In another world in another universe, there was a room made of concrete walls, a door, and a one-way mirror. Murphy now found himself in this room, further from home than he could ever imagine. He sat at a metal table, cuffed to a steel chair. In front of him sat the changeling, agent Rodney, at a desk of his own. Rodney’s desk was tiny, small enough to be a baby’s play thing. Rodney’s desk sat on top of the table, allowing him to talk to Murphy at eye level.
Agent Rodney kept a keen eye, or orb, on Murphy’s every move. “You’re in some deep shit, man,” Rodney said. “Do you realize that?”
Murphy couldn’t help but nod. He didn’t completely understand why he was here. One minute, he was watching ponies on TV. The next, we was being whisked away by a baby-sized insect with a submachine gun, which now laid on the tiny desk, pointed towards the human’s head.
Agent Rodney held up Murphy’s watch, letting it dangle from his hoof. “Possession of unregistered devices and gadgetry that transports things between universes is illegal.”
Murphy burst out, “I didn’t know that! Is that why you have me here?”
“You know why you’re here.” Rodney said it as if Murphy did know why he was here. “I’ve been busting my ass tracking you down ever since your guys unleashed these on the black market.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Murphy said defensively. “I bought that watch in a thrift shop owned by some nice Taiwanese people. I didn’t even know the thing was magical!”
“Bullshit! Do I look stupid?” Agent Rodney swung the watch back and forth like a pendulum. “Man, have you guys been giving the MIA a run for its money. But hey, I got enough evidence in my hoof to pay back at least one of you.”
Murphy couldn’t believe that the insect, this changeling, he was looking at used to be the tiny alicorn his family took in. Those weren’t the same big somniferous eyes. They were blue orbs that stared directly into his soul. The insect did retain some alicorn qualities, if a crooked knife-horn and gossamer wings counted as alicorn qualities.
“What about my rights?” Murphy desperately asked. “You didn’t read me my Miranda rights why you did the arrest! You can’t charge me.”
A big smile grew on Rodney’s face as he made a hissing sound, which to Murphy seemed a lot like laughing. “Man, that crap is only for the U.S, and only in some worlds. You’re under the authority of the Multiverse Investigation Agency. You have no rights!”
“Well, I never got the memo that wearing that watch is illegal. You can’t arrest me for something I didn’t know was illegal!”
“That’s the same excuse people used to get out of speeding tickets.” Rodney held out the watch closer to Murphy’s face. “Now, maybe I can cut you some slack. Tell me where the rest of your buddies are hiding, and there might be a chance that you’re sentence will be cut in half.”
“I had that watch for fifteen years. I didn’t know it was illegal to have, and I don’t have any mates that are involved in this kind of thing.”
Rodney placed the watch on his desk, right next to his gun. “I get it. No one likes a snitch. But come on, man. You have a nice thing going.” The agent erupted in a green ball of flames, turning into Baby Twilight once again. “I’ve been living with your family for the past three days. They seem like nice folk. You don’t want to make it any harder on them, would you?”
Murphy’s stomach clenched up as the agent dangled the idea of losing his family in front of him like his watch. “I told you already. I don’t know anything. If you saw my family, then you know I wouldn’t get into that kind of trouble.”
“And I know you wouldn’t,” Rodney said in a soft voice. “That’s why I’m trying to help you. Give me something so I can help you.”
“Look, I didn’t even know there are other worlds besides mine and Equestria. I haven’t even used that watch to do anything evil. Heck, I saved Equestria several times.”
“Well, aren’t you just the perfect little boyscout.” Rodney transformed back to his changeling for. He leaned back in his baby chair, throwing his forelegs behind his head. “Murphy, you’re wasting your time, and more importantly, you’re wasting mine. So either fess up now or you can be sent off to Joraraca. Whichever way, I’ll still be here busting the next poor sap.”
“What the heck is Joraraca?”
“It’s nowhere special, just the most dangerous labor camp in the Cardinal side of the multiverse. It’s a giant space station, the size of the solar system, hooked up to a black hole. Most prisoners have the privilege of going down there, with a spacesuit if they’re lucky.” The changeling pulled out a phone and held it against his head. “So, want a free one-way trip to Joraraca, Cardinal, or will I get something useful out of this?”
“Okay, hear me out.” Murphy took a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts. “You’re a changeling, which is a creature from Equestria. And Equestria is a land of love and tolerance. So can you look deep down inside yourself and find some love for me? If not me, then Zelda. You two did get along while you stayed with us.”
The changeling stared at him for a moment. “Apart from being a little racist, there’s a couple things wrong with that. One, the changelings invaded Equestria, multiple times, and tried to enslave everyone there. We’re not creatures of Equestria. If anything, we’re failed conquerors of Equestria. Two, I’m from New Jersey. You’re not gonna find love in me.”
“What about Zelda?”
“Three, I’m a changeling, and a MIA agent. Deception is my nature.” Rodney pushed a button on his phone. “Man, I am not going to miss those diaper changes.”
Out of nowhere, a popping sound echoed through the room. Murphy turned away just in time for a bright light to engulf the room.
“My retinas!” Rodney cried as he shielded his eyes.
The light died down, leaving in its place Twilight Sparkle. “Hey Murphy,” the alicorn said. “I got word from Celestia. She says she found Baby Twilight’s parents!”
Murphy turned back and looked at the unicorn. “That’s great,” he said, “But the problem has literally transformed into something else.”
“What is it now?” she sighed as she ran a hoof down her face. “And why are you chained to a chair?”
Murphy nodded at the changeling sitting at the tiny desk. Agent Rodney rubbed his eyes a little and looked up at Twilight. “What the heck are you doing here?” he asked harshly.
“She’s my lawyer,” Murphy quickly said. “Do I still have the right to my own lawyer?”
“Whoa, back up,” Twilight said. “When did I become your lawyer, and why is there tiny changeling here?”
“I’m agent Rodney,” the changeling said, “Of the Multiverse Investigation Agency. You’re client has been charged with possession of unregistered technology that permits travel between universes.” He held up the watch for Twilight to see. “Exhibit A.”
Twilight glanced at the watch as it swayed in Rodney’s hoof. “Oh, please tell me someone is watching over Baby Twilight.”
Rodney put the watch back down. “I’ll give you a hint what happened to her. She was a changeling and you’re talking to that changeling.”
“Oh,” Twilight said as she mulled over this information. “Then what about the alicorn parents Celestia found?”
Agent Rodney shrugged. “I wasn’t aware of that. It’s not my department.”
“Can you get me out of here?” Murphy pleaded. “I don’t think he’s kidding around.”
Rodney put a hoof on top of his submachine gun. “You bet your ass I’m not. So, Princess of Friendship, are you playing legal representative for this poor bastard?”
“Gosh, I wasn’t expecting this,” Twilight said. “We can make a deal, right? Changelings need love for food. You can let Murphy go and in exchange you can remain part of his family in which you will receive as much love as needed!”
“Are you bribing me?” Rodney asked.
Twilight shrugged. “I thought it was more of a deal.”
“Cute, but no. Love is a source of magic for us, not food.” He picked up his submachine gun and hefted it in the air. “That’s why I’m packing heat, for the loveless times. Plus I already ate a salad today. I’m good.”
“Worth a shot,” Twilight said. “Is there another way to get him out?”
Rodney placed the gun back on the table, pointing it towards the wall. “If you can prove you have a defense against the charge, then you may be able to fight in court.”
Twilight nodded. “Um, can you give me the case details? I’ve barely scratched multiverse travel laws.”
Rodney rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his seat. “Fine. I started tracking this guy after getting a report of unidentifiable travel between worlds. I went undercover as ‘Baby Twilight’ and searched through his house. Trust me, it’s legal if the guy lets you in willingly. Then you came along, blabbed about something about a watch, then I found the device.”
“Alright, you have proof he had the watch,” Twilight said. “But do you have proof that he knew it was illegal?”
“Do you think it makes a lick of difference if he knew?” Rodney asked. “Take that to court. See how far it gets you.”
“Then what makes it illegal? Someone could have given it to him claiming it was legal.”
“It’s unregistered.” Rodney tapped on the watch. “We track these kinds of devices heavily, and for good reason. If the device is unregistered, then how do we know you’re not up to no-good?”
Twilight nodded. She rubbed her chin as she thought about this. “And he’s not under arrest for just travelling between worlds?”
“Then you’d be in my custody for just being here,” Rodney said. “Trust me, if we arrested powerful unicorns for using magic to travel between different worlds, then I’d be a criminal, technically.”
“So there are exceptions to this law.”
“Yes, but this man here isn’t a unicorn. That free-card out of jail clearly doesn’t apply to him.”
Twilights face lit up. “And that watch is an exception. It’s been historically documented!”
“Oh, has it?”
“Yes! Murphy arrived in Equestria using this watch fifteen years ago, where he went on several adventures wearing it.”
“We had that law fifteen years ago. Doesn’t change a thing.”
“But after careful studying of this watch, it turns out it’s a part of a more historical device. In the Canterlot Castle in my world, there is an ancient portal that opens a gate between universes. This watch has been proven to be directly linked to this portal.”
“So?”
“So, this watch isn’t an illegal device. It’s an extension of a larger, documented, device. The watch is part of that portal. That’s you’re exception.”
“Huh, you’re going to use that in court?”
“Yes.”
Agent Rodney stood up from his desk. “Congratulations, you found a defense. You can fill out some forms and get the hell out.”
Murphy perked up as the changeling fluttered down to the floor. “Just like that? I’m a free man?”
Rodney’s crooked horn glowed green, pulling the watch and the submachine gun from the desk. “It’s less paperwork for me to immediately fill out if you’re let go. I might have to show up in court against you. But if I play my cards right, I’ll be under cover somewhere and they won’t be able to pull me out. Honestly, it'd be too much work for what's practically a speeding ticket.”
Murphy's jaw dropped to the floor. "What! Speeding ticket!"
A snarl grew on Twilight's face. "You mean all of this was just for a fine?"
Rodney nodded. "Yep. Some asswipe from up top sent me on this wild goose chase to get me back for knocking his ex." The agent made a hissing sound that could be described as a snicker. "Really, possessing an unregistered device? You could have a car with an outdated license plate for all the trouble that's going to get you."
"So what, no charge?" Twilight asked.
"Wrong, there's still the charge," Murphy replied as he walked to the exit. "And you can use you're defense to try to get out of it. But honestly, you'll get a bigger fine for keeping inter-dimensional technology hidden from the MIA. I'll do you a favor and only keep the charge to the watch."
“Um, thanks?” Murphy said.
“No thanks needed.” Rodney said. “No, seriously, don’t thank me, at all, what-so-ever. I hate your guts for feeding me baby food and I never want to see your ugly mug again.”
“Okay, then can you uncuff me from this chair?”
“Ha!” Rodney laughed as he walked out. “Fill out your damn paper work first.” He slammed the door behind him, leaving the human and alicorn alone together.
<><><><><>
It took a few hours to get Murphy process. Twilight had to fill out some documents for him, and then Murphy had to sign something saying he would not leave his home world before the court date. He got his watch back, with a promise that he should get it registered before something back happens. He was fine with that. Murphy was just glad he still had his freedom.
After the time spent in the government bureaucracy, Murphy found himself back at his house. The TV was still, saying, “Are you still watching,” on the screen. He sat down on the couch, and Twilight followed suit.
“So,” Twilight said, “That happened.”
Murphy nodded. “Yep. I have no idea how I’m going to tell Zelda that Baby Twilight was a changeling undercover and out to get me.”
“Just one more adventure to tell her later on.” Twilight watched the TV screen, even though nothing had changed on it since they got there.
Murphy looked at his watch, which he had put on when he left the MIA agency. "Is this watch really connected to some portal device?"
"I have no clue," Twilight answered. "I just made that up to try to get you out of there." She paused for a moment. "Did you hear there are some alicorn parents out there that are missing a kid.”
“Oh, don’t tell me that,” Murphy moaned. “I just had a series of nightmares of Zelda disappearing. I don’t need to have them again for another month.”
“Sorry,” Twilight said. “Baby Twilight might be gone, but Ditzy’s still available. She's pretty good handling kids' birthday parties.”
“If she’s up for it still, that’d be great.” Murphy picked up the remote and tossed it in his hand. “You can come too if you want. Maybe you can pretend you’re Baby Twilight all grown up.”
“Oh yeah, and tell her I needed to go back to Equestria because my friends needed me,” Twilight chuckled. “So, I hear there’s a show that I’m in. What’s it called?”
“My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.”
“Yeah, that one.” She rubbed her hoof along the couch, looking at the screen. “Can we watch it?”
Murphy glanced at Twilight, pointing the remote at the TV. “Sure,” he said as he pushed the play button.