The following takes place between 5:00pm and 6:00pm

The house in Sweet Apple Acres was already a mess. Broken windows, damaged walls, smashed roof tiles, and furniture in pieces. The ESCT ponies managed to secure Sweet Apple Acres. They even set up a perimeter around the area. Some patrolled the air, some camouflaged in the grass, and others kept a lookout for another attack. They have the honour to help Equestria when needed. Though some ponies question why didn't they come sooner in other times of need.

The Apple family watched Jack Bauer debrief with Brave Lance. It's their way of trying to know why Sect targeted them. Apple Bloom hasn't explained to them on what she and her friends know.

"It would appear that a unicorn we arrested, created a portal in the sky sending you here," Brave Lance said to Jack.

Jack just accepted Brave's explanation. He knew that nobody on planet would be capable of pulling it off. He doesn't know how long he'll be stuck here. With numerous incidents happening, it could take an entire day.

"How's the Apple family doing?" Jack asked.

"They're OK. It will take time for them to recover. As for their home…" Brave Lance looked around, seeing the mess. "…may take a week or so to repair the damage."

Jack wondered if he could have some answers. "Has ESCT been around for very long?"

"A very long time. We just came after the Sugarcube Corner Robbery. We weren't told why we're underground, figuratively not literally. We've been searching and monitoring Sect for years. We didn't want to disrupt the quiet life of Equestria. Sure there's Nightmare Moon reigning darkness, Discord spreading chaos for his amusement, the changeling invasion and the Crystal Empire under the rule of a power-hungry king; we prevented Sect from taking advantage of the situation for their evil deeds."

Apple Bloom can see Jack Bauer as the right person to help her. She was uncertain if ESCT can help with Sect terrorising Equestria. After witnessing him rescuing her and her family, she knew he's the right person to trust.

Applejack was the first to see her sister eyeing Jack. "What are you thinking little sister?"

"There's something I need to get off my back. I don't know who I should turn, but after what occurred, I know who will listen to me."

"Who might that be?"

Apple Bloom pointed to Jack. Applejack felt uncertain, nobody in Equestria encountered a human agent at all. "I don't know if you should go to him."

"It's just I want to tell someone, I don't know who will listen to me. I think he will understand."

"Shouldn't you go to one of ESCT ponies?"

"We barely know them."

Apple Bloom definitely got her sister there. They both don't know anything about Bauer or ESCT. Everything just occurred so suddenly, there wasn't any time for explanation.

"Since he's from another world and needs help in fitting in, I could offer helping him in return," Apple Bloom thought. "Besides he'll protect me."

"Eeyup!" agreed Big Mac.

"You're right," said Applejack. "If he can stop renegade ponies, he can bodyguard a filly."

"I wish you'll stop calling me that," said Apple Bloom.

She trotted to Jack, she inhaled and exhaled for a short time. She tried not to let her nervousness distract her. Jack and Brave Lance were finishing their talk. Apple Bloom stood next to Jack's legs. "Excuse me."

Jack was the first to hear her. He can see Apple Bloom looking up. Instead of seeing a pony traumatised, he sees a pony with a worried look.

"Can you help me?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Certainly." Jack didn't think helping a filly will go good on his record.

"I don't know how to explain it, there's a reason why they broke in our house."

Jack listened to her story.

"My friend Sweetie Belle made a folder full of documents appear. Then a strange unicorn came and wanted it back. She created a duplicate and kept the real one. We then went to Twilight Sparkle's house for help. It showed that they contain hidden writing."

"Do you know where it is?"

"I think we left it at Twilight's house. I worried about Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."

"Is she another one of your friends?"

"Yes, we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Jack's been in Equestria for nearly quarter of a day, and already he's overloaded with fantasy nonsense. Even though he tried accept it, the ongoing threat kept him from learning more. He can feel his head pound.

"Are you OK?" Brave Lance asked.

"Just a headache from all of this," Jack replied.

Apple Bloom and Brave Lance can see his stay in Equestria irritated him. He doesn't hate the world, he just couldn't piece everything together, when something new pops up in front of him.

"I think it's best we see her. She could be the next target," said Jack.

"I'll keep the Apple Family safe," said Brave Lance.

They left Sweet Apple Acres, leaving the Apple Family in the hands, or hooves of ESCT. Apple Bloom has two things worry about. They slowly faded once Jack stood by her.

5:25pm

Jack and Apple Bloom arrived at the Carousel Boutique. Jack tried to piece the world of Equestria first. Trying to learn about the world and the conspiracy at the same time, could result in either choosing one over the other resulting in unpredictable consequences, or lose his sanity affecting his mental well-being.

Jack couldn't imagine how upper class the Boutique was. He felt out of place just standing in the middle of the room.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom shouted.

She called out again and Sweetie Belle came out from behind a mannequin. "You didn't have to yell."

Apple Bloom rushed over to hug her. Sweetie Belle hugged back. They felt relieved to see each other.

Rarity was busy stitching a dress when the noise disrupted her concentration. "Sweetie Belle. Help that customer or tell her to leave. This dress I'm working on is important."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went to a different room. She couldn't let Rarity know anything about the siege of her house. She told them about ESCT and Jack Bauer. "I think Sect are targeting you."

"A unicorn tried to attack me." Sweetie Belle gave a small laugh. "She put on a show when she thought they kidnapped me."

"Yeah, that was funny." Apple Bloom nearly got off topic and reminded herself why she came to the Carousel Boutique. "They're after the real documents. Since you managed to retrieve them, we thought you might know where they are."

"I left them at Twilight's house. And that's after they trashed the place."

"At least we have Jack Bauer to help us."

"That creature you brought in? Is one of those humans that a certain unicorn keeps on bragging?"

Apple Bloom smiled, remembering Lyra's escapades. "Now we know she's not crazy."

Sweetie Belle had a weird thought. "Has Jack met any pony?"

"Yes, the ESCT. Why'd you ask?"

"Can't imagine how one will react."

They heard Rarity scream in horror. They ran out to see what's going on. It wasn't Rarity screaming on seeing a human.

"Look at your clothes, they're a mess!" Rarity can spot numerous holes, tears, and dirt on Jack's clothes.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom raised their eyebrows. "Huh?"

Jack stood while Rarity inspected him. She took every measurement so she can make new clothes. Human measurements are different from pony measurements. She looked at the fabric and tried to find the same or similar fabric.

"Oh this is a challenge!" panted Rarity. "I never designed clothes for someone of this magnitude."

Jack looked at Sweetie Belle, he was going to ask should he let her proceed.

"Better wait for a minute," advised Sweetie Belle.

Rarity finished jotting down the measurements and started working. But before she touched the sewing machine, she heard a voice from behind.

"Listen," Jack interrupted. "I didn't come for clothes, I only came to help."

"Help?"

"You're in danger and so is your sister."

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom confirmed it.

"Remember when you thought I was missing?" reminded Sweetie Belle. "It has to do what happened."

"Oh my," answered Rarity. "How did it occur?"

"It's a long story," said Apple Bloom.

"We'll explain once we retrieved the folder." Sweetie was about to leave.

Apple Bloom followed her. Jack was going to follow until Rarity stopped him.

"It's nice you're helping my sister, but you're not leaving in this attire. You're about to wear a Rarity original." Rarity immediately started working on making new clothes for Jack.

She frantically designed new clothes. She double checked the length of Jack's arms, legs, waist, and shoe size. She checked Jack's ruined clothes, so she can use the same stitching. Jack watched her design new clothes.

"If you're done, I can I change somewhere private?" Jack asked.

"Certainly, you can use one of the rooms upstairs," answered Rarity.

5:34pm

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom went to Twilight's house. They found the folder under the table. Sweetie Belle sneaked in and used her magic to pick it up. They didn't check whether Twilight and Spike are home.

"Do you think you can teleport it to Jack and Rarity?" asked Apple Bloom.

Sweetie Belle wasn't certain. It's too important to lose it, she couldn't risk it. "I don't think my magic is strong enough. It could end you in Sect's hooves."

Apple Bloom agreed, they decided to bring it to them. They searched to see of any members of Sect were watching. They searched for crowds to blend in. They moved on to bushes until they reached to the Carousel Boutique.

Upon arriving, they spotted Jack's old clothes lying on the floor. Rarity panted in exhaustion. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and horn. She turned to the fillies, she's excited to show them her design.

"You're just in time to see my new fashion design. After painful work and redoing it all over again, here's my latest design: Undercover."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle kept their expectations low. They knew designing clothes for a human is difficult, mainly for not knowing what they were.

Jack walked out wearing blue jeans, black shoes and grey jumper with white t-shirt. His gun and holster are hidden under the jumper.

Apple Bloom scratched her head. "Where did you come up with that name?"

"Jack told me everything about himself. Such a sad story. Love ones taken away, family feuds, friends becoming enemies; it's a complete tragedy." Rarity spoke in a dramatic fashion, it's almost like she's been there.

"Mr. Bauer?" Sweetie Belle called. "Here it is."

Jack took the folder and looked inside. The seemed like ordinary documents you find at a post office. Then he saw the hidden writing. Even though he knows nothing about it, he knew it's not part of Equestria. "We better go to the post office."

5:41pm

Normally the post office closes after 5pm in the human world. The ESCT were at the location. Instead of Brave Lance, another pony stood watch. He had white skin, arsenic mane and tail. He spotted Jack, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom heading towards the post office. He stood up straight with a strong presence.

"Are you Jack Bauer?" he asked.

"Certainly," Jack answered.

"My name is Dark Spear. Brave Lance told me to find you. We've been told that some Pegasus at the postal service was behaving strangely. We think he's working a mail carrier. There's a chance he might have left something behind that can lead to them."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were going to enter, before being stopped by ESCT ponies.

"They're with me," said Jack.

"Let them through," commanded Dark Spear.

Jack found the room with cabinets. Using the documents in his hands, he searched through every one of them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle helped. They covered the floor with paper and folders. Jack managed to find the folder Beta replaced. It matches the one they have.

"Why would some pony replace the folder we have with that?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"So they won't see the hidden writing by accident," explained Jack.

He can see the items on both documents. They're definitely the same. He's surprised on what will arrive in Equestria: 5l water, 2kg mixed gems, essence of poisonous plants, box of science apparatuses, and 26 drawing kits.

"Those items are definitely covering for something else," said Apple Bloom.

Jack looked at the date: they're arriving in less than 12 hours.

"Is that what the Pegasus was doing? Exposing a threat to Equestria?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Jack became confused. Sweetie Belle decided to explain. "There was a Pegasus who came to our clubhouse. He told us not to let that fall into the wrong hooves. They killed him after explaining."

Jack noticed Sweetie Belle shaken by the event. Apple Bloom felt the same. He kneeled down to their eye level. He tried his best to comfort them.

"Everything Ok?" Dark Spear Enter just to check on them.

"You should see this." Jack showed him both documents: one from the cabinet and the one held by Sweetie Belle.

Dark Spear examined them both. He quickly saw the hidden writing. He recited the entire passage fluently. Jack, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom couldn't believe a pony knew the dialect. "This will help us terminate Sect."

5:50pm

Jack and Sweetie Belle returned to the Carousel Boutique. Apple Bloom went back to her family. Rarity was waiting for them.

Jack asked her an important question. "Can you take me to Twilight Sparkle's house?"