To this day, I sit and watch. Helping make this land safe is no easy job. It takes time, patience, and determination. Without these key traits, my job would never get done.
I am Cyrus Hooves, better known as Agent Pony. I'm a unicorn with a yellow coat and slicked back, jet black hair. I wear a signature pair of small black glasses that just hang off of my snout.
I am Celestia's number one Intel source. I see something that might endanger the peace she has kept in this world, she knows about it faster than Rainbow Dash can clear the skies. I'm the best that has ever come out of Manehattan, so I’ve been told. I am the head agent at S.O.A.P. Secret Organization of Agent Ponies. There I call the shots, there I’m top dog, and there ponies listen to me.
My life is a simple one, I wake up, eat a healthy breakfast, then the fun starts. I head down to the HQ lobby where Nissa, my twin sister, basically gives me my mail. Anything that sent to me goes through her hooves. Then I walk into the main room. They TV Room as I call it. That's where all the monitors and devices are, all the bells and whistles. My right hoof stallion, Agent Scythe, gives me any updates on spots or sites we have been watching.
Agent Scythe, a.k.a. Windy Scythe, is my greatest friend in this agency. I would take a bullet for this pony. He was there with me from the start. I can remember the details so vividly.
We actually were made roommates at the Academy of Celstia. We went to the same classes, and hung out a lot. I was never one for going out with crowds, so when we were invited to a gathering, I would stay back and practice my magic. Over the years I learned that I was really aware of things. I could see the smallest details nopony else would ever think were there. My magic involved Invisibility spells and things of the sort. Things like masking my scent, and hiding my body heat. I was the sneakiest pony in the whole school. This invoked a string of pranks to be plays on Windy. Eventually I found out I could cast truth spells. I was always skeptical of ponies lying to me behind my back. One day I had enough and hit one of the ponies with the spell and out came those fabled cats from the bag. It soon clicked in my mind that these were perfect for being a spy. I trained and trained from that day on.
After we graduated at top our class, Windy and I talked about our future. I brought up the spy idea and he really latched on. We enlisted into the army, and eventually got accepted. Hoof camp was the worst time of my life. The only thing that kept me going was my dream, and Windy right by my side the whole time.
One day in the dead of the night thing got chaotic. No, I don't mean Discord came back. There were bombs going of, and sirens blaring from every corner of the compound. My first instinct was to go invisible and see what was going on, but Windy couldn't do that and I wasn't going to leave him there unknowing. Windy and me locked eyes for a moment, then split out the door. We ran down the corridors looking for any enemies but none were to be found. We walked around for a while until I noticed a shimmer in the air. The closer I looked I noticed an outline, and that outline was winding up to hit me with something I couldn't really make out. I turned around and pushed Windy to the floor with me. I enchanted my glasses with a See-All spell and gave them to him. With these glasses we could see an entire army of ponies, and they weren't on our team. As if on cue Windy took to the skies and raced off to find the Commander in Charge. I of course went invisible and tried to find the Head Capitan of our squad. I went through the courtyard watching as my friends and teammates were being knocked around by nothing. I went to each one and enchanted their eyes for them to see. They all were in shock of what was happening to the base.
Windy flew back down to me and there we held off our own.
"I told the Commander what was going on!" he shouted as he kicks away an enemy. "He told me to find as many ponies as possible and evacuate the area!"
"Did he say any thing about what is going on right now!" I asked as I started running for the gates.
"No, he was just as surprised as we were." At that moment he flew off to go and save the others who are fighting their own fights. I went to check the bunkers for anypony who might have hid for safety.
After about twenty minuets of bunker checking, I found four mares hiding in the bathrooms. I wouldn't have found them if I wasn't actually looking for ponies.
"Come with me, we have to leave NOW!" Right then two pegesi crashed through the roofs. I could tell they here to help. They weren't decked out in cloaking armor. I saw on the sleeve of one of them the initials ACF. I had no idea what that could have meant, but now wasn't the time to sit and decipher codes. I had to save these mares.
I used my magic to turn on all the showerheads in the room. I made sure not to move a muscle until the steam made it so they couldn't see either. As soon as it became zero visibility, I grabbed the girls and ran towards the door. The ACF pegesi were smarter that I had thought, they used their wings to blow away the steam. Luckily we were already out side before they got to us.
I stopped dead in my tracks. Outside was a full on war before my eyes. The ACF had swords and knives, and were ready to kill. One of the mares was a fast little pegesus by name of Katrina. She was fast as a hurricane, and bolted out of the compound. Before I could stop her one of the ACF pegesi from before, shot out and stabbed her. I was speechless as she fell to the ground. Blood trailing her from the fresh wound as she fell. The only thing that snapped me out of my shocked state was the screams of the other three from behind me. I picked up one of the helmets that were on the ground and threw it at the other pegesi that was emerging from the bathrooms. All of my anger was in that throw. I heard bone and plastic alike cracking at the impact. No sooner that I had thrown the helmet, did I have the mares following me to safety.
After our narrow escape, Windy landed in front of me.
"Cy, there are reinforcements coming in ten minuets. There are trucks waiting to evacuate all personel. We need to get these girls to safety and fight back the invaders."
I looked at the 3 mares I had just rescued.
"Run to the other side of the gates and stay hidden until back up arrives. Board the truck out of here. Now GO!"
"No don't leave us, we can't hold our own against these guys." One of them said. Two off them took of running. The same pegesus that had killed Katrina swooped down and tackled the other two. The mare who stayed behind screamed with such terror, it made me want to cry. Windy and me turned around in time to see the ACF pegesus finish the two girls with one swing of his sword. Windy charged him knocking him to the ground. I couldn't take it any more. The pain that these people caused, and the lives they have taken was unforgettable. I would never live this down. I picked up the sword he dropped and cantered over to where Windy had him pinned.
"The downfall is nigh." He said, spitting the words in our face.
"What does that mean!" the anger in my voice was not subtle at all. He only laughed in my face. I remembered the truth spell I had learned, and proceeded to cast it on the evil hearted stallion.
"We are here to bring your precious society to its knees." I wanted to kill him. He wasn't lying, I knew that, but he must have been trained to tell the truth without telling the important parts.
"WHO SENT YOU HERE!" I was at my limit. If I didn't get the answers I wanted I didn't know what I would do.
"You'll find out one day, just not today." I had had enough, with the sword I cut of the bastard's wings.
"Hobble back to you leader and tell him never to mess with us ever again cause if he does there will be hell to pay, and I won't be so nice." He got up and ran off as if he hadn't been severely injured, laughing the whole time. I regret letting him go but if I had killed him I would have been no worse than him. I took a vow that moment that if I ever saw him again, he would not be walking away. Not to long after he left, the trucks started to pull in, as well as the air force. The enemy took this as a sign to retreat. The compound was a mess. There was nothing to salvage, it was all destroyed. What really bugged me was that I still have no idea, who led the attack, and why they attacked us.
For the next couple nights, I had nightmares about what happened. I keep seeing the dying mares, and his face laughing that vicious laugh that I could never forget.
Not to long after the battle, we all were transferred to a new camp. After a couple days they had an award ceremony for those who showed the most bravery and to remember those whose lives were lost. Windy and me were awarded. I for finding the enemies stealth force and helping the camp fight back, and Windy for saving so many other ponies.
As I open my eyes, I find that I am back in the TV room. That flashback really took me for a loop. I walk into my office and call down to Nissa to get me a coup of coffee. I like mine black with two sugars, the way real stallions drink it.
Windy comes in shortly after, "You ok? You walked in, closed your eyes for two minuets and walked back out."
"I'm fine, it's just..." How do I can this, I don't want to put him in this mood too. "... I remembered, I didn't have my coffee." I say with a cheery smile. On cue Nissa hovers in my coffee.
"Whatever just get your head straight. Hey Nissa." and with that he flew out of the room.
"Bye Win... oh forget it, he's gone. What's got his saddle all bunched up?” she asks as she sets down my coffee.
I eye the cup to see if she secretly put some creamer into it. It all looks clear, so I take a sip. "Oh nothing, he just wanted to get back to the TV room and keep the guys in line. You know he likes to be the big guy when I’m not in there personally. Any news today?"
"Nope, nothing. Mailbox is as dry as your love life." she says mockingly.
"Stop it will you. I've said this before and I’ll say it again, I don't have time for that sort of thing. I have to keep watch, nothing can slip by me." She turns away with sass and goes back to her desk. She brings this up all the time. Her theory is that, if I get a pretty looking mare, I’ll relax and will be able to focus on my job more. I think it's a waste of time. Anything could happen while I’m away!
Look at me rambling on, like I’m a mother letting her child have his first sleep over away from home. In a sense, this place is my baby. I personally asked the Princess for this. To protect the world I love with all my heart. She thought it to be a great idea, and here we are today. Of course this is a full time job. You have to be ready at anytime.
I walk back in to the TV room, and scan the room. I get nothing. Nothing at all is happening in Equestria. Good, that means I’m doing my job right.
The day goes by and nothing at all happens. I call it a day at about 10 pm. I go down the road and enter into my modest two-story house, walk up stairs and lie down. Even though I did nothing, I’m still tired for some reason. I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, more thoughts flooding into my head from the past. The look on the pegesus' face when he killed my teammates, the look in his eyes when I got angry, it was as if the whole thing was going according to his plan. His face, that was the thing that haunted me the most. The grin he wore as if he were in control of the sun and moon, he wore that expression with ease.
I roll over and shake away the past. It is to be learned from, then forgotten. At least the bad parts were.
Birds chirp as I wake up. I sit there wondering, when did I fall asleep, and how long was I asleep. Doesn't matter, I should start thinking of the now.
I walk downstairs and fix my morning cup of joe, just the way I like it. I look over at the calendar, today is Thursday. The same day I met the one pony that I would forever hate. What is with me? I've gone so long with out these memories and the just start to pop into my head. I need a mission to deal with this. Get my mind off of all that has happened.
As I walk into HQ, Nissa stops me at the front desk.
"Well well, if it isn't Mr. Grumpy hooves. Feeling better today?" she asks sarcastically. Now that I look at it I wasn't my usual self yesterday, and I do feel a little better.
"Yea, I was just thinking about why I hired you in the first place." I say jokingly.
"Let's count the reasons. One, we are related. Two, nopony else wanted the job. Should I keep going?" She nods toward her cutie mark, which is of a desk with a computer atop of it.
"No, that's enough."
"That's what I thought."
"Well, why don't you do your job that 'Nopony else wanted' and give me an update."
"There have been reports from one our sister agencies."
"Which one?"
"S.O.U.P."
"The Secret Organization of Undercover Ponies?"
"That's the one!"
"What do they want?"
"They have been hearing stories of missing planes and ships near the Gallopigus islands and want someone to search it. Want me to send somepony to check it out."
"Nahh, I got this one. I've got stable fever anyway. Plus those lazy good-for-nothings couldn't handle it anyway."
I walk into the TV room and Windy is being Windy. I sneak up on him and tap his shoulder. It startles him but not because he was scared, but because he was doing an impression of me to the other agents.
"I don't really sound like that do I?" I whisper in his ear.
"N-n-no... That wasn't you," he tries to lie his way out."... That was, um, Cliff! Yeah, my uncle Cliff. He sounds really stuck up." He grins, trying to look serious.
"Ok, whatever. I just needed to tell you that I will be going near the Gallopigus Islands to check out on a hit at one of our other agencies. Until I return, you are in charge."
"Sir, yes sir!" He salutes me as I walk out. "Wait a minute," He flies in front of me and stops. "...Did you just say the Gallopigus Islands?"
"Yes, that is exactly what I said. Is there a problem Agent Scythe?" He knows when I refer to him as Agent Scythe I am being serious.
"No sir." Then he sidesteps and lets me pass.
As I walk pass the front desk Nissa tells me to get to the airport in 30 minutes.
"Thanks Nina." And with that, I am gone.
Now I am at the airport. According to Nissa I should be here on time, but for some reason the flight is being delayed. I look to my right and see a tan pegesus waiting in line.
"Hey, why is the flight being delayed?"
He looks at me a just shrugs.
"Hey, why do you need to take a plane, can't you just fly?" I ask. To me that seemed like a good question. To him it seemed annoying.
"I don't like having to fly everywhere. Also where I'm going is WAY to far for me to fly in one go."
"Ok, well I’m Cyrus. Nice to meet you." I extend my hoof, insinuating a shake.
"I'm blaze." He shakes my hoof.
After we exchange greetings the intercom sparks to life.
"Flight 128 is ready for boarding. I repeat flight 128 is ready for boarding at gate 6."
"Well that's my flight. Got to go." I say as I turn to the correct direction.
"Hey, that's also my flight. Well, I must say, that's a crazy co-winky dink." He jests, elbowing me. "Let's go."
We walk to the plane, and he splits off to go sit in coach. Nissa got me first class. Only the best for her brother.
I get nice and comfy in my seat. I know it's going to be a long flight so I decide to take a nap.
It was a couple hours later that I woke up again. I look out of my window. I see some islands down below. I wondered which one was abuzz with all this activity we have been hearing about. I'll just have to ask the agencie when I get their. I settle back in my seat, staring at the ocean get boring fast. As I lean back to relax, I hear a loud crash, the emergency lights come on and the respiratory systems drop. Wind is whipping around violently. Walk up the isle to see what happened. As I turn into the isle, I see a giant boulder lodged in the cockpit. My brain kicks into over drive. My first thoughts are how can I save all these ponies. There is just no possible way. I look around and I see some earth ponies trying to kick out the boulder.
"STOP! YOU GET SUCKED INTO..."
Before I could finish my sentence the boulder falls from its perch and the ponies, just like I predicted, fly out screaming and kicking. Just then, the pegesus I met earlier dives out to save the following ponies. I look for a parachute, but I could only find the one. I strapped it on and jumped. I looked back at the plane to see the strangest sight I have ever seen. The plane was engulfed in a pitch-black sphere and, just as fast as it came, it disappeared with the plane in it. I couldn't see what happened to Blaze, but I could see the ground rapidly coming closer. I braced my self for the landing, but I couldn't land just right. I don't have much practice jumping out of planes. The impact of the landing knocked me out... cold.
When I awoke, I found it to be nighttime. Some how I had gotten into a shack of some sort. I look around be to see at least a dozen ponies surrounding me. There was a faint light coming from the doorway. When I looked to see what was making it, I saw Blaze standing there with a note in his hand. The light was from his wings, or at least his wings were giving off sparks that produced enough light to see with.
"What is that in your hand?" I ask Blaze, who was reading it furiously.
"It's a letter to us, or anypony who reads it, saying how somepony found us and brought us here. It says to be careful. There's not much more really, but we should investigate to see what is up before the others wake up." He tells me. We look at each other, and we both nod in agreement.
We step out side and it's dark, save the little light Blaze is giving off. We are immediately hit with a foul, rotting stench. We look around and Blaze spies a pony carcass on a spear just outside the shack. It is covered with flies, which tells me it has been there for quite some time most likely before we came. Right then a flash, reminded me of the three mares back at camp. I shake the visual away. Blaze starts scratching a hole in the ground. I know it is for the nameless pony. I use my magic to lift the body off the spear and into the hole. Blaze covers the hole with one quick flap of his wing. In that one flap he sends out a wave of heat and fire.
"Now you know why I’m called blaze." He says with a chuckle.
His ears twitch, he is listening for something. He picks up the spear and heads into the jungle. I follow, I don't know what is here, and I don't want to be alone when I find out. He is walking toward a stream. When we get there he kneels down to clean the spear. The water is nice and clear. You can see straight to the bottom if you looked over it.
From behind us we hear a rustling in the leaves. I snatch the spear from Blaze with my magic out of impulse. I thought, he had fire and I had a spear, seemed even. A black pegesus with red and black hair burst from the trees to be followed by three tigers. He ducks right as one pounces over his head. I roll back and buck the jungle cat right into the stream. Blaze tackled one of the other ones to the ground. In Blaze's blind spot the other tiger was about to swipe at him, I threw the spear into its temple before it could make its move. The beast fell limp. Blaze let off the grounded tiger only to scorch it with a mighty beat of his wings.
"Wish I could do that." I say with awe in my voice. Then I remembered something. I re-obtained the spear and held it pointing to the dark pony that brought these monsters.
"Who are you?" I say with a firm voice. The pony had a dark black coat with a red and black mane. He wore glasses similar to the pair famous musician Vinyl Scratch wears. He had a saddlebag with supplies and a scythe. He looks from me to Blaze and back, with a slight fear in his voice he speaks.
"My name is M-midnight. Midnight Arc." He shies away from us.
"Are you the one who left that dead body out side of the shack!?" Blaze says with vigor. I can tell he is scared. Not in a way that enables him, but in a way that pushes his need to survive. It's a good kind of scared. I have yet to figure out how scared I am.
"What? No, I haven't killed anypony." He says confused.
"So you mean to tell us your friend and not foe?" Blaze asks still ready to torch this guy if need arises.
"Yes, I mean no harm." He says, trying to reassure us.
"What's with the scythe then?" I ask. "That is a pretty random thing to have after a plane crash."
"It's for my job." He says, the way he says it tells me he does some pretty dirty work.
"Since we are all allies here. Why don't we take a moment to get to know each other? I get the feeling like we are going to be here a while." Blaze looks at us with a calm face. One that just takes away any stress you might of had and makes you feel safe. That's enough for me. I sit down on the ground and clear my throat. Blaze lights a fire that illuminates everyponies faces.
"I'll go first." I sit and I tell my story. I leave out the sad parts and mention the important parts. "Your turn." I say as I look at Midnight.
"Well how do I start this? I worked for a very secret service, more secret than S. O. A. P. Before you came I was Celestia's task force. I was sent to eliminate threats." His story was very interesting. I wonder how come I haven't heard of this team before. I was still a little curious.
Over the horizon, the sun started to rise. We have been here forever. For some reason, I’m tired. I've slept all day and yet I’m so tired.
"I'm calling this a night, or day as it seems." I lay down to rest.
"I guess I’ll go down too." Blazes says. "You do whatever it is you do." He says to Midnight.
"Wait." Midnight’s eyes glow beneath his glasses. A dark sphere surrounds us now.
"We are safe, nopony will be able to get to us." Midnight says calmly.
"Wait, what did you just do." I say, but I’m so sleepy I fall before I can get an answer. I saw Blaze fast asleep before my eyes shut.
I wake up later to discover that Blaze and Midnight were gone. I decided to go and see if there are any berries in these woods that are edible. I start to venture off on my own remembering every step to get back to the clearing. After a while I see a bush of blackberries perfect for eating. As I draw nearer, I hear a rustling behind the bush. I'm just hoping it's not another tiger. I was right. This time it was a zebra. It came at me with a spear similar to the one we found outside the shack. I duck in time to dodge the deadly weapon. The whole time it is screaming in its native tongue. As soon as he landed from his first attack, he spins around and lunges again. I continue to back up and dodge his attacks. Eventually he gets tired. I try to pull his spear away from him, but he still has a little bit of fight left in him. Not much, but enough to cause me trouble. I hit him with the blunt end of the spear and he falls to the ground limp. I pick him up, take him back to the clearing, and tie him to a tree. I sit and wait for the others to get back.
"Rise and shine sleepy head!" I splash the native with some water from the stream. He wakes in bewilderment and starts yelling again in his language. I'm quick to cover his mouth to avoid any involvement with more natives.
I can't understand a word he is saying so I decide to cast a translator spell Nissa showed me.
"I'm going to let go now." I say hoping he can understand me. "If you scream I will hit you again." He nods his head understandingly. I back off. He looked as if he were going to scream, but his eyes flickered between me and the spear, and he thought better of it.
"Why did you attack me?"
"You come and destroy village. You steal gems and land. You kill my people!" He is starting to get angry. I wave the spear and he calms down a bit.
"Hey, I just got here. I don't even want to be here, so I didn't do anything to your village."
"Many a pony come into our village hungry. We fed them in hopes of friendship. Once they get strength back, they attack us. They drive us out of homes and make weapons."
Just then Blaze and Midnight come floating down. I take my attention off of the zebra and start towards Midnight.
"What was that last night? What did you do?! Where you the one who engulfed the plan in that orb of darkness?" I don't like not knowing things. I needed to know what happened.
Blaze comes between me and Midnight.
"Calm down. He told me the whole story while we serveyed the island... however bizzare it was."
"Well can you please elaborate for us?" I say getting agitated. Midnight steos forward and begins his story.
"I was born with this scythe in my hooves. It was embedded with dark magic. The power is emmense. I don't even know how to fully control it. This weapon could go for thousands on the Black Market, but I don't plan on letting this away from my side anytime soon. What you saw last night was my safe house spell. It makes so whoever looks in, doesn't see us. We were completely invisible and safe, and yes I did teleport the plan to the island to protect the passengers from certain death."
"With that aside." Blaze says, pointing to my hostage. "What is with the zebra?"
"Well, when I woke up SOMEponies where missing. I got hungry and when to get some berries to eat. I found a bush of blackberries and our friend here as well." I confess.
"What has he been saying?"
"Apparently there are more than just us and the natives on the island." I tell Blaze and Midnight the story I was told.
"So that is what we say." Midnight says like he just got all the answers. "Me and Blaze went on patrol this morning and we found a camp. There were wepons and soldiers walking around. They spotted us and we got into a fight. It wasn't pretty." The zebra, still tied up, starts squirming. He looks scared out of his mind.
"Evil intruders will kill us all! KILL US ALL!" He yells. He is truly terrified.
"Calm down friend, we won't hurt you..." Blaze starts but I interrupt before he gets too far into his speech. I cast the translator spell on him and Midnight.
"Now speak."
"Ok." Blaze clears his throat. "We are not here to hurt you. Take us to your village and we will protect you."
Walking down a path into the forest, the native leads us to his village. I have the spear hovering behind him just in case he tries to run or attack. Always have a contingincy plan. We walk down a winding path that finally opens into a large clearing that was perfectly domed in by trees at the top. We see tents and villagers walking around and going about their everyday lives, until they notice us. Some of them stare with worry in their eyes, some with anger.
Blaze looks around then at me. He nudges me in the side and whispers "Get... rid... of the spear." I realize that the weapon is still in our hostage's back. I carefully turn it around and throw it into the jungle.
The villagers' expressions changed. It went from fear and anger to shock and awe. I assume they have never seen unicorn magic before. Makes sense in this town of zebras. Then our little captive spoke up. "Fetch Chief Thick Stripe." He said to the village. Blaze looked at me then to Midnight as if to ask, "What's with the name?" We both shrugged.
Soon a Zebra with a finely decorated head dress came out. I knew this was the chief becuse down from his eye to his flank was one giant stripe. One on each side. "Now we know where the name came from." I said in a quiet voice. The cheif opened his mouth and out came a booming sound that justified his title in society. "WHY DID YOU BRING THE WICKED ONES HERE MUTUMBO!"
Our friend looked like he was about to pass out. "Th-th-they say they not the ones who h-hurt us. They p-p-promise safety." Mutumbo squeaks out. "IS THIS TRUE!" The cheif booms out.
Blaze steps out as our representative. "Yes sir. We were not the ones who attacked your village. We were stranded on this island when our plane crashed."
The cheif settles down and speaks in such a gentle tone, it's like he is a completely different person now. "Was that your flaming metal bird diving at our fair island?"
"Yes sir." Blaze answers.
"Was that also your metal fish that swam apon our shores?"
Blaze is now confused. He and Midnight just got back from flying over the island. "Do you know where this ship, I mean metal fish is?"
"Yes, we know."
"Can you take us their?"
"NO. We shall not go near that monster. Be we can tell you how to find it."
"That would be most helpful."
"Follow the crick to the shore. Then head left, you should be able to see it by then."
"How far away is the shore?"
"Not very far."
"Thank you cheif."
"Begone now, and please cover your tracks."
With that we were gone. I took into a sprint while Blaze and Midnight flew. They kept a speed that was ahead of me but not to far.
We finaly got to the shore and we started left. Blaze stopped abruptly.
"Hey, I just had a thought. What are we going to do when we find these guys."
Midnight and I stopped as well. We looked at each other and shrugged.
"Guess I didn't think of that." Midnight said.
"How about we just make this a recon mission." I suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Blaze said.
"Fine by me." Midnight agreed.
I turned invisible and so did Midnight.
"What about me." Blaze asked.
Midnight walked over to Blaze and gave him his glasses. "Wear these."
As soon as Blaze rested them on his nose he dissappeared.
To be continued.