Alleyway

8:56 p.m.

Near Rich’s Super Emporium, Ponyville

I began tailing the robed stallion to hopefully some hideout or something that might give me some clues. I stayed back a bit so I had less chance of being seen, the guy stopped and I ducked behind a garbage bin. The stallion turned around and shortly resumed walking. Why do these guys always have a sixth sense when I’m tailing them? Do they know for a fact that somepony is following them?

We passed through the streets and then past town hall. The streets were completely empty, only sounds of crickets and an owl could be heard. The night sky looked nicer today than usual. Princess Luna must had been more inspired tonight, the night was always a favorite time of mine when I’m not sleeping that is I thought. We went to the outskirts of Ponyville and into the fields. Where the hell are you taking me? I thought, we’ve been walking for a good while now. Eventually we stopped at an old building that looked run down, the windows were boarded up, the wooden door had pieces missing, the brick work looked cheap.

Rundown Building

10:31 p.m.

Outskirts, Ponyville

He went inside and the door made a long and loud creaking noise, it was like the ultimate clichéd bad guys hideout when I looked at it. I snuck around to the window and took a peek inside, there were two other ponies in robes besides the one I was following, Heck is this? The order of the hooded ponies? Looks like a cult I thought. They each had a colored robe now that I looked closer. The one I was following had a black robe, the others had a dark purple and a dark blue robe.

“So, what did the boss want?” asked the blue robed one, this one was a mare, judging from her voice.

“We need to find the hitpony and get her to tell us where she’s hidden the money. Boss is mad, figure that he’d want to kill her himself,” said the black robed one. The blue pony looked like she gave a frown.

“And just how does he expect us to not only find her, but take her on as well? She’s a professionally trained killer for Celestias sake! She could be anywhere and easily take us out!” said the purple one, this one was also a mare. So, two mares, one stallion huh?

“No worries, I’ll think of something when the time comes, for now let’s go search around the Everfree Forest, that be the one place I’d hide if I wanted to disappear to,” said the black robed one. They were coming out so I hid on the other side. The purple one continued to complain as they were walking.

I slipped inside to find some clues. The inside was even worse, pots and pans scattered around, dust and cobwebs everywhere, apple cores littered the ground. They had a broken down furnace, I’d imagine the winter to be very harsh on them. I went into another room that held three beds, each had a blanket and sheet that matched their robe color. Next to each desk was a drawer, I opened the blue ones first, there was nothing inside. The purple one had a picture of a pegasus filly she had a light brown mane with a purple coat and blue eyes, no cutie mark though. Finally was the black robed stallions who I assumed was the leader of the trio. Inside was a journal, I began to read it.

Rich has us looking out for this Rose mare that borrowed money from him a few weeks ago, wants us to go find her and see if she’s ready to pay it all back. Gotta say, what an idiot to take that much, eight hundred thousand bits! No way in tartarus is she gonna pay that stuff back...

Next page…

Girl says she’ll pay Rich back soon, boss was not happy I’ll tell ya, he threw a chair and smashed the window. Rich is not a patient man I’ve seen this before. If she don’t pay, she gonna wind up dead…

Next Page…

Rich did it, he hired some hitpony to take out the girl, don’t know this mare’s name, only known as The Shadow because apparently she’s a master of stealth or something, yeah “real” fucking scary, sounds like something a five year old would make up...

Final Page…

Girl was found dead today, but it ain’t the shadows doing. Paper says some guy named “The Gift Maker” killed her. First the shadow now the gift maker, is this town full of a buncha kids or something? Guys like me don’t need no dumb name to sound intimidating when they ain’t. I bet I could take the shadow and the maker at the same time. They don’t scare me…

I got what I needed, I took the journal with me and left the building. Well, not only can I get Rich jail time for hiring an assassin, I also got a name or at least an alias for this hitpony, The Shadow. I got a feeling that our paths will cross soon enough.

Hunter’s Apartment

11:31 p.m.

Ponyville

I got inside my apartment and made myself a daisy sandwich and got some apple juice. This was an exhausting day and I needed to get some sleep. As I neared my bed I noticed an envelope on top of it. I opened it up and out came a letter and I began to read it.

Dear Detective Hunter,

I am hoping you’ve had a most excellent day, I’ve heard about you in the newspaper and did some digging to find your apartment. I must say when I found out that you were investigating me my heart was filling with excitement! I’ve been so bored as of late, that I could not have any fun. But oh with you here, now the fun can begin, soon another gift will be brought to you and with it, a clue to find my next “helper”. Do not disappoint me Mr. Hunter I am expecting great things from you.

Sincerely

The Gift Maker

I began sweating after I finished reading the letter, the bastard knows where I’m staying. Not only that, he was treating this like a game! Oh I’ll be sure not to disappoint you you sick fuck! I placed the letter on my kitchen table, maybe the doc can get somepony to analyze it for prints. I got myself ready for bed and drifted off to sleep...

Author's Note

I know where you live, and I know who you are! Well this was fun to write, old Hunter ain't safe from the Maker anymore now. Anyways hope you all enjoy and if not well then.... I'm sorry.