//------------------------------// // A good spy, a bad magician // Story: The tale of the Spy // by Andy Ray //------------------------------// Dreams... are a difficult matter. You should not know that. And, well, neither should I, but... Let us start from the beginning. So, I am hosting a dream for Twilight Sparkle. My expectations are pretty high: we'll have the time of our lives! Her knowledge -- catalogued and summed up for me! And mine for her too, of course, but not for long. I am the Spy, after all, and I must not disclose anything I know! Many would ask me: how do I do it?! Being a Spy, I should not know anything about running worlds, should I? My task is to... uh, spy. To get data stealthily and to protect information for those I serve to. Not to administrate a fantasy. And yet here I am, managing a whole imaginary world for a single soul! How come? I do believe I've mentioned I've always been curious about magic. Dark magic has never been an exception -- and such magic includes playing tricks on minds. Now. What is a dream? It is, first and foremost, the work of our imagination, and the only thing different in every dream is where we get the ideas. Each place such ideas come from is a dreamworld. It may sound complex, but there is a theory every thought occurs to one, because it is born somewhere. One never knows... And neither do I, for that matter. But I did learn, how to play tricks on one's mind. I might become a good stage magician, if I desired so... Although... let us leave it to someone more talented in that field, shall we? To trap someone in a custom dreamworld is not easy at all! I doubt I could have done it -- had it not been for my trusty wristlet! It's eased me the task of controlling Twilight Sparkle's thinking -- significantly! So now I haven't got to worry, how to trap her mind: all I've to do is to create my own dreamworld, to call for her soul and... to let her inspect the dreamworld. Sounds easy, doesn't it? It's not: for one, I must take care of Twilight Sparkle's memories, so, when the dream end, no unwanted memory find its way in her head! Moreover, I've had to land my own mind in a custom dream! I've had to create such a dream! I've had to... Oh, I'll just spare you the details and not talk about that! So, anyway! I am hosting my own "escape-from-reality bubble". It is empty for now. I am the only sentient creature here. But! I am imagining things! In reality I'm not alone. I can call out to whoever be inside my wristlet -- and they, Twilight Sparkle in this case, should answer me! So I call: I have taken care of establishing a connection to her -- it is good the wristlet makes her responsive -- and it remains open, even as I am sleeping! I call, and she answers me... This is actually hard, I confess! Twilight Sparkle is... mindless, although all I have to deal with is her, uh, mind... But seriously: she doesn't mind anything going on around her! Obedient, ready to do as told, no more and no less, than that. I must be very, very precise with what I tell her! All I want to do is to guide her mind to enter my dreamworld... Who knew magic could be so frustrating! Although I do not feel frustrated -- but I'm getting tired of it all... It is a good thing I've had a "meal"... Yeah, a meal of ticklish souls!.. As well, as soles... Wait, but... hooves... They are not supposed to have soles, have they?.. It doesn't matter, though: the guest is entering. I keep on feeding her the world vision -- while filtering her memories... Ugh-h-h!.. Not to fret, however: soon I may release a hold of her mind and let it loose. Her mind is, after all, relaxed: dreams are not called dreams just "because", they are works of one's imagination, and what does that mean? It means, what her mind is processing, what I am feeding to her now, is her fantasy, and because it is, any reality checks have been turned off! So I only have to control her memory at some point, and not her entire mind! Oh, but there is still a caveat... Yeah, that's magic to some... Ugh, I'm not cut out for it!.. Got to keep it in mind: as soon, as the dream end, I must cease control over it to the cloaking wristlet! Over Twilight Sparkle's mind, that is. Come on, be done entering my world already! Magicians should know: resource management is dirty work!.. Finally she has entered my reality! She is inspecting it... But her senses are not regained yet. So I take over her mind, so my wristlet doesn't control it any more. And then I let it free. Now her dream is running wild -- as wild, as I, the dream master, allow. Because it is but a dream, she rolls with whatever is happening. No questions. I doubt she even realises it's just a dream, at this point... Which is wonderful. My job is made significantly easier! This dream goes on. She sees the world and explores it. I'm watching for a while. Then I start talking to her. Asking her questions... Making suggestions... All without explanations. Her mind goes on vacations... Oh! Right, sorry! So, just a normal dream. I talk, ask, suggest... She answers to me. Enjoys our chat... We discuss a lot! Throughout our conversation I record, so that, when I wake up, I may write it all down... ...It's all happened so suddenly! She's left! Has proceeded to somewhere else! My world has ended up empty again... Caught by surprise (no kidding!), I call out to her... but nopony answers... ...Again, suddenly, I understand. Of course... I was in full control of her mind, wasn't I? I let it run, didn't I? Yes, I did... I'd let it run freely... And now I am in control no longer. And she has escaped... I should guess, into another dream... All because of... Huh... Yep. Yep: because I am a bad dream weaver. ... ...But then WHERE am I supposed to look for her now?!! Where??! Realisation hits me. This is the end, then. I have screwed up! Her mind, free now of my cloaking wristlet's (or my) influence, is wandering dreamworlds! I may only hope she should not wake up: her body is stored inside the cloaking wristlet, and it controls her mind no longer! That is unacceptable! I must restore the control! But I have none!! ...Nope. I'm OK. I can still do it! If only I knew where she has gone to! Let us hope it is true, what they say about dreams: that one can indeed change it with one's will power!.. Off after her, I say! Off after! And I use my own imagination to change my own dreamworld into something else: my guess is, if it be the same world Twilight Sparkle is imagining, I can find her! For who knows how long have I been searching... And no trace of her... I am not desperate. But I should be: finding her seems impossible! Who knows what she's imagining right now?! And, even if I knew that, how should I find her in that dream? I don't suppose two souls may meet each other, if they dream of the same. Or may they? And even if I find her -- how shall I regain control over her mind?? If only she entered my dreamworld accidentally! I would lock her there and not let go! I must calm myself down. I am the Spy! I can impersonate her! Maybe, then I bump into her? I invoke her in myself. I only lack disguise -- but who needs it here? Eyes are not required to imagine things. I bet I'd look like her to whoever observed the dream... Hum, actually: what, if that confused the dream master?.. No, is every dream really hosted by someone sentient? Really? I think so not. Now. Twilight Sparkle is supposed to dream of... books? scientific experiments? or, maybe, friends?.. Or magic?.. I don't know... I'm imagining a library. Books, books are everywhere! I walk up to a shelf and pick a book. For some reason it opens! On its pages is a smiling face. It says to me like a mother would to her child: "Pickaboo-oo-oo!" Naturally this has startled me! I drop the book, and it, giggling, closes... but then opens again suddenly and repeats: "Pickaboo-oo-oo!" Alright, I see... I leave the mischievous book behind and proceed further into the passage the bookshelves make. As I make it to a fork, I stop to inspect where every other passage leads to. They look about the same. It's a labyrinth... Something catches my eye: on the floor lies a fork... this time one to eat with... This amuses me. No sooner do I make my decision, as to where to go to next, than suddenly I see... Pinkie Pie hopping from my left! She notices me and stops. Greets me: "Hi, Twilight!" Heads for me... Is Pinkie Pie supposed to be here? "Pinkie, -- I ask, -- what are you doing here?" "Oh, just looking for a cook book!" -- she reports. I hum in understanding... "Oh! And here they are!" -- she exclaims. I turn my head: down the right passage there is a shelf dedicated entirely to cooking. Huh, isn't that convenient? "Oh, come with me, Twilight! We'll make cupcakes!" She zips to the bookshelf, grabs one book, not even looking at its title, and with a sound of some vehicle dashes down the passage. I... decide not to follow. For... some reason I feel... uneasy about making cupcakes with her... I don't know why... So I go forward. This passage seems cosy: shadows are cast by bookshelves, the flooring is parquet and yellowed, lit with poor light from behind the shelves. A ladder is positioned near the farthest end of the left shelf. I think of sitting down and resting with a book or two... Yeah, that's what Twilight Sparkle should dream about! But despite this place's cosiness I decide to proceed and go further to the next fork. A corridor goes left and right. It's poorly lit as well. Down the left one seems to be a well lit room to contrast this shadowy place. The corridor's wall makes a transition to the room's wall, then the corridor stretches infinitely. It's too dark in there to see; though, I think, there's another room: light pours out there, dim though it may be. Voices can be heard from the well lit one. Apparently, there goes on dining. Somepony's laughing. Some several even. I come more closely quietly and peek around the corner... E-e-yep, they are dining. Celebrating, seemingly. ...Why would they be here celebrating inside a library?.. Huh! Why haven't I thought about it before? Has my mind been relaxed this whole time? I should think so. Well, just like in any other dream. Maybe, I should return to the library and explore the other passages. So I do. I go back down the corridor I've come from. I notice, how it's become even more poorly lit. Nonetheless I keep walking... I can't see well here... but I am sure... there must be a turn to that cosy passage already... Instead the corridor stretches on and on... I look back. The dining room is still there, albeit farther. It's still lit. I look forward. No light. Only darkness far before me. Maybe, I should go back and proceed down the other as much poorly lit corridor? Why do I get the feeling I'm lost? It's... also suddenly cold in here... Cold and dark... I should panic, but I resist feeling that. I stomp my hoof down hard... and the floor breaks... and I fall down... There's considerably more light down here. In fact, it is everywhere: I'm falling through some lit void... but not panicking... I am calm. ...Is there a surface below? Shall I fall forever? And nothing is happening, at that! I decide it's been enough. I shift my body into a position (while plummeting) to feel more control. Try to rip through this void, as if it were just some thick fog... and I succeed. A vortex opens up, and I see something interesting behind it... can't say what, but I just feel myself a literary hero! An adventure seems to await me! I aim into the hole, thrust my hind legs, as if I were swimming, -- and dash through to the other side!.. Dreams are a wonder!.. It is like another life in dreams! Worlds, where you are a hero! It is not often I dream. Most of the time I only see nothing. Sometimes, however... I dream of prey... Thousands of it! I can feed!.. It is a pity it all ends badly: something goes wrong, and I have to survive... And survival means... suffering... Sometimes, however, when I have dined in reality, I dream of having a calm life... where I do something... sometimes it's an adventure... sometimes... not exactly... Of course, if I could experience emotions like the prey, then I could probably dream like them. Who's to know?.. I have never before let my imagination run as wild, as now... It all started with a custom dream I'd made, and then... I feel my body! I'm lying immobile, and someone is shaking me! But I must not return to reality yet! I must capture that mind! I start: I invoke my hosted dreamworld... incorporate into it whatever I'm dreaming about... It seems even harder, while under pressure!.. Then I render myself unconscious. Reality can't bother me any more. Now to return to my dream! I re-enter my world... Everything I've dreamt about is there. Oh!.. Not bad... not bad at all!.. In fact!.. That's. A... BRILLIANT IDEA! Not only is my dreamworld adjusted to whatever I'm dreaming -- but now, whoever dream of the same thing, shall enter it as well! So!.. When I find Twilight Sparkle's dream -- she'll return to my world! And, as I am its master, I'll be able to locate her! And then -- to capture her! ...For a long time have I been doing just that: imagining things and incorporating them into my world. I've tried to be as perfect Twilight Sparkle, as can be! ...Nothing. She's nowhere! Just... nowhere! At the very least it's all worked as I thought it would: guests have been entering my world! Guests I can't recognise... They've all been talking to me, as if we were real... I should believe, they don't realise it's all just a dream... My... dream... ...Oops. I have completely forgotten about it! As a dream master I wanted to be in a dream! That is, to be a part of the dreamworld! And now, as the dreams they are dreaming are all parts of my world!.. They all see me!.. They can see me each! Independently. But still! It is not necessarily they see each other: I don't suppose they do... But I am made visible to all! Yes, I look (at least I should) like Twilight Sparkle, but I can't manage their memories! It is highly unlikely they don't know, who Princess Twilight Sparkle is, but even if they don't... I can only imagine them waking up, and then discussing an alicorn they all have seen... Cue lines like "And I had the exactly same dream as you!" -- "Me too!" -- "Hey, that's weird..." Again, I'm not cut out to be a dream weaver!.. What have I done!.. ...Suddenly a new guest enters the dream. He is invisible... but I can't be fooled! Am I not the dream master? I leave my dream... So now I am observing it, as if from the outside. No one can see me... apparently, except for the new guest... He can... Is he an observer like me? "Hello... dream weaver..." -- speaks the guest. I... am confused... Who is that? The better question: whose mind is it? The guest's mind doesn't wait for me to greet it back: "I am the Guardian of my people's dreams" -- it introduces itself. What does it mean: "my people's"? "Name yourself!" -- it demands. "Amongst my folk I am known as... the Spy, -- I introduce myself as well. -- For, you see, I can do that well... very well..." "Ah! I see! So you're here to spy!" -- interrupts it me. "No, -- I answer coolly. -- I am not cut out for spying on dreams". "Is that so? -- I sense distrust in its words. -- You can't fool me! You are a spy!.." "Not just a spy, -- it's my turn to interrupt. -- I am the Spy". "And I am the Guardian! Of my people's dreams! -- it shouts back angrily. -- What are YOU doing here changing everyone's dreams?! I know many faces... but yours! I have never seen yours before! A spy -- the Spy! -- from another land!" "Me? From another land?? Have you ever seen spies from... your land?" "Stay! Out! Of my people's dreams!" -- it says threateningly. "Oh, if you wish! -- I raise my fore arms. -- I will just retrieve one soul that's escaped from my land -- and then I'll gladly and with relief destroy this dreamworld!" The Guardian's mind squints at me: "H-m-m... "Escaped", you say?.." "Yes. I wished to discuss matters with it and created this dreamworld, -- I motion to show the world. -- And then her mind left..." "Oh?.. It did, didn't it? -- the Guardian looks at me slyly. -- Why?" "I am the Spy, not a dream weaver, -- I shrug. -- I had to discuss matters, but we had not much time during the day... So..." "So you decided you could host a dream?" -- his mind asks derisively. "E-e-yep. But she decided to wander..." "Why must you hunt her here? -- it grins knowingly, -- if you only have to wake her up?" Ah. Now it understands... I could indeed... But that should be dangerous... "Perhaps, it is a solution... -- I agree thoughtfully. -- Unfortunately, she can't be awakened". "And why is that?" Honesty is the best strategy... "Her mind is trapped", -- I answer simply. It doesn't have to know, by whom... "Oh?.." -- it replies. "And, if I don't find her... Well, who knows, what may happen then?.." "You are a bad dream weaver indeed! -- it remarks. -- When you wake her body up, her mind shall return into it!" "And since she can't wake up, -- I counter, -- it can't return! Have you any idea, how hard it was for me to guide her into my dreamworld here?" "And... so you've pulled everyone you could into here in hopes of finding her mind?" -- it asks, amused. "Well... Yes". "Wow. You have really screwed it up, you know?" "Yep", -- I answer, seemingly sadly. "If I help you to find her, -- it offers, -- will you leave my people?" "I will". "Alright, then where is her body?" Uh... oh-h-h. Must save it!.. "Well, if it hasn't been relocated... and I think it has... Ugh, I can't be sure". "But she's got to be by your side... no?" "Again, if her body..." "But would it be moved away without yours, eh?" -- it squints again. It seems suspicious... "Maybe, -- I answer, not sweating it at all. -- Oh!.." -- I show panic, as if I'd realised I were kidnapped. "You should probably wake up, my friend", -- it suggests me, grinning amusedly. "Oh, but will you help me?" -- I require. "It is not my job, -- it disclaims sharply all of a sudden. -- You can't even tell where her body is! I guard my people, not yours! All I'll say is: contact the guardian of your people's dreams. They should help you. Even if you are abducted!" -- it smiles again. Darn. I didn't even know we had our own guardian... Wait! What did Pinkie Pie tell me about it?.. She said... there were two princesses... one of day, and one of night... And what did Twilight Sparkle tell? Yes, that she was the princess not only of the night or of the moon... Ugh! But of the sleep as well! "Thank you!" -- I thank it and shake its... inexistent appendage in gratitude. "Not at all, -- it smiles. -- Now off you go!" "Oh, by the way. Are all these minds not sleeping in Equestria?" -- I ask. "Heh... Some... maybe? But most... are not", -- it tells. "My apologies, then". With that said I reset the world... No one has left. All are staring, surprised, at the changed world. The Guardian sighs: "Alright, I shall take care of them". He does some magic... They all leave... "Wait!" -- I scream. I have found her! "Yes? -- the Guardian asks. -- What is it?" "This is her!" -- I point at Twilight Sparkle, who has seemingly joined this dream just as the Guardian has begun to guide the souls away. "It is now? -- he sounds surprised. -- Well. What do you know?" He chuckles and says: "You had better tell your guardian to watch over her... Wait", -- he ends his speech and inspects the purple alicorn. Finally he says: "Oh! The same one that appeared in the dreams of many! And... -- he looks some more, -- surprisingly it is a mind!" -- he exclaims. "But how? -- he adds. -- Is she a dream weaver herself?!" "Now", -- I say impatiently, as to signal him to let me concentrate, and proceed to capturing Twilight Sparkle's mind... ...Captured it! Now I must lead her back to the cloaking wristlet... "Interesting... -- the Guardian says. -- So her mind is trapped... by you!" Without any ado his magic interrupts mine! "This is not your soul... -- I grunt. -- Not... of your people!" "But not of yours as well! -- he makes an objection. -- You had clearly captured her mind! And that is dark magic! You are a dark magician!.. even though a bad one", -- he smirks. "On the contrary... -- I argue, hard though it is for me in this severe situation. -- She was captured for a good... ugh!.. reason..." "By you? Seriously? -- he laughs. -- You are not even a dream weaver! You are an amateur! I can't believe you can trap even a mind of a child! Let alone -- this mature one!" -- he points at Twilight Sparkle, who can't see neither me, nor the Guardian, for we both are observers, unlike her. "How dare you claim, -- goes on the Guardian, -- you'd captured her for the betterment? I should know it's done by well trained magicians, who know a lot about this kind of magic and are supervised! And you?.. Come on! Show me your permission to perform dark magic -- and I'll not stand in your way! Well?" He waits... apparently, for me to show something that'd prove my right to trap minds. ...But I've never graduated any dark-magic school. ...Another mind enters my reality. I admit it: talking while dreaming is a bad idea! Anyone can just enter and... "FREEZE, BOTH OF YOU! -- the guest's voice booms. -- SO COMMANDETH EQUESTRIA'S PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT!" Oh, hello, Your Majesty! I was just about to call to you... "OBEY!!!" I do freeze. The Guardian, however... "Apologies, Your Lunar Majesty! Please, judge the innocent not and will You let me be! -- he begs. -- So imploreth the Gua..." "SILENCE!" He shuts up promptly. And freezes too. "YE HAVE BEEN SPOTTED TORTURING EQUESTRIA'S PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE'S MIND! YOUR PUNISHMENT SHALL BE TREMENDOUS!" With those words she, though shapeless, charges her horn... which, I should know, every princess has... Uh-oh! "No, Luna! -- I scream. -- That Twilight is a spy!!" It... pauses the princess for a second. Only for a second: "GONE THOU BE, INTRUDER!" I can't imagine, how much worse this can be... "SPARE ME, YOUR LUNAR MAJESTY!" -- screams the Guardian meanwhile. What is his hope? "ENOUGH! WE ARE FIRING OUR MAGI-I-IC!!!" I prepare myself... but an explosion (ka-BE-E-E-E-EM!) doesn't hit me. At all! "No-o-o-o-o!.." -- screams the Guardian tardily and fades away. Out of my world. "Enter the dream", -- commands me the princess, her voice now just loud enough as not to hurt any ears. Still shocked, I do as she's commanded and enter my reality. So does the princess. From observers we descend to viewers... Yes, there's a difference. If you just dream, you are a viewer. But if you create a dream, and then visit it without, well, dreaming it, then you are an observer. The latter can see the viewers unconditionally, while one viewer thinks he is in the dream alone. Well, unless he dream of someone. Observers can host dreams (like I). If powerful enough, they can even trek dreams. Like Luna the night princess. Or that Guardian. I wonder, who he was... "L... Luna?.." -- asks Twilight Sparkle in disbelief. She seems to have been crying. Uh... Was it us, as we were fighting over her mind?.. "Ga-a-ah! -- she shrieks. -- And... m-me??!" As we've entered the dream again, we have all regained our shapes and looks. And, while I don't suppose the princess is disguised... I am. "It should seem, -- explains the princess sternly, -- one of you is not Twilight Sparkle, as that one claimth oneself to be!" O-o-oh-h-h!.. I see where we're going to with this! Naturally, confused, Twilight Sparkle asks: "Luna! What is going on?" "One of you, -- she answers, -- to prove herself to be the real Twilight Sparkle shall get my support! Now begin!" It is time to put my impersonation skills to the test! With curiosity sparkling in my eyes I approach the original: "H-m-m... You look exactly like me! How?" "S... s-same here", -- she answers me, nervous. I inspect her, as if I'd never seen her before. What new discoveries I will bring to science now! "Wh... where h-have you come from?" -- asks a disoriented real Twilight Sparkle. ""Come"? I am from Poniville! And where are you from?" "I-I'm from Poniville too! But... you can't be from there as well! You... just look like me!" "Oh! Of course we're not the same! -- I answer her cheerfully. -- That is impossible! Luna, -- I speak to the princess, -- are you sure this, -- I wave at Twilight Sparkle, -- is not just a fantasy?" Before the royal pony answer me, Twilight Sparkle intervenes: "Uh!.. But!.. How?! A fantasy?? Luna, this is ridiculous! You should know too well I just can't be a fantasy!" -- she snorts. "You aren't? -- I raise an eyebrow in surprise. -- You mean, you are someone real?" She even sputters: "Phuft!.. Of course I'm real! -- she yells. -- Who are you, anyway? You appeared from nowhere along with Princess Luna! You're an imposter! Luna, please, do something! She is clearly not me! I s... I swear!.. D-do you believe me?.." Sadness enters her voice. "Luna, -- I speak to her suavely, -- we both know, who is the spy here..." "I do not, -- denies she coldly. -- I need a proof!" A proof, she says... Well. I can do that! Exchanging retorts has given us nothing. We've done everything to prove our uniqueness... But I am a great spy! And a good pupil! I learnt everything a Twilight Sparkle needed to know -- and from the real Twilight Sparkle, no less! And now, it appears... we have reached a stalemate. Neither of us can have proven to be the real one. What is one to do in such a situation? "Well. It appears, this is no way of proving!" -- I say. "Definitely", -- replies Twilight Sparkle to me gloomily. She has been tired out by our debates. "Oh, but I know of one certain way to figure it all out! -- I declare solemnly. -- Let my friends decide, who is the fake!" It's all as I thought: friends may be of use! The night princess cocks her head. Twilight Sparkle seems stunned, but then livens up: "Of course, Princess Luna! My friends!" The princess, however, seems to have decided: "I see it: the real Twilight Sparkle would remember her friends and count on their help... unlike an imposter!" And, naturally, this shocks the poor original like a backstab. I should really pity her: after all, the wise princess of the night has just made the wrong decision... "No... No! My friends! -- she's screaming. -- They will recognise me! Please!!!" But I hurry to suppress her mind, before the judge change hers... One more time... I'm capturing her... so now I'm controlling her mind. Then I hurry to cease control over to the cloaking wristlet!.. "How curious, Twilight! -- notices Luna. -- I'd never have thought thou couldst perform such a deed! Hast thou never considered trying to rule a night one night?" -- and she chuckles at that. "Uh... No... This is, actually, really hard, -- I confess. -- How do you do that?" "It is my talent", -- she says dismissively. "Of course..." -- is my only reply. I lay off the responsibility over Twilight Sparkle's mind gradually. Just not to hurry... And done! Her mind is back to where it belongs! Now it is safe to destroy this dream... Oh, wait. My senses. I am unconscious, aren't I? "Just one moment, Luna, -- I tell, reconnecting myself back to the real reality. -- There. I'm ready! I can already feel my body!" "In that case, -- declares the princess, -- end this dream and wake thou up!" And with that my dreamworld fades away... and I am waking up... I'm back to my senses again. The same hall we'd fallen asleep in is around me. Sun is shining outside. It appears to be high noon... I guess, I've slept for way too long, haven't I?.. At least I've been rewarded: Twilight Sparkle is back! And the Spy is safe again!.. "Twilight! Twilight!!" My friends' voices. They're huddled close around me. They look concerned for some reason... "Can you hear us?!" -- they cry. What has happened to me, while I've been asleep? I stir: "Good... time of the day, everyone", -- I greet them... They all, without any explanation, tackle me in a hug. "Thank Luna you're OK..." -- they say. "You've been fast asleep! -- tells me Applejack. -- We've been worried you'd never have waked up!" ...What, did they think?.. "That is ridiculous! -- I huff, as I stand up, still hugged by them. -- Why should I never have?" Reluctantly they unhug me. "Because you'd not wake up, -- cries up Rainbow Dash, -- no matter what we did!" Yes... I would not... Because... well, I had to capture one certain mind!.. "That's... unusual... -- I ponder. -- I'm known to wake up, when disturbed in sleep..." "Princess Luna, what happened?" -- they require of the princess. "Some minds were fighting over Twilight Sparkle's, -- tells she, serious. -- It appeareth, they'd cast a slumber spell to keep her inside a dream!" They gasp. "What did they do to you, poor thing?" -- is Rarity about to wail. I answer: "Well... I... was sleeping... dreaming... -- I appear to be recollecting. -- Huh... U-u-uh..." "There were two minds, -- interrupts the princess and explains, -- one of which appeared to be her doppelgänger! With the other mind I could deal easily. But with the doppelgänger!.." "Yeah... -- I put in. -- It was a good thing that doppelgänger didn't know about you, girls!" They decide to hug me again. Come on, how many times do you have to do it?! Do you feed off of it?? "It's good to have you back, Twilight!" -- whispers Fluttershy fondly. "You are the best friends one could ask for!.." -- I reply in kind. "Worry ye not, my friends! -- speaks up the princess. -- These offenders will be found, and justice will be served!" Hum, I wonder: how will she find the real Twilight Sparkle? "First, however, let us deal with the imposter!" ...Oh. "Twilight, -- speaks the princess to me, -- what didst thou to her mind?" I'm not to tell her I hid the original inside my wristlet! They must not find out!.. "Ah!.. -- I reply knowingly, as a plan has quickly formed in my head. -- I'll show to you, Luna! You'll be astounded!" This plan is far from perfect! It'll probably even fail. But I am the Spy, even if it do, I'll come up with something right away!.. "Oh! -- ask my friends. -- What did you do, Twilight?" "Tell us! -- demands Pinkie Pie resolutely. -- Or we'll force you to speak!" Uh... "Um, Pinkie, -- begins Rainbow Dash. -- Calm down, please. She'll tell us. Yeah, Twilight?" No, I won't! That's to seal my doom for sure! ...Hum, or, maybe... "You may not want to see..." -- I tell reluctantly, as if embarrassed, but their curiosity has been piqued. "Oh, Twilight, dearie! -- whines Rarity. -- Surely it's nothing to hide, is it?" "Yeah! -- shines Rainbow Dash a smile of excitement. -- I bet it's got to be awesome!" "I!.. Say!.. TELL US!!!" -- yells Pinkie Pie, seemingly angered by my reluctance, but I should know she's just too impatient. "Pinkie!" -- they all but Fluttershy yell back. "Oh! -- Pinkie Pie whimpers. -- But!.. The... suspense! It's... killing me-e-e!!!" She appears to be choking. ...But all laugh at her antics. "No! Stop laughing! I'm serious! Girls!!" -- she demands, annoyed. "Oh, please, Twilight! We beg: tell us!" -- Fluttershy makes herself known. All stop their laughing and stare back at me, waiting. "Twilight, -- Her Majesty decides to join too. -- It should not hurt to show them as well. I suppose not it is dangerous, is it?" She waits for me to answer. "I guess..." -- I sigh. If only they knew. It should definitely have pained me to tell them such bold-faced lies... But I feel no regret and no remorse! Have I not been telling I can't experience emotions?.. A spy needs them not. No. Although with emotions it should be much easier to do it: just to tell them the truth... to confess... No need to act. Unfortunately, I can't afford that. No! The mission must come to a victorious end! So I do what most of the spies would consider risky beyond comprehension. "So, -- I tell, -- I have... kinda... captured the imposter's mind!.." Silence ensues. Hoo, Sun help me now! ... "Remarkable, Twilight", -- speaks finally the princess up. "Hoo boy, colour me surprah-ised!.." -- utters Applejack. "I be..." -- and Rarity is speechless as well. "Uh... Say what", -- deadpans Rainbow Dash. "Um-m-m..." -- Fluttershy squeaks. Pinkie Pie says nothing. She's just staring at me wide-eyed. I sense fascination in her... "Yeah... -- I resume. -- Unbelievable!.." After a moment of silence I go on: "So... The imposter's mind is in my possession now! What shall I do with it, actually? What do you think?" This one should be tricky!.. "Twilight Sparkle, -- speaks the princess, and her voice lacks any warmth. -- As a very talented, I dare say, student of magic thou art supposed to know..." "That mind magic is dark magic? -- I interrupt, seeing where she's going to with this. -- Sure! It is. So?" Silence. "I may have not my permission to do that, but..." The princess erupts: "OF ALL THE MOST DISCIPLINED AND WELL-BEHAVED MAGIC STUDENTS THOU HAST GOT TO KNOW BETTER AND NOT TO USE IT WITHOUT PROPER PERMISSION!!!" Wow! That's been mind-blowing! Almost literally, at that! My brain!.. It's definitely not what I expected... "THE LAW SAYTH IT ALL, TWILIGHT SPARKLE! THOU WILT BE JUDGED! ATTEND THE COURT LISTENING WILLINGLY, AND IT WILL BE SEEN TO SOFTENING THY SENTENCE!" Not... quite what I've hoped for, but... "Please, Your Majesty! -- Rainbow Dash plops on her knees before the princess and implores her. -- Don't judge her! She's done nothing wrong! You... you shan't take her!!" Hello? Is loyalty speaking up in her? "Very well, -- calms the princess down. -- Defend thine indicted, and the judge will resolve this case!" "What?! But!.. She's my friend! She's done nothing wrong!" The princess waits for more and, when nothing has come, throws back: "Thy point is hereby invalid". "Girls! -- I interrupt this bedlam. -- Silence in the court, please!" When all do that, I speak: "I understand it, that you are worried about me, but don't be! I'll be fine!" -- I assure them. I see tears in their eyes... "I'll just... -- a short pause, -- ...attend the lawsuit... a-and they'll let me go!.. I-if you want, however... please... do come!.." No, I won't cry! Hunters don't! Apparently, Pinkie Pie isn't a Hunter: she's bawling... How terrible it must feel to have one's happy world in ruins... I do remember feeling sad... "Pinkie... d-don't c-cry!.." -- I suppress my own tears, though I feel nothing... Nothing! I feel empty inside... Suddenly, without any prior warning the scene is interrupted, as two portals open up, and us join two unicorns. This catches us all by surprise. The unicorns seem meaning business: robes, brimmed and pointy hats... Their horns are charged up... I see... Some serious magicians, aren't they? "No! Twilight!!!" -- my friends scream... ...But the next thing I know is: I've been teleported to somewhere... I don't know where to... It's... a dimly lit, spacious room. Some crystals are glowing near the opposite wall. Glowing orbs to my left, looking like eyeballs, are seemingly scanning the room. They notice a new face here -- mine -- and squint suspiciously. Their gaze follows me, until we reach the exit near them. It's... unsettling... I am convoyed through the door and into a relatively small room with grey walls and a low ceiling. The door behind us is locked. The only other door is before us; a magical seal is keeping it shut. One of my guards touches it with his horn. After some time the seal glows and unlocks. The door opens. Another room is behind it. Just how many of them are there? And why do they need so many empty r?.. Oh, but this one is not empty: about a dozen of soldiers is ambushing us, their weapons pointed forward, and their horns -- charged to zap a possible intruder. Hum-m-m, nice security system, I must commend! It should be near to impossible to infiltrate!.. Almost impossible... Hum-m-m... I am escorted inside. The door behind us is closed and shut magically again. "Eyes", -- one of my guards mumbles. Before I have thought of what it means, I am blindfolded. Heh. It gets nicer every second, I admit! Not to worry, though: I've dealt with nigh-blindness before: when I am cloaked in, I can't see well. The solution to that is my echolocation skills. Am I not the Spy?.. "Don't try to use magic of any kind, or you'll be weakened", -- one of them, I can't see who, warns me indifferently. Welp... This is officially bad! I can't even know where they're taking me to! "May I ask, -- I enquire, -- where are we going to?" Honestly, I haven't thought they'll be bothered... so I am surprised, when they answer: "You may: you're going to appear before the Magic application violation-monitoring commission". "And what's up with the blindfold, then?" -- I ask, as if bemused, but actually curious. "Some magicians try escaping, -- the answer is dry. -- Can't really do that, when lost". Huh... Well! I seem to have committed a crime... although they haven't even the faintest idea!.. To tell the truth, my plan was to lure Her Lunar Majesty into a trap, then to change my guide, releasing Twilight Sparkle, then as a princess that has seemingly no friends whatsoever -- to infiltrate the government, and then... I'd see. But, maybe, my friends may assist me one more time? They are a source of Energy... Uh, yeah... It is a pity I can't have gathered Twilight Sparkle's knowledgebase. Although we have discussed a lot during yesterday and last night, there still is to learn so much more! I may only hope this knowledge suffice me! I am led to the unknown! At least I've gotten rid of my friends. They are a responsibility I can't handle... Friends, be they damned! Why must they stand in my way?!.. If they want, they may go help Twilight Sparkle. I, meanwhile, am better off proceeding with my task! ...As soon, as I get myself out of this situation... And this... is not going to be particularly easy... ...Even for the Spy.