POV: Narrator
Location: Central District - Market Place
Time: 11:01
Police mares were flocking around the large dormant robot, saving evidence as well as making sure no civilists were disturbing anything nearby. After all quite a crowd had gathered. And some vigorous murmuring was heard, as well as some shouted questions from journalists.
The topic was rather delicate as it pertained to this new mutant that made his big appearance.
Time Turner shook his head at how eager the press seemed to be, convinced to find the scoop of a lifetime in this opportune moment. At least for them. He himself just had to deal with the aftermath.
He looked back to where medics were transporting the two villain brothers into a chariot to take care of their broken bones.
That alone wasn’t reassuring. If a new mutant showed up that just went around breaking hooves like it was a hobby, this might give him some sleepless nights. Though a certain mare was quite adamant to defend this goon interestingly enough. It made the detectives brow furrow as he stared at the customed mare again in contemplation.
“So he broke their bones because they destroyed an omelette and you are telling me that this is nothing to worry about?” the brown furred and maned stallion inquired.
Solaria cringed a bit at that but quickly waved it off, “He did so to villains. And he only got physical AFTER they attacked him. He just retaliated in self-defense. Just let me and the girls handle it. I’m sure we can talk it out with him.”
“You might be using your privileges too much. First you take one of the Mane-iac’s henchmen for community service and now you are taking over this new mutant case. No offense, but you might make yourself some enemies among the police force. And also among the populace. Ponies might think that you are being too soft on criminals and are not protecting the civilians like you vowed to. It doesn’t help that some still feel resentment towards you for your past transgressions. Be aware of that.”
Solaria nodded grimly, “I am. But from my unique perspective I also see that hasty actions might just be what can create a villain. We shouldn’t make an enemy out of someone who doesn’t truly tries to get in conflict with the law.”
“Whatever you say. I can only give you this warning to be careful and wish you luck. I of course also wish for you to solve this quickly. I am the one who has to deal with the press after all and it would be nice to actually have some comforting words to deescalate the situation.”
The mare nodded, “I will be sure.”
Just in that moment a familiar voice cut through the scene.
“Solaria!”
A quick flash of teleportation revealed none other than Masked Matter-Horn appearing in front of the two.
They could practically hear the reporters pick up their volume, trying to ask the leader of the Power Ponies their questions. Matter-Horn ignored them of course as she looked at the two, albeit she was pleasantly surprised by her colleagues presence.
“I’m glad to see you, though I thought you would be in Manehattan for another day?”
”I managed to catch the midnight ride, so I’m home early,” the yellow mare waved off, “Much more importantly is what happened here...and also what happened to your face...again.”
Matter-Horn groaned, “Ignore the leftover ink stains, please!”
Sunset had to hold back a smirk at the slightly visible stains on her head. Not the first time she had seen her like that either. Though that just meant she had a run-in with another familiar nuisance.
Seeing as Solaria didn’t further dig into that matter Twilight sighed out, regaining her composure and adopting a grim look. “Please leave us alone for a moment Detective,” the mare requested to which he sighed out and nodded.
“Very well. I will try to keep the press under control. But whatever you have to say, don’t take too long. They are expecting a statement from you as well.”
Matter-Horn nodded to which the stallion trotted towards the gathered press. Once far enough away she turned back to her team member, “Anyway, let’s get to it then. I already heard the reports and am familiar with this mutant. He first appeared yesterday during a mission. Though...circumstances are a bit...weird with him.”
“I can imagine. He has a rather unique personality. Truth be told I had a chat with him and offered him some breakfast. He told me he was robbed.”
Matter-Horn put her hoof to her chin, “That does fit in a way with the other story about him. It is the best explanation as to why he knocked the Mane-iac out. Better than the pretzel one at least.”
“Wait, wait, wait...he took out the Mane-iac...alone?” Solaria asked in clear surprise to which her mentor nodded.
“He did. Which is why we need to find him, just in case. There is of course more to the story than that but…” she said looking to the reporters before lighting her horn and casting a soundproof bubble over them, “First a small spell to make sure this only reaches your ears. Steam Gear was involved in the case too as he was a...bait.”
Solaria was surprised to say the least, her tone was disbelieving.
“You brought a civilian into this?”
“We were well prepared and Rainbow convinced us,” she defended, “But it didn’t work like we expected. He was found out and kidnapped and to make it short, this creature was captured too seemingly as he was in a cage. And while that might not sound so bad at first glance, he did beat the henchmares up rather ruthlessly after he was out, making one almost wonder if the cage wasn’t more for protection than capture. Though then again, he did save Steam Gear, besides the beating up of the henchmares and the Mane-iac herself. So that is the conundrum we work with.”
Matter-Horn took some deep breaths after she quickly finished the recap.
“...I will admit that I certainly wasn’t aware of his exploits. He didn’t make the impression to seek trouble. Though I could imagine a character like him stumbling right into it with how things went here.”
“You actually got me curious with that. Can you perhaps elaborate?”
“Well…” Solaria started rubbing her foreleg, “We ate and it was then that the Flim Flam’s appeared. Their robot accidentally destroyed the table and food where we were eating. Strangely that made him rather depressed and he mourned the omelette like you would a good book, especially with that time Hum Drum got the hiccups,” she said with a smirk, making Matter-Horn’s face scrunch up and look away disgruntled. Sunset however quickly got back on track as she recalled the next thing that happened. Something that made her cringe inwardly as she was thinking how to best downplay what he did to the brothers. “Alright, after that happened he then pretty much pulled himself together, going after the brothers just as I did and then he broke their...bones a bit.”
Matter-Horn couldn’t help but stare disbelievingly at her. “He...He broke their bones because they destroyed...an omelette?”
Solaria couldn’t entirely suppress the cringe this very accurate recap was providing, “T-To be fair, he was just reprimanding them verbally before they attacked him. So...we could book it as self-defense in a court, which we obviously don’t need for him.”
Twilight stifled a groan at that, not wanting the press to get any wrong ideas by misinterpreting such a gesture. While they couldn’t hear her she was still very much visible to them.
“Great. So we got a mutant on the loose that is beating up others over food? Considering it happened to the Mane-iac with a different food item this isn’t helping his case, self-defense or not.”
“Hold up,” Solaria stopped her quickly, “Even if that is the case, he didn’t really commit any crimes, technically, if both cases are self-defense. But I assume we can both agree that he is a bit of a...troubled personality. Though the same thing could have been said about me as well back then! And still...after I actually committed crimes you gals decided to give me a chance. I am convinced that this might be the best course of action here as well! He just needs some guidance! A strong mare to lead his hand!”
Silence quickly broke over the two as Matter-Horn looked at her in surprise, before it quickly turned into a scrutinizing gaze. The purple and costumed mare, mulled her words over, thinking on them.
“I didn’t say that we would arrest him. Still, I see your point...in a way, even if the measure you proposed is rather...extreme. It is just that somepony joining us is rare and shouldn’t be done lightly. There is also the fact that we never had a stallion joining us as well. Who knows if a stallion like him even fits in our group?”
Solaria rolled her eyes as she looked at her mentor, “Really Twilight? You lower yourself to sexism?”
“Don’t use my name like that! We are in public!”
The flame-like mare raised a brow, “...That is what you are worried about? Not even denying your misandrous implication?”
“I am no misandrist Solaria! And I certainly didn’t mean the comment quite like that!” the purple mare protested, as she couldn’t help but stomp her hoof on the ground.
“Uh-huh. You also completely disregarded Hum Drum who IS in the team. He is not just some mascot, you know?”
“I get it! And I am quite convinced that you are aware that I certainly didn’t mean to exclude him or ANY males from our team since I am a very tolerant and objective mare!” Twilight ended her rant, before quickly composing herself again, looking shortly over to the press. Sunset meanwhile smirked in triumph confidently.
“If that is so then we should give him a chance. We can take him in and train him. If he is not fitting in we can just keep it with simply trying to work through his problems. So no real loss there for anyone. Just an offer for help.”
“Anypony,” Twilight corrected, making Sunset snort.
“Still prefer the all-around term, Horn.”
Matter-Horn snorted likewise, shaking her head, “Fine. You made your point and while it is still a rather unorthodox one I can see your logic behind it. As heroines we need to set a good example, so we will be civil and try to help him. Of course first we will need to find him before we can offer it.”
“That’s no problem at all, just inform the others while I search for him. We got along rather well and I am sure he would be willing to talk to me, rather than running away like he might do with any of you.”
“Fair point, and considering your identity is open like Rainbow or Pinkie’s you won’t have the trouble to keep your identity a secret.”
“Exactly. Anyway, I will be off now. I need to change out of these so that he can recognize me. He seems to come from abroad, so he isn’t quite up to date with my identity,” Sunset stated as she felt a smile creep up her face.
Which isn’t a bad thing, she mentally added.
Matter-Horn nodded, dissolving the pinkish soundproof barrier.
“I leave it to you,” she said as she trotted over back to Detective Time Turner. Sunset likewise moved, teleporting herself on a nearby roof before repeating the process in quick succession. It kind of reminded her of Nightcrawler and his battle against the Flim Flam’s for a moment.
She would find him certainly. She would find him and help him, just like she was helped. Just like she was given a chance, and then she might also earn a new friend. After all Twilight insisted she tries that. And whoever said that your friends need to be mares all the time?