“—And once I knew what was going on, I sent word to Princess Celestia. Who immediately consulted with the CPD and, well. Here we are.” Twilight wrapped up telling the story of her involvement to River.
River nodded as she finished writing down notes. “Anything else you want to add?” She asked.
Twilight shook her head. “Not really.”
River nodded. “Alright then. Thank you for your time princess. Your statement will help bring those who committed these heinous acts to justice.”
Twilight nodded. “I hope so. Whoever did this needs to be stopped.”
River nodded. “Of course.” She put her notebook and pen away. “Now. If it isn’t too much trouble, could you please tell me Sparkling Medley’s address? My partner is there talking to her and the kid.”
Twilight bit her lip. “Actually investigator, if you’re able. Can you tell me just what we’re dealing with here? Because the way Kicker tells it. It was a random act of crime.”
River sighed. “You’re partially right Princess. The victims were chosen at random...but not completely. There was a specific demographic targeted.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Ok, what’s the whole story?
...
“—and that’s when Sparkler took me to the Castle, where we met Twilight.” Kicker concluded.
Nosey wrote that in his notebook and nodded. “And what did you do at the castle?”
“Sparkler talked to Twilight and Flappy and I went on a tour of the Castle with Spike, Twilight’s dragon.”
Nosey smiled. “Ooh. That sounds fun.”
Kicker nodded. “A lot of fun.”
Nosey nodded. “You're a lucky foal. That’s for sure.” He stood back up to his full height and put his notebook away. “Thank you for telling me this Kicker. This will help bring those monsters to justice.”
Kicker nodded, while still holding Sparkler’s hoof and sticking close to her side. Sparkler leaned down and nuzzled him on the cheek to ease his nerves. “See? That wasn’t so bad was it?”
Kicker nodded. “U-uhm, Sparkler?”
Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”
“I-I’m thirsty.”
Sparkler giggled and smiled. “Well we better fix that.” She turned to Flappy. “Hey Flappy, wanna take Kicker to the kitchen and get him some lemonade?”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Homemade? Squawk!”
Sparkler chuckled. “Is there any other kind here?”
Flappy chuckled and turned his attention to Kicker. “Squawk! Come on Kicker. You’re in for a treat. Squawk!”
Kicker nodded and followed Flappy to the kitchen. Sparkler watched them go and smiled. She turned to Nosey. “You think we can really bring them to justice?”
Nosey nodded. “Absolutely. We just need to find them...or let them come to us.”
Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “You think they’ll try to take Kicker?”
Nosey sighed. “Anything’s possible. To that end. Is there someplace more private we can talk? Someplace Kicker can’t hear?”
Sparkler nodded as she turned to the kitchen. “Hey Flappy! Watch Kicker! Investigator Nosey and I are going down to the basement to talk about a few things!”
“Squawk! Copy that! Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded and gestured for Nosey to follow her. They proceeded down to the studio. Nosey took a look and let out an impressed whistle. “So this is where your little musical magic happens. Not bad for a small business.”
Sparkler nodded. “It’s not just a job. It’s my talent. Now...” Sparkler turned so that she was looking directly at Nosey. “Who exactly are we dealing with here?”
Nosey nodded and lit his horn to summon the case file from his bag. He placed it on the table and opened it, extracting two pictures from it. He held them up for Sparkler to see. “These are our perpetrators. Sparky Rump, and Misty Mystique.”
Sparkler stifled a snicker as Nosey rolled his eyes. “Go on. Chuckle at Sparky Rump’s name. You should know that he and his wife are two of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. With a particular knack for breaking defenses.”
That shut Sparkler right up as he continued. “Three years ago these two were part of a group Tartarus bent on Canterlot for Magic-Users. AKA, all non-magic users are unwelcome.”
Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “But Canterlot is the Capital of Equestria?”
Nosey nodded. “This group, called UniMagix, didn’t care. They viewed Pegasi and Earth Ponies as a threat to Unicorn society. And so they sought to remove them completely from Canterlot.”
“Sounds like this group is a holdover from before Equestria’s founding.” Sparkler commented.
Nosey nodded. “That’s one way to put it. Anyway, what makes this group of terrorists stand out is that they tried to avoid violence. Electing instead to simply talk to the Pegasi and Earth Ponies of Canterlot, try to talk them into leaving.”
Sparkler nodded. “Let me guess. First time’s a warning, second time is the...”
Nosey nodded. “Yep. Those who refuse to leave, leave this world permanently.”
“Alright, so Kicker’s parents refused to leave and thus they were slaughtered.”
Nosey nodded. “Along with a friend of theirs who tried to defend them.”
Sparkler nodded. “And their house was burnt down. Ok, so what about Thunder Kicker. If they viewed Non Magic users as a threat, Why did these ponies take him as their own?”
Nosey shrugged. “They didn’t slaughter foals? I don’t know, the jury’s still out on that one.”
Sparkler nodded. “Ok. So, Sparky and Misty are still at large. And were part of this terrorist group...any other UniMagix members we need to worry about?”
Nosey shook his head. “No. The rest of them are either dead or imprisoned.”
Sparkler sighed in relief. “Ok. Good. So that just leaves us with Sparky and Misty.”
Nosey shook his head. “We still have our work cut out for us. These two are master defense breakers.”
“Then what can we do to stop them?”
“They may be able to break defenses...but they’ve never dealt with an Alicorn before.” Nosey commented. “You once defeated a bugbear with one blast. If you apply at least that much power now. They’ll have a real tough time getting through it.”
Sparkler sighed, and then nodded. “So what defenses should I raise?”
“Shields, tripwire spells, motion spells, basically cast every spell you can think of.” Nosey replied.
“Ok. Anything else?”
Nosey thought for a second. “Oh, I want you to also place a tracking spell on Kicker. That way you’ll know exactly where he is at all times.”
Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to place a spell on him too?”
Nosey shook his head. “No. I’m not. Only you can place a tracking spell on him.”
Sparkler raised an eyebrow. Confused. “Why only me?”
Nosey sighed. “The more powerful the caster, the less likely it’ll be disabled. As much as I hate to admit it, those two are more magically gifted than me, and any spell I place would be found and disabled. But, if you were to cast a spell, the odds of them finding it are slim at best.”
Sparkler nodded. “Well, Twilight says I was able to beat that bugbear in one shot because my power levels are significantly higher than any Unicorn she’s met...”
Nosey nodded. “If you put your mind to it, you can really give those crooks a tough time. And IF they get past your defenses, there isn’t anywhere they can hide if they keep Kicker with them.”
Sparkler nodded. “Alright. I just hope this is enough.”
Nosey nodded as he packed up the file. “This case has been three years in the making. This had better work or I might just lose it.”
Sparkler chuckled. “Don’t worry. If they come for Kicker, They’ll have to deal with a ticked off Parrot. Don’t underestimate him. He’s small, but his claws are dangerous.”
Nosey chuckled. “Speaking of that parrot of yours, mind if I chat with him? His level of sapience appears to qualify him as a witness.”
Sparkler chuckled. “Oh his sapience and intelligence level can definitely qualify him as a witness. Watching me do my homework in school made sure of that.”
Nosey chuckled as they ascended the stairs out of the basement.
...
“There we go. Tucked in all nice and snug.” It was bedtime and Sparkler had just tucked Kicker into bed. She smiled down at the foal. “You ok?”
Kicker nodded. “Yeah. I’m ok. Thanks.”
Sparkler nodded. “Alright. Well, g’night Kick.” She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Sweet dreams.” With that, Sparkler backed out of the room, however, just as she was closing the door, she lit her horn, and while also turning off the light, she cast that tracking spell that Nosey had recommended. After a second, she dimmed her horn and closed the door the rest of the way gently. She stood at the door for a second, not moving from that spot. Don’t worry Kick, now that I know EXACTLY what we’re up against, I’ll make sure they never get to you. With that vow in mind. Sparkler proceeded to her own room. Where she found Flappy picking at his wings, preening them like he regularly did.
Flappy noticed Sparkler come in and stopped what he was doing. “Squawk! Kid go down alright? Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded. “He’s having little difficulty going to sleep for a foal with his past.”
Flappy shivered. “Squawk! The nerve of those ponies. Ugh. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah.” She sighed. “Flappy, we need a game plan here.”
Flappy nodded in agreement. “Squawk! From what Nosey’s told us, what we NEED to do is lock this place down tight. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded in agreement. “Nosey suggested I cast every defensive spell I know around this place.”
Flappy shook his head. “Squawk! We may need to do more than that. Board up the outside door to the basement, lock the backyard door, board up the windows. Squawk!”
Sparkler sighed. “I agree with you about the doors...but I’m not so sure about the windows.”
Flappy raised an eyebrow. “Squawk! What do you mean? Squawk!”
“Flappy, think about this. For three years, Kicker’s been held against his will by a pair of terrorists. He was probably never allowed to leave the house. And they probably locked him up in a room often.” Sparkler explained.
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! That would not surprise me. Squawk!”
Sparkler continued. “If we board up the windows, he might interpret that as US locking him away.”
Flappy raised an eyebrow. “Squawk! But that ISN’T what we’re doing. We’re just ensuring his safety. Squawk!”
Sparkler sighed. “That’s what WE think, but a traumatized foal that may have PTSD might think otherwise. Even if we tell him exactly what’s going on around here. And the LAST thing I want him thinking is that we’re repeating the actions of his previous caregivers.” The venom when Sparkler said that dripped from her mouth.
Flappy’s eyes widened, as if something clicked with him. “Squawk! Oh, I see what you’re saying. Squawk!”
Sparkler nodded. “So we’ll fortify this place tomorrow, but for the moment, leave the windows be, aside from locking them.”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Understood. Squawk!”
Sparkler sighed. “Though to be honest. I hope they never show up.”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! Well we’ll just have to wait and see. Squawk!”
...
Later that night, Kicker tossed and turned in his sleep, his eyes squeezed shut and his face scrunched up. He shook his head. “No...no...please...NO!” Kicker’s eyes opened and he bolted upright in a start. He glanced around the dark room, panting. Even in darkness, he could make out details that told him where he was. He sighed. “I’m still in Sparkler’s house...she’s taking care of me now.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Faust.”
At that moment, there was knocking on the door and Kicker instantly threw himself under the covers in fear. “Eep!”
He hid there, shaking in fear. Until he heard a familiar voice. “Kicker? You ok in there?” He heard the door open, and gently close.
Kicker peaked out from under the covers, and saw Sparkler with her horn lit for light, with a look of concern and worry clear as day. He slowly crawled out from under the covers as Sparkler reached the side of the bed. “Are you ok Kick?” Kick hesitantly nodded. Sparkler sighed. “Did you have a bad dream?” Again, Kicker nodded, his eyes starting to glisten. Sparkler reared up on her hind legs and carefully enveloped Kicker in her wings and forehooves, just as he began sniffling. “Hey, shh. It’s ok little one. You’re safe.” Sparkler cooed.
Kicker nodded. After a minute, he broke the silence. “C-can you stay with me tonight? I...I need to know you’re still here, and, I just...really need to be held right now...”
Sparkler nodded. “Of course sweetie. I’ll be here as long as you need me to be.” Sparkler climbed up on the bed and lay down on her haunches, letting Kicker snuggle up to her. She carefully lay a wing over the foal and nuzzled him on the cheek. “Don’t worry little one. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
Kicker nodded as he closed his eyes again. Sparkler sighed as she lay her head down. I wonder if Luna’s visited him yet. I wonder if I should ask. With that thought, Sparkler closed her eyes and drifted off the sleep, with Kicker held in her wing.
To be continued...