Manehatten... one of, if not Thee the number one city for modern youthful party ponies. A place where the city never sleeps and the party never ends. However this haven for youth is not as perfect as it seems, it is also a cesspool of drugs, murder, prostitution, organized crime,and corruption. That's only naming a few of the faces hidden in the dark underbelly of Manehatten. My name is Steel Law, gun-metal gray coated stallion with a light brown mane. I am a member of the Manehatten Law Enforcer Squad or M.L.E.S. An elite part of the police force. Its my job to keep the darkness from consuming Manehatten. I've stood by, watching as the rich and powerful manipulate a system, created to protect the innocent, for their personal gain. Drug Lords and Pimps getting out in weeks, or with bails any civil servant can pay. I'm tired of watching, I need to take the Law into my own hands. My job is stop bad ponies, protect the good ones. It's time I start fixing problems instead of ignoring them like the rest of the force.
I'm looking for a stallion, goes by "Fandango", but I doubt that's his real name. He's a... sick pony, drug runner, pornographer, suspected murderer/rapist, the list goes on, were just missing a piece of evidence to lock him up, the rat knows to clean his track. Rumors around town suggest he is going to start pushing fucking fillies and colts into porno. I've decided that the law acts too slow, I refuse to let this stallion keep doing what he's doing, I'm putting an end to his evil. Before the end of the night that bastard is going to be behind bars. Or end up lying face down in a gutter.
Figure I'll start from one of Fandango's favorite “Working mares”. Asked around, got a few dirty looks, but found out one of his “Star Performer's” regular hang outs. If anypony knows where I can find this dirt bag, it's one Ms. Cherry Popper, quickly I ran that alias in the Grand Magic Archive, and I found her real identity without a hitch, Chocolate Cinnamon or CC for short. The GMA is how Celestia keeps track of all the ponies in Equestria, a series of spells that keep records, enter a name or alias and one should be able find anypony who's ever been part of the system, giving nearly anypony their name or alias. I try the GMA on "Fandango" nearly every day, never get anything, not even things like parking tickets.
The piss and grime filled alley smelt terrible. Id've pulled out a smoke, but the damn rain would waste it. The Manehatten night was dark. A day of sulking clouds resulted in a night of rainfall. Not that anything like rain would so much as slow down this city. Despite the rain, my first encounter with the mare of the night known as Cherry Popper was right in the middle of her doing “business” behind a dumpster.
The alley was home to several bums, most of which looked strung out on something. But that wasn't my concern at the moment. The unmistakable sound and smell of sex hung in the alley. Fucking disgusting.
The green stallion being “serviced”, was too into it to even notice me. His forehooves up on the dumpster, his face, one of pleasure.
“Ms. Popper, I need to have a word with you.” I declared loudly.
Finally opening his eyes, the stallion gave me an angry look.
“She's got her mouth full at the moment, Mr. Suit, let her finish up!”
I wanted out of this alley, before I ended up with bodily fluids on my suit. Deciding that this buck wasn't worth my time, I slammed my hoof into his neck. He immediately fell on his back, hooves at his throat grasping for air.
“Yo what the fuck, I-” Her eyes widened at the sight of me.
“Oh Fuck! It's the Law!” She nearly screamed that nickname some of the local petty criminals had branded me, as well as some of my work place... associates.
“Don't you fucking dare make a run for it, not in the mood to chase you down, and trust me, you will not get away.” I ordered.
“What the hell do you want Law, I'm just trying to make a living here okay?!” She defended.
“I'm looking for Fandango. Word is your his favorite working mare. Seen him around?”
“Maybe I did, maybe I didn't” she replied hesitantly, unable to keep eye contact, her eyes focused on her hooves. This happens all the time. She was scared of Fandango, and what he would do if he found out she told me. She should be more scared of me.
“Hey! Look here fella, I paid for-” The stallion was silenced by my rather large magnum, and my glare. Without a single added word he ran off out the alley. Coward.
“Listen Chocolate Cinnamon, I don't have time for this. So you're going to tell me, or I'm going to make you tell me. What would mother say if she knew how you “conducted business”, or if you'd rather I can just strong leg you right here, breaking you'd be easier then breaking a toothpick.”
“That's fucking low Law... ain't you cop.. ain't you got rules.” she stated with a glare. But glares don't work so well, when the eyes trying to threaten you are full of tears and sorrow. She had years of regret in her eyes.
“Not tonight.” Not time for mercy. My emotions never got ahead me, especially not tonight, this was to risky business, an I wasn't about to let myself get caught.
“I don't fucking believe it! You got me whore'n it up at best! But you didn't see no money move, you ain't got shit on me. Plus, I doubt my mah is even sober enough to understand anything you say.” I had her in a corner, like a beaten hound, she tried to bite back. A slightly aggressive step in my direction was all I needed.
My hoof bashing her kneecap in so it bent the wrong way was probably not the way she expected me to retort. I needed to move this along. She screamed, but I muffled it with kick in the ribs, took the air right out her lungs.
“Like I said, not tonight. No bullshit, twenty bits says that bum saw you run at me with a knife. Just defending myself from some coked up whore.”
“Son-of-a-bitch...what the hell happened to you? You used to go by the books.” she wheezed.
“I'm not in the mood, just talk.”
“He's at Club Sugar Bounce. VS is playing there tonight and he want's to see her.” Club Sugar Bounce was more of a drug den the a club. A place for youths to "experiment" with all kinds of shit. The higher ups don't really call MLES ponies like me to deal with places like that, a siren can empty that place in seconds.
“VS? See? What does that mean.”
“Vinyl Scratch, aint you heard of her, she only one of the biggest names of the generation, in the world really. As for the other thing, he going to try to “force his business” on her, literally.”
I didn't need to hear anymore. I dropped one hundred bits on the floor in front of her. That'd buy her silence.Then decided to make my way to the club she mentioned. Fandango was going after a celebrity. He may be a sick fuck, but he ain't stupid. He's got money, I wouldn't doubt he can get away with this with his connections. Probably get outta this on a technicality. If we did get him, I doubt he'd be in for more then a week. He needed to be stopped.
I double timed it over to the club. The rain made it a nasty trip. I was glad for it. I was hoping it would get that alley off my clothes. The Manehatten night life moved on. Completely undisturbed by my actions and the condition of the whore I worked over. Amazing how little this town cares. Like I said. The law moves too slow, ironic how Steel Law was going to end it much earlier then expected.
The bouncer looked like he knew I would be coming.
“You can't come in Law.” He stated. As if I cared. He was about my size, big, but not the biggest buck I'd ever seen. A bouncer is a bouncer, I'd just pay him off, but I had given that whore most my bits.
“Why not.”
“You ain't invited.”
“You sure?”
“Yup”
“Pretty sure I'm invited.”
“Pretty sure you ain't.”
“Don't do this.”
“Do what?”
“This, just let me in before you get hurt.”
“Before I get hurt? Listen Law this, ain't gunna go the way you want, deal with it and get out of here.”
“Let me make this clear. You're going to let me it, or you're going to lose your teeth.”
“You wanna start something?”
My hoof found itself, once again, slamming into a throat. While he tried to grasp for air, I gave him a good kick to the chest, and he found himself on the ground as a result. I grabbed is head, lining it up with the nearby street curb. And I made him bite it. He didn't want to at first, but stomping his ribs really turned him around on the idea. Fortunately for him, I decided to let him keep his teeth.
“I'm finishing this, consider yourself lucky I decided not to stomp down on your head.”
He wasn't breaking the law, just doing his job, if he tried to take a swing at me, he wouldn't have seen my mercy. He better love his fucking smile from now on.
The club was loud. Too loud to think or see. How the hell was this a thing youths did? The pounding electric noise blared, how was this music? Sounded like a fancy fax machine. Ponies were so crowded together, it looked like a damn sardine can. How could they move, let alone dance. The flashing light and noise were giving me a headache. The place reeked like the alley, like sex, piss, and drugs. I lit up a cigarette to cover the smell festering around me.
I immediately made my way through the crowd to the bartender. I had to yell to ask if Fandango was here. He didn't or wouldn't tell me. I then asked where I could Vinyl Scratch. He directed me to the roof. Apparently, that's where the real party was happening.
The elevator was too slow, they always are. I galloped up the stair faster. Once on the roof, I was reminded once again how rain didn't stop the party in Manehatten. The roof was full of ponies on what appeared to be a random list of drugs. Signs of cocaine, LSD, heroin, and other had drugs were all over the roof. Among other things, this party looked a lot more like a orgy with all the ponies who seemed not to care that there were others in their company. Took a lot to ignore them. I was there to murder Fandango. Not bust a drug party.
I happen to see the bastard trotting to a white mare with a neon blue mane. Who also happened to be tied up. Perfect, now I knew exactly what to do now.
I trotted up to the two. The mare had been muffled. She look like she had been crying. Hoped I hadn't arrived too late. He saw me and dropped his plate, scotch. The good stuff, not the stuff I buy at the local liquor store for cheap. What a waste.
“Oh shit, Steel Law! I ugh- I caught the mare who started this wild drug-filled party! I tied her up and was about to call the police.”
“Too late Fandango. I know all about everything your up too. I'm stopping you here and now.” His body guards were either, giving him the distance to let him... go at the mare, or were members of the party.
“What do you mean? There is no evidence of any crime beside this psycho mare! Now do your job and arrest her!” he ordered me like he was actually my superior.
“I know about your, “expansion” into child pornography. Turn yourself in and let the system chew you up. Or don't, and let the Law have his way with you.”
“Let the Law? Don't talk like that, you sound like a moron. As for this child-porn thing... I don't care for what you're into sir, but I have no idea what you're talking about.” His voice and face were on the verge of bursting into laughter. Probably thought I jumped the gun, and he was going to have an easier time. He was wrong.
“Turn yourself in Fandango. This is your last warning.” It didn't matter. I was going to kill him either way.
“OR WHAT MR. LAW!? Even if you arrest me for this party you have no evidence, no case! Even if by some miracle you did, my lawyers will turn any trial in my favor and you won't get me. Do you job and arrest this mare NOW!” I was getting sick of his voice. Tired of the way he thought he ran this city.
I trotted up to the mare and unmuzzled her. Poor thing. Didn't look like he got his grubby hooves on her yet, but she was definitely not here by choice.
“...please... he was going to rape me...” she barely whispered.
"BULLSHIT, SHE'S A FUCKING SLUT!" I really hated the sick bastard.
“I know, I just needed to hear you say first. You may want to close your eyes.”I told the poor girl. Good mare like her? This was her first time dipping into the Manehatten Depths. Lucky I decided to go be on lifeguard duty tonight.
“What the hell do you think you doing!? You're a cop! you have rules! Arrest her! Why are you trotting at me? Steel Law! I'll have your badge if you lay a single hoof on me!”
I used my bare hooves. The first hit was enough to floor him. The second broke his jaw. By the fifth, i crushed half his face and made my way to working his ribs. My body blows kept him conscious. I held his leg in my hooves. With a push, I broke it. With a satisfying snap, I could see his bone pushing out against his hide. I wished I hadn't roughed up his face so bad just yet. Would have loved to hear that scream unmuffled. I broke each of his legs in a similar fashion.
As I looked down at him, I could feel his fear. He wasn't scared of me. No. He was scared of the hell I was sending him to. He was fucking terrified of how bad he was going to burn. I was glad to send him there. I moved a bit, so now I had a clear and easy view of his face. I could feel my grin. I rolled back my sleeves. He gave me one last pleading look with that fucked up face of his, which my hooves pounded on for the next several minutes after.
The beating I gave Fandango was... brutal, even by my standards. Most of his face was unrecognizable, looked like he got in a fight with a train. Blood was everywhere, the rain did a nice job of spreading it around, making it look like there was even more blood. The addicts up here didn't even notice it. They didn't even turn when they heard him screaming for me to stop, which was about halfway through my breaking most of his bones. When I was done, I chucked the beaten and dying body of the roof. Wish I could have heard him hit the floor.
Next I untied Ms. Scratch and escorted her away from the now crime scene. We made our way down the fire escape. I wasn't scared of cameras, I was sure that, thanks to some bribes by Fandango, none of the nearby cameras caught us or what I did to him. He would want to record himself doing what he was about to do, or that party he was hosting. He wasn't afraid of what she would say, but video evidence speaks louder than words.
I found a place a little over two blocks down, I could hear the sirens, already on their way. Made me sick. I rough up some whore, and the sirens don't even come...ever. Fandango takes a long fall down a building, and the police are here faster than light. In minutes, everypony would be running out of that place. We stood under an awning out of the rain. She was crying. Had been the entire time.
“Listen. He fell off the roof you got that! Must of slipped off 'cause of the rain.”
“Thank you.” she sniffed
“Just doing my job.”
“That wasn't your job... he was going to... and you saved me. But what you did... what you did to his face... That was not your job...”
“What are you ranting about. My job is to protect. Plus, I'm just about to arrive at the scene in a few minutes. I suggest you go to some motel, claim to have been on your way at the time of the crime.”
“Why are you doing this... why.... how...” she was shaking.
“You're in shock. Go find a place to sleep the night off. Want to talk to me? Make an appointment. Now we never saw each other Miss Scratch.”
“But... I... Thank you.”
“Carry yourself home girl. I've got a suicide to inspect.”
Interlude 1 Somethings Go Wrong
Just under twenty-one hours after the death of Fandango.
Paperwork. Paperwork. Paperwork. The vast majority of my job was paper work.
Damn I hated it.
My office in the Manehatten Police Station was small. Hardly fit my desk in here. Manila folders and paper were littered on the damn thing. I arrested a lot of ponies, but it was more then that. Everything got put through the system, for high profile murders, to warnings. I had a hell of time keeping track of my shit, but it was part of the job.
My cigarette calmed my raising temper.
The desk lamp sitting to my side flickered. Damn thing always needed batteries.
The smoke of my cigarette gave the room a slight fog.
How many of the damn things had I already burned through? I gave up counting individual cigarettes long ago. I was still curious though.
Three knocks on my door, slow, even placed knocks, steady.
Bum Bum Bum
"You in there Steel?"
Winter Guard. Dark blue mane, slightly less dark fur, solid build. Good Stallion. Made Sheriff after I took the promotion to Enforcer. We had been good friends, made a hell of a partner too. Sadly, once I became an Enforcer, we didn't see each other much. He's got a wife and three fillies.
He pushed my door open with a hoof, poking his head in.
Funny, I remember when her first got married, started talking about having kids. Really wanted a colt. Funny how that works.
"Yea, just finishing up some paperwork."
"Mind if I borrow some of your time?" I could see the lack of sleep in his eyes. I would have bet he could see the same-thing when he looked at me.
"Not at all." I leaned back in my chair, giving one last breath from my cigarette before mashing it into the ashtray. Half the thing was still there, but I didn't want to blow smoke in Winter's face.
He shut the door behind him.
"This... thing with Fandango. I don't like Steel. It reeks like week old fish and milk left in the sun."
"Why?"
"Suicide.... Fandango? Doesn't fit. But even then... there's more to it. Been working in this town for a long time. You know that. I got a feeling... and I don't like it."
"I feel the same way, but I have to do what the evidence tells me. And the evidence says suicide, maybe accident but that's pushing it.” I lied to my best friend's face.
“I know, I read through the case file. You're good at your job Steel. If there is anything up with case... I'm sure you'll be the one to figure it out.”
“I'll see what I can. Do what I can.”
“That's just my two bits. Take care of yourself Steel.”
“Get some rest and hug your kids. Tell the wife I said hello.”
“Oh, and by the way. Word is the Deputy Mayor is on her way and she's out for blood. Keep your head down, and I'd open a window you're not supposed to smoke inside now, remember?”
I nudged my ashtray into my desk drawer. “What are talking about, I don't smoke.”
Winter gave a chuckle as he trotted out the door. I returned to my paperwork.
Worked for a few hours. Interrupted only when the Ass aiming for my job decided to cut in. The Deputy Mayor never showed.
“Gettin' late Law. Might want to get home.” Stone Grinder. Shit brown mane and gravel gray hide. He was a good cop, but that doesn't make him less of an asshole.
I just ignored him, that usually makes him go away.
“That's right... you ain't got much of a life to get home to huh?... have a good night Law.”
Asshole.
Made my way home after a few more hours pass. It was well into the night. Or early in the morning, whichever you prefer.
The night was cold. A bitter rain fell from the sky. The trot home was colder... and lonely. Not that I ever minded. The town was a dark dull gray. Showered by a downpour of rain. Been raining the better part of three days. I wondered how long this rain would last. The Manehatten streets, these streets at least, were quiet. The only things awake around me were the street lights, guiding me home...
Some would say my apartment was small, or shitty. That because it was. It was literally both those things. Two rooms. Bathroom, and everything else. The rats and cockroaches fought over who got to shit where. The peeling wallpaper and stained “hard”wood floor greeted me as they always did.
The heater for my floor was broken, so it was as cold as a witch's teat. I could see my breath. An icy day and a colder night made my room feel frosty.
Hung up my coat by the door, and undid my tie.
Hung my uniform and hat on the same hanger I always did.
By my mattress, hanging off the ground so my “roommates” couldn't get at it.
Felt my body shiver, pressed a button on my coffee maker.
Lit up a cigarette.
Gave a deep breath on that cigarette.
Alone.
In the darkness of my crap-hole apartment. I thought about what I had done.
The only light came from the coffee maker's dim red on switch. And my cigarette. I could still see. My eyes already adjusted to the dark.
I murdered a living being.
Too much of a shit to be more than that.
Refused to call a monster like that a pony. He was just that. A monster. A monster I ended. Yet... if the truth came out, I'd be the one going to jail. Nopony would argue that. I'd go to jail. A corrupt cop abusing his power is all they will see.
A trial would be wasted. When I get caught. And, I had already accepted that I eventually would, I was as good as dead. I needed to keep the law off my back for as long as I could.
I already had a plan. Once the department realizes that everypony I would kill was linked, I'd take the reigns of the case. Chase myself. Be the serial killer I was hunting. I planed to be very difficult to catch, drag it out as long as I could before somepony got wise to my scheme.
The coffee maker beeped. The hot cup warmed me up.
Prepped the coffee maker for tomorrow.
Dusted off my mattress.
Laid down under thick sheets.
Not sure if one could call what I got sleep, but it was close enough.
Woke up before my alarm could try to wake me up.
Still cold.
Still raining outside.
After the morning routine, I was suited up to get to work early.
My telephone gave ring, stopping me before I reached the door. Forgot to unhook the damn thing.
I answered solely on good manner.
“Steel Law? This is Deputy Mayor Blue Velvet.” Blue Velvet was the mare who got things done for the Manehatten local government. The mayor was just a damned figure-head. She knew it, the town knew it. But still she was the Deputy Mayor. Hell of a system.
“Hello Deputy Mayor, I was about to leave to the station so if you don't mind I'm just going to hang up now.”
“Wait. I need you here. Now.” A odd thing to say. She and I really never got along. My tendency to... rough up ponies really piled on the paperwork for her.
We met once in the past. Before either of us had the jobs we have now, I was a rookie cop, first week on the job, third day to be exact. My partner and I found her and a group of her friends drunk. Threw them all in the drunk tank. She cleaned up her act, and enter city government not long after.
“I'm afraid I don't understand ma'am.”
“There is... it's bad. I want you on this. I need you to solve this.” Her voice was worried, panicked.
“Calm down, what are you talking about?”
“It's re-real...” it sounded like she took a step away, I heard a gag, then a splatter. She must have vomited.
“It's bad. Get to Metric Avenue, Lot 42-A now. Please.” she finished.
She hung up.
Pulled my coat's collar up, lit a cigarette, and stepped out the door.
The roads were shut. They were telling ponies it was due to the rain.
Way too many police for it to be inclement weather.
Once I got past the security lines. I could smell... what I thought was metal. What I hoped was metal.
I knew the smell well enough to know it wasn't metal.
That didn't stop me from sending a prayer up to Celestia.
The coroner's wagon and several officials in black at an alley entrance confirmed my suspicions.
Even through the rain. I could recognize the scent of blood.
I began to trot for the alley, where the crime scene was. Luckily Lot 42-A was mostly abandoned.
I saw Blue Velvet, she looked pale.
Winter Guard stopped me with a hoof, I hadn't seen him before hoof. He was just as pale.
“It's bad Steel. Real bad.”
I offered him a cigarette.
“ Heh... No thanks... brace yourself.”
I continued my trot forward.
This time Blue Velvet stopped me. Her mane was full of fly away hairs. Her suit looked ragged. It was still early morning. I doubt she got sleep the night before.
“I need you to find out who did this.”
“I'll see what I can do ma'am.”
“You better Law, we need to keep this under wraps.”
I gave a nod and kept moving. Finally turning the corner, bumping slightly into a coroner who just looked on with a terribly sad expression.
The scene was bad. Worse then I expected. Much worse.
The crime scene was in the alley between the allies, which almost perfectly blocked nearly all of the rain. What was once a pony was now a display. The body was split down the middle bloody meat and rib bones set on display, and strung up posed like Celestia raising the sun... Only with much more gore. The intestine dressed the corpse like wings, most other organs were separated and organized. None of the organs were inside of the body. It was even skinned, the skin and fur were separated from the meat of the corpse. Blood was all over everything. Organs and viscera were spread out along the alley floor.
I immediately noticed three things.
One, the body had no head. At all. It was gone.
Two, there was no heart. Also gone.
And three, these organs were... arranged oddly. Couldn't tell right off. Had a hunch though, just couldn't tell at this angle. Had to get a different angle on this.
The crime scene analyzers were already doing their job.
I moved back, and turned for the entrance of the neighboring building.
“Law! Steel Law! Where are you going!” Blue Velvet shouted.
Didn't answer, this was more important. Dire I know as fast as I could.
I tried the front door of the building just to the right of the alley. Locked.
“Steel Law! Answer me! Damn it! What are you doing!”
"My job." I replied in a voice for a normal conversation.
I rammed into the door, bashing the whole thing down. Continued on my way.
“What the fuck! What the fuck is wrong you!”
Didn't reply, didn't even acknowledge her voice. Kept going, moving toward the stair case.
Heard Winter's voice.
“Calm down Dem. He has a hunch. Just let him do his thing.” Dem, D.M. For Deputy Mayor.
“Don't you fucking dare tell me to fucking calm the fuck down! Fucking damn it! STEEL LAW!”
Kept going, moved up the stairs. About half way, I heard angry hoof stomps chasing behind me.
Made it to the roof. Trotted quickly to over look the alley. I was right.
Her stomping splashed in the rain.
“FUCKING STEEL FUCKING LAW I AM GOING TO-”
I cut her off by gesturing toward the crime scene.
She followed my pointing hoof with an angry look.
She gasped and had to take a few steps back.
I lit up a new cigarette.
The word “war” was spelled out using the organs. One just had to look from a particular downward angle. This roof top was perfect.
The rest of the day seemed to peter out. The press was told that the area was flooded. But the strict security called out the hounds of the media. Once Blue Velvet got herself cleaned up, and painted her face. She was good to make a public appearance and pushed away the rabid media.
I returned to my office and awaited the file. Looked like I wasn't the only killer on the loose.
War.... I spent a solid hour contemplating one word.
War.
What war?
Equestria hadn't been at war with anything in literal ages.
The war on crime?
The war on drugs?
War. Fighting. Death. Murder. Chaos... what did it mean.
My desk phone lit up.
I answer normally.
“What do you need.”
“Mr. Law. There is a mare here to see you.”
“I'm busy.”
“No you're not, the appointment is set for... five minutes ago.”
“Something came up.”
“Bu-but you're just in your office.”
“I was just about to leave. Forget it.”
“Ye-Yes sir!”
I hung up the phone. Lunch was a good hour ago, and I wasn't really hungry, but I thought a smoke and a walk might clear my head.
I left the station, made sure to give the front desk worker a glare as I left.
As I took a step on to the curb, she called out to me.
“Mr. Law?” I didn't recognize the voice.
I turned. Looked to the source of the sound. That mare... Vinyl Scratch. Hidden inside a trench coat, and dull, faded clothing.
“It is you. You're a hard stallion to find.”
“Leave now.” I didn't need this.
“You really... helped me out.” she smiled sweetly.
“Not here, not now. Ideally not ever.” I really didn't want to deal with this.
“But-”
“But nothing, this is the first time we've met alright.”
“I get it.” she gave me a sad smile. Damn. Still a sucker for a mare's sad smile. Call it chivalry.
I gave a heavy sigh. “Wanna chat, give me a call. We can talk later, but not now.” I slid her my card.
She grinned, then trotted off.
I knew right away, that whole situation was going to get bad.
I returned to my office after a cold walk in the rain.
Now... I knew I had to wait. But I need to pick a target on my list. I had a lot of targets in mind.
Coin Flip. Notorious child molester. Only he was son of Cash Chip, who owns a popular casino in Manehatten. They had money and it kept Flip out of jail, and out of reach from the law. It wouldn't save him from my hooves.
