Hidden Masks

by CoreyJack1123

Rating: teen
Tags: Random, Violence, Dark, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Royal Guard
Length: 2996

Midnight Comet, a private investigator, was just relaxing at home when he heard somepony scream. It's going to be a long night...

Midnight Comet is a private investigator who works along with the royal guard. He is real good at his job, and few can match him. But he prefers to work alone.

That changes one night when he hears somepony scream. He played a bad hand and now somepony knows more than they should. Can things get any worse?

…

Crapbaskets.

(Written for the "Through Fire" Writeoff event.)

Published 2019-07-21 13:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-07-21 13:20:01 UTC

One Crazy Night

I felt a nice cool breeze run through my blond mane, and run along my horn. It seemed to dance and, if I had to guess, would assume it would be a waltz. 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3. Over and over I heard the numbers repeated in my mind. I began to sway to the old tune I knew by heart.

I ran through the motions, dancing at a ghostly ball. Where I was the only dancer. With the moonlight gleaming off of my cream colored coat, I looked like an ethereal being. That, and my red eyes wasn’t helping any. If anything, I would probably look like a demon or something. Given that I lived in a world full of hydras, chimeras and cockatrices, ‘monster’ wouldn’t have really worked.

I sighed, “Semantics. Does it really matter what you call them in the end?”

A loud scream decided to answer my question.

Truthfully, it sounded like the scream of a mare, but I have met some stallions that could scream that loud. That… was a weird day. I decided to refocus on my waltz, trying to pick back up where I last let off.

I heard commotion from the street, so I lean over the balcony of my second story apartment to try to hear them better. From what I could make out, it seems some mare was found with two puncture marks found on her neck. I froze, was it what I thought it was?

I stepped back into my apartment, and head over toward my dresser. I pulled out my trench-coat, fedora and license. I was a private investigator, so I should at least look the part, right? I opened the drawer, the drawer that held Dia and Nyx. My twin pistols.

I wondered if I would really needed them. I mean, it wouldn’t have to come to that, would it? I sighed, “Am I really willing to risk somepony’s life like this? No. I’m not willing to take the chance.” I put Dia and Nyx into specially designed pockets in my trench-coat, and with that, I was heading out the door of my apartment.

As I walked, I began to ponder: What cause the puncture wounds found on the mare’s neck? Was it some lunatic who thought they was a vampire? Was it a vampire? If it was a vampire, why choose Canterlot?

Canterlot was a big city, and it was easier to get caught. Honestly, I could think of a thousand others places that the vampire could have chose, and wouldn’t have gotten caught.

I sighed. “Sometimes, hindsight is 20/20.” I said, while shaking my head.

Suddenly, I felt a chill go down my spine. I felt as if I was being watched.

I shook my head again, I was in the middle of the street! Of course I was being watched! But I couldn’t shake off the cold feeling of dread. I shivered as I continued to walk toward the source of the scream.

I finally made it to the mass gathering of bystanders and saw that they were nearly all unicorns.

“Yay.” I said, dryly. “Nobles.”

Nobles, in my opinion, were the worst. They all ways whined if something didn’t go their way, and acted like pricks if it did. They were impossible to please and had a “holier that thou” attitude. Oh, and they was incompetent. They were very incompetent.

I understand that not all nobles act like that, but a good 98% do. The good ones are like my nights off, they’re few and far between. And often too good to be true.

“Excuse me!” I yelled, as I made my way through the crowd. “Private Investigator coming through!”

I finally fought my way through the crowd, barely emerging from the other side. It was so claustrophobic!

I thought I was going to suffocate!

“You aren’t dying. Now, pull yourself together!”

I took a deep breath, and another, until I had a steady rhythm. I felt my breathing begin to slow, and I began to relax. I imagined myself back at the ghostly ball, dancing to the waltz. 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3.

“Remember, this isn’t back home. What happened there doesn’t apply here.”

I opened my eyes, and saw a mare sprawled out on the ground in front of me. She wasn’t moving, well not that I could see anyway.

“Has anypony checked for a pulse?” I yelled, over the crowd, hoping to get a response.

I got a response alright, mostly blank stares of confusion. I few shook their heads no, as if they thought it was the job of a lesser pony.

“Does nopony check for a pulse anymore?!” I growled with frustration. Seriously, it wasn’t that hard to do!
I put my hoof on her neck, and I felt a beat, a heartbeat.

“She’s alive!” I yelled, to no one in particular.

I looked around at the crowd, and saw that nopony seemed to care. Or if they did, they didn’t show it. I decided to focus on what they was saying in their hushed whispers.

“She’s alive? Well knowing her, she’d wish she was dead after news of this spreads.” one stallion said, with a slight chuckle.

I gritted my teeth. That wasn’t something to joke about! Besides, who ever did this was still out there, and it could be anyone of them.

Suddenly, the crowd parted, and a squad of Solar guards walked into the center; They were all stallions. There was two earth ponies, two pegasi, and one unicorn. I thought it was impossible to tell, because the guards acted as one. Not one word was spoken among them, but they seemed to know what the others thought.

The five of them stood looking around as if they were trying to spot something. However, they couldn’t seem to find it. Whatever it was.

I also took a moment to look around, trying to see what the guards was looking for. For a moment, I thought I saw a shadow move, and my heart leapt into my throat. I blinked, and couldn’t find the offending shadow. Was I just seeing things, or…?

“Alright! Did anypony see anything?” yelled the unicorn guard, whom I assumed was the squad leader.

He was met with a chorus of “No”s. He sighed and told everypony to head back home and get some sleep. That they would take it from here.

“Might I ask why the Solar guard is working this late?” I asked. “I was expecting the Lunar guard.”

“We was on stand-by.” answered the squad leader, “ The Lunar guard was practicing some drills when we was notified of a disturbance.” He blinked, “Who are you? I thought I told everyone to go home.”

“Midnight Comet, private investigator.” I answered, handing him my license. “You should be able to find everything you need in there.”

“This says it is an official “Donut Joe’s” membership card.” he said, looking back up at me. “I don’t even think Joe uses these!”

“Whoops! Wrong one!” I quickly take the license back and hand him the real one. “I always keep those two together. Faust, that was embarrassing.” I said, feeling hotter all of a sudden.

…

Nope, everything was fine. Everypony was fine. It was all FINE!

“Um, who are you sir?” I asked the guard.

“Corporal Stormy Spear, sir.” he replied.

“Stormy Spear, let us never speak of this again.”

Stormy Spear merely grunted, not even validating a response. His focus was entirely on the license, looking it over to make sure that everything was in order. Suddenly, I saw that Stormy Spear’s jaw had tightened.

Honestly, if I hadn’t been watching him, I would’ve missed his change of expression. It was very subtle. I know guards are suppose to keep their composure, but if this is how they do it… Just wow. I would cower in fear if they were to be trained as spies. Well, Stormy Spear’s squad at least.

He was still reading my license, so it was the cause of his shift in composure. Did I give him the wrong one again? Or did I…? No! Please tell me I didn’t!

I looked through my licenses again and found the one that worried me. So it wasn’t that one. I also found the other version of my “Private Investigator” license.

I had another version, but I didn’t really ever use it. It gave me the authority equal to the “Captain of the Royal Guard”, should the need arise. However, there was never I reason to have the need to control the guard. Hence why it wasn’t really used. The one time it would’ve been needed, I was out of town on a case. Thankfully, the “Elements of Harmony” managed to sort everything out.

I looked at the license, and my heart leapt into my chest.

IT WASN’T THE ONE I THOUGHT IT WAS!

I was holding onto the one I meant to show him. It said I was licensed by Celestia herself, and could request assistance from the guard if I needed, but I lacked the “rule the guard” authority.

I gulped, loudly. I then looked up to see Stormy Spear’s reaction, and I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice. If looks could kill, he would slay a hydra by staring at a single face. I saw a lot of anger in his eyes, but his face wore a deadpanned look. Normal ponies wouldn’t be able to detect such a thing and I wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or a curse.

…

Blessing, more likely.

Stormy Spear walked over towards one of his squad mates, and held a quick exchange. After a moment, the other guard, one of the pegasi, saluted and gathered up the rest of the squad.

Apparently, one of the guards was a medic, or had some training at least.

The mare that had been attacked had bandages wrapped around her neck. Tight enough to apply pressure to the wounds, but loose enough to not choke her. I gazed upon the work in a mix of awe and horror. If he knew how to help the body heal, then he knew how much pain could be inflicted before somepony passed out from the pain. Or worse.

Best not think about that.

One of the Earth ponies picked up the unconscious mare, and I overhead something about a hospital.

Good, better to be safe than sorry.

The four of them left as a group, but seemed to keep looking into the shadows. Still searching for something.

“Midnight Comet, you’re with me.” Stormy Spear said, in an even tone.

I felt the color drain out of me when he said that. I have learned how to read ponies, but it was impossible to read Stormy Spear.

Absolute sheer terror was an understatement to what I felt in that moment.

I knew Stormy Spear was a normal pony, but he didn’t act like one. Either he had some super secret agent background, or he was using some sort of magic. If he was using magic, the only possible explanation I could think of was his Cutie Mark.

I read a study showing that not only is somepony’s Cutie Mark the source of their magic, but it can greatly affect their magic as well. Captain Shining Armor is a great example. He is terrible with offensive spells, but with defensive spells…
Well, there is a reason he is called the “Immovable Object”.

I hesitatingly followed Stormy Spear along the path to Canterlot Castle. I figured he wanted to check with the princesses about the license. Not that I blame him. If someone decided to tell me how to do my job, I would be pretty mad too.

That’s why I wasn’t as surprised when Stormy Spear threw me into the nearest alley and threw up a sound-proofing spell. Part of me was scared, wondering what he was going to do, while the other part wondered why he waited so long.

“I have questions, and you have the answers.” he said quietly. “I ask, you answer.”

“Yeah, that’s how it works.” I said, regretting it immediately.

“I don’t need any smart answers from you!” he hissed, with no hint of anger on his face.

Suddenly, I felt the cool, foreboding air that surrounded us, and I began to calm down. It felt like home.

I was still afraid, but not at the serve level that I was at just a moment ago. I had learned long ago to not underestimate an opponent, potential or otherwise. Less I put myself into another precarious position, again.

“Who do you think you are?” Stormy Spear asked. “You have the authority to command the guard, but aren’t a member of the guard yourself!”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll answer that question with a question.” I replied. Stormy Spear was about to object, but I cut him off, “What was you and your squad looking for earlier? Whatever it was had you lot on high alert.”

I saw him tense up after that, “You noticed that? I didn’t anypony would. You seem to have a knack for noticing small details like that, but it has left me with more questions than answers.”

“No doubt it has, but my intuition tells me whatever you and your squad was searching for is approximately 85% related to whatever attack the mare. The chance that the thing is what attacked that mare is around 20%, give or take.”

“How much do you know about what attacked the mare? You seem to know a lot more than you’re letting on.”

“Truthfully, I really don’t know anything for certain. I have a lot of theories and conjectures, but nothing concrete. I-” I cut myself off after seeing that Stormy Spear’s face begin to twist with worry and confusion. “There’s something behind me isn’t there?”

Stormy Spear only nodded.

I sighed at turn to face the thing behind me.

“Cultist? Maniac? Demon?” I guessed. “I mean all signs point to vampire, but I have had weirder things happen before. Besides, I would think that a vampire wouldn’t be so careless.”

“My, my, my.” said a new voice. “You wasn’t showing such confidence before. What changed?”

The thing finally decided to emerge from the shadows, and of course it was a vampire. Really, I sort of expected it to be, but it wouldn’t be the first time that I have seen weird things. And it wouldn’t be the last.

The vampire was a unicorn stallion, who had a white coat and a minty green mane. He was also dressed like a noble, but his suit had seen better days; There was some blood on his suit, probably from the mare that he drained earlier.

“Your a new-blood, are you not?” I asked.

The vampire stared at me, not knowing what to say in response.

“It’s simple really.” I said, beginning to piece everything together. “The blood on your suit confirms it. The mare you attacked was your first pony right?”

“What does that have to do with anything?!” said Stormy Spear. “We should destroy him!”

I jumped. I had completely forgotten that he was still there.

“No, we shouldn’t. Well not yet, at least.” I said calmly. “Something tells me that he has drained the blood of animals for a while. So, he at least deserves a chance.”

“I don’t need your pity, half-breed.” the vampire spat.

Would you rather me show you pity or the gate to Tartarus? It’s your choice.” I replied, calmly.

“Know your place! Your not even qualified to kiss my hooves!”

I laughed, and it seemed to anger the vampire even more.

Stormy Spear, who was at a lost, finally asked, “Wait you’re a vampire?” He was directing it at me. It was a little late, but I did take the “everything I know is a lie” bit into consideration.

“Yes Stormy Spear, I am. And a 4th Gen at that.” I said, directing that last comment toward the vampire.

His ears flattened, but he still had a fire in his eyes. “Lies. Either get out of my way, half-breed, or I will make you.” he threatened.

I sighed, and pulled out Dia with my magic. I aimed for the vampire’s horn, but turned back toward Stormy Spear for a second. “Is the sound-proofing spell still up?”

He paused for a moment, then answered “Yes…But why is that important? I mean, shouldn’t you be worried that he will attack you? Besides, what will that little contraption you’re holding do to him?”

I promptly ignored his questions and turned back toward the vampire. “Last chance, either come with me peacefully or I will take you in by force.”

“Oh yeah? And how do you plan to do that?”

I simply pulled the trigger.

I was sitting back at my apartment, think about the meeting at the castle. How Stormy Spear and I turned the vampire over to Princess Luna.

He had complained that I had “attacked” him, but I had explained that when I shot at his horn, it gave him a splitting headache. He would be sore for a while, but that would be about it.

Luna gave me a glare, but decided the vampire could leave if he “Pinkie Promised” to not attack anypony anymore.
He swiftly agreed, and went on his way. However, I’m fairly certain he wasn’t aware of the severity of the oath. I merely shook my head, wishing him the best.

I have never broken a “Pinkie Promise”, but I have enough knowledge about magical oaths to know it is a very bad idea.

Speaking of oaths, I told Luna I would meet her at the end of her shift. There was very few ponies who I could relate too, but Luna was one of them.

I wonder if I could get a glimpse of the pony behind the mask?