//------------------------------//
// A Secret Mission 
// Story: Mission of Mercy 
// by Trick Question 
//------------------------------//

When Rarity found Twilight, Applejack was with her, and so the herd grew. Five ponies walked slowly toward the treeline, one of them filthy and covered in a large white robe.

"You can't be serious," said Twilight Sparkle. "You're in no condition to go on an adventure quest."

"I'm walking there, aren't I?" said Mercy, slowly leading the group to the edge of the forest. The cotton robe that encircled her body covered her form, but did little to disguise her muddy hooves or matted mane.

"You're still a complete mess under that robe. At the very least, you could shower and groom before saving the world," said Rarity.

"Look, Mercy. I understand that you have some kind of top-secret mission to complete. But if you want us to take you seriously, you need to give us more to go on than this," said Twilight. "Everything I've heard so far tells me you need to be admitted to the hospital for observation."

Mercy tried walking a little faster, but slowed down again when she nearly tripped. "I can't give you any more details or it would jeopardize my mission. Look, can't you just, cast some kind of spell or something, to prove I'm telling the truth?"

"Lemme try," said Applejack, and she stood in Mercy's way. "Mercy, look me in the eyes, and tell it right to my face. If'n you try to yank ol' Bucky McGillicuddy, I'm gonna know."

Mercy seemed nervous. She looked past Applejack to the forest. It was nearly a stone's throw away.

"Okay," said Mercy. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, then opened them and stared straight into Applejack's.

"If I don't complete my mission, it will be bad for Equestria," said Mercy.

"Why can't we help you?" asked Applejack.

"You can't help me if you don't know what the mission is," said Mercy.

"And why can't you tell us that?"

Mercy took a deep swallow of air. "Because if you knew what the mission was, it would jeopardize my chance of success. I'm certain to succeed if you let me enter the forest alone. I'm certain to fail if you know too much."

Applejack squinted, and then her face hardened. "That's 'cause we'd try to stop you, now ain't it?"

Mercy closed her eyes and collapsed onto the ground. "Please, just let me do this one thing! It's so important. I'm... I'm begging you," she whined.

Fluttershy sat down next to Mercy and lifted her chin. "Mercy, you can barely walk, and the Everfree Forest is filled with creatures that would tear you apart. You can't honestly expect us to let you go in there alone."

Mercy's eyes watered, and she wiped her cheek with a grimy fetlock. "I know," she said, sniffling.

Twilight tiptoed into Mercy's field of vision and crouched in front of her. "Actually, Mercy, there is a spell I'd like to cast. I'd like to use magic to see into your mind," she said.

Mercy's eyes widened. "No! Please, please, no," she gasped, shaking her head vigorously. "That would be a terrible mistake..." 

A few tears began to trickle down Mercy's cheeks. Fluttershy frowned and gently stroked her mane, while Rarity looked nervously off to the side. Twilight grimaced. Applejack seemed completely unfazed, though the intensity faded from her face.

"It's okay, Mercy," said Twilight Sparkle, "I won't be looking at any of your memories, so your secrets will be safe. I only want to see what you see, and feel what you feel, for a few moments."

"Twilight, are you certain it's a wise idea to enter the mind of a pony in this much emotional distress?" asked Rarity, her brow deeply furrowed.

"It's perfectly safe. It can't hurt either of us," said Twilight, dismissing Rarity with a hoof.

The defeated pony lay on the ground and cried softly as Fluttershy gently cradled her head, but she said nothing. For a minute, neither did anypony else.

Finally, Twilight spoke. "Okay, I'm going to take that as a yes."

Applejack glared at her friend. "That ain't no 'yes', Twilight Sparkle, and you dang well know it," she said, punctuating her statement with a sidelong spit.

Mercy's tears stopped flowing. She looked exhausted. "I... I don't care anymore," she croaked, her voice soft and hollow.

Twilight looked over at Applejack. Applejack sighed and shrugged.

Twilight's horn glowed magenta with her magic aura. Then Mercy's eyes glowed with the same aura.

Seconds later, Twilight Sparkle screamed.