New York City, Publicity Park
Time: 12:45 AM
November 23
It almost seems like an ordinary night on the streets of Publicity Park... however, something stands out.
The crowds of traffic have gone silent, and a rather large portion of yellow Police Tape cover the entrance, while a few police cars rest around it.
The men and women in blue come and go, taking pictures and observing the area for any evidence or leads to the crime that took place... a man, lying in a puddle of his own blood.
So far, what could be discovered was a metal pipe and a pocket knife. However, both were searched for fingerprints, yet yielded no results. Blood tests would confirm, however, that the two of them were used as the murder weapons - the killing one being the knife, according to the reports from the medic.
From the distance, a man can be seen approaching the area, wearing a light brown suit, with a Private Detective’s Badge clipped onto the left side of his jacket’s collar. His dark brown hair is fairly short, and neatly combed just barely past his dark bluish green eyes.
As he crosses the police tape, the officers nearby allow him entry upon noticing his badge.
“Ah, Detective Hawke... fancy meetin’ you here, sir! Weren’t you on vacation just three days ago?” one of the officers ask, as the two from the entrance guide their latest guest towards the crime scene.
Jason shakes his head, keeping a stoic, determined expression on his face, before replying, "I do not pride myself in vacations, when there's still so much to do, I'm afraid... though I suppose one could say I'm still technically on my 'Vacation', regardless."
The first officer nods his head and sighs. "I can't agree more... so much goin' on these days, what with the corrupt judge we had to deal with last week."
Jason raises an eyebrow at the guard. "Oh? And why was I not informed of this, exactly?"
The second officer decides to answer for him. "We figured you were still a little preoccupied with that case over in Los Angeles... you know... the one where you had to help that girl find her Attorney friend?"
The first officer gasps. "Wait, you were in LA? Was that Attorney Mr. Wright, by any chance?"
The second one adds, "Or was it perhaps that Prosecutor? You know, that Edgeworth character?"
Jason raises a hand, silencing the two officers. "I was merely there to help Detective Gumshoe collect the evidence, so that their case may end in the truth. Nothing more, nothing less. I simply bumped into Miss Fey while investigating the scene, and she invited me out for tea and... (*sigh*) hamburgers."
The first officer oohs. "Ooh! Were they good?"
Jason rubs his eyes and groans. "The first three were... after the fourth, though, I began to grow sick to my stomach. As for how she managed to eat eight, however, is beyond even my comprehension... and that says a lot, I can assure you."
Finally, the three of them reach the scene of the crime, where Michael Wilks, a 32-year-old male with jet black hair and a dark gray business suit, lies. His body is rested on his left shoulder, and blood trails down from his mouth, his cracked forehead, and his chest, with the blood circling around his shirt. A tear can be seen in the center of his button-up shirt, where a knife wound rests.
The knife rests in his right hand, which is clasped shut.
Jason rubs his chin in thought, before looking over to his right, where a metal pipe can also be found.
"Hmm... mind if I see the evidence?" he asks. The officers are quick to comply, carefully taking pictures before bringing him the items in question.
"Strange thing is, we checked them for fingerprints, but couldn't find a single thing!" the second guard says, dumbfounded.
Jason nods his head, and inspects the items, making sure to glove himself first.
"It would make sense, given the weather. The culprit was likely to be wearing gloves... which at least gives us one clue."
"And what's that?" the first officer asks.
Jason motions towards the body and replies, "That the knife was used by the killer, and then planted into the victim's hand afterwards... so it was less likely a brawl gone wrong, and more-so a direct assault."
"Hmm... but why isn't the victim's prints on his own knife?" the guard asks.
Jason points at the knife's handle and replies, "Because the victim didn't even have a chance to grip it. Yes, it's his knife, seeing how he has a holster in his belt. However, the murderer likely struck him with the pipe to disorient him enough to grab the knife from his belt. However, the first shot wasn't enough to render him unconscious completely, and so he would've retaliated by grabbing the attacker's arm, as the strain in the jacket would reveal."
"Hmm... but if he fought the attacker back, how did the attacker manage to get a hold of his knife?" the second officer asks.
Jason smiles and taps on his forehead thoughtfully. "Simple. He used his right hand to hold the pipe, and attempted to grab the knife with his left one. Michael likely grabbed the attacker's left hand with his right hand, allowing the attacker enough of an opening to strike him in the head a second time, and perhaps even tearing the sleeve even more in the process. It then freed the attacker of Michael's grasp, while also disorienting him tremendously. The third, and final strike, was to get him grounded and paralyzed enough to where the killer can reach for his knife easily, and then finally, end him while he was on the ground, perhaps unconscious due to blood loss and pain."
"Hmm... well, that's a good theory on the ifs and hows... but now, comes the biggest question, correct?" the first officer asks, to which Jason's smile only grows while he nods.
"Precisely... now, we just need to find the who... and to do so, we need to narrow down the why's... for instance, Why 'Michael', and not some other businessman?"
The second officer rubs his chin in thought, before snapping a finger, having an idea. "Oh! Perhaps this could come in handy?"
The officer then brings Jason Michael's Wallet. Inside it would be his ID, a little bit of cash, and a strange, folded note. He also gives Jason Michael's phone. He examines each carefully.
After giving each item a thorough examination, Jason nods his head, confirming his suspicions. "With all of this, I can deduce that the mysterious 'ED' figure was a co-worker for Michael... that, or a business rival who felt threatened with one of his recent promotions... what was he, exactly?"
The first officer looks through his paperwork, before replying, "I believe Michael was the newest CEO for CashCorp Enterprises... no records for an 'ED', however..."
"Hmm... then in that case, we'll have to see through his contacts. The phone's still-" A sudden glimmering in the fountain catches Jason's eye. "... Oh? Hold on a second..."
He puts a glove on before following the glimmering from the moonlight. Rolling his right sleeve up, and securing the rubber glove up his wrist, he reaches in, and pulls out...
("Hmm... looks like our killer might've lost something in his quarrel with the victim... and now, I think I have enough evidence to find the culprit!") Jason thinks to himself, before sliding the ring into an Evidence Bag, and passing it to the officers for safekeeping.
"Alright, then... let us see if we can find-"
"MICHAEL?!" comes the sudden shout of a man outside the gate.
Another pair of officers follow the teary-filled man, as he quickly rushes up to the scene, falling on his knees a few meters away from the dead body. The close proximity allows Jason time to inspect the man carefully.
He appears to be wearing a gray business suit, similar to Michael's. His hair is blonde, however, and he seems to be in his late 20's. His hands are covered with thick gray gloves colored similar in color to his suit, and his left hand's middle finger would have an emerald-embroidered ring over it.
"Mikey... w-why... how could this have happened?!" the man asks, before covering his watery eyes.
The officers look to Jason, seemingly lost on ideas for what to do.
"We tried to stop 'em, sir, but he says he knew the victim, so we figured we could bring 'em to you." the third officer says, before looking at the crying man pitifully. "He says the victim was one of his best friends."
Jason, however, crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow at the new surprise visitor. "Is that so?"
The man finally stands up, and turns to face Jason. He then recoils in shock, gasping audibly, before stuttering, "D-D-Detective Jason Hawke?! Oh, thank the Spirits of Justice, you're here! I... I'm so glad they put you on the case!"
Jason nods his head, smiling slightly. "Ah, I see my name precedes me... so you're a friend of the victim's?"
The man nods his head, replying, "Y-yes, sir! Edward John Drake's my name... but My friends just call me 'Eddie'! Nice to finally meet ya, Detective!"
("Hmm... so you must be ED, then... that would make you the Prime Suspect... however, it would be too premature to consider him the murderer... especially since his name could've also been forged by another 'associate'... so how do I pin him? Simple... an Interrogation, should he be lying to me...")
Jason places his hand on his watch, and carefully observes it. "So, can you tell me more about your relationship with the victim, perhaps?"
Eddie nods his head and replies, "Oh, gosh! Where do I begin?"
"Well, why not start with how you met at work?" Jason inquires, sounding genuinely intrigued. However, in his mind's eye, he's on high-alert, ready to spot the lies that are sure to come up...
"Well, we met during the Grand Opening, actually! We both were quick to impress the boss, really!
"We might've had a rocky start, but we both got along later on down the road.
"We exchanged numbers, as per Company Policy, and spoke with each other quite often!
"I can't believe he's dead, now... who could've done such a horrendous thing?!"
("Well, surprise surprise! The sender of the letter is, in fact, responsible for this in some way... and now, comes my favorite part of the job...")
"Well, we met during the Grand Opening, actually! We both were quick to impress the boss, really!
"Seems like the two of you were hard workers... that's quite a respectable trait these days, regardless of your position. Even the powerful can oftentimes be seen as lazy, with their benefits handed to them on a Silver Platter."
"Oh, I know! We were both some of the hardest workers! Somehow, he was always one step ahead of me, though... n-not that it was a lasting issue, of course!"
"You sure about that? You both didn't butt heads a lot?"
"W-well... okay, maybe we did butt heads a few more times than I'd have liked..."
("Well, that's clearly a motive for us to work with. Looks like we've got more to squeeze out of this, though...")
"So you did butt heads... I'm guessing that started at the beginning, when he was getting more recognition from the boss?"
"That's right!"
"We might've had a rocky start, but we both got along later on down the road.
"You both eventually got along... you sure there weren't any grudges you held, no matter how big or how small?"
"A-are... are you calling me a liar?!"
"I just want to know every last detail... it's not just you, but all of his friends and contacts will be asked the same questions. Merely a part of my job, I assure you."
"Oh, r-right... of course! W-well, I'm sure I didn't hold a grudge! Why the hell would I? He was still a good friend to me, despite our occasional tussle here and there!"
"I'm sorry, but I have a gut feeling you're hiding something here."
"Oh? Like what, exactly?!"
"Hmm... how about..."
Jason looks back at the evidence of the crime.
"... the fact that you have his number. Why'd you decide to leave a hand-written note to invite him here, when you could've easily texted or called him? It almost seems like you didn't want someone to trace your message to him."
Eddie recoils at this, losing his composure.
"I-I..."
However, he quickly recovers.
"H-heh... how do you know it was my letter, though?! There could be a few other ED's that work there in the office!"
"Hmm, fair point... then how about we check his contacts? I'd happily count them all out for you."
"Let's not forget that all of CashCorp Employees do have each others' numbers, after all!"
Eddie suddenly recoils, and begins to sweat profusely.
"W-WAIT!"
"... Yes?" Jason folds his arms over his chest, tapping on his arm patiently.
"O-okay... I was the one who wrote the letter, and he did call me ED. He was a bit of a prick about it, too, actually... calling me the 'Special' ED because of a simple mistake I made at work!"
"Ah... so you admit to inviting him here, as well?"
Eddie sighs and nods his head.
"Y-yes... I did... b-but I didn't expect this to happen, though! I swear!"
("Ah... more lies, I see... should I confront him about it now, or simply continue pressing on?")
...
("Actually, I'll let him bury himself even deeper into this hole, first. It'll be harder for him to dig his way out, then.")
"So, you both didn't have a good start, and at the end, you still viewed him as a bitter rival... is that correct?"
"... Y-yes... but again, I did not murder him!"
...
("And that's all I needed to hear... now, to squeeze out every last bit of information on him so that they can hear it, too!")
"We exchanged numbers, as per Company Policy, and spoke with each other quite often!
"Why was it a Company Policy to exchange numbers, exactly? That's... quite strange for a company to hold their members to exchange numbers like that."
"I know... some of us actually hated it, too... still do, in fact! I know a few guys who I'd gladly not give my number to! But if something were to happen to one of us, we'd be able to call them and check up... it's how I got here, in fact. He didn't answer the phone, so I came over here, and voila! You guys are here, examining his dead body!"
"... And your company works with... Money?"
Eddie nods his head.
"Yup!"
...
("Well, now... looks like there is some truth in his words, after all... ironically, when it comes to his job, and his money... among other things, if my theory is correct...")
"I can't believe he's dead, now... who could've done such a horrendous thing?!"
Jason shakes his head in disappointment, before assertively pointing his finger at Eddie.
"Edward Drake! What you just said is a complete lie!"
Eddie recoils again, while the police's attention is quickly brought up to the Detective.
"W-what do you mean by that?! A-are you saying what I think you're saying?!"
A sly smile forms on Jason's mouth, before he taps on his temple once again. "As a matter of fact, I am!"
He then glares sternly at Eddie before pointing at him and shouting for the rest of the police to hear...
"YOU were the one that killed Michael Wilks, Eddie... or should I say, ED?!"
Eddie recoils again from his statement.
"Grr... A-ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME?! H-HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF BEING A MURDERER!"
The officers immediate grab onto Eddie's shoulders to restrain him.
"Detective Hawke... so you accuse this man of being the murderer?"
Jason shrugs his shoulders and replies, "Not only do I accuse him, Officers, but I have proof to back it up!"
"This is the ring that I found in the fountain! While it may seem like a mere coincidence that it be there, or perhaps that it could've belonged to anyone, I can name off a particular situation that could've lead to him leaving it right there!"
"But how do you know it's his, though?" one of the officers ask curiously.
Jason points at the ring, and replies, "If you look closer, it has the name 'Eddie' written inside it... as in, Edward's nickname."
"Hmm... go on?" the leading officer inquires, after looking at the ring and, sure enough, noticing the small detail up close.
Jason points towards the crime scene and explains.
"When he attacked the victim, he was still wearing his rings... each of which representing an initial of his. On his middle finger, there's an Emerald Ring, while on his ring finger, he'd wear a Diamond one... however, he appears to be missing it all of a sudden... perhaps right after Michael grabbed a hold of his arm! After striking him with the pipe, he jerked his arm back, unknowingly losing his ring in the process! And his gloved hands would've made it difficult for him to feel the ring slipping off, as well!
"But it was a Diamond Ring... not only is it a valuable piece of jewelry, but also a crucial piece of evidence we'd be able to track him by! And so, he had no choice but to go back and look for it.
"It was dark when it happened, though... and not too long ago, but the adrenaline rush from the situation, as well as the time constraints dulling his sense of judgement, made him lose track of where the crime took place, so he was lost for a brief moment, until an idea struck!
"Knowing that his ring was somewhere near the victim, he decided to call Michael's phone, so that he could track it to the body, and hopefully come up with an excuse, should we have already arrived, then possibly attempt to request a few 'final words' to his friend in privacy, before the body would be taken to the morgue... it would grant him the perfect opportunity to grab the ring from the fountain, while the police would respect his wishes, and grant him some space!
"And with that, I've also uncovered the motive behind this... you were angry at him for always stealing the spotlight, weren't you?!"
Eddie recoils once again. His hair, at this point, has gotten far more frazzled, and his cool demeanor all but vanished at this point, with a bitter scowl now in its place.
"And you were the runner up for your company, so you would've been the first to take his place as the CEO of the entire CashCorp Company!"
"You're despicable!" one of the officers shouts at Eddie. "The hell did you do it for, ED?! Money?!"
"No... he's even worse than that, Officer..." Jason begins, before presenting more evidence to them.
"Need I remind you if he wanted money, then he'd have taken it, as well. He didn't want the money... he wanted the power over the company! And if that meant killing the CEO of said company to become the next CEO, then he'd damn well be capable of claiming it this way...
"Or rather, he would've been able to claim it..."
In a finalizing statement, Jason points his finger at Eddie and, with a powerful voice of Authority, shouts.
"IF HE DIDN'T LEAVE SUCH AN EASY TRAIL FOR US TO FOLLOW!"
And with that, the final nail strikes into Eddie's coffin. At the last recoil, he trembles, before flying back in a mysterious gust of wind. His mouth begins to foam up, before he starts to growl... and then, he lets out an ear-piercing roar.
"G.... Grrrr..... GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
At last, his head slumps down his shoulders, while his Emerald Ring slips off his finger, only for an officer to catch it and confiscate it as "Evidence".
Jason straightens his jacket as Eddie gets dragged towards the Police Cars. "Edward Drake, you are under arrest, and have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in the Court of Law!"
"... And may the Spirits of Justice have mercy on your soul, Murderer..." Jason mumbles, before making his way back towards the entrance...
That is, he would've made his way, if an unusually large pair of purple-colored eyes didn't pop out from behind a bush, as if observing him in secrecy.
He rubs his chin at the sight, now completely lost in thought.
("Odd... I thought the park was already checked for wild animals...")
"Excuse us, Mr. Hawke?" the first officer from before calls out from behind him.
"Hmm?" Jason turns to face the officer, who now approaches him with, what appears to be, a book... an all-too-familiar book, in fact.
("Hmm... well, this is a first...") Jason thinks, raising a curious eyebrow.
The officer bows his head respectfully before presenting the book to Jason.
"S-sorry, sir... but you're from Smalltown, so this might be my only chance at this... I... well... my son and I are huge fans, so... w-we were just wondering if... y'know..."
Jason smiles and waves a calming hand his way. "Say no more, officer... it's always nice to meet a fan of my book, no matter where, or who." He then pulls a pen from his jacket pocket and clicks it, while the officer, Bill, opens it to the front cover.
"T-thank you, Detective Hawke! This means a lot to both of us..." he continues, while Jason begins writing a note on the book.
("Your father was a huge help today. May you both keep following The Truth, and may it, in turn, shield you both from injustice! Furthermore, may the Spirits of Justice shine within your family, in the years that follow today, and tomorrow.
~Jason Hawke")
With all said and done, Jason puts his pen away while the officer thanks him one last time, and hurries back to his Police Car. He could see the other officer, of whom was driving the car, roll his eyes and smirk at Bill, before taking the Driver Seat.
Jason then looks back towards the bush, where the strange eyes once were. He approaches it carefully, and kneels to one knee, where he finds something he knows he didn't see before... a letter addressed to him.
New York City, Publicity Park
Time: 1:20 AM
November 23
As Jason steps out of the Taxi, his eyes drift around the area, before he notices a young woman waving him towards her. After examining the letter carefully, he nods his head in confirmation.
("Doesn't look to be suspicious... however, I mustn't let my guard down... there's still something... off... about her.")
He takes a seat across from the purple-haired girl, and clears his throat.
"So... I take it you needed my help?" he asks, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
She looks up at him, and smiles. "Yes, sir... you must be Detective Jason Hawke, correct?"
He answers with a nod. "Yes, ma'am. Mind if I ask who you are, and where you need my help?"
Clearing her throat, she replies, "You may... though I know it'll sound strange, so I need you to take out your watch, first."
"My... watch?" Jason inquires, while a thought crosses his mind.
("Hold on... she... does she know about the Magatama?!")
"I... saw your last case, and could tell there was something about that watch... something magical." she nods her head, as if reading his mind.
"Hmm... so you're aware of the Magatama in my watch, and what it does?" he asks.
She shrugs her shoulders and replies, "Like you, I merely made a deduction."
"Oh?" He slightly smiles, before folding his arms across his chest. "And what, pray tell, did you deduce?"
She, in turn, grins at him before replying, "It's like a Lie Detector, isn't it? It makes you see the deception within one's heart, and the lies from their words, doesn't it?"
For once, it's Jason that recoils, clearly caught off-guard.
"Gah! H-how did you...?!" he begins, before she shushes him, and smiles warmly.
"Don't worry, it's not that complicated, actually."
He clears his throat, before straightening his jacket once again to regain his composure.
"R-right, then... well... mind if I ask you a few questions, first?"
She relaxes on her chair, and nods her head. "Ask away, Detective Hawke!"
As he readies his first question, he's quick to hold onto his watch.
"Okay, so... what's your name, exactly?"
"My name is Twilight Sparkle."
"Okay, then, Miss Sparkle. What is your Occupation?"
"I have three occupations, actually. One is a Librarian, another is the bearer of a powerful weapon used to protect the innocent from the land that I'm from. The final is a Princess of that land."
("Princess Twilight Sparkle... wait, PRINCESS?!")
"Y-you... you're a Princess?!"
She nods and scratches the back of her head shyly.
"Yes... though only by title. Not lineage."
"R-right, then... my apologies for not knowing sooner, Your Highness!" Jason says with a quick, respectful bow.
She, however, giggles and waves a dismissive hand towards him.
"Please, Jason... there's no need for Formalities. I haven't really been a Princess that long, anyways! Only about a year, actually... and besides that, there's no way anyone here would've noticed."
"And... why is that?"
She takes a deep breath, before looking firmly into his eyes. He's slightly taken aback by the sudden change of demeanor, but braces himself for whatever comes next.
"Because the land I'm from is 'Equestria'... and yes, you couldn't have heard about it because it isn't even from this world. And with that revelation, I'll just cut to the chase... I need your help, because I think there's a Criminal Organization working between our worlds. I've opened a portal into your Office's Safe, since you've never used it before, and only you have access to it. The portal will remain open until I decide to close it, so you can come and go freely, and won't have to worry about missing anything here... but... well, I came to ask for you to help me investigate these crimes, and the first case would happen to be inside my world."
...
("W-what... what the hell did she just say?!")
To be continued...
Conference and Consultation: Twilight Sparkle
Smalltown Police Department, Smalltown - Detective's Quarter
Time: 7:30 AM
November 23
It's only been a few hours, and Jason still eyes Twilight warily, while they walk through the hallway, and into his main office.
"So... you're saying you opened the portal in the Safe, but it's still accessible?"
She nods her head to settle his worries. "That's right."
"Okay... and you got past the security guards by... 'Magic'?"
Again, she nods. "Yep! Although I can only cast it in my true form."
He then deadpans at her, cringing inwardly while holding onto his watch for yet another double-take on what's about to come up.
"And your 'true form' happens to be a... Pony? Or more specifically, a mix between a Unicorn and a Pegasus?"
She rolls her eyes, and sighs. "Yes... and no, your Magatama isn't broken. That's literally the truth!"
"... And you can prove that, how exactly?"
"Hmm... today I ate an Elephant Sandwich. It tasted like Peanut Butter and Oats, however, and not at all like Salisbury Steak, like the Doctor said it would!"
...
("What kind of ridiculous statement was that?! Well... I guess it rules out the Magatama being busted, at least...")
"Point taken... so how long do you intend on keeping this portal of yours open, anyways?" he asks, now paying extra attention, seeing how it wasn't really a question he asked yet.
She hums, before shrugging her shoulders.
"Didn't really think of that... was kinda hoping it could be as long as it takes for us to get to the bottom of the Organization, and in turn, stopping them before they could strike again!"
"Right... that brings up another line of questions, actually."
"Okay, shoot."
"Just how much do you even know about this 'Organization', anyways? I caught that they have the ability to cross between our worlds at will. Also, to a Unicorn, how much magic would that take out of them?"
"Good questions, indeed... to answer your first one, I don't really know that much about them. Just heard that they've been around a lot longer than we thought. Though we were able to observe some suspects that were most likely to have connections, they held no evidence to use against them, and were set free... one of the suspects happens to be my mentor's nephew, Prince Blueblood, but... well, nopony challenges Royalty without the risk of a Denigration Charge."
"So you can be charged for simply asking questions?" Jason asks, now starting to feel a sense of dread in the back of his mind.
Twilight smiles, before shaking her head. "Thankfully, that isn't necessarily the case. More or less, it's about False Accusations that can get you charged... but seeing your record has me believe you don't make those."
He relaxes at that. "Ah, okay, good. I'll be sure to be extra cautious with how I word things, then."
"That would be best... anyways, to answer you second question, it would be impossible for one Unicorn to cast such a spell. Sure, teleportation can be achieved by anypo-erm... any Unicorns... that power alone takes a lot out of one. In fact, my first Teleportation Spell ended up burning my coat and mane a little bit... as well as a little bit of my home."
"Hmm... would it be possible for several to gather their energy and produce it, though?" He rubs his chin at her brief 'near slip-up' that she had.
("So it can't be achieved by everyone... I'm guessing it's because of the Earth Ponies and Pegasi she mentioned on the way up here... doubt if they would be able to cast the spells due to the lack of a horn...")
"Actually, yes. It's possible for a Unicorn to channel the energy from those around him or her so that their spell could grow more powerful... even non-unicorns can be sapped of their magic."
"So Non-Unicorns have Magic in them, as well?"
Twilight nods her head.
"Correct. Pegasi have Weather Magic in them, and Earth Ponies have Earth Magic."
"And... Unicorns have Magic Magic, then?"
"Actually, we have Spirit Magic in us... if given the time, we can even do the same kind of magic that your Magatama has, without the need of wearing one."
("So basically, anything I can do, you can do better... well that's a little nerve-wracking, don't you think? A bunch of miniature equines that could plaster me across the landscape at mere thought... and there's a portal to that kind of place in my office?!")
"*Ahem* So a Unicorn can sap the Magic from others, then?"
"Yes...OH! But don't worry. Spells like that are actually banned from the Archives, and using them is considered a Criminal Offense. And even if they do know the spell, it's not even a guarantee that they can cast it, due to how complex it is."
Jason relaxes at that, while they stop short of his office's dark wooden door, which includes a thumbprint scanner above the handle.
He removes his hand from the watch and plants his right thumb on the scanner, allowing the red beam to trail down the screen, and waits for a few seconds while the locks inside it unhinge themselves.
Twilight, of course, stares at it with fascination.
"So how were you able to get out of the office, anyways? Like, specifics?" he asks, while opening the door and holding it for her to pass.
She nods her head in appreciation before stepping inside. While walking, she replies, "I teleported to the Ground Level, and turned myself invisible for the day. When you caught me hiding in that bush over in New York, it was because the spell was wearing off. I teleported away while you were distracted, and had to re-cast the spell..."
"... But not before leaving me that note, I presume?" he inquires.
She smiles and nods her head. "That's correct... though I would've explained more, but I was running out of time, since you were about to investigate the bush again... in fact, I was actually sitting there when you picked the note up."
"Ah... and you were still under the Invisibility Spell, so I couldn't see you... had I felt around, though, then I'd have felt you?"
She rubs the back of her arm sheepishly. "That, you would've... and the sudden impact would've broken my spell as well, and that would've turned things around a lot more differently... and not necessarily for the best..."
"So magic can be dispelled if the caster get distracted by something... does that include the lack of physical contact?"
"Yes... well, to a degree, actually. Unicorns can keep their spell active as long as they remain at least a little concentrated. However, the spell grows weaker when they grow more distracted... contact, however, can break the spell a lot more effectively, though."
"So the lesser the concentration, the weaker the spell... good to know."
("So self-defense against a hostile Unicorn isn't entirely narrowed out in that sense. At least I can distract one if they hold me against my will, then... well, depending on what I can do to distract them, that is...")
"Precisely... but most of the inhabitants of Equestria aren't hostile to strangers. If anything, they'd likely just be curious or, in some cases, evasive altogether."
"So they'd run away if I get anywhere near them?"
She looks down and sighs. "More than likely... it's happened before on quite a few occasions."
("I'm... not certain how to take that, actually. While I wouldn't mind the safety, I'd still need them cooperative enough to not run away at mere sight! I wouldn't be able to approach anyone for questioning, then!")
She perks up a bit after a little while, and raises her arms up, balling her fists with a determined look. "However, if they see you're with me, then they won't have much reason to fear!"
("Well obviously, because you'd wipe me out of existence before I could even get a chance to lift a finger!")
"Anyways, we're here!"
The two of them step inside the large, metal vault, where another office can be seen.
Jason is quick to recognize that it's the area where he's had to conduct deeper research in some of his past cases. On the walls, his other jackets hang, as well as an old-fashioned Detective's Cap... a cap which he's mentally sworn to never wear again, lest they call him 'Sherlock' once again.
On his desk, several papers and files can be seen, where multiple notes and pictures of former victims and suspects are tacked onto. Lines connect some with others, while smaller sticky notes describe the victims' and suspects' names, occupations, and activities. All of them, however, either have a red "X" on them, or a green "O".
But there's one thing that stands out from Jason's memory of the place... and that would be the large, purple door on the opposite end of the room. He can see that his bookcase was moved in order for Twilight to slip past it, and into the room.
"So... I take it the door is the portal, then?" he asks, rubbing his chin in thought.
("Hmm... from the looks of it, the door would be pushed open... which means that I wouldn't be able to barricade it from this side. I'd have to block it off from the other side, then.)
Twilight nods her head before closing her eyes. A brief flash of light engulfs her body, before she stands back on all fours in her 'True Form'.
...
("And I'm once more questioning if this is some form of hallucination, or an odd dream...")
Twilight looks up at him curiously, before chuckling slightly. In her Pony Form, she stands up just below Jason's waistline.
"You know, it's not that appropriate to stare, Detective." she says, giving him a sly wink, before trotting towards the door.
He blinks, before clearing his throat and regaining his composure. He then holds his Magatama, and eyes her carefully.
"Before we enter, I need to know a few more things."
She pauses, then turns around. Seeing his hand on the Magatama, she sighs, but nods her head.
"I understand your hesitation, Mr. Hawke, but time isn't really on our side. As we delay even longer, more and more crimes could be growing cold... but on the other hoof, you have the right to know whatever you want to ask. Please, though, we need to be quick about it."
He nods his head, acknowledging her request. "Of course. Don't worry, I'll only ask the three most important questions."
"Sounds good. Feel free to ask as clearly as possible... I'll answer to the best of my abilities."
"First question... on your way here, you said that you felt your magic being drained the more distant you became from the portal. Am I wrong to assume that a similar thing might happen to me, only in reverse?"
"Thankfully, I was able to scan your coworkers with a Screening Spell, and can confirm that your bodies aren't able to absorb Magic, so it'll only bounce right off of you... unless conducted by a spell. You aren't immune to Magic that's been cast... just the Magic in the air."
"Hmm... I see. The second question... while it's clear that you can breathe in my world, I still have to know... is it Oxygen that your world has in it, or is this 'Magic' the only thing you need to survive off of?"
"Heh... don't worry, we have Oxygen. Cleaner, in fact, so you should have no trouble breathing when you cross over."
"Very good to hear... and now for my last question. What part of your world will we be in, once we've crossed into the portal?"
"We'll be inside my castle, or more specifically, in the hallway that's rarely used. Though my castle was only raised for about six months, I doubt if anypony will roam around in it, except for maybe a few of my friends... who, by the way, are waiting for us in the Throne Room. One of them will be ready for questioning, because she actually has a connection with the case in hoof... or hand, as a human would say it."
("I'll have to get used to these Pony Words... anypony? Case in Hoof... but I will not use that kind of language! That is just pushing it too far!")
"Very well, then... that's all I needed to know. I appreciate your honesty."
Jason takes his hand off of his watch, before approaching the door. Twilight, in turn, follows suit, chuckling slightly at his last word.
"Funny you should mention that... this friend of mine in question happens to be all about Honesty!" she replies, before using her magic to open the door.
Although the room on the other side of the door is in near-complete darkness, Jason can definitely tell that it leads into a hallway, due to the dim lighting coming from the far-left corner of the hall, in addition to the light of the room pushing the Portal Door's reflection across the floor.
A blue crystal floor and wall can be seen, in addition to a long, thin red carpet. No ornaments, however, decorate the hallway, save for the Support Beams... all of which are also made of the same blue crystal.
("Jeez... I know I'm working alongside Royalty and all, but is this castle made up entirely of Crystals?!")
"Well, then... ladies first." he says, holding the door open, and standing to the side.
Twilight smiles and bows her head gratefully at the gesture. "Oh, thanks! Didn't take you for a Gentlecolt!"
As she walks past him, he sighs.
("I can already tell that these Pony Words are going to be a problem...")
Without much more to do at this rate, he takes a deep breath and steps into the portal door, while hearing the bookshelf behind him shift and turn, blocking the door from being spotted by anyone.
He then walks a little further forward, while Twilight's magic surrounds the door. Giving it one last look, Jason watches as the door to his world closes with a creak, and a click.
And then, the hallway goes dark. Only the dim lighting of Twilight's horn is all that remains visible.
Case Zero, Pilot, Complete!
"And so, marks the end of the first of many cases that brought me into Equestria."
"Little did I know, that this was only the icing on the cake for one of the the biggest challenges in my career."
"My quest for The Truth, though almost faltering by the sheer absurdity of the situation presented to me, wouldn't end there, however..."
"... for it was that very quest, and the will to seek it out for this broken, but strong family, that inspired me to take this next particular case, without a second thought."
Next Case: "The Red Pear"
Case One: The Red Pear (Conference and Consultation, Scene 1)
Equestria: Castle of Friendship, Ponyville: Main Lobby
Time: 8:00 AM
November 23
After several minutes of walking through the hallway, Jason and Twilight finally reach the Throne Room. Standing near the doorway, Jason can't help but sigh in relief.
("That walk took way longer than I intended... did we circle around the same areas fifty times before getting here? Everything in the hallways look the same!")
"We made it!" Twilight cheers, to which Jason simply responds with a nod and a half-hearted fist pump.
"Joy... are your friends still inside?"
Twilight nods before replying, "Yeah, they should still be in there. Come on, I'll introduce you to 'em... oh, but, before we go in there, there's probably something I need to bring up."
He raises an eyebrow before motioning for her to continue.
She points at his watch and asks, "Is... your Magatama supposed to be doing that?"
("My Magatama? What's wrong with-")
Curious, he looks at his watch, and gasps when he sees that, rather than glow green, it rests inside his watch, taking on a dark blue color.
"GAH! W-WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY MAGATAMA?!"
He begins rubbing his watch with his thumb, while Twilight waves her forehooves towards him reassuringly.
"Calm down, Jason... it's probably nothing!"
"P-PROBABLY NOTHING?! ESSENTIALLY, MY MAIN TOOL, MY LIE DETECTOR, ISN'T WORKING! I'D SAY THAT'S QUITE A HUGE PROBLEM!"
"What, are you saying that you haven't done any interrogations without using your Magatama before?"
"N-no, that's not what I'm saying at all! I've been able to spot lies without using it beforehand, with little to no issues! But I'm in a land where Magic is considered normal, now... whereas, it would've been deemed impossible in my own world to even consider! In that sense, the Magatama was my main lifeline when it comes to finding The Truth here! But seeing how it's disabled, I fear that I may have trouble finding out what can and can not be done!"
"JASON! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" She uses her magic to grip him by the collar of his shirt, so as to restrain him from freaking out.
This, of course, only makes him stop moving, but his worry is still present.
"B-but I..."
"Na! Zip it! Just... listen... why don't you bring an assistant along to help you out, then?" she suggests, rubbing her muzzle in thought. "That way, you can have a second opinion on these types of things, from a local who's already familiar with how things work here! You can conduct your research, and learn from one of us that way!"
"That-" he begins, before his panic slowly subsides. Rubbing his own chin in thought, a smile begins to form on his face.
"Whew... that... could work, actually."
"Very well then, Twilight! I'll accept your offer. And I presume you will be my assistant for this case as well, so there shouldn't be any issues, then. We'll have this case solved within a day's time!"
She flinches slightly, and then stands silent for a moment. Jason's calm demeanor soon turns to worry once again, as he repeats, though in question, "You... are going to be my assistant for this case, correct?"
A moment later, she lets out a long, drawn-out sigh, before shaking her head. "I'm sorry Jason, but... I can't right at the moment."
"Wait, WHAT?! But you brought me here in the first place! I thought you were going to be the one to help me out here!"
She deadpans at him, before nodding her head, as if stating the obvious. "And I intend to! Your Magatama even confirmed it while we were in your world!"
"But we're not even in my world, now! Why can't you help me now, while the Magatama's unavailable?!"
"Since you're still technically foreign here, of course! I have to work out the loopholes and file the paperwork that makes you an OFFICIAL Investigator here in Equestria before you can conduct your own Investigations! Without it, you'll be limited on how much ground you're permitted to cover!"
"But you're a princess, though! Can't you just tell them 'This is how it goes, so tough luck', or something?!"
She recoils at his statement, seemingly disgusted.
"Wha-?! I will not flaunt my title like that! And besides, I may be a princess, but I still have to bring it up with the other Princesses, and then sign the paperwork that'll be mailed to me shortly after, by the Board of Administration! And that's not counting the Acceptance Letters that I'll have to have signed by the Board's members afterwards! It should take about three days for me to complete the process, actually..."
"But that's just it, though! You're a Princess, so doesn't that mean you have the right to Investigate these things, regardless of what they say?!"
She shakes her head again, and replies, "Actually, no... not officially, at least. I've still got a day left, until my Investigator's Badge comes in, which will grant me the permission to do so... and my being a Princess could actually hinder that, if the Board finds it, and I quote, 'Too risky to endanger the life of Royalty'... if they don't see my past achievements and consider it enough to grant me an edge on a Political POV, then I wouldn't be able to go anywhere near the Crime Scenes, unless I were either a Witness, or a Suspect!"
He, in turn, recoils and deadpans.
("ARE YOU SERIOUS?! So in other words, I can't just show my badge, and be granted permission into the Crime Scenes while the trail could still be warm, AND A BLOODY PRINCESS CAN'T CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION WITH ME?! Well, that's just making this lovely trip even more reassuring, isn't it?!")
"But there is a Silver Lining behind this, though!" she says, reading through his darkened expression clearly. "I can have you be the 'Assistant' for one of my friends who, by law, is permitted into the Crime Scenes, already!"
This manages to calm him down a little.
"Hmm... assistant, you say? But I'll still be authorized to Interrogate someone, correct?"
"Well... only to a certain degree. As the 'Assistant', you won't be able to make accusations without the approval of the one you're assisting, nor will you be able to actually do the Interrogating. You can only put your two bits in for the 'Investigator' to use while questioning the suspect. And the credits would still go mostly to my friend, since... you know... the papers would only mark you as the 'Assistant', and nothing more."
He waves a dismissive hand at her. "I could care less about Reputation. My job is to seek out the Truth, and bring the criminals to Justice."
She smiles and nods her head. "Precisely... and that's why I chose you to be the one on this case. Your Magatama may not work in this world, but that doesn't mean your Willpower and Determination is off the table. Just do what you do best, and Seek out the Truth!"
("... Huh. She's right! I shouldn't let my worries get me down! I may not have the Magatama's Powers on my side, but I know that, deep down, The Truth will be all I ever need!")
...
("Though it's quite disappointing to think that the one who would snap me out of my stupor was a Magical Pony... that wouldn't be something I'd like to see on my record, at the very least...")
"Hey, Twilight?"
"Yes, Jason?"
"..."
"... Thank you. I needed that reassurance... and you're right."
"..."
She smiles, before nodding her head. "Oh, well... you're welcome! And please remember that, while I can't be there to assist you on the field just yet, I'll still be here in the castle, if you ever need me for anything."
With his hand no longer on his watch, Jason takes a deep breath, before placing his hand on the door.
"So, mind telling me more about who I'll be the assistant of?"
("You... can't be serious...")
To be continued...
