Chapter Ten - Everfree

Everfree
Castle of the Night Sister
The Next Day

Name: Photo Finish

Callsign: N/A

Rank: Lieutenant

Age: 39

Place of Birth: Everfree

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 237 lbs.

Background: Photo Finish had earned a full scholarship to Everfree University, where she wanted to pursue a career in photography. Unfortunately for her, one month before school starts, the Changelings attack. She barely escapes capture thanks to one General Stonewall Smith's sacrifice. Seeing his heroism led Lieutenant Photo Finish to enlist. She served valiantly through the war. She developed a special stun grenade that can blind Changelings. The technology led to numerous innovations and adoptions, including her most famous adaption the Lichtschild, a riot shield with a blinding flash ability.

After the war, she became a police officer; she wanted to patrol the streets of her home and keep a vigilance over the neighboring Changelings.

Psychological Profile: She possesses a strong conviction for justice, has great leadership qualities, and is goal driven. While seen as brusque, conceded, and arrogant by some, Lieutenant Photo Finish sees a situation and immediately knows at least twelve different ways to handle it and is quick to action.

Training: Standard Royal Armed Special Forces training, advanced police training and education, Grenzschutzgruppe Königliche-Polizei training

Relevant Experience: Changeling War (four years active duty), six years active police service, nine years GSG-KP active duty

Notes: Her comrades and ponies in the police force affectionately and respectfully call her 'Blitz.' Since the GSG-KP was founded by fellow Rainbow Operative Bishop, their tactics and training are closely related. High-value candidate as a trainer.

Grey set the file down on the table on top of the other file before him. He stared blankly at the mare who sat across from him. This was the last place he wanted to be with the last person he wanted to see. "Can I go now?" he did not hide his impatience.

Princess Luna smiled wryly, "It is always good to see you, Grey."

"Likewise," he replied idly.

"I apologize for bringing you in that way, but you never respond to my correspondences nor calls." She was apologizing for the van pulling his car over and the six guards ponies holding him down with magic and dragging him into the van while a perplexed and frightened Twilight watched. One of the guards explained the situation to her, and Twilight decided to recruit the Doctor Fluttershy they originally came for.

Grey huffed, "This is only business for me, Princess."

"Of course," Princess Luna cleared her throat, "of course. There are two more prospects that I believe would be perfect for Rainbow." She levitated the two files in front of her over to Grey.

His brows instantly furrowed when he saw the names on the tabs. "Not. Happening," he threw the files back which landed in the middle of the wooden, rectangular table.

"I just wanted to give you a little heads up. Six has already recruited your nephews," Princess Luna shared.

Grey brusquely stood up which sent the chair flying back, "You are going to have to throw me in the dungeons then because I am going to kill her."

"Ah-ha! So 'Six' is a female!" Princess Luna mused.

Grey scoffed and turned to exit the small room.

Princess Luna stared at the closed oak door with a solemn expression, her teal eyes full of sorrow and regret, "I was such a fool."

Everfree
Grenzschutzgruppe Königliche-Polizei Headquarters

"How did your meeting with Princess Luna go?" Twilight inquired innocently. She took a bite of her sandwich and waited for the stallion's reply.

"Swimmingly. It turns out I'm going to have to kill our boss when we return to Canterlot," Grey sneered.

Twilight choked on her sandwich. Grey levitated a napkin to her. She cleared her throat, "What do you mean?"

"I mean: I am going to put a bullet into Celestia's head," he clarified.

"Let's talk this out," Twilight advised in a rational tone. "What did she do?"

Grey snorted in annoyance and turned his head away from her to look out the window. A hoof on his shoulder made him turn back to the dark blue mare. He smiled. "Purple suited you better, filly."

Twilight crossed her forehooves across her chest, "I know!"

Grey sighed and removed the keys from the ignition, "I was just foalish. I will not kill heryet."

Twilight rolled her eyes and followed after him out of the car. They entered through the glass double doors of the rusty red brick three story building making their way to the reception desk. A small smile presented on Grey's muzzle.

"Mister Grey Vulcan?" the receptionist beamed, her voice full of surprise.

"That's the name, teaching's the game," Grey replied. He recoiled slightly as the mare wrapped her hooves around his neck. Grey returned her hug. "It's good to see you, filly."

Twilight waited patiently a few feet away with an awkward smile. She twitched under the sharp pink gaze of the dark violet unicorn mare.

"Genuine Image, this is my partner, IQ," Grey introduced them, "IQ, this is Genuine Image, one of my top students."

"Nice to meet you!" the dark violet mare extended a hoof with a dagger-like smile.

"Pleasure," Twilight replied courteously and cautiously shook her hoof.

"What brings you to my neck of the woods?" Genuine Image asked as she returned to the wooden desk.

"In ist der Oberleuntant?" Grey inquired.

Genuine Image typed on the keyboard and pressed her hoof on the computer monitor. "Sie sollte in einer halben Stunde von ihrer Patrouille zurückkehren."

Grey smiled. "Well, you sound much better since last we talked."

"Living in Everfree helps," she admitted with a smile.

"How has the transition been?" Grey continue casually.

"Great! Well, little miss, Sunshine is having trouble adjusting to a new school and new language," Genuine Image shared her concern.

Grey smiled empathetically. "I can imagine." His smile took a mischevious turn, "if she is anything like you, she will have all the colts wrapped around her hoof in no time."

Genuine Image smirked seductively, "All but the one she wants."

"Filly," Grey chuckled and shook his head, "I doubt I'd be able to keep up in my old age."

"There's a pill for that," her smile broadened.

Grey laughed heartily, garnering the attention of more ponies, "I'll let you get back to work. We'll wait for the Lieutenant in the waiting room."

"Oh, alright," she replied dejected.

"I, Photo Finish, have arrived!" the Lieutenant announced crashing through the swinging doors of the waiting room. "You and you!" she pointed a cyan hoof at Grey and Twilight, "We go!" As swiftly as she came, she left.

"Let's not leave the good Lieutenant waiting!" Grey commented and trotted after her.

Twilight picked up her jaw off the couch and quickly followed.

"I, Photo Finish, agree that these attacks are concerning," the Lieutenant projected herself, rather loudly Twilight thought, in the small office.

"I, Grey Vulcan, extend an offer of recruitment to you, Photo Finish, to lend your expertise as a trainer for a special secret task force."

Photo Finish tapped her chin in thought with a hoof. Her purple-tinted black glasses hid her eyes and thoughts.

"It will be a temporary position if you are concerned about your duties here," Grey clarified. Still looking as if waging an internal conflict Grey continued, "The stallion that started the GSG-KP was a good friend of mine. In fact, he was part of the special task force and integral to forming its tactics and training."

"Can we go a lifetime without a war?" Photo Finish stated out of the blue. "It seems like only yesterday I, Photo Finish, was just a young mare on her way to becoming a photographer. Then. . . the sky is blackened by those. . . things."

Grey sighed as memories of the war filled his mind, "I know and if we had been better prepared we might have been able to save thousands of lives. Which is why it is imperative we act now and nip the bud before it blooms into war."

"I, Lieutenant Photo Finish, will be honored to join you, Colonel Grey Vulcan, in training a new generation of soldiers to protect our homes, friends, and family!" She thrust her hoof out and wielded a toothy grin.

Grey shook her hoof, "Welcome aboard, Blitz."

"Wunderbar!" Photo Finish exclaimed.