Chapter 3
“Behind Storm Clouds”
Finding Weatherby wasn’t too difficult thanks to the almighty power of the phonebook. One of these days they need to invent something that allows me to look somebody up as I’m in a crime scene. Ah well, pipe dream I guess.
Rainbow and I ditched the sky chariot and her uniform in an alleyway. We didn’t want to draw too much attention to ourselves. No matter how much it goes against Rainbow’s very essence of being.
Weatherby’s apartment was nicer than Skyline/Cumulus’. It was small, but homely and the building looked to be in pretty decent shape. This was a mare that was probably well off. Rainbow and I made our way up the stairs and knocked on her door.
Out came a rather older looking pegasus with the same sky colored coat and pale blue eyes that Cumulus had. Her mane was short, brown, and tied in a braid out of the way. She also wore an apron that looked recently stained. She smiled at us and said, “I wasn’t expecting visitors today, can I help you two?”
I began, “We’re investigating Cumulus, or as he’s known around here, Skyline.”
I stuck my foot in the door before she could slam it shut. Rainbow flew inside and glared at Weatherby, “You Weatherby?” She asked.
“Yes,” She replied, looking nervous, “But I have no idea who you’re talking about! Get out! Leave now!”
“Ma’am,” I said, walking in, “we just want to find out who killed him.”
Weatherby blinked, and looked genuinely shocked, before finally saying, “Would you both, like some coffee?”
__________________________________________________________
“So, Skyline is dead,” Weatherby said as she sat on the couch. Rainbow and I sat in separate chairs in front of her. She took a light sip of her coffee and went on, “He was always a very secretive type. He rarely wrote to Mother or I. But, he really cared about us.”
“But why’d he change his name?” Rainbow asked.
Weatherby shook her head. “I don’t know, I just know that he was investigating something,” she said.
“Does it have anything to do with Bolt Corp?” I asked.
Weatherby sighed. “When he got the job, I was so proud of him. So was mother, Celestia rest her soul. He worked for them in the Heavy Storm Department. He was really good at predicting how a storm moves and he got hired to help test flight suits. At least, that’s what I thought.”
“What was he really doing?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t know I said,” Weatherby said, sounding exasperated.
“Okay,” I said as I reached into my coat and pulled out the letter. “When did you send this?”
Weatherby took it and examined it. “This, this was months ago,” Weatherby said, surprised, “I had no idea he kept it.”
“Can you explain to us what you know?” I asked.
“I just know,” Weatherby began, “that about a couple of months ago, Skyline quit his job at the Bolt Corp. He then moved to the Lightning Labs company. Got a job there working on storm cloud generators or something. Anyways, about two weeks into the job he gives me this…” She reached in a drawer of the nightstand and pulled out another letter.
I took in my magic and read it to myself.
Weatherby,
I don’t have much time to write, I’m going to be disappearing for a while. Lightning Labs has been up to something in the last few years. Something about a Daichi or something or other. I just know that the Bolt Corp is going to help me disappear. Inside is the money they gave me, use it wisely. Please, just stay strong sister, maybe someday I’ll see you again.
Goodbye…
Skyline
“What did you use the money for?” Rainbow asked.
Weatherby slowly put a hoof on her mane… and removed it…
Her head was almost completely bald except for a little bit of fuzz. Rainbow and mine’s eyes grew wide at the sight of it. Weatherby simply said, “Chemo”
“You had cancer,” I concluded. “That’s why he went through with it.”
“Yes,” Weatherby said with a sigh. “I didn’t have long, but Skyline told me it was what was right. He accepted the money from the Bolt Corp, knowing they could help me get the Chemo.”
“Wow,” Rainbow said, blinking. “Guy must’ve really cared.”
“But, you’re saying he’s dead now,” Weatherby stated. “I will, try not to let his sacrifice be in vain. Whatever killed my brother, you can imagine one of both of those blasted corporations had something to do with it.”
__________________________________________________
The office tower was at home among the other towers of glass and metal that dotted Manehatten’s business district. This one had its windows tinted with an aqua color, and the metal bits were of a light bronze. The Lightning Corporation’s logo was emblazoned proudly on the exterior, above the entrance.
“So, how are we going to get in?” I asked as we sat on a bench across the street from it.
“We could fly up to the roof,” Rainbow suggested.
“Yeah, and I’m sure nopony is going to notice a couple of ponies flying up the side of the building, especially when one is sporting a rainbow mane,” I quipped.
“Hey!” Rainbow yelled.
I looked at the front gates. “That’s a lot of guards,” I observed. “What we need is a distraction.
“Hey dudes!”
“WHAAA!” I fell over and looked up at Raiden who was smiling down at me. “Not funny Raiden!” I yelled.
“Hey, good to see you guys,” Raiden said, hovering above me and looking down with his mischievous yellow eyes. “Heard from Rainbow you guys were chilling at Manehatten. What’s up?”
“My heart rate in case you’re wondering,” I said with a frown.
“Hey, glad you could make it,” Rainbow said, hovering over to her coltfriend.
“I’m always willing to lend a helping wing, especially when a certain sexy mare is involved,” Raiden said, sporting his trademark smile.
Rainbow socked him in the shoulder and chuckled. “Jerk,” she said, her cheeks blushing a little.
“So, what’cha guys up too?” Raiden said, rubbing his shoulder as I got up.
“We’re trying to get into that building,” I explained, looking over.
Raiden looked at the building, a look of dread passed over his face. “You guys, are going in there?” he asked.
“What’s the big deal Ray?” Rainbow asked.
“That’s the Lightning Labs building, my family aren’t exactly welcome among them. Been competition with my dad for years,” Raiden explained.
“Look, we just need to get inside,” I said.
“What’re you guys looking for?” Raiden asked.
“Something called a, Daichi?” Rainbow said.
Another look of dread passed over Raiden’s face. He was quiet for a long minute and said, “Okay, what you guys are looking for is a sword.”
“You know what it is?” I asked, shocked.
“Look, I can’t explain!” Raiden said. “I’ll create a distraction; you guys go inside, find the sword and get out. Also, do not, and I repeat, do not pull the blade out under any circumstance!”
Before any of us could argue, Raiden zoomed out into the streets. Onlookers saw the famous rock star and Raiden yelled. “Hey ladies! Come and get some!”
With that, I swear, there were about twenty ponies in the street before he said it. After he spoke, suddenly hundreds of fan girls came out of freaking nowhere and started chasing after Raiden. All of them were screaming at the top of their lungs while Raiden flew backwards into the building.
Suffice to say, the security guards and most of the ponies in the lobby would end up in the hospital by the end of the day. We had our distraction and Rainbow and I used it to the fullest potential. We both ran inside, mixing into the crowd of impressionable fangirls and leapt out when we made it into the lobby. I looked to Rainbow. “You collect your coltfriend before he gets crushed by love,” I said.
“Nothing I’m not used to,” Rainbow said, diving back into the fandom crowd.
I saw a door and I went inside it. The interior was your typical offices and most of them were empty. I’m guessing the staff is out on lunch break and suddenly found a roadblock. Roadblock being the fangirls.
I eventually found and elevator and went inside it. I saw the buttons didn’t have a basement option on it. If there’s one thing that’s a constant in corporate buildings, you can usually find the trash under the tower. Hopefully there weren’t any cameras that saw me.
I reached into my trench coat and pulled on a grey scarf, I was keeping in case the weather chilled, over my muzzle. This oughta at least keep my face out of the picture. I went up to the emergency hatch and pushed it open. I was now in the interior of the elevator shaft. I saw an air vent that looked like it went down.
Okay, time to squeeze a little…
___________________________________________________
I crawled my way through the air vent, moving down and deeper into the building. I came to an opening and saw a pair of guards there. I reached into my trench coat, and pulled out White Tiger. I aimed the silenced pistol and shot them both with tranquilizer.
They both went down like flies and I jumped down to the floor. I looked around, the place was a storage closet. I peeked outside the door and saw guards roaming the area. There was no way I was going to get past them.
I looked over… and saw a box…
Okay, Metal Gear Stallion don’t let me down now…
I moved to the cardboard box and slipped under it. I used the handle to see out and squatted down just low enough for my legs to move. I was no Pinkie Pie when it came to espionage, but it would have to work for now.
I slowly made my way out the door, the guards weren’t looking as I quietly moved over and around the corner.
Out of my eye hole I saw a pair of pegasi guards talking. “You heard about that thing the boss has stored up here?” one said.
“That sword?” The other said, raising an eyebrow, “Yeah, I heard it’s some kind of artifact or somethin.”
“I heard that one guy, tried to touch it,” The first said ominously, “Got sent to the hospital because he was fried to a crisp.”
“Dude you think that sword is cursed or something?” The other asked.
“Whatever it is, I’m glad the boss is keeping it locked up,” The first said. “I certainly don’t wanna mess with it.”
It’s like they don’t even notice the Cardboard box suddenly springing tiny grey legs and walking away. Seriously, how hard is it to spot?
I didn’t question logic as I made my way down the hall and around the corner. On the door read:
DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE!
Well, if it’s a sword that zaps ponies, that’s certainly where I would put my strange weapon.
I saw two guards at the front gate, along with cameras. Hmm….
I used my magic and put my scarf over it to hide it’s glow. Slowly I used my magic to unhinge the cameras off their stands, and dropped them on the heads of the guards.
The weight of them caused the guards to be knocked unconscious. That oughta keep them out for a few minutes. But I shot them both with tranquilizer just to make sure they didn’t wake up sooner. Now that I was alone with the door, I lifted the bodies and hid them in the cardboard box.
“Just stay cozy for a minute,” I said, levitating a roll of duct tape I got from the closet and sealing the box shut with them inside. I wasn’t going to be using it to get out, but at least nopony would see them.
I then looked to the door, focused my magic and used alchemy on the door. The door was almost ripped apart and I felt a drain on myself. Moving metal is harder than it looks. I went inside and used alchemy to seal the door behind me.
Inside was a lab straight out of a science fiction movie. The lab was filled with instruments, most of them calculating numbers I couldn’t make sense of. At the very center...was a sword…
Encased in glass was a Neighpanese Katana. A powerful curved blade used by the pegasi of Neighpan hundreds of years ago. Judging by the state of it, the blade looked to be hundreds of years old. The handle was black with yellow bands on it. Woven in such a way that one’s teeth could be used to hold onto the blade. The guard was gold colored with intricate patterns forged into it. The scabbard itself was black with yellow neighpanese characters written on it.
I couldn’t recognize the symbols, unlike Bitallion I never learned Neighpanese. The language was made up of so many symbols that I could barely wrap my head around them. The scabbard looked to be made of wood. A gold band was wrapped around it as well, baring more characters on it.
This was the Daichi huh? Whatever it was, they certainly wanted to defend it. But why did the guards get zapped when they tried to touch it?
I put my horn to the glass and slowly used a spell Twilight taught me. A spell called a blow mana spell. It essentially turns the mana in my horn into heat and acts as a blow torch. I used it to cut a large hole in the glass. I then used my magic to carefully wrap ar-
KAZZAPP!!
“GAAAH!” I yelled as I was zapped as soon as I tried to levitate it. The pain felt like it was coursing through my very veins. It was as if I was recieving divine punishment for even considering touching the blade. I fell back and fell on the ground. Alarms were blaring as I got up. Geez, how could I get so careless?
I looked at the sword, reached into my coat and pulled out rubber hoof covers that I usually use for crime scenes. I gently picked up the blade in my hooves. The blade didn’t zap me this time. I was right, this blade doesn’t zap anypony so long as they wear insulators. In this case, hoof coverings.
Suddenly the door blasted open. In stepped a pair of security guards that trained their rifles on me. “Put down the sword!” One shouted.
“Oh? You mean this?” I said, and made to draw the blade. They both paled as I faked them out. “Let’s put it this way, the way I see it, this sword’s got some kind of power. It zaps anypony who tries to touch it. Now, I could pull out the sword now and who knows what could happen.”
“You will not do that Private Eye…”
I watched as an older pegasus stepped forward. He was short, fat, and honestly a little repulsive. His coat was aqua, his mane a rich brown that clearly looked dyed, his beard was a ratty short thing that hung on his face. He wore a business suit that was desperately wanting to break open but just didn’t have the strength. His brown eyes glared at me. “So, the treachery of the Eyes knows no bounds.” He said.
“Do I know you?” I asked.
“No, but I am very well aware of your father.” The pegasus said, “I am Lightning Strike, CEO of Lightning Labs.”
Wait… Lightning Strike…
As in one of the biggest business owners in Equestria. Pretty much owning the majority of the labs in the city. He’s also known for being a rival not only to the Bolts, but to my family as well. At least, the part of my family that cared about the business. I remember my grandfather constantly ranting about him back when he thought I gave a damn.
But, I never saw him in person, why did he look familiar?
“Put down the sword boy,” Lightning ordered. “if you know what is good for you.”
“What’s so important about it?” I asked.
“Don’t think you can trick me into telling you that,” He scowled. “Drop it, now.”
I looked at the blade… and noticed something on the scabbard…
On it was another symbol, but one I recognized. This symbol was a circle with a bird in the center, lightning bolts were coming out of it. I knew this symbol….
It was Raiden’s family crest. The Bolt family seal. This blade…
“It belongs to the Bolts,” I said out loud.
“You fool!” Lightning cried. “That blade is the key to Equestria, and my company’s future! It belongs to me!”
I held up the blade in my hooves. “If it’s so important, do tell what it is,” I said, a smirk coming to my face, daring him to try and stop me.
The stallion fumed, but finally gave in. “Fine, you’re as devious as your grandfather. That blade is the Daichi, a powerful blade forged hundreds of years before you were even born. It was made by the legendary swordsmith Muramasa, said to have been forged with a lightning spirit inside it.”
“You don’t believe that of course,” I said.
“What is fact,” Lightning said, “is that that blade generates a constant flow of electricity. It also has the power to generate storm clouds at the drop of a hat. Creating a storm in mere seconds.”
A storm… in mere seconds…
Lightning Dust said she saw a storm cloud vanish…
There was a sword wound on Skyline's chest...
I could be holding the murder weapon right here…
“How can you use a sword if you can’t even hold it without getting zapped?” I asked.
“Sadly, only the Bolt Family line has ever been able to use it,” Lightning smirked, “But, now that the blade is mine, I will find out it’s secrets. Once I do, I will create dozens of them, selling them to the army, and make my company the wealthiest in Equestria.”
“I won’t let you use a sword you stole from the Bolts!” I yelled.
“Stolen?” Lightning laughed. “You misunderstand Private Eye. Five years ago… that sword was given to me…”