//------------------------------// // 1. Murder in Ponyville // Story: Case 109 // by Platinum Noir //------------------------------// Case 109 The food here wasn't exactly perfect, but I knew it made Spike happy. Plus I didn’t feel like telling him it was the only place open at this time of night. He sat there, sipping the last of his soup, when he glanced up at me. "Why'd we come here?" He asked. "Because it's a certain partner's favorite restaurant." I said, disguising my urge to say 'I know right?' "This is your celebration, Twilight. Why are you treating me?" "Because you're the key to my success." "Only some of the time." He said blushing. I was going to protest, but the steam of my own soup interrupted me. The vapor made my nose tickle and my face hot. "Have they assigned us our last case yet?" Spike asked with excitement. "The answer remains…" I told him. "They better give us a good one." "Spike, murder or burglary is never good." "Maybe we'll get an easy one, like the copyright infringement one with Flim & Flam Fields Co.?" "Easy for you. I got yelled at by the defense attorney for speaking at the wrong time!" "He had nothing better to do than yell at you for that?" "Trust me Spike, an attorney's job is to make you feel like a complete idiot." Our eyes wandered around the quiet diner. "Can we get some cheesecake from Pinkie's bakery?" Spike yelped. "I would; but look." Spike followed my eyes down the street to find a very empty bakery. I noticed Pinkie had closed early for the night. The store was empty and dark. She usually was open for another hour but tonight she closed early for seemingly no reason. Spike shrugged “Be my guest to figure out why Pinkie does anything.” I nodded half-heartedly. We paid and left silently; it seems Spike has finally figured out to stop asking if our last case has been assigned. It felt weird knowing that there was only one more case, it felt like the last day of school almost. The mentality that nothing really changes until a week later when you realize you don’t have anything to do. It felt very satisfying to slap a resignation slip on Chief Brasshoof’s desk and march out without saying a word. Twilight kept replaying the scene from a week ago over and over, not showing signs of getting tired of it. ‘In the name of Friendship’ was the reason she placed on the paper with Princess Celestia’s seal next to it. How stupid and confused Brasshoof must’ve felt. But I didn’t care to know his input, in fact we’ve only spoken twice after that in formal circumstances; and it was rather brief. Arriving home, I told Spike good-night and lumbered into my house. Everything was still as I opened the liquor cabinet. One last case…Spike had brought up a good point. What will my last case be? I sat as my mind wandered; the Equestrian Royal Police Department handled a real melting pot of crimes ranging from murder, rape, robbery, fraud, arson, and everything in between. ‘We do everything too big for county and city cops but too small for Feds’ I thought, reciting Agent Bravado’s famous quote. But after exactly two minutes I reached a conclusion to ‘not care’ and poured bourbon into a little glass to help me clear my mind. I gulped it down as a familiar warm but burning sensation settled in my throat. The second shot of bourbon helped me settle down into bed as I blinked consistently for a moment and slipped into sleep. A loud ring of a telephone interrupted my slumber as I fell onto the wooden floor. A pain in my right hoof appeared, near my fetlock. I was hoping this would happen soon, the last call from HQ. The last time I see a gory scene in a random town, but in a sense, also never wanted it to come. I crawled over to the phone and pressed the button. "Hello?" I moaned. "Twilight, we've got a homicide." A husky voice claimed. "And a good morning to you too, Dante." I said recognizing one of the chief’s secretaries; Dante Fleethoof. He worked the overnight, until Iron Mustang relieved him in the morning; and finally, Steel Force; most of the time I was working them more than the chief himself. "You know I'm just here to tell you where to go, I'm not your wake-up call." He growled. "Well, yeah. I'd set it much later if I wanted a wake-up call." I countered. "Don't you have a murder to investigate?" "You never told me where to go!" "Well I didn't get there yet!" "Maybe you should, it is your job after all!" "My job?" "Yes!" "Really?" "YES, don't confuse me!" "Well then go…" "WHERE!?" "Fine! Ponyville, Downtown." He said quietly. I became silent; there were too many thoughts to contain at once. In a mad fury I wrestled my clothes and saddlebags on and staggered outside. I pounded on Spike's door as hard as I could. He was used to it, but this time I needed to see him rush to get ready. "You know I'm glad this is the last time you're doing this." "Spike, this is different we need to get there now!" He collapsed into the door in his pinstripe suit and only having his tie half-tied. "This better be good." He said running beside me. "That's the problem, it's not!" "What do you mean!? Is it someone we know?" Spike asked. "I don't know!" I screamed. I raced over Caliber Bridge and onto the dirt road. Spike had lost his breath and was now attempting to jog without keeling over; as he slowly figured out that the murder was right here in Ponyville. I saw the houses and shops of downtown Ponyville approaching, all of them having lights on and likely watching the commotion. I saw two officers, Beat Watch and Heat Lightning standing in front of the yellow tape. I slowed to a trot as I tried to maintain a professional look. But inside I felt like I was sobbing, my emotions were imploding inside me. Others were gathered around as I pulled out my badge from my saddlebags. Heat nodded and looked at me; as if peering into my soul. His handsome face told a story, as do all the officers lined up around that yellow tape; that transparent, shiny, and symbolic tape that separates evil from the rest of the caring world. But my mind was in some sort of trance, and my body was almost running by itself, as if on instinct. But my eyes could see Sugarcube Corner sitting in front of me; that was not a trance. Pinkie Pie… "Ready?" Heat said with sorrow. "I gotta start at some point." I said pretending to look okay. Spike followed me under the tape as I opened my eyes. Blood covered the ground that was under Pinkie's body. Her flank lay on the ground still bleeding as her head was propped up against the wall. The wall she was propped up against had a lot of blood blobbed in one area and then it streaked down to where she lay. Spike approached her taking notes. Two tears ran down my cheek as I repeated in my head 'Pinkie, Pinkie, Pinkie…' "L-Lots of blood." He said quietly. "Yes there is a lot." The doctor said passing me. "Hi Dr. Tenderhoof." Spike said. "I was just running some tests that confirmed my theory. Pinkie Pie was kicked in the forehead and fell back onto the wall hitting her head against the wall causing another bruise. She died of blunt trauma, immediately, and then blood loss ensued." He said scratching his head, just now realizing the gravity of the situation. "Anyway, blood loss followed overnight and then that Big MacIntosh stallion found her when he was doing his early runs to the bakery. She was defiantly killed last night though" He concluded. I turned and saw Big Mac being questioned by Beat. "You're silent Twilight." The doctor observed. Spike then kicked him in the leg, however that wasn't in time. "Why so glum, this is your last case. No?" He asked. "I knew her." I said in a weak voice. The doctor turned to Spike and noticed he had a 'nice going, ass' face on. "Well uh, I better, you should-"And walked away trembling. "Sorry." Spike said scowling at Tenderhoof. "Don't worry Spike, I got this." I said, mostly unconvinced that I could go on myself. "Okay, first off I see the bruise he was talking about, two hoof prints right next to each other." "And…" "And that's kind of it. He or she didn't leave anything behind; they literally came, kicked, and left." He said a-matter-of-factly. "Oh." "And judging by the ballistics I'd say she didn't see it coming. She didn't know her assailant." He said. “…Or she trusted her assailant enough to let them charge a kick right in front of her” "That's not a lot of evidence…" "We'll see what Big Mac has to say and then go to Ponyville HQ to see who they got as main suspects. Okay?" He said coolly, but his voice was clearly on the verge of breaking. "Gotcha." He said walking away. "No one at all!?" I squealed. "Sorry Twilight, I saw no one, it's like I'm the only pony that ever knew this alley existed." His deep voice startled me so. "Well she was murdered last night, so, that's to be expected. I guess." "Sorry Twilight…" "It's okay, thanks Big Mac. You may go now, if you want" "A.J. will be devastated." He said walking away, turning his head straight. This was defiantly not starting off well. In the past three hours we still know nothing. I really hope Ponyville HQ has some definite suspects or clues to present me. I hated this, I just hate it. There was nothing good about this case. Nothing and it couldn't get worse. Heat Lightning approached me with Sheriff Gunnery in tow. “I’m assuming the ERPD is taking over this investigation formally?” He asked in his harsh baritone voice. “Yer ERPD team is waiting at the tape over yonder” Gunnery claimed. I glanced over to see some familiar faces chatting at the tape, with various pieces of equipment and such ready to do a full crime scene takeover. “Yes; thank you for securing the area.” I affirmed. “Any evidence and suspects have been handed over to Regional crime I assume?” “Yes ma’am, certainly are waitin’ for ya at Canterlut I s’pose.” Gunnery answered. “Thank you.” I politely affirmed. Gunnery stalked off as Heat jabbed my leg. He produced a bottle of odd looking pills (or so I assumed) and showed them to me. “Look I’ll keep this short; I know how it feels to do a case about one of my own. These are uppers right here; they give you the boost to go on. Don’t expect miracles; but your emotions will be at ease.” He huffed quickly, eyes darting around. I used my magic to pluck to pills from the bottle and shot them into my saddlebags. “These legal?” I probed. “In Saddle Arabia, Yakistan, The United Goat Republic, and certain parts of Canadeer I believe.” He cited with a hint of humor being reinstated in his voice. I nodded and awkwardly walked off. “You’re welcome.” He snorted rudely. Spike had reminded me about one positive look on the situation. We know this wasn't a group of people, science and ballistics could prove only one pony did it. But that only provided a temporary fix for that black hole in my heart; it stung hard. I walked down the hallway to the Chief of Police's office suite, as I shoved the pills into my mouth and swallowed. I didn't even knock, as I just barged into his office and stared at him. "Why?" "Why what Twilight? How are you? How are your friends doing?" He asked, almost evil sounding. "You know I have personnel relations in this case." "There are no family members involved so I don't see a problem." I inhaled deeply. "You wanna know what?" I growled as Spike braced for it. He sat in the chair behind me, thumbing his tail. "What do I know? Hm? I know you're a valuable asset to my team here, and I'd hate to lose you." He said getting up from his chair. "Well then it's a good thing I'm working for you only one more time." I hissed. "Be a shame if you didn't fill out those promotion papers." "I don't care if you make me the Surgeon General. I'm not going for more time in here!" "I'd really like it if you stayed for more than one last case." "NO, this is my last!" I screamed; everyone outside who had their ear on the door listening fell silent. "I need to enjoy life with…my…fr-" "Who? Who Twilight?" Who are you going enjoy life with?" His ugly grey hair stood straight up as a chilly breeze blew through his window. "Who do you have to go back to after this case? Hmm?" He asked, cocking his head. “Celestia wants me to-I want to become the leader of friendship in Equestria!” I said reciting Celestia word-by-word from their last meeting. "And I'll do a damn good job at it!" I yelled as I backpedaled to the door. I almost kicked down the door as Spike followed. Brasshoof didn’t even seem angry; he just sat down again in a very content matter. As-per-usual, everypony that was listening next to the door had sprinted off in hopes I wouldn't notice them.