//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Dangerous Secrets // by Feather Luxray //------------------------------// Feather woke up to find herself in a small room. She was on a bed, and a small tray of pills laid to her right. The confused and disoriented mare looked up at the ceiling. Her life had just been... she didn't know how to describe the strange train of events that had occurred not long ago. Or was it? She couldn't tell the time, as the room had no clock. Feather heard a knock on the door, and she turned. "Come in." Her tone was flat. Thunder came in, a box in his hooves. "Hey, glad to see you're awake. You can open the box later. Bye." Feather flapped her wings and landed in front of him. "I don't think so. You have answers, and I have questions. So sit the buck down." She hissed. Thunder sat, and sighed. "Fine. After the... incident with Lightning, we brought you here. Welcome to Storm Breaker's HQ. We're a team of secret agents, created by Celestia her self. We protect Equestria. Lightning wants to destroy Equestria, and claim it for himself. We're trying to stop him." He explained, eyes wide. Feather gave a harsh laugh. "And I'm an Alicorn," She retorted. Thunder's eyes narrowed. "It's true. And we want you to join us." The strong Earth Pony got up. Feather closed her eyes, finally taking in everything. "It was so... cold." She murmured. Thunder nodded, sympathy in his gaze. "I understand." He placed a hoof on her shoulder. Feather stared at him. "And you want me to join you? Why me?" The stallion cracked a grin. "Because you're qualified." The Pegasus mirrored the grin. "I guess I am. What do I have to do?" Thunder Clap glanced at a window. "Take a few tests, go on a practice mission, the usual." Feather nearly burst out laughing. "The usual? Sorry, Thunder, but I don't think I am qualified." Thunder stepped in front of her. "You are." He insisted. "I believe you are." Anxiety surged through Feather, and she fluffed her wings. "You really think so?" "I know so." ---------------- As Thunder and Feather stepped into a room full of computers and other equipment, Feather gasped in amazement. "Wow," She announced, excited. Tecna turned at the voice. "Good morning," She greeted, "I see you're finally awake." She flashed a smile. Thunder approached one of the computers. Lights flashed, and he clicked a button. A video started playing. "Hey, this wasn't here before." He looked puzzled. Tecna turned to the stallion. "Really? Let me see." Thunder moved to make room for her. "It's source is unknown, as you can see here. It was sent less than a minute ago. Should we open it without the boss?" He frowned. Tecna shook her head. "We should tell the boss first." Feather approached the computer. "Hey, what's that red thing?" She asked after spotting a small symbol in the right corner of the screen. Tecna's horn lit up as she started to control the mouse. "Lemme zoom in," She muttered. Thunder paled. "Looks like we've got ourselves a practice mission, Feather." He said nervously. Tecna paled as well. "Our base is being taken over!" She screeched. Frantically, she brought up the camera files. "Oh no. No. No." Thunder leaped at a button, attempting to close the door to the computer lab, but a figure got in before he could finish. The figure leaped at the agent, pulling him to the ground. "I've finally found you, brother!" Feather's eyes widened. "Lightning! Get off him!" She narrowed her eyes and ran at Lightning. He sidestepped, and she stumbled into the door. "Now, now dear Feather. You don't want what happened to happen again?" His smile was sickly sweet. The angry Pegasus grinded her teeth in frustration. Tecna grabbed a gun from an emergency kit on the wall. "Feather, catch!" She threw the weapon. Feather flew up to grab the gun, but Lightning levitated it away. She narrowed her eyes, but they widened when she heard something. Feather! "Thunder?" She whispered. Yes, me! Now, Lightning has a weakness. I want you to know something... you might find... strange. "What?" She whispered again. Lightning wants you on his side. The other agents know about this already. I want you to be a spy against him. Pretend to be on his side. Tecna is going to teleport something to you. Keep in touch. Feather was reluctant. "I don't know anything! And what if I get caught?" Lightning by now was noticing that something was strange. "What are you doing?" He hissed at Thunder. Hurry! Feather summoned all her courage and approached Lightning. Putting on one of her best evil faces, she started to speak. "You know what? I want to go with you. Who needs these goody-goodies anyway?" Lightning raised a brow, puzzled. You need to make it more convincing! He's not an idiot! Lightning, however, fell for it. "Fine." He let go of Thunder and approached the mare. "Besides," He murmured, "You're wonderful." Feather flinched. Does he fancy me?! She thought. "Come. We have no use of this place, now that I have all the information I need." Lightning steered her through a window, where a helicopter waited. Feather glanced back at Tecna and Lightning, fear in her gaze. She wanted to smack Lightning and run back to them, but she couldn't. Tecna levitated a small device and the box Thunder had brought to her before to Feather. Feather grabbed them. Lightning stared at them, and she thought quickly. "Just something I stole from them." Tecna had to hold Thunder back from running after the retreating Pegasus. "Thunder," She muttered sympathetically. "She has to do this." Thunder looked away as tears formed in the corners of his eyes. "But.. what if she never comes back...?" His usual confidence was gone. "No," Tecna replied firmly. "She's strong enough." "I hope so." Thunder whispered.