(Accepting) Equestria: 1955

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

"He was already inside when I heard the shop keep ranting about bigots," Thrillseeker said, taking a puff of the cigarette. "That's when I decided to investigate. I caught the earth pony leaving just as the owner threatened to call the cops. Like I said, that was pretty much all I saw up to that point."

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@@Yoshi89,

 

"Alright, I'll run this by the station, see what they make of it," he resigned, frustrated that he was no closer to understanding the situation, "If we can nail Flim by Winter Wrap Up, I'll be a happy camper, but I'm not gonna lie, this ain't exactly damning to either party."

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

"Good luck to you and the station catching Flim, then," Thrillseeker wished the officer. "And I'm glad I could at least help. Somepony like him wouldn't last long where I come from. The folks in Bucklyn know a dirty, lying swindler when they see one. Oh, and thanks for the cigarette."

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

(OK, I'm all caught up.)

 

Renegade slowly woke up in his small home on Maple Street. Like all of Manehatten's suburbs, Maple Street was lined with identical houses, each with a white-picket fence border. The unicorn got out of bed, turned on the radio, and got ready for work. Ever since moving here, the unicorn realized, Maple Street was a bit too idyllic for his taste. "I know everypony's hiding something...I just need to figure out what." he muttered as he combed his mane and walked out the door.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

@@Mand'alor Dash, 

"Well as you can probably tell from vacuum still on my back, not well" Zephyr grumbled. "The first thing he did when I walked in was try to sell me some sort of magic tail conditioner. Then when I told him I just wanted to return the vacuum he got all defensive and, long story short, he called the cops. Now I find out he even lied about his brother being in the bar next door, I can't deal with this guy Mac!"

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@@Yoshi89,

"No problem, and keep an ear out," the officer reminded him, as he ducked back into his squad car and drove off into the night.

 

@,

"Morning, neighbor!" came the greeting from Slowride, as he shoveled the Manehattan snow off his front porch. "You hear the news last night?"

 

@@HunterTSN,

Big Mac, the quiet giant he is, let loose a frustrated sigh and popped the trunk of the Caper, before getting in the driver's seat and idling the engine. Under his breath, Zephyr could swear she heard him mutter something about "Fucking unicorns."

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

Renegade looked at Slowride. "Oh, yes. What a tragedy. What makes it worse, for myself at least, is the fact that I was off-duty last night." To himself, Renegade thought, Yeah, because I was spying on you. Renegade faked a smile and continued, "So...anything new in your life happen recently?"

Edited December 27, 2014 by Renegade the Unicorn

[Gloomfury 243]

@@HunterTSN,@@Mand'alor Dash,  

 

Gloom lets out another tired sigh as he lit another cigarette in his mouth. He still didn't know why he was following the mare he met at the train station. He just thought that maybe she could use his help. He could tell that she could handle herself a little but it was always good to have back up. Plus he thought it would't be boring to help her out. 

 

As he found her again he blew some smoke out his nose again and made his way towards her. When he got closer he could see she was talking to a bulky red stallion. Before he got to her he turned around to face the unicorn gang who was still following him. "You boys fan out a bit, I'll find ya later." Some nod and went off back to the bar.

 

By then he was made it to her. "Jaysus, lass. If you keep taken off like that I don't thick you'll ever find a bloke to shack up with." He said with a chuckle. He leaned an arm on the open window of the car to get a look at the big stallion. "Howya, mate. Names' Gloom." He said with a smile as he hold out a friendly hoof for the stallion to shake.

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

Thrillseeker waited until the police car was out of his sight before walking away from the store. He continued down the block until the lure of doo-wop music carried him closer to the bar. He peered inside one of the windows and, seeing FlIm inside, darted away behind a wall. If that faker sees me, he thought, I'm as good as dead. I'd better keep outta his sight until the fuzz gets him.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

@@Gloomfury, 

Zephyr sighed, as the odd pony from the train showed up once again, this time lacking the entourage. With a groan she turned to face him.

 

"Is there any particular reason you keep on seeking me out? I already told you I don't need your protection, what do you want?" she snapped. Only afterwards did she realize she had probably just insulted a psychopathic killer who used "bodyguarding" as an excuse to pick fights.

Edited December 28, 2014 by HunterTSN

[Gloomfury 243]

@@Mand'alor Dash,@@HunterTSN,

 

After shaking the stallions hoof he turned around to face the mare again while leaning against the car.  "An escape from boredom, lass. I don't have to have a reason to help out a mare who obviously needs help." He said while blowing out some smoke. The smile from his face then turned into a frown. "A while back I wasn't able to help someone close to me. Now whenever I come across someone who needs help I help them. And I don't give up till I do." While he said that he gripped the handle of his knife, not in a threatening way. But he did have a regretting look in his eyes. 

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@,

"Well, considering how close we all are to Manehattan, it's hard not to be affected by all this business," Slowride admitted, grimly, "My son was mugged the other day, just going to work. Cops say the mugger worked for one of the families."

 

@@Yoshi89,

 

 

Flim kept his head down as well. This wasn't a place where he wanted to be seen, but apparently he had business here. As Thrill kept quiet and watched, a Griffon in a trenchcoat walked in and ordered two beers. He drank one himself, but gave the other one to Flim, joining him on the other side of his table. Thrill didn't have to be an eagle eye to notice that there was a gun concealed in the Griffon's coat. And after the two conversed briefly, the Griffon reached a talon into that very same coat pocket...

 

@@HunterTSN, @@Gloomfury,

 

Big Macintosh, sensing a hint of unfinished business between the two ponies, decided to butt out. "You know I uh," he stammered, turning off the engine in the caper, "done forgot something important in the store." He walked off, promising to return in "five minutes."

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

@,

"Well, considering how close we all are to Manehattan, it's hard not to be affected by all this business," Slowride admitted, grimly, "My son was mugged the other day, just going to work. Cops say the mugger worked for one of the families."

 

@@Yoshi89,

 

 

Flim kept his head down as well. This wasn't a place where he wanted to be seen, but apparently he had business here. As Thrill kept quiet and watched, a Griffon in a trenchcoat walked in and ordered two beers. He drank one himself, but gave the other one to Flim, joining him on the other side of his table. Thrill didn't have to be an eagle eye to notice that there was a gun concealed in the Griffon's coat. And after the two conversed briefly, the Griffon reached a talon into that very same coat pocket...

 

@@HunterTSN, @@Gloomfury,

 

Big Macintosh, sensing a hint of unfinished business between the two ponies, decided to butt out. "You know I uh," he stammered, turning off the engine in the caper, "done forgot something important in the store." He walked off, promising to return in "five minutes."

"Oh. Is that so?" Renegade questioned with an interested look. "Pardon my language, but I'll be sure to catch the bastards if I see them." Renegade said. "Speaking of which, I'd like to get my hooves on McCanter for talking trash about the General like that." To emphasize, he pounded one of his hooves against the other.

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

Thrillseeker did a double take as he saw the shape of the gun in the coat pocket. He listened intently as their conversation dragged out. When the griffon reached into the pocket, Thrillseeker instantly felt remorse for the way he treated Flim earlier. He then did the only thing that made sense.

 

"LOOK OUT!" he screamed through the window. "HE'S GOT A GUN!" He then ducked behind the window and covered his ears.

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@,

"I dunno, neighbor," Slowride said, ponderously, "I think he might be on to something. The General seemed pretty eager to buddy up with the Changelings during the war. Sure, we were allied at the time, but what excuse is that? The Changelings pose a greater threat to Equestria than the Griffon Kingdom ever did!"

 

@@Yoshi89,

There were no gunshots. Not then, anyway. The silence hung in the air like a thick fog for several seconds, before the Griffon left the establishment. Hazarding a quick peek, Thrill saw that Flim was counting a bag of bits. The Griffon was there to bribe Flim, not kill him.

 

But what could a Griffon want out of a slimy little cheat like Flim?

Edited December 28, 2014 by Mand'alor Dash

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

@,

"I dunno, neighbor," Slowride said, ponderously, "I think he might be on to something. The General seemed pretty eager to buddy up with the Changelings during the war. Sure, we were allied at the time, but what excuse is that? The Changelings pose a greater threat to Equestria than the Griffon Kingdom ever did!"

 

@@Yoshi89,

There were no gunshots. Not then, anyway. The silence hung in the air like a thick fog for several seconds, before the Griffon left the establishment. Hazarding a quick peek, Thrill saw that Flim was counting a bag of bits. The Griffon was there to bribe Flim, not kill him.

 

But what could a Griffon want out of a slimy little cheat like Flim?

"I'll admit, McCanter may be paranoid, but he is right. There are changelings everywhere. But does that mean he gets to accuse anypony he wants? I don't think so! I grew up during the war, and looked up to the General as a colt. Personally, I don't think McCanter is doing the job right, so..." Renegade pulled out a list. "This list, which I made myself, lists the clues which can give away a changeling. Nifty, eh?"

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

As the Griffon prepared to walk out of the bar, Thrillseeker ran out of options. He was too panicked to even think about flying away, so he dove inside a trash can, only regretting it when he discovered it wasn't empty. From his hiding place, he could see the griffon heading out of the bar before he turned back into see Flim.

 

I am such a dummy, he thought to himself.

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@,

 

Slowride grabbed the list in his hoof, and gave it a once-over. "Bad breath?" he read, perplexedly.

 

@@Yoshi89,

 

The Griffon collected a small envelope from Flim, and then left the bar again, this time for good. He lit himself a cigarette, and walked away from the bar. Luckily for Thrillseeker, he needed a smoke, else he would have flown away at top speed.

 

Either way, this bird's business in Ponyville was not concluded.

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

"Whoops, wrong list." Renegade said quickly, grabbing the list from Slowride and pulling out another one. This one had basic information on changelings. "See, I listed how you can easily find a changeling by using what's on this list. I wrote down all the basic information of changelings that I know, and I'm using it to find any changelings on Maple Street."

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

Thrillseeker poked his head out from the trash can and watched the Griffon start walking away. He couldn't have heard him scream because of the glass in the window so there was no way he could have saved a life. He hopped the can over to the window again, hoping to catch any more shady business from Film.

 

This time, I'll know what to expect, he thought to himself.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Yoshi89

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

@,

 

"Gotta say, Ren, this is certainly... comprehensive," Slowride admitted, "But McCanter's department has been studying Changelings longer than you or I have been alive. Give them a little credit, will ya?"

 

@@Yoshi89,

 

Flim had already escaped. He was nowhere to be seen. Despite Thrill's estimations, there's a chance he could have heard him. The glass is thin enough that he can still play the music playing from inside the bar.

 

The Griffon, opting for far less subtlety than his Unicorn accomplice, walked openly, almost as if he had nothing to hide. And with every drag of his smoke, he only broadcast his position louder against the sleepy Ponyville nightlife.

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

"I guess you're right." Renegade admitted. "I'll give them some credit, but not a whole lot. It's been nice chatting, but I gotta get to work. See ya later, Slowride." Renegade called, walking away. As the unicorn walked down Maple Street, he looked around to appreciate his surroundings, soon walking into Manehatten itself. He walked into the police station, at sat down at his desk.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

@@Gloomfury,
"Even if I did need your help the other night, I don't anymore. I'm stayin' with the apples now and as soon as I get the time I'm sending a letter to ma family, I can crash at their place for as long as I need" Zephyr growled. "I'm fine, and I sure don't need the kind of help that your kind offers. How about you leave me alone and I'll come to you next time I need somebody capped because they looked at me funny."

[Gloomfury 243]

@@HunterTSN,

 

Gloom let out another puff of smoke. " Well, to be honest, lass. There ain't a lot of my kind out there. Some offer one kind of help. Where as I offer many kinds. And I do them all very well, need someone killed? I can do that. Need to disappear, I can help. Need a bodyguard, I can do that. Need a guide, I can do that too. Looking for a translator, Je suis votre étalon. Need a trainer, I can do that too. I'm pretty much a dog with many tricks." He tossed what was left of his cigarette and took a step towards the mare. "And only fools get mad so easily." He then gave the mare a stern look. "Now let me ask you something. When whoever is looking for you comes a knocking on the door of the Apples, what's gonna stop them from killing them a burning down their farm? You, I doubt it.  You'll probably take off running and save yourself. Cause that seems like your only talent."

[Yoshi89 5,293]

@@Mand'alor Dash,

 

As soon as the griffon left, Thrillseeker climbed out of the trash can. No sense in hiding anymore, he thought as he discovered Flim had left. He flew to the nearest cloud he could find and used its rain to wash himself from the stench. He then hopped on the cloud and used it to eavesdrop on Flim, wherever he could find him. Maybe he could find out more about his shady practices.