Wahlburn woke up in his apartment around noon the following morning. He turned on the news to see if any crazy shit happened while he was sleeping, but of course, nothing interesting was talked about. He poured a quick glass of juice and gulped it down. After throwing the glass in the sink, a quick stretch, and turning off the news, he walked out of his apartment, which was his only now.
Wahlburn made his way outside and decided to walk to Tyrone’s house as it was a nice day out. He wasn’t in an absolute hurry either, so the walk would be a nice rejuvenation from the Ciyelor battle for him. He didn’t get extremely injured during the battles, except a few scratches and cuts, but he felt hundreds of percent better.
As Wahlburn walked through Verona, he passed the road that led to Clyde, Cannon, Rivs, and Sticky’s apartments. He wanted to go see if Rivs and Sticky came back from their basketball week event so they could join his small group of fighters, but he decided not to waste his time. He walked past the road and continued to the opposite side of town where BC and Tyrone lived.
As he walked up to Tyrone’s neighborhood, he saw that the neighborhood was abnormally quiet. Before thinking too hard on it, he saw Junior and BC on the front step of their crib.
“Ey yo, it’s that dude Wahlburn!” yelled BC as he walked up to him. Wahlburn and BC became associates after the Amsterdam trip as Wahlburn would sell some weed to him on biweekly occasions.
“What’s happening BC. Where’s Tyrone at? I need to talk to him real quick.”
BC looked away. “I’m afraid he ain’t here mayne.”
“What do you mean? Where did he go?”
“He left yesterday night. He told me to watch Junior for him. I ain’t got a clue where he went.”
Wahlburn frowned. “Did he take care of that crazy stallion that tried to attack him?”
“Crazy stallion?” asked BC. “What are you talking about?” Wahlburn recalled yesterday’s event at his apartment then told him about Tyrone’s charge back to his own home. “Nah mayne. I know nothing about that. He must have killed him or something before I got home last night. I got home at like six then he said he was leaving.”
“Six?” asked Wahlburn. “That’s about two hours after he headed towards here. He must have got rid of him or something then.” Wahlburn looked at Junior who still hadn’t said a single word, which was rare for him.
“Junior? Do you know where Tyrone is?”
Junior shook his head. “I don’t Uncle Druggy.”
Wahlburn flinched as BC laughed uncontrollably. “U-Uncle Druggy?”
“Yeah! Dad calls you ‘Druggy’ all the time so I decided to call you that as well!” BC remained laughing as Wahlburn turned away from them.
“Let me know when Tyrone gets back.” Wahlburn quickly left the neighborhood, still being able to hear BC’s laughing a mile away.
After another couple of minutes, Wahlburn entered Verona’s town square. He stopped at the ice cream store for a quick break. As he sat down about to savour his apple pie flavored ice cream, a familiar face sat down beside him.
“Wahlburn! Mi amigo!” yelled Fluffy Johnson.
“Fluffy!” replied Wahlburn in between licks. “How was South Beach?”
“It was good I guess,” he said without enthusiasm. “It’s definitely not as fun as it was when you guys were there.”
“Yeah, the whole zombie thing was pretty fun. Even though we only killed like ten zombies the whole time.”
“Indeed.” Fluffy looked around the square as Wahlburn kept licking his ice cream. After a few minutes, Wahlburn finished his ice cream and Fluffy turned back towards him. “So, how has it been around here lately?”
“Well,” said Wahlburn wiping off some ice cream on his chest, “the past week has been weird.”
“Weird?” asked Fluffy with a curious look. “What do you mean? I thought you guys were the definition of weird?”
Wahlburn smirked. “No, I think that only applies to Poncho.” Fluffy laughed at the answer. “I mean, weird like, weird.”
“Huh...”
“It all started I think like three, four days ago...” Wahlburn recited the past few days involving Patel’s gathering of the group, traveling to Las Pegas, the whole Ciyelor campaign, Patel and Cannon’s new reign in Germany, and the assassin clones that Arlin sent to draw out Clyde, Tyrone, and him.
Fluffy stroked his chin the whole time while listening and sat there for another minute or two in the middle of the town square after Wahlburn’s depiction pondering about what he heard. “That is weird.”
“Right?” Wahlburn got up from the small table and stretched. “Say, are you doing anything tonight?”
Fluffy shook his head. “Nah dude. I mean, I just got back, but I’m down to f-”
“No, not that,” replied Wahlburn with a sigh in which Fluffy chuckled. “I meant, are you doing anything in the next week or so? I’m building a small group to take down Arlin’s leaders and eventually himself while he’s distracted by Patel and Cannon.”
Fluffy placed his hoof on his chin again and pondered about his plans for the next week or two. “I don’t got anything. I guess I’ll join. Who’s all in this thing?”
“Well,” said Wahlburn trying to hold in a chuckle, “there’s only like four of us right now. We have yourself, myself, Clyde, and I’m guessing Jeb, but I wouldn’t count on him doing much of anything.”
“No Tyrone?” asked Fluffy.
“He’s not home. He randomly left last night for some reason so BC is watching Junior. I mean, we could get BC, but then Junior might be annoying the whole time.”
“Also, because Junior is still a young one, we could get into major legal troubles if something bad happened to him.”
Wahlburn nodded. “Yeah, let’s not talk about that anymore.”
“Hmm,” said Fluffy looking into the sky. “Where’s Sticky and Rivs at? Did they come home from their ‘Rival Week’ trip yet?”
“I don’t think so, then again, I don't think they would join my squad of troopers in the first place.”
Fluffy nodded in agreement and looked behind Wahlburn’s shoulder. “Hey, what about Poncho?”
“He stayed behind back in Las Pegas. I don’t know where that sketchbag is.”
Fluffy pointed behind Wahlburn. “Then why is he right behind you?”
“What are you talking about?” Wahlburn turned around and looked at the pony on the other side of the square. His jaw dropped as Poncho looked at him with the same expression. Before Wahlburn could do anything, Poncho stepped backwards and quickly bolted down the road towards his house. Wahlburn chased after him with Fluffy right behind him.
Wahlburn managed to catch up to Poncho in a few seconds as Poncho wasn’t the most in fit stallions of the town. Wahlburn quickly ran past him and stopped in front of him. Poncho ran into Wahlburn and laid on the ground rubbing his head.
“Ow,” said Poncho weakly. “Why did you chase after me for?” Fluffy walked up to them and helped Wahlburn and him up. Wahlburn brushed some dirt off of him.
“Due to the fact you ditched us back in Las Pegas, I’m curious on where the hell you were!”
Poncho spun around to check if anyone was looking at them. He didn’t see any suspicious sights so he leaned into closer towards Wahlburn. “I was at a convention.”
Fluffy and Wahlburn looked at each other in confusion. “Convention?” asked Fluffy. “What convention was it?”
Poncho laughed. “It was a potato chip convention!”
Wahlburn sighed and slapped his hoof to his face as Fluffy nodded. “That’s...different.”
“I know right! I never knew they had one of those! Since I work for the local chip factory, I was able to try new flavors and even bring some back!” Poncho dug into his bag to his side and pulled out a bag of chips. The bag was labeled as “Cupcake”.
“Cupcake flavored chips?” asked Fluffy. “That seems like an experiment result that one pony, Pinkie, would do.”
Poncho’s eyes flashed at the mention of Pinkie. “I know man, I wanted to go over there to see if she wanted to try any. If she liked them, I was going to let her keep the bag of chips.”
“Poncho,” said Wahlburn with disappointment in his voice, “was this your plan the whole time?”
“What do you mean man?” asked Poncho.
“You ditched us for one day just so you could get some weird flavored chips and bring back some for some girl who barely even talked to you during our Seaddle and South Beach trip?”
Poncho began zipping the zipper on his jacket. “Well...”
Wahlburn sighed again. “You know what, at least you tried. Let’s just drop the conversation. We are heading to Ponyville anyways.”
Poncho’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious!”
“Yes, just don’t act even more sketchy on the way there and while we are there.” Poncho nodded and the three of them set off towards Ponyville. Poncho and Fluffy talked about the convention Poncho was part of to past time as Wahlburn tried to ignore them. As they walked past Sweet Apple Acres, they ran into Applejack on the trail.
“Oh no,” said Wahlburn sadly to himself as they walked up to her.
“Oh howdy!” yelled Applejack, “if it isn’t Clyde’s friends I haven’t seen since that bus trip back to here! How have ya’ll been?”
“Fine,” said Wahlburn walking past her. Poncho and Fluffy gave an awkward smile towards her as they tried to catch back up with Wahlburn.
Applejack ran after them and walked beside them. “What’s the big hurry?”
“It’s nothing,” said Wahlburn.
“Is it about that clone situation that Twilight told me about?” asked Applejack.
Wahlburn sighed. “Is anything in this town kept a secret?”
Applejack shook her head. “Nope. Most of the townsfolk are all friends or acquaintances so information doesn’t really keep quiet.”
“I could tell.” Wahlburn and the other two kept walking before Wahlburn stopped and turned around. Applejack was still following them. “Do you want to come with us, or?”
“Oh!” Applejack put her hoof to her mouth. “I know about the situation, but I don’t think I could help you out at all. To be honest, I don’t think any of us except Twilight could help.”
“Okay then,” said Wahlburn turning back towards the town in the near distance.
“Wait!” yelled Applejack.
Wahlburn turned back around. “Yes?”
“Whatever Rarity says, don’t let her go with you guys. We don’t want her to get involved in your problems, and I know Clyde feels the same way as we do. We all like Clyde a lot and we know where his heart lies, so try to make him stay behind if that will make Rarity stay too.”
Wahlburn laughed. “I’ll try, but no promises. That dude is hard to persuade.”
Applejack nodded and wished them good luck in all future endeavours. As they watched her disappear behind the hill on the trail, they resumed their walk to Twilight’s library. Once they entered the town, Poncho looked around.
“What are you looking for?” asked Fluffy. Fluffy watched Poncho flinch at the sudden voice that surprised him.
“N-Nothing man.”
Wahlburn sighed as they stopped a few yards away from Twilight’s house. “Pinkie lives over in that direction,” he said pointing down the road.
Poncho’s mouth dropped in excitement. “C-Can you guys go with me?”
Fluffy shook his head. “Nah, hombre. This is your battle, not ours.”
“Come on guys...”
Wahlburn walked up to him and patted him on the back. “It’s just a bag of chips dude. Just knock on her door, hand her the bag, and walk away. You don’t even have to say anything.”
Poncho looked at him with a confused look. “Wouldn’t that make me look sketchy?”
Fluffy laughed. “I don’t think you can get any more sketchy than you already are.”
Poncho looked at the ground in defeat. He quickly glanced up and nodded at them. As he turned around to begin his journey to find Pinkie Pie, Wahlburn walked beside him, and soon, Fluffy followed too.
“I’m just kidding, we’ll go with you,” said Wahlburn. “I’m not trying to be near Twilight without some brothers.”
Poncho thanked them and the three of them marched down Ponyville’s main road towards Sugarcube Corner, the home of Pinkie Pie.
Once Poncho reached the main doors, he lifted his hoof out to knock on the doors. Wahlburn stopped him.
“What are you doing? It’s a damn store, just walk in!”
“Yeah, but they might be closed or sleeping...”
Wahlburn flailed his arms around. “It’s like noon! They are open!” He pushed Poncho into the store as Fluffy walked in slowly. As Wahlburn pushed Poncho to the counter, Fluffy looked around the shop to see all of the cakes and other assorted dessert foods. Wahlburn rang the bell on the counter and they sat there waiting.
In a quick second, Pinkie bounced down the stairs and stopped and looked at them. “Oh! I know you guys! You’re the ponies who we took a bus ride with back to Ponyville from Seaddle and managed to get a cult to chase after us and even kill some of you but we managed to magically bring you guys back and we continued our trip and ended up in South Beach where we had to deal with zombies and during that whole trip your friend Clyde and my friend Rarity began getting super close and they even began officially dating even though most of you hated the idea but that’s okay because my friends and I like Clyde so now I have even more friends because of him and that’s you guys!” Pinkie quickly stopped for a quick breath.
Wahlburn looked over at Fluffy. “What the...” he silently mouthed to him.
“So what can I do for you today friends?” asked Pinkie in her normal loud and excited voice.
Poncho awkwardly smiled at her and pulled out his “Cupcake” flavored chips. “I-I wanted to give you these. I saw them at a convention and thought of you.”
Pinkie’s eyes gleamed and she bounced towards him and took the bag. She tore it open and poured the chips down her throat. With one big crunch and gulp, she licked her lips. “Those were awesome!” she yelled in excitement. “Do you have any more?”
Poncho looked at her sadly. “No, I’m afraid I don’t.”
“Oh, well, I have to leave now! I promised Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy that I would help them with something today!”
“Wait,” said Poncho reaching out to stop her. “Do you want to have lunch with me sometime?” Wahlburn and Fluffy put a hoof in front of their mouths in absolute astonishment.
“You mean like a picnic?” asked Pinkie. She smiled and laughed. “Sure! I’ll tell my friends about it! I’m always down for picnics and parties!” She bounced out of the building leaving the three standing there in silence.
“So,” began Poncho. “What happened?”
Wahlburn walked up to him and shrugged. “I have no idea. That girl is more random than a bus driver who can also pilot a large plane.”
“We know someone who can do that though,” said Fluffy.
“I know.”
The three of them walked out of Sugarcube Corner and finally decided that it was time to go to Twilight’s to begin planning the anti-Arlin group. Once they entered the treehouse, Spike led them downstairs where Twilight and the newly named Apollo. Clyde, who was already there, was sitting near the back of the room alone. He nodded his head at Fluffy and Poncho when they entered but he remained sitting there in silence. When asked about Rarity, he told them she was busy with a client's dress.
After they were settled, Wahlburn talked over them and began giving a rundown on the situation, important locations, and tasks. Thanks to the clone, the locations of Arlin and his generals were known so Wahlburn began planning a hitlist, where they would attack each one at the same time. After completing the list, Wahlburn began roll call and roles.
“Alright, I’ll assign your role and target,” said Wahlburn. “First up is me. I’m the leader in all ground operations, but since we are doing solo missions right now, that doesn’t matter right now. My target is Qarlin who should be near London talking making a speech or something to the city.”
Fluffy raised his hoof. “How many is on your hitlist?”
“Like three.”
Fluffy frowned. “So not all of us are going out there?”
“Of course not! We can’t risk “Operation Spark” to be noticed with too many assassins!”
“Spark?” asked Twilight squinting her eyes at the name. “Why did you name it that? Are you trying to put blame on me if this ridiculous plan falls through?”
Wahlburn shifted his eyes away from her. “Maybe. Instead of thinking about failures, you could always help us.”
“I was going to help anyways!” yelled Twilight. “I don’t really have a choice now...”
Wahlburn smirked. “Good, you are designated teleporter and main hub back here. You don’t have to leave your basement, just teleport us there. Jeb over there-”
“Apollo,” said Apollo with a cough.
Wahlburn sighed. “Apollo, will manage the teleportation out of the area back to here. Depending on what he wants to do, he can go with a group or stay here.” Apollo nodded.
“Okay, sweet. Next up is Clyde, my main brother. You can be any role you want. Brother, your target is some clone called “T-arlin” in the city of Venice. He was invited to a masquerade ball and your job is to infiltrate and take out the target.”
“Masquerade ball?” said Clyde in puzzlement. “Of course I get the hardest one.”
“What do you mean?” asked Wahlburn. “There’s going to plenty of ponies in the crowd to blend in with. Getting a costume won’t be hard either, seeing how you know a pony very well to probably be able to get a free one.”
“Yeah, but she’ll want to come and I can’t let her,” said Clyde. He looked away for brief moment and looked back at Wahlburn. “Say, what are we using against the targets anyway?”
Wahlburn stood there and laughed. “Oh man, hate to say this, but I have no idea! I forgot about that part!” The others sighed and began shouting at him in anger. Wahlburn tried to calm them down so he knocked down the small orator stand. Twilight looked at him in anger as he ignored her and turned to his friends. “I have an idea my brothers.”
“What is it?” asked Fluffy.
“It might not sit too well for now, but we’re going to knock them out in any means you can, and have Apollo teleport us back to Twilight’s basement where we can further punish them!”
“What!” yelled Twilight. “I don’t approve of this!”
“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight,” said Wahlburn who wrapped a hoof around her back. “I thought you wanted to help us friends out?”
“I do. It’s just, why are you bringing all of these bad guys and your problems to my house? Can’t you just take them somewhere else for once?”
Wahlburn laughed. “I’m not going to lie to you, but you scare me. That’s why I want them here so you can handle them if needed.”
Twilight shook her head and sighed loudly. She picked up the orator stand with her magic and sat back down in her seat.
“So, if that’s okay, then I guess we can do that!” Wahlburn pointed at Fluffy. “You!”
“M-Me?” asked Fluffy nervous in the sudden call out.
“Yeah, you. You and Poncho, if he wants, are going to find the last clone I have on this list. His name is “Narlin” and he should be in Germaney spying on Patel and them.”
“Bueno. Sounds cool to me,” said Fluffy. “When are we to do this?”
“I think all of our targets should be at said locations tomorrow,” said Wahlburn looking at the list. “That’s probably the best option to attack.”
“How will I know when to teleport them back to here?” asked Apollo.
“Uh, how about you teleport them after an hour? That should be plenty of time. If it doesn’t work, then I guess you got captured or something, but that shouldn’t happen because you were all trained by yours truly.”
“Trained?” asked Fluffy. “You didn’t train us for anything. You’re just hoping everything works out without any troubles.”
Wahlburn smiled. “Exactly.”
After a few more hours of Wahlburn’s motivation speech and planning, the group was dismissed to get some rest before the big day. It was already late at night when Wahlburn finished. Fluffy and Wahlburn stayed the night in Twilight’s basement with Apollo. Spike came down to hang out with them for awhile, but it was awkward for Wahlburn because his best buddy was long gone.