Letters From Cby Inky QuillChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Chapter 1 October 18, 2013 Outside Canterlot Dear Rainbow Dash, Right now I am sitting on a train. It looks enough like the train back in Ponyville to drown me in memories, yet enough different to keep me from tears. It's raining. It has been for the long four hours I've been on this train. My ink is running out so I'm afraid this will have to be short. I suppose that is good for you since you're not a big fan of reading. Business-wise, I have it. I have my item. Please inform Twilight, if you know where she is. You're the only one where I know the location of. Unless you've moved on. I'm in this cart alone. I'm beginning to remember as we boarded the train together all of those times. All of us. Together. Though I'm thinking of the time we boarding the train with MMM, so their wasn't the fear of the danger ahead.Oh Rainbow, I'm glad I'm alone in this moment of tears. My mascara is running and I couldn't stand someone seeing this. I can imagine you and Apple Jack snorting at this, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy would comfort me, and Twilight would just smile that odd smile as if she knew something we didn't. Have you ever wondered Dash? What if Twilight knew this terrible thing would happen? What if she had this all planned before it happened? Just enough ink left to say this: Good luck Rainbow Dash! Best wishes, Rarity Sherclop Spade placed the letter on his desk next to the other four sitting there. He pulled the candle closer to the pages. He turned his head for the fifth time that night to the faded paper with a horribly drawn calender on it. It was still October 18, 2016. Sherclop opened the top drawer to his desk and reached for his pipe, as he often did when thinking hard. He ran his hoof through the empty drawer in bitter disappointment. He fell for it every time. His pipe would never be there again and it hadn't been there for the past thousands of times he looked for there it the last three years. He closed the drawer and bit his lip. Hoofsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by doors banging open and deep hissing voices. In one swift move Sherclop had the letters tucked his drawer, had the book at the corner of his desk in front of him, and slammed his face in it with a snore. Three Changelings entered with a bang. Sherclop's head popped up. He ran an ash-colored hoof through his rumpled black mane and dragged it across his face. "Some one miss they curfew!" one hissed in rough Equestrian. "Go on you fools," the most decorated one hissed in his own foul language, drawing his sword. "This one's stayed up too long, too many times." They sword was suspended in air by green magic. The blade itself was long, jagged, and sharp. The silver blade caught a shaft of moonlight that leaked through the torn curtains on the small dirty window. Sherclop's gray blue eyes widened in fear. The other two laughed, which sounded more like bats screeching, and left. The last Changeling shut the door and sheathed his sword. "You, Sherclop, better start getting to bed at curfew," he laughed. "Technically I'm asleep, General. That should count," Sherclop replied in the gruesome language of Changelings. "Rules are rules Sleeping Beauty." Sherclop shut his book with a sigh. The Changeling lifted off the ground with thin bug like wings. His wings issued a slight buzzing sound as he flew to the desk. Sherclop held his breath as the Changeling's hot foul breath rushed across his cheek. The Changeling lifted his book. "I would take this from you, but everypony, by law, must have a Rule Book," he said with a snort. Sherclop looked over the Changeling in disgust. His skinny black build was clad in black metal with some parts the color of his bulging blue eyes. His sharp white teeth grinned a wicked grin from underneath his helmet. His spiky black mane, if you could call it a mane, stuck out the top of the helmet like a ridge, as well as his torn ears. His short tail stuck out from underneath his armor. Sherclop forced a smile. "Well, what about that punishment?" Sherclop asked. The Changeling reached into his armor with a holey hoof. He lifted a small vial filled with brown sludge from his hoof with a cocoon of green magic. He pulled his sword out and put a drop on the sword. "This is a special little brew I made for you. You'll get scars without the actual pain. That way, I won't get in trouble for not hurting you." "Sounds more like it was made for you." The Changeling laughed, "No. We're friends, Spade." "Of course General Myrkyzel." General Myrkyzel drew a line across one of Sherclop's cheek with the sludge. A grunt of pain escaped Sherclop, though he didn't feel any. The General did the same to his other cheek. Then Myrkyzel traced his hoof with the contents of the vial. He put his hoof to Sherclop's left eye. He muffled a grunt as the cold sludge touched his eye. His eye swelled shut and blood trickled down his cheeks. A fine layer of blood appeared on the tip of Myrkyzel's blade. "There, Sherclop. This is our little secret," General Myrkyzel said closing the vial and tucking it back into his armor. "Right." "Now get to bed!" he yelled in Equestrian. He sheathed his sword, turned tail, and flung the door open. "Tomorrow you better be in your right place after eight!" he threatened. He slammed the door shut and stomped down the hall to join the other Changelings in their search for trouble makers. "Friend," Sherclop spat on the ground. Sherclop hauled himself into bed and blew out the candle. He rolled himself up in the thin blanket and frowned. There was a cold breeze coming in through the crack in the window. Spring was over and fall was coming. Sherclop rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling with one eye. He hated General Myrkyzel for calling him his friend. How could he be friends with someone was Queen Chrysalis' pet? Sure he had gotten him less punishments than he would have if it had been any other Changeling, but he still helped take everything he had held dear to him before Chrysalis came along. And to Sherclop the bad outweighed the good. Sherclop shook his head. The letters were more important. In the letter he had gotten that morning, Rarity said that she had her "item" and told Rainbow Dash to tell Twilight. Rainbow Dash's name had only come up once in the first letter from Twilight to Spike, whoever Spike was. Twilight had said that Rainbow Dash would try to help Twilight and rouse the others to do so. So Spike would have to send Rainbow Dash on a wild goose chase but have her be careful. She said she knew hard it would be for Spike to lie so Twilight mentioned something about a private letter to Rainbow Dash that was enclosed. It wasn't there when he had opened it. Sherclop milled over how to find out about Rainbow Dash long into the night. Finally weariness over took wonder Chapter 2Chapter 2 "Get up pony filth! I knows you all wants to get to break feasts on time!" a Changeling yelled along with the banging of pots together. The was a few bangs on Sherclop's door, "Go to bed late, eh Spade?" That wasn't General Myrkyzel. "Yes sir," Sherclop replied hopping out of bed. "Well, then there's no excuse to be late for breakfast or work!" "I understand sir." "Good!" Lieutenant Gruesome's hoofsteps retreated down the hallway. Sherclop sighed as he realized it was Sunday. He braced himself against the door to the storm cellar as the memory hurricane hit. This one was too strong for the thin door and weak Earthpony. It was a Sunday, four years ago. When she had come. Sherclop was in his apartment, but it wasn't as shabby. The walls were painted a fall red, his wooden desk was covered with tall dusty piles of paper, his bed had many blankets and a feather mattress rather than hay, a nice carpet covered the floor, and bookshelf filled with books was in the corner. There was a knock at the door. "Mr. Spade?" an old voice called. "I have someone here for you." "Ms. Key," Sherclop said around his pipe. "I don't accept clients on Sundays." "I'm aware, Mr. Spade. This girl seemed desperate." "Fine, but this better not become a habit." "Of course Mr. Spade," the owner if the building replied shyly. Then she came in. A unicorn shut the door behind her with orange magic. Her mane cascaded down like an orange waterfall. Her tail and eyes matched her mane as did the magic that shut the door behind her. Her creme coat made her eyes pop out like glimmering crystals. Her face wasn't as pretty as it must have been on a normal day because it was etched with sorrow. Sherclop realized his mouth was hanging open. He cleared his throat to recover his thoughts. "It's not often that I accept clients on a Sunday, miss. So I would appreciate if you didn't tell anypony about this," Sherclop said studying the brown carpet. "Of course," the mare sniffed. "Then you are Detective Sherclop Spade?" "The one and only." "It's nice to finally meet you. My father spoke very highly of you." Sherclop quickly realized what kind of case this was. "That's nice to hear," he replied getting the courage to look up from the floor. "Who is your father?" "My father was," she choked. "Mosley Orange. He was murdered three days ago. My mother disappeared two days ago. The Police found her dead this morning in Appleloosa." The mare began to wail. Sherclop hated this part in his job. Mosley Orange, was a fine stallion. He loved to host fancy dinner parties. He often invited Sherclop to some since he recovered the thief who had robbed hundreds of his oranges. Sherclop loathed dinner parties, but showed up at some to keep the stallion happy. Mosley wasn't the nicest stallion, but he was alright. Mrs. Orange, as Sherclop never remembered her right name, was like Mosley but doubly unkind. She was also a perfectionist. Sherclop assumed as her perfect world crumbled around her, she was done. "The Police you say?" Sherclop asked, breaking the silence. "Yes," the mare whispered. "They haven't satisfied my need for speed, you might say. Since, my father trusted you, I decided to ask you for help." "This complicates things a bit." "How so?" the mare asked, curious. "Well, the police and I aren't on the best of terms," Sherclop said slowly. "They, well, as you said weren't quick enough you might say. How about I come to the crime scene tonight, Miss- I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." "Orange. Orange Tea, sir." "Miss Tea, will tonight be fine with you?" "Of course, sir." "No need for sir, Miss Tea." Finally Sherclop forced the door shut. He glanced down at his Cutie Mark, as he often forced himself not to do, to see the shovel digging up dirt. He looked away to block the door again. He crossed the wooden floor to the corner where the bookshelf had sat. There now stood a hat rack, with a tan fedora and trench coat. He pulled the brim of his hat over his black eye and pulled the collar of his coat up over his cheeks. Sherclop didn't want to give Ms. Key any more stress than she already carried. The hallway was almost empty except the other stragglers who might not receive breakfast. One of these was Ms. Heartstone. She had a bright pink coat and purple mane when the Changeling brought her here, but the bright colors had faded long ago. The Pegasus had once worked a day care. Her sister was the well known Cheerlie of Ponyville, who had won the Teacher of the Year award many years in a row. Ms. Heartstone's eyes had deep bags underneath them. As did the three fillies that always trailed behind her. The Unicorn and Earthpony were silent and hardworking, but alas the little Pegasus was not. "Heartstone?" the little one asked. "Yes, dear," she sighed. "Do I have to go to work today?" "Yes." "Why?" "We've been over this Scootaloo." "But I don't want to!" "We've been over that, too," the older Pegasus replied, losing her patience. "The Changelings make us." "If Rainbow Dash were here, this never would have happened!" the young Pegasus, Scootaloo, whined. Chapter 3Chapter 3 Sherclop froze in his hooves as he heard the conversation behind him. Did she just say Rainbow Dash? There was no way. Ms. Heartstone grabbed the ropes around Scootaloo's wings and pulled her into her face. "Now listen her little filly," she seethed. "If Rainbow Dash or any of the Elements of Harmony cared about us, they wouldn't have let Chrysalis take over! So just stop saying that! You're going to get us all in trouble!" She dropped the filly to the ground. She beckoned to the others with her barely purple tail and stamped off to the elevator. The Earthpony turned to Scootaloo with hot tears streaming down her dirty yellow face. I'm sorry, she mouthed. The Unicorn simply followed Ms. Heartstone with her head down. As soon as the elevator doors closed in front of him, Sherclop walked to the young Pegasus' side and crouched down. She had her face buried in the floor and her little orange body was trembling. He placed a hoof on her shoulder, and the little filly looked up. "Who are you?" she asked in quavering voice. "Used to be Detective Sherclop Spade," he said wishing he could take the words back as soon as they escaped his mouth. "Walk with me, will you?" "Where?" "To breakfast." "Sure." Sherclop was surprised as the filly agreed to his offer so quickly. He sighed as he remembered these weren't the days they used to be. He offered her a hoof. She accepted it gratefully. Scootaloo followed Sherclop down the stairs. They finished the first flight in silence. Scootaloo murmured, to his surprise, "I've been expecting you, Mr. Spade." Sherclop stopped, shocked. "Oh?" "I received a letter yesterday. In my sandwich, oddly enough. It was written in all green ink. It said to be expecting somepony asking about Rainbow Dash." "I assume you kno- knew her." She nodded and squared her shoulders. "Rainbow Dash was the mare I looked up to," Scootaloo replied after a while. "She was like a sister to me. My only family. Besides the other Cutie Mark Crusaders." "Was this letter that you received, in your sandwich, from somepony who was addressed as 'C'?" Scootaloo looked equally surprised. "Y-yes." With every letter Sherclop received, on the outside next to the original to and from was his name written in green ink and the letter "C" below it. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders, you say?" Sherclop asked, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Who are they?" "The other two fillies with Ms. Heartstone. The Earthpony is Apple Bloom and the Unicorn is Sweetie Belle. We're not the only ones, but we're the original C.M.C." A thousand question whizzed around Sherclop's head like parasprites. "Are you alright, Mr. Spade?" Scootaloo asked, putting a hoof on his shoulder. Sherclop steadied himself. "Fine, fine. All's well. Miss Scootaloo, what position do you work in the factory?" "Paper folder," Scootaloo replied dryly. "Hmm. Will you join me for lunch?" "I don't see why not. Ms. Heartstone won;t let me sit with her today since I brought up Rainbow Dash." "Breakfast! We're going to be late!" Sherclop realized. "Talk while we walk. Why does Ms. Heartstone not want you to talk about Rainbow Dash?" "Ms. Heartstone only doesn't want me to talk about her because the Changelings don't anypony to talk about her. Or any of the other Elements of Harmony for that matter. I think this reason is that the Elements of Harmony are the only thing that can bring Chrysalis- Queen Chrysalis- down." Sherclop thought he had read something about an Element of Harmony in the newspaper a long time ago. Long before the Changelings in fact. "What are the Elements of Harmony?" "An Element of Harmony lies in each one of six mares. Applejack was honesty, Pinkie Pie was laughter, Rarity was generosity I believe, Fluttershy was kindness, and Princess Twilight was magic or friendship depending on the way you look at it." "And Rainbow Dash?" "Loyalty." "How are they dangerous to Chrysalis?" "If they each have their necklace- or Twilight's case a crown- and are together, they could defeat any bad guy. They turned Discord back into stone and awesome stuff like that. They even defeated Queen Chrysalis the first time she tried to take over Equestria, and I was there. It was so cool!" "Right. Where are the ponies and the pendants?" "No pony knows for sure. Hidden. Scattered. Or," Scootaloo's voice cracked. "Worse." Sherclop wanted to ask another question, but he couldn't force the filly to bring up anything more personal things. They had already gone down all 9 flights of stairs and reached the lobby. There once was a nice lobby, small library, a small kitchen, and laundry room. The changelings had knocked down all the walls and taken all the furniture out. They placed a dozen tables with two benches to the table and a small oven and counter where Ms. Key worked endless hours preparing meals for everypony in the Key Apartments Possible Danger Facility #0001. Scootaloo and Sherclop approached the counter. Ms. Key turned to them with a weak smile. With a yellow hoof she wiped sweat from her brow. "Good morning Mr. Sherclop. Miss Scootaloo." "As to you too, Ms. Key. Anything left?" "I'm afraid we only one tray left." "Scootaloo can have it," Sherclop nodded. At the same time Scootaloo smiled, "We'll share." Ms. Key lifted a tray with pink magic. A bowl of dry oats, a stale bread crust, a browning apple, and a glass of brown water. Scootaloo dipped her head, picked up the wooden tray with her mouth, and trotted away. "Have a nice day Ms. Key." "As to you too, Mr. Sherclop," Ms. Key finished their morning routine. Ms. Key pulled the actual last tray in front of her and bit into the wormy apple. Tear formed in her blue eyes as Sherclop turned away. He sat with Scootaloo at an almost empty table. As Sherclop ate his oats realized she wasn't so little after all. She was probably around thirteen. Scootaloo was fragile looking was all. Her bones jutted out of her dirty orange coat. her young back bent under the weight of a responsibility she should never of had to deal with at this age. And on top of that loss. Loss of her mentor and guide in this world. Rainbow Dash, was also supposed to guard Equestria. She probably felt betrayed. "Scootaloo?" "Yes?" she asked her purple eyes looking into his like a shattered purple glass. "Did you have any family outside of Rainbow Dash?" "Mom died when i was born. Dad died a year later. He was drunk and he tried to drive a boat. The boat the family reunion was on. No one survived. Luckily he left me in a chicken coop and accidentally brought a sack of flour instead of me. Though sometimes I don't feel lucky," she said waving her hoof around the room. "That's where Cheerlie took me into her foster care." She covered her face with the long wisps of her pink mane and busied herself with pulling a worm out of her half of the apple. "I'm sorry to hear that." "Don't be. You asked the question," she said tossing the worm expertly into a Changeling's armor. The Changeling screeched and danced around the room. Everypony tried not laugh as he howled. "You? You're the Prankster Poltergeist?" "Who?" "The one that pranks the Changelings!" "Shh! Not so loud." Scootaloo smirked. "Prankster Poltergeist, eh?" "You're legendary around here." "I had no idea." "Alright you slugs! Since one of you thinks it's funny to assault a Changeling! Unless you 'fess up then ya'll be going to work early!" Gruesome shouted. Lieutenant Gruesome was the boss at Possible Danger Facility #0001. Gruesome wasn't his real name, and Sherclop doubted anyone actually remembered his real name, but that's what everypony called him behind his back. It didn't matter that everypony didn't remember his name in front of him because he commanded everyone call him sir. Yes sir this, no sir, that. Without a word Scootaloo got to her hooves and fell in the designated line. Sherclop stood in the middle of the line. In silence they exited the building. Sherclop wrinkled his nose as the smells of what used to be Manehattan reached his nose. Now they called it Changehattan. Not only was Gruesome a pile of Horse-apples, he was also not very creative. Gruesome fell in next to him. "I warned you," he grumbled in his crude language. "No more funny business." "I wouldn't do something to make my fellow ponies suffer," Sherclop responded. "Sir." "I will find evidence to link you to this and when I do you would have wished you were never born." Gruesome hurried ahead. He stopped and angled his ears towards a large steel gear that had fallen from the clock tower above in the taking of Manehattan. Gruesome shook his head and began yelling at someone at the back of the line to hurry up. Sherclop risked a glance in the direction Gruesome had looked. A filthy white hoof was being dragged into the shadows of the trash covered alley. Sherclop looked towards the factory before someone noticed him and he got in trouble. Stuff like that happened all the time around here. He sent a quick prayer to Celestia and entered the doors of the factory.
Chapter 1Chapter 1 October 18, 2013 Outside Canterlot Dear Rainbow Dash, Right now I am sitting on a train. It looks enough like the train back in Ponyville to drown me in memories, yet enough different to keep me from tears. It's raining. It has been for the long four hours I've been on this train. My ink is running out so I'm afraid this will have to be short. I suppose that is good for you since you're not a big fan of reading. Business-wise, I have it. I have my item. Please inform Twilight, if you know where she is. You're the only one where I know the location of. Unless you've moved on. I'm in this cart alone. I'm beginning to remember as we boarded the train together all of those times. All of us. Together. Though I'm thinking of the time we boarding the train with MMM, so their wasn't the fear of the danger ahead.Oh Rainbow, I'm glad I'm alone in this moment of tears. My mascara is running and I couldn't stand someone seeing this. I can imagine you and Apple Jack snorting at this, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy would comfort me, and Twilight would just smile that odd smile as if she knew something we didn't. Have you ever wondered Dash? What if Twilight knew this terrible thing would happen? What if she had this all planned before it happened? Just enough ink left to say this: Good luck Rainbow Dash! Best wishes, Rarity Sherclop Spade placed the letter on his desk next to the other four sitting there. He pulled the candle closer to the pages. He turned his head for the fifth time that night to the faded paper with a horribly drawn calender on it. It was still October 18, 2016. Sherclop opened the top drawer to his desk and reached for his pipe, as he often did when thinking hard. He ran his hoof through the empty drawer in bitter disappointment. He fell for it every time. His pipe would never be there again and it hadn't been there for the past thousands of times he looked for there it the last three years. He closed the drawer and bit his lip. Hoofsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by doors banging open and deep hissing voices. In one swift move Sherclop had the letters tucked his drawer, had the book at the corner of his desk in front of him, and slammed his face in it with a snore. Three Changelings entered with a bang. Sherclop's head popped up. He ran an ash-colored hoof through his rumpled black mane and dragged it across his face. "Some one miss they curfew!" one hissed in rough Equestrian. "Go on you fools," the most decorated one hissed in his own foul language, drawing his sword. "This one's stayed up too long, too many times." They sword was suspended in air by green magic. The blade itself was long, jagged, and sharp. The silver blade caught a shaft of moonlight that leaked through the torn curtains on the small dirty window. Sherclop's gray blue eyes widened in fear. The other two laughed, which sounded more like bats screeching, and left. The last Changeling shut the door and sheathed his sword. "You, Sherclop, better start getting to bed at curfew," he laughed. "Technically I'm asleep, General. That should count," Sherclop replied in the gruesome language of Changelings. "Rules are rules Sleeping Beauty." Sherclop shut his book with a sigh. The Changeling lifted off the ground with thin bug like wings. His wings issued a slight buzzing sound as he flew to the desk. Sherclop held his breath as the Changeling's hot foul breath rushed across his cheek. The Changeling lifted his book. "I would take this from you, but everypony, by law, must have a Rule Book," he said with a snort. Sherclop looked over the Changeling in disgust. His skinny black build was clad in black metal with some parts the color of his bulging blue eyes. His sharp white teeth grinned a wicked grin from underneath his helmet. His spiky black mane, if you could call it a mane, stuck out the top of the helmet like a ridge, as well as his torn ears. His short tail stuck out from underneath his armor. Sherclop forced a smile. "Well, what about that punishment?" Sherclop asked. The Changeling reached into his armor with a holey hoof. He lifted a small vial filled with brown sludge from his hoof with a cocoon of green magic. He pulled his sword out and put a drop on the sword. "This is a special little brew I made for you. You'll get scars without the actual pain. That way, I won't get in trouble for not hurting you." "Sounds more like it was made for you." The Changeling laughed, "No. We're friends, Spade." "Of course General Myrkyzel." General Myrkyzel drew a line across one of Sherclop's cheek with the sludge. A grunt of pain escaped Sherclop, though he didn't feel any. The General did the same to his other cheek. Then Myrkyzel traced his hoof with the contents of the vial. He put his hoof to Sherclop's left eye. He muffled a grunt as the cold sludge touched his eye. His eye swelled shut and blood trickled down his cheeks. A fine layer of blood appeared on the tip of Myrkyzel's blade. "There, Sherclop. This is our little secret," General Myrkyzel said closing the vial and tucking it back into his armor. "Right." "Now get to bed!" he yelled in Equestrian. He sheathed his sword, turned tail, and flung the door open. "Tomorrow you better be in your right place after eight!" he threatened. He slammed the door shut and stomped down the hall to join the other Changelings in their search for trouble makers. "Friend," Sherclop spat on the ground. Sherclop hauled himself into bed and blew out the candle. He rolled himself up in the thin blanket and frowned. There was a cold breeze coming in through the crack in the window. Spring was over and fall was coming. Sherclop rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling with one eye. He hated General Myrkyzel for calling him his friend. How could he be friends with someone was Queen Chrysalis' pet? Sure he had gotten him less punishments than he would have if it had been any other Changeling, but he still helped take everything he had held dear to him before Chrysalis came along. And to Sherclop the bad outweighed the good. Sherclop shook his head. The letters were more important. In the letter he had gotten that morning, Rarity said that she had her "item" and told Rainbow Dash to tell Twilight. Rainbow Dash's name had only come up once in the first letter from Twilight to Spike, whoever Spike was. Twilight had said that Rainbow Dash would try to help Twilight and rouse the others to do so. So Spike would have to send Rainbow Dash on a wild goose chase but have her be careful. She said she knew hard it would be for Spike to lie so Twilight mentioned something about a private letter to Rainbow Dash that was enclosed. It wasn't there when he had opened it. Sherclop milled over how to find out about Rainbow Dash long into the night. Finally weariness over took wonder
Chapter 2Chapter 2 "Get up pony filth! I knows you all wants to get to break feasts on time!" a Changeling yelled along with the banging of pots together. The was a few bangs on Sherclop's door, "Go to bed late, eh Spade?" That wasn't General Myrkyzel. "Yes sir," Sherclop replied hopping out of bed. "Well, then there's no excuse to be late for breakfast or work!" "I understand sir." "Good!" Lieutenant Gruesome's hoofsteps retreated down the hallway. Sherclop sighed as he realized it was Sunday. He braced himself against the door to the storm cellar as the memory hurricane hit. This one was too strong for the thin door and weak Earthpony. It was a Sunday, four years ago. When she had come. Sherclop was in his apartment, but it wasn't as shabby. The walls were painted a fall red, his wooden desk was covered with tall dusty piles of paper, his bed had many blankets and a feather mattress rather than hay, a nice carpet covered the floor, and bookshelf filled with books was in the corner. There was a knock at the door. "Mr. Spade?" an old voice called. "I have someone here for you." "Ms. Key," Sherclop said around his pipe. "I don't accept clients on Sundays." "I'm aware, Mr. Spade. This girl seemed desperate." "Fine, but this better not become a habit." "Of course Mr. Spade," the owner if the building replied shyly. Then she came in. A unicorn shut the door behind her with orange magic. Her mane cascaded down like an orange waterfall. Her tail and eyes matched her mane as did the magic that shut the door behind her. Her creme coat made her eyes pop out like glimmering crystals. Her face wasn't as pretty as it must have been on a normal day because it was etched with sorrow. Sherclop realized his mouth was hanging open. He cleared his throat to recover his thoughts. "It's not often that I accept clients on a Sunday, miss. So I would appreciate if you didn't tell anypony about this," Sherclop said studying the brown carpet. "Of course," the mare sniffed. "Then you are Detective Sherclop Spade?" "The one and only." "It's nice to finally meet you. My father spoke very highly of you." Sherclop quickly realized what kind of case this was. "That's nice to hear," he replied getting the courage to look up from the floor. "Who is your father?" "My father was," she choked. "Mosley Orange. He was murdered three days ago. My mother disappeared two days ago. The Police found her dead this morning in Appleloosa." The mare began to wail. Sherclop hated this part in his job. Mosley Orange, was a fine stallion. He loved to host fancy dinner parties. He often invited Sherclop to some since he recovered the thief who had robbed hundreds of his oranges. Sherclop loathed dinner parties, but showed up at some to keep the stallion happy. Mosley wasn't the nicest stallion, but he was alright. Mrs. Orange, as Sherclop never remembered her right name, was like Mosley but doubly unkind. She was also a perfectionist. Sherclop assumed as her perfect world crumbled around her, she was done. "The Police you say?" Sherclop asked, breaking the silence. "Yes," the mare whispered. "They haven't satisfied my need for speed, you might say. Since, my father trusted you, I decided to ask you for help." "This complicates things a bit." "How so?" the mare asked, curious. "Well, the police and I aren't on the best of terms," Sherclop said slowly. "They, well, as you said weren't quick enough you might say. How about I come to the crime scene tonight, Miss- I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." "Orange. Orange Tea, sir." "Miss Tea, will tonight be fine with you?" "Of course, sir." "No need for sir, Miss Tea." Finally Sherclop forced the door shut. He glanced down at his Cutie Mark, as he often forced himself not to do, to see the shovel digging up dirt. He looked away to block the door again. He crossed the wooden floor to the corner where the bookshelf had sat. There now stood a hat rack, with a tan fedora and trench coat. He pulled the brim of his hat over his black eye and pulled the collar of his coat up over his cheeks. Sherclop didn't want to give Ms. Key any more stress than she already carried. The hallway was almost empty except the other stragglers who might not receive breakfast. One of these was Ms. Heartstone. She had a bright pink coat and purple mane when the Changeling brought her here, but the bright colors had faded long ago. The Pegasus had once worked a day care. Her sister was the well known Cheerlie of Ponyville, who had won the Teacher of the Year award many years in a row. Ms. Heartstone's eyes had deep bags underneath them. As did the three fillies that always trailed behind her. The Unicorn and Earthpony were silent and hardworking, but alas the little Pegasus was not. "Heartstone?" the little one asked. "Yes, dear," she sighed. "Do I have to go to work today?" "Yes." "Why?" "We've been over this Scootaloo." "But I don't want to!" "We've been over that, too," the older Pegasus replied, losing her patience. "The Changelings make us." "If Rainbow Dash were here, this never would have happened!" the young Pegasus, Scootaloo, whined.
Chapter 3Chapter 3 Sherclop froze in his hooves as he heard the conversation behind him. Did she just say Rainbow Dash? There was no way. Ms. Heartstone grabbed the ropes around Scootaloo's wings and pulled her into her face. "Now listen her little filly," she seethed. "If Rainbow Dash or any of the Elements of Harmony cared about us, they wouldn't have let Chrysalis take over! So just stop saying that! You're going to get us all in trouble!" She dropped the filly to the ground. She beckoned to the others with her barely purple tail and stamped off to the elevator. The Earthpony turned to Scootaloo with hot tears streaming down her dirty yellow face. I'm sorry, she mouthed. The Unicorn simply followed Ms. Heartstone with her head down. As soon as the elevator doors closed in front of him, Sherclop walked to the young Pegasus' side and crouched down. She had her face buried in the floor and her little orange body was trembling. He placed a hoof on her shoulder, and the little filly looked up. "Who are you?" she asked in quavering voice. "Used to be Detective Sherclop Spade," he said wishing he could take the words back as soon as they escaped his mouth. "Walk with me, will you?" "Where?" "To breakfast." "Sure." Sherclop was surprised as the filly agreed to his offer so quickly. He sighed as he remembered these weren't the days they used to be. He offered her a hoof. She accepted it gratefully. Scootaloo followed Sherclop down the stairs. They finished the first flight in silence. Scootaloo murmured, to his surprise, "I've been expecting you, Mr. Spade." Sherclop stopped, shocked. "Oh?" "I received a letter yesterday. In my sandwich, oddly enough. It was written in all green ink. It said to be expecting somepony asking about Rainbow Dash." "I assume you kno- knew her." She nodded and squared her shoulders. "Rainbow Dash was the mare I looked up to," Scootaloo replied after a while. "She was like a sister to me. My only family. Besides the other Cutie Mark Crusaders." "Was this letter that you received, in your sandwich, from somepony who was addressed as 'C'?" Scootaloo looked equally surprised. "Y-yes." With every letter Sherclop received, on the outside next to the original to and from was his name written in green ink and the letter "C" below it. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders, you say?" Sherclop asked, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Who are they?" "The other two fillies with Ms. Heartstone. The Earthpony is Apple Bloom and the Unicorn is Sweetie Belle. We're not the only ones, but we're the original C.M.C." A thousand question whizzed around Sherclop's head like parasprites. "Are you alright, Mr. Spade?" Scootaloo asked, putting a hoof on his shoulder. Sherclop steadied himself. "Fine, fine. All's well. Miss Scootaloo, what position do you work in the factory?" "Paper folder," Scootaloo replied dryly. "Hmm. Will you join me for lunch?" "I don't see why not. Ms. Heartstone won;t let me sit with her today since I brought up Rainbow Dash." "Breakfast! We're going to be late!" Sherclop realized. "Talk while we walk. Why does Ms. Heartstone not want you to talk about Rainbow Dash?" "Ms. Heartstone only doesn't want me to talk about her because the Changelings don't anypony to talk about her. Or any of the other Elements of Harmony for that matter. I think this reason is that the Elements of Harmony are the only thing that can bring Chrysalis- Queen Chrysalis- down." Sherclop thought he had read something about an Element of Harmony in the newspaper a long time ago. Long before the Changelings in fact. "What are the Elements of Harmony?" "An Element of Harmony lies in each one of six mares. Applejack was honesty, Pinkie Pie was laughter, Rarity was generosity I believe, Fluttershy was kindness, and Princess Twilight was magic or friendship depending on the way you look at it." "And Rainbow Dash?" "Loyalty." "How are they dangerous to Chrysalis?" "If they each have their necklace- or Twilight's case a crown- and are together, they could defeat any bad guy. They turned Discord back into stone and awesome stuff like that. They even defeated Queen Chrysalis the first time she tried to take over Equestria, and I was there. It was so cool!" "Right. Where are the ponies and the pendants?" "No pony knows for sure. Hidden. Scattered. Or," Scootaloo's voice cracked. "Worse." Sherclop wanted to ask another question, but he couldn't force the filly to bring up anything more personal things. They had already gone down all 9 flights of stairs and reached the lobby. There once was a nice lobby, small library, a small kitchen, and laundry room. The changelings had knocked down all the walls and taken all the furniture out. They placed a dozen tables with two benches to the table and a small oven and counter where Ms. Key worked endless hours preparing meals for everypony in the Key Apartments Possible Danger Facility #0001. Scootaloo and Sherclop approached the counter. Ms. Key turned to them with a weak smile. With a yellow hoof she wiped sweat from her brow. "Good morning Mr. Sherclop. Miss Scootaloo." "As to you too, Ms. Key. Anything left?" "I'm afraid we only one tray left." "Scootaloo can have it," Sherclop nodded. At the same time Scootaloo smiled, "We'll share." Ms. Key lifted a tray with pink magic. A bowl of dry oats, a stale bread crust, a browning apple, and a glass of brown water. Scootaloo dipped her head, picked up the wooden tray with her mouth, and trotted away. "Have a nice day Ms. Key." "As to you too, Mr. Sherclop," Ms. Key finished their morning routine. Ms. Key pulled the actual last tray in front of her and bit into the wormy apple. Tear formed in her blue eyes as Sherclop turned away. He sat with Scootaloo at an almost empty table. As Sherclop ate his oats realized she wasn't so little after all. She was probably around thirteen. Scootaloo was fragile looking was all. Her bones jutted out of her dirty orange coat. her young back bent under the weight of a responsibility she should never of had to deal with at this age. And on top of that loss. Loss of her mentor and guide in this world. Rainbow Dash, was also supposed to guard Equestria. She probably felt betrayed. "Scootaloo?" "Yes?" she asked her purple eyes looking into his like a shattered purple glass. "Did you have any family outside of Rainbow Dash?" "Mom died when i was born. Dad died a year later. He was drunk and he tried to drive a boat. The boat the family reunion was on. No one survived. Luckily he left me in a chicken coop and accidentally brought a sack of flour instead of me. Though sometimes I don't feel lucky," she said waving her hoof around the room. "That's where Cheerlie took me into her foster care." She covered her face with the long wisps of her pink mane and busied herself with pulling a worm out of her half of the apple. "I'm sorry to hear that." "Don't be. You asked the question," she said tossing the worm expertly into a Changeling's armor. The Changeling screeched and danced around the room. Everypony tried not laugh as he howled. "You? You're the Prankster Poltergeist?" "Who?" "The one that pranks the Changelings!" "Shh! Not so loud." Scootaloo smirked. "Prankster Poltergeist, eh?" "You're legendary around here." "I had no idea." "Alright you slugs! Since one of you thinks it's funny to assault a Changeling! Unless you 'fess up then ya'll be going to work early!" Gruesome shouted. Lieutenant Gruesome was the boss at Possible Danger Facility #0001. Gruesome wasn't his real name, and Sherclop doubted anyone actually remembered his real name, but that's what everypony called him behind his back. It didn't matter that everypony didn't remember his name in front of him because he commanded everyone call him sir. Yes sir this, no sir, that. Without a word Scootaloo got to her hooves and fell in the designated line. Sherclop stood in the middle of the line. In silence they exited the building. Sherclop wrinkled his nose as the smells of what used to be Manehattan reached his nose. Now they called it Changehattan. Not only was Gruesome a pile of Horse-apples, he was also not very creative. Gruesome fell in next to him. "I warned you," he grumbled in his crude language. "No more funny business." "I wouldn't do something to make my fellow ponies suffer," Sherclop responded. "Sir." "I will find evidence to link you to this and when I do you would have wished you were never born." Gruesome hurried ahead. He stopped and angled his ears towards a large steel gear that had fallen from the clock tower above in the taking of Manehattan. Gruesome shook his head and began yelling at someone at the back of the line to hurry up. Sherclop risked a glance in the direction Gruesome had looked. A filthy white hoof was being dragged into the shadows of the trash covered alley. Sherclop looked towards the factory before someone noticed him and he got in trouble. Stuff like that happened all the time around here. He sent a quick prayer to Celestia and entered the doors of the factory.
