Laughing into the microphone, you look out at the crowd of bar patrons and run a hoof down the keys to the piano. “Well guys and gals, it’s getting to be that time again... At least, I think it’s that time again. I’m seeing four hands on the clock instead of the usual two... But regardless, I gotta get home.”
From out in the crowd of ponies, you hear a series of groans and pleads that just pull and tug at your heartstrings.
“Nooo! Come on!”
“Please don’t go, please!”
“One more song, Colonel! Just one more!”
You can’t help but chuckle under your breath from all the attention and place your hooves on the piano again.
“Well, maybe just one more,” you say with a bit of a blush. Taking a deep breath, you run your hooves along the piano and look to the crowd. “How’s the song go again? Hmm... Oh yeah!”
Playing a tune that you know everypony in the bar has heard you play at least once, you take a deep breath and sing into the microphone.
“When whip-poor-wills call... and evening is nigh, I hurry to my... Blue heaven. A turn to the right.... A little white light... Will lead you to my... Blue heaven.” By now, the crowd of ponies are all looking on and smiling as your hooves dance along the keys.
I’m gonna miss this... you think with bitter smile as you turn back to the microphone.
“You'll see a smiling face, a fireplace, a cozy room. A little nest that's nestled... Where the roses bloom. Just her and me... And baby makes three. We're happy in my... Blue heaven.”
As the song slows down, you let your eyes drift across the crowd, giving your friends one last show.
“We’re so happy in my.. Oh we’re so happy in my... blu-”
Your breath catches in your throat as you recognize a shape outside of the bar window that makes you let out a long, heavy sigh as you let the song trail off. Shaking your head, you get to your hooves and reach for your glass. “Sorry boys and girls, but now I really have to go.” Glancing at your half-full beer glass and then to the window again, you shrug and hold it up for all the royal guard and airforce in the crowd, both in and out of uniform. “But before I go, I wanna make a toast,” you cry out. In unison, the crowd of ponies reach for their glass and hold it high in the air, waiting for you to deliver.
“Here's to the army and airforce...” you say solemnly “And the battles they have won. Here's to Equestria’s colors... The colors that never run.”
You throw your head back as the crowd cheers and down your beer before letting out a long, satisfied burp and giving them all a final, drunken smile. “Well, I gotta go now folks! My mom’s been wanting to talk to me all day and if I keep avoiding her, she’s going give me forty lashes!” you say with a chuckle.
As you make your way out of the bar, members of the Equestrian Air Force rush forward, giving you pats on the back or a quick hug and their final goodbyes.
“We’ll miss you Colonel!”
“You enjoy yourself, okay?”
“Have fun with your retirement!”
Finally making your way past them and to the door, you hang on the doorway and tip your hat at them.
“Oh, you know I will! Nothing but sandy beaches and mojitos for this stallion!” you say with a toothy grin. “Look me up in Summerset Keys!”
You can hear the crowd give a final cheer as you close the door behind you and take a deep breath and start half-trotting, half stumbling down the empty street before stopping dead in your tracks.
“Hello Colonel,” a voice above you says, filled with nobility and s sense of power. “And how was your retirement party?”
Looking up, you let out a haggard sigh. “Hi mom, it was great” you deadpan as you fly up lazily to the cloud she was perched on. “Thanks for checking in on me. Sorry I wasn’t back by curfew.”
“Please don’t call me that,” Princess Celestia says as she sits down beside you. “I’m just-”
“You’re just doing what, ma’am? Constantly watching me? Second guessing everything I do? Asking where I’ve been, interrogating me? With all due respect, ma’am... If you’re going to start treating me like a kid, then I’m just going to have to call you ‘mom’ from now on.”
Princess Celestia’s jaw drops slightly as you start to dig into her before giving you a stern look. “Do not talk to me in that tone of voice.”
You can’t help but laugh aloud as you get to your hooves, looking up at the night sky. “Now you’re really sounding like my mother...”
Princess Celestia goes strangely quiet as she shifts restlessly on the cloud.
“With all due respect, ma’am...” you say with a hint of anger in your voice. “You really need to come clean with me. You’ve been at this for, what? A week now? What’s with all the subterfuge? I thought I gained your trust after all these years of service...” you pause for a moment before shooting her a glare. “And your friendship.”
“You did, old friend,” she says, almost sounding hurt. “I just... It’s a sensitive matter. It was important we made sure-”
“Permission to speak freely, ma’am?” you half-ask, half-demand.
Princess Celestia looks to you uneasily. “I... Well... Granted.”
“What is so damned important that made you doubt my service, my loyalty to you?” you ask angrily.
Princess Celestia looks to you for the longest time with those pale magenta eyes before letting out a heavy sigh. “I needed to make sure you are who you say you are,” she finally says. “After Queen Chrysalis’ attack on Canterlot, my sister and I agreed that we needed to increase security and make sure that we didn’t have a... traitor among us.”
“Are you serious?” you ask, half stunned. “You thought I... Why would you think that? What made you-”
“Colonel Trapper,” Princess Celestia said plainly. “You were close to him, correct?”
You can’t help but smile at that name. “Yeah, Trapper and I are good friends. We play poker ever frida-” A sudden realization dawns on you, making your mouth go unbearably dry. “No. You don’t... He’s not...”
“Yes... He is,” she says grimly. “We caught him; or the changeling pretending to be him, to be more precise, in my sister’s chambers, snooping through her belongings a couple of days ago. When confronted, the changeling revealed its true form and escaped through an open window.”
"What about the real Trapper?" You insist urgently, wings tensing. "The changelings got him as a POW, haven’t they? We gotta find him, we gotta-"
In one smooth motion the Princess cuts you off, reaching and wrapping her front hooves around you in a close hug. "...I'm sorry. We... We found him. I'm so, so sorry..."
Ice grips at your heart, spreading cold numbness throughout your body, making you sway in Princess Celestia’s grip. "He's..."
You pause and close your eyes as the grim knowledge settles in. "...How did he die?"
Celestia hesitates for a moment before pushing you back a little, looking down at you with those big, magenta eyes. "He... There were, well..." She sighs, pausing before looking you square in the eye. "...No more lies. We found him in his home, stuffed in the closet. His neck was snapped, but it wasn’t enough to kill him outright. He knew what hit him. The coroner said it would have taken hours before he died..." She trails off, shaking her head a little. “The changeling who killed Colonel Trapper... We know where he is,” Princess Celestia says as she gets to her hooves. “And I need someone I can trust to find him... And deal with him.”
“This wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when I thought about my retirement,” you say glumly. “Wet work, and all... I mean, why not use someone else? Someone trained in this kind field?”
Princess Celestia shakes her head somberly. “I assure you, if we had someone else, I wouldn’t be asking you to do this. All of our other operatives are either out in the field. under scrutiny, or out of commission."
“What about contracting mercenaries?” you ask hopefully “Or-”
“We can’t trust anyone at this moment,” Princess Celestia says grimly. “Not after an attack like this... Though we had an external contractor who specialized in this sort of work, but he’s been missing for almost a year now.” Princess Celestia says as she looks towards the castle. “I’m not going to order you to do this. You’re technically a civilian right now but-”
“I don’t need any more encouragement, ma’am... I know my place,” you say with a heavy sigh as you walk to her side. “And you know as well as I do that I couldn’t walk away from this, even if I wanted to... I’ll meet you in the debriefing room at 0100 hours,” you say as you take off for Canterlot Castle. “Besides, I really couldn’t turn this down. I owe Trapper thirty bits. I’m sure a little wet work will cover it,” you say with a weak laugh.
You fly off as fast as your wings will carry you to the castle. “I’ll make this right Trapper,” you say as you blink back tears. “I promise.”
--------------------------------------------
The blue mare in the lab coat scribbles on the chalkboard as she quickly explains more about changelings. “Weaker changelings can’t keep their form under high stress, but all changelings will revert back to their true form when exposed to alteration magic of any kind, like a simple spell to change eye color or to regrow hair.”
Leaning back in your chair, you look up to the ceiling as you rub the sleep from your eyes.
“Now, Changeling physiology dictates that-”
Groaning out in frustration, you bring your hooves down on the table, startling the mare in the lab coat. “Is this all really necessary? Why are we going over all of this again?”
“Now colonel, you said yourself you don’t know that much about changelings,” Princess Luna says as she flips through an open file. “All of this will help you in your mission, so let Doctor Dala continue.”
“But you haven’t even told me where in Equestria I’m going yet,” you point out with a heavy sigh. “All of this scientific banter and drivel is just putting me to sleep. Can’t we just-”
“Ponyville,” Princess Celestia says abruptly. “You’re going to Ponyville, where my pupil, Twilight Sparkle is staying... And the rest of the Elements of Harmony.”
You blink in surprise as the gravity of the situation hits you. “Did anyone else feel the weight of the world fall on their shoulders?” you ask as you slump back in your chair. “This mission has gotten a little more serious now, so I can see why you’re prepping me so much.”
Princess Luna nods quickly as she slides the file over to you. “Yes. We want you to have every advantage and piece of information available to you so you can track this changeling down and deliver swift judgement.”
“That’s another thing...” you say as you open up the file Princess Luna gave you. “You’re really giving me the green light to end this changeling’s life? You don’t want me to take him alive for questioning?”
“This changeling in question is dangerous and has proved he’s willing to kill. Taking him alive would prove to be a challenge, but also great asset in our war against the changelings,” the white unicorn in the royal guard uniform says with trepidation. “But if push comes to shove and you have to protect yourself, then lethal force is advised... I still can’t believe it,” he says as he brings he runs his hooves through our manes. “I mean us. At war with the changelings.”
“I don’t like it anymore than you do, Shining Armor,” Princess Luna says with a heavy sigh. “But this war isn’t like the one we had with the gryphons or the dragons... This war isn’t fought with steel and sword, but with subterfuge and shadow. And our enemy has the advantage...”
The room goes quiet for a moment before you cap your hooves together, startling them all. “There is a distinct lack of optimism in this room,” you say say plainly. “Remember, we held our own against the dragons, and the gryphons, and we’ll sure as shit handle these changelings. Now, I have a plan,” you say as you get to your hooves and move Doctor Dala away from the chalkboard. “It’s really complicated and it will require a lot of careful planning... I’m going to go to Ponyville and I’m going to catch this changeling.”
For a moment, everyone is dead silent before Shining Armor speaks up. “...That’s it?”
“Elegant in it’s simplicity, isn’t it?” you say with a chuckle.
“Colonel, forgive my bluntness,” Princess Luna says as she rubs at her brow in frustration. “But you’re just going to find a creature that can mimic others in a town full of ponies?”
"They killed Trapper." You say explain rather plainly, creating an awkward silence in the room. "You want this changeling found? Let me at 'em. I've always played it by ear and it's always worked for me. The only difference now is that I have a little more incentive to hunt down this bastard."
Princess Celestia grins a bit before regaining her steely composure. “Alright then... I think we’ve spent enough time briefing the colonel about his target and what to expect... We should move onto his cover story, don’t you agree?”
Princess Luna nods and points at the file. “Since you’re going to be taking in the role of a new pony, you need the proper paperwork. I’ve taken the liberty of procuring you an identification card, flier’s license, passport, and three ponies that will identify themselves as members of your immediate family if asked,” she says with a self-satisfied smile. “Your name is Flare Chaser. You specialized in search and rescue operations while serving with the New Colt City Fire Department before retiring. However, you served as an instructor for the New Colt City School of Hazardous Flight for over three years before moving to Ponyville.”
You blink a few times in complete shock. “Wow.,, You really didn’t pull any punches when coming up with a new life.. How did you manage to get this together so fast?”
“I can answer that one,” Shining Armor says as he pulls out a stack of files like the one Princess Luna had passed to you. “You see, we have a number of cover stories prepared ahead of time for our agents should the need arive. It doesn’t take long to fill in the blanks.”
“Well color me impressed... So, where am I staying in Ponyville? Got a house all picked out for me?” you ask as you look over your picture in your new identification card.
Where the hell did they get a picture of me with this goofy smile? you think as you hide the identification card under one of the other
“The Ponyville Post Office,” Princess Luna says plainly.
“Wait, seriously?” you ask in surprise. “I’m staying in the post office?”
“Yes. You see, a pegasus by the name of ‘Boxxy Brown’ recently quit as manager of the Ponyville Post Office, claiming that he couldn’t deal with the ‘undisciplined, lazy, and incompetent’ employees, as he put it. We have secured you the job as manager of the Ponyville Post Office, so this presents us with an interesting opportunity.”
At this point, Doctor Dala perks up and coughs into her hoof. “That’s where I come in,” she says as she reaches into her coat and produces an odd looking, bulky flashlight with a midnight blue lens on it. “You see, The natural magic that allows the changelings to assume a different form can essentially ‘rub off’ onto certain surfaces. The ones we have confirmed that you can detect with this alternate light source are as follows; carpet, wood, paper, and concrete.”
Taking the flashlight from Doctor Dala, you flick it on and off a few times before nodding. “Okay, I think I see what you were talking about, Princess... If the changeling in the city tries to send anything in or out, they gotta go through the post office. Either that or a dead drop..”
“I thought you said you didn’t know much about wet work...” Princess Celestia muses aloud as you move back to your seat.
You find yourself snickering as you lean back in your chair. “No, but I’m a big fan of spy movies. I’ve seen every 007 movie ever made at least twice.”
“This is not some game nor is it some B spy movie,” Princess Luna says, sounded insulted. “And anything you learned from those movies will get you killed if you think it will help you in your mission. You are officially an undercover agent. There are some rules you need to live by if you are going to do this right and stay alive, now pay attention... These are what are known as ‘The 10 Stalliongrad Rules’... First and foremost, assume nothing. Misinformation can be your greatest enemy. Second-”
“Never go against your gut,” you interject, making Princess Luna’s jaw drop slightly.
“Y...Yes,” she says in dismay. “W-Well, as I was saying, the third rule is thus; e-”
“Everyone is potentially under opposition control. You are never completely alone. Go with the flow, blend in. Vary your pattern and stay within your cover. Lull them into a sense of complacency. Don't harass the opposition. Pick the time and place for action. And last but not least, keep your options open. Did I get them all?”
Princess Luna looks to you in wide eyed horror. “How do you know the Stalliongrad rules? By heart, even?!? I designed these core tenants to help train the best known agents and they are supposed to be classified, known only by deep cover operatives, sleeper cells, and why are you laughing, ‘Tia?!?”
Princess Celestia desperately tries to stop laughing, but burying her face in her hooves does nothing but send her into a fit of giggles. “I-I-I’m sorry...” she breathes out. “I-It’s just... Luna, I’ve been telling you, things have changed.” she says as she wipes away a tear. “The Stalliongrad Rules ceased to be classified information after the Shadow War with the N.M.R. and Equestria entered The Golden Age... I’m sorry dear sister, I was about to tell you...”
Princess Luna lets out a heavy sigh and folds her hooves into her chest as she falls back into her chair. “Great... Next you’ll be telling me that the decoder ring technology I designed are nothing more than a child’s plaything.”
The entire room goes silent, save for an awkward cough from Shining Armor as he keeps looking to the floor.
“Oh come on!” Princess Luna says as she throws her hooves up in disgust. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room, making sure any other top secret espionage tools haven’t become known to the world...”
With that, Princess Luna storms off, fuming and cursing under her breath.
“Uhh... Is she going to be okay?” you ask the rest of the ponies at the table.
Princess Celestia gives you a reassuring smile. “Oh, she’s just still trying to catch up... A lot changes over the span of a thousand years and she’s still having trouble adjusting... At least she isn’t speaking in the royal voice or in third person anymore...” she adds, under her breath.
Clapping your hooves together, you look to everyone with a smile. “Well... I think I’m ready. Lemme just pack up the essentials and I’ll be ready to ship out in the morning. I’ll catch a train and be there before lunch.”
Shining Armor gives you a nod before getting up and making his way for the door. “Well alright then... If everything is taken care of, then I should go, Cadence is waiting for me.”
“Very well then,” Princess Celestia says as she follows Shining Armor out the door. “I wish I could see you off, but it might arouse suspicion if you’re seen with me. But I give you my blessing and wish you safe travels, old friend.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” you say as you gather up the file that contained your new life. “I’ll just-”
“Uh, could I have a word with you?” Doctor Dala says as she stops you in your tracks. “Take this as well.”
Slowly, she reaches into her coat and gingerly pulls out a glass tube with a viscous fluid in it. “And what pray tell is this?” you ask as you hold it up to the light.
Doctor Dala gasps aloud as you go to shake it and reaches out to stop you. “Don’t don’t don’t don’t!” she cries out. “You might trigger the spell or cause an unstable reaction!”
You immediately stop and look to her nervous. “Unstable. I may have dozed off during chemistry class, but unstable is a word that stuck... What did you just give me?”
“It’s something I and the rest of the Research and Development team have been working on,” Doctor Dala says as she fiddles with her glasses. “It’s called a spell tube. The liquid inside stores magical energy that is used by those runes you can see on the inside caps. With just a little shake, it casts the spell, in this case an alteration spell.”
You blink in surprise as you look at the little tube in a new light. “Alright... So, what does it do?”
“Shake it from left to right if you want to change the color of your coat and shake it from right to left to change back,” she says as she mimics the motions she describes. “If you want to make your voice sound different, shake it up and then down and down and then up if you want to change it back.”
“Well that’s just handy, that’s what that is...” you say as you tuck it inside your coat gingerly. “I’m sure I’ll need it for what I’m doing. Thank you Doctor Dala.”
As you turn again to leave for the second time, Doctor Dala reaches out and stops you. “P...Promise me...” she says weakly.
“Wha-”
“Promise me,” she says louder this time. “Promise me you’ll catch the son of a bitch that killed Colonel Trapper...”
You look to Doctor Dala in shock as her eyes start to tear up. “Y...You knew Trapper?”
Doctor Dala nods quickly. “Yes... W...We were well... We were supposed to get married.”
“I’m so sorry,” you say as you giver her a comforting hug. On the inside, you were doing your best not to laugh.
Oh Trapper... You old dog, you... No reason you wouldn’t talk about your ‘special lady’... She’s young enough to be your granddaughter...
Letting go of her, you look her in the eyes and smile. “I promise. Trapper was a good friend of mine... I’ll have him rotting in the Canterlot dungeon faster than you can say habeas corpus.”
Doctor Dala looks to you with a wide smile. “Thank you,” she says before giving you a quick peck on the cheek and disappearing out the door with a bashful smile.
You can’t help but blush as you rub your cheek where she kissed you. “I think I’m going to like being an undercover agent...”
--------------------------------------------
Your eyes flutter open slowly as the soft droning sound of your alarm clock stirs you from your slumber. You grope around your nightstand for the alarm before slamming your hoof down on it and silencing it.
6:30 already? Damn...
Your joints sound like someone is stepping on packing peanuts as you roll out of bed and stand shakily on your hooves before stumbling towards the bathroom. You run a hoof along the wall for a light switch and let out a painful grunt as the light shines brightly in your eyes, as if the sun had personally decided to visit you this early in the morning.
Looking into the bathroom mirror, you look yourself over like you do every, but something stops you from starting your usual morning routine.
When did my mane get that gray? you ask as you run a hoof through your hair. How do I not notice something like that?
For the next half an hour, you look over your mane and start combing it in all sorts of different. “Dear Princesses above...” you say with a frustrated sigh. “I look like someone’s grandfather.”
You are someone’s grandfather... a little voice reminds you.
Grabbing a bottle of mouthwash, you take a swig of it and swish it around. At least I won’t be seeing anymore of the ex-wife anytime soon... you think with a bit of a smile.
Spitting the mouthwash into the sink, you turn the faucet on and splash some water into your face. You’re growing old... a little nagging voice says from the back of your mind. You shouldn’t have taken this mission. You could be on your way to Summerset Keys by now, sipping little bottles of airplane booze. You should let someone younger do this. Someone who can do this.
“I can do this,” you say with renewed vigor. “I’m going to do this. I’m gonna find that changeling S.O.B”
Grabbing a hold of the bathroom towel, you dry yourself off and make your way for the closet.
“Now then...Let’s show ‘em what this old stallion is made of...” you say with a wide smile.
--------------------------------------------
“Alright... I got my suitcase...” you say as you walk across the train platform, making sure you had everything you need. “More than enough clothes... My ID, my passport, flier’s license, ticket... more than enough spending money... And this...”
Holding up the envelope again, you try to wrap your head around the contents, but knew it had something to do with the mission. All it had on it was the words “Happy Birthday Flare Chaser”.
Tucking it inside your coat pocket for now, you make your way to your train and pass the conductor your ticket before climbing inside the train car.
And so it begins... you think in disbelief. I’m officially on a mission.
Grabbing a hold of your suitcase, you throw it into the compartment above you and sit down with a sigh of relief. “Alright... Let’s crack this puppy open,” you say as you move a bit closer to the window.
Opening up the envelope, you aren’t too surprised by the birthday card within; a simple one bit store card with the picture of a birthday cake covered with candles and the words “Make a wish!” on the front. covered glitter. However, the inside turns out to hold something much more than a birthday wish. Pulling out your reading glasses, you squint your eyes and do your best to make out the tiny writing.
Mission Objective: To locate, apprehend the changeling hiding in Ponyville
Secondary Objective: To protect the Elements of Harmony from Changeling transgression
Your Cover: You have the job at the Ponyville, this has already been established, but what you don’t know is that you will be monitored as the new manager... A district manager by the name of Lightning Bolt will be looking over your shoulder constantly while you’re working there. Keep up the charade for as long as possible and give him the air of a confident and competent worker and you’ll be golden.
Your Handler: As with any agent, you are expected to report to your handler with your findings, your suspicions, and your reports. Your handler will meet you at Sugarcube Corner at exactly 12:15 PM, outside on the patio. She’ll have her back to the wall and today’s newspaper open in front of her. You are to sit down at the table she is at and say the phrase “It is such a beautiful day today, is it not?”, to which she’ll respond with the phrase “Yes, the weather team really have really outdone themselves this time.” This will identify her as your handler. And one last thing; don’t be late. She respects punctuality.
Your Informant: The only pony you need not suspect of being a changeling is my sister’s pupil, Twilight Sparkle; the Element of Magic. She’s already been cleared of any suspicion and has been informed that an operative will be coming to Ponyville, but she does not know who. I suggest you only contact her if you require her expertise, her knowledge, or her magic if it comes right down to it and your handler approves. When you seek her out, ask her for the book “Crepusculum Opportunus Nox Noctis”. She’ll immediately know who you are and what your purpose is.
All I can say is to stick to your cover, listen to your handler, and fall back on the Stalliongrad Rules when you’re unsure of your next move. It may have fallen out of use in my absence, but there’s a reason all of my operatives followed them... They work.
Good luck Colonel. You have my blessing.
Signed,
Princess Luna
Un-squinting your eyes, you rub at them furiously as you tuck away the card. Damn, how did she manage to fit all that on that tiny card? you think as your eyes start to re-adjust. As you put away your reading glasses, a thought dawns on you.
So... I have a handler... you think with a growing smile. It’s official. I’m an agent.
Your smile slowly starts to fade as your thoughts turn towards Trapper. “You probably would have laughed at the thought of me as an agent, Traps,” you say under your breath. “Probably would have just called me ‘Double Zero’. But that’s how you a-... Were. You always busting my chops. But that’s how you worked, too. You would have told me that I would probably get my tuxedo stuck in the grappling hook... And you would have told me I was the worst agent out there.” By now you were talking below a whisper. “You... You said stuff like that because you know I’d go out of my way to prove you wrong...”
And I’m going to prove you wrong again. You think as you tighten your grip on the hoof rest. I’m going to be the best damned agent out there, Trapper. Count on it.
--------------------------------------------
As the train approaches the brown earth pony, you get to your feet excitedly and leap over the sleeping stallion sitting next to you, without even stirring him from his sleep.
Either this guy’s a heavy sleeper or this old stallion still has some moves you think with a hopeful smile as you reach for your bag in the overhead compartment. Just as the train touches on the brakes, a thought crosses your mind as you stare at the sleeping stallion.
Stepping into the empty seat behind you, you lean over it and whisper into his ear. “Hey, the train ride is over. Time to wake up.”
As soon as the last word leaves your mouth and the stallion starts to open his eyes, you quickly duck back into the aisle so you’re walking by the stallion as he turns to find an empty seat beside him. “T...Thanks mate,” he says with a yawn. “I don’t usually doze off like that, but-”
He stops as he looks around at the empty seat and looks out into the aisle. “Bugger me! How’d you move so fast?” he asks as you make your way off of the train.
“Old Guǒ-xià secret!” you yell out with a chuckle.
As you step onto the station platform, you can’t help but take a deep breath in and smile as you look up at the cloudless sky before making your way into the streets of Ponyville. “Ahh... Ponyville... Hasn’t changed in all these years...”
Sugarcube Corner’s definitely gotten a makeover since Angel and Marble Cake handed it over to their son... And it looks like the old dress shop’s got a new owner... And I don’t remember all of these houses being here before... Wow...
“I guess Ponyville has changed...” you say aloud.
“What do you mean by that, mister?” a young colt says, startling you out of your trip down memory lane. You look down at the blue colt and give him a smile.
“Well... I used to live here,” you say plainly. “I haven’t been here in a long time, though. Things are different then from what I remember...”
“Ohhh...” the colt says as he walks besides you. “Does that make you sad? You know, with things being different and all.”
You shake your head. “No, not at all. I’ve been around the block a few times and I’ve seen a lot change in my life and I learned that’s what happens when you get older. Things change. And it really doesn’t bother me.”
“Really?” the colt asks in disbelief. “I don’t know if I would be happy if everything just sort of...changed.”
“Well just look on the bright side,” you say as you stop in front of the Ponyville Post Office. “Places may change, but ponies don’t.”
You look around for the little blue colt, but he was nowhere to be found. “Huh... Guess his mom called him...”
You push it to the back of your mind as you make your way into the Ponyville Post Office and start smiling from ear to ear. It looked exactly the way you remembered it when you were a kid, right down to small crack in the front desk, where a jasmine pegasus sat, playing with her blue mane.
“May I help you?” she asks idly as she flips through a magazine.
Setting your bags down near the door, you walk up to the desk and lean over her. “Are you supposed to be doing that while on the job?”
She immediately looks up to you with a scowl. “What’s it ya? Who do you think you are?”
“I’m Flare Chaser,” you say sternly, yet calmly. “And I’m your new boss.”
She immediately changes her tone and throws the magazine entitled “Weather Team Weekly” to the ground and gives you a sheepish smile. “Oh, um, uh... Hi. S-Sorry, I didn’t-”
“Just don’t do it again,” you say as you step back from her desk. "I'm fine with you reading, but don't do it when there's work to be done. Like your desk, it's a mess."
Raindrops nods quickly as she grabs at the papers hurriedly. “Y-Yes sir,” she says weakly. “Sorry sir...”
“Don’t sweat it,” you say with a reassuring smile. “I’m not as big a jerk as you think I am. Just-”
Before you can go any further, a high pitched scream followed by a heavy thud makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. But what really gets your blood boiling is a hearty laugh.
That was all you needed and within a second, you were off like a shot towards the scream and what sounded like a stallion.
“Oh come on, Derpy. I’m sure you’ll catch it this time!”
Bursting into the room, you find yourself staring at a heavyset black stallion holding a box above his head as he looked down at a crying gray pegasus across the room who’s blonde mane was stained with the smallest trace of blood.
“JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!?” you bellow, shocking the black stallion enough to make the box slip out of his hooves and fall onto his head.
“Wha-”
“YOU BETTER ANSWER ME SON, ‘CAUSE I’M A HAIR AWAY FROM BREAKING A FOOT OFF IN YOUR ASS!”
The stallion looks to you nervously as you walk closer, until his back was pressed up against the wall. “I was just-”
“JUST WHAT? JUST ABOUT TO THROW SOMETHING ELSE AT THE LITTLE LADY?”
The black stallion goes completely silent as he tries to squirm away from you.
“Get the hell out of my FACE!” you yell as you push him towards the door. “Consider yourself on a week’s suspension, no pay. NOW GET!”
“You can’t do that!” he screams back as you push him out into the streets of Ponyville.
“I’m your boss and if you try to argue with me, I’ll make it two weeks. Now get out of my sight.”
You and the black stallion stare each other down before he gets up and starts to walk away. “Just wait until my dad hears about this...”
“Yeah, you tell him you got suspended for hitting a lady! I’m sure he’ll understand!”
With the black stallion finally out of sight, you slam the door and turn to Raindrops, who was practically shaking in her seat. “Is there a first aid kit?” you ask with a heavy sigh.
She simply stares at you dumbly as you look around the office.
“Well!?”
“D-down the hall, on the right,” she says shakily.
“Thanks,” you say as you make a dash for it.
You quickly find the first aid kit and rip it off the wall before galloping back to the room where you left the gray pegasus.
“How bad is it?” you ask as you rush to her side.
She looks up to you with her big gold eyes as she holds the side of her gingerly and feel your heart sink. “Oh my gosh, did he do that to your eye?” you ask as you tilt her head back. “Does it hurt?”
“N...No,” she says weakly. “It’s always like that.”
You give her a funny look before opening the first aid kit. “Well... Alright. Now hold still while I clean and patch that up.”
Taking out one of the antiseptic sprays, you hold it up to her and show her it before shaking it vigorously. “Now this might sting,” you say before spraying it along the quarter-inch gash in her forehead.
“No one usually stands up to Thunderbolt,” she says calmly as the spray hits her wound.
“Why not?” you ask as you take out a package of steri-strips. “Bullies back down when you do.”
The gray pegasus flinches a bit as you apply the steri-strips. “They don’t stand up to him because his father is the district manager.”
“Oh, that doesn’t have me worried... ” you say as you help her to her hooves. “I’m Flare Chaser, by the way. The new manager.”
“I...I’m Ditzy Doo...” she says as she stares deeply at you before gazing out the window. “And... I gotta go, if you don’t mind... I’m not feeling so well.”
“Sure, take a day off,” you say as you lead her to the front door. “You’ve been through a lot.”
“Thank you,” she says weakly. “I’ll be in tomorrow.”
As Ditzy makes her way out of the post office, you glance at the clock above the door and grimace. Damnit... Almost noon...
“Raindrops, can you hold down the fort while I’m gone? I gotta meet someone in a bit.”
“I can’t, I mean... Um... Okay, I guess...” she says as you make your way out into the streets of Ponyville.
--------------------------------------------
Looking out at the group of tables in front of Sugarcube Corner, you find only one table that was close enough to be to the wall.
“Empty?” you ask under your breath. “Don’t tell me I’m late...”
You fish your pocket watch out of your coat pocket and hold it up with a sigh of relief. “12:14... Guess I’m early.”
Taking a quick glance at the table, you blink in confusion as you find yourself staring at a pony with their back to the wall and newspaper held open, obstructing their face.
“What the...” Glancing back at your watch, you find simply shrug as the time reads 12:15. “Guess it’s time...”
Walking up to the table, you sit down in front of the pony and clear your throat. “It’s such a beautiful day today, isn’t it?”
The pony is quiet for the longest time and for a moment, you think you approached the wrong pony, but she finally speaks up. “Yes, the weather team really have really outdone themselves this time.”
Wait a minute... I’ve heard that voice.
Slowly, Ditzy Doo lowers her newspaper and folds it before giving you a smile. “Hello colonel... It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”