> The Adventures of Searchlock Holmes > by redspark > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue It was a dark night when it happened. I was but a young filly at the moment, but still I got to see it all. My dear parents where away in a business trip, which I really didn't minded at all, if it wasn't for him. That strange looking old unicorn that was also staying in the house of my parents’ house. He was a creepy old unicorn, and he is the cause of my being a shy filly. He began to tell me stories, which I found horrendous, but still I listened. He spoke about war and Celestia knows all the horrors on it. I don't know, but I believe his way of telling it made me want to experience it myself... Obviously my worst mistake ever... Or maybe it wasn't? When I was old enough, I joined the army. It was a strange thing, the army. It took me a while to get used to it. Obviously the news of my parents' passing toughened me up some years earlier, and the shouts and orders and commands where but a faint buzzing in my ear. I could tolerate it easily. It was in the army that I met that mare. Sweet Celestia she was pretty. Not only pretty, but also tough as myself, I must admit. We both had our problems with the world, you see. She had also been orphan, her parents having died of a sickness back at her hometown. We became very good friends, and not long after we were having a secret relationship, for in the army it was prohibited to be with other pony. Those where happy days. It all ended when we got to go to war. You see, war is strange. It is something I'd rather never had lived, but don't want to forget. In there I learned very important lessons of life, but also lost what was most precious to me. We went to war together, never leaving each other's side. She and I fought more for our sake than to win the war. I had a slight difference with her, though. She was a field soldier, whereas I was a field doctor. I tried to go wherever she went, as I well know she also tried the same with me. It wasn't enough. Months after going to war, our platoon was assigned a mission into enemy territory. We were supposed to return with no casualties at all... It wasn't like that. Our field officer was the first to fall. He gave command to a Pegasus named Clover Clean or something like that. He ordered our withdrawal. We tried to escape enemy forces but where eventually cut off. In there we resisted for a couple of days, barely managing to hold off our attackers, knowing this was our end. Slowly, we were dying. I'm afraid to say, she got seriously hurt. I forgot about the war at all. I really tried to save her... She begged me to attend to the others, that she was fine... I knew it was otherwise. In the end I heard her and went to attend the others. The next day an allied patrol spotted us and helped us out of our position. By that moment it was too late. She was no longer on this world. I don't know how I managed to keep it together till we arrived at camp. There, realization hit me, as well as an enemy who managed to hurt my back legs terribly. I was sent back to main base, and finally to home. You see, I don't know why all the need to write all this, except to introduce to who changed my life completely. His name was Searchlock Holmes. Curious name if you ask me, but still he managed to bring me back to life. When I managed to return to my house after all that time in alien land, my brothers where there. They tried to cheer me up, but how could they... She was gone, and with her my life too. Maybe I'm sounding a little too dramatic, but it was like that. She had been the most important (and probably the only one) in my life. My family where two brothers, as you well know I no longer had any parents. They tried all, but I didn't react. Yes, I spoke and laughed, but I never left my house. I never walked much not enjoyed company for long. It was like that until he turned inside my life. I still think I'm sounding dramatic, you know. Maybe I'll try not to, but those years of my life where dark. I was sitting on my usual couch, watching the busy city of Canterlot from my comfortable house when I heard a knock at my door. I quickly went to answer it. I wasn't really expecting anypony, yet I don't know why I suddenly had this desire to see who it was. And there, in front of my house, was him. That black pony with white mane and a spyglass as his cutie mark. I didn't say anything. He just stood there and looked inside my house. I don't quite recall what words we exchanged then and there, except that it was the first time of many that I saw him for the rest of the week. He was solving a case, or so he told me. I didn't quite believe him, until I ended up going with him around the city trying to solve that mysterious case of which I happened to know nothing about. It’s funny how I met him, and it's also pretty funny now when I think of those old times when he took me in unexpectedly into his cases. Well, long story short, I ended up moving to his flat at Baker Street. Oh, and I nearly forgot! I'm Watchson, Dr. John Watchson, and these are the adventures I had with the consulting detective Searchlock Holmes... > The Princess Case and our first Meeting > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode 1 The Princess Case and our curious Meeting So, how I began my life with Detective Searchlock Holmes? That is a pretty interesting story. I remember it like if it was yesterday. The very day my life changed (I'm still deciding if for better or for worse). As always I was reading the newspaper for any interesting news. That was the only thing that kept me in touch with the outside world. My life went in a slow speed, more wasted than ever. I tended to wake up around 9 in the morning, prepare myself a nice breakfast and a coffee and sit down, reading the newspaper. After that, my day was wasted. I used to read books, and even write, but my inspiration had faded away with her death. I think bow that if there is such a thing as a living dead, it was I in those times. My schedule only changed when I received visits from friends, or from my dear brothers. They lighted up a little my day. We talked about random things, like sports, politics, and that type if things. We should end up without anything to talk about and we should normally end the visit with a good chess game. Those days I remember like if they were but a living dream. I hope I never have to live them again. Now, as I was saying, my life changed when he turned up unexpectedly at my house. I was not expecting any visits that day, and I did not want one. That day I wanted to rest even more, read my newspaper and maybe even read a book. At least that was my plan until he turned about. I was comfortable at my favorite Couch. The city stood before me on a scene I've never forgotten. Perhaps the only good thinks if those days was the peace and quiet my life had. But well, returning to the story, I was sitting comfortably in my favorite couch just staring at the city with a coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other. I was just about to finish my coffee when I heard a knock at my door. I groaned angrily, leaving my coffee in the small table beside the couch, along with the newspaper. I opened the door and saw a very interesting looking stallion... Ahem, unicorn. He had a completely black coat, but what caught my attention was his mane. It was totally white. His horn was part white part Black, which rather confused me, because until then I had believed that unicorns only had one color horns. (In still intrigued by that, because so far I've seen no other unicorn with two color horns). "Good morning, how may I help you?" I asked the strange unicorn. He was slightly taller than me, which made me a little nervous. He smiled. "Now now Dr., the question we should ask is bit what you can do for me, but rather what can I do for you." he stepped inside the house, oblivious to me and began to check my things. Now, I don't know why I didn't stop him immediately. Probably it was because he had called me Dr. No one called me Dr., at least not anymore. So, while I was still getting off the initial shock if him calling me Dr., and also of how the hay he had known, he was checking my things with bi thoughts if my privacy in consideration. I finally snapped out of my shock and walked to him. "Now sir, stop messing with my things. I never met you come inside my house!" The unicorn seemed taken aback for some seconds until he finally regained his composure. He smiled. "I'm sorry, but when you didn't did anything to stop me for entering your house I supposed you didn't care, and when I began to check your things you also remained silent, and I also supposed you didn't cared." Of course, I was taken aback by that response. Or this was a clever stallion, or just a fool that wanted to see my face confused. Either way, he seemed to enjoy my confusion. He walked over to me and stood in front of me. "If you want a deeper explanation, my dear Dr..." he said Dr. with a curious accent. "I will explain. You see, I need ti see your things because I believe somepony placed a bomb in your house to distract me from the initial and important task." he began walking around the room. I got out from the new shock if having him calling me Dr. Again and telling me a bomb was in my house. "Who are you?" I asked. The pony stopped searching as he introduced his hand into a vase on top of my fireplace. "My name..." he said taking out a strange square object from the vase. "Is Searchlock Holmes..." he said as he threw outside my house through a window the object. Seconds after that, an explosion shook my house and smoke began to come inside through the window. "I am detective Searchlock Holmes." I am never going to forget that scene. If you have been there, it wouldn't have been funny. I mean, I had just seen that a bomb had been resting beside me the whole morning, waiting to explode, and a mysterious unicorn had just come here apparently knowing about the bomb... Yet, when I now think about it, it does seem rather amusing and funny. I remember Searchlock and I had very good laughs of that meeting. "Detective?" I asked, rather bothered and sarcastic. "Really, those are not used these days anymore." I said. The Unicorn named Holmes smiled at me and walked to my door. He began to get out, closing it after him. When it was almost fully closed he let his head in. "Then I am not. Here, and this never happened, Dr." he closed the door. I stared blankly at the door for several seconds before running after him. Why? I don't know. I wanted to learn more about that strange pony who claimed to be a detective. The only thing is that I found myself following him outside my house and into the street. He didn't seem to have noticed me, so I was going to touch his back. To get his attention. He simply stopped. "I know you are there, Dr. Now, quickly state your need of me before I go off running back to the important case." I still hadn't had expected those type of answers. I stood aback for some seconds again, but this time I controlled myself easier. "Well detective, I'm rather curious about you. You mean you really knew about the bomb at my house, and that you are actually solving a case?" Searchlock smiled amusedly and changed his weight to the other hooves. "Exactly Dr." he got closer and began whispering in my ear "you see Dr. Watchson that I knew that there was a bomb at your house by the small quantity of black powder leading a trail into your house. Apparently nopony would have expected to search for black powder, but I found that this criminal has a storage full of it. By following the powder clue I ended up using a new spell to 'see' in a sense or rather feel even the tiniest particle of it. I found put that was a little difficult, because even on this city, black powder is used in their plenty of places. I found out that the particles of the powder I was searching for had a small quantity of dust, because apparently the powder he used for the bomb was logically made out of that powder on his storage." "So I ended up modifying my spell to trace only black powder with dust on it. Still, difficult to follow. There's just so much dust in the city, and I would never have found the poser I was searching for if it wasn't because the powder I was searching had been exposed so long to dust, that somehow the dust had entered onto its tiny particles. Mind me; I'm still trying to figure out how that happened." "And so it is how ended up on your small house." he concluded, taking a step back from me. I was just surprised and shocked and... There are no words for how I felt at that detective. Maybe it was something ingenious, or a very good joke. Either way I still wanted to learn more. I shook my head, trying to shake off the surprise. "Well then..." I didn't found any words... I wanted to learn more, but I didn't know how... "I'll... I'll return to my house." I said, disappointed. The detective Searchlock Holmes looked at me as I turned around and headed for home. His gaze never left me for even the slightest second. I opened my house's door and entered. I closed it behind me and sighed, letting myself fall down to the floor slowly. I was closing my eyes when I heard a knocking at my door again. I stood up and slightly opened it. There he was. Searchlock Holmes with a curious grin on his face. "Yes?" I asked. He cleared his throat. "You're a doctor, right?" I nodded slowly. "And you know about... You know wounds and stuff." I nodded again. He looked me directly into my eyes. "Would you like to accompany me on this case, Dr.?" I nodded. "Hay, yes!" I exclaimed opening the door fully with Searchlock almost tumbling down inside because apparently he was kneeling against the door. I helped him stand up. "Well then my dear Dr..." he stopped and scanned the house again. "Watchson, right?" I nodded. "Well my dear Watchson, let's go!" and he walked away from the house. I followed him close behind. We walked away from the road my house was in fast. He stopped and looked at me. "Hang on Watchson, this is rough when you make it for the first time." and his horn began to glow. I notice he closed his eyes in deep concentration as a strange blinding light enveloped us for a second. When my eyes grew used to the normal light I saw we were no longer on the street or anywhere near my house. We were in a fancy room, with a window overlooking... "We are in the palace?!" I asked amusedly. Searchlock nodded, smiling at my expression. "But... Why?" I asked, as I turned around to look at him. He smiled even more. "We are here because none other than princess Celestia herself has asked my personal help in a strange case." he walked over to a small desk with papers on it. "By far the most intriguing case I've ever had..." he looked at the papers on the desk. "What are those?" I asked, referring to the papers. He took two papers and walked over to me, showing them over. The first one had three words written on it: I LOVE YOU. The second only had YOU. "What does that mean?" I asked, curious. Canterlot stood surprisingly in front of me. I'd never seen such a sight before. I could swear I could see all of Equestria from there. Searchlock passed me the one with the I love you thing. "This letters arrived at the princess' bedroom. They were for Celestia. She didn't know who sent it, and when she applied her tracking spells..." he took the letter back. "Apparently the letter had never been touched before. It hadn't been used it managed by anypony before, and curiously she couldn't even feel herself in the letter. Technically, according to the spell, she had never touched the letter herself..." He walked over again to the desk and placed the letters gently over it. "She then contacted the captain if the royal guard, who later contacted me." He picked another letter. "Many things happened before they really asked me for their help. For instance, an attempt on princess Celestia's sister's life, Luna's, happened." I shook my head. "No, that can't be, I mean, we all would have known if an attempt on princess Luna's life was made. No one mentioned it before." Searchlock smiled and nodded. "You would have never known, because we kept it a secret. I am happy to announce that after looking at this letters for enough time I discovered their little secret, and for instance, I am almost upon the mystery. Someone tries to kill Princess Luna, and apparently really tried, because leaving a princess in bed unable to move or speak... He really tried to kill her. Princess Celestia is terribly angry at the moment, but that is not the problem at the moment." I looked at the letters again. "What do those letters mean?" Searchlock looked at the dozens of letters on the desk. "Apparently, our antagonist in this story wants to make this interesting. Don't you see? These are clues! Clues given by whoever is behind this! That is what makes this case that interesting, because that means that he believes he has already won!" he showed him to the letters. Each letter had a missing words or letter, except the first one that said I Love You. The next letter said I You, and so on. The letters also had missing letters, and beside the letters there was a paper with written words and missing letters. "It’s a code..." I said. Searchlock nodded enthusiastically. "It is, my dear Watchson. I have finally revealed a hidden message, with which I found about the bomb. Now I am revealing the next part about the attempts to of murder." He sat down and took a pen with his magic. He began to write. While Holmes was writing, I decided to see around the room. There were a couple of odd-looking artifacts, which I began to see. Holmes let out a triumphant cheer. "That's it!" he shouted as he jumped off the table, nearly throwing to the floor. He ran to the window and looked around. "The change of guard!" he shouted, looking at me “that’s when he´ll strike!" I stared blankly at him, wondering, for the first time, why was I needed. Apparently Holmes was good at reading expressions, because he didn't took long to say why he needed me. "Dr., I'll need you to check a pony that... Mmm, well, that died while attempting to kill the princess of the night. I found out that the forensic doctors that the palace hired are not good enough to work beside Me." he ran at the door of the room and then looked at me while he opened the door. "Follow me, quick." and he ran off. Now, seeing all that develop at such a fast pace was something I don't think I was prepared to face, but with Searchlock Holmes you've got to get used to that speed in which events develop. He doesn't stop to explain, unless he is talking to the air or you ask him. Mostly because he likes to talk to himself. I ended up trying to keep up his pace as Holmes ran at full gallop. We descended through a flight of stairs and into a long hallway. I would have normally enjoyed seeing the architecture of the palace, but Holmes didn't give me enough time. Finally he stopped at a door. He entered and I followed. Inside it was a big room, highly lit up. There were three earth ponies with white coats. They obviously didn't liked Holmes simply entering without announcing. One of them began to talk, but Holmes raised his hoof. The pony closed his mouth slowly. Sherlock gestured me to come forward. "Give your analysis." he asked me, for the first time ever something straight. I looked at Searchlock confused. "Yes, you are a doctor, aren't you?" I approached and saw a small table with a ginger pony in it. It was obvious he was dead. I took a deep breath and began to examine the pony more closely. I noticed several broken bones. "I presume she fell off someplace high, due to all the broken bones." I noticed a severe crack on his head, and his neck was on a weird angle. "He didn't survive the fall. Probably he was escaping pursuers?" is looked at Searchlock, who nodded. I continued. His mane looked slightly burned. I took a closer look. "Was he burned with something while escaping?" I asked. Searchlock approached me. "No, why do you ask?" he looked at the mane and nodded. "That... Yes, I'm still trying to see why he has it burned." I then began to check his hooves. I didn't noticed anything, except a slight wear in the front part, which indicated he broke into a run fast and stopped as fast. I then noticed some dirt inside, which I checked deeply. Apparently, no one had bothered to check his hooves, and by consequence, no one had seen the dirt. Well, no one except Holmes. "That is dirt from the alleys if Canterlot." he told me as soon as he saw me checking. "It took me time to notice that dirt, though. I expected him to be a little more careful with the evidence he had on himself. With the dirt clue I found an accomplice, which preferred to die than to give me information." I looked at Searchlock. That unicorn just kept getting more mysterious by the second. I nodded and kept looking. I noticed a small quantity of coal on his hooves too. "Did anyone else saw the coal?" I asked. The earth ponies shook their heads, approaching curiously. This time, Holmes also lifted his ears in curiosity. "There's coal in here. I mean, not much, but enough to get noticed." While the other ponies approached the hooves and began to mutter between themselves excitedly, Searchlock retreated, deep in thought. I walked over to him. "Does that information change anything?" I asked. He slowly raised his head and smiled. "But of course, Watchson! That explains the burning! And the dirt he has on his hooves... If we put them all together we get an exact location!" He stopped talking when he remembered something. "Oh no... The rising!" he shouted. I was about to ask what he meant, but he gave me no time. He immediately galloped away fast, with me following him a little behind. He ran towards a place I had never expected to see ever in my life: the royal quarters. The princesses ' tower, where they raised the sun and the moon, was his destination. I didn't know, of course. I was only following as fast as I could. We arrived at the top if the tower all tired, but Holmes ran to the door of the balcony and opened the doors fast. I ran after him. He tackled a pony with his horn lighting up and they both fell against the side if the balcony, barely managing to avoid falling down. A beam of light escaped the pony’s lighted horn to the night, now turning unto day. That's when I realized how short the day had seemed. Searchlock immediately after crashing against the side of the balcony stood up and with his magic he pushed the three inside. That's when I also realized what that strange unicorn had meant to do: he had wanted to blast princess Celestia while she was raising the sun! The unicorn stood up and ran for the door. "Watchson, the door!" Searchlock shouted at me. I ran and blocked the door. The unicorn tried to push me, but I was able to push him back and then pin him down to the floor. The unicorn tried to blast me off him with his horn, but I managed to hold long enough for Holmes to assist me. Together we were able to tie him up against a small table. He kept on trying to break free until Holmes decided it was enough. "Stop!" he shouted. The unicorn stopped, more because of the surprise than for the order. "You don't want to see me get angry." He said more calmly. The unicorn stared at him. "But now, you shouldn't worry about me, but rather, about her..." he said, pointing out of the balcony. Seconds later, non other than princess Celestia herself landed and entered quickly. The sun was up in the sky now. I noticed that an angry face I'd never seen on the princess' made me shiver. "Detective! What was that?!" princess Celestia asked angrily, until she noticed the pony tied to the table. The unicorn stared in horror as the princess' stare stopped on him. He yelped and tried to cover himself. The princess took some seconds to realize that just seconds before, that pony had tried to hit her with the blast from his horn while she was busy with the sun. I watched from the background of the scene, no wanting to get the princess' attention upon me. The princess walked to Searchlock, her regal composure back, and tell him something in the ear. Holmes nodded slowly. The princess seemed to remain calm, but something around her made it obvious she wasn't. I could swear it was getting hot in that room. The princess advanced slowly at the unicorn. "Who are you?" she asked. Her voice was neutral, but still something in it made it obvious she was all but neutral. The pony kept looking down, obviously scared to death. "I am Thunder..." he said, nor in a whisper than anything else, but the princess heard alright. "And, pray tell me, Thunder, did you tried ti hit me with a blast?" The poor pony shook in fear as he nodded and closed his eyes, waiting for Celestia to hit him with a blast or something like that. I watched, more in amusement than concern or anything else. I don't know why I was like that... Instead of doing anything, the princess nodded and asked "And why?" The pony stopped shaking and gulped. He looked at the princess' hooves. "We were told to. I was supposed to not be discovered, but he began to play his game with you." he said, looking at Holmes. "He said it would make it more interesting. As for attempting to kill or injure you... He believes that is the only way of getting the throne for himself." This time Searchlock spoke "Wait, who is he?" he asked. "Beg your pardon majesty, but this is the thing I need answered now." Celestia nodded. The unicorn stopped moving. The only thing that was showing he was conscious was the slow and steady breathing on his chest. "He is all, detective. You began to mess with the wrong pony." and he bit something from inside his mouth. I ran shouting No at him, but it was too late. I don't know, but we should have guessed he had a pill hidden on his mouth. I don't know, but seeing someone suicide himself with a pill is something I've never liked. He shook slightly, and then his head fell down. He was dead. The Princess was a little taken back by that, but Searchlock was outraged. "A pill! Why on Equestria I didn't checked him for a pill!" he seemed really upset. As for me, I was checking on the unicorn for any signs of a mistake. He could still be alive. Obviously it wasn't like that. He was dead, and there was nothing I could do now. Celestia walked outside at the morning. Holmes and I stood up. He looked at me and then walked towards the princess. The princess didn't looked at him, though. She kept looking to the rising sun. "Find him detective. You do that." she said. Her voice sounded regal, but it was obvious she was almost on the verge of tears. Searchlock nodded without saying anything else. He gestured me to follow him outside the room. We walked in silence to the castle grounds, where he stopped. "This just keeps getting better and better!" he said, turning to me. His voice was pretty enthusiastic. "Such mystery!" I couldn't believe he was actually enjoying this case. I mean, liking the job was one thing, enjoying it... Was another. He seemed happy by the turn of events, while I seemed grim and dark. "You are actually enjoying this?" I said in disbelief. He stopped and composed himself, but he kept smiling faintly. "You see my dear Dr. It is something out if the ordinary! It is a challenge worth my attention! You see, a challenge for you is not a challenge for me, while my challenges are impossible for you!" I stared at him, waiting what he was going to say next after that humble statement. "I think differently, Watchson. For me, the world is but a small thing that can be described in very simple and concrete words. I assure you that perfection is not in that description. My duty, Watchson, is to achieve my description of this world to get the word perfection in it." I only shook my head in disbelief at the thoughts of Searchlock. I've never believed a pony would think so high if himself. "But right now, we need to concentrate on the task at hoof. Finding that brilliant maniac that wishes to see our ruler’s dead or kneeling before him." he began to pace back and forth in front of me, muttering ti himself. "You mentioned earlier that joining the pieces, speaking of the dirt on the hooves of the pony we saw earlier." I reminded him. He nodded. "Yes, that is what I was wondering about. The location should be exact, and if I have enough time... That's it!" he turned to me" do you have a map?" I shook my head. "Mmm, well. I guess my mind should do... Follow me!" he said and he galloped away. I ran after him. It didn't took us long to get to where Searchlock wanted us to go. It was a dingy and uncared alley. I'm afraid to say that since then I'm afraid to enter alleys in Canterlot. It had many small doors on its sides. Holmes looked around fast until he decided which door was the right one. He pushed open the door and entered. I followed. Inside it was even grimmer than outside. I wouldn't doubt that that building was abandoned. The room was completely empty, except for a couple of boxes. There was dirt inside the room, and after I examined it I realized it was the same dirt the pony had on his hooves. And after further examination I saw pieces if coal. I saw Searchlock open one of the boxes and say silently but triumphant "aha!" I looked and saw that the boxes were full of coal. I looked around. Apparently the room was not unoccupied after all. That is when Searchlock stopped smiling and began turn around. Why? I soon found out. A voice, that is, began to sound around us. In the beginning it was not making any sense, until I began to make up the words. "Welcome, detective, and also welcome, Dr. I've been expecting you for a long time now. It took you forever, Holmes!" I looked around for the source if the voice. Searchlock was simply staring ti nothing, obviously concentrated in the voice. "Who are you?" Holmes asked. I began to walk around, still searching for the voice. "Oh, I am known by many names, but you need to know one, Holmes. Oh yes, you only need to know one of them. Have you ever felt fear, Searchlock?" Apparently I was missing some piece if information. This unknown pony was actually making that question? Searchlock smiled and laughed mocking the voice. "I do not know fear." The voice laughed. "Well Searchlock, fear is what you will feel every time you hear my name from now on, because I am feared..." the voice stopped. "Who are you?!" Holmes demanded. In a soft tone, the voice whispered a word. Hay, I don't know for Searchlock, but since then that name definitely inspires fear upon me. The voice said it in a soft, yet sinister voice. "Mareriarty" and an apparent male voice change to that one of a mare. The door through which we had entered closed, leaving us in complete darkness. A small light lit up, revealing a cloaked pony in front of us. How the pony had materialized in front of us? It didn't took long to know. The pony took off the hood. It was a white unicorn mare with light black hair. I couldn't stop myself from looming at Searchlock after seeing the curious resemblance. Searchlock only looked at the mare now in front of us. The mare smiled lightly, obviously amused at my surprise. "Interesting, isn't it Holmes? How we look alike. I've still not figured that out yet, except that maybe because we are the same. We think the same." I noticed Searchlock flinch slightly t that. "The world is insignificant before us. Only the princesses can stand on our way!" By then, I knew where she was going to. "Join me, Holmes. Together and with our powers we can control Equestria and all its inhabitants! Think at the favor you'd be doing to then? Perfection, Holmes, the very and only perfection would be ruling them." I looked at the immobile detective I had just met yesterday. What would he say? I wanted to believe he was going to say no, but deep inside me a fear had arisen. He himself had spoken to me about perfection. I knew how much he wanted it. If something could make him fall, it was that proposal. Searchlock remained with a neutral expression, but I could see a sign of distress on him. My fear began to grow. "So what do you say, Holmes. We would be the perfect mates! We would rule Equestria without anyone above us! Imagine the power, the world in our hooves... It would be perfect," she approached Searchlock slowly. I was going to say something when I felt a knot in my throat. I saw that the mare's horn had lit in a white glow. Searchlock was on his own. Holmes had never seemed so troubled in his lifetime, not before nor after. He really seemed to like the idea, but still something in him made it difficult to gal for it. I then saw his face toughen up from his lost face as he opened his mouth and his horn glowed, with the feeling of my throat closed stopping immediately. Mareriarty Seemed taken back as her own horn stopped glowing. Apparently, she had not expected that to happen. "You made all this to lure me into your trap. All these schemes and plans... They were all but a game, which I played with you. I'm afraid to say that I almost fell under your claws, because hooves wouldn't be an appropriate description of your words hold on me. You had it all planned, didn't you? You knew all this would get my attention, and so you made it a mere game to catch me in the game. You thought it a good idea, but don't get me wrong; it was a great idea, except for tiny detail: I didn't accepted. You were so sure about yourself that you didn't stop for a second to consider the option that I would say no." slowly, Searchlock Holmes had been walking forward and Mareriarty slowly backwards until she was stopped by the walls. Holmes stopped inches from her, their faces separated by merely an inch or two. "That was the flaw in your game, because my answer is no." he said, ending his speech. Mareriarty had a scared and surprised face, which she immediately turned to neutral after Searchlock stopped advancing and talking. She smiled, this time with anger in her voice. "Well then, Detective Searchlock Holmes, it was my first and last proposal I would ever make. I'm afraid we are enemies from now on." a light appeared around her and she disappeared only to appear behind Searchlock, who turned around ti looks at her. "This is a goodbye then, Holmes. I believe this won't be our only meeting, and surely, not our last." she disappeared again, but this time she did not returned. Searchlock looked at me and looked away. He walked to the door. I followed him outside. He was standing there, looking at the sun. His gaze was lost, which I found curious because he always seemed so focused. "You know Watchson; something I'll never forget is why I chose to do good instead if evil." He looked at me. "I was one day, wondering about my life. I knew I was special and that I had a gift. I know it sounds selfish, and like if I am only talking about how good I am, but I am telling it because it’s true. I have a gift, a gift of knowing, of solving, of creating... I could have become someone that worked against the law, but I know what is good and what is evil. I chose to do good because it´s the right thing to do. I know I never seem to think about what is good and what is wrong, but that is what keeps me going. To know that by doing this, good will come from it. I can't believe I really considered that proposal." he smiled faintly. "And I also know the difference between a sane pony and a lost pony. She is definitely nit on a right mind." he began ti walk away. I don't know. But that revelation changed my way if seeing him. He no longer looked selfish, but rather some kind of hero. I followed him behind. To end this fast, we went and explained it all to princess Celestia (well, not all. We ignored the fact that all these had happened because a mare had wanted ti lure Holmes to her trap. I'm sure that would have angered the princess a lot). She was rather surprised that it was a mars, and a unicorn. She asked us her full description and named her public enemy number 1 in all of Equestria. What happened next was that Searchlock and I went to a fancy restaurant with the money we received for solving the case. We spent it all, but it was worth the distraction. We both needed it. I could tell Holmes was still thinking about that mare that looked like him in almost all aspects. I couldn't blame him, because I myself was still thinking about that. He took me to my house with the transportation spell he knew. We parted ways as he returned ti his flat in the city. I wondered all night what I would do next... The next day, we both had a pretty alike idea. I ended up moving to his flat. My brothers were pretty surprised, actually. And that is how I met detective Searchlock Holmes, and I thought about that and other things as I walked over to the doo with my luggage in my back. I remember the first time I knocked the door of his flat, and as I stepped for the first time into number 221b Baker Street... The next day, we both had a pretty alike idea. I ended up moving to his flat. My brothers where pretty surprised, actually. And that is how I met detective Searchlock Holmes, and I thought about that and other things as I walked over to the door,with ny luggage in my back. I remember the first time I knocked the door of his flat, and as I stepped,for the first time into number 221b Baker Street...