A Slow Interrogation

I was sitting down. I know that is an incredibly small amount of information to start a tale with, but it is accurate. After all, how would I describe a blank prison outside of time and space? If I had too I would simply use the word white. I could move however I wished within the prison, but I was surrounded by white on all sides. There was one upside though. I could still see myself. And I was still in my Rocking Inquisitor suit. Leather armor, high-tech toys, and bitching cape included. Before I sat down I had spent an unknown amount of time flipping my cape like Batman. I sighed and let out a harsh breath. "Well, how long will this take? They said I'd be imprisoned for all time, but I fail to see how I'll last more than a few weeks in here." No food or water appeared in front of me, so starvation would probably get me first.

Time passed. I have no clue how long had passed, but I felt the first pang of hunger. Maybe a few hours, I hadn't eaten much before I got locked into this prison of boredom and potential blindness. I let out a small grumble before I heard something strange. I heard a crash. Part of the white in my prison collapsed, showing a dark cave above me. "Well, you don't see that every day." I watched and saw something strange. A purple alicorn sending out an explosive wave of matching magic. It crashed into my prison wiping away all the blinding white-ness in a wash of saccharine glory. I smiled watching the prison around me melt. "Oh, I'm in a prison break, how exciting."

I looked over my new environment with a smile. I was in a cave. And it had colors other than white. Sure it mostly brown and black, but not white was an improvement in my world. Though, I was really hungry now. Problems for later. Current problems trumped that. Mostly that my new cave was closer to a pit. I ran a hand over the wall. It was craggy and rough, so I could, in theory, climb it. Or use a much more fun option. I looked over my right arm. The rough metal plates burned into the skin betrayed its true nature. I rolled back my wrist, and a small knife slank from my wrist. I loved having an augmetic arm. I slammed it into the wall and smiled as it sank into the solid stone. I began hauling myself up with my knife hand, using the other limbs for stabilization.

I crawled out of the hole gasping. "By the Emperor, why was that hole so frakking deep?" I rolled over from the ledge and simply laid down on my back, trying to catch my breath. I looked over my surroundings. If I was anywhere near my last fight I would be right outside of Avalon. I looked around and... huh. I may be crazy, but I don't remember a bunch of mountains near Avalon. It was in a forest. Also, my little island nation of peace and espionage was just that. An island. Why in the warp could I see a mountain?

I groaned and shifted so I could only see the sky. There was something immutable. The sky was always the same. Same clouds, same blue sky, same sun, it was nice and familiar. I shook my head, there was time for confusion later. Right now it was time for action. I hauled myself up, looking at the scarred landscape. The purple alicorn was nowhere to be seen, but there was a town off in the distance. I flicked my cape into settling across my shoulders and drew my laspistol. I began walking towards the town. I figured any place with a crystal palace that big had to be important.

***

I was never so disappointed in this fucking pony land. I had found a farming town. Now that in itself wasn't too bad. The bad part was that they had a giant castle that made me think there was even a scrap of useful info. Though I should be thankful that some things never change. The ponies never noticed me as long as I was in a dark enough shadow. You would think a bright red cape would blow my cover, but no. It helped that it looked like a hurricane had just blown through, with destroyed buildings and detritus littering the street. Like a New Orleans mardi gras.

I moved to the town square. The market was closing up already, but I was able to catch one useful conversation. Some mare I couldn't see was talking to a blue mare moving a few items into her pack. "You know, I moved here from Canterlot to avoid all the hubub and dangers of the big city."

I heard a snort, followed by the second mare speaking. "Well, you picked the wrong town for that. Ponyville just seems to attract all sorts of weird evil things." I thought on all that. Canterlot was just some small mountain village under the two pony sisters. Then there was this Ponyville. I didn't have any idea about that town. It must have been new. Which led to a totally different question. How long was I out?

I shook my head again. Well, there was always a way to fix that. I began heading towards the town hall. Surely even a town this small would have a library, and records of where it was. I found it easy enough, with it being right beside the square and all. However, there was a single problem. Even in the glow of evening, there wasn't an easy way to get in. At least not without getting spotted, and if I hadn't been gone too long ponykind was less than friendly wherever I popped up. Warp, that was why I founded Avalon. So that left two options. One, wait for nighttime patiently. I was not patient, I leaned towards the action side of things. Two, walk up like I own the place and use all my non-existent authority to browbeat a local mayor into giving me what I want. Yeah, that seemed more likely.

I walked out of the shadows standing tall. I ignored every gasp and whisper as I did, and reached into my hip pouch. I pulled out a totally not stolen solar medallion. I hung it around my neck and walked right through the front door of town hall. I looked at the young stallion behind the counter with a glare. "Mayor. Now." Well, judging by his reaction I had been successful. He shook on his hooves and pointed up a set of stairs beside him. I gave him a curt nod and walked up the stairs.

Oh look, a mayor was cowering behind her desk. I gave her a slightly nicer nod. "Ma'am, I've come on the authority of Princess Celestia. I require access to all books on the history of Equestria and a place to read them. I would ask for you to tell me of an appropriate library or bookstore. I thought of all the damage I had seen around town. "Of course given the towns current condition I would accept a nearby settlement that has an adequate supply."

And in the immortal way of all sentient beings, fear leads to answers. "Well, uh, the library was kind of uh... destroyed. But we have a bookstore nearby that will have at least a few history books." I knew what I needed, so hopefully, this would all work out.

I nodded and flicked my cape as I turned around. "Where is this bookstore. I have been gone for far too long to remember the buildings of this little hamlet."

The mayor seemed to shrink as I turned. I fought to keep from laughing at the small little thing. She didn't even bother to ask why. "Well, it's down the street a ways. Just look for the big book sign on the main stretch outside of my office."

I nearly smacked myself. I should have been paying more attention as I walked in. "That will be sufficient. Thank you for your service. If you could pass a message to the princesses for me that would be much appreciated. "I smiled to myself. "Tell her that her little inquisitor is back. And he's not pleased." With that I left, leaving the mayor on her own.

With my cover blown I walked straight to the bookstore, leaving confused and scared ponies in my wake. I slammed through the door with the force of a divine wind. Spooking the one pony inside. She appeared to be cleaning up a part of her collapsed roof. I felt slightly abashed. "Hello little one, do you require aid?"

She nodded dumbly. Well, that was good enough for me. I looked at the large section of roof that had currently taken up residence in the back area of her store. An earth pony could probably move it as is, but it wouldn't fit through the door. I snapped out the knife in my augmetic arm and began breaking off portions of it to make moving it much easier. I flicked my head to the mare. "While I do this I require a book. One on the history of Equestria. Preferably starting after the fall of Discord and ending within a few years.

The mare didn't make a noise as I worked. I managed to get over halfway through the damn thing before I heard a thunk beside me. I looked to the massive tome beside me. In the name of the Emperor, it looked positively huge. I looked at it before I saw the mare look up at me. "Uhm, this is the only history book I have going back that far. I only have the abridged version though..."

I stared at the frakking book in front of me. I think a whole forest had to be sacrificed to make the damn thing. I sighed. I was not just a few weeks in the future. I guess when you get trapped in a prison outside of time and space you lose all sense of time. Who knew? Besides everybody I mean. I shook my head and looked to the rock. It was small enough to move outside the door now. I glared at the book again. "That will be sufficient. If it is abridged I will not find what I need. I believe I must go to a much more... hostile location for what I need." I pulled the rock outside with no small amount of effort. After hauling it out I looked around. Well, there was what looked like Canterlot Mountain in the distance. Big castle city was new though. Ah well, focus on that when I get there.

I didn't expect the mare to follow me out. "Thank you for the help sir. Uh, I'm Rough Notes. Who are you?"

I reached down and gave her a simple pat on the head. "I am Gregor, agent of the Imperial Inquisition." I then pointed to Canterlot. "I'm going to be heading there next. Do me a favor little one, stay safe while I'm gone. I may require a trustworthy pony when I am done." I then paused again. I was apparently far in the future, it might be smart to check something. "Also, have you ever heard of Avalon?"

The mare nodded. "Yeah, it was mentioned in an ancient history class while I was in school. I think it was an old city ruled by some dictator. The princesses beat him and took it over. I think it's abandoned now since nopony was willing to stay."

I nodded while smiling. I told them to leave if I didn't come back, so I guess they did. Good little interrogators. I looked back at the mountain. "If you'll excuse me, ma'am, I have to go and try to avoid an old friend." I left without another word, heading to Canterlot.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot

Celestia sat on a pillow, trying to teach her newest princess the proper response to such a horrible fight. The only issue was Twilight couldn't seem to care less. Now that the fight was over she had dived into a library and was asking questions about the bad old days. Celestia would be happy for any distraction at this point. A spark of fire from flashed into being, leaving a tightly wound scroll when it dissipated. She grimaced as she took it. She instantly regretted wishing for a distraction, the paperwork for reconstruction would likely take her entire evening. Well, it appeared that Twilight would be fine anyways. With a flourish, she opened the scroll. It took her a few scant seconds before she dropped it to the floor.

Twilight peeked her head up from behind the dust-covered book she had been reading. Then she saw Princess Celestia's shocked expression. "Princess? What happened?"

Princess Celestia shook off her shock. "Twilight, I'll explain later. For now, gather your friends and head back to Ponyville. Right now." Twilight seemed stuck in place for a moment until Celestia barked again. "Now Twilight!"

Twilight flew into the air, running out of the royal archives. Celestia watched her go and made sure she was completely alone before she swore. "Buck, this was not how this was supposed to happen." And with a flash of light, she left, leaving an empty library.