//------------------------------//
// Information 
// Story: Politics 
// by Dai Kirai 
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	4/25/14 11:30pm Salt Lick, Equestria
Avery jumped into the fight while Victor lazily moved to help. He knew Victor would help out, he always did. What the hell happened in Afghanistan to make him so hesitant to get involved, he used to be the first one to break up a fight. 
Avery looked at the mess as ponies and humans collided, with punches, kicks, and grapples between two dozen combatants. He knew from experience that nobody would listen to reason and he didn’t have the necessary restraints. Avery quickly grabbed the nearest marine around the neck using his forearm. The unfortunate marine passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain and was lowered to the floor. A fellow marine a few feet away saw this and charged whatever human decided to take the side of the ponies. 
Avery saw her charge, a chaotic thing of speed and no thought. She’s going to get what she deserves then. He conceded and lowered his body. When there were only a few feet left separating them, the SAD officer took a step forward, put his shoulder against her chest, grabbed and lifted her off the ground. Avery couldn’t hear any specific noises with the cacophony of a fight going on as he turned and threw the marine onto the floor using her own momentum. Her trajectory only a scant few inches from a familiar male pegasus. Her back hit first, forcing air out of her lungs and struggling for breath. 
Avery was just focused on control and delay, keeping as many combatants down without getting injured as he could. As he turned to the right to find another target a fist came out of his blind spot, landing in the right cheek and momentarily surprising him. Avery turned to see a shocked marine, Private Gallindez, but never got the chance to return the favor as a pair of hands grabbed Avery’s arms from behind. There were too many combatants to keep track of, but he needed someone to watch his back. Where the hell is Victor? He asked, unable to see the rest of the bar.
“Quick. I got him.” The voice behind Avery yelled.
“No way.” Gallindez stated as he backed away, some semblance of sanity breaking through the haze of alcohol and adrenaline. 
Avery wasn’t able to see where the private went as a shooting pain spread through his ribs. Whatever marine is responsible for that one will regret it. He seethed and turned to see his newest assailant. It was a sky-blue pegasus that had bucked him in the chest while an oblivious marine held him. Dew Drop bent his back legs and prepared for another round. Avery pivoted to his right so that the force of the kick would go into the marine holding him. 
The force never landed as a red-headed blur tackled the pegasus, landing in a heap of arms, legs, and feathers. Victor quickly wrapped his arms under the pegasus’ forelegs and around the back of its head to keep him from moving. “What the hell do I do now?” The human asked.
Avery didn’t have a great answer for his friend. That was a grey area. Technically he had a right but the pony was now subdued and any violence against a pony, even if deserved, would be a black mark on his record, which was the reason Avery started on his own men first. 
It was a question Avery didn’t have to answer as the door to the bar was opening from the outside and four unicorns and two pegasi in gold armor entered and headed into the fray. They were followed closely by four humans in military fatigues and black armbands that signaled they were Military Police; and a pissed off looking Aiko in what amounted to very casual wear, shorts and a thin grey shirt.
Private Gallindez saw Aiko rushing at him and out of reflex threw a punch towards her. She blocked his arm with both hands and used the force to pull him towards her and lifted her knee. Gallindex doubled over as the knee connected with his abdomen, but it was quickly followed up by an elbow to the base of his skull that sent him the rest of the way to the floor. 
The guards were just as vicious with the ponies. A unicorn guard would blast one of the equine combatants into a wall using telekinesis. Whenever one combatant was taken down they were quickly restrained so they couldn’t reenter the fray. 
Avery felt his captors grip weak, and slammed his head backwards into the unsuspecting marine’s nose. Avery quickly rolled the marine over and planted a knee in his back until an MP could make his way over with some restraints. He looked up to see Dew Drop floated in a white aura of magic towards a waiting guard, with Victor standing nonchalantly next to his CO.
Victor just shook his head. “Couldn’t even take on one little pony.” He tisked.
An MP finally came over and handed Avery a set of plastic cuffs. “Guess you missed the others I took down while you sat and watched.” He said, firmly securing one of the troublemakers. 
“Yeah. Your form was a little off tonight.” Victor taunted. “One too many beers is my guess. Getting soft in your old age?”
Avery stood up only to stagger as the trauma started to set in. 
Victor quickly wrapped an arm around his friend for support. “Maybe you should see the doctor before doing anything else.” 
“It’s nothing major.” Avery stated as he moved towards the Royal Guard that seemed to be in charge. “Besides, there are some that need to be worked out now.” As they reached the guard, Avery cleared his throat to get his attention. Its attention. Avery corrected himself. There’s no proof this one’s a male just because he looks like it. The armor had some sort of magic on it that made its wearer look like a stallion.
The guard looked over at the humans with a questioning eye. “Is there something I can help you with?” Clearly annoyed at his calm night being disturbed.
“I was the first one on the scene and called it in.” Avery declared. “And wanted to clear up any jurisdictional disputes.”
The guard reevaluated this human. “Ok, what happened?”
Avery quickly related the events from the two drunks starting the fight to getting involved to break it up. 
“Do you want to press charges against the pony that hit you?” The guard asked. “You are within your rights since you were trying to break it up.”
Is this some kind of trick question? This should go through the Ambassador. Avery conceded, wanting to keep the conflict to a minimum. “I won’t press charges, and I suggest no charges be pressed on either side.”
The guard quirked his eyebrow surprised that charges weren’t going to be pressed and that the human wanted to no charges to be pressed at all. 
“We will pay for the damages to the bar. And I suggest that you punish yours and we punish ours. Let’s not turn a bunch of drunks into something bigger than it really was.” Avery suggested. And the last thing needed would be for a human in the jail of a different species on the prime time news. 
The guard continued his quizzical stare. “What charges do you plan on laying?”
“The max I can get away with.” Avery leveled.
“If you hadn’t stepped in and took out three of your own people and getting injured in the process, I don’t think I’d believe you.” The guard stopped and thought for a moment. “Agreed.” He said, walking off to relay the news and grumbling in a barely audible manner. “Besides saves me the hassle of more paperwork and dealing with the politics.” 

4/26/14 1:45am Human Embassy Exam Room, Equestria
Avery was sitting on an exam table with his shirt off with his chest wrapped in bandages and a growing black eye. The room was bland with the standard white walls and cabinets, a small metal cart filled with medical supplies, the exam table, a single chair and a stool. The Embassy had four such rooms on the first floor for standard medical tests and treatment. There was an emergency medical facility close by, but nonemergency operations were performed back on Earth. 
It had taken less than half an hour to get the fight broken up, it had taken several hours for each side to take care of their wounded. The marines were taken to the brig on the B2 level of the basement, having already been treated for cuts abrasions, fractures and a broken bone. And as they were under Avery’s control, he was going to make them pay for it. I’ll report it on Monday, after they have some time for the repercussions to set in. Avery contemplated, a stabbing pain shot through his chest with every breath. 
“Saved you again.” Victor snickered, the tape across his broken nose making him look even less serious. 
Avery was reminded of the last time Victor saved his life. It was in Columbia when they were attacking a drug supplier. Their small group was stacked up on the door, ready to enter when Victor heard a shotgun being loaded and pulled him out of the way. Victor had saved Avery’s life but got his left arm peppered with shot and almost lost the use of his arm. 
“Couldn’t you have done it in time to save my ribs?” Avery asked, moving his hand to his lower chest.
“Seems fair to me.” Victor rebutted, “This time you get the bandages.”
“You were the one that left it in the doorway.” Avery jested. 
“Saving your sorry ass.” Victor retorted. “If only I’d gotten shot there. Great conversation starter.” 
“Especially for the ladies?” Avery queried.
“Exactly!” Victor replied ecstatically. “And here I thought you’d forgotten all about women.”

4/27/14 10:00am Ponyville Equestria
Two humans were walking through the Ponyville market. Anthony was in the front and followed closely by Aiko. Anthony thought it was good for people to be seen in a peaceful manner, especially after the brawl from the previous night. There were a couple dozen ponies out in the large street milling about. Aiko saw something entirely different in the mass of multicolored ponies, trepidation. The shoppers were keeping a few extra inches between themselves and the Ambassador, being more watchful of his actions. It wasn’t just that humans and ponies got into a bar fight, it was the story going around that a human started it. Things would have been a lot worse if they hadn’t seen the Military Police and the Royal Guard prepare and enter the bar together, showing it was a problem for both races.
Whose bright idea was it to let airheaded marines that can’t even hold their liquor out of the Embassy? Aiko kept the scowl off her face; it would do nothing to ease the current tensions. They should make an example of the dipshit; make sure nobody would be stupid enough to try it again. No, they just want to give him a discharge and be done with it. She was in a suit and looked like any other bodyguard would have, except for the gun. She switched out her usual FiveseveN for a p229 which was easier to conceal, and the added punch wouldn’t be needed. If I have to use it here, that’s the end of it anyway. An attack will be from a few individuals, the Ambassador is still respected. Firing a gun would only work to scare them off and rush back to safety. The SAD Officer was confident in her ability to fight off one or two hostiles, and her reluctance to kill. ‘Completing a mission without killing is a sign of skill. Anyone can pull a trigger.’
They stopped by a yellow food stall and Anthony started talking to the proprietor, an orange and yellow earth pony. Aiko kept watch, listening for any change to their banter. This pony wasn’t deemed a threat. This was just the Ambassador trying to get to know the locals, to seem like less of a threat and to build a lasting friendship. Aiko had her own favorites at the market, a certain cream colored earth pony had a killer selection of local sweets, but that was on her own time. 
Aiko had never had a choice but to join the army, had never seen a reason not to. Her grandparents were issei, first generation immigrants from Japan, and had moved to the country as children in the late 1930’s. Even while racial tensions were high and Japanese were relegated to certain areas, they had supported their new home and her grandfather was part of the Military Intelligence Service and worked translating captured enemy documents. Every member of her family had enlisted in the military, her mother in the Navy and her father in the Army. Her brother even served as a Marine Corps scout sniper. It was only natural to join the Army out of college. Up until now Aiko’s education which focused purely on kinesiology, how people move, and how to fight. Several key aspects didn’t carry over to ponies, which had led to the painful kick she’d received to the stomach. 
Anthony left the little yellow kiosk, having ordered some fresh produce for the people he was responsible for and heading off to his next destination; a wooden apple half way down the street. Aiko followed, looking for even the minutest details, a pony appearing antsy, staring eyes, anypony running towards them. Anything. 
When the crowd started to shuffle in front of them, Aiko put a hand on the Ambassador’s shoulder and moved him back slightly. Her posture shifted from a relaxed position to a more balanced stance, expecting an attack. The ponies, noticing a change in her demeanor back away and gave the guard a good fifteen foot area in front of her that was completely vacated. The ponies that were just buying their groceries or out enjoying the beautiful spring air began to stare. But when a small pony, not yet fully grown, rushed out of the crowd and holding a knife, Aiko was ready.
The pony looked like he was just old enough to have gotten his cutie mark. He was light-caramel in color with a close cropped sienna mane. A knife was sticking out of the left side of his mouth. The pony was charging straight at Aiko and Anthony, head slightly lowered as it charged. “You monsters!” the foal screamed around the knife. “My sister is in the hospital because of you!” 
Aiko didn’t think, she didn’t need to. This pony was a clear threat and her body reacted to years of conditioning. She took a step to the attacker’s left as he neared and turned slightly to her right. The foal didn’t notice the slight shift, until he was halfway past the human and she lunged forward and a forearm slammed into his neck. He fell onto his side, the shock making him lose his grip on the knife. The caramel earth pony looked to his left to see the female human on top of him.
Aiko landing on top of the attacker, straddling him and preventing any escape. She listened for any signs of other attackers, there were none. The bodyguard leaned forward, picked up the dropped knife in her right hand and leaned forward towards his ear. 
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but that fight was the fault of both parties.” Aiko whispered coldly into his ear. “I take it from your cutie mark that you’re smart. It takes brains to play chess.” She indicated the image of a rook on his flank, another similarity between the two worlds. 
The pony turned his head to look at the creature sitting on top of him. Aiko gave a slight grin, just enough to expose her canines. “Mine is fighting. It’s the one thing I am truly great at.” Aiko whispered. “And the only reason that you aren’t going to be in the hospital next to your sister, or worse,” She let the implications hang for a moment before continuing. “Is because I have been instructed not to, all of us have.”
The pony lets out a small breath, which caught in his throat when Aiko started speaking again. “Unless we perceive a genuine threat.” She stared at the pony kept in place by her weight. “But if I see you brandishing another weapon at any human for a reason other than self-defense, I will take the necessary precautions.” She practically snarled, making sure the point got across, but quiet enough for no other pony to hear. 
A shuffling noise to her right, and a flash of movement alerted her to another presence. Her right arm shot out, knife flying out of her hand. The knife imbedded itself into the ground at the hooves a filly. The eyes of both ponies go wide. The newest pony dropped backwards in shock, landing on her rump. The new arrival was another earth pony, but female this time. She was a darkish blue-gray with a light grey mane and a fancy spoon for a cutie mark. The glasses and string of pearls around her neck the only accoutrements and more than most other ponies ever wore.
Aiko gives the newcomer an even stare. “What do you want?” She can feel the foal beneath her start to shake a little.
The newcomers whimpered. “Please don’t hurt him.” She pleaded.
“I’m not. This is just a warning.” Aiko replied, and leaned back down to the grounded pony. “Is that your fillyfriend?” She asked.
The colt nodded slightly, afraid to answer.
“You could have gotten her hurt to. Your actions have consequences.” Aiko held the colt’s gaze for a moment longer. “Do you understand?” She questioned.
The colt can only nod, small tears coming from his eyes.
Aiko stood up, removing her weight from the pony. The colt stayed there until the human’s back was turned then quickly ran over to his friend and they both ran off in tears. 
Aiko observed the surroundings; there were several ponies staring; several in shock. She walked over to where the filly had been and picked up the knife. It was a solid affair, finely made and razor sharp. The guard put the knife into a special section of her boot for later use and walked back to the Ambassador. “Sir,” She stated, despite the fact they were married, decorum had to be followed. “I think we should get you back to your residence. Just in case there are any more problems today.” 
The ambassador looked about. “If that’s what you think is best.” He replied and headed back to his residence, the only residence not in the Embassy. He was quickly stopped by an orange earth pony running up to him.
Aiko knew this pony quite well. Applejack was no threat, and would only be under the most extreme of circumstances. 
The mare looked stunned. “What the hay just happen’d here? Check Mate ‘n Silver Spoon came from this direction in tears.”
“My job.” Aiko iterated coldly. “He came at the Ambassador with a knife.” 
“Mite excessive if ya ask me.” Applejack replied. “Cryin’ like that.”
“It was just a warning.” Aiko stated flatly, still moving the Ambassador forward towards their house. “If it were anything else he wouldn’t have gotten away with just a bruise.”
Applejack stopped, stunned at how cold the human was. After a moment the orange pony trotted back up to the Ambassador, one question tugging at the back of her mind. “If ya’ll don’t mind me askin’. How didja two meet.”
Aiko almost broke her stride. She was barely able to hide her shock at that question, one she rarely answered to those she didn’t have to work with.
“Tell you what. Bring Lyra to the Embassy on Monday and I will tell you. We can make it a lunch meeting.” The Ambassador smiled as he kept walking.
“Why Lyra?” The farmer inquired.
The ambassador gave a light chuckle. “So I don’t have to tell the story twice.” Everyone that had ever dealt with the mint-green unicorn knew how she would chase down new information like a parasprite after an apple.
The humans walked away from the market, earth pony following closely behind, a question still on her lips. “Do you love him?” The pony finally asked of the bodyguard. 
Aiko kept her face straight. “What do you mean?”
“You two seem so different.” Applejack said, another question hidden within.
Aiko’s cover had relied for years upon her husband’s status as a translator. It had allowed her easy access into and out of Japan where most of her work was done. Mostly just observing and acquiring intelligence assets. But her cover still relied on, in fact was a major reason for her position overseas in the CIA. She only had one response for the pony. “I’m sorry, I have a job to do and need to keep an eye out for trouble.” Aiko stated as she sped up, making it clear that was not a topic she would talk about. The element of honesty could probably see through any lie I try to pass off, especially if she’s getting Anthony’s version tomorrow. And with the way gossip flows through this town… She let the though trail off. That was one piece of information she could never let get back to the Embassy.

4/27/14 3:00pm Equestrian Embassy, Earth
The Equestrian Embassy’s radio room was a mess of wires. There were two sets of radio and visual transmitting equipment. The first set had been a ‘gift’ from the United States government for use communicating through the portal. The second had been purchased by Celestia for primary use in case the other one had bugs or ‘shorted out’ if diplomacy went south, especially since her ponies still couldn’t figure out how electronics truly worked. Neither set could get through to Equestria though, all Twilight or Gear Grinder, the earth pony responsible for running the machines, could get was static. 
Twilight had brought the schematics for her and Grinder to follow. Even without understanding the mechanics behind the radios they could still follow the wire schematics and make sure nothing was loose. Every wire was solidly in place, connecting circuits and allowing the flow of energy. Nothing seemed wrong with the equipment; they could receive and send messages between each other. 
“I think the problems in either with the portal or on Equestria’s end.” The grey earth pony suggested, still going over the plans. “This stuffs good ta go. Just need to seal her back up.”
“Thank you, Gear Grinder.” Twilight informed and exited the room to leave Grinder to his job. As she trotted through the halls, her mind started to mull the problem. What can be wrong with it? Have they have noticed yet on Equestria? Is the problem on their end? She started to ponder the thought of sending somepony through to investigate but instantly knew Celestia would never condone it. If the problem isn’t with the equipment…Could it be a problem with the portal? That thought made the purple pony stop. The massive amounts of energy coursing through the doorway between worlds had already caused one death, a second couldn’t be risked. 
The sun stung her eyes as Twilight exited the Embassy and stepped hoof into the desert. She saw a few watchclouds in the sky, hanging only a few hundred feet into the air. She knew exactly which cloud her friend was on and planned to pay her a visit after checking out the portal. It shouldn’t take too long, Twilight figured; just see if the oddities of the portal have changed. If not, I’ll send an immediate letter to the Princess and we can contact the humans, they do know the tech better.
Twilight entered the portal room, a two story building that was rarely locked anymore. The humans in this area were either allowed access or would be apprehended and it was the same with the ponies. It was guarded by both factions, and used by both factions even if technically still held by the United States. Inside the room was completely deserted with no work to do and every study of the portal revealing nothing. The purple pony trotted up to the ten foot tall portal, its surface still as could be.
Twilight prepared her magic, careful not to let it actually touch the portal. Her horn glowed with a faint light. As she probed the emissions, Twilight kept coming up with the same thing. Nothing. It was like it didn’t exist, it gave off no energy, just a faint light and a feeling that still made her want to run. She looked at the portal from every angle and the only thing amiss were the steps leading up to it no longer being perfectly even. 
Twilight stared at the step for a moment, not wanting to move it, but pulled by a compulsion to make it even. Twilight surrounded the step with her magic and slowly scooted it back towards its proper place. When it was only a few centimeters from the portal, the purple pony let her magic fade. It wasn’t as taxing to move earthen objects as it used to be, having a large supply of magic at hoof.  Nobody will even notice. She smiled and pranced out, happy to have everything in its place. But what the hay caused the problem?