The rain has stopped, I could continue my little trip. ''If I hurry, I'd be able to do some spotting in the west district, there's high probability of Changeling traffic''. I hate these guys, they are able to sneak into everything; last week, I heard that the secretary of the second departement has been replaced by a changeling. Hopefully he was still alive, and have been saved. For the infilrated, he rejoined his similar; towards the morgue. These kinds of ponies don't deserve a place in our society. It's folowing the rules, or be eliminated.
As my unknow contact told me, the appointment had to be in a particular pub at the angle of the sixteenth and the seventheenth street. ''At the next crossroad, turn to your left, and you are arrived''. ''The drunk Sheep'' what a lovely name.
I made a break.
''That could be a trap, killing an investigator of the third section is a very nice trophy to put in front of the fireplace. Don't be a moron Arnold, don't forget who you are, go in, and show them who is the boss.''
The air was loaded of tabacco smoke, the research has shown that this is really dangerous for the health, but it seemed that the customers did't care about that. A soft light was coming from the lamp that strangeled, depending of their mood. But the atmosphere was friendly. The table at the back, what an unexpected surprise. The message stated that I had to be here at four P.M... ''What happen next? I hope that it's not some kind of hoax, I would be discredited in that case. If I catch the little @#!*% that sent me this''...
<>
<> she don't give me a chance to finish what I've got to say and she takes me to the back of the restaurant.
''How could I resist to her? Her mane seemed so sweet.... I would like to sleep in it, and also to tak.... Get over it, Arnold, you are in duty! You don't have time for this childishness. You have to go back to the base at seven P.M; you take the intels, and after that yo... Wait a second. There is nobody in this room!? That's it! It's a trap! Oh no, why did I do that?! Why couldn't I just do what I had to do and not much!? I'm a moron, a big and stupid moron! I'm gonna die and I won't ev....''
<>
<>
<>
Her mane was hypnotizing me. ''By Celestia's beard! How could somepony be so... Attractive.'' I don't know if my instinct was acting, but I had to help her.
<>
<>
I didn't let her finish that I put her on my back, broke the door, ran across the restaurant, broke the other door and galloped in the city...
Does this beautiful lady had survived? Sure. Does my superior like my methods? Probably not. Does the bad guys have been arrested? That'll be for an other time; I have better things to do; the pizzas has arrived, and we are both hungry to the bones!
I was running across the castle, exploring each room, seeking the littlest clue of the exact position where the damsel in distress was held prisoner. The villagers told me that this place was full of danger, traps and even a dangerous dragon! Beating a dragon is quiet hard, but I had the perfect plan; Before entering the dongeon, I made a disguise with the remains of some creatures, probably burnt by the actual guardian. Like that, the sweet scent, emanating from the corpse, would assure me a good distraction, just enough time to deal a brutal hit, but certainly fatal!
''Aha! What do we got here?'' I whispered. A strange ornament seemed to be detaching from the wall, revealing a grip. I took a deep breath and pulled it.
*BRAOOM*... *CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK*...*BDAM*
Interesting; it seems that I found a secret mecanism. In front of me, the wall gave away to a staircase, as dark as moonless night. That might be the way to the cells. I saized the opportunity and entered the gloomy stairwell. But quickly, what seemed a safe way to my objectif became a deadly trap; as soon as I set my hooves on a stair, it fell into the depht. I was racing against the time. I couldn't fail now, that would be so stupid! I galloped the faster as I could. The sound of the stairs, crashing at the bottom of the deep well was bloodcurdling, but the vision of the door gave me all the strenght and bravery that I needed.
*CRRRAAAAAAAAAK*... *BDOOM*
I rushed trough the door like a predator swooping on my prey, got across the wooden door and sprawled to the ground. I was breathless; too much action in a row. Maybe I'll rest here, a little bit...
*GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
''Ow... Dear...'' I was so focussed on my last mishap, that I didn't notticed that I was in the presence of Mister abductor, the very-very-very dangerous behemoth dragon. I covered myself with my ingenious subterfuge, I raised my sword and then I.....
*BLEEP... BLEEP... BLEEP.. BLEEP.. BLEEP... BLEEP*
''Mmmh?... What the...'' A dream.... It was just a freakin' dream... Damn... And it was becoming so much exciting! What am I doing here? Oh, yes.. My promotion...
I remembered it like it was the day before... Because it was the day before... After my little ''properly useless escapade'', the section head has given me a choice. A very simple choice.
FLASH-BACK
<>
The Special Unit, that's where they send all the most crazy killers and the one like me that can't follows the lead. I can say good-bye to my employment at the Investigation Services. Because, when you join the ''Specials'', you are one of then for your entire life. The administrator continued his little speech, <>
<>
<>
<>
<<''Knacker'': Don't you remember the incident that made you famous, at the Academy? The... How do they name it... The ''Daftee Slaughter''? Not only you survived it, but you literally ''obliterated'' several members of the terrorist group. You have a real talent for explosives, Arold. Do not deny who you are.>>
END OF FLASH-BACK
Even if I don't agree with the notion that I'm considered like a ''Marron-Maniac'', he's right; I'm really good at blowing things up. My first bomb is dating of my sixth birthday; my parents gave me a DIY kit. Aftermath? We had never heard about neighbors agains.... Well, It was imperative to be ready for the first day, the most significant of my new job. I took a quick shower, I put on my uniform (A plain short-sleeved shirt, a dark brown protective vest with bright edge and some logistics equipments, nothing really special.) and I descended the few meters that separated me from the living room, the most important place of the headquarters, where I was going to meet the squad that I was responsible of....
Since I was a kid, I felt in myself that I would make a really good mercenary. Not because I had a killer instinct, but because that was the only way to prove to everyone that I wasn't a failure. ''You are useless!'', ''You can't make something right!'' or ''You are the weakest colt I've ever met, Arold!'' was my daily routine. You can imagine their faces, when I told them that I had filled out the registration form for the military academy. I left them speechless! I knew it is was gonna be hard, but I was training from a young age, so I wasn't afraid of what would happen.
The day has come.
<> My mother was worried beyond reason, I had to interrupt her.
<> If she hasn't stopped, I would never be able to join the ''R.R.R'', the prestigious institution of civil protection! <> I said that to reassure her, but if she listened what I told her, she would know that there are no permission to visit a family member before one year of service... Poor mom, she's gonna be so lonely... Since dad has died, what is she gonna do, alone...
<> That might be some kind of psychic link between her and me, but I never had that kind of connection with my father. He wasn't a distant man, on the contrary, but as a member of the Wonderbolts, she was absent, frenquently absent. Speaking of which, it's amazing that the Wonderbolts persisted that much. My father was a big fan of that famous Wonderbolt... What was her name? Mmmh.... Rainbow Rash? Rainpow Dash? I don't remember, but the most disturbing, is that she outlived him, she even came to his funeral.
Anyway, as I said: the day has come, it's time for the bird to leave the nest. The road'll be hard, dangerous and full of obstacle, but it is worth.
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<> I couldn't believe it, I was going to face my destiny! That was the most beautiful day of my life (following the day I put a firecracker in the toilet bowl before the pricipal sits on it, at the university... Of course). I was walking to the entrance, when somepony came from the hall and collided with me.
<> as soon as I shouted, he turned back to face me.
<> My eyes headed to the place concerned. There was indeed a bag, on the ground, near a wooden seat.
<> I replied, while following him, <>
<> He asked.
<> I requested with a quiet convincing tone.
<> He said, a little bit embarrased.
<> And we entered the main wing as two childhood friends...
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The corridors was full of ponies from everywhere; pegasus from Cloudsdale, horses from Saddle Arabia, earthponies from that good-old Ponyville and even unicorns from Canterlot! That wasn't gonna be a piece a cake. Groups has already be formed among the rookies: The offensives, including the one that doesn't fear to have blood on their hooves; The defensives, that prefer to wait the enemy to eliminate it ; And the supportives, who can handle both situation to help their teammates.
The choice was hard.... Maybe too hard, because neither I nor my partner joined one of them.
<> I mumbled.
<> my pegasus friend was really concentrated about this choice, it looked like the most important of his life. He was really nervous, maybe I could calm him down.
<> The important when you want to calm somepony, is to look peaceful... But inside, I was way more nervous: That's a very important choice. ''If I don't go in the good band, I'll be ridiculous! But, even in the good one, something could go wrong and, after all, which is the good one?!'' My thoughts weren't very helpful... I should follow my own advice sometimes....
<> I sighed, <> I pointed a large round desk, where a very attractive mare was sitting among binders, folders, and communication device. charm did not let my young friend indifferent.
<> At this speed, we would go to the senior category....
<> I took his place, in front of her face.... << Miss, could you pleeeaaa....>> Damn.... It's, it's like I was falling in her deep gaze... That was like lying on a cloud... I could stay like this whole days... But she didn't let me the opportunity to.
<> She resumed serious for a little moment. <> She continued.
<> We were totally mesmerized by her eyes, but we still managed a nod, as two morons Tier. <> Were the only words that came out of our mouths. She sniggered a cute laugh that only have mares, and indicated the path on our left.
<> And we trotted down the hall, without detaching the regard from what for us was the love of our lives.
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After wandering around in the hallways, we found ourselves in front of a white door with a square window with the inscription: ''projection room''. Someponies were talking behind it. So, we entered, not without a hint of anxiety.
The place was full of the ponies that we saw before the main wing. Next to us, a projector pointing at a screen held on a blackboard. We took a seat, waiting for something to happen.
<> Unlike Jason, I didn't noticed that I was holding a sheet bundle, with lot of things written on it.
<> I had no ideas of the reason why I was holding these forms. My friend took the bundle and began to inspect its contents.
<> He summarized what he was reading, <> We checked the clock: 11:57. <>
I was intrigued. <> I asked him.
<> He replied.
<> When I said that it wasn't gonna be a piece of cake, I didn't know what I was talking about!
<> Jason didn't seem very upbeat about this concept. I had the same opinion. <> I didn't need to hear the full listing, so I stopped him.
<>
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The room was filled with the intermixed talks of its occupants, until somepony came in several minutes later.
<> The instructor was tall, square shoulders, and his red uniform enhanced his silvery coat. He took off his cap, and throw it to a unicorn of the first row that was talking with the pegasus next to him. He was caught unaware.
<<You, go out, and take your buddy with you, Equestria don't need tattletates to be protected. But, as long as you are there, could you kindly put my cap on the coat rack?
That'd be lovely!>> We have been warned, no talking allowed during his instructions. Jason and I were terrorized.
<> Our blood ran cold and all rookies rose like robots, shouting :
<> He seemed delighted.
<> He advanced to the door of the local and opened it. <>
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Mister Crugg led us to the backyard of the academy that host a parcours of obstacles, including wall climbing, crawling and coordination trials. We could already hear ponies swearing...
<>
<>
But everypony hadn't the same view.
<>
<>
<> The instructor took a red libreto. <> We didn't believe what we heard. <> He waited a little minute. <> I doffed my shirt and obeyed. He went behind us and bond our hooves. <> The instructor pushed the first recruit to the ground. <> The pony was shocked.
<> Mister Crugg raised him and removed his bond.
<>
<> The instructor was exasperated.
<> He left the academy, and we did the parcour, the hooves attached.
We were tired to death, during the last six hours, we had made three laps of the ''Not-for-sissy'' parcour. At the end, the half of our group has given up.
<> The first good news of the day. <> The instructor left the lodging wing. <>
<> When he passed the door, we finally decompressed. All of us was sprawling on the red carpeting.
<> somepony swished.
<> One jocked.
<> Overall laughter. <> Second overall laughter. <> The topic was really juicy, everypony wanted to give their opinions about it.
<> everyone turned to the dissident... <> The laughter, again. I think that I laughed because of the group effect. I don't like to judge when I wasn't a witness of what happened. All I know is that very long ago (like thousands of years), there was two sisters that ruled this place, but one banished the other and jealousy stuffs. But one day, a mare set free the second sister. She proved her valor with friendship and magic things. And then she became a princess too. But twenty years ago, they disappeared. All the guards were seeking for them, so nopony was ensuring the safety of the people, that led to the security crisis. Now, peace and order are kept by private mercenary company. that's the official (and consice) version of what happen. Investigation has rapidly be sealed, for absence of witnesses.
<> I started, <> The calm came back. Quickly, we entered in a dormitory, sometimes haphazardly, looking for a vacant bed. It was like a game of musical chair, except that the players usually don't fall asleep during the round. five minutes later, the passageway was cleared of occupants.
<> One of my roommates, a unicorn, asked. I didn't want to start a new discussion, but I replied.
<> I braced my pillow and put my face on it. <>
<>
I looked up <> And turned off the light.
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The sun was rising, the birds were singing, the morning dew shone like a diamond field and the...
*DRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING*
The alarm bell rang, I was out of my numbness.
<> I shooted as loud as I could to speak over the bell. <> My call was a little bit useless: everypony was up.
<> Came from the back of the hallway.
<> Whoever said that, he didn't finished. The instructor came in, wearing a protective ear-piece.
<> We were mad at him, but what to do? <> And he left the local by trotting merrily.
<> I said.
<>
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Less than five minutes later, we were aligned in the hall, our ears buzzing. We knew that our dear tormentor was preparing something, but what?