Justice, Integrity, and Service

“You know, for somepony who’s special skill is finding things-”

“Shut up Braeburn! Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

“-It sure is funny that we’re lost.”

Daring glared at him. Braeburn just laughed. The two stuck out amongst the Canterlot crowd, dressed in their matching brown jackets and hats. Ponies shot them odd glances every now and then, but nopony actually confronted them.

“Didn’t you used to live here? How do you not know the way?”

Daring huffed in annoyance. “I didn’t frequent this area, idiot, and it’s not like this is Appleoosa, where everyone knows everyone and their cousin.”

Braeburn just grinned at her.

“Wipe that stupid grin off your face before I hit you,” Daring spat.

Abruptly, the two rounded a corner to see a massive crowd in front of a tall building. There was chattering and the clicking of cameras.

“Press conference?” Braeburn guessed.

“I think we’re here,” Daring noted, pointing at the letters ‘RIS’ emblazoned on the top of the building.

Before either pony could move, a familiar mint green unicorn tore through the crowd frantically. “Where have you been?! We’re about to start!”

“Someone decided they just had to visit the museum before we came,” Braeburn said, earning a punch in the shoulder. “But what do you mean ‘about to start?’”

“Never mind that,” Lyra said as she shoved the two towards the front. A podium had been set up in the center, with press ponies surrounding it expectantly. “Just stand to the side and look pretty.”

Suddenly, Braeburn and Daring found themselves standing on the right side of the podium, facing the crowd of reporters. Lyra then went to the left side of the podium, and Bon Bon trotted behind it. The crowd got quiet as she began to speak.

“Thank you all for being here. I’m Special Agent Sweetie Drops with the Royal Investigative Service,” the mare began. “About two weeks ago, the RIS began investigating a pony by the name of Back Blast, on accusations that he had physically abused his wife. Before we were able to apprehend him, he fled the city. The RIS then coordinated with the Western Division of the Marshal’s Office and arrested Mr. Blast in the city of Appleoosa.”

She paused as the reporters frantically scribbled down notes. Braeburn and Daring shifted uncomfortably, blinking every time a camera flash went off.

“Upon searching the house Mr. Blast was residing in, we discovered that Mr. Blast was actually the pony known as the Ghost of Fillydelphia. From there, Mr. Blast was transferred here where he currently awaits trial.”

Having reached the end of her rehearsed script, Bon Bon glanced to the left, where Lyra gave her an encouraging smile.

“But none of this would have been possible without the help of the Marshal’s Office. In particular, we’d like to recognize Deputies Braeburn Apple and Daring Do, not only for their assistance in their case, but for their service to Equestria.”

Both deputies blinked in surprise. When Bon Bon asked them to come to Canterlot, they hadn’t been expecting this.

The crowd stomped their hooves in appreciation.

“For a few years now, the RIS and the Marshal’s Office have mostly worked separately,” Bon Bon continued. “But in modern times this can not be the case. There needs to be communication and teamwork, because there are problems that no single agency is equipped to resolve. That is why we have created the first ever cross-agency task force. This Special Task Force will include myself, Special Agent Lyra Heartstrings, and Deputies Apple and Do. Our mission will be to not only investigate crimes and find the individuals responsible, but to further the safety of both Canterlot and the western cities. Please defer all questions to Senior Special Agent Twilight Sparkle.”

Bon Bon then stepped aside as the purple unicorn took to the podium. Twilight gave a nod and a smile at the two before turning to the crowd and taking the first question.

Lyra made eye contact with Braeburn and jerked her head to the building. The four then climbed the stairs and entered the lobby, where Bon Bon’s business like attitude quickly vanished. “Where were you guys? You almost missed it!”

“We took the scenic route,” Daring quickly interjected before Braeburn could answer. “But what’s all this about a task force?”

Bon Bon blushed and kicked the ground. “I, uh, was going to explain it to you before the conference, but you guys were late so… Um, anyways, I was just thinking about your guys’s situation and was wondering how we could help. So I asked Twilight if it was possible to set up a task force or something between our two agencies, so we could help you out and stuff, and she pulled some strings and-”

“She just wants to see you guys more,” Lyra said, rolling her eyes. “Although I can’t imagine why.”

Braeburn blinked. “Wait, so this means we’ll be workin’ together? And everyone’s okay with this?”

“Twilight has more connections than you would believe,” Lyra explained. “She got Hoofer’s approval, Earp’s approval, hay, I think she even went and got the Princess’s approval.”

“I know it’s not much,” Bon Bon said. “But I hope it’s a start. Maybe we can try and fix everything.”

Braeburn opened his mouth, but words didn’t come out.

Daring rolled her eyes at her friend’s speechlessness. “You know what? It sounds like a great idea.”

The four newfound friends then exchanged smiles. The conference outside continued, but none of them really cared. Suddenly, the future was looking a lot brighter for everyone.