Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.
Business As Usual
<<>><<>><<>>
"So, how do things look right now?" Jazz asked. She and Soarin once again found themselves in Tucker's secured tech room at his home several hours later.
"Oh, you know. Business as usual," he replied with a wave of the hand over his shoulder, more focused on the data displayed on one of the many screens before him. "Vlad is scheming, we're scheming to counter his scheming, and Valerie is scheming her own schemes should our schemes be insufficiently schemed."
"Please stop saying scheme," Jazz groaned, rolling her eyes as Tucker glanced back at her, smirking.
"But really, how is our situation right now?"
"You mean the situation in general, or you two specifically?"
"Both."
"Well… Could be better to the former, and you're doomed to the latter."
"Har har," Jazz replied sarcastically.
"Laugh while you can," Tucker shot back. "Once Valerie is done with you two… Well, at least you will know how to fight ghosts. Provided she doesn't turn you into one first."
"Great," Jazz groaned. "So not only do we not have much of a plan, other than react to any new development. But in less than twenty four hours Valerie is going to wipe the floor with me, and I can't even say she's wrong to do so."
"Don't forget, Soarin will be in that whole mess, too," Tucker reminded her.
"You realize I do need to return back home later today?" Soarin asked. "I have responsibilities, I can't just put them aside without a good reason… One that I can inform the others about, at the least."
"Lucky you," Tucker remarked, leaning back in his chair, resting his head in his hands as he looked up at the ceiling. "Though I would suggest you listen to Valerie's advice. She was right when she said the ghosts have made their move, and even more so when she said you have no idea what you were doing," he sat straighter, turning around to properly look at Soarin. "I know your background," he said, giving a nod to his computer. "So I know what you're capable of and what you've been through. But, and I won't bullshit about this, your training is completely useless against ghosts. The only way you are able to score a hit against them is if they allow it, or if you manage to catch them unaware. If it is the former, you're walking into their trap. End of story. The latter, unlikely as it is, you better make sure you knock them out in one blow. You won't get a second."
"I…" Soaring swallowed heavily, eyes losing focus for a moment. "I know."
"Soarin," Jazz said softly, placing her uninjured hand on his back.
A chime came from Tucker's computer.
"Hmm?" Tucker swiveled back, hands moving to the mouse and keyboard on their own as he opened the program calling for attention.
He suddenly stiffened.
"Anything wrong?" Jazz asked, worried.
"Call Valerie," Tucker replied through gritted teeth. "Tell her to begin your training now!" He glanced back at Jazz with angry eyes. "Dani got injured in a ghost attack!"
<<>><<>><<>>
"You're shitting me," Valerie growled as she read the message, slamming a fist into the desk. "How the fuck did this even happen?"
"You're asking the wrong people," Tucker replied heatedly. "Worse, we have no idea what has happened. Just that," he glared at the message, "which does not tell us anything."
Pushing herself back, hands balled into fists by her sides, Valerie grunted her agreement.
"You're right. Dani getting injured in a ghost attack could just as well mean she got hurt while attacking someone else. Though the message does not imply she has been found out," she took a deep breath, held it in for a while, then slowly exhaled and turned to Jazz. "The docks, one hour!" She instructed, then left without another word.
"... Ehhh… I feel like I am missing some important information here," Soarin spoke up, worried of the reactions everyone had, though relieved Valerie hadn't hit him on the head again.
Tucker and Jazz locked eyes, then the former shrugged, nodded, then left the room; only to return a moment later with a backpack and began packing numerous gadgets of his, and a spectral blaster as well.
"Soarin," Jazz called for his attention. "Dani, the one we spoke about, she is part of our group. She went to Equestria undercover as team leader for a large, secret construction project for your princesses in response to the ghost threat. While there, she would use her, eh, abilities to look for Danny who we know was there some time ago."
"Wait, WHAT!?" Soarin balked. "Secret construction project?"
"large containment chamber with interrogation options," Tucker clarified as he grabbed a miniaturized thermos, "and not important right now."
"Soarin, what you need to know is that Dani, she is… She is like Danny," Jazz revealed. "Or to be more precise, she is Danny, but she isn't Danny."
"W- what does that even mean?" Soarin sputtered.
"Vlad," Tucker growled, still rummaging through the various gadgets he had created.
"Years ago, Vlad tried to turn my brother to his side," Jazz told him.
"Join me, and together we can rule the world kind of madness," Tucker added.
"Yes, and of course Danny refused."
"That does not properly convey the assbeating Danny delivered each and every time," Tucker cut in once again, now busy looking at some information on his computer.
"Right," Jazz took a moment to compose herself. "So… failing that, Vlad did something else. Something terrible, and highly illegal. He cloned my brother."
"He, what?" Soarin said, confused.
"He made an artificially grown, near-perfect biological replica of Danny," Tucker clarified, done with packing and closing the door to his workroom.
"WHAT!? You can do that?"
"Unfortunately," Jazz answered.
"We have the technology to do a lot of things," Tucker looked at Soarin with no humor in his eyes. "A lot of things. Thing is, a lot of these things are dangerous, difficult to do, or very controversial. Naturally, these practices are either banned, or heavily regulated. And cloning is one of these things. It is still an experimental and sloppy process, with more failures than successes, and not something that is meant to be used to grow full-grown humans. But that didn't stop Vlad. He grew several copies of Danny, each terribly flawed, and all of them died horrible deaths as their bodies simply fell apart on the cellular level. All of them, except Dani."
"In a way, she is his only success. Though as far as Vlad is concerned, she is as much a failed attempt as any other," Jazz added somberly.
"Except the final clone," Tucker muttered darkly. "It's a good thing Vlad was unable to stabilize it, and that Danny was able to destroy it… Who knows what might have happened if…" Tucker didn't finish, not wanting to think about it any further.
"As for Dani," Jazz quickly continued. "She learned the truth about Vlad before it was too late, and in time we found a way to stabilize her body and keep it from cellular destruction. And while she is her own being, genetically she is identical to my brother. A twin, if you will. Same blood, similar appearance, though female… same powers, everything."
Soarin was quiet, eyes wide, mouth hanging partially open.
"I know this is a lot to take in. It was difficult for me too, when I learned about this. The vile acts Vlad has done to my brother, to my family. It is why I do what I do. I can't let that terrible man continue as if he is better than anyone else, doing as he pleases," Jazz paused, taking a deep breath. "But what is important now is that Dani is in trouble. Tucker has already packed what he needs and will go to Equestria himself. But he is also the only one who can do so without raising suspicion. Valerie has no cover story, nor do I have a good reason to go either that doesn't involve Dani. So Val and I will proceed with my training. It's the only thing we can do, really. As for you… I can't ask you to join me. But please don't tell anyone what you now know. I know I am asking a lot, but I trust you."
"Not that many would believe him if he did," Tucker remarked. "And those who do, are also the ones you don't want to have known that you know."
"But… what?"
"Soarin," Tucker waited for Soarin to look at him. "I'm going to be completely honest here. If it was up to me, you would not know about any of this. You would just go on your date with Jazz, and go on with your life none the wiser. Unfortunately, events have not allowed you to remain blissfully ignorant, and right now, like it, or not, you are right in the middle of this insanity. The only question is, what will you do now? And please don't say: fly across town in a blind panic. You've done that, it didn't work, and I am certain Valerie would jump at the opportunity to hit you on the head again."
"But… all of this…. What can you even expect me to do?" Soarin replied, head held in his hooves.
"One of two things," Tucker answered. "Pretend none of this happened, return to your life as best you can. Or do the right thing."
"Which is?"
"Like I said, I know your background. A stunt flier at trade, but a guard at heart. You have trained to protect your fellow ponies from danger, but found that your training does not work against this threat. Knowing everything you know now, having experienced the worst there is, can you really pretend everything is fine in the world?"
"I, eh… NO, of course not. How could I?"
"Then the answer to your question is obvious, and doesn't need me, or Jazz to spell it out for you."
Jazz pulled out her phone to check the time. "Thirty three minutes left," she said.
Soarin looked past the two humans, eyes unfocused as everything he now knew, everything he had seen and experienced played out before him. Baltimare. Rainbow Blaze's horrific death. Spitfire's beaten body. The horrible feeling of her broken bones and blood flowing down his fur as he carried her to safety. Skulker capturing him just a day ago, and everything that followed.
He blinked, took a deep breath, looked up at Jazz, then made his decision.
<<>><<>><<>>
With a shrill whistle piercing the calm, early morning, a train left Ponyville station.
Most of the carriages were empty, with only a few sleepy passengers occupying a seat here and there; most still trying to get in a bit more sleep as the train began its journey.
Three ponies however, were wide awake as they sat in silence.
"I just don't get it," Blue Ice finally spoke up, breaking the tension.
"What's there not to get?" Sound Wave replied. "We screwed up big time."
"I know that," Blue Ice agreed with a sigh. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what is?" Ornate Charm asked.
Blue Ice paused, looked around to see that there weren't any ponies nearby to overhear, then lowered her voice just to be on the safe side.
"The problems with the scanners," she explained. "It doesn't make any sense. We have used them numerous times during our training, and a couple of times in the field. Never did we have any problems with them, until now."
"Didn't you say there was interference of some sort?" Sound Wave asked.
"Yes, and I modified the scanners to counter this. But that's beside the point. What is, is where did this interference come from, and what caused it?"
Ornate Charm grunted, shaking his head. "Good question, but not for us to find out any longer. We have our orders, and we can consider ourselves lucky if we don't get demoted after this fiasco. And we're luckier than Rolling Stone, no matter how you look at it."
"I know," Blue Ice deflated. "But this just keeps bugging me. There has to be an answer, a reason for this to have happened. And more importantly, if this happened to us, it might just as well happen to specialist Maud."
"Which is why we informed her about this, so she can continue the investigation with all known issues to our gear."
"I know," Blue Ice sighed, shaking her head as she looked out of the window. "But I just feel like we might have missed something obvious."
Slowly the scenery shifted as the train moved through a bend, and the welcoming sight of the lush green valley and Ponyville was replaced by the ever oppressing image of the Everfree Forest, taunting her with its secrets still hidden.
All three ponies now looked outside, all remembering what had happened and, more importantly, what they could have done better. What they should have done better.
"That ghost was right," Sound Wave said suddenly. "It told us we didn't know what we were doing before Maud did; proved it even. The four of us did not even manage to score a single hit."
"Yes," Ornate Charm said through teeth, "as we all clearly remember."
"But we were all trained by Jack Fenton," Blue Ice retorted.
"You heard what Maudileena said about him."
"Yes," Blue Ice replied, staring at the others. "But you're not getting what I'm saying."
"Which is?"
"All of us were trained by Jack Fenton. All of us."
The gentle rocking of the train was the only sound for a long time, punctuated by its steam whistle as her implications settled in.
"That would mean," Ornate Charm broke the silence, "our entire unit may very well be compromised."
"Buck me," Sound Wave murmured.
"Yes," Blue Ice nodded her agreement. "We may very well all be bucked."
<<>><<>><<>>
"What is this place?" Soarin asked, following beside Jazz as they slipped through a partially sealed door.
"This is the old mattress warehouse," Jazz explained. "It's been abandoned for many years now."
"And why are we here? I mean… here?"
Jazz was silent for a heartbeat as she looked around, recognizing several old scorch marks on the walls.
"My brother once fought a ghost here. Nocturn, the ghost of dreams. He had put everyone in the city in a deep sleep to siphon their dream energy from them, using it to increase his own strength so he could take over the world," she revealed, moving to one of the marks closest to her and carefully feeling it with her fingers.
"I was there, too. Helping him, learning to be a ghost hunter. It seems only fitting this is where I continue that path."
"It's also isolated, with no prying eyes," Valerie stepped out of the shadows, arms crossed. "A good place to kick and scream as much as you want without anyone hearing you."
"Valerie," Jazz turned to the other woman. "We're ready to start our training."
"And that's where you're wrong," Valerie grinned darkly. "Training already began the second you stepped through that door."
A flashbang detonated, and both Soarin and Jazz cried out in distress, while in the distance, they could hear a humorless chuckle.
"Lesson one. Always expect the unexpected!" Valerie barked.
Jazz stumbled around, blind, when she was forcefully shoved to the ground.
"Lesson two. Your senses can, and will be deceived. When one of them fails, use your others!"
Soarin stood still, eyes closed, familiar with the blinding effect of a unicorn's spell on the eyes during Bootcamp, ears swiveling around.
"And third," Valerie barked, her fist connecting with Soarin's head once more, dropping him to the ground. "The ghosts will not hesitate to use your weaknesses against you."
Valerie stood still, watching the two on the ground without amusement.
"Those three rules are key to surviving in a fight against ghosts. You'd be wise to remember them."
Two groans were the only answer she got.
"NOW GET BACK UP!" She shouted drill sergeant style, watching with some level of satisfaction as Soarin did so immediately, clearly used to such a thing. Jazz, on the other hand, took her time.
A boot to the chest pushed her back down to the ground, and as the spots in her vision finally cleared out, the terrifying scowl of Valerie was revealed just inches away from her own face.
"And lesson four," she said in a low, cold voice. "When you go down, you lose. Now. Get. Back. Up!"
A tremor of fear ran down Jazz's spine, and this time she wasted no time to stand back up.
"Better," Valerie grunted. "Now then," she secured her stance. "Let's see what we're working with, shall we," and without another word, she threw herself at the pair.
<<>><<>><<>>
"Tucker," Jack Fenton said, entering Tucker's office.
"Jack," Tucker spared him a glance as he worked on his computer, preparing the necessary documents to enter Equestria.
"So I take it you've heard the news also?" Jack asked, face grim.
"I have," Tucker grunted, typing on his keyboard.
"Maddie is already preparing several of our men to go and help."
"Hm-hmm."
"I take it you plan on going, too?"
"Already put in my flight plan," Tucker hit the enter key.
"It's… It's because of this trainee of yours, isn't it?" Jack asked, voice subdued. "I heard she was the one severely injured and-"
A fist slamming on the table stopped him, and he watched as Tucker slowly pulled back his trembling hand, exhaling loudly.
"Of all the places for her to get attacked by a ghost," he said through teeth, looking up at Jack with fire in his eyes. "She's there because of me, and I won't stand by idly now either. I'm going, and don't try to stop me."
"I wasn't," Jack said, stepping closer, then sat down in a chair opposite of Tucker. "We all do what we can to help those we care about. Maddie and I weren't so lucky with Danny, but we will do anything we can to help you. It's obvious how you feel about her," Jack chuckled, thinking back. "Just as it was obvious between Danny and Sam. Even if they weren't able to see it themselves yet."
"Jack's right," Maddie spoke up, standing in the still-open door.
Stepping inside, she stood beside her husband.
"You and Danny have always been so close. Best friends since the day you met, still in diapers the both of you," Maddie smiled as she thought back. "You are as much family as Jazz is, and we will support you the best we can."
Tucker sat back in his chair, speechless.
"Don't act so surprised," Maddie chuckled. "I thought it would be obvious by now. All those years that we've known each other, how you helped us look for Danny, supported us as much as we did you."
"I… wow… Eh, I don't know what to say," Tucker said.
"Then don't say anything," Jack stood back up, placing an arm around Maddie's shoulders. "Just go and help your friend… son."
"A car is already waiting to take you to the airport," Maddie added.
Tucker sat silent for a moment, then straightened, stood up, picked up his backpack, nodded and left, unable to keep the faint smile from showing, knowing his friends and his family got his back.
<<>><<>><<>>
With a groan, Danny rolled over and promptly fell down.
"Uhrrghh," he slurred as he pried open his eyes, his blurred vision revealing the underside of a couch and, behind it, several pairs of hooves scrambling into motion.
"DANNY!" A purple set of hooves split up from the others, and he was fairly certain they were the ones shouting his name. "Danny!" They shouted again, but at a more reasonable volume. "Are you alright!?"
Remembering he had hands, he slowly flexed his fingers, then forced his left arm to move, then his right. Satisfied he once again knew how his basic faculties worked, he slowly pushed himself up, coming eye to eye with a frantic, frazzle maned Twilight.
Danny blinked slowly, his mind still stuck in the boot-up prompt after an especially large update as he looked from Twilight, to the ponies behind her, to the fillies still lying on the couch he had fallen off of, and back to the spot on the floor he had woken up.
Groaning, he slowly rolled to his side, then pushed himself in a sitting position against the couch; rubbing his eyes with a hand before sliding it up and combing his fingers through his hair.
"Danny," Twilight carefully placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Are you alright? What happened? To you, and the fillies?"
"I would like to know as well," a droll voice came from somewhere behind him, and with a steady clip-clopping a stone gray mare with neatly styled purple mane stepped into view; her white suit immaculate clean.
Looking at the strange mare, a strange sense of familiarity hit Danny, though he had trouble placing it.
"Who are you?" was the first thing he said with a tired voice.
"I am Maudileena Daisy Pie. G.I.W.," she flashed him a badge.
"The Guys in White?" Danny said, surprised, finally recognizing the white suit for what it was.
"Indeed," Maudileena blinked once, regarding him with a neutral gaze. "Curious… How do you know of this organization?"
"Same way I seem to know much of everything else going on lately," he sighed out. "Though last time I saw any of them was back on my world after yet another ghost attack… Pretty sure there weren't any ponies in their ranks then, but what do I know?" He shrugged.
"Fair enough," Maudileena allowed. "So, mister Manson. Seeing you are at least somewhat familiar with my organization, would you mind answering some questions? There is a lot we do not know surrounding the disappearance of you; these children; a zebra, known as Zecora; and the sudden and almost miraculous return of you with the children."
Eyebrow raised, Danny looked to Twilight, then the others; Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Bellflower and Big Mac, realizing some faces were missing.
"Weren't there some other ghost hunters too?"
Most of the ponies hung their heads.
"Danny, they-"
"Lieutenant Rolling Stone has been hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained," Maudileena interrupted Twilight, cutting right to the case. "Privates Sound Wave, Ornate Charm and Blue Ice have been dismissed and sent back to Canterlot after reviewing their actions the previous night, and were deemed unfit for further deployment."
"That…" Danny faltered, "Eh… Okay, I guess."
"Now, could you please explain what happened to you, and how you were able to return with the missing children?"
Danny blinked, looking off to the side, frowning.
"I'm pretty certain it began shortly after the other ghost hunters revealed themselves, back at Zecora's place," he began.
"Where they uncovered your shadow missing," Maudileena stated, studying Danny for any suspicious signs. "Though it would appear to be back again," she pointed out, and Danny looked at the dark spot on the floor around him, remembering to flinch.
"I… I guess it is… Yeah," he nervously rubbed an arm. Exhaling, he continued. "Not long after that, the ghost hunters left, chasing after some ghost or other, leaving everyone else behind."
"A gross oversight on their part," Maudileena droned. "I have also been told you and Zecora stepped outside, despite the clear danger. Why?"
"Zecora's place was trashed when we got there, she said a ghost did it. We went outside because I wanted to ask what this ghost looked like. Get some idea what might be out there, you know. As for why we went outside," he glanced back at the other ponies. "Things were already bad, and I didn't want to add to it by speculating over what might be out there. Fluttershy was already hiding inside a cauldron, so it seemed to be the right idea at the time."
"Even though a ghost was seen just moments prior?" Maud asked, impassive.
"You and I both know it matters little where you are as far as ghosts are concerned," Danny replied with just as little emotion. "They can move through walls, disappear and fly after all."
Maudileena remained silent, blinking slowly.
"Danny," Twilight said quietly, "what happened next? We heard you scream, but when we came to help, you were just gone."
Danny started to reply, faltered, paused, then slowly closed his mouth, looking at one of the many bookcases, noticing Owlicious perched on top of it, staring back at him.
"I honestly don't know," he told them, trying to remember the moment where he went from being him, to the moment where he was nothing more than a wisp of energy returning to his other self after Fenris' attack. "Zecora and I were talking, then…" he frowned, thinking. "One moment I was there, the next I wasn't anywhere. But at the same time I was there, but not there ‘there’, just different."
"What?!" Twilight shook her head. "That does not make any sense."
"I don't know how else to put it," Danny told her.
"Most informative," Maudileena remarked, and Danny yelped as she suddenly stood much closer to him, staring impassively at him.
Pushing away from her, Danny moved back onto the couch, feeling strangely unnerved by the stone-faced mare.
"Whu- What's going on?" Scootaloo asked with a slight slur, blinking owlishly.
"Gnhh…" Apple Bloom groaned, legs twitching.
Devora, disguised as Sweetie Belle, simply opened her eyes, quickly scanning the room to see who was there.
"SWEETIE BELLE!" Rarity shouted, rushing to her younger sister, hugging her against her chest while Applejack quickly pulled Apple Bloom to herself to do the same. At the same time, Bellflower took place on the now vacant spot on the couch and pulled Scootaloo close to her side. Much to her surprise, Scootaloo did not protest against this.
A cry of pain came from Sweetie Belle and Rarity jerked back, eyes wide with worry and fear as she saw her sister carefully holding her left foreleg.
"Oh no, Sweetie Belle. Your leg! What happened?"
"I, eh…" She squirmed a bit in Rarity's hold, looking to Danny for answers.
"It happened during our escape," Danny explained. “It was dark, chaotic, and we were more than a little lost at one point. All of us had a hard fall, and Sweetie Belle landed on her leg. I had to carry her for the rest of the way."
"And how did you escape, and from where? And from what exactly?" Maudileena asked, her level gaze boring into Danny.
"Who are you?" asked Scootaloo.
"She's my big sister, Maud!" Pinkie's head popped up in between Scootaloo and Bellflower, pointing a hoof at Maud. "Scootaloo, Maud. Maud, Scootaloo. Apple Bloom, Maud. Maud, Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle, Maud. Maud, Sweetie Belle," she introduced them all, then her head shot back, leaving everyone confused, except Maud who merely looked at Pinkie standing next to her.
"Thank you, Pinkie. May I continue?"
"Hm-hmm," Pinkie Pie Nodded.
"So," Maud looked back at Danny. "You said you escaped. From where, exactly?"
"It was a cave of sorts," Danny began, frowning slightly. "With numerous tunnels leading to who knows where. Though I, and as I later found out, the girls were in this massive chamber; no other way to call it. Couldn't even see the bottom of that place."
"Yeah," Scootaloo murmured her agreement, remembering how Danny fell down during his fight with Sweetie Belle.
"There was this weird plant thaing growin' everywhere," Apple Bloom added. "Ah never seen anythaing like it before."
"A weird plant," Maud looked at Apple Bloom. "Any defining features that could help to identify it?"
"Eh… it gave light," Apple Bloom answered.
A purple glow lit up, and numerous books flew off their shelves towards Twilight. "That does narrow it down a bit," she said as she flipped through the pages of all books simultaneously. "While there are a good number of bioluminescent plants, only a select number can be found in the Everfree Forest. Ah," she turned several of the books around for the fillies and Danny to look into. "Do any of these plants look like the one you saw?"
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Danny all took a moment to inspect the images presented. Sweetie Belle, instead, pushed away from Rarity much to her older sister's confusion.
"No, those don't look like the plant we saw," Danny said, shaking his head.
"It... what?" Twilight was surprised. "Are you sure?"
Danny looked again. So did Apple Bloom. Both shook their head.
"Well, that hardly means anythin'" Applejack remarked. “Jus' 'cause we know some thaings of that forest, doesn't mean we know everythaing."
"True," Twilight bit her lip as more pages turned, more slowly this time. "And what about these?" she asked once more, showing several more images. "These are the plants not indigenous to the Everfree Forest. Well, as far as is known at least.
A minute passed as Danny, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and, this time Sweetie Belle as well, inspected each image. All four eventually shook their heads.
"Interesting," Maud said apathetically. "An unidentified species of the plant does help narrow down the search area considerably, should it be found again."
"But didn't Danny say it was in a cave? How would we be able to find it? There are I-don't-know-how-many caves hidden in that forest," Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"True," Maud blinked slowly. "Are there any other details you can give that might help in the identification of this cave you were held?" She asked Danny. "Rock formations, mineral types, fault lines."
"Not that I know of," Danny replied, confused. "It was a massive cave, deep to the point where you couldn't see the bottom, some large stalactites, and this plant we mentioned."
"I see," Maud replied. "Very well. Then please explain how you managed to escape. After the effort this ghost, or ghosts went through to capture you and Zecora, with ghost hunters present, it would stand to reason your attempts at escape would be hindered severely by these entities."
"Why do I have the feeling you're suggesting we were let go by the ghosts," Danny replied with suspicion, and Fluttershy, Rarity and Bellflower gasped out.
Maud stood unmoved, blinking slowly. "Weren't you?" She eventually asked, and this time everypony gasped out.
"If you think I'm possessed, you are free to scan me," Danny shot back.
"I already have. When word reached me you and the children had miraculously returned, the first thing I did was to scan you."
"... And?"
Maud locked eyes with Danny, staring into his for an uncomfortably long time as tension steadily rose.
"Nothing," Maud said eventually, breaking eye contact as she pulled a scanner out of thin air.
Activating it, she slowly swept it across the fillies and Danny; a steady beeping emanating from the device. "With the exception of trace amounts of spectral energy surrounding all four of you, which has mostly faded by now, I do not detect any signs that suggest you are possessed."
A sigh of relief swept across the room, and Danny leaned back in the couch, not even realizing he had leaned forwards in tension.
"Well, that's good," he said.
"Indeed," Maud agreed. "But the answer still stands. How did you manage to escape?
Danny grimaced, momentarily looking at Owlicious as the owl preened its left wing.
"That is the weird thing," he said, followed by a sigh as he looked down at Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "And it might even confirm your initial assessment, even if you did confirm we weren't possessed."
"Which is?"
Danny faltered, face shifting through various expressions as he sought a way to properly describe what he and the fillies had agreed upon what had happened without, hopefully, drawing any suspicion to the fact he was not entirely truthful.
"I think… I mean… It… Well… This is going to sound insane, but it was a ghost who saved us."
"WHAT!?" Almost all present shouted, with the sole exception being Maud.
"Interesting," Maud droned. "But what reason do you have to make such a claim?"
Danny blinked, unnerved by the lack of response Maud gave.
"What reason?" He repeated. "I'm no fan of ghosts. I left my world because of them, but I can't lie about what happened. It was a ghost that saved us."
"Yeah!" Scootaloo spoke up. "He fought other ghosts to protect us."
"He?" Maud looked at her.
"Well, he sounded like a stallion," Scootaloo mumbled, looking away from the level, but intense stare.
"So this ghost spoke to you."
"He did," Danny confirmed.
"And fought others of its kind to help you escape?"
Danny blinked, thinking. It would be a stretch, but in a way still true. Wind Chill did fight the windigos to keep both the fillies and the changelings safe. And he helped him when he and Fenris were joined together. So, in a way, he freed him as well.
"Yes," Danny answered.
"If this is true, then why did this ghost not also free Zecora?"
"Ehh… I'm not sure what happened to her after I disappeared," he said truthfully.
"Neither did you know where the fillies were, yet you just so happen to find them in the same place the ghosts took you," Maud pointed out.
"True, but I wasn't expecting to find them where I did," he replied. "Besides, it's not like I had much of a choice in where I was brought." Again a stretch of the truth, but when he turned back into a wisp of energy after Fenris' attack, he had no control over where he went.
"No, I doubt you had," Maud conceded. "But this does hint to a most unusual circumstance. A ghost actively helping us. This is something that seems highly unlikely, and must no doubt play into some hidden agenda."
"I don't know what to say to that," Danny told her.
"And what about you three," Maud looked back at the fillies. "You vanished long before anypony else. Do you know what took you, and when it happened?"
"Eehhh…" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, knowing this was the most dangerous part.
"Sweetie Belle and Ah were back at tha farm," Apple Bloom said. "Cleanin' up tha house because, well… We were being punished for goin' inta tha Everfree tha day before." Sweetie Belle merely nodded. "Then there was this… this weird silver ghost thaing an' we followed it back to tha Everfree."
"It was weird, though," Sweetie Belle finally spoke as Devora used her knowledge of her own kind to weave a convincing truthful lie. "It was as if I couldn't think for myself anymore. I knew what I did, and that I shouldn't do it, but was unable to stop myself from doing it."
"Mind control," Maud said simply, then looked at Scootaloo. "And what about you?"
"I was grounded in my room, but I didn't like that, and was able to get out after some trying," she answered, scratching the back of her head while not looking at Bellflower. "I then went to my friends at the orchard, where I somehow ended up in the Everfree Forest as well," she thought back, careful to ignore some of the more incriminating details of what exactly had happened. "After that," she thought back, "...I'm not really sure how to explain it," she looked down at her hooves. "It was almost like I was in a different time, or something."
"Mind control, and a loss of sense for time," Maud summed up as Bellflower pulled Scootaloo even closer to her side. "This does sound like a standard case of possession and fits with everything known so far. Though it does not explain why you of all ponies were taken."
"Isn't that what you are here for?" Rainbow Dash shot back, arms crossed as she hovered a bit above the ground. "To find that out."
"I am, yes. But I need to know all the facts to do so."
"And what do these facts tell you so far?" Twilight asked.
Maud was silent, looking apathetically at her.
"Ehh..."
"I know now that there is more going on than I initially believed to be the case. The recounting of events by mister Manson and the fillies, combined with your testimonies and the report of the Ghost-Keteers indicates there are more than one ghost present. An exact number is to be determined, but at least two separate entities have been described just now, and three others were detailed by you, your friends, and the Ghost-Keteers. By mister Manson's recounting of events, one of these ghosts fought off several other ghosts to aid in their escape. This could hint that this one ghost fought the other ghosts mentioned in all of your recountings, or that there are even more ghosts as of yet unaccounted for. Regardless of the exact number, some plan has been followed by these entities which warranted the capture of the fillies, Danny and Zecora. The exact reason is unknown, but at least for Danny Manson, it can be surmised he was taken because of his knowledge detailing ghosts," she paused, blinked slowly, then continued.
"By his own words, he was taken when he asked Zecora what kind of ghost it was that had destroyed her home. And she vanished shortly thereafter, perhaps because of what she knew, or saw. All of this is, of course, speculation based on loose facts given by those recently escaped from ghostly capture. But their scan does show they are not possessed and are in full control of their faculties. Their stories do match up, and they are able to add details to one coherent picture."
"Which is?" Twilight wanted to know.
"There is more going on than I initially believed to be the case."
"What! But you already said that," Rainbow Dash shouted.
"I did."
"Then what is going on? Why did these stinking ghosts take the fillies? Or Danny, Zecora?"
"An' what 'bout this ghost that they say helped them? Could it be tha same ghost who, maybe, saved Rolling Stone?" Asked Applejack.
"I do not know," Maud replied matter of factly.
"Then what… but… they… Aarrgghh!!" Rainbow Dash dropped down to the ground in frustration, pulling her mane. "What the HAY is going on!"
"That," Maud replied, "is what I intend to find out."
"And what about us?" Danny asked.
"You just escaped a terrible fate. My advice, go to the hospital, make sure everything is in order. After that, go home and report anything unusual," she then swept her gaze across the room. "And don't be a hero. I'm trained for these things, you are not. The last thing we want is for any of you to go missing… again."
Twilight and her friends, all remembering just how bad last night had been, quietly voiced their agreement. Shortly after, Maud left to continue her investigation.
"So… what do we do now?" asked Rainbow Dash, when a loud rumble came from Danny, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.
Looking down at his stomach, Danny groaned in displeasure.
"Maybe go get something to eat, 'cause I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Applejack jumped up almost immediately, followed seconds later by Bellflower and Pinkie Pie.
"Don'tcha worry, Danny. We may not be able ta go out there ourselves, but we can still take care of our friends," Applejack said, readjusting her Stetson. "Twilight, ya mind if Ah raid yer fridge? After everythaing they went through, ah recon they deserve a proper meal."
"Of course," Twilight quickly agreed.
"I'll help, too," Bellflower quickly joined her.
"Me three," Pinkie pronked her way over to them.
"Then I suppose I can set the table," Rarity suggested.
"Oh, I'll help." Spike quickly offered his assistance.
"Anything I can do?" asked Danny.
"NO!" Twilight quickly shot him down. "I mean… No. After everything that has happened, we can't possibly expect you to do anything more. You brought back Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Just…" She hesitated, then closed the distance and pulled him in a hug. "Just stay here… be safe, okay."
"Ehh…" Danny was taken aback, not entirely sure how to react while one of his hands moved to her back on its own. "Okay, I guess."
Twilight flashed him a smile, then realized what she was doing, pushed herself away; a prominent blush coloring her cheeks while the others pretended not to notice as they all split up to help where they could.
"Huh," Sweetie Belle said quietly once all the others were out of earshot.
"What is it?" asked Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle looked up at Danny, seeing the small smile he had.
"Nothing," she replied, siphoning some of the faint, but clearly present love she felt radiating from between the two to herself. "Nothing at all."