//------------------------------// // Testing Their Patience // Story: Fifty-Three Pickup // by blowngasket //------------------------------// Testing Their Patience Paperwork. Always so much paperwork, and never enough time to do it all. Piled up into neat stacks on the desk, it sat there, waiting to be finished. If the woman at the desk, tapping her quill repeatedly, had a say in the matter, then the documents would be sitting there for some time. She sighed, placing her face into her hand, and decided that at the rate she was going, she would end up going crazy. "How does Celestia do this?" She told herself, staring up at the ceiling of the room. It always helped to cheer her up, looking at the countless quills that had been thrown up there from sheer boredom. "We miss the good days, where ruling meant telling our subjects what to do, and being satisfied with their effort." "You’re not going to get anything done like that, Luna." Another woman said as she walked through the door. "I have a few more for you to fill out." Luna, the woman behind the desk, groaned, slinking down into her chair. "Dear Celestia, we really do love you. So why do you punish us so?" Luna said, her long blue hair having lost its magical flow for some time now. Celestia walked up to the desk and set down the small pile of forms, grinning slightly, her light pastel colored hair still having a bit of a wave, even though night has made it's decent. She was obviously ready to sleep, wearing a pink silk sleep shirt and pants, and donning fuzzy slippers over her feet. Luna, on the other hand, was dressed in her usual blue shimmering dress, and wearing her regal attire. "Luna, I think you should do these next, personally. They might help you get back in a better mood." Celestia said, winking before taking her leave for the night. Luna watched her walk out, before looking back down at the forms in front of her. Reading the title, she realized Celestia was right, and chuckled. Ponyville Accident Claims. With the exception of Shining Armor, who had returned to his wife in the Crystal Empire, and Reader, a mind reader currently staying in Canterlot to check up on acquaintances, her 'crack' team was most like the cause of more than a few of these. She picked up the first form, and started reading it aloud after looking over the picture included with it. "Location: Ponyville Hospital. Approximate time was 4:23 in the evening. Damages occurred during a 'slight' problem with a patient in for a regular checkup. Reported damages include one bed, a magical emission reader, and three walls. Witnesses say subject got nervous when doctors attempted to remove his mask..." Luna couldn't help but shake her head as she read this line repeatedly. "You would have thought they learned their lesson last time. Anyways... Thankfully there were no casualties. Total repair and replacement costs: 3074 bits including labor expenses." Luna wrote the total down on a small notepad and took the picture enclosed with the document off, setting it aside. She continued on through the papers until she got to the next familiar offender. "Location: Ponyville Park. Approximate time was 2:13 in the middle of the night. Damages occurred when one individual became intoxicated during a drinking party held by several residents. An argument occurred between him and another party goer, leading to the one responsible using a class A magic weapon and wrecking the landscape and blowing up two benches." Luna shook her head as she stared at the picture, removing it and leaving it next to the first. "No one was seriously injured during the attack. Total park repairs come to 2046 bits, including labor and supplies." Luna wrote down the total for him under the first. Celestia was definitely right. Something about these, despite the monetary amount it is going to cost the group, made her happy inside to see them all adjusting...well...for lack of a better term. She continued through the files, skimming them for generally chaotic disasters. She found what she was looking for, and the photo enclosed with it confirmed that it was indeed another one of her men. "Location: Ponyville Central Market. Approximate time was 6:35 in the evening. Witness reports account a fight breaking out between two men in the central plaza over what started as an altercation between the assaulted party and the resident mail woman. The one who attacked had forcibly grabbed the other man by the head and rammed it through several stalls. Total costs come to 4523 bits, including ruined product replacement, stall repair, and medical bills...wow!" Luna said, looking over the report again. She wrote down his total as well, and looked over the report again. "Go figure...that man must have seriously agitated him to get that kind of response." Luna took the tallied total down, giving a sigh of relief that they still had funds left in their 'collateral damages' fund. She finalized the reports, signing them off along with offering to pay their full damages. She also left a note with them to give to the ones responsible. Luna slowly moved her hand around the finished documents, until they vanished. Getting this slight breather out, Luna finally felt ready to tackle the rest of the stupid forms and complaints. ---------- ---------- ---------- "I still cannot believe that you of all people are in here as well." "I can't believe that he racked in more property damage than ya, Perry." The two men chatting away were oddly dressed, especially the one wearing a white ceramic mask. He wore a long sleeved diamond patterned shirt, with each diamond alternating between green, red, and white. The colors were incredibly bright and showy, nowhere matching the beige pants he wore. They were slightly dirty from the scuff at the hospital, but overall still intact, along with the creepy mask he wore. The diamond shaped eyeholes were covered with a tinted glass that only barely allowed his full field of vision. The mouth was a painted on blue, overly happy smile. The mask itself was slightly covered by his shaggy, yet well-kept brown hair. The other wore a dark black suit, though scuffed up as well and smelling of alcohol. He had long brown hair, a darker shade than the other man’s, covered by a fedora tilted to block out light from his dark brown eyes, still suffering the effects of intoxication. The two sat next to each other in the holding cell as another person was led in himself. His own brawl concluded, he was left with red stains on his grey hooded sweatshirt and a few spots on his jeans. Though his face was relatively well hidden from view by his hood, strands of his blond hair could be seen, along with his golden eyes, bright yet cold. He obediently followed the disgruntled guard's direction and sat down next to the two. The three remained quiet for several minutes as the guards locked up the holding cell, shaking their heads. “So…Perry…did you at least get a clean bill of health?” The one in the suit asked, flashing a grin. The man in the mask, Perry, shrugged and looked away. “Well, it does seem my magic works fine now, though I doubt I will be allowed back anytime soon.” Perry responded, drooping his head. “All I wanted was to keep my mask on, but they said it would mess with the machine. Then…they tried to…” Perry started to lightly sob, his expression hidden behind his masks smile. “Tell me, where did they touch you?” His friend in the suit asked, patting his back. Perry proceeded to point on all sides of his mask, calming his sobbing. “It will be alright, Perry. They can’t hurt you anymore.” “Thank you so very much, Catacomb.” Perry said, giving his friend a hug. “What about you? I would be sure Twilight would have come and picked you up. You have been in here for almost sixteen hours.” “Well…funny story actually. Yes, she was here, but she told me that asking to let me out wouldn’t ‘teach me a lesson.” Catacomb said, perfectly mimicking Twilights voice and tone with the last bit. “Have you learned your lesson, then?” Perry asked. “Hehe…no.” Catacomb said, smirking. “Besides, it could be worse. You could be in here for assault.” Catacomb said, turning his gaze to the third man. He stood quietly against the wall, ignoring them for the most part. “Isn’t that right Ark?” “Sure.” Ark plainly replied, shrugging his shoulders. He didn’t really care at this point. “I have to ask, Ark. Why did you decide to do that? You’re usually the most sensible of the group.” Perry questioned him. Catacomb stared at him curiously as well, wanting to know himself. “He said something mean.” Ark quietly said, turning away. Perry and Catacomb looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Ark ignored them, preferring this over questioning any day. “You, the calm maelstrom, stirred by a few insults!?” Catacomb said between laughing. “Sure.” Ark coldly replied, trying to hold himself back from beating the two senseless. Last thing they needed was more property damage. Thankfully, before any of them could continue on, a lunar guard, wearing the classic dark armor, came to the door and started to open it. “You’re all free to go…” He said, sighing. “Seriously try to be more careful, the whole lot of ya. Catacomb, Ark, Luna will be docking you pay for this.” Catacomb groaned annoyingly while Ark simply nodded. “Perry, she told me to tell you this is a parting gift, and don’t mess up again.” “Tell her thank you for me, then. Well, I am off. I sure hope Fluttershy isn’t mad at me.” Perry said, the three of them making their way out of the holding center. “At least she’s reasonable. I’ll need a lightning rod by the time Twi’s done with me.” Catacomb said, shuddering nervously. They quietly made their way outside, Ark removing his jacket, wearing nothing but a white tank underneath. He spread his dull grey wings out, preparing for takeoff. Catacomb quickly waved to him to get him to stop for a second. “So Ark, you going back home or chilling in a hotel?” “Hotel.” Ark answered, quickly jumping up and flapping his wings. Within seconds, he was gone to do whatever it was he does. “Well then…” Catacomb said, amazed that something so apathetic could exist. “…wanna get a few drinks? On you, of course. I just had my pay docked!” Catacomb said, his eyes screaming please. “Fine…” Perry said, sighing. “At the very least, they still have your gun until tomorrow.” “Hell yeah!” Catacomb said, cheering happily as he jumped into the air. “You really do never learn.” Perry said calmly as he followed behind him. “Though I have to ask, where exactly are you planning on getting one?” “Why the bar of…oh…shit!” Catacomb said, smacking himself in the head. “Kinda blew them up, didn’t I?” “Like I said, never learn.”