//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 "Drop of Blueblood" // Story: Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 1 "Murder at the Gala" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 6 “Drop of Blueblood” Perspective: Private Eye Tabletop’s mouth was ajar as everypony talked loudly amongst themselves. All around us ponies were talking about this sudden development. Lord Blueblood glared over at Tabletop. “Explain yourself! You had my butler killed trying to take my life?!” Tabletop regained his composure. “As if I would ever kill your butler, you probably killed him to hide your little scheme!” “That would be impossible, Tabletop,” I said, trying to make my voice heard over the crowd. Suddenly, Celestia’s horn glowed and a pillar of light shot in the air. That shut everypony in the room up. Celestia then calmly spoke to me, “Private Eye, why would it have been impossible for Pure Blueblood to have killed Bastion?” “Simple your highness.” I said, looking at the white alicorn, “Because Lord Blueblood was in the room with him.” “How does that make any difference?” Tabletop interjected. “It makes a hell of a lot of difference,” I continued, “Because Bastion was killed by a needle laced with cyanide, killing him nearly instantly. A poison in a drink or something would’ve killed him within minutes, but not immediately. Like I said before, the target was never Bastion, but Lord Blueblood here.” “But what would I gain b-” Tabletop tried to start. “Vengeance,” I said, looking at him. “Your motive was nothing more than cold vengeance. You heard about the affair that your brother-in-law was having. You wanted nothing more than to see the stallion dead for what he did. Today was simply the tipping point.” Everypony hung on my every word, I caught a glance at Spera, he was doing the same. But he was mulling them over, as if trying to find the pieces himself or, maybe he already put the pieces together and wondered if I came to the same conclusion. I went on with my explanation; “After the little rant here, thanks to Prince, the Bluebloods went over to a room for some privacy. Bastion and Squeaky were with them. After Bastion locked the door Tabletop came around, seeing an opportunity. He procured this,” I pulled the needle gun out of my suit jacket, eliciting a gasp from all the ponies that hadn’t seen it. Except for Tabletop, who was sweating at this point... “You had your motive and opportunity, you inserted the gun into the keyhole, and took aim at your brother in law. Your vengeance was complete, you figured you killed him in the shot. Then you left with the needle gun and tossed it out the window, which is exactly where we found this. In the garden, below the window by the room Lord Blueblood had taken his family.” “This, this is simply preposterous!” Tabletop shouted. “You seriously expect anypony to believe such nonsense?!” I went on, ignoring his protests, “Only problem was you hit the wrong target. You hit Bastion, who, according to this diagram,” I held out the picture that Lady Blueblood drew, “was standing right in the path of the doorway when he fell over.” I pointed to the X representing him. Squeaky, who was standing with some guards, spoke up, “You... you killed Bastion... Mr. Tabletop...” “I... I...” Tabletop was at a loss for words. “It’s ludicrous! He has conjecture! Not pro-” Suddenly... he glowed green... He looked to me, my horn was glowing a pale grey, first the needle gun glowed, and then his hoofkerchief he dropped. I explained, “Ponies can lie, Tabletop, but the evidence doesn't lie. This is your DNA on the needle gun, there’s no way you’d get past that in court.” Tabletop started laughing maniacally, his eyes showing a level of derangement on par with his sister. “Yes! Yes, you dirty rotten detective, I did it! I killed the stupid bastard because he got in the way! I was sickened when I heard about what Lord Blueblood did to my sister! It wasn’t enough he took our family’s money but he had to toss aside my sister like trash! I planned everything! The room! The gun! I even checked in the damn keyhole to see if my shot would line up! But, because of one stupid butler I’m denied my revenge! I want nothing less than every single drop of Pure’s blood to be spilled!” Suddenly his horn glowed and before anypony could do anything, Squeaky was teleported into his hooves. He pulled out a gun and used his magic to point it at Squeaky’s head. The maid was shaking but didn’t move or speak. “Let her go!” Celestia yelled. “If I see anypony’s horn glow I’ll shoot her without hesitation!” Tabletop shouted. “I’ll kill this girl and the bastard child inside her!” “YOU DARE!” Suddenly Spera launched himself at Tabletop. Tabletop’s horn glowed and he fired a bolt of magic... Spera took the hit and flew several feet back... just... like me when I get hit by magic... Spera... could he be... “Release her at once!” Celestia cried. “If you do so now I will allow you a fair trial!” “Bah!” Tabletop scoffed, tightening his grip on Squeaky. “I don’t want you pathetic justice! I want Lord Blueblood’s head!” “Killing Squeaky won’t change anything!” Twilight cried. “Just put down the gun and step away from her.” “Oh, like I’m supposed to listen to a pretend princess and her chicken of a husband?! You all don’t see when justice needs to be done! You were too soft to kill Lord Blueblood when you found about his damn affair! You stinking commoners are all th-” CRASH!!! Suddenly Tabletop's eyes rolled up into his head, and he stopped spouting his nonsense, as a vase smashed on his head. He fell over in a heap, unconscious. Squeaky was quivering right then and there, but saw... that Prince Blueblood had thrown the vase... Prince Blueblood... saved her... “Secure him!” Celestia ordered, I saw Flash and his guards going to put hoofcuffs on Tabletop. Squeaky finally took a step towards Prince and looked up at him with grateful blue eyes. “You, saved my life. I am in your debt, Prince.” My brain was still trying to comprehend this. Blueblood saved somepony? I think I may need to see a therapist... Prince Blueblood smiled at the maid, not a smug or arrogant smile, just... a normal smile. “I’m not about to let the mother of my half brother or sister come to harm.” He then looked genuinely guilty. “I’m sorry if I ever mistreated you in the past. I was a victim myself of this plot.” Squeaky, and everypony in the room, jaws dropped practically to the floor. Even Celestia looked a little shocked, but not as shocked as Twilight and I were. Blueblood put a hoof on Squeaky’s shoulder. “With my father imprisoned, I’ll be in charge of the fortune. You wanted to get through university, correct?” “Ye-yes, sir,” Squeaky said, still reeling from the shock. “Then consider your debts paid, you will not have to worry about expenses. After all, I want my half brother or sister to have a mother who can focus on them. Not on trying to pay off debts.” Squeaky smiled wide, and embraced Prince Blueblood, “Thank you so much, I promise I will raise your half sibling with the utmost love and care! I won’t let you down.” This is the same Blueblood that insulted my mother right? Used Rarity as a cake shield? Anypony? Aww hell, it’s a happy ending, let’s savor it. _____________________________________________________________________ Prison carriages came by for Lord Blueblood and Tabletop. The pair spent the vast majority of their trip shouting out obscenities at one another. They also spent it trying to claim I was somehow the killer or some other kind of bullshit. Flash had their flanks tossed into the carriages before anypony else had to listen to their nonsense. An ambulance came by for Lady Blueblood, who apparently fainted after her rant. Something tells me it’s going to take a while before she gets a grip. I walked towards Spera who had a pegamedic bandaging his wound from the magic bolt. He looked up at me after the pegamedic went to handle Lady Blueblood. He gave a slight smile, “I shall be fine Private Eye, I’ve been through far worse in my lifetime.” “That’s my line,” I said, laughing a little. “Anyways, I have to ask you something.” Spera’s face turned serious. “You’re not a full blooded unicorn are you?” I asked. “No pure blood would have been thrown back that far.” Spera, slowly nodded, “You are correct, Double Blaze, my father, was an earth pony.” “Oh,” I said, “I figured as much.” “You understand then,” Spera said, putting a hoof on his bandages. “What it’s like to be a hybrid. I hid it for a long time, but I figured a stallion of your caliber would’ve found out anyways.” “You haven’t told anypony else who you are?” I asked. “My step sister knows,” Spera explained, “But other than that, I have told nopony about my heritage. Not out of shame, but because it would make it difficult to deal with ponies. I know you have first hoof experience.” Hiding what you are for that long. I could understand, I was bullied when I was younger for what I was. After I ventured into high school however, only a few of my closest friends knew I was a hybrid. I get where Spera is coming from. “Spera, just so you know, having an earth pony for a father makes you no less of a pony.” I said, smiling at him “In fact, I know a half earth pony, she’s one of the smartest, strongest, and snarkiest ponies I know. Trust me, there’s nothing wrong with your heritage.” Spera smiled, “You honor me and my father Private Eye.” He then got on his hooves. “I need to return to Manehatten, I have business to attend to.” “You were a big help on this case,” I pointed out as he started to leave. “If you’re ever in the neighborhood, just give a shout, you could be help again.” Spera looked back at me with a smile, “Private Eye, you can count on it.” With that, he left for the carriages. I don’t really know what to make of Spera. He seems, so much like me. I wonder, what did he mean by I could count on it? I felt a nudge and looked to see Twilight standing next to me. “You two are officially in a bromance.” “Yeah yeah, but if I see even one fanfic about us...” “I was fifteen! It was a stage I was going through! The guards were hunky, and I could have sworn I caught them glancing at each other!” Twilight pleaded. “It was a rather fun read though,” Twilight and I turned to see Princess Celestia walking towards us. Twilight flushed in embarrassment and looked down at her hooves. Celestia gave a gentle smile and said, “I am proud of both of you, glad to see how well you have grown as a team.” Twilight recomposed herself and kissed me on the cheek, “Helps when you’re married to the guy.” I smiled a little goofily as Celestia went on, “You have both done a great service. You both should return home and get some rest after all your hard work. I’m sorry that the party was cut short in such a fashion.” “Hey, the Grand Galloping Gala could use spicing up once in awhile,” I said with a laugh, one that was harmonized by the two alicorns. “Your highnesses...?” Twilight and I saw Prince Blueblood walking towards us, his face was serious, yet very uncertain and he seemed unable to say a word. He then muttered to himself, “Foalsteps, Prince, foalsteps. It’s your old self resenting this...” Blueblood took a deep breath, and then... abased himself before Twilight. “Your Royal Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle, I wish to apologize to you for my boorish behavior in slandering both you, and your Royal Consort. You are, of course, free to follow your heart, instead of Noble Tradition, and I was blinded by old traditional prejudices to see this.” Twilight and I looked at each other, unable to say anything. Finally I spoke, “Forgive me if I’m not convinced of your sudden turnaround.” “Oh, I don’t blame you. I’ve got a lot to do to make up for the complete and utter boor I have been. But I shall, though! I will work hard, doing good deeds, and proving to both myself, and all of Equestria that Prince Blueblood is a new stallion. I shall go to needy neighborhoods, endow and build schools for the less fortunate, help renovate homes, and help find ways to ensure those ponies with the least will have a way to gain the most.” “Okay,” Twilight said, shaking her head, “Who are you, and what have you done with the real Prince Blueblood?” Celestia walked over to Blueblood and said with a smile, “I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, dear nephew, anypony can change. All it takes is one step in the right direction to make it happen.” She then looked at me and Twilight. “Now, if you all will excuse me, dawn is coming and my sister awaits me.” She then shot into the air and flew towards her castle home. Blueblood went off towards where his carriage was. I yawned, finally able to step out of detective mode and into normal Private mode. “Man, I think I’m going to fall asleep on my hooves.” Twilight smiled and nuzzled my shoulder. “Let’s go home,” As Twilight and I walked towards our carriage every noble was staring at us. After a minute of walking, Fancy Pants began clapping his hooves. Soon other nobles joined in and Twilight and I were applauded like heroes. I looked at Twilight. “Well, I think our first public debut was a success, more or less.” “Could’ve done without Bastion dying,” Twilight said. “But, I think they all are seeing that it doesn't matter what we are, just who we are.” I held open the door to the carriage and let Twilight get inside. We both sat down and I spoke to the driver, “Take us home, please.” The driver nodded and we were being pulled towards the train station. I laid back against the soft seats and felt Twilight’s head plop itself on my shoulder. I gave her a light kiss on the head, “Tired out too?” “Mmm..” she said, her eyes closing. “Pillows don’t talk silly...” I laughed a little and leaned my head on top of hers. This was the best part to me about cases. Coming home, and spending the night right next to the mare I love. I was happy that everything worked out. But... I got the strange feeling... that this was all going too well...