New Trottland Yard Case 06 - Silver Cross and a new beginning

Silver Cross

and a new beginning

Chapter 3

“What's going on?”, I asked, startled to see the council elder come to get me. Sweet, who had tried to tackle her to the ground for a hug the other day, took the opportunity of me being distracted to do just that. At least she tried, but elder Berry Wing was just to fast for her. Dodging my little fillies attempt to hug her, and returning her to my back pretty quickly, she once again had a surprised Pegasus filly stare at her.

“Well... isn't that unusual. I don't remember anypony ever bringing her foal to work.”, she chuckled, dodging my question.

“Ehm... I don't want to be disrespectful, elder Berry Wing, but I would really like to know what going on here, and why I was demoted.”, I asked, and elder Berry Wing blinked in surprise.

“Demoted? Try promoted, Special Agent.”, she deadpanned. Now it was my time to blink in surprise.

“Wha..Why... Special Agent?”

“Yes, Special Agent. Come on, I'll show you around and explain everything to you.”, Elder Berry Wing said, and led the way into the long white hallway that the secret door had been hiding.

On our way to an elevator on the other end of that hallway, she explained to me that the Unicorn stallion at the frost desk cast a revelation spell on me, to check if I was a Changeling. All I could do during our, surprisingly short, walk was nod in dumbfounded agreement. Sweet on the other hoof had taken to climb completely onto my head to have a better vantage point.  When we rode the elevator, I just couldn't help but ask a few questions.

“Say... ehm... elder...”, but I got cut off by the mare next to me, who rolled her eyes and waved me off with one of her wings.

“Cut the elder thing already. First off, I'm only two years older then you. Secondly, I may still be with the council, but being here and having an eye on you is my new main job. I wouldn't have thought they would agree to this, but it seems they are quite happy to be rid of me for a while...”, the mare grumbled, and then added, “Berry is just fine.”

“Ok... ehm... Berry... So what is this all about?”

“Didn't you guess it already? The council was in turmoil because of your reports. We had a big council meeting about a week ago to decide what to do with you. Many wanted to just lock you up and be done with it, in case you ever turned against the council.”, Berry explained, and just talked over me when I wanted to protest.

“No need to say anything. I know you wouldn't. I've read your service record, and you don't seem to have a single anti-council bone in your body. That's why I proposed such a ridiculous solution, that I was sure they would regret it and leave you alone for good.”, she sighed, turning her face to me.

“But it looks like I was totally wrong. Well, as of today....”, she started, as the glass cylinder that was the elevator, broke free from the rock that had surrounded it up to now, and gave me a look at the biggest library I had ever seen. Dozens of Ponies were sitting at tables, reading the books and making notes, while others seemed to go through everything the reading Ponies had written down. Berry must have noticed my wide eyed expression, and Sweet almost falling off my head as she tried to take in everything at once, since there was a smile forming on a face.

“Welcome to the new department of the New Trottland Yard and the Equestrian Intelligence service. Welcome to the office of Nightmare affairs.”, Berry said, waving a hoof in a wide arc. The elevator went down several more floors like this, but each of them was different. On the second floor, there was a giant maneuver area, where Ponies were training in different simulated areas. The third floor looked like the information processing center of the Trottland Yard building upstaris, only much bigger. There were hundreds of Ponies working on terminals, taking calls or filling out reports.

The fourth underground floor however, was what took the muffin for me. This was where they had put the living quarters and briefing rooms. On the far end of a long hallway, there was a wooden door with golden lettering on it.

“Special Agent Silver Cross, Office head”, was written on it.

Had my eyes gone any wider, I would have looked like one giant eye on four hooves. We had left Sweet in the living space that was assigned to us, since it would have taken a considerable amount of time to get her out of there again. The two floored “living space” only had one floor I could use. The other one was made entirely out of clouds...

“What... the... buck?”, I mouthed, speechless.

“Glad you like it, Special agent, it took a great amount of Bits and magic to built all of this in only one week after all.”, Berry chuckled.

“But.... But... What is this department supposed to do? I mean, the name is kind of obvious, but I want to hear it from you.”, I stammered.

“It's simple. I am here to have an eye on you, and to accompany you on your missions. I'm to judge your truthfulness about that Nightmare creature. The research division of this office is checking ancient texts for any signs of the Nightmare and it's weaknesses. Not to mention the history behind the creature. The analysts above are checking every case from our land and beyond, that could be labeled as supernatural or abnormal for signs of it's activity. The soldiers assigned to this office are training upstairs in case we find the Nightmares base of operation. I have watched the security footage of the day that one Changeling killed fifty of our finest soldiers, and how you fought it later on. I'm quite aware that the soldiers may not be of much use, but they would at least be able to keep the runts off your back, while you take care of the Nightmare itself. Oh, and we have arranged for private tutelage for your daughter, and the best medical care you can find in all of Equestria.”, she explained, smirking all the while.

I didn't want to endanger anypony, but she knew she had me with that last part. Right now I could cover the walls of my apartment with the bills from doctors and therapists, and I just didn't have the bits for a spot in that school for foals with special needs.... I couldn't help but ask nonetheless.

“So what's the pay?”,  asked, already knowing that this was an offer I just couldn't refuse.

“Ten thousand an month, plus hazard pay if we confirm that your mission had something to do with the Nightmare. Don't get me wrong though. This pay is by no means normal, even for a Special Agent. If what you say is true, then that creature is a threat to the whole world. That kind of pay is only to serve as a motivator for you. And now, let's go in and meet your team.”, Berry said, opening the door to my new office.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

In the vast office, that was full of filing cabinets, a big mahogany desk at the rear wall, and smaller desks along the way to the big desk, stood five Ponies. All of them wore the traditional outfit of an EIS agent. Meaning I couldn't see an inch of their bodies... Oh this was gonna be fun....