//------------------------------// // Observe and Protect // Story: The Dead Stallion's Hand // by Lord Zalgo //------------------------------// "Chief, we've got somepony here who's interested in the secretary job." An Earth Pony stallion wearing a police uniform said to the stallion behind a large desk. "Oh? Well, send 'em in." Chief Golden Badge replied. After a few seconds a stallion wearing a royal blue, pinstriped suit entered the office. He quickly offered a hoofshake to the Chief. "Hello, Chief. I'm Fen Seed." Fen said as Badge shook his hoof. "Hello, Fen. Why are you interested in the secretarial job?" Badge asked. "Well, with most other officers, I want to protect and serve. Unfortunately, I'm a scaredy-pony. So, I thought I'd protect and serve another way. By serving the police force in some way. The secretarial job was the only one I can qualify for currently." Fen replied. "Well, I like your enthusiasm, but I don't think we need your services, thank you." Badge replied. Fen froze for a second before replying. "Why?" Fen asked. "I'm sorry, but we've had other applicants and they're simply more qualified. I'm sorry, please show yourself out, we're really busy." Badge said. "But... I... really need this job." Fen said weakly. "And I really don't need you on the job. Goodbye." Badge said with finality before returning to his work. Fen lingered for a few seconds before standing and slowly leaving. Badge looked up to see if he had actually left before turning to the shadowy corner of his office. "He matched your description perfectly. You sure he was one of 'em?" Badge said to the darkness. "Certain. Poison specialist. I wouldn't touch that brandy." A voice replied. Badge looked at his glass of brandy before pushing it slightly away from him. "So, he was sent to kill me?" Badge asked. "I wouldn't say so... yet. After just being rejected the perfect opportunity to spy on you, he'll have to think of a new plan. He might go for a more... fatal approach." The pony replied. "What do I do?" Badge asked. "Stay alert. Stay alive." The pony simply replied. "Right. And if that doesn't work?" Badge asked, slightly worried. Silence fell. Badge stood and walked over to the corner only to find out that it was empty. "...Sneaky bastard." Badge said under his breath. Hours passed after the mysterious pony had disappeared and Badge was ready to take a break. "Hey! Miss! You can't be back here!" A voice sounded through the station as rapid hoofsteps filled the air. "I have to see the chief if you won't listen to me!" A mare's voice called back. Badge stood in her way and she collided with him, making him flinch but stay on his hooves. She, however, fell onto her backside. "I'm sorry, chief. I tried to stop her." The officer that was chasing her said. "I'll take it from here. Follow me, miss." The chief said, returning to his office, the mare in tow. He instructed the mare to take a seat as he sat at his desk. "What's the problem, miss...?" Badge asked, silently asking her name in the process. "Sunflower. My sister was assaulted. Somepony threw a rock at her face." Sunflower replied. "Do you know who did it? What they looked like? Where we'd be likely to find them again? Absolutely anything could be useful." Badge asked. "No. But... Babs told me that there was nopony near her that could have thrown it." Sunflower said, slightly confused about the point she brought up. "Unless they didn't have to be nearby." A voice said from the corner of the room. The mysterious pony was back as his silhouette was pouring some whisky into a glass. Sunflower and Badge jumped at the sound of the new voice, but Badge quickly recovered from the surprise and calmed down. "You mean they could just be a good shot..." Badge began to ask, but trailed off as a realisation began to hit him. "I see you're catching on." The pony replied. "The sniper you described. Cinnamon Apple, right? He's gotta be somewhere in the city. Who was his target?" Badge asked. "...Fancypants Von Trottingham." The pony replied. Badge instantly stood in shock. "What?! We've gotta get to him before he does!" Badge said frantically. "There's no need. Mr Von Trottingham would be dead if Mr Apple had the opportunity to kill him. Either he didn't have the chance or he didn't want to." The pony replied calmly. Badge exhaled slowly before sitting back down. "So? How do we catch him?" Badge asked. "You find him. Think like an assassin. He needs to keep track of Mr Von Trottingham. Search for vantage points where one wouldn't be seen." The pony replied. H-hey! What about my sister and me?!" Sunflower asked frantically. "'My sister and I'. Where do you live?" The pony asked. "Well, my sister and I live in Manehatten, but we're visiting some relatives here. We can just go back home. Would it be safe there?" Sunflower asked. "It's most likely that your sister was... in the wrong place at the wrong time. For whatever reason, she was attacked, but not killed. It's highly unlikely that you'll be followed. If you just remain calm and return to your home, I'm sure you'll be fine." The pony replied. Sunflower seemed to calm down at the pony's words, despite not being able to see them and not knowing who they were. "And you'll catch the guy who did it?" Sunflower asked. "...There's more to this than we realise, Miss Sunflower. But, we will catch this guy. Ain't that right...?" Badge asked, but trailed off once he realised that the pony was once again gone. "How did...?" Sunflower asked in shock. "...I don't know, but it's pissing me off." Badge replied evenly.