The Night Shroud

A loud whining noise sturs me awake from my restless slumber. I groan, slamming my hoof on a blaring alarm clock, and it releases a pitiful creak before going silent. As content as i am with simply drifting back to sleep, the uncomfortably warm air of an early Las Pegasus morning urges me to reconsider.

I open my eyes and blink rapidly, taking in my surroundings. Dirty wavy wallpapers greet me, followed by an empty cobweb-ridden bookcase. I should probably get some books, more to fill the empty space, rather than for reading. I don't really have much free time on my hooves. My gaze drifts to a newspaper laying on a table in front of me, a headline catches my eyes and i smirk.

"NIGHT SHROUD STRIKES AGAIN"

Underneath the bold words is a picture of a white coated stallion with a short blue mane laying on a bed. Red streaks stained his fur, his abdomen peppered with numerous stab wounds. His muzzle was held in place by a faint grey glow of magic, facing the camera. His blank eyes were full of shock, and his jaw was agape. "Boo" was writen in red letters on a pillow next to the pony, and a black hooded figure was standing near the bed, white ghost mask was looking at the camera. A bloodied knife was held near the figure's face by the same grey magical glow. I read the small text underneath the picture.

"Photo found by investigators at the crime scene, Neigh Las Pegasus Hotel."

I don't bother reading the article, the paper is a few weeks old, besides, I'm pretty caught up with the news. Being a reporter has its perks.

I look down and recognise the old patched up recliner i fell asleep on. I get up with a sigh, popping my joints as i stretch my legs. A piece of fabric falls off the back of my recliner, but i ignore it, yawn, and make my way to the apartment's bathroom.

As I step into the aformentioned room, the dingy wet carpet -who puts carpet in the bathroom?- brushes my hooves, reminding me of the night's events and souring my mood immediatly. I lean on the sink, turn the tap on and splash cold water onto my face.

The chilly feeling washes away cobwebs from my head, and I levitate a towel to dry my face. As it flies towards me, imbued with a grey aura, I scowl. It's stark whitess is marred by a large red blotch smack in the middle. Maybe getting more books isn't a bright idea.

I watched a yellow coated mare enter her home and close the door behind her, and groaned. Not because i was sad to see her go, i'll get to that in a minute, but because i was geting tired.

Tired of this Luna forsaken city! Las Pegasus was stunning to visit, sure, perfectly fit for wasting your hard earned bits in one of the casinos or bars. It was not, however, accomodating for the good old art of stalking. There was nary an unlit spot in the whole city, which made sticking to the shadows quite the ordeal. Hiding in plain sight was a much better option, one that i predominantly used in towns like this one. One that i couldn't resort to right now, seeing as my task here was much more than simple stalking. Thankfully, this particular street on the outskirts of the city had its streetlamps shattered by a hooligan.

Convenient, isn't it?

I shook my head and focused on what's important right now: getting inside the house. It wasn't particularly hard, given the fact that i've studied the plans of the house for a little over a week now. I've known the ins and outs of the house like it was my own. I even made a replica of the front door key, in case i needed it. I wasn't planning to use it though.

Rather than approaching the front door, i sneaked into the backyard, stopping momentarilly to look at her through one of the windows. The mare approached her stove and put the kettle on, preparing to dine on some insta noodles. That gives me around 10 minutes of free reign over the second floor, which is more than enough.

How do i know that? Well, Golden Glow follows her schedule to a tee, and over the last month i've had more than enough time to learn it. From her morning chariot ride to the university, to her return from the evening shifts in a local bar, i knew it all.

I gently opened the door, making sure it made no noise. Sneaking past the couch i saw her turn on the tv, providing me with noise coverage. Not that i needed it, the custom made, magically enchanted boots cost me a fortune, but they long have proven their worth. Making virtually no noise, i stepped over the second to last step, the creaky one.

The hallway to my left had two doors, one leading to a bathroom, the second to her room. It wasn't a big house, but it still wasn't cheap. Of course, i knew how she affored it. Mommy and Daddy sent her a heavy sack of bits each month, covering rent as well as other expenses.

The funny thing is, this month Golden Glow's been working the evening shift at a local Fryn' Chips. Maybe they had a falling out and reduced the sum. Maybe the cost of education went up. Or maybe, just maybe, their little princess owed money to the wrong kind of ponies.

I entered the bedroom and looked around. A dingy metal bedframe, an unkempt bed, and a bedside table with a bottle of sleeping pills on it. She's been having troubles sleeping recently, but these tablets really helped her enter Luna's embrace. Call me a doctor, because tonight I'm going to cure her insomnia.

Permanently.

I looked at the opposite wall, and saw a half-closed closet. A little cliche, but it'll do. After all, nopony's going to see the process itself, they want to see the result. It is unsurprisingly spacious, containing a couple of dresses here and there. Can't say i blame the mare, clothing does cost a fortune these days. I made my way to the back of the closet and made sure my way to the closet door is clear. I sat there, held my breath and counted the seconds. She should've been almost up the stairs by now.

Creak

Yeeup.

The mare in question entered the room with a tired expression on her face, and a bottle of wine encased in a yellow aura following her closely. Not a big fan of wine, to be honest. I'm more of a cider guy. The mare gently sat on her bed, unkorked the bottle and chugged straight from the tap. Damn, with habits like these I'm practically doing everypony a favor. She finally tore away from the bottle after a few seconds, and sighs. She closed her eyes, and relaxed on the bed, putting the bottle on her bedside table.

The perfect moment.

I gently tugged at the second to last stair.

CRE-E-EAK

She opened her eyes and raised an eyebrow. She's about to dissmiss the noise as a normal house noise, when her door slameed shut.

THUD

She jumped from the sound, and looked at the door intently. "H-hello? Is anypony there?" She said to nopony in particular. Her magic enveloped the doorknob and locked the door. She sat on her bed, looking around frantically.

Too little too late, kid.

I burst through the doors of the closet and jumped onto the bed. She stared at me with wide eyes, too shocked to react. I relished in the attention before going in for the kill. She landed on her back, and my knife thrust towards her abdomen. I leaned closer to her and she put her front hooves against my shoulders, trying to push me away. Mere inches separated blade from flesh when her magic enveloped the blade and started battling mine. As i expected, she wasn't particularly skilled, would've taken me, at worst, ten seconds to overpower her. And yet, she managed to surprise me.

She lets go.

Her hooves slowly dropped to the bed as the knife penetrated. She winced when i yanked the knife out and stood back. I wondered where this is going. Annoyingly, she didn't scream or cry, she didn't plead or threaten.

She just laid back on the bed, looking pained, but content.

Bitch.

What a fucking BITCH!

I did all this work, and what did i get? This piece of shit.

I wanted to tear this whorse limb from limb until she screamed, or begged, or-

No.

No.

Keep it cool.

I looked her in the eyes.

"Sun above, mare"

She looked up at me with hazy eyes.

"you're pathetic."

"Died the way she lived." I sigh. "Being a waste of time and effort."

I growl and run a simple cleaning spell on the towel. Blood, as well as dirt and grime are separated from the now pristene-looking towel, and i throw the the filth into to the toilet. Flushing it down, I look into the mirror. A tired, grey coated pony with a short-cut, dark grey mane is looking back at me with a hint of annoyance in his blue eyes, and a sour look on his muzzle.

I stare into his eyes intently, waiting for him to blink. I've been playing this game with myself for quite some time now, but I don't think I'm getting better at it. With each passing minute my hope for victory diminishes as my eyes start to water. Something black, thin and spider-like crackles in the corner of the bathroom behind me, breaking my concentration as the sound startles me. Finally, I blink and chuckle to myself. "Well, hot damn handsome, you've won again." I flash a million bit smile, and begin my grooming routine. Can't stall any more, I guess.

My horn glows and a grey aura engulfs my whole body. Each strand of hair stands straight as i channel magic into the spell. A patch of hair on my chest slowly turns to a baby blue color, and gradually spreads to the rest of my coat. A few white strands appear in the blackness of my mane, and after a few seconds of intense spellcasting, my mane is a stark white. Finally, i get to the hard part. I concentrate, and prepare for the inevitable.

A white-hot searing pain eats away at my flanks, and i bite my lower lip to not make a sound. I watch as my cutiemark, depicting a set of cards and a magician top hat is replaced with another. An image of a typewriter slowly fades in onto my coat, and i let out a sigh of relief as the pain stops.

I look into the mirror, at the pony standing in front of me, and I smile. Time to take on the day.

Whatever I saw in the mirror isn't there when I depart.

I enter the building of "Las Pegasus Daily" and smile as i go past the guard, sitting at the reception table. "Morning, Prim Watch" I wave my hoof at him. "how's your day going?" The brown coated earth pony with a light orange mane waves back and chuckles.

"Uneventful, although I'm pretty sure you know that. Do you know waht time it is?" I shake my head. He checks the wall mounted clock. "It's six in the morning!" I open my eyes wide and pretend to be surprised. "What in the world are you doing here this early, Note?" I chuckle awkwardly and scratch the back of my neck.

"I just wanted to get my story on the editor's desk asap." I explain, gesturing to my saddlebags, and his features darken.

"Another murder?" I nod solemnly and pin my ears back, trying my hardest to look saddened. "Oh Tartarus, i really hoped the hotel was the last one... Still, what's the rush? Cloudy won't be here for a good hour."

"My sister from Canterlot is etting married this weekend!" I beam, lightening the mood. Upon hearing the words Prim smiles and pats me on the back. "She's invited me, of course, but i still need to buy the present, the suit, so much to worry about!" I smile widely, and the earth pony nods.

"You got that right! I remember my wedding preparations being quite hectic, and i was married in Throttingham! Can't imagine how stressful it is in Canterlot..." He gets lost in the happy memories for a moment. I cough. "Sorry, sorry, let's not keep your sister waiting." He says as i approach the elevator. "Wish her a happy marriage from me!" He yells as i step into the open elevator.

"I sure will!" I yell back as the door close. I press the fifth floor button and let my mask slip just a little as i let out a big sigh. Prim wasn't a bad pony by any means, I'm just not a big fan of small talk at six in the morning. Of course, my sister isn't getting married. I don't even have a sister, one that i know about, anyways. Still, i will be heading towards the Las Pegasus train station after i finish my little incursion.

I've got one more thing to take care of before i move onto greener pastures.

The doors open with a ding and i exit the elevator, heading to my office. The corridors are empty, not a single soul is on this floor. Or so i thought. Just before i open my office door, i hear a mare's voice call out to me. "Note!" I fiddle with the keys quicker. "Witty Note!" She's getting closer. "Witty, get the cotton out of your ears and talk to me!" I roll my eyes and put on a friendly expression before turning to face the mare.

"Witty Note, long time no see!" She says and hugs me with surprising amount of force. I wince from the unexpected contact and ponder whether or not killing her right here and now is worth it.

"Quill Stroke, we see each other every day." I say, begrudgingly returning the hug. "What are you doing here so early?" I ask, and the cream colored mare lets go.

"I... i fell asleep at my table." She says, blushing. "What about you?" She quickly changes the theme.

"Just wanted to leave a story for Cloudy." I say, and get a silly little idea. "Say, I'm going out of town on family busines in... about an hour, so i can't sit here and wait for her to arrive!" I make the best puppy eyes i can muster.
"Can you do me a favor?" She raises an eyebrow.

"What kind of a favor?"

"Can you deliver this article to Cloudy Sky?" I levitate a few pieces of paper and hover it in front of her face. It wasn't my best work, i've been pretty frustrated last night. Weeks of effort, and she has the audacity to be so passive. I make a mental note to send a few picture to her parents, but it's just not the same...

"Hmm..." She puts a hoof to her chin and thinks about the favor. "I'll do it," I smile widely. "on one condition." Just like that, my smile falters.

"What kind of condition?"

"You tell me how know you write your stories so fast." She gives me a sly look, and takes a step towards me. "I haven't heard of any murders happening lately." She wispers into my ear. I smile back.

"A little bird in the LPPD told me." She gasps. "A little bird by the name of Hard Case." I finish, and she sweeps my notes away under her wing.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She practically jumps from the excitement. "I knew you had an informant! I can't believe you finally told me who it is!" I almost feel sorry about what I'm about to do.

"Oh, one more thing." I say, opening the door and entering my office. She looks at me with beaming eyes, ready to absorb more information. "That little bird loves coffee." I close the door, and hear her squeal from exitement. I wait until i can no longer hear her hoofsteps, before busting out laughing.

Hard Case had a heart attack a few years back, and he is prohibited from drinking anything even slightly caffenated. Of course, the good detective isn't my informant, just somepony i've kept my sights on just in case.

"That'll be a fun trip to the LPPD." I say to myself, collecting the newsapapers from my office and cutting out certain articles from each one.

My articles.

I put the into folders and getly tuck them into my saddlebags. I'm done in a matter of minutes, and I'm ready to head out.

"To where though? Canterlot?" I speak to nopony in particular. "It's a good place for stories, but the price of living isjust too much." I continue musing. Just as I'm about to leave the office, a wall mounted map of Equestria catches my eye. There, near the capital resides a quaint little town.

"Ponyville." I mutter. "Close to the capital with prices low enough to rent a home." My smile spreads from ear to ear as i remember a fun little fact about the town. "And is the current abode of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her lovely friends." I tremor as a thrilling feeling grips my heart.

Before close my office doors forever, i place a single letter onto the table.

"I hope you liked my stories--I enjoyed bringing them to life. Don't worry, I'm not done." – Witty Note.