//------------------------------// // Cross-Country Sleuthing // Story: My Little Investigations: Wonderbolts Under Fire // by Metool Bard //------------------------------// January 16, 08:55 Wonderbolt Academy Airspace *** I arrived on the scene just as Blaze finished telling the cadets the news of my arrival. Right away, the five of them gave me a salute. "Sorry we're late, ma'am," said Rainbow Dash. "There were some, complications." She gave Thunderlane a sideways glance, and he seemed to be a bit insulted. "Hey, it wasn't my fault!" he protested. "I'm never up before noon! Ask Rumble!" "Strange. You didn't seem to have that problem while you were at the Academy," I said, raising an eyebrow. Thunderlane gulped. "W-well, that's different, ma'am." "How so?" "I didn't have a bugle blasting in my ear." My eye twitched involuntarily. I realize he had no way of knowing what I've been through, but I did not want to be reminded of the call of reveille right now. "That, is not an excuse," I said firmly, flying right up to Thunderlane and getting in his face. "A Wonderbolt has to be ready to move at a moment's notice. I don't care if you have a mission in the middle of the night; you haul yourself out of bed and get your rear in gear. Is that understood?" "Y-yes, ma'am," said Thunderlane nervously. "Hey, cool it, Spit," said Soarin'. "The important thing is that we're all here, safe and sound." He was right, of course. Soarin' might be aloof, but he can have his lucid moments. I took a deep breath and turned to address him. "It's good to see you, Soarin'," I said. "How are you feeling?" "Hungry," said Soarin', his stomach making an audible growl. "Hey, you didn't happen to save those mini pies Gustav made, did you? Those things were good." I had to laugh. It looked like Soarin' was gonna be just fine. "You guys have any trouble getting here?" asked Blaze. "Nope. It was smooth flying throughout," said Soarin'. Meaning the assassin didn't target the cadets. That was a load off my mind. "Well, good work, cadets," I said. "Sleep schedules notwithstanding, you managed to get Soarin' back here at a reasonable hour. Nicely done." "Thank you, ma'am," said Rainbow Dash with a salute. "We, actually better get back to Ponyville. We have a light drizzle scheduled today, and we need to get to work." "Glad to see you're on top of things, Rainbow Dash," I said with a nod. "You're all dismissed. Oh, except for you, Raindrops." Raindrops flinched. "M-me, ma'am?" "Yes. I'd like to have a word with you. Privately." Raindrops gave her fellow cadets a nervous look, and they all shrugged. She then turned back to me and swallowed. "Y-yes, ma'am," she said meekly. "Good," I said. "Follow me." As the other cadets left to perform their duties, I headed back to the Academy with Raindrops, Blaze, and Soarin' at my heels. Hopefully, Raindrops would have some answers regarding the mare behind Mare-Do-Well's mask. *** January 16, 09:03 Wonderbolt Academy Spitfire's Office *** "S-so, what did you want to see me about, ma'am?" said Raindrops as we stepped into my office. When I got behind my desk, I noticed that she was trembling all over. I sighed. "Calm down, Raindrops. You're not in trouble or anything," I said. Raindrops tilted her head. "Wait, I'm not? Then, why did you want to see me?" "I understand that you're working with Twilight Sparkle on a mystery that's cropped up in Ponyville," I said, leaning forward and pressing my hooves together. "Something regarding a costume order?" "Oh," said Raindrops, brushing the back of her head. "Yeah, Twilight mentioned that you were interested. Something about..." She trailed off, and her eyes darted around the room. "Wait, she's not here, is she?" "Who?" "Mare-Do-Well. Your stalker." I would've chastised her for being paranoid if she didn't have a point. "I, actually wouldn't know. She has a knack for hiding in the shadows," I said with a shrug. "Anyway, don't worry about it. I doubt she'll barge in on our conversation." "O-okay," said Raindrops, still a bit uncertain about the whole thing. "So, tell me, Raindrops," I said. "How have you been helping Twilight Sparkle?" "Well, you know how I do some side work as a delivery pony?" said Raindrops. This was indeed true. According to Raindrops's dossier, she had experience volunteering for the Equestrian Postal Service. However, I didn't know they were still letting her volunteer there. From what I understand, there was an incident where she and a fellow pegasus accidentally dropped an entire shipment on an unsuspecting unicorn. If you're wondering how she made it into the Academy after an incident like that, well, it's because there weren't any lasting consequences apart from Raindrops leaving on her own accord. The unicorn never pressed any charges, and all the other pegasus got was a slap on the ankle. How that's the case is beyond me, but then again, I've never dropped a piano on anypony, so I wouldn't know. "Yes, I'm aware of that," I said. "What about it?" "Well, about a week ago, Derpy and I delivered this package to somepony in Stalliongrad," said Raindrops. "It was a lot of rare herbs and spices from the Griffon Kingdom." "Was the package sent from the Griffon Kingdom itself?" "No, ma'am. The origin of the package was the Crystal Empire." Ah, that made sense. Because of the Griffon Kingdom's trading laws (which Honor Bound is trying to reform), the only place in Equestria that accepts imports from the Griffon Kingdom is the Crystal Empire. The only other way to get a package like that into Equestria is through the Griffon Kingdom's black market, which is a daunting task for ponies. That's because Equestria doesn't have a black market. Really, that shouldn't come as a surprise. "So, you took this package from the Crystal Empire to Stalliongrad," I said. "What happened then?" "Well, we got the package there safe and sound, although Derpy kept thinking we were going the wrong way," said Raindrops. "Anyway, when we got back to Ponyville, Twilight was asking around about the Mare-Do-Well order. When she showed me the order form, I knew I recognized that hoofwriting." Now this was getting interesting. "You did?" "Yes, ma'am. It was the same as the pony who got the shipment of Griffon Kingdom herbs out in Stalliongrad." Bingo. "Raindrops, do you remember who this pony was?" I inquired. "A unicorn named Gypsy Moth, ma'am," said Raindrops "She's some kind of alchemist." Okay, not bingo. I knew for a fact that the Mare-Do-Well stalking me was a pegasus. Why, then, did this new clue lead me to a unicorn? And furthermore, what use did an alchemist have for the Mare-Do-Well costume? Heck, how did she even hear about Mare-Do-Well all the way out in Stalliongrad? From what Rarity and Fluttershy told me, that was strictly a Ponyville phenomenon, and Stalliongrad is on the other side of Equestria. This simply was not adding up. Par for the course, I guess. "Raindrops, do you still remember where this alchemist lives?" I asked. "I think so," said Raindrops thoughtfully. "Can you take me to her?" Raindrops did a double take. "Can I what now?" "You were planning on going there yourself, weren't you?" I said. "Well, I want to come along. If that costume order has anything to do with my stalker, I need to know." "I, suppose that's fair," said Raindrops. "I-I mean, yes ma'am!" "Good," I said with a nod. "Just let me leave a note for Crescent Moon before we go." "Wait, you want to go now?" Raindrops squeaked. "Is, that a problem?" I asked. Raindrops flattened her ears and began twiddling her hooves. "W-well, we still have that drizzle over in Ponyville, and I don't wanna get written up for missing a day," she said. "Why would you get written up?" I asked, more than a bit perplexed. "According to my files, you have a perfect attendance record as a weathermare." "And I still do, ma'am," said Raindrops. "But I don't want to take that chance." I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to think that Raindrops is due for a vacation. I admire a hard worker just as much as the next pony, but there is still such a thing as burning yourself out. "Don't worry about that," I said. "I'll write you a note of exemption when we get back. The ponies over at the Weather Factory know me. They'll understand." "O-oh," said Raindrops, blushing slightly. "Y-you'd really do that for me, ma'am?" "This is official Wonderbolt duty, Raindrops. It has priority," I said. "I-I see," said Raindrops. "Th-thank you, ma'am! I'll meet you out on the landing strip as soon as you're ready." With a salute, she dashed out the door. I was desperately hoping that this wasn't going to be a dead end. Stalliongrad is a long ways to travel for just a red herring. But then again, I didn't have many other options. With a sigh, I wrote up a note for Crescent Moon and packed up the clues Mare-Do-Well gave me before heading out to meet Raindrops.