So, there I was, Layla, at Hope Hollow - the town of my destination. Standing at the gated of the town and admiring it's beauty, I couldn't help but attract the gaze of some ponies.
- So, what are ya doing here, stranger?
A husky voice returned me to reality. There was an Earth pony standing near me, all red and fierce-looking. Apparently, she seemed to be upset about something from the looks of it...
- Can I help you? - I asked, trying to be as friendly as possible.
- You? Oh, well, not so sure, - the red-head replied, staring me down, - I'm not sure you even know me, huh?
- And... who are you? - this was very confusing, I'd say.
- Name's Lena Vivien Red, daughter of the local officer and military stallion, and you?
- Gleaming Color. Here for... practice? - Lena's look intimidated me quite a bit. She kept inspecting me, like a local police-pony, - Why are you looking at me like that? It's not really polite, you know.
- What practice are you doing exactly? - the mare replied, seemingly not noticing my remark.
- EqUoCaA, Equestrian University of Culture and Arts. And did I commit any crime?
- No, you just seem strange. It's a duty of any police pony, to check on visitors. Ya don't seem very safe.
- But why the intensity? Is it - I suggested, - because I am a unicorn?
- That necklace... is something our nemesis, Grayscale, used to wear.
- Grayscale? - I didn't know anything about that pony, so I asked Lena to explain her story to me.
- Grayscale's family had always been considered not quite with themselves: behaving weird, looking just like after that incident that turned our town gray many moons ago... there was some strange aura waving about them, at least, that's what Dad told me. And a certain diaspora of ponies bore a dislike for Grayscale's family, including the Military Red Clan.
Layla, you had told me something of the Russian Communist Red Army, and it seemed like I remembered that story from the start...
- Say, Lena, isn't it a little too much prejudice towards one-color scheme?
- Call it PTSD, - the mare softened down, - some military ponies and their children tend to have it through generations. But there's more about Grayscale herself, than her color: she has a tendency to talk to herself, be in her own world most of the time, lash out at ponies for a simple jumpscare joke...
- Simple jumpscare joke?! I think it's fairly justified, why she does this, right? - I became thoroughly furious with these words, but calmly continued, - Lena, you are just doing your duty now, right?
- Yeah.
- Then, please, tell me: why couldn't you try and just come up and talk to her, instead of judging her actions, like a bully?
- I don't trust her, ok? - There was something odd about Lena right there: she turned her eyes away from me in an instant, and continued, while staring at the ground, - Look, I may seem like a jerk, but I just can't find my way around her. No one can.
- Just because you can't doesn't mean -
- Remember the PTSD?
- Ok, - I wanted to end this real quick, - since I am a Ponyville ambassador, of sorts, I could find a way to talk to her and avert the unfair opinion you have about her, deal?
Lena Vivien Red stared me down again.
- Well, you can give it a shot. And, speaking of duties, I kind of broke the law, holding you for ransom like this, - she reached out for her purse and reached out ten bits to me, - here's the fine.
- Wait, two things: a) you didn't really break the law, because you were inspecting me for anything criminal, and that suits your alley; b) why the bits, because if you truly broke it, you should have given it to another police-pony?
- ... you're right. - Lena's face became even gloomier. - Sometimes I take my job too seriously, and I know it.
- It's nothing, really. No REAL moral damage taken.
- Is there anything i could do to make up for all this mess? - Lena asked, still eyeing the ground guiltily.
- Well, you could show me around, like every normal pony does. - I really wanted to get away from the border as quickly as possible and hoped, that Lena didn't mind my rudeness at this point.
The police-mare helped me up with my luggage and we set off, exploring the city... and looking for my temporary accommodation and workplace.