Chapter 3 The Client

"Have you been up all night, Michael?" asked Twilight as she headed downstairs. She saw a small pile of books surrounding the stallion. Not the usual mess of one of her trademark all-nighters, but still a sizable stack. Twilight also noticed a small table next to him, with a mug of coffee sitting on a small plate.

"Not really." said Michael, levitating a book on Equestrian history back to the shelves and picking up a spell book from the pile. "I took a few naps here and there, about a couple hours worth." He took a sip of coffee as he opened the new book.

Twilight shook her head, a slight smile on her face. "I still can't believe you've learned basic magic in the five days you've been here. It took me weeks to figure out even basic telekinesis."

"I'm a quick study." said Michael. "You need to be in my line of work." He then noticed a small cringe from Twilight. It was subtle, but he'd gotten practice reading her body language. "There a problem?" he asked as he set the book down.

Twilight, startled by the question, jumped a few inches off the ground and flashed a quick smile. "No, no problem. Why would there be a problem?"

"Anyone ever tell you you're a horrible liar?" asked Michael.

"What makes you think I'm lying?" retorted Twilight.

"Facial expressions." said Michael. "First off, your pupils dilate slightly when you lie. Also, your right ear twitches and you break out into a sweat. Lastly, your voice rises a few octaves in pitch."

Twilight lowered her head and frowned. "That obvious, huh?" She then arched her eyebrows as a thought crossed her mind. "When did you learn to read Pony body language?"

"I didn't." replied Michael. "Human and Pony facial expressions, on the other hand, are very similar. Besides, you're just that easy. Now, back to my original question, what's wrong?"

Twilight sighed. "I guess I'm still not very comfortable with your job. I've been trying to avoid that subject." she said.

"Well, no avoiding it now." said Michael. "What do you want to know?"

"Why did you become a spy?" Twilight asked. "How can you live with yourself with what you do? You hurt people for Celestia's sake!"

Michael sighed. "Becoming a spy was a very deep and personal choice for me. I'd rather not talk about it." he said. "As for your other question, I do not enjoy hurting others. However, there are a lot of bad people on Earth that need to be watched." He gave Twilight a stern look. "Because of the work I and other spies do, a brutal dictator might be stopped before he can slaughter his own citizens for his amusement, or a potential war that could leave millions dead or homeless might be averted."

Twilight gasped at that last statement. "Are you telling me that such... tragedies are common where you're from?" she asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." replied Michael.

"That's... horrible." she said. "How can anyone live in such a world?"

Michael chuckled. "We're a tenacious species, Twi. Believe me, things were a lot worse a century ago."

Before the conversation could go any further, a loud crash shook the Library. Several books went flying off their shelves, some striking Twilight and Michael.

"That sounded like somepony ran into the door." said Twilight. She rushed over to the entrance and quickly opened it. "Sam?"

"Hey Twi. Hey Mikey. How's it going?" said the grey Pegasus groggily.

"Still learning to fly, Sam?" asked Michael.

"No, I've got that part down." replied Sam as he got back to his feet. "It's the landing that I'm having trouble with." He shook his head, clearing out the cobwebs. "Seriously though, we've got a problem, Mike."

Michael did not like the way Sam had said that. "What kind of problem?"

"Head over to Rarity's. We'll explain everything." With that, he took off and flew east, in the direction of the Carousel Boutique.

"Oh, of all the possible things that could've happened this is the worst... Possible. THING!" exclaimed Rarity, as she ran frantically around her store.

"Is she always this melodramatic?" asked Michael, receiving a nod from Twilight.

"Mikey, this is serious." said Sam, flaring his wings in agitation.

"Oh yes it is!" interjected Rarity. "This isn't simply a matter of being late with an order, or me being humiliated in front of all of Canterlot. This is much much worse."

"What's the problem?" asked Twilight.

"It's my sister, Sweetie Belle." said Rarity. "She's been.... she's been... FOALNAPPED!

Michael's eyes widened in surprise. "When?" he asked.

"Less than an hour ago, on her way to school." said Rarity. "Her friends, Applebloom and Scootaloo saw a bunch of strange ponies grab her and take off north. They tried to catch up to the ruffians, but they teleported soon after they made their escape. They could be anywhere!"

Michael sighed. He had just gotten used to the idea of being on vacation. "How can I help?" he asked. The smile on Rarity's face immediately brightened the room.

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you thank you! How can I ever repay you?"

"You don't have to." said Michael.

"Oh, but I insist. A lady must always pay her debts, no matter how significant." stated Rarity.

Michael eyed a display of sunglasses nearby. With a smirk, he levitated one of the more stylish pairs and put them on. "This'll do for payment." He then turned to Rarity, having put his game face on. "Have you received a Ransom note?" he asked.

"Not yet." said Rarity. "However, Derpy, the mailmare, doesn't make her rounds until after lunch. I expect it to arrive then."

"I see." Michael stated. "Where can I find Applebloom and Scootaloo?" he asked.

"Why do you need to talk to them?" asked Twilight.

"Because they saw the crime go down." said Sam. "They might have more information."

"Oh." exclaimed Twilight. "In that case, they should be in school at this time of day. It's right behind the Library."

"Fantastic." said Michael. "I'll go ask them a few questions. Meet me back at the Library." With that, he turned and trotted out of the Boutique.

"Wow." Twilight said. "I didn't expect him to want to just help out of the kindness of his own heart."

"Mike's full of surprises, Twi." said Sam. "It's really no big surprise to anyone that knows him, however."

Twilight shot Sam a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

Sam sighed. "Have you noticed those scars over Michael's eye?"

"Why, yes." said Rarity. "Something like that is hard to miss."

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but he got those from when his father would beat him as a kid." he said, receiving pained gasps from Twilight and Rarity.

"That's... terrible." said Twilight.

"Yeah, it is." replied Sam. "Because of that, Mikey's always had a soft spot for these types of cases. It's bit him in the ass a couple times, but he will not turn away a kid in danger." He then shot a stern glance at the two mares. "You didn't hear this from me, understand?" Twilight and Rarity nodded. "Good."