Sparkling Harmony EQG: Agents of SMILE: Prologue

by Captain_Cosmos


Episode 2: A New Beginning

SMILE HEADQUARTERS
CANTERLOT CITY
0000hrs

“I am quite disturbed to hear about FOWL’s sudden interest in the magic emanating from the city.” Said a middle aged man who paced back and forth in front of Sparkler and Chase, they had arrived at HQ after getting out of the FOWL facility.

“Yeah. From the reports I’ve been able to access coming out of the city, Magic in the wrong hands can be catastrophic.” Sparkler commented. “And in FOWL’s hands, I don’t even want to think of the devastation.” He added.

“Precisely why we’re assigning agents to keep an eye out on the ground. You did good Agent McCain.” The man said.

“Thank you Director Derrick.” Chase responded.

“Dismissed.” Derrick said. “Agent Medley, you stick around.”

Chase nodded and left Derrick’s office. Derrick then turned his attention to Sparkler. “And you did a nice job too, Agent. I trust the new hardware served well?” He asked.

“Oh they served well all right. Are you going to make them standard issue?” Sparkler asked.

“Provided you continue to run them through their paces. One successful mission does not constitute enough field data.” Derrick responded.

“Right. And the lab people want sufficient data before clearing a new toy for mass deployment.” Sparkler responded.

Derrick nodded. “Now, for the real reason I wanted you to stick around. In the two years since you’ve joined SMILE you’ve racked up quite an impressive success score. Some might say you’re one of, if not the best secret agent this world has ever seen.” He said.

“Well I wouldn’t go that far. I don’t have as much experience as agent McCain.” Sparkler responded.

“And yet you just rescued him from FOWL’s clutches. You are an exceptional agent and I remain as confident in my decision to recruit you as I was two years ago.” Derrick said.

“Thank you sir. I shall continue to do my best.” Sparkler responded.

“Good. In light of this disturbing discovery, and us needing our best on this case, I am reassigning you to Canterlot City.” Derrick announced.

“Director?” Sparkler asked, not sure if she heard right.

“I am reassigning you to Canterlot City. You will operate directly out of SMILE HQ and you will serve as one of our eyes and ears on the ground should any magical incidents involving FOWL take place.” Derrick explained.

Sparkler blinked, she was certain she would never be transferred out of Saddle Arabia…guess tonight was full of news. “New gadgets, new car, new city…huh.” She commented.

Derrick smiled as he pulled out a folder from his desk drawer and handed it to Sparkler. “This file contains more details of your new assignment. Your new roommate, everything needed to transfer you to Canterlot High, and a notice for your parents to sign.” He said. “I want you in Canterlot by next week. Understood?” Derrick asked.

Sparkler, taking the file, nodded. “Yes sir. You can count on me.” She said.

“Dismissed.” Derrick said.

Sparkler nodded and left the office. Smiling widely. After getting over the initial shock, she was excited to be transferred to working out of SMILE HQ.


Medley Residence
KiliHima Town
1030hrs the next day

Sparkler zipped up her suitcase and her dufflebag, she was in her room in her house in KiliHima Town in Saddle Arabia, about to leave for Canterlot City. “Ok.” She said. “Clothes, toiletry, glasses case, computer and other electronics, guitar…” At that moment, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and bit her lip as she answered it. “Hey there Mark.” She said.

“Sparkler, Bradford just told me you were leaving?” Her friend Mark asked.

“Yeah. Parents are transferring me to Canterlot High in Equestria.” Sparkler responded.

“Why? Did you do something wrong?” Mark asked.

“Nope, they just think I would get a better education in Equestria.” Sparkler responded.

“Darn. When are you leaving?”

“I’m just about headed out the door now.”

“Hold tight for a few minutes, I’ll grab the crew and we’ll be right over. Can’t leave without doing our signature handshake.”

Sparkler chuckled. “See you in a few.” She said.

With that, the connection was cut. Sparkler smiled as she put her phone away. “Back to the checklist. Guitar, books, comics, new toys, am I forgetting anything?” She asked idly.

“Do you have your necklace and ring?” Asked a voice behind her. “As well as your SMILE parental approval? Signed by both me and your dad?”

Sparkler turned to see her parents. Her mother was holding a necklace with a heart with a music staff pendant on it in one hand, and a ring that bore a similar design on its face. Her father held the notice that Derrick had given Sparkler for her parents to sign. “Right. Those.” She said as she sighed. “I left my necklace and ring in the bathroom again didn’t I” She said.

Her mother chuckled as she walked up to Sparkler and put the necklace on her, while putting the ring on her right middle finger. “How are you going to manage to NOT lose these in Canterlot?” Her mother asked.

“I’ll think of something. It would really suck if I lost either of the only two things I had from…wherever I came from and whoever my birth parents are.” Sparkler responded. Indeed the two people standing before her weren’t her birth parents, but they adopted her when she was left on their doorstep as a baby, and when she turned ten, they told her as much. “Maybe one day I’ll find them.” She commented.

Her adopted father chuckled as he handed her the notice. “Maybe your new assignment in Canterlot will help you find your real family.” He said.

Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. So you guys are really ok with this?” She asked.

“Honey, we DID agree to let you be a secret agent, compared to all the insane stuff you deal with regularly, moving to a new city is tame.” Her mother responded.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right.” Sparkler responded. It had been a shock to be sure but when Derrick showed up at the house to tell her adopted parents that she was a secret agent, her parents not only approved but encouraged it.

“We always knew there was something special about you, from the moment we found you on our doorstep.” They had said that day.

After a moment, Sparkler’s thoughts returned to the present. “Alright, I guess I’m good to go.” She said. She pulled her mom into a hug. “I’m gonna miss you guys.” She said.

“We’ll miss you too sweetie. Just remember to eat healthy.” Her mother responded.

“Avoid danger when possible.” Her father said.

“And do try to be a normal teenager when possible.” Her mother said.

Sparkler nodded as she proceeded to hug her father. “I will.” She said.

After a moment of hugging, Sparkler grabbed her suitcase and dufflebag and walked out of the house down to where she had her new car parked. She loaded the bags into the trunk and closed it shut when she heard bicycle bells ringing, along with a familiar voice calling out to her. “Hey Sparks!”

Sparkler turned around, and smiled as she saw her friends from her now former school. Bradford, Mark, and Amber.

Her three friends stopped their bikes, dismounted, and ran up to her. “Hey Sparks.” Amber said. “Were you seriously planning on leaving without saying goodbye?” She asked.

Sparkler laughed. “Honestly it was kinda thrown at me so it may have slipped my mind.” She said.

That caused the four of them to chuckle. “Yeah you can get a bit scatterbrained sometimes.” Mark said.

Amber chuckled and glanced at what they assumed was Sparkler’s car, and her jaw dropped. “Oh my nachos. Sparkler is THIS your car?!” She exclaimed as she started running around the car, looking at every inch of it.

Sparkler chuckled and nodded. “Yeah. It’s brand new.” She said.

“Shut up!” Amber exclaimed. “You got a BRAND SPANKING NEW Pegasus Model 10X zoomer?!” She asked.

“Yeah.” Sparkler responded.

“This is basically it girl!” Amber said. “You can’t get anymore overkill for a car than this!”

Sparkler chuckled. “If you’re ever in Canterlot I’d be happy to give you a ride in it.” She said.

“I’ll hold you to that. Do you know how many people can only DREAM of owning a car like this?” Amber asked.

Sparkler chuckled and rolled her eyes. It was no secret Amber was a car geek. “Well, thanks for stopping by. But I should really be getting going now.” She said.

Her friends nodded and all held their fists out to her. “One more for the road?” Brad asked.

Sparkler smiled and raised her own fist and they all bumped them together, launching into a handshake. “Sparkler, Amber, Brad and Mark, shaking up KiliHima as a quartet!” They all chanted, before falling into a group hug. “Oh I’m gonna miss you guys. I’ll keep in touch.” Sparkler said.

“You better.” Brad said.

After a moment of hugging, they split apart and Sparkler nodded. “Alright, I’m off.” She said.

With that, she got into her car, started the engine, and drove off. Leaving her friends and parents behind.

As soon as she got out of sight of anyone, Sparkler pressed the button to activate her car’s flight mode and also engaged it’s cloaking device. She lifted off into the air and put the pedal to the medal, accelerating to full speed. “Next stop. Canterlot City.” She said. She turned to her dashboard. “And now that we’re at cruising altitude. Flappy?” She asked.

“What can I do for you Sparkler?” Asked her AI companion, who appeared as a parrot on her dashboard screen.

“Access SMILE’s Database, give me a run down of who’s assigned to keep a watch for magic.” She said.

“Of course Sparkler.” Flappy responded as several ID pictures came up on the screen. “Agents 546 and 547, known as Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops, the latter going by the alias Bonbon. Partners in every sense of the word, these two attend Canterlot High and are in regular contact with magic.” Flappy said.

“So they’ll know the lay of the land.” Sparkler responded.

“Precisely.” Flappy said. “Next up is Agent 02142022. Known as Autumn Apple. She’s a direct cousin to Applejack, identified by SMILE to embody the Geode of Honesty.” He explained.

“Autumn Apple, my new roommate.” Sparkler said.

“That affords you an avenue to more closely monitor Applejack and her friends.” Flappy said. “Finally, there is Agent 0069. Known as Chase McCain. He has gone undercover as a kindergarten teacher at Canterlot High.” He said.

“Might explain why he was caught. His undercover job made him rusty.” Sparkler joked.

“Be it as it may, he is the agent to go to for insider information regarding magical accidents. As the faculty at Canterlot High are made aware of all magical incidents as soon as possible.” Flappy said.

“Right.” Sparkler said. “Anyone else?”

“Other notable agents stationed in Canterlot, however not directly assigned to this case. Agent 3.14159, known as Microchip, and Agent 11252021, Night Mare. Microchip attends Canterlot High while Night Mare attends Crystal Prep. However Night Mare is the twin sister of Twilight Sparkle, identified to embody the Geode of Magic. Which makes her uniquely suited to keep an eye on the Geodes outside of school.” Flappy explained.

Sparkler chuckled. “Noted Flappy.” She said. “This should be interesting to say the least.” She commented.

“Indeed. Another note about your new roommate Autumn is her AI companion Bella.” Flappy said.

“How many AI companions are deployed Flappy?” Sparkler asked.

“So far only myself and Bella.” Flappy responded. “I wonder what’s taking so long for AI companions to become standard issue.”

“Aww. You’re getting lonely?” Sparkler asked.

“Can’t hurt to have friends.” Flappy responded.

Sparkler chuckled. “I’m sure Bella would love to be your friend.” She said as she flew the car through the sky, headed for a new adventure in Canterlot City.

To be continued…