> The train rattled out of the station,  the cloying stench of stale smoke and staccato rhythm luring me into sleep.
> It'd be easy as pie to drift off right there.
> The smells, the dull yellow light flashing in the windows, the faint rumbling.
> It's like a mickey finn mixed for your soul.
> "...are you even going to read the files?"
> Sparks, sitting opposite in the cabin and reading by the light of her horn.
> The cabin lights don't work.
> That's why I picked this one.
> My hat is pulled down over my eyes, shielding them mainly from the withering look she's no doubt aiming my way.
> If her looks could kill, I'd have taken a dirtnap a long time back.
"It's a long journey, sweetheart. I've had a longer day. Kick back while you can, there'll be plenty to do soon."
> Hearing her frustrated sigh escape cracks a smile on my face.
> That's what I was aiming for.
> She's so straightlaced, can't help but ruffle her up for kicks.
"Fine, fine..."...
> ...I play the defeated party and pull myself up to a sitting position, lean an elbow on the table and start the self pat down.
> There we go.
> Top right pocket, a crumpled packet of mareboroughs.
> Never leave home without them.
> I play out looking for a light, until Sparks looks annoyed enough to cause it to burst into flames on it's own.
 
> With a little true reluctance making the con all the more real, I sigh and tuck them away.
> "...thankyou." She say's and her eyes return to dance over the contents of the manilla file.
> I pick up one of the files and thumb through it.
> The words flow into one another.
> Can't focus.
> My mind is still back in that alleyway.
> Pushing the pieces around, seeing what shape it makes.
> None of them are pretty.
> All keeps coming back to Scoots.
> Scoots and the man that shouted for help.
"Sparks. I'm gonna need to talk to Smiles again."
> She hates doing this.
> Ready for a plee bargain in three... two...
> "Anon. You already told him everything he needs. We have work to do. Seeing as you have your eyes closed, ONE of us better keep at it."
> She's lowered the file onto the little, burn marked, java stained table that wobbles with each movement of the train.
> Lights from a passed building trace across her face, highlighting those hard purple eyes.
"Get him on the horn."
 
> I hold the handset and stand there waiting.
> Twilight is sitting there, forelegs folded across her chest and pouting.
> The train inspector is doing a damn poor job of not laughing his ass off checks our stubs.
> "This is humiliating."
"Grin and bear it, dollface."
> The handset looks like your common mike stand, but handheld.
> A wire halo surrounds the part you speak into.
> From the bottom a copper wire runs, trails across the table and coils around the horn of a pissed off unicorn.
> The unicorn doesn't have to be sulking.
> I just think it helps lighten the mood.
> Twilight's eyes glow a bright purple and then, with a deeper voice she says...
> ..."...I g-t it, thanks. Hey. Anon. This thing on?" It's Smiles voice she's speaking with.
> Magic's a wonderful thing.
"It's on Smiles. Listen. I need you to try something. I know were trying to place the male voice right now, but I want you to follow up with Scoots."
> "...Why?" Straight to the point, our Smiles.
"A hunch. She was there, Smiles. She tapped down the doe. I want to know what she saw."
> "That's going to be tricky."
"She's the only solid lead. Let the labcoats trace the doe. 'Till then, try to find Scoots."
> "Didn't say I wasn't gonna do it."
"Good p0ny. I'll fetch you back a carrot."
> "Buck you, monkeyman."
 
> Twilight shivers a little as you uncoil the wire, wrap it around the speaking wand and tuck it in your coat pocket.
> "...I hate doing that." She whispers, her voice still deeper than usual.
"Part of the job, Sparks."...
> ...I say as I put a steadying hand on her shoulder and place my hipflask infront of her.
> A purple glow unscrews the top and it shakily hovers up to her mouth.
> She takes a hit, wincing as the liqour works a magic of it's own.
> The shakes leave her and pass on to me.
> I settle back, take a slug myself to chase them off and whisper...
"ew, p0ny spit."
> ...just loud enough for Sparks to hear.
> She smiles and starts to adjust her mane with hoof and horn.
> Sparks keeps her hair up most days, in a severe bun.
> Makes her look like a librarian, I tell her.
> She kinda likes that about it.
> I don't tell her I do too.
> She unfurls her mane, and lets it hang low, allowing you to see fully that distinctive pink stripe you love so much.
"Get some shut eye, doll. You need it."
> Can take a lot out of them, transmitting.
> "uh-humm." She almost purrs as she tucks her hind legs round and underneath her.
> Her head slides slowly down until it rests on her folded forelegs, her eyes sliding closed shortly after.
 
> After ten minutes of holding a file and failing to read, I hear the first little snore.
> I stand and drape my trusty coat over her.
"G'night Twilight."
> I don't get to call her that enough anymore.
> If she was awake, she wouldn't let me.
> The city falls behind us.
> First we leave the towerblocks, proud and tall with lights shining defiance against the night.
> Then the densely huddled suburbs, clustered close to the city as they can get.
> They thin out further and further, like tendrils of light reaching out into the dark.
> It's as if the city is reluctant to let us go, clinging on to the last moment...
> I watch the city as the traintrack curves away.
> The tendrils of light make her look like some great luminous jellyfish in an ocean of Black.
> Beautiful.
> It's only when you're too close to do anything about it, you notice the poison.
> ...and then the last tendril of light is slipped and all we have is the dark.
> Sleep follows soon.