> The Conversion Bureau: Ashes of Mankind > by -Twilight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > We walk under the protection of Twilight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men. Samuel Adams "It has been years since the Equestrians became the presumed sole sentient race of this planet. This planets previous inhabitants were "redeemed" and "accepted" into Equestrian culture. Though some ponies would question my wording by saying things like "what do you mean by "accepted" and "redeemed"?" If you asked me what that meant four years ago I would tell you the sick, twisted things I thought was right. The sick twisted things I did... No. This is no time to be dwelling on what has been done. I stand here as a new pony. My will motivates hundreds and my rebellion is...well.. Rebelling." Twilight folds up the sheet of paper she was writing on and turns to her mirror. eight years of conflict has definitely taken a toll on her complexion, she looks much older than she really was. Nowadays complexion and beauty are the least of her concerns in these troubled times. Twilight combs her hair as straight as it could be and frowns at its condition. Past her reflection she could see the open window behind her. It was raining. She never felt comfortable when it rained though it was for different reasons a long time ago. "But what about the ponies outside in the rain? What about those who have no place to live?" she remembered asking those things when she was a foal. Bigger space was one of the reasons Equestria was moved to this new planet anyways. Twilight turns to the window and shuts it with her magic. She would Anypony else why it was she really didn't like the rain but if she did, she would probably start by talking about a human she met. It wasn't just any human though, it was what she thought was the last human. Twilight sighs and slumps down against the wall beside the window. It was always during rainy days that she began digging up buried fragments of the what happened four years ago. You could say that is the symptom of a guilty conscience. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in" Twilight said. The door on the other side of the room opens. It spills a new ray of light into the room. A stallion walks into the room and salutes. The stallion bowed afterwards as well. His long, brown mane flopped over his face. He was a new recruit serum pony and like most of the ponies in this rebellion, he was once human. Jona Islecrop speaking! or.. Copper stomp as I am currently being addressed as. Twilight moves from the window and sits down at her desk in the middle of the room. It was nothing special or ornate like what she became accustomed to years ago in Canterlot. The desk was an office desk and along with most other things in the room, it was all from a Conversion bureau some of her rebels ransacked. "What do you need?" Twilight asked. "I was told to inform you that the serum attack was a success, miss. " Copper stands up and approaches her desk. "We have almost completely taken back the city. As we speak more and more ponies are being freed from the.. um.. brainwashing." Copper's stern face betrayed him as he began smiling. A victory like this deems happiness any ways. Twilight smiles and rolls her chair back to the window. Looking down through the window twilight overlooked what was once a village populated with nothing but humans. Twilight frequently did this and sometimes she would in vision humans walking down there still, with the ponies. This is what twilight wanted most of all, to see humans and ponies walking together in harmony. Twilight turned around again. Copper was still waiting for a response. "Thank you for the report I want my potion bearers to check the streets for any remaining brainwashed ponies. we need this place safe if when want.. them... to come back." Twilight said . "Them?" copper asked. "It... its nothing. I'll brief you and the others of them when its time. you are dismissed." Twilight said Copper bows despite the fact that Twilight was no longer paying any attention to him. He sighs and exits, closing the door and returning the room to its usual eerie shade. Twilight turns to the window again for the third time as if it would be any different outside. To most it would still be the same outside as it was before but for Twilight, things were a lot brighter. With Twilight's plan in motion, not even the rain could make her sad nor the things she has done or the brainwashed ponies. Twilight knew that if her plan worked she could fix everything. The ashes of mankind's past which were scattered and slowly beginning to fade away can be remade into a shining future. Humans with ponies, its what Celestia promised and lied about from the beginning. "I know the humans are still out there. its weak but.. " Twilight opens a drawer under her desk. Inside was a makeshift looking machine, it was glowing green and had several different sets of numbers scrolling past the screen. "I just know there are still some left." The plan was simple and well rehearsed in her head. This rebellion's purpose was to clear the brainwashing affect on the original conversion serum so that ponies both newfowls and equestrian natives wont attack humans on sight. when this city is thoroughly cleared of the influence of the serum, we would look for the location of the surviving humans and bring them to the city as a safe haven to rebuild civilization. Slowly we would then proceed to take back more land until we have enough of a standing to fully protect the humans everywhere. Twilight levitates the paper and pen over to her "I will protect them, then will walk under the shade of Twilight"