//------------------------------// // Fright at first sight... // Story: Fact Finder: The Show Must Go On // by Zombi //------------------------------// Fact Finder: The Show Must Go On -Chapter 9: Fright at first sight...- The slim pegasus stood silently, obviously in a state of immense shock as her wide, lavender eyes surveyed the freakish display before her. Everypony else in the room followed her lead, not speaking a word and allowing the snow-white mare to collect her senses before even attempting to explain the situation. This was going to be messy... Speedy jabbed a quivering hoof at Zombi, who instinctively retreated slightly. "H-He's... That's... We..." She stuttered, unable to find the appropriate words for the current situation. Fact folded her forelegs impatiently and scowled, her normally tense face now resembling nothing more than a storm of rage and intolerance; but in mere moments her expression softened. "Speedy," She spoke, in a mockingly concerned tone. "Don't think too much, or you might hurt yourself." Normally, such a remark would send the pegasus reeling in a tantrum, however, at this moment in time her body was locked it absolute terror. He was real. After somepony had overheard Fact Finder's tale of the mysterious bat-winged murderer, rumours and whispers had begun to stir within the police department... Many of which went as far as to bring the fiery detective's sanity into question, Of course, Speedy Breeze knew it was all nonsense. That was, until mere moments ago. Now she could see it all, clear as day. A dull grey coat, blood red eyes, ragged bat wings... He was real. And he was staring at her. She wanted to turn and gallop away, never to return... But she feared that if she so much as twitched, he would be upon her. How could her colleagues be so calm? Eventually, Hot Pursuit stepped forward and spoke softly; a tone that heavily contrasted his cocky and confident attitude. "Speedy... There's a lot you don't understand here. Heck, even we don't have the full story! But, you're gonna have to trust us on this..." Even now, the cold-blooded murderer never shifted his gaze. Trust them? Trust her? Speedy knew the Scarlet-maned detective hated her with a passion; and the feeling was mutual. Could she have brought this creature here to rid her of the pegasus forever? Despite her burning hatred, Fact Finder wasn't evil. The slender mare had always secretly admired the purity of the detective's heart... Even though violence came naturally to her, she always meant well... A trait of which Speedy had always been envious. She was all to aware that she was a selfish and snide pony... But it was who she was; she could not change it if she tried. And, admittedly, being a complete and utter bitch can be rather empowering from time to time! However... This was no time to get sidetracked. She had to run, She had to warn somepony! So, of course, that's exactly what she did. The slender mare spun on her hooves, and in the blink of an eye she galloped through the doorway, her heart racing as if Discord himself were pursuing her. Who in Equestria would have thought... Two of Canterlot's most respected and capable enforcers of the law; affiliated with a wanted psychopath? "Dammit!" Fact hissed in annoyance, before whirling around and dragging Zombi to his hooves, who squealed in surprise. "Zombi, get after her!" The grotesque stallion's crimson eyes widened in amazement and his dull grey legs became a blur, hopping from one hoof to another in a sudden panic. "M-me!?" He stammered, startled by the detective's bizarre demand. "B-but, Ms.Finder! I-I'm not sure I'm the correct choice to-" But he was instantly silenced. After a quick, yet blazing glare from the emerald-eyed unicorn; Zombi shot out of the room like a bullet, displaying a bewildering amount of agility for such a small and withdrawn, albeit unusual, pony. Not entirely sure of himself or where he was going, Zombi slammed against the landing wall, with a loud crack. Though he could not be entirely certain whether he had just damaged the wall itself, or almost shattered his own skull. It was all a blur... All he knew was that he had to catch this "Speedy" mare, and bring her back to the detective. Why was he so swift to obey? Was he frightened? Well... That goes without saying. But...He thought as he barreled down the flight of carpeted stairs, as light as a pond skater on the surface of a still lake, having regained his composure... Did he fear her? The unicorn mare with the mane as red as blood, and the eyes as green as the sourest apple? He would be a fool to think she was not dangerous... But it was something else about her that caused Zombi to spring into action. Something alien to the unworldly stallion. Speedy Breeze spared a fearful glance behind her and squealed in terror; now that the supposed murderer was nearly upon her. She skidded around the corner, her friction almost tearing away the carpet beneath her trained hooves, before launching herself down the next flight of stairs, her only thoughts were of escape... and what gruesome fate may await her if she were to fail. Fact followed swiftly, cursing under her breath and praying that the seemingly timid stallion could out-gallop the quick, slender mare. The detective was alerted by a creaking to her left, as one of the apartment doors opened and an elderly unicorn with a dulled purple coat and a silver mane appeared in the doorway. She was quite pitifully small, and wore gold-rimmed glasses. Upon moving in, Fact Finder had thoroughly analysed every single inhabitant of the block (just in case), and had deduced that this aged mare had evidently led a life of leisure, which is far from uncommon in Canterlot... But the young detective had also discovered a tragic fact when she had studied the aged pony's medical records... It does not bear to go into detail; but she was grateful that the purple coated mare had lived such a healthy, fruitful lifestyle so far, and hoped that she would enjoy the 2 years that remained... It was a tragedy... She had always been so friendly towards Fact... "Mrs. Glimmer Lace!" Fact smiled, attempting to mask her panic as she zipped into the doorway so that Glimmer could not get through and see the ruckus Zombi and Speedy were currently creating on the stairwell. "W-what are you doin' up at this time? Aren't you usually napping?" The purple coated mare smiled sincerely, as she always had, which once again ignited a pain in the fiery unicorn's sensitive heart... "I was awoken by a rather loud noise. Yes, most distressing for an old girl like me, you see." She laughed quietly. Fact Finder was rather surprised that nopony else had come to investigate, despite the tumbling pegasi. "I assume that's why you're here, Fact? Investigating are we? How exciting!" Her still stunning smile broadened ever so slightly. In her youth her warm grin must have been near lethal to the stallions. At this moment, a deafening, high pitched shriek bounced off every wall in the large apartment block, as well as a monstrous thump that bore similarities to a large mattress hitting the ground. The elderly mare peered around Fact, her eyes wide with confusion and surprise. "What in Equestria was that?" Fact Finder moved like lightning, leaning against the white, chipping door frame in what she hoped would appear as a casual stance to obscure Glimmer's view. In reality it simply appeared as if she were about to wet herself. "Oh, that?" Fact stammered, struggling to retain her false grin. "Oh, you don't need to worry about that, ma'am. It's just Ace getting spooked. Ran straight out the door, You know how he can be..." The silver maned unicorn regarded Fact with a degree of cynicism, raising an eyebrow. "He certainly has grown since I last saw him. To create such a dreadful clamour..." "Mmhm! He's a regular timberwolf nowadays, ma'am!" Fact was unsure how long she could maintain her charade, and only hoped that Zombi would drag Speedy back before anypony else could notice. "So, uhhh... I suppose there's nothing to worry about. W-why don't you head back to bed?" The sound of approaching thumping and muffled screams led the detective to assume that her unusual acquaintance was literally dragging his captive upwards along the stairwell. They were not making her job any easier... Glimmer Lace's old, tired eyes, flicked from the landing, to Fact Finder, and back again. A skeptical expression remained pasted across her usually kind, wrinkled muzzle. In the end she shook her head and sighed, chuckling quietly. "Very well, Fact," She said as she turned back into her apartment, yawning. "Good luck with Ace, dear. I am certain he'll calm down soon enough. Give him a pet from me!" "Now, don't you worry ma'am, I will. Have a good rest!" The detective beamed, before slamming the door shut behind the elderly pony and breathing an enormous sigh of exasperation. She rushed to the top of the stairs and glared ferociously at the Pegasi below, as Zombi dragged Speedy Breeze up the stairs with his hoof clamped firmly over her mouth. Even so, he was unable to prevent her legs from flailing around as if she were experiencing a form of fit. "Could you two be any louder?" Fact Finder hissed, causing the unusual grey stallion to stare up at her with his large, round, ruby eyes, which were brimming with liquid guilt. "I-I'm sorry..." He stammered, evidently feeling dreadfully ashamed of himself. "I-I tried to calm her down, but she just kept sc-screaming and screaming... So I ... Well..." He nodded timidly at the hoof securing the slim pegasus' lips shut. She fired venomous, yet pleading glances at Fact Finder, who merely shook her head; causing her messy scarlet mane to sway with the motion. "Just bring her up to the apartment..." As she turned to head back to her abode, thoughts began to swirl in the stressed mare's already troubled mind... She was effectively kidnapping her colleague. But it was the right thing to do, wasn't it? Speedy would only have galloped to the station for help, thus complicating everything. But even so... This was illegal... Soon, another thought hit the weary mare, and Fact Finder halted, leaning herself against the wall to steady herself against the shock of realization. The realisation that she had almost become a murderer. Her pale legs began to tremble and her stomach clenched as everything she stood for... Every moral value she ever held... was being called into question. She felt as if she were about to be sick. Back on the rooftop... In the rain... She wanted nothing more to put an end to the evil she thought was Zombi. But in doing so, wouldn't she too become a killer? No. No this was different. She was doing it for the right reasons. She was doing it to protect the innocent... Just as she had vowed to when she was but a foal, playing the righteous detective around the schoolyard... Protect them all from harm... If she killed him. If he died there and then. Then the threat would vanish forever. So... It was alright. wasn't it? It would merely be the price of Justice. That is what she thought at the time. In time the young mare would learn... There is a difference between what is legal... What society would view as justified... ...and what is truly right. End of Chapter