Chapter 1: Welcome to The Valley
It's been a very long day for me as the sun vanishes beyond the mountains, opening the doors to dusk. As this happens, the iconic neon lights of the city become active. As well as the Las Pegasus Metropolitan Police Department, the city's special task force, and the Equestrian Investigation Bureau, also known as the "EIB." The city's task force was created by the director of the EIB whose name's Roya Shine.
Las Pegasus is one of the major tourists attractions in Equestria. Though the iconic Las Pegasus Boulevard is what makes this city one of the most familiar destinations in the Equestria. Everything here is widely available for 24-hours. Food, movies, beverages, groceries, cash, nonstop parties, sex. You name it. This place attracts ponies on tour, new citizens, criminals, even humans come to this world. The humans call this place, "Equestria's Vegas." The ones who live here call it, "The Neon Vale," which also means, "The Neon Valley."
About the humans, what I find a bit strange is that ponies can go through a portal to become a human in their world, and humans come through the portal to become, humans. On the bright side, humans aren't an issue in Equestria. They come here, drink, and pass out on the spot waiting for AAA to take care of them. They're not stupid, they just get ridiculously drunk when they come over to be entertained, especially when they arrive with their own cases of alcohol.
Later in the night, the Las Pegasus Task Force receives a call straight from the LPMPD Headquarters requesting for an immediate interrogation to be held between one of the officers and a changeling. Changelings are the ones who commonly commit crimes, for most of them are part of an infamous group called "The Shadow Army," which is controlled by Queen Chrysalis.
You see that yellow pony with the brown mane sitting at the metal table? Yea, that's me. My name's Ridgee, and I'm one of the the colonels of the Las Pegasus Task Force. That metal table I'm sitting at is located inside the interrogation room, and this table has been replaced...A lot, due to the angry suspects that always get mad over the truth. This room is basically 4 concrete walls with an inaccurate analog clock, and a shitty surveillance system. Perfect enough to be called a holding cell.
An officer walks in with the suspect, switching out the handheld cuffs , to the cuffs attached to the table. I am given the report and history files, as well as the burger I asked to be ordered at the shop next to the Bon Bon & Clyde Museum. The officer then gives a sign of approval before leaving with the door shut tight behind him. The interrogation begins.
"So," I started, "the record shows that you are in for simply jaywalking across a busy street, and refusing to cooperate with police officers. The officers also suspected that you were trying to break into a revenue security truck." The changeling slowly smiled and exposed its sharp fangs while I also felt threatened by its gestures.
"Let me ask you something," I said. "Are you, by any chance, a member of The Shadow Army?"
The changeling keeps the same expression, and kills at least five seconds of my time before responding.
"I don't speak of this as you ponies hold accusations against my race," it finally responds.
"It's a simple question whether you're part of it, or not. There are some changelings within Las Pegasus that are innocent civilians with no criminal background, but a majority of changelings in this metropolitan area are part of this infamous group."
I look straight into its eyes and took off my glasses while giving an angry look. I began feeling more pissed off, but went about asking the question once more.
"Are you part of The Shadow Army, or not?"
"I hope you realize that I set this up myself," it says, "I've actually been preparing for this moment my entire life."
I was very confused, and became lost in the changelings words. Though I didn't seem to be nervous, I was terrified by what might happen. I redeemed myself from anxiety by demanding the specific answer to what my question is asking of the changeling to tell me.
"Listen, what I'm asking for you to tell me is-"
Suddenly, the cameras begin to make an annoying beeping noise, and shut off completely. The doors automatically sealed me in the soundproof room with the suspect, the lights began to flicker for an entire minute before shutting off completely, and the changeling's horn began to glow. The changeling began to alter its shape, but I could only see the shadow it casts from the glow of its horn. Then the suspect's voice began to change from that of a male's, into a female's, and the character was triggering something in my memory, but I couldn't quite make it out. Then, the only two lights above our heads were turned on, revealing the mysterious figure to being something far more than I expecting.
"I don't believe it," I said as I widened my eyes and mouth. "You're t-the Queen Chrysalis?"
"That's right," she said, "I'm only here to make an agreement between us that will help me and my colleagues seem like we're no longer the trouble. Except, we'll be doing a business more secretly, as not to draw the tourists away."
"Yea, not happening," I said as I turned my back on her. "You may or may not be planning something that will harm the city. I cannot take that chance."
"I see. You're going to let your city down like that?"
"I'm not letting my city down. I'm avoiding the negotiation between me, and a wanted criminal. Besides, what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll easily take your spot, and make you look like the enemy."
"Good luck with that, you have no idea of my life's background. When you get close to my family, they'll know something isn't right."
"Mr. Ridgee, born on July 16, 1987. Your family is from Phillydelphia, but currently makes a living in Las Pegasus. You summon human "officers", to Equestria for illegal assistance. Your sister has autism, brother is suffering from depression, a wife with cancer, and a grandfather with Alzheimer's disease."
My heart stopped, because I knew that she would easily replace my family members with her army if something had gone wrong. She knows everything about me, and I worry for the damage she can have done in the matter of minutes. Most of this is mostly due to how much power she has over me, unless I had a plan. She can easily trick my sister on to joining the largest pony trafficking business in history without payment. She could put an end to my wife's misery, while I didn't have the chance to tell her, that I love her, and so it races through my mind. Kira, you are the one who turned me into a better person, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you alive for one more day.
I took a few deep breaths and ignored the sweat that dripped from my forehead, into my cup of water.
"I'll accept the agreement for the sake of my family," I said.
"Very well then," she started, "I will kindly ask that you clear our records by this Friday. You have a good 3 days. In return, you get the safety of the ones you love, and some of my earnings. Just stay out of my way, and you won't have to pay."
She sure did ask me kindly to do as told. I think to myself, what a bitch!
"You know what to do," Queen Chrysalis said as she used her magic to to take a bite from my burger, and forcing it in my mouth.
She then transformed back into a changeling and made the scene look as if nothing happened. I immediately spit out the burger and use the edge of my badge to scrape the leftovers from my tongue. The lights came back on, cameras turned on, doors unlocked. I waved my hand at the camera, letting them know that the interrogation was over.
The officer opened the door, and I notified him that everything went well, and that I didn't even know the system had failed. I then handed in the file in which I had written lies in. I took my time entering the case as a misdemeanor under another pony's name. Then I watched as Queen Chrysalis was simply released. I already knew, I'm in the agreement for good, until I could figure something out.
I've dealt with many conflicts on the streets of Las Pegasus. From Changelings to dragons, trafficking to robberies. I've never been targeted by any of those criminals, but I was being watched by one of their notorious leaders. So I finally learned that the uncommon things that happen in The Neon Vale, I could be the victim of. Welcome to the valley.
Chapter 2: The Confidential Club
I took the late shift for today, already knowing that I could get access into the file room alone as most of the officers were performing their duties off-campus. For as long as this could keep this up, I knew I had an advantage. The Las Pegasus Task Force isn't allowed to be within the file room at any given time without permission. Doing so could result in me losing my job and completely mess up my record. The door to the room requires a special key in which I had to study for hours before I could finally pull my trick. So I created an imitation of the master key from scratch, a tough skill I learned from my father. I turn the key slowly and heard the sound of mechanical pieces moving, then the sound of success.
I opened the door and locked it behind me as quietly as I possibly could. Once I was in, I look for the names that I've written down that involved ponies who recently had issues with her. I look through federal cases that connect to her past, and eventually found her files in the "C" column. Her files were also confidential and required its own key in order for it to open, which is why I also copied the key from Roya Shine before I was caught doing so.
I ended up going through numerous amounts of files to look into background of this, Queen Chrysalis. Doing this would also give me the advantage of knowing more than her operations in Las Pegasus, but I also had to clear her files as she had wished. I took the files and documents that were essential to the clearance process of her criminal activity that dated back to her "college years," at least that's what the homeschooling in her castle was supposed to be. Something shocking had caught my eye, I could see that she was born on July 16, 1987...The same day I was born on, and at the same time.
I took a much longer time reading her huge criminal history rather than removing it. All of her mishaps instantly landed her in jail, and they turned into purposely committed and disturbing crimes. Fraud was the first crime I saw until I went down the list to find the most disturbing crime reports and images I've ever scene, more disturbing than a bullet to the head. Robbery, heists, pony trafficking, prostitution, rape followed by murder. Less than a month ago, the final page reported that she raped a 14-year-old human boy taken to Las Pegasus. And so I thought to myself...Fuck me. Honestly, Queen Chrysalis is the most uncivil bitch I've ever met in my entire career, maybe my entire life.
My attention shifts as I heard movement going on, I immediately hesitated. Are they coming this way?
I quickly locked the file cabinet up, and take all two-hundred and fifty files and documents linked with the crimes of The Shadow Army as well as their leader. Still knowing that the foot steps have paused and kept growing from moment-to-moment, I took the easy way out of this one. I use my magic to put the documents in my bag while going through the back door. I lock the door and proceed down the hall while trying not to grab attention. Then again, the building is nearly empty.
Within that time period, I wasn't summoned to any calls and decided to go off-duty. So I walk down the ally down the street to get to my car and along the way, it felt as if someone were stalking me. I resume my actions of putting the files in my trunk under the spike strips, tactical equipment, and other imperative tools. I continued to have the feeling of being watched, but I forced my mind off that feeling, and close the trunk to my car. It sounded as if someone were standing right behind me. Suddenly, my partner, Trent, scared the living shit out of me.
"Ridgee!" Trent shouts a couple steps from my position, "How's it going?"
I immediately jumped in response to his excitement of seeing me, followed by a horrific gasp.
"Trent," I said as if I had been running, "don't fucking scare me like that!"
"My apologies. It's just so great to see you!"
"It's great to see you too. I should've asked this before you left, where did you go, and how was the trip?"
"It was great!" Trent scratches his snout as he continues to speak, "It was very fun. Just me, my wife, the kids. I wish you and I could have spent some time like that. It was a long flight to Manehattan, but we arrived earlier than expected."
"That sounds fantastic," I said. I then received a request from Trent that actually sounded like a great thing to do.
"Ridgee," he says, "I was wondering if you'd like to go to a club tonight, have a couple of drinks together, something like that?"
I was completely worn out from all of that late night filing, but I gratefully accepted his offer.
"Sounds like a plan," I said.
We hopped in separate vehicles and made our way down to Las Pegasus Boulevard. We pass the Adagio Hotel as its iconic fountain waters sway across the sky and dance to the music that kept the scenery alive. The Grand Igneous hotel shot its flames and water into the air while depicting the sight of a volcano as the orange lights flicker beneath. The breathtaking sight attracted the eyes of a human to experience a moment of the night. For every stop I took while following Trent, I watched as the attractions played their part in the city, and I never got tired of it.
Trent then led me to the parking lot of a neon-glimmering club. It's incredibly bright sign spelled, "THE LASER HOUSE." Its interior design was also unique to the themed that it followed. The music blasted whenever ponies walked in or out of the club, but everyone was pumped whether they were were leaving, or arriving.
We enter just in time for the performance of DJ PON3. Something that I didn't see coming at all, was that Trent is actually best friends with her, and their friendship system was very trust worthy. Any best friend of Trent is a best friend to her, because she knows that Trent doesn't give two shits about a worthless pony that acts like a friend. That's why he only has six of them, because he found his true friends, and I am one of them.
Trent had stopped to ask her if she had any information on the case he was assigned. She denied having any idea of the situation he was dealing with. Trent put the folded document of the case in the pocket of his plaid shirt. He moves to the side, then introduces me to DJ PON3.
"Vinyl," said Trent, "this is Ridgee. Ridgee, this is Vinyl Scratch."
I put my sweaty hoof out to give her a hoof shake and said, "My name's Ridgee, a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure to meet you too," said Vinyl as she shakes my sweaty hoof. "My name's Vinyl, also known as DJ PON3." She took off her headphones, and removed her goggles, displaying her reflective red eyes to us. As she remained shaking my hoof, she then noticed that I was sweating and began to question it.
"Hey dude," she says, "what's with the sweat?"
I was a bit nervous, but I wasn't too bad at making an excuse without making it seem too obvious that I was hiding something. I took a deep breath and responded as fast as I possibly could, "Well, It's a bit hot in this club don't you think?"
"Well," she said as I started to sweat more, "they could turn the a.c. up a bit more. It's a desert out there and in here."
I was relieved with her final response, and my body temperature began to lower. She gave Trent a seemingly painful hug before swiftly getting to the turn table. It's party time.
Vinyl placed down two records, put on her goggles, and lastly, she put on her headphones. The surrounding speakers were put to a slightly high volume as she began to play her own original mixes. The mixes were great, but when she switched out a disc with another, I never heard such an amazing mix in my entire life. She's mixing her own music with a Hip Hop song from the Human world, it was called California Love.
Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west.
A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness.
The track hits your eardrum like a slug to your chest.
I've never heard of these artists named 2Pac and Dr.Dre, but I couldn't divert my attention away from the mixes; I felt hypnotized in the a pleasing way. However, this feeling didn't last long when I saw something that made me furious and frightened concurrently. I looked across the club to find the one and only Queen Chrysalis just staring at me, but everypony had their hoofs in the air, briefly blocking her face by the second. The lighting was dark, as I could only see her when the club lights shined on here from time-to-time. After somepony walked in front of here, there was no sign of her anywhere.
I knew I had to do something about her, rather than feeding her my promised act. Agreement or not, I will stop her no matter the cost. However, the cost would be the safety of my family, my job, and my life.
