//------------------------------// // Knowledge is Everything: Part One // Story: Of Wubs and Men // by MoltenXKid //------------------------------// (Mason’s POV) “Will you just tell me what happened?!” begged a certain white unicorn. “Eenope. That stays my secret, “I replied, changing the solar panel on my car, “You should have been there.” “That’s not fair!” Vinyl pouted, “I planned the entire thing! I need to know what happened!” “Tough luck, pony.” It had been about two days since the Gordano’s Corner incident. Vinyl had begged me to tell her what happened, but, as my own revenge, I decided not to tell her. Luckily, Ana decided not to tell her either. Vinyl would whine, pout, and sometimes fake cry, yet I never told. Information like that needed to stay private. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and my parents wanted to tour L.A.  As there loving son, I would tag along, but not say anything. This was their “vacation”, and they liked doing things on their own. My job would basically be keeping them around the safe tourist areas. Though, I wouldn’t be around the entire day. I had to do my own thing. “Mason, honey, we called the cab company! Your dad and I decided that would be more fun!” My mom exclaimed as she walked from the house. She wore a yellow sundress with a yarn hat. “Plus, I don’t trust your driving,” joked my father, following behind.  “I drive better than you, old man, but I do need a break from driving,” I stated as finished the replacement.  “I’ll be back. I forgot something in the house.” I walked into the house and up to my room. I stepped over to the closet, knelt down, and grabbed a brown box. I sighed as I opened it. Inside was a simple .45.  Where I was going, I needed to have, yet I hoped wouldn’t use it. I held the empty handgun in my hand getting a feel for it. I fired it at a firing range a couple times, but that’s about it. With another sigh, I wrapped the holster around my waist, put a full magazine into the gun, holstered the weapon, and covered it with my shirt. I also double checked to see if my concealed carry license was still active which it was. I walked back outside to see everyone loading into the taxi.  My dad took the front seat, resulting in everyone else having to share the back.  It wasn’t too cramped, but a little breathing room couldn’t have hurt. The driver made sure we were all buckled in before driving to the pre-registered destination my parents had chosen. We drove in relative silence. The only person making noise was my mother who excitedly looked and took pictures of everything.  Living in the city, I had seen everything, but for her, it was a new experience. Eventually, the cab arrived to the destination and everyone got out except me. “I’ll be back. Just gotta handle some things. You three have fun,” I told them as I climbed in the front passenger seat, “Alright, cabbie, I have two stops- Verizon store, and the stacks.” The cab driver turned to me with a confused look, “Why in hell would someone like you go to the stacks?” “Personal reasons.” The cabbie shrugged and drove me to the nearest Verizon store.  He had a point. Why would someone like me go to the stacks? It was dangerous after all. Guess I was too focused on the task at hand to see. After some minutes, we arrived at the entrance of the store. The cabbie told me the meter was still running as I ran in. I didn’t need to shop around, for I knew exactly why I came. “Hello, sir! How may I help you?” asked a cheery, dragon-girl helpmate. “I’d like to add another line to my plan,” I answered her question, “I think it’s time a friend of mine finally had one of her own.” “That’s easy, sir.” The helpmate scanned my finger before typing something onto the computer, “Alright. It is done. Now just choose the phone.” Several phones appeared on the counter before me. They all looked the same; it was the inside that mattered. Trying to hurry, I chose a phone with easy to use features and high internal memory.  The helpmate activated the phone, and I left, yet a voice in my head nagged me until I went back to the counter. “Would it trouble you to add a third line?” I asked. “No, sir. I am pleased to help.” I left the store with two new phones and a content smile.  The cabbie was waiting for me in the same spot.  As soon as I got in, he pulled off towards the L.A stakes. A place of poverty, melancholy, and a hive of villainous scum. It was terrible for a place like that to exist, but they had to save space someone. But, staking mobile homes on top of mobile homes didn’t seem like a good idea. Shallow in my thought, I didn’t know we arrived to the entrance of the stacks. The cabbie wished me luck as I got out. He said that he’d be waiting down a couple blocks where it was safe.  With him gone, I was by myself. I felt my side to remind myself about the handgun and started walking. I had been to the stacks before. Back when it was just poverty stricken families. Back before the crime rate was so high.  Though, all things eventually turn to shit. That’s why I made sure to keep track of my surroundings. All was calm, except for two kids playing; no one else was around, which made my trip much easier. A minute later, I arrived to my destination- a lone mobile home.  If you didn’t know, it would look like a regular place, but for someone who did know, this was the home of a tech genius. Well, he claimed he claimed he was. “I know you’re looking. Just opened the door!” I yelled. I heard rustling from the inside, and then the door opened, “Will you keep it down!” A skinny man named Charles said, “I don’t need anyone to know I’m here!” He pulled me in, locked the door, and walked back over to his only chair. It was the only piece of furniture he owned and needed. In front of it was his computer with multiple monitors on the wall. Around the rest of the home were small gadgets that had been disassembled for specific parts and empty packages of junk food.  The smell in the place was anything but nice, yet you got used to it after a couple breaths. “So Mason, what brings you here?” asked Charles as he sat in his chair, “Need new music software? Perhaps you need me to ‘boost’ you reputation over the internet.  Maybe in the market for something erotic…” “No. You’ve known me since high school. I don’t do that stuff. I just need you to do a simple web search.” “You walked into the Stacks for a simple web search?” “Well, not that simple. I can’t find much on this company. Thought you could find more since you have the skills,” I stated, explaining myself, “Also, why do you live here? We both know you have the money to live elsewhere.” “Simply put:  I look less suspicious if I dwell here than in other nice areas. Especially since I do stuff that tends to be…illegal.” He put on his Immersion gloves and the monitors came alive. On each one something different was happening- coding, hacking, NSFW material, forums, etc. “Now tell me the name of this company. I’ll get you all the information you want.” “Vogon Biotech.” “Never heard of it.” Charles told me as he began typing on some unseen keyboard. As I watched him search, I noticed his typing and motions began to slow, almost to a complete standstill. (Discord’s POV) They say: Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.  A truly interesting saying. Especially one to think of as I watched a human try to satisfy his curiosity. If only he had called my name, I would have appeared to quench his thirst. Sadly, this guy took the hard route.  Pity. I had to leave my office.  Well, it wasn’t all bad, I suppose. I got a chance to get out and finally meet the one who befriended Equestria’s favorite DJ. With a snap of my fingers, I appeared in some…filthy hovel someone called a home. I had to watch my step, or else I might dirty up my shoes. These things weren’t cheap either, I might add. To ensure the discretion of the conversation, I slowed time, or rather, the perception of time for the pale man at the computer. Only Mason would be aware of my presence. “Hello, Mr. Williams. I don’t think we’ve formally met.” I said. He turned around slowly, a frightened expression plastered on his face. “Uh…who are you?” “I am the head of Vogon Biotech, the brains behind the operation, the God of Chaos himself-Discord!” A small display of fireworks exploded over my head to spell my name. “A little birdie told me you were in search of information. I came to provide. Ask away.” A comfy chair appeared in the room and swept the poor lad from his feet.  He wasn’t expecting it, but quickly settled into the softness.  He seemed not to believe what was happening. Jeesh, after Vinyl, you’d think he’d be used to things by now. “How many others are there? I know I can’t be the only one…” “Smart kid. You’re not. There’s the author, wielder, Russian, peach farmer, that Stacks kid, Twilight’s on her own, that weird one, his brother…there’s a lot.  The list is constantly growing. Next question.” “Why me? I wasn’t even into My Little Pony. ” “Well…” I stood there in thought, stroking my chin. (I really needed to shave, but watching over the ponies was more important.) “It’s more based on a need than a want. Yes, you being a fan of the show is necessary, but ones need out ways that.” “So…” “I can’t tell you your need.  Now, anymore questions? I can’t spend too much time with one customer.” Mason thought for a moment before asking, “Why are they here? Equestria looked so happy and cheery. Why come here?” “Do you really want to know? Yes, I could tell you, but would you really want to carry that information around? You can’t tell them. They can’t know. It’ll be our and the other human’s secret.” He sighed, knowing he wouldn’t want to hold onto that information. “Good. Now, before I go, I need you to sign this.” I brought out a scroll and unfurled it. “What is it?” “You know how Vinyl has been helping you these past weeks, making your life better? Well this is a way to help her and make her happy.  The scale is leaning heavily to her good graces…and you made that heat joke.” “Yeah, I know. If it’ll make her happy, I’ll do whatever it takes.” He took hold of the pen I summoned and wrote his name, “How bad could it be since it makes a friend happy?” The scroll rerolled when he finished writing his name.  With a farewell, I told the young man to keep Vinyl happy and then disappeared. Good thing he didn't read the contract. Sometimes, people make it too easy. (Mason’s POV)  “Dude, I couldn’t find much. Some back-water articles…that’s it,” yelled Charles, regaining regular tempo. I guess he didn’t notice my conversation. “No problem, dude. Thanks for the help,” Everything here was done so I decided to leave, “Yo, dude. Before I leave, you wouldn’t happen to have any laptops preloaded with DJ software?” “Open my closet. It’s the blue one. Fifth down on the second row. I knew you’d ask for it eventually.” “It’s for a friend,” I opened the closet, filled with dozens of laptops, and grabbed the one he mentioned. I then walked to the front door of the trailer and looked back, “Be safe and try to get out more.” Charles only waved as I closed the door. In the open again, I put my hand on my pistol as I walked to the exit.  Maybe I was being paranoid, but one could never be too safe. I did see a couple of shady figures, but they didn’t mess with me. They were too busy in their own accords.  Within minutes, I reached the exit and called for the taxi. He quickly drove by and picked me. He asked me if I was going back to meet my family, yet before I could answer my phone began to vibrate. “Hello, sir. I, Tesla, am fully updated and operational!” Tesla said. She seemed overly cheerful. Guess the update added emotions, “You have one new message!” “Nice to have you back. I missed you,” I replied, “So, what’s the message?” “Your Parole Officer is on the way to check on your house arrest.” “Fuck...” I completely forgot about the house arrest. Ever since Vinyl took the anklet off, I was free.  I looked at the cabbie, who gave a slight smirk before accelerating towards my home. If all the luck in the world was on my side, the planets aligned, and the cabbie wasn’t pulled over for speeding, I could make it home before the Parole Officer. The Cabbie dropped me off a couple of houses shy of my own. He did a great job of getting me there, so I took down his Taxi number, so I could call him again if I needed a ride. After that, I snuck to my house.  To my horror, the parole officer was there already. Though, she seemed to be talking to some…pony.  It wasn’t Vinyl. The pony talked, keeping the officer busy. When she noticed me, she made a slight head movement for me to get into the house. With stealth like a ninja (Beverly Hills), I snuck into my house. Tesla began powering things up, but I told her not to. Not till I found the anklet.  It took some time, but I found it by the door, underneath a small table. With some ingenuity and black tape, I reattached it to my leg. Just in time too. My front door flung open with officer and the pony standing there. “Ah, Mr. Williams. I see everything is alright,” said the officer, “Why are you on the floor?” “Yoga…” I lied. “Alrighty. I just needed to see if you’re abiding by the rules.” After a quick look around, the officer wrote something in her book, “Everything seems to be in order. I’ll be taking my leave.” After that, the officer left. It was only me and the pony. She wore a white dress shirt covered by a gray vest with the treble clef sewed on the side.  Her pants were black which matched her black shoes. Yet, what really stood out was the pink bowtie.  It just seemed to be her personal signature. “Hello, Mason. My name is Octavia Melody. I am the marefriend of Vinyl Scratch,” The pony stated. She reached out a hand to help me up. She seemed completely opposite from Vinyl. Calm, well-spoken, smooth, and tranquil, yet she had this small conceitedness just like Vinyl. “Uh...hey…thanks for the save back there.” “It’s no problem. I had to do it a lot for Vinyl back in Equestria. To think things would change.” Octavia sighed a little before regaining her composure. “Sorry. It took me longer to get here than I expected.  Thanks for letting me stay.” “…what?” At that moment, my phone vibrated. I excused myself before looking at the message. It was a bank statement from recent transactions. I opened the message to see another twenty-two thousand credit deduction to Vogon Biotech. My mind began thinking of how, but then it hit me…that damn contract. “GOD DAMMIT, DISCORD!”