The Conversion Bureau: Rays of Starlight

Comet dropped to the ground behind the two humans, while the earth pony stood before them. This earth pony was quite tall, and had a grey coat with a short, silver mane to match. After a brief silence, he spoke. His voice was deep, but melodic. “Are you two gentlemen alright?” he asked, concern clear on his muzzle, “Comet here said the two of you had gone missing. We deduced that you’d have gone this way and wanted to make sure you were both safe.”

The humans had taken up ready stances, and looked quickly between the ponies and their surroundings. “We thank you for your concern, but we’re fine,” one said, before he leaned over to his friend and whispered, “Be ready."

Comet spoke up from behind them. One turned to look, while the other kept an eye on the other two ponies. “What the hay were you two thinking? It’s pitch black down there, you could easily have walked into an anomaly.”

“Like my friend here just said, we’re fine. You three needn’t bother yourselves with us.”

Nobody moved or spoke for a good few seconds. Eventually, the earth pony spoke up. “Look, you guys can get pulled into wormholes, but we can’t. It’s our responsibility to ensure you make it out of the city safely.” The stallion locked eyes with the human as they attempted to read each other’s expression.

“I get the feeling you don’t mean helping us head west,” said one of the travellers, “But in case you do mean to let us pass, you should keep an eye out for people who actually need your help.”

“You do need our help,” said the purple unicorn mare, raising her voice so as to be heard from down the street, “It’s for your own good. The longer you stay on this side of the Barrier, the more chance you have of vanishing forever.”

“So you are Crusaders?”

“Well yes, but I’m not a fanatic, if that’s what you’re thinking,” the unicorn replied, slowly edging toward the humans, “The wormholes… they’re the only reason I joined. In any other case, I’d respect your choice. Your chances are just too slim.”

“That is not your call to make!”

“We have the ability to make it, and we have good reason to.”

“Come on, if you’re really only here because you’re worried we’ll get eaten by a wormhole, then you picked a poor spot to stick us up. The road clears up further west.”

“You think that improves your odds?”

“I know it does. If we keep heading west, we’ll be safe. Let us pass.”

“We can’t do that,” replied the unicorn, “What use is it being human if you’re just going to disappear into some forsaken void through a wormhole?”

“I’ve made that perfectly clear that we’d rather take that chance!”

The unicorn mare stopped approaching as a look of shock crossed her features. She squinted, closely scrutinising one of the travellers.

“Dave?”

Silence.

“How do you know my name?”

“Lavender, what’s going on?” asked Comet, trying to see what was happening down the street.

“How do you know my name?” Dave growled, causing the mare to back up slightly.

“You don’t remember me?” the unicorn asked, her speech taking on a shaky tone, “You don’t recognise my voice?”

“Oh no, Elena? Is that you?”

“Y-yes. Well, I used to be Elena,” she said, lowering her head, “My name is Lavender now.”

“Lavender, don’t do this.”

“Please, I just want to help you, Dave. Come with us to Equestria,” she begged, “Just come with us. If you stay here, you might never have that chance.”

“I know you just want to help,” Dave replied in a hushed tone, “You’re selfless, but you’re mistaken. Elena... Lavender, when there’s nowhere left to go, I’ll find you. There’s still hope for Earth and I’ll stay until there isn’t. When there’s nowhere left to go, I’ll convert and find you. We’ve made it this far, we’ll make it all the way.”

Lavender paused, as she mulled over Dave’s words. “I… I believe you,” she replied.

“Lavender, we can’t just let them go!” exclaimed Comet.

“I didn’t say we were gonna just send them on their way.”

“You considered it.” stated the earth pony.

“I…” Lavender’s sentence hung unfinished.

“She’s not up to it, Sparks,” said Comet, “We have to do this.”

Sparks, as he was apparently called, grimaced as he pondered Lavender’s hesitation. “You’re right, she knows this one too well. I’ll handle this.”

“Shit. Joe, get ready,” said Dave, while he watched Sparks’ actions.

“Dave, what’s he doing?” Joe asked, whispering, “Comet seems to be waiting for a signal.”

Dave’s hand went to his weapon as Sparks reached inside his saddlebags with his muzzle. Seeing a capsule in the earth pony’s mouth, Dave pushed Joe and then jumped the other way. Sparks had been fast, but not fast enough to catch them off-guard. A purple, egg-shaped capsule burst on the ground, splattering it with potion.

The sharp crack of a gunshot caused everyone to freeze. It was a warning shot, but it was still close enough to give everyone pause. “Reach for another and the next bullet is for you,” said Dave, keeping the weapon trained on Sparks.

“You didn’t tell me they were armed!” Sparks yelled at his winged comrade.

“I had no idea they had weapons!” replied Comet, “They didn’t draw them when I approached.”

“We’re reasonable people,” said Dave, trying to speak as calmly as he could, ”Unfortunately, you’ve put us in a bad situation.”

“Reasonable!” exclaimed Sparks, “If you were reasonable, you’d already be through the Barrier.”

“He can be unreasonable, if you’d prefer,” said Joe, “I’m sure unreasonable people with guns aren’t going to react poorly to threats.”

Sparks kept his mouth shut.

“Let’s take it easy,” said Dave, “Nobody moves, no magic.”

“What now,” asked Joe, “Should we try and move?”

“I guess so,” whispered Dave, “Have your flashlight ready to blind Lavender if she tries something. She could make this very difficult for us.”

“And the others?”

“It looks like Sparks is the only one with potion,” said Dave, seeing a lack of saddlebags on the other two, “I’m prepared to shoot if they try anything.”

Lavender spoke up as the two humans quietly conversed. “Dave, I’m sorry. We have to do this.”

“Lavender, we just want be on our way. Don’t make this worse for all of us.”

“Sparks is right,” she said, “We can’t just let you go. I have a responsibility to my fellow Crusaders, and to Equestria.”

“I made you a promise, Lavender. I intend to keep it.”

“You won’t have to,” she said, her expression hardening, “Comet, you know the drill.”

“Ready when you are.”

“Shit. Joseph, now!”

The moment came. Each side sprung into action, the possibilities and risks being calculated even as they moved. A shimmering light built up around Lavender’s horn, as Comet leapt at Joe with a beat of his wings. Dave lined up a shot at Sparks, while the earth pony reached for another capsule.

Lavender had the handgun in her telekinetic grip, but before Sparks had readied another dose of potion, she was interrupted. Joe’s flashlight shone brightly enough in her eyes to make her flinch involuntarily. Lavender’s grip on the handgun faltered as she lost focus, but only for a moment. With no time for Joe to brace himself, Comet tackled him hard, bringing both of them crashing onto the hard street below.

The unicorn redoubled her efforts, trying to pull the weapon from Dave, who struggled as he started to lose grip on his firearm. A trigger was pulled. A second sharp crack was heard as the gun flew out of Dave’s grip. Lavender crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll, dead on the spot.

“Lavender, no!” yelled Sparks, grief in his voice, “Human filth! Murderers! May Celestia have mercy on your souls!”

Sparks slammed his hoof down on the firearm. The now-disarmed human carefully circled the stallion, keeping him unable to fetch more potion without lowering his guard. Meanwhile, Comet and Joe fought desperately on the ground. Neither were skilled fighters, but in the blind rage of combat, each found unknown strength and turned it into violence.

Amidst the hurricane of frantic blows, Joe fought to roll himself away from the potion that still coated the road beside him. The glittering purple liquid was perilously close, and both of them knew it. Eventually throwing the pegasus off, Joe leapt to his feet, a bruised and bloody mirror of Comet, who also rose to his hooves shakily. The pegasus stepped into the potion, coating his hooves in the substance as he turned to face Dave.

Joe’s face stung, and could taste blood as he looked up and saw what Comet was planning. He yelled, the words half-formed and indistinct. Dave spun on his heels, saw the pegasus jump at him, and rolled to the side in an attempt to dodge. He vanished, as if he’d stepped behind a perfect painting of the buildings and street behind him. A faint breeze ruffled the coats of the equestrians as they stopped, stunned by the man’s sudden disappearance.

The brief shock passed, and the two equestrians moved with purpose toward Joe. Unable to run past them without risking contact with potion, his only route was the building behind him. As he ran inside the clearly looted shop, Comet flew up and out of view while Sparks followed him into the building.

Potion splashed on the wall behind him as he all but sprinted up the stairs. Sore and shaken, he thundered upwards through the building with the earth pony in pursuit. There was nothing here he could use as a weapon. In a split-second decision, he settled for throwing a small vase at Sparks as he rounded a corner, causing him to stop as the human furthered his lead.

Joe emerged back into the bright sun as he stepped onto the rooftop of the building. Comet narrowly missed him in an attempt to surprise him from above as Sparks also trotted out onto the roof. “Nowhere left to run,” said Sparks, “Time to accept your fate.” Joe simply kept backing away from his pursuers, looking around desperately for a way out.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Joe began, “But most of us humans aren't very good at that.”

He climbed up to the edge of the rooftop and saw the street several storeys down. “Joseph, don’t you dare,” said Sparks, “Just think for a moment. Is this really worth it?”

Joe paused for a moment, standing on the precipice. With a final whisper of, “Maybe,” he threw himself backwards off the building. As the young man fell, he saw that Comet had jumped after him, but the pegasus pointlessly was far away. Had he missed? He’d know in a few moments. The last thing he saw was the sun peeking through behind the clouds before he vanished into the same wormhole as his friend.