Chapters

Prologue -All Hope-
Chapter 2 -The False Friend-
Chapter 3 -Cold Case-
Chapter 4 -Honest Suspicion-
Chapter 1 -Quiet Mountain Town-

Prologue -All Hope-
View Online

The Need to Know

Prologue -All Hope-

-All Hope-

All-Hope, Equestria's only admax prison, held not only Equestria's most demented criminals, but the world's. If someone were of note in the world and committed a horrific crime, then their new home was in the middle of Beggar's cove. Often times, when beings were caught, they would inquire about going to All-Hope and if the answer had been yes, then guards would find them in their cell the following day hanging from their bunk by their own hoof.

Each cell in admax had been enchanted to slow aging so that sentences could be carried out. Completing multiple life sentences held real meaning to those that received them. Often times, an inmate would stay until they were rehabilitated, but the cases were so rare only two had ever been recorded. On occasion, Inmates would commit grotesque crimes to receive a death penalty due to the strain of time on their mind. Most just wanted to end it.

Every night since Princess Luna's return, inmates were treated to their own personal brand of torture by nightmare until their execution date arrived. Only thing was, inmates weren't told when their day was, so every day they woke up they didn't know if it was their last. Their only signal for the end was when the Warden opened their door wearing his dress cloths and hat.

A pair of guards walked along the individual cells in All-Hopes echoing corridor. The older guard ran his nightstick along the walls as he passed cell one zero seven, causing a grim dragging sound, he wound up and rear kicked it as he passed, showing his disgust with the inmate sat within.

"Now, Rooke, this is the last stop for the shift. I know you're used to guard life on the outside, but All-Hope is a different beast." The seasoned guard gruffed out as he sat by the thick, iron door.

"I can manage, Sir. I've met plenty of criminals and I'm ready for this one."

The older guard tapped on the window trying to stir the pony inside. "No, you're not. This one will eat you up without you even knowing it. He'll sow seeds in your mind and you'll be upset all the time, many guards have transferred or all together quit out of frustration. All because of six one six here."

"I know all about this one, Sir. I've followed his career-" Rooke found the end of the nightstick on her helm.

"Forget all that, the pony you see before you isn't the same pony from your textbooks. He's the only pony in this wing for a reason." The guard glared at the inmate singing in his bunk. "He's a thinker and knows exactly how to get on your nerves. "

"Guard Eleven!" The Warden called angrily as he approached with two armor clad royal guards. His chest gleamed and clanked around with medals. His dress uniform had been pressed and his green mane cut short and neatly parted for ceremony.

"Y-Yes, Sir!"

"Open that cell and get that prisoner, it's time." The Warden's usual cheery mood was uncharacteristically bitter.

"Right away, Sir." The grey guard called as he waved at the control room to open one zero seven. When the smack and hisses of the cold clamps released, the door swung open to reveal a large gunmetal grey Unicorn sprawled out on a bunk singing and reading a book. His royal blue mane was long, graying, shaggy, and covered much of his face save for his intense yellow eyes. The most notable feature, however, was the filed horn that barely parted his mane.

"Oh hello, Noddles." The inmate said. "Time for my haircut already?"

"It's Doddle, Rein." The guard growled as more guards lined up outside with chains and clasps. "But that won't matter much anymore. It's time for you to take a nap."

"Ohh, scary." Rein rolled and brought himself to his hooves. "So how does equestria do it now? Electric chair? Injection? Snoo-Snoo? Oh no, that's why there are so many mare guards here?"

The mares scoff as Rein approached slowly, his massive form towered over them all. He stared on in silence which put everyone on guard. After a thick silence, Rein talked, making the guards jump. "Well, aren't you going to hoof-cuff me?"

A small rookie mare grabbed his large hooves and fastened the cuffs. She had trouble trying to find the right adjustment, but Rein chuckled. "A little tighter and don't forget to double lock them."

"T-Thank you." The mare whispered as she disappeared back into the growing crowd of guards.

"So where to Warden?"

"You have a visitor before the chair."

"Yes! The chair, and here I thought you would disappoint." Rein barked in uproarious delight. "Wait a moment, All-Hope inmates don't get visitors."

The Warden brought his hooves to his mouth and chewed the end of his cigar. "Well, I can't say no to this one. Guards, bring Rein to the interrogation room."

Slowly, the guards dragged Rein by his reins. Every so often, he would stop and force the small mare guard to yank on his leash, making him whinny in excitement and continue behind her. After a mile of bared doors and security entrances, the procession of armed guards stopped in front of room labelled 'interrogation.' The door opened and the mare lead him in to a cold, familiar chair. She slowly hoof-cuffed him to the table and un-clipped his leash before backing away.

"This was nice, Rooke." Rein said, startling the small mare by use of her name. "Y'know, if guard work doesn't work you certainly have a talent for bonda-"

"And now we leave the inmate." The Warden cut off Rein by pulling the mare out and shutting the door.

Rein sat there and looked around the room, bored of his predicament. He looked at the two way mirror and waved, he heard some muffled voices on the other end before the door slung open slowly.

"Gallant Mind?"

Author's Note

I love feedback and need it, if you dislike something, love something, or just have input please tell me. I'm not the kind of author to get over butthurt at stuff.

Message from the author in the annex.

Thought I would try something new with this story. Detective work and other aspects in that field have always been a passion of mine so it was all too easy to write this up, but hard in the way I couldn't make it too accurate.

Gallant Mind, current look minus the coat and cigar.

Grammar on the other hand, isn't my best skill so there are no doubt errors. Outside of that, I hope it is enjoyable. This story has been on my mind for a while and was actually started like six months ago. I'm super picky so it took this long because I sat in the fetal position in the shower wondering if it was good enough to post.

Sexual content, strong language, and many other mature topics will appear in the story.

Chapter 2 -The False Friend-
View Online

The Need to Know

Chapter 2 -The False Friend-

-The False Friend-

"Can you not smoke?" The elegant voice of Rarity spat from within the cafe as she waved her hoof in the air, trying to dissipate the cloud of pungent smoke wafting from the coated stallion that was lounged in a large seat. She huffed in protest as he took another drag of the sweet smelling cigar. "It's such a vile habit."

"So I keep hearing." Rein threw a hoof up. "And you came into this coffee shop, you didn't have to come here."

Rarity stomped her hoof. "When are you starting your investigation? I need to make you an appointment so I am not busy."

"Fine." Rein lifted his head to look at the budding business mare. "How about tomorrow?"

"That's what you told Twilight every day for the past week." Rarity said impatiently before muttering under her breath. "Imbecile."

Rarity shuffled her hooves while Rein looked her up and down. He took in all details about the mare before him. He paid special attention to her hooves at the needle marks of someone in the textile business. He tapped his cigar and smirked at her.

"So how is your exploration into other career fields?"

"H-How did you?"

"I'm guessing Twilight Sparkle hasn't filled you girls in?" Rein sighed and stood from his chair. "It's no matter. I'll begin my investigation now, with you, Miss Rarity."

Rarity took a step back and squinted her eyes. "I'm busy today, I don't have the time to spend all my worries on you."

"That's a shame, I could stand to lose a few on you." Rein whispered as he passed Rarity. "But I guess I am too much of an imbecile to discern quality."

Rarity yelped as Rein flicked his long, snake-like tail at her cutie mark before leaving the shop.

"Wait, where'd that stallion go?" The shop owned called as he walked in from the back. He growled when Rarity pointed outside. "That scoundrel owes me one hundred and seven bits!"

Rein chuckled as he took a breath of fresh air. The ponies in town scoffed and sneered at him as he strode through the town towards a large crystal castle in the distance. Every so often, a pony would stray too close in a silent attempt to haze him, but they received a face full of smoke in return.

"Mr. Mind?"

"Huh?" Rein muttered and looked up to see a grey mail mare holding a clipboard out for him.

"Are you Gallant Mind? I have a package." The mail mare shook the clipboard.

With three heavy strokes, Rein threw the clipboard up and caught the package before shoving it under his wing.

"Six one six?" She asked and started to fly next to Rein. "Are you new to Ponyville?"

"Just passing through, bubbles." Rein said.

The mare Rein named bubbles cocked her head in confusion, she flew to the other side of the stallion when a low hanging branch bumped her back. "M-My name is Ditzy."

Rein looked up and nodded. "Well, Ditzy. I'm just here to do a job, after that, I get to leave."

"Oh, what kind of job?" Ditzy smiled.

"Out of the way, Derpy!" A tan stallion growled as he flew through where Ditzy had been moments before.

"I solve problems." Rein stopped walking and gestured to the jerk of a stallion flying away. "Say, are you lying to me or is your name really Derpy?"

"My name is Ditzy Doo, but ponies call me Derpy because I crash into things."

"You hate the name."

"Oh no, it's fine. I've become used to it."

"It wasn't a question." Rein continued walking and Ditzy followed closer. "You know, if you hate the name, you could just burn their houses down."

Ditzy gasped. "That's horrible! Why would I do that?"

"Kind of hard to laugh when their life's work is a two story pile of cinder." Rein muttered and looked at Ditzy's surprised expression before glancing at the small, hoof made heart pin on her bag. "It's getting to that part of the day, your daughter should be done with school."

"How'd you..." Ditzy looked at her watch and gasped. "Bye, Mister Mind!"

"That's Rein!" Rein threw his hooves up after seeing she was already gone. He turned and was face to face with Shining Armor. "Shiny!"

Shining Armor drew back and punched Rein in the face, causing him to stumble back.

"Ah! Yes, hit me more." Rein smirked and rubbed his nose as small droplets of blood dripped from it. "It's fine my love, I'll just tell everyone I fell down the stairs and into a doorknob."

"What is wrong with you?" Shining said in disgust.

Rein winked as he passed Shining Armor. "I thought you had given up on me?"

"I'm just here for the next day visiting my sister, after that I am going to return to Canterlot."

"Oh, why not the Empire?" Rein asked and leaped into the air to avoid an ethereal spear. "Did I hit a soft spot?"

"It's none of your business."

"Still haven't told your sister, have you?" Rein chuckled. "It's of no consequence. You're back on the market, I'm sure there are several mares in Canterlot looking for a strong stud to provide genetic material."

"I am not that type of stallion!"

"Hey, there are stallions too, I'm not judging."

"You are so wrong." Shining groaned.

"Then stop pretending you aren't interested in my stories and ask questions already." Rein called Shining out on his secretive thoughts. "I saw one of my novels in your bag on the train."

Shining Armor scowled. "I wanted to speak with the real Gallant Mind and not, whatever it is you've become."

"Indeed." Rein hummed.

"My sister is going to be so disappointed." Shining muttered.

"In your divorce or sudden desire for stallions nicknamed 'Big Hooves?'"

Shining glared up at Rein. "While growing up, your books were some of her favorite. Before I attended the academy, we would sit home and pretend to solve crimes."

"Aw, that's sweet." Rein's monotonous tone conveyed his disinterest.

"Big Brother!" Twilight teleported from thin air and into Shining Armor.

"Hey, Twily!"

Rein gagged and continued trotting toward the castle. Thoughts of food crept into his mind and he started to trot faster and faster towards the castle.

"What's he doing?" Twilight asked.

"Nothing good." Shining spat as he galloped after Rein with Twilight flying behind him.

Twilight ran into the castle with her older brother, they looked through the rooms and tried to discover where their new resident villain had went to.

"Um, Twilight." Spike called as he ran from the end of the hallway. "There's a strange stallion in the kitchen?"

Twilight enveloped her two brothers in her magic and teleported them to the kitchen where Rein laid on the counter holding a large loaf of bread.

"Oh Shining, paint me like one of your Prench baguettes." Rein tried to say seductively, but found it hard while trying to eat said baguette with maple syrup he found in the fridge.

"He's a lunatic." Spike said as he tried to make sense of what was going on.

"Spike, don't insult our guest." Twilight scolded.

"Oh, no. Please insult all you want, he deserves it." Shining corrected. He approached Rein with a deepening scowl. "You get an allowance from the crown for food. Why are you eating my sister's food?"

"I get an allowance?" Rein asked. Somewhere there was a solar diarch groaning because she forgot to notify her detective of his allowance. "And here I've been eating out of the garbage."

Twilight gasped. "That is horrible!"

"It was good actually. A pink mare brought me out some fresh stuff while I slept in the alley."

"You slept in an alley?" Shining Armor and Twilight said in shocked unison.

"Better than an admax cell." Rein chuckled and poured chocolate syrup on cheese before taking a big bite. "I used to love this stuff as a foal. So glad I still do."

Spike gagged and left the room, leaving Twilight to deal with their eccentric guest.

"Mr. Mind." Twilight started. "I appreciate that you've finally stopped by, but could you stop laying on the counter? If you take a seat, I'd be happy to make you something."

Rein stopped mid bite and looked into Twilight's beaming expression. He knew she was familiar with his crimes, which begged the question; why treat him so kindly?

"Twily, don't. He's a scoundrel and isn't even worth the time." Shining whispered, but was flicked by Twilight who continued to stand with a big, forced smile.

"I accept." Rein rolled off the counter and landed on his hooves. "And the name's Rein, kid."

"What would you like?" Twilight Sparkle levitated the contents of her fridge into the air. "I have enough ingredients and cook books to make virtually anything."

"Tomato soup and a grilled cheese?" Rein asked.

"Right away." Twilight chirped.

'I'm going to pay for this in questions, I know it.' Rein left the kitchen and ignored the glaring set of stallions outside the door. "Hey Milo, Otis."

The stallions growled at Rein's nicknames, causing him laugh as he walked away. Within moments of turning another corner, Rein dropped his mood and leaned against the wall before fishing out another cigar. His hoof shook until he was able to light the cigar to take a long drag. He mumbled to himself and to the distant ear, it would sound like singing.

Secretly, Rein peeked at an old photo of a blond mare before stuffing it back to continue his trek through the crystal like castle. He looked all around and eventually arrived at a huge set of double doors. "Well this looks important."

Many considered sneaking into large, ornate rooms, rude, but Rein had no such reservations. He smirked when he found Rarity and Rainbow Dash sitting at the large round table discussing Rarity's latest Seaddle trip.

Rainbow spotted Rein sneaking up from behind Rarity and called him out. "Can we help you?"

"Oh, just waiting for lunch. Go back to your conversation." Rein sat in Applejack's seat and sank into it leisurely. "Don't let me spoil your fun."

Rarity huffed when she made eye contact with the offensive stallion.

"Ah, come on, Gorgeous." Rein mimicked a Manehatten gangster's voice. "A dame like you is too beautiful to scowl like that."

Rarity fought her frown as it threatened to turn into a smile, but Rainbow had no qualms with her own scowl.

"Oh, you're the stallion that caused that crash last week." Rainbow leaned into her chair. "I asked Shining Armor about you, he says you're bad news. Something about you being a villain."

"Villain?" Rein feigned insult. "I am merely a wronged stallion."

Rainbow didn't take her eyes off of Rein, she kept her judging gaze fixated on him. She had tried to get all the information she could from Shining Armor, his past and what he intends to do for the future. Princess Celestia had tried to censor Shining by telling him to not freely share Rein's file information, but Rainbow was able to wean her way into Shining's good graces. And from what he had to say, Rein was a pony to keep at arm's length.

"Do you still have to smoke?" Rarity asked.

Rein rolled his eyes and tapped the fire out of his cigar before shoving it into his jacket. "For you, my dear."

Rarity leaned towards Rein's direction and tapped her hoof lightly on the table. "Mr. Gallant, may I ask you a question?"

"You may." Rein leaned on an arm while he made eye contact with Rainbow. "Questions are an excellent way to learn from one another directly and not from a disgruntled guard captain."

'Can he read minds?' Rainbow thought.

"I can read minds." Rein said.

Rainbow's eye grew large and Rein laughed.

"Mr. Gallant, how did you know about my desire to change careers?" Rarity asked. "Since your conversation in the coffee shop earlier, it has been plaguing my mind."

"Since I've arrived, I trust you've been told who I am?" Rein asked.

"Nothing past your real name and some background information I'm afraid. I prefer to find out who you really are, from you. I thought I had seen your name before in the mystery section of the library. Though, It must be a coincidence, those books were over ninety years old and you're not a day past thirty."

"No, I am indeed the author." Rein smirked and nodded. "I take it you've never read any of my books?"

Rarity shook her head, confused at his statement. "I had a choice between a few series and chose one of Shadow Spade's."

"Ah, so you chose the romanticized noir of detective work and not factual accounts in which the author, myself, examines an actual crime and details the actions of real beings?" Rein chuckled at Rarity's embarrassment. "Don't be embarrassed. I don't think less of you for it, I myself have enjoyed the hard hitting certainties of Shadow Spade getting her culprit."

"You have?" Rarity asked in surprise.

"Yes, I often read her stories while in prison." Rein chirped, instantly killing Rarity's intrigue. "It's nice to feel the thrill of reading a chase and the know of her emerging triumphant."

"Shining Armor said you were in a high security prison." Rainbow cut in. "But, you don't speak like a convict."

"Would you like me to?" Rein asked in earnest and threw up a hoof in question. "Because if you wish for me to be verbally abusive and try to steal yo' cornbread, I can."

"I don't even have cornbread?" Rainbow said, throwing up a hoof. "Do you even hear what you say?"

"Not over the sounds of grinding gears and laughter." Rein deadpanned and looked towards the door before it opened to see a floating grilled cheese and bowl of soup.

"Twilight, is that where you went to?" Rarity asked. "If you were hungry, we could have gone to one of the many restaurants in town."

"Oh it isn't for me." Twilight chirped. "It's for him."

"You made him food?" Rarity said in disbelief. "Wait, you made food?"

"I can cook!" Twilight defended. "Especially for an honored guest."

"Honored." Rein whispered to himself in amusement. He glanced between Rarity, Rainbow, and Twilight and read them like the ingredients on a food label.

Rainbow tapped her hoof on her chair as she let Rarity and Twilight talk themselves out of hot air. She opted to look at their guest and found that his eyes were darting over her lounged form.

"Can I help you?"

"You favor that set of words quite a bit, don't you?" Rein chided. "You seem very upset with me being here. I bet you have problems meeting new ponies."

Rainbow felt her temper bubbling up. "You don't know me, so I think it's best if we just ignore each other."

"Interesting point of view." Rein said monotonously into his soup.

Twilight smiled deviously and pulled out a notepad, which gained the confused attention of Rarity who looked between Rein, Twilight, and the notebook.

"You don't know the first thing about me." Rainbow huffed and crossed her arms.

"I could dissect you in seconds." Rein stated as he stirred his soup.

"No you can't." Rainbow challenged.

Rein dipped his grilled cheese in the soup and took a satisfying bite. He turned and chewed his food with vigor. "I know you're an only child. Either one, or both of your parents pushed you to do sports, likely your father judging from your general brutishness in your speech. You have issues with connecting to the opposite sex and because of it you've tried to come off as tough and capable. Stop me if I'm wrong."

Rainbow's eyes opened wide in awe, signalling Rein to continue his assault. "Tough and Capable are not bad qualities, but the smeared makeup residue on your lip and ear tell me you are bothered by this and desperately want to change this." Rein stopped and turned to Rarity. "You look like a mare that enjoys a good soak at the spa, have you ever caught Ms. Dash at the spa and caught her acting weird while attempting to explain her presence."

"No. Rainbow Dash." Rein said calmly. "I'm afraid I know you quite well." He took a bite and stared up into her eyes. "If silent screaming doesn't get anyone's attention, then try and speak to someone who is listening."

Rainbow's face fell at the allusion he had made to her own inner turmoil. "How did you know all that?"

Twilight clapped her hooves. "That was just like the duchesses scene in the case of 'The White Noir of distilled hearts!'"

Rein smiled and sipped his soup.

"How did you do that?" Rainbow said.

With a hefty sigh, Rein finished his soup. "The romanticized version of it is-"

"-everypony is a walking blueprint of their lives and lifestyles. With simple deductions, any world-weary pony can read another's life in their first meeting. All it takes is a keen eye and some wit." Twilight recited.

"R-Right." Rein said. "What she said."

"And the un-romanticized version?" Rarity asked.

"Well, hot flanks, that's my secret." Rein winked at Rarity's scowl.

"I don't understand, one moment you seem like a gentlecolt and another you're an unrefined vagabond? Twilight told me you were once a great detective and then out of nowhere you turned evil and was sent to prison."

"There's a spider on your shoulder." Rein pointed, causing Rarity to freak out and lose her mind while the other two mares tried to help, when they found no spider, they glared at Rein's empty spot.

"That jerk." Rarity growled.

"Isn't this a lamp from Princess Twilight's castle?" Silver Coin asked as he looked over the crystalline ornamentation. He was unsure what he was looking at was actually a royal item.

"Yes." Rein said. "I was given this by the... ah, Princess of Friendship as a housewarming gift, she imbued it with power of electricity to light up the darkest areas."

"So it's a lamp?"

"Or, a totem of light?" Rein reasoned. "I'll take fifty bits for it."

"I'll give you ten." Silver Coin rolled his eyes.

"Forty five?"

"I'll give you fifteen just to get out of my store."

"Sold!" Rein barked and scooped up the bits that clattered to the counter before skipping out of the store. "And you, Sir, the owner of a grand totem of light, have a somewhat mediocre day!"

"W-Wait! This lamp has a broken bulb in it!" Silver shouted as Rein closed the front door behind him.

"Where to now?" Rein mumbled while stumbling and looking around. He wanted ponies to keep their distance, so acting like a drunk usually did the trick. Images started to fly through his mind of the dossiers he read from Celestia.

Rein slowed his walk and leveled his balance out. He needed an alley and an alley was where he slipped in to. He chuckled as it was the same alley he had slept in for the past few nights.

"So. You're the stallion that's been eating out of my garbage?" Mrs. Cake asked, jolting Rein from his thoughts.

Rein had seen this bag of frosting before, she would peek out at him throughout the day before her lanky husband shooed her away from the window.

"Well, if I had to choose an alley, I figured it may as well be the best." Rein chuckled and sat against the wall of the opposite building. "Foods not bad either."

"I see Pinkie has fed you. She does love helping ponies in need." Mrs. Cake leaned against the frame of the backdoor and smiled sweetly, she rubbed her bandaged face gently. Upon seeing Rein's looks, she giggled. "I got this, tripping on frosting."

"Ouch, lemme guess, green batter?"

Mrs. Cake laughed and nodded. "Caught me red hoofed."

"Well, I am a detective."

The mistress of the baker looked slightly surprised, but melted back into her smile. "Is that so? May I ask, what is your name?"

"Rein six one six." He smirked and rustled inside his jacket to get his next cigar.

"Rein? Like the district in Canterlot?"

"The very same." Rein chuckled. "But enough about my life. May I ask you some questions regarding your patrons?"

"Oh, I'm not sure I should." Mrs. Cake said and glanced behind her nervously.

"Oh, nonsense." Rein cooed. "Your husband is at the market, isn't he? And this is just a harmless, little conversation. This is the first time we've met. You just returned from your trip from Manehatten, did you not?"

"How did you know that? I was away at the cake festival." Mrs. Cake shuffled her hooves and relented. "I-um, sure. What would you like to know?"

"Has there been anyone in your business that, say, have been acting as if they just won a bag of bits? I mean excited, elated, and other fancy words." Rein stood and lit his cigar and snapped his lighter shut, within a few good puffs the alley was hazy with sweet fog. "To give you a short bit about myself, I am here investigating a foalnapping plot."

"A-A foalnapping!" Mrs. Cake gasped and turned to run towards the front of Sugarcube corner. "P-Princess Twilight!"

"Here we go." Rein groaned as he followed the baker through her store and into the front where Twilight stood with Rarity and Fluttershy.

"Mrs. Cake, what's wrong?" Twilight asked as she saw the frantic mare trotting over to her.

"Princess Twilight, is there something going on in Ponyville?"

Twilight laughed and rolled her eyes. "There's always something happening in Ponyville."

Mrs. Cake shook her head vigorously. "No, is somepony about to be abducted?"

The bakery erupted in gasps and whispers. Twilight turned her head and looked at both her friends who shrugged in return. Her mind raced with questions until she saw a cigar wielding Rein saunter out of the kitchen.

"Gallant!" Twilight growled as she stomped her hoof.

"Yes, Princess?" Rein gave a mock growled in return.

"Why are you going around worrying ponies?"

"Oh, I was just gathering the last bit of information before solving this case." Rein sat and rolled his eyes back as he took a particularly long bite of his cigar.

"You solved the case?" Twilight said. "But you started your investigation today."

Rein raised an eyebrow at the Alicorn Princess and sighed. "Yes, and I for one am surprised that no one was able to get to the bottom of this shallow pool we call Ponyville. I solved it the first day by deduction alone, all I needed were key bits of testimony."

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Explain."

"Gladly." Rein stood and blew smoke in every direction as he stepped towards Twilight. He gave a hollow grin as he passed her before leaning against the door frame. "But try and keep up."

A Ponyville guard walked in from the darkening weather outside and found Celestia's detective about to explain the case.

"Ah, excellent. This way immediate action can be taken." Rein chuckled and started.

"The plot to foalnap Twilight seemed very deluded, but that was likely why none of the guards figured it out." Rein started and was interrupted by the subject of his statement.

"Wait, me?" Twilight spat.

"Yes, now sush." Rein snipped. "Now where was I? Oh yes. I started walking the streets a week ago and found a curious trinket in a garbage can behind a certain jewelry and fine ornamentation shop. It was dirty and tarnished, but I was to identify it as an ornate bookmark that went missing after the last break in."

Rein stood and started to pace around the room. "Next I asked around about the going ons of Ponyville, who knew who and why. It turns out the Silver Rush Jewelry store is up on their lease and the owner wants them out." Rein paused and waited for interaction, but when none came, he patted Fluttershy on the shoulder, making her jump. "Who's the owner? Good question Fluttershy."

"But I didn't say anything." Fluttershy whispered gently.

"The owner is the Ponyville Government entity and who is half the power in Ponyville?" Rein asked and looked at Twilight.

"Me?"

"You." Rein continued pacing. "I took a thorough look around the room that was broken in to and found a lamp missing, but I was able to locate the remains of its bulb. After some browsing in the local shops, I found the missing lamp in the Silver Rush Jewelry store with a broken bulb still in it."

Rein stopped in front of the guard and nodded down to him. "It isn't difficult to surmise who it was and their motive. A thorough search of his business after arrest should turn up more incriminating evidence."

The guard, fully knowing who stood before him, gave Rein a crisp salute before running off towards the guard barracks.

'Sorry, Coin. Just business.' Rein thought as he apologized silently to the shop keep.

"That was amazing." Mrs. Cake said.

"Yes, I know." Rein chuckled at the nervous mare. "I've been out of the loop for quite some time. With the case solved, I get my amnesty and my money." Rein paused and grinned wide. "And my soon-to-be rebuilt pent house in Canterlot's cloud district."

"Amnesty?" Fluttershy and Rarity asked.

"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

Rein shrugged. "Penthouse in the Cloud district." He tapped his chin and stood up to exit the bakery. "Maybe I should have Tia move the penthouse here, or the entire building."

"No, the part about the amnesty." Twilight asked, her curiosity and concern crept into her words as she approached Rein, she followed him out of the store and onto the street.

"Ah, Gallant Mind." Came a regal voice. "I just heard the good news."

Twilight looked up from focusing on Rein and saw her mentor standing before him in all her radiance.

"I trust everything has been thoroughly investigated and collected?" Celestia hummed.

"It has, to a point." Rein nodded. "I see you wasted no time in teleporting here?"

"Have I ever?" Celestia smiled. "I received notice earlier today of your investigation and cleared my schedule as a result. I see eighty years haven't dulled you one bit."

Whispers spoke behind Rein, he guessed that his crimes had been forgotten by ponies since crime was never openly spoken about in an increasingly fragile society.

"So who is the culprit?" Celestia cooed.

Rein chuckled and glanced up at the grinning Princess. "I think it's Silver coin."

Celestia's smile twitched slightly before she summoned a scroll. "Well. Here are your amnesty papers, I hope you can live with the decision you've made."

"Making." Rein corrected curtly before snatching the scroll from Celestia's magical grip, causing her to smile at him as he left in a determined hurry toward Twilight's castle.

"So will he leave?" Twilight asked as she looked up to her smiling mentor.

Celestia glanced over to see an extremely upset stallion being brought out of the Silver Rush. "No, he isn't finished. Though, if he's even half the stallion he used to be, he'll be up all night tonight."

"I don't understand." Twilight said. "He named the culprit, doesn't that mean it's over?"

Celestia draped a wing over Twilight. "Let your guards have the night off tonight and you will have your answer."

"If you say so, Princess." Twilight stored her notebook away and choked on her breath when she remembered what she wanted to ask Celestia about. "Princess, why did you release him from imprisonment? I dug up old articles and it is said he committed some pretty heinous crimes."

Celestia sighed. "I trust you've read his books?"

"Of course." Twilight sat and looked up to the sky. "He was a historical figure in crime fighting and later became an imposing figure in Equestria's underworld. If I remember it correctly, you were the one who apprehended him."

Celestia closed her eyes and memories of the past danced in the darkness of her vision. She could see Gallant siting against an old apple tree with a cold, distant look coming from his eyes. Celestia jerked involuntarily when she remembered the hug she gave him as he turned himself over.

"Are you okay, Princess?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"Yes, I am alright." Celestia opened her eyes and smiled. "To answer your question; I let Rein have his freedom back because I think he can be saved. Out of everypony in Equestria, he alone has made the greatest sacrifice."

Twilight closed her mouth and gave her mentor a thoughtful expression as to what she meant. 'The greatest sacrifice.'

"Please watch over him, Twilight. Chances are he will have a rough time adapting to the times." Celestia said with a weak voice.

Only silence stood as Celestia teleported away, leaving Twilight to contemplate what was really going on. She looked back to her friends who had gathered for the Princess' sudden arrival.

"So where'd he go, Twi?" Applejack asked.

"I think he went to my castle." Twilight turned and started to trot, and was followed by her friends shortly after.

"Spike, can you get me some tea? Preferably Equestrian Royale?"

"Right away, Mr. R." Spike said and ran out of the room, away from the stallion writing in strange languages. Spike had not minded the smoke, but the strange mumbling made his scales crawl.

The instant Spike left, Rein scribbled on a piece of paper before burning it over a candle of green flame.

With slow, deliberate movements, Rein stood and stretched his wings before three loud pops made his back kink in delight. He sighed in victory, having finally succeeded in popping his back when he had been trying for hours.

Rein reached forward and he looked over his case file one last time before shoving it into its brown, bronze clasped, suitcase. He looked over and saw his opened package that said 'personal effects,' sitting on the study desk.

"Spike, where is he?" Twilight's voice echoed through the hall. Rein guessed Spike was nearby, because he heard no response before a small stampede of hooves marched toward the door. But before the door was flung open, Rein's voice alone stopped Twilight in her tracks.

"Do not open that door."

After a short moment of silence, Twilight gulped. "Why?"

"Case sensitive materials. Only Twilight and Rarity are allowed inside. Not Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash." Rein placed his hoof over the magic briefcase lock and whispered the combination to seal it.

"What about Applejack?" Twilight asked.

Rein closed his eyes and fought the soreness in his throat. He sighed and dug in a cigar box Celestia had sent him as payment. "Only the named mares shall enter, no more."

With two pomfs, Twilight and Rarity appeared in the room with concerned looks. They took in the room and coughed at the sweet scented smoke.

"Must you smoke?" Rarity wrinkled her nose. "It smells like my grandfather's trunk in here."

Rein and Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"He used to smoke Sweet Andalusians too." Rarity shrugged. "He kept them and smoked them when my grandma wasn't looking, it's a smell I'm not quite fond of."

"Thank you for sharing." Rein said.

Twilight stomped her hoof, cutting off Rein before he could continue. "Wait, why are you smoking in my castle? It says, in no uncertain terms, that nopony that enters this castle is to partake in such activities!"

Rein gave Twilight a wry look and rose to his full height. "Don't worry, Princess. I will be gone soon enough and then you don't have to worry about me smoking, drinking, destroying your plumbing, or eating all your food. The case will resolve itself tonight."

"Wait what was that about the plumbing?" Twilight said before shaking her head. "So I was right? You're not done with the case?"

"Nope."

"But what about Silver Coin?" Twilight asked. "Were there two plots to foalnap me?"

Suddenly, a large crash was heard from the kitchen, drawing everyone's attention and Rein's unchecked gallop out of the room. He barreled passed Twilight and Rarity before side checking the door, throwing the doors wide open. He took off and ran through the corridors and up to the kitchen.

"Help! Intruder!" Spike's voice rang out through the castle.

Rein darted out a hall window and doubled back toward the castle's kitchen. He turned and leaped through the door before colliding into a squishy, cloaked mare.

"Spike!" Twilight cried as she entered the room with her friends and the castle guards.

"Get off me!" The mare shouted as Rein pinned her to the floor.

"I see you truly didn't disappoint." A voice cooed from the shadows of the kitchen.

Everyone in the room turned to find Celestia sitting in the corner with her Equestrian Royale tea, seemingly waiting for the show to begin. She waved at Rein, signaling him to start.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked with labored breath, not from running, but from her extreme confusion.

Rein paused when his eyes met Applejack's, his strength faltered causing the mare beneath his to fight his grip, forcing his concentration back to pinning her. "Simple, Twilight. I apprehended your would be murderer."

"What?" Twilight's voice shook at the prospect.

Everyone in the room looked on with wide eyes, but none more so than Celestia. She stood and levitated her tea till she sat next to her former student. "Please explain, Sir Gallant."

Rein sighed at his name and shrugged it off. "You hired me to solve a potential foal-napping, but after looking over the crime scene, it was painfully obvious it was just someone testing the castle's response to infiltration. Which I did earlier this week."

Twilight scowled when she remembered a brick flying through the guest bathroom window and the hour long staging of panicked guards afterwards. "That was you?"

"Yes, and the answer is six minutes in case anyone was wondering." Rein said before continuing. "Now, infiltrating and attacking the Princess is impossible, or at least extremely hard for the run of the mill pony. So what next?"

"A bomb?" Rainbow asked.

"Trapdoor?" Pinkie asked.

"What about poison?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Close, Fluttershy." Rein said. "I see you've thought about this."

Fluttershy whimpered. "I-I just read a lot of mystery books and that seems like a common theme with hard to reach ponies."

"Lemme guess, another Shadow Spade fan?" Rein chuckled. "Flat out poison now-a-days is rarely used. Now, killers use enchanted potions to cause a variety of effects. In my day, it was the opposite and poisonings were the frequent killers among the two."

"So somepony broke in and is trying to poison the food?" Rarity asked.

"No, the poison was brought here by none of than Spike the Dragon." Rein pointed, eliciting a resounding gasp.

"Are you saying Spike tried to poison Twilight?" Celestia asked.

Rein looked at the shocked, teary eyes dragon and shook his head. "Not at all, he was an unwilling participant. He bought a variety of deserts from the bakery today alongside Twilight. She gets a special toffee and only gets them from there."

A guard marched over to a turned over back and picked it up with his magic. "This bag?"

Rein nodded. "Yes, bring it here."

Slowly, the guard levitated the bag over and placed it in Rein's hooves. "For a solid week, I slept in the baker's alley and went through their garbage looking for food-"

Celestia smacked her forehead.

"-and in the garbage, I found seeds from apricots, apples, and peaches spilled on the ground under the garbage can." Rein heard the mare scoff. "Not that it's abnormal, however, Saddle Arabian figs are rare for Equestria, even today."

"Rein, I don't see what seeds have to do with poison?" Twilight asked.

"What if I told you that all the figs I found were devoid of seeds?" Rein asked. "And that those seeds carry large amounts of a chemical that in high, enchanted doses can kill a full grown hydra in seconds. A natural defense for fruits is basically turned into a devastating poison for anyone to use. Restaurants require cooks with special licenses and training to even sell the item."

"But who would do this?" Twilight exclaimed.

Celestia closed her eyes, based on the evidence and the location of said evidence, she knew exactly who was under the cloak. She opened her eyes to watch Rein heft the mare up and rip her hood back.

"Mrs. Cake!" Everyone cried.

Mrs. Cake just hung her head in shame. The silence was almost more than she could take and the look on Pinkie's face alone threatened to take the heart of her right then and there.

"May I ask a question?" Mrs. Cake choked out. "When did you figure it out?"

"The first day I arrived." Rein's answer shocked the room. "After the whole train crash, I walked around from business to business and examined everything. I examined the so called crime scene and walked outside to a small clearing beneath the window, there I found trace amounts of flour, leading me to Sugarcube corner."

Mrs. Cake hung her head.

"There, I perused the garbage, since ponies usually don't mind vagrants eating their trash. You probably saw me and never thought twice about it." Rein sighed. "I looked at the seeds and from their rot, I guessed them to be at least a month old. You've planned this for quite some time."

"How did you know I would be here tonight?" Mrs. Cake asked.

"I remember you requesting to ask one question, but I shall indulge you." Rein pointed to an empty nightstand. "This afternoon, you laid on your 'act' a little too thick when Silver Coin was arrested. You panicked initially and sought out your target to make it seem like you regard her as the go-to mare. But all of this falls in comparison to my biggest piece of evidence."

"Oh yeah?" Mrs. Cake laughed. "And what is that?"

"Green frosting." Rein smiled. "I asked you earlier if you had green frosting on you and you said yes without thinking. According to Pinkie, you've been short on it for a month. Interesting, since Twilight likes her toffee with small, green, frosting stars on them. In the end you didn't order green frosting so that you wouldn't accidentally mix the green, poison laced frosting with regular frosting. It certainly would have been a shame to kill a bystander and fail before killing your target, hm?"

"Also, adding to the fact that Mrs. Cake just got back from Manehatten, where she was paid a large sum by an unknown benefactor before returning with the figs." Rein shrugged. "You really should keep your dirty laundry out of the trash."

"This is all circumstantial." Mrs. Cake tried to plea. "I was home when the castle window broke!"

"But your husband wasn't, he was handling the flour earlier that day." Rein shoved Mrs. Cake towards the standing guard. "He is the other half of their murder plot."

"B-But why." Twilight asked through tears.

Rein signaled the guard to muzzle Mrs. Cake. "In short, she has never liked you and the Equestrian criminal underworld wants you out of the way, being royalty, a national treasure, an element of harmony, and someone who Celestia cares deeply for, it's not hard to see why."

The guard nodded when Rein gave him the signal of lighting a cigar, a staple from his books. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be held against you in a court of Equestrian law. You have-"

The guard droned on while Rein closed his eyes and exhaled upward. He waited for him to finish and for the mare's tears of fake sorrow to follow. "This has been jarring for you all, the guards will take care of this. The rest of you, get some sleep and eat some chocolate. I will debrief you all in the morning."

One by one, each mare helped the other out of the room, hearing what was believed to be a close friend actually turn out to be the one trying to murder another weighed heavily on the mind.

"Thank you." Celestia cooed as the double doors shut them both in.

"It's no problem." Rein said. "Its been awhile."

"And you haven't lost a beat at all." Celestia said. "I thought you would doom that stallion and leave, but no, you stayed true just like I knew you would."

"Knew I would, huh? Gotta do something criminally insane to uphold my reputation." Rein chuckled and puffed his cigar.

Ignoring the criminal comment, Celestia nodded. "Yes, I believed in you every step of the way."

Rein laughed and took the tea cup Celestia offered to him. "A talk and a nice, warm cup of coffee sounds really good right about now. I know Twilight got more marble cake today too. And don't worry, it isn't poisoned."

Celestia smiled. "I would like that, more than you know."

Rein smirked and sat next to Celestia as the cake floated over from the fridge. "So Rein, what do you plan on doing with your new found freedom?"

"I'm going to use the money I'm getting from this case to open up another agency." Rein leaned back. "And then I have a few cases I need to reopen."

"Which ones?"

Ignoring the question, Rein looked out the window at the mare screaming as she was dragged away. "There is also the matter of who hired the Cakes to assassinate Equestrian royalty."

Author's Note

I totally didn't write this to the tune of Case Closed.

Yes I did. As I mentioned in the prologue, I love mystery. I'm going to be releasing these chapters in spurts, like cases and in some it'll be stuff like case closed, shadow spade, type stuff where you'll get the guy, but others will be rooted in more non-fiction means, whatever that means to you.

We love ya :heart:

Chapter 3 -Cold Case-
View Online

The Need to Know

Chapter 3 -Cold Case-

-Cold Case-

Three knocks echoed through the lush room emblazoned with Celestia's mark. Quiet shuffling of papers is all that was heard before a muffled guard voice called through the door. "Gallant Mind?"

"Not here!" Barked a grouchy stallion from within.

Rein sat, surrounded by towers of boxed case files from all over Equestria. The dates scribbled across their labels spanned back eighty years and were faded at different levels. Overall, there had been at least three hundred cases, mostly domestic, and all of them were as cold as cold cases get.

More insistent knocks banged on the door before a softer voice called. "Hi Rein, it's Twilight. We just wanted to talk to you."

With a laborious groan, Rein stood and strode towards the kitchen. His late studies into modern investigative techniques and theories had proved so interesting that he had forgotten to eat.

Twilight walked in with Rainbow Dash and Applejack; Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had stayed in Ponyville for individual reasons. She looked around at the piles and towers of boxes. "Where are you?"

"Sandwich, I'll be out in a moment." Rein called when Twilight's voice echoed into the spacious penthouse. "Make yourself at home."

"Cold cases?" Applejack asked.

"It's an unsolved crime that's been put on pause." Rainbow floated up as she read the labels. "I think they reopen them when they get something to go on."

"I know." Applejack rolled her eyes, she wasn't sheltered.

Rein lumbered into the room balancing a reuban on his head and a coffee hugged to his side. He glanced at Applejack and sat down slowly with his back to her. "You're right. Cold cases are the hard ones that too often go unsolved. And as fate would have it, those are my forte."

"Fort what?" Rainbow asked.

"My specialty." Rein sighed and turned on his television to One hundred and seven, where an anchor sat and complained about Manehatten's front runner, Doggle Tramp. "So what brings you three all the way to Canterlot and then to my door?"

Twilight sauntered over and sat next to her savior and smiled weakly. "I never got a chance to thank you. You left so fast, a few of us thought that you were the one getting foalnapped."

"Job was done and there wasn't anything in Ponyville that I was allowed to do, so I returned here-" Rein gestured to the castle apartment Celestia begrudgingly gave him with both hooves outstretched. "-and started my workload via your very eager Princess, Celestia."

Twilight looked at all the boxes and like an epiphany, she could then see Celestia's cutiemark on a great many of them and which ever ones didn't have her mark, had Luna's, or Cadance's.

"Suffice to say, Celestia has been more than happy to see my willingness to take a look at her vault of cold cases. A vault I'm sure you can see she was more than willing to send to me." Rein grumbled. "In triplicate."

"This is a fancy penthouse ya have, if ya just got out of jail, how'd you have enough bits to get it?" Applejack asked in both earnest and jest. She wanted to know, but meant more to lift Rein's annoyed mood. She stared on as he remained silent, much in the way someone does when they pretend you don't exist. Before she could call him out, he took a deep breath.

"Princess Celestia let's me stay here, after releasing me, she saw it fit for what she had envisioned for me." Rein's quiet voice choked out. He kept his gaze fixed towards the television, he didn't watch it, but the alternative would steal the strength from him.

Twilight looked up to Rainbow and then to Applejack who shrugged. They gestured for her to speak more, but she seemed reluctant.

Twilight smirked deviously, believing to know what was going on. "Rein, I don't believe you and Applejack have been formerly introduced."

"Don't." Rein said like the snapping of a steel trap. He slowly looked over to Twilight and leveled his enraged glare at her. "Leave it alone."

"I just thought, since you seemed so-"

Rein sighed. "It's been a long, frustrating week. I apologize, but I am in no condition to host visitors." He tried to remove a binder from an undersized box, but it disappeared and reappeared before Twilight. "Hey, no, don't read that."

"What is the 'Sand Torro Case?'" Twilight asked curiously, trying to find a reason to stay.

Rein's outstretched hoof hovered over the table where the binder had been moments before, he sighed and let his arm collapse momentarily before leaning back.

"This doesn't look like another cold case?" Twilight flipped to the back. "It says the killers were tried and imprisoned."

"The 'victims' were former associates of mine." Rein grabbed a cigar from his splayed out coat and stuck it in his mouth, unlit. He reached forward and snatched the binder from Twilight's grasp. "You're too fragile and shouldn't read this."

"I can handle it!" Twilight protested.

Applejack and Rainbow looked intrigued, but slumped when Rein shook his head. "None of you are. You practically collapsed at the prospect of someone trying to murder you."

"Wouldn't you?" Rainbow asked.

"It loses its potency after the third time. After that, it affects you like someone cutting in line at the grocery store." Rein shrugged.

Twilight bit her lip and looked at the name on the binder and curiosity got the better of her. "Can you tell us about the 'Sand Torro' case? I believe we can handle it and I think it would be good for us to have a conversation."

"Celestia wrote to you and asked for you to come by, didn't she?" Rein asked.

Twilight opened her mouth, but Rein held up his hoof.

"Rhetorical." Rein rested the case file on the counter and chuckled. "Do any of you know about the hitpony named Sand Torro?"

Each mare shook their head.

"Sand Torro was a mob hitpony around eighty-five years ago. I knew him before he was known as 'Sandy the Savage.'" Rein glanced up to see Twilight's eyes light up.

"I've heard that name, he's a villain in the 'Power Ponies' comics. He is always chasing a mouse around the city and-" Twilight sputtered at Rein's sudden laughter.

"I'm sure he would be enraged to hear that he is the subject of comic book comedy." Rein searched his coat for a lighter, lazily. "Sandy the Savage got the name because of the savage hits he carried out. To fit him into a trope, he was a loose cannon and assassin for the mob bosses when they needed a point to be made."

Rainbow gulped. "A point?"

"Yeah, don't you ponies now-a-days have a decent education system where you learn about this era?" Rein asked.

"That's usually reserved for higher educational courses." Twilight stated. "Or for some of the guard corps."

"Right." Rein said. "Well, mob bosses of the era would make someone an example whenever they were slighted. You lie or tell someone info that wasn't yours to tell? Throat cut and tongue removed. Found with another stallion's wife? Mutilated genitalia and heart removed. Gambling debt? A bolt to the head with a bit in the hole." Rein found his lighter and lit his cigar. "Often times the punishment fit the crime, but with Sandy the Savage, he lived up to his name and it was hard to identify his targets."

"And he was your associate?" Twilight asked in disgust. "What did you do?"

"In the times as Gallant, I hunted Sandy, but..." Rein tapped his cigar. "Some point along the line we became business associates. He did get what was coming to him though."

Applejack choked down her spit and coughed. "What happened?"

Rein paused for a second and took a deep breath before Twilight looked between the two with confusion. "What happened?"

"Sandy the Savage was lured out to an apple farm in Appalusa with his brother. He thought his brother was being brought into the mob business, but they were ambushed, beaten, and buried alive." Rein puffed and sighed. "It was revenge for an unauthorized hit years prior, they didn't find the disturbed dirt 'til the following spring."

Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack looked pale.

"I take it this era's Equestria is docile and peaceful and concepts such as murder, foalnapping, and the like are reserved for the darker parts of history class?" Rein asked.

"Was that a question?" Twilight asked.

"You're catching on." Rein chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't burden you with an old stallion's musings and memories."

"The concepts that you mentioned exist, but are very rare. It is a kinder time." Twilight tried to smile. "I do want to hear more, though."

"No, I don't want to hurt you with what's in these cold case files, or with stories of what landed me in All-Hope." Rein shook his head and looked to the kitchen.

"I've been wondering about that actually." Twilight exclaimed. "You were a paragon of Equestria and then became the head of a crime syndicate, but nothing listed would have earned you thirty life sentences. I've heard you committed crimes and was able to dig up articles talking about some of them, but are they true?"

Rein stood and started to walk to the kitchen. "You mares hungry?"

"Aren't you going to answer my question?"

Rein stopped and glanced back at Twilight. "That part of my life is for me, I would have to be very inebriated to fess up about it all. And I drink very rarely."

Twilight looked to her friends and shrugged. She tapped her hoof on the back on the seat and looked up. "What if I go and read newspapers in the library about it?"

"They've probably been censored by the Princess."

"Then I'll ask her." Twilight exclaimed.

Rein stuck his head into the room and blew smoke in her direction. "Feel free, but know she won't even share my favorite color if it meant losing my trust."

Twilight scoffed. "You're on."

With a few scribbles on a nearby piece of paper, Twilight teleported it to her mentor only to come back moments later with a larger more regal scroll. She snatched it up and started to open it with vigor. "Aha! Now we will see who is right here."

Twilight, Gallant's past is his to share with whom he chooses.

But on a possibly related note, his favorite color is silver.

-Celestia

Quiet laughter came from Rein as he tapped his cigar on his hoof, letting the ashes fall to the floor.

"What's so funny?" Twilight asked, clearly upset.

"I know your Princess far more intimately than you do." Gallant said. He glanced to an old photo of him on the wall, receiving what was then Equestria's greatest honor, being knighted. He sighed, knowing that the title was practically given away in the age he now was forced to live in. "Years ago, I answered to Celestia directly much in the way you all do now, but at that time it was a privilege."

"It still is a privilege!" Twilight shouted as Rein walked away from her to return to his files.

"Oh yes, holding a court where anyone can sit within striking distance. Very privileged." Rein said as he sat, taking a long drag of his cigar. "Now, if you are all done, leave."

"Fine." Twilight said as the doors behind her opened up, revealing her mentor. "Princess?"

"Hello, Twilight, it's good to see you again." Celestia smiled down at her former student. "I trust that Rein has been a gracious host to you all?"

"If by gracious, you mean a complete pinhead." Applejack mumbled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rein collapsed to the floor and curled into a ball. "They barged into my dojo and started to kick and call me a soggy biscuit before spitting on me."

"You lie!" Rainbow yelled.

"And then the Rainbow one said she would drag me while performing her sonic rainboom to tear my flesh from my body to line her bed with." Rein shuddered and crawled to the princess with his back lags following limply behind him. "Then she tried to sodomize me with a cowbell while screaming 'more cowbell!'"

"Gallant..." Celestia placed her hoof on her forehead, trying to ignore her student's expression and her friend's horrified looks.

"I mean, I kind of liked it. What stallion doesn't like to be ganged on by strong, demanding mares?"

"Gallant Mind." Celestia groaned.

"If they just tackled me and had their way before putting their cigarettes out on my neck because I didn't gyrate fast enough, then that's one thing, but subjecting me to rambling questions of inadequacy was far beyond the mark!" Rein kicked and flailed at Celestia's hooves, but then rested on his side, supporting his head with a hoof.

"You done?" Celestia sighed.

"I never finish first."

"What in the world is wrong with you?" Twilight asked.

Celestia held up a wing, stopping Twilight from continuing. "Rein, I have a job for you."

With a delighted chuckle, Rein stood and paused. "Wait... nope." He turned and strode away before being teleported before Celestia. "Not doing it."

"It's important." Celestia insisted.

"Nope!" Rein tried to walk away only to teleported back before Celestia in a never-ending loop, soon, his walking became a full on gallop. He moved faster and faster before his voice grew in volume.

"Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming. Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running. Didn't make sense not to live for fun. Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb. So much to do, so much to see-"

Celestia released her magic and sent Rein head first into his refrigerator, knocking him out cold.

"Princess?" Twilight called.

"Let us speak as we walk." Celestia said. After hearing the commotion, her guards rushed into the room and were waved down with a commanding hoof. "Guards, please take Gallant Mind to the infirmary, he has hurt himself."

"Princess!" The guards shouted before dragging Rein with them along the floor, showing clear disregard for his well being.

Celestia watched as Rein slid along the floor with a cigar and lighter in hoof, seemingly pretending to have been knocked out. She grumbled under her breath as her frustration bubbled to the surface. "That little-"

With a strained sigh, Celestia looked to Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow. "I'm sorry you all had to see that. These past few days I've been trying to get him to be more sociable, but I've only succeeded in depressing him."

"He's depressed because he's spending time with royalty?" Twilight asked.

"Sounds like he is just being a drama-queen." Rainbow said. She looked at the disaster that was his apartment and tsked. "I'm not Equestria's neatest mare, but this place is a warzone."

"Can't even look a mare in the eye." Applejack remarked with distaste.

"He's been through a great deal." Celestia relented, trying to defend her charge as a mother would her child when he acts up. Slowly, she wondered if releasing him was a wise thing to do. This step worked with the other villains she tried to work with, but thus far, Gallant acted distant. Every time someone brought up his past and pressed his reluctance, he would turn to his strange, vulgar behavior.

"Many ponies have been through a great deal." Rainbow said. "They don't snap and go from manageable to a weirdo"

"I think the term is masochist." Twilight said.

"Yeah, he went all freaky. I don't see an excuse in that." Rainbow nodded.

Celestia looked at the binder on the floor labeled 'Sand Torro.' The case was long cold and after eighty years it had faded from the public consciousness, but the memories were as clear as freshly fallen rain.

"Eighty years of being away has left him alone within our society." Celestia started. "Most of the ponies he knew are dead. The fashion, trends, and even the way we interact with each other has been swept away with time much in the way all things are." She turned to Twilight and smiled. "It may be unpleasant, but I just ask that you have patience with him. I still see some trace of who he was hidden beneath the facade he plays out."

With a silent nod, Celestia invited Twilight and her friends to follow her to the throne room.

"Princess, may I ask you a question?" Applejack asked.

"Absolutely."

"What did that fella do to land himself with thirty life sentences?" Applejack asked. "I was talkin' with my granny and she wouldn't tell me, none of the old timers would."

"That is likely because they do not wish to talk about it." Celestia said before smiling at Applejack's inquiring look. "Due to his notoriety at the time, we kept knowledge of most of his crimes very confidential, but even then it shocked the public conscience. We held silent hunts for him through the lower, undercity of Canterlot, Manehatten, and Seaddle. We placed posters and even consulted clairvoyants to track him, but in the end a young pony named Sherclop Pones tracked him and apprehended him."

"Really?" Twilight asked. "I've never read that, I always thought it was you."

"I brought him in, but Pones tracked him down and laid a trap for him." Celestia admitted, sadly. "I had not seen him for years at that point and thought we had made a mistake, but his eyes told me it was him."

"But what did he do?" Applejack asked.

"Dark things, most of the crimes that would land someone a life sentence he committed with zest. I trust you saw his filed horn?" Celestia looked the her escort of mares as they nodded. "He did that the night he solved the Whitechapel slayings. The next morning, when he didn't report to the royal debriefing, we searched his house and found it had been rummaged through, then there was a letter stuck on his door with his shaven horn stabbed through it."

"We discovered traces of dark magic in his study and found that he was reading forbidden texts from the Canterlot archives. We still don't know what his goal was, but it wasn't good." Celestia turned and entered her lavish throne room. "Once he was caught his criminal syndicate crumpled."

"How did he get to the archives?" Twilight asked.

Celestia stopped midway up the stairs leading to her throne and hung her head. "He took advantage of the kindness I showed him. He entered the restricted section and stole books that were locked away."

"He stole books?" Twilight asked, confused at the lack of library card. "Why not ask you?"

Celestia sat on her throne and stared out at her court to see nothing but the usual assortments of sashes and rugs. "Gallant stole books that are older than Equestria and bound in the flesh of slaves. They were written in a dead language by Grogar, a violent ruler now only known to the annals of time."

A soft gasp left Twilight's lips. "Princess, you kept books like that in your library?"

"It was to keep them safe. I wanted to have them studied to find a way to defeat Grogar should he return." Celestia propped her forehead on her hoof. "Once I discovered this, not a day has gone by that I don't scold myself for not seeing his desire for power. He fell to what plagued him for his entire life."

"What was that?" Twilight asked.

"The need to know." Luna said as she entered the room with Cadance, causing Twilight to squeal and start her usual greeting ceremony of ladybugs.

"Sister." Celestia greeted.

"I see you're wasting no time in spilling your guts to your student." Luna chided. "We came to an agreement that we should keep Rein's past a secret."

"His name is Gallant Mind, Luna." Celestia said.

"I know him as Rein six one six. He insists on the name, any semblance to who he was died the instant he went against his oath as a guard." Luna scolded.

"And to me he will always be Gallant Mind." Celestia glared at Luna, a rare moment of clear rage present in her eyes.

"You really think he can be saved, don't you, sister?" Luna asked, unphased at her sister's anger.

"He can be."

"And what will you do when you're proven wrong?" Luna asked.

The throne room fell into silence as Celestia paused. The question wasn't revolutionary, but it was one she didn't have an answer for. Would she be able to justify his release if he went on a rampage?

Luna sat next to her sister and placed a hoof over her sister's. "I like to think that everyone deserves a second chance, but I have also seen his nightmares. He is not the stallion you once knew."

"But still a great detective." Celestia smiled down at Cadance who wore a worried look. "How are you doing, Cadance?"

"About as well as I can be, considering the circumstances." Cadance said, looking down at Twilight. She felt her heartstrings pull at having to break the news to her.

"Cadance." Celestia called. "Gallant Mind is in the infirmary. Go and discuss your case with him, Luna and I must speak with Twilight." She looked to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "Alone."

With a solemn nod, Cadance left for the infirmary by herself. A feeling of apprehension and anxiousness washed over her. Just like Twilight, she read his books as a foal before being scolded by Celestia for taking books from her library without permission. For most of her life, she believed that Gallant Mind had been put to death. So hearing that not only was he still alive, but that he was being put on her case both excited and terrified her.

Memories flew through her mind of all the conflicting stories. No source of news in Equestria was ever able to say what happened to him with certainty. Some say he died of natural causes after being released. Execution. Suicide. And some even claimed he never really existed, that he was just propaganda from eighty years ago.

As she strode through the halls, she saw two guards laying face down on the floor with nurses standing above them trying to wake them. A broken table and a shattered vase nearby painted the picture of what happened.

"What happened here?" Cadance called as she neared.

"Princess, these guards were knocked out." An orderly stated. "I don't think it's safe for you."

As Cadance listened to the mare, she saw a hooded stallion peeking from the corner at the end of the hall, with a small trail of smoke wafting into view. "Right. Nurse, make sure these stallions are taken care of. I'll go and warn the other Princesses."

With some haste, she started to walk towards the stallion, but he disappeared the instant she rounded the corner leaving only a translucent cloud of sweet smelling smoke.

With a silent curse, Cadance looked around the halls for a clue as to the stallion's whereabouts. The scent of the cigar hung in the air, then began to disappear. She walked around and noticed that it had clung to the drafts that moved through the halls. Soon, she found herself gliding to the scent that she followed.

"Cadance?" A familiar voice called as she passed another corridor. The voice of her husband was unmistakable, she had heard it for years, day in and day out. His voice used to bring her comfort, but now it only flowed like frigged air.

The stronger smell of the cigar smoke snapped her from her trance of negative memories. A visible trail of smoke could be seen coming from the stallion she pursued as he left one of the guarded side doors to the castle.

With a wave of his hoof, he left the stoic guards without them knowing who passed them due to the stallion's coat being pulled high. As soon as he thought he was in the clear, a guard sucked his teeth.

"You, let us see your face." A cold shoulder caused the guard to growl as he reached out to snatch the coat down. "How dare you ignore a royal guard!"

"Guards!" Cadance called, forcing them to snap to attention. "There are two guards knocked out in the west wing. They need your help."

"Yes, Princess!" The guards barked before galloping passed her and into the twists and turns of the castle.

Cadance held her hoof to her bosom and let a light laugh flow from her lips. "No need to thank me, I'm sure you like your... anonymity." She looked where her quarry had been moments before and found him trotting away. With a simple plop, she appeared before him. "I take it you're Gallant Mind?"

"Nope." Rein mumbled as he tried to walk around her, only to find her stepping into his path before feeling an invisible claw push her gently aside. "Got places to be, Lovebutt."

Cadance paused and shook off the weird sensation that moved her. "I believe we have some business to talk about."

Rein slowed to a stop when Cadance teleported into his path once more and stared at her with an impatient look. He looked her up and down, an act that none had the gall to do to in broad daylight with the Princess being able to plainly see them doing so. "Do you even know who I am?"

Cadance smiled at her unwilling detective. "Yes, I do. I've come here from the Crystal Empire to speak with you."

"What's the gist of the case?" Rein asked, his fur kinking from agitation. He looked on as Cadance remained hesitant to discuss the details, something he would not stand for, so he left.

"Gallant Mind." Cadance called as she watched him leave, she tried to teleport near him but gasped when it didn't work. Try as she might, none of her spells worked on the stallion as he walked into the busy Canterlot streets. In a fit of anger, she turned and started galloping to the throne room to inform her aunt, she knew him leaving as he did was bad news, she wanted to play to his appeals, but that had failed.

Twilight sat with tears in her eyes as her mentor informed her of her brother's divorce. Memories of seeing them together since she was little played in her mind and a soft burn danced across her brain at realizing that it was now the past.

"Celestia." Cadance called as she teleported passed the guards and skidded to a halt before her and next to a shocked Twilight. "Gallant Mind has left the castle grounds."

"So?" Celestia said.

"Isn't he not allowed to leave the castle grounds?" Cadance asked.

With a silent nod, Celestia sighed. "Well, him and I came to an agreement that for the time being he was to stay confined to the grounds, but we told no one. How did you know?"

"He was trying to sneak passed guards." Cadance said. "Ponies don't do that unless they're up to no good."

Twilight put her shaky hoof on Cadance's shoulder as tears started to roll down her cheek, just then, Cadance realized what Celestia had told her.

"Cadance." Celestia's voice boomed. "You need to tell me everything. Was there anything off about him?"

The atmosphere was thick in the throne room as Cadance tried to fight Twilight pleading stare and Celestia's demanding look.

"Cadance." Celestia boomed louder, startling Twilight from her trance.

"He was impatient. I know that much, but from what I've heard that isn't out of the ordinary." Cadance said.

"Details." Celestia stated. "What did he say? Was there anything that jumped out at you?"

Cadance paused and tapped her chin. "After the second time I stopped him from leaving I wasn't able to use magic around him."

The throne rang with a solid thud as Celestia fell back into it. She sighed heavily and strobbed her eyes, trying to grasp the situation. A soft laugh left her lips.

"I see he wasted no time in slipping back into his evil ways." Luna said as she summoned an order of execution.

"Sister!" Celestia scolded.

"I will not have you impede my orders, Tia." Luna began to write, but felt magical strain on her quill. With a scream of rage, she teleported the order away and glared at her sister. "Celestia, I told you when you decided to release him, should he stray into an evil path I will put him down like the mongrel he is!"

"Without a trial?" Celestia asked.

"Yes." Luna growled. "To save our subjects from him." She squinted at her sister. "I've read our private archives regarding his crimes. You lied to the press to make them seem lesser and tried to reason with him when you were in striking distance. Thirty ponies over ten years. What about all the unconfirmed deaths and the ones caused by hooves he ordered? This ends."

Celestia lowered her head in defeat. "I thought he could be saved."

Luna rested her hoof upon her sister's. "And I commend you for that. You've reformed a great many; Discord, Sombra, and many more. But not everypony can be saved, Tia. I know he held a special place in your heart. You watched him grow up, become the top student in your gifted unicorn program, then move to becoming a highly decorated warrior, and ultimately, your second hoof pony in keeping Equestria safe. But even you can see that who he was is long dead."

"That's why I try so hard." Celestia said. "Because I can still see him there, past the thing that parades around in his flesh."

"Be that as it may." Luna said as a new order teleported before her. "I can not let him roam freely in Canterlot. I believe wanted posters will appease us both. When we retrieve him, we will discuss his return to Beggar's Bay."

"Okay." Celestia said sadly. "Assemble the guards."

Canterlot Cemetary

The light fall of rain petered off the back of Rein's coat as he stared down at the plaque that lain in the neatly cut grass. Quiet hisses could be heard as the walling water touched the searing end of his cigar.

Applejack
Spring 898 - Winter 991
Loving mother
Beloved Sister
Departed as she lived. With a smile.

A body appeared off to his side as he stared down. With the grass having a chilled layer of moisture over it, every time a hoof landed it would cause soft crunching of the grass.

"You know it isn't a good idea to leave by yourself, Rein."

Devoid of emotion, Rein scanned upward to see Luna giving him a sad look. The cemetery was surrounded with the higher echelon of the royal guard as well as Equestria's favorite celebrities; The Princesses and their Elements. She was clearly ready to enact great action to make sure he was taken into custody.

"I know." Rein turned, but stopped as Luna lowered her head.

"I understand your need to know, but tell us first."

With a solemn nod, Rein left the crowd behind without a word, only casting a momentary glance toward Applejack as he left.

"Why was he here of all places?" Rainbow asked as Luna approached.

"This is the only place he belongs, sadly." Luna said.

"Luna." Celestia scolded with a look.

"It is, Tia." Luna gestured to the countless graves. "Most of the creatures he knew are now buried here. Everyone, except the children that knew him before being locked away."

Realization fell over Twilight and her friends as well as any eavesdropping guard.

Celestia closed her eyes and took a slow breath. "Which grave was he at?"

"I didn't catch the name."

"Grave marker?" Celestia asked.

"Seventh from the beginning of the row." Luna said, glancing over to see which row. "Row One hundred."

"So he still thinks about her." Celestia mumbled as she realized neither Cadance, nor Rein were around. She placed a hoof on her face in annoyance. "Oh, good. This fiasco again."

Light faded from Equestria as Night overtook day. Lamp fire filled the streets as a cloaked mare followed a lone Detective. Quick glances were thrown around before he ducked into an alleyway only to have his follower copy his movements with precision.

"For someone who has murderers after her, you're very reckless."

"R-Rein?" Cadance said, lowering her hood. She darted her vision to the deeper, darkened alleyway and then back to the stallion, still smoking despite the damp conditions of the city. "I thought you would have gone to a bar."

"And why is that?"

Cadance sat and fumbled with her hooves. "Usually when a detective knows they're being followed, they seek crowded places to circle around and surprise their follower."

"Shadow Spade?"

"Shadow Spade." Cadance nodded.

"Listen. Cadance. I know you want me to take a case of yours, but I kind of want to just disappear." Rein took a long drag from his cigar and looked to the mare he had to let down gently. "I spent eighty years in a hole, the world doesn't need me anymore."

"And about Applejack?" Cadance asked.

Thick silence hung in the air along with wafts of smoke. Rein gave a low chuckle and shook his head. "I didn't take you to be the perceptive type. Especially since royalty dulls most of one's senses."

"I'm not as dumb as ponies think." Cadance corrected. "I heard Applejack complain about you being unable to look her in the eye and at the cemetery you were at her relative's grave."

"Could have been a coincidence."

Cadance shot Rein an incredulous look.

"Anything else, Princess?"

"Aren't you going to at least talk to her?" Cadance smiled. "I'm sure you could make friends and-"

Rough laughter escaped Rein's throat as he left into the darkness, but a soft pop echoed in the alley and Cadance was face to face with her quarry once more.

"You know I could easily escape you."

"I know." Cadance said. "But I'm desperate and I need your help."

"You don't." Rein squinted. "Your daughter does."

"Will you take the case?" Cadance asked.

"I promise to go as far as hearing the case in its entirety, then I'll decide." Rein grumbled. "You're lucky you're pretty. If you looked like one of your Elements I wouldn't have let you catch up with me and corner me in an alley. You feisty creature, you."

Author's Note

Nothing much on author's notes, just that we love ya :heart:

Chapter 4 -Honest Suspicion-
View Online

The Need to Know

Chapter 4 -Honest Suspicion-

-Honest Suspicion-

"So who talks first? I talk first?" Rein's eyes locked onto the snarky waiter that Celestia had appointed to taking her personal orders. The other ponies in the room looked slightly annoyed or minorly amused. The long table, fixed with shining silverware and well woven cloth, held Harmony's Elements as well as the royal family and cherry picked members of Canterlot's high society.

"Monsieur, may I recommend the blue Eiffel, it is very exquisite. It is light, just perfect for lunch." The waiter growled.

"I." Rein hummed. "Will have a quesadilla. Double grilled."

"It will be my pleasure, sir."

"Oh, the pleasure will be mine." Rein chuckled and met Cadance's amused stare. She rolled her eyes and continued to look at the menu as the waiter made his way around.

"Must you play with everyone?" Luna chided.

"Yes." Rein answered. He sighed before spacing out, eyes fixed on a porcelain gravy bowl. His eyes unfocused and his vision hazed over, with two blinks, time lurched forward, the food had arrived and the thirty minutes it took to make it passed unbeknownst to him, with only an earsplitting whine ringing in his mind. The other guests were in uproarious conversation while Celestia sat quietly, observing his long, sullen silence.

The dull whine faded, allowing Rein to breathe deep and regain his senses.

"What do you think, Gallant?" A unicorn named fancy pants asked in a pompous accent.

"About?"

"Oh-" Fancy Pants held his hoof to his chest proudly. "-about the new shops square in Canterlot's Rein district? I commissioned them and their grand opening is in a week? Surely you've seen the advertisements."

"A casino would look better. Shopping centers are just useless collections of unneeded shops that can't float on their own." Rein grumbled before a light chill fell over the room. He reached over and grabbed the gravy bowl he had stared at for much of the night and leaned back in his chair in view of all before him, pouring the sauce onto his crotch, sighing as if he felt a release.

"Rein!" Luna scolded.

"Oh no, I've made a mess." Rein mumbled as the gravy dish clattered to the table. He shifted to his hooves before sauntering out, letting brown globs fall to the floor as he walked. He glanced to Fancy Pants and chuckled. "Enjoy your soup."

"I will." Fancy pants lifted his spoon with magic, but his blue tint grew unstable. The spoon grew red hot in his grasp and flecks of molten metal flicked off which began to burn him and the table cloth, causing sudden panicked screaming until golden magic snapped the spoon and small embers from existence.

"Wha-" Fancy Pants gasped out as he looked around.

"What was that?" Twilight asked.

"Black magic." Luna sighed, looking to Celestia who was once again placating her with a hoof.

"Black magic? Who?" Twilight looked to the magic casters of the room and then to her mentor.

"Gallant most likely." Celestia said. She waved a hoof and the food disappeared from the room, as did all tableware and anything meant to make contact with the skin.

"How, he doesn't have a horn?" Applejack asked.

"Tia, I think it's time for you to tell our friends a little about your pet."

Celesia rose to her hooves and dismissed her guests, all but Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, and Cadance. As the room emptied of frightened guests, Celestia teleported everyone to her private study.

As they laid down, Twilight looked to Celestia. "Princess, can Gallant really cast magic without a horn?"

Celestia deflated at the question. Twilight's sharp mind already worked the answer out, it was clear from her expression that she now only needed confirmation and how it was done.

"Yes." Celestia said.

"How?" Twilight asked. "That should be impossible."

"Oh, it's not." Celestia let out a half-hearted chuckle. "But any knowledge suggesting its use was removed from the public mind hundreds of years ago."

"Why? For many Unicorns it could solve issues like birth defects or eliminate the use of magical prosthetics altogether." Twilight paused and sputtered at her inquisitive thoughts. "If he can use magic without his horn, then that means Earthponies and Pegasi can use magic without horns as well. This is big."

"Dark magic." Celestia said curtly and tried to continue, but Luna continued after becoming annoyed.

"The kind of magic that Rein wields is dark by nature; unstable and dangerous. The magic that Unicorns practice is learned and requires study and needs intricate spells, his magic only needs knowledge and will. Even the sources from which they draw are different."

"A different source?" Rainbow asked. "Like a life force instead of the magical lay lines?"

"Kind of." Celestia said. "The magical source he draws from is difficult to describe. It's kind of like the way Discord's magic works in comparison to the rest of the pony races."

"You rang, Princess?" Discord appeared.

"Hello, Discord." Celestia smiled. "I take it you've been eavesdropping?"

Discord feigned insult but shrugged halfway into the gasp. "Guilty. I knew you would call me when getting to the point."

Twilight looked between her mentor and former enemy. "So rein's magic is like Discords?"

"No, Sparkly." Discord turned into a floating globe with a goatee and highlighted the laylines of the planet in blue. "I have to get back to watching our little mutant, so I will try and make this short."

Celestia glared at Luna, catching Discord's reference to spying on Rein.

"Magic moves through the planet in two sets of lay lines." Discord highlighted the red lines that offset the blue lines. "If it makes it easier, think of your magic as a negative charge and the one that Rein practices is a positive charge."

"Wouldn't it be the other way 'round?" Applejack asked. "If his is dark magic then it should be negative?"

"In a fantasy novel you would be right, however his magic is almost sentient, that's why it's dangerous. Your magic requires thought, spells, and emotions to cast." Discord changed into his mismatched self and held out his hands and summoned two liquid metal balls; one was still as if solid while the other moved, undulating as the seconds ticked on. "With equal application, your magic will produce the same thing every time, his magic can fluctuate with his mood. Where your emotion affects your magic negatively, his amplifies it dramatically. If he is angry, a simple heating of an iron spoon may become highly magnetized, or it could break down on a molecular level and cause it to turn into other metals."

"Or melt, like at dinner?"

"Yes." Discord said. "Every now and again throughout history, civilizations discover and then outlaw this type of magic because of its instability. In the end, the user can grow unstable themselves and become a problem. This era has the downside of having little to no Spirits to keep cases like this in check, so should he become a real problem, then I would have to be the one to trap him."

"Spirits?"

"Discord..." Celestia scolded.

"Well, look at that time, gotta go and watch over Rein's conversation with Flurry Heart."

"What!" The room erupted with Discord's poof of smoke disappearing from sight.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

"So you're why my mom dragged me to Canterlot?"

"Yep." Gallent mumbled into his coffee, looking at the filly that raised a brow at him. "Thanks for the coffee, but uh. Why are you in my room?"

"Welcome." She said curtly, glaring a hole into his soul without answering his question. "I see two sets of eyes inside you. You're sick, aren't you?"

Rein looked into his coffee to see swirling mixtures of dark coffee and tan cream. "More or less."

"Why don't you get better?"

Rein paused mid sip and redirected his eyes downward to the blunt princess. Her honest question didn't startle him, only put off by the matter of fact statement.

"Well?"

"Are all Princesses still this nosy?" Rein asked and threw up a hoof. "Don't answer that... just go."

After a few minutes, the side of his head heated up, once again dragging his attention away from his coffee. The two eyes of Flurry Heart bore up at him from the armrest of the couch, waiting for attention.

"I peed the bed until I was three."

"What the fuck?" Rein choked on his coffee. "Go away and keep those secrets to yourself."

"Why?"

"Because. I don't want to know your dirty secrets." Rein stepped up from the couch to go to his kitchen and walked at a pace considerably faster than Flurry's.

"Why would me wetting the bed be a dirty secret? It's just urine."

"Ask your mother, she knows all about dirty laundry." Rein mumbled and heard the small patter of hooves stop, he slowed himself and looked over his shoulder to the filly who looked at him blankly, trying to understand what he just said.

"Is dirty laundry why daddy doesn't live with us anymore?"

'Oh come on, seriously?' Rein thought to himself, annoyed that a princess under the hunt of an assassin was being allowed to roam free. "Your parents marital situation is their issue, I'm here for a different reason."

A realization sank in as Rein examined Flurry Heart.

"Flurry, how long have you been walking around the castle by yourself?"

"Since we got here." Flurry said and looked around the room. "Mom told me not to, but I got curious."

Rein chewed his lip and then gestured forward of him. "And the guards? How do they act around you?"

"Indifferently."

"Big word for a prom night oops baby."

"A what?" Flurry turned her head.

"Nothing, we're finding your mother. Now." Rein turned and dropped his cup of coffee before Flurry, only for it to be captured in her magic. "Hold my coffee."

"Okay." Flurry Heart trotted next to the stallion as his stride shorten so she wouldn't tire. "Can I talk to you while we look for her?"

Rein grumbled in response as his angry grew, allowing his body to drag near his quarry. He felt four princesses and a herd of ponies moving around the castle looking for them, the more magically tuned mares shivered as he neared. Having been in earshot, Rein heard one talk about a chill in the air as he and Flurry rounded the corner.

"Of course there's a chill, you're here." Rarity grumbled at seeing Rein. Her blue scarf still on, confirming the rest of the group traveled to Canterlot.

Rein didn't acknowledge Rarity as he passed her and a few other well spaced out ponies.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Rarity called.

"You're of no consequence." Rein glared back, stopping her oncoming shower of insults at shortened gasp. He turned his head and met the gaze of everyone until he leveled it at Cadance. "You."

"Y-Yes?" Cadance said, shying away like a foal caught drawing on the walls in crayon. She looked passed Rein to see her daughter waving at her just behind a cup of coffee.

"Take this." Rein said, levitating Flurry up and over his head and down into Cadance's waiting arms. "You shouldn't let such an innocent foal run around at this age without proper adult supervision."

Luna scoffed. "There is nothing in this castle that could get passed our guards, she is completely safe."

"I slipped passed your guards." Rein said, turning his gaze to Celestia. "If I was the killer, my job would already be done."

"You are a killer?" Luna scoffed.

"I said the, not a." Rein continued to look at Celestia as he expression didn't change. He paused and let a silent conversation pass between them. "Though, from what I gather, Flurry was never in danger."

"Very astute."

"What's going on?" Twilight asked. "Who's in danger?"

"No one." Rein squinted at Celestia one hard second and turned away.

As he disappeared around another corner, the mares present took a deep breath. They looked to one another and each unwilling to start, then left it up to Celestia.

"I hate it when he does that."

"The whole quiet brooding thing?" Applejack asked.

"Yes, he's already figured me out." Celestia said. "Not even an hour after being on the case and he solved it. Though, not the way I intended for him to solve it. That means I have to fire the actors I set up for later." A loud crash of glass was heard, causing Celestia to hold up a hoof to stop the ones around her from rushing to the sound. "And now he is mad at me."

"So he smashes your windows?" Fluttershy said, slightly shocked. "That's not very nice."

"No. Watch." Celestia pointed down the hall to rushing guards and a wonderbolt responding to the window. "He's testing the guard's response times."

The sound of frustrated grumbling drew the group's attention to Twilight. "He did that to my house for three nights in a row."

Applejack huffed. "Well, I'm gonna go talk to him."

Celestia shook her head. "I'm afraid he won't talk to you."

"Well, ya never know until ya try." She patted her hat down onto her head and stomped off around the corner. She paused at she looked down the hall and glanced back with uncertainty before finding courage and continuing toward Rein.

"Princess?" Twilight called. "Why does Rein avoid Applejack? The real reason."

"If I had the real answer, I would tell you." Celestia smiled down at Twilight. "I believe it hurts him to see her. Applejack is born with her family's matriarchal traits, the same traits her great grandmother had. As a result she looks, sounds, and acts the same. Even on a magical level, she feels the same."

"So, he was in love with her?" Rarity asked. "Applejack's great grandmother, I mean."

"Yes, in ever way someone can be in love." Celestia said. "Rein only escaped All-Hope once, on the day she died. After that his magic began to lash out. We had to seclude him in his own cell and place intricate wards around it so he wouldn't destroy the minds of those around him. One guard tried to discipline him, but Gallant forced his mind into ten individual personalities. The guard had to be retired and sedated from the violent outbursts."

"That's terrible." Rarity guffawed. "That's not true, is it?"

"Sadly it is. It was much worse, but I won't sour everyone's stomach with the details."

"Do you think we should go and help Applejack?" Fluttershy asked.

Celestia paused and then aggressively speed-walked around the corner after Applejack.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Meanwhile, rough cantering echoed through the halls from Applejack and her prey; the vulnerable, most handsome, and best at underwater basket-weaving stallion this side of the equator, Gallant Mind.

"Wait up there, big fella!" Applejack called as she stomped after Rein.

'Ay bby yu wnt sum gud fuk?' Rein's thoughts moved in his mind, flashing lewd images of Applejack over his couch with her hat pushed down over her eyes and a light blush peeking out from underneath.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!"

"I see that." Rein breathed out as he quickened his pace.

"Hey, just stop so we can talk!" Applejack yelled before a door slammed, separating her from Rein.

"I swear, I need to go back to All-Hope." Rein mumbled, ignoring the knocking at his door. Cold sweat rolled down his brow as he tried to focus on various aspects of investigations, a boring pastime.

A fearful chill rolled through his chest as the magical field that existed over the land rippled. He gripped his chest as his heart fluttered harder and harder, sending him falling back into the door. Applejack's knocking and his heart grew in sync, uneven and rapid. The walls rumbled between her knocks and a distant boom echoed through the castle as sight and sound left Rein.

'What is this?' Rein coughed harder and harder in an attempt to clear his heart through strain. "Well shit."

One Week Later

Light beeping blasted through Rein's ears as his eyes opened slowly, the crust of his sleep pulling his lids shut. He looked down to see the small line of an intravenous saline drip, the popular way to hydrate an unconscious pony in place of forcefully hydrating one through magic.

With groggy movements, Rein moved to the chart by his bed and snatched it up before dropping it onto his lap. He mumbled with every flip of the page, pausing particularly long on the readout of his heart.

"Heart attack." Rein chuckled, knowing that his heart was perfectly fine. He moved his hoof to the bandage on his side and jolted in pain. Observing the work, he found brown splotches of dried blood, meaning that they had to jump his heart manually. No defibrillator, no magic, no adrenaline, and no other option but to cut him open.

Frantic running passed the frosted door to the room before Rein glanced at the date on his charts. With a strained sigh, he stood up from his bed. "I better get licked all over like a piece of cake on Celestia's dinner plate for all the work I'm doing-" He moved and snatched the coat from the chair and put it on slowly. "-Saliva dripping and asking for more."

A passing nurse skidded to a halt as Rein's door flew open, nearly colliding with him as he stepped in her path.

"Nurse, why are you running?"

"We've just been put in a state of emergency!" She shook in fear. "The Feline Kingdom just declared that we'll be at war soon if their demands aren't met!"

"Why?" Rein asked calmly.

"Two of the delegates from the Feline Kingdom died a few hours ago after being in-" She breathed deep, trying to regain her composure. "-after being in the Intensive Care Unit for the past week. An explosion happened at the castle, killing two felines and injuring two more; the two that just died. Everyone is calling it a murder."

"How do they know it was a murder?"

"Because they caught the pony who did it, he was the only one unscathed after the blast."

"That's weird." Rein shrugged and began to leave.

"Why is it weird?" She asked.

"Cats are supposed to have nine lives." Rein chuckled, hearing the scoff of disgust behind him.

The mare turned and grumbled before hurrying into a trot. She slowed when she looked into the room the stallion had come from, knowing it as the high profile patient room. She whipped to stop the stallion, but found no one.

"I'm gonna get fired for this..."

Meanwhile, Rein strode through the streets of Canterlot as panic washed through the streets like rainwater in a storm. Town criers yelled of the coming fire as newspaper stands sold tabloids of the end. The sound of an alarm rang from the hospital, meaning that they noticed his absence. Knowing he was making his way into crowded streets, He chuckled before stuffing a cigar into his mouth, lighting it up with a happy puff.

Silently, the nearby alley welcomed him into its darkness. The bustle of the street flooded the alley mouth as the alley itself was dead, save its use of trashcans and assorted utility valves. With another long take from his cigar, he blew the smoke into the area around him, trying to piece together where he was since the layout of Canterlot had changed so dramatically.

"Those things will kill you, you know." A familiar voice said.

"My grandmother lived into her nineties." Rein said, taking another puff.

"Smoking?"

"Minding her own damn business." Rein leveled his eyes at Rainbow Dash.

"Are you always a jerk?"

"I try." Rein sat against the wall, moving to avoid the squeezing of his bandage. "Why are you here?"

"I came to check on you."

"Why?" Rein chuckled.

"Because you scared my best friend half to death and she asked me to check on you to see if you were up." Rainbow approached so she was a mere arm's length away.

"Just like her Great Grandmother." Rein smirked, ignoring the eye contact Rainbow was baring down on him.

"Right, sure. What are you doing out of the hospital?" Rainbow asked.

Rein perked his brows and walked past Rainbow Dash and around the corner into the large, secluded section of the alley system that ran through Canterlot.

"Hey!" Rainbow growled as she shot up and down to put herself between Rein and the rest of the alley. "You're not going anywhere until I have answers."

After a tense moment, Rein took another long puff and glanced over lazily. "Is there any reason you're bumper humping me right now? ...Or do you have a thing for getting it on in alleys?"

"Wanna repeat that, pal!?" Rainbow challenged, obviously angered.

"Injured stallions, huh?" Rein asked and shrugged, opting to begin the removal of his coat. "Just take it easy on me, Dashie, It's my first time."

"What is the matter with-whow!" Rainbow's eye drifted downward as something fell from his coat, a tinge of pain entered her mind. She sputtered and covered her eyes. "P-P-Put that back in your shealth, dude!"

Rein fell to the floor, letting his body go limp. "I can't Rainbow, our love is too strong! You must suck out the venom!"

"What venom!"

"The venom of love! The venom that has infected my penile region!" Rein pulled a shoulder from his coat, letting it fall down under him, giving him a blanket to roll around on. "Only the cleaning of the womb tomb with my sacred broom will satiate the need for this disease!"

Rainbow's body quivered as it moved in its own, her power to resist now gone. Breathing, labored and hot, echoed in her mind. Hooves giving out under her and wings beating irregularly, she moved onto her belly, crawling for a dark shaded column that rested on Rein's leg.

"We can't." Rainbow continued against her own inhibitions as she reached her target. Her hooves rested on either side of Rein's thighs as her mouth grew wet. "We're in public."

"Yes, but it's what you want." Rein cooed as the hot breath of Rainbow's breathing kindled his own will, giving rise to his own body.

Rainbow eyed Rein's "interest" as he looked down at her, waiting for her answer. In the meantime, she looked over his body and saw that it was blurry as if her eyes were glazed over.

She opened her mouth wide, letting her tongue lull out lazily, but paused as Rein grabbed a piece of dark chocolate from his coat. He unraveled it before tossing the piece into his mouth and sighed, grabbing a hoof full of Rainbow's mane before wrenching her head back away from his Rein Jr., forcing her up and into a deep, sloppy kiss.

After a moment, Rainbow fell sideways onto his leg, letting her head rest in his belly.

"Sorry." Rein said.

Almost exhausted, Rainbow regained her senses. "What was that? What did you do to me?"

"Dark magic." Rein picked his cigar back up and stuck it into his mouth.

"Y-You cursed me?" Rainbow asked in shock.

"No, your proximity to me let you intercept some dark magic and my suggestion of "wanting to get it on in the alley" let your desires run wild." Rein said. "Dark magic amplifies the desires of those that aren't used to it. A shy pony may be more open. An angry pony may be enraged. And a sexually repressed tomboy may lose her virginity."

"I'm not a tomboy!"

"But you are sexually repressed." Rein said, looking down at Rainbow and gesturing to his half-chubbed stack of meat. "What's wrong, Dashie? Can't get any stallion to accept the challenge and take you on your kitchen table like you want?"

"T-That's private!" Rainbow tried to not look at Rein's penis as she stood, averting her eyes toward the sky. "I'm going to the castle to tell everyone that you're awake."

"I'll see you there." Rein slowly stood, grabbing his coat as he rose. He watched Rainbow shoot her wings out before taking flight. "Oh, and Rainbow."

She paused, confused at the lackadaisical tone.

"If you ever want some "no strings attached" sex. You know where to find me." Rein blew smoke that wafted up as Rainbow erupted out of the alley.

"I should have you executed."

"Luna! The fun never ends." Rein chuckled as his surrounding shimmered into shadows of a dark room, the telltale signs of a powerful teleportation. "And bringing me to your room, I'm honored."

"I saw everything."

"Voyerist!" Rein feigned insult then was hit square in the chest with a blast of magic, sending him back through a table and into the wall before falling to the floor amidst the shards of wood. He lay limply for a moment and began to groan.

Luna stood from her pillow and sauntered through her large room before arriving to Rein's beaten form. She chuckled and shook her head, smiling at her victory.

"Maybe now you won't have such blatant disrespect for royalty." Luna proclaimed and stood proud, but when Rein sat limply on the ground, she jostled him with a hoof. "You may rise, Peasant."

Worry rose in her heart. "Prisoner six one six?" Luna tried to use magic on Rein, but the beams curved around him, forcing her to place a hoof on his throat. "No."

With a violent bang, Luna teleported from the room, followed immediately by Rein chuckling to himself and sloshing to his hooves, using a nightstand as a crutch. "I probably have ten seconds before that psycho returns." He mumbled and moved to her banister. "Just enough time to get into trouble."

After ten seconds and a quick drawer check, Rein hung from the banister and hung like an ornament six months out of season. He looked around and saw a waterway down below, but not directly under him. Even if he had a running start, he wouldn't make it. Just as he tried to concoct a way around the problem, another violent bang erupted in the room bringing back the loud voice of Luna.

"-and then I checked his pusle and I believe he had another... Rein!" Luna's voice was frantically moving into enraged when she saw a distinct lack of death on her floor.

Rein smirked then realized he still had a lit cigar in his mouth. "Shit."

"Um, do you need help?"

"What?" Rein craned his neck backwards to see Fluttershy floating by him and a crowd of ponies hanging out on Celestia's balcony on another floor off to his right. Celestia was there, of course, giving him the most displeased look she could muster.

"I asked if you-"

"Go away, Buttersworth!" Rein groaned and tried to move from rung to rung along the balcony before part of the railed blasted away with blue magic.

"Rein! I'm going to make you wish you were dead!"

"Too late, Hunnybuns!" Rein glanced and saw many of the castle staff hanging out the windows out of concern along with many visiting news reporters. He wiggled in delight before firing back with his own banter. "I'm sorry the pregnancy test read "Super pregnant" but you knew this when you bedded me!"

"Y-You cur! You lie!" Luna stalked toward the banister, her horn giving off a violent, haunting glow. She noticed the eyes staring at her and knew Rein's baiting and fired back with retorts of his flavor. "Well, you will have visiting rights for our foal."

"What!" Rein nearly dropped his cigar.

"Yes, but alas you were not the best I've ever had."

Rein laughed out loud. "I bet you take it like a dead fish." He flopped weakly against the banister to imitate a dying fish. "And I've heard better sex-talk from an auctioneer with a lisp!"

Luna's face looked awestruck before a flash of blue light zapped toward Rein and then down into the balcony, sheering off an enormous stone piece, sending Rein flying with the flooring and Fluttershy off and away from danger.

Blood pumped into Rein's mind, slowing down everything for a moment so he could drink in the situation. He saw Luna's enraged look melting into panic and the Elements of Harmony slowly moving to him, but the most telling expression was Celestia's. Celestia's look had no panic, no worry, nothing; just calm onlooking, meaning she knew it was a ruse and likely wanted to have a word.

Life sprang into its regular pace and Rein evaporated into nothing but embers among the falling rocks, reappearing in Celestia's chambers, just on the other side of the doorway where the others sat. The sound of the damaged balcony crashing into the waterway below echoed up and into the higher rooms of the royal wings.

"We have to help him!" Twilight said before taking flight with those the could fly and levitating those that couldn't.

The castle erupted into fright as Pegasus guards flew down with members of hospital staff, everyone moving to help. Everyone except Celestia.

"That is very cruel, Gallant."

"So is blasting your guest from a high balcony."

"You seemed to have started it." Celestia looked over her shoulder and motioned Rein to her side, a silent order which he obeyed.

"Well, technically, she started it." Rein said. "I didn't ask to be forcibly taken in her bed chambers, before being made to take her love beam to the face. And so soon after a heart attack."

"I wanted to ask you about that."

"Don't bother, I have no idea." Rein said. "I just felt numbness and doubled over."

"I believe I know a possible cause." Celestia grabbed a rolled up newspaper and levitated it to her companion. Bold headlines reading 'Attacker Kills Two and Injures Two in Royal Castle Attack' along the top. "This stallion appeared the same time you had your heart attack.

Rein raised a brow and looked at the stallion, a green coat and grey mane with the dumbest expression painted across his face. "You think this colt gave me a heart attack?"

"It's worth the time to investigate." Celestia reasoned. "He babbled incoherently the entire time and after a moment with him, I don't believe he is from here."

Rein picked up on the allusion. "Not from Equestria or?"

"That's for you to discover, Gallant." Celestia stood and watched as Luna looked around the wreckage skeptically. "I think you should let everyone know you aren't dead before going to question him."

After a quiet moment, Celestia looked back and chuckled at Rein's transfixed look on her butt. "G-Gallant?"

"Sorry." Rein shook his head, blinking his eyes to clear his head.

"Ah, you spaced out. That happens to me very often." Celestia smiled, misunderstanding the situation.

"No, I was staring at your butt." Rein moved to stand by Celestia as she deadpanned into nothingness. "The past eighty years have left you with some weight gain."

"Thanks..."

"Don't be offended." Rein chuckled, looking down at the rescue teams. "It went to all the right places."

"Sometimes I can't stand you." Celestia smiled. "You would look good as cinder."

Rein deflated. "I guess I'll get to work." He climbed up onto the banister and looked over the side. "Oh, where are you holding the new colt?"

"Holding cells, same place the rainwater reservoir in the Fish District used to be." Celestia watched as Rein leaned forward, but held out a hoof. "And Gallant?"

"It's Rein. And yes?"

"When you get time, I want you to stop by my chambers later. There is a matter I need to discuss with you."

Rein opened his mouth to ask something lewd, but a chair levitated up and collided with him, sending him off to fall in an uneven tumble from the balcony. The chair breaking upon impact with his body alerted the crews down below, turning their gaze upward.

"Rein!" Luna Roared at discovering she had been fooled again.

"Luna!" Rein yelled back before mentally cycling through his repertoire of teleportation spells as he neared the angry night princess.

"How dare-" Luna stopped when Rein disappeared into a pile of tomatoes that landed promptly at her hooves, bursting and exploding all over her.

"Princess, are you okay?" Twilight asked Luna, fearing her response.

"Find that villain, he must be up to something dark."

"Sir, please stop gyrating your pelvis, we see you." The guard receptionist turned on the wall speaker from the other side of the thick glass wall.

"About time, I've been waiting to get service for like five whole minutes." Rein said.

"Yes, but first, Sir. This is a no-smoking area."

"Says who?" Rein asked.

"The no smoking sign behind you?" The guard asked rhetorically.

Rein rolled his eyes and stumbled passed the guard who opened the door before being let through multiple iron, spell enchanted doors. He made his way into the observation room, a circular room that looked down on a hole in the earth lined with cells. The guard didn't bother to stop Rein as now everyone knew not only who he was and who he worked for, but what he went to All-Hope for, Equestria's one time heartland of nope. The news also paid special attention to the fact he was a former time-honored detective turned villain.

Talking echoed in the chasm from below amidst the sporadic crying and screaming, different creatures churned below, awaiting hearings for various serious crimes throughout Equestria. He hummed to himself for a long moment, knowing that the hole was somewhat of a strainer for All-Hope. Having been built decades after his incarceration, many bragged about being in the "Hole" but that was shortly before they found out how horrifying All-Hope was after dark.

"You here for the Earth pony that attacked the castle?" A guard sergeant asked.

"More or less." Rein noticed his nasty look. To ignore this, he favored a particularly thick puff of smoke to blot out the stallion's face. "Let's get this over with."

As they traveled through the halls, the sergeant mumbled about receiving word from the Princess and placing the stallion in one of the interrogation rooms. All the while, Rein merely tuned out the stallion and let his thoughts drift to the past as the smells of police hallways didn't change, always coffee mixed with various cleaning solutions, maybe a tinge of sweat.

"And here we are, holding cell bravo." The Sergeant moved and left, mumbling "monster" as he passed to lay insult.

"Charming young colt, I might have to let him take me to dinner." Rein tapped his cigar on his hoof, letting the ash fall into a pile on the floor. He slowly entered the room to see a still, green stallion.

"Good Morning." Rein said as he turned and moved toward the wall camera, unhooking a cord in the back allowing the red light to dim and die. "I see you're still in one piece."

After a pause, the stallion came to life. "G-Good morning. I'm... um, Mount Gummy."

"Mount Gummy?" Rein asked. "Are you serious with that?"

"No-I mean yes." The stallion's mouth gaped like a fish before he forced it shut.

Having remembered enough from being an accomplished detective, it was still easy to tell when someone was telling a lie even without magic. "Try again."

"Try what?"

"That name." Rein took a long drag and blew it into the air, letting the smoke pool around his head to give off a more foreboding look in the shadows. "You've probably been beaten with questions and as a result you've molded your answers. I want you to tell me what's really going on. You do that, I'll get you out of here."

"Y-You're lying."

"Oh, trust me colt, you'll find out soon if I'm lying." Rein said, eyeing down the stallion with the stripped, grey mane. "So, name?"

He squinted and tapped his hooves. "Mount Gummy."

"We're done, enjoy the rest of your life in maximum "pound me in the ass" prison." Rein giggled as he opened to leave, but heard the sudden clatter of chains on the table. He looked back to see the stallion on the table face down. "Ready to tell me the truth?"

"You won't believe me."

"Then start with your name. Depending on your answer, it's all I'll need." Rein glared. "My name is Rein 616."

"My name is ...Fish."

As the stallion admitted to another false name, his cuff grew hotter and hotter, nearly to the point of making him scream before the metal burst into small flecks of molten slag on the table, leaving blisters to rise over his fine fur.

"W-What was that?"

"Let's go, Fish." Rein turned and walked, making it a good way down the hall before Fish caught up to him.

"Hey, you! Where are you going with that prisoner!" The sergeant yelled.

"Hey, Fish. You run at all?"

"I used to be in Cross Country, but not like this." Fish said. "Why?"

"Run." Rein said, disappearing and stepping to the side. He stood by and leaned into a nearby doorway, watching what the young stallion would do next. He leisurely watched as the colt made his way around the guards, all the while being in an extremely panicked state. As he neared the doors, Rein melted the locks and opened the doors for him.

Typically, the guard fortresses of Rein's day were more secure, having both physical and magical locks. However, it is clear to him that the generation of guards that existed in this age were, for lack of a better term, stupid.

Hearing that one broke out of a guard station was usually a big feat, but in actuality it wasn't when the doors were all open. If you aren't in chains, regular guards think you're a normal pony or an inspector. Again, stupid.

Fish ran hard away from the guard house and into the district's lower street and slums. He ducked into an alley, breathing deep and hard before the distant alarms rang through the valley.

"So."

Fish jumped at Rein's voice and turned to see him sitting on a trash can behind him, smoking. "Y-You. I shouldn't have listened, do you hear those alarms? I'm in so much trouble."

"You are." Rein tapped his hooves together and smirked. "But you were in trouble long before I prompted you into leaving. And with absolutely no training and no plan whatsoever, you escaped an Equestrian prison. I mean you were just waiting to go to All-Hope, but wow, impressive."

"You damn jerk!" The pony growled and launched at Rein, only to be launched backward into a dumpster. He flailed his legs, trying to get right-side up.

Dropping the eccentric facade, Rein squinted at the reared back stallion prepared to charge. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't want to be here!"

"Then I'll ask in a different way." Rein's magic turned the pavement into gooey rubber as the stallion tried running again, causing him to be trapped like a fly in a web. A small, worn magnifying glass floated out of the trashcan beside Rein and sat itself in Rein's lion-like tail. "What is your purpose, and don't bullshit me."

"I don't have one." The stallion growled. "I just woke up and then I was arrested."

"And before that?"

"I... I was trying to bike home."

"Bike?" Rein asked.

"It's a metal thing with two wheels I used to use to get home from school." Fish tried to fight the muck but failed. "I took a shortcut home and poof, I'm here."

"Interesting." Rein mumbled.

"So what happens now?" Fish asked. "Are you gonna take me back?"

"Why would I do that? You just got out."

"But, don't you work for those ponies?"

"Could you be anymore obvious?" Rein chuckled, spitting a green wad of paper into the goo, dispelling the enchantment and turning it into dust. "I'm not returning you. I'm taking you to the Princess, I believe you've met already?"

"The big blue pony?" Fish asked.

"That's Luna. If you're going to pretend to be a local, at least learn the name." Rein scolded.

"I wanna go home." The stallion said, burying his face in the dust. He sat limply, banging his head against the ground lightly.

"You done?" Rein levitated a stick and prodded the limp stallion.

"Fuck you."

In turn, Rein just rolled his eyes. 'Well, that's another case down. Now I can escape after bringing the colt to Celestia' He looked to the sky to see the orange hues fading to blue, signalling night had come. Fish's struggle to stand drew his attention downward.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Rein 616. I was told to come and find you." Rein said, eliciting a reaction from the colt as his name sank in, proving to Rein that news of his renewed public interest reached his ears. "It's overly clear you're not from here, so work on that. Bury it deep down where no one can know it and let emotions build up on it."

"W-What?"

Rein giggled and rolled to his hooves. "Once you're the Princesses' problem, I get to go back to staring blankly at the ceiling, pretending I'm a house plant."

Author's Note

A little twist on the norm. If it isn't clear, yes, Fish is human. A human that isn't EQG and the story isn't about him, I just like the dimension elements that HIE stories bring to writing plots. Why not EQG? EQG is canon, but that'd be too easy.

Sexual content will appear in this story, it won't be over unrealistic (cause c'mon how realistic can you be with technicolor ponies) but it will be in situations that could unfold naturally.

I love feedback and need it, if you dislike something, love something, or just have input please tell me. I'm not the kind of author to get over butthurt at stuff.

Rein stole something of Luna's :ajsmug:

Chapter 1 -Quiet Mountain Town-
View Online

The Need to Know

Chapter 1 -Quiet Mountain Town-

-Quiet Mountain Town-

All of a sudden, the door to the room creaked open to reveal a very tall, very shapely Princess. Celestia stared into Rein's eyes as she glided into the room and slowly took the seat across from him.

"Gallant Mind?"

"Forgive me, I would bow, but a small mare likes me tied to tables." Rein cooed as he sat back, arms still fastened to the table.

"That is quite alright, Gallant Mind."

Rein bounced his eyebrows and scoffed. "Wrong room there, Princess. I am not Gallant Mind."

A soft pop echoed in the room as his dossier plopped down onto the table. "According to this, you're Gallant Mind."

Rein rolled his eyes. "Are you here to torment me? Because your sister does a good job of that, every night."

Celestia shook her head and her horn ignited, shrouding the room in an illusion of them having a peaceful conversation. She sighed and leaned closer. "I'm here to offer you a job."

"And you think shrouding the room in a discovery era distortion spell will make me believe anything you say?" Rein laughed and pulled on his binds aggressively, drawing Celestia's attention to the cuffs briefly. "I've been here for eighty years. Eighty years or torture, ridicule, and mildly delicious food."

"And today is your day to be executed." Celestia smirked.

"Gonna be a good day." Rein shrugged.

Celestia's breath caught in her throat. "You'll never see the sunset again."

"You would say that." Rein muttered.

"Do... Do you want this?" Celestia asked. "Surely you want freedom? I can offer you this, all I need is your cooperation. Only I may grant you a pardon for your crimes. If you do not accept my offer, you will die here today."

"What about your lovely sister? Surely she could free me. I may even help her succeed in a coup." Rein taunted. "Then again there is your former student and that Sister-in-law of hers. At this rate, you have more friends than enemies to worry about."

"Well, I'm sure my sister would like to hear of ponies supporting her. Unfortunately, since I was the one that passed judgement upon you, I am the only one that can repeal the sentence." Celestia sighed and looked at Rein with sad eyes. "Now I will say again, If you do not accept my offer, you will die here today."

"Not before I get my three cold cans of spaghetti and meatballs." Rein clapped his hooves and started rubbing them together while still cuffed. "I've been waiting for that last meal for about fifty years or so."

Celestia gave Rein a confused look, she remembered meeting Gallant Mind years ago and bestowing medals upon his chest. Only to sit in front of her, scarred and laughing like a foal at his predicament.

"If you do not accept, I will keep you alive and in here until you do." Celestia smiled when she saw Rein's smile fall. "You will never escape, I am your only hope."

Celestia flinched back when Rein's face appeared in front of her own, she used her magic and threw him back into the far wall with a resounding smack. She regained her composure and realized she was standing up and over him. He smiled up at her while wearing her crown with a bone jetting out from his leg. She looked back and found that his cuffs had been unlocked.

"Why?" Celestia asked angrily.

"I liked your crown." Rein choked out.

Celestia looked up and noticed her illusion still held. "I'm offering you life, Gallant Mind, why are you choosing not only death, but to attack the one offering you freedom?"

"I'm Rein six one six. Gallant Mind died with your conviction."

"A conviction rightfully given." Celestia's cold tone was a complete shift from her soft voice a few moments ago. "You are serving thirty consecutive life sentences."

"On top of the death penalty." Rein chuckled. "Cause that makes so much sense."

Celestia's golden magic washed over Rein and seeped into his skin, healing the internal bleeding she caused. Slowly, and with no small measure of pain, the bone pushed itself back into place.

Rein laid there with labored breath as Celestia finished her healing. He looked up at her with sad, angry eyes as she reclaimed her crown and placed it on her head.

"Do you want to die that badly?"

"You tell me."

Celestia glanced back at the unlocked hoof-cuffs. "You have had multiple chances to escape from what your dossier says. Once you were even left alone in the courtyard without any restraints."

With a long, aggravated sigh, Celestia sat before Rein as he pressed himself against the wall. "I am offering you amnesty. You can go and live or try to at least. Many claimed you were innocent, but the evidence was overwhelming. I still want to believe you are innocent."

"Now it's my turn." Rein growled. "Why?"

"Why?"

"Yes, why do you still want to believe I'm innocent." Rein scowled. "I confessed to everything."

"Yes, but the Gallant I knew was noble." Celestia reasoned. "You got in small bits of trouble, but not on a crime syndicate level. You fought for years to uproot Equestria of its underworld."

"Remember, I'm the 'Butcher' of Bridle Heights." Rein mumbled in air quotes, reciting the papers he has read while imprisoned.

Celestia shook her head. "You have the power to save ponies."

"Are you implying that I have a responsibility?"

"Yes." Celestia lifted Rein up and casted a spell to clean his body of his blood. "I came here to ask for your assistance thinking you would jump at the chance, but I see now that my confidence has not persuaded you one bit. So I ask you; what do you ask of in return for helping me. "

Rein remained silent and stared into Celestia's eyes.

"Please, ask for something." Celestia said and squeezed her eyes shut. "I need your help."

"Okay, I have some demands." Rein let out a long hiss and gave Celestia a wry look. "You get me out of here on one condition."

"Name it."

Rein eyed Celestia up and down before giving her a half lidded expression. "I've been in here a long time and I need what I haven't had since being put on lock down."

Celestia gulped and nodded, silently agreeing to his implied demands.

Sometime Later

"Yeah, so good. Who's your daddy?"

Meat flew everywhere as Rein dug in and sunk his teeth deeper. He tore and pulled at the flesh before him as it was helpless to resist him. He felt exhaustion and euphoria washed over him at last.

After a small break, he smiled and brought his hooves to his muzzle before igniting a small fire, lighting a small cigar. "Was that as good for you as it was for me?"

"You'll put yourself in an early grave if you keep eating and smoking like that." Shining Armor muttered as he stood guard over Rein. He and the other guards had a look of disgust on their faces while Rein tried taking a drag from his cigar with a mouth full of hot sausage.

Rein glared over to Shining while still eating as much as he could.

"I take it everything is to your liking?" Celestia asked as she smiled from across the table. She had provided Rein with a penthouse near the castle. It had been built with its own amenities, he could live in there for the rest of his life and never have to leave.

"Everything is fine, thanks hotflanks." Rein barked into his food between bites.

"You will address Princess Celestia by her honorifics, you scum!" Shining Armor roared, but snapped back to attention at Celestia's placating wing.

Rein rolled his eyes. "So, bright eyes, what's the case so big you gave me a stay of execution from All-Hope?"

Celestia sighed and waved Shining and the other guards out of the room, Shining remained and gestured to Rein.

"Princess, he's a dangerous scoundrel, surely you don't want to be left alone with him."

"Oh believe me, son. She doesn't need your protection. If anything, I need protection from that strong presence of hers, heck I may even swoon and let her take me where I sit."

Celestia rolled her eyes. "Everything is fine, Shining Armor."

The instant the rooms doors shut, Celestia glanced over to Rein who had a thoughtful look on his face. "Something the matter, Gallant?"

"Unless you can bring me something from Mac and Don's steakhouse, no."

"Well, whatever that is seems to be impossible based on your choice of words." Celestia leaned in her chair and tried to lower her head so her eyes could intercept where Gallant was staring. "If I may ask, what kind of food is Mac and Don's steakhouse?"

"Nothing you should know about." Rein grumbled. "Forget I said anything."

"If it's a dish from a restaurant, I could try and find the owner." Celestia asked.

"You're about ninety years off the mark there sweetness. Forget I said anything, the food I ordered fifteen minutes ago is good enough." Rein ran his hoof through his mane.

"You ordered more food?"

"Uh, yeah?" Rein said. "After being locked up, every free inmate feels the overwhelming need to eat."

"I wish you would have said what you meant in that room." Celestia's annoyed look made it clear she was unhappy.

Rein squinted and leaned slightly closer to the Princess. "Who's to say I didn't."

Celestia summoned a stack of manila folders just above Rein's head, luckily for him he sat back moments before they landed. He smirked and tsked at her.

"I don't remember you being this flirtatious, nor acting in such a flippant manner towards royalty." Celestia narrowed her eyes at Gallant. "What happened to you? Equestria fell in love with you and now you're..."

"Maybe Equestria fell in love with the idea of me." Rein mused, a glimmer of Gallant's refined speech shined through before it was swallowed by his more vulgar personality. "Personally, I like to think the media built me up to be someone I'm not. This way I get to hurt the newspapers as well."

"So it's a case of cutting your nose off to spite your face?" Celestia asked.

"Oh trust me, if cutting my nose off caused spite to who I wished, then I would remove my entire head." Rein's tone took on a dark tone before he smirked. "But often enough, in the world, situations are exactly what they appear to be and we look for reasons to believe otherwise."

"Now." Rein grabbed the top folder and opened it. "What do you have for ol' six one six?"

"Since you've been away, a lot has happened." Celestia summoned some tabloids from the past years.

"Skip the montage, we get the newspaper in prison." Rein mumbled as he looked through folder after folder.

"R-Right, well, much has happened and recently there have been disappearances. Subjects of mine tried looking into it, but the longer they did, the more dangerous it got. I-"

"Let me guess." Rein said curtly. "Death threats turn into attempts and soon these 'subjects' found themselves and their families the target of whoever is committing the crimes."

"Precisely.

"Time frame?" Rein asked.

"This started five months ago."

Rein tapped his hoof on the table, chances were they stumbled on their own conspiracy and the culprit didn't actually mean harm, if they did, someone would be dead by now. "So no one is actually dead, right?"

"No."

"Then royalty was threatened?"

"Yes."

"Not your sister, she's too much of a hard ass to take that lying down." Rein chattered his teeth. "Certainly not the Princess of love. She's busy running the empire by herself. That just leaves your former student turned pegacorn, probably decided to help, and being the go get 'em type, she pursued too hard and ended up getting everyone on a hit list."

"Good guest." Celestia smiled, opting to ignore the 'pegacorn' comment.

"Wasn't a guess." Rein said and produced a tabloid of his own. "Princess Twilight is known even in All-Hope. She's actually the pin up for a few inmates I know. The good pin-ups, not the sticky ones taped to pillows. That's your spot."

Celestia gagged.

"So where do you want me to start?" Rein sighed. "Or am I to remain here to give you advice on stuff where I'll inevitably go nuts and rub peanut butter on my chest and demand you finish me off with grape jelly?"

Celestia curled her lip and stared in confusion at Gallant.

"Sorry, prison does things." Rein chuckled.

"I guess you'll start by getting security clearances so you're allowed free reign of the grounds. You'll be able to investigate where and when you want." Celestia stood and started to walk over to the large dark grey stallion who was staring blankly at the table. "I am giving you all the power you'll need to track down the culprit."

Celestia sat and placed her hoof on Rein's cheek. "Gallant, please look at me... like you used to."

Slowly, Rein averted his eyes upward to Celestia's, the coldness of his stare hurt Celestia.

"What happened to you?"

"A series of unavoidable falsified circumstances brought on by a career of being righteous."

"Are you saying you were framed?" Celestia asked.

"Nope." Rein patted Celestia on the flank as he stood from the table and passed her. "But more food has arrived."

Celestia sighed. "When will you be honest with me?"

"When will you be honest with yourself?" Rein called, confusing her. He opened the door to find Raven, Celestia's assistant. "You aren't food." Rein glanced her over. "Though, you do look appetizing."

Raven scowled up at him. "I need to speak with the Princess. She has a meeting in room three with delegates discussing proposition one dash zero seven."

"She's a little busy right now." Rein slammed the door and turned to find a Princess giving him a knowing smirk.

"I'm busy?"

"Oh yeah, you're busy being wooed by this cake." Rein said as he lifted the cloth of the carrot cake he hide before she entered the room. "Now, you'll fall for my devilishly mediocre looks."

Celestia giggled. "I'm happy to see your humor is still in tact."

Rein laughed uproariously and whispered to himself. "Ha, laughter hides real pain."

"Now, if you'll excuse me Princess. You never did answer my question." Rein said as he moved to his window. "Where am I to start my investigation?"

"You're the detective, Gallant. How should I know?" Celestia looked at Rein with expectation.

Rein glared, slightly enraged at the use of his real name. "If you wanted a detective, I'm sure Sherclop Pones would be more than receptive if he is still alive. Though, he might have seen that Meowiarti wasn't involved and would have scampered off somewhere. How about Edogawa? He loves a good mystery, but no, you want results and despite knowing my penchant for getting them at usually questionable means you chose me before even consulting them."

Rein paused and played with the window latch. "Please stop me if I'm wrong."

Celestia sat in her seat and stared on while Rein paced.

"You must have no idea who this is, otherwise you would have burned them to a crisp. No, you're playing a game of chess, are you not? Your opponent has made their moves and you need a new player to-" Rein flipped a book that was sitting on a nearby end table. "-tip the scales."

Rein paused and Celestia's silence was permission to continue with his line of thinking. "What is next for this? Me, I'm going to go about and hunt down this perpetrator and when I find them you're hoping Equestria forgives me and we all jump and sing?"

Celestia sighed and nodded slowly. "I see hiring you was the right choice."

"No, that was your second mistake." Rein said. "You want to believe the best even if evidence tells you otherwise."

"What was my first mistake?" Celestia's voice grew quiet.

Rein looked to the floor and let the question fade into silence. "I will help you, Tia. But know that along the line I may go back to my life the way it was."

"I don't believe you will." Celestia smiled.

Rein rolled his eyes and heard the sound of Celestia teleporting away. He walked over to the high balcony of the penthouse she had purchased for him. For eighty long years he sat like a sardine in a tin can while the dregs of Equestrian society undid everything he had made. He panned up to the Castle, Canterlot always changed, it grew with the times, but the castle stayed unaffected.

A mirror caught Rein's eye, making him pause mid-step from the balcony. Images flashed in his mind of the stallion he used to be, the glimmer of silver armor danced across his form before he tried to shake it from his vision. More memories burned themselves into his eyes of his last case before everything went downhill.

"Screw the balcony." Rein grumbled as he walked deeper into the apartment towards the kitchen, he sighed happily, hoping his demands were met. With a firm jolt, the fridge doors opened and revealed a note that stated very clearly in none other than Celestia's hornwriting.

No alcohol, Gallant.

-Celestia

"You're no fun." Rein mumbled as he tore the note away to reveal another note.

I am very fun, you're just grumpy

-Celestia

"Fine." Rein strode over to the couch and sat, looking out the large vista window. He leaned his head to see a binder filled with classified profiles on Celestia's Elements of Harmony. With a reluctant reach, he grabbed the binder and started to riffle through papers and photos. "Oh hello."

Rein held the photos in front of him and whistled. "I wonder if they're single?"

"Not for you." The snarky voice of Shining Armor called from the door as he enter the room. "You are to interact with them on a professional, investigative level and nothing more."

"Oh, trust me, I will. I will interact and investigate them all I can." Rein chuckled, making Shining huff in anger. "Wait, why are you in my apartment?"

"I am the guard assigned to watch you. I was also ordered to be your liaison to the guard service."

Rein reached forward and brought a large, sweet smelling cigar to his lips, he tapped the ashes away and grunted as he eyed the Unicorn. It was five in the afternoon, the sun hadn't even set, and Equestrian royalty were once again shoving their flanks into what they shouldn't. "You smoke, Shiny?"

"No, it's a vile habit."

Rein nodded and blew a plume of smoke as Shining who magicked a shield around him. "I have to agree. I picked it up decades ago in a Trottingham's ghetto."

"Do you mean your time in whitechapel?" Shining asked.

"Yes, precisely." Rein confirmed. "I take it you're more familiar with me than I am with you."

"There isn't a guard that isn't familiar with your work. Both good, and bad." The venom in Shining's voice was painfully apparent.

Rein stretched and laid his arms out to both sides as he leaned back to watch the sunset. He didn't recognize Shining's insistent tapping, nor any other non-verbal forms of getting his attention.

"Mr. Gallant-"

"Are you royalty, boy?" Rein asked firmly.

"I-I was. How'd you guess?"

"It was rhetorical. You carry yourself like a snob." Rein sighed and leaned forward, twisting around to look at Shining as he stood there scowling. "Your over devotion to your duty tells me you've been thrust into this job, either from tragedy or choice. Though, with you, it's likely both. Divorce? Yeah, divorce."

Rein groaned as he stood and walked around the couch. "Judging from your command of other guards, you were in the service before marrying into the crown, likely of significant rank since I believe stuff like whitechapel wouldn't be taught to basic run of the mill guards." Rein looked into each of Shining's eyes individually. "You're Twilight Sparkle's older brother."

Shining's eyes grew. "Y-You guessed that from looking in my eyes?"

"Yes." 'And relations among royalty are public knowledge.' Rein thought as he blew more smoke. "Relax about the whole meeting the Elements thing. I'm not trying to lay your sister."

"Sorry, I tend to be overprotective-"

"Yet." Rein chuckled. "What are your parent's names? I know they'll be a bit surprised, but seeing me at dinner may startle them."

Shining's fur kinked in anger, but Rein waved him off. "Oh yeah, you're definitely royalty."

"That's not funny."

"To you." Rein replied curtly. "Not funny to you."

Shining growled. "Thank Celestia I'm only watching you to Ponyville."

"I thought you were my assistant?"

Shining scoffed. "I was only to show you the way to Ponyville and to introduce you to the Elements, then I have to return to my duties. Other than that, I am only to talk to you in an official capacity."

"One quick thing, Shiny." Rein lifted the dossier binder. "Is Applejack Apple of the Apple family, or is that a coincidence?"

"She's an Apple." Shining said. "And very proud of it."

Rein nodded and spewed more smoke at Shining. "So when do we go to Ponyville? The sooner the better."

"Tomorrow, so sleep early because we leave at dawn. Sleep well, slime." Shining barked as he strode toward the door and slammed it shut.

"I love being talked down to." Rein wiggled and felt himself drifting off. For the first time since Luna's return, peaceful dreams comforted him as he sat there. A usual ponies dreams were of fields and flowers, but Rein dreamed of subways and cold city streets. Years ago Luna asked him how his mind created such detailed cityscapes, but he lied and told her he was just gifted and not the truth.

"I see you still have vivid dreams of skyscrapers and odd subterranean tubes?"

Rein sighed and tried to suck on his cigar only to find that the flame was long dead. He opened his eyes to see the beautiful lady of the night herself in his living room with the dim backlight of the city behind her. Rein groaned and grabbed a lighter and tried in vain to light his cigar due to Luna's magic dampening the wick.

"Those things will kill you."

"So I'm told." Rein sighed. "Haven't had any luck yet."

Luna was unsure how to answer, she paused briefly and saw Rein rub his face. "I can't imagine you're here to check up on me, just get the death threats over with so I can get back to time-skipping till dawn."

"I had no such intention, Rein."

"Finally!" Rein shouted, startling Luna. "Someone that calls me Rein."

"Of course?" Luna said slowly. "The first we met, you introduced yourself as such. Gallant Mind will never be your name to me."

Rein chuckled. "So if you aren't here for a threat, then what are you here for?"

"A warning."

Rein looked to the side and threw up a hoof.

"My sister has released you from your sentence, but know you are not free. Should you cause trouble, I will drag you back to Equestria's admax-"

"All-Hope. The prison's name is All-Hope." Rein said. "As in 'Abandon all hope.'"

"I have heard the name it has been given." Luna's calm mood has took on a darker, colder tone. "I do not appreciate that the villains of Equus have dubbed my sister's prison."

"So I'm a villain?"

"Yes. Once you were a hero and now you're what you once swore to destroy." Luna looked sad. "I know many of the ponies you once called friend will have conflicted feelings about seeing you. All I ask is that you try and live your life like the stallion you once were."

Luna's magic finally released Rein's lighter, allowing him to reignite the cigar.

"Most of the ponies I knew are long dead. Everything is a matter of perspective I suppose." Rein filled the room with sweet aroma once again. He looked at Luna and knew she had secretly been more understanding about his methods than Celestia. Upon her return, they would talk a great many times and at length about the crime in Equestria. Night time was the best time for Equestrian detectives to hunt their quarry after all. But she always tried to keep the interrogations professional at best.

"Perspective or not, what you're guilty of is beyond evil."

"Fair enough." Rein shrugged. "Goodnight, Luna."

Luna smiled weakly and left Rein to his dreams as she disappeared into the frigid night air.

Ponyville Express
The Next Day

"When do we get there?" Rein groaned as he sat in a train car surrounded by guards. He played with his coat strap and kept waving the Stewardess to bring him peanuts which annoyed everyone to no end.

"Another two hours." Shining grumbled as he read the Canterlot daily paper about a new penthouse that went up in flame due to a poorly placed cigar. "And in five minutes it will be five minutes closer to two hours."

"Fine, geez." Rein growled into his hoof as he rested his head on his knuckle. He let his mind swim as he looked around and noticed a parallel set of tracks. "Those are new?"

"What?"

"I didn't know this line had two tracks?"

"Yeah, the other tracks is for the express that brings resources between the cities." Shining Armor said as he read the newspaper.

Rein went to light a cigar, but a guard hissed at him and pointed to a 'no smoking' sign. He grumbled and heard the whistle of another train approaching. "And now I have to use the bathroom."

"Hold it."

"Can't."

"Yes you can."

"No I can't." Rein whinnied.

"Yes you can." Shining insisted, but folded when Rein furrowed his brow. "Fine, but three guards are going to follow you."

"Okay, but let them be mares. I don't want and stallions trying to touch me." Rein chuckled as a large mare pushed him as he walked by. "Yes, a dominating hellion."

Shining chuckled as Rein was lead away by three angry mares.

Rein stopped before the stall and turned to Brunhilde. Helga. And Mary, the queen of pain. "I think it's best if I go in by myself.

"Absolutely not, criminal." The largest mare, Mary, barked. "We aren't letting you out of our sight!"

Rein rolled his eyes and opened the stall door, only to reveal enough room for one. "I know you three are pent up from those long guard duties, but I'm fresh out of the stall, so please threat me delicately."

The large mare rolled her eyes and shoved him in the stall and slammed the door.

"What? Too much?" Rein laughed in the same fake tone he usually did and immediately started to look around. 'Hole Hole Hole Hole Hole' He thought to himself before grabbing the toilet and pulling tot he right aggressively, causing a loud pop.

"Everything alright in there?"

"Totally." Rein called. "Just trying to drop a pound of fudge! Anyone want to pull my ears? It helps it along."

Rein smirked when he heard the mare cough in surprise. 'Good, don't bug me.'

The rails passed by the hole beneath the train as it trucked along the tracks. He worked the toilet even further for his large body to wiggle out, he annoyed his captors long enough for them to relish his absence and now that a resource train approached, his time to escape had arrived.

Shining huffed to himself as he continued reading the morning paper with a tabloid scolding Princess Celestia for inaction regarding another unsolved case in one of Equestria's major cities. It didn't outright scorn Equestrian royalty, but the tones in the writing were less than flattering.

"Why did you burn down your penthouse, Rein?" Shining mumbled absentmindedly as he glanced over the front page again.

A sudden commotion in the back of the car drew his attention. The sight of three panicked guards and the lack of a prisoner made Shining's stomach drop. "What happened!"

"S-Sir, he's gone." The large, armor clad mare choked out. "We opened the bathroom and... nothing."

Shining threw the paper to the side and rushed by the dumbfounded guards. "You three, send a message to the Princesses. Guards! Search the train!"

Guards scrambled from car to car searching and asking passengers if they had seen a large stallion pass by. Shining headed straight for the bathroom and let out an angry growl at seeing nothing but a toilet. He turned to leave, but the air pressure drew his attention back to the toilet. "No."

With a heavy, violent kick, Shining Armor threw the toilet to the side to reveal a jagged hole with traces of grey fur along the edges. "Son of a- Pegasi Guards! Search the bottom of... the train."

Shining's mouth hung open to see Rein clung to the side of the faster moving train as it passed the Ponyville express. Rein looked up and swung up onto the train's connector and waved at Shining.

The enraged guard captain scowled and read 'Ma.Tr.Co' along the other car. "Belay that! To the other train!"

With a raging expression, Shining tore through the crowd of confused guards, trying to keep up with the Manehatten Transportation Company's bigger, faster train.

"You aren't getting away!" Shining barked through the train car at Rein.

Back on the Manehatten Transportation Company's train, Rein chuckled. "Warped perspectives can be a horrible thing."

Rein leisurely made his way through the half empty cargo cars, the lack of ponies on cargo trains always made for easy targets unless they had magic anti-theft breaks. With a big smile and a silly dance, Rein hoped the train had them.

Slowly, an old song, foreign to modern Equestria, bubbled up from Rein and started to echo off the metal walls.

With a sudden opening of the train car door, the coal car was revealed, telling him he had arrive at the engine. Rein crept along the coal container and saw the conductor resting in the window, scratching his flank. His bandana for mouth protection against the soot hung on a hook behind him as did a small sword.

Quietly Rein donned both the rag and sword. "Too easy."

"Huh?" The conductor jumped and swiveled around to see his own sword held in front of him. "A robbery?"

"Uh, sure." Rein chuckled out loudly, between his coat flapping in the breeze and the engines mechanics, it was hard to hear. "Listen, I'm sure you're a good stallion."

The conductor back away and to the edge of the train's railing, fearing the stallion would do his worst.

"Relax, I'm not going to kill you." Rein rolled his eyes. "Just jump off and the Express a mile back will pick you up."

"I can't just let you take the train!" The conductor called over the rushing winds.

"Don't worry, I'll make it look good." Rein said and shook the sword back and forth playfully. "Where do you want it?"

"S-Small cut on the shoulder?" The conductor winced.

Rein deadpanned. "You don't want it to look like you just gave up? How about through the arm?"

"But that would-"

Rein huffed and slashed his shoulder, causing a deep laceration. With a firm kick, he pushed the conductor far enough away so he would land on the soft, lush grass along the trains tracks.

"Does your depravity know no bounds!" Shining called from the car behind him.

Rein smirked. "Shiny! You followed me."

"I'm chasing you!" Shining barked in surprise as he leaped down between the cars and was met shortly by his prisoner. "You're not even out for a full day and you're stealing a train!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rein said in surprise.

"I just watched you stab somepony and kick them from a train!" Shining held his hooves in front of him, exasperated. "Are you crazy?"

"Why are you getting smaller?" Shining asked as he looked down to see that the connection between the trains had been severed and that the engine was pulling away from the rest of the train. He teleported next to Rein and growled. "You aren't getting rid of me. It's my job to watch you!"

"Then who's going to hit all the breaks on all those fast moving cars full of cargo?" Rein smirked as the realization washed over Shining.

"This isn't over!" Shining teleported back to the other cars to operate the breaks.

"Yes, it is." Rein's cold tone turned into a devious glare as he hit the lock holding the coal gate and started to funnel more into the furnace. Many cargo companies ran their engines extra hot due to the increased demand for power in moving their goods faster, this meant having special packages filled with enchanted dust to add an explosive effect in their engines.

The conductor had already used one of the three packages they were limited to by Equestrian law. Rein laughed to himself as he remembered the time he chased a suspect through Rein District and into the factory where they were made and the explosion that resulted from the suspect throwing a lit torch on a ten foot high pile of the dust.

Rein paused and took a deep breath. He looked at the small town on the horizon, a small tinge of want lingered inside him concerning the case, but he shrugged and threw both packages in before slamming the steel cover closed before the boom of their activation rocked the large engine and the surrounding valley.

"How much sooner, Discord?" Celestia asked as she stood by the train stations platform, surrounded by a platoon of elite guards.

"Well, my dear. If the cargo train continues its usual speed, it will take an hour." Discord floated and summoned a pocket watch. "From the explosion we heard when we arrived, it should be here in five minutes."

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked as she and the Elements trotted to the train platform from a group of concerned town's folk. "What is going on?"

"Twilight, you should leave, it isn't safe for you right now." Celestia said bluntly before staring at the sand colored train barreling toward the station.

"Guards, get the ponies to safety." Celestia's calm, loud voice sprang the guards into action.

"Princess, we can help!" Twilight teleported to her side. Twilight's ears hugged her head when she saw the speeding train covered in fire and smoke, throwing off sparks as it bounced between the tracks and the support boards.

"Discord, can you curve the track enough to the train to make a safe landing?" Celestia asked to a bemused Discord who only snapped his fingers, causing the track to lift high into the air and bank left before leading directly into the ground.

"Better?"

"No, that will destroy the train." Celestia scolded. "And him along with it."

"He's a Unicorn, right?" Discord asked. "He'll just teleport out."

"Who is in the train?" Twilight asked.

Celestia ignored Twilight, much to the shock of the nearby ponies. "Discord, fix the tracks!"

"No, he'll teleport, watch." Discord summoned theater snacks and floated in the air.

"No, he won't. He can't." Celestia growled and ignited her horn as everyone watched the flamed out train climb the shaky rails. The grinding metal screamed as it descended in a forty five degree angle toward the hard ground below.

With a series of pops, a ball of flame and smoke appeared on the ground between Celestia and the Elements seconds before the train exploded, the loud whine of metal scrapping together could be heard as the train evaporated into pieces of metal and clouds of thick smoke and dirt floated up.

"Do you have a death wish!" Celestia scolded as she glared at the ball of smoke before her.

Discord landed next to Celestia, equally as upset that he almost killed a pony. "Celestia, who is this?"

Celestia sighed and whisked away the smoke to reveal a large stallion stuffing a photo into of his coat pocket. She remained silent while he stared at her. He pulled a Cigar from another pocket and chewed the end.

"And here I thought you were too busy for little ol' me." Rein chided.

"Well, a letter informing me of your little stunt forced me to clear my schedule." Celestia scolded as she stomped over to Rein, the point of her rage not being a mystery.

"So stealing a train was all I had to do to get you to love me?" Rein smirked. "I was planning a heist, maybe some bedlam and extortion, but this was much nicer." Rein glanced at the wreckage. "And flashier."

"You're depraved." One of the town's ponies spat.

"Why, thank you." Rein wiggled his flank at the group of nearby ponies. "Anything for a fan."

"This isn't a comical matter, Gallant." Celestia said with authority, the drop of his name elicited a few gasps. "You are here for a job, if you continue with this behavior, I will throw you back."

"Will you?" Rein challenged. "You usually turn to threats, but in the end you always forgive."

"To those who deserve it."

"And there's the subjective qualifier." Rein chewed the end of his dead cigar as he tried to light it on nearby wreckage.

"Princess?" Twilight called to her former mentor.

Celestia sighed and turned to Twilight. "I'm sorry, Twilight. This stallion has had the castle in an uproar for the past hour, so we had to teleport here to make sure he got here."

Rein mimicked her response.

"It is rude to mimic the Princess!" Twilight scolded.

Rein chuckled and patted Celestia's flank as he skipped passed her. "Oh yeah, I'm gonna love this Sunday morning in this quiet little mountain town."

"It's Thursday?" Rainbow asked and looked to her friends to see if she was right.

"Yeah." Applejack muttered. "And this is a farming town?"

As Rein skipped away, Celestia sighed in regret. She walked over to Twilight's friends with Twilight in tow.

"What's this about, Princess?" Rarity's refined voice sounded worried as she watched Rein stutter step ponies before ducking into a coffee shop.

With a heavy heart, Celestia looked each of her friends in the eye. "We uncovered a plot to foalnap you as leverage against our pursuits into the dark hoof's business."

"And the stallion?" Rarity asked. "He seems incredibly unrefined."

"If by unrefined, you mean rude and dirty, then I agree." Applejack nodded.

"Is that who I think it is?" Twilight asked.

"It is." Celestia winced at Twilight's shocked look. "I have given Gallant Mind conditional amnesty if he takes on the case of who is trying to harm you. Once he is done, he will have his record expunged."

Twilight sat, her mind reeling at her mentor's decision.

"Should we go and meet him?" Rarity asked. "Call me ignorant, but I am unfamiliar with, what was his name? Gallant Hind?"

"Gallant Mind." Celestia corrected. She heard barking laughter in the coffee shop and shook her head. "I would fill you in, but I know Twilight is very familiar with his work."

"Very." Twilight said, obviously conflicted with his presence.

"Perhaps it is best to just let him come to you and conduct his investigation." Celestia looked up to Discord's questioning look. "I think we should give him space, that would help. Right?"

Author's Note

I make alot of innuendos. :rainbowderp: but it's all in good fun and never goes too far.

Rein is a bit eccentric as I'm sure you can tell. He spent a great many years in a quiet cell with little else to keep him company besides his thoughts.

I tried to keep him as a silly person and not some personification of edge that I see so much in other mediums where if they're kept locked up for a long time they go crazy and try biting people. He is more complex than it seems at first glance, I try to show that off with his sudden character shifts and brief actions when no one is looking. For example, when Shining goes to stop the train cars, Rein drops his act and glares in Shining's direction. Same with the picture in his coat pocket.

Why am I telling you this? I need something to put in the A/N :rainbowlaugh: but more seriously, those of you that read that and were like >.> huh? You can have verification that you aren't crazy and for those of you that missed it.

Also, let me know if you enjoy this? I would like to start releasing more stuff and shorter stories like this as compared to Shattered Skies could be fun.

If not, I can also do one-shots.

We love ya :heart: