*Chapter retouched 6/10/2020

Dear Princess Celestia,

I have been in your service for many years now. I have done so much in the name of Equestria and kept so many secrets from the ponies I know, love, and trust with my life. Not once have I questioned the roles I have needed to play for the betterment of our wondrous country. Not once have I felt the need to question my orders. Never have I shied from any challenging mission that has been set before me.

So why do I feel such a need now?

I have grown oh so close with Lyra over the years. We’ve spent so much time together that it feels like we are more than simply friends, we are practically family. My orders were to keep watch over any potential disasters that may arise. Ponyville is a prime spot for observation, to better protect the element bearers. Over the years living with Lyra I have always known of her loyalty to the mad god. She was never exactly subtle about her worship after all.

But she never went out of her way to try and recruit ponies or other species to her cult. The most I have witnessed her do is place lettuce and string in front of a bust of Sheogorath and pray. As if he would grant whatever she wanted without dire consequence. Truly, if you were to meet her for the first time you wouldn’t even guess she was a part of that cult. She seems so normal, so average.

Why the sudden change? Why is she now going from house to house, pony to pony, and trying to recruit others to the worship of Sheogorath? What is the purpose of this sudden shift? What has gotten into her? How can I get her to return to that slightly quirky mare I have come to love so much?

I’m sorry Princess, I’m just venting right now. Regardless, things are starting to change over here. Over the past few days, ever since that undead monstrosity charged through town chasing something that looked akin to Sheogorath’s species, various types of ponies have been coming into town from far away. Likely curious about everything going on. I fear these groups will try and cross over the portal, as many of them look to be adventurers of sorts. Some of the others look like tourists, they’ll probably just snap a few photos of the portal so I believe we do not need to worry about them.

But I do recommend some sort of action be taken about them all, Ponyville simply can not handle so many ponies at once. At least, not by itself. At the rate things are going all the food in town will be eaten and there will be no space for others to live. Please, Princess, do something with these ponies. I have come to love this small town and I do not wish to see it ruined.

Your Ever Faithful Agent,
Sweetie Drops

Bonbon sighed as she set the quill back down on her desk. She silently waited for the ink to dry, rolled the paper up, and placed it inside a magical bottle. The bottle glowed briefly before the inside flashed purple and the message was sent to its intended recipient. Bonbon got up from her seat and stretched before walking out of her bedroom door.

“Hey Bonbon!” Lyra suddenly yelled into her face when Bonbon opened the door.

Bonbon jumped back with a cry of surprise, she recovered, glared at, and admonished her best friend, “Lyra! How many times have I told you not to do that?! What could possibly be so important?!”

Lyra rolled her eyes, “Pssh, this has got to be at least the one hundred and forty-third time.” At Bonbon’s unimpressed look she nervously laughed and hurriedly continued, “Hehe… Anyway, guess what! Lord Sheogorath finally spoke to me!”

Lyra’s grin was so wide she was forced to close her eyes, thus missing the horrified look that ran across her best friend’s face. To Bonbon’s great boon she managed to hide the horrified look before Lyra could see it.

“I can’t repeat what he said to me, but I’m so excited! I have so much work to do!” Lyra continued to smile at her friend, “So, now that I told you the wonderful news do you want to celebrate? I’m going to Hayburgeerrr, it’s our favoriiite.” She drawled out slowly, waggling her eyes at Bonbon.

Bonbon nervously chuckled, “Y-Yeah. It sounds like a great time! I’m happy for you. Honest!” Bonbon and her friend trotted out of their shared house, Bonbon looked at Lyra and said, “But I got to ask a question Lyra…”

Said unicorn looked back at Bonbon, face scrunched up in confusion, “Uh… ask away, Bon.”

“Why… oh, how do I phrase it? Why do want to serve the mad god?”

The mint green unicorn paused in her trotting, looking serious at Bonbon. Their gazes were locked, until Lyra grinned at her best friend, “Why, it’s because madness is bliss of course!”

Bonbon watched Lyra trot off in the direction of Hayburger. Her brows furrowed and her mouth frowned before she said, “What? What in Tartarus does that mean?”

“Tell me, Jeeves. What are the mortals doing now? Other than that… eh, Bash character we have not had any real visitors to the Isles that make it past the Fringe. It’s getting mighty lonely, I don’t like feelin’ lonely. And it’s not very nice to just decline my little invitation without even sending a letter! Not even a single reason why they can’t RSVP! Terrible manners, devastating social inadequacies! And to be quite honest, it’s just plain rude I say,” said Sheogorath, reclining in his throne.

“I believe they are building a bridge to the mortal’s side of the portal,” Jeeves replies, bowing his head. “Perhaps this will make them start coming to the realm in droves. How... fun.”

“A bridge? A brrridge?! Why waste so much of their little mortal lives building a bridge?! Swim! Take a chance! Roll the dice! Pass go! Collect two hundred bits,” Sheogorath shouted before he waved a hand and light seemed to bend above it as a bottle of wine appeared in the air, and a golden cup also appeared in Sheogorath’s hand. The bottle tipped and filled the cup before floating to a small table set down next to the throne. The Mad God turned towards his chamberlain, “Tell me Jeeves, what do you think the mortals will do once they reach the Isles?”

“I do not know sire, perhaps go mad upon realizing there is no hope for their selfish and fleeting desires?”

“Perhaps,” Sheogorath took a sip of wine, “But maybe I need to make sure I have plenty of mortals to throw away. I do oh so wish for that one of my dear little worshippers to be made whole again. He must have such a splitting headache… Or as much of a headache as a dead pony could get. Really now, so fragile he is. Or rather… was. But if he is going to be so lazy as to let something as inconsequential as that beautiful mistress known as death stop him then perhaps it’s time for a... new one to take his place.”

Sheogorath swished the contents of his cup around. He looked at his sharply dressed chamberlain, “Jeeves, be sure to send some Dark Seducers and Golden Saints down to the Fringe. They can shovel out the useless piles of dung that come through my portal. I don’t want the useless in my realm! Or maybe I do. No, no, wait! No Golden Saints and no Dark Seducers! I have a much better way to find the best of the best! We’ll have to be sure to dispose of the waste properly once we’re done though, don’t want to worry about Global Warming after all!”

“You control the weather sire,” Jeeves reminded him and simply bowed before starting to head off to complete his task.

“That I do! Hmm… maybe I should add a desert somewhere. No, wait! Sand in my boots is no fun, thought rejected, declined! Now, brrring in the next petitioner!” Sheogorath called to a guard. “Before I get so bored I start tearing out eyes and using them for my next martini!”

“Mmmm! These hayburgers are even better than usual Bon!” Lyra said, ketchup smeared around her lips even as she took another big bite of the burger.

“They certainly are Lyra. Heh…” Bonbon looked down, her burger half-eaten.

“Huh? What’s wrong? You’ve barely even eaten your burger, you’re usually quicker to finish it than I am,” Lyra said, a hint of worry across her scrunched up and stained face. A napkin floated next to her, wiping the ketchup off her face.

Bonbon looked at her in surprise, not expecting the question, “Oh! No no. I’ve just uh… already eaten! Yeah! That’s it. Don’t worry about it Lyra!” Bonbon put on a fake smile, trying to put her best friend at ease. She did not think it was working if the look and raised eyebrow on Lyra’s face was any indication.

“Really? We’ve known each other for years, Bon. I think I’d know if you were lying. Now come on, tell me,” Lyra set her burger down, forgotten.

Bonbon bit her lower lip, trying to think of some way to avoid this.

“And don’t think you can avoid it! I know you…” Lyra pointed a hoof at Bonbon and narrowed her eyes.

“It’s just ah… well, I mean…” She sighed and gave up, “Lyra, I haven’t said anything all these years because I’ve always thought that you deserve to live your life how you want it. But… your sudden desire to get ponies to convert to… the mad god,” Bonbon whispered the last three words, “Has left me worried about you. You’re my best friend, and I’d hate to see you ridiculed and scorned for what you believe in…” Bonbon looked down, ears splayed back.

“Not to mention the wrong sort of attention you could gain from all of this...” Bonbon privately thought.

Lyra was silent for a few moments before gently placing a hoof over her friend’s and replying, “Look, Bon… I get that you are worried about me. But don’t worry! I don’t care if I’m mocked, or scorned! It’s not something I need to worry about! I know others that believe in Sheogorath as much as I do! I’m not doing all of these things for popularity, I’m doing them because I want to! So please Bon, you don’t need to get so depressed for my sake.”

Lyra smiled at Bonbon, and after a moment Bonbon smiled back, “Alright Lyra, I’ll try and not be such a worrywart then.” The two smiled at each other.

Bonbon was hiding her increasing worry, “Oh Lyra. Just what are you getting yourself into?”

“This the town?” asked a burly brown earth pony in heavy steel armor. His mane was dark grey and his cutie mark was covered by his thick armor. A heavy spear in his hoof grasp.

“Looks like it,” said the blue pegasus flying in front of him, light scale armor covering his body just like his companion did. A lighter spear was in his hoof grasp and several daggers were sheathed on his sides. The pegasus looked over at his companion, “Think we’ll find anything interesting though that portal? Supposedly, that mad god lives on the other side. You believe that?”

As the two walked down the streets of Ponyville, the earth pony snorted, “Bah! Sweet Celestia no! I don’t even believe in the mad god in the first place! Other than those creepy shrines those cult members take care of there hasn’t been any real proof of his existence beyond some stories. Sure, those horn heads can summon demons from Oblivion but come on, a demon god? I’ll believe the mad god is real once I see him for myself!”

The pegasus shrugged, “Well, I suppose it doesn’t really matter in the long run. I think what really matters is the treasure we’ll find. Just think about it, most ponies wouldn’t even have the spine to go in! There must be countless untouched treasure troves just waiting for us in there!”

His earth-bound companion barked a laugh, “True that! By the time we get back from whatever is on the other side, we’ll be richer than the Princesses!”

The two friends continued down the street in high spirits until they were interrupted. “Well, perhaps you would get rich. But to be honest… there is a much higher risk of a... painful death,” The two ponies looked to where the voice came from and saw a blue unicorn mare wearing an enchanted cloak looking smugly at them from one side of the street.

“Oh yeah? Well, tell me toots, what makes you think that?” Asked the earth pony, glaring at the mare.

“Yeah! We’re the best adventurers in this town! Hay, I bet we’ve been on more dangerous quests than you,” boasted his pegasus friend.

The mare laughed, “Oh I’m sure you’ll do just fine… getting killed that is. Trust Trixie when she says you’ll be in way over your heads.” The two were about to loudly protest until she continued, “Without my help, of course.”

The two ponies paused their retorts and looked at each other, the earth pony looked at the newly named Trixie and asked, “How can your help make us survive?” He looked her up and down, “You don’t look like much of a fighter.”

She laughed, “Oh my specialty is not fighting. It’s illusion spells with just a touch of conjuration.” The two ponies' eyes widen when they heard ‘conjuration’ as it was not a school for ponies with a faint heart. Many consider it to be on the verge of becoming dark magic. “And besides, Trixie has been to the Shivering Isles before. She has seen what lands lay beyond the gateway, and trust her when she says you’re no match without somepony to see you through.”

The two ponies seemed to mull it over, muttering to each other as Trixie waited patiently off to the side. They finally finished talking and the pegasus spoke up, “Well, it is good to have somepony who knows the land. And if that conjuration bit is true then we do have a much better chance of getting through… So you’re hired. But only for our adventures through the portal, not as a permanent member.”

She waved a hoof, “Whatever, Trixie only wants companions for this journey. Trixie does not wish to be stuck with anypony for any longer than that.”

“Then I guess we have a deal,” the earth pony said. “Is there anything we should get before leaving?”

She shook her head, “No, just basic supplies. But we best wait until the bridge the guards are making is complete. You can’t swim with heavy armor correct?”

The earth pony nodded, “Aye, we were going to do that anyway. Is that all?”

“Yes, yes. Trixie will meet with you by the bridge once it is complete. Don’t be late!” Trixie trotted down the street, making sure to avoid colliding with other ponies.

“I don’t trust her,” the pegasus said, “Besides her arrogant manner, I just can’t put my hoof on why though.”

“We don’t need to trust her. We just need her supposed experience with the other side. If she turns out to be a fraud then we can simply get rid of her and continue onward without her,” the earth pony grinned and looked at his companion, waggling his eyebrows, “Besides, I saw you looking at her flank. And I bet she saw it too.”

The pegasus blushed, “Oh shut up! Let’s just go get a hotel room or something.”

The earth pony watched his friend fly off in a huff and laughed, following close behind.