HEART walked down the hall.
It had been a day since the ‘Goo Incident’. Truth be told, it was quite funny how fast people would come up with a name to cement this silly event. Some might even say that this shows the kind of reputation the R&D made for themselves in the SPD. Probably not the most flattering one, but they worked hard for the reputation nonetheless, even if it was anything other than planned.
As HEART heard the soft whirring of the doors as they slid open she could see that the ‘Goo Incident’ was far from over. A good part of the department was still a glowing green, hampering the R&D team from finishing their respective workloads.
At one side of the room she could see Steam Gear standing with a sprayer which had a pipe leading up to a small tank with some liquid on it. He sprayed it on the goo and it seemed to slowly dissolve.
HEART was at this point glad that they had taken the samples of her saliva. It was the natural solvent for this gooey mess. Of course people weren’t that eager to get sprayed with a chemical which was nothing less than synthesised changeling spit, but it was better than the alternative of being trapped in a goo block.
She approached him slowly not wanting to disturb him while working, especially since she felt guilty about this whole mess. She was the one who asked them for their aid and equipment after all. Sure, the Goo Grenade was not her idea, but she didn’t stop them either.
“Hi there,” she greeted sheepishly.
However, he didn’t seem to hear her the first time. So she decided to give him a little poke, while repeating her greeting.
“Hi.”
Steam Gear this time reacted, slightly jumping in surprise. Seemed that he was lost in his thoughts, like usual.
He brightened slightly as he saw her.
“Hi HEART,” he said, but then sighed as he looked back at his mountain of work, “Seems like the first prototype of the Goo Grenade worked a little too well… We definitely need to adjust the goo production rate of the core so that it only envelops about four square meters at max.”
“I hope you and Fetch didn’t get into too much trouble because of it. I’m really sorry about that.”
Steam Gear just waved it off.
“We are the R&D department. It would be strange if we don’t have an incident a day,” he then shuddered at a thought, “even though Blood Rush might view that differently.”
HEART slightly giggled at that.
“I take your word for it.”
Steam Gear then got pensive and he winced.
“We probably didn’t make such a good impression on Dusk though, now that I think about it. I mean, her first trip to the R&D and she got trapped in goo and then sprayed off with changeling spit? I wonder if she would even want to come back after that.”
HEART had to wince herself now. He was right in a way. And the ‘Goo Incident’ probably didn’t help to make a first good impression. She could already feel her tension and nervousness around her before the grenade, and such a changeling based weapon probably didn’t help her opinion on changelings either. I mean getting trapped in goo right after meeting a changeling didn’t scream: ‘friendly intentions!’
“So she did know that it was spit?”
“Cele-, uh, HEART forbid! I was glad she DIDN’T know about this. Huh… Maybe she might really come back. She only thought she was slimed and not spat at after all.”
HEART’s lip twitched slightly in amusement until she noticed something about his vocabulary that confused her.
“Did you just replace Celestia’s name with mine there?”
Steam Gear nodded as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
“Someone told me that things like ‘Celestia forbid’ might contradict with my beliefs about nobles. I mean, I’m all for democracy, yet I use Celestia’s name like she is some godly being? It is kind of embarrassing after I thought about it. That’s why I’m currently looking for a replacement. And since you were just in plain sight… Probably not the best improvement, but I think of it still as an improvement now that I think about it. Had I known more nobles like you, maybe I would have seen things differently at our first encounter.” He shook his head. “I’m getting sidetracked now, don’t I? You probably had something to ask and I’m just here babbling about goo and linguistic patterns.”
She waved her hands placatingly.
“Nothing to worry about. I was the one who got you into talking about it after all. And I don’t mind a little small talk before getting down to business. But to get back on topic… I wanted to ask you for your help again.”
Steam Gear nodded.
“As long as it is not needed immediately. I think this cleaning will take us the rest of the day. But you can tell me what you need me to build and I can think it over while doing this work. It is rather monotonous after all. It probably would make it more enjoyable to think about something other than this!”
He waved his sprayer shortly over the retreating goo, indicating his predicament.
HEART nodded in response as she continued.
“Well, technically it has nothing to do with the equipment I ordered. I was more thinking about… Dusk.”
Steam Gear stopped moving for a moment and mulled over the thought. It took him some time to remember that she was a little nervous around HEART.
“About her being nervous?” he asked hesitantly, trying to confirm his suspicions.
HEART nodded glumly.
“Yes. I mean you know that I want to befriend all the people in SPD. One person at a time. And now I have set my eyes on Dusk.”
“I know, even though I can’t follow how I could help you with that.”
“You were once there Dusk stands now.”
“For different reasons,” he intercepted, “I doubt that she was wary of you because of a show of your wings and a frozen toaster.”
“Still… I think I could use some help to solve this. Two heads are better than one to solve a problem, and another view of perspective might just do the trick. We could try and make up a plan while working.”
“We?”
“Yes. I thought that I should help you and the others out since it started with my equipment. It’s not like I have anything better to do anyway.”
Steam Gear nodded appreciatively before he stopped his work for a moment to get another sprayer for HEART.
They then both proceeded the work to rid the R&D of its slimy shell.
At least until Steam turned to look at her and asked.
“So do you have an idea?”
“Firefly to Top Hat. Firefly to Top Hat. Can you hear me?”
“Top Hat here. Hear you quite clearly, Firefly. It is my equipment after all we are using. And what I built is as stable as a nuclear reactor.”
“That point is debatable, Top Hat. But more importantly have you located the target?”
“Yup, the crankshaft is set in motion.”
“...What?”
“The petrol vapour has sparked?”
“...”
“The wrench left the toolbox?”
“...So does this mean you found her or not?”
“*Sigh* Yes, I did. I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that you wanted to use code names but can’t even figure out the language that goes with the package.”
“I have no degree in engineering, so you can’t expect me to be on the same level regarding this topic.”
“...Oh, right. Uh, whatever. Important thing now is that she is approaching the front entrance. I will seek contact and commence the mission.”
“Understood, Top Hat. Good luck.”
“What could possibly go wrong? Top Hat, roger and out.”
And with that he took his first step closer to his intended target, who was just walking out the front door of the base. She was wearing her SPD uniform and seemed to have a light sheen of sweat on her coat.
Steam Gear could only hope that she wasn’t doing anything too strenuous, as this might jeopardize their plans. When push comes to shove he just had to use his puppy dog stare. An ability he had trained after he discovered it from foals and found the benefits to be quite intriguing. The power to convince others by just playing with one’s own facial expression was better than any mind control, and it was completely free of any charges. Sure, he hadn’t tested it yet, but it couldn’t be too hard to pull off.
With his contingency plan in mind he finally reached his target. He walked around her and in front of her, completely non-suspicious by the way.
“Hey, Dusk!” he tried to greet her with a genuine chipper smile. “Fancy meeting you here! Say, you wouldn’t mind helping me with a project, do you?”
“Huh? U-um, what is it?” Dusk asked, seeming to be in a bit of a hurry for some reason.
“Oh, just some teensy little project. Another level for the training simulator. Maybe you have seen it once before? That’s the one with all the nifty monsters and zombies you can fight in,” he said completely oblivious to her demeanor.
“How did… Nevermind, what do you mean?” She asked, stopping to hear him out.
“A parkour, combined with battles and a rescue mission.”
“Huh? And who would the rescue target be? And what would you be rescuing them from?”
His eyes suddenly gleamed in delight. His cheerful tone suddenly got as genuine as he had just tried it to be, maybe even a bit cheerier, as a huge toothy grin graced his features.
“Your job will be to save one of the most graceful fliers Rainbow Dash, who was kidnapped by the malicious Princess Celestia, also known as the Sun Tyrant. She couldn’t bear that there was a being with wings more beautiful than hers, and so she wants to keep her all for herself! Imprisoning her in a cage, while she can only wait like a true damsel in distress and wait in her pretty pink frilly princess dress for her heroes to save her from her woeful situation!” he finished as he dramatically draped an arm over his head. A gesture that would make Rarity proud.
Dusk just stared at Steam, her jaw hanging wide open in shock. “What!?” She shouted, not believing what she just heard.
“I know! I really outdid myself! Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t get a cutie mark in writing out such ingenious scenarios!”
Dusk chuckled nervously as she backed away from Steam gear very slowly. “O-oh really… How, interesting.” She said with an expression of pure terror before starting to run away towards the Everfree forest, “Sorry, but I’m going to be late! So I can't help you!”
“B-But-” he started to say as he saw her become a point in the horizon. “I never got to use my puppy dog eyes stare…”
Suddenly a chill went down Steam Gear’s spine. Something that felt rather chilly, almost like...killing intention? Nah, that couldn’t be right.
He sighed to himself, as he turned around to get back to HEART, as he bumped into someone.
Right before him stood none other than the prismatic mare that was just topic of his presented scenarios. A dark aura surrounding her form.
“H-Hey there!” he said, for some reason suddenly being nervous.
“What is this about the princess being a tyrant and me as a damsel in distress while wearing a pink frilly dress?” Rainbow asked, her voice sounding slightly strained.
Whatever some people might think about Steam Gear. He wasn’t dumb by any degree. He could build the strangest contraptions, even though some of them had the tendency to backfire. So he really wasn’t dumb, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t oblivious. So like the oblvious fool he was he instantly ignored all his instincts that told him to run and never come back. Instead he just got his wide toothy grin back as he swooned over his new project.
“The new parkour for the simulator! I was planning to publish it sometime in the future. You even got a main role in it! It is just like you said. You got all the main parts right. You got even your own speak role along the lines of: ‘Oh, save me, you brave heroes! The Sun Tyrant has kidnapped me to keep the prettiest wings for herself!’ I’m sure it is going to be a pretty big hit with the troopers!”
Rainbow Dash's eye twitched as her hands balled up into fists, the dark aura of bloodlust she was emitting tripling in size. It was enough that Steam Gear finally noticed the trouble he was in, even though he couldn’t comprehend why she was reacting in such a violent way and to what.
She just pulled her fist back as Steam Gear slightly backed away. There was no time to dodge, and he wasn’t the best at dodge ball anyways. Always got shot down as one of the first. But he had a secret technique he could use to defend himself. Probably the only thing he could use as he was not equipped inside of the base. It was not like someone was dumb enough to attack the base and take it over after all.
So with that he moved the muscles in his face and eyes, forming the perfect ‘Puppy Dog Eyes’ defence. Only a completely heartless beast would now hurt him, given that he now adorned the innocence of a foal. It was truly a foolproof plan.
And just like he predicted the fist stopped only moments before his face. Pride swelled inside of his chest.
“I really did it! The secret ‘Puppy Dog Eyes’ technique is mastered!”
But before he could revel in his success anymore he was feeling an arm on his shoulder.
“Are you alright?” an all too familiar voice asked.
He turned to could see the worried look on HEART’s face.
Steam only nodded. “Yeah, seems like I just stopped Rainbow with the foals technique ‘Puppy Dog Eyes’!” he exclaimed in a rather cheerful manner, such as he always did after one of his inventions or plans were an absolute success.
“Actually…” HEART started slightly hesistant, “I was the one who used a spell on her.”
That made Steam Gear blink. “A spell?”
“Yeah, the spell ‘Stop’. A time spell that makes all of her movements freeze for a limited amount of time.”
Steam Gear looked back to the stock still form of the prismatic pegasus.
“That is rather fascinating.”
HEART only shook her head.
“Not important now! What happened to Dusk?”
“Oh, right! She said she needed to go and took off like a jet towards the forest, which is kind of a pity since I’m sure she would have loved to play that scenario for the Simulator.”
HEART nodded curtly before taking off towards the Everfree Forest. She didn’t know why she was running straight into it, but she sure as hay didn’t want to see her get hurt in there. Sure, she probably could take care of herself, but that doesn’t mean that a little extra help could hurt.
Dusk sighed as she arrived at her destination, the old castle of the two sisters. “I’m here! Sorry for being late I got held up.” She called out.
Moments later a earth pony mare that looked like a much older version of Dusk stepped out of the shadows. “I see, so how are you doing?” The mare asked, a gentle smile crossing her features.
Dusk smiled as she ran up to the mare and hugged her. “I’m doing great, I actually managed to get in!” She said excitedly.
“Congratulations Dusk, me and your father are so proud of you.” The mare cooed as she stroked Dusk’s mane.
“Thanks mom!” Dusk said cheerfully.
The sound of a twig snapping was suddenly heard echoing throughout the ruins, ending the moment.
“I have to go now. I’ll make sure to tell your father about your achievement and we’ll come visit by train.” Dusk’s mom said before turning into a cloud of smoke with glowing yellow eyes as she backed away into the shadows before disappearing.
Dusk sighed as her mother left before turning around to face the entrance of the castle ruins and walking outside. “Who goes there!”
“Just me,” HEART said as she buzzed into view, landing near Dusk. “I heard from Steam Gear that you run off into the forest right after I saved him from Rainbow. So I thought I might as well take a look.”
“I see, so you just got here?” Dusk asked.
“Yeah, you could say that. It took me a bit to catch up with you.”
“So, what happened to Steam Gear? Last I saw him Rainbow Dash was going to send him to the emergency room.”
“Well, I just came in time to use a time spell on Rainbow, freezing her movement in time. It has only a short duration of effect, though. But I’m sure Steam Gear didn’t hang around Rainbow long enough for it to wear off, so he should be completely fine… Wait a moment. Did you just say that you saw that she was about to punch him straight into the medical wing of the base and you just walked away?! I mean, sure I know that he has his quirks and faults, but just to leave him in a dangerous situation like that?! What were you thinking?!” HEART fumed, her caring side taking over at the thought of her friend being abandoned to a beating like that.
“Um… Well, I was kind of in a hurry when he stopped me to ask if I could test his simulator idea. And since I was running late as well as the fact that I couldn't afford to get into a fight with my superior, I decided to run away.” Dusk said nervously as she backed away a bit, “I know it's not a proper excuse, and I’m sorry for leaving him, but what I was doing was really important. Sorry.”
HEART sighed. “I see... I’m not really sure if I can approve of this, especially as a superior with my position, but if it really was so urgent I won’t bother you about it. However this begs the attention just what you are doing at the Castle of the two Sisters. You shouldn’t venture into this place alone. It is dangerous!”
“Dangerous? How so?” Dusk asked as she walked alongside HEART away from the castle.
“You know, the usual schtick. Manticores, Timberwolves and what not. Sure a trooper is prepared for such things normally, but even the strongest can get taken by surprise. Pride has let to the fall of quite a few powerful beings. I include my mother in that. Don’t understand me wrong! I judge what she did back then! It was just a completely objective point of view to prove my point!” HEART suddenly rambled on in panic before she stopped herself to take a calming breath. “I… Sorry. It’s just that the sins of my race weigh heavy on me, especially as a princess. It is sometimes not so easy with my family. Mother especially. Sorry, I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
“It’s ok, I understand how you feel.” Dusk sighed, “My family is... kinda similar to yours in that aspect.”
“Heh. So also a bunch of trouble makers? Guess we both aren’t having it easy then.”
“Yeah…” Dusk chuckled nervously, “So if this place is so dangerous, why isn't there warning signs posted around it saying do not enter?”
“Because it is general knowledge around here. Also every Trooper gets the information about the forest as soon as they are enrolled. But I guess you didn’t read that information through, did you?” said HEART before giggling at the sheepish look Dusk gave her.
“Well, paperwork isn’t really my thing… Wow this is starting to sound like a catchphrase with how often I have been saying it lately.”
They both chuckled good humouredly at Dusk’s little joke. The little banter certainly lifting the mood and helping these two along to get on their good side.
But all good moments are meant to end sometime.
“Help!” Shouted what sounded like a group of fillies somewhere nearby.
Both of them shared a look before they started to run towards the voices.
The thorny shrubbery of the Everfree clawed at their uniforms as their hooves thundered through the night. their lungs burning with the fresh air as they could hear themselves nearing the distressed fillies.
As they finally broke through the shrubbery, Dusk stumbled at the edge of a cliff having seen it too late because of the thick forest canopy. Though HEART managed to grab her hand just in time and helped her to steady herself.
They could then see three small forms standing on the other side of the cliff. As they narrowed their eyes, they could make out the crouched forms of a pack of timberwolves, baring their fangs as they were eager to devour an easy meal.
It wouldn’t be long until they made their pounce. Problem here for Dusk was that the other side of the cliff was higher, making it impossible for her to jump to said side, not to mention that she couldn’t use her powers right in front of HEART.
“HEART! You think you can fly up there and distract those timberwolves while I attempt to get over there?” Dusk asked hurriedly.
HEART nodded, a bit of doubt in her eyes as she could not fathom how she would actually cross that cliff without the use of magic or wings. But time was of the essence, so she zipped forward towards the fillies, a spell already at the ready.
HEART would have loved to actually use one of her fire spells on the wooden beasts, but the close proximity of the wolves to the fillies, as well as the fact that they were standing on the edge meant that such spells could either harm the fillies or push them over the edge. She needed something more delicate, yet not too powerful as not to harm them. Something simple. And she new just what spell to cast.
“Blizzard!” she roared as she encased one of the mutts in ice, drawing all of their gazes to this new threat. She smiled at that. Seems like this little display worked well enough for her purposes.
But then the Timberwolves’ attention changed again as they began to growl threateningly at something behind her.
A body made out of shadows climbed up the cliff, it’s shadowy tendrils waving around threateningly as a pair of glowing yellow eyes peered over the cliff edge at the timberwolves. Just as HEART made herself to turn slightly, Dusk morphed herself back to her usual self, the shadow tendrils dissipating as quickly as they appeared. For all intents and purposes this made it look like Dusk just had climbed up the cliff wall.
“What are you looking at!? Keep your attention on the wolves!” Dusk shouted as one of the wooden creatures pounced at HEART.
HEART blew a raspberry as she summoned a lance of ice and impaled the creature.
“I have one eye at all times on the wolves,” she said as she disposed the body into the cliff, “There is a reason why I’m a trainer.”
“Showoff.” Dusk said with a smirk as the fillies were now staring at their rescuers in bewilderment.
“Just being honest. But you know, we might as well treat this as a training lesson. Training Scenario Number 13: Saving hostages from voracious beasts,” she said while swinging her spear in a wide arc. “Ready, when you are.”
“Understood, proceeding with operation.” Dusk said, getting serious as she flipped over the fillies and landed next to heart before charging straight at the timberwolves. She then gathered and formed the shadows around her into gauntlet like armor under the gloves of her uniform so they wouldn't be seen by HEART as she prepared to beat the sap out of the monsters.
“Rule Number One: Always keep your charges in your back,” HEART droned as they shielded the fillies, the wolves cautiously eyeing the two, before they started to bark at them. HEART could already see some other wolves try to use this distraction to get in her peripheral vision. A quick blizzard spell was her answer.
“Rule Number Two: Don’t neglect your sides.”
As if to answer the call, Dusk grabbed the pouncing timberwolf of her side by the throat, making it choke, before throwing it at the ones in front of her, making a few of them comically tumble back into the forest.
HEART nodded appreciatively.
“Rule Number Four: Intimidation over force. Wild creatures are driven by instinct. Show them you are a big enough of a threat and they will retreat since you are not worth the risk. It is especially useful if the enemy comes in superior number and defeating all of them might be a challenge.”
With that said she pointed her icy spear in the air before in an intimidating display roared, “Fira!” sending a pillar of flames into the night sky, which made the timberwolves fearfully step back.
Dusk chuckled to herself, a hidden irony to what HEART said in comparison to her own past as she made sure that neither the changeling or fillies could see her face for what she was about to do. Certain that it was safe, Dusk then allowed her face to melt into its shadowy true form… but then her glowing yellow eyes shrank and changed colors to resemble glowing red dots as the shadows making up her face parted to reveal a pony like skull as she hissed at the timberwolves, dark purple streaks of magic leaking from the sides of her eye sockets. “Begone foul beasts… Or face my wrath.” She whispered to the nearest timberwolf, causing it to yelp and run off into the forest with its tail between its legs, the rest of the pack following suit just before Dusk’s face reverted back. “Like that?” She asked HEART with a cheeky smile, allowing herself to face the changeling and fillies once she was certain that her face had completely reverted back so they wouldn't see anything.
HEART nodded proudly, while keeping her eyes on the retreating mutts.
“Yup, that’s good. And now we come to Rule Number Five: Stay alert, even when the wild beast has run of since it can be a fluke, closely followed by Rule Number Six: After the beast has fled, make a lot of ruckus, to ensure your dominance over this area.”
HEART was just about to fulfill that point she puffed her chest out proudly as she took in a deep breath for a mighty roar, until Dusk stopped her.
“Why don’t we just take the fillies home? The Timberwolves shouldn’t be back for quite a while…” Dusk said, jinxing herself and HEART.
Murphy decided that this was a good point to screw with them, as suddenly the large alpha of the pack stepped out from the treeline. Four timberwolves accompanying him.
He let out a loud howl and the four wolves beside him responded in kind as their magic overlapped and they broke apart to gather all the parts at their alpha.
As the morbid transformation of twigs and shrubbery was complete, the huge timberwolf loomed over the two rangers and their charges. Sap hungrily dripping from his wooden lip.
“...And that is why Rule Number Five and Six are important,” concluded HEART as she readied her spear.
Dusk readied herself likewise, not liking the situation just as much as being proven wrong.
However, just before the beast pounced a loud bang echoed through the forest, quickly followed by an explosion on the alpha’s body as it stumbled back.
Only seconds later a SPD Cruiser made Its way towards them, firing against the wooden beast, which howled out in pain from each shot that hit its mark.
The fire went on relentlessly while HEART led the fillies to the cruisers, with Dusk following behind. She was a bit surprised by the sudden appearance of the SPD. HEART who noticed that look shot her a smug grin.
“Rule Number Three: Always use a flare to call for help,” she stated, before adding, “The fire pillar was not just for intimidation purposes, you know. So win-win.”
Dusk had to smile at that as she looked at all the hard working rangers that were practically ripping the timberwolf apart as a team, like it was nothing.
The howls had went quiet as they were warmly welcomed by their teammates.
“Today sure has been crazy…” Dusk said once they finally returned to SPD base, the fillies having been returned to their homes for a heavy scolding. Heart and Dusk were currently filling out the necessary paperwork for the incident.
“Yup. It had been fun, and it also gave me a good assessment of your abilities,” she said while tapping the paper with her pen. “Now that I think about it, that was a neat hiss for intimidation, not to mention that you somehow managed to get over that cliff without much problem as an earth pony. Say…are you by any chance…”
Dusk’s heart skipped a beat. Sweat instantly forming on her brow as she leaned back from HEART in her stool. Would her identity be revealed so soon? Would she really fail so miserably at something her family succeeded in for years?
“…a changeling?”
Dusk immediately fell backwards out of her stool with a mighty ‘thump’ before slowly getting back up, giving HEART a deadpanned stare. “No, I’m not a changeling,” she said before getting back in her seat.
“...Are you sure?”
“Positive…” Dusk said as she returned to filling out paperwork. “And as for how I did those things, every mare has her secrets correct?” She then added, attempting to end the conversation and derail the changeling from attempting to discover her secret.
“A secret that enables earth ponies to hiss like a changeling or a thestral? Not to mention the feat of actually making your way across that cliff? Biology is not one of my weak points, you know. Changelings have an excellent education system in that area. We already learn the basics on body functions and reproduction in the first month after our hatching.”
“Uh… well, it has been nice chatting with you, see you later!” Dusk blurted out as she swiftly finished filling out her paperwork and skurried away.
HEART looked after the suspiciously quickly retreating mare. A curious glint now shining in her eyes, as a broad grin spread across her muzzle.
“Detective HEART is on the case!”