The Mark of Duty

I stepped into the police station with my thoughts still on the past. With the powers of hindsight, I could tell the deal was struck while they held the line against Trazyn, and their lack of wounds may have even been a result of the deal. Though Luna still had some mercy coming for her. She either was unsure of the deal or had said no with how she didn't flinch as I called her sister. For all of Luna's skill in deceit and subterfuge, she couldn't lie to friends. At least not without stuttering like a broken VHS. I was broken out of my reverie by a strangled squawk of surprise from behind the desk. I looked up and saw my first native human. He had skin of alabaster white and bright blue hair. I suppressed a groan. So close to home, and yet so far. But there was time enough to cope with that later. He took a few deep breaths as I walked up and gave him a friendly wave. "Hello, good officer. I had a few questions if you don't mind."

***

In retrospect that was perhaps the worst plan, I had ever concocted. I sat in an interrogation room. I had retained my weapons by stating very clearly there would be words if they tried it would prove less than useful. After a few attempted tazings, and liberal application of pepper spray I requested to be given an interrogation room with which to wait for them to figure things out. An exasperated Shining Armor had just walked me to a back room as Alice talked to some fatter, more important officer. So there I was, enjoying a chair that was too small for me to sit comfortably as I whistled a nameless melody. After a few minutes, the cop who first saw us walked in through the front door and let out a breath as he looked me over. "You know, when you have an agent with you it's smarter to let them lead with that."

I nodded, guessing Alice had some trick she was using. "Indeed, but I have been doing things on my own for far to long to let anyone take lead besides myself."

He looked me over before shrugging. "That's why the Goddess made women I think, but with your background, I can understand I guess." He pulled the chair across from me out and sat down. "I'm Sergeant Shining Armor, the stations closest thing to a specialist in new arrivals and immigration." I stared at him in disbelief as he sighed. "Okay, fine. This station is mostly dudes and they're terrified of the Goliath that walked into our station with a freaking sword on his hip with a barely concealed gun in his backpack."

I nodded. I didn't know why the fact they were guys was important to that, but it was a fair point. "To be fair, I have done much worse in my life than fight in a station of law. That is why I am here now, a way to seek penance."

He chuckled. "Yeah, that was what Ms. Alice said. She said you may have wanted to offer your services as an independent contractor for more sensitive issues." He then glanced at me with narrow eyes, and I saw the fires of love in them. The love of one's home that can burn down armies if stoked. I liked him. He spoke slowly. "Which is why the small amount of background we got on you is distressing. For example, it mentions that you were born and bred for war." I nodded as he looked me over. "But she was really cagey about the where and how. She said she could get us a file, but there would be more blacked out sentences than drinks in a bar. And I don't like someone who could be a violent psychopath living in my city."

I smiled at him, which caused him to flinch. Apparently, the sharper than average teeth were disconcerting. "Of course it would. But I believe my tales to gory for you." I looked his stance over. "You haven't spilled someone's blood with the cold and calculated slices of a surgeon. You haven't had to carry crying children out of towns coated in the blood of family and friends." I leveled my gaze at him. "You are too far from the Congo to see the Heart of Darkness, but I have lived and thrived amongst evil. A lone tree in the maelstrom." I sighed and forced myself to relax.

"I apologize for that," I spoke as I waved my hand. "I do not enjoy walking through the halls of memory." I leaned forward. "If you really wish to know my past, I'm afraid I must refuse you." He looked annoyed at me, but I was going to bait the hook. "But I can offer a deal, even if Alice will dislike it."

He raised an eyebrow at that. "And what deal is that?"

I smiled. "If you would be so kind as to help me find a place of residence for me and my sister, with a spare room for Alice to watch my 'adjustment period', then I will gladly regale you with purely fictional stories that have absolutely nothing to do with my past."

He smiled at me, which I returned with gusto. Shining Armor nodded at me. "I think that is a more than fair deal. I'd love to be able to tell my sister some new stories."

I shook my head. "Only if you modify them heavily. I would be loathe to share the details of my musings with Sunset, let alone some unknown little girl.

Shining Armor winced. "Are they really that bad?" I nodded as he physically flinched. "Geez, I thought she'd have seen some of it. Wasn't she from the same place?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes, but she led a more sheltered life than me. While I was a soldier against foes both big and small, she was raised as a scholar. Books and the ancient ways are what held her interest for her entire life."

Shining Armor nodded. "Yeah, I think my little sister is the same way. Okay, so I can swing me escorting you around town if we'll get some info from under the agency's nose. So give me five minutes and we'll walk out the front door. I know a good realtor in the neighborhood."

I waited in the interrogation room for a minute, twiddling my thumbs as a clock behind me ticked on and on. After a few minutes of annoying waiting, Shining Armor came back in with an annoyed Sunset and amused Alice. I stood up and ruffled Sunset's hair. "Well young one, did they treat you ok?"

She grumbled and replied in a sickly sweet tone. "Yes brother, I do so enjoy being sleep-deprived and asked questions from guards like I'm some ignorant little filly." I winced at that as she snorted at me and looked to Alice.

Alice was smiling, but hiding it behind a palm. "Well, I can't say I approve of your little deal, but it seems to have earned some trust from the local constabulary." She gestured to Shining Armor. "And you got us a tour guide, so that's a plus."

Shining rolled his eyes. "Woe is me, demoted from man of the law to simple tour guide." He held a serious expression for a second before rolling his eyes and laughing, prompting me and Alice to join in. He lightly punched my chest and paused at the heavy thunk as his fist his the thick armored plates inside the plate carrier. After a moment he came to terms with the fact I was fully armored and turned around. "Well come on, you can stow your gear in the trunk of the car."

I nodded as Alice giggled and shot her hand in the air. "SHOTGUN!"

Shining Armor snorted ahead of us. "Taking the comfy seat from your man, how unladylike." I paused for a second when he said that, before following. To the people watching I seemed to take both comments in stride, but inside I had just had a revelation. I was in a swapped version of Equestria. One where men were normally pretty little wallflowers. If my inner monologue could be heard, I'm sure several officers would have learned some new curse words.