I wake up in a hospital room, searing pain flashing behind my right eye. I slip my arm out of the restraints and feel for my eye, only to discover it has been completely bandaged up.
"Shit... Shit, shit, shit... Hello? Anybody out there?! Somebody help me!"
No response.
"Goddammit."
I pull off my restraints and sit up in my bed.
"Dammit, this hurts."
I pull out the various wires sticking into my body and stand up. Fumbling through the various shelves and drawers, I find a bottle of painkillers. I swallow a handful of tablets and splash some water on my face. Looking through the files on the desk in my room, I discover that whatever that thing was gouged out my eye completely.
"Fucking a'."
I look outside the window. It's nighttime and the streets are covered in fog. The street lamps reveal vague silhouettes of God only knows what. Parts of the street have sunk into the earth. Stepping out the door, I discover that the hallway of the second floor is dilapidated in stark contrast to the room I awoke in.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
I wander down the hallway and into a dressing room, careful not to make any noise. I throw off my johnny shirt and put on a dark gray orderly uniform, a pair of cotton socks, and a pair of running shoes that fit in my size. Hearing screeching from the other side of the hallway, I slip into the stairwell and lock the door.
Knowing the dangers of going out into the fog at night, I stay by the hospital's security desk on the first floor. In the drawers, I find a 9mm handgun with a few spare clips, a flashlight, and a pocket radio. I try listening to the radio but only receive static. Realizing I'm trapped inside until daybreak, I do the only thing that can bring me solace.
I begin to type...
[HEADING=1]IN CANTERLOT![/HEADING]
I am thrown into Celestia's private quarters.
Celestia: "Hello, Agent."
RaN: "Is the rough treatment necessary?"
Celestia: "Sorry. Things have been rather hectic lately. I have to keep up appearances."
RaN: "Suit yourself, Princess... How have you been handling Director Bronc since... Well, you know?"
Celestia: "He was one of my most loyal students, but he was always headstrong. I knew he would fall in harm's way when I nominated him for the position, but I never imagined... I'm getting ahead of myself."
RaN: "How's Rosaline?"
Celestia: "She's healthy. She's dealing with psychological trauma, but she's tough. I've decided to take her under my wing and raise her."
RaN: "I'm glad to hear it. She's going to need all the help she can get."
Celestia: "I understand you are already aware of the task I have prepared for you."
RaN: "I know you are afraid Equestria may have been contacted by an extraterrestrial force, and I know you volunteered me specifically for this mission. I get the feeling there's another reason why you want me for this job."
Celestia: "You're right. I'm not going to hide this from you... My sister has been abducted."
RaN: "That explains why no one has seen her recently. Do you know by whom?"
Celestia: "No. But I have been keeping contact with her telepathically and I know she is being held on the moon. Unfortunately, stepping foot there has bound her to another 1,000 years of imprisonment. I do not want her to suffer through this punishment again. That is why I need you."
RaN: "Do you have a rocketship? A shuttle? Something I can use to get up there?"
Celestia: "Err... No. I figured since you arrived here from Earth, you would have a basic understanding of space exploration."
RaN: "Oh... Well, I do have a basic understanding of theoretical physics, but I'm going to need help from the smartest people here if we're going to get this done."
Celestia: "You are friends with Twilight Sparkle, correct? If anyone has the means to help you, it would be her."
RaN: "Good point. I'll take the job."
Celestia: "Excellent."
A cloth sack is thrown over my head and I am escorted out of the room.
Celestia: "I will expect you again in four months time. Good luck, Agent!"
As I walk down the hallway, I feel a sudden piercing sensation behind my right eye. The feeling is only temporary, however, and I do not take much notice of it.
[HEADING=1]IN OTHERWORLD![/HEADING]
Sister: "So... tired..."
Suddenly, Tox and Waffles appear.
Sister: "WAIT!"
Tox attempts to tackle her, but phases through her body and crashes into a wall. Sister disappears.
Waffles: "Dumbass."
Tox: "Okay. Plan B is definitely not a good idea."
Tox and Waffles descend down the elevator shaft. Sister's ethereal form reappears.
Sister: "So... alone..."
[HEADING=1]IN SPACE![/HEADING]
I awaken with a jolt on board the Ebon Hawk, my right eye throbbing in pain.
RaN: "Christ, this hurts like Hell! What the fuck just happened?"
NaR: "You collapsed while we were on Ashfie. I brought you back on board and flew us out of there. We're heading back to Earth."
RaN: "Good. I need a fucking aspirin."