//------------------------------// // Chapter four: Interviewed by a Unicorn // Story: Mass Effect: The Spectre in the shadows // by Equestriasservant //------------------------------// James's POV Haven't these ponies ever heard of bloody Privacy?! Here I am, tied to a bedpost, completely naked and they just barge in?! Who in the name of sanity does that? Mind you they did close the door when I shouted at them. Though I don't suppose that's done anything for my position. At least they have decency. When they shut the door, I made sure I'd covered the lower part of my body with the blanket. It was rather clumsily done however. Trying to cover up oneself with a blanket whilst your wrists are tied is a difficult process. It makes you very clumsy. After settling myself on the bed, making sure I was covered properly, I called out for the two ponies to come in. There was a pause, before the door slid open slowly and the two ponies walked in. "How're you doin' partner?" Asked the Stetson-wearing pony asked, setting the tray she had been carrying on the table. Glancing at it, I noticed that the small bowl was full of what appeared to be a thick, porridge-like substance. There was also an Apple and a small glass of water. "Oh that's for you sugar-cube." The Orange Pony said, smiling encouragingly. I grinned back at her but didn't take the proffered food. I'd had enough experience from drugged food to trust eating any food these ponies gave me. The farm-pony frowned. "What, ya don't want it?" She asked sounding insulted. I shrugged, which only seemed to aggravate the farm-pony. It was then that I noticed the other pony standing by the door. Unlike the orange-pony, the other pony had a coat of bright purple fur, with a darker purple-mane. A horn was sticking out from between the folds of hair. A Unicorn? Now I knew I'd gone nuts. But...despite the sheer impossibility...there she stood, her head tilted to the side, an mixed expression of wonderment and fear across her muzzle. It was clear she found me as curious as I did her. I gave a small wave. "AppleJack...What in...I mean..." The Unicorn stammered, taking a step back. Damn it...Guess I'm still as imposing as I thought I would be. AppleJack turned to the Unicorn, smiled at me uncertainly before plodding over to the Unicorn. The Farm-pony lent forwards and whispered in her ear, though whatever she was saying was obscured by an orange hoof. "AppleJack, what about the..." The Unicorn clearly wasn't as worried about privacy as the Orange pony was. She listened to the hurried whispers before smiling rather uncertainty at me. "H-Hello there." The Unicorn stammered, managing to take a shaky step forward. "My names is T-Twilight-Sparkle." I gave her another small wave, trying to make myself less frightening. The Unicorn took another step forward, slipping the notepad and pencil out of her saddle-bag. I sighed pointedly. "What?" Asked Twilight-Sparkle, looking up from her notepad. "Your a new kind of creature. Judging from the armor, I'm guessing your intelligent so I just want to ask you a few questions." I nodded, noting the gleam for knowledge in the Unicorn's violet eyes. "I can't answer all your questions." I said coolly trying to ignore the piercing gaze of the farm-pony, who'd retreated to the side of the bed. Before the Unicorn could ask the question I knew I was coming, I went on. "Look, most of the stuff you wanna ask is classified. By Alliance rules I'm only able to give my name, rank and platoon number." The Unicorn stopped writing and looked up at me. Both her and AppleJack were now looking at me as though I'd suddenly sprouted two heads. "What?" I demanded, feeling slightly unnerved by the staring. Twilight put the notepad on the floor, resting the pencil on top. I could see the Unicorn was concerned. "Listen," I began again, leaning forward slightly. "My name is Jame. I'm a human and Spectre, on a mission for the Citadel council. Could you at least direct me to the nearest Quantum communication center? Oh and I could use my armor as well." The two ponies stared at me, Twilight's mouth hanging open in surprise. I sighed, feeling my rapidly dissolving patience take another nose-dive. Twilight wrote something down on a second piece of paper, before she turned to look at the Orange Pony, looking worried. "AppleJack," The Unicorn said quietly. "Could you run and give this to Spike. Princess Celestia needs to see this...thing." The farm pony, AppleJack, looked at me, seemingly concerned. "I won't do anything AJ. I just want to ask him some questions." Twilight-Sparkle said soothingly. AppleJack tipped her hat and walked out. Once Twilight had made sure that the orange pony had gone, she turned to look at m, an expression of intense concern on her face. "Listen," The Unicorn said slowly. "I don't know what a human is, nor do I have any idea what a Spectre is." I felt my heart beginning to sink. "If you want to speak to any-pony in government, then Princess Celestia is the Alicorn to talk to." I frowned. My panic must've shown on my face because the Unicorn suddenly moved closer to me, giving me an encouraging smile. "But it's okay, the Princess will be able to help you out. She's the most knowledgeable Pony I know. " I sighed, leaning back, my mouth very dry. I licked my lips, trying to control the panic building up inside me. "Here." said Twilight. The horn on-top of her head began to glow with a violet light. The ropes bound around my wrists loosened, then snapped off. I stared. This Unicorn was a biotic. It was either that or...No. It wasn't possible. This purple pony could use magic. I stared at the Pony, now feeling incredibly dizzy. The horn glowed again. The glass of water floated up from the food tray and over to me. Trying to ignore the impossibility of the glass being levitated over to me by magic, I took the glass with a nod of thanks and gulped it down. The Unicorn smiled at me uncertainly, clearly unsure whether or not to say anything. I smiled trying to put the pony at ease. I guessed she was the type of pony who loved to know anything and everything about a new type of creature. Getting back on the subject of questions could be a good way to go. "Listen...Twilight, was it?" The Unicorn nodded, smiling slightly. "Do you mind if we go back to answering questions. I can't give you anything to do with my military or my Spectre brothers. But...I can give you some things. Little things about my people and that. Would that be okay?" Twilight nodded, already using her...magic to hold the notepad and pencil in front of her, that hungry gleam back in her eyes. Her smile had widened to the point of being slightly manic. "Oh joy." I thought to myself. "What have I gotten myself into now?" Canterlot Castle Princess Celestia sighed in bliss as she sipped on the steaming mug of Drinking-Chocolate. The day had been filled with such a large amount of paperwork, so much so, that the Alicorn's mind was still buzzing, full of facts and figures. Normally, Celestia would've tried to focus on the ever-famous counting-the-sheep trick. Though this time even that had failed her. Luckily, many of the chefs stayed up through the night and were always happy to provide her with a large mug of the delicious drink. With three sugar cubes. The chefs had even offered to send up a slice of her favorite cake. Eating a big slice of cake always cheered her up when she'd had a tough day. But she this time she'd restrained herself to the Hot-Chocolate. Besides, if the newspaper got hold of the fact that she'd been cake-snacking again, the Princess would never here the end of it. "POOF!" Celestia frowned as the small letter appeared in front of her, bouncing off the mug and rolling to a stop in front of her. Pulling her snout from the mug, Celestia used her magic to open the letter. Celestia smiled, holding the letter up with her magic whilst she took another hot swig. She recognized Twilight-Sparkle's writing. The Princess always looked forward to a letter from her favorite Unicorn student. Even if it was just another of the friendship reports. "Dear Princess Celestia. I hate to disturb you at this time of night but a grave situation has arisen. AppleJack has discovered a strange creature. It claims it is called a human that goes by the name of James." Celestia's eyes widened. The Mug fell from her grasp as the previously enjoyed Hot-Chocolate sprayed from her mouth. The Princess, coughing violently, stood up, ignoring the drink dripping off her muzzle, Celestia raced to the balcony doors, which burst open at her command. Spreading her giant white wings, the Alicorn took flight, flapping her wings to gain extra speed. "Humans? Here?" She thought wildly, fear bubbling up inside her at the very thought. "Why here? Why Now? I have to get there before Twilight gets hurt."