Equestria Noire Case #1: The Royal Guard Case

The APB came quick. Cobalt and Berry Breeze's names were already on the Wanted list. It didn't matter if they were in town or outta town. Wherever they went, eventually somepony would spot them, and they would call the authorities to bust their asses.

However, I felt like I needed to make a quick stop before I went out searching for those bastards.

*******Lady Bird Spa*******

This was where Blue Flash worked at. I actually did call them before I went and got Duke and Bold. I could tell several ponies went here to stylize their looks to impress ponies. Or just because they want to look "fabulous" as they call it.

Some ponies I tell ya.

Anyway, I spotted Blue right away, as he was currently stocking a few cans of mane spray. I got his attention, and he came over to me with a bit of a suggestive look on his face.

I swear, this guy.

"Well, Shadow, it's nice to see you. Did you come by to accept my invitation?" He asked as he flicked his hoof on my shoulder. He then got closer to my face. Uncomfortably close to be exact.

"Or, maybe, we can just go back to my place and, what do the kids call it these days, "hang out"? I can leave work early if you'd like." He said very seductively.

I guess I gotta give the guy some credit. He ain't afraid to hit on anypony. Even if it means getting his ass kicked.

I pushed him off. "You want to be arrested again? This time for harassment?" I asked him.

He tsked at me. "So serious. Why can't you just let the good times roll, baby?" He asked with a sly smile on his face. He could tell this was important as he asked next, "So, what's up? Anything new you wanna know bout Steel? Or that fuckstick Berry?"

"Well yes actually." I said to him. "Have you seen Berry or Cobalt since you were released?"

"Berry, I haven't. And if I did, I'd beat the crap outta him cause he owes me 50 bits for that bet we had." He said looking cross.

"What about Cobalt?" I asked him.

"Well, I thought I saw him and some mare, I don't know her name, but I thought I saw them sometime at Sugarcube Corner. I went in and got a cupcake from Pinkie Pie."

"Anything seem off about them?"

"Well, Cobalt looked on edge. I think I might've heard him talk about leaving town tonight. Why? Did he do it?"

I sighed and said, "Well, we found DNA that matches theirs at the crime scene. Plus, your buddy Duke and his brother Bold witnessed him and Berry killing Steel. So, unfortunately, yes. They are the killers." I told him.

He then looked concerned. "Oh no." He said.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"I remember something. A week before Steel died, I saw Cobalt and Berry talking to each other in a secluded area. It was another alley away from everypony." He told me.

"Did you follow them?" I asked.

"Yeah. I wanted to confront Berry about the money he owes me. Well, I saw him walking with Cobalt. I followed them toward the alleyway. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it looked like they were planning something. Something bad." He told me.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I thought it didn't matter as much. But I wrong." He said looking bummed. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner Detective. Steel probably would still be alive if I did."

I put my hoof on his shoulder to console him. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know. So don't blame yourself." I told him. He looked at me with a smile on his face. A genuine smile this time. Not a seductive one.

"That's all I could really give ya Shadow." He told me.

"No need. That's good enough. Though I should give you a warning." I told him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Warning for what?" He asked.

Oh, this was gonna be difficult to say. "Well, my pathologist Cadaver did some extra searching on the body. And he found out that Steel was HIV positive." I told him.

His eyes widened. "Are you serious?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes. And somepony else has it too."

"Who?"

"Midnight Whistle. But, unfortunately, I found him dead as well. Berry or Cobalt or both of them killed him not too long ago." I said.

"Midnight?....Oh Celestia. Not him too." Blue said looking a bit distraught. "But, what does this have to do with the HIV thing."

"When was the last time you had sexual contact with Steel before he died?" I asked him.

"I can't remember. Maybe 3 months ago. Why?" Then his eyes widened a bit. "Are you saying I might have it?" He asked.

I nodded. "It's not definite, but you should get yourself checked out." I told him.

He looked a bit sick after I told him everything. "Okay. I'll leave work in a little bit to go do that. Plus, I'll handle the funeral arrangements for Midnight. He didn't deserve that." Blue said.

"Thank you Blue. I'm close to catching these fuckers. If you spot them, call me and let me know. Okay?" I said to him.

He nodded.

******* Sugar Cube Corner*******

Twilight contacted me to meet her at this little restaurant called Sugar Cube Corner. This was where I last heard that Cobalt was.

I walked in and saw Twilight talking to a pink mare with the most frizziest mane I have ever seen. This must be Pinkie Pie. The Element of Laughter.

"Twilight." I said getting her attention. She turned to me. "Good to see you Shadow. I have--" Twilight started to say before she was interrupted by the pink mare rushing toward me. She had an extremely excited look on her face for some reason. This wasn't like when Comet Chaser would be excited. This was different.

"Your a new pony?" She cried out loud and then turned back toward Twilight. "Were you keeping him from meeting me Twily? You know you can't stop Pinkie Pie from being friends with everypony she meets." She said.

Twilight looked a bit embarrassed at what Pinkie said for some odd reason.

"Miss Pie, I--" I started to say before she interrupted me. "Oh, you can call me Pinkie. All of my friends do." She told me while fluttering her eyelashes at me. Was she hitting on me or something? Cause she's not my type, thats for sure.

"Fine. Pinkie, I'm not here to be friends with anypony. I'm here for--" I started to say, before she interrupted me again. This mare is REALLY starting to annoy me.

"WHAT?! Not here to make friends? Well, you NEED to make friends. Otherwise, you'll be all alone. And that'll make you sad. And anypony who doesn't know you will be sad they didn't meet you. And then you'll sad again when you realize that ponies want to be friends with you. And then--" She rambled on before Twilight put hoof over her friends mouth to get her to shut the fuck up.

"Thank you Twilight." I said.

"Don't worry about her. She's just being Pinkie." Twilight told me. She then removed the hoof from Pinkie's mouth and faced her.

"Look Pinkie. Shadow Haze here is a real detective. Him and I are solving that murder that happened here last night." She told her friend.

Pinkie's eyes widened a little bit. "Are you talking about Steel Spear?" She asked. Twilight nodded and then, weirdly, she grabbed Pinkie's hooves in her own hooves.

"Listen, I need you to tell us what happened when Green Tea and Cobalt came in here and what you saw. Cause those two are suspects on this case. Can you do that for me?" Twilight asked her.

Pinkie nodded. "Sure thing Twily. After all--" She then, out of fucking nowhere, put on a coat and hat, along with a pipe that blew bubbles. Something you'd see in a mystery movie. "--Detective Pinkie Pie never fails a case." She said blowing into her pipe again. Twilight giggled a bit. I didn't.

"So, what did you see?" I asked her.

"Well, Cobalt looked kind of queezy. Like he was about to throw up. He also looked like he didn't get much sleep last night either. And Greeney tried calming him down." She told us.

"Did you hear anything about them wanting to leave town?" Twilight asked her.

Pinkie nodded. "Mhm. They were talking about leaving tonight. And, I even heard something about Berry Breeze." She said.

"You know Berry as well?" I asked her.

"Pfft. Silly, I know everypony in Ponyville." She said.

"And? What is he like?" I asked.

She then had a frown in her face. "Well, he can be a real creep. He sometimes comes in here to stare at Pony Joe whenever he come in to deliver donuts."

"Did Steel ever come in here before he was killed?" I asked.

"Yeah. He and Cobalt would come here to get a cupcake sometimes. Though, sometimes I could tell when Cobalt would get mad at him." She said.

"Did Steel ever look at any other stallions? Like, in a seductive way?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah. I saw this one time where Steel looked at a guy named Blue Flash. And Cobalt looked really really mad. But he didn't do anything." She said.

I paused for a minute before I asked, "Did Cobalt ever seem a bit sick or under the weather before Steel was killed?"

Pinkie looked a bit uncomfortable. "Well, he did after he got done with a doctor appointment. He wouldn't tell anypony but Green Tea though." She said.

Doctor. Looking sick. Uncomfortable to talk about it.

Uh oh. I think I know what it is.

However, before I could say another thing, the front door opened up. It was Green Tea. Cobalt's best friend. She looked kind of nervous all of a sudden.

"Oh, M-Mister Detective. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Have you found out who killed Steel yet?" She asked nervously as she went up to the counter to look at the cupcakes and other sweet treats on display. Pinkie appeared behind the counter. Again, out of nowhere. What, does this mare have like teleportation abilities? She's not a fuckin unicorn.

This mare is weird.

Pinkie looked suspicious at Green. "Sooooooo,......" Pinkie paused. Green looked a bit uncomfortable at Pinkie's behavior.

I was about to make Green Tea explain everything to me, until the weird Pink pony, out of nowhere again, blurted out,
"WHERE WERE YOU ON THE 15th OF FEBRUARY?" Pinkie yelled at Green, trying to be intimidating. Green wasn't intimidated though. More like confused.

I decided to end this and just start asking questions. "Look, Green Tea, Pinkie Pie here gave you up. She told me and Princess Twilight here that you and Cobalt were here earlier this morning. And Cobalt looking nervous. Saying he was gonna leave town tonight. Even after his boyfriend of 10 years had been brutally murdered the previous night." I told her.

She looked at me in disbelief. And then at Pinkie with an angry look in her eyes.

"Sorry Greeny. We can still be friends, right?" She smiled wide.

Twilight stepped in. "We found DNA of both Cobalt and Berry Breeze on the murder weapon. We also have a witness says that those two killed him. Sorry Green Tea, but the jig is up. So, just tell us where Berry and Cobalt are, or we will have to arrest you for obstruction of Justice." She told her.

Hey, she was stealing all of what I'm supposed to say.

Green Tea just sighed. "I guess I'm not getting out of this one am I?" She asked.

"No. Now tell me what happened." I told her.

"I want a deal first."

"Deal? Your friends with a murderer. You don't--" Twilight started to say before I stopped her.

"If you cooperate, I can find a good deal to cut with you." I told her. Twilight did not look happy when I said that. Guess she doesn't know that this is what REALLY happens when your on a case.

"If I tell you, will you make sure I don't serve any prison time?" Green Tea asked.

"I'll see what I can do, but know this: If you lie to me again even just a little bit, I'll throw you in faster than you can say "Go" Green. Am I understood?" I asked. She nodded.

Before she started, Twilight interrupted. "Hold on. I thought you and Cobalt were best friends. Why would you suddenly turn on him? I know it's prison time we're talking about, but I would've thought Shadow here would have to push you a little bit. How can you just throw Cobalt under the carriage all of a sudden?"

I guess I gotta give her credit. That IS a valid question. Why is she so easily talking about Cobalt?

"I'm doing this to help him. Even if his life about to end soon." She crossly said to Twilight.

Life ending soon? Uh oh.

"We already know that Steel had HIV when he died. Are you telling me that he contracted it from him?" I asked.

She scoffed. "Oh no. Cobalt doesn't have HIV. No." She paused for a sec. "He has AIDS. He's dying." She said.

Twilight looked shocked. I wasn't. I had a feeling this was gonna happen.

"And that bastard Steel is the one who gave it to him. He knew he had HIV, and he still infected Cobalt. But he didn't just infect Cobalt. He infected a lot of other stallions too. He was walking disease, detective. He got what was coming to him." Green said.

"Duke told me that Cobalt and Berry were the ones who killed him. And that they were attacked by them as well. Do you know of any relationship that Cobalt and Berry had with each other?" I asked.

Green looked confused. "Berry? What? I don't know what your talking about." She said.

"I'm going by what Duke told me. Plus, my pathologist Cadaver told me that his and Cobalt's DNA was on Steel's body, as well as a clump of Duke's hair that was ripped out during the attack the night Steel was murdered." I explained.

"There's gotta be another reason why. Steel told Cobalt to not get involved with him." She told me.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"I don't know. But from what it sounded like, Berry is connected with some pony. Some pony powerful. Kind of like a drug dealer or something." She said sounding nervous.

Twilight asked a question next. "So, if you knew Cobalt helped kill Steel, why didn't you go to the police first, if your doing it now?" Again, a good question.

"Cause I thought maybe I wouldn't get caught. I admit it Twilight, I'm saving my own ass. But if you were in MY situation, you'd do the same thing and you know it." She told her. Twilight looked angry, but didn't say anything.

"Where's Cobalt?" I asked her.

"I think he's trying to get a train ticket worked out. But, he's also hiding from Berry." She said.

"Why? Those two worked together to kill Steel. Why would he avoid him?" Twilight asked.

"Cause I think Cobalt is gonna reveal all the dirty little secrets of that Cruizin Colt club out to everypony. That place is filled with drugs, and unprotected sex, and diseases. Berry wouldn't want that." She said.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Cause he owns it. The Cruizin Colt is HIS bar." Green told me.

Holy Shit. This just got a whole lot more interesting.

**********Later*********

I let Green Tea go. She told me everything, and I let her walk. She didn't have anything to do physically with the murder. Had she not told me, I could've charged her with obstruction of Justice.

"Why didn't you arrest her?" Twilight asked angrily.

"I already told you. We made a deal, and I have to honor that." I said.

"But she lied before. How can we be sure if she's gonna lie again?"

"Don't worry. I have a few ponies who have their eyes on her. She won't get away if we find out she lied again."

"Does this happen all the time in the police force?"

"Yes. That's what we do."

"It sounds like a cheap way to get the pony who did it."

"Well, if it works, that's all that matters."

Twilight groaned at me. "How can you be okay with that?" She asked.

"Twilight, I've been doing this, ever since I was 18. And I'm 24 now. I'm practically used to ANYTHING that happens now. Me or somepony else. Good or bad. I just go through the motions." I told her. I'm really starting to get annoyed by her.

"What do you mean your used to it if something bad happens to you?" Twilight asked me, now sounding kind of concerned.

"So many bad things have happened to me my whole life, I just accept that they happen, and try to move on from it."

"What kind of bad things have happened to you?" She now looked like how Melody would when she knew something was bothering me.

"Why should you care? You have an entire school to teach about friendship and everything else. Why do you care about a random guy whom you barely know a thing about?" I asked her. Why does she have to know?

"Cause it's my job. I'm the Princess of Friendship. And, I feel like I can understand if you just tell me." She said.

"Oh, you understand, Twilight?" I asked her. What the fuck does she know? "You have no idea how much hell I've been through my whole life. I've been through things you could NEVER understand." I ranted at it. I could tell she looked a bit intimidated, but she still stood her ground.

"Then help me understand. So we could understand each other better." She said.

So, she wants to know, so bad huh?

"You want to know?" I asked. She nodded.

"Fine I'll tell ya. I killed my own mother." I said to her. She gasped and put her hooves to her mouth.

"What?" She said in a shocking voice.

"When I was 7, my mom was gonna give me a beating. My sister stepped in to protect me. She wound up getting a beating herself. She would've died if I hadn't have thrown a fucking knife at that bitch's neck. And every fucking time, I still think of that day. She still haunts my dreams, telling me I'm no different than her. Do you know what it's like to be afraid of a pony who's supposed to give you all the love in this world, Twilight? Do you know how it feels to get beaten by somepony who's supposed to give you all sorts of attention and affection? Huh? No, you don't. So stop acting like you think you know me. Cause you don't." I said to her. She looked at me with sympathy in her eyes.

Wait? Why does my face feel wet? I put my hood up to my face. A tear? I'm crying?

......

Why?

******To Be Continued*******

Author's Note: Hey, I'm sorry this was updated so late. I'm also sorry it's so short. I just wanted to get this out to all you people out there. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, make sure to comment, like, and favorite this story for future updates. Goodnight Everybody.