//------------------------------// // Raising Suspicions // Story: The Great Canterlot Train Robbery // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// The Police Station sat in the centre of Canterlot City, positioned roughly equidistant from the town hall and the railway station. This central location was perfect for responding to calls and other such problems. The original had been built with the city, but had been recently demolished to make way for the current structure, which, in spite of being built mostly of concrete with glass windows, managed to be architecturally appealing due to its imaginative design and open, airy spaces. Inside the Station was a row of desks, similar to what you would find in an airport in most major cities, and as Canterlot almost had before the plan had been withdrawn due to a lack of planning permission. Officers were stationed there most days, but the last few months had been especially busy, with incidents in the logbook including alleged ‘exploding gas mains’, bullies attacking visiting students, great lights blasting off in the distance near the stadium, huge dragons being taken down by tanks and aircraft, and having to stop runaway trains with shotgun rounds (which hadn’t worked at all). But today was especially busy considering the train robbery a day earlier. Police forces from across California were being roped in to try and catch the crooks, and as a result the place was ablaze with activity. Officers bustled back and forth, carrying evidence, pieces of paper, and a myriad of other items. Meanwhile, a pair of cruisers pulled out of the garage to intercept an ongoing incident. The staff, safe to say, were extremely tense, what with all that was going on. At this moment, the Crusaders and their friends chose to enter the building, walking as quickly as they could to the desk without attracting suspicion. They were conversing with one another. “Well, who should do the talking?” Button asked, a look of worry in his eyes replacing his usual bravado and confidence. “Apple Bloom maybe?” Pip suggested. “After all, she looked in the bag.” “I’d vote Scootaloo,” Rumble interjected. “She has prior experience of working with the police before, right?” “Yep,” Sweetie Belle interjected. “That business with the dragons and the speeding train.” Scootaloo shook her head. “Those few days I kinda wanna forget, OK?” “Noted,” Apple Bloom added. “Shall we go over?” Motioning them over was a woman with grey skin and short blue hair, combined with pale green eyes that seemed to glow when you looked at them. She was currently dressed in the CCPD uniform of a black T-shirt, utility webbing with a pistol and other equipment holstered on it, black BDU pants with a holster, and black boots. Her name tag read Chrysalis. The students stopped in front of her. “Good evening,” she said. “How may I help you?” Scootaloo spoke up. “We need to speak to the Commissioner himself.” Chrysalis looked surprised. “Well, he isn’t in at the moment, but I’m the Deputy, so you can run it by me. What did you need to speak to him about?” “We have a lead on those train robbers,” Scootaloo replied. “And I get the impression that the Police is appealing for leads.” If Chrysalis was annoyed by this, she showed no signs of it. “Yes, we could do with all the leads that we can get,” she answered. “This robbery has made a real mess of everything. And to think I was planning on spending time with Thorax and Ocellus this weekend,” she sighed. “Wait, weren’t they the kids at the open day?” Button asked suddenly. “Yeah, those were them!” Pip added. Chrysalis chuckled. “Yes, they are my kids. I think about your age too.” She motioned to an access gate, and switched on her radio. “I need another officer to man desk 14, over.” “Copy that, dispatching Gadget.” Chrysalis sighed. “It’s pronounced, Gauchet.” “Noted, ma’am.” In the office of Deputy Chrysalis, the matter was discussed. “So, tell me if I’ve got this correct,” Chrysalis said to them. “Yesterday, you saw a mail train fly through well before the allocated time and drop off some mailbags.” “That’s correct,” Rumble answered. “Then only today, you also saw two men attempt to carry away a mailbag, a mailbag which turned out to be one of the missing ones. Not only that, but it was full of diamonds.” Apple Bloom nodded. “That’s correct.” “Finally, you overheard the two men talking about a pickup taking place of the bag tonight, using another stolen train. Is this correct?” Rumble nodded. “Yes, that’s correct.” Chrysalis sighed, when suddenly her desk buzzed. “Hello?” “Ma’am, Swift Order has just returned.” “Can you ask him to head to my office? I have an urgent matter to discuss with him.” “Yes ma’am, routing him your way now.” Swift Order, whom the girls knew very well by this point, stepped in through the door. He glanced over at the girls. “What have you lot been doing this time?” he asked, with a wry smile. “N-nothing!” Sweetie Belle stammered. “I was only joking,” Swift Order laughed, and took a seat. “What was this you wanted to see me about Chrysalis?” Chrysalis shook her head. “All these years of telling him I’m OK with being called Chris and he still uses my full name.” “Well, it’s what’s written on your badge, after all.” Swift Order had a point. “Anyway, what did you want to see me about?” Chrysalis started speaking. “Sir, these students have a lead on the robbery. Yesterday, the saw what we now believe to be the stolen train dropping off mailbags, and only today saw two men attempt to carry one of them away. There was some talk of another train coming to pick it up, and upon closer inspection the bag was filled with diamonds. This means that the bags with money and gold have already been shipped off.” “I’ve got the LAPD looking into that,” Swift sighed. “Thank you. This has made our job a lot easier. But we still need to catch the crooks.” Scootaloo looked over. “Does that somehow involve us, sir?” The look on Swift Order’s face told her all she needed to know. That evening, covert police officers gathered in the railyard at Cloudsdale. They were lightly armed, with tasers and suchlike, and Chrysalis was monitoring the situation from a command vehicle. “All assets, we have a confirmed track on two of the suspects, over,” she said. “Copy that, opening channel to analyse voices,” radioed the technician. “Hey, Wisbey, are you sure those two have got the bags set up correctly?” asked one of the crooks, climbing aboard one of the engines whilst disguised as an engine driver. “I’m certain they’ll have it set up!” ‘Wisbey’ replied. “Honestly Goodey, you have no faith sometimes.” “Well, I wouldn’t have faith in Biggs to put his trousers on the right way around!” ‘ Goodey’ shot back. “Confirmation on intended targets. Awaiting clearance to move in.” Chrysalis switched the alarm to on. “Engage.” The policemen moved forward, as a large spotlight was shone on the locomotive and the men climbing into it. “STOP! THIS IS THE POLICE!” One of them shouted, “We’ve been rumbled! Step on it!” The engine suddenly fired up on the diesel, an old SD-40, which roared out of the yard with a train of TPO vehicles in tow. Chrysalis growled in frustration. “We’ll never catch them now! Get the helicopter!” Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “There is a way,” she said. “And that it?” Chrysalis asked. Scootaloo said nothing, but merely pointed to Lady of Legend.