Dark Waters
Act 1
Exposition
Submerged. Flung into death reluctantly. I didn’t hope for it to end this way. I already felt hopeless. The way things were already going brought me to a depressed mental state. I wanted death; then again, I didn’t. For a time I fought against it, flailing my numbing limbs as if trying to grab hold of something that I knew wasn’t there to save me. No outside force would help me–I knew this–but fought to stay alive anyways. The void was consuming me. No violent death, no fiery finish, no dramatic conclusion, I was going to die in silence. Everything would cave in around me. The pressure was building as I continued to sink into the darkness. I looked above to see the faded ripples of light grow dim. Refractions from rays above trickled off my sinking form. I felt as if it was alive, taking me under and sucking me into its maw. This was a terrible way to die, knowing that the simple act you do every moment was the only thing keeping you still alive. My lungs were shaking from the pressure to hold back the liquid around me.
Why me? What a selfish question to ask yourself at a time like this; but I couldn’t think of anything I would miss from the outside world. I mean, I would miss others. My brother, Seamus... her. It wasn’t enough. I’ve gone too far this time to save the likes of these people and look where I’m at now. I sentenced myself to my own death coming here and now I’m feeling nature take its hold around my body, plunging me into an abyss I ever so dread.
The cold waters press against me. My senseless limbs, body, wings were all freezing. If the water wasn’t as cold as it is now, this death might have been a little more comfortable. Damn, I hate the Winter, almost as much as swimming. Did I mention I have aquaphobia? Ya, I should have mentioned that. I never learned to swim. I mean, who needs to when you’re a pegasus? So I sunk, deeper and deeper; compression building around me, darkness overtaking me. I couldn’t hold my breath for much longer and I didn’t know why I kept fighting to stay alive even though I had nothing to live for. The shattered light from above had faded now. I’m in total shadow, no creature should bare this punishment. Absence became a whole new word to me in this emptiness. I am so scared. Nothing in this world could comfort me, nothing in this world could give me life back. I am ready to accept the inevitable, I was ready to sleep in my fear’s arms. From the bright sky I was born, to the dark waters I shall die.
Scene 1
A bucket of water was tossed over across the room, the liquid was in flight when it met a dry, sleeping pony. The water rushed over the tied up equine as he awoke in fright. The liquid was terribly cold, a degree more and it would have been a block of ice; the tosser of the water made sure of it when he prepared it. The bounded earth pony frantically looked around a room veiled in shadow. He was tied to a wooden chair, he was beaten tremendously and the pains he had felt before he went to sleep escalated through his nervous system once more. He let out a unsuppressed yelp, not caring who was in the room with him; but in short time, he realized what was going on.
“Hey!” he cried out, trying to worm his way out of several rows of ropes tied around him and the chair. “Is anyone there?” Silence fell over him as his voice echoed in a vacant and light-less chamber. He began to panic a little and bellowed out, “This is a mistake... I didn’t cause any harm!”
At that moment, a match was struck in the dark. A small, orange light could be seen a mere meter from the captive’s point of view. The match head entered into the bowl of a pipe and came back out quickly once the blend was lit. The burning leaves served as a second source of light in the dark room the two were in. The creature holding the pipe drew in a heavy a breath, brightening the fire inside the pipe chamber. The blend fluffed as smoke could be seen leaving the nostrils of the undefinable creature. The creature used another match to light a near by oil lamp and tossed the used match behind him. Now the bounded stallion could see the figure in the flickering, new light.
A brown coated earth stallion with a short, well groomed, jet-black mane with a touch of gray highlights. Deep, hazel eyes locked into the frightened stallion’s pupils as the pipe wielding pony got a closer look at his captive. The earth stallion had a memorable face, aged with coming wrinkles, yet he wasn’t old enough to subdue a much younger pony like he had done. Scars from yesteryear outlined his face that his wrinkles now somewhat concealed. His cutie mark was undefinable due to his black, well fitted rain coat while underneath he wore a tan sweater vest with a white dress shirt and a brown, stripped tie, matching his ever scanning eyes. He wore a charcoal derby hat that matched his four, shined wingtip dress shoes and tail. He took the lip of the curved, briar pipe into his mouth and inhaled the flavored smoke once again. He gave a look to his silent captive that he was done peering over him and blew a puff out through his lips and into his suspect’s face. The pony fluttered his eyes to avoid the smoke as he got a whiff of the cherry-apple wood scent of tobacco the stallion smoked.
The two stared into each other’s eyes, the detainer's gaze acutely affixed into the detainee's worrying specs. The smoking stallion withdrew thin and rounded spectacles with one hoof while with the other he held his pipe away from himself. Once he finished, he reached into his rain coat pocket and flicked out a few sheets of tan, thin paper. The bounded stallion realized they were official documents of some kind and swallowed. The pipe smoking pony cleared his throat as he held the documents away from his face at viewing distance.
He began to read the documents in his articulating, deep voice like gravel, “Freezer Burn...” He looked back and eyeballed the pony once more. The bounded stallion was a tan earth pony with an electric, vivid blue hair with navy tips. “Interesting name...” the well dressed pony added as he took another breath from his finely crafted pipe.
Through the concerned expression on Freezer Burn’s face, he asked in a serious tone, “And what might your name be?” The smoking pony thought that out of all the questions Freezer could have asked, to 'Where am I? What do you want with me? Et cetera.’ he asked him what his name was.
He blew a light puff of smoke into the air away from them, looked back into the tan equine’s eyes and replied truthfully, “Seamus Gumhoof.” Seamus placed the pipe in his mouth and with his free hoof he offered out a hoof shake in a sarcastic gesture. The bounded stallion raised an eyebrow to hint at his sarcasm, knowing that he couldn’t shake his hoof even if he wanted to. Seamus jerked his arm back as if he touched the top of a stove and grabbed the edges of the documents with both hooves.
He continued quietly and officially, as if he had read the papers numerous times, “Age: thirty-one. Height from head to hoof: three-foot eight. Weight: Sixty-sixty pounds. Born and raised in Ponyville, Equestria. Moved to Canterlot at the age of six with your father and mother, Mister and Misses Burn. Went to Canterlot Stater School, Intermediate School and Advance School. Graduated with three “B”’s and two “C”’s. Never went to college and works the possession as manager of Stables and Royals... But before you worked as a door-to-door repair pony, repairing everything from leaky sinks to gas pipes.”
“What’s this have to do with me,” Freezer blurted out, but Gumhoof ignored his outburst.
He turned to the next sheet, suppressed a heavy cough with a hoof and continued in his rocky tone, “You make a modest living it seems, never got into any trouble with the law from what these past reports indicate.”
“Where did you get those papers?”
“Oh, I have my sources...” Gumhoof ruffled the documents back into his coat pocket and pulled out a leather journal from the same pocket. He unraveled the string holding the cover of the logbook closed and skimmed through the pages until he found what he needed to find. Seamus cleared his throat once more and calmly asked Freezer Burn, “So I heard some tragic news happened recently in your household? Mind explaining that to me?”
Freezer lowered his head and sadly confirmed, “My house burned down with my pregnant wife inside...” The crestfallen pony sniffed and continued, “Oh Celestia, why! The police said it was a magitech malfunction with our new stove... Dammit, I never trusted those magitech appliances. You can’t trust new technology these days!” With each word, Freezer’s voice quivered from the tragedy, almost reliving the moment. Gumhoof patted the bounded stallion on the shoulder and shifted his pipe to the other side of his lips.
Gumhoof continued the conversation before the stallion could burst out into tears, “Where were you the night it happened?”
The pony, red in the eyes and face, let out a huff of air and answered, “I was at my job pulling the late shift. You know, cleaning up, checking inventory, stuff like that... You can check my time card if you like?”
“That won’t be necessary... You built the store from the ground up, correct?”
He nodded his head slowly, “Yes, that’s correct, sir.”
“That’s all I needed to know...” Freezer gave a quizzical look towards Gumhoof as he toked from his pipe once more.
“Wha-what do ya mean? What do you have me tied up for then... Oh, y-you think I meant for this to happen? I would have never murdered my wife and child you sick bastard! How could you–”
Gumhoof turned violently, face to face with his captive and firmly stated, “You and your wife, Magenta Burn, had been visiting a marriage councilor for three months. You only knew that your wife was pregnant until she told you three months after the conception of your foal. I knew your wife was a liar, she sent me to spy on you in the later hours of the night where you would go to the Gentlecolt’s Club. During the times that you were actually away at work, I would go to your house and discuss with her your late night habits.”
“Okay, so what? I needed a break. You’re right, we were going through a rocky time in our relationship, but we were getting better, we didn’t even visit the councilor for two weeks. And if you were really spying on me, you would know that in those two weeks I didn’t go to the Gentlecolt’s Club.”
Gumhoof blew some smoke and added, “Right, right... So why did you happen to take out a life insurance policy the week you found about your wife baring your child?”
“I cared about their safety, obviously.” Gumhoof stepped back. The kindle from the burning leaves in his pipe ebbed a faint orange haze over his face.
He took the pipe out of his mouth and read from his journal aloud, “Well Freezer, you had some young wild years according to your wife. You must have hung those years on the nail you drove into your wife’s forehead. It must have been difficult for you, I could see that as an addiction, a craving for youth... a sick one that is. Your wife on the other hand, I could attest to. She was a used up piece of barn trash who sold her wild years sleeping around with other stallions to try and get some peace in her life for once. At least she was trying to change who she once was for your sake. From what good I could tell from her besides that one fact is that she could make good bloody marys and kept her mouth shut most of the time. She owned a bulldog named Lawrence who had some skin disease and was totally blind, poor thing. In other words, you two had a happy life to say the least.
One night, after you took out that insurance claim and got the ‘'A-ok’ for it, you left your place of business, time card still running and went to the liquor store at the corner of Fifth and Banker. You purchased three, forty-two ounce Canterbury Brandies; you drank two out back, you had a plan that night. Before hoof, you had told your passed wife that you had bought a storage unit to clean out the garage and house with, which you did and were moving quite a lot of valuable items and saved cash into it, including cash you withdrew from the bank the morning before the house fire. Anyways, you snuck into the house without your wife knowing, closed all the windows, took the keys, hitched your wagon, opened your new magitech stove and spilled the brandy inside. You preheated the oven to four hundred and fifty degrees, lighted a candle on the other side of the kitchen and took off like lightning before thunder.”
Gumhoof pointed his hoof at the stunned colt, took a step forward and stated, “You torched it. Blew the whole sucker sky-high. From the hoof and wagon marks across the street and in the park where you stood there, it would make sense that you watched it burn down, making sure she didn’t survive. You were probably laughing too. You thought it through though, you knew the gas and the candle fire wouldn’t make a quick enough death, she would have smelled the gas leak and would have figured out what you were doing; but by adding the brandy, you sped up the explosion and made sure it detonated at the source, making not just a simple house fire, but a bomb. You had to watch the sucker burn for entertainment knowing what was coming to you. The house lit up the smoky skies, all Nightmare Night orange and chimney red–I saw it from where I live for Celestia’s sake. You then went back to your business where you had broke your time clock at the right time to make it appear you were still there. You came back, told the police what happened and those pigs fell for it. You went to live with your sister in Manehatten, collected your insurance money and pawned most of the valuables you snagged. You didn’t want a kid, Freezer. When you heard those words come out of your wife’s mouth, you knew you had to take action. You weren’t ready to become a real stallion yet, you still wanted youth and with that type of money you could have lived out the rest of your years in a snazzy island bar with mares crawling all over you... And you hated that dog... I did too...”
Gumhoof tossed the empty, heavily burned Canterbury Brandy bottle into Freezer Burn’s lap. The bottle was cracked and the label was complete burned off. Gumhoof added, “You left the evidence in the bushes of the park, you twit. You didn’t think anyone would notice?”
Freezer Burn saw the bottle and said, “This isn’t Canterbury Brandy, this is Royal Tiara.” Gumhoof reached into his other coat pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a cashier’s check from the liquor store.
He held it in front of the bounded pony’s face and stated, “You’re right, it is Royal Tiara. I got this from the cashier while I stood behind you in line at the liquor store that night while spying on you.” Gumhoof put his pipe back in his mouth and concluded, “Thanks for giving me proof that you did it out of your own mouth.” He leaned over and whispered into Burn’s ear, “I have an offer for you, pal. You split some of that dough you made from this whole fiasco and I’ll make sure you won’t get, ‘the barrel’. Freezer Burn’s eye’s widened at what he had just told Seamus.
He sighed and replied, “I hid the money in a secret compartment of the wagon, under the floor boards.”
He lowered his head in defeat as Gumhoof lit the remaining tobacco leaves in his pipe once more as he stepped back into the darkness. From the shadows around the captive pony came a small squad of Canterlot police that encircled him. They had awaited Freezer to give them proof that he had torched the house and his wife for insurance profit before they could arrest him. The police chief, Gold Hayfield, stepped into the magic spot lights from the unicorn police’s horns.
He spoke with confidence, “You’re under arrest for first degree murder, arson, and fraud, Mr. Burn.” They untied and cuffed the culprit pony; another job well done for Seamus Gumhoof. Hayfield looked back towards the exit to congratulate the lone detective, but he was already gone, as usually.
Scene 2
He awoke to a gray morning. A light rain’s fog fuzzed the window as the droplets patted on the glass, signaling him to wake up. He had fallen asleep next to the window seal again, watching the nightly downpour from last night. The white noise of rain was a soothing melody to his ears, lulling him into a calm trance only this natural phenomena could produce. The shadow’s of droplets on the window rolled over the pony’s face. An ashy layer of light bathed the pony as his eyes adjusted to the new morning.
He was a colt named Valiant Steed and he had a story to tell. Him and his brother, Noble Steed, practically grew up with their father’s nearest and best childhood friend, Seamus Gumhoof. They all lived in a cramped, wooden, two story house on the outskirts of Canterlot, a slowly dying city. The brothers’ family had already passed at early ages. Their mother died giving birth to Noble, and six years later, their father presumably died in a place known as the Icicle Mountains. Their father, Loyal Steed, was a Royal Guard and a leader to a group of peace makers who went out and extended peace treaties to neighboring countries and kingdoms. His last mission was to go to the Griffon Capital, but he and his companions never returned. So they were stuck–by law–with the next closest member in the family. However, Valiant nor Noble knew anyone else in their family and their family history was never determined through the Canterlot Archives, so Seamus stepped forward and claimed the two. It has been another six years since the passing of their father, Noble barely remembers him, but Valiant still felt the open wounds of the past. He still has vivid memories of his father, but through time, he has tried to forget him and move on, like Seamus advises.
Valiant Steed, a pegasus pony with a white coat, jet black mane and tail, and cerulean eyes was at the age of eighteen. He was no longer a colt, but not entirely a stallion; he was stuck in an awkward possession of age and looks. His height and build made him look like an adult stallion and his wingspan was much longer than the average pegasus. He was made fun of a lot during his few years in school because of his gangly appearance. Though now since he was older, he could care less. He could definitely play the part of an adult pony, but subtle gestures and hints made people realize how young he really was.
His younger brother, Noble Steed, was eight years old, still a colt and still attending Canterlot Flight School–the only flight school in Canterlot as a matter of fact. He didn’t possess the genes that Valiant did concerning wing span and height; he was a regular, happy colt, much happier than Valiant to say the least. His coat matched perfectly with Valiant’s, but his navy blue mane and tail was the only contrast between the two beside’s cutie marks. Noble’s cutie mark had recently appeared, two paint brushes with spots of red on each brush end. He was an avid painter and loved to do so during his free time, he was destined to have a great career in the future as an artist. Valiant’s cutie mark was still a mystery to him. His cutie mark is a deep rooted, bare and leafless black tree with branches that stretched like the roots itself. He received it in the middle of night, having a vivid nightmare he hates to remember.
Valiant turned and kinked his neck, yawning and then rubbing out the remaining sleep in his eyes. The internal clock in his mind had woken him up as usually, thirty minutes before Noble was to go to school. He looked over to see that his younger brother was still tucked in bed, silent and deep in sleep. Valiant trotted over in a morning stumble to wake his brother.
He nudged Noble with his hoof and whispered, “It’s time to wake up.” Noble’s eyes slowly opened as he turned to see his brother.
A smile slowly emerged on his face as he yawned and responded, “Good morning, Vally.” Valiant grinned back slightly and began to walk out of the room. He opened the wooden bedroom door which led down to the kitchen, the wooden frame squeaked as it pivoted on its hinges.
Valiant said while leaving, “I’ll have breakfast ready when you get down.” He closed the door with an outstretched wing and flapped down the crooked steps to the kitchen. As he made his way to the ground floor, he had forgotten what a mess the house was. Piles of paperwork, pictures pinned on the wall with thread attaching one to another, stolen documents and receipts Seamus told the brothers not to talk about and other odd items stashed away in the corners of the room. This is the life of the detective. The old wood of the house, stained with a tobacco scent, filled the ground floor. He lifted himself off of the ground and slowly maneuvered around the towers of documents, trying not to make any of them fall as he made his way to the kitchen cabinets.
Even though he lived with a mad detective, he had no idea what he was ever up to. Valiant nor Noble were ever involved with any of his cases–he wouldn’t allow it. He worked alone and worked silently; this wasn’t only a job to him, but a passion he kept to himself. Valiant’s job most of the day was to sort through Seamus’ infinite amount of paper work that piled up throughout the day. His other jobs were to clean the house, make sure he took care of his brother and not to get into any trouble.
Valiant was half way done preparing the oatmeal when Seamus barged into the house. He was soaking wet from being out all night and the only dry area on him was the inside of his pipe. He sloshed into the room and began shedding his clothes onto the floor as he made his way to the kitchen table. He flopped down at the table where he pushed stacks of papers off and onto the floor. He sat their silently, dripping wet in his white dress shirt and suspenders.
Valiant turned towards him and said, “Looks like you had a hell of a night.”
Seamus grumbled, “If Hell had rain... Coffee. Now...”
Valiant knew he would ask for that. He usually came in in the morning and would have to prepare a cup of joe for him in advance. Valiant could already smell the coffee beans roasting as he made his way to the coffee kettle. He poured a cup Seamus always wants after bad nights, black coffee. He took a large gulp, swished it around in his mouth before swallowing and let out a sigh of relief.
“Good job, boy... You taking your brother to school?”
“Ya, in a little while. I’ll walk with him there.”
Gumhoof took another swig and remarked, “You need to go back to school... you never finished. You don’t want to end up like the dopes stumbling in these streets at night, do ya?” Valiant sat down across from Gumhoof after pouring some milk and sugar into his coffee. They could both hear Noble upstairs, moving around and getting everything ready for school.
Valiant took a sip and responded, “I’m still looking for a job, this economy is crap at the moment.”
“I could affirm that from my latest client.”
Valiant poured the steaming oatmeal into two separate bowls, ready for consumption. He noticed Seamus already packing his pipe full of a blend, he sighed in response to his actions.
“You’re really going to start smoking this early in the morning?”
“Don’t tell me how to act in my household or you and your brother won’t have a house to live in.” Valiant gave a look a vexation towards the older pony. Seamus pointed a hoof at him and affirmed, "Once you start paying the bills, then we'll talk about who runs this place."
Noble bounded down the stairs with a saddle bag full of school supplies. His limitless energy was a mystery to the grumpy household. He accidentally bumped into a random pillar of papers which made Gumhoof nearly have a heart attack. Valiant leaped over and caught the falling documents, only letting a few stray papers float to the floor.
Gumhoof held his chest and breathed heavily, “Boy... that’s my Crystal Empire Fiasco Investigation. I’ve worked thirteen months on that and you about ruined it!”
“Oh! Uh, sorry Seamus. I didn’t mean to,” apologized Noble with his head lowered.
Seamus made a sweeping motion with his hoof and replied, “Whatever, eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”
“Yes sir,” grumbled Noble as he hopped up onto the chair. Valiant sat down next to him and joined him for breakfast. Noble turned to get Valiant’s attention, “Guess what?”
Valiant, with a mouth full of oatmeal said, “What?”
“We’re learning about Princess Celestia today and how–"
“That’s nice. Now, eat your breakfast.” Gumhoof emptied his coat pocket and pulled out a wrinkled newspaper.
Reading it, he called out to Valiant, “When you get back I won’t be here, so clean up the house.”
“How do I clean up the house and not make you pissed by throwing away something you needed?”
Seamus lowered the paper and retorted, “Just clean up my office space paperwork, I’ll worry about the towers in the damn kitchen.”
Valiant leaned over the table a little and spat out, “Hey! Don’t curse in front of my brother!”
Noble pulled back on Valiant and said, “Don’t worry, it’s okay, I’ve heard it before.”
“Ya,” added Gumhoof, “Grow up already, V.”
Valiant slumped back in his chair as his eyes diverted towards the kitchen window. A light rainfall tapped against the glass, drowning out the misery he was dealing with. He was lost in thought again and didn’t want to return to reality. He hated this city, this dying city.
Scene 3
Valiant opened the front door to the house and let Noble out first. The rain wasn’t so bad, but Valiant extended his large wing so that Noble could walk under it and not get wet for school. It was more of a mist of droplets and fog that blanketed the dreary city then a heavy downpour. The fog made Canterlot seem so empty, but he knew nothing could keep this town asleep; something was always going on. Thatched and shingled roofs pattered with light rain as the droplets accumulated in tin gutters that washed the streets with narrow streams, finding their way to the drainage holes.
As they walked down the cobblestone streets of Canterlot, Valiant took notice of the higher class ponies sitting at a local eatery enjoying their pleasant breakfasts under umbrella-canopied tables. No wealthy individual would be seen walking in the rain, they might get their mane’s messy and frizzed from the weather. Unless you were a unicorn and had a place to be, you wouldn’t be out in this dreary weather this early. Unicorns flocked Canterlot and their populous greatly outnumbered the pegasi whose home was elsewhere. Earth ponies were now becoming a common sight in Canterlot, but Pegasi were still rare to see in the mountain city. Both the Steed Brothers grew up here and not Cloudsdale where most pegasi in Equestria live. The reason to them was unknown as to why their father and mother were even fond of this city. For years, locals have been saying the town was eventually going to get a makeover, but it never came to be. The Canterlot treasury was a mystery to every pony that inhabited the city. It was looked over only by the Princess herself.
As they progressed over a hill, the castle and school was in sight. This school was Canterlot’s only pegasi institution compared to the five diverse unicorn academies throughout the city. The Canterlot Starter Academy for Pegasi or, 'CSAP' was an expensive school, but luckily the Steed Brothers could be taught there for free being that their father previously served in the Canterlot Royal Guard. Valiant use to attend CSAP, but began to fail his classes shortly after his father’s passing. After that, he sought and helped out Seamus who not only taught him how to clean up the house and help out with his workload, but also mathematics, language and other basic school teachings. He also taught Valiant some investigation skills and combat tactics for whenever he would get into a fight that Seamus was sure he would get into.
In the distance, beyond the sight of the school, loomed the sentinel of the city. Built into the mount itself, the ivory palace slept in the morning fog. Clouds of haze churned around Canterlot Castle and only its towers could be seen from the top of the hill. The faint, yellow lights purged through the gray background; this meant the castle was busy, as usual. Noble saw this eerie sight from afar and stopped in the rain to take a longer look at it. Valiant halted with him, he said nothing as usual.
After a few seconds of gazing, Noble turned his head towards Valiant’s direction and questioned, “Have you ever seen the Princess, Valiant?” The older brother took in a breath of the cold, autumn air around him. His ears relaxed, taking in the sounds of the dripping and tapping rain, the noise he enjoyed intensely.
He replied, “I haven’t seen her, but the locals say she’s still in there and alive.” Valiant began to walk towards the school as Noble followed under his long, white wing.
The white pegasus continued, “They say she use to make public appearances often and was very social among her people. Now she never leaves the castle... she won’t say why. Though some nights, if you stay up late and watch the castle, you will see her fly away and come back a week or so later.”
“Where does she go?”
“Who knows... We’re here.”
Valiant stopped in front of the busy school. They made it five minutes before class began, perfect timing. A pegasus mare held the school door open, most likely a teacher being that she waved at the two brothers with a bright smile. Both waved back at her as Noble took off towards the learning establishment. He turned in mid-dash and thanked Valiant for walking him to school again.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled back as Noble made his way into school.
Noble turned to look up at the older mare and stated with exuberance, “That’s my brother, Valiant!”
She softly grinned and shooed him into the building before he got anymore wet. Before closing the door to retain the heat of the building, she yelled back at Valiant in the gloomy weather.
“Thank you for walking Noble to school today!” she said in a cheerful voice. Her mellow yellow coat with amber, flowing curls from mane to tail stood out from the regular ponies. Her light blue eyes and white teeth could be seen from afar as Valiant Steed stood pathetically in the rain. He was struck with a sudden interest for the mare. He held his head high and tried to press back his feelings for her.
He unknowingly shouted back a stammered mix between the words, ‘you’re welcome’ and ‘hi’. What came out was, “You’rhicome! I-I mean... y-you’re welcome!”
Her warm smile back was all he needed, which she did so as she closed the door between the two. He sat in the misty weather for a long time, lost in daydreams. The school bell brought him back to reality as he hopped up on his hooves and with wings spread, took off into the sky back to the town. He didn’t care about the droplets washing and battering his face as he flew, he now only cared about her... whoever that pony was.
Scene 4
The town was starting to perk up, even in the dreary weather. The weather hadn’t changed much, but the fog had started to reside, revealing the details of the Canterlot streets. The wealthy, with their heads and tails held high strutted down the cobblestone streets. The unicorn royals used their magic to hold their fancy umbrellas over themselves as the earth pony royals had servants who would do it for them as they stood in the rain. In Canterlot, there was no such pegasi that was a royal, the only wealthy families had Earth or Unicorn roots.
Noon was approaching and the time for lunch was coming. The market began to bustle with ponies of all backgrounds, though you wouldn’t see the rich in these parts. The rich could afford a prepared meal at the local eateries, while the poor had to buy their meal by haggling in the markets. A fountain in the town center, known as the Fountain of Friendship, was the hub of the city. Here in the center the markets flourished, while on the edges of the hub were the eateries.
At an outdoor table at a local diner, a couple was peacefully sharing a drink and chatting while looking over towards Canterlot Castle. The two were too entranced in one another’s eyes to see what was coming. Valiant Steed swooped down and landed at the last open seat at the diner, which happened to be the third chair at their table. When he landed, his massive wings fluffed up, spraying water over the two lovers and breaking their eye contact from one another. He folded his wings up and looked over at the two he originally overlooked.
“Heh... sorry,” was the only thing that could come out of his mouth at the time. The two huffed and left the table, leaving Valiant alone. He grumbled as he watched the two walk away while holding hooves. He rested his head upon his left hoof while he dripped wet from his morning flight.
This was an average morning for the pegasus, flying high above Canterlot and stretching his wings. Peacefully gliding even sometimes above the clouds where the warm rays of the morning sun glazed his body. As he came back down though today, the rain met with him again and his body was soaked to the bone. He fluffed himself up a bit to dry off, but it hardly worked as he got more unicorns around him wet. The outdoor patio of the eatery was soon deserted and the only one left was Valiant and an unknown pony holding a newspaper at the far end of the deck. Valiant didn’t care to immediately go back and clean the house, Seamus wasn’t going to be home for a while anyways and he had plenty of time in between to do what he wanted.
As Valiant sat, lost in a daydream once again, the lone stallion in the far corner of the eatery came and sat across from Valiant. The pegasus turned to see who it was, but the newspaper hid the other pony’s face.
“Excuse me?” Valiant said with a sigh of irritation in his tone. The anonymous stallion lowered his paper to reveal that he was Seamus Gumhoof. Valiant shut his mouth quickly, searching for a word to retort with. Seamus gave him time to think as he raised his eyebrow, knowing that the moment they were having was humorous.
Valiant raised a hoof and asked, “Aren’t you suppose to be out doing... whatever investigators do? You know, looking for clues, investigating crime scenes and the jest?”
“Aren’t you a little too poor to be eating at a diner like this, bird brain?”
Valiant smirked and replied, “If I didn’t know you, I would have given you hoof sandwich for a remark like that. Those are fight’n words, old colt!”
Seamus crossed his hooves and replied, “And aren’t you suppose to be doing chores for me right now?”
“Oh please, give it a rest. I knew you wouldn’t be back to the house until tonight, so why do it now?”
“Ha!” Gumhoof chuckled as he tapped Valiant’s shoulder with his hoof in a friendly manner, “good choice!”
Both their eyes wandered over the town square to their side. They watched the rich denizens strut through the crowds, heads held high and not acknowledging any others except themselves.
Gumhoof spoke up, “It appears that everyone in this town has cash to burn... no?”
Valiant agreed, “It appears that way.”
Seamus turned to look Valiant in the eyes, “Tell me, when have you ever seen a pony that doesn’t look remotely rich in this part of town?”
The pegasus was struck with a sudden intuition of his surroundings. Never in his life has he seen a poor pony, a beggar or any type of other pony besides the rich and classy ones in this city.
“You’re right. Why aren’t there any seen... do any even live here?”
“Low lives? Oh ya, they live here alright. They just about outnumber the classy ponies, but you never see’m.” They both turned back to overlook the rising crowds of wealthy individuals.
Seamus continued, “I think you’re beginning to see my point. I think you’re beginning to see what type of screwed up city we live in. You see, for a long time, I’m talking generations boy, they’ve been pushing the poor back into the edges of the city and even below it. Below us right now is a rat way built by the low lives to live their lives in this city. We don’t know why the kingdom did this in the first place, we don’t know if it was Celestia’s doing or not, but what we do know is that they struck first. Then, they threw them into the dark corners of Canterlot so that visitors won’t have to put up with seeing low lives waltz around. They make it appear like this place is a happy city with a rich economy and safe streets, but we’re living in a police state, I tell ya.”
Valiant’s eyes widened, “What do you mean?”
Gumhoof leaned back in his chair, “Well, look around ya for once. Not only Royal Guards post up upon nearly every major block in the city, but pegasi spies watch upon roof tops as well. As soon as they see something going on, either a bum out of place or a robbery or somepony littering, that’s when they get ya. They corner you when you aren’t looking and next thing you know you’re either brought in for questioning or you’re sent to live in the slums with the rest of the normals, not to be seen again... And if you try to escape and live your life again in Canterlot AND they catch you again. Well, you might as call it quits.”
“What happens?”
“You get the barrel. They tie, chain you up and throw you into a wooden barrel full of wood chips. They put you in the river and send you down stream where another guard shoots the barrel with a flaming arrow. Even if you somehow escape the fire, you won’t escape the bondage and you’ll sink into the river. They won’t tolerate age or race or gender or kind, they just follow orders.”
Valiant gulped. He hated the water, his worst fears were drowning. As a foal, he fell into a river once, only for his father to barely rescue him. The memory is faint in his mind, but the feelings of hopelessness he felt were still very vivid.
Valiant stood up from the table and fumed, “That’s outrageous, people need to know about this!” Seamus sat up and forced Valiant to sit back down. Some wealthy ponies looked over at them with questionable looks upon their faces.
Seamus turned towards the onlookers and said, “What are you looking at?” They raised their heads back up and trotted on their merry way. Seamus turned back towards the pegasus and sternly suggested, “Are you trying to get us in the barrel!? Come on, man, think! You can’t just make a scene like that in the public.” Valiant was looking down, avoiding Gumhoof’s eyes. Gumhoof squeezed Valiant’s shoulders to get his attention, “Look, I’ll show you everything you want to know about the low lives tonight... okay?”
“Fine.”
Seamus let go of Valiant and the two of them took a deep breath, relieving the tension of the sudden outburst. Gumhoof looked around, none of the guards had seemed to notice them. He didn’t spot any police anywhere along the rooftops as well, so they were in the clear.
A sudden barrage of hooves hitting and clopping on the cobblestone streets filled the air. The crowds parted as a small, half-dozen brigade of Royal Guards quickly trotted in order through the town square and towards the castle. The two stallions watched as the troops make their way through the square and onward. It’s a normal sight to see Royal Guards patrolling the city streets in small groups, but it was a strange sight to see a brigade of Royal Guards trotting this quickly, something had to be happening.
“I wonder what’s going on...” Valiant said aloud.
Seamus sat up from the diner table and replied, “Well there’s only one way to find out. Come on, let’s follow them.”
As Seamus quickly left to follow behind the Royal Guards; Valiant floated up from the diner and landed next to Seamus who was a good distance away from the guards.
“Are you crazy?” stated Valiant as he kept in pace with Gumhoof. “They’re obviously going to Canterlot Castle. We can’t just walk in there!”
“Of course we can. I’ve been invited and have snuck in on numerous occasions. They know me. You, on the other hoof, need to keep your mouth shut, your eyes from wandering and to stick with me if you want a peek around the castle. Who knows, they might remember you.”
Valiant stopped and asked, “How would they remember me? I’ve never spoken to them before.”
Seamus, trotting backwards replied, “Well obviously your father was a high ranking member of the Royal Guard, he would have told them about his first son.”
Valiant looked up to see the ivory towers of Canterlot Castle shining high in the noon sky. He flapped over and caught up with Seamus as they made their way to the castle.
Scene 5
The Royal Guard brigade made their way though the gateway separating the town from the castle. High upon the guard walls stood two menacing looking pegasus guards who watched Valiant and Gumhoof make their way through as well. One guard lunged off of his post and land mere feet in front of the two. He opened his wings, blocking the entrance.
The guard spoke, “State your business.”
Gumhoof took a step forward and said, “Me and my friend here would like to enter the castle.”
After taking a second look, the other Royal Guard floated down next to his buddy and apologized saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, Mister Gumhoof, sir. Our new recruit was just being extra cautious due to what has happened recently.” He turned to the new recruit and whispered, “It’s fine, go back to your post.”
As the other Royal Guard flew back upwards, Valiant said in confusion, “Wait. You two know each other?”
Gumhoof smirked and replied, “Ya, me and Nimbus go way back, he even knew your father.”
Nimbus gave a surprised reaction to that last comment Gumhoof made. He looked over Valiant to see if he recognized him, but couldn’t put his hoof on who he was.
“You seem... familiar... Do I know you?”
“My name’s Valiant. Valiant Steed, sir.” Nimbus gasped, he definitely knew who he was now as he took a step back in astonishment.
“Y-You’re the son of Loyal! Oh my- I haven’t seen you since you were just a tiny little thing. Ha-HA! Oh man, it’s great seeing you again, even if you don’t remember me, I remember you! Your father was a great guy, he had the most hilarious joke. I think it started something like... Oh, now I remember! So this family walks into a talent agency and says, ‘We have an amazing act to show you!’ and the talent agent replies, “Sorry, we don’t do family acts, it’s too mediocre.’ They reply, ‘Sir, if you just give us two minutes, we know you’ll be pleased with our act!’ He then says, ‘Fine, you have two minutes.’ So right then they start off with a blast! The mother grabs the dog and starts-”
Seamus interrupted, “Nimbus, Nimbus! Holy hell, he doesn’t want to hear this, he’s just a kid... Besides, we need to know what’s going on.”
Nimbus hesitated and replied, “Right. What was I thinking? Well, I’ll tell you when you’re older, follow me.” Valiant took that as an insult as they proceeded through the gate.
The three ponies began to make their way around the castle. Valiant’s eyes followed up the elaborately designed castle, he had never seen it this close before. The front of the castle had beautiful shrubbery designs and small ponds filled with exotic species of fish. The gardeners were constantly tending to the garden and ignored the Royal Guards passing by. The grass was still wet from the morning rain as Valiant’s hooves trotted through the greenery. They soon made their way to the back of the castle where the Royal Garden was. An iron gate with beautiful vine engravings blocked the entrance between the rest of the Canterlot Castle lawn and the Royal Garden.
As they made their way into the garden, he couldn’t tell what had been going on. It appeared as if nothing had happened. The garden stood out from the rest of the lawn, for it had plants and flowers of all sorts. Most of which Valiant had only seen in store windows; they were priced very heavily and were only bought by very wealthy ponies. Though some he had never even seen before or even looked liked flowers. In the center of the garden was a magnificent fountain. The white, marble fountain had an elegant design of the sun and crescent moon eclipsing each other in the center with water spouting out of the pools below the design. It took another look from Valiant to realize the eclipsed objects were hovering over the pool, he had never seen anything like it and wondered what type of magic was making it hover on its own.
The three made their way over to a group of other ponies who appeared to be a mix of Royal Guards and Police Ponies, all looking towards one spot on the ground. Valiant thought that maybe it was a death that had happened; but as soon as he got closer, it became clear as to what it was. There was a bare, square spot on the ground where the grass never grew, as if something was on top of it before. The only thing remaining was the dirt where the object sat.
Some pony made his way through the crowd and shook hooves with Seamus. He was an older looking earth stallion with a blonde and graying mane and tail. His dark yellow coat and red eyes made Valiant uncomfortable. He appeared very high ranking in his police uniform as the two laughed and chatted. Valiant walked over to reluctantly introduce himself. As soon as Seamus saw him coming over, Seamus pulled Valiant over and made him shake hooves with his friend.
Seamus introduced, “Valiant, this is my old friend and police chief, Gold Hayfield. Hayfield, this is Valiant Steed, the first son of Loyal Steed.”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” he said with a Southern drawl to his tone. “I knew your father back in the day. We went to school together and were long time buddies afterwards. It’s a shame he couldn’t see how you’ve grown up, you look just like him... you even have his eyes and his wingspan I see, ha!”
“Ah, well, why thank you, sir. So, if I may ask, what’s going on here.”
As Hayfield and Valiant took a closer look at the patch of dirt on the ground, Gumhoof stepped aside to pack his pipe with tobacco to officially start his investigation. Valiant knew that whenever Seamus would do this, he was either about to start on a job or finishing the day. Either way, he thought it was a bad habit; he was concerned that he was the only pony he knew of that smoked tobacco while most smokers in Equestria smoked from bubble pipes. It was an old fashion that had dropped decades ago when ponies discovered the flaws from smoking tobacco, but whenever ponies changed from leaves to bubbles, Gumhoof stuck with what he enjoyed, no matter who tried to tell him off.
Hayfield wrapped an arm around Valiant’s shoulders while the two were looking at the square dirt patch. “Well a statue was stolen from Princess Celestia’s Royal Garden last night. We don’t have any leads as to who might have took or even why someone would steal a statue.” Valiant examined the garden, there were multiple large marble statues placed throughout the garden. Statues depicting other ponies, mares and stallions saluting or doing other grandeur possess. He didn’t know any of the ponies except for one in the far corner of the garden. The one he recognized was Starswirl the Bearded. So with that hunch, he knew that these ponies were important throughout history which were depicted in this garden.
“Which statue was stolen?” asked Valiant. Before Hayfield could answer, a puff of smoke blew in front of the two and Gumhoof stepped in front of them.
He responded, “I forgive Valiant for his lack of history, it wasn’t his best subject. But Hayfield, on the other hoof, you should know which statue this was. It’s only the most prominent and well known statue in all of Equestria next to The Mare of Liberty.”
“Then by all means good sir, tell us,” Hayfield huffed.
“The Statue of Discord. A fierce and legendary opponent against Celestia and Luna. The Hundred Days of Havoc, ring a bell? The alicorn sisters fought against the tyrant for the fate of Equestria ages ago. I’m surprised you two forgot about this, this was a big deal once.”
“Well that still doesn’t explain why someone would steal the statue,” Valiant interrupted, “it’s just a piece of rock after all.” Gumhoof pivoted on his hooves towards the young pegasus and took the pipe out of his mouth.
“You know how the alicorn sisters stopped Discord? They turned him to stone using the Elements of Harmony.”
Hayfield inquired, “So, you’re telling us that-”
“Exactly.” Gumhoof took a breath from the lit pipe and replied with a mouth full of smoke, “That fairy tale is true and that someone stole Discord last night.”
Valiant replied, “But there are no marks from where they would drag the statue.”
Seamus conferred, “Good eye, and even if they would have flown off with it, they would at least need thirty pegasi to lift the statue and there are no feathers around here where they would have struggled lifting it.”
Hayfield added, “Even so, none of the late night guards spotted anything unusually last night and didn’t even notice the statue was missing until this morning.”
Valiant proposed, “What if a unicorn teleported out of the garden?”
“Impossible,” Seamus shot down, “the Royal Guards would have known a magical disturbance from another unicorn. The grounds and palace is rigged with magical detectors sensing everypony’s spell used inside the perimeter.” Seamus looked toward Hayfield and asked, “Did you search the Gardens for anything else missing or out of place.”
“Indeed, but we haven’t found anything yet.”
Seamus looked back at the patch of dirt and said under his breath, “What could they want with Discord... how could his statue be used...” He turned towards the two and announced, “Obviously they are trying to sale him off, he could make a great purchase on the Black Market. They won’t sell him here so they’ll go elsewhere, but they’ll need a wagon or the sort to even move the massive object. Hayfield, I need you and your stallions to go and surround the perimeter of the city for the next few days, check every wagon coming in or out. Nothing enters or leaves without you knowing.”
“I’m one step ahead of you, pal. We’re in the process of doing a mandatory inventory check of every new shipment in and out of city.”
While the two continued, Valiant walked off and into the garden away from the crowd of guards. He began to admire the flowers and bushes, each seeming to have a personalty of its own. This was the prettiest and most beautiful garden he had ever been in and had to get every look of it before leaving. Near the edge of the garden where the outer wall’s corner was, a large oak tree adorned the Royal Garden’s edge. It was the largest tree in the garden. Valiant looked up to see a strange looking bird perched high atop the tree. Valiant looked around to see if anyone was watching before he flew upwards towards the bird. Any other bird would have flown away in fright, but this bird was still and carefully watching Valiant as he approached.
Valiant stopped as soon as he was eye level to the red bird. It wore a magnificent array of feathers, all of which shimmered in red and yellow. The bird turned its head and looked over to a far off branch. Valiant looked where it was looking and spotted something stuck between the branches. As soon as Valiant got a glimpse of what the bird was looking at, the large bird took off into the sky at a surprisingly quick speed. He turned to watch the majestic bird fly high into the air and land far up upon a high porch on one of the castle towers. The pegasus squinted his eyes to see if he could see what was up there. Valiant had to take a second glance, realizing that some other pony was up there high up upon the tower looking down into the garden. A large, white pony stood high above. Before Valiant could get any more details, the object stepped back and it was gone out of sight along with the the fiery red bird.
He turned back and noticed the object stuck into the tree’s branches was still there and he flew over to reach it. He pulled it out and realized it was a strange, orange feather. It had a strange feel to it and was quite heavy for a regular feather. It didn’t match the coat of feathers belonging to the bird he had just seen and it appeared much like something from a larger creature. It then struck him that this may be a vital clue to whomever stole the Statue of Discord.
“It was a pegasus pony that stole the statue, but only one?” Valiant thought as he examined the feather further.
Just then, a noise rang out though the garden, “Valiant, let’s go!”
It was Seamus calling Valiant back. He stuffed the feather away and flew back towards Gumhoof. He sailed over the garden hedges and landed next to Gumhoof who was already making his way out of the garden.
“Seamus! I need to talk to you abou-”
“Not now, I need to go visit a client. Go back to the house and do your chores. You shouldn’t even be here anyways. I don’t know why I even brought you along if you were going to wander off like a child and make me look like your damn babysitter.”
“But Seamus, I found something that might help out the-”
Seamus spat, “Let the police figure it out. Cases like these are foal’s play, I have bigger crooks to deal with then some fool getting dough off of a rock.” Seamus turned violently and pressed his hoof up against Valiant’s chest. “Now go fly back home and clean up the house and my paperwork. Cause tonight... we’re going out.”
On that note, he galloped out of the castle walls and into the streets, disappearing into the crowds. Valiant sighed as he took off into the air and headed home.
Scene 6
The rest of the day went along with the norm for Valiant Steed. Cleaning, sorting paper work, cleaning some more, walking Noble from school to back home, fixing dinner for the two of them and sorting some more paper work. Between the sorting and the cleaning, he would find some time to himself. In these openings however, he would never start something new or something he would enjoy, but rather get lost in a day dreaming pace, thinking about the things he would like to do, but never commit to. It was an awkward limbo he found himself in, stuck in what some might say to be a writer’s block.
You see, he wanted to write a story, he always loved writing and wanted to write, but didn’t know how to begin. He had thought about the climax’s of his stories, the character developments and even other useless events he would enjoy writing about. However these boosts of self esteem to write were shortly lived being that whenever he would pick up a quill to write his first draft, he had no idea where to begin. The fictional adventures and mythical fantasies of his day dreams were stuck in the mire of his mind. Plunged so deep, that he felt even more hopeless when realizing his situation once more whenever he would decide to write fiction. He felt that he wasn’t the only pony going through something like this, but kept this secret to himself, knowing somehow he would figure it out one day.
Night soon approached and he remembered that Seamus Gumhoof told him that he would take him out somewhere tonight. Though that somewhere could be anywhere, so he was having a difficult time figuring out what to wear, if anything at all. Though in his progressing youth, he was in the beginning of forming a wardrobe appropriate for the adult stallion. His beginning purchases consisted of accumulating ties and that was about it at the moment. His money was all dependent on what Seamus graciously paid him for his jobs around the house and how well he did them. So gathering a decent set of clothes was hard enough as is.
Into the late night, seven past eleven, Valiant had already put Noble to sleep around ten and was waiting patiently for Seamus in the living room. The hearth was stoked and burning nicely, the heat warmed the hooves of the anxious colt. He could hear a coming beat of hooves nearing the front door, Valiant prepped himself. Seamus steadily opened the door and immediately took notice of Valiant.
“Jezz,” Seamus criticized while overlooking Valiant’s attire, “You going to a funeral?” Valiant was wearing a navy blue tie and had his hair combed nicely.
“What? You don’t think I look nice?”
“I think you’re dressed for the wrong occasion.”
Valiant stood up and made his way to the door, “Speaking of which, where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see when we get there... but don’t change, you’re fine.”
“But I thought you sa-”
“Never mind what I said.” Seamus stepped into his office and said, “Hold on one second, I gotta get some cash.”
Valiant patiently waited at the door, now a little more nervous than he was from the comment Gumhoof made about his appearance. Gumhoof stepped back out in no time with a bag filled with Equestrian bits, he took a hoof full and handed it to Valiant.
“Here, take it. Go crazy,” he encouraged as some bits fell to the floor with a ring.
“Where did you get this cash?”
“Where else, my clients... Look it’s not stolen if that’s what you think, I don’t roll like that.” Valiant took the handful and placed it under one of his wings where he kept his wing pouch. It was a fairly new purchase along with the tie. The pouch could easily fit snug under each wing for a pegasus which secretly could be used as a pocket. After he stuffed the bits into his wing pouch, Seamus held the door open with one hoof and held a wide-brimmed, tan rain hat outstretched towards his friend in the other.
“I hear from the weather pegasi it’s going to rain again tonight, might as well keep you hair getting messy.”
Valiant smirked, took the hat in a sweeping motion and placed it on his hat, his ears keeping it steady on his head. They both left silently and made their way though the darkened streets.
Seamus was right. In the deepening night, a light mist showered the two as they progressed their way through the sleeping city. Oil lamps flickered in the distance and stray, undefinable ponies lurked underneath them, waiting for a taxi wagon. They dressed much like Seamus, trench coats, wide-brimmed hats, and an undefinable face in the distance. Valiant wasn’t much of a night lurker so he didn’t know what to expect, especially as they progressed to the poorer district. The streets became increasingly narrower as their hooves sloshed in puddles from damaged cobblestone. Red lighted windows suggested that this wasn’t the most family-friendly part of town. Shadow cloaked alleyways with groups of blotted individuals standing around trashcan fires stared at Valiant as he passed by their territory, knowing that he was in the wrong neighborhood.
Valiant walked up next to Seamus and murmured in his ear, “Seriously, where are we going?”
“Pete’s.” With that comment, he strayed ahead of Valiant so that the colt could stay behind him.
The wealthy, clean streets soon formed into the poor district with towering, crumbling buildings of stone and wood. Poorly designed buildings and foreclosed businesses haunted the alley they were treading down. The street became nearly a one-way alley as the wall’s closed in around them. Doors on both sides of the narrow alley suggested these are the apartments the less fortunate stayed in. As a blanket of rain and cold mountain air mixed, the temperature decreased the further the two delved in the darkness. Without the guiding oil lamps that hung every so often in the winding street, they would be completely blind. Whenever passing by each lamp, Valiant could feel the comforting heat of the fire, but he knew he could not stay; for if he did stay, he knew something bad would happen in this part of town.
An opening submerged them in front of a brightly lit building with much activity going on inside. A large, lit sign above the entry way of the structure suggested that this was,‘Pete’s’. The two entered through the open doors, the smell of liquor, smoke, piss, cheap perfume and testosterone flooded Valiant’s snout. Valiant’s dreary mood soon perked his senses with the new scents, and not in a good way.
“Dear Celestia, is this a bar?”
Seamus turned towards him and replied, “Did the retard fairy come and visit you last night? You are just on a roll today, bud. Keep it up and I’m sure one of these punks in here will put you in a wooden box tonight. So for the love of Pete’s, I suggest you keep your mouth shut in your nose out of trouble, got it?” On that note, Seamus turned and headed for the bar table with Valiant closely following behind him.
The tavern was filled with all sorts of ponies, even other creatures such as goats, donkeys, zebras and other strangers. Most of the activity had settled around numerous tables and areas of the building; from hoof wrestling, drinking games, card games, darts, billiards, and the casual chat amongst friends. It seemed as if everyone looked like they had been through a rough day and that everyone was either smoking or drinking. For the first time in a long time, the large pegasus Valiant was felt small compared to some of these massive ponies in this bar. He was very much intimidated by the onlooking ponies who gave him looks of disgust whenever they spotted him looking at them. He soon began to keep his eyes from wandering as much as he could as he took a seat next to Seamus at the bar.
Seamus smacked the table and called out, “Hey Pete! Two Orange Dozers for me this fella’ here!” Valiant was confused by Seamus’ sudden burst of cheer when he laid his arm around Valiant’s shoulder.
“Had he already been drinking?” the pegasus questioned himself as the bartender trotted over with their drinks.
Pete, a cherry red earth stallion with a shaven mane and black tail, came over and sat the two drinks down in front of them with a smile on his face.
He leaned over the table and said with a chirp, “So, what’s the occasion? I didn’t know it was bring your son to the bar day, HA!”
“Oh, he’s not my son, too much of a goof. He’s just a friend, Valiant Steed! It’s his first time here... as a matter of fact, I think this is his first time at a bar!”
Pete looked over at Valiant, fixing his glasses and narrowing his vision to get a better look at the pegasus. Valiant didn’t know what to do, so he sat there quietly and let the other pony awkwardly examine him.
Pete bursted out, making Valiant flinch from surprise, “Ha! Well welcome, young Master Steed!” He pushed the Orange Dozer closer to Valiant and added, “Here’s one on the house! Enjoy!” Pete quickly leaned back over and helped out with another customer. Valiant looked into the mug, the orange liquor stung his nose hairs from the strength of the alcohol content.
“What’s in this?” he asked. He turned over to Seamus who had already finished his Dozer.
He let out a relieving, ‘Ahhhh...’ and peered over to respond to Valiant. “It doesn’t matter! Drink it! It’s free, dummy!”
Valiant grabbed the mug and took a gulp of the beer. The liquor burned his throat as it flowed down into his stomach. He let out a gag as the pain fleeted him, but then a nice orange creme satisfied his taste buds, leaving a delightful after taste. A sudden pat on the back shook him up a little from Seamus as they both laughed and drank some more. Seamus leaned over to Valiant and began pointing out people he knew sitting at the bar.
“That good stallion over there’s name is Red Nebula. He had the most hilarious jokes and could would always light your smoke if asked. He’s a good unicorn, he is. Though he’s kinda lost himself over the years being stuck in this town for so long. He’s become a slave to the bottle and patron to this bar. He’s a quiet soul nowadays, keeping his business to himself. He says that he could be movie star, if only he could get out this place.”
Seamus took a swig of his dozer and moved on down the bar to another older mare. He pointed and said, “That right there is Rosy Cross, the last apprentice Celestia taught. Her great tenth grandfather was even the first Protégé under Celestia a millennia ago, back when both Celestia and Luna ruled the lands. His name was Karnaval the Saint.”
“I’ve heard about him,” Valiant added, “Celestia chose him to start The Lineage of Protégés.”
“Exactly. Well every new century, a new one is chosen in their filly years and taken up by Celestia herself; the greatest honor among unicorns is to be taught by the Princess. Well Rosy over there is a common sight around the bar and ironically, she isn’t so rosy of a unicorn. Being a Protégé means heavy discipline in studies, often resulting in seclusion to the outside world for years. She’s so bent on being alone now that no one ever wants to be her friend or be around her and she knows this. She has no social skills whatsoever, so she drowns her sorrow nearly every night, the poor lass. Hopefully the next Protégé in a few years won’t end up like her.”
Seamus moved his hoof around the room and landed on another unicorn colt. “The large fellow over there is Obelisk, his family line comes from the great earth stallion warrior who fought against Discord himself while protecting Canterlot Castle. His name was Berick the Berserker, known for his temper and skill with the war hammer. Obelisk is known as the inventor of the petrifaction spell; he’s only taught it to a handful of other unicorns he chooses though. They use to think only alicorns could learn the spell, but since Obelisk invented a new way for unicorns to use it, ponies line up to learn his technique which he ever so teaches.”
“What’s the petrifaction spell?”
“A unicorn spell that can turn you, or any part of you, OR anyone into solid stone! Quite a deadly and terrible way to die if you ask me. I’m glad he’s an all around friendly guy and on our side... And there he goes, always leaving after a couple of hoof wrestling competitions an a dew drinks.” The two watched as the massive, gray unicorn exited the building, laughing and drinking into the night.
A lone donkey slowly made his way over next to Seamus as he was downing his second Orange Dozer. He looked over and his eye’s widen along with a smile. He stuck out a hoof and firmly grasped the donkey’s hoof while vigorously shaking it.
“How’s it going, old pal? Any luck? Here, Valiant, I’d like to introduce you to-”
“Listen,” the rude donkey cut in, “I’m still looking for her and was wondering if you had any records on her.” Seamus leaned back over the table, almost as if the fun was drained from his system.
“I don’t do missing lovers, ass. I thought I told you this already? Go find someone else... what you need is a friend in deed... and that ain’t me, you see?”
The donkey sighed and walked off. He slumped his head downward and made his way out of Pete’s. Valiant kept his mouth closed like Seamus said to do and took another swig of his Dozer. He felt as if Seamus acted like a completely different person here and that whenever he was here he didn’t need or want to worry about the outside world. He began to wonder if his lone business of detective work wasn’t what he wanted to do. He had never seen him act this way whenever he wasn’t worrying about his job.
A light blue pegasus slide into the seat next to Seamus as soon as the donkey left. The two greeted each other with a warm hug as Valiant wondered who he was. He had never seen Seamus hug anyone, so he had to be of importance.
Seamus smiled, “How’s it going there, Aurora?”
“It’s been great! I have wonderful news!” He then stood up on the bar stool, high above the bar goers.
He called out over the crowds, “Excuse me! Attention everyone!” The bar was silenced and all eyes were on him. “I have wonderful news to share with you all! My wife and I are having a baby filly!”
Cheers and chants flooded the small building as Seamus and Valiant clapped along and smiled. Aurora seemed like a very well known member to the tavern to get this much praise.
Someone from the crowd asked, “What are you going to name her!”
Aurora responded with pride, “Me and my wife have decided to name her Rainbow Dash!” More acclamation roared from the crowd as they raised their glasses high with joy. Aurora did a sweeping motion with his hands and said, “Drinks on me, good fellows!”
Everyone rushed to the bar as Pete laughed and prepared everyone a beer. Only merriment and cheer filled these bleak halls. Valiant’s whole outlook on this place changed only after a few short minutes of being in this pub.
Valiant decided to take another look around the pub. The commotion and clamor made it difficult to tell if he knew anyone here or not. He could begin to hear big band music play from a jukebox in the corner of the room, something a little different than the occasionally lute strumming from individual ponies. Some groans could be heard from the crowd as soon as they heard the strange music enter their ears, but ignored it anyways. No one knew who started playing the music, but Valiant enjoyed it.
Something caught in the corner of his eye, something he had seen before. He looked back to where his eye saw that glimmer that spiked his memory bank. To his utter surprise, at the end of the bar, sat her. The only person he recognized and knew, the one person he met today that made his day so much better.
“It’s Noble’s teacher, how in the world was she here of all places?” he thought as he spun quickly back around, trying to be seen like some stalker.
He leaned over to Seamus and whispered, “See that mare at the end of the bar?” Seamus smoothly turned while stretching his back to get a good look at the pegasus mare.
He turned back around and added, “Oh ya. You see the legs on that one? Damn!” Valiant turned back with question to get one last quick peek at her and turned back towards Seamus.
“Hmmm...,” he said with delight, “I didn’t notice those before until you said so just now...” Seamus snickered and took another swig. His tone changed from thrill back to his regular self with a shake of his head, “Well, I met her today, she’s Valiant’s teacher!”
“Well why don’t you ask her to dance with you then?”
Valiant leaned back, “What!? Are you crazy?” Seamus pushed Valiant off of his seat and onto his legs.
“Just talk to her at least, leave me alone for five minutes! Oh, and good luck!” He gave a wink and chuckled as he turned back around to the bar table. Valiant turned his position towards the mare as he slowly made his way over to her. He maneuvered his away around the bar hoppers and billiards table as he made his approach, the bouncy swing music made his gait light. As soon as he was in a good proximity of the attracting mare, he made his move to talk and to get her attention; but as soon as he was about to introduce himself, a larger male pony stepped in front of him and denied his attempt.
“Excuse me, Miss,” said the large, black stallion who towered over Valiant. The mare looked up at the stallion with a plastic smile.
“May I help you?” she said with a sarcastic tone the stallion didn’t pick up on.
“Mind if I buy you a drink and maybe later we can head on over to my place?” he said with sly.
She raised her eyebrow and laughed, “Oh goodness, I’m sorry, you’re not my type. How about you try some place else? I’m only hear for a drink on my own tab.” She yelled over at Pete, “Hey Petty baby! Get this fellow here a Ten Inch Arrow Draft, would ya?”
Pete yelled back as he made his way over to her, “Sure thing, Miss!” He reached below the bar table and pulled out a large, metal crossbow, the one’s used for hunting down Ursa Minors. Pete aimed the weapon straight for the rude stallion’s head. He jumped with fright, raised his hooves over his head and slowly backed away from the mare. As he did, Valiant was now out in front of her once again, and this time she noticed him as he stood there looking helpless. Her disgruntled look turned to joy as her eyes fell upon Valiant.
She smiled and greeted, “Oh hi there! You’re Noble’s brother, aren’t you! He’s told me so much about you!”
“H-He has?” stammered Valiant as he took a step closer.
“Here,” she said while patting the bar stool next to her, “have a seat, let’s chat.”
Valiant inched his way over and took a seat next to the mare, the music began to pick up pace as she ordered her another drink. She turned towards him, her hair tossing across and around her; Valiant had a hard time not trying to become mesmerized by its beauty.
“Valiant Steed, correct?” she asked.
“Ya... and, you are?...”
“Oh, how rude of me. Amber Tides, the kids call me Miss Tides.”
Valiant complimented, “Oh, well, what a lovely name!”
“Thank you! So what are you doing in a place like this? Noble says that you don’t get out much.”
The pegasus colt froze with embarrassment, searching for words, “Ah, well, you see, he doesn’t know everything I do. Right now I’m looking for a full time job, but my resume at the moment and this economy is practically crap. So it’s difficult at this time. So right now, I’m working part time for Seamus Gumhoof.”
“Oh wow! You work for Seamus Gumhoof!? That’s awesome! He’s so cool!” Valiant felt a pit form in his stomach as she went on. “I’ve heard so many amazing things about him... I just love the mysterious stallions... you think you could introduce him to me?”
“...Sure if you want to... he’s just-” Valiant turned to point towards where he was sitting, but the detective was gone. “Well, he was there. He must have left to use to bathroom or something.”
“Oh, okay. Well, it was nice meeting you, Valiant Steed. I’ll catch you later sometime.”
Valiant backed off, “You too Amber...” He began to make his way to his seat at the bar. He was shot down looking like a fool in front of her. With his head slumped over and his hooves dragging, he made his back to his seat. He could hear the music progressively getting more dance worthy as he took his seat, the tune of the melody playing was about to really climax. As he spun the stool back towards the bar, he felt something spin him back towards the center of the pub. Seamus spun his seat around and helped Valiant off of it. He began pushing him towards her with Valiant trying to hold himself back.
“Come on, pegasus! Dance with her! There she is! Don’t let this opportunity go to waste!”
“Ahh, I don’t feel like it anymore. I don’t think this is a good idea! I can’t dance! It’s no use!”
“Go-” Seamus violently pushed Valiant with all of his might towards Amber, “-GET HER!” Valiant tried to catch himself and steadied his collision with her. She turned towards the oncoming pegasus pony and smiled as see saw what Seamus had done for Valiant. She laughed and grabbed Valiant. Valiant felt her in his grasp and twirled her to the center of the bar. He didn’t know what to do or how to dance, but he made the best of it as he progressed towards her light hoofed and ready to move.
They grabbed each other’s hooves and Amber did all the work when leading.
Hooves over heads and around each other waists, they were spinning, laughing and dancing as the bar crowd made a circle around them, clapping and cheering the couple. They used their wings to the best of their abilities and made their dancing literally float across the room. From table to table, they spun each other to and fro harmoniously to the big band music. On a high cadence, the ensemble finished along perfectly to the song. The bar crowds roared with excitement and cheer as the two pegasi breathed heavily sweated from the intense swing dancing. They stared into each others eyes, unfazed by the cheer around them.
A slower song began to play, and the two pegasi held each other once more, one last dance. Others from the crowd took their partners to join them on the floor. The ice had been broken and Seamus was pleased at what he had accomplished as he spun his bar stool around to get another Orange Dozer. Amber Tides looked up at Valiant, the two smiled and laughed at the awkwardness of this all.
“I’m sorry,” Valiant apologized, “I’m a terrible dancer. That definitely could have been better.”
“Oh, stop being hard on yourself, you were a perfect dancer to me, even if you stepped on my hooves a couple of times.”
“Heh, well sorry about that too.”
She giggled and held Valiant tighter as the two slowly spun to the late night jazz on the jukebox.
Seamus minded his own business, drinking and smiling. He didn’t notice at the time, but someone came and sat down next to Seamus. Gumhoof turned his head and was met by an unknown unicorn with a larger stallion standing behind the two of them dressed in a coal colored suit. A gray unicorn stallion with dark, messy hair, sporting a tan bow tie sat next to Seamus; he didn’t order anything, he just sat in silence for a few awkward minutes.
Seamus finally spoke up, spurring on friendly conversation, “Shitty weather we’ve been having, huh?”
“Indeed.” The shady, gray stallion said with a deep treble.
Seamus spoke up again, “So, where you from anyways?” The mysterious colt never made eye contact with Seamus. He just stared off in front of him and behind the bar table, thinking deeply.
He finally said, “Detrot originally. Moved here a few years back cause of business.” He took out some rolling papers and a small can of tobacco.
Seamus perked up and commented, “Ah, and I thought I was the only one still in this town that smoked tobacco.” On that note, he pulled out his pipe and began to pack it as well. Seamus patted his coat pockets down and checked to see if he had something. He asked, “You have a light?”
The gray unicorn’s horn gave off a red aura and a small, floating ball of fire formed in front of the two. It floated over and rested on top of Gumhoof’s pipe chamber and lit the blend.
Seamus took a hit and replied, “Thanks, pal. That’s why right there I wish I was a unicorn. You guy’s have it made, I tell you what.” Seamus took a huff from his pipe while he watched the unicorn light his rolled cigarette. The conjured flame evaporated and his horn stopped glowing. Seamus asked, “So, what’s your name, pal?”
“They call me Nate.”
“Nate eh? Strange name for a pony if you ask me. Nonetheless, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” He finally turned towards Seamus the first time and looked him dead in the eye. Gumhoof felt a piercing feeling in his chest; staring into his multi-hued eyes, one being red and the other green.
Nate spoke somberly, “We’re looking for something, and we’ve heard you might know where it is.”
Seamus raised a hoof, “Who’s... we?”
“My colleagues and I.” He leaned closer and whispered, “We’re looking for his journal.” Seamus’ mood changed to a more darker tone after that statement.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We know he entrusted you his journal, and you know that in that journal is something we need. The secrets and lies of the universe are in that journal Loyal entrusted to you. We want it.” Seamus stared down into his empty cup, watching the foam slide down his empty glass. He pushed the cup away and sighed.
Nate added, “Give us journal and you’ll be left alive and out of the mess we’re about to make... if you do not cooperate, we’ll make a mess out of you, everypony in this bar and everypony you love.” The larger, suited colt behind the two stepped behind Nate and into Seamus’ view. He slowly showed the tip of some sort of large weapon pulled from the inside of his coat slowly, and placed back into his coat without anyone else seeing. Seamus blew a smoke ring and stared up at it, thinking about what to say.
He then spoke, breaking eye contact, “Then that’s one lousy mess you’re gonna make, cause love is overrated in this shit hole of a life you’re looking at.”
Nate sat up and slowly made his way off of the stool. Him and his buddy made their ways out of the tavern and into the foggy night. Seamus leaned his head over, spat into his pipe chamber and stuffed his pipe back into his coat pocket. He stood up from his bar seat and made his way over to both Valiant and Amber. Amber was resting her head in Valiant’s chest as the two oscillated on the dance floor. Valiant noticed Seamus walking up to him and smiled as he approached. Seamus pulled the two off of each other and grabbed Valiant by the hoof.
“Let’s go.” He said with a stern voice.
“Wait! No! I’m not leaving just yet. I’m an adult for Celestia’s sake. I can go home when I want to!” Amber stood back, wondering what was going on between the two.
Seamus pointed a hoof in the pegasus’ face and demanded, “We are leaving now!”
“You don’t understand!”
“NO, you don’t understand what’s about ta-”
“Back off!”
“Boy, I’m warning you!”
The sound of a group of hooves entered the bar. Several unicorn stallion thus in jet black suits with dark shades entered the bar, wielding strange weapons attached to their hooves. Purple and silver metallic cylinder chambers aligned one arm while the other hoof held up the back of the mechanism. They pointed it right in front of the crowd of ponies, ready to fire. Their horns glowed brightly and a increasingly high pitched noise came from the glowing machines. Seamus grabbed Valiant’s hoof, who then grabbed Amber’s hoof and they all jumped behind the bar table. Aurora soon stepped in front of the several large unicorns, the thugs held their positions. With one hoof, he held his beer and with the the other he shook it vigorously in front of the stallions.
He sternly said, “Now wait just a minute, fellas. What’cha going to do in this pub on such a happy occasion? Can’t we just all sit down and have a pint on me?”
The rifle’s fired and they sprayed into the open crowd of bar goers. Aurora was tossed backwards, filled with the oncoming bullets. Blood splattered the bar as tables and chairs flew in every direction. Smoke from the rifles filled the room as they continually fired openly, killing anyone they saw. Screams of death echoed throughout the building as panic and confusion filled the air. Some ponies fought back, trying to run up and assault the group with broken bottles or even their own hooves. They were immediately taken out and shot countless times to assure their death. Many escaped the horror and fled through the back doors before a unicorn thug cornered the back entrance as well as the front. Seamus, Amber and Valiant ducked behind the bar as shrapnel from glass mugs and broken wood chips flew through the open air.
“What the hell is going on!?” cried Amber as she covered her face from flying debris.
Seamus cried out over the shots of gunfire, “Business, my dear!”
“What do they have, what are those things they are holding?” yelled Valiant.
“Magitech rifles!”
Amber questioned, “I thought all magitech weaponry was banned from Equestria?”
“It is, but ponies still make it! If it’s illegal, ponies are still gonna do it, that’s just nature.”
“Do they ever run of ammunition?”
“Their unicorns, they can conjure their own ammo. So unless the rifle jams, then no, they’ll keep spraying and praying!”
A missed shot punctured a barrel of blackberry ale which leaked out next to Seamus. He grabbed a broken mug, filled it with the beer and chugged it down.
Gumhoof wiped his mouth and yelled, “Okay, we can leave now. Quick, follow me!”
The couple and Gumhoof crawled behind the bar and around the corner where they met up with Pete. Pete had armed himself with two crossbows rigged on his arms, ready to pounce up and fire them at the unicorns.
Amber cried out, “Pete, don’t!”
“I have to save ma’ bar, doll face! I’ll create a diversion, you three... best of luck to ya.”
Pete jumped up and fired a crossbow into one of the unicorn’s jaw. The unicorn was instantly knocked out from the ten inch bolt. He fell to the floor in a pool of blood, trying his best to pull out the bolt himself as he screamed in pain. It was the same unicorn that was guarding the back entrance, so now the trio could make an escape. The other unicorns saw this and aimed their weapons towards the mad owner of the bar. Pete aimed for the closest target and fired his second crossbow. The bolt sailed through the air with a force that knocked back a unicorn and hung him on the bar wall. Impaled through the chest, he dropped the gun and squirmed to try and get off of the wall.
The unicorns took no time to take out their new priority and quickly filled Pete full of holes. After four consecutive shots in the chest, he flung his body onto the counter, loaded another bolt and fired one last time at another unicorn. The unicorn caught the bolt with his magic, turned it around and fired it back at Pete, sticking him to the bar’s table top. Pete’s lung was immediately punctured and filling up with blood. He looked over to see the trio sprinting as fast as they could into the rainy alleyway and away from the pub. He smiled as he lied there pinned to the bar he built.
As the gunfire’s smoke cleared the room, the firing was ceased and the remaining unicorns walked around the battle torn bar, checking the bodies and confirming their deaths. A red unicorn stallion entered the room alongside Nate. The maroon unicorn, with navy blue eyes and jet black mane hair examined the damage he caused to the bar and smiled with delight.
“We must have killed him, sir.” Nate said to the red unicorn. “He couldn’t have escaped the chaos we sowed.”
“He is Seamus, after all...” he said with discontent.
A lone unicorn thug member walked up and bowed before the red unicorn. “Sir, we have no confirmed kills of Seamus Gumhoof.”
The leader unicorn frowned and walked past the two towards Pete. Pete began coughing up blood as he snickered. He knew who it was that was approaching him, he had served this red unicorn numerous times in the past.
“Wh-what w-will it b-be, sir?” he laughed while trying to breath with a punctured lung.
The red unicorn pressed his hoof on the end of the bolt and drove it deeper into the table top. The intense pain made Pete gargle up more blood than before. He stallion bent over Pete and smiled.
“Where... is he... Pete, old chum?”
“I ain’t tell’n you, spittoon, you psychopath!” Tears began to fill Pete’s eyes as he continued, “Why w-would ya do this ta’ me... why, Ray?”
Ray gave a devilish smile as he dipped his hoof into a pool of Pete’s blood. He brought his tainted hoof upward and licked the blood off, sniffing the scent of the Pete’s death in the process. As he washed the blood down his throat, he took a deep breath and looked Pete dead in the eyes.
“Aren’t I just a Ray of Sunshine...” Ray turned toward his second in command, Nate, and demanded, “You will find him, tonight!”
Ray made his way out of the tavern's doors and into the shadowy streets, failure was not an option. Nate and two unicorn thugs went out the back of the bar and into the dark alleyways so that maybe they could spot Seamus.
Scene 7
Seamus and Valiant escorted Amber back home. It was late into the night and the rain had finally stopped. The musty air and fog wiped the town with mystery. Police pegasi came flying overhead, going towards the bar as the three watched from below. They had finally made it to Amber’s apartment. It was a nice studio suite on the second floor of a mane parlor. She unlocked the door and flipped on the lights to her apartment as Valiant and Seamus stood out in the cold.
“You boys can come in if you like... I can make some tea.”
“It’s fine,” Valiant said, “but thank you anyways. We’re just glad you didn’t get hurt.”
She looked away, tears filling her eyes. She held her hooves up her face and mourned, “Pete... Oh, why Pete!”
Seamus comforted, “Pete was a fine stallion, he’ll be missed and never forgotten for what he sacrificed. Bless his soul, may he rest in peace...”
Amber dried her eyes and concluded, “Well, you two need to go... I’ll be safe here... go home.”
The two turned, making their way towards home when Amber cried out, “Valiant!” The pegasus turned as the two met eyes one last time. “Thank you, Valiant... thank you...” She closed the door gently and locked it up. The light in her window was quickly dimmed and the two progressed through the night.
They made it back home safely and locked the doors behind them. Seamus flopped on the nearest sofa, reached for his matches he forgot on the coffee table, lit his pipe and took a deep breath of the smoke.
“What a night... this is all my fault, Valiant.”
“...What do you mean...”
Seamus took the pipe out of his mouth, “They were after me, or for better words, they were after your father’s journal.” Valiant knew nothing about his father’s journal, whatever it was. He didn’t even know his father owned a journal.
Valiant stopped, thought for a minute and questioned, “So you let those ponies die in there today, even Aurora, because you didn’t give these thugs a journal?”
“It’s not like that at all... they were going to come and get me anyways. They’ve been on my trail for months now.”
He asked, “So, who were those ponies and why did they want my father’s journal?”
“One, I don’t know... and two, I’ll tell you in the morning, now go to sleep... I’m about to anyways after I’m done smoking.” Valiant sighed and flapped his wings towards the stairs.
He landed on the top stair and said, “Goodnight, Seamus.”
“Go to sleep, Valiant. It was nice to get out of this house though, huh? Even though it ended pretty badly.”
“...It was nice, thank you.” Seamus didn’t respond, so Valiant made his way to his room. He closed the door tightly as he felt fatigue set in. He fell onto his bed and fell asleep near instantly, dreaming of that Amber mare.
