//------------------------------// // The hardest trial of all // Story: The tale of the Spy // by Andy Ray //------------------------------// "Name", -- asks me an indifferent voice. "My name is Twilight Sparkle", -- I answer. "Grades". "Huh?" "Your school grades?" -- requires the voice. I puff my chest proudly: "Perfect! Straight A-s! Especially when it came to magic!.." "Enough. Next: diplomas?" "Thousands of them!" -- I exclaim. "Indeed". Wait! Do they know? "Why ask me, though, -- I'm curious, -- if you seem to..." "Silence", -- intones the voice. Huh! Well! "Next, -- continues the voice, -- recent occupation?" I try to look bemused, though with a blindfold over my eyes it seems... hard: "Sure, -- I reply drily. -- Working as a princess of friendship, tasked with spreading the magic thereof across Equestria. Our company provides the finest samples of friendship in the world! Our motto..." "Enough", -- it interrupts me, just as drily. It rustles some papers, then continues the interrogation: "Next: where do you live?" "Inside a backpack", -- I answer sarcastically. Although I can't see, I'm sure I've heard the voice's eyebrow raise. I feel someone hit me in my shoulder: "We haven't time for that, Miss!" I sigh: "Well. Where does a princess live? What do you think?" We don't bicker for long, though, I co-operate, and the interrogation goes on. I am asked different questions: my friends, my family... They even ask me to describe my cutie mark! Which turns out to be quite tricky: for I don't remember it! Spies! If you should have to impersonate a pony... Don't forget what your cutie mark looked like! This little detail would be sure to blow your cover up! Ah! I have been so fortunate to have Twilight Sparkle answer their questions for me! She knows everything about herself! Of course nopony has found it out: they've all thought it's been me this whole time! Am I not great? Would I have been without my cloaking wristlet, though? No, I don't think so. ...The last question has been asked, and silence has hung. What next?.. "Identity confirmed, -- answers the voice finally. -- We apologise, Your Highness, but nopony must know about us. We are clandestine, so forgive us for having blindfolded you". "Don't mention it, -- I answer them. -- I understand the price for security... but still: would you unblindfold me, please?" "I believe, you've never heard of us before, Your Highness", -- the voice refuses to answer directly. "How should I have? Also: how come I have never heard of you before? And..." "It is my belief, -- I'm answered, -- that it is, because Her Majesty Princess Celestia must have not told you about us. And what Her Majesty doesn't tell, doesn't need to be told". Oh, great: a private party -- I grumble internally. What a disappointment to Pinkie Pie it should be... "Now, -- the voice adds, -- you are authorised to proceed further". "Thank you, but still I can't see... Woah!.." I am tripped, as I am attempted to be led to some place. "Hey! Be careful! I've almost tripped!" -- I shout. "Be careful with Her Highness, guys", -- the voice tells whoever is leading me. "Aye", -- is the only thing they utter. And so we proceed... We are stopped multiple times to be challenged, and some permission is, apparently, shown to the challengers. Deeper and deeper we go... I can't say where, nor for how long we've been here. I am curious... They said, I was going to appear before a commission of a sort... Was it really so big a crime: to have captured one's mind? Am I a matter of national security already? I wouldn't think so... but here we are... At last my blindfold comes off... I blink at the light... "We're here", -- mumbles one of my guards. Finally! We are in a room that's filled up with soldiers just like the room I was blindfolded in. I might have thought, we haven't moved an inch! That it's been a trip from here to the interrogation room and back again! Seriously, I can't spot the difference! Do all of the rooms here look just the same? As I look around, the soldiers watch me intently, ready to attack, should I try something funny... Don't worry: I won't. We step to the door, shut magically with a seal. Why must it all look so identical?! I swear I've seen just the same door, before I entered the first room, where soldiers were ambushing us! One of my guards, again, touches the seal -- and the door opens. Sun as my witness, if there be just the same small room!.. ...Coats. In my face. From the guarded room we've stepped into a small room full of overdress... "Darn!" -- my guard swears and squeezes his way through the coats. As we go, the other one almost trips over a pair of boots and curses as well. It seems, not everyday they're met with such a... fashion display... Anyone? Alright, may this pun be forgiven!.. Still... Even if these were winter clothes, this is not a very warm welcome we've received... What is wrong with me? Why am I punning?.. Pinkie Pie!.. What are you still doing here? I've set you free! Or... are you trying to cheer me up, thinking, perhaps, that I am miserable? Worry you not, Pinkie Pie. I can slither my way out of here. For I am the Spy! And the Spy has never been called out before! We've gotten through... Finally! Another door is before us... Oh, come on! The door behind us is shut, while the one before us -- opened... We enter some sort of lobby. A bored receptionist livens up, jumps up from his seat and asks: "Hello! Whom have you come for?" "For MAVIMONC", -- one of my guards blurts. For what now? "Alright. If I may see your?.." The pony shoves the receptionist the permission right in his face. "Ah... Very good. Now! You here are?.." "Twilight Sparkle", -- I say, showing no irritation, though I should at least feel it. "Very good, -- the receptionist repeats, nodding. -- Accused of something?" "Yes, -- grumbles the guard. -- Forbidden magic". "Of kind?.." -- enquires the receptionist, raising his eyebrow. "Refer to HLMP Luna", -- grumbles the other. "HLMP"? What does that mean? "Her Lunar Majesty Princess..." -- answers me Twilight Sparkle immediately. Thank you. "Not at all!" -- her words spell her beaming face... But wait... Shouldn't the face spell the words, rather than the other way around?.. I don't ask Twilight Sparkle that. My thinking must be awry... Only with Pinkie Pie have I felt such silliness... Confusion... "I shall send her a letter", -- meanwhile the receptionist nods and bends to write something down. "Clear up the exit, won't you?" -- remarks one of my guards irritably, as the quill is scratching. "Pardon?" -- lifts the receptionist his head, stopping the quill. The pony points his hoof back at the door we've entered: "Coats. Boots. Impossible to pass!" "Ah... I'll see to it", -- promises the receptionist with a nod and proceeds his writing. "Her Majesty comes, -- notices the other guard. -- Better have it done before that..." "Her Majesty, -- the receptionist replies, -- is actually more likely to teleport right here, bypassing all that... -- he wrinkles his nose, -- ...security system". Huh? So it is bypassable? Ho! I see!.. Well!.. Maybe... if I can just... "Still!.." -- grumbles the guard. The receptionist says nothing in response, busy with his job... We have been waiting for a while, but finally a commotion is heard from-behind the exit door. All heads jerk up and turn toward it... Someone is making their way through... "BE THESE CLOTHES DARNED!" Wait! I recognise that voice!.. So after all she... The rustle of clothes is heard... some gasps, whoas and squeaks... That magically locked door appears to be shut, and the moment it is the exit door bursts open. And who enters in? Her Lunar Majesty Princess Luna! So after all she hasn't teleported, thus bypassing the security... No. Instead of that she appears to have gone all the way to here. By hoof. "WHO, I ASK, IS IN CHARGE?!" And... she hasn't arrived all alone... All of my friends, Spike included... are here. "THAT GATE ROOM IS NOT TO SERVE AS A SUPPLY CLOSET OR AN ANTECHAMBER!" Great! Now they have managed to come, right when I've been pretty sure they would have preferred to stay!.. But no, they had to come! "IT IS THERE FOR CLEAR SECURITY REASONS, AND IT IS NOT -- CAN THIS BE MADE CLEARER?! -- NOT TO BE KEPT CLUTTERED WITH DRESSINGS! OR SHOES!" Despite Her Lunar Majesty yelling I invoke Twilight Sparkle in myself and rush toward my friends: "Girls! Spike! You're here!" Yes, I think. Why are you here?! Have we not had a great sleepover? Have you not had enough of me? I can't be your friend, do you understand?! Nor do I want! I don't... think... there... is someone... I care about... For, well: caring is sharing... And Hunters don't share what positivity they've got! "TWILIGHT!!!" -- they all exclaim, somehow even over-yelling Her Lunar Majesty. They rush to hug me as well!.. But can I blame them? I am not to reveal my true self... So... If only I could!.. reach Canterlot! Then I shouldn't have to worry about friends getting in my way!.. We collide and fall on the floor in a pile of emotions... How... unimaginably... h-happy!.. we are!.. I think!.. I-I think, I-I m-might c... cry!.. Of... happiness!.. No, that's just an illusion... Despite tears rolling clearly from my eyes... I only hope they've come to get me right out of here and on to a job for the government. Seriously, how difficult must it be to infiltrate it?! Why haven't I yet done so?? I blame friends! We're squeezing each other... No one is left behind!.. All are crying!.. ...Her Lunar Majesty is long done yelling at some nincompoops, who've cluttered the exit, and is seemingly waiting for us to be as well done snuggling. The magicians, who've been convoying me, are apprehensive, but I should know they trust their princess with whom she brings. The receptionist... Well... He's shivering in fear before Her Majesty, and that's understandable: he was expecting her to teleport instead of coming in the usual way, wasn't he? "Th-thank you..." -- I manage, as I get up on my hooves. It is rather difficult: they don't want to let me go. "Come on, guys! -- I attempt to smile. -- I d... d-do appreciate... it... b-but..." ...But they don't want to budge... Their care for me... I can't imagine anyone to... care!.. so... deeply! So... wholeheartedly! "C-come on, g-guys! -- I wipe my tears and attempt once again to pry myself off. -- Grow up! Stop being such crybabies!" They cease their wailing... only to stare at me. "My, Twilight!.." -- gasps Rarity. "Are you NUTS?!" -- shrieks Rainbow Dash, distress clearly seen on her face... I can't be fooled. "Twah-ilah-ight, what're ya talkin' about?!" -- joins them Applejack. "We've come all this way just to support you! And you... this?!" Rainbow Dash, what is your problem? "Oh, but I can't help it, everypony-y-y!.." -- weeps Pinkie Pie... Huh?.. "Woo-hoo-hoo!.. I'm just... too SENSITI-I-IVE!.." -- she chokes. Fluttershy, who hasn't said a word, pats her in support sadly. Everyone is staring at her in confusion, some eyebrows raised. "Uh-h-h... Regardless... -- interrupts Rainbow Dash this awkward situation. -- Twilight! Is that really you?" Uh... Why?.. "Of course we're not crybabies!.." -- she stares crossly at me. Others only glance at her questioningly. "We're just... -- she sniffs. -- ...Couldn't... bear it!.. Kn-nowing you were... w-well!.." What... is up with them?? Why are they so... desperate? "Well... -- after a short pause I say, as I rise, -- I know, how much you care about me, but..." But Rainbow Dash zips and sweeps me in yet another hug, cutting off my words. Others join as well... except for Pinkie Pie, who is still weeping on the floor... Uh-h-h... "But -- no 'buts', -- whispers the blue pegasus. -- Nothing, you know that better, than any of us, nothing! can tear us apart!.." "Even if you think otherwise, -- adds Rarity, -- dear... think again!" "No matter what -- we're always there for ya!" -- exclaims Applejack and secures us all more tightly. "Pinkie, -- calls Fluttershy the sobbing mare. -- Are you going to join us?" "Ah-h-h!.. -- she springs up, face tear-stained, but nonetheless filled with bittersweet happiness. -- Everypony!.. Ah-h-h!.." With that she embraces all of us at once (!) and appears to be smothering us... Alright, I may choke in here!.. "T... Twilight..." In all this emotional turmoil I've failed to notice just one more friend that's gone completely unnoticed ever since the sleepover: my faithful assistant Spike the dragon. I can't understand, how I haven't noticed him! Judging by what he's experiencing, the entire world has just exploded! Burnt to ashes! Torn to pieces! Blown up to smithereens! I must know his feelings toward his... uh... whoever Twilight Sparkle is to him (how have I forgotten to ask that one?!), but I am not his entire world, OK?! I pry myself free of the others' hooves ("Can't... breeze... girls!.." -- "Oh! Right... Sorry!") and approach the little creature: "Yes, Spike?" He leaps at me! For a moment I fear for my eyes' safety: doesn't he want to claw them out?! But... no. He doesn't. Instead he clings to me, as if his very life depended on it! Yeesh!.. Clingy much? Darned be Pinkie Pie! She's infected me with a pun-making disorder! I knew nothing good would come out of friendship!.. "Woah!.. Spike!.. Geez, relax! What is wrong with you? I'm not deadly ill! You oughtn't, really..." He doesn't listen. He's hugging me, as if he hadn't just done that moments ago. "Aw-w-w!.. -- Twilight Sparkle speaks up. -- That's because I hold a special place in his heart!" Wait! I don't remember having asked her! "Behold! -- nonetheless, despite everything she proceeds. -- The magic of friendship... in action!" Alright! It is uncharacteristic of me on so many levels -- but I suppose the time has come for me to FREAK OUT! "Ahem", -- but, luckily for me, I have no time to do that: Her Lunar Majesty has coughed. "We have gathered you here for a very important reason: ye may propose your arguments to defend the accused Twilight Sparkle... that is, if ye are done having a moment with your friend", -- she huffs. Yet I know, that deep down her heart is warmed and she barely resists the urge to cry! How touched she must be!.. And I? What was that all about?? Was I losing control?? The more reason to stop hanging out with them! I check to see, if Twilight Sparkle's mind is still secured... It is... Good! I exhale, becoming aware of a breath I appear to have been holding. ...No... It is clear to me now, why other spies would fail! I repeat: no! It was not without a reason nopony... Ugh!.. no one could succeed in stealing this spell! I'm telling you: this!.. country!.. is!.. cursed! It's completely soaked with feelings! No one!.. it seems... can escape this doom!.. The ponies shall poison one! Make one compassionate! Sensitive! Weak! I can't stand this fate! I shan't survive as weak! Please!.. Someone... Tell me I can be still emotionless! It is... so... great!.. to be... able... to hurt... others!.. H-how else am I supposed to feed??.. I'll... perish otherwise... Even now... I sense commotion inside my core... It appears to be still impenetrable for emotions... for the Energy of various kinds... Only if I should allow so... But... What Twilight Sparkle is feeling, is... It's... so... overwhelming! My knees tremble, and I collapse. Naturally my friends rush closer to see, if I'm OK... But... am I? Spike stirs as well. Worry has begun to bubble up in him... In a little while he'll start to freak out, seeing me like this. I pat him: "Never fear... Spike... -- I exhale. -- For as long, as you'll be there... s-s-supporting me... -- a sharp breath. -- ...I'll b-be th-there for you... too!.." My friends... They appear to be assuring me... that everything... is going to be fine... But I, honestly, doubt that. If only I could!.. hide... from all these... feelings!.. "...You are queued for a meeting", -- I hear the receptionist's voice... What is it... he's mumbling about?.. "O-of course, Your Majesty, -- he apologises hastily, -- the queue isn't long a-anyway!.. J-just!.." "We'll wait", -- condescends the princess coldly. "N-no, I mean... They are actually busy right now! And... a-and they're having a meeting!.. S-so!.." "Yes, we have announced, that we'll wait", -- repeats the princess, showing a tint of impatience. The receptionist goes silent: "O... o-of course... Your Majesty". "Rise!" -- I hear. The poor guy has bowed down, hasn't he? Oh, is he afraid! "Twilight Sparkle", -- the princess speaks to me. What?.. She approaches me and speaks seriously: "As a princess thou hast to realise thou art responsible for what thou doest..." "Please, Your Majesty!" -- begs Rainbow Dash again. "Have mercy!" -- Rarity is with her as well. "Spare her li-i-ife!.." -- is Pinkie Pie overreacting. "She needs us and our support! Don't you see she's having a melt-down?" So this is what it looks like from the outside... How observant of you, Fluttershy! Truer words couldn't have been spoken!.. "Girls! -- answers the princess, and all fall silent. -- We do understand this must be shocking, but responsibility is above all..." They all interrupt her again in protest. The princess stomps her hoof. Silence ensues. "Ye are concerned for your friend, are ye not? -- attempts she to explain herself again. -- I see that... Nonetheless... Though it is in my and my sister's power to bring justice..." -- here she pauses for emphasis. "...To pardon criminals, to unlock prison cells... Just as much have we the power to take ponies into custody, to rot them in jail!.. As well, as just to confiscate property", -- she hurries to add, seeing the faces all about her change at the mention of rotting in jail. "It is also in our power to make foolish decisions -- therefore! -- she raises her forehoof. -- Therefore! It is our responsibility to bear!" She speaks further: "Fear ye not, my little ponies! Your friend Twilight Sparkle is in good hooves! Trust ye me as your princess?" The ponies are uneasy... "Trust ye me not?" -- she arches her eyebrow. "Well... Your Hah-ighness, -- speaks up Applejack. -- Ah-i trust you. And so do you, right?" -- she addresses the others. Though reluctantly, all give their yeas. "Spah-ike, -- Applejack approaches me and kneels down to be at Spike's level. -- Come on. We promise nothing bad shall happen to Twah-ilah-ight!" Again, reluctantly the little dragon lets go of me. How unsure is he! But... he does for some reason trust my friends... doesn't he?.. As he would -- me... Huh... Curious... "Again, the magic of friendship in action!" -- I hear Twilight Sparkle. Oh, come now! I am about to be judged for some dark magic I did -- and here some more of dark magic is sealing my doom! "Now, friendship is no dark magic!" -- takes Twilight Sparkle the insult. Well... Go tell this to someone, who's not melting down emotionally! "Maybe, I should!" -- she huffs. ...Now. This... is NOT supposed to be happening. I can't do this! Help! Sun... Help me!.. In the end I could manage myself. Although it wasn't particularly easy. No! You see, though cross with me a little, Twilight Sparkle was still under my control. So of course she obliged in the end and discussed with me, how to stop the emotional onslaught and what was going on. She told me, because she was friends with the other ponies (and with Spike), a mysterious link was connecting them all. They cared each about other. Unbelievably. They held each other dear... They were attached each to other emotionally. Bound, if I may. They felt love. Before the party (preceding our sleepover) I had come to realise it was some kind of love. Unselfishness... Honesty... Laughter, kindness, loyalty... Laughter was special: it didn't seem it was necessary for one to be considered a good friend. However one with laughter is most likely to befriend ponies. And having friends leads to responsibility... Such I cannot take... Nonetheless. All of the six had, as is natural for the prey, responsive cores. Inside their cores resided sparks. They had ignited the four elements of friendship -- and someone was to be blamed for that. Not necessarily was that Pinkie Pie... But... apparently, she had ignited the elements inside Twilight Sparkle's core... And from then... Care must have been sparkled... And, no, that was not intended to be a pun. At all! So. It was "friendship" that'd been ignited. So Twilight Sparkle had done... something. Or, maybe, she hadn't. I can't say for sure. But there could be no friendship without taking great responsibility of one's friends. So... Laughter must be blamed for ensuring mutual friendship, I guess?.. It had ignited friendship in the other five... So they had become Twilight Sparkle's friends. And... again, Laughter?.. It had been ignited in addition to the other four, had it not?.. If only I could tell for sure!... So... Not the four, the five Elements had been sparkled... Yeah, inside Twilight Sparkle... Huh! It may seem, she was destined to have met the five, wasn't she?.. In any case. When the five Elements were ignited by that spark... That's right: the sixth Element was born. That mysterious Element Of Magic... And, apparently, such magic was not just any kind of magic, was it? No, such magic can only originate from friendship... And friendship -- is just a bond! Emotional bond, mind that! The combination of the five Elements!.. S-so... Their mutual love... For some reason... born of this all was... the Element Of Magic... And the aforementioned link between mutual friends... It... Urgh. It was clearly some magic that had enhanced that link... That... bond... That made them care... That made them love each other... So... Those emotions... Some magic was at work, and some great one, at that... To tell the truth, not even Twilight Sparkle understood such magic to its full extent. So forgive me, if my explanation seems confusing... Believe me, when it comes to the Element Of Magic, I am lost as well... So. I may only guess that magic was the reason for my, ah... "melt-down". I touched it... and it overwhelmed me completely! It even livened Twilight Sparkle a bit! I was afraid I'd lost control over her! But, as soon, as she'd given me an explanation on what a magical moment there was... ...I asked her, how I was supposed to hide from all those emotions. Honestly, she couldn't understand why. She said, friendship was a wonderful, wonderful thing! That there was nothing more valuable, nothing worth more! Of course I can't agree with that notion: have I not been telling I can't afford myself to care! I can't cease control over my emotions, even if I had such preposterous an idea! I am not of the prey! ...Well. I might decide to care. I might open up... I might want to take this responsibility... and to stay with them... ...But... should I not be better off as a separate entity? Why disguise as someone, if... how was it?.. if friends are supposed to accept friends for who they are? At least... according to Twilight Sparkle they are... Well... Even if I came in undisguised... would they recognise me? We should have to start from square one... Of course, unless I told them I'd been with them that whole time... No! I don't think I can take such responsibility! I couldn't be honest with them! And if I couldn't be a good friend... then... why should I care? Friendship is not worth it. Look at me! I could have been in Canterlot long ago, stealing the spell! And instead? I can't leave without them following me! Even now, as I have been taken forcibly for a crime -- ha, a crime! -- they just won't let me escape them! Ugh... Eventually I couldn't take it. I panicked. I had almost decided I ought to have released my guide... and to stay invisible... But. As I was thinking it over, I realised, just how complicated it was going to be. I should have to take my wristlet off. To release Twilight Sparkle. To put the wristlet back on. And then? I had to leave unnoticed! How?!.. A pair of apparently well trained magicians were there, not to mention Her Lunar Majesty! I don't suppose I could flash my eyes and stun them, so they shouldn't remember anything. Could I? I doubted it. I can recognise magic, when I see it, so I know, when it is just too risky!.. Would they not have some defences against my stunning flash? Wouldn't they? That was what I thought! However. As I was contemplating it, I decided I knew the solution! If only Twilight Sparkle could have stabbed me, then disguised as me and finally sucked me into the wristlet! That should have been great! I would do that, and invisibility should help me! No one should suspect a switch had occurred!.. But she couldn't: she wasn't me... So! The problem was for us to switch places! And while I couldn't do that -- I could still switch our minds! And that was what I did: leaving some overrides, I instructed my wristlet to take over my mind, as well as Twilight Sparkle's! And then? I gave some control over my body to Twilight Sparkle's mind! So! As a result... my mind is hiding inside the wristlet as if behind Twilight Sparkle's, while she can control my body, as I can control her mind! While my mind is controlled by my wristlet! While I have some overrides to restore the status quo! Uh... Naturally this affects my thinking... I appear to be nothing more, than a thought at the back of Twilight Sparkle's mind... Uh... Dark magic indeed... Honestly, though, I don't know what she is thinking... This convoluted scheme appears to have made me a part of Twilight Sparkle's mind, which in its turn is running my, uh, body... I... don't know... We... may have become one?.. Well, we... do share one mind... not actually, but... Uh, in any case... At least I don't experience any sentiments any more. My core is safe... I hope... ...Well, my current state worries me... I would very rather return to be myself again!.. However... my friends are still here. And they won't leave, until this be done! I may only hope we will! Fortunately, our waiting time has come to end, just as I've finished switching our minds! That was a very close one!.. But am I not the Spy? ...Actually, am I?! Oh, Sun, what have I done! But I oughtn't to panic. They will just judge Twilight Sparkle... Maybe, they'll release her, in which case I'll be free. Or, maybe, they'll arrest her... In which case, well, I could still escape somehow... I know I could! I am the Spy! Now. They are ready to see us. Her fate will be decided! Huh. I wonder, can she figure out she has a cloaking wristlet now?.. Speaking of which. What, if the guys from the commission discover it? But it hasn't yet been discovered by anypony! A wonderful, truly wonderful invention!.. "Next, please! Oh, here you go, Your Majesty!.." This is it! Twilight Sparkle is excited!.. Maybe, I am too... But mostly she... Damn. This isn't a good idea any more! Maybe, I'd better change everything back before I've hidden my mind behind hers?! Oh! But my friends!.. What am I to do now?!.. I and my friends are led into a hall. Some serious ponies in robes are sitting at the wide desk before us. Their looks are stern. As Her Lunar Majesty has entered the hall with us, they all stand up and bow in respect. "Your Majesty", -- speaks one in the centre. "Greetings to you too, -- she answers casually, not stopping. -- May we begin?" "Indeed", -- the central one answers. All sit down. Our group approaches the table. I, alone, stand before them. Her Lunar Majesty goes left and sits there. My friends are instructed to go right, and they sit on the bench. Worry and concern are spelt on their faces... Their immense care... Twilight Sparkle resonates with the same feeling. Now, that she's allowed to perceive more, than just me, she reacts to it, as if I'd released her... That, however, isn't true... Though detached from my own body, I, her master... can control her perfectly well! And that by extension means, I can control her feelings! And no friendship!.. shall stand in my way! "May our meeting begin", -- announces the central desk pony. "This is the case of... -- he checks his papers. -- ...Twilight Sparkle". Oh, come now, you couldn't say it was me right in front of you?! "Your Majesty, -- he turns and speaks to the princess, -- state your case, please". She rises. Her face is stern. But I know... how disappointed in me she is. She can't believe I'd have done such a thing. O, how wishes she I were not here! How wishes she she didn't have to do this! And yet it is upon her to bring justice in this land. It is upon her and her sister... I make to transfer to her a simple thought, that this case need not be processed, so I may be released... However something prevents me. I can't transmit my intents! I can't communicate! Is this because of what I've done to myself? Because I'm hidden from emotions? I should think so... My power to inflict fuzziness... To transmit the Energy!.. ...But, maybe, not all is so bad?.. not all is lost?!.. It appears, Twilight Sparkle's mind is what is blocking me! So, when I regain myself!.. Then I'll have it restored! At least, that is my hope. Alright... let us not panic... Everything is just fine!.. Hee-hee-hee!.. Meanwhile the princess proceeds to explicating, what she witnessed. She tells, that she found a dream, in which a dream guardian from another country was fighting Twilight Sparkle. Naturally she banished him! For, it appears, every country has its own dream guardian! They monitor their people's dreams and, well, guard them! Her Lunar Majesty is such a guard, it appears! Now I understand! Maybe, it was good I'd encountered that guardian... Otherwise Her Lunar Majesty might not have bought my lies! By the way, she's going on. She tells, she wanted to banish Twilight Sparkle as well -- but who, she believed, was her and over whom Twilight Sparkle and the guardian had been fighting, was not actually her, but rather her doppelgänger! So, confused by who of them was the real one, she proposed a challenge, and thus she determined, who the real Twilight Sparkle was. Then, she tells, the real one appeared to be banishing the doppelgänger... and only when they all had waked up, did Twilight Sparkle tell she'd performed a mind capture! Upon hearing those words the committee gasps. All stares are directed toward me. Unbelieving stares... The princess ends her speech with: "I rest my case". The judges are silent. My friends... They want so badly to interfere! I of all should know, how much it pains them!.. But I... am insensitive to this pain -- thank you, Twilight Sparkle! "...What will the indicted say in her defence?" -- finally the central judge speaks. I open my mouth and lick my lips... but, before any words escape it, I hear Twilight Sparkle's voice vibrate in my head. As words reach me, I either let them pass, or suppress them, moulding Twilight Sparkle's mind to think again -- and better this time. As this verification process is complete, my throat makes sounds... Huh... How interesting it is to watch myself as if from the outside... I tell I am innocent and why: some trained magicians do that without any problem; no one ever berates them for that! must I really feel ashamed of myself, just because I have no permission to do so? Who, I ask, has the power to permit me or to forbid me to do what I want? Is it not me? And is it not my responsibility? Am I not responsible for what I do? Am I not an adult already? And if not, why have I been brought to here? Since someone else appears to be responsible for my actions -- well, let us let him come and speak for himself! He'll tell you, why he's permitted me to do what I've done! Of course nopony will come. For that pony is -- me! I -- and only I! -- permit myself to do so or not to do so. And if you have a problem with that -- well! We are gathered here! What is your problem? Speak your minds! For I've done nothing wrong in this regard! ...As I've finished speaking, my legs are shaking; my heart is pounding; my body feels tense; a trickle of sweat is streaming down. I wipe it away and request a seat, voice hoarse. One is provided, and I collapse on it. I must calm down! Phew!.. The committee says nothing. The princess is... huh. Marvelled?.. Conflicting feelings are fighting in her with fury! To be responsible -- what does it mean? Is it an obligation? Or is it actually some very pleasant power, given by one's duty? For she knows it herself, what being responsible takes. She also realises, herself, what it gives... I, myself? I consider responsibility a burden: point in case -- my friends. I don't want it: it takes a lot from me and gives me nothing. But what about the responsibility I do bear? Well... Being a spy, I lose not so much: so what, if I must stay disguised? So what, if I'm subject to hatred?! I am hatred-proof! Being responsible for my own safety and well-being is a part of who I am! And being who I am is never a burden! Never! Who can object that? Huh? Someone, who doesn't like himself?.. Well... If I didn't like myself, whom should I? Those, who are not me? Whom I can never be a part of? Whom I can never be like? Maybe, then I had better just perish. What should be the point existing, if I were not to exist?! How even could I hate so much those I belong to? For we are the same! Of course, if I should change... That should be a reason!.. But even then... I don't think I ought to forget who I had once been... I mean, how hypocritical that should be of me!.. To get into trouble, to beg for mercy... To be spared... Then to find another fellow in trouble... to deny mercy to them... And then?.. What should befall those, who beg for mercy, yet are merciless themselves?.. Honestly, I am not one of those. I know there are situations, which it's just better not to get into! This will justify my mercilessness, when it come to it! I just know it'll be my fault! That I'll HAVE to be punished for my mistake!.. I won't accept mercy, where I don't deserve it! Isn't it the right thing to do? I know that, and I am not even close to good! So. If being harsh on myself is the right thing... Tell me... What can justify being nice to everypony? Huh? Well, what? I'm not even dividing the world here into me and everypony else. I never do that. ...But. As well, as that... I know another thing. I know there are times... when cruelty is... gratuitous. Of course... if I had to replenish my Energy supply not by tickling... but rather by being violent... Then?.. Well, then, maybe, I'd have to reconsider the value of a life. But I am not violent. No. I value life. I never take it away! If someone begged me for mercy, I'd consider sparing them: I know there are instances, when anyone, without any limitation, is worth being spared! And I don't make exceptions from that rule. When I know I am worth mercy, I know everyone is. Should I consider myself unworthy, though... I'd consider sparing no one!.. That is the thing! I am one and the same with my fellows! It doesn't matter, who they are. When I'm just like them, I'm with them! And I don't forget that, when I be with them no more! I am a spy, so I am with spies! Spying is NEVER wrong -- for I do it too! And what I do is NEVER wrong! Or take my unique feature: I am a Hunter. Therefore Hunters are good, and the prey is... well, worse, than us... For, well... Hunting is NEVER wrong! Because I do it! It is a part of me, and I can never be wrong! Or consider this: I am of "active" Hunters. I am proud to be of the strong! I despise the weak! This attitude... even if considered "racist" somewhat, must not be explained to you once again. I know one thing for sure: if I were born weak, but then were converted somehow to be strong... then, maybe, I'd remember having been weak... Remember having been with them... I'd remember having been who I'd have been, and who I'd have been should NEVER be wrong! For this very reason being who I am is NEVER wrong as well! There is NOTHING wrong in being superior to the weak! Of course... If I should change, I'd despise those, with whom I'd been. If I decided to quit spying, reasoning it were a wrong thing to do, then I'd despise spies. But I'd never forget I had once been one of them... and, even if I considered them bad, I'd show them mercy, where I'd have deserved it... Even if I'd have changed and shouldn't deserve mercy for being who I'd ceased to be... ...However I can never quit spying: once a spy -- always a spy! And even more so -- a Hunter. I can't change who I am. I shall always find pleasure in tickle-torturing others!.. As well, as other Hunters shall always find pleasure in different kinds of torturing... And of course I can't change my strength! I shall NEVER be weak! So?.. Make your own conclusion. ...My emotional melt-down notwithstanding, of course... I... actually fear of experiencing it ever again!.. My attitude... I know there'll be NO excuse for how I've treated the world!.. This is yet another reason I flee being responsible... Speaking of which... What have the judges decided? While I've been in a trance-like state, discussing different matters with myself, the judges have been whispering each to other. I have made quite a ruckus, haven't I, eh? Ha-ha! But finally they stop whispering, as they seem to have come to an agreement. "Is it correct, -- asks the central judge, -- that you take responsibility for what you've done? Do you confirm you have performed an act of dark magic, namely a mind capture?" My friends' hearts race like horses. Her Lunar Majesty's state is... mixed. Twilight Sparkle doesn't panic. Does she feel having no control, though? I don't know... It doesn't matter. I dictate her to answer, and so she does: "Which question should I answer? Ugh... I suppose, I should -- each one of them. Ahem. First, I am an adult pony. Therefore I am responsible for what I do". All lean closer to hear me. All, except for judges, are sweating nervously. Yes, even Her Lunar Majesty is feeling on the edge. "Second, I have... not performed a punishable act of dark magic..." "There are, -- I am interrupted, -- no other kinds of dark magic, Miss. All are punishable. Have you or have you not per..." It is my turn to interrupt: "In this case -- I have not performed such an act". Silence hangs for a while. The judges exchange glances. Finally one of the judges to my left decides to ask me, his face sly: "And pray tell us, Twilight Sparkle... Just what exactly have you performed?" -- his lips crook into a smile. This doesn't deter me: "Why, an act of grey magic, what else?" -- I allow myself to smile as well. However the judge is unfazed: "And just what IS that type of magic, huh?" "Why, this is clearly the magic that is not dark!" -- I surprise myself with a smirk. "Enough!" -- interferes the central judge. He rubs his head tiredly, and then lifts it and asks me, gazing right through my soul: "Twilight Sparkle... -- his gazing relaxes. -- Uh-h-h... Do you state, what Her Majesty Princess Luna has accused you of is not true?" "She's accused me of various things... I had indeed a dream, where I was confronting two, uh, entities. Princess Luna did come to help me, and she did see my doppelgänger. She did believe me, and then I did... -- here I pause for an emphasis, -- ...capture that doppelgänger's mind..." "Aha! -- exclaims the left judge. -- You did it! You've said it! Gentleponies! -- he speaks to his fellow judges. -- Our job is done here. What will the defenders want to say?" "Hold it!" -- grumbles the central judge, then asks me to continue. Which I do: "Thank you. As I was saying... That doppelgänger's mind was captured. I woke up. My friends were there, -- I wave to them, and they respond me in kind, hope gleaming in their eyes. -- Princess Luna asked, what I'd done to their mind -- the doppelgänger's, I mean -- and I told her the same thing I have -- to you. Well, naturally, Her Majesty yelled at me for what I'd done! And then I was about to..." "Miss Sparkle, -- interrupts me another judge, this time to my right. -- Since you've performed such a deed, you have to know a captured mind must be stored somewhere..." Oh!.. "Well... My fellow judges! I propose, we should examine the presumable imposter's mind, determine where their body resides, then call for them to appear at this listening". Uh-oh! I'm in trouble again! "In this case, -- as the judges have all agreed to that, the central judge announces, -- we may proceed to a preliminary verdict of confining the indicted Twilight Sparkle and extending the listening, till the presumed doppelgänger be summoned". He raises his voice: "As per trial protocol!.. -- he turns to my friends, who were about to break the order in the court. -- What... will the defenders have to say?" Well... Maybe, not everything is lost, after all! As it turns out, even now my friends are helping me! Yeah... let them defend me... After all... they just could get me off the hook!.. But I want my body back! In fact, I want to release Twilight Sparkle as soon, as possible!.. I might have to start from square one... but at least no friendship shall be there to get in my way!.. ...Even if now it comes actually in handy... Uh... Please... Though no emotion is stirring inside me now... I think, I'm very close to hating my job! I don't wanna be a spy any more!..