//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Reunion and Velvet Room. // Story: Conversion Bureau: The return of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. // by ClearlyNotTremor230 //------------------------------// April 24th – Evening - BRAAAAAAAGH! An old family car howled with the deafening metallic roar of its over-stressed engine as it sped through the streets without caring of red lights and barely dodging the other cars in front of it, going too fast for the occupants to even just faintly hear the scared screams and curses of the ones they passed by in their mad escape. The one driving this mad bullet was a young man with short wavy black hair and glasses and still dressed in his school uniform, on the back seats instead sat two adults, his parents clearly, both of which desperately trying to not get too shaken by the wild driving style of their son. “H-Honey!” the middle-aged woman sitting on the back cried-out in fear as she held her wounded husband close to herself. “Ah! I-It hurts.” the man answered hissing as he tied the makeshift bandage around the stump that used to be his left hand just a bit tighter to stop its copious bleeding. “You cut-off your hand, it is supposed to hurt.” the young man at the wheel answered while giving a sharp turn and ‘bouncing’ against a parked van to help him take a sharp 90 degrees turns into a side street without losing too much speed. “Did you learn to drive like this from a game, Akira?!” the woman asked her son while looking almost ready to puke. “I learned from that and by driving Morgana’s car form through Mementos.” the young man answered nonplussed while looking at the rear mirror in well-conceived worry. “Well, son! There are no Shadows here, but people! So try to not run over somebody! At least let’s not had hit-and-run to our long list of problems!” the youngster’s father answered turning blueish on his face after a particularly-daring turn of the car that flattened him against his wife. “Meow!” the cat sitting in the passenger seat next to the boy answered mewing. “What?” “Morgana said that it’s either this or asking to those pastel ponies chasing us to PLEASE stop trying to turn us into them through Magic Potion Showers.” “...JUST FLOOR IT, DAMN IT!” both parents bellowed in unison after merely two seconds of thought. “I am trying to, but this thing can go only so fast.” “I told you it was time we bought a new car!” the woman said sighing. “SORRY, PRINCESS! I WAS NOT EXPECTING MAGICAL PONIES TO POP-UP FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION TO TRY CONQUER US! Had I know I would have sold our house and bought a damn Ferrari, okay?!” the woman’s husband bellowed in sarcastic rage. “Just leave it to me.” Akira, ever the stoic one, answered while using the rapid-call shortcut on his cell to call one of his friends. “...Riuji? You there?” “Joker! Goddamnit, you are alive!” another young man answered from the other side and using his friend’s ‘nickname’ out of habit. “Barely, my father had to cut off his hand to not be Converted, now they are chasing us while I am trying to leave town. How are things on your side?” he answered while putting the call on speaker. “He cut off his hand?!” A female voice yelled in fright. “Hi, Ann! Don’t worry, dear, I am okay!” Akira’s father answered with a small smile. “Hello, Kurusu-san!” “He is okay, Ann. How are you?” the boy asked. “I am fine, thank you. We managed to get the old gang to safety, plus a few guests.” Ann said sounding elated. “Guests?” “You okay, kiddo?” “Of course he is okay, what are ponies to Shadows or stealing hearts?” “Sojiro! Iwai-san!” Joker exclaimed in surprise. “We are all okay for now, we are hiding in an old storehouse not too far away from Inokashira Park. The school...the students in there...they...” another woman was heard say with a broken tone of voice. “Sae-sensei...” “I am no longer your teacher, you dummy.” she answered with a small sigh. “What if I still consider you so?” “I would be really touched. We were having lesson like normal when we heard that Celestia crazed mare use her powers to declare that we no longer had enough time to find another solution to the whole ‘Deadly Barrier’ issue and that they would have Converted us en masse by force, whatever we wanted it or not. Barely a minute later an entire squadron of flying horses barged inside to spray every student with their serum. I too would have been caught had Riuji not tackled me to the ground.” “I acted without thinking...” “You always do that, Ryuji.” the cat next to Joker said, and only the old members of the ‘Phantom Thieves’ group understood what he said. “MORGANA?!” the group yelled as one. “You know, I find it quite annoying that apparently everybody but us can understand that cat...” Akira’s mother muttered huffing. “Me too, honey. Me too.” “Shit! He is back?!” Ryuji asked in disbelief. “Apparently Mementos are also returning, listening to what Morgana says, and you know what this means...” “Palaces?! Again?!” Ryuji said gasping in shock. “And probably Yaldabaoth.” another boy, named Yusuke, added growling. “For now let’s just regroup, then we will try to plan something. If Yaldabaoth and the Mementos are back, then maybe our Persona too are...Or so I hope.” Morgana declared. “Where are you?” Akira asked. “I’ll guide you, just ditch the car and follow my instructions, if we are lucky those Kids-Show-Rejects have not screwed-up things enough for few of my old tricks to not work anymore.” Iwai offered gruffly. “How do you know I am in a car, Iwai-san?” “I can hear the engine screaming for mercy from here. Now hurry up! Is your father able to walk?” “I can, Iwai-san. I feel a bit faint, but I can still walk.” the old man answered breathing heavily. “I hope so. Tae-san just returned with her medical supplies, both me and her will patch you up good, but you have to follow my instructions perfectly, or we’ll see you others too turn pastel-coloured and start spewing garbage about the joy of having hooves.” Iwai answered, pleased. “I am all hears.” Joker answered nodding in determination. “Good boy. Here’s what you need to do...” Several Hours later – Storehouse – night time - “This way, dad.” the young man said holding-up his father that was fully hanging from his shoulder. “Honey, please hold-up!” the man’s wife pleaded as she was about to pound on the rusty doors when a callous hand pulled her inside while covering her mouth so she could not scream. “Do not make so much noise and hurry inside!” the old man wearing a military cap hissed. “Iwai-san!” “Get in! Get in!” a blond young man, Ryuji, added as he helped his friend and his father inside. “It looks nasty, what have you used?” a young woman wearing punk clothes and a choker under a dirty lab coat said immediately as she joined them. “A meat cleaver, are you a doctor?” “The best one.” Joker answered. “Still the same charmer. Come, there is a hidden room underground that was used to smuggle illegal goods, we are hiding there, and there you’ll find my ‘clinic’. Now enough chatting, he has lost way too much blood for us to waste time.” Tae answered dragging the group inside and slamming the door closed. “The coast is clear, nobody Followed us.” Morgana said tailing them. “Good to have you back, you damn cat.” Ryuji admitted with a happy smile. “I am happy to see you others as well.” A short walk later, and once Iwai and Sojiro moved away a couple of rotten crates to show a hidden ramp of stairs, the new guests of the storehouse went brought to the hidden storage room housing The Phantom Thieves and most of their ‘Friends/Confidants’. “Ann!” “Akira!” the girl yelled jumping in his arms to hug the life out of him and cry on his shoulder. “You were the only one left to call, we heard that your town was completely covered by the barrier and the entire population Converted...and...and...and...” the youngest girl in the group started saying before tears and sobs overcame her self-control. “What Futaba was trying to say is that we feared you went Converted.” the girl’s guardian, Sojiro, finished for her. “You have bandages around your chest...” Akira muttered unsure. “Ever the observant one, eh? Yeah, one of those bastards tried Converting Futaba and I answered by smashing a bottle on his head, I think he took the lost of an eye badly, because he kicked me through the door. Luckily in the mess I managed to snatch Futaba and run away, with a couple ribs broken, but still human.” the old man answered proudly. “Then I found them and brought them here.” Makoto answered sighing, she had bandages around her head and a patch on he cheek. “And you?” “Oh, this? They tried getting me, they were holding me down to force-feed me their ‘Potion’...But my sister protected me by shooting a couple of them dead, she just went out there to look for food and water, we take turns for supplies. Luckily Iwai-san knows a couple guys that can fetch stuff for us and leave all that in secret safe houses for us to retrieve.” she answered. “Of the old group we have: Me, Yusuke, Ryuji, Ann, Futaba, Makoto and her sister, Sojiro-san, Iwai-san, Sae-san, Tae-san, Mishima-san and now you...We have no idea where the others are and if they are safe.” another girl, called Haru, explained. “And what happened to Akechi?” Akira asked. “Last we heard he tried fighting off those ponies with a group of rebels, when it was clear he was the last one remaining and that he was about to be Converted...He...He took his own way out...W-With a gun.” Haru answered shuddering heavily and making a cold silence fall in the room. “I-I don’t understand! First they arrive talking about Friendship and happiness a-a-and then out of the blue they drop everything for this ‘Convert or Die’ Bullshit! It makes no sense!” Ryuji cried-out almost pulling out two handful of hair from his head. “They say that the Barrier’s advancement cannot be stopped, so we can no longer waste time in trying to find another solution. it’s either Converting or dying. As we speak they are opening ‘Conversion Bureaus’ to speed-up Conversion.” Sae the teacher answered. “And that Potion…” “It still causes humans to turn into ponies acting like demented characters from a Kid Show, only saying good things and only smiling like morons. I could try to look more into it, but I don’t want to touch that stuff, even to study it while wearing full hazmat gear.” the punk doctor of the group answered grimacing while treating Akira’ father. “Ugh!” “Bite down the scream, we are sewing the wound shut, so be a man.” Iwai said while helping the woman heal the bloody stump. “Why you were not Converted?” Yusuke asked. “My school was supposed to stay closed and go on a rally against Conversion under the temporary Embassy Equestria opened in our town, but my father was preparing the barbecue we wanted to have tomorrow with few visiting family members, so before I could leave he talked me into staying home. Ironically saving me from the police charge and then the pony raids.” Akira answered. “And that explains why you were fast enough to cut your hand off as soon as their Potion fell on it.” Tae muttered sighing. “I was holding the knife and acted without thinking...” the man admitted shyly. “It was Morgana to alert us of their arrival, while coming here I told my parents about our time as Phantom Thieves and what happened while I lived here.” “Compared to flying Ponies using Magic, it was not so hard to believe.” the young man’s mother admitted while still holding her husband only hand in a tight grasp. “But what now? How can we fight back? They have Magic! Even Laws of Physics mean nothing to them!” Makoto asked, scared. “It’s okay, no matter what, I will protect you. ‘Kay?” Ryuji said immediately. “Thank you.” “Are you...Are you being chivalrous?” Morgana asked in disbelief. “Eh! Lotsa things changed while you were away, Mona!” the blond boy answered smirking. “...Eh?!” the cat bellowed in disbelief as not only Ryuji and Makoto looked close, but Ann and Akira and everybody else too showed signs of romantic involvement. “I am sorry, Morgana. But it looks like me and you are the only singles left in the Phantom Thieves Organization.” young Futaba admitted, patting the cat’s head gently. “Of course! For as long as I draw breath at least!” Sojiro declared, huffing. “LADY ANN! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” MEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOW! “Wow, that cat sounds like it has a broken heart.” Iwai muttered impressed. “The fact remains that we have no idea how to stop them, I heard the army was about to be involved, but I am actually afraid they will just start carpet-bombing everything coming out of that barrier, because sure as hell no weapon seem to be able to pierce it.” Sae explained with a weak sigh. “Then maybe We can offer some assistance.” a new voice answered. “What the fuck?!” Sojiro yelled in surprise at the improvise appearance of the intruder. “Lavenza!” Akira said shocked. “My Trickster! My Love!” the blue-dressed short girl said while happily hugging him. “Love?” the young man asked, confused. “MY LOVE!?” Ann roared furious. “I feared the worst happened when the Mementos reappeared and those creatures swarmed your town, but luckily you are safe. Come, Master Igor wants to speak with you all.” Lavenza answered grabbing his hand tightly and gently pulling him towards the new blue door that appeared on a near wall. “He is already taken.” Ann hissed with narrowed eyes. “...Hn.” Lavenza simply looked her up and down and then gave a small grunt of answer before pulling Joker through the door. “I am going to kick that bimbo’s ass.” “Ann, I remember you that her two halves were already very powerful, and she is the real deal instead.” Futaba answered worried. “It doesn’t matter. Now move!” the young woman answered marching inside the door. “Coming, coming.” Ryuji answered, shaking his head as he and Makoto followed inside. “Shall we go?” Yusuke asked presenting his arm to Haru. “Of course.” she answered, latching to her beau with a gentle smile. “Should we...” Sojiro asked, unsure. “Sorry, guys! Phantom-Thieves-only rendezvous. We’ll be back soon!” Futaba answered as she too hurried inside with the others. Velvet Room – Igor’s Office - “Welcome back to the Velvet Room, Phantom Thieves.” an old man with an unnaturally long nose greeted the group as soon every last one of them entered his office. “Igor-san.” Akira answered with a short bow, just like the others behind him. “It is curious to have the former recipient of a contract return to the Velvet Room for a second time, and yet, things out of ordinary have happened, forcing us to go through this unique situation.” Igor, crooked smile ever present and never faltering, explained simply with his gravely voice. “Soo, what is happening?” Ryuji asked, confused. “With your last job Mementos were supposed to have disappeared, cut-off from the conscious world and forever erased so to stop other beings from using them to manipulate mortals...But Something has started drawing power from the Collective Subconscious of the Mortal Realm, thus turning the already thin line separating this world from the Metaverse even thinner. And Causing Mementos to return.” “So Yaldabaoth too...” Akira asked. “No. What is dead, remained dead. My Master, Lord Philemon, alerted me that neither him or Nyarlathotep or any other God or Devil is behind this. This whole situation comes from the presence of otherworldly interlopers.” Igor answered unfazed. “So the Ponies did this?” Morgana, now looking like a super-deformed anime cat character (Big head, tiny body) asked in realization. “Indeed. Their Magic unbalanced the natural order of things, but, their own inner Darkness, their Desires, is what in the end caused Mementos and Shadows to return. For now it seems that both are only relegated to, let’s call it ‘Ponykind’…But it’s only a matter of time before it bleeds into the human side once again, and should that happen Ruin will threaten the world just like it did in the past.” “Oh, my god...” Yusuke muttered with wide eyes. “That is why you all have been called, I was told there is already a talk about resetting this world so to erase the ponies influence. The Phantom Thieves are the last hope before this happens, and Lord Philemon himself vouched for you, under my own request.” Igor said with a dry chuckle. “That is why Morgana is back, our Persona too returned.” Akira said nodding. “Exactly. The plan is indeed simple, you all are tasked with Stealing the Heart of the being behind this whole situation: Celestia. That and discover what is causing the ponies’ Wicked Desires to awaken and pollute the world enough for Mementos and Shadows to return.” “Then let’s go immediately!” Ryuji yelled in determination. “Unfortunately it is not that simple.” Lavenza, still holding Akira’s hand by the way, answered sighing. “Why?” Ann asked while glaring at her. “As for now, your powers are not as strong as they were when you saved the world the first time. You will need time to recover your lost strength before confronting her, that and whatever is the reason behind Celestia’s change it is not relegated only to her, meaning this will need a cautious approach.” Igor explained. “The Darkness corrupting her is an amalgamation of the remnants of the Old Mementos you destroyed and something else coming from their world, an entity we cannot determine. Whatever that is, it’s also ‘feeding’ on the darkest feelings it can find in the Collective Subconscious of the Ponies. In order to fight Celestia on equal ground and steal her heart, you need to weaken that Darkness first.” Lavenza added. “Once weakened enough, you will be able to fight against her and that Darkness and steal her heart, but to do so you will first need Inside Help.” Igor said. “Inside help? A Mole?” Yusuke asked. “There are six mares that may posses what we need to weaken ‘their’ side of the Darkness protecting the Heart of our main Target. But in order to gain their help, we need them to have a Change of Heart and join your side.” Igor said, and at his words a unanimous chorus of Pings rang from the Phantom Thieves phones. “The App is back!” Haru said in surprise. “And we already have a list of names this time, there won’t be us shooting in the dark.” Makoto added as she scrolled down the list of names. “Fluttershy...Applejack...Rainbow Dash...” Akira red aloud. “Ranked from the ‘easiest’ to the ‘Hardest’. Based on the strength of their conviction. Their being Targets is not just for their Powers, but it also has another meaning.” Igor explained simply. “The more influential figures you convince to have a Change of Heart, the more waves you will make, so that once Celestia and her sister too finally fall, there won’t be any other trying to continue their work. It will then be a matter of those ponies either moving here peacefully or going away. That choice will be up to the masses, though.” the old man added. “This time the Palaces you are going to storm are not formed just from the targets’ Wicked Desires, but also built on their Distorted Ideals.” Lavenza said. “Distorted Ideals?” Ryuji asked, confused. “They believe to be doing the right thing, they are blinded by their ideals of Justice and so either willingly or not they are ignoring that what they are doing is morally wrong.” Morgana tried saying. “Correct. Celestia and Luna, those two sisters fed enough lies to their people to make them believe that humans need to be protected from themselves through the power of their Conversion, unknowingly trying to remove Humanity’s Free-will. If this happens all of them will just turn into obedient puppets blindly relying on Celestia for their every decision. Sounds familiar?” Igor asked with a chilling grin. “Even too much.” Akira admitted with a scrunched nose. “So we’ll have to breach their ‘Proto-Palaces’ and force them to face the truth they are willfully ignoring?” Yusuke asked. “Proto-what?” “It more or less means ‘Almost Palaces’, Ryuji.” Makoto explained helpful. “Oh! Thanks!” “Yes, this self-imposed ignorance is also leaving them open for that same Darkness clutching Celestia to influence them. Even now as we speak, the seedlings left behind by that Entity are strengthening your targets’ darkest desires, if left unchecked those will bloom into fully-formed Distortions, and then they won’t be any different from what Celestia herself has become after her arrival here.” Igor answered. “So we have six ‘Elements of Harmony’ and four ‘Generals’ to take care of before being ready to tackle the three main targets: Cadence, Luna and then Celestia.” Futaba declared once red the full list of targets. “They are the ones more influential, yes, but if along the way you happen to explore few Mementos and fix those too, then your Mission will be even easier; the more ripples forms the more the defenses around Celestia’s Heart will weaken.” “The Darkness around her Heart is feeding on the dark emotions between humans and ponies, if that flow of power diminishes enough, you all will be able to open a crack in it and infiltrate her Palace.” Lavenza said hopeful. “And if we steal her Heart, then that evil shit won’t have not something to latch on and disappear, right?” Ryuji asked. “Correct. By that time you should have also gained the help of powerful beings that will further weaken her defenses, and finally prompt the Change of Heart that will stop this invasion.” Igor answered. “Then it’s settled! When do we start?” Ann asked. “First you will need to mount a secret base and coordinate from there with your companions outside the Barrier.” “How?! Nothing can pass through it, and if we enter it, the Magic of their place is apparently lethal to humans.” Yusuke answered. “This is nothing but another lie, the Barrier itself is lethal, but once passed through, nothing will happen to you.” Lavenza answered shaking her head. “Its advancement and mere existence are artificial as well, something ruled by Celestia’s own power, and soon she will be forced to also stop enlarging it, otherwise she won’t be able to hold it up as it will become too big even for her power to maintain.” Igor added. “Too big?” Haru asked. “Their land, Equestia, resides on a flat planet. She never considered that this world would have been several times bigger than her own, so she will need to speed-up Conversion before her ruse will be discovered.” “A planet can’t be flat! It is against every rule of Nature and-” Yusuke tried saying. “Magic.” Ryuji chided in, sighing. “...Yes...They indeed are magical ponies...Please continue and forget I said anything.” the artist admitted in defeat. “So we can survive Magical Radiation, but how do we pass through the Barrier?” Futaba asked. “The Metaverse exists on a plane detached from this, and one of its entrances is in the area you call Shibuya, that has already been engulfed by the Barrier.” Igor answered simply. “We can get there through the Mementos!” Morgana cried-out in shock. “Yes, your App will guide you towards another entrance, and from there, to the one in Shibuya. Use it to freely move in and out of the border of Celestia’s domain. The rest though will be up to you.” Igor said nodding. “Okay, Team! We just need the help of our friends to organize this, but we can do it! The Phantom Thieves will save the world once again!” Morgana declared. “Yes!” the group of teens answered as one. “Akira...” Lavenza asked. “Yes?” he answered, kneeling so to be at eye-level with her. “Please be careful, and come back to me.” the Assistant asked before kissing his cheek. “WE ARE GOING!” Ann roared, grabbing Akira’s arm to drag him out of the Velvet Room. “Please forgive us,” Yusuke offered with a bow. “Remember to return here if you need help with your Persona.” Igor answered unfazed while watching them leave and gently close the door behind them. Click! “I see that you are still not over it.” “I am sorry, Master.” Lavenza answered looking guilty. Bang! Bang! Bang! In answer a long series of loud thundering noises echoed into the room. “It seems like certain individuals do not understand when their presence is not appreciated.” Igor said rising from his seat and fixing his dress coat. “Are you joining, Master Igor?” Lavenza asked as a velvet-blue flaming aura enveloped her body to then shift into one of the many Persona she could control. “Nobody can enter the Velvet Room uninvited, it is time even for me to reinforce this rule.” Igor answered with a pitch-black aura erupting around him, and the Persona that came out of it was simply MASSIVE. “Also, I was told by Lord Philemon that should you continue in this endeavor with our Trickster, that then I should not oppose you.” “So it means...” “You are free to continue pursuing him, but should you push to the very end, the first born shall become an Assistant, that is not negotiable.” Igor said as a new door appeared to show who was trying to force their way into the Velvet Room. “Thank you, Master Igor!” Lavenza said as those words ignited a new wave of determination inside her. “This shall be interesting to witness.” Igor said to himself as he watched his Assistant tear through the intruders with merciless efficiency. At the same time – hidden storage room - “You are back!” Sojiro exclaimed elated. “You were gone for barely a second.” Akira’s father added. “Magic.” Yusuke answered. "Of course, what else could it be? There is Magic everywhere nowadays!" “SO! We have a plan, but it is also pretty much a suicide mission! Do you wanna help us?” Ryuji asked grinning. “...” “Ryuji...” Morgana said sighing as the dumbfound, astounded silence inside the room kept prolonging until it erupted into a chorus of mad screaming. “SUICIDE WHAT?!” “What?” “Wrong choice of words, Ryuji.” Akira explained. A week later – Iwai’s shop “Untouchables” - The run-down shop for weapons enthusiasts was deadly silent, having been already raided of everything by daring escapees that tried using even those faithful replicas as weapons to fight against the ponies while the Barrier slowly advanced to cover everything. In the back of the new deserted shop, in its storage/backroom, an empty cabinet toppled down by itself as the trapdoor hidden under it went forcefully pushed open from inside. Crash! … … “...Coast seem clear.” Yusuke was heard say from inside the trapdoor as he used a small mirror to check inside the room. “Do you see anything?” Akira asked. “Just a lot of chaos, they must have raided the place clean.” “Good, I guess we can enter then.” Morgana declared as he climbed out first. Soon every member of the Phantom Thieves climbed out of the secret passage, with the boys mounting guard at the door while the girls tried organizing everything they bought with them. “We are in.” Ann said to the radio in her hand. “Good, as expected they never found my emergency escape route.” Iwai answered from the other side. “We had to pass through the sewers.” Futaba muttered gagging in disgust. “I am surprised you had such a thing in this place.” Akira admitted. “When you have a troubled past like mine, you do everything in your power to have contingency plans, kiddo.” the old man answered. “You mean your past as a thug?” “Among other things.” “I am more concerned about the real weapons you gave us.” Makoto asked unsure. “A gift. You said that the more real they are, the more powerful they get in that world of perceptions or whatever. At least with real weapons you can defend yourself in real life too.” Iwai answered. “And you found these…Where?” “Girl, trust me. Don’t ask.” “Well...We already know how to shoot a gun, technically.” “Focus, Team! We are in enemy territory, from now on, he Phantom Thieves are back!” Morgan, now back into looking like a normal black cat, declared from the top of a small table nearby. At the same time – Canterlot – Royal Palace - In the throne room of the royal palace, sitting on the throne with the bright sun insignia, Celestia was sitting with a calm smile while one of her Captain-rank soldier as he gave a rapid rundown of the current state of their moving to Earth. “In short, excluded few pockets of violent resistance, humans seem to be open to the idea of Conversion, but even while some look interested in the steep increase in quality of life post-transformation we promise...It seems like more than 80% of the humans we ask are unanimously answering: ‘Better living with hooves than dying disintegrated’. But we are optimistic about the final results.” “Nopony ever liked sudden big changes, and of course an extremely different life-style AND race are indeed a huge switch in prospective happening instantaneously; we cannot expect all of them to accept it readily, and even fight against it. Patience is the key, once Converted them all, we will help them adjust to the Equestrian way of life, after all, wouldn’t you feel scared should somepony tell you that you had to immediately become a gryphon or a manticore to survive, Captain Shining?” Celestia answered with a serene smile. “Well...Being forced to grow claws and switch diet, face, race and living habitat in a matter of seconds...Yes, I can understand that many would be so scared of this to not think rationally, Princess. Harmony only knows if I would keep calm even with my military training! I can’t fault civilians to be afraid of ‘Aliens’ coming to turn them into a different shape, after all...” Captain Shining Armour answered slowly and unsure. “See? We are not so different from them, after all. Problem is, their race has roots in the ‘world’ of Predators while we come from a more social race, they have been taught since the dawn of their race that only the strong survive while the weak perish, so they see our Conversion as the closest thing to a deadly attack, and their Instincts force them to lash-out with intent to kill. That is why until Conversion fully takes hold, you all must use extreme cautions when dealing with them.” “Of course, Princess. I will remind the others to be patient and careful when dealing with Conversion Raids.” Shining answered, bowing. “They are not doing it on purpose, the poor dears are just afraid. Help them in this transition and I am sure they will apologize from the bottom of their hearts once explained why we did this.” the mare said with a maternal smile. “We will be gentle then. By your leave, Princess.” Shining answered nodding, and leaving the mare alone after a brief formal bow. “You are free to go.” … … … “They are not so bad as a race, scared children afraid of change unless this happens extremely slowly, but unfortunately I cannot let them take the decades or centuries they may need to accept this. I need Conversion to happen as soon as possible, I cannot stand this horrid smell of chaos permeating the air any longer...Order...This place, the humans and my beloved ponies need more Order in their lives.” Celestia muttered to herself while watching outside the window. “And yet, I have this feeling crawling up my back telling me I should be worried about the days to come...As if something even worse than you is about to pop out of the shadows.” Celestia added while stealing a rapid glance to the strange statue of a mismatched creature hidden behind her throne and showing an expression of absolute sorrow and betrayal on its mismatched face. “I am sorry, Discord, but there is already too much Chaos here without you adding to it, now is time for Order to be implemented. Please forgive me.” the Sun Alicorn whispered sighing, and for an instant her eyes went clouded by something. Something ominous. Something Dark.