The Neon Vale

After I went home that one night, everything turned back to normal for me. Since then, I haven't thought not once of Chrysalis' presence, nor any of the hostile changelings. I fear that the harmless changelings are dealing with other ponies discriminatory behavior, just because all of the Shadow Army is full of changelings. These things are terrorizing Las Pegasus while holding up an area in Hooflin, Equestria.

Now I rise again after last night's hangout. I thought it was all a dream until I found Vinyl's autograph for my wife, tucked inside my jacket. I have not thought once of Chrysalis's presence, not even seeing a changeling walk down the street bothers me. I look at them, they look at me. No problem. Maybe I just need to stop thinking of work so much, lucky for me, I've got today off.

My grandfather trots downstairs in his happy mood and makes lemon tea (as he always does) then sits beside me as if I were a random person sitting at a park bench. He stirs away and mixes in the flavor, without adding the packet of sugar I placed on the counter for him. He then turns his head at me and gives me a look as if he didn't recognize me. Here I sense him about to ask the same question the same exact way he did before.

"How is your day young man?" asks Grandpa.

"Better than a couple nights ago," I said.

He talked away for quite some time telling me about his old job that even I had to work as to support my family. Talks about his classic rod, everything that I had already known. It looks too much to me as if he forgot everything ahead of 2000, except for his times hunting, and moving to Las Pegasus.

"You know, my grandson is the best around. Good student, good kid, no doubt he'd be a good stallion," he said.

It crushed me to know that his Alzheimer's has gotten this bad. I know somewhere inside, he can recognize me. I just need to bring it in, say something. The "he'd" was the major clue in his sentence.

"You look like Ridgee, except older," said Grandpa.

"I love you a lot, Grandpa," I said without hesitating.

The facial expression my grandfather gave me then appeared to me as surprised. His entire face began to rest with his mouth slightly open. Right there I knew that something clicked in his mind, that he knew who this red Earth pony was. I am his grandson. My grandfather sat closer to me and asked, "Ridgee" You're a stallion?"

"Yes," I said as a tear streamed onto my mane. "It's Ridgee."

He grabbed onto me with his hooves and pulled me closely to his chest. His muscles being no match for mine as he nearly snaps my spine in his loving hold. This pain for me, expresses undying love as I also show undying dedication to my family and department. What my grandfather doesn't realize, is how serious his medical condition will get.

He lets go of me and says, "I'm proud of you Ridgee, I love you too."

"Thanks," I said while still crying. "I will always love you."

We pulled away from each other after that moment. I then began to feel like a new person, and rushed down to the hospital moments after out bonding. I went outside to smell the fresh air, and the wind blow against my snout. I quickly got in my unmarked black sports car whose white racing stripes spoke for me. It's time to roll out.

The traffic in Las Pegasus was fairly quick. It's a beautiful morning here in the city I love. I see the neon lights fade away as the sun touches the buildings. I remember how our technology was quickly inspired by the human world. We caught on fast but it zipped past my grandfather's head as it became to hard for his use.

I pulled up to the hospital parking space and placed the vehicle on park. I got out, locked the door, took a deep breath and said to myself, "Keep love, keep working."

I walk into the hospital asking about my wife, she directed me straight down the hall to a door on the left. After visitation request was accepted, I was let inside to see her for the twentieth time.  Nearly all of her mane has fallen off from therapy. Some strands stuck out, but looked lazy. She noticed me during our dismal moment and said, "Honey, you're here."

"Of course I'd be here," I said. "I'll always be beside you, even when I'm gone."

"You don't have to worry about it," she said. "I feel it."

"What did the doctor say about your conditions."

"One more week and I'm off therapy."

"That's amazing, I'm very happy to hear that, sweetheart."

Her breathing seemed uncontrollable, but I know deep down inside that she will make it.

Suddenly, I receive a phone call. I look on the screen of my smartphone to find Roya Shine's name, and I think once again. This better not be about the stolen files I've hidden.

"Hey Roya," I said. "How's it going?"

"Not good," said Roya.

"What's the issue?"

"Not only has Chrysalis's file been left with minor crimes, but the shadow army has breached Trent's home."

"Is Trent okay?"

"Trent is fine. I need you to meet the EIB and I at the LPMPD Headquarters."

"Understood."

I kiss my wife and give her the autographed. It appeared to the nurse and I that she loved what she had gotten, and will keep it wit her forever. I've got a case to get cracking with, even though the files were stolen by me, I've got to bring the truth out when it is safe. I cannot afford to end up in a ditch and having only the names "changeling" and "Chrysalis" roaming around the streets of Las Pegasus followed by the death of my, Ridgee. It's time.

I race down the Las Pegasus Boulevard in code three. Lights and Siren force traffic ahead to pull to the side. As I make a tacit turn and swerve I make, my tires screech. Just ahead of my was the police headquarters with bullet holes on the the same office floor I worked on. I quickly assumed that somepony was after me. Or some changeling had wanted to put an end to my life by the orders of the queen. The only way to find out is to see what the evidence tells us.

I leave my vehicle in the parking lot and move to the entrance of the headquarters. There by the door was Roya Shine who diverted her attention to me and rushes in my direction. Helicopters flew overhead and obstructed my view of the building with its glare from when the sun's rays touched it. Busy officers with metro cruisers surrounded the area and closed the building off with police tape.

"Ridgee!" shouted Roya. "I need you to help me figure some things out."

"Understood," I said. "Any killed on sight?"

"Just one. You may know him."

"Better not be Trent."

We take the elevator to the fifth floor. The office was torn apart from walls to furniture, ceiling and police tech. Lights dangled around by the wire and flickered. I looked closely at the blood splatter on the wall, this floor has been shot up from the inside instead of the outside. Desks were tipped over, fire alarm tripped, as soon as I tied these items together, I discovered that a plan had been made for this murder. The real question is, whose body does this belong to?

I came closely to find a much more older partner. The evidence shows that Colin Canterson had been shot as he stood alone on this very floor. Black spots melted the carpet strands as to show that embers had appeared from somewhere, but nothing else around the room was burnt, and the fire alarm was physically pulled by somepony. Even though it may not seem like it, things will eventually link to me.