Author's Note
Hello people of the Internet!
This is probably going to the shortest chapter, so there will be better than this in quality and quantity. Just a pointer this is my first Fanfic I've actually bother to put online so, yeah... Constructive criticism would be nice since I've never put anything out before. Feel free to mention any grammatical errors too. This chapter is a bit awkward simply because it doesn't fit with anything to come. The next chapter will actually involve a story and such. If you do like and you want to know a schedule on posting I don't have one. At least you'll see a chapter once a week and sometimes even later.
NEXT CHAPTER: The Blueblood Murder
This is where we get out of the boring and awkward parts I can't write and into something actually important!
Well I've kept you long enough, get going.
A Brave New World
Leads sat in the classroom bored out of his mind like any other twelve-year old colt in the middle of class. His teacher had seemed to be droning on for hours about history, mathematics, and any else of the like. Just… Gotta stay… Awake…
“Leads!” Shouted Miss Textbook from the front of the classroom along with the whack of her pointer on Leads’s desk.
“24!” Leads cried his default response his head shooting up from the desk. Hushed laughing and giggling came from around the classroom.
“What?” Leads asked looking around at his fellow classmates.
“The question, Leads, was what was the year the banishment of Nightmare Moon. Would you care to answer it?”
“Er, yes, ma’am. That would be um…” The bell in the hall rang loudly for a few seconds.
“Never mind, Leads… Class dismissed!” Through his brown coat anyone could see his red face. And with the bell ringing Leads grabbed his books and was out the door.
“Smooth in there, Leads”
“Go away, Break” Leads grumbled in the hall his head lowered and frown stuck on his face.
“Is the little pony scared I’ll poke fun at him” The pegasus flew in landing just next to Leads.
“Go away, Break” Leads repeated.
“Fine then, blank flack. See you tomorrow” Didn't that pegasus have anything else to do?
…
“Leads!”
“I’m awake!" My head shot up from my desk.
“If you want to learn anything I advise staying awake”
“Yes, Mrs. Parchment” The bell rang at the same time like every other day. Mrs. Parchment huffed shaking her head.
“Remember we have a test over chapters nine and ten. Oh and that includes Starswirl’s passage on teleportation!” She called off to the students spilling out of the classroom.
With a sigh I threw on my saddle bags and took up my textbook that sided as a pillow in my mouth. No matter how many times I did this the book never tasted any better.
“It’s only a matter of time before she actually does something about your little sleeping habit” Patches came up along side me.
“But she hasn’t done anything yet” I murmured through book. Patches gave me a flat look. I just shrugged.
Patches was one of my few friends. Being an Earth Pony in Canterlot wasn't ideal to say the least. I had first meet the panicky unicorn back in middle school when Cloud Break was picking another fight.
“And get that book out of your mouth. You’ll drool all over it” He yanked the textbook out of my mouth with his magic.
“Easy for you to say. You can just levitate everything” Patches scoffed at my remark as if it were absurd to suggest.
“Still, why your mouth?” I would have if I hadn’t been shoved across the hall.
“Oh, didn’t see you there, blank flank!” Sneered Cloud Break. I gave him a disdainful look righting myself.
“Still falling back on that foalish insult?”
“Well it’s true” He laughed in my face. Oh, I wanted to give him a good hoof in the jaw right now.
“You gonna do anything about it then, Leads? Huh?”
“You coming, Break?!” Called another pegasus, one of only three including Cloud Break, from down the hall.
“Yeah! Give me a minute!” He shouted back. Turning on me he left me with a “Warning” and was off.
“Arrogant bastard” I mumbled to myself as Patches and I left the school. Just outside the school next to the street a small crowd had gathered. Naturally we were curious. Pushing our way through the crowd we made our way to the front. One of the richer students was leaning on his Auto letting everyone else gawk at it.
“Gold Bars got a Auto?! Don’t those things cost, like, thousands of bits?!” Squealed one of the mares. I had to admit it was pretty cool. Autos were a new invention. Using magic and Earth Pony engineering a group of scientist had come up with it. The Automatic Horse Cart or Auto for short made transportation a lot easier, if you can afford it that is. They were incredibly expensive to build and run.
“That is so cool!” Cried another mare.
“Come on, Patches” I nudged the unicorn next to me. “We’ve got homework to do”
…
I sighed. Hadn’t really thought of this day until, well, today. College here I come or the Trottingham Police Academy rather. All my items from home I wanted to carry were in a small suitcase next to my bed. This would be the last time I’d see my room for a long time. I glanced at the clock on the wall. Ten o clock. Time to get going. I got off my squeaky bed landing into the ground with a thump. I stood there for a moment thinking attempting to stall as long as possible. With another sigh I grabbed the suitcase with my mouth and was out the door. I took a moment to stand in the living room remembering all the good (and bad) times I’d had. Yet more things to think about. Outside my parents waited for me next to our Model H Auto. They had gotten a lot cheaper in a couple short years becoming easy enough for any well-off family to buy. Ours, the Model H, was a common model. It had a soft top with a metal frame. Four doors with glass windows all around and a decent engine. Anything better was reserved for emergency services or the renovating Equestrian Army.
“Coming, son?” Asked my father peeking his head in the doorway.
“Yeah, dad, just give me a second”
“Okay, but don’t want too long. Your train leaves soon” I took another minute and left the house.
“Oh, why do you always do that?” Asked my mother.
“Do what?” I asked through the handle.
“Put things in your mouth” I gave her a flat look. One thing my parents had never gotten was my putting stuff in my mouth to carry it. Oh, yeah. Did I mention my parents were unicorns? There unicorns. I was adopted when I was about one so we don’t know what my birthday is and just say it’s the day they adopted me. So I was an Earth Pony, they loved me all the same. She yanked the bag out of my mouth and gently placed it in the back seat.
“Son” My dad said anticipatingly.
“Yes?”
“We’ve been putting some money aside” They both smiled. “And we got you this” From just out of view they pulled out a item about twelve inches long, wide, and deep.
I look at the item my jaw a bit slack. “You got me a Crystalvision?”
The Crystalvision. Another invention to come out of modern Equestria. They were somewhat expensive boxes that made colorful pictures on a screen was the simple explanation. The more scientific version was some unicorns got together and enchanted this crystal that when a beam of light was shot through it an image projected onto a piece of glass. The first image was a simple mare standing in a park. At first they cost about as much as an Auto to project a ten minute-long crystal of whatever you ordered. Eventually like many other inventions it was mass produced for cheap and sold from there. It used to only be able to use pre-made crystals so project images but yet more ponies got together and invented the Wavemaker. Using some scientific mumbo jumbo it made vibrations that homed perfectly on the crystals and made it project images of something happening live thus beginning the Equestrian News Agency. The rest is history as they say.
A Crystalvision. “Er… Um… Thank you so much!” I hugged my parents as they put it with my bag.
“Just a going away present is all” My mother insisted.
“Come on, sport. Your train leaves in an hour”
“Oh, yeah. Right” I sat into the back seat of the Auto and we were off.
…
“He’s not our little pony anymore” A tear went down my aging mother’s face as she watched my train pull away.
“He’ll be fine” My father encouraged. “Just fine. Come on” With a tug the two went back to the Auto.
Chapter Two: The Blueblood Murder
Police Autos and Ambulances screamed down the street. Close behind my Auto followed them. All I got was there was a high profile murder in the Gold District. Thanks a lot, Chief. We passed by a hastily built police blockade to keep out onlookers and other Autos from entering. What was with ponies and going toward crime scenes. It just never made sense to me. I would run from a murder scene not go near it! I was snapped out of my train of thought as the other cars in front of me turned and parked in front of one of the mansions. A fairly large on at that too. I tipped up my hat as I stepped out of the Auto. The paramedics scrambled into the building stretcher in hoof. While the other officers ran into the building I leisurely walked up the steps to the large double doors. Around were a number of Canterlot folk being questioned by police a few of the mares openly crying. By the time I was actually in the house the paramedics had gone out the front door at a much slower pace no one on their stretcher.
“Dead?” I asked as they passed.
“Dead” The one in front answered solemnly. I kept walking through the house. Judging by the number of voices and where the paramedics had gone I found the murder scene in the ballroom. About the room were Canterlot folk morning quietly. On one side of the room a large buffet had been set up for the guests along with a number of decorations scattered around the ballroom. Probably a party. A number of the guests had masks on our had them in their hooves or magic. Make that a masquerade.
“Hey! Squaddie!” I got the attention on the nearest officer who snapped around.
“Yes, sir?” He asked energetically. He was young, probably just out of the academy too. He was a bit too enthusiastic for this.
“Where’s the body?”
“Over there, sir” He pointed to the police tap. I probably should have guessed that on my own.
“Oh” I looked at the body in shock a moment. The chief had said “high profile” but I didn’t know he meant this high profile. On the floor the late Prince Blueblood laid sprawled on the floor in a pool of his own blood his once golden hair stained red.
“His name betrayed him” I thought aloud looking at the body at my hooves. “Has anyone touched the body?” I asked the squaddie.
“No, sir”
“Good” I knelt down. He still had his mask on. It looked like a Griffon’s beak but a bit more bend at the beak. Around his neck was a small, blue bowtie. Directly under that was a three inch cut opening up his neck and arteries. He would have been dead in minutes. I took off his ask with a gentle hoof. His face was contorted in a face of pain and terror. Nothing I’d never seen before but still. Looking at the rest of the clothing on if it made a point of covering his cutie mark and any other defining features. despite every guests knowing exactly who he was. From a distance it had been hard to realize he was actually wearing a fine suit which matched his coat perfectly. This wasn’t good. Everyone at the party was like that during the murder. The killer would be hard to track like this… With a sigh I began to dig in his pockets of his suit. I took each item out and placed next to the body. A bit gruesome to say the least. Any murder makes a detetives skin crawl. Or at least mine. Makes me think about life. That could be me on the floor. Ugh. Now was not the time to think philosophy. I had work to do.
Makeup of some kind, a note, a few bit bills, cigarettes and lighter, and a handkerchief. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I unraveled the nicely folded note.
Consider this your letter of termination.
Blink
That was easy. Find a pony names Blink and be done with it. It had probably been some aristocrat out for revenge or something and forgot to take the death threat of the body. I stood up leaving the items on the floor.
“Any ideas from the partygoers?” The squaddie was still watching me.
“No, sir. No one saw the killer’s face or cutie mark. A good number of them reported that the Prince seemed a bit edgy through the whole party”
“Good. Did they give anything on the killer’s coat color?”
“Blue or purple, sir”
“Easy enough. Call the paddy wagon and round up any ponies matching that coat color then get them questioned”
“Yes, sir” The squaddie walked off to send word. After a few minutes for rounding up the ponies with blue and purple coats a couple vans arrived and loaded them up. A bit crude but it got the job done. I relayed my information to the Chief and was done with it. Case closed. They would find the culprit in hours.
…
I sat in my office reading the notice.
To Detective Leads,
The questioning has lead to no new results. All ponies have been identified and now could fit the bill for the murderer. Please continue the search as needed.
Goodluck
Officer, Star
Apparently not a single pony matched the information nor anypony at the party was named Blink or anything close to it. So much for an easy case. I was slotted for it too meaning it was mine and only mine. I cursed the Chief silently. Oh, well. Back to the scene. By now a search warrant had been put out at least. I would go through the house tonight. I liked search the houses at night. Less interruptions. With sighed then sat back in my comfy seat. Nothing to do but wait. I grabbed the edition of Equestria Daily I had bought this morning and began reading. The front cover had a big picture of Prince Blueblood a few days before the murder. Just speculation and news pony babbling but it was something.
…
I glanced at my watch. Nine. Late enough. I stepped out of my Auto and approached the house. I pulled out a shiny pair of keys from my jacket and placed them in the keyhole giving it a nice twist.
*CLICK*
Good. The door creaked as I opened it. Anyone home? I crept into the ballroom where Blueblood had been killed. By now the body had been moved and the blood cleaned. Time to search for anything of note.With a soft click the flashlight I had rigged onto my jacket let up blasting light into the dark room. Let’s see…
After a long search all I turned up in the ballroom was mansions were a bit creepy at night. I guess I should meander the house looking for anything out of place but I seriously doubted finding anything. The house was just as big as it looked from the outside. I had already been another hour and that was just on the first floor. I did get one thing though: Blueblood was extremely self centered. Every other picture was just of him smiling in some pose for the camera. If there wasn’t a picture of him there was a mirror on the wall.
The rest of the bottom floor was lavishly furnished and clearly made to treat guests. At least he believed in a good first impression. Silk curtains, sage carpet, jewel encrusted decor, he had it all. I’m not surprised some jealous aristocrat went after him. With the first floor done I moved onto the second floor. It was just as unproductive. A few guest rooms, hot tub, what looked like an art studio, nothing of importance. I had done a quick sweep of the guests room but all I found was a couple loose books and pieces of clothing. Goodie…
Final floor. I crept up the stairs a low creeping behind me. Why was I stalking around like this? It’s not like anypony was in the house. I suppose it just felt appropriate. I mean, I was in the house of some dead pony. With a huff I continued moving.
The top floor had a fairly large library. Most looked like they hadn’t been touched in years. Since I really didn't feel like checking for secret rooms I moved on. Still creepy though. I approached the last room which had to be the Prince’s room. If I would find anything it would probably be here. I moved to open the door before I heard noise.
“You got everything?” Said a gruff, deep voice from s unseen stallion.
“Yup. I doubt there is anything else” Responded a younger, higher pitched mare’s voice.
“Not good enough. We need to be sure. If we don’t grab everything Good Money will have our heads”
“Let’s just get the fuck out of here. The longer we’re stuck in the here the worst”
I slowly took my ear off the door. That couldn’t be good. Good Money? Who was that? More importantly what were they doing here.
“Fuck! There’s a car out front of the house!”
“Calm down. That could be anyone’s”
“Dumbass! The police still have a checkpoint to the house down the road” The other remained silent. A few seconds later there was a bright flash from the room.
“Canterlot PD!” I shouted swinging the door open. Oh… They teleported out. Feeling like a bit of an idiot I looked around me. The room was clearly hastily searched. Looters? This was Canterlot not Stalliongrad. I would have continued to believe they were lotters until I noticed how many things of value were left lying about. Bits, silver candle stands, a small jewelry box stuff like that. Their conversation suggested they had grabbed everything they wanted. Maybe they dropped it during the teleport. Still strange. Maybe something would be in here.
…
After a good sweep of the room I turned up nothing. The thieves must have run off with a bit more than I had thought. I’d had gone through everything, damn it! This case has no leads and I have to find some now or it’s going to go col! I kicked the dresser hard causing the jewelry box to fall from a pedestal it had been placed. With a frown I picked it back up setting it in its original place. A series of pins had fallen from the box as well. One by one I placed the pins back in the box. Why so many? Must be a royalty thing. Each one was from a event or organization around Canterlot. The Canterlot Bank. The Society of Friends. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts. I picked up the last one. I took a moment to look at it. It felt… warm in my hooves. I’d never seen anything like it. It looked similar to a bullseye with one outer ring on more after that and a circle in the center. Four spikes poked out ends like that of a spear each evenly spaced for each other. If I had drawn from spear to to spear tip it would make a square. The pin was no bigger than my hoofprint. I got an eerie feeling from the bit of metal.I hastily put it back into the box and let the house. Nothing new to report. Nothing I could do tonight. Feeling a bit drained I got into my Auto.
…
“We could have messed up real bad back there” The mare told her companion.
“Well next time make sure shit like that doesn’t happen” The two were stuck in a high tree in Canterlot Park park. “Or better yet put us on the fucking ground!”
“At least we weren’t caught”
The stallion mumbled to himself as they waited in the tree.
…
It was almost midnight when I got back to my apartment. After climbing the tiring five stories I got to my apartment. With a quick twist of the keys the door opened. Locking it behind me I flicked on the lights. Just as messy as I had left it. In one corner a high pile of files. Each had the big stamp “Cold” in big, red block letters. I had made a habit of gathering the old cases and digging into them every once and a while. The Chief didn’t like it but as a detective I had access to all cases hot and cold. However working on them was the last thing I wanted to do tonight. Every inch of my apartment has something on it. I would clean it later. Besides I had to by this weekend. I had guests coming over and they needed a floor to stand on. I threw my wool jacket onto coat rack next to the door as well as my hat. With a yawn I made my way to my bed. I was asleep before I hit the bed.
Author's Note
So the plot begins. Hopefully this one was a bit better than the last. Once again criticism is welcome and feel free to tell me about any grammatical errors I missed.