//------------------------------// // Day Six: The More Things Change... // Story: Of Ponies and Papers // by The card holder //------------------------------// November 8, 1983 Oddly enough, though you couldn't exactly place why, sunrises here in Equestria felt a bit more cheerful than they did back home. It's probably just the sheer color of the place. Even when the nearby town is covered in snow, several vibrant colors poke through. Even the snow itself is otherworldly, being a much brighter white than you're used to. Shaking the thoughts from your head, you stroll over to your booth, which was left in pretty much the same condition as when you left yesterday. The only new addition was a neatly rolled scroll resting in your work area. Curious, you break the seal and roll it open, taking a second to read the awfully fancy handwriting: In light of the events that took place yesterday, there will be a new protocol for any disguised changelings you discover. Instead of calling it to attention, proceed as if everything is in order, but be sure to use the new stamp provided for you. It is made from a special magical substance, which will allow my guards to later track down the changeling with ease. Stay safe, Princess Celestia Looking over your work space, you quickly find the new stamp, grouped with the usual approval and denial stamps. This one looked almost identical to the normal approval stamp, but apart from being labeled differently on the handle, it was also a slightly brighter green. You won't pretend to know how this magic works, but being able to track someone's passports sounds like it would be a very powerful ability. Well, not really your problem once they're outside this booth. For now, it was nearly six AM, and the line of ponies and people waiting outside wasn't getting any smaller. "Next!" The first entrant is a middle-aged man, who seems to have a permanent air of grumpiness around him. Upon seeing you, relief flashes on his face, quickly followed by further disgruntlement. "Oh, so now they got us working for them?" he says, not even waiting for you to ask for his papers as he shoves his towards you. You say nothing, and simply go through the process of checking for any discrepancies. "I swear, these damn ponies are going to be the death of us. First, they act all buddy-like with us, then we work for them, next thing you know, they're whipping at our backs, forcing us to dig out our own damn mines. But I'm not falling for their tricks, no sir, I'm going to-" "This passport is expired." He pauses in his tirade to look at you incredulously. "What?" "Your passport." You motion towards it. "It's past the expiration date." He just stares at the document like it suddenly grew legs and started tap-dancing, then just slouches as you stamp denial on it and hand everything back. Wordlessly, he leaves the booth. "Next!" The next one in line was a mare, who looked about as grouchy as the man who just left. "Papers, please." She complies, and as you start thumbing through her documents, she sighs. "That man in front of me just wouldn't shut up, about how apparently ponies are out to get all you humans, like I'm not even there!" Again, you stay silent, letting them get through their rant unopposed. Everything's in date, issuing city matches up... "I honestly don't care what you humans do, I just want to go home, now." You give a small sympathetic nod as you do a final check to make sure everything is in order, including a quick glance at her cutie mark to be sure that's correct, before you stamp the passport. She takes the papers, and leaves the booth, her former grouchiness somewhat gone. "Next!" The usual monotony of your job picks up, and several ponies and humans come in and out of your booth, with very few incidents to tell them apart. A few denials here, a couple of approvals there, but overall it was uneventful. "Next!" You don't immediately see who enters next, due to you taking the time to straighten out the regulations book on your desk, so when you do look up, it's a bit of a surprise to see someone wearing a dark hood. However, while your first thought was that it was those blasted Order or Eziac or whatever the hell they called themselves, the hood was actually almost white, rather than the usual dark blue. Not only that, but this one looked like they were actually a pony. Despite this, they still slipped you a note, just as the other hooded bastards did, and you pick it up, noting that it had a strangely drawn emblem of something resembling a yin-yang symbol on the back. We do not like your kind here, but we are aware this was not your choice. However, we know that you can potentially have a great influence, so we would like to ask a favor of you: We have intel saying that a number of humans who are soldiers for one of your secret organizations are going to be arriving within the week. We have their names, and you are to deny all of them. Completely unamused with this bullshit, you halfheartedly toss the note back at the pony, who catches it with their magic, revealing at the very least that they're a unicorn. Just as quickly as the first note, he slips you another one, this one slightly larger, and also consisting of a bunch of randomly jumbled letters. "You will be given the key tomorrow," he says, voice deep and unremarkable, "after you prove you can be trusted. Remember, the sun and moon see all." With that, he spirits out of the booth, heading in the opposite direction of the portal. He must have come from there, too, as you would've spotted him in the line. As for the note, you carefully store it away from prying eyes, certain to keep it hidden. That is to say, you crumpled it up and tossed it in the waste basket. The last thing you wanted to deal with was yet another goddamn secret society of anarchists. "Next!" Thankfully, the next person in line is a friendly face, and a familiar one. "Hello again, Jorji." Upon hearing you speak, Jorji's eyes widen in surprise. "Oh, it is you! What are you doing here?" "I was chosen for an employee exchange program," you say, accepting his papers. "Oh, that is good! I finally got around to coming to Equestria, and who else do I meet in the booth going in than you?" You chuckle. "Funny how the world works, sometimes." "Yes, very funny." He laughs a bit, as you do one last check on all of his- Hold on now. Your eyes are drawn to the scale readout on your desk, which contrasts notably with the document here. You know almost immediately what it is, but you just sigh. "Jorji, are you smuggling drugs again?" "What? Why would I do such a thing? You know me better than that!" You just look at him, and he sighs. "Alright, alright, I know drill." Curtains close in the booth, and after hearing the brief rustling of clothes, you hit the button controlling the booth's built in cameras. Hitting it again after a few seconds, you begin to look at the printed pictures, while Jorji puts his clothes back on and the curtains part. The front picture isn't hiding anything, but the back one shows just what you thought taped to the back of his leg. You show the picture to him. "Jorji..." "Alright, maaaaaybe I try and sneak little bit through. You can just deny me and let me be on my way, yes?" "Sorry, Jorji, but you know it doesn't work like that." You buzz the guards, and as they approach the booth, Jorji shrugs. "Oh well, I should've known better than to try and sneak something past you. At least Equestrian prisons are more comfortable than ours, I hope!" At that moment, the guards shout for him to come out, and he complies. You let out a soft chuckle. Even when he's attempting various illegal activities, you can't be mad at Jorji. It's debatable if he means well, but at least he's friendly about it. You're about to call the next entrant in, when the horn signaling the end of the day goes off. Stretching, you get up from your seat and leave the booth, eager to get some shuteye. As you crawl into bed, the thought occurs to you that your son's birthday is coming soon. Maybe you could get him something from Equestria while you're here...