Equestria Noire Case #4: The Pianist Case

-/-Canterlot County Buffet-/-

Expectations. It’s what every pony has. They believe a certain result or outcome or verdict or anything else you wanna call it is gonna happen. Now, that can be based on a lot of things.

It could be from the history of certain events that resulted in something happening. Because, after all, the old saying really is true: Those Who Do Not Learn From History Are Doomed To Repeat It.

Another reason, would just seem like basic logic. They see something that on the surface just looks DOOMED to failure. Whether that be on history again, or the idea created by somepony that another somepony doesn’t believe in or agree with.

And, most of all, some ponies have expectations, just based on pony nature. Like, ponies want to be rewarded for doing the most basic of basic tasks that everyday ponies, myself included, do everyday of our lives. Hell, I remember when a very young stallion, back when I was on the force, slammed a door on a mare’s hoof after he opened it for her. Even gave some weird bow before her.

Now, you probably want to to know WHY this stallion, or just anypony period and leave out the stallion part, did this to this mare. Well, no joke, he HONESTLY thought that if he was very, VERY nice and be what he calls a “gentlecolt”, that the mare would offer herself up to him. Because he’s a nice pony and he should be gifted with a romantic relationship, if not sexual intercourse. Yes. This stallion ACTUALLY thought that.

But, anyway, I’m getting off topic here. When I walked into the Canterlot Country Club, I was fully expecting a snooty, high class type of buffet with a bunch of the same prissy-pony types sitting at well designed booths and tables, eating with their muzzles in the air, dining on only the finest meals(a gourmet, if you will), using the correct type of fork(salad or dinner fork, go figure), a hoofkerchief placed at their lap and even used as a bib so as not to stain their expensive wardrobe, and having conversations about their lives and how good it is to have a bunch of money and things SOME ponies can’t have.

I was right. For the most part.

There indeed were a bunch of those snooty type ponies here, indeed dresses very high class, indeed mingling about the very nice and expensive things they owned, indeed wearing hoofkercheifs while dining, and indeed knowing which dining utensil was which when using a fork.

So, my expectations were met when I trotted in here. Hell, had I not flashed my badge at the front counter and asked where Ruby was, I probably would’ve been asked to leave. Maybe, my kind is not welcome here. Heh. Too bad for him, right?

However, I realized my expectations weren’t ENTIRELY met. First, I did see a few ponies who looked like they were NOT Canterlot native. I swore I saw a Kirin dressed in a pretty simple red dress. She looked beautiful. However, I could also tell she had a few things to learn about Canterlot etiquette. Especially in front of THIS crowd.

Then, as I trotted through the restaurant, I saw a little filly who, judging by her accent, grew up in Manehatten. She was a brown coated filly with an amber red mane that kinda resembled a mow hawk. Or, maybe just a combover, who knows. She also looks like she may be related to the Apple Family too, seeing as how she just mentioned Apple Bloom. I’ll have to ask if she’s related to her or not the next time I see her.

So, after a few glances at the ponies here, I finally saw Ruby Glow. And one expectation that I was right about was she looked to have NOT been drinking. That was good.

What wasn’t, and was kinda sad to see, was her salad she had. Only, she wasn’t eating it, but picking at it with her salad fork. And looking kinda miserable. This wasn’t the same mare I met back when I first came to Ponyville.

Eventually, I sat down at the table next to her. We didn’t say anything for about a minute or two. No waiter of waitress came over to us while we just sat there. Ruby not looking me in the eye.

“I’m sorry.” She said, finally breaking the awkward silence, still picking at her salad.

“Ruby-“ I started to say before getting cut off.

“Wait. Just let me finish.” Ruby said, now looking up at me. “What happened back there, it was immature and wrong for me to behave like that. I’m a police pony and there’s no excuse for that. I’m sorry, Shadow Haze.” She did look genuinely embarrassed that she behaved like that. So, at least it’s an actual apology.

“Ruby” I started. “You’re only 20 years old-“

“21 actually. Three weeks ago.” She interrupted again.

“Okay, 21. Ponies at that age, even police ponies, still have SOME type of immaturity to them. It’s called being young. Ponies think they’re mature adults at that age when they reach it. But, they still have a way to go to truly grow up and mellow out and mature. So, what happened back there wasn’t abnormal. Stop being hard on yourself.” I explained to her in the most honest way I could.

She blushed a little in embarrassment. I guess my words got to get a little bit. Hopefully, in the right way.

“You know, I think I am gonna get some grub. Eat your salad. It still looks good.” I said, getting up from our table to go to the buffet table. I got a salad too. Mine had no dressing. I also got a daisy sandwich with bay leaves.

When I walked back to the table, Ruby had taken a few bites of her salad. She appeared to be enjoying it. For the most part.

After I took a few bites from my food, I went ahead and asked her what I had planned to ask her when I got here.

“So? Care to explain what all that was about back at the Detention Center?” I asked her, taking a bite of my sandwich.

She looked surprised for a split second before looking glum again.

“I don’t hate prostitutes, Shadow. It’s just, whenever I see one, or there’s a crime where one was hurt, if not killed, it just makes me think about somepony I was close too.” She said.

“And who is that?” I asked, looking in her eyes.

She took a breath through her nostrils before she replied, “My sister.”

I was surprised at first hearing that, but almost instantly, I realized it wasn’t. With how she acted back there, it would make perfect sense for her to feel that way about prostitutes.

“What happened?”

“She was 3 years older than me. When I was 14 years old, I went to visit her at her college campus. She was a beautiful mare. Heh. No wonder she had a lot of boyfriends and I’ve had zippo. I’m not as pretty as she was.” She told me in the most self loathing way tone I’ve heard.

I know what I’m gonna tell her after she’s done talking, but I wanna hear all this.

“I found out she was selling her body every night to support herself. Food, drinks, rent, membership, parties, groups, everything. She had guys lined up almost every night to fuck her. That’s why I couldn’t spend the night with her. And even if she wanted me too, I knew It’d be too much for me to hear her having sex with all those guys who don’t care about her personally. They just wanna get their dicks wet.” She said, her voice now trembling. Her lip quivering. I even saw a small tear in her eye.

“When did she die?” I asked.

She shuttered a little bit. “I never told Mom or Dad about what she was doing. I should’ve, but she made me promise not to tell them. Well, I was about to graduate high school. She promised she would be there. It was the day before graduation I got the news that…” I saw her hold back her tears. This doesn’t look good.

“What?” I asked.

“My sister’s body was found in a ditch near the entrance of the college. She was beaten and raped. It was one of her “regulars”. He wanted more, she said no, he got pissed off and raped her. And beat her to death with his bare hooves. She was only 21.” She said, tears rolling down her face. She quickly wiped them away with her hoof.

“I didn’t mean to be rude to those girls. If anything, I want to help them. Get them out of that life. It’s dangerous. One wrong customer, and they’re dead. Just like my sister.” She told me. She did look ashamed for how she acted. I guess I do understand and feel sorry for her.

Now it’s my turn to speak.

“Ruby.” I said, making her look at me in the face.

“I couldn’t begin to imagine what you must’ve went through when you got the news. It had to have been devastating.”

She looked down in shame again. “Yeah. It was.”

“I get the feeling that you must think you’re in some way responsible, am I right?” I asked, taking another bite of my sandwich. I think I even saw a few of the prissy ponies looking over at us. Apparently, interested in our conversation.

Ruby was quiet for a bit again, not exactly looking me in the eye. “I just….feel like I could’ve helped her get outta that life. Maybe, I could’ve told my parents. But, why do you say that?”

Now I’m starting to feel uncomfortable. Should I tell her one of my dark secrets that only Twilight knows? Would she judge me? Think different of me?

“Did something happen to you one time, Shadow?” She asked, almost innocently. Like, a little curious filly who doesn’t know any better.

Maybe…she might understand.

Well, as I take a big deep sigh, here I go.

“I unintentionally caused one of my closest friends to commit suicide.”

And it was that audible gasp that Ruby gave, even covering her mouth with her hooves, that caused the whole restaurant to look at us. I saw they looked on in uncomfortableness and curiousness.

That’s when I gave them my intimidation look. And I mean, I did a full, slow, 360 spin to ALL the patrons here. And just like that, they all went back to their meals, now eating with their backs turned to us.

As I turned back and sat down at our seat, Ruby, with a big look of interest in her eyes, asked me, “What happened?”

I have a big sigh. “I think you know by now that I’m not exactly a stallion who has a lot of friends, right? I mean, yeah I have made friends, but even then I haven’t had the best luck in keeping friends. And don’t even get me started on potential romantic relationships.” I started to explain to her. She nodded her head at me the whole time.

“Well, that wasn’t always the case 9 years ago. Back at that time, I actually had a small group of friends that I did a lot with. These were friends that I ACTUALLY could count on.”

“What we’re their names?” She asked me.

“You may have heard their names. Two of them are famous now. One is a big time baker at some big baking company in Manehatten.” I told her, now taking a bite of my salad.

“Okay.” She said, again nodding.

“Their names are Tango Twister, Silver Sweeper and Sugar Spice. The one who took her own life was a mare named Silhouette.” I took another bite of my salad. Much bigger one then just a minute ago.

Ruby took a minute to think about those names, before realizing who they were.

“Wait a minute. Isn’t Tango Twister some big star in the entertainment industry?” She asked.

“Mhmm.” I nodded. “From what I hear, he does pretty much everything. Acting, singing, dancing, musicals, you name it.”

“And Silver Sweeper.” Ruby went on. “He’s an author now. My Mom’s read a few of his books.”

“Yep.” I again nodded. “He created the character Night Mist. A detective, kinda like me. He’s basically a tortured soul, who constantly keeps his emotions bottled up after losing his son from a psychotic pedophile. And every case after that one, he constantly thinks about other children who are affected by the crimes he solves. Whether they’re the Vic or not.”

She looked surprised I knew all that.

“My aunt reads a lot of his books too.”

“And Sugar Spice” Ruby Glow continued, “Didn’t she contribute to some big charity event last year?”

I nodded again. “Uh-huh. She and every pony that worked that ended up raising over 15 million bits for school supplies. Like new uniforms, better text books, a police pony who works there, stuff like that.”

“Woah.” She said, looking impressed. “So, do you still talk to them?”

This time, my head shook instead of nodding. “Nope. Haven’t in years.”

Now, Ruby looked uncomfortable. “Is this because….?”

“Yes. Because of what happened to Silhouette.” I said. Her silence told me to continue with my sad tale.

“Silhouette had a crush on me for a long time. Ever since our freshman year, she was smitten with me. By our junior year, she was straight up in love with me. And I knew why. We both grew up raised by our aunt and uncle, we both had an older sibling who we felt was like a parental figure to us, we both liked crime dramas, and we, at times, felt isolated from society. So, we had a lot in common. Yes we did.” I explained to her, leaning back in my chair, taking a pretty big bite of my sandwich.

She started to put two and two together I saw from the look on her face.

“You didn’t feel the same way about her though?” She asked.

I breathed through my nostrils. “You’re smart. Yes. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t feel romantically attached to her. And I think I know why, looking back.”

“What?” Ruby asked.

“Again, if you’ve seen me in action, Ruby, I think you’d know I’m pretty capable of keeping my emotions in check. I can keep things cool. That’s why I have the intimidation factor on my side.” I said to her.

“And she?”

I sighed in a bit of sadness. “Silhouette always had some emotional issues. Don’t know why, maybe it was knowing her Mom gave her up to her sister and brother-in-law, maybe it was not knowing who her father is, I don’t fucking know.” I said, as I started to feel bad. Talking about this does that, but I guess I can’t stop now.

“But, either way, she was a little TOO open about her feelings. It honestly felt like everyday I was living in a teen drama series. One that was trying to be TOO deep, if you know what I mean. Not to mention, she could be REALLY sensitive. Even the smallest thing could make her cry. It was things like that. Even if I could understand her.”

Ruby Glow looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. I have a feeling she’s not gonna like how this story will end.

“Anyway, me and all my friends went to Prom during our junior year. And I had a feeling she was gonna want to tell me her feelings. Cause I could tell she had been wanting to for quite some time now.” I said to her.

“Did she?” Ruby asked, now looking kinda sad. I guess she must know where I’m going with this.

“Somehow, we bumped into each other on the dance floor. There was a slow dance being played and Sugar Spice pushed us together. She was REALLY intent on getting us together.”

“Go on.” Ruby said.

I hate telling this story. Cause it leaves me feeling like a piece of shit. I know it wasn’t my fault. But, when ponies tell you otherwise, chance are you start to feel like they’re right.

“She tells me she’s in love with me. And, being the honest pony I am, proceeded to let her down in the most gentlest way I possibly could. I rejected her in the most nicest way I could ever try.” I tell her. Great. Now I’m getting pissed off and emotional. I force myself not to let any tears out.

Ruby on the other hoof, just looked at me with total compassion in her eyes.

“What happened?” She asked.

I breath through my nostrils again. “She ran out of the school in tears. Then she went home and killed herself with her Dad’s gun.” I said, gutting through any type of emotional outburst I possibly could.

The look I saw on Ruby’s face, on the other hoof, was another story. I saw a tear roll down her face. She felt bad for me. I could tell.

“Shadow, I’m so sorry.” She quietly told me.

“Oh it gets worse.” I said, my voice kinda cracked a little bit. Been a while since I’ve done that. It happens when talking about emotional shit like this.

“Sugar Spice disowns me to my face, and says she never wants to see me again. She moves to Manehatten to get away from me. And as for Silver and Tango, they just avoid me, until we just don’t talk anymore. My senior year was a lonely time for me. I didn’t do a lot of the fun things my other classmates did, because of my reputation at the time. I don’t think anypony from my class ever forgot that. And they never will.”

That’s when I felt it. A single tear went down my face. I quickly wiped it away with the hoofkercheif next to me.

Ruby and I were silent for a minute before we decided to pick up the tab. We left after that. As we walked out of the restaurant, we were completely silent with each other. Not a word said

Then, my phone went off.

“Shadow.” I answered. It was Captain Bisette. She wanted to see us right away. I told Ruby this and off we went to the Detention Center.

-/-Canterlot Detention Center-/-

On our way over here, I told Ruby about what the other prostitutes I talked to told me about. About how, both Colton and Ludwig were seen on those strolls, how they had never come across any male prostitutes, and about Ludwig’s encounter with Zoe. To say she was interested in that would be an understatement. Maybe, we were close to catching the fucker after all.

Anyway, we marched into Captain Bisette’s office, only to find somepony in there with her.

Before we could say anything, Captain Bisette stood up from her chair.

“Shadow, Ruby, I’m sure you know the District Attorney of Canterlot, Sebastian St. Clipton, correct?” She said to us, introducing the, I’m guessing, 60 year old unicorn stallion in front of us. He had a soft, deep lilac coat color(which kinda looked a little bit faded now, due to his old age), a bright royal blue mane, dark purple eyes, and a cutie mark that had a book with the word LAW written on the front cover.

I extended my hoof to him. “Pleased to meet you sir. Ruby and I were going to speak with you very soon.” I told him. His face looked kinda somber and worrying. Wonder what this is all about.

He gave a concerned sigh. “I’m glad you two are taking Colton Von Gallopson’s case. He was a close friend of mine. I just can’t believe that happened to him.” He said to us.

“We’ve heard how close both you AND your son Ludwig are to Colton. We’ve spoken to a few ponies already.” Ruby said.

“Yes.” Sebastian said, again looking worried. For what apparently?

“And I’m sorry to put more work on you two, but I came because I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Sebastian looked over at Captain Bisette, I guess, motioning for her to give us the news.

And By Celestia, did we get some?

“Ludwig St. Clipton is missing.”