On the computer screen, Pinkie Pie stood over Rainbow, axe held at her throat. Yet, she refused to end it.
"So..." Ician began, "is her hesitation a good thing or a bad thing?"
"It could go either way." The Administrator said. "Just wait for it..."
Ician watched silently. "Ah... there. Killed her."
"Good."
Ician gave him a sideward glance. "I take it that you're pleased."
"Very much so." He let out a quiet cackle. "Well, our work is done here."
"As is mine." Ician motioned to the screen. "Do you see Faye?"
"Right, your vulture." The Administrator squinted. "Is it that thing on the window?"
"... Yes."
"I see. It's delivering your message."
"That, she is. And I believe that this concludes our meeting." Ician stood up, his cloak rustling. "I've had enough of this... drama for today. Perhaps we can discuss the RED Sniper's capabilities another time." He glanced at the screen. "Although I think I've already seen much of what she can do."
"Very well." The Administrator snapped his fingers and the door swung open. "You're free to leave. Good day."
"Good day to you too." Ician took one last look at the screen, where he caught sight of a stray feather left in the wake of Faye's flight. "And may I wish you the best of luck for the coming conflict."
"If all goes well, it will end quickly. If not..." He chuckled darkly. "Then the intractable stalemate begins."
Ician shot one last look his way. With a huff, he limped his way out of the conference room, keeping his armour-clad right hoof above the ground as much as possible.
It took him ten minutes to navigate his way back to the entrance of the base. When Ician finally emerged into the natural light of the outdoors, Faye descended from the skies gracefully and landed on his shoulder.
He looked at her. "It is done?"
She nodded.
"Then we've finished our job here for now." Ician nodded. "I need your help for one last thing, though."
Faye stared at him, cocking her head as if to say What?
"Just a little bit of insurance. I need to make sure that everything's going according to plan."
The next day
"Wait, hold on..." The Administrator gaped. "You want what now?"
"I want you to get rid of the hallucinations." Pinkie stared at him. "Forever."
"But... but why?"
"Because I can't run from the truth anymore."
"... I don't get you."
Pinkie sighed. "I can't be somewhere else when Pinkamena's in control. I have to be there to hold her back when I need to."
The Administrator frowned. "Pinkie, you know that I lo- am concerned for you, but if you disobey my orders-"
"No, it's not that." Pinkie cut him off. "But I have to make sure that anypony who dies, dies as painlessly as possible."
"Pinkie, I only gave you this mercy because you're going to be doing a lot more than just killing those who'll just respawn again."
"I know."
"But you still want to go through with this."
"Yes."
The Administrator gazed deep into her pleadingly large eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Completely."
He just sat back, cutting the conversation short. His paw twitched.
Should I do it?
"What are you waiting for?"
"I'm not yet convinced."
"Convinced of what?"
"Your willingness to go through with this."
"Hmph." Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. "Then maybe I should try to explain why it's good for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Simple." Pinkie closed her eyes. When they opened again, the wide-eyed hopefulness of before was gone, replaced by an expression of calculating wit.
Diana grinned. "One thing, perhaps, is fairly obvious when it comes to my counterpart personality which you have created. Her lust of blood."
"That's to keep her killing, yes."
"But it's not just about the need to kill, it's about the need to torture. She thrives off of the suffering of others."
"How does this affect me?"
Diana tutted. "Really now, you should have seen this coming. During the battle between us and the five RED mercenaries, I had to remind her not to inflict too much pain and suffering in the interests of saving time."
"Ah, I see."
"Luckily, my influence and advice alone was sufficient to restrain her need to visit undue suffering upon them. But, as she as a personality matures, so will her audacity and lack of self-control."
"Requiring more than one to keep her from wasting time." The Administrator nodded. "I understand. But this still doesn't tell me that Pinkie is fully willing to let go of this mercy."
Diana gave him a look. "If she wasn't willing, she wouldn't have allowed me out so quickly."
"True, true. Remind me to congratulate her on her mastery of emotions, by the way."
"I'll do it for you. Despite her lack of total control, she's gotten far better at it."
"Evidently so." He snapped his fingers. "Okay, you can go now."
Diana frowned. "What about undoing the spell?"
"It's already gone."
"... Really?"
"What, were you expecting big flashes and loud noises?"
"Well, coming from you, yes."
"I'm not always like that." The Administrator waved his hands dismissively. "Now, you may leave."
"Okay..." Casting one last glance at him, Diana trotted out the door and closed it. Tightly.
Well, that was easier than I thought it'd be. Pinkie noted.
"Yes, Pinkie, it was." Diana's eyes narrowed. "Almost too easy, in fact."
Do you think he's tricking us?
"Probably not. We'd find out too easily. No, it was as if..."
As if?
"... as if it was his plan all along."
"Ah, the sweet scent of victory." The Administrator leaned back in his armchair. "Let's see: Five out of the six potential Element bearers are dead. Check. The final and only conceivable candidate for the last Element soon to be properly desensitized to mass killing? Check." He laughed. "All of her own choosing, too! She's never going to be able to blame me for that.
"And of course, best of all, Celestia and Luna are soon to be dead! I have everything at last!" He frowned. "Well, nearly everything. But that's almost close enough. All that's left is to make sure that nothing comes of this infestation problem and it'll be back to eternal war." He leaned back in his chair, sighing contentedly. "I just love chaos."
In the dark shadows behind the computer screens, a silent vulture stared at him impassively, a sparkle in her eyes.