//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: A New World, a New Lifestyle // by Omega_code //------------------------------// Lone Star’s ears perked up from the snake exclamation and glance back to see both her and Xerox were both looking at the prisoner with shock and disbelief. The sheriff’s eyes shifted back to tall bipedal creature standing next to Deputy Maxim. The white coated unicorn had his horn glowing, casting magical cuffs to bounded the creature two arms with blades sticking out of the side of them. The creature also had what look like a red helmet covering the top of its head, it’s face containing two white eyes and a yellow mask, making it look like it had a permanent ‘I will gut you’ expression. A crescent luna blade painted yellow stuck out from the top from the top of the helmet while two more similar, non-paint blades wrap around its waist, where it separated two red shoulder plates and legges. “Bisharp?” It said with a confused tone as it two eyes glance over at Scarlet. “Ser, Serperior!” she replied back with a smile before a thought clicked through her eyes. “Perior, ser ser Serperior!?” she asked out loud. “Bisharp, bi Bisharp” it replied in a neutral tone. “I’m taking it you know this fellow?” Lone Star asked, glancing towards Xerox. The fox slowly nodded his head. “Yes... his name is Lance and he’s one of Scarlet’s... Pokemon,” he replied. Lone Star raised an inquiring eyebrow at that, but Scarlet said something else to the fox and he nodded his head. “Umm... she would like to know why is he arrest, and what murder scene?” “That’s a good question,” Lone Star stated as he turn his head towards the unicorn. “Deputy?” The stallion nodded his head. “Well... I was out checking up on one of the call-ins of a monster and went to the resident who reported it. I knocked on the door and no one replied. I knocked a few more times before checking around to see if she was home. I checked through a window in the back and...” he paused as he held a hoof up to his to repress a gag. “That’s when I saw the blood on the floor and a body laying there motionless.” “I quickly move and bust through the door and found... more than I thought I would seen. The body was... cut up and bucher to put it lightly,” Maxim continued, still doing his best from not vomiting. In the background, Xerox and Scarlet’s eyes widened in shock while the sheriff’s eyes narrowed a bit at the discription. “Gone on,” the earth pony prompted. “Well... I quickly locked down the area and searched the house and around the area for clues. And when i looked outside I notice several weird foot prints in the mud and...” the unicorn glanced up at Lance. “I notice... him around. I quickly arrested him and brought him here.” Lone Star nodded his head. “Well... that does answered our questions I think, doesn’t it?” he said, glancing towards Scarlet and Xerox. The Serperior frowned at what she heard. “Lance... did you really kill someone when you got here?” she asked her most loyal Pokemon, a serious look on her face. “I did no such thing,” the Bisharp replied in his calm and monotone voice. “I was only around that house by mere coincidence.” Scarlet looked closely at the Bisharp’s face for a long moment before smiling to herself. “Good... Xerox tell them this is false arrest. Lance did not commit a murder.” The Zoroark nod his head slowly as he glanced over at Lone Star. “Look... I know it might look bad, but Lance isn’t a murderer. It’s not even remotely close to his personality. He said he was only near that house by coincidence, nothing more.” “How do you know he’s telling the truth?” Lone Star asked with a raise eyebrow. “Because I still read expressions and he’s not lying,” Scarlet replied in a firm tone. “Because Scarlet can tell he is,” Xerox translated. “And I can tell if an apple has gone bad by looks alone too,” Lone Star remarked flatly. “I’m going to need to need a bit more solid proof than that.” Xerox frowned, his ears flattening against the side of his head. This is going down hill fast... come on Xerox, think... A thought flashed in his mind and he abruptly said. “I’ll...I can prove it...” he muttered out. The sheriff tilted his head a bit to his left as his ears flick towards at the Zoroark. “Say what now?” Xerox clinched his claws together and his posture stood a bit taller in confidence, the look of uncertainty leaving his face. “I said I can prove it,” his voice audible for everyone. “I was studying to become a detective back home, and I know more about Pokemon than you. I can prove Lance did not kill anyone when he arrived and help you find the true killer.” Lone Star stared up the Xerox, his eyes studying the Pokemon thoroughly as he pondered the request. “You do know you will be carefully watch by my deputies and all your statement will have to go through me, right?” The fox slowly nodded his head. “I understand... and will oblige if it will clear Lance’s name.” The earth pony raised a hoof to rub his chin for a moment before closing his eyes and nodding his head. “Very well... Maxim, put Lance into a holding cell and accompany Xerox to the crime scene. Don’t forget to pick up the camera along the way and the kitt,” he said, turning his head at the white unicorn. Maxim nodded his head and walk off to right to cells. Lone Star turned his head back at Xerox. “I do hope you do find the true killer, I take murder in my town very seriously. I also hope you don’t do anything foolish in trying to cover Lance if he is the true killer, I don’t take backstabbers very well either. And if you ever do, you’ll be in a cell faster than you can blink.” His voice stayed in a very neutral and casual tone, yet Xerox could hear the underlying tone of him not joking around on his ‘threat’. Xerox withheld gulping and nodded his head simply. “I understand, and I assured you I will not alter the facts I’ll find. I will seek only for the truth, and nothing more.” The sheriff kept his eyes glued onto the Zoroark for a bit longer before he nodded his head. “Good to hear... just wait for Deputy Maxim to come back.” He glanced over at Scarlet. “As for you, I really have no idea what to do with.” “If you don’t mind, I would like to come with you Xerox,” the Serperior said, looking over at the Zoroark. “Lance is my partner and best friend, I would like to help in anyway I can.” “I have no objects,” the Zoroark replied with a small shake of his head. He caught Lone Star glancing at him. “Umm... she wants to come with me and help if that’s alright with you,” he quickly stated. The sheriff shrugged a bit. “Sure, save me a bit of the paper work, though now I will have start a new one for the murder.” His left ear flicker to the sound the door leading to the cells creaking open and deputy Maxim stepped out. “Anyways, y’all head with the deputy and I’ll catch up with you later,” he informed Scarlet and Xerox before walking over to the unicorn to grab some information before they head out. Meanwhile Xerox turned over to face Scarlet and let out a long held in breath. “I sure hope I know what I’m doing...” he whispered over in Pokemon. “That was all just spur of the moment thinking and acting.” “I’m sure you do,” Scarlet replied with simple nod of her head. “This is what you were studying for all these past years, and now it’s time to put your skills to the test,” she stated with encouragement. “You can do this Xerox, cause I see it in the past. Just don’t let your worried bogged your down alright?” Xerox nodded his head slowly. “Yeah... you’re right... I can do this,” he said, his spirit rising in confidence. The clip-clop of hooves echoed in their ears as they turned to see Maxim walking up to them, wearing a saddle over his back. “Alright, if you two would follow me, the crime scene is a few blocks away.” The two nodded their heads and followed him out of the police station.