//------------------------------// // Reflection // Story: Company of Myself // by midashguy //------------------------------// Awhile back I was cast out, left to die. My family, my friends, shunned me. Why you ask? Because I thought differently, because I see the world in a different way. They saw that as a threat, so I was left all alone, scared. I was young, and I didn't know how the world works. My kind didn't want me, and if I showed the ponies I know what I really am, I doubt they would want anything to do with me either. My name is Arigos and I am a Changeling, and all I have is the company of myself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arigos glanced down at a puddle of water on the sidewalk, what he saw was not himself, but a pony with a white coat, and a lime green mane. It was how he had remained unnoticed in such a large city like Manehatten. Though most ponies knew him around here as Starstrider. Nopony knew him very well, and few really wanted to. So he mostly kept to himself. He worked a simple job loading and unloading boats at the dock. He was saving the money he earned for a ticket to Los Pegasus. Word on the street was that jobs were better there. It could be just a rumor, but there was only one way to know for sure, so Arigos was saving his extra bits for the trip. The only problem was that Arigos didn't have many bits to spare, he was behind on his rent, and he was deep in debt. To say that he was in a pickle would be an understatement. Of course, he could always just change his name, change his colors, and be somepony else, but what then? In the end he would still have few bits, and he would end up in debt again. With these thoughts in his head, he continued walking down the crowded sidewalk, watching as carriages thundered by. It was at this moment that he noticed a sign in the window of one of the buildings across the road. Help Wanted, Detective Work. Dangerous, Pays Well. Nothing to lose I suppose... but...wait a moment one problem, traffic. I can't fly over it, I'm disguised as a unicorn. Well I could take advantage of that alleyway, change form, come back out as a pegasus. I think that would work. Arigos trotted into the alley, and out trotted a blue pegasus with an orange mane. Arigos looked at his back, and took note of the feathery wings. With a thrust of the wings, he was in the air, and flew across the bustling road, straight to the building which he had first seen the sign. He quickly trotted into another alleyway, and came out his usual white and green self. He looked up and read the sign that stated what exactly the building was. "Manehatten Police Department, heh." With that he strode in, and was greeted with a main lobby with grey walls, a few chairs, and a large desk that took up much of the one side of the room. Behind that desk was an older mare, her coat a dull pink and her mane a lighter grey then the walls. Arigos strode up to her. "Can I help you?" She asked in a voice that reeked with boredom. "Well, I'm here about the detective work?" Arigos responded. "Oh yeah, I'll inform Mr. Intent your here for the job." She said, pushing a button, then speaking into the microphone on the desk. "Sir? We've got another fool who thinks he's got a chance." That didn't sound good. "Well send him in." A burly voice on the other end of the line responded. "Good luck, you'll need it." The Secretary told him. Arigos only managed to grin weakly back at her before he trotted to the door labeled Commissioner Good Intent's Office. The office was small and simple, and behind this specific desk was a large earth pony stallion, with a very cliché mustache and cigar combo. Arigos however, didn't notice the cliché, let alone mention it. "So... you want to try detective work? You know how dangerous this line of work is son? There's a reason we leave that sign up. For everypony that signs up, we lose two on the job. Its high risk work, but pays well. I can't guarantee you'll come out in one piece, but I can guarantee you'll be compensated for your efforts either way." Good Intent said. "Sir, I have little to lose and everything to gain. I want this job." Arigos informed him, his voice level and determined. "Fine... theres some basic paperwork to be filled out first, then we'll get started." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Half an hour later, and Arigos was finished with the paper work. It mostly consisted of waivers and disclaimers, saying that the Manehatten police department was not liable if he we're to die on a case. Well that didn't sound good at all. Still, it had to be better then unloading boats for a living, right? If not he could just walk out. Simple as that. "Alright now that that's all done, let me introduce you to your partner." Good Intent told him. "Whoa whoa whoa, I never agreed to a partner." Arigos said. Good Intent grinned. "As a matter of fact you did, that IS your name on that sheet of paper is it not?" Arigos face hoofed. Good Intent continued, "Plus, you have no idea what your doing, rookie. So we have to have someone show you the ropes." "Oh joy." Arigos muttered. Good Intent led the new rookie to another room. A unicorn stood there, apparently waiting for them. He had a light grey body and a chocolate brown mane. Arigos noticed his light blue eyes seemed older then the rest of his body, while he stood there his face blank of all emotion, his eyes seemed almost pleading. HIs cutie mark was a magnifying glass. So Arigos could assume that this had always been his line of work. "Search, I got you a new partner, you'll have to show him the ropes. Try to go easy on this one." Good Intent said. "No promises, but he seems well and able to handle himself, but we will put that to the test soon enough." Search responded, his voice deep and slow. "Alright, well I'll leave you two alone for awhile. Oh, and Search? I do NOT want a repeat of last time, am I clear?" Good said. "Crystal clear, Sir." Search assured. "Excellent. I will see you both in an hour once Search brings you up to speed." Good Intent finished, trotting out the door. "Well kid, lets get to work." Search announced.