//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 12 "Big Top Fall" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Epilogue “Typical days work for you huh?” Yang asked as the police worked at cleaning up the mess. “Crazy mares, wacked out conspiracies, old grudges…” I smiled. “All in a days work.” The police had arrived a little while after everything calmed down. The cops quickly went to work arresting Copper for kidnapping Trixie. Once we explained the situation, they also took Fawna. She screamed and kicked the whole way through once she regained consciousness. Thankfully the police wagon will keep her quiet. Bella was also being cuffed by the police, she explained to the police about her involvement in Spindle’s murder. Even if it was an accident she’s still going to be serving time. Copper less so because he only kidnapped Trixie in a spur of the moment. But, Fawna was going away for good. “I’m gonna start looking into this whole business with Fawna’s sister. There’s no way I’m going to just let that case stay cold,” Yang said with a firm nod. “Thanks, we’d really appreciate it,” Spike said as he sat on my back. Yang went to go handle some business with a pair of uniforms. I saw Trixie walk up to Bella as the police were about to carry her into the wagon. Trixie said, “I-I have no idea what to say. I’m...sorry we had to meet this way cousin…” Bella smiled and asked, “Trixie, can I trust you to look after the circus while I’m gone?” “You would... ask that of me?” Trixie said, tearing up a little. “Of course. It’s technically yours, too,” Bella said with a smile. “I’ll send a letter once I’m settled about how to run things. Hopefully, you’ll do things honestly.” Trixie smiled a little. “Trixie knows first hoof that being honest can go a long way.” It certainly would keep an Ursa Minor from going to town on a town. “Thanks Trixie, I’ll, see you around…” Bella said, smiling as the police gently put her in the wagon. Trixie and I watched the wagons ride away. Trixie looked back at the circus. “This... was Mother’s world. I... only hope I can keep it in good hooves.” I put a hoof on her back. “You’ll do fine, but it will put your studies with Twilight on hold.” “Finally I get the library to myself!” Spike cheered. “Spike, you know what will happen if you make a mess of it right?” I asked. “Yeah yeah,” Spike moaned, “Twilight’ll go crazy and make me start making out with Smarty Pants again.” Trixie blinked at that. “You really don’t want to know,” I said firmly. “Trixie will take your word for it,” she replied. “So you’re sure you’ll do fine?” I asked. Trixie smiled at me, and said, “I have been through worse. I will do my best. I am a student of Twilight Sparkle after all.” “So, Trixie, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Spike interjected. “What is with you and wheels?” “Well, it is a very long story…” Trixie began. ________________________________________________________________ “And they are still going at it?” I asked as Spike and I entered the house to find Rainbow Dash and Twilight kept arguing in the living room of our house. “For the last time Rainbow! I can look up at least seventeen examples of Crypto being romantically interested in Daring! I can also point out at least twenty examples of her having romantic interests in him. Do I need to put things on flash cards?” “Geez, you always gotta think in the box!” Rainbow yelled at her. Ahuizotal and Daring are totally into each other! Bad guys and good guys can like each other ya know!” “But you have no proof!” Twilight yelled. “Your ideas are boring! Just like your books that aren’t Daring Do!” “Uggh! You’re more thick headed than Applejack and that’s saying something!” “Geez, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to find some place quiet to read,” Spike said, hopping off my back and walking towards the library. “This is going to take forever,” I said with a facehoof. Grapes peeked in, and looked at me. “Are they still at it?” she asked raising an eyebrow. From the saddlebags on her back, she had come into town to do some shopping. “This always happens whenever a new book comes around,” I said, “They can’t go one discussion without bringing up shipping.” “Oh… I know how to get them to stop. Stand back,” Grapes said, going in, with a smirk. She went up to them, and said, casually: "You know, I personally think she'd do better with Laurel Crown, anyway." “What?!” both of them yelled. “But there’s never been any instance of them interacting romantically! They were rivals more than anything!” Twilight said. “Besides, Daring isn’t gay!” Rainbow yelled. “She might be bi, for all we know. A. K. Yearling doesn’t really go into her personal life. However, from my observations, and the correlation of their likes, dislikes, and hobbies; they are, in my personal opinion, the most compatible. Enough in common to have common ground, and the rivalry keeps things… spicy,” Grapes observed with a waggle of her eyebrows. “Just something for you two to consider. After all, life is strange and love has always proven itself to be even stranger.” “But they are total opposites!” Rainbow yelled. “With your logic AJ and Rarity could be an item!” “At one time I thought they could be,” Grapes said with a shrug. “I’m willing to admit that I could be wrong. After all, there are some pretty good stories, published in the fanzine with all possible ships. I’m not an exclusive shipper. I have my favorites, just like you do, but I’m always willing to read a good story. I’ve even noticed fanworks that you two have submitted. Rainbow couldn’t put together a coherent plot if her life depended upon it, and you, Twilight, tend to get caught up in the scientific and esoteric details of the piece that the plot gets lost, completely.” Twilight and Rainbow sort of smiled. “Good, now can we put this argument to-” I began. “I’ve also noticed that Private’s submitted entries, too. You ship everybody, I’ve noticed, even making up original characters to give somepony a happy ending. Your writing is very good, you come up with some great plots, and some pretty amazing story arcs. You really could use a proofreader, though, you tend to not know how to use commas properly with quotes,” Grapes observed. “So, Private, who do you ship Daring with?” Rainbow asked. I was not getting out of this one alive am I? Nope but if we break the fourth wall anymore with all these references we’re going to start running into crazies. Hey! Who’s up for Chimichangas? Hiya Deadpool! Let’s get back to the plot please… ______________________________________________________ Perspective: Octavia I was dressed to the proverbial nines, as I walked into the upscale restaurant, my hooves clip-clopping on the well-polished hardwood floor. The walls above the paneling were a warm buttercream colored stucco. Savory smells of tomato sauce, garlic and creamy alfredo teased my nose. The place just oozed class from the dark wood paneling and floors, the linen tablecloths and napkins, the sterling silver cutlery, the fine china plates, and cut crystal glasses. It felt kind of good to go into this venue. So different from the places where Vinyl felt comfortable, the clubs bars, and what-not. I was not here for personal reasons, however, but to meet with an associate. I had important business to discuss, and nopony would interfere, here. “So, the great Val Jean, who knew ya was a dame,” A voice I recognized said. I looked up at Grimwing with a smile. He just sidled into the chair opposite mine and said, “Ya know, I ain’t nobody’s callin’ bird. Ya and Private have a nasty habit of interuptin’ whatever I’m doin’.” “I’m sure whatever illegal activity you were involved with can wait,” I said, taking a sip of some rather fine wine. Grapevine Hills? Hmm, maybe I should thank Grapes later. “I trust you got Private’s letter about the, syringes.” “Yeah,” He said, “another one, first on that doll Pave, now this. They were also apparently made by a dead mare.” “I did have an associate of mine analyze the liquid inside,” I said. “And what didja find?” “That the contents were pretty much your typical mana booster. Used to help unicorns when their magic isn’t strong enough. Mostly to help them grow. Only, these were made to increase the potency of one’s magic ten fold,” I said, putting my hooves together. “So yer sayin,” Grimwing replied, “that if this stuff gets in any unicorn…” “Who knows what kind of damage this could do if it fell into the wrong hooves.” I replied. “And Private wants us tah look into it,” Grimwing said, tapping his claws on the table. “Typical. Never thought in all my years doin’ business I’d end up listenin’ to some punk who dresses like my pop.” “He knows both of our identities, plus he’s done right by both of us. It’s because of him that I’m even able to speak with you now,” I said. “Now, are you going to have your boys look into things?” “Ya, ya,” Grimwing said. “But let me tell ya somethin, if either of us gets caught, we don’t know each other, capiche? “I understand...things are really getting serious aren’t they?” I asked. Grimwing looked down at the table and said, “Seems like every day the world turns upside down just a little bit. The question is...who’s gonna fall off when everything flips over….?