Author's Notes:

Edited on 01 May 2016

Brisk Wind stares at the photos given to here at the warehouse crime scene. The pictures are gruesome, all of the victims were beaten and then shot, but even if they weren’t shot there is a good chance they would’ve died from their other injuries. She had heard that Rainbow Dash had arrived screaming for help at the Canterlot Royal Hospital with Minty Sprinkles bleeding to death in her hooves. But she highly doubts that Rainbow Dash could take out a two dozen people by herself, especially if half of them are griffins. It is obvious that Rainbow Dash had help, and Brisk Wind had informed Major Fuller of what the rogue Element had done.

When Brisk Wind looks at the mess in the pictures her vision turns red as she wants to make those responsible suffer, especially for what they did to Lock. He got the worst of it and she almost puked when she saw his once beautiful face destroyed beyond recognition. His horn had been completely destroyed, parts of his skull were poking out, and then someone had the audacity to shoot him in the head even though it was quite clear he was dead. Whoever was responsible for the massacre was obviously soulless. But not only is she worried about losing her top agent, she is worried by what Gilda would do. She lost her lieutenant and over twenty of her griffins. Then there is Shining Armor. She knows he will be poking his head in her business.

Brisk Wind sniffles and closes the folder with all the crime scene photos and then looks at the orphanage photo Lock had commented on way back when. She scowls and pushes it in the garbage can, and then stares off into space with wet eyes and a tight throat, wishing she had one more moment with him. Perhaps a moment that would have spared his life so they can have more together.

“Sorry, Lock,” she says quietly.

Seconds later there is a knock on the door, and she sluggishly straightens herself out, puts the files in her drawer and then wipes the tears from her face.

“Door’s open,” croaks Brisk Wind. The door opens and shuts with magic, and Brisk Wind's emotionally battered face melts to a deep frown when she sees who has entered. “Oh, its you.”

“Yes, its me,” says Fancy Pants. “I hope you have a fantastic explanation as to what the hay happened because you are in a mess with more than just the press.”

Brisk Wind narrows and ruffles her feathers, but Fancy Pants doesn’t falter as he stomps towards her desk.

“I already know about Celestia's disappointment,” says Brisk Wind coldly.

“Don't forget about me,” says Fancy Pants, his tone matching hers. “You come to me for help with your rehab program, then you harass one of my employees to where she leaves in tears, and then she goes missing after her apartment is shot up by your agents! That warrants for an explanation!”

“You have so many employees, Mr. Pants. How am I supposed to know who you are talking about?”

“Do not take me as a fool, Director. Where is she?”

“Who?”

“Trixie!”

“Her name doesn't ring a bell.”

Fancy Pants stomps the floor. “Do not play games with me, Brisk Wind! You better tell me what you did to Trixie or so help me I will end you!”

The air becomes thick and heavy, and after a long, cold pause Brisk Wind exhales slowly and approaches Fancy Pants, having to crane her neck slightly so her reddened eyes can look at his eyes.

“I do not like being threatened, Fancy Pants. Especially by a filthy scumbag like you,” says Brisk Wind. “And I also have a friend who does not like it when his friends are threatened. I can tell him what you said to me and you and your wife would suffer a terrible accident very fast.”

Fancy Pants’ jaw tightens as he scuffs his hoof against the floor, but Brisk Wind shows no signs of intimidation.

“But, I am merciful, so here is what I will do,” continues Brisk Wind. “I won't tell my friend what happend, but you will apologize to me and drop what happened to Trixie, or I will find evidence that links the Grizelda Mob to your business and Trixie as the unfortunate dame who stumbled upon something that she should not have. It really should not be too hard since you and Gilda both worked for the late Eclipse Lulamoon at some point. The choice is yours of what happens next, Fancy.”

Fancy Pants glares at Brisk Wind for a few more seconds before snorting and storming out, slamming the door shut along the way. The loud bang does make Brisk Wind flinch, and when Fancy Pants’ stomping fades away she collapses in her chair and she rubs her temple.

“This is going to be a bad day,” grumbles Brisk Wind.

Then there is a dinging of a bell, and Brisk Wind begrudgingly pushes a hidden button on her desk and a small communications contraption rises out of the floor with a headset hanging on the side on a little hook, wires that disappear into the floor, and a dial with numbers on it. The bell on it dings again and Brisk Wind puts on the headset.

“Brisk Wind,” says the pegasus, her head laying limp on her hoof.

“Our partnership is through,” says Gilda on the other end.

Brisk Wind’s feathers ruffle and her teeth clench together. “I told you never to call me on this number.”

“Why would I care what a backstabbing bitch like you wants?” says Gilda. “I’ve done everything you wanted and yet you still killed my griffins!”

“Let me remind you who you work for, Gilda. You work for me!”

“Not anymore.”

“Gilda, there is still a chance for you to make amends.”

“Fuck that shit. I'm coming for you, Brisk Wind, and when I see you, I'm going to rip your fucking wings off!”

Brisk Wind slams the headphones back on their hook and pushes the button to retract the phone. Her heart is racing and her has mouth has gone dry while sweat trickles down her shaking body. Moments later she pushes another button on her desk and there is a slight crackle before she gets a response from the other end.

“Andromeda,” says the mare on the other end.

“Andromeda, prepare the strike teams. We’re bringing down Gilda Grizelda,” says Brisk Wind.

“When?”

“Now.”

“Now?”

“Just do it!”

Brisk Wind releases the button and places the files in her desk safely in her floor safe, and then she goes to her wall. She pushes another button and the wall slides open to reveal barding with the EIB insignia on it and a large revolver hanging next to it with a box of ammo beneath it. She puts on the barding, checks the revolver and ammo before holstering it and storing the rounds in pouches, and then she leaves her office with steps heavy and fire in her eyes.

Several minutes later Brisk Wind steps into a large hangar bustling with activity. Ponies are running around, doing last minute check ups on EIB vehicles, loading up gear, checking equipment and attendance, and other things whereas nobody but the ones doing it know what they are doing. She walks up to a small army of EIB unicorns standing at attention in front of three black, armored, covered mini-trains with the EIB logo on them. All are wearing barding with the EIB logo on it and are armed with a battle saddle and headsets connected to radio packs on their backs.

Brisk Wind hastily approaches the unicorn mare doing last minute inspections and waits for her to be noticed. The mare in question is a black unicorn with a mane made up of different shades of gray and she is armed with a standard battle saddle and barding.

“Andromeda, I trust your ponies are ready to go,” says Brisk Wind seconds later.

The black unicorn turns around and her golden eyes widen from surprise. “Oh, Director Wind, I didn't realize you were here. Actually I really wasn’t expecting you to come along on this mission.”

Andromeda chuckles nervously, which Brisk Wind meets with a frown, and the unicorn's chuckle fades to a cough and apology.

“Did you brief them?” says Brisk Wind.

“With every bit of knowledge we had on Gilda and the Griffin Enclave as fast as thirty five minutes would allow,” says Andromeda.

“Good.” Brisk Wind turns to the line of unicorns. “You all already know what to do, and I apologize for having this such short notice, but after last night’s fiasco we cannot take any more chances. Gilda needs to go down. And she needs to go down today.”

Brisk Wind starts to pace in front of the group and they remain at attention.

“Now just to recap. Griffins are dangerous, very dangerous, and if you let them they will kill you, so immobilize them before they can touch you,” says Brisk Wind. “If you have to, kill them. Gilda is located on the highest point and we’ll strike in two places. Andromeda will lead the ground team to storm Gilda’s manor and I will lead the pegasi to take them from the sky. Clear?”

The group acknowledges her simple recap of the briefing. When that’s said and done, Brisk Wind dismisses them and heads towards the EIB pegasi.

“Excuse me, Director,” says Andromeda.

Brisk Wind stops and turns around with a roll of her eyes. “What is it Andromeda?”

Andromeda paws the ground. “I was just wondering why we’re rushing to do this. I mean, this is the kind of operation that cannot be rushed.”

Brisk Wind steps dangerously close to the black unicorn, making her shrink back. “Are you telling me how to do my job?”

“N-no, ma’am, I’m just worried that this thing will go wrong since we’re rushing into this.”

“Nothing will go wrong. The griffins won’t know what hit them. They’ll be done with by the end of the day and Equestria will be one criminal empire safer. Now get to your group.”

Andromeda nods and trots back to her group while Brisk Wind uses the stairs to get to a catwalk to overlook the main attraction of the hangar, ignoring the strange looks she is getting from everyone. Once there, she stares at a massive armored zeppelin sitting before her in the hangar with a small smile as it is loaded up by the crew. The zeppelin’s cylinder is covered in metal sheets and the back has four fins, each facing a different direction like a basic compass. In between the fins are turbine engines and underneath the cylinder is the area where the passengers reside, which is a couple of stories tall. To top it off, the big ship is decorated in a base of white with gold decorations all along its hull with an eloquent sun and the EIB symbol painted on either side of the cylinder.

Moments of gawking later, and a pegasus mare wearing an air captain’s uniform flies towards the catwalk Brisk Wind is on.

“Ma’am, we’re ready to launch,” says the mare when she lands next to Brisk Wind.

Brisk Wind smirks. “Excellent, Captain, we’re leaving immediately.”

The Captain nods and flies down, alerting the crew and passengers of the order. Brisk Wind winces from her muscles being pulled when she expands her wings, and after taking a gulp of courage she glides down to the floor. Once stumbling to a landing she quickly straightens herself out and trots towards the zeppelin’s bridge, located on the front of the ship for an excellent view of the journey that entails. The bridge’s floors are polished, the observation dome glass is clear, and its sleek instruments are being skillfully operated by its pilots. It is a sight to behold, and while Brisk Wind is marveling at the feat of engineering she’s standing in, warning alarms ring out in the halls. A fast moment later, and there is a muffled whine and boom, and Brisk Wind has to grip the railing for support when the ship lurches forward. She looks around the deck, relieved to see no one staring at her, and when she looks outside her eyes widen in wonder at the front seat view of the ship's steady ascension into the sunny sky.

“Ladies and gentlecolts, we are off!” says the Captain proudly over the intercom.

The ship’s halls echo with cheers and praise and while Brisk Wind still has yet to release the railing she still smiles to herself, knowing that one more thorn will soon be removed.