//------------------------------//
// Class. part 1 
// Story: The Cop and the Princess 
// by Cold Hooves 
//------------------------------//


Case‭ ‬1:‭ ‬Class


I awoke the morning to the sound of my phone‭’‬s alarm going off in my pocket,‭ ‬7:00‭ ‬wake up time same as always.‭ ‬In the next room I could hear Twilight stirring at the sound of my alarm,‭ ‬I‭’‬ll let her sleep for now.‭ ‬Operating on force-of-habit despite the new accommodations I turned on the TV and set to‭ ‬my usual morning show‭; ‬Mornnin‭’‬ Manhattan.‭ ‬As the channel came on I was greeted by the usual,‭ ‬cheery face of the shows hostess.

‭“Good morning to you all I’m Kate Grant the current temperature is 55F and this is the morning news” faded out of my mind as I dragged myself past Twilight dragging herself out of my bed. Stepping into the bathroom I got a look at myself in the mirror. Before me stood the same old cop with the same old mug since the academy. Deciding not to change a thing I turned on the shower as I heard Twilight from the next room.

‭“What’s for breakfast?” she called out. That’s when another shock hit me. 

I muttered‭ “‬I‭ ‬haven‭’‬t made breakfast in‭ ‬3‭ ‬years‭”‬ to myself than striped out of my clothes and stepped into the shower.‭ ‬Keeping my show quick I stepped out‭ ‬5‭ ‬minutes latter and saw something I rather wish I didn‭’‬t see.‭ ‬A certain mare sketching a certain naked detective.
‭“Out!” I shouted with a roar reserved solely for suspects. She scampered away and dropped her book. Reaching down I picked it up and glanced over the page she was using. It looked like crude notes about human anatomy featuring me as a diagram. I was torn between admiring how well my goatee was captured and the invasion of my privacy. Remembering the intrusions by my curious sister during my teens I was used to this and simmered down quickly.

With a towel around my waist I entered the kitchen where Twilight was waiting and taping nervously.‭ ‬Tossing her book back I growled‭ “‬All is forgiven.‭ ‬Now shower up and get dressed‭”

“Uh...‭ ‬I don‭’‬t normally wear clothes‭”‬ she said in response.

I chuckled at this.‭ “‬In the dead of a New York winter ya’ do‭”‬ I remarked then patted her on the head on the way to my room.‭ ‬Sorting through my cloths I put together my grey suit remembering the shoulder holster and the matching overcoat I exited my room and waited for Twilight.‭ 

“Oh and about breakfast I know a stand outside of the Equestrian Crimes‭ ‬Bureau‭”‬ I shouted.‭ ‬Awaiting her return I worked her sketch over in my mind,‭ ‬what got me most was her attention to detail,‭ ‬including‭ ‬the scars on my left arm.‭ ‬Pondering if she just used me as a model for some diagram or curiosity in the more “intimate” uses of the human form.‭ ‬While I can‭’‬t say that I've never felt feelings for a pony I‭’‬m still tempted by that dinner offer from Detective‭ ‬Carol O‭’‬hare.‭ ‬Removing the thought of office romance for a bit I felt my phone ring.‭ 

Looking down I saw a text from the doorman saying‭ “‬The pretty princess lady said to have your car ready by this time today.‭ ‬You still want it‭?”‬.‭ ‬Thankful that my Charger was brought over I called for my guest and she came storming out.‭ 

Twilight was wearing a fluffy brown jacket covering her wings along with matching pants and a green scarf. I remember my niece wearing something like that last week,

‭“Cute” I said walking out of the apartment with her. We both got into the elevator with another family, all human traveling with a toddler who seemed very interested in Twilight. I leaned against the wall and tapped along to the elevator’s music then the mare broke silence. 

“So...‭ ‬what do you drive‭? ‬Can I drive‭? ‬I know you may have some reservations but rest‭ ‬assured I passed multiple test and I know all of th-‭”‬ rambled the princess until I put my hand over her mouth.

‭“No way in hell you’re driving my car. The ol’ girls gotten me out a few jams before and she stays with me” I responded strong but politely. Just as we stopped on the street level we walked into the lab and saw my cruiser parked out front. The black 2011 Doge Charger. Sure in the driveway it stuck out a bit compared to the BMWs, Benzs, and the Royce near the end but she was mine.

Sitting down I reached for my keys and started her.‭ ‬The engine came to live causing a small,‭ ‬almost gasp from Twilight.‭ ‬Pulling onto‭ ‬69th street I began chatting with Twi.‭ “‬See many cars in Equestrian‭?”

“Back in Canterlot I would occasionally see a few cars and even less in Ponyville.‭ ‬I can‭’‬t say I‭’‬m much of a fan.‭”‬ Twilight answered.‭ ‬I chuckled at this response.‭ “‬By the way have you heard anything from Customs‭? ‬A few of my things were a little difficult‭ ‬to get into the country and Cadence left your number there‭”

“Can‭’‬t say I have,‭ ‬can‭’‬t say I have‭”‬.‭ ‬Ending with that thought I saw the entrance to the ECB‭’‬s underground park,‭ ‬one the of amenities the city‭’‬s gave us despite the‭ “‬relatively young‭”‬ status of our squad compared to the others.‭ ‬Part of the reason we don‭’‬t operate out of‭ ‬1PP‭ ‬.‭ ‬The ECB was mostly an experiment and a bit of joke after the‭ “‬Manhattan Church of The Two Sisters riots‭”‬.‭ ‬After this incident the city began tearing itself apart and Bias Crimes‭ ‬became overwhelmed due to the double workload.‭ ‬So they threw our department together,‭ ‬operating out of a temp office and understaffed we worked with a team of old veterans,‭ ‬Fresh-out-the-box detectives,‭ ‬and skilled agents on loan from Equestrian Intelligence who co-funded us.‭ ‬Since our founding‭ ‬15‭ ‬years ago we have worked with city residents and politicians to improve the relations between ponies and humans.‭ ‬Now we have our own office,‭ ‬crime lab,‭ ‬Arcane Forensics Lab,‭ ‬and many other perks for saving this city from itself.

After parking and taking an elevator up to the‭ ‬10th floor the greeting we received from my fellow officers was the usual nod until they saw Twilight,‭ ‬then I became a lot more popular.
Leaving Twi to the mob I walked passed the desks in the main floor and found mine.‭ ‬Logging into my computer I saw Gold Shield and Carol O‭’H‬are approach me.‭ ‬Not paying them any mind I continued sorting through my work e-mails until I was interrupted by a folder slamming down on my keyboard.‭ ‬Deciding to glance up my eyes met with my captain‭’‬s.

Gold Shield‭’‬s the captain in charge of Equestrian Crimes‭ ‬Bureau,‭ ‬has been for the past‭ ‬4‭ ‬years.‭ ‬Don‭’‬t let her golden coat and silver mane fool you,‭ ‬she‭’‬s harden cop and a founding member of the ECB.‭ ‬Not to mention one of the first dozen mares on the force.‭ ‬While Carol O‭’‬Hare is one the newer investigators (and one of the few here who no magical abilities),‭ ‬along with her skills as a cop she also is well versed in human and pony psychology from her pervious job as a therapist but decided to join the ECB as our staff psychologist.‭ T‬his life change came after she found that her job had no meaning in her life,‭ ‬and would rather arrest people‭’‬s problems rather than talk it out.

‭“You and the princess have a case: a beating in central park of two children. A Pegasus filly and a Caucasian boy, along with an unknown female witness who called it in. Dr.Mortus and Igor are already on the scene. Head out there when you can. By the way someone from ICE called about some cleared good in your name regarding your tagalong. What do you want me to say?”

I‭ ‬sighed‭ “‬Send them over to my place‭”‬.‭ ‬Clearing my throat I raised my voice‭ “‬Twilight we‭’‬re leaving.‭ ‬Gather your things‭”

“Already‭?”‬ she whined back as I logged out.‭ ‬Checking my phone for direction I headed out to my car then sped off lights blaring.

‭	Arriving at the scene I approached the taped off box and approached the victim sporting a lovely medical blanket covering her head. Immediately I was approached by a tall man with white coat with “CSU Medical Examiner” stitched on the back. This man was Dr.Mortus, Medical examiner hired by the ECB and kept for his skill, discretion, and blunt observation. Although he has given most of his skill to the cause I sense there is more to this man then I am aware of. As I approached the stiff he handed me a file then started to recite its content from memory.

‭	“Victim is a Pegasus filly aged 15 appearing with multiple stomp wounds and blunt force trauma to both sides of her body consistent with stomp and kick damage from heeled shoes. Size of the bruises indicate multiple assailants with sizes ranging from 9 to 11. Bleeding on some wounds indicate a painful death and postmortem mutilation. Possibility of deliberate hate-crime is 99.4%. Other vic is a Caucasian male aged 14 present with similar but less sever injuries and is till alive and being treated at Mercy General. Foot prints corroborates multiple assailants hypothesis, Witness who called assault was not found at scene and most likely pursued by assailants. Any questions?”

I laughed at his habit of doing that.‭ “‬Igor your thoughts‭?”‬ I called out.

Just as I shouted out a gray Bat Pony perked up from examining the‭ ‬footprints a bit off in the distance.‭ “‬Exactly as report says‭”‬ he replied then went back to work.‭ ‬This little thing is Igor,‭ ‬Mortus‭’‬ main intern.‭ ‬He belongs to a family of Bat-ponies who‭ ‬fled from Luna back‭ ‬1000‭ ‬years ago.‭ ‬His affiliation and loyalty to the city are without doubt although his‭ ‬stoic nature‭ ‬towards the job can be off putting.

‭“How can you tell this was a hate crime?” asked Twilight cautiously approaching the body.

Mortus pulled off the blanket,‭ ‬drew a pointer from his jacket and poke at the mutilated wings.‭ ‬“Most of the damage to wings was done after the victim died,‭ ‬this is often the sing of‭ ‬Pegasus oriented attacks. Along with the being stepped there are signs of dislocation associated with wing removal-by-force.  You don‭’‬t‭ ‬want to see the Unicorns I get on my slab‭”‬.‭ ‬Once the color returned to Twi‭’‬s face I looked over the items on the vic‭’‬s person.

As usual I find the useless bits that one normally finds on a person along with the ID‭ ‬something‭ ‬else‭ ‬caught my eye,‭ ‬an arcane amulet.‭ ‬The amulet was a sky-blue gem cut in the shape of the‭ ‬Pegasus‭ ‬with‭ ‬a silver chain looping though the chest.‭ ‬I may not be much of the mage but I know an amulet when‭ ‬I‭ ‬feel one.‭ ‬This particular amulet was drained of what little magic was in it.

Meanwhile Twilight unable to look at the body started looking around the scene‭  ‬and found a set of foot-prints.‭ ‬Using her magic to‭ ‬illuminate‭ ‬them.‭ 

“Have arcane forensics look this thing over.‭ ‬Alright CSU rap up the show here and send the evidence to where it‭ ‬belongs‭! ‬Twi,‭ ‬pack up your things and lets head to Mercy‭” I shouted as I used my cruiser’s remote start and ran to it.

With Twilight in tow I made my way to Mercy Hospital where hopefuly I could get some answers about what happened here.


The truth will not escape me
-Graves