Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy may learn some interesting things about each other.
Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy may learn some interesting things about each other.
Fresh out of university, three roommates live their lives together. Octavia is a cello player in an orchestra, Vinyl is a DJ for a nightclub, and Derpy is a mailmare.
Vinyl was having a great dream. Lights were flashing and she was playing one of her best tracks, everything was going amazing. That was until a loud beeping started.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Vinyl rose up and groaned. She looked over to her bedside table and saw that it was 9:00 A.M. and slammed her hoof down on her alarm clock. Then her door opened. Octavia Melody, Vinyl's roommate walked in looking fully rested and ready for the day.
"Vinyl, why in Equestria is your alarm clock so loud? I could hear it all the way downstairs."
"I need it to be loud so I can...All Octavia could hear was murmurs as Vinyl rolled her face into her pillow.
"Well whatever you just said I couldn't tell because you had your face stuffed into that pillow so whenever you're ready come downstairs and join Derpy and I for breakfast."
"ME AND DERPY!" Vinyl yelled out as Octavia left the room.
Ugh. Why does Octavia always have to be so formal. I would be fine if it was just at like fancy parties or something but she is always just formal talk, formal attire, bla bla bla. I wonder what would happen if I played some sort of prank on her? She would probably flip her lid. I have to test that theory some time. I should probably go downstairs and eat now. Why is it so hard to get out of bed in the morning?
These thoughts drifted around Vinyl's mind as she remarkably slowly got out of bed. She rose up and started walking to the door, but stopped.
Hmm, I should clean my window sometime. Ha, I wonder what Octy would say if she knew I had a thought like that.
Vinyl trudged down the stairs and reached the bottom, hearing a conversation in the room to her left. She walked in and said, "Morning."
"Oh I see you finally managed to move Vinyl, and good morning." Replied Octavia.
"Hi Vinyl, I made some eggs and toast for breakfast! Take as much as you want." Said Vinyl's second roommate Derpy Hooves.
Vinyl eagerly stumbled over and grabbed a plate putting two slices of toast and two eggs onto it. She sat down at the table and started stuffing her face with food. As she ate she noticed Octavia looking at her strangely.
"What?" She asked.
"Oh nothing." Replied Octavia.
"Come on Octy I can tell something is bothering you. You're making a face."
"Fine. It's just that you always eat rather sloppily."
"Oh come on! Loosen up a little bit. You're always so strict and formal."
"I'm just trying to maintain a positive image for myself! We are renting a house in Canterlot after all!"
"Still, you need to not be so dignified all the time!"
"Oh, Vinyl I'm surprised you know a word that's as big as dignified."
"YOU TWO NEED TO STOP ARGUING RIGHT NOW!"
Derpy looked at both of them ashamed. Vinyl and Octavia both put their heads down and looked at the floor. Octavia looked up at Vinyl sorrowfully. Vinyl kept looking at the floor.
"Vinyl, I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean it things just got out of hand and-"
"It's fine." Said Vinyl.
"No Vinyl I really mean that I'm sorry-"
"I said it's fine!"
Octavia looked down again, walked over to the sink and started cleaning out her plate. Vinyl kept staring at the ground. Octavia put her plate away and headed to the front door. She looked down in despair. She took one last look at Vinyl, who was still looking away.
"I have to go to practice I should be at the normal lunch place."
With that Octavia left the house. Vinyl got up from her chair and went to the stairs. But before she could go up, Derpy stopped her.
"She really does mean she's sorry."
"Uh-huh."
With that, Vinyl went to her bedroom and Derpy was left alone to clean her plate and go to the post office.
Vinyl sat in her dark, damp room being angry at Octavia. It didn't help that Derpy had left her and gone to her job at the post office.
First she gets mad at me for eating like a normal pony and then she insults my intelligence! Maybe I should just leave and be roommates with Derpy. That's a good idea. Only problem is paying the rent. Maybe I should just never talk to her and pretend like she doesn't exist. No that's stupid. I'm acting like a foal. I still don't accept her apology though. I know she didn't really mean it. Of course she acts like she means it but I know she'll just do the same thing a week from now.
Vinyl got up and decided to go downstairs and practice for that night as she was performing at a club. She got her stuff out and started playing two songs. She tried to blend the two tracks together right as the bass built up. Instead of simultaneously coming together they both came in and out and the speakers started crackling.
Ugh, stupid thing. Vinyl thought
She kicked the table she had set up on and immediately regretted it.
"OW YOU STUPID-"
Vinyl remembered how Octavia basically had called her stupid to her face and threw a pillow across the room in rage. The pillow hit a lamp and knocked it over, smashing the light bulb inside. Vinyl finally broke down and just started crying.
Late in the morning after Vinyl had calmed down and cleaned up the destruction she caused, she decided to go to the normal lunch spot she and Octavia went to. She also decided that she should apologise to Octavia for ignoring her and not accepting her apology. As she made her way to the restaurant she looked around and saw the ponies of canterlot traveling around the city.
Those snobby rich ponies always sticking their snouts up. If Octavia wasn’t always trying to be like them she wouldn’t be trying to get me to be like them either. She did apologise though...and I didn’t acknowledge that. Well, now I need to.
In the distance she saw the restaurant and also saw Octavia sitting at one of the outdoor tables.
Here goes nothing I guess.
Vinyl sat down at the table and looked at Octavia who looked away.
“Octavia, I’m sorry. I should have accepted your apology and not just assumed you didn’t mean it, because I know that you’re genuinely sorry. I-I was just mad in the moment and I wasn’t thinking and I should have known you didn’t mean what you said.”
“It’s okay Vinyl. I’m the one that should be sorry.”
“No, you don’t need to be sorry because you were just mad at me for not taking in a word you said. I agree with you and I’m going to try and be more formal sometimes from now on.”
Octavia looked up at Vinyl and smiled.
“In that case I’ll try to be a little less strict.
Vinyl smiled back at Octavia. They both had apologized and knew what they had to do to make themselves a better person. That was something they both needed. The waiter came up and asked them both what they would like to have for lunch.
“I’ll have the hay sandwich.” Replied Octavia.
“Umm, I guess I’ll have the same thing.” Vinyl added.
“Right away.” Said the waiter before he went back inside.
As they sat at the table waiting for their food Octavia spoke up.
“Thank you for apologizing. It means a lot to have you say sorry for ignoring me and realise that you were kind of being a jerk.” “Thank you too for apologizing about being so rude and calling me stupid.”
They both glared at each other for a few seconds but then burst into laughter. Around a quarter hour later their food came.
“Thank you.” Octavia and Vinyl both said to the waiter.
“I’ll try not to eat so sloppy this time.” Vinyl said, grinning at Octavia.
“And I’ll try not to eat like we're at a three hoof restaurant.” Replied Octavia.
With that they both hungrily ate their sandwiches.
After lunch they decided to explore a little bit as Octavia didn't have to go back to practice for a while. As they were walking around Vinyl noticed something out of the corner of her eye. It was Derpy flying towards them. Vinyl raised up a hoof and waved.
“Hi Vinyl. Hi Octavia.” Said Derpy as she landed in front of them.
“Hi Derpy.” Replied Vinyl and Octavia at the same time. They both started laughing.
“I see you two have made up.”
“Yep, I apologized.” Said Vinyl.
“Well I'm glad to see both of you getting along again. It makes me really happy to see that you can both apologize to each other. I have to go so I'll see you back at the house later. Bye!”
Later in the day after Octavia had gone back to her orchestra practice and Vinyl went home, Vinyl was playing a video game. It was a game called “Royal Guards : The Rogues. The plot of the game was that you played as a futuristic royal guard in high tech battle armor and had to take down an organization of rogue changelings.
Why don’t I just play the single player mode. Every time I play with any other pony they’re all just yelling at each other over the microphone and not doing anything useful. For once if ponies just worked together and tried to do what we’re supposed to.
“Hey do you guys think you could help me capture this point?”
Everypony ignored the request except one guy.
“Ooo look somepony wants to play the objective. Well you know what? Nopony is going to do that so just shut up and play the game.”
“Isn’t the point of this game to work together you idiot?”
At this point everypony was yelling over their microphones or saying something Vinyl couldn’t make out. She groaned and quit the game. Then came the pillow to the face.
Mother of Celestia I just asked for some help doing what we were supposed to be doing in the first place. What is it with the lack of sensible ponies in this world.
Vinyl remembered earlier when she thought about cleaning her window.
I guess I should go do that. Hmm, I wonder where the window cleaner even is.
Vinyl went to the kitchen and looked through all the cabinets and it wasn't there. None of the shelves in the storage room had it. She knew it wouldn't be in one of the boxes so she didn't bother checking. She spent a tedious hour sorting through almost everywhere she could think until she came upon the upstairs closet. She opened the door and started searching.
Old clothes and blankets is definitely not window cleaner. Neither is this. Or this. Oh wait! No that's soap refill.
She kept pushing things aside until she found the window cleaner. It was in the dark corner under a shelf. She bent down to grab it but fell over instead. As she fell it pushed the bottle of window cleaner and the floor around it down. The floor made a mechanical click as Vinyl stood back up.
“What the?” Vinyl said wondering why the floor and window cleaner suddenly had become attached and pushed down.
All of the sudden she heard a noise down the hall.
What was that? It sounded like...a door.
Vinyl cautiously crept down the hallway being careful to avoid the creaking floorboards. She reached Octavia’s room and peeked inside. Everything seemed normal. Her practice cello was in the corner on it’s stand, her bed was there, and the closet was closed.
That leaves one room.
Vinyl went to the side of Derpy’s bedroom door, held her breath, and slowly moved her head around the door frame. She looked in and didn't see anything. Not knowing if things were as they seemed Vinyl slowly snuck into the room. She turned her head to the right and there the floor was gone and a hinged mechanical plate with carpet had taken it’s place. It was tilted 90 degrees up leaving a gaping hole where the floor used to be.
Oh sweet Celestia what in the world is that? It looks like a secret door. Does that mean there's a secret room? I guess I better check out whats down that hole then.
She walked over to the hole and looked down. In it there was a ladder. At the end of the ladder there was a light and what looked like floor.
It is a secret room! How long is that tunnel? How is it hidden? Oh it must go through that one section where the wall is super thick. Should I go down? What if there is something bad down there? I guess it would come out if I didn't go down anyway so I might as well.
Vinyl cautiously got in the tube and started climbing down. It was dark and pretty cramped.
Oh, I really hope this is not a curiosity killed the cat situation.
Vinyl reached the bottom and stepped down. The light was blinding at first but then her eyes adjusted. There was a computer on a table and some switches on the wall.
Well that's underwhelming. You know what? Maybe these switches do something.
Vinyl walked over and flipped one of the switches. All of the sudden she heard a buzzing noise and a cylindrical metal column with hollowed out spaces containing black clothes and grappling hook guns came out of the floor. Vinyl stood there with her mouth gaping open. She walked closer and looked on the other side of the column. There were a bunch of stacks of files in the gap where they were contained and a marble crest above them that read “P.O.N.E.” All of the sudden Vinyl noticed a small wood table in the corner. On top of it was a basket with muffins inside, neatly wrapped in colored paper.
“Well one thing in here is normal. Derpy and her muffins will always be together. But the rest of this stuff is insane!”
Vinyl remembered how there were more switches and she eagerly went back over and flipped another. A flat wall like surface rose out of the floor with lots of weaponry attached.
“WHAT IN EQUESTRIA?” Vinyl yelled.
Out of nowhere a loud beep issued from back by the ladder. Vinyl glanced up and above the entrance was a camera!
“Is that a camera? Oh no it is. Wait, somebody is probably watching me and now that I have seen all this they're going to send an assassin to take me out! I have to get out of here and tell Octavia!
With that Vinyl rushed to the ladder and started climbing up. She reached the top, shut the secret entrance, and ran downstairs and out the door.
Octavia had practiced with her orchestra the whole day, was exhausted, and was packing up her cello. Then a certain pony came rushing up to her looking panicked.
“Vinyl whats wrong? You look worried.”
“Umm, I’m not sure how to put this but,” Vinyl leaned in closer and whispered in Octavia’s ear, “I’m pretty sure Derpy is a spy and now an assassin is coming for me.”
“Vinyl are you okay?”
“No you don’t understand I’m serious I found a secret room and there was a bunch of weapons and a camera was watching me.”
“Ok, Vinyl you’ve obviously had a long and exhausting day so I think you should sit down and take a deep breath.” Said Octavia, who looked very worried.
Vinyl sighed and looked at Octavia, slightly aggravated. “You know what? Just follow me home quickly and I’ll show you if Derpy isn’t there.
“Fine Vinyl I’ll let you show me whatever this spy base is.”
Octavia finished storing away her cello and put it in the storage room. Then she followed Vinyl out the door who started walking rather fast. They passed by other ponies who briefly stopped their conversations and stared. Vinyl started walking even faster and broke into a cold sweat. She passed the donut shop and thought about where Derpy was.
I wonder if she's already at the house waiting to take me down. I thought Derpy was innocent but NO she just had to go and be a spy didn’t she.
They finally reached the door and Vinyl stopped and slowly opened it.
“Vinyl what are you-”
“Quiet!”
Vinyl went inside slowly and listened. She didn’t hear anything so she started running up the stairs. Octavia ran after her and almost smacked into her when she abruptly stopped in front of the upstairs closet and swung open the door. She leaned down and did something Octavia couldn’t make out. Then she heard a noise come from Derpy’s room and suddenly went very quiet.
“Follow me.” Said Vinyl.
They went to Derpy’s room and Vinyl peeked around the corner. She then went in the room with Octavia behind her. Octavia looked over and gasped.
“Is that a-a secret door?”
“See I told you!”
Oh sweet Celestia, Derpy is a spy! What do we do now? Is Vinyl actually going to get assassinated? Ok Octavia, think rational. The best plan would be to… calmly ask her. I think that would be the best plan at least.
“Ok, Vinyl I have an idea. How about we just calmly ask her?”
“But what if she has to keep it a secret and then has to take us out because we know?”
“I don’t think she would do that. I mean she’s been so kind to us the whole time we’ve known her.”
“But the whole time we’ve known her we didn’t know she was a spy.”
“I still think it’s worth a try Vinyl.” Replied Octavia.
“Fine.” Said Vinyl.
Later that evening they were all sitting at the table eating dinner. Vinyl was fidgeting with her hooves but nobody could tell. Octavia sighed and looked at Derpy. Who looked back questioningly.
“Octavia is something wrong?”
“Derpy are you… a spy?”
At first Derpy looked shocked and started laughing nervously. But then she stopped and asked, “How did you know?”
“I didn’t find out ask Vinyl.”
Derpy turned to Vinyl who looked worried and asked, “Are we going to be assassinated?”
“What? No! Vinyl what are you talking about?”
“Well I was just worried that since we found out your secret we would get taken out.”
“No of course not! Just explain everything and I will figure something out.”
“Ok so first I decided to clean my window. I went looking for the window cleaner for an hour and then I found it in the closet. I leaned down to grab it, then fell on it and heard something. I found the weird secret door in your room and went down the ladder. Then I flipped some of the switches, saw a camera, and ran to tell Octy.”
“Ok, thank you for telling me. I know this is probably quite the shock for you two so just stay calm. I have to go think about this over a muffin. I’ll see you later.”
Vinyl and Octavia looked at each other with extremely confused expressions. Then they decided to just finish eating dinner for now.
Vinyl up to this point had been having quite the day. She had gotten into an argument with her friend then made up. Then she had found out her other friend was a spy. After that she had thought an assassin was coming to take her down. Finally she and the first friend had asked about the whole spy thing which turned out to be true. She decided what she needed was some good old fashioned partying. Which was also her job so that’s important. As she walked to the club she thought about what was going to happen with Derpy.
I wonder if she’s mad I found out? I hope not. I mean it was completely an accident. But it also was revealing her very important secret. I wonder if this P.O.N.E. organization is going to erase my memory or some weird stuff? I should stop worrying about it, she said she would figure it out.
Vinyl reached the front door, pulled it open, and walked in. Lights were flashing different colors, music was playing loudly over the speakers, and almost every pony had let loose and was either dancing or trying to talk to their friends over the music. Vinyl walked up the stairs to the back room and started getting her things ready.
“Next up is DJ PON 3! Give her a round of applause every pony!”
Vinyl heard cheering and stomping on the other side of the wall. The previous DJ walked in the door and nodded to her. She walked out and the crowd cheered louder. Then she started playing. It was surreal. Vinyl never imagined she would be a star DJ of Canterlot, that ponies would cheer and dance when she played music, that the lights would be flashing and changing colors to the beat. Yet here she was. Ponies were stomping and jumping in the air waving their arms. The colored lights in the dark created the best party atmosphere. It seemed like Vinyl was only there for a few minutes when she got the signal to call the next DJ up.
I must have got lost in the playing again.
“Thanks for having me every pony! Come on up LED Hooves!”
Vinyl walked backstage and put her records away. As she was walking out some pony called out to her.
“Vinyl!”
“Uh huh?” Vinyl responded.
“Eggs.” The other pony said.
“Ok thanks for letting me know that.” Vinyl said as she backed away.
Eggs? What is that supposed to mean. Well, I guess that's nothing compared to your friend being a spy. They probably just had too much fruit punch.
Through the darkness Vinyl walked home. She wasn't particularly scared of the dark but tonight it was freaking her out. She felt like eyes unseen were staring her down as she walked. She told herself it was in her imagination and continued on slightly faster. The feeling of being watched didn't go however and now it seemed even worse. Vinyl decided to focus on the road ahead and quickly make her way home without detours. As she reached the front door she took her key out of the bag as fast as possible. She stuck the key in the door, twisted it, and opened the door. Vinyl ran inside and slammed the door just before she felt that hoofs would have reached out and pulled her into the darkness. She remembered her roommates would probably be sleeping and wasn’t sure if she woke them up. But to her surprise she saw Derpy in the kitchen.
“Hi Vinyl.” Said Derpy who smiled and waved at her.
“Hey Derpy. How's the whole...thing going?”
“Oh it's going fine, they just said you would have to have your memory erased, that's all.” Replied Derpy.
“WHAT?” Vinyl yelled, clearly not wanting to have her memory erased.
“I'm just messing with you.” Managed Derpy through her laughter. “By the way, have you ever had a carrot and pumpkin muffin? I hear they're really good.”
“Wow Derpy you're so mature. You really scared me there for a second. No, I haven't had a pumpkin carrot muffin and I'm surprised you haven't either. I thought you would have had every type of muffin ever made.”
“No way! There are way too many muffins to have tried every flavor.” Said Derpy.
“Anywho what is actually going to happen now?” Asked Vinyl.
“I'm still not really sure they haven't said anything. How was your party?”
“Oh it was great! Every pony cheering and the lights flashing really made it awesome. But there was some pony who asked me to come over to her afterwards and then just said eggs. Weird huh?”
“EGGS!” Derpy yelled. “Uh, that's what I forgot to buy at the store. I hope I didn't just wake Octavia up by yellling.”
Vinyl thought something sounded off by the way she suddenly yelled out and the way she looked surprised.
I need to get sleep though. It was probably nothing, I mean she probably just did forget to buy eggs.
“That's fine, I mean we can just have toast. But I need to go to bed so, goodnight.”
“Okay Vinyl. See you tomorrow morning.” Said Derpy.
Vinyl still thought something was off but she decided not to bother interrogating Derpy, as she was probably tired too. Vinyl sleepily trudged up the stairs and to her room. She opened the door and laid down on her bed.
Vinyl awoke to hear a murmuring around her. She rolled around with her eyes shut for a minute but then realized a bright light was on.
“What is that?” Vinyl sleepily murmured.
She slowly rose up and rubbed her eyes. The blinding light was on above her and she was suddenly in a white room.
“Wait what is going on? This is definitely not my room!”
Vinyl started freaking out. Where was she? All of the sudden a door opened and a pony walked in. She came up to vinyl, who suddenly realized she couldn't move her legs because they were tied down. Then a chair rose out of the ground and the mare sat down.
“Hey what’s going on? Why am I tied down?”
“You recently discovered your friend’s secret base which contained a plaque reading P.O.N.E. correct?”
“Yeah. Wait am I there at the base or something right now?”
“Miss you and your other friend asked Derpy if she was a spy to which she confirmed, is this right?”
“Again, that’s right but why are you asking me and why am I tied up?”
“Later that night after you played at a club a pony approached you to which she said eggs, correct?”
“Oh yeah, that was really weird. Does that mean something?”
“Later you told Derpy about the pony who said eggs and she said she forgot to buy eggs at the store, correct?”
“Listen up! Why am I tied down and where the hay am I?”
“That is secret information Vinyl.”
“Oh great you know my name.”
“When did you meet Derpy?”
“Why do you want to know?” Asked Vinyl, clearly not trusting the mare.
“The sooner you answer my questions the sooner you're no longer tied down.”
“Fine. I met her in our first Hearth’s Warming in college. Octavia introduced me to her when we went out for lunch.”
The mare wrote all of the information down on a clipboard. She stopped and looked up.
“How long have you and Derpy lived together?”
“As soon as we got out of college. All three of us rented the house that we’re currently living in.”
“Okay, on a scale of one to ten how well do you know Derpy?”
“Uh, well I mean I thought I knew her really well but then I found out she was a spy so I would say around a seven.”
“Even though she has hid that from you all these years?”
“Well I mean it was a pretty important secret so I mean I see why she didn't tell me. Wait, you aren't like an enemy organization or something trying to find out information are you?”
She wrote something down on her clipboard and then looked up.
“I can assure you that is not what I am doing here.”
“Well isn't that what the enemy would say?” Asked Vinyl.
The mare looked at her questioningly then wrote something down.
“I'm afraid my time here is done. I will be back soon.”
“Hey you can't just leave me stuck here!” Yelled Vinyl as the mare walked out.
It felt like hours Vinyl was stuck there. She waited and waited but no one came.
This is awful. I would feel a lot better if the door was locked and I could walk around the room. Having my legs stuck to this bed sucks. I wonder how Octavia is doing? Wait what if they took her too? They better not have! If I find out Octavia is here I am going to have a real talk with Derpy. I wonder if Derpy is in on this? What does eggs mean?
Suddenly the door opened and the mare was back. She came over to Vinyl and pressed a button on the underside of the bed. Vinyl’s legs were free from the grasp of the bed.
“Oh that feels so much better! Have you done something to my other roommate Octavia?” Vinyl asked demandingly.
“Yes, we had to take her too. Now if you will follow me that would be much appreciated.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“I'm taking you to see someone.”
Vinyl agreed to follow her and they walked out of the room into a large hallway. They walked through multiple corridors which all looked the same. Each one had a set of doors and cameras. Finally they came upon a slightly more secure door where the mare leading Vinyl had to do a voice recognition test, use a password, and use a key. They opened the door and entered the room.
“Octavia!”
“Vinyl!”
The two of them ran and hugged each other. Then the captors told them to pay attention. A stallion in a black suit walked in and sat down in a fancy chair behind a desk. He leaned back and looked at Vinyl and Octavia.
“So, you two are the ones who found out about our secret.” He sighed heavily. “You have caused quite a bit of trouble. We had to send 18 agents out just to keep an eye on you. Obviously we can't have you two going around telling every pony about this. In that case we have two options. One option is that we erase your memory and you forget all this ever happened. The other option is, since you passed our little test, you could be a new minor member of our agency.” He stopped and looked at them, awaiting a response.
“You mean to say, that me and Octavia could be spies?” Vinyl asked.
“Yes.”
“That is so cool! Octavia what do you think? Isn't that awesome?”
“Well it's just a lot to take in. I mean, we could be real spies? Isn't there a lot of dangers and risks involved?”
“Yes, there is a lot of hazards involved with this job. However if you know what you are doing, which should be easy because Derpy will instruct you, you will be much more safe. Not to say that there will be no dangers, but it will be safer.” The stallion in black said.
“If we accept what will happen?” Octavia asked him.
“Everything will most likely be normal for you, as you are only minor agents. You will just have an extra job if the time calls for it.”
“I'm assuming we have to keep this secret, correct?”
“Yes, if you are caught telling anybody about the agency or any new position you have then you will be revoked of your status and will have your memory erased.”
“Well that was to be expected. I guess...we will accept the position even with the dangers.” Octavia said.
“Well I'm glad you made that decision. When you get home Derpy will inform you of all the important things to know. Please forgive her for taking you two here as it was only protocol.”
“Oh so she took us here?” Said Vinyl.
“Yes, but that doesn't mean she personally wanted to. She was just following commands from the egg protocol. Now that we have that settled you will have all the supplies you need in case trouble arises in your house in the base. Take care to know that the rules of our agency are strict and if broken will result in according punishment. Anyway, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody, welcome to P.O.N.E.
Vinyl and Octavia were escorted part of the way home by an agent while they were blindfolded because they were only new minor agents. Once they reached an alley in central Canterlot and no pony was looking the agent quickly took the blindfolds off and ran.
“Bye...I guess.” Vinyl said.
Vinyl looked at Octavia who seemed rather panicked. Her eyes were wide and she was shuddering a little.
“Uh, Octy are you okay? You seem a little bit… shaken up.”
“I mean, we just got taken from our house while we were sleeping then became spies who will have their memory erased if they break a rule.”
“Just don't break any of the rules then.”
“But what if it's an accident?”
“Well then we’ll just have to make sure we're very careful. I mean it can't be that hard considering Derpy hid an entire underground base from us.”
“You know what Vinyl? You're right, I need to calm down. I'm being unreasonable. Even though we're literal spies now. Do you think we’re going to have to have a gun fight or something crazy like that?”
“That would be awesome!”
“No it wouldn't!”
“Yeah it would! What if we also have hand to hand combat fights?”
“Vinyl we are going to die!”
“No, calm down Octy, Derpy knows what she's doing and she'll help keep us safe.”
“Yeah, you're right. I'm just freaking out because this is all sort of new and strange. You know what I mean? I'm just a cello player one day then the next I'm a spy.”
“You’re a cello player who just happens to be a spy as well, not just a spy.”
“Thanks Vinyl, putting it that way really helps.”
“No problem.”
They walked out of the alley and to their surprise found themselves quite close to home. It was the alley on the side of a bakery 3 blocks up from their house. In celebration of being accepted into P.O.N.E. and Derpy helping them in their new spy journey they decided to buy a cake. Vinyl wanted chocolate and Octavia wanted vanilla but they decided on blueberry for Derpy. Fifteen minutes later they were home. Vinyl reached to open the door but before she could pull down on the doorknob the door opened and Derpy was standing there.
“Hi you guys. I heard the news that you got in. Come inside.”
Vinyl turned to Octavia who just mouthed “That was weird.”
They walked inside and put the cake in the fridge then sat down next to Derpy on the couch. She looked really excited and without warning hugged both of them.
“I’m so proud of you! I can’t believe you actually got accepted into P.O.N.E.! Most ponies who find out just fail the test and get their memory wiped. It’s amazing that both of you are such good friends that you passed the test and joined P.O.N.E.”
“What do you mean? What was that test about?” Asked Vinyl.
“That test is to determine two things. One is to determine if you can keep the secret of the agency and the other is to determine possible good agents. The first part doesn’t even matter if you can’t accept the risk of being an agent, you just get your memory erased anyway.”
“Wait, so the test said we were trustworthy and capable of being good spies?” Vinyl questioned eagerly.
“Yes, and that’s why I’m so proud of you both. You proved yourselves worthy of being loyal friends and being able to take risks to help other ponies.”
“Wow, not many ponies must pass that test then.” Said Octavia.
“Well very few ponies find out about P.O.N.E. and even fewer pass the test, so yes, it is a very rare occasion.” Replied Derpy. “One thing you need to know though is that there are some rules which I need to tell you.”
Vinyl groaned and asked, “How long is this going to take?”
“Umm, it might take a while so get comfortable.”
Vinyl groaned again and propped a pillow behind her back. Derpy went upstairs and came back five minutes later. “What took that long?” Asked Octavia.
“I had to go get the rules.” Said Derpy. “Sorry this is mandatory. Even though it takes forever. Ok so the first rule is obviously not to tell anypony about the organization or anything that could lead them to discovering the organization. Second rule, which is also pretty simple, is don’t use equipment on civilians without authorization.”
After what felt like hours to Vinyl and thirty minutes to Octavia, Derpy finally finished reading the rules.
“Thank Celestia that’s over!” Vinyl said while laying upside down over the top of the couch.
“Oh come on Vinyl it didn’t take that long.” Said Octavia. “Oh Derpy we forgot to tell you when we got here but Vinyl and-, me and Vinyl got a cake to celebrate becoming spies and you getting new prodigies.”
“Aw, thanks you guys.” Derpy exclaimed while smiling.
Across the room Vinyl grinned at Octavia who was clearly trying to work on being less formal.
After Vinyl protesting to get food since her and Octavia didn’t have breakfast, Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy decided to go out for lunch. They arrived at the restaurant, were seated, and had their orders taken. The first to speak up, was of course, Vinyl.
“They should give us those coloring sheets and crayons that the fillies and colts get.” Vinyl harshly stated while making a pouty face.
Derpy burst out laughing but Octavia asked, “Are you serious Vinyl, think about all the paparazzi taking pictures of you coloring.”
All three of them started laughing and Derpy even had tears in her mismatched eyes. The thought of ponies standing around their table with flashing cameras as Vinyl furiously colored with a crayon had them all chuckling.
Vinyl stopped laughing for a second and said, “Then think of the newspaper with the headline : DJ Pon 3 Years Old!”
Through intense laughter Octavia managed to say, “We need to stop laughing so loud or somepony is going to think something is wrong with us.”
After they had finally calmed down and each had some soda Vinyl struck up a conversation with derpy but that left Octavia to think.
I can’t stop thinking about it. This is already too much of a burden. We can’t talk about the agency in public but it is so tempting to just start asking questions and learning more. I don’t know how Vinyl is managing it now and I really have no clue how Derpy managed to hide it from me all this time we’ve been friends. You would think that you would know all there is to know about a pony that you have been friends with since grade school. Apparently not.
“What about you Octy?” Vinyl suddenly asked, breaking Octavia’s mental shield.
“What? Sorry I was thinking about something.”
“Oh, we just were wondering, what’s your favorite flavor of muffin? Mine is chocolate and Derpy’s is obviously blueberry.”
“I’m not really sure. Maybe… pumpkin I guess.”
“That’s interesting, I haven’t met many ponies whose favorite is pumpkin.” Derpy said. “Sometimes you can tell a lot about a pony just from something simple like their favorite flavor of muffin.”
“Okay miss oracle.” Vinyl spoke up. Derpy just laughed it off and started talking about different muffin flavors again. Which left Octavia to her thoughts.
How can I live like this? I can’t just stand about constantly having secrets on my mind. No, Octavia listen to your brain. This is a brain situation, not a heart situation. I’m only wanting to talk so that I can have questions answered. If I get those questions answered then I won’t have to worry about them… or my memory getting wiped.
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Uh, what?” Vinyl asked as she turned and looked at Octavia strangely.
“I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” Stuttered Octavia who was becoming quite red.
“What’s on your mind?” Asked Vinyl.
“Well-” Octavia said before she remembered the rules. “Nothing important. Just something for Orchestra.”
“Oh, okay. That was just kind of weird how you blurted out something random like that.”
Octavia giggled softly, very embarrassed.
Nice save Octavia. Just make sure that next time you don’t need a save. Also make sure to try and not speak your thoughts, or at least, not that literally.
Then the waiter came. Upon his trolley was their food on white plates. The amazing aroma and warm feeling that suddenly came to them was spectacular. Maybe it was just because Octavia and Vinyl hadn’t had breakfast but as soon as the waiter left they seemed to instantly chow down. The amazing flavor from their food seemed heavenly. Derpy was trying not to laugh because Vinyl looked ridiculous digging her non-existent claws into her food.
“This is delicious.” Vinyl managed to say through an enormous heap of food stuffed in her face.
Derpy burst out laughing and couldn’t eat for a few minutes. After another hour they finally decided to leave.
“We shouldn’t have spent so long talking.” Octavia said.
“Well it couldn’t have done any harm.” Vinyl replied.
“Actually that could have been seating for-”
“Oh don’t worry about it they had plenty of seats.” Vinyl said.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Octavia admitted.
“Wow, look at that sculptor!” Derpy exclaimed while pointing across the street.
They walked over and watched the stallion who was sculpting with a small crowd around him. It appeared there was four lumps of rock connected in the middle.
“Oh, it’s a butterfly.” Octavia said.
“Oh yeah, I can see it now.” Vinyl whispered
“I had no idea. You have a real creative mind Octavia. I guess you do play an instrument.” Derpy added.
They watched him. Manipulating the shape of the rock to his idea. Carving the shape slowly making it more and more like the beautiful insect it was supposed to be. It was hypnotising watching the stallion slowly but steadily form the butterfly from a rock. After 10 minutes they realised how long they had been watching and left after giving him some money in his bowl.
“That guy is pretty amazing.” Vinyl said.
“I agree. He has a lot of talent. I think he should be a professional sculptor.” Derpy added.
Octavia had nothing to say however and was back to thinking.
Why did the shape of the butterfly appeal so much to me? What was it about the fact that it was a butterfly-
“You need to take a break from thinking.” Said Vinyl who had noticed the same look on Octavia’s face.
“I guess you’re right.” Octavia replied.
As they reached their home Derpy opened the mailbox and pulled out all the mail. She followed them inside and started looking through the mail. She put all the normal stuff in the mail basket until she came upon a letter sent by the Royal Canterlot Staff.
“Woah! You guys we got a letter from the Royal Canterlot Staff.”
Vinyl and Octavia both ran over and practically yelled, “Open it!”
Derpy opened the letter and started reading.
“Dear Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody, and Derpy Hooves, you are hereby invited to the Grand Galloping Gala.” Derpy managed to say before stopping and asking, “Am I dreaming?”
Being informed that her and her friends were invited to the gala was quite the surprise. Octavia would have to get a dress and plan ahead for what they were going to do that evening. The only problem was that Octavia also had a concert she had to go to tonight so, she was understandably worried. She had just arrived at the performance center when her conductor came up to her.
“Hello Octavia. I”ve just come to inform you that you were accepted to play with a select group of ponies from our orchestra at the Grand Galloping Gala.”
Octavia panicked at first but then decided to calmly ask, “Are we performing the whole time? I have also personally been invited to the gala along with two friends who I was planning to go with.”
“No, we are just performing for half an hour or so with the 4 songs we’re playing tonight.”
“Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll see you later.”
“I will also see you later. Try your best tonight Octavia, you’re one of my best players.”
With that Octavia’s conductor left and she started taking out her cello. She got out her sheet music and started warming up before the performance. She precisely swept her bow across the strings while simultaneously pressing down each string she needed to, to make the sound of her cello beautiful, mysterious, and triumphant all at the same time. By the end of her practice session ponies had already started heading out on stage. Octavia went out to the water fountain and got a drink of water. Then she headed out on stage. Fast Hooves, one of her friends who also played the cello was already there.
“Hey Octavia.”
“Hi Fast.”
“You excited to play tonight?”
“I don't know it's kind of cool I guess.”
“I always get really excited to play at concerts because the ponies watching always pressure me into playing my very best. I mean I still think I play decent in practice but when I play in front of an audience I pay attention to all the dynamics and techniques.”
“Yeah, I guess I see what you’re saying. Oh they’re opening the curtains. Good luck Fast.”
“Thanks. Good luck Octavia.”
With that the curtains had opened and all was silent. The conductor walked onto stage and to the center. He went up to the microphone and started talking.
“Welcome mares and stallions, to a concert we hope you’ll enjoy. Our musicians all have been working hard to bring the music we’re playing tonight to life. We hope you enjoy our show.”
He went up onto the podium and all the players corrected their posture. He raised the baton and everypony was ready. The baton dropped and they started playing. The large epic sound of the piece made Octavia picture a great battle. The timpani boomed in the background making itself heard loud and clear. Octavia felt a bead of sweat run down her forehead. She concentrated on the notes on the page, carefully making sure that each sweep of her bow was as instructed. Here came her solo. She let her heart take control of her bow and make the sound immense and powerful, to stun the crowd as it was supposed to. That was it. Her solo was over. Octavia had done it. She wouldn’t let this ruin her for the rest of the song though. She focused on the grand finale and let the long notes come slowly louder and louder until they stopped and it was over. The song was done. The audience let out a massive storm of clapping and cheering. The rest of the concert went by like a blur. She was finishing one song, then another, and then the last.
“Don’t forget to bow.”
“Oh yeah. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
The orchestra bowed, the curtains closed, and everypony started filing back to wherever they left their instrument cases. Fast Hooves came over to Octavia.
“You did a great job! Your solo sounded awesome, your harmony parts sounded awesome, and your melody parts sounded awesome!”
“Thanks Fast! The concert went by really fast for me. I thought you sounded really good too. You were always playing at the right times and right volume.”
“Thanks Octavia. I totally see what you’re saying about it going fast. I got to go so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you later.”
Octavia thought that maybe Fast Hooves was right. Maybe she did sound better when she performed in front of an audience.
Vinyl was home alone again. Since her DJ job usually was during the night she got most days off. This left her with nothing to do a lot of the time.
What should I do? I wish that I could go out and do some cool spy stuff. Too bad Derpy isn’t around. Even if she was she would probably say there’s nothing to do. Maybe I should figure out what to do for the Gala night.
Vinyl got a piece of paper and a pencil. At the top of the paper she wrote, “What to do at the Gala?” After thinking for a few long and tedious minutes Vinyl decided to start writing down ideas for places to go for dinner before hand.
Maybe that pizza place. They have some really nice pizza. Would Octavia be okay with that though? I mean it does seem a little informal for the Grand Galloping Gala.
Vinyl sat on that stool for what seemed like an hour. She thought and thought about what would be the perfect place to go. She wrote down almost every restaurant she could possibly think of. There was one that she remembered somepony talking about the other day.
What was it called? It was like the tasty… something. I guess I’ll just write that down.
After a while Vinyl finally had wrote down almost every restaurant she could think of. She decided a new topic to plan was probably a good option.
What to do? Maybe… dresses? Ugh, Octavia is going to want me to dress nice, I already know it. Maybe I should plan out a dress to ask for. If I do that I can add whatever flare I want to it. You know what? I think I’ll work on that later. What to do then? That’s why I started planning this stuff in the first place isn’t it. Oh yeah! Derpy left me a grocery list on the counter. Thank Celestia I didn’t forget to do that.
Vinyl walked over to the counter and looked at the list. There was a lot of food to buy.
That is a lot of groceries! I guess I know what to do now. This should keep me occupied for a while.
With that Vinyl left the house. Remembering to bring the wagon for an extra big grocery load she walked around to the side of the house. There was the wagon. It looked like it hadn’t been used in a decade. She got the wagon and started walking. The market was up the hill from their house which always made it easier to bring a lot of groceries back down the hill. One block, two blocks, three blocks, four blocks, and finally five blocks. She arrived at the market and realised that there was a lot of ponies there.
Oh no. Why is it that whenever I come here there’s always a million ponies waiting for me? If I just act normal then maybe nopony will notice the famous DJ walking around. I hope this works.
Vinyl casually walked into the first row of booths. Derpy always organised the list by the order of the stands at the market. That saved Vinyl a lot of time. She looked at the list. The first item on it was carrots. She walked to the carrot vendor she normally bought from and acquired the carrots. Into the wagon they went. Next up was horseradish. On and on Vinyl went, gathering each and every item on the list until she came to the last one.
Last thing is… green beans. Oh no, why did it have to be green beans? Nopony ever has green beans except that one guy.
Vinyl trudged over to the one and only pony she normally bought green beans from. No beans. That couldn’t be a good sign. Vinyl searched everywhere for the beans and couldn’t find them.
Well there’s no beans. I guess I can’t buy be-. Vinyl stopped. There is one place I can get beans. Nope, I’m not going there. Not going to that place. Ugh! I can’t just walk away now that I remembered. I have to go get them now that I know I can, even if it means going to the… community garden. I’m going to throw up.
Onwards Vinyl walked, slowly back down the hill. She turned left and saw it ahead. The sunny spot in front of her with happy ponies gardening and plants everywhere.
Here goes nothing.
She walked up to the small booth with the red and white striped roof.
“Hi, can I buy some green beans.” Vinyl said while trying her best to smile.
“Yeah, sure. What weight?”
“Um, maybe just a pound or so.”
“Okay here we go. That’ll be 8 bits.”
“Here’s the 8 bits. Thank you.” Vinyl tried to walk away after loading the green beans into her wagon but the pony at the booth spoke up.
“Would you like to join the Canterlot Healthy Gardening Club?”
“No, thanks for offering.”
“Are you sure? We promote healthy choices and have lots of fun taking care of the plants here.”
“Maybe another time.” Vinyl said and started to walk away.
“Oh, okay. Thanks for considering!” The smiling pony said while waving.
If maybe another time means never then sign me up. They’re too happy at that place. Gardening seems so boring, I don’t understand how they can do it for hours and hours just to have fun. At least nopony recognized me I guess.
Vinyl walked home feeling successful. She had gotten all the groceries and even braved the horrors of the community garden. She got home and opened the door. After loading all the groceries into the fridge she took the wagon back outside.
I hope next time you’re used it doesn’t include going to the community garden. Farewell sweet wagon. Until next time.
Vinyl walked back inside and finally sat back down ready to plan her fashion sense for the Gala. She looked down at the paper she had left on the table. There was a note on it that read, “Lock your door next time you leave the house, Vinyl.”
Receiving a message from a stranger that said to lock your door next time you leave the house, to Vinyl, seemed oddly related to the recent events involving the P.O.N.E. organization. Because of this suspicion Vinyl waited until Derpy came home. When Derpy finally arrived at the house around five o’clock Vinyl rushed over to tell her about the strange event.
“Derpy I need to tell you something important.” Vinyl exclaimed in a panic.
“Ok, what is it?”
“Well I started planning for the Gala this morning and I had a piece of paper and a pencil out on the table over there. After a while I went to go get the groceries from the list you left out. When I got back I sat down to think about my dress, because we both know Octavia will make me dress up, and I looked down at the paper and it said Lock your door next time you leave the house, Vinyl. I think it might have something to do with the spy stuff.”
“Wait, what? That’s really creepy. I don’t have any idea who would be doing that. Ok I’m sort of freaking out inside so I gotta calm down. Look, here’s what we’ll do, I’m gonna go ask somebody over my communications system if they know anything about it. Do you want to come since you are an official member now?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Vinyl and Derpy opened the entrance to the base and walked over to it. They climbed down and Derpy started doing something on her computer.
“Did I ever tell you that this place is really cool?” Vinyl said while looking at the switches as if they were tempting her.
“No, but you did now. Thanks, I always wanted a secret room in our house as a filly so when I got into P.O.N.E. I really wanted a base. The only problem was that they only had one base to share at the university because obviously they can’t install secret rooms in the dorm buildings.”
“What? There was a secret base at the university?”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t huge or anything because, well, not that many ponies are in P.O.N.E. We can’t have tons of people in the organization because then the secret would get out. Anywho, I’m about to pull up a chat with somepony from the agency so just stay quiet unless it’s important.”
Derpy clicked something on the computer, typed something in, and suddenly there was a huge silhouette of a pony on the wall.
“Hello, this is agent D Hooves. I have a situation.” Derpy said.
“What is the problem?”
“Well, my roommate, who just got accepted into the agency, came back from grocery shopping and found a note that said, Lock your door next time you leave the house, Vinyl.”
“I see… is that all that was there?”
Vinyl nodded at Derpy who replied, “Yes, there was nothing else there.”
“Okay, I’m looking through the database. Oh no…”
“What’s wrong?”
“This has happened before. It seems to indicate a warning of some kind from an agency who is against us. Last time the agent who warned us was… assassinated. Just 2 hours after they warned us.”
Vinyl’s eyes went wide. Derpy gasped.
“Derpy, this is a serious situation, we will be sending another agent to your house. I recommend staying together and being extremely cautious. Lock all your doors and shut the windows.”
Upstairs, Vinyl and Derpy heard the front door open. They went white. They heard hoofsteps walk to the kitchen.
“Somebody is in the house.” Vinyl stuttered.
“Stay calm Vinyl, Derpy get the weapons.” The pony on the screen said.
Derpy flipped a switch and the armory rose out of the ground. She grabbed a gun and gave it to Vinyl.
“Press this down to be able to shoot and press this to spray bullets.”
Derpy grabbed another gun for herself and a grenade. She slung the gun on her back and put the grenade on the front of the sling. She grabbed some sort of device and put it over her face.
“Heat signal from the kitchen.”
She started climbing up the ladder. Vinyl wanted to ask what she was doing but was too shocked to say anything. She heard Derpy reach the top. Then it was silent. Ten seconds went by and then thirty. All of the sudden came a scream from upstairs.
“Wait, that scream sounded like… OCTAVIA!” Vinyl yelled out.
“What are you doing?” Yelled the pony on the screen.
“I think the intruder is just my roommate getting home.”
Then Vinyl heard somepony climbing down the ladder. Derpy came in followed by Octavia, who looked like she had just seen a ghost.
“It was just our other roommate coming home from Orchestra.” Said Derpy.
“Well that’s good news. I was really scared there for a second. She should know what’s happening too so after this meeting tell her what’s going on. So, like I said, shut the doors, lock the windows, stay cautious. The agent should be at your house in approximately thirty minutes. I wish you the best of luck Derpy.”
With that the screen clicked off and the three ponies were left standing there with Derpy looking slightly troubled, Vinyl looking confused and scared, and Octavia looked… like she had survived being pushed out of a plane into the arctic.
Vinyl spoke up, “So, uh… Octavia, basically what happened is I got home from grocery shopping and there was a note saying to lock your door next time which apparently means that somepony is coming to kill us.”
Octavia stood still with her mouth closed and shook a little. Then out of nowhere she fell on the ground with her eyes closed.
“Maybe you should have taken a slower approach, Vinyl.”
“Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have told her somepony was going to kill us after she had showed up at home only to see you with a grenade and a gun watching her. But I mean that pony on the screen did say to tell her what happened.”
“I DON’T THINK SHE MEANT THAT DIRECTLY VINYL!” Derpy yelled.
I got Derpy mad.
“Okay, I’m sincerely sorry that I did that. I should have been more careful.”
“Yeah! You really should have! Now we have to bring her up that ladder somehow.”
After managing to lay Octavia down in her bed they shut all the window curtains and locked the door like they were instructed. Derpy brought all the weapons upstairs and put them behind some pillows on the couch. They waited for the agent to arrive but he didn’t after thirty minutes.
“Do you think the agent should have got here by now?”
“They probably should have but maybe they’re just running late.”
They sat there for another fifteen minutes until they heard a knock at the door. Vinyl went white and started moving her hoof slowly closer to where the guns were hidden. All of the sudden a mare came crashing through the door and slammed into the wall.
“Wait, Vinyl that pony was thrown through the door. She has a P.O.N.E. badge. GET DOWN!”
A storm of bullets came flying at where Vinyl’s head had been just a second ago. Derpy leaped up grabbed a gun and started shooting at the entrance. Vinyl slowly got up and moved to the wall. Bullets were flying back and forth. Somepony rolled to the other side of the stairs. Vinyl ran over to her and Derpy’s side of the stairs.
“VINYL NO!”
It was too late. Vinyl had ran around to the other side of the stairs and tried to tackle the intruder. The masked stallion grabbed Vinyl by the arms and flipped her over his head. She landed on the ground only to look up and see the stallion pointing a gun right at her face. He was about to pull the trigger right as Octavia came flying over the railing and hit him over the head with a chair. A resounding thunk was heard and all went silent. The stallion fell on the ground.
“Vinyl are you okay?” Asked Derpy frantically.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Derpy hugged her tightly. “Don’t be stupid Vinyl! You can’t pull that sort of stunt! You almost died!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean-”
Octavia spoke up. “You didn’t mean to what Vinyl? You can’t keep being so reckless all the time! Everything you do, you never think of the consequences! If I hadn’t came in when I did you would’ve been dead!”
Vinyl started sobbing.
“I-It’s true. You’re right I never think of the consequences of my actions.”
Derpy checked the pulses of the P.O.N.E. agent and the intruder.
“They’re both alive. Just passed out. I’m going to go chain up this guy. You two should wait until she wakes up.” Derpy said, still sounding angry about Vinyl.
Octavia glared at Vinyl then walked over to the knocked out agent. The mare was a cherry colored pegasus with mint green hair. Octavia carried her to the sofa and laid her down. After a while the agent woke up.
“What’s going on?”
“You got knocked out by some guy and he threw you into the wall and judging by the shape in our door I can guess what happened there.” Octavia told the mare
“No wonder everything hurts. Wait, did you take the guy down?” The agent asked.
“Yeah, I hit him on the head with a chair. Our friend is chaining him up in the… spy room, I guess you could call it.”
“Oh yeah! I think I remember now! I was coming to help agent D Hooves. Where is she?”
“I don’t think you should go looking for her I mean you did get knocked out.”
“I’m fine, just tell me where she is I need to talk to her.”
Octavia looked troubled but still responded with, “She’s upstairs second room on the right in the underground secret room looking hatch.”
“Thank you.” Said the agent before limping upstairs.
That left Octavia and Vinyl. The second of whom was left with a shameful feeling in their stomach.
Why does Vinyl act like this? Why is it that she never thinks over what she’s doing? If she’s going to be a spy she needs to be more careful, and work better with Octavia.
Derpy hoisted up the knocked out intruder and set him in the chair she had gotten. The noise of someone coming down the ladder reached her ears. Derpy turned around and saw the mare who had been thrown through their front door standing there.
“Can you grab me that chain?” Derpy asked.
“Yeah, here you go.” The mare handed the chain to Derpy. “I thought I should ask you what happened and what we’re going to do about it.”
“Well, I guess I should start with the fact that you came flying through our door. Then Mr. Tough Guy here came in and almost blew my friend’s head off. As I shot at him my friend slowly started moving along the wall and then she ran to our side of the stairs. I yelled out for her to stop but she ran to the other side and tried to tackle him, which, unsurprisingly failed. He flipped her over his head and almost shot her when my other roommate leaped over the railing and hit the guy on the head with a chair.”
“Wow, it sounds like your friend might need to work on her skills a bit.”
“More than a little. By the way what’s your name?”
“Cherry Charm or just CC if you want.”
Derpy continued tying the stallion to the chair. Then he started to open his eyes. He looked around and realised what was happening and started to panic.
“Well hello sleepyhead. Did you have some good dreams?” Derpy asked in her sweet sounding voice.
“What’s going on? Where the hay am I?”
“We’ll be the ones asking questions here.” Cherry spoke up. “Who sent you to take out these agents.”
“Like I would tell you.” The intruder mocked.
“You probably should.” Derpy added. “I mean if you don’t… well, then you’ll have to sit in a room with some tougher interrogators until you do.
They struggled with the intruder, who refused to speak up for a while longer until Cherry suggested a different approach.
“Well if he’s not going to talk willingly maybe we should bring out the device. That is, if you have one here?”
“Well, he isn’t talking, so I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.” Derpy said.
She walked to the switches and flipped one up. A storage system came up on one side of the room. Derpy walked over and opened one of the cabinets. She pulled out a small circular device that was made to look like a cartoon ladybug. She brought it to the intruder and let him see it.
“I’m sorry, but since you wouldn’t talk we have to use this. It’s going to crawl on your back and slowly pinch you until you tell us who sent you.”
The intruder laughed and said, “If I ever tell you.”
Derpy placed the device on the stallion’s back. He sat still but looked very uncomfortable. All of the sudden a resounding snap was heard.
“OW!” The stallion yelled.
“Does that hurt? It really looks like it did. Oh, that is going to leave a mark.” Cherry uttered.
“I’m fine.”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“No, really I’m-ARGH! Okay I’ll tell you who sent me just take this thing off my back!”
Derpy took the bug device off the stallion’s back. It left two bright red spots where it had bit him.
“I was sent by an organization. Their name is Project R.G.R. That’s all I’m telling you.”
Cherry Charm had taken the intruder who had tried to kill Vinyl and Derpy back to the P.O.N.E. headquarters. Of course after knocking him out with a tranquilizer. This left Derpy, Vinyl, and Octavia. One of which had almost gotten herself killed.
Here goes nothing I guess.
Vinyl walked down the stairs slowly and went into the kitchen. Derpy and Octavia both looked at her. She kept her head down.
“Guys, I’m really sorry. I know I must have scared you both really bad. I regret not listening to you when you yelled out for me to stop Derpy. There’s no other way to express how utterly guilty I feel. I’m so sorry that I keep rushing into things and not thinking. I promise that if I’m going to stay in P.O.N.E. I’ll think over things before doing them. I also understand if I have to get kicked out for my reckless behavior.”
Derpy stated, “Vinyl normally with such actions you would have immediately been kicked out and had your memory erased. But, I begged and begged the administration to let you stay. They finally agreed but said if you do something like this again you’re out.”
“Thank you so much Derpy.”
“Vinyl you almost died.” Octavia said.
“Yeah, I was being reckless.”
“That’s the problem Vinyl. You’re always being reckless. You don’t care. I feel like your apology doesn’t mean anything.” Octavia declared angrily.
“Octy, I promise I mean it when I say I’m sorry.”
“That’s what you said last time!” Octavia yelled.
“I know I keep making the same mistakes and I keep making apologies. I promise I’m really trying to work on it.”
“Work on what Vinyl?”
“Everything! My decisions, my impulsiveness, and… my friendships.”
“Well you’re not doing a good job.”
“I know I’m not doing a good job.”
“Then do something about it.”
“I’m trying Octavia. I really am trying. Just like I’m trying to apologize.”
“Fine. I accept your apology. But please keep trying to be a better pony and don’t do anything reckless.”
“Thank you Octavia. Thank you so much for giving me another chance.”
Derpy spoke up. “Now that you two have made up I have some info for you. Apparently the guy was from an agency called Project R.G.R. Now I sent the guy off to P.O.N.E. headquarters and also told them about what he said. Apparently they couldn’t find anything about this Project R.G.R. but they’re looking into it further because based on what the guy has said it sounds like this could be something pretty big.”
“This guy hasn’t said anything else?” Vinyl asked.
“No, he has resisted any further investigation. Even with these new findings we’ve been told not to worry about anything. Since we captured one agent the ponies at Project R.G.R. are probably wanting to lay low for a while. Anywho I wanted to remind you both that the Gala is tomorrow.”
“Oh I need to get my dress!” Said Octavia.
“Yeah, me too.” Vinyl remembered.
“I already have mine so it’s just you two.” Derpy added.
“Well, I guess let’s go.”
“Right now?” Vinyl asked.
“Yep.”
Thirty minutes later and Vinyl and Octavia were at the Canterlot Carousel. They had explained the situation to Sassy Saddles who already had a few orders for the Gala but thought she could get it done.
“Okay, what do you need for your dress Octavia?”
“I’m thinking something classy but still able to walk in. You know what I mean?”
“Yes, I think I have an idea. What about the colors?”
“For the primary color I’m thinking a dark grey to match my mane. For the secondary… how about a light pastel blue?”
“Can do Octavia. What about you Vinyl?”
“Obviously I don’t want any frilly stuff. I’m thinking something not too long. For the primary color I guess I could go with a turquoise and for secondary a cerulean, you know to match my mane.”
“Okay I got it. Should be done by tomorrow morning. Thanks for coming.”
Vinyl and Octavia left the store and got the burden of getting their dresses off their chest.
“Well that was quick.” Octavia said.
“Yeah it wasn’t that bad.” Vinyl replied.
“She seemed sort of panicked. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah. I bet when she said that she had a few orders for the Gala she actually had like a hundred.”
“Probably not a hundred, I mean if she had that many orders there’s no way she would have taken ours.”
As they made their way home Octavia pointed out a new sculpture at the small garden on the street corner.
“Hey that must be the butterfly that stallion was carving the other day.”
“Oh man, that’s really detailed.” Vinyl noticed.
They continued walking home and when they got home Derpy was sitting on the couch. She looked up and asked, “How was it?”
“It was pretty fast. She said that the dresses would be ready tomorrow morning.” Octavia replied. “What have you been doing?”
“Just seeing if there’s been any updates on the intruder.”
“Is there any new info?”
“No, apparently the guy has just been sitting there and hasn’t talked. Even after they did the method that me and Cherry used. You don’t think he told us what he did on purpose did he?”
“Why would he tell you the name of some evil organization on purpose?” Vinyl remarked.
“How can we be sure that even is the name of the organization? What if he’s trying to rile up the agency to scare them?” Derpy asked.
“I bet there’s an insider at the agency.” Octavia added.
“Since you two are so new they probably think it might be one of you, if not both of you.”
“Wait, so they think that me and Vinyl are insiders working for the enemy?”
“I’m saying it’s a possibly, not that it’s for sure what they’re thinking. Don’t worry about it. Even if they think it’s really you they would have to prove it somehow which they couldn’t since you’re not.”
“Okay, I was pretty worried there for a second.” Vinyl said.
It was almost time for Octavia to leave for Orchestra and Derpy to leave for mail delivery so Vinyl decided she would go with Derpy today. As long as Vinyl didn’t slow Derpy down everything should be fine.
After following Derpy around delivering mail silently for a while Vinyl thought striking up a conversation was a good idea.
“Do you want to talk about something?”
“Like what?” Derpy asked back.
“I don’t know maybe… what do you want to do at the Gala tomorrow?”
“Well I assume we’ll go to dinner before hand. Then once we arrive they’ll probably direct us into that main hall area like last year. I kind of just want to have some conversations.”
“Yeah I sort of want to do that to. Like talking to the Wonderbolts is always really cool. But I also want something exciting to happen. Make it a little more fun somehow.”
“Vinyl you better not be getting any mischievous ideas.”
“I’m not, I just wish it wasn’t all standing around and talking the whole time you know. When you’re younger the parties you go to have like games and stuff but when you’re older it’s just talking about the economy and stuff.”
“Yeah I guess I see your point. They should give us something to do and make it a little more fun.”
Derpy flipped open the next mailbox and slipped the letter inside. She bounced to the next one and did the same thing.
“How do you do the same exact thing every day?” Vinyl asked.
“Oh delivering mail isn’t so bad. You get some good exercise and sometimes you see ponies you’re friends with and strike up a conversation.”
“But you don’t get to express your emotions or have fun.”
“Vinyl you can still have fun being a mailmare, not to mention there are a lot of jobs a lot worse.”
“How can you have fun being a mailmare? All you do is go on the same route day after day putting paper in boxes for random ponies.”
“You can skip or hop or sometimes just make ponies have a better day by being happy. If somepony comes out to get the mail you can always talk to them and cheer them up. When nopony comes out to talk I just have fun by making up stories.”
“Stories?”
“Yeah it can be pretty fun. All you do is come up with a central idea and just make it the craziest thing ever. For example, how about I say, there once was a prince who was going to rescue a princess from a dragon. Now you add onto it.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Fine. I guess the prince gets to the castle and sees it is surrounded with lasers and flying sharks.”
“Cool. The prince is worried at first but then he grows butt wings and flies past the sharks and dodges the lasers then lands in the entrance of the castle.”
“Butt wings? Why does he have butt wings?”
“I don’t know, it just came to mind and I thought it was funny.”
Vinyl looked at Derpy with a weird expression but then continued the story.
“Ok he lands in the entrance and sees a giant timberwolf ahead.”
“He flies into the timberwolf and it is made of sand so it crumbles and inside of it is the princess in a giant jam jar.”
“The noble prince pokes the jam jar with his spear but it doesn’t break.”
“The princess’s head suddenly morphs into a tiger head and breathes fire which breaks the glass.”
“Her head turns back into a pony head and her and the prince live happily ever after.”
“That was the craziest story I have heard in awhile.” Vinyl said. “I didn’t even notice how far we walked until just now!”
“See I told you making up stories is fun. Let's do another one.”
Derpy and Vinyl went on telling stories back and forth until they came upon the last mailbox on Derpy’s route. She opened the mailbox, placed the letter inside, and victoriously rose up.
“The watermelon alien picked up her raisin gun and shot the plastic cup demon, turning him into millions of raisins!”
They both burst into laughter and a few ponies across the street looked at Derpy like she had turned her legs into wings and wings into legs. Vinyl and Derpy just kept laughing anyway and ignored the weird glares.
“We should write a novel with that one Derpy.”
“Yep, I wouldn’t say it was the most descriptive or even made sense but boy was it creative.”
They continued on walking to their house on the bumpy cobbled streets. Vinyl finally thought she understood why Derpy was so happy all the time.
Octavia rose up in her bed and yawned. She started making a mental list of what she had to do throughout the day.
Okay, morning time. Let’s think of what we have to do today to get ready for the gala. First, breakfast. After breakfast I should go with Vinyl to pick up our dresses. Then I have to go to orchestra. Let’s see… after orchestra I guess we should all meet up at home to go get dinner after we get ready.
Octavia got out of bed and got ready for the day. After spending a significant amount of time trying to straighten her bed mane she went downstairs. Vinyl and Derpy were already at the table eating breakfast.
“Good morning.” Octavia mumbled.
“Good morning.” Vinyl and Derpy both replied.
“Vinyl after breakfast we have to go pick up our dresses.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me.”
Octavia went to the counter and started making some coffee. She then put an english muffin in the toaster. After a minute or two the coffee and english muffin were both done. Octavia got out a plate and set the two pieces of her meal on it and sat down at the table.
“Are you guys as excited as I am for the Gala?” Derpy asked.
“Well how excited are you?” Vinyl responded.
“I’m super excited. I can’t wait to go later.”
“Well, in that case I’m a little less excited but I’m still pumped.”
Octavia remembered that she had to play at the gala and said, “I forgot to tell you guys but I have to play at the gala for half an hour or so.”
“Really? That’s pretty cool.” Derpy said.
“I’d rather be hanging out with you two.”
“Well, it’s only thirty minutes so it’s not too long. I mean the whole Gala is like 4 hours.”
“I’d be pretty excited if I was being the DJ for a huge event like this.” Vinyl said. “I think it’s an honor Tavi.”
“Well, I guess you’re right Vinyl. It is a pretty big honor to be performing at the Gala.”
Octavia finished eating her english muffin and started washing her plate. The water washed over her hoofs as she scrubbed the plate. She decided the plate was clean and put it away in one of the many wooden cabinets.
“Vinyl when do you think you’ll be done?”
“Just a minute or so. I’ll meet you at the front door.”
With that Octavia went to her room to grab her bag of bits. She looked at her dresser where she usually left it. It wasn’t there.
Where did I leave it? Maybe in here. Nope. Did I put it by the front door. I guess I better go check.
Octavia walked back downstairs and looked at the small table by the front door. Her bag of bits was sitting there. Vinyl was nowhere to be seen.
“Vinyl!”
“I’m coming!”
Vinyl came running out of the room on the left of the stairs and almost tripped. She came down the stairs a little more slowly. The two of them headed out the door. The fresh morning air of Canterlot was refreshing and the perfect temperature. The early hours of the morning presented few ponies about the streets. The sun had just risen and the bright morning light shined down on the stores. The day proved to be a seemingly good one. Octavia pushed open the doors to the Canterlot Carousel and saw nopony there.
“Do you think she’s here?”
“Probably.” Vinyl said before pressing down on the bell on the counter.
“Vinyl!”
“I’ll be there in a second!” Sassy Saddles yelled from the back room before stumbling into the front of the store. “Oh, Vinyl and Octavia, I have your dresses back here.”
“I hope we didn’t interrupt anything.” Octavia said.
“No, I was just working on more dresses for the Gala. Here are yours.” Sassy said as she showed them there dresses.
“Wow, these are spectacular Sassy!” Octavia exclaimed.
“Yeah, these are awesome!” Vinyl added.
“Thanks, that means a lot to me. Ponies sometimes compliment the dresses but they don’t seem like they care. Just handing out empty compliments you know?”
“You outdid yourself Sassy. How much are these?” Vinyl asked.
“Well they’re seventy five bits each.”
“Only seventy five bits! I’ll give you 100 for mine.” Octavia said.
Vinyl added, “Yeah, I’ll give 100 too. If you’re charging seventy five bits for this level of effort you’re going to go out of business. Especially with these rich Canterlot ponies.”
“Really! Thanks you two, that’s so thoughtful. I can’t believe you’re willing to give me that much. Some ponies complain that seventy five is too much.”
“Well, those ponies are completely insane rich snobs. I can’t believe they would try and get a cheaper deal on this insane quality.”
With that Vinyl and Octavia paid Sassy Saddles, said goodbye, and left the store with their dresses. Now that it was a little later in the morning they noticed that as they walked home more and more ponies started walking around. They passed the market, the bakery, and the community garden. Once they finally got home it was almost time for Octavia to be at orchestra. She realised the time and dropped off her dress only to run out the door immediately after. Fifteen minutes later Octavia burst through the doors to the practicing room, panting. Luckily it was still five minutes until they started.
“Oh thank Celestia.” Octavia gasped.
She got out her cello, a music stand, and a chair and sat down where she normally did. A few minutes later the conductor stood on his podium and looked at them all.
“Hello everypony, today I have an announcement. Some of our best players will be going to perform at the Gala tonight. If I’ve informed you that you’re going you will need to meet at the entrance to the Gala at seven. We will be performing from seven fifteen to seven forty five. Just make sure to bring your instrument and music, they have stands and chairs there.”
Once he stopped talking everypony started clapping for those that made it to the Gala.
“Today we’re just going to be playing through the music we have for our upcoming concert and discussing what we think should be worked on for it.”
Throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, excluding lunch, they did just that.
The Grand Galloping Gala. Everypony wanted to go but few made it. Now Octavia, Vinyl, and Derpy were going to the Gala. However, before the Gala they had to get dinner. After debating where to go they decided on a place that had a variety of food but was still formal. They arrived there and had ordered their food and were left waiting.
“The Gala starts at seven so we have forty five more minutes.” Octavia said. “I bet all the ponies here are attending the Gala.”
“I hope they can get the food done fast. Otherwise we’re in trouble.” Derpy added.
“Yeah, I’m pretty hungry too, so the sooner it’s done the better.” Vinyl mentioned.
Ten minutes later and their food had come. Vinyl ordered a simple pancake stack with syrup. Octavia had gotten a salad. Derpy decided on a pasta with a tomato sauce.
“This is really good.” Vinyl mumbled through a mouth full of pancakes.
“At the Gala please swallow before you speak Vinyl.” Octavia pleaded. “The high class ponies there might not appreciate you talking with food in your mouth.”
“Well if they’re gonna complain they shouldn’t invite me.”
Derpy said, “They wouldn’t have known that you were going to talk with food in your mouth when they invited you.”
“I’m not going to purposely talk with food in my mouth you guys.”
“Well, you’re right about that. I would hope that you aren’t plotting to talk with food in your mouth just to annoy ponies.” Octavia added.
Once they had finished eating their food and paid the bill they got up and left. As they were walking up the cobbled road to the castle Derpy pointed something out.
“You two’s dresses both look really good.”
“Yeah, Sassy really did an awesome job.” Vinyl replied.
“I can’t believe she is putting this much effort into the dresses for all the ponies attending the Gala.” Octavia said. “It must be a lot of work.”
Once they approached the castle Octavia saw her orchestra ahead and departed from Vinyl and Derpy. She met up with the ponies there and entered the castle expecting to go the same direction as everyone else only to be directed leftwards. They entered some sort of back room where they could prepare. Octavia started unpacking her cello which had proved to be a drag to take with her thus far.
“Attention everyone.” The conductor said. “The stands and chairs are all on stage so you don’t need to worry about them. However since you are performing for a Gala I’m unable to conduct you so you will need to play on your own. I wish you all good luck. I know you can do it.”
Octavia and the others from the orchestra were a little bit worried about performing without a conductor at first but after a few rounds of practice they thought they were ready. Then it was seven fifteen and they had to go out on stage. Well it wasn’t really a stage, more of an area that was slightly higher than the rest of the floor. When they walked out surprisingly nopony really seemed to care. A few looked their way and then went back to whatever conversations they were having.
“What a warm welcome.” Somepony in the orchestra whispered.
The conductor looked at them and, seeing that they were unsure of what to do, counted them off with his hoof. All the way across the room. They started playing to which the conversation grew louder. Throughout the whole performance Octavia felt as if they were playing and trying their hardest for nothing. None of the Gala ponies seemed to care that they were there. After the performance Octavia put her cello into it’s case and gently set it in the corner of the room to grab later. She went out to meet Vinyl and Derpy who were together towards the back of the room talking.
“Octavia you were great!” Said Derpy.
“Thanks, I felt like the ponies here kind of just treated the performance as background noise.”
Vinyl leaned closer and whispered in Octavia’s ear, “Snobby rich folk.”
“Vinyl, come on. Not everypony here is that bad. I mean you don’t think the wonderbolts are horrible do you?”
“No, I’m just saying the majority of people here are kind of… you know.”
“Hey, so, what do you guys want to do?” Derpy asked. “Don’t yell out party, Vinyl. I see that look in your eyes.”
“I don’t really know.” Octavia replied. “Everypony else is just talking.”
“What do you guys want to talk about?” Asked Vinyl.
Suddenly Derpy’s watch lit up. Her face looked worried. She looked around and told Octavia and Vinyl to follow her. They went and asked a guard where a restroom was and followed his directions. They opened the door and Derpy signaled to stay silent. Her ears perked up and she sighed.
“Okay, the coast is clear. I just got a message from P.O.N.E. and they don’t send you a message unless it’s urgent. Here’s what it says, Urgent! The agent from Project R.G.R. has informed us an assassin is due to take out Princess Luna at 8:00 from the balcony overlooking the ballroom. He said we won’t have time to send agents but doesn’t know you are there. Derpy this is desperate. Please take him down quietly if possible and meet us outside in the gardens. We will take him from there.”
Derpy’s face was white. Vinyl and Octavia were shocked.
“Follow me! Be quiet!” Derpy said.
“Derpy wait, what if he has backup! We can’t take him alone. We have to wait.” Vinyl said.
“But the princess is in danger!” Octavia exclaimed.
“Well if we go we’re putting ourselves and the princess in danger!”
“Maybe we should wait for other agents to arrive, maybe Vinyl’s right. NO! What am I saying? Vinyl, frankly, I’m tired of it. Tired of everything. I’m always saying yeah, you’re right a million times a day. Well, you know what? You are not right or ever right, and I didn’t accept your apology the other day. Every time you apologize it’s just the same… BULLSHIT! YOU NEVER MEAN WHAT YOU SAY VINYL! Every apology you make is the same blank crap that you never follow through with! Every time it’s just I promise I’ll do better and I’m working on being a better pony! I have not seen you make any improvement to yourself! You’re arrogant as ever and don’t care about others! So, what’s you’re excuse this time Vinyl?”
Derpy and Vinyl stood shocked looking at Octavia.
“Octavia, I-I didn't know you felt like that. I didn't mean to be forcing my opinion on you.”
“Well you have been. Constantly. How many more fights are we going to have to have until you can realize how selfish, rude, and irrational you are?”
“Octavia I never wanted this. For once I can finally say you’re right. I do always think about myself before others, and it's stupid. That’s not what I want.”
“What do you want then Vinyl?”
“I want to be b-better.” Vinyl said before bursting into tears.
She wept on Derpy’s shoulder as Derpy held her up. Octavia felt somewhat guilty but then remembered all the times that Vinyl had promised to change and hadn’t. Vinyl kept sobbing for a minute or two until she saw Derpy’s watch.
“It’s seven fifty five!” She choked. “We need to go! Octavia I-I promise you I’m so incredibly sorry. I never meant to hurt you like I did but if we don't go now Princess Luna is going to be killed.”
“How do I know this isn't like the other promises? How do I know you mean it?”
“Please Octavia! We need to go stop the assassin. I'm begging you! I never wanted this to happen! None of it! I just thought you agreed with my opinion. I really am trying to focus on others but if we don't go help Princess Luna she is going to be killed.”
Octavia stood still and squarely said, “I accept your apology.”
Vinyl beamed and hugged Octavia as hard as she could.
“Thank you.” She whispered, tears in her eyes.
Derpy let them keep hugging until her watch said seven fifty seven.
“Are we going to go take this guy down or what?” Derpy said.
“Let’s do it.” Octavia replied.
Lastly Vinyl slowly looked up and said, “He won't know what hit him.”
They ran out the door and kept running down the hallway. Derpy, followed by Vinyl and Octavia bolted up a spiral staircase. They kept running past doors and Derpy stopped them and held her hoof to her mouth. She slowly opened a door and sure enough there was a masked stallion there with a sniper rifle hidden from the view of the soon to be onlookers downstairs. She darted in but he turned around and threw a fist at her revealing a brass horseshoe. Derpy ducked just in time and slid behind him. Octavia ran in and tried to throw a punch at his head but he ducked down and pushed her over. Vinyl followed close behind and got a good blow on his stomach. The stallion reeled over and Derpy tripped him making him fall to the ground. She pulled off his mask and Octavia gasped.
“Brick!”
“You know this guy, Octavia?” Vinyl asked.
“Yes, he’s in my orchestra and performed with us tonight.”
“Oh yeah he does look familiar now that you mention it.”
Derpy spoke up and asked, “Why were you trying to assassinate Princess Luna?”
“Why would I tell you?”
Vinyl said, “Because if you don’t then you’re going to be bruised, very badly bruised.”
“Fine, fine I’ll tell just don’t kill me. I was hired by some company.”
“The name?” Vinyl asked ready to stomp on his head.
“Don’t step on me! You’re crazy. The company that hired me was called Project R.G.R. That’s all I know I promise.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, that’s all I know. Some masked guy who said he was from project R.G.R. approached me with a lot of money and said when and where to get it done. Can I go now?”
“Not quite.” Derpy said before pulling out a hairband and removing a blowgun from her mane and shooting him.
“What was that? Do you always have a blowgun hidden in your mane?” Octavia asked.
“No, usually I have it in my mailbag but today I put my hair like this for the Gala and decided to put it there just in case.”
“Wow you come prepared.” Vinyl said.
“Thanks Vinyl. But now we have to figure out how to get this guy to the gardens.”
“We can’t do that! There’s guards everywhere downstairs.” Octavia reasoned.
“If there’s a will there’s a way.” Derpy replied.
Octavia and Derpy carried Brick while Vinyl held the sniper rifle. They walked down the spiral staircase and then went out a door to the left. Derpy slowly peeked around the corner to her right and saw two guards. She signaled Vinyl and Octavia to follow her left. They slowly crept closer and closer to the garden avoiding all the guards. Once they reached the garden they luckily saw no guards were back there. Instead they found Cherry Charm and another agent.
“Hi Cherry, we got the guy before he took out Princess Luna.” Derpy said.
“Good job, if it wasn’t for you… well that would be bad. Did you get a name?” Cherry asked.
“His name’s Brick Strings. He’s in my orchestra.” Octavia told them.
“Is he really? That’s surprising. Anyway we’ll take him and the gun from here. It was really lucky you guys were there.”
With that they left Brick and the sniper rifle with Cherry and the other agent. They reentered the Gala to the guards surprise, as the guards didn’t remember them leaving. Back in the ballroom everything seemed the same as when they left.
Octavia asked, “Why is it surprising that I knew Brick? Cherry said that like it was really weird.”
“Well, most of the time our agents don’t know the people they are pitted against.” Derpy replied.
“Why not?”
“It’s just not common. Most agencies that we’re against try and hide their employees identities.”
The rest of the Gala was all just talking and having fun. At the end of the Gala Celestia and Luna gave a speech and then just as everypony was walking down the stairs to the castle fireworks went off. Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy sat down and watched the fireworks as other ponies just walked by. Finally, at the very end of the show multiple fireworks went off at once, spelling out, “See you next year!”
The day after the Gala, Octavia thought, would be an average one. That proved to be wrong. Very wrong. Octavia woke up and got ready for the day like any other. She came downstairs and said good morning to Vinyl and Derpy.
“Any news about Brick?” Octavia asked.
“Well, you see, they actually want us to go out and investigate this Project R.G.R. thing. They told us to go ask the one and only Princess Luna some questions first.”
“Princess Luna!” Octavia exclaimed. “We get to meet the actual princess?”
“Yep, and we get to ask her a bunch of questions too.”
“Well, let’s hurry up! I mean she’s the actual Princess Luna! She raises the moon!”
They ate their breakfast and got ready to make the march back up the hill to the castle. Once they were ready Octavia opened the door first as she was the most excited to meet Princess Luna. She stepped out into the morning air of Canterlot once more. Octavia excitedly raced up the road and turned around to see Vinyl and Derpy still walking out of their property.
“You guys are taking way too long.”
“Octavia you seem really excited to meet Princess Luna.” Vinyl said.
“I don’t know why you guys aren’t.”
“Well, I am pretty excited to see her but I mean you seem like you are about to explode.”
“Well, I’ve never met one of the princesses before. We also saved her last night so that feels pretty good.”
Vinyl made a confused face and asked, “Derpy do the princesses even know about P.O.N.E.?”
“Yeah, the princesses know about the agency but they have to follow the same rules as everypony else.” Derpy replied.
“Why do the rulers of equestria have to follow the same rules as everypony else?”
“Well, if they told somepony and then the secret somehow got out then that would cause a big problem.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”
They passed the restaurant that they had eaten at last night. The ponies out this early in the morning made Octavia wonder what they were doing.
What are ponies doing out this early in the morning? Maybe they’re getting groceries because they didn’t have food for breakfast. Don’t be ridiculous Octavia they’re honestly probably just going to work.
“Woah look at how cool the castle the looks from down here!” Vinyl said.
“It looks so majestic in the morning like this.” Derpy added.
They walked up the pathway to the castle where nopony else lingered. The guards ahead saw them and stood more tall. As they approached, the guards told them to state their business.
“We’re here to talk to Princess Luna about the carrots.”
“Oh, okay.” The guards said.
Once they had gotten farther away from the watching guards Vinyl asked, “What do you mean talk to Luna about the carrots?”
“That’s the code that I was told to use. Princess Luna couldn’t tell the guards to let ponies through who say they’re here to see her about the assassination or Project R.G.R., the guards would be pretty suspicious.”
“Oh, yeah that makes sense.” Vinyl laughed.
They approached the entrance but suddenly realised they didn’t know where to go. Derpy asked one of the guards where to go and he said, “Up the stairs to the right, go to the third floor, down the hall past the first two doors, and then you’re in the throne room hall thing. I don’t actually know what it’s called. I probably should know what it’s called considering I work here.”
“I think it’s called a throne room.” Derpy told him. “Thanks for the directions!”
The guard thanked her. Derpy and the other two followed the directions up the stairs and down the hall. They entered the throne room.
Wow this is beautiful. Octavia thought.
There was a long, smooth, red carpet leading to the throne. The windows were all colored glass depicting sunrises or sunsets over fields. Luna was there waiting for them with four guards by the throne.
I can’t believe I’m meeting the actual Princess Luna. I never thought this would happen. Try not to embarrass yourself.
Princess Luna dismissed the guards from the room. She waited for them to leave and then said, “Hello you three. Your names are Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy am I correct?”
“Yes.” Derpy said.
“Well, thank you. I’ve been told that if it wasn’t for you three somepony would have assassinated me. Now, I hear you have some questions.”
“Yes, we do have some questions. We’re trying to figure out what this Project R.G.R. thing is and we thought we would start by asking you a few things since they hired somebody to take you out.”
Luna looked at them and said, “Ask away.”
“Well, first off is, do you think anypony would have a grudge against you for any reason?” Derpy asked.
“Well, I don’t think anypony would have a grudge against me, at least not that I know of off the top of my head. I highly doubt that one of the ponies I game against would hold a grudge to hire someone to kill me.”
“Okay, do you know of any big construction projects using a lot of metal?”
“The only things I can think of that would be using a lot of metal are the wind turbines and the building crews. However, I don’t think that there is any significant building projects using lots of metal going on right now.”
“Can you think of any reason that somepony would want you dead?”
“I have no reasoning for why somepony would want me dead. I just have some general ideas. I thought maybe they would want money, vulnerability of Equestria, or if I was dead they would start taking over as a political position.”
On and on the questions went. Hours it seemed that Derpy would ask a question and Luna would stand and answer only to have the process repeated. Vinyl and Octavia stood there the whole time, waiting.
Why exactly are we here if we aren’t doing anything? We’ve just stood here the whole time while Derpy’s done the talking.
“Well, that’s all the questions.” Derpy said.
“Octavia and Vinyl you haven’t said anything this whole time do you want to speak?”
Before Vinyl could say anything Octavia burst out, “Princess Luna I’m sorry, this seems a little bit informal but I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now and I’m so excited to actually see you in person.”
“That’s very humbling Octavia. Thank you for telling me that. If you want to ask me any questions you can.”
“Is it hard to raise the moon?”
Luna looked surprised at first but then smiled.
“It took a lot of work at first but I’ve gotten used to it. I saw you play at the Gala last night. It is sort of like learning an instrument it’s challenging and doesn’t make sense at first but you learn how to get better over time.”
“Do you and Celestia ever fight?”
“Well, I did say you could ask any questions didn’t I. We used to not get along so well but after some help from a pony named Starlight Glimmer we’ve been doing better. We still have our small squabbles sometimes but everypony has those petty battles from time to time.”
Vinyl smiled at Octavia apologetically. Octavia smiled back at Vinyl.
“Vinyl do you have anything to say?”
“I don’t know, like a personal question or one about the investigation?”
“Either. Whatever you want to ask Vinyl.”
“I guess I’ve kind of wanted to know what you do in your spare time?”
“Well you see Vinyl, I don’t get much spare time. Usually I spend the nights helping ponies in need through their dreams and then in the day I sleep.”
“Come on, there’s got to be something else you do.”
“Just more work related things.”
“If that's the case I’m gonna be your doctor now and recommend that you get some quality relaxation.”
Princess Luna laughed and said, “Okay Vinyl I shall try to do that.”
Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy parted with Luna on almost friend like terms. They went back through the colorful castle and said goodbye to the kind guard who had told them the directions to the throne room. After they got back onto the cobbled road outside the castle grounds Vinyl decided to ask Derpy where they were going now.
“Well, what are we doing now commander Derpy? Were we only meeting with Princess Luna?”
“Nope, now we’re going to the metal shop.” Derpy said cheerily. “They’ve been selling a lot of metal recently, which the ponies at P.O.N.E. think may have to do with Project R.G.R.”
“Why do they think it has to do with Project R.G.R.?” Vinyl asked.
“I don't really know, it probably just seems suspicious to them that all this is happening at the same time that a strange amount of metal is being purchased. I mean that does sound kind of weird, don't you think?”
“Yeah, I guess it is kind of weird to suddenly be selling that much metal.”
They continued on past the dry bushes and vegetation that was around the city. It never rained in Canterlot so only plants that were taken care of by the ponies who owned them stayed green. The doors on all the buildings seemed almost identical.
It seems all too representative that the doors on the buildings are the same. I could never guess what that symbolises. Maybe it represents hm… I wonder. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the ponies here who all copy the richest and most famous among them.
“Is something on your mind Octavia?” Derpy asked.
“Oh, uh… I was just thinking about the doors on the buildings.” Octavia awkwardly mumbled.
“The doors on the buildings?”
“Yes, the doors are all the same which made me think of how all the ponies here act the same and just follow the actions of the rich and famous.”
“Wow! That’s really philosophical. Nice connecting of the dots Octavia.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
The metal shop was up ahead. The store’s windows gleamed with the sun shining off them. It seemed suspicious to Octavia. Surrounding the store were metal crates containing… metal. The store looked surprisingly well kept. There were no boards on the windows, no trash in the front, and it generally seemed clean and open for business. They walked into the store and saw just a pony at a counter and some decorations around the room. The mare smiled at them and welcomed them by asking what they need.
“We’re here to ask you some questions about lots of metal purchases.” Derpy said.
“Oh?”
“We’ve been sent by the Royal Economic Committee to see what some large purchases of metal are about.”
“Oh, yeah I’ve been selling some more metal than usual recently. What questions do you have?”
“Well first, who have you been selling this metal to?”
“Oh, just lots of different ponies.”
“Did they tell you their names?”
“Nope, just came in, ordered what they needed, bought it, and left.”
“Okay, were these pieces of metal that they bought big or small?”
“The metal they bought? Oh it ranged from really small pieces to sheets that were as big as this counter. Some also bought thick pieces.”
“Just a wide range of shapes then?” Derpy asked.
“Yep, just average purchases. Not like enough to make a building or something. I thought that nothing was really out of the ordinary, I was just selling more you know, like my business was growing.”
“Did anything seem suspicious about the ponies who were buying from you?”
“No, but something seems off about you three. Coming in here and asking all these weird questions. Maybe you should mind your own business. If you’re not going to buy something then you can leave.”
“We’re sorry we didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”
“Well you just came in and started asking questions about other customers and what they’re buying so I would say you’re invading my privacy quite a bit. Now get out!”
Vinyl and Octavia ran out of the store with Derpy close on their tails. The mare inside yelled out, “Serves you right!” as they got out of there. Once they got a block away they stopped to catch their breath.
“Okay, something is definitely suspicious about her.” Vinyl said, not realising that the mare, back at her store was calling someone to tell them that P.O.N.E. was onto them.
After being kicked out of the metal shop, Derpy had to make a plan.
Vinyl is right, something was off about that mare. The question is, what do we do about it?
“Okay, Vinyl and Octavia, I think we all can tell that there was some suspiciousness surrounding that mare. I think what we’re going to have to do is risky. I’ll let you decide if you want to join in.”
“What are we doing?” Vinyl asked.
“I was about to explain.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“It's okay Vinyl. Anyway, what I think we’re going to have to do is break into the metal shop. At night whenever the mare closes up shop we’ll be able to get in and look for whatever it is we’re looking for.”
“That’s awesome! We get to break into somepony’s store!”
“Vinyl be quiet!” Octavia said. “We are outside in case you don't remember.”
“Oh, yeah, that would have been bad if somepony had heard me. I got to be more careful.”
“Vinyl we have to be silent and sneaky. Just because we’re breaking in doesn’t mean that you can destroy everything. In fact you shouldn't touch anything at all.”
“Okay, fine. I want do anything when we’re in the metal shop. Are we done interrogating ponies now?”
“Yep. That’s all the questioning for now. What do you guys want to do now?”
“We haven’t had lunch yet.” Octavia pointed out.
“I agree with her we should go get lunch.” Vinyl said.
With that, they went out to go get lunch. The place they went to was one Vinyl recommended, a pizza place that she had apparently gone to before. It had very small pizzas to huge ones that were about 3 horseshoes wide. They also had a bar in the back where a few stallions were sitting. They chose a table and sat down. It was a round wooden table that sat 4 ponies and had a napkin holder in the middle. Derpy looked around the restaurant and saw lots of pictures of pizza and happy ponies who had their pictures all put up on a wall. The brick walls and lighting gave the restaurant a homely feel. A mare came to their table to order their pizza and drinks. The only weird part was that the waitress was Cherry Charm.
“Cherry what are you doing here?” Derpy asked.
“This is where I work.” Cherry said.
“Oh, well you learn more every day I guess.”
“Can I have your guys’s order?”
“Oh, sure, I forgot. I think we’ll have the cheese and veggie pizza.”
“Okay, and for drinks?”
“I’ll have the cola.” Derpy said.
“I’ll have a fizzy raspberry.” Vinyl spoke up.
“I think I’m going to go with the carbonated lemonade.” Octavia lastly said.
“Okay I’ll go get those for you.” Cherry replied.
She smiled and walked away, came back with their drinks, and left to go wait for their pizza. Vinyl held her head in her hoof and leaned on the table. Octavia sat with a straight back waiting silently. Derpy decided to spark a conversation.
“What do you guys want to do after lunch?”
“I was thinking we would just go home.” Octavia said.
“What? No, let’s have fun!” Vinyl exclaimed. “We should go to the arcade!”
“The arcade?”
“Yeah, that place is fun. You get to play a bunch of games and get tickets that you can use to buy stuff with, like giant stuffed bears.”
“Vinyl I know how an arcade works. Contrary to what you seem to believe I do have fun.”
“Well, why don’t you want to go then?”
“I never said I didn’t want to go Vinyl.”
Derpy interrupted and asked, “We are going then?”
“Sure, I’m up for it.” Octavia replied.
Vinyl let out a cheer and suddenly remembered they were in a restaurant. She scrunched her head in and shrugged, clearly embarrassed. Octavia and Derpy both chuckled quietly, trying not to attract any more attention.
“Who knew you were so enthusiastic about arcades Vinyl?” Octavia whispered.
They all laughed about that one. After a while Cherry brought back their pizza and they dug in. The pizza was really good. Once they were done eating and had paid they all left the pizza parlor to go to the arcade.
That was delicious. Who knew pizza could be so good? We need to go back another time.
Once they started walking Octavia asked, “Vinyl do you actually know where the arcade is? I don’t want to wander around in circles for three hours.”
“Yeah, I know where it is. I just have to figure out how to get there from here.”
“Do think you’ll be able to get there from here Vinyl? Should we just stop and ask somepony for directions?”
“Nah, I got it Octy. I don’t think it’s too far from here.”
Since Vinyl said she knew what she was doing Derpy and Octavia kept following her. They walked down a hill and turned left. Vinyl then led them back up a different street. They slowly walked up a hill, dreading each and every moment. They passed buildings they had never seen before and streets they had never heard of. Finally Vinyl stopped and stared up at a fluorescent sign.
“We’re here.” Vinyl declared.
“Oh thank Celestia.” Octavia sighed.
“That took a while Vinyl. Remember how you said it wasn't too far from the pizza place?” Derpy added.
“Okay, I admit it was a little further than I remembered. That just makes it more exciting for us to finally get here.”
Vinyl ran inside and Derpy and Octavia followed. Immediately Derpy’s vision went insane. Her eyes had to adjust to the darkness inside the arcade. They traded some bits with an employee to get coins to use with the arcade machines. Derpy followed Octavia and Vinyl into the game room and all she could see was neon colors and darkness, as this room was even darker than the entrance. Once she could see again Derpy split off from Octavia and Vinyl to go play a machine. She went over to a fun looking game where you played as a square and had to avoid other squares coming down which got faster and faster.
Where do I put the coin in? I don’t see a slot here-oh wait here it is.
She put a coin into the machine and got ready to play. A button on the left to move left and a button on the right to move right. Derpy narrowed her eyebrows. The blocks started falling. Left, right, left again, farther left, back right. The speed increased and a bead of sweat dripped down the side of Derpy’s head. She sensitively pressed each button, making sure to keep track of her block, the closest blocks, and the next movements she should make. After playing for around five minutes, blocks hurling past her at the speed of a car, she finally got hit. Derpy anxiously waited for her score to appear. The machine lit up with flashing lights and proclaimed “High score!”
“Yes!” Derpy yelled out.
Derpy decided to go fix her mane, which was now in complete disarray after closely thrashing onto the buttons on the machine. She spotted what she thought was a restroom across the gaming room.
I hope they have mirrors.
Derpy passed ponies playing on different games.
Some of those games look pretty fun. I should go try them out after I fix my mane. Wow, who knew that there would be so many ponies here?
Derpy pushed open the door to the bathroom and it swung shut behind her. Luckily there was a mirror. Just before Derpy could start fixing her mane a sudden thud was heard behind her. Derpy whipped around to see a mare standing there who looked up and lunged at her. Derpy jumped to her right just in time. The mare grabbed the counter and flipped backwards onto it. She jumped down at Derpy with her hoof out revealing some sort of horseshoe with a device attached that crackled with electricity. Derpy again jumped out of the way just in time again. The mare punched a hole in the stall door and landed on the floor. Derpy tried to jump down and land on the mare but she rolled to the side right before Derpy did any damage. The mare grabbed Derpy’s leg with the hoof that didn’t have the horseshoe and flipped her backwards. Luckily Derpy was no stranger to hoof to hoof combat and landed successfully, only to look up and see the mare charging at her with the electric horseshoe flying at her face. Derpy ducked and pushed the mare’s legs making her fall forwards. Smashing into the sink her skull went. The mare fell onto the ground, knocked out.
Well that was unexpected. Great, what do I do about her body now? Is she even alive?
Derpy checked the mare’s pulse. She was still alive. Derpy pulled up a contact page for P.O.N.E. on her watch and explained what happened. Somepony instantly replied and said that they would send an agent to “take care of a delivery” and to just make sure to hide the mare’s body in a stall and make sure she didn’t wake up. Derpy watched the mare making sure she didn’t wake up and finally an agent came and took her away in a shipping box.
Derpy walked out of the restroom and back into the arcade. She went to a fun looking game but Vinyl and Octavia came running up to her.
“We couldn't find you anywhere!” Vinyl blurted out.
“Where were you?” Octavia questioned.
“I’ll tell you later.” Derpy replied, nervously looking around.
“Why later?” Octavia pushed.
Derpy nervously answered, “I’ll tell you later why I’m telling you later.”
Then she put a coin into the machine to start playing. Vinyl and Octavia both walked away making nervous faces.
They know that we’re not aloud to talk about the agency in public. But do they know that the reason I was gone had to do with the agency? It sure seemed that way based on the concerned looks on their faces. I really hope the agency doesn't make a big deal about two ponies trying to kill me in such a short amount of time. Now that I think about it I wonder how the agency is going to cover up the fight? It did leave a giant hole in that stall door after all.
Derpy suddenly realized she hadn’t been paying attention to the game and had lost.
That's how the cookie crumbles I guess. Let's see… any other fun games around here? Where did Vinyl and Octavia run off to? I better go find them. This place is more fun when you're with you’re friends.
Derpy searched around the arcade for Octavia and Vinyl. After looking around in the dark for a few minutes she found them over at a ball game. Vinyl was tossing balls into a basket while Octavia sat and waited for her turn.
“Hey guys, I thought it would be more fun to hang out together. Don't you think?”
“Yeah, you can play this with us. It’s pretty simple, you just toss as many balls into the basket as you can in a minute”
A loud sound went off behind Vinyl, signaling that it was Octavia’s turn. She went up, put a token in the machine, and started tossing the balls into the basket. Derpy watched Octavia. Each time she tossed a ball she looked at the basket and then almost expertly threw a ball perfectly into it. Once the loud noise went off again Derpy ran to the machine, remembered to put a token in, and then started throwing balls.
That one was pretty close. Hey I’m pretty decent at this.
She kept tossing the balls into and around the basket. Each time she missed she just shrugged it off. Once the game ended the scores came up. Octavia had 38, Derpy had 16, and Vinyl had 12.
“Hey, I only lost because I was talking to Derpy!” Vinyl boasted.
“Okay Vinyl, sure. What game do you think we should go play now? Did you see any fun games Derpy?” Octavia asked.
“Yeah, there was this one where you have a plastic hammer that you hit parasprites with.”
“Sounds cool, let's do it.” Vinyl said.
Derpy led them back to the game. It was colored a bright green with parasprite decals all over it. Derpy put in a token and demonstrated how the game worked. Out came a parasprite from a hole in the machine. Derpy raised the hammer and whacked it as hard as she could!
“Woah, chill out! You're gonna shatter the machine!” Vinyl yelled.
“No it’s fine.” Derpy said as she slammed the plastic hammer into the machine once more.
On it went for a whole minute.
Slam! Crash! Boom!
Once the game ended it buzzed and yelled out, “34!” Derpy smiled and held out the hammer.
“Who wants to go next?”
“I guess I’ll go.” Octavia decided.
She grabbed the hammer steadily and put a coin in the machine. A parasprite peaked out of one of the holes in the machine and Octavia slammed the hammer down on it with an almost instant reaction. Another one came out and down the hammer fell once again. Octavia was practically jumping from side to side of the machine trying to hit the parasprites.
“Woo!” Vinyl cheered.
Wow she is really going ham! Who knew Octavia would be the master of the arcade?
Once the game had finished Octavia was left panting heavily. She turned to Vinyl and Derpy and exclaimed, “That was really fun! Vinyl you were right about coming here. This place is awesome!”
They continued on playing games for an hour or two until all of their tokens were gone. At the end they were left with a ton of tickets.
“What do we buy with all of these?” Vinyl asked.
“We can buy the whole store!” Octavia cheered.
“I really doubt we can buy the whole store Octy.”
“Let's do it anyway!” Derpy cried out.
“That’s not how it works you guys.” Vinyl said.
They went into the store and started looking around. Derpy noticed the stuffed animals of course, Octavia seemed drawn to a lava lamp, and Vinyl was suspiciously eyeing a speaker. A few other ponies were in the store. A group of fillies was pouring candy into bags. Gummy worms, gummy bears, sour looking chewy rings, and hard fruity candies. Octavia walked over to the lava lamp and saw that behind it were other color options of lava lamps. She looked at the price and saw it was eight hundred tickets. Vinyl looked at the price of the speaker which was one thousand five hundred tickets. Derpy walked over to the stuffed animals.
Wow these sure look soft. I don’t think anypony would mind if I touched one. That is so soft! I need one of these things. How much are they? One thousand tickets for the medium ones and one thousand five hundred for the big ones. I wonder how many I could get? Let’s see we had seven thousand tickets, Vinyl and Octavia played too so we should definitely split it three ways. That’s like two thousand three hundred tickets each. I could get a big one and maybe something else.
Derpy suddenly noticed some cute and soft looking keychains that were only 400 tickets each. She got two keychains and a giant stuffed rabbit. She brought them to the register. The stallion working the register looked at what she was buying. He sighed, took her tickets and started counting. Once they had left the arcade Derpy got to see what Vinyl and Octavia had purchased. Vinyl had gotten a speaker and lots of candy and Octavia had bought two lava lamps, one blue and one purple, and some candy. They walked home feeling like there arcade adventure was a successful one.
At home Vinyl was in her room and Octavia was on the couch with Derpy. Octavia was watching TV, clicking through the channels trying to find something interesting to watch. She saw news, cartoons, dramatic looking movies, and shopping channels.
Ugh I’m so bored. There’s nothing to watch. It’s all boring junk.
Derpy suddenly looked at Octavia and said, “I just got a message from P.O.N.E. Oh, speaking of which I forgot to tell you and Vinyl what happened at the arcade in the restroom. Basically, I went in to fix my hair and I heard a noise behind me and I whipped around and got attacked by some random mare. She ended up knocking herself out by slamming into the sink. Well, I mean, I tripped her when she charged at me but what can I say, she was trying to electrocute me. Oh yeah, she had an electric horseshoe thing too.”
“You got attacked again!”
“Yeah, but don’t worry about it.”
“Derpy, I’m worried! I doubt that it’s common to be attacked twice in a week. Or once for that matter!”
“Well, it isn’t exactly something that happens normally but let’s just see what this message has to say.”
Derpy opened up the message and started reading.
“Dear Ms. Hooves, we currently have taken the attacker prisoner and are trying to ask her what’s going on. Obviously, we suspect she is from Project R.G.R. Anywho, we are worried about your safety, as this has been the second time you have been attacked in a week.”
“I told you!” Octavia said.
“Fine Octavia, it’s a little bit worrying. Anyway back to the letter. Since you have been attacked so often we recommend that you don’t make any more big moves. Try not to attract any attention. We will inform you of any more information we can find. Farewell for now Ms. Hooves.”
“Derpy, does breaking into somepony’s store and searching around count as a big move? It sure seems a little risky to me. Which is why I don’t think we should do it.”
“Octavia, as I said, don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine as long as you and Vinyl stick with me. I should probably go explain the situation to Vinyl since I didn’t tell her either.” Derpy got up and walked upstairs. Octavia heard her open a door and then close it.
She’s so stubborn. How do I convince her that this is dangerous. I don’t want anything to happen to her or Vinyl. We need to stick together tonight. I better remind her and Vinyl later.
Octavia walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a glass of cold water. Down the water went.
This is going to be one heck of a night.
Later Octavia, Vinyl, and Derpy were getting ready to go break into the metal shop. They each had black clothing and a mask. Derpy had a black duffel bag she was bringing incase they needed to bring something big back home. On one side of the room was Vinyl who was smiling like she was about to DJ for a massive party. On the other side of the room was Octavia who was sitting silently and looking very nervous.
“Okay, I’m ready to go how about you guys?” Derpy asked.
“I’m ready!” Vinyl cheered.
Derpy looked towards Octavia who gulped and nodded.
“Octavia don’t worry about it, everything should be fine. As long as we stick together we can all work together to take down whatever comes our way. Now come on.”
Derpy opened the door and walked out followed by Vinyl and lastly, Octavia. They entered the cold darkness of night and looked around.
“We’re going to need to stick to back alleys to avoid attention.” Derpy said.
“I gotcha.” Vinyl replied.
Instead of going out into the street Derpy turned around and walked to the side of their house by the wagon. Once she saw that Vinyl and Octavia had followed she kept going into the street over.
“We should also probably avoid the main street.” Derpy joked.
They silently walked up the street being careful to not attract any attention. Vinyl looked this way and that checking for anypony who might be watching out a window or coming home from work late. She striked a pose with her leg out and hoof in the air, trying to look intimidating. She ran to catch up with Derpy and Octavia. Octavia slowly followed closely behind Derpy.
What are we going to do if somepony sees us? I knew this was a bad idea.
Derpy peeked around the corner of the intersection with the side street, making sure that nopony was there. She raised her hoof and signalled to follow her. They ran across the street to the next stretch of buildings. They ever so slowly made their way closer and closer to the metal shop. Once they had finally gotten to around where it was Derpy and Vinyl were both looking all around checking to see if anypony happened to be watching, or perhaps, watching on purpose. They went around the corner, crossing into the main street where the metal shop was located. The bright light of the corner street lamp shined on a certain spot on the ground which they made sure to avoid. Once they reached the front of the shop Derpy signaled for Vinyl and Octavia to wait. She went to the window and peeked inside. Apparently she didn’t see anything because she waved her hoof for Vinyl and Octavia to join her. Octavia’s teeth were chattering. Derpy reached into the duffel bag and pulled out something Octavia couldn’t see.
What was that? Wait, what is Derpy doing? Why is she sticking that thing in the door? Oh, it’s probably a lockpick or some tool she has to unlock the door.
Sure enough the door slowly opened. Derpy stepped inside, followed by Vinyl. Octavia hesitantly stepped into the building last.
“Shut the door.” Whispered Derpy.
Octavia pulled on the door handle and the door swung shut. Derpy sighed.
“Whew, we made it in. Okay, now that we’re here I’m going to take out my flashlight to provide some light. If you see anything suspicious let me know.”
Derpy pulled out a flashlight and clicked it on.
“This is so cool!” Vinyl whispered.
Octavia glared at her but Vinyl didn’t notice. They all started searching for something. Octavia started looking through a desk.
Okay, anything here? Ruler, protractor, bill for tools. Nothing very important.
All of the sudden Vinyl whisper yelled, “Hey guys! I found a blueprint!”
Derpy and Octavia walked over to Vinyl who was indeed holding up a blueprint. She set it down on a table so they could see. The blueprint looked like a diagram of a pony.
“It’s a… pony?” Derpy questioned.
“Wait, no! Look at the labels! Gears, battery, motherboard, Oh my celestia it’s a robot!” Vinyl said softly.
“A robot!”
“Yeah, like the one’s that take over all of Equestria in the movies! Look, it says here it has guns!”
Suddenly a voice came out of the shadows, “Well, well, well, it’s a robot is it?”
Derpy, Vinyl, and Octavia all whipped around to see where the disembodied voice had come from. To their surprise and thankfulness it wasn’t somepony coming to kill them, it was Cherry Charm. Vinyl and Octavia both sighed a sigh of extraordinary sigh of relief.
“Oh thank Celestia it’s you. You really scared us bad Cherry.” Derpy scolded.
“Well, I guess all that stealth training has paid off then. Anywho, I think I heard something about robots.”
“Yes, we found this blueprint.”
Derpy pointed to the blueprint and showed Cherry the diagram of the robot pony.
“Wow, that is really… surprising. This has got to be big if there’s robots being produced.”
“Yeah, there also has been a lot of metal purchases from this shop which probably means there’s a lot of robots. Wait, how did you know we were coming here Cherry?”
“Oh, I didn’t know you guys were going to be here. I just knew about the large amount of metal purchases so I decided to come here and investigate. Of course nopony likes when you’re snooping around their property so I decided to do a little investigation on my own terms.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I was worried that you were part of Project R.G.R. and had came to take us down, silently.”
“Nope, I’m all natural P.O.N.E. agent.” Cherry joked.
“Speaking of Project R.G.R. I think we have some confirmation about what they’re up to. Look at this.” Vinyl said.
She gestured to a label on the blueprint that said “Project R.G.R.” in big bold letters.
“Well isn’t that great. Project R.G.R. is trying to make a robot army and take over Equestria.” Vinyl stated.
“There’s probably more to it than that Vinyl.” Derpy replied. “The question is, if there is more to it than that, what do they want with robots? Not to mention who even is Project R.G.R.?”
“Derpy’s right. We still don’t know anything about this organization. We should probably figure that out before we figure out what they want with robots.” Octavia interrupted.
“We could probably figure out both of those things at the same time. They are pretty well connected.” Cherry added.
They examined the blueprint for further details. Labels for all kinds of weapons coated the back of the pony in the diagram.
“Right here! It says the engineer’s name! Designed by Steel Horseshoes.” Derpy said.
“That’s awesome we can use that to find this guy and question him!” Vinyl said.
“Wow, I didn’t expect to be finding out any super important details that quickly after we found out about a different super important detail.” Cherry remarked.
“I bet since he’s the designer of the robots he knows a lot of the important stuff about Project R.G.R.!” Octavia realised.
“You’re right! We need to figure out where this guy lives and make a good plan to get him. He probably is surrounded by guards.”
“Yes, we’ll need a plan. But I think we have what we need so let’s go back home.” Derpy said.
She put the blueprint in her duffel bag and started walking to the door.
“Derpy, don’t you think the blueprint should go to P.O.N.E. headquarters?” Cherry asked.
“Oh, you’re right. Here just let me get a picture first.”
Derpy pulled a camera out of the duffel bag and snapped a shot of the blueprint. She handed the blueprint to Cherry. All four ponies walked out the door. Cherry said goodbye and ran into the darkness. The other three of them started making the journey back home. This late at night less ponies were less likely out to be watching Derpy decided so they didn’t have to be as careful about staying in the shadows and being absolutely silent. Once they made it into there own and house and shut the door Octavia left out a sigh of relief. They all took their black masks and clothing off.
“I feel like we’re getting ourselves into something that’s more than we can handle you guys.” Octavia said.
“No, we got this!” Vinyl said.
“Are you sure, this seems like it’s going to be a pretty big operation. I mean it’s a whole concentrated organization that planned this out. They must have a lot of ponies and tech. Especially robot tech.”
“Relax Octy, P.O.N.E. has got our backs. They won’t let some new agents die.”
“Okay Vinyl, remember how I said I was tired of saying that you’re right all the time?”
“Yeah.”
“Well this time I think you are actually right and I need to stop freaking out or I’m going to have a heart attack.”
“I think so too. I mean if we do what we’re supposed to and make sure we’re careful then we should be fine. That’s why P.O.N.E. instructs us to do that kind of thing, to keep us safe.”
“Okay Vinyl I got it. Let’s just try to stick together in whatever happens these next few days.”
Vinyl awoke in the morning air of… their house. She opened her eyes sleepily and rolled onto her side. Her lime green alarm clock told her the time was 7:43.
Why can't I just sleep in one day.
She pulled open the purple curtains of her bedroom window. The morning light from outside shined into the room and Vinyl closed her eyes.
Oh, that is so bright! My eyes are burned forever from that.
Vinyl opened her eyes once she had moved away from the window and not surprisingly, could still see.
She reluctantly pulled open her door and walked into the hallway. Down the stairs she went, slowly stumbling along. The dark brown front door, which had been replaced by P.O.N.E. after Cherry came flying through it, was there as always. Vinyl turned and lazily trudged into the kitchen.
“Good morning Vinyl.” Octavia called.
“Good morning.” Derpy repeated.
“Good morning you two.” Vinyl said.
She opened a cupboard and pulled out an english muffin. She put it in the toaster and started waiting for it to cook.
“Today we have to investigate the blueprint we found.” Derpy said.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that!” Vinyl remembered.
“Let's just try to stay out of danger you guys.” Octavia added. “I don't want any of us getting hurt.”
“Octavia we got it. We’ll stick together and stay out of any big trouble.”
Vinyl removed the english muffin from the toaster and put it on a plate. She went and sat down at the round table. Outside a bird chirped. Derpy spoke up.
“Anywho, we need to figure out who this Steel Horseshoes guy is.”
“How are we going to do that?” Octavia asked.
“Well, P.O.N.E. has a database of almost all the citizens of Canterlot. We could probably find him with that. If not… then I don't really know.”
Once they finished eating breakfast Derpy decided to contact P.O.N.E. She asked if they had received any new information from the different prisoners. She also asked if they could look up Steel Horseshoes on their identity database. Just a few minutes later she got a response.
“Vinyl, Octavia, come look at this I got a response.”
Vinyl and Octavia, who was holding a glass of apple juice, walked over.
“What did they say?” Vinyl asked curiously.
“Let’s see, Dear Ms. Hooves, we are aware that you and the new recruits assisted in getting a blueprint for the agency. This blueprint showed designs for a robot of some sort designed by a pony by the name of Steel Horseshoes. We looked up Steel Horseshoes on our database of the citizens of Canterlot and he was not found. We didn’t find a name match in any other kingdoms throughout Equestria either. Because of this we aren’t quite sure yet where to look next. If you find any new information let us know and if we find any new information we’ll let you know. Sincerely, a P.O.N.E. official.”
“Ugh, what are we supposed to do now? If we don't have an identity match how do we find one?” Vinyl questioned grumpily.
“Well, we may not have an identity match yet but I know how to find one.” Derpy said.
“Okay, spill the beans then.”
“I think we can do a quick search on the internet and we can figure it out.”
Vinyl made a face.
“What do you mean we just do a quick internet search? Wouldn't the agents at P.O.N.E. have done that already if it was that simple?”
“Not quite. They like to rely on special high tech methods over at P.O.N.E. but I have a different idea.”
Derpy pulled her laptop off the small coffee table in front of the fireplace. She opened it up and typed in her password amazingly fast. She searched up Steel Horseshoes on the browser and it came up with a bunch of normal pictures of Horseshoes made of steel. Derpy typed in anagram and clicked the enter button. She went on the first website and typed in Steel Horseshoes. It came up with a bunch of different results but Derpy pointed to one.
“Here's hole tosses. If we take out the here's, doesn't hole tosses sound like a name?”
“What in the world Derpy?” Vinyl said confusedly.
“Now if we look up Hole Tosses let's see what we can find.”
A bunch of results popped up. Some were pictures of a stallion in a cave or by a giant drill. Others were listings of different engineering jobs.
“I think we have or suspect.” Derpy said while grinning.
The shocked expressions on Vinyl and Octavia's faces were priceless.
How did she even do that? How did she know that the right anagram was Hole Tosses? That’s crazy! I can't believe she found the guy by just doing whatever that was in like a minute!
“How did you… ?” Octavia started.
“You just have to learn some basic psychology Octavia. See, because he was so important to the project I assumed he had a fake name, but I asked anyway just to make sure. Then when I got confirmation it was fake I just used in anagram for the fake name.”
“But how did you know to use an anagram and how did you know it was Hole Tosses?” Vinyl questioned.
“Simply put, most ponies wouldn’t want to have to make up an entire new name so they use letters from their real name to make a fake one. Also, I knew it was Hole Tosses because all the other options didn't sound like names.”
Octavia’s and Vinyl’s jaws had dropped open. Their eyes were wide.
Who knew Derpy was that insanely smart? No wonder she's a spy. I bet she's one of the top agents at P.O.N.E., I mean if she isn't she definitely should be.
Derpy observed their shocked expressions and chuckled.
“It wasn't that big of a deal you guys.”
“Are you kidding me? That was awesome!” Vinyl cheered. “I can't believe you're not a scientist or something Derpy. You clearly have the brains.”
“Thanks Vinyl but I’m satisfied being a mail mare.”
Octavia suddenly spoke up.
“Well, now that we know who is actually up to things what’s the next step?”
“Well, we have to find out where this guy lives. I think the best way to do that would be to go question some of the people he worked with.”
Derpy clicked on one of the links and opened a page with information about Hole Tosses and a project he worked on.
“It says here that he built some of the wind turbines outside Canterlot. Well, I guess Luna was right about that then.”
“How do we get in contact with whoever built the wind turbines?” Vinyl asked.
“It says here they have a manufacturing plant in Canterlot. The ponies there probably know about where Hole Tosses lives.”
“Well, I doubt they’re going to tell us where he lives if we just go in and ask.” Octavia said.
“Right, that’s why we have to be sneaky about it. We’re going to go there and ask about how we can get in contact with Hole Tosses.”
“Sounds like a good plan boss.” Vinyl said. “Let’s go then! We know where to go so it’s just a matter of walking there.”
“Here, let me just get an address for this manufacturing place.”
Derpy scrolled to the bottom of the page and saw the address for the building. She closed down the laptop and turned to Vinyl and Octavia.
“You guys ready to go?”
“Yep.” Vinyl replied.
“I’m ready.” Octavia agreed.
They walked out the door and into the streets of Canterlot. They were even closer to the goal of finding out more about Project R.G.R.
Derpy led Vinyl and Octavia down the hill towards the windmill manufacturing facility. The other ponies passed on by going to wherever their destination was for the morning. The gardens in pony’s yards had bright colors of tulips, roses, and lavender. They passed a store that had a neon sandwich sign on the front.
“Those sandwiches smell pretty good don’t you think?” Vinyl said.
“I could eat three of them.” Derpy replied.
Those sandwiches do smell pretty good. Great, now I’m hungry. Octavia thought to herself.
At the bottom of the hill there was a curve in the street. It went back up on the other side which is the way Derpy went. She continued up the hill until a big building appeared on the left of Octavia’s vision. Ponies came in and out of a big space in the front of the building. Inside Octavia could see lots of machinery and ponies walking around.
“Here goes nothing.” Derpy murmured.
She walked to a door that had a sign above it which read “Visitors” in big bold letters. Derpy pulled open the door and walked inside followed by Vinyl and Octavia. There was a few chairs that looked like they were suited for a waiting room at a dentist's office and a desk where a mare was sitting.
Derpy walked up to the desk and said, “Hi… I was wondering how I could get in contact with the chief engineer of the windmills?”
“Oh, you must mean Hole Tosses. Yes, here, just let me pull up his info.”
The mare clicked around on the computer for a minute or two until she found all the information that they were looking for.
“Okay, I’ll write this down for you.”
She pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. The mare wrote down some information and handed it to Derpy.
“Thank you.” Derpy called as she left the building with Vinyl and Octavia.
Once they had made it a little ways away from the manufacturing center Derpy looked at the note.
“Okay, it says here a phone number and a house address where he apparently takes job requests. Thank goodness that he takes those job requests or else this would be a lot harder.”
“Now we should go back home and think of a plan for what to do.” Octavia said stubbornly.
“Fine, I think that maybe you’re right about being a little cautious this time Octavia. He is the chief engineer after all.” Derpy said winking at Octavia.
Why is she winking at me? Oh right, we’re not supposed to talk about the agency in public. Derpy really saved me that time. I’m not sure if any of that other stuff I said counts so hopefully I don’t get kidnapped and have my memory erased. I don’t think that counts, I didn’t say anything about the agency, I just got very dangerously close to saying something about it.
They passed the main entrance to Canterlot where outside they could see trees and grass. Once they finally made it back to their house they had walked quite a distance.
“My legs are killing me!” Vinyl groaned.
“You could sure say that again.” Derpy complained.
“You guys really need to get out more if that short walk is killing you.” Octavia responded.
Cherry walked into the room with a bright light hanging down. It displayed the subject’s face perfectly. She walked over to the subject who grinned.
“What are you so smiley about?”
“Nothing.” He chuckled.
“Brick Strings, I’ve been told to come here as a last resort since you’re not answering anypony’s questions.”
“I won’t answer yours either.”
“We will see won’t we.”
“Fine, give me your best shot.”
“Okay, let’s dance buddy. First question, why were you trying to assassinate Princess Luna?”
Brick sat silently grinning at Cherry. He didn’t say a word.
“Now remember when I asked why you were grinning?” Cherry said leaning on the desk. “You said nothing, which to me seems like you don’t want to tell what you’re actually thinking. There’s two ways we can do this, the easy way or the hard way. Which do you choose?”
Brick said nothing.
Cherry shrugged and gently replied, “I guess that’s the hard way.”
She left the room and came back a few minutes later. She didn’t appear to carry anything but set a small bag down on the table.
“Perfect, right where I can see it. Anywho, let’s try this again, why are you grinning at me… buddy?”
Brick replied, “No reason.”
Cherry smirked and leaned on the table.
“Oh, really? Cause to me it sure seems a lot like you think I’m pretty cute. Isn’t that right?”
“Maybe, you’re right, so what?”
“Oh, sweetheart you’ll soon see I don’t take too kindly to stallions staring at me.”
“Try me.”
“Oh, I will.”
Cherry took the small bag off the table and opened it. Inside was a pistol, a brush, a tranquilizer dart, and a small bug to place on somepony’s back.
“Now you probably shouldn’t have said try me because I have this here little device.” Cherry said, revealing the robot bug. “Hold still.”
She placed the bug on his back and turned it on. It started going in circles and suddenly pinched him. Brick bit down and breathed heavily.
“You’re going to be a tough one are you?” Cherry remarked.
She sat there silently watching him until the bug bit him again. This time he jerked forwards in his chair and then leaned back again. On and on the bug kept pinching for at least half an hour. Finally, Cherry decided to turn up the pain. She took the bug and switched a small dial on it’s back, up to the highest it could go. Back onto the stallion’s back the bug went.
“Snap!” Cherry yelled right as the bug pinched Brick hard.
He yelled out in agony and said, “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you whatever you want!”
Cherry went over and grabbed the bug off and yelled out, “Now tell!”
Brick smiled as Cherry walked back to the front of the table. She glared at him to which he remained silent.
“Oh, you little scum of Equestria. You want to see what happens when you mess with me? Well you are now!”
Cherry pulled the pistol out of the bag on the table.
This oughta show him. Let’s teach this liar a lesson.
“You wouldn’t use that.” Brick said while smirking.
“Oh really? I think I would. Now last chance, tell me why you tried to assassinate Princess Luna. I know that you weren’t telling the truth when you said you were just paid and didn’t know any other details.”
“I’m not telling.”
“Well, I tried.”
Cherry raised the gun up and aimed it at his head. She quickly moved the gun to the left and simultaneously pulled the trigger. The bullet went flying past Brick’s head and lodged itself in the wall.
“Oh my Celestia. You actually are going to kill me.”
“What did I say buddy.”
“Fine I’ll tell. In exchange for something.”
“What do you want?”
“A kiss.”
“Fine.”
Cherry pulled out the brush from the small bag and started brushing her mane. Brick watched eagerly. Cherry went over to him and leaned in. Right before their lips touched Cherry opened her eyes, tapped him on the shoulder, Brick took a peek, and a hoof was flying at his face. The chair fell over and Brick’s nose was bleeding.
“What was that for?” He groaned.
“Told you, I don’t like being hit on.”
“Ugh, I’ll tell you. Just please no more violence.”
“Good.” Cherry said while pushing up the chair. “Oh, that is going to leave a nasty bruise! Anyway, why were you trying to take out Princess Luna?”
Brick sighed and confessed, “They told me that if I took out Luna it would make the guards look bad. There’s robots that Project R.G.R. is building. After Luna’s dead with the guards looking like they weren’t doing their job we were going to get them replaced with robots.”
“Why?”
“I was getting there.” Brick grumbled. “We were going to replace the guards with robots and then make them look stronger and better than the real guards so that we could sell them to the public.”
“Why would you want to sell them to the public?”
“Key word is sell. Money. The whole organization would be getting paid.”
“Who’s in charge of Project R.G.R.?”
“I really can’t spill the beans on that one.” Brick said anxiously.
“Oh you will.” Cherry threatened.
“I’m sorry I can’t.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
Cherry reached in the bag and pulled out the tranquilizer dart. She turned towards Brick and glared. He nervously smiled.
“You don’t have to do this. I mean, I honestly don’t know the mare’s name.”
“It’s a mare is it?”
“Oh no.”
Cherry’s fist came flying towards Brick’s face and slammed into it. A loud smacking noise was made. The chair went flying backwards and fell over onto the cold metal floor of the room. Brick lay on the ground blinking, barely conscious.
“Goodnight, cutie.”
Cherry stuck the tranquilizer dart into brick’s arm. He slowly blinked a few times and fell asleep.
Vinyl was in her room practicing with her mixer when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and Derpy was standing there.
“Oh, um, sorry to interrupt Vinyl, but I need you and Octavia for the plan to get Hole Tosses.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute. Just gotta put my stuff away.”
Vinyl went back to her bed and grabbed her device. She put in its case and shut the lid. Vinyl bent down and pushed the case under her bed, making sure the handle side was sticking towards her. Once she had put the mixer back where it belonged she pushed open the door and walked into the hall. It was so tempting to slide down the stair railing.
I bet they wouldn’t mind.
Vinyl hopped onto the railing and slid down it making sure to jump off right before the pole at the end.
“Vinyl Scratch!” Octavia yelled out.
She minds.
“Don’t slide down the railing you’re going to break it!”
“Sorry I thought you wouldn’t mind.”
“Well, I do, don’t do that again.”
“Okay, okay.”
Derpy coughed and said, “Attention please.”
Vinyl and Octavia sat down on the couch and directed their attention towards Derpy.
“As you know I have brought you here today to discuss the fact that we found out where the guy who designs the robots lives.”
“Derpy you don’t have to act like you’re the princess giving a speech.” Vinyl whispered.
“It’s fun!” Derpy whispered back. “Anywho, we now have a plan of action. First we are of course going to go to his house. We have to go at night so we don't attract attention. Not too late though because we don’t want to look suspicious. After we go to his house we wait until nopony is watching and knock on his door. Once somepony opens the door we jump inside, especially if it’s Hole Tosses. If it’s not him then… well, I didn’t really think of that but we’ll figure it out if it comes to it. Then once he hopefully opens the door we pull a surprise attack. Me and Vinyl will tackle him but Octavia will look and make sure no bodyguards are around. Oh, Octavia you also have to shut the door behind us. Finally, once we tackle him I’ll get out my tranquilizer dart and give him a poke.”
“Nice plan, short and simple, I like it.” Vinyl snazzily responded while making motions with her hooves.
“Vinyl you sound ridiculous.”
Vinyl stuck her tongue out and made a pouty face at Octavia.
“Anyway enjoy whatever you want to do until maybe like seven. I’m thinking that’s when we’ll leave.”
Vinyl got up and got a drink of ice cold water.
This is gonna be awesome.
Later that night Vinyl, Octavia, and Derpy were almost ready to go. The adrenaline was pumping through their veins. Vinyl was excited to play her part in the plan and help tackle whoever came to the door. Hopefully it was Hole Tosses. It would be really awkward if his wife came to the door and Vinyl and Derpy tackled her to the ground.
“I’m ready to go, how about you two?” Octavia asked.
“Let’s do it!” Vinyl cheered.
“I’m ready.” Derpy replied, more calmly than Vinyl. “Let’s get going.”
Derpy walked out the door, decided she needed a scarf, and turned around. Once Derpy had a scarf warmly wrapped around her they departed. Out in the street there were a few ponies walking around that Vinyl could see. Up the hill they went following Derpy’s directions. The bright yellow light from the street posts shined down on the cobbled path. They passed the bakery which had it’s lights surprisingly on and a few ponies inside getting donuts or coffee. The farther up the hill they went the less ponies there were.
“This way!” Derpy happily told them as she turned down a side street.
They kept walking until Derpy pointed to a house on the side of the street.
“This one.”
“Here we go.” Said Vinyl.
Octavia mumbled, “Oh boy.”
In the garden there were stepping stones that made a path from the street, through the grass, to the walkway that approached the door. Vinyl and Derpy casually approached the door with Octavia close behind. Derpy looked around the street quickly, making sure that nopony was watching, and knocked on the door.
Octavia stood behind Derpy and Vinyl nervously awaiting somepony to open the door. Octavia suddenly, quite clearly heard the sound of hoof steps from inside. Then the hoof steps stopped. The lock on the door twisted with a click. Derpy and Vinyl backed up into Octavia who stumbled backwards. The door opened and a stallion sleepily stood there. Derpy quickly lunged forward, followed by Vinyl, and tackled the stallion to the ground.
Oh I’m supposed to shut the door!
Octavia quickly looked outside then swiftly closed the door. The stallion frantically waved his hooves and tried to yell as Derpy covered his mouth. She pulled out a small needle from a black pouch on her hip and proceeded to poke it into the stallion. His eyes went wide before slowly drifting to sleep. The body of the stallion went limp and Derpy and Vinyl set him down.
“That was a lot easier than I thought.” Derpy blatantly stated.
A single bullet went flying past Derpy and lodged itself in the wall. Vinyl’s eyes went wide and her and Octavia looked at each other. Derpy whipped her head around and peered into the dark where the bullet had come from.
“Do you two see anything?”
“I don't.” Vinyl said shakily.
From the darkness a blinking flash followed by a popping noise erupted. Derpy jumped and tackled Octavia behind a couch where Vinyl had leaped to.
“Did you hear that popping noise? They must have silencers on their guns so none of the neighbors hear.” Derpy whispered.
Octavia peeked over the top of the couch and saw a head poking out from around a corner across the room.
“I'm not sure how to break the news but I think there's more than one pony here who's not too friendly with us.” Octavia said.
Derpy reached into the small pouch tied around her hip and pulled out a small rectangular shape.
“If we can get close enough to one of them slap this on them and it’ll give them a quick zap. Who wants it?”
Vinyl quickly said, “I’ll take it if you don't mind Octy.”
“You can have it Vinyl.”
Vinyl took the rectangle from Derpy and looked at it. Derpy’s ears perked up and she motioned towards her chest then pointed upstairs where the first bullet had came from. She then pointed to Octavia and Vinyl and pointed towards where Octavia had seen another guard. Derpy ran out from behind the safety of the couch and was followed by a storm of bullets. Luckily she got behind a wall where the fire couldn't get her.
“Go!” Derpy yelled at Vinyl and Octavia then ran up the stairs.
The guard upstairs didn't know what to shoot at so Vinyl and Octavia made it to the back of another couch. Derpy grabbed the gun of the pony upstairs and tried to pull it away. Downstairs Vinyl and Octavia both were heavily breathing. Suddenly Vinyl ran out towards the guard Octavia had seen. The guard noticed and tried to get their gun but Vinyl grabbed it. Octavia ran out and punched the guard in the foreleg making her drop the gun.
“Ow!” The guard yelped before turning on Octavia.
She lunged at Octavia who jumped to the side. Octavia grabbed a vase off a small table and hit the guard on the head. She clutched her head but suddenly Vinyl threw a first at the guard’s stomach. A small buzz was heard and the guard fell to the ground.
“Thanks Vinyl.” Octavia panted.
“No problem.” Vinyl chuckled.
A loud thud came from the area over by the railing upstairs.
“Derpy!” Octavia and Vinyl screamed.
Derpy lay on the floor and groaned when Vinyl and Octavia ran over. Octavia tried to see if Derpy was alive but Vinyl was filled with a burning rage.
Oh no, what's Vinyl doing?
“Vinyl what are you doing? Get over here.”
Vinyl silently kept walking up the stairs.
“Vinyl!” Octavia yelled.
Vinyl approached the attacker that had thrown Derpy over the railing. She stopped in front of the guard and tried to throw a punch at their face. Octavia ran upstairs to see Vinyl get knocked over from the stomach. Octavia stopped and stared at the guard in a panic. Vinyl collapsed to the ground and didn't get up. The guard started slowly walking towards Octavia.
What am I supposed to do? Why are they just walking towards me?
Octavia's attacker swung her leg around to kick Octavia. Almost like natural instinct Octavia jumped up just in time to avoid the swing. The attacker stumbled back so Octavia took the chance to do some damage.
The guard stood up and said, “You think one lousy kick will take me out? Let's have a real fight, shall we?”
The guard threw a punch at Octavia who raised her foreleg just in time to block it. Octavia felt an anger growing in her chest.
“One of my friends is down there after getting thrown over this railing and one is on the floor over there. I hope you realize that you can't just do that without a fight.”
“That's just what I wanted to hear.” The guard remarked.
Octavia let her rage loose and shot her hoof furiously at the guard’s chest but the guard blocked it. The guard tried to smack Octavia's head from the side but Octavia ducked down and pushed the guard. Who almost fell over but regained her balance. The guard punched Octavia in the face, causing Octavia to double over. The guard approached Octavia from behind and pulled out a knife to finish the job. Octavia regained her senses and powerfully bucked the guard with her back legs. The guard flew into the wall and broke through it, collapsing to the ground. The section of the wall crumbled where impact had been made.
Holy horse apples! Did I really just do that?
Vinyl groaned and raised her head.
“Vinyl are you okay? You took what looked like a hard punch to the stomach!”
“I don't feel too good Octy. Everything hurts pretty bad. Wait, is Derpy okay?”
“I don't know, I ran upstairs when you came up here.”
“Go check on her then! She got thrown off a railing!”
“Okay, just don't move too much.”
Octavia walked hurriedly down the stairs. She got to Derpy and saw she had her eyes slightly open.
“Derpy, are you okay? You got thrown over the railing.”
“I probably just have to get some rest and I’ll-”
Derpy collapsed as she tried to walk.
“Derpy!” Octavia yelled worriedly.
“Okay, maybe I'm not in the best state right now. What to do, what to do? Oh I know! You remember that pizza place where Cherry Charm works. I think it's near here and she should be there. If you can find her there get her back here and she'll know what to do. Also is Hole Tosses still here?”
I forgot all about him! Is he over-oh no.
“It looks like he woke up and got away at some point.”
“Uh oh. So… don't panic but I think there's two things he could be doing right now. One is getting to wherever Project R.G.R. is and two is that he's getting a guard or two to come arrest his home invaders.”
“Getting the guards! W-what should I do then?” Octavia asked in a panic.
“Just go get Cherry and get back here fast.”
“Okay. But first… Vinyl how are you doing?” Octavia yelled out.
“I’m feeling a little better, I can stand up now.” Vinyl replied.
“Watch Derpy for a bit and I'll try to get back fast.”
“Yeah, I overheard your conversation. Please hurry.”
“I will!” Octavia yelled before racing out the door.
As Octavia rushed in the direction she remembered the pizza restaurant her heart beat fast and her mind raced faster.
What am I going to do if the guards get there before I get back? Is Derpy going to need to go to a hospital? She seemed really hurt.
Octavia could see her destination in the distance. She ran faster and slowed to a walk when she got closer to the restaurant. She opened the door and walked inside. There was a surprising number of customers at this hour but luckily she spotted Cherry Charm in the crowd. She walked quickly over to Cherry right before she went into some sort of back room.
“Cherry, I need to talk to you somewhere private.”
“Oh hi, you're one of Derpy's friends aren't you. Anyway I get off work at 8:00 so lucky for you it's about that time. I'll meet you outside in a minute.”
Cherry disappeared into the back room and Octavia walked outside. She paced around for a minute or two and then Cherry came out.
“So what I needed to talk to you about was-”
“Here just tell me once we get somewhere private.” Cherry said.
Oh right, she really saved me there. No talking about the agency in public. Right, you can't forget that Octavia.
“Okay, follow me.”
Octavia took off and Cherry followed urgently. They raced past many buildings but not many ponies. Once they finally reached the house Octavia opened the door and rushed inside followed by Cherry. She shut the door behind them.
“What happened here?” Cherry said while looking at the hole in the wall upstairs, the broken vase on the ground, and Derpy laying on the couch.
“Long story short, we found the house for the engineer for Project R.G.R. and he had some guards. Also we might be arrested soon.”
“Why in Equestria would you be getting arrested?” Cherry exclaimed.
Derpy said from the couch, “Hole Tosses may or may not have alerted the guards about the home invasion, since he got away. Can you help us get home. I can't stand and Vinyl is having a painful time walking.”
“What happened to you two?”
Vinyl said, “Derpy got thrown over the railing and I took a pretty hard punch to the gut.”
“You know, I thought I was just going to have a regular night. I would get off work go home, watch some TV, and then go to bed. Well, clearly that's not happening. Did you find any information about Project R.G.R.?”
“None of us really thought to look while we were fighting did we?” Derpy said.
“Okay, Octavia do you want to go look for anything while I help patch up these two.”
“Sure.” Octavia answered.
Where to look first? Maybe in an office of some sort.
Octavia wandered around until she found an office looking room. She went in and started looking around. The file cabinets all had lots of files inside them but none of them said anything suspicious. Octavia kept looking for another five minutes or so until she decided this room was empty.
Next stop is… the bedroom perhaps?
She went upstairs where she expected the bedroom to be. Luckily, the bedroom was very easy to find. At first glance nothing seemed like it could have any secrets but eventually Octavia bumped a low hanging picture frame, revealing a small metal door.
What’s this? Here, let's get this picture out of the way.
Octavia took off the picture then opened the small hinged door. The miniature safe in the wall was made of what Octavia guessed was steel. Inside was a bunch of paper.
What a surprise, more paper.
After scooping the paper out of the hole Octavia unrolled a sheet of it.
Wait, this has an address here, I better save this. These other ones have… blueprints. For robots.
Octavia picked up all the papers and ran downstairs.
“What did you find?” Cherry asked.
“I found more blueprints and-” Octavia gasped for breath “some sort of address.”
“Really? If this is what I think then it's gonna be good. But right now I need your help to get these two back to your house.”
Vinyl mumbled, “I think I can make it on my own.” Before standing up and stumbling forwards violently.
“I think I'll help you.” Octavia told Vinyl after seeing that Cherry was already supporting most of Derpy’s weight.
Vinyl wrapped a foreleg around Octavia’s neck. Octavia leaned down and picked up the stack of papers. Cherry held up Derpy and quietly opened the door and looked outside.
“Doesn't look like there's too many ponies out so we should be fine, but stay cautious.”
They walked outside into the slightly breezy night. Octavia slowly walked down the street supporting Vinyl on her shoulder. The cool evening air seemed to help Vinyl breathe easier as she relaxed her foreleg on Octavia's back.
Everything seems so… serene. How can things be so peaceful after what just happened?
Throughout the walk back home all was silent, save for a few coughs and staggers from Derpy. Once they finally reached the door Octavia stumbled forward while supporting Vinyl and opened the door for Cherry and Derpy.
Finally home, and safe hopefully.
After Octavia shut the door Vinyl asked, “What are we supposed to do now?”
Cherry stood up after helping Derpy lay down on the couch. She looked at Vinyl, then Octavia, and bit her lip.
“We’re going to have to fix your injuries I think. Especially you Derpy.” Cherry said while turning around and looking at Derpy. “You're not doing too good.”
“I’ll be fine! Don't worry about me!”
“Uh- Derpy… you do realize you got thrown over a railing inside somepony’s house and now can’t walk, right?” Vinyl stated.
“I know silly! Don't worry about it though, I'll live.” Derpy scoffed. “Plus, don't you know some sort of healing spell or something?”
“I… might know one that helps speed up the healing process by having more oxygen go into your system so the blood cells go to your organs and-”
“Okay, no need for details Vomit Vinyl.” Octavia chuckled.
“Hey! I can make up names too… Awkward Octavia!” Vinyl mocked.
While Vinyl and Octavia threw insults at each other Cherry muttered to Derpy, “That escalated quickly.”
“It's pretty much the usual.” Derpy replied.
“The usual sure sounds like a lot of arguing.”
“They’re… working on it. I mean they fight sometimes but they’re really good friends when they’re not fighting.”
Cherry picked up the papers that Octavia had set down on the wooden coffee table. She looked them over with a quizzical expression. Most of it was just stuff that was already known from the last blueprint that Derpy’s friends had recovered. Once the final paper from the stack was drawn out it revealed an address.
“Hey Derpy there’s an address here. Can we look it up on your computer?
“An address? Do you think it could be something important?”
“I’m gonna take a wild guess here and say that since it was in the stack of papers about the robots produced by the ponies we’re tracking that it might be important.”
“Oh, yep, that makes sense. Silly me. Anywho, since I can’t walk you know, my laptop is on the counter over there.” Derpy said and pointed to the granite kitchen countertop.
Cherry briskly walked over, grabbed the laptop and brought it back. By this point Vinyl and Octavia had stopped throwing petty insults at each other and came over to see what was happening. Derpy opened the laptop and typed the password in.
Muffins375694… how could I have ever guessed her password would be relating muffins?
Octavia, Vinyl, and Cherry all watched as Derpy opened up the web browser. Derpy started typing then looked back at the paper and repeated this action a few times. Derpy clicked search and the results came up. A picture of a long and flat building sticking out of the side of the mountain appeared.
“It says that it’s a storage building on the other side of the castle.” Derpy noted.
“The old storage building! I know where that place is. I used to live near there when I was a foal. Sometimes after school we’d go there and I would jump off of the rafters and practice flying.” Cherry recalled.
“Does this mean we know where Project R.G.R.’s main base is?” Vinyl asked excitedly.
Cherry jumped up from the couch and yelled, “Oh! In all the excitement earlier I forgot to tell you something rather important!”
“Well let’s hear it!” Vinyl demanded.
“Okay, so that guy in your Orchestra Octavia, he was pretty creepy. When I was interrogating him he tried to get me to kiss him so I tricked him into thinking I would but then I punched him in the face. The shocked look on his face was hilarious. Anywho, he told me that he was paid to assassinate Luna to make the guards look bad so that the robots could replace them and then after a while Project R.G.R. could sell the robots to the public for a ton of money. P.O.N.E. is also pretty sure Project R.G.R. stands for Project Royal Guard Replacement.”
Cherry took in a gulp of air and then grinned eagerly.
“Wow.” Octavia stated simply.
“They’re trying to replace the guards?” Vinyl questioned.
“Yeah, they’re going to try and sell those robots to the public after they gain recognition so it seems like money is the ultimate goal.”
“That’s a pretty jerk thing to do.” Derpy added. “Taking out the princess just for a bunch of money.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Vinyl said.
“So… what do we do now?” Octavia asked nervously. “I mean Derpy can’t walk and who knows what we could be going up against?”
“Oh wait, sorry I forgot to do that healing spell Derpy.” Vinyl remembered. “I should probably fix myself up afterwards too.”
“It’s okay Vinyl.” Derpy cheerily said.
“Well, I guess I should do that now then.”
Vinyl’s horn lit up and she squinted. Her magic surrounded Derpy who seemed to start glowing and slightly levitated off the couch.
“Woah, this feels weird.” Derpy stated nervously.
Vinyl finally stopped and took a breath, releasing Derpy from her magic. Derpy fell back down and softly landed on the couch.
“Vinyl, are you sure that spell you did is just accelerated healing and not completely fixing injuries?” Derpy said while bending her hoof.
“Yeah, it’s pretty good at what it does but you should still rest so you don’t make the injuries worse.”
“Okay, but first let me see if I can…”
Derpy slowly moved one leg off the couch and placed it on the ground. Then another. She slowly rose up and shakily stood in front of the couch.
“I can already stand again!”
Vinyl bit down on her lower lip and cautiously stated, “I really don’t think you should be doing all this activity Derpy. I mean you took a pretty heavy hit and you’re just now starting to get better.”
“Okay fine, I’ll take it easy Vinyl.”
“Wouldn’t need you getting any more hurt.” Cherry remarked.
Derpy rolled her eyes. The old sofa squeaked as the weight that was put onto it moved from side to side.
“We’re going to need some new furniture soon.” Octavia added as her ears flinched at the sound of the creaky couch.
“I like this one though. It’s been with me since college.” Derpy replied with sad looking eyes.
“Woah, that’s a weapon of mass destruction right there. Puppy eyes like that could change the tide of battle.” Cherry added.
Vinyl, Octavia, Derpy, and Cherry all burst into laughter.
