//------------------------------// // 15 - A Day Ends // Story: The Conversion Bureau: The St. Louis Massacre // by Cloudhammer //------------------------------// Year 5, Week 19, Friday It was almost three thirty when Helen pulled her cruiser into a parking spot across the street from the Bureau, just sitting there for a moment as she looked at the countless bullet casings littering the streets. “I do not envy the forensics guys,” she said with a chuckle, before she realized that they’d probably pull officers to help with picking up as much of the mess as they could. “Aw crap.” After another few minutes, she opened the door to the cruiser and climbed out. Crossing the street, she felt the glass crunching underfoot as she entered the Bureau lobby. Seeing one of the FBI agents standing nearby, she walked over. “Officer Helen Whitt, here to pick up Cirrus Whitt.” The agent gave her badge a look, then at her. “Driver’s license please.” Helen nodded and pulled her wallet out, flipping it open and handing it to the agent. He took the ID out and looked at it for a few seconds before nodding and handing it back to her. “He’s still back in the daycare. Down the hall to your left, there’s a side hallway that’ll take you there. Can’t miss it.” Helen nodded. “Thanks.” She walked past the agent and down the hallway, finding the correct side hallway easily enough and stopping at the door to the daycare. She could see Cirrus standing next to a white earth pony mare, along with two other ponies in suits with badges pinned to their chests. Another suited pony was talking quietly with two foals, a unicorn filly and a pegasus colt. “-while we can’t let them stay here for now, if you are serious about this, you can come with us to Canterlot and begin to fill out the paperwork Miss Cheerheart.” The earth pony mare nodded resolutely. “I’m sure.” She flicked her ear and craned her head around to look at Helen. “Oh, well look who’s here, Cirrus.” Cirrus turned around to look and visibly brightened. “Helen!” He bounded forward as Helen dropped to a knee, the siblings embracing tightly. “I’m so glad you’re alright.” “You big doofus, worrying about me, when you were right here in the middle of it.” Helen said as she felt a little bit of moisture gathering in the corners of her eyes. She felt the hug tighten briefly before they let go. “Hello Cheerheart, how are you feeling?” “Well, I could be doing better, but the real victims are them,” she said with a heavy sigh as she looked at the two foals, who were now crying their eyes out. Helen winced. “Oh god, I’m... I’m sorry.” Cheerheart nodded. “It’s going to be tough for all of us. But Celestia willing, I’ll be able to help them work through this.” Cirrus tilted his head. “So you’re really going to to go through with this Cheer?” “I am. Those foals lost everything today. Least I can do is provide them a shoulder to lean on and a home to come back to.” Cheerheart said resolutely. Helen nodded. “Well, I wish you the best of luck. All of you.” “Thank you,” Cheerheart said as she let a small smile cross her face. “I’m glad that you’re okay too Helen. Cirrus talks about you a lot.” “Whatever he’s said, I deny everything.” The three allowed grins to cross their faces, but they faded as one of the suited ponies trotted over. “Miss Cheerheart? We’re ready to begin the teleport if you are.” “Alright, thank you.” Cheerheart turned to Cirrus, and before he could react, threw her forelegs around him in a massive hug. “Thank you for not running. You’re a good friend.” Cirrus blushed. “Well, it wasn’t like I could up and leave a bunch of kids alone, could I?” He shot Helen a glare to remind her to keep her laughter to herself. “Well, I’m going to be moving back to Equestria for the time being. If you ever find yourself near Trottingham, we should catch up.” She released him from the hug and took a deep breath, facing the suited ponies squarely. “I’m ready to go.” “Right this way then.” The pony in the lead nodded respectfully to Helen and Cirrus as he trotted past, Cheerheart helping the two foals as they despondently shuffled down the hallway. Once they were out of earshot, Helen looked down at her brother. “So, she’s...” “Adopting them, yeah.” Cirrus’ ears folded flat. “And I couldn’t help but notice your face goin’ red as a tomato there when she hugged ya.” She snickered as he flushed red again. “Look, there’s nothing going on between us!” “I kid, I kid. Still, she seemed nice. Someday we’ll have to take her up on her offer.” Helen mused as she looked out the window. Cirrus’ ears perked bolt upright. “You mean... have you decided?” “Hold your horses there bro,” she laughed at her own bad joke, “I’m not deciding anything yet. But I don’t intend to be one of the loonies who’re trying to ‘ride out the lie’ when Rejection happens.” “Yeah... I’ll say it again, you’d make one hell of a pony sis.” “Yeah, and maybe pigs’ll sprout wings.” “Who knows? If you end up a unicorn you may well be able to give em to them!” Cirrus said with a laugh. His stomach growled and both of them started laughing harder. “What do you say we go get some food?” “I don’t know if there’ll be any restaurants open. Tell you what, we’ll just go by the Walmart at Richmond Heights, grab some groceries there and have dinner at my place. Sound like a plan?” Cirrus opened his mouth, but his stomach grumbled louder. “Guess my vote’s already been cast.” Together, the two siblings walked out of the Bureau toward Helen’s car, trading good-natured barbs at each other the whole way. Luna finished the sip of her tea as she looked across the table at the griffon ambassador. “Now, I don’t want to make this any more difficult than it has to be. Is there any information that you can tell us?” The griffon swallowed nervously, pinned as he was between the cold stares of Luna and her unnerving guards. “Well, you understand, I’m only a dignitary. Even if there was anything planned I would not have been told anything of value.” Luna nodded. “I’m sure.” The sarcasm in her voice was plain to all. “However, even if details of such a hypothetical arrangement were not given to you, surely you received some form of message indicating that you should leave the country?” The griffon hesitated for a second, then reached into his messenger bag and withdrew an envelope. Setting it on the table in front of him, he idly tapped a claw on it. “Should I ‘misplace’ this, I will require one thing in return. That I be allowed to leave the city as expected, and Scythion’s sovereignty will not compromised by any Equestrian.” Luna smiled demurely. “You have my word, upon my verification of the envelope’s contents.” The griffon nodded and took his claw off the envelope. Luna’s horn glowed azure as she lifted the envelope and opened it. Unfolding the letter, she read it once before nodding once and tucking it back into the envelope. Levitating it to Starstruck, who tucked it into his armor, she got to her hooves. “We’re done here.” Moongrazer and Starstruck turned smartly and followed her as she strode calmly out the door. The disguised Nightguard were already fading into the background of the gathered Canterlot elite. “My Lady, what did the letter say?” “Not here. We need to inform Celestia of this at once. Things just got more complicated.” She spread her wings and took off, the two following after her. “I’ll be teleporting to Washington. Moongrazer, I want you to make sure Sky Shimmer is able to get the last of the relief effort to St Louis without delay. Starstruck, you will accompany me.” “Yes, your Majesty.” Moongrazer peeled away, arrowing toward the castle, while Luna and Starstruck simply flew straight up, Luna picturing the designated place in the Rose Garden. With a brief twist reality folded and they were gone. Diane took a deep breath and put on her ‘reporter smile’ as the red light stopped blinking. “And welcome to the CNN Evening News at 6. Today has been a tragic day for Americans and Equestrians everywhere, as we begin to come to terms with the true scale of what has begun to be called The St Louis Massacre. While the final number has yet to be determined, the casualties are at least three hundred fifty humans dead, and over nine hundred ponies killed. The wounded combined number over a thousand as well, though the timely arrival of National Guard and Equestrian medical personnel was able to prevent much more loss of life. At this time it is believed that all of the terrorists are dead, though unconfirmed eyewitness reports claim that four men were seen being led from the downtown Conversion Bureau, and that several dozen ponies were being loaded into police vehicles and taken to an undisclosed location. More on that in our News at 11 report. In other news, attendance at Conversion Bureaus across the world plummeted in the wake of the attack. CNN spoke with several citizens outside Bureaus around the country.” The feed switched to a middle-aged man standing outside a Conversion Bureau. “Well, I was thinking to sign in, but if people like that can just show up anywhere, then I don’t want to give it a try right now.” The feed showed a woman standing outside an average looking house, some snow still melting on the ground. “I mean, the ponies are nice and all, but I’ve got two kids. If I went to one of these Bureaus and another attack happened, what would happen to my kids?” Several other clips played, each showing a man or woman explaining why they were withdrawing from the Bureau in their area. Finally, it cut back to Diane, who turned in her chair to make room for an overlayed video. “Earlier today President Foster and Princess Celestia made a joint statement condemning the attack.” The audio changed to the recorded speech, Foster speaking at the moment, “-and I stress again, no matter how long it takes, the American government will not rest until those responsible are found and brought to justice.” Celestia took a breath. “I want to extend the condolences of both myself and Equestria. Today we are not two separate nations or species, but united together in our mourning of the fallen, and the praise of the heroes of the day. Those brave humans and ponies laid down their lives to defend not only their fellow beings, but the very ideals that our two nations share: that no one, human or pony, is any greater than another, and that we are all entitled to the same rights of life and love.” The audience responded with applause, and the audio returned to Diane. “The President and Celestia turned down any questions concerning more responses to the attack at this time, only saying that their focus was on helping the survivors and those who lost loved ones work through this trying time. This is Diane Moore for CNN, please tune in at eleven for more information on this attack.” Foster turned off the television and looked at Celestia and Luna. “Well, let’s see that letter you brought with you.” Starstruck nodded, pulling the envelope out from the pocket under his armor and setting it on the table. Foster opened it, and after a glance slid it back across the table. “What does it say?” Celestia turned it around with a hoof. “It says, ‘Expect Equestrians to dig for information. Destroy all secret documents and leave the city at once. If called upon by the Equestrians, rebuff them.’ It is signed by Stormeye, Iron Talons’ chief of state.” “I see. And what exactly does this mean with regards to these ‘Hunters’ working with the HLF?” Luna lowered her eyelids in thought. “If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that Ambassador Sunwing knew nothing of value. However, I do still feel that Scythion had a role to play in this incident. We just don’t know enough.” “However, there is a way that we can uncover the answers we seek,” Celestia said calmly, “and we need your country’s help to do it, Tyler.” Foster tapped a pen on his desk before he looked up. “And just what help might that be?” Celestia smiled. “Lieutenant Sledgepetal’s suggestion gave us a... new line of thought. But in order to sway our allies that meet the prerequisites, we will need to offer them an appropriate bargain. We will need to revive the serum project.” Foster blinked. “You don’t play by halves, do you?” Celestia laughed lightly. “I occasionally turn two problems into one solution, yes.” “Well, let’s arrange a meeting then. I’ll need to meet with Congress, secure funding for the project-” “As kind as the offer is Tyler, we are more than capable of funding this project. Providing the research and scientists who helped create the original ponification serum will allow us to create this new serum that much quicker.” “I see. Well, that’ll certainly grease the wheels with Congress. I believe this time, we’ll pick a military location, to prevent a repeat of the HLF’s first attack.” “I agree. I did tell you several times that we needed a better location Celly.” Luna said with a sad smile. “Yes, and Autumn Frost paid the price for my choice,” Celestia said quietly. “That will not happen again.” The ten unicorns shivered quietly on the hard concrete floor. They’d blacked out from the stress of the teleport and the ensuing sensations it forced into their heads, and when they’d come to, the pegasi with them were gone. That had been nearly four hours ago, and the silence of the room was starting to get to them. They’d attempted to use magic, but quickly discovered that the griffons had placed something around their horns that not only nullified the magic, but subjected them to intense pain until they released the spell. Finally, the handle on the door could be heard turning, and with a swish of metal on metal it swung open, revealing a pair of humans pushing a large television in atop a stand. One of them turned the TV on, and then leaned down to the small computer sitting under it and pressed a key. The TV lit up with a plain room, devoid of furniture of windows save for a single chair. Suddenly, a voice spoke up, the owner apparently behind the device filming the room. “I suppose you are wondering why we have taken you prisoner, or perhaps some of you have figured it out. Either way, the reason is simple. Simply because the masses have swallowed the lie that is the Conversion, does not mean that the human race is finished. The HLF is more than just men, more than just acts of violence and terror, though those serve their purpose. The HLF is an ideal, that humanity will not lie down quietly and submit to the only solution you ponies offer.” The owner of the voice entered the view of the screen and sat down comfortably in the chair. “But the serum is the only choice!” a unicorn mare shouted. “We’ve tried, are still trying other solutions, but nothing has come up yet!” The man in the chair shook his head. “But see, there’s a flaw with that. Just because serum is the only method discovered thus far that works, instead of continuing to fund research into other methods, those funds are now used to build Conversion Bureaus, refine serum, and distribute information about it to as many people as possible. Never before has humanity simply gone with a solution because it was presented first, and I will not accept doing so now, with the fate of our very species on the line.” “But why not work publicly to try to find another solution?” The same unicorn retorted. “Why commit such heinous violence against those who are trying to help?” “It’s simple. I believe, wholeheartedly, in my species. We’ve struggled throughout our short history to find ourselves on top of the world, and I will not be a willing participant or even an observer to the end of all of our achievement. So when you ponies showed up, and began infiltrating and weakening our nations, I began to spread ‘informal’ contacts among the higher echelons of society, garnering what support I could. And when the serum was met with resounding applause for it’s success, I formally founded the HLF in response. And now, you are going to help me to put an end to the nonsensical belief that Conversion will save the human race.” “We’ll never help a monster like you!” The unicorn shouted, the other chiming in as they stomped their hooves on the floor. “Oh but you will. What’s your name?” the mane asked the unicorn who’d been talking. After a second’s hesitation, the mare looked levelly at the screen. “Rose Swirl.” “Well, you see Rose, I know you’ll help me. Because if you don’t, we’ll bomb a Bureau, or shoot up a pony establishment, for every time you all refuse to do the tasks you will be given. The attack in St Louis was showy, yes, but it’s awfully easy to whip a single angry person into committing an act of violence, and all but impossible for anyone to stop.” The man’s voice was like ice, his eyes even colder. The ponies were silent, staring at the screen in a mix of horror, disgust, and fear. “How... how can you be so cruel?” Rose Swirl asked. Curtis Miller leaned forward. “Because sometimes, a man must allow the darkness to stain his soul, to save those who have not the wit to see the danger staring them in the face.”