A storm brewed outside as Rook made himself a nice cup of tea. Thunder rumbled in the distance. It was quite late, not to mention it was raining hard outside when the door knocked. At first, the quiet Unicorn simply ignored it, thinking it was a branch, hail, or simply his imagination. However, the knocking came from the door, and it persisted. Rook’s curiosity piqued, and he got up to answer the door. When he opened it, a pony with a hooded coat was standing in front of him. The hood cast a shadow that made it hard for Rook to see who was under it. The pony took a deep breath as if they were going to say something. Rook expected the voice to be deep and glutteral, but instead it was a feminine and soft.
“I believe you are Rook, correct?” She asked. Her voice seemed vaguely familiar.
“Er... yes.” Rook replied. “I’m sorry, It’s like 9:00, and it’s raining. I wasn’t expecting visitors.”
“I apologize for me dropping in at such a odd time. I really need to speak with you. May I come in?”
“Sure. Make yourself at home.” Rook stepped out of the way as the mare walked in. Using her magic, she took off her coat and hung it on a peg near the door. Rook could get a better look at her now. She was a Unicorn of a purple color, with a purple mane had a pink streak in it. Despite the fact she was wore a coat outside in the rain, she was soaking wet. “Um... May I get you a towel, Miss....?” Rook asked. He could have sworn he had seen her before.
“Twilight Sparkle. A towel would be nice. I was walking here when the storm started. I didn’t have my coat, so I had to run back and get one.”
“Not to be rude, Miss Sparkle...”
“Please, call me Twilight.”
“Er... Twilight. Not to be rude, but why are you here?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll explain in a bit. I hear you are good at chess. Why don’t we discuss over a game?”
***
Rook had set up a chessboard and poured tea for the two of them. Twilight was dry now, but still had a towel around her for warmth. The fireplace blazed as Twilight gathered her thoughts. She made the first move. “I take it you’ve heard of the A.S. Leviathan?”
Rook made his move next “I heard a little. It’s planned to be the largest Airship ever made, right?”
Twilight shook her head, moved another piece, and levitated her teacup to take a sip. “It is the largest airship ever made. It’s maiden voyage is in a couple of days.”
“Ah, sorry, I’m not real good with current events” Rook used his magic to take a sip of tea, then followed to move a chess piece. “What’s on your mind?”
Twilight pulled out two tickets and slid one to Rook across the table as she took her move. “Princess Celestia has asked me to go on the voyage. She wanted me to bring one... guest.”
Rook looked at her suspiciously and inspected the ticket. He looked at Twilight, then back at the ticket, “Wait... are you asking me to...” Twilight nodded. Rook was confused, “Er... I believe you have several friends. Why are you asking me?” He made his move on the board.
“Well... we aren’t going for just the luxury cruise. Soon after I got the tickets, I recieved this letter.” She pulled out a folded piece of paper with a broken wax seal. She handed it to Rook.
Dear Miss Sparkle,
I understand that you are now a guest on the A.S. Leviathan. Congratulations. I look forward to seeing you there.
This trip will be known throughout history. Not only as the first trip of the Leviathan, but also as it’s last. The fabric of our minds... it will be tested. Eventually, coming to ice...
Have fun running away from death.
Why tell you? I’m simply warning you. I enjoy the chase. No pony can stop me, but a with a mare as smart as you, I think this will be interesting... That ship will be your death.
The game has starts when the the mastermind gives way...
Your truly...
Mortis
Rook made his move on the board when he finished reading it. “Sounds like a crazy pony. This is a job for the police.”
Twilight facehoofed, hoping Rook was kidding. “You know that's a stupid idea!” Her fears were well founded. Not too long ago, the law system in Equestria took a radical change that went unnoticed by most ponies. Instead of investigating crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice, they focused on preventing panic cause by such things. Their targets weren’t the criminals, but the victims and witnesses of the crime. The police were willing to do anything to keep crime quiet.
Rook levitated his own tea, and sat back. “Trust me...I know. You do realize that showing me this... I’m effectively on death row now, as are you.” Rook was still calm as he sipped his tea. “Your move. Why are you coming to me about this?”
Twilight moved a piece, “I will be blatantly honest with you. I am scared. Scared for the ponies that will be on the Airship. Scared for my life. What if the Police find out? I would be dead in a heartbeat.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“How should I put this?... I need your help to catch this crazy pony.” When Twilight said this, Rook facehoofed and tried to get up to leave. She quickly responded by using her magic to force him to sit. “Listen! A lot of lives are at stake here! I know you have experience in investigations...”
Rook couldn’t really move thanks to her spell, so he used his own magic to move a chess piece. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rook denied. “Those sort of investigations are illegal, and could land you a hefty vigilante charge... which is a capital offence.”
“I hear from many sources that you have helped many ponies out by doing some... investigating without the Police’s knowledge. I could really use your help.” She loosened her grip on him, and moved her chess piece.
Rook made his turn. Although it was highly illegal, he often found himself looking into things he shouldn’t. Rook normally tried to avoid his illegal investigations, but it always seemed to happen to him. Whenever anypony came to him with a possible case, his curiosity would make him look into it. In his last case, he got too close to being caught. FAR too close.
Rook leaned in, “Look, I... I don’t do those anymore.... I was nearly caught the last time I took a case. I’m sorry. I’m not sure if I want to take that chance anymore. Besides, what makes you think that this isn’t a joke?”
“As of right now, you are the only pony I have talked to about the tickets, not counting Princess Celestia and my assistant, Spike.” She made her move.
Rook moved. “Are you sure Celestia didn’t send it as a joke? I wouldn’t put it past her to...”
“T. H. Hoofsmay died.”
“Er... who?”
“T. H. Hoofsmay. He was in charge in the building of the Leviathan. He died under mysterious circumstances today.”
“And... why is this is important?” Rook had already made the connection in his head, but he decided to let Twilight explain it.
He found an enjoyment in watching her speak.
“Remember the letter? It said game starts when the mastermind gives way. Hoofsmay was often called the mastermind behind the project. Mastermind. Hoofsmay. This crazy pony,” She said pointing at the letter, “is serious.”
“It could mean a lot of things,” Rook said, putting his head in his hoofs pondering. “Your move.”
Twilight quickly made a move and looked Rook straight in the eyes. “Look at it this way, if there IS a murderer, you get to do what you do best, which is solve crimes. If there is no murderer, you get to go on a luxury cruise with me.” Twilight gave Rook a wink. He tried not to interpret it as anything deep. “Basically, It’s a win-win situation for you.”
“Er... uhh...You’ve given me a lot to digest.” Rook wanted to say yes right then and there. Twilight had convinced him, but he still needed to think this over. This was no game. Wait, it was. It was the game murderers play with their soon to be victims. Throw in a couple of cops, and they would be looking at death at any turn. Rook wasn’t worried, but he wanted Twilight to think this over as well. If anything went wrong, he didn’t want her to get hurt.
“Alright then.” Twilight got up. “The Leviathan departs in two days. If you’re coming, I’ll see you there. I’ll leave the ticket with you.” Rook got up and walked with her to the door. He helped Twilight into her coat. “I’m sorry we couldn’t finish our chess game. Thank you for the tea. It was lovely.”
“It was no problem.” Rook opened the door for her.
Just as Twilight was about to step out, she said, “I do hope you can come. I would feel a lot safer with you there.” There was a silence between them for a moment. then she walked off.
Rook shut the door and walked back to the living room, where the game was set up. Looking at the board, he found that Twilight had actually put him in a check, and he didn’t even know it.
