//------------------------------// // Epilogue Two - Two Months Later // Story: The Conversion Bureau: The St. Louis Massacre // by Cloudhammer //------------------------------// Year 5, Week 28, Wednesday Flare shifted his shoulders to settle the armor, looking over at Nimbus. “So how do I look?” “Like you’re ready to take on the world sweetheart.” Nimbus said as she reached out and adjusted a plate. “Now come on, you don’t want to be late for this.” “I know, I know.” Flare looked over to Breaker, the little colt bouncing on the enormous hotel room bed. “Come on now Breaker, it’s time to go.” “Aww, but I want to play some more!” he protested as he flopped to the sheets with a huff. Flare chuckled and levitated his son into the air. “Now, you’ll have more time to play once we get out of the ceremony. Think you can behave yourself until then? We might take you out for pizza....” he let the word trail off slowly, a grin spreading as Breaker’s eyes lit up and his legs started flailing about. “Really Daddy? Can we Mom? Please please please?” Breaker looked at Nimbus with the best begging face he could muster while floating two feet off the floor. “Now how can I resist that face? Alright, if you behave yourself the whole ceremony, we can go get some pizza.” Breaker cheered as Flare set him down on the floor. “Let’s go then!” The two parents laughed as they followed their son to the elevator. The assembled crowd was composed of Royal Guard, St Louis Police, US National Guard, US Marines, and assorted civilians both pony and human. The rebuilt front of the downtown Bureau was now composed of two sets of stairs, and a divider in the middle with a sheet-covered statue standing atop it. In the front row, Aegis sat with his marefriend, along with the other guards and their families. Once more Aegis found himself trying to avoid making a ruckus in the uncomfortable human-style chairs. There still wasn’t much market penetration for pony seating on Earth, as when a pony decided to sit, they didn’t need a chair to do so. Fireball nudged Aegis, again, giving him an admonishing look. Flare stifled a chuckle, earning himself a similar look from Nimbus. With a warning glance from Cloudhammer, they quieted down as the Mayor of St Louis, Adam Nielson, stepped forward to the microphone stand. “Okay, I want to thank you all for coming to this historic ceremony. As you know, two months ago, St Louis was the victim of a heinous terrorist attack the likes of which has not been seen on US soil since the September 11th attacks. Our city was gravely wounded, with many citizens, both human and pony, losing their lives. However, during the chaos of that day’s events, there were those who stood up as symbols of calm and order. Police officers like Corporal Mark Burton and Officer Helen Whitt. US Marines like Ian Hodges. National Guard like First Sergeant Ronald Wallen and Master Sergeant Emmet Webb. Ordinary citizens like Jesse Morales and Cirrus. And even those not from our city, such as the Equestrian Royal Guard.” He nodded respectfully to the small gathering of guardponies. “It is in their honor today that I officially declare the St Louis Downtown Conversion Bureau open again, and commemorate their heroism with this statue.” At his signal, the two police officers standing on either side of the statue gripped the sheet and pulled it down. Revealed, the audience stared in awe at the gleaming bronze sculpture. It bore six figures standing proudly on the plinth, three humans and three ponies. A US Marine and a National Guardsman flanked a police officer, and arranged in front of them was a pegasus, earth pony, and unicorn guard. All six figures had looks of stern determination as they faced outwardly from the Bureau, their metal eyes staring resolutely at the assembled onlookers. On the base was a plaque with an inscription, stating simply, In honor of those who fought to defend this city, and for those who paid the ultimate price without hesitation. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, for the ideals they died for are eternal. The audience broke into light applause as Mayor Nielson indicated for the row the Guards, police, and four newfoals sat in to stand. “It is at this time that I wish to honor those who stepped forward and fought to protect our city and citizens from the terrorism of the HLF.” He turned as an aide presented a case filled with medals, each one bearing the city seal. Moving slowly down the line, he placed a medal around the necks of each officer and pony in the row. Reaching the end, he saluted the row. “You have the gratitude of this city, and for those of you who are not citizens, you are always welcome to return.” The applause returned in greater force, accentuated by the stamping of hooves from the ponies present. ‘Well,’ thought Fireball to herself, ‘no time like the present.’ She gave Aegis a congratulatory nuzzle. “Have a second to talk?” Aegis smiled at his marefriend. “Of course, always time for you.” He glanced at Leapfrog, who had already made herself busy entertaining Breaker. “No time like the present, right?” “Weeeell....you remember our trip, several weeks back? To the beach?” Fireball blushed a little. That had been a very good trip. “Of course. That was real fun, all the sand and surf. Heh, now it’s just a day trip.” Aegis thought back to Leapfrog kissing that unicorn colt. “Mostly...” The two teens had kept their promise to write each other. Thank Celestia they lived across a nation, and now, an ocean, away. “Well, there was also plenty of sun, too. A lot of, um, sun.” Fireball, usually brimming with confidence, was starting to waver a little. She fluttered her wings in nervousness. “Yeah. Are ya wantin’ to head back to the beach? I’m sure we’ve got plenty of time before I go back on duty.” Aegis wasn’t helping anything. “Ah, no, not quite yet. Um, there’s something I really need to tell you...” “Oh? what is it, oh love of my life?” Aegis smiled, leaning down so as to hear a little better over the crowd. They’d been together for nine years. Pretty soon, they’d even have enough for a very nice wedding. Fireball smiled at her coltfriend and bit her lower lip. Then, with a tiny whisper that just pierced the noise of the crowd, spoke. "I'm pregnant." Aegis Exemplar, Captain, ranking officer of the earth pony branch of the Royal Guard, who had before that faced the terrors of the Everfree Forest without so much as blinking, who had ran headlong into enemy fire to protect both human and pony kind, who had never once backed down from a challenge lain before him, and the new, eldest son of General Cloudhammer, turned towards his marefriend with a look of incredulity... ...and promptly passed out. Bright Hope trudged slowly to his home in Baltimare, not even noticing the sad looks his neighbors gave him. What could they know of his pain, his loss? He still remembered the loving smile on Sparkleberry’s face as he kissed her goodbye, leaving her to play in the daycare with her friends. He remembered waving to his daughter Cross Stitch as she finished the morning laundry. He remembered his wife High Hope blowing him a kiss as he walked out the front door of the Bureau, to be at the grocery store in time to pick up supplies for the kitchen. His eyes squeezed shut as he remembered seeing that black truck driving by, the top opening up like some hideous flower to reveal that horrid weapon. He could still hear the screams as it tore through his friends and the pain as a stray round zipped in front of his eyes as he dove for cover, so close he could feel it. He remembered seeing the large shelf falling over onto him, the heavy metal cans raining down and striking him on the forehead, knocking him unconscious. When he’d awoken, hours later, it was over. He’d rushed to the Bureau, only to learn that it was too late. The light of his life was gone, his beloved wife and children dead. They couldn’t even find Cross Stitch’s body, and while he’d held out hope for the first two months, he finally had to admit that his family was gone, that his last hope was truly broken. Looking up as he approached the mailbox, he could see that the flag was raised, indicating that somepony had sent him mail. That in itself was odd, he’d already received the day’s mail. Opening the box, he saw a single pamphlet inside. Gently levitating it out, he opened it and read the short message in the interior. Humans profess to be good at heart, but willfully perform violence on anything they fear, not caring in the slightest for the morality of their actions. They feel that they have somehow ‘earned’ the right to share in the Equestria we have created through over a thousand years of labor and sacrifice. What right have they to wear our form and proclaim themselves our equals? We know the pain of losing a loved one to their barbarism, and hope to extend a hoof in sincerity to help you through this difficult time. Included with this pamphlet are directions to a meeting place two days from today at sunset. Equestria for Equestrians. Bright Hope stared at it for a second, then looked up toward the setting sun, a single tear making it’s way down his face before he made up his mind. He tucked the envelope into his saddlebags and walked into his house. Maybe this group could help him after all.