Equestria, a very special place in everyone's eyes, a place where magic resides, A place, where all ponies live in harmony. It feels kind of cheesy really. This land Equestria, it's a magical vast land where we all abide by the two Princesses, Celestia and Luna. One raises the sun, the other, the moon, just like the working cogs in a clock. It feels so... wrong, the sun looks so fake with its overbearing rays while the moon gives off its sinister vibe that sends chills down my spine, like it was going to pull me in and suck away my very essence. There are a lot of towns and cities in our land of Equestria, but only one I am familiar with, Manehattan. A large city on the coast of the shore just north-east of the Equestrian map. This city is one large husk, a tomb waiting to be forgotten within this time era in my eyes. I know of the crowed streets, the wet dew pavements and the freakishly large buildings. All these were built to create a entire economy in its own right. I am nothing but a simple Earth Pony, No magic like the Unicorns and no wings like the Pegasi. I can't fly through the open clear skies above Manehattan, nor can I use magic to do complicated objectives all around the city. I am a plain and simple Earth Pony stallion. I was raised on these harsh streets, not like a thug or something worse, but as a normal Colt with one talent... To figure out other Ponies problems and solve them. Well, my cutie mark are these two bizarre looking silver objects that intertwine. I couldn't make out what they are and meant for until later... much later. The names SilverBullet, I am a private detective in the smoggy city of Manehattan... and this is my story on how I obtained my name in Equestria... even if it is feared by everyone.
The dust glistened from the morning sun rising in the background of the window. I sat in a medium sized, leather chair with my head on the dusty wooden desk in front of me. The sound of construction work could be heard from my position, giving me a headache first thing in the morning. I opened my eyes suddenly, only to feel the grogginess of the hangover from last nights whiskey. I raised my right hoof up to my head, rubbing it to see if it would calm down the pounding going on in my head.
The sight of my office wasn't much to look at, The walls were paper thin with damaged woodwork, the place was a pigsty with yellowed paper all around the office with a overflowing chest of metal draws that had every case I've accomplished and failed to this day. I have two overly used and destroyed leather chairs with a grey glass table to share any information when I have company. To be fair, it was all I could afford with my budget in this city. Trying to survive in this cold, dammed establishment can be daunting and shocking. Everypony here aren't that helpful, nor polite... but they used to when I was a little colt. They used to smile at me, greet me with a friendly wave and sometimes play with me on the swings. But that was a long time ago. Now everypony only cares about them self's, and they never trust anyone anymore.
My eyes twitched from the sleep irritating my eyes making me rub them. I wiped the cold drool off my chin to stop that horrible feeling. I looked down towards my neatly organised, dusty brown desk in wonder, trying to comprehend what's going in my life like it was meaningless. You see those metal draws, filled to the brim of documents, mostly failures. I never said I was good at my job, it was the only thing I enjoyed. I couldn't become agile enough to make anything, says my last boss at some cake making factory. I'm not that bright minded to go into the Manehattan Police Department, or M.P.D. They say, I need to work on my Pony communication skills and to start working as a team. I never liked the idea of a partner, it just means some other Pony is in the way of getting things done. If I had a choice I would go back and try and change who I am. Everyone sees me a scary, tall stallion with a cutie mark that's alien to everyone. My ears drooped from a deep, pitiful sigh from my mouth.
Knock knock...
I raised my head to the resonating sound coming from my door. I noticed a petite pony silhouette through the blurred glass with my name and job occupation on. Its been two weeks before my last job... even if it was finding a lost cat, if the bits are good I'll do any job 'cause I'm desperate. I lifted myself off the chair onto my four hoofs only to feel the blood rush to my head with the nausea of the hangover. It felt like I was dying inside, like something wanted to come up deep down from my stomach. I managed to stagger myself to the middle of the room before getting any balance back. I looked to the metal draws to see my reflection. My grey coat seemed to get darker as days progressed on while my front, two toned, blue and black mane had a large and messy volume at the front, almost covering my eyes fully. My tail looked like a rope that hasn't been cut in ages. My eyes crimsoned blood red, giving that fearful look to anyone who starred at them for too long. Bags underneath my eyes indicating I don't get any sleep... Lately, I've been spending it in here with only a whiskey bottle keeping me company.
knock knock knock
The sound broke my trance, bringing me back on track to what's important here. I brought myself to the door, turning the knob with s a small amount of pulling force. It could've been my freakishly tall figure from the glass because the silhouette flinched on sight as the door opened. With every new client, I keep a straight and serious face, but hope I don't come across as too aggressive. The door slowly opened fully, revealing a dull brown bat pony. I couldn't help but raise a brow towards the small foal. It was clear it was a she with her feminine figure and posture, but the biggest give away was her front, dark purple mane, It almost covered her entire front face with its perfectly straight laced strips only revealing the left eye that illuminated light green. She was holding a black saddle bag on her small body. Was she old enough to be walking around without a grown-up, I wondered. By the looks of her, she was afraid and nerve wrecked. She shook in place from the sight of me, I must have looked like a hulking Minotaur to her so no wonder she's a little afraid. I looked left and right down the low lit hallway from my office, noticing there wasn't anyone other than her, making this confrontation a little awkward.
"I don't buy any scout cookies little Missy." I groaned, gradually closing the door on the poor filly. I stopped pushing the door shut from a slight resistance on the door, I looked round to the opened gap to to see the filly trying her hardest to stop it from shutting on her. Her look seemed desperate, maybe too desperate to sell cookies to me. Her face looked up to me giving me a shock, she was crying with the look of loss. I exhaled from my nose, opening the door to let in the filly. She didn't waste any time in rushing in ahead and sitting on one of the ruined seats by the grey glass table. The sight of her rushing inside almost made me think she was being followed but she was just a little filly, what could she have done to anger anyone. I checked one more time down the hallway only to see the same dull lit hallway with no noise coming from anyway. I shut the door quietly, trying not to wake anyone up from their slumber.
I sat in the opposite ruined chair from the small little filly. Her eye filled me with anguish and depression like it was relaying a certain vibe to me. It wasn't the first time a little foal came to me to find a cat or dog, in fact, it almost feels slightly more important than that. The silence was deafening, making us both uncomfortable in our seats, but it felt like she couldn't speak, or wasn't allowed to. I watched as she rubbed her right hoof from the awkward silence in the atmosphere.
"Is there something you want to say?" I said as gently as I could, trying not to come across as too aggressive towards her. She looked into my eyes with her mouth open, she held that position for a couple of seconds before lowering her head once more. I knew something was holding her back from speaking but I couldn't figure out what it was. I tapped my chin in thought before coming up with a simple idea. I lifted up from the chair getting the filly's attention. I saw she tilted her head as I went through a draw in my wooden desk, taking out a pen and paper.
"Would this be any use?" I asked the filly who nodded towards me. I slid over the pen and paper as I sat down in Equestria's most uncomfortable chair again. She wrote down on the paper, and by Celestia's beard, how did she write with her hoof. It must have been tricky because her handwriting was barely readable with all the scribblings. She lifted up the paper with the writing "I would like to hire you." in a barely readable pattern.
I only replied with one word "Why?"
"Because I can trust you."
Because she can trust me? that sounds a little vague, even for a petite filly like her.
"Trust me for what? To find you your parents?" I asked her only for her to shake her head vigorously to my question.
She wrote down on the opposite side of the paper and placed it down beside her, she brought round her saddle bag, going down it to pull out a letter with a Canterlot address on it. Why didn't she just go to a mailing service for that, I'm a detective, not a Delivery stallion. She placed it on the table with the paper she wrote on, sliding it across towards me. I picked the items up to see the address more clearly, it looked like it was addressed to someone named, Ms Honours. Maybe she was her caretaker and she got lost or maybe she ran away for some reason. But I can't make those accusation yet, I still need to read her note. I slid it off the table and into my two hoofs so I could bring it closer to my face. She took in a a deep breath as I started reading it.
"This letter was sent to my house one day with the words 'To Princess Luna' stickered on the address. I was curious so I opened it up. Inside I saw something I couldn't understand completely, like something pierced my heart. I need you to send this letter to Luna at Canterlot Castle... I can pay you a massive sum of bits, please can you?...I put down the paper in front of me only to see a large open pouch, the size of a football, filled to the brim of bits on the grey glass table catching my eye. The look of the filly was sincere and truthful, but this many bits for a little filly to carry around is dangerous, it even seemed out of place for why would she being carrying so much money in her saddle bag all for a postage job. Even if it meant for the Princess of the moon, it just seems to far-fetched. But as I looked into the filly's, the fear and pain could be seen. Something was going on here but I couldn't place my hoof on it?
I looked back at the filly and large pouch of bits feeling guilty if I take it all for a simple job. I reached out towards the bits, only to shock the filly as I pulled out a hoof full of bits, adding up to ten. She jumped up off the chair to the pouch, pushing it towards me.
I chuckled as I rubbed the filly's head "I can get a train ticket to Canterlot and back for 4 bits, the other 6 is the payment of the delivery."
The filly brought up a teary smile, tilting her head to the left showing her full face. My eyes widened in shock from the sight of a deep scar over he right eye, It looked like a wound from an assault, not an accident. She bowed her head before taking the pouch of bits and leaving out the door with a smile. In my mind, it was the first time anyone has offered me this type of job, but a shady one at that. I knew she was lying about the conversation as a whole but I couldn't say that in front of her. But then again, she wasn't the only one lying, I couldn't take that much bits from a little filly, it takes 25 bits for a ticket there and another 25 for a return trip.
I can't sit around and mope about it all morning now can I? I thought in my head as I got my saddle bag ready. I had everything I ever needed, Bits, Water, Oats, the letter and my trusty dagger I kept when I visited the M.P.D. ages ago to get my Detective license. I had everything set and ready for my small adventure outside the big apple.
I walked the streets once again 3 days ago, still feeling the same hatred and disgust as I always do. The Ponies walking around everywhere in casual attire made weird glances at me as I walked passed them with my messy head held higher than them. I know I'm a monster in size but making feel uncomfortable is really unnecessary. The taxi carriages drove everywhere on the road, nearly making it impossible to cross unless its a set of magical lights. The skyscrapers pierced the heavens with their beauty, making a perfect pattern to look at. Pegasi are lucky, they can just fly over the traffic and get to anywhere they want in a matter of seconds. Unicorns can teleport anywhere in a flash if they wish, at the cost of tiring themselves out. Us Earth Ponies have to wait patiently at the magical lights making us as a race feel weak and low. This city never exceeds to amaze me, it never changes pace, never sleeps and never treats you neatly, only spits at your hoofs with its nasty occupants.
I waited at three magical lights to get to the train station, it must have been my looks because no one stood in my way, instead, they made a clear path in front of me. It makes me feel sad and neglected, do they fear me, do they hate me or do they think they'll get trampled on by me. Never mind, I got to the train station in one peace at least. there weren't that many going onto the train, I would say about, 13 of us were getting onto the next train. As I waited at the station it gave me time to think clearly. The filly wanted me to take this letter in my hoofs to one of the two Princesses in a castle where they'll be protected up to Sombra's beard, but why would it be addressed to her? Something smells fishy here and its not just the ocean smell a few feet away from the station. I heard a large whistle in the background, breaking me off my thoughts to place the letter back in my saddle. The train arrived in view with its multicoloured cabins giving me an embarrassing feeling of femininity if I get on that train. I checked round me one more time only to notice three Ponies gazing towards me, I could clearly see two of them were out of hatred, its just the third one was... more suspicious with his movements. He had this angered aura around him, like he was purely angered by my presence.
The train came up to the station and docked in with its doors opening wide up with all sorts of different species coming off, I even saw a buffalo wearing a suit and tie. It was getting common now, different species getting jobs to live in this bleak world.
"All Aboard!!" The conductor shouted to us all, giving us the go ahead to board. I went to the second last cabin, as most of the Ponies were getting in that one. If it was my imagination, I don't have to worry about the Pony angered by me, But lets give it ago. I sat down at the edge of the cabin to give me full sight of the room, I need to know what might happen if the need arises. The foul stench of sweat filled this cabin with the amount of Ponies in here with me. But I never really cared about hygiene, it costed bits to get a mane and tail cut, and to use the water. It doesn't matter at the moment. All that matters is getting to Canterlot. We passed through tunnels, bridges, wetlands, farmland and a small desert. This was the first time I ever seen something so beautiful in my life, the trees flowed with the wind, Ponies were having fun in small villages and the clouds were filled with random imitations of animals and objects. It was good enough to take your breath away... well, it would, if the same pony from the station wasn't starring at me. I could see them in the reflection on the opposite seat beside me. This was the last straw, I'm finding out if this yellow Earth Pony is following me.
I changed my face to a disgust expression, holding my nuzzle as I walked into the next cabin. I shut the door behind me and kept walking down the isle of the empty cabin, keeping my ears wide open for the certain noise of the door sliding open. And by coincidence, the door slid open behind me. I looked to my left, seeing the Earth Pony in the reflection looking at me a few paces behind. I bout turned, looking him in the eye only to notice his mane style was a green crew cut while his eyes were mismatching colours of yellow and green.
"I assume you've been following since the 2nd set of magical lights in Manehattan?" My deep voice echoed the cabin only to get a anticipated smirk from him. We stood watching each others movements, seeing who will make the first move. I couldn't make out his intentions, maybe it could be just a normal mugging and he thought I have a lot of bits or maybe it could be something to do with this letter in my bag. Personally, this was becoming a drag as the cabin rocked back and forth with just us two starring at each other for 20 minutes. I gasped on the sight of the cabin's lights turning out giving the Pony in front of me time to react. I turned my attention to the Earth Pony, only to be blinded by darkness from a tunnel. I reacted by jumping to the right on top of a train sitting bench. I instantly leaped from one bench to another, hoping my memory wouldn't fail me in this situation. I'm a big target so I hope his aim isn't that good and I don't know if he has a weapon, so I should treat this as he does. after 2 minutes of leaping from one bench to another, the darkness ended with the lovely view of the countryside. The Earth Pony was holding a rather small dagger in his mouth looking around the rest of the train for me. I was behind him lucky enough. I dived acrossed the floor with my back two hoofs in front of me. With my size it was an advantage, I used body weight against him, hitting his two back legs bringing him down to the cold cabin floor. I got up before him and place my right hoof on his neck, making him drop the knife in his mouth so he could breath. I lightened up a little as the announcer shouted over an intercom "Canterlot stop, 5 Minutes.".
"Should give me plenty of time. Now, mugger or assassin?" I asked the Earth pony only to see his face growl towards me in vexation.
He quickly attempted by sliding his whole body round bringing his four hoofs round tripping me over face first into the floor. I grunted in sudden pain before suddenly realising he had a weapon. I didn't think twice about rolling to the right, just dodging a blade to the face. He grunted towards the blade stuck in the floor, trying to pull it out with some force. I reacted on a whim, I spun my body round so my back two legs were pointing towards him on my back. His face of shock as my two legs collided with his side was... blissful. The sight of him leaving the ground and colliding into the train cabins' window, smashing it into pieces with him falling out of the train, was sublime. I never had that much fun in ages.
"Great, now I don't have a clue why he followed me in the first place." I panted out in pain from the fall to the ground. The fight It wasn't that great, but it brings back memories with the M.P.D.... unimportant joyful memories.
"Canterlot, 1 minute, prepare to leave."
I twisted my neck, clicking it a couple of times before making it back to the cabin I left in the first place. I sat down back where I originally sat only for everyone in the cabin to look at me with a scared expression towards me. They must have seen the Earth Pony fly out the window, but I don't care anymore, they will know the truth about this world sooner or later. Death will become of us all, either it be accident, old age or murder... I just committed murder again, it was in self-defence so its perfectly fine. They'll either forget it tomorrow or the policing government will force it upon them. Did I mention about the memory wipes of innocents and witnesses of murder its a way of keeping the truth of other Ponies killing each other in cold blood... or for revenge in check. I shook off the terrible thought, bringing me back to reality just as the doors opened on the train and into Canterlot. I left the cabin first, knowing the Earth Pony wish he was a Pegasi. No Pony followed me out with me, it must have been from fright of the Pony wishing he could fly at that moment in time. As I walked off the station I could hear the conductors squabbling over the broken window and the dagger in the floor. I didn't touch the dagger so my hoofprints wouldn't be all over that deadly weapon.
I walked off the station platform and down to the town of Canterlot. It was the first time I've been to this type of place. A lot less crowded, but it was mainly Unicorns around here. They always think of themselves as the master race of the three. In sense they are, they can use magic to summon spells that could flood entire planes, or send the sun crashing down unto Equestria if they knew how. I wasn't comfortable in this town. The clean air, the friendly ponies and the small buildings made this a countryside town in my eyes. I'm getting side tracked. I moved my way through the town of Canterlot, zipping past Ponies and stores alike. It felt like this town could send you to a higher place in life if you could take advantage of it, Like they all wear clothes and fancy ones at that. I thought I even heard one of the Ponies having a conversation about Rarity's Canterlot Boutique being one of the best places for fashion. Why would anypony want to wear clothes, you should express yourselves with your actions, not clothes... but if its clothes that express your actions then I can't argue with that.
I wondered round the town for a couple of minutes, just sightseeing and scoping the place out for any place of interest, like a library that contain schematic of the buildings and the landscapes history... There was even a doughnut shop with a purple dragon sitting by the register eating four cakes at once. Even this place have some strange creatures in its boundaries. After searching around for an hour, I eventually got bored so I made my way towards the Castle...which...was on top of the mountain... more walking, great.
"What...*pant*...the...hay!" I gasped out loud from the long walk, I never walked this far in my entire life. I need to get some exercise back into me. That walk was ridiculous, but what's going on here? I thought from the sight of the guards everywhere around the castle and its walls. Royal guards, both Luna's and Celestia's flying around the Castle in droves. If it was the Royal Guards then I can understand it but why are Luna's up during the day? Aren't they Bat Ponies?
I looked to my right to see two of Celestia's Royal Guards talking, but one of them saluted to the other before going away leaving him standing there. Something must be going down if a general of the Royal Guard is out here. I took in a deep breath, hoping I can pull it off again once more.
"M.P.D. Detective division, SilverBullet. I was told to come here by my superior for a lead. He never told what its about so explain the situation?" I faked my identity, knowing its the Royal Guard will they buy it... Probably n-
"Are you here to give the lead or get it?" The Guard answered back to me.
I felt weight come off as I heard those words, it gives me some time to think about this.
"A bit of both. but I have it in a letter addressed to Princess Luna. For her eyes only." I answered truthfully, knowing I can back myself up on evidence if the need arises.
"At least the M.P.D. care about what happened down here, names Shining Armour." He raised his right hoof towards me as a sign of greetings. I accepted his hoofshake making me relax from the half lie I just spouted. Now that I get a better look at him, he was a white stallion with a blue mane and tail, his cutie mark was a glistening purple star in the middle of a shield with three grey stars above it.
"Is it that bad?"
"A family was kidnapped two nights ago, and we haven't got the faintest clue where they are." Shining's sentence ringed in my ear, suddenly clicking with the link between the two.
"What kind of family?" I kept my cool, trying not to burst into worry.
"One of Luna's night guard was kidnapped, along with his wife and filly. But I will get Princess Luna right away, I'm really sorry you can go into the castle as of right now. But wait here." My eyes widened on the information Shining gave me. It was breathless information, a night guard's family was kidnapped and then a little bat filly asks me to delivered a letter... but why, is it that important that Luna gets that piece of paper. I rushed down my saddle bag bringing out the letter, I turned it round from the address only to see it was sealed with a weird symbol I couldn't recognise from how damaged it was. I looked around me, not thinking about what was going to happen, only thinking about what was so dam important that the little filly wanted to pay so much money to have it delivered. I opened the envelope with no damage coming of the letter. Why? I thought to myself. It wasn't a letter, It was pictures glued down to a piece of paper. The pictures almost made me heave from the sight of them, there were two pictures of each family member, a before and after image. The navy blue, night guard Father was tied down to a chair gaged up with a cloth, the after image... he was missing an ear, a front leg and a eye. He was no longer navy blue as his body was stained with his own blood. The Mother was tied up to chains while the after image was her lying in a pool of bloody water face down, indicating she was no longer with us... The next one was the filly, I could tell it was her from the perfect, dark purple laced mane that covered her face apart from her illuminating green eye. The after image was a close up of her right eye... they gouged it out of her sockets, they bucking gouged it out while she was awake judging from the crying and blood. That must be where she got the scar on her right eye.
I dropped the paper in my hoofs, staggering a few steps back from shock. I couldn't hold in the tear that dropped from my eye, cleaning my grey coat revealing a bright silver glaze coat. I starred at the paper while half of the guard walked outside with Luna between them. I stumbled onto my flank, trying not to faint on the horrific sight.
"Silver, something wrong?" Shining Armour took a step closer before stepping on the paper, taking his attention away from me for a brief moment. He gasped on the sight of the photos, speechless in his words, he froze on the spot.
"Is there something wrong Shining?" Luna wondered passed the guards only to stop on a glimpse of the photo's. The sigh paralysed her for a brief moment before she screamed to the heavens "Noooo!!"
