Neon Rainbow

by UnderscoreWV

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 5466

Cyberpunk mayhem in a dark alternate future Equestria.

One thousand years after Luna banished her rebellious sister to the sun, Equestria is a perfectly normal place. Eternal night reigns over a prosperous, thriving society. Law and order are maintained by the Nightwings, royal enforcers that execute the princess's will. The kingdom's economy thrives thanks to the megacorporations, sovereign entities dominating every part of the sprawling Equestrian city-state. Competition is fierce and survival is not guaranteed. But that is as it should be. Only the strong will survive to build a better Equestria. True, there are some obstacles. Under the shroud of eternal night, the renegades known as the Elements of Harmony keep the dream of dawn alive. But the night is long and patient, and for many ponies, life is about getting by, not chasing a forbidden dream.

Swift Steel is one of those ponies. He runs with a group of other outcasts, doing jobs for the corps that blur the line between legality and crime. One night a job goes wrong. Now he must chose between hiding in the shadows and facing the light. Will the day dawn, or will the night reign supreme?
In the urban jungles of Equestria, things are about to get interesting.

Cover art by Wreky.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-07-23 04:14:31 UTC

Party Crashers

If you lie awake at night, they say you can hear the city breathe.

The city is our haven, our home, our jungle.

The City. Capitalize it if you want. City doesn't care.

City is the past, where the old is devoured by the new, like a carbon steel ouroboros.

City is the future, where the corporations and the media steer us towards a brave new world.

City is the edge, where the outcasts scrape by in the shadows.

The edge is a dangerous place to be, but sometimes its all you've got.

Welcome to the edge.

Don't look down.

The rain pounds on the roof of our van as it speeds down the street.

“Right, let's go over this again.” Vigil says.

“For buck's sake, Vigil, we've been over the plan five times already,” Wire complains. “I think we've got it down by now.”

“When we arrive, Poise and Littlefeather go in through the front,” Vigil continues, ignoring his outburst. “They scope the place while Wire knocks out security. Steel and I go in through the service entrance with the heavy ordinance once we get the green light. We meet Poise and Littlefeather upstairs and secure the package. We go out the back, and we're gone in ten minutes, no more.”

“Good to know nothing's changed in the past five minutes.” Poise snarks, securing her pistol under her iridescent evening gown. Her clinging dress contrasts with the rest of our clothing: black armorweave under gel-polymer assault vests. Wrong dress for a party, perfect for a gunfight.

“We're here.” Littlefeather says from the front seat. Like Poise, he's dressed for the occasion in the finest designer wear. Except for the handgun tucked inside his jacket, he could pass for one of the rich and famous already partying inside the club. The van eases up to the curb behind a massive limousine. A group of mares climb out, their clothing pulsing to the beat of the music inside.

I glance over at Vigil.

He nods. "Let's move."

Poise and Littlefeather slide out and head inside while Vigil takes the wheel.

“Right," Vigil says as the van pulls into an empty loading dock behind the club. “Kill the security systems ahead of us, but don't raise any alarms.”

“No problem,” Wire grins, slouching in his chair. “I've got a little surprise ready for the first responders.”

“Don't get carried away,” Vigil warns, checking the magazine on the submachine gun slung across his chest.

“Don't worry.” Wire says absently from behind his goggles, his hooves blurring over the keyboard as he penetrates the outer layers of club security.

“Sure.” Vigil shuts the van door and heads into the loading dock. I pop the bay door and we slip inside, dodging a service drone as it comes out to investigate the occupied loading bay.

“Wire, you've got a drone coming outside.” I warn him as I follow Vigil into a back hallway.

“Low priority.” the hacker's voice says in my earpiece. “I'll send it back to its charging station in a sec.”

We work our way up the back stairs to a fire door. From the other side we hear the pounding bass of the club music system, drowning out every other sound.

“Quite a party.” Vigil grunts.

“You think? I could pop a whole clip through this door and no one would hear a thing.”

We crouch by the door for another minute.

“Wire, what's our status?” Vigil finally demands.

“Just about there, boss. Littlefeather and Poise are on the top floor now. Cameras and automated systems are mine, anything left is physical.”

Either Poise or Littlefeather tries to say something. There's a low buzz in my ear and a few garbled words, our comms vainly trying to filter the speaker's words out of the aural mayhem inside.

“Wire, you copy that?” Vigil asks

“Neg, hang on, lemme clear it up.”

A line of text from Poise's comm pops up on the bottom of my glasses.

8 gds. Dmd dgs.

Buck.

We wait in the dim stairwell for another thirty seconds. It feels like thirty minutes.

Finally Littlefeather makes contact.

With target. Hit it.

“You heard the pony, Wire.” Vigil says. “Execute on my mark.” My earpieces clamp down, filtering out noise above a certain decibel. The music cuts out to a whisper of white noise.

“Execute.”

Every light in the building goes out. The music volume kicks up from deafening to apocalyptic. It's only a whisper in my ears, but the bass feels like someone punching me in the chest. I yank open the door and Vigil charges into the room. I follow.

The VIP lounge is full of ponies. Most of them are on the floor, holding their ears. They're probably screaming too, but no one can hear them. Hay, they can't hear themselves. Their outfits pulse and glow to the beat like a phosphorescent carpet. My glasses pick out two upright figures and mark them as Poise and Littlefeather. Their guns are out, firing. The muzzle flashes are little white blinks in the cool gray wash of my augmented vision.

Motion.

I fire a burst, catching the bodyguard in the neck and face. He goes down. Another one claws his way out from under a pair of writhing party-goers. My glasses helpfully bracket him in red. Another burst.

Poise has somepony by the collar, dragging him towards the stair exit. My comm reads his chip and throws up a yellow bracket.

Helix, Dex. Labyrinth Industries.

Our target.

Vigil and I cover the others while they drag our captive down the stairs. Two more guards pop up and go down.

We're down the stairs and through the loading bay. Poise and Littlefeather heave our capture into the back of the van and climb in after him. I slam the door shut as Littlefeather floors it down the alley.

Poise zip ties Helix and rolls him into what looks like a wire mesh suitcase. Littlefeather and I put it together. Should keep the Nightwings from tracking his chip.

“I've got two 'wing units diverting to the club now.” Wire reports.

Wouldn't you know it.

We roar out of the alley and onto a main street. Wire finds the promised hole in security coverage and directs us through it.

Helix starts making noises until Poise hits his cage with a stun gun.

“ETA to safe house is five minutes.” Littlefeather flashes a grin at us in the rearview mirror.

Wire sits bolt upright and starts hammering at his keyboard. “No-no-no-no.”

“What's up?” Vigil asks.

“Nothing too major, but ah, I've got two helos inbound at high speed showing Labyrinth ID tags. Looks like they're heading straight for the club.”

I chuckle. “Too late.”

“Still, that's good reaction time for heavy units.” Wire comments.

“Hey Helix, looks like someone wants you back.” Poise raps the stun gun on the cage again.

The rest of the drive is quiet. Wire gives a running report on the 'wings and Labyrinth units, which converge on the club in a snarl of conflicting force. They never head our way though, and soon enough we're rolling down the ramp to our safe house.

Our safe house is a sub-level of an abandoned parking garage. It was right on the edge of a HyGen office park that was halfway through renovations when the company got its throat slit by Applecorp International. We've had the place to ourselves ever since.

We strap Helix to a chair, throw a bag over his head, and wait for Wire to contact our buyers.

Two hours later, Vigil and I are back on the streets, rolling towards a meeting with our employer. We're in street clothes, looking like a couple of late-drinking salaryponies heading back to our corporate enclave. The adrenaline has burned off, and the bone-deep exhaustion adds to the verisimilitude.

Helix is in the trunk, secure in his faraday suitcase.

The automated gate systems emblazoned with the Zephyr Global logo roll aside as we rumble up. Vigil and I exchange glances. We're on corp turf now. Short of the princess herself showing up, royal law can't touch us now. On the flip side, if a corp kill team decides to turn our SUV into a smoking shell, there's buck all anyone can do about it.

Our nav system guides us around several turns and down a delivery ramp into a sub-level garage. As we pull up to an entryway, a suit and two security personnel roll out in a little motorized cart. The suit steps off, comes around to the driver's side. Vigil rolls down his window.

“Mr. Smith!” The suit smiles, all slick mane and perfect dental.

“Mr. Johnson.” Vigil nods curtly in return.

“I must say, I was delighted to receive your call,” Mr. Johnson continues, still smiling broadly. “I don't need to tell you that your success was of great importance to me. And your professionalism! Nothing like the last team I hired, sadly.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Vigil nods solemnly. He's faking sincerity almost as hard as the suit.

“Well, no need to dwell on the past!” the suit says briskly, bouncing up on his hooves. “Where is my package?”

Vigil pops the trunk. The two corp goons drag Helix out of his box and onto the waiting cart.

“Excellent!” The suit keys his comm. “Payment has been transferred. I must say, it has been a pleasure working with you gentleponies. If you ever find yourself in need of employment-”

“We'll call you.” Vigil interrupts.

“Very well. Good night.”

The suit hops on the cart and the four of them zip back inside.

Vigil shakes his head as he steers us back up and out. The rain crashes into our windshield like its been waiting for us. I get on the comm with Wire.

“Payment just came in.” he assures me.

“All of it?”

“Every bit, big guy.”

“Thanks. We're on our way.”

“So,” Vigil says, merging into the superhighway feeder system as the rain-washed neon blurs around us. “Coffee?”

“Vigil, Steel, you guys there?”

“What's up, Wire?”

“Got some Nightwings nosing around the park. Looks like a random sweep, but be careful coming in.”

“Copy. We're there in ten.”

I take a sip of coffee. “So what now?”

“Dunno. Got a call from Booker yesterday. He might have something lined up for us.”

“Hope its not another foalnapping. I bucking hate escort missions.”

“Nah. Said something about an internal investigation in his company. Might need some records disappeared.”

“Well, that's his business. Me, I might just take my cut from this job and disappear for a few weeks.”

Vigil gives me a look. “Watch yourself. You disappear into a bar, that's your business. I have to drag you out again, that's mine.”

“Yeah.” I slouch in my seat. Not my proudest moment, even if I told myself I had an excuse.

Vigil clears his throat. “Look, I didn't mean it like that. We were all shaken up after Satin-”

“Its fine.” I stare out the window at the buildings flashing by.

Vigil steers us inside the office complex, wary of lurking Nightwings.

“Wire, we clear?”

“Clear as can be, boss! Lowering the barricade now.”

“He's never this chipper when we're not on a job.” Vigil mumbles. “If he's got another heist lined up already, I'm going to kick his flank.”

We roll up to the pile of rubble and support beams blocking the entrance to our safe house. It doesn't move. We stare at it.

Vigil keys his comm. “Hey Wire, gate's still up.”

“Yeah, gimme a sec. Having some, uh, trouble with the system. Come on you piece of-”

Something large and heavy smashes into the SUV's hood. I see my reflection. It turns towards me. I'm staring into the reflective visor of a suit of Eclipse power armor.

Which means we're bucked.

“Shit!” Vigil scrambles into the back seat, reaching for the heavy artillery. I kick away the crumpled passenger door and do a belly flop onto the concrete. I'm screaming at Wire to activate the defenses while I scramble behind the vehicle. Part of my mind is calmly repeating: You are so dead. You are so dead. You are so dead.

“Well you see, its like this.” Wire's voice says in my ear. His voice is calm, and suddenly I know with absolute certainty that Littlefeather and Poise are already dead.

“I'm tired of this life, Steel.”

I yank out my sidearm, for all the good it'll do me. Eclipse suits can take a cannon shell and keep coming.

“I mean, do you have any idea how much we're worth to the 'wings?”

I do, because I'm vain like that.

Vigil's assault rifle rattles from the front of the SUV, his last scream of defiance.

The vehicle groans as the Eclipse shifts its weight. There's a whine-crack and half the vehicle vaporizes into its component atoms. The explosion picks me up and tosses me halfway across the parking lot.

The world goes black as my head hits concrete.

“Full amnesty.” a distant voice says in my head. “That's what you bought me, Steel.”

I struggle, try to sit up, but the world keeps spinning sideways. My gun's gone.

A shadow slides into view overhead. Airship. Reinforcements.

The Eclipse kicks aside the twisted, burning remains of the SUV and strides towards me.

Don't know why. Could just blast me from there. I cough and taste copper.

Above the looming bulk of the airship, I see an expanding ring of light. Not light. Color.

A rainbow.

The rainbow stabs down, impaling the airship. Flames belch from the top like jets of blood. The airship wobbles.

The rainbow reaches the ground and zags, heading right for me.

I dimly hear the Eclipse's whine-crack just before something blue and fast grabs me.

“Gotcha, kid!” a voice shouts in my ear. “Now let's get out of here!”

The wind screams around me as the darkness closes in.

Equestria's Most Wanted

I wake someplace warm and quiet with giant moths, the kind you only see in Old Canterlot, tapping on the window. The room is dark and smells of dirt and spices. I take inventory. The side of my head still throbs, but its been expertly cleaned and bandaged. Likewise a long burn across my left foreleg where I caught the edge of the Eclipse's weapon. I experimentally pop my horn, the room brightening in the dim glow. Not much in here: cheap temperfoam bedslab, rolling cabinet loaded down with dozens of little glass vials, a few broken chairs and other bits of furniture piled in a corner. A set of metal shelves filled with anonymous cardboard boxes leans drunkenly against the wall. The walls are stone, not brick or concrete, and the data cables and power lines sag between staples driven into the mortar. Old Old Canterlot then. I get to my feet, testing my legs one by one. Everything seems to be working. I look around for my equipment, but there's no sign of it. The window is grimy plexiglass. One corner has broken away and been replaced with a ragged piece of tarp jammed into the hole. I peer out, looking for any identifiable landmarks.

The door behind me opens. I whirl around. A yellow pegasus squeaks in surprise and drops the tray she was carrying.

“Oh! Excuse me, I-I didn't think you'd be awake so soon.” she says, bending over to gather up the dropped items.

“Fluttershy.” I say.

She gives me a shy smile. “That's right.”

I hold out my bandaged leg. “You the one who fixed me up?”

She actually blushes. “Y-yes. You were all bloody when Rainbow Dash brought you in last night and I just hated to see you like that.”

“Well, uh, thanks for that. You did a great job, fixing me up like you did. I didn't think, I mean, I wouldn't have expected to get patched up by one of...uh...someone like...”

She hangs her head, her pink mane hiding her face. “A terrorist?” she says softly.

“No! I mean, not like, its just...shit, you're on every wanted poster from here to Manehatten.”

“Wanted for murder, arson, corporate espionage, unlicensed use of magic, and conspiracy against the Crown?” A white unicorn steps into the room, smiling primly. “Perhaps you shouldn't believe everything you read, darling.”

“Rarity.” I say, wondering how her mane and tail can remain perfectly styled in a dump like this. Everything in between is covered by something sleek and black that catches the light with the iridescent sheen of spilled oil.

“How is our guest?” she's asking Fluttershy when my mind catches back up to the conversation. “Perhaps that nasty bump on his head is to blame for his lack of manners?”

“Oh no, there wasn't any serious trauma.” Fluttershy assures her, the sarcasm going right over her head.

Rarity sniffs. “Well, I suppose anypony who's a fugitive from the Princess is welcome here, although sometimes I do wish Rainbow Dash would exercise a little more judgment in who she brings home with her.”

I grin. “Well, she runs with you, doesn't she?”

“Indeed she does. For quite a long time now, in fact. I trust her, and I trust her judgment when she brings home a strange unicorn. So, would you care to tell me how you came to be a fugitive from the law, or would you rather wait for the others?

“Others?”

“Yes, the other members of Equestria's most wanted.” She gives me a thin smile.

I rub the back of my head. “Look, I'm sorry. Its just...you six don't get a very favorable image in the official media, you know? Or any, for that matter.”

“Yes, I know. Do you really think I'd burn an entire server full of spell books? Well, besides the fact that Twilight would kill me if I did that.”

“I never killed all those ponies either.” Fluttershy says quietly. “I even made Angel use stun rounds.”

“And Angel is...?”

“Oh, he's my gunbunny.” Fluttershy gushes. “He's so sweet and helpful and always wants to help momma out except sometimes he gets a little cranky when he needs a fresh power cell. Would you like to meet him?”

“Well, that's nice of you, but-”

“Angel!” Fluttershy interrupts. “Angel, come and meet momma's new friend!” She beams at me as a mechanical rabbit lopes through the doorway and stares at me. The massive weapon on its back is as big as its entire body.

“Angel, say hello to the nice unicorn.” Fluttershy encourages it. The thing stares at me with dead eyes.

“Uh, hi.” I tentatively wave a hoof.

The massive cannon locks onto me with an audible click.

“Isn't he the most adorable thing?” Fluttershy beams like a proud parent.

“Yes...he...is.” I say, not moving a muscle.

“Fluttershy, be a dear and have Angel go wait outside for the others.” Rarity fiddles with her comm, a sleek black thing that screams class and bits. “They should be back soon.” She looks up at me. “Sorry, I didn't get your name, by the way.”

“Steel. Swift Steel.” I say, watching Fluttershy lead her killbot out of the room. “My friends call me Steel. Or did, I guess I should say.”

Rarity smiles sympathetically and holds out a perfectly manicured hoof. “Well, Steel, what do you say we start again? My name is Rarity, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Nice to meet you.” I grin. “And thanks for patching me up.”

“Please, that was all Fluttershy, darling. She has a knack for healing.”

“So what's your knack then?”

Rarity brushes her perfectly curled mane with one hoof. “Why, fashion of course.”

“Again, not what I was expecting.”

“ThreeStone clothing line. Perhaps you've heard of it?”

“Heard of it, never see it.”

She runs a hoof over her sleek black suit. “You have now.”

“That looks...exclusive.”

“Not intentionally. Every piece is hoofmade. I like to make a quality product, not churn out cheap clothes like some corp factory. Believe me, darling, if I could devote all my time to designing and making clothes, I would be the happiest pony in Equestria.”

“So you'd give up all this?”

“Oh, goodness no. Quite aside from the fact that Equestria needs Celestia back, I could never abandon my friends.”

“True, I don't think a royal pardon is in your future.” I grin.

“Or in yours, for that matter.”

I rub my bandage. “Yeah...hey, speaking of, do you know where my equipment went?”

“I'm terribly sorry, but it was too badly damaged to salvage. I think Fluttershy disposed of it. Did you lose something of sentimental value?”

“No, not really. Its just that I'm not going to be of much use to you without any gear.”

She smiles wickedly. “Oh, I'm sure we can find some use for you.”

My mouth flops around while I try to think of an appropriate response. I'm saved by a chime from Rarity's comm.

“Wonderful, they're back. Come along, Steel, its time to meet the rest of our little group.”

**

I'm eye to eye with a dragon. Purple scales, emerald eyes, razor teeth. He hardly notices me. He's fixated on the white unicorn instead of me. When she leaves the room for a moment he tears himself away long enough to produce a gem from somewhere and give me a doubtful stare.

“How do we know you're not a spy or something?” he says, munching on an amethyst the size of my hoof.

“Well, I suppose I could be, but do you think the princess would really waste an airship just as part of my cover?”

He's unconvinced. “It could have been faked.”

“Are you kidding?” My pegasus savior appears in the doorway. “If I hadn't grabbed him, that Eclipse would've toasted him.” She tosses her forelock back and grins at me. “Pretty cool, huh? I had just enough speed for a perfect sonic rainboom right through that airship's forward fuel cell. Then I zigzagged over and grabbed you a split second before the Eclipse would have pasted you! Bet you've never seen a real sonic rainboom before, huh?

“Rainbow Dash!” A big orange mare with a cyberleg puts down the crate she's carrying to glare at the pegasus. “You need ta help unload right now.”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.”

The earth pony tips her hat at me. “Howdy, name's Applejack.” She holds out a hoof, her real one. I take it.

“Swift Steel.”

“Pleased ta meet you. Heard all about how Rainbow Dash rescued you. Hope you didn't get too banged up.”

“I'll live.” I hold out my bandaged leg. “Luckily my skin absorbed the worst of it.”

Applejack chuckles. “Remind me ta tell you the tale of how ah got this.” She taps the matte steel of her cyberleg. “Come on now, I'll introduce you to the others.”

The others are on the roof with the rotorcraft. Pinkie Pie, the B&E specialist that gives corp security nightmares. I saw the raw footage of the party she threw on the roof of F&F Enterprises before it was purged from the net. And last but not least, Twilight Sparkle, the leader of this little group. Former student at the Royal Academy of Magic, she's rumored to be the most powerful unicorn in Equestria.

“Hello there!” she says. “You must be the pony Rainbow Dash rescued.”

I introduce myself for the third time.

**

I'm sipping coffee and watching Applejack unpack. She's opened two crates and is systematically cataloging and stacking the contents on the floor. Looks like electronic gadgets and hardware. She's making good on her earlier promise while she does it.

“...an' right about that time the Eclipse busts in through the doors. Ah figured ah was in for it then. Twilight was up on the roof fightin' Luna's student, that flashy lil unicorn, so she had her hooves full. Rainbow Dash was mixin' it up with the Shadowbolts, and ah didn't rightly want the others bustin' in, what with all the security an' all. 'Sides, it was my mistake.”

She looks up. There's a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Wanna know how ah killed it?”

“Hay yeah.”

She raises her cyberleg. “Shaped charge. Right between the eyes.”

“And how in the name of Luna did you manage that?”

“Ah rode that suit like a bronco while ah held the charge on the visor with one hoof and hit the button with the other. Backblast took off most of my leg, but ah killed it. Ah tied off the stump an' my friends got me outta there.”

I raise my coffee cup in a toast. “Wow. That's probably the gutsiest move I've every heard of.”

“Aw, shucks, it weren't nothing. Couldn't hardly let it shoot down my friends now, could I?”

“Heh, I guess not. Think I would have tried to do the same.” I rub my bandaged head, remembering Wire's voice in my ear.

“Ah heard about that. Real sorry 'bout your friends.”

“Yeah, me too.” I drain my cup and stare into it, turning it around in my hooves. “I just wish that-”

“SURPRISE!” Pinkie Pie pops out of the crate that Applejack has just emptied. A shower of confetti explodes across the room.

“Woah!” I flinch back. “Where did...how did...what...”

“Pinkie, ya shouldn't go 'round scaring our guest like that.” Applejack scolds her.

“Not scary, silly, surprise!” She produces a large sheet cake from somewhere. “See? Its your Welcome to the Party Party! We've decided to let you join our group!”

The cake has Welcome to the Party! written on it in green frosting.

“H-how did you even have time to make that?” I manage to say.

Pinkie giggles. “Its easy, silly! You just plan ahead!”

“But...there's no way...you couldn't have known-”

“Yeah, I'd just let it go if ah were you.” Applejack drawls, brushing confetti off a stack of what look like blocky rifle magazines. “Twilight tried figuring out what made Pinkie tick once; dang near drove herself crazy.”

“Okay then.” I hesitantly accept a slice of the mysterious cake.

“Swift Steel?” Twilight and the others file into the room.

Applejack points at the cake. “He already knows.”

Twilight sighs. “Pinkie...”

“Ooh, cake.” Rainbow Dash zips over to grab a slice.

“So, I'm part of this group now?” I ask.

“If you wish to be.” Twilight paces. “May I be frank with you?”

“Please.”

“We're a close-knit group. We don't usually bring outsiders in. Work with them, yes, bring them into the team, no.”

“Unless its something big.” I guess.

“I had Rarity and Fluttershy do some digging into your past while you were unconscious. You were in trouble with the law as a colt, then joined the Equestrian Guard to avoid a prison sentence as a young stallion. You served two tours in Griffonia and one in Zebrica. You were dishonorably discharged due to your involvement in the deaths of four soldiers on the North Boarian border: official file lists it as a 'friendly fire incident'. Official records are spotty after that, but word is that you've been working as a freelancer for various corps. Does that sound about right?”

I give her a grin. “I can neither confirm nor deny my involvement in extralegal corporate espionage.”

“Well, I can confirm that we are currently engaged in the highest levels of treason against the Crown, namely a plot to restore Princess Celestia to the throne. As you said, its something big. You are welcome to join us if you wish. Or you can go your own way.”

“And if I was overcome with a sudden fit of patriotism and decided to turn you in?”

“Somehow I don't think you're the kind of pony that would do that. Even if you could get someone to listen to you it wouldn't matter; we'll be gone from here soon. That's assuming the Nightwings wouldn't simply shoot you on sight.”

I grimace. “Yeah. Still, what makes you think I'd give up freelancing to sign on with your little uprising?”

Twilight waved a hoof. “Idealism. Dissatisfaction with the status quo. Greed. The thrill of the challenge. Curiosity. There are any number of reasons why you might join us.”

“Greed?”

“Of course. Do you really think the princess will forget those brave ponies who freed her?”

“Mmm, I suppose not. Still, that's surprisingly pragmatic of you.”

“Not entirely. You see, while you were unconscious, I had Fluttershy implant poison sacs in several of your main blood vessels. Run, and you might last a month. Help us, and I'll give you the antidote.”

My hoof reflexively rises to my throat. “Are you bucking serious?”

Twilight giggles merrily. “Of course not, I was only joking. I...we would never coerce your help.”

I flop back onto the couch. “Luna's stars, don't play with a stallion like that.”

“So, you in or not, big guy?” Rainbow pipes up. “C'mon, it'll be fun.”

“You're right, I really don't have any loyalty to the crown.” I say. “and I do sort of owe Rainbow Dash here for saving my life. So here's the deal. I join you on two conditions. I help you with this, and assuming we live through it, you help me track down the dirty coward that killed my team.”

Twilight nodded. “Alright.”

“Second, answer me this. What good will bringing back Celestia do? Sure, I get that she'll be grateful for bringing her back, but why go to all the risk? You're one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. You could have stayed in the Academy and been Luna's pet student, maybe been an archmage someday. You-” I point at Applejack. “-were the CEO of the biggest corp in Equestria. Why give it all up?”

“Wasn't worth it.” Applejack mutters.

Twilight thinks for a moment. “Because I found out what Equestria was like before the war, before Celestia's banishment. What it was really like, not the lies they feed you in school.”

I try to remember back to my school days. “We were a weak, insignificant backwater.”

“Lies. How could we be weak when our princesses controlled the sun and stars. How could we be insignificant?”

I remember something from one of the tutor programs, a model showing a typical Old Equestrian town. Timber houses. Windmills. “Pretty sure we were still backwards.”

“We were at peace. When was the last time Equestria has been at peace?”

I think back on my own career. “Uhhh...”

“Exactly. Luna has build a strong Equestria, but she has done so by ignoring the principles upon which this nation was founded. Equestria used to stand for peace and harmony, not blind stupid strength. What good is strength if ordinary ponies are starving? What good is law and order if the laws only serve a few? What good is a society without love or laughter? I know I've been called an anarchist and a terrorist, but I'm not. I don't want to bring down society or even bring down Princess Luna. I just want to restore harmony to Equestria.”

I'm impressed. Whatever else she may be, the little unicorn's got faith. My professional instincts usually tell me to steer clear of true believers and their little flocks of followers. But another little voice is whispering in my ear.

Look at these ponies. Some of Equestria's best and brightest. They could have been rich and powerful, hay, some of them were. They gave up everything for this idea. Maybe there's something to this. Maybe going up against the crown and the corps isn't as insane as it sounds. Maybe...

“No guarantees though?”

Twilight shakes her head. “No guarantees.”

I grin crazily. “Buck it, I'm in.”

They cheer and crowd around, welcoming me. Pinkie passes around slices of cake.

I notice Twilight hanging back a little, studying me.

Afterward, when the party's wound down, she walks me back to my room.

“Hey,” she says, standing in the doorway. “I'm glad you decided to join us.”

“Thanks. I guess we'll see, won't we?”

“You made the right decision.” she says. “But if you don't mind telling me, why did you decide to join us?”

I shrug vaguely. “Call it...professional pride, I guess. I figure I wouldn't have survived much longer on the streets anyway. If you going out, go out big, right?”

She smiles. “I suppose so.”

“So, what's the next step?”

“Our plans are already in motion. The next step is to breach Celestia's prison and free her.”

“Wow. So wait, you already know where Celestia's imprisoned?”

“We only have the location, and even that much cost us years of searching. We still have no idea what we'll find once we get there.”

“Okay, so where are we going?”

Twilight smiles mischievously “We're going to the moon.”