   âSimple! Theyâll be standing right here when that bomb goes off!â The mare declared, and Cheerilee immediately took a step back in shock.
   âWait! Wait! Hold on! Thatâs not what kind of bomb that is! Itâs just to cause the machine to break down irreparably-â Cheerilee was cut off by a cold, disheartening laughter.
   âTo look like a mistake on the kidâs part, right? Well, I mean, yeah, it was. But I⌠âconvincedâ command to let us take something with a little more punch. Or a lot more. Enough to kill an Empress.â Truffle could feel âhimselfâ smirk, and Cheerilee looked horrified, which was good, because he couldnât.
   âWispy! You dumb- there will be a lot of ponies there, not just the Empress! There will be foals! Iâm going to disarm this, working with you was a mistake-â Wispyâs hoof immediately grabbed Cheerilee and forced her to stare her in the eyes. Truffle mulled over the name he just heard for a moment. It sounded pretty familiar.
   âYou will not disarm that bomb.â With that forceful proclamation, a jolt of bizzare energy buzzed through Wispyâs body, and Cheerilee looked as if she had been physically struck. When her eyes fluttered back open, they glowed with odd colors. âI said no names! Gah, whatever. Look, I know how you feel, honestly, I donât like the idea of the kids getting involved in this, but Iâm here to kill two birds with one stone. Iâm not going to overlook an opportunity.â
   âOpportunity does not give us the right to become cold blooded murderers, you hateful cow!â Cheerilee teared up, her expression equal parts anger, fear, and sadness.
   âOh, donât be such a sourpuss. This probably wonât even work, and the Empress will get away without a scratch!â Wispy joked, and Cheerilee just looked angrier.
   âTha⌠thatâs⌠I donât care about the damn Empress, Wispy!â She screamed.
   âI know it, baby! Thatâs what I love about you!â Truffle felt himself pucker up, and his face light up with pain as Cheerilee hoofed Wispy square in the face, knocking her flat. In spite of essentially being the pony that was punched, Truffle couldnât help but silently cheer Cheerilee on. The mare on the ground, however, just continued to laugh.
