- Equestria.
- In a special hall of the Canterlot Royal Palace, a room not found on any official building schematics, an argument is brewing between Twilight Sparkle, the most trusted student of Princess Celestia, and members of the Council, the group that oversees and rules on declarations issued by the Royal Sisters.
- “This is not happening”
- >”It’s hardly the end of the world, Twilight.”
- “Not YOUR world, anyway, Lightblade.”
- >”Just find a NEW charge,” he says as Twilight storms down the hallway.
- “WHAT?! And waste all the effort I’ve spent studying him? Not a chance. I’ve been studying him and his world for years, and I’ve learned something: You don’t make it far in politics by sitting on the sidelines and letting others make all the decisions for you. Celestia asked me to find a solution to this problem, and I’ll do whatever it takes to fix it!”
- >”You don’t make it far by throwing temper tantrums in front of Council members either.” Lightblade whispers to himself as he joins Twilight in the shadowed Hall of the Oracles.
- “Stargazer! Show yourself right this instant! I swear, if I don’t get an explanation from you…”
- >”No need to finish that thought, dear…” a grave voice croaks from the shadows, “I’ve just snuck a peek fifteen minutes into my future.”
- >Stargazer slides into view, his chair dragging the various wires hooked into his scalp and horn.
- >”What you did with that quill wasn’t very pretty,” he croaks, as the viewing screen behind him changes to show a fire-breathing dragon. Probably his little idea of a joke about your current mood.
- >”But I must say, dear friend, I feel compelled to tell you that you are in fact…quite radiant when you’re rabid.”
- >His face, as always, is expressionless, eyes wide and glowing with magical insight, the power of viewing possible past and futures having rendered him essentially a mind suspended inside the broken frame of a unicorn. But the secondary screen behind him used to convey his mood switches to that of a smirking smiley face.
- *sigh* “You know what I want Gazer. I need an answer. Sooner rather than later.” Twilight says, her harsh tone relaxing a bit.
- >”I don’t understand you people sometimes. Angry when we don’t speak; angrier when we do –sigh, what’s the point?—“
- >”Anyway, as I’ve told Councilor Lightblade, your…pet project…has entered a flux point in his life.”
- “Flux point?”
- >”A period of spacetime in which I can’t definitively intuit. All I can see are the possible outcomes, the maybes…few of which are desirable. Your charge is going to fall. Hard.”
- “Give me the odds, Gazer!” you press
- >Lightblade speaks up this time.
- >”There is a fifty-four percent likelihood that he will crash out.”
- “Fifty-four?! You’re voting against years of my work because of an added 4 percent?”
- >”Actually, it’s 54.46” Stargazer interjects.
- >Lightblade turns to look directly at Twilight. “You’re too wrapped up in this case Mrs. Sparkle. You have to realize, the Council must vote in the best interests of Equestria. If the subject is damaged goods, we have to cut him loose and move on.”
- “And I wait another few decades for an opportunity like this?”
- >Lightblade: “Yes, if that’s what it takes.”
- “Stargazer, what is the cause of the flux?”
- >”Well, I’m not entirely sure miss. That’s why it’s a flux…”
- “Gazer!”
- >”My best guess…a girl. I think…. It has something to do with a woman he cares for…but truly, the future is unclear…”
- “A girl. Fine. Mr. Blade, as of this moment, I’m executing sponsor’s intervention. I’ll get the Council those four points, even if it means I have to CARRY ANON to the other side of that flux on my BACK!” Twilight says.
- >And with that, Twilight’s horn pulsed, and she had phased out of the room,
- >Boston, United States of America
- >In a sleazy motel room, a sweaty fat man with a bad comb over is straightening his tie.
- >“That- that was sweet baby…sweet.” He says, sweat dripping down his nose.
- >”Only for you, Jimmy, cause I like it with you, babe…” A sultry female voice calls out to him from the bed. There, a prostitute is pulling her knee-high black leather high heels back on, avoiding Jimmy’s gaze.
- >”Yeah?”
- [Sure, you fat piece of waste.] She bitterly thinks to herself.
- >”Yeah baby. That’s why I like It when you come back.” She says aloud.
- >”You’re a better judge of character than my ol’ lady, Mercedes…THAT’S fer sure.” Jimmy barks.
- [You filth. Anon could push through the back of your head with a hammer… or maybe show you your heart, then shove it down your throat.]
- >”Don’t forget that when you pass the dresser, ‘kay Jimmy-baby?” She says, putting on a practiced smile.
- >”Right kiddo. See ya same time, same channel?” Jimmy asks, setting a clumped wad of bills on the dresser on his way out.
- [Anon could gut you with an Exacto-knife…jump rope with your friggin intestines…Then give you a slow lobotomy with a jackhammer.]
- >Jimmy closes the door behind her, leaving Mercedes in the dark room, all alone.
- [Then he’d take me into his arms…and love me for the rest of my life.]
- >She thinks, a small stream of tears beginning to take hold of her vision.
- >A knock on the door startles Mercedes to attention.
- >Mercedes stands up, placing the wad of cash into her bra.
- >”No backsies Jimmy! I don’t care if you forgot to buy flowers for Mildred!”
- >The knocking continues.
- >Mercedes opens the door, just a crack.
- >”Give it a rest man! You were my last appointment for the day. I’m—oh. And what are YOU supposed to be?”
- >On the other side of the door is Twilight, in a truly stunning human form. She has a black leather jacket and matching purse slung over her shoulder.
- >Her shoulder length hair was dark purple, combed into a spikey shock over her left side. A tinted wraparound visor hides her eyes, which have a just barely noticeable spark of magical energy to them while she maintains this form.
- >A backless red number, barely reaching past her waist, accentuates every curve of her naturally or, in this case magically, striking beauty.
- “A girl scout. What do you think?” Twilight chirps back to Mercedes.
- “Call me T. Charmed, I’m sure. Paolo said to see you about a place till I got set—“
- >”No freakin way!” she interrupts. “I got plans. I don’t have time for a new girl—“
- “I’m a woman, honey, and don’t worry. I won’t keep you from your bible classes…” Twilight cuts back, playing her role well.
- “I just need a place to keep my stuff while I fill my little black book. Besides…Paolo said so, and we don’t want to disappoint Paolo, now DO WE, sister?”
- >Mercedes says nothing for a moment, silently fuming.
- >Then she steps into the hallway, slamming the door behind her, clearly pissed beyond belief.
- “No, I thought not.” Twilight smirks, hitching her jacket over her shoulder and turning to leave. “Let’s hop along, Cassidy.”
- >Later, a few blocks closer towards something resembling a respectable neighborhood.
- “Nice digs, Mercy. You holding out on Paolo?” Twi asks, dropping her jacket onto Mercy’s couch.
- >”The art of side-tipping is not yet dead in this town honey. Make yourself comfy, why don’t you?”
- “I will,” Twilight says, stepping over to examine a large collection of pill bottles on top of a counter.
- “Say, what’s with all the meds? You sick?”
- >”No, those aren’t mine. And they’re vitamins, not medicine. My boyfriend Anon's into bodybuilding.” Mercedes says, folding her arms with a smirk.
- “Vitamins? What does he bench-press, like ten-thousand?” Twilight asks, incredulous.
- >”Only his trainer knows for sure, sweetie… But now it’s time for you to hustle your little booty onto Main Street and justify that getup!” Mercedes says, grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her to the doorway.
- “I-I thought—Paolo said you’d show me the ropes!” Twilight lied, pulling an idea off the top of her head.
- >”Oh no, sister. Not tonight. I have plans.”
- “Wait! I can’t—I don’t” Twi stammers, beginning to blush.
- >”Talk but no walk, huh? Heh, I would have pegged you for a pro. Scared?” Mercy asks.
- Twilight lowers her head to the side, a deep blush on her face. “I…I’m not sure what’s expected…” she barely whispers.
- >”Great. Ok. Here’s the TV Guide version...
- >You want to make it on the Beantown streets, FORGET you have an identity.
- >You’re not “T” anymore. Not anyone’s friend. Not someone’s daughter… You are an empty vessel. A blank slate. You are woman as ideal.”
- >Twilight turns to face Mercy, crossing her arms and listening.
- >”Whether that means you’re the ever precious timid virgin, a come hither trollop looking to be punished…or the demanding, unsatisfiable shrew/mother/English teacher…
- >You’re the woman that HE wants you to be. >HIS woman. You are determined by his presence.
- >The client is God for the hour you’re with him. That’s the law.
- >”Do your job WELL, cease to exist beyond your body… and he is a very happy God. But if you FAIL…if you cry, talk back, or chuckle, exist as anything but the fantasy…He’s a very…very angry God.”
- >There’s your ropes. Here’s some cab fare and food money. Questions?”
- “…yeah. How old are you?” Twilight manages to ask, after a moment of stunned silence.
- >”Old enough to have seen the angry Gods more than once. Young enough…to believe…that there’s got to be another way to live. See ya after 2 AM. Don’t come back early…I got a date.”
- And the door closed, leaving Twilight standing there, thinking.
- [What am I doing here? These people…No. Hold it together. You’re doing this for your fellow p0nies. For Luna. For Celestia. For Equestria!
- Focus on the task at hand. I need this plan to work. To do that, I need to FIX ANON. Even if it makes me ill…even if I have to—“
- >”Mrs. Sparkle. We need to talk.” A portal opened in front of Twilight, sliding her into the inner chambers of the Council.
- “To what do I owe the honor of this unwelcome teleportation, Lightblade?” Twilight says, folding her arms in indignation.
- >The room is completely silent for a moment.
- >Twilight looks down at herself, and screams in embarrassment.
- [Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! You're still human, you're still dressed like a hooker.]
- [AND YOU"RE SURROUNDED BY THE COUNCIL!]
- >Slowly, the awkward moment passes at Lightblade remembers the reason he brought her here.
- >”Twilight, please stop this nonsense. You’re putting yourself at considerable risk for nothing!
- >Just look at the way you're dressed!
- > Anon should have never been chosen for this in the first place.”
- “I disagree." Twi says, her blush slowly fading.
- "If I can reach him…”
- >”Just face the facts! There must have been a mistake with the Oracles. This man is a sociopathic monster!
- >He’s personally responsible for more suffering and carnage than your average parasprite outbreak.
- >A bloodthirsty animal like THAT is not going to be the next Messiah! It’s over.”
- “…You don’t know that for sure.”
- >*sigh* “I didn’t want to have to show you this. Jesus, you’re just a kid…"
- >For a moment, Lightblade's usually stern face shows a hint of sadness.
- >Time for a reality check. Maybe this will open your eyes…before it’s too late.”
- >Even before Twilight’s senses fully adjust to the dislocation of time and space, something in her instinctual mind reels, bombarded by the scents and the silence left in the wake of sudden, violent death.
- >Twilight blinks some of the shock away, slowing turning around to take in the scene before her.
- >In the distance, guard towers lie in ruins.
- >Rubble and fire litter the landscape.
- >A helicopter of some sort appears to have crashed in the middle of the camp.
- >All around her are dead humans, a mix of soldiers and mercenaries, by the looks of it.
- >Twilight struggles to hold back her revulsion as she turns to face Lightblade.
- >”What we have here, Twilight, is a human shadow ops instillation."
- >"A hold over from a past war, a country keeping its eyes and ears on a former enemy, and looking out for potential revolutions."
- >"Not very politically correct, this is true. But in the current political climate, these WERE the ‘good guys’ so to speak.”
- >Lightblade puts a hoof on Twilight’s chin, making her lock eyes with him.
- >”Two weeks ago, Anon was hired for simple personnel elimination. ONE target. A pro of his caliber could have breezed in, nailed his mark and hit the evac without hurting a fly."
- >"Instead, the flies are all that’s left.”
- >Twilight kneels to the ground, picking up a dog-tag from a fallen soldier.
- “Why would he do this? Such butchery…and anger. “
- [What could have caused such a flux in Anon, and what does this have to do with Mercedes…]
- >Lightblade places a hand on Twilight’s shoulder.
- >”Do you see now, Twilight? Anon’s not the same man you started with.
- >He’s broken. Cracked. A lost cause.”
- “You’re right, Lightblade. Anon IS hopeless…”
- >Twilight turns away from the Councilor, placing the dog tag back where she found it, and saying a silent prayer.
- “So just imagine how impressed the Princess is going to be when I pull him through this dark patch of his life by the skin of his teeth, and turn him into the hero we need!”
- >“I’m beginning to wonder who’s more deranged, Anon or YOU, Mr.s Sparkle,”
- >Lightblade said with a bitter chuckle as Twilight teleported back to the human world.
- >[Damn] he thought. [I forgot to ask her to explain the hooker getup…]

