Through Sickness and in Health

"I believe in you!"

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP

"Thank you Octavia, for another beautiful song!" A white coated unicorn mare with an electric two tone blue mane yelled. She was wearing a deep purple undershirt with a black vest over top and a pair of opaque violet shades her name was Vinyl Scratch. She was the standing bartender while Pony Joe a gruff beige colored stallion with a white undershirt hooted at Octavia with the other stallions and mares who were drunk while the few other patrons were passed out.

The establishment itself was Pony Joe's old diner until a new owner took over, but was nice enough to let old Joe keep his job. After all jobs in Canterlot where hard to come by. It wasn't in disrepair it looked like a high end bar you see for nobels but in actuality the prices were fairly cheap, the food great quality, as well as the drinks. The small bar was one of many since the new owner whom wanted to expand the small business. The bar was lively with drunken banter and hoots at Octavia "the live" cellist/singer.

CHIME

Everypony looked to the entrance, but quickly turned their heads back down as soon as they saw her. Vinyl scrunched her nose in confusion at her appearance but put on a quick comforting smile as she approached.

"What's your poison detective?" Vinyl questioned, eyeing the mare. She was an orange colored mare with a blonde mane, she wore a grey trench coat and a battered brown stenson, with her P.P.D. badge and 38 sub-nose pistol barely visible on her belt. Applejack one of the best detectives for the P.P.D. known because she could always get the truth out of anypony. (I wonder Why?) She joined the department due too the rise of crime in PonyVille and she couldn't just stand by and watch it all happen.

Applejack sighed as if saying not wanting to be there. "I want to see Spike."

Vinyl turned to Pony Joe whom shook his head no, then turned back to the Applejack saying "Don't know who that is."

Applejack sighed again and put her badge upon the bar "Look, You either let me in now, or I can get the police involved next time."

Vinyl opened her mouth to rebut but her eyes were drawn over to Octavia and Old Joe who were both shaking their heads no this time. "This way..." Vinyl says, with hesitation she leads the detective to the back room.

Applejack is led through a dimly light hallway, the smell of smoke and alcoholic drinks linger through the air making her teary eyed ever so slightly for she is not one for smoking. Though that wasn't the only reason she felt like she had to cry, she was so close to the truth, just one more door and all would be revealed to her. Though if Applejack was honest with herself she was deathly afraid of what lie beyond that door.

Applejack was snapped from her thoughts when she almost bumped into Vinyl without thinking as they had stopped abruptly.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

The door opened just a crack and a light blue maned unicorn with a sky blue coat stepped out halfway wearing a white undershirt with a black fedora, a sub-machine gun levitating in a magenta aura next to her.

"What is She doing here." The unicorn sneered accusingly towards Applejack's direction.

"It's okay Trixie it's either her or the guard  with a warrant." Vinyl explained casting a sidelong glance at Applejack.

The mare named Trixie squinted her eyes at Applejack for a few seconds before she looked to Vinyl. "The boss ain't here Vinyl, you of all ponies should know that." Trixie started to close the door while Vinyl hung her head in defeat.

Applejack rushed up to the door and blocked it from closing all the way with a forehoof, "Spike! I know your in there! Now bulk up and invite me in before I force mah way in!"

Trixie scowled and levitated her sub-machine gun up to point at the mare when a loud thump drew her attention back to the room. Promptly moving her head behind the door to muffle her voice.

Applejack heard Trixie's and another arguing in a hushed voices to each other, when she noticed Vinyl was staring at her the top of her sunglasses tipped as if showing the seriousness of the situation.

A loud sigh was heard along with a "let her in..."

"But Spike! As your wise and powerful advisor yo..."

"Trixie! I knew this day would come so don't criticize me on my decision!"

An uncomfortable silence passed over them.

"J-just, please let her in."

The door opened wide enough for her to see all the way inside. The room was well furnished with an antique desk in the center of the room, a stack of parchment, some ink pots, a small pile of gemstones, and the most noticeable, a clean polished .45 pistol with a silencer attachment. Behind the desk sat a tall burgundy leather swivel chair. To the left of the room stood a dark oak bookshelf filled with heavy tomes.

Some tapping drew Applejack's attention to the right side of the room where a pale yellow unicorn  stallion with a red and white mane, and a white undershirt with a blue vest over it sat typing furiously on a typewriter. The ching going off every once in a while signaling the next line until he slowly stopped and looked at her.

Having heard everything while she was in the hallway pulled out a chair with his sickly green magic and put it in front of the antique desk. The door closed behind her and she was met with silence, Vinyl stood in front of the door, while Trixie and the unknown stallion trotted to the sides of the desk and stood in silence. Trixie's sub-machine gun levitating to the side of her, while the stallion pulled a .38 sub nose revolver in his own magic.

Applejack's attention was drawn to the chair as it slowly swiveled to face her. Her fears confirmed once she saw his face.

"Good Evening, Applejack," the voice belonged to a small purple dragon with green spikes atop his head, eyes the same color only in a brighter hue much like hers. He was wearing a three piece suit. A white undershirt, a black overcoat, and to top it off with a bright red tie. A nostalgic smile on his face.

Applejack gulped as she said her next words. "Hello.....Spike."