One of Our Own
By: Sam Cole
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Secrets. Lies. Deceit. Fraud. Pain.
Five words that haunted that mare like none other. She cursed the first time she was asked, but that was quickly dismissed as hate for the enemy. Some called them infidels, or rouges. Call them what you want, the lavender mare called them deviants, because nothing else seemed to fit. They were a threat to Equestria, and Twilight felt for their cause. And Twilight was to become a mole among them, because fate was cruel.
"Princess, why are they a threat?" The filly had asked, years ago.
"Because of what they could bring down upon us..." The teacher sighed. "I cannot say why Twilight, but one day I hope you'll understand. I hope that one day, my beloved subjects can forgive me, as I work to right the wrongs of my mother's laws."
Twilight understood all too well what the teacher had meant that night, and before too long, she was put to work as all of the royal students were. She was trained rigorously as a mole. And she was the best. After years of climbing the Equestria Intelligence Agency's ladder, Twilight was finally in her element. Her first mission, where she reported to only the Princess. It was a dream come true for the mare. But where was this mission?
"Ponyville!" Her assigned partner and only friend, Spike, sang out. "Oh man Twi, this will be awesome!"
"Ponyville? A backwater town close to Canterlot?" Twilight snorted. "There will be nothing to report! They're wasting my talents!"
"It just gives you a better chance to work on those Summer Sun Celebration plans then." Spike joked. "And do what the Princess said, make some friends!"
~~~~~<>~~~~~
That had been the start of it all, three years ago. Twilight had since learned that Ponyville had a ripe community of the deviants, laying in secret. She just needed an in was all. Just one, and she could be free.
"Knock, knock?" The soft voice of a dear friend called out. "Twilight darling, are you home?"
"Huh? Hey Rarity." Twilight groggily reply as she lifted herself from her work desk, having drifted off into a nap mid work yet again.
"How can I- help you?" Twilight asked, punctuated mid sentence by a yawn.
"I was invited to a support group tonight, and I must admit that I'm a little nervous about going actually. I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
"Ummm..." Twilight groaned, looking back to her work. It was a lot of cross references on old leads, cold leads. Some up to three years old. "I could use a break, sure."
So the pair was off. Rarity seemed a bit quite, but Twilight just chalked it up too nerves. But why would she be nervous about a support group? Seeking to better one self is a noble goal after all. The only thing one would have to be ashamed of was-
"We're here." Rarity said as she broke Twilight train of thought. "Please darling, after you."
"No no. You're the one here for support Rarity. I'm here to help you help yourself." Twilight smiled. "Lead the way."
"Twilight,I can't do this. I was wrong. I-"
"Rarity, stop it. You came here to get help, right? Well, let me help you. We'll do this together!"
"Thank you dear. Shall we?" Rarity asked as she came side by side with the lavender mare.
Inside though, it was everything Twilight had never suspected, and everything she had ever wanted. The door clicked shut behind Twilight, and she didn't even notice. All she did notice was the symbol, drawn on that poster, hung cautiously on the wall by the door so you had to be in the room to see it.
"Why did you bring her here!?" Twilight heard one member yell at Rarity.
"I have done more for this community than you have, Roseluck! Don't question me. I have spent years learning how to identify one of our own from among the crowd, and Twilight here, she... Twilight?"
"So it's true. There is a secret community in Ponyville..." Twilight muttered with wide eyes as she spun around the room. "I've studied you all for so long with out even realizing it. I heard tales early on, and it got me curious. So I've read, and learned. To hide my curiosity, I did some things I'd rather not say, but now, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm- I'm home now..."
"Twilight?" Rarity asked. "Are you... like us?"
"Yes, Rarity." Twilight smiled as she pulled out her own hoof made sign of her devotion. "I, Twilight Sparkle, am a Christian."
~~~~~<>~~~~~