//------------------------------// // Day Three, Part One: Sky High // Story: Manehattan's Lone Guardian // by Curtis Wildcat //------------------------------// The third morning found Gray sitting near the docks owned by the marina Ocean Guard worked for, staring over the water in the general direction of Canterlot. The sun hadn't been up for very long, but after Gray had a full night's sleep and taken care of Echo's needs, she had chosen to go for a jog before heading for the Pyre. Recent events had left her feeling wistful, so she'd paused once she reached the docks. One of the dock workers, the big and burly sort who probably milked his appearance for all it was worth, approached her. "Hey, lady. You have any idea when he's gonna be back? We're shorthooved as is, and that creep in scale armor ain't helpin'." "'Late tomorrow morning' is my best guess," Gray said without looking. "I'm not happy he's gone either, but unless resolving kidnappings is your specialty, the situation's out of our hooves." Aside from the morning birds, it was quiet for a time. "I still remember what happened that day," the worker pondered. Unknown to Gray, he was looking in the direction of the bridge. "It was crazy. You fell from that bridge with that one hundred degree wing of yours. You were tryin' to stay afloat, screamin' in pain or for help... couldn't tell which. Then Ocean Guard dives in and all but breaks the local swimmin' records getting you out of there. Never saw a pony swim so far or so fast." "Nopony else was out there, and just trying to stay afloat was a chore by itself," Gray recalled. "If he hadn't shown up, I probably would have drowned before help could arrive." She wiped away a tear as it formed. "I owe him everything." "Always was the hard-workin' sort," the worker replied. "Even with nothin' goin' on, he still gives a hundred percent to everythin'. I like that about him, honestly." The two ponies, barely acquaintances, shared a companionable silence... ...for about seven seconds. An eruption of water, some of it splashing down near them, startled them to---or halfway out of---their hooves, ruining the moment. Gray squalled and leapt backwards away from the water. On landing, her back was arched and one foreleg was raised as she tried to figure out what was happening. The worker backed away as far as he could go. Tiffany Polari had surfaced, holding something in one hand. "Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed, seeing the two ponies. Her free hand hovered near her mouth. "I thought the area was clear." "Um... no problem, I guess," Gray awkwardly decided. "What's a sea serpent doing here?" "Just returning a fish to its tank, hon," Tiffany told her, gently placing a bundle down on the dock. Said bundle was Leviathan, sound asleep. Gray approached her in wonder, joined shortly by the worker. "Leviathan? Hey, Levi?" she called softly, nudging her. Someone's... somepony's talking. "Poor thing just needed to vent. She spent a few hours talking, then she just dropped asleep like that." Is that Tiffany? "How long was she down there?" Definitely Gray. "If I haven't misjudged the passing of time... nine hours? Maybe ten? And she talked almost non-stop for two and half." I don't know if I want to get up, but I probably should. "I'm awake," I tell them, putting in the effort to stand upright. "Sorry. I'm awake now." "Anypony ever say that she looks like an entirely different bein' without that helmet?" a stranger wonders. Gray's tail idly swishes through the air. "I know, right?" Something big and soft lightly presses against my head and upper back. I give in to the urge to shiver. "You're in good hooves now, hon," Tiffany tells me. "You're always welcome to see me again, so don't be a stranger, a'ight?" Another splash of water, and she's gone. "A sea monster kissin' a robot," the stranger utters. "If that don't beat all." Gray's beaming. What kind of toothpaste has she been using? "I love this city so much." We're jogging back to the Pyre. I'd much rather be walking or hitching a ride, but apparently Gray's taking her new workout regimen seriously. I could've done without her having breakfast on the go, though. She's eating a fish that was washed up onto the docks by Tiffany's surfacing. Without cooking it first, even. I know that being part-cat lets her get away with habits that no pony would consider adopting, but please. At least she's spitting out the bones into the trash bins, but she's still getting odd to off-put looks from those already on the streets. Two and a half hours. Did I really spend that long talking to Tiffany? I know I was told to talk to somepony who knew what it was like to live for centuries, but did I really spend two and a half hours just talking? I don't remember her saying anything in reply to my stories: she just reclined on the seafloor and listened. For that matter, I have no recollection of falling asleep. Did I even give her a chance to talk, or did I hog all of the time for myself? I should bring this up with the therapist later. Speaking of, that's all I really have lined up today. I still don't feel like doing anything important. My mind and heart aren't in it. Probably won't be for a while. And I'm not saying that because I've just been kissed by a sea serpent again. I still feel empty. Even my previous fury at Illudere is stifled now. But at the same time, I feel like there's... hope? Is that what that is? It's buried kind of deep. It doesn't feel like it wants to surface, but I can tell it's there. I wonder what it will take to make it more noticeable. ... We're back at the Pyre now. There's a police carriage parked outside, and it looks like they want me for something. One of the officers offers me a radio, and I hold it up to my ear. "Hello?" -"Coffee-and-Cream,"- my navigator greets me. -"There was an incident last night at the Golden Bell."- That place, because yes. "I'm listening," I tell her. "Though I don't know how much I'll be able to contribute." -"Don't beat yourself up over it,"- Coffee advised. -"I don't recall if you were informed of it or not, but there was a safe stashed away outside of where you were kept. That's what that big screechy drone was guarding."- Just the memory of that thing is making me desire headphones. "What happened?" -"Twelve drones attacked the surveillance team,"- she reports. -"Including a few of a type that hasn't been catalogued yet. The whole thing was a diversion. Some altered Magiflies attached themselves to the safe and tried to make off with it."- "'Tried' to. I'm assuming you were able to stop them somehow?" -"Yeah, but it took Surveillance being very stubborn. One of them managed to jump on the safe and hang on for dear life when the 'Flies tried to make off with it. When they realized he was there, they flew around all over the place trying to shake him off." "Must have been a wild ride. Did he destroy the Magiflies himself?" -"With some help. A harrier---a bird of prey, excuse me,"- Coffee clarifies, perhaps sensing that I was going to be confused. -"It saw the Magiflies and mistook them for its next meal. In the confusion they lost control of the safe, and it crashed down in a corner of Median Park. The remaining drones fled after the transporters were destroyed. We set up a cordon around the safe to keep ponies from getting too close, but otherwise the Park's still open for business."- "Somepony seriously needs to catch that bird," Gray complains right next to my ear for crying out loud---! "That thing's been treating Manehattan as a summer home for years, and it's really annoying." -"That 'thing' helped save some potentially critical equipment, if accidentally,"- Coffee retorted. -"Give it a rest."- I'm feeling tired for no real reason. Let's just move on. "How critical are we talking?" -"Our detectives think---and I agree---that the safe is storing your stolen gear. So far, the protections on it have prevented us from opening it, so we're at an impasse."- And now I'm not. If that's true, then matters have just escalated in importance. I don't know if it's going to make me whole again, but it should at least bring back something I lost. "I think I felt something that time. Want me to go over there now and see if I can take a crack at it?" -"Save it for later,"- she instructs. -"The Median's going to be a bit busy today, I think. We'll deal with it after they're gone."- Gray nods in recognition. "That little get-together. Right." "Anything that's my business, or..." "Remember that griffon? The one you said called you a bounty hunter?" Gray asks, continuing after I nod. "He's set up a pseudo-picnic this afternoon for fans and supporters of yours. Dunno how big it's going to be, but I'm guessing that it'll be on the small-ish side. I'd like to take you there after your appointment later." Do I want to go? Not really. Should I anyway? ...Might as well. "I've got nothing better to do." -"It'll turn out fine, General,"- Coffee assures me, hearing my skepticism and slight sadness. -"Trust us."- That's something that I want to do, Coffee. Believe me. I sigh to myself. It feels like since I re-read that child's letter, I've been of two minds on life. That flight instructor---come on, what was her name, Fleetfoot---showed up again after the call ended. Maverick and Magnum weren't far behind. Like yesterday, they and Gray are being put through their paces. Gray was still occupied at the time of my appointment, so I went ahead without her. My time with the therapist was mostly uneventful. When I told him that I'd been talking to a sea serpent and informed him about Tiffany, he agreed that I'd made the right call talking to a long-lived being, even if that being wasn't Celestia. No complaints there. One minor detail did come up. I was telling the therapist about my difficulties in that other reality regarding my reconciliation with Honoré, and he asked me how much of what I'd seen was me and how much was Illudere's work. Thinking about it, that's actually a good question. There's no way Illudere could've possibly known what Honoré had looked like, or for that matter anyone who was alive at the start of my experiences. This is doing a good job of distracting me from my prior mindset. Sally's kept those editions of the Minutes pertaining directly to me, and I've re-read the initial interview I gave. Not once did I mention Area Zero, the traitor Elpizo or the Dark Elf, but all of them had minor roles in my newfound recollections. If I had talked about them in any way, it would make sense for Illudere to use that information in her spellcraft. On the flipside, both Dr. Weil and Omega were brought up in the interview, and neither of them appeared in anything other than footnotes. It would make sense in the context of the new memories: without the Dark Elf active (and disregarding Dr. Ciel's cure for it), Weil wouldn't be able to make his move. Still, you would think that he would still show up in some fashion over the two centuries plus, but he just plain never appeared. No news of his death or where he went. Just... nothing. Same goes for Omega. So how much of my false experiences were crafted by Illudere, and how much of it was me? I've got to give this some thought later. Maybe Sally has some insight; the two of them were acquainted, so... ... Gray has caught up to me outside of the therapist's office just now. She seems winded. "Alright, I'm here. Are you ready to go?" "...I guess," I admit half-heartedly. "What about you? Aren't you tired?" "Not so much that I can't spend time with a friend," Gray denies. "Fleetfoot's a real taskmaster, but she's not the toughest I've had. I'll manage." She turns to an incoming carriage and signals it. "Taxi!" I catch a glimpse of the driver's face before we climb inside. Is that pity I'm seeing? Why? ... Gray falls asleep as soon as she directs the driver to the Park, slumping against my side. She's been trying to make herself stronger for my sake, or at the least trying to work herself back up to her physical prime. I appreciate her being willing to help after what happened to me, but this is a bit much. Just offering her assistance is enough; she doesn't need to exhaust herself. There's a quiet rumbling from something. It's not the road, or at the very least it's not what I've been hearing for the past minute, so... ...oh. Gray's purring, and I can see why: without my awareness of it, my hand has moved down to scratch behind her ears on its own. The memory of my doing this to the two ex-thieves returns to me, and I jerk my hand away before she starts panicking. "Put it back," Gray softly protests, not opening her eyes. "That felt nice." ...Of course. "I'd rather treat you like a pony than a cat, Gray," I deadpan. "Try to have at least some dignity." "Dignity is overrated," she mumbles. "I want ear skritches." I think I just felt a flash of deja vu. "Seriously, Gray. Stop being difficult," I mutter back. "I'm not in the mood for this." Gray "mmphs" in disappointment, but doesn't say anymore. And since I don't have the words to describe what just happened, this is where I'm going to cut it. ... Sooner than we'd like, greenery fills one side of our vision. The carriage comes to a stop, and the driver announces our arrival. Gray reluctantly wakes up, takes flight, and flutters on out. I'm a little slower to leave due to mental lethargy. Ow... I think I put my foot down on a stray pebble. When I was rescued, I was only dimly aware that I was walking on shrapnel due to my mind being on... other things. With help from my friends, along with Tiffany and the therapist, I'm a little more cognizant of my surroundings. I'm wishing that I'd earlier gone straight to where that safe is and broken it open so that I could have access to my footwear. Another reason why I'll take water over land any day. Though speaking of the safe, I'm not seeing any evidence of Police presence on this side of the park. It must be clear at the opposite end. That's quite the hike. Gray is leading me forward, but she's staying quiet as we progress through the park. I wonder what's on her mind. -- "You're looking thoughtful, Honoré," I tell my husband. "Is something on your mind?" "Well, it's just---" -- No. If I could permanently erase selected memories, I would. Unfortunately, contrary to what one might expect given my password-breaking program, my control over my systems isn't that good. Only my most trusted technicians, if they're even still alive after Weil took over, would be able to remove those memories for me. And the sad thing is, as gung-ho as I was before about wanting to go home, I am this close to just writing Celestia and asking her to call off her research. I don't know if I can face Neo Arcadia anymore. I just... I just don't know. I'm beginning to hear some noise the closer we get. The childish calls of some foals having fun. Background chatter provided by dozens of conversations. Somepony having either a heartsong or a bog-standard live performance... I can hear the words "Aqua Gal" somewhere in there. I sigh quietly and look towards the wide-open space in front of us. I'm ready to face whatever... ... Whatever is... ... ... ... What... what in... how does this... WHAT EVEN IS THIS? The expansive field where I'd fought Glintlock, as well as a good ways beyond, is absolutely packed with ponies and other creatures. There's so many here that I can't begin to count them all. I can see familiar faces in the crowd: Gilbert, Bossa Nova, Turkey Bowl, a few of those that pursued me that first day, Butterscotch and his mother, what looks like the owner of that one nightclub... There's so many! I can't get over it, I just can't! I know I'm just repeating myself, but for X's sake there's so many! And... and... ...And are they all cheering for me?! I'm serious! The entire lot of them have just turned in my direction and started applauding as only they can! Gray grins cheekily at me and presses a hoof against my chin, closing my mouth. "Surprise, Levi." I whirl and grab Gray out of the air, bringing her face to face. "This is your idea of a 'little' get-together?!" She blinks slowly a few times as she answers, still amused. "We're Manehattanites, Leviathan. We don't do parties by half. Though I'll admit I wasn't expecting this big of a turnout." I don't remember letting go of Gray, but there's nothing weighing down my hands anymore, so I must have. "But... how? Why? And... why for me?" Gilbert flies in close enough to contribute. He's remarkably sheepish. "Hey, Levi! Glad you could make it! Sorry 'bout the crowd. Wasn't expecting word of mouth to work this well!" It takes a moment for me to register what he said, during which time the cheering dies down some. "What?" "Blame that on the paper," Bossa's familiar bass rumble cuts in, shoving her way past several ponies that were slow to clear a path for her. "That long-nosed journalist they call 'Honest Crow' decided to publicize this affair. Nosy little opinionated..." A little red and brown bullet darts through the crowd and jumps at me when it gets clear. I'm able to catch it in time, though the impact makes me stagger back a step. "Leviathan!" Babs Seed greets me. "You're here! Awesome! They have these little drinks here you've got to try!" "Hold on a m-moment! Just hold on!" I interrupt before I can start to get overwhelmed, putting Babs down. Stop trying to break, voice, don't give up on me yet! "Would somepony please tell me why this is being done for me? I... I didn't ask for any of this!" "Because we all know what that crazy pony did to you," somepony says. I want to say I've met him before, but I don't have any ID on him. "And we're all in agreement. What she did ain't right." A trio of wingbeats get our attention: Fleetfoot, Maverick, and Magnum are coming in for a landing. The latter two are just as winded as Gray has been, but it doesn't take them long to catch their breath. "And if we're being honest with ourselves?" Maverick states. "We like you." They... "You talk about how much damage you did before, but you've been nothing but a force for good since you got here," Magnum continues. "How else are we supposed to take that?" "You've been nothing but generous to me and mine," Gilbert claims. "That's earning you points right there." A red fist flies at me, and on instinct I raise my hands to block. The impact slams against my guard and pushes me back, but not down. "You're a competitor," Bossa confirms, lowering her hand and nodding in satisfaction. "A competitor does not quit just because their opponent decided to cheat. Look at you. You're still standing. Still fighting. You've had your cry, Siren General. You allowed your weakness to show for the world to see. Now it's time for you to push forward again." Do they really... know what they're saying? Do they even comprehend what I went through? A little voice at the back of my head answers me. I know it's just my imagination running away with me, but that still sounded an awful lot like Zero. And it strikes me as the sort of thing he'd tell me in this situation, as it's straight to the point and eliminates the middleman: Do they need to? Strictly speaking... no, they don't. Unless there's something hindering them emotionally, they don't need an excuse to show sympathy. That's what my logical side is telling me. And I think it just gut-punched my emotional side, because I am completely dumbfounded. All of them are... everypony is... I just don't know how I should be reacting to this! My senses resume cooperating with me as Gray leads me into the gathering proper, the others not far behind. Somepony I don't recognize offers me a cup, which I take and sample on autopilot. My eyes widen in recognition as I recognize the contents: this is the same drink I was offered after Metallium was defeated. I'm starting to register more of what's happening. There's dessert carts and booths around the perimeter, and the theme today is 'blueberry-and-vanilla', barring a few that are dealing with the city's more traditional fare. I see somepony at a far corner painting on a canvas (it takes me a moment to recognize her as that idiot I saw at Madisoat). There's a curly-haired pony with an accordion waving at me; he's no longer playing, but he's likely the source of that live performance I heard on the way in. I can see ponies in MRPD colors scattered around, Coffee-and-Cream included, helping the gathering maintain a semblance of order while helping themselves to a snack or two. The good-natured mutterings around me are increasing in intensity. My entourage and I stop where we are: two ponies are on their way towards me, and they're the last ones I would've expected to be here. My voice continues to waver as I speak, and I inwardly wince at how hollow it sounds. "Princess. Captain. Forgive me for being out of sorts like this. I haven't been having the best of weeks." Unlike our previous meeting, Shining Armor and Cadance are here as clear representatives of Canterlot, with their respective attires indicative of that fact. The former's sporting a purple military dress uniform, while the latter is in full royal regalia. Snazzy. "Think you can forgive Princess Celestia for not being here?" Shining asks in response. "Her schedule's been packed for most of the week." Trying to help me find a way back, right. I kneel down, bringing myself down to eye level. Or lower, even: both ponies are a little bit larger than average. I am tempted, sorely tempted to have them ask Celestia to call it off, but something stops me at the last moment. Instead, I ask: "How's the research coming?" "Slowly, as you might expect," Shining says. "There's a lot of debate over what might work and what might not, piles of research notes taller than I am, stacks of books and scrolls that they still need to go through. You get the idea." "Though there was something that came up that my aunt asked me to pass along. She thought you might be interested in it," Cadance continues. She eyes my entourage. "May we have a bit of space, please?" "We'll get a blanket set aside for you, Levi," Gilbert decides. He probably recognizes that this is none of his business. "What about the rest of you? You want to hang out?" The rest of them agree one by one, though Babs is hesitant to join what she probably sees is a group of strangers, Wonderbolt or no Wonderbolt. Thankfully, another pony---ostensibly one of her parents or caretakers---approaches her and talks to her quietly, after which they both leave. She turns back long enough to wave at us, then disappears into the crowd. Once everypony is gone, Cadance leans in and speaks to me half a level above a whisper: "It was late yesterday morning..." "Princess? If it's not too much to ask, can I ask for your help with something?" Celestia looked up as Startide's grandson addressed her. Since the project began, she'd made brief visits to the library to reassure her visitors, get status reports from her staff, and make sure they had everything they needed. Thus far things had been quiet, so this was the first time anypony had approached her directly. "Is something wrong, my little pony?" The grandson--Celestia had never gotten his name--shuffled his hooves. "It's about grandma. Since you left yesterday, she started muttering things about the situation that didn't make sense. It's starting to worry me. Do you have the time to talk to her?" "I have a few minutes to spare," Celestia assured him. "Please, lead the way." ... Startide was found in a far corner of the section that had been set aside for the researchers' use, away from the others. There were several books on the desk before her, and she was levitating a magnifying glass up to an open page. As they approached she scrawled some text on a notebook that had been given her, quietly uttering words and phrases in full Stream-of-Consciousness Mode. Celestia cleared her throat as she walked up to the desk. "Startide?" "Hunh? ...Oh. It's you, Cel-Cel." The elderly unicorn put the magnifier and feather pen aside to focus on Celestia's mane. "Just tryin' to get my thoughts 'n memories in order. Been a long time since I had to focus on this sort of thing." "I am relieved. Your grandchild tells me that the things you were saying were getting worrying...?" Celestia prodded her gently. Startide scowled. "Runt needs to mind his own business," she complained, though without any real heat. "Been there before. Taller than I remember. Tryin' to piece it out. Together, that is." Celestia shrugged, confused. "This is what I mean, Princess," Startide's caretaker told her. "She's been looking over her research and the Manehattan newspapers, and she won't stop talking about this. I'm no magic student, but I like to think I have a good grasp of what she says whenever the topic is broached. Recently, though...?" "Been a long time," Startide repeated. "I didn't think they got this tall. Used to be much smaller. Closer to my size." "Startide, what are you talking about?" Celestia inquired without raising her voice. "Who or what wasn't that tall?" "That blue robot out east," Startide answered with a grumpy get-it-together narrowing of the eyes. "She wasn't always giant. About my size, smaller than you." "Leviathan used to be smaller?" Celestia urged her to continue. Startide started to say something, but stopped and slowly shook her head. "No. Not Levia-thinny. Another blue robot. Can't remember..." ...Another blue robot? There's more than one out there? "Go on." "Tryin' to dredge it back up. Like pulling teeth without the teeth," Startide groused. "Been long enough that I don't think much about it an'more. Been seein' metal, but it's all off the rocker. Bits and pieces, more bits than pieces." "Yes?" "Yeh." Startide fumbled for a newspaper and nearly knocked it off the table before she thought to claim it in her magic. "Been thinkin' more n' more about this blue robot. Trying to think. Keep trying to put it together." She frowned at the paper. "Have to squint at her picture. Paper says she's got blue hair. Been seeing nothin' but black. Been there before." "Please, spell it out for us," Celestia requested. "I know you've always liked making us think, but right now your behavior is worrying. What do you mean?" "Can never have fun around here," Startide griped. She sighed and blinked wearily. "Tired. This world that Levia-thinny wants to go back to. There was 'nother blue robot there. Nothing I'd ever seen befo'. Lifelike without life, with life like you couldn't believe it." Celestia was able to put it together first, and her surprise was palpable. The younger pony was slower to understand. "Grandma, this is getting ridiculous. What are you talking about?" "How many times mus' I keep sayin' it?" Startide grumbled irritably. "Thinkin' I should go back to bed with you two not gettin' it. Tryin' to recall everything. That other world. I've been there before." She WHAT?! That old pony, whoever she is! She's actually been to Earth before? More to the point, she was able to make it back to Equestria?! I start to say something, but I quickly slap my hand to my mouth when I realize that I would've shouted it. When was this? And why haven't we heard anything about this before? Extra-terrestrial life just showing up out of nowhere would've been an event too big to hide! ...Weird. I felt dizzy for a moment there. At least it's gone now, but why, though? "From your face I can tell that means something to you," Shining guesses. "But you can think more about that later. Right now, we've got to get you back on your feet." He gestures at a stage that's been set up at the front of the gathering, with an older-model microphone set upon it. "And I don't just mean in the literal sense. It's impromptu, but we have a few ponies who want to speak to you, so let's get you to your seat." Yes. Yes, he's right. Whatever I think of this can wait. My focus should be on getting over the surprise I'm still feeling at this event. I get my feet under me and stand up straight. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but do either of you know how many are in attendance here?" Cadance considers this. "This part of the Park can hold a lot of ponies, Leviathan. It wouldn't surprise me if there were at least four thousand." Four... thousand? Four thousand ponies taking time out of their busy schedules just to give me a morale boost? My voice is shaking again. "I-it's just staggering." "What is? The attendance?" "It's the fact t-that they're all here to cheer me on. Me, after everything I discussed before..." "Because we love you, you big blue idiot!" somepony at the front of the crowd calls out, only to be quickly shushed by those nearest to her. "...Not the words I'd use, but she's got a point," Shining admits, having winced at the cat-caller's phrasing. "None of us would be present here if you hadn't grown on Manehattan. Hearing that you have that many false memories is crazy..." An oft-recited expression makes a comeback. "...but so is everypony in this city," I finish. Shining and Cadance both smile... and for the first time in days, I actually want to do the same. Those little movements are almost beginning to feel natural again. That feeling of hope that I was experiencing earlier is starting to feel stronger now, too. It's increasing little by little. Almost like things are looking up for me. It feels good. I'm not stupid. I know that feeling means that the other shoe's going to drop sooner or later. But for now, it looks like somepony's getting ready to speak into that microphone. Uneasy feelings and half-worrisome inevitability can wait. Metallic clanging and angry squealing reverberated through the penthouse. A vent cover in the kitchen rattled and fell open. Illudere struggled to pull herself out, but it was a tight fit. Aside from the vents not being the right size for a full-grown pony, her dragon scale armor added just enough girth that the stunt she tried should've meant the end of her. Pure desperation had guided her actions: nothing else was getting her out of her bedroom, however it was she'd gotten trapped in there. And it was the relentless force of her insanity and straight-up not caring that had kept her moving, aided by using the odd bit of magic to pull herself forward. Didn't change the fact that she'd been forcing herself through the ventilation for hours. Illudere finally yanked herself out into the open. She had an awkward landing thanks to being almost six feet over the floor, but she quickly gathered her hooves under her. She immediately set course for the living room, smiling as she anticipated cornering Pure Energy. "I never thought I'd make it through that vent, but now we are togeth---" Energy was nowhere to be seen. The penthouse was quiet. The exit was standing wide open. It didn't take much work to figure out how he had gotten out. The three side locks were undone. A chair had been pushed near the door, allowing Energy to reach the topmost locks with a yardstick he'd found in one of the closets. Those locks in particular had been meant to provide some extra security in case somepony tried to get in, but they had never been intended to keep somepony from getting out. There were several things that could set Illudere off. She hated it when anypony denounced the one who'd freed her from the asylum. She got worked up if anypony made fun of Ralph: for reasons unknown to everypony except herself, she adored the crab and took him everywhere. And most of all, she hated being played when she was the one doing the playing. "Infidel," she hissed, the low noise quickly rising into a shriek. "Infidel, INFIDEL!" After putting a quick end to the vase of flowers in the living room, she was out the door. It wasn't the best lunch and she was tired, but she didn't care. She had enough of that child and enough of that challenge. Either she was going to drag the child back to the penthouse, or she was going to give him nightmares that would last for the rest of his life. She could eat something bigger after he was dealt with. ... Illudere sheepishly backtracked to Ralph's terrarium, apologetically let him latch onto her mane as was normal, and then she was gone. ... Fifteen minutes after she'd left, Pure Energy squeezed out from under the couch where he'd stashed himself, coughing a little on account of some dust. Satisfied that his captor wasn't coming back, he meandered out the door. After silently noting the penthouse's address on a nearby plate, he trotted to the nearest stairwell while whistling the entire way. House offended. "Agent #5. Agent #5, come in. Respond!" -"Busy busy, Ignity Ignity! I have a runt to catch!"- "To catch---" Ignition slammed his hooves down on his desk. "Don't you dare harm the child, #5. Let him go. First Quarter will be displeased to hear that you set aside her mandate, and you will have earned the Ghost's wrath if your charge is hurt in any way." -"To Tartarus with the mandate, romance is a crockpot anyway!"- Ignition silently mouthed a "What?" before Illudere's unhinged exclamation continued. -"I am through with this farce! I am going to get that child, I am going to make sure he stays put, and I am going to make sure that the Ghost and the Reploid die!"- The chuckles of a madmare who had thrown away her reason buzzed in his ears. -"I'm done following the plan, Ignition. From here on out, I'm an ordinary mare... BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE!"- The transmission cut itself off with an illusionary chorus of singers calling the last four words in unison with their summoner. Ignition allowed himself a weakness in the form of an angry snarl. Somepony of her temperament and mindset could only be controlled for so long. Let's hope Lady Quarter is in a forgiving mood after her treatments, because we've just lost ourselves an invaluable asset! He adjusted his radio's frequency to contact the remaining elites. "This is an alert to Agents #6 through #9. Illudere has gone rogue. I repeat, Illudere has gone rogue!"