117. The Mission
Admiral Sunset Rider set a file folder on Radish’s coffee table and opened it. On top of the stack of documents was a large aerial photograph of a grouping of wooden buildings. They looked old and weathered.
“This is Fort Curly,” he said. “It’s an old fortification in Equestria’s northeastern reaches. It was originally built to guard our side of The Great Grey Area.”
“You mean, ‘No Creature’s Land’?”
The admiral pushed the photo aside to show a map of the area. It was a stretch of land with forests to the north, a coastline to the west, mountains to the east, and canyons to the south.
“That’s right. A territory claimed by four competing interests. It’s right where Equestria and the griffon kingdom butt up against each other, but the actual border between kingdoms remained fuzzy for a long time.”
“Because the other two of those interests were a bugbear colony in the forests, and dragons napping in those mountains. Not exactly an inviting place.”
“Yes. When the griffons unified under King Grover, he and Celestia sat down and agreed on definite borders. They ended up drawing a big circle around the whole area, declaring it under no one's rule.”
“Thus, ‘The Great Grey Area’,” said Radish.
“Fort Curly was built on our side of the area to keep an eye on the whole mess. But times change, and so do priorities. The fort eventually fell into disuse.”
“What does this have to do with me, sir?”
“I hear you’re good at fortifying buildings. Finding weaknesses that others overlook.”
Radish felt a giddiness at the top of his chest. “You’ve heard that about me, sir?”
“I did. So I cut a deal with the judge. I asked to take charge of your community service. I told him I want you to assist in the refurbishment of Fort Curly, so it can be reopened as a Plains Ranger facility.”
“Whoa. That sounds exciting.”
“It does, doesn’t it? That’s what makes it such a good cover story.”
“Uh, cover story, sir?”
“Root, I don’t need your remodeling skills. I need you for a Ranger mission in that area. It’s dangerous and top secret. I hear you have some experience with missions like that.”
“Uh… what makes you think I have experience in dangerous top secret missions?”
He pushed the map aside. Under it were more photographs. One of them depicted Radish, standing on a hill outside Ponyville, surrounded by the bat ponies, carrying a long spear slung on his back. Another showed Radish and Scorpan being rescued by the Wonderbolts, on a cliff just above the wreckage of a crashed sky skiff.
“These are you, aren’t they?”
“How did you-”
“Rangers tend to investigate things like airships falling out the sky, major. And a good Ranger records everything.”
“Are you the Royal Spymaster?”
Sunset Rider guffawed. “There is no Royal Spymaster, Root. That’s why individual ponies have to pull together and help out where we can.”
“Then, what do you really need my help with?”
He pushed the photos aside to reveal a personnel file of a Ranger- a muscular blue-gray pegasus with a tall cumulonimbus cloud cutie mark.
“Did you ever know a Ranger named Storm Cell?”
Radish stared at the file. “Storm Cell… yes, I knew him. Not for very long, though. He graduated from the Academy soon after I entered it.”
“After graduation, he was stationed on the Equestrian side of The Great Grey Area. He set up on the coastline, actually.”
“He had a posting on a beach?”
“He did. Until he went missing.”
“Missing!?”
“His status report was double overdue, so we sent a pony to his camp to check on him. He wasn’t there. It looked like he had been gone for a while, in fact, but like all good Rangers, he left records.”
He pushed Storm Cell’s file aside to reveal a stack of photostatic copies of a field journal.
“We found his notebook hidden in a secret compartment behind his relaxation cabana.”
“He had a relaxation cabana?”
“Apparently he did a lot of entertaining there. Go on, read his words.”
Radish picked up the journal pages. Storm Cell’s writing was large and neat.
Noticed smoke coming from GGA. Dragon unlikely- color and density consistent with wood cooking fires (Appendix A). Assume campers. Will investigate.
Spotted village in GGA. Not on any records. Must have been rapidly constructed. Looks ramshackle, but complete (Photos 1-8). Inhabitants are ponies of all three tribes. Will keep distance and observe.
Observed an oddity. Every pony seen in the village so far has the same cutie mark- an equal sign (Photos 9-16). Could be a new strain of cutie pox. That would make this a plague village.
Radish slumped back onto his couch. “The equal mark town. He actually found it!”
“You’ve heard of it?”
“It’s been a rumor that’s been going around the palace. Fellow guards, castle staff, and even some tourists have told me about it. Everypony wants to let Radish Root know he can trade in his cutie marks for equal signs. None of them could actually say where it was, though.” Radish looked into Sunset Rider’s eyes.
“I guess you know all about my marks, sir?”
“The story was relayed to me when you applied to Ranger Academy. But it was never a problem. Lots of ponies join the Rangers looking to get away from their past, make a clean break, and reinvent themselves. All that matters is if they can handle the job.”
Radish looked back at the page. “It didn’t even occur to me that it could be cutie pox.”
“Well, keep reading.”
It’s not cutie pox. I scoped out the village for a day. A pony was taken into a cave with their standard cutie marks, and came out with an equal sign. Whatever changes cutie marks is in that cave. Need to investigate.
“That’s the last entry.” noted Admiral Rider.
“And you suspect foul play from these villagers, sir?”
“They’ve built a secret settlement outside of any law’s jurisdiction. They have an unknown means of altering a fundamental part of a pony’s being, which they keep hidden. And the first authority figure to investigate them disappeared. This is no quaint hamlet. Something nefarious is going on there.”
“How do you think they’re changing cutie marks?”
“Our analysts are split on that. Some think there’s some kind of cutie-mark eating monster in that cave, and these villagers sacrifice their marks to it to keep it appeased.”
“Yikes.”
“Or it could be done deliberately through some ritual or artifact. Perhaps they're gathering cutie mark magic for some purpose.”
“The only other artifacts I’ve heard of that can change cutie marks are the Elements of Harmony.”
“Worrying, isn’t it? Your orders- your real community service- is to infiltrate this village, find out what happened to Storm Cell, determine if there are any threats to Equestria’s security, and deal with it accordingly.”
“Sir, with all due respect…”
“Thank you.”
“...this isn’t a job for a Ranger. No Creature’s Land is outside Plain Rangers jurisdiction. The princesses should be informed.”
“The big horns have a chain of command for a reason, Root. They don’t need to know every little thing the ponies under their command are doing. Imagine what Celestia would do if we told her about this.”
Radish thought about it.
“She’d probably send in AG1. She might even travel there to speak with the villagers herself.”
“Now imagine if whatever’s in that cave stole Twilight Sparkle’s cutie mark. Or Celestia’s! No more Elements of Harmony. No more sunrises.”
“They could go in with guard backup, though.”
“A legion of pony guards making an incursion in the neutral zone would spook the griffons. It could cause an international incident.”
‘I see.”
“But your cutie mark gives you the perfect cover for approaching the town alone. In fact, I think you’re one pony in Equestria who they won’t be suspicious of.”
Radish looked aside. “They won’t question that I came looking to change my mark, is that it?”
“You can get in and earn these villagers’ trust. Then you can get answers, get Storm Cell, and get out.”
“Will Captain Roller know I’m doing this?”
“No. She’s a bit too by-the-book for this. Do you know why the Plains Rangers adopted a tradition of bending the rules?”
“Because we- because they- operate solo in remote areas where flexibility and adaptation are key.”
“Exactly. Rangers are more likely than anypony to encounter the unknown, and things like rules and laws always break down in the face of the unknown.” He leaned towards Radish. “Root… you were an unknown that the laws failed, too.”
“Then, you want to fight fire with fire?”
“More like prevent a fire, with a controlled burn.”
Radish looked down at the collection of documents. He looked up at his display case of his medals that he had hung over his desk. He stared at a photo of Light Fantastic he kept on a side table.
“You can count on me, sir. I’ll bring Storm Cell back safe and sound, on my honor.”
“Good. The judge thinks you’ll be working fifty hours of community service at Fort Curly. At eight hours a day, that’s a little over six days before anyone questions your absence.”
“It won’t take me that long.”
Sunset Rider pulled one last item from the folder- a train ticket. “This train will get you as close to The Great Grey Area as possible. You’ll have to hike the rest of the way. Remember, to these villagers, you’re not a Ranger or a guard- you’re just a wayward wanderer looking to find himself.” The admiral stood up and gathered the documents. “And, of course, I was never here.”
“I understand, sir.”
Sunset Rider went to the door, paused, and looked back.
“By the way, how is Celestia doing these days? I worry about her.”
“I worry about her, too, sir. That's why I'm going to keep this fire far away from her.”
Radish paced Canterlot’s train platform in the dawn’s soft light, going over his plans in his head. He chewed the inside of his cheek.
“Radish?”
He turned and looked. Twilight was approaching him.
“Twilight? What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you off on your big project! And give you this.”
She pulled a book out of her bag and passed it to Radish. It was a spy novel from a series Radish hadn’t heard of.
“Just a little something for the long train ride to Fort Curly.”
“Thanks, Twilight.”
“I think it’s great that you’re being asked to improve Equestria’s defenses. I’m glad you’re getting the recognition for your skills that you deserve.”
“Well, if you won’t let me fortify your castle, I’ll just have to fortify every other building in the kingdom instead.”
Twilight looked down and smiled. “Radish… it’s really embarrassing when you make these grand declarations about protecting me.”
“Sorry.”
The train rumbled into the station. Its doors squeaked open, and a few ponies disembarked.
“Well, that’s me,” said Radish, putting the book in his bag.
“Good luck! I want to hear all about it when you get back.”
“You bet, Twilight. Could you do me a favor, though?”
“What?”
“Tell Spike not to smoke me any letters for the next week. I need to focus on the job.”
“Okay.”
Radish stood just inside the train car. The whistle blew. He and Twilight stared at each other for a beat.
“I’ll see you soon, Radish.”
“I’ll see you later, Twilight.”
The door closed, and the train rumbled away.
Radish crouched in shadow between a boulder and a juniper tree, binoculars in hoof, staring down at a valley before him. It had taken most of the day for his train to reach the end of the line, and the rest of that day to find Storm Cell’s camp.
Storm Cell’s camp had been more like a custom-built beach house. It had a wide deck perched over the dunes of an expansive coastline. Radish had explored the home, trying to learn what he could about Storm Cell, before making use of the pantry and bed that night. The trek to the Equestrian border of the Great Grey Area took all morning.
There were a scant few dilapidated signs demarcating the border, which also gave warning of the dragons and bugbears beyond it. He took a deep breath and stepped beyond the signs.
The journey through No Creature’s Land had taken him the rest of the afternoon. Now, he finally had the equal mark town in his sights.
I hadn’t realized- the town is actually shaped like an equal mark. Is it a warning, a welcome, or a way of life?
He could make out some villagers going about their daily routines, but couldn’t see their cutie marks.
Radish began a cautious hike into the valley. As he neared the outskirts, some of the ponies spotted him coming. One ran off into the town, and returned accompanied by a light purple unicorn mare. She approached Radish with a look of curiosity. Her cutie mark was indeed an equal sign. All of theirs were.
Radish cleared his throat.
“Hello. I’m-”
“Hi there, friend!” the mare said, waving broadly and smiling brightly. “Welcome! Welcome home.”
Stats
Page generated in 0.033 seconds
Total duration
1,022 users online
1,640,887 hits today, 2,244,100 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Niice!
so hey all the people that Cry about changing the Canon, there you go, Canon temporarily Changed!
My guess is AG1 will still come and events will Still play out as normal in the Show but hey lets see.
Now whats the Situation with Light here, because I feel like just having her get brainwashed seems like a very weird thing, Maybe she works together with Starlight to research Cutie Marks.
Nice
11815813
I thought Light had gone to investigate the town on her own, so she'd almost certainly be brainwashed.
"Is this real, a friend of mine wants to get rid of their mark?"
"Yes it is! We can even reverse it if you're unhappy with it! You should try it out!"
"Uh, I don't know-"
"Are you going to make your friend go without trying it yourself first?"
"...you're right, let me try it."
Cue brainwashing.
11815832
I don't remember the process brainwashing the ponies, just diluting their natural talents. I think the brainwashing came from living under Starlight's regime to quiet dissenting thought.
See, this the kind of story adaptation the author has proven they are good at.
Maintaining canon events, but re-telling them from a "lower decks" perspective. We saw it with the Canterlot invasion, and with Discord's arrival.
May you tell this arc well, dear author.
I wonder, is this why you cut "The Trial" short? Because you wanted to move on with canon events instead? If that is the case, then we understand.
10 bits says Radish will be brainwashed before sundown.
11815858
"You cannot have nightmares, if you do not dream."
Yeah... that's brainwashing.
Sgt Murphy is just smiling at the calm before the storm.
Wait till he finds his marefriend there brainwashed...
Time to haul that staff of sameness to high court and see what happens.
I'm starting to think that everyone is right and there is no Royal Spymaster.... yet.
I feel that, by the time this series draws to a close, there will be.
and it is now glim glim time.
this is going to be a amazing ark.
My worry is that the Rangers are getting a bit overzealous in their attempt to redeem themselves to Celestia and prove that they're not lazy, but are putting Radish in harms way to do it. Maybe a spur of the moment thing if they were willing to interfere with Radish's trial rather than simply ask him weeks ago.
Now that most of the general public thinks that Radish is a laughing stock to the point that even his law firm dropped him, what on earth can he do now? He can't just wear pants and call it a day because everyone knows him now! And since it's been made clear that the princesses can't/won't interfere with the legal system, what options does he even have other than work in hiding for a while?
Even after whatever happens in Our Town is over, He can't be a public guard anymore, nor can he be shielded by the princesses power. He can't go to the Crystal Empire either, since Shining still can't see past his mark to the point that he won't even acknowledge Light Fantastic. Maybe he could finally leave the guard and become the Spy master of legend?
The Trial and the lack of any meaningful resolution or character/plot development with it put a massive monkey wrench in his life and it's going to be difficult to come back from it. Honestly, I'd be surprised if he doesn't willingly get himself brainwashed, since he literally has nothing to lose at this point. Which is also upsetting because when the Mane 6 arrive to save him, it's going to look even worse for him when he inevitably ends up fighting the bearers and/or Light when they all want to take him home.
I wonder how Radish can even be unbrainwashed? Since the "Your mark is who you are" speech won't work on him, since it's already been said to him ad nauseam and the sham trial made it clear that the speech means nothing if he can't even show his face in public anymore because of his mark.
Even with all the cries of the trial being a waste of chapter space, I’m still enjoying the story. Whatever in universe issues there are, I can’t wait for the author to write out their resolutions.
Oh boy, here we go: the inevitable arc we've been waiting for.
11816012
Im going to go out on a limb and say that he figures out what his cutie mark means BECAUSE he no longer has it. And he comes out stronger from it.
Also my brain just came up with a dark idea, basically radish going renegade and ....eliminating ... starlight because the justice system is clearly broken, so he can be judge, jury, and EXICUTIONER.
11815941
I like the running gag about the Royal Spymaster.
It's not just the Guards (and Rangers) that talk about it, but I'm sure that Twilight suggested it at some point.
11815813
I wouldn't say this is changing canon, per se.
More like enriching it. Or supporting it, if you prefer.
After all, as far as canon goes, it was a convenient (and unexplained) plot hole. Why was this village out in the middle of nowhere? Why was it untouched?
Excellent work by the author in world-building this Grey Zone! It doesn't actually change canon, just helps explain it and enriches the story/world.
Ive been reading the comments, and re-reading the previous chapters,
Doesnt it make more sense for there to be multiple spy masters of different branches, or just for the spy master to not reveal themselves, as well as keep a standing policy of "there is no spy master" so no one bothers to look for them?
also
Anyone want to take bets on the Head Ranger / Spy Master setting this all up for plausible deniability?
Exciting new arc!
11816012
The only real way for him to be un-brainwashed at this point is for Celestia to just admit that she DOES have feelings for him. It's literally his destiny and she's the only one who can make the "Your mark is who you are" speech not sound like an absolute lie because she's the one lying about things and putting his ego in conflict with his destiny. Sure Celestia may not feel ready for a relationship, but that's the whole point- Radish is willing to wait. Her simply throwing him aside/denying her feelings for him (which do exist, as seen numerous times in prior chapters) is way more impactful for him because it's literally his destiny.
He knows, deep down, that he's supposed to be close to Celestia somehow. Maybe as a champion, maybe as a personal friend, maybe as a lover, but in any case in a position where he means something to her and she has feelings for him. Her denial of being even slightly more interested in him as a person beyond 'one of my guards' is slowly driving him insane and the brainwashing is going to feel like stepping into a hot bath. All that stress and friction between his id and superego is going to vanish and he's going to be honestly happy and relaxed all the way through for the first time since Celestia blew him off.
It has begun!!!!!!
Well this is going to be interesting, I can’t wait to see how Starlight reacts to his mark hehehe
Awww yeah! Been waiting for this arc for a long time! So hyped!
Well, seeing as how the AG1 will be visiting the village....this may be when we figure out what his cutie mark means, for we can see how he's like without his special talent
This'll be interesting. A cutie mark meant to strip originality, applied to a loyal member of the Royal Guard (though admittedly, a very original one).
11816509
I wonder what CMID would look like in him?
11815858
There's literally a shack Starlight locks you in where a pre-recorded message saying 'cutie marks are evil, embrace equality in mediocrity' in 20-or-so different ways constantly blares through a loudspeaker on loop.
11817046
We saw that being done with Twilight and her friends, but we saw no indication that it was SOP for everypony in the village.
Well, here we go. Starlight is finally here.
This will likely be an eye opening experience for Radish, even if he doesn't have an impact on episode events this time. I wouldn't be surprised if he's entirely functional without his mark, but I forget how that stupid staff works. Removing a mark isn't brainwashing though, I know that much. They're two separate things.
Wonder if Light's gonna be there?
11817294
The Mane Six were not able to run, fly fast, or use magic without their marks. Applejack could not even buck down a door. I think Starlight's spell literally puts everyone on an even playing field.
11817294
If I remember right Starlight doesn’t make anyone better, she makes them equal in skill to the weakest link. Think magical Harrison Bergeron. Could be remembering fanon though
11817575
I have no idea what a Harrison Bergeron is, but let's pretend I do and leave it there.
Been waiting for this for a while lol. Lets see how this goes
I’m chomping on my bit here!
11817314
Well, yes. But the girls and pretty much everyone else in the village didnt have both Plains Rangers and Royal Guard training plus likely some hidden gadgets. If I were writing this, I would make Root take maybe seeds of some plant that could crumble a wall but would be entirely overlooked if he was searched. Think the anti-chaos spores which might disrupt the staff of sameness as it might be a chaos magic-powered artifact (Discord making it by discarding a toothpick would be hilarious).
11825510
Radish has proven himself to be quite resourceful...even without his magic. If his mark does get taken: it will be interesting to see what he does.
Reading some stories feels like trying to ride a bike with rusted gears
This always feels like a new, perfectly oiled one.
This whole time we thought he was James Bond but let's take a closer look at the details. He has a habit of crashing flying vehicles, he has a strange mark of destiny on his body, and he fights with plants. He's Joseph Joestar!
Oh My God!
Great chapter!