//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: "Nawlans Or Bust." // Story: Morning Meir Mysteries: Case 2: A Fright On Nightmare Night // by XombieSlayr //------------------------------// Chapter 3: "Nawlans Or Bust." "As night turns to bright and wakeful day, I lose myself in each and every color. As there is no more a precious gift, then today." - The Goddess Canterlot Express (Midday) "YOU WHAT?!" Heartland's voice nearly blew up the receiver of the train's phone line. Several ponies turned in their seats and looked at me as I held the phone away from my ear like it would explode. I tried to laugh off their gaze, as I put the receiver back to my ear (Albeit much slower then before.) "I already told you, its just a simple case. I'm only going to Nawlans to research more into this Voodoo situation. Once, I'm convinced it's nothing, I'll be back for Nightmare Night. Promise." "But you just got on the train, without even telling me! I never even got to say goodbye." Heartland said sadly. "C'mon Lanny, Don't be like that. I promise I'll be back soon. Then we can go have fun like we always do." I heard Heartland sigh from the other end of the phone. "Just be safe okay? You're parents would kill me, if you end up getting axe murdered or something down there." I laughed. "You're concern is touching. I'll be fine. I'll see you when I get back, okay?" "Yeah. Later, Morning." "Later, Lanny." I hung up the phone and returned to my compartment. It was still quite a ways to Nawlans. Morning Meir's Compartment (3:45 pm) For the first part of my trip I re-read many of the voodoo books Miss Fortune had lent me. Most of it was about historical facts, but a great deal seemed to have a genuine supernatural element to it. The many spells, charms and other examples of magic used in voodoo, were separate from any form of magic ponies were capable of. For example, gris-gris was a traditional practice that utilized zebrican magic to protect the user from evil, or benefit them in some way. Although it also warned that it could be used for evil as well. Another example was what you could do just with someone's name. In Voodoo, the name of a pony was part of that pony. And whatever happened to the name also happened to them. So if you took their name, wrote it down on a piece of paper, and whatever happened to that paper would in turn happen to the pony whose name was on it. However, there were limits to this: It would only work if a name was less than ten letters, as a full name. It wouldn't work otherwise. I certainly thought it was interesting, but it sounded a bit far fetched to me. As a doctor, I was quite certain that it was medically impossible to affect someone just by doing something to a piece of paper with their name on it. Though it was still fascinating. However nothing I read about, helped me confirm if the voodoo around the murders was genuine or not. I was so enraptured by reading, I almost didn't hear the steady knocking at my compartment door. I opened the door to see a familiar face. "Lieutenant!" I exclaimed. Goldbloom smiled warmly as we hugged one another. "It's actually Inspector, now. But I'd still prefer Goldbloom if you don't mind, Ms. Meir." she said cheerfully. I chuckled. "Okay, then I prefer just Meir, If you don't mind, Goldbloom." I joked. We laughed as we sat down in my compartment and got talking. "I had no idea you were in Equestria? Why didn't you tell me?" Goldbloom looked guilty. "Actually, I wasn't really planning to come to Equestria, but the higher ups thought I should take on an investigation they have their eyes on." I didn't need to guess. "The Voodoo Murders."I said simply. Her eyes widened. "Y-yeah, how did you- oh, wait...that's why you're here too, isn't it?" "Yep. I read about it in a news article. The whole thing seems...odd to me." "Y'mean the Voodoo part? I'm afraid I don't know much myself, but it has Nawlans spooked. And for good reason, I'd say." I nodded. "I suppose so, but that's the thing: I don't think the voodoo in these cases is actual voodoo." "Really? What do you mean?" she asked. "Its simple factors that common voodoo is associated with. Certain symbols dedicated to a certain Loa, or spirit. The offerings used in the ritual, the all around subtlety of the crime itself, like they took their time. This isn't voodoo like what's known today. This is something much older. And much more...dark." I explained. "Jeez. I didn't think I'd be dealing with something that crazy on this case. So, you think it's some kind of Dark Voodoo?" "Perhaps. But I'll need to actually examine the victims myself, to be sure." "We'll you'll have your chance soon enough. I'm certainly not looking forward to this voodoo thing though." "Are you scared of it?" I asked as politely as I could. "Nothing like that. I just...get the creeps about it. I mean, magic is magic, and we understand how to use it and how it works, and all that. But this voodoo stuff? Its more wild, untamed. We know like nothing about it, and yet...the things it can apparently do. It freaks me out, is all." "I understand. But I wouldn't worry all too much." I reassured her. "Why would I worry? I've got The Smartest Pony In The World helping me out from the get go!" she laughed. I felt my cheeks redden as always, but laughed with her anyway. Nawlans City Train Station, (5:45 pm) As I had expected, the train station was quite crowded. But it occurred to me that more ponies seemed to be boarding the train out of Nawlans then those who were arriving. No doubt the voodoo murders scaring everypony out of their wits. I suppose under different circumstance,I would want to leave town too. We decided to head to the police station first, so we could get caught up on the status of the case. The sooner the better in my opinion. Downtown Nawlans, (5:50 pm) I lost count how many times either of us opened our mouths in awe and said "Wow, look at that!" Nawlans is an absolutely beautiful city, with so much life, bursting in everything from the food, to the atmosphere, to the numerous musicians that played on the streets. The countless Nightmare Night decorations were also a sight to see, including a large stone statue of Nightmare Moon, smiling evilly as she watched over the busy streets. The police station was another story. Even from outside the barred windows and numerous police carriages in front of the place, I could tell that this place had police ponies running in and out like clockwork. Several police ponies were gathered outside talking, when one police mare spotted us. "Can I help you?" she asked with a smile. (Although it looked like a forced one.) I smiled back. "Sorry to disturb you officer. My name is Morning Meir, I'm a doctor from Pon- "Wait...THE Morning Meir? The one who solved that huge case in Mareiposa?!" I nervously scratched the back of my head. I didn't want to raise a commotion. "Yes, that's me. Were here looking into the voodoo murders case." By the mare's face you would think that I just told her she was the next princess of Equestria. The smile took up half of her face. "Guys!! You wont believe this!" She called over to her fellow police ponies, who all looked over at us. "The case is solved! Morning Meir's here! THE Morning Meir!" she exclaimed, happy as a filly at Hearth's Warming. Before I could say anything, I was suddenly surrounded by as many as 20 police ponies, all thanking me over and over, shaking my hooves, asking for my autograph and anything else you can name. My face was beet red at that point. I never liked getting so much attention at once. As I struggled to fight my way out of the crowd, a loud female voice was heard over the chatter. "ALRIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH!" The crowd parted for me to see who had silenced the whole crowd with little effort. A tall and very intimidating looking dark red Earth Pony in a police uniform stood at top of the steps to the police station. Her white mane was shaved down to a flat top, and her eyes were obscured by her mirror sunglasses. But even then I could tell she had them narrowed quite a bit at the police ponies around us. "THE NEXT POLICEPONY I SEE OUT HERE, INSTEAD OF AT THEIR DESKS, GETS TRIPLE PROBATION FOR THE NEXT MONTH! UNDERSTOOD!?" She shouted to them. Just like that, the police ponies scattered like roaches back into the building, leaving only me and Goldbloom out there with this mare who could give Nightmare Moon a run for her money. As she came over to us, I saw that she had a brass scale for a cutie mark, symbolizing justice. For a minute I thought she was still angry, until she removed her sunglasses and smiled at us. "Sorry about that. But those guys would rather be doing anything else but their jobs right now, I'm afraid." she looked at us with kind, but absolutely stunning piercing green eyes, that seemed to be razor sharp, even at a glance. Like emeralds embedded in the eyes of a hawk. When I saw she wasn't mad at us, I found my voice again."It's no trouble, really. I'm- "Morning Meir, the famous detective/ doctor." she finished for me. I was surprised. By what though, I wasn't totally sure. "You know who I am?" she chuckled. "Of course. And Inspector Goldbloom, I received word from you're superiors that you would be joining us as well." Goldbloom still seemed a little shaken, but smiled anyway. "Oh, um...thank you, Ms?" "I'm Chief Karosta, Chief Of Police in Nawlans. I was assigned to lead the investigations surrounding these voodoo murders, that have every stallion and mare within a hundred blocks scared witless." She explained. "I won't waste time here: I'm damn glad you're here. Both of ya." I nodded. "Of course. I'll do whatever I can to help." She smiled at that. "Glad to hear it! C'mon, we can head over to the crime scene now, and I'll let you do your thing." We followed Chief Karosta into her police carriage and rode off to the far side of Nawlans. It was here where I saw the first crime scene of the case. And stumbled upon something, I would come to regret later on.