A Study in Mint

"What? What is it?" I asked, as the smirk on Lyra's face grew bigger by the second.

She didn't answer at first, but from her gestures and mimics I could easily tell that she was bursting with energy once again. At the same time I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. To me it seemed that our case was finished up and concluded for good. There'd be no reason for excitement on either of our parts, the way I saw it. The only logical consequence would mean for her to sit back and relax for once. Because despite all the minor annoyances she caused me during her struggle, I felt more than convinced that Lyra did in fact deserve her victory. Only the mint-green unicorn hardly seemed to agree with me on that topic. And if she did, she sure wouldn't show it.

When I tilted my head to the side in confusion, one eyebrow slightly raised, Lyra began to giggle. "HAH!" she then burst out, leaping a good two feet up into the air. "Brilliant! Oh, this is brilliant. Hearth's Warming Eve must have come early this year. Or did I just forget about my birthday again?"

"That's what you're concerned about?" I asked her. "I would've expected a little more excitement from your success inconcluding the case...however you did that. And when is your birthday, anyway? I don't think you ever told me."

Upon my question, Lyra ceased her ecstatic motion for once. Instead, she remained standing on the ground, eyes narrowed, one hoof tapping against her muzzle. "I don't see how that matters, not to our case, anyway. Besides, can't you see what it is that's so exciting right now?"

My brow furrowed, as I answered with a helpless shrug, hoping for her to elaborate a bit more on her position.

"Moriarty!" Lyra exclaimed, grinning from one ear to another. Her former excitement returned at once, it seemed. "Don't you see? I've waited for this ever since I had to leave Canterlot! Finally, after all this time, there's finally something going on in this dull little town of ours. And not just Ponyville, all of Equestria may be included in this business!"

I repeated my shrugging motion, still not grasping her concept.

"Oh, come on! It should be all too obvious. Isn't it obvious?"

"Can't say so."

"Very well, then. I'll explain it to you," she explained. "There exists some kind of larger organization, which we're dealing with at the moment. An underground network, operating all over the country, and lead by somepony hidden behind the name Moriarty. Most naturally, the criminals within only contact ponies like our dear Crossroads for their simpler jobs. He is, though sympathetic, not of a very bright nature, I suppose you will agree with me on that. Ponies like him easily fail to grasp the entire dimension of what it is they're working for. But from what I could gather, this entire network is huge, if it just so manages to operate on a nationwide basis.

"And now to think, this entire construct being run by supposedly one single pony! Moriarty, king of the thieves, robbers, and corrupted in all Equestria. A Neighpoleon of crime! Do you really think I'd consider permanently settling for this life I'm leading right now? Living day after day in Ponyville, receiving my paychecks by clearing out some minor murder cases? It would bore me to death within only a few months. As opposed to...well, whatever it is we're being confronted with at the moment. This is what I feel like I'm meant to do. The struggle against an arch-enemy. A powerful nemesis worthy of my vast intellect...some kind of challenge, see? Something to bring back the excitement in my job."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes. Of course. While you're at it, I'm thinking about preparing a second breakfast, since the other one didn't quite go as planned..."

"It's a game!" Lyra called out, as I started to turn towards our small kitchen. "A game between two ponies, both of them the very best at what they're doing. Like the grand final in a global championship of chess, or...something else made by...someone else. But that's not the point. What you're about to witness is most likely going to be the single most exciting and vast criminal hunt of our century. Isn't that exciting. Come on, you think so, too. You really should."

"A game?" I asked. All the while, I already felt sorry for having questioned her motifs in the first place. Now she felt like clarifying her point like reciting an entire encyclopedia on the subject. And why was that? Probably just because that's how Lyra worked.

"Consider it a round of chess, like I said. Come to think of it, I can actually picture my opponent making a necessary sacrifice, when instructing Crossroads the other day. I'm not so sure about our friend, the restaurant owner. But in the end, you could say that poor lad just pulled a checkmate on himself. It is kind of funny, looking at it from that angle."

"Funny?" I asked in disbelief. "He was poisoned and killed, mind you. You haven't forgotten about that yet, I'm sure?"

"So, you're just going to be snide. No helpful hints?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Never mind," she answered with a chuckle. "I shouldn't have used that one, anyway. It's someone else's."

We stared at each other in silence for another moment or so. I admit, my expression must have looked completely befuddled, since I hadn't the slightest clue where our conversation was steering at the moment. All the while, Lyra seemed like she'd burst into laughter again, any moment now. To say it bothered me would have been the understatement of the year.

"So, the two of you are playing a game of chess?" I asked. "And...that other pony sacrificed some of his own for whatever is going to be his next move?"

"Yes, and yes." Lyra raised a hoof upon her answer, scratching her chin once, maybe twice. "I think it's what you call collateral damage, isn't it?"

"Well...close enough," I stated. "But that's not the point. You're telling me that ponies involved in this whole affair are getting sacrificed for a greater cause. So, assuming this could happen to me too, what exactly am I still doing here?"

"It won't, not in that way," she said. "We don't sacrifice people for a greater cause. That's why we're the good guys, right?"

"I suppose that makes sense. But couldn't I still be in danger when playing this game? I mean, who exactly could assure me of the contrary?"

"I don't. You don't." Lyra answered my request with a shrug and an indifferent tone, as if there was nothing more natural in the world. "Quite frankly, no-one can assure you of that, now. And neither could they when we first met, or when you first decided to move in here. Dealing with a murder case, you've been involved in this entire affair ever since. And been in the same danger, though you could have stepped away from it at any given time. Yet here you are, safe and sound, most likely unwilling to leave any time soon."

I shot her a questioning look, while simultaneously getting this weird feeling again, assuming she was - in some way - analyzing me.

"You did enjoy this, even though you might not fully notice it yourself. And you are interested in what's going to happen next. There's no denying in that." She grinned, once again. "Honestly, sometimes you're easier to read than some elementary school student's textbook, my dear Bon Bon."

"Well, I - " I trailed off for a moment, pondering her words about in my head. Thinking of the matter, I remembered several occasions that fit her description surprisingly well. Including my sudden sense of persuasion after first moving into this apartment. "I...I could, meaning I do suppose you may not be wrong...entirely."

"I'm never wrong."

"Yeah, you are."

"Like when?"

It was my turn for a self-satisfied smirk, now. "Like when you said our two murderers were linked by somehow having an affair? Or pretty much everything about that underground network? Admit it, you never saw that coming."

"Well..." she began, slowly, pursing her lips. "I could have been. But then again, there can hardly be any process of learning without ever making any mistakes in one's reasoning. But I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future."

"For the future...good point," I replied. "So, what's the next move now, anyway?"

"Not mine to make," Lyra told me. Her sudden doubts were gone in an instant. "I've made mine by removing our dear friend Crossroads off the map. Now, it's my opponent's turn to make a difference. I do hope he'll make it worth my while."

"Huh?"

"For the moment, I could use a little snack, like I said. I haven't eaten anything all day, as you may have noticed. Time is already approaching noon by now, so I assume Sugarcube Corner should open up just about now. Are you coming along?"

My view shifted between her and the kitchen counter, my self-made scrambled eggs still resting on top. "Well - uh - what about the stuff that I prepared earlier? That didn't go bad, just yet..."

"Yes, of course. But we can have that any time. Do I have to repeat my question, or are you coming along, now?"

"No need for that. You already did."

"Well, I...ugh, alright. Just...just come along."

"Whatever," I concluded, as we made for the door. With a soft punch to her shoulder, I added, "You owe me one, though."

Once outside, back on the street, we found ourselves face to face with Time Turner once again. Or maybe not exactly that, since he still had his back turned towards us. For the moment, he stood on the sidelines of Bucker Street, a skeptical look on his face pointing north. The same direction, in which our prisoner's transport presumably just disappeared.

"I hope you didn't have any further kind of trouble," Lyra greeted the inspector from behind, making him jump in surprise. "You seem pretty concerned."

Fit to his name, Turner turned around to greet her. He looked like his teeth already started grinding. Which wouldn't be much of a surprise, considering his nerves had pretty much remained on edge all week. "I swear to Celestia..." he began, only to be cut off by my companion on short notice.

"Don't," Lyra told him. "That's hardly worth it."

"Fine, fine..." he said. "No, just hitching a ride back into town. I don't think I could drag you two along in an official government vehicle without causing too much of a fuzz. I've got tons of paperwork to look forward to as it is, especially considering your involvement. However helpful that might have been."

"That's fine with me," my companion stated. "I can always call for my cab driver, or...oh, right."

"...or we could just walk over there," I added, finishing her sentence.

"Yeah, we probably should," Lyra replied. "Well, it's been nice talking to you," she added, padding Turner on the shoulder. I could clearly see his eyes narrow upon the motion, but he didn't have anything further to add.

"There might be some further help required for you considering this Moriarty person," she yelled back to him, as we walked off to the south. "Well, you know where to find me."

End of Part One