Storm had just returned from leave but crime waits for no one. What will he see today? Maybe a superhero.
Storm had just returned from being grounded by a busted wing from a fight earlier in the week and he's ready to get back on the strange streets of Ponyville. But before he could he noticed his new neighbors are acting really strange. On top of that many thing are disappearing all over town. Could it be the new arrives?
Shadow Storm had just finished loading all the spare wood into his basement for the fire. Now with that finished he had to place all of his groceries into their proper places in his kitchen. Storm closed the doors and locked it.
The winter season was right around the corner in Ponyville and everyone was stocking up on firewood for long cold nights ahead. Although, winters in Ponyville were never really harsh nor cold. Actually, it was really peaceful. Where Storm came from the winter meant cold day and nights along with heavy snow and epic snowball fights.
When Storm was walking to his front door he saw a moving wagon with a blue cover at a house across the street. Storm’s neighbor Elaina, was standing outside watching the movers load boxes and furniture into the house.
Instead of going in the house Storm decided to look in on the new neighbor. “Hey, Elaina.” Storm said as he walked towards her. “We got somebody new moving on the block?”
Elaina nodded. “Yea. I met them when I was working in my garden. It was a married couple, It was only a moment because they seemed in a hurry and went straight into the house. It was wired.”
“Yeah, just give them time.” Storm committed. “There new to town. They don’t know everybody yet.”
Seconds later a yellow mare with an orange mane walked outside the house. She was wearing a red scarf around her neck and begin to pay the movers.
“I thought you said she was married.” Storm asked. “Where’s the husband?”
“I don’t know inside maybe. You know Storm mares can be independent too.”
“Where did…” Storm stopped himself before he could say anything else. He knows it will lead to something he didn’t want, so he just dropped it. “Never mind.”
The movers begin to leave with the wagon in tow. Elaina tapped Storm on his shoulder. “Now is probably a good time to introduce yourself Storm.” She suggested. “You never know when you might get a chance again.”
Before Storm could answer Elaina dragged Storm across the street to the pink mare.
“Hi, Elaina.” She said. “Oh is this your husband?”
"No, No.” She said. “This is Shadow Storm.”
She turned to Storm. “Shadow Storm my name is SunShine.”
“Nice to meet you.” Storm smiled. “Where you from.”
“SHINE!!!” A voice came from the house.
Everyone jumped at the angry yell. It almost sounded like a hug bear roaring in pain.
“Yes?” Shine replied. Her voice was shaking with fear. “Is there something wrong.”
“Get in here and unpack these boxes they're not gonna do it themselves!”
Shine turned back Elaina and Storm. “I have to go nice meeting you.” Shine turned around and went back into the house and shut the door behind her.
“Who was that.” Storm asked still staring at the house.
“I think that was the husband, Burn was the name Shine called him. He kinda of creeped me out.”
“Creeped you out how?”
“The look on his face. When you see him you know what I’m talking about.” Elaina shook her head. “Anyway, I got to pick up Button from school. I’ll see you around.”
Elaina waved goodbye and left towards the schoolhouse.
Before Storm went back into his home. He turned around to the neighbor's house. He felt this was going to be the first of many incidents.
“I don’t get it. Why would you even do that in the first place?” Storm asked.
“Because.” Star sighed. “StarLight wanted to try something new and I couldn't say no.”
Strom was at his desk with Star waiting on special orders from the chief herself with an assignment for the both of them. She just said to wait at your desk and I’ll be there.
“But, Star you have four left hoofs. I’ve seen you dance and honestly, you're not that good. Plus, remember the police graduation party?”
“Hey, that doesn’t count.” Star protested. “It was graduation and I had like three bowls of that awesome ice cream. I’m amazed I got home.”
“I dragged you home.” Storm reminded. “You passed out of the floor. We almost called the hospital and have them deal with you.”
“What are you two talking about?” Night asked walking to the desk.
“Nothing important,” Star answered quickly. “Hey, chief why didn’t you allow us in at roll call.”
“I was about to explain that. First thing.” She turned to Storm and smiled. “Storm welcome back.” Storm nodded. “Second thing. While you were gone there has been a number of robbers all over town.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” Star cut in. “Is that still going on?”
“Yes, and the mayor is on my tail about it. It’s been happening for almost a week now.”
“So what have they taken?” Storm asked.
“Here take a look.” Night give Storm list of all the stolen merchandise Star looked over his shoulder. “At the moment just objects. Sofa, tables, a queen size bed.”
“So basely there stealing living room and bedroom sets?” Star asked as he continued shining the list.
“Yea, in a nutshell, I guess.”
Storm continued reading the list and Star did have a point. Sofa, a loveseat, dining table and a queen size bed. It's almost everything you need for a new couple moving in. Could it be?
“Well is there any new leads?” Star asked. “Last time I checked there wasn’t any.”
“Wait there was nothing?” Storm asked pulling his attention away from the paper.
“Nothing.” Night confirmed. “This group or lone pony is fast and quick like a cat and quiet like a mouse. We can’t get anything and witnesses can’t either. So here’s your assessment for today got to the locations of the robbers and find anything. It shouldn’t be hard.”
“Well, that was a total waste of time.” Storm thought as he walked home after going through a wild goose chase all day. Out of the four locations, only one of them has a hoof print that belongs to a stallion. Even with that, it’s still nothing so the whole day was a total wash. Followed by a whole afternoon of filing reports from the break-ins.
As Storm was nearing home he heard a strange noise coming from the across the street. When Storm tried looking around for the source of the sound all he could conclude was that it was coming from the new neighbor's house.
Normally Storm would have looked into it a little more. But, with a slow healing wing, walking around all day asking questions with the same answer and a small stack of paperwork. Storm just wanted to relax. Plus they just moved in, maybe they were in the middle of unpacking. Right?.
“No, No, No.” Storm muttered to himself everytime he flipped through a report of recent robberies in the last month. He had just finished Ponyville’s with wasn’t a lot. Now he was looking at the reports from the next town over.
“What’s wrong Storm having trouble with homework?” Night asked from behind.
“I wish.” Storm huffed as he tossed the folder on his desk. “At least homework gave you clues and if you didn’t get the clue there was always cheating.” Storm turned around in his chair. “Am I right?”
In Front of Storm was Night and two mares. One was an earth pony with green skin and along with a long green mane with yellow highlights. The other was a white pegasus with a black mane.
“Who are they?” Storm asked.
“This is Green Clover and Comet. They just transferred here from Fillydelphia.”
“I’m not training recruits,” Strom said turning around back to his desk and continued to flip through the papers. Storm was turned back around.
“They're not rookies, there train detectives like you and Star.”
“You're just a ray of sunshine aren’t you?” Comet asked. Her voice had an edge to it.
“I try my best.” Storm replied in a mocking tone.
Comet rolled her eyes. “I know your type. The lone wolf. You work alone because you're too afraid to show your feelings towards anypony.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. I am a team player and I have a partner, who is a complete psychopath and has not been fired. Let alone been suspended.”
“That does bring up a good point.” Night said once she saw the empty desk across from Storm. “Where’s Star he shoulda been here 10 minutes ago.”
“I’m here,” Star said coming from out of nowhere. “You will not be believed the morning I had.”
“Two things Star. One, it's three in the afternoon.” Storm pointed out. “Two, please tell me it involves the spring of robbers around town.”
“Yeah, it does,” Star confirmed. “And it’s our first lead along with an idea of the witness.”
“Well, start talking.” Night urged Star.
“It’s kind of a long story so I’ll try to down it for you. When I was heading to the post office to pick up a package early in the morning I saw this wagon in front of sugar cube corner. I went inside to grab a Strudel for breakfast.”
“Star get to the point please.” Night said impatiently.
“Sorry. The point is that the four locations that were robbed this morning had the same story. A wagon was in front of the building and gone the next. Along with the owner's money or something of value.”
“So what you mean is this wagon is quick getaway?” Storm asked
“More like a hiding gamic then a getaway,” Star answered. “Today’s items were safes or something of high value that will cause a lot of unwanted attention if they had it out in the open The wagon has a cover over it so no one can see inside. On top of all that this pony hit these shops like clockwork.”
“Let me get this straight.” Night said. “Not only did this pony avoid us for the past three weeks but there is a wagon that we completely overlooked, this was all planned out and I might just be spitballing here, a unicorn is using an invisible spell to steal items from stores and homes on top of that the wagon was a getaway to make it look like a normal citizen.”
Star waited a moment before replying rubbing his hoof on his chin. “Yeah, that’s what I concluded too.” Star finally noticed the two mares behind Night. “Who are they?”
“Rookies.” Storm answered.
“Neat. So buddy what’s the game plan?”
“First things first.” Storm said. “We have a positive I.D that it’s a unicorn, but we don’t know what he or she looked like and if they are working alone or in a group.”
“So basically we have a bit of a jump on them.” Night said. “They don’t know that we have a lead on them so we can catch them by surprise. Storm takes a few pegasus officers with you and looks around town for a wagon, there aren’t too many in town.
“I’ll go alone.”
“No, you won’t. We need to find this pony now. This might be the only break we have and we can’t waste it.” Night turned to Comet. “Go with him.”
“Chief?” Clover said in a quiet voice.
“I want you to take the southern part of town.”
“Chief Night,” Clover repeated a bit louder.
“If you find anything to say it over the radio.”
“Chief Night,” Clover said loud enough to be heard.
“What?” She asked.
“They're gone.”
Clover pointed to the desk were Storm sat at. The desk was empty and a window was open. Star was nowhere to be seen in the whole room.
“Oh for the love of.” Night sighed facehoofing her forehead. “Ok new plan while these two are out searching, you and Clover go around and get more info. Were ending this today.”
1 hour later.
“Well, looks like we're at a dead end,” Star said. “All the wagons in town had either an alibi or they were just broken.”
The two officers sat on a bench at the park that was still being rebuilt after the stampede that nearly bankrupted the town from the total it would cost to rebuild everything.
“Yeah, it was the only thing we had. I don’t get how nobody saw or remember a wagon.” Storm said staring at a cloudless afternoon sky.
“In their defense, nine times out of ten these robberies happened when it was the dead of night or early in the morning. Which not a lot of ponies couldn’t be around or even see at the time.”
Storm closed his eyes and sighed. This was getting ridiculous. First, they couldn’t get a lead for anything. Now they finally caught a break and it was a dead end. Pretty much the story of his case. The only thing we had now was the wagon that was a possible getaway.
“Wagon.” Storm whispered. The only positive object in the case that they couldn’t find. “Wait a minute.” Storm said shooting his head up. “Could it be the wagon from the neighbors.”
“What’s wrong,” Star asked noticing Storm talking to himself. “You got something?”
“You said you saw the wagon right?” Storm asked. “Do you remember if it had a cover?”
Star tapped his head a few times. “I didn’t say this but a witness did. She said there was a wagon with a blue cover seen around town. The puller was a yellow mare with an orange mane.”
“Son of…” Storm muttered.
“What?”
“You just describe my neighbor. I think she’s the one behind all of this.”
Officer Shadow Storm please return to HQ immediately.
“That can’t be good,” Star said.
“No, it can’t.” Storm shook his head. “Star I need you to stack out my neighbors in case something happens like if they try to move anything or see something fishy.”
“You really don’t like your neighbors do you?” Star asked eyeing Storm.
“No, I like SunShine she seems pretty nice. It’s the husband I’m worried about. There something off about him.”
“Alright, I need to rest anyway. I’ll be in your house is that cool?”
“Touch my lemon cake and I’ll kill you.” Storm warned.
When Storm arrived he was immediately directed to the interrogation room. On his way there he bumped into Clover.
“Storm right?” She asked.
“Yea, why did Night want me to come back?”
“Come on,” Clover said gesturing to the interrogation room. “I’ll explain on the way.”
“We think we found the accomplice to the spring of robbers while we were double checking the shops and houses that were hit today. When we were leaving one of the stores we saw two stallions about to have a fight. Comet arrests the stallion while the other got away.”
“Again I’ll ask, why am I here?”
“Because we also arrested the mare that was with the second stallion that got away. Not, two minutes in the room she confessed that she helped with the robberies and she will only speak to you.”
They arrived at the interrogation room where Storm saw Comet talking to SunShine. Comet looked frustrated while SunShine looked confused like she didn’t know how to respond.
“Does she what she’s doing?” Storm asked.
“No.” Clover sighed. “She wanted to do it herself idiota.” (Idiot)
Storm turned to Clover. “Did you just speak Spanish?”
“Yea I’m trying to stop but everytime Comet does something stupid I can’t help it.”
“Storm. Come in. Storm.”
“Yeah, Star what’s going on?”
“There is some weird stuff going down.”
“How wired?” Storm asked a bit worried.
“Three stallions came to your neighbor's house and now they're moving a bunch of stuff from the basement to a wagon.”
“Is the wagon the same like I describe it .”
“Yep.”
“Shit.” Storm growled. So it was them.
“Wait a minute. Hey, I think that they left some stuff.”
“How do you know?”
“They just left and I’ve been reading their lips every time one of them talked.”
“Did they say anything interesting?”
“A few thing that makes me wanna go in the house.”
“You can’t do that alone. I’m coming to help stay put.”
“10-4”
“Couver.” Storm said.
“Clover.” She corrected.
“Sorry, I need you to help my partner with a search”
“What do I tell the Chief when she gets here?”
“Tell her I probably found the real robbers and there moving it all out of town.”
“Probably?” She asked in an uneasy voice.
“Probably.” Storm repeated back to her.
“By the time Storm arrived in his neighborhood. Star was already outside waiting at Storm’s front doorstep. Once Star catched Storm up on everything that he forgot to mention over the radio the two officers ran to Shine’s backyard and found a shed.
“That’s where they're probably hiding everything.” Star pointed at the shad. “They were moving that stuff way too fast. There’s nowhere it was dug up and I don’t see a basement entrance around here.”
“Let’s check it out before they get back.” Storm suggested walking up to the shed. “Star I’ll keep watch. Open the door and see what’s in there. Try not to mess up or move anything.”
“Got it,” Star replied before his horn started to glow along with the door lock.
Seconds later Storm heard a lock click, a door opening and Star’s chuckle.
“Holy crap.” Storm though. “How long was that four seconds.”
Storm kept a lookout. Watching for anything and anyone who comes down the street and passes by the house.
“WHAT THE FUCK!!!” Star yelled from inside the shed. Making the shake with his yell.
Storm jumped down the roof of the house and ran inside the shed. In the shed was only two brown boxes one of them Star looked in. His mouth was gaping. If it was possible for a pony’s jaw to hit the floor Star would be doing right now.
“What? What’s going on.” Storm said once he came in the shed.
“There’s so much cocaine!” Star finally said.
“What?” Storm said in disbelief.
“Check it out.” Star levitated the box and angled it so Storm can see inside.
Sure enough, there was white stuff ripped in a clear package the size of a small pillow. Judging by the size of the box and the size of the package Storm guessed there were about 40 packs in there.
“Star are you sure?”
“Am I sure?” Star said as if Storm asked him a stupid question. “Yes, I’m sure. If I wasn’t then what about the other box with a crapload of bits?”
“What?” Storm asked turning his attention to the other box besides Star.
Storm looked in. The box was filled with bits that were stacked on top of each other neatly.
“What the heck was those guys doing?” Star asked still staring at the box full of drugs. “And what was in the other boxes they had?”
“No idea but let’s get them out of here. If they find us here then it’s game over for both of us. Grab that box I got this one.” Storm picked up the box and carefully placed it on his back. “Let’s get out of here and head back to the station.”
“Let’s take the back way. If we run into these guys there will be a problem.”
“That’s a lot of crack and drug money.” Night said looking at the two boxes in disbelieve. “Where did you find this and please tell me you didn’t bust down a random house door.”
Star begins to explain everything to Night about what he seen from Star’s window along with Storm tell her about the strange noises from a few nights ago.
“I really wish you two didn’t do that.” Night sighed.
“Why not? They would have used it somewhere else.” Star asked.
“Because Star.” Night looked down at the boxes. “When they come back for these two boxes, what do you think will happen to the neighborhood you live in Storm?”
“I...I didn’t really think about.” Storm admits. “I was in the moment I wasn’t thinking about the fall out that might happen to everyone else.”
Star had a look a guilt on his face as well. He felt the same way. Storm didn’t know much about drug dealers period and he really didn’t want to. He saw how they act in movies, in the real world they were just the same to anyone who stole from them or didn’t make good on their deals.
“You have to hurry and return these. I’ll think of a way to track them down.”
The door to her office burst open. It was Comet she had a look of worry and fear on her face. “Chief we have a huge problem.!”
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice.” Night announced in the briefing room at the station. In the room was Storm, Star, Comet, and Clover along with a few other officers. “If some of you haven’t heard three fillies were abducted by a wanted criminal and his gang at six o'clock today on their way home. The criminal gang is none other than the Purple Aces.”
“Who’s the Purple Aces.” Someone said.
“The Purple Aces are one of Equestria's most dangerous gangs. They stole thousands of bits from a small town like ours to a big city like Cloudsdale. Also, they run a huge drug trafficking right all around Equestria.
“Wait, Mrs.Night,” Clover said. “If they are so wanted then how did they get here in Ponyville? The stop before here is Huntsville and their guards are is top of the line.”
“Because of the invisible spell.” Night answered. “Once it’s activated you can’t see them. Plus, they forced a mare to marriage the leader of the operation as a cover for the house.”
“These guys are a total douchebag,” Comet said for the whole team to hear.
“Let’s get to the point.” Night sighed. “Exactly fifty minutes after Storm and Star brought these drugs and money to the station, we received word that three fillies were missing and the abductor left a note. It said that they wanted 500,000 bits and the drugs that were stolen from him. They want it in a train cart at the train station before 10:00 o’clock tonight in exchange for the fillies unharmed.”
“Isn’t there anything else we can do?” Star asked. “There has to be another way.
“No.” Night sighed. “They don’t negotiate with Police or the Royal Guard. We’ll need a smart team together on this.”
“Wild guess but that’s us isn’t it?” Storm said.
“Yes, it is.” Night confirmed. “I pick all of you out of everyone in the department.
“Great, what’s the plan?”
“Your gonna stack out the train yard. Be on the lookout for a cart with a yellow X, that’s where the drop off is gonna be. Once we finished our end of the deal and confirm we have the fillies go in and make the bust.”
“What if it goes bad,” Comet asked. “What if they don’t give the foal’s back or they are harmed?”
“Go and kick their flanks” Night answered. “Storm and Comet you're the lookout, stay off the ground and stay out of sight as much as possible try and find anyone acting suspiciously. Clover and Star you're the drop-off team get in get out. SWAT you already know your role. Search and Rescue.
“Alright everyone is position?” Night asked over the earpiece.
“Ground team in position,” Star said. “I have drop off ready just give me the word.”
“Lookout on standby,” Comet called. “We’ve been here since 7:00 and seen very little actively giving us hits on where foals are hiding.”
“SWAT, still searching.”
“Alright everyone is ready. Star, begin the drop.”
“Moving.”
From Storm’s lookout point he had a clear view of Star and Clover. It was exactly 10:00. Night had fallen, it’s pitch black dark, very cold and what the kidnappers failed to mention was that the exchange was in a deserted part of the train yard with one barely working light that flickers constantly that just so happened to be right in front of the target train cart.
Star and Clover were nearly at the train cart, when suddenly out of the corner of Storm’s eye he saw something about 5 yards behind Clover. The figure was slowly
“Clover.” Storm said to the radio. “I think something is following you.”
“What?” Clover whispered. “What do I do?”
“Star!” Comet nearly shouted. “Watch out there’s something moving from both sides of the cart.”
Just when Storm looked back at Star there were three more figures moving in front of him. The light on Star’s horn wasn’t showing any of the features on any of the members.
“What’s the plan?” Comet asked not particularly to anyone. “Star and Clover are in trouble. We have to do something.”
“I’m going in.” Storm said jumping off his cloud and flying towards Star. “Star, I’m coming hang tight. We're going to plan B.”
“Plan B?” Night asked. Storm could already imagine the confused look on her face. “What’s plan B?”.
Storm hurried flapping his wings. He ripped off his jacket and tossed is earpiece inside. Storm arrived near the site where he could hear someone talking. It was Star’s voice.
“Where’s the foal’s?” Star asked. His voice was serious. He must be in trouble. Star never talks like that unless he was in trouble. “We don’t want any trouble.”
“Give me the cash.” The voice demanded. “Then I’ll show you where they are.”
Storm was just he hide the cart where they said to meet. He flew up and the roof and prone down and peeked over the cart. All the figures were earth ponies.
“How about you give me the foal’s and I’ll give you your stuff.”
“For a unicorn that’s outnumbered two to five your sure are talking big.”
“I'm used to it.”
“Last chance. Hand it over.” He out stacked his hoof. “Or we're gonna have a problem.” The figures in front and behind Star started to move in. Clover moved back with each step the figure took.
Storm suddenly studded up and quickly stomped on the cart twice. This made all the figures turn around and look at Storm on top of the cart.
“What the?” He said when he saw Storm. “Who the hell are you?”
Storm spread out his wings, puffed his chest out and did his best Batstallion impression “I’m your worst nightmare.”
Before anyone could get out another word. Storm jumped off the cart, right jab one stallion and bucked the other knocking them both on the ground out cold.
“Are you Batstallion?” He asked looking for a way out.
Storm slowly turned his head to him. “I’m only going to ask you this once.” Storm walked to him. “Where are the foal’s?”
“In there. In there!” He pointed to a cart next to Clover.
Clover unlocked the cart door, looked inside and confirmed. “There here señor and they don't seem hurt."
“Hey, Batstallion.” Star called. “The other two got away.”
Storm gives the stallion the best death stare he could give. “Stay put till the police get here got that?” He shakes his head.
Storm took off into the night sky. Star walked towards the stallion. “See? Was that so hard?”
“I can’t believe this.” Night sighed. “You two have done so much unbelievable things in the last five weeks.”
“Five weeks really?” Storm asked still wearing the costume without the mask. “It felt like so much longer.”
“You stole back a diamond that stopped the town from becoming bankrupt.” Night continued. “You lead the town in a huge street fight with the Diamond Dogs, and now not even a week back from being on injured leave you decided to dress up like a superhero and beat up one of the most dangerous gangs in Equestria in a train yard. Is there anything positive about this?”
“I didn’t tases anyone.” Star pointed out.
Night smiled. “Yeah. I guess that’s counts.”
“I’m glad we found the foal’s.” Comet looked over to the parents hugging their children. “It could have been worse.”
“Yes it could.” Clover agreed.
“Yeah, you rookies did ok.” Star congratulated.
Comet eye twitched. “For the last time were not rookies.”
“Then what are you?”
“Oh that reminds me.” Night said. “Your four are now one team.”
“What.” They all said in union of confusion.
“Starting tomorrow you are my special case unit. Get lots of rest tonight because you will have a long day tomorrow along with the paperwork from this crime.
