//------------------------------// // Conspiracy Unearthed // Story: Marionettes // by Godzillawolf //------------------------------// Twilight had never expected she'd have a reason to wish her castle had a dungeon. Then again, if it did indeed have one, she might have just not found it. Instead, Cover Story and Gear Shift were placed in magically manifested cage in the throne room...inside the strongest barrier spell she was capable of casting once her mana replenished from frying Cover Story's fail safes, along with a 'jam any form of communication' spell. The Princess of Friendship had already told Mayor Mare that the fight between Rainbow Dash and Gear Shift had been taken care of with the Princesses contacted and the guard didn't need calling (as Trixie had given them that warning that'd be a bad idea). It'd taken a lot of discussion to convince her, including making it clear Rainbow Dash hadn't started the fight and the stallion was impersonating federal officers rather than being them. The lights were currently turned down with a lamp pointed at the two agents. Trixie and Lightning Dust both looked at their enemies intently, the former's exposed optic lighting up her face in the dark. Gear Shift remained stone faced, but was clearly trembling. Cover Story, on the other hand, looked angry, conflicted...in some ways broken. “Alright, fess up! What the buck is going on?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, glaring daggers at them with one hoof controlling the lamp. “Is this all really necessary?” asked Twilight, an unamused expression. “Pinkie and Rarity both got to interrogate somepony, let me have this!” the Element of Loyalty pointed out. “Besides, I'm in the Wonderbolt Reserves, so I'm the closest thing we have to a cop.” “She has a point,” Pinkie Pie pointed out happily. “Fine...where did you get the lamp?” “Oh! I have them stored all over Ponyville in case of lamp emergencies!” the pink party pony exclaimed cheerfully. “You will not get anything out of me, Rainbow Dash,” Gear Shift replied, but his voice had a slight tremble to it. “Rainbow Dash? Not Miss Dash?” Rarity replied, her eye for detail showing itself. “You're a lot more shaken than you want us to believe, aren't you, darling?” Gear Shift's eyes widened, but he tried to regain his stoic composure. Cover Story simply pulled a bottle of saltwater from his jacket and downed it, not looking at the heroes or his partner. “I thought you did a search on them, darling...” Rarity commented to Twilight. “I did...” Twilight muttered, pointing to a rather good sized pile of spy gadgets nearby. “It was hard to get everything off HIM with a metal detector spell because he's MADE of metal!” “What do you want with Trixie?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, leaning in close to the barrier with the lamp. “And what's with all the robots?!” “Why do you care?” Gear Shift questioned, evenly. “Because Trixie is our FRIEND, that's why!” the cyan pegasus replied, her voice and face resolute. Cover Story's eyes went in her direction. “...And so is Lightning Dust.” “...Thanks Dash...” the turquoise android replied, blinking in surprise. “No prob.” “...We're Marionettes...” Everypony looked to Cover Story as he threw his emptied bottle away. Spike gave an annoyed sigh. “...I'm going to have to clean that up, aren't I?” “Cover Story!” Gear Shift yelled, the agent looking shocked. “We swore we'd never tell anypony agency secrets!” “You swore.” The pegasus looked shocked. “What?” The unicorn android glared at him with clear rage, making sure his exposed mithril casing was in plain view. “You swore. You chose. I was just programed to think I did. Or programmed to take it without knowing why...Tartarus, knowings some of the things the agency does, maybe you really didn't either...” he muttered, producing another bottle of saltwater. Gear Shift's face went pale at that possibility. The fact he didn't seem to have a counterpoint made everypony (and dragon) else in the room nervous. “But...I remember you taking it...” Gear Shift stuttered. “Yeah, and it's not like the agency hasn't given somepony fake memories to fit in a Marionette before, is it?” Cover Story asked, causing Gear Shift to take a step back. “So forgive me if their version of things sounds more appealing than the agency's and I prefer the idea I'm a pony instead of just a hunk of metal and wires...let's at least hear them out...” he spat, downing the whole bottle, seeming to realize he didn't need to actually breathe and thus not doing so. He growled and threw it away. “...At least we finally found out why I can't get drunk, even when I really want to. Saltwater is just coolant to me...” Gear Shift gave a disturbed and troubled look. “It...it was for the g-greater g-good, Cover Story...” No pony noticed the Cutie Map flash faintly turn an angry red for a second, too focused on the two agents. “...Then maybe you should just call me G4EA072.” With that, Gear Shift couldn't look Cover Story in the eye any longer. “Coolant?” Twilight questioned. Cover Story nodded, turning his attention back. “The mana engines the G4 Marionettes run on cause heating problems, so they're programmed to seek out cold fluids when it starts getting too intense to be used as a coolant. The G5s are going to fix it.” “Well that explains that,” Lightning Dust replied, drinking another glass of water, one of many she and Trixie had drunk since the battle. “What about food?” “Food's just for appearances, or taste I guess. We get all the power we need from ambient mana in the air fueling the mana engine. We can use food for an extra power source if needed, but we generally don't...Now, let me ask a question...” Cover Story replied, producing a third bottle of saltwater. “Why do you have so much saltwater on you?” Rainbow Dash asked, blinking in confusion. Pinkie Pie simply turned the lamp in the other direction for Cover Story's question. “You try doing this job and not wanting to be buzzed half the time...not that I can even get that...” the gray android explained bitterly. “...G4T-...Trixie wasn't on the train when it arrived at Ponyville Station, so there's no way she could have beaten us here without help...How did you know where she was to rescue her? For ponies who barely know a thing about this, you seem to have unusually good timing.” “Cutie Map told us,” Rainbow Dash replied simply. The two agents looked at each other. “Cutie Map?” was Cover Story's response. The two hadn't exactly been in a position to take a good look at it, what with the huge showdown followed by the revolution, and being locked in a cage within a forcefield. “Map the Tree of Harmony gave us that sends us on missions, came with this castle,” the cyan pegasus replied. Twilight was about to reply they probably should have kept that their little secret...but then she saw Gear Shift's head shot up with a look of complete shock on his face. “T-Tree of Harmony?” the pegasus agent stuttered, looking around the room before his eyes fell on the map, seeing the Cutie Marks of the Mane Six floating over the castle. “The T-Tree of Harmony gave you that map? It told you to save G4T01 from us?” “Uh, yeah, that's what I just said, duh,” Rainbow Dash replied in annoyance, rolling her eyes. Twilight, seeing an opening, used her magic to move their prison closer to the map. “Last night the Map told Rainbow Dash to go to Rainbow Falls, then the location started moving until she met Trixie half way and saved her. Now it's telling all of us to be here.” Twilight then blinked, noticing something strange. Trixie's Cutie Mark suddenly appeared floating high above the castle, all of the marks blinking. Gear Shift's eyes went wide. “That's new...” Trixie blinked, looking to her own Cutie Mark (well, the intact one anyway). “Trixie's Cutie Mark isn't glowing...then again, Trixie's Cutie Mark isn't real...let's save that existential crisis for later...” “Maybe the Tree of Harmony is trying to tell us something?” Fluttershy asked, looking at it. Twilight stared for a moment...then gasped as Trixie's Cutie Mark flew down and joined their own, the other six Cutie Marks seeming to form a circle around hers. “...I think it wants us to protect her.” The Cutie Marks kept blinking. “...Help her?” Fluttershy asked. In response, the Cutie Marks stopped blinking and settled into place. “I guess that's the answer...but why would the Tree of Harmony be contacting us like that now?” the Princess of Friendship questioned. “...I think it's mad...” The room's occupants looked at Pinkie Pie, who looked at the map intently. “Isn't it obvious?” the mare asked, as if it was crystal clear. “...Well her sister is Maud Pie...” Applejack pointed out. “Ah think we can trust her on this one...” “N-No, why would it...” Gear Shift stuttered, backing away from the map like it'd burst into flames. “You must be getting it wrong! We've been doing its will! Why would it be mad?!” “Doing its will?” Trixie questioned, Lightning Dust raising an eyebrow. Suddenly, the Map began to pulse an angry red for a few moments, lighting up the dark room, before quieting down. “...Okay, Pinkie's right, I think you guys clopped the Tree off,” Rainbow Dash replied. “And I didn't even know it could get clopped off...” “...This...this doesn't make any sense...” the pegasus agent said, looking like Twilight when Celestia had arrived to chastise her over the Smartypants Incident. “...Yes, it does...” Cover Story interjected, a look of realization on his face. “...Remember the Oracle?” Gear Shift's face suddenly made Fluttershy think of Discord after he'd realized all the evil things he did working with Tirek had been for nothing. “No...She...she had to have been lying to get away...that's what the Director said...” “Oracle?” Twilight questioned. Pinkie turned the lamp back at the agents. “The Tree of Harmony's seer,” Cover Story explained, looking to Gear Shift as the pegasus seemed to be having a breakdown. “Her name is Gypsy, she came to us years ago...at least that's what they say. She sees visions from the Tree that we've been using to dictate our plans...but she's been saying the Tree of Harmony didn't sent her to us for that and was growing angry...we believed she was just trying to convince us to let her go.” Trixie got a surprised look. “...Is Gypsy an orange unicorn?” she questioned. “Yes...” “Trixie has seen her in her dreams...” “Crazy alien abduction machine coming down at you with her and two goons like them watching you?” Lightning Dust asked, blinking in confusion. “Yes, exactly,” the azure android replied, looking at her wide eyes. “I thought that was just me watching too many body snatcher movies...” the turquoise android muttered, giving a shudder. Twilight ran over what had been said in her mind as Trixie asked her own question. While it was a good one, a bigger one than just what this mare looked like stirred in her mind. “'Get away?' Why would your oracle want to 'get away?'” “...Because we don't let her leave,” Cover Story explained, seeming to have no delusions about what he was saying. “I think she hasn't left our HQ for as long as either of us can remember...” Rainbow Dash's response was to slam both front hooves into her face. “So you're holding the Tree of Harmony's bucking seer against her will when she tells you to your faces it doesn't like what you're doing and you're surprised it's clopped of at you?!” Rarity put a hoof to her chin. “But if it's angry with you, why keep sending her visions?” “S-She said...she said 'a rabid dog is safer on a leash'...” Gear Shift finally spoke. He backed up to the corner of his prison, shaking like a leaf. “If...if she was telling the truth...then that means...all the things we did...they...we have to tell the Agency!” “...They didn't listen when the Tree told them to their face through the Oracle, why would they listen to us, partner?” Cover Story questioned. “Let's face it...they didn't listen...WE didn't listen because we didn't WANT to listen.” “W-We can bring them here! Show them the Cutie Map!” the gray pegasus said frantically, looking desperate. “So they can try and force it to show them what they want to see like they did her?” the android agent replied. “Why should we think they'll do anything different?” “...Zealots tend to become more fanatical the more their views are threatened,” Twilight lamented, remembering Starlight Glimmer. False Cutie Mark or not, Starlight was a zealot if there ever was one. “...What ARE your beliefs exactly?” Gear Shift fell to his haunches, looking broken. “...To safeguard the path of Fate by any means necessary...To ensure the brightest future for Equestria...To do what's best for its protectors.” Cover Story looked to the group. “...We've been trying to ensure that Gypsy's visions go one hundred percent accurate, among other things...no matter what we had to do...” “But...but if the Oracle was telling the truth...we've made a terrible mistake...” Gear Shift muttered, not raising his head. “...'Many are the paths of fate, both good and bad. We cut our own path with our choices, to deny choice is to deny fate'...She told us and we wouldn't listen...” Twilight then had a horrible realization. “...Just what HAVE you done to ensure that?” Cover Story looked to Gear Shift. “I don't know about you...but without my fail safes screaming 'don't think about it' in my head like I'm sure they have, it's starting to really sound like we're the bad guys here.” The pegasus agent looked over to the Cutie Map. He noticed it flash red. “...Please...tell me, what do you want me to do?” he pleaded, sounding desperate. It reminded Twilight of her and Celestia at times. Gear Shift's eyes went wide as his Cutie Mark appeared in the map (though his own did not glow) and joined the others circling Trixie's. The pegasus' face became one of guilt. “...Do you have a yearbook for the School Gifted Unicorns from Sunset Shimmer's year?” Princess Celestia sat in her room peacefully, sipping tea, when a wisp of green flames came through the window and manifested into a scroll. She gave a smile, picking it up in her telekinesis, she opened it and began reading...her eyes going wider and wider as she kept reading. Her tea cup fell to the floor and shattered. The two agents flipped through the pages of the yearbook, the lights back on. “So, when are we telling Princess Celestia about this?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “I already sent her a letter, but the letter that came back said she couldn't write openly where she was and she'd contact me with more information as soon as she could...” Twilight replied with a disturbed expression. Celestia had never delayed a message like that before... The duo finally stopped their search and handed the book back through the bars and barriers. “Say hello to Generation One Trial Series 01, or G1T01 for short,” Cover Story explained. The entire group gasped, especially Trixie. The image in the book had a different mane style, but there was no mistaking it. The pony in the book was the spitting image of Trixie herself. “It's Trixie...” “...Not exactly...” Gear Shift explained, voice still shaking. “..The Director believed that the AI would work for what we had planned for you, so they just put it in a Generation Four body and wiped the memories...” “Wow...I need to remember to put more candles on your birthday cake for your party, Trixie!” Pinkie Pie commented, producing one of her 'party files' that were normally kept in her 'party cave' beneath Sugar Cube Corner and doing some editing. “Indeed...Trixie is older than she thought...” Trixie admitted, but showed clear shock. She gave a shudder at the knowledge an entire portion of her existence had been wiped from her memory. “And this agency has been active for much longer than I thought...” Twilight said, looking shocked...and a little scared. The others' expressions were similar. “The agency noticed Sunset's growing arrogance and pride, recognizing it as something that could make her a danger rather than Equestria's new savior as everypony hoped...” Gear Shift explained. “Our prime directive was to ensure Equestria's heroes would be able to defend it. So G1T01 was created to humble her. To be a rival she'd have to work to overcome rather than conquering every challenge she faced with ease, thus the Trial in the name...it was a miserable failure. The G1 Marionettes lacked the mithril armor and the mana engines, so they had to rely on manual recharging. G1T01 had the power to challenge Sunset, but burned through her energy reserves too quickly to keep up and couldn't take the damage their confrontations naturally resulted in, so it did little more than boost her ego more.” “Okay...I hate to say I see where you were coming from...but I see where you were coming from...” Twilight begrudgingly said, feeling like she was just being shown the tip of the ice burg. “Sunset really did need her ego popped, but making a sapient being just to do it is completely wrong.” Trixie frowned sadly, pinning her ears. “...Trixie isn't very happy to learn that is why she was born...She was just a thing to pop someponies ego?” Twilight put a wing over her back. “And that's exactly WHY it's wrong...you're a person, you shouldn't be born to be a tool.” Trixie gave a shaky smile. “Thank you, Twilight...Although...” The Princess of Friendship blinked. “What?” The android suddenly got an excited smirk. “It just occurred to Trixie...if she's a robot who can get new bodies when needed, that means she's immortal!...Trixie has always wanted to be immortal!” Twilight simply gave a small smile and rolled her eyes. Cover Story cleared his throat, or at least made the sound of it. “It wasn't until the Oracle came that our current plans were made...She told us that an event was soon to happen at Cloudsdale that would change fate forever and we should witness it. The first three G3 Marionettes had just been created, so it was seen fit to deploy them to take a look up close and personal...as well as try to humble and teach compassion to a young pegasus who seemed to have all the talent in the world to become a bright beacon for the future but an ego that made us nervous...” As they spoke, Rainbow Dash's face grew more and more horrified. “No way...that...that can't be!” “...Dumbell, Hoops, and Score. G3T01, G3T02, and G3T03...” Gear Shift explained, giving a sigh. “Yes, those were Marionettes...we put them in adult bodies to use later after realizing how important you might be...After they ended up triggering the Sonic Rainboom, that's when our leader began to believe it was our job to enforce fate, not just help it along as the Oracle said...in addition to teaching heroes lessons and humbling you as we'd originally intended.” The cyan pegasus looked horrified...then furious “So...so the reason Fluttershy and Gilda were getting picked on was because you jerks made bullies TO pick on them?!” “Not us, we weren't around then, but the agency, yes...Honestly I thought you'd be angrier that we made your Sonic Rainboom happened...” Gear Shift admitted, giving a blink. Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Yeah right, did you strap rocket thrusters to my flank to make it happen? No. I'm more clopped off my friends got hurt! I mean yeah, I had an ego, but take that out on ME not on them!” “Had an ego?” Applejack questioned, trying not to look as disturbed as she was, getting a flat look from the pegasus. “...So, that's how you chose to do all of this...what did you do to 'enforce fate'?” Twilight questioned. “...Brainwashing, more Marionettes...false memories...You name it...” Gear Shift explained, his face becoming racked with guilt and eyes going back to the Cutie Map. “All doing what we thought the Tree of Harmony wanted and making sure you all learned your lessons and didn't end up like Sunset Shimmer...among other things.” “...Darlings...did you...brainwash us?” Rarity asked in horror. The rest of the group's expressions quickly joined hers. “...Yes...we did. The spell is called Reflection Deflection, it can alter or erase memories, but anything but short term memory loss or hypnotic suggestion requires a team of unicorns to perform.” The group shared a look of horror and violation. Their memories...their choices. Had been tampered with. The thought made them all pale. It was Trixie and Lightning Dust's turn to put a hoof on shoulders in comfort. Both of them surprised themselves in the process. “...And for one of those...I think I owe you an apology, Rainbow Dash, G4T-...Lightning Dust...” Gear Shift admitted. “...Especially because I was personally involved...” The two pegasi looked at one another in confusion. “What did you do?” Rainbow Dash questioned, narrowing her eyes. “...We decided to create a Marionette for the purpose of teaching you an object lesson about standing up for your beliefs at the Wonderbolts Academy...and it worked...but...” Gear Shift couldn't look her in the eye. “...Lightning Dust didn't get expelled...She thanked you for popping her ego and humbling her...but that wasn't what was 'supposed' to happen. We couldn't have a Marionette being a Wonderbolts hopeful or your close friend...So we altered your memories and rewrote hers...the Wonderbolts and other students too. I was in charge of that operation...I'm sorry.” The two pegasi stared in shock and horror. “You WHAT?!” both asked simultaneously. “...I thought I was doing the right thing...I thought I was ensuring everything went as it should...” the agent looked down at his hooves. “...Maybe how things went originally was really the best way and I turned it into something worse...I'm sorry, I didn't know...” “So...so those dreams weren't dreams?” Lightning Dust questioned in shock. Rainbow Dash's eyes became filled with anger...then cringed and gave a cry of pain. “Ugh...my head...” “Rainbow, what's wrong?!” Twilight asked, rushing to her side, the others joining her quickly. Rainbow Dash stood with her leader pin, Lightning Dust next to her with a wing pony pin. The two were standing with the other cadets back at the Wonderbolts Academy. “You sure you're gonna be okay with this?” Rainbow Dash questioned. The turquoise pegasus nodded, looking much more humble. “I was out of control up there. You did what you were supposed to do: let somepony know about it.” Rainbow Dash's eyes opened wide. “What...what was that?” “The memory altering spell breaking down is known to cause headaches,” Gear Shift explained. “It can only effect memories that the victim aren't aware are fake, so it begins breaking down when they realize it.” “Well...NOT COOL!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Lightning Dust's expression matched her. “...I know...” Gear Shift said, lowering his head apologetically. The group was not comforted very much by this knowledge. Quite the opposite in fact. “At risk of sounding paranoid...because I believe I am...” said Rarity, stepping forwards and taking a deep breath. “Just how many Marionettes are there?! Who's one?!” the mare asked, going into her hysterics. “Are our families real?! Is Sweetie Belle a robot?!” Cover Story shook his head. “No, she's not, Miss Belle...” “...Gilda?” Rainbow Dash asked with dread in her tone. She gave a sigh of relief when he shook his head. “...Wind Rider?” “No...I'm afraid that was a shock to us too. We had nothing to do with that...I know it may be difficult to believe me, but we're not responsible for every jerk you've run into.” Rainbow Dash kicked the wall in anger. “Buck!” “Before you ask, Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, and Starlight Glimmer are all very real,” Gear Shift said preemptively. “What about Garble?” Spike questioned, getting in on it. “...I suppose a list might be in order...” [=Weapons Factory – Super Mario RPG=] A unicorn mare sat at a desk in a bleached white, sterile looking room with a large picture window showing the sky behind her which seemed to be moving. The only other details one could find were the white desk she sat at and a large painting of a blue crystal tree on one of the walls. A Neighton's Craddle clacked monotonously at the desk next to a nameplate labeled 'Director,' being just off the beat enough from the clock's ticking to sound like an echo. The mare herself had completely white fur and an onyx black mane and tail done up in the same style as Cover Story and Gear Shift. She wore an identical black suit, the only difference being the golden pin on it. She also wore black glasses, the only difference being hers had pointed edges. The only other unique feature in her appearance were the featureless black shoes she wore. The unicorn's horn glowed white as she took a paper from an 'In' bin and put it on the table in front of her, read through it, stamped it, and placed it in a 'Out' bin. The took another from the In bin, looked over it, stamped it, and placed it in the Out bin. Over and over, forming an almost mechanical rhythm with the cradle and clock ticking. As this continued, the mare's expression remained stoic and emotionless. Even bereft of boredom or annoyance. One might as well have been looking at a statue instead of a living, breathing being. This monotonous drone continued for several moments before the door swung open and another, blue furred agent with a crescent moon Cutie Mark was drug in by two others, all dressed identically to Cover Story and Gear Shift. The blue stallion was set before the mare. “Director Masquerade, we-” The mare held up a hoof, but did not look in their direction. Instead, she openned desk drawer and methodically flipped through the files with her telekinesis before finally levitating one out and placing it before her. “Agent Crescent. You recently allowed a Changeling to escape. You also failed to perform the Reflection Deflection spell on the ponies they had interacted with. Why?” the mare asked, her speech an almost mechanical monotone. She seemed to have an accent of some sort, one that just felt strange. Putting the accent on the wrong syllables. That is if it was an accent and not a speech impediment. She didn't look directly at Crescent, merely slightly tilted her head up as if she was peaking up at him. The stallion tried to remain stone faced. “Director, the Changeling wasn't harming anypony...they seemed to be just trying to live. The other ponies knew he was a changeling and said they shared their love with them to sustain them. I didn't feel it was right.” The Neighton's Cradle finally came to a stop. Masquerade slowly rose from her chair and trotted over to Crescent, her hoofsteps sounding almost stiff and ridged. The agent shivered as she looked at him from behind her black glasses, expression never changing. “Did you report this to your supervisor? Before acting on your own.” “N-No, Director...” “Why?” “I...I didn't think they would believe me...” “I see...” Masquerade took off her sunglasses, revealing icy blue eyes that made Crescent tremble. Not because of malice. Not because of anger. But because of nothing. He felt like he was looking into a doll's eyes. Her blinks came, but they were few and far between. “Agent Crescent. You are a simple field agent. Not an elite agent and not a supervisor. It is not your job to make such decisions,” the mare recited, never once slipping out of her ridged, emotionless manner of speaking. “We are all cogs in a machine. Each cog must do it's job without fail or falter. If a cog is not doing its job. If this is not so, the entire machine falls into disarray and fails.” “I-I know, I just-” “Cogs that do not function as they should must be repaired. Or replaced.” Masquerade looked to one of the other agents. “Take him to the re-education room.” “Yes, Director,” the agent replied, dragging the stallion off without any change in his expression. “No! Not that! Please!” Crescent begged but received no mercy, merely being dragged away. Masquerade watched these events without a single change to her expression. No hint of malice or sadism graced her expression. She replaced her glasses and turned her head slightly to the other agent. “How are Agent Cover Story and Agent Gear Shift doing on their mission?” “They sent G4T06A and G4T06B back last night, director,” the agent reported. “They also reported they discovered G4T01 and are pursuing her.” “Good,” replied the white mare, methodically trotting back to her desk without looking. If she felt any satisfaction from that report, it was impossible to tell. “We can begin Project: Siege soon. Alert me if any more details come out. And send a new agent to deal with the Changeling sighting, properly this time. We cannot permit Equestria to learn the Changelings are still at large. Not yet.” “Yes, Director.” The agent left, returning the room to it's solitude. Masquerade pulled back the Neighton's Cradle and let it swing at just the right moment to echo the clock's tick, and resumed her paperwork as if nothing had transpired. The group stared down at the list they'd received of all currently active T-Series Marionettes, Spike sending a copy along with the other information they'd gained to Celestia as well. G3T01- Dumbell G3T02- Hoops G3T03- Score G4T01- Trixie G4T02- Silver Spoon G4T03- Diamond Tiara G4T04- Jet Set G4T05- Upper Crust G4T06A- Flim G4T06B- Flam G4T07- Iron Will G4T08- Lightning Dust G4T09- Suri Polomare G4T10- Svengallop G4T11- Trail Cutter G4T12- Well to Do G5T00A-G- King Long Horn and his gang G5T01- Unknown. “...Am I the only pony not surprised Well to Do was a robot made to be the bad guy?” Rainbow Dash questioned, finally breaking the resulting disturbed silence. “Why?” Lightning Dust asked, cocking her head as Trixie looked over the list of their 'siblings'. “He was a Captain Equus villain!” Rainbow Dash replied. “Right down to the 'destroy nature for no reason!' thing.” “In our defense, that scheme was meant more to humble the deer than do anything to you...” Cover Story admitted, sheepishly. “But on that note, what the buck are those two...former bullies doing being robots?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “They were causing our sisters trouble, not us!” Cover Story looked at three angry siblings. “...Heroes of the future. You're not the only ones Gypsy suggested have a great potential destiny...” “...You're lucky Scoots and her friends didn't get hurt...wait, what about their parents?” Gear Shift looked away. “...False paper and brainwashing...” Rainbow Dash's face went pale as a sheet. "I hope those two aren't in danger," Twilight wondered out loud. She was afraid for the other Marionettes on the list, where they being rounded up like Trixie was? “But...how can...how could Iron Will be...” Fluttershy stuttered, looking utterly shocked and disturbed. “He was...defective...” said Cover Story, his expression making it clear he realized how that sounded. “He was intended to be far more aggressive than he turned out...they could never...work it out...” “He has a FAMILY!” the cream pegasus replied. The two agents blinked and looked to each other. “He does?” Gear Shift questioned, eyes wide. “Yes, I've met his wife and son!” “...The son is obviously not his biologically...but we did lose contact with him for awhile after Ponyville...he must have met her then...He was just recaptured a little while ago.” “...We need to stop this...” Fluttershy said, suddenly surprisingly serious. “...I don't care if he's a robot, he loves his family...” “...Were you the sidewinders that made Rara do something she didn't wanna do?” Applejack asked, rage suddenly in her eyes as she looked at who G4T10. “No...She as already being twisted that way. We just put Svengallop in position for a lesson to be learned...we originally intended for him to be used to help Pinkie get her key, but Cheese Sandwich beat us to it...” Gear Shift explained, growing more and more distressed as this went on. “They re-purposed him.” “...Then yah didn't twist her into something she's not...” the farm pony replied, seeming to grow angrier by the moment. “Yah took advantage of her!...Guess Ah owe that guy an apology, it wasn't his fault.” “...And I'm sorry...” “And what's this about Long Horn?! What the buck was Ah supposed to learn there?! He attacked mah FAMILY!” “...G5T00...were a mistake. A terrible mistake...you were supposed to learn how to deal with a villain who operated inside the law....but...” the agent turned away from her in shame. “G5T00A and his group were untested prototypes for the Generation Five models. Something went horribly wrong with their programming and they turned out far more violent than anypony anticipated...worse yet, we didn't realize that until they'd been defeated things had gone so badly...of course at the time we felt it was 'mission success' because you learned what you were 'supposed to'...” Applejack got right up to the barrier. “...Did ya mess with Twilight's head before that mess?” “What?!” Twilight asked, eyes going wide. “...Not us, but some other agents...It was a disaster...I'm sorry...if it's any consolation, your uncle is alive...” “But...no, that can't have happened...everything seemed so logical...how could...” the Princess of Friendship muttered. “That's the point, Princess...” Gear Shift explained. “...The brainwashing won't work if you're AGAINST it.” Twilight shuddered, looking violated. Rarity then said, "It makes sense in hindsight. Seriously darling, there were five or seven ways you could have contained or subdued Longhorn's gang without physically harming them while they were pushing Applejack through walls." Applejack turned to Twilight, put her hat over her chest, and lowered her head. “...Ah'm sorry Ah got mad at yah there...it weren't your fault.” Twilight was still too stunned and disturbed to properly respond, but shook her head to clear it. “It's...it's okay, Applejack...you had every right to be angry with how I acted.” “But not at you...” The two simply hugged. “...So were you the ones who made Scootaloo like the Mare-Do-Well?” Rainbow Dash asked. "Nope. Wasn't us," Cover Story replied. Rarity looked over the list...and then groaned, holding her head. “Suri...I...You...WHY?! Why make me think I had a friend I didn't have?!” she asked as the spell on her memory broke down, having tears in her eyes. Gear Shift cringed away. “...Because we wanted you to see 'how Manehatten could corrupt someone' and get your key...We were frantic, we knew that something big was going to happen and you would need to open the Chest before it happened...Trail Cutter was meant to be Fluttershy's, but the Breezies did it first so he's still in storage...” Twilight was about to question who they'd meant to be her 'key trial'...but then gasped. “The chest...wait, you used the Reflection Deflection spell on us before but it doesn't work now...when's the last time you effected any of our minds? Was it before we defeated Tirek?” Gear Shift jumped slightly. “Oh...Yes, I believe it was. Why?” “Then that's WHY we're immune now: the Rainbow Powers!” Twilight exclaimed in a 'eureka' fashion. “When I visited the world on the other side of the mirror, the Sirens' mind magic didn't work on me or the Bearers over there! The same with our alternate selves! Bonding with the Elements like that must give protection from mind magic!” “Well that explains that...but what do we do now?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Go kick some flank?” Lightning Dust stepped forward. “Well, I don't know about you...but I don't want anypony else to go through what I have. Ever again.” “...Trixie seconds that...” Trixie said, looking over the list. “...After all...in a way, she guesses these are her brothers and sisters...” Lightning Dust blinked, looking to her fellow android. “Huh...I hadn't thought about that...so we're sisters?” “...Trixie supposes that's true,” Trixie replied, the two staring at each other awkwardly for a few moments. “...Should we hug?” “...Maybe later...” Before they could continue, a green wisp surged into the room and formed into a scroll before them. “Maybe Princess Celestia has something...” Twilight replied, grabbing the letter and unrolling it. “'My Fellow Princess, I am writing this letter from a secure location-” “The royal little fillies' room?” Pinkie Pie asked innocently. Twilight gave an annoyed sigh. “'I fear the Stallions in Black may be watching me in my castle.'” “...Seriously, you're actually CALLED the Stallions in Black?” Rainbow Dash asked, dumbfounded. “...We didn't come up with the name...” Cover Story said sheepishly. “To be fair, the actual organization is called S.M.I.L.E. Stallions in Black is a code name...which also sounds more intimidating.” Twilight cleared her throat. “'Words cannot describe how sorry I am to learn what they have done. This was not what I intended when I...made...them...'” The entire room gasped in shock. “...Drama bomb!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “'The Stallions were intended to safeguard Equestria and protect its heroes...'” Twilight gasped in shock at the words that came next. “'From me, in the event that I fell as my sister did...” “...Am I the only one who finds the idea of a Nightmare Celestia so terrifying they're trying not to wet themselves?” Spike asked, trembling. Everypony shook their heads. “Good...” “'So I made them independent from the crown. From me. So that if I ever fell to evil, there would be somepony to guide and help those who would stop me. I put a dear trusted friend of mine in charge of it and left it a secret even from my court. They were meant to protect you, protect those who do good, protect Equestria...instead it appears in the many years since I created them they have strayed and become something awful. Something seeking to enslave those I made them to defend. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for this mistake,'” Twilight read. She noticed there were tears on the pages. “'And tell Trixie and Lightning Dust I'm sorry for what has happened to them both.'” “...Non of us blames her for that, do we?” Applejack asked. “...After all, it ain't like she meant for this to happen...” No pony argued. “So, she going to go shut them down?” Rainbow Dash questioned, seriously. Twilight turned back to the letter. “'For this reason, while I can provide whatever help I can, my sister and I won't be able to take part in arresting them directly. I made them to counter me. They'd be prepared for me. And I cannot simply cut their funding, if they're capable of what you've told me, that means they've grown far beyond what funding I allotted them. But...from the sound of it, they won't be prepared for you six. After all, they believed they were acting in the Tree of Harmony's design, and you six are the Tree's chosen. Any plan you conceive I will support however I can with whatever resources I can provide. Your Fellow Alicorn and Friend, Princess Celestia.'” “...So, Princess just shutting them down is out,” said Rainbow Dash, giving a sigh. “And from the sound of it, they won't listen to reason...butt kicking time?” “...Looks like it...your group is pretty big, isn't it?” Twilight asked. Gear Shift nodded. “Not as big as the Royal Guard or the Changelings, but yes.” The group looked a little uneasy at that realization. This wasn't just a little group of enemies. “In that case, we'll need help. Otherwise it will be seven of us versus an entire army...I think I've got an idea,” Twilight replied, thinking. “But we'll need more hooves, more ponies.” “...You guys have some subliminal override planted in the entire royal guard?” Rainbow Dash asked the two captured agents. “No, but we have infiltrators and spies,” Gear Shift explained. “...We've got enough knowledge to help with bypassing that...” “...Whatever you do, you'll need to do it in three days time,” Cover Story interjected. “Why?” Twilight questioned. “The Headquarters constantly moves,” the android explained. “We know where it will be in three days for meet up, where we'd receive the new co-ordinates. If we miss that window, there's no way that we'll get another one. Especially if we don't check in and they realize we're missing.” “...How do we know we can trust either of you?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Me?” Cover Story said, looking seriously. “...I haven't made a single choice in my life before today...and from the sound of it, this is the right one...I want to make it.” “...I want to do what the Tree really sees as the best course things can take...not my version of it and not the SiB's version of it...” Gear Shift said, his expression one of shame and guilt. “...Besides, Cover Story is my friend...” The two looked to each other and then back to the group. “We promise we're on your side now...Cross our hearts, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eyes...” the two said in sync, doing the motions. “...How do you know that?” “...Spying on all of you...” Cover Story admitted bluntly. “And even we're not fool enough to break one.” “...Alright, but I've got my eyes on you...” the pegasus said, doing an 'I'm watching you' gesture.” The Princess of Friendship nodded. “...Three days it is then...Let's get ready.”