Moonstone let out a grim sigh as he looked out his kitchen window at the city that was his home. Sunlight peered from out of the top of the buildings, casting away the shadows with its morning glow. With their disappearance, came the unraveling of the destruction of the storm that ravaged Canterlot the previous night. Power lines hung from their poles, electricity sparking and buzzing, ready to strike anything within range. Trees torn from their roots lay on the grass, soil sticking to the ends as if they fought to the end to keep the big plants standing. Debree lay scattered, no longer kept in the confinements of the tipped trash cans meant to contain them.

“What a mess”. Moonstone thought looking out his bedroom window.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Moonstone had borne witness to meteorological catastrophes. Having lived in Canterlot for many years, he experienced countless storms – each ferocious in their own varying degrees. Yet he never saw or heard of one being this bad, especially in a city of all places. Moonstone only hoped that thunderstorms like this would not become the norm. Or his time in Canterlot would be far more unpleasant than it already was becoming.

“Well I better head downstairs and see if Moon Dancer is up yet”. He muttered to himself opening his bedroom door he headed downstairs finding his little 11 year old little sister in the kitchen. “At least no one was killed or hurt in that storm last night” He thought as he headed into the kitchen to begin his day.

Cereal being poured brought the officer's attention back to the present, and he turned to see a girl of middle school age in his kitchen. He watched as she opened the carton of milk and poured it into her bowl before sitting to eat. It was a moment or two in her morning meal before she eyed her brother while he made himself a cup of dark coffee with a mischievous smile as she returned to her own meal.

“How long are you going to sit there staring at your cup of coffee, Bro?” Moon Dancer asked in a laid-back and casual tone. “You look like you’re upset over a breakup or something.”

“Believe me sis, I wish that was what occupied my mind instead,” Moonstone replied tiredly. “But I don’t really have the luxury for that right now. The state of the city has my thoughts occupied on just how damaged it is right now.”

“Yeah, that storm was crazy!” Moon Dancer agreed with a whistle. “I couldn’t get a single minute of sleep with all that thunder rumbling out of my window! I can’t believe how long it lasted!”

“I know I listened to you tossing and turning all night.”

“Sorry bro I didn’t mean to keep you up last night but that storm was just awful”.

“It’s alright sis just be sure to get ready to go soon alright ” Moonstone murmured. “Also I’ll be getting home a bit late tonight so I want your homework done and completed by the time I get home. I’ll text once I am on the way home”.

Moondancer huffed. “Yeah, yeah I know I’ll have my chores and homework ready for you to look over by time you get here sheesh”.

Moonstone gave no reply to his sister’s irrational voice, knowing that she didn’t mean it out of malice. These banters were something they participated in from time to time and today wasn’t any different. If anything, it served as a welcome distraction for Moonstone from what was going on. That wasn’t to say he didn’t have his day where Moon Dancer got on his nerves to the point of ripping his own hair out. It was just that sometimes these little squabbles with his sister did help to ease him when he felt troubled.

“We will leave as soon as you are done with your breakfast so hurry up,” Moonstone sighed, pushing himself away from the kitchen table. “I think it’s time you get yourself dressed. I need to take you to school so I can be at work on time. I don’t want to have to get a writeup after the last time I had to drop you off.”

“If you say so,” Moondancer shrugged as she continued to munch on her cereal. “Can I stay over at the library today bro? I want to catch up on some books I didn't finish the last time I was there.”

“No, you can’t. I have a long day ahead of me and I won’t be able to give you the free time I usually do. I’ll call Minuette to see if she will be able to watch you too.”

“Awww… no fair!”

Ignoring his sister's disappointed complaints, Moonstone pulled out his phone from his pocket and began dialing. Once he finished putting in the number, he put it next to his phone and waited for the receiver to pick up. His eyes went back to the devastation outside, causing a frown of concern to tug at his lips.

‘I hope Minuette has her cell phone turned on,’ He thought as the wait dragged on. ‘I’m not going to be able to get ahold of her the other way with the land lines damaged. If she doesn’t pick up, I don’t know how else I’m going to reach her.'

“Hello?” A chipper and tired voice said from the other end of the line.

“Yeah Min, it’s me. Sorry for calling so early, did I wake you up?”

“I wouldn’t sound so tired if you didn’t wake me up! But yeah, I’m up now,” She replied dryly, the creaking of a bed coming from the other end. “Anyway, what’s up? Family emergency going on?”

Moonstone sweat dropped. “Er, yeah… something like that. I was wondering if you could watch my little sister while I’m at the station today.”

A moment of silence passed before Minuette gave her response. “Are you serious? Of all the things you ask me, that’s what you woke me up for? Come on Moonstone, at least come up with a better reason!”

“I wish I could, seriously. But this is the one I have. I understand if you can’t do it, but I’m in a tight spot right now and-”

“Hold on, hold on, I didn’t say that I wouldn’t do it. I just wish you could have waited for a least a couple more hours before coming to me with something like this. You know how I liked my beauty sleep.”

“Yes, I do,” Moonstone nodded with a sigh. “So, will you be able to do it?”

A yawn came from the other end before the woman gave her reply. “Sure, I’ll watch the kid. Just give me a time when I should pick her up and I’ll take care of everything from there.”

“Alright, thank you Minuette. I promise, I’ll be sure to pay you back for this. And I’m sorry for the inconvenience.” Moonstone said with great appreciation and remorse in his tone. Looking through his wallet he grumbled seeing there was only a ten and five dollar bill in his wallet he handed them to his sister adding quickly, “Ok, I need you to pick her up at 3:30 today”.

“Alright that’s fine I’ll be there. Not like I’d really turn down the kid just to hang with my friends,” Minuette said with a sigh. “Next time though don’t call me so early in the blasted morning alright?”

“I’ll be more mindful of that,” Moonstone assured with a small smile. “Alright, I need to get going now. I’ll let you go back to sleep. And again, thank you for doing this to me. It really means a lot.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever,” Minuette grunted, sounding tired of the continuous gratitude. “I’ll be going now… see ya!”

“Have a good… sleep,” Moonstone said, pausing in finishing his sentence after the woman hung up on him. Moon Dancer took the money, placing it into her purse which was located on the kitchen countertop. He mouthed silently to her, “Give this to Minuette when you see her”. Turning back to him his sister watched him put his phone back in his pocket, he turned his attention to his watch to see what the time was. “Cripes, it’s almost eight! The sergeant is going to have my ass!” catching his sister's attention as she finished her cereal.

“What’s the matter, bro? Running late already?” Moon Dancer asked to get up to put her dishes into the dishwasher.

“Yes, and I’m not going to waste another second doing so!” He stated firmly, pointing up the stairs like he was banishing his sister to her room. “Go upstairs and get dressed, breakfast time is over!”

“But I’m not-”

“Now, Moon Dancer! I’m not going to say it again! Shoo!”

“Alright, alright!” She relented, rushing through the exit down the hall. As soon as his sister vanished from sight, Moonstone looked over at the kitchen clock as his forehead began to sweat.

‘Please have Sergeant Starknight go easy on me today!’

---

“Moon Dancer, are you ready to go yet?” He called out to her from the front door as he rushed outside to start the car, “I’m seriously running late!”

“I’m coming bro, don’t worry!” Moon Dancer shouted back to her brother, getting to the front door and shutting it behind herself. “I told you I wasn’t going to take as long this time! You really need to learn how to wait.”

“I can wait.” Watching his sister open the back door and slam it shut he grunted as she opened the front door, “Get in already, I don't have time for these games!” Moonstone retorted as his sister climbed into the front passenger seat of his police car. Looking behind him he saw a large pile of old school and academic books in the backseat. His sister offered a slight grin. “You know there’s such a thing as too much studying, right?”

“As if! There's no way that anyone can study too much and have it fail!” Moon Dancer scoffed. “I’m just a student who wants to stay on top of her grades, nothing more!”

“That’s all well and good, but it is still important to take breaks from it. Otherwise, you’re going to get burned out.”

“Like that will ever happen. Now, don’t you have somewhere to take your precious little sister? Like school perhaps? I just got a new record for getting ready on time and I’d like it if it wasn’t broken.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it. How much time do I have to get you there?”

“It's seven-forty-five now. you got fifteen minutes to get me to school and less than five after that to get to work. Think you can manage that time?”

“Oh, trust me little sister,” Her older brother replied with a smirk. “I can do that and then some.”

His sister gave him a raised eyebrow. “Really, ho-”

Roaring from the car engine cut the high schooler off as her brother’s hands wrapped around the steering wheel. His foot lightly tapped at the gas pedal; the corners of his lips still upturned in the smirk he was giving her. It took less than a second for her to realize what was going to happen… and that she could do nothing to stop it.

“Wait… you’re not going to do what I think you’re going to-” Moon Dancer’s sentence was put to a stop by Moonstone pressing his foot on the gas pedal. The speedometer shot up from zero to one hundred and twenty as he peeled out of the driveway hearing his sister scream out. “-DO?!”

Speeding down the street, Moon Dancer glanced out the passenger side window watching as her brother flew past all the houses, street signs and apartments. Some debris and litter got flown in the air due to the speed in which the officer was driving. Noticing a red light that was coming up, the bookworm looked to her brother, noticing he wasn’t making any effort to stop the vehicle.

“Are you nuts?! That’s a red light!” Moon Dancer cried out pointing at the light as if it was a deer they were about to run over. Seeing that he wasn’t replying – or stopping – the girl began to panic and shout. “Moon Stone, what the hell are you doing?!”

“Getting my little sister to school and me to work on time so the sergeant can’t have my backside for being late?” He replied as if it was the most obvious thing. “What does it look like?”

“Like you’re already on the job and chasing down a criminal?!” Moon Dancer replied despite the fact her brother wasn’t really asking. “You don’t need to go this fast!’

“And who was it that said the time I had to do what I’m setting out to do right now? You only have yourself to blame for this.”

“I’m not the one who’s driving like a maniac! And it’s not like we’re running that late anyway!”

“Then take this as a lesson to not goat your dear brother into doing things like this,” Moonstone advised with a cheeky grin. “Now hush up, I need to concentrate so I don’t get into an accident.”

“Ugh, fine!” Moon Dancer relented, gripping the sides of her seat. “But you’ll be responsible for my hospital bill if that happens!”

“Yes ma’am.”

Gripping the sides of her seat, Moonstone watched with wide eyes and a pale face as Moonstone paid little attention as he drove through the busy intersection. Glancing down at the speedometer, he saw the needle was trembling just past one hundred and thirty mph, indicating the speed in which he was going. He looked back up and swerved the car to the right, avoiding a big oncoming semi-truck that was coming up where he was going down.

Irritated squeals came from the tires of the truck as the driver honked his horn, clearly not happy with what Moonstone was doing. Swerving to the left, then to the right again, he avoided three more cars who used their honks to show how they felt about the officer’s actions. All the while his sister sat next to him, face in her hands as if shielding her eyes from a scene in a horror movie.

“Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! I’m so going to die!” She whimpered. “Please slow down Moonstone, please! I seriously don’t want us to crash!”

“Oh, come on sis relax,” Moonstone assured, not glancing once at the panicking teenager. “This isn’t the first time you saw me driving like this. You have nothing to worry about… I’ve never hurt you before, have I?”

Moon Dancer’s head flew up from her hands to shoot a glare at him. “No, but you just might this time! And that won’t be the only thing you have to worry about either!”

“You mean me getting pulled over? It’s early in the morning sis, I doubt anyone is going to notice or care that a cop car is speeding. Other than another police officer.”

“Oh, really? Like that one?”

Blinking in confusion, the officer looked to where the younger girl was pointing and saw another cop stationed behind a billboard sign. Their eyes locked for just a second, but that was all that it took for the other officer to recognize who he was. Just a moment later, the man got into his car and drove onto the road, car siren’s blaring.

“And there you go!” Moon Dancer grunted with crossed arms. “Still think that speeding is such a good idea now?!”

“I think it’s a bit late for you to be scolding me now,” Moonstone murmured, looking out the back-car window. “Hold on, I gotta lose this guy.”

Pressing the pedal all the way to the floor, the car lurched forward quickly, gaining speed and turning the right as the tires squealed. Moon Stone then had his steering wheel roll to the right, trying to make the turn completely losing control of his cruiser. Looking in the rearview mirror, Moonstone grinned as he watched the officer’s cruiser hit the sidewalk, slamming into a tree.

‘He’ll be alright. I’m sure,’ Moonstone thought to himself, turning to his shocked sister. “Alright, we are about halfway to your school. Do you have your homework with you, Moon Dancer?”

“Are you serious?!” She screamed back “You want to know if I have my homework when you have been driving like a complete idiot?!”

“Yeah, you’re the one who wants to maintain your grades and all. Isn’t that right?”

“Well... yeah, but I don’t think any sane person would ask that of someone while driving like you are! What sense does that make?!”

“None. Unless you are an older sibling who wants to make sure their younger siblings stay on the straight and narrow,” Moonstone said innocently, noticing an incoming building out of the corner of his eye. “Oh look, we finally made it!”

Moon Dancer’s eyes practically sprayed with tears. “Really?! Oh, thank you!”

Chuckling at his sister’s elation, Moonstone gave one last push on the gas pedal to speed them to Canterlot High. He paid no mind to the damage around the school, having had his fill of just how much destruction the storm caused. Stopping at the drive in at the entrance, he stopped his car just as Moon Dancer flew open the entrance.

“Land!” She screamed jovially, kissing the concrete like it was a long-awaited lover. “Oh, the love I have for you land!”

“Hate to interrupt you there sis, but could you maybe save that for when no one sees you?” Came the dry voice of the middle schooler’s brother. “People are starting to stare.”

“Shut up! You’re in no position to tell me what to do!” Moon Dancer snapped as she whipped her head around to face him. “After that hell you called a ride, you deserve this much humiliation!”

“Probably, but you could at least tone it down a little bit. People are giving you looks like you’ve gone mental or something,” Moonstone continued, looking around at the passing students.”

“I don’t think they’ll be thinking that once I tell them just what you put me through!” Moon Dancer growled. “Would you like to do some verification for that, dear brother?”

Her backpack hitting her face was the response given as Moonstone threw it out his car. Nothing was said about it as it plopped to the ground, allowing the glare on Moon Dancer’s face to pierce into Moonstone’s eyes.

“Can’t, I gotta get going. I’ll have much more to worry about then telling your friends of our little drive together if I don’t leave.” Moonstone said, closing the front passenger door behind him. “I’ll call Minuette when I get to the station and have her meet you after school. Be good, love you!”

“Whatever, just leave already you jerk!” Moon Dancer shouted, ushering him away. As he drove off, she yelled behind him. “I love you too!”

In response to this, Moonstone stuck out his hand to wave at his sister, watching with a smile as she repeated the action. As she headed for the Canterlot High’s entrance, the smile fell as he made his way down the road, feeling a knot forming in his stomach. Moonstone brushed it off, chalking it up to his nerves messing with his head as he made his way to the police station.

If only he knew how wrong he would be.

---

Impossible as it seemed, Moonstone managed to arrive to work just before the time his shift was supposed to begin. It was already seven fifty-five and he knew he had not a second to waste with checking himself in. He barely parked his car securely enough before he rushed inside, getting to the front desk a couple of minutes later. Relief filled him at seeing Starknight not at her desk and went to clock in, feeling all the gladder to do it since he had less than a minute left.

‘Now that was too close,’ Moonstone thought as he straightened his uniform. ‘I thought for sure I would get a chewing out today by Sargent Starknight. Guess luck decided to give me a break...’

“Moonstone!”

A flinch left the officer upon hearing his name – as well as who was saying it – being called. ‘Or not…’

“Sargent Starknight, g-good morning!” He said with a slight stutter, standing to attention in front of his higher-ranking senior. “Is there something the matter?”

“Involving me? No, you don’t need to worry about that,” She replied shortly. “If it did have to do with me, you wouldn’t be in as much trouble as you are now.”

Moonstone paused. “W…what do you mean by that?”

“I don’t have time to explain, so I’ll just have to take you there instead,” She said, waving him over as she turned on her heels. “Follow me, we don’t have time to waste.”

“But sergeant I-I-” He began to protest, only to receive an angry look that quickly cowed him. “Lead the way ma’am.”

With no further protests, Starknight led him around the front desk towards the left of the precinct. Moonstone took notice of how they were headed for a large metal door that read ‘Internal Affairs Officers Only Beyond This Point’ and felt his stomach drop. Not liking where she was leading him, he looked down, letting out a sigh that expressed his nervousness and dismay. Starknight stopped at hearing this, her sudden movement causing moonstone to almost bump into her.

“Listen, I know this seems bad, but it doesn’t need to be if you do as you're told. Just answer their questions truthfully and don’t leave anything out.” Looking towards the door then back to him, she added another tidbit. “I’ve gone through this myself, so I know what it's like to be where you are now. Don’t fret, you’ll do fine. Just keep calm and don’t act as if you have something to hide.”

“A-am I in trouble sergeant?”

“I can’t answer that rookie. All I can say is that I need to escort you in there. You’ll be on your own after that.”

“Alright… if you say so,” Moonstone murmured, rubbing one of his arms.

Knocking on the door, Starknight stepped back as the door opened and two men in gray three-piece suits stepped out. Each gave Moonstone looks dirtier than gum on a shoe as they stood in front of the duo of officers. One had blond hair with a hint of snow white, a scar on his right cheek and blue eyes like cold steel. Deep purple made up the hair of the other man, his cheeks adorned with small freckles and skin like that of a silver blade.

“Thank you for bringing him to us, Officer Starknight.” The first man said, giving a respectful nod to the woman. Turning his attention to Moonstone, he addressed him in a slightly colder voice. “I am Internal Affairs Officer Zaros Frost. I would like you to come with us, Officer Moonstone.”

Moonstone gulped. “Y-yes sir… if I may ask, what is this all about?”

“You will know that once you are inside. Now follow us”.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Starknight said softly, turning to leave. “Just remember what I told you, Moonstone. Answer their questions fully and truthfully, don't leave anything out and you’ll do just fine.”

“S-sure.”

With a silent nod, Starknight headed back down the hall as Moonstone was escorted down another that felt too long for him. They soon reached an interrogation room, entering through the open door. Moonstone immediately took notice of a metal table right in the middle and three chairs in the center, and it clicked in his head what was going on. Looking to the right, he noticed a security camera was pointed towards the table, set in the upper right corner of the small room. The drop Moonstone felt in his stomach from moments ago came back tenfold, and he knew right then and there that this would not be a pleasant talk.

“Take a seat officer,” Zaros said, gesturing to the seat on the opposite end. “This won’t take long. we just need to ask you a few questions and we’ll send you on your way.”

Doing as he was instructed, Moonstone gulped as his mind flashed to the possible outcomes that led to him in this situation. A brief thought of the officer that was tailing came, and he wondered if that was what they were here for. The cold smile from the detective banished it, and what left his mouth made Moonstone wish it was that instead.

“Alright rookie, my partner Zeck and I have some questions for you regarding your treatment of a certain someone named Lightning Dust,” Zaros began, watching Moonstone flinch. “Now before we begin, just know this. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Think carefully about how you answer us. If you like you can have union representation here. Do you fully understand?”

“I do, and I don’t think I need them at this time sir” Moonstone replied, trying to keep a calm head. “What do you want to ask me?”

“This interrogation is regarding your report concerning a young lady named Lightning Dust.” Zeck interjected. “Can you walk us through how you arrested her and the reason you placed her under arrest?”’

“I was late showing up on my first day of work due to needing to drop off my little sister at her babysitters. Traffic was a mess that day, which was another factor,” Moon Stone started, keeping in mind the advice Starknight had previously given him. “Right on my first day, I managed to anger the Sergeant by being late to my shift. We got a call as I was clocking in that a fight had taken place at Canterlot High School., So we did what I believe any other officer would do and responded to the call.”

“What happened next?” Zaros asked, crossing his arms over his chest glaring at Moon Stone. “Did you go to that school with the intention of hurting Ms. Dust? Or were you there simply to-”

“Now wait just a bloody minute,” Moon Stone interrupted, receiving dirty looks from both officers. “I was in no way at all going there just to ‘hurt’ someone! I went there because my partner drove us there. Nothing more! As police officers it's our job to respond to any situations! Like the one that happened at Canterlot High School! Sure, I don’t like having to place that child under arrest, but I only did my job and nothing else!”

“I don’t think punching Ms. Dust in the back of her head or using your taser on the vice principal qualifies you as, “doing your job”,” Zeck shot back sharply and sarcastically. “If you think it was, then you will find that you are sorely mistaken.”

Looking at the table, Moonstone took a moment to think his eyes shifted from left to right. While he understood the Internal Affairs Officers’ feelings, on the subject at hand he did not like being looked at like someone who was being harassed rather than protected. He meant what was said when he was only doing his job when it came to how things went with Lightning Dust, despite the excessiveness. But it seemed like Zeck and Zaros saw it differently, and Moonstone had every intention of proving it otherwise.

“Look, the vice principal jumped in the way just as I pulled the trigger to my taser, so I wound up tasing her due to her getting in the way.” Lowering his voice, a bit he continued. “Ms. Dust was fleeing the scene, I tried stopping her by tackling her, but I got into a scuffle with her as a result.”

“And this is when you did what you resorted to doing?” Zeck snorted out his question like someone bent on fully proving him wrong. “Let me guess you enjoyed using that taser on Ms. Moonriser?”

“WHAT?! No '' Moonstone shot back in horror at the implication and indifference “I most certainly didn’t enjoy it at all. Yes I used my taser but I had no intention of using it on Ms. Moonriser” Moonstone replied after some hesitation. “It is not my job to punch, nor to tase someone that I am not arresting. Listen I am telling you the truth Lightning Dust didn’t leave me much of a choice. It’s not like I wanted to harm her but… it just happened.”

“I see...” Zaros murmured. “And that is all that truly happened? You’re not leaving anything out?”

“No sir, it is nothing but the absolute truth. Every single thing.”

Zeck stayed silent for a moment before speaking up again. “Alright then, I think that will be it for now. We will inform you later on when we have made our decision as to how to go forward with this incident. Until then, you will be restricted to desk duty for the next-”

“That won’t be an option,” Zaros interrupted before his partner could finish and Moonstone could complain. “While Officer Moonstone did make a mistake, it was not made of his own accord. And by law, it would be unreasonable to punish him for something like that. So we will let him off with a warning for the time being.”

“If you say so,” Zeck said with his arms crossed, not sounding too happy with the outcome.

“As for you Officer Moonstone, you will be allowed to return to duty. However, you will need to undergo more training as an officer and what to do in cases like with Ms. Dust,” Zack said, turning his attention back to the younger man in front of him. “A strict written warning will be placed into your personnel file. If this happens again officer you will not be let off as easily, am I clear?”

“Yes sir,” Moonstone replied bitterly, trying to keep the growl in his voice at bay. “I’ll be extra sure to keep that in mind.”

“Good. You are dismissed.” Zaros grumbled folding his arms over his chest.

Getting up from his seat, Moonstone headed out of the room, and made his way back to his desk. He glanced at his watch, noticing it was already eight fifteen. Getting to his desk a few minutes later, he took a seat at his chair as Starknight came back to her own with a cup of coffee in hand. Setting it down, she silently handed him several files, letting him take them as the duo began their day.

‘And what a long day was going to be.’

Next Chapter: August 3rd, Wednesday 7:45 A.M. Part Three Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 42 Minutes