Everfree House

The sun had risen over Ponyville by the time the two reached the police station. Upon entering the small building, the trench-coat mare saw to it that the other mare filed her report and sent it up to the detective's division. Normally, they would look in to the claim and gather evidence before obtaining a warrant and searching the Saffron property. However, this process could take weeks or even months, so the author-adventurer held a thought in the back of her mind. This thought was that she could take matters into her own hooves and sort this out for herself, perhaps getting some good story material out of it. Of course, she would wait a bit before acting on this whim, for if it went wrong she could face charges herself.

Now, she sat across from this mare at the town's most popular diner, chatting over some hayburgers and fries. "What made you think there was a murder in that home?" the trench-coat mare asked.

Swallowing a mouthful of hay, the blue mare, now known as Sapphire Moonlight, spoke. "Well, I heard some noises in the house when I was staying over there last night. Then there was a fire, and the smell of burning fur. Not exactly pleasant."

"Why were you staying there? Are you a friend of the Saffrons?" asked the other mare, taking a sip of her soda.

"Not exactly. Perhaps I should start at the beginning."

"Please do."

"Well, it all started with a venture of my own accord to go and dispel some rumours about a crazy old zebra who lives out in the Everfree Forest in a hut underneath a knotted old tree. I journeyed out there around sunset, arriving at the poison joke grove about an hour later. And I daresay, the rumours were true. You have no idea what I saw in that creepy hut."

Now this was getting interesting. A rumour about a zebra who lived in the very forest in which she planned to venture into later that day. Perhaps she should pay this enigmatic zebra a visit, just to see. "What did you see?"

"She said she'd tell me my fortune for a bit. So I paid up, and I doubt I'll forget what I saw in there. Ghostly manifestations, nasty green smoke blocking everything from view, and that mare! She just would randomly pop out of the smoke, speaking in rhymes or something. After I'd had enough, I escaped out into the forest, and stumbled upon the manor where-"

"Stop." The author held up a hoof. "Get to the point about the murder."

"Right, well, I was in bed that night when a sudden noise like a crack split the night. Then came screams, then silence. The next thing I knew, the smell of burning fur was in the air, and then the butler came knocking, armed with a dagger. He attacked me as I tried to escape. It was the most frightening night of my life."

"Well, Miss Moonlight," the author replied. "Believe me, there are more frightening things out there. But I'll see what I can do about this. Who knows, if the cops are too slow, maybe I'll take this into my own hooves."

"That would be a huge help," Sapphire said, taking another bite of her hayburger. "Say, I never did catch your name.

"A.K.," the author replied. "A.K. Yearling."

Sapphire nearly spat out her soda in surprise. "No way! The A.K. Yearling?! You're the author of the Daring Do series!"

"Uh, yeah, that's me," Yearling replied, adjusting her glasses. "Keep your voice down. I don't want everypony to know I'm here. This stays between us."

"Oh, of course!" Sapphire was nearly ecstatic with joy. Never had she thought that she would meet the author of her favourite book series, yet here she was! "What are you doing in Ponyville of all places?"

Yearling leaned in closer. "I'm here to find some inspiration for my next book. Writer's block is a terrible thing. However, since you told me about this incident, I think the book can wait." She stood up and reached into the pocket of her trench coat, drawing out some bits, a quill, and ink, placing the objects on the table. Then she produced a piece of scrap paper and asked Sapphire to jot down her address, which she did happily.

"Perfect. Expect a visit from me later on." Yearling held out her hoof. "A pleasure meeting you, Sapphire."

"A pleasure meeting you as well!"

After a thank-you from Sapphire, she departed from the diner and took to the streets of Ponyville, in search of clues to this Saffron Manor enigma. First stop, back to the police station for any information she could dig up on the Saffron family. Perhaps asking around the town would be a good idea too. But if anypony had anything, the cops were her safest bet. So police station it was.

As she trotted down the dirt streets towards her destination, she noticed that there was hardly anypony out on the streets. Puzzled, she continued on, eventually happening upon the town's marketplace. She didn't intend to stop, but a hoof grabbed her from behind. Instinctually she went for her switchblade knife, only to reject the decision seconds before she pulled it out. She was in a town, after all. And the pony who grabbed her probably didn't mean any harm. That thought was all the more confirmed the moment she shifted her gaze from the silver knife to the pony's face. This pony definitely did not pose a threat; it almost looked as though the red-maned pony was frightened.

"Don't keep going!" warned the pony, her green eyes darting to and fro in utter fear. "She's here!"

Yearling swatted the mare's hoof away with a khaki-coloured hoof. "Who?"

The pony pointed with her hoof to a cloaked figure standing in the middle of the road. What came next was entirely unexpected.

It was no more than an ordinary venture; just a grocery trip. She should have known the reaction that was to come. Of course, all the townsponies ran and hid when they laid their eyes on a creature such as her. So unaccustomed to zebras they were that they feared them. Of course, she knew the rumours, and with the way that pegasus who had ventured out to her hut probably wound up, those rumours had most likely spread.

So, Zecora figured it would be best just to get her things and return to her hut, but as she went about her shopping, something caught her eye. No, not something, somepony. A khaki pegasus mare in a trench coat and glasses who nearly walked up to her without hesitating. Through her cloak she watched the mare have a rather heated, brief discussion with another pony before beginning to approach once more. Skeptically the pegasus trotted right up to her, observing.

"Who are you?" Zecora asked. "And how do you do?"

"The better question is, 'Who are you?'" asked the mare.

Zecora grinned and removed her hood, revealing her true identity. It was no surprise to her that the mare's face lit up with shock upon seeing her striped face and mohawk-style mane.

"You're... a zebra!" the mare gasped.

"Correctly you have guessed; though I'm afraid I must be off for the best." With this, Zecora turned and galloped off towards the forest, her purchases dangling from her saddlebags.

Yearling was indeed surprised. Could this be the zebra Sapphire mentioned? She had to look in to this, but first she had to complete the task at hand. Her mind racing, Yearling set off once more for the police station.

Upon her arrival, Yearling was greeted by a snarky black-maned detective who begrudgingly showed her to the supervisor's office. They stood there awkwardly while they waited for the head officer to answer the knock at the door, neither really knowing what to say, though Yearling could tell that this detective was watching her. Studying her with those brilliant aqua eyes. Giving her the side eye as she took sips from the can of Red Goat she always seemed to have on hoof. Eventually, the head officer opened the door, welcoming both inside.

"Hello," he greeted cheerfully. He was a handsome unicorn stallion with a chiseled jaw and striking blue eyes; a salt-and-pepper mane completed the look. His uniform was pristine, pressed and ironed, insignia all shined. "My name is Blue Light. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Yearling nodded in reply.

Seeing that she was no longer needed, the black-maned detective took her leave. "Well," she snarked as she walked away, sipping her Red Goat. "Back to my patrol. Don't they know that I'm a royal investigator, not a foalsitter?"

"So," Blue Light continued. "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for information on the Saffron Family," Yearling replied. "I think an acquaintance of mine filed a report with you guys on that subject."

"Uh, yes, she came in here a couple of hours ago. Sapphire Moonlight, right? I'll get out that report for you." He opened a cabinet and began to rifle though a series of manila folders.

Yearling was surprised at the sheer amount of these folders; she wondered if they really received this many reports over a single day. "Thank you, but it's not the report I need. I'm looking for information on the Saffron Family."

Blue Light gave her a puzzled look. That was their job, not hers. The police investigated things, not townsponies. "Oh," he said, closing the cabinet drawer. "I'll see what I can find."

Yearling idly sat by while the officer began to look. She scanned the room, noting the presence of several sets of identical grey file cabinets behind the desk and on the walls. A simple clock rested on the table, the hands reading just past thirteen-hundred. She yawned as her gaze shifted from the cabinets to the officer and back, blinking her eyes to try to remain focused. Thankfully, after what seemed like an eternity, the officer sat down across from her again. "Well," he spoke, "I don't have much, except that the Saffron Family owns one of the largest brewing firms in Equestria. Leroy Saffron is the current owner; it's been passed down through generations. His father apparently disappeared. That was investigated by the Royal Guard, so I'm afraid I can't tell you much on that."

"Thanks for the help," Yearling replied, standing up to leave. She couldn't waste any more time here with this guy if she wanted to get on with her personal investigation. As she trotted out the door, she heard Blue Light warn her.

"Oh, and miss, I strongly caution you not to go digging into these matters yourself. This should only be done by trained professionals."

She turned back with a smirk. "I am a professional." At that, she took her leave. Of course, the detective probably didn't know that she was none other than adventurer Daring Do Dazzle, and that she had personally done some investigating on various occasions. Thus, she would not heed his words at all.

As she walked, she went through her mental checklist. She wanted to get out of this as soon as possible; she hated being around other ponies. However, a part of her wanted to make it last. So far, it would make a rather good action novel to add to her series.

A knock on the door jolted Sunset Shimmer from her book. She trotted over to admit, albeit with an air of frustration, whoever was intent on bothering her. As she came up with some snarky response to utter at the pony who dared disturb her, only to drop it the moment Princess Celestia entered the room.

"Good evening, Sunset," the princess greeted. "Hope I'm not disturbing anything important."

"No," Sunset replied bluntly.

"That's good, because there is something I need you to do."

Sunset rolled her aquamarine eyes. She had a strong dislike of running errands. She was Celestia's prodigious scholar, not her maid. That was what that pegasus named Sevyn was for. Not her. "What is it this time?"

"I need you to go to Ponyville. You are to go there and search for information on the subject of the Everfree Forest."

"What for? I already know about the forest," the student groaned.

"You may know about it, but surely there's something there you haven't heard of. Go find out about that. I'm certain you'll succeed."

Sunset sighed. "Yes, your highness."