//------------------------------//
// Espionage 
// Story: Foreigner 
// by Salnax 
//------------------------------//

	“I’m sorry, but I cannot teach her,” said Cheerilee. “I teach foals from childhood through adolescence, but Terra’s lack of speech, social anxieties, and complete unfamiliarity with everyday affairs makes her problems more similar to an infant’s.”
The Heartstrings household was meeting at the Ponyville schoolhouse. Lyra, Bon Bon, and Twilight Sparkle were sitting on chairs in front of Cheerilee’s desk, making them feel like they were going to be reprimanded for eating paste all over again. Terra was examining the classroom, uncharacteristically bold after crying with her guardians.
“Couldn’t she just sit in the back of the room or something?” asked Lyra.
The three other mares looked at Lyra in disbelief.
“It’s tricky enough teaching ten students at a time, each with their own needs. If Terra is as unevenly developed as you say, she would require a lot of attention. Not only would I not be able to give enough, I would have to take time away from helping the students I already have. And how can we expect a foal who can’t understand what we’re saying to understand our rules?”
Terra, meanwhile, had discovered a tube of paste in the back of the classroom. Curious as to what it was, she picked it up with her mouth, accidentally squeezing the surprisingly elastic container. A blob of paste went in her mouth, and she yelled in surprise.
If Lyra and Bon Bon had any hope left for this venture, Terra’s experience with paste would have been embarrassingly timed. As it was, the incident merely served to highlight Cheerilee’s point: Terra was not able to look after herself well enough to go to school.
“Well now what?” Lyra asked Cheerilee, as Bon Bon went to help Terra spit out the paste in the bathroom.
“Well, you have a couple of choices. First, you can send Terra to Canterlot, where they have the facilities to help fillies like her.”
“Not going to happen,” Lyra replied. Terra was too equinophobic to let her go alone, and it was impossible for the entire household to leave Ponyville; Both Lyra and Bon Bon would have to get new jobs if they moved away, and as the “Human Sightings Capitol of the World,” Ponyville was the perfect place for Lyra to practice her hobby. Lyra’s natural distrust of Equestrian royalty only made going to Canterlot an even less promising prospect.
“Your second choice is to hire a specialist to work with Terra full time, as an educator and a nanny. The problem with that is, those kinds of professionals are expensive, and I doubt you have the money to afford one. Especially since you’d also have to pay for their room and board, since no such ponies live around here.”
Lyra nodded. With their combined incomes, she and Bon Bon made a respectable amount of bits. However, having an extra mouth to feed was going to cost them a lot. So was having to take time off to watch over Terra. Bon Bon could ask her family for a few bits if necessary, but there was no way they could afford a private tutor.
“You can also home school her yourselves, but that would be a full time job in of itself. I know Bon Bon had to take vacation time in order to watch Terra, and you occasionally have to take trips to other towns for concerts. It would be manageable, but difficult.”
Bummer. Adopting a child was tough. Who knew?
At this point, Terra and Bon Bon came back. Terra had an empty mouth now, but Bon Bon somehow had gotten paste on her muzzle. She gave Lyra a quick glare, saying that Lyra owed her something for not helping out.
“There’s a fourth option, but you won’t like it Lyra.”
“What?”
“We could ask Twilight Sparkle here to tutor Terra during the week. As a graduate from Canterlot’s School for Gifted Unicorns, she’s the only other pony who has the education to teach foals around here. At least, if my memory serves me correctly. Furthermore, as a librarian, she is technically a part of the local education system, meaning that we can team up with the Mayor to pressure her into it."
"You don't need to pressure me," said Twilight. "I'd be glad to help! I'm here in Ponyville to study friendship, and isn't this what friendship is all about? Helping each other?"
Lyra was silent for a moment. Bon Bon understood why. Cheerilee had deliberately avoided mentioning who was paying Twilight Sparkle. Ever since she had come to Ponyville, Lyra had been suspicious of her. Bon Bon doubted that Twilight was a government agent trying to cover up the existence of humans, but even she could understand why else Lyra would be scared by a government agent.
“Thank you Cheerilee,” began Bon Bon, “but I don’t thin-”
“Sure, let’s go ask her,” interrupted Lyra.
“What?” said Cheerilee.
‘WHAT???’ thought Bon Bon.
‘Wait, what am I missing?’ thought Twilight.
“Burp,” said Terra.
Apparently, not all of the paste ended up in the sink.
Lyra explained herself. “Terra needs a teacher, we need to be able to work on a regular basis, and you probably wouldn’t mind, will you Twilight?”
“Well, no, I wouldn’t. Actually, it could be fun. I’d probably just add something extra to my Friendship Reports to Princess Celestia.” 
“Let's go out for lunch at say, Sugarcube Corner. We can discuss the particulars there.”
Bon Bon was momentarily stunned. She knew Lyra felt responsible for Terra, but this went beyond what she would normally even consider. Tonight, somepony was going to be told how lucky she was to have them.
******
Terra followed Blue Mare, Cream Mare, and Purple Unicorn as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. For the first time, she was not being singled out as she went through town. This was probably due to her lack of bandages. Between this and how her guardians were being distracted somewhat by Purple Unicorn, she felt free to let down her defenses a bit and start looking around the town.
It was a nice enough town. It wasn’t big, but held at least a few hundred ponies based on what she had seen. The buildings were as colorful as the populace, who were earth ponies as often as not. Stallions were definitely in the minority, although no more so than, say, unicorns were. 
One thing that puzzled Terra was the groupings of ponies they passed by. Individual ponies would go about their business, and occasionally a few larger groups would congregate, but a large portion of the groups consisted of two adults and possibly a number of foals or adolescents. Furthermore, the groups of two usually contained at least one stallion, despite their general rarity. For the life of her, Terra could not figure out why these kinds of groups would exist. 
Eventually, the party of four reached the most colorful building yet. It honestly looked like it was made out of the sweet things Cream Mare sometimes fed her. Speaking of whom, Cream Mare turned around and started chatting happily. Maybe this was where she went during the day, to make the sweet things? A reasonable theory. If so, it was likely that they would eat here. Excellent. Terra loved sweet things. 
******
Lyra opened the door to let her family and Twilight Sparkle in when she heard Pinkie Pie’s inevitable “HI!” The usual bombardment of greetings that normally followed, however, never came. Pinkie Pie just stood behind the counter, eyes locked onto Terra.
“Hello Twilight. Hello Lyra. Hello Bon Bon. I didn’t know you were coming today”
Twilight Sparkle stepped forward, oblivious to Pinkie’s lack of enthusiasm. “Actually Pinkie, they invited me here to lunch to talk about Terra here. I’m going to write to Celestia about becoming a teacher, and if she’s okay with that, I’m going to tutor Terra! We’re going to spend lots of time together, and I’m going to show her around town, and maybe I’ll start tutoring to other colts and fillies!”
“That’s great Twilight. Would like some lunch?” Pinkie asked brusquely.
“Never fear, I’ll pay,” said Bon Bon. “It gives me a chance to take advantage of the employee discount! Let’s see, I think I’ll have a slice of that pumpkin bread and some pumpkin juice, Lyra will have a watercress sandwich and some salt water, Terra will have a croissant and some apple juice, and… Twilight, what would you like?”
“A corn muffin would be nice. Just water please.”
“Coming right up,” said Pinkie Pie, disappearing into the kitchen. For a few minutes, the group sat at a table, discussing Terra’s education. Terra started to go into the kitchen, but was told “No!” by Bon Bon. Either Terra was starting to pick up words, or the tone of voice made her intentions clear, because Terra sat still while the three mares discussed arrangements.
Twilight was just explaining how she could get permission to teach within the week when Mrs. Cake came out, delicately balancing four meals on a tray held atop of her head. Bon Bon started to pay, but Mrs. Cake simply said that she would take the ten bits out of her paycheck. Considering how the meal cost closer to twenty bits, this was quite generous. 
“Say, Mrs. Cake,” asked Twilight, “what happened to Pinkie Pie?”
“Oh, she’s taking her lunch break now dear. She should be back in a little while.”
“That’s strange, doesn’t she normally eat lunch here?”
“Uh, yes, but she wanted to go out for some fresh air.”
Lyra couldn’t stand this. “Mrs. Cake, what is Pinkie Pie’s problem with TerOW!”
“Sorry,” said Bon Bon. “My hoof must have slipped onto your face somehow.”
Mrs. Cake sighed. “Dears, I don’t think it’s my place to talk about why Pinkie Pie is… uncomfortable around Terra.”
“Wait, you know why?” asked Bon Bon.
“How could we ask her if she’s just going to run off?” asked Lyra.
“Pinkie Pie acts uncomfortably around Terra?” asked Twilight Sparkle.
The two lovers and the middle aged mare gave Twilight Sparkle a long look. 
Mrs. Cake sighed. “I’m sorry, but it’s just not my place to talk about Pinkie’s problems. I know she normally acts cheerfully, but she has had some… troubles in her life. It’s up to her to decide if and when she wants to talk about it.”
Mrs. Cake went back to the kitchen, leaving the mares alone with their thoughts. 
Bon Bon frowned. A troubled Pinkie Pie seemed bizarre to her, much like a stupid Twilight Sparkle or a sane Lyra would. But the Cakes had known Pinkie Pie for years, so if Cup Cake said she was troubled, there was no reason to doubt her.
Lyra, more than anything else, felt offended. How dare Pinkie Pie act that way around Terra! Over the past few weeks, the worst thing she could say about Terra, from a completely objective point of view, was that she was too modest for her own good. Pinkie Pie should be trying to share her laughter with Terra like she did with everypony else.
Twilight Sparkle, on her part, felt like an idiot. Now that she thought about it, Pinkie Pie had been acting a bit differently than normal. True, she was usually her partying self, but it felt more forced than usual. Not to mention how Pinkie never stayed on the topic of the latest newcomer to town for long, despite her love of meeting new ponies.
The trio was so caught up in their thoughts that it took a few minutes for one of them to say “Say, where did Terra go?”
******
As she slipped up the stairs Sugarcube Corner, Terra knew that she would get in trouble for doing this. Cream Mare had specifically told her not to wander off in the bakery. But this was the first time she had seen the Pink One in weeks, and she was not one to waste valuable reconnaissance time.
The problem was, Terra didn’t where in this building the Pink One would go. It wasn’t a huge place, but her target had been out of sight for a few minutes now. Considering how this place doubled as both a place of work and apparently a residence, this could take a while.
As it turned out though, Terra soon heard a familiar blubbering sound. It was coming from a room down the hallway. Terra silently trotted over to the doorway, slowly opening it as she peeked in.
It was a bathroom with sky blue walls. There was the Pink One, standing on her back hooves, front legs on the sink, talking to her reflection in the mirror. Her previously poofy mane was now as straight as Terra’s, and the very color of her coat seemed to have become duller.
Unfortunately, Terra could not understand what she was saying, and time was running short. Soon, her guardians would find and reprimand her. Terra didn’t expect the punishment to be unduly harsh, but this kind of opportunity only came around once in a while. She slowly backed away from the door, and began peeking into other rooms.
One room contained a large bed. It was probably for the owners. Another one contained what appeared to be a cage with its top removed. Perhaps that was for some kind of pet? Or maybe the bakers had very young children? Irrelevant. This door leads to… a closet. Time to go up this flight of stairs and… here we are.
Despite its large size, the room on the top floor of Sugarcube Corner only contained a single bed. It was a slightly messy place, with the ground covered by the occasional piece of confetti and a few balloons punctuating the space. In the middle was a table, surrounded by chairs, though based on the scrapes on the floor, it was frequently moved around. On the bed was a small reptile, probably a pet, which stared at Terra with a blank expression on its face. It was harmless.
All in all, this was a successful trip. The Pink One lived at the top of the bakery. If Terra were wise, she would get going while she had the chance. But the mystery of the Pink One kept her looking around, peeking under the tables, browsing a single shelf of books and magazines, and staring back at the reptile for a few moments.
Terra was a cautious individual by nature, but her curiosity sometimes got the better of her, particularly when a single idea or thought danced in her mind. This went beyond curiosity. Terra needed to know who the Pink One was, and why she had mentally given her such a mighty title. Seriously, why did she never think of her as “Pink Mare” or “Energetic Partier?” It had always been “Pink One.”
She needed to know why she would go to such lengths to learn more about her.
Finally, Terra opened a drawer to the night stand by the Pink One’s bed. Inside was a picture of some sort. Pulling it out with her teeth, Terra put the picture onto the bed and stepped back, taking a look at it.
The picture was, based on the slightly frayed edges, old yet well taken care of. It showed a group of earth ponies. In the front was apparently a younger Pink One, the only pony in the picture showing her teeth as she smiled for the camera. Apparently, she leapt onto her back legs just before the photographer took the picture, and likely fell down immediately afterwards.
Behind her were two grown ponies, a mare and a stallion. Another set of two? What was with these groupings? The stallion, who was on the left, wore a tie and a black hat that matched his stony stare. The mare, though she wore glasses instead, had a nearly identical expression. The two seemed irritated by the Pink One’s antics, but nevertheless seemed to accept her, the same way Aqua Mare was merely annoyed when Terra vomited on the bed.
On the Pink One’s flanks was a pair of foals, one per side. They looked slightly younger than the Pink One. On the left was a gray coated filly with a black mane and purple eyes. And on the left… oh no…
It was Terra.
Suddenly, Terra heard a scream. She whipped around, shocked to find an enraged Pink One. Furious didn’t do justice. Her eyes were full of fire, and steam came out of her ears. The Pink One’s hair, previously straight like Terra’s was now as poofy as before, but stood up straight, creating the illusion that she had grown.
Terra stood her ground, getting into a defensive position. The Pink One rushed forward, seemingly intent on a confrontation, only to miss as Terra rolled out of the way at the last moment. Nearly instantly though, the Pink One turned straight around, ignoring all laws of momentum. Terra was still getting onto her feet when she was pinned to the ground by the full grown mare. She struggled to get free, but the Pink One would not concede an inch.
“La! Buhbuh!” Terra yelled, increasingly terrified of the mare keeping her on the ground. The Pink One kept on screaming, piercing Terra’s head. She was scared. So scared. She would be eaten or worse. 
She would fail. 
No.
Terra closed her eyes.
She.
She focused her attention.
Would.
She had to get out of here.
Not.
She opened her eyes.
Fail!
There was a light
******
After Bon Bon called for Terra for a minute or so, looking around the room, it was clear that the party would need to split up to find her. Lyra and Mrs. Cake went outside to check around town and ask for information, assuming that Terra would likely want to explore, while Bon Bon, who was familiar with Sugarcube corner, searched the extensive basement, which was full of places where a filly could get lost. Twilight Sparkle stayed at the tale in case Terra returned.
However, after a few minutes, Bon Bon returned from the basement, empty hoofed. Lyra also popped in, saying that Terra was nowhere in the immediate proximity of the house, and that Mrs. Cake would start searching a wider area. 
Then, they heard Pinkie Pie scream with rage. 
The trio jumped in the air, shocked to hear Pinkie Pie, of all ponies, full of rage.
“La! Buhbuh!” they heard a high pitched voice yell.
“Terra!” Lyra and Bon Bon shouted simultaneously, rushing up the stairs, closely followed by Twilight Sparkle.
They reached the top of the stair well, Pinkie Pie’s room, just in time to see a flash of light, akin to a unicorn’s spell. What they saw next shocked and horrified them.
Terra was lying on the ground, hooves in the air, hacking and coughing. A trickle of blood flowed from her mouth. Her hooves supported what appeared to be a light-blue sheet of a glass or ice-like substance, composed of several squares joined together. Atop the pile was a screaming Pinkie Pie, who seemed to be trying to crush the sheet and get a hold of the terrified Terra.
“What did you do to her?!? What are you doing?!? WHY ARE YOU AFTER ME!?!?!?” bellowed Pinkie Pie, repeatedly striking the sheet with her front hooves. The sheet seemed to be absorbing most of the impact, but it was clear that Terra was having trouble supporting it.
Pinkie was then surrounded by an Aqua-colored aura, as Lyra used her magic to literally throw Pinkie off of Terra. Bon Bon rushed to grab Terra from below her shield and drag her towards the stairs, while Twilight Sparkle took over Pinkie-holding abilities from Lyra, who was not used to telekinetically holding anything larger than a lyre.
“Pinkie, what were you doing?” asked Twilight, shocked that her friend would act this way. 
“Twilight,” said Pinkie slowly, “let me go,” 
“What the buck Pinkie?!?” shouted Lyra. “Why were you trying to hurt my foal?”
“She’s a liar!” screeched Pinkie Pie. “I can’t stand the lies anymore! Get her away from here!”
Twilight opened her mouth, but no sounds came out.
“Fine,” whispered Pinkie Pie. “Fine. Just keep that… thing away from here.”
“Stop talking about her like that!” shouted Lyra.
“And Twilight,” continued Pinkie Pie, as if Lyra had never spoken, “You had better not teach that thing anything or… I won’t be your friend anymore. Now put me down!”
As much out of shock as obedience, Twilight released Pinkie Pie, who plopped onto the floor. Pinkie stood up, brushing herself off, only to be tackled down again by Lyra.
“Lyra!” cried Twilight.
“Don’t you come anywhere near her,” hissed Lyra. “Don’t go anywhere where she might be either. Or I will hurt you.”
“No problem,” replied Pinkie Pie coldly, her hair straightening as she spoke. “As long as it is running around Ponyville, I will never leave Sugarcube Corner again!”