry smile the whole time. Vague just shook his head as he tried to figure out what end of the cow Dr. Hayato was on and why he'd be the one attending to it.

"So, in any case, what seems to be the plan regarding water treatment?" Twilight asked, sensing that Vague was about to derail the conversation somewhere it really didn't need to go.

Dr. Jun pulled up some of the plans and showed it to the pair of Unicorns. "Here, we want to engage in a four step process, each step representing one of the primary Terran elements, in a way. First, a matrix of nano-runes pulls out solid waste that we can then recycle or dispose of, depending on the material. Second, we reprocess it again, this time drawing out dissolved liquid wastes. Third, we superheat the water to kill the microbes in the water. Finally, we aerate the water, to get a more proper distribution of dissolved gases."

"Earth, Water, Fire, Air... makes sense to me. Although what are we going to with the recovered waste product?" Twilight then asked.

"Well, the recovered wastes will then be taken by tram to the separate recycling facility. From there we can use different methodologies of separating out useful elements and minerals and packaging the pure refuse for sequestration," Dr. Jun explained, showing a map with a new complex going up separate from the two water-treatment plants.

"I see. Not only do we need to take care of the needs for whatever city or settlement we build, but we have to prove how the magi-technology can be scaled up to clean up the established urban areas," Vague then thought.

"Yeah, the work we're doing here building this place can be used to rebuild the rest," Twilight concluded.

You two don't even begin to realize just how right you are. And the sheer scale of that would imply... Dr. Jun surmised to herself.

=== [ May 27, 2082 ] ===

"Asphalt always feels weird on my hooves. And I don't like it when my hooves feel weird..." Rainbow Dash stated, walking along the paved grounds outside of the growing pentagon shaped walls in a quartet of shoes.

"Can't be helped, Miss Dash. But the airport is coming along nicely. Won't be the biggest around, but it really doesn't have to be," one of the human workers said, as he monitored the drones constructing the main hub and traffic control tower.

"Planes are alright, I've been on a couple now. I'd rather be using my own wings, but definitely not at 35 thousand feet in the air..." Rainbow Dash replied, fluttering along as they walked past the reinforced frame of the building.

She looked overhead at the flyby of the weather control team, and wondered how things were going in Ponyville. Despite some of her grousing, she hadn't actually been home in a couple weeks, despite not having a formal job to do during the construction. In fact, none of the Ten Elements had a specific role; deciding to observe or do spot work on request.

I feel like I should be doing more, but I have no idea what that'd be... Rainbow Dash thought as she eventually relented and began walking along the ground, determined to at least get used to walking on pavement. At the very least though, this whole project is coming along quickly. Never thought a city could be built so fast…

=== [ May 30, 2082 ] ===

“The airport and train stations’ main buildings are nearing completion as far as the main walls and interior rooms go. The two water purification and the recycling facilities are ready for their test runs. Plus, the outer walls are about two days away from completion,” one of the team leaders reported to Princess Luna.

“That would put us about two days behind schedule, or at least our predicted schedule. Then again, these are new techniques we are employing, so perhaps attempting to formulate a schedule was not the best of ideas…” Luna thought as she read over the reports.

“At what date did you believe everything would be completed?” Dr. Hayato asked, as he let himself into Luna’s office. As he did, the team leader left to go back to overseeing his crew who were marking where the streets should be set up in the city’s interior.

“Roughly June 30th. As we said, it may not have been the best idea to attempt to formulate a schedule before seeing how all of the crew would operate. So it is more of a goal than any hard deadline,” Luna answered, making sure to not imply any anger.

“Well, construction on city interior should start in within the week, no?” Dr. Hayato then asked of the Indigo Alicorn.

Luna compared the actual work rate to her theoretical schedule, and responded. “That is a fair enough estimate, Dr. Isegawa. I’m not expecting anything to further delay us, but allowances should be made just in case.”

“No telling when the SPH or something else could decide to rear their head, right?”

“Indeed not. That is also why I did not want the Ten Elements to be too tied down with construction work.”

“But you know they are all young adults. The idea that they don’t have anything to do is probably eating at them quite a bit…”

“Just like a lot of humanity, no?”

“Correct, Princess Luna”

=== [ June 15, 2082 ] ===

“A little less than a third of the way home already; boy those things sure do work fast…” one of the Pony engineers reported, looking at all of the buildings that, at least from the outside, looked ready for inhabitation after only a couple of weeks. Everyone there knew they were basically the barest of bare bones as it were, hardly fit to be sold on the open market if there was one.

“Mess around and we homebuilders might be out of a job…” a Dragon compatriot stated, halfway between joking and serious.

“I’d rather have someone in the flesh build a home for me, but we can’t mess around. No telling when the SPH might want to come pay us a visit, so we need to have everything up and running, ASAP,” one of the humans replied as he checked the wiring of the drone.

--==--

Princess Celestia stood in a concrete room, window overlooking the city that was more and more coming into existence as each hour ticked by.

“I can see why machines replaced men in the long run…”

“Unfortunately, my company has had a hand in that. There is forever a tension between keeping people employed enough to buy your products, and having machines make them because they are programmable and generally require less maintenance, as it were,” Mr. Edwards replied, hands on a black framed window-sill.

“It requires some scruples and restraint in the pursuit of profit, considering it’s coming at the expense of others,” Celestia remarked, standing behind Richard as he continued to look out into the city.

That’s easy enough to say, but when the world revolves around money, sometimes people get shoved to the side… Richard responded silently, not wanting to engage in a wider moral argument at the moment.

“Just look at it, Princess. Each of the five sections starting to come into existence; each representing the five species that make up our organization. Of course we are having the drones building the foundations and frames of each building, but each species will take over soon enough,” Richard stated as he moved to the side, Celestia now standing beside him.

Despite the length of the partnership so far, he still felt odd regarding the height of Celestia and Luna were relative to the rest of their population. Not only that, but he couldn’t help but wonder just what all machinations went on within the combined brain-power of the two Alicorn Princesses.

“How long do you think this relative calm will last, Richard?” Celestia asked, speaking as if they were friends instead of more-or-less business partners.

“That… that I can’t even begin to guess.”

Celestia only sighed as she looked out at the horizon, the pentagonal walls rising over some of the shorter buildings on the edge of the city limits. “My sister and I worked very hard, over a very long period of time to bring order to Equus after the devastation Discord caused ages ago. There are still parts of the world that are so horribly warped that my power can barely make sense of it.”

“Really now,” Richard replied, as he turned to look the winged and horned mare in the eye. What he saw in her eyes wasn’t an ages old leader, but eyes of some Pony that had just taken the reigns of leadership; unsure if she was worthy of leading anything, let alone an entire nation.

Celestia continued, not breaking eye contact with Richard. “I was hoping to reserve the entirety of this story until a later date, but you deserve at least a bit of it now. There are stretches of Equus, smaller now than in the past though, where reality as we know it simply ceases to exist. These zones are basically rifts in time, space, and magic. Think of your legends regarding places like the Bermuda Triangle, and then contemplate everything those legends stated, all happening all at once. That begins to explain these places.”

Richard tried but ultimately failed to contemplate such a place, but internally noted that such a thing was definitely to be avoided.

“Nevertheless, I, my sister, and all the creatures that I have allied with since that time have sought to build a world truly worth living in. When I saw this world ravaged in an analogous fashion, I could not help but offer my hoof in assistance. I only hope that I and the others are not too late in doing so,” Celestia stated, once again taking the visage of an ages-old leader in the eyes of Richard.

“We are still here, and we are still operating. So long as that remains true, then we are never too late. That’s my response to your concerns,” Richard firmly replied.

Celestia thought for a few seconds, and then smiled the warm smile that put just about everyone that saw it at ease. “Hrm, even though I’ve only known humanity for a couple of years, I can tell that intonation and body language means a deep felt sentiment. Don’t worry; I don’t plan on abandoning Humanity before the real work has even started.”

The two shared a brief chuckle as they left the room.

-==-==-

“Oh, and here I thought you had forgotten about poor little ol’ me…” Chrysalis whined at disguised Changeling in her magic viewing screen, feigning hurt at not having received a report from ‘him’ in nearly two whole days.

“I could never bring distress to you, My Queen,” the human-form drone replied, bowing his head in apology.

“No, no you can’t. But you can bring me joy. And what would bring me great joy would be news of progress on your mission, H000007,” Chrysalis stated in her normal, stern tone of voice.

“I have managed to gain an assignment checking stock of potion that will be returned Earth-side within the next week. All that is required of me will be a transfer to a new center of operations in the American flatlands,” the drone replied in his usual dreary monotone.

“Now that is very good news indeed. We have an enchanted flask for you to place your acquired sample in, so do take care to not allow it to be damaged or stolen,” Chrysalis said, now taking the tone of an overbearing mother.

The drone simply nodded in agreement. “Yes, my Queen. I will do all within my power to ensure the success of my mission.”

=== [ June 27, 2082 ] ===

A large gathering stood on the roof of the 20-story building, the center-point in the rapidly growing office complex. Everyone marveled as the city was slowly evolving from a concrete and dirt foundation over a month ago, into now a nearly complete city, ready for regular occupancy. Lower to the ground, but arcing around the building, stood the above-ground sections of the Unified Conversion Bureau. All in all, just like the city maturing around it, the office park represented all five species that constituted the HEA. A fact not lost on the cadre standing on the roof of the main building.

"It's like standing on a movie set before the shooting starts; kidna funny being behind the proverbial curtain," Twilight Sparkle said, as she looked through a pair of binoculars at the Zebra section of the city.

Golden Storm hung off the side of the safety rail, looking over at the lights starting to flicker on as the early-summer sun began to set. "It is really strange, I mean you look out at the city, and it looks like something out of a comic book. I mean, look at how all the houses and residences just sorta blend into the more modern things humans and Converts are so used to."

Backdraft leaned over the rail, near Golden Storm, musing internally on the same idea. It's really strange... those Q-Machines let us build buildings that fit out aesthetics, but at the same time can comport to the devices that these people are so used to.

"Truth be told, I've gotten used to a bunch of the devices you all and the humans had made. I'm pretty sure the Scribes back in Jalve would agree." he concluded to himself out loud.

"That's good, because this is a bit of an experiment on our part as well..." Silentclaw said, joining the gathering of the Ten Elements and their friends and associates on top of the roof, honoring a request by Luna to check in on them.

"What kinda experiment?" Pinkie asked, sitting on a Wind-Magic powered air-conditioning unit.

Silentclaw responded after a few moments of thought. "Well, Miss Laughter, it's a sociological experiment. We want to adopt the technologies developed here back in Equus, and this is the best place to test them. We will have more than Bureau workers living here, so we don't have to worry about that bias, at least I wouldn't think personally."

I would like to be able to watch Earth movies without having to turn them into film, or use my Element as a proxy... Rainbow Dash thought to herself; perched on a cloud floating next to the edge of the railing.

"We cannot emerge from this joint venture with the other major Nations and Humanity without absorbing things. In fact, I figure that fact is some of why Wraithwind wanting the Dragons to open up as a culture," Silentclaw added.

"So you're gonna share some of your secret spy techniques with us then?" Midori Hana asked.

"I said open up, not spill everything for the world to see, Miss Geo," Silentclaw concluded, chuckling to himself.

"Worth a shot," she said, rolling her eyes. She and Vague were sitting together looking over the side pointed toward the Gryphon section of the city.

It will be interesting to see how the whole thing really shakes down... Vague thought to himself as Hana leaned on him affectionately.

=== [ July 6, 2082 ] ===

It was the day of the 'grand opening' of New Hope. The entire city was a-twitter as the trams made their first real runs through the city, and the streams and canals filled with purified water flowed through the various sectors. All of the principles of HEA were tied down giving interviews and press conferences and the like. The Princesses were concerned that Wraithwind would be the one least willing to open up to probing questioning by the human press, but he ended up being the most forthcoming about the whole intent of New Hope; something that made him a bit of a darling with the press looking for a straight-shooter counterpart compared to Edwards's idealism and Celestia and Luna's almost cryptic nature.

Meanwhile, riding along one of the rather well populated public trains, Midori Hana and Golden Storm were entertaining a quartet of fillies on a semi-private tour of the new city.

"This place really does feel like the busiest parts of Manehatten, but with a lot more metal and glass..." Babs Seed said while clearly awestruck by the sheer size of modern human construction. She was the first of that 'core four', as they called themselves, of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to find her Cutie Mark: a magnifying glass over an apple core.

A fact not lost on Sweetie Belle, the annoyance clear in her voice. "I'm still miffed that you found your Cutie Mark before we did,"

"Well you know I had ta. It's hard trying ta recruit in a big city by yaself," Babs replied as she blew her cropped mane out of her eyes.

"So what do you think it means, Babs?" Midori asked, as the train slowed down to let passengers embark and disembark, still in the mostly Human and mixed section of the city.

"I wasn't doin’ a lot of apple coring and inspecting in da city, so I doubt it's literal. It probably means I'm good at seeing inside Ponies, I guess..." Babs replied, unsure of the exact answer.

I guess even when you find your Cutie Mark, you still have to figure out quite a bit about yourself... Storm thought as the train picked up steam again and moved on from the stop.

The train passed through a ceremonial arc, which was white on one side and sky blue on the other, marking they had passed from the human-run to the Pony-run section of the city. It was more evident as the asphalt gave way to dirt, and then eventually thick grass.

"Wow, this is really neat how all of the parts of the city are separate, but they kinda fit into each other like a jigsaw puzzle," Scotaloo said, looking how even the buildings seemed to transition like a gradient instead of a hard and obvious break.

"Princess Luna said, as they were building the city, they wanted each Nation to retain their own identity, while blending it in with the others. So instead of having clearly marked borderlines and such, everything just kinda flows into everything else," Midori explained, her forehooves moving in a gentle wave-pattern.

The CMC just nodded as they looked out the windows, spying a tour-group of 20 or so humans being shown around by a Pony and Zebra.

Eventually they passed through the Gryphon section of the city, noticing the arc that was marked blue on one side and gold on the other. The Gryphon section of the city was like a steppe, and high-rise apartment buildings fashioned to look like cliff-faces. They saw another tour group of humans, this time with a Gryphon and Dragon guides, and the group itself being much more male than female.

"Ah guess some human guys wouldn't like turning into a Pony, huh?" Apple Bloom quipped.

"Even in this day and age, some guys just like to be more macho than others. I guess it's just part of the Y chromosome or something..." Golden Storm said, inwardly nothing how his own group was 80% female.

"To be fair, the stats said that half the Converts in the first run were male, so maybe they just want to see what's up with the Dragons and Gryphons," Midori responded as a bit of a counter.

They passed through another arch-way, the Gryphon Gold turning to Dragon Red, and the rock-faced apartment buildings transitioning into brick and stone houses, spread wider apart than any of the other sections of the city.

"Ah guess even if they live in a city, Dragons need their space..." Apple Bloom remarked, as a Dragon flew well over the train tracks toward the Airport in the Northern section of town they were in.

"So when are the human families supposed to start moving in?" Sweetie Belle asked, noting the Human section wasn't as busy as the other four.

"Well they already are, but we have to go through quite a bit of processing. But as you can see here," Hana started, before walking over to a panel near the door of the train-car to show the 'traffic' map for the roads and train-tracks within the city, showing how the human sections were steadily getting busier and busier. "More and more humans are moving into their housing and getting settled."

As the 'steppe' transitioned into 'grassland' and the red-and-black arch passed overhead, the six looked out at the Zebra section. They debated the fine points of homebuilding aesthetics with a Zebra passenger before he disembarked, at which point the conversation turned a bit more personal.

"So, Sweetie Belle, what is it that you all like to do anyway?" Hana asked somewhat innocuously. She resolved herself to go trawling for some ideas, to see if she could help the other 3 Crusaders find their Cutie Marks.

"Um... well I like singing..." Sweetie said somewhat sheepishly, fidgeting with her forehooves.

"Oh come on, Sweetie, you're an awesome singer!" Apple Bloom said while patting her on the back.

"I dunno, and everytime somepony mentions you like re-building stuff, you get all nervous like I am right now," Sweetie Belle shot back with some consternation in her face.

Apple Bloom soon joined Sweetie Belle in showing obvious internal conflict.

"Alright then... um... Scootaloo, what do you feel you'd be best at..." Storm asked, as he looked at the two fillies looking far dourer than they did a few moments ago.

"Since my wings are kinda small for my age... if I try and fly for long periods, I get tired faster than other Pegasi. But I do do a lot of scooter tricks. Maybe that's what I'm good at!" Scootaloo said.

Suddenly the light-bulb went off in Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's heads. If Scootaloo could resolve to apply the things they liked to do in their heart of hearts, why should they be so nervous about doing the same?

"You know, I don't know why I'm so nervous about telling others I like to sing. Or singing in front of others..." Sweetie Belle mused out loud.

"And why should I care what other Ponies think if I really like makin' old stuff new again?" Apple Bloom added.

"I guess my talent isn't as obvious, but it's mine. And that's all that matters..." Babs concluded.

"So, I guess we've had a breakthrough then?" Golden Storm asked of Midori Hana.

"Looks like..." Midori Hana replied, as the four fillies quickly began talking about how they could leverage their nascent talents in furthering their Cutie Mark quest.

~=-=~

"And who is my favorite Drone-turned-Gatherer?" Chrysalis asked of the former H-000007, 'his' shell now marked with a single grey stripe, showing his induction into the Infiltration Guard.

"Um, I am?" he responded, somewhat unsure of 'him'self.

"Correct, now, have you come up with a name for yourself?"

"Phasmid Grabber, I guess..."

"Oooh a nice name, it shouldn't surprise me that you used Phasmid in your name though, so mind if I just call you Grabber?"

"I do not mind at all, my Queen."

Grabber was then dismissed to return to his new quarters, where he'd begin learning more refined camouflage techniques. Meanwhile, Chrysalis took out the now transparent, miniature flask full of the slightly radiating purple liquid.

"So this is what dear Celestia and her ilk have been using to turn Humans into Ponies. Now if she just asked us nicely, I would have gladly given it to her," Chrysalis said out loud, levitating the flask in her lime green aura. "Of course, I would have asked for proper... compensation."

The notion got a chuckle out of the Research Corps member that had come to retrieve the sample from his Queen. "Your Highness, I have come to retrieve the sample for analysis."

"Straight to the point, just like the rest of the Research Corps. Anyway, here you go," Chrysalis responded, a bit miffed that the Research Corps were the least likely to play along with her rhetorical antics.

This will make my plans for this world so much easier... she thought to herself, as she began entertaining herself with more of the Humans' television programming.

Author's Note

A little breather and the introduction to the new main Hub for our heroes (because you can't have too many people coming through a secret base in the mountains, now can you?)

CH 6: London Fog

=== The Conversion Bureau:
A New Age, A New Life (Pt II) ===
=== Chapter 6: London Fog ===

(Note: If you want to read this with preferred formatting, the GDocs is at this link)

~~=-=~~

London - a city of great history and a city of great lineages. Still the seat of the United Kingdom and recently cleaned of SPH influence, more or less, things were starting to look bright for the British, and the wider world by proxy. New Hope in the Americas had been open for a month, and was running more or less without incident. Conversions had started again a couple of weeks after New Hope officially opened; and much to everyone's surprise, traffic was actually quite robust, averaging about 100 a day (mostly people being brought in from outside by train.) All in all, most of the 'first word' that was tuned in felt, for the first time in some time, genuinely optimistic.

Two figures sitting on the roof of a London tenement were also feeling optimistic, though for decidedly different reasons.

=== [ August 20, 2082 -- London, United Kingdom ] ===

"Ah humanity... they do look like little ants from way up here..." said one 'person' as he looked down at the teeming masses going to and fro.

"And every anthill needs a Queen to direct traffic. Look them, so disorganized, so unfocused," started a female figure, as she walked over to a black and green beacon-stone. "We are really doing this neighborhood a huge favor. Soon they won't have to worry about their own petty desires or wants. Every waking moment of theirs will be in dedication to our Queen."

So, have you found the locations for the beacon-stones yet? Both heard through telepathic means.

Yes, our Queen. We have found one of the more densely populated neighborhoods, so it should be a prime location for testing our project, the female responded, her eyes glowing bright green.

That is very good news, we shall send Soldiers to protect the beacons. The test should commence within the next two weeks... you are free to return to the Hive now.

Yes, our Queen, the male responded.

"It is a shame we couldn't do more, but there is no sense in blowing our cover yet. We will have plenty of time for personal... adventures... once operations commence in full," the female said, green flames turning her from an unremarkable woman to a near 4 ft. tall insect-Pony hybrid creature.

"All will come in due time, all will come in due time..." the other Changeling responded, his green flames revealing a nearly 6 ft. tall bipedal beetle like creature.

Both soon disappeared into the ether, leaving only the black and green beacon-stone, now disguised as an innocuous pipe.

~-~

"Bring in the next test subject," shouted a Changeling, his alternating blue and teal stripes along his abdomen showing he was part of the Research Corps.

"STOP! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" a middle-aged woman shouted, as red-striped Soldiers drug her with green, magical tethers kicking and screaming into one of many test rooms that honeycombed the Hive under the Mojave.

"And why should we let you go? You're one of many that will usher in a new age for our glorious hive. You should be honored that you will be on the forefront of a brand new era for the entire Changeling species!" the Researcher shouted excitedly; absolutely oblivious, at least in his words, to the fear and anger being exuded by the unfortunate test subject.

"TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK TO MY FAMILY! LET ME GO!"

The researcher merely tut-tutted the raging but still-bound woman as he sealed off the section of the room she was in. "Now now, my dear... just give us a few moments and all your worries will disappear... forever."

A quick light of his horn later, and suddenly the entire sub-section of the room filled with a thick black smoke, the woman coughing and wheezing all the while. A few moments later though, as the smoke cleared, there was no coughing or wheezing, or even so much as a sound coming from the room.

"My dear... human woman... how do you feel now," the researcher asked, as the last bits of the smoke dissipated.

"Fine..." the woman responded curtly, with a familiar monotone in her voice.

"Good, good. Now I am about to ask you a personal question. And please, be as honest as you can," the apparent lead researcher began with a wide and obvious smirk. "Who is your master?"

"Queen Chrysalis, 37th Queen of the Changelings."

"Very good, and whom do you dedicate your entire life to, and will do absolutely anything to serve, even so much as to lay down your very life?"

"Queen Chrysalis," the woman responded, as she opened her eyes; said eyes now humming with a bright green glow. The restraints were released as now the Soldiers and the Researchers did not fear her suddenly bolting to who knew where.

"Please stand up my dear, and follow the kind escorts we have provided to the temporary residence hall. We shall conduct a preliminary physical examination before long."

Without protest, either verbally or physically, the woman followed the red-and-teal striped Soldiers out of the room; toward where the rest of the enthralled humans were being housed.

"So, Manto Rigor, it appears that we are well on our way?" Chrysalis asked, as she strode into the test room, barely missing one of the live tests.

"Oh yes, yes my Queen. The test was a smashing success. There was little to no free will left in her mind; a drone in a still human body, if you will. Speaking of which, how is my good friend Corpus doing?"

"Hrm, Manto Corpus. Oh yes, he was the one I had assigned to reverse-engineer the Conversion Serum with our assimilating fluid, and I would guess on-again-off-again rival?"

"Oh come now, we have a good rapport."

"Yes, and I hope for your sakes that means you two will stop wasting our Drones on your pointless one-upping of each other. Nevertheless, he is putting the finishing touches on our little version of the serum,"

"I would assume it is as black as the deepest pitch from the depths of Tartarus itself, yes?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Rigor,” Chrysalis replied; her eyes narrowing in anticipation as the time of her ‘debut’ on Terra’s stage drew near.

=== [ August 26, 2082 -- Safe Haven ] ===

“Things have been calm…” an Earth Pony manning one of the swift-response terminals said in an somewhat bored tone, the glove-like grips on his forehooves making it easier for him to control the Q-Machine panels, not being a Unicorn himself.

His human partner shared the sentiment, but tut-tutted him. “I guess in a relative sense it is calm. I mean the worse we have to deal with is a semi-organized protest near one of the ‘embassies’ you all have set up. By the way, when will a new New Hope go up?”

“I heard the Princesses talking with President Koenig about establishing cities like New Hope in the European Union territories. They were debating where though,” the Pony responded as stood up to stretch for a couple of minutes.

They continued on back and forth, debating the merits of building out in unoccupied territory vs. building near a city for a good fifteen minutes. That is until a warning klaxon went off on the thaumatic sensor panels in the far corner of the room.

“Hey, Michelle, what’s going on, that’s your board going off!” the first human operator asked, as he and the Earth Pony jogged over to the female over in said far corner.

“There’s some kind of spike in both Terran and Equestrian magic in the London megalopolis… the Eastern Half,” she responded, as she typed in a pair of requests to have the satellites focus in tighter on picking up after effects of such a spike, such as a sudden change in temperature or weather.

“Can you get any kind of focus, like maybe a borough or sector?” the Pony asked, having learned that London was sectioned off into sectors and boroughs much like the bigger cities in Equestria.

Michelle sighed as she couldn’t get any finer a readout than what she had already. “No, it’s strong enough to be causing some after effects: a slight increase in fog and an equally slight drop in temperature. But still, it’s too weak to pinpoint without having boots on the ground to scour the whole East end of London, and who knows how long that will take given our resources.”

“So I guess we put out a bulletin to the HEA and London Police to be on the lookout for anything particularly weird with the environment or strong outbursts of magic?” the Pony asked, scratching his head with one of his ‘gloved’ forehooves.

“That’s about the best we can do for now…” the male operator concluded as he sent out a message for a higher up to come and help evaluate the situation.

It’s only bad news if we are getting an outburst that even weather satellites can pick up…

==~~==~~==

“So, how much longer until everything is ready to go for Operation London Blitz, Commander Coleo Blade?” Chrysalis asked, as she saw roughly 300 Soldiers and Infiltration specialists preparing themselves for the raid on their designated target.

“The Researchers and Magi are saying it will be another twenty-four hours until they can manipulate conditions for our peak effectiveness. It’s so hot this time of year in this planet’s Northern hemisphere we would all wear out within hours. Not only that, but we have to keep the mana channels open so that we can get our captives here reasonably quickly.”

“Oh dear, if we want to turn this planet into a hive-world, we will have to do quite a bit of fixing up, now won’t we,” Chrysalis mused aloud.

“As the humans say, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’,” a gold-and-teal striped Magi Corps Changeling replied as he walked into the preparation cave.

“So Archmage Lepid Wonder, can you corroborate this assessment that we only have a day to go until we start?” Chrysalis asked, staring at one of her ten highest ranking Magi Changelings.

Lepid Wonder shifted a bit on his perforated hooves for a few moments until he answered. “Oh, oh yes my Queen. We have to reduce the temperature to a consistent 75 Fahrenheit though; otherwise your average drone will wear themselves out in about four hours.”

“And we can’t have that, no telling what Celestia or her little bipedal allies would do to my poor babies if I left them out there,” Chrysalis replied, snuggling one of the Drones, who seemed to be partially glad for the affection and partially fearing for his life.

A Research Changeling soon walked up toward the small crowd around the Queen offering his take on things. “That being said, Wonder, the humans will certainly notice that a large swath of their cities is suddenly quite cool in one particular region.”

“True enough, but by the time they even come close to figuring out what is going on, our operations will be well underway,” stated a silver-and-teal striped Changeling.

“So I trust that you have pinpointed the most prime areas for ‘harvesting’, Phasmid Scanner?” Chrysalis asked of the newcomer to the growing conversation group.

“Indeed, my Queen. We should not have to stray far from the beacon stone. Our scouts have done a very admirable job in selecting point of impact for maximum exposure with minimum risk to our potential hive-mates.”

Chrysalis nodded as she looked at the Changelings Drones and Tier-3 Captains were being put through their paces.

I do hope that Celestia likes this new little trick of mine… and I wonder how those allies of hers will react…

=== ~~ === ~~ ===

“And you are sure that weren’t any kind of rogue Pegasi in the area trying to cool things down?” Michelle asked, as she, the operator pair, and Captain Rodriguez were in the room looking at the temperature just steadily dropping over East London.

“No, none of my contacts in the London branch commissioned any Pegasi to do any operations. And if they did, they’d be working over all of London instead of just that patch,” Rodriguez noted as the blue patch showing the temperature change over London seemed to be strangely shaped, with no obvious center.

“Should we order some kind of patrol, I mean temperature just doesn’t go down for no reason; and especially in such a limited geographic area…” the Pony asked of Rodriguez.

Rodriguez thought for a few seconds, and then acceded to the request. “Decent enough idea… Operator, tell the London branch to focus on the East End until further notice, and request as much backup from the London PD and any available British military assets as possible. Something doesn’t feel right with what’s going on there.”

=== [ August 27, 2082 – Mojave Hive ] ===

“Queen Chrysalis, all preparations have been completed. We can commence the raid whenever you give the order!” Coleo Blade stated firmly, as he saluted his Queen.

Queen Chrysalis flitted over to a raised platform near several partially active portals, as she briefly thought of all the lovely humans to be coming through the other end in a few hours’ time. “My dear Changelings, the hour is soon upon us. During the twilight hour in the human city of London, we shall launch our assault. Your goal is very simple, drag as many Humans back into our warm embrace as possible. That is all. Avoid any unnecessary engagements. Also I am giving your squad captains the new experimental Transformation Venom. However, it is in limited quantities, so do choose Humans that will be of particular worth to use it on. Do I make myself clear?!”

The Changelings all shouted in agreement, not that the Drones could have protested either way.

“To Our Great and Glorious Queen, Chrysalis the Thirty-Seventh! All Glory To Her and Her Hive!” Commander Coleo Blade shouted at the top of his voice.

The entire chamber was resounding with the screams and hollering in approval by the seeming half bug/half pony creatures.

Only a couple of hours more… I wonder what you’re going to do Humans… and can’t forget about Princess Celestia either… Chrysalis thought as she watched a magic-screen with a clock slowly tick down to zero from where it stood at roughly 1:45’.

--- === (Roughly two hours later) === ---

It was dusk in London, as it was for the evening ritual, the streets were teeming with life. Humans of all shapes and sizes and colors were milling about back and forth. Some were going for food; a few lucky specialists were getting off work. The rest, well if they weren’t already at home on the ‘Net they would soon be. As it were, a pair of police officers were out on a street corner in their patrol car, watching the passers-by and street vendors hocking what few wares they had.

“Yeah, and I say they should open up the new Centre in the south of Glasgow. Nice and out of tha’ way but you can still get to somewhere,” one of the officers said, as he ate a processed fish sandwich.
His partner nodded a bit as his mind trailed off to a related issue. “Really, I don’t know why they opened up the one they did way out in the American Plains. I guess they want to be isolated in case there are mass protests or somethin’.”
“Yeah but what if ya got people dat wanna leave, huh? They gotta get on a Megatrain and everythin. Then the Trains are dirt cheap, I bet that Celestia can fund the entire American mid-west moving by herself. Probably loaded for bear cash-wise.”

As they looked off into the streets, they noticed things beginning to get far more gray; and if they couldn’t see it, they could hear the passers-by and their weather reports speaking to such.
“Look there, a fog advisory for the entire East End? You’d think it’d be too warm for fog like that?”
“Well, it has been a lot cooler than usual, the high barely got to 24°[C / 75° F]. Aren’t those Pegasi or whatever supposed to be able to change the weather?”
“Yeah but those things hadn’t been in the sky over town other than smog clearin’. Ya’d think that if they were gonna give us the cool down, they’d do it over the whole city. But nah, just East End.”
“Weird…”

As they continued looking at the strange fog, they heard a commotion. A bunch of onlookers had stopped in their tracks, seeing a pair of flying black figures in the sky.

“What is that in the sky?”
“Are they Pegasi?”
“Nah too black, I hadn’t seen any Pony that was straight-black colored like that. Maybe Gryphons?, there were some black feathered Gryphons during that thing in America.”
“Nah definitely too small to be a big cat and a bird mashed together… just what in the Hell are they?”

The first cop looked over at the second as they both got out of the car to look up at what the other people in the street saw.
“Hey, HQ? Yah getting any reports on this? Apparently there is some kind of commotion here in Sector 940, East edge of Tower Hamlets,” said cop asked over his headset, as he strapped his helmet on.
“Are you sure it isn’t some kind of protest? We’ve been having a few of those recently, though it’s more on the Anti-Equestrian side than anything else,” the Operator radioed back.
“Nah, more like there is something unidentified up in the air, and my partner is saying other patrols in East End are reporting tha same.”

As soon as the sentence got over to the other end, a giant Green magical circle appeared in the air, as a matching green wave rushed out from the disguised beacon stone.

“Yeah, this is definitely not like anything else,” the second cop said, as he strapped on his helmet as well.

=== ~~ === ~~ ===

“Yeah, that’s definitely a problem!” Captain Rodriguez said, as he looked at the giant red ‘WARNING’ flashing on the main-screen of the surveillance and operations room.

“Ahh! What is that noise… and what is that going off?! I was having a nice mid-afternoon watch of 1980s Saturday Night Live! Now all of a sudden I got every news-wire going… off… oh well would you look at that…” Shift said as she floated into the main monitor.

--- == --- <<<

All that was heard in the main dining hall of the Crystal Palace was a single spoon hitting a plate, and then bounding onto the table.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Shining Armor asked worriedly, nervous because he knew that Princess Cadence was prone to random outbursts, seemingly out of the clear blue.

This one, was not out of the blue though. Cadence’s eyes had shrunken, like she was ready to rain down divine bolts of lightning on somepony’s head. “Something is wrong on Earth, something is desperately wrong!”

“But your aunts… no one has given us any…” Shining armor started before a loud voice resounded through the connecting hallway, getting closer all the while.
“PRINCESS CADENCE! PRINCE SHINING ARMOR! WE HAVE AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM PRINCESS CELESTIA!” a Crystal Messenger had said, as he handed the parchment to the two royals at the head of the table.
“… and there’s our warning.” Shining finished as he put down his soup spoon and read over the message.

“We have a situation on Earth: we fear that a Changeling Raid may be underway in London. Cadence will be better able to pinpoint a massing of Changeling-derived Magic since she has the most experience dealing directly with their spell-weaving.

Signed: Princess Celestia”

“And I thought the Changelings were being far too quiet this last year or so. Are you ready to g-“ Shining started before Cadence teleported the both of them across the New Light Bridge.

“She could have at least let him get outfitted properly…” one of the handmaidens stated as she began clearing the places where Shining and Cadence were eating.

=== ~~ === ~~ ===

“Really dear, a bit of heads up next time…” Shining stated flatly, as he shook the cobwebs out of his head, Princess Celestia and Captain Rodriguez already standing in the hall outside of the surveillance room with a positively hyperventilating Princess Cadence.

“Where… are… THEY!” Cadence said through gritted teeth, eyes boring a hole through anything they could lock in on.

Rodriguez, though not having been around live horses at all during his life, could tell when a female was one false-step away from getting violent. He put on his best reserve, calming tone, and began to speak to the potential triarch. “Princess Cadence, we have found unusual weather patterns, and now a rapid increase in both Equestrian and Terran Magic over the East End of London, United Kingdom. Give the computer a moment, and they will give you a bearing to focus on.”

True to Rodriguez’s word, the computer soon produced an approximation of the center of the strange magic, and how far away it was. Cadence rushed into the surveillance room and read the information to double-check, and instantly began to charge her body full of mana.

“PRINCESS MI AMORE CADENZA! AS DIARCH OF EQUESTRIA AND ALL RELATED TERRITORIES AND COMMONWEALTHS, I ORDER YOU TO CEASE AND DESIST!” Princess Celestia bellowed at a quarter-strength of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Even though it was less than what Luna usually yelled at, it was enough to snap Cadence out of her rage-induced tunnel-vision.

“BUT… BUT!!!” Cadence began to whimper, as all the memories of her internment underneath the Crystal Caves and how Chrysalis nearly stole both her future-husband and her kingdom in one fell swoop had come flooding out. “Please! I have to do something… I can’t let the Changelings to do London what they tried to do to Canterlot! The losses would be unacceptable, not to mention all the chaos that would ensue from those abominable insects controlling a major Earth city!”

“I know Cadence, but we cannot act in rage. That only feeds into what Chrysalis wants. She wants everyone to panic. The more confusion she can sow, the easier it is for her to infiltrate and overwhelm her targets. Unfortunately, the best we can do is gather available forces and see exactly what they are planning before we move,” Celestia responded, hugging Cadence all the while.

Cadence’s magic began to die down to a manageable level, though she kept some magic tension in her body so she could teleport to London if need be at an instant’s notice.

“As I stated, Captain Rodriguez: order all HEA forces in London on standby, and move them to the outer rim of the East End. I’m afraid wherever this is going to start; it will be right in the middle of that section of the city. Also, I will contact President Aguillar and ask her to make a formal commitment to Prime Minister Heath for support and backup on the part of the British armed forces.”
“Yes ma’am,” Captain Rodriguez stated, as he began firing off orders to London and scrambling the Washington forces for rapid teleport in-case they needed further magi-tech assistance.

President Aguillar? Are you witnessing the reports from London?
Yes, even though I cannot prove it, that magic circle has a dark intent behind it… something about it just feels wrong.
I fear that one of the problems that have plagued us in the recent past, have decided to show themselves on this side of the Barrier.
I expect a full-explanation as soon as possible; no disrespect intended, Princess…
This is something I cannot afford to hide, President…

=== --- === --- ===

As the two cops looked over at the circle, they could see something coming out… in fact, it was flying out of the sky like something shot out of cannon. And impacted the ground just as hard.

“What in the bloody hell was that? A meteor coming out of a magic circle? Some kind of live action video game mess…” the first cop said, as he got back into his car trying to pull up the security camera footage of the area.

~~~ === -- === ~~~

“All Soldiers prepare to move out on my signal!” Coleo Blade shouted, as he watched the footage of the black, porous stone in a meter deep crater in some London street.

A few moments went by, as the scouts panned back to show the entire neighborhood covered in the standard, yet usually thick white fog. With unnatural swiftness, the fog began to turn a dark black, looking more like volcanic smoke than fog, but still having a moist consistency instead of dry and sooty.

“Just a few moments more…”

The curdling screams of passers-by as the fog began to overtake them were all he needed to hear in order to quickly begin Phase II.

“Magi! Open the portals. Soldiers bring back as many Humans as you can round up! Commanders and Infiltrators, scan for any humans with high potential and assimilate them on the spot. Your heard our Queens order!”

With a last shout of “Glory to the Queen” the Soldier Drones began rushing into the green portals.

And off we go! Coleo Blade thought to himself as he went through with the other Commanders to help lead the forces in the field.

~~~ === -- === ~~~

“What in the hell? Are you serious!” the first cop shouted; plumes of black gas erupting from where the meteor supposedly landed. This was immediately followed by a stampede of humans trying to run away from the area.

“Oy, Jack, get in ‘ere, we got a major situation two kilometers from ‘ere,” the first cop shouted through his headset, as he began trying to crank the car up. Jack, for his part, stood there stunned, his brain unable to process the last 10 minutes or so worth of sights and sounds.

Not a few seconds later, as the people continued to rush past, the black fog began to roll in. The first officer cranked the engine, the soft hum showing the car was now active, and most importantly, the air filters on the climate control was working. “Ugh that stuff smells just awful, Jack, will you get in here already before more of it comes!”

He received no response.

“Earth to Jack, will ya get in tha car already. We gotta get outta here!”

Jack still refused to respond his mind in another world seemingly.

You don’t want to run away from your Queen do you?
No…
What do you want to do…
Serve you…
And?
Bring others to serve you…
That’s a good boy…

“Jack, this is Officer, Rodney, ya partner! Come on mate, get in tha car so we can get out of here and try and figure out what in the hell is happening!” Rodney shouted, as he had turned down his radio and tuned out the messages blaring over his neural implants.

“I don’t want to come…” he heard Jack respond in a dry monotone.
“Oh no Jack… don’t start with this. Get in the car, and let’s get the fuck out of here!” Rodney responded as he tried to find a wavelength and color of light that would let him see in the black fog, which was growing thicker and higher by the second.

“I cannot leave my Queen,” Jack responded, his tone ever even, as if something had turned off all his emotions.

“Queen? The bloody hell Queen you’re talking about. We serve London in general, not the crown directly? What you think this is the army or something?!” Rodney shouted as he tried to talk some sense into his partner.

“THE QUEEN! THE QUEEN OF ALL CHANGELINGS! WE WILL SERVE HER! WE WILL LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR HER! THIS ENTIRE WORLD WILL BECOME HER NEW HIVE!” Jack responded at full throat, going from emotionless to full-blown zeal as he lunged at the driver side door trying to pry it open. Rodney got a good look at his helmeted partner, and sat agape: the absolute mindless zeal in his now green glowing eyes apparent to anyone within sight of him.

“JESUS FUCK JACK, WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE!” Rodney shouted, as he stared through the window at Jack, the soundproof glass muffling the shouting over the air.

“There is no Jack. There is no individual. There is only another arm of the Hivemind. Soon you will understand her full glory!” Jack said as he walked back a few paces, and then ran up full speed try to kick the door open.

“Jesus Christ… I gotta get out here… Jack or no Jack.” Rodney said aloud, as he revved the engines and started the sirens trying to get Jack to back off.

Soon, other humans began to crowd up to his and other cars, as Rodney turned his scanner back up trying to get some kind of guidance from HQ.

“ALL UNITS FALL BACK! I REPEAT. ALL UNITS IN NON-AIRTIGHT FACILITIES OR VEHICLES FALL BACK TO CENTRAL LONDON!” Rodney heard being repeated at full-throat. He watched as the scanners were lit-up with hundreds, reaching into thousands of strange reports.

People looking like they’ve been hypnotized. Shouting about some bloody Change…something Queen. The bloody hell is going on? Rodney thought as he tried to pull out slowly, making sure not to hit anyone in the dense, black fog. Which was doubly hard since every ticking second robbed Rodney and the other unaffected (to this point) humans precious sunlight to help peer through the fog.

He got no further than about 20 meters until he heard a loud thud on his back windshield. What he saw shocked him right to his core.

“WHAT IN THE BLOODY FUCK IS THAT THING!?!!” Rodney shouted, as he saw flashes of green flames in the foreground, and what looked like a giant horse-shaped bug trying to claw and grind its way through his supposedly bullet-proof back windshield.

“JOIN USSSSSS!” The Changeling hissed, his teal eyes alive with zeal and his jagged horn alight to amplify his voice enough to get through the glass.

“LIKE FUCK I WILL!” Rodney shouted as he tried to swerve to shake the Changeling off his back windshield.

He heard another crash onto the roof of his patrol car, and a more feminine voice demanding he submit himself to their Queen, as it tried to carve through his roof.

“This is fucking INSANE!” Rodney shouted, as he tried to navigate the streets; the fog somehow causing his GPS to cut in and out, which further increased the difficulty navigating the dark and foggy streets.

~~~ === -- === ~~~

“Scramble all the Wind Mages and Pegasi you can muster, we cannot let that fog penetrate the city any further!” Celestia ordered, watching the camera feeds from helicopters well outside the range of effect of the fog, hopefully.

“Why the fog? I thought the danger were those black bug-like Ponies you all were talking about?” Rodriguez asked, as a Dragon captain entered the room.

“If it’s anything like some of the raids in the Badlands, they are using that fog as cover,” the captain added. Though Dragons were not the best of targets for Changelings, it didn’t stop them from trying for one who decided to break bread with Ponies on the border-lands with the Nomads.

“Right, Capt. Ironwing. By the way, we need to talk later, the things I heard about you. Anyway, back to the point: we are guesstimating the Black Fog is some kind of experimental raid technique. None of the previous raids have referenced of a black fog other than controlled Pegasi moving in volcanic ash or smoke,” Shining Armor stated, projecting as much calm as he could for his stressed out wife.

“Look at all of these messages I’m picking up over the social networks and blogs!” Alternate shouted, as the blue and blonde cyber-fairy drug in veritable virtual reams of paper from the East End networks.

“‘What are these black bugs?!’, ‘This fog, somethings really wrong with this fog…,’ A bunch of messages that half start and devolve into some kind of gibberish praising the Queen… Chrysalis no doubt,” Cadence said as she scrolled message after message after message.

“Ok, so we can assume that fog is some kind of, dehabilitating agent. Possibly mind control?” Rodriguez thought out loud.

“Well, a bunch of these messages start out normal, and then devolve into blind praise and fealty to this… Chrysalis-thingy… Sounds like mind control to me…” Alternate said, as she tried sorting out all the messages into categories.

Shining Armor sighed heavily. “And the talk of black bugs… yeah, Queen Chrysalis must be sending in a raid force. We have to stop the spread of that fog as fast as possible. The more of London is in her thrall, the more Changelings she will feel comfortable sending in.”

The thought of tens of thousands of 4 foot tall black bug-like creatures crawling all over London made some of the humans sick to their stomach. “Yeah, we better corral that fog ASAP” Rodriguez thought aloud as he quietly asked for some stomach medicine before his imagination caused him to vomit.

~~~ === -- === ~~~

“JOIN USSS!” several enthralled humans shouted, along with their, Rodney could only assume, Changeling minders egging them on, as they threw rocks at the windows and pounded at the windows and door of the squad car that was halfway run through the side-window of an empty restaurant.

Alright Rodney, how in the fuck are you going to get out of this one… Rodney thought as he looked at the battery on his squad car. He had about fifteen minutes of charge left until the air conditioning cut off, and the fog surely seeping into the cabin.
Well… looks like I’m gonna have to ditch this ol’ girl. He then thought as he put on a gas mask. Before he left, he wrote a (hopefully not final) message to the world, not caring who read it.

“Tell my family in Glasgow, if they can’t find me in 2 day’s time, I am sorry I couldn’t make it out of this in one piece.”

He put the gas mask and visor on, noting on his pad that the filter was good for four hours.

With a mighty battle-cry that’d do any Scottish ancestors he might have had proud, he flew open the passenger side door and began his mad-dash he hoped toward the west and freedom.

~~~ === -- === ~~~

“What In in da fuck ya lookin at, eh mate” a bandana wearing hooligan said, as he tried to filter his way through the morass of enthralled humans.

“I’m sorry, you were referring to me?” the gentleman said, as he looked perfectly normal, no green eyes or anything.

“Yeah I’m talkin’ to ya, what da fuck ya lookin at?” the hooligan asked as, no matter which way he tried to go, the gentleman blocked his path. “And would ya get out of my fuckin way, will ya?”

“Sorry, the Queen would not be happy if I let one get away…” the gentleman replied, green sparks starting to fly off of his body.

“Ya mean that ol’ coont. Fat fuckin chance!” the hooligan responded as he tried to rush past the gentleman.

He was caught by the ‘gentleman’, whose body was briefly engulfed in green flames. He threw the hooligan backward a couple of meters.

“Oy, wha in da fuck are ya mate, you don look nothin like tha horse-shaped bugs buzzing all around ‘ere! For one thing I can actually see ya damn eyes.”
“Oh trust me, we’re one in the same. What self-respecting Changeling wouldn’t know how to shapeshift?” the black and red-orange striped bipedal beetle replied, stretching his arms and flaring out his covered wings.
“So that’s the name of ya fuckers, eh? Sorry, I don’t have any time for ya Queen or whatever da fuck…”
“Oh don’t worry. I’ll make time for you.” the Changeling said as he knelt to the ground, and then burst forward with incredible speed horn first straight for the hooligan.

The hooligan barely dodged, as he whipped off his knife, gashing the H-Changeling on his arm, the greenish blood trickling down the red-orange-striped arm.

“Excellent reflexes. With a proper re-education and attitude adjustment, you will make an excellent Soldier, possibly even a Captain!” the Changeling responded, voice full of mirth.

“Like I said, mate. I ain’t got no fuckin time for ya Queen,” the hooligan said as he turned tail and began running in the opposite direction.

“Wait! Oh… this will not do at all.” The H-Changeling stated as he whistled for some backup. Five similarly dressed humans with bright green glowing eyes ran toward the Changeling Captain as he scanned all of them for potential. “You see that human bounding the corner. He is your target. The one to catch him gets assimilated immediately and will be in line for a promotion to Tier-3 alongside myself. Do you all understand?”
“Yes, sir.” the five mind-controlled hooligans responded in monotone.
“Very good. Now, get to it!” the Changeling stated as he snapped his digited claw; the five humans running after the hooligan.
“Although, I never said what’d happen to you five if I found him anyway…” the H-Changeling remarked to himself with a smirk, as flew up to the brick-faced walls and crawled along them to get a better vantage point.

=== --- === (HEA London Headquarters, Sutton – 1.5 hours post attack/10 PM Local) === --- ===

“You heard me... jet engines, wind machines. Hell I don’t care if you get the Chinese-descended to make giant paper fans. I just need anything that can blow back or absorb fog moved to East End on the double!” a somewhat portly man shouted, walking around with his HEA armband on, showing he was the local leader.

“Excuse me, but you requested our presence, Mr. Harrington?” Cadence stated firmly, as she, her aunt Celestia, and Shining Armor were now standing before Mr Harrington in the main lobby of the office, which was now positively swarming with media as the chaos in East End raged on.

“Good Lord, somehow we got half the government of Equestria here it seems like. Anyway, any Pegasi you can spare will be of great help to us. Plus, anyone you got that is good at fielding questions to the media will be also of great help,” Harrington stated, wiping the nervous sweat off of his brow.

“I don’t know about the latter, but we can definitely help with the former. Should I make the call or you, aunt?” Cadence replied, the severity of the situation giving her focus beyond her desire to get revenge on the Changelings in general.
“I believe that you can make that request. You know whom to speak to right?” Celestia responded.
“Rolling Mist’s Weather Team in Trottingham? Right?”
“Yes, also request Manehatten’s team to be on standby. And tell Rolling Mist that he will get paid double their going rate due to it being an emergency. That should quell his complaints.”
“This Rolling Mist bloke sounds like a stubborn type,” Harrington mused aloud.
“Like you would not believe, sir. But he is the foremost civilian fog expert we could get on such short notice,” Celestia responded with a nod, as Cadence vanished for Trottingham.

“Like I said, ALL the wind machines you can get your hands on, and if you can get your hands on anyone who knows Wind Magic, even better. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation here, people!” Harrington said over the receiver to his headset.

“So how long have you been trying to co-ordinate the containment effort?”

“About an half-hour or so, when I first got Captain Rodriguez’s report. But this is going to be a real problem. The area that is already blanketed houses about a hundred thousand people. A small proportion may have gas masks and the like. A larger proportion could have recognized the fog won’t rise without assistance, and have gotten to the high points of the tenements. That might spare them for now,” Harrington said as he looked at the video monitor wall of all the BBC and other network reports of the dark fog over East London.

“If worse comes to worse, I can use my Solar Magic to help burn off the fog, but it won’t be effective until past Dawn, which would be a good eight hours or so from now…” Celestia mused aloud.

“And who knows how many humans they can carry off in eight hours…” Shining Armor added, as he looked around at the Ponies and Humans scrambling. Well, most were scrambling. One seemed to be quite calm and with a level head about him.

Well, he certainly looks calm and even-keeled. A bit too calm and even keeled… Shining Armor thought as he looked at the human dressed in simple gray slacks and black shirt.

My Queen, the Royal Guards-stallion you almost took as Lead Consort is conversing with me. Do you have any instructions? Phasmid Grabber asked, as he waved tepidly at the white and blue-maned stallion.
Converse with him naturally; none of them have any inkling that this is a two-front operation… they are hiding something if they got the Dragons and Gryphons working with them so closely… Chrysalis responded.

“Yes, Shining Armor, wasn’t it? Someone has to be calm around here, if we were all in hysterics, nothing would get done,” the black-shirted man responded.

“See, right-good head on his shoulders. The Seattle and New Hope Branches were damn fools for letting him get across the Atlantic. Oh well, their loss, our gain, right mate?” Harrington asked jovially as he gave a quick jab to the black-shirted man’s side.

“Right, sir,” the man responded; before he went off to his workstation.

Chrysalis is right… there is something buried in the system… something that is being hidden in plain sight… If they are offering that, it has to be somewhere… and I am going to find it!

~ === --- === ~

Rodney continued to run, trying his best to coordinate his movements with his intermittently functioning GPS. “Goddamn bloody piece of shit. Whatever this fog is must be jamming the link, I can’t tell if I am going east or north or whatever, and I can’t see any street signs until I am standin’ right in front of it.”

“The hive will welcome you! Do not run! Do not resist! The Queen loves us all, and we all love our Queen!” shouted a group of hypnotized humans shouted, as a teal-eyed monster appeared to be coordinating their actions with this horn.
Those damn bug-eye freaks have most of those poor sods dancin like little puppets, but if I fuck aroun’ too much, I’ll be the one getting ‘is strings pulled before long…
As he continued to run from building to building, he noticed that the fog only seemed to rise to the fourth story at most. As he tried to find a ladder to climb up onto a fire escape, he ran into another with a bandana across his nose and mouth.
“Oy watch yaself, fuckin’ Bobby wanker!” the hooligan shouted as the partially armored patrol-cop and he nearly smashed heads.
“Show some repsect, fuckin’ chav!” Rodney shouted back, his reflexive response to disrespect from the street urchin types getting the better of him, temporarily.
“THERE! There you are! And you lead me to another, oh wondrous day, another two potential hive-mates!” the red-orange beetle-like creature shouted, as he closed in on the pair.
“The fuck is that thing!” Rodney shouted as he tried to get the hooligan to start climbing.
“Fucking monsters must come in teal and sunset or somethin’, fuck if I know!” the hooligan shouted in response as he started climbing up the ladder.
“I will have you know that our proper name is Changeling!” the H-Changeling responded.
“Like we fuckin’ care right now!” both Rodney and the hooligan shouted as they began running along the metal-frame catwalk up the side of the building.
“Oh now that will just not do at all!” the Changeling shouted as he hovered above them to try and cut the stairwell down; his attempt was short-lived as his arm clanged with a sickening thud off the reinforced-steel frame of the fire escape.
What kind of metal are those walkways made out of?! The Changeling thought as he dropped like a rock to the ground to tend to the cracked and bleeding limb. The hypnotized humans and the pair of P-Changeling Drones that were minding them tended to him as well.

“What do we do now, eh Bobby?”
“We keep climbing, that’s what we do; this fog can’t be that high!”

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Everyone set, right?” the HEA Squad Captain shouted, as the Zebras put a special gel on the masks and helmets for the response crew to nullify the effects of the fog. A fleet of HEA APCs were nearing the outer edges of the affected zone, the counterattack soon to commence.

“Well this is a fine kettle of fish this city has managed to get thrown into…” a Gryphon mused as he zipped up the inner-armor over his feline body.
“Tell me about it, but, that’s why we’re here: we respond to the crazy stuff that the normal Police or Military can’t account for,” a Pony responded as he slipped on his outer-armor.
“If Mind-Control fog and bug-eye monsters don’t qualify, then nothing does…” the Squad Captain responded, as he double checked everything. He then continued to speak to the entire squad of seven in the APC. “Our orders are simple, we push back any Changelings and mind-controlled humans back from the edge of the fog, so the Weather Crews can get containment started. Once they have the fog penned-in, we start the counter-offensive.”

Shouts of approval went up from the cabin of the APC.
Well, Changelings or whatever you are… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! The captain thought inwardly as he was a minute away from beginning the engagement.

=== --- === (HEA London Headquarters, Sutton – 2 hours post attack/10:30 PM Local) === --- ===

“Oy, Princess Celestia! Ya dear neice here gave me the low-down. I expect payment in three days once this whole issue is sorted out, yeah,” a rather ornery pale-blue Pegasus stallion shouted as poofed into existence, with the Princess of the Crystal Empire behind him.

“You do your job, Rolling Mist, and I will personally hoof you the sack of gold for disbursement,” Celestia responded, with some levity in her voice.
“Heh, always had a way with the spoken word, didn’t ya Princess,” Rolling Mist responded, as he looked at the myriad screens and other foreign devices in the HEA office.
“You don’t keep the Canterlot Nobility in line for all these years without it,” Celestia responded with pride.
“Princess Celestia, I will be back briefly with the rest of their Weather Team, but before I do,” Cadence started before handing a printout of the affect area to Mist with a scale and conversion scale for Pony Lengths vs. Kilometers [a reminder, .5 meter = 1 length]. “Will your weather team be enough to cover this area, or will I have to go retrieve the Manehatten Team as well?”

Rolling Mist ran his hoof over the paper, inwardly musing to himself how incredibly smooth the paper was before responding. “Nah, you can leave Manehatten on reserve. My team should be enough to cover this area. From what I can tell, given the properties…”
“What, what can you tell already?” Cadence asked.
“This has ta be related to Changeling mind-venom…” Rolling Mist said, turning his gaze away from the youngest Princess. “I know what it’s like… it’s thick. That means tha fog won’t be that high. But it’s going to be very thick and laced with magic. And from what I heard, plain Human electronics aren’t set up to work well in high-magic environments.”
“Wait, but ho—,” Cadence started before she was interrupted by Celestia.
“It’s been twelve years hasn’t it, Rolling Mist?”
“Yeah… twelve years since their Raid on West Briar; I lost my youngest son to ‘em. Never wanted to be a Weather Pony, but I didn’t much care for that…”

~~ (12 Years Ago, West Briar (roughly 5k Lengths from Trottingham) ~~

“Nimbus Wake? Nimbus Wake where are you?”
“I’m right here dad…”
“Oh thank Celestia, Nimbus! Come on, we have to get out of here before they get closer…”
“Before who get closer?”
“Don’t play dumb with me boy, the Changelings. It’s a bloody raid, get ya flank in gear!”
“There is no need for that, Dad”
“Those marks… NIMBUS! NIMBUS DON’T GO ANYWHERE! I’LL GET THE GUARD! THEY HAVE THE ANTI-VENOM, PLEASE DON’T GO ANYWHERE!”
“There is nowhere for you to run… There is nowhere for any of us to run… She is coming… Her Agents are coming… She will deliver us from Celestia’s mis-rule. This land needs an Iron Queen, one who will dominate the land and direct all actions!”
“STOP IT! JUST STOP IT!”
“They are coming! Her Time is coming!”
“COME BACK HERE NIMBUS!”

~~ ----- ~~

“I… I am truly sorry for your loss, Mr. Rolling Mist” Harrington replied after the short recounting was over.
“There is no telling what happened to him afterward…” Rolling Mist said, his wide eyes telegraphing the constant hurt he felt since that day. “So that’s why I need my team here, to prevent that tragedy from repeating as best I can.”
Cadence nodded as she teleported back to Trottingham to get the other twenty-or-so Pegasi.

After about 10 minutes of relative silence. Cadence reappeared in the Landing Room with another 22 Pegasi.
“Alright crew, we got a special fog to contain. The Zebras made masks that will nullify the mind-control agents. Mind your and ya partner’s flanks, because the area below where we’re working will be swarming with Changelings!” Rolling Mist shouted at full throat, regaining his composure after the walk down memory lane.
After some brief grumbling by the crew, they all began to resolve themselves for the work ahead, as a pair of Zebras began handing out the treated masks for the Weather Crew.
Please Princesses, watch over us… Rolling Mist mused as the Pegasi began to march to the roof of the HQ/Embassy.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Damn this is a pain in the ass…” one of the Dragons shouted over his com-link, as he threw Changelings off of his body and tried his best not to seriously injure the hypnotized humans.
“Ya aren’t kiddin, mate” one of his human squad-mates replied, hitting another two humans with stun-rounds. “Hey Will-O-Wisp, you all got air-control yet, the Weather Crew can’t start working until y’all do!”

About 50 meters in the air, an armored Pegasus was engaged in a dog-fight with a pair of Changelings, “Yeah we’re getting there… but there are hardly any Changelings in the air, given how many are on the ground. There’s something wrong with this.”

Moments later, large but brief plumes of green flame began to erupt all over the fogged-over cityscape.
“Guys, are you seeing this, there are these green plumes everywhere!” Will-O-Wisp shouted as the Changelings began to dive back down into the fog.
“Yeah, and I’m losing heat signatures after each plume… Oh man you don’t think...” the human said, as he and the Dragon holed up in a storefront for a few minutes to coordinate.
“The bugs are cashing out their winnings? Wouldn't surprise me at all…” the Dragon concluded as he looked around for backup or another group to meet up with.
“Goddamnit, this isn’t good then. The longer this goes on the more Humans they are gonna send to who-knows-where!”
“First we need to start securing the area, and then we can start rescuing the hostages,” the Dragon responded as he used a fireball to pick off a Changeling who was hiding under a counter.
“And… maybe find a better spot to discuss this stuff…” the Human mused aloud as they rushed back outside.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“I should have guessed as much,” Rolling Mist thought aloud as he flew closer to the black miasma covering East End, seeing bright plumes of green in the distance.
“Wha’ boss?” one of his Pegasus crew-mates asked.
“The Changelings are starting to teleport their thralls out. If we don’t start hurrying up and securing the area for the ground-pounders, there won’t be any humans left to save!” Rolling Mist shouted as he motioned for half the group to break off and fly ahead of him.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Damnit, they’re like fuckin’ zombies or somethin’!” the hooligan shouted as they tried to kick the mind-controlled humans down the railings. They were all the way up on the eighth floor of the apartment building as they found themselves beside a fire-escape door.
“Who’s out there!” they heard a muffled voice from the door they were in front of.
“A pair of humans trying to get out of this damn fog, we have to be at the edge of it if we can see the sky again!” Rodney shouted through the door.
“Open up the door and dive through when we give the signal, we have to keep those bastards out as best we can, ya know?” the voice replied, as the two outside heard heavy objects being moved out of the way.
“Fine!” the two outside shouted back. After a few moments, the two were safely inside.

“So Bobby, mind explaining what in the right fuck is going on outside?”
“There is this black fog all over East End, anyone inside it starts yammering about this monster Queen or something…” Rodney explained as he took off his mask and turned off the filter. “Yah got runnin’ water? I can wash this out with tap.”
One of the others directed him inside his apartment to his sink where he could wash out his gas mask and wipe the residue off the smooth parts of his armor.
“Well at least that stuff is more like spray instead of smoke,” one of women said, as she huddled with her children.
“Whatever, mate. I just want dis shit to be over with, quick,” the hooligan said as he walked into one of the apartments to find a couch to crash on.

“So have you been having any of those bug monsters beatin’ on your windows or anythin’?” Rodney asked, as he checked his gear to see if the reside ruined any of the components.
“Yeah, at the start they were buzzing all over, but they seem to be down in the fog itself now,” one of the kids responded.
“Hey, what is that green fire that’s popping up everywhere?”
“I dunno,” Rodney responded as he looked out of one of the still clear windows. “But somethin’ says it’s nothin’ good.”

~ === --- === --- === ~

“It was only a matter of time…” Cadence said, as her anger began to flare up again.
“Princess Cadence, I would greatly appreciate it if you did not go and do anything rash. I would like to allow our normal forces to be able to handle this situation,” Princess Celestia said sternly to Cadence, who began to breathe heavily but managed to stay her hooves for the time being.
“It was only a matter time until what, Princess Celestia?” Harrington asked, somewhat confused as to why one of the Princesses would be showing such obvious percolating rage.
“The Changelings have begun relocating their captives to wherever their Earth-based Master Hive is, if my guess is correct,” Celestia stated matter-of-factly.
“Great, who knows how many thousands out of that affected area they could already be getting ready to move then… at least the fog isn’t spreading anymore,” Harrington said as he took a seat in his chair, rubbing his temple with his hands.
“Yes, hopefully that is a good sign that we going to be able to short-circuit this little operation of the Changeling Queen’s” Cadence said through gritted teeth, still trying to contain her urge to go out and start blasting Drones with her raw Magic.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Alright colts-and-fillies, the fog spread has pretty much ceased, tell the humans to set up the wind machines at these points I marked on this map. We should be able to shift into pure containment now,” Rolling Mist stated, sitting on top of a rooftop with one of his crew-mates.

“Sir, shouldn’t we try and dissipate this?” said crew-mate asked.
“Son, did ya hear what this fog is made out of? It’s pretty much a generic version of Changeling Mind-Venom. Dispersing it would be us doing their job for them!”
“Sorry, sir…”
“You’re right you’re sorry. Just get the map to that HEA truck over there so they can relay the addresses, will ya?”
“Yes, sir!”
Rolling Mist peered over the edge of the roof and looked down at the fog that appeared now to be hitting an invisible barrier of wind.

There’s no tellin’ how many of these Humans those damn bugs have carried away already… but any ones we can save… well that’s a job worth doin’…

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Let’s see… that’s… 1050 already. We are making a good pace, aren’t we my Queen?” Manto Rigor asked as he double checked his addition.
“Considering this is only a trial run of the airborne mind-venom, I would wager so. I had a feeling that it was too thick, but this is only a trail run.”

All forces in the field, re-double your efforts to capturing Humans, we need to maximize our haul! Chrysalis ordered to the raid force through her psychic link to every living Changeling.

As she thought of her primary objective, her attention focused on her secondary objective, a certain new Infiltrator in HEA Headquarters.

Phasmid Grabber, is your search turning up anything fruitful?
Not yet my Queen, it appears that the networks are either much more cleverly designed than I imagined, or they are heavily fragmented.
Just so long as you get some leads…

~ === --- === --- === ~

“STOP IT, LEAVE HIM ALONE” a young woman shouted at a blue-and-teal-striped Research Changeling as he pinned her husband to the ground with her magic.
“Oh now don’t you fret, there is more than enough for the both of you…” the feminine-sounding Changeling said as she levitated a black injector out of a pack attached to her like a bandolier; said injector resembling a honeybee’s stinger and poison gland. With sudden jerk, she jammed said injector right into the neck of the young man.
“Just give it a few moments…”
Said few moments passed, and the young man bolted to his feet, his eyes burning green as the same as the black venom began turning his skin charcoal gray and his surface blood vessels fluorescent green.

“THE QUEEN! THE QUEEN! THE QUEEN! THE QUEEN!” the young man shouted with mindless zealotry, as his brain was being forcefully integrated into the hivemind, his skin turning rigid like chitin.

“What are you doing to him…” the woman said quietly, the scene before her sending her into psychological shock.

“I have been ordered by my Queen to choose select humans for immediate integration into our glorious Hive. He is becoming another part of our supremely powerful Whole. A fate you will share in a few moments once he is complete!”
The changeling stripped the man of his clothes, with little or no regard for anything other than easing his transformation into yet another Drone. Said young man eyes turned red-orange, and became layered with multiple lenses like and insects, as his back was covered by the hard shell to protect his newly growing wings. “THE QUEEN! I WILL SERVE MY QUEEN! I WILL OBEY MY QUEEN! I WILL LOVE MY QUEEN, AND SHE WILL LOVE ME!” he shouted with zeal, his identity subsumed into the hive mind.

His digits fused to three along his forearms, as his feet became more like long claws. His abdomen (or was it a thorax?) expanded to give himself a beetle’s round shape. A protrusion on his head having grown to now resemble a rhinoceros beetle’s horn, still jagged like the normal Pony-shaped Changelings. Though the gaps and holes in his limbs were smaller than the standard Changelings, they were far more numerous, making his exoskeleton look more like pumice than Swiss-cheese. His screaming now was morphing into shrill cries, much like the monsters that swarmed the grounds all ‘round East End.

“That’s a good little Drone. Now help me pin down this… woman… so that she may join us too. I cannot take any chances that she might actually try and escape,” the higher-ranking Researcher stated matter-of-factly to the newly-christened H-Changeling Drone.

“Yes, ma’am,” the new Drone said coldly and devoid of all emotion. The young woman was snapped out of her shock long enough to scream as loud as her lungs and throat would allow; which was followed by a crash through the nearby door.
“I heard a young wo—What in the Devil are those!” the armored HEA soldier said as he focused his gaze upon the hyperventilating woman and the two black insect-like creatures.

“I was afraid of this… You, new Drone, distract him while I call a Magi to get us out of here, no sense pointlessly sacrificing ourselves for one more human, when we can claim her whenever we want in the future…” the Researcher stated calmly as she looked for the nearest window to break and fly out of.

“Oh no you don’t you damn freak!” the human soldier shouted before he was tackled by the giant beetle-like creature. “Goddamnit get off of me!”

~ === --- === --- === ~

“THEY’RE WHAT?!!” Celestia shouted and half-strength Royal Canterlot voice.
“Good Lord, they’re what Princess?” Harrington said, as he tried to shake his head loose of the sudden ringing.
“I can only pray they have limited quantities of that substance…” Celestia prayed aloud as she began to contemplate things.
“Limited quantities of what, Aunt Celestia?” Cadence asked.
Princess Celestia breathed heavily as she gathered her thoughts. “The Changelings have apparently developed a fast acting assimilation fluid. According to reports it turns a Human into a Changeling within a couple of minutes…”
“WHAT?!” Cadence shouted her eyes flared with pure rage.
“That is what I am trying to piece together now. My question is how they would have even had the time or inclination to develop such a chemical. Unless… they have been operating on Earth far longer than we have realized,” Celestia thought out loud. “In any case, that is a long-term problem… but we have to solve this immediate problem now.”

This is insane… just what in Tatarus is Chrysalis trying to do… turn this entire planet into her Hive?! Cadence thought to herself as she took respite to calm herself before she did anything rash.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“Come back here! Join us! Become one with Chrysalis and her Hive!” the neophyte Drone shouted as tried to approach the young woman who was quivering behind the armored HEA soldier, a treated mask over her face to help her not accidentally breathe in the fog during her hyperventilating. The three figures danced around a table as the two ‘soldiers’ kept their eyes locked on each other.

“You are not getting your damn claws on her, whatever you are!”

“She will belong to us. You all will belong to us. This Earth will soon be in possession of her Majesty!”
“We’re leaving, newbie. The other Researchers will want to examine you anyway!” they all heard a feminine voice shout from outside.

The black and red-orange beetle rared up to his full height, and then quietly sat on the floor. Soon green flames engulfed his form, but not before he delivered one final admonition. “Tell all your leaders: this world will soon belong to our Glorious Queen! All of your lives will soon become possession of the Great Changeling Hive!” With that said, he disappeared in a flare of green.

Just what in the hell did that mean? The HEA soldier thought to himself, as he held the sobbing woman in his arms.
“Come on now, love. Let’s get you out of here; I should be able to call a transport to get you out of this mess.
The young woman quietly nodded as they began to make their way out of the building and meet up with the soldier’s squad-mates.

=== --- === (HEA London Headquarters, Sutton –

3.5 hours post attack/12 AM Local) === --- ===

“Their green flares are increasing in frequency. They must be getting desperate to spirit off as many victims as they can before they leave entirely…” Harrington said, as he looked at the cameras trained on the slowly compressing fog zone.

“Tell the front-liners to focus on forcing the Changelings to retreat. They seem to not be willing to engage in firefights, judging from the lack of reported casualties on our side,” Celestia ordered.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Celestia heard a familiar stallion’s voice ask.

“I do not remember requesting the presence of you three…” Celestia said firmly, not turning to look at the three Pegasi who had just arrived in London HQ.

“But Princess, you always call us when there is a big-scale emergency like this,” Rainbow Dash protested, Fluttershy and Golden Storm next to her, Elements around their neck responding to the outburst of evil intent in the area.

“Yes, but that is for emergencies that I know normal forces cannot contain or deal with. This is a military and large-scale rescue and recovery operation. I cannot have Special Forces wasted or compromised on something such as this…” Celestia replied sternly, looking less like the Great Matriarch and more like a Commander-In-Chief of a large Military.

“But look out there, that whole area is in Chaos. We bust Chaos… that’s kinda our thing!” Rainbow Dash continued to protest verbally.

“Rainbow Dash, I… please… don’t…” Fluttershy tried to stammer out, as she could see Rainbow Dash starting to develop her famous tunnel-vision.

“What Fluttershy is trying to say is ‘Please understand where Princess Celestia is going with this.’ There is a chain of command and division of specialty. A Commander-In-Chief should not feel she should have to use Special Forces to handle every situation, even if it outwardly seems like the worst thing in the world…” Golden Storm tried to impart upon Rainbow Dash.

Unfortunately for all there, Rainbow Dash had already committed to a course of action. “Princess, please understand… I can’t sit here while Ponies are out there helping in any way they can. I have this Power for a reason, and my Will is stronger than anypony… no… anyone else’s! Even if I don’t get your direct approval or order, I’m going out there to help!!”

The hustle and bustle of the room suddenly turned into dead silence, minus the televisions in the other room. Even the passers-by who weren’t exactly listening could tell the situation had suddenly reached a point extreme tension.

Storm… move… and do not look directly at Princess Celestia… Fluttershy told Golden Storm through their Elements.
Wait… what do you mean ‘Don’t look at Princess Celestia’… Storm asked, as both of them moved off to her left near a reception desk.
I can feel a weird vibe off her… it’s just like when I have to use it on one of my pets or patients that are misbehaving… Fluttershy said, her mental voice dripping with concern.
Ok… oh no… don’t tell me… Golden Storm replied, realizing what “it” was.

Princess Celestia, silently giving everyone else a look that said “Everyone clear the way, NOW”, strode up to Rainbow Dash, and locked eyes with her. Rainbow Dash, suddenly overcome with extreme fear and anxiety, began to sweat profusely, as she stared into millennia old eyes. Eyes that had seen more war than any peaceful species had any right to see, let alone and individual.

“Are you questioning my authority and decision-making, Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty?” Celestia asked, devoid of all emotion.

Rainbow Dash choked on her words, unable to say anything even remotely understandable.

“I will repeat: are you, Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, my direct Subordinate, questioning my authority and decision making in a time of grave emergency?!” Celestia asked again, with grave force and imposition, even as her voice retained its even tone.

Suddenly… something in Rainbow Dash’s head snapped… as if a fuse had been blown. The last things that kept her in place were removed, and she promptly went careening out of the nearest glass window, easily shattering it before she even reached it with the sheer force of her Flight Magic.

Celestia sighed as she looked at Golden Storm and Fluttershy, having magicked several lengths of magically-enhanced rope in front of the pair of Pegasi.

“I should have better controlled myself. I overdid the Imposition of Will, and caused a backlash in her mind. She’s now fully stuck in her tunnel vision to help in any way she can, and given current conditions, she probably will not be able to hear anyone warn her about the effects of the fog. I need you two to catch and secure her before she hurts herself or is captured by the remaining Changeling forces,” Celestia requested, managing to corral her own anger at being questioned to not repeat the same mistake with the other two yellow Pegasi.

Snapping out of their stupor at having seen Rainbow Dash dash away from the Princess, the two nodded and took off after her as fast as they could.

The young Element of Loyalty may not have been exaggerating when she claimed to have the strongest Will of any-pony or anyone… that backlash felt vicious... Celestia thought to herself as she prayed that Storm and Fluttershy could do the job without her direct help.

~ === --- === --- === ~

“I’m gonna help! I’m gonna help! I’ve gotta help! Gotta prove to Celestia I can do this! That I can do this!” Rainbow Dash shouted aloud, as she flew at break-neck pace toward the fog.

About a few dozen lengths behind, Fluttershy and Golden Storm were trying desperately to run her down.
“This is crazy!” Fluttershy cried as she had wrapped the rope around Golden Storm’s and her own waist to help her keep pace with the stallion.

“Not as crazy as Celestia is gonna be if the Changelings carry an Element of Harmony off with who knows how many Humans…” Storm replied as he tried to keep pace with Dash; and failing utterly to.

“At this rate she is going to fly right through the barrier they had set up and right into their proverbial spider-web,” Golden Storm outwardly cursed, as he was losing ground to Rainbow Dash.

“What are we supposed to do, then? I could just let go and you can chase her down yourself…” Fluttershy started, before she was interrupted by Golden Storm.

“We do this together, you know her as well as anypony else. If we catch up, then you are going to have to be the one to talk her down.”

“Ok, but we still have to catch her!”

Golden Storm began to slow down some, allowing Fluttershy to catch up him naturally. “Fluttershy, I need to you grab hold of my hips, we’re about to go for a ride.”

Fluttershy did as was asked, looking how Storm’s body was glowing the faded yellow and his Element of Wind was humming. “What do you have planned?”

“A little something I call the Wind Rocket…”

“The Wind Rooooooooooo----?!!!!!!!!!!!!” Fluttershy shouted as the two of them blasted off forward in a conic-shaped field of Wind mana; looking for all the world like a gold-colored, translucent rocket.

--- ~ ---

“Yep, a job being well done, if I do say so myself,” Rolling Mist said as he looked at the Pegasi in a consistent drift around the top of the containment field around the black fog covering East End.

What is that noise? He thought as he turned around and saw a cyan-and-rainbow-colored blur heading straight overhead.

“Hiimheretohelpcatchyalaterbye~” the cyan-and-rainbow colored blur shouted as it whipped past.

The bloody Tartarus was that?

“Weneedtocatchthecyanpegasusinfrontofuscanttalknowseeya!!” a longer golden-colored blur shouted as it whipped past, somehow even faster than the first one.

Seriously, what in the bloody Tartarus was that?

--- ~ ---

Slow Down!! Rainbow Dash heard shouted in her head through her Element, only halfway able to recognize Golden Storm in her tunnel-vision.
Sorry, don’t know the meaning of the phrase “Slow Down”… she responded.
Seriously… Slow Down! You’re heading straight for the fog-bank… Golden Storm tried to intone, but to little avail.
What was that, I tahtlaklsndlddd…” Rainbow Dash started to respond, before the two Pegasi chasing heard nothing but psychic static through their Elements.

“That’s not good…”
“Not good at all… let’s hope she didn’t get hit full strength…”

--- ~ ---

Oh a strong-willed one wandered into my little web… this will be fun…

--- ~ ---

The two Pegasi flew right through the invisible wind-barrier, using their link to the Element to try and find Rainbow Dash in the awful visibility.

“At least the Rocket shell is keeping that mist out… and… Oh good there she is… and we just passed her…” Golden Storm remarked as he and Fluttershy flew right past the downed Rainbow Dash. He quickly threw on the retro-boosters, and began using his Wind Magic to ‘fly’ backwards. Fluttershy, to her credit, picked up on the idea and grabbed Rainbow Dash along her side as they flew backwards out of the fog-bank.

I hope we aren’t too late already…

--- ~ ---

Looks like I caught a little lightning bug in my web… a firefly… if you will… This will be really fun now~!

--- ~ ---

Fluttershy was performing chest compressions on Rainbow Dash, trying to jump-start her breathing again; which had slowed down to near-nothing.
“Could you all please clear out… I know this looks really weird, but I don’t know what she might do when she wakes up…” Golden Storm shouted at the small crowd that had begun to form around the three Pegasi.
The crowd still gathered, though now a couple of meters from the three Ponies.

--- ~ ---

“Will you walk into my Parlour…” Rainbow Dash heard a sultry feminine voice say, as she saw nothing but a black and teal haze all around her. “Tis the prettiest parlour you ever did spy…”

“Oh no no…” Rainbow Dash started to respond, still addled in her own head. “To ask me is in vain, for those who go up your winding stair, can never come down again…”

“I never knew you to be a mare for classic Earth literature…” the feminine voice mused aloud.
“Huh? Wha? Where am I…” Rainbow Dash asked, as her vision came into full focus.

She found herself strung up on what looked like a giant spider-web, surrounded by green-flame torches, and a teal and black swirling haze.

“OH CELESTIA! WHERE AM I!”
“Like I said, my dear little Lightning Bug… or would you prefer Firefly? No… wait… I know exactly who you are…” the feminine voice responded, before beginning her trademark laugh.

“No… NO NO NO… This… THIS ISN’T HAPPENING…”
“Oh but my dear little Rainbow Dash… IT IS!”

Rainbow Dash craned her neck and her vision up, as far as she could; and saw the, at least to her, upside down visage of the Changeling Queen peering down at her with great interest… but the Changeling Queen was not in her normal body as a Pony-like Changeling…
No… aside from her belly, head, and forehooves, Queen Chrysalis appeared as a giant, black-and-teal-highlighted, Pony-eating Spider.

“WHAT?! WHERE AM I! WHO ARE YOU? WHAT’S GOING ON” Rainbow Dash screamed at the top of her lungs, as she continued to struggle in the giant web of Spider-Chrysalis.

“Oh you are a special one aren’t you? Such strong and delicious Will, such unbreakable Loyalty… it would be a shame to just turn you into any run-of-the-mill Drone…” Spider-Chrysalis started, as she ran her forehooves along the head and neck of Rainbow Dash. “No… I have very special plans for you and your nine friends…”

The giant Spider ran a long tongue down the side of Rainbow Dash’s neck, drinking in the whimpering of the speedster. And with large fangs, even larger than her normal Changeling self, she clamped down on the head of Rainbow Dash.

The entire scene was then filled by the screaming of a Pony in the deepest of mental anguish.

--- ~ ---

Rainbow Dash’s eyes flared open, which temporarily brought some relief to Fluttershy and Golden Storm.
“Damn girl, you scary...” Golden Storm quipped as he tried to pick Rainbow Dash up and set her right on her hooves.

This was immediately followed by Rainbow Dash screaming in absolute agony and thrashing about like a wild-mare.

“Get the rope!” Golden Storm shouted as Fluttershy dashed over to fulfill the request.
Damn I hope I remember my Eagle Scout training…

--- ~ ---

“LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she watched her extremities begin to turn colors. But not gray like the influence of Discord some years ago; instead, her coat turned black like charcoal, just like the other Drone Changelings that terrorized Canterlot almost the same number of years ago.
“It only hurts because you resist…” Spider-Chrysalis said in between draining. “All you have to do is submit to my will, and it will be over before you know it~!”

--- ~ ---

Rainbow Dash’s screaming and carrying on began to calm down some, much to the relief of the bystanders that had gathered around her.

But it was just the calm before the storm…

“Ok, Rainbow Dash, are we going to cooperate now?” Golden Storm asked, having bound Dash’s wings together to prevent her from flying away.

When she opened her eyes to answer, the two of them were shocked by what they saw: the sclera all around Dash’s magenta eyes hummed the same sickening green as the color of Changeling Magic.

“I… must… be… with… my… Queen…” Rainbow Dash said in half-monotone, half fan-girlish zeal reserved for her ranting about the Wonderbolts.

“We’re gonna need more rope, aren’t we…” Fluttershy asked morosely.
“Eeyup…” Golden Storm said, quickly moving the half-hypnotized mare to the nearest lamppost.

--- ~ ---

The blackness had spread halfway up Rainbow Dash’s limbs, and the ends of her tail began to appear full of holes.
“Mmmm, won’t be long now until you’re all mine,” Spider-Chrysalis sung as she greedily sucked the free-will out of Rainbow Dash’s self.

I… I can’t keep this up… all that’s going to be left of me are the leftovers that Chrysalis finds amusing to keep…

Rainbow Dash… snap out of it… please… snap out it RD!
Dashie… you’re not one of the Queen’s henchmares already are you? You’re too good for that Dashie, you’re our friend!

It hurts so much… the more I try and struggle against her; the more tired I get…
Where does your Loyalty lay, Rainbow Dash?!
Thunder Falcon? Is that you… how do you even…
Where does your Loyalty lay, Rainbow Dash?!
It’s… it’s… it’s with my friends… it’s with my family… it’s with my country… it’s with both Worlds!
Do you believe the struggle for the New Age is painless? Do you believe the forging of a New Era will be without sacrifice, both within and without yourself?
No… I…
I think you did believe that, otherwise you would not be complaining about a little mental stress from some overgrown horse-fly…
I wouldn’t…
So what is it going to be Rainbow Dash: service under some two-bit Bug Queen, or being the Loyal Lightning Mare?!
Heh, Loyal Lightning Mare… I like it…
I’d hope so, Master…

“You wanna play games in my head? Fine then, Game ON!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she began to electrify her coat.
“Oh that is so YEOOOOOWWWW!!!” Spider-Chrysalis shouted as the charge passed right through her and her web.
“Not bad for some little lightning-bug, huh?”

--- ~ ---

“Earth to Rainbow Dash, I repeat Earth to Rainbow Dash! Come in Rainbow Dash” Golden Storm shouted, as Rainbow Dash was double tied now, her wings to her body, and her whole body to a lamp-post, crowd still within earshot of the three Pegasi.

The cyan mare opened her eyes and looked wearily at the two Pegasi next to her. “Rainbow Dash, over…,” she replied, her sclera a more normal white.

“Oh thanks goodness you are back with us… just what was that?” Fluttershy asked, as she tried to calm her nerves for the first time in a good 15 minutes.

“Somebug trying to play Mind Games in my… my… my…” Rainbow Dash started before nodding off.
“It wouldn’t surprise that she would fall asleep after all of that.”

“I DO NOT PLAY MIND GAMES WITH ANYONE! I WIN MIND GAMES AGAINST EVERYONE! THAT IS WHY I AM THE QUEEN OF ALL CHANGELINGS!” Rainbow Dash shouted though with a warped voice. Rainbow Dash’s eyes flared open, but now, not only were they glowing green, but they were slitted like a demon’s.

“Now that is surprising…” Golden Storm said as he began to motion the crowd to clear well away from the lamp-post.
“The Queen… YOU’RE THE QUEEN?!” Fluttershy shouted back.

“OF COURSE I AM! I AM NOT LETTING THIS PRIZE GO! AND YOU ALL ARE NEXT ON MY LIST!” the Chrysalis-possessed Rainbow Dash shouted at full throat, as she tried to free herself from her bondage on the lamppost.

--- ~ ---

“AHHHHHH!” Rainbow Dash screamed, as the periwinkle of her Lightning Magic was at war with the black-and-green of Chrysalis’ Changeling Queen magic along the coat of her body

“Those abominable friends of yours are your tether to your current self, aren’t they? FINE! I will just have to remove them from the equation until they can be brought into the fold, as well!” Spider-Chrysalis shouted, as she tried to exert control over Dash’s body through the fangs clamped on her skull.

“STOP IT, I WON’T LET YOU HURT THEM!” Rainbow Dash screamed, as she tried to wrest control of her Terran magic from the intruder.

“I’m sorry… I DON’T BELIEVE I GAVE YOU A CHOICE IN THE MATTER!” Spider-Chrysalis shouted back.

--- ~ ---

“Ehehehe… the Queen is going to win…”
“SHUT UP!”
“Quiet you, listen to your new self…”

The two Pegasi and few dozen onlookers looked at Rainbow Dash at war with herself, while electricity crackled all around them.

“Ok, this is officially beyond freak-show. We’re in Looney Tunes, now,” Golden Storm said with exasperation, at a loss for what to do anymore.

“I kinda like Porky Pig myself…” Fluttershy thought aloud.

“FOCUS girl, our friend is either in the thrall of or being possessed by one of the great enemies of Equestria.”

“I know, I’m just trying to go to my happy-place until this all blows over…” Fluttershy whimpered as the electricity began to buzz all around, causing some of her mane to stand on end.

“NOTHING WILL BLOW OVER UNTIL THE THREE OF YOU ARE LICKING MY HOOVES!” the Changeling Queen boomed through Rainbow Dash’s voice.

“WILL YOU STOP TRYING TO TALK THROUGH ME! GET YOUR OWN BODY!” the real Rainbow Dash shouted in response, the stress causing electrical sparks to fly everywhere, much to the amazement of the crowd around the lamppost.

“I HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD ONE! AND YOU ALL WILL LOOK SO MUCH BETTER IN BLACK, AS WELL!” the Changeling Queen replied, trying to assert her dominance again over Rainbow Dash’s body.

----- ~~ -----

“Does every-pony else hear that?” Blue Vague asked, all seven of the other Conduits and Bearers gathered together trying to figure out precisely why three different Rainbow Dashes were shouting in their heads.

“Conduit of Water, We can feel that…” Princess Luna stated, while trying to remain as calm and neutral-sounding as possible. Celestia had given her a rather firm request to not allow any of the other seven to leave until London was dealt with, or further notice otherwise.

----- ~~ -----

I can’t take anymore of this!! Rainbow Dash shouted in her mind, the only patch of cyan left on her body being her chest, neck, and, head. Her hooves were already appearing perforated, and her tail looking like someone had let moths eat away at cloth tassels.

I… I think I have a solution, Dashie… Dash heard a meek, but familiar voice call out to her.

Please, anything to get this bug out of my head… Dash replied wearily.

Let her try and eat the rest of your free-will…

You have got to be kidding me ‘Shy.

Hear me out… let her fully clamp down, and send the biggest charge of Lightning Magic you can through her… don’t worry about us… we’ll manage on the outside…

You better pray this works or Changeling-me is coming after you first!

Rainbow Dash steeled her resolve, she knew she was going to have to hunker down and condense her will into the tightest package she could manage.

“I give, Queenie” Rainbow Dash said, trying her best to feign surrender.

“Oh you do, now?” Spider-Chrysalis remarked, running her hooves along the remaining ‘Pony’ parts of Rainbow Dash’s avatar in the mind-scape.

“Please, just be gentle when you eat the rest of me… and please be quick with my friends…” Dash said, voice intoning full and unconditional surrender.

“I’m sorry, Dashie… I don’t do gentle!” Spider-Chrysalis said triumphantly.

Not like I do gentle either, Queenie… as Rainbow Dash pictured herself replacing her ‘Will’ with the ‘Power’ of a super-condensed Lightning-mana double.

“Now… time to eeaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!” Spider-Chrysalis shouted as her entire spider-frame was alight with seemingly infinite volts of electricity. The haze began to burn off immediately, revealing a room that was painted in rainbow colors, with interspersed Periwinkle-outlined Red Thunderbolts: the very symbol of the modern Element of Loyalty. The web burned away, as the torches poofed into thin air. All that was left of the corrupted mind-scape was the charred figure of the Spider-Chrysalis, only specks of teal left unburnt by the outburst of Lightning Magic.

Rainbow Dash strode over to the defeated Spider-Chrysalis and looked her right in her weary, slitted eyes. “I got a name to remember Bug Queen, and you better remember it and all nine of my friends: Rainbow Dash, part-time Mare of Lightning, full-time Element of Loyalty. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HEAD!” She wheeled around and bucked the figure clean in the face, causing it to disperse into black smoke.

--- ~ ---

“Just keep calm Fluttershy… it’s just Lightning mana… you’ve handled Lightning mana before…” Fluttershy chanted to herself as she and Storm acted as lightning-rods for the periwinkle mana flowing off Rainbow Dash’s body. After a short while, the two Pegasi began to absorb the mana and cycle it into their system. The only after-effect: causing both their manes and tails to go rigid as their bodies normalized the static charge.

“Hah, you look like you’re getting ready for Halloween and Nightmare-Night at the same time!” Golden Storm joked, as he slapped Fluttershy on the shoulder, only to get a static shock for his trouble.

“Ha-ha, very funny Storm. Anyway, you think she’s finally herself now?” Fluttershy asked, trying in vain to get her mane down to something resembling ‘normal’.

“Well, here’s one way to find out,” Golden Storm mused as he touched hoof against Rainbow Dash’s cheek.

“Yeow! Can’t you find a better way to wake a mare up?!” Rainbow Dash shouted as angrily as she could manage in her exhaustion. Her eyes had finally returned to their normal color and shape, and her voice sounded like there was only one mind speaking through it, her own.

“I’m just going to assume that we have you back for good now, RD,” Fluttershy mused aloud, still trying to tamp her mane down.

“Yeah, Bug-Queen won’t be screwing around in this head anymore,” she said as she tried to raise a hoof to tap her head, only to find she had been triple-tied to the lamp-post in the last 20 or so minutes.

“So who is going to GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“I can take care of that, Miss Dash,” an HEA Soldier said, as he had heard through the crowd what was going on and began cutting the mare down from the pole. “Seems like you had a run in with the Queen Bee of those bug monsters we’ve been trying to beat back for the last two hours.”

“Yeah, I’ll write a book about it when I’m old and gray…” Rainbow Dash snarked; the second she got to her hooves though, she immediately stumbled to the ground in pure physical and mental exhaustion.

“You couldn’t call for a car or something to bring us back to HQ? I’m pretty sure Princess Celestia is going to want to tan my hide for this incident,” Dash asked of the soldier.

“Yeah, I can get them to call a civvie vehicle to come pick you three up… though what’s up with them, I’ve never seen Pony hair stand perfectly on end like that before…” the soldier asked in return.

“Have you ever wondered what it’d be like being a living Static ball?” Golden Storm asked half-jokingly.

“I see…” the soldier replied quietly. Just then he got an APB through his headset, and it was very fortunate news. “Well, whatever you did to chase the Queen off, it got all those bugs running, though I think with all the green flares they are reporting, they want to take a consolation prize home with them.”

“I’m sorry… I… we couldn’t do more to help…” Rainbow Dash said as she laid on her belly, suddenly feeling very small and helpless.

“Unfortunately, some things come out of the clear blue and you can’t deal with it the way you want to. We will just have to pick up the pieces tomorrow and start rebuilding and hardening ourselves against this happening again. I am not looking forward to having to deal with the families of the missing, captured, or deceased, though.”

“Yeah, this Changeling Queen is definitely not messing around…” Golden Storm said; glad his and Fluttershy’s manes were starting to return to their normal flexibility.

--- ~ ---

“Please, be more jubilant, my Queen. We’ve captured at least six thousand humans. They will all make fine Drones, I am sure,” one of the Queen’s personal Valet asked of her suddenly very depressed and singed matriarch.

“But I had one of Celestia’s linchpins in my little web. A few more minutes and she would have been good as ours. Those damn friends of hers… UGH! I JUST CAN’T STAND IT!” Chrysalis shouted as she made to throw a piece of pottery by one of the Environmental workers, but decided not to. “Just… let me sulk for a while…”

“As you wish, my Queen…” the Valet replied, as he walked gingerly out of the throne room.

Graaabber~ Please tell me you had better luck on your end~ Chrysalis whined telepathically to her stoic Infiltrator.
I… I am sorry my Queen. I am afraid their networks are far more segmented than I initially anticipated. I will have to work my way into the New Hope facilities before we can make any more significant progress… Grabber stated, fully awaiting the blowback from Chrysalis.
Blowback that never came though, as Chrysalis was more in the mood to continue sulk. Fine, Grabber, just… go ahead and return when you next able to.
As you wish, my Queen…

“Stupid Friendship, Stupid Love… If I got to beat those damn Ponies into submission with my bare, perforated hooves, I WILL!” Chrysalis shouted, before returning to lazing on her throne/sofa. “But first, can some Changeling please bring me a gallon of Rocky Road, I have sad movies to watch…”

=== --- === (HEA London Headquarters, Sutton –

5 hours post attack/1:30 AM Local) === --- ===

“Good, that’s really good news,” Harrington said aloud as he concluded another phone call. “The soldiers on Patrol are only reporting hypnotized stragglers being left. They are currently being evacuated and having antidote administered to them. Some are struggling more than others, but it seems like their so-called Queen is having a major spat of depression.”

“Once we have most of the victims secure, we can begin condensing that miasma and neutralizing it. The Zebras have already found a good counter-agent that can be quickly mass produced. We should have the fog and venom cleared by Sunrise,” an HEA soldier reported over the public com-link.

“Ugh, finally some good news,” Cadence sighed aloud, finally feeling the anger leave her as she heard how Rainbow Dash apparently did something to make the Changeling Queen back-off, at least for the immediate future.

Celestia merely rose from her resting cushion to head into one of the bedrooms of the HQ to talk personally to Rainbow Dash. “I believe I have to have a nice little chat with our Element of Loyalty.”

“Please, Aunt Celestia. Don’t berate her too hard.”
“Don’t worry, I will only say what needs to be said to ensure she remains on the correct path forward…”

== - ==

Rainbow Dash was resting in one of the bedrooms of the London HQ, trying to gather up her mental strength before the coming dressing-down by her Princess and Superior Officer (technically).

“Boy you are really glad that we are not part of the formal military, otherwise…” Golden Storm said, as sat on a cushion across from the bed that Dash was laying in.

“Yeah I would be up the creek even further than I am already…” Rainbow Dash replied, having some idea of how insubordination worked in the technical sense for the Royal Guard.

“Indeed you would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle, young filly,” Celestia stated firmly, as she walked into the room. Golden Storm and Fluttershy made to leave, before they were stopped by the Princess.

“Wait, you two are relevant to this conversation, so I would kindly request that you stay, but do close the door, this needs to remain between the four of us for the time being.”
With that the door was closed, and Celestia began in earnest.

“Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty. As I overheard the former military officer, if you all and the Conduits of Terra under orders of Princess Luna were actual formal military units: you would be court martialed for not only insubordination, but also reckless endangerment of civilians, reckless endangerment of military contractors, as well as possibly being marked as an enemy combatant by being assimilated into a force we have declared enemies of the Crown. Do you understand the severity of those potential charges?”

“You would probably have to build a prison to bury me under…” Rainbow Dash stated flatly.

“In a sense, yes. Those charges put together would carry a combined sentence of at least 10 years hard labor, at the very least,” Celestia continued. “Not only that, but your rank and title would be stripped, and you would be lucky if the Wonderbolts let you be their road show help, let alone a performer under their banner.”
Rainbow Dash definitely winced at the last statement.

“But the greater point is, Rainbow Dash, that you directly defied one of my orders. I cannot, nor will I not, stand idly by while someone defies something I told them directly to do,” Celestia stated, as she stood over Rainbow Dash. “However, even I am not blameless in this situation. I tried to force my own ideas upon you with the Imposition Of Will, a skill gifted to all those that Bear the Element of Kindness.”

“So that’s the technical term for ‘the Stare’?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, current Bearer of Kindness. The Imposition of Will is meant to short circuit the target from performing a potentially self-destructive act. However, it is something that must be constantly practiced and adjusted for different targets. During the initial conversation, I attempted to short-circuit Rainbow Dash’s desire to help the Trottingham Weather Crew without any prior knowledge of the situation at hand aside from media reports. However, due to my, admittedly overbearing nature, I caused Rainbow Dash to enter a state a tunnel vision where her lone thought was to do the exact thing I told her not to do. For this Rainbow Dash, I truly and deeply apologize.”

Rainbow Dash merely nodded in acceptance.

“Know this though, Bearer of Kindness, Bearer of Loyalty, and Conduit of Wind. My reasoning for not allowing you to enter the theatre of action was due to your lack of experience in that type of situation. Rainbow Dash was correct when she stated that I have thrown the Bearers of Harmony into similar, if not worse positions. That however, was due to the nature of the threat. The Return of Nightmare Moon and Discord’s Escape could only be resolved through the Elements of Harmony. This however, needed to be resolved through careful military planning and leveraging of all available assets. I cannot use my special forces to solve every little trouble that befalls Equestria or her allies. That would not be fair to you all, nor the Ponies that have been trained to deal with such conventional threats.”

Celestia began to pace a bit as she thought about her next statement.

“However, Rainbow Dash was also correct in her assessment that the skill-set of the ten of you continue to grow and expand by the day. I could feel the improvisation that Storm had to devise in order to catch Rainbow Dash that was moving at near-full-speed, which is a feat that few normal Ponies can lay claim to. For that reason, I believe the ten of you will need to undergo special training and education as a civilian special operations force.”

The three of them all looked at each other in a confused state.

“Do not worry, I do not intend to mold you purely into soldiers. But you all must be taught how to handle yourselves in both a formal military and informal emergency situation. There are channels of command that you must understand, and also be prepared to leverage should the case arise.”

“Wait, leverage ourselves?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“As my Sister and I’s direct subordinates, you all will be slowly granted more and more political power. You all must be taught to wield that power, as well as the Magic that courses through your veins. Due to your age though, you will have to worry more about the latter vs. the former, though.” Celestia answered with a wink.

Of course she wouldn’t give a bunch of twenty-somethings diplomatic immunity or the like… Golden Storm thought to himself.

“In any case: Rainbow Dash, since your disobedience was in some part exacerbated by my haste to constrain you, I will not formally punish you for this transgression. However…” Celestia started, as the room suddenly went dark except for her, whom was shining brighter than the brightest star, her eyes completely white, and her mane aflame with blue. “I WILL NOT TOLERATE DIRECT INSUBORDINATION DURING AN EMERGENCY!”
As she allowed herself the small outburst of rage, she quickly collected her calm to conclude her thought. “If you feel so strongly that you have to do something, at the very least allow me to call for a minder until you all can be properly trained for such action. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am, Princess Celestia!” the three of them all said with a crisp snap that would make any military stallion proud.

“That is good to hear, now I will allow another hour for Rainbow Dash to collect herself before we leave for Safe Haven. Or would you like to stay until tomorrow, for I will have something the Element of Magic will need to take care of before we conclude this sad little chapter in London’s history.” Celestia asked, as she opened the door.

“If you don’t mind Princess, I’d kinda like to go back as soon as I can, if that’s alright with you two,” Rainbow Dash replied, looking at Storm and Fluttershy. Both agreed that they have had enough of London for one evening.

=== [ August 28, 2082 – London (East End) ] ===

“And so finally ends one of the longest nights here in quite a long time…” a local reporter said, as he steered clear of some of the black goop left along a still uncleaned street. The morning sun, with Celestia’s assistance, vaporized all the water content out of the venom-fog, leaving a syrup like residue over the ground level floors of the areas nearest the Black Stone, as it was now called.

“Really, fog came pouring out of this rock. While I’d love to study it, turning all my loved ones and co-workers into Changeling fodder is way too high a price for it…” Twilight Sparkle stated, as she wore an anti-venom gas-mask just in case of some excess that was left over.

“So whatcha gonna do there, lil’ miss?” one of local Policeman asked of the violet mare.

“Oh just watch, but I’m gonna need everyone to stand back a good… 5 meters or so…” Twilight said, as her horn began to glow.

“Alright yah sods, ya heard the mare, everyone back up. If ya hadn’t gotten a picture yet, get a copy from someone that already did,” the Policeman said, as he cleared the radius Twilight requested.

Twilight’s body was glowing with the dark violet runes of Shadow Magic, as loose pavement, debris and the Black Stone itself was all picked up in shadowy tendrils. With several loud crunches, the debris and the Stone were all compressed violently. From a meter across, down to half, then a quarter, then an eighth; all the way down until it was the size of a baseball.

“Tha spells like a giant trash compactor, yeah? We could use one of those around the city landfills…” a bystander remarked.

“Maybe so… maybe so…”

Twilight placed the compressed Black Stone in several redundant containers, and teleported away with it back to a safe room in Safe Haven.

--- ~ ---

“And that’s all that’s left of the thing that almost turned East London into Changeling Central?” Red Blaze asked, as she looked at the perfectly spherical black rock through the containers.

“Yeah, that’s all that left… the only magic I felt that was remaining was residue from the mind-venom. Thankfully it’s all been cleaned up and neutralized now. Most of the humans the Changelings couldn’t run off with have also been cured, though they suspect there may be stragglers around.”

“Well, thankfully we managed to stop them, right?” Pinkie Pie asked, looking at Princess Luna.

“This time, yes. But this incident will only fuel paranoia amongst the already paranoid. They may blame us for dragging our problems onto their backyard. Which may be warranted in some sense,” Princess Luna responded.

“Ah guess we’ll just gonna have to face facts. The Changelings wanna fight on two fronts. Raids on our home turf and the Human’s too,” Applejack stated, dreading what this meant for the future.

“I’m sure we will find a way to slog our way through it. Though this does beg the question, if they really could turn Humans into Changelings almost instantly… how would they have been able to? Everything I’ve ever heard of the beasts said it took at least two days for a Pony to be assimilated,” Rarity asked, doing her best Twilight impression.

“Maybe… the Changelings are more related to things here on Earth than we realize…” Midori Hana replied, not sure if the thought was a valid one.

“Given how little we know of Changeling history… that hypothesis may have merit, Conduit of Earth,” Princess Luna stated as a pair Dragons took the containers to be sealed in the Badlands of the Dragon Nomads.

~~~ - = (Same day, Mojave Desert) = - ~~~

“Excuse me, um, Queen, you have a… visitor?”
“A visitor, since when did I start entertaining guests?”
“She kinda says it’s important; and she kinda beat up a bunch of Commanders that were trying to deny her entry…”
“I was wondering what those squeals of pain were… fine, send her in…”

Chrysalis was lazily nibbling away at a bowl of popcorn as she watched some more movies, her mood slightly better than the night previous, but still sour overall.

“Oh to think, this is what Queen Ellistrianna has been reduced to after all these millennia?” said a young looking woman clothed in black and skin as red as blood. Her hair: similarly black with red highlights; and all of her measurements would have given Chrysalis’ preferred human form a run for her money.

“And… hrm… your body has far too high a mana concentration to be an ordinary human. And Ellistrianna is a name I have not heard anyone speak of outside of the record-keepers, though,”

“Though what?”

“That was my many-times-great-grandmother’s birth name -- Queen Illusion the First, First Queen of the Changelings. Her given birth name was Ellistrianna, before the Great Cleaving, according to our records.”

“So you… I see… I should have guessed as much. You escape to a world full of Magical Ponies to prey upon, and you start looking like Magical Ponies yourselves. You are what you eat, I guess…”

“Oh come now, we haven’t eaten Pony flesh as a species in millennia. It’s much more efficient for us to harvest their emotions. You can only eat something once. You can drain emotional energy many times over.”

“So you are trying to horn in on our territory, YOU DAMN UPSTART!” the young woman shouted, as suddenly horns, bat-wings, and a long, pointed ‘devil’s tail appeared. Her eyes also changed, from maroon to a bright blood-red like her skin, and slitted just like Chrysalis’s.

“Let’s see… let’s see… the old genetic memory... Oh my, a Succubus, our kind have not seen yours beyond the Astral Plane in eons.”

“You’re damn right. Your ancestors left for that damn Pony world during the Cataclysm, while we all were stuck on a Earth where that interminable bitch dried up all the Mana. So what her precious Humans would have been wasted in the Armageddon. There would have plenty of monsters and demons to roam the Earth in the aftermath. Hell she could have created a new Humanity if she got off her lazy ass and did something proactive!” The succubus fumed, her skin glowing a healthy orange due to her visible anger.

“Anyway, what does this have to do with me? It seems your problem has to do with whatever controls Magic in this world,” Chrysalis thought aloud, as she flipped channels to another movie.

“I want to know how YOUR kind managed to continue to exist on the Physical Plane and avoid that little, unpleasantness, over 100 millennia ago!”

“Queen Illusion had the presence of mind to leave for what they want to call Equus now, before this species’ progenitors blew this world to kingdom come through their overuse of magic. It was really cut and dry.”

“Hmph, likely story. Anyway, I was giving you a heads up to my Tribe and other's imminent return. Despite appearances, the Mimics and Succubi/Incubi tribes got along very well in the Old World. Perhaps, we may forge an alliance in the coming future?”

“I will take it under consideration… wait... now you didn’t even have the courtesy to give me your name…”

“Lilia, Lilia deVersad, Leader of the Unified Succubi Clans.”

“Alright then, Leader Lilia, let’s talk when I’m in a better mood. Some recent events don’t have me in the best frame of mind,”

“Oh don’t worry, when you live in a place beyond time, what’s a couple of weeks here or there.”

“Right… anyway, care for some popcorn and a movie?”

“Oooh, what’s playing?”

=== -- ===

Author's Note

Marathon Chapter is Marathony... anyway a bit of post-episode commentary if you will:

[ Changelings ]
There are 6 Specific Divisions of Changeling in this story-line, in no specific order:
** Drones under one of these division's control do not count toward their population

1) Valet (normal colored): the Queen's personal consorts, guards, and confidants
2) Soldier (red-stripes): self-explanatory, built to be the forward attack and colony/hive defense force; typically take the first name "Coleo" (Beetle)
3) Infiltrator (silver-stripes): spies and assassins; typically take a first name of "Phasmid" (Walking Sticks)
4) Researcher (blue-stripes): engineers and scientists; typically take a first name of "Manto" (Mantises)
5) Magi (gold-stripes) : spell-casters; typically take the first name of "Lepid" (Moths/Butterflies)
6) Environmental (green-stripes): colony maintenance and general force-padding; typically take a first name of "Ortho" (Grasshoppers/Locusts/Crickets)

Gaiden 2-1: Genesis of Order (pt. 1)

=== The Conversion Bureau:
A New Age, A New Life (Pt II) ===
=== Gaiden II: Genesis of Order ===

== [ August 30, ????+2 – Canterlot Castle ] ==

It was a fine morning in Canterlot. Celestia was holding Court as per the usual. She had been slowly setting up a more formal process for requests with the slowly increasing population, and she was already dreading what it might mean for the future.

I hate bureaucracies. I truly do… the Princess of the Sun thought to herself as she was already imagining having to fill out form after form after form after form just to achieve the simplest of tasks.

“Princess Celestia, the extant community in Manehatten want formal permission to build a, um, sub-division I believe they termed it, of permanent housing to the southwest of the city. They feel that most of that area of wild plains would make for a good space for building,” a representative of the Manehatten city council requested of Princess Celestia.

“I see,” Princess Celestia started before closing her eyes to think for a few moments. “I will make approval conditional upon a standard environmental impact review. Tell the prospective project managers to consider carefully their initial plans.”

“Yes, Princess Celestia!” the Earth Pony nodded before leaving the throne room.

Celestia returned to her thoughts as she processed some more minor requests from the local nobility and business-ponies. On the other hoof, trying to continue being the lone, or only one of two, foci of power for the nation will get to be unwieldy. I may be an immortal ‘goddess’ incarnate, but there are only so many hours I can manipulate in the day. And I definitely don’t want to start messing with the time-stream too extensively again; Equus as a whole still hasn’t recovered from Discord’s reign and that was nearly two millennia ago.
So what are going to do, ‘Tia? Luna asked telepathically, mind still wide and alert despite her physical body slumbering in her indigo chambers.

We analyze the history of, and observe the current Zebra and Human governments to learn how to design sub-bureaucracies. As much as I personally dislike the drudgery of the record-keeping needed to run a less autocratic government, I am afraid just running the whole nation by our decree won’t be feasible. Especially if the rate of our Conversions picks up… Celestia responded.

Perhaps we need to expedite the integration of the Q-Machines on our side of the Barrier, don’t you think? Luna asked, taking a bit of the pleading tone that she did with their caretakers oh so many centuries ago.

While I am normally one to slow-walk technological improvement, I honestly cannot find fault with the notion. At the very least it will reduce the sheer amount of paperwork we have to process, even with our limited bureaucracy compared to the sprawling mess on Earth. Celestia concluded, as another pair of representatives entered the throne room.

There was a bit of a pause in the mental conversation between the two sisters, until Luna chimed in with a bit of memory she recently recalled. I was having a conversation with Cadence some time ago, and she brought up something that honestly slipped my mind, which is actually somewhat concerning to me given how much of a steel-trap my memory can be. In any case, were we not supposed to tell the Ten Elements our personal origin story at some point? I mean, the only reason why it is secret is because of our own personal pique; the principal Dragons involved are still alive and could easily tell the story themselves.

Celestia thought for a few seconds on that mental track, while her primary track processed and denied the request for more government funding for development along the Seaddle coast. I agree, but we can’t simply show up one night and just dump that load of exposition onto the heads of the Bearers and Conduits, we will have to find some natural way to weave things in.

=-- That Evening, back in Safe Haven ------=

“So what brought this on all of a sudden?” Rarity asked of Midori Hana, as the Ten Bearers and Spike all sat in their unofficial gathering room in the lounge and recreation section of Safe Haven.

“Well the four of us were thinking: we are all caught up in a save the world-type situation, but we’ve never asked you about your personal experiences in depth. So, now seemed to be as good a time as any,” Midori Hana responded, as she drunk a glass of water from a nearby pitcher.

“So which incident do you all want to discuss?” Twilight asked, as she couldn’t help but notice how Rainbow Dash seemed distant despite their close proximity to each other.

“If you don’t mind, I think we ought to start with the Big One…” Blue Vague started, as all eyes were suddenly trained upon him. “Me and the others would like to know everything you can tell us about Discord.”

The silence in the room was deafening, as the four Conduits of Terra could see the queasiness on the faces of the six Bearers of Harmony.

“I had a feeling you’d want to go there,” Twilight finally said, breaking the silence that had come over the room. The rest of the Bearers steeled their nerves for what was assuredly going to be a bad trip down memory lane. “Alright then, you may want to settle in, because we might be a while with this.”

Everyone in the room had shifted positions so that the Bearers with Spike were to one side and the Conduits were to the other. Twilight cleared her throat, and then began to speak. “The whole incident started about 4 years ago, I believe. Nopony was sure how Discord broke loose entirely. Initial reports were that Cutie Mark Crusaders got into a bit of a scuffle near the statue, but mana comparisons from just before the break-out and Discord’s re-petrification show that the actual cause of Discord getting loose was just a simple wearing out of the seal. Once he got loose, as you (former) humans would put it, all Hell broke loose. As you know, Discord is the incarnate spirit of Chaos, meaning all of his actions are meant to further a sense of unpredictability, and eventually, reasonless-ness.”

“That is not to say that Discord isn’t a planner or logical thinker. It’s just that his brand of logic is entirely alien to us. Quite frankly, having to be around him for any longer than absolutely necessary would give anyone a splitting migraine. Back to the point, Discord gets loose and immediately begins using his, as he termed it, Chaos Magic, to start warping reality itself and the minds of anyone that he came across.”

Applejack then took up the narrative, and continued. “Ah want ya ta imagine this: what if the sun never rose nor set on a regular schedule? Even here on Earth, where the sunrise and sunset is more a quirk of your planets spinning than somepony having to actively manage things, you can reasonably predict to within a few seconds when the Sun will rise and set dependin’ on where ya standin’, right? Now imagine how nutty it’d be if the Sun and Moon just rose and set whenever they wanted to; or rather, whenever someone wanted it to? It’d drive ya crazy wouldn’t it?”

Rarity then carried the train of thought. “Now imagine if the entire environment around stopped making any kind of thematic sense. Grass is green unless it is sick or had been painted over, yes? Now what happened if something could snap its paws and make grass grow in a garish, neon checkerboard pattern? If clouds started raining chocolate milk? And made dirt roads as slick and slippery as bar soap? That would just be tangible things that you could directly experience, too; don’t even get me started on the esoteric things. Sounds appearing as shapes, colors appearing as tastes, even the things you felt would both be phantasmal and real at the same time. You wouldn’t be able to trust your senses. You’d be constantly paranoid that what you were experiencing and sensing was some kind of trick or trap.”

Pinkie Pie then took hold of the conversation. “You know how I like to pull the occasional prank, just something to get a few laughs; and I definitely try to stay away from anything mean-spirited, right? Discord was everything but that. He’s quite possibly the meanest… meanie we’ve ever had to deal with. I mean… Nightmare Moon was just kinda crazy, and Chrysalis was power-hungry. But Discord was crazy, and power-hungry, and totally twisted like a pretzel; and wanted to make everything else around him twisted like a pretzel-ed pretzel. Its soo loopy even I can’t think of what it’d look like.”

Rainbow Dash was the next to offer her thoughts on Discord and a brief over-view of what happened during the Day(?) of Discord. “And then when he isn’t playing some kind of messed up prank on you, he’s just outright trying to manipulate you. And the worst part it? He will make you believe every word of it. I’ve still never really gotten over what I did that day: I was willing to throw away the safety of Equestria at large to save my hometown. And then, and in retrospect I really should have saw this coming, he basically sent the entire population of Cloudsdale stark-raving mad and pinned the blame on me. To be honest, though, I did break the rules of the game he had set up to find the Elements…”

Twilight interrupted Dash to clarify her statement. “Well he did obfuscate the rules to the point where we didn’t even know that the Elements were stashed somewhere else entirely. If we had played the game out like he wanted us to, Equus would probably still be a loony bin.”

“Point taken,” Dash responded, a little more reassured of herself.

The Conduits of Terra just sat there in semi-stunned silence. They knew Discord was terrible news; one does not simply get turned into stone (at least) twice for no good reason. But none of them could imagine he was that bad.

Fluttershy then offered her view on the matter. “And the worst thing about Discord? He showed absolutely no remorse for what he did. Even when he wasn’t able to warp me with his simple manipulations the first time we met face-to-face, he just simply grabbed hold of me and brainwashed me. It is very hard to explain just how violated felt during the whole thing, even though it only took a few moments. He… reached into my soul and drug up the absolute worst of me, and simply brute-forced me that into that persona. I believe that is what he does to everyone ultimately: drags out the worst in you, and turns you into the very thing you try and fight and claw your way to not being. And once he’s done warping you, he just sits back and laughs at you. Not feeling a thing, not a hint of true pity or sorrow, either for what he’s done to you, or for being the monster he is.”

As Fluttershy finished up, the two of them felt an odd presence in the room, though not unwelcome. A trio of flashes, one gold, one azure, and one periwinkle went off in the recreational room they were in, as Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Prince-Consort Shining Armor all appeared in the recreational room, which started to feel slightly crowded with eleven adult Ponies, one adult (humanoid) Dragon, and three Alicorns.

“Boy, I was kinda glad you four showed up when you did,” Spike started, as everyone moved around to make room for the four royals. “A part of me was kinda, I dunno, put off by the fact I got off so easy compared to how Twilight and the others nearly lost themselves to Discord’s brainwashing and manipulations.”

“It was very good that you didn’t, dear Spike. If you had been impacted by Discord in a significant way, I would not have had a way to send Twilight the documents of her Lessons in Friendship that would rekindle her fighting spirit, and lead her to discover the Memory Restoration spell,” Celestia reminded Spike, as she nuzzled him in comfort.

“Well, when you’re right, Princess, you’re right,” Spike concluded, as he sat back down on the floor.

“So what brings the four of you here?” Red Blaze asked, as she and the rest of the Bearers and Conduits sat around Shining Armor in front of the three Princesses.

“As you know, the Elements serve as a link between all of the Bearers to some mild degree. Not to the same extent as the link between us Immortals, but plenty strong nonetheless,” Princess Celestia began, the lights suddenly dimming around the edges of the room except for around the three Alicorns. “So, not meaning to pry too much, but we all heard that you were discussing your interactions with Discord during his brief jail-break, as it were.”

The ten Bearers and Spike all nodded in agreement.

“I see. In that case, I feel that you all, including Shining Armor, deserved to know the full truth of Discord’s nature, and by proxy, our own genesis,” Princess Luna stated with an odd mixture of pride and forlorn.

“Before we begin, I’d like to ask a question,” Princess Celestia resumed, making it apparent that all three of them were going to be speaking interchangeably throughout the story. “What do you believe we are, exactly?”

Everyone aside from the three Alicorns in the ‘front’ of the room looked around confused, before Pinkie Pie spoke up. “Well, um, we know you all are Princesses of Equestria in some way. I mean the Crystal Empire is technically a commonwealth, right?”

“Yes, Pinkie. The Crystal Empire’s formal designation is as a commonwealth of Equestria proper,” Cadence answered while nodding.

“Okay, well… um… shoot. It’s actually a hard question to answer, Princesses,” Applejack started, trying to find a good concise phrase for what they all thought the answer might have been. “Honestly, we kinda treat ya like demi-gods at the worst.”

“I see. We will start there then,” Princess Celestia started to speak, as she went into a meditative state – her entire body covered in the golden aura of her magic. “Alright... first of all, you may simply refer to us as Immortals. While we don’t reject the notion of you viewing us as gods or demi-gods, we’d prefer not to be worshipped, as the terminology would imply.”

The twelve ‘normals’ swore they saw shadowy figures appear behind the three Alicorns, but just brushed it off as tricks of the odd lighting that Luna was generating.

“Now that goes to the next question you all probably have, what is an Immortal: well as the name would imply, we are effectively ageless beings when we decide to take an incarnate form,” Princess Luna started, before she was interrupted by one of the shadows who had made themselves manifest in some degree.

“And yet two, or should I say, you three, are the only ones that decide to keep their incarnate forms. I never understood why exactly,” a spectral Gryphon stated, joined by tall Zebra and humanoid Dragoness figures.

“And you three always were difficult in that regard…” Celestia stated as she looked back at the three spectral Immortals making their presence known. The eleven Ponies and one normal Dragon to their opposite side were suitably shocked and trembling at the combined force all six creatures were outputting.

“Celestia, Luna, Cadence, you know I think of you as my little sisters. So what brought all of this about? You rarely, if ever, ask the three us to show up anywhere where Mortals are concerned,” the Zebra specter stated in a calm tone.

“Some time ago these Mortals asked of our true nature and origins. While Princess Cadence has already told her story; she, in all likelihood, didn’t explain the nature of an Immortal. We simply requested your presence to aid in that explanation should we confuse the issue any,” Luna replied to her ‘older brother’.

The spectral Dragoness took a pose of a woman deep in contemplation before she spoke. “I see nothing wrong with this. We are beyond time in any case, a few moments to spare to aid this discussion should not harm matters any.”

“While I do not like taking requests, it is you three who issued it; and as you’ve said, it is not like we are pressed for time,” the Gryphon reasoned as well.

“Excuse me… but… um… Princess Celestia? Just who are these three, why do they feel like you, except more… raw?” Twilight asked, finally regaining her voice.

“Tiamat, Patroness, Matron, and Spirit-Queen of all Dragonkind,” the Dragoness intoned with an extremely regal air, even more so than Celestia would use in her most formal of settings.
“Aquileo, Supreme King of Gryphons Past, Present, and Future,” the Gryphon stated with extreme but warranted pride.
“Azansi, Spiritual Guide for all Zebra Herds and Tribes,” the Zebra intoned, taking a far more subtle title than his two specter compatriots.

“There are many more Immortals that comprise the Pantheon of Equus, but I think these three will be enough for now. Even seeing the shadow of an Immortal in their true form is difficult for a Mortal to comprehend,” Princess Celestia remarked, as she continued on with her explanation. “The reason why we are termed Immortals is because we have become tied to a pure Concept of some kind. In the case of us six, we represent a sapient species; and in the case of me, Luna, and Cadence, we also represent a somewhat more abstract concept or entity of Equus: the Day, the Night, and Love respectively.

“What this simply means is that so long as whatever we are tied to exists, we too shall exist until we are either slain by another Immortal, or we willingly cede our title to another,” Princess Luna added, as the twelve Mortals in their presence contemplate the matter.

“So I guess that means only a god can kill another god, in effect,” Blue Vague thought aloud.

“While the Water Bearer uses terminology we would not use ourselves, the sentiment is correct,” Tiamat stated, confirming their suspicions.

“But wait… um… not to get too ahead of things, but why is there only one Immortal for each species except Ponies?” Spike asked, sure that everyone would notice the obvious numeric imbalance.

“While it would seem that there is an obvious imbalance, we are quite comfortable with the current division and aggregation of power between us. I believe the Immortals of the Sun and Moon would prefer to explain why that is, yes?” Aquileo stated, now on a wall to the side of the group of Ponies, while Tiamat was opposite him.

“Indeed Aquileo,” Celestia started, as attention (and the lights) focused back in on the three Alicorns in the ‘front’ of the room. “Let us start with who we were before we joined the Pantheon of Equus.”

With a combined flash of azure and golden magic, all of the occupants of the room were shown a very realistic vision of another time and place.

**== [ c. 1000 years into Discord’s Reign - Somewhere in the future Equestrian Great Plains ] ==**

“My, my, does this ever invoke some nostalgia…” Tiamat said, as the specter floated about the vision produced by Celestia and Luna.

“We have you to thank for recovering this ‘footage’, in a sense. We believed that these Ponies would simply be lost to time due to our inherent nature,” Princess Luna sighed, as she and Celestia looked into the vision with some measure of sadness.

“What wrong Princesses, I… oh…” Midori Hana started before she realized what was going on.

“I take it you remember what the price of Ascension is?” Princess Celestia asked, her eyes looking like they were beginning to well with tears.

“You lose the Pony that you were before. They simply cease to exist, isn’t that what you told us all those months ago, Princess Cadence?” Vague responded, looking at the pink Alicorn for approval.

“That is correct, Conduit of Water. The very moment I as ‘Cadence’ was born, the ‘me’ that was ‘Heart Linker’ ceased to exist. Whom we are about to see are the Ponies that Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna used to be before they Ascended,” Cadence replied, keeping her tone as even as she possibly could, given gravity of what they were witnessing by proxy.

“This is soooo annoying! Why does that stupid draconequus have to keep shifting day and night so fast! I swear if I could control the sun, I’d just… I’d… well I definitely wouldn’t have it rising and setting every five minutes!” a white Pegasus shouted at the sky that was flipping between sky and white-dotted midnight blue with frightening rapidness and irregularity. She had medium length pink mane tail; and a lithe figure that was every bit the model for Pegasi feminine beauty. Her cutie mark was a bright-yellow and orange sun icon partially covered by wispy clouds.

“Sunny Skies? Is that you? How are things lil’ filly?” a tan, gruff Earth Pony shouted as he and a Diamond Dog were pulling and pushing a covered cart full of topsoil and rocks.

“Fine all things considered. I swear it’s a minor miracle that anything gets done given how Discord loves to ‘shake things up’ as he’d put it. In any case, what are you and Stratum up to, Trench?” Sunny replied, snorting a bit in derision at the sheer randomness of the environment.

“Me and Trench are trying to carve out enough space for a garden. At least our own magic still works after all of this time,” Stratum replied in an outwardly harsh sounding, but ultimately non-threatening tone; something common to all Diamond Dogs and their relatives.

“It’s about all we can do. Things are just getting too nonsensical to even build a stable village properly. How are we supposed to settle down and build and refine any of our techniques and magic if everything is so…” Trench started before rain suddenly began falling out of the sky with no clouds around, with intermittent ‘hailstones’ made out vanilla ice-cream.

“…random?” Sunny concluded for Trench, as she tried to wipe her brown-stained mane away from her face.

“Yes. Now if you excuse us, we have to get this soil to the spot we picked out before our entire cart turns into frogs or something,” Trench groused he started pulling and Stratum started pushing again.

With that done, Sunny used her Pegasus Magic to blow as much of the chocolate milk and vanilla ice-cream off her coat and out of her mane and tail as possible, and continued on her short but somehow winding trail to her friend’s home.

Every time this random as buck weather starts up, space starts to get all weird on me… and I can swear that time is start to get all messed up as well… this can’t go on much longer… she thought to herself as she began knocking on the surprisingly hard door-like flap to her friend’s residence.

“Wait, Princesses, as we can see from… your thoughts, I guess, when the chocolate rain started, you said that time and space started to get all weird on you. I don’t remember experiencing that when Discord rained chocolate milk on us,” Twilight asked, as she stopped the ‘tape’ to ask a question of Celestia.

Celestia thought for a second, and then answered. “Discord’s magic manipulates everything to a very fine level. Since he was only loose for a day or so, as far as we can estimate, his magic hadn’t started affecting the time and space around Equus again. But Discord in these memories had been in power for a millennium. Him merely appearing somewhere other than his castle was enough to cause reality to become warped. This will be more evident in later selections.”

The memory ‘tape’ then restarted.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” a somewhat stern feminine voice said as Sunny Skies could hear the hoof-steps getting louder on the ground. “Oh Sunny! Oh it’s so good to see you. Come in come in!”

“Moony, I hope you have some clean towels from the bath, because Master Discord decided to bless us with his chocolaty gifts again…” Sunny said, her voice dripping with derision and sarcasm.

“Ugh, you know how much I hate you calling me that. Seriously, how hard is it to say ‘Moonlit Star’? Even ‘Starry’ would be a better nickname,” the azure-maned and dark blue-coated Unicorn mare snorted. She nudged her ‘reading’ glasses up on her snout, closer to her eyes as she watched Sunny wipe the last bits of chocolate out of her mane, tail, and coat.

“Oh come on, you know I’m just ribbin’ ya…” Sunny replied with a smile as she gave a gentle shove to Moonlit’s midsection. “Anyway, have you been able to divine anything new into that weird force we felt some… days ago I guess.”

Moonlit Star sighed as she looked at the clock seemingly run backward for a bit before going forward again. “Truth be told, every time I try and search it out and tap into it… I get frightened by it. It feels like an abyssal depth that, one the one hoof calls me to dive into it; and on the other hoof, I am absolutely scared to death by its sheer depth.”

Sunny could see how scared Moonlit was by the odd alien force they felt all those months ago, as Star kept talking. “It’s not like any magic we’ve experienced from the other species, or even Discord’s ‘Chaos Magic’. It feels like a long lost sibling constantly trying to call out to us, but the voice doing the calling is so muffled neither of us can tell what they are saying.”

“Do you think it might be the key to what we need to defeat Discord and his Chaos Magic?” Sunny asked with sudden gravity to her voice.

“To be honest… until we can find a way to experiment with it safely… I won’t know. There is no telling if we are just tapping into some hidden reservoir of Discord’s own magic. I would not put it past him to leave bait for somepony to get ensnared in,” Moonlit mused aloud, as she watched her clock begin to tick again at a normal rate. “I’m guessing the chocolate-rainstorm must be over, since my clock has decided to work properly, again.”

“So that is what you two looked like before you Ascended?” Rarity asked, as the vision faded and they all took some time to absorb what they had just seen.

“That would be correct Bearer of Generosity. In an earlier time and a previous life, I was known as Moonlit Star, that blue Unicorn mare you saw,” Princess Luna responded.
“And I was Sunny Skies, the white Pegasus that was with her,” Celestia added.

“I can only imagine this is jarring to watch, even though I assume you two have seen these visions before,” Blue Vague muse aloud.

“It is true Water Bearer. It is difficult for any Immortal that is born from Ascension to re-visit their past life. They will have to live a prospective eternity knowing that the only way they could know their past-self is through the recording of a previously existing Immortal. Most, including the three Alicorns before you, have come to terms with this. And yet…” Aquileo started to say.

“… it will never stop hurting. Every so often there is this feeling of a shadow that I can’t quite see, and it is my own… and yet it isn’t. Do you remember how melancholy and apathetic I was after my sixteenth birthday, Twilight?” Cadence concluded, and then asked.

“Yeah, you practically let me tear down my mother’s study trying to re-arrange everything,” Twilight recalled, suddenly able to put two and two together.

Cadence nodded as she concluded her thoughts. “That was after Aunt Celestia took me on a similar trip through memory lane, as it were.”

The others briefly discussed the implications before Aquileo called their attention. “Now let us move on to the next scene. I believe the Bearer of Magic will take great interest in this one.”

[to be continued in part 2...]

Author's Note

This is just a little sidestory to deviate from the main plot for awhile. A chance for me to work on some history for this particular narrative 'verse.

Also shoutouts to AegisExemplar for helping me so much in story planning and initial editing.