The Manehatten Chronicles: Book 1 of 3: The Manehatten Typewriter

by Shadow rift


Chapter 4 2/2: The Lieutenant's first day

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Elsewhere
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The building itself was large in size, with the night sky and looming rain clouds only adding on to the stature of the building. It had the look of intimidation, but the worn red bricks that were riddled with cracks and ridges showed the age of the building.

To put it in perspective, it was like an old mare with a shotgun. It had the possibility of being intimidating, hell, even scary. But those days were long gone.

Walking into the building at hoof, I proceed into the main part of the building. Various plaques and trophies were peppered throughout the waiting room, congratulating and thanking the MCPD for it's service in protecting the citizens of Manehatten. At the front of the waiting room was a fairly old stallion, quite possibly in his late 40s, typing away at the computer in front of him. "Excuse me?" I say, catching his attention pretty quickly as his eyes darted up from the screen to me. "Can I help you?" The stallion said in a gruff voice, conforming my suspicions about his age almost immediately. "Yes. My name is Lieutenant Igneous Flame. I came here yesterday to apply and was told to come back today to start my first day of work."

"Heh... Alright fine. Lemme see the paper." The stallion said, to which I comply by handing him the paper which described in full detail about my application being accepted. "Signed by Commissioner Shining Armor? Damn kid, you really are serious." He said after another gruff chuckle. "So...?"

"So get your ass in here. Door's to the left over there. I'm gonna go ahead and call Shining Armor to get ya." He said as a loud beep came from the door, which had been followed by a large lock being unlocked. Walking through the door, I find myself now inside of this small space. The air in here is heavy and the smell of a freshly unwrapped Hayburger and Hayfries are ripe in the air.

It doesn't take long until the blue maned stallion, or Commissioner Shining Armor, arrives at the office. "What'd you need me for Barnes?" He asked, his brow lowered and his voice clearly showing displeasure for the situation. "Kid'ere said that you talked to him and that he'll be working with us." The stallion said, making the Commissioner turn and face me. I stand as straight as possible and put on my straight and determined face. "Reporting for duty sir." I state, my eye contact being kept straight ahead of me and towards Shining Armor. "Oh yeah... You're the Lieutenant huh? Great to have you on the force." He says, extending his hoof towards me. I accept the gesture on his behalf and respond with "Good to be on the force sir."

We take the door opposite of the one I took in and begin to make our way into the actual police building inside.

The place is fairly large. Plenty of desktops and computer screens fill up the building as Police officers walk between on end of the room to the other. The entire thing reminds me of a brain. Full of activity and never sleeping.

The police Commissioner winds up taking me to his own office, where upon entire, takes an entirely different turn. Rather than the mostly stereotypical police building outside, this one is a much more regal office with its finely polished wooden panel on the wall and the even more polished wooden desk. This place is everything I was hoping for.

"Have a seat Mister Flame." He said, to which I comply and the door behind us squeaks open. "You wanted to see me, sir?" A mare's voice says behind me, making me turn to see the pony it belongs to, a purple coat and mane unicorn. "Ah, good, your here too Twily." The Commissioner says, a smile on his face as he instructs her to take a seat next to me.

"Twily, this is Lieutenant Igneous Flame, our newest Police detective. Igneous, this is Twilight Sparkle, my little sis. I'm assigning you two as partners for patrol duty during the day and any Detective work I may need from you. Understood?" He asks. "Uh, I thought you said that I was going to focus mostly on detective work?" The mare squeaked almost nervously. "That why I said you two are gonna be reserved detectives. Right now, I need you to keep an eye out on any robberies or other crimes out there. Trust me, I'll let you get your chance, Twily..." He said with a reassuring smile, the mare smiling along with him. "Twilight, you can go now, I need to have a word with Mister Flame for a few minutes." He said, to which Twilight nodded and made her way out of his office.

"Alright, Flame..." He began, loosening his tie ever so slightly. "Your gonna be Twilight's new partner. As you've noticed she's my sister, and I'd do anything to keep her safe. Which is why you're gonna be doing patrol for right now. Understand?"

"Understood sir."

"Good..." He said, to which I could almost hear the hiss coming from his tongue. "I'm warning you. You let a single hair get outta place and I find out about it, I'll break you." He said in an intimidating tone. "Sir, I promise you that I won't let anything happen to her..." I say, hoping to reassure him of any doubt he may have. "I'll remember you said that. Anyways..." The Commissioner began, "Find Twilight. Tell her everything is okay, and ask her where you can grab your badge and gun. Your patrol starts today." He concluded, releasing me and sending me out to go find Twilight.

Sure enough, I find her and inform her that everything is okay. "Good..." She said, "Shining can be a little bit too tough on ponies sometimes..."

"It's understandable. You're his family. Family's gotta look out for each other, right?"

"Yeah..." She said, with a sigh and a smile. "Anyways..." I begin, "Shining told me that our patrol starts today and to pick up my gun and badge. Know where I can get them?" I ask, hoping to diverge from the topic of Shining Armor for as long as possible. There was just something about him that was off. It was understandable that he make sure I take care of his little sister, but threatening me? I guess he either really cares for his sister, or there's something else wrong with him. "Yeah sure!" Twilight says, drawing my attention away from my thoughts and back into reality. "The badges and pistols are kept in the weapons locker. Come on, I'll show you where." She says, directing me to the weapons locker and grabbing our items.

While suiting up, my thoughts turn back to the mare who I will now call my partner. Though Shining Armor may have been threatening me to keep his sister safe, I honestly meant what I said. Twilight herself seems like a kind hearted mare with a brainy side, and there is almost no doubt in my mind that she's quite a good looking mare, maybe even one of prettiest I've ever met. But with her brother behaving in the manner he did, and the fact that this is a professional environment, I don't think I'll be able to have any form of romantic relationship with her.

First thing they teach you as a cop, after all, don't get too attached. Second they teach you? Don't be late on your first day out in the field.