//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8_Resident Officer's Accommodations and Responsibilities 
// Story: Kelly Mathews, Equestria's Landstalker 
// by Leafwebs 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 8_Resident Officer's Accommodations and Responsibilities

It was only a few day by Kelly's recollection as Nigel in Equestria before the US Government made official contact. The Princesses had just entered the manor's meeting hall to discuss  my fate as the newest resident of their land.
"It is good to know you have not mysteriously vanished again as we have much to discuss." Princess Luna speaks as she motions for Nigel to stand up. "To begin how would you like us to address thee? Your three different identities, one which I will try and purge; will make our talk more difficult if we must constantly switch between them."
"I'll go as Nigel to match the body I'm in." Nigel replies as he makes to follow them into a meeting room.
Nigel moves toward one of the guards and presents his sword for holding during the meeting and is joined by Sumac in his timber wolf form. After getting a polite salute from the guard and turning to the princesses, Nigel's trans-locator flashes a message of prepare to receive diplomat convoy.
"My ladies, Princesses Luna, Celestia, and Trixie; we have a diplomatic envoy  requesting an audience with you regarding Nigel." A door guard announces.
"You may send them in guard." Luna replies a bit surprised.
In walks a pair of MP's in dress uniforms followed by a middle age brown hair man in a gray suit with black tie holding a briefcase and a woman with short red hair in a similar gray suit.
"Apologies for the lack of notice on our arrival your Excellencies, but we formally request to participate in your discussions over our citizen. I'm United State Diplomat Henry Benson and this is Psychologist Carol Jones assigned to Kelly Mathews case." Mr. Benson announces offering a small bow. "We have brought a few things we hope you'll accept as compensation for our citizen's safe rescue that she reported to us. It is our intention to negotiate payment for any room and board accommodations and other services you plan for Kelly Mathews during her stay while her circumstances persist."
"We welcome your offer of compensation, but we are also most pleased to see your concern for people. We are honored to meet with thee." Princess Celestia cheerfully replies with own small bow.
"Agent, please read through this while we handle this first part." Diplomat Benson orders handing Nigel a binder from his brief case. "You'll be admitted once the treaty is hammered out."
"Shall we begin." Princess Trixie asks.
"We're ready your Excellencies ." Diplomat Benson replies moving toward the conference room  with Carol.
Nigel sat back down on the bench and opened the binder and began looking at the contents. The first item was a set of holographic ID Card where the language changed if you tilted them and included a data chip. Other than English, the ID's had a written form of Equestrian; to display his relevant personnel info.
'Maybe the others needed to learn the language so they included the feature. Not that I need it here.' Nigel thought looking for a place to clip an ID card. After clipping one on he pulls out and skims a stack of stapled papers that turns out to be an English to Equestrian dictionary of sorts. 'I hope I don't need this.' 
The last thing of note Nigel found in the binder was a freshly updated pocket Constitution according to edition date that made it only a few days old.
Sumac in his timber wolf body had chosen to sleep only to be woken up by the Princesses announcements. He would have continued sleeping if not for the new arrivals showing up moments later. These new arrivals were built much like Nigel did when he first encountered the new predator. Two of them had a hunter's posture waiting for a reason to pounce, a third seemed to be in charge even if his build was less of what Sumac understood leaders should have. The last was female but he was unclear of her pack standing.
Sumac ended his speculations when a noise of something hitting the ground came from Nigel's direction.




Amendment 31- Tracer Initiative

Legislative Purpose:
Addressing the technological breakthrough that has opened up contact between other Earths and previously designated fictional worlds (aka The LeClaire Incident); the need to police the misuse of Planer Travel and enact Planetary Security has arisen.
On the issue of policing, it is resolved that the country of origin will handle the regulation and primary negotiation for all Planer Natives engaged in contact with Non-native agents where Global Integrity is not a concern. Where Global Integrity is a concern, it is the recommendation of this body that a body parallel to the United Nations be established for coordinating negotiations and military responses.
On issues arising off world, it is recommended that covert recovery of Planer Natives be attempted when possible with emphasis on avoiding hostiles.
Section 1 – Planer Technology Control
Subsection A – Licensing of any Planer Trans-locator device to individuals and corporations require a full Congressional Inquiry prior to acquisition. Inquiry requirements include Planer Address verification of Host Plane, Planer Trans-locator inspection, Contact mission statement, List of and background checks for all users, and verification of Host Plane entry permission.
Unauthorized use of Planer Technology is a Class 1 felony and requires a national security inquiry, revocation of security clearances, and ban on owning or using hardware capable of Planer Travel. Involvement of Non-native agents in unauthorized uses requires involvement of the Diplomatic Agencies of the United States to resolve.
Subsection B - Unlicensed Planer Technology used by Planer natives is ordered confiscated, inspected, and destroyed on site regardless of current Plane. Arrest of Renegade Planer natives authorized for all fugitives not in Host world custody.
Section 2 – United States Response Jurisdiction
All Planer Incursions originating as a point of contact in the continental United States shall be exclusively handled by The United States except where Global Integrity is a concern.
All Planer natives from the United States involved in Planer activity is subject to Congressional and Judicial Oversight. Cases involving Global Integrity will be recommended for international review.
Section 3 – Covert Extraction Protocol
Licensed and Deputized Agents operating off world are authorized to apprehend any renegade Planer natives from Earth not already in custody of Host world.
In the event a renegade is in Host world custody Agents must contact United States Diplomatic Agency to advise on establishing Diplomatic Contact and Deportation of renegade.
Section 4 – Diplomatic Contact Protocol
Licensed and Deputized Agents of the United States are required to contact the United States Diplomatic Agency when making contact with Host world Leaders and Diplomats. All Host world laws apply to Agents activities when covert cover is broken until United States Diplomatic Agency succeeds in establishing otherwise by Treaty with Host world.
Treaty regulations modify Host world laws with regard to Agents and expected activities. Agents must comply with current Host world law or active Treaty.
Compensation and Lodging is to be negotiated and finalized in the active Treaty where the United States is the Funding provider for the Agent’s expenses. 
All Deputized Agents are bound to the chain of command of the United States of the LeClaire Incident Earth and the LaClaire Incident Earth’s Global Response body responsible for administering and regulating Planer activity; no agent may receive any emoluments, join any militia, or accept any Office of a Host world that results in jeopardizing the Agent’s loyalty to their native world.  Treaty provisions may not modify an Agent’s loyalty to their native world. 
Section 5 – Planer Warfare
The LaClair Incident Earth and by extension the United States are to maintain a neutral military posture with regard to all Host worlds where Planer Contact is made, except where active Hostilities are incited by a Host world.
Conflicts that arise out of Planer Contact with a Host world fall under Global Response Jurisdiction as a Planetary Threat. No single nation may unilaterally combat this threat alone.
Off World Agents operating in a Host world that becomes hostile are ordered recalled and must make every effort to escape the current Host world without endangering the LaClaire Incident Earth. If captured destruction of Planer Technology becomes authorized and Agents will be abandoned where recovery becomes a Planetary Threat. 


.
The binder drops from Nigel's hands and spills out and he begins to breath erratically.
To put things simply Kelly Mathews felt almost like she was lost all over again after reading the newly passed Constitutional Amendment. She never wished to be a solder or a diplomat, and this statement of law made her both for the indefinite future. It was why she was now waiting in Reception Hall of Princess Trixie's manor in Ponyville while the diplomat assigned to her named Mr. Benson hammered out the final details of her Treaty with this pony world.  
"Hound... Nigel calm down what spooked you?" Sumac barks unnerved with ears folding back.
"I... I... could be..." Nigel chocked out sweating with anxiety. "They could still leave... leave me stranded if things... don't work out. Their afraid of something like Australia's Zerg infestation might happen in the US and... could choose leave me stuck like this."
"Nigel what do you mean?" Sumac asks worried.
"We're not at that point yet kid. The powers that be are just being cautious. Take it from someone who knows we won't just leave you behind." One of the MP's calmly interrupts in a soft voice having come over to see what was wrong. "I've done two operations myself rescuing one of our own in a hostile land we won't give you up without a fight."
Nigel began to breath easier at the MP's words who had bent low to look him in the eyes.
"Nigel we're ready for you two now." Mr. Benson announces from the conference room. 
"Thank you." Nigel calmly say to the MP standing up. The MP just salutes him and returns to his post.
Shortly after Nigel's heart beat returned to normal the conference room doors open.
"Nigel we need to see you and your wolf partner now." Carol Jones orders.
Putting the binder away in his backpack , Nigel walked over to the conference room with Sumac close behind. Inside the room Nigel froze at what could only be a recreation of the Open MMO convention's vendor stalls. Nigel's shock was dispelled when a menacing snarl was directed a unforgettable man at the end of the room who was now laughing from at the pair clad in dark trench coat like hooded robes.
"What did you do with my sister?!" Nigel yells before shaking his head in confusion. "This didn't... My sister is safe what the hell."
"My Apologies Nigel, we were just confirming a suspicion we all seem to share about you." Luna replies as most of the illusion falls.
"You went strait into a worry driven accusation seemingly forgetting that your sister is safe and this event already happened." Carol Jones adds. "It was suggested to us that you were having vivid PTSD driven dreams."
"Hound... Nigel would also do this while awake when he was a pony." Sumac adds.
"Waking hallucinations..." Luna replies frowning.
"That level trauma makes sending you into the field an act of reckless negligence. It is unsafe to release you to active duty until you can distinguish between reality and your fears." Carol adds. "Luna you mentioned a therapy you want to try, I request permission to help with this treatment. It is my duty to look after Nigel's mental health."
"We will not stop you from helping. Nigel we will send for you tomorrow when the moon rises over the tree canopy." Luna orders before turning to Sumac. "We are curious as to how you also deduced Nigel's foe, but more importantly we invite to continue offering your own assistance in helping Nigel get well."
Sumac nods his head.
"Well that settles our first order of business but two others require your attention now." Diplomat Benson speaks changing the subject. "First Princess Celestia."
"Nigel though the memories we gained after you helped Sumac may not belong to us these same memories make it clear that your no sword fighter. Many guards who recalled you rescue attempt were not impressed by your lack of skill and Mr. Benson fill us in about this displaced curse's requirements. We feel it would be irresponsible of us if we let you get killed in the line of duty when we could remedy your faults." Princess Celestia speaks locking her gaze on Nigel. "As such we are assigning a tutor from the guard to train you. This is not a free service, nor is it one we would offer if the circumstances were anything but what we have before us at this moment."
"The United States has brought a few trinkets as compensation for the services already rendered to you prior to our current meeting, but we have arranged additional trades and services to cover your room and board as well as your training." Mr. Benson replies. "However no training will begin until you are cleared for active duty and you are to refrain from world hopping to any other displaced host world until you completed both."
"We do enjoy the NASA photos of your solar system it is a nice gift." Luna remarks with a playful smile.
"I also appreciate the photos of your national parks but nothing would compare with visiting them directly." Celestia adds.
"Trixie is also impressed with your peoples stage craft and is glad to have sampled your peoples trade." Trixie adds.
"This leads us into our last order of business. Kelly Mathews, as you may have read; the United States has ratified the Tracer Initiative. With regard to safety of our world verse the temptation of being off world we are requiring that you take an Oath affirming that you will not enter in any contract that might result in betraying us." Mr. Benson speaks. "This includes everything from relationship promises that could divide your loyalties to willfully joining any militias."
"I'm... aware of what your asking of me." Nigel replies.
"Then repeat after me. I [State your name] Affirm as a binding Oath that I will not enter into any other contract or promise that would require me to endanger the safety and freedom of my home world the LaClaire Earth, and that I shall not accept any Office or commission of service to any foreign power." Mr. Benson orders holding a contract in his left hand and a pen in his right hand.
"I Kelly Mathews affirm as a binding oath that I will not enter into any other contract or promise that would require me to endanger the safety and freedom of my home world the LaClaire Earth, and that I shall not accept any office or commission of service to any foreign power." Kelly Mathews swears in the voice of Nigel before taking the pen and signing the contract.
"On behalf of Equestria we witness the administration of this oath." Luna replies with the three Princesses adding their signature marks to the contract.
"On behalf of the United States of the LaClaire Earth I Henry Benson, Diplomat administer and witness this oath." Mr. Benson replies finishing the deputizing of Kelly Mathews by adding his signature to the contract.  "We will contact you before we send the first trade shipment your Excellencies. Good bye for now." 
Sumac watched the odd site in amazement but silently agreed with it. 
Once Diplomat Benson left for Earth, Nigel and Carol were assigned their individual rooms. Nigel's room was a simple one room style apartment with a kitchen, one chair, one bed, and small window with a flower box.
While most of Ponyville slept a ship was pulling into port a short few weeks away from the small pony village.
"We're on a quest make plants grow..." A Gumi farmer absentmindedly sings as he transfers plant racks to a wagon. "It is a quest for a friend we have yet to know..." 
"I've paid for the wagon rental and a map. Can you handle this pony farm union?" A man with gray suit and black ponytail hair style asks.
"It's all part of a days work Pockets. I not too old for the fields or for the market." The Gumi farmer replies smiling.
"Than I just need to hold up my end to help our new mutual friend." Pockets replies climbing on the wagon with the Gumi farmer and signaling the wagon ponies to move out.
Back in Ponyville Nigel stares a the oak door to the apartment that would be his home and party invitation that was tacked to the front.
"She post dated this one for thirty seven days from now." Princess Trixie remarks with a huff.
"Preemptive Congratulations on your certification for active duty and welcome to Ponyville party. Also welcome first timber wolf turned fairy citizen party." Nigel reads out loud groaning. "She somehow pens reality here doesn't she?"
"It is best if you don't give yourself more nightmares trying to figure out Pinkie." Trixie replies apologetically. "Try and sleep you got a full schedule tomorrow."  
"Thank you for the advice ah..." Nigel replies.
"Call me Trixie when it's just us or Your Eminence if in a crowd or at a court function. The terms of our treaty makes it inappropriate to call me princess as your not our citizen but many nobles will throw a fit if you don't use some title during public meetings." Trixie answers.
"Thanks Trixie. Well lets make this home for awhile Sumac." Nigel says to the fairy who flies from his pocket and enters the room before transforming to his true form.
After a dreamless sleep, Nigel wakes up to start his first therapy session.
Sumac had moved during hours Nigel slept to an area that was now illuminated by sunlight, upon noticing that Nigel was awake he lifted his head and turned to face Nigel.
"I need to roam and eat Hound... Nigel, and pony territory is not good for that." Sumac groans restlessly.
"I don't know this place so we'll need to ask about where you can go to roam at. As for eating I hope Mr. Benson stocked something for the both of us." Nigel replies heading over to a cabinet in the kitchen area. In the cabinets Nigel found an assortment of clearly labeled boxes and bottles. Nigel pulled out some cereal bars, a bottle of water, and a package labeled timber wolf zoo ration.
"That smells tasty." Sumac replies grabbing  the zoo ration and walking back over to the sun lit patch to eat the package containing turkey, pheasant, and deer meat seasoned with a few edible root vegetables.
"Peanut butter oat meal... homemade is better." Nigel remarks finishing one of the cereal bars. "Sumac you like your food?"
Sumac nods his head. Nigel waves his hand to for Sumac to follow him and the two exit their apartment. As the two make their way to Trixie's manor some of Ponyville's residents start to scatter until Raindrops lands nearby.
"These two are our new neighbors so show them we're friendly." Raindrops scolds before turning to the pair. "I'll stick with you two until we reach the manor so no pony panics. Luna is waiting with your one friend for your first counseling session."
"I'm doing no better here with first impressions." Nigel replies timidly.
"Don't blame yourself and give Ponyville some time to adjust." Raindrops replies tapping Nigel lightly with a hoof. "We'll take care of you until this is all sorted out."
At the manor Raindrops leaves the pair as a lunar guard permits them entry. Once the door was closed the guard took the pair to the room Luna and Carol waited.
"Greeting Nigel, we are pleased that you are on time." Luna politely speaks offering Nigel a seat.
"Please forgive yesterday's actions but we needed to know just how bad your case is before we can help you." Carol adds. "Today the Princess and I are going conduct an exit interview of sorts to determine how much you remember and how you are remembering your experiences in your first days here. It will involve several question that may repeat from time to time and may even seem to be worded strangely, but continue as we instruct you to do as it will help us in treating you."
"This won't entirely be just questions Nigel, like with the demonstration yesterday we will be using an artifact on loan to us from the changeling hive we treat their citizen with to help us visualize your memories as you are interviewed. I've also been told Carol has been provided a similar artifact that serves purpose from your home world that we will use in speeding up our effort if you consent to the invasion of privacy." Luna adds.
"I... You won't... let record be seen by just anyone, will you?" Nigel asks breaking in a cold sweet.
"We are both bound to keep your confidence in this treatment." Carol replies.
"That is correct. Many of the question we will ask will be personal and scaring for you and in no way would we make this harder for you by breaking this confidence without first explaining our reasons to you." Luna adds. "May we begin, Nigel?"
"Yes... I'm ready." Nigel answers.
Carol attaches a few electrodes to Nigel's forehead while Luna activates the changeling device that looked like a table top fountain pool  with four inward pointing emerald tipped antennae. 
"Please begin with your recollection of the convention how you met up with the merchant. We'll use this as a baseline." Carol instructed.
As Nigel recalled that day both the space above the fountain's pool and a screen on Carol's computer began recreating Nigel's memory of that day. At the convention Kelly had been in high spirits, her recollection playing alongside hopes of future achievement. She is broken from her reverie when memory Erin mentions Lava Gazer.
"That's a lot of ugly coat for a stallion." Luna remarks at representation of a UN Squadron mascot if it were a pony.
"Huh... Oh. I didn't get a good look at Lava Gazer at first." Nigel replies causing the mascot's image to shift briefly to Lava Gazer's before shifting back.
"I was told that the host world government he belongs to is delaying the reunion of our people until some major cultural event takes place." Carol adds. "Can you continue please? I can show you some video of him later your Eminence."
With that Nigel continued. It proved most disturbing to Luna just how normal and non-threatening the merchant persisted in looking in the memory until the actual crossing happened. What had been a middle aged man morphed into a sadistic soul piercing wraith. A snarl was heard.
Luna was given no time to speculate on this merchants purpose as Nigel's fearful recollection provided it for her. Dozens of humans, many Luna thought were dangerously young; morphed before her eyes into other things. Only by Luna's training with dream time manipulation  was she able to catch these blurred others as Nigel's own mind inserted Erin as the focus beside the taunting wraith who own posture seemed to proudly gesture at the background focus. With but flick of the merchant's wrist, Erin is tossed into blackness of a portal her normal shape lost even before she was.
The anger and fear however were replaced by crippling shame as two new memories replace the previous nightmare and overlap each other. 
The memories were of Nigel's family as he imagined them receiving the bad news and an act of Nigel's own suicide by slitting of his wrists.
"I'm sorry but your daughters are missing." The image of a cop speaks.
The shame peaks at the word daughters and the memories focus freezes on an unhurt wrist.
"Mom shouldn't have to lose us both." Nigel spoke crying.
"It's alright Kelly. We can stop for the day if it helps." Carol replies.
"She is right you didn't give in and you said yourself that your sister is safe. Ni... Kelly you were very brave in sticking it out no one will judge you for an action you did not take. Don't worry you need not return to this part of your memory if you can get beyond it." Luna adds trying to be reassuring. "You can tell your family in your own time if you want or not."
"I don't want to feel like I did then... ever again. I'm... not comfortable telling my family this right now." Nigel groans still crying. "Can we move on?" 
Nigel was given a tissue and some water and a few minutes to compose himself. Nigel might have considered running a hand over Sumac as if he were a dog but he was just not in reach.
Picking up where he left off, Nigel continued his story.
It had been a minor miracle that Nigel turned the way he did in following the tracks or he might not have reached civilization at all with how far out of the way Maple village was. When he got to the village and hid on a roof Luna and Carol got to see what he witnessed.
'So it was Nigel who accidentally alerted them to Blueblood.' Luna wonders to herself. 
"Nigel are you okay?" Carol asks.
"Who are... What are you?" Nigel replies acting strangely. "Princess what happened to my hooves? Did you find the missing foals?"
"The foals are safe and have been reunited with their families. You were very helpful." Luna replies in a soothing tone gesturing to Carol. "This is Carol, she is here to help me explain what happened to you. Like why your hooves changed."
"What happened to me. Did it had something to do with my... you removed my collar is it some curse that made me like this?" confused Nigel replies.
"Hound relax." Sumac barks putting his paws on the desk and locking his gaze with the confused elf. Moments later Sumac's form shifts from large plant wolf to doll sized fairy. "We have the same condition. The collar didn't cause this, only further covered up you true self."
"No... I told you I'm a pony... This is wrong." The confused elf started freaking.
It took several hours to calm the persona Hound Speaker down. Sumac's demonstration had shocked the young colt personality clinging to Kelly's brain. They learned little about Hound's life as collar was meant to generate it as a result causing them to conclude the therapy session for the day.
Six days passed before Luna and Carol had any real success in stopping Nigel's persona shifts long enough to provide each their needed therapy. Hound Speaker's nightmares proved easy to fix if only because Erin agreed to make an arranged visit to reassure him she was safe.
To address the persona shifts Carol would set up a random intelligence tests while Luna would play back a memory from their collected archive and then see how Nigel's subconscious reacts under the pressure of both stimuli.
'Okay check list time. No verbal outbursts check, no intensity shift in subconscious projection model...' Luna muses staring at the changeling provided memory projector's image only to catch a flicker. 'Ugg... persona shifts, yes.'
"Times up, lets see how well you did..." Carol remarks offering a hand to collect Nigel's test paper. "Math Section... Pass. 3-D puzzle section... Pass. World Landmarks... Fail. Vocabulary... Fail. Kelly am I talking to you or are you Hound right now?"
"I'm Kelly...What did i get wrong?" Kelly replies sounding unhappy.
"Under the sections you failed your answers reflected the common naming conventions of this world when the question refereed to our world. At least four landmarks you described have no counter part with home." Carol explains. "Your getting better at concentrating under pressure but your still slipping between persona's when a question has a counterpart with this world."
"Nigel, we too admit you are getting better, but your inner self image did slip to become Hound during the test." Luna adds. "It still seems that when your sister comes up both you and Hound fight for control even if you have become less vocal about it. Take the rest of the day off to rest."
"Okay." Nigel replies dejected.
Exiting the therapy office to head home Nigel and Sumac are stopped by a trio of Lunar guards.
"We know you've had a long night already but we need to get your training started." The head guardsmen with a red sash states.
"I'm not cleared to use a sword yet." Nigel replies confused.
"Rookie we know that. Your physical fitness is what we are here to address today. I'm Sergent Spur and we have brisk march planned for you today. So please put this on." Sergent Spur orders sliding an extra backpack off his back.
"Nigel a hunter needs to keep up with the pack. It is time you show us all you can keep up." Sumac playfully growls scooping up one of the batpony guards on to his back. "I'll join you even. No need to get lazy."
As Nigel, Sumac, and the guard marched the next four hours away; two visitors arrive in Ponyville on their wagon.
"I'll leave the wagon in your care. May you sow a good crop." Pockets remarks giving a bow from the dirt road.
"And we shall meet again according to Mir's plan." The farmer replies.
"Hiya you here to attend the up coming welcome to Ponyville party." A pink pony cheerfully asks.
"Sorry no Pinkie, we must leave for home before the planned date. We bring a house warming gift for your new resident." Pockets replies politely kissing Pinkie's hoof.
"Okie dokie lokie." Pinkie replies blushing before running off.
"You knew her name from where." The farmer asks raising eye brow.
"Each land keeps a Rolodex of renowned individuals just in case of Friend who you have yet to meet emergencies." Pockets replies with a smirk.
"That is as extraordinary as your instinct for treasure. Well I'm off." The farmer replies with a smirk.
Between therapy and training with the guard Nigel was left most exhausted and took little notice of the change outside his own temporary window as the Gumi farmer planted some curious plants in the window box and a young tree in the house's shadow. Three days later the farmer made his way for home. 
On the day of the party as Pinkie predicted Nigel was indeed cleared for duty. At least conditionally as PTSD never totally goes away. The therapy sessions had concluded the week prior and the remaining time was spent getting Nigel swordsmanship up to a level of competence that his sword could be left in his possession. Nigel felt rather sore from the training and welcomed the fact someone else was cooking. Her family was also invited to attend and was provided a semi-private table so they could be with their daughter in peace.
At the end of the party Sergent Spur presented Nigel with a steel breastplate as proof of completing his training. With that done Nigel went to bed. The next day he would get to go home by his item's power for a brief rest.
What mysteries await Kelly on her return to being Nigel? Sumac himself has yet to be reunited with his family and pack after all, could Kelly really allow someone who had helped keep her sane remain lost to their family?