//------------------------------// // C16 - Into Another Loop // Story: Trapped In Canterlot // by TartarusFire //------------------------------// Raven had collected all the blank paper, cutting the stack sizes into fifths. "I don’t think I can do this every day Princess." Celestia had only read the documented times from nine p.m. to midnight when Raven had prompted her. "And why not? I don’t mind even if it does take a little time to get things put back together. Cake for breakfast is worth it." "No, it’s not the time that’s a problem. I know you get a little bored every now and again." She scuffed her front hooves. "It’d get old really fast, but that’s beside the point. It’s what’s in the report that is bothering. I figured to sweeten you mood because that’s dark stuff in there, Princess." "Hmm. Any particular timestamp I should skip to?" Her curiosity had been piqued. "It starts at three in the morning, but I’d start at two thirty to make sure to get the full picture." *** "Deepskyyyy! Stop hogging all the food!" It had been ten minutes since his last outburst, just listening to the munching of his friend. "Not my s’fault. S’hould be," crunch, "nurs’es that’d feed us—" munch. "Come on! Just walk over here slowly, so you don’t accidentally stretch your wing muscle." "But. ‘Slurp. I feel. Chomp. Saaa—burp—d ‘bout that pony! Eating makes me feel better!" "Just get the buck over here! I’m starving!" Deepsky choked on a bit of pineapple in his fruit salad after hearing Evershade curse around little ponies. "She’s still asleep, no harm done. Now come on!" Working the food out of his throat, Deepsky collected himself and managed to stand while cringing from his wing. Being more careful, he nosed the cart forward over to the left side of Evershade. Clapping his hooves, he moved over, observing his prey. After calculating the best way to capture breakfast, he removed several apples, a plate of pancakes, some round breakfast pastries, and a whopping bowl of salad. "You know, ‘Sky, you can just sit next to me if you’re not finished eating." His friend nodded, rejoining the feast. Half an hour later, the mass of food was dented with two lightly sleeping guards nearby. A familiar earth pony with a spikey mane came out of the back room. "Ello, chaps." He was more cheerful than the last time they had seen him. "I’m heading off to my home. Just dropping by to say goodbye." He stared at the two guards. "I watch you while you sleep." He snickered, "I’ve always wanted to say that. Now then, for the third one of mine—" Doctor Whooves turned to stare at her. She had broken out into a sweat and had effectively crushed the pillow with her limited gripping area. "Unusual.." He trotted over, looking around for anything peculiar. Finding nothing he supposed to check for illness before believing it was some random nightmare. "You’re quite warm there." He petted her mane back down, fixing where his hoof had parted her hair. "I’ll just go get Laceration; Pawning off the work he should’ve already been doing is a full time job afterall." *** "My guards caused a fight after a citizen that resisted detainment caused a magical explosion and was fairly skilled at fighting." Celestia thought it sounded like a fairly decent written action novel, or at least a scene. A curt nod, "Yes, your Highness. That’s only the very start though. There’re altercations and property destruction as you already know." "They suffered Intermediate but not life threatening injuries? It was just one mare." Her papers floated in a lazy circle, "Well unicorns are rather troublesome when they can do deft levitation." "To be perfectly clear, the detailed report goes into some specifics and the wounds caused were either unintended or lucky shots. I wouldn’t worry about completely retraining the guards." "Okay." She moved the fourth page to the back of the stack. "And the suspect was seen exiting at a high pace with leaving one guard behind. The guards called in and," she flipped the page again, most of the space being taken by blank space between the lines and timestamps, "the two went for medical treatment. The rest of squad N9 regrouped and combed the city for the suspect." Another flip. "Following a trail of collateral damage, they overheard a shriek..." She soured. "This truly happened Raven?" Celestia looked down for confirmation. Raven was sitting down, a bit unusual, but she had clearly not slept well with tired, sunken eyes. "Mmm, yes. They are very diligent reporters, except the ponies that do the summaries leave out some important details from time to time." A page flip, and it was covered in neat type font. Leaning back, Celestia read everything—twice. There were two timestamps, one at the top and one at the bottom, ten minutes apart. Grimacing, she filed away the page for later reference. Figuring out that was the pinnacle of the events, her stack was floated back over to her faithful secretary. "So, where are the involved ponies now?" *** The Captain of squad N9 hated being detained. A group of nine other thestrals, fully armed, milled around, nervous about their enclosure. One of them stubbed their hooves and gave a yelp, almost a squeak. The Captain of squad N9 didn’t mind being detained except when forced to share a cell with antisocial guards. *** "So you say she’s sick?" The Doctor leaned on the doorframe. "Well, I think so. I never went to medical school and generally picked up on most of your usual work due to you getting dead drunk." He deadpanned. "She’s really warm on the outside; I know what a fever is." "Eesh. Sarcasm much." "Yes well, I’m tired of doing your work." He turned to leave and stopped when his cousin called out to him. "Are you really mad or just trying to get a clean exit?" He turned on the sink, rinsing his glass out with a purplish aura. "... Yes?" "Sure, figures. I’d say both." Breathing in deeply, he flicked the lights on with his magic. "You can just leave you know. However, I’d like to ask if there’s been any progress on her identification." Whooves shrugged. "Maybe some. Most offices were closed, ponies were asleep, and the public records here are incomplete." "Ciao, and thanks. I’m so sorry." He grabbed him by the withers. "I’ll promise not to get drunk.. while I am actually in the office." He patted him back, "Only for you Laceration; only for you."