In the Not so Near Future

Pillow Dew rolled her shoulders as she stretched, trotting out of the building. The last day of flight exams finally over, and far behind any other Pegasus, she had finally passed the test. She really had grown into a pretty mare. Albeit her Narcolepsy still caused her to slip into slumber while helping in her father's shop, her speech had improved by leagues, her coat evened out, and the only hits of her awkward starts were her name and her constant bed head. With a smile on her mussel, she flapped her great black wings, and dove downwards towards Ponyville, galloping into the market.

Switchblade strolled through the market, his cart attached to him, he looked almost the same as he did years ago, only his face seemed a lot more mature, but his eyes kept their kind sparkle. He had quit his freelancing and put all his time into his cogsmithing.

Pillow landed beside him, no longer small enough to take her perch upon his back. Boo!

Switchblade jumped in shock "Aah! Oh, it's just you, you know not to shock me like that; I'm very jumpy after last year's incident. Anyway, how did it go?" he asked her, his eyes relaxing again.

The young mare smirked, thrusting her shoulders forward, displaying the weather pony badge. "It was amazing! Third year trying and I finally succeeded, didn't even fall asleep in the middle of a cloud this time! I got a job on the night shift as a weather pony." The dark coated pegasus swelled with pride, excited for the achievement so long in waiting. "Need some help around the shop today?"

"Nah, you go celebrate your achievement. Oh, I also have this for you." He reached into the pocket of his waistcoat and took out an intricate pocket watch with a pair of outspread wings on a cloud embossed on the front "I made it for when you passed the exam; a little reward from me, because I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot less of you now that you can get to cloudsdale often. Ah, I actually need to go back past Ink's house to deliver her some supplies, want to tag along?"

Pillow smiled at the watch and attempted to hug Switchblade with her wing. "Thank you! I love it. Of course I'll tag along. As much as Ink's helped, I'd adore to tell her the new!" Beaming giddily, she looped the watch around the shaft of her wing and walked with him.

Switchblade smiled "Come on then. I'm very keen to see how Ink is doing with publishing that new article of her's." he led the way, smiling kindly about the success that his daughter had attained; he knew how much it meant to her.

Pillow Dew followed happily, every now and then drifting a little with her wings in excitement.

However, unanticipated was the sight seen when they reached the Mare's Toystore top home. The doors were locked and lights were out as if the Whizzes had been gone. Yet something was wrong. The store inside was a mess, the books normally displayed peaceably, scattered across the floor. Atop the stairs, Ink Stain's door stood open, papers lazily floating out it.

Switchblade stopped at the doorway, sprinting into the house "Ink!" he called out, frantically searching "No, no, no." he started searching through the papers "She would have left a message; she's smart enough to know how to tell us." he said frantically.

Pillow Dew looks around fearfully, through the papers and manuscripts everywhere, then, she noticed the coffee table was bear other than a single folder and her typewriter. Upon the folder rested a coffee mug, barely warm, with a circle of a coffee stain around it, circling the words beneath it printed on the freshly type pages.

-It is yet unknown if the organization-
-however, were they come seeking vengeance upon-
-due to reasons requested secret-

Switchblade walked up next to Pillow and stopped "Oh dear. She's been taken by an unknown assailant due to something that they want revenge for; must be one of her articles showing a bit too much light." he looked at Pillow fearfully "We need to get the guards; they'll be able to do something about this."

Pillow nodded anxiously, giving her wings a quick flap, sending the folder shut. The papers within rustled into place as the bold red lettering in Swtichblade's writing labled the front. "CLASSIFIED". Just underneath, Ink had specified in shorthand the directions for the folder. "Swtc--Public--MNHT--Anonymous." Pillow, however, did not notice this in her cloud-minded ways, and went to canter out the door to locate a guard or two, and lead them to this scene of crime.

"I'll stay here and search for anything that could help." Switchblade called after Pillo. He then walked over to the centre folder then stopped, recognising his writing he instantly knew what this was. He sprinted after Pillow to stop her. "Pillow, wait!"

Pillow reared up her wings. "Yeah!?" She called, turning around.

"Change of plans. The guards cannot know that we know about Ms Stain's kidnapping; it appears it was the members of my old unit, trying to remain hidden, they will have ears in the guards. We need somepony else, who might help us go against the guards." he explained

Pillow nodded, folding her wings. "But who would go against the guards? Most ponies around here don't know what you, I, or Miss Stain would know. " With a flick of her dark mane, she hid her yellow eyes from two guards as they trotted by on their way to Sugar Cube Corner. Nearby, on a lampost was stuck a poster for an orchestra concert coming up. Just beyond that, was the candle shop, with Candle Glow just closing up.

Switchblade shrugged "Let's just not endanger any civilians; we need to head back to my house, I need to get some equipment." he said casually, as he walked next to his daughter. "Don't worry; this won't take too long at all."

Nodding again nervously, she trotted along, her dark face trying not to show worry. Switchblade had told her stories of his past, and none of them made what was in store for Miss Ink Stain sound promising.

The pair reached the forge, Switchblade opening the door and walking inside, keeping walking until he got to an old, locked door, he took out a key and rotated it in the lock, opening the door with a large creak as the items inside were shown; all that lay in the room was an old armour stand with a familiar helmet and chestplate, a sword resting on a raised platform in the middle.

Pillow stood slightly back, watching carefully. She had known some things about her father, but this.. this was different.