Equestria Noire Case #1: The Royal Guard Case

"So, Rocky is gay, he forms a hate group, and disowns his own son? I guess it makes a little bit of sense." Twilight told me. We had just got done with Emerald Drops. She was escorted to the hospital via one of the officers. Just in case she bumps into Rocky again. From what I was told, she’s gonna stay with Ace for a while. Heh, maybe he’ll treat her right, unlike Rocky.

"Actually, Twilight, it makes perfect sense. He hates himself so much, that he has to put on this facade of a homophobic Bible thumper. When in reality, he's a closeted homosexual, who feels he has to put on a disguise almost, if not every night, to go out and give into his sexual urges. Most homophobes are repressed homosexuals. Trust me, I've seen this before." I explained to her.

"Does his brother Ace know?" Twilight asked.

"I doubt it. Rocky would probably do anything in his power to stay in the closet." I told her.

"Even murder?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Though, we have no proof of him being involved. But, I would like to know one thing, though."

"What's that?"

I showed her the pic of Rocky in his disguise with the young stallion. "Rocky had to have gone to the Cruizin Colt to be with other gay stallions. I'm pretty sure there isn't any other in town, unless it's on the further outskirts of Ponyville." I told her.

"Do you think Steel saw Rocky there, and he might've recognized him?" She asked.

"That's what I'm thinking. If Rocky went to the Cruizin Colt, then there had to have been a time where he bumped into Steel. Cause it looks the two were there almost all the time." I said.

"Maybe Rocky knew Steel recognized him and hired Berry and Cobalt to shut him up so his business wouldn't shut down." Twilight said.

"But if Berry owns the Cruizin Colt, why would he take a bribe from somepony? He obviously must make a lot of bits with all the stallions that come in." I said.

As we thought about it for a quick sec, one of the ponies who works here came up to me. She was a pretty young looking mare. About 20 years old, a red coat with a violet mane.

“Mr. Shadow, an interview room is set for you and Cobalt.” She told me.

“Thank you, I’m on my way there now.” I told her.

She then extended her hoof to me. “Don’t mention it, sir. By the way, I’m Ruby Glow. It’s an honor to be able to meet a big pro like yourself. I hope we can work together again some time.” She said to me in a bit of a humbling way.

Isn’t that nice? I’m actually getting some recognition for this case.

“Thank you Ruby. I appreciate it.” I told her. She smiled and walked off to the break room. I didn’t think I was gonna get a thank you from some pony. Let alone from a different town.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” I turned around to see it was Twilight who asked me that.

“What are you taking about?” I asked her.

“Getting a thank you for your hard work.” She responded.

I was silent for a couple of seconds before I told her, “I guess. Never got that when I was on the force back in New Colt City.”

“You could say that’s what friends are for, right?” Twilight asked.

I frowned at her. “I’m done talking about this subject with you Twilight.” I said as I walked to the interrogation room.

“Wait.” Twilight said, stopping me. Now, I normally would have just continued walking away to the interview room. But, for some fucking reason, I did stop and turned back to face Twilight.

"What?" I asked her, with an intentional harsh tone in my voice.

"I want to apologize." She said. I just glared at her. "I had no idea that you went through something so traumatizing as a foal. And your right. I don't know what it's like to go through what you had to go through. And, frankly, I don't ever want to know myself. I'm sorry I made you dig up such repressed memories Shadow. You have every right to be mad at me."

......Twilight.

"But, I still want to help you. Not just because it's my job, but I really feel like you need a great friend to talk to about your problems." She continued as she then put a hoof on my shoulder. "And I'm one of those ponies Shadow. I don't know if you consider me a friend, but I consider you a friend. So, please, let me help you." She said.

Damn it. I'm starting to feel something again.

I moved her hoof off of my shoulder. "Thank you Twilight. I can't tell you how much I appreciate how much you care about me. And I'm sorry I've yelled at you for just doing your job." I said to her. She gave me a very warm-hearted smile.

"But...." I paused. "Honestly, how can I trust you or anypony else? When I always have this feeling they'll do something that....." I paused again. Fuck. I'm starting to think about Silhouette again.

"Something like what?" Twilight asked me. I didn't say anything at first. She asked again. "Shadow, what happened to this friend of yours? Please. I want to understand." She said.

Well, she already knows about mother, so I guess she might as well know about my old friend.

"I had a friend in high school. She had a crush on me. And I knew that, but didn't tell her I knew. I hoped she would just get over it." I told her. Twilight nodded her head in understanding.

"Her and I and a few other friends of mine went to a dance together. Her and I dance. And she tells me she's in love with me." I told her.

"And?" Twilight asked.

"I told her the truth. I didn't feel the same way she felt toward me. Of course, she didn't take it well. She ran out crying and went home. Wanna know what happened when she got home?" I asked her. Twilight looked nervous. Like, she knew what I was gonna say.

"She committed suicide. She shot herself in the head." I told her. Twilight gasped and put her hooves to her muzzle. She looked about on the verge of tears. I knew this would happen.

"Then my friends blamed me for her suicide. I never spoke with any of them ever again. I still haven't spoken to them to this day. That's why I'm hesitant to make friends. If they choose to make a selfish decision that will harm me or others. That's why Twilight." I told her. She looked at the ground with tears in her eyes.

"Shadow, I....I'm so sorry. I've been so selfish. I never considered how you felt about friendship. I always just thought that if you accept friendship into your life, it'll make you feel better. I guess I'm wrong. I'm sorry Shadow. I'm so fucking sorry." Twilight sobbed, while letting the tears in her eyes run loose.

I'm shocked. Twilight swore? The F word no less? I guess she really does feel remorseful for everything. And she's crying too.

Great. Just like with Angel Blossom. I can't bare to see her cry, and I guess I the same applies to Twilight as well.

It was my turn to put a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight, look at me." She did just that with visible tears still in her eyes. "It's not your fault. You were only trying to help me. So don't blame yourself please." I said. Then, I did something I never expected I would do, other then with my sister. Or the rest of my family.

I hugged Twilight. She was shocked too. But, she hugged back. We stayed like that for a few seconds, until we broke it.

"So, are you ready to interrogate this son of a bitch, Twilight?" I asked her.

She smiled with a twinkle in her eye. "Your gonna let me stay on this one?" She asked sounding excited.

I nodded. "We are partners after all, aren't we?" I said. She sniffled a little bit before she gave a smile again. We then walked toward the interrogation room to talk to Cobalt.

Before we stepped in, Cadaver walked up to us. "I got the DNA results on the knife." He said showing me the papers. He gave them to me and Twilight.

"They do match both of Steel Spear's and Midnight Whistle's blood. However, the blood on the bat is different." He explained to me.

"How so?" I asked.

"The blood on the bat only matches to Berry Breeze's. The knife for Midnight, however, belongs to Cobalt. So, him and Berry may have both killed Steel, but it was Cobalt and Cobalt only who murdered Midnight. Berry was there, but he didn't murder him." He told me.

Hmm. Guess Cobalt is a serial killer.

*********Cobalt Interview*********

"I gotta hand it to ya Cobalt. You almost made me put an innocent stallion behind bars for a crime you committed. You almost got me. I'll give ya credit for it." I said to him. He just glared at me.

"Go on. Glare at me all you want, but we have you for everything. The blood on the knife, the hoofprints, the motive, and even a witness who saw you. You helped Berry Breeze murder your boyfriend of 10 years Steel Spear, and you murdered Midnight Whistle. Your looking at 25 to life in prison Cobalt. That is, if you outlive your sentence." I said to him.

"Green told you, didn't she?" He said. I nodded. "I knew she would've cracked eventually."

Twilight stepped in. "Cobalt, why did you do it?" She asked, sounding remorseful.

He growled. "Motherfucker gave me AIDS, that's why. He cheated on me so many fucking times and spread his disease to other stallions. He was a no good piece of fucking shit. He deserved to die." He said to us, while a few tears rolled down his face.

I noticed that and caught on. "You say all that, and yet your crying? Why?" I asked.

"Cause, even thought I was so fucking mad at him, even after he murdered me, even after he cheated on me all those times, I still loved that bastard. I have no idea why, but I still fucking loved that bastard. He made me do it." Cobalt admitted while he let more tears run down his face.

"As for Midnight, he fucking deserved it too. He made Steel like that. Same with everyone of those fuckers at the Cruizin Colt. But I did him a favor. He had HIV too. I got rid of at least one of those disease ridden bastards. Now he won't go around infecting other stallions." He told me.

Me and Twilight were silent for a few seconds before I spoke again. "I know you didn't act alone. You and Berry murdered Steel and Midnight. Where is he now?" I asked him.

"Can't tell you." He told me.

"Cobalt, you have too. Me and Shadow can protect you with how much time you have left." Twilight interjected.

"It's not me. I'm gonna die anyway. It's Green I'm worried about." Cobalt said looking worried for his friend.

"If you cooperate, I give you my word Cobalt, that nothing will happen to your friend. You can count on it." I said. He still didn't look convinced. Twilight wrapped her wing around him. Showing compassion for a murderer? I guess her kindness knows no bounds. I could never show respect or compassion for a murderer, but I guess I can respect her for that.

"Shadow is right. Plus, I'm a Princess. I can speak with Princess Celestia or Luna about any threats against your friend. No pony can hurt her. I promise. So please. Just tell us where we can find Berry Breeze." She said in the most compassionate voice I've ever heard.

She kinda reminded me of Angel back when I was on the force.

Cobalt hesitated a little bit, before he finally started talking. "He's over at The Cruizin Colt right now. I heard something about a back room. That's where Steel would go to have sex in private with a bunch of stallions. It's where Berry does his, ugh, business. It makes me sick." He said.

Twilight hugged him. "Thank you Cobalt. I swear, I'll do anything I can to protect Green Tea." She told him as she got up and started to leave. I stopped her when I asked Cobalt this next question.

"One last question...." I pulled out the picture of what supposedly was Rocky and showed it to him. ".....Have you seen this stallion before?" I asked him.

He took a good look at the picture. Like he was studying it. "Never seen him before, but I do remember, before I kicked Steel out, that he told me he saw somepony like that. He said it kinda looks like his Dad. Guess he was right. Cause it really does look Rocky." He said.

*********Cruizin Colt*********

Before we left, I told Ruby Glow and a few other officers at the Detention Center to go and pick up Green Tea. She needs protection if her life is being threatened by a drug dealer. Hopefully, they manage to keep her safe. As far as Cobalt is concerned, we managed to work out a deal. He'll serve a sentence in a correctional facility until he dies. With constant health care. From what the doctors told me, he doesn't have that long to live. Thankfully, he gave us something to bring justice to Steel Spear and Midnight Whistle. Maybe he'll die in peace.

This time, I'm gonna let Twilight come in with me. She told Spike before we left the Detention Center to stay put. This might get ugly, and she wouldn't want him caught in the potential crosshair. Not to mention, I'm gonna need her to hold every stallion back in there. And to keep a look out in case anything goes down. Hopefully it doesn't.

I entered the Cruizin Colt. As usual, the music was loud, the stallions were horny, and the alcohol consumption was rampant. Twilight unplugged an amp, which was conveniently right next to the door. That made the music stop, as well as all the dancing from the stallions.

"Hey, who turned the music off?" A young looking stallion said. I took a look at him, and immideatly recognized him. He was the stallion in the photo with "Rocky." I'm gonna need to ask him some questions.

I levitated the search warrant in my hooves. "This is a legitimate investigation here everypony. Don't interfere. If you do, you will be arrested on the spot." I shouted out to them. Then I turned to the stallion in the photo.

I pointed to a spot by the bar. "Wait right there. I have questions for you after I'm done." I told him. He did as he was told and sat at the bar. Twilight blocked the entrance to make sure no pony would try to escape. She even had some magic emitting from her horn.

I levitated the picture of "Rocky" toward everypony in the club. "Has anypony here seen this stallion here before? If yes, please raise your right hoof." I told everypony. They all took a look at it, and everypony raised their hooves up.

There was a stallion with a light red mane that was stylised and a dark red coat. He looked about 20 years old. He spoke first. "Yeah, he's here almost every night." He told me.

"Almost? When wasn't he here?" I asked.

Another stallion spoke next. He had a yellow coat and a pink mane with some eye shadow on. "Last night. He must not have felt comfortable after Steel Spear almost got into it with him." He told me.

"There was a fight? What happened?" I asked.

"Well, it was a couple nights before what happened. Steel was getting some action from Sky Dove over there." He pointed to the stallion by the bar. He waived nervously. "Then Violet Breeze walked by and Steel looked at him. He followed him, spun him around, and calls him "Dad" for some reason. Then Violet punched Steel so hard, he almost broke his jaw. Then Violet just ran out." The yellow stallion said.

Violet Breeze? That is the name Rocky came up with?

"Where is Berry Breeze?" I asked everypony.

"He's in the backroom. Doing business." The red stallion said as he pointed to a door that was near one of the poles where Stallions would dance for other stallions. I walked over to there and knocked on the door.

"Berry Breeze, open the door. Detective Shadow Haze. I am here to place you under arrest. Come out right now, and I can help work out a deal with you." I told him.

I heard some russling going on in there. I stepped back a couple steps. Something's gonna happen.

"Not gonna happen fucker." I heard him about. I quickly dive out of the way as I knew what was gonna happen next.

Bang, Bang

Gun shots went out through the door. All the stallions in the club screamed, some like mares, and rushed to the exit. Thankfully, none of them were hurt in the crossfire. Twilight let them out of the club to get to safety. She then stepped outside herself and called 911 from her phone.

I managed to hide behind a wall that was opposite from the door. Then the door opened. There he stood. His red coat and pink mane all stylised and perfect like he apparently wants it to. He had a rifle in his hooves.

"I've been hearing a lot about you from around town Detective. I had a feeling you'd show up eventually." He called out to me, trying to find my location.

"It's over Berry. Cobalt and Blue Flash gave you up. I also have DNA evidence that you were involved. And Green Tea is in the safety of the police. You've got nowhere to go. It's best you surrender and admit to the murders of Steel and Midnight." I called out to him. I looked at a mirror hanging above a doorframe from where Berry is. He was coming right toward me.

He scoffed at my reply. "I had a feeling that boy Cobalt was gonna talk." He yelled out. He also looked to have had a cigarette in his muzzle. Something I would never do in my life. I silently moved toward another location to get away from him, and get a better shot at him.

I heard him shoot at a random mirror. I'm thinking he saw me. Shit.

"Why don't you be a man and come out here and face me mother fucker?" He called out and shot off his shot gun again.

I crawled behind the bar and quickly took a peak. He was about a few feet away from me. I was behind him. I needed to subdue him. I know I had my gun, but I didn't want to have to wound him. Lawyers would love that shit.

I was near the entrance to where the bartender, whose name I never got, would come in to serve drinks. Like a table top entrance. I hid there for a sec, before I heard him coming near.

"You think Steel died a hero, detective? No, he died an HIV infected, disease spreading piece of fucking shit. I'm glad I was given a great opportunity to kill him. I'm gonna get a massive fucking payday, even if I do go to jail. You hear me?" He angrily called. I heard him getting closer. "Where are you? Come the fuck out. Now!" He yelled.

There. I saw his hooves coming near the table top entrance. I quickly enhanced it with my magic, and I hit him right in his face.

"AAARGH!" He cried out in pain. I saw his shotgun drop to the floor. This is my chance.

I stepped out and lunged toward him. He went to throw a punch, but I blocked it. I punched him in his gut, but he pushed me away. He went to grab the gun, but I got my steel chain out and I whipped it on his head. Of course, he cried out in pain. I turned around and bucked his side as hard as I could, and he fell to the floor. I wrapped the chain around my hoof, and I hit him in his face a few times.

I turned Berry around, cuffed him, and read his Miranda rights. "Berry Breeze, you are under arrest for the murder of Steel Spear and Midnight Whistle. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law..." I continued to say everything else.

I looked over at the back room. I'm gonna need to look in there now.

"Stay right here, ya stupid son of a bitch, okay?" I said as I patted his head.

He replied with a simple, "Fuck You!"

I walked over to the open door, and headed inside. And what I saw in there....

HOLY SHIT!

There was crates everywhere in here. Crates that looked pretty full of shit. Shit that many ponies would look at as illegal. I walked over to the first one. I managed to open it with a crowbar that was, conveniently, in the room as well.

Well, I guess I found what I was looking for. There was packets of cocaine in these crates. Guess I was right all along about where Steel got his drugs from. I looked over at another one, opened it with the crowbar, and this time, I found some syringes. I didn't need to look closer to know what it was. Heroin.

Then, I looked over at a desk that was in a another room just opposite from the crates. This looked like Berry's office. I went into the room. He had pictures of famous movies, like the GodPony, Dark Stallion, and Scarhead. All great films. Then, I opened up a few desk drawers. There was a knife there. Probably, when he talks "business."

Then, I found a document that was in his left drawer. It looked important.

As I read over it, I knew that this club needed to be shut down. For the safety of all the stallions here and any other potential visitors.

I walked out of the back room, only to find Berry trying to escape. He pushed at the front door with his shoulders. I need to stop him.

"FREEZE! Or I'll shoot!" I called at him. He didn't listen. He lunged outside. I attempted to give chase. I came out the door, only to find Twilight tripping him up with her magic. Good work Twilight.

Only, he then used a bit of his magic to throw Twilight off. It worked, because she dodged it with her body. I went over to check on her.

"Don't worry about me. Just go get him." Twilight told me. I didn't want to leave her if she was hurt, but I had a murderer to catch. So, I left her there.

He attempted to run again, of course with me chasing him, when all of a sudden, I saw a pony come out of fucking nowhere, and tackle Berry to the ground. I didn't get a good look at him, until I got closer.

It was.....Blue Flash? What the fuck?

After Blue had gotten in a few punches to Berry, he hoisted him up, and threw him over to me.

"He's all yours, Detective Shadow Haze." He said to me.

I was really confused. How did Blue know we were going to catch him? How did he know that we were currently trying to chase after him?

When we got back over to the Cruizin Colt, a police carriage was already there. Odd. I didn't call it over. So, who did?

Anyway, I put him in and sent him off to the Detention Center. Where I'm gonna go interrogate his ass.

I turned to all the stallions. They looked on as Berry was taken away. I figured now is a time to tell all of them.

"Before you all leave, I'm must warn you all to get yourself tested for HIV or AIDS." I told them.

They all looked shocked. Sky Dove came up to me and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Both Steel Spear and Midnight Whistle were HIV positive when they died. If any of you has had sexual contact with either of those two, or anypony who had sexual contact with them, get yourself tested at once." I told them.

They all looked sick. Like they were about to throw up. Can't say I blame them. They all walked away, either to get themselves tested like I said, or to probably wallow in their self pity. Hopefully it's the former.

I stopped Sky Dove from walking away. "I still need you to come down the the Detention Center with me." I said to him.

He groaned in uncomfortableness.

I also saw Blue walking away as well.

"Blue." I called out to him. He turned to me.

"Come with me. We need to talk to you too." I said to him. He hesitated, before he agreed to it.

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

As we all walked in, Berry was still struggling. One of the officers here actually had to use a taser gun on him to subdue him. That's how bad it was getting.

Spike ran over to Twilight and hugged her. Guess I understand. She could've gotten shot. She wouldn't have died, her being an alicorn and all. But she still would've gotten seriously hurt.

As Berry was being taken to an interrogation room, I went up to Blue Flash and decided to ask him what he was doing.

"Blue, how did you know that me and Twilight were going after Berry?" I asked him. Before he answered, he levitated out a police badge.

Holy Shit! Blue is a cop?!

"Sorry if I interfered. But, I'm just doing my job." He said to me.

Twilight stepped in. "This case was just for Shadow and myself. Were you illegally investigating this case?" She asked him. Blue laughed a little bit.

"Princess Twilight, Shadow, I was undercover this whole time." He told us. What?! Undercover?!

"I was sent here from New Colt City when this all happened. I decided to act as a bar goer. That's when I found you there. I was acting. That's all." He told me. Well, I guess I fell for it. He honestly did look like a gay stallion. Especially with all the cosmetics he had on him.

"So, you aren't really gay then?" I asked him.

He shook his head and chuckled. "Actually, I am. I'm a proud gay police officer, Detective. I'm also pretty good at acting. I took a few classes when I was in high school. I did pretty good, didn't I?" He asked me with a confident tone.

Heh. Yeah, I did fall for it.

Wait! He said Undercover. I think I remember somepony told me this.

"It was Angel Blossom who sent you, wasn't it?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Yeah. She wanted me to just check on you. See if you would be okay. She really cares about you, ya know." He said to me.

I blushed again. Angel really did a lot to help me. That was great what ya did Angel.

I looked over at Twilight, who was giving me a sly smirk. I gave her a mean look to get her to shut up. She didn't.

"Thank you Blue." I said to him. "For everything. You really are great at being undercover." I said to him as I extended my hoof for a hoofshake.

He smiled and nodded. "Anything to put that bastard behind bars, detective." He said as he accepted my hoof.

I looked at Twilight, who no longer had a sly smile on her face, but a heartwarming smile.

I gave it back to her.