I woke up and stretched my limbs out on my bed without actually getting up. I had another five minutes until my alarm went off. I just lay in bed in silence, allowing my mind to wander.
As soon as it sounded, I got up and started getting ready for work. But my mind drifted to my little life here. Jett wasn't exactly excited to be here, but I think we can make the most of it. She seems to be okay as long as I'm around. Perhaps a good breakfast instead of cereal this morning.
Only a few days until my birthday, and if my calendar is right, a week after Summer Sun Celebration, Jett’s birthday was gonna be here. But first, we had to get through mine, and the summer sun celebration with this weirdo voodoo killer on the loose. ‘The Voodoo Killer.’ I hope that doesn't stick.
I refocused on what was in front of me. Jett’s breakfast. I was almost done when she came out of her room yawning.
“Good morning sweetie,” I called.
“Morning dad. I was having a really good dream, then good smells woke me up.”
“Sorry I woke you. What was the dream about? Being a Wonderbolt?” I asked as I finished making her eggs.
“Nu-uh! I can’t tell you. The dream won’t come true if I tell you.” She wiggled in her seat.
I was fully aware of this myth, I was a kid once, too. “How do you know? I told my mom a dream once and it still came true.”
“What was the dream about?” Jett asked.
“That one day that I’d have a wonderful daughter...” I finished making her plate and set it in front of her, giving her a nuzzle. “...whom I love.”
“Yeah sure, love you too, dad,” she laughed.
“So what was the dream? Come on, who am I gonna tell?” I pried.
“I dreamt that I had a brother!” she cheered.
I almost dropped my plate. “A-a brother? Really? What did he look like?”
“I don’t really remember, but having a little brother would be cool. You wouldn’t have to have strange ponies watch me all the time. It could be me and him hanging out here!”
“And you could walk with each to and from school,” I added in thought.
She made a face at my comment before sighing. “Too bad it’s just a dream.”
Well actually, I saw an orphanage on the city map, so it’s not entirely out of the question. No! I thought to myself. I don’t need another child. Although it’s not as if space would be an issue. Or money. I make well enough to support another. Barely. No, no, no, no! I’m not gonna collect a random child from every city we visit. Jett wasn't random though, we had a connection. Albeit an awkward one to start.
Think about something different, this is starting to sound like a good idea. Again! “You ready for school?”
“No. Everypony looks at me funny. Nopony here is like me.” She slumped in her chair.
“You mean a thestral,” she nodded. “A word of advice, find out what kids are the unpopular ones, usually they’ll be nerdy, sitting away from the popular kids, or getting bullied. Make friends with them, trust me when I tell you that they’ll want a strong and confident pony like you on their side. And they can always help you in some way later. Trust me on this.”
This is exactly how I got through school. I helped the little guys, and they helped me.
“I'll try Dad.” Jett smiled up at me.
“I'll accept a try, that's all I ask for you to do, is try. Now finish up, and go get ready, so I can walk you there.”
She hurried and finished her eggs, it was funny to watch. She looked like a little adorable monster with those fangs. I enjoined this part of the morning. Spending it with my daughter.
On to, what is now, my least favorite part of the morning. Finding that my office smells like formaldehyde because the doc across the hall was preserving a corpse. Gross!
I waited in my office for Finder to arrive. I went over what we needed to do today. Go to the race, find this shaman, wizard or whatever, and bring them in for questioning. Simple enough. I was just looking through a pamphlet that I had gotten from the break room in the station. It was this I had gotten the idea to take Jett to the race, but obviously, things happened.
It said here that Alpha, Delta, and Tango Squads were doing a relay race. If Alpha squad was here, we had a way to get under the racetrack and have a look around if need be.
Knocking on my door. I looked up to see Finder entering. “G’day. You ready?” he asked.
I grabbed my helmet. “As I’ll ever be. I think I have a plan on how to start our search.” We exited the guard station and made our way toward the stadium. “First we are gonna walk among the crowd for a little while as the stadium fills up, see if we can find anything that way.”
“And then?” he asked.
“Then once the Wonderbolts arrive, I want to go ask them if they've seen anything in the various times they've raced here. One of their flyers in Delta squad is a New Horseleans local, maybe he noticed something that the others didn’t.” We were coming up to the stadium’s entrance.
These ground-build Wonderbolt stadiums were always big, but this stadium was huge. It's the only one south of the Macintosh Hills so it needed to be to seat all of its guests. It favored a combination of the city’s colors of green and purple and the Wonderbolt blues and yellows striping on its support pillars. Finder and I had a lot of stadium to cover.
“I’m coming with you,” Phillip said, calling my attention back to the ground.
“So you can what?” I asked. “Lie to them just to get information like you did that bartender? No, I know one of the Wonderbolts on Alpha squad. I can get her to convince Captain Spitfire to let me ask the others a few questions.”
“Not bringing me will be a mistake. I’ve been doing this longer than you,” Phillip argued.
I did my best to not have an attitude. “Which means you have a reputation throughout the Equestrian Guard, the Navy, and the Army, and it’s not a good one. Captain Spitfire won’t let me ask her ponies questions with you around.”
He glared at me for a few seconds, then grunted and looked away. “Thought this through,” he muttered bitterly.
Finally. “I wouldn’t be able to do my job if I didn’t. So when I go to speak with the Wonderbolts, please just keep looking for anypony doing anything suspicious, you’ll be able to spot it in a crowd better than I could.”
We stepped up to a security checkpoint. I pointed to my badge when a security guard stopped us. “Official City Guard business. He’s with me.”
The security guard nodded and stepped aside. “Let us know if you need any assistance.”
“Thank you, we will,” I said, moving past them.
We stepped through a concrete archway and into the stadium proper. Crowds of ponies packed the huge stadium, their voices mixing into a huge, constant roar of cheering. The field itself featured a big obstacle course of clouds, pillars, and hoops for flying through.
“We’ll split up,” I said to Phil. “You go that way, and I’ll go this way. You have a mirror or something?”
Phillip nodded and pulled out a small green compact mirror. “Good,” I said. “Use it to signal me if you see something.”
Phillip walked off and disappeared into the crowd. I tapped my hoof in thought as I looked around.
“Now if I were a crazy voodoo lunatic selling hexes, where would I set up shop?” I started up to the teller booths. “So far it's all luck hexes, this is where I'd go. A lot of ponies needing luck would be here.”
I got up to the level with all the teller booths. They were set up every fifty feet and fully staffed to keep the lines down. Only about three to six ponies in each line. Then again most ponies were here to have a good time, not risk their money.
I walked among the patrons of this level for a while. I checked the restrooms, I looked in the storerooms for the fast food and snack bars. I couldn't find anything or anypony that looked suspicious.
Boredom started to set in. I glanced at a teller’s booth that had nopony in line. “One small bet couldn't hurt,” I mumbled to myself.
I hurried over, filled out the paperwork, and hooved over the minimum wager of five hundred bits. A little steep for me but if I win, I double my money, then for each place further back the pony I bet on ends up in, second, third, fourth, I will only get a certain percentage more. I bet on Alpha team and Captain Spitfire. They've had a good year so far.
After I got my ticket showing proof of my bet, I turned to return to the search and almost walked face first into Finder.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Finder asked, growling a bit.
“Just placing a little wager. What’s the big deal?” I protested.
“We are supposed to be looking for a killer, and you’re gambling.”
“I did look, and there is nothing suspicious here so far,” I replied.
He glared at me, although he kinda glared at everypony. “Just stay focused. The Wonderbolts arrived while you were occupied.” He walked away.
I'll never understand him. It was just a little wager. No real harm if I lose this; it was just a small portion of my betting money anyway. I made my way to the Wonderbolts’ lounge.
It was up an elevator, the entrance to which was below the stands through a door labeled ‘Managers Only’. There were two Navy Guards standing at the door. I stepped up to them and pointed to the engraved badge on my armor.
“I need to speak with Captain Spitfire. It's urgent,” I said firmly.
“Just a moment Sergeant.” one of them said. The other went inside for a good minute or two.
When he returned he opened the door for me. “Captain is on the right, Sergeant.”
“Thank you.” I walked past them into the lounge.
The lounge was large. And each of the three teams was occupying a different section of the lounge getting ready. Alpha was closest.
They were all doing their stretches. A kind of yoga or something. I was always happy with the standard sport stretches. I spotted my future sister in law; Fleetfoot seemed focused and bending over backward really far, I’d snap in half if I tried that. “You bend any further, my brother is gonna be marrying a pretzel,” I commented.
Fleetfoot gasped and quickly unraveled herself and came over. “It’s so good to see you!” she hugged me. “How are you doing? Orion took your mother’s passing hard, but he had me. I can only imagine how it was for you without Snow.”
Yet again it felt as if my heart was hit with a ton of bricks. “I had Jett. In all honestly, though it's better If I don't talk about it.” I gave her a weak smile, but she didn't argue.
“Hey, I know it’s only been about a week since I saw you last, but you look thinner. Have you lost weight or something?” she asked sizing me up.
I glanced down at my body. Did I lose weight? I think I did. “Um- not that I know of. It’s probably just the armor, it’s lighter than what I usually wear.”
“If you say so.” She looked concerned but didn't press. I don't know why she looked concerned though.
“Sergeant. Long time, no see.” Captain Spitfire said, joining the conversation. “Are you here just to visit?”
“If I were I would have brought my daughter with me. Unfortunately, there may be a killer in the stadium. He makes luck deals with hexes that kill ponies.” I stated. All the Wonderbolts in the room stopped to listen in. “About thirty-one victims so far, one managed to avoid the killings, although I suspect not for long.”
“Any other details?” Fleetfoot asked.
I nodded. “All the victims started having an ongoing streak of good luck three years ago all around this time. That seems to the extension of the deals, three years and then he comes to collect.”
“Wait, three years?” Soarin asked.
I looked over at him. “Yeah, why?”
“Wind Walker was assigned to Delta squad almost exactly three years ago, after being a New Horseleans Wonderbolt Reserve for almost two years already,” Soarin pointed out.
That was not a coincidence. “Where is he? I need to ask him some questions if you’ll allow it, Captain.”
“I will,” Spitfire nodded and pointed. “He’s over there, meditating.”
I saw him over by his team. They were all doing sport stretches, except for him. He was balancing on one hoof quietly humming to himself with his eyes closed. “Lieutenant Wind Walker?” I asked.
He stopped humming but didn’t open his eyes. “Who wants to know?”
“Sergeant Flame Strider, City Guard. I think you might have some information I could use,” I rattled off. Spitfire walked up behind me to listen.
“Like what?” he asked, opening his eyes.
“Three years ago, your name jumped to the front of the Wonderbolt Reserve list.”
He stopped balancing and stood normally. “So? I didn't have anything to do with that. I got lucky is all.”
“That’s interesting because over thirty more citizens of this city got a similar run of luck and they have all turned up dead in the last month. Know anything about that?” I asked.
His eyes widened and he looked away for a moment; he seemed to be trying to hold his composure. “I… I, um. I don’t.”
“Lieutenant, if you are withholding information from the investigator of a crime, you will be charged with obstruction of justice,” Captain Spitfire reminded him.
“All he said was that I’d have to pay her back! I didn’t think that he meant with my life!” he finally admitted, looking panicked.
All the other Wonderbolts had congregated around him, murmuring to themselves. “Explain. Now.” I ordered.
“He was just some vendor in the street. Three years ago he said that he could improve my luck for free. I thought I caught a break if I was lucky enough I could get chosen early as a Wonderbolt. But he also said that I’d have to pay his Mistress back since it was her spell.” He sat there looking ashamed and afraid.
So this figure we’ve been chasing is just a pawn? Wonderful. I hope this isn't some kind of cult. That would be rotten luck. “Do you remember what he looked like?”
“He- he was a dark brown earth pony. Black stripes painted on him, hard to tell from a distance. An upside down five point star with a circle touching each point, branded where his cutie mark should be.”
Captain Spitfire glowered at Wind Walker, who turned his head away, unable to meet her gaze.
“And that didn't strike you as odd?” I sighed. “Thank you for your cooperation.” I turned to Spitfire. “I recommend you take him and his team out if the race. If he gets targeted he may need to get out of here fast.”
“What's to say this killer won't just follow and kill him another time?” Spitfire asked.
“I want to race.” Wind Walker spoke up.
“No. He'll kill you for sure,” I said.
“Captain is right. He'll just follow and kill me another time if I leave, and you won't catch him then.” Wind Walker straightened up and looked me dead in the eye. “If I die, I wanna die racing. If you save me, then great.”
The whole room was silent. Using another pony as bait. I didn't like this, but it wasn’t my call. “It's up to you, Captain. But I think it's a bad idea.” I gave Wind Walker one last look, then turned to exit.
I started to head out to find Finder again but Fleetfoot stopped me for a hug. “Go catch your bad guy.”
“Will do. Say hello to my brother for me.” I exited the lounge and went back up to the stands where eager fans awaited the show.
The crowd had gotten thicker while I was in there. All the seats were packed and riled up for a race. I scanned the walkways for Finder.
After a moment I spotted his distinctive hat on the level across and above me. I used one of the only reflective pieces of my armor to get his attention. He replied with a few mirror flashes of his own as well. After I squeezed past the crowds on the stairs, I met him on the level he was on.
“You learn anything?” he grunted.
“I did. One of the Wonderbolts was more than cooperative. Unfortunately, he may be the target today.”
“So are we looking for a hex bag somewhere in the stadium?” Finder glanced around a moment.
“I don't think a hex bag will work in this situation. If he is planning on killing the Wonderbolt during the race, he may need a secluded place to perform the spell.”
“We know what this pony looks like?”
“Dark brown earth pony male. Black stripes painted on him. An upside down five point star with a circle touching each point branded where his cutie mark should be,” I recalled.
“Alright, so he’ll be in a secluded location, in the stadium, where nopony will hear him.” Finder pondered for a moment. “The maintenance tunnels under the field. Nopony will be down there right now!”
We turned and hurried down to the maintenance tunnels. “It’s a labyrinth down here how are we supposed to find him?” I asked.
Some maintenance ponies were sitting in a break room playing cards and listening to a radio that was tuned to pick up the very race that was about to start above us. I could hear what was happening over the radio.
“...and lastly Fleetfoot of Alpha team takes her place on the starting line. The rest of the three teams waiting to be passed the shoe.”
So Spitfire is letting him do it? We won't have a whole lot of time then. “Any of you seen a brown pony who has painted stripes on himself?” I asked.
One of them thought a moment and then nodded. “Oh yeah, that sounds like Mudder.”
“He’s an odd one, he’s all into that striper nonsense,” another waved a hoof.
“We last saw him heading toward the water pumps.” one smoking a cigar pointed a hoof.
The one dealing the cards looked like the manager. “There is a map at every junction so nopony gets lost.”
“Thank you.” I turned back to Finder. “Water pumps it is.”
We hurried down the corridors stopping every fifth junction to make sure we were going the correct direction. I heard the muffled sound of a cannon go off from above us, signaling the start of the race. I picked up the pace.
I smelled burning hair and wax as we got closer to the pumps, and soon enough a low chanting was could be heard. As we rounded the last corner I saw the pony now known as Mudder. He was dressed in bones, feathers, and what looked like crocodile skins, his mark was indeed burnt off and a brand replaced it, and dark stripes painted his coat. He was bending over what looked like some kind of altar, holding a match to a bowl. The bowl lit on fire and began to burn with blue flames.
“STOP!” I shouted.
Mudder didn’t hesitate and bolted down another corridor. Philip followed instantly. I stayed a moment to look at this altar. Candles surrounded a picture of Wind Walker, bones, chicken feathers, hair and a number of other ingredients arranged in an intricate pattern. Before turning to go cut off Mudder above ground I flipped the little bowl over and doused the flames in hopes of stopping the curse.
I made my way back up to the stands. Once I got there I looked for the chase. I could see that the last leg of the race had started, Wind Walker was falling behind Spitfire and the Tango squad leader. He looked to be coughing up little white feathers. The spell hadn't stopped! Now the only pony who could was Mudder.
I scanned the crowd again and I saw Finder chasing him through the crowd across the stadium from me, easily jumping over any obstacle in his way. I flew to cut Mudder off.
“What’s this going on in the audience?” I heard the announcer saying over the PA. “Looks like the city guard is about to make an arrest. Everypony stay out of their way!”
Once the announcers called attention to it, the stadium security guards got in on the chase, but Mudder kept evading them or knocking them down. Phillip and I drove him up toward the top of the stadium.
“Wind Walker isn't looking too good folks, he’s landing in the infield. He looks to be choking on something!”
This was not good, but I couldn’t risk stopping to look. We kept on Mudder until he got to the roof of the stadium. He had nowhere left to go. Finder and the guards chased him to the edge of the roof. About a nine-story drop from up here. Mudder looked panicked and he had a knife in his mouth. Finder slowed and pulled a baton out of his vest, snapping it open.
I landed beside Finder. “Mudder! Stop the spell and maybe the jury will be kinder in their sentencing.”
Mudder smiled and laughed. “The mistress didn't tell me how to stop the spell. Only how to enact it.”
“Give up, there is nowhere else to run!” I shouted.
“I am but one of her followers. She is far more powerful than the rest of those fools in the Everfree!” He stepped closer to the edge. “We will help the mistress ascend!” he shouted and jumped.
I flew and caught him by the forehoof. Flapping my wings hard, I brought him back up to the roof. However, before I could get there he used the knife that was still in his mouth and cut deep gashes in my forelegs. I yelled in pain and instinctively let go. Finder dived forward, but it was too late: Mudder plummeted all the way to the ground and landed with a heavy crash.
I was suddenly aware of shouting from the stadium. Turning to look, I saw that Wind Walker had collapsed to the ground and was clutching his throat, convulsing. Feathers spewed from his mouth. Spitfire was pounding on his chest, trying to force the feathers out of his mouth and shouting for medics. But it was too late: just as the first medics were rushing over, Wind Walker convulsed one last time, then was still.
“No!” I heard myself shout. I had been so close! We were right here!
“C’mere,” Phillip said, but it was like his voice was a mile away. I barely heard him, and I was only vaguely aware of the blood that was running down my forelegs as I hovered in midair. He pulled me back onto the roof and took a first aid kit out of my saddlebags. Grabbing a roll of gauze, he started to wrap it tightly around my wounds, trying to cut off the bleeding.
I managed to look away from Wind Walker down at Phillip’s hooves and saw that they were shaking. I looked at his eyes; they were narrowed and seemed to blaze with hatred.
“We’ll get her,” he growled as he bandaged my wounds. “We’ll get her for this.”
A medical pony was stitching my legs up outside the stadium. I watched as they carted Wind Walker’s body away in a body bag. I felt hollow, like I’d been cut open, had all my organs removed, and been sewn back up. I’d failed him. I made it my job to keep him safe, and he’d died in front of me.
Press was swarming the perimeter the guard had set up. I could see Finder giving his statement to another guard off to the side.
Once the medic cut the thread on the last stitch he wrapped the injury in fresh bandages. “Any other injuries?” he asked.
“No, thank you.” I stood and went over to where Finder stood. As I approached the guard walked off.
“So what’s our next move?” I asked, feeling like my hooves were itching. I needed to do something.
“Our next move is that I go ask around in Ponyville and in Everfree for any information of this ‘Mistress,’” Phillip said. “You stay here and make sure things don’t get out of hoof.”
“What? I have to go with you. It’s my investigation!” I argued.
“What do you think the chances are that Lieutenant Swampfire will allow you to go?” Phillip asked, giving me a deadpan look.
I thought about it a moment. “Next to none,” I admitted.
“I’ll be back.” Finder nodded to me, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Deciding to let the CSIs take it from here, I started on my way home.
I opened the door and went to sit on the couch, waiting in silence for Jett to come back. My hooves and wings still felt itchy, which made it hard for me to lie still, but I was also extraordinarily tired from the day. I started to doze off, but every time I closed my eyes, I kept relieving the entire scene, watching Mudder hit the ground or Walker choking on feathers. More than once, I woke up with a gasp, shaking all over.
Jett got home on time and smiled as she saw me. “Dad!” She hurried over and hugged me, before stepping back and asking me questions. “I hearded something happened over the radio. I was worried. Is Auntie Fleetfoot alright?”
She’s not her aunt yet, but I suppose the term will apply soon enough. “Yeah, she’s fine. I’m fine,” I said quickly, still holding onto her.
“Then how come your legs have band-aids on them?” She pointed to the white bandages.
I hugged her again. “I’m fine now.” I wasn’t. I wasn’t fine at all. “Why don't you go put your stuff down?”
“Okay.” She let go of me hesitantly and went to her room. As I watched her disappear into her room, I took a deep breath and lowered my face into my hooves.
I kept thinking of Wind Walker. He may have accepted that he was gonna die, but that is not what his facial features expressed when he was dying. He was counting on me to stop it. Me. I failed. Again.