The Monster Below: Nightfall

by Greenback

First published 21st of May, 2014

When Chrysalis begin a campaign to destroy Equestria from within, an Earth pony struggles to protect his family by any means necessary, regardless of the consequences

*If you'd like to purchase a physical copy of this story, click here*

Two years have passed since Silverspeak's dream to become an Alicorn ended in failure and tragedy. But his efforts to rebuild his life are interrupted when Queen Chrysalis launches an all-out war of espionage, subterfuge, and infiltration on Equestria. With fear and paranoia running rampant, Silverspeak struggles to protect his family, eventually finding a way to end the war – and Chrysalis' threat - forever. But to do so will come at a terrible cost, and Silverspeak is once again forced to make choices no pony should ever have to make, and to decide how far he'll go to protect those he loves...regardless of the consequences.

Cover art by Silfoe.

Edited by:
Night_Shade
JDC
p-a-t-a-r

***

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Return to Darkness

There are days in our lives that we all long for: days when dreams - sometimes decades in the making - finally come true. I've worked towards my day for more years than I can count. From Saddle Lanka to Manehattan, to Canterlot and beyond, I've guided the unwary as my pawns, manipulated companies and organizations from behind the scenes, and now the time has finally come.

This is the day when all my dreams come true.

The fireplace glows as logs burn brightly, giving my parent's house a delightful warmth. It's the perfect counter to the storm raging outside, which has gotten steadily worse over the past few hours. Rain pelts the roof, and I hear trees cracking as they sway under the wind's relentless assault.

The grandfather clock dings.

With a sip, I finish my drink and savor the flavor as it goes down my throat.

I'm ready.

I change into my climbing attire. Having packed all my gear hours ago, it's a quick matter to slip on my saddlebags and strap them down. The last time I did this, I was unprepared, but now I carry extra flares, ropes, and shoulder-mounted lanterns with enough light to last for hours. But I won't need that much time: I know exactly where I'm going.

I descend into the basement. The darkness holds no terrors for me now as I follow the path I took all those years ago. Quiverquill's study and the tunnel are exactly as I remember them. So too, is the door. It's still sealed tight, only now there are extra locks, latches, and chains holding it shut. The insignias of the Royal Sisters lie upon them, warning that no one is to open these doors for any reason.

I tear the locks away, yank the chains free, and swing the door open. I shine my light inside the tunnel and see nothing but a long, carved hallway. There's nothing inside.

I'm alone.

Good.

I walked these paths long ago when I was pursuing my dream of becoming an alicorn. In these dark passages, I found the horn of the Cursed King, and though the horn gave me great power, it was taken from me. It was only through my long struggles and searches that I learned where it was sent: The princesses had taken the horn back to its original resting place and sealed the tunnel for good. It was a good plan, with only one flaw.

They underestimated how much I want it.

It takes me an hour to descend the switchbacks, string a portable ladder, and climb down into the massive rotunda. Cracking a flare, I find the shredded remains of my old rope; there's no need to worry about the thing that cut it. That creature is long gone, eliminated by Princess Luna. Her courage and determination have cleared my path.

I have nothing to fear down here.

It's cold as I head to the chamber with the tunnels. I head down the same one I took so many years ago; once it gets too steep, I tie a rope and use it to lower myself down even further, grinning all the while.

No slipping this time.

I reach the hole and extend a portable ladder to the water below. Opening my bags, I attach the diving gear to my harness and enter the water. It's still ice cold, no doubt fed from melting snow that trickles down from the peaks of the mountains. It's of no concern; my wetsuit helps keep the cold at bay. Flipping my facemask down, and ensuring that the flow of air through the respirator is unobstructed, I slip beneath the surface and swim into the pit, looking for the... Ah, there it is. The hole. Still as small as before, forcing me to take off my air tanks and push them ahead to squeeze inside.

While I'm not afraid of entering this labyrinth once again, this is the one part that makes me nervous. In the very faint chance of something happening, I'll be trapped, unable to get out of here quickly.

My breaths come faster as rock scrapes against neoprene.

The tunnel slopes upwards. I follow it, a grin forming around my mouthpiece. Breaking the surface of the water, I waste no time in taking off my tanks and cracking a flare, the green light illuminating the tomb of the Cursed King. I check my watch and find that it only took me about two and a half hours to get here.

I check the ceiling. Yes, there's the small groove where I first found the horn. And surprise, surprise, it's empty. But where did the princesses hide it? I know it's in here; call it a sixth sense, but I can sense its presence.

I shine the flare upon the giant cube at the back. It hasn't changed since I was last here, but something about it seems different, like there's an aura I can only faintly detect. I go to the front of the cube, and to the holes that would allow its captive to peer out.

They're just wide enough to slide something inside.

The last time I was here, I never used my light to see what was down those holes. I was in too much of a hurry, but in retrospect I'm glad I didn't. If I had seen a pair of eyes glaring back at me, I just might have lost my mind. But if the princesses came here, surely they wouldn't allow the Cursed King to remain alive within the cube, would they? They would have released him, or at the least, put him out of his misery after centuries of insanity.

Wouldn't they?

Gripping my flare, I raise it up to the holes so that the light shines inside.

One... two... three.

I peer inside.

The holes stretch far back into the cube, but there are no eyes staring back at me, nor are there any hollow sockets of a skull. In fact, I can see into the cramped interior of the cube itself.

There. There it is. At the bottom of the cube...

... an all-too-familiar horn.

Grabbing a bottle from my saddlebags, I undo the cap and toss the liquid inside all over the cube. If that merchant was telling the truth, then I should... Yes! Luck is on my side as a sliver appears in the cube, dividing it in two. The upper half silently floats upwards, revealing a strangely-shaped hollow within the black obsidian. I can't tell what it's for, and I don't care; all that matters is the horn lying within.

The horn is warm as I pick it up. It almost seems to hum, as if pulsing with power... or recognizing the one who last wielded it.

Hello again, my old friend.

Grinning, I slip the horn into my saddlebags before cracking a new flare, putting my diving gear on, and swimming through the tunnel and back into the pit, and begin my ascent back to the surface. I should conserve my energy, but I don't care. After everything I've been through, my horn is back with me once more. My parents tried to stop me and failed. Beakbreaker tried to stop me, and she failed. Even the princesses failed.

Nobody will keep me from what is rightfully mine.

I tear up the ladder and into the tunnel, getting rope burns as I yank myself through. When the slope levels out, I'm able to gallop until I reach the cavern, and then the chamber. My rope ladder is still intact, and I waste no time in scrambling up. As my flare dies. I light a new one, pleased to see that I have plenty more in my saddlebags. I'm not going to be running blind this time.

I take my time heading up the switchbacks, stopping whenever my legs need a break. I even take a moment to sip from my canteen; spelunking is hard work, after all, and I need to stay hydrated. Once I reach the top, I trot down the last tunnel. The door's ahead, then the basement, and the house. Once outside, I'll use the surgical unit to attach the horn, then sneak into Medicomp to get the wings. With magic on my side, getting through security will be easy. Not even that new system Coin Counter put in will be able to stop me. I could try casting a sleeping spell on the entire building. Yes, that would work; with everyone deep in dreamland, I'll be free to go wherever I want. Wait, that might not work... What if Luna finds everyone fast asleep and realizes that something's going on? Hmmm... I'll have to think about this a little more.

Oh well. Such concerns can wait. Once I get out of here, a nice, big dinner is in order, with extra servings of ice cream. Getting the horn back calls for a celebration and I've got just the...

Wait... The door.

It's closed!

what? No, no, I'm disoriented. Yeah, that's it. My mind's playing tricks on me, because the door can't have closed on it's own. That's what it looks like, but no, it can't be real. I'll just go up to it, slip right through, and laugh at how I hallucinated at the very end, perhaps the result of my subconscious trying to make me feel guilty or something-

Oh no... Oh no, no, no! I grab hold and tug, but the thing won't move! It's stuck!

Buck!

Okay, okay, calm down, Silverspeak, you can get through this. So the door swung shut... If a door can be shut, it can be opened. You just need to find a way to do just that. Yes, the seal-repellent is gone, but you'll find something else. A weak spot, maybe. And if there isn't, you just have to wait until the foremen get down here in a day or two to seal this place up and be grateful, telling them that you have no memory of coming here, that you must have sleepwalked into the house. Yeah, that's it. Hide the horn in my suit, waltz on out, and nobody will be the wiser.

Deep breaths. Take deep breaths. That'll help me stay calm. A panicked mind is a dead mind. Just take a few minutes to relax before looking for a way out.

I step away from the door to lean against the wall... and freeze.

The door is covered in scratch marks.

My heart skips a beat as I get closer. Yes, I remember... when I slammed the door shut, I heard the creature clawing away on the other side. These claw marks are huge... whatever made them must have been big, even bigger than I originally-

Wait.

What was that?

I turn and look down the tunnel.

There's nothing there.

Strange; I could have sworn I heard something move.

I slap myself. My mind's playing tricks on me. There's nothing down here. It's just... wait.

There it is again.

Movement.

Okay... okay, don't panic, Silverspeak. It's just falling rocks, that's all. A stalactite collapsing in the distance. Nothing to be afraid of.

I toss the flare as hard as I can, and watch it roll down the tunnel before it comes to a stop.

Nothing moves.

I crack another flare. Need to be ready in case-

The tunnel goes dark.

What? No, that's not possible. The flare wasn't old. These are newer models, longer lasting. I toss the newest one down the tunnel. It lands, rolls, and comes to a stop.

Whew. Okay, just a defe-

The flare vanishes.

Then I hear it...scraping sounds, further down the tunnel.

No...no, no, it can't be...it can't be!

Something's coming towards me.

I yank out another flare and try to crack it. But it doesn't come on! Why won't it come on?! I try another. It refuses to start. I try the glowsticks; they crack, but no light comes from them.

I hear claws hitting stone.

This can't be happening! No, no, this isn't real! It's not happening! That thing is dead! Dead!

“You're not real!” I yell. “You're not real! You're dead, you hear me?! You're dead!”

Silence.

I back against the door, my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest. This can't be real, it can't be real, it can't-

Breathing.

Loud, ragged breathing.

No... no... oh Celestia, I have to get out! There has to be a way to open this door! I grab it and try to find a hoof-hold, a crack, anything, but there's nothing!

The breathing stops.

I'm panting so hard my lungs feel like they're about to burst.

Nothing happens.

I turn and look into the darkness, trying to see something... anything.

There's nothing.

A hallucination. That's all. Something in the breathing mix of my air tanks. It's messing with my brain and making me see things. I just need to relax, to wait it out. Let it seep from my system.

It's all in my head.

Grasping the wall, I sit down.

Cold, bony fingers grab my legs.

I scream.

What... what happened? I'm lying on something. Am I dead? No, I'm not dead. I'm still breathing. I must have fainted, or I woke up. Yes, that's it. I woke up. It was all a nightmare. A horrible nightmare. I just need to get something to calm my nerves.

Wait... the ceiling. This isn't my room.

It's the tomb of the Cursed King.

How did I get here?! Did I bump my head trying to get out with the horn? I've got to... Wait. Why can't I move?! I look down, and the light from my flare reveals that I'm tied in what looks like spider's silk! But how?! What did-

Bony fingers grab hold of my wrappings.

Oh no... Oh Celestia, no!

I struggle for all I'm worth, trying to cry out, but this wrapping has glued my mouth shut. I can't even yell as I'm carried towards... oh no, please not that!

Anything but that!

My captor shoves me into the cube, and I finally learn the truth behind the hollowed-out space: it's carved to fit a pony, fitting them like a glove. It grabs hold as I'm inserted into it, until only my spine and head remain exposed. I struggle, trying to lift myself out! I've got to get out before-

The top of the cube descends into place, and presses so tightly against me that I can barely breathe. Oh Celestia, it's sealing me in! It's sealing me in! I try to move, to squirm, anything, but the cube forces me to remain still. All I can move are my eyes, and all I can see are the holes showing me the ceiling where the horn was kept. But there's nothing there now, only the shadow of something walking away from the cube.

The light from the flare sputters.

No...

Darkness fills the chamber. There's a chuckle, a splash, and all is silent.

No, no, no...

With a final flicker, the light dies, and everything goes dark.

NO!

Nobody knows I'm down here. Nobody would dare to come look. In a few days, the tunnel will be sealed, the basement filled, and the passages in and out of the labyrinth beneath the mountain will forever be lost, so that no one may ever again be tempted to come down and search for relics that should be forgotten. But I'll be here. I'll be alive, but unable to escape, to scream, to do anything but lie within this cube, lost, forgotten, and trapped.

Forever.

I scream, the sound silenced before it can even get out. But still I try. I scream again, and again, and again, and again.

I scream. I scream and scream and scream and scream and-

Snap my eyes open. Light hits my eyes! But how?! I-

I try to get up, but my head hits stone. I scream again... Wait, wait! I can move! I'm not webbed up; my jumpsuit is still here, the orange barely visible in the glow from the crystal inside my cell.

Cell... I'm... a... a...

A nightmare. Another nightmare. I'm not in the tunnels beneath Saddle Lanka. I'm in my cell.

I collapse back against the thin blanket, now soaked with sweat, just like the rest of me. There are no monsters here, no terrors waiting to spring forward as they do every night in my dreams. Only one set of eyes meets my own, but it's a gaze I'm so grateful for.

Reaching out, I grab little Celestia and clutch her to me as tightly as I can. Her eyes look up at me, her small smile reassuring me that everything's all right. But it isn't. It's not all right.

No matter how many times I endure them, these nightmares never get any easier.

From the Gates of Paradise...

There's an old saying from Equestria's darker, less-civilized past: “To torment someone, take them to Paradise and let them enter through its gates, then drag them away to the darkest depths of Tartarus, so that they will know the agony of what they almost had.” Like so many others, I had disregarded the saying as nonsense, philosophical babble from the past.

Only now do I realize how true it really is.

Two years ago, I was at the gates of Paradise. It hadn't been an easy journey to get there: I had manipulated many, almost succumbed to death, and inadvertently given my worst enemy the power to destroy nearly half of Manehattan and kill hundreds in the process. I was an outcast and a criminal. But it was on a train heading to Canterlot that Beakbreaker, my only friend, revealed that she had feelings for me, despite everything I had put her through through. And not only that, but my parents, whom I feared would disown me, had revealed that they, too, still loved me.

For a few hours, I had a family. I had my Paradise.

But it wasn't to last.

Near the end of my journey, I glanced out a window and spotted Canterlot. I had never been to the capital of Equestria before, and should have been excited. Instead, I felt the fear of knowing that something horrible is coming, but there's nothing you can do to escape.

The train pulled into Canterlot's station an hour later, and my heart was pounding: I stayed in the royal car with Beakbreaker and my parents as long as I could, knowing that the moment I feared would come at any second.

Shortly after the last pony exited the train, four of Princess Luna's Royal Guards came for me.

A royal carriage was waiting for us as we left the train. Nobody spoke as we got in and rode away. Beakbreaker and my parents stayed close to me, as if they were shields that could protect me from what was coming. I tried to focus on them, to let their presence give me strength as we rode into the mountains behind Canterlot.

Then we stopped.

We had arrived.

My shaking legs could barely keep me upright as I got out of the carriage. We were before a raised drawbridge, and several ponies chained together, watched over by several guards, the leader of whom looked towards me, a pile of chains in his hooves.

I embraced my parents, clutching them as hard as I could. And like any parent about to see their child sent to prison, they were barely able to keep themselves from having a nervous breakdown. Mom was a blubbering wreck; Dad tried to assure me that it'd be over before I knew it, but I could tell he didn't believe it. Both of them promised they'd visit as often as they could, and write to me every week. When I got out, they said, they'd come and take me away from this awful place as fast as they could.

It wasn't easy to let go of them, but letting go of Beakbreaker was worse. She was the first true friend I've ever had, and just when we were starting to heal our relationship, forces beyond our control were tearing us apart. She tried to find words of encouragement, something to give me strength, but nothing came. And I, even with my silver tongue, was equally as silent.

I didn't want my loved ones to leave, but I gathered them once more and told them to go. They said nothing, but I think they knew what I was doing: it was better that their last sight of me was as a free pony, rather than being dragged away in chains.

Getting back into the carriage, they looked out the window as it rolled away, our gazes focused on each other as long as we could manage... and then the carriage turned a corner, and was gone.

I was numb... which made things a little easier to bear as the guards surrounded me. I was marched to the others, and a steel collar was locked around my neck and chained to the others before me.

The drawbridge creaked as it was lowered, revealing towering, stone gates on the other side. As we were marched across the bridge, the gates swung open, revealing a dark void beyond.

One pony, crying his eyes out, broke down and screamed, begging the guards not to take him inside. A poke from the guard's spears forced him onwards.

As we reached the gates, I looked to the sky above, now yellow and pink from the glow of the setting sun. I wanted the sky to be the last thing I saw as I was taken from Paradise.

We were marched into the abyss, and the gates groaned as they slammed shut.

The march into the mountain's dark depths was a blur. I remember little of being processed, of having my few belongings taken from me, of being scanned several times to ensure that I didn't have any charms or aids to help in an escape, and being forced to change into an orange jumpsuit. I could barely focus as a set of shackles and chains were locked around my legs, and then we were marched into a room where the prison's warden awaited us, where he told us about our new home. We were going to be staying in one of Equestria's most secure prisons, built to house the most notorious, and the worst of the worst. Good behavior, following commands, and staying out of trouble would be rewarded. Getting into fights, disobeying commands, or disrupting the order of things would lead to loss of privileges, and if the charges were serious, we'd be sent to the prison's more secure levels.

With the briefing over, my fellow prisoners and I were taken via several elevators deep into the mountain, until we emerged into a tall, cylindrical chamber, the bottom of which was so far down I couldn't even see it. Each floor had several gates, and while most of the other prisoners continued down to the deeper levels, I was taken to one of those on the topmost floor. Once inside, I was led through a labyrinth of tunnels and halls, no doubt built to disorient inmates who might try to run for it.

We came to a barred door. It was swung open, revealing an empty cell. I was pushed inside, the door was locked tight, and the guards left. I looked it over: there was an alcove in the wall for sleeping, a hole for toiletry purposes, and nothing else.

This was going to be my home for the next two years.

The first few days of my incarceration were the hardest. There were no windows, only lights from torches and candles set within the halls, casting the dungeons in a permanent twilight. With no indication of day or night, I was reliant on guards hitting gongs to know when it was time to sleep and wake. Every day started with a breakfast of the most tasteless food imaginable, followed by several hours of work. We were not only prisoners of this place, but its janitors as well, as we were all forced to clean its halls, cells, and common areas. Following that was lunch, then reading from the library, dinner, and then our cells until the next day, when it would start all over again.

I was a nervous wreck, but the terror slowly faded as I followed the same routine day in and day out. According to rumors from my fellow prisoners, we were the lucky ones. Those below us suffered even more strict routines, with those at the bottom being forced to live in complete darkness. Inquiries with the guards didn't reveal if the rumors were true, but I learned that Mangus Bluehorn - my most hated rival and the monster who had nearly destroyed Manehattan - was being stored here as well, and he was one of those in the prison's deepest level. Not that I cared; as long as he was down there, and I was at the top level, that was fine with me.

I got through my first week with no problems... well, almost. With little light reaching into my cell, sleeping in that cramped alcove brought back memories of the tunnels beneath Saddle Lanka, and the thing that had nearly caught me. Night after night I was haunted by nightmares of that thing coming after me. I would inevitably wake up with a scream. Those night terrors eventually convinced the warden to allow a small, glowing crystal to be placed in my cell, which acted as a nightlight. The nightmares didn't go away entirely, but it helped.

Even then, I was still trapped within the earth.

Weeks passed, and I got a letter from my parents saying that they had to go back to Saddle Lanka to run their gardening shop. I got a letter from Beakbreaker as well, cautioning me that her work with Medicomp was keeping her busy, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to come visit me.

A month passed. Staying true to their word, my parents sent me lots of letters, telling me each and every little thing that was happening in the world beyond the mountain. Beakbreaker was only able to send a few. Medicomp, she told me, wasn't doing well: she was having to put in mandatory overtime every week trying to help rebuild the company's public image. But she assured me that she would try to write when she could, to hang in there, and to be strong.

The months passed, and the fear of prison faded away. Like so many others before me, I had adjusted to my new life. But now that I had adjusted, I was stuck in a state of tedium: I was no longer at the beginning of my sentence, and the end was still far off. But worse was knowing that I was losing time. So many other ponies were living their lives and fulfilling their dreams. They were starting families, having picnics, going to the movies, and spending time with their loved ones while I was locked away.

Little fears began to gnaw at me. Regrets and what-ifs became a constant companion. I should have been more clever when I was trying to become an alicorn. If I had done so, I would still be free, and probably famous and powerful beyond measure. I would have had everything I ever wanted.

I quickly learned that to think like that would lead to madness. I tried to stop, but it was so hard to not daydream about what could have been. And I was one of the luckiest ones in this place: I had a life waiting for me on the outside. So many others didn't have that; they would spend the rest of their lives down here, never to see the sun and moon, never to know freedom again or have their dreams come true, for prison is the place where dreams go to die. My only dream was to be with Beakbreaker and my parents once again. All I had to do for that dream to come true was endure and wait it out.

During those long days and nights, I had to find a way to keep myself motivated. Knowing that I would see my family and Beakbreaker again would have sufficed, but as I lay in my bunk one night, I realized there was another tactic I could use to motivate myself, not only to make it through the two years, but to also prepare myself for life beyond the bars. All I had to do was keep asking myself one question.

What would Celestia do?

Celestia, my idol and inspiration, had been the reason I tried to become an Alicorn. That had failed, but she could still inspire me. Whenever I faced hardship that seemed insurmountable, or an obstacle seemingly too great to overcome, all I needed to do was ask myself what she would do. And what would Celestia do in my position? She would make the most of her situation. She would do what she could to make life better not only for herself, but for those around her.

For the remainder of my time behind bars, I would take inspiration from Celestia and work to become greater than I had been going into this dark place.

A year passed. I finally earned enough merits to gain the privilege of bringing books into my cell. A few months later, and I was allowed to have the scroll that Princess Celestia wrote to me, along with Little Celestia. Many a night passed with me drifting off under her watchful gaze, and whenever despair threatened to overcome me, she reminded me to hang in there and take everything one day at a time.

Spring came, then summer, and finally winter. Those of us fortunate enough to still have family and friends received gifts; Mom and Dad sent me photos of Saddle Lanka and all the other areas of Equestria they had traveled to during a long vacation. There were pictures of the Crystal Empire, Rainbow Falls, Saddle Arabia, and events like the Passage of the Breezies, the annual pie festival in Appleloosa, and a yearly air show by the Wonderbolts in Cloudsdale. One photo even had them posing with Captain Rainbow Dash, and a message from her wishing me the best of luck (a bit odd, considering that she had helped turn me to stone in Manehattan, but my parents had no doubt hoped a celebrity endorsement would give me encouragement).

Every photo had notes on the back, and the reassurance that one day we'd all see these places together. I mounted those photos on the walls, creating at a mosaic of Equestria, reminding me of what awaited after my sentence was done. But what really got my hopes up was when I finally got a letter from Beakbreaker: she apologized for not having written in so long, as she had been all over Equestria on a publicity tour for Medicomp. She still couldn't see me, but promised that she was counting down the days until I was free.

I kept that letter with the one Celestia had written me; both lifted my spirits many times in the days to come.

I reached the halfway point of my imprisonment, and it was getting easier to bear. I could have given in to daydreams of everything I was going to do once I got out, but instead kept focused on my daily chores, tasks, and classes, and trying not to gag on the tasteless food. Every morning I asked myself how I could make this day better for everyone I met. I would offer a smile or an encouraging nod when it was needed. When someone was on the verge of breaking down in tears, I would go to them or help them with their chores. Not everyone appreciated my gestures; some resented me, and a few attacked me, but such fights were rare. No one dared to risk being sent down a level and having their sentences extended.

The days counted down. I mentally kept track, until I had a month to go. Then three. Then two. And finally, I reached my final day as a prisoner.

And now, here I am.

I'm lying in my alcove, awoken from another nightmare. It's taken me almost an hour to finally calm down, but I'm now regretting having tried to sleep at all. It only took me a few minutes to pack up all my things, and I decided to try and sleep, rather than slowly wait for midnight to come around. Still, now that the nightmare is gone, I'm getting excited again. I've waited almost two years for this moment. By this time tomorrow, the shackles and chains will be gone, I'll have my life back, and the alicorn nightmare will finally be over. Well... it'll be over for me, at least. I may be getting out, but Mangus isn't.

I wonder what he's doing now...is he sitting in darkness, lost in nightmares like my own? Is he raging against Luna for the sentence she gave him? Or is he sobbing, wishing he had another chance to prove himself? I don't know. Two years in this place would break anyone, and as my dad would say, it's only when you're broken that you can finally rebuild yourself as something better.

Maybe I should ask to go see him? To say goodbye, perhaps? Celestia would probably want to wish him well, and hope that he would one day find peace. For the longest time he was my worst enemy, but now I don't feel anything towards him. No anger, hate, or even mockery at his sentence. He, on the other hoof, would never listen to my sympathy. He'd rage and roar and possibly try to hurt me.

I won't see Mangus. I'll spare him the rage of seeing his worst enemy being free, something he'll never experience again.

There's a sound coming down the hall outside my door.

Hoofsteps.

Getting out of the alcove, I put little Celestia in my bag and stand at attention as the warden and two guards come to the door, flanked by two guards. Seeing that I'm already awake, the warden pulls out a scroll.

“Silverspeak, by order of the Princesses, you were sentenced to two years in the Canterlot dungeons. You have been a model prisoner during those two years, and it is my pleasure to announce that as of now, January first, you have completed your sentence.”

A guard unlocks the door.

“You're free to go.”

I can't grab my bag fast enough. I'm flanked as we leave the cell and head into the main rotunda. From there we take the elevators up to the room where I was processed so long ago. I can barely resist wanting to jump up and down as I'm allowed to remove this accursed jumpsuit, and I almost throw it away in disgust. The last of my belongings comes next, along with my tie, which I put on and straighten.

I came into this place a prisoner, but I will leave with my dignity.

I'm escorted to the main gates, and I don't bother holding back my grin as they slowly grind open, revealing the lowered drawbridge, and the road beyond it.

As the guards stand aside, I walk into the cold, crisp air of the night. Closing my eyes, I take a deep sniff of fresh air.

It's like inhaling candy.

A breeze blows, beckoning me on. I follow it across the bridge. I walk at first... then I trot. Then I canter.

And finally, I run.

At long last... I'm free.

To Meet the Moon

I tear down the road as fast as I can, feeling as if the weight of the world has fallen off my shoulders. I want to shout and jump for the sheer joy of being free once more, of having the past three years finally be behind me. Ahead of me is a new life, one that I can shape in any way I want, free from the mistakes of my past.

I'm getting ahead of myself; got to calm down. The future is bright and full of promise, but I need to take things one step at a time. First step is to get to the train station; in their last letter, my parents said they would be waiting for me there. That's where I need to go!

Dust flies into the air as I run even faster.

It isn't long at all before I reach the enormous stone checkpoint separating Canterlot from the mountains; thankfully, the night watch has been alerted to my presence, and it only takes a moment for them to allow me through and into the city itself. Oh, to walk on city streets again! Lamps illuminate the night, guiding me as I trot down the cobblestone streets, all but skipping at seeing all the stores, the bars, the nightlife all around me. Everything feels so... so... alive! I want to spend all night running about and going to each and every one of these stores! But that can wait.

There are two ponies I've waited two years to see.

The streets of Canterlot pass by in a blur, and in no time at all I've reached the train station. There are few ponies out at this time of night, and no trains upon the tracks. The nearby schedule shows all the trains supposed to come in throughout the night, and there's only one listed: The midnight express from Saddle Lanka on platform ten.

I dash through the station's halls, counting platform numbers as they zip past. Platform six... seven... eight... there it is! I make a quick stop, turn right, and shoot through the doorway to platform ten. It's deserted; a glance down the tracks reveals no indication that the train's on its way.

For almost ten minutes I wait, fidgeting and anxious for something, anything to happen. An announcement that the train is on the way, a sign going up saying that it's been delayed, anything. At least I wouldn't be stuck waiting in limbo.

At long last, I faintly hear a train whistle in the distance. A massive engine car emerges from the darkness a minute later, coming to a stop with a heavy shudder. Doors open, and dozens of ponies pour onto the platform, immediately veiled by steam billowing from the engine. I can't make out anyone around me; are my parents even on this train? They had to be! They wouldn't miss this for anything, not even a summons from the princesses themselves!

The fog-like steam filling the platform finally dissipates. Most of the ponies have already moved off the platform, and only a few remain.

Wait...

There they are.

My parents climb out of the last car, their old suitcases magically hovering beside them. They're tired, weary, and hurry onto the platform. They don't notice me, taking a moment to catch their bearings, both excited and anxious, having dreamed of this moment for so long. But then they look over to me, the only other pony on the station.

Our eyes meet.

Suitcases fall to the floor as my parents run to me. I run to them, and we finally hit, legs wrapping around each other, squeezing more tightly than ever before. We can't speak. We can't even talk. My mother doesn't even try as she practically smothers me with kisses. But I don't push her away. She's waited two years for this moment, and so have I. And so too, has Dad. Like most stallions, he isn't one to openly show displays of affection, but for a moment like this he doesn't care, and embraces me as hard as Mom.

“Oh Celestia, it's so good to see you again, Silverspeak.”

I can't stop smiling, nor can I stop the tears from falling. “It's good to see you too, Dad.”

"I'm so sorry we're late," Mom says as we head down the platform. "The train was delayed back in Saddle Lanka. Had some problems with the engine, and your father and I were worried sick that we weren't going to make it in time for-"

"Mom," I say with a laugh. "It's alright. You're here. That's all that matters." I smile. "You have no idea how long I've dreamed of this moment."

"Or how long we've dreamed of it," Dad says.

Heading up some stairs, my parents and I reach the station's main terminal, and then out into the city streets.

“Well Silverspeak, this is your first day of freedom,” Mom says. “What do you want to do first?”

I've had far too long to contemplate the question. “Let's head to the palace.”

“Palace? You mean, the Royal Palace?” Dad asks. “As in, the place where the princesses live?”

“The very same.” Grabbing one of Dad's suitcases, I trot down the street. “Remember that letter I wrote you? About how I have a job waiting for me? Why not spend our first night together in my new home?"

My parents glance at each other for a split second, then hurry after me. If there's one thing all ponies want, it's the chance to visit the home of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. And to have a private room of their own in the palace, even if only for a night, is an opportunity no one can pass up.

For an hour my parents and I head up through Canterlot's many streets, passing buildings that grow steadily more elaborate and ornate, built from polished marble and other fine minerals. By the time we reach the final level, and the enormous staircase leading to the palace itself, Mom and Dad are having to stop more and more frequently to take short breaks.

“You two okay?” I ask, my jubilation tinged with the fear that our reunion is going to be interrupted with a visit to the hospital.

Mom chuckles. “Just a little bit of old age catching up to us.”

When Mom and Dad recover, the three of us continue on. It takes another ten minutes before we finally emerge onto the very top of Canterlot itself, roads and sidewalks giving way to grass and a flowing river fed by a towering waterfall. It's beautiful, but I'm focused on what lies before me, and I can barely keep myself from freaking out.

I never thought I'd see it, much less get so close I could almost reach out and touch it, but this is no dream... I'm standing before the gates of the Royal Palace.

Lit by the Luna's moon, the white walls of the palace seems to glow, as if barely containing the beauty that lies within its halls. The multiple towers and spires stretch high into the sky, banners and flags billowing in the gentle wind. I stare at it all, mesmerized, unable to take my eyes away.

Dad taps me on the shoulder. “You okay there, Silverspeak?”

“Oh, yes. Just... Oh, who am I kidding? This is amazing!" I pause, taking a deep breath to try and calm myself. “Now, they're probably expecting me, but not the two of you, so I should go first.”

Mom and Dad nod and get in line behind me. I make my way towards the drawbridge, which is watched over by three squads of Royal Guards. It's unnerving to see so many pairs of eyes lock onto me from beneath those helms, so I'm careful to go slow and keep my posture non-threatening. As we reach the bridge, one of the guards steps forward and holds out a hoof.

“Halt.” A unicorn in that ornate armor comes up to us. “State your business, please.”

“My name is Silverspeak, and I'm... well, I was just released from prison,” I say. “Two years ago, Princess Luna said that if I desired it, I could have a job as a writer for the court after I was released.”

The guard brings up a scroll and looks it over. “And who are these two?”

“My parents.”

He checks the list again. “You are allowed inside, Mr. Silverspeak, but your parents are not on this list. I'll have to ask them to wait here.”

Mom and Dad are disappointed, but they nod, understanding.

“I'll be back as soon as I can,” I say.

“Oh, don't rush things,” Mom says. “We're in no hurry.”

As another guard guides my parents to a bench, my guard starts across the bridge. I follow him, almost hopping up and down in excitement.

I'm one of the lucky ponies allowed to cross the bridge and enter the dwelling of divinity itself!

The palace's gates tower over me as I pass through into the cavernous lobby beyond. We pass through so many halls, rooms, and passages that I lose track of which way we've gone. If a pony weren't careful, and the directions mounted on the walls weren't present, they could easily get lost here, possibly for days. I'd get hopelessly lost too, if it weren't for the guard knowing where to go. I follow him as slowly as I can politely manage, admiring all the statues, draperies, and artwork that adorns the palace. Passing by dozens of Royal Guards, attendants, and all manner of other workers, I glance into every open door I can, catching sight of experiments, rooms packed with scrolls, and even spas. There are so many doors I want to go through, and so many chambers I want to explore! Who knows what kind of secrets and treasures are behind them?

But priceless works of art alone aren't what excite me the most. Each step is bringing me closer to the fabled throne room, and if I'm being led there, it would only be for one reason. I grin as my mind races, eagerly wondering what will happen when the princesses and I finally meet face to face... when I'll finally meet Celestia herself for the very first time.

It's a struggle not to implode with joy; after all, it wouldn't be proper for me to launch into fanboy mode at meeting the ruler of Equestria herself. I'm sure she's met countless ponies who have done exactly that, but I need to be proper, professional, and courteous; need to make a first impression after all, and once I've had the pleasure of her acquaintance, settled into my new role, and accepted my royal duties, I can finally ask for her autograph... and then see if I can get a picture of us together that I can put in a frame of the finest wood and post in my room to gaze longingly at for hours upon end, and-

I shake my head. I'm getting ahead of myself. Okay, okay, calm down. You can be excited, but remember that you're a professional writer, not a fanboy. You're not going to freak out. At least, I hope not. Being in Celestia's presence might make me act in ways even I can't predict, and... oh, who am I kidding? I have the right to be excited! I'm going to see the Princesses! Oh my gosh this is so amazing I can't wait I need to-

I slap myself.

The guard looks back.

“Bug,” I say.

Sighing, the guard turns into a small rotunda, and we enter what looks like an information center. At the center is an enormous, circular desk, similar to the information desk in the Manehattan library, but the pony here seems friendly enough, unlike the last librarian I met.

I'm escorted to the desk. The pony behind it looks up from something she's scribbling onto a piece of paper. “Name?”

“Silverspeak.”

The quill stops.

The pony looks me over, curious. “So this is the infamous Silverspeak, instigator of the Manehattan incident.”

I nod.

The pony studies me for a few moments longer, then looks at some papers before her, flipping through them. "Your timing is impeccable, Silverspeak. We were going to dispatch a messenger to bring you here, but you had already left by the time he had arrived."

"What do you mean?"

The pony indicates the hubub around us. "The princesses wanted to meet you as soon as possible."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure... there are rumors that something has happened on our borders, but nothing has been confirmed. Celestia and Luna will tell you themselves." She turns her attention to my escort. "Take Silverspeak to the Sanctuary."

Nodding, the guard hurries away, and I struggle to keep up, puzzled. Something happening on our border? An invasion of some kind maybe?

The guard leads the way deeper into the palace. We soon leave the fancy hallways and enter a series of smaller, more spartan halls made from gray stone. Though not cold or unpleasant to be in, it's clear this place isn't meant to be visited by the public.

We reach a door flanked by two guards. They check my escort's papers, scan both of us, and then unlock the door with their magic, and join us in heading down a steep staircase.

The door behind us swings shut and locks with a loud click.

The deep shaft stops at a locked door, one too ornate and elegant to lead into a squalid, moldy dungeon. It opens, revealing a golden elevator built into a shaft of polished stone. We get in, and it descends into the earth, the well-oiled gears and mechanisms gliding upon rails as we ride down for a good five minutes.

The elevator comes to a stop and opens up to reveal yet another hallway of sparkling stones, and a door built of reflective brass. The torches flicker as the guards take their positions on both sides of the door.

“We will wait for you here,” my escort says.

The guards' horns light up, and the doors glide open. It takes everything I have to keep from gasping; the passage beyond is formed from crystal. Golden crystals, to be precise, glowing from within as if lit by miniature suns.

I touch the wall, and light spreads away from my hoof. Oh, that is so amazing! I could spend hours in here, marveling at the beauty surrounding me. In any other situation I would, if not for another set of brass doors at the end. They soundlessly glide open at my approach, granting me access to the room beyond.

I thought nothing could top the beauty of the golden hall, but I was wrong.

The chamber before me isn't a room; it's a cathedral of blue and gold marble, softly lit by several chandeliers.

What is this? A place of worship? Something left over from Equestria's early days? Something else? I head to the back wall... well, 'wall' isn't exactly correct. Most of it is taken up by an ornate, circular window almost thirty feet in diameter. Beyond is a massive cavern filled with countless waterfalls that plunge into an abyss below me. Yet, the thunder of the roaring water is muted by the glass, making this the perfect place for those seeking respite from a busy and chaotic life... Perhaps this is a retreat for palace staff? No, that can't be it: The path down here is too well guarded.

If ordinary ponies are unlikely to come down here, then that means-

“Greetings, Silverspeak.”

I freeze.

It's her.

I turn, keeping my face to the ground. A hoof comes into my vision, the blue skin and crystal horseshoe matching the color of the carpet.

“You may rise.”

Taking a deep breath, I stand and look into the face of Princess Luna. She's just like I remember her, untouched by the passage of time.

I bow my head ever so slightly. “It's an honor to meet you again, your Highness,”

Luna smiles. “I am glad it is under more pleasant circumstances.”

I nod, pleased that I'm managing to keep myself together. Having met Luna before, it's easy not to freak out. But will I be able to do so if the other Princess arrives?

I glance about as tactfully as I can.

“If you are searching for my sister, I'm afraid she is not here.”

My heart sinks. “But I was told that-”

“I am afraid the palace staff have not been told everything that has happened these past few days." Luna's horn glows, and the massive doors silently close. “I apologize for bringing you down here, but we must speak without fear of being overheard.”

“If you don't mind me asking, your Highness, where exactly are we?”

“You are in the Alicorn Sanctuary. It is here that my sister and I have retreated for rejuvenation when we need it. It is our private space." Luna smiles again. "It is also a place that few have ever seen.”

If I could beam, I'd outshine every candle in Canterlot.

“Those who do come here, however, usually only do so in dark times... What I am about to tell you must not leave this room, Silverspeak. If it were to escape to the general population, the resulting panic would undermine our efforts to keep everyone safe.”

Luna's horn lights up, and several crystals embedded in the walls emit a faint glow. I recognize them; they're the same type Beakbreaker used to prevent eavesdropping after Mangus broke into Medicomp HQ, but these are bigger and more powerful.

Luna walks to a nearby pool, and I quickly fall in behind her. “The world has changed since you left Manehattan two years ago, Silverspeak. The limbs Medicomp produced set off a firestorm of controversy and competition. Other companies began their own attempts at limb replacement, but all of them failed for one reason or another... except one.” Her horn lights up, and a magical hologram of a skyscraper hovers over the water. It's big and fancy, no different from the other business towers in Manehattan, except for the strange, metallic decorations on the outside.

“The company is called TechInc, and is producing their own limbs with the most advanced technology available.”

“What about Medicomp?" I ask. "Are they out of business?”

“Medicomp is still operating, though they are no longer the dominant player in the field of medical prosthetics. They use genetics and organic tissue to create limbs and minor organs, but TechInc has focused on limbs of metal and steel.”

The image shifts, and the skyscraper is replaced with a pony's leg. But it's not like any leg I've ever seen: it's made of metal, with rods, pistons, and tightly coiled wire.

“At the moment, TechInc can only create legs, but it is only a matter of time before they begin research on other limbs. But that is not the only thing they can create; they are using their technology to craft all manner of devices, ones that do not require electricity or magic to work.”

A barrage of images shoot past me, showing all number of appliances, vehicles, and items I don't recognize.

“Our society is changing, Silverspeak. We are now entering an age of technology. It hasn't arrived yet, but you can see it on the horizon.”

The display vanishes. I want to see more of these fascinating devices, but Luna's clearly building up to something.

“Your Highness, what exactly does all this have to do with me?”

“Rumors have grown that TechInc is currently working on several secret projects,” Luna says. “Many believe they're working on wings and horns, but I believe they might be using their technology for a more dangerous purpose.”

“Why do you believe that?”

Luna sighs. “My sister and I have seen it before: Whenever a new company or a group comes up with a new technology, there will be those who want to use that technology for selfish reasons, and others are inevitably hurt. I do not like to believe the worst, but I fear TechInc will do the same thing. And that is where you come in: I want you to go to TechInc's headquarters and find out exactly what they're working on, and if the rumors have any merit.”

Luna's horn lights up once more, and a small display appears over the water, revealing... well, it looks like an enormous orb built of steel and glass flying through the sky, shoving clouds aside as it moves along.

“This is TechInc's headquarters, which they have dubbed, 'Genesis.' It houses their research facilities, factories, and living quarters for those who stay on board. You will be my eyes and ears, inspecting the city from top to bottom to see what TechInc is working on, and to ensure they're not hiding weapons or other foul things. And as an official envoy for my sister and I, you will have access to any and all areas that would otherwise be blocked off. Once you have completed your searches, you will report your findings to me.”

“That's it?”

Luna nods. “If there are weapons, I will dispatch the appropriate agents to deal with them. It is one thing to create tools for self-defense, but if they are building weapons that could harm thousands, they must be stopped.”

Hmmm... this sounds like an easy enough task, and considerably more interesting than writing speeches. But something doesn't feel right.

“Your Highness, why ask me to go? Why not someone else with more experience and diplomatic skills?”

Luna is silent for a moment. Her horn lights up once again, and the image of a tiny town appears between us. “Are you familiar with this place, Silverspeak?”

I study the image. “No, I'm not.”

“It is our most remote outpost on the Equestrian border. It was attacked by changelings a week ago.”

What? That can't be! Changelings have been our allies since-

"Before you ask, they are not allied with Thorax. We captured one of them, and learned that it's allied with Queen Chrysalis."

"Chrysalis? Then you mean..."

"Yes... she is moving against us once more. From what we've learned, she has raised a new army, one that is small in number, but is already infiltrating Equestria as we speak.”

“What?!”

“The changeling we captured has told us that others have been infiltrating every level of society, and have been doing so for months. My sister and I have already dispatched our best agents to find them, but it won't be easy. And for all we know, even more of Chryaslis' changelings are sneaking into Equestria every day. Worse still, the changeling heard that Chrysalis has been gathering allies sympathetic to her cause... dragons, even.”

My heart hammers away, and sweat forms on my brow. "Are you sure about this, Your Highness?" I ask. "Chrysalis' last attack was decades ago. She must be dead by now.”

“I would not be so sure. Changeling monarchs can live for hundreds of years, and time spent in hibernation would extend that even further. And if she has heard of TechInc, she might be trying to sneak in and acquire any weapons they're making. If she has, we must know.”

"But what about Thorax? Could he find her? Or his changelings?"

"I discussed the matter with him last night. To avoid any misunderstandings or us harming his subjects by mistake, he has called them all to his hive until the crisis has passed."

“And the Bearers?”

“They departed last night to seek out Chrysalis and stop her, with my sister accompanying them. But if they fail, it is my responsibility to ensure Equestria's safety, and to protect it from any threats.” She looks to me. “You, Silverspeak, know how far someone can go to accomplish a dream... and the danger such a quest can bring.”

A thought comes to me: Luna might want me for my experience in how individuals can be obsessed with getting what they want, but that wouldn't be the only reason.

“Your Highness... do you want me to use my talent? To persuade TechInc to tell me everything?”

Luna nods.

“With all due respect, your Highness, I've had my fill of manipulating ponies to get what I want. I don't want to go down that path again.”

“And I hope you don't have to,” Luna says. “But if you do not wish to become involved in this, I understand.”

But how could I not become involved? If Chrysalis and her brood are sneaking into cities and society itself, than she must be preparing for war. I can't risk having my parents become some of their victims. I have a chance to help stop a war before it begins, and if I don't help, the changelings will spread spread across Equestria, ruining countless lives and wreaking havoc amongst countless innocent ponies.

I have to do something. Celestia would do the same.

“I'll do it, your Highness.”

Luna smiles, relieved. “Excellent.” She heads towards the exit. “You will leave today; TechInc only allows guests in during their annual science convention. It begins tomorrow, and I want you to arrive before the vendors and guests."

“Your Highness? If I may ask, could I bring my parents with me? After what you just told me, I'd feel safer knowing that they're close to me so that I can keep an eye on them.”

Luna considers my question for a very long moment. “Very well. They may go. But they will not be able to join you on your investigations, nor are you to tell them anything I have revealed to you. Is that understood?”

I nod, but Luna's not done. “And with regards to your talent... while your gift is powerful, you are only to use it with my approval.” She glares at me. “Is that understood?”

I struggle not to shake as I nod. I've seen Luna face down Mangus Bluehorn without breaking a sweat, and I've seen her disappointed, but this... this unnerves me. “But how am I supposed to ask?” I say, trying to change the subject.

“You will be given a tool to help you accomplish that.” We head to the doors, and Luna swings them open. “Gather your parents. I will dispatch a carriage to take you to the airfield in ten minutes. Time is short, and we must move quickly.”

I nod and make my way into the hall.

“Silverspeak?”

I stop and turn. “Yes, your Highness?”

“Thank you for accepting this assignment. I know it may be uncomfortable for you, but... it gives us all a chance to have something good come from what happened in Manehattan.”

I nod and leave the sanctuary, making my way back to the elevator.

Luna's tone left no doubt that there was no time to waste, and I leave the palace as quickly as I can when I reach the main halls. It's tempting to linger and see all the beautiful things the palace has to offer, but there simply isn't time.

Reaching the main gates, I find my parents still waiting on the bench. They're tired and chilly, but perk up at seeing me approach.

"So, how'd it go?" Dad asks. "You got us our new apartment yet?"

"Not yet," I say. "We need to go."

“Go? Please don't tell me the Princesses threw you out-”

“No," I say. "They gave me a job, but I have to leave now, and I want the two of you to come with me."

Mom's horrified. “What?! But we just got here!”

“Trust me, it'll be worth it.”

Mom and Dad can't miss the chaos behind me as ponies run in and out of the palace entrance. “Silverspeak..." Dad asks, "If I didn't know better, I'd say something big's going on."

I nod. “Yes... you could say that.”

City in the Sky

No sooner does our unexpected meeting conclude than a large carriage comes to a stop beside the gate. Two of Luna's guards hop out and take our bags.

“Silverspeak?” Mom asks as our luggage is loaded into the cargo hatch. “What are Luna's guards doing here?”

“I'll explain later,” I say as I hop inside; the guards' body language reveals that they're in no mood to hang around.

As soon as Mom and Dad are inside, the guards close the doors and we head off to Canterlot's airport. Hundreds of ponies come and go in dozens of balloons, blimps, planes, and zeppelins, some floating so low I can make out the rivets on the engine housings.

“An airport that never sleeps for a city that never sleeps,” Dad muses.

The carriage heads through security checkpoints and rolls past the numerous hangars beside the runway, coming to a stop at the last one, which is surrounded by tall fences and more members of the royal guard.

“Silverspeak,” Mom asks as we leave the carriage, “Could you please tell us exactly what's going on?”

I'm about to answer her when an earth pony trots out of the hangar. He's probably the pilot, judging by the dark jumpsuit he's wearing.

“Silverspeak?”

I raise my hoof. "That's me."

The pony offers his hoof. “The name's Gusty, pilot of her Majesty's ship the Raven; Princess Luna's assigned me to be your pilot on this little venture of yours. Wherever you need to go, I'll fly you there, no questions asked." He glances at his watch. “Speaking of which, we should get going ASAP.”

“Why the rush?” Dad asks.

"We got quite a ways to go. Best to get a move on.”

Luna's guards are already removing our luggage from the carriage as Gusty leads us into the hangar. Within is an airship unlike anything else at the airport; it's a sleek, slim craft neither small nor huge, constructed from purple fabric that shimmers like millions of snake scales.

"Say hello to the Raven," Gusty says, beaming with pride. "Fastest ship in the Canterlot fleet. Built to transport dignitaries and VIPs at breakneck speeds." He hurries to the gondola and lowers the boarding ramp, indicating for us to get inside. I lead the way, entering the small sitting room. While a bit cramped, it's nicely decorated in royal purple and other amenities found on luxury aircraft.

“It's a bit small,” Mom says.

Gusty heads for the cockpit. “She's only meant to carry a few passengers at a time. Now, we all onboard?"

The guards put the last suitcases on the floor and leave, closing the door behind them.

“Looks like it,” Dad says.

“Then take your seats, and we'll be on our way.”

The three of us are quick to store our suitcases and buckle ourselves into the nearest seats. From within the cockpit, Gusty flips and presses a seemingly endless amount of switches and buttons, causing the room to shake as the engines hum to life.

“All right, engines online, powering up... done. Systems good and green." He glances back. “All right, folks, here we go!”

The hum increases. Through my window, I watch as we smoothly glide out of the hangar and onto the runway. The sound of the engines gets even louder.

“Is that normal?” I ask.

“Don't worry,” Mom says as she takes my hoof. “Airships really are the safest way to travel. There's nothing to be afraid of.”

With a sudden burst of speed, the ship shoots ahead, gravity shoving us into the seats.

“Sweet Celestia!” Mom yells.

I glance out the window, watching as the Canterlot airport falls away until it's the size of a child's model. Then it vanishes as we head into the clouds, where the Raven levels out, leaving us sailing through an ocean of white and gray.

There's a shimmering noise, and a brief flash of light outside the windows.

“What was that?” I ask, still trying to find my voice after such a fast departure.

From within the cockpit, Gusty presses some more buttons. “Active camouflage. My bird normally takes VIPs on high-risk missions, so it has all sorts of security measures, including the ability to become invisible." He flips a switch, and takes a deep breath. “Alright folks, we're good now. You can walk about if you want.”

I undo my seat belt. “How long until we reach Genesis?”

“Barring any unforeseen storms, obstacles, nasty beasties or hungry dragons, we'll probably get there by noon tomorrow.”

“Genesis?” Dad holds up a hoof in surprise. “Wait, you don't mean the Genesis, do you?”

I nod. “The one and only.”

“No way!" Dad shakes his head. “You're kidding, right?”

I shake my head as I retrieve our suitcases.

Dad's trying not to jump about. “Genesis! You know how many ponies have wanted to go visit there since they built that place?! Everyone!”

“What do you know about it?” I ask.

“They call it, 'The Dream Factory,'” Mom says. She's as excited as Dad, but has more self-control. "It's the place where miracles are born, and everything you could want comes to life. Kinda like a candy factory for adults. But here's the thing: Nobody knows what goes on in there. The only time anyone outside the company is allowed inside is during their yearly tech convention, and even then they're limited to the convention arena. Every year some intrepid reporter tries to sneak out into the R and D facilities, but the guards always catch them.”

“What do you think they're building there?”

“Oh heck, probably anything and everything,” Dad says. “Advanced prosthetic limbs, artificial eyes, and ships that can take us into space. You name it, they're probably building it. Mark my words, at the rate things are going, we'll be seeing legs that'll let ponies run for days, eyes that can see things miles away, and even lungs that can let ponies breathe underwater! I bet my bottom bit that within the next five years, any pony who wants to fly or cast magic can get what they need to-”

Dad stops.

The room goes silent.

I glance down the small hallway, eager for an escape from the awkward silence. “I'll go put our luggage away.”

Nobody stops me as I leave.

The day passes, and the sea of clouds turns the most beautiful shades of pink and red before giving way to the dark sky, and a sea of stars above us. I had hoped to talk to Mom and Dad more and learn about what they've been doing in the two years since we've been apart, but they retire to bed early after eating dinner, looking surprisingly tired. It isn't long before Gusty begins to yawn, saying that he's going to hit the hay. I point out that we might collide with something else while still asleep. He flips a few switches and says that the autopilot will keep us on course. Besides, if anything gets too close, the radar will let him know long before we get crumpled like a tin can.

Flicking a few more switches, Gusty powers down the cockpit lights before heading into a small side cabin. I'm about to leave when his voice drifts through the open door.

“Oh, almost forgot." He comes back into the cockpit, now carrying a small, elegant box. “The Princess gave this to me. She wanted you to get it before retiring for the night.”

I take the box, surprised at how heavy it is. “What is it?”

Gusty shrugs as he heads back into his cabin.

Now the only pony left awake, I head down the hall to a small meeting room nestled at the back of the gondola. Here the floor is covered with thick, luxurious carpeting, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the portholes in the walls. I make sure to lock the door behind me; can't risk having my parents stumbling inside while I... well, while I work with whatever's in the box.

The distant hum of the engines drifts through the air as I set the box down and undo the locks, swinging the lid open. The moonlight reveals a tennis ball-sized orb nestled inside, made from flawlessly smooth obsidian.

Hmm... I wasn't expecting this. Is there are note or something saying... oh, wait. There it is. There's a scroll nestled beside the orb. I unfurl it and take a look at the message it contains.

To use this orb, rub it three times.

Sitting down, I take the orb and rub the surface twice.

A green glow appears within the orb.

Closing my eyes, I rub the orb once more.

A burst of energy rushes through me like ice water flooding my veins. It's over in a second, but shocks me enough that I drop the orb. My eyes snap open as I try to grab it, but everything around me is blurry, as if I were seeing things from underwater.

What on earth happened? I don't feel in danger, but this doesn't feel right. It almost feels like... like...

“A dream.”

Wisps of fog slip past me. I turn and find Princess Luna standing behind me.

“Princess?" I bow. “How did you get here?”

“You called me.”

“With the orb?" Wait, the orb! Oh no, I hope it didn't crack when I dropped it! I scan for it, spot on the carpet next to... wait. There's a body there. It looks limp and lifeless, and looks like...

Wait. Wait, that's... me! Oh buck! Am I dead?!

“No, you are not dead,” Luna says. “You are in the astral plane.”

I spin back to her. “The what?”

“The world of dreams and nightmares, and the place where I help those who need it."

I look at my hooves. They're as solid and normal as they've ever been. So too, is the rest of me. I even touch my skin and find it to have the same consistency as ever. Yet, that's my body lying on the floor. “So... I'm not dead?”

“That is correct.”

“Then... what am I now? A spirit?”

“It is... difficult to explain." Luna glances over her shoulder, as if hearing something far away. “I must be quick, for there are others who need my help. The orb you have received allows you to travel to this plane at any time. Use it to contact me with updates, or if you will need my help. As for Genesis, arrangements have been made for your arrival. When you reach the city's gates, speak the following phrase: 'The Moon will illuminate the truth.'”

“The Moon will illuminate the truth... got it.”

“Do you parents know why you are going to Genesis?”

I shake my head.

“Good.” Something unseen causes Luna to glance back once again. “I am needed elsewhere, Silverspeak. Sleep now. We will talk again soon." She turns to walk away, I realize that now's the best chance to bring up something that's been troubling me since my dad's mention of horns and wings.

“Your Highness?”

Luna stops.

I hesitate. How exactly do I phrase this? “You know I wanted wings and a horn at Medicomp... if Genesis has them..."

Luna eyes me. “Those who have experienced temptation's sting know not to listen to its call."

Without another word, Luna fades from sight, but not before her horn glows. Another rush of cold energy floods through me, and I'm suddenly lying on the carpet, feeling groggy and worn out.

The orb continues to glow for a few moments before the inner light fades away to nothing.

Rising, I put the orb back inside its box, locking the lid, thinking about Luna said: If temptation were to come to me once more, could I resist it?

I don't have an answer to that.

“Silverspeak? Are you awake? Breakfast's ready.”

I groan and glance at a nearby clock. It's nine in the morning. Rolling out from under the sheets, I take a moment to rub my face and make myself halfway presentable, then stumble into the gondola. Mom's already eating a plateful of pancakes and blueberries. Dad's working on a second batch at a tiny stove set in the wall.

“Well, look who's woken from his beauty sleep,” Dad says as I take a seat.

“I could use some more of it,” I groan.

“Didn't sleep well?”

“Not really.”

“Any reason why?”

I can't tell him what's really on my mind, so I improvise. “Oh, just excited about today.”

“And why wouldn't you be?" Mom takes a big bite of the pancakes, crushed blueberry juice running between his teeth. “It's not every day a pony gets to make a trip like this one!" Yet another batch of pancakes goes down the hatch.

“You must have slept well if you're this chipper,” I say.

Dad chuckles. “Well, we must have been visited by the sandpony.”

Mom nods. “Best night's sleep I've had in months.”

“Besides, how could we not be in a good mood?”

“Well, I’ve noticed you’ve been a lot more, how do I say it…” I shake my hooves, “... easygoing than you were two years ago.”

Dad nods. “I’m going to be honest with you, Silverspeak. Your mom and I… well…” He hesitates. “Well, let’s just say something happened. We were in a funk with you being in prison and all, and I realized one day that moping around wouldn’t help. So I thought, why not lighten up a bit? I didn’t have to be so serious all the time. Managed to convince your mom into doing the same. Isn’t that right, Honey?”

Mom comes to the table with a plate full of fresh pancakes. “Yes. We decided to try and not take things so seriously. Make things more upbeat for when you got out.”

“And it seems to have paid off!” Dad says. “You haven't been out for even two days and you’re already employed by the Princess, and you're taking us to Genesis!”

I remember something Dad used to tell me when I was little. “Guess we just need to grab life by the horns and hold on, right?”

He chuckles. “Right! No matter what life throws your way, you just hang on and go with the flow, no matter where it takes you." He puts my pancakes down, the warm, earthy smell drifting into my nostrils. “Speaking of which, I think someone could use some extra syrup!" Grabbing the dispenser, Dad pours the liquid over my pancakes until they’re practically drowning in them.

“Hey, not too much!”

“You can never have enough syrup,” Mom says. “Besides, after two years, wouldn’t you want extra?”

I contemplate that for a moment. “Well, can’t argue with that.” I take a bite, delighting in the flavors dancing over my taste buds.

Seeing my parents like this, so excited and so glad to be with me, and so eagerly eating, reminds me of when I was little, and when our little family was enjoy Saturday morning pancakes before going off on some day trip, or doing activities together. At the time I loved getting out of the house, but now I treasure them even more; coming so close to death in Manehattan, and going through those two years in that dungeon made me realize how quickly I can lose them.

Wait a minute... in Genesis, Mom and Dad are safe from Chrysalis and her changelings, but they can't stay there forever. Something may come up that requires them to head back home, and the moment they leave the city, they'll be at risk again.

My appetite disappears.

There has to be something I can do to help them, some way to protect them, or, at the least, make sure I know they're who what they say they are. But what? A constant guard to follow them around? No, that won't work; he or she could be replaced by changelings as well. A constant spell? That might work... but I'd need to convince Luna to-

Wait... Wait! I've go it!

"Oh, Mom? Dad?"

They look up from their breakfasts.

"I know this won't make much sense to you, but... I need you to do something for me. You both remember how we had a safeword when I was young? In case something happened to you two and you needed to send someone to pick me up?"

They nod, puzzled.

"Well... I want us to do that again."

Mom and Dad eye each other. "Why?" Dad asks.

"I wish I could tell you what's going on," I say, "but I can't. Please... will you do this for me?"

"Well... yes," of course," Mom says. "But... is it something we need to be worried about?"

I can't defy Luna, but I have to give my parents something to go off of. "No... but I'd like to use it as a precaution, in case something goes awry."

My parents are now thoroughly confused, and unsure if they need to be worried. But, after several moments thought, they sigh and give in.

"Okay," I say. "Let's use this safeword: Quiverquill."

"Quiverquill," Dad says. "Got it. Anything else?"

"No," I say. Then, with a smile, "Who's up for some more pancakes?"

Once we're done eating, and the three of us finish the dishes, I excuse myself to my cabin. It won't be too long before we reach Genesis, and I need to figure out exactly how I'm going to approach my task. I spend the next few hours contemplating my strategy, coming up with several ways to approach my investigation.

Eventually, I manage to boil everything down to a simple equation. If TechInc does have weapons or other ethically questionable materials, they're no doubt already hiding them. To defy the commands of a princess is foolhardy, but while most corporations in Equestria no longer put bits before the good of their employees and the public, there are still a few who don't. Being relatively new, I'm betting TechInc falls into that category. If I'm going to counter their attempts to hide incriminating evidence, then the easiest way would be to meet up with the company's CEO as soon as possible and use my charm to make him or her spill all their secrets. If they're too strong-willed, then I'll have to arrange interviews with employees and use my charm on them instead. A few dozen interviews should reveal if the company has anything hidden up its sleeve.

There's a knock at the door. “Silverspeak? It's Mom. Gusty wants to see you.”

I head to the cockpit, where Gusty is hard at work adjusting his instruments. “Might want to gather your things," he says. "We're coming up on Genesis.”

“How long until we get there?” I ask.

“Probably another two hours.”

“That's still a long way away.”

“Yeah, it is. But we’ve got to deal with the crowds.”

“Crowds?”

Gusty indicates the radar. It's beeping away, showing multiple signatures on the edge of the screen, some big while others are quite small.

Mom and Dad come in, attracted by the sound. “What are those?” Mom asks.

"Zeppelins, blimps, and all other aircraft, all waiting to get into Genesis." Gusty throttles back on the engines, slowing the ship.

I peer out the window as the clouds drift away, revealing at least a hundred ships of all sizes and shapes, ranging from one-pony crafts to enormous zeppelins casting several craft into complete darkness from their shadows alone.

Gusty groans. “Oh, this is going to be a long day.”

“Maybe not,” I say. “Can we get through to Genesis?”

Gusty gives me a headset. “Knock yourself out.”

Putting the headset on, I press a button. “Genesis air control, please come in.”

A no-nonsense voice comes through the speakers. “This is Genesis. Identify yourself and provide your registration number.”

Gusty flicks a switch. “Genesis, this is the Raven, en-route for special mission from Canterlot, requesting priority approach, over.”

“Sure you are. Now give your registration number or I'll dispatch security to escort you away from the area.”

“Standby." Gusty flicks his switch again and heads through a pile of papers. “Hang on, I've got that thing around here somewhere.”

“I heard these guys don’t mess around,” Dad says. "Guess they don't."

Gusty chuckles. “Every one of these conventions is swarmed with ponies who want to get in, but couldn't get tickets or can't pay the entry fee. From what I’ve read, they get so many frauds and fakers that they have to hire additional security each year. It's especially bad on opening day... which happens to be today.”

“Raven, provide your registration code. This is your final warning.”

Gusty’s still searching, and I can’t risk my mission being compromised. I flick my headset back on. “Genesis, this is the Raven. The Moon will illuminate the truth.”

“Hey,” Gusty says, “cut that out before they-”

“Raven, you are cleared for immediate landing at platform A-5. We are transmitting coordinates now.”

Numbers pop up on the console.

“Well, didn’t expect that." Dropping his papers, Gusty takes hold of the steering column. “Nice work. Now, hold on tight. This is going to be a little tricky.”

Buttons are pressed and switches are flipped, and a shimmer goes across the windows as the Raven makes its way into the mass of ships before us, zipping along like dolphins leaping between sailing ships of old. We’re no longer invisible, as I can see countless ponies glaring at us through numerous windows and portholes. I try to ignore them, remembering myself that we're here on official business, and not impatient cheaters cutting in line.

Gusty heads through the fleet for another ten minutes before reaching the front. Dad’s already pressed his face to the glass, wanting to be the first to see our ultimate destination. And as a large cloud bank rolls away, even Mom is momentarily overwhelmed at the sight before us.

Emerging from the clouds ahead is the floating city of Genesis. I gasp; it’s one thing to see a miniature hologram of it, and something else to see the real thing. Even from miles away, the place is huge, easily dwarfing both Canterlot and Manehattan combined. And it doesn’t have just size, but beauty too: the bottom half of the dome is metal, machinery, and gears, but the upper half is an elegant dome of bronze and glass, something the hologram didn't show.

“Raven, security hatch opening. Please proceed.”

“Roger that." Gusty turns the ship and heads towards a section of the dome. I had thought it was glass, but as we get closer I realize that it’s actually energy that shimmers like a soap bubble. It looks fragile, but I don’t want to risk testing that theory.

One panel opens up as we approach and head through, only to immediately reform, sealing us inside Genesis.

I join Dad in pressing my face against the glass, wanting to take in everything before me. I had figured the place to be as advanced as Manehattan, but this is a metropolis straight out of a science fiction movie. It’s packed with skyscrapers, towers, and all other manner of buildings made out of shining metal and filled with technological advances I can’t make heads or tails of, making Manehattan look like a native village made from mud bricks. But most peculiar are several giant, windowless domes in a district away from the towers. I'm guessing that's where the manufacturing, research and development labs are located.

Mom and Dad can't tear their eyes away from the windows as the Raven continues on. We cross over an enormous sports dome decorated with banners and floodlights. Judging by the crowds gathering out front, that's probably where the convention itself is probably being held. That would explain all the other airships already docked and moored at nearby towers and what appears to be the airport. And while there's plenty for us to see, it's the tower in the center of it all that captures our attention. No... tower isn't a good word. It's a monolith that towers at least a mile high, maybe more, and packed with thousands of floors, windows, and smaller towers that jut from the sides. The whole thing is unlike any other building I've ever seen before. I'd love to just circle it for hours on end, but Dusty guides the Raven towards a landing platform, and touches down with a gentle bump.

A door slides open at the end of the platform. Several ponies come out, dressed in long red coats.

“I'll handle this,” I say. “Mom, Dad, you want to get our luggage?" I use a tone to suggest that this little face-to-face is for certain ears only, and they quickly head into the passenger cabins as I open the door. A gust of warm air permeated with a metallic taste greets me as I hop off the Raven.

One of the ponies approaches me, the others hanging back. Judging by their tactical gear, they're probably security. Behind them all is another pony in tactical gear, but she's almost as big as Celestia, and much buffer. I'm guessing she's probably their captain.

“Silverspeak?”

I nod.

“We have been expecting you. Please come with me.”

“I'll get my parents.”

“Due to the nature of your visit, I'm afraid they'll have to be escorted separately.”

“I'd like to have them with me, if you don't mind.”

“Security is very tight at this facility,” the official says. “Princess Luna was very clear that your parents and pilot were not to be informed or told of the reason for your visit." She indicates the large pony. “She will escort them to their quarters, and bring their luggage shortly afterwards.”

I eye the pony. She eyes me back. No way I'd trust my parents to a scowling face like that.

“I will go with them to their quarters, and then we may proceed,” I say. “Is that be acceptable?”

This official would make a great poker player; I can't read her face.

“Very well."

I nod and turn to the Raven. “Mom? Dad? You can leave the luggage. They'll get it.”

Mom trots off the ship. “Oh good. Don't worry, Gusty, you won't have to carry it all.”

Gusty staggers from the cabin, sweating up a storm as he carries several suitcases piled high on his back. “Great!”

Dad follows Mom, and the three of us fall in behind the official as we head into the Monolith.

I had guessed that a company devoted to the latest in cutting-edge technology would decorate their headquarters lavishly with the stuff, but I'm surprised just how far TechInc has gone. The walls, ceiling, and floors around us are all made of bronze, as are the numerous light units embedded in the walls, and the candle-less chandeliers dangling above our heads. Everything's so spotlessly clean; how many hours do the poor janitors put into keeping everything polished?

Mom and Dad are practically besides themselves as we head deeper into the building. Considering how few ponies ever come here, I can't blame them. They're like pilgrims in a holy land, any and all frustration at being taken on this unexpected detour long gone.

Getting into an elevator, we head up several floors to a hall built from the finest marble and granite money can buy. The big pony heads to a door and uses her magic to unlock it. Eager to see what lies ahead, my parents rush inside. I start to follow, but the official puts a hoof on my shoulder, a quiet reminder that I need to be elsewhere.

“I'll be back later,” I call out.

“Take your time, kiddo!” Dad calls back.

As soon as the big pony comes back, my escort presses a button, sending us back up. I bite my lips as we start up: It doesn't feel right to leave my parents, but I need to continue my work. They'll be safe here and we all know the password.

Wanting to distract myself, I study my escorts. They aren't very happy to see me; the big pony, in particular, keeps looking me over.

I try smiling.

She narrows her eyes.

The elevator comes to a stop, and I'm led out into a lobby, but more elegant than any I've ever seen. The bronze motif is still strong here, mixed with intertwining metallic decorations around the pillars and posts. At the back is an ornate elevator, and before that is a gilded desk, complete with a bored secretary as we head to the left and to a heavily-reinforced door. The large pony holds up a gold badge to a scanner, causing the doors to silently glide open, leading me into what appears to be the tower's security hub: it's filled with hundreds of busy, rushed ponies working some sort of strange screens that show text and pictures moving across them. What are those? Probably some sort of mechanical wonder TechInc has created.

A pony dressed in a fancy security uniform rushes over. He's a lean, muscular fellow with a gaze that's seen a lot, yet somehow still managed to resist becoming cynical. “Silverspeak?”

“Yes?”

He gives me a quick hoofshake. “I'm Onyx Shield; I'm in charge of security for the Monolith. Please pardon the rush, but we're busy." He indicates for me to follow him into an office, which I do so. “You'll be given a full briefing later, but here's the basic gist: Security is our top priority here, and each floor of this tower is designed to allow those who have the exact security clearance. Namely, these."

He holds up a gold badge identical to the one the big pony carries. Reaching into his desk, Onyx pulls out a small box and unlocks it. Inside is a lanyard attached to another gold badge. He gives it to me.

“Because of your status, this card will grant you access to every part of this city. Furthermore, if you require assistance or the escort of any law enforcement official, show this and you shall receive it. For obvious reasons, do not lose it. Your parents will be given their own badges shortly. They will have access to Genesis' recreational and entertainment facilities, but none of our research, development, and factory facilities.”

“I don't think they'll mind. They're so excited just to be here.”

Onyx chuckles. "Them and hundreds of others."

There's a beep from a radio on his vest.

“Excuse me, I have to get back to work. I'll have your escorts guide you to your room." We leave his office and head to the giant pony and the waiting official, who leads me back to the elevator, but I don't feel like going down just yet. I've been given my security clearance, and now it's time to start my plan.

“Are there any floors above us?” I ask

“Yes,” the official says.

“What are they?”

“The private quarters of the CEO.”

“I'd like to meet him, if possible.”

“I'm sorry, but he's very busy.”

“It will only be for a minute." Even if I can't get a full session with the head of TechInc, I'd like to at least say a brief hello. I need to give a good first impression and show that I'm not some inquisitor he needs to fear.

“That won't be possible. He's very busy organizing the convention.”

Hmmm... if I can't see the pony himself, perhaps there's another step I can take. “Can we arrange a meeting, then?”

"One's already been made for tomorrow morning. Now, come."

With nothing else to do here, I allow my escorts to take me to the elevator and down to another elegant hallway, where I'm led to an equally opulent door. The official unlocks it and stands aside, waiting for me to enter. I do so, expecting an elegant room, but what they've given me isn't a room for a guest, or even a dignitary. It's a penthouse worthy of royalty itself, made from the finest materials and filled with the best luxuries bits can buy, from the silk sofa to the golden chandeliers, and the polished wood that shines beneath my hooves. And that's not all, for the giant windows gives me an unprecedented view of the city below. Airships continue to make their way inside the dome, and even from so high up I can see hordes of ponies lining up at that stadium a short distance away from the Monolith. The convention isn't even scheduled to start for another few hours, and already there are tens of thousands of ponies gathered together for the opening ceremony.

"The opening ceremony will begin momentarily," the official tells me. "Your pass will grant you VIP access."

Then, without another word, she departs with the others, closing the door behind them.

I stay at the windows, studying the mass of ponies far below. With a meeting between myself and the CEO arranged, my next step is to go to the opening ceremony of the convention and get an idea of what all the hubub is about, both for professional purposes, and to satisfy my own curiosity. But more importantly, the CEO himself may be there, and I could possibly get an unscheduled face-to-face with him. If I pull off a good first impression, that would make my work so much easier. Genesis is a big place, and if TechInc wants to hide something, they have... oh, I don't know, several million rooms and places they could do it in. I may be an official envoy of the Princesses, but the odds aren't in my favor if TechInc decides to hide something, which makes getting on the CEO's good side all the more important.

There's a knock at my door.

“Come in.”

My parents trot inside, both dressed in fancy attire. “Man, these TechInc ponies sure know how to impress guests!” Dad says, pleased at the dark blue fabric with bronze sewn into the edges. A bit extravagant, but impressive.

“Did the two of you visit some of the shops around here?” I ask.

“Believe it or not, these were actually waiting for us in our room! How's that for service? Did you see yours?”

I haven't checked the closet yet. I do so, and find a fancy coat waiting for me.

“Only fitting that the Princess's ambassador should be dressed for the occasion." Mom says. “And speaking of occasions, your father and I would love it if you could come with us to the opening ceremony." She puts a hoof on my shoulder. “It really would mean a lot to us.”

“Of course,” I say as I slip the coat on. “I'd be happy to." I was planning to ask if Mom and Dad wanted to come with me, but there's no harm in them asking first. I bring up my badge. “I think this will also help us skip the lines as well.”

I might as well have told Mom that I got her free tickets for a trip to the Moon, as her eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. And no sooner have the words left my mouth than Dad eagerly points to the door.

“Lead the way, Son!”

The three of us are quick to enter the elevator and head towards ground level. But we don't even go five floors before it comes to a stop and several ponies get in, all dressed in clothes equally as fancy as ours. It's a pattern that repeats on every floor, and it isn't long before the three of us glance at each other and decide to find another way down. So, leaving the crammed elevator, we head to the nearest service desk and inquire about finding another way to the convention. The attendant, no doubt annoyed at having been asked many times before, changes her tune when she notices my badge. And before I know it, the three of us are floating away from the Monolith in a small taxi, granting us a panoramic view of the ever-growing crowds beneath us.

“Wow,” Mom says. “Look at them all.”

Dad nudges me. “Good thing we don't have to join 'em, eh?”

“Don't expect to do this for everything,” I say, looking my badge over. “Can't go around abusing this.”

“Oh, of course not." Glancing at Mom, Dad leans in close. “Hey, you know if it gets you free drinks in restaurants?”

“Honey!”

“What?”

The taxi flies in lower as we reach the front of the crowds, landing in a small space reserved for VIPs. Guards are present, but they quickly give way as I show my badge, clearing us a path to a small waiting room in the very front of the crowd. My parents strut along, delighted at the chance to feel like royalty for once, and I can't say I blame them. It's easy to get excited here; the air is practically crackling with energy, and most of the crowd are now jumping up and down in excitement.

Our arrival couldn't have happened at a better time, as a small door opens on a balcony high above us moments later. Every voice in the crowd goes silent as a unicorn struts into view. It takes me a moment to realize that it's the official who met me on the platform. She clears her throat before casting a spell to amplify her voice.

“Mares, stallions, and foals: It is TechInc's pleasure to welcome you to the third annual Convention of Science and Technology. For the next three days, all our wonders and technologies shall be yours to see, explore, and touch. The wonders of the future lie before you!”

The official grabs a tug woven from the finest threads, and yanks on it as hard as she can.

“Welcome to the future of Equestria!”

With a great and mighty rumble, the doors open wide.

With barely-constrained enthusiasm, the crowd roars as they surge inside. My parents try to join them, but I grab hold and keep them back. To join that mass would only ensure we'd get separated in a heartbeat, and that's the last thing I want. Not that Dad is going to go along with my plan; he's itching to run inside.

When the crowd has slowed to a reasonable level, I motion for a guard to come over. “Could we get an escort inside?” I ask, holding up my badge. He nods. Thus, with the guard clearing the way, we enter the crowds, and make our way into the stadium, which is crammed with all manner of booths and displays. The thousands of ponies who swarmed in before us are already squeezing into every possible space in an effort to get the first glimpse of vendors displaying their wares. But among all the commotion and excited shouts is a huge stage at the very back of the stadium. Most of the ponies are making their way there.

“What's being shown there?” I ask our guard.

“The main presentation, sir.”

“How long until it starts?”

“Ten minutes.”

“Then let's see if we can't get some seats.”

“Of course. Follow me.”

The guard makes his way through the crowd, my parents and I close behind. I don't want to miss out on this presentation.

Whatever it may be, I have a feeling it's going to be big.

Author's Notes:

The picture in this chapter was done by SilFoe, who also did the cover artwork for this story! Check her stuff out here! (http://silfoe.deviantart.com/)

Due to Genesis changing shape during the writing process, I've rewritten it's description in the previous chapter for continuity reasons.

Old Friends

Even with our guard pushing ponies aside, it’s difficult to make our way through the crowd to the stage. Only after five minutes of darting, ducking, and squeezing do we finally reach the reserved seats.

“Remind me never to go through that again,” Dad says as he takes a seat.

“Don’t go through that again,” Mom says.

I sit down as the lights dim. Thousands of ponies go quiet around us.

A spotlight shines onto the stage.

“Since time began," a voice says offstage, "there has been only one constant throughout the ages: change.”

The voice is of an older pony, full of elegance, sophistication, and a formidable intelligence. But it's also... familiar. I know that voice. I've heard it before, but where?

“We cannot stop the future, but we can decide how we'll face it, and more importantly, how we'll live in it. That, mares and gentlecolts, is the mission of TechInc.”

A unicorn strolls onstage.

“While we can never predict what's coming, there are those who have the vision, the will, and the power to guide others and help them rise. And that, my friends, is what I, Glasseye, founder and CEO of TechInc, am here to do.”

Wait, Glasseye? The pony who was Beakbreaker's professor at Manehattan University?

The lights snap on, letting us all gaze upon Glasseye in full. Time hasn't been kind to him, for he looks quite older than when I last saw him. But he still has a spring in his step, and enjoys being the center of attention as the audience claps and cheers. But I can't believe it; Glasseye is the CEO of TechInc? He was a slightly uptight professor, not the type to start a huge organization, much less guide it.

Glasseye holds up a hoof. “The last time I strolled across this stage, I promised all of you that by this time next year, TechInc would have the most wonderful things in store for you all, and I intend to keep that promise!”

The crowd goes crazy.

“We have four delightful things to show you,” Glasseye says. “One for each day of the convention... though I suppose we can bend the rules and show two tonight.”

The crowd goes ballistic as Glasseye strolls to three pedestals, each holding up a piece of cloth that hides something beneath. The first is medium sized, the second is tiny, and whatever is beneath the third is big enough to hold one of the princesses.

Taking hold of the first cloth, Glasseye yanks it away. An excited gasp goes up from the crowd in anticipation, but the excitement is short lived. Beneath the tarp is a clear case holding a pony leg.

Glasseye adopts a sarcastic tone. “'Oh, Glasseye, what's this? A leg? We've seen plenty of legs. It's what TechInc and Medicomp has been offering us for years. You got us all worked up for nothing!” He chuckles. “Fear not, my friends; TechInc hasn't resorted to copycatting our competitors.” His horn lights up, removing the glass and pulling the leg out. “At first glance, an ordinary pony leg. The usual replacement we've seen for years on the market. And you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is one of Medicomp's legs that come to life in a lab. But if we look just a little closer, we’ll see there’s more to this leg than meets the eye.”

Taking a scalpel, Glasseye bloodlessly slices into artificial skin, pulling away to reveal bones of steel and pistons, springs, and coils in place of muscles.

“Our first prosthetic limbs were crude mechanical things, designed only to let ponies walk again. But we asked ourselves, how can we do better? How can we possibly make limbs that are not only functional, but elegant? So we researched, invested, and came up with the finest mechanical limbs Equestria has to offer. Mechanical legs that look and feel just like the real thing. Here, see for yourselves.”

His horn glows, and the leg heads into the crowd, hovering above random ponies, giving them a brief moment to touch the device and see it up close. It darts about at random, nearby photographers struggling to keep up, no doubt hoping to catch the reactions of ponies lucky enough to see the limb up close.

Then the limb flies to the front row, and to me. Being on the edge of the stage, Glasseye is eager to see my reaction. It's been years since we last met, and he realizes that there's something familiar about me. It takes him a few moments to connect the dots, and he couldn’t be more surprised.

“So, why do such a leg?” Glasseye asks the audience, trying to stay focused. “We all know the fabled strength of earth ponies, and how they can buck trees, run for miles, and do things us unicorns and pegasi can only dream of. But these limbs now offer that strength to everyone. Observe.”

Two trolleys are rolled onto stage. One holds one of those legs, the other a giant boulder. Both are locked into place with powerful magnets. Glasseye holds up a remote control and presses a button. With lighting speed, the leg shoots out and hits the boulder so hard that a crack snaps into existence on the surface. A second blow enlarges it, and a third hit shatters the boulder into dozens of chunks.

The audience gasps.

“Imagine it: limbs that deliver five times the power of a natural leg. An earth pony can run all day. These legs will let you run, jump, swim, and climb without growing tired.”

The audience murmurs, stunned, with Glasseye grinning all the while as he walks to the second tarp. “While this would normally be the end of the show, I believe we can break tradition and give you a little something extra: a dream of mine I’ve had for many years.

Everyone is on edge as Glasseye yanks the tarp off, revealing the next great technological marvel of the age.

The case is empty.

“Oh my. It appears I've forgotten to put it in there for you all to see! How very silly of me.” Taking off his monocle, Glasseye rubs his eye. “Why, wherever did I put it?”

The ponies around me look at each other, unsure what's going on. Is this an act? Considering how much press coverage this event is getting, it wouldn't make sense for Glasseye to go through all this effort only to… Wait, what's he doing? Is he... He's digging at his eye!

Ponies around me shriek and scramble back in their seats as... oh Celestia, Glasseye’s ripping his eye out! Oh Celestia, this.... wait a second. Where's the blood? There's no tendrils, sinew, or flesh dangling from the back of the eye. Instead, there’s blinking lights and whirring gears.

“Mares and stallions, allow me to introduce the next wonder of the technological world: the first fully functional mechanical eye. As you can see...” he chuckles, “...this eye can fool even the most skilled observer. With this eye, sight can be restored to the blind, and they can gain even greater capabilities than ever before: they gain the ability to see in the dark, in infrared, and in wavelengths our normal eyes cannot detect. Why, you might even say that these eyes are an improvement over what nature itself has given us.”

Glasseye pops his prosthesis back in place. “Now, I know you all want to see what's beneath tarp number three.” Glasseye goes to the last tarp, the largest of them all. “But I'm afraid it shall have to remain a secret for now.”

An unseen gong chimes.

“Well, mares and gentlecolts, thank you all for your time. I'm sorry our little chat was short, but fear not! There's plenty more to see and do here throughout the convention, so please, enjoy yourselves!

As guards take up position around the object hidden beneath the tarp, Glasseye is quickly met by the big pony and heads offstage. He glances back at me ever-so-briefly, then heads through the door and out of sight. And not a moment too soon, for ponies surge forward, wanting to get a glimpse of the giant tarp and try to guess what's beneath it. My parents and I know better than to join that mob, so we remain sitting as we're rapidly surrounded by hundreds of exited ponies.

“Can you believe it?!” Dad says. “An artificial eye! Well, guess none of us have to worry about ever going blind; we can just get new eyes!”

“But how much are they going to cost?” Mom asks.

“Oh... well, I'm sure they won't charge too much. I mean, it'd be evil to not give them to someone because they can't afford to pay for it. We're not barbarians, after all.”

Mom nods. “So, what next?”

I had hoped that perhaps Glasseye and I could sneak in a brief chat once the show was over, but his hasty retreat means any interviews will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Even though it's been a long day, I'm not ready to retreat to my penthouse bed just yet. There's still tons of things to look at around here. Perhaps I can take a look at everything offered here to get an idea of exactly what TechInc is offering, as well as the technological status of other companies at these booths. All that should give me good information I can then present to Princess Luna for my first report.

“Why don't we look around?” I suggest. “See if anything catches our eyes?”

We spend the next hour squeezing through the crowds as we head from one booth to the next, looking over wares that companies have come to sell and show off. Mom and Dad are astonished at all the new technology on display; so am I, but my excitment is tampered: most of what we see are prototypes still far from being finalized and going on the market. But it’s impossible to deny how many things we see, ranging from home appliances, farm equipment, aircraft and personal vehicles, entertainment, and everything in between. Every company in the field of science and technology goes all-out to make the biggest impression they can… including one that I know very well.

“Medicomp?” Mom says. “What are they doing here?”

“Never thought they'd have a booth at the headquarters of their mortal enemy,” Dad muses.

The Medicomp booth is quite small, perhaps a reflection of their competition against TechInc. After all, what could the company offer against such technological marvels that Glasseye and his researchers keep putting out? Their attendants seem to share the feeling, given how miserable and uneasy they look. They glance my way; two don't recognize me, but the third does. He takes a few steps backwards.

Making sure my body posture is non-threatening, I take a brochure and look it over. It's not surprising that it focuses on Medicomp's many advantages over TechInc limbs, such as how theirs have the ability to feel sensations, such as cold, warm, and the soothing caress of a loved one, not to mention that their limbs can be grown to be stronger than natural legs. Not bad... but nobody's going to be fooled by it. After all, lack of touch is a small price to pay when you can run for days on end, punch through rock and stone, and fall without getting so much as a broken bone. It'll probably be only a matter of time before TechInc overcomes that obstacle as well, and then Medicomp will be in dire straits.

“Well?” Dad asks. “You think they got a chance against TechInc?”

“Difficult to say.” I look the booth over, studying the legs, the wings, and the horns within clear display cases. To Medicomp's credit, they look like the real thing, not something grown in a lab. They've improved their techniques since I got my wings and horns. I wonder how these ones feel, or if they're stronger and more durable. And how about horns? Have they managed to grow them as well?

“Silverspeak?”

I shake my head. “Sorry?”

“Hey, you okay?” Dad asks. “You zoned out there for a few seconds.”

“Yes, I'm fine. Just tired, that's all. It's been a long day.”

“You can head back if you want,” Mom says. “We'll keep looking around.”

“No, no that's okay. I'm good. Just need a few moments to wake up.” While this place seems safe enough, there's no telling if any of Chrysalis’ changelings here. There are no doubt guards with scanning magic hidden in the crowds or positioned near the doors, but I don't feel safe leaving my parents here. Best to stick together.

“Silverspeak?”

I turn at hearing my name called. One of Onyx Shield’s guards comes up, relieved that he’s found me.

“Yes?” I ask tensely.

The guard hands me a note. “A message for you, sir.”

I flip open the note and read it.

‘Silverspeak: Please come and meet me at the Late Lounge Diner at 8 PM. Beakbreaker.’

My knees shake.

Mom comes up. “Silverspeak? Is something wrong?”

I show Mom the note.

“Oh… oh my!”

“What?” Dad asks. He snatches the note and reads it. “Oh.”

I spin, trying to find the nearest clock! Oh, what time is it?! Wait! There! It’s… seven thirty! I have half an hour! If I can get outside and get a taxi, I just might make it! But my parents! I can’t leave them!

“Mom, Dad, I-”

“Don’t worry about us,” Mom says. “You need to get going.”

“But you-”

“You’ve been waiting this long to see her,” Dad says. “You’re really going to keep her waiting because of us?”

Of course I can’t. But I can’t risk my parent’s safety, either. I turn to our guard. “Stay with them,” I say. “Make sure they get back to their room safely.”

He nods.

I almost sink to the floor in relief. With my parents safe, I can-

Mom grabs my shoulders and spins me around. “Get going!” she says with a chuckle. “Go!”

I dash towards the exit, only to stop, race back, and plant a quick kiss on my parent’s cheeks before taking off once again.

It takes me several frustrating moments to reach the entrance, and several more to get a taxi, leap in, tell the driver where to go, and then we're finally off. Leaning back in my seat, I close my eyes, trying to psyche myself up. This isn't something I have to fear: Beakbreaker already knows me, so I don't have to worry about first impressions. Well, almost. I don't want to come off as someone hardened by two years behind bars, but that shouldn't be a problem. It was difficult at first, trying to control my anger and frustration of being a prisoner, but for her, I was able to resist it. For Beakbreaker alone, I didn't succumb and turn into an angry pony who hated the world and everyone in it.

But what about Beakbreaker? What if she's changed in the past two years? Trying to keep up with TechInc in terms of tech and gizmos would put a huge stress on anyone. But unless she's taken up drinking to try and cope with the stress, she should still be the same zebra and I know... well, unless casual drinking turned to addiction, and she's having difficulty trying to keep it under control.

I gulp. I need to calm down. Yes, those two years were probably stressful for her, but Beakbreaker's a strong individual. She can cope and get through it. But then again, everyone has their limits. Not everyone is in as a high-stress position as her. Drinking might not be enough to diffuse the stress. What if she's turned to something stronger, something more dangerous? What if she's more focused on trying to cope with a stressful life than on us? What if this whole meeting is just a way for her to tell me that it's over between the two of us, and-

No! Stop it! Confound, I'm letting my imagination run wild. There's just no way to know what Beakbreaker's been up to. I just have to calm down and trust that things will work out.

The taxi continues through the streets, heading into Genesis' arts and entertainment district. While much smaller than Manehattan's, it's still filled with bars, nightclubs, dance halls, and anything else someone would want to unwind after a long day at work.

The taxi finally comes to a stop near the single, long boardwalk that connects the shops and buildings. The driver gives me directions to head to the end of the street as I exit, pay him, and hurry down the boardwalk, rushing past theaters and other entertainment venues until I finally find the lay before me, but the only thing that catches my eye is a small restaurant with the words, “Late Lounge.” flashing in blue above the door.

I swing the glass door open and step into a trendy jazz bar. It's empty at the moment, save for the bartender wiping down the wood countertop, and a small band playing a slow, moody tune on saxophones and a piano.

“Can I get you anything?” the bartender asks. He notices my badge. “We got a nice bottle I think you'll like. On the house, of course.”

“No, thank you,” I say. “I'm just here to meet a friend.”

“Ah. Well, take a seat wherever you fancy.”

Nodding, I head to a booth near the windows, giving me the perfect view of the street and glowing lamps of amber and gold. If you wanted to meet someone for a romantic evening, this is certainly the place to do it.

The band plays soft music with a romantic touch, guessing that I'm here for romance. A glimpse at the clock shows that I have ten minutes to kill.

I twiddle my hooves.

The minutes pass by one slow second at a time.

I can do this. I can do this. I just need to remain calm...

The clock hits eight thirty.

The door doesn't open, no taxi comes down the street, and I still have the place to myself. Perhaps Beakbreaker's stuck in traffic, or her driver is trying to find a place to-

A bell rings at the door as a zebra walks inside.

It's been two years since I last saw that face, that white coat with black stripes, the earring, and those glasses. But time hasn't diminished my memory of those inquisitive eyes that go over the bar.

Those eyes meet my own, and for a single instant, time comes to a stop. We look at each other for a long moment before Beakbreaker comes to the booth.

“Silverspeak?”

I nod, suddenly unable to speak.

“It's been a long time.”

I finally find my voice. “Yes. Yes, it has.”

She takes a seat. “Sorry I'm late. You wouldn't believe the traffic around here.”

I nod, unable to take my eyes off her. “You have no idea how long I've waited for this,” I whisper.

Beakbreaker smiles. “I can. I wanted to write to you, Silverspeak. I really did. But I've been so busy, I couldn't-”

I reach out with my hoof and take hers.

Beakbreaker's surprised, but she doesn't pull away.

We don't speak. The two of us sit there, hoof in hoof, looking into each other's eyes, and it's like the past two years never even happened.

The band keeps playing. The seconds hand of a nearby clock tick away.

“Well, is it just me or is this a little awkward?” Beakbreaker asks with a chuckle.

I chuckle as well. “Well,” I say, figuring that we should start slow. “Maybe we can start with the obvious. What have you been up to all this time?”

Beakbreaker rolls her eyes. “Things have been so busy you wouldn't believe it.”

“Try me.”

“Well, dealing with the fallout of the Manehattan incident, trying to keep up with Medicomp's competitors, then trying to keep up with TechInc.”

“Is that why you're here?” I ask. “To take a look their latest products?”

Beakbreaker nods. “Coin Counter would love it if I could sneak a peek at the enemy's factories and labs. But what are you doing here? I thought you'd want to have some R and R after... well, you know.”

“I'm here as an envoy for the Princesses. They'd like to have a report on what TechInc is showing.”

“Really? Silverspeak, that's great! Right after getting out, and you're already hitting the ground running! Good for you!”

I blush. “Thank you. You know, there are other things I'd like to do, now that everything is behind us.”

“Oh? Like what?”

I hesitate... No, no I can't hesitate. I haven't waited this long and dreamed of this moment to freeze up now. I've got to just tell the truth. “Beakbreaker, I know it's been a long time since we've seen each other, but... I'd like to try and pick up where we left off.”

Beakbreaker's smile fades a little. “Actually...”

No. Oh no, she couldn't-

“... I've been thinking about what would happen when you got out. I mean, two years is a long time. It's been so long that we might as well start over. A clean slate, so to speak.”

A waiter comes up and gives us two glasses of water.

“Why don't we reintroduce ourselves? I'll go first.” She takes a sip. “My name is Beakbreaker, and I'm a lead scientist for the Medicomp corporation. But I wasn't always like that. There was a time where I was living in a tiny apartment and despairing that I would ever get anywhere in life. I felt so alone and unwanted. But then came along someone who helped me accomplish my dreams, who stuck with me when no one else would.”

I can't help it. I smile.

“But then I learned a few things about him: His selfishness. His scheming mind. His zeal. I almost left him... But then he risked his life for me, and was willing to give up his own dreams to save me from a maniac when he could have just walked away. And I realized that beneath the selfishness, there was a good heart and a good soul, someone who, given time and opportunity, could prove himself to be someone great. I'd like to get to know that pony again.”

She lets go of my hooves.

“All right, now it's your turn.”

I had known for a long time that my actions before and during the Manehattan incident had hurt Beakbreaker emotionally, but until now I didn't know how extensive it had been. How am I supposed to address that? Apologizing seems like the most logical choice, but to just say it without context won't have much effect. I need to be more tactful... Perhaps I could use my charm on... No. No, absolutely not, not on her.

Beakbreaker waits.

Perhaps honesty is the best course of action. She was honest with me, and I've got to do the same.

“My name is Silverspeak,” I say. “I'm the only earth pony ever born in my hometown of Saddle Lanka. I was shunned and seen as an embarrassment. I never had any real friends when I was growing up, but when I moved to Manehattan, I found someone with a gift to share, and no one to help it get out there. It would be a win-win situation. She would get her gift out there, and I'd get what I wanted: to become a unicorn, or even an alicorn... But when I worked with her, she treated me as an equal. Nobody had ever done that before. And then she began to get interested in me as a friend... My very first friend. And then the horn and the wings didn't seem quite as important as before. But when she took away what I had spent my entire life searching for, I lost my temper and hated her.”

I take a moment to wipe away the sweat on my brow. Celestia, I wish I didn't have to tell her this. “I was angry... But now, all these years later, I can see that she was just trying to help me. And that if she hadn't, things could have gotten even worse than they turned out. And when I had a choice to make, I wanted her to live more than I wanted to fulfill my dream.”

I take her hooves once more.

For a long moment Beakbreaker doesn't say anything.

She squeezes back.

“I'd like to get to know that pony again.”

I smile.

Beakbreaker's watch beeps.

“What, already?”

“What is it?" I ask. "What's wrong?”

Beakbreaker groans. “I have to get back to my hotel and ready my report for Coin Counter. I was hoping we could have dinner, but it looks like it'll have to wait for another time.”

“How about tomorrow?” I quickly ask. “Would that work for you?”

“Oh yes, it would. But it would have to be someplace cheap,” she checks her purse. “Getting a hotel room at the last minute cost more than I expected.”

“You can come to my place. I'm staying at a penthouse near the very top of the Monolith.”

Beakbreaker's eyes go wide. “You're staying there?! Silverspeak, that's TechInc's base of operations! How'd you get in there?”

I hold up my badge. “Being an envoy for the Princesses does have its perks.”

“Well, color me jealous! Sure, I'd be more than happy to go there for dinner.”

I can't wait that long! “How about lunch?”

Beakbreaker considers it. “Sure, I can do lunch. How about we meet up at 11:30?”

“I'll send a cab to pick you up.”

Taking a piece of paper, Beakbreaker scribbles a note. “Here's the hotel I'm staying at.” She slips it to me, then stands. “It was wonderful seeing you again, Silverspeak.”

“As it was seeing you, Beakbreaker.”

She smiles. “You know, my tribe would say that if we have met again after so long, it is not by chance or luck alone.”

Then, giving me a little wave, she walks out the door and into the night.

I barely feel my legs as I head back to the taxi, and I almost feel like I could float away with it as the craft flies back to the Monolith. I barely even notice when I'm trotting back through the halls of the Monolith. I don't even remember getting off, but who cares?

My parents are waiting for me outside the door to my penthouse as I skip out of the elevator.

“Well?” Mom asks anxiously. “How'd it go?”

I don't bother hiding my smile. “Wonderful!”

“Atta boy, Silverspeak!” Dad says. “So, the two of you talk things over?”

“Oh yes. And we're going to be meeting up again tomorrow for lunch!”

“That's fantastic!” Mom says. "But how did... well, things go? What were your first impressions?

"Good," I say. "A bit slow, but I think we're off to a good start."

"Good. Now, don't rush anything, and don't do anything foolish: You need a friend after all these years, and the two of you were just so perfect together. If you could get things going again, it would be so wonderful for the both of you.” She takes Dad's hoof in her own. “Finding your father was one of the best things that ever happened to me.... I can't even imagine where I'd be today if we weren't together.”

Dad blushes, and the two kiss.

If luck and fortune are on my side, Beakbreaker and I will be like that someday.

“Well, we'd better be off to bed,” Dad says. “Long day, you know?”

“Oh yes!” I say. “But what a great one!”

Chuckling, Mom and Dad head to the elevator, waving goodnight as they go. Waving back, I go into the penthouse and eat a fast dinner before heading to bed. The events of the past hour have given me a surge of energy, making it impossible to sleep, but I don't mind. It gives me a chance to just lie there and indulge in my fantasies about what may yet come to pass if Beakbreaker and I keep seeing each other. And from what she said, and the signals I got from her, she wants to do it.

Figuring that I should at least try to get some sleep, I finally get out of bed to see if the cabinets in the bathroom have some sleep aids-

Wait. The orb box is glowing from the inside. Oh no! My report to the princess! I dash over and yank the orb out; it's glowing with a steady pulse of light; I rub it three times, and the feeling of ice water rushes through me as the bedroom becomes a hazy blur.

“Silverspeak.”

I turn as Princess Luna emerges from the ether. “Your Highness! This is about the report isn't it?”

Luna nods, puzzled. “I expected it some time ago.”

Even in non-corporeal form, I can still blush. “I apologize for that, your Highness, but I... Well, I ran into an old friend of mine.”

“You are referring to Beakbreaker?”

I nod.

"She came by shortly after you left for Genesis."

"You told her where I was?"

She nods. "While I have no objection to the two of you spending time together, the purpose of your visit is to investigate TechInc.”

“Of course. I'm meeting the CEO tomorrow morning, and I'll be able to give you my first report in the evening.”

Luna nods. “Please send it to me as quickly as you can.”

Something's strange about her tone. “Is something wrong, your Highness?”

“We have had another rogue changeling attack in a town far to the west. We have managed to contain it, but my sister and I had not suspected that Chrysalis' forces would spread this quickly. Remember, Silverspeak, we must find out if she is working with TechInc to obtain weapons or equipment that could aid her cause.”

The ether behind her shimmers.

“I must go, Silverspeak. Be safe.”

Before I can answer, the room shifts, and I'm back in the physical world once more, Luna's words echoing in my ears. There was another attack? But how? Shouldn't Chrysalis' changelings be too few in number to mount another assault so quickly? Maybe they're not so weak as Luna thought; maybe there are thousands, or tens of thousands just waiting for the right time to strike and wipe out our defenses... or worse, blend in and gradually replace everyone until it's too late for us to do anything.

I head to the window and take a deep breath of the fresh air. With all the security features around me, Genesis should be safe from the Changeling threat below, but what if Chrysalis dispatched many of them to sneak aboard the ships coming here, so as to spread throughout the city? What if they're already carefully replicating everyone around them?

Gulping, I close the window, then lock the front door. Hopefully my investigation tomorrow will reveal nothing suspicious or menacing.

I hope.

Author's Notes:

Random Fun fact: I wrote Glasseye while imagining him to sound like David Niven.

For all of you who have trouble seeing updates to the story, I contacted one of the moderators of the site about that issue, and was told that a forthcoming update should resolve the problem.

Also, I want to thank all of you who have added The Monster Below to so many groups on the site! Don't know what caused such a surge, but it's very gratifying!

The Tour

The sky is overcast when I wake up; dim sunlight streams through the windows as I dress and eat a fast breakfast. I don't want to be late for my appointment. Princess Luna is counting on me to let her know what's going on, and my reports may influence decisions that could affect all of Equestria.

No pressure.

Finishing breakfast, I head into the hallway to go check on my parents. Thankfully, I don't have to go far; Mom's already getting the morning paper. She looks more tired than usual, but perks up at seeing me.

“Well, good morning!” She draws me into a big hug. “Sleep well?”

“Yes,” I lie.

“Oh good!" She wipes the sleep from her eyes. “You hungry? I was just about to start breakfast.”

“Actually, I already ate. And it looks like you could use some more sleep.”

“Oh, it's nothing,” Mom assures me. “Just a rough night for us both. But we're fine.”

“Good. Out of curiosity, what's the password?”

“Quiverquill.”

Thank Celestia. "Good," I say. "Now, I just wanted to let you know that I'll be meeting with Glasseye all day today and won't be back until dinner. Speaking of which, I'm going to ask Beakbreaker if she'd like to eat with us. I know you and Dad would-”

My watch buzzes.

“Well, I need to be on my way," I say. "The two of you have a good day, and stay safe.” Not wanting to be late, I quickly kiss Mom on the cheek and hurry off.

Glasseye's secretary glances up from her watch as I enter the office. “Ah, good morning, Mr. Silverspeak. Glasseye is waiting for you." She points towards the ornate elevator in the back. I take a moment to admire the ornate gears and doors of the elevator as I step inside and head up. into an entrance hall made of marble and jade, the smooth surface reflecting the warm glow of electronic lights.

The large pony waits at the end of the hall, and she still doesn't look happy to see me.

“Silverspeak to see Mr. Glasseye,” I say.

She looks me over. Her horn lights up as an anti-changeling spell washes over me. Satisfied that I'm not an imposter, she indicates for me to follow her. We head to a pair of opaque glass doors; the big pony presses her eyes to a scanner. The doors click, glide open without a sound, and we enter Glasseye's inner sanctum. And as we do, I gasp. We're inside the giant dome perched atop the Monolith, and it's like being inside a crystal: the walls are built of glass, with an artificial river snaking across the floor, encircling numerous plants, ferns, and statues. And at the other end are several rooms stacked atop one another. The big pony leads me to the top, and a heavy wooden desk. From up here, Glasseye is literally on top of the world, with a perfect view of the skies beyond Genesis. I can only imagine how beautiful this place is when lit with the warmth of the sun's rays.

“Ah, hello, Silverspeak.”

I turn to find Glasseye strolling up the stairs, dressed in a bathrobe of fine silk, levitating a tray filled with a variety of breakfast dishes. “My apologies for keeping you waiting. I was just finishing up the paper when I realized what time it was." He levitates the tray over to me. “Have you had something to eat? Perhaps a bit of tea?”

I'm not thirsty, but it would be improper to decline a gift from my host. “Tea will be fine.”

A teapot floats off the tray and fills a cup which drifts into my grasp.

“Well, it appears that fate has decided our paths are to cross again,” Glasseye says. “I must say, I never expected you to be Luna's envoy. Especially after your little..."

“Altercation in Manehattan?”

“As good a description as any." Glasseye pours a cup of tea for himself. “But it appears you've made amends and joined the ranks of respectable ponies once more." He sips. “Quite impressive really. In less than five years you've gone from being a nobody in the local grocery store to being an envoy of the Princess herself. I daresay few ponies have risen, fallen, and risen again so quickly." He smiles. “TechInc is always on the lookout for the driven and determined, Silverspeak. If you desire a job once this little mission of yours is complete, I'm sure we can find a home for you here.”

I shake my head. “Thank you, but I already have employment arrangements for when this is complete.”

He shrugs. “Fair enough." Finishing his cup of tea, Glasseye pours another one. “Now, on to business. You're here to tour Genesis and see our wondrous creations, correct?”

I nod.

“Splendid. Ordinarily one of our tour guides would lead you around, but considering your importance and our history together, it's only fitting that I take you myself. Well, with a security detachment, of course. And my companion here." He indicates the big pony. “I believe you've met.”

The pony looks at me once more. There's not as much hostility as before, but it's doubtful we'll be on each other's Hearth's Warming Eve wish lists.

“Her name is Stonehoof, and she's my personal bodyguard. Please don't hold it against her if she's been... less than kind to you. It's her job to be suspicious.”

“There's a difference between suspicion and paranoia.”

“Not when changelings threaten us,” Stonehoof says, her voice thick with an accent I've never heard before.

“Stonehoof was an outcast from her home in the north," Glasseye explains. "I met her in Manehattan; she had nothing to her name, but was strong and eager to work, so I took her in and she's been my bodyguard ever since.”

One last sip, and Glasseye's cup goes dry. “Well, I believe it's time we started. Stonehoof, arrange a security detachment to accompany us. I'll be ready in ten minutes." He turns to me as Stonehoof brings up her hoof-mounted phone. “I hope you got a good night's sleep, Silverspeak. You're going to be on your hooves all day.”

After he gets dressed and summons a security detachment of six heavily armed ponies, Glasseye leads me to his private landing platform and personal airship, the giant windows giving us unparalleled views of Genesis as we fly to the closest manufacturing plant. There are several such buildings throughout the city, I'm told, with each one dedicated to certain projects. Some buildings focus on limbs, others engines for various vehicles, and still others concentrate on medical equipment. The medical building seems as good a place as any to start, so we go there first.

After landing, Glasseye leads us inside, his mere presence causing security to usher us through without incident. A quick change into sterile scrubs, and we head out onto the manufacturing floor. An enormous array of machines greets me, with the closest pumping out eyeball after eyeball in all manner of shapes, sizes, and colors.

“We've created pony eyes,” Glasseye tells me. “But we also figured other races would like eyes of their own. Thus, we've made griffin eyes, buffalo eyes, even dragon eyes for our scaled friends. But while the eyes are one thing, the mechanics of holding them in place is another thing altogether.”

We go to a smaller section of the plant, where technicians work on a nearly limitless array of metal frames.

“These are the wire-mesh frames molded to a head to accommodate a new eye,” Glasseye explains. “We revealed the eyes to the general public last night, but we've been working with hospitals for months to ensure we'll have plenty for the public."

I look the eyes over. They are indeed marvels of technology, and as I peer inside one that's half-built, I'm astonished they could cram so many tiny gizmos and gadgets into such a small space.

If TechInc can do wonders with such tiny things, what other surprises do they have in store?

We head down to the floor where legs are under construction. I go along with Glasseye as he talks about logistics of production and dozens of other things, but I notice something puzzling: Instead of staying close to Glasseye, the guards are staying close to me. Curious; they're here to protect their boss, not me.

That is, unless they've been given instructions I don't know about.

Glasseye heads back to the lobby when the tour is over, but I stop him before we go too far. I remind him that, as an inspector, I have the right to look over every part of the factory, no matter how insignificant. And to that end, I ask to be shown everything, even the bathrooms, storage closets, and the generator room in the basement. Glasseye consents, but he can tell what I'm really doing: hunting for anything he doesn't want me to see. Thankfully, my search reveals nothing suspicious. When I'm satisfied there's nothing nefarious or illegal going on, we leave.

So far, so good.

The tour resumes at the next factory, which is dedicated to engines, propulsion and all manner of vehicles. It's fascinating to see all manner of carriages, carts, and fire engines that can move about on their own power without being pulled. Even more amazing, some of them can actually hover above the ground and glide about without the use of magic, due to small, but exceptionally powerful engines that create a hover field. It's beyond my ability to understand, but there's no denying the awe of seeing a vehicle floating above the floor.

I can't help but wonder how they managed to get this kind of technology off the ground in only two years.

As we continue on, I turn my attention back to the guards. With each new building we visit, they seem to close ranks about me just a little bit more. But why? Are they changelings waiting until Glasseye, Stonehoof and I are separated from the others? No, that can't be it; they would have attacked us when we were on Glasseye's airship, where a quick escape would have been impossible.

But if they're not changelings, that means they're up to something. But what?

Once I'm finished searching every room of the factory, Glasseye decides we could use a brief stint of recreation and takes me to a museum dedicated to the history of technology. The halls here are filled with all manner of artifacts and objects from Equestria's history, going all the way back to the very first ponies who worked with clubs and sticks, to our current vehicles and high-tech tools. It's amazing to see how far we've come, but as we go from room to room, there's no denying it any longer: the guards are staying unusually close to me.

We enter a room with only a few guards and security cameras in the corner. If the guards are changelings, it would be best to expose them in a place where a third party can see everything that happens.

“-and these are the oldest pieces of technology we've recovered from archaeological digs throughout Equestria,” Glasseye says as he passes by cases filled with all manner of strange artifacts. “If you look over here-”

I take a deep breath. If this doesn't work, things could get ugly fast. “Glasseye?”

“Yes, my dear boy? Something catch your eye?”

I indicate the guards. “I've noticed that your guards seem more interested in me than you during this tour.”

“Well, they are,” Glasseye says with a smile. “After all, you're Princess Luna's VIP. We must ensure no harm comes to you when you're here.”

“I understand that. But if I didn't know any better, it would seem that they don't want me to wander around.”

“Really? Now that's the last thing we want. Come now, lads, give our guest some room.”

The guards take several steps away from me.

“There, that's much better." Glasseye turns to me. “I do apologize, Silverspeak. I don't want you to feel like a prisoner here. You're my guest, and you're entitled to go anywhere you want." He indicates the room. “If ancient artifacts don't tickle your fancy, perhaps something else will? Do you have a place you'd like to go?”

I had been thinking about that. If those guards are here to make sure I didn't go somewhere I wasn't supposed to, where would the last place they'd want me to be? Wait... Beakbreaker said there was one location in Genesis that no one had ever seen.

“Actually, yes. I'd like to see your research and development labs.”

It takes Glasseye a moment to find his voice. “Ah... Yes. A most logical choice if I may say." He tries to be discrete as he wipes a bead of sweat from his brow. “We shall go there at once. Stonehoof, could you lead the way? And gentlecolts, please remember to give our guest plenty of room.”

Stonehoof motions for me to follow her. I do so, but not before glancing back to make sure Glasseye isn't doing something suspicious. He smiles at me and indicates that he's coming, but I'm not fooled: he has the smile of someone with something to hide.

Even with my security clearance, I expected that the research and development labs would be the most tightly guarded and secure location in all of Genesis, even outdoing Glasseye's apartment. But as we approach the building in Glasseye's airship, I'm surprised to find that it looks like just another office building, identical to the hundreds you'd find throughout Manehattan's business district.

“Don't be fooled by the exterior,” Glasseye says. “It's a far different ballgame inside.”

Glasseye then sends a message to the building and tells them to deactivate the security field. Only then do I notice a barely-visible magical dome encircling the building, most likely to keep curious pegasus ponies from getting too close. Glasseye explains that anyone who hits the field will have a sudden nausea attack and have to immediately flee for it to fade.

When the spell is down, the airship lands on the roof. We take an elevator to the plain, sparsely decorated lobby.

“We can't take any chances when it comes to protecting our research,” Glasseye tells me as we go through a security checkpoint and get scanned by guards dressed in heavy armor, “hence why this building is constructed to look as uninteresting as possible, and to have that spell encircling it." We head to elevators in the back. “But if by some chance a thief snuck past the checkpoints, they'd have to get past our next line of defense.”

“And what's that?” I ask.

We step inside one of the elevators. This one has a complex control panel with eye-scanners.

“If you want to use our elevators, you need to have your retinal pattern scanned and recognized," Glasseye explains. "If you're not in our database, you're not going anywhere.”

After the guards crowd in, Glasseye presses his eyes to the scanner. Once they turn green, he sends us down. “The majority of our R and D facilities are built into the foundations of Genesis,” Glasseye explains as we descend. “This serves two purposes: In case of an emergency, the facilities are protected on all sides by the city's foundations, and if someone broke in and tried to escape, their exits can easily be cut off.”

With a gentle bump, the elevator comes to a stop. The doors slide open, revealing a stainless steel hallway filled with dozens of ponies running about in lab coats and other scientific outfits.

“Welcome, Silverspeak, to where the magic happens. Now, there are several divisions down here. Which would you like to see first?”

“What are these divisions?”

“Health, technology, transportation, minerals and management, computer sciences, and special projects."

So there isn't a weapons division. That's good.

“These recent changeling assaults are no doubt going to demand a response in security measures,” I say. “Do you have anything that could detect them?”

“I'm glad you asked, actually,” Glasseye says. He leads the way down the corridors and to a room filled with dozens of clear cabinets holding all sorts of mechanical gears, tubes, and components. "This is the special projects division. Our most valuable projects are under construction here."

I study the cabinets. The closest has nothing in it. "What's normally in here?"

Glasseye unlocks the cabinet and pulls something out, a kind of shimmering fabric that looks like snakeskin, but has the stretch and flexibility of spandex.

"This is a prototype camouflage suit, a little something we've been working for ponies who want to study rare wildlife up close."

I nod as I look the suit over. “How does it work?”

“The material refracts light and bends it with magic-infused fibers,” a nearby technician explains. “If you wear it and stand perfectly still, you're completely invisible.”

Fascinating...

Grinning, Glasseye hands the suit to me. “Here. It's yours.”

“What?”

“Consider it a gift. I imagine Princess Luna would be most interested in seeing it when you return to Canterlot... though I'd appreciate it if you don't share it with our competitors.”

I... I can't believe it. This suit is one of the most technologically advanced things I've ever seen. It must be rare, difficult to create, and astonishingly expensive. Yet, Glasseye is giving it to me as if he has thousands of them tucked away in closets somewhere. I want to say no, that this is too much... but he's right. Luna would be very interested in seeing this.

Smiling, I tuck the suit into a pocket before looking at the other cabinets, hoping to find other wonderous devices. Most of them I don't recognize, but there's a brass scepter in one with a blood-red gem embedded in the top. It's probably the scepter of a barbaric ruler from Equestria's distant past; no civilized pony would have a barbed spike placed on the bottom.

"Wondering what a staff is doing among the wonders of technology?" Glasseye asks. "It's something our archaeologists recovered from the frozen north: the scepter of some king or queen from thousands of years ago. From what they could tell, the gem was magically attuned to use the aura of a unicorn. Most likely it's wielder lost their horn, so he or she had their resident spellcasters come up with this to compensate." Glasseye taps the glass. "We're hoping to artificially duplicate the effect so that other unfortunate unicorns who lose their horns can still cast magic. Still a ways away from happening, though... which is why we're also working on these."

I follow his hoof, and... wait. Wait, are those horns? Several cabinets embedded in the back wall are filled with them, horns of all shapes and sizes, from small and stubby to ones that are Alicorn length and every shape and size in-between.

"We're starting preliminary work on creating artificial horns," Glasseye says. "Not the ones Medicomp is trying to grow in tubes, but ones of metal and steel... fashioned to look like the real thing, of course."

I study the horns, curious about-

Wait.

That one horn, nestled in the back... it looks familiar-

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Glasseye says. "We came here for a tool against Chrysalis and her minions!"

Reluctantly turning away from the horns, I watch Glasseye as he pulls a small scanner from a table filled with piles of metal, cables, and conductors. The device doesn't look like much; it's little more than a crudely-welded steel box holding a freakish mishmash of cables, wires, and two tiny antenna on top.

“A hoofheld changeling scanner. Now, we have spells to detect the creatures, but it takes years of training. With this scanner, though, everyone can find a changeling with no magic required. Just point it and pull the trigger, sending out waves to detect changeling magic." Glasseye hands it to me. “Here, give it a go.”

I take the device. It's quite heavy, but the weight could come in handy if you needed to stun a changeling with a blow to the head. I press the trigger and the tiny screen glows white.

“Green for clear,” the technician explains, “and red for a disguise.”

Keeping the trigger held, I point the device at several nearby ponies, the screen briefly turning green at each one. I turn it to the guards, and they come up green, too.

I scan the last guard, but the screen flickers, clogged with static.

“I'm afraid we're still working the bugs out,” Glasseye said. “You see, this was originally a... what was it again?”

“A device to find deposits of metal in rock,” the technician says.

“Ah yes, thank you." Then, to me, “Once Chrysalis' minions attacked, Thorax was quick to assist us in helping to create this device. But refining and perfecting it has remained... difficult." Taking the device, Glasseye turns it to me. The screen turns green, flickers, turns red, then green again. “See?”

That's a disappointment. If TechInc could perfect such a device, it'd be the perfect thing to carry around. “How long until it's ready?” I ask.

“We don't know. We're also working on full body scanners, like the ones you see at the Equestria Games, but those are at least two years away. Until then, all we can rely on is changeling detecting spells." Glasseye puts the scanner back on the cluttered table. “Well, let's continue on. We still have a lot to see.”

"Oh, Glasseye?"

"Yes?"

"These horns... how far along are they?"

I feel the gaze of everyone in the room falling on me.

"Not getting ideas, are you, Silverspeak?" Glasseye chuckles.

"Princess Luna will want to know."

"I'm afraid I don't know," Glasseye says without hesitation. "We've been working on those horns for months and haven't had a breakthrough yet. Now, come. We still have much to see."

Glasseye wasn't kidding, as there are many other labs and rooms packed into this underground labyrinth. While it's fascinating to see so many blueprints, drawings, and conceptual art of forthcoming technical wonders, there really is only so much I can take in at once. I've never been trained as an inspector, and while I try to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, there's only so much I can keep track of. Glasseye lets me look through the labs as I wish, but with all the various devices lying around, I could be looking at a weapon and not even know it.

Making our way down the lowest two floors, we finish the tour with an inspection of protective clothing that can be worn in extreme environments. And when that's done, Glasseye finally leads me towards the elevator.

“Well, that's everything we have here, Silverspeak." He presses the call button. “Unless you'd like to look any of them over again, I suggest we head to the airplane facility next. There are some dazzling prototypes we're building that you really must see.”

I'm about to step onto the elevator when I decide to scan the hall one more time. Not that I expect to find anything, but.... Wait. There's a small door near the end of the corridor. It's painted to match the color of the walls, and is so well camouflaged that if it weren't for a guard's shadow dancing over the grooves, I never would have noticed it.

“What's that?”

Glasseye follows my gaze. “Oh, that? That's... well, that's where we brainstorm, plan, and build prototypes of our next inventions. If this facility is the heart of Genesis, that's the brain and soul. Everything we've made began as an idea in there.”

“I'd like to see it, please.”

“Well of course you would, but you see Silverspeak, I... I'm not entirely comfortable with doing so.”

“Why?”

“Look, I know you're not a business pony, but you have to understand that we have to keep some of our ideas secret for as long as possible. We don't want anyone finding out what we're working on so they can steal it. Can you imagine what would have happened if someone else had learned about the limbs Beakbreaker was trying to make back in Manehattan? What if they had stolen them, sold them off, and become rich and famous? Beakbreaker would never have been picked up by Medicomp, you would still be bagging groceries at the supermarket, and I'd still be wasting my time teaching tiny little minds at the university.”

“I understand that, Glasseye, but I want to see it."

I start towards the door, only to stop as guards block my path.

Glasseye dashes over. “Boys, boys, it's all right. Silverspeak is not our enemy. After all, he is allowed to go inside if he wants to.”

I go to the door. A panel slides open as scanners for the eyes, hooves, and chest emerge. “What are these?”

“Scanners to measure blood type, heart elevation, and brain waves,” Glasseye says. “Because of the secrecy of the projects inside that room, this is our last line of defense. These devices ensure that the ponies authorized to enter are doing so of their own free will. Any abnormal brain waves, an elevated heart rate, sweat, or anything indicating stress or being forced to act via coercion will cause the door to lock down. Observe." He pressed his face to the scanners, and then his chest went against another scanner. It only took a moment for the lights to flash red. “As you can see, my stress levels makes it impossible to get inside. I'm afraid we'll have to come back later when I've calmed down.”

“But I'm authorized to get inside, correct?”

“Well, yes, but-”

I go to the scanner and place my eyes against the optics. A brief flash of light blinds me, and then I place my hoof and chest against the scanner.

The lights turn red.

“Why didn't it work?”

“When you arrived you were supposed to be authorized to gain access to every part of the city. Did they enter your Iris data and brainwaves into the system?”

“No.”

“That explains it. With the convention and all, security apparently just forgot to do the procedure." Glasseye takes out a portable phone and presses a button. “Onyx? This is Glasseye. Can you please grant Silverspeak access to the brainstorming room as soon as possible? Yes... Very well. Thank you." He hangs up. “It'll take some time to integrate you into the system, and you'll need to have your iris and other personal data scanned, but you'll be able to access the room by tomorrow morning. I trust that will meet your satisfaction?”

Something about Glasseye's look is off. Behind the charming smile and reassuring gaze, there's a feeling of desperation coming from him. He's hiding something.

“Who else is authorized to enter this room?” I ask. “I'd like them to come down and open the door.”

“I'm afraid that's not possible. The ponies who work in there are on vacation, and won't be back until the convention is over.”

A beep causes Glasseye to bring up a fancy pocketwatch. “Oh my, is it that late already? It's almost lunchtime.”

I check my watch and find that it's half an hour until eleven thirty. I want to press this and get inside the room, but I have another appointment that can't wait. "We'll pick this up later," I say. "I'm having lunch with Beakbreaker in half an hour.”

“Ah, a date, is it?" Glasseye smiles, relieved to change the subject. “Tell you what, Silverspeak; I took the luxury of setting up a first-class meal for us at Genesis' finest diner for lunch. Why doesn't Beakbreaker join us?" He flips out his phone. “Just give me a moment and I'll get her a seat at our table.”

“We were set on having an intimate lunch together.”

“Our restaurant is one of the finest in Equestria itself! Ponies and visitors from all over will wait all year to have a meal there during the convention, as it's home to the finest chefs bits can hire, and from all corners of Equs. Would it not be grand if the two of you were to lunch there? It'd be on my tab, of course." He grins. “You can even say you talked me into giving her a seat.”

There's no reason to doubt Glasseye's boasts. It would reflect well on him if he was host to one of the finest eateries in all of Equestria.

“Well... I suppose we can give it a try.”

“Splendid! Now, where is she staying? I can dispatch a cab to retrieve her.”

I take out the note Beakbreaker gave me. As Glasseye looks up the hotel and makes his phone calls, I glance back at the door. Nobody's gone near it, but the guards are talking among themselves. Stonehoof, in particular, whispers into a small communication device on her hoof. The professional in me thinks she's just updating security on where her employer is going.

My cynical side wonders if there are more suspicious reasons for her hushed tone.

The Four Corners restaurant is located on the very edge of Genesis, pressed against the magical barrier separating the city from the cold void of the open sky. Its location gives everyone inside a spectacular view of the endless sky, making it the perfect venue for impressing guests and dignitaries. It certainly impresses me as Glasseye guides me inside. The lunch hour is in full swing, with waiters and waitresses going to and fro between tables hosting members of high society, each filling their stomachs with the finest wine, champagne, and delicacies bits can buy, all in luxurious seats on a luxuriously thick carpet.

We aren't dining with them, however. Glasseye takes me to a private room at the very top of the building, nestled snugly just beneath the top of the rotunda. A large table has already been set for three. Glasseye has his guards and Stonehoof head outside as he and I take a seat.

“Feel free to order anything you like,” he says, tucking a napkin onto the front of his shirt.

I glance the menu over, trying to make sense of the bizarre and nearly unpronounceable names within. I've never dined at fancy restaurants before, being used to the simplicity of menus filled with burgers, pizzas and other common fare. Heck, even Princess Celestia is rumored to prefer cake over the elegant meals her chefs prepare on a daily basis.

“Well, Beakbreaker should be arriving at any minute,” Glasseye says. “My driver assured me she'd be here by... Ah, there she is!"

I glance out the wall of windows and catch sight of a cab landing near the entrance. Two waiters escort a most surprised Beakbreaker inside. Less than a minute later and she enters through the door.

“Ah, Beakbreaker!” Glasseye says. “Please, come in!”

Beakbreaker's surprised to be face-to-face with her old professor once more, especially with me present. “Silverspeak? I thought we were having lunch at your place.”

“Oh, he was most insistent on having it here,” Glasseye says. “Once I mentioned this place, he so dearly wanted to impress you. How could I say no to that? Now come, take a seat and have anything you like. My treat.”

Beakbreaker eases herself into a seat. “I'm surprised you're letting an employee from a rival company dine with you.”

“I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your inventions, my dear. Besides, this is for pleasure, not business. I trust your employer won't mind?”

Taking a menu, Beakbreaker looks it over. “I doubt it... though he'd probably want me to try and learn some of your biggest business secrets.”

A chuckle from Glasseye. “Yes, I'm sure he would. Now, Silverspeak, have you found anything you like?”

I haven't, but I have to pick something, if only to satisfy my growling stomach. I choose something at random from the pasta section. Beakbreaker does the same, as hopelessly confused as I was over the choices before her. With the orders written down and spirited away by the waiter, we're left to ourselves.

“Well, it has been so long since we last saw each other,” Glasseye says to Beakbreaker. “Tell me, what have you been up to since the Manehattan incident? I knew you were the head researcher for Medicomp, but I lost track of what you've been doing since then.”

“Well, I'm no longer in that lofty position," Beakbreaker says. "Medicomp figured the best way to proceed was to hire some of the brightest minds in the field to act as a hive mind, so to speak. A collective that can come up with new ideas. While it's nice not being the one everyone goes to for everything, we've come under so much pressure lately to keep up with... well, you. We work around the clock seven days a week, sometimes pulling double shifts, and I feel like I'm a hamster running on a wheel: wearing myself out while not going anywhere.”

“Nobody should have to feel that way,” I say.

“Indeed,” Glasseye says. “Unfortunately, that's the nature of our industry. Working all hours of the day and night, trying to keep up with demand and quotas. Trying to keep a set schedule can be nearly impossible.”

Beakbreaker buries her face in her hooves. “Tell me about it."

“You could always come work for me,” Glasseye says. “My researchers work just as hard as you, but they still get days off.”

“I thought this lunch was for pleasure, not business.”

“Oh, my mistake. Won't happen again." Glasseye takes a sip from his wine. “Still, there's more to life than work. There's family and friends. Can't neglect them... much like I did." He goes quiet for a moment, only to clap his hooves together in delight. “Come to think of it, I really should institute a policy of giving all employees more time off. Or maybe a holiday. Yes, that's it! A family appreciation day!" He scribbles a note. “Yes, I can see it now: two days a month for every employee to spend time with their family to improve morale! I shall have to invite both of your families out on the first annual TechInc family day!" As he puts the notes away, another idea comes to him. “And if you want to suggest to your employer that he do the same, feel free.”

Our food arrives, and the waiter puts our meals on the table. I grin, eager to devour whatever is before me... only for my appetite to vanish as the waiter lifts the lids away. In my haste to order something off the menu, I had selected liver and onion pasta. So too, did Beakbreaker.

Unaware of our collective grimaces, Glasseye digs into his salad. He only gets to the third mouthful before his phone rings. Irritated, he takes it out and listens. His face drops as he folds it up. “I'm afraid I won't be able to eat with you. Something came up that I need to attend to. But please, continue with your meal." He stands. “Silverspeak, I'll have my pilot fly you to my location when you're done with lunch, and we'll continue our tour." He nods to Beakbreaker. “A delight to see you again, Beakbreaker, if only briefly. I hope we can do so again soon.”

Without another word, he trots out.

“Wonder what that was about,” Beakbreaker wonders.

“Probably a meeting of some kind,” I say. “I imagine you have a lot of those... ever thought of slowing down a bit?”

“Yeah... about two days after my schedule started. But the company needs all the help it can get, and I can't just walk away." She sighs. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is the most relaxed I've been in months, and on a business trip, no less."

"What's the rest of your schedule look like for the convention?" I ask. "That is, if you don't mind me asking.”

“Well, I'm supposed to be scouting out the other booths and taking notes on the presentations. Once this whole thing is over, I'm supposed to fly right back to Manehattan so Medicomp can go over my notes and adjust their product lines and expansions accordingly.”

I try taking a bite of the pasta. It's difficult not to throw up. “And how fast do you have to get back, exactly?”

A small smile. “You're trying to ask me out, aren't you?”

“What, me?”

“Go on, admit it. You may have a way with words, but you clearly haven't had much practice with mares.”

I shrug. “Well... I would like to spend time with you.”

Beakbreaker takes a bite of her pasta. “Something more than a dinner date?”

“Such as?”

“Surprise me.”

I ponder the thought. What could I do that's fancier than a nice meal, but not so fancy as to break the bank?

Beakbreaker tries another bite of her food, but she struggles to get it down. “Does this taste... well...”

“Revolting?”

“Yep."

It's quiet as we both stare at our food.

“Want to see if they have burgers?” I ask.

“Heck yes.”

We head downstairs and find the head waiter. Seeing my badge instantly puts him at attention and he inquires if there's anything he can do for me. I ask if the place has any burgers. I don't expect it to, but he says he'll see if the chefs can whip something up. As he goes inside, a thought comes to me.

“Oh, I have an idea!”

“You know a burger joint nearby?” Beakbreaker asks.

“No; I was thinking... why not take a vacation after giving your report to Medicomp?”

“A vacation?”

“Yes! Not a long one, mind you, something short. Maybe three days somewhere nice. We can go to an island, the desert-”

Beakbreaker chuckles. “The desert?”

“What? You don't like the desert? Forget the desert. Too much sand. Maybe we can go to a mountaintop resort, or the Crystal Empire. Anyway, we could see the sights, taste the local cuisine, and... well, discuss... things.”

“What sort of things?”

She's playful about this. That's good. “Well... whatever it is ponies talk about on vacation. The future, I guess. What they want to do. Interests, that sort of thing. And when we're done, we can think things over and decide where we want to go from there. I mean, if we want to go on more dates or vacations, or things like that.”

One of Beakbreaker's eyebrows goes up. Whether from interest or surprise, I can't tell.

“Of course, we don't have to rush anything," I assure her. "Or if three days is too much, we can always make it a weekend. Or even a single day, if you want. I mean, there's plenty of places in Manehattan we could go. Like a fancy hotel, or-”

Beakbreaker's hoof goes to my lips. “A vacation sounds great,” she says with a smile. “But I don't know if Coin Counter would let me have one.”

“He has to!” I say, gently pushing her hoof away. “You're his most famous employee. That makes you irreplaceable; ergo, you have more leverage when asking for time off. I could even write something for you to say, if you want.”

“You really do want to go out with me.”

My cheeks turn a faint shade of crimson. “Well, when you put it that way... Yes I do.”

Beakbreaker smiles. “Well, getting a vacation so soon after the convention is going to be tricky, but I can squeeze in a few hours tomorrow evening. How about we meet up, watch the closing ceremony, have dinner, and then see Genesis' nightlife? I've heard that their amusement park is one of the best in all of Equs.”

I'd prefer to have an entire afternoon with Beakbreaker, but I'll take what I can get. “Sure, that won't be a problem.”

The kitchen doors open, and the waiter comes out with two plates of gourmet hayburgers that – as we learn – were specially made to order. Quite ornate, but I don't mind. And neither does Beakbreaker, considering how happily she munches through hers when we're back in the VIP room.

The rest of our lunch passes pleasantly enough, with simple chitchat and enjoying each other's company. But eventually our conversations reach their end, and the food is eaten up. Thus, with our bellies full we head outside, where a small contingent of Glasseye's guards wait for me.

“Well, I really enjoyed that,” I say. “I hope you did, too."

"The hayburgers, yes. The gourmet food? Not so much."

We chuckle.

"Well, I need to go," Beakbreaker says. "I'll see you tomorrow night outside the convention hall."

"I'll be there."

Smiling, Beakbreaker starts towards a taxi. I should let her go, but it doesn't feel right to end lunch like this.

“Beakbreaker!" I catch up to her as she turns to me. “I just wanted to thank you for coming out. I know this isn't what we planned, but I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.”

“Don't worry, I did... though maybe we can do something a little less fancy next time.”

“Agreed.”

“Burgers?”

I smile. “Yes, burgers. Promise.”

We look at each other for a moment, and that split-second presents an opportunity. At this stage in rebuilding a relationship with Beakbreaker, I believe I can use polite physical contact, such as the kiss of a hoof. But should I still try? Perhaps that would be going a little too fast. Perhaps I should wait until the end of another meal before-

The second ends, and Beakbreaker heads off to her taxi. “See you tomorrow!” she calls over her shoulder as she ducks inside. The taxi heads off, leaving me alone before the restaurant.

Am I disappointed? A little, but at this stage in the game, perhaps it's smarter not to rush anything. I'll get another chance to get that kiss.

I just hope the opportunity comes sooner rather than later.

Seeing that I'm done with Beakbreaker, Glasseye's guards usher me into Glasseye's airship. We take off and eventually land at another large research and development lab; the interior signs reveal that this is where building and construction technologies are being researched. Sure enough, Glasseye and the rest of his company are waiting for me. To my relief, Glasseye doesn't look upset at how long Beakbreaker and I spent together.

“I trust lunch was enjoyable?”

I nod, eager to get the tour back underway. “Glasseye, how many more facilities do we have to see?”

“Quite a few. There are many divisions at work here in Genesis. You don't have somewhere you need to be, do you?”

“No. But considering how long this is taking, I'll have to stay in Genesis after the convention is over so I can complete my inspection.”

“Really? But we should be able to complete the tour if we go through tomorrow.”

I shake my head. “I'm afraid I won't be able to do any work tomorrow after lunchtime.”

Glasseye gives a smug smile. “Oh? Something involving the lovely Beakbreaker, I presume?"

“With all due respect, Glasseye, I'd like to resume the tour.”

Glasseye grins. “Of course. Do follow me, please.”

The tour begins again, and I do my best to concentrate as Glasseye points out all the various construction vehicles before me. I try to be focused, but it's hard to be excited by high-tech cement mixers. Oh, it'll increase the strength of concrete by at least 25 percent, but it pales when compared to artificial eyeballs and invisibility suits. The rest of the afternoon isn't much better; it's difficult to decide if everything I see has the possibility of turning into a weapon. The number of rooms in each building seems to be doubling, and while the staff doesn't try to stop me from exploring, they do keep a very close eye on me. Whether that's from fear that I'll uncover a secret weapon of ultimate doom, or are just curious about an outsider getting this far into Glasseye's operations, I can't tell.

As we fly to yet another factory, I have an epiphany: this isn't working. I'm one single pony in a city built and ruled by a single company with thousands of employees that they can order about. I can't be everywhere at once, and Glasseye could take advantage of that to hide things at his leisure. I glance out the window and calculate how many buildings we've gone to. My stomach sinks as I realize we've been to maybe a third of them. At this rate I'll be inspecting closets and basements for weeks.

“Well, we have another four facilities we can visit today,” Glasseye says as he goes through a list. “Is there one you'd like to see in particular?”

Perhaps now would be the best time to dispense with the pleasantries. I can't use my silver tongue, but I can be honest about this whole investigation... while being tactful, of course.

“Glasseye, is your company working on weapons of any kind?”

I don't know how Glasseye would react to my question. Most likely he'll be defensive and try to crack a joke while hiding his offense. But to my surprise, he seems... relieved.

“Actually, I'm glad you asked, Silverspeak. We are indeed, and I was going to suggest we head to the development center next.”

Wait, that's it? He's more forthcoming than I thought.

We fly back to the Monolith and head through several security doors and checkpoints before reaching a heavily armored room near the tower's center. It takes a scan of both Glasseye and Stonehoof's badges before the main gates glide open, granting us access to another research lab similar to the others we've gone through. But instead of machine parts, medical equipment, and piles of metal scattered about, there are several stations filled with weapon components.

“Due to the rather... sensitive nature of our self-defense division, we decided to locate the manufacturing plant within the tower itself,” Glasseye says.

“I'm sorry, self-defense?”

“Yes. The only weapons we work on are nonlethal, self-defense firearms meant for law enforcement and private citizens. Nothing in this room is lethal. Take this, for example." Glasseye goes to a station and takes a small device colored bright yellow. “This is a taser.”

“A what?”

“A small device that shoots a stream of electricity into its target. The voltage causes the assailant to temporarily lose control of all voluntary motor systems. Thus, complete incapacitation, and they're back up and none the worse for wear in ten minutes." He brings the taser up. “Would you care for a demonstration?”

“On myself?”

“Oh, good heavens no! We have employees whose only job is to be... well, subjected to our devices. Of course, they're highly-paid and receive excellent medical care.”

“What else are they shot with?”

“Pepper spray, tear gas, sleep gas, sleep darts, expanding foam and a chemical that causes them to vomit and loosen their bowels at the same time. Can't attack someone if you're sick to your stomach.”

“And is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

Everyone in the room turns to me.

Glasseye smiles. “Yes. I'm very sure." His smile widens. “Now, how about we proceed with the demonstrations? I assure you that they'll be most eye-opening.”

The poor test subjects had better be paid well, considering what they go through over the next fifteen minutes as they're zapped, sprayed, and pelted with the weapons. They may be non-lethal, but they clearly hurt like Tartarus. Yet, each subject manages to stand after the demonstration is over, and are instantly tended to by a pair of nurses.

“Well, my lad, what do you think?” Glasseye asks as the last test subject is helped from the room.

“That looked painful.”

“Indeed it was. But as I said, it's only used for self-defense, along with everything else we make." The taser's pressed into my hooves. “Here. I imagine Princess Luna will want to see this when you meet with her.”

Pocketing the taser, I then proceed on an examination of the room, looking very closely for hidden doors, secret compartments, or anywhere else non-lethal weapons could be hidden. But there are none, and it seems the place is clean. Yet, there's a feeling of unease I can't shake.

Something doesn't feel right.

“Well, if you don't have any further questions, why don't we move on?" Glasseye asks. "There are still a few places to see before the day is done.”

I should see as many places as I can today so I can save time tomorrow, but that door back in the main research lab just won't leave my mind.

“Actually, I'd prefer if we could pick this up tomorrow,” I say.

“Really? I got the impression you wanted to see as much as you could today.”

“I did. But there are personal matters I must attend to. And if I'm not mistaken, you have a talk at the convention hall in an hour.”

Glasseye's smile gives way to confusion, and he pulls out his pocketwatch. “My goodness, you're right! I lost track of the time! Well, it seems we will have to pick this up again tomorrow. I'll see you in my office at eight AM sharp. That is, unless you'd like to start earlier?”

“No, eight will be fine." And it's true. Glasseye needs to get ready for his presentation, and he'll be dead tired by the time it's over. He'll want to sleep as soon as possible, leaving me free to do as I please all night long without his interference.

There's just one thing I need to do first.

With the tour concluded, I leave the research floor and head to my penthouse. The doors are closed, the curtains drawn, and after locking the master bedroom, I take Luna's box from beneath the bed. Lying on the ground, I take the orb in my hooves and rub it three times.

Like before, the world goes hazy as I fall into Luna's dreamworld. It's easier to adjust to than last time, but it's still unnerving to see my body on the floor. I try to ignore it as Luna glides out from behind the ether.

“Silverspeak, you're earlier than I expected. Have you found something?”

“Not exactly, your Highness. I began my investigation of Genesis this morning with Glasseye, but it's going much slower than I expected.”

“One cannot expect to explore all of Genesis in a single day, Silverspeak.”

“I understand that, your Highness." Something occurs to me. “If you don't mind me asking, your Highness-”

“You may call me Luna, Silverspeak.”

I hope she doesn't see my shiver of excitement. “...Luna, if I may ask, why did you send just me here? Why not several assistants, or even an army of inspectors? That would make an inspection much easier.”

“Because handling these matters requires diplomacy. Glasseye is already on edge, for your presence implies that my sister and I don't trust him. Sending an army of inspectors would only give him cause to resent us further, and perhaps hinder our efforts. A single inspector may accomplish more than a hundred ever could.”

“Perhaps, but I have reason to believe that Glasseye is not being as honest as he appears. Despite telling me I could see every room in the city, he purposefully left me in the dark about one in his main research facility. He was exceedingly nervous about me going in.”

Luna's not impressed. “His life revolves around business. That includes guarding trade secrets.”

“Again, I acknowledge that. But while he has ordered security to allow me inside, I have the feeling he's trying to hide something from me." I stop to gather my courage. I'm not looking forward to this... but if Celestia were given a chance to save lives, eve if it made her uncomfortable, she would take it. So must I. “I believe that if TechInc and Glasseye are hiding something," I say, "my best chance of finding it is to use my talent to persuade him and others to talk. I ask for permission to do so.”

Luna has the best poker face, as I can't tell what she thinks of my request. “This is not a request to be taken lightly, Silverspeak. Are you sure you are not just misinterpreting what Glasseye has said and done?”

“I do not believe he has malevolent intentions,” I say, “but as you said, he is a business pony. He may seek to gain profit if an opportunity arises. He already has his company working on changeling detectors, and-”

“Wait, changeling detectors?”

I nod.

“Fascinating... please gain one of these devices and send them to Canterlot as soon as you can. I wish to see them.”

“Of course. But as I was saying, if he sees an advantage in creating a changeling detector, then a weapon to combat them is the next logical step. He is already working on non-lethal weapons for law enforcement and self defense, but I doubt he would pass up the opportunity to create something more dangerous, especially if others want to defend themselves against changelings.”

Luna ponders my words.

“If he is hiding something,” I add, “he has an entire city to do it in. Persuading employees to reveal any secrets they may have will allow me to find them more easily.”

“I am aware of that,” Luna says.

I go silent, not wanting to risk annoying her.

After a moment, Luna nods. “Very well. In the interest of the greater good, you may use your talent on Glasseye and his employees. But...” she narrows her eyes, “...you may only do so in the context of learning about any weapons. You are not to persuade them to do anything, to try and change TechInc's policies, or use it for personal gain. Is that understood?”

I nod.

“Very well. Report back to me with your findings as soon as you can. That is all.”

Her horn glows, and the world around me fades out.

When I open my eyes, I'm back in the physical world, the orb still clutched between my hooves. It goes back into the box as I plan my next move: now that I have Luna's permission to use my talent, I need to head out and put it to good use, and the sooner the better. I can't risk missing anything that could threaten Beakbreaker and my parents-

Wait... Oh no, I forgot about Mom and Dad! They're still expecting to eat dinner with Beakbreaker and me! I head out and down to their room. Breaking the news isn't going to be fun, but I don't want to leave them waiting for something that won't come.

Reaching their room, I knock on the door. Maybe I can have dinner with them. I'm sure they wouldn't mind the company after such a long and eventful day.

The door opens.

“Mom? I'm afraid I have some bad-” I stop. Mom looks exhausted. Her eyes are red and it's difficult for her to remain standing. “Mom?! What's wrong?”

She tries to smile. “I'm sorry, Silverspeak, but your father and I can't come to dinner. We... Well, we came down with something.”

I'm looking for dots, bumps, redness, anything that could indicate what she might have. “When did this happen?”

“Around lunchtime.”

“What? Why didn't you let me know?”

“We... We thought it was just a cold. Besides, nothing a visit to the pharmacist couldn't fix.”

Something falls in the living room.

“Oh dear." Mom retreats inside. I follow her. Dad's trying to pull some suitcases, but he's so tired that he can't even drag one around.

“Dad?!”

He's surprised to see me. “Hey, kiddo.”

“Where are you going?”

Mom butts in. “Silverspeak, I know this is very sudden, but your father and I... well, we've been away from home for quite a while now. Please don't take this the wrong way-”

“We loved coming out to see you, and coming here,” Dad says.

“But we've been away from the house and the shop longer than we thought,” Mom says. “We decided it's time for us to head back home.”

“What? Already?”

“We'd stay longer if we could, but... well, we figured maybe spending time at home would help us recover faster. That, and I can't leave the shop alone for too long.”

“Plus, it's better to leave the party before you get burned out,” Dad tries to drag the suitcases back up, but can't even lift the handles. Anyone looking at him would say that he needs bedrest, not travel.

“Maybe the two of you just need a good night's sleep,” I say. “How about we see how you're feeling in the morning and go from there?”

Mom shakes her head. “No, Silverspeak. We need to head back tonight.”

My gosh, she sounds so tired.

“Besides, we can't risk spreading this around, and we'll go crazy if we stay cooped up here.”

I'd still like them to stay, but Dad's right about not wanting to spread their bug around. In a confined city like Genesis, and especially in the convention itself, a cold or other transmittable disease would spread like wildfire.

“Well... alright. I'll call Gusty and ask him to fly you two home. You think you can be ready to go within an hour?”

“How does right now sound?” Dad asks.

It takes a little while to find Gusty, but eventually he's located by the Monolith's security team at a small bar. While grumbling at having to fly to Saddle Lanka and back in one night, he nevertheless prepares his ship. Due to Mom and Dad having only the strength to walk, I enlist a few aides to help us to the landing platform where Dusty's ship is docked. Once everything's loaded on board, I help my parents to the boarding ramp.

“I'll come visit as soon as I'm done here,” I say.

“Don't rush,” Mom says. “Really, don't. We'll be fine.”

“Besides, don't want you having to take care of us when you're visiting,” Dad says. “What kind of parents would we be if that happened?" He tries to smile, only to stop when several coughs force themselves out.

“When you do visit,” Mom says, “see if you can have Beakbreaker come along. Then we can have dinner with both of you.”

I nod. “I will." I step back as Mom and Dad make their way up in the ship, trying to calm my racing heart. "I'll call you in a few days," I say. "Be safe."

They manage to give little waves before the ramp retracts and the door closes. I go onto the walkway as the Raven takes off, flying towards Genesis' massive dome and through a momentarily opened panel. Then it flies off into the night sky, vanishing within the clouds.

The aides retreat inside, and I follow, my mind racing into overdrive. All the traveling my parents have done might have weakened their immune system, and with thousands of ponies all gathered together, it's inevitable that someone was going to catch something in a hotbed of viruses and germs.

I head back inside the tower; I should get moving on my nighttime interviews, but they now seem insignificant. I'm not even sure I can do them now, because a thought appears in my mind, one that shoves everything else aside and makes me feel a cold, sinking dread.

If my parents got sick from something they caught at the convention, why haven't I seen anyone else with the same symptoms?

Author's Notes:

Well, that took a lot longer than I imagined. Like with the original story, there will be a bonus chapter with the outline for "Nightfall," but I'll go ahead and reveal that this part of the story was a big, gray area where I had to get from point A to point B, but had little idea how to actually do so, hence why I missed the usual update schedule. Hopefully, that won't be a problem from here on out.

Speaking of updates, in case anyone didn't see one of my prior journals, I'm thinking of posting a journal entry whenever a new chapter goes up for those of you who aren't automatically notified. Would anyone be interested in this?

On a different note, I'm pleased to announce that reader Teapot333 has begun adapting the first "Monster" story into an audiobook series! You can follow his efforts at his youtube page. Here's chapter 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft76eLMXxkA

And secondly, here's a picture by the talented lilithnanhart (who did the cover for the first story). It's not tied to any scene in the books, just a little moment I've had for a while that I wanted to have illustrated.

The Big Question

Wanting a distraction, I hurry up to the Monolith's security office. Even at this late hour ponies are hard at work ensuring that everything's running smoothly. As I hoped, Onyx Shield is here, and he immediately notices my unease.

“Mr. Silverspeak? Is something wrong?”

“Yes. My parents just became very ill and had to leave.”

“Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. If it's any comfort, 'con crud' is very common at these conventions. They should get over it within the next few days.”

“I hope so... Onyx, I have a hypothetical question: If an invading force somehow got into Genesis and attacked us, would there be a way to fight back?”

“Are you saying they are invading?”

“No. I just want to know.”

“Well, we have non-lethal weaponry that we keep for riots. That would take care of any attacker, changeling or otherwise.”

This presents a golden opportunity, one that I'd be foolish to pass up. I turn on the charm. “And what about lethal weaponry? Is anything of that class here?”

Onyx blinks and rubs his eyes. He shakes his head, as if trying to clear it. Anyone watching would think he had a headache, but not me. While my talent can affect anyone, those who have high willpower are among the few who can resist my talent. Onyx seems to be one of them.

“No. We haven't seen the need.”

“But what if the city was attacked by flying monsters? Or by a private army trying to steal TechInc's technology?”

“We have other means of defending ourselves: Magic, defenses built into the city itself, things like that. Rest assured, Silverspeak, that if changelings do launch an attack on Genesis, we can defeat them. Glasseye spared no expense in ensuring his city would be safe.”

Should I press my charm harder? If I antagonize Onyx Shield too much, I could lose a valuable ally in hunting for hidden weapons or – Celestia help me – if changelings are in fact in the city. Having the head of security on my side would be a huge asset.

“Very well. Let's hope that never happens.”

Onyx nods. “Indeed." He snaps his hooves together. “Oh, before I forget, I'll deactivate your parent's security clearance. We also need your bio-readings for Genesis' scanning system. I was going to call you in an hour to schedule an appointment, but we can do it right now if you want.”

“This is for the brainstorming room?”

Onyx nods. “We should have done it sooner, but we've had our hooves full with the convention." He starts down a hall. “Follow me, please.”

I almost start after him before realizing something: What if the officer is a changeling? Or, for that matter, anyone on security detail? They could easily use my data to create a doppelganger and use it to create havoc without me knowing about it.

“Glasseye said that these scanners were the only way into that room. Was he correct?”

“Yes,” Onyx says without hesitation. “It was specially designed for that purpose. Now, this way, please.”

Should I follow him? It seems like this is the only way I'm going to get into that room, even if any secret weapons have already been moved out by now. But if I can confirm that at a later time, it would provide the evidence I need to get royal intervention.

I follow Onyx.

The scanning process itself is quite simple, mostly consisting of pressing myself against various scanners and trying not to move as lasers and flashes of light move about me, take readings, and get shot into my eyeballs. In less than ten minutes my brainwave patterns, iris, chest, and hoofprint data are recorded and entered into Genesis' system.

“There, all done. You're good to go,” Onyx says as he looks at a printout. “Now, I know it's late, but I can take you to the brainstorming room right now, if you want.”

It's tempting to accept the offer; a part of me still wants to use the element of surprise to sneak in later. Going down to that room with the head of Genesis' security trailing me will only mean more eyes watching me. But if I were to wait and sneak in on my own in the dead of night, I would probably find nothing and only aggravate and annoy Glasseye, making further investigations even more difficult.

“Yes,” I say. “I would like that.”

In less than ten minutes Onyx and I are flying over glowing streetlights and office buildings full of ponies hard at work. Once the security craft reaches the main research facility, we waste no time in going through security and descending to the bottom floor.

There‘s nobody waiting for us as I press myself against the scanners beside the door to the brainstorming room. Sensors come to life, and one by one, red lights turn green.

Locks click, and the door slides open with a near-silent hiss.

Pulling away from the sensors, I step into the most heavily guarded and valuable room in all of Genesis. And within its shining walls I find… nothing that I expected.

There are no prototypes, no mechanical monstrosities or military weapons waiting for me. In fact, it looks like any other brainstorming room you’d find in a typical corporate office. The walls are shiny, there's a metal table in the center with all manner of comfy, expensive chairs, but there's nothing to justify the paranoia and secrecy about the place.

Well, not entirely. There’s an entire wall of file cabinets in the back.

Onyx takes his key and unlocks the cabinets, allowing me to browse the documents filed away within.

“I trust you’ll keep these in the strictest confidence.”

“With exception to the Princesses if they ask to see them.“

Closing one cabinet, I slide another open. All of these are blueprints, schematics, and brainstorming ideas for devices TechInc has already made. It’s only when I reach the last row of cabinets that I find ideas for things that haven’t been developed yet. I check them carefully; TechInc has a lot of plans for the coming years, with lists outlining market strategies and product development, along with tentative plans to expand operations throughout Equestria.

It all sounds like something an evil corporation would do in a horror film... only there's nothing here to suggest malevolent intentions. I can't find a single file or paper about weapons or devices that could be used to harm others. Indeed, it all looks legitimate. Everything is either medical in nature, or benign, everyday-technology. While it’s surprising to see development already underway on mechanical organs, there are other things I can’t make heads or tails of, things like ‘cars’ and ‘helicopters’. They seem to be transportation-related, but I can’t tell for sure.

“Are you satisfied?”

Reaching the end of the cabinet, I slide it closed. “I think so.”

“Find what you were looking for?”

“I’m not sure." I glance around the room. There aren’t any other nearly-invisible walls that I can see, nor are there any signs of… wait.

What’s that?

“If you don’t mind me asking, what did you hope to find?”

The floor… there’s barely visible scuff marks on the tile.

“I’m… not sure, to be exact,” I say. “It’s my job to search Genesis for anything that might be considered dangerous.”

“Well, you won’t find any of that here. I can promise you that.”

“I hope you’re right." It’s difficult to keep up a conversation without looking suspicious, but I try my hardest, looking like I’m curiously looking the room over while really trying to get a better glimpse of the scuff mark. And from what I can tell, it’s new, not faded and smoothed over like something that’s been there a long time.

“If you want to keep looking around, I can call for another officer to accompany you.”

“No, that’s alright. I’ve seen everything I need.”

We leave, the door quietly sliding into place behind us. I’m calm and assured as we take the elevator back up, but I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right here. A perfectly clean, high-tech room with a single scuff mark in the floor would only concern someone who's obsessive-compulsive. But for a room that was spotlessly clean, shouldn't a mark like that have been cleaned up immediately?

And perhaps more importantly, when was it made?

It’s a quick ride back to the Monolith. After bidding Onyx good night, I head back to my penthouse, hoping for a quiet night. But even as I try to relax by taking a long, hot bath, peace is nowhere to be found. When was the last time my parents got sick? What are they doing right now? They're probably still en-route to Saddle Lanka, but what if they take a turn for the worse while in flight? What if Gusty decides to land at a nearby community for medical treatment? Could his radio reach out this far? What if something happens to them before I could get there? How would I get there?

The night drags on. It feels like years go by before the first cracks of the sun's rays finally creep into the room. But the new day brings no relief. I struggle to get out of bed, wanting to do nothing more than to collapse and sleep for the rest of the day. But I still have a job to do, one that can't wait.

Glasseye is already awake and finishing up breakfast as I enter his chambers and trudge up the stairs. He's surprised to see me. So too is Stonehoof; neither expected me to come by this early.

“Silverspeak? What are you doing here so early?" Glasseye asks as he looks me over. "Good gracious, you look like the walking dead. Did you not sleep well?”

I rub my bloodshot eyes. “I had a rough night.”

“My boy, you can't go on the tour like this. You need sleep. Go back to your room and we'll pick this up tomorrow.”

Oh, I want to say yes... but I can't. I've already delayed this long enough. Get it over with, and I can finally get my answers.

“I went into the brainstorming room last night,” I say. “I didn't see anything that could be considered suspicious. But I'm still not convinced that things are as they seem.”

Glasseye's much calmer than I would have imagined him to be. He doesn't even seem concerned. “Whatever do you mean?”

Oh, to Tartarus with it. I turn on the charm. “Glasseye, are there any lethal weapons in this city?”

“Excuse me?”

“I saw scuff marks in the floor in the research room, ones that looked new. The only thing that could have made them was something heavy being dragged across the floor. Did you have anything removed before I entered?”

“Silverspeak, you're tired. You need to-”

“Answer my question.”

Annoyed, Stonehoof heads towards me. But Glasseye holds out a hoof and stops her. He takes a deep breath. “Silverspeak, there are no lethal weapons in Genesis. There have never been any, and there never will be, not as long as I'm in charge.”

Something in his voice conveys that he's not being completely honest.

"I don't believe you.”

Stonehoof's eyes narrow.

“Silverspeak, I understand it is your job to ask questions," Glasseye says, "but I will not be interrogated like an accused criminal.”

“I'm not accusing you of being one, but I think you're hiding something. Either that, or one of your employees is acting up.”

“Are you accusing my employees of trying to sabotage me? Because if you do, I will have you know that we do rigorous background checks on everyone we hire. And in the two years since I've started this company, we have yet to have a single theft or crime committed within these walls.”

“Then what was moved out of that room?”

“Probably just old files, the very first things we ever developed. We only have so much room in there, you know”

“Then I'd like to see those files as soon as possible.”

“Of course. I can arrange them to be brought to your room, if you wish.”

“How can I be sure they're the ones that were removed?”

Glasseye frowns. “I can only give you my word of honor that they're one and the same.”

I should keep pressing him. He's hiding something, I know it! With just the right amount of pressure I could make him spill everything and tell me all his secrets... but I... I can't. One of the things I learned when practicing my talent while growing up was knowing when to stop. If I use it peacefully and without aggression, I can almost always get the results I want. Using it aggressively, however, can cause individuals to close up and refuse to have anything to do with me. And judging by how irritated Glasseye is, he's almost to that point.

“Fine.”

Glasseye nods, then turns to Stonehoof. “Have those cabinets moved to Silverspeak's penthouse as soon as possible." As she leaves, Glasseye puts his tea down. His hooves shake slightly. “I believe we both need some time to calm down, Silverspeak. Perhaps it's best to move the tour to tomorrow.”

He leaves without waiting for my answer.

With no reason to stay, I show myself out and head down to my penthouse, fighting to keep my eyelids open every step of the way. I should have waited until I had gotten enough sleep before pressing Glasseye for answers. Going in while tired and grumpy accomplished little. I'm fortunate Glasseye didn't try to throw me out of Genesis right then and there; I went to hard and pushed too fast, and I'm going to have to do a lot of work to make up for it and earn his trust again.

But even with fatigue clouding my mind, I know what I saw, and I know that Glasseye was keeping something from me.

At last, I reach the bedroom, and stagger towards my bed. I really should get in touch with Princess Luna and inform her what happened... but it'll have to wait. I need sleep, and I need it now.

I slip under the sheets, set the alarm for six, and collapse on the pil-

The alarm rings.

Urg... already?

Cracking my eyes open, I squint at the alarm. It's six in the evening. Eleven hours gone in just a few seconds. My eyes are still heavy, and I'm groggy, but I feel so much better. Still, it's tempting to hit the snooze button. No harm in catching just a few more minutes of-

Wait... Beakbreaker. I was going to see the closing ceremony with her!

Sliding out of bed, I rush to the bathroom and take a shower, frantically drying my afterwords to try and make myself presentable. A few quick brushes of my comb, and my hair no longer looks like I haven't showered in days. I pull on a coat, and then a tie, and I'm ready to attend the closing ceremony. But before I go, there's one thing I have to do; sleep has brought me a clearer mind, but there's still one last issue nagging at me that I need to attend to.

Going to the gilded phone in the living room, I take hold and dial a number. The line rings.

Come on, come on... please pick up. Please...

“Hello?”

She may be tired, but there's no mistaking Mom's voice. “Mom? It's me, Silverspeak! Are you alright?”

“Silverspeak?”

“I'm sorry if I woke you up, but I had to know that you made it back okay.”

“We did. No need to worry. Your father and I are just trying to get some sleep.”

“Okay, I'll leave you to it." I almost hang up. “Oh, what's the password?”

“Password? Oh yes, the password. It's Quiverquill.”

Good, she remembers the password. Still, that pause worries me. Being exhausted and sick would slow anyone's train of thought, but I have to be absolutely sure I'm talking to my real mother. “What was my favorite dish I got every year on my birthday?”

“Oh, that? Creamy tomato soup.”

I chuckle; it's Mom I'm talking to, not an impostor. “I'll be sure to make you some when I come to visit. You two get better.”

Mom yawns. “We will, don't you worry. Talk to you later.”

A click, and the line goes dead.

A filing cabinet waits outside my door. Not wanting to deal with it now, I shove it into the penthouse and lock the door behind me and hurry to one of the building's airships. In moments, I'm flying towards the convention center, thanking Celestia that my parents made it back safe. Hopefully some rest in familiar settings will help them recover from whatever bug they caught.

It isn't long before the ship reaches the convention center, which is just as packed as it was on opening night. If anything, it's even more crowded; Glasseye teased that something big would be revealed tonight, and it seems no one wants to miss it.

The ship comes to a stop in the designated landing area, and I quickly disembark, making my towards the front of the convention hall. Thanks to my pass, I'm able to take the VIP line, which bypasses all the poor guests who are jammed together near the main entrance. Beakbreaker's in there somewhere, and I keep looking for her. Blast it, I should have suggested we meet up somewhere else; finding her in this swarm is going to be difficult, if not impossible. I'll-

"Silverspeak!"

I spin at Beakbreaker's voice, and spot her near the entrance.

"Beakbreaker! Over here!"

She hurries through the crowds. Guards see her coming and ready themselves to politely turn her back, but they see me and my badge, and stand aside, letting her come to me.

"Thank goodness!" Beakbreaker gasps. "I was wondering if I would be able to find you in time!"

"I was thinking the same thing," I say, lifting up the cordon for her to come through.

"Thanks... Hey, you didn’t bribe these guys, did you?” Beakbreaker whispers.

I shake my head. “Being an ambassador of the Princesses does have its privileges.”

Beakbreaker eyes my badge. “You think I can get one of those?”

I chuckle.

"Well, let's head inside," Beakbreaker says. She looks around. "Hey, where are your parents? Are they already inside?"

"No... They got sick and headed home last night.”

“Sick? What with?”

“I’m not sure," I say. "But they were exhausted; they could barely stand or walk around.”

It’s fascinating to see Beakbreaker mentally go over all her medical training from school. “Sounds like a bad case of the flu. But it’s not uncommon; I’ve gotten them at conventions myself. You’re wiped out, but back on your feet within a day or two. Or three, in bad cases.”

“Are there any other diseases similar to the flu that they could have gotten?”

Another moment of thinking. “Not that I can recall, no."

A loud bell chimes. Looks like the ceremony's going to begin soon.

I signal two of the guards and ask if they can escort us to the closing ceremony. Nodding, he leads the way, Beakbreaker and I following. And as we go, I push aside all worries about my parents. Beakbreaker, a trained doctor and medical professional, doesn't think anything's seriously wrong with them. I trust her judgment.

If she thinks they'll be fine, then they'll be fine.

Author's Notes:

I'd like to take a moment to thank reader Night_Shade for being one of my editors on this story, as well as for the first one and My Little Sharknado for his invaluable insights and uncanny knack at spotting things that kept slipping through the cracks. In fact, I just realized that the people who so generously donate their time don't get enough recognition, so here they are again:

Night_Shade
JDC
p-a-t-a-r

A big thanks to you all!

Righteous Anger

With two guards escorting us, we make it to the stage in record time, where Beakbreaker and I sit in the VIP seats, giving us a perfect view of whatever Glasseye will be revealing tonight. The large, veiled case from the opening ceremony is still on stage; we got a glimpse at the next generation of artificial limbs and the introduction of mechanical eyes when this convention opened. Who knows what wonders lie beneath that cloth?

Beakbreaker‘s notepad comes out. “So, what do you think is under there?”

“I don’t know," I say. "Whatever it is, it looks big."

“My bits are on a robot. Or a power loader."

The lights dim. The crowd goes silent as a spotlight shines on Glasseye as he strolls out, excited as he brings up a microphone. “Good evening, Mares and Gentlecolts. Now, this is the part where I’d usually launch into a ten minute speech about the wonders of our age and our hopes for the future… but you’re more interested in this mysterious case, aren't you?"

Laughs drift through the air.

“I figured as much. And I can’t blame you. You’ve already seen what TechInc has in store for our society, wonders that we couldn’t even have dreamed of five years ago. Even I never could have dreamed them up. But now, we are on the verge of the single biggest breakthrough in the history of medical technology."

I hear something behind me. Turning, I see a dozen or so ponies getting out of their seats and lining up in the isles. Huh... this must be part of an act Glasseye has planned.

Glasseye goes to the container and magically takes hold of the cloth cover. “Two years ago, we saw an earth pony get wings. Two nights ago, you saw a pony with an artificial eye. And tonight, you get to see the next great wonder of the world!”

The cloth is yanked from the case with the flair of a circus performer, revealing... a pony. But not just any pony. It‘s not even alive, or covered with skin. It‘s a pony made from metal, cables, motors, and strange mechanisms I can't make sense of.

The air's filled with murmurs. What is this? Some type of automaton? A carnival attraction? An oversized remote-control toy for the wealthy?

Glasseye spreads his legs. “Mares and Gentlecolts, I present to you, the very first artificial pony body!”

The crowd gasps.

Beakbreaker’s notebook falls to the floor.

“Where we have given injured ponies new legs, wings, and even sight, we can now restore the whole body!" Glasseye says. "No longer will ponies crippled in accidents have to live with disabilities for the rest of their lives! Those who are paralyzed will walk again! The old, feeble, and infirm will find new vigor and strength beyond what they had before!”

I gawk, my mouth opening on its own accord. This... This can’t be possible. Something this complex seems like something out of science fiction. And yet, there it is, standing before me.

Glasseye taps the case. “You are all looking at the greatest marvel of our age. Within a few years, you will all be seeing cyborgs walking through the streets and flying through the air! And we will all-”

He's interrupted by a thunderous explosion as the case is blown apart.

I’m flung over my seat and smash my head into the floor. Pain floods my body; my vision swims, and all I can hear is an ear-splitting ringing.

What's happening?! I… Beakbreaker! Where’s Beakbreaker?!

The air above me explodes in a burst of magical light.

“Everyone, stay where you are! Nobody moves, and nobody gets hurt, understand?”

Scrambling over the seat before me, I duck down as a pony struts across the stage with an antique rifle. His horn fires off another magical burst that illuminates the hall.

“I said, stay where you are!”

Being as close to the stage as I am, I’m concealed by the shadows, giving me a moment to catch my bearings. The ponies I saw earlier... they’re all carrying weapons! They're surrounding the stage and seats, and… wait, there she is!

Darting forward, I grab Beakbreaker and yank her close, clamping a hoof over her mouth. She tries to scream, but goes still upon seeing that it’s me.

Another light flies up, revealing that luck has given us a break; we’re next to a small hatch leading into the stage. I kick it open and scramble through, Beakbreaker following right behind me.

“What’s happening?!” Beakbreaker asks as I shove the door shut.

“I don’t know!” I whisper. “Are you okay?”

Beakbreaker wipes her hair away from her glasses, her hooves shaking. “I… I think so.”

Thank Celestia!

“We’ve got to get out of here,” Beakbreaker whispers. “Come on." She carefully makes her way through the stage‘s storage area. I follow, both of us staying as quiet as we can.

The voice of our unseen party crasher echoes down from above. “Now, I imagine all of you are suffering from a bit of a memory problem. You seem to have forgotten that two years ago, a certain pony decided he was going to make himself better than the rest of us. And as a result, Manehattan was almost destroyed, and hundreds of innocent ponies lost their lives!”

“Who are these guys?!” Beakbreaker whispers.

“We saw what was coming! We saw that these, ’marvels of technology,’ would become weapons and tools to enslave decent, hardworking and innocent ponies like you and me!”

Oh no… it can‘t be!

"We didn’t want to do this, but you all forced us to take drastic measures. That’s why, starting tonight, we’re going to make sure that none of these foul things made here will ever see the light of day!”

There’s a scuffle on the stage above us. The crowd screams.

“Unhand me, you ruffian!”

“I’m sorry about this, Mr. Glasseye, but we can’t let you continue with these abominations of yours.”

“Abominations? Listen here you uneducated lowlife! I-”

Even through the thick wood, I hear the smack of steel smashing into flesh. Something heavy drops to the stage.

“I'm not the lowlife here. You’re the one leading us towards the end of the world with a smile on your face.”

There's a loud click.

“It's nothing personal. This just needs to end, one way or another.”

Sweet Celestia, they're going to kill Glasseye! I've got to save him! But how?!

“Listen, can't we talk this out?" Glasseye pleads, his bravado nowhere to be found.

I run to a nearby support beam; by sheer dumb luck, it seems Glasseye is on a trapdoor. If I can get it open, he‘ll fall out of harms way, and the shock of seeing him vanish will give us a few seconds to flee. Problem is, he’ll break his back from falling from so high up.

“Beakbreaker!" My loud whisper gets her attention. She runs over; I point out the control panel. “When I say so, hit the red button!" She nods and gets into position while I stand beneath the trapdoor.

“Yes, it is drastic. But sometimes lives have to be sacrificed for the greater good." Another click. “Any last words?”

“Now!” I shout.

Beakbreaker hits the button and the trapdoors swing open. Glasseye tumbles through and lands hard into my waiting hooves, the impact knocking both of us to the ground. It hurts, but assuming that we’ll still be alive by tomorrow, all we’ll have to deal with are bruises and a cracked rib or two.

A shadow falls on us from above. “What in Tartarus?!”

I drop Glasseye and run for the back of the storage area. Though shaken, Glasseye manages to get his footing and follows us, darting to a hatch. He yanks it open, and the three of us run through, Beakbreaker shoving it closed behind us, sliding a lock into place, and muffling the enraged shouts from the stage.

“Follow me!" Glasseye whispers. I let Glasseye take the lead, and we all run through the cramped duct. We soon reach a thick door, plain except for a hole in the center. Glasseye shoves his horn inside and twists. Locks are undone and it swings open.

“Get in!”

The three of us pour through and shove the door back into place, the locks falling with a heavy thud. There’s no way anybody’s getting through that in a hurry.

“Is everyone okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Beakbreaker pants.

“Are you sure?" I look for cuts, scrapes, anything that she might not have noticed.

“Hey, I’m fine. Really."

I turn to Glasseye. He’s trying to still his trembling legs. “How about you?”

“I've been better." Taking a deep breath, Glasseye puts his hooves down and casts a light spell. “Follow me.”

Guided by Glasseye’s light, we make our way through the tunnel at a fast clip, Glasseye no doubt wanting to get as far away from the center as possible.

“What is this place?” Beakbreaker pants.

“Emergency escape tunnels,” Glasseye says. “When you're the head of a company this large, it pays to be paranoid. And judging from what happened back there, my paranoia was justified. But who were those ruffians?”

Beakbreaker and I glance at each other. “The Guardians of Tradition,” I say.

“That can’t be! I thought they disbanded after the Manehattan incident.”

“I guess not,” Beakbreaker says, glancing back the way we came.

“Well, they won’t get away with this." Glasseye starts up again, his anger giving him a boost of speed. “When we reach the tower, I'm initializing a complete lockdown of every building in Genesis. I won’t rest until every one of them have been rounded up!”

I lose track of how long we follow Glasseye through the tunnel as it twists and turns. While I can keep up easily, Beakbreaker starts to wheeze; I’m about to tell Glasseye to slow down when we reach another steel door. When the lock is opened, we emerge into a vertical shaft and take a small elevator upwards. It comes to a stop about ten minutes later, and after unlocking yet another steel door, we make our way through a cramped tunnel.

“Where are we going?” Beakbreaker asks, grunting as her back scrapes against rough metal.

“The most well-defended room in Genesis,” Glasseye says as he unlocks one last door and swings it open.

Squeezing through the hatch, I follow Beakbreaker into the cavernous expanse of Glasseye’s quarters.

“Oh wow." Her fatigue is forgotten as she spins, gobsmacked at the elegance and beauty adorning the chamber.

“Sir!”

Onyx Shield and several heavily armored ponies dash from the hallway leading to the elevators.

“Onyx!" Glasseye sighs. “Am I glad to see you! Now, what’s happening out there?”

“It’s not good, sir. The Guardians have taken the tower.”

“What?!”

“They infiltrated our ranks and launched a surprise attack; I don’t know how many there are, but I’ve lost half my forces.”

“You mean they’re dead?”

“I don’t know; it’s hard to get a detailed report on what’s happening."

Glasseye curses. “What about the rest of the city?”

“Stonehoof and the other security forces were able to subdue most of those inside the convention center after your escape. A few got away, but we’re looking for them now. The Guardians have sealed the tower with magic barriers to keep anyone from getting in or out.”

“Then we need to purge this tower of their disgusting presence. Options?”

“It won’t be easy. They’ve taken hostages and are threatening to kill them if we launch a counter-attack.”

“What are their demands?” I ask.

“The complete destruction of Genesis’ databanks and research. And they want it done in an hour, or they'll start executing hostages every five minutes until we comply with their demands.”

That can’t be… the Guardians I dealt with were obsessed, but not to this degree. “Are you sure you didn’t misinterpret their demands?“ I ask.

“I've been in security a long time, Mr. Silverspeak. I know the look of someone ready to kill. And there’s something else… we got some security footage of the Guardians as they took the tower. Several of them were ordered to look for you, Silverspeak.”

A silence fills the room.

“Me?”

Onyx nods. “They want you.”

“Then let me talk to them," I say, a desperate plan throwing itself together in my mind. "I can use my talent on them. At full strength, I might be able to persuade them to stand down, or at the least, buy you some time to mount a raid.”

Onyx contemplates the idea. “It’s worth a try, but I doubt they'll go for it. Fanatics are always ready to die for their cause.”

“Then we have no time to lose," Glasseye says. "We've got to reach the communication center. Silverspeak, once we're there, I'll have you broadcast to every building in Genesis. After Silverspeak does his work, we’ll contact Canterlot and ask for backup."

Wait a minute! “Glasseye?”

“I'm sorry, Silverspeak, but I-”

“We don't have to go to the communication room; I can contact Princess Luna from my suite. She gave me a magical orb to communicate with her. The Guardians won't be able to detect it."

It only takes a second for Glasseye to make up his mind. “We'll do it. We'll escort you to your room, you call the Princess, and then we head to the communications center. Now, let‘s go!”

Onyx leads us all out of Glasseye’s office and down to the security center. Dozens of officers are working out battle plans, while others interact with their computers to coordinate a strike. Onyx and the others work to top off on ammunition for their weapons, and grab combat vests for the rest of us. I slip one on. So does Beakbreaker.

“What are you doing, Beakbreaker?”

“Coming along. What does it look like?”

“What? No, you need to stay here. It's-”

“I can't stay behind and do nothing, not when there are lives on the line. Besides, if there are any wounded, I can treat them until we can get a doctor.”

I don’t want her to come; I don’t want to run the chance of the Guardians taking her hostage, or worse. But if we were to come across wounded personnel, Beakbreaker's medical experience would be invaluable.

“Well...”

“Hey, I'll be alright." She takes a taser off a nearby counter. “I'll have this with me." She studies it. "Glasseye?"

"Yes?"

"What exactly is this?"

"A taser, my dear. Shoot something and they're incapacitated by electricity." Glasseye tightens the last strap on his vest. “Alright, are we all set? Then let's go!”

Taking my own taser, I fall in as Onyx leads us out of the office and down a stairwell to the guest floor. Onyx and his guards head out to inspect the hall and make sure it's clear, leaving Glasseye, Beakbreaker, and myself behind.

“You both seem to be taking this all rather well,” Glasseye tells me as he wipes sweat from his eyes.

“Not really,” Beakbreaker says. “I'm scared out of my wits.”

“You don't look it.”

“You learn a few things working as a doctor: Keep focused on a goal, and you'll be able to ignore distractions."

“I suppose so.”

“Then again, we aren't being shot at every day.”

Wanting to change the subject, Glasseye turns to me. “Silverspeak, in case anything goes wrong and I don't get another chance, I want to thank you for saving me back in the center.”

“It's nothing,” I assure him.

“Nothing? You saved my life! I am in your debt, and if there’s any way I can repay the favor one day, I shall. You have my word.”

I nod. “Let's worry about that later."

Onyx pokes his head inside the stairwell. “It's clear.”

We leave the stairwell. I stay close to Beakbreaker as we dart across the hall to my door.

“How long will you need?” Glasseye asks as we reach my room.

“Two minutes minimum,” I say, fumbling for the key to the door. I hope to Celestia that Alicorns have teleportation spells they can use in cases of extreme emergencies. An entire company of Royal Guards would stop the Guardians in no time flat.

At last, I find the key and ram it into the lock, opening the door with a fast yank.

"Alright, let's get-"

“There they are!”

The hallway explodes in a barrage of colors as magic blasts shoot past us. Instinct takes over and I dive into the room. “Beakbreaker!?”

Beakbreaker jumps inside, just narrowly dodging the blasts. The guards cry out as they're blasted down the hall, overwhelmed by the sudden assault.

“Glasseye, move!" Onyx shoves his employer inside the penthouse and slams the door shut.

I yank Beakbreaker to her hooves. “Are you okay?!”

She nods. “Yeah, I think so!”

Onyx yells beyond the door, then goes silent.

“Uhhh... anyone have any ideas on what to do?” Beakbreaker asks.

Glasseye runs to the wall before us and hits it with his hooves, feeling around. “There's a drywall somewhere around here! Help me find it!”

The door bulges. Wood cracks as magic seeps through.

“Glasseye!”

“Wait, the bathroom! We can-”

The door bursts. I have a brief image of several security guards and ordinary looking ponies dashing inside, weapons and horns powering up.

I have a second to act, maybe two. There's no way I can dodge their attacks, not at this range, and the taser can only take down one of them if I'm lucky. But I can still fight, giving Beakbreaker time to escape.

I fire the taser. One guard goes down as I leap forward, stretching myself as wide as I can as the unicorns open fire, and-

It’s dark.

“Boss? He's waking up.”

I blink. Things come into focus; monitors, displays, tech equipment, and cables. This must be the communications room Glasseye was talking about. Dozens of other ponies stand guard over Onyx Shield and his guards. They're unconscious, but alive. But where's Beakbreaker? I glance around and try to conceal my sigh of relief. There's no sign of her. She must have slipped away. But I'm not alone: Several of the Guardians stand before me, their weapons pointed at my head. Among them is the pony from the stage. He regards me the way someone would view a rabid dog.

“So, this is the famed Silverspeak.”

Okay, Silverspeak, stay calm. I’ve been a hostage before. I got through those, and I’ll get through this. “I don’t think we’ve met," I say.

“No, we haven’t." The pony turns to one of his associates. “How much longer?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

"Good." The leader turns to back to me. “You should be proud, Silverspeak. You have a front row seat to watch my hostages die.”

“You think that will help your cause?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady and reasonable, “that murdering innocents will gain you sympathy?”

“We're not looking for sympathy.”

“I thought the Guardians were non-violent.”

“We were. Once." He looks over his antique rifle. “But that didn't get us anywhere. We need to make examples of those who follow the wrong path.”

“You still haven't answered my question.”

“And what's that?”

“How you know me." I could care less, but I need to try and distract him. Need to buy any rescue teams as much time as I can.

A pony walks in with a small box.

I turn on the charm. “If you kill anyone, public sympathy for you will vanish. And even if you did stop TechInc, what will you do when someone picks up where they left off? Are you going to go take hostages every time something new is invented?”

“We’re stopping massacres, Silverspeak. We're making sure this technology is never abused. How long do you think it will be before the armed forces applies full-body replacements to soldiers? Do you think they'd pass up an opportunity to create an army that never gets tired, never gets hurt, and can overwhelm anything in its path? And what about our enemies? What if they got hold of all this technology? There'd be wars, wars so destructive that they could wipe out all life on this planet. But we can stop that from ever happening, right here, right now.”

I shake my head. “No matter how many hostages you take, no matter how passionate are, you can't stop change.”

My captor’s face hardens. “Your talent is the gift of the silver tongue, to charm others into doing your will. That's what you're doing, isn't it?”

Oh buck.

My captor cracks his hooves and turns to the box. I can’t see what's inside as he takes something out and fiddles with it. He takes his time.

That can't be good.

Two ponies grab hold of my shoulders and force me to stay still.

“I've dreamed of this moment for a long time, Silverspeak. You see, we've never met, but you knew my father very well. He was the spokespony for the Guardians. You remember him, don't you?”

Wait... that pony? The one I debated in Manehattan? Then that means...

“You're his son?”

“Yes,” He says, voice calm and unfazed. “Yes, I am.”

He turns, and my heart stops.

He’s wearing knuckle-busters.

“And I want to see you bleed.”

I ratchet up the charm to maximum strength and open my-

The first hit snaps my head sideways. Then another hit knocks my head back. I try to pull away, but the pony hits me again, and my vision goes red as I hear flesh ripping.

“You killed my father! You and your stupid, single-minded obsession!”

Another hit, and bones crack.

“He was the only family I had! And you took him from me!”

It hurts to make my tongue move. “Mangus Bluehorn killed your father!”

A blow to the stomach knocks the wind from me. “And he would have never become what he was if it wasn't for you!”

He hits me again and again, each blow harder than the last. I fight against the cables tied around my legs, but my captors force me to stay still.

It feels like an eternity before my captor finally stops.

“The Princesses determined that you’ve paid for your crimes. But you haven't. Two years of confinement, and then you're free to go. My pain hasn’t gone away in two years, and it won’t go away in twenty, two hundred, or even two thousand! You thought you were done, Silverspeak? You haven’t even begun to be punished for what you did!"

Celestia... it hurts just to breathe. My vision's red, and I can feel broken bones slicing into muscle...

Pausing to wipe blood off the busters, the pony turns to one of his fellows. “How long until the deadline?”

“One minute.”

“And that coward Glasseye still hasn't responded. I guess he doesn't care about the lives of anyone in the city. How surprising.”

I blink furiously, trying to get blood out of my eyes.

“You’re going to die tonight, Silverspeak, but not before I punish you even more. And what better way to start than by sharing my pain with you?" He glances back. “Bring her in.”

Several security ponies enter the room, dragging someone with them.

No… oh no, no, no!

The guards reach the stage and drop Beakbreaker onto the stage, tied up as I am.

I force my pain-wracked mouth to speak. “B... Beakbreaker!”

She blinks and looks around, as confused as I was when I was woken from my stunned stupor. She spots me and almost calls out, only to be stopped as two guards yank her up and hold her in place.

My captor walks to her and cracks his hooves.

“This will be the first part of your punishment, Silverspeak: just as you took my family from me, I’ll take your family from you.“

No! I lunge forward, only to be stopped by the accursed guards. I try to bite them, and get hit in the head for my efforts.

“If you have any last words, now is the time to say them.”

“I'll kill you if you touch her!”

“Wrong answer.”

He rears back.

No! Oh please, Celestia, no! Don’t let her die! Don’t let her-

Something like thunder fills the air, and a bright flash blinds me. Beakbreaker screams. My vision comes back in time to see my captor and the other ponies staggering, hooves held to their eyes. They’re yelling, but I can barely hear them over the ringing in my ears. Smoke’s filing the room, making it difficult to see.

“It’s the guards!” My captor yells. “Kill the hostages! Kill them a-”

Another bang sends my captor to the floor, blood spraying from what remains of his head.

More bangs fill the air. The other Guardians spin and blindly fire their weapons and magic, but they fall as fast as their leader. Beakbreaker flattens herself on the floor. I do the same, watching as the last Guardian is blasted back into a row of monitors, knocking them to the floor in a shower of sparks.

Then, as quickly as it began, it’s over.

Someone emerges from the fog of acrid smoke. It’s… Glasseye? He surveys the room and spots Beakbreaker. Dropping something he carried with his magic, Glasseye runs to her and undoes the cables binding her legs. No sooner do they hit the floor then she runs to me. It hurts to have my cables yanked off, but I don’t care. She’s alive; she’s alive, and that’s all that matters.

“Silverspeak! Oh Celestia, are you okay?!“

I spit out some blood. “No.“

Running to a fallen guard, Beakbreaker yanks out his first-aid pack. “Glasseye! We need a medic here, now!”

“On it!" Glasseye runs to a nearby phone.

Beakbreaker presses me down onto the floor. “Take it easy, Silverspeak.”

“How bad is it?”

She hesitates.

“Beakbreaker?”

“He beat you very badly, Silverspeak, but you’ll be okay. Nothing some magic spells can’t fix.”

“Did they hurt you?”

She shakes her head. “Just a few bruises from being tackled, that’s all.”

“Good…”

Glasseye hangs up the phone. “Medics are on the way. Hang in there, Silverspeak. You’re going to be alright.”

Beakbreaker injects me with something, and… ohhh... oh, that feels so good. The pain's gone. I can steel feel broken bones, but at least I can breathe without wanting to scream.

Turning, I look to Glasseye, wanting to thank him for saving us. The fact that he did so is a surprise; even for a powerful unicorn, taking on almost a dozen ponies at once is near-suicide. He would have needed something to even the odds, something that could…

Wait.

The item Glasseye carried lies on the ground a few feet from me. I crawl towards it, trying to ignore the blood soaking into the carpet.

“Silverspeak, stay still! You can’t-”

It’s a rifle. But this isn't an antique like the one the Guardian’s leader was carrying. This is built from plastic instead of wood, and lined with lights and high-tech gauges.

“Looks like that’s all of them,” Glasseye says. “I don’t think we’ll have to-”

He stops upon seeing me with the rifle.

I meet his gaze.

Neither of us speak.

I didn’t see this on the tour.

Author's Notes:

End of Act 1

Glasseye's Plan

A group of guards rush into the room before I can ask Glasseye about the rifle, checking the bodies and then calling out that it's clear. Medics rush inside and levitate me onto a stretcher, pulling the rifle from my hooves. I try to protest, to tell them that I need to contact Princess Luna, but Beakbreaker tells me that my wounds need to be treated as soon as possible.

No sooner am I in the hallway than Glasseye leaves as well, accompanied by his guards and carrying the rifle.

Once we reach the Monolith's medical wing, I'm taken to a room and looked over by the doctor on duty. His diagnosis isn't reassuring; I've sustained severe lacerations, a few broken bones, a cut tongue, internal bleeding, and numerous gashes from those knuckle-busters. Despite that, the doctor assures me that some surgery and healing spells should patch me up, but they'll have to keep me here overnight and start operating right away if I'm to avoid any permanent disfigurement. Not wanting to look like the phantom of the Canterlot Opera, I consent.

Once we're in surgery, the nurse puts a mask over my face and asks me to count backwards from a hundred. I do what she asks, wondering how long it'll take for the drowsiness to-

I blink. Wait, it's over already? What time is it? There's no light coming through some thick curtains to my left. I can't see any clocks on the walls. I'm in a small recovery room; where's the call button?

The door creeks open, the sudden light forcing me to squint my eyes shut.

“Silverspeak! You're awake!”

The light's turned on, and I have to squint my eyes shut again as Beakbreaker hurries over. “How long have I been out?” I ask.

“All of last night, and all of today.”

“What?!”

“The doctors had to work on you for several hours to fix all the damage. Even with spells, it wasn't easy.”

I've been asleep an entire day?! I try to get out of bed; I've got to get in touch with Luna!

“Hey, careful.” Beakbreaker firmly holds me against the mattress. “Your face needs several days to recover, and I don't want you to go stumbling around and bruising yourself up.” She gives me a mirror. I recognize the face in it, but not the numerous bumps, bruises, and black marks.

I shake my head. “I thought magic could cure wounds instantly.”

“The docs didn't want to risk making a mistake and disfiguring you, so we took our time. Besides, magic can only cure simple-”

“Wait, did you say, 'we'?”

“Well, they needed some extra help, and I couldn't just leave you alone in there. As I was saying, simple injuries can be healed in an instant, but big ones take time.”

Time... “What time is it?”

“Eight in the evening. Like I said, you've been sleeping all day.” She yawns, revealing deep bags under her eyes. “Anyway, how are you feeling? Any pain?”

“Just some soreness. How long am I going to have to stay here? Am I well enough to go?”

Beakbreaker yawns again. “I think so, but I'll check with the doc to make sure.”

Beakbreaker brings the doctor in. He gives me a look over and decides that I can leave, but he warns me to avoid bumping my face, lest I ruin hours of work. I promise, and after getting an ample supply of pain pills I head out with Beakbreaker. It isn't long before we're back at my penthouse; I need to get Luna's orb before confronting Glasseye. But as I look under the bed, Beakbreaker leans against the door to steady her wobbling legs. Poor thing... she needs to head back to her hotel and get some rest, but that's a lengthy flight from here, one that will be slowed by increased security after-

Wait... she doesn't have to go anywhere.

“Beakbreaker, why don't you spend the night here? I can sleep in the guest bedroom.”

Beakbreaker's so relieved she almost collapses. “Thank you, Silverspeak. That's really gen-”

I barely manage to catch Beakbreaker as she goes limp. She's already snoring as I stop her fall. My goodness, she must have been more tired than she let on. Carefully pulling off her glasses, I undo her tie and put her on the bed before pulling the comforter into place and tucking it around her as softly as I can.

Removing the box from under the bed, I slip outside, silently wishing her a good night's rest.

Even at this late hour, Glasseye's lobby is bustling with activity as the elevator ferries ponies to and from his office, all under the watchful eye of a dozen security guards. Judging by the fancy suits, these ponies are company officials trying to patch up whatever damage the Guardians caused. The secretary is barely able to keep her head up as I approach, probably wanting nothing more than to slip into peaceful oblivion instead of dealing with yet another pony wanting to see Glasseye. I'll keep this brief.

“I'd like to see Glasseye, please.”

She yawns. “Sorry, but only top executives are allowed in. No exceptions.”

“I remind you that I was sent here as a representative of the Princesses to do their work. That includes going anywhere I need to.”

Sleep-deprived as she is, the secretary can tell I'm not fooling around. “Fine. But don't gripe to me if he snaps at you. He's been up since late last night without a break.”

I'm in Glasseye's quarters in less than thirty seconds, which is now filled with dozens of guards and executives. Beyond the glass walls, numerous zeppelins and airships take off into the night. Not three days ago their passengers couldn't wait to get here. Now they can't wait to leave.

I head to the top of the pyramid, where Glasseye struggles to keep his eyes open as advisers and attendants give him statistics about the effect all this will have on publicity, the necessary damage control they'll need to do, and reassurances, and perhaps showing off new security measures to the public. But as soon as he spots me, Glasseye perks up.

“All of you, leave us,” he says.

“Sir,” one of the attendants says, “this can't wait-”

“Unless someone is about to die, or our city is falling from the sky, it can. Now, leave. We'll pick this up tomorrow morning.”

The executives, advisers, and guards depart, most giving me unsavory looks for interrupting their business. Only when the room is empty does Glasseye rise from his desk. “How is your face, Silverspeak?”

“Better.”

“Good... You're here about the rifle, I take it.”

I nod.

“And I presume Princess Luna wishes to have a friendly chat about it.”

I nod again.

Glasseye sighs. “Well, no use in putting it off. Where will we do it?”

“In your bedroom.”

“Come again?”

“It's easier if I just show you.”

Glasseye trudges down the steps to his room and collapses on the bed. It takes everything he has not to fall asleep as I take the orb from the box.

“What's this?”

“It allows me to communicate with the princess. Take your hoof and rub it three times.”

Resigned to whatever's coming, Glasseye does so. He's out in a second, his exhausted body limp against the silk sheets. Glancing out the doors to ensure we're not being watched, I do the same. The world goes blurry, and once again I'm back in the Astral Plane. Glasseye stands beside me, confused as to what's going on.

“Silverspeak, what happened? Why is everything blurry?”

“You're dreaming,” I say.

“Really?” He looks at his body. “Wait, is that-”

“Yes.”

“Then how am I-”

“It's probably best not to think about it.”

I sense Luna's approach. The ether ripples, and then parts as she emerges from a tunnel of shimmering energy. She... wait. Something's wrong. She looks like she'd rather be anywhere than here.

“Your Highness,” I ask, “is something wrong?”

“Why did you summon me here?” Luna demands.

Better get to the point. “Luna, I'd like you to meet-

“Glasseye. Yes, I know you.”

Glasseye cringes.

“Your Highness,” I continue, “There was an attack on Genesis last night by the-”

“Guardians of Tradition. Yes, my messengers informed me. Is that why you called me here?”

“No,” I say, wanting to keep things on track. “Glasseye saved my life, and Beakbreaker's life, but not with magic. He did it with a gun.”

It's silent for a few moments as Luna ponders my words.

"Both of you, come with me."

We follow the Princess of the Night down the swirling passage, eventually emerging into a beautiful garden filled with all manner of brightly colored flowers. There's a gazebo nearby, one covered in a blanket of vines, leaves, and ivy, all beneath a bright, mid-morning sun. This was where Luna demonstrated her ability to alter the Astral Plane.

“Where are we now?” Glasseye asks.

Luna doesn't answer as she walks into the gazebo and takes a seat at a marble table. Glasseye and I follow and follow her example, all of us bathed in filtered green light.

“The rifle,” Luna tells Glasseye. “Picture it in your mind.”

Glasseye closes his eyes. A perfect replica of the weapon appears on the table.

“Is this what you saw, Silverspeak?”

“Yes.”

Luna takes the rifle and looks it over. “Glasseye, explain this.”

“Where do you want me to start?” Glasseye asks, resigned to whatever fate Luna has in store for him. “Shall I talk about the weapon, or the reasons I made it in the first place?”

“The weapon itself.”

Glasseye motions for the rifle. Luna gives it to him. “This is the TI Class A assault rifle, designed to take on most enemies a soldier would encounter in battle. Bullets are designed to pierce through most body armor and the hides of wild beasts.” He flips the gun. “Lightweight design and construction make it easy to transport and assemble, as well as modify with various attachments and multiple ammo types. In short, it's the most advanced firearm ever created.”

Luna's not impressed. “And why was it built?”

“It was a special order from the nations next to ours, Your Highness. Lately there have been musings of aggressive actions by various dragons tribes, and they wanted a firearm they could use to defend themselves.”

“I fail to see how rifles would deter angry dragons.”

“We have other weapons in development designed specifically to take on dragons. Our neighbors wanted to modernize their army in case of armed conflict, and we determined they needed a standardized weapon.”

“And you kept it secret from us.”

“My lawyers assure me that developing and selling firearms is perfectly within the right of all companies and private citizens, Your Highness.”

“Yes, it is,” Luna admits. “But the purpose of guns runs contrary to our highest principles of friendship, trust, and compassion.”

“None of which matter if you have a dragon burning down your village. Or Diamond Dogs raiding a remote outpost. Or if sea serpents are taking down a ship and eating everyone on board. While I want the world to be a perfect place, Your Highness, I am not blind that there are many beings out there, animal and otherwise, who do not share our values.”

“Which I understand. But my sister and I have seen what happens when nations begin an arms race. Friendship inevitably gives way to mistrust, fear, and suspicion.” A darkness clouds Luna's eyes. “I have seen the results of such acts, Glasseye. Long before my sister and I came to Equestria, I watched this world burn in the flames of war, wars that began because paranoid nations misinterpreted innocent acts and ended up bathing the earth with the blood of countless ponies.”

It takes Glasseye everything he has not to back down. “Now see here, that's being unreasonable. I don't want a war. Far from it. And what if our neighbors are correct? What if the dragons are planning something?”

“Then we shall deal with them if they attack, but not before.”

“Would we be able to repel them if they do? I don't doubt the capabilities of our forces, but times are changing, Your Highness. Technology is growing and evolving by the day. Within a hundred years, magic may be outdated.” He puts the rifle on the table. “A bullet may become more valuable than any spell.”

I'd better step in and diffuse the tension. “Glasseye,” I ask, “did any of our neighbors know Chrysalis was planning an attack?”

"Chrysalis? What does she-"

"She is attempting to infiltrate all of Equestria to destroy it from within," Luna says, her temper running short. "We have not yet told the public for fear of causing a panic. Now, answer Silverspeak's question."

Shaken by this sudden revelation, Glasseye adjusts his glasses. "N... No. If anyone knew about it, they didn't tell me." He eyes the gun. "Though if she is attempting something, demand for personal protection will probably go up.”

“And give you extra profits.”

“Well, when you put it that way, of course it sounds evil.”

“Greed corrupts, Glasseye,” Luna growls. “But greed born on the misery of others is far worse.”

“Your Highness, I'm creating a means for both individuals and nations to defend themselves against threats! And the bits TechInc has received from these deals have allowed us to pursue peaceful projects that could benefit millions. Has Silverspeak told you of my artificial eye? Or the artificial body we unveiled yesterday? That was born from the bits we received for the firearms.”

“But you kept these military-grade weapons weapons a secret from us!”

“Because I feared you and your sister might overreact and shut us down, that's why!” Glasseye snaps.

“You'd still be able to pursue your medical projects,” Luna says. “Your research would have-”

“It would come too late!”

Luna pauses. “What do you mean?”

Glasseye takes a deep breath. “Four years ago, I was getting a routine checkup at the doctor,” he says quietly. “The only thing out of the ordinary was a black spot deep in my body. Tests confirmed that it was a rare kind of cancer, one highly resistant to treatment. They gave me... five, eight years at maximum.” He shakes his head. “I tried everything. Drugs, magic, herbs, nothing helped. I even went to Medicomp, but even with all their marvels and wonders they couldn't do a thing. The clock was ticking. I was staring death in the face with no way to hold it back.” Glasseye looks at me. “But then I saw how far you went to get what you wanted, Silverspeak, and I realized that if I was going to live, I'd have to follow your example.

“I pulled out every contact I had, every favor I was owed. I gathered all of my savings and created a company that would craft the finest wonders the world had ever seen, and create marvels that everyone would want. And when the profits rolled in, I would pour that money into our medical division and find a cure to the growth I carried.

“The funds we got allowed me to replace my failing eye, but it wasn't enough to create a body. All we could do was draw schematics and doodles on paper. But then came the request for guns, and it was like a blessing from heaven. All the money I could want to make my dreams come true. To buy life and cheat death from taking me before my time. That, Your Highness, is why I didn't tell you, or anyone else. Because even with the best of intentions, you would have shut down our projects, dried up our income, and killed me.”

Luna remains silent.

“But how did you keep it a secret?” I ask. “The rifle, I mean.”

“Because only a few know about it. They're developed and manufactured in a small facility buried near the very bottom of Genesis, nestled among the engines that keep my city afloat. We kept the schematics inside that planning room... which is why I had to get them out before you toured it. I trust now you understand why.” He looks me right in the eye. “You must understand, Silverspeak, that I didn't want to deceive you. I really didn't. But how far would you go to save yourself, or Beakbreaker, if either of you had what I carry?”

I look him in the eyes. "To the very depths of Tartarus, if I had to."

Luna breaks her silence. “Glasseye, how advanced is this weapons facility of yours?”

“Advanced enough to have all these weapons in development.” He concentrates, and several weapons fall onto the table. “Explosives, guns that fire explosives, timed explosives, and even extra-powerful explosives that can punch through a dragon's hide.”

I want to hold some of these weapons and look them over, but Luna holds out a hoof for me to stop as she studies the weapons, eyes darting over every switch, notch, and trigger.

“If, say, Canterlot were to become a partner," Glasseye suggests, "we could work together to provide-”

“Silence.”

I'm not sure how long we sit there while Luna studies the weapons. She speaks not a word, and utters not a sound as she thinks.

Glasseye and I wait.

When Luna speaks, her voice is slow and controlled. “Glasseye, how far along is your company in making these weapons?”

Glasseye's quick to answer. “The rifles are already being produced, and we're close to mass producing these explosives. We also have plans for energy weapons, and are working on modern body armor." He's conjures an image of gray pads that look more like football equipment than protective gear to be worn in battle. “It's still in the early stages, but offers a vast improvement over steel armor. It's lightweight, yet strong and flexible. Easily able to take claw hits and minor arms fire.”

Luna ponders the armor. So do I. It looks light enough to be flexible, and Glasseye probably isn't boasting about its capabilities to show off.

“This armor,” Luna says, “is it ready to be manufactured?”

“We're very close. We need just a few more days of R and D before it can go into production, but once it does we'll be able to churn out as many as needed.” He tries a smile. “We could even custom make a set for you, Your Highness. Top of the line, stronger, and more advanced than standard issue. Only the best for a princess.”

Luna isn't swayed. “Silverspeak has told me you have created a changeling detector. Is that correct?”

“Yes, but it's still in the testing phase.”

“Then all development must be focused on it.”

“Why? With all due respect, Your Highness, the rifles and armor are our best-”

“Queen Chrysalis launched another assault last night,” Luna says, and that impatience I saw back in Glasseye's room comes back in full force. “She sent changelings to assault Ponyville. We managed to save the residents, but not before most of the town was destroyed. She left this.”

A picture floats before us. It shows Twilight Sparkle's castle, now smoking and full of gouge marks from a heated battle. A crude, black banner flaps in the wind atop the tallest tower.

“In changeling society, planting a banner on your enemy's seat of power is both a challenge and a warning,” Luna explains. “It tells the ruler of the territory to ready for battle, because the changelings intend to take the land as their own. In short... it is a declaration of war.”

All is silent.

“What do we do?” I ask at last.

“Yesterday, I would have reproached you, Glasseye, for creating these weapons. But fate, it seems, has made its move, and we must respond in turn.” She takes the rifle. “I still do not want these weapons to exist. But I am not blind to the reality we now face. Queen Chrysalis has declared war.”

“But why?” I ask. “From what we know, her forces are tiny. We have fully-equipped armies. They wouldn't stand a chance against us.”

“In a straight fight, they wouldn't. But Chrysalis is smart. She will work to infiltrate our society, replace those in key positions, and weaken us from within. Then, when we are weakened, she will summon whatever dragons, monsters, and allies she has. We must arm ourselves now, before such a moment comes.”

“But what about your sister? And the Bearers?”

Luna struggles to keep herself together. “I have not heard from any of them in three days, and I cannot find them in the astral plane. At this point, I do not know if they are alive or dead.” She gulps. “As such, the responsibility falls to me for Equestria's defense. And as much as I wished to avoid it, I cannot ignore it any longer... Glasseye, we have need of your company and your services.”

Glasseye, still shaken from Luna's words, straightens in his chair. “What is mine is yours, Your Highness, and I will do everything in my power to assist you.”

"As will I," I say. That's what Celestia would do. If a war is declared, she would move quickly to end it, and help any way she could. So must I.

“Good. Silverspeak, Glasseye and I will discuss the nature of our arrangement and create a plan of attack with my advisers. You will stay in Genesis for now and act as an envoy between it and Canterlot.”

“Of course.”

“Very good. I will speak with you tomorrow.”

The tunnel appears outside the gazebo, a sign that it's time for me to leave. I make a quick exit; the astral plane turns fuzzy as I reach the tunnel's end, and in the blink of an eye I'm back in Glasseye's bedroom. After pushing Glasseye's drooling body into a respectable position on the bed, I leave him be and head back to my penthouse. Things are quiet; a peek into the bedroom reveals Beakbreaker still dozing on my bed. Best to leave her be... this might be the last untroubled night's sleep she'll get in a long time.

Storing the box inside the closet, I head to the guest room. After sleeping all day and night, I'm not tired, so I pull up a chair before the window and let my thoughts wander, focusing mostly on what Luna said. Even with her telling me that war has been declared, it just doesn't feel real. I've never seen a war before, and can't recall the last time such a thing happened. This probably won't be a war of armies, but of espionage, subterfuge, and agents from both sides trying to outdo each other. In such an environment, the paranoia Luna feared would quickly take shape, especially if Celestia and the Bearers are missing.

Celestia... there's no way she could be taken prisoner or killed by the enemy. It's not possible. Yes, she's been defeated in the past, but those were extraordinary circumstances. If she's traveling with the Bearers, there's no way she could have fallen. But in her absence, things could turn ugly very quickly without Celestia guiding and helping us. Luna will do her best, of that I have no doubt, but it won't be the same. Equestria would be slowly gripped by fear, though Genesis might be spared from the paranoia; Glasseye will no doubt install changeling detectors in every door, hatch, and gate. Such defenses might make this place a headquarters for Luna's operations. After all, it would be difficult for changelings to get up here, especially if the city is constantly on the move and monitored around the clock. If such a move does happen, I'll have to call in some favors and ensure that both Beakbreaker and my parents can stay here. They'd be safe, and I could keep an eye on them, freeing me to work at-

The phone rings, and I yank it off the hook. “Yes?”

“Mr. Silverspeak, this is Genesis' communication hub. You have a long distance call coming in from Saddle Lanka. Shall we patch it through?”

“Yes, of course.”

The phone crackles, and a familiar voice comes through. “Silverspeak?!”

“Dad! Are you alright? Is anything wrong?”

“Not with us, but what about you?! We heard that some of those Guardian nutjobs attacked Genesis! We've been trying to get through all day!”

“Don't worry, I'm fine.”

“Thank Celestia. Listen, Your mother and I want you to come home.”

“I wish I could, Dad, but... well, I'm still needed here.”

“What? Why?”

I can't tell him the truth. “They need me to help out with something TechInc is working on. I can't tell you anything more than that.”

“Well... just come back as soon as you can, okay?”

“I will. I promise.”

“And bring Beakbreaker with you. We want you both here.”

“If I can drag her along, I will.” I'm about to hang up when a thought occurs to me. “Oh, Dad? What's the password?”

“Your mom said you'd ask that. It's Quiverquill.”

I smile. “Thanks. Take care.”

“You too.”

"Silverspeak, you awake?”

Wha...wait, what's going on? I blink. Daylight streams through the window. I'm in the chair by the window. I must have fallen asleep sometime after the phone call.

“Silverspeak?”

“Coming.” I get to my hooves. The clock reads nine AM. Wiping my eyes, I open the door and find Beakbreaker waiting for me with nary a baggy eye to be seen.

“You look better,” I say.

“Thanks. Amazing that, despite all our medicines and tricks, a good night's sleep is still the best cure-all, isn't it?”

I nod. “No argument there.” I'm about to ask Beakbreaker how she's feeling, but realize that's not necessary, not when she looks so gloomy.

"Beakbreaker? What's wrong?"

Indicating for me to follow, Beakbreaker heads to the dining room, where a newspaper lies on the table. There's an article about the attack by the Guardians of Tradition, but it's small and tucked away in the corner. The top of the paper is dominated by an enormous headline about Chrysalis declaring war.

"Nasty way to start the day," Beakbreaker says.

I knew this was coming. I was perhaps the only individual in all of Genesis who knew about Chrysalis and her secret plans. But to see the headline, to know that the moment has finally arrived... it's...

“Doesn't seem real, does it?” Beakbreaker asks.

“It'll be over quickly,” I assure her. “What does she have? A handful of changelings. We have an army. She's in over her head.”

Beakbreaker takes a seat, half-heartily stirring some oatmeal. “I hope so.” Sighting, she tries to change the subject. “I want to thank you for letting me stay here last night." She blushes. "It was you who put me in bed, wasn't it?”

It's hard not to smile. “It was nothing. Really.” Pulling up a bowl, I pour some oatmeal for myself. “Beakbreaker... do you have to head back to Manehattan any time soon? If there really is a war starting, a floating city would be much harder for changelings to invade than Manehattan, or anywhere on the ground, for that matter, and... well, I'd feel a lot better if you could stay here."

Beakbreaker stops stirring her oatmeal. “I'd like to. Heaven only knows I've been thinking about it. But I still have so much to do back in Manehattan. Projects to work on, reports to submit, that sort of thing.”

“I know, but... listen, Beakbreaker, I just don't want you to go back.”

“Well, maybe we could come up with a code or something," Beakbreaker suggests. "A little secret between us that nobody else knows to prove we're not changelings. Like a password, or something.”

Is this fate nudging me in the right direction? I'll take it as a yes. “Good idea. How about... 'Steel leg.' That's the first thing you originally made back in the day."

Beakbreaker chuckles. “Glad it comes...”

“Comes what?”

Beakbreaker doesn't answer.

“Beakbreaker?”

She's looking behind me. I follow her gaze and realize why. Beyond Genesis' dome is an enormous zeppelin. And not a massive cargo ship or passenger liner, but something more regal and elegant, flanked by several, smaller airships. Even from this distance, I can see the gun turrets mounted in their sides.

“What's that?” Beakbreaker asked.

It isn't until the zeppelin turns that the insignias of the sun and moon become visible on the side.

The next hour is a flurry of activity as everyone rushes to figure out what's going on. I have to make a phone call to the Monolith's information center to learn that Princess Luna has come to Genesis. And things get really chaotic when the zeppelin docks, Luna making her way to the Monolith with an escort of numerous Royal Guards and TechInc police officers.

“Now that's a sight you don't see often,” Beakbreaker says as she watches the procession from my penthouse. From this high up we have to use binoculars to follow Luna's progress to the base of the Monolith. Once she's inside, I lead the way as we head upstairs to Glasseye's lobby. There's a new secretary at the desk, probably here to relieve the poor mare who was almost asleep the last time I was here.

“I'd like to talk to Glasseye, please,” I say.

“Sorry, sir, but he's not here. He's down at the conference room on the 50th floor.”

One elevator ride later, and Beakbreaker and I emerge into a hallway crammed with reporters carrying cameras and notepads. Beakbreaker stays close as I work my way through the crowd, using my pass to get through. There are many grumbles and angry looks, but I need to talk to Glasseye and find out what's going on. We pass into the conference room and find it even more packed as reporters set up their cameras and fight over the best seats. They can't get too close to the stage, though: Royal Guards have formed a line to ensure no one gets past to the princess and Glasseye, both of whom are conversing near the podium.

Then, their talk concluded, Luna heads to the podium. Excited whispers give way to silence as Luna reaches the podium and adjusts the microphone.

Red lights glow as the cameras focus on the princess.

“Citizens of Equestria,” Luna says, “Yesterday, Queen Chrysalis of the changelings attacked the town of Ponyville. While there were no injuries, this banner was placed atop the castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Two guards hold the filthy thing up for the cameras to see.

“In changeling culture, planting a banner atop a building of power is a direct challenge.” Luna stops and takes another breath. “In short, it is a formal declaration of war.”

The room is silent.

“I must stress that this does means all changelings have declared war upon us. Thorax and his citizens are still our allies, and he has agreed to remove all his subjects from our borders until the crisis has passed. Our conflict is with Queen Chrysalis and her followers. And I am here today to assure every citizen of Equestria, pony or otherwise, that my sister and I will do everything in our power to protect the lives of everyone living within our borders. Part of this will be accomplished by joining forces with TechInc.” Luna indicates Glasseye. “With TechInc's technology, we will have a great advantage over Queen Chrysalis and the changelings that serve her.

“We have already begun our preparations for the conflict. Even as we speak, Canterlot has dispatched messengers with instructions to every city, town, and community as to how to defend themselves against Chrysalis and her minions. In the meantime, I ask that all of you to please continue your lives as usual. To give in to fear will only strengthen Chrysalis and her followers, and in this challenging time it is more important than ever that we work and stand together. That is all.”

The room explodes into a flurry of questions, but Luna apologizes and says that she and Glasseye have pressing matters to attend to, and they make a quick exit.

“You ever have the feeling of being present for something that's going to go down in the history books?” Beakbreaker asks.

Opening Salvo

The next few days pass in a blur as Genesis and Equestria prepare themselves for war.

The day after Luna's press conference, Genesis flies to Canterlot, where the princess holds another conference in Genesis' Convention Hall, where Luna talks to thousands of worried ponies about the raids, how Chrysalis' changelings had been testing our defenses, and stresses again and again that Thorax and his changelings have been cooperating with Equestrian authorities and have already withdrawn to their hive, so that any changelings found within Equestria's borders will be from Chrysalis's brood.

With cameras recording her every word, Luna announces that the Equestrian Army will be deployed in three days, and while they'll initially carry standard armor and equipment, TechInc will soon supply them with rifles and body armor. Samples of both are brought on stage for everyone to see, and I can feel the shock in the air: the Equestrian armed forces have been outfitted with spears, swords, and bows for centuries. What's onstage makes those weapons hilariously obsolete.

Luna goes on to say that the majority of soldiers will be dispatched to protect cities and communities from changelings while rangers will search for Chrysalis' hive; she'll need one to operate, and if we destroy it, Chrysalis will lose her base of operations and the ability to wage a successful campaign. In the meantime, Luna asks that all of Equestria continue on with life as usual. Until the war ended, she says, not giving into fear is our greatest defense.

With the prepared information given, Luna opens the floor to questions from the audience. The first comes from a pony who wonders why we should even be concerned. He pointed out that changelings rely on ambush attacks, and our army is better trained, better equipped, and vastly outnumber our foes. Luna acknowledges that, but warns that enemies who have nothing to lose are often more creative and daring when taking on a superior foe. Chrysalis, Luna says, is like a cornered animal: when backed into a corner, she can still lash out and inflict serious damage. We would be wise not to underestimate her.

The next speaker, an elderly unicorn, asks why we even needed new weapons. To him, it seems like TechInc is trying to replace magic. Glasseye's quick to reply that the assault rifles are not supposed to replace magic, pointing out that not every soldier in the armed forces can cast spells. Rather, the goal is to have magic and non-magical weapons working together to overcome any enemy the army might face. Luna also states that Equestria will use this time to upgrade and modernize the armed forces to keep it in the best shape possible.

The next speaker, a griffin, is eager to know why Princess Celestia and the Bearers haven't stopped Chrysalis already. Luna isn't happy to reveal that they had already left to search for Chrysalis, but that all communication with them has been lost. Luna has no choice but to declare them missing, and presumably captured by the changelings.

“Celestia's been captured?!” Beakbreaker whispers to me. “But how could the changelings get her?!”

The hall echoes with frightened whispers. Luna struggles to quiet everyone, explaining that she's taking over Celestia's duties, and would be sending one of the armed forces' most elite units to track down and free Celestia and the Bearers. While the tempest of whispers and murmurs quiet down, fear remains thick and heavy in the air.

The questions continue for another half hour, ending with Luna cautioning us all that we need to be aware of personality changes in our friends and family. And while ponies, donkeys, and other equines can best a changeling in a one-on-one fight, we should avoid doing so.

As the conference finally comes to an end, Luna thanks everyone for coming, and to stay safe. As she departs Genesis on her zeppelin, Luna reassures everyone that everything that can be done to ensure everyone's safety will be done. But I sense that, despite her words, those who attended this conference are still afraid of what's coming.

Despite having the high position of Luna's emissary in Genesis, there's not much for me to do as the city prepares for war. Tasking myself to keep an eye out for any sign of changeling infiltration, I head through the city day and night, watching as TechInc employees and their families go about their lives while engineers, electricians, and technicians install new security devices and scanners. Nothing out of the ordinary happens, but during one of my many walks down the streets, a thought comes to me on how I can work to keep Beakbreaker safe from harm.

When Glasseye manages a break between one of his endless stream of meetings, I meet him and propose an idea: While TechInc has the best technology in Equestria, joining forces with Medicomp could ensure that pony bodies and artificial limbs of both steel and flesh could reach their fullest potential. And not only that, but a partnership would make for a terrific PR opportunity, painting both corporations as heroic partners setting aside their differences to help give Equestria the technological edge it needs to win the war.

And, as I point out, such public goodwill would last long after the war was over.

It isn't long before Glasseye is engaged in a conference call with my old boss, and it isn't long afterwards that he emerges from his meeting room and has his secretary ready a press release saying that the two companies have decided to join forces for the good of Equestria.

With the first step completed, I ask Beakbreaker if she could call Coin Counter to see if she can remain in Genesis as Medicomp's envoy. Of course, she quickly deduces what I'm doing, but she still makes the call without commenting on my scheming ways. It takes an hour of heated discussions, but Beakbreaker manages to arrange her stay in Genesis. I almost dance as the phone's hung up. If I can bring my parents up here, those I care about more than anything will be protected from the chaos that's inevitably going to erupt on the surface.

I make the call, and ask Mom and Dad to come join me in Genesis.

They say no.

My first question after retrieving the phone from the floor is why. They feel safe at home, Mom points out, and that I don't have to worry about her or Dad, as they're already fortifying the house with all manner of spells and charms to protect themselves. Keeping my voice steady, I remind Mom about how the changelings can be more dangerous than we realize. But either from age-induced nostalgia for a time gone by, stubbornness, or something else, my parents refuse to leave. I almost erupt at how stubborn they are, but manage to keep myself composed long enough to negotiate a compromise: We'll get in touch every day to confirm the password, and, if the war gets to the point where Changelings directly attack Saddle Lanka, they'll come up to Genesis. Mom and Dad concede to those agreements, and though the matter is settled, I'm fuming as I hang up. Beakbreaker will be safe, but my parents are still in great danger.

When the day comes for Luna to deploy the Equestrian army, I'm still worried sick. Beakbreaker, bless her, assures me that my parents will eventually see reason, but I can't shake the dread that lingers with me like a dark fog following a ship at night. The feeling stays as Beakbreaker and I head to an observation platform at Genesis' airport. Canterlot lies below us, and even from up here I can see the decorations, streamers, and festivities that have been set up. It looks like Canterlot officials want to mark the deployment with a celebration from eras past when civilians would cheer their protectors off to war.

The crowds around us go quiet as Luna's zeppelin floats into place beside Genesis. The princess walks onto an extendable platform and gazes down to the city below. Cameras roll as she gives the royal decree that, due to a state of war that exists between Equestria and Chrysalis, she hereby deploys the army to ensure Equestria's safety and to bring an end to the conflict.

And just like that, the army marches and flies forth from Canterlot. There are hundreds of them, then thousands as fully armed and armored soldiers leave Equestria's capital on hoof, on train, by airship, and by their own wings, their armor, swords, and arrows glistening in the bright sunshine. I've never seen so many soldiers at once, and even from up high, watching them fan out across the countryside is awe-inspiring, a fact mirrored by the cheers of the crowds around me and those below.

I let myself get swept up in the enthusiasm. After all, with an army that well equipped and trained, we can take on anything thrown our way.

It takes three days for all the divisions of the military to reach their destinations, set up camp, and begin their patrols. I get a call from my parents about how magnificent their garrison is; they rave about how marvelous the soldiers; Dad even jokes that it's me who should come down and join them to be safe. And for the next few days it seems he might be right. There are no reports of fighting, to the point where it doesn't feel like we're at war. Glasseye still keeps Genesis busy by continuing work on the armor and rifles while moving the changeling detector to the front of the line in R&D so it can be perfected and mass produced as quickly as possible.

With my purpose of finding hidden weapons now... well, canceled, I spend most of my time helping Beakbreaker set up her new laboratory in the Monolith by moving equipment into position as Gusty flies in shipment after shipment from Medicomp's labs in Manehattan. When all is said and done, Beakbreaker has a private lab all to herself where she can work without interruptions by anxious peers and CEO's wanting constant updates. She jokes that she might need an assistant and asks if I want my old job back. It's a tempting offer, but I have to decline, as my duties as an emissary come first.

With Beakbreaker and the city secured, I head to a situation room near the top of the Monolith. While primarily the control room where pilots and engineers keep the city flying, it's been converted into a place where Glasseye can keep an eye on any raids and issues on the surface, thanks to a wall that's covered with a map of Equestria, and keep Genesis out of harm's way.

I had figured to check in and see how things were going, but the place is busier than I thought it would be. Glasseye's manning the control booth.

He's not happy.

“Glasseye? What's wrong?”

He points to the map. A red dot lights up a remote corner of the southeast.

“Farming community," Glasseye says. “A squad found a changeling trying to impersonate a farmer. The thing slipped away before they could capture it.”

“That doesn't sound so bad.”

Glasseye shakes his head. “It's the first salvo, my boy, the ripple that precedes the oncoming storm.”

The words barely leave his mouth when a console beeps. An engineer types something into his computer, and a red light flashes on the map. Details come in, reporting that a changeling was found trying to suck a donkey dry on the outskirts of a remote village. Thankfully, it was driven off, and the donkey, while shaken, is none the worse for wear.

It's unnerving to watch the map and know that each of the two red dots was an attack. But I should have expected this. After all, we're in a war. One side had to make the opening shot, and Chrysalis just did so.

The storm, it seems, has made landfall.

I try to avoid talking about the attacks at dinner, not wanting to spoil what will be one of the few moments of respite Beakbreaker and I will get for the indefinite future. But where I desire peace and quiet, Beakbreaker can't stop talking. Considering how poorly the changelings have fared on the first day of the war, she wonders if these attacks are actually raids from changelings desperate to get food. If we' can keep our lucky streak going, she theorizes, the changelings may starve before they can mount an all-out attack. I hope so.

The following morning has the newspaper proudly proclaiming that our brave soldiers proved their worth as they pushed the cowardly changelings back. The papers said, and everyone I heard throughout the day agreed, that Chrysalis and her changelings would have second thoughts about the war, retreat, and sue for peace. And for a few days after, everything is calm.

Perhaps everything will turn out all right after all.

At the end of the war's first week, a report comes in that that a remote village has been attacked by over twenty of Chrysalis's changelings. Though the assault was beaten back, the changelings managed to drag one pony off; she was found a few hours later in a cocoon in the nearby forest. She was alive, but so drained of life that she was little more than skin and bones.

More reports came in about villages being hit. Twenty or so changelings would charge in, grab as many ponies as they could, and drag them off, using their superior speed to outrun the soldiers stationed nearby. One trading town on Equestria's northern border had gone silent. Then, more and more stopped communicating. When squads went to investigate, they would either find all the residents drained and barely alive, or they wouldn't find anyone at all.

It wasn't long before a pattern emerged: the changelings weren't interested in holding territory or trying to defeat our army. They were employing hit-and-run tactics, striking hard and fast to grab food before retreating to safety.

My calls home became more and more frequent, and every time I almost yelled at my parents to leave Saddle Lanka and join me. They weren't blind to what was happening, but kept assuring me that they were still employing spells and charms on the family home, only going out when necessary. All the communities that had been raided - they pointed out - were small and far away from the main population centers of Equestria. Saddle Lanka was large and garrisoned by hundreds of soldiers. It would be suicide for any changeling army to launch an assault or even try to sneak in. Besides, staying home and shoring up had inspired other ponies to do the same, making Saddle Lanka an example of courage, one that would inspire other communities to do the same.

Naturally, their safety means more to me than inspiring other ponies to ignore common sense. But my parents aren't swayed, no matter how much I plead. All it ever leads to is changing our passwords every day, and me feeling nauseous every time I hang up the phone.

Luna isn't blind to what's happening. She has the army increase patrols, cast shields around remote towns, and make security checks around the clock. To everyone’s relief, including my own, the number of attacks dwindle to nothing. Our efforts are beating back the changeling raids.

Then ponies start vanishing. Someone will head home from work or go out for a short stroll, only to disappear. A foal's parents would put her to bed, only to come back an hour later and find her gone. A teacher would go to the bathroom at a university and never emerge. An elderly pony would take a nap at a retirement home and his caretakers would later find his empty wheelchair. And in all the cases there are no signs of a struggle. Windows are closed, there's no blood, and not even a sign of forced entry.

The reports keep coming in. Ponies are vanishing with no discernible pattern. Even communities fortified by shields aren't immune. But at that point it doesn't matter, for panic begins to set in. Terrified families board up their homes and turn them into fortresses. Skyscrapers and stores are surrounded by the best magic possible so as to create places of refuge against the unseen terror in their midst.

It isn't long before we get photos and reports of cities being deserted during the day, and being abandoned at night.

Luna's words about not giving into fear now ring hollow and empty.

While Equestria struggles to deal with the raids, Genesis remains of an oasis unaffected by the chaos. But while it's a refuge, it's not immune to fear. My hurried walks among the city and visits to Glasseye's control center reveals that nobody's sure what to do, where to go, or what they can do to stop Chrysalis and her minions. Glasseye is having his researchers and workers work as quickly as possible to mass-produce changeling detectors, armor, and rifles, but it does little to lift spirits, including Luna's; she's struggling to keep things from falling apart, a difficult task without Celestia or the Bearers.

Wanting to get a break after getting a report about another twenty citizens going missing, I make my way to Beakbreaker's apartment, but she doesn't answer the door. Unlocking it (she let me have a copy of her key), I find it empty. Her lab's empty, too. Perhaps she wanted to get away from the war as well, but where would she go? If I were her, I'd want to be away from others in a setting that would remind me of happier times... and there's only one place here that could do it.

I take a taxi to Genesis' only park, which is squeezed into a distant corner of the city against the walls and the nearby suburbs. I head through the numerous trails winding their way past thick trees and foliage, and the numerous ponies looking for a respite from the world's worries.

I finally locate Beakbreaker on a bench at the park's far edge. If she sought solace here, she hasn't found it, as she's more nervous and high-strung than I've seen in a long time.

“Beakbreaker?” I ask. “What's wrong?”

Beakbreaker wipes her eyes. “Just wanted to get away from all the gloom and doom, you know?”

“Is there something else?” I ask. “Something you'd like to talk about?”

Beakbreaker hesitates. She bites her lip, and then finally gives in. “Oh, Silverspeak, it's my parents.”

I take a seat beside her. “What's wrong?”

She wipes her eyes. “I haven't heard from them in months. Silverspeak... what if Chrysalis' changelings have gotten my parents?!”

My stomach twists into a knot. “Have you tried calling your parents recently?”

“I can't! Zebras don't use telephones. If they were in trouble, we would have gotten a runner or something, but we haven't!" She tries to slow her breathing as it speeds out of control.

I take hold of her shoulders and speak in my calmest voice. “Beakbreaker, how many zebras live out there? Several thousand?”

She nods, wiping away a tear.

“Now, a few hundred changelings couldn't take them all down without a few escaping and running off to get help. If we haven't gotten any runners, that means that everything's probably okay.”

Beakbreaker breathes deeply. “I suppose so... but what if something has gone wrong?! What if they've been taken over? What if my parents-”

“Then we'll help them." But how? Think, Silverspeak... What can you do to try and help? What are your resources, your contacts, your... wait, that's it! "Tell you what: When I see Glasseye next, I'll ask him if he can send a messenger to the zebra homeland and see if anything's wrong.”

Beakbreaker sniffs. “You'd do that?”

“Of course. It's the least I can do."

I can almost see the tension flowing from Beakbreaker as she relaxes just a little. I look out to the horizon beyond the dome's edge.

We sit together for a while.

Lights snap on throughout the park. The sun will be slipping under the horizon soon.

“You know, I just realized something,” I say. “I don't think I've ever asked you about your home. Where you live, what you do, what type of food you eat, that sort of thing. I mean, here we have hay fries, hay burgers, gourmet dishes from Canterlot and Manehattan's high-end restaurants, but I have no idea what zebras eat.”

Beakbreaker's grateful for the distraction. “Zebras are foragers, mainly. We graze on whatever the savanna brings us: berries, fruits, vegetables, that sort of thing. We don't do much farming because our tribes move with the seasons. The only communities that settle down grow hardy things. Potatoes, root vegetables, things like that. Have you ever had fire-roasted squash seasoned with herbs? Truly exquisite. I'll have to ask my parents to make some for you... though as a heads up, when you meet them, they're probably going to ask me if you're going to be my husband.”

“What?”

“They always wanted their only daughter to find a good zebra... they'd probably get shocked at the idea of me marrying a pony.”

My heart pounds. “Would they object?”

“Well... I don't know. A relationship like that isn't forbidden, but I can't remember the last time it happened.”

“Would I have to... ah, join your tribe if we were to get... you know... married?”

“Oh, there'd be ceremonies. Tribal wear, body paint, dancing around a fire, that sort of thing. Nothing too extravagant.”

“That doesn't sound so bad.”

“After which we'd have to go into the jungle and bring down a tiger to prove our bravery.”

“That... wait, what?!" She can't be serious! She... oh, the sneaky little devil. She's smiling. Then she laughs.

“Just kidding. Nobody does that anymore.”

I wipe the sweat away. “Well, good. I don't know a thing about bringing down tigers.”

“Me neither.”

We both share a chuckle.

The sun sets on the horizon. A bird chirps from a nearby tree.

“Beakbreaker?”

“Yes?”

“What would you say to your parents if they wanted us to be married?”

She looks at me, puzzled. “Well, I would tell them the truth. That we aren't.”

“Oh.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Nothing, nothing,” I say quickly. “I mean... I don't want to do anything that might embarrass them or give a wrong first impression.”

“I don't think you could embarrass them even if you wanted to. They've had guests and visitors before who aren't knowledgeable about our culture, and they get a kick out of watching them try to fit in. If anything, you'd give them a good-natured laugh.”

“That's good to know.”

We go quiet as the sky darkens above us. But it's not from a lack of anything to say. I just enjoy being here with Beakbreaker, and I believe she feels the same.

“Silverspeak?”

“Yes?”

“You came to the park looking for me, didn't you?”

“Well... Yes.”

“You wanted to distract me from anything that was worrying me, weren't you?”

How to answer this tactfully? For all my skills and practice, I'm at a loss for-

She takes my hoof and kisses it.

“I appreciate it.”

My cheeks turn bright red.

It's a joy to see Beakbreaker feeling a little better as I escort her back to her room. That joy stays with me as I head up to Glasseye's quarters, and then into the ethereal garden to discuss the latest updates on TechInc's weapons and tools with Luna. To my surprise, the princess is smiling as we enter the gazebo.

“Your Highness? You seem quite cheerful tonight.”

“Because we've had a breakthrough that could turn the tide of this war," Luna says. "A squad investigating the latest disappearances has discovered how the changelings are kidnapping ponies." She conjures a screen of a bedroom that's been torn apart. In the center of the floor where a rug should be, there's a gaping hole.

“The changelings have been tunneling beneath Equestria, and some of those tunnels head up into homes and buildings. The reason we couldn't find them earlier is due to powerful magic used to conceal the holes.”

The bedroom vanishes, replaced by a map of Manehattan criss-crossed by dozens of red lines.

“These are all the tunnels we've found in Manehattan," Luna says. From what we can tell, there are hundreds, if not thousands of miles of them. I suspect they lead to a newly established hive hidden somewhere dark and deep within the earth. But until we can confirm that, I have ordered our forces to not speak of these tunnels. If we catch the changelings by surprise, our chances of victory will be doubled. And if we capture Queen Chrysalis, the changelings will be leaderless and scatter, ending the war.

"Glasseye, We will have need of your equipment and weapons as soon as possible," Luna says. "Once we triangulate the approximate location of the hive, we will have to launch an assault as quickly as possible.”

“Don't worry, your Highness. I'll order our production to be doubled tonight.”

Luna nods, pleased. “Good.”

I study the tunnels, looking to Saddle Lanka. There aren't any lines there, thank goodness. But where are these tunnels leading to? There has to be a hive nearby, somewhere where Chrysalis could establish a base of operations.

But what if it's not in Equestria?

"Princess?”

Luna looks to me.

"Beakbreaker mentioned to me earlier that she hasn't heard anything from her parents in the zebra homeland... what if Chrysalis has set up a hive there?"

Luna ponders the map. "It is possible... and we have not had word from the zebras in many months." Her newly-found hope gives way to grim determination. "Glasseye, have Genesis head to the zebra homeland as quickly as you can. I cannot divert any of our forces to investigate, so Genesis will have to fulfill that role."

“And it will, your Highness, though it will take us three days to reach the zebra homeland at top speed.”

“Understood. But take no unnecessary risks or put yourself in any danger. If something should go wrong, retreat at once. While I will send some units, you will be fear from help, and we cannot risk losing your city."

Glasseye nods. "It will be done."

"Good. Now, until I announce the result of our searches to the public, none of what we have said here tonight must leave this place. Is that understood?"

I nod, and so does Glasseye.

"Now, there is one last thing I wish to discuss tonight... something that will affect you, Silverspeak."

"Me, your Highness?"

“Genesis needs all the assistance it can get in not only producing our armor and weapons, but in having those who are willing to fight. For that reason, I am sending someone to join you."

"Who is it?" I ask.

Luna glances behind her and nods.

Someone walks towards the terrace, their shadow falling upon the wall of leaves. The sun makes it difficult to make them out, but my eyes adjust, and I...

No.

No, no, no, this can't be real.

My heart's pounding so loud I can barely hear Glasseye's stunned voice beside me.

“Your Highness, is that...”

“Yes,” Luna says. “It is.”

With three pairs of eyes staring him down, Mangus Bluehorn backs away like a loathsome insect retreating into the darkness from whence it came.

Author's Notes:

For those of you who missed one of my recent journals and still have difficulties seeing updates for this story, reader SIGAWESOME appears to have come up with a solution to the problem.

1. Click on your "Library" button for your account.

2. In the grid list of your bookshelves, click the "Edit Your Bookshelf/Pencil" button for the bookshelf in question.

3. Tick the green "Track Unread" toggle to disable it and turn it red.

4. Click "Save" to save your changes.

5. Click the "Edit Your Bookshelf/Pencil" button for the bookshelf again.

6. Tick the red "Track Unread" toggle to enable it and turn it green.

7. Click "Save" to save your changes.

8. Voilà: all your missing, unread chapters appear!