The urge to panic was kinda big, I won't lie. She smiled at us from her chair, where she sat imperiously. She sat as a pony would, not a human. It was plush and leather, and large enough to support her considerable size. She was larger than Aiko, and there was something about her... The way her eyes were, the way she held herself, even her accent. She was a Chinese pony, and proud of it, by the way she was going.

"Cowed into silence? Very well then, let us go over your crimes." She gestured at a clipboard that shone with the same purple light of her horn and floated to her. "You illegally entered our nation, stayed, again illegally, in condemned property. You caused civil unrest with your little... performance on the bus, and were conspiring to unleash a dangerous biohazard on our people." She lowered the clipboard. "Do I have that right?"

Aiko licked over her lips. "It is true we entered without a passport and though... unconventional means, but it was an emergency."

She raised a finely shaved brow. "Is that so? Pray do tell what this 'emergency' might be?"

I raised a hoof. "Hiya. I'm Pinkie Pie, and this is Aiko. Nice to meet you!"

She paused a moment, then smiled thinly. "I could have you two put to death, and you're smiling at me?"

"Well sure." I rolled a hoof. "We're all ponies. Sure we may be having a little misunderstanding now, but we can work that out."

"Hmmm." She set the clipboard on the desk. "I have taken the name Chao-xing, that is Morning Star, if you are new to mandarin, though you both seem to be speaking it quite well."

Aiko smiled gently. "My name means Child of Love."

I pointed at myself. "I'm Pink, and I'm from the Pie family. I guess that isn't as fancy as either of yours, but it's nice to meet you. Sorry about making a mess. We weren't trying to, honest." I slipped in beside her before she could stop me and put a cupcake on her chair in front of her. "A little present."

Morning Star frowned. "Join your friend and do not move. Just because we have introduced does not make us familiar." Her magic grabbed the cupcake and slammed it down on the desk. "Now, you said there was an emergency? I'll thank you not to lie to me. I will know."

I pouted a bit but returned to Aiko's side. ~Sheesh, what a grouch!~

~Still, you did well, Pinkie. She's not quite as ready to kill us.~

Aiko looked around and pointed at a globe. "Things have become... problematic since the pony disease."

Morning raised a brow. "Japan did not deal with it as cleanly as we have?"

Aiko shrank back. "I suppose... not..." ~Lying to her about that feels futile.~ "Why are you here, in a position of authority, when so many ponies are locked away?"

Morning snorted as she scowled at Aiko. "Because I can be trusted, and am loyal to the nation. That trust does have limits. I do not get to interact with others much here." She waved a hoof. "Largely, I deal with other troublesome ponies, such as yourselves. Now, kindly tell us who sent you, and where we should deliver your bodies?"

I felt Aiko get ready to pass out in terror, but I just smiled. "No need to get to that so quickly. We're not bad ponies. We just want everyone to be happy."

"Happy?"

"Of course! Did you see them? They're so sad and lonely in there."

She raised a hoof slowly. "And you would have them set loose, to infect others, sow disorder, and destroy this great nation? No, they are safer in there. For themselves, and others. They can work, and earn their keep. To set them free is a misjustice for everyone involved." She sat up. "Even I am not 'free', but I know the value of servitude. I am a servant of the nation, and there is no greater joy or fulfillment in life."

Aiko, trembling, nodded slowly. "But you're a pony too."

"That is where you are wrong." Her form began to elongate as she stepped off the chair, but never touched the ground. Lifting into the air, she grew longer and longer, her mouth stretching out with sharp teeth and fine whiskers sprouting from her, waving on either side. "I am a Chinese Dragon, a proud symbol of our people." She wove through the air, floating without wings. "When the sickness came on me, I defied it, turned it, and here I am. I may be a prisoner as much as any other, but I will serve my people. What would you know of this?"

I waved a hoof around excitedly. "Ooo Ooo! We're serving our people too!"

Suddenly she was an alicorn, perched in her chair and smiling. "Do tell."

~Pinkie!~

Was I not supposed to say that? Oops... "Well... We, uh... We kinda heard China was going to attack, and we were sent to see if that's true, and what was going on."

She leaned forward. "Attack? Who?" Her eyes darted to Aiko. "Japan? Why? They have no resources we need."

Aiko slumped a little. "But... Oh... A mistake?"

"One that may cost you dearly." She licked over her lips. "For agents, you are very inexperienced."

I tilted my head at her. "We aren't really trained for this. I'm a baker."

Aiko hung her head low. "I was in college."

Morning Star barked a laugh, putting a hoof before her mouth as she almost cackled. "You poor things. Is Japan so desperate, they would send literal children to our shores? They should be ashamed. And a baker? A baker?" She waved at the half-crushed cupcake on the desk. "Is this one of yours? Is this how you were going to attack? Preposterous! Those that sent you should be arrested for criminal neglect." Her eyes suddenly narrowed. "If you hadn't gotten so close to succeeding, I'd throw you out myself. Tell me how you did it."

Aiko half turned away, which drew Morning's eyes. "What's that? Most agents have the decency to not have identifying marks."

I waved at Aiko's cutie mark. "Oh, that? She just got that."

Morning raised a brow. "You got it here, in China?"

Aiko nodded quickly. "Yes ma'am."

She pressed her forehooves together. "What parlor would be mad enough to work on a pony, how did you get it to show through the fur, and why would you be doing that now?"

I put a hoof on Aiko's flank. "Silly, she didn't choose to get it. Cutie marks just happen. See, I have one." I presented my own flank with is happy balloons. "I've had mine for years."

Morning raised both brows high. "And its meaning? Is this some manner of cult?"

Aiko shook her head quickly. "No, ma'am. It seemed to be some kind of... Like a symbol of pony maturity."

Morning narrowed her eyes. "You would call me less mature for not having one? One of us knows the value of service, and is not currently being judged." She tapped her forehooves lightly.

I took a half step forward, tail wagging. "That's not what she meant. Most ponies don't have one, because most of you don't know what your real special skill is." I pointed at mine. "I make people happy, love throwing parties, and live for smiles. That's what mine means. It may not be the super most amazing talent, but it's still important, and it's what I love."

She spread her hooves slowly. "I serve my country, and I am very happy with my position. Is that not enough then?"

I waved at her fancy clothing. "You're hiding your flank, Morning Star. Maybe you do have one."

She looked shocked, even alarmed. "I would think I would have noticed this morning, as I prepared for the day."

Aiko smiled gently. "Being around other ponies, to have friends, it helps. Even if we are... opposed in some ways, you have learned something, from using us as a counterpoint for yourself."

"So I have one now." She frowned softly. "Or you're tempting me to join you in tasteless nudity. This plague may have pushed many towards a beastly life, but I see no need to degrade myself."

I pointed out into the hallway. "Well go to the bathroom then. We'll stay here."

"Leave you two alone, here?" She frowned. "I should think not." Morning Star stepped from her chair and her magic wrapped around the belt of her pants that were mostly hidden from us by the desk. She peeked a moment, then quickly pulled it up and hopped back into her chair. "There."

That was so fast... "Nothing?"

She pointed a hoof at me. "I will thank you not to use magic on me." That hoof turned to Aiko. "You are a unicorn. I can't reasonably be expected to think this anything but a feat of magic on your part."

Aiko's eyes widened slightly as she shrank back, bumping against a wall. "N-no! I swear! I didn't even know it had happened until Pinkie explained it. Please. I didn't do it." She collapsed, hooves over her face.

Morning Star sighed. "It pains me to admit, but your words seem sincere." She looked to me. "And you? Do you also swear to be uninvolved?"

"Well not really." I smiled brightly. "We brought it up, that's being involved. Congratulations! What is it? Is it cool?"

Suddenly I felt the urge to sing, so I did. I reared up onto two legs. "Sometimes we think we're done, all grown up as can be. Then something happens, shining like the sun, showing how far we can be!"

"Stop that." Morning Star rolled her eyes. "For enemy agents, you two are the most harmless people I have had the displeasure of meeting. My... cutie mark... Hmmph, my brand shows my loyalty." She glanced away, then back at us. "This pleases me in ways I did not know..."

A knock came from the door before it opened, allowing the head of an older gentleman wearing a fancy hat to poke in. "Morning Star, are you finished?"

She waved at us. "They're worthless, as enemy agents, but incalculably valuable, as intelligence. I suggest keeping them alive, but under careful watch." She locked eyes with me. "This one in particular is very clever. Keep them happy, but very secure. I will schedule another interview."

He nodded. "We look forward to your report on this interview. Danger level?"

"Minimal." She waved at us dismissively. "Treat them like troublesome children. Infectious, troublesome children."

The head withdrew and Morning Star gave us a smile. "Our time is up. You'll be brought back whenever my superiors decide our meeting would be beneficial."

Aiko took a hesitant step forward. "We aren't being killed?"

Morning waved it off. "There's no purpose in killing you, so long as you keep talking. Goodbye."

We were led out by another soldier, and taken back to the van. I wasn't sure how well we did.

Author's Notes:

If you didn't notice in the last chapter, Pinkie's choices were suddenly curtailed. The vote was even between trying to make friends and flipping out, and they did both of those. There was some votes for singing, and she tried, but that didn't go far.

In enemy hands! What do?

1: Make friends with everyone willing to talk in their new prison.
2: Maybe it's time for Aiko to refine her talent?
3: Wait to be called back to Morning Star
4: Why is everyone so sad around here? I have a few ideas to bring some smiles!
5: You know, panicking is still an option.