Three Hundred and Sixty-Four days until the next Summer Sun Celebration
Shining slowly opened his eyes and did his best to block out the blinding pain that surged through his head. Somehow, he was at home and in bed. Which was odd considering the last thing he remembered, he was boarding the train back to Canterlot.
“Another blackout…” He mumbled beneath his breath as he sat up in bed. Beside him, as always, was Vinyl. She was sleeping peacefully, a small smile on her face. He really hoped that his episode didn’t cause her any trouble last night. The last thing he wanted to be was a burden.
Slowly, he got up and looked to the clock on the nightstand. Eight in the morning, so he overslept. Luckily for him, he was off of work for one more day. Not everyone in DEqI was off, but the non-critical departments were. So he could just enjoy his day with Vinyl and relax for just one more day.
Shining decided that he would start his day with a run, stop somewhere to get breakfast and maybe stop by his parents’ house. Hopefully by the time he got back home, Vinyl would be awake and they could get their day moving. Before he left, he got his saddlebag and filled it with his journal and some bits for food.
Outside of the apartment it was a beautiful summer day in the shining city on the mountain. It was much cooler than Baltimare and Ponyville, not that Shining would complain at all. A cool summer morning was a lot easier to run in than the sweltering heat below.
His usual route was nothing special or intense: he went from their place in the southern quarter, up to the city center, then finally up to the Royal Palace then all of the way back. The route back in boot camp was a lot more difficult and used some of the old mountain trails rather than the well-kept roads.It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t good on the hooves.
He was maybe halfway to the city center, lost in his own head thinking about what he and Vinyl could do later, when he was stopped by a sight he wasn’t expecting at all. The deputy director of DEqI herself was walking in his direction, well running actually. She was even in her white and gold work uniform.
“Deputy Director Picket!” Shining slowed from a gallop, to a light trot as he came close to the snow white unicorn mare. If one looked close, one might see a few beads of sweat gathering on her forehead and the slight dilation to her pupils. Something was wrong.
“Shining Armor.” Picket’s slightly nervous gaze met his own as she slowed down. She was in her mid-forties, her mane already completely gray from the stress of her position at such a relatively young age.”Thank-” Something caught in her throat, most likely a word or words that she did not want to say. “-I was told to come retrieve you. You need to come in immediately and speak with the Director.”
“Of course, Ma’am. Let me go back home and get ready and I;ll be there as soon as-”
“No, Shining Armor. Right now.” That was very forceful and cause for concern. He was not one that was needed for much. The last time he was told to report to the Director was his first day on the job, and that was just for familiarity. “This is important.”
He only nodded as Picket turned and started to heads towards the palace grounds and DEqI headquarters. Shining did his best to stay just behind and to the side of the Deputy Director and keep his thoughts and worries to himself. If the situation wasn’t fit to discuss in public, then he wouldn’t press the matter.
The journey to the headquarters, which sat adjacent to the guard quarters on palace grounds, was quick and silent. The building looked as if one brobdingnagian piece of marble had been hollowed out and had a door put on it. It was imposing and complicated beyond its appearance, much like the agency itself.
As soon as they went through the door, Shining Armor knew something was wrong. Ponies, some he knew personally and some he knew through reputation, were moving around the main foyer at a panicked pace that was uncharacteristic for most of them. Not many things could send almost the entire Department of Equestrian Intelligence into such a tizzy.
Hovering above the massive foyer, was a glass box that served as the office of the Director. It could see into every floor of the building and could be seen from everywhere just to remind you that you were watched and monitored.
Picket beckoned Shining over to the sun that decorated the tile floor beneath the omniscient glass office. As he stepped onto the inner circle of the sun, Picket’s horn glowed with a soft cyan glow and the circle began to rise into the air towards the box above.
As they entered the office, Shining quickly ascertained that there was a spell on the exterior of the glass. From the outside it looked as if the Director was quietly sitting at his desk on the second level of the cube, working on paperwork. Once they passed into the office, he realized how deceiving that was.
The inside of the office was far off from the outwards appearance: The Director, Captain Galea, and his little sister were all in the office and talking about something he couldn’t hear yet. Picket followed him as he went up the stairs and entered the office without being told or welcomed.
Every eye was on him in an instant.
“Captain, Director, Twilight.” He gave the first two a salute and the last one a nod. “Is everything okay?” He took a moment to actually study those in the room, to try and gauge what was truly happening; Galea was as cold as always, and she had not changed one bit in the past decade. The Director, a grayscale earth pony named Variance who had taken over after the last director retired three years ago, also gave nothing up through his level neutral gaze. Finally, Twilight. She said the most. Tears had stained her cheeks, her legs were shaky and she looked ready to collapse.
“Shining Armor.” Director Variance addressed him first, his voice as deep of an octave as equinely possible. “This is not to leave this building.” There was no need to confirm, because there was no question, it was an order. “Princess Celestia has gone missing.”
“...what.” It was all he could conjure up. Those words in that order shouldn’t be possible. It was unthinkable. “What.”
“By all reports she got onto her carriage in Baltimare, it arrived in Canterlot but she did not.” The Director stood up from his desk and stared at Shining with his stormy gray eyes. “We are doing everything in our nation’s power to find her, but we are preparing all possible contingencies.” He did not like the implications of that sentence, not at all.
“We are going to put Canterlot on lockdown until further notice.” Now Galea stepped forward and spoke. “We need you and your sister to help us with that.” There was no small amount of swallowed pride in that sentence. “We want to put up a barrier around the city for the next week while we make sure this is not an attack on Equestria.”
“We are masking it as a test of a new defense system, the story is already to the papers and they’re going to be printed tomorrow.” Variance did not give Shining even a moment to speak, it was as if the Director knew his worries and concerns before he could air them. “You and your sister are the most powerful unicorns we have and the smartest, we need you both now. Equestria needs you both, now.”
Somehow he felt that both of those qualifications were aimed at Twilight rather than himself. He was not particularly talented or intelligent in the field of magic, at least he didn’t think so. Most likely he was here to ensure that Twilight would cooperate and stay focused more than anything.
“Twilight.” He looked to his sister now, who was still barely containing the bevy of negative emotions spilling out of her head. “Are you okay?” He stepped towards his younger sibling, one who just wanted to protect from all of the bad things in this world, and pulled her into a hug.
“I-I just-I never thought…” Coherent and complete sentences were not something she could obviously form at the moment. “Why...how…?” Shining hugged Twilight as hard as he could and rubbed her back slowly. “She needs to be okay.”
“She is, she has to be.” Shining said under his breath. “She probably left of her own accord...for some reason. We have to believe she’s safe.” He was saying things that he thought would comfort himself, not just Twilight. There was nopony in all of the world powerful enough to capture Princess Celestia, so she had to have gone voluntarily. Right?
“We need the both of you to work with us for now in securing Canterlot.” Galea spoke again. “We have two days until we need this barrier to be up, that is your deadline. I know your emotions are running high, but we need the both of you to focus on the task at hoof.”
“We’ll do our best, Captain.” Shining said with a sigh and Twilight nodded in affirmation. It was all they could do.
----
Vinyl was sitting on the couch, sipping on some freshly brewed coffee and just enjoying her morning. Twinkle was out on his morning jog, no doubt, and she didn’t have anything to do today. She figured she’d cuddle with him a bit and talk about how his trip to Ponyville went, then they would plan something fun and simple for the day.
When Twinkle had gotten home last night, he had been so tired he went to sleep basically right away without saying a word. She was disappointed, but she understood. Celestia knows the nonsense he had to put up with in that town while he was there.
While she would love to hear all about everything that happened there, she also wanted to tell him about her trip with Celestia. The enigmatic ruler had been cold after Vinyl had really stepped on her hooves. She was pretty sure Celestia valued honesty, and Vinyl had provided it.
Maybe there were right and wrong times to lie though.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Vinyl bolted upright and looked around. Had Twinkle forgot his key again? It was honestly possible, especially as of late. Either way, she was always gonna be here to help him. Even when he was being a dumb idiot, he was her dumb idiot.
When she opened the door, it was decidedly not Twinkle on the other side. Instead it was a pearl white unicorn mare with a strawberry mane, shining pale magenta eyes and a locket of gold and sapphire around her neck. Vinyl couldn’t say she recognized this pony, as there were who knew how many white unicorns in this city.
“Hey, what’s up?” Vinyl leaned against the doorframe, studying this mare the best she could. Her posture was perfect, the look on her face composed and friendly without being necessarily inviting. It was pure Canterlot elite from horn to tail.
“Hello Vinyl Scratch! How are you doing today?” Okay, so this pony knew who she was at least. Probably a fan? Her first stalker, maybe? That’d be pretty neat, actually. A sign of truly being famous, that’s how she would know she’s on the up and up.
“I’m good, good. Decent. Who are you?” Vinyl cocked her head to the side and lifted the pair of shades off her eyes and rested them above her horn.
“My name…” There was a hesitation, a little look up and to the left. “...is…” Okay, so it was going to be a fake name. Vinyl had given out a lot of fake names when she was a teen, so she knew the deal. “...Ray…”
“Right. Ray. So what are you doing here?” Vinyl was going to indulge this little charade, it seemed like fun. Why not help this young mare have a little fun and make believe? Celestia knows when she was younger she liked to pretend to be somepony else.
“We met on the train yesterday, actually.” The mare produced a bag from just beyond the doorframe, one of Vinyl’s from the trip. “You actually left this behind and I wanted to return it to you. Your name and address were on it, so I just...I am sorry if I interrupted your morning. I just wanted to return your bag.” The mare gave an uncomfortable laugh and moved her quite lengthy mane from out of her face.
“Hey, no, it’s cool. You’re fine.” Vinyl encompassed the handle of the bag in her magic and gently brought it inside. “Thank you, really.I, like, super appreciate it.” There was a silence that hung in the air for a few seconds, the other mare just smiling, her eyes darting around. “Uh, do you wanna come in? The least I can do is like offer you a glass of water, or something harder if you’re okay with drinking before noon.”
“Oh, if you do not mind, I would love to.” Vinyl stepped aside and motioned the other mare in, closing the door behind her. The mare moved to the couch without hesitation, looking around and admiring the view out of the windows. “Such a beautiful apartment, and what a view of the city, no?”
Vinyl’s ears twitched as she moved to the little kitchenette. This mare had an accent, not really from Canterlot and not really from anywhere she recognized. It wasn’t even heavy or all that pronounced, but it was there ever so slightly.
“So, water? Booze?” Vinyl lofted the question out there, keeping an eye on ‘Ray’ from the corner of her gaze. The smaller mare was just sitting on the couch, the same pleasant smile on her face as the morning sunshine bathed over her.body.
“Hmm...well...do you have any…” There was another hesitation, this one was more someone searching for a word rather than trying to make something up. “Whiskey?”
“Do I have whiskey?” Vinyl laughed and got one her favorite bottles from on top her fridge. “Are you even old enough to drink?” The answer would be telling for multiple reasons for Vinyl.
“Maybe some water then…” The younger mare responded, a slight blush radiating from her face.
“Aha, trying to pull a fast one on me. I like it.” Vinyl poured two small glasses of the drink and brought them to the coffee table in front of the couch. The mare looked down at the drink and back at Vinyl nervously. “If I was against underage drinking, I would be a hypocrite. Please.” She motioned to the drink as she picked up her own and took a sip. “If you want to drink, eventually you will. Better to do it around someone who did it a little too much in their own youth.”
Ray carefully picked up the glass in her magic and took a little sip. Her eyes widened and head lurched forward as she almost spit out the drink. The strength catching her off gaurd, and causing Vinyl to chuckle.
“It’s an acquired taste.” Vinyl remarked, taking another sip and sitting back in the chair beside the couch. “So...mind telling me why you gave me a fake name?” Ray’s eyes widened as she looked to the door. Somehow, it seemed, she had not realized how obvious her own lie had been. “I mean, I don’t mind or anything. I’m not even asking for your real name. I just want to know why the lie.”
“Oh dear…” Ray put down her drink and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.”...well, to tell you the truth, I do not get out much. It is nice to be...regarded as someone of little import. You did not recognize me by visage, I thought my name might give it away. I just wanted you to treat me like you would anyone else.”
“I don’t really keep up with the aristocracy or whatever, so honestly you could tell me your name and I still probably wouldn’t know.” Vinyl finished her glass of liquor and put it upside down on the table. “If you’re up for telling me, I’ll listen but if not that’s cool too.”
“My real name…” The other pony took a deep breath. “...is Countessa Demura Radiance Lucia Rosette the Fifth.” As soon as it was out there, a weight seemed to rest on the mare’s shoulders, like even the name itself was something physical.
“That’s a lot of words...I can see why you chose Ray instead.” Vinyl had no clue how anypony could remember that many words in one name. It sort of confirmed the other mare’s pedigree, though. Only the families that had some sort of titles bothered with those kinds of long and strange naming conventions. “Well, I’ll be honest, I have no clue who you are.”
That seemed to be of little comfort to Countessa Demura Radiance Lucia Rosette the Fifth, as her new belabored posture didn’t change at that admittance. Vinyl didn’t really understand the problem with being noticed or even swarmed by people who knew her name. That’s what she had been working toward her entire life.
“Well Vinyl, it was an absolute delight to meet you.” Once again that quite phony smile came out as the mare stood up. “Perhaps one day we shall meet again and indulge in further revels, hmm?”
“Are you staying in town?” Vinyl stood up with her guest. “You were at the Summer Sun Celebration, but your accent isn’t exactly from around here. So are you staying or just passing through?” Vinyl was always up for making a new friend, especially when they were a perspective drinking buddy.
“Observant.” Ray stated, turning towards the door. “I am on break from my studies and staying with my father here in the city for a few months.” At the mention of her dad, her voice seemed to grow even colder.
“Well, hit me up sometime okay? You know where I live, so if you’re feeling like you need company just come on over and we’ll...indulge in some more revels. Promise.” Vinyl smiled at Ray and dropped her glasses onto her face.
“Thank you very much for the offer, Vinyl Scratch. I just might take you up on it in the future…” There was another hesitation, the pony had already stood up and was facing the door. Her ear twitched, then Vinyl could barely see the smile come back. “Actually, I have a favor I must ask of you.”
“I mean…” Vinyl wasn’t all that fond of favors for relative strangers, but then again, Ray had retrieved her luggage, which Vinyl remembered had some of Twinkle’s stuff in it too. “...it depends what it is?”
“My father and I are not each other’s biggest fans, in fact we share quite a disdain for one another.” Yeah, VInyl had gathered that much. “Would you mind if I stayed here with you for a day or two so I can properly detoxify myself of his...nonsense?” Well that was something unexpected for a first meeting.
Well…” Vinyl thought about how Twinkle would take this. She had learned over the years that he didn’t really like uninvited house guests, so he wouldn’t be on board. But then again, where would Vinyl be without the kindness of relative strangers? Not here, maybe not even alive. Pay it forward, right? Do unto others and all that stuff she had been told as a filly.
Twinkle would just have to deal with it.
“Alright a few days.” The mare spun around, bouncing on her hooves excitedly as she pulled Vinyl into a hug, one Vinyl didn’t reciprocate just yet. “But a few things first, my coltfriend lives here with me. His name is Shining Armor, and he’ll be home soon-ish, I’m gonna tell him you’re a friend of mine and just need a place to lay low. Problem is, if he hears you talking like...that, he’ll know you’re not exactly in my circle. I know you probably can’t exactly drop the accent, so just don’t speak so fancy?”
“Simplify my vocabulary? I suppose I can do that for a little bit of time. I will do my best to emulate the way you speak.” Ray smiled and pulled away from the hug, letting out a happy sigh. “I will do my absolute best, Vinyl.”
“And is there anyway for you to look...less noble? You’re a unicorn and stuff, do you know any disguise spells?” Vinyl leaned against the chair and cocked an eyebrow at Ray. She wasn’t trying to be offensive or anything, but man her appearance was a dead giveaway.
“Hmm...well…” The unicorn’s horn lit up a dark blue and fiddled with her locket. “I can do that, but please, do hold back your surprise and let me explain?” Vinyl waved her hoof, letting Ray know to just go ahead. She was expecting some intricate and fancy spell, but instead the locket was just unclasped and dropped to the ground.
Almost instantly Ray’s coat turned from that pearlescent white to a muted gray, her mane from that wonderful strawberry to a blu-ish gray, and those pale magenta eyes turned golden with vertical slits for pupils.
“You’re a bat-pony?” Vinyl blinked and looked at the other mare’s head. “Sorta.” That unicorn horn was still there, though. “A hybrid?” That was rare, a bat pony with a horn. There was a certain...prejudice against that kind of thing, at least in Canterlot. Ponies and bat ponies didn’t regularly interbreed in this city, and the offspring were never received warmly in the upper echelon of Canterlot society.
“Well, yes.” That confident smile turned to a stone face, little fangs poking out from her mouth. “My father makes me wear that charmed locket, he thinks it fools his friends into thinking I am not a hybrid. Trust me, it does not.” The amount of disappointment in that statement was palpable. So much so that it hurt Vinyl’s heart to hear.
“Well I think you look pretty, alright? No need to wear that thing around me.” The only unknown was how Shining was going to take this new houseguest. Being apart of a noble house himself, Vinyl wasn’t very hopeful for the first interaction.