The zebra mare took me to her office in the middle of the town, and swiftly locked the door once we were both inside. Before I could get a word in, I was held in place by some sort of invisible force. Was this…? Yes, it had to be one of their voodoo --or vodun--tricks they used to restrain individuals. I wasn’t to be harmed just yet, but I’d be lying if I said I was unafraid.
“...is this necessary, madam? I am simply here to investigate a few things. I even showed you my badge already,” I spoke in a low tone as to not offend her.
With a pair of gloves on her hooves, the mare removed my saddlebags, and set them aside. “No talking. Answer when spoken to.” was all she said in response to my question. After which she began to preen through my mane, coat, and underbelly in an extensive search. Again, not painful in any sense of the word. Just somewhat awkward given how much silence she demanded.
It took a while, but once it was all said and done, she released me and took a seat at her desk. “State your name and business.”
Oh. Well if that was all there was, then I guess I could oblige. But I still had to be cautious. Anything I said had the potential to be used against me. “Flash Drive, madam. As I previously stated, I’m here to find out about possible use of Zebra hexes and curses on the soil of Equestria. It isn’t very common there, so it’s extremely obvious when something along those lines is being used for evil.”
She cocked a brow upwards, her stony face unwavered. “Explain.”
Alright then, she got one. I pretty much gave her the rundown of all the Zebra-based magic-related incidents that had transpired. The Mimic that assaulted Pale, the Leviathan, and the voice in Tartarus that inflicted Quick Draw with some sort of curse--one that we still had no information on.
“...If possible, I would like to find out the origins of such things as well as find a possible cure for my friend,” I explained with a shaky tone of voice. I had to be honest, I was starting to go raving mad from the sheer amount of palpable tension that was in the air.
At the moment, it seemed as if the zebra mare was willing to help me out. Based on the office, the various books on the shelves, and the medals, she had to be a sheriff or some sort of law official here.
“I will give you opportunity to investigate. You have badge, so I will not pass judgement upon another law pony,” she said as she got up from her desk, “You will address me as Kwaade. Understood?”
Kwaade, eh? Sounded familiar. If she trusted me enough to tell me her name, then I could put my trust in her for the time being. Especially since she was willing to hear me out. “Heard and understood, madam. So with that in mind, where could I theoretically begin my search for evidence? Is there anyone in this city that could possibly make use of the power that I have described?”
“There may be some…” Kwaade responded with a dubious frown on her face, “But have you stopped to consider why? You may not understand since your family removed you from this place when you were little.”
That was true, yes. I wasn’t exactly the authority when it came to zebra culture given that it wasn’t what I had been raised around. But that was all the more reason to find out for myself. Social taboos regarding outsiders were my specialty.
“Precisely,” I nodded in agreement, “Which is exactly why I took the risk of coming all the way out here myself. Even though I am a half-breed, I still have a job to do with questions that need to be answered.”
The zebra officer chuckled, and gazed at me with a condescending expression. “Oh you sweet, innocent halfer...fine then. I will take you to the Town Hall.” She stated before she pranced off towards one of her filing drawers.
My ear flicked. This felt far too simple. “Wait, really? No nonsense, madam?” I leaned forward with a hoof raised out of confusion.
Kwaade turned around and placed a sort of collar around my neck. “I will take you there...under guise of prisoner,” she explained with a tense glare in her eyes. As if to warn me of something. “Cooperate with me, and you shall make it out of here intact. If you do not, then you shall meet the fate of other half-breeds who thought it was a good idea to rebel.”
Was she serious? So a rebellion did take place here at some point? Gods above. My entire crew would have a field day with the evidence alone if that were the case. But I had to take things slow. I couldn’t exactly jump out with my horn ablaze, ready to fire off spells. I had to essentially infiltrate an entire secretive organization that use their authority to uphold the values of one group while downplaying another.
Easier said than--well you get it, don’t you?
“Understood,” I said with a nod, more than ready to make my insertion. “Lead the way, madam.”
The sooner we could find the source of abused Zebra magic, the better. Could Kwaade be trusted?