//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 – Crossroads // Story: Last Resort // by myothercarisapony //------------------------------// By Royal Appointment of Their Royal Highnesses Princess Celestia and Princess Luna – Outland Border Garrison Port Sanctuary +++ EQUESTRIAN EYES ONLY +++ THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE DUPLICATED +++ Interrogation Log #2493 – Sixth Day of the Second Week of the Third Quarter of the Third Year Subject: Pegasus Stallion Name: Identifies as “Razor Leaf”. No birth certificate available Build: Average Appearance: Bottle-green hide, grey mane Cutie Mark: Three leaves blowing in wind Distinguishing Features: None Log Summary: Subject was apprehended flying towards the wall of Sanctuary at roughly 18:31 local time.  After failing to heed the regulation verbal warnings, he was disabled by use of a standard limb paralysis spell and brought to the ground via means of levitation.  Four pegasus guards (led by Sergeant Swiftwind) apprehended and searched him for the full complement of prohibited arms (See Standard Operating Procedures Ref. SOP-00012-PA) before applying the appropriate restraining measures for a pony of this type.  He was then brought inside Interrogation Shack #3 for questioning. Subject initially proved unresponsive and reticent, giving only his name.  He verbalized a request for a cigarette, which was denied.  He then verbalized a request for an alcoholic beverage of any description (see attached transcript, line 7 – “Well then at least give me something to fucking drink!  Whiskey, cider, I don’t fucking care s’long as it’s booze!”), which was denied. Several attempts were made to engage Subject along the lines of a standard interview.  This was impeded by Subject’s insistence on guarantees of safety for himself, prior to any form of dialogue.  He was unmoved by promises of fair treatment by the Equestrian Government, contending that this would do him little good were he to be extradited to the Lodestar Republic (Scribe’s note – Their Highnesses’ Government does indeed have an extradition treaty with the Lodestar Republic, however, in practice the Council of Lodestar has rarely shown any such interest in Outland refugees). In the absence of any information pertaining to offences committed by Subject against our allies, it was not possible to provide any assurances in this regard.  This was communicated to Subject, along with the options resultant:  Either Subject would remain at Sanctuary until such a time the Lodestar Republic asserted or relinquished any claim (a process that has been known to take many months), or Subject could be escorted back beyond the wall of Sanctuary and re-released into the Outland territories. Subject proceeded to become increasingly agitated at the prospect of repatriation.  It was another several minutes before he had calmed sufficiently for the interrogation to proceed, and had ceased insisting that “(he) didn’t do ‘it’”. Further inquiries were made regarding the source of this agitation.  Subject eventually relented, asserting that he had “nothing to lose”.  He testified to the effect that the Lodestar Republic had fallen.  He insisted that any pony not already well-embedded with the darker elements of the Outlands would be making their way to Sanctuary.  Their goal would be to escape the imminent unrest caused by surviving Outland factions vying for an elevated position in the current power vacuum. When pressed for details, Subject claimed to have witnessed the destruction of the Lodestar Republic first-hoof (Scribe’s note – a spell capable of destroying a city is unheard of, and would be quite preposterously dangerous to develop.  The reliability of this eyewitness account must be called into question).  Interrogator Syphon responded with skepticism to this information.  Subject implored Interrogator Syphon to confirm the account with the other ponies that he alleged would be arriving soon, if not already.  (Scribe’s note – This interview did indeed coincide with a record-breaking evening for refugee influx into Sanctuary). Interrogator Syphon considered the matter significant enough to postpone the interrogation.  He departed to confirm Subject’s account with other interrogators, citing the importance of the current diplomatic liaison mission (see Ref. DIP-00272-OUT: “Statement of Diplomatic Mandate for Outland Intelligence Exchange (T.S./M.P.)”). Scribe’s note – Log ends here.  Interrogator Syphon proceeded to establish that a mother-and-foal refugee pair taken in shortly after Subject is able to corroborate his story in the most essential components.  Interrogator Syphon has left with the transcript to locate the ranking officer on site – Commander Bulwark.  The ramifications are too great for dissemination of this information to be deferred. I do solemnly swear by the Grace of Their Royal Highnesses Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that the contents of this document are both accurate and true, and that by my Oath they represent (in conjunction with any referenced supporting documents) a complete record of the interrogation hereby performed. May They watch over us all. *      *      * How could this have happened. Twilight and her friends trudged through the ink-saturated forest.  Crisp night air breezed through the trees.  Only rustling broke the silence aside from heavy hoof falls and, in stark contrast to the prevailing mood, Pinkie’s cheery bouncing.  Dash still led from the front, and her full concentration was on the foliage ahead of them, listening, looking.  Twice now, she had made them stop whilst she flew up to look above the tree canopy.  A pegasus’ innate sense of direction was difficult to match outside of a unicorn spell, but it was best utilised from the air.  It was easy to tell they were heading the right way, as it turned out – the large building with the bright arched roof, ahead of them in the distance, was a difficult light source to miss. It wasn’t that which advertised its presence with light that concerned Twilight the most. “We are doing the right thing, aren’t we?” “’Course we are, Twiligh’,” Applejack said with a grim expression, her eyes remaining focused on the grass.  “Ah’m not sayin’ Ah’m right comfortable bein’ out here now, but if it were me, Ah’d want ta know.” The agitated Outlander stallion had not waited around for long.  He had appealed to them to follow him to Sanctuary, to escape the Outlands before the inevitable migration of refugees from the anarchic Outlands proper – not to mention any survivors from the Lodestar Republic.  Twilight’s gut twisted just thinking about it.  They had lived behind an encapsulating wall; to venture outside would have been to expose themselves to thieves and murderers.  The stallion’s information was barely-remembered hearsay, but the word was of a pulse of an incredible, scorching light that engulfed the entire city, leaving little more than blackened earth.  Nopony within could have survived.  There may not be more than a hoof-ful of Lodestari left alive. And all of them, fleeing the ascendant power of the faction of criminals the six friends had barely heard of until an hour ago.  The Resurgent.  Were they hoping to assume control of the entire Outlands?  Would Equestria be next? They had debated turning back.  If the Lodestar Republic was no more, then what of their mission?  Surely the most important thing right now was to warn the ponies of Equestria about this terrible new weapon? Dash had argued in favour of pressing on.  Twilight, to her shame, hadn’t been able to help smiling a little; when the possibility of not meeting up with the Special Operations ponies was mooted, the pegasus’ expression resembled a puppy-dog look Twilight had only ever seen a certain pink pony demonstrate.  That’s not to say Dash’s argument wasn’t sound – they still had a mission to complete, and there would be plenty of ponies arriving at Sanctuary to bring the news to Equestria soon enough.  These Lodestar ponies were likely to have been outside of the blast radius at the time, and sharing information about the Resurgent threat was now only more critical, not less.  ‘Bulwark would want us to do our duty, like he does!’ ran the argument, and Twilight found it hard to disagree.  It was clear the stallion had already sacrificed much in the name of duty.  Applejack and Rarity had been less sure.  Circumstances had most definitely changed, and they were in above their heads as it was. But there was a second argument that nopony could disagree with.  Lodestar had gone, and with it, these ponies’ only home.  Isolated inside a ‘haunted’ train station that normal Outlanders appeared to eschew, they may not even have heard the news. They deserved to know. And it was only right for the six friends, as ambassadors of Equestria, to bring them an offer to resettle back in Equestria with them.  Whilst their antsy stallion friend had major concerns about Lodestari revenge attacks, Twilight felt the massed criminals of the Outlands were a far bigger threat in the other direction.  She was not about to let these ponies lose everything and then be killed out here to boot.  Not if she could help it. So they moved on through the whispering trees, grateful for the extra scarves Rarity had packed for them all, moving ever-closer to their destination. “I know, Applejack.  I just… want to go home,” Twilight mumbled.  The news of the death of a city, an entire nation, had brought into sharp focus how much she took her own home for granted.  Mere days had passed since they left Ponyville, and Twilight was homesick like never before.  She thought of Spike, no doubt fast asleep.  Safe.  Alive.  She forced herself away from that train of thought. Applejack responded to Twilight with a nod, but kept her silence.  Dash pushed a branch aside to let them all pass, and then quickly trotted to the front of the group once more. Best to let Fluttershy and Rarity talk to them, Twilight was thinking.  They didn’t exactly have a trained counsellor in the group, but a pony would be hard pressed to find a kinder pair of shoulders to lean on.  Fluttershy would need a little time to come out of her shell, but Rarity ought to be able to— Twilight blinked and looked to her left.  Pinkie had bounced her way alongside, and was continuing to spring skywards in a manner that kept perfect pace with the unicorn.  That would have been distracting enough without the tuneless humming. “Pinkie?  How are you feeling?” “Oooh, fine!  Just fine!  N-never b-better...” “Pinkie...” Pinkie’s smile collapsed, like the extinguishing of a sole flame in darkness.  “No time to be sad!” she blurted.  “They’re gonna be plenty sad enough for all of us with losing their home and their friends and everything!”  She sniffed. The wavering of Pinkie’s façade discomfited Twilight more than she thought possible.  “I know, it’s really awful,” she managed in response.  She couldn’t imagine it happening to Canterlot… or Ponyville.  And there she was, thinking those thoughts again.  Ugh! “We’ve gotta be their friends!” Pinkie insisted.  “You’ll see, I’m gonna give them an extra special Pinkie pony welcome!  I’ll be there to be their friend and cheer them up and everything!” she said, nodding with vigorous, solemn conviction.  Then she took a deep breath, and beamed again as only Pinkie could.  Once more, she resumed her merry hopping.  “Oooh, I did have something to tell you actually!  Do you think they’ll like peanut butter?  Or mayonnaise?  How about peanut butter on mayonnaise on rye bread?  I didn’t ask what they’d eat and I know that makes me a silly filly but how can you have a good time if you’re having a yucky food time?”  She tilted her head at Twilight, continuing to disappear in and out of the top of her vision in rhythm. “Pinkie… I have no idea.  I’m sure they’ll love your party food,” Twilight sighed.  She loved Pinkie, but she was a little stressed right now, and not in the mood for antics.  “Was that all?” “Yup!  Yes indeedy!”  She began to bounce away, grinning, and then bounced back without even turning around.  “No!  Oh no!  I forgot one!  There’s something else!” “Yes?” Twilight grimaced. “We’re being watched!” Pinkie beamed. Twilight’s expression calcified on her face, even as her pupils dilated.  “Wh-what?” she whispered.  “How do you kn—who?  Where?” “Don’t know who!  But they’re over there!” Pinkie said, pointing directly upwards, nodding her head as though trying to dislodge a piece of gum.  Twilight followed the line of her foreleg, all the way up to the impenetrable thicket of leaves and branches. “Pinkie… those are trees.” “Trees can’t see, silly!  Ooh.  But maybe that shrub can!”  Pinkie halted, and pointed directly ahead of them at a small tangle of overgrown plants.  They had entered a cramped clearing, although it provided respite only from the tree trunks – above them, the network of branching foliage still obscured the sky.  “It’s watching us too!” If the conversation had been difficult to ignore before, there was no chance now.  Twilight and Pinkie found their other friends halted and gathered nearby, looking concerned at best.  Now, they all turned to face the collection of shrubs at the opposite end of the clearing.  Twilight was suddenly reminded of the stallion hiding under a similar mess of plant life. Rainbow Dash gave her friends another strong look of warning, and crept forward once more.  Twilight shivered with the tension, her teeth making indentations in her lip.  Dash was only a few hooves’ away now, her eyes darting across the mass, her brow furrowed as she struggled to make out any hint of a hiding pony, and now she was drawing herself back, Twilight realised she was about to charge— It happened in an instant. With no warning, the silence was ripped open with a tingling burst of golden magic that seized Dash by the tail, yanking upwards and flipping her upside-down, hanging her in the air in front of the unicorn who was suddenly standing in plain view in front of everypony, horn aglow. He gave a wry smile.  “You would do well never to charge like that into an unknown situation.” “For the love of Celestia!” Rainbow Dash blurted, her cheeks tinged with pink as she flailed her forehooves, swinging from side to side.  “What is it with unicorns and grabbing me by the tail?!” Everypony else was staring at the dark blue unicorn.  His eyes moved across all of them in turn, and if he heard Dash’s outburst, he paid it no heed.  Oh Celestia, thought Twilight.  Was this another assassin?  Was the invisibility how they managed to slip through past the guards of Lodestar?  The port of Sanctuary?  Her heartbeat intensified as she caught sight of a pegasus emerging from the treeline.  His expression was dour, and he glared at them in hostile silence. “Which of you is Twilight Sparkle?” said the unicorn. Adrenaline rocketed through Twilight’s body.  It was an assassin!  He’d come to kill her, and brought back-up this time to finish the job! Rainbow Dash was evidently thinking along the same lines.  “Pah!  As if we’d tell you!”  She bared her teeth at the unicorn in spite of her current predicament.  “You’re never getting your hooves on Twilight, you Resurgent scum!” The unicorn’s smile vanished in the blink of an eye and he stiffened.  His pegasus companion’s eyes went wide, and his mouth fell open.  Then, his face distorted into snarling, livid rage. “Kill her.” Fluttershy squeaked, Rarity gasped, and Dash’s face moved quickly from shock to grim concentration as she flapped her wings with all of her strength.  In times past it had taken the magical power of Twilight Sparkle herself to combat the flying force of Equestria’s fastest pegasus, and the ink-coloured unicorn was no such telekinetic.  The magical field guttered and died, and Dash shot away from the unicorn’s grasp, planting herself down ahead of her friends. “Hold her still damn it, Midnight!” the pegasus choked as he advanced, shaking.  “I’ll twist her fucking wings off…” Dash reared up to defend herself, Applejack leapt forward, body twisted in readiness for a violent buck, and Twilight’s horn was already aglow as she prepared to pin the murderous pony against the ground— “Sky Dive, stand down.” The voice cut through the panicked atmosphere, and everypony’s head turned in its direction.  The burnt-orange pegasus stopped dead in his tracks.  The elusive shrub-camping unicorn was no longer smiling, but there was little doubt as to who had spoken. “What!?  Didn’t…” the pegasus spluttered at his companion, “didn’t you hear, what she—” “I heard, Sky Dive,” the unicorn replied, his piercing gaze fixed upon Dash.  “But I believe she spoke more out of ignorance than targeted malice.” Twilight flicked her eyes from the fuming pegasus called Sky Dive to the unicorn, her horn still charged and ready to immobilise an attacker in a heartbeat.  A pale, ethereal glow danced over everypony, casting long shadows.  “We’re no threat to you,” Twilight said in a small voice.  “Please, who are you?” “Ah, you are a unicorn with an inquiring mind, a desire to focus on the matters at hoof.  You, are Twilight Sparkle,” the unicorn replied with a smile.  “And these are your royalist friends.” Oh horseapples.  Then— “My name is Midnight Phase, Ms Sparkle.  I am the Captain of this Lodestari Special Operations team, and we shall be taking care of your protection during your stay in the Outlands.  You are our honoured guests.” “Ohhh…” Dash groaned as her ears drooped.  “Sorry…” Sky Dive still looked murderous, but Midnight nodded at Dash.  “Apology accepted, Equestrian.  But please do not say anything like that again.” Twilight bowed her head a little, and darkness enveloped them as the magic from her horn dissipated in a forlorn puff.  “Then you know.” “About the City?”  Midnight’s eyes were bright circles in the darkness.  “Yes, Ms Sparkle.  Lodestar is… is lost to us.” “I’m so sorry,” Twilight replied, her own eyes beginning to glisten. Midnight bowed his head as well.  “Thank you, Ms Sparkle.  But there will be ample time to grieve at the conclusion of our mission.” “Your mish—wait, why are you here?” Twilight asked.  Her panic had subsided, and now the entire reason for her presence in this frigid forest re-asserted itself.  “I thought we were meeting you at the train station.” “The train station has been compromised, Ms Sparkle,” Midnight replied.  “You would have been walking into a trap.  Without sufficient time to clear the ponies infesting it, I ordered my team here to meet you before that happened.  Specs has been tracking your progress and was able to direct us right into your path.” Specs?  “There are more of you?” Twilight asked, flicking her eyes around the blue-black trees. “Correct, Ms Sparkle.  Now that we know who you ponies are, they can be stood down.”  He looked behind himself to the treeline, and beckoned forth companions that apparently only he could see.  Then he turned back.  “Please bear with me for a moment.  Rest assured you are in no danger, now that we are here.  But before we can introduce ourselves as your custodians, we must ensure we won’t be disturbed.” Twilight felt a prickle of unease.  She’d been expecting professionals, yes, but there was something distasteful about being secretly shadowed like this.  Without Pinkie’s uncanny abilities, they would easily have been ambushed. “Oh, meeting your companions would be delightful,” Rarity smiled at the unicorn, even as Dash kept her uneasy silence.  “Meeting new ponies is such a thrill.  I hope we’ll have the opportunity to introduce ourselves in kind!” Midnight seemed amused by that.  “Of course – should further introductions prove necessary.”  He turned back towards the forest, from which ponies were starting to emerge, weighed down by a whole host of rucksacks and equipment.  “Tell Specs to report on anything headed our way, please.  And make sure she knows I want the short version.” Still in shadow, one of the ponies nodded.  Then there was a blossom of pink hornlight, and a young-looking unicorn mare was revealed just ahead of the trees.  Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be muttering to herself. Midnight brought a hoof to his muzzle, and cleared his throat.  “A Lodestari Special Operations team is a diverse animal,” he began.  “Each pony is hoof-selected for their unique talents, the better to aid the success of any mission, and the eventualities that arise.”   He raised his eyebrows.  “Tonight, we are making excellent use of our intelligence-gathering and communications skillsets.” “C-Captain Midnight, sir?” Midnight frowned and turned.  “Yes, we have foreign guests.  No, you still don’t need to call me that.” “Oh, um, sorry!  Midnight!  Specs says we should be okay here, but there are some nearby groups she wants to keep an eye on for a bit longer, just in case!  She, um, suggests we ‘pay particular attention to giving a detailed summary of who we are’?  ‘pparently the Royalists’d be more comfortable with that?” “Well, she’d know,” Midnight replied.  “She can keep watch for now.”  He looked back at Twilight and her friends, and smiled.  “I suppose I get leader’s privilege of going first.  You already know my name is Midnight Phase.”  His horn glowed for a split-second, and then, along with the rest of him, suddenly disappeared from view.  “My talents lie in the realm of deception and stealth,” said his disembodied voice.  “Although, as you saw earlier,” Midnight continued, popping back into corporality once more, “I must focus my magic entirely on you if I am to succeed in tricking your visual senses.” The six friends looked to one another.  So his magic was not about hiding himself so much as active interference inside the heads of other ponies.  Twilight wasn’t getting any less creeped out. “As for the rest of my team...”  Midnight backed off to one side, sweeping a hoof across Sky Dive and the new arrivals.   Twilight looked to the three ponies that had appeared behind their mind-manipulating leader, and relaxed a little when she saw that, unlike the psychotic pegasus, they were smiling.  The light-coloured unicorn mare with the pink magic was waving at them.  To the right of her, an earth pony stallion was looking at them all with raised eyebrows, moustache not quite obscuring his open, unthreatening expression, and on his left, a grinning earth pony mare with some kind of light-dark colour mix in her mane – impossible to tell fully in this light.  She looked as though she was being thoroughly entertained by a joke only she was privy to. “Well, Sky Dive?  Are you going to tell these Equestrians who you are and what you do?” Midnight prompted. The pegasus’ mouth was a thin line.  His upper lip spasmed a few times, before he finally swallowed, gave a violent twitch of his head and responded.  “Sky Dive,” he growled.  “Close combat.  Assault.” There was a long silence as the ponies waited for the rest.  When it was clear none was forthcoming, Midnight cleared his throat.  “Alright.  Our newest member?” The unicorn mare smiled more widely.  “Hi!  I’m Sine Wave, and I do long-range communications and cryptography!  Oh… should I have told them that?” she said to Midnight as her expression fell.  Her captain just let out an amused snort.  “Um… I can also do first aid!” she soldiered on, “just… don’t expect miracles.  I can put a bandage on something fierce!  That’s about it.  So… yeah.  S’me.”  She tried to smile again, but it was somewhat addled.  “Need a healing draught, well,” she blurted, “best ask Peptide.  I can’t make em.  Well, I could make you drink ‘em, but really, if you can’t do that yourself, you’re beyond my help anyway.  Um…” she looked over at Midnight again, eyes bulging. “O-okay,” the stallion said with a chuckle.  “Peptide, you’d better go next.” “Right ye are, Midnight!” said the moustachioed earth pony.  “As has already been indicated to you lasses, my name is Peptide.  My specialisation takes the form of all things chemical.  I can identify most Outland poisons you’ll likely encounter, and can mix up most of them as well as fair trade of antidotes for them.  Oh, and as a wee side project, I can forage too – not just for plants bearing deadly poisons, but also ingredients for me to prepare food—” “Yeah, and good luck telling the difference between ‘em when he hoofs them to ya!” burst the grinning earth pony mare. Peptide stopped short, rolled his eyes and let out a deep, groaning sigh.  “Every time, Brazer.  I don’t rightly know who I detest more – you for doing that, or me for falling into it every Powers-damned time.” The concrete-coloured mare chuckled.  “You stop throwing ‘em, I’ll stop hitting ‘em.” Peptide huffed.  “Alright lassie, your turn.” “Thought ya’d never ask,” she smirked back, and then turned to Twilight and her friends.  “My warmest greetings to ya, pilgrims from the royalist utopia of Equestria!  I stand in awe at your very presence in our humble, backward land!  I’m Brazen Flame, the most talented earth pony mare on the entire damn team, although apparently that name’s too much of a muzzleful for my esteemed compatriots who prefer the far catchier ‘Brazer’.  Oh, while I think about it, we also call Sky Dive ‘Skyder’ sometimes, but I wouldn’t worry about that too much since he seems to be pretty intent on murdering ya.” Sky Dive didn’t react.  Twilight, on the other hoof, was stunned, and her face arranged itself to match.  She stared at Brazen Flame, trying to place her hoof on what was bugging her about the mare.  She’d seen plenty of zany from Pinkie, but here there was… something different.  Hadn’t this mare just lost her entire home? “Oh, and I nearly forgot to tell ya about what I do!  Sorry Midnight, I won’t disobey ya again – don’t take my chocolate rations, please!” Midnight tilted his head, a resigned look on his face, but a gasp pierced the air. “He wouldn’t dare!” Everypony’s head swivelled in Pinkie’s direction, and the party pony herself was glaring at Midnight with an indignant pout. Brazen snorted into a chuckle.  “Oh wow, she actually thinks I’m serious, doesn’t she.  For the love of the Powers, don’t tell her the last time we actually had that stuff…” “Huh, but,” Pinkie began, forehead crinkled, “didn’t she just say, and, didn’t—“ An orange hoof found its way onto her mouth as Applejack stroked her gently on the mane.  “Not now, sugarcube,” she whispered. “Good call!” Brazen smirked.  “I didn’t think to pack my ballgag for this mission.”  She patted her saddlebags – like the ponies standing next to her, she was carrying a tightly-packed set of goods, in saddlebags either side, and a rucksack on top with a pair of rolled, tied mattresses crowning it.  “I’m the mare ya call on if ya’ve got a problem,” she said.  “Well, a specific kind of problem, really.  Say ya think somepony’s home is over-furnished with one too many dimensions.  Say ya think somepony’s personality would be greatly improved for them being scattered over a wide radius.”  She nodded with gleeful enthusiasm.  “Yup, for detonations and all things pyrotechnical, I’m ya mare!  If it can explode, just say the word!  If it can’t explode – well, I like a challenge!” she grinned.  “Put it this way: Whenever I’m involved in something, it’s the most spectacular damn light show you ever saw!” “Thank you, Brazer,” Midnight deadpanned.  “As you can all see, she scored top marks on job enthusiasm during her ‘interview’.  Now, Sine Wave,” he began as Brazen nodded with vigour, grin still in place, “if you would do the honours again…” “Yessir!” said the unicorn as she closed her eyes and ignited her horn.  A second later, the magic winked out, and she blinked an eye open.  “Oh.  I think it fell out…” Midnight sighed and trotted over, although his expression suggested he was fighting to keep the corners of his mouth from curving upwards.  A whisper carried across on the air. “Pity you didn’t score so highly on personality and oral hygiene, eh lass?” Brazen made what was clearly supposed to be an obscene gesture at Peptide, but none of the ‘royalists’ recognised it. “Just there, by the treeline,” Midnight was saying, horn shining a tight cone of light down amongst the plants.  Sine Wave scampered towards the highlighted area, and when she turned back, her horn was glowing almost as much as her cheeks. “Sorry, sorry,” she said as a small object floated into her ear and nestled there.  “Stupid thing never stays in properly for me.  Uhm… better me than Specs though, right?” she said with an awkward smile. “Just bring her down,” Midnight sighed with a shake of his head. “Y-yes sir,” Sine Wave replied.  The light from her horn was mimicked by the glow from item in her ear, together revealing that the pink had almost faded from her butter-yellow cheeks.  “Specs?  …Y-yeah, it’s them alri—huh?  …Oh.  Are they—?  …Okay, so you should be good to join us for a bit?  …Yeah, Midnight’s orders.  I can pass you over to him if you—…okay.  See you in a sec!” Horn and earpiece both winked out, and Sine Wave gave Midnight a nod.  He turned and moved alongside her, leaving a gap between the line of six friends and the line of five Lodestari. The silence lingered just long enough for Twilight to open her mouth, before a rustling, crashing sound from above stole her attention.  She gasped as a pony plummeted through the tree cover towards the ground in a flurry of leaves.  An eyeblink from impact, its wings shot out, arresting its dive near enough to the ground that the grass kissed its hooves as it hovered.  Then, it settled to the floor, and looked up. The six ponies recoiled.  A Fluttershy squeak rang out. The pegasus mare brought a hoof to her face, and tugged the dead-eyed goggles up to her forehead, revealing a much less intimidating pair of green eyes.  Her fur was white, a perfect contrast to the thin black material that covered most of the rest of her body. “Element Bearers,” she said, her eyes moving with robotic precision between Twilight and her friends.  “Never visited the Outlands before; you would have moved a lot faster than that.  The pegasus did well.  Kept her wits about her and the rest of you suitably behind.  Independent, self-styled protector.  Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, as if the mane and cutie mark didn’t give it away,” she nodded at Dash, whose wings unconsciously moved to cover said cutie marks.  “The other pegasus hiding behind the white one must be Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness,” Specs continued.  “Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic,” she said, looking at Twilight.  “First to ignite a horn, first to engage with Midnight.  De facto leader.  Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter – no explanation required.  Please be warned that your gait leaves tracks that would be absurdly easy to follow.” Pinkie giggled.  “Thanks for the tip!  I, uh, probably should cut down on the corn cakes!” Specs’ gaze lingered on Pinkie for just a second, and then moved on to Applejack. “Three apples for a cutie mark?  You must be Applejack.  Strange how that works, is it not?  Element of Honesty, if I recall.  Which leaves—” “Rarity,” said Rarity even as Specs said likewise.  “The Element of Generosity, as I’m sure I don’t need to tell you.  Why, how in Equestria do you know so much about us?” “I knew the name of the pony we would be meeting, Ms Rarity,” said Specs as she nodded in Twilight’s direction.  “Your deeds, whilst played down by your Royal family, are still recorded and available for study.  The conclusion that Ms Sparkle would be constrained into bringing her best friends with her to minimise Outland royalist interference was as clear to me as it was to your Princess.  The rest is research and observation.” Rarity let out her breath.  Relief at the relatively mundane explanation tempered by slight disappointment that the social introduction was not going quite according to plan.  “And you are ‘Specs’, is that right?” “My name is Full Spectrum, Ms Rarity.  The easy shortform, the goggles I often wear, and a hysterical pun on “Special Forces” all lend themselves to the nickname.” The tone was one devoid of emotion – the mare could have been reading an assembly manual for a pine table. “Thank you, Specs,” said Midnight.  “I don’t wish to cut you short, but night is drawing in, and there is a decision to be made.” Full Spectrum stepped back without a word, but did not take her eyes off Twilight and her friends. “I do not need to tell you the situation has changed,” Midnight said.  “Until we hear otherwise, we six must assume we are completely on our own.” Twilight’s heart tore as she looked between the displaced Outland ponies.  “W-we were going to o-offer… I mean, we can’t promise, but I can’t see Princess Celestia saying no… if you want to, you know, come back with us—” Midnight shook his head.  “The Resurgent must be stopped, Ms Sparkle.  Their leader now thinks nothing of mass-murder.  Genocide.  Who can say who he will attack next, and how soon?” Familiar butterflies un-cocooned themselves inside Twilight’s stomach.  “W-we can ask the Princess,” she faltered.  “We can get help.  Equestrian guards to force these ponies to surrender.” Midnight looked at Twilight again with those bright, solemn eyes.  “That would not end well, Ms Sparkle,” he replied as Full Spectrum nodded.  “At present, the criminal elements of the Outlands are scattered.  Disparate.  If one thing could unite them, it would be a royalist presence.  It would be a full-scale war.  The casualties on both sides—” “Okay, okay,” Twilight grimaced as images of a beleaguered Shining Armor swam in front of her.  “What do you suggest?” “The Resurgent wanted you eliminated, Ms Sparkle.  They failed.  There is something they fear about you.”  Midnight breathed deeply.  “You may be the last chance we have of stopping them.” Twilight’s eyes went wide.  “You’re asking me to come with you,” she whispered. “Ms Sparkle, you are a representative of Her Highness’ Equestrian Government.  Our orders are clear,” Midnight said with a sidelong glance at Sky Dive, who looked away. “I don’t understand,” said Twilight.  She fought the sudden, wild urge to run. “We submit to your authority,” Midnight said. Twilight just blinked. “I don’t ask you to come with us,” Midnight began.  Then he continued, in measured tones:  “I propose that the Resurgent need to be stopped, that an all-out attack on the Outlands by your Government is not practicable, that you are somehow the key to our mutual enemies’ defeat, and that, as experienced Outland operatives familiar with infiltration deep inside hostile territory, it would be in your best interests to order us to escort you.  Ma’am.” Twilight mouthed wordlessly.  Of all the things… “Twiligh’ is not leavin’ our sight,” drawled Applejack. “Then, by all means, remain at her side,” Midnight replied.  “We would not refuse the help.  But we must all move quickly, before the Resurgent can consolidate their gains.” Whether or not she imagined the stallion hesitating on that final word, Twilight felt another pang.  She looked helplessly around at her companions.  How could she turn these ponies down?  But how could she venture deep inside a hostile land with ponies she didn’t even know? What would her brother say? “I… um…” Twilight managed, as her eyes bulged at her friends.  “D-does anypony have an opinion on this?” “I’m sticking with you whatever,” Dash said immediately.  The others nodded. Twilight swallowed, and looked into Midnight’s patient, golden eyes.  “Th-then…” She thought of Bulwark. Do not trust these ponies. “…then…” She thought of Ponyville.  Of Canterlot.  Her parents.  Her brother.  Spike.  Her friends’ families.  Obliterated. “…then I – we – will help.”  Twilight was almost trembling with emotion. Midnight smiled.  “Thank you, Ma’am.  In that case, I suggest we make camp here for the night.  I think we could all use a rest.” “We don’t – didn’t really bring camping gear,” Twilight mumbled. “That’s fine, Ms Sparkle,” said Midnight.  “We have gear sufficient for you and your friends.  We will cool our own hooves beneath the stars.” “No, really, Sparkler!” said Brazen Flame as Twilight hesitated.  “S’fine, our glorious leader often stops us using the tents if they’re gonna give us away.  Or he thinks we need more fresh air.  I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.  Well, actually, I do, but ya just write abusive things on Midnight’s employee satisfaction surveys.  It’s all good.” “Well then,” Rarity interjected at Midnight.  “Please allow us to return some of your gracious hospitality.  We come bearing a selection of Equestrian delicacies that you will simply adore!  I’m sure you must all be hungry.  And,” she beamed around, warming to the theme, “what say we all eat in pairs so that we can get to know one another even better!” “I think that’s an excellent idea,” replied Midnight as Brazen whispered “Fooood!”  Peptide swiped at her mane. “If you’d like to organise that, Equestrians, we shall get your tents set up.”  Midnight turned to his team and began levitating Sine Wave’s burden from her back. Twilight turned towards her own friends.  Her expression was one of shame.  Anxiety.  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Rarity put a hoof around her.  “Not a word, my dear.  You made the right decision.” “I didn’t mean to drag you all alo—” Twilight began, before finding herself caught in a helpless group hug. “Y’all need some food!”  Applejack grinned.  “Come on, Pinkie, let’s get this show on the road!” “Food and hugs?  This is the best vacation ever!” Pinkie squeed.  She sprung into the air and flipped, dislodging her saddlebags onto the grass, then landed atop them.  Applejack chuckled and trotted the other way, removing her huge saddlebags in the more traditional fashion. Twilight’s remaining group-huggers released their captive.  She smiled as she looked at each one of them. She may have been a long way from Ponyville, but she wasn’t really far from home. *      *      * “Soooo what are you having?”  Pinkie’s muzzle was buried inside one of her saddlebags, and she continued to address its interior even as she pulled container after container from its depths.  A teetering tower of treats grew ever taller.  “There’re cream cakes and fairy cakes and cupcakes and mint cakes and sponge cakes and coconut cakes and—” Full Spectrum held up a hoof.  “No cakes, thank you.  Do you have anything a little plainer?  Some fruit?” Pinkie’s cake-stacking foreleg ground to a halt.  Her head retracted from the bag and fixed Full Spectrum with a look, one that an ordinary pony might reserve for somepony that just confessed to escaping an asylum.  Then, she beamed, as warm as ever.  “Nooooo problem!  A Pinkie Party caters for everypony!  There’s some fruit in the punch!” Full Spectrum let out an exasperated breath even as Brazen Flame sniggered in the background.  “I like this mare already!” “Never mind,” said the pegasus.  “I will see what your friend Ms Applejack is offering.  Thank you anyway.” “Ooh, do, she is a gem!” Pinkie said after Full Spectrum’s retreating form.  “Wait – this cake has a cherry on it!  See?  Coo-ee!  Well, don’t blame me if it’s gone when you get back!  Ooh, hi Brazey!  You like cake, right?  Please tell me some of you like cake!”  She fell silent for a moment.  “I’ve brought a lot of cake…” “Call me Brazen.  Or Brazer if you prefer,” she smirked back.  “And don’t worry about her, she’s fussier than a bunny kitten.  No taste for the finer things in life.  I’d love to avail ya of anything even remotely unhealthy!” No matter how widely Pinkie smiled, there was always room for more.  “Hee!  I can’t wait!  Help yourself!  And then, we can talk about things like, like you!  And me!  And the other ‘me’s that were there that one time!  It’s just one ‘you’, right?  Oh, I’ll be friends with all of you, don’t worry!  Where ar—?” “It is just sugar in these things, right?” Brazen chuckled as she examined a container held aloft.  “My superiors back home’d kill me if they caught me shoving powder up—oh, never mind.” Pinkie’s face fell.  “Aaww, don’t joke about thaaat…” Brazen looked back from the container held between her hooves, displaying a more melancholy smile.  “If ya can’t laugh, what can ya do.  C’mon, let’s go sit down.” She turned and made for a clear patch of grass. The Element of Laughter hesitated as she watched the concrete-coloured mare go, top teeth resting on her bottom lip.  Her eyes fell closed and her head hung down.  She sighed.  Then, she flapped her head from side to side, and skipped to follow her new friend, wearing a warm smile once more.  Resolved to be the best friend ever to these ponies.  Ponies that had never been more in need. *      *      * “…would simply love to show you around my boutique, my dear,” Rarity was saying to the unicorn sitting in front of her.  “And I would be delighted to find you something to wear that isn’t that ghastly mishmash of knick-knacks too.  I am sorry, but it simply can’t be good for your posture to be ferrying all that around.  I could just see you in one of Fluttershy’s dresses, the match would be near-perfect when your fur is so close to her delectable hue.  Oh, but I’d create one specially for you of course.  If, um, you promise to let me design it, aheheh… I’m sorry, I do go on rather.” “That’s okay!” Sine Wave beamed back.  “Thank you so much for the offer!  I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress… we, um, didn’t really go in for them much.  In my family.”  She sipped at her glass of punch.  “V-very traditional.  Parents wanted us all to join up, defend our way of life.  Never thought I’d make the cut, actually.  Sis was much better.  At everything.  Always dreamed I’d be as good as her one day.  Still don’t think I’m good enough.  But they liked my earpieces!” she said, eyes sparkling. “Oh,” Rarity said, her smile becoming fixed.  “I saw that before, I think?  I can imagine vastly better things to wear to complement your ears, but I can of course appreciate the need for practicality in what you ponies do.  Still… dull black, my dear?  Was there no better option?” Sine Wave giggled.  “It’s more important for Specs’ ones not to glint and give her away when she’s on station,” she replied.  “Anyway, they’re pretty small; you’re not supposed to see them where they’re in, look,” she said, bringing her magic to bear on floating one of the earpieces from a saddlebag.  The glass of punch fell and splattered all down her front.  “Oh.  Fiddlesticks.” Rarity gaped in shock for the merest fraction of a second before composing herself, affecting a warm smile.  “Not to worry, Ms Wave,” she said as she set her drink down and levitated a neatly-folded napkin out of a saddlebag of her own.  “Dear oh dear oh dear, did I mention how much you remind me of somepony?” *      *      * “Now thaht, hish de-fughing-lishoush,” Brazen Flame mumbled as she chewed the hunk of cupcake lodged in her open mouth.  She swallowed, with some difficulty.  “I could get used to this stuff!” “Aw, you’re so sweet!  Hee, sweet!” Pinkie giggled in response.  Not to be outdone, she inhaled three cupcakes of her own. “The fuck do you get out of eating them like that,” Brazen mused.  “This stuff, is worth savouring.  Useful skill ya have though, when we run out of your stuff and you’re left with what me and Peptide can forage.  Ya really want to taste food as little as possible when it tastes like arse.” “Oooh, you collect food too?  Well, of course you know about food, Missy Earthy Pony!” Pinkie chimed back.  “But I know that’s not your super-duper main talent!” “Hah, no,” Brazen replied, patting her flank.  “I’m still the mare who makes shit go ‘boom’!” “Ooh, I can see that,” Pinkie grinned as her eyes moved from Brazen’s blonde-and-scarlet mane to her cutie mark – a yellow ring of curve-spiked fire. “So did the mares and stallions running Lodestar,” Brazen chuckled.  “Got these babies on my flanks the moment they offered me this job.  Not bad, as destinies go!” Pinkie looked confused for a moment.  Then she shrugged.  “I guess!” Brazen raised an eyebrow at Pinkie, and then smirked.  “Teams like this go back a long way, ya know?  We weren’t the first, that’s for Powers-damned sure.  Why, there’ve been several titles for us!”  She leant in towards Pinkie, as if bestowing a confidence.  “Used to be called the City of Lodestar Infiltration Team.  And ya can bet nopony was ever able to find us!”  She took a grinning bite of cupcake. “Ooh, ‘cuz you were so deep undercover?” Pinkie beamed back. Brazen choked on the morsel of cake she had been chewing, flailing her hooves.  A few thumps on the back from Pinkie restored her airway’s status quo.  “N-not when I’m eating, dammit!” she spluttered, blinking tears of suppressed laughter from her eyes. “Aw, sorry.  I’ll be quiet whenever you’re eating from now on!  Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Brazen snorted and shook her head.  “N-nah, if ya d-don’t mind.  These are too good to waste.” “Thank you!  Wouldn’t be a party pony if I couldn’t bake cakes!” Pinkie trilled. “Hah, yeah.  You’ll see what I can do soon enough!  Actually…” she said, her eyes moving to her saddlebags.  “I could probably show—getting hold of some water should be easy enough,” she muttered.  “This is a fun little party trick that I know a pony like you’d appreciate…” *      *      * “…need to be shy, lassie.  I don’t make a habit out of biting.” “Um, no, I mean yes, I-I… I’m a little tired, you see…” Fluttershy said.  Even as she spoke, a yawn forced its way out of her.  “S-see?” she smiled as best she could. “Ah,” Peptide replied.  “Well, I think we all are, Ms Fluttershy.  My companions and I have been moving towards the border at speed for a couple of days now.” “O-oh.  D-did you even get a chance to, you know, s-sleep?” “A little kip here and there,” Peptide responded.  “As for you though, I reckon it’s a good thing you find yourselves a wee tired.  Midnight’ll want you on the same clock as us – that is, sleeping during the day, on the move at night.  It’s the best way to stay hidden. “N-night?” Fluttershy squeaked as her eyes darted between the trees.  “I d-don’t really like d-dark forests at night…” “Don’t get unduly concerned, Ms Fluttershy.  As long as you don’t go around eatin’ up things at random, the forests themselves are harmless.  Teeming with interesting plant life, to be sure, but harmless.” “I-interesting?” Fluttershy stammered, looking unconvinced. Peptide frowned.  “That’s no euphemism, Ms Fluttershy.  All I mean is that there’s allsorts with useful properties.  Both edible and inedible flowers, mind-altering plants, herbs you can use in various concoctions… hell,” he patted his saddlebags, “see these vines knotted around?  They grow all over the Outland forests.  Exceptionally strong.  Bet you even Skyder couldn’t break ‘em.” “Oh.  That is interesting, Mr Peptide…” “Hah!  That’s nothing.  You should see the sorts of things I can mix up when given half a chance,” Peptide chuckled.  “Sine Wave mentioned healing draughts – well, with the right ingredients, you can brew something to heal most any injury!  And then there’s the shoe for the other hoof – poisons!  Truly potent ones, at that.  Why, for some of them, less than a drop can kill a squirrel stone dead in seconds…” Peptide trailed off as he noticed Fluttershy’s expression: gaping at him, transfixed, mouth locked in a kind of silent scream. His expression faltered, and his eyes wandered to her cutie mark.  Butterflies.  Animal lover. Peptide grimaced.  Well, this was a little awkward.  No, make that really, really… *      *      * …awkward, Rainbow Dash was thinking.  Like, seriously awkward. She was sitting on the cooling grass, pushing sad little morsels of food around on the paper plate.  She knew she ought to be hungry, but the sickly feeling twisting in her stomach left no room for any such cravings. Darn it, Rarity!  You and your stupid pony pairs! She flicked her eyes to the right, and back. Sky Dive was still there.  He focused completely on his meal, eating in frozen silence.  There was no way he could not have known Dash was there, but he was doing a fantastic job of acting like it. Dash let out a noiseless sigh.  Of all the ponies to be left, why him?  Even she knew he’d need more of a cooling off period before she could start to convince him that she really was an awesome pony.  All her friends were happily chatting away, yet she had no idea what to say or do. Actually, scratch that, she thought, looking up at the green pony leaning down towards Fluttershy.  He looked like a fish out of water as he muttered things in an attempted reassuring tone, and she, well, was curled up into a ball and rocking back and forth, a petrified expression on her face. At least there was some talking going on. For the love of Celestia, she wasn’t accepting this!  She was Rainbow Dash, and she’d never failed to win a pony over yet! She brought a hoof to her mouth, and cleared her throat. Sky Dive continued eating. “Okay, so,” Dash began.  “Hi.  I’m Rainbow Dash.  You’re Sky Dive, right?” The stocky pegasus chewed his latest mouthful mechanically, and swallowed.  “Mm.” Okay.  That’s a start. “So I’m gonna talk about myself for a bit.  Er, you can say something whenever.”  Silence.  “Yeah, okay, well, I’m Rainbow Dash,” she repeated.  “I like flying.  Speed.  Er, good friends?  Awesome food!  This stuff is awesome, huh?  Oh, and napping.” No response. “Oh come on, you gotta like flying, right?  You’re a pegasus!” Dash said, exasperation creeping into her voice. “You noticed.” “Yeah, I did,” Dash responded, somewhat taken aback at actually receiving a response.  “You’d be the second pegasus I ever met that didn’t like to fly.”   She frowned, displaying difficulty with the concept.  “Well, I love it!  The faster, the better!  ‘n fact, I got my cutie mark for flying faster and better than anypony has for years, right in front of a whole buncha other ponies!” Sky Dive blinked a couple of times in response to that.  “S-so.  A cutie mark in showing off.” “Huh?  Well, I was helping a friend at the time too, see.  A little, I guess?  But I kinda earned it, ya know?  They said the Sonic Rainboom was only an old mare’s tale, until I showed it was possible!” For the first time, Sky Dive’s head swivelled to look at Dash.  The low light made it difficult to comprehend his expression, but his eyes were wide in the darkness, and it looked almost like disbelief mixed with… fear? Then his face contorted.  “You fucking liar.” “W-what?  No, I really can do a Sonic Rainboom!  I could show you right now if you—” Sky Dive let out a bark of cold, mirthless laughter.  “And give away our position?  How stupid are you?  You’re not in Equestria any more.  Pegasus.” “I… that’s not what I…” Dash stuttered, at a loss as to how the conversation was deteriorating so rapidly.   “I just wanted to, to…” she closed her eyes, grinding her teeth in frustration.  Conversational dead end.  “Well, what about your talents,” she tried.  “You wanna talk about those?” “I can kill a pony with my bare hooves.” Dash chose to ignore the underlying tone of that one.  “So, you’re a fighter?  Hoof-to-hoof combat?  Is that what your cutie m—” “Don’t, do not,” Sky Dive growled.  He closed his eyes for a moment, and then began:  “I’m a close-combat specialist.  I don’t usually fight to kill.  I fight to distract, to overwhelm, to disable.  To take on multiple ponies at once, and win.  And there’s not a pony in the Outlands that’s been able to take me down,” he said, tossing his head. Rainbow Dash bit her lip.  Oh.  That actually sounded kinda cool...  And she’d majorly offended said cool-sounding pony without even trying. Although, he seemed to be warming to the subject.  How to continue winning him back?  She racked her brains for a few seconds, and then began to smile as inspiration hit her.  “Do you wanna show me?” “What.” “Yeah!”  Dash sprung to her hooves.  “I’m the fastest pony in Equestria, I bet you can’t lay a hoof on me!” Sky Dive snorted.  “Your funeral.”  But he still rose to his hooves and faced her. “On three, right?”  Dash grinned.  “One… two…”  Sky Dive crouched. Three! Dash shot towards the pegasus opposite her.  She would of course hold back, go waaay slower than her fastest.  The idea was never to hurt him, just give him a chance to show off his—where did he—? Wham. Pressure, pressure on her chest, her stomach, her back.  Dash coughed.  Then she blinked open her eyes, to find a carpet of grass blades stretching out ahead of her.   She was flat against the ground.  She couldn’t move.  Her wings were expertly pinned to her side, and a burnt-orange foreleg was held around her neck. “Not a hoof, huh?” “I, that,” Dash breathed, “that was awesome!  I don’t even know how you did that!  C-could you teach me?” “Teach you?” came the incredulous voice from just above her.  “Fuck off!  Learning that takes years!  Besides,” said the voice as it slowed, and grew colder, “I still have half a mind to tear you apart.” Dash was suddenly uncomfortably aware of the muscular foreleg locked around her soft, soft throat.  “Um, but, y-you aren’t gonna, right?  I s-said I was s-sorr—your leader told you not to!” “Yeah.  Yeah he did.” Agonising seconds passed. “L-look, I know what I said was—” “Say,” came the voice again, and Dash could hear the grin.  But not the malice.  “You ticklish?” “Wh-what?  Oh n-no!  Puhahahalease n-n-o!  Stahahahaha…!” *      *      * “…glad y’all’re enjoyin’ them!  They ain’t as mouth-waterin’ as they are fresh from the trees, but Ah try ta pack ‘em in a ways that makes’m take longer ta spoil.”  Applejack bit into her apple again for good measure, mouth straining to remain closed as she chewed the sizeable mouthful. “Yes.  I thank you.  Apple trees are not common in Anarchy.  Stripped bare is the usual state of affairs for those that do exist.”  Full Spectrum took another delicate bite of her own piece of fruit, closing her eyes as she savoured the flavour.  “It has been a long time.” “Y’all serious?  Well I’ll be darned, Ms Spectrum!  Ain’t life without apples like an apple pie without… uh, apples?”  Apparently this was a difficult concept to grasp for Ponyville’s veteran apple-bucker. Full Spectrum, who had been chewing the same tiny mouthful all through Applejack’s response, continued to do so for a few more seconds.  Then she swallowed.  ”Dry food spoils less,” she replied.  “Weighs less.”  She flapped her wings for good measure.  “We do forage as and when we can.  But, as stated.  No apples.” “Well that stinks somethin’ fierce,” Applejack responded, now wearing a look of serious concern and sympathy.  “Y’all want ta have the rest of mine?”  She proffered the partially-masticated Sweet Apple Acres produce towards her pegasus companion. “Thank you, no.” “Right ya are.” Full Spectrum took another tiny bite, and chewed in silence for a while. “You are very at ease with the change of plan,” she stated. Applejack thought for a moment.  “Ya mean, stayin’ out here with y’all?” “Yes.” “Well now, Ms Spectrum, Ah ain’t gonna leave Twiligh’ out here all by her lonesome, am Ah?  And you can bet all yer bits everypony else’d tell it to ya the same way.  Ah said Ah’d come with her ta keep her safe, and if she’s stayin’, ya couldn’t drag me away.” Full Spectrum nodded.  “A promise from the Bearer of Honesty itself.  There is no higher contract, I am sure.  However, do not underestimate the possibility that you will need to make good on those promises of protection.  Anarchy is not—” She broke off, and in the silence it was clear to Applejack why.  A low whimper, plaintive, straining not to be overheard. “Come ooonnn… p-pleeeaaase… will you please s-stoooppp…” It was Rainbow Dash.  Sky Dive was atop her, and appeared to have her pinned to the ground in a headlock.  He was unsmiling, deranged.  At her words, he if anything tickled her even harder, causing her thrashes to intensify. “That’s it, beg… how dare you…” Applejack threw herself to her hooves, displaying a look of utter fury.  Before she could take a single hoofstep towards the prostrate pair, however, she was blocked by a leather-clad foreleg. “Skyder, what the fuck are you doing?” came Full Spectrum’s voice. “Teaching,” replied Sky Dive without looking up. “Yeah?  Knock it the fuck off then.  Do you have any idea what that looks like?” Sky Dive’s eyes widened.  Then he stood, letting Dash crumple unceremoniously to the ground.  He strode over to Full Spectrum, face a livid mask.  Hundreds of pounds of solid combat pegasus towered over her. She didn’t even flinch. “How dare you,” Sky Dive growled.  “You think I would ever, you think that’s—” “No,” Full Spectrum said, head tilted upwards and holding Sky Dive’s gaze.  “But Brazer hasn’t seen you yet.  Might want to stop before she does.  Unless you want her making jokes.” Sky Dive’s snarl diminished, and he looked over at Brazen Flame.  She was grinning as she showed a pair of glistening forehooves to Pinkie.  She clopped them together and they burst into flames.  Pinkie gasped as the flaming mare yelled and waved her burning hooves in the air, yells giving way to chuckles as the flames burnt themselves out, leaving hooves apparently none the worse for wear.  Pinkie gaped for a few seconds before squealing into laughter, clapping her own hooves in appreciation. Sky Dive scoffed and spun on his hooves, making his way towards the treeline. “HEY!” Rainbow Dash had shoved herself to a trembling standing position, eyes puffy and red. “You think you can just trot off?  Who do you think you are?!” she choked, snarling and pawing the ground. Sky Dive halted.  He turned, displaying a raised eyebrow.  “Somepony you should know by now not to mess with,” he said in a voice of icy calm.  “You want to attack me?  Go ahead.  Midnight’s orders were to not hurt you, but I reckon he’ll buy self-defence if you’ve really got more pretty mane colours than brain cells.” Dash shook as she continued to pierce the stallion with eyes of scalding fury. Then she whipped around and stomped towards one of the tents, eyes fixed straight ahead.  She lashed out at the entrance, wrenching the doorflap out of the way, and disappeared inside. Sky Dive resumed his lone trot to the trees. “I don’t know her as well as you do,” Full Spectrum said as Applejack began to head for Dash’s tent, “but I’d say, right now, she wants to be left alone.” “Aw, apple-bucking Tartarus,” Applejack stomped around and blurted at the pegasus.  “Why the heck did y’all stop me?  Ain’t nopony has the right ta treat Rainbow like that!” “Skyder would have torn you apart,” Full Spectrum replied. “He’d have trahed,” Applejack shot back.  “If he dares trah anything like that again, Ah’m gonna buck his dumb dirt-ridden face right down inside his overgrown neck, ya got that?” Full Spectrum regarded the fuming applebucker for a short while.  At last, she said, “Sky Dive’s behaviour was not acceptable.” “Yer tellin’ me!  Ah’ve never been this unkindly disposed towards a pony Ah just met in all mah life, and Ah’ve met Nightmare Moon.”  She cast a dirty look across the other ponies chatting in the clearing.  “Y’all gonna tell yer leader what ya just told me, or am Ah gonna hafta do it mahself?” Another silent look from Full Spectrum in response.  Her face, even devoid of her goggles, was unreadable.  Applejack realised she’d never seen the mare smile. “I would tell him,” she said.  “If you think that is best.  But, and again, you know your friend better than I do, she does not seem the type.  I believe she would find it embarrassing.  She would want to address it herself, in her own way.” Applejack found it hard to hold Full Spectrum’s gaze.  She sighed.  “Yeah.  Yeah, yer right.  She’s darn stubborn, that mare.  But,” and now she was glaring into Full Spectrum’s eyes, “that doesn’t let yer friend off the hook.” “It does not.” Full Spectrum sat down once more, and gestured for Applejack to do likewise.  Applejack hesitated for a fraction of a second, then assented. “Ah suppose Ah should be glad y’all were there ta stop him,” she said as she sat alongside.  “Ah still don’t think ya should’ve had ta, mind.” “I do not defend it.  I cannot.  But please… appreciate that we all have suffered a grievous loss.  Some are able to hide it more than others.  Some are affected more than others.” “Oh… y-ya sayin’ Skah Dive had… had family?” Full Spectrum shook her head.  “It is forbidden.  Lodestari special forces are picked from those without such… baggage.  Ponies like the Resurgent would think nothing of making hostages out of them.  Sine Wave’s sister is a rare exception to this, and it was only allowed because she is under Equestrian military jurisdiction.  Not even the Resurgent would attempt such a kidnap.  And the mare in question is quite capable of defending herself in any case.” “Ah don’t understand then,” Applejack said.  “If Skah Dive ain’t torn up over something like that, why’s he acting so much worse than the rest of y’all?” “I think it is obvious,” Full Spectrum replied in a tone that did not invite further inquiries. Applejack considered the mare for a moment.  The tone reminded her of something else that had been nagging at her.  Firm, but polite? “Ya… yer bein’ a heck o’ a lot politer ta me than yer friend over there woulda been.” “Mm?” “The swearin’.  Ah’ve heard more unsavoury language in the last hour than all the rest a’ mah life.” “I am not one for it, myself.” Applejack raised an eyebrow.  “Well that just ain’t true now is it, Ms Spectrum,” she chided.  “Ah heard what ya said to Skah Dive.” “Oh, that.  You will notice that Sky Dive is making use of strong language at this present time.  I needed him to listen to me, and speaking on his terms was an easy way to steer him.” Applejack blinked.  She was starting to see this mare in a new light.  “What do y’all do anyway?” she asked at last. “I am an A.S.P. – Aerial Surveillance Pegasus,” Full Spectrum replied, adding the clarification in response to Applejack’s blank stare.  “Serving as my team’s eyes in the sky.  Not the biggest, not the strongest.  But a provider of a vital service all the same.  That of information.” “Trackin’ the movements of other ponies?” “Correct.  Foes… and friends.  Never underestimate the utility of information allowing you to be in the right place, at the right time.  Day or night.”  She patted the goggles hanging loose by her chest. “Night?  Ya sayin’ them there goggles…?” “Wave Constriction charm,” Full Spectrum stated.  “Shifts incoming infr—heat light into the visible spectrum.”  She waited.  “Lets you see in the dark,” she appended at last. “Huh.  Sounds like Ah could use a pair of those the next time Ah lose track of a sheep just before sundown.” “Ha,” Full Spectrum responded.  “Anypony could use them, but not as effectively.  I’m a tetrachromat.” “A teta-whatnow?” “Tetrachromat,” Full Spectrum repeated.  “Laymare’s terms, I can distinguish more colours than the average mare.  It helps when viewing the shifted thermal light, as well.  If there is a pony trying to hide down there, I will find them.” Applejack scratched her head.  “Ah’m confused.  Y’all can see colours nopony else can see?” Full Spectrum shook her head.  “Not exactly.  I am more sensitive to slight differences that other ponies would not even notice.”  She cast her eyes around the clearing, and something appeared to catch her attention.  “For example, I bet you think the apples on your cutie mark are all exactly the same shade of red, don’t you?” “Huh?” Applejack turned her head to stare at her flank.  “B-but they are, aren’t they?  Y’all serious?” Full Spectrum would only smile. *      *      * “…not going to ask you to discuss the assassination attempt tonight, Ms Sparkle,” Midnight was saying.  “I will want Specs and Sine Wave to contribute.  Your friend Ms Rarity had the right idea.  Best we spend the night getting to know one another, first.” Twilight just nodded, and her eyes wandered skywards.  She didn’t know how far into the night they were, but it was surprisingly bright, with the full moon now positioned perfectly overhead to illuminate everypony as they chatted. Perhaps not so surprising. “Do you know what we’re going to do?” she asked. “Make our way to where the Resurgent base themselves,” Midnight replied.  “As we travel, we need to consider what makes you a threat to them.  Once we know, we will strike decisively to remove them.” “Why did they do it?” Twilight asked the floor. Midnight fell silent.  “We are civilisation, they are not.  It has always been policy for us to ensure that no faction can grow too powerful to threaten us.”  He closed his eyes.  “We were too late.” “I—I’m sorry, that was a stupid thing to ask—” “Don’t be,” Midnight stated, opening his eyes once more.  “It is the Resurgent who are to blame.  And anypony in Anarchy that supports them.” “What is ‘Anarchy’?” Twilight asked.  A desirable subject change, but also genuine curiosity. “It is what most ponies mean when they refer to the Outlands,” Midnight said.  “Those of us of Lodestar refer to any Outland territory not within the city wall as Anarchy.  For that is all there is out here,” he added in a darker tone. “M-maybe I should tell you a bit about me,” Twilight grimaced.  “I live in Ponyville library, although a few years back I was living in a place called Canterlot…” *      *      * The night marched on.  Tired though the Equestrians were, those still with their companions were encouraged to stay awake as long as they could, the better to allow them to sleep throughout the day. One by one, the ponies retired to their tents.  The Lodestari grouped themselves together in the clearing, muttering in low voices.  Then, they broke apart.  Most went to lie under the cover of the trees.  One remained, sitting alone, keeping a silent watch in the darkness. *      *      * The tent was a cramped affair, even accounting for its intended capacity of two.  It was well-designed to block external light except through the squares of transparent material used as windows, optionally covered by a zip-ringed flap. Right now, the coverings were in place. No shadow betrayed an approach to the tent.  The first sign was the sound of the zip moving along the entrance flap. Then, crisp night air followed Applejack through into the tent’s interior. “R-Rainbow?” The pegasus was lying in a sleeping bag, apparently reading her copy of Daring Do and the Horn of Princesses with deep concentration.  Her rigid hold and fixed eyes gave lie to the display, however. Applejack swallowed and turned to re-seal the tent’s entrance.  “Ah’m sorry, Rainbow.  Ah’m not gonna let anypony do that to ya again.”  She removed her Stetson and placed it alongside the remaining empty sleeping bag.  Then, she wriggled down inside.  “Trah ta get some sleep.  In the morni—uh, tomorrow evening, we can tell Midnigh’ what that pony did.  Ah think he’d agree with us.” Dash didn’t respond. Applejack let out a sigh as her mouth wavered a little.  “Do y’all mind if we put the lamp out?  Ah mean, if ya wanna keep reading, that’s okay too—” Dash thudded the book down and wrestled herself down to her neck inside her sleeping bag, turning away as she did so. Applejack looked utterly miserable as she watched Dash’s motionless form for a few seconds.  Then, she leant over to the lamp separating them, and blew.  Darkness engulfed them. “Well… goodnight, Rainbow.” There was a succession of crinkly, rubbing material sounds as Applejack found herself a comfortable sleeping position.  Once achieved, she let out her breath in another sigh, and closed her eyes. “Applejack?” Her eyes shot open.  “Yeah, Rainbow?” “I’m gonna get him for this.” “Aw, darlin’, Ah’m so sorry.  That darn pony’s a bully if Ah ever saw one.  There was no call fer that whatever.  Honest truth.” “I’m gonna get him,” Dash repeated.  “Goodnight, Applejack.” “Good… goodnight,” Applejack replied. Silence dominated once more.  Applejack settled into her sleeping bag. Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, soon took hold over the two ponies.  Within a few minutes, they drifted into uneasy sleep.