Coin Shark had a cut and dry trial. Those documents he had lying around his building turned out to be records of who was paying for protection, who had borrowed money from him, and who he was gonna intimidate for more bits. I'm starting to think that criminals don't know how to be criminals.
That was the easy part. The funeral for Nightpaw and Moonluck is what I was dreading. I was not looking forward to facing Jett. She would be there, probably accompanied by a representative of the foster care system.
I sat at the desk that had been provided for Snow, Stone and I. I had gone out and purchased a cheap suit for the funeral; it didn't feel right wearing my ceremonial uniform. Snow was upstairs still getting herself ready. Stone sat down here with me: he had decided he didn’t want to go. I didn’t either, come to that, but I still felt like I had to.
“What are you gonna do while we are out?” I asked Stone.
“Oh ya know, catch up on some things. Like sleep, or coloring, or my comic books! The Power Ponies are just about to escape from the Mane-iac’s clutches and defeat her again!” He practically bounced when he talked about his comic books.
I cracked a grin. “Do you secretly want superpowers, Stone?”
“Oh, it’s no secret. My grandfather thinks it's a waste of time, but I think it's good to have dreams,” Stone explained.
“I met him you know. Stone Wall is his name, right?” Stone nodded. “He had asked me to look after you, you know.”
Stone grumbled under his breath for a moment until he spoke up. “I know he means well, but I'm not that slow. I know I sometimes say stupid things, and I know I like the kind of things foals like, but I'm a good Guard!” He crossed his forelegs across his chest and pouted, obviously upset. His ears fell against his mane. “I can do my job and I like it. I honestly didn't want to get put into investigations. I wanted to be with the regular Guards out there.”
“Why didn't you say anything about it to the Captain or Lieutenant?” I asked.
“Sergeants and officers make me nervous,” he admitted, looking down at his hooves. “I'm afraid I'll say something stupid like usual.”
“I think this is the longest conversation that you and I have had since the three of us became a team, and you haven't said one stupid thing to me,” I said.
“Yeah I did,” he said, looking up at me.
“What is it that you said that you think is stupid?” I asked, giving him a skeptical look.
“Power Ponies, superpowers, coloring—”
I held up a hoof. “Let me stop you right there. I can guarantee, as long as you keep thinking those things are stupid, you will never be able to be comfortable with yourself. I could care less if you like them or not. I think you should just be yourself.”
His ears lifted. “You really think so?”
“Yup, so while Snow and I are out, you read that comic book. Cause you honestly have me curious, and I want to borrow it when you’re done.”
“Then we can talk about it!” Stone’s expression lit up at that possibility.
“We can indeed.”
“I'm gonna go finish it, and then find my issue number one, you can borrow that one first!” Stone stood and trotted out of the Special Investigations room, looking happier than I’d seen him in a long time.
I liked Stone as a partner. He was cheery most of the time. My mind wandered a bit. I wonder if I could get him a special somepony?
Just as Stone disappeared from sight, Snow came into view. I was stunned a little at the sight. Her mane was held back in a simple ponytail, and she wore a simple black dress with a coat. As she came down the steps, I looked around SI. The other Guards and Investigators started to stare; even the Sergeants and the Lieutenant couldn’t resist sneaking a few glances.
While I'd say she looked good, her expression said otherwise: she was dreading this as much as I was. I stood and met her by the steps. “You ready to go?” I asked. She said nothing as she nodded and turned back toward the steps with me.
The caskets sat beside their graves as a preacher spoke. I wasn't listening to his speech. My eyes were on the filly who had her eyes firmly locked on the grass beneath her. Her cheeks were stained with tear streaks, but it looked as if she had become numb: or perhaps she had no more tears left to cry.
Snow quietly stood beside me, her eyes set on the ground as well. I felt bad for Jett. The only ponies who had come to the funeral were the preacher, the foster care representative, herself, and then Snow and I. There were a few groundworkers waiting to lower the caskets, but I was hardly counting them.
After a few more moments the preacher stepped aside and allowed the groundworkers to start lowering the caskets into the holes. The foster care representative began to lead Jett away, with Snow and I following behind.
There was a taxi pony waiting for them. Snow and I stopped and watched Jett climb in. I stopped the representative from getting in the taxi for a moment. “If you don’t mind, may I ask what will happen to her?”
The representative turned to face me. “She's been through a traumatic ordeal. She will remain in the local foster house for now and will be given counseling. If she doesn't show signs that she is recovering emotionally, she will be moved to a different city.”
“Doesn't that seem a little harsh?” Snow asked.
She glared. “These foals quickly turn into delinquents and troublemakers. I don't think it's harsh in the slightest.” Without allowing us to reply she climbed into the wagon. “Thirty-seven thirty-seven Harmony Road please.”
The taxi puller nodded and trotted off with them. We watched them leave the cemetery.
“Strider, are you sure there is nothing we can do for her?” Snow asked me, watching the shrinking form of the taxi wagon.
I shrugged. “I'm not sure. I'll do some research, I'll see what I can find.”
“Whatever it is, it has to be better than being thought an unwanted delinquent.”
I frowned. No child, and certainly not Jett, deserved that. “Like I said, I'll see what I can find.”
“Can we go home now? I would like a nap,” Snow sighed, leaning against me.
I put a wing over her and guided her back to campus.
Over the next couple of days, the three of us assisted with investigating anonymous tips from around the city. Most were false leads, but a few turned up some stolen property around the city, which were returned to their rightful owners promptly.
One morning, we were back in SI awaiting some kind of order. Snow was writing a report, Stone was going over his manual, and I had a book on the inner workings of the Equestrian Foster Care system. It was more of a pamphlet, really, and it only gave me an overview on how the system worked.
“GFC Strider, GFC Snow, and GSC Stone!” I heard Captain Astra shout.
We all jumped up to stand at attention. Stone and I dropped our books on the ground, Snow’s papers flew up in the air. “Yes, ma’am?” I saluted.
“Come with me, I need to have a word with you three.” She headed out of SI and we followed obediently.
Captain Astra was an interesting mare. I still found her white coat, and pale pink mane odd. But she was a tough Captain. She had Sergeants that reported to Lieutenants that reported to her, if she had to come find the three of us herself, something was most certainly up.
We made our way to the main offices of the campus and up to her office. It was on the top floor and had a good view of the cityscape. “Sit down,” she said, pointing to three seats in front of her desk.
“Yes ma’am,” the three of us said together and sat down.
She sat down as well and started shifting papers around her desk with her hooves. “Alright, I’m sure you three have noticed the increase in organized crime in Baltimare. Your last major case was evidence of that,” she pointed out.
“Yes ma’am,” Snow said with a touch of sadness in her voice.
Astra shuffled some more papers. “Command wants me to put together a task force dedicated to investigating the gangs and shady organizations in this city. That would also require me to put one of my Sergeants on this, but I can’t trust any of them to do this, for fear of them being blackmailed.
“That is where you two come in,” she said pointing to me and Snow. “I’ve put you two at the top of my sergeant promotion list. Only one of you will be promoted but that will happen in time. First, you two are gonna be going to Trottingham at the end of the week to attend a more intensive training course.” She paused to pick up a pen in her mouth and write something down.
“May we know what it is we will be learning, ma’am?” I asked.
She spat the pen out and looked up at us. “Investigative techniques, interrogation methods, forensics, criminal psychology, and Sergeant procedures. Snow, since you still need your S.W.A.T. certification, you will be attending those classes as well. Your scores and current level of work experience will determine who gets promoted.”
I stole a glance over at Snow and Stone. Snow was looking just as surprised as I was, Stone looked a little scared. “Ma’am, what will Stone be doing while we are gone?” I asked.
“He needs his S.W.A.T. certification as well, so he’ll be going with you. Depending on his scores I might be promoting him to First Class as well,” she finished. “First Sergeant Magnus will explain the traveling arrangements at the end of the week. Make sure you are packed and ready to go on Friday. Dismissed!”
“Yes, ma’am!” We all stood to leave.
“Oh, and if you want a leg up on the studying, go see Warrant Officer Quibbly, he can give you the necessary reading material. Dismissed,” she added, calmly this time. We offered a salute and backed out of her office.
Once the door was closed Snow, Stone, and I all went over to requisitions for that reading material.
It was our only day off before we made the week long trip to Trottingham. We had been studying all week whenever we could. I wanted to relax, Stone was finished with his studying, and Snow was insisting that she had missed something.
I sat on my bunk rereading some of the material because it’s not like I had anything better to do while talking to Snow and Stone. Criminal psychology was a subject I preferred to do first just to get out of the way. As for the others, they all proved to be quite interesting, especially forensics. I had just learned that if you crush up a piece of charcoal, or lead from a pencil, lightly brush the dust over an area, peel off the area with some tape, and you’ll get a hoofprint.
I never care how the science or magic worked, as long as it was safe and it worked. I got through the other reading materials with little to no hassle, and I took down some notes just in case. Sergeant procedures were just adding onto of what I knew as a guard so not much new there.
Snow had made her paper and book fort in the middle of the floor. She took to her studies in criminal psychology very well; she was already done and had memorized the reading material. She had also finished most of the other subjects but was having trouble with forensics, investigative techniques, and her S.W.A.T. certifications. Currently, she was lying in the middle of her miniature encampment, muttering to herself as she tried to memorize details about crime scene procedures.
“You sure you don’t need to go over the material again?” I asked Stone. I’d been quizzing him on his S.W.A.T. procedures, but he’d gotten every question right.
“Yes, dad! I did my homework so stop nagging me,” Stone protested in a foalish voice. I just stuck my tongue out at him.
“Shh!” Snow hissed, not looking up from her notebook. “I’m trying to concentrate.”
Stone got up and stretched. “I’m gonna go get some food from the mess hall, you two want anything?” he asked, stepping over Snow’s fort.
“No, thanks,” Snow said, glaring at her notebook.
“I’m good, bud, thank you,” I said to him as he left the room.
Stone nodded and exited the room. This was just the opportunity I needed to convince Snow to go out on that date. I hopped down from my bunk and settled in beside her, closer than usual this time.
“Yes?” she asked me in a testy tone without looking up.
“So, about that date?” I started and let the question linger.
Snow’s eyes went wide and her face went red. “W-what about it?” she stammered, hiding behind her notebook like it was a shield.
“I was just thinking that we should do that today,” I started. When she didn't say anything I continued. “You have hardly put down your books all week. Let’s go out so you can clear your head.”
Snow opened her mouth as if she might argue, then thought a moment. “You’re gonna keep pestering me until I go with you, aren’t you?”
“Yup,” I smiled and poked her just behind her shoulder with a wing.
“Ah!” she yelped and laughed a bit. “Not there!”
I feigned a gasp. “Are you ticklish there?” I started to outstretch my wing.
White coats really do not hide blushes well. “NO!” she squealed, but it was too late. I had already started my feathered assault. She squirmed and kicked and tried to get away, ruining her carefully constructed study fortress. “Stop!” she cried in between laughter, her face turning pinker by the second.
“Only if you go out on that date you agreed on!” I gave her my terms of her surrender.
She held out another few moments before surrendering. “Fine! Okay, I’ll go! Just stop!”
I released her and she giggled as he regained her breath. After a moment she glanced at me and her magic flared. That was all the warning I got before her pillow struck me and pinned me to the ground.
I was on my back and she kept the pillow firm enough to where I couldn’t escape. “That’s cheating!” I shouted from beneath the pillow.
“So is tickling me. Do you agree on these rules of engagement?” she countered.
“Agreed,” I said from my pillow prison.
She lifted the pillow and returned it to her bunk. She came over to me and got her muzzle close to my face. “Allow me to get ready.” she placed a kiss on my forehead before trotting over to her locker.
I felt my cheeks heat up and my wings were becoming rigid. I got up and figured it best to go freshen up as well.
We were on our way to my surprise location for our date. Snow decided to wear a scarf to protect against the cold breeze coming off the ocean. I felt woefully underdressed, especially since all I had was a saddlebag.
One of the perks of living in Baltimare was that it was too far south for snowfall during the winter. Unfortunately, that came at the cost of getting a lot of rain. Luckily, it was only partly cloudy today.
“So where are we going again?” Snow asked. We were riding along in the back of a taxi, the little-enclosed carriage gently shaking from side to side
I hadn’t told her: I had already told the taxi pony before Snow had come down from the room. “It’s a surprise,” I smirked.
“You have been saying that every time I ask you,” she pouted.
“I know because I want it to be a surprise.”
We came to a stop right next to a sidewalk. “Well, how much farther is it?” she asked, starting to lose her patience.
“Behind you,” I pointed with a hoof.
She turned to look at our destination. It was a very large boardwalk with all the amenities of an ocean-themed park crammed in one little area. This one was called Aqualand. Not very snappy, I know, but it was a popular place, and fun for everypony of all ages. I figured Snow might like it.
The mini theme park had everything, Bumper Wagons, two roller coasters that intertwined with each other, games with prizes, many different stands for food, and booths for a wide variety of activities. I had the foresight to bring my bit bag, that rested in the saddlebags, with a few bottles of water.
Stars lit up in Snow’s eyes. “Oh, Celestia! This place is amazing! How did you know of this place?”
“Hard to miss really. But to be honest, my grandmother took me here once when I was a colt. I thought it was torn down,” I admitted.
“Well, I think I’m glad it’s not.” She looked at all the flashing colors and lights and smiled. “Let's go, we are wasting time just standing here.” She trotted ahead toward the ticket booths to get in line, and I followed behind.
When we got to the front of the line, a young stallion was at the ticket booth with the most unhappy expression and tone of voice. “Welcome to Aqualand, how many tickets do you want?”
“Two, please,” I asked.
“Fifty bits.” He pressed a few keys on his register and with a loud ding two tickets popped out. He tore them from the register and slid them beneath the window as I slid him a fifty-bit piece. “Enjoy your time in Aqualand,” he monotoned.
We walked past the ticket booth and got into the secondary line to actually get into the park. “He seemed rather unhappy,” I observed.
“Would you be happy sitting in what is probably a small, sweltering, wood box, repeating the same few phrases over and over again all day?” Snow asked.
I overly pretended to think about it. “Probably not.”
Once we got past the gate, Snow tilted her head to look around. I don’t think her smile could get any wider. “Oh, Celestia! What should we do first?”
“I always liked to get one of the roller coasters out of the way and save the next for just before we leave,” I suggested. I looked up at the roller coasters. Both had lots of loops and spins; the difference between them was that in one you sat in a cart, while the other involved being strapped into a hanging seat.
She looked as well and took a step closer to me. “Let’s do the one with the cart first, I don’t think I’m quite ready to see the ground flying past my hooves.”
“Alright let’s get in line.” I stepped toward the line. It was a weekday, so the lines weren't terrible.
“This was a good idea,” Snow said as she stepped up beside me to wait. She rested her head on my shoulder while we waited.
I decided something right then. I didn't care which one of us got bumped up to Sergeant. As long as I didn't lose this to some stupid regulation.
It was getting late. Snow and I had gone on all of the rides that interested us. We even had an early dinner at one of the small in-park restaurants. Now we were browsing the carnival style games that staff ponies had set up along the boardwalk.
There were all kinds of games: throw a ball and knock down the bottle, hit the button hard enough to ring the bell at the top, all the classics.
“Hey Strider, look at this one,” Snow beamed. She pulled me over to a booth that had toy crossbows that shoot metal marbles instead of bolts. The goal was to shoot little plastic sharks, pirates, pirate ships, or a sea monster that looked like a giant squid. Each type of target was a different worth for a score: Sharks were only ten points, pirates fifty points, the pirate ships a hundred points, and the sea monster was worth a thousand points. After watching for awhile, I noticed that the sea monster was near impossible to hit: it had a single target on it—its eye—which was very small, and it popped up and down very quickly. I barely ever had enough time to spot it before it ducked back down again.
“Well, well, well…” the pony attending the booth said with a smug grin. We approached to get a closer look. “My fellow Gentlestallion,” the attendant smiled. “Would you care to win a prize for that gem of a mare at your side?”
Of course, I saw through his attempt at poking at my pride. “Isn't that a little cliche though? The first date, go to a theme park, AND win the mare a prize? I think I'm more original than that.”
“Oh come on Strider. I wouldn't mind having that stuffed polar bear if you can manage it,” Snow said, just loud enough for only me to hear it. The look in her eyes wasn't her asking, it was a challenge.
The attendant continued. “I'm sure you are my good sir. But what is wrong with a little bit of a cliche? Come on, beat the high score and have your pick at one of any of the prizes you see here.”
I looked up at the high score to beat. One thousand six hundred forty. Shouldn’t be too hard to beat. I smiled. “What the heck? How much for a try?”
“One measly bit sir.” He held out a hoof for the bit and I hoofed it over.
I took the toy weapon in my hooves and took aim. I knew the first attempt would be terrible anyway, but I was still determined to try. The pony started the game back up, and everything moved once more.
The sharks popped up first, along the bottom row, I missed my first ten shots but then it started getting some points on my eleventh. Then the pirates and their ships popped up. I missed seven times before I regained control of the weapon, but I only hit three ships before the monster showed up. I missed every shot. Not only was it fast and had a small target, but it had fake tentacles and waves that blocked my shots.
A single bell rang, announcing Time-Up. The booth tender gave a forced frown. “Aw, too bad maybe next—”
I slammed a bit onto the counter. “Reset it.”
He hesitated. “Very well sir.” He reset it as I asked.
Snow came up to me. “If you can't win it, you can't. I'm not disappointed,” she said.
“Oh, I can do it. That was just a warmup.” I said to her with a confident smile.
It's all about timing. When the booth tender flipped the start lever and the game began to move, I let the little wooden sharks have it. I didn't miss this time either. Once I hit ten sharks, the pirates and their ships popped up as well. They were faster than the sharks, so I gave lead to compensate for that.
Six ships and eight pirates later, the sea monster showed but I didn't fire immediately. I watched for a moment. Then let out three shots evenly spaced out. All three hit the wooden creature’s eye between the tentacles and waves.
At the sound of the bell, I looked up at my score. Four thousand one hundred points. I smirked at the pony tending the booth. “Let's see somepony beat that,” I said rather smugly. But I thought I earned a bit of pride. “The polar bear please.”
He said nothing as he got it down and hoofed it over to us. “A pleasure doing business with you,” I smiled as Snow and I walked off.
Snow skipped beside me while putting the polar bear on her back. “That was amazing! You sure your talent isn't being a sharpshooter?”
“I'm sure. I'm definitely not the best, but I'm okay.”
“Whatever, until I see somepony shoot better than you, you're the best to me.” She bumped me with her flank.
I bumped back. “What do you say? Seen everything you wanted to here?” I asked her.
“Yup. Let's go home.” she trotted happily toward the exit of the park. “Oh wait! One last thing.”
Snow trotted over to an automated picture booth. Magically captured photos printed on little strips of paper.
“Please! I want to remember this,” she practically begging to take the pictures, bouncing up and down in excitement.
Having photo evidence that we are dating. Isn't this the exact kind of thing I keep judging criminals for doing? But Snow seemed excited and was giving me the puppy eyes. So how could I say no?
We got into the booth, and I put in two bits and selected the five shot strand, double print options. “A set for you, and a set for me?”
A countdown timer flipped down from five. The first photo we posed nicely, after that though we just did whatever came to mind. That is until the fourth frame. Snow kissed my cheek as the camera took our picture, causing my wings to partly spread in surprise and my face to flush.
Ah, what the heck. If command finds these pictures, it will be the end anyway.
Just before the camera snapped for the last time, I turned and planted my lips onto Snow’s for our first kiss. She started slightly in surprise, then wrapped her forelegs around me and began to kiss me back. I lost myself in her embrace, hugging her close and slowly running a hoof through her mane.
“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted.
We pulled away from each other and looked up to see another couple standing outside the booth, their faces creased in amusement. “You’re not the only ponies here, you know,” the stallion said, barely holding back his laughter.
“Sorry,” I apologized, my face turning even redder. We retrieved our pictures and exited the booth. Snow hugged the polar bear to her chest.
I barely remembered getting back to the campus and climbing into bed. The last thing that went through my mind before I finally went to sleep was the taste of Snow’s lip balm and the smell of her mane.