“Are you sure you don’t wanna come with us, Shadow?” Twilight asked me, with her travel bag next to her on her left, and her assistant Spike on her right.

“Yeah, it’ll be fun to watch the Dragon Migration. You should take a break from the cases you’ve been doing.” He told me, while he had a backpack on his back. Probably filled with those comics he likes to read. Like Comet Chaser.

We were in my office area downstairs in the Castle of Friendship. It’s been about 2 and a half weeks since everything that went down with Gavin the Griffon and his assault on Ponyville’s native Zebra, Zecora. He got a life sentence, but he was stabbed to death by a Zebra Prison inmate literally not too long after he was incarcerated.

And I can say with out any shred of shame that I feel absolutely NO sympathy for him.

“Thanks for the offer, you two. But, I’m itching to get back into my next case. And I need to be here just in case something happens. Justice never rests.” I told them, while eating a brownie that I bought from Bon Bon’s Super Sweet Shop.

“There’s officers here, Shadow. They can handle things too. You shouldn’t overdo it.” Twilight said, looking concerned for me. Guess, me being her friend, that’s just what she does.

I finished my brownie and threw it in the waste paper basket next to my desk as I stood up to face them.

“I’ll be fine, okay? I can handle myself.” I told her with my reassuring look on my face.

It seemed to work a little bit, seeing as how her face relaxed a little bit. Spike did too.

“Not to mention, I’m planning on hitting the gym today. Haven’t worked out for a little bit. Need to make sure I stay in good shape, ya know.” I told her, walking over to a closet area in my office. I pulled out a gym bag and a spare change of clothes. Can’t work out in a trench coat, am I right?

Twilight snorted in laughter. “Pfft. Oh Shadow, you don’t look out of shape.” She told me.

At this point, we were waking out of my office and waking up the stairs toward the main hallway that leads to the large front doors of the Castle.

“I know.” I said. “But, it’s just good to get some exercise, ya know?”

“Twilight’s been saying she’ll do it, but never gets around to it.” Spike snickered. Then I saw Twilight shoot an intense glare at him. That appeared to strike a nerve.

“I’m only kidding.” Spike said. “Celestia, you don’t get my humor.” He muttered. I saw Twilight turned her head away from him and point her nose to the sky. Like some stereotypical snooty pony in Canterlot. I think I even saw a red hue on her face.

Well, I guess Twilight is now mad at her assistant. He’s gonna need to bake her a nice cake when they get home. Or cook a good dinner, due to her lack of cooking skills, according to Spike.

As we walked through the Hallway, we heard a big knock at the door. Twilight’s embarrassed look disappeared into one of excitement.

“Ooooh, they’re here!” She exclaimed, very super excitedly, as she ran for the door. Spike followed suit.

When she opened the door, there appeared her friends. The Elements of Harmony. With their own bags packed as well.

“Hey Twilight, ya ready to go?” Applejack said in her thick as hell southern accent.

“You bet. Eeeeehhhh.” She said all giddy like. I had no idea a Dragon Migration excited Twilight this much. She looks like a little kid about to head over to the Hayburger Hut.

All of a sudden, I was then enveloped into a hug out of nowhere.

“Hi, Shadow. Long time no see.” Pinkie Pie said, her hooves still wrapped around me. Tightly I may add.

I struggled to get her off of me. Her grip is pretty strong. “Pinkie, we just saw each other a week ago. It hasn’t been THAT long.” I grunted.

I saw Applejack turn toward me. She grabbed Pinkie and got her off me. “Howdy, Shadow. You coming with us?” She asked me, while I was catching my breath and rotating my head and shoulders after being hugged so hard.

“Yeah. It’ll be cool.” Rainbow Dash said, hovering over me.

Before I could answer, Rarity came up to me. Super closely I may add.

“Why yes. And not only that-“ She said, now nuzzling my neck and attempting to wrap her tail around my back. “-we could use a big strong stallion like you to protect us. Especially Muagh.” She told me that all seductive like. As hot as this mare is, I don’t do desperate mares. And even if she’s acting all confident and whatnot, I can tell she’s desperate. I looked over at Twilight, and saw Spike looking NOT very happy. Was this little Dragon getting jealous of me?

That HONESTLY is kinda adorable.

Twilight used her magic to levitate her off me. I even heard a whiny “Hey!” from her.

I cleared my throat. “Thank you all for the consideration, but I already told this to Twilight. I’m wanting to get back into the swing of things. And I’ll need to be here in case something goes down somewhere.” I told them.

“What if it doesn’t though?” Twilight asked me.

“You can never be to sure of these things. But, if it just so happens that nothing happens while you all are gone, I’ll join you on another picnic.” I said to all of them.

I saw Fluttershy gulp nervously. “Um, I h-hope you do alright w-without us, Detective.” She said, with a skittish smile on her face.

I turned my head toward her and she squeaked very timorously.

“Like I said, I’ll be fine.” I told them.

Twilight sighed in defeat. “Well, okay. I know you can take care of yourself—“

“I can.” I quickly interjected her.

“Yes. But, if there’s anything you might need help with, don’t be afraid to call us, Shadow. We’re all friends here. And we’ll be happy to help.” She turned toward all her friends. “Rights girls?”

Applejack and Rainbows Dash nodded in approval, as did Pinkie. Rarity just shot me a sultry wink. And Fluttershy nervously nodded her head yes.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I said, picking up my gym bag and placing it on my back. “Anyway, you all have fun. Make sure to tell me all about it when you get back.”

“Will do.” Rainbow Dash said, now flying away from me. The others followed suit with her. I saw Twilight turn back and wave in my direction. I waved back, bidding her farewell.

-/-Ponyville Fitness Center-/-

After I took my trench coat off, I put it in a locker. I put my towel in their as well. After I get done, I’ll have to hit the shower. That’s why I’ve got one. I’m also pretty sure no pony here will take anything. I don’t have a padlock or anything, but they know that if they steal anything from me, they would A, be arrested, and B, get the shit beat out of them. So, I’m confident in that.

The first thing I did was stretch my limbs. Arguably the most important thing before exercising. Wouldn’t wanna pull something.

Next, I decided to start on my cardio. That’s when I got on the treadmill. I saw a few ponies who were on other ones here as well. They wouldn’t even look me in the eye. Still intimidated, I guess. Oh fucking well.

“Hello, Shadow.” I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around to see the mare I bought that delicious brownie from earlier.

Bon Bon stood before me, wearing a crop top and leggings.

“Bon Bon. Nice to see you. What are you doing here?” I asked, sounding nice.

“I have a membership here. I always come whenever I have some free time away from the shop.” She told me, getting in the treadmill next to me.

“So, Lyra is running the store while you’re here?” I asked.

She nodded her head. “Yep. Lyra’s really good with customers. I can trust her. Ya know, as long as she doesn’t go into one of her crazy conspiracy theories about humans.” She said, looking annoyed.

I was confused. “Humans? What the fuck are those?” I asked.

“Don’t ask me. I don’t know.” She said, now putting in the settings on the treadmill.

I did the same. “No offense Bon Bon, but your girlfriend sounds odd.” I said, as my treadmill had gotten going. I started slow. I’ll eventually start going faster.

She chuckled. “You have no idea. And we’ve been together for 3 years now.” She said, as her treadmill had gotten going.

We continued our conversation as we started to fast walk on the treadmills.

“3 years, huh?” I asked.

She sighed, kinda dreamily. “Yeah. But, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” She said with a smile on her face.

It caused me to give one too. “Well, it’s good that you two seem happy together.” I said.

She giggled. “Thanks.” She said, as we continued our run on the treadmills.

-/-

It was about 45 minutes later where Bon Bon and I started to get into weight lifting. She was lifting dumbbells that were about 25 lbs, while I was bench pressing about 260 lbs.

I grunted and sweated my ass off as I pushed the bar up and down off my chest. I was 6. Then 7. Then 8. Then 9.

I started to feel my strength go down a bit. Damn it! Maybe I should have started lighter. I felt the bar coming down onto my chest. Slowly. With me TRYING to push it up again. My hooves failing me…

“Gotcha.” I heard Bon Bon say, grabbing the bar and lifted it up, putting it back into the set.

When my hooves were free of that huge weight, they felt as if they had become wet noodles. Like, they weren’t even there anymore.

As I lay on the bench, panting for breath, Bon Bon have a giggle.

“Maybe, we should take a break. It’s been an hour now. What do ya say?” She said, now facing the front of the bench press, and offering me her hoof.

With whatever strength I could muster, I raised my right hoof and gave it to her. I was surprised what type of strength she had, because she lifted me up off the bench press without any struggle.

“Yes.” I had to pause to take a breath. “Let’s do that.” I said, as we now headed toward the break room.

I levitated my water bottle up to my muzzle. And I literally almost drank the rest of the huge bottle I had.

Fuck. Am I really getting that out of shape? Or, is it just the intensity of that huge ass weight I tried. Either way, Bon Bon saved my ass from getting crushed underneath all that weight.

We sat at a table together that was next to a window. I looked out and saw the Flower Shop from here. I remember when one of the ponies, who know I know was named Lily Valley, literally cowered on the ground at the sight of me. And her sisters, from what I’ve learned, their names were Daisy and Roseluck, weren’t all that different either.

“Looks like you overestimated yourself, huh?” Bon Bon said, now drinking from her water bottle.

I have a sarcastic chuckle. “Hey, I ran faster then you on that treadmill. I was just blown up, that’s all.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Sure, Detective. Sure.”

I paused again for a quick sec before I decided to ask her a question that I’ve been wanting to know for a while now. Maybe, I’m doing this for Twilight too.

“Mind if I ask you a question?” I asked her.

She looked at me puzzled, while wringing out any snarls she might have had in her mane.

“Is this for one of your investigations?” She asked.

I shook my head. “No. Off the record. Personal.”

She removed her hooves away from her mane and looked at me. “Sure, what is it?” She asked, looking interested.

I breathed in a sigh before I asked her,
“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

She looked genuinely surprised to hear me ask that question. Her eyes widened for a quick second. “W-What?” She asked.

“It’s just” I said. “I’ve been here for a little bit now. And, to me, there’s only three different types of mares I’ve seen whenever they lock eyes with me. They either are intimidated, they don’t trust me, or they want to get into bed with me. Besides The Elements of Harmony, I think you have been the ONLY normal mare in town that treats me like I’m an actual fucking pony. No disrespect, but even your girlfriend is intimidated of me. So, why aren’t you afraid of me like a lot of ponies are?”

That felt good to get off my fucking chest. I’ve been wanting to know for a while now. Good to not have it on my chest anymore.

I saw Bon Bon just give me a warm smile. “I just see you as a pony. That’s all.” She said.

I raised my eyebrow this time, which included a confused look.

“I know what you’re saying is true. And, I’ve even heard and spoken to a lot of ponies in town who have an opinion on you. And, yeah, a lot of ponies are scared of you. They don’t trust you. And, I didn’t NEED to hear this, but I have heard Vinyl Scratch talk about how she wants to quote “Give you a ride on the freak train.” Her words, not mine.” She said shuttering in apparent disgust. She’s a lesbian, so it’s no surprise that a stallions genitalia would be off putting to her.

“Vinyl?” I asked, not knowing who that was until she answered it for me.

“DJ P0N-3. Duh.” She said. That DJ’s real name is Vinyl Scratch? I didn’t know that. And she wants to have sex with me? Eh. I’m not surprised with that look she gave me not to long ago.

Them, I felt Bon Bon put a hoof on my shoulder. In a comforting way.

“But, for me, I just see a regular pony. And, I always try to treat other ponies the way they wanna be treated. It’s what my Mom and Dad taught me growing up. Plus, I just see a stallion like you, and I feel like I wanna be friends with him.” She said in a caring voice.

I was surprised to hear this. “We’re really friends?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Yeah. Is that alright with you?” She asked me.

I smiled back at her. “Yeah.” I nodded. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”

She removed her hoof from my shoulder and offered it to me. I gave her my own hoof, and we shook each other’s hooves. It honestly felt…..kinda good to make a friend in her. She seems like the sweetest mare ever. Next to my big sister Melody Rays, of course.

Just then, I heard my phone go off.

“I gotta take this.” I said, getting away from the table we were sitting at.

“Shadow Haze.” I answered.

“Shadow, it’s Detective Ruby Glow.” I heard her voice over my phone.

“What’s up?” I asked her.

“We need you to come to Canterlot right away. We found a body in a carriage in some alleyway. I’m here right now, and I’ll give you the details when you get here.” She told me. She sounded both intense and kinda excited. Like, she was looking forward to this case. Possibly working with your’s truly.

Or, maybe it’s the Vic themself. I wonder who it is? Maybe, somepony famous or something.

“Okay. I’m at the gym right now. I just need to hit the showers. I’ll be there in no time.” I told her, hanging up.

“Duty calls, huh?” Bon Bon said, getting up from her seat.

I nodded. “Yeah. I gotta go hit the showers and head out.” I said, getting my towel and placing it on my neck.

I saw Bon Bon head back to the gym room. “Well, good luck Shadow. It was nice talking to you.” She said.

I smiled and nodded as I was about to walk into the male shower room.

“It was nice talking with you too, Bon Bon. Hope we can meet up again sometime and chat some more. See ya later.” I said, entering the shower room. I heard her say it back.

-/-

After my shower, I headed for the Ponyville Train Station to head over to Canterlot. I feel pretty good that me and Bon Bon are friends. She seems like a genuinely good hearted mare, that would give you the saddle off her back for you. Not to mention, if it was ever gonna happen, a possible discount on her awesome treats as well?

Maybe, maybe not? Either way, she’s cool. And the fact that she saved my chest from getting caved in by that weight.

But now, it’s back to the old grind. I wonder what kind of case this’ll be. I have a feeling I’m gonna be working with Ponyville Detective Ruby Glow. She also seems nice, but I wonder what her Detective skills are gonna be like. How many years has she been one anyway?

One thing I just thought of right now was, why didn’t Ruby Glow tell me the Vic’s name if she was already there? Wouldn’t she have told her partner? If that partner is even there.

Overall, no matter what, I am fucking ready to roll.

Author's Note

Yep, back to another case. I hope all of you have been enjoying my series so far. Even if I was frustrated with The Hate Case, I’m glad I got it finished for all of you.

And, just to let all of you know, there will be something I do in this episode that probably will or will not PISS you off. Know that I have no problem with this certain type of fandom for this certain character, but this is my own version of a certain character, and I feel it’ll be right for MY story.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. If you do, make sure to like, favorite, follow and comment for future updates. Thank you all and goodnight everybody.