//------------------------------//
// Lady Luck 
// Story: The Facade of Borders 
// by SketchTheWitch 
//------------------------------//

Bright Burst and Lit Wick scarfed down their barely warm porridge. It wasn't great, but the two didn't even seem to notice. Nova eventually joined the table with all the other foals. They all chatted with each other as they ate, though nopony paid much attention to the new comers or Nova. Ms. Joy watched them from the head of the table, slowly taking bites from her own breakfast. 
“Once you two finish, we'll get paperwork sorted out.” Her voice was calm and quiet. Her entire personality seemed subdued and tired. Bright only nodded in acknowledgement of her statement. “After that, you can go play with the others. Tomorrow, you will take assessments to figure out what level of schooling you require. Then you'll attend school everyday except weekends. You can choose to attend Celestial or Lunar churches, or neither.”
Breakfast passed quickly and quietly, and soon Bright found herself alone in a sparsely decorated office with Ms. Joy. Lit Wick was allowed to play, since there wasn't much she could do anyways. Bright did her best to fill out various pieces of paper that she barely had time to comprehend. After it was all settled, Bright had a decision to make.
“Alright, tomorrow is Sunday so you much choose if and where you will attend Church. Celestial Church is held in the mornings and Lunar is held at night. Those are your options.”
“You've forgotten the True Peace.” A voice came from the doorway. Wasn't that door closed? Bright didn't even hear it open.
“Diamond, what are you doing here? And what are you talking about, children cannot join your...organization.”
“Sure they can! Well, I mean, this one can. She's a rather special filly, and I think she knows why.” She smirked, trotting into the room and placing her hooves on the back of Bright's chair. “She could be a very valuable member of the team, plus make some bits while she's at it.” The mare giggled. Bright turned to face her. Her fuchsia coat was well cared for, as well as her hot pink mane, that had a single streak of dark reddish pink through it. It was cut short at her neck and trimmed across at the bangs, similar to a certain princess. However one side had a longer bit of hair hanging down by her stunning crystalline blue eyes. 
Bright's jaw dropped as she stared at the stunning creature. She was the most beautiful mare she had ever seen. “I… I'll join!” She smiled at Diamond. 
“Very good.” She pushed some of Bright's mane out of her eyes. “Every Sunday, I will come and retrieve you. Welcome to True Peace.” She set her hooves back down on the floor and winked to Ms. Joy before leaving as silently as she entered.
Ms. Joy frowned at Bright. “You have no idea what you signed up for. Diamond Dust...she...takes care of bad ponies. She stops by to ask about how some of these ponies end up here, and she makes sure ponies who harm others never do so again. You've got a life to live and you shouldn't waste it hiding from guards.”
“I think...that is what want. I help rebellion in my home, and I can help one here.” She smiled shyly. Ms. Joy shook her head.
“I can't stop you. But please, be careful.” She got up and left her office, clearly distraught and concerned. 
Bright hurried after her, not wanting to be alone. She went to find her little sister, who was talking to Nova in the front yard. Just past them, she spotted Seance spying under the shade of a tree. Bright growled and marched out of the yard and over to the curious mare. “Vhat do you vant?”
“To help with your little problem. Unless you enjoy sleeping with a cursed filly.” She snickered.
“Cursed? That is not real. She is just crazy.” Bright shook her head.
“No, she's cursed. That demon is bound to her pretty tightly. Nothing a little exorcize can't fix.” A grin slowly crept upon her face.
“What is running around going to do?”
“Not exercise. With an ‘o’. A ritual of sorts.”
“Oh! Yes, friend from old country can. I don't trust you.”
Seance leered over the filly who was just barely shorter than her. “Watch your mouth or you will find I have done irreversible and disgusting things to that weak little mind of yours. I am trying to be generous and that is how you speak to me? You're a nasty little maggot and I would hate to hate to have to put you back in your place, but I won't hesitate to. This is my world. Remember that.” As she spoke, it seemed to get colder. Her voice got deeper and softer. It cut like harsh winter winds.
“F-Fine! Do the ritual!” Bright took several steps back. Seance stepped closer. 
“At midnight tonight, open your window. I will be there and we'll get that demon out of Nova and into my collection.” She cackled as her horn sparked before she disappeared. 
A shiver when down Bright's spine as she quickly ran back into the protection of the rickety old house. The two foals followed her.
“Who was that?” Nova asked, grabbing Bright's tail.
“That vas Seance. She vill help.” She yanked her tail out of her small navy hooves. Lit Wick huddled close to her side, making Nova frown. 
“Oh… Well, we're not done playing! Come on Lit!” Nova started to walk off, but stopped as she saw Lit Wick wasn't moving. “Lit Wick? We were having fun!” The room started to feel colder. The walls seemed to close in. Clouds blocked out the sun. “That's not fair!”
“Lit Vick is scared! You aren't helping!!” Bright wrapped around her sister protectively. Slowly, everything returned back to normal.
“Please?” Nova whimpered. Lit Wick slowly left her sister and went to the smaller filly's outstretched hoof. “Thank you!” She giggled, suddenly smiling wide, as if the whole thing was an act. Before either sister could consider that, Lit Wick was dragged off to play with Nova in another room.
All seemed fine and normal until Sunday arrived. Most of the foals were up with the sunrise and were bustling around. Older fillies did their makeup, young colts struggled to tie bowties. Everyone seemed to have something to do. Except the few that slept in. There were strict orders to let them sleep all day, as they would be at church all night. Lit Wick and Nova seemed to be the only two that had nowhere to be. Even Bright Burst was trying to tame the tangled nest of hair she had for a mane. 
“I'll be gone all day, so behave, okay? Listen to Ms. Joy. And be careful of that filly, she still scares me,” she told her little sister. She spoke in Coltsenian of course. Lit Wick nodded softly. 
“Bright! Ms. Dust is here for you!” Ms. Joy called from downstairs. Bright kissed her sister's forehead before running down.
“You look wonderful, Bright Burst! Hurry, now, we mustn't be late.” Diamond giggled as she took Bright's hoof to pull her out the door. The wall felt long and the path was confusing. Bright's once neatly groomed mane was beginning to frizz again.
Soon, they came to what seemed to be a casino. They entered around the back and hiked up a long, twisting set of concrete stairs. At the top there was a narrow, claustrophobic hall with a spotless frosted glass door at the end. There was gold curly lettering on it that read something Bright couldn't quite read, between the font and the unfamiliar words. Diamond opened the door, which revealed a very neat and clean office. It smelled heavily of flowers. Behind a tidy desk was a very large green unicorn, with an orange curly mane that covered most of their face. They had lighter green spots on their coat and well cared for golden hooves.
“Hello, dears. Is this the tiny terrorist I've heard so much about?” She smiled a bit, but the exact nature of her smile was hard to tell.
“Yes. Little Bright here sounded very interested in our organization when I went to meet with her.” Diamond spoke almost immediately, signifying to Bright that she shouldn't try to explain anything for herself.
“Mm. Good. Does she know what we do here?”
“Not yet. I figured you might. And then, we'd also have easy access to the right tools in case she declines.”
The large pony chuckled. “I don't think she will. She looks like a brave young girl who could use the money.”
“Money?” Bright's ears perked up. “Yes, sir, I need money!” She smiled wide until one of Diamond's dainty hooves slammed down on the table.
“Sir? Can't you read? Can't you see? Lady Luck is no sir.”
“Calm yourself, Diamond. I will admit I am not the most feminine. Plus, I think little Bright Burst can't read. At least not Ponish.” She reach over to stroke Bright's mane. “Such a good girl…”
“Vhy are you...very big?” Bright tilted her head. Lady Luck giggled.
“Well I wasn't always a mare. Though, that's not important.” She lightly tapped the filly's nose. “Our organization is most ladies, whether like you, or me, or Diamond. Most of them also have other jobs as covers, but that won't be necessary for you. Plus those jobs usually aren't appropriate for someone of your age. If you join, you'll been given an assignment every Sunday. You'll have to week to complete it. You will have a device to contact either the organization if you're in need or a cleanup crew once you've finished your assignment. You—”
“Vhy vill I need cleanup..?”
“Stop interrupting!” Diamond growled at her.
“You're being more disruptive than she is, dear. Let me handle this or I'll have to ask you to leave.” With that, Diamond settled back down, a light blush on her face as she looked down. “Now then. I'll get to that in a while. We'll keep your bits here, and you can access them any time. Having them in a bank could cause suspicion. There's also the matter of that dreadful home you're staying in. If all goes well I'll be adopting you, and you and your sister will live with me. Leaving in the dead of night could cause a lot of trouble for you. I will provide any resources you need to your preferred method.”
“Preferred method..?” Her eyes were wide with confusion. She could only understand parts of what she was saying.
“A weapon, dear.” She grinned.
“I-I like...um…” She didn't know the word, so she showed her. She put her hooves together before throwing them apart in a eide motion.
“Ah! Explosives. Do you prefer to make your own?” The mare showed and unsettling degree of acceptance. Bright nodded softly. “I'll arrange for that my dear.”
“Can you say vhat I doing?”
“I would love to, dear, but if I tell you and you choose not to, I'll have to delete your memories, which is absolutely dreadful for me. Headache, fatigue, and all that…” She fluffed her mane. “Though I do encourage you to say no if you must. That goes for any situation, remember that.” She mentioned the last bit with a serious and almost grim tone. “Anyhow, let's recap. You get pay, a home, all your resources in family in exchange work work—”
“But vhat—”
“Let me finish! Work that I will explain right now. It's much like what you did for your country, though to a lesser degree. Equestria has a lot of bad ponies, and the princesses are too busy with their quarreling to do anything about it. We are the ponies who run Equestria. We keep everyone safe. Sometimes, that means getting rid of those who hurt others. Bright, I want you to kill bad ponies and help protect your new home.”