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// 56 - It Begins 
// Story: Perchance to Dream 
// by David Silver 
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Later, back in the human world, I arrived at work with Starlight. I gave her a tablet to play with and she was gleefully exploring all its various functions and the big thing called the Internet while I checked on my mail.

And there it was. A reply from our potential employees. I had submitted our paperwork with every I dotted and t crossed, even if it made it sound like at least one of us was a looney. Nation of Origin: Equestria, sure.

The email didn't include a rejection. Instead it advised that our backgrounds were being investigated, and asked for all the contact numbers and addresses we could provide of anyone we've been in contact with for the last five years. Ugh. That was a lot of people for me. My job basically was contacting people. I did not look forward to that.

Starlight saw my soured expression. "Something wrong? Oh shoot!" Her tablet made a sad noise. "Got distracted and died." She set the tablet aside. "What's wrong?"

I swiveled the monitor so she could have a peek. "They want the contact information of basically everyone I've talked to in the last five years. That's a long list."

Starlight lifted her shoulders. "I hope they don't expect one from me. My friends don't have any contact information that would do them any good."

I pointed at her, then myself. "There's us, to start, and you should include those. You'll write down what you have and be honest. So long as we do that, the worst we get is denied."

A knock came from the door before the boss man entered. "Linda, really? I don't--Oh, hello there." He nodded towards Starlight, then refocused on me. "They're telling me you're going to be set up with security clearance! Tell me this is true."

"It is?" I said in an unsure way. "Why?"

"That opens more doors for us. That means you become our bridge to landing government deals." He was grinning something fierce. "How soon before you get it?"

I let out a little snort thinking about it. "Assuming we're lucky, a few months. These things are not fast, you know that."

"Can't say I've had a lot of experience with them," he admitted. "Do what you have to do." His eyes wandered to Starlight, who had resumed her tablet game. "Are you in this?"

She looked up at him. "In what?"

"Are they getting you clearance too?"

"Yeah," she admitted easily. She was appraising him. "I don't work for you, however."

"What do you do, exactly?" His attention was fully on her. "We might fix that."

She made a little pout as the dying music played on the tablet. She set it aside for the moment again. "I'm afraid that's a secret. It wouldn't do to give me security clearance if I was quick to talk about them, hmm?"

He looked suddenly unsure. "Was..." If I had to guess, he was weighing if it was a joke or not. "I'll leave that there for now. Linda." He was looking at me again. "We do have a few emails that could use your eye as soon as you're done with the security stuff." Then he was gone, door closed behind him.

Starlight rolled her eyes. "He is amusing, but got me killed. Stallions, am I right?" Her expression warmed into a smile. "Give me the paper and I'll get to writing."

I could do that, or... I grabbed her abandoned tablet and got her over to a place where she could tap things out. "Here, just touch the letters on the bottom and you can write with it without needing a paper or a pen."

She tried a few random letters before she nodded. "Now that's useful. I'm on it." She sat back in her chair and began pecking away, producing names and addresses, for what good Equestrian addresses would do.

I decided to handle the emails before starting the clearance questions, as that could take days or even weeks to fully assemble.

I heard a soft 'clang' from my purse and didn't remember what it was. Digging for it discovered the cube that Twilight had sent me. Right. I pressed the button in the side.

"Hello," came Twilight's voice. She was in the monitor, beside my email window. "I see the device is functioning properly. Is Starlight here?"

"Right here," volunteered Starlight, though her eyes were on the tablet.

"Great. I just wanted to check to make sure you were alright, and to see if there has been any change in the situation. Have you decided on a good place and time to put the portal?" The latter part of that had her looking back at me instead of in the direction of Starlight's voice.

I shook my head. "There are plenty of equally good places in my new house, but let's hold off on that until this is settled."

Twilight nodded. "If Starlight is okay, then there's no specific rush."

"I'm fine," reported Starlight distractedly.

Twilight glanced towards the voice. "What is she doing?"

I decided to play interference. "Your timing is actually good." I saw her perk  up and look back at me. "I'm being asked for the names, addresses, and contact information of everyone I've talked to recently, and you and other ponies would qualify, even if there isn't any good contact information. Could I get some addresses from you, starting with you, then other ponies?"

Twilight's horn glowed as a clipboard appeared beside her. "I would be delighted to help. Let's start with mine..."

And so I was given the address of every pony I had run into. I also found out that Twilight was actually friends with Minuette and she was quite happy to hear I had helped her.

"We have to get back together again. I'd love to catch up." Twilight was smiling brightly. "Can you believe I let her fall out of my life for a while? She's such a chipper pony, like Pinkie, really, without the sweets."

"And the unexplained powers?"

Twilight waved it off. "She has those, though they're a bit more explained. Did you see her cutie mark?"

I hadn't looked, and admitted that.

"It's an hourglass, and her magic's shown in it. Besides being a talented wizard, she has mastery over the flow of time. She does it without even realizing it half the time. Don't ever try to race her anywhere."

I wondered at the implications of that, but we finished off the list of every pony I knew the name of. "Thank you, Twilight." A thought came to me. "If it comes up, are you alright with being interviewed?"

Twilight's ears went erect. "By human authorities? It would be an honor to serve as an ambassador for ponykind, even if only for a single interview. You'll have to ask Princess Celestia for permission, I can't speak for her."

I hadn't asked, but I understood the sentiment. "We have a direct line, so I'll put down that they can talk to you if they want to."

Twilight looked uncertain. "Is it wise to tell them?"

"It's either tell them or wait for them to find out on their own and use the fact that I didn't tell them against me. If they say things you don't want to hear, you're the one with control anyway. You can end the call."

"I can," she agreed. "Just be safe, alright? That goes for you too, Starlight!"

Starlight made a little noise of affirmation, her eyes on her game.

Twilight gave a huff. "I see she's enjoying herself. I'll let you get back to work. See you later, Linda."

I gave a wave softly at her. "Take care, Twilight." She faded away and I got back to the email work I had. It wasn't anything major, and I worked intently to get it out of the way to get back to the arduous task of chasing down phone numbers and contact details of every person I had dealt with. Ugh, no small task.

It was growing close to closing time, around four o' clock when my office phone began ringing sharply. I snatched it up even as I was surprised. I wasn't expecting any calls.

"Miss Frohein?"

It wasn't a voice I recognized, and the caller ID wasn't helpful. "This is she. How can I help you?"

"Hello, I'm calling to schedule an interview concerning your security clearance evaluation. Is now a good time?"

Jesus, already?! "That was fast," I let out.

"Has it? I'm just a receptionist, they don't tell me more than I need to know, and I know you're to be scheduled at earliest convenience. We have an opening... Tomorrow at 15:00, is that acceptable?"

It was during work hours, but I doubted my boss would even flinch if I told him I was going to be off doing an interview for this. "That works." I glanced over at Starlight. "Alone, I gather?"

"Just you," agreed the receptionist. I heard a paper being rustled around. "Yep, just you. I was asked to ask you if you have the contact number for one Starlight Glimmer? Preferably a cell number."

"She doesn't have one of those, but she is right here."

"It's my lucky day," said the receptionist without enough conviction. "Can you have her call this number --" He repeated the number. "Extension 245, that'll route her to me and we can schedule her appointment."

"Actually, is there anyway we can go in together? I'm her transportation"

"Let me see." There was a pause. "If you don't mind waiting, I can schedule her in at 17:00."

I saw Starlight handling the wait less gracefully than I, shame she'd have to wait at least as long as I did in the end. "We'll do that. Can you give me the address I'm supposed to be at?" I typed down the address as it was given and saved it as an appointment on my calendar, thanked the receptionist, and hung up.

Starlight was looking at me curiously. "Something happen? I heard you talking about me."

"We have an appointment to be interviewed." I shook my head a little. "This is where things start to get really interesting, since we'll be dealing with people, not forms. These are people who likely won't be convinced you are a pony at first glance."

Starlight waved a hand down herself. "Should I show them?"

"If they ask for it specifically..." I glanced off and back. "But if they threaten you, you have magic, right?"

"If they try anything funny, I'll be home before they are."

That was a short term answer at best. I let out a sigh. "Be nice, be polite, and don't rise to any bait they may throw out to get a reaction out of you. Be honest, and emotionless. Just facts."

"Just facts." She shook her head. "I feel like I'm suddenly in a bad spy novel. I'm just going to talk to them."