Chapters It was a solemn day in the Manehatten Detectives Bureau. Everyone had read the paper the depressed mailmare posted.
BREAKING NEWS
In the small settlement known as Ponyville, two consecutive murders took place. The two victims of this horrendous act were two school fillies of the ages eleven and twelve. Their names being Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. The two's relation being that they were friends with each other. After speaking with the victims parents, it was reported by Diamond Tiara's mother, Spoiled Rich, that, "I had awoken by the sounds of my daughter screaming. Frantic, I ran up the steps and to her room where she was still screaming in torture and agony. I tried to open the door, but it was locked and barricaded! It was utter torture to hear her screams and broken sobs only a door away from me, yet not being able to do anything about it..." when one off the local guard detachments arrived on scene, they were able to knock the door down to reveal a disheveled room in which Diamond Tiara was brutally and viciously torn apart. Leaning up against the wall was the upper torso and head of Diamond Tiara. Above it, written on the wall in her blood was the text, DoN't hURt PoNIes FeelInGs, OThErs mIgHt TAkE SyMpAthY oN ThEM.
It was also reported by Silver Spoon's parents, who wish that their names not be disclosed that, "We woke in the morning and got ready for work at 6:25 and eventually noticed that Silver Spoon was not out of her room yet, it was strange because, she usually gets up around the same time we do. We went to her room and walked in only to see... I can't even describe the heartbreak and horrors that were in that room. And the worst thing is that... we didn't hear a thing..."
One in particular who read it was Private Detective Clue Finder. The top detective at the MDB. He was a unicorn with yellow for and a purple mane and tail. He had blue eyes that were light and crisp in color. He had seen this and while no-one was looking, smiled. Much more at the prospect of business than the excitement the event portrayed of the future. He awaited the call he knew would come. The call that informed him to head out.
"Mr. Clue." The aged mare known only as "chief," said, "a message came in for you. It's from Princess Celestia herself asking for you specifically to solve this case." She held up a manila folder which he took. "I assume you read the paper?" She asked. He nodded,
"Yes, it's kind of hard not to when everypony's talking about it." His voice was a bit higher than those of his age, it gave him some hassle with jeers from others, but Clue managed through it at those times. Chief made to leave the room,
"Piece of cake." She nodded and left the room. He was sitting at a desk and was in a swivel chair. Knowing the walls were thick enough, he spun around in the chair while giggling in excitement. 'this is going to be fun!' He thought before looking at a clock that hung above his door. It was five forty seven, 'almost time for me to go home.' he began going through all the current information in the manila folder for the new case.
It was eight thirty one at night and Clue Finder was walking the slums of Manehatten on a detoured path home. He whistled a tune as he happily walked. The fact that the is area had a higher crime rate did not put him on edge. In fact, it made him expectant and giddy. His heart stopped when five burly ponies stepped out from hiding spots in the streets. They wielded big pieces of wood, pipes, bats, and other things that could make a weapon.
"Give us all of your bits and you won't get any trouble." One of the buffer stallions said. He was obviously the leader of their little group. Clue reached inside the coat he was wearing, and pulled out a previously concealed cleaver before giving them an insane smile.
He began to stagger toward them...
It was twelve o four in Applebloom's room when the closet silently cracked open and a very cramped looking Clue Finder stumbled out. He let his eyes readjust to the light level within the room before moving over to the door and locking it, moving a dresser from the bedside over to it, and casting a strengthening spell on it all. It was a risky thing to do, due to the ability to track a unicorn by analyzing a magical "track," left behind; but Clue thought it was necessary to keep the sleeping fillies brother from entering should she make any sound.
He made his way over to the bed Applebloom lay asleep on and grinned devilishly before pulling the cleaver out of his jacket with his magic. Putting a hoof on the side of the bed for a higher vantage point, he twirled the large knife twice. His hoof slipped and he landed on the ground on all fours with a large thud. Applebloom jolted awake and flew off the side of the bed in fright. Because she rolled off the opposite side Clue Finder was on, he had to leap over the bed and covered her muzzle from screaming as she struggled to get him off of her; all the while slipping the knife back into his suit. He covered her entire muzzle so that she could not breath, and after a few seconds, she began to thrash frantically in an effort to breath again.
Loud bangs were heard as Big Mac attempted to bust the door down and get into the room. After a few more bashes, Clue was knocked off of Applebloom by something and he crashed into the opposite wall with the force of the strike. Applebloom, who had closed her eyes during the encounter with Clue Finder, opened her eyes to see a tall creature crouched on her bed. IT looked at Clue Finder with a hate filled glare and let out multiple quite clicking sounds. IT leapt over to the stallion and raised a clawed appendage before preparing to eviscerate him.
The door was finally blown off its hinges; the dresser being knocked over as Applebloom's brother, Big Mac, jumped into the room and threw the light switch on. IT disappeared in a wisp of purple-black smoke at the light's touch, and Clue Finder staggered to a stand; slightly dizzy from his meeting with the wall. Big Mac rushed at Clue, but tripped over the dresser; giving Clue Finder enough time to leap out the window, shattering it, and disappeared into the night.
Big Mac ran over to the now broken window and looked out in an attempt to find Clue's fleeing silhouette. Not seeing him, Big Mac ran over to Applebloom, who had now gotten up and was leaning against her bed for support.
"Are y'all alright?!" He asked with no small amount of concern. She could only nod, feeling numb all over. She cautiously looked around the room, searching for IT . She was faintly aware of a pain in her left hind leg, but didn't care as her senses were on high alert. She continued to sit there as Big Mac tried to comfort her.
Clue Finder stumbled into an alley in Ponyville, and slumped against one of the walls. Small trickles of blood streamed down his forelegs from little pieces of glass that had been dislodged while he had been running. He resisted the urge to slap himself.
"Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!" He mumbled. His eyes flicked quickly about the vicinity as he continued to mumble. "I should have known that stallion would have gotten in..." he paused, "what was that creature... it appeared out of nowhere..." he trailed off; his mumbling retreating within his own mind before a danger suddenly made itself known to him. A series of rapid clicking noises resounded from a little ways deeper into the alley Clue was in, and he quickly sprung to his feet; whipping himself to face the sound.
Standing tall over Clue were two pinpricks of light that belonged to the source of the clicking. IT stepped into the low light present near the alleyways entrance. Clue Finder charged his horn and sent a blast of destructive magic at IT , but IT weaved to the side; the blast only hitting IT's arm. The blast completely destroyed the black sin, and the bones underneath, and all that remained was a purple-black, wispy smoke that radiated from where the arm had been. The smoke glowed and the bones, muscle, and skin that had been destroyed were reformed completely.
"YOUr AcTiONs boTh HErE, AnD aT THe hOme, WeRE MISTAKES, PoNy." IT said with a voice that hurt his mind, and made his horn spark painfully with magic. Clue Finder gasped as he could no longer feel the normal well of magic all unicorns had. He looked fearfully at IT before his eyes narrowed and he growled. Moving swiftly, Clue grasped the handle of his knife in his mouth, and ran at IT . IT made a snorting sound before waving an arm horizontally toward Clue Finder. Clue was thrown off his hooves by an invisible force, and into the same wall he had been slouched against. Swiping the same arm the other direction, IT threw Clue into the other wall before making a grabbing motion toward Clue.
Clue Finder was lifted into the air, now covered in a purple-black magical aura, and was brought toward IT . IT looked Clue Finder over be for shaking ITS head. "WHaT a pITy." IT said, "SuCh A WaSTe Of poTenTIaL." Clue looked at IT with a pained expression; the wounds he had sustained adding up.
"W-what are y-you?" He forced through gritted teeth. IT tilted ITS head slightly before levitating him closer.
"I..." IT began, "aM Artemis." IT closed its first slightly, and Clue's bones popped and cracked under the pressure. "i... Am A Fallrite." IT clenched ITS fist, and before Clue Finder could even scream... His bones were crushed to dust... and his organs mush...
"Chief" looked down at the newspaper for that day, and frowned; already knowing what it said.
Murderer Found Dead Outside Of Alley!!!
Today, another murder has occurred in the town of Ponyville, and residents are beginning to become fearful. Just today, Investigator, and with new evidence, serial killer "Butcher Colt" was found dead outside of an alley on Daisy street. He had sustained multiple small puncture wounds in what remained of his legs, but the identification of his body was only due to a business card in his jacket. His body had sustained a crushing force that destroyed all the bones in his body. An autopsy soon to commence...
Chief snorted and shook her head. Nopony had suspected him to be a criminal, nor murderer... she needed a vacation...
It was a slightly chilly day in Ponyville and Applebloom silently sat in the school's playground area with her friend Sweetie Belle; who was also silent. They sat there. Their respective sisters had told them a G-rated version of the news, but it had been enough to let them know what had ultimately happened. The two biggest bullies at school had been killed. Murdered in the night. It terrified the two to know how easily it happened. In fact, the whole town was shaken up by this.
After a few minutes of sitting there, their other friend, Scootaloo, came and sat with them. She was in a somber state like the rest of the school and sat with them in silence. That silence was broken like a match being struck in a pitch black room by Scootaloo.
"I can't believe they're gone." She stated, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle nodding in agreement. They sat there, "is it bad that I'm glad that they're gone?" Sweetie Belle looked at her in shock, but Applebloom shook her head.
"No... at least, I'm not." She said. Sweetie then looked at her, "they both said some pretty mean stuff to me yesterday." Scootaloo simply nodded in agreement; not wanting to share anything. They returned to sitting in silence for a few more minutes before the bell rang, and they were called inside.
When they got inside the schoolhouse, they were met with the sight of Cheerilee, their teacher, speaking in a hushed voice with a yellow unicorn stallion in a black trench coat and a large brown hat. He had crisp blue eyes and a deep purple mane and tail. After the two had observed that all the children had sat down in their respective seats, they turned to face the class. Cheerilee put on an obviously forced smile as she addressed the room.
"Class, this stallion is detective Clue Finder, he wants to ask you all a few questions." She said before stepping back and letting Clue Finder take the stage . He gave a genuine smile that seemed innocent to all but Applebloom, who felt a chill run down her back at the feeling the stallion gave off. He took his hat off and put it on a hanger in the corner of the room near the door with his magic; which was a blue that matched his eyes. He cleared his throat,
"Good evening children ," he said; a smile still on his face. "As your teacher said, I am here to ask you a few simple questions." A few of the fillies and colts looked at each other, then back to Clue. "These questions are about your experiences with the two fillies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon." He paused and gauged their reactions, most of them looking depressed, and others looking uncertain. Applebloom's eyes narrowed for a split second at the memory of the pair; to which Clue marked. "Have any of you seen them acting strange recently, such as behaving differently than they usually did?" Twist, a filly of the age ten rose her hoof, prompting Clue Finder to look at her.
"I haf missther Finder. They wher meaner than usthual." She said with her lisp. Clue Finder inwardly cringed in annoyance, but kept his outward appearance the same.
"Thank you," he said, "anypony else?" Applebloom's hoof, along with Scootaloo's hoof went up into the air. "Yes, you." He pointed to Scootaloo, who put her hoof down before speaking.
"They've been insulting us more lately than usual." She frowned while Clue Finder gave a look of sympathy to Scootaloo before noticing that Applebloom still had her hoof up.
"Yes?" Applebloom gave a shaky breath before speaking.
"Yesterday, they said really mean stuff to me. It made me want to..." She trailed off; not wanting to finish her sentence in shame and hurt. Cheerilee's eyes widened in shock at what she was implying and Clue nodded with a frown on his face.
"Anypony else?" He asked. No hooves went up, so he stood up and gave a small smile of sympathy to Cheerilee before grabbing and putting on his hat with his jacket. "Thank you for your time. I will take my leave." He opened the door and left. The class returned to a semi-normal state and the day went on like it normally should, except for the depression and bleakness present throughout.
It was seven thirty at Sweet Apple Acres and Applebloom sat on a bale of hay; sweating profusely in exhaustion. She recalled the day and the one before with a questioning train of thought,
'I wanted their torment to end, but this isn't what I thought would happen. ' She sat there for a few minutes, thinking thoughts related to that before she heard the supper bell ring throughout the property. She went inside and washed up before going to eat dinner. When she sat down at the table, her family was in the state the rest of the town was in and Big Mac, her brother of little words, seemed to be in a less talkative mood than usual. Dinner passed and she brushed her teeth in the bathroom that was just down the hall from her room. The rest of the family had already fallen asleep when she left the bathroom and began making her way toward her room. She was halfway to her closed door before she heard something.
"AppLeBlOom..." She whipped her head to look further down into the dark hallway with a growing dread. With breath held, she stood there unblinking into the darkness until she was forced to breath. She slowly backed away and toward her room. She made it to the door and quickly went into the room; barely stopping herself from slamming the door and waking the whole house up. She sat down with her back leaning against the door while breathing heavily.
After regaining her breathing, she stood up and made to go to bed, bet saw her window was unlocked. Thinking nothing of it, she re-locked it and slid under the covers before eventually falling asleep...
IT looked around the dimly lit cave with disinterest. ITS eyes passing over the many objects that scattered the place. A chair here, a desk there... nothing of any real importance to IT . A ripping sound echoed throughout the cave from behind IT , and IT turned around to face a tear of nothing in the middle of the room. IT stared at the tear with intrigue, and after a moment, an armored being, clad in bright red armor fit for a warrior, stepped out of the tear.
From within the armors helm, two yellow eyes glowed brightly with power. The being looked at IT .
"Artemis?" The being asked. ITS eyes narrowed, yet IT nodded. The beings voice took on a grave tone, "I am Polar, Red King of the North, embodiment of war, knowledge, honor, and protection." The being said. "I need your help."
IT looked at Polar, then to the tear. IT thought for a moment before nodding, and moving toward the tear. IT stepped through the tear, and Polar followed behind. The tear closing up behind them; leaving not a trace of its presence...
Author's Note
Polar The Red King belongs to my friend Shadows Of The Light
This story is done in collaboration with Shadows, The Never Civilization verse
