The Shadow Investigationby VinylScratch1991ChaptersChapter 1: Shadow Comes to PonyvilleChapter 2: A Dark Past Revealed Chapter 3:Twilight Approaches Chapter 1: Shadow Comes to PonyvilleWarning Grim Dark Read at your own discretion. I in no way claim any rights to Hasbro products or anything of the like this purely for entertainment purposes I make no money from this. Chapter 1: Shadow comes to Ponyville It was a stormy night in Ponyville when a dark pony came galloping through the main road. He was wearing a black trench coat and a black and grey plaid hat. Behind him fallowed a black owl with red tipped wings. “Damn, it would start to rain after we left wouldn’t it!” he yelled trying to be heard over the pounding rain. “Night fly up and see how close we-“but he was cut off as he ran straight into a sign that read Welcome to Ponyville. “Hoo!” the owl hooted in a tone that would suggest concern and a bit of sarcasm, “Yes thank you Night I can see that” replied the colt with a huff “well lets hurry and find somewhere to get out of this rain” the pony said with some comfort. As they ran through the town he saw that most of the houses had already turned off their lights, “Oh great I hope someone is still up, otherwise well have to sleep in this downpour” he said discouraged. As they continued checking every window they happened to see a small light not too far in the distance, “Night I think I see a light fallow me!” the colt yelled trying once again to be heard over the rain.As they got closer they saw a large tree with many platforms and little observation tools jutting out of the tree and in the corner of one the windows a small candle burnt. “Oh thank Celestia maybe someone is up, come on Night let’s get out of this falling ocean!” he exclaimed wasting no time they began racing towards the tree. The colt knocked as hard as he could on the door trying to be heard over the rain. “Please let us in!” he yelled continuously battering the door with his two front hooves. He didn’t have to knock for far to long before a small purple unicorn opened the door, “Hell-OH!” she exclaimed as she shielded herself from the colt’s hoof flying towards her, the colts hoof stopping just an inch above the young unicorns horn. “Oh my apologies young lady I did not mean to frighten you” the colt said bowing to show his sincerity, “I hate to interrupt but its pouring out here would it be okay if Night and I came in?” the colt asked politely. The young unicorn moved out of the way and motioned them inside looking surprised. “Oh thank you miss” the colt thanking the young lady with great pleasure in his voice as if someone had given him food after not eating in a week. “Is there somewhere I can hang my wet clothes and dry off? I’d hate to get your floors wet?” asked the colt who had already taken his hat and coat off revealing a short cut black main and tail and a horn along with a cutie mark in the shape of a magical rune. “Sure just hang your coat and hat on the rack by the door and I’ll grab you a towel” the unicorn already moving to a side room to grab the towel. “However” the young unicorn stood next to the colt with a towel in hand, “before I hand you this towel you will have to tell me your name” now holding the towel just out of the colts reach. “Oh how rude of me” the colt putting a hoof to his forehead forgetting his manners, “my name is Detective Kat of the Equestrian Missing Persons Detective Agency.” Kat finished now turning back to the coat rack grabbing a gold badge from the inner pocket of his coat. “and yours miss?” Kat asked looking back at the purple unicorn. “I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestias most faithful student.” Twilight holding her head high proud of her position as she gloated about her position. The colt paused in his tracks and moved back to his coat and grabbed a small notebook. “Ah! what luck” Kat began moving back to the coat rack and retrieved a small leather bound note book. “You are on my list of names” he said grabbing the towel from Twilights hooves. “List?” Twilight said raising an eyebrow, “Yes, you see Night and I have been sent here to investigate a series of missing people some of which, as the report states, were personal friends of yours?” Asked Kat as he finished drying off his mane. “Oh you must mean Rainbow Dash and Rarity.” Twilight now raising a hoof in the air as it clicked in her mind. Kat started rummaging through his notebook and confirmed the names “yes there have been more then that according to the report but those were the two most recent ones.” Kat checking the long list of names listed in his looking notebook. “I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions miss Sparkle?” He asked flipping to a fresh page and levitating a pen from the spine in his book. “Of course not, anything to help find my friends.” Twilight now speaking in a worried tone. “All right then when was the last time you had seen them?” Kat asked looking right at Twilight with a smile. “It was about a week ago when I was off to meet Princess Celestia for an exam” Twilight now trying putting a hoof to her chin recalling the events of the last time she had seen either of her friends. “I see.” Kat replied as the pen moved copying every word spoken. “Do you have any clue of their whereabouts prior to their disappearance?” asked Kat looking back at Twilight checking her reactions to each question. “Well Rainbow Dash is a free spirit, the only time she’s not spending time practicing for the wonder bolts she is napping so I cannot say” Twilight said shifting her eyes to the right looking down to the floor. “And Rarity?” asked Kat making sure that Twilight did not forget his other question. “I have no clue, she went missing not long after Rainbow Dash did.” Twilight had now became frustrated with her lack of answers. “I see” Kat said as he finished writing her last response, “Is there anything else you can tell me Miss Twilight?” Kat now closing his notebook having finished his initial questions. “No I’m sorry I don’t, I wish I did” Twilight now looking to the floor tearing up a little. Kat saw that Twilight was worried and put his hoof on Twilight's shoulder “Don’t worry well find them” Kat speaking calmly now reassuring Twilight, “I hope so” Twilight returning the gesture by placing her hoof on Kats. Kat looked at her and knew she was upset, “Now look what I’ve gone and done I’ve made a pore young lady cry” Kat now speaking in a more upbeat tone. “How about you ask me some questions so that were even?” Kat suggested looking at Twilight with sincerity in his eyes, “Okay that sounds like a good idea.” Twilight agreed drying her eyes on the wet towel that was around neck. “So” Kat began as he and Twilight moved to the center of the room, “What is your first question?” Twilight put her hoof on her chin, she just met this colt and she had many questions where could she possibly begin and figured she would begin with something simple. “Well, what is your full name?” Twilight asked thinking that would be an adequate place to start. “Shadow Kat is my full name miss Sparkle.” Kat responded in a professional manner “Really?” Twilight asked confused never hearing such an odd name.“Yes my parents named me Shadow on account of my strange looking coat and Kat was a play on my mother’s last name which was Cat.” Kat replied happily as memories of his parents brought a smile on his face and a small tear to his eyes. “Where are your parents now?” Twilight asked. Kat was silent for a moment he then spoke with a slight crack in his voice,“They passed away when I was young along with many others in my town.” Kat finished as he dried his eyes and was now looking back at Twilight. “Oh my, what happened to them?” Twilight asked bewildered as to what could have resulted in his parents death. looked back to the floor “They died when the town was burnt to the ground, only me, my brother and a few other children along with a tall slender colt who saved us survived the blazing inferno.” Kat began trailing off as if holding back something. Twilight was speechless she had no idea that anything had ever happened in Equestria. “What…..what was the name of the town?” Twilight asked not sure if she wanted to know the answer. “Silent was the name of the town. Fitting now that I think of it and kind of ironic, for the town is nothing but silent.” Kat finished in a harsh tone. Twilight just sat there mouth agape and mind boggled. She never heard of such an incident anywhere in recent history. Where was this town and what started this fire? Kat was quiet now neither one spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Kat broke the silence “It was not an accident, the slender colt who we thought to be our savior was the one who started the fire!” Kat burst with a burning hatred in his eyes. “He tortured my brother and me with wicked magic; he infused us with dark and frightening magics that would have drove any other colt insane. But he kept saying that we were special we were going to be his greatest party guests." Kat continued in a fury of words. “My brother was given the same treatment, but his reaction was very sever in contrast to mine. He was turned into an owl as some sort of sick joke that im sure only that demented colt could understand.” Kat paused and looked at Night who had perched himself on top of one of the bookshelves who had nodded off to sleep. Kat had calmed himself as he continued “We escaped leaving many of our brethren behind. While he was butchering the others like live stock we escaped through a blood drain that bled into a nearby river. We were eventually found by a nice couple on a rock farm just outside of Ponyville.” Kat finished. Kat looked unwell he picked himself off the floor and moved past Twilight. He sat next to her and gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, “never let the ones you love go.” Twilight returned the hug and cried for only a moment and apologized for what had happened to Kat and made it clear she had no more questions. She then showed Kat to where he would be sleeping and they parted there ways for bed, for tomorrow Kat will start his investigation. Chapter 2: A Dark Past RevealedChapter 2: A Dark Past Revealed It was light out when Kat Awoke from his less then peaceful slumber. Throughout the night he relived his terrible childhood over and over again in different ways. He tried to suppress these memories as best he could but doing so only made him feel worse. He looked at his brother Night, perched on the spare bird perch, and remembers why Kat trudges on every day. Kat picked himself off the floor and moved towards the door to the main lobby. The sun was out but its light was screened by the clouds that still lingered from last night, and by the sound of it the rain had stopped. Kat looked around and saw a plate and with a dandelion sandwich cut into halves with a glass of orange juice placed by the plate. The sight brought a smile to Kats face, a warm jubilee that is not often seen in Manehattan. Kat moved his way to the table and sat down, as he levitated the sandwich to his mouth ready to take the first bite he was interrupted by a male voice. “Hey who are you? And why are you eating Twi’s sandwich?” asked the little purple dragon that had just entered from the front door holding a large roll of parchment. “Well this is awkward” Kat said mouth still halfway open in position to take a bite out of the sandwich. Kat placed the sandwich back in place on the plate and stood up from the chair. “My name is Detective Kat I thought that Twilight had set this sandwich for me. I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding.” Kat apologizig sandwich down disappointed that it was not for him. “Eh its okay man Twilight never eats them anyway; “I have to study” is all she ever says. So you can have it I guess, the name’s Spike by the way.” Spike said in a slightly disappointed tone. Kat looked at Spike and held his hoof out, “It is a pleasure to meet you Spike.”Spike returned the gesture as hoof and claw met in a friendly smile. Kat finished the sandwich and glass of orange juice and began looking over his notes. As he read the list the sound of crunching in the background kept breaking Kats concentration. Before Kat could continue he needed to figure out what that sound was. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH It did not take very long for Kat to figure out where it was coming from as the little purple dragon was munching on what looked like a rather large uncut sapphire. “Um spike was it?” Kat asked scratching his head. Spike swallowed the food in his mouth in order to answer the rather annoyed Colt. “Mm yeah that’s me what can I do for ya Kat?” Spike asked never making eye contact in favor of the half eaten sapphire. “Well I don’t mean to interrupt your eating but um would you try to keep it down?” Kat asked trying to keep his annoyance with the little purple dragon less apparent. Spike swallowed the rest of the gem “Oh yeah sure thing there man I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Kat was surprised that this youth was so complacent to his demands. The children of Manehattan are rude and unkind. Sins of their Fathers and Mothers and so on was the only thing that could explain how innocent souls could become so corrupt at such a young age. Kat put this thought aside for the time being it only made him that much more bitter to the world. Kat had no leads anyone in Ponyville could be the culprit, it was as if looking for a needle in a hay stack. So he would start with the closest possible witness, Spike. “Hey Spike what do you know about the disappearance of the pegasi Rainbow Dash and the unicorn Rarity?” Kat asked once again readying his note book and pen. “Oh my gosh Rarity is missing? I knew that Rainbow Dash was missing but not Rarity! Not my sweet sweet Rarity.” Spike said dropping the sapphire to the ground rushing to Kat. Kat was taken back, Spikes reaction and the look in Spikes eyes were sincere, he had no idea where they were. “I see” Kat said slightly disappointed putting away his note book and pen back on the table and sat back down. Spike was confused and very upset, what had happened to Rarity and Rainbow Dash? “Why are you asking me all these questions?” Spike asked as he began to cry. “Where is Rarity?” Spike simply stared at the ground claws curled up into a fist. Kat moved to Spike and placed a hoof on the crying dragon.“I am sorry Spike I thought you knew. But I am a detective I was sent here to find your friends.” Spike continued to cry even when Twilight came through the door. Twilight was surprised at the scene in front of her. “Spike what is wrong?” Twilight asked looking for any injury inflicted to her number one assistant. “I’m sorry Twilight I thought that he knew.” Kat said with sincerity in his voice. “Knew what?” Twilight asked confused. “About Rarity!” Spike yelled through his tears. Twilights face turned from concern and surprise to anger as she turned to Kat. “Kat I was trying to keep Spike from knowing. Not only is he sensitive he has a crush on-” Twilight stopped in her tracks she knew the last time she mentioned Spikes crush on Rarity he did not speak to Twilight for a week. Although it was obvious that Kat knew she did not want to make a bad situation worse. “A um crush on Rainbow Dash” Twilight said nervously. Kat looked at Twilight with an eye raised. “Rainbow Dash? Really?” Kat asked in disbelief due to Spikes previous outbursts. “Yeah really” Twilight said through gritted teeth. Kat got the hint; he decided to try to reassure the little dragon that was still crying on the floor. Kat put a hoof on Spike and got on eye level with him. “Hey Spike don’t worry we will find them, I have worked many cases and they almost always are just fine.” Kat finished, looking deep into Spikes eyes. Spike wiped his eyes and stood back up. “Almost?” Spike asked concerned. “What do you mean by almost?” Spike now looking directly at Kat's eyes. “Well” Kat said looking to the side and avoiding eye contact with all of them. Twilight decided to step in. “Kat what are you not telling us?” Asked Twilight now with her eyes raised. Kat looked back at Twilight and Spike “Sit down I guess I should tell you about my first case as a detective. Night is not up yet and I will need his help cross referencing witnesses.” Twilight sat on the floor and grabbed Spike and held him close. Kat moved to the floor, never making eye contact with either of them. “This is not the first case in Ponyville. No my first case was just on the out skirts of Ponyville.” Kat looked off the ground into Twilights eyes. “The clients were the same couple that found me when I escaped the slender colt. Their daughters Pinkamina and Bellamina had gone missing earlier that afternoon. I had a feeling that I knew who had pony napped the two young fillies and immediately began backtracking to that night I escaped that horrid place. I relived the darkest moment in my life that very night crawling through the same blood soaked drain. Luckily I had found that at least one of the girls was still safe but I could not get in the room as the slender colt had reinforced the grate. Not that it mattered I would not fit through anyway. I ran as fast as I could, looking for the entrance as I sent Night to get reinforcements. I found the entrance in the base of a tree but I had no way of getting in. The door was made out of 3 inch thick steel. I pounded my hooves on it till they were ready to break. Reinforcements arrived hours later we breached the bunker the moment they arrived. It was over in a flash the Slender Colt lie on the ground a piece of his steel door lodged in his twisted brain. To quick of a death if you ask me, but we were too late. Bellamina had been cut up and put into cupcake papers; the trey was missing one that we found in the corner of the cell we found that terrified filly in. I picked the poor filly up and calmed her down as she flailed screaming in defiance. I told her it would be fine, I started to carry her to her parents and her last remaining sister but the captain need to de brief every pony and take the child in for questioning. That was the last time I saw that filly I moved to the precinct in Manehattan after that and started fresh. It was my biggest failure in my career as far as I am concerned but to everyone else it was my greatest achievement.”Kat finished looking at Twilight with cold eyes. Twilight was speechless, she simply hugged spike who looked as distraught at the story they had just been told. The silence was broken with the sound of an owl hooting. Kat's stare was broken and turned to a warmer expression at the sound of his faithful companion waking up. “Ah you are awake Night finally we can get the day started” Kat said in a surprisingly upbeat tone. “Hoo” was the only thing that came out of Nights beak. “I will get you something on the way to our first contact we really need to get going.” Kat said as he picked himself off the floor and grabbed his coat. As they made their way to the door Twilight rushed to Kat and grabbed him as close as she could. “I’m sorry” were her only words. Kat returned the hug “I will be back do not worry Twilight” Twilight felt comforted by his words and she let go and he left. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight moved back to Spike as she reassured him that everything will be fine. “Spike how about I make you some lunch for a change, I will make you anything you want just name it.” Twilight said gleefully trotting to the kitchen. “Rubies?” was the thing that came to spikes mind. Twilight giggled “I will get to work on finding a conjure rubies spell right away” she said moving from the kitchen to the book shelf. She grabbed a book the shelf, the title reading Advanced Conjuring, but before she had a chance to open it a thud was heard from upstairs. “Huh I wonder what that was?” Twilight said putting down her book and moving up the stairs. As she looked around she saw that a suction cup arrow with a small note attached to the shaft. Twilight opened the envelope which contained a note. Dear Twilight why don’t you and Spike come to Sugarcube Corner for lunch? I have a few new recipes I would like to try out. Your friend Pinkie Pie. Chapter 3:Twilight Approaches Chapter 3:Twilight Approaches Kat hated lying, but Twilight was so innocent and oblivious. For all her genius she does not want to face the reality. Her friends are dead, ponynappers leave behind a ransom, or means for the victims to be found. No Kat knew he was dealing with a killer. His first stop was the crime scene of the latest victim, Rarity. The boutique looked so wonderful from the outside, but nothing can mute colors more than death. Death is some pony that Kat has dealt with all his life, eternally his dance partner and always Death leads. The inside was unsettling; the smell of cat urine, bad food, and stale air was prevalent. This scene was so familiar, he had seen it so many times and yet not even experience makes it any easier to look at. Kat hated scenes without a body it made the scene clean and void of obvious evidence. The house was neat and tidy, everything in place and all in order. It’s the things that are out of place that stand out in these kinds of scenes. Yet nothing was out of the ordinary, either the killer was meticulous in recreating the house as it was. Or the victim knew the killer and led the victim away from the house. The killer is smart and makes his or her self well known to all. The issue is that Ponyville is a small town and almost every pony knows every pony. “Well this in great” Kat said frustrated as he walked over to a trash can. “Whoever is behind this is a true demon, preying on the oblivious and_” Kat stopped, at the bottom of the trash can was a small envelope. Kat smiled, “well looks like our demon has slipped up” Kat said happily as he levitated the envelope out of the trash can. His smile faded though as he found the envelope empty, “well it’s something at least with this we have a delivery system.” Kat looked at the envelope meticulously for any defining features. The only feature a balloon on the flap of the envelope. Kat believed there was nothing left in the house it was clean as a whistle and nothing is more frustrating when on the hunt. The killer operates within comfort zone; the down side was that this killer operates in the whole town. The envelope is a lead and it was most likely from a party store, so that was Kats next stop. Sugarcube Corner, such a light hearted name in a town with such a dark secret. The store was operated by two married ponies, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Indeed the envelope was from this store, however they only used one style of envelope so the killer could have bought this but so could anyone else. The next possible crime scene was the house of Rainbow Dash. It was located on the edge of Ponyville, so if the killer did take her from the house then some pony would have had seen them exit the town. The house was large and very luxurious, odd given that Rainbow Dash had such a low pay job as weather control. Something was wrong with this picture and maybe a killer was not the only evil that lurks Ponyville has. Kat needed to be sure though, these thoughts were un-healthy and could lead to a killer slipping through the cracks of Kats resolve. Kats cutie mark glowed as two small bumps protruded from his back. The pain was only a small annoyance as the protrusions grew into wings. Kat and Night brought themselves to the entrance of the house and opened the large front doors to the inside. It was a nightmare inside, the words rainbows covered the walls with the pictures of countless pegasus ponies littered the walls and floor. “Jeez what happened here?” Kat said as he continued to walk through the house. The house was unfurnished not so much as a bed to sleep on, or a chair to sit in. the upstairs was not that much different with one defining feature a small bed side table with a book resting on top in the very center of the room. “Well I’ll give her this she is quite the thespian.” Kat said as her observed the rest of the empty room. The book was bound in black leather and worn after years of use; there was no lock on it. Kat did not see another source of information here. No notes on the wall, unless rainbows in various sizes and shades is considered a clue, and nothing to indicate a hidden compartment. Kat knew this book would be eight ways of crazy, but he had no other choice. Kat opened the book; it was a diary, the first entry dated almost 10 years ago. Dear diary today after the race to defend the honor of my friend Fluttershy that resulted in pulling off the greatest stunt in Cloudsdale history and gaining my cutie mark. Three large colts came to me in black coats wearing some pretty sweet shades came to me and offered me a job at the weather factory. I am stoked I will have a job and no longer have to deal with the bullies here. I begin in a few weeks. The first entry was not as deranged as Kat thought so whatever happened to this pegasus must have had been something that developed over time. Kat decided to skip to a more recent entry maybe it would yield better results. I have been working at the rainbow factory a year now. The task of harnessing the spectra of the sonic rainboom is nearly impossible. The reaction is too sporadic for our machines to capture it. But I have a theory; supposedly what makes a sonic rainboom is a magical discharge of latent magic within a pegasus that is released when one reaches a high enough speed. If there is a way to separate the spectra from the pegasus then we can simply create rainbows at a phenomenal rate. Kat was surprised, most ponies that get into the rainbow factory are rarely seen again let alone given a home outside and free roam to other cities. Something big was here and Kat knew he had something, but one case at a time. So Kat went to the last entry of the diary. I have been at this too long; my last link to the outside world is now in the vats of the factory. I have an appointment with my friend today at her place it may be just the thing I need to get my mind off of recent events. Vague but it was what Kat needed to get this investigation really moving again. Kat checked his list of names and a map of Ponyville. Fluttershy and Applejack were the most likely since they both live on large patches of land and would be very easy to conceal a body. The only other friend was Pinkie Pie but her house being in the middle of the city would make it the least likely but not impossible. But Kat needed to make sure that his suspects don’t catch wind of his presence in Ponyville lest they get the chance to run. “Alright Night I want you to fly over to Fluttershy’s cottage and keep an eye on her whereabouts while I fly over to applejacks and investigate her.” Kat said putting the diary in his other coat pocket. Night nodded his head and began flying with abnormal speed. Kat closed up Rainbow Dashes home in the sky. The name did not fit the home, more like Rainbow Dashes Asylum in the sky. Kat hoped that whatever happened here died with whatever happened to Rainbow Dash for the sake of her friends and the rest of Ponyville. The air was cold and uninviting, fitting since Kat didn’t feel like this was going to be a case to remember. The cold always was a comfort to Kat it brought clarity and a sense of freshness. Maybe it was the silence or maybe the fact that it reminded him of the dead that he surrounded himself with was comforting. This moment of clarity allowed him to think. Why was this happening, why did this feels so familiar where had he seen this. So familiar, so cold; rains, screams, death all were here but no creature to stir the fear in this town. Kat was so deep in thought that he almost flew past Sweet Apple Acres. The trees were without leafs and were drenched with ice cold water, the trees looked like claws reaching out of the ground, maybe a cruel irony or Kat had been at this for far too long. Kat landed at the entrance and retracted the wings back into his body. He could remember the day he had his mark forced on him, the magic that the Slender Man had cast on him was meant to regenerate lost limbs so that he could be cut up forever. But the magic was old and required a ritual in where vile acts were forced on Kat, he saw so much blood, he wondered how he kept his sanity. The spell worked and it forced an ancient form of magic that was long forgotten. It was forbidden to infuse this magic on any creature, let alone any pony. Kat had spaced out long enough he needed to think of now and what monster was plaguing this community. He made his way over to the house and knocked on the door. It was not long until her heard the sounds of hooves moving towards the door. A large red Colt now stood before Kat, He was a good two feet taller than Kat and wider than him by a significant amount. He simply stood there looking at Kat for a moment and the colt in a very dull voice asked “Can I help you?” and continued standing there with his expressionless face. “Um uh yes I’m sorry is a Miss Applejack here?” Kat asked finally able to get his mouth to work again. “Eyup” was the only thing to come out of his mouth as he stood aside for Kat to enter. The home was very classy; it was a very old west style home. It did not scream psycho or anything really, but it’s not always the décor that gives a killer away. As that thought crossed Kats mind he heard hoof steps coming down the staircase in front of him. The pony was a peach color with long blond mane as well she had an aura of wisdom about her yet something that troubled her was apparent in her posture kind of slumped over and a face of worry on her. But was it of her missing friend or of being found out. Kat did not like this situation the big guy was obviously the muscle and having this large colt behind him did not put Kat at any kind of ease.“This here fella was wondrin where you were cous’” the large Colt said as Apple Jack finished making her way down the stairs. “Thanks Big Macintosh. And what can I do you for Mister?” Applejack said still hanging her head slightly. “Oh pardon me I am Detective Kat I am here to investigate the disappearance of a Miss Rainbow Dash and Miss Rarity and many others” Kat said taking off his hat as a common courtesy. Apple Jack perked up at the mention of Rainbow Dash “Have ya found anything? What news do you have? is she okay?” Apple Jack asked in a flurry of words. “Well I was hoping you could help me by looking around for any clues I have reason to believe that Rainbow Dash was in the presence of one of the remaining friends and I need to find out which one.” Kat said already moving around the room looking for any oddly placed items or creaks in the floor boards. “Well gosh I haven’t seen R.D. since she got back from her last trip to Cloudsdale.” Apple Jack said looking right into Kats eyes, If she had a tell it was the hardest tell in the world to spot. “Did she seem out of sorts?” Kat asked knowing that she would have been if the diary and home were any indication. “Well yes she was going to help me pick the apples for the orchard before winter but she worked very slowly and left with the job half way done” Apple Jack said once again never showing any tell. “I see do you mind If I look around I just need to clear the area with such a large area and with the amount of people gone missing I need to make sure that there is nothing suspicious going on here” Kat asked very coldly knowing that this was personal for Apple Jack. Applejack gave a nod and returned to her sulking. Kat didn’t have to wonder what was going on. Applejack must have had a relationship with Rainbow Dash. Kat wondered if she knew whatever happened with Rainbow Dash or what her “link” was. Kat decided to put these thoughts behind him and proceed with his search. The farm was very standard. Live stock and produce for the entire town seemed to be here. But there was no sense of unease in the area, that sense of fear and panic always lingered when someone hides a body be it living or dead. Kat had one final test since the gut feeling was not enough to clear the area. He took his hat off his head and put his horn to the ground. Channeling magic through it the sensation of electricity coursed through his body. He saw visions of the seasonal harvest and of the annual Sisterhoof Social and all the wonderful times that were had here, but no dark past or terrible events at all. Kat put his hat back on his head and began moving back to the house. A smile was on his face, he could denounce the Apple family in this ordeal. Kat was glad that such a nice family was not involved with whatever was going on in this town. But as this thought passed his mind Kats frustration started to nag at the back at his mind, He had remembered that there are still two more places to investigate and it was already late in the day. Kats mark again began to glow and he to glow as the same wings took shape. He batted his wings cleaning them of the blood from his body and making sure that they were correctly placed and even. With a powerful thrust he lifted off himself off the ground and headed towards Fluttershys cabin. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight had finished packing up a small dish for her lunch with pinkie pie. This was exactly what she needed to get her mind off of recent events. She packed a dandelion sandwich since Pinkies lunches were more like deserts then actual lunches. She also packed some rubies twilight had found in the pantry in the kitchen. She levitated her bag onto her back and told spike it was time to go. She walked out the door to the cool winter air, the trees where bare and the town was quiet. Twilight had an uneasy feeling as she made her way to Sugarcube Corner she had a feeling that she was being watched. She looked at spike that was oblivious to her worried state. Twilight thought about going back but Spike was a still broken up over Rarity, She knew that if anyone needed to get there mind off of things it was Spike. Twilight was in sight of Sugarcube Corner now and she could not be more relieved, this sense of being exposed was unnerving and was not getting better as she got further from her home. She got to the door and time seemed to move slower for her she was about to knock on the door, but before she could even lift her hand. “Geez Twi whats wrong with you I’m starving, you have been acting weird for weeks” Spike said as he knocked on the door. Twilight looked at Spike and shook her head clearing her thoughts, “Sorry I just have allot on my mind right now with all of my studies.” The door opened up and a Pink blur was all they saw before they were inside, “Oh Goodie you’re here I’ve been waiting aaaaall say” said their good, ever energetic, friend Pinkie Pie.
Chapter 1: Shadow Comes to PonyvilleWarning Grim Dark Read at your own discretion. I in no way claim any rights to Hasbro products or anything of the like this purely for entertainment purposes I make no money from this. Chapter 1: Shadow comes to Ponyville It was a stormy night in Ponyville when a dark pony came galloping through the main road. He was wearing a black trench coat and a black and grey plaid hat. Behind him fallowed a black owl with red tipped wings. “Damn, it would start to rain after we left wouldn’t it!” he yelled trying to be heard over the pounding rain. “Night fly up and see how close we-“but he was cut off as he ran straight into a sign that read Welcome to Ponyville. “Hoo!” the owl hooted in a tone that would suggest concern and a bit of sarcasm, “Yes thank you Night I can see that” replied the colt with a huff “well lets hurry and find somewhere to get out of this rain” the pony said with some comfort. As they ran through the town he saw that most of the houses had already turned off their lights, “Oh great I hope someone is still up, otherwise well have to sleep in this downpour” he said discouraged. As they continued checking every window they happened to see a small light not too far in the distance, “Night I think I see a light fallow me!” the colt yelled trying once again to be heard over the rain.As they got closer they saw a large tree with many platforms and little observation tools jutting out of the tree and in the corner of one the windows a small candle burnt. “Oh thank Celestia maybe someone is up, come on Night let’s get out of this falling ocean!” he exclaimed wasting no time they began racing towards the tree. The colt knocked as hard as he could on the door trying to be heard over the rain. “Please let us in!” he yelled continuously battering the door with his two front hooves. He didn’t have to knock for far to long before a small purple unicorn opened the door, “Hell-OH!” she exclaimed as she shielded herself from the colt’s hoof flying towards her, the colts hoof stopping just an inch above the young unicorns horn. “Oh my apologies young lady I did not mean to frighten you” the colt said bowing to show his sincerity, “I hate to interrupt but its pouring out here would it be okay if Night and I came in?” the colt asked politely. The young unicorn moved out of the way and motioned them inside looking surprised. “Oh thank you miss” the colt thanking the young lady with great pleasure in his voice as if someone had given him food after not eating in a week. “Is there somewhere I can hang my wet clothes and dry off? I’d hate to get your floors wet?” asked the colt who had already taken his hat and coat off revealing a short cut black main and tail and a horn along with a cutie mark in the shape of a magical rune. “Sure just hang your coat and hat on the rack by the door and I’ll grab you a towel” the unicorn already moving to a side room to grab the towel. “However” the young unicorn stood next to the colt with a towel in hand, “before I hand you this towel you will have to tell me your name” now holding the towel just out of the colts reach. “Oh how rude of me” the colt putting a hoof to his forehead forgetting his manners, “my name is Detective Kat of the Equestrian Missing Persons Detective Agency.” Kat finished now turning back to the coat rack grabbing a gold badge from the inner pocket of his coat. “and yours miss?” Kat asked looking back at the purple unicorn. “I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestias most faithful student.” Twilight holding her head high proud of her position as she gloated about her position. The colt paused in his tracks and moved back to his coat and grabbed a small notebook. “Ah! what luck” Kat began moving back to the coat rack and retrieved a small leather bound note book. “You are on my list of names” he said grabbing the towel from Twilights hooves. “List?” Twilight said raising an eyebrow, “Yes, you see Night and I have been sent here to investigate a series of missing people some of which, as the report states, were personal friends of yours?” Asked Kat as he finished drying off his mane. “Oh you must mean Rainbow Dash and Rarity.” Twilight now raising a hoof in the air as it clicked in her mind. Kat started rummaging through his notebook and confirmed the names “yes there have been more then that according to the report but those were the two most recent ones.” Kat checking the long list of names listed in his looking notebook. “I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions miss Sparkle?” He asked flipping to a fresh page and levitating a pen from the spine in his book. “Of course not, anything to help find my friends.” Twilight now speaking in a worried tone. “All right then when was the last time you had seen them?” Kat asked looking right at Twilight with a smile. “It was about a week ago when I was off to meet Princess Celestia for an exam” Twilight now trying putting a hoof to her chin recalling the events of the last time she had seen either of her friends. “I see.” Kat replied as the pen moved copying every word spoken. “Do you have any clue of their whereabouts prior to their disappearance?” asked Kat looking back at Twilight checking her reactions to each question. “Well Rainbow Dash is a free spirit, the only time she’s not spending time practicing for the wonder bolts she is napping so I cannot say” Twilight said shifting her eyes to the right looking down to the floor. “And Rarity?” asked Kat making sure that Twilight did not forget his other question. “I have no clue, she went missing not long after Rainbow Dash did.” Twilight had now became frustrated with her lack of answers. “I see” Kat said as he finished writing her last response, “Is there anything else you can tell me Miss Twilight?” Kat now closing his notebook having finished his initial questions. “No I’m sorry I don’t, I wish I did” Twilight now looking to the floor tearing up a little. Kat saw that Twilight was worried and put his hoof on Twilight's shoulder “Don’t worry well find them” Kat speaking calmly now reassuring Twilight, “I hope so” Twilight returning the gesture by placing her hoof on Kats. Kat looked at her and knew she was upset, “Now look what I’ve gone and done I’ve made a pore young lady cry” Kat now speaking in a more upbeat tone. “How about you ask me some questions so that were even?” Kat suggested looking at Twilight with sincerity in his eyes, “Okay that sounds like a good idea.” Twilight agreed drying her eyes on the wet towel that was around neck. “So” Kat began as he and Twilight moved to the center of the room, “What is your first question?” Twilight put her hoof on her chin, she just met this colt and she had many questions where could she possibly begin and figured she would begin with something simple. “Well, what is your full name?” Twilight asked thinking that would be an adequate place to start. “Shadow Kat is my full name miss Sparkle.” Kat responded in a professional manner “Really?” Twilight asked confused never hearing such an odd name.“Yes my parents named me Shadow on account of my strange looking coat and Kat was a play on my mother’s last name which was Cat.” Kat replied happily as memories of his parents brought a smile on his face and a small tear to his eyes. “Where are your parents now?” Twilight asked. Kat was silent for a moment he then spoke with a slight crack in his voice,“They passed away when I was young along with many others in my town.” Kat finished as he dried his eyes and was now looking back at Twilight. “Oh my, what happened to them?” Twilight asked bewildered as to what could have resulted in his parents death. looked back to the floor “They died when the town was burnt to the ground, only me, my brother and a few other children along with a tall slender colt who saved us survived the blazing inferno.” Kat began trailing off as if holding back something. Twilight was speechless she had no idea that anything had ever happened in Equestria. “What…..what was the name of the town?” Twilight asked not sure if she wanted to know the answer. “Silent was the name of the town. Fitting now that I think of it and kind of ironic, for the town is nothing but silent.” Kat finished in a harsh tone. Twilight just sat there mouth agape and mind boggled. She never heard of such an incident anywhere in recent history. Where was this town and what started this fire? Kat was quiet now neither one spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Kat broke the silence “It was not an accident, the slender colt who we thought to be our savior was the one who started the fire!” Kat burst with a burning hatred in his eyes. “He tortured my brother and me with wicked magic; he infused us with dark and frightening magics that would have drove any other colt insane. But he kept saying that we were special we were going to be his greatest party guests." Kat continued in a fury of words. “My brother was given the same treatment, but his reaction was very sever in contrast to mine. He was turned into an owl as some sort of sick joke that im sure only that demented colt could understand.” Kat paused and looked at Night who had perched himself on top of one of the bookshelves who had nodded off to sleep. Kat had calmed himself as he continued “We escaped leaving many of our brethren behind. While he was butchering the others like live stock we escaped through a blood drain that bled into a nearby river. We were eventually found by a nice couple on a rock farm just outside of Ponyville.” Kat finished. Kat looked unwell he picked himself off the floor and moved past Twilight. He sat next to her and gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, “never let the ones you love go.” Twilight returned the hug and cried for only a moment and apologized for what had happened to Kat and made it clear she had no more questions. She then showed Kat to where he would be sleeping and they parted there ways for bed, for tomorrow Kat will start his investigation.
Chapter 2: A Dark Past RevealedChapter 2: A Dark Past Revealed It was light out when Kat Awoke from his less then peaceful slumber. Throughout the night he relived his terrible childhood over and over again in different ways. He tried to suppress these memories as best he could but doing so only made him feel worse. He looked at his brother Night, perched on the spare bird perch, and remembers why Kat trudges on every day. Kat picked himself off the floor and moved towards the door to the main lobby. The sun was out but its light was screened by the clouds that still lingered from last night, and by the sound of it the rain had stopped. Kat looked around and saw a plate and with a dandelion sandwich cut into halves with a glass of orange juice placed by the plate. The sight brought a smile to Kats face, a warm jubilee that is not often seen in Manehattan. Kat moved his way to the table and sat down, as he levitated the sandwich to his mouth ready to take the first bite he was interrupted by a male voice. “Hey who are you? And why are you eating Twi’s sandwich?” asked the little purple dragon that had just entered from the front door holding a large roll of parchment. “Well this is awkward” Kat said mouth still halfway open in position to take a bite out of the sandwich. Kat placed the sandwich back in place on the plate and stood up from the chair. “My name is Detective Kat I thought that Twilight had set this sandwich for me. I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding.” Kat apologizig sandwich down disappointed that it was not for him. “Eh its okay man Twilight never eats them anyway; “I have to study” is all she ever says. So you can have it I guess, the name’s Spike by the way.” Spike said in a slightly disappointed tone. Kat looked at Spike and held his hoof out, “It is a pleasure to meet you Spike.”Spike returned the gesture as hoof and claw met in a friendly smile. Kat finished the sandwich and glass of orange juice and began looking over his notes. As he read the list the sound of crunching in the background kept breaking Kats concentration. Before Kat could continue he needed to figure out what that sound was. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH It did not take very long for Kat to figure out where it was coming from as the little purple dragon was munching on what looked like a rather large uncut sapphire. “Um spike was it?” Kat asked scratching his head. Spike swallowed the food in his mouth in order to answer the rather annoyed Colt. “Mm yeah that’s me what can I do for ya Kat?” Spike asked never making eye contact in favor of the half eaten sapphire. “Well I don’t mean to interrupt your eating but um would you try to keep it down?” Kat asked trying to keep his annoyance with the little purple dragon less apparent. Spike swallowed the rest of the gem “Oh yeah sure thing there man I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Kat was surprised that this youth was so complacent to his demands. The children of Manehattan are rude and unkind. Sins of their Fathers and Mothers and so on was the only thing that could explain how innocent souls could become so corrupt at such a young age. Kat put this thought aside for the time being it only made him that much more bitter to the world. Kat had no leads anyone in Ponyville could be the culprit, it was as if looking for a needle in a hay stack. So he would start with the closest possible witness, Spike. “Hey Spike what do you know about the disappearance of the pegasi Rainbow Dash and the unicorn Rarity?” Kat asked once again readying his note book and pen. “Oh my gosh Rarity is missing? I knew that Rainbow Dash was missing but not Rarity! Not my sweet sweet Rarity.” Spike said dropping the sapphire to the ground rushing to Kat. Kat was taken back, Spikes reaction and the look in Spikes eyes were sincere, he had no idea where they were. “I see” Kat said slightly disappointed putting away his note book and pen back on the table and sat back down. Spike was confused and very upset, what had happened to Rarity and Rainbow Dash? “Why are you asking me all these questions?” Spike asked as he began to cry. “Where is Rarity?” Spike simply stared at the ground claws curled up into a fist. Kat moved to Spike and placed a hoof on the crying dragon.“I am sorry Spike I thought you knew. But I am a detective I was sent here to find your friends.” Spike continued to cry even when Twilight came through the door. Twilight was surprised at the scene in front of her. “Spike what is wrong?” Twilight asked looking for any injury inflicted to her number one assistant. “I’m sorry Twilight I thought that he knew.” Kat said with sincerity in his voice. “Knew what?” Twilight asked confused. “About Rarity!” Spike yelled through his tears. Twilights face turned from concern and surprise to anger as she turned to Kat. “Kat I was trying to keep Spike from knowing. Not only is he sensitive he has a crush on-” Twilight stopped in her tracks she knew the last time she mentioned Spikes crush on Rarity he did not speak to Twilight for a week. Although it was obvious that Kat knew she did not want to make a bad situation worse. “A um crush on Rainbow Dash” Twilight said nervously. Kat looked at Twilight with an eye raised. “Rainbow Dash? Really?” Kat asked in disbelief due to Spikes previous outbursts. “Yeah really” Twilight said through gritted teeth. Kat got the hint; he decided to try to reassure the little dragon that was still crying on the floor. Kat put a hoof on Spike and got on eye level with him. “Hey Spike don’t worry we will find them, I have worked many cases and they almost always are just fine.” Kat finished, looking deep into Spikes eyes. Spike wiped his eyes and stood back up. “Almost?” Spike asked concerned. “What do you mean by almost?” Spike now looking directly at Kat's eyes. “Well” Kat said looking to the side and avoiding eye contact with all of them. Twilight decided to step in. “Kat what are you not telling us?” Asked Twilight now with her eyes raised. Kat looked back at Twilight and Spike “Sit down I guess I should tell you about my first case as a detective. Night is not up yet and I will need his help cross referencing witnesses.” Twilight sat on the floor and grabbed Spike and held him close. Kat moved to the floor, never making eye contact with either of them. “This is not the first case in Ponyville. No my first case was just on the out skirts of Ponyville.” Kat looked off the ground into Twilights eyes. “The clients were the same couple that found me when I escaped the slender colt. Their daughters Pinkamina and Bellamina had gone missing earlier that afternoon. I had a feeling that I knew who had pony napped the two young fillies and immediately began backtracking to that night I escaped that horrid place. I relived the darkest moment in my life that very night crawling through the same blood soaked drain. Luckily I had found that at least one of the girls was still safe but I could not get in the room as the slender colt had reinforced the grate. Not that it mattered I would not fit through anyway. I ran as fast as I could, looking for the entrance as I sent Night to get reinforcements. I found the entrance in the base of a tree but I had no way of getting in. The door was made out of 3 inch thick steel. I pounded my hooves on it till they were ready to break. Reinforcements arrived hours later we breached the bunker the moment they arrived. It was over in a flash the Slender Colt lie on the ground a piece of his steel door lodged in his twisted brain. To quick of a death if you ask me, but we were too late. Bellamina had been cut up and put into cupcake papers; the trey was missing one that we found in the corner of the cell we found that terrified filly in. I picked the poor filly up and calmed her down as she flailed screaming in defiance. I told her it would be fine, I started to carry her to her parents and her last remaining sister but the captain need to de brief every pony and take the child in for questioning. That was the last time I saw that filly I moved to the precinct in Manehattan after that and started fresh. It was my biggest failure in my career as far as I am concerned but to everyone else it was my greatest achievement.”Kat finished looking at Twilight with cold eyes. Twilight was speechless, she simply hugged spike who looked as distraught at the story they had just been told. The silence was broken with the sound of an owl hooting. Kat's stare was broken and turned to a warmer expression at the sound of his faithful companion waking up. “Ah you are awake Night finally we can get the day started” Kat said in a surprisingly upbeat tone. “Hoo” was the only thing that came out of Nights beak. “I will get you something on the way to our first contact we really need to get going.” Kat said as he picked himself off the floor and grabbed his coat. As they made their way to the door Twilight rushed to Kat and grabbed him as close as she could. “I’m sorry” were her only words. Kat returned the hug “I will be back do not worry Twilight” Twilight felt comforted by his words and she let go and he left. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight moved back to Spike as she reassured him that everything will be fine. “Spike how about I make you some lunch for a change, I will make you anything you want just name it.” Twilight said gleefully trotting to the kitchen. “Rubies?” was the thing that came to spikes mind. Twilight giggled “I will get to work on finding a conjure rubies spell right away” she said moving from the kitchen to the book shelf. She grabbed a book the shelf, the title reading Advanced Conjuring, but before she had a chance to open it a thud was heard from upstairs. “Huh I wonder what that was?” Twilight said putting down her book and moving up the stairs. As she looked around she saw that a suction cup arrow with a small note attached to the shaft. Twilight opened the envelope which contained a note. Dear Twilight why don’t you and Spike come to Sugarcube Corner for lunch? I have a few new recipes I would like to try out. Your friend Pinkie Pie.
Chapter 3:Twilight Approaches Chapter 3:Twilight Approaches Kat hated lying, but Twilight was so innocent and oblivious. For all her genius she does not want to face the reality. Her friends are dead, ponynappers leave behind a ransom, or means for the victims to be found. No Kat knew he was dealing with a killer. His first stop was the crime scene of the latest victim, Rarity. The boutique looked so wonderful from the outside, but nothing can mute colors more than death. Death is some pony that Kat has dealt with all his life, eternally his dance partner and always Death leads. The inside was unsettling; the smell of cat urine, bad food, and stale air was prevalent. This scene was so familiar, he had seen it so many times and yet not even experience makes it any easier to look at. Kat hated scenes without a body it made the scene clean and void of obvious evidence. The house was neat and tidy, everything in place and all in order. It’s the things that are out of place that stand out in these kinds of scenes. Yet nothing was out of the ordinary, either the killer was meticulous in recreating the house as it was. Or the victim knew the killer and led the victim away from the house. The killer is smart and makes his or her self well known to all. The issue is that Ponyville is a small town and almost every pony knows every pony. “Well this in great” Kat said frustrated as he walked over to a trash can. “Whoever is behind this is a true demon, preying on the oblivious and_” Kat stopped, at the bottom of the trash can was a small envelope. Kat smiled, “well looks like our demon has slipped up” Kat said happily as he levitated the envelope out of the trash can. His smile faded though as he found the envelope empty, “well it’s something at least with this we have a delivery system.” Kat looked at the envelope meticulously for any defining features. The only feature a balloon on the flap of the envelope. Kat believed there was nothing left in the house it was clean as a whistle and nothing is more frustrating when on the hunt. The killer operates within comfort zone; the down side was that this killer operates in the whole town. The envelope is a lead and it was most likely from a party store, so that was Kats next stop. Sugarcube Corner, such a light hearted name in a town with such a dark secret. The store was operated by two married ponies, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Indeed the envelope was from this store, however they only used one style of envelope so the killer could have bought this but so could anyone else. The next possible crime scene was the house of Rainbow Dash. It was located on the edge of Ponyville, so if the killer did take her from the house then some pony would have had seen them exit the town. The house was large and very luxurious, odd given that Rainbow Dash had such a low pay job as weather control. Something was wrong with this picture and maybe a killer was not the only evil that lurks Ponyville has. Kat needed to be sure though, these thoughts were un-healthy and could lead to a killer slipping through the cracks of Kats resolve. Kats cutie mark glowed as two small bumps protruded from his back. The pain was only a small annoyance as the protrusions grew into wings. Kat and Night brought themselves to the entrance of the house and opened the large front doors to the inside. It was a nightmare inside, the words rainbows covered the walls with the pictures of countless pegasus ponies littered the walls and floor. “Jeez what happened here?” Kat said as he continued to walk through the house. The house was unfurnished not so much as a bed to sleep on, or a chair to sit in. the upstairs was not that much different with one defining feature a small bed side table with a book resting on top in the very center of the room. “Well I’ll give her this she is quite the thespian.” Kat said as her observed the rest of the empty room. The book was bound in black leather and worn after years of use; there was no lock on it. Kat did not see another source of information here. No notes on the wall, unless rainbows in various sizes and shades is considered a clue, and nothing to indicate a hidden compartment. Kat knew this book would be eight ways of crazy, but he had no other choice. Kat opened the book; it was a diary, the first entry dated almost 10 years ago. Dear diary today after the race to defend the honor of my friend Fluttershy that resulted in pulling off the greatest stunt in Cloudsdale history and gaining my cutie mark. Three large colts came to me in black coats wearing some pretty sweet shades came to me and offered me a job at the weather factory. I am stoked I will have a job and no longer have to deal with the bullies here. I begin in a few weeks. The first entry was not as deranged as Kat thought so whatever happened to this pegasus must have had been something that developed over time. Kat decided to skip to a more recent entry maybe it would yield better results. I have been working at the rainbow factory a year now. The task of harnessing the spectra of the sonic rainboom is nearly impossible. The reaction is too sporadic for our machines to capture it. But I have a theory; supposedly what makes a sonic rainboom is a magical discharge of latent magic within a pegasus that is released when one reaches a high enough speed. If there is a way to separate the spectra from the pegasus then we can simply create rainbows at a phenomenal rate. Kat was surprised, most ponies that get into the rainbow factory are rarely seen again let alone given a home outside and free roam to other cities. Something big was here and Kat knew he had something, but one case at a time. So Kat went to the last entry of the diary. I have been at this too long; my last link to the outside world is now in the vats of the factory. I have an appointment with my friend today at her place it may be just the thing I need to get my mind off of recent events. Vague but it was what Kat needed to get this investigation really moving again. Kat checked his list of names and a map of Ponyville. Fluttershy and Applejack were the most likely since they both live on large patches of land and would be very easy to conceal a body. The only other friend was Pinkie Pie but her house being in the middle of the city would make it the least likely but not impossible. But Kat needed to make sure that his suspects don’t catch wind of his presence in Ponyville lest they get the chance to run. “Alright Night I want you to fly over to Fluttershy’s cottage and keep an eye on her whereabouts while I fly over to applejacks and investigate her.” Kat said putting the diary in his other coat pocket. Night nodded his head and began flying with abnormal speed. Kat closed up Rainbow Dashes home in the sky. The name did not fit the home, more like Rainbow Dashes Asylum in the sky. Kat hoped that whatever happened here died with whatever happened to Rainbow Dash for the sake of her friends and the rest of Ponyville. The air was cold and uninviting, fitting since Kat didn’t feel like this was going to be a case to remember. The cold always was a comfort to Kat it brought clarity and a sense of freshness. Maybe it was the silence or maybe the fact that it reminded him of the dead that he surrounded himself with was comforting. This moment of clarity allowed him to think. Why was this happening, why did this feels so familiar where had he seen this. So familiar, so cold; rains, screams, death all were here but no creature to stir the fear in this town. Kat was so deep in thought that he almost flew past Sweet Apple Acres. The trees were without leafs and were drenched with ice cold water, the trees looked like claws reaching out of the ground, maybe a cruel irony or Kat had been at this for far too long. Kat landed at the entrance and retracted the wings back into his body. He could remember the day he had his mark forced on him, the magic that the Slender Man had cast on him was meant to regenerate lost limbs so that he could be cut up forever. But the magic was old and required a ritual in where vile acts were forced on Kat, he saw so much blood, he wondered how he kept his sanity. The spell worked and it forced an ancient form of magic that was long forgotten. It was forbidden to infuse this magic on any creature, let alone any pony. Kat had spaced out long enough he needed to think of now and what monster was plaguing this community. He made his way over to the house and knocked on the door. It was not long until her heard the sounds of hooves moving towards the door. A large red Colt now stood before Kat, He was a good two feet taller than Kat and wider than him by a significant amount. He simply stood there looking at Kat for a moment and the colt in a very dull voice asked “Can I help you?” and continued standing there with his expressionless face. “Um uh yes I’m sorry is a Miss Applejack here?” Kat asked finally able to get his mouth to work again. “Eyup” was the only thing to come out of his mouth as he stood aside for Kat to enter. The home was very classy; it was a very old west style home. It did not scream psycho or anything really, but it’s not always the décor that gives a killer away. As that thought crossed Kats mind he heard hoof steps coming down the staircase in front of him. The pony was a peach color with long blond mane as well she had an aura of wisdom about her yet something that troubled her was apparent in her posture kind of slumped over and a face of worry on her. But was it of her missing friend or of being found out. Kat did not like this situation the big guy was obviously the muscle and having this large colt behind him did not put Kat at any kind of ease.“This here fella was wondrin where you were cous’” the large Colt said as Apple Jack finished making her way down the stairs. “Thanks Big Macintosh. And what can I do you for Mister?” Applejack said still hanging her head slightly. “Oh pardon me I am Detective Kat I am here to investigate the disappearance of a Miss Rainbow Dash and Miss Rarity and many others” Kat said taking off his hat as a common courtesy. Apple Jack perked up at the mention of Rainbow Dash “Have ya found anything? What news do you have? is she okay?” Apple Jack asked in a flurry of words. “Well I was hoping you could help me by looking around for any clues I have reason to believe that Rainbow Dash was in the presence of one of the remaining friends and I need to find out which one.” Kat said already moving around the room looking for any oddly placed items or creaks in the floor boards. “Well gosh I haven’t seen R.D. since she got back from her last trip to Cloudsdale.” Apple Jack said looking right into Kats eyes, If she had a tell it was the hardest tell in the world to spot. “Did she seem out of sorts?” Kat asked knowing that she would have been if the diary and home were any indication. “Well yes she was going to help me pick the apples for the orchard before winter but she worked very slowly and left with the job half way done” Apple Jack said once again never showing any tell. “I see do you mind If I look around I just need to clear the area with such a large area and with the amount of people gone missing I need to make sure that there is nothing suspicious going on here” Kat asked very coldly knowing that this was personal for Apple Jack. Applejack gave a nod and returned to her sulking. Kat didn’t have to wonder what was going on. Applejack must have had a relationship with Rainbow Dash. Kat wondered if she knew whatever happened with Rainbow Dash or what her “link” was. Kat decided to put these thoughts behind him and proceed with his search. The farm was very standard. Live stock and produce for the entire town seemed to be here. But there was no sense of unease in the area, that sense of fear and panic always lingered when someone hides a body be it living or dead. Kat had one final test since the gut feeling was not enough to clear the area. He took his hat off his head and put his horn to the ground. Channeling magic through it the sensation of electricity coursed through his body. He saw visions of the seasonal harvest and of the annual Sisterhoof Social and all the wonderful times that were had here, but no dark past or terrible events at all. Kat put his hat back on his head and began moving back to the house. A smile was on his face, he could denounce the Apple family in this ordeal. Kat was glad that such a nice family was not involved with whatever was going on in this town. But as this thought passed his mind Kats frustration started to nag at the back at his mind, He had remembered that there are still two more places to investigate and it was already late in the day. Kats mark again began to glow and he to glow as the same wings took shape. He batted his wings cleaning them of the blood from his body and making sure that they were correctly placed and even. With a powerful thrust he lifted off himself off the ground and headed towards Fluttershys cabin. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight had finished packing up a small dish for her lunch with pinkie pie. This was exactly what she needed to get her mind off of recent events. She packed a dandelion sandwich since Pinkies lunches were more like deserts then actual lunches. She also packed some rubies twilight had found in the pantry in the kitchen. She levitated her bag onto her back and told spike it was time to go. She walked out the door to the cool winter air, the trees where bare and the town was quiet. Twilight had an uneasy feeling as she made her way to Sugarcube Corner she had a feeling that she was being watched. She looked at spike that was oblivious to her worried state. Twilight thought about going back but Spike was a still broken up over Rarity, She knew that if anyone needed to get there mind off of things it was Spike. Twilight was in sight of Sugarcube Corner now and she could not be more relieved, this sense of being exposed was unnerving and was not getting better as she got further from her home. She got to the door and time seemed to move slower for her she was about to knock on the door, but before she could even lift her hand. “Geez Twi whats wrong with you I’m starving, you have been acting weird for weeks” Spike said as he knocked on the door. Twilight looked at Spike and shook her head clearing her thoughts, “Sorry I just have allot on my mind right now with all of my studies.” The door opened up and a Pink blur was all they saw before they were inside, “Oh Goodie you’re here I’ve been waiting aaaaall say” said their good, ever energetic, friend Pinkie Pie.
