Prophetess’s Office
Margot had just returned to her room in the Royal Guest Quarters when a guard for the Prophetess showed up. He escorted her through the predawn coolness to a grey and gold tent.
“Is this her home?” Margot said while gazing at the tent.
The guard shook his head. “This is her office.” Then he pointed with his right forehoof at the door. Margot stepped through. Inside, the tent had the same color scheme, gray with accents of gold. The walls and floors were dark gray with golden edges. A large gray table was in the center of the room. Golden plates and candelabra sat on top. There was a gray chair on the other side of the table. The Prophetess sat on a chair with a plate of muffins in front of her. Margot sat in the chair and eyed the muffins.
“Go ahead, try one. They’re my favorite, Lemon Surprise,” the Prophetess said with a smile.
Margot used her telekinesis to grab a muffin and a plate. “How did you become the Prophetess?”
The Prophetess looked away for a moment and then looked back. “Please, call me Derpy. I was the mailmare for Ponyville until the Messenger of Oonté showed me what was coming for Equestria and how I could help. It has been quite the burden.”
Margot took a bite out of her muffin and was surprised as sourness blew across her tongue. What she’d thought was sour was just a pale relation to what she tasted now.
“I took my visions to Mayor Mare. She didn’t believe me at first, but after a bit she understood. She got a bunch of ponies to collect supplies and extend the escape tunnels under Ponyville. By then I had flown to Canterlot to see the Princesses. Luna did some sort of dream magic to fully see what I saw. After that they prepared for when the Gleaners would come. So many ponies were lost...” Derpy trailed off.
Margot finished the muffin with two more bites. Something about Derpy’s silence made Margot turn her gaze back to her. Derpy’s eyes were starting to focus on Margot.
“I can sense that you have the Sight. Maybe you could take my burden?” Derpy said while her eyes focused on Margot. She could feel that a vision was coming on, one that would hit her mind like a sledgehammer. Margot pushed away from the table. The chair hit the floor with a crash. For a moment, the room was quiet except for Derpy’s sobbing.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not used to seeing so much death. I know that you’ve been through so much. You you could handle it better than me,” Derpy said between sniffles.
Margot squeezed her eyes tight, she did not want somepony else’s burden. Images of the flying changeling head and the other terrible things she saw in Equestra returned to her mind’s eye. Margot had enough to handle.
“The Messenger said that Oonté doesn’t give ponies burdens they can’t handle. I should try harder to believe him. I’m sorry Margot. I will try harder to carry my burden. Don’t worry, I won’t share any visions with you unless you want to,” Derpy said while walking around the table to Margot. She opened one eye to look at Derpy, both eyes were back to being crossed. Derpy offered her left forehoof to Margot. Margot got up without Derpy’s help. The office was quiet except for Derpy’s hoofsteps as she walked back to her chair. Margot used her telekinesis to bring the chair back to its upright position.
“I would like to know how I got here,” Margot said while watching Derpy carefully. She was still somewhat angry that she tried to pass on her terrible visions. Keeping her eyes on Derpy, Margot sat in the chair.
“The Messenger saved you. Oonté has seen that your skills would be useful to Equestria,” Derpy said while grabbing a muffin.
“I would like to go home after I help find Fluttershy,” Margot said.
“Can you stay and help find Pinkie Pie? Then we can send you home,” Derpy said and gazed at Margot.
Going home was the first thing on Margot’s mind. Her employers at D-core did not like when agents went on unsanctioned missions. Also Empress Razorhoof was definitely a threat to Earth. The Empress said so herself. Then again, Equestria needed her help. Margot remembered another question for Derpy.
“The Empress mentioned another pony that was supposed to cause trouble for her. Who is it?” Margot said.
Derpy looked down before she replied. “The Messenger didn’t tell me the name of the other pony from your world, but he will arrive soon. You’ll need his help to free Pinkie Pie.”
“Do you know where Pinkie Pie is?” Margot said.
“Somewhat. When the Gleaners arrived, they attacked almost every city in Equestria. Celestia managed to send teams of scouts to look for the missing Elements of Harmony. Almost all of them returned empty hooved except for one team that found Rainbow Dash after Cloudsdale fell. Another team had been sent to the Melancholy Marsh, that is south east of here. It was called Saddle Lake in happier times. They never returned. That seems like a place where the Gleaners could keep Pinkie,” Derpy said.
“I had a vision of a pink pony crying in a place of sadness. Maybe that’s the place?” Margot said.
A royal guard in gold armor burst through the door then he bowed to the Prophetess. “We need Margot now so the Platinum Squad can leave!” He pointed his right forehoof at Margot. “You must leave with me now!”
Margot dug in her hooves, she was not going anywhere. “I’m sorry but I’m not done yet.” The guard looked at Derpy and then back at Margot.
“Margot, we’re done now. We can talk later,” Derpy said and nodded at the guard.
The guard turned and went through the door. Margot looked back at Derpy before turning to follow the guard outside.
He turned and faced Margot. “My name is Sure Strike. This sprawling tent city must seem confusing to you. I remember when it was much smaller.”
“How much has the tent city grown?” Margot said while passing by dark tents with busy ponies outside.
“Hah! It has exploded. I am surprised that we so far have enough food. I hear that they are going to start up some farms around here. We’re in the Noble Family section. The servants are out before dawn. Some of the market stalls are open now.”
“Really, it seems too early for that.”
“It’s never too early to earn a bit. Well that’s what my cheap plot uncle would say,” Sure said as they galloped by another set of large and dark tents. “This is where the wealthy and the guilds live. Some of the most wealthy ponies are in or are leaders of guilds. Have you noticed that the guild tents are near the airfield?”
“Yes,” Margot said while they cantered to the airfield.
“Some guilds have found ways to ship goods by air. It’s safer than using caravans. For some reason shriekers ignore flying carriages. This is where you have to go. Good luck on the mission,” Sure said and waved a hoof at Margot.
“Thanks,” Margot said. Inside the fenced off area of the airfield, large pink and gold carriages were lit by green lights on poles.
Margot’s attention was grabbed by Applejack arguing with a large red coated earth pony mare with green eyes and short cut blonde hair. She also noticed that the red pony’s cutie mark was of a silver and black hammer. The guard galloped off while Margot watched Applejack argue with the red pony.
“Ah don’t care if you are my second cousin twice removed! Ah want to be on one of those carriages!” Applejack said with narrowed eyes.
The red pony fired back. “With all due respect, Ma’am, it’s no can do on that request. Princess Luna has ordered me to not take you on this mission. After what happened to Rainbow Dash, the Princesses don’t want to have any of the Elements of Harmony in danger unless necessary. Do you wish for me to send a message to Princess Luna so she can verify my orders, Ma’am?”
Applejack’s ears and tail drooped. The red pony continued. “I and my team will execute our mission’s objectives and bring back your friend, Fluttershy. You’re invited to a party in our tent when she’s returned safely.”
“Ah wish you luck then, bring her back,” Applejack said as her tail and ears rose.
The red pony nodded. “Luck has nothing to do with it, but I understand your sentiment.” Applejack waved her left forehoof at Margot. She waved back.
“You’re the one called Margot?” The red pony said as she walked up to Margot.
“Yes Ma’am, that is my name,” Margot said.
“Well, my name is Blunt Force. I’ll be leading this mission. My squad, the Platinum Squad will do their best to execute the mission. We don’t appreciate anypony who threatens or interferes with our mission being executed. If you sense anything strange, make sure we know it too. Even if you aren’t totally sure. Are you clear on this?” Blunt said while peering at Margot.
“Ma’am yes ma’am!” Margot said. She had worked with different military groups for some missions, somehow this didn’t seem too different other than the pony part. Unless their orders caused things to get worse, Margot would follow them.
Blunt pointed to the first carriage with her right forehoof. “Good, you will ride in the first carriage. There will be briefings on the creatures in the Everfree.” Margot nodded then cantered to the carriage. She wished it looked more utilitarian. D-core transports looked like flying boxes, but they were armored and had weapons to protect the landing zone, not like these carriages. Margot hoped they had a wet bar or at least a snack bar. Her hooves clanged against the silver stairs as she entered the carriage.
Inside it was pink with golden highlights. There were dark brown wooden benches to Margot’s left and right. In the middle, was a dark brown table. Margot could see that the table had drawers along its sides. She figured that was where the snacks and drinks were. A green pegasus mare with a black mane and tail was pointing to several sketches on the top of the table. She rolled her blue eyes when Margot appeared.
“Really? I have to do the briefing over? Blunt?” The pegasus said while staring at Margot.
“No, Quick. Margot, this is Quick Fact,” Blunt said from behind Margot. On the other bench a bunch of familiar faces looked back. Skybreeze, Far, The SHC and Nga'Devro were there. Margot felt a light tap on her plot.
“Please take a seat. Daylight is a burnin’,” Blunt said. Margot took her seat.
A bat-winged pony mare with sunglasses looked through the doorway. “Y’all be ready?”
Blunt looked at Margot and noticed her surprise then she looked at the doorway. “This is Dusk Flight. She’s a thestral. Don’t call her a bat pony. We’re ready, Dusk.” Dusk nodded then she closed the door. Margot heard her tell the pegasi that were in charge of flying to take off.
Margot expected some sort of jolt or roughness, but the takeoff was smooth. She was too far from the window to see anything though.
“Since you’re late, you get the short version,” Quick said with a toss of her mane.
Blunt sighed. “Margot was on official business. Not sleeping. You can reduce the attitude.”
Quick looked away and back at Margot. “The Everfree Forest is mostly unexplored and there are probably creatures there that haven’t been seen before. I will cover the ones we know for sure. In its green depths, you could find Cockatrice, Manticores or even worse Timberwolves...”
Margot was not particularly interested in hearing about strange creatures. Something about the Platinum Squad’s attitude made her think that they would handle the threats with little help. Quick made sure that Margot knew that the Platinum Squad were professionals. When anything threatening showed up, Blunt and her team would deal with it. It basically boiled down to, “When the monster shows up, civvies stay out of the way.” After Quick finished her briefing there was an awkward moment. Margot looked away and hoped that the mission would start soon.