“I don’t see it.”

“Over- It’s over there. See?”

“Uuuuhhnnnn…no. What am I looking for again?”

“You should be able to see a big tree. That’s the library. And to the west there’s a big apple orchard. The Everfree Forest is even more west from there. Ponyville’s right smack in between the Whitetail Wood and the Everfree.” Bon Bon struggled to show Lyra where Ponyville was. From a balcony near the great hall in Princess Celestia’s castle palace, they could see the entire valley below the magnificent city. Lyra and Bon Bon leaned against the ledge of the balcony.

“Ummmm. Nope. All I see is hills and trees.” The squinting mare said as she scanned the valley for their destination, “Honestly I don’t know how you can see anything that far away.”

Bon Bon puffed up her swirly pink and blue mane with a hoof, smirking. “Perfect vision. How else do you explain my impeccable aim?”

“Whoa now, Bun Bun. I wouldn’t go that far,” said the aquamarine unicorn lazily.

“My name is..! Ugh! You’ll see! Had we been able to finish our little scrap in the garden, you’d have-“

“Please. I could whoop your skinny little flank any day of the week.” Lyra interrupted, facing Bon Bon with a scowl.

Bon Bon approached Lyra aggressively. “Ha! Lyra, if Octavia hadn’t have jumped in when she did, I would have clobbered you silly!”

“Hello ladies. Getting along I see?” Octavia seemed to pop out of nowhere as Lyra and Bon Bon hadn’t seen her approach amidst their arguing. Both of the ponies jumped at the surprise.

“Oh! Yea, of course!” Lyra said.

“Splendidly!” Chirped Bon Bon with a sheepish grin. Octavia had successfully beaten the fear of Celestia into the mares.

“Marvelous”, Octavia said, turning away. It was just 2 days until the Summer Sun Celebration – and their mission. With 3 ponies on the team, Octavia needed to recruit only one more. Celestia’s sun was just coming over the horizon. There was much to do today.

“So, who’s number four?” said Lyra as she eyed the small saddlebag hanging from Octavia’s back.

“You wouldn’t know her, Lyra. She was two grades below us at the academy. Her class only just graduated last year” replied Octavia as she scanned the gardens.

“Well maybe she did something we would have heard about? Surely she’s completed a mission or two by now.” Bon Bon added.

“Nope. She hasn’t done any missions. She didn’t graduate.”

“She flunked??” Lyra said, stunned. She and Bon Bon looked at each other with worried expressions. Was their team leader really going to trust their lives and the fate of Equestria with a pony that failed out of the academy?

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll see.” Octavia said, not wanting to have to explain the story more than once today. Everything would come together in due time.

The group wandered through the grand halls of the palace. The pearly white floors gleamed, contrasted by the dark red carpets and drapes hanging in front of the tall columns. All around there were grand statues of heroes of old; seemingly keeping watch over their home long after their time had passed.

“So this number four, what does she do?” Lyra asked.

Octavia answered, “We already have a recon specialist as well as ranged support. I’m the squad leader, and you’re the close combat specialist. All that leaves is somepony who can successfully execute rapid dominance strategies in the battlefield.”

Lyra put a hoof to her face. “That’s the big worded version. Somepony give me the simple version.”

Bon Bon replied, “You mean the stupid version?”

Lyra glared at Bon Bon, who merely continued, “Imagine our team as a set of tools needed to build something. Octavia would be the directions, I would be whatever measuring instruments are involved, and you would be a wrench – to apply the right kind of force in the right way. What’s missing?”

“A hammer.”

“Precisely. Our number four will be there to apply brute force and inflict shock and awe upon our enemy, making it easier for us to react, and harder for them.”

“You’re right. That was the stupid version. You suck at metaphors.” Bon Bon’s face grew red as she growled at Lyra. “And besides, I thought I was the shock and awe.”

Bon Bon took the chance to strike back at her insulter. “I hardly think swinging from the treetops, screaming like a wild creature would count as shock and awe. I believe a certain gray pony had enough wits about her to give you a good crack in the head with a big stick.”

“Yep. While you sat cowering in the mud. I remember” replied Lyra with a satisfied smirk.

“There she is” Octavia said, breaking away from the other two. As they followed they noticed a blonde-maned gray pegasus looking up in awe at one of the tall statues in the hall. A set of bubbled adorned her flank.

Bon Bon recognized the pony. “Oh her! I know who that is. That’s Ditzy Doo. She was very formidable in combat training. I’m surprised to hear she failed the graduating exam.”

As they approached, Octavia greeted the pony. “Hello Derpy,” Bon Bon blinked confusedly at Octavia’s use of the name. “It’s me, Octavia. I’m glad you could meet me on such short notice.”

The gray mare turned and looked at the group and smiled. “Hi!” she chirped, shaking hooves with Octavia.

Bon Bon and Lyra trotted a few meters away to sit down, letting Octavia explain things to their newest member.

“We’re going to have to skip formalities, Derpy. Princess Celestia has given me an extremely important mission, and I want you to join my team. Your skillset is very valuable.”

“Why is Octavia calling her Derpy? I thought her name was Ditzy Doo.” Bon Bon whispered to Lyra.

“Guess you were wrong yet again, stupid” replied Lyra.

Derpy blinked confusedly. “Me? But, I never graduated…” Derpy hesitantly said to Octavia. “I failed the test…” Derpy looked down and kicked her hoof nervously.

“Actually, Derpy, I have your test right here.” Octavia opened the saddlebag with her mouth and pulled out a small booklet of paper. “Turns out you scored top of your class, with near perfect scores in situational awareness, close quarters combat, strength testing, and advanced combat techniques.”

Derpy’s ears perked upward and she blinked at the papers.

“The only reason you failed is because you signed the wrong name on the paperwork” said Octavia as she handed Derpy the packet. “You were registered in the academy as Derpy Hooves. You signed your name as Ditzy Doo.”

“I knew it” whispered Bon Bon, gloating to an annoyed Lyra.

“Oh…” Derpy sat down clumsily and flipped through the booklet. She closed her eyes and smiled happily at Octavia. “Oops!” She seemed less concerned about the minute mistake and more concerned about the fact that she didn’t fail at all.

“After I discovered that, I decided to research a bit more” said Octavia as she dug for more papers in her bags. “Somepony doesn’t just ace the final exam and then forget their name. Turns out you’ve been signing half of all your documents as Derpy, and the other half as Ditzy.” She handed Derpy copies of various legal documents. Her flying license and academy registration form were signed as Derpy, whereas her house and passport were signed under Ditzy. “Derpy, you are legally two entirely different ponies.”

Bon Bon blinked rapidly, trying to process just why in Equestria anypony would do that. Lyra scratched her head, saying “Okay, that’s either got to be really stupid, or really smart but…I really can’t think of any practical reason to…” trailing off, she looked in the distance trying to think of some way two identities could come in handy.

Octavia continued describing the specifics of the mission as Derpy sat happily absorbing the information and nodding. As she went on, Derpy’s face suddenly grew very serious. Her right eye darted to the side, while the left stayed focus on Octavia.

“What the..?” Lyra said, perplexed.

Derpy hopped onto all fours, grabbing Octavia. “DOWN!” she hollered. She threw the gray earth pony to the tile floor and leapt on top of her, taking Octavia by surprise. A bright streak of electric blue light shot just overhead, and Octavia could feel the heat from the beam.  Just as the two ponies rolled sideways and shot back up, a dozen or so masked colts darted from behind the statues and pillars.

“No unicorn!” Derpy shouted.

Octavia couldn’t see where the bolt of magic had come from either. All of the masked ponies rushing toward the group were dark-colored earth ponies. She rushed forward and collided with a purple colt with a black mane, matching the mask. He was easily twice the weight of Octavia but she managed to knock him off his hooves and send him stumbling into another assailant. “Bon Bon! I need to know where that unicorn is NOW! Lyra, form up on me!” A unicorn with that kind of magic could be a large problem if not in sight.

Bon Bon leapt past Octavia, dodging around two masked ponies toward where the blast of magic seemed to originate. Derpy flew straight up, spinning around and scanning the hall. Octavia and Lyra toppled another two colts.

“To think that they have the audacity to mount a strike in Celestia’s own palace.” Octavia mused. Derpy quickly agreed and dove straight down into one of the ninja ponies, knocking him out cold. She picked him up and – not threw, or hurled – but LAUNCHED him straight into one of his comrades sending them both flying.

Just as Derpy was about to celebrate this small triumph, a large beam of light collided with her and knocked her right out of the air. She landed hard on the marble floor. Octavia turned to find the source, only to see somepony dart behind a column. Bon Bon charged behind the column but was met by a large ninja pony before she could get there. The small mare didn’t work well with close quarters combat.

Octavia called, “Lyra! Assist her!”

“Got it!” Lyra answered, speeding towards Bon Bon and her attacker.

Derpy regained consciousness after the harsh blast of magic and pulled herself up slowly. Octavia weaved around the assailants and helped her to her hooves. Derpy crossed her eyes, each one focusing on a different target. “Left!” she cried. Octavia got the hint and rolled over Derpy’s back to her left side, landing hard against the jaw of an assailant. Derpy flipped around and kicked another pony square in the chest. She then twirled around again to beat down another opponent, but another flash of light landed just in front of her – blinding her. The colt tackled her, wrapping his forelegs around her wings, preventing flight. Octavia jumped in to help but was tackled herself by another colt, and she landed hard against the ground.

Meanwhile, Lyra and Bon Bon struggled with their own enemy. The massive ninja was easily as big as both of them combined. He smirked at the two ponies crouching before him. “I’ll handle this one, you go find that unicorn.” Lyra said.

“Are you kidding me? He’ll crush you flat!”

“Just go!” Lyra charged the colt, letting out an earsplitting battle cry. The colt, with surprising speed, twirled around and sent Lyra flying with his hind legs. She corrected herself midair and landed on her back hooves. Bon Bon used the distraction to get behind the colt. “Bun Bun! You idiot! Don’t!”

The colt realized what Lyra was saying and whipped around again, grabbing Bon Bon and lifting her high. She kicked helplessly while he threw her hard against the ground. Lyra managed to catch her just in time, but both were sent to a hard landing with the hard floor. “You’re the one…who gave me away you idiot…” Bon Bon groaned.

Octavia weakly pushed herself back up. “I have…had…enough of this…” she growled. She sensed the pony behind her about to bring down a hoof to knock her back down. Octavia whirled around and grabbed his leg mid-stomp and tossed him down to the marble. Hopping up to her hooves before he even landed, she spun around and brought a hoof down hard on his chest. A couple of his ribs audibly snapped. She felt the sickening feeling of bones breaking as she stomped. Sickening to most, but Octavia suddenly felt herself reveling in the feeling of violence.

Octavia saw red.

With a gray flash she rushed the pony holding onto Derpy ripping him off of her and bending backwards to drop his head against the tile. Two more ninja colts had rushed up to aid their comrades. Octavia deflected the blow of the first and brought her hoof down against his elbow. “CRACK!” Her enemy wailed in pain. Oh those sweet, sweet wails. She knocked him over and went to meet the pony behind him. After trading a few blows between them, she managed to maneuver behind him and choke him unconscious.

Feeling the rush of battle coursing through her, her adrenaline charging her up, and the glorious feeling of inflicting pain upon those who had the audacity to attack her and her team in broad daylight, Octavia galloped to where Lyra and Bon Bon were about to be crushed by a massive ninja colt. With a powerful leap, she head-butted the colt in the side and sent him stumbling. Had he been smaller, he would have been flying.

Octavia ignored the desire to trash-talk her opponent, opting instead for clobbering him silly first. She kicked at his legs, causing him to stumble further – keeping him off balance while she connected a few well-placed blows to sensitive areas of his humungous body; the nose, the stomach, the neck. Glad she was finally about to finish off this incredible nuisance and show these fillies just exactly who was boss; she raised a hoof and brought it down toward his head.

Then suddenly, a brilliant blue light blinded her. A fierce heat collided with her side. With the sudden trauma, her senses failed and all she was aware of was the intense heat and her surroundings flying past her. Before she knew it she was face down on the marble, groaning in pain. She looked up, and saw all of her new teammates lying just as battered and barely-conscious as her.

A set of white hooves stepped into her field of vision. Octavia struggled to lift her head to finally see the mare who caused such annoyance. One of the hooves gently stepped on her head, forcing her chin back down to the gleaming floor. Octavia was too weak to fight back now. A blue glow emitted from above her field of vision – presumably from the stupid marshmallow’s horn.

Stupid unicorns. Octavia felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. This is how she would finally go out. Beaten by a magic filly. And she couldn’t even see the face of the one who actually bested her. Every bit of her screamed in protest. Her mind railed violently. Every muscle strained to move. All she could manage was a pathetic shudder.

Somewhere, there was distant yelling.  A few voices. A lot of voices? Celestia’s voice. She was mad. The blue glow cut off suddenly and the white hooves darted away. Octavia strained as hard as she could to turn her head to the side. A dozen dark-colored ninja pegasi were scooping up their unconscious comrades. They piled the fallen ninjas into black chariots and sped out of the palace through the balcony.

Stupid marshmallow. Octavia fell unconscious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Derpy Hooves anxiously prodded Lyra’s nose a few times. As the aquamarine unicorn finally came to, Derpy smiled happily. “Yay!”

Lyra rubbed her head and looked around. She was in a hospital bed. A few medic ponies surrounded her. Some were tending to Bon Bon, and Derpy looked like she wasn’t too badly beat up. Further away, she saw Octavia talking to Princess Celestia. Octavia was already fully healed. No doubt the medic unicorns worked on her first. Celestia needed to know exactly what just transpired from the highest ranking agent. She groaned and sat up while Derpy took a step back. It took a moment to recall some of the events prior to being unconscious. She remembered watching Derpy fight.

“You’ve got a few moves, kid” she chuckled weakly. “I don’t get why Octavia picked Bun Bun, but I know why she chose you. She was right. You’re pretty strong.” She said as she recalled seeing Derpy launch a fully grown colt halfway across the grand hall. Derpy smiled brightly.

Bon Bon interjected, “You don’t get why she picked me? You’re the one who doesn’t know how to pick her battles.”

Lyra snapped her head at Bon Bon. “I had it under control. You were supposed to be finding that unicorn. If you hadn’ta gotten in my way I would have been fine.”

Lyra and Bon Bon argued and Derpy frowned. Octavia finished her conversation with the Princess and slowly trotted to where her team recovered.

“I was behind him, and YOU gave me away!”

“You weren’t even supposed to be there.”

“I know I wasn’t. I had no choice since somepony decided to wrestle with a colt twice her size.”

“Ladies.” Octavia interrupted. The group fell silent and looked upon their leader. An awkward silence lasted several moments as Octavia looked at each of the ponies one by one. She continued calmly, “That was the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen school fillies with more teamwork than us.” The other ponies looked at the ground. “Now I just had a serious talk with Princess Celestia. I told her my team sucks, and I need a new one. But turns out we just don’t have time for that, so I guess you will have to do. Maybe an Equestria in eternal night won’t be so bad.” She turned away, paused, and turned back. “Did anyone at least get a glimpse of that unicorn?” The blast that knocked her out was uncannily powerful. She’d never seen magic of that ferocity besides experimental spells performed by Celestia’s top wizards.

Derpy meekly raised a hoof. “I saw unicorn far away…before we got hurt…”

Octavia recalled Derpy’s fortunate eye trick shortly before the attack. No wonder she aced situational awareness in the final exam. “Well?”

Derpy paused , deep in thought for several moments before finally answering, “Just saw...blue…”

Octavia groaned and walked past them. All she saw was the blue light. “Chariot leaves tomorrow at 6 A.M. If I see you limping, you’re doing laps.” She said as she trotted away.

Derpy cried a little.

Bon Bon stared at the ground.

Lyra went back to sleep.

And Octavia sighed. Celestia help us, she prayed. Next Chapter: Base of Operations Estimated time remaining: 29 Minutes