//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 - Calm Before The Storm // Story: 10 Days, 3 Adventures - Part 2 - "Manehattan Crime Story" // by TP Night //------------------------------// Only a few minutes later, the group of police officers arrived at the agreed-upon location, the same spot where Rarity, Trixie, Pinkie and Petit had met earlier, halfway between the Fashion show halls and the after-party place. As they all grouped together, Gun Point approached the mares. “We came as soon as we could. Now, you said you saw them going two ways, and you saw where they both headed?” He asked. “Pinkie Pie and Petit here saw them, yes.” Rarity replied. Gun Point looked at Petit. “I don’t believe you and I met. Officer Gun Point, District chief of police.” “I’m Petit Éclaire, I work at Café Licorne D’or.” Petit replied. “Sorry to have you dragged into this whole mess, Miss.” Gun Point said. “Now then, you saw the zebras. Going where, exactly?” “Well, we were going toward the fashion hall, when we spotted them coming out from a nearby alley. One of them was trotting toward the hall, and the other turned left and trotted toward an apartment complex. Which I found weird, because that particular complex is not finished yet, so it’s not open for public and has no residents.” “I know which complex you mean. And actually, that’s probably why they chose it. No risk of getting caught by nosy neighbors if you don’t have any. Plus it’s close to the fashion show, their current target. They’ve probably been in that area for some time, scouting and preparing everything.” The big bulky officer, Pepper Spray, approached Gun Point. “So, wha’s the plan, boss? Who’s goin’ where? I mean, I assume we splittin’ up, yeah?” “Yes, that would be the most effective approach. Some of us goes after the one in the apartment complex, and the rest of us go after the one who headed to the show hall.” Silver Cuffs joined the conversation. “I think me and Pepper, and somepony from their group should be the ones in the complex.” She said, nodding towards Raritys group. “Mhmm, sure. Just give me a good-enough reason, and we’ll go with that.” Gun Point replied. “Well,” Silver said, “I myself know the area quite well, and Pepper is the strongest one of us, so if we need to break down any doors or move any obstacles..” “Good point. You agree, Pepper?” Pepper Spray just nodded and grunted approvingly. “So be it then. You two, plus Miss Trixie, you go into the construction site and look around, see if you can find the zebra. Meanwhile, Myself and Shining Badge will go with Miss Rarity to the show hall and find the sister there. Miss Petit is a civilian, and only a minor witness. I don’t want to pull her deeper into this mess than she already is unless we absolutely have to, and at the moment, we don’t. So I say she goes back to the station and wait for us there, in case we need to ask her anything more. I’d also prefer if Miss Pinkie escorted her, just in case.” Shining Badge walked over to Rarity. “Hi. My name is Shining Badge, and I’ll be going with you. It’ll be you, me, and Gun Point. We’re going after the one who went to the show hall, while the others go after the other one, and Miss Petit will be returning to the station, as a safety precaution, for her own safety. We don’t want to involve her more than necessary, since she’s a civilian.” “I’m Rarity. And I must say, I am surprised by your name. You see, I know another stallion named Shining.” “Hm, that’s a surprise. As far as I knew, I was the only Shining in Equestria. Well, except for his highness, the Prince of the Frozen North, Shining Armor.” “eeh.. hehe.. That’s him. The other Shining I know.” Rarity smiled awkwardly. “...You know the Prince?” Shining said with a hint of disbelief in his eyes. “I.. well, yes, I do. His sister, Twilight Sparkle, is one of my best friends. So I know them all quite well, actually.” “And by ‘all’, you mean...?” “Actually.. the entire royalty of Equestria...” “I’m sure you’re honest, Miss, I just find it a bit hard to believe. I’m sure you understand...” Shining said. “Don’t worry about that, I know it sounds a bit exaggerated.. And I haven’t even told you everything yet..“ Rarity said, but Shining interrupted her. “Excuse me, but right now we don’t have time for this, we need to get going! We have zebras to catch! You can tell me more about the royals.. and yourself, later.” He said, with a small wink at Rarity, who blushed slightly. After a few more minutes of discussing and grouping, It was decided as follows, Rarity, Shining Badge and Gun Point went to the show halls. Trixie, Silver Cuffs and Pepper Spray went into the half-completed apartment construction area. Pinkie was told to bring Petit back to the station, for safety. After all, now everypony knew where the zebras had gone, so Petits help was no longer needed, and furthermore, she was not the most qualified for fighting, if things came to that. As for Pinkie, she had gladly accepted to follow her back. Gun Point stood beside Pinkie. “Miss Pie, I have one more request for you.” Pinkie smiled and nodded. “Okie dokie loki! What do you need?” Gun Point returned the smile, but managed to remain serious-looking at the same time. “When you get back to the station, I need you to find Storm Feather and Erlen Meyer. Tell them to ‘prepare Serum 27’. If Mr. Meyer complains about the legality of it, or has any other objections, which I assume he will... Tell him I personally take full responsibility for it, and I promise he won’t get in any trouble for it.” Pinkie looked at Gun Point with confusion and surprise. “Serum 27? legality? What is serum 27? Something illegal?!” “I can’t tell you what it is, because technically it doesn’t officially actually exist. And it’s not quite illegal, but not legal either. It’s kind of a legal grey area, it hasn’t been decided if it should be legal or not. Just tell Erlen to make it. I know he knows how, I have it on record that he’s done it before.” “Mmm, okay, I will!” Pinkie said, her smile returning, although she was still curious about what the serum actually was. The ponies all split up into groups, and went on their respective routes. Raritys group toward the halls, Trixies group toward the construction site, Pinkies and Petit headed back to the station as fast as their hoofs could carry them. * * * Soon, Pinkie and Petit arrived back at the station, and was met by Donut Glaze. “Are you two involved in the zebra case?” He asked. “I’ve seen you in here a few times, and you’ve been with Gun Point, so I just assumed...” He said, looking at Pinkie. She nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I am. She’s not.” She replied, nodding toward Petit. “Or, she wasn’t. Now she kinda is, but only a little, because she’s a witness now, and so am I, and also I need to speak to Stormy and Mr. Meyer as soon as possible, preferable right now.” She continued. Donut Glaze looked at her. “Stormy? Oh, right, you mean Storm Feather, right? He’s downstairs in the lab, with Mr. Meyer. They’re still working on that weird elixir thing they got from the zebras. Far as I know, they’ve solved it, and now they’re just doing extra work.” “Can we go down and meet them, then? Is that okay?” Pinkie asked, smiling. “I.. Yeah, I guess. I mean, you’re involved and all, so I don’t see any problem with it. You can find your way down yourself, right? I got stuff I need to get done.” “Sure!” Pinkie smiled wider. “Come on, Petit. You’ll get to meet Stormy and Erlen Meyer! Stormy is a griffin!” “Oh.. I.. I see..” Petit replied, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She had never really met a griffin. She had only seen them, never spoken to one. They made their way downstairs, and in to the CSI lab, where they found Storm and Erlen, both working. After a brief introduction, they all sat down around a table to talk. Pinkie began by updating them on the current situation, and then got to Gun Points message. “...and then he told me to tell you two to prepare some serum.. Serum twenty....something.” Storm Feather raised an eyebrow. “Serum 27?” Pinkie smiled widely. “Yes! That’s what he said! Oh, and he also said that if either of you complained, I was to tell you, he will take full responsibility for it, and you two can’t get in any trouble for it afterwards.” Erlen scratched his chin. “Well, zertainly I can make ze zerüm, but it takes some time...” Petit spoke, a bit shyly. “Well, maybe that’s why he sent word with Pinkie, to give you time so you can make it before they come back?” Erlen nodded. “Ja, that would make sense.” Storm walked over to a cabinet filled with vials, which in turn were filled with different liquids. “Well, we do have all the necessary ingredients... And he did say he’ll take responsibility for it if anyone finds out about it... Erlen, get started. Do it. Make two doses of serum 27.” Erlen got up from the table and walked over to the vial cabinet. “Unterstood. Give me.. hmm... around half of hour, I believe.” “Okay. Come on, Ladies. We’ll go upstairs and have some coffee or something while we wait.” “What is serum 27 anyway?” Petit asked. “You’ll see...” Storm Feather replied as they walked up the stairs.