Chapter Eight
Dr. Brass

The elevator dinged as we arrived at the top floor of the building. Unlike the previous floor, this one was decorated in tasteful earth tones. The plush carpet felt welcome on my hooves as I and my companion were escorted past several doors along the corridor, until we found ourselves facing a final door at the end.

The door opened into a small waiting are where we were greeted politely by another cheerful office assistant seated behind a large mahogany desk.

“This is where I take my leave of you,” Dr. Double said inclining his head slightly. “A pleasure meeting you,” he says turning toward Moonlight, before making his way back outside.

“Apparently I didn’t make a lasting impression on the good Doctor,” I say in an amused tone to Moonlight.

She favors me with a wry grin. “Oh, I wouldn’t say THAT, quite the opposite I do believe.”

“Excuse me please,” the pony behind the desk says. “If you’ll just give me a moment, I will go inform Doctor Brass Tacks that you are here.”

“Of course,” I reply. “Thank you very much.”

The pony whose name I never got inclines her head before making her way into the inner office. She quickly returns.

“Doctor Tacks will see you now, please step inside.” She says, still smiling cheerfully. I’d be creeped out by all the smiling, if it weren’t for the fact that everypony, (with the exception of Doctor Double), seemed to be giving off a genuinely happy vibe. If I ever live to need another job, I’m definitely putting in a resume here.

We enter the inner office, more like a studio apartment. The furniture was modern, all smooth and sleek curves. The paintings on the walls were all cubist, and the view behind the large desk we were approaching was breathtaking.

Luna’s castle was almost eye level to us and was back lit by the full moon. To be able to sit in this office and face such a stunning display every day... I admit I was feeling more than a little bit of office envy.

Movement from the chair that was facing outwards toward the view caused me to shift my attention, as the occupant spun around casually to face us.

My first impression of him was ‘confidence’. Here was somepony who was completely self assured. Secure in the knowledge that whatever situation he found himself in, that he would find some way of mastering it. He looked upwards at us, and spoke in measured tones.

“Well Mr. Appleseed, you’ve certainly gone to great lengths to see me in person, and judging by your lovely companion, I can assume that your reasons must be quite serious. So. What can I do for you?”

His voice is melodic, despite the serious tone in his voice. I decide to dial back on the flippancy. This was one of the few times my instincts were screaming ‘tactful’ in my ear, so for whatever reason, I decided to play this soft.

“I apologize for any difficulty I may have put you, and your staff through Dr. Tacks. I assure you I would never have done so if the situation was not so dire. Literally a matter of life and death sir.”

“I see.” Dr Tacks replies his face turning grave. “In that case you need never worry about my convenience. If some pony is in danger, I will of course, do everything in my power to help. Consider both myself and this establishment your disposal, and please Dr. Tacks was my father, Dr. Brass is fine. I’m used to it. Now how may I help you Mr. Appleseed?”

“Johnny is fine Dr. Brass, and my companion is Miss Shadow, or Moonlight. As for why we are here.” I pull out a photo of Babs and hoof it to the Doctor. “Do you recognize this pony sir?” I inquire.

He looks at the photo intently, before responding. “Yes, yes I do. A Miss Babs Seed. I met her several weeks ago. She was working at a Prench restaurant. She made quite an impression on me. After our first encounter, I made a point of always sitting in whatever section she was assigned. A remarkable young pony. I could tell right away that she was wasting her potential working as a waitress. I gave her one of my personal business cards in the hopes that I could lure her away and convince her to come work for us here. But she never contacted me, and the last few times I went there she was never to be seen. Has something happened to her?”

“That’s what we are trying to find out. Miss Seed has gone missing, and the restaurant she was working at has suffered a rather extensive accident yesterday.” I wasn’t going to tell Dr. Brass about the explosives for several reasons. One of which being that until the case was closed, everypony, no matter who they were, was a suspect in my eyes. “You say it’s been some time since you last spoke to Babs. Could you tell me, did she tell you anything about herself? Or her life outside of work? Any details may be important.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer.” Dr. Brass says regretfully. “The few times we spoke were while she was waiting on me, so we never had time to do more than exchange pleasantries. She seemed to have one close friend, that she talked about, but she never mentioned her name. It was always in context. ‘My friend and I went to this new club, or I stayed over at my friends house last weekend’,things like that. She never mentioned any hobbies, but it seemed to me that she was a very intelligent pony by the way she spoke, so I’m sure there was more to her than the ‘party girl’ persona that she seemed to feel she had to project. I do remember her asking me once if I had any interest in archeology, by when I said no, she never brought it up again. I wish I could be more helpful, but I’m afraid I never really had the chance to get to know her.”

I nod somberly. Little things were clicking together in my mind. As much as I wished I could justify asking Dr. Brass a few more... ‘personal’ questions, I knew that there was no way I could do so without insult. And since he was being sincerely forthcoming, I saw no reason to go down that path... at least right now. “Is there anything you would like to add Moonlight?” I say turning toward her.

“No, I believe that covers everything. But if you can think of anything else, or if by some chance she contacts you, we would appreciate it of you would contact us as soon as possible.” She says, handing him a business card of her own.

“Of course. And if either of you need to speak to me again, I am leaving standing instructions to all of my staff to allow you in, no questions asked. Mercy? Would you please inform security as to my wishes on the matter, and then if you would, please escort my guests back to the lobby.”

From seemingly out of nowhere a female pony steps into view, and proceeds to use the Doctor’s intercom to call security. All kinds of alarm bells go off in my head. Somehow she had to have been in the room with us the entire time. And yet I sensed her presence not at all. I glance to the side at Moonlight, and notice she wears a similar surprised expression on her face. She didn’t notice her either.

Obviously this was not your normal everyday unicorn. I studied her for a moment. Light blue coat, about my age, I couldn’t see her cutie mark from the way she was turned. She looked very familiar for some reason. The Doctor called her ‘Mercy’, this nagged at my memory as well. Then the pony finished speaking and turned toward us, and it all came crashing into place.

“Solace... Merciful Solace.” I whisper aloud, my muzzle falling open. She hears me.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m surprised you remember me. It’s been quite some time.” She says, favoring me with a small smile. “You’re looking well. And you’re calling yourself Johnny now? How’s Twilight?” she asks, not bitterly like I would have expected.

I answer in a daze. “I wouldn’t know. She hasn’t spoken to me since that incident back at school. Yes, I go by Johnny now, ever since back at the school I haven’t used... that other name. You’re looking...” I take a moment to allow my eyes to pass over her. It was then I finally noticed her legs. All four ended at the upper joints. All four from those joints down were clad in bright brass prosthesis of some kind. The front two ended in what humans would call hands. I took all this in in less than a second, and finished my sentence without a noticeable pause, “...well,” I say. “Those are new,” I say gesturing at her new limbs.

“Oh yes,” She says raising a hoof and showing off her articulated fingers. “The latest in pony prosthesis. Dr. Brass made them for me. Thanks to him I can walk again, have a normal life again. Finally be able to live a normal life. All those years since the accident at school, and I can finally start to live once more.” She says happily.

I turn to Dr. Brass. “Doctor. Mercy is... was, an old friend of mine from years ago. I-I can’t thank you enough for doing this for her. This means more to me than I could ever say.” I tell him, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes.

“Johnny it was my pleasure. He says warmly. “Mercy came to this city, like so many other ponies, because of the promise of a new start, a new life. These new limbs I have created for her, and many others like her, are just my way of helping to keep that promise. The mechanics are really quite simple. Tiny M.I.S. motors in the limbs themselves are linked by magic to the wearers mind. They function just like real legs would. And they are much stronger and more durable. The optional hand claws that I had originally designed for griffins and diamond dogs are becoming all the rage for many of my pony clients.”

“Doctor, out of all the amazing things I have seen today, this... this leaves me speechless.” I say.

“Johnny Appleseed at a loss for words? My dear doctor, today you are witnessing a TRUE miracle,” Mercy says to him with an impish smile.

“Now Mercy,” he chides, “be gentle with our guest. His colt like wonder is one of the reasons I enjoy my work so much. Try not to tarnish it too badly.”

“Of course not sir. I would never tarnish your brass,” she says deadpan, raising a brassy hoof in mock salute, before ushering us toward the door to the outer office.

We make our way back to the elevator, enter, and Mercy pushes the button for the lobby. As the doors slide closed, I finally say what I have been waiting for ever since I recognized her face.

“Mercy. Oh Goddess Mercy... I-I’m so sorry. They never let me come back. To see everyone... the survivors. Aside from Twilight I was never able to contact anyone, and she of course isn’t speaking to me. To see you here, alive and walking. It’s just so... it’s like a miracle. Please, have you seen any of the others? Can you tell me anything about our classmates? Celestia still to this day won’t say a word.”

She turns to face me, as the smile falls away from her muzzle. “I’m not surprised.” She says, her tone grim. “You probably had no way of knowing, but the entire incident was covered up. It was called a failure in one of the instructor’s spells. Your name was never mentioned. All of the survivors, and the families of those that didn’t, were paid quite a lot of bits from the royal treasury as compensation for our losses. However one of the documents that we had to sign was an agreement to never discuss what happened with anypony.” She turns away, and faces the door.

“It’s been a long time since I saw any of our classmates. Some, like me who were in pretty bad shape, were given private rooms in various hospitals, all paid for by the crown of course. The ones still able to get about and take care of themselves all drifted away. None of us really kept in touch with one another. To be honest, I think we all just wanted to forget that day ever happened. So, you said you weren’t allowed to see any of us. Were you in trouble? Did they arrest you?”

“Well, I wasn’t ‘arrested’ formally. I was isolated for a long time. The head doctors, the psychiatrists, had to work me through all of my guilt and trauma. That took a couple of years. But even after they declared me ‘sane’ they still forbade me any contact with any of the survivors. They were afraid I’d have a ‘relapse’.” I say bitterly. “You have no idea how much I wanted to reach out to you all. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I-,” it was then that the door dinged open, and we were facing a lobby full of ponies, who were glancing at the express elevator in curiosity. I shut my muzzle as we quietly made our way to the front doors. There I tried again. “Mercy, could I... could we see each other again sometime?” I asked, as I fished out one of my business cards, and held it out to her.

“I’d like that,” she says, smiling at me as she reaches for it with a shiny brass claw, and deftly takes it from my hoof. “Give me a few nights until my next night off. I’ll be in touch.” She says.

“I look forward to it,” I say before the doors close between us. As I turn to face the street, I see Moonlight looking at me.

“Well, that was certainly interesting.” She says, gesturing at the retreating form of my former classmate. Did I detect resentment in her tone? “Accidents, cover ups, I’d very much like to hear the rest of the story between you two,” she says.

I was about to speak, when I noticed a steam bus pulling around the block. “Let’s find us a seat first. Then I’ll tell you as much as I’m able,” I reply.

It didn’t take us long to get settled in the bus. At this time of night, between shifts, it was practically empty, so privacy was not an issue. I tried to organize my thoughts. I was obviously going to have to tell Moonlight something, but by no means did I intend to relive ALL the events of that day, so very long ago, when the course of my life changed forever. We were partners, at least for now, bu there were things I considered too personal to share with somepony I barely knew. And besides, my main focus was on the brief conversation I just had with Dr. Brass, and all the things he told me unawares. These were the things I needed to discuss with agent Shadow, NOT the mistakes of my past. Still, my encounter with Mercy left me no choice. I would have to tell her enough to satisfy her curiosity, or else, knowing her, she would go digging on her own.

“This isn’t easy for me to talk about,” I say, trying to ease into it. “Forgive me if I don’t go into too much detail. These things are in no way related to our case, and they are personal, and painful.”

She nods to me encouragingly.

“It was years ago, back when I was still a student at Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. I was in the advanced magical applications class along with Mercy, Twilight, and most of my school friends. Back then Twilight and I had a thing going between us. Part of that was a friendly rivalry in our school work. She was always just a hair better than I was at magical theory, and I was just a shade better at application. We were in class that day, learning to use healing magic to repair wounds and burns.

Several patients from Canterlot General Hospital had volunteered to allow us to treat their minor wounds. It was a common practice back then, and the patients were well compensated. Trained medical ponies were always on hoof to make sure everything went as it was supposed to. This usually involved a doctor or a nurse being linked to the students mind, guiding them in the use of their magic to ensure that the student properly learned the techniques being used.

Twilight had already finished treating a pony who had lacerated her foreleg, and she finished the procedure flawlessly. She gave me a smirk as we passed each other, as I moved up to the dais and the next patient in line. He too had a minor laceration where he had a butcher knife slip and cut a long shallow gash down his leg. All I had to do was heal it. A simple enough spell.

But what none of us knew that day was that the nurse I was linked with was... damaged.”

“Damaged?” Moonlight said uncomprehendingly. “What do you mean by that?”

“Her mind... it was damaged. They later found out that she had been stealing various drugs from the hospital. She had been abusing them and they had been slowly deteriorating the control centers of her brain. Apparently she was prone to random seizures and fits, and had been hiding the effects of her drug use for months. Of course none of us knew any of this until much, much later.

What happened next was... well, I don’t have words for it, but I’ll tell you what I remember first, and then what I was later told. I had begun the healing spell, or rather the nurse had begun it with my magic through her link. I was more or less a passenger, learning the spell as my magic was casting it. Then suddenly I felt a tidal wave of force slam though the link into my mind. Suddenly the thin trickle of magic emitting from my horn became a flood as raw magic forced itself out of me in an explosion of power.

I blacked out for just a moment as the link burned itself out. When I opened my eyes, I rose weakly to my hooves. There were only two small areas of the entire room not covered in blood and gore. The area where I stood, and the one around Twilight Sparkle. To this day I am amazed at how powerful she was.

She had less than a second of time to erect a shield, but she did it. And she saved the lives of the four other students that were close enough for her to shield as well. But the look on her face as she stared at me. That look. Oh Goddess, that look of revulsion and horror. At the time I was still in shock. I looked around at the rest of the room. It was a charnal house. Pieces of ponies everywhere. And blood, so much blood. But not a drop on me. No, not one drop. My hooves were clean.

And that’s what Celestia declared weeks later after the investigation was concluded. My hooves were clean. The blame fell squarely on the shoulders of that nurse, who eventually confessed her drug abuse. So I was in the clear right? Not my fault right? So I suppose that’s why I was separated from the rest of the survivors, and not allowed to contact them anymore. That’s why Twilight never spoke to me again, and I lost my best friend and first love. That’s why I was taken out of school. Y’know, because that’s what you do to an INNOCENT pony, right?” I say bitterly.

“My name, my REAL name, was stricken form the school’s records. I’ve had several since then. But only a hoofful of ponies even remember who I was. Twilight does...” I trail off.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Moonlight says, taking hold of my hoof. “No pony that knows anything about magic could blame you for that.”

“No pony? Really? Well tell that to the freakin element of magic! Tell that to her! Because SHE still seems to think I am a horrible MONSTER. A slayer of the innocent! You get Twilight Sparkle to come into my office and tell me that I’m innocent, and THEN...THEN I’ll believe you.” I say, nearly shouting at this point as I jerk my hoof away.

“And this is why, at the restaurant...” she says, trying to change the subject, instead of lashing out at me in return.

“Yes,” I say more quietly. “That’s why I froze. That’s why I never tried to learn any more healing magic. I just stayed with what I was good at. I told you before, I’m a ‘render’, not a ‘mender’.”

The remainder of the bus ride was spent in silence. Once or twice Moonlight looked as if she were about to speak, but each time the words died before leaving her muzzle.

When were arrived back at my building we made our way quickly into my office. I greeted Ori as we came in, she was sitting behind her desk, not even pretending to work as she polished her hooves. I allowed an evil grin to cross my muzzle as I made to smear her freshly coated hoof that was resting on her desk. Without missing a beat she reached her right foreleg under the desk and pulled out ‘Betty’ her Ponyville Slugger hoofball bat. And laid it across her lap, a grin of her own emerging. My hoof retreated quickly.

“Hold all my calls Ori,” I said, trying to sound professional as Moonlight and I entered my office.

“I’ll do my best to fend off the continuous onslaught,” Ori quips back sarcastically, causing Moonlight to giggle out loud.

I just shake my head, as I settle into my new, stink free, office chair, and gesture for Moonlight to take my old one.

“Why does this one smell of stale cider?” She asks me, grinning all the while.

“Special scent. I have the cleaners spray it on all of my furniture. Reminds me of home.” I fire back deadpan.

“You’re home was in a barrel of rotten apples?” She says, equally sober faced. “Well, that certainly explains a lot.”

“You ain’t kidding!” Ori adds from the outer office.

“Aww, stifle it!” I say in mock irritation. To be honest I’m secretly glad that the mood had lightened. Maybe now we could focus on the case, and I could drop all of my ancient and bloody baggage.

“Well,” Moonlight says in a more professional tone of voice. “What did you think of Night Industries, and our illustrious Dr. Brass?”

“Freeow!” I say honestly. “Color me impressed! Luna has done some incredible things there. I can hardly wait until that tech becomes available to use. I need to remember to see if I can get two sets, one for here and one for my apartment. As for Dr. Brass, he was as exceptional as I was led to believe, but at the same time unexpectedly...well... mortal.”

“Well, of course he is mortal. He isn’t an alicorn, or a spirit, but I don’t think that is what you’re getting at, mortal in what way?” Moonlight inquires.

“Ah Moonlight, you’re forgetting why we went to see him in the first place. To find our his connection to Babs Seed.”

“And it seems to be a dead end, he was simply trying to offer her a job. Just what I would expect from a pony as generous as Dr. Brass.” Moonlight says, nearly reverently.

“A job?” I say, chuckling to myself. “Oh my poor naive Moonlight,” I add, shaking my head.

“Naive? In what way?” She asks confused.

“Oh you sweet, and innocent girl,” I say patting her head. “He was offering her a job, because he was interested in her. And by that I mean romantically. You know, when a boy pony and a girl pony-”

“I understand the word ‘romantically’,” she says swatting my hoof away. “But what makes you think a pony as upstanding as Dr. Brass would use his position to pick up a waitress in a restaurant?” she adds in irritation.

“{Sigh,} Oh Moonlight didn’t you notice how his behavior changed when he was speaking about her? How regretful he sounded at not being able to ‘get to know her better’. For that matter didn’t you notice how his voice softened when he was speaking to YOU? Sheesh, for an agent you seem remarkably clueless,” I say sitting back and crossing my hooves, a self satisfied grin splayed across my muzzle.

“WHAT?!?” She explodes. “He... I... what?!?” her face goes red in embarrassment.

“By the goddess, you really DIDN’T know!” I say, somewhat surprised myself.

“Y- you are mistaken,” she finally replies. “Dr. Brass is like a brother to m-to us... the city, to the city. He doesn’t have those kinds of feelings.”

“Moonlight,” I say more gently. “He’s a mortal pony just like you and me.” She flinches at my words. “He has normal pony feelings just like any of us. It’s not a sin. If anything it means that he’s in the clear as far as I’m concerned. That means we have to move on to our next lead.”

“We have another lead?” Moonlight asks, as she regains her composure.

“We still have several. I’m merely taking them in order of importance.” I open my desk and take out the folder Luna gave me. I pull out the list of Babs coworkers and friends and pass it to Moonlight. I point to a name on the list. “Does that name look familiar to you at all?” I ask.

She looks at the name and her eyes go wide. “Oh goddess. Her?!? And I suppose that’s who we are going to see next?”

“Yup,” I reply cheerfully. I’m not surprised that Moonlight knew that name. There are a hoofful of ponies that everyone in Whinnyappleous knows of, if only by reputation. Luna is one, Dr. Brass is another. Both are well respected members of the community. On the other side of the equation are ponies like ‘The Butcher’, whose names are whispered about in infamy. Ah, but then there are those that straddle the line. (Heh, straddle...) And the most notable of those names is Cherry Tart. The most famous ‘pony of the evening’, in a city of ONLY evenings.

Moonlight looks at me distastefully. “Must we really go speak to this... this..”

“Escort? Hooker? Prostitute? Princess of Pango Pango?” I finish for her, as her face goes redder and redder. “And yes, we must.” Then a sly thought occurs to me. “On the other hoof, you could just stay here with Ori, if it makes you uncomfortable. I am more than capable of giving Miss Tart a thorough investigation on my own. Yes, the more I think about it, an in depth interview with her will, I’m sure, meet with pleasing results.”

Moonlight is already out of her seat, her face is as red as an autumn sunset. She scowls at me in obvious irritation. “Let’s just get this over with!” She says.

I smile at her retreating form. This promises to be the most fun I’ve had all week.