EQSP

Alongside Whitetail Wood, a long train raced as fast as its engine could allow. Pulling at least a dozen cars laden with passengers and freight, the Canterlot Express always ran at full throttle to get to its stops on time. The passenger cars seemed to always rumble with many voices young and old, as the train's main clientele was young vacationing Canterlot families. It seemed that everypony aboard had something to say or shout at somepony else.

However, a single seat on the first car remained completely silent. Its occupant, an older charcoal-coated stallion, had far too much on his mind to say anything to anypony, even if there was somepony aboard he knew. Through his mind ran the last conversation he had participated in...

"You wanted to see me, Colonel?"

The alabaster pegasus looked up from a report laid on his wide mahogany desk. "Ah yes, Cobalt. So good to see you again." The colonel placed his forehooves on the desk as a flat expression came across his face. "We have a new assignment for you. From the top. This one's...unconventional."

Cobalt looked confused. "Sir?"

"Looks like you're going deep undercover. Real deep. So deep, in fact, you will no longer be recognized as a part of Special Operations for the duration of your mission."

"And the duration would be...how long?"

"According to this, until the Princesses have determined your mission complete."

The charcoal earth pony groaned. Great. The last thing he needed was a mission from some higher-up who had never been in the field, much less one who had no idea how to tell when a mission was complete. "And there's nopony else you could send?"

Colonel Garrison sighed. "Unfortunately not. Princess Celestia asked for you personally. There's nothing we can do. I...I'm sorry, Sergeant. I'm going to hate losing you."

"What...what do you mean? Surely this won't take too long."

"Perhaps you should read this for yourself." The pegasus slid a sheet of paper across the desk, where Cobalt turned it around and read intently.

EQUESTRIA SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION MISSION FILE 1746530

TOP SECRET

OPERATION OVERWATCH

MISSION PARAMETERS

Following the recent crises throughout Equestria, it has been judged that early-warning and response systems currently in place are severely lacking. In order to support and improve current standing law enforcement and militia groups, some Special Operations operatives shall be reassigned to local police and National Guard positions. In these roles, they will continue to protect the freedom and safety of the people of Equestria, providing command and aid to serving officers. In order to dispel notions of government control, the operative involved will be temporarily or permanently dissolved of all ties with Special Operations and will effectively become members of their host groups. The first test case will involve Sergeant Cobalt Frost, a veteran of several dozen operations, and the Ponyville branch of the Equestria State Police. Ponyville has been the center of many incidents, and as such assistance is greatly needed.

New assignments for Special Operations troops as a part of Overwatch shall be given out based on the successes and failures of the test case.

Cobalt was in shock. They were sending him, their best stallion, to some advisor position for a nearly untrained police department?! After nearly a minute of silent confusion, he spluttered out,

"Ponyville?! The tiny backwater farming town outside of Everfree? As a POLICE OFFICER? They can't do this!"

The colonel sighed again, a look of regret coming across his face. "It's absolutely unfair to take an extremely successful stallion from his prime to put him into something like...this. But I've been fighting the top brass for almost a week now and they won't change their mind. They think you're getting too old for this job, and so they locked you in as the test subject for Overwatch."

Cobalt was crushed. He managed to choke out, "This is because of what happened, isn't it?"

"I think so. Everypony here knows you've changed, but not everypony knows you can stay successful.

"I know this must be hard for you. First them, now this...At least you aren't getting a desk job, right? Like me."

"There's...there's that."

The colonel's voice softened. He came out from behind his desk and placed a hoof on Cobalt's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, you know. You need to remember that."

Cobalt sighed. "I know. I need to move on."

"But you need to never forget them. Keep them with you, but try to make the best of things."

"I will."

"Good. Now, you have a train to catch. Your things have been loaded aboard already. Good luck out there."

"Thanks."

A voice cawed out of the train's intercom. "Next stop, Ponyville. Next stop, Ponyville."

Cobalt looked up, startled out of his reverie. Here we go, he thought. Onward to a new life. As the Express slowly decelerated, he checked in his government-issue saddlebag for the keys to the small house he would stay in. Pushing the newfound keys aside, he pulled a pair of reflective aviator sunglasses from the bag before pushing them onto his face. Cobalt looked to all the world to be nothing more than a middle-aged stallion on a weekend vacation.

Whilst climbing off the train along with a group of chattering Trottingham tourists, he was flagged down by a railway porter. "Mister Frost?"

"That's me."

"Your cart is right here." He gestured towards a slightly battered cart loaded with various suitcases and boxes.

"Thanks." As the porter helped him get hitched up, he briefly wondered what Special Operations had thought he would need for an indefinite stay in an unfamiliar town. Casting his gaze towards the center of town, Cobalt Frost slowly walked towards his new house and a fresh start.