//------------------------------// // A New Companion // Story: Freelance. // by Tonwhirler //------------------------------// Rarity dropped to the ground. All the adrenaline that shot through her body moments ago left as quickly as it came. She’d never been one for tense situations like that, but somehow her instincts kicked her into action and a fierce calm. Spike had needed her. To think she almost shot the perpetrator. Rarity couldn't imagine how she would cope if she had. The gun she had was mainly for show, and had never been used once. The idea of a pony dead on her hands was revolting, but she realized that deep down she would do whatever was necessary to keep her friends safe. “He’s long gone now,” said Spike from the destroyed window, “had a getaway car on the other side of the street.” The detective stood back up and went to put a hoof on Spike’s shoulder. “Are you alright, dear? You seem distraught.” “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Hope Twilight is though.” “I’m absolutely certain she is. Now that nopony's brandishing a gun around, care to tell me what’s really going on?” Spike had seen Twilight earlier today. It was a normal day on the job, up until around 9:45 when a zebra visited. She said she had called on the phone, and that she had a message for the Vice President's ears alone. Spike didn't remember such a call, but Twilight shooed Spike out of the room anyways. Moments later, she ran out of the room and began rabidly searching nearly every drawer for something. "Spike!" she had said, "Where's that history book I loaned you? I need it immediately!" The book was left at home. When Spike arrived, the Apple gangster was waiting for him. Spike was tied to a chair and interrogated about Applejack's disappearance and Twilight's alleged involvement with it. Moments before Rarity had interrupted, he had threatened to cut off a finger. “Good thing I showed up when I did, Spikey-Wikey! Why if that brute touched one scale…” “Rarity, I’m 19. Could we please stop with the silly nicknames?” “Not a chance." Rarity smiled. "Where's this book that Twilight requested?" Spike handed him a large tome with a picture of a unicorn on the front."Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. Not sure what she needed it for, it's full of really old myths. Like, get this: a prediction that a shadow pony will come to make it night forever!" "Does sound absurd, but there must be some reason that Twilight wanted it." She hovered the book in front of her and rifled through the pages, then turned it upside-down. A small object fell out and hit the ground with a clink. "Aha!" "Wait, why's there a key in Twilight's book?" said Spike, leaning over to pick it up. It was scratched and dull. "A better question: What's Twilight hiding?" Rarity grinned, a spark of excitement in her eye. "Now, sounds like you’re out of a job for a bit; care to help me track down a zebra, possibly infiltrate a gang, and find some missing ponies? I could use someone with your note-taking skills.” “Oh, would I ever!" The door slammed open. An elderly green mare walked through the door, staring at the room’s only occupant. “Hello, Big Mac. How’s my favorite grandson?” The colt grimaced. The calm before the storm; the calmer it was, the worse the storm. Granny Smith may be old, but she was fierce. Especially when it came to family. Big Mac could still feel the bruise from last week when he'd let little Applebloom into the liquor. “Now, ah hear tell that you paid a visit to that secretary. Find anythin’ out?” She already knew the answer, she just wanted to hear Big Mac admit defeat. If he lied, it would only make her angrier. “eenope…” “Is that so? I reckon it must’ve been somethin’ mighty powerful to have scared you away.” “…eenope…” “You’re not telling me that, say, some prissy white high-falutin’ unicorn stopped you?” He cringed. Big Mac had half hoped that detail wouldn'tve reached her ears. But Granny heard everything. “eeyup…” “Is that so…” Granny Smith lifted her hoof. Big Mac braced for impact, but to his surprise the stalwart old mare broke into tears. "Oh Big Mac, what're we gonna do without Applejack? Ah'm just too old to be running an operation like this." Big mac stood and gave her grandmother a hug. "What I want to know is how did President Celestia find out that all these ponies disappeared today? Don't they usually wait at least a day before assuming such a thing? I mean, I'm not even 100% sure that she's gone." Rarity kept looking out the window. "Well, that Apple pony sure thought Applejack had vanished." she said, "The President has some reliable sources; she wouldn't have come to me if she didn't trust them." The sound of road underneath their taxi was soothing to Rarity. It was good to be on the move again. She reminisced upon her arrival here. How she'd skipped all the way to her apartment, as if she were going to break out in song. Sure, her place in Ponyville was nice, but here she was going to solve mysteries in the epicenter of... "But wait," Spike interrupted her train of thought, "how did that Apple gangster know that Applejack was gone?" "I have no idea. The only way we'd get that information is by asking him ourselves, and I doubt he'd answer." Spike nodded and resumed reading through Rarity's notes. What was that colt looking for anyways? Why did he think Twilight was involved somehow? Did he know that the Vice President had gone missing? Did he know about the key that they had... "How did these ponies all end up in Manehattan?" Spike interrupted again, "Aren't the Equestrian labs, the CIA and all that in entirely different states?" Rarity's brow furrowed. "Let me see that." She was a bit perturbed that she hadn't thought of that herself. "See, every one of them was last seen somewhere local." said the dragon, pointing as he handed her the notes. "Maybe they were all on vacation?" "No, Spike. Coincidences that big don't just happen. Looks like we've got another lead."