[Slice of Life] [Adventure] - [Twilight Velvet]
Operation Corruption
This operation name is deceiving. I am Agent Twilight Velvet and I am on an anti-corruption assignment in Canterlot. Using my deep cover as a noble mare of the Twilight house, my job is to check for corruption among all the other nobles. Vested interests, gradually directing taxpayer money to private means and the like is what I'm looking for.
Why am I keeping this log like a story? Maybe it's all the editing I do for A.K. Yearling. One day she'll be found out as Daring Do, I swear. Anyhow, this log will switch between story-like, casual journaling and a kind of action logging with dates and times and such. I find this combination is excellent for clearing my mind, rambling and keeping accurate notes.
I used to do more active missions. Things like babysitting the Elements, but as they got high-profile I asked for a change out of fear of a conflict of interests. Twilight is my daughter, and I don't want to accidentally favor her or restrict her from doing her duties. When Blueblood was found to be influencing money into his coffers I leapt at the chance to investigate corruption and help Equestria in a new, safer way.
7-4-1425 5:45 pm
Entering the Spring Arts Show funding meeting I glanced down a side hall and saw Fleur de Lis wearing this really odd navy long skirt and long sleeve shirt. It's spring, and a rather pleasant evening, so that's really odd. She looked troubled, almost scared. I've been asked to keep an eye on her. The boss thinks she's in relationship trouble but I think it's more than that. That gal is smart.
7-4-1425 6:50 pm
Now that the 'sitting and listening' part of the meeting is over and the socializing has begun, I have noticed a curious occurrence, one which would only slightly bother me if not for what I have been told to look for. Pieces of silverware, and the odd food or drink item, turned to gold.
On my suspect list is a pony named Golden Touch, who is rumored to have some sort of golden touch. You'd think it would be obvious from the name, and most just dismiss the idea or think it's cool. But this ability can have serious implications on the Equestrian Gold Standard, and for the unfortunate holder of the magic ability. Used for wrongdoing, this sort of thing can be devastating. It's surprising that Golden Touch has even survived this long, which hints she may have a way to turn it off or may only have gained it in the past few days. Also, the floor isn't gold, so she must have some way of keeping her influence off. Or shoes.
What is even more scary, is this 'rumor' (now proven real?) is only new. Either this was well hidden, or something truly sinister is at play.
7-4-1425 7:12 pm
Checking another pony off my list of suspects. I didn't expect to find so many in one night, but this meeting is the first stage planning of an influential, stuffy, boring event. Of course a large amount of suspects are here.
The recent pony is a stuck up pegasus mare called Original Art. She was suspected to be possibly influencing art events on some level, but after my short, tense conversation with her I believe she is just a standard noble. How mad she would be to hear that.
7-4-1425 8:24 pm
Everyone is clearing out because there is a late night gala on around here at 10 and the ponies in charge want to set up for it. I spotted one last pony on my suspect list, the lord Fancy Pants. I wonder what we are suspecting him of? My list doesn't say, but he has been flagged for 'suspicious' behavior. He kind of saw me and wandered off quite quickly, I wonder if he knows that I am investigating something?
Overall report
Tonight I made contact with one suspect, Original Art, who is most likely not up to anything. I saw two suspects, Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants, whose behavior seem to be in line with the reports we have, I saw evidence of one suspect, Golden Touch, being here and I did not see two other suspects.