The music played in the car radio as the van drove along the street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBtGkeNGG98

As the song continued, the ponies looked silently at the car radio, eyes wide open in wonder.
“This is magnificent...” Rarity stated, “No record, no gramophone...”

Lyra smirked as she looked over to the seamstress.
“Human technology, folks... I told you this is going to be sweet...”

Tyler looked into the mirror and by that, at the girls.
“Well? What do you think about Earth for now?”

Looking outside the glittering lights of the cities, Twilight gently shook her head.
“It's vast. And so foreign. You were right. It's a very hasty world where one can reach so many places in so little time. And with that television set, one can look even further into places you don't have the time to go to. If I could spend more time here, I'm sure I could learn a lot about humans and their many cultures.”

Fluttershy smiled brightly.
“I've never seen so many different animals at once than in that television set. It surely shows many different climate regions you'll have to travel far for. “ She then looked down. “The downside is, one can't touch the animals or befriend them. I would love to see a real elephant. Maybe even an orca!”

Rachel looked over to the yellow mare, a grin on her face.
“Believe me: An orca is nothing you want to have in your close proximity...”

Since the song ended and advertisement started, Rachel switched the radio channel, until she got one with the news.
“...and the amount of bodies in the incident is yet to be announced as official statements claim this to be the latest mass murder in the war against drugs.” a reporter sounding like speaking through a phone. “In the early morning hours, the inn was raided by federal agents and SWAT units and ever since then, there has been a complete lock-down. By the scarce statements from the officials one can assume that everyone who was in that inn is probably dead by now.”

Tyler and Rachel looked at each other from the corner of their eyes before Tyler nodded.
“You see? Twilight was right. When it comes to Changelings, she seems to be always right. I trust her completely.”

The girls shared a group hug around Twilight.
“Saved our coats yet another time, Twi! Good work!” Rainbow stated.

* * * * *

Back in the federal department in Sacramento, Ben and Rick went down the corridor towards their temporary offices. Ben Miller nodded over to Rick, a dry smile on his face.
“Rick, remember the slaughter at that inn?”

Going through the case files while going and drinking a coffee, Rick simply looked over to his colleague.
“You're going to tell me you found some survivors?“

Ben sighed.
“We found one... And frankly he's not so happy about that. Lost his young daughter due to this. I have Catherine having an eye on him, he's able to answer some questions, but we shouldn't expect too much from that poor guy.”

Rick placed the files onto his desk and turned around, facing Ben.
“Well, can you blame him? If I knew I escaped hell you couldn't expect much from me neither, Ben. Even less if I lost someone dear on that day. Let's take it slowly, this should do the trick.” A few minutes later, Rick sat in front of the young man, who seemed on the edge of his seat for some reason. Nevertheless he began the conversation. “Enrico Avelino, age 34, Mexican origin, U.S. Citizen for four years now. Do you like it here?”

Enrico Avelino's breath was shivering and he looked up, his palms sweaty and shaking.
“Am I...?”

Both agents looked at each other before Rick gave Enrico a warm smile.
“Yes, Enrico. You are perfectly safe here. Whoever did this in the inn, he can't get you here. My colleague already told me about your loss. You have my sympathy. We want to get whoever did this. So why don't you start at the beginning? Please tell us all what happened that night. ”

Enrico nodded and took a few deep breaths before he found enough composure to begin.
“My daughter, Maria, had her evening bath and I went to the inn landlord due to the fact that there were peeping Toms at the window. By that time our room was closed and Maria had permission to watch some TV on the bed as long as she wouldn't open up to anyone. I went into the bar a few streets further for two beers. There was a game showing in the TV at the bar. I wanted to make a call, when I noticed my phone wasn't in my jacket. So I went back to the inn to get it. That was about... twelve, I guess. The inn is only two blocks away, so I took my time. However, when it was only across the street, I heard screaming coming from the inn. I began to run towards the parking lot, when I saw...” He stopped in an instant and looked down, sweat running down his forehead.

Rick shot a glance over to Ben Miller before he leaned in to Enrico.
“Enrico... What did you see?”

Enrico's eyes widened.
“That... THING!!!” Looking up to Rick, Enrico's face showed fear. “THAT NIGHTMARE!” The mexican now began to sob. “He... No, IT!!!” More uncontrollable crying followed and Enrico fought to get the words out. “Maria's clothes... in one of its... one of its claws...”

Rick looked over to Ben; Miller nodded and handed the Mexican a glass of water and a handkerchief.
“We hate to put you through this again, but you have to tell us, Mr. Avelino. Can you describe it?”

Recovering some of his composure, the young man gasped for air and tried to get a hold of himself again.
“It was tall. It... it appeared to be wearing clothes, but... there's no way it was human. There's NO way... The revealed body was covered in some sort of black plating. I've never seen anything like it. Its... face...”

Both agents exchanged troubled glances, before Rick nodded at Enrico.
“It's OK, Enrico. Please continue.”

Enrico now looked up to Rick, his pupils shrank down to tiny dots, his expression of absolute terror.
“That horrible fucking face! Staring at me like an animal! But no this was no face! Not with this horrible snout! What did I see?”

Rick leaned back a bit.
“Enrico, please calm yourse-”

But the mexican slammed his flat hands on the table in rage before he pointed at Rick.
“NO, ESE'! NO! I'm not crazy! I fucking saw that son of a bitch! That puta took my little girl! I shouldn't be in here! I should be out there coming for it with my homies!! You don't know! YOU DON'T KNOW!!! Somewhere out there is a monster and no single man can stop it!”

Calling for security, both agents stepped back as the officers subdued the Mexican. As he was brought to his cell to calm down, both agents huffed a bit.
“That was something... That poor bastard got quite a story, eh?”

Ben nodded.
“It sure was. A guy looking like a monster? Do we have someone on that profile?”

“Not that I know of. At least not in our jurisdiction, Ben. The guys in Washington have their problems with these masked clowns. We? We only get a rogue hacker hunted by a killer. But let's not scratch that possibility, shall we? We have a new player in town. And until I see the predator alien in front of me, we are hunting two guys with one trying to kill the other. Let's go down to Forensics, shall we?”

Ben Miller arched his brows and shook his head.
“Down to the dungeon? Do we have to go there?” As they both went down the stairs, Ben groaned. “You know I hate that place and her snarky remarks...”

* * * * *

In the forensic bureau, a woman no older than 36 was known as Andrea Borielli, head of forensics. Having a smoke, she turned around to the two agents in a happy mood, even though her face seemed expressionless at all times.
“Ah, Agent Marshall! Good to see you bring me more people who lose their heads.” Miller rolled his eyes, already regretting to be here. “Well, what your boys brought me was most interesting, that much is certain.”

Rick Marshall frowned a bit and cocked his head.
“Oh? So you could make something out of that sticky mess? Can you tell us more about the crime weapon? Do you have an idea what kind of weapon was used?

“A very big one, that I can say for sure. The most victims had acidic corrosion at their wounds, making determining the exact extent of the stress on tissue and bones almost impossible. But there where three other victims from another crime scene with similar attack patterns.”

Looking through the case file, Rick arched a brow as he looked up to Borielli,
“Three punks, huh? One of them naked before the perpetrator killed him. Where is the connection with the victims in the inn?”

“The bite marks.” Borielli flatly stated.

“Bite marks?”

“For lack of a better term? Yes. The skull was crushed like you would crush an egg with your hand.”

Ben Miller shook his head as he heard this.
“Isn't the human skull very durable?”

Turning around to Miller, Borielli eyed him for a second and nodded with a smirk.
“It is! Very good, Agent Miller. Maybe you should make use of what is in your skull more often!” This only earned her a grumble from Miller.

Rick Marshall frowned.
“What makes you think these cases are connected?”

A young man brought in a laptop and started up the operation system and once everything was booted up, a 3D program.
“I ordered John here to make a 3D model of how it could been.” A 3D animation depicting a human skull and a very disturbing looking tool with four arms engulfing the skull with two arms from above, two from below. “You see? Four different sides are pushing the blades or whatever used onto the skull until the blades punctuate the skull and the sheer pressure lets it snap. The end result is quite messy as you can imagine.”

Ben Miller gulped.
“You had to be a very strong son of a bitch to pull that kind of muscle power. Or it was a hydraulic tool of some sort.”

“If it was a human doing that.” Borielli stated flatly.

Rick arched his brows in surprise.
“What do you mean with that? Is there any reason to doubt Ben's theory?”

Andrea Borielli nodded her head with a concerned hum.
“You see... we took some samples from the wounds and compared them to the victim's DNA. Each time there was something amiss. So we filtered out what stood out and this is what we came up with.”

A list of percentages came up and Rick looked closer, frowned at what he saw.
“Foreign human, equine and... insect DNA? Is that correct?”

Ben Miller shook his head in disbelief.
“Are you telling me that out there is a thing that is part human, part insect and part horse?”

“I'm not telling you anything but the facts laid out in front of me, Agent Miller. You are the federal agents, you make sense of this. Let's get over to the samples from this acid your men brought me, shall we?” Taking a few steps to some petri dishes, Borielli sighed and grabbed a sheet of paper. “Well, this acid sure is a nightmare. It's like almost a mixture of pure phospholipase A and melittin.”

When she gave the sheet of paper to Rick, his eyes read through the details. Numbers, diagrams and facts were tightly cramped on the printed sheet.
“What do these substances normally do?”

“Melittin usually is part of a bee venom while phosphelipase A is a component of wasp venom. They get stung into the skin and destroy cell membranes and cells. There are a few other minor components in the mixture, but they look more like some sort of gastric acid of unknown origin. I've never seen such a highly concentrated form of these components. It can liquify organic tissue within seconds.

Miller's eyes bulged and he looked over to his colleague before he cocked his head and gave Borielli a questioning look.
“Unknown origin?”

“The guys in our lab went crazy over this.” Borielli nodded, “Some minor and unknown radiation is in that stuff as well. Not nuclear radiation, that much is certain, but something is emitting from these components, but it's half-life is estimated at only 3 days. I don't know for certain what kind of stuff this is. It's more aggressive than anything in the animal kingdom. Due to this aggressive mixture, my best tip is to avoid that stuff all together. I wish I could get my hands on a pure sample to verify the lethality of this, but I'm sure you'll find the lab they produce it in before that.”

Now Rick smirked.
“So you think this is man-made stuff?”

Taking and lighting another smoke, Andrea Borielli shook her head.
“Agent Marshall... You've seen what this stuff does to people firsthand. You've seen that it almost instantly liquifies people. Of all the creatures on God's good Earth only man comes up with the idea to weaponize biological substances to that high level of lethality. If that stuff isn't man-made, I don't want to meet the biological terror who spat it out! Because if it is not man-made, that stuff had to come out of the belly of a beast. But maybe this creature was man-made. Heck if I know. The missing results are still due. Let's just say that in my entire fifteen year career in forensics I've never encountered anything like this.”

Nodding in thought, Rick then looked up to Borielli.
“Thank you for your time. Should the other results come in, please send the report directly to me.” Handshakes were exchanged and the two agents left forensics.

On their way up, Ben looked over to Rick.
“Well? What do you think?”

“I'm thinking that we are either dealing with a monster or a syndicate having a new super acid formula in their lab. Both options are unbelievable, both pose a threat of unknown proportions. What are you thinking, Ben? This shit is getting weirder and weirder. I mean the only survivor makes up a horror story and forensics delivers facts supporting this.” Going through his hair with his right hand, Rick Marshall groaned. “We need to get Tyler Jones...”

* * * * *

Meanwhile the van of the friends parked at a gas station while Tyler and Rachel went inside. Flynn looked over to Sam, pointing at the station.
“Why are we here again?”

Sam sighed and closed his eyes when he rubbed his nose.
“We are here because if Mimesis IS out there, the last thing we want is an empty gas tank. Also the two of them are in there to get us some food. Food edible for the girls as well. A cheese and salad sandwich would be great right now.”

Rachel went through the shelves while Tyler was looking at the magazines, trying to see something that in the newspaper that could help him determine what happened during their absence in the world. True to his expectations, the world didn't change much. The economy was still in a bad shape all over the world, Justin Bieber was still unpopular and some celebrity died although Tyler had thought he would still live a couple of years. Meanwhile the TV inside the gas station store was still on.
“...Missing from the incident was this man. If you should see him, please report him to the nearest police station. Do not approach him on your own, since his whereabouts are unknown.”

A heavy sigh came from the counter when the young man behind it rested his head on his head while sitting in place.
“They keep bringing that shit for hours now... I just hope that fucker doesn't come here.”

While paying the products she was buying, Rachel arched a brow.
“Hm? Pardon me?”

Pointing at the TV, the young man smirked.
“That guy!” Rachel looked up and saw Tyler's face all over the TV screen, depicted in a photofit picture. “I sure hope I don't get that guy in here...”

Rachel gulped, paid and forced a smile.
“Ahehe... Yeah...” Just when she was out to go to the entrance, she passed by Tyler and gritted her teeth. “Move your fuckin' ass, Ponyfucker!”

Tyler waved the thought away, still focused on the magazines.
“Yes, yes... Give me a minute, I'm kinda busy here...”

But already Rachel heard the gasp behind her and the beeping of dials being pushed. When she looked at the counter again, she saw the same young man with a phone in his hand and a worried expression while looking at Tyler. But his attempt to whisper was utterly futile.
“Yes, it's him. He's... he's not dangerous, is he?””

“Jones!” Tyler shot a fast glance to Rachel after her yell, and after her pointing at the shopkeeper and the television, it occurred to him. Gritting his teeth, he shot her another glance, followed by a brief nod. A response Rachel expected, yet hoped not for, then came from her. “DOWN! GET DOWN!!!”

Seconds later, both Tyler and Rachel came running out and Sam started the engine while they jumped in.
“What the hell happened?”

Closing her eyes, Rachel sighed.
“Weeelll.... We ran into some difficulties... Apparently the authorities think Tyler's linked to the incident with the inn.”

“We're all linked with that incident.” Tyler stated, “But not like that! Shit! Try to explain that to the cops.” Giving full throttle the wheels of the van screeched as it started. Slowly, sirens began to howl in the distance. And all of a sudden, the ponies could see a pair of fast driving cars behind the van.

First it was only two. But seconds later six cars joined in for the car chase. Flynn shook his head in disbelief.
“What the hell? Do they think we have a ton of cocaine with us?”

Sam gritted his teeth.
“He's right! There's no way in hell that there are so many cops around at one time! Not for a robbery! And you didn't even take something!”

Tyler's facial expression hardened.
“That's why I wanted no attention! Hang on!” The van did a sharp turn to the left and was about to canter, what prompted the ponies to scream in fear. But with an immense amount of magic Tyler managed to keep the clunky van on the road, the more agile police cars now in hot pursuit. Several police cars rammed one another when they took the sharp turn to the right.

Looking behind, Flynn shook his head at the sight of thirty police cars after them.
“Damn it! I never saw so many cops in one place! There's at least twenty cars! What do they all want from us? “

Gritting his teeth, Tyler shook his head.
“Nothing from you! From me!”

Rachel shook her head in disbelief.
“From you? Jones, what would they want from- WHOA!!!” The van took a ramp and jumped high into the air, directly over a construction area on the street.

When it landed, 11 heads bobbed their head and Tyler still gritted his teeth.
“Fuck! Rachel! See if you can shoot their tires!”

Shaking her head, Rachel gave Tyler the finger.
“Are you out of your freaking mind?!? Fuck you, I'm not shooting anything!”

Tyler began yelling.
“We can't afford the girls to be captured! Once captured, we are easier targets for our Changeling shadow. And we don't have the freaking time for this!” Behind the van, shots were fired, obviously aimed at the tires. 'It's over, man... Now it got you. Your fucking past got on to you...'

Suddenly another noise became audible and the windows began shaking as the roaring rotors of a helicopter passed over the van and faced it.
“THIS IS THE SACRAMENTO POLICE!” the speakers bellowed down to the street. “STOP YOUR VEHICLE AND SURRENDER! OTHERWISE WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE USE OF LETHAL FORCE!”

An adrenaline surge rushed through Tyler's veins and under a highway bridge he stepped into the irons just before a SWAT van rammed the van the friends were sitting in from the side. While no one was injured thanks to their seat-belts, all were numbed to a degree due to the collision. Tyler, coming to his senses first due to all the adrenaline, unfastened his seat-belt and opened the door.
“Shit! Shit, shit, SHIT!!! You stay here! They're after me!”

And with that, he began running. However, not knowing that the doors of the SWAT van had opened as well and out stepped a muscular man, dressed in camouflage black and with a green visor on his face. Without further warning, that same special unit stormed directly at Tyler, jumped and kicked him over. And while Tyler still gasped for air after that kick, his opponent jumped up and grabbed for his equipment.
“I know, I know... I'm late. But sometimes wishes do come true, right?” A baton was whipped out and raised, before the masked special unit began to beat up Tyler with it. “Alright, the safe-word is police brutality.”

Inside the van, the ponies began yelling at the showcase of violence until Twilight teleported. All of a sudden, the masked special unit recognized the baton had been ripped from its hands. Looking up, the man could see the baton levitated above him. Glancing over to Twilight, the armored special unit halted in an instant, frozen without any further insult to Tyler. When the policemen caught up with the van and several of them stormed at Tyler, one of them approached the special unit. “Everything alright, Johnson? Johnson! What... are... you... Oh my God...”

More and more officers now took notice of Twilight who pointed her horn at the special unit officer, tears in her hateful eyes.
“I won't stand for this! Stop this violence at once!” Climbing out of the van, the other Elements came to her aid and formed a line at her sides.

Taking off his green visor, the special unit looked at the other police officers.
“I'm not hallucinating, am I? Did... did that purple pony just talk? Are there seven multicolored ponies standing against us?”

A police officer shook his head,
“No, I heard that, too... You Washington special units are crazy, but craziness isn't contagious... I hope...”

“Horns and wings... That ain't no normal pony...”

“How... how... how do we report this?”

“Maybe we don't report it at all for now. We got the man and Richard hasn't beaten him that often...”

One of the other officers wanted to grab the gun from his holster, but was stopped by his nearby colleague.
“Don't! All she did was taking the baton from Johnson to stop him from beating up the suspect. She's yet to harm anyone.”

A female police officer now approached the ponies and pointed at Tyler.
“This is a wanted man. We take him into custody. I... uh... I take it you demand an explanation...?”

Twilight glared and pointed her hoof at Johnson, who now avoided eye contact with her.
“Where Tyler goes, we go as well! I won't leave him with that kind of humans!”

Nodding, the officer then looked over to the others.
“Mahoney! Get your sorry ass into their van and drive them to the station house.”

“You think that's wise, Hunningway?”

“Don't question it, rookie!” she barked at him, “Do it! Or I'll kick your sorry ass back to the academy!”

“Alright, alright... But YOU explain this to the higher ups!”

Hunningway then turned back to Twilight, trying to give the warmest smile she could. This was crazy, but if these ponies were able to speak and communicate, maybe they could be reasonable as well
“Mahoney will bring you to the police station where you will meet up with Mr. Jones. I will bring him there myself. I promise.” Twilight looked over to Tyler, then gave Officer Hunningway a serious nod.

While Mahoney took the driver's seat in the van of the friends, Hunningway looked over to the special unit.
“Johnson, I suggest you get into another van than the suspect. She's pissed at you, she will be even more pissed if you and Jones drive to the station in one van.”

“A 'she'?” Johnson asked, “How do you know?”

“By listening, you moron! She has a female voice! So she's either a girl or a dude with the most female voice I've ever heard.”

Johnson shook his head in frustration, but obliged.
“I got the suspect, did I not? I get all those little suckers. What do I care about some pony shit? I got a job to do!”

Looking to one of her colleagues, Hunningway shrugged and pointed her thumb at the van behind her.
“Ransome! They were with Jones, I say we question them.”

But Ransome shook his head, arching a brow while eying the van with suspicion.
“You do know how ridiculous this sounds? Sacramento police officers questioning multicolored, talking ponies... Mahoney and Johnson are right in a way.”

Hunningway only shook her head.
“Ransome, I won't argue with you about it; just do it. I'm not getting paid enough to argue with multicolored, talking ponies in the streets. None of us is.”

* * * * *

One hour later they were all brought to the police station and while Sam, Flynn and Rachel were questioned elsewhere and Tyler's wounds were treated due to Johnson's harsh beating, the ponies were waiting with Officer Ransome before a man called Lieutenant Bennett entered the room.

Pointing at Rainbow, the Lieutenant sat down at the table. Rainbow looked over to the other Element Bearers as well as Lyra and each mare nodded in agreement. Taking flight, she hovered over the ground. It was hard, but Rainbow wasn't going to let the lack of magic get the best of her. Taking a seat, she placed both front hooves on the table and waved over to the sitting man.
“Yo! What's up?”

Bennett arched a brow and took note on his piece of paper.
“So... talking ponies, eh? Who... or what are you?”

Rainbow just snickered and slowly shook her head.
“Um… I-I don’t even know where to start with you… I mean, do you even know, who you’re talking to?” Both men were exchanging uncertain glances as the cerulean mare simply continued. “Do you have any idea… any idea of who I am?” The mares behind Rainbow snickered. Dash was at her finest, but the policemen were utterly clueless. “Basically kind of a big deal…” By now the two men were simply staring at her. This was so unreal. She was talking, yet they both were perfectly sober. “Are you listening? OK:" She jumped onto the table, grinning at the two policemen in front of her. "Grass grows, sun shines, birds sing... And brother: I set standards! I’m a force in nature! If you were from where I was from you would be bucking dead! Whooo!!!” The door closed as both Ransome and Bennett went outside without a further word and the girls broke out in loud laughter.

Bennett went through his hair with his right hand before recognizing the other officers staring at him. Clearing his throat, he nodded.
“Alright, one thing is certain, folks: If this is a prank, this is ultimately one for Guinness. But so far? We have, as stupid as this sounds, seven talking ponies in that room...” The station was utterly silent. Bennett expected laughter, snickering or the one or another grin, but everyone had seen the ponies walk into that room, no one doubted that there was something in that story.

Meanwhile Rarity took a look at the barred windows and wrinkled her nose, when the door opened again, this time Bennett and Ransome had their composure and seemed mentally prepared for the task at hand.
“My! Caged into a dungeon like common criminals!”

Bennett shook his head.
“Actually... No, the cells are down below. You are however detained until the federal agents appear to get you. Talking ponies are NOT the jurisdiction of a police department. Heck, I don't even know if federal agents are responsible for you.”

Twilight stomped her right hoof to the ground.
“I demand to see Tyler! Now!”

Bennett took a look at her and his palm opened to her for a shake.
“Ah yes! I was informed that you protested heavily against the procedures our cloaker unit took to arrest Mr. Jones. Lieutenant Miles Bennett, nice to meet you.” Ransome snickered a bit, taking note that Bennett was holding out his hand to a pony.

His snickering, however, died in an instant, when Twilight rested her hoof in Bennett's hand and exchanged a shake with him.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria. And please tell me that man is getting disciplined.”

Bennett grimaced.
“A princess, huh? Well this day gets better and better... Regarding Johnson: Usually this is not the normal way to arrest people, but Mr. Jones could have simply surrendered. Resisting arrest-"

“What's the charge anyway?” Rainbow interrupted him.

“The charge? You can talk about the charge with the federal agents once they are here. All I know is it's about treason.”

Twilight's expression grew grim.
“Tyler is not a criminal! Nor is he a traitor.”

The door opened and Hunningway escorted Tyler, Sam, Flynn and Rachel into the room, where they were welcomed with relieved smiles. Bennett nodded at this and pointed to Tyler.
“As you can see, there...” He now was surprised about the eagerness with which Tyler sat down. “How can you be so active after such a beating? Johnson told me he stunned your muscles for good. Hunningway, how can he walk in here like nothing ever happened?”

Hunningway shook her head while pointing at Tyler.
“Lieutenant, you can think I'm crazy, but that guy began glowing in the bruises and wounds and all of a sudden, his injuries were gone!”

Bennet then gave Tyler a serious glance.
“How did you pull that off?”

“Healing magic.” Tyler flatly stated.

“Healing... magic. Right...”

Twilight now began to shake her head, a serious expression on her face.
“If you can't bring up plausible charges, I demand that you let us leave!”

Bennett sat down and shook his head.
“Look... I'm no expert in talking ponies. I don't care if you are a big shot where ever you are from, being a princess of the stable or something. But here? Here you have no fucking authority, Missy! So sit down and relax, hmkay?” A silent anger boiled in Twilight. For good or for worse she would have buckled that human's face with pleasure. But her anger vanished once Tyler patted her back. Twilight was unsure about Tyler in that moment. For some reason he was on the edge before. Like being caught by the authorities would be the worst that could happen. He even fled the scene. The Tyler she knew would never flee from a confrontation. But all that had now vanished. Tyler seemed at peace like he gave up to fate. When Bennett opened a case file, he began to read out loud. “Tyler Jones… alias Mario Garcia… alias Savek Krovtschenko… alias Klaus Meerbusch… and so on… and on… aaand oooon… Former PMC of Blackwater USA… connections to the Russian Mafia, connections to several Yakuza families... Vanished after ending his PMC contracts.”

Twilight frowned at first, but then looked up to Tyler.
“What does that mean?”

Bennett folded his hands together and rested his chin on it.
“It means that this man here is a former soldier of a private military company. Put simply, he’s a mercenary. That alone wouldn’t be that worrying, but during his service under contract… certain things happened in Iraq.”

Rachel looked up, her attention piqued.
“Iraq?”

“That's something the FBI will talk to you about.” Bennett continued, “Also the massacre you left inside the inn.

Now Tyler's attention was in full force.
“Massacre...” Tyler gulped. So the radio news back then DID report on the inn they were in.

Bennett's eyes narrowed.
“Oh don't play dumb now. My boys took a peek when the feds were not paying attention. The Donald inn! You wasted it! Most of the people in there are now dead!”

Tyler's expression grew sober now and he closed his eyes.
“You have to allow us to leave. Now!”

“Yeah... You and what Starfleet are making me do this?”

Opening his eyes again, Tyler looked at the officer in front of him.
“Every second we stay here more innocent people in this station house are about to die.”

“Aw, how sweet... This guy is making threats now... Didn't Johnson beat you up enough or did he beat you too hard?”

But Tyler looked at Bennett and shook his head.
“I don't mean it that way. What wasted this inn is probably after us and these ponies. If it finds us here, you will stand in its way and it will shove you all aside. One by one it will kill your men and you will curse the fact you didn't let us go!”

“Yeah... um... Ransome? Get them back to the cells with four other officers until the FBI is here. I'd have enough of his bullshit!” Ransome nodded and brought Tyler and the others to the door.

In the door, Tyler halted and took a last look at the lieutenant.
“Bennett, was it? This was the last mistake of your life... Even more people will suffer due to us staying here. Don't say you weren't warned.” And with that Tyler was led out with the ponies, down to the cells, where in several cells other potential perpetrators of crimes were kept. The Ponies and Harmony Rangers got their own cell, since no one wanted to put them into a cell with criminals.

Shaking her head, Rachel looked over to Tyler.
“I always knew you had too much military expertise to be a simple civilian! What happened in Iraq? What did you do?”

Sitting on a bench, Tyler hesitated to answer, but a certain orange hoof suddenly rested on his left leg. When he looked up from the floor, Applejack sat in front of him.
“Sugarcube... Ah sure as hay don't want to force ya into somethin'... But whatever it is, it's eatin' at ya. Let it go and tell us. And Ah promise ya right here and now: Ya will feel better afterward.”

Tyler sighed and sat down.
“Alright... No reason to keep the bag, now that the cat is out of it... I am... Or more so I was connected with the leakage of certain information datapacks that jeopardized American soldiers in Iraq.”

Rachel's eyes bulged open wide.
“The Manning leak...” In an instant she jumped up and wanted to storm at Tyler, but Flynn and Sam held her back. “Murderer! YOU GODDAMN MURDERER!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY DIED BECAUSE OF THAT?!?”

Tyler looked up to her, a certain blue glow in his eyes.
“You call me murderer?!? I know murderers!!! But their victims are not a few thousands killed quickly in an explosion, but hundreds of thousands dying slowly in agony!” Taking a deep breath, he calmed down. “The real murderers in this world wear suits and neckties. Politicians... They don't have to wage war, only sell it to the public, shiny and glittering with the promise of swift and undoubted victory. And all for what? Cash and resources for their lobbies, sold to the public as a fight for democracy. It NEEDED to be exposed. The western world needed a wake-up-call. You folks here in the states were the greatest country in the whole world. And now look at you. You stopped to care and blindly trust your governments, allowing them to bend over your principals and have their way with them. And all of that in your name. Nowadays more and more Americans demonstrate and begin to ask questions again. So maybe my hands are covered in blood... But if it helped America see that it slowly became the same as the monsters it went out to hunt down... I did the right thing.

“You leaked data that killed thousands of soldiers!” Rachel barked.

Tyler closed his eyes and shook his head before he looked up again.
“I never leaked anything... No, I got them in and they leaked it. I gave them the authorization codes needed to get the data. I later gave the files a view myself. Mostly video feed, but also that infamous gunship video. And a list...” He closed his eyes and sighed. “5217 names of U.S. Soldiers and their orders. That list got leaked as well. 5217 names in jeopardy... 372 of them were killed. 372 men and women are dead because of me. Because I helped to show the world the ugly face of the military. Was it for good or evil? Heck if I know... Maybe I averted more misery to happen, maybe I caused more misery. One could argue that everyday lives are on the line anyway. You step outside and a meteorite could smite your face just like that.” He shrugged. “Happened... We came to find weapons that never existed on accusations made up by secret services. And then they bragged about their lies, made fun of it. As if these hundreds of thousands were of no importance. It was time for a wake-up-call... If we mourn for US soldiers, but not for Iraqi civilians, then maybe that bloody nose we got in this wake-up-call was well deserved for our own hypocrisy. Every life has value. I don't give a shit if it's a German guy dying, an American, a Canadian or an Iraqi civilian. For me? They are all the same. And I dare you to tell me otherwise, Rachel! The blood of 372 combatants is on my hands... But I'm rather responsible for the deaths of hundreds of combatants than hundreds of thousands of non-combatants.”

Rachel looked down, still with an angered face. Tyler had good points, but still it was hard not to be angry.
“And who are you to decide, Jones? Who are you to decide who should die and who should live?”

“I made a moral decision for myself, Rachel. You as a former soldier should know what this means. Simply following orders without thinking isn't the right thing to do.” He then looked up to the ceiling. “I simply quit the contract as soon as I could and the data was handed to some folks here and there. Who can keep check in the deep web anyway? I was tired of all this and wanted to get away from it. When I found this Rainbow Gem and was brought to Equestria, I decided to bury this and leave my life on Earth behind once and for all. It was of no importance any longer. It was tough the first few months living without air conditioning or microwaves or telephones. But the more I lived without it, the more I learned to love the life without it.” He closed his eyes, took a breath and opened his eyes, looking at the ponies. “So guys... I was a mercenary hacker... What I did could be called controversial in the strongest degree. But that was before my time on Equis. Now I'm a Harmony Ranger and my loyalty is with Equestria. If you want to hate me from now on for what I've done, go ahead. I won't blame you.”

Rainbow looked to Flynn, who also seemed angered while sitting on the bench. Resting a hoof on his leg, she looked into his eyes. When he looked up from the floor to her, it was hard to maintain that angered expression, but he closed his eyes and shook his head.
“No, baby... I need time to digest this revelation. Because of that, I lost people too.”

Fluttershy looked up to Tyler and cocked her head.
“The others seemed rather upset of what you had done in the past... Tyler, tell me: Have humans become so hard and unkind that they prey upon the weak in this world?”

Kneeling down to her, Tyler shook his head.
“Go into each country of this world and you will find parents raising their children with love and kindness. Look closely enough and you will see examples of kindness and chivalry among humans. Humans want to help one another. Compassion... It's our instinct to help one another in order to preserve the species. However, this only counts for the people on the street. Our politicians are not as wise and kind as you know it from Princess Celestia. Some of them smile but this smile is only facade. They don't care about the people, but crave power. The media all praise some sunny-boy in politics like a chorus and you can bet your last bit on it that he has an ugly detail in his past. These politicians lead the western world into war with lies. They played with the fears of the frightened and angered people in order to achieve their goal: Profit for themselves.”

Now Flynn shook his head.
“You have no proof of that!”

Tyler shot him a glare.
“That's true. The leak I was involved in had no proof of that. But there's a thing called common sense! When the relative of a U.S. politician suddenly sits in the managing board in a company in the land that was struck by conflict a few months earlier, you call this a coincidence? I call that bullshit! After the thing in Iraq I didn’t wanted to do anything with PMCs ever again. Blood money for being a thug... I got out of my contract and started traveling. Anything was better than seeking revenge for an incident that frightened almost every human on the planet… And I’ve met friends and enemies on these travels…”

Twilight gently shook her head.
“Why didn’t you tell anypony? Me or Applejack at least!”

Tyler sighed.
“Well, I guess Celestia knows since I offered her an insight to my memory… That telepathic contact with her showed her my entire life. I was grateful that she granted me the chance to show that I'm better than my past, that I'm more than just a hired hand. And even then… Twilight, after the defeat of the void beings, I wanted to start from scratch, you know? A man is what he does and not what he did and all this… I actually wanted to leave this all behind me.”

Twilight frowned a bit.
“I understand that you had to do this in order to follow your inner moral compass… But you should have told us about it. You should have told me and AJ about it. We're your herd mates, Tyler… We love you for the man you are today, not for the man you were before. You're an idiot if you think your past would change that.” Tyler nodded silently. Twilight was mad at him and rightfully so. Looking over to Rachel, Twilight shook her head. “In all the time you were Rangers together, Tyler never betrayed you, right?”

“Well... No, but-”

“But what? Rachel, you guys fought together! We all fought together against that void dragon! Tyler had the choice but he chose us before him. You stood side by side against Mimesis... Twice! And Tyler never stabbed your back, did he?” Rachel grumbled and looked down. Twilight looked up to her herd mate and shook her head, a sparkle in her eyes. “You aren't a traitor, I know that. You would go through fire for each of us and that's why I love you.”

One of the inmates looked at the others.
“Did I hear right? Did she say that she loves him?”

“If they really are from another world or so… My guess would be she’s his… you know…”

“Ugh! This is sick!”

“Like you would play with yourself for the rest of your life! I was in prison once! You think men go behind bars for several years without a woman? After some months you don't give a fuck and accept new possible ways to relieve yourself!”

* * * * *

Meanwhile at the entrance of the police station, a young man with leather jacket came in and walked to the police officer at the front desk.
“I'm a friend of Tyler Jones. I was told that he's in custody, could I see him, please?”

“No, he's being interrogated alongside the others that were with him. A federal agent will be here soon, maybe you can ask him closer details on this case.”

The man nodded, took a look at the frame of the entrance and revealed a smirk, before he finally leaned forward, his eyes shortly flashing up with a green glow.
“I'll be right back...”

Without a further word, he left the entrance hall and the officer on duty shook his head. The sound of his pencil was the only audible thing right now, as it suddenly occurred to him.
Wait a second... Who leaked that we got Jones? But as he looked up again, a truck crushed into the entrance, ran him over and as the engine stopped, Mimesis stepped outside, his teeth grinning, showing fangs. Inside the building, the officers looked at each other in confusion as they stood up.
“...the hell was that?”

Raising his arm, Mimesis opened his hand and a slit opened as shrapnel of chitin shot out in full volley as if a sub machine gun was used. Each shot was accompanied by a small detonation at the hand of the Changeling. The first burst killed three officers in the corridor at the vending machine. Blood and coffee sprinkled over the floor as the three men died. But this earned the Changeling unwanted attention from the other police officers,
“Gunshots!” Another burst became audible as Mimesis reached the first office, killing the officer pointing his revolver at him. Office after office was cleared until he found a locked door. A blast of magic was all it took to blow the lock to pieces and one kick later the door was out of its hinges. The officer pointed his gun and fired three shots. All three hit the Changeling in the chest, prompting green blood to flow down, if only just for a second before the healing magic kicked in. Raising his arm, Mimesis took aim when the officer jumped into cover. But the next volley took aim of where the man had taken cover and perforated the wooden desk. “What kind of guy is that?”

“A terrorist or something?”

“He's not wearing visible weapons!” Arming themselves, the police officers took shotguns, sub-machine guns and assault rifles as well as protective body armor.

Bennett nodded at the others.
“Whatever happens, work in pairs! We'll try to get that asshole into our crossfire.”

“Understood!”

“Now let's nail that son of a bitch!”

Meanwhile Mimesis continued with his killing spree and walked through a corridor, the offices left and right burning. Johnson kicked open the door behind Mimesis and faced the Changeling from behind, saw the bloody mess caused by him.
“Well, I'll be...” Switching on his visor, he charged at Mimesis, guns blazing, before he again jumped in for a kick.

* * * * *

Down the cell block the friends heard the gunshots and when everyone nodded, Tyler cracked his knuckles.
“Alright. We have enjoyed the peaceful hospitality of the Sacramento Police long enough. Time to say our goodbyes.” He then used some magic onto the mechanical lock of the cell and opened it before he pointed Twilight to the other prisoners and the alicorn unlocked the cell doors one by one. “Listen up, folks! Whatever you did, I'll grant you a temporary pardon for tonight. Tomorrow the cops will probably be after you again, but no one deserves the terror that wreaks havoc upstairs. This fine lady here will let you out and you won't cause any problems. You will be thankful and leave quietly. Is that understood?”

Twilight didn't like this. Whatever these men and women down here were doing, they were in this human dungeon for a reason. But she agreed with Tyler, no one deserved being murdered by a Changeling. When she opened another cell, a big and strong looking guy looked down to her and nodded in respect. He then turned over to Tyler.
“I don't know about you, mate... But this is too crazy to kill a pony who talks and sets us free again. You said there is a thing upstairs killing the cops? Then we should go before it cuts us off. There is only one way out.”

Tyler nodded in agreement.
“OK... then we should make haste.” While the prisoners all went upstairs already, Tyler looked at the others. “Just in case we'll get separated, we should agree on one city to meet in.”

“New York!” Flynn shot directly at Tyler, prompting everyone to look at him. “When we were coming from Bermuda, I had the course set for New York. I think the crossing would be best reached if we fly that route again, this time going to Bermuda instead of coming from it.”

Tyler gave this a thoughtful nod,
“Then Big Apple it is.”

* * * * *

Coming in slowly, Mimesis approached the wounded man. Another police officer was still moving at the ground and without looking at his victim, Mimesis raised his right hand and shot a volley of his chitin thorns, which penetrated the skull, killing the officer . Johnson shook his head in terror as he crawled back into the corner as best as he could. His arms and legs penetrated by chitin projectiles and beaten like a dog, he was outmatched, completely at the mercy of the Changeling.
“This isn't happening... This is a freaking nightmare...” Standing in front of Johnson, Mimesis looked down to him and the shooting opening of his hand closed. Turning away, the Changeling looked outside towards the parking lot. From Johnson' point of view, a floodlight outside shined in and its light was obscured by the monster in front of him. A warm and wet sensation started in his crotch. A camera was still running at one corner of the ceiling. Mimesis looked at it and smiled. One of the mechanical eyes the humans had. Audience made this even better.

With terror the special unit member saw how the right hand first formed into an inhuman claw and then into something like a monstrous sickle or blade, accompanied by the sounds of chitin breaking and flesh ripping apart. Tones even Johnson was uneasy to hear. When Mimesis turned around, a sick and sadistic grin was on his lips as his eyes stared the man in front of him, void of all empathy like an animal or madman. The only sound in the room was the heavy, frantic and terrified breathing and whimpering of Johnson. This was no terrorist, no murderer, it wasn't even human. But unlike the ponies from earlier, this thing was hostile, not even he was trained for anything like this. And right now the monster leaned down to him, the green eyes fiercely glowing, this hellish grin on his face. These teeth, these horrible, razor-sharp teeth...

Then, with a raspy inhuman voice the creature spoke up to him.
“Do you know what time it is...?” Without waiting for a reply, Mimesis then slashed the sickle limb of his through the head of Johnson, resulting in brain and blood splattering all over the wall behind the special unit. The visor ripped of what was left of the head, the blood sprinkled all over the floor.

What the camera recorded next wasn't meant for human, pony or any eyes to see. Licking the pieces of brain from the sickle, Mimesis grinned before he bend over, seemingly in pain. His clothes now teared apart and his back became wider, his spine breaking through to form spikes at the outside. Both his legs split into several limbs and he gained the lower body of an arachnid.

A painful screech went through the station when Tyler and the others came out of the cell block. Looking up, Tyler tried to locate the sound as best as he could. Somewhere above, that seemed the best guess.
“You hear that? It's our cue to get the hell out of here.”

* * * * *

Driving on the road towards Sacramento, Rick Marshall got a call on his smartphone. Activating his hands-free kit, he already saw it was his colleague Ben Miller.
“Yes, Ben?”

Miller's voice was in an uproar.
“Rick! The station house in Sacramento, where they are holding Tyler Jones, is under attack! Witnesses claim to hear rapid shooting coming from the building.”

With the pedal to the metal, Rick then accelerated and gritted his teeth.
“Shit! Ben! Send all SWAT units we have there to secure the area! I'm going there myself! We either have a syndicate assassin here or a total sociopath!”

“Rick! Don't play the hero now! You'll get killed!”

But Rick shook his head.
“Whoever is there, wants Jones dead! Our 'Acid killer' is in that station! No one kills the key to this case on my watch! I want this asshole put down like the rabid dog he is!”

* * * * *

Coming up from the cell block, the Rangers entered a hellbound version of the once tidy police station. Corpses, some of them charred, some torn apart and some molten by some sort of acid as well as cut off limbs were plastered all over the floor. Blood was splattered over the walls and several rooms were burning. Shaking his head, Tyler pointed onwards.
“Watch your steps! Don't step into these puddles of acid or into something still burning!”

Rachel spotted something on a corpse and grabbed it, revealing it to be a Colt Revolver, which she pointed at Tyler.
“Jones!”

Closing his eyes, Tyler gently shook his head.
“Rachel, you really should work on the habit of pointing a gun at my head.” He then turned around to her. “So... You're about to shoot?”

“God knows I should do it! I lost half a dozen friends in Iraq!” She placed the pistol muzzle onto Tyler's forehead. “This time it's a bullet, not magic. Now... Give me one good reason why I shouldn't do it.” In this moment, the screeching and shooting came closer and a droplet of sweat ran down Tyler's temple. Rachel gulped, visibly on her edge. “Alright, you ponyfucking bastard... It seems fate wants you alive. We'll deal with our little problem AFTER we nailed that motherfucker. Let's get the ponies out of here and lure him away.” But just as they went on, a door was slammed down and a dead cop in heavy duty riot armor was bloody and burning as he slumped down to the ground, separating the group so Flynn and Rainbow were cut off from the rest. Both Tyler and Flynn looked at each other in shock, but recovered quickly at the sound of heavy sniffing. Leaving the corridor they were just in, they agreed with hand-signs to part ways for the time being until they were back to safety. Just in time they left the opposite door sills, when Mimesis' gigantic head lurked in, trying to spot new prey. But just as he was about to squeeze himself through the door, a volley of gunshots splattered down his chitin plating on the back. Turning around, the changeling drider roared at the firing teams of SWAT. They were the first on the scene, the first to enter combat. And unfortunately for them the first to gain Mimesis' attention. Storming at them with a fierce roar, the Changeling took their bullets with no effect, before their bodies went flying limb for limb.

More and more SWAT-members arrived on the scene and the howling of sirens came from the streets. Hearing gunshots, human screams and unnatural roars, they already expected the worst.
“Somebody tell command that we're not prepared for this sort of engagement!!!”

“Is the building surrounded?”

“Yeah, it is. But what are we going to do about that thing?”

“Hell, maybe it can dig a tunnel or fly! Heck if I know!”

Bullets filled the air as the teams fortified behind vans and police cars. While reloading his assault rifle, one of the SWAT members shook his head.
“I saw that thing impaling one of us. Impaling! What are we fighting here?”

“We need more firepower!” yelled another, only to get patted on the back by a colleague.

“A M113 unit is on its way here. Then we can get the survivors inside out of there.”

“Or maybe we end as canned food!”

Inside the flames in the offices began to grow stronger and the stench of smoke was everywhere. Leading the ponies down the corridor, Tyler tried his best to see through the sweltering heat
“Jones!” Tyler halted, recognizing the voice. In the corner of a room not burning yet, Bennett was sitting, his limbs perforated with projectiles, a large bloody wound on his chest despite the body armor.

Checking his wounds, Tyler looked to the others and shook his head.
“His lungs are punctuated, he's not going to make it. Even magic won't help now.”

Bennett sneered over that fact.
“Well, I can't say I wasn't warned.” Coughing up some blood, he grabbed for Tyler's shoulder. “It's all about duty... You saw it as your duty to do whatever you did in Iraq... It was my duty to detain you... Now your goddamn duty is to bring these ponies away from here. End this thing before it starts its rampage in a populated area...” Tyler gave Bennett a determined nod before the Lieutenant smiled and slumped down, the last remnants of life fading his ruined body.

Twilight looked back to Bennett.
“Shouldn't we...?”

Shaking his head, Tyler went on.
“Lieutenant Bennett died while performing his duty, Twilight. He didn't knew about what I did, he was told that I was a wanted man and he caught me. That was all that mattered to him. Maybe he was an asshole, maybe, on different terms, he would be an awesome guy. I don't know. But I respect him for staying true to his mission.”

Twilight's eyes widened, looking at Tyler aghast.
“What?!? You can't be serious! If we would have been away, Mimesis might have not attacked at all!”

Tyler looked to her, nodding.
“True, but letting us go without any good and believable reason was no option for him. Maybe he knew that whatever happened in the inn would happen here as well. I once spoke with Rainbow about that. Loyalty to your mission is something I deeply respect. He knew he had it coming and still he went on on his course.”

* * * * *

Stomping through the halls, the changeling menace searched for its prey, screeching and sniffing while doing so. Rainbow and Flynn couldn't see Mimesis, but could hear the one or another SWAT-member opening fire on it, resulting in a loud and fierce roar shortly before the new prey was slaughtered. Flynn looked over to Rainbow and lowered his voice.
“Stay at my side whatever comes, you hear?” Replying with a silent nod, Rainbow then looked around. The stench of smoke everywhere, the dead humans on the ground... Mimesis wasn't a threat anymore, he exceeded the definition of threat by far now. Like a never-ending nightmare he was in pursuit of them, slaying bystanders without prejudice. It was a frightening situation, but she was happy Flynn was with her to take care of her safety.

As they went around a corner, the barrel of a Beretta was pointing in Flynn's face and he raised his arms in surrender as he took a step back.
“Don't shoot!!!”

Upon seeing his target, Rick Marshall lowered his gun with wide unbelieving eyes.
“Flynn...? What are you-” He was interrupted as the monstrous screech sounded off in the distance.

Flynn looked into the direction the screech came from.
“Yeah... About that? We clarify that later!”

Looking into the same direction, Rick simply nodded.
“Agreed!” When he noticed Rainbow, his eyes widened once more. But before he could ask any more questions, Flynn already urged him to move on and he did

Making a hurry towards the car on the parking lot, the three of them entered the car with Rainbow taking the entire backseat while Rick jumped into the driver seat and Flynn took the place at his side. Most SWAT units were either murdered or in pursuit of the threat, so there was no one to hinder them. The engine started just in time when a fierce roar approached the parking lot. Cowering down, the three of them ducked while the car drove off, the windows being perforated by several chitin projectiles.
“FUCK!!! What the hell is following us, Flyboy? AND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!?”

Flynn held his and Rainbow's head down until they got away three blocks further.
“Believe me, big brother... You wouldn't believe me!” Looking up at the sixth block they passed, he nodded at Rainbow. “We seem to have left his firing range thanks to Rick, you can look up again.”

Looking up, she took a look behind before turning to Rick.
“So that's your brother? Awesome!”

In surprise, Rick almost lost control of the car, but recollected himself fast enough to avoid hitting the next street lamp.
“Holy shit! So they can really talk?!?”

Giving a chuckle, Flynn rolled his eyes.
“Yeah... But she's way better in flying than talking. Trust me, Rick! It's complicated.”

But Rick shook his head fiercely.
“That thing killed a whole police station full of good men and women and several SWAT teams. People with families! So whatever the complicated story, you two better start talking. You have a lot of explaining to do!”

Both Flynn and Rainbow exchanged some glances before Rainbow turned over to Rick.
“I'm Rainbow Dash, Flynn's marefriend.”

Rick's right brow twitched.
“That's a start... So what, Flynn? You got lost in Bermuda, were stranded on a lonely island and went desperate enough to turn to a pony?”

“She's not an animal!”

“Of course not! She's a mythical talking creature thingie... And you think it would be crazy to expect you and Rachel could be hitting it?”

Rainbow looked over to Flynn, aghast.
“You and Rachel?”

Flynn only rolled his eyes.
“Rick always thought I would sooner or later make a move on Rachel. He doesn't know her that good, though.”

“Yeah, well he should know that you are a hero over at our place with a healthy herd.”

This caught Rick's attention.
“Little Flynn a hero? What did he do? Free the stable?”

Rainbow now shot Rick a glare.
“No! He's a Harmony Ranger! He helped defeating several threats to my homeland.”

After dozens of streets the car came to a slow halt and parked in an abandoned parking lot. Rick Marshall looked over to his brother and inspected him. Then all of a sudden, he grabbed him and pulled him in for a tight embrace.
“I don't know how... But God be my witness: I don't care! It's you, you stupid little shit!” Flynn was first surprised, but then patted the back of his brother. Letting go of Flynn, Rick then looked over to Rainbow. “A talking pony. Mom will be surprised... I don't know how to tell her that, but... Somehow I will. So, uh... you two...”

Leaning against Flynn, Rainbow snickered.
“Yup! And he sure treats me good.”

Shooting Flynn a glare, Rick pointed his index finger at him.
“Flynn, you know that in several states of this country I would have to arrest you for this? Not to speak of Mom! What should I tell her?”

Flynn, however, shook his head.
“I'm sorry, but we don't have much time for the extra-dimensional culture shock. We agreed with the others we should head for New York in case we have to split. So that's where we need to be!”

Rick frowned upon this. This made no sense for him.
“New York? What do you want there?"

“We have to go back to Bermuda. Bermuda is the place where we can cross over into her world.”

Rick whirled around and stared at Flynn, aghast.
“You want to go back? Flynn, you just got back here!”

“We have to! I know this is hard to understand but right now on their world it's a major crisis and we are probably the only ones who can stop this entire mess. That thing that followed us is one of the henchmen from the duo we are fighting against. If we don't go back, it's only a matter of time before they come over here and cause serious trouble!”

Rick halted for several seconds and looked at Flynn, before he turned over to Rainbow.
“That hero talk wasn't just talk, huh?” When she shook her head with a sober expression, the FBI agent closed his eyes with a sigh. “I have order to arrest Tyler Jones, not you, Flynn. So you and your pony can go...”

Now Rainbow stomped her hoof at Rick's seat.
“No! We need Tyler! He's in charge of the Rangers. And he's our friend!”

Flynn nodded in agreement.
“I know that, due to Tyler's past, they want to put him to trial... But Rick, that man has changed over there in the other world. So much in fact that I think he could do much more for mankind over there than he could do in a prison cell here on Earth.”

Looking deep into the brown eyes of his younger brother, Rick shook his head.
“New York? Why not Philadelphia? It's less crowded in there.”

“It has to be New York. If I know one thing for certain, it's the fact that I went from Bermuda straight for New York. So whatever lies there in the ocean, it's between New York and Bermuda.”

“On the same day I find living, breathing evidence that beings from another dimension exist, that my brother is not dead, but was on another planet and that he's with a pony...” Rick Marshall said before he closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. Leaning his head on his arms resting on the wheel, he gently shook it. Then, all of a sudden, he stood up and left the car.

Rainbow wanted to say something, but Flynn held a finger on her lips and shook his head before he stepped outside as well.
“Rick...”

But his older brother simply raised his left index finger as a warning, tears in angered eyes.
“You know... We had a burial for you. Mom was devastated. We thought we lost you! And in all that time you never once send a message or something?”

Shaking his head, Flynn opened his arms, trying to explain.
“We only know of this one stable way to their world. We think there is one back into this world, but we haven't found it yet. It's merely a coincidence that we landed back here. I would have called. Rick you know me. That would be the least I would do. Even a few hours earlier I came up with the idea first, but the others expected this situation here.”

Grabbing Flynn by the collar, Rick gritted his teeth.
“What do you expect me to say to Mom now, Flynn? That you're back from the dead? She would think I'd lost it! Even more so if I tell her the story with this pony you are with!”

Flynn nodded, understanding his brother's confusion about the entire situation.
“Things went crazy, I know that. I want you to tell Mom that I was lost, but found my way again. Her youngest son may not live the most normal life, but he's doing the best he can to make her proud. The people I am with are goodhearted, decent people and what we are doing does make a difference for the better.”

Looking over to Rainbow, who eyed the both of them from the car, Rick then sighed.
“I guess it's all... a bit too much at once. You back all of a sudden, ponies and that thing hunting us. That pony...” He shot Flynn a strict glance. “I at least hope it's not just...”

Flynn rolled his eyes.
“No, not just that. We took care of an orphan who's also a fan of hers. She's quite important herself over there. She's more into sports than anything else, but you know... A fresh wind once in a while...”

“A daughter? That's news Mom will love to hear, even if it's an adopted child. But she would simply adore it if it were your own child.”

“These ponies have magic, they for instance have a spell transforming them into a human form for the night. Rainbow and I could beget a child with that. Also that spell is partially responsible for that thing in the police station. Its mother raped Sam.” When Flynn saw the confused expression on his brother's face, he nodded. “I told you it's complicated...”

They both came back to the car and sat down on the seats. After a while and several deep breaths, Rick turned back to Rainbow and held his hand to her.
“Rick Marshall, the brother of this no good brother of mine.”

Rainbow replied with a nod and rested her hoof in his hand and they exchange a shake.
“Rainbow Dash, the alpha mare of this no good stallion of mine.”

While Rick started the car, Flynn looked back to a grinning Rainbow Dash.
“Careful honey... I'm stuck with him, but I chose you to be the love of my life.”

Being in good mood, Rainbow stretched out her tongue.
“Aw, it's all in good fun.”

It was when the car went into motion that it occurred to Rick.
“Alpha mare? Flynn, you are with more than one of them?”

“Ummm...”

* * * * *

In the meantime, the other Elements of Harmony and Harmony rangers arrived near a warehouse, their van torn from bullet holes, chitin projectile holes and burns. With the engine giving up, they stepped outside and Tyler nodded towards the warehouse.
“Perfect... Maybe fortune is on our good side.”

Rachel arched a brow.
“What's perfect about that? It's a warehouse. A bunker or a tank would be perfect against that Changeling.”
As they approached the warehouse, Tyler disabled the camera with a magical cut to the wires and used some magic on the lock of a back door. Twilight frowned upon this and poked Tyler's side with her horn.
“Burglary now? I can't believe you, Tyler!”

“Sweetie, we're not going to steal anything!”

“Who charged you that lock-pick spell anyway? I know I didn't!”

Tyler grinned as the lock clicked and the door opened.
“A Great and Powerful Escape Artist...” They went inside and looked around. Crates of all shapes and sizes stood around. Looking around for some minutes, Tyler then finally nodded, putting his hands on a group of crates. “These here will do perfect! We can use these crates to ship ourselves to New York.”

Rarity hesitated.
“Like animals? Meh... Darling, please! Isn't there a better way?”

Tyler shrugged.
“I think so, Rarity... But it would mean that we're constantly on the run from the police and it would mean hiding most of the time.”

Giving the crate in front of her a doubting look, the seamstress gave a defeated sigh.
“This is not the most clean way to go, but I fear it will have to do.”

Hopping into one of the crates, Applejack waved her friend in.
“C'mon, Rarity... It's plenty of room in here for all of us.”

Looking over to the country mare, Rarity arched a brow.
“Being cramped together and breathing each others stink and sweat is the least way I want to travel!”

While Applejack rolled her eyes with a frustrated groan, Tyler patted her shoulder.
“It will do, honey. Twilight and I are going in the crate over there. They are all addressed to the same person, so we will stick together.”

Magic levitated the lids over the crates and while Rarity tried to find a way to fit into one small crate without making too much of a mess with her mane and coat, Lyra, Pinkie and Sam went into one larger crate while Applejack, Fluttershy and Rachel went into a second. In the meantime, Rarity seemed pleased with her fitting in her crate and closed the lid. Twilight looked up to Tyler while her magic drilled tiny air-holes into the crates.
“Are you sure about that, Tyler?”

Giving her a nod, he began climbing into the fourth crate and helped her in.
“It's not very comfortable, but at the moment the best idea. Reminds me of my way to get into Colombia.” Taking a last glance at the other crates, he nodded. “Good luck, everyone!” Within the crates, the others listened up and smiled.

Fluttershy rested down into the packing material.
“It's not so bad... If we take a little nap, we might not even notice the travel.” This caused AJ and Rachel to smile in the dark.

Moments passed, maybe even hours. Finally, someone came into the hall and footsteps as well as a voice became audible.
“Do you know why the cops are making such a fuzz out there? It seems all of Sacramento is in Panic Mode!”

“The news say that there was an attack on a police station. Possible terror attack or a massive shooting. They say the perpetrator might still be on the loose. So what's the deal here?”

With the sound of patting the crates, one of the male voices chuckled.
“Jim, the new guy, made a mistake yesterday. These crates go to the same guy, yes... But that guy is some rich kid and has several estates. That one over there goes to a penthouse in New York near the central park, that one over there to a loft on the other side of town and these two go directly to the New York Harbor.” Inside his crate, Tyler gritted his teeth, silently cursing their bad luck. 'Shit! Hopefully the others got that as well...' The crates were re-labeled and brought to several trucks with forklifts, each of the three teams now going their separate ways to New York.

Author's Notes:

Not proofread yet, any notification about mistakes are welcome.
Also: first time implementing YT-Videos. Leave a comment about your opinion regarding that, if you like.