CSI: Canterlot - The Rich and The Poor

"Tomorrow you say?" the rich, well-dressed stallion stated. "Yes, yes, I believe I can spare a portion of time for the cause." He wore a nice, three-piece suit, accessorized by a twenty-four karat golden monocle and a shiny, black tophat. His mane was combed to near perfection, shining white as snow. The stallion was well in years, but with few visible wrinkles on his gray coat to show it.

He had stayed late to settle a business deal with another stallion he had met. This stallion was a kind fellow, about as well-dressed as he. After a moment of continued conversation, the two bade each other farewell before departing. The gray-coated stallion thought to himself, smiling as he walked from the elaborate Canterlot structure from a rich party of sorts, pondering the great investments he was going to make the following day.

As it happened, the skies were already dark, and he felt it was crucial to make an alleyway shortcut towards his home, given the darkness, and the fact that it looked like it was about to rain. He turned towards the alley closest and most efficient for his return home, and as he made his way down the dark and well-littered path, he felt an odd chill down his spine, as if he weren't alone. Feeling insecure, he looked around to see if anypony else was there. He was turned around, and still walking backwards to be sure not to waste time standing idly. As he was doing so, he stumbled over something, letting out a brief shout as he fell to the ground in a puddle. Curious as to what it was, he got up, shook his head, and adjusted his eyes to a very, very disturbing figure.

The colors of red and blue flashed brightly and vibrantly in the cold, dark night. The clouds blotted out the starlight, allowing only a faded glimpse of the moon. The police had made a quick rush to the site at the mention of a 187, in fear of the possible rain to come, disturbing the crime scene. CSI had gotten there just after, rushing to process the crime scene before it became a puddle of water and a sewage search. Two stallions in CSI gear had exited their automobile, proceeding to make their way towards the dead body. They lifted the police tape that was peacefully swaying in the wind, greeting a few other cops on their way in. One prepared his equipment to begin processing the crime scene, and the other knelt down to take a look at the body.

As they were doing so, a loud motorcycle echoed throughout the city, breaking the somewhat-peaceful silence within the nighttime atmosphere. As it roared to a halt, another CSI hopped off, deploying the bike's kickstand. She was a mare, pink-coated with a pale yellow mane. Her eyes were pink as well, and she wore a CSI vest along with a solid black bowler hat. She had on thick, square glasses, and a necklace with an emblem of the moon. As she approached the two CSI already at the crime scene, she smiled, awaiting their acknowledgement. Her name was CSI Crystal Clear.

"I could hear you from a mile away, Clear," one of the CSI said. He was standing on his hind legs, holding a very advanced camera and preparing to take another photograph of the body. He had a royal blue coat and a bright blue mane, and his eyes, contrarily, were green. His mane was somewhat longer than average for a stallion of his age, about 38, and messy. His voice was low-pitched and raspy, with a definite Ponyville accent. His name was CSI Blue Clever.

"I'm sure the rest of Canterlot could, too," the autopsy surgeon replied, still glancing at the body's position to determine a cause of death. His eyes were brown, and his coat was a sandy color. His mane was buzz-cut, and gray. He was young, and his voice was a tad bit higher-pitched than usual. It still, however, had the very sophisticated Canterlot tone to it. His name was Doctor Scalpel Sharp.

"Well, at least I'm here," Clear replied, her thick accent coming from Manehattan. She took a quick glance at the dead body. "Do we have a C.O.D. on the vic, Sharp?"

"Looks like repetitive stab wounds to the rib cage, and a missing limb" Sharp, the autopsy surgeon replied, still observing the body and gesturing to the missing limb. "Right foreleg gone there, but I'll have to take him in before I can fully determine a C.O.D."

"Roll the body over," Clear suggested. Sharp did so, revealing a bloodstained, but otherwise undamaged suit.

"Well, it looks like our unsub didn't have a long weapon," Sharp pointed out, "but sharp enough to puncture a three-piece."

"Good of you to point that out, Sharp," Clear said. Sharp rolled his eyes, used to the silly puns. She shifted her focus to the other CSI, who was snapping photos of the body and crime scene. "Got an ID, Clever?"

"Yeah," Clever replied, taking a look at the pictures, "I'd recognize him anywhere. That's Silver Platter, a very rich stallion who's pretty well known for dealing with the most aggressive business sharks in Equestria."

"Possibly a deal gone wrong?" Sharp suggested.

"I don't know," Clear mused. She paused for a moment, considering the multiple scenarios of ways aggressive and self-absorbed rich stallions meeting together could go wrong. "Let's wrap up the evidence and bring it back to the crime lab," she finally said, concluding her thought.

"Will do, Clear," Clever replied, snapping a last picture before putting away his camera.

"Well, Silver Platter," Clear said, watching the body as it was picked up to be carried off to the crime lab, "looks like the tides have turned for you."