Declaration from White Clover
Date: April 26th
Relevant Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (Case #3467)
Classification: Top Secret
To whom it may concern,
As of this declaration, all those stationed in the town of Ponyville tasked with investigating the citizenry’s disappearance are to begin immediate psychological evaluations. If the results of an individual’s evaluation are concerning, a mandatory period of rest and recovery will be required before they may resume duty on any case. Anyone who passes evaluations may, however, petition for rest and recovery from the head investigator, Verdant Vines.
I must assure each of you that these measures are considered important to the physical and mental well-being of all those involved in this case, and that any attempts to circumvent or avoid them will result in removal from the case and a suspension of to-be-determined length.
If there are any concerns or issues that you need assistance with prior to scheduled visits, you can inform the head investigator.
Signed,
White Clover
Central Director
Canterlot Bureau of Investigation
Vines,
I know you probably think it’s over-protective, given how you sounded in your last letter, and that you think it’s all superstition, but I’ve seen the complaints you forwarded from at least a dozen ponies of insomnia, nightmares, or something else impacting their performance. I’m only doing this to make sure things go smoothly and that there are no incidents.
The journal from Sweet Apple Acres has helped, but we need to find something else. We could keep digging forever, but I have to give a deadline for a full report to the Princess. In seven more days, we’ll take a look at what we have and then we’ll pass a verdict on the case. We’ll pull everyone out that isn’t keeping the town under quarantine and then look at how, or if, we’ll release the information.
I know you and your team can perform well under pressure; you’ve done it a dozen times before. Just don’t push anyone, especially yourself, too hard.
Warmly,
Clover
P.S. Don’t think you’re exempt from these sessions either, okay?
I realize this is just picking nits, but I feel that "Canterlot Bureau of Investigation" is a little unimaginative, perhaps? Mostly, I wonder how well-known the FBI as a government agency is known outside the U.S., but I also wonder if the CBI's purpose would be as immediately grokkable if it was substituted with some other made-up name.
9171513
Please don't misuse "grok".
Also, here's the thing. The correlating agencies of other countries to the FBI, that have a similar function of counterterrorism, hostage rescue, federal investigations & policing, etc, are usually given a name in that country's language that more or less means the same thing.
9174306
I... don't believe I did?
9181487
You didn't.
Looks like my worst fears came true. The investigators are also getting affected. This may seriously affect the quest for answers.
Y'know what I would've loved? A POV of ponies outside of Ponyville
What of Shining Armour? Cadance? What is the POV of Twilight's parents? Of Celestia? Or Luna?
9344127
I know this is a super old comment you posted here, but I'm not seeing how they're being affected. I've no doubt that they are, but I'm missing the how.
10100800
I realize how old this comment is, but this is my biggest issue with things so far. The lack of pov of such important characters really undermines the horror and mystery, since where is Celestia's reactions? Where is Luna investigating the dreams and everything (seeing as that's her one major role)? Where is Discord in all of this? It feels like the story is just ignoring major characters and hoping no one points that out.
11750968
I respectfully disagree. I don’t think any of those PoV’s are necessary. Like at all. I would argue that they would actually have a negative effect on the overall story. Mostly because this isn’t just a story, It’s a government investigation which just leaves the PoV’s without a proper place to be in. Maybe someone like Luna could be involved but even then it’s not clear how she would benefit the story since she isn’t involved in the investigation proper. I also don’t see how Twilight’s or anybody’s parents or family play a role in this at all. Remember, the government is currently blocking all access to this area and censoring media. Not a single soul knows what happened here. If we did get a PoV chapter it would just be a random chapter filled with nothing apart from standard day-to-day activities of a random character we wouldn’t care about. And even if they knew about whatever happened I don’t see a way that would change anything about the horror level of this story. The story could also take place before Discord awoke so that’s not really relevant either.
Sometimes it’s better to just keep the story simple. Especially in horror. Look at the backrooms for an example. I personally think the whole ordeal was much more horrific when it first started, y’know, when the original 4chan picture and post were created. Back then the backrooms only existed as a simple concept of glitching through reality and getting stuck within a labyrinth with nothing else but the buzzing of the fluorescent lights and the sound of walking on wet carpet. Sure the original concept did have the implication of something being down there but it didn’t confirm it, simply saying that you better pray you don’t hear anything around because if you did, it sure as hell heard you. Nowadays it’s just over saturated with too much stuff to really be scared of. Too much useless things that only distract from the horror and leave little to the imagination.