It is ten years after the Changeling's attack on Canterlot. They have become just another part of society. They can now be Equestrian citizens, along the dominant race of ponies. They have no reason to disguise themselves. Many jumped on this inter-species treaty with vigor, especially local law enforcement and other private organizations, seeing the curious kind for medical research, resulting to miracle breakthroughs. (As it would turn out, love can heal almost everything.) Hospitals now have a ninety-nine-point ninety-nine survival rate for terminally ill patients. Many law agencies have adapted for the Changelings' arrival, and even set up a new way of stopping wars, criminal organizations, and some have even taken them into small businesses. Unfortunately, prostitution included. But this is only a part of Equestria's progression. Machinery has introduced itself, introducing mass production. Print presses, clothing, you name it. Firearms are introduced not long after, thanks to leaked information from the Griffith kingdom. Insofar, the most advanced firearms to date are revolvers, lever action and bolt action rifles, modified for pony use by engineers. Now, whats to stop the Griffin or Minotaur kingdoms from attacking Equestrian towns? A certain branch of the Royal guard is Celestia's insurance. She is immortal, and so are the ponies under this branch. No assassination attempts have come to light because of them. They are everywhere. They are nowhere. They are your neighbors. They do not exist. They have no names. They took an oath to the princesses.
They are no one, everyone. You do not see them. They only see you.
They are... no one.
---
Tick Tock roused from his sleep. His implanted internal clock ensured an on-time wake up at six-thirty A.M.- sharp. Today was his four-hundredth birthday, if he remembered correctly. He stirred from his bed and slipped into some blue slippers waiting by his bed. His bed was extremely comfy. It was like sleeping on a cloud, thanks to pegusi engineers he actually had a bed made out of a cloud. He's only slept in it for about a year and he still couldn't explain what went into the chemistry of it. Frankly, he did't care either. It was- as he would say- "the best fucking bed known to ponykind."
He made his way to his bathroom to get ready for the morning. He looked at himself in a wide mirror, checking to see if everything was still in it's place. There was no need to of course, but he did this ever since he was recruited by the princesses at thirty-two. His body gave the appearance, but he knew this was only from a blessing by Celestia herself (She also offered to make him an alicorn. He refused, thinking it would be a major cliche. Besides, he liked the ground even if his bed was made out of a fluffy cloud).
Anyway. Golden eyes, check. Horn, check. Sea blue/green fur, check. Red mane and tail, check. Cutie mark of a stopwatch, check. It was there, as always, but he found it reassuring to know that all of him was still there. He levitated a nearby toothbrush and paste and began with his other morning routines. After that came clothing, then making his mane. Never his tail, for he preferred to keep it insanely short, not enough to show the goods, mind you... just... enough.
He was halfway through his brushing when a gold flash appeared in front of him. Being an envoy of Celestia, a letter on such short notice he was accustomed after his first ten years of service. He stopped brushing and spit out the contents of his mouth into the sink in front of him and unraveled the letter. Tick smiled. He could always Rely on the royal sisters to remember his birthday. It read:
Dear agent Tick Tock
Happy birthday! As usual, come to the castle for your celebration! Everyone is waiting for you, and we've got a spread set, courtesy of Canterlot's finest chefs. (Yes, there will be donuts you fatty!) Be there or be square! I would recommend rushing over for your party, you know how ponies get on weekdays.
-The Royal Canterlot Sisters
Tick chuckled to himself. He was their oldest agent (literally) so he knew that they could be casual and even playful around him. They were his closest friends, or rather only two of a very small number. He sighed, then ate the letter. Ink nowadays tasted horrid. But it was his birthday. He would get the taste out soon enough.
He put on a nice black and white vest with nifty hidden pockets. His personal favorite. He slicked his rust-colored mane with gel, careful to make it not too flat, nor too poof-y. Satisfied with his hoofwork, he set out for his front door. Opening it, he was greeted by a beautiful sunny Friday morning, chirping birds, and fresh air. He smiled again. His birthdays were always so wonderful, he was sure that he sisters had something to do with it, but it just made it all the more special.
Now to get to Canterlot. His horn lit up, and the noise stopped completely. The birds froze, the ponies were caught mid-act, Pegusi were frozen still in the air... All in the norm for the birthday-agent. This was going to be a great day, he could already feel it. He stopped, then remembered his .44 magnum and stuffed it into a pocket with a pocket dimension spell. One could never be too careful.
---
"Twilight! Twilight wake up! You're going to be late!" The purple unicorn's eyes shot open at the word 'late'.
"AH! SPIKE! WHAT TIME IS IT?!" She shouted, putting her face into her assistants'.
"Ten in the morning! Geez Twi, your appointment with the princess is in the afternoon! Relax!" The purple and green dragon exclaimed, holding Twilight's face in his claws. "Relax." Twilight took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. One... Two... Three...
"Okay, I'm calm." She reopened her eyes as she felt the reptiles' claws leave her face.
"Sorry Spike, just have alot to do today." The unicorn said, going to a nearby desk .
"Like what? Quadruple-checking lists?" The drake folded his rather arms.
"Hey! I only triple check nowadays!" Twilight quipped, smiling back at Spike. He chuckled in response, shaking his head.
"Anyway, I'm going to make breakfast. What do you want?"
"Can I have some waffles?" Spike glared at her in response. She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out, a trick she learned from Rarity... And somehow enlarging her pupil and iris to make a devastating puppy-dog face.
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-"
"Aright! Gah!" Spike threw his arms in the air, making his way to their kitchen. Twilight chuckled. Teenagers, what are ya gonna do?
Suddenly, a great feeling came over her... one of a spell being used... She couldn't quite put her hoof on it, but it was there, like she was around a large amount of magic... Unicorns powerful as herself could detect such a massive amount of magic used at once. She instantly remembered Discord, and his little bout of turning things into the complete opposite. She could smell his chaos magic at work. But this was strange. It had a essence to it that she couldn't recognize, like a new spell.
"Hey Spike! Did you feel that?" Twilight called out.
"Feel what?" The adolescent dragon walked back into the main room, clad in a frilly pink apron and spatula in claw.
"I felt... a magical disturbance..." She eyed her room carefully, looking for it's source.
"Oh..." The drake said in an understanding tone. " What does that mean?"
"Spike! I've told you what it was before, do you even listen to my lectures anymore?" Twilight rolled her eyes.
"In short- no." The drake sighed.
"Well, it's when-"
"Twilight. No." The violet mare glared at Spike for a second who was looking unimpressed, then quickly let it go.
"Alright, just take a letter." She mumbled. Spike set off for the supplies, and came back with the trademark ink-dipped quill and parchment. He gestured for her to start.
"Dear Princess Celestia, To day I have felt an unusually high amount of magic his morning. Only, this sort of magic I couldn't recognize... I thought of Discord but I can tell you from first-hoof experience it wasn't him. If this is what I think it is, then we may have a highly magical creature in Ponyville, or a dark magic user like the alicorn necklace incident. My best hypothesis is the artifact. Please wright back as soon as possible. If not, we may discuss this face-to face. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." With a stamp and green fire, the letter was on it's way to Canterlot.