Blued Steel wasn't a veteran Guard by any means. An earth pony with moderate ambitions, he had managed to rise to the rank of Lieutenant without much difficulty. And, after a short time, he found himself more than content there. He could still get out an about once and awhile, and while paperwork was an ever-present annoyance, he could at least content himself with the knowledge that the Captain had it worse.
He liked to be in charge, even if he wasn't the big boss. It was were he was comfortable. Organizing patrol routes, making sure the Guard squads he headed got a fair rotation on watch. Quiet work, given the relative peace of the Baltimare area. But it was important, and he had always taken some measure of pride in the fact that he did his job well.
When the Corporal of his second squad asked him for help with an investigation, he didn't even consider the possibility of not lending his assistance.
“The doctors had to sedate him, before they could get a proper look at his injury.” Corporal Red Brass trotted just ahead, counting doors as he recounted the events that had led them to the hospital. “Apparently he was hysterical, and...well, you know how pegasi get after a panic-flight.”
The Lieutenant snorted, rolling his shoulders to adjust the burnished copper plates that covered his neck and back. “I've had some experience—excuse me—with the phenomenon.” He spared half a glance at the harried nurse that had cantered past, shaking his head before turning his attention back to Brass. “He was injured?”
“Something got him across the face. Clinker thinks he caught himself on a branch after something startled him, but he's still not good about exploring all the options...ah, here it is.” The Corporal pushed a door open and held it there, nodding to the Lieutenant as he passed.
The inside of the room was standard hospital fare, neutral colors and lighting just a little too bright to be perfectly comfortable. A single bed sat close to the far wall, its occupant sleeping soundly as the heart-monitor beeped and hummed.
A unicorn in a clean, white coat and dotted bow-tie looked up as they entered, his expression a strange mixture of annoyance and relief. “More of you, hmm? Why am I not entirely surprised?”
“I'm sure it's because you're an intelligent pony, Doc.” The Lieutenant offered a tight smile, glancing toward the pegasus that lay resting. “Lieutenant Steel, at your service.”
“Doctor Heartstring. A pleasure.” His expression indicated that it wasn't entirely true. Steel didn't let it bother him, just focused his mind on the task at hoof.
“What do we have here, then?”
The unicorn sniffed imperiously, a chart hanging off the foot of the bed rising into the air for him to examine. “Young, male pegasus, by the name of Dust Mote. An examination showed signs of minor bodily injury indicative of a struggle, and a single, incised wound on the left of his face, extending several inches from the corner of his lips and upwards toward the ear.”
He glanced up at the Guards, turning the chart to another page.
“From what we could tell from his...admittedly fevered...story, he was attacked by a large creature that fell from the sky.” The chart hovered back to its place, the glow of the doctor's magic leaving it. “When we questioned further, of course, he became quite erratic, leading to our current situation...”
“When will he wake up?” The Lieutenant broke his silence, finally, a pensive frown on his face. “If what he says is true, we'll need to ask some questions of our own.”
“Oh, it'll be hours yet.” Heartstring cleared his throat, reaching up to adjust his bow-tie. “Between the sedative and the magical healing, he could be asleep until tomorrow morning.”
Blued Steel sighed, thinking it over. “Alright...alright then, Corporal? Have...Bluetip? He put in for extra hours, right?” At the Corporal's nod, he turned to look at the bed. “Call him in, have him stick around for awhile...I want to know when the colt wakes up–”
“On it boss.”
“–, Doctor Heartstring, I'd like you to let the Guard know as soon as that happens. If there's some sort've big animal plodding around nearby...I don't like the idea of waiting around until somepony runs into more trouble.”
The doctor sighed, and nodded. “Of course, Lieutenant. I'll speak with the nurses.”
“Wonderful.” The Lieutenant turned back to the door, absently noting that Red Brass had already gone. “If you'll excuse me, I've got an evening of paperwork to look forward to.”
And he had a sinking feeling that his workload would be increasing very soon.
Coffee was Steel's one and only vice. He'd bought the coffee machine specifically for late nights at work, a brand new model straight from Manehatten. Compact and quiet, it sat in the corner where his desk met the walls, burbling away with a comforting regularity.
He'd just finished brewing a new pot when one of his Guards stepped into his tiny offices, and he took the time to pour a cup before turning his attention to the armored stallion.
“What's the problem now?”
“The pegasus in the hospital woke up.”
His ears perked up, and he pushed the steaming coffee mug aside. “When?”
“Cloud Burst got in about a minute ago. Hospital's...what, four minutes out, flying? He's pretty fast, so it might've been three.”
“Cloud Burst? I left Bluetip there.”
The Guard shrugged. “He got called in to consult with another squad. Breaking and entering.”
Steel frowned. “Who authorized that?”
“The Captain.” An apologetic smile from the Guard. “Bluetip's got the experience, Lookout's squad doesn't. Simple as that.”
“I just wish he'd asked.” The Lieutenant huffed and circled around his desk, waving a hoof toward the door. “I'll be at the hospital. And thank Cloud Burst for me, too.”
“Sure thing, LT.”
“Uh-huh.” He snorted as the Guard backed out of the office, followed him out and tugged his door shut behind him.
He could have taken one of the sky carriages to the hospital, but he decided against it pretty quickly. First because it was most likely a waste of resources, and that never sat well with the Captain. And second...he had always felt that the Guard should be seen. To serve as a reminder that the streets were safe, and that there was someone to look out for everypony.
So the ten minute walk was in no way an annoyance. Not at all. No, it was a practice in social...philosophy, or something.
“Should've taken the sky carriage...”
The hospital was much quieter, so late in the day. It made his stop by the nurse's station that much easier, and he didn't have to wait too long to be led to the right room.
“Dusty?” The nurse called out as she opened the door, her tone soft and friendly. “Are you still up?”
“Uh...yes ma'am?”
Steel stepped inside, then, doing his best not to intimidate too much. “Hello there...Dusty, is it?”
The young pegasus blinked, once, his ears folding back as he turned his head a little further away. “Um...that's what most ponies call me.”
“Alright then.” The Lieutenant smiled agreeably. “I'm Lieutenant Blued Steel, Baltimare City Guard. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? About what happened to you, I mean.”
“Oh.” Dust Mote shifted, pushing himself up until he was at least partially upright. The Lieutenant didn't miss the way he kept his head turned aside throughout the exercise. “No, I guess...I could answer a few.”
“I'll need to get back to the desk.” The nurse spoke up, again, still calm and friendly. “If you need anything, remember the call button.”
“Uh, yea...thanks.”
Steel stepped aside to let her through the door, nodding his own thanks. “How're you doing, Dusty? You healing up okay?”
“The, uh...the doctors said they did the best they could do. I'm going to be out by tomorrow.” He brushed a hoof over his matted coat, looking up from the corner of his eye. “They just want to be sure there isn't anything...weird.”
“Yea, they're like that.” The Lieutenant moved a bit closer, making a show of examining the wallpaper's patterns. “I remember...I broke a leg once, when I was in training. Heh...the doctor in charge was convinced I'd contracted some sort of magical infection that...how'd he put it? 'Instilled a state of denial', I think? It was ridiculous.”
He gave the bed a sideways glance, shaking his head. “Unicorns, you know?”
“I...I've got a friend.” Dusty gave a tiny, tired smile, head rocking from side to side in something like a shrug. “He spent a week trying to figure out why a color changing spell wouldn't work on his saddlebags.”
“And?”
“And what?”
The Lieutenant turned, smiling again. “Why wouldn't it work?”
“Oh!” Dusty's smile grew as well, turning a little sheepish. “He'd forgotten that he bought them with a water-proofing enchantment. It, uh...there was something about magical interference, I think, but he was talking for a long time, and there was this...this perfect sunbeam coming in through the window, so I, uh...well, I was kinda distracted, I guess. I don't really remember much of it.”
“Fair enough.”
There was a moment of silence, a bit more comfortable than it had been before. Steel took that as a sign to continue, turning his focus to more serious matters. “Dusty, I've got to ask you about what happened. About the creature.”
That fragile smile faded about as quickly as he'd expected it would, and the colt looked away. “I...I don't know what it was...”
“Anything you can tell me will help.”
There was a long silence, as the pegasus thought and the Lieutenant waited.
“It...it looked kinda like those, um...those dog things? I read about them in a book once...”
“Diamond Dogs.” Steel nodded. “But it wasn't a Dog, was it?”
“No.” Dusty shook his head, the tangle of his uncombed mane falling in his face. “It was...thinner. And it was wearing clothes. Like...all over it, not just a vest.”
The Lieutenant blinked. “Really?” That was...strange. “That's good, Dusty. That's useful, we can use that.” He edged forward a bit. “What else?”
“Its mane was...sorta green and brown.” Dusty licked his lips, eyes darting aside. “But I didn't see any other hair...it was all just bare skin...except...”
“Except what?”
“Its face.”
Another sinking feeling made him shudder, but the Lieutenant moved on anyway. “What about it.” Silence. After almost a minute, he moved to nudge the bed. “Dusty, what about its face?”
The pegasus started, and finally turned to face him fully.
Steel tried not to wince. He almost managed it, too.
Unicorn doctors were good at what they did. Higher end healing magic wasn't easy, so every one of them had talent, and some of the best training they could get. That didn't mean it was always a perfect fix, though. Even magic had its limits...
Scarring, for instance, could be especially hard to prevent.
The line of bare, red skin curled up from the colt's lip, forming a gruesome half-smile. A reminder he'd probably have his whole life.
“It...it was all...painted. Like...like a clown. Only all...smudged, and...and...scary.” Dusty's eyes glistened, tears threatening to spill over. “And the scars...it had these...scars. Like this.” An absent gesture at his own muzzle. “Somepony...cut a smile in...and...it said...it told me...it...”
“What did it say, Dusty?” Steel couldn't decide whether he was angry or...frightened. And the feeling set him on edge. “Can you tell me that?”
“It told me...how they did it.” The colt shuddered, clenching his eyes shut. “It told me...how they...made it scream so that it would...so that...it...oh, Celestia...”
“Hey, okay, calm down Dusty...I'm sorry, you don't have to talk about this now...just calm down now. Relax.”
Worse than he'd expected. A lot worse...
“I...it only...I think it was going to do the same thing to me.” The young pegasus continued. “But...but I kicked it, and I managed to...get away.”
“You did.” The Lieutenant sighed. “And it's a good thing, too. Now we know what to look out for, thanks to you.” He forced a smile as Dusty opened his eyes again. “We'll be able to keep an eye out for it.”
“...good.”
Another long moment of silence.
“Uh...look, it's late. I should get on this, and you look like you could use some more rest.” Steel rolled his shoulders, the habitual motion doing little to calm his nerves. “...you think you're gonna be okay?”
“...I think so...”
“You're getting out tomorrow, right? Do you want me to send a Guard or two to take you home?”
The pegasus looked down, his ears laying flat against his head. “...please?”
He finally managed to shake off the immediate, gut reactions. Focused on that one, frightened pegasus. “Alright. I'll send a guard by in the morning, and he'll make sure you get home safe and sound, okay?”
“Okay...”
“Good.” An easy nod. “Rest up, alright?”
And out the door again.
Steel took a deep breath in, blew it out through his nose. His armor rattled as he shook himself out, settling more comfortably across his back and shoulders...
Back to the office. He had a meeting to arrange.
The next morning was plenty of 'hurry up and wait'. With an emphasis on 'wait'. Steel went through a whole pot of coffee before he was able to get the Lieutenants and the Captain free all at once. The 'briefing' was short, as such things went. A general description and a warning to be careful. Really, it would have been easier to just write up a report, but an unknown and dangerous creature meant jumping through hoops.
After that, it was all finishing paperwork and reorganizing Guard details to better cover the areas close to the city limits...
“Lieutenant?”
Steel looked up from his map, setting his pencil aside with a sigh. Red Brass didn't often interrupt his planning sessions. “Corporal. What can I do for you?”
“Just thought I should let you know that Bluetip isn't going to be available for awhile.” An apologetic shrug. “There's been two more reported burglaries since yesterday. Lookout's requested to borrow him until it gets straightened out.”
“What?” The Lieutenant pushed the map aside incredulously. “Who's been hiding my memos? Is somebody going out of their way to make sure I don't know about this?”
“Erm...you sure you're not just missing'em, boss?”
“Of course I'm sure! This is the second time I've heard this from you instead of from Lookout! Or the Captain!” He slammed a hoof down on his desk, wincing as the wood compressed. “Ugh...did Cloud Burst...”
“Yea, he got the colt home.” Brass nodded. “Said he seemed okay. Quiet, though.”
“Doesn't surprise me.” Steel was quiet, for a few long moments. “Do you want to get a jump on your route?”
“Beats standing around here.” The Corporal snorted, scuffing a hoof on the tile. “Where do you need me?”
“East side, sector three. Bluetip was going to back you up, but I'll just have to send Cloud Burst to cover you and Iron at the same time.”
“Poor featherbrain'll be pickin' bugs out've his teeth all night.”
“Yea, well maybe I'll get my lead flier back before he has to do anything too complicated. Get going.”
“Yes sir.”
Steel sighed, as the door shut, and carefully laid the map back out.
Office politics, overtime, and half his supply of coffee gone. Not to mention three burglaries in two days, and a strange creature out attacking ponies...
…
“...horseapples.”
“Oh, Dusty.” The old unicorn squinted up at him as he stepped out of his room. “You're back! I wondered...wondered where you'd gone, deary, how are you?”
“I'm okay, Mrs. Needlepoint.” Dusty managed a tiny smile, adjusting his saddlebags to rest more securely on his back. “But I was just stopping in.”
“Oh, you're going back out, deary?”
“...sort've.” He ruffled his feathers, turning to look down the hallway. “I'm...um...I'm leaving Baltimare, for awhile.”
She gave a worried frown, blinking slowly. “Is something wrong?”
He hesitated again, but shook his head. “Not really. I just think I need a...a change of scenery.” His strained smile didn't change his quiet tone. “I've got a cousin who lives out in the country. I think the quiet will be...nice.”
At that, she smiled again. “Well you just enjoy that quiet. And you rest up for as long as you need. I'll keep your room tidy for you.”
“Oh! You don't need to do that, Mrs. Needlepoint...”
“Nonsense! You're the best boarder I've ever had!” Her smile grew. “Now don't let me keep you. I'm sure you want to get right to your travels. Why, I remember when I was your age, and I walked all the way from Canterlot to...to...well shoot, now where was that? Something with an 'H' I thought...”
Dusty winced, and pushed another smile. “Mrs. Needlepoint, I just remembered, I've got to catch my flight...thanks for everything, rent's on the dresser, I'll be back eventually, take care!”
He was gone. The unicorn blinked a few times, tilted her head...and chuckled softly. “Such a sweet young colt. As if I'd forget those wings of his...”
Outside, Dusty unfolded his map on the back of a bench. It wouldn't be a long flight, a few hops with a stop off in Cloudsdale...doable. He could do it. Easy-peasy.
“Yea...real easy.”
The sky was a cold comfort.
To say that he was confused would be a drastic understatement.
Locks on the doors, but they were hardly trying to put up a fight. Valuables were locked up in latched cabinets. And there didn't seem to be much worry in the way of 'controlled substances'.
Kerosene didn't have quite the same flair as gasoline, but it was much easier to find. In this place.
'Baltimare.'
He'd laughed for almost five minutes when he'd read the tattered newspaper. 'Baltimare'. A horse pun. So...lacking in originality! A cheap laugh, at best!
“Somepony, ev'rypony, anypony, run.” He muffled a laugh, tilting his head to better see himself in the clouded shard of glass. White greasepaint dripped from his fingers as he lifted it from the jar. It was cold, as he smeared it over his face...cold...
“From Bal-ti-mare tooo Canter-lot, we're gonna have some fun...” He hummed as he wiped his fingers off on a nearby towel, casting a casual glance over his shoulder and toward the window.
“Weeeee'll burn the cities through the day, until the setting sun...” Another dark chuckle, and he started with the black. Laid on thick, around the eyes...very nice.
“And break the cops that come around...to...erm...” He stilled, frowning at his reflection. “Y'know, Jackie boy...a song writer, you're not.”
Red. Red was the next. An easy curve with a sharp flick at either side...
“There's that winning smiiile...”
A clatter, and he jumped, knife snapping open in his hand. He stood, stumbling over the bucket he'd been using as a makeshift chair before pressing close against the wall beside the window. A careful glance out, into the bustling street...
Ha...just a cart...
“Colorful, aren't they? Eheh...” So many of them...walking around without a care in the world. They smiled, and laughed, and looked at each other like they trusted each other, and it was ridiculous! It was...disturbing, actually.
“Oh, as if I'm one to judge.” He heaved a dramatic sigh, hooking his arms up beneath his suspenders to pull them back on...and wincing when his shoulder cracked. “Urgh...who'da thunk that ball've fluff and feathers would pack such a wallop?”
The walls didn't answer, but he was used to that. Took the time to tighten his tie and straighten his collar before setting his bucket upright again and taking a seat. His eyes roamed the room fitfully despite his calm expression, and he hummed softly as he closed up the paint jars.
So much to do, and endless time. Without the Batman around, there wasn't a...heheh, looming threat...
Nobody fun to play with, either.
“Or...” he mused, sucking his teeth for a moment as he considered his jacket. “Nobody fun to play with...yet.”
Oh.
There was a Plan.
“Kerosene and...Ethylene...and little left to find me...” He snickered and stood, snatching up his jacket as he went. “A killedy dievy too, wouldn't you?”
He continued to hum as he padded through his little...lair. There were long days ahead. A whole new venue. A clean stage to...play upon.
And the city?
Oh, it was gonna burn.