10 Days, 3 Adventures - Part 2 - "Manehattan Crime Story"

by TP Night

Chapter 8 - An Unexpected Appearance

Pinkie turned around too, and her eyes widened as well when she
saw the pony who had just enter the room.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie is going to offer the police her help with the crime wave!
What are YOU TWO doing here?!”

“You, helping with a criminal investigation? I find that hard to believe, Trixie.”
Rarity said, with a clearly skeptical tone.

Gunny raised an eyebrow. “You guys know each other?”

“We do. Sort of.” Rarity began. “Some time ago, Trixie was possessed by a cursed relic
and tried to take over our town. And before that, she had some magic show that basically
just pissed everypony off, because she was so obnoxious and annoying, most ponies
didn’t like her.” She continued.

“Trixie has put all of that behind her now!” Trixie said in a defending tone.
“Trixie came here to Manehattan after the incident with the Alicorn Amulet,
in order to start a new life! And Trixie truly HAS done that!”

Shortly after though, a second pony entered the room, an elder stallion dressed in a
lab coat and (very) thick glasses, and some grey strands in the fur on his face.
He must have been around Granny Smiths age, or at least close to it, Rarity thought.

“Friends of yours, Trix?” The old pony said when he noticed the others.
He had a slightly germane accent, noticeable but not heavy.

“Trixie wouldn’t quite say ‘friends’, more like old acquainted.”

“Personally, I wouldn’t even go that far. We know of each other, but we don’t technically
KNOW each other.” Rarity said. “And, if you don’t mind me being blunt, who might you
be, Sir?”

“Oh, pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself. My name ist Erlen Meyer.
I am Trixies grand father, on her vaters side.”

“Vater?” Pinkie asked in a very curious tone.

“Pardon him again.” Trixie said. “Sometimes, he mixes in germane words
when he speaks. He’s from Germane-y. ‘vater’ means ‘father’. Trixies dad is half
germane.”

“I didn’t know that!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Well, it iz true.” the old pony said.

Gun Point now approached the old stallion. “Thank you for coming, Dr. Meyer.
I trust you have been informed of the situation?”

“I have, yez, Gun Point. Take me to ze laboratorium, and I shall begin my experiments
to determine how ze potion actually work.”

Gun Point turned toward Rarity, Pinkie and Trixie.

“You three, can I leave you here for a few minutes while I escort Dr. Meyer to the lab?
I need to talk to you all some more.”

All three ponies nodded, and Gun Point left the room, followed by the old stallion.
Rarity turned to Trixie, while Pinkie entertained herself by building a card house
with a deck of playing cards she found on Gun Points desk.

“So, Trixie.. You say you’re going to help? I’m curious as to HOW you plan on doing
that. I mean, in my experience, you’re not exactly the helpful type.”

Trixie sighed. “Trixie TOLD you, she’s changed!”

“You still speak in third person and refer to yourself by name, though.”

“Trixie can’t change everything at once, so Trixie focused on her personality
first, and will take some speech therapy for the third-person thing later.”

“Oh, well then, what are you going to do for the police?”

“Well, as you noticed, Trixies grandfather is helping with the potion.
So, Trixie figured, she could be useful too. Think about it. These zebras are
con artists, using trickery and identity theft, illusions, misleading, and such
to perform their crimes. Does that remind you of anypony?”

“That sounds like you!” Pinkie gasped. “At least most of it...”

“Exactly.” Trixie said triumphantly. “Using Trixies old knowledge from her
former life style, Trixie can help the police now, since Trixie knows many of the
tricks and tactics the zebras may be using, which the police do NOT know of.”

“That... actually makes sense.” Rarity said slowly. “I admit, that DOES sound like a
good idea. You DO have knowledge the police don’t, when it comes to that sort of thing.
You did base an entire career on it, after all, and you were mostly successful
until you came to Ponyville...”

“Also, Trixie.. would like to apologize for that.. for her former self...”

Pinkie once again interjected. “It’s okay, you were under the influence of dark magic!
Wasn’t your fault!”

“Oh, but it WAS Trixies fault. The first time, Trixie was NOT under influence,
and the second time Trixie deliberately found and bought the amulet, it was no
accident at all.”

“But the amulet WAS more powerful than you thought, so that one was only
PARTIALLY your won fault.” Rarity said.

“Anyway.. Trixie would like to apologize, and.. hopes that maybe..
Just maybe... You may actually call Trixie ‘friend’ one day.
Trixie knows it may take a lot of time before that happens,
But she is willing to do anything it takes!”

“Well... You DID cause a lot of trouble in Ponyville.. both times..
But on the other hoof, I am not the type of pony who holds a grudge forever.
I am willing to give you a third chance, Trixie. However, if you mess this one up,
you won’t get a fourth chance. Deal?”

“Trixie agrees, and thanks you from the depth of her heart!” Trixie said, with an actual
smile on her face. Not her usual smug grin but an actual, honest smile,
Pinkie noticed, and she too smiled.
Another few minutes passed. Pinkie still had not managed to get above two levels
of her card house, Rarity and Trixie were both just sitting quietly and waiting.
The door opened, and Gun Point returned. “I’m back. Now, Trixie was it? You had some
information or something?”

“Trixie is correct, yes. And no, Trixie does not have information, Trixie is here to offer
her knowledge in Con artistry. You see, Trixie once used to be a con artist, like the zebras
you are now looking for. Therefore, Trixie would be a valuable asset to the investigation.”

Trixie continued to explain the same thing she had told Rarity a few minutes earlier.
Gunny stroked his chin, thoughtfully. “Hmm... It does sound like you’d be useful...
I’ll talk to my superiors, and see if we can involve you as a ‘civilian asset’, like your grandfather.
Gonna take some time though, I’ll contact you later about it and tell
you if you’re in or not. As for you two,” he said, turning to Rarity and Pinkie,
“You’re both free to go now, as long as you remain in town like I said last time.
If you remember any more details, see or hear anything else suspicious, or encounter
the sisters again, contact me personally, don’t waste time with the regular police calls.
Here’s my card, with my number and other contact info. And one for you as well, Trixie.”

He gave each of the three mares a card.
The three mares walked out from his office, and left the station.

“Now what?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, I’m going to the fashion show pre-show setup, since I have a backstage pass.
It does say ‘+1’, so I can bring you as well if you want, Pinkie.”

“As for Trixie, she has some other stuff to attend to. perhaps we shall meet again,
if Trixie gets involved in the investigation.”

“Yes, I’m sure we’ll meet again. For now though, have a nice day. Good bye.”

Rarity smiled as she and Pinkie turned left from the station, while Trixie turned right.
As they split up, Trixie turned her head for a second, smiling as she watched the other
two mares. The mares she had once called nothing but citizens with wallets, but now..
Maybe she had a chance to call them friends.

“Bye...”