//------------------------------// // The Waypoint // Story: Zero Point // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// "Lieutenant Crispin, am I correct in understanding that you will be heading to visit your Ponyville relatives in the Apple clan this weekend?" "That is correct, Lieutenant Captain." "Very good. Because Princess Celestia has informed me in confidence there is something you need to deliver to Granny Smith in Ponyville as soon as your hooves get you there. There is no urgency in the matter, but she DOES want it accomplished at the first opportunity you get. Understood?" "Yes, sir." "I will give you the scroll then. Princess Celestia has informed me that it is not to be opened under any circumstance before its delivery to Granny Smith - the message must be kept in confidence." "Yes sir, I understand sir." The earth pony E.U.P. Guard officer gives a funny look at the sealed scroll his afternoon shift superior officer, Lieutenant Captain Fidelitas, levitates in front of him, but he knew better than to ask too many questions about such things. Instead, he works his side saddlebag open to let Fidelitas direct the scroll with unicorn magic to drop into the bag. Crispin closes it again, then gives another salute to his senior officer. "You are dismissed. Have a good weekend, and if you see Twilight Sparkle there make sure you give greetings from both myself and her brother." Fidelitas adds. "I will, sir!" Crispin says looking back as he turns to leave the debriefing room. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once off-duty, most E.U.P. Guard members, following the trend of the general populace, would've taken the express train that allowed travel between Ponyville and Canterlot in just a few hours. However, Crispin decided to take a different and slower route instead - the hoofpath that winds between the two locations, which was mostly occupied by cart traffic after the opening of the railroad line. The reason for his choice had to do with the Guard members assigned on the route, commonly called the "ERS" (an abbreviation for "Emergency Relay Service"). This was a standing assignment placed at three "waypoints" evenly spaced along the route, and seemed to have been created by Princess Celestia as a way to quickly get information about the goings-on in the Ponyville area (which included the former Castle of the Two Sisters where the Elements of Harmony would be rediscovered) via relay running. However, the spartan accommodations at the waypoints and the isolation such members had from typical Guard service meant that over the course of the Guard's history assignment to the ERS had been used as a place to "dump" problematic or unfavored service members, leading to an unsavory reputation of the assignment among the rank and file. Many in the service hoped that the temporary suspension of the ERS in the wake of Princess Luna's return (so that its members could help populate a new night service) would've been made permanent, but the internal political conflict between Lieutenant Captains Aten and Shining Armor lead to the ERS eventually being repopulated by those unfavored by either side. The reactivation of the ERS was greatly concerning to Crispin, and as a result he kept close tabs on what he heard of those assigned to it. In hindsight, it made him an easy target for manipulation by rumor, and hearing an alarming (but untrue) rumor from a member of his command that the ERS members would abandon their posts in protest of Princess Celestia's handling of Discord's release prompted Crispin to take his unorthodox journey. It was only much later that it was realized the true intent of the rumor being spread... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The closest "waypoint" to Canterlot would be the first Crispin reached, and he was glad for that considering who had the standing assignment for that post - an old friend of his from Ponyville named Crusoe Palm. Crusoe, ranked as a Guard Upper Class, had been posted to service at one of the different waypoints for the vast majority of his E.U.P. Guard career, and Crispin felt this was 100% intentionally done by somepony in the upper ranks. Crusoe Palm had a foalhood nickname of "Coconut", and Crispin distinctly remembered some of his pegasi comrades mercilessly using that nickname for mockery when both ponies were in the lower ranks. It hardly surprised Crispin then when he learned that the eventual Lieutenant Captain (and traitorous leader of the Agents of Chaos) Aten was part of that group, referring to Crusoe as "Private Coconut Head" on paperwork and several times ignoring recommendations for giving Crusoe a Lieutenant's commission. Crispin believed he had only avoided similar prejudicial treatment due to his connection to the Apple clan - Crusoe had no such luck. There seem to be some hope for Crusoe to escape the place he'd been trapped in during the temporary dissolution of the ERS, when he served in the afternoon shift at the castle, but when the service was reestablished Crusoe was placed back there again by Aten, the official reason being "his years of experience with the waypoints" - a statement Crispin believed was simply a cover for Aten's contempt for earth ponies. Aten's defeat and ejection from the E.U.P. Guard brought hope back again, and Crispin firmly believed that Crusoe would finally get his Lieutenant's commission. He just needed to wait a little longer... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The waypoint building was an unremarkable structure that would've reminded humans of an oversized toll gate. A bar operated by a hoof pedal inside would swing down to block the way across the path, allowing the pony staffing the waypoint to perform their day-to-day function of vehicle inspections and customs enforcement. Extending back from the booth was a small building where the waypoint operator would spend his off-duty time while assigned to the post. The waypoints would have a weekly cycle an Upper Class manning them for 5 days, then be covered by a Lower Class in specific customs training for 2 days. As Crispin approached the building, he saw Crusoe poking his head out the window and giving an enthusiastic wave - possibly because he believed Crispin was bringing the relief pony. However, the enthusiasm faded as Crusoe saw Crispin was alone. "Sorry buddy, I'm alone going home for the weekend." Crispin explains as an apology once he stops in front of the window where Crusoe was currently stationed. "Today's been slow?" "Yeah, no chases or posh carriages going by. Just the usual cart traffic." Crusoe explains with a deflated tone of voice. "Sorry to hear that. I'd love to stick around, but Princess Celestia herself wants me to do a special delivery for Granny Smith." "Any idea what it's about?" "No idea, the scroll's supposed to remain sealed until..." "Sir? What's wrong?" Crusoe asks in concern as Crispin trails off, giving an intense stare off away from the path. "I thought I saw something behind the building..." Crispin answers, remaining focused on immediate area around the building as he does so. "Oh, it might be a critter trying to rob the food store again. I'll take a look in a minute. You have any idea when the relief will arrive, sir?" Crusoe asks again. "Probably not before the sun being lowered, I imagine. Speaking of which, I'll have to be going if I want to get to Ponyville before that time." "I understand, sir. These roads are a lot more dangerous at night. Goodbye, sir." "Goodbye to you too, Crusoe. Captain Shining Armor will have his grand ceremony soon enough, and maybe then you'll finally get that Lieutenant's commission you've been holding out for so long..." "I want to believe it to be true, sir. There's been a rumor..." "So you've heard of it too? The idea of deserting in protest of how Discord was handled?" "Yes, and it's completely untrue, sir. I don't know where it came from or who started it, but they deserved to be hanged!" "Well, I'll ask at the other waystations, but its reassuring to hear it not being true coming from you. I'll be on the way then." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crispin starts past the waypoint building, and after a brief check to see if anything else was approaching Crusoe decided to slip back, past the simple table and bed in the off-duty room, and out the back door to see what might've been back there. At first, Crusoe spots nothing, either on the ground or flying above. But his attention is drawn to a rustling bush, which he approaches cautiously. The noise stops as he approaches, and only after another quick look around does Crusoe decide to shake the bush. A pair of raccoons scurry out and away from the direction of the trail. "Low=life thieves, at least you don't get those in the tropics..." Crusoe mutters to himself as he works his way back into the waypoint building. Meanwhile, the raccoons keep running from the scene until they see Crusoe is back in the building. From their far away vantage point, they can observe both the building and Crispin proceeding on his way down the path. They watch Crispin for a while, as well as making sure Crusoe didn't come out again, before a green flash of magic energy envelopes them both. When the green energy fades, two Changeling drones stand, unseen by anypony else, where the "raccoons" had been. "That was too close... the traveling pony? Should he be the target?" one drone asks his partner beside him. "We have our orders from the Queen. Replacement is going to be the easiest way to get in and gather intelligence on where the greatest threat to her plan is coming from." his partner replies. "But will we be able to feed there?" the first drone naturally continues on. "Food is a secondary concern right now. If we do our jobs right, we'll be able to feast on this entire kingdom. At least, that's what we've been told." "I suppose we can find a source when we get there..." "We should be able to anyway. Now get a move on before he disappears from sight..."