"You're rated at 'S+' right now, but your file is flagged. We haven't decided on a final rating for you yet."
Mat only takes a sip of the drink, slightly looking down, hiding his eyes. He puts the mug down, whispering to Dusty so nopony else could hear, "... You know... if I'm on a list like that... it just angers me... and I do take offense to it. But... I probably am, knowing me... I mean... even though I ended up being a guard, you know."
"Could I get like a rundown of your ratings?" Maya asked curiously. "That's pretty interesting stuff."
"It's pretty simple. Low-level threats are given a 'C' Class rating. Powerful enough to do harm, but easily dealt with by any pony with basic training. Above that is 'B' Class. These are threats to large groups of ponies. Powerful enough to take down a small village, and more than most ponies can handle. Than we have 'A' Class. That's where it gets dangerous. 'A' Class threats can take out entire cities, and wipe out entire battalions. And then... there's 'S' Class. Destroyers. They're aren't many of them, thankfully, but 'S' Class threats are the worst of the worst. A single 'S' Class creature, left unchecked, has the potential to destroy all of Equestria. The really terrifying ones are the 'S+' rated... all the way up to 'S+++.'"
"Formaldehorse should get an S+++ based on his cooking," Asmo joked. Azrael shook his head. "It isn't tha-" "Yes it is, salad shouldn't burst into flames." "I wouldn't take it personally if you're somehow on the list," Dusty said. "Everypony here may be. I'm sure anypony who's ever displayed any strong power ever has the potential to be there."
Mat continued to look down, muttering, "... Yeah but... I mean... I only have this power because I needed it at the time. I mean... I still need it, but... ugh... that list just annoys me. I mean... I was told something. Something that still bothers me."
"Azrael was... recently upgraded." Blackout sighed. "That business with Shady bumped you up to an 'S' class, same as her."
Azrael sighed. "I may have overreacted, but I was not the attacker." "They're just doing their job," Dusty told Mat quietly.
Mat sighed, whispering back to Dusty, "... Right.... right." He took a look over to the mask, debating putting it back on, "Thankfully... I don't think my grade is current by any means... which is good, because no pony's keeping a close eye on me."
Mat blinks, whispering to Dusty, "Well.... crap. I know what that means." He quickly puts back on the mask.
"I don't know what that means, Mat." Dusty said. "I am curious," said Azrael. "If I am an S, and it was this nice, green pony that orchestrated my downfall and returned me to sanity..."
"She's also an 'S.' So's Dusty, mostly because he's an Alicorn. There's not much on any of you, really. I imagine you've tried to fly under the radar?"
Mat gives a nervous chuckle, wearing the mask, "... Let's just say... if we're talking about potential.... That power... well, if it keeps improving the way it's done so far." He whispers to Dusty, "... I'm scared to think about it... mainly because... well... it's hard to say."
Dusty nodded. "I'm mostly quiet and soft-spoken for a reason. I'm no danger, and I'd rather not be seen as one." He then whispered to Mat, "No need to be. The government just has files on you. That's not uncommon."
Mat sighs, removing the mask, taking a look at Dusty, "... Yeah, well, the whole thing is I don't want to be.... well... all I want to do is protect the best I can, you know? I don't want the ponies I'm protecting to fear me or look at me like I'm a monster. I'm afraid that'll happen."
"Mat. Please. Listen. It's potential. The Princesses would surely be S+ or higher. Nopony who does good fears Celestia's wrath."
"There are twelve ponies alive to have an 'S+++' rating," Blackout said. "Four of them are princesses. Five of them are national heroes. It's not the power you have that matters... it's what you do with it."
