When Ghouls Cross Over

Chapter 7: Hidden Secrets

"Don't let the cat out of the bag. If you do it won't hesitate to attack."

“What exactly am I looking at here Star?” Streamlight asked, with annoyed look on his face.

For the past few days Silver Star, a friend of mine, working as a journalist for the Manehattan News Corporation had been constantly bugging me about the events that occurred about two or more nights ago, I can’t remember at this moment. Haven’t had enough sleep, since the chief and several other precinct areas have been upping town safety. When I gave her the interview she wanted so badly with me after the little incident, she got it published on Equestria Daily. The following morning the mare got sent to Ponyville by her boss to research if anything strange has been happening there as well.

And now here she was, back in my office with a wicked grin as she flaunted these pictures in my face.

“What do you think you’re looking at Stream?” she asked, with that annoyingly confident grin of hers.

Streamlight looked down at the pictures displayed before him. Five in total, each displaying a picture of a white haired boy performing feats that only a earth pony could do. What was more, the junior unicorn detective had never seen this type of creature before. He seemed to be of their kind yet he had no coat, no fur, the ears being smaller in comparison to any Equestrian he had ever seen, and the eyes...Why was one of them covered up?

“Well?” Silver Star asked with a grin. “What do you think? This will make front page for sure right?”

Streamlight looked at his friend carefully for a few seconds, taking in that rather too confident look she had on her face, then looked back at the pictures. Everything he was currently seeing was a little too much for him to take right now, the way the shots captured this po- being’s movement. The way this boy seemed so calm in front of one the very things that he had been unable to kill with his own gun.

It sent shivers down his spine. There was something else that the pictures had so well captured aside from the battle prowess that this white haired being presented.

Courage? No...that wasn’t it. It was something else. Something more than that. Courage was there alright that was a definite.

Streamlight shifted in his seat, a slightly uncomfortable sensation taking over him as he took another look at the bizarre and rather horrific mask this person wore.

His eyes narrowed as he peered into the barely visible face before him. What was it? he asked himself. What am I missing? a few more seconds passed in silence as he ignored the uncanny silence his friend had gained throughout the minutes of silence.

Lifting another picture up closer to his face, Streamlight squinted, scanning the boy’s expression. It was calm. It was placid, yet at the same time wasn’t. Like fury beyond anything he could imagine lay mixed in that hidden face, as he fought against this other ghoul.

“Streamli-”

“What was this ‘being’ doing?” he asked, he demanded. Silver Star was taken aback by the sudden strict nature her friend had gained. The type of strictness he brought out when he was doing investigations.

It took a second. Then another, Silver Star hadn’t expected him to react so strangely to the photos. She knew his incident had happened about two or three days ago but she hadn’t asked after she got the interview.

The way her friends shook when she was told what happened to them and the terrors they saw that night. She shuddered, although faintly. It was not something she wanted to remember. Especially the look of fear in the blue eyes of the bright pink earth mare.

“Star” Streamlight said, dragging her attention back to him. He was still staring intently at the photos.

“What was this ‘being’ doing?” he demanded.

Silver Star pursed her lips. Then sighed. The look in her friend’s eyes told her that if she didn’t answer him then he’d pester her till the end of time till he found out what he wanted, it’s how he worked since they were basically like brother and sister to each other.

“I’m not sure” she said, then furrowed her brows at the skeptical look Streamlight gave her. “Honest” she said with a hand to her chest. “I have no idea what he was doing there, I got there when they had already started the fight and obviously I wasn’t going to get involved in it, with the way they were moving.”

“But” she said after a few seconds of thought. Digging into her satchel she pulled out a sixth picture, the one she had planned on keeping in case she needed a back up. Now, placing it on the table in front of Streamlight Silver Star showed him the last shot she had taken. “It looks like he was protecting those mares.”

Streamlight’s eyes widened slightly, as he stared at the boy, now carrying the cyan pegasus. And out of all the emotions that was being depicted at this very moment, one was very clear to the young detective.

A deep desire to protect.

Streamlight stared in silence at the picture for a few more seconds. Then he got up, grabbed his uniformed trench coat that all Manehattan detectives are supposed to wear, and took all the pictures on his table that Silver Star had displayed for him, sliding them into his pocket. Pulling the drawer, in his desk he took out the cartridge, then turned around to the closet, where he kept other important files and documents on cases he worked on.

Opening the grey doors and allowing them to slide to the side, Streamlight stared at the safe that held something he hadn’t touched in days since the incident. His gun.

“Streamlight?” Silver Star asked with concern now seeping into her voice. “What are you doing?”

I didn’t answer. I just continued to stare, forelonging at the weapon I had relied to save both my friend and my own life that failed me in such a dire moment. It took a few seconds, before Streamlight’s hand moved to punch in the code for the safe. The tumblers clicked, then the electronic safe light flashed green, before popping the door open.

Drawing the weapon out Streamlight stared at his Automag V in silence. It was something few officers had, along with any other weapons they wanted provided they grab a license, get the required training and make sure only to use those other devices within the right circumstances. Having been a junior detective Streamlight had been offered a different handgun of somewhat better caliber but decided to rely on the gun he’d been using since his officer days.

Grabbing the clip and switching the empty cartridge for the new one Streamlight put his gun on safety before slipping it into his hip holster.

“Streamlight” he looked up, Silver Star stood in front of his door her arms crossed, and her frown strong. “What do you think you’re doing with my photos?”

“I’m going to get some answers.”

She raised a brow. “Seriously? Your joking. You’re joking right?” she said with a small snicker, but the stony expression the stallion had on his face said otherwise.

Silver Star’s snicker dropped. “Why would you want to go to Ponyville, because of this guy?” she asked clearly disliking where this was going. “I showed you those pictures because I thought you’d appreciate the work I put into them, and the fact that I found somepo- someone else that can fight those things off.”

“I am appreciative of your work. But now I need to go and get some answers” he said taking a step forward, but Silver Star didn’t budge.

“What do I tell Sweet Treat when she comes looking for you, which she will. You know she’s still shaken up about the whole incident and I’ve got work with MCN, I can’t stay with her as often as you can.”

Streamlight’s hardened expression faltered at that point being thrown at him, but he quickly put on a brave face. “She’ll be alright. I’ll go talk to her before I leave, I just need to get some answers and find out how that guy was able to fight that thing with no worries.”

A few seconds passed and Silver Star was giving her friend a critical stare. Streamlight’s expression had gone back to being confident in his decision and from the looks of it she could be here all day, and he wouldn’t budge. But she still had to try.

“What if” she paused, gathering her thoughts. “What if he had something, a weapon of sorts that took it down. I could go for you instead since I’ve still been assigned there and-”

“No” Streamlight said firmly. “I’m not letting the mare who’s like a sister to me go and end up letting her ‘journalistic instincts’ kick in and get herself killed.”

“Streamlight common I just want to-”

“I said no Silver Star! I refuse to let you go back there without any protection. I’m going to Ponyville, besides the bearers of the elements of harmony are there I have nothing to worry about, especially since I have a licensed weapon. You don’t. End of discussion.” Taking a few more steps towards the silver mare Streamlight now brushed past her, through the door and past the corridor, where they soon went down and elevator that would take them outside.

Silence consumed the two, as the elevator took them from the fourth floor, down to the first.

“You don’t have to do this you know” Silver Star said in almost a whisper. “All you need to do is give me those photos and I can get them published within a day. By then-”

“By then who knows how many others across Equestria will have died. Silver Star, you weren’t there. You didn’t see what that thing, what that ghoul could do. It was something no one, not even the princesses themselves have ever seen before. It’s movement was far beyond that than I had ever seen. And it’s healing factor and durability. Mind-boggling. I’m going to Ponyville, end of discussion.” A silent ding from the elevator signalled they reached the first floor. The doors split open and the two walked through the busy lobbies and halls where other detectives and investigators were working.

“Hey Streamlight” a voice called, making the two stop. A bright pink mare with a cerise mane came forward holding a small smile.

“Sweet Treat? What are you doing here?” Silver Star asked in surprise, the pink earth pony smiled and linked arms with her cousin. “I came to see how things were going with the...investigation.”

Streamlight’s expression went dour. “We haven’t been able to find anything concrete yet, just more rumors. No signs of disappearances either.”

“Oh. That’s good then” the mare said with a bit of a brighter smile. “Are you going somewhere?” she asked as they now went through the main door of Manehattan’s headquarters.

“I’m going to Ponyville. I think I may have finally found a lead on what those things are. With any luck I’ll be back in a few days” the disappearance of the smile on the mare’s face was not lost on Streamlight. It sent a ache in his heart to see the pony he cared about with such an expression.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked after a few seconds. They were now outside of the five story tower that was Manehattan’s Detective Agency. The three ponies stood a couple feet away from the building and were now looking on to the busy carriages that filled the rural roads.

Streamlight nodded. “And don’t worry” he said when both Silver Star and Sweet Treat opened their mouth. “I’ll stay safe” he said with an encouraging smile. The three hugged, an embrace they had rarely shared since growing up and moving on to pursue their own interests.

After spending a few seconds of silent embrace, they parted. Silver Star now locking arms with her cousin. Streamlight waved a taxi over and the stallion pulled up in a few seconds.

Before entering however he felt a tug on his coat. Looking back he saw Silver Star, holding a hand out to him.

“What?” he asked.

“You know what. The pictures. I gave you six, you only need one.”

“I think it’d be better if I kept them. You know, police purposes” he said smiling sheepishly. The glare he was receiving though could burn a hole right through him if he didn’t do something about this issue.

“Alright how bout this” he said digging into his pocket, and pulling out the pictures. “I’ll take one, you get the rest? But you have to do me a favor.”

“And what’s that?”

“Do not and I repeat do not publish these images till I return.” The look of disbelief on Silver’s face would’ve been funny if she hadn’t started shooting him daggers with her eyes.

“Why in Celestia’s name would I do that?!” she asked trying to snatch the pictures, but Streamlight merely held them out of reach.

“Because if you don’t” his horn glowed a light brown. “I’ll burn these pictures.” Immediately the mare went rigid, a look of fear and disbelief crossing her eyes.

“Streamlight!” Sweet Treat yelled. “You wouldn’t do that! She worked so hard for those pictures!”

“And those pictures could have gotten her killed had the fight she witnessed been any closer to wherever she was hiding” he admonished, quickly silencing the pink earth pony.

“Now. Silver Star, do we have a deal?” he asked staring at the silver unicorn with his light brown eyes.

With a scowl, and some reluctance she nodded. Snatching the five photos save for the one he had in his other hand out of his grasp.

“You have three days to get back here, or else” she held the photos up to his face. “These go on Equestrian Daily.” Streamlight nodded, heeding her warning.

Getting into the taxi, he waved goodbye to the mares he considered to be family. After the door was shut he gave them one last encouraging smile, a smile he felt was more forced than he had wanted, but pulled it off anyway. “Don’t worry you two. I’ll be back in no time.”

The carriage began its steady pull. “Where to?” the driver called.

Streamlight’s smile had now hardened. Taking in a deep breath he exhaled, before answering the driver’s question. “Take me to the train station. I’ve got someone I need to meet.”

Walking through Ponyville on the way back from one of Pinkie’s party planning jobs Kaneki was pushing the cart the mare used to carry all the stuff.

“Thanks for coming with me Kaneki” Pinkie said with a bright smile. “Pipsqueaks friends liked having you over as well” she said with a giggle.

Kaneki merely rolled his eyes. The group of young colts and fillies that had attended the party had not stopped poking and prodding him the entire time. Asking him all sorts of questions like where he was from. If he dyed his hair to get it that way, and why he wore shoes. It was anything but relaxing.

“Like would be a misnomer. I think they simply wanted to see what I was” he said with the faintest smile. Pinkie, laughed a bit when she saw his expression.

It was nice, seeing him smile. He’d been doing more of it lately ever since Rainbow Dash had been recuperating from her accident. But ever since then she’s been getting a strange tingling sensation in her nose.

One that told her one thing: Somepony was hiding something.

Still skipping by her friend’s side the mare watched Kaneki push the heavy cart with ease. Like it wasn’t even a problem for him despite the many many many things in it. It was quite the feat. She snorted thinking of how Rarity would simply do more than just admire Kaneki’s quite amazing physique.

Now that I think about it. When he saved me he did seem to have a tight grip...though it was a lot more gentle. Pinkie’s eyes scanned Kaneki. A thought popping into her head; it was strange, almost how the boy could be so distant at times. Like he was off in his own world, thinking about, going through things that not her or anypony else could understand.

Pinkie frowned. Now that I think about it, I don’t really know anything about him. I get he’s from another place, but I don’t know anything else aside from his name. She noticed Kaneki had stopped rather suddenly, a few things that lay in the cart falling off and dropping down to the ground, in front of the clothing store that Raiment Wear ran.

“Hey Kaneki what’s wrong?” she asked. But the boy didn’t reply. She moved over to the items that had fallen to the ground and began putting them back in. “Hey say something.”

Still no reply. Moving in front of him she saw the shocked look in the boy’s eye an immediate wave of worry running through her.

“Kaneki?” her voice full of concern. “Why won’t you-” she was cut off when rather suddenly the white haired boy grabbed her hand and pulled her right into the store.

“Hey! What’s going on?!” she asked but he didn’t reply. Opening the door quickly Kaneki left the cart full of party supplies in front of the store and went straight into to Raiment Wear’s shop. The stallion beamed him a smile and waved, but was ignored as Kaneki simply released Pinkie’s hand then hid behind a stack of clothes as he peered out the window.

Pinkie Pie stared at her friend with confusion. “Um...Kaneki?”

Raiment Wear who was dealing with a customer, trying to make a deal with him on clothing that Rarity had given him to sell left the client’s side after a hasty apology. “What’s going on here?” he said with a raised brow at the clothes Kaneki had practically swan dived into.

“To be honest...I’m not even sure. What’s he even looking at?” Pinkie followed his gaze to see that the boy was staring at...another human.

The human wore a coat that covered almost his entire face, and had on round lenses. In all honesty the look the man gave was slightly intimidating with the way his coat seemed to mask his face, and the rather annoyed glare he had.

Other ponies that had been passing by him seemed to take the hint that this person was obviously not in the mood for anything right now.

Pinkie turned her attention back to Kaneki who’d shifted closer into the surrounds of the clothing as the man passed the cart and soon came to the door, a filly with blonde hair following behind him with a smile.

“Hey there Dinky” Pinkie said with a smile. “Who’s um...who’s your friend?” she asked smiling weakly at the man who seemed to glare at her.

“His name’s Hachikawa. Mom’s friend. He’s been staying with us since yesterday.”

Pinkie’s ear twitched as she heard sudden movement behind her. Kaneki had left his hiding place and moved to another. The man named Hachikawa had obviously not lost sight of this as his eyes moved towards the stack of clothes that had been hung on the round rack.

“Excuse me sir” Raiment Wear said with a smile drawing the man’s attention to him. “I don’t mean to be rude but did you want something?” the stallion asked with a pleasant smile.

The man’s eyes stared at Raiment Wear, acknowledging his existence for a few seconds before they turned back towards the round rack, then glanced towards the stairs.

For a few seconds Pinkie felt something really bad was going to happen. She didn’t know why Kaneki was hiding from this man, but she didn’t like the strange presence that came off this man either. It gave her an uncanny feeling that she should take Dinky away from him.

Hachikawa was still staring at the stairs before Raiment Wear cleared his throat, beaming him another smile, that hid the annoyance on his face. “Sir. I have other customers I’d like to attend to. Is there a reason you came here?”

Hachikawa glanced down at the girl by his side. Dinky smiled sheepishly at him then rubbed the back of her neck. “I wanted to say hi. He offered to take me to Sugarcube Corner.”

“You mean your mother, made me go with you to Sugarcube Corner” he said with clear annoyance.

Dinky ignored the comment, and held the man’s hand. “Well we’re heading there now. Come on Hachii” she said leading him towards the Cake’s store.

“I’ve told you to stop calling me that girl” the man said as he allowed the girl to lead him towards the store.

Raiment Wear and Pinkie watched the rather strange man, walk off with the young unicorn. The annoyed smile Raiment had faded into a small chuckle as he watched the man get dragged along by the unicorn filly.

“Who’d of thought Dinky would have such an influence” turning his back to the pair as they walked off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner Pinkie Pie caught the look the man gave as he glanced back at the store.

Those eyes. They looked blank, like they were searching for something. Like they had expected something to be there.

Hachikawa continued to stare in their direction for a few more seconds till he felt a tug on his hand. Then he turned around.

His back facing them, as his thought travelled to what he had sensed. Ghoul.

Shutting the door Pinkie Pie turned her attention towards Kaneki who had just re-emerged from the second floor.

“What was that all about?” Raiment said, beating her too it.

Pinkie’s arms were crossed and she was giving Kaneki the same stare. The boy’s expression had gone stern. He shook his head.

“Nothing” Kaneki said. “It was nothing.”

“Like Tartarus it was nothing!” Raiment stated with a frown. “You just hid like a child who was about to be caught breaking something, why did you hide from that man Kaneki?”

“I told you it was nothing” Kaneki said once more, his own voice now growing serious.

Pinkie took a step forward, when Raiment shook his head with disapproval and left to attend to the clients that had been so patiently waiting, and a few of which that had been watching.

“Kaneki” Pinkie said softly. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” A few seconds of silence passed as the only thing that could be heard was the clicking of hooves as other people moved around the store in search of the latest trends.

Kaneki shook his head, his white hair falling over his eyes and giving him a despondent look. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.” Walking by her the boy moved back to the cart and began pushing once more.

Pinkie stood at the store watching her friend begin moving, cautiously. Carefully. In all honesty she felt kind of hurt that she wasn’t being told his reason for doing so. So she took a deep breath and decided to try one more time. Waving goodbye to Raiment Wear before she followed him down the path.

“We’re not going home are we?” Pinkie asked when she caught up. Kaneki shook his head.

“We will. Just not now. I need to wait a bit before I can go back.”

She bit her lip, the question dying to be asked on her tongue. “Why don’t you want to go back Kaneki? Why did you hide from Hachikawa?” she blurted before she could stop herself.

Kaneki stopped moving the cart and looked at Pinkie. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“But Kaneki-”

“I said No Pinkie!” he said with a raise of his voice. Then froze, seeing Pinkie’s hurt reaction, her tail and mane both deflating. Gritting his teeth, and resuming a calmer expression Kaneki turned around and continued pushing the wagon. Aiming for Twilight’s.

“Let’s go.”

Pinkie stared at Kaneki, watching him move on ahead of her as he pushed the cart towards Twilight’s castle. And as she watched him go she couldn’t help but feel that every step he took, was just a giant step further away from her and her friends.

She didn’t know what kind of secrets her strange friend was hiding. She didn’t understand why his eyes always radiated that feeling of having been through so much and was willing to sacrifice everything, but she knew one thing. He had secrets. Just like anypony else. Secrets of which he especially, along with the detectives didn’t want revealed or known by anyone outside their group. Now that she thought about it, the investigators seemed to be carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders as well.

Her saddened expression grew, as she watched Kaneki grow further in distance.

She sighed, moving slowly after her friend. “I just want to help. But you keep blocking me and everyone else out.”

Shaking her head, and forcing away the negative thoughts Pinkie looked up to see Kaneki was waiting for her, having come to a stop. Her expression brightened a bit. Even if he did have his secrets, secrets he didn’t want to share. That was fine.

Maybe one day, he’ll open up to me. Rushing to catch up to her friend Pinkie managed a small smile.

She planned to apologize for being so forceful but Kaneki beat her to it. “Sorry I yelled. I just...I’d rather not talk about it.”

She smiled wrapping an arm around his shoulders and giving him a small squeeze. “It’s alright, everyone’s got their secrets. I won’t pry if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Kaneki nodded, offering a small smile before he turned his attention back to the road ahead. His thoughts soon became lost in what he had just experienced. Chuu Hachikawa a CCG member had now joined him in this world.

Who knows what or who else could have came into this world with him. Kaneki’s eyes glanced back at Pinkie, she was walking alongside him, her arms behind her back, her tail swaying side to side in rhythm with her hips as they walked.

He turned his attention back to the road.

I’ll need to be more careful from now on. I can’t have them getting caught in any crossfires.

A voice whispered into his head, “Then kill the obstacles.”

He shook his head ignoring it. No. I just need to make sure, I don’t get caught in action. I just need to make sure I lay low.

*** ***** ***

The scream from the train whistle signaled that it had made its journey and was opening its doors. A crowd of ponies of all races, unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi and even a few deer from Deerheim made their way out of the train station. Emerging with them was a unicorn in a Manehattan custom made trench coat, displaying the blue burst of light encompassed by a magnifying glass, that represented his cutie mark.

Streamlight looked off toward Ponyville which would take a few minutes to walk to. Digging into his pocket he pulled out the clearest picture he had of his target.

The white haired boy in the mask.

Moving down the steps the unicorn began his walk, to meet the one being he was sure he could get answers from. The one being who he knew could help him end this and learn just what these ghouls really are.

“This trip better be worth it” he said to himself. “Or else things will get ugly.”