Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 8 "Hammer of Thunder"

by Jacoboby1

Chapter 1 "The Rumbling"

Equestria Noir 2
Case 8
“Hammer of Thunder”
by Jacoboby1
Chapter 1
“The Rumbling”

Perspective: Thor

I flew as swift as my wings could carry me as darkness held overhead. One could’ve heard the screaming, even from the castle. Whatever is happening here, I’d bet Mjolnir it is not good.

I used my ears to locate the source of the screaming. It was coming from the airship docks! I dived and landed on the clouds in front of the large cargo ships. Each of them held supplies for the Cloud Kingdom. But, now they served as cover for what is going on.

I rounded a corner and hear whimpering coming from a small storehouse. I gripped Mjolnir in my magic, and bucked down the door.

What I saw caused my eyes to grow wide. The room was square, filled with only a few boxes here and there. But that wasn’t the focus, I saw two Cloud Kingdom warriors laying on the ground, they weren’t moving at all. What looked like sword wounds adorned their bodies. Who could have done this to them…?

“My lord…?”

I snapped myself out of it, and looked over as a young blue coated pegasus came out from behind a crate. I recognized this one.

“Frezil?” I asked. “What are you doing here child?”

“I,” She was speaking weakly. “I tried to stop them, I wanted to-” She almost fell over but I caught her in my magic.

“Does Baldur know you are out at this time of night?” I asked, “And what happened to these guards?”

The child’s yellow eyes gazed up at me as she said, “They, tried to take...the one thing...that could…take him...” Her eyes closed, I felt her neck, she was only unconscious.

Poor lass, she probably suffered greatly from what happened.

The question, what exactly happened here…?

I’d better let an old friend know that aid is required for this delicate matter.

And I’ll never know peace again…

_____________________________________________________

Perspective: Private Eye

“You want me to go where exactly?” I asked.

I was standing in the training area after a long session with Voidera. The dracorn stood before as he relayed the news of what was going on. It was getting late at night, and Luna’s moon hanged outside the window. Dawn would be coming in a few hours.

“The Cloud Kingdoms have long been an ally to Equestria,” Voidera said. “Thor requires aid in a delicate matter, I would think this would be the perfect opportunity to have you gain experience as an envoy.”

“You, have a nasty habit of shoving me into things whether I want to or not,” I said, shaking my head.

“I try to provide interesting endeavors.” He said with a smirk.

“So, is Twilight to accompany me?” I asked.

“Not this time,” He said. “With the summit mere days away, we need to have her focus on that. Besides, this matter has to do with murder, right up your alley.”

“Mystery solving I can handle,” I said. “It’s all this royal consort business I’m not used to. I’m to go totally alone?”

“Having more than one Equestrian would cause suspicion,” Voidera explained. “You’ll be fine.”

“I hope so,” I said, “Because, I usually find out the simplest cases have the most complex roots.”

_______________________________________________________

I went back to the elegantly appointed room that we were calling home, while in the castle. The crystal walls glowed gently, making it easier to see. There were a lot of books scattered about the crystal furniture, from where Twilight was researching her new role. And there at the desk was Twilight. Surrounded by books, and asleep atop one.

I smiled at her and walked over, nuzzling her on the head. “Hey sleeping beauty,” I said teasingly.

“Uggh…” She groaned. “So much, to know…”

I slowly lifted her in my magic, removing her princess trappings and setting her crown gently in the drawer, locking it with a key. We learned our lesson from the Sunset Shimmer incident. Always keep the crown somewhere safe where it can’t be stolen without Twilight knowing about it.

Twilight practically plopped on the bed when I put her there. She curled up as I drew the covers over her. She looked up at me, with half awake eyes and said. “Private, you’re going aren’t you?”

I nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I gotta deal with being an envoy to the Cloud Kingdom.”

“I know you’ll do great,” She said, yawning a little.

“You just focus on getting to sleep,” I said. “I’ll miss you though.”

She reached up, and pulled me into a kiss. She gazed into my eyes and said, “I’ll be right here. You waited for me to come back through the mirror, I’ll wait for you to return.”

“Only this time you won’t have to chase after me,” I said, kissing her back before letting her rest on the bed.

I walked over and unlocked the closet to reveal my gear. I knew I was going as an envoy, but, as the filly scouts say, “it always pays to be prepared.”

I slipped Silver Wolf and it’s scabbard onto my back. I stepped into newly made cloud walking horseshoes. I saw Twilight’s scarf she made for me back before I went to the Snowlands. I gave a small smile, and slipped it on around my neck. It would be cold where the Cloud Kingdoms are, I’d need the warmth.

I stepped out into the hallway and gently closed the door behind me. I was about to walk out, when I accidentally bumped into a dark blue chest. I looked up at Luna, she smiled down at me. “Ah, Private Eye, fancy seeing you during our night,” she said.

“Hey Luna,” I said. “I’m uh, heading out on another assignment.”

Luna’s smile turned into a frown as she said, “Another assignment from Voidera?”

“Uh yeah,” I said. “The guy has a habit of throwing me at things whether I like it or not.”

Luna shook her head, and I thought I heard her mutter, “More like Sister than he admits.”

“Luna?” I asked.

“My apologies,” She replied, “my mind was elsewhere. Are you sure you are to go alone?”

“Sadly, I can’t bring anypony along,” I said, with a sigh. “Teacher’s rules.”

Luna’s teal eyes blinked, and then her face turned concerned. “I worry about you sometimes Private. You are always thrown into danger yet you never bat an eye when it comes.”

“You’re starting to sound like Twilight.” I said.

I couldn’t help but notice a slight..twitch...when I mentioned Twilight. She shook her head again and said, “Just, stay safe Private Eye. I could not bear to see you in danger again. I do not want a repeat performance of the mirror.”

Without another word, she turned to leave. Something was going on with her, I just wish I knew what. I think Celestia should talk to her about this.

I’d think more on it, but I had a job to do...thankfully it was supposed to be a long carriage ride.

______________________________________________________

I leaned against the sky carriage side as I flew in the clouds. I tried to catch a few zs before I arrived. Luna’s moon rose above the night sky, and couldn’t help but remind me about her. The fact that a pair of night ponies were pulling didn’t help matters.

Slowly, the carriage flew higher. It passed through cloud after cloud, I started to find it a little hard to breath at this altitude. The pegasi were struggling a little as well to keep up with the wind. We finally passed through the last cloud…

The sight was glorious… Somehow they sculpted clouds to resemble thatched roof houses, with elegant scrollwork decorations at the roof peaks. The streets were made to look like cobblestone, and at the very highest cloud-hill was a fantastic keep. Blocky towers formed the walls, and looked imposing, with a huge gate, opening into a amazingly sculpted courtyard made to look like it had plants, and a central median, of sculpted cloud grass.

Flying around the place were pegasi, some clad in what looked like old fashioned chain mail and leather. Others were simply clad in cloth garments and tattoos on their legs and bodies. It was like this place was in it’s own world.

The only real signs of technology were airships coming and going in what looked like a massive harbor. It was impressive to be sure.

We came to a hover in front of the main gate, an armored cloud kingdom pegasus spoke to us, “What is your business in the Cloud Kingdom?” his accent showcased some northern equestrian.

I spoke up, “I am Private Eye, Royal Consort, I’m here to aid King Thor with a problem that has arisen.”

The stallion slowly nodded and said, “Leave your guards outside. Forgive us, but a murder has occurred in our walls and we will take no chances.”

The night ponies looked at me with their slitted eyes. I returned the look and said, “I’ll be fine, this is their home, their rules.”

They nodded and brought the chariot to rest in front of the gate. I stepped out of it onto the soft clouds, thankful the horseshoes work. I watched as the massive gate opened and a pair of Cloud Kingdom warriors flew out of it.

“Oh most awesome of ponies!” One of them said, shaking my hoof vigorously. “You have come to us in our hour of need! For you see, the most awesome on high Thor needs you to help out!”

The other one chuckled, “Our younger generation was highly influenced by Equestrian culture,” he said smiling.

“For better or worse,” I said, pulling my hoof away. “So, you said there was a murder here?”

“Oh yes, detective dude!” The younger guard said. “Our task is to lead you to the crime scene, and then bring you to our most awesome King Thor and his Queen Sif!”

Thor is married? Less gossip Private, more work.

“Take me to the scene of the crime,” I said.

____________________________________________________

The storehouse where the crime occurred was small, only about the size of your average bedroom. The two guards stood outside the door as I walked in. I saw two other cloud kingdom guards laying on the ground. Both of them were covered in what looked like sword wounds. Without a forensics team there was little I could determine about them.

One of the guards looked to be older, he was laying in the middle of the room and he had a gold coat and a short brown mane hidden under his helmet. He bore a cutie mark of a spear.

“Can either of you tell me who this is?” I asked, pointing at the body.

The younger one spoke, “That would be Spearhead. He is a guard, but he’s assigned to palace duty, what is he doing here?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” I said, and then slipped on hoof coverings. I tilted the stallions head up and saw a large gash on the neck. “Had to be what killed him,” I said, “Most of the blood came from there. But judging by the sword wounds he put up a fight.”

I walked to the other corpse and saw this was a younger stallion. Small, light blue with a short blond mane and covered with tattoos as well. His cutie mark appeared to be a mace of some kind.

The older guard sighed, “Poor Morning Star, he had just finished his training too.”

The younger guard shook his head, “It doesn’t make any sense Snowsword,” I had to guess that was the older stallion’s name. “Neither of them are stationed here, both of them work at the palace.”

“My guess is,” I said. “They weren’t exactly supposed to be here.”

Snowsword nodded slowly and said, “But what could they want?”

“Was there a witness?” I asked.

“Frezil.” The younger stallion said, “She was a palace servant. Cute, but not exactly the brightest.”

“Did she have any enemies?” I asked. “Anypony who would try to kill her, even with two guards with her?”

Snowsword shook his head, “Freezetail and I have known her since she was taking her first steps. She was never one to make enemies.”

“Where is she now?” I asked.

“We had to take her to the palace.” Freezetail explained. “King’s orders dude.”

“Then, I guess it’s time I paid his highness a visit.”

Before I walked out, I noticed something on the floor. I picked it up, it was a small leaf...funny, I didn’t notice any trees, let alone ones this small…

I shrugged, pocketed the leaf and left with the guards.

_______________________________________________________

The throne room looked more like a feast hall, than a throne room. It had trestle tables on either side of a huge fire pit. And just how are they able to have a fire pit? But it warmed the room, and added a cheery atmosphere. At the far end was a dias, on which there was a fancy gilded chair, carved into a weave pattern, with dragons as decoration. Above the throne was the banner of the Cloud Kingdom, emblazoned with a thunderbolt, and a hammer.

Before me, sitting on his throne, was Thor himself. Tall, proud, with a large muscular blue coated body, a long dark mane that flowed like a thundercloud about read to burst, and wings more massive than any I have ever seen. I’ve met the king only one time previously, that was at the Alicorn Summit almost a year ago. He’s changed little since then.

At the foot of his throne was a hammer about half as big as me. It was also richly adorned in strange markings with a handle and a grey head. I recognized that hammer, he used it to fight off Onyx’s troops during the summit.

The Alicorn king smiled at me and gave a hearty laugh as I entered. “Once again, I find myself glad that Voidera’s timing is so impeccable.”

I gave a curt bow and said, “Private Eye, at your service.”

“It has been quite some time since the summit,” Thor said. “You seem to have grown since then.”

“Don’t make him too proud Thor, he’s still skinny as you described him.” Another voice said.

Flying down was another alicorn, this one was of a similar shade of blue to Thor, but her mane was long and golden, almost like wheat during a harvest. She was clad in armor and she was as muscular as Thor. She did have qualities that would be described as feminine, but she could probably beat a Minotaur at hoof wrestling.

She looked at me with golden eyes and smirked, “So this is who Voidera sends to us? A skinny lad wearing a funny hat?”

Harsh…

“Forgive my wife,” Thor said with a chuckle. “She can be as blunt as Mjolnir at times.”

“I only speak the truth my love,” She said, smiling. “I am Sif, you’ve already met my husband. You must be Private Eye, the one who fought the mighty Lunard and won.”

“I had help,” I said. I wasn’t going to explain how I nearly died during the fight, that would raise way too many questions. “My friends were there, we all defeated him together.”

“To survive against Lunard is no small feat either,” Sif commented. “We shall see how you hold up in this matter.”

“My guards have brought you to the crime scene already.” Thor said. “Have you determined what happened?”

I shook my head, “I’m afraid without time and a forensics team, there is little I can do at present. But I have determined that the victims were Spearhead and Morning Star,” I said.

Sif’s face turned into a frown, and she added solemnly, “They were good soldiers. They will rest with their ancestors.”

“How strange,” Thor said, putting a hoof to his chin. “To think that Franzil would be with those two.”

“How is it strange?” I asked.

“Well not strange,” Sif explained. “Just, peculier. For those three were closest to Baldur.”

“Who’s Baldur?” I asked.

“He is my brother,” Thor explained, “One of the few Alicorns to have survived the cataclysm with me.”

“Don’t worry yourself with introductions Thor, I believe I’d like to meet the stallion myself.”

Down from another balcony descended an alicorn stallion. Baldur was...well there was no other way to describe it, he was a prince.

He was tall, thinner than Thor with a dark brown coat, a mane that was golden and long, and with green eyes. He was robed in rich velvet and there seemed to be an air of, ‘I’m a nice guy, love me’ about him.

“We did not wish to wake you,” Sif said.

“My friends are harmed and I am to simply sleep on it?” Baldur replied. “I think not dear Sif.”

“I trust you’ve heard rumors of what happened brother?” Thor asked.

“Yes, I have.” Baldur replied, then he turned to me. “So, this is the one who’s put in charge of sorting this out?”

“Private Eye,” I said, “At your service.”

“I’ve heard many tales about you Private Eye,” Baldur said with a smile. “Perhaps, when all this is over, we can think of songs to write of your exploits.”

Somehow, I doubt Private the Bard Songs would reach the top of the charts anytime soon…

“But alas,” Baldur said, shaking his head. “I have lost two good friends this night. I shall mourn them when I return to my chambers.”

“If you require company brother,” Thor added. “You know you are never far from friends willing to help.”

“I understand brother,” Baldur replied. “I only hope that whoever is the killer is brought to justice for the blatant murder of my friends.”

“Did you find anything odd at the crime scene Private Eye?” Thor asked.

I reached into my trench coat, “Well, I did find this odd leaf…”

When I pulled it out, everything happened in a blur. One minute I was holding the leaf, and the next I was flat on my back, with Sif over me, holding a sword to my neck. Her eyes showed fury as she said, “Foolish boy! Do you think to assassinate my brother-in-law?”

“What? No!” I said. “I just found the leaf at the crime scene I swear! What is it? Some kind of poison?”

Thor slowly walked to the leaf, glared at it, and then zapped it with lightning from his horn. The leaf turned to ash before my very eyes. I saw Baldur had moved a good few feet away from where the leaf fell. The expression on his face was one of sheer terror.

Thor slowly looked at me, “This is mistletoe, and let’s just say there’s a reason why being caught with it is a capital offense here in the Cloud Kingdom…”

Comments

[Fluttermac36]

HA,HA! I'm not late to this party FINALLY!

[Vailen]

Hmm… I see you're bringing up some good old Norse Mythology into this story… I LOVE NORSE MYTHOLOGY! Sorry… I'm no expert but out of all the myths and legends of the past Norse is my favorite.

[Ebony Stallion]

Oh dear...I have a feeling that Thor's wife is not the friendliest...

[Stiggerzz]

I may be mistaken. But I think that there is a very good chance that in all likeliness, Sif may just possibly have an ever so slight level of distrust for Private.

[Mal Masque]

Mistletoe... We meet again, my old foe.

[Knight of Lycaeus]

Mistletoe? A ban on mistletoe? Seems odd though I'm not versed on Norse mythology so I'm certain something is flying over my head.

[trickymander]

Quick explination Mistletoe was used to kill Baldur in the original norse mytholgy, and was the only think that could kill him

[thestained1]

Oh crap, I'm guessing a love triangle was involved here. But that alone would be too simple.

Also, I really hope that there won't be a Loki in this case. Because that would just make this too obvious.

[CodeG]

I'm thinking that flower has something to do with the crime.

[Shadow_Wolf]

In this case, Private Eye, ignorance is most definitely NOT bliss

[Raizuo]

Strange... Thor's wife is mistrusting of him... But I think I could possibly think on why. There's something she's hiding, that she may hope that Private will never find out. I could be wrong, but that's what I'm getting from this...

[Neutrinos are Magic]

Baldur and mistletoes. Loving the Norse references.

[DeadpoolMLP]

Am I the only one having a hard time not picturing a ponified version of MARVEL's Thor instead of this one?

[DeadpoolMLP]

3586085 You got some beef with mistletoe?