Dash got home in late afternoon as the sun was starting it's descent. She unlocked the door and walked in.
“Dash, is that you?” she heard Gilda ask.
“Yup, it's me, G. I'm back.”
Gilda came out of the kitchen and gave her a slight smile as they brohoofed. “So how was that pony you went to see? She must be important to you to just take off like that.”
Dash took off her outfit as she answered, “Yeah, I'm her idol, and she's almost like a sister to me. Her name is Scootaloo, and she's doing great. She was in the hospital for a couple weeks, but now she's better than she was before her accident. I started teaching her the flight parts of the Gale Wing art.”
“Sounds good. Oh, did you meet the dweebs as well?”
Dash's smile faded a bit. “Yeah, I did.” She sighed. “Fluttershy nearly killed herself out of guilt, and I forgave her. As for the others... Well, progress was made.”
“You're not leaving, are you?” Gilda asked.
“No, I'll be visiting Scootaloo for training. My home is in Mareapolis for now.” Dash looked up at their ceiling. “The girls sound genuine in wanting me back, but I don't want to be hurt like that again. What should I do, G?”
“They did what I did, Dash. I threw away a friendship for stupid reasons. As much as I want to tell you to forget about them, I can't. I've been in the same position. I screwed up and lost you as a friend, and by some miracle, you showed up back in my life and gave me a second chance. Don't they deserve one?” Gilda also looked up at the ceiling. “You know what, I never really thought I would have any pony friends besides you, yet while you were gone, I did make some, and they're pretty cool. I didn't expect that. Griffonstone really dragged me down. That place saps your soul. That night you saved me could've been my end, but instead, it was a new beginning for me. Forgive them, Dash. Just don't forget what they did.”
“Thanks for the advice, G. I'll think on it.” Her stomach grumbled. “Now to get some eats and crash for the night.”
“Make some for me. I need breakfast before I go to work.”
“Okay.”
After a good dinner, and after cleaning up, Dash fed and petted Tank before hitting the hay and entering Luna's realm.
* * * *
She woke up the next day and stretched. She was well-rested and nearly ready for the day. She had a quick shower to further awaken herself and was soon down in the kitchen making breakfast. Given Tank his meal, she grabs hers and sat next to a tired Gilda.
“Morning, Dash.”
“Morning, G. How was the club last night?”
“The club itself went well, but one of my new friends has been having troubles. I was wondering if Shadowbolt could help her out?”
“Get me her address, and I'll check it out after work.”
“Thanks, Dash.”
“No probs, G.”
* * * * *
Dash walked into her office and started looking over the papers for the next few days. She was just getting settled when her door opened again and Sky Walker walked in.
“Boss, you're back.”
“Yup, got everything settled in Ponyville, and Luna's tasks are done. How has the crew been?”
“Well, Rose Feather is down with the feather flu, so it's a good thing you came back when you did.”
“Dang, that sucks. Well, I'll cover her area, then.” Sky Walker nodded and left.
An hour later, her team showed up, and they all seem to cheer up at seeing her. Seeing that she was missed cheered Dash up as well. After giving out assignments, she headed to the areas she needed to cover. It was a simple job today: Buck some clouds here, move some clouds there, and she even got in a good nap in there, as well. Overall, the day felt good, with no real stresses or wounds to prod her.
* * * * *
The sun was heading to the horizon when Dash returned home for a bite to eat before donning her suit and leaving as Shadowbolt. She headed for the address Gilda gave her and found a balcony on the property. She saw an earth pony mare walking inside that matched the descirption Gilda gave her. Dash landed on the balcony and knocked on the window. She saw the mare jump in surprise and, spotting Shadowbolt, race to the balcony door and open it.
“Sorry, you startled me. What are you doing here, Shadowbolt?” the mare asked.
“I came because a griffon I know asked me to help you out with something. So what's up?”
“Well, my name is Book Mark, and I work for my cousin Aura Blast at Blasto's Toys, a small, toy-making company. We have worked well for years and were starting to really make our company very profitable, but for the past month Aura has been acting odd. At first I thought it was just an off day or two, but for a month, she hasn't been acting herself, and the company is starting to suffer. I...I think she may have started doing something illegal. I just don't know what to do.”
Dash put a hoof on Book Mark's shoulder. “I'll look into it and see what I can find. You got a way in for me?” Dash asked. Book nodded and gave her a key.
“I made a copy of my key when I thought of hiring a private investigator. But I don't have access to everything.”
“It will help. I'll look around and figure out what is going on. Just work normally, but keep an ear out.” Book nodded, and with that, Dash took off after Book gave her the address to the factory.
In the past, Dash would have raced to the factory, but Luna has taught her better. She landed in her house and went to her room. There was a candle Luna had made in case Dash needed to contact the princess outside of sleep. She relayed the details and asked for equipment to break in. In minutes, the candle flared, and a belt and a note appeared. She took the note and opened it.
My Dearest Apprentice,
I'm glad to help you in this endeavor. Here are the tools you asked for, and I'm having a Lunar Guard who knows finances come by chariot. Please leave your door open, for she will likely beat you home. May the night be your ally.
Your princess,
Luna
Dash nodded, put the belt on, and headed out into the night.
* * * *
Dash found the toy factory, and with the key, she got in easy. She had to admit, the place looked creepy even with her now-enchanted goggles allowing her to see well at night. She made her way past the assembly lines and to the office that loomed above the factory floor.
She landed in front of the door and took out the lockpicking equipment with her ear on the door. She listened intently for the sound of the tumblers giving. It took her a few minutes, but she got it and opened the door.
She scanned the room. It was a basic office with a desk, a single desk chair, a couple of filing cabinets, and other trinkets. She looked over the cabinets and found a couple of locked drawers. Picking the locks, she took several folders and opened them, placing them on the desk.
She took out another device: a portable camera. Luna showed it to her during their training session. It was designed for work like this. The image it captures is contained in a single gem--thus allowing its compact size--and needs a unicorn or an alicorn to remove it. Certainly sounded cool enough. Dash had no idea what the papers within the folders would contain, but she took pictures of everything and hoped the pony Luna was sending could make sense of it.
She spent the next hour taking pictures of every piece of paper. When she was done, she put the folders back. On the way out, she saw a picture. It depicted Book and Aura smiling at the camera. They looked close and happy. She hoped she could figure out what went wrong. With that in mind, she left, locking the doors and heading home.
* * * * *
She arrived home, and upon opening the door, she saw a unicorn mare with sky-blue fur and a pink mane. “Oh, hello,” Dash said.
The mare looked at her and bowed. “Greetings, Lunar Apprentice. I am Burning Glow. Her Highness Princess Luna sent me.”
“Ah, well, just call me Dash. Kind of surprised to see a unicorn up here.”
“Twilight Sparkle is not the only one who knows the cloud-walking spell. More to the point, I am well-versed in corporate legalities, Miss Dash. Now, let's see what you got.” Dash hoofed over the camera, and Burning used her magic. Copies of the papers appeared before her. “Well, you got a lot. It will take me some time to go over it.”
“Well, I'll leave you to it. The guest bedroom is yours.” The mare nodded her acknowledgment, and Dash headed for bed.
* * * * *
It's been a week since Dash got started on the task she got from Gilda's friend. She got back from her weather job and saw Burning Glow at the table. The unicorn saw her and smiled. “Dash, I think I've got it.”
Dash went over the table. “Alright, spill,” Dash said.
“Well, all that paperwork documents some embezzling that's gone on for the past couple of months. That money is going to an account that didn't exist till it started. Before that, everything showed this company to be on the up-and-up, so why now? I decided to follow Aura Blast for a few days and took some pictures.” Burning Glow took out some pictures of Aura in several positions, all of them with her using magic.
“I'm guessing this is important somehow?” Dash asked.
Burning nodded, “Here are some pictures of Aura Blast taken five months ago by Book Mark. She was kind enough to give me copies.” Dash looked at the pictures. In the first set, Aura had a blue aura, while in the second set, which was older, she had a red aura.
“The magic color is different. How is that possible?” Dash asked.
“Well, unicorn or alicorn magic tends to takes on a color similar to either a pony's eyes or their cutie mark. So unless Aura found a powerful artifact, we're looking at an imposter. One with the skill and power to make them look and sound like the original but can't change their aura's color. While it's possible that Aura is wearing an artifact, the more likely scenario is that we have a fake Aura Blast. Notify the Princess and request that she send the guard. I'm afraid if we get the town guard, the impostor will be tipped off.”
“Got it,” Dash said with a nod, rushing to go write it.
The next day saw Dash in her Shadowbolt outfit with Burning in lunar armor and a dozen ponies of the Lunar Guard surrounding the factory Aura Blast owned and ran. The local guard was notified of a Lunar Guard operation but not where or when. Burning looked at Dash, and the pegasus nodded. Burning launched a flare from her horn, and the Guard stormed in.
“Freeze in the name of Princess Luna!” Dash heard them yell out. She went through a window and saw Aura trying to flee on the catwalk. A quick uppercut ended that.
“Aura Blast, you are under arrest for embezzlement. Come quietly,” Dash demanded.
Aura lifted her head and spit out a tooth. “Not on your life, birdy.” Aura rolled back and fired a blast at Dash. Dash spun in the air and dodged it while firing a low-power wing blast at Aura. It ripped the clothing of the unicorn mare, including a pendant.
Before Dash's eyes, Aura transformed into another unicorn mare with a very different color scheme. The mare glared at Dash and readied another spell. Dash threw a more powerful wing blast and saw the mare's horn crack under the pressure. The mare fell to the catwalk, crying in pain, her hooves on her forehead.
Dash walked up to the mare. “Where's the real Aura? Answer me, or I destroy your horn. I hear regrowing it's a very long and painful process.” She rotated her wing for emphasis.
“S-she's...in her...basement. Please...stop.”
“Burning, have a couple of guards head for Aura's house. The real one is in the basement. And let's have a couple put this mare in shackles.”
“Yes, Shadowbolt.”
With that, the clean-up began. Dash saw the reunion of Aura and Book Mark, the two mares hugging and crying. It touched Dash. When Book Mark saw Dash, she brought Aura over.
“THANK YOU! THANK YOU, SHADOWBOLT, FOR BRINGING MY COUSIN BACK TO ME!”
“No problem, ma'am. Glad to see she's not guilty. Happy to see friendships restored.” Okay, this was hitting close to home. “If you will excuse me.” She walked off as the mares went back to celebrating their reunion.
* * * * *
It was a couple of days later, and Dash was in her living room, reading a paper. It turned out that the mare was part of a mob group hoping to ruin the company because Aura wouldn't pay protection money. Said mob has been hit hard as a result, with Luna and Shadowbolt taking center stage.
Dash heard the bell signal the mailpony's arrival, and she put down the paper. She flew down and picked up the mail, going through it as she flew back. Bills, advertisements, oh, a letter from Squirt. There was another letter, but Squirt's letter took precedence as far as Dash cared.
She went through Squirt's letter. She and her friends were doing well, still trying crazy stuff to get their cutie marks but thankfully, no sky diving. She also looked forward to the next time Dash visited. It brought a smile to Dash's face.
Dash took the other letter in her hooves. Opening the envelope, she started reading.
It was from Fluttershy.
Fluttershy wrote that she was doing well, visiting all the creatures of Equestria. She even made a new friend, an earth pony mare named Tree Hugger. Dash had to laugh; that name so fit for one of Fluttershy's friends. She was happy that Flutttershy was making new friends, and she hoped that meant her oldest friend was really healing.
She went to sleep that night a bit happier than she had been for a while.