//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13: Patches Alive 
// Story: Caverns & Cutie Marks: High School, High Stakes 
// by TheColtTrio 
//------------------------------//

“Okay, so I get that you wanted me as a point of reference for the comparison, but what's the plan to keep the other me from spotting me?” Light Patch asked, looking at the building across the street. As a part of the answer, Twilight suddenly shoved and wrapped things around Light Patch’s face as he flailed in surprise.
“You’ll wear those to obscure your face and hair. The story is that you’re a part of the science club with me, and while working on something it blew up in your face and discolored some of your hair,” Twilight said, trying to not look too pleased with herself.
“And as for why it’s me, and not my brother delivering these apples like normal, he had something else to do. So I offered, and I invited you guys along to help get it done quicker,” Applejack replied, picking the crate she’d been carrying back up.
“And when Just Duty shows up?”
“That's what Officer Pinkie is here for,” Pinkie suddenly chimed in from behind the apple crates she was carrying, only now wearing a police costume.
“I’m not getting out of this huh?” Light Patch sighed. “I’m afraid to ask, but what is my disguises name?”
“Containment Failure,” Twilight answered, now looking quite pleased with herself.
“That name is depressingly accurate for the guys and I. Also, please tell me I’m not in Physics or Microbiology with that name.”
“Psychology,” she replied.
“Lovely,” Light Patch said, rolling his one visible eye.
“Looks like this is my stop. Here, take these, Containment Failure!” Pinkie said, suddenly shoving her crates onto the disguised teen and ignoring his protests as she shot forward.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Twilight asked, looking at the now struggling teen.
“Just hurry. I wanna die inside, away from the sun,” the now named Containment Failure said, struggling to not drop or get crushed by the apple crates.
“Applejack, Twilight,” Just Duty said with a nod to the two before giving a sidelong glance at the pink poofy haired teen who appeared next to him. “Pinkie,” he continued in a more skeptical tone of voice as he looked at the teen. “I’m afraid to ask what you’re up to,” he said to Pinkie before turning to the fourth member of the group, “so instead, I’ll ask who your friend is.”
“My brother had something else come up, so I volunteered to take care of this shipment for him. Twilight and her friend offered to also help. As for Pinkie...” Applejack just shrugged.
“I’m supposed to do a report on following someone in a typical day of work, so I chose you for the inevitable shoot-out with the mob. That way I can become a hero when I manage to out wit them and get an A-plus on the report. Pew Pew.” Pinkie finished with a pair of finger guns.
“And the silent one is Containment Failure, who recently had a chemistry experiment go wrong and isn’t supposed to talk for a couple more days,” Twilight helpfully chimed in.
“Tell me he’s not going for physics or viruses.”
“Psychiatry.”
“Even better,” Just Duty muttered under his heavy sigh. “Well I can spare a few minutes, let me take on-”
“No, we’ve got crimes to stop and people to commit to Archanium Asylum!” Pinkie suddenly shouted, trying to drag Just Duty away.
“That isn’t how my job works, and I highly doubt there will be any shoot-outs today. Maybe you should shadow someone else,” Just Duty quickly said as he tried to pry the teen loose from his arm. He gave a look of support from Twilight and Applejack, but found no backup in their wide grins.
“I can’t change; we had to pick from a hat and I got police officer. You're the first one I’ve seen all day, and the report is due tomorrow,” Pinkie whined, still trying to drag him away. “Surely someone as just, and nice, and loyal won’t let a poor teenager down, would you?” she asked, hitting him with the best puppy dog eyes she could. Just Duty’s will crumbled in seconds.
“Alright,” he said after a sigh that sounded like a rusty door hinge. “You can shadow me; just don’t expect a gun fight to break out,” Just Duty said, starting to layout some ground rules.
“Can I at least trip a jay-walker?” The group heard Pinkie ask as she and Just Duty turned a corner and disappeared.
“Well, my heart stopped,” Light Patch said after a few moments of silence. “Also, I think my spine is collapsing in on itself. Can we hurry up and get these inside?” The remaining girls nodded and quickly moved into the small store.
“So, how do you even know where this world's version of me-”
“Local Patch,” Twilight interrupted Light Patch.
“Whua?”
“Local Patch. It’s the best distinct name I could think of for distinguishing you between our universe's version of you,” she explained. “Unique variable names are important.”
“Right. So how did you find out Local Patch was working here?” Light Patch grunted as he leaned against a nearby tree.
“Ah asked my brother, and he said he’d seen you helping out here every now and then. Then I confirmed it with the manager,” Applejack said, cutting Twilight off from explaining all of their earlier attempts.
“You can explain the math and what-not another time,” Light Patch said. “Let's do this before I become as short as Wits End,” he said, making haste towards the door. Applejack took the lead once more and pushed the door open with her foot, letting the others in.
“Hey, Full Profit! These are heavy! Where ya want them?” Applejack hollered when she’d finally entered.
“In the produce section. My daughter Perfect Profit’ll show you where,” an older man grumbled from behind the counter. The group then followed Perfect Profit to the produce area, she then turned towards the group.
“Light Patch here will show you exactly where to set those,” Perfect Profit said, waving to the grey skinned teen before locking her gaze on the so-called Containment Failure for a few moments. “Shame about those bandages,” she said finally before walking away.
“Set them there and there,” Local Patch said, briskly pointing out the places without turning away from the shelf he’d been stocking. “I’ll get them in once I’m done here.”
“An’ hi to you to,” Applejack bluntly replied, dropping her stack before turning to help “Containment Failure” before he needed some of his bandages for real.
“Sorry, but I’m being paid to work, not talk. Not that I can’t do both, but it decreases efficiency if you try to split your effort. Don’t fall into the false lie of multitasking,” Local Patch replied.
“That is fair enough,” Twilight replied, wiping her brow now that she’d set down her crate. “If you’d like, we cou-”
“No,” Local Patch said, cutting her off.
“Oh…” Twilight trailed off awkwardly, shuffling in position and exchanging glances with the other two, not sure how to get the information they were hoping to gather. “Sooo, I don’t think we’ve actually ever met before. I don’t ever remember seeing you at Canterlot High or Crystal Prep.”
“That's probably because I go to a different school. For the size of this town, there is an abnormally high number of high schools,” Local Patch replied.
“I know, right? I did the math; it’s like twenty percent higher than the national average for towns this size!” Twilight replied, feeling more comfortable on the more familiar subject. “Infact-”
“I don’t think we’ve met either,” Applejack said, cutting whatever science ramble she feared her friend was about to begin. “Mah’ names Applejack,” she said sticking her hand out for him to shake. She watched him look at her and her hand out of the corner of his eye before he made like he was going to sigh, but simply turned dusting his hands off before shaking hers. “That there is Twilight Sparkle,” she motioned towards Twilight, who stopped frowning at her and gave a small wave at Local Patch. “And finally we got Containment Failure, who’s not supposed to talk,” she said, pointing her finger and glaring at the disguised Light Patch.
“My name is Light Patch,” the native teen said, a neutral look on his face. “I go to Digital Pen’s; and please tell me he’s not in a Physics or Virology degree,” he said, pointing at the disguised Light Patch.
“Psychiatry.”
Local Patch grunted before turning back to his work. “I take it, Applejack, that you are McIntosh’s sister.”
“That’s right. Normally this is one of his deliveries, but he had something else he needed to get done. You two talk much?”
“Few words are exchanged, but I admire his work ethic. I was worried he wouldn’t be making the shipments to here any more.”
“Gee, thanks, I’m flattered,” Applejack deadpanned. “So what are you doing working here anyway?”
“I needed money to buy some supplies for another project. I found this job which fit into my schedule. I’ve since gotten the money, but decided to keep the job to cover future purchases,” he finished before quickly turning back to the shelves to finish his task. From there he wheeled around and stepped around the group to begin shifting the apple crates to where he could quickly unload them.
“What kind of project were you working on?” Twilight asked, watching him shift the crates almost as effortlessly as Applejack could.
“I had an idea for a better computer desk for my needs. My dad was willing to help me with the building, but I needed more lumber than we had to spare. I’ve also had needed of some new computer software for a couple of school projects, and a fellow student needed a new art tablet for a project we’re on the same team for. To head off further questions,” he finished, then, with a grunt, shifted some crates to make a wing stack.
“Ah, well, we should probably get going, Applejack,” Twilight said. “We’ve got other deliveries to make, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Well, it was... nice, to meet you,” Applejack said to Local Patch, receiving only a wave from him as he continued to work. “You two head on outside, I’ll meet ya there after I collect payment for the delivery.”
“Right. We’ll be by the bookstore,” Twilight said, earning an eye roll from Applejack before turning to leave with the disguised Light Patch. Once near the bookstore, Twilight shoved Light Patch into the nearby alley while she quickly stripped his disguise off of him.
“Oh thank god that’s done. Those bandages were really getting hot,” Light Patch said as Twilight shoved them into his pockets.
“I’m just happy I was able to come up with a track of study for you. I hadn’t thought the disguise out that far,” Twilight muttered. “I just wish I could figure out why everyone kept asking what you studied...”
“Stop and think about how on the nose y'alls names tend to be, and what the words ‘containment failure’ mean for the sciences they kept bringing up,” Light Patch said, wiping the sweat from his face as Twilight’s scrunched up in deep thought.
“Oh,” Twilight muttered with a burst of recognition blooming through her face. “Maybe he should switch to math later,” She muttered, before shaking her head. “Never mind. The fictional life of a disguise. What kind of differences could you spot?” Twilight asked him.
“Well, like I got from conversations with Just Duty, he’s a got a much stricter work ethic than me. He is still friendly, but he doesn't seem to go out of his way to keep conversations going.”
“I had noticed that. Also, he didn’t even try to get some random topic of conversation, such as what might the world look like if moss gained sentience before humans,” Twilight continued.
“I still think the moss would eventually win,” Light Patch muttered before shaking his head. “Efficient would be the best single word to describe Local Patch,” Light Patch replied. “He’s also stronger than me and looks a good few pounds lighter.”
“Imperial sucks, metric system forever,” Twilight said quickly. “But yeah, I’d noticed those too. Anything more?”
“Thinking back to what I’ve heard of Just Duty, and what I just saw, he seems to be one of those ‘if you want something done,do it yourself’ kinds, but beyond that I feel like I’d be just speculating.”
“Well, we got something, and that counts to some degree at least.” Twilight finished with a shrug as she lead the two of them out of the alley. “Honestly, at this point, I’m more worried about how Pinkie is doing right now.”
“Hah. I’m more worried about how well Just Duty is holding up.”


* * *


“And then I’d swing in on the chain, pies flying everywhere, and save grab you from the ring of fire, and we’d put sunglasses on as we slow walk from the warehouse just as it explodes behind us!” Pinkie said, miming the act of putting sunglasses on.
“And the sunglasses are for?” Just Duty asked, having long since fallen into the tone he used on long winded people.
“Eye protection? I don’t really know. They never do look back at the explosion,” she replied, her head tilted with curiosity.
“Because it’s not cool. Yes. Didn’t you say you had a report to do?” he seized on the chance to change the topic again.
“Oh yeah, the report,” she giggled. “So, you don’t really do these patrols all that much anymore. What’s your job normally like?”
“More paperwork than should ever be allowed, and keeping track of several investigations at once,” he replied as he waved at an older couple, his eyes scanning vigilantly.
“Oooooooh! Do you have any investigations you’re currently actively overseeing?” she asked, bounding around him in excitement. “That would make this report so much more interesting!”
“It’s rare for the police chief to be directly involved in only one specific case. Usually I have a part in most all of them…” he paused, considering his investigations into Light Patch. “There is one case I’m currently taking a lead in.”
“Even better! Tell me everything!” she squealed, suddenly holding a notepad and pencil; ready to write things down. She was also suddenly in what might be considered stereotypical reporter garb. Just Duty, being used to weirdness and being familiar with tales of Pinkie Pie, simply took it all in stride.
“There isn’t a whole lot I can currently say. I… actually should probably excuse myself from the case, but,” he paused, wondering why he hadn’t excused himself.
“It involves someone you know personally, and you’re worried they are starting to walk down a dark path, and you just wanna make sure they don’t make the same mistakes you’ve seen hundreds of others make?” Pinkie guessed.
“I don’t have to take you in for stalking or hacking police records do I?” Just Duty asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked at Pinkie, ‘She’s so very close. We’ll have to be careful about information with her around.’
“Nah, I was just guessing. I watched a bunch of crime dramas, and that was almost always the excuse for why the main character wouldn’t leave the case to someone not personally connected to it,” Pinkie admitted, suddenly back in her police costume.
“Yes, I am acquainted with the suspect,” he admitted, figuring she’d already guessed. “I know their parents, and by extension them. I’m worried by a sudden shift in their behavior and… that at a few times, it seems like...” He trailed off. “This may sound paranoid, but at times it seems like there are two of the suspect,” he said quietly while staring straight ahead, which caused him to miss the moment where Pinkie stood frozen in surprise. She quickly snapped herself out of it with a giggle.
“That sounds kind of silly. But what if it was? What if it’s aliens? Alien body snatchers! And they replaced their target without realizing that he’s escaped, and” her ramble was cut short by Just Duty.
“How do you know the escapee was male?” Just Duty asked. ‘Does she know?’ the voice of doubt asked.
“Because I was thinking that Ponywood should cast Strongly Handsome as the main lead,” Pinkie said, doodling in her note book now.
“He couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag,” Just Duty replied instantly.
“He couldn’t act his way out of an open field. Doesn’t make him any less Handsome,” Pinkie replied, looking around before she suddenly froze; her eyes locked on the castle.
“At least Flint Steel-Lock can act,” he said before spotting and turning to look at Pinkie when he realised she’d never responded. “Pinkie? Is something wrong?”
“Since when was there a giant castle in the middle of the suburbs?” she asked, pointing towards the castle.
“Ah, yeah, the Tarponyen’s house. They moved in a while ago. Everyone is sure they are rich, considering they had the house built in what felt like just a single night,” Just Duty said, looking at the castle with faint curiosity. “They tend to keep to themselves, and I’ve only ever really seen their daughter around. Amber, or something like that.”
“Huh, yeah. I think I remember running into her. Also I don’t tend to come out to this suburb,” Pinkie said with a shrug. “Going back to the main topic, Flint Steel-Lock is like old now, isn’t he?”
“He’s barely over fifty,” Just Duty replied, rolling his eyes.