"Metaphase"

THE STORY SO FAR:

The year is 2530 ARL (After the Return of Princess Luna*). The Planet Equestria still exists, ponies are the prominent race, Celestia and Luna remain as rulers controlling the sun and moon, but overpopulation has forced many of their subjects and other creatures to colonize other worlds. Faster-than-light travel is now a reality, and a new unified systems, the UNSOCE or United Nations Space Command of Equestria (Consisting of various native races) and PONI (Parliament Of Naval Intelligence), has put its full weight behind the colonization effort; millions of the native equestrians now live on habitable planets in other solar systems. A keystone of ponykind’s colonization efforts is the planet Bronze Harvest, an interstellar ‘hub-world’ that grow plenty of food, and builds many ships for civilians and warships for the UNSCOE’s armed forces and civilian workers.

Eventually, a faction was formed in an outer colony against the rule of Princess Celestia, believing they had no need for Alicorn rulers (AKA the royal family) and that non-pony races were a disgrace to the Milky Way. Overtime, more outer colonies proudly fell into the defector’s group, turning what started as a political party into a rivaling army. Dubbed as the insurrections, they have been responsible for thousands of attacks on military and civilians loyal to Celestia, Luna, and the UNSCOE.  To make matters worse, this led to more breaking away.  The Minotaur and Dog races sold themselves as independent pirates and gangsters. Most of the tribes of Cows and Buffalo, the primary labor force, felt oppressed and found planets of their own to independently inhabit, leaving the UNSCOE-Insurrectionist conflict. So far, only the Pony, Griffons, Dragons, Changelings, Donkeys, and Zebra races stay loyal.

In the middle of a devastating insurrectionist-plot on the UNSCOE Colony of New Manebassa that killed half its inhabitants, and enslaving the rest, a member of PONI launches a project to stop the chaos (by any means necessary) by finding the Elements of Hope**, a title bestowed upon ponies representing traits of Magic, Honesty, Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, and Kindness. But after of passing of her ancestor, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends, the elements have been sealed away permanently for they beckoned no new bearers.  This mare refuses to believe the elements and magic are dormant due to the incredible progress in technology and vows that among the fillies and colts of Equestria, a new bearer can be found – if not ‘trained’.

*(Season 1 episode 2 of MLP) After Luna’s 1000-year imprisonment in the moon, she returns as nightmare moon. After her redemption, a new era led by two princesses rather one is officially created

**Renamed by order of the council of UNSCOE; this is because the new name is broader in subject and elements rather grant ponies the ability to do actions that can bring harmony (For example; they can weaken enemies and turn them into stone) yet are peaceful themselves. Because they were used in times of crisis, many thought that calling them the Elements of Hope would be better. Controversy has been sparked over this name change. Today nopony really cares much about the name change, yet some harbor hate or pride in it. A neutral stand in this argument is using the term ‘The Elements’.

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I scanned the silver bookshelves of the treehouse-library frantically. My sister would kill me soon if I couldn't find that book. But after trying my best to look for it, I just gave up and headed to the elevator up to entrance level.

The Ponyville library used to be just one level imbedded into a tree when it was first built, having the inside style of an ideal classic community library. Slowly, renovations changed it forever. There were the elevator and underground levels housing tons of books and those holographic data pads that hurt my eyes.  What was once a small wooden door now has become two glass doors leading into a very fancy style lobby, holding leather chairs, a help desk, a fireplace, and stature of the library's most famous caretakers, Twilight Sparkle with her dragon assistant, in the center, and at least a dozen computers.

I look back at the pictures of what this library once was. It was so simpler than what we have today. The mare (Sparkle) that took care of it just slept on a bed right beside the window. Not much electricity in those times, so magic or physical power was the primary tool. It saddens me just thinking about it; there is not much use for magic or myths these days.  Why machines and science had to kill the fun, I will never know.

By the way, I run this library with my sister. Well, she runs it and I'm running around doing chores. She's the only family I've got left after my brother joined the military and my parents died in an air-wagon accident.  We all share the same coat and hair color, and we share two bedrooms on the lowest level of library.

When I walk up to her standing at the front desk, I can't tell which mood she is in. She appears somewhat angrier with her reading glasses. I then realize she was in the middle of playing a game on her computer, due to the fact the library is closed to today.

"Density, Did you get lost in your own home again?" She snapped, still starring at her screen. The only difference between me and my sis is that she is older than me and has a raisin as her cutie mark, for making such awesome raisin bread. Her name is Raysin.

"No…I…I…just can't find the book on the waiting list." I try my best not to complain or act innocently. I may be a filly but that doesn't mean I'm a girly girl. Unlike my sister who was one.

Raysin turns her chair to face me "I told you it's on-"

I shout out loud, stomping my hoof. "I looked in there five times! I'm telling you, there is no book called The Illusive-"

"Elusive, not illusive.  Why do you and Raggs call it illusive?" My sister interrupts. I hear small sisterly giggle in her voice, yet it's a fake one. Oh, and Raggs is her coltfriend – A fashion designer.

Yes, she is truly a disappointment to a family of eggheads-LOL. Those thoughts were of my sister, no my own. I could read others minds, and the ability itself which was a 'curse' from old unicorn grandfather; he used that difficult mind-reading magic trick so much that now it's a gene in the family. I could now deceive all the kind white lies and seek out the truth. And worst of all, I had no control of when it happened. So far I'm the only living family member who has it.

"Whaaaat? It was under E this entire time?" I asked dumbfounded. Now I felt so stupid, if I didn't feel that already.

I'm about to turn around and stomp back into the elevator when Raysin makes an alternative to my daily chores. "Actually, I'll take care of it. I have another job for you, Lil'des'"

Lil'Des'. I hate that nickname; my darn grandpa called me that on Family Appreciation Day at school. Since then, I was the laughingstock for the rest of school year and victim to bullies or fights. It's the only thing that is worse than "blank flank"; but that title is gone once you get your cutie mark on your flank (Mine is a paintbrush for creativity).  But Lil'Des? Why did my parents have to name me after my aunt's last name so they could call me that? At least my sister uses that when we speak in private

"You feel comfortable going outside all by yourself doing something for me?" my sis asks.

I nod eagerly, hunger for fresh air.

"I just need you to pick up a bucket of Apples for me. I'm making pie this afternoon…." What Raysin was saying drifted off in my head, which was trying to absorb what she had just said.

"APPLE PIIIIIIIIIE?!" I shirked so loudly that Raysin's computer screen cracks and the lens her reading glasses fragment. THAT was my favorite dish. I then jump to Raysin's legs hugging them tightly "Thankyouthankyouthnkyou-"

"Alright, Alight, Alight!" Raysin grips my back with her hoof, slightly irritated…but APPLE PIE!?!? YES!

"This is a library yah know? Keep quiet and have fun." She informs me.

I'm still happy "Also, can we see if my big-brother-best-buddy-for-eternity is on Skipe?" 'Skipe' was the video-chat system that we used between family members. It was rumored to have been invented by a small dragoon who could deliver messages though his fiery breath. But others say that the dragoon's owner was the real inventor of 'Skipe' and created it from an anagram of 'Spike'.

Raysin nods "No promises, Des' but I can see if Cogento is online tonight."

My telepathy picks up the words in her mind If he's not MIA in his own base.

Cogneto, my brother who used to be a talented musician, joined the UNSCOE marines a year ago. Over Skipe, he told us that on the first day he was in there, he got lost three times in his own base. three times! It was so funny.

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PONYVILLE OUTSKITS/ SWEET APPLE ACRES

The gale tugs my hair as I race across Ponyville's streets, now paved and holding more lamplights and few 'air-wagons'.  I pass by the original founder of Ponyville of 'The Granny Smith', who's image and memory is now encased in a bronze idol surrounding the garden, with her ashes underneath. She sounded by various trotters at ground level, and air-wagons holding passengers carried by ponies*)

*in simpler terms its ponies pulling on wagons that carry pony passengers. Pegasus ponies as drivers an fly these vehicles

It was nice meting you, too…

Lilda, please I'm very busy….

HARE CREAM IS THE BEST….

Will you be available at 3:00?

Dude, I lost my copy…

New Manebassa isn't as safe as Sigma Clopodia….

"Ahhh…" I moan silently "I've got to get out of here!" My wings flap and then I'm off racing past crowds until I am finally out of the town of ponyville. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place to stay.

But I hate it here; it's because I can't control my mind-reading powers and they do their worst here; everypony has something on their mind. In fact I fainted the first time I was taken outside. Now I've kind of embrace it yet it drives me out of the city.  I wiz pass ponies and metal buildings alike. Few of the old buildings of 20 BLR remain here and there.

Even though the name of the Village would make one think that it held only one race, various others, such as changelings, griffons, donkeys, and zebras have entered and made homes Ponyville over the past 2000 years. The buildings have been renovated from top to bottom; it looked like town now without any wooden houses. For example, the Boutique now has two levels and Raggs, the who is also the manager, works with three AI assistants. (I still don't know what an AI is… I thought they were literally called "AL" like in 'Albert')

I speed up on my scooter, while my wings beat to make it go, acting like both the motor and accelerator. Because I am now finally out in the country, I don't have worry about getting told for going too fast. The lick of sweat that enters my mouth comes, as I past trees and bushes that have been there, old as Equestria. One day I might build a cottage here – it's nice and quiet away from everyone else. Where I could be truly who I am: Destiny the pegasus. Plus no pony was out here, so I had the freedom of not listening to anyone's speeches.

My happy thoughts were broken by the sound of hooves violently striking the ground and coming closer.  As I'm speeding, I see two lines of ponies (I couldn't tell if they were mares or stallions; they were all bald) in black shirts with bald – no, shaved…no, bald – trotted in the opposite direction beside me. They seemed to be chanting a song…but none like the ones Raysin sang to me.  The first in line of the horses would say a line and then the others behind him would repeat it.

"Hellprancer, Hellprancer, Where have you been?

Hellprancer, Hellprancer, Where have you been?!

Be first into hell and back again!

Be first into hell and back again!

If die please bury me deep!

If die please bury me deep!

Place my gun down by my feet!

Place my gun down by my feet!"

That was all I could hear in the amount of time I passed them. They didn't even seem to care I was there. But I remember Raysin and Cogneto talking about him joining Hellprancers, once.  If this is what Hellprancer look like, I assumed that shirt must really be bullet-proof, water-proof, and meanie-proof. Yet Cogneto doesn't want to have his head shaved again (What's the difference between shaved and bald?)

I wave good bye as they pass. But none of them smile. It was because of what they were thinking; they were too busy with their jogging. One to three, one two three, one - a filly - one two three, one two three…

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SWEET APPLE ACRES MARKET

Sweet Apple Acres hasn't changed one a lot form those old photos from the 'Encyclopedia to the History of Ponyville Collector's Edition'. The apple field still covered the countryside, the barn was still made out of wood painted red and white, and fence was…oddly a crooked fence that needed some fixing from two months ago.

If there was any change, it was the huge market that was built beside the barn, using the same wooden style on the outside.  It houses all sorts of goods that could be smelled from miles. And it was never vacant. Right as park my shooter beside the door I look out to the organized parking lot.  But the numbers of wagons in the parking lot tell me it is a very today isn't busy.

Inside the wooden and classy secrecy, ponies gathered to collect supplies. Some stayed for the cider bar. Others wished to get away from the technical world and see some of the old Equestria style, despite the market being built last year.  The only thing that kept them for truly going back in time was the flat screen television that hung in a central pillar in the middle of allies of food.

I hopped inside, just so happy! "This best day ever, This the best day ever! This the best day ever!" This afternoon it would me, Raysin, Apple pie, brother Cognate over skipe, and BEST OF ALL: APPLE PIE!

A Hoof clutches my back, and very weak southern accent of strong pony says "Whoa, whoa…hey, yer Raysin's kid! And that sis of dat soldier-boy, Cogneto!"

I spun sharply at the sound of the manger of the market. The stallion had side burns and a beard yet no moustache. A strong breath of cider breath in between his half-yellow teeth. However, he doesn't take the kind of cider my older sis says are 'intoxicating'. That's why he is still so smart while he carries a bottle of cider with him all day long!

"Mister Minnie-Apple-Loss!" I cheered. Or 'Mal' as he preferred, oddly he didn't care that his name sounded like girl or that sometime he acted like one. But when Mal was speaking to grown-ups, he was one serious stallion.

"That's me scooter-mare!" Mal appalled. The redneck stallion was like something of a colt's clown; and he always gave his customers nicknames. "You said it yer best day ever?"

I nod, explaining it all to him. "Well, Let's see if we can pass that level of best to bester. Try some of my latest, top secret, cider. It so secret that even PONI would have my flank cut up and fed to dragons," he joked.   Almost immediately, he wedges the mug he was carrying right into my mouth. Gushing glorious liquid too grand to describe came into my throat. It is sooooooo good that I almost pass out.

"Eeeyup! I store the whole lot of them in the back. Wait till they hit the market!" Mal chuckled swinging his mug. Cider spills on the floor.

I twirl the ponytail in my mane with my hoof "In the back? Why are they-"

"They're prototypes! But I need to make sure they aren't too strong. Otherwise that could upset balance of combat between competitors in my favor!"  That didn't make sense to me

I couldn't understand why he would give one to me if he had just started swinging and shouting it around the market.  Maybe he was a little drunk. "But It tastes just right." I respond

I then hear Mal's regretful thoughts: No dear…it ain't….I need to make it better or I'll regret it when I'm old...like I do about so many things

"Maybe…but if the Celestia and Luna wanted things to be perfect at first without any sort of negative feedback, then we wouldn't have a court and police officers." Mal whispers in my ear. "Say, maybe I'll give yer family a yearly discount if you can get them all here!"

I snapped back "Sure, okay! But first can you spare me a basket of apples? My sis says that she'll pay you tomorrow." If I had to get something I could always say that my sis would be around tomorrow to pay the grown-ups.  One time I used it so much my sis had to end up paying 100 credits at a toy store.

"Deal!" Mal swung the hoof with his Mug, spilling cider everywhere "Now let's find a big basket for-"

Then the market TV phased out loudly enmiting static. Then, lettering appeared in red font and voice repeating, "WE INTERUPT THIS PORGRAM TO BRING AN ALERT TO ALL OF YOU."  The screen flicker out to static after twenty seconds. The few customers who had seen the words on the TV screen resumed their grocery shopping.

"Aw hell….Cider Sam! What in the hay is wrong mah TV?" Mal yelled. The Assistant manager, Cider Sam is a mule…and by reading his thoughts, he's little depressed. Sometimes the community made fun of him and called him horrible names to him because of his buck teeth and crossed eyes. But I think he's nice; he looks almost like Mal since both have beards. And he is a super smart TV mechanic.

Sam scratches the back of his head "Golly, I don't know, Mister Apple-Loss. I was fixin' it just five minutes ago and it worked fine." I then hear the worry in Sam's head that he could have done something wrong and he was also worried about putting his job at risk. Ah...hope I didn't upset boss…I couldn't find another job in years!

And I forgot to mention this; I can never mention my mind reading power to anyone. Anyone. So far, only my family and the doctor we always go to know of it.

Mal frowns at his friend "Look, I'll pay you extra if you can-"

The screen flicker back to life, yet the blinding static now reveals something that will be the beginning of something that haunts me for the rest of my life. Others gather around shocked at the scene; from what I could read from their minds it was a razed city with helmeted UNSOCE marines taken prisoner by Ponies in red and black uniforms. A flag of a red printed skull was on a piece of debris. Meanwhile, a red-eyed mare trotted up to camera

*"Greeting fellow ponies oppressed by the UNCSEO…" The black mare, with red eyes and fiery hair welcomed her audience, with an evil grin.

"It UNSCOE ma'am" brought up by a solider in a red-black coat. I always thought it was spelled 'oo-n-sc-coe' literally.

The mare continued "Yeah whatever…I'm going to make this message clear and brief to all of you. Join us…the United Rebel Front and we'll give you freedom."*

Celestia-Damned innies – that why I left their colonies; propaganda speeches and low pay. Cider Sam thinks. I'm right beside him and I never heard of him say anything like this to me. He always told me he was from Golden Harvest and he just wanted to come 'back home' to Equestria. But if he did tell us he was from an innie colony, he could get in trouble.

*"But…" the black mare continues " If we think you oppose us in any way…" And nodded her head to the red-black soldiers.

The soldiers in red and black take out their pistols with their right fore-hooves.  Then they rip off the helmets of the marines, tossing them into the air, revealing their faces to their audience.

I gasped silently, seeing the revealed face of one of the marines, covered in blood and dirt "….Cogneto...". My brother was one of those marines. Captured, on his knees, scared….

BLAM!

…and shot….

blood and guts splashed everywhere on the screen. The gunshot echoes in my heart and everyone's mind is silent.

..or you shall end up like these poor souls…I bid you good day, for now" the black mare grinned evilly"*

The demonstration was fished transforming into a black background the red words scrolling on the screen:

'NEW MANEBASSA IS OURS.YOU ARE, ALL OF YOU, CORRUPTED. COWERING IN THE DIRT, THINKING WHAT, I WONDER? THAT YOU MIGHT ESCAPE THE COMING FIRE? No. YOU WORLDS SHALL FALL BEOFRE THE MIGHT THE TURE PONY LIBERATORS. AN NOT EVEN CELESTIA OR LUNA WILL BE ENOUGH TO SAVE YOU. AND WE? WE ARE YOUR LEADERING FUTURE!'

"Sam m'boy…you better turn of the TV, now. The crowd has seen enough those cocky bastards' business." Mal whispered. Without another word, Cider Sam trotted off to door marked 'Employee's only'. I always wanted to go there but now wasn't the time.

The thoughts of customers started to slide into my head.

Oh Princess Celestia save us….

No…no…Hell no!

Oh, Celestia my daughter is on that colony…

WHAT WILL DO WHAT WILL DO?

Dude, you're saying the broadcasting this all over the internet?

How the hell did they get this our network?

…And my wife called saying she saw the same thing from home….

Without noting Mal, I trotted away from the crowd and flew out of the store. Then I leapt onto my shooter and flapped my wings as fast as could to the next. Driving to quietist place I could think off.

I need to get away from everyone. Too much thinking, too much pressure…too much blood everywhere on TV…..

For that black mare ordered the death of my own brother. I witnessed the gory scene with my own eyes…and now I lost him forever.

As I drove along the country side, I couldn't hold my tears or cries back.

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At Sky Mirror lake started at my own reflection.

I recalled that before my brother left I heard him says I love you so much.  Now his love was gone with his body. All because of…..those…those innies! What was an innie anyway? At school, a colt next to me whose name I forgot talked about an 'ensuwercsion'  for his international article of the week….but we couldn't understand it.

Despite the peaceful environment around me I just felt so angry. I flew up into the clouds a and stopped when I surrounded by several grey clouds. Interested, I buck one with my leg and it sends lighting out. I fling myself away before I'm electrocuted.

Then I recall my sis warning me never to go near dark thunder clouds while I'm flying.  Now I see why; but I'm too angry to bother heed to her warning now

Pretty soon, I get in the habit of taking out my anger by punching and bucking the surrounding dark clouds with all four of my hooves. Every crash of lighting is almost like a satisfying scream of a monster. I wanted to kill all those monsters.

I then do a roundhouse kick at another dark cloud.  Only to have no lighting crack out, but Instead a curtain of rain descended from it. The raindrops started to form a puddle on the ground, but no thunder or lightning. That's when I came out of my rage, checked to make sure nopony saw an angry pegasus filly kicking dangerous rainclouds.

The pouring rain reminded me of my own tears for my brother. And here I was taking my anger out on things that didn't deserve my rage. And that why I couldn't do anything to those meanies; I had too much of a heart.

"No!" I shout, kicked the raincloud away. I continued punching more clouds. I refuse to be so heartwarming and kind! I'll show those innies that I'm tough and strong enough to kick their flanks! "No, No, NO! N-GAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

That's when I go way too far; I punch a thundercloud right behind me. And I then I'm electrocuted. It stings though my body, and then I start to feel very hot inside. Even as I close my eyes pain still comes. I smell my coat and hair burning and every internal organ vibrating.

After being suspended by the crooked wave of lightning I feel myself falling. Then I slam into ground so hard, I barely heard a pop. I curl up into a ball and try to not to sob. I can't feel either of my wings. Steam comes of my charred body.

But I am thankful that my breathing shows I'm alive.

As I'm slipping out I hear Raysin and Mal call out my name repeatedly. Right before I go completely unconscious, I feel my sister hooves wraping around me, crying loudly.  I try to probe her mind though to see if she knows what happened to Cogneto.

Instead, all I get is blankness. Just silence.

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Later that day at the doctors, I learned that now my uncontrollable ability to read minds was damaged due to lighting. My wings took a worse hit yet they would recover – they were just sprained. I was lucky to be alive, said the doctor.  I waited for the lecture or the punishment but none of that came.

Although one would see it as peace and know that they could fly after a couple of months, I feared that now I have been changed forever.

When we got home, I stared in mirror for a long five minutes.  I wasn't the cheerful pegasus filly looking for book in huge library as in the morning.

There was no Apple Pie. No skipe. No Cognate anymore. Just some milk and then I'm sleeping with Raysin in her bed. I was surprised that even she didn't scold me for kicking thunder clouds. Instead of saying anything or crying she remained silent. I couldn't sleep; that black mare kept coming back into my head laughing at me.

And image of Cogneto's exhausted face beside hers exploded into millions of pieces in front of me.

I woke up to make sure that his blood didn't come on my coat.

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A week later on a Sunday….

I've been quieter lately and so has my sister. We're trying to get back into society as much as we can but it just feels so hard. At least now there is privacy when Raysin thinks of something. Ponies come by and say they are sorry for us….and sorries can't bring back the dead. But I just shut my mouth try not to cry out and yell at them; it wasn't going to change a thing

As I place the book she requested on the front, Raysin garbs her saddle bags. I noticed she had some lip gloss on. "Raggs invited me for a presentation, Destiny. I'm leaving you in charge."

"Sis, the library is closed on Sundays." I protest. Moaning

Even without her my mind-reading powers I know she actually going out on a date with her boyfriend.

All Raysin says is "Yeah, well yet we accept returns and donations any day of the week. I just want you to be here to keep an eye on things. Understand, Lil'Des?"

I nod.   Because I'm frowning, she asks me if I want some apple pie tonight.

I just say no. After saying goodbye, she left. I'm not used to being mute to thoughts, even personal ones.

However, without my mind reading powers it might be easier to make friends. But its the weekend now and I'm still a Lone Timberwolf in school unfortunately.

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Pretty soon it's just me looking though the book and holopads in the library lobby. I skim through the books until I stumble upon one about a royal wedding with the picture of pink alicorn with A captain of the royal guard.  And the entire book cover was in pink adding to its girly-ness. This is the last book I would read.

Bored to death, I opened the flap just to somewhat satisfy myself with the plot.  

Conegto's signature along with some words written in cursive is first things I see.  It's almost like Congneto is talking to me from the grave, bring more depression and loneness to me yet I read on.

Dear Destiny,

I know it's hard for you to make friends with your power (It's not a curse; stop calling it that). And I know things have been complicated over these last few days with me at my new post. And I'm sorry I couldn't come home on your birthday.  But as gift to you, I want you to have this book. When I was your age, it was my among my favorite adventures of the last bearers of the elements .In my dreams I could only imagine what heroes they are. Yet they also inspired many heroes today, like firefighters, social workers, and us marines.  The cover may be girly but that's for you to decide if it is.

I know this hard for you to realize but I can die tomorrow.  So if I am missing or you are worried about me I'm going to have to ask you to keep going. Sometimes you can't see your future. But others can. It's pretty much like a book – you write with whatever elements you have and then you keep going. And the Author lets the readers determine what he did was right or wrong.

Your old stallion,

Cogneto

I open the flap to the first page beginng to read the words. If Cogneto read this book then so should I; it was the least I could to honor him.

But If I came across the word 'tea-party' then I was going to close it right away.

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Strolling across the streets, Lieutenant Corncob Keyes shifted uncomfortably in his disguise composing of civilian clothing. He was the sole soldier chosen for this mission because he could keep a devious secret and somehow remain loyal to his superiors.  But that the damn scientist he was with 'Escorting' was beginning to get on his nerves

"Just relax and act like we are tourists here, Lieutenant. We've been out for at least an hour and you didn't even take any photos with that camera I bought for you." The scientist, Dr. Halsey Sparkle, icily reminded him. She wore a sunhat and carried a saddle bag on her back.

"You bought me a camera, ma'am?" Keyes realized that he forgotten that a camera was dangling from his neck all this time.  Then held it up took a quick picture of  Sparkle.

"And you didn't even take a meal at sugar cube corner." The doctor added

Keyes narrowed his olive eyes "I need to watch my calorie count otherwise my superior-"

"You should be ashamed….sir" Halsey replied coldly. "You are not acting like a civilian therefore you are disobeying your superiors."

"How many officers are ready to gut your throat when you do something wrong?"

"How many lives will be at stake if I don't find out if subject 117 is fit for duty? She already lost her ability of telepathy. All I want to do is just to check on her."

"That's it?" Keyes wondered. "Just her?"

"Well. I was planning on going to the spa…if it weren't for the blockhead next to me."

That made Keyes silent. Halsey could see they were coming close to library yet felt like she wanted to continue to twist the by-the-book-soldier.  Keyes was going to fail at being civilian big time without a smile.

"Can you at least pretend that we're here to pick up…oh I don't know, a book for our little girl from the library." Halsey rolled her blue eyes

Keyes grunted "I don't pretend or have a girl, ma'am."

"And could you at least avoid calling me 'ma'am'? How many colts call their special someponies 'ma'am'? Gosh, you are horrible at this!" Halsey replied, giving up.  

Lieutenant Keyes had a brown mane in a crew cut fashion and a dark grey coat with a cutie mark of two keys facing in opposite directions on a ring.  Sparkle's mane and tail were purple and both ended in buns. Her mark appeared to be a ten pronged magenta star enclosing a heptagon, with both being surrounded by twenty different polygons too small for keys to get a look at. (If he came any closer….it would look like he was analyzing at her flank). While Keyes was an earth pony, Halsey was a unicorn.

Keyes whispered in partial amazement "Do you even realize where you are?" pointing his hoof to the treehouse. From outside looked as if they hadn't changed one bit, apart from the metal frames and deck. The 2500 year old lantern was still there on the one-month old scrubbed deck.

Sparkle nodded her head. "Yes, I'm at my great-great-great-great grandmother's library." She said nothing more as she walked up the stairs. There wasn't really much to say about the building; even with all the new addition she preferred a quiet lab over something like this.

Keyes stayed where he was.  "I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to come with me." Sparkle informed just as she touched the glass door.

Keyes raised a hoof to protest "With all due-"

"When I said 'we' were going on this mission, lieutenant, I said WE. I am clear?"

Not giving him time to answer, Sparkle clutched Keyes by the shirt collar and started to drag the stallion into the Library. (Yes…she is that strong.)

As Keyes tried to stand straighter, Sparkle caught him blushing in embarrassment. She opened the door and entered the marble library.

Finding subject 117, a yellow pegasus filly with a brown mane, deep in book.