Overthrown

“Welcome to orientation, cadets,” Flitter said, smiling over the three ponies. Trixie glared at her as Cheerilee and Derpy simply stared in confusion. “I guess you’re all wondering what you’re doing here.”

Trixie gritted her teeth and yelled, “Trixie would like to hear that before she puts a hole in your—”

“What Trixie means, Flitter, is yes, we’d like to know,” Derpy interrupted. Trixie shot her glare towards Derpy and slowly calmed down as she looked back up at Flitter.

Flitter’s smile faded. “Listen, this isn’t going to be easy to hear, but I need the three of you to hear it.” A long pause filled the cave as Flitter tried to collect her words. “Ponies are dying. Pretty soon, they’ll be dying by the hundreds, and it won’t stop there.”

Cheerilee gasped, not sure how to react. “I’m sorry,” the teacher announced, “but what does this have to do with the three of us being stranded in a cave?” She tried to seem as polite as she could, but a hint of anger couldn’t help but make its way out.

Flitter took a deep breath and recollected herself again. “Let me explain some things first.” She descended to the ground in front of the other three ponies. “You two,” she said motioning towards Cheerilee and Trixie, “may not know me, but my name is Flitter.”

“How do you know her?” Cheerilee asked turning towards Derpy.

“Flight camp,” Derpy responded. “She was always top of the class. I always wondered why she never made a career out of her flying talent. I remember walking into flight camp the first day, and she was the only one who had her cutie mark.”

Cheerilee and Trixie gazed at Flitter’s cuite mark. “Dragonflies,” Flitter responded. “It means I have the wingpower of two sets of wings. Some dragonflies can fly up to 36 miles per hour. Think of how fast a fully developed mare could fly with that kind of talent.” She smirked. “But I didn’t bring you all here to brag about my accomplishments.”

“What are you doing with that eye patch?” Derpy asked.

“Oh, this?” Flitter chuckled. “I got that about two years ago. Lost my eye when somepony sent a manticore to keep me from sneaking into their castle. That’s Saddle Arabia for you.”

Cheerilee pushed off all the confusion she had to smile at the achievement. “Sneaking into a castle? Making it past a manticore alive?” She and Derpy gawked at the recruiter with enthusiasm. Trixie stood behind them, still holding an icy stare for being knocked unconscious.

Derpy’s expression suddenly returned to confusion. “But I’ve seen you lots of times over the past 2 years, and you’ve never worn an eye patch.”

“Glass eye,” Flitter replied with a chuckle. “Hurts like a dickens, but I have to make sure nopony finds out about my job.”

“And just what is it that you do?” Cheerilee asked.

Flitter replied with her casual smirk. “Ladies, what you are about to hear is completely confidential and is to be kept such. Understood?” Cheerilee and Derpy nodded their heads, but Trixie kept her solid figure. “I asked if I was understood.” Trixie’s eyes grew even glacier, but she nodded nonetheless. “I’m the head sergeant of Equestria’s Royal Espionage Crew.” The three ponies gasped, Cheerilee covering her mouth with her hooves. “That’s… why I brought you all here…” The three ponies looked on, confused and scared. “Ladies… we need soldiers.”

“What?!” Cheerilee exclaimed. “I can’t fight a war! I have children to teach! OH NO! Class has probably started by now! Oh, they must be wondering where I—”

“Taken care of,” Flitter responded to silence the frantic earth pony. “A substitute was sent to the school this morning. She’s probably teaching your class as we speak. Nopony suspects a thing.” Cheerilee sighed in relief, but still couldn’t shake off the tension she was feeling. “Don’t worry, after this meeting you will all be allowed to return to your homes whether or not you comply.” Before Trixie had the chance to retaliate, Flitter cut her off saying, “You will also all be kept safe so long as you make sure that nopony knows about this place, about me, or about this organization. Understood?” The ponies all nodded their heads.

“I’m sorry to keep butting in like this,” Cheerilee said, “but why would you want us as soldiers?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Trixie said with her own smirk. “It was about time somepony took notice of the Great and Powerful Trixie’s magical prowess.”

“Actually, it’s quite the opposite,” Flitter responded, getting the usual glare from the blue unicorn. “We need somepony we can train. It seems as though most ponies have been taught how to train wrong and are thus at a disadvantage. I wanted to get three ponies with as little training as possible. That’s when I found you three.”

“What?!” Trixie shouted.

Flitter got in Trixie’s face. Trixie would have responded, but deep down, she knew she couldn’t attack a head sergeant. “Trust me,” Flitter continued, “by the end of all your training, you will be the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria.” Trixie’s glare was suddenly disrupted by widened eyes and a quick heartbeat. “Now, I wouldn’t want you to go into this without knowing exactly what you’re fighting for, so let me explain.” The three ponies sat back and listened intently to the pegasus’ tale. Flitter took a deep breath and began her sermon.

“About a week ago, a unicorn showed up dead on royal grounds dead. It wasn’t a day later when we heard of another unicorn being beaten until death. Then two more popped up. Upon investigating, we determined that these deaths were no coincidence. They were all linked together. A fifth unicorn’s body showed up on the grounds of the Crystal Empire. He had a note tied to his horn. This is no longer an attack on Equestrians or even unicorns in general. This is a planned terrorist attack on Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“The note said, ‘The government has become corrupted to where only unicorns can find favor in the eyes of royalty. Not even the most talented pegasi or earth ponies will ever meet your requirements. It is our plan to show you that we are not a force to be reckoned with. Prepare your troops, because your princess is about to be overthrown.’

“You may be wondering right now why the princesses don’t take this threat on by themselves. After all, the princesses have, without a doubt, the most powerful magic in Equestria. Unfortunately for us, though, we can’t allow them to have any part in this war. Their lives are far more important than any of ours. They can’t fight an entire war by themselves. Take the changeling invasion of Canterlot last summer, for example. Celestia couldn’t even stop the Chrysalis Queen by herself, and that’s just one threat. Twilight and her friends were thwarted just by the mere number of her subjects. Princess Cadence was only able to stop them due to Prince Shining Armor’s help. If she didn’t have him, Canterlot would be gone right now, and to make things worse, one of our sources is telling us that the enemy’s forces are growing in number. It’s estimated that soon, there will be thousands of terrorists looking for any opportunity to take down the princesses.

“Needless to say, there’s bound to be another attack any day now. We need ponies that we can train now. That’s why I needed the perfect pegasus, unicorn and earth pony. The three of you, should you all consent, will become the top soldiers of the military. You’ll be their leaders. You’ll be my leader. You need to understand, though, that this is in nowise safe. We are prepared to give our lives to protect the princesses. In doing so, though, we ensure a safe and peaceful Equestria.

“However,” she got up in Trixie’s face and gave her a stern look. “We are not one hundred percent sure who the culprit is, and we are keeping a close look out on anypony who might hold even the slightest grudge on Princess Twilight. If any of you have even the smallest ounce of respect for Equestria, you will tell me if any of you know anything.” She backed away slowly and turned to face all three of the enthralled ponies. “Cheerilee, Trixie, Derpy, knowing all of this, will you help me—No…” she bowed humbly to the ponies. “Will you help save Equestria?”

Cherilee stood with a strong posture, looked at Flitter like a cadet and replied firmly, “Yes, ma’am.”

Flitter smiled at her. “Thank you, Cheerilee. Don’t worry. This training won’t take you away from your children; not until there’s an actual terrorist attack, anyway.”

“Count me in,” Derpy said rushing over to hug her friend.

“I knew I could count on you, Derpy.” Derpy, Cheerilee and Flitter then all shifted their gaze at Trixie. “Well? What do you say, Trixie?”

Trixie’s stern stare turned into a brief smirk. “Trixie already agreed before you knocked her out, didn’t she?” the wizard said with a smile. “Just don’t forget what you said about me becoming the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria.” The others cheered and clapped their hooves.

“Thank you so much, all of you,” Flitter said. “Our first training session will be here tomorrow evening at dusk. I’ll show you the way out, but it’s your responsibilities to remember how to get back. I look forward to seeing you.” Flitter saluted her new recruits, who returned the gesture.

“You really don’t know who the pony behind all of this is, though?” Cheerilee asked as Flitter began to lead them out of the cave.

“We have an idea, but we aren’t one hundred percent sure, and until that day comes, we can’t disclose that information.”

Once Flitter had guided them all out of the cave, Derpy turned to Flitter and said, “By the way, you have a sister at home who’s worried about you.”

Flitter smiled politely and said, “I know. I miss her too. Hopefully I’ll be able to return home soon.” Derpy nodded her head and flew off with the other two recruits. Once Flitter knew that they were out of earshot, she brought her head down and slumped gloomily onto the ground. She then looked into the sky and mumbled to herself, “Lightning Dust, what are you thinking?”