The two guards open the door to the interrogation room, eyes holding wariness. “You sure about this, Princess?” one of the guards, a batpony garbed in gray barding, asks me. “Shouldn’t we wait for your brother?” The guard’s voice became venomous. “Or, dare I say, even... Discord?” she hisses out the name.

I give the guard a pat on the shoulder to assure her, even if it doesn’t dispel all her fears. The interrogation room is brightly lit, almost making my eyes water. Today’s interview is my first since I started this organization. In many ways, this is the maiden voyage for everypony involved. Despite my outward appearance of strength and resolution, I’m still terrified by the prospect of what I am about to learn.

I gave the two guards a nod, who returned my gesture with a salute. They shut the door, the audible clicks telling me it was now secure. That was my cue to take a seat across from the subject. He was found on site, locked in a room in a comatose state. It was instantly ascertained that he had been the one to send out the distress call.

The unicorn is by all means average. Plain dark brown coat, plain black mane, plain golden eyes and plain average build. The only thing that’s not average about him is the presence he seems to emanate. I have come face to face with many threats: Tirek, Chrysalis, Sombra, Discord, Nightmare Moon, and many others. Yet, no matter how many evil overlords I have laid low or crises I have resolved, I can never quite overcome that initial sense of dread whenever I face a new threat.

“Good afternoon, doctor Briar. How are you feeling today?”

The doctor looks into my eyes with a faint smile. “As well as I could be.” His reply is in a low, yet gravely tone.

“I hope the security measures aren’t making you feel uncomfortable.” My eyes drift ever so slightly to the side of my head. Just outside of the room, there were over a dozen armed guards ready to break in should anything happen to me.

“Truth be told, I would really feel more comfortable if you didn’t have so many guards posted. I’m no threat while in here...” Briar gives me his best smile. Somehow, it feels crooked.

I try to give the unicorn a smile of my own, but despite my lips curling upwards, I fail. “I’m sorry, but as the administrator of this facility, that’s a risk I cannot take. After all, our organization doesn’t just deal with your run-of-the-mill anomalies, and as it just so happens, your work falls squarely in that category.”

Briar grimaced. “Believe me, Princess, I wish I hadn’t been a part of that Celestia-forsaken project.”

I place both hooves on top of the metal table, relaxing my stance enough to show Briar I meant him no harm. “Why don’t you tell me more about the project?” I started, keeping my voice as even as possible. “We uncovered so little from the surviving documentation at the site. As the sole surviving participant, you and you alone hold the last shreds of truth.”

I’ve attempted to make sense of the nature of malice and the dark arts for years now, but every door I open leads to dozens more. It was that reason above all others that convinced me to form the ERDSCP. Equestria needs an organization dedicated to searching for the things nopony can hope to understand, containing such dangers, and protecting the world—my world—from evil.

Briar uneasily shifts on his seat, his demeanor changing from one of partial sociability, to a very formal, very cold tone. “I honestly don’t think you’ll find what I have to say useful. Still, you do deserve to know more about the affront that was the project.” His eyes harden. “Know that everything I tell you today is true in every way, this I swear. Worse, I’m thoroughly convinced it will happen again if we let it.” Briar closed his eyes and sat up straighter than before. “Two years ago, a scientist began preparations for an extremely secretive project. He went by the name of Grogar Tambelon.”

My eyes widen at the name. “Doctor Tambelon? The world-renowned metaphysical researcher for the Ministry of Arcane Sciences that vanished twenty years ago? He was your employer?”

“Yes,” Briar said as his gaze drifted down to the table.

I’m not going to lie—the prospect of learning the truth behind the failed project terrifies me. Many at the top brass of the Guard, including my brother, have told me that I should leave interrogations to somepony more qualified. While part of me had to agree with them, I could sense that there was more to this than anypony else could see. As princess of Friendship and protector of the land, it was my duty to find out everything I could. So as to prevent anything like it happening again.

I rip open another letter and sigh. Yet another foreclosure message. I scowl, growl, and toss it aside like the all the other letters before getting up and walking over to my fridge. I hesitate for a second before opening the door. Only a single piece of pizza and a half-empty bottle of orange juice greeted me. With a groan, I take both.

There is a knock on my door. Turning my attention away from the paltry meal, I snap around to face it and scowl. Of course. Of all the days for the freaking landlord to come pester me, it has to be today… I groan and run my usual excuse over through my mind over and over. I wrap my magic around the door’s handle and shout as soon as I swing the door open. “I still need a few more weeks, dammit!”

A nonchalant and cool voice replies to my quip. “Of course, my good friend.” I blink, realizing I hadn’t shouted at the landlord, but instead to a light-brown unicorn in a doctor’s coat. “Apologies for intruding, but would you happen to be Mr. Briar?” the stallion asks, straightening his round metal-framed glasses and tie in the process.

“...Yes,” I reply, eyes narrowing with every word. “Who wants to know?”

The unicorn smiles, running a hoof over his graying, blond mane. “The name’s Dr. Grogar Tambelon. I’m here to propose a job offer.” He extends his hoof, which I stare at for a few seconds before shaking. “May I come in?” he coolly requests.

I gaze into the elder stallion’s eyes. I had never heard of this doctor, so either he was telling the truth, or he was a pretty bold liar. Regardless, I couldn’t just have him stand in the hallway—especially if the landlord was around.

I stepped aside and let him walk into my apartment. I used my magic to fix a few eyesores such as small stack of empty dishes I had left on top of my coffee table. The doctor took a seat on the couch.

“Dr. Briar, I am about to begin an experiment that will hopefully let ponykind answer a few lingering questions about the nature of dark magic,” he started, his lips rising into a grin.

“Dark… magic?”

“Mr. Briar, are you alright?” I asks after the doctor had said nothing for nearly five minutes.

He snapped from his seeming daze and looks up from the table. “Yes… just reminiscing...”

I nod. “Now, what can you tell me about the project as a whole?

“Harbinger…” Briar whispers.

“Yes, that’s the name in all the recovered documents. But what else can you tell me about it?”

Though his eyes never left mine, I could see a small shiver run up his spine. “The word itself means to warn or forebode. It’s intimidating to even utter, maybe because of the way it rolls from our tongues, or maybe it’s simply due to its association with the project. In hindsight, my gut feeling was right. I don’t know why Dr. Grogar gave the experiment that title, but in retrospect, it fit perfectly.”

I felt a cold sensation running down my spine at his words. I couldn’t help but feel parallels to myself in the words he had just said. Once upon a time, I too would have jumped on the prospect of such knowledge. Those days were long over, but it was scary to think what could have been had it been me who was asked to study such arts.

I put on my best straight face despite my innermost turmoil. “Right… let’s… uh.... try something else then!” I paused to better think over my words. “Let’s see… how exactly did you end up as a part of the research team?”

Briar once again shifts his gaze back down to the table.

“Let me get this straight,” I said, putting down my cup of coffee. “You want me to be a part of a potentially unethical experiment in which you are going to purposefully introduce dark magic on unsuspecting test subjects?”

Dr. Grogar took a sip of his coffee before nodding.

I again lift the manila folder the doctor had given me and read over the plans. The details strike me not only as suspicious, but outright immoral—more so since it calls for total secrecy. Still, it is the promised pay that gets my attention most of all.

I turn to face the elder unicorn. “Why me?”

The doctor smiles. “My plans require employees that are not only efficient at their job, but also know how to keep their mouths shut. If word was to get out as to what I have planned, it would be reason enough for the Royal Guards to come knocking at my door.”

I narrow my eyes. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

Grogar chuckles. “Of course I haven’t.” He reaches into his suitcase and brings out another manila folder. “I happen to know you are a very gifted physician. It’s very difficult to find a doctor that’s not only gifted in alchemy, but is also a full-fledged surgeon. I think it’s even more difficult to find all of the above, on top of having intricate knowledge of magic.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I’m a unicorn. Of course I would learn magic on top of medical science. It is our birthright after all.”

“Is four years of magic theory considered ‘mandatory’ for unicorn physicians nowadays?”

I grumble. “I had to cover my bases. That’s the reason I also minored in alchemy.” I scowle. “You know, there are probably dozens of ponies more qualified than me.”

“True, but none of those ponies are in your current predicament.” Grogar motions to the folder he had put on the table. I reach out for it and read its contents. Instantly, my eyes go wide. I slam the folder down, grimacing. “How did you—”

“’Get this’?” he says, finishing my words. “It wasn’t hard, I’m sorry to say. It’s actually hard to believe that your previous employers would put such a dent in your career just because you tried to use dark magic to keep one of your patients alive.” Grogar took another sip of his coffee. “A shame you butchered the spell and ended up making a mess of the poor colt.”

I wrap the folder in my telekinetic grip and glare daggers at it. The aura surrounding it then turns black. Second later, it burst into black flames, consuming it within seconds.

“I see you know that particular spell,” Grogar says giddily. “Color me impressed! Even among those who study the occult arts, ‘blackfire’ is considered a difficult spell to cast right. It’s even said that in the olden days, the measure of a warlock’s power lay on whether or not they knew how to cast it properly.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I doubt blackfire’s that hard to cast. It was the first spell I learned, even before telekinesis.” I looked at the pile of ash that had formed on my table. “I mean, a spell that, once cast, cannot be put out by any force imaginable and whose flames can burn even in a vacuum is quite useful, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Oh, is that everything you think the blackfire spell can do?” Grogar asks.

I shrug. “There’s also the fact that it cannot burn anything other than the intended target, but that is more of a bonus than anything else if you ask me.” I grimace. “We’re moving away from what’s important here!” I shoot a glare at the doctor, who gazed back with a confident grin. “Was that folder an attempt to blackmail me?”

Grogar shakes his head, grin never wavering. “Mr. Briar, your current situation is, shall we say, quite dire. As such, there is no need to blackmail you.”

I sigh. Tell me about it…

“Currently, you’re lucky if a hospital takes you as a janitor, let alone ever again allows you to work as a physician,” Grogar continues, his grin fading as he continues. “Because of the above issues, you’re deep in debt. A debt that has cost you your home, most of your earthly possessions, and even your marefriend. You’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.” He downs the last of his coffee and sets the cup down. I snarl. There was no denying the doctor was well informed.

“That’s where I come in. I’m not only willing to pay you handsomely for your services, but if we succeed, the fame alone will override any potential stigma your name carries at the moment. With my further support, you might even be eligible for a tenure job with the Ministry of Arcane Sciences as the first legitimate occult expert in Equestrian history. Just imagine, you as the first of a new breed of researcher, doing away with millennia of negative stigma upon an art whose potential is practically unlimited and untouched.” He leans closer to me. “After all, dark magic is only called such because ponies don’t understand it. And what they don’t understand, they fear.”

The doctor’s words give me pause. If I had a job with the Ministry, I could forget all about my economic woes for the rest of my days. Even their lowest level of funding would be twice what I was paid as a physician. The prospect of showing the world just what dark magic could do was a bonus on top of that.

I look down at the folder containing the project details, my brow furrowing. As immoral as the idea was, it was for the progression of the magical and scientific fields. It was my duty as a doctor to see it through. So what if a few ponies got hurt in the process? Progress has to be paid somehow. After all, nothing can be gained without first giving something in return. That’s the law of the universe.

I stare darkly into Grogar’s eyes. I was suddenly filled with determination. “I’m in.”

Briar finally looks up and once more gazes directly at me. Something about his eyes made me feel completely uneasy. I steeled myself to continue with the interrogation despite my growing unease. “How many other employees did Dr. Grogar hire?”

“Forty. Some were close colleagues of his, some were average scientists, and at least twenty five were private security.”

“What about location? What can you tell me about the location project Harbinger took place in?

Briar continues to gaze into my eyes despite his unnerving silence. I can almost hear the drop of a pin.

It has been a week since I had accepted Grogar’s job opportunity. In that time, he had officially introduced me to the finer points of his plan. In fact, he had started treating me as well as some of his closest colleagues, making me a part of the planning meetings, cocktail parties with officials from Stalliongrad, and even increasing my payment despite the project not even officially beginning. For the first time in my life, I have more money than I ever did as a surgeon. The wealth… it is intoxicating. Still, There’s a job ahead, and the money now is but a prelude of things to come.

After the final details got dealt with, Grogar and I headed for the location of the future installations. There, we found no laboratory, or even a warehouse. just empty snowy fields, ancient woods that had seen countless winters, and a somewhat worn-out shack with a couple of decrepit cabins nearby.

“Uh, Doctor... you sure we are in the right spot?”

Grogar nods with a wide grin on his lips. “See that shack?” He points with his hoof. “That’s the entrance to the bunker.”

“Bunker?”

“Yes,” Grogar replies. “The installation is a leftover from when the Stalliongrad military and a group of griffons invaders fought over territory some fifty years ago. This was before Stalliongrad officially became a part of Equestria and disbanded its armed forces.”

I stop in my tracks, the crunch of the snow underneath my hooves serving as the only non-vocal sound for what must be miles. “So, the whole complex’s underground?”

“Correct. Bunker and laboratory, complete with old monitoring equipment and all the necessary space for medical trials.”

I turn to face Grogar. “How did you convince the city officials to sell you the land?”

Grogar chuckles. “It wasn’t hard, truth be told. The land’s been up for grabs for years now, but few buyers have ever desired it. Considering the sordid past it has among the populace, it’s no surprise. Once we’re done updating the installations, we can shape it into the ideal testing grounds for our needs. We may even be able to expand further.”

I tilt my head to the side. I’m not entirely sure why though. “What exactly do you mean by ‘sordid past’?”

Grogar rolls his eyes and snorts from his nostrils. “Superstitious nonsense, Briar” He fixed his fur coat and laughs. “The locals believe the bunker is ‘haunted’ since it was originally built as a prison. During the course of the conflict, the prison became a research lab of… well.” He pauses and turns to face me. “Ever heard of ‘unit 851’?”

My eyes widen. “Wasn’t that that one group of scientist that used war prisoners and Stalliongrad convicts as experimental fodder?”

Grogar nods. He still has that grin on his lips. “That’s right! This bunker was their base of operation. After the conflict ended, the bunker was abandoned. Naturally, popular belief is that the place is still haunted by the the restless spirits of the inmates.” The doctor’s grin grows even wider. “Perfect for our needs, wouldn’t you agree?”

I straighten the collar of my trench coat and looked at the rather unassuming-looking shack. I could probably tear it down with a few bucks, and I was a unicorn. “Just how big is the complex?” I ask, completely bypassing Grogar’s earlier inquiry.

“It isn’t big enough for our ends right now. Once the contractors get here though, we’ll have this complex expanded as necessary.”

“What about those?” I ask, looking at the decrepit cabins. “Were those also part of the complex?”

“Yes. Those are going to be the company housing!” Grogar exclaims. He must have noticed my sudden grimace, because he started laughing. “Don’t worry, they will also be fixed up. For the time being, we are staying at a local condo complex until the construction is complete. It should not take more than a couple of months. Once that’s done, the project will begin.”

“So, what are we doing until the construction is done?”

“For the time being, waiting for the rest of the staff to arrive. Other than that, though, you’re free to use your pay as you see fit. Just don’t get into any kind of trouble.” Grogar gives me a nudge and a wink.

“And what did Doctor Grogar mean by that?” I ask as soon as Briar finishes talking. I take the opportunity to wipe some of the sweat that had formed on my brow.

Briar took pause at my words, his expression going from blank, to one of sly acknowledgement. “I think you already know the answer to that, princess.” He leans back on his chair. “Good thing I was never one to indulge too much. Stalliongrad was... quite the city…”

I can feel a warm sensation in my face as the implications hit me. I keep my face as straight as possible as I try to ignore the doctor’s words. After another deep breath, I resume the interrogation. “From the investigative team’s reports, we know that the complex was massive, yet the cave-ins prevented our teams from going further. Just what else can you tell me about it?”

Briar spoke without sitting back up in a cold and distant tone. “There was the entrance section, the control hub, the entry doorway, and the hallway. Connected to the control hub were three doors. One lead to a smaller room that served as the infirmary, another door lead to a break room that was hardly ever used, and the last door lead into the hallways. Unlike the rest of the complex, the hallways had been rebuilt, giving them an almost labyrinthine configuration. They made up a vast majority of the complex. Past the halls were the testing chambers.”

I nod in agreement to Briar’s words. “Reports say that when the installation was secured, the hallways had already been destroyed,” I say, keeping my voice even despite my rising concerns over Briar’s own tone. “Can you tell me more about the halls?”

Briar was quiet for nearly half a minute. “It was to keep—” He stops mid-sentence, closes his eyes, and slams his hoof on the table, mouth twisting into a snarl and teeth clenching so hard I could almost hear them scraping against each other. I can’t help but recoil. I’m thankful his eyes are closed. He can’t see what I know is a terrified expression on my face “—N-nothing. It’s nothing,” he finally spits out through clenched teeth, his eyes opening and once again falling back on mine.

I take a gulp and try to relax. “O-okay... we’ll get back to that… later.” I take a breath of air to steady my nerves. Much later… “L-let’s back up and talk about your arrival at the complex.” I try to keep things organized despite my desire to know just what that outburst had been. The deeper I went into this mess, the more I felt I would not like it when I hit bottom.

Briar takes a deep breath of air through his nostrils, but instead of speaking, he places both hooves in front of his mouth. “Actually, that’s a rather long story, and I am feeling particularly parched. Can we take a quick break?”

The doctor’s inquiry shouldn’t have caught me off-guard. Yet, against my own expectations, it does. I’m not entirely sure why though. Maybe it’s the suddenness, or perhaps the tone. I can’t quite place it anywhere in the spectrum of speaking tones that I was familiar with, yet it certainly came off as… unnatural.

Without a word, I give a nod and get up from the table. I move to the door and nod. A couple of clicks later, the metal hatch swings open, revealing a burly earth-pony female guard. Instead of the normal gold-plated barding, her’s was navy blue and black.

“What are your orders?” the guard asks me, eyes drifting away from my face and onto Briar, who is still seating on the table with his hooves covering his mouth.

“We’re taking a few minutes. Could you please bring some water for us?”

“Right away!” says the guard with a salute. She shot one final glare at Briar before heading out at full speed.

I decide to wait by the doorway. Despite that inner voice that tells you not to do stupid things yelling loud and rather clear, I choose to face completely away from the doctor. It is at that instant that I feel something in the pit of my gut that’s completely indescribable. The best way I can put it is a sensation of peril I hadn’t felt since standing face to face with Tirek.

I softly gulp, a few beads of sweat forming in the back of my neck, sending chills down my back and into my flank.

What have I gotten myself into?