//------------------------------// // Case 3: Black and W/Icarus' Envy // Story: In Search of F // by Godzillawolf //------------------------------// Case 3 Black and W/Icarus' Envy “Come on, Philip!” said Akiko, the young mare holding a deck of cards in her mouth. The green unicorn refused to look up from his book. “I fail to see the reasoning when I have far more pressing matters.” Akiko trotted around the hanger like she owned the place. “Simple. We are a team here! Playing games helps build team work!” Philip simply continued following the lines only he could see in the book suspended by his magic. “Then why do I need to play? Me and Shou are the ones who need to be like two halves of the same body.” “Because you can a never be too close a team!” “Says who?” “...A leadership pamphlet I found...” “Leadership?” “Yeah, I'm the chief of this place!” said Akiko, the pegasus striking a proud pose with her chest puffed out. Philip trotted over to a board and began writing on it. “Chief? I do not believe so.” Akiko snorted and pulled out her deed. “I own this place! Why wouldn't I be chief?!” “I would explain it, but I have a feeling it would take a long time, and I'm quite busy with my research.” “What is so important?” Philip gave a intrigued grin, suddenly seeming excited. “Shou mentioned a story about an old detective pony your father told him of who was number one at everything in all of Equestria and searched it for his friend's murderer, leaving defeated criminals with cards for the Guard that detailed their crimes. I found it interesting.” Akiko growled and prepped her slipper, before hearing a tug on her tail. Rainbowshine spat out the pegasus' tail with a disgusted face. “Ugh, can't you change your shampoo?...Look, when Philip is between cases, he's like this...sometimes even during cases like you saw before...Hitting him with a slipper might just get him on a binge looking up the combat applications of slippers.” “That is just silly!” “No, he's gotten on research binges for weirder...” muttered the undercover guard with a sigh. “Just ask him about fried octopus...” Akiko pinned her ears. “I see...I just wanted to try and be a good chief...” Rainbowshine looked at the dejected young mare for a moment...and finally gave a sigh. She put a wing on her back. “Look...I'll play cards with you, and Shou loves them.” “Really?” “Yeah, not much else to do around here between cases and paperwork anyway...and I hate paperwork. A lot.” Chain Link sat in the mansion’s ballroom, drinking the fine saltwater offered and listening to the classical music as ponies danced at the wedding reception. Most of them didn't know the true nature of their hosts. To them, this was a big fancy party at a lavish mansion with one of the richest families in Cloudsdale. Simple as that. “ Chain Link, it's wonderful to see you,” said a refined, fatherly voice. Chain Link turned to see an elderly red pegasus with a combed back brown mane, streaks of white running through it, standing nearby, looking at him from behind tinted, gold rimmed glasses. He wore a black, prim and proper suit befitting the lucky bride's father. His Cutie Mark was a simple wooden brush clearing away dirt from a fossil. “Boss?” he asked, suddenly taking on a submissive posture, pinning his ears and lowering his head. The old pony merely put a firm hoof on the street boss' shoulder. “Now now, there's no need for that. My new son-in-law has had nothing but good things to say about you.” “H-He has?” His boss nodded, giving a warm smile one would expect from a grandfather. He trotted over and took a seat across from them. He motioned for a servant to come over. “Yes, Mr. Sonozaki?” “Can you please have the band play this song?” he asked politely, taking a piece of paper from his coat pocket in his mouth and handing it to the servant. “Yes sir.” The servant trotted over to the band, who's pianist began playing a deep, fast paced beat. A violinist picked up with some equally dynamic music. Chain Link felt himself become uneasy. At first, he didn't realize why...but when he did, he began to sweat a little. “S-Sir, is that...” Mr. Sonozaki gave a friendly nod. “Just a rendition of a song from an old audio drama that silly 'Rainbow Factory' myth inspired. One of my daughter's favorites, she has some macabre tastes, and I felt this reception needed something to get the blood pumping. Is there a problem?” “N-No sir.” Chain Link had flashbacks to a childhood nightmare he'd had after hearing that story. 'Could he...n-no. How could he know?' Chain Link tried to calm himself, but found the song constantly boring away at his mind as everypony else seemed to just see it as a fun diversion from the stuffy humdrum of the norm. He felt like he was watching a horror movie, the soundtrack building up to the killer emerging from the shadows, knife ready to stab into his back. “Now,” Mr. Sonozaki said, his voice never losing that fatherly tone or his face its warm smile. “I hope my gift was to your liking.” Chain Link jumped slightly as his boss' voice broke the repetitive beat of hooves on the dance floor. He felt his pocket with a hoof, the Gaia Memory still where he'd put it. “Y-Yes sir, it's a big improvement over my old one.” “Good good,” the older stallion replied, giving a nod. “I hope you put it to good use.” “I-I will sir...” the street boss replied, trying to drown out the song and the thoughts it kept dredging up from his foalhood. “Good, because my good graces are something I rarely give,” Mr. Sonozaki replied, motioning for some food to be brought over. “I hope you know that.” “I-I do sir.” Chain Link's blood suddenly froze in his veins when his boss looked over the rims of his glasses at him. The expression didn't change, still the same fatherly smile, but those eyes...something about them made Chain Link's breathing become ragged. “Good. I'm sure you'll live up to my expectations, won't you?” It took all the street boss' willpower to remain composed. His heartbeat seemed to roar in his ears, the music picking up tempo and volume towards the climax. “Y-Yes s-sir...” “Good,” the Sonozaki patriarch said, patting the stallion on the shoulder with a warm smile, then simply awaiting his meal. The music finally stopped, and Chain Link was left with his roaring heartbeat and the sounds of the party echoing in his ears. Akiko sweated, looking over the two cards held in her wings as Shou scanned her face with her eyes. He put a hoof to each card, not letting his eyes leave her face. Her eye twitched slightly as his hoof floated over one card and he instantly picked it. Akiko gasped and dropped the cards, revealing Shou had picked the Queen of Diamonds, matching his last remaining card (the Queen of Hearts) and leaving her with the Joker. “Looks like you're the old maid,” Shou bragged, touching the brim of his hat with a hoof, giving a chuckle...and getting slapped in the head with a slipper. “Ow!” “First I'm a schoolyard filly now I'm an old maid?!” “I meant the game!” “Oh...” “Schoolyard fill-ow!” Akiko put her slipper away. “How did you beat me so easily anyway?” Shou chuckled, adjusting his hat. “I'm just that good.” “Shou, I kick your flank every time we play,” Rainbowshine remarked, having been the dealer for the game. Shou slumped. “Why can't you just let me be hardboiled?” “I would if you weren't so halfboiled.” “Hey!” Rainbowshine rolled her eyes. “Calm down, your tricks just don't work on somepony who uses them to.” Akiko blinked. “What tricks?” Shou chuckled, taking a moment to the opportunity to slip into his hardboiled persona. “A good detective knows how to read a perp.” The young mare cocked her head. “Perp?” Shou facehoofed. “Don't you know a thing about being a detective?!” “...They monologue?” “No!...Okay, yes.” “At least if you're Shou,” Rainbowshine remarked dryly. “Philip's better at it than him though. Helps to be a living library...” Akiko looked over at the door to the hanger as Shou gave a small snort of annoyance. “...Does Philip ever come out of there?” Shou gave a sigh. “Yeah, but he normally just keeps looking stuff up.” Akiko gave a sigh of annoyance. “Why is he so obsessed?!” “I don't think even he knows,” Shou muttered. “Reminds me of the Princess' student...” said Rainbowshine, stretching her wings and back a little bit. “You know the Princess' student?!” Akiko asked in surprise. “Not personally, I think Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence, her brother, and that little dragon of hers are the only creatures who do. She spends nearly all her time with her snout in a book. The Guard likes to joke the only way to get her attention would be to put your argument in book form.” Akiko blinked. “...That does sound like Philip.” “Yeah, tell me about it...” Before Shou could interject in the conversation, the group heard the front door swing open. A white Pegasus stallion with an fiery red and orange-white mane entered. His Cutie Mark was a streak of fire. “Hey, you Shou?” he asked, fiery red eyes looking to the detective. “Yeah,” Shou said, rising and getting into his hardboiled mood. “I-” “Welcome to the Narumi Detective Agency! We solve crimes with halfboiled style!” Akiko chimed in, her voice sounding as if she'd practiced it specifically for such an occasion. “Hardboiled!” exclaimed Shou, the black pegasus rubbing his forehead with a hoof. The stallion blinked. “Right...Look, I'm Fire Streak, my cousin Firebrand recommended you.” Shou smiled. “Oh, so you're her cousin...a Wonderbolt, right?” “What?!” asked Akiko, eyes going wide. “You're a Wonderbolt?!” Fire Streak chuckled. “Yeah...” Shou cleared his throat. “So, Fire Streak, how's your cousin doing?” “A lot better since Frost is getting back on track,” the white Pegasus remarked, giving a sad look. “Can't believe the kid got himself into that mess.” Shou gave a sigh and rubbed his head. “Look...Frost's a good colt. He'll be his old self in no time.” “Thanks...anyway,” he said, turning to Shou. “She recommended you to deal with a...problem....” Akiko stared in awe as she, Fire Streak, and Rainbow Shine touched down on the peak of the plateau on which Wonderbolts Academy was set and the clouds surrounding them. She would have mistook it for a small town or city if she hadn't been told otherwise. Though she found herself wondering why it wasn't completely composed of clouds. “T-This whole place is just for training Wonderbolts?!” the young Pegasus exclaimed, eyes the size of dinner plates. Fire Streak nodded with a small chuckle. “We take training seriously, especially the captain.” Akiko watched a pegasus get thrown from some kind of spinning device and struggle to catch themselves, a Wonderbolt measuring the time it took for them to right themselves. “I see...” Rainbowshine nodded. “Wonderbolts do some search and rescue and military work on top of being one of the best flying teams around. Hard job.” Akiko blinked. “Wow...” “You didn't know that?” asked Fire Streak. “Everypony in Cloudsdale knows about the Academy...” Akiko blushed and looked at her hooves sheepishly. “Well...I...” “She's new here,” Rainbowshine said simply. “Why are you so blunt?!” “Because Shou isn't.” Their Wonderbolt guide looked around. “Where is Shou anyway?” The group heard panting and turned to see a very tired looking black pegasus barely make it to the mountain. “Why...didn't...you...wait...up?” asked Shou, struggling to catch his breath. “Uh...sorry,” Fire Streak replied. “Didn't think that was that hard a flight...” “I'm...a...a weak flyer, okay?” Shou panted, trying to regain his composure. He finally caught his breath and straightened his fedora. “And besides, I had to make sure my fedora wouldn't fly off!” “What is so important about a fedora?” asked Akiko, innocently. Shou looked distant and serious, almost sad for a moment. A stallion clad in a white fedora flew from the upper levels of a theater to attack a spider-like four legged Dopant, driving it back with a swift buck to the skull, pulling a red dressed mare away from the beast's clutches, adjusting his fedora as he landed. Shou, a young colt watched the scene in awe, a cream colored, pink maned pegasus, a rainbow maned cyan pegasus, and two griffin chicks (one a little older and male, the other female) standing next to him looking up at the badflank grown up. “Oh my...” muttered the cream colored filly, watching wide eyed. “Look at that guy! He's so cool!” the colt exclaimed. “Totally!” replied the cyan pegasus. “...The one who inspired me to become a detective always wore one...” the halfboiled detective said wistfully, almost depressed. Akiko cocked her head in confusion at Shou's sudden change in emotion. “Come on Spitfire's waiting,” Fire Streak interrupted. Akiko's eyes went wide. “What?! We get to meet the leader of the Wonderbolts?!” Shou chuckled, assuming his hardboiled persona. “When you're a detective you meet all kinds of important ponies,” he remarked smoothly. Akiko gasped. “Really?! Who else have you met?!” Shou deflated. “Uh...I met...uh...” Akiko smacked him with her slipper. “Don't get my hopes up!” Fire Streak lead the group to the headmaster's room in the main area of the central building of the campus. “Now word of warning,” Fire Streak started. “Spitfire is kind of intense when she's here,” he explained. “Kinda has to be, considering. Just watch yourself, okay?” Shou nodded. “I hear you.” Fire Streak nodded, opening the door to reveal a yellow Wonderbolt with an icy blue mane and tail standing before a yellow mare with a fiery red and orange mane and tail that would be familiar to any Wonderbolts fan. What wasn't was red and blue more military esque uniform she wore and the sunglasses covering her orange eyes. “Misty, for the last time, the answer is no,” the yellow pegasus ordered in a nonsense tone. Misty narrowed her eyes. “...Yes, ma'am...” The new arrivals parted ways as Misty trotted out of the room. As the others entered, Shou watched the mare bitterly kick the wall and mutter something under her breath. Fire Streak saluted the mare at the desk. “Spitfire, what was up with Misty Fly?” Spitfire sighed, rubbing her forehead with a hoof. “Complaining about not getting to judge the Best Young Flyers competition...” Fire Streak sighed. “Again?” Spitfire nodded. “Yeah...” she then looked to the new arrivals. “Who's this?” “”The detective my cousin told me about,” the stallion explained. “Narumi Detective Agency at your service!” chimed Akiko. Spitfire merely looked at her with the intense look she'd maintained the entire time. Shou facehoofed and pulled Akiko back by the tail, spitting it out with a gag. He wondered where the mare had picked up her attempts at enthusiasm...and nasty tasting shampoo. He looked to Spitfire. “Sorry, she's the rookie-ow!” Spitfire rolled her eyes as the younger pegasus put her slipper away, the Wonderbolts commander not seeming to care where she got it. “Look, I don't have time for goofballs, got it?” she asked in a drill sergeant-like tone. Shou jumped and nodded, as did Akiko. “C-Crystal...so, Miss Spitfire, what's the problem?” he asked, assuming a confident posture and adjusting his fedora. “Follow me, I'll show you.” Spitfire took off down the hall, expecting the other Pegasi to follow her...and then blinking when Shou struggled behind. “...I'm not a strong flyer...” Spitfire gave an annoyed sigh. “...Fine...” The Wonderbolt lead them to the infirmary and opened the door. The pegasi gave a gasp at the scene. Inside, multiple pegasi and griffins were laid up, the majority with their wings in casts. Akiko whimpered, instinctively cradling her wing fearfully. “Oh boy...” muttered Shou, feeling his wings tighten up just looking at them. He may have been a weak flyer, but that didn't mean he didn't care about his wings. “And these are just the ones who were training here,” explained Spitfire, showing a bit of anger at the sight. “There's more in the hospital in Cloudsdale.” Rainbowshine rubbed her wings, finding them feeling sore from sympathy pain. “Whoever did this has to be one sick cookie...” Shou shook his head to clear it and regain his composure. “Any connection between the victims?” Spitfire nodded. “Yeah...all of them were signed up to participate in the Best Young Flyers competition in a few months...the way it looks, there's no way they're going to participate.” Shou blinked. “Best Young Flyers...” he muttered, thinking about it. Rainbowshine gave concerned look. “With medical magic, most breaks can be healed quickly, if these will take that long, then it must have busted them up bad...Think they'll recover?” “Docs say they will, but being laid up ain't easy on a Pegasi or Griffin,” Spitfire remarked. “For most of them, it'll be a long recovery with how badly they're hurt.” “And any clue as to the dirt bag that did this?” Rainbowshine asked. “Two things: everypony says it was some kind of winged beast and it kept leaving feathers at the scene of each attack with; 'Icarus envies you' written on them. I'd show you one, but guard too 'em as evidence.” “Icarus?” asked Akiko, blinking. “What's that?” Shou tapped his chin with a hoof. “...I don't know, but I may know a friend of mine that can tell us. But we need to wait till night to meet with her. Definitely sounds like a Dopant.” Spitfire blink. “Dopant?...Those weird monsters that have been showing up?” The black pegasus nodded. “Yeah,” he said, giving serious tone and adjusting his hat with a hoof. “Don't worry, Captain. We specialize in Dopants cases.” The Wonderbolt leader gave a skeptical nod. “Good...well, I've got classes to teach and students to keep calm. I'd better be able to count on you, do you hear me?” she asked, slipping into her drill sergeant-like tone and narrowing her eyes. “Yes ma'am!” Shou and Akiko replied with somewhat fearful salutes. The group trotted across the campus. Akiko trotted up to Shou as the pegasus prepared to go into a monologue. “Alright, now we need to get to work, right?” Shou gave an irritated sigh. “Yeah...” “Alright...what do we do?” Shou chuckled. “I thought you were the chief.” “Well...I...” “Maybe you should go back to the office, Schoolyard Filly, this can get danger-ow!” “Don't call me Schoolyard Filly! And I'm staying!” Shou grumbled, then gave a sigh. “Fine, first, we need to look over our clues,” the black Pegasus announced, trotting over and leaning on a pole. “First, the Dopant has huge wings. Second, it targets the wings of pegasi and griffins. Third, all the victims were participants in the Best Young Flyers competition. And lastly, their calling card of 'Icarus envies you.' What do you gather from that?” Akiko put a hoof to her mouth. “...That they're evil?” Shou gave a sad chuckle. “What's so funny?” “You've still got a lot to learn...First lesson, Schoolyard Filly, the world isn't always black and white, there's a gray to it too,” the detective explained. Akiko snorted and reached for her slipper...but Rainbowshine stopped her. “He's right, this time.” Akiko gave a pout, then thought. “...Envy...they're jealous of the other competitors?” Shou blinked, then gave a small smile. “That's better. But don't assume that's the whole truth.” Akiko blinked. “Huh?” “Remember last time with Pteranodon?” Rainbowshine pointed out. “Gilded Cage framed Firebrand. If we'd gone from what it looked like, we might have arrested an innocent mare.” Akiko nearly tripped over herself in surprise. “Oh...you're...you're right...” she said, taking a step back to right herself, and backing into someone. “Oh!” yelled Akiko, spinning around to see a pink pegasus mare with a straight white mane. Her Cutie Mark was a gust of wind and her wing was in a cast. “Oh! Sorry!” called Akiko, the mare giving an apologetic bow. “Oh! It's no problem,” said the mare, blowing her mane out of her face and giving a sad smile. Akiko looked at her wing. “Oh...did Icarus get you too?” The mare looked sad at her wing. “No...I...I was in a training accident a couple weeks ago...” she muttered. “Broke my wing...” Akiko deflated, ears pinning back. “...Sorry...” “Oh! No it's fine...just...” the mare looked towards Cloudsdale. “...I was just looking forwards to the Best Young Flyers competition...” Shou gave a sad look. “That's pretty rough...” She nodded, looking down sadly at her wing. “Yeah...but I'll heal...don't worry about me...” Shou put a hoof on the mare's shoulder. “What's your name?” The mare blinked. “Oh...it's Slipstream.” “Well, Slipstream,” the black stallion said with a reassuring smile. “It's my job to worry about every creature in this city. I don't like to see anycreature in it cry.” Akiko blinked, watching the scene. She looked to Rainbowshine. “Is Shou always like this?” Rainbowshine nodded. “Yeah...halfboiled stallion has a soft heart. I think he loves this town more than his own life.” Shou trotted back over as Slipstream moved on with her day. “Poor girl...” “Poor all of them,” said Rainbowshine, giving a sad look at the main building. “We're not sports pegasi or Wonderbolt hopefuls. For those ponies and griffs, racing is their life.” Shou gave a sigh. “Yeah...I have a friend who's like that. I can't imagine what she'd do if she was in that position. She wants to be a Wonderbolt some day. Has since we were kids...good thing she's not attending for once...” Shou looked over at the main building. He thought over what he'd learned and tried to put the clues together. He took out the Double Driver and put it on. Akiko blink. “Why are you transforming?” Rainbowshine shook her head. “He and Philip can communicate telepathically while they're wearing it.” “...Then why use the Stag Phone?” “They use it when there's more than one of us to talk to or he can't put it on.” “Oh...” Shou concentrated, reaching out with his mind. Feeling two minds link. 'Philip?' 'Hello Shou. It's fascinating. Did you know your friend Rainbow Dash may be related to-” 'Sorry to interrupt your research, partner, but we've got a case.' 'I was just finishing my research...done.' 'Good. I need a look up. Keyword: feather, Best Young Flyers Competition, envy.' '...It didn't narrow it down completely, do you have another keyword?' '...No...I-' Shou jumped at the sound of scream nearby. “Oh boy!” A gray furred Griffin trembled in front of a brown cloaked quadruped, having already taken a bit of a beating. Two massive white wings folded on the creature's back. The Griffin leapt at the monster in defense, but found himself thrown against a wall be a white armored hoof. The griffin tried to get to his feet, only to be kicked in the ribs, leaving him coughing on the ground, struggling to breathe. “I am Icarus,” said the creature in a ghostly distorted voice. The monster placed a hind hoof on the Griffin's side and grabbed the wing in its front ones, beginning to twist it, causing the poor creature to scream in agony. “Hey! Get off him!” Icarus blinked, turning in time for Shou to charge and headbutt the monster in the side full force, knocking it off it's prey. The detective adjusted his hat after it was knocked askew by the impact. “Akiko! Rainbowshine, get him out of here!” The two pegasi rushed in and grabbed the griffin, getting him away from the figure. “This doesn't concern you!” yelled Icarus. “You're making this city cry, I think that does concern me,” said the detective, producing the Joker Memory, the Double Driver still around his waist. “Let's go, Philip.” Philip sighed, receding from the Gaia Library. “You have a knack of getting into trouble, Shou,” he said, producing the Cyclone Memory. “CYCLONE!” “JOKER!” “Henshin!” Philip inserted the Cyclone Memory into his Driver, sending it to Shou's and collapsing to the hanger floor. Shou pushed the Cyclone Memory in and inserted his Joker Memory before opening the Double Driver. “CYCLONEJOKER!” Icarus was driven back by powerful winds as particles fused with Shou's form to create the armored warrior known as Double. “Now, count up your sins!” called Shou and Philip's voices as they pointed at Icarus before charging and delivering a spinning buck, knocking him back. The clocked figure replied by spreading its wings and sending feathers swirling around it, driving Double back. They merged together into a long sword modeled after a feather. It swung it at Double, who dodged a couple slashes before taking two strikes to the chest, knocking him backwards in a cascade of sparks. “Definitely a Dopant...” muttered Shou's voice. “Shou, we need a weapon.” “I know!” “METAL!” Replacing the Joker Memory with the Metal Memory, Double reopened the Double Driver. “CYCLONEMETAL!” Double swung around as Icarus swung its sword again, the forming Metal Staff on his back blocking it as the Joker Half was replaced by the Metal Half. Double swung around, pulling and extending the weapon, clashing with Icarus' sword. The armored warrior flapped his wings to fly up over a slash and brought a windpowered swing down hard on Icarus' skull, driving its face down before bringing his hind legs up and kicking the kaijin in the face, leaving him sprawled out on his back. The quadrupedal Dopant kicked out with his white armored hind legs, nailing Double in the stomach, driving him back as he landed. The armored warrior held up the staff to block a sword slash and pushed back. Putting the staff to his faceplate, causing it to stick there, Double swung his head and slammed the Metal Staff hard into Icarus' chest, knocking him back. Leaping into the air, Double spun around rapidly using his wings and landed with a spinning, wind driven smash to his chest. Being knocked into the wall, Icarus snarled and got back to its hooves. “I don't have time for you!” he yelled, spreading his wings to their full length and flapping them, buffeting Double with exploding feathers. Double shielded his face with his hooves as the blasts went off around him, sending sparks and smoke flying. When the smoke cleared, Icarus was gone. “Darn it!” yelled Shou's voice. “Hmm...I may have more keywords now,” Philip's voice replied, Double's right hoof tapping his chin. “Ah...Alright, I'll let you get on that.” Double closed his Driver and transformed back to Shou. The black pegasus trotted over to where Icarus had been thrown against the wall and picked up a large white feather with 'Icarus envies you' written on it in red lettering.