“A journey of a thousand miles…”
The hooded figure walked swiftly down the dark alleyways of Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, and one of the few remaining cities that had not fallen to King Sombra and the Crystal Empire. The figure was unaware of the two royal guards, one a unicorn, one an earth pony, who were following him, completely silent. He navigated the alleys with ease, showing the guards that he knew the city.
As the figure passed a shop, he caught the reflection of the two guards in the window. As soon as he saw them, he bolted. The guards, caught by surprise, took off after him.
“Halt,” the earth pony shouted. “In the name of Celestia.”
The figure ignored him and kept running, knocking over boxes and crates, which lined the alley. This only slowed the guards, because the unicorn could easily move the obstacles out of their way.
Soon, the guards rounded a corner and found themselves at a dead end.
“Where did he go?” the earth pony asked, confused.
“Perhaps he was a pegasus,” the unicorn suggested, looking inside a barrel. “Maybe he just flew away.”
“Not quite,” a deep, raspy voice said from behind them. “Although my father was a pegasus.”
The two guards whirled around, just to find themselves face to face with the figure. Before they could react, a crate was launched from behind the figure and crashed into the unicorn who crumple to the ground.
The earth pony lifted up his spear, only to have it flung aside from an unseen force. “You… you’re a unicorn,” he stammered.
The figure removed his hood, revealing a yellow unicorn with a red mane and orange eyes. His cloak was held shut by a pin in the shape of fire. “How’d you figure that one out, detective?”
The guard charge at him, but the figure’s horn lit up, and the guard was flung against the wall. He yelped in pain as he felt the bones in his left legs shatter. He laid there, whimpering and in pain, as he watched the figure walked towards him.
“You know,” the figure said, as he levitated the earth pony’s spear. “You and your buddy would have been just fine if you hadn’t followed me.” He brought the spear closer to the guard, keeping the tip pointed at the guard’s side. “I mean, I usually only kill those I’m paid to kill, which is rare, and those who need killed. And now, since you followed me…” He used his magic to slowly push the spear into the guard’s side, which caused him to yelp again. “You need killed.” He then pulled the spear out of the guard and moved it above his head.
“Who a-are you?” the guard struggled to ask.
The figure leaned in close to the guard and whispered a single word: “Death.”
The figure stepped back and looked at the wide-eyed guard. He pulled the spear back, and thrust it forward.
- - -
“Lance!” a voice called.
Lance Stronghold, a pegasus, looked up to see his friend, Helm, running towards him.
“Helm,” Lance said as his friend approached. “I’m on duty. I can’t…”
“It’s Blade,” Helm interrupted. “He… He’s dead.”
Lance, taken aback, asked, “What happened? How did he…” He couldn’t finish the question.
“It happened last night, in an alley not too far from the castle.” He paused to let Lance process what he had said, before giving him the worst part of the news. “Lance, your brother was murdered.”
Lance felt as though a spear with a red-hot tip had just pierced him. “Mur… Murdered?”
“Yes, Lance.”
“Do… Do we know who did it?”
“We don’t, but him and Spark were both found not too long ago.”
“How?”
“Pardon?”
“How? How were they killed?”
“They were both stabbed in the head by their own spears, but your brother was also stabbed in the side and his left legs seem to be broken.”
“Are they still there?”
“I believe so, the authorities hadn’t even…”
“Take me.”
“What?”
“Take me, to where it happened.”
“Lance I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I want to see where it happened.”
“Lance, I…”
“Please.”
“Alright, follow me.”
Helm turned and started towards the crime scene, and Lance followed close behind. They remained completely silent as they walked.
By the time they arrived at the alley, the authorities were already there, and the crime scene tape was already up.
“Detective,” Helm called to a light brown earth pony with pitch-black hair, and he was wearing an overcoat.
The pony looked up, saw who had called him, and walked over to Helm and Lance.
“How are you doing, Helm?” the detective asked, shaking Helm’s hoof.
“Okay I guess,” Helm replied. “Considering what’s just happened.”
“That’s good, that’s good.”
“Detective, this is Lance Stronghold,” Helm said, gesturing towards Lance. “Lance, this is Detective Micro Scope. He’s the lead detective for the case.”
“Nice to meet you, detective,” Lance said, shaking hooves with him.
“Please, call me Mike,” Mike responded.
“Mike,” Helm said. “Lance is the brother of Blade. The earth pony victim.”
“Is he now?” Mike asked, eying Lance.
“He wanted to see the crime scene,” Helm continued. Then quickly added, “I advised against it, though.”
“Are you sure you want to see it?” Mike asked Lance. “Can you stomach it?”
“I’m sure, sir.” Lance replied with a nod. “With all due respect, I’ve been a royal guard for years, and I’ve seen some stuff I wish I hadn’t.
Besides, he’s my brother.”
“I guess, if you’re sure.”
“Thank you, sir.”
- - -
“And then I said, ‘A cow, I thought that was your mother’.”
Wishful Surprise gave a loud laugh, along with the ponies around him, at his joke.
“You know, Mr. Surprise,” a pony with a bushy mustache said. “You really are a jokester.”
“Thanks, bud,” Wish responded, then he tossed a bit to the pony. “Here, buy yourself another drink.”
“Thanks, Mr. Surprise.”
“No problem, sir. It’s no problem at all.”
Wishful Surprise stood up and walked across the crowded saloon to the bar and sat down. “Bartender,” he called, getting the attention of the pony serving at the bar. “Get me another shot of cider.”
As the bartender got him his cider, he questioned, “Was that you making those folks laugh?”
“Ab-so-toot-a-ly, sir!” Wish exclaimed, with a grin.
“What’s your name, young stallion?” the bartender asked, handing him his drink.
“The name’s Surprise, sir. Wishful Surprise, but you can call me Wish.”
“I’ve got to say, Mr. Wish, you sure do got a talent for makin’ ponies laugh.”
“Well, in times like these, ponies need to laugh. It keeps them hopeful. It helps ‘em see that light at the end of the tunnel, if you know what I mean.”
“I sure do, sir. And, boy, we really need that hope. I heard that Filly Delphia was just taken.”
“Of course it was.”
“Did you know anypony there?”
“Just acquaintances, sir. Just acquaintances.” Wish swallowed his drink, then he stood up.
“So how long are you gonna stay in Appleloosa?” the bartender asked.
“I think I’ll move on to a new town now, mister.” Wish replied.
“Well, take care, young fella’.”
“I will, sir.”
Wishful Surprise headed for the entrance to the saloon, thinking about where to go next. He was so lost in thought that, as he left, he bumped into a white unicorn mare with a pink-streaked blonde mane.
“Sorry about that, miss,” Wish quickly apologized.
“It’s fine,” she replied, sounding a bit annoyed.
“You know, miss, you’re as lovely as a jewel,” Wish said, in an attempt to make her smile.
“Thank ya’,” she replied, a bit confused.
“Your welcome, miss,” Wish replied, then he trotted away.
Well, Wish. he thought to himself, as he spread his wings, and began to fly to an unknown destination. The world’s waiting to laugh.