"You are not one of /my/ detectives," Lestrade says, pointing a hoof at Forelock Holmes, "you are a consulting detective I offered the case to. You are not entitled to an explanation."

"... You're handling this surprisingly well. I thought you would have been more than irritated at the fact that I've passed this case over."

"Don't even think about going to Manehatten, Forelock Holmes."

"Forelock Holmes I am done arguing with you over this! I've told you repeatedly that you're too close to this case. You're driven by hatred and you're a danger. Just drop the case and move on - there are professionals working on it."

Lestrade goes red in the face with restrained anger, and gives Forelock Holmes a steely look. "That is none of your concern," he says through gritted teeth.

"I assume so because I'm the blooming inspector of Canterlot Yard and you will respect my authority!" He gets to his hooves, challenging Forelock Holmes's gaze by raising to his height. "You do not question my decisions in my office, Forelock. You do not question /me/."

"I put up with you because I choose to, Forelock Holmes, not because I have to. Not even my detectives has as much freedom as you do, and you expect me to make exceptions for you time and time again? I'm on the absolute brink with you!"

The moment his office door swings closed behind Forelock Holmes, Lestrade thumps the desk with a hoof and drops into his chair with a groan of frustration.

At the knock on his door, Lestrade is immediately alert, setting down his papers just in time to see Morpho enter the office. His face pales. “Morpho? I thought you were destroyed?”

“That may have been the case,” he says, eyeing the stacks and stacks of papers around his office. “It definitely could do with a clean in here. I must have overlooked the letter.”

“It’s always a bad time, Morpho,” Lestrade says with a smile, “you’re fine. Look, why don’t I find that letter and get some things sorted on my end and you get settled back into the bullpen? Your charging station is still there. I’m sure the Guards have missed you.”

Lestrade pokes his head out of his office and calls out to catch Morpho's attention. "Morpho, my office, now," he says before disappearing again.

"Ah, Morpho, prompt as always," Lestrade says, settling in his chair. "I've finally made a decision appertaining to your position here. Evidently, your assisting Forelock Holmes Holmes was only temporary."

"Now, since CyberLife specifically requested your employme--, uh, /purpose/ to revolve around actively assisting the CRGD, I've decided to assign you a partner."

"Thank you for joining us, lieutenant Lt. Lowe. This is the RK800 ponybot that joined us in May. I'm sure you've seen it around Canterlot Yard."

"Well, like it or not Morpho is your new partner. And," Lestrade raises a hoof to silence Lt. Lowe before he protests, "the decision is final."

"I couldn't care less that you don't 'do' partners, Lt. Lowe. I've assigned Morpho to you, and that's final. End of discussion. You're dismissed."

"Everybody is overloaded. I think you're perfectly qualified for this type of assignment."

"You are really beginning to grind my gears, Lt. Lowe. You are a lieutenant, you are supposed to do what I say. I have had just about enough of this, so if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

Lestrade sighs, shaking his head to clear his thoughts, and picks up a pile of paperwork he had been reading beforehoof.