Chapter 3
The Grand Galloping Gala. One of the biggest pubic gatherings in all of Equestria, but also one of the biggest bores to Celestia, until last year anyway. That was actually fun to her. Thousands of attendants crammed into Canterlot for a night, only to have it emptied by the next morning. Some of the attendants included Doctor Whooves and Derpy, The Mane 6, Inspector Sherlock Hooves and Detective Hidden Detail, A.K. Yearling, The Wonderbolts, and so many more.
It had been three weeks since the grisly murder. The detectives had run into every single dead end they could find in the case, leaving them with little hope to catch the killer. To ease their minds, Sherlock procured two tickets to the Gala. Though he would not admit it, he was growing a somewhat attachment to her. This he would definitely not admit because of what happened to his ancestor. But he still had a feeling when he was around her. But no, she wasn't that attractive. And if he did tell her about it, it would probably come out awkward and embarrassing. Dear Luna! So many mixed feelings! he thought at one time. Come on, stay calm. You're here to ease you and your partner's nerves, not jumpstart them! He got back on track; he was here to enjoy a celebration, and that was it. What could possibly go wrong at a celebration, other than my emotions getting the better of me? Someone clearly did not hear about last year's Gala.
The dressed up Doctor and beautiful Ditzy trotted up to the castle's drawbridge. They were both hoping that there would be an excellent party tonight.
"Greetings, booth guy! I am Doctor Smith, and I have an invitation plus one to the Gala. Would you be so kind as to let us in? From what I've heard about the last one, this is a party that cannot be missed." The Doctor flashed his slightly psychic paper at the guard in the ticket booth.
"Yeah, whatever. Come on in. Enjoy the party. Et cetra. Et cetra." Clearly this was someone who didn't take their job seriously.
"My word, Ditzy! Is that guy bored out of his mind or what? Ah, well what can you do? Some people choose to be bored. Oops, I said people. Got to stop thinking out loud, Doctor. Oh, there I go doing it again! I'm not crazy, am I?"
"Sure, Doc. But don't worry about that! We have the rest of the party to look up to! I wonder if they have muffins?"
"My goodness! This is common carnival fare! Why did she advise me to try something like this? My lips are tainted by this less than civilized substance! Someone get this poison away from me!"
Applejack was enraged for the second year in a row now. "You know what, Blueblood? I don't give a damn what you think! This is some of the finest product to leave Ponyville, and you ate part of it, so you're paying for it. Then, you will pay for your rudeness, you ass! So why don't you tell your guards to leave before it get's ugly, so I can make you pay? Or are ya a coward?"
"How dare you, you filthy-"
"No, no. I ain't filthy, but in a moment, you will be." Applejack took an old apple pie she was saving for him and threw it into Blueblood's face. "That was for last year. This is for now." She took an apple she had on hand in case he showed up, (or rather on hoof) and smashed it into his face. It was a rotten apple so it was mushy and brown on the inside, and now it was on Blueblood in an apple-flavored mess.
"My handsome face is soiled! Guards, arrest her!"
The guard were laughing their flanks off. "Why? You are an ass! Hahahah!"
"I don't know why we were stuck working with this over-expecting, demanding, selfish ass, Hehe. But now I'm glad we were!"
"Someone arrest them all! I have been humiliated!" He ran off to somewhere isolated, sobbing.
Rarity popped up behind Applejack's cart, a grin of satisfaction on her face. "I do say that our plan went smoothly. Nice throws, Applejack!" They did something that could be compared to a high five or a fist bump. (since I am not sure what such a thing would be called) "Do you think he shall return?"
"Naw. If I know other's enough, and from our experiences I think we should, he won't be back in a while. Either a while or a half-hour."
The guards came up to them for two reasons. "Thanks a million for doing that; it was about time he got what was coming for him. But I need to ask you."
"What?"
"Do you have a permit to sell? Because we are hungry after taking care of his grumpyness."
Meanwhile, Blueblood ran to his room to stay out of as many eyes as possible. He cleaned off his face, only to realize that the stench of rotten apples wasn't coming off. He locked the door so he could take a bath without disturbance.
The detectives were having a much better time than the mistaken royal. (mistaken implying his status was a mistake) They had found that a pony named Applejack was selling apple pie at one of the stalls. They needed only to search for some ice cream after that part. t wan't very hard to find.
"Sherlock, I can't believe you haven't tried apple pie and ice cream together! That is one of the very things to try before you die. That is like not eating pizza in your entire life."
"I'll trust you on that. Here goes." With one hearty bite, he took in the cold goodness of ice cream and the warm goodness of apple pie. The flavor and contrast was enjoyable to him very much. "Wow! This is spectacular!"
"I know right? Ooh, the air show is about to start. We don't want to miss that!" As they looked up, they saw the Wonderbolts flying overhead with smoke trails following them. Spitfire flew in the middle with her fiery trail snaking after her. The other two circled around her, creating the illusion of a cylinder. It was as if a bullet was being fired down the barrel of a rifle or some other gun.
Alas, this had a meaning to Sherlock that he did not wish to relive. He had served 3 years in the lunar royal army, only to be given an honorable discharge after a battle with some Griffon mercenaries. One by one, his comrades were gunned down until only he and his CO were left. He could remember each of the faces of the combatants, on both sides, far too clearly. Enraged at losing his brothers and sisters in arms, he had killed all of the mercenaries single-handed. He had saved his commanding officer and they made it home, to receive a personal commendation and an honorable discharge from Princess Luna herself, but at the cost of part of his soul. After he snapped out of the bloody rage he had found himself in, he wondered if he would ever regain it. Some of the soldiers didn't even bodies left for a burial. Damn explosives. Damn Griffons. Damn that pointless war. At least everyone in the battle left with intact honor, in one way or another.
The image of a gun going off was all it took for him to feel every emotion and memory all over again. He sat down and clutched his head at the mental pan inflicted upon him once more. He saw no air show, only a bad memory. And another reason for him to not get too attached to anything, or anyone.
"Are you alright, Holmes?"
"I'll be fine. Just give me a minute. I think I have had too much of that ice cream. Getting a brain freeze." It may have been a lie, but it was a clever one given the circumstances.
Knock-knock
"Who in Celestia's name could be at the door? Can't I wallow in shame on my own?" Blueblood was not taking kindly to any more visitors tonight. Not after what happened, anyway. He got up from his bed and stomped to the door in annoyance. "Who is it? I'm tired!" He opened the door to see a pony in a suit: an official by the looks of it.
"Prince Blueblood, I'm with the PIA, the Pony Intelligence Agency. We have reason to believe that your life is at risk. Can I come in, please?" He flashed his shining badge at the moping one.
"Mymymy my life? Surely you jest? Uh, come in. Eep." He showed in the agent and locked the door. He rushed to get some of the candies he had in his place. He wanted to look good in front of a government official especially if this was going on the record."So what is the threat to mymy life? Is it dangerous?"
"We took notice of a death threat issued to you written in blood on a dead body. What we are dealing with is somepony who is good at killing others without remorse."
"So what are you doing about it?"
"The Las Pegasus Police Department is hard at work, trying to find the murderer, but I have been sent here to guard you until the threat has passed." With Blueblood's back turned, he came closer. "We also have confirmation that the killer is at the Gala at this very moment."
"So can you protect me until- Urk!" He was stopped by the piano wire wrapped firm around his neck. "Let me go, I demand you! I am a Prince!" The wire cut into his neck, and he complained no more except for the gargling of blood. Then the head came off.
"I said 'guard', not protect. And now the threat has passed. Time for another clue." He smeared another message of blood on the floor. "His blood really is blue. Goodbye, you royal pain." He exited the lavish apartment-style home and locked the door, sliding the key under it.
The clue written: What a wonderful world