The Equestrian Investigation Bureau[OPEN TO ALL]

[Pinstripe]

Mental Note sat at his desk, fiddling with what appeared to be a sort of toy. It was made of wood, and could be taken apart in certain ways; a 3-dimensional jigsaw cube. He sat there for at least an hour, trying to put the cube together. It soon proved to be an impossible task. Putting the toy away, he now turned his attention to the sole letter, (and piece of paper) on his desk. He stared at it, the burgundy wax seal returning the stare with equal vigor. Open it. he thought, before shuffling his forehooves over to grab the pen knife, which was perched in its stand.

R-r-r-r-r-riiip.

A note, and a single train ticket sat patiently inside the letter. Dumping the contents out onto his desk, Mental Note unfolded the parchment, beginning to read it.

Dear Mister Note,

We would like to inform you that we require your services. Our top investigator has fell ill, and we have no replacements; either they are currently occupied, or they are incapable of preforming their duties at this time. Enclosed is a 10:30 PM train ticket to Baltimare, where a listening post is located. It is on 221a 4th Concession, Apartment Number 12. We do expect you to arrive at 5 AM tomorrow. Do not be late.

Good Luck,

The Equestrian Bureau of Investigation

No details? Not even about what I'm supposed to do? Mental Note asked himself, before looking up at his clock. 9:45 PM. He still had time, though, not a lot of it. The train station was at least a good 40 minutes away. He had to go, right now. Plucking the ticket and the note from his desk, he shoved them in his coat pocket, before heading out the door. Now, quoting Sherlock Hoof was bad taste for private eyes, it made him look overconfident. But...

The game is afoot.

Pinstripe Presents

The Equestrian Investigation Bureau

Mental Note yawned loudly, stirring some in his seat. The train stopped. Am I here? he thought, before taking a quick peek out the window. They were stopped, but this didn't look like Baltimare. "Good morning, sir. Would you like anything to eat?" a mare's voice called out. Note darted his head towards the voice. The stewardess.

"Hm... I'll take a daisy sandwich, and some coffee. Black." Mental Note liked his coffee black. It tasted its best. He watched as the young mare pulled a few drawers on her cart open, before gently dropping the sandwich on his table(he was given business-class seating), and pouring him some coffee. "Thank you." he nodded. The mare left, going off to attend to other ponies. Taking a sip of his drink, he took a minute to get an idea of where they were; the middle of nowhere. Ponies were hauling crates onto the train. These were most likely supplies. Several other ponies were boarding the train. Out here? How far did they have to go to get here? Brushing the questions aside, Mental Note tucked into his sandwich, noticing the mare had given him something else; another letter, with the same burgundy seal. He gave it a fleeting glance, before deciding to read it later.

[Brodzio]

Secret Clue woke up lately this day, but it was his vacation. He could afford it. Plus what else he was going to do? After almost half year of working in Canterlot Police Archives he lost almost all of his will to life. Not because he hated working with files, he even liked it (at least at the beginning). The thing that Clue hated about his work was that everyday he was doing the same thing! Almost no contact with other ponies. No real investigations. Just paper work.

When he was allowed to help in this place he felt like he could fly (what for unicorn was quite unusual ability). He was so eager to work that after two months he was employed! But then there come next two months and then one more... Before he noticed, he started fall into apathy - there was nothing beautiful in this world, nothing that could give him happiness. And then when he was updating file of some gang member he saw how light from window spotted his cute mark - a magnifier. It reminded him how he got it and what was his destination. In steed of filling files he wrote a application for assistant detective to Equestrian Investigation Bureau. It was good, better than first one that he sent before he started working here. This time he had to succeed.

"So, here I am" said Secret Clue dragging of his forelegs and yawning, " at the vacations. What to do first?" When he was deciding how to celebrate freedom, he heard a doorbell. It was messenger with sealed letter. Clue immediately recognized it,"From Investigation Bureau" he muttered "after just a week it can't be positive..." but he opened it with shaking hooves (when Clue gets nervous, he can't fully control his magic skills and he didn't wont to mash it).

Dear Secret Clue,

Because of your border theoretical knowledge on recent crimes in Canterlot and other achievements, you re accepted for probation as assistance detective. Meeting with your new supervisor take place in Balitimare 221a 4th Concession, Apartment Number 12. We do expect you to arrive at 5:30 AM tomorrow. Do not be late.

Good Luck,

The Equestrian Bureau of Investigation

Every heartbeat, every breath pumped new life in Secret Clue. "Finally" he just whispered and started packing and getting ready for tomorrow.

First day of new life was worst than expected. After mostly sleepless night, Clue almost overslept for train. He left without breakfast and stalked some stranger for two streets, before he put two and two together that it simply can't be infamous Dark Alley because he was caught two weeks ago. In Vanhoover. So all of it brought him to take next train with change near some village.

"The second train should be better" promised himself Clue and entered the car. While passing to his seat, Clue froze for a while, and continued. "It's ridiculous" he fought "First infamous criminal, and now famous detective? I should calm down." After finding his place, Secret Clue was ready to continue his journey and relax.

[Pinstripe]

Mental Note watched as the ponies clambered into the train, spreading out amongst the cars. He noticed a particular unicorn enter the train, carrying a letter with a burgundy seal, just like his. Note mulled over the pony's appearance, before realizing he looked familiar. Secret... Secret... Secret Clue. He thought. What is he doing here? The criminal-turned cop was supposed to be in Canterlot, stuck with some desk job, apparently. He smirked some, quietly thanking his secret intel network. Some smart ponies, those guys. He thought again, before slowly opening his second letter. He read it for a bit, before shrugging, and crumpling it up. It was just a "Good Job, and we expect to see you soon." type of note. Nothing special.

The train started to get moving again, the soft rumble of wheel against rail lulled him to sleep. Oh, Celestia, he was tired.

The trail was a farce. Well, sure, he did some rather unsavoury things to that nice mare a few nights back, but that wasn't even connected to the case. Weren't they supposed to be talking about how he broke into the castle? Not about some night with some mare a while ago. The judge seemed amateur, paid to say things, even. Note could read it in the stallion's eyes. Nervous. Then, he glanced towards the Guards, who stared at him with the force of a thousand suns. Suns. He shifted his gaze to Princess Celestia, who had deemed this court hearing important enough to attend. Even she looked disappointed in him. Wasn't she supposed to love everypony unconditionally? She pretty much was the Mother Goddess here. Even mothers can be disappointed. he thought.

The trail continued, before starting to take an awful turn. The Guards looked more feral, more ferocious, they looked like lions, ready to rip Note to pieces when the trail was over. The Judge had been replaced by Discord, and the jury was replaced by a single pony, glaring at him. It was himself. This bizarre dream had transformed into a nightmare. He was bound by chains, over a pit of spikes. The judge's gavel fell in slow motion, hitting the podium with a loud crack. He was falling.

Mental Note woke up with a jolt, feeling cold. He had broke into a cold sweat. Just a dream, just a dream, just a dream.

[Brodzio]

"Excuse me, may I pass" said somepony, what woke up Secret Clue from a nap.

"Yee... ehm, yes, sorry" responded Secret, "by the way, what station is this?"

"Main station in Balitimare"

"Thanks..." said Secret, but the pony already left, as most of passengers, "It's time for me to go too" said this time to himself.

Balitimare was quite big city, not as the capital of course, but still. It seemed to be nice place, but Secret Clue had no time for sightseeing. Well actually he had some time till meeting, but he wonted locate 221a 4th Concession as fast as he could.

With help of a tourist map Secret found the place easily and he had over forty minutes!

Good think there was a cafe nearby.

"How may I help you?" asked waitress, she was bright-yellow pegasus with orange mane.

"Yes, thank you. I'd like cup of jasmine tea and piece of this delicious-looking pie, over there" smiled Secret Clue and pointed.

"Good good choice, it's our speciality" said yellow mare and replied smile "something more?"

"I guess I'm fine... But, maybe you have some newspapers here? I'm new in town and wont see how it goes"

"Ya, I haven't noticed you before. Yes, we have newspapers, usually they lie on counter, but some customers keep living them on chairs. I'll bring you one with your tea" said waitress and added "but nothing give you better glimpse on city than getting know their citizens, by the way I'm Calming Tea"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Secret Clue" said Secret, "I can already tell, judging by you, this city has relay friendly citizens. So maybe you could tell me something about it?"

"You're kind" blushed Calming Tea, "maybe next time, I have some work to do"

"Yes, of course" replied Secret Clue

After a while he was sipping the jasmine tea and viewing Balitimare Gazette and The Daily Telegraph. Secret just checked article titles, after this nice conversion he hadn't so much time and it didn't seemed very interesting neither. At time, he paid for his order with a tip and said to waitress "It seems I have new favourite place for good tea" then smiled and winked.

"See you soon" she laughed.

"Ok, enough chit chats." thought Secret Clue "Now it's time to get focused and make good appearance."

After a minute he was in front of door to apartment 12. He could hear some raised voices coming from inside the apartment. "Probably not a good moment, but it's time..." muttered Secret and knocked the door.