Case 1 part 1: The return home. (Edited.)

In Ponyville.

Twilight Sparkle was horrified, being the student of the princess she was informed when she was needed to relay information to the princess. There was a murder in Ponyville, and she couldn't imagine it. But she had done what the local police force had asked her to do and she had gotten a letter from the princess. So far the police force had nothing and they needed help. So the princess sent out for an expert.

~*****~

Spike was a Forensic Pathologist as he worked with the Manehattan mortuary and Police force with his assistant and intern Quick Suture or Sue for short.

"Sue,” Spike began, “could you please hand me the artery scissors?"

The mare picked the scissors up from the metal plater and placed them in the awaiting claw of the drake. He nodded his head and started to cut, while Sue barely managed to look over his shoulder.

"So…” Sue started, eyes watching the body being split open, “what's next for the great Doctor of Death?"

"Retirement, hopefully.” A small spray of blood landed upon his cheek, which Sue was quick to wipe away with a cloth; she meeped when he looked over to her. "After I'm done training you for this position."

"C'mon Doc, you can't be serious.” She tossed the cloth into the yellow bin. “You’ve solved far too many cases to stop now!”

"I helped solve those cases; without the police force, such conclusions could never be made.” He went back to looking at the body. “Please hand me the Groove Director and Drain tubes?"

Sue went quiet as she fetched him the tools.

The overhanging silence and the tearing of fur were starting to get on Sue nerves. Spike had his mind focused and didn’t seem to care. But Sue needed to talk about something; to have a flow of conversation to dull out her hand that couldn’t stay still.

"Say,” she began with a sallow, “where does the nickname Dr. Death come from?"

"I helped solved a fifty-year old cold case for my Doctorate in forensic pathology – the community made me a local hero because of it. The nickname Dr. Death was assigned to me as some sort of joke, and since then, it just kinda stuck.” Spike finished removing the blood from the veins. “Don’t ask me why.”

"Wow,” Sue said at a loss of breath, “your family must have been proud."

"Who knows?”

Sue’s mouth hung open as she didn’t dare a word on that topic. He had said it light enough, but his eyes narrowed at the mention of his family back at Ponyville.

“I’m sure they have many things to be proud of themselves of, back at home.” He pulled back from the table with his tools, and deposited them into the running sink. “Anyway, off topic. Can I trust that you’ll finish up here?”

"Yeah, go take your lunch." Suture sat down before the body, before turning to face Spike. "But before you go, may I ask something?"

"Sure."

"Why is it that you’re so good with these cases?"

Spike sighed as he rested a claw on the door frame. “Guess I’m just weird in a way.” He turned to look at her, eyes almost closed along with a small smirk. “Promise not to laugh?”

Sue dipped her head forward.

Another breath. “I can’t say for sure, but it’s almost like I can hear the faint voices of the bodies. Telling me of their families, their friends, lovers, exs’, and most importantly… their secrets. I’ve always been one to see and hear what others cannot, and that’s why I’m able to save more cases.

Sue’s mouth hung open as her eyes drifted downwards.

“Don’t be discouraged. It’s not really my skills that get the case done… just this weird ability. Something, no doubt, that you’ll be able to outdo in due time.” And with that, Spike took off his gloves, washed his claws in the sink next to him, and ascended the stairs leading out of his office.

The break room was the floor above. Ponies sat on chairs before the table, and talked over their cups of coffee.

“The Doctor… he’s alive!” An officer mocked with his hooves to the air.

“Alive and hungry,” Spike replied, retrieving his lunch from the fridge.

The officer chuckled as he brought his limbs down, and his lips onto his cup. “I just don’t get why you don’t keep your food down in the body farm.”

"It's unsanitary." Spike stated. "Besides, eating food around victims doesn't feel right to me."

“Ah, make sense.”

Spike sat at the table and began the work of eating his food. Seeing a dragon devour meat usually had ponies throwing up and running in the opposite directions – but everyone here knew Spike enough as to not judge him by what he was.

Plus, they had seen too many corpses to care anymore.

Lieutenant Wing sat at the end of the table, his hands pressed together as he eyed them all. “How much longer do we have you for, Spike?”

“Not much.”

“And that extra benefits for staying wasn’t enough to tempt you for another year longer?”

“Unfortunately not. The offer was generous, but I don’t think bits can make up for the mental capacity I’m starting to lack.”

“What,” the officer began, “don’t tell me that the work is now getting to you?”

“Hate to say that it is.” He drew a breath. “Its at a point now where I’m seeing the life of the body in my dreams, then forced to operate on the very same creature when I awaken. I… I sometimes have to myself from cutting, because I think I could hear their screams.”

“Aye,” Lieutenant Wing took off his green cap, “I understand then if that’s the case. Doesn’t make matters any easier when you have to then tell their love ones that they are no longer among the remaining."

“Makes it harder when you don’t know why either.”

Spike finished his meal without a word, and returned to his home in silence.

A letter was in his mail box.

Spike quirked a brow as he took the letter and sat down on his porch. Setting his boots next to him, he began to read the letter.

Dear Spike,

I know that you wanted to limit our contact, but I wouldn't have done this if it didn't require your assistance. I’ve read of the numerous cases that you have helped solved all over Equestria, and deem that you are the only I can rely on for this matter.

There was a murder in Ponyville.

And more are occurring.

I cannot leave my position in Canterlot to investigate the matter. So I must rely on you to ensure the safety of Ponyville. I know you and the Elements didn’t depart on good terms, but please: return to Ponyville and catch the criminals that ended those innocents lives, and bring them to justice.
With much love, Your Mother Celestia.

“Ah… crap.” Spike said as he sat down in his chair and turned on the lamp and he thought to himself. He had stayed up all night tossing and turning but he had not gotten any sleep. Was it worth it to take the trip to Ponyville just to bring killers to justice? Was it worth the pain of seeing a girl that he once loved? "My pain is nothing compared to those that have lost ones that they love."

~*****~

Clouds of black plagued the sky overhanging the train station, allowing only the faintest glance at the moon through their form. Such the sight that Twilight was trying to acquire, before the clouds became to thick to see through. Twilight looked amongst her friends occupying her on the platform. “I’ve never seen Ponyville get dark like this before…”

“Tell me about it!” Rainbow exclaimed, turning to face Twilight. “If this… Dr. Death, was it? Okay, first of all, who names themselves Dr. Death?” She sighed. “Anyway, if this guy doesn’t get here soon, I don’t think we’ll even be able to see the way back home.”

"Like the princess said, it's a moniker," Twilight informed the dressmaker.

"Ah don' know." Applejack admitted. "But if he solves the murder of High String then by all means let him come."

"I just hope he isn't a weirdo," Pinkie said.

The four looked to Pinkie with raised brows.

"I wonder if he likes animals," Fluttershy thought out loud.

The train pulled into the train station. Stream arose from the train and clouded the station, where a figure covered by the stream stepped onto the platform. He wore a fedora and a three-piece suit with emerald hair parting between his eyes.

"Spike?" Twilight said as the figure stepped out from the stream. "Wha… what are you doing here?"

"Hello, girls,” he said as he dropped the suitcases.

A few tears began to stream from the eyes of his once-friends, which caused Spike to look away at the sight of.

"What are you doing back here, Spike?" Twilight asked as she stepped towards the drake.

"Well... I am the one that Princess Celestia asked for."

Author's Note

My new story. Please tell me if there is anything that you would like to see or have me do.