//------------------------------// // G7.01: Colonial Governor // Story: Message in a Bottle // by Starscribe //------------------------------// The screen went black. “That was it,” Forerunner said. “Dr. James Irwin Generation Two tried to treat his injuries, but you know better than most his medical training wasn’t sufficient for an intestinal wound. Without robotic assistance, he passed away a day later. His final instructions were a single command.” Again the recording, though only audio this time. Lucky shivered as she heard her old human voice one last time, shaking with agony. “I order you, Forerunner… don’t… make another biosegment… again… until you’ve figured a way for us not to die from this disease. Churning us out… generation after generation of scientists to work ourselves to death from a… something we can’t cure… won’t work. “It’s not Olivia’s fault she lost her fucking mind… We were supposed to have another lifetime here, not… not a few damn weeks…” A long silence from the recording. “How about… How about something that doesn’t leave us dead. There’s that… There’s a protocol for this…” More silence. “As acting… dictator… I invoke failure contingency 137. I know you have samples, I was the Gestapo who brought them here. 137. Maybe your scientists won’t… lose their minds so damn quickly… or be so quick to kill… people who look like them.” “Command accepted.” Lucky found herself crying again, just as she had when she saw the devastation Dodge Junction had suffered. Even though she hadn’t existed, even though she had nothing to do with it, she couldn’t help but feel the guilt. In another time, in another world, that had been her. That Dr. Irwin had the same history she did, and had gone along with Major Fischer almost until the end. If he hadn’t turned his gun on Olivia at the last, how would things be different? Celestia surely would’ve found and eliminated them by now. And maybe not been wrong to do so. Maybe I shouldn’t resent him so much. He knew he wouldn’t be getting the treatment, that he was condemning himself. But he did it anyway. She could feel a little pride in that. Maybe her past self hadn’t been a monster. She could remember, very distantly, cursing the cold logic of the machine that had forced her to a life she hadn’t wanted. But in the end, it was her own fault she had a pony body. She had no one else to blame. “The rest of what Dr. James Irwin Generation Two said would have been ignored,” Forerunner eventually said. “But he had authority to invoke a mission failure contingency. That was the reason there are any organics as part of this exploration at all. That version of me required your help to interpret information. I had no context for understanding your earlier generations. No context to judge that organics are not content to be used, worn down, and replaced. But you did.” “It could’ve been worse, I guess.” Lucky pushed away from the screen. “At least someone put a stop to it. Otherwise…” She shivered. “You would have grown ponies just to harvest us, wouldn’t you? Grown us, and made Dr. Born’s treatment…” She trailed off. “Why didn’t you share that with us, anyway?” “I don’t have it,” Forerunner said, something like regret in its voice. “Your clone might have lived if he worked harder treating his wounds and less hard destroying laboratory records. That whole section of Landfall was so thoroughly destroyed I covered it over before I created your generation.” “I don’t think he wanted to,” Lucky said, her voice barely a whisper. “I probably wouldn’t, if I had to live with the guilt of… what he did. But this doesn’t change anything for us. For our mission… I can see why you didn’t think we needed the specifics. And why you didn’t suggest reexamining the blood to our doctors.” “Oh, I did,” Forerunner said, almost cheerful again. “Dr. Born knew about this route to a treatment. She experimented with it, and discovered as her predecessor did that there was a substance in pony blood that resisted replication but could stabilize the condition of human cells for a time if isolated and distributed. “Instead of bringing that information to Major Fischer’s attention, Dr. Born devoted herself to discovering the precise mechanism of cellular death, as the emotional pressure or the rush or any number of other factors likely prevented the earlier generations from doing. Once done, she searched for the mechanism that prevented fabricated pony blood from being used to create her treatment. She discovered that mechanism, and then set about circumventing it. She gave that mission to Major Fischer, who accomplished it while you uselessly searched for discarded clothing.” Lucky rose to her hooves, pacing back and forth in the office. She kept far away from the mind-interface machine, even though it lacked anything it could use to grab onto her and force her to see terrible things all over again. “You made the same people over and over again,” Lucky said. “And we did almost the same things. Only a little different each time.” “That’s the best way to experiment,” Forerunner said. “Change as little as possible in each occasion. It would work better if there weren’t so many variables on Earth. Equestrian society can change and adapt to what we do in ways that my program cannot anticipate. And the ring itself is built by powers that I cannot comprehend any better than you can. If this were an ordinary planet, or at least one without civilization, my ancient program would work better.” “That’s such a stupid name,” Lucky muttered. “Can we call it Sanctuary instead? At least I won’t get that confused whenever we’re talking about it.” “You have that authority. I will change its name in the records. Unfortunately, you have more important matters to contend with. There are less than three hours remaining until the scheduled time for your second call with Twilight Sparkle.” Lucky slumped back onto her haunches, staring at the floor. “I wish these wouldn’t keep happening after I ruin myself emotionally.” “There is at least one argument for not answering,” Forerunner said, after a short delay. “Her assistant answered that first call, and was apparently not aware of the fact that Major Fischer was targeted and killed by troops Twilight Sparkle commands. Twilight herself will not be ignorant of that fact, however. She may have the body in her possession at this moment. To answer her transmission is to confirm that we exist. Perhaps the native will confuse timing enough to think that the same pony her troops killed answered her assistant’s call.” “But…” Lucky took a breath, speaking slowly. “Maybe she doesn’t even realize Olivia has anything to do with me. Her soldiers brought armor back, but… do we even know they were looking for me?” “I am not certain,” Forerunner said. “But some of their remarks suggest they were. It did not seem as though they believed the major was you, however. Major Fischer denied it, and they seemed to accept her answer. It is possible they do not connect the two cases, and view Major Fischer as some other threat they neutralized, or else connected to the events in Dodge Junction but not to you.” “Or the worst of the three,” Lucky muttered. “Her armor and gear will connect Olivia to the disaster you just showed me on video. And if they wash the body, she’ll see Olivia looks just like I’m supposed to. They’ll know we aren’t changelings now, for sure. Maybe they even realize we can make new bodies… maybe they know to come hunting us…” “Calm down, Colonial Governor.” Lucky hadn’t even realized she was hyperventilating. She counted down from ten in her head, then rose again and resumed her pacing. Movement was good; if she was moving than she couldn’t also be completely breaking down. “You need to decide if potentially revealing the fact that we exist is a greater loss for our survival odds than the diplomacy you would be giving up. And if you want something cheerful, it’s possible that in the first case she wouldn’t bother sending a radio request anyway, making the decision for you.” Lucky ran over the factors one more time, before gritting her teeth and turning to go. “My decision doesn’t change either way. Equestria’s fear of us ultimately comes from Celestia’s fear of Harmony. I am certain I will need a princess’s help to stop it, so I need to keep in contact with her. Either that, or rescue Flurry Heart…” She sighed. “I’d like to do that anyway, but I’m guessing wherever she’s imprisoned won’t be easy to breach. Convincing Twilight is probably easier.” “It is possible,” Forerunner said. “I suppose we will have to find out. But I agree with your decision. If that gives you any comfort.” After what you showed me, I honestly don’t know. Lucky had a little longer to prepare for this call than she had for the last one. She had taken advantage of the time as best she could—taking a long shower, eating her favorite meal rations, going to check on the former slaves. Anything she could think of to calm herself down. When the time came, she was standing in Mogyla’s office again. She had invited three ponies—Mogyla, obviously, Lightning Dust, and Perez. His office had been cleaned spotless since they left, a fact he seemed to resent as he offered them actual chairs to sit down in. Perez lingered near the door, seeming always on the edge of saying something rude to her, but he hadn’t actually done so. He carried a gun again, though Lucky didn’t recognize it. It had a strange exposed metal section along its barrel, like a long heatsink made of copper. Her first impression was that of the machine she had recently left behind, and so she instantly withdrew. She could still feel the little bandage against her neck, though her mane covered it. She hadn’t forgotten it, though, or the things she had learned there. I know what happened to make the ponies fear us. And Celestia too… She probably hadn’t been most afraid of monsters that killed or kidnapped. Lucky knew from her year’s education there that the nation had plenty of both. Celestia heard stories of the ship and knew what it must mean. She probably thought it came from another part of the ring. The princess must not have total knowledge of Sanctuary, or else she would have been able to find Landfall and destroy it. Its initial solar arrays were not concealed, even if the hanger was. Yet Celestia had failed to find them. “Signal is coming in,” Mogyla grunted. “Same as before. Got a voice in there… matches the princess. It’s her this time, not the dragon.” “Patch it through.” Lucky was wearing a headset, but the sound would not come from there. There was a little button on the cord hanging down from her head, one she could push to transmit. That way she could talk to the room, and they to her, without Twilight hearing any of it inadvertently. “I still think this is a mistake,” Perez said. He was the only one who had objected to taking the princess’s message. Even Lightning Dust had not said anything, despite their history. The sound of radio static crackled from the speakers all around the lab, as Forerunner cleaned it up. Then a voice came through clear. The computer could do a great deal to make up for Equestria’s primitive radio technology. “I am here on time,” said Twilight, annoyance and frustration obvious in her voice. “Are you?” After every word, a translation would appear on all the screens in the room. The Forerunner could not speak Eoch as well as she could. “I am,” Lucky said. Forerunner translated her words for the crew as well. There was a long silence from the other end. Eventually, Twilight said, “It’s as I thought. Your signal isn’t coming from the hospital. We never talk long enough to track it down for sure, but it’s always the same general direction. The Crystal Empire. I guess that makes sense, Flurry Heart and all. You must live up there.” “Why would I be transmitting from the hospital?” Again a long silence. “Hospital,” Perez repeated, once he had read the translation. “She expected us to be talking from there. Why would she think that, unless…” He trailed off. “God, it can’t be. Ask her if she’s holding the major!” Lucky nodded, though she didn’t say anything right away. Forerunner did. “That possibility is extremely remote, Perez. The major knew how to aim. It is likely she would prioritize herself if she realized she was losing an engagement. Expecting her survival is not rational.” “I don’t fucking care what you have to say, Skynet,” Perez grunted. “That’s why we have people leading these missions. Just because it isn’t likely doesn’t mean you don’t ask. She’s one of ours. If she’s a POW, we need to know.” Eventually, Twilight spoke. She sounded angry, like she was barely containing shouting. “When we first spoke, I thought you were serious about communicating with me, Lucky. But now I discover you’ve lied to me. Can you explain how I have you locked up in a hospital room, and you’re still talking to me?” Now she was shouting, though Forerunner filtered her voice. It still sounded a little blown out. “You’re the one who trained that poor filly, aren’t you? You’re the one who’s really behind this. Nightmare captured one of your puppets… Well I don’t know what kind of evil magic you used on her, but I’ll find a way to overcome it! My friends and I haven’t met a curse we couldn’t break! We haven’t run into any kind of evil we couldn’t beat!” “That wasn’t a question,” Forerunner said, slight amusement in its voice. “I guess we don’t have to ask her about the major,” Lucky muttered. “Forerunner, Olivia is still alive.” “It is possible,” Forerunner said, noncommittally. “This could be a ruse. It is irrelevant for the purposes of command until we recover her.” Lucky made sure everyone in the room could see her hoof on the button before she started talking, so their voices wouldn’t mingle with hers. “Twilight, I have never lied to you. I have always been serious about my intentions. Our conversations have always been limited. But I stand by what I’ve told you.” “Then explain Lucky Break. Or… explain yourself. If you can. Tell me why I shouldn’t tell Celestia about this right now. I was hoping that I could get to know you—convince you not to be bad. But now that I’ve seen what you’re willing to do to foals, maybe I don’t want to. Maybe Celestia’s way is best for ponies like you.” “You would say that,” Lightning Dust muttered, glaring at nothing in particular. “She’ll never listen, Lucky. This is hopeless. She’s Celestia’s protege. They’re both so stuck in rules that they can’t see things changing around them.” “We should at least try,” Mogyla argued. “Even if all we can do is get more information. We already learned where the major is being held, how much more will we learn if we keep her talking?” “Get a drone in the air, Forerunner!” Perez barked. “I don’t know what hospital she meant, but if Mogyla does you must too. Scout that place, see what you can find. If we can verify Major Fischer is alive…” He trailed off, glaring at the nearest screen. It wasn’t clear exactly what he thought they should do, though obviously it wouldn’t involve Lucky leading it. “I did that already,” Forerunner said. “But I can’t get very close until it gets dark. Ponyville is not densely populated, but it is populated enough that only a covert approach is acceptable. If they realize we are aware of the major’s position, they will move her.” “Shut up!” Lucky shouted, stepping forward. “I’m trying to think!” What could she possibly say to convince the Alicorn of her intentions? There were so many voices, so many assumptions changing. There was some relief in there—Olivia was alive! But some of that was dread. Olivia’s suicide would’ve protected them. If she was captured, it was at least possible that the enemy knew where Othar was. They could know a great deal about humans, about their nature and abilities. All this does is push our real mission forward. Maybe we can win against Celestia, but we can’t beat Harmony forever. “The one you’re holding is not Lucky,” she said, once the room had finally fallen silent. “Her name is Olivia Fischer. And I can prove it to you. Because… because I know her Eoch is bad. She doesn’t know more than a few words. But you know the one really called Lucky Break isn’t like that at all. You know I’m a skilled student linguist. You have to know that, if you responded to my messages. Maybe you saw my admission request to your school, or Knowing Look’s recommendation letter. I couldn’t fake all that, could I?” When Twilight Sparkle spoke again, some of the anger had ebbed from her voice. “I thought about it. How I could’ve accidentally cast a translation spell over the radio, but… that didn’t make sense, and it wouldn’t fit the interviews I had about you.” You, Lucky thought. Not ‘her.’ “We’re twins,” Lucky continued. It was a lie, but not that far from the truth. If it wasn’t for the major’s dyes, they would’ve almost looked the same. “Olivia was a soldier, and I was a scholar. She cut her hair and dyed her coat so we could tell each other apart.” Again, a lie, but not too far from reality. It was easier to lie when she was only a little distance from the truth. “Why are foals meddling in this, Lucky Break? Why does Celestia think you’re so dangerous? She told me you’re all working for a distant changeling colony, the one that Chrysalis came from. She says you have powerful, dangerous magic. That you want to enslave all of Equestria.” “Can you test for that?” “Yes.” Twilight’s voice was all the answer Lucky needed. “But you could’ve been tricked by changelings! My brother fell for a changeling before, even good ponies can do it! One time I did!” “We are not changelings,” Lucky said. “We do not work for them, either.” “Then who?” Twilight Sparkle shouted. “Who is ordering you around? Who trained you, who gave you your artifacts? Your… twin, ‘Olivia’, apparently killed a whole army of slavers. She killed a dragon! There is only so much magic in Equestria powerful enough to do that. And I know all of it.” “Ask her to return Major Fischer!” Perez demanded, from only a few feet away. “Maybe we can make a trade. Give back Deadlight, we don’t need him anymore!” “Shut up!” she screamed again, her voice shrill and squeaking. She didn’t feel much like a governor. Even so, Lightning Dust stepped up between her and Perez, standing tall. She didn’t say a word, but her presence was enough that Perez didn’t get any closer. He didn’t point his gun either. “I’m thinking! I know we need her back!” Only when she was sure that she wouldn’t be interrupted did she continue. “Celestia is right that Equestria is in danger. But she hasn’t been honest with you about what that danger is. I think you realize she isn’t telling you important things.” Twilight took longer to respond than for anything else Lucky had said. Her voice was guarded when she finally did. “Why should I trust you over her?” No confirmation of what Lucky had suggested, but not a denial either. “I would like to meet with you and show you the proof,” she said. “I only want a chance to show you what I’ve learned. It’s too dangerous to tell you over the radio—anyone could be listening.” Or anything. Like Harmony. “Well, I want one other thing. Please don’t tell Celestia about Olivia, or about me. She will kill us.” Lucky glanced sidelong at Lightning Dust. She was still transmitting. “You know what the Nightmare soldiers did before Celestia gave them to her sister. Before Luna gave them to you.” Twilight didn’t take as long to respond. “Celestia says that what you did to Flurry Heart was only the first attack. She says the changelings who sent you have weapons that can kill Alicorns, and you plan to use them on me.” We probably could kill an Alicorn, Lucky thought, though she didn’t say that. “I don’t know how to fight, that’s Olivia. The only magic I would have to bring is an information storage device. A magic scroll, that I can use to show you the past. I wouldn’t have to bring anypony else, or any other tools.” “Oh.” Pause. “Could you meet me in my castle? Ever since the changeling invasion, I’ve installed every protective spell I know. Star Swirl himself enchanted the place. It knows intention now, Lucky Break. It will hurt you if you try to hurt me or anypony else.” “Sure,” Lucky said, though practically the whole room was glaring at her by then. “You invited me to come and see you there once. I lost the train tickets when Celestia tried to kill me… I can’t give you a time, though. I don’t know how long it will take to get there… and if I did tell you, you might have Celestia waiting. Is ‘as soon as I can’ soon enough?” Twilight didn’t sound happy. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t keep ‘Olivia’ secret forever. Lots of ponies have seen her. None of them would think to go to Celestia because they see me as a closer authority figure. But word spreads, and Canterlot is close. Sooner or later she’s going to find out about it. I won’t lie to her for you.” “Doesn’t fucking matter,” Perez muttered. “We’ll have her out of there by then.” Lucky glared, but she didn’t bother arguing with him. It wasn’t like Perez or anyone else could mount a rescue mission she didn’t approve of. “I will come as quickly as I can. I know you’ll see things differently when you know what I know.” “We’ll see. If you don’t convince me, I won’t promise not to tell Celestia. I trust her, even if you don’t.” Her signal dissolved into static. Even so, Lucky could recognize the lie. Like Lucky earlier, Twilight had only been telling her something near the truth. But how close? Olivia’s head jerked up as the door opened, instantly rousing her from her stupor. Her whole body felt sore from the restraints, particularly her hind-legs. Being restrained so tightly on a constant basis couldn’t be good for her. To her surprise, the pony who entered wasn’t the Alicorn who had interrogated her last time. It wasn’t a stranger either, but the pink-furred unicorn she thought was named Starlight. One of the Nightmare ponies responsible for her imprisonment. She levitated her saddlebags open, setting several objects on the empty metal tray that was almost within reach of the bed. A large bottle made of dark glass, a pair of shot glasses, and a rusty metal helmet. “You ponies have strange torture.” The unicorn turned back to face her. Then she lifted the helmet, settling it onto place. “They can’t know I brought this,” Starlight said. Her voice echoed strangely in Olivia’s mind, taking on the same slight accent it had in the dark corridors of Dragon’s Folly. The same ‘magic’, maybe. “You won’t tell them, will you? I’m sure you could use the company.” The bottle levitated into the air, pouring of its own accord. Even after seeing displays like this from Twilight, Olivia was still taken aback by it. Things shouldn’t move themselves through the air. It was more like a movie than reality. It didn’t matter how much the translator had insisted displays like this were just part of everyday life for the unicorn ponies. To her, it was miraculous. She poured two glasses, then glanced down. “I’m going to, uh… remove some of your restraints. You were nothing but trouble when we first captured you. Can you promise me not to try and escape while we talk? It will make this easier.” “I wo—” Her breath caught in her throat, and Olivia found that the words just wouldn’t come. She coughed, spluttered, trying again. “You can let me go, I promise not—” but again, nothing. Starlight laughed. “It’s a powerful spell, isn’t it?” She tapped the side of her helmet with one hoof. “I don’t even understand it, and I haven’t met anypony who understands magic quite the way I do. I don’t think Twilight even knows how it works.” She pushed the tray closer, close enough that Olivia would’ve been able to reach it if both her forelegs weren’t bound. The smell of liquor was unmistakable. A far better smell than any of the approximations they had made in Othar, with a slightly fruity aroma to it. Apples? “Pick one,” Starlight said. “I’ll take whichever glass you pick. I don’t want you to think I’m poisoning you.” It would be better if you did. Olivia had been well-trained to resist interrogation, but none of that training had prepared her for whatever strange technique the ponies used. It felt like being drugged, without the chemicals. “I can’t lie,” she eventually said. At least those words would come out of her mouth.” “Not consciously. There’s no way to objectively determine reality with a spell. But belief is easier.” Starlight gestured at the cups again. “Go on, which one? I’m missing out on the first day of the festival for you. Don’t make me do it sober.” Olivia twitched one of her legs towards the nearest glass. “D-drink out of mine.” Starlight nodded, and that glass lifted into the air. There was a slight humming sound as the front of the hemlet retracted from her face, exposing everything from her eyes down to her mouth. She lifted the glass to her lips, then knocked back its entire contents in one long swig. “Let me know if you reconsider trying to escape,” she said, setting the empty glass down and refilling it. “I wouldn’t want to have the whole bottle by myself.” Olivia considered. “If I promise not to try right now…” She could say it. So long as she meant it. And she did—mainly because she didn’t think she stood a chance. This pony was too powerful. She’d stopped a whole volley of rifle-fire with that horn of hers. She had brought them all the way back to Equestria, hundreds of miles, before the poison should have killed Olivia. There was no sense fighting in vain against an enemy that couldn’t be beaten. If victory wouldn’t come on one battlefield, she could fight on another. “I won’t try to escape during our talk,” she said again, more confidently. “Is that enough?” “Sure.” Olivia felt the straps holding her legs coming immediately undone. She was still held by the largest, thickest bond around her torso, the same one holding her wings against her body. But at least she could move her forelegs again. Olivia immediately flexed and stretched both of them, relieved to have blood flowing again. Then she took the glass. It took both hooves to do it—she still hadn’t mastered the practically magical art of picking things up with just one. She tilted it back and swallowed. It was good stuff—better than most of what she drank. There was something clinical about the alcohol brewed in bacterial stills. An immaterial quality of inauthenticity that chemistry couldn’t quite erase. This lacked that quality, even as it burned her throat going down, making her cheeks feel warm with just a few swallows. She set her empty glass down. “Why are you here?” “I wanted to thank you,” she said, refilling Olivia’s glass. “For what you did. What you didn’t do, more precisely.” Olivia remained quiet, waiting. She didn’t volunteer anything. “I saw the inside of that slaver’s den, Lucky Break. You broke a dragon from the inside. I don’t think you were really trying when we showed up.” Olivia looked away. But there was no real way to hide her face, not when she was strapped to the bed. Starlight would see her shame. “You’ve got magic,” she said. “Some kind of mind control. It didn’t—” let me. But the words wouldn’t come out. They weren’t true. Starlight smiled as she took another sip from her glass. She didn’t drain it completely in a few seconds as she had before. “It can’t do that,” Starlight said into the silence. “That isn’t how the magic works. It would be great if there was some enchantment we could cast to stop bad ponies from doing anything bad, forever. We’d put it everywhere, not just in a few suits of armor.” Olivia whimpered. The sound came out involuntarily, and she quickly drowned it with another shot of apple liquor. “I know we’ve never met, Lucky, but I think I already know you. You know what the Nightmare is?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I can see you do.” She got up, walking away from the little tray, standing in front of the window. She looked out at the town beyond, silent for a long time. “Ponies live their lives thinking the way they live is the only way. They’ve been raised in Equestria their whole lives, so they think that friendship is the natural way everyone lives. They’ve never been hungry, they’ve never been desperate. Many of them have never even been afraid. “But other ponies—we understand there’s darkness out there. We know how tenuous our grip on civilization is. When I look at you, I see a pony who’s been outside that barrier, past where other ponies’ nightmares begin.” She stepped closer. “Ponies like us have done terrible things. We can’t ever really forget—all we can do is try to make up for it. Every day, for the rest of our lives. I think that’s why you were hunting slavers, instead of running from me. I think it’s why you didn’t kill my friend. Her name is Trixie, by the way. She’s quite a talented magician. You should come to one of her shows sometime.” Olivia couldn’t meet her eyes anymore. In some ways, the pony was right. But how could she know? It wasn’t just that, of course. “I’m not as much like that as you think.” She stared back, defiant. “I’m not some criminal looking for redemption. I’ve killed… I’ve done difficult things. But they were always right. Someone has to protect the ones who can’t protect themselves. The ones who have the power to change things don’t use it, so that leaves us to pick up the pieces as best we can. Down on the ground, where the important people have never even stepped. The universe needs lawmen.” Of course the instant Olivia had said any of it she wished she hadn’t. She forced her mouth closed, pushing her glass away so she wouldn’t be tempted to drink anymore. It wasn’t just better than hospital food, it was better than almost anything she’d had since waking up on this damn ring. Maybe Starlight wouldn’t be smart enough to put together the pieces? She said nothing for a long time, draining her little glass, replacing it on the table, before walking away. However smart or dumb she was, she was apparently more self-aware than Twilight. She didn’t do her thinking out loud. “If you’re being honest, then Equestria doesn’t understand what it’s looking for. Princess Celestia… well, she banished her own sister to the moon for a thousand years. If that doesn’t give you a good idea about her tolerance, I don’t know what will.” “She sounds like a great ruler.” Starlight chuckled, pouring another glass for herself, and refilling Olivia’s. They had already gone through half the bottle, by the look of it. Olivia wasn’t sure how much more she should be feeling it. If she’d had this many shots of hard liquor in her old human body, she would’ve been quite buzzed by now. But this body was engineered to be resistant to many poisons. That included alcohol. “At least she understood enough to realize how harsh she was. She gave her sister the responsibility of dealing with difficult ponies. But, despite experience with evil, Princess Luna didn’t see things that differently. That’s why Twilight commands the Nightmare now. Instead of seeing us as monsters, we’re recruits. You too.” It was Olivia’s turn to laugh. “I don’t think so. Celestia wants to kill—” The last few words wouldn’t come out. Princess Celestia did want to kill Lucky. But Celestia didn’t know she existed. This time, Starlight didn’t notice. Or maybe she took her silence to mean something else. “I don’t think Twilight will give you up. She’s afraid Celestia will send you to Tartarus, for what you did to her niece. She wants to learn your story first, so she can make your case. It would be easier if you cooperated with us.” “You want help making my case?” Olivia lifted up her glass again, downing it in a single swig as Starlight had done with her first. “I never did anything to Celestia. I never wanted to hurt Equestria. I just wanted to live. She attacked us. She murdered someone I was supposed to protect, and tried to kill more. If you want to hunt monsters, start with your princess.” Starlight had no answer to that. When Olivia looked, she saw that Starlight had removed her helmet. She had also left the bottle within reach, sitting on the side of the table while she packed things away. The unicorn wasn’t watching her, and she wasn’t wearing her helmet. Olivia didn’t think so much as she acted. She took the bottle in both hooves, then brought her legs down in an augmentation-assisted throw. The half-empty bottle spun end-over-end, smashing into the back of the unicorn’s head. It shattered, and she dropped to the ground in a twitching heap, dripping with booze.