Ponies were all around watching me. Watching me rant and rave at Twilight. The Princess of Friendship. They heard EVERY FUCKING WORD. Every word I said.

I couldn't take it. I walked away from Twilight and everypony in the town square. I needed to be alone. I needed to talk with the only ponies who TRULY get me. The only ponies who understand me.

"Shadow, wait." I heard Twilight call me. I didn't turn back to look at her. Why should I? She made me get all pissed off at her, causing me to dredge up old terrible fucking memories.

"I didn't know." I heard Twilight softly say to herself.

*******Somewhere on the Outskirts of Ponyville*******

I got my phone out and decided to, well pretty much, vent out my frustrations on somepony who can actually fucking listen to me and get what I'm saying.

My phone rang a few times before I heard her voice pick up. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hey sis. It's me." I answered.

"Hey Shadow. How's the case going? Did you find out who it is?" Melody asked.

"Well, I just have to find the fucker, and then I'll send him to Justice. But, yeah, I have a pretty good feeling about who it is." I told her.

"Well, that's great. So, why'd you call? Is something bothering you?" She asked. She knows me so well. Probably, even better than I know myself.

I paused for a little bit before I told her, "Yeah. It is."

"What's wrong?" She said now having that motherly concerned tone of voice I've known all these years.

I sniffed a little bit. She spoke again, now sounding even more compassionate than ever. "Hey, are you okay? You know can tell me anything, right? I'm always here for you, you know." She told me.

It took a bit for me to speak, but I eventually did. "I, well,--" I got a bit choked up here. "I kind of thought about...HER again." I said.

"Mom?" She said.

"Yes." I said.

"Shadow, you listen to me right now." She said now getting serious. "What happened all those years ago was NOT ON YOU. If you hadn't have done what you did, Mom would've killed me. And I wouldn't have had Comet. Your little idol. Stop listening to what our fucking cunt of a grandmother said to you. You saved my life." She pretty much poured her heart out to me.

I felt a few tears run down my face. "Still, I see that every Celestia Damn night whenever I think about it. Or if it gets brought up. I feel like I'm no fucking different than any other criminal out there. Even thought I'm a detective." I said.

I could tell she was starting to get all teared up too. "Your a hero Shadow. Every day you put your life on the line for other ponies, even though your in so much mental pain. Why do you think Comet looks up to you so much?" She asked.

"I love that kid. However, sometimes I wish he wouldn't look up to me so much." I told her.

"I know. But, he does, and there's no changing that. So, all I can tell you, is to keep on fighting little brother. For you. And for us. Especially for your nephew."

"Sometimes I get so tired of fighting." I flat out told her.

"Shadow." She said getting my attention. "I love you. You are my little brother. I don't know what I'd do if you chose to quit fighting. And I know Comet would be heartbroken if you stopped fighting. You have ponies in your life that mean a lot. Me. Obviously Comet. Solar Storm. Aunt Mystic Shine and Uncle Dark Moon. Our “other sisters”. What about them?" She explained to me.

I couldn't even find the words. I couldn't even speak. Everything that Mel was saying was true. If I decided to "quit fighting", they all would be devastated.

"And what about Angel Blossom? You two obviously have feelings for each other. What do you think she'd do if you stopped fighting? Hmm." She asked.

I guess I need to stop being so damn weak. Mel is right. I love my family. I can't have them go through with that.

"Your right Mel. Your right about everything." I said.

"Of course I am. You need to think about others sometimes more so than yourself. That's what Aunt Misty told me." She said.

"Thank you Melody. I'm sorry if I got you worked up. I just needed to get that off my chest." I said.

"It's okay little brother. I know you've had....problems...your whole life. But, I'm here for you. Always." She told me. I could tell she had a few tears in her eyes again. Ain't that just like me? I make my big sis cry because of my own fucking problems.

"Well, I gotta go get the guy and put him in jail. I'll talk to you later sis." I said.

"Okay. And remember what I told you, okay?" She said.

"Yeah. I'll see you on Saturday." I said.

"Okay. See you then. Ba bye."

"Bye." I hung up the phone.

I know I can always count on my big sister to help me. She always knows how to bring me back up when I'm feeling down about myself. She's, honestly, my real mom. She always looked after me when my mother was getting drunk off her ass and protecting me when she got violent. She took a lot of abuse for years, just to protect me.

She's a strong mare. That's for damn sure. She adjusted to change at the stomp of a hoof. Whereas me, I had to make my cousins, or as they prefer to be called my "big sisters", wait for a long time damn time to at least open up to them a little bit.

Fuck. I still remember that night after what I did to my mother. When Aunt Mystic Shine and Uncle Dark Moon picked me and Mel up from the police station.

**********Flashback to 17 Years Ago-Police Station**********

A young 7 year old Colt, little Shadow Haze, was sitting on a chair in silence. Pure and utter silence. Taking in everything that just happened.

He took the life of a mare who brought him into this world. A mare who should have given him as much love and attention as a goal would need from a parent.

However, with this mother though, that was not the case. When Shadow was five years old, that was when his mother started hurting him. Sometimes it would be if he accidentally broke a glass, if he was "too loud", or sometimes he would just take a shot because his mother needed to let off some steam.

He didn't know why she beat him? What did he do wrong? He was, or at least tried to be a good boy. But it was never good enough for her. She was always so angry and hateful toward him.

He, obviously, feared her. However, what made him hate her was when Mel would get one too. If she talked back,she would get hit. If she did something mother didn't agree with, she'd get hit. Most of all, if she tried to defend Shadow, she'd get a beating. An almost severe one where she would need medical attention.

This time, she almost did kill her. She almost beat her to death with her bare hooves. But Shadow stopped it.

And, thanks to some convincing from Melody, Shadow let the police look over his body for signs of physical abuse. Obviously there were. Melody told them everything that happened. From when the abuse started, all the way to when Shadow killed his mother. So, hopefully, there was a good chance he won't go to jail.

Young Shadow sat there with tears in his eyes, scared of what might happen to him, when he heard a voice coming toward him.

"Oh Shadow." A grown up mare in her mid thirties cried as she scooped Shadow into a hug. She had a dark purple coat with a silver mane.

"Don't you worry sweetheart. Your Aunty Misty and your Uncle Moony are gonna look after you and your sister from now on. Everything's gonna be fine. I promise." She said with tears in her eyes as she hugged him again.

Shadow, with tears visible, just closed his eyes as he hugged his aunt back.

********* Present Day*********

Thankfully, the charges never went anywhere, cause Aunt Misty confirmed everything that Mel and me had told them. So, I didn't spend any time in juvenile detention. Or worse: Prison.

After that, me and Mel lived with my aunt and uncle and their seven daughters. My cousins, or like I said, my other big sisters. It was different growing up with a big family. But, one things for sure, I would never have changed a thing about it.

They are my family. Blood or no blood, they are my real and true family.

I've got so much shit on my mind, it's getting hard to concentrate on this case. I need to find a way to get to Berry Breeze and Cobalt and get them to confess to Steel's murder.

*ring*ring* Oh, my phone.

“Shadow Haze.” I answered.

“Hey Shadow, it’s me Angel. How are things going with on the case?” My maybe girlfriend said. It’s good to hear from her. But why is she calling now?

“Well, I found out it was an owner of a gay club named Berry Breeze and the victim’s boyfriend Cobalt. Also, the victim had HIV when he passed, which he likely spread onto other stallions. I just need to find both of them, and the knife that was used at the crime scene.” I explained to her.

“Sounds like you could use some help. Maybe, uh, a search warrant on the Cruizin Colt?” She asked. How did she know the name of the bar?

“How did you know the name of that bar?” I asked her.

“Do you really think that I was gonna give you a case, and not be a part of it too?” She asked me.

“How did you do this? Your in New Colt City.” I told her.

“Yes, but I’ve also been looking into a few places, and a few suspects who, quite possibly have been involved with that guards murder.” She told me.

“Again, though, how did you do it?” I asked her.

“Well,” She said. I could tell she was getting red in the face. I love when that happens.

“I guess you can say I’m always looking out for you, ya know. I sent one of my guys over here to watch you do your work. And then they’ll report to me what you did, so I could help you out.” She said.

“You sent some pony to spy on me, and give you information about my case? Isn’t that kind of criminalish?” I asked her.

“Maybe, but I really wanted to help you Shadow. Cause I care about you.” She said

“Why would you do all this for me? After How I’ve treated you before?” I asked.

She was silent before she told me, “Do I have to repeat myself?”

..........I have no words. Angel really cares about me so much, that she’d break a few rules, just to help me. Mel was right about everything she said.

Maybe Twilight was right too.

“Well, thank you Angel. Is the search warrant at the Ponyville Detention Center?” I asked.

“Yeah. The commissioner will give it to you when you get there.” She said.

“Thank you.” I said.

“No problem.” She said. I didn’t mean “Thank You” like that though.

“No Angel, I mean, Thank You.” I could tell she was confused now.

“What do you mean?”

“Thanks for everything.” I said. “Thanks for being here, even when I don’t fucking deserve it. Thanks for helping me at my lowest point. And just thanks for being a great mare. I’m glad to have you in my life.” I said.

I felt a few tears run down my face. I guess maybe I can’t suppress my emotions as much as I think I can. I could tell she was crying too. Cause I heard a sniffle on the other line.

“Don’t mention it Shadow.” She said.

We both said our goodbyes, and we hung up.

Celestia damn it.

“SHADOW!” I heard a loud voice call out to me. It was Twilight and Spike. They were both running toward me. They looked like they had some important info to give me.

I didn’t say anything, but I could tell Twilight had some remorse in her eyes. She just had that look in her face. I’ve seen it several times when I interrogated ponies.

"Mr. Shadow, we've got a search warrant for Cobalt's house. Maybe we can find something there. We better hurry." Spike told me.

"That's good. An old friend of mine just called me and said there's also a search warrant for The Cruizin Colt. We could look into that place after we get Cobalt." I told them.

"Yeah, let's go." Spike said as we all quickly trotted over to Cobalt and Steel Spear's home. Twilight looked at me with that remorseful look she had just a moment ago as we ran.

I didn't say a Celestia Damn thing to her.

*******Steel and Cobalt's Home*******

I knocked on the door a few times. No answer. So I decided to call out.

" COBALT, THIS IS DETECTIVE SHADOW HAZE! Open up, or I will be forced to break it in." I yelled. Again, no answer. So, I pulled out my gun, held it in place, and I kicked that fuckin door in as hard as I could.

" COBALT? Are you home?" I called out as I searched the living room and kitchen. He wasn't there. I made sure I had my gun pointed out while I was searching. Never know when an ambush could happen.

"Empty in the bedroom." Spike called out.

"Empty in the basement." Twilight called out.

I looked in the bathroom. He wasn't there. "Empty in the bathroom. Cobalt isn't here." I called out to Twilight and Spike.

" TWILIGHT! SHADOW! GET IN HERE!" Spike called out to us very frantically. Twilight and I immideatly rushed I to the bedroom of Steel and Cobalt. I saw Spike pointing to the mattress.

"I think I saw something under there. I didn't wanna move it, cause I didn't wanna ruin any evidence." He told me.

I looked at Twilight. "Help me lift this." I told her.

She nodded. "Okay."

We then both lifted the mattress with ease. And what we saw that was underneath the mattress, was exactly one of the things I was looking for.

It was a knife. A knife that was covered with blood. Which was dry now, but I'm sure Cadaver could help out with this. I levitated the knife, and put it in a bag.

I turned to Twilight. "Get this bag over to Cadaver. Tell him to get started on it at once." I told her. She nodded and ran out the door.

"So, Cobalt really DID kill Steel?" Spike asked me.

"He had help with Berry Breeze, but yes. He did." I told him.

Spike shuttered. Can't say I blame him. This just proves there is a killer in town. And he's already got two victims. Steel Spear, and just earlier Midnight Whistle.

As I walked out with Spike, I heard hoofsteps coming. And somepony had come around the corner of the kitchen. It was Cobalt. Who didn't look to happy to see me right now.

"Hey, why the fuck are you in my house? And what the hell did you do to my door?" He angrily yelled.

I got this son of a bitch now.

"Just catching a killer. Cobalt, your under arrest." I told him. And, again like with Duke Bronco, Cobalt has to run. He ran out the door where the kitchen was and ran outside, with me on his tail. Spike had taken the liberty to fly above him to help me out.

"COBALT! Stop running, or I will have no choice but to use excessive force." I called out to him.

"NO, I CANT GO TO JAIL!" He called out very frantically. He sounded scared. For what reason though?

Spike had managed to fly ahead of him just a little bit, and he blew a big wall of fire on front of Cobalt, stopping him from running. Thankfully, that stopped him for a little bit.

And I came in for the final blow. I tackled him to the ground as hard as I could to subdue him. I was on top of his back, while I cuffed him right there.

"Cobalt, you are under arrest for the murder of Steel Spear. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law..." I continued my Miranda rights to him as I propped him up and walked him over to a nearby bench, so I could get a carriage to take him down to the Detention Center.

After I called them, the carriage would be here in a little bit, I got another call on my phone.

"Detective Shadow Haze." I answered.

"Shadow, do you have Cobalt?" Cadaver asked me. Good to hear from him.

"Yes, I just called a carriage to have him taken down to the Detention Center for questioning. Why?" I asked.

"Well, when the carriage gets there, you might want to come down here as quickly as you can." He told me.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"It's Rocky's wife, Emerald Drops. She says he beat the shit out of her. But she managed to smuggle something out of there. You might want to see this." He told me.

"Okay. I'll see what I can do." I said as I hung up. Why is Emerald Drops trying to help me? Earlier, she was about to fight me and Twilight after I questioned him about his son's murder.

Though, he is a woman beater. That's still something I should look into.

******* Ponyville Detention Center*******

After the carriage had picked up Cobalt, I was given a lift over to there by they guys who were driving it. Cool guys. Anyway, as Cobalt was being taken in, I saw Twilight talking with Emerald, while also helping her tend her wounds on her face.

Fucking A. This mare was damn near brutalized. She had a swollen black eye, a bloody nose, and bruise marks all over her face and body. She looked to be in pain. She needed a hospital, but from the looks of it, she wanted to be here to give us something.

That piece of fucking shit Rocky. It's one thing to be a homophobe, but a mare beater as well?

And he claims he's a good Christian. Fuck that.

Before I sat down next to them, I was given the search warrant for The Cruizin Colt. After I'm done with Emerald, I'm gonna get that fucker Berry Breeze. Hopefully, this is short.

I sat down next to Twilight and Emerald Drops. "Hello Emerald. I'm surprised to see you here. After what happened earlier." I told her.

She didn't look too happy that I made that comment. "I can do without your arrogant tone Detective. Thank you." She told me.

Me? Arrogant? The fuck is this mare talking about?

"Even so, your husband beat the shit out of you. You should seek a real doctor. Why are you here?" I asked her.

Twilight interjected with, "I told her to see a doctor, but she refused medical attention." Emerald gave her a look. Apparently, she didn't like being interrupted.

"The reason is because of what my husband really is." She told me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

She then took out a few items from her purse. And the things I saw just blew me away. Twilight looked just as shocked too.

There was a bottle of coat and mane dye. Conversely, there was also coat and mane dye remover. These looked to have been used a lot. Like almost everyday.

Not even just that, those same bottles, she also brought out empty bottles of those same coat and mane dye. So apparently, whomever these belong too, they use this stuff quite a lot. Frequently almost.

Then, the biggest one, she brought out a magazine. It was titled Sexy Stallions Weekly. It had a photo of a stallion, a muscular looking stallion, posing at the camera with a seductive look on his face. He also was showing his junk on the cover too. Didn't need to see that, but I did. Twilight blushed a little bit, and looked away from the cover. Apparently, she doesn't get a lot of action.

"Where did you find all this stuff? And what does this have to do with your husband?" I asked. I think I have a feeling where this is going, but I need to be sure.

She then took out the last thing in her purse. Then, I almost immideatly got the idea. It was a picture of a stallion, who looked around the same age as Rocky. Only, he had a blonde mane and a purple coat. The stallion was getting a lap dance from a young looking Pegasus stallion. He looked about 27 years old, with a silver coat and a green mane. Those two looked to be enjoying each other.

The physical features on the stallion getting the lap dance did kind of look a bit similar to Rocky. It's like he was a twin to Rocky.

"I found this in a little hidden part of the bookshelf in our library. I found them and he got angry. He almost killed me, but I got away. Thankfully, I concealed everything with my magic." She told me.

I guess I understand why Rocky hates his son so much. He reminds him of himself. I also get why he would form this big homophobic church. To cover up everything about himself.

Rocky's gay, huh? Should've known.

Author's Note

Hey everyone. Sorry for updating so late. I recently suffered a tragedy. My dog, whom I had for 16 years, had passed away a few weeks ago. And I just wanted to focus on other things. But, here ya go. If you liked this chapter, make sure you comment, like, follow and favorite my story for future updates. Thank you all and goodnight everybody.