Look Inside Your Heart Part One.

Chapter 9: When Lightning Strikes, Thunder Rolls.

I slowly walked in the direction that Cheerilee pointed out, and remembered that she said a few miles. I shift my gaze left and right, making sure I was out of sight of prying eyes. I gently poke my wings out the holes in the back of the lavender coat I was wearing. The gentle breeze carressed them, and they began to vibrate lifting me off the ground. Breeze flowing through my mane I shot toward Cloudsdale, at breakneck speed. The sweet rush of adrenaline made my heart race and I flew faster. After less than a moment Cloudsdale was in my sights and I leaned back. Landing with the grace of an elephant, I had arrived in the city in the sky. I quickly tucked my wings back under my jacket, and just walked around, trying to get a feel for my surroundings. I was met with looks of confusion and whispers behind my back. These pegasi seemed different from the ones in Ponyville, They seemed suspicious, untrusting, but why? Could it be my outward appearance, or the fact they can't see my wings?

I concentrate on my upper wings and slide them through the holes again, my top set now coated in silver feathers tipped in gold. After seeing this half of the crowd dissapated, while the others still stared heads cocked. What where they staring at? I suddenly feel something sweep under my legs and I was soon laying on my back. Then I feel a thud on my chest, I open my eyes to find a rust red pegasus' grey purple eyes staring into mine. "Nice roundhouse sweep, but,"

"But, what?" She growled placing her small hand around my neck.

"You let your guard down." I replied with a sadistic grin.

"Did I, prove it." Her cold gaze sent shivers down my spine.

"With ease." With one fluid motion I grabbed her neck, spun around, regained my hooving, and put my knife to her throat. "Never let your oppenent know your weakness." I take my knife and resheath it, place her back down, and smile.

"You're good, heck of a lot better than me." Her expression went from fear to happiness.

"Thanks for the compliment, I gotta go." I turned and walked away, after several minutes of enjoying the scenery, I was lost. I decided to stop at Cloud Cafe to get my bearings. After ordering some coffee and picking up the Cloudsdale Gazette, I decided to let her stop hiding. "There are two ways to tail somepony, make sure they don't notice you, or they only notice you." I say as I cross my legs and flip through the paper.

"How long?" I heard her say as she stepped around a bush shaped nimbus.

"Ever since you tipped over that cart full of bottled rainbows." I took a sip from my mug, and eyed an article about weather ponies.

"Hey waiter, bowl a snow." She shouted as she sat down on the other side of my table.

"What do you want?" I fold the paper and set it down.

"Well, I just think you're cool." She scratched the back of her head and blushed.

"So do you stalk everypony you think is 'cool'?" I took another sip of my coffee as the waiter dropped a borl full of white mush in front of her.

"Well not 'Everypony',"

"That's reassuring," I watch as she ate the mush by the spoonfull. "What's your name?"

"Scootaloo, and yours?" She asked her mouth full of mush.

"Cress."

"Wow even your name's cool, I'm'a gonna cut to the chase, you're the second fastest pegasus I've seen,"

"Well that's a compliment." I rolled my eyes.

"Let me finish, smart stallion, you're the second fastest, but you use it diffferently than she does,"

"Really who would she be?" I asked sipping my coffee , knowing full well she meant Dash.

"Rainbow Dash, the best flyer in all of Equestria." She sat there daydreaming. "She's the coolest."

"Then why are you following me,"

"Well I never really liked racing, it's too graceless, I prefer fighting, it's up close and personal."

"The best fighters never need to speak a word, to get their feelings across."

"Commander, Hurricane, said that at the siege of Thunderlore. Where the entire fate of his army rested on his vitory in single combat."

"You've read your history books, I see, but what do you want from me?"

"Well I was hoping you, could, um.."

"Teach you?" I grabbed the pitcher and filled my cup again. "Sorry kid, I don't babysit little fillies." I sipped the hot coffee and it fell down my throat.

"Aw come on, I don't care what you make me do, I want you to teach me." Her tone took one of despiration.

"Wouldn't your parents dislike that choice." I searched hoping to strike the right nerve to send her away.

"I don't know I'm an orphan, a misfit, six years old and I can't even fly." She tried her hardest to hold back her tears. I knew I struck a nerve, but was it the right one?

"When one has nothing to lose,"

"They have everything to gain." She sighed. "Sorry."

"Sixth rule of my school, never apologize, it shows weakness." I chuckled.

"That means you'll do it." Her face lit up with a smile.

"Yes, but first I need to get to C.P.D."

"Why do you need to go there?"

"Front page," I toss the paper at her.

"Suspect At Large C.P.D. Hires Outside Help. " She read the headline out loud.

"I'm that outside help, Scoot." I down the coffee, stand up, and walk to the counter. I reach in my pocket and pull out a badge, how it got there I'll never know. "Charge my bill to Cloudsdale P.D., c'mon Scoot let's go!" She vaulted over the table and was beside me in seconds. "Where is the Police Department any way?"

"You don't know, you're sure oblivious for a detective. It's a few blocks this way." She pointed to the west. "C'mon." She tugged on my arm and dragged me in that direction. About five minutes of struggling to pull me she stopped and breathed heavily.

"Oh, you wuss." I bent down and threw her up to sit on my shoulder. "We need to work on your endurance." She growled and pouted. "Don't be like that, if you don't improve your attitude, I won't let you meet Rainbow Dash." Her face lit up again, and I knew that was the right nerve. From my shoulder she pointed the way and we arrived at our destination moments later. I set her down and we walked in together.

"Excuse me sir, authorized personel only are allowed beyond this point." A mare said from behind a thick sheet of glass.

"I have an appointment." I slap the badge on the glass between us. "She's authorized."

"Sorry sir, protocol."

"Rule number six, never apologize, it shows weakness." Scootaloo said in a sing-song voice.

"Go right ahead, They're expecting you, second door on the left." She said smiling.

"Thanks, c'mon Scoot." I pushed open the door and walk down the hall to the second door on the left. The sign read 'Chief Aurora Boreal.'

"Come in." A mare's voice sounded from inside.

"What can I do for you Chief?" I say after I open the door and sit down with Scoot.

"Well Detective, your skills are needed to catch a killer. We have a composite sketch, and with your record, Detective Starry Skies asked me for your help personally."

"Well, I try to please my superiors, and dissapoint criminals." My thought process had changed for some reason, into one of a cop. "I'll need the evidence reports,"

"Well here are the autopsy reports for the first five victims, be warned they are extremely graphic, and detailed."

"First victim, Ray Porter, C.O.D. hole through chest, causing collapsed lungs, busted ribcage, and crushed heart." I flip through the first folder. "Second victim, Dolly Stitch, C.O.D. crushed skull." The second folder said. "Third victm, Tyson Box, C.O.D. disemboweled." I slowly realized that these ponies and their causes of death, resembled the ones from my dream. Could it have really happened? My deep thought was interruted by Scootaloo's wretching into a nearby trashcan.

"As you can see, there is no evidence linking these cases except for witness testimony."

"Can I speak with these witnesses?"

"Witness, and yes she's right down the hall in the interigation room."

"Don't you think it's strange that twenty-five murders, were witnessed by one individual?" I began speculating if I was really the suspect, or if that witness was corrupted.

"Yes, that's why you're here, I feel that there's something more behind these cases she's not telling us." Chief stated.

"Could you keep an eye on her while I meet with this witness?" I was worried about Scoot even though I just met her. Chief just nodded. I walked down the hall to the interigation room and opened the door.

"Who are you?" The mare asked, she seemed so fmiliar to me, but why?

"Detective Quicksilver, I just want to ask you a few more questions, okay?"

"Okay,"

"Is it true that you've witnessed all twenty-five murders," she nodded. "And is it true that you witnessed the same creature commit each one," She nodded again. "Do you know you're the only witness," She nodded again. "Trying to decieve them is easy, me not so much, there's something else." I say accusingly.

"You're right."

"At each scene there were anomolies, like the fact each one was extremely terrified, yet you the witness, was as cool as a cucumber, why? That answer is simple, the culprit is the witness sticking around to watch her handiwork."

"And the police to squirm trying to find what's right in front of their faces." She laughed like a maniac. "Good luck trying to prove it's me, Brother."

I simply smile and shake my head, get up, and walk out the door locking it behind me. I reach into my jacket pocket and press the button on the recorder I took from the Chief's desk. "Good luck proving it's me Brother." Her voice played, and I felt relieved. I walk back to Chief's office and play the recording. "There a confession, now shall we discuss my payment.

"I can't believe it, we spent twenty-four hours trying to break her, and you do it in five minutes, you're incredible." Chief's jaw dropped.

"All in a good days work, I know my sister, now I will take my payment and we will be on our way."

"Of course, here take it, and a job on the force, we could really use you," Chief handed me a large sack of ten bit pieces.

"Not right now I'm a little busy, with this one here." I say as I rustle Scoot's mane.

"I thought you were an orphan Scootaloo."

"Consider her adopted, Chief." I couldn't help but smile.

"Please call me Aurora," She replied.

"Goodbye Aurora, keep that desk open for me, and my sister under constant survielance she's very violent." I grab Scoot's hand and lead her outside. She was positively beaming and hugged my so tight I found myself making that 'SQUEE' sound but in a lower octave.

"Thank you so much Cress, this means so much to me." She cried tears of joy.

"I know Scoot, I know, let's get your stuff ready, you're gonna live with me down in Ponyville, kay?"

"Kay, just let me get my skateboard and bag, Meet me at the cafe in ten." She bolted off leaving me alone to think.