//------------------------------//
// Secrets, questions, and a lack of answers 
// Story: Retroactive Ethical Tangent Conversion/Obliteration Nationals 
// by Masterweaver 
//------------------------------//

	"I thought we were supposed to keep a low profile," Agent Bonbon snarked.

"Saving the mare was the right thing to do," Agent M replied. "Nobody else was nearby. It was a calculated risk."

"Oh, sure. And what about the carriage? Or the construction site? Or the flipping dam, huh?"

"...I have no idea what you're talking about--"

"Don't give me that! The Mayor just announced a parade in honor of 'the mysterious Mare Do Well'. Do you really think dozens of ponies waving around your face on posters--?"

Agent M's eyes snapped to her. "Say that again."

"Yeah, a parade for you, 'Mare Do Well!' What, are you not actually a mare?" Agent Bonbon tilted her head. "Seriously, are you a stallion? It's really hard to tell--"

The costumed saboteur rushed past her. "This situation just became Comet-code. You're with me."

"What?" Agent Bonbon snorted and rolled her eyes, even as she followed after. "Why would you sprouting an ego be a comet-code--?"

"Aside from the mare, I have been in hiding this whole week. If somebody has taken my image, even to save others, then our security has been compromised--doubly so if the public knows what I look like."

"Nobody knows what you look like! You--well, Mare Do Well was wearing that mask the whole time, even when they used their magic to repair the dam!"

"...Used their magic--?" Agent M kicked up their hooves. "Full report on the Mare Do Well situation, all sightings, all actions."

"Uh, well, first there was you saving the mare from the balloon--that's when the Mare Do Well name came around--then there was the carriage that Rainbow Dash tried to save but couldn't, and Mare Do Well saved those ponies by bracing it with their hooves. After that there was the faulty construction equipment, Rainbow saved one pony and Mare Do Well saved the rest... then the dam. I think Rainbow was there too, actually. And Mare Do Well did a flyby, which is weird given that she just used magic--"

"I'm upgrading this to a code Meteor."

"What? Why?!"

"You're not authorized to know that information."

"Not authorized--?!" Agent Bonbon huffed. "If an enemy has infiltrated the Corps, I'd think I'd be darn well authorized!"

Agent M didn't even spare her a glance. "Current mission is capture and if necessary termination of Mysterious Mare Do Well, without any witnesses. You find out the path of the parade. I will arrange for--"

The pair halted as another costumed individual rushed by, furiously pursued by a particular cyan pegasus.

"...huh." Agent Bonbon glanced after them. "So, do we follow, or--"

"Stall the mayor. I'm handling this myself." Agent M rushed off after Rainbow and her prey.

"What--?! Oh for the love of--!" Agent Bonbon stomped her hoof, turning and galloping away. "I don't even know what's going on!"

It took not a moment for Agent M to catch up to the pair--only for another Mare Do Well to come shooting out of an alley, redirecting the blue pegasus. The agent took that in and made a snap decision, leaping up to the roofs. As they watched, more and more Mare Do Wells continued to run interference on Rainbow, until at last she managed to pin one and unmask them.

"...Pinkimena?" Agent M whispered to themself.

The other three Mare Do Wells revealed themselves--Twilight and the rest of her friends, sans Rarity who came up unclothed. Agent M crept closer, listening carefully to the words they said, to their explanation.

To their method.

To their justification.

Something in the saboteur's soul snapped.

Just as the group turned to leave, just as they were about to walk out, Agent M slammed down in the ground in front of them. "How. Dare. You."

Rainbow blinked. "Uh... Rarity, who is--?"

"I wear this, because I have enemies. Enemies that would kill me. Kill my family, my friends, if they knew who I was." Agent M pointed at Rarity. "You took this image, not knowing the risks, not knowing who I was, not even caring! And for what? To take your friend down a peg?!"

"Ah...." The alabaster unicorn stammered. "I... well, she needed--"

"Yes, her arrogance was problematic. And so is yours. If you wanted to save lives, you could have done so without the getup. All that you gained from the suit? Recognition. Recognition, which you would have received anyway. You risked your lives, your friends' lives, for nothing. For less than nothing. For a chance to rub your friend's nose in the dirt." Agent M scoffed. "This is the group that saved Equestria twice. I would have expected far better."

Rarity drew in on herself, flushing.

"Burn the suits."

That got her attention. "What?! But they're--"

"Burn them. Scatter the ashes. Before sunset. Or I will personally ensure that your reputation in Canterlot becomes equal to that of Tye Dye."

"Now hold on just a cotten-pickin' minute!" Applejack stepped forward. "Ah know you're angry and all, but you don't have any right to--"

"Et combures eum the hostes solis."

Twilight's eyes snapped wide. "...We should do what Mare Do Well says--"

"That is not my name," Agent M deadpanned.

Applejack turned to Twilight. "What? She babbles off some nonsense words and--"

"Trust me on this, AJ. We should do what he says. ASAP." Twilight started taking off her suit. "In fact, right now is good. Right here right now. Yeah."

Rainbow blinked. "But what about the parade? The mayor's going to be--"

"I will handle the mayor." Agent M snorted. "And cancel the parade. Ponyville has seen enough issues as it is. You do not want to become a target."

"Look here, you may have frightened Twilight but Ah ain't gonna--"

Agent M fixed Applejack with a glare so intense, that she gulped.

"...Ah ain't gonna... gonna take no--"

"Is that your sister on that roof, miss Applejack?"

"Wha--?" Applejack looked where Agent M pointed, saw nothing, and turned back.

Agent M was gone.

"Why--why that no-good, dirt-trodden--!!"

"Don't." Twilight shook her head. "Just don't. I know what that phrase means and trust me, that pony was being nice. Now get out of your suit."

Pinkie frowned. "Wait... was that a mare, or a stallion?"

"It doesn't matter! JUST BURN THE SUITS!"