Equestria Noir Case 9 "Murder She Spelled"

by Jacoboby1

Chapters

Chapter 1 "Spell Death"
Chapter 2 "Spell Trixie"
Chapter 3 "Spell Secret"
Chapter 4 "Spell Love"
Chapter 5 "Spell Friendship is Magic"
Epilogue

Chapter 1 "Spell Death"

Equestria Noir

Case 9

“Murder She Spelled”

Chapter 1

“Spell Death”

My grey eyes looked out at the landscape of Equestria rolling by in the train’s window. It would be a while before Twilight and I arrived at Canterlot. A new case has come up and once again I found myself heading towards Equestria’s Capital.

I looked over at Twilight who was asleep while leaning against my shoulder. She’d been up late at night studying some kind of new subject. I tried to convince her to lay off the studying in order to get some sleep but that was like telling a bird not to fly. So here she was, asleep on an early autumn day before she went on a case.

My mind started to wonder, it’s been doing that more often than it used to, about us mostly. Twilight and I have known each other for almost three months and we’ve only recently confessed to each other how we felt. The whole dating life was going fairly well and I finally managed to convince Twilight to stop getting dating ideas out of books.

But I can’t help but feel something is on her mind more than usual. She’s been rather distant lately and it has me worried. Sometimes she would spend days in our office just rubbing the part of her shoulder where she got shot at about a week ago. Whenever I asked her what was wrong she just would change the subject and avoid the question.

I shook my head; I was over thinking things when I should be focused on the case. I opened the file I had levitated with my magic. The victim was a Mrs. Nightspeller she was a teacher at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Forceps told me that the body is still there and I should come and look at it.

Twilight had actually gone to the school in addition to her lessons with Celestia. Nightspeller was actually a popular teacher at the school, a friendly and lovely mentor with a heart of gold. Twilight told me she has nothing but fond memories of Nightspeller’s charms classes.

Speaking of Twilight I felt her stir next to me. She lifted her head off my shoulder and rubbed her eyes with her hooves. “Morning” She said drowsily.

“Morning sunshine” I said smiling “What was it you were studying so much last night?”

“Complimentary spells” Twilight explained as she stretched her legs “Spells that work best when two unicorns perform them” She sat down beside me after she was done stretching “I was hoping maybe we could learn a few since we work
together so often”

I blushed a little “I’m not that good with magic Twilight” I tapped my horn to drive home my point “I’d probably just cause the spell to backfire or something”

Twilight simply shrugged and turned her attention to the file I had opened. She shook her head “To think off all ponies it had to be Nightspeller” She ran a hoof on a picture of the dark unicorn with a long mane of violet hair “She was one of the first teachers I remember having at the school…”

I put a hoof around Twilight and she looked at me. I ran my hoof down her back to try and comfort her. It only had mild success but it did keep her from bursting into tears. “We’ll find the guy who did this Twilight…I promise”

______________________________________________________

The school was technically three schools in one. When you got accepted at around six years old you went to the elementary part of the place. When you hit your teens you moved on to the advanced building. If you decided to stay at the school and study more you went into the graduate student building.

The crime scene was at the last one. Twilight and I walked to the large building to find a crowd gathered around the back of the building. Several students wearing uniforms spoke among themselves trying to discern what happened. I pushed my way through the crowd and the uniforms let me and Twilight in.

Forceps was bending over the dark body of Nightspeller herself. The mare was clad in a violet robe that had been torn open and her body was heavily bruised and scarred. Forceps looked over at me and smiled “Bout time ya got here, I was afraid it was just going to be me and the stiff all day”

I rolled at my eyes at Forceps’ obvious concern for the victim. I pulled out my magnifying glass and began examining the body “Give me the low down”

“Female, early 40s, unicorn” Forceps said writing down what he could identify “Cause of death…” He pointed with his hoof at the large cut on her neck. “I’d say somepony slit her throat”

“With what exactly?” I said looking at the cut on the teacher’s neck. It was way too small to be a knife or any other kind of blade I knew of.

“A spell” Forceps said “Somepony casted a spell that slit her throat about the length of a hair” He gestured to the blood coming out of Nightspeller’s neck “But it did its job, cut an artery in the neck and she bled out”

“Can you get me a time of death?”

“I’d say around midnight judging by the fact her coat was wet when she was found”

“Why do you say that?” I said looking at the old horse.

“Because it was raining like hell last night” Forceps explained “It came around midnight and didn’t stop till morning” He shrugged “Once we get her back to the lab I’ll be able to give you an exact time”

“Anything else you can tell me?”

“One thing…I think she might have been raped…”

My eyes went wide but I was smart enough to lower my voice to a whisper. “What do you mean raped?”

Forceps kept his voice down to avoid anypony overhearing and getting the wrong idea “I found bruises in her…private area, I’ll check to see if anything actually went on when I get her back to the lab”

A murder and a rape? Two things you don’t normally see in Equestria. This only added to the incentive to solve this case as soon as possible.

I looked over as Twilight came with a young unicorn mare. She couldn’t have been older than 16 with a soft green coat and a silver colored mane. She didn’t meet my eyes at first. Twilight gently put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder “Novery…tell the detective what you saw last night”

The mare came closer and looked at me with green eyes that matched her coat. I smiled at her gently to reassure her I was here to help. It helped her relax a little as I spoke “You saw what happened here?”

Novery nodded and spoke in a Canterlot accent “Yes sir, I saw what happened…”

“Can you describe it to me?” I said getting out my notebook “Say start with how you found the body?”

She looked at Twilight who smiled a little. Novery then simply sat on her rump and spoke to me “I was working late at the library last night on a project for potions. It was raining pretty heavy so I went to take a shortcut back to the dorms” She then got quiet and shivered a little “That’s when…I heard the screams…”

I finished writing down what she said. “You went to investigate?”

She nodded “I went in to see what was going on and…I saw somepony standing over Nightspeller…oh Celestia…” She started crying and Twilight rubbed the mare on the back.

“I know this is hard” I said reassuringly “But can you remember anything about the pony that was standing over her?”

Novery calmed down enough to keep going “No, it was very dark and I only caught a glimpse of whoever it was leaving when the lightning flashed…I remember him wearing a wizard’s hat and some kind of cloak…but by the time the next flash of lightning came he was gone…”

“What time was this?” I asked

“I’d say around midnight, I remember leaving the library when the storm hit. The clock said midnight and the library isn’t too far from here”

I nodded and finished writing her testimony “Thank you Novery, it was very brave of you to come forward like this…”

“Why would somepony do this to her!?” The mare cried the tears returning to her eyes with a vengeance “She was always so sweet and kind! She never did any harm to anypony!”

Some in the crowd murmured a little and I knew that if I didn’t get Novery calmed down we could have a mob on our hands. I put a hoof on her shoulder “Novery…I’m going to find the pony that did this. When I do he’s going to pay for hurting Nightspeller like this…I need you to be strong until then okay?”

Novery looked into my grey eyes and then slowly nodded. She wiped her eyes with the edge of her uniform’s cloak. Twilight escorted her back to the crowd and a couple of students took to comforting the mare.

I looked at Officer Frisk who was among the uniforms present. He saluted at my approach “Good to see you again Detective, been a while since the whole changeling business”

“Good to see you again to Frisk” I said saluting back “I want you to get other uniforms down here and start asking around the students. I want to know if anypony was here during the night and could’ve seen anything”

Frisk frowned “Going to be hard to do detective, yesterday was a vacation day for the school. A lot of students and teachers went home”

“Just look around where you can” I said with authority “Also make sure nopony goes near the crime scene unless I say so”

Frisk nodded “Yeah, also the head of the department Professor Wander Wave wanted to talk to you. He’s the pony in charge of making sure the students are alright. He wanted to get a statement once the investigation was done…he was also a personal friend of the victim”

“Thanks Frisk, I’ll get on it” I said turning to leave the uniform to his work.

_________________________________________________________

“You know this Wander guy?” I asked as Twilight and I walked towards the staff building. The staff had a single building to themselves where they did all their work. The students around us were whispering about us. It reminded me of when I arrived in Ponyville the first time…a detective and cops being here was never a good sign.

Twilight nodded “He was my Conjuration teacher back when I took classes here” She smiled a little “He’s brilliant when it comes to magic and I always enjoyed his lectures”

“Sounds like you were the teacher’s pet” I said chuckling

Twilight flushed and glared at me “I only gave him the one apple! And that was during Teacher Appreciation Week!”

I laughed and then heard a high pitched laugh come from behind us. I then heard a very refined alto voice speak from the same spot “You always were a favorite among the teachers Twilight”

We both turned around to see a rather pretty looking unicorn mare smiling at Twilight. She was the same age as Twilight with a long blond mane and a coat of pure white. A cutie mark of a sparkling moon adorned her flank which was partially obscured by the violet cloak she wore. The smile on her face was one that reminded me of Larksong. Not a good thing…

“Moondancer?” Twilight said raising an eyebrow “What are you doing here?”

Moondancer smiled and tossed her mane “I’m a graduate student here, it’s a pleasure to see you again Twilight” She then looked at me and smiled wider “And who is this fine example of stallionhood?”

I simply nodded in her direction “Detective Private Eye, I’m here to investigate the murder of Nightspeller”

Moondancer closed her blue eyes for a moment “A terrible loss, she was my teacher when Twilight and I were in school together”

“You were a friend of Twilight’s?” I said curiously

“Well I wouldn’t call us friends…” Twilight grumbled a little

“Oh you may not see it that way Twilight” Moondancer said a little too merrily “But you were always a friend to me. Ever since you gave me those notes I knew we were meant to be. But alas, one Nightmare Moon later and all my plans for our blossoming friendship have been for naught”

Luna’s horn, and I thought Rarity was a drama queen “What do you mean?”

Twilight looked a little guilty “Before Nightmare Moon’s return I skipped out on going to Moondancer’s birthday party…” She turned to the white mare and smiled a little “Sorry about that Moondancer”

“Oh don’t worry your head about it” Moondancer said patting Twilight on the head like one would a dog. “I understand you are a very busy mare and I can’t be expected to have you at my beck and call”

“Speaking of being busy” Twilight said backing away “We should-get-going” She said that last bit through gritted teeth.

“Oh?” Moondancer said getting awfully close to me “But I’d like to get to know your stallion friend here…” Her blue eyes became half lidded and several alarms went off in my head. All of them were saying…

GET AWAY FROM THE MARE WHO’S FLIRTING WITH YOU IDIOT!!!!

I didn’t have to deny the mare myself as Twilight used magic to yank on my tail to get moving. I was happy to oblige and we left the mare behind.

_________________________________________________________

“Can you believe she would do that!?” Twilight ranted when we finally got inside the staff building “You could see it in her eyes she knew you were my boyfriend!”

“Does she do that all the time?” I said looking at the rather extravagant interior.

“All the time!” Twilight exclaimed exacerbated “It’s why I don’t like hanging out with her! All she does is flirt with guys and get them to do whatever she wants”

“I don’t think it would take an appearance by Nightmare Moon to keep you away from her parties” I observed

Twilight rolled her eyes “The only reason she even invites me is because I helped her study for a test she was struggling with” She shook her head “Ever since it was always-“She imitated Moondancer’s refined accent “Oh Twilight won’t you help me with homework? Twilight won’t you teach me this spell? Twilight won’t you do this? Twilight won’t you do that?” She snorted “I could think of a few things to do with her-“

She was cut off when I covered her mouth with a hoof and made a motion for her to shush “Twilight…somepony is following us…”

Twilight looked with her violet eyes behind us. Nopony was there…

I looked back there and removed my hoof from her mouth “I thought I heard somepony walking…

Twilight’s horn glowed and then she fired a magic bolt at the space in front of us. The bolt hit something I couldn’t see and I heard a crash as whatever the spell hit crashed into a nearby suit of armor.

I pulled out my gun and aimed it at the invisible follower. Slowly the spell faded and I saw a blue unicorn among the mess of the armor. Her violet eyes glared at me “Nopony assaults the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

“Trixie?!” Twilight exclaimed in obvious shock

“Great and who now?” I said in obvious confusion

Chapter 2 "Spell Trixie"

Chapter 2

“Spell Trixie”

“The Great and who now?” I said with obvious confusion.

The unicorn got up and dusted herself off. She was the same age as Twilight with a blue coat and a short mane of bluish silver. She wore a periwinkle colored coat with what looked like stars on it. Her other distinguishing feature was the large wizards hat on her head. Her violet eyes closed as she let out a huff.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn’t appreciate getting shot at” She tilted her muzzle up utter snobbery.

Twilight closed her gaping mouth and ignored Trixie’s comment “What are you doing here?! I haven’t seen you since the whole Ursa Minor incident”

I looked between the two unicorns my grey eyes betraying my confusion “Could somepony please explain how you two know each other?”

Trixie snorted but held her head proudly “The Great and Powerful Trixie knows of Twilight Sparkle because of the utter humiliation she gave us that one day in Ponyville”

Twilight rolled her eyes “It wasn’t my fault Snips and Snails took your boasting about defeating an Ursa Major seriously”

I laughed a little, Snips and Snails were never too bright. Tailspin told me plenty of tales about those two getting into some trouble or another. I looked over at Trixie “You tried to take on an Ursa Major?”

“No she didn’t” Twilight said frowning “She lied about it to make herself look like a better magician then she really is”

Trixie glared at Twilight “And ever since you defeated the Ursa Minor we’ve been hard pressed to find any sort of work! It’s all your fault Twilight Sparkle!”

Twilight rolled her eyes and I laughed a little.

Trixie raised an eyebrow “What are you laughing at?’

“Nothing” I said holding back my laughter “It’s just I can’t believe you tried to take on a baby. Most Ursa are passive creatures and don’t attack unless provoked” I shook my head bemused “Your lucky that its mother didn’t come and attack Ponyville to get its baby back”

Trixie kept her violet gaze on me “And who are you exactly? You don’t look like a student here”

I tipped my hat to her “Detective Private Eye, I’m investigating the murder that occurred here” I let all humor go and looked at her “I would like to ask why you were following us”

Trixie didn’t meet my eyes for a second “We weren’t following you, we were um…” She got an idea “Investigating the murder ourselves!”

“Why are you investigating the murder?” I said raising an eyebrow “You don’t seem like the detective type”

“The Great and Powerful and Investigative Trixie never turns down a challenge. Thus Trixie believes she can solve this case before Twilight Sparkle can!” She finished her speech by pointing a challenging hoof at Twilight.

Twilight rolled her eyes and turned to walk further down the hall “We don’t have time for this, come on Private let’s go…”

I nodded and proceeded to follow her. I looked back at Trixie who let out a huff and turned around to walk the opposite direction. I couldn’t help but notice that Trixie looked…crestfallen almost.

_________________________________________________________

“The students will miss her the most” Wander Wave said as he sat down on his desk. He was a stallion at least twice my age but somehow managed to look half that. His coat was a bright yellow and his mane was a dark orange with streaks of grey in them. His coat was obscured by the black teacher’s cloak he wore. “She was always so kind and caring towards them”

I nodded taking a sip of the tea he offered us. It was nothing compared to Zecora’s tea but I drank it politely. When I finished my sip I leaned in the chair I was sitting in opposite Wander “I’ll need to ask you a few questions before I can make an official statement to the students”

Wander nodded his yellow head “Ask away detective”

I pulled out my notebook “Has anypony been following Nightspeller with interest lately? Has she made any enemies at all?”

The teacher shook his head “She was a very kind soul. Always helped out students who were struggling with magic” He smiled a little “The students loved her so much that several tried to fail her class just so they could repeat it”

Twilight laughed “Didn’t work, she always glared at them and said” She imitated a voice that reminded me of me whenever Tailspin stole from the cookie jar. “You’ll regret it the rest of your life if you let your personal wants get in the way of studying”

Wander smiled and chuckled himself “She always encouraged her students to do their best no matter what their talents were for magic”

“You speak highly of her” I observed “You two were friends?”

Wander flushed a little then looked down at his tea cup in embarrassment. “Well, she was a very attractive mare despite her age. Many a student and teacher had fallen for her. I was one of them”

Twilight smiled “Well I think you two would’ve made a great match” She took a sip from her tea and spoke fondly “You always were a kind soul yourself”

Wander chuckled and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment “Stop it Twilight you’re embarrassing this old stallion”

It was then my eyes fell on a small package on his desk. It was wrapped in wrapping paper and had a tiny blue bow on the top. “If I may ask Wander, who is this from?” I said gesturing to the package with a hoof.

Wander turned to look at the package and smiled “Another gift from Moondancer, I swear that girl wishes to spoil me”

Twilight rolled her eyes “That’s Moondancer, always after this guy or another no matter how old they are”

Wander chuckled “She was such a trouble student originally, always tried to cheat off students that were smarter than her. But after a while she cleaned up her act and started taking her studies seriously” He smiled at the package “Lately she’s been giving me more and more of these thank you gifts”

“Back on topic” I said dismissing the comment with a hoof “Has anypony been stalking Nightspeller at all?”

Wander got quiet for a second and then slowly shook his head “Not that I know of, we tell each other everything and she hasn’t told me anything about a stalker” His hoof shook a little “Whoever thought they could take advantage of a mare as lovely and pure as her deserves to be hung from a tree”

“I have one more question for you” I said firmly “Where were you last night around midnight?”

“I was in my office” Wander explained “I was working late grading some tests and then I went back to my dorm to sleep”

________________________________________________________

Twilight and I walked outside of the staff building as I finished organizing my notebook. “If nopony was stalking her then we don’t have a lead”

Twilight shook her head “Back to square one, if we even left it in the first place”

“Nothing to do but wait for Frisk to get back from asking the students” I said knowingly.

Twilight nodded “I’m going to ask around myself, some students would be more comfortable talking to me then a uniformed officer”

I nodded in turn “I’m going to head back to the crime scene to see what I can find”

We split up and I made my way back to the crime scene. CSU was going to be a bit with investigating the crime scene. The place was deserted, even the body was gone, only an outline of chalk marking where the teacher was.

I ducked under the police tape and bumped into something. I looked up to see Trixie appearing in front of me. Her violet eyes expanded in shock “Are you following Trixie now?!”

“Me following you?!” I yelled back at her “This is a crime scene! You shouldn’t be here!”

“The Great, Powerful and Investigative Trixie should be at the crime scene if she hopes to solve the murder!” She retorted.

“Nopony asked you to help with the murder!” I retorted back at her. It was one thing for somepony like Twilight to be recruited to help; this was just some pony meddling in police affairs.

“Well then” Trixie said grinning “If Trixie isn’t going to help then Trixie won’t tell you what she found”

I frowned and crossed my forelegs in disbelief “And what has the Great, Meddling and annoying Trixie found?”

Trixie ignored my comment and levitated something into my hoof. I looked at it; it was a piece of black fabric that was wet to the touch. I looked up at Trixie “This fabric, it looks the same kind as the teacher’s cloaks are made out of”

“That’s because it is” Trixie said firmly “Trixie found it while looking around the crime scene before she was rudely interrupted” She said that last bit with a glare at me.

I rolled my eyes “What can we get from a piece of fabric?”

Trixie tilted her head up “Well, Nightspeller wasn’t wearing a teacher’s cloak when she was killed. This had to have belonged to the one who killed her”

As much as I hated to admit it she had a point. I closed my eyes and my horn glowed a faint grey. I began scanning the fabric for whatever DNA I could find. The fact it was hear the whole night muddled what I could get from it…but one pony’s DNA stood out.

“Wander Wave, his DNA is on this fabric!” I said with realization.

Trixie’s own eyes went wide “But Trixie remembers him saying he was in his office!”

I raised an eyebrow “How did you hear that?”

Trixie flushed a little then rubbed the back of her head “Trixie may have eavesdropped on your conversation with him…”

“So you were following us!” I said glaring “Why are you following us around?”

“Trixie helped didn’t she?” She retorted “Does she need a reason to try and find out what happened?”

She wasn’t telling me something. I could see it in her eyes she was hiding something. Her reasons for helping in this case can’t be as simple as wanting to spite Twilight. Was she really that childish or was something else going on?

I dismissed the thought with a shake of my head. “Whatever, I’m going to see what this could mean for the case” I turned to walk and found that Trixie was in my path.

“Trixie can help you again” She smirked “If you ask politely”

“Only if you tell me why you’re so eager to help solve this case” My grey eyes were giving no ground to her. I knew I’d need her help. But I wasn’t going to get it without knowing why she was willing to give it.

Trixie looked at me for about a minute then confessed “Nightspeller was my teacher…”

My grey eyes grew wide with shock. At this new information and the fact she referred to herself in first person. “She was your teacher? But how? You don’t go to this school”

Trixie spoke simply “Nightspeller found Trixie on the streets of Canterlot and took her in” There she was back to speaking in third person “She taught Trixie everything she knew about magic. Trixie learned quickly and she became like a mother to Trixie”

This relationship reminded me the relationship between Fenlock and me. Only Fenlock found me in a Manehatten alley investigating a dead body. I don’t think Nightspeller found Trixie while standing over the body of a dead donut shop owner.

Trixie went on “The reason Trixie is really helping is because she wants to find out who did this. Will you let Trixie help?”

I wanted to say no. Trixie did help find that fabric but this was asking a lot. I’ve recruited ponies before to help with cases but none of them were like Trixie. I wondered what Twilight would think of this? She obviously didn’t have the best relationship with the show pony.

I finally relented. The logic of seeking her help overpowered whatever previous notions I may have for the show pony. “Alright, you can help out Trixie. But you’ll listen to me, if I ask you to back out you back out got it?”

Trixie simply huffed and turned to walk away “Trixie will solve it by herself if it comes to that”

I rolled my eyes and followed the show pony. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was getting into something messy. Nor could I shake the feeling I’ve heard of Trixie before somewhere. Before the Ursa Minor incident…

__________________________________________________________

I poked my head out of the bush that Trixie and I were hiding in. We were at the entrance to the Staff dorms. The building was large and heavily guarded by sentient golems. I looked over at Trixie “The place is locked up tight; I could get a warrant to get us in…”

Trixie shook her head “That would take too long, Trixie needs to find out what happened quickly!”

I shook my own head “Trixie if we go in there that’s breaking and entering which is against the law”

Trixie spoke in a hushed by edgy voice “Do you want to find out what happened or not? Trixie’s method will get us the monster faster”

I couldn’t condone her methods but they would get results. Worst comes to worst I’ll just say I was here on a police investigation and they might let me off. I hoped Trixie knew what she was doing.

I gestured to the two golems guarding the doors “What do you suggest we do to get pass them?” The golems were made of stone and moved slowly with lifeless gem eyes. They were programmed like robots to apprehend any pony that tried to break inside the dorms.

Trixie smirked “Trixie was always a master at distraction” Her hat levitated off her head to reveal her horn which was glowing with a soft magenta. Just then a female scream rang in my ears. I was about to run to it when Trixie stopped me by biting my tail.

I watched the golems run for the sound and leave the door open for us to enter. I looked over at Trixie “What happened?”

She shook her head and started running for the door “Hurry before they discover that the wailing mare is actually a rock!”

Illusion magic, an art you don’t see much in this modern world. It was a brand of magic you don’t normally see because of its rather vague and mysterious nature. I didn’t think any ponies that practiced the art existed around here. Trixie was really full of surprises.

______________________________________________________________

We entered the building and came to Wander’s door. My horn scanned the rather large door that lead to the teacher’s bedroom. I frowned “There are magical wards on it; if we even try to pick the lock it’ll raise an alarm”

“Can you open it?” Trixie asked looking out for any guards that could come.

I nodded “It’ll take me a minute” My horn glowed and I began removing the wards one at a time “Twilight could break this in her sleep…” I mused to myself.

I finished the second to last ward when I heard hoof steps. There was no place for us to hide from the guard that was coming around the corner. That’s when Trixie pressed us against the wall and her horn glowed.

I sweated bullets as the guard walked towards us. His eyes didn’t look at us as he walked by. He just kept listening to his music on his P-pod. I blinked at the sight of him walking around the corner and out of sight.

I looked over at Trixie “What happened? How come he didn’t see us?”

Trixie smiled “He couldn’t see us because Trixie made us invisible”

“That’s how you kept sneaking up on us” I pointed out

Trixie frowned “Trixie does not sneak! Trixie just follows without ponies knowing about it”

I rolled my eyes and removed the last ward on the door. A minute of picking the lock later and we were in. The room was spacious and well decorated with books strewn everywhere. This place was more cluttered then Twilight’s library at studying hour.

Trixie looked around and then her eyes fell onto an open closet. “Trixie found something!” She dived into the closet and pulled out a teacher’s cloak…a corner of the cape was torn off

I pulled out the piece of fabric and held it to the tear. I looked at Trixie “You say you found this piece at the crime scene?”

Trixie nodded “Trixie found it caught on a storm drain, the cape got caught on a loose screw on the drain and ripped”

This means that Wander was there or at least somepony who was wearing his cloak. This just made things more interesting…

Chapter 3 "Spell Secret"

Chapter 3

“Spell Secret”

Trixie’s invisibility spell got us out of the staff building. When were out of earshot and eye sight I looked at the show mare. “Why sneak around?” I said curiously “You obviously don’t want to be seen”

Trixie simply huffed “Trixie doesn’t need to explain herself to you”

I snorted; this mare was tap dancing on whatever nerves I had left. I looked back at the fabric that we risked so much to get. This proved that somepony was wearing Wander’s cape. Whether it was the teacher or not remained to be seen.

Trixie smiled at me “Now Trixie has proven that Wander Wave was in the alley. He obviously cared deeply for the teacher and felt compelled to take advantage of her”

“Funny” I said tapping my chin in thought “He seemed so friendly…”

Trixie shook her head “He had his eye on Nightspeller for some time, she didn’t return his affections though”

“Did she tell you this when she was teaching you?” I asked

Trixie got quiet all of a sudden. She then slowly nodded “She didn’t love him but he loved her very much. So did everypony else…”

I was about to speak again when I heard a voice that turned my blood cold.

“Trixie?!” Twilight said as she ran to us

Trixie smirked at the sight of Twilight fuming “The Great, Powerful, and Investigative Trixie has just blown this case wide open”

“What are you even doing with Private?!” Twilight said glaring at the show mare “You’re not allowed to just walk into an investigation like this!”

“Oh and Twilight Sparkle has special permission?” Trixie said matching Twilight’s glare “Who gave it to you? Your boyfriend as he whispered sweet nothings into your ear?!”

“How dare you!” Twilight said her horn glowing with her rage “How dare you talk about Private and me like that!”

“Trixie has helped in this case! Nopony can deny that!” Trixie fired back

“Well nopony asked you to help!” Twilight said her voice getting dangerous.

I finally had enough; I got between both mares and pushed them apart. I looked at Twilight and spoke firmly “I let Trixie help Twilight and Trixie” I gazed firmly at the show mare “You will not insult Twilight like that while I’m in earshot!”

Twilight relented and calmed down. She looked at me with guilt ridden eyes. I simply gave her a reassuring hoof on the shoulder. Trixie huffed something along the lines of an apology.

Twilight walked to Trixie “So, what did you guys find?”

Trixie went on to explain the story in such an overblown way not even I could repeat it. It was something involving narrow escapes from blood thirsty golems and dangerous traps. I gave Twilight the more truthful version that didn’t involve Trixie single handedly slaying a lava monster.

“That can’t be right…” Twilight said after I finished the story.

“What do you mean?” I said tilting my head

“You believe Trixie to be lying?!” Trixie accused Twilight. A look from both me and her convinced the show mare to relent “Okay so maybe Trixie stretched the truth of her story a bit…”

“I mean” Twilight continued “That it doesn’t make sense for Wander to be in that alley”

“Why not?” Trixie said “We found the cape fabric in the alley way. He was there”

“No” Twilight said with a shake of her head “I asked around and one of the students was talking to him around midnight when the murder occurred”

“That means Wander has an alibi” I said firmly.

Trixie’s face frowned “Well…maybe he teleported there or something and came back when the student came in?”

It was my turn to shake my head “CSU didn’t find any teleporting spell powder. Nopony used a teleporting spell in that alley. We did find powder but that used to slice open Nightspeller’s throat”

Trixie slowly nodded “Trixie…understands…”

Twilight looked over at me “Private we should go talk to Forceps. He should be finished with Nightspeller’s body by now”

I nodded and looked to Trixie “Thanks for helping Trixie…we’ll take it from here”

Trixie looked indignant “Trixie will not be cast aside like some tool after it’s finished!”

I was about ready to slap this mare before Twilight spoke up “Trixie I know you’re grieving about Nightspeller” I told her about Trixie being Nightspeller’s student when I explained what happened. “But right now you should just leave things to me and Private”

Trixie opened her mouth to protest again. Then she slowly closed it and nodded “I…understand…if you need Trixie she will be at her wagon in Canterlot square…” Trixie then turned invisible and I heard hoof steps as she walked away.

Twilight’s violet eyes suddenly looked very guilty “I hope I didn’t hurt her too badly…”

“You caught that she said I didn’t you?” I observed “I noticed it too”

Twilight nodded “She only refers to herself in the first person like that when she’s upset…I wonder what made her speak like that?”

___________________________________________________________

The sun was setting from its zenith by the time Twilight and I arrived at the crime scene again. I looked over at Twilight “CSU has already combed the area; we should head for the station now”

Twilight nodded “I can’t get Trixie off my mind though” She sighed “She seemed so upset”

I ran a hoof along Twilight’s shoulder “Hey, she’ll come back in a few ready to challenge you and she’ll be the same ole Trixie again”

She smiled at me “Thanks Private, I’m probably worried about nothing”

“Don’t you two just make the cutest couple?” I heard a voice speak behind us.

We both turned to find Moondancer flanked by what looked like younger students. They looked like body guards protecting a princess. Moondancer’s blue eyes looked over at me “Good to see you again Detective”

“Moondancer” I said simply, careful how I spoke to her “I must ask what you are doing here”

“So direct and to the point” Moondancer smiled as she advanced on me. Her blue eyes were half lidded “I like that in a stallion…”

“Moondancer” Twilight said getting between me and her “You didn’t answer his question”

“Why I’m here to follow up on our conversation from before” Moondancer said slyly “Have you discovered anything new about Nightspeller’s death?”

“That’s sensitive information” I said to the mare “I’m afraid I can’t tell you much”

“I understand detective” Moondancer said smiling slyly “If you ever require information at all I’m here to ask”

I nodded “That’s quite alright” I looked to Twilight “We should get going”

“Aww” Moondancer gave in mock hurt “I would’ve liked to have gotten to know you better Private…” She then got very close to me and whispered in my ear “I always get what I want…”

I felt magic tug me on my tail and looked to see Twilight dragging me away from Moondancer. Good thing she did because I didn’t like the look Moondancer was giving me and Twilight. It was like Twilight was taking away her favorite toy or something.

_______________________________________________________________

Twilight stopped dragging me as we walked the sidewalks of Canterlot “I can’t believe she would do that…”

I dusted myself off and looked apologetically at Twilight “I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea I was enjoying that Twilight…”

Twilight shook her head “No, it’s how she is with every guy that comes around. She doesn’t really want the guy’s she dates anyway”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she doesn’t want a boyfriend so much as a servant” Twilight explained “You remember those two students? She has a personal army of them that treat her like a queen”

“Ahh, a queen bee type” I said knowingly “Does she usually flirt with older stallions? I was at least three years older than her”

“Mostly if you aren’t too old you’re a prime target for her” Twilight said with a sigh “I really didn’t like hanging out with her in school because she treats ponies like her servants”

“Let’s not worry about her” I replied “Let’s hurry to Forceps and see what he discovered about the body”

________________________________________________________

“You’re not going to believe this…” Forceps said as we walked into the morgue. Nightspeller’s body lay on the table in front of us. For once Twilight didn’t make a bee line for the bathroom upon seeing a dead body. I guess it’s a testament to how far she’s come since Big Mac’s case.

“What did you find out?” I asked earnestly “Was she really raped?”

“Well…yes and no” Forceps said obviously trying to avoid some embarrassing detail

Twilight raised an eyebrow “How can you be raped and not raped? That doesn’t make any sense”

“Didn’t make sense to me at first” Forceps said with a shrug “She has signs of getting raped but no ejaculation was made”

“You mean he didn’t…” I pushed my hooves together to get the point across

Forceps shook his head “There are bruises and scars in the private area…but he didn’t go all the way”

“Was he interrupted?” Twilight suggested “Maybe he just didn’t get to finish?”

“Nah” Forceps shook his head again “You should’ve seen some of the scars…they took their time with her”

“So if he wasn’t interrupted then why didn’t he go all the way? Did he kill her first?”

“Nope, all the signs of rape were made pre mortem” Forceps explained “It just doesn’t make sense…”

Then a thought occurred “What if he couldn’t go all the way…”

“What do you mean Private?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow

“What if he was a she?”

“You mean a mare raped her?” Twilight said her eyes going from shock and confusion back and forth “Private what makes you think that?”

“Forceps check the markings again, this time think about a mare trying to get in her plot”

“Hold on a sec!” Forceps said looking at Nightspeller’s private areas again. Any other occasion, I would’ve smacked the old pervert for taking advantage of a corpse like this. But right now was a time of action “These markings…they weren’t made by a stallion’s bits”

I flushed at the thought of how the whole situation could’ve gone down. Then I moved on “So if the killer was a she…”

“Then Wander really is innocent” Twilight observed “But what mare would do this to Nightspeller?”

“Could be any pony on campus” I said shaking my head “Twilight you get Shinebadge on the phone and see if we can’t get more officers to interview students”

Twilight nodded and walked out to make the call. It was then I noticed some objects on one of the counters in the lab “Stuff found at the crime scene?”

“Yeah I was going to let you have a look at them” Forceps said before covering Nightspeller’s body.

I looked at the objects and found two that peaked my interest. One was a large baby blue sapphire that was about the size of a hoof. I turned it over and I saw it used to have a pin on the back. It looked like it was broken off “Looks like something you would hold a cape together…possibly belongs to the rapist?”

I set the evidence back down and looked at the other object. It was a locket with the chain broken off. I used my magic and opened the pin, inside was a picture of a much younger Nightspeller with a smiling Trixie. “Trixie wasn’t lying when she said she was her student. Obviously a picture of happier times”

Then it hit me…Trixie’s cape, it didn’t have a clip on it. I remembered her adjusting the cape when she got out of the staff building. Why would something of Trixie’s be at the crime scene? That show mare owed me an explanation.

I stepped outside for a minute. Twilight was going to be a bit trying to get the officers ready to interview students. That left me plenty of time to find Trixie and get to the bottom of this.

The sun was beginning to set as I walked down the street. It was getting late and most of the ponies were at home so the street was deserted. I hoped Trixie wasn’t going to make a break for it. If she really was there at the crime scene…wait why was she helping us in the first place?

She was so intent on putting the blame on Wander for some reason. Maybe she really killed Nightspeller and helped to cover up the murder? That doesn’t make any sense though! Trixie had a great admiration for her teacher why would she-

Whap!

I felt something hit me on the back of the head and darkness overtook me. I didn’t get a chance to see who hit me and I was nopony was there to notice me getting dragged into a nearby alley way.

I fell unconscious and felt somepony open my trench coat before darkness finally claimed my eyes.

______________________________________________________

I felt somepony nuzzling me on the cheek. My grey eyes slowly opened to see Twilight standing over me looking worried “Private are you okay what happened!?”

“Somepony hit me” I said rubbing the back of my head “Damn jerk got me while I was thinking about the murder”

“Private, why is your trench coat open?” Twilight observed.

I looked down on my trench coat. Sure enough all my pockets have been turned out, no money was stolen and my personal effects were still there. The only thing stolen was… “My notebook! It’s gone!”

“Your case notebook!?” Twilight exclaimed “That has everything about the case in it!”

“I know and somepony took it!” I said searching all the pockets for it “Who would steal a notebook…unless”

“Unless what?” Twilight asked looking frantic

“Unless it was Trixie trying to steal our case notes…”

“Why would Trixie steal your notebook?” Twilight asked

I went on to explain my findings about Trixie. She was there that night…Twilight’s eyes went wide “But why would she be there!? She should’ve told us that!”

It was then I noticed Frisk running towards us. He looked winded and took a minute to catch his breath before speaking “I’ve been looking everywhere for you detective!”

“Officer Frisk?” I said looking at the brown officer “What’s wrong?”

“Some kind of student riot sir” Frisk said frantically “Somepony found out about the case and there’s looking like a mob’s forming at the school!”

I nodded “Get riot squads ready in case things get dicey! Twilight and I will try and stop this from getting out of hoof!”

Frisk nodded as Twilight and I cantered out of the alley toward the school. I knew how bad riots could get. I just preyed this one wasn’t going to get any students hurt. Too many bad things can happen when ponies got scared and angry.

____________________________________________________________

Twilight and I arrived at the school to see a huge crowd gathered around what I could only imagine used to be a stage wagon. It was the kind that could unfold into a stage easily for performers. Right now though it was trashed into a worthless heap…

I looked at a nearby student “What’s going on here?”

The student glared towards the center of the crowd “Moondancer’s found out who killed Nightspeller!”

“She what?!” Twilight exclaimed

I began to push my way through the crowd and moved so I could see the front. There on the stage was Moondancer standing over Trixie. I recognized my notebook levitating with Moondancer’s magic “You would steal to cover yourself up Trixie!?”

Trixie looked up from the ground; she’d obviously been beaten up by Moondancer’s goons. “Trixie…Trixie didn’t steal that…”

Moondancer smacked her “You lie every day Trixie! You expect us to believe you now?! I found this notebook among your things!”

Trixie stole my notebook? She really was trying to cover up the murder…

Trixie shook her head, her hat falling off her head in the motion “Trixie didn’t do anything wrong!”

“More lies…” Moondancer said threateningly “But according to Private Eye’s notebook you were at the crime scene…”

I remembered writing down everything about the case. Trixie was having her trial right now…she had nopony to defend her…

Trixie shook her head “No, Trixie wasn’t…”

“Then why was your locket and cape jewel there?” Moondancer said inquisitively “You were there Trixie!”

Trixie shrank back from Moondancer she looked pleadingly at the pretty mare. “Please Moondancer…Trixie didn’t…”

“You didn’t kill her? You expect me to believe that?” Moondancer said

I started to push my way through the crowd. I wasn’t about to let this go too far.

Trixie shook her head, tears were in her eyes “No! Trixie cared for Nightspeller just like everypony here!”

“You did indeed….” Moondancer said which got the students to hush. I looked up at the pretty mare as she advanced on Trixie “You really cared for her…”

Trixie’s violet eyes looked at Moondancer pleadingly “Please…don’t say it…”

“You…loved her…” Moondancer said slowly

Say what now!? This came completely out of left field!

Moondancer went on “Don’t try and deny it Trixie…you’ve always loved Nightspeller…she was like a mother to you but you wanted more…”

Trixie’s eyes were flooding with tears now “No…Trixie…”

“You want proof?” Moondancer frowned “I’ll prove it to everypony here…”

Trixie was groveling at Moondancer’s hooves “No! Don’t play it!”

Moondancer made a motion and somepony played a tape recorder. The voice was Trixie's as she was now….

Please Nightspeller, show me that trick one more time!

An older and motherly voice laughed Alright Trixie just this once

You’re so amazing Nightspeller! Trixie wants to be just like you one day!

Oh Trixie, you flatter your teacher

Nightspeller…

Yes Trixie?

I wanted to tell you something…

What is that Trixie?

Trixie has always…admired you in such a large way…

Trixie what is this about? It’s not like you to be bashful…

Trixie…can’t hold it anymore!

Real life Trixie was a lump of tears at the last bit…

What do you mean Trixie?

Trixie…loves you Nightspeller! Trixie has always loved you!

The crowd hushed as Trixie looked up at Moondancer “You promised…”

“I didn’t expect you to murder our teacher in a jealous rage…” Moondancer said with a glare “You knew Nightspeller wouldn't return your feelings. She was considering proposal from Wander Wave. You were so jealous so you tried to take advantage of the mare who denied you…”

Trixie was muttering incoherently. I couldn’t help but feel…pity…

Moondancer looked to the crowd “She is your murderer! She raped our teacher in a fit of jealous rage! She even tried to pin the blame on Wander Wave! Trixie Lulamoon is the murderer!”

All hell broke loose…

Chapter 4 "Spell Love"

Chapter 4

“Spell Love”

I dodged and weaved my way through the crowd as the riot went on. I couldn’t see what was going on on the stage. I was too busy trying to avoid getting trampled by everypony trying to rush Trixie on the stage.

I then felt a hoof touch my shoulder and a violet light enveloped me. Next thing I knew I was outside the crowd with Twilight holding on to me. “Thanks” I said dusting myself off. “Where’s Trixie?”

Twilight looked on…I followed her gaze and I watched them beat Trixie. Their anger towards her had reached a breaking point. Nightspeller was a beloved teacher and they wanted somepony to vent their grief on over her loss. I tried to see Trixie but all I saw was her violet eyes, they were clouded and red with tears as they beat her up.

Rain started falling on the crowd as the riot squads showed up. It took ten minutes of shouting and grabbing ponies away in order for the madness to stop. I noticed that Moondancer wasn’t among those actually taking part in the beating. I looked on to see Trixie lying on her stage.

I don’t think I’ve seen a more pitiful creature in my life.

____________________________________________________

When everypony left, I stood over Trixie with Twilight beside me. I was torn over what to do. Trixie had knowingly tried to cover up her part in the murder. That alone made her a criminal…then why did I find it so hard to cuff her?

Twilight bent down to look at the show mare “Trixie?” She said softly “Trixie can you hear me?”

Trixie’s body was dirty with mud and wet from the rain. Bruises were all over her blue coat and her eyes were cloudy. Twilight gently nudged her “Trixie it’s me Twilight…”

Trixie didn’t respond, just laid there on the stage letting the rain was over her. Twilight nudged her again but Trixie didn’t give any indication she felt Twilight’s touch. Twilight looked at me “What’s wrong with her…?”

“Could be she’s retreated into her mind to avoid dealing with such a traumatic situation…” I said knowingly “Happens a lot to victims…I don’t know if she’ll come out for a while”

“Private” Twilight stood up and looked at me “We can’t leave her here”

“The cops could…” I was about to suggest

“No!” Twilight shook her head “I’m not going to have Trixie thrown in prison! She’s suffered a terrible ordeal and needs help!”

I met Twilight’s gaze “Even if she was the murderer…?”

Twilight looked back at Trixie and slowly nodded “She’s suffered enough…I’m not going to leave her like this for somepony to drag her away like garbage…”

Part of me wanted to ignore what Twilight was saying. Trixie was a criminal; she needed to go to jail…Twilight’s violet eyes looked at me.

I finally asked “Trixie’s done nothing but hinder us…why are you helping her?”

Twilight’s horn glowed and she put Trixie on her back “Because, even if she did do it nopony deserved to become a glorified punching bag for that mob…I pity her more than anything”

3 months ago when I arrived at Ponyville I would’ve arrested Trixie. I would’ve ignored whatever plight she dealt with and dragged her down to the precinct to get answers. But Twilight was right; Trixie’s suffered enough and just needed help. Besides I wasn’t going to find out the truth with the show mare locked in her own mind.

I slowly nodded “We can’t take her to a hospital here, they’ll just hand her over to the cops without even bothering to treat her condition…”

Twilight tapped her hoof on her chin in thought. Then she smiled “Shining and Cadence’s! They should still be in town!”

“They haven’t moved yet?” I said hopefully

“Yeah! A leak came up at their new house and they’re staying in Canterlot until it’s safe to go there. They should be at the same address!”

I took one of Trixie’s forelegs and slung it over my shoulder. This way both me and Twilight could carry the show mare. I noticed that Trixie tensed a little at my touch and moved her head towards Twilight. Twilight looked at me then gently whispered to Trixie “its okay Trixie we’re here to help…”

As we carried Trixie down the raining streets I couldn’t help but wonder. Twilight really has changed me for the better. My whole time in Ponyville had changed me so much. I was no longer just after the truth. I was looking at the ponies involved not just the evidence. Trixie may have been the murderer but she didn’t deserve what Moondancer did to her.

Trixie gently nuzzled her nose on Twilight’s neck and whispered “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”

___________________________________________________________

I used my free hoof to knock on the door. Shining and Cadence lived in a simple one bedroom house while their house in the mountains was being constructed. They had to delay their move when a gas leak came up in the house. I was thankful for it; I don’t know where else I could’ve turned had the leak not come up.

The door opened to reveal Shining Armor himself. His blue eyes widened in shock at seeing the whole scene. “Twily? Private? What are you doing here?” His eyes looked at the show mare between us “And who’s this?”

I simply looked at Trixie then back at the guard captain “It’s a long story…can we come in?”

Shining nodded and called out “Cadence! Twily and Private are here!” He looked at Trixie “And they brought a guest…”

Twilight gently set Trixie on the couch and put a blanket over the show mare. I was explaining the situation to Shining and his wife Cadence. The pink alicorn put a hoof to her mouth when I explained the riot “That’s awful…and she was right in the center of it…”

Shining put a hoof around his wife and looked at me “You and Twily are welcome to stay here until Trixie recovers”

I bowed my head in thanks “Thank you, I’ll make it up to you somehow”

Cadence shook her head “Don’t worry about making anything up, you’ve given both Shining and I a future…” She then reached a hoof and rubbed her slightly swollen belly. She was at three months and the baby was already starting to show.

The princess got up and walked to Trixie. She picked up the show mare with her magic “Twilight could you help me get a bath going?” She looked at the show mare with eyes of compassion “Let’s see if we can’t get her cleaned up…”

Twilight nodded and the girls went to the bath room. I could hear the water turn on. Shining looked over at me “Her name was Trixie?”

“Yeah, Trixie Lulamoon” I explained

“She’s a Lulamoon?” Shining asked with a raised eyebrow “I didn’t think they were around anymore”

“What do you mean?” I asked “Is Trixie nobility?”

Shining shook his white head “The exact opposite, the Lulamoons were traveling performers for a living” He shrugged “Mostly gypsies really, went from town to town performing illusion magic for the masses”

“Where is the rest of her family?” I asked curiously

Shining’s blue eyes looked grim “They had a show going on in Fillydelphia when everything went to hell. The mother left the caravan and she was the strongest asset of the show. Without their star the show caravan fell apart. Eventually the Lulamoons faded from memory; I remember them because I had to arrest the father after he tried to con an entire town into buying a colt’s band”

“What about Trixie?” I said looking back at the bathroom “What happened to her?”

Shining shrugged “Don’t know, when I arrested the dad I remember him calling something a leech. Then I saw this filly about Twili’s age and she just took off. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again. I just remember the dad yelling at her…calling the filly a worthless leech”

“That’s horrible…” I said with my head bowed.

Shining nodded “Since then, nopony has heard from the Lulamoons ever again” He shook his head “I was only a cadet at the time but I still remember it to this day”

Just then Cadence came out of the bathroom smiling “Twilight is drying Trixie off, Shining would you be so kind as to help feed out guests?”

I looked at Shining “You cook?”

Twilight’s big brother chuckled “Well somepony has to keep the family fed. Cadence here can’t cook to save her own life”

Cadence frowned at her husband “It’s not my fault the cook books are so hard to understand”

Shining laughed “I’m only teasing Cadence, though you do have to figure it takes talent to liquefy toast”

Cadence conked her husband on the head “You’re lucky I love you so much” She then walked to the kitchen smiling a little. She ran her tail along Shining’s chin before leaving.

Shining flushed a little and smiled “I’m lucky to have her…”

I smiled in turn “I’m going to check on Trixie” I said getting off the chair I was sitting in.

A curse was heard from the kitchen and Shining went to salvage his wife’s cooking. I walked inside the bathroom and found Twilight running a towel along Trixie’s back. Trixie was just staring at the floor not moving more than Twilight asked her to.

Twilight looked at me with a worried expression “She hasn’t responded unless I ask her to move or something…”

I nodded and picked up a towel “Here let me give you a hoof” I touched the towel to Trixie’s mane when Trixie suddenly ran away from me. She backed into the corner of the bathroom and cowered before me. She muttered something “No…Trixie didn’t do anything wrong…”

Twilight looked at me then looked at Trixie “Trixie, its okay. Private’s not going to hurt you” She smiled reassuringly.

Trixie looked at me with eyes wide with fear. I recognized this kind of expression from a case back in Manehatten that had an abused child…I backed away slowly.

Twilight walked to me and I whispered in her ear “Trixie must’ve been abused by her father…it would explain how she reacted when I touched her…”

Twilight looked at me then at the cowering Trixie “She must think we’re her parents…she probably reacted that way because she thought you were going to hurt her”

“When a mind is broken it clings to what’s familiar” I said knowingly “Her parental abuse is about as familiar as you can get…”

“It’s so sad…” Twilight said looking at Trixie “I always had a good relationship with my parents…it’s hard to imagine what Trixie went through”

I nodded “Try acting like a mother would…maybe that could get her to open up”

Twilight nodded and walked to Trixie. The show mare seemed to calm down when she saw Twilight coming to her and not me. Twilight smiled at Trixie “Hey Trixie…we’re going to get you dried off okay?”

Trixie looked past Twilight and at me. I smiled gently at her but Trixie looked not convinced. Twilight gently ran a hoof along Trixie’s back in comfort “Private isn’t going to hurt you I promise. He just wants to help…”

Trixie slowly nodded and went back to sitting on her rump in the center of the bathroom. Twilight picked up her discarded towel and gently began drying off Trixie’s back again. Twilight sang softly to the show mare.

Don’t fear me little one…

I’m here for you you’ll see…

Let me help you get done…

Let me sing to thee…

Trixie’s head slowly swayed to Twilight’s singing. Twilight smiled at me as she continued. Twilight’s lullaby was gentle and soothing. It reminded me of a lullaby mom used to sing. Granted mine was about sleeping on a little cloud but that was because mom was a Pegasus. As Twilight finished drying off Trixie the show mare smiled a little.

Twilight smiled wide at me. I motioned for her to keep going.

Twilight gently helped Trixie up and she guided her outside to the living room. Twilight put the show mare back on the couch and put the blanket on her. Trixie smiled as Twilight tucked her in like a filly. I found myself gazing lovingly at Twilight...

When Trixie closed her eyes to fall asleep Twilight noticed me looking at her. She flushed a little at my staring “What?”

“Just…” I went to her and kissed her on the forehead “I had no idea you could be so…motherly”

Twilight flushed a little “Well that always worked when Spike was a baby. I figured it outta work on Trixie”

“Either way” I smiled at her “It’s something to admire…”

“Oh Private…” She moved forward and my nose was inches from hers. I swear I could hear Potso’s accordion playing in the background as I gazed on the mare I loved. “That’s so sweet of you…” Twilight tilted her head about ready to kiss me-

“Dinners ready!” Shining said as he stuck his head in the living room. All three ponies froze in place when Shining saw us. Shining awkwardly smiled “Sorry I’ll uh leave you guys to what you were doing…” He walked back into the kitchen leaving behind two very red in the face unicorns.

________________________________________________________________

After a very delicious dinner provided by Shining it was getting late and the rain wasn’t letting up. Cadence tried to talk me into taking the couple’s bed for the night. I said that I was fine with the floor. Twilight wanted to watch Trixie so she insisted on the floor as well.

Cadence went upstairs to the bedroom after winking at Twilight. Twilight was flushing a little, what did those girls talk about in the bathroom? Shining looked over at me and gave me a serious look “Now no monkey business you two, I don’t want to become an uncle before I have my own kid”

I turned deep scarlet, thank Celestia Twilight didn’t hear that. Twilight was too busy setting up pillows on the floor for me and her. Shining walked up to the bedroom with one last smile at me. The memory of the magic he could give off didn’t help calm my nerves.

“Private…?” I heard Twilight say behind me. I turned to find her lying with her legs tucked under her belly on the floor. She looked at me with those wonderful amethyst eyes of hers “I’m not…I’m still not ready…”

I understood and nodded “Yeah I understand, I’ll sleep somewhere else if-“

“No!” Twilight exclaimed suddenly. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her oddly. She flushed and continued “We don’t have to, I just…want you here…”

It dawned on me that Twilight just wanted me to be there with her. I smiled at her and took off my wet trench coat and set it on a coat hanger. I didn’t want Twilight to have to worry about a wet stallion sleeping next to her. I hung my hat on the rack and saw that Twilight was looking at me again.

“What?” I said running a hoof over my dark brown mane. “Do I have something on my face?”

“No it’s just” Twilight tilted her head a little “I rarely see you without your trench coat and hat…you look um…” She blushed “Good…”

“Well I have been called ruggedly handsome before” I said and we both laughed. I walked to her and sat down beside her, tucking my front hooves under me. I looked over to see Twilight scoot over to press her lavender coat to my dark grey coat. My grey eyes looked down at her and I felt compelled to ask “Twilight…you’ve got something on your mind do you?”

Twilight was about to deny it but I held my gaze. She knew I wasn’t going to let her just walk away. She sighed “It’s just…I don’t know…it sounds so stupid…”

“Twilight its okay” I said gently putting my tail over hers “You can tell me anything”

“It’s just…Private I’ve been feeling…inadequate…” She confessed slowly

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just” Her eyes met mine “Back when I got shot I saw how willing you were to protect me…You were going to use yourself as a shield from those bullets. You would’ve died if Shining didn’t show up…” She shook her head “I just was a burden to you…”

A tear fell from her eye and I nuzzled her to catch it. Twilight pressed her muzzle into mine and kept crying. “Private…I hated myself for being so careless…I’m sorry…You would’ve…”

I gently put my head on top of hers. Her head went into my shoulder and my grey coat felt cold from her tears. I gently nuzzled the top of her head “Twilight…I should be apologizing…”

Twilight broke from me and looked at me. Her eyes were red from the tears “What…why?”

I bowed my head in guilt “I put you in that situation…it’s my fault you got hurt. I should’ve just taken care of the guys myself…I got you hurt…”

“No don’t say that” Twilight said pressing herself into me again “It’s my fault I got hurt…”

“Twilight…”

She then rolled me over and she was on top of me. Her amethyst eyes gazed down at me as I lay on my back on the floor. Her tears fell on my chest as she looked at me “Let me blame myself Private…don’t put anything else on you…”

I reached up with a hoof and gently ran it trough her bangs “Twilight…you’re blaming yourself so I don’t blame myself…”

Twilight slowly nodded “I love you Private…I don’t want you to have to suffer. You already have enough on your plate…I don’t want to add to it…”

I reached up and just pulled her into a kiss. I felt her lay on me as I kissed her. My tongue danced with hers and she stopped crying. We kissed probably for five whole minutes before I finally broke it gasping for air. I looked at the mare I loved “Twilight…we’re a couple. Part of the deal is that we face whatever comes in life together…”

“But…” Twilight tried to retort before I put a hoof on her lips.

“Twilight, I love you. I would die a million times if it meant you and I could be together. Whatever life throws at us…” I pulled her into me and she pressed her muzzle to my chest. “We’ll get through it together…”

Twilight stopped crying and I heard her speak a little muffled “Thanks Private…it was eating away at me for a long time…”

I wrapped my hooves around her and pulled her into a warm embrace. I took in her lilac scent and smiled. That was then I felt Twilight laid her head on my chest. Her breathing was steady…she’s sleeping on me…

I closed my grey eyes and matched her breathing. I slowly whispered “I love you Twilight…when we are alone like this…call me Preventus…”

Twilight smiled and spoke in her sleep “Very well…I love you too…Preventus…”

There were only two ponies I let call me by my real name. They were my parents, and one was dead and the other I had mixed feelings about. Know this, whenever I let somepony call me by that name it’s the ultimate symbol of trust. I didn’t know if Twilight understood how much this meant to me. To have somepony I could really talk to like this…to really care about how I felt…I loved it.

Potso’s accordion put us to sleep that night I could swear it…

Chapter 5 "Spell Friendship is Magic"

Chapter 5

“Spell Friendship is Magic”

My grey eyes slowly opened as the new day dawned. My eyes were greeted by Twilight sleeping next to me. I guess she doesn’t sit still when she’s asleep either. I reached over and ran my hoof along her cheek. She pressed into it and smiled in her sleep. Celestia that smile was beautiful…

I moved over and kissed Twilight on the forehead. I took in her beautiful smoky scent…wait SMOKE!?

My grey eyes grew wide as I smelled the smoke. I noticed it was coming from the kitchen and made a bee line for it. I hoped that there wasn’t a fire otherwise I don’t know if Shining would let us stay here again! I’d be in big trouble if-

“You’ve ruined the surprise!” A voice said as I entered the room. There standing there was Trixie, all well and better glaring at me. A bowl of what I could only imagine was breakfast was causing the smoke to rise. “The Great, Powerful, Investigative and eternally grateful Trixie was going to make you and Twilight Sparkle breakfast!”

I blinked as Twilight walked in beside me. We both just stared at Trixie for a moment. I shook my head “Where’s Shining and Cadence?”

Trixie returned to trying to salvage the breakfast “They went off to buy foal stuff in the market today. Trixie told them to go have fun while Trixie here offers…thanks…” Trixie said that last bit with an uncharacteristically quiet tone of voice.

Twilight looked at then motioned for us to take a seat at the table. I sat down as Trixie went to work on making breakfast as I looked at Twilight “Well this isn’t what I expected…”

Twilight nodded “I guess she just wants to make it up to us for taking her in”

“At least she isn’t running away from me like I’m going to hit her”

Twilight smiled “She just found out that under that rough exterior you’re a big softie inside”

I flushed and glared at her “I’m not that much of a softie!”

Twilight giggled “That’s not what came across last night” She reached over and put a hoof on mine "But I love you anyways..."

I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment but then I heard sobbing. I looked over to see Trixie crying over some eggs. Twilight walked to Trixie “Are you alright Trixie what’s wrong?”

Trixie wiped her eyes and set the completed breakfast on plates. “Trixie is just…not used to stallions and mares getting along like you and Private…”

Twilight looked at me as Trixie levitated the breakfast in front of me. I’ll admit it looked a bit different, like Trixie just hashed together whatever ingredients she could. Then again this may have come from a life on the road. Trixie stared at me as I dug into the food. Despite being a little burnt the product was quite nice. I gave Trixie an approving smile.

Trixie smiled in turn and Twilight dug into her own food. Twilight smiled after we were finished “Trixie this is amazing, a little burnt but great”

Trixie flashed a confident smile “Trixie had to cook for herself on the road. Cooking became a valuable skill to have”

I looked over at Trixie “Trixie, I’m going to have to ask you some questions…if you’re comfortable with letting them come out”

Trixie looked at me, then at Twilight, and then back at me again “I will answer whatever questions you need to ask me…I didn’t kill Nightspeller…”

There was the I again. I knew I had to be careful from this point on “You were in love with your teacher, but she didn’t return your feelings”

Trixie nodded “I always admired Nightspeller for her talent and beauty. Even though there was a significant age gap between us I was drawn to her. She was always so helpful to me, always caring when nopony else did…”

I nodded “You were in that alley that night…why?”

Trixie looked uncomfortable to speak at first but a comforting hoof from Twilight allowed her to speak out. “Trixie was going to meet Nightspeller that night…apologize for what happened”

I motioned for her to go on

She nodded “Trixie arrived there and saw she wasn’t there. I thought she was so mad at me that she didn’t want to see me again. I took off the locket I had of her and threw it on the ground. I was so hurt…” tears were in her eyes at this point. Twilight ran a comforting hoof along the show mare’s back.

“That’s why your locket was there, but why was your sapphire clip there?”

Trixie shook her head “Trixie doesn’t know how that got there. Trixie remembers leaving her cape back at her wagon. It
started to rain when I got back from the alley and Trixie remembers chastising herself for forgetting an umbrella”

Twilight looked at me “The evidence was placed…”

“Let’s go to a different subject” I said looking at Trixie “How did Moondancer get a recording of your confession to Nightspeller?”

Trixie’s violet eyes closed “That was…Trixie’s idea…”

I raised an eyebrow “You recorded it? But why?”

Trixie flushed in embarrassment “Trixie wanted to commemorate the moment forever…Trixie wanted to play the moment in the middle of the night when the world was cold…to remind myself that somepony loved me…”

“And when she didn’t return your feelings…you gave it up to Moondancer”

Trixie nodded “Moondancer was a friend of Trixie’s; at least I thought she was…Trixie told Moondancer to get rid of the tape. I didn’t even want to look at it…”

I noticed her speech pattern changes depending on the mood of the statement. Whenever she’s speaking in third person it’s a simple statement. Whenever she refers to herself as “I” the statement is heartfelt or sorrowful. She doesn’t lie when she says I.

“She didn’t get rid of the tape by the looks of it” I observed “That’s why you said you trusted her at the riot”

The show mare nodded again “Trixie didn’t know that she kept it. Trixie thought that Moondancer was her friend…I thought wrong I see”

Twilight frowned “Moondancer doesn’t have friends she has soldiers. I’m sorry that you fell into her trap Trixie…”

Trixie smiled a little at Twilight. She then looked at me “Detective, I know you won’t believe me but when I was in that alley I didn’t see Nightspeller there…”

“No I believe you” I said smiling

“Why? I’ve done nothing but lie to you!”

“Because Trixie you said I. You don’t lie when you refer to yourself as I. You may not have noticed it but I picked it up from talking to you”

Trixie looked on me as understanding dawned on her. She smiled “Nopony has really believed Trixie like this…”

I left Twilight with Trixie to get my trench coat. Twilight was comforting a recovering Trixie. I admired the way Twilight could act as comforter when she needed to. I wonder if she’ll be like that when…oh Luna, am I really thinking that?

I shook my head and lifted my trench coat off the coat rack. It was dry now thanks to Rarity’s upgrades to the fabric. It was then that I noticed it…

A hair, along the pocket where I used to keep my notebook…it was long and blond not silver like Trixie’s.

__________________________________________________________

I was outside Wander’s office with Twilight at my side. I kicked open the door and held my revolver to a startled Moondancer who was in Wander’s office. Wander glared at me “What is the meaning of this?!”

I pointed my gun at Moondancer “Hello Moondancer…I believe you have something of mine…”

Moondancer looked shocked but then recovered her smile. She walked to me in a rather sultry way “If you’re looking for your notebook then I’d be happy to give it to you…when you give me something in turn…”

I smirked and my grey horn glowed. Out of my trench coat came the hair that I found inside it earlier. Slowly the hair turned green…as well as Moondancer’s body.

Moondancer’s eyes turned wide with shock “What are you doing!? What is this?!”

“A DNA viewing spell” I said smoothly “It colors DNA and germs so that we can see who this hair belongs to…it belongs to you”

Moondancer laughed a little “What are you getting at Detective?”

“It was you who ambushed me in that alley and took my notebook. Not Trixie, if it was Trixie then I would’ve found her DNA all over the inside of the trench coat”

Twilight glared at the white unicorn “You tried to frame Trixie so that you could cover up the fact you were the one who killed Nightspeller”

Wander’s eyes grew wide and he stared at Moondancer “Is this true?”

Moondancer kept on her fake smile “This is a ridiculous accusation! Trixie was in that alley during the murder!”

“Wrong…”

“What?” She said looking at Twilight

Twilight smirked “Trixie said she went to the alley but Nightspeller wasn’t there. She left her cape behind and went there to meet the love of her life only to find she wasn’t there”

“She could be lying!”

“Trixie’s pin was there but her cape was dry. It was pouring last night so if she was in that alley her cape would’ve been wet this morning. It wasn’t though. It was dry as a desert yesterday morning. She never went out with that cape or hat…and Novery said she saw the murderer with a cape and hat. Trixie wore neither that night”

Moondancer backed up “But what motive could I have to kill Nightspeller!? She was a beloved teacher by all!”

“Because” Twilight held out the tape recorder that was used against Trixie “of this”

Twilight fast forwarded the recording to Trixie’s confession

Trixie…loves you Nightspeller! Trixie has always loved you!

There was a slight pause followed by a sigh

Trixie I’m sorry but I can’t return your feelings….

But…but why? Trixie loves you

Trixie I am your teacher and significantly older then you

What does age matter!?

Age matters a lot…Trixie I’m sorry but you’re confusing your feelings of me…

What…

What you feel is simple admiration. Not love. Trixie I’m so sorry…

But *sniff* Trixie…

I’m sorry…You are a wonderful mare and I’m sure you’ll find a special somepony who feels the same way…but I can’t let my love for my students get in the way of my teaching…

What do you mean?

Moondancer tried this morning to convince me to let her slide on several tests…she tried to take advantage of my kindness…I can’t let anypony do such a thing…

What will you do with her?

I plan to have a word with the rest of the teachers. Moondancer can’t be allowed to manipulate ponies for her own ends anymore…

Twilight stopped the recording “Nightspeller wouldn’t bow to you, she threatened to expose you”

I advanced on the stunned white unicorn “When you got the tape from Trixie you heard the rest of the recording. You were determined to have her put out of the way…so you killed her…You also played on the fact that Trixie loved her. The wounds in her private areas were put there by magic...not Trixie. You made it look like rape to add to add to the "evidence" mounted against Trixie....”

Wander glared at Moondancer “How could you do such a thing?! Nightspeller treated you with nothing but kindness!”

“What do I care about kindness?!” Moondancer growled “She didn’t give me what I wanted so she had to get out of the way!”

My grey eyes narrowed “So you had the only other pony who knew about it get blamed. You tried to turn the entire student body against her. You tried to break her so she wouldn’t tell anypony what happened”

“Trixie was nothing but a worthless charlatan!” Moondancer scoffed “She had no real talent for magic. But when I found out she was a personal student to Nightspeller I offered to be friends with her…the stupid bitch fell for it”

“How could you just manipulate her feelings like that?!” Twilight exclaimed

“She was useful…” Moondancer said with a smirk “Just as you will be Twilight!”

She tackled Twilight and held her down. She held Twilight as a shield before me “I know how you care for her Private! If you want her meet me at the library! Come alone!”

Before I could say anything more she teleported away. I looked over at Wander “Contact Shining Armor of the Royal Guard! Tell him to get his ass in gear to stop her from escaping!”

I ran out. Nopony was going to hurt Twilight on my watch. Hold on Twilight…Private’s coming for you!

__________________________________________________________

I burst into the deserted library. The place didn’t open until noon so none of the staff or students were in there. I held up Blackbird with my magic and looked around. Book shelves were everywhere but in the center was Twilight tied to a chair.

Twilight looked at me wide eyed and struggled in her bonds. Her horn had an inhibiter ring on it which prevented her from telekinetically untying herself. She yelled at me “Private look out!”

I was hit from behind by a bolt of magic. I yelled in pain and flew forward, my gun tossed away by some more magic. I got up and turned to see Moondancer smirking at me her horn glowing with a bright gold. I tried to levitate my gun back up but I was hit in the chest by another magical blast.

Moondancer laughed “For a unicorn you have very little resistance to magic…”

It was true, I was a half breed. My mom was a Pegasus so some of my dad’s magic genes found it hard to work with my mom’s more physical oriented genes. I never had any talent for magic and I was outmatched in this fight. I wasn’t about to give up though. I got up and tried to fire a beam of grey magic. It bounced off a barrier that Moondancer put up.

“Pathetic! Unicorns like you are a disgrace to the gift of magic!” Moondancer said as she fired another bolt at me.

I dodged it but she quickly grabbed me with telekinesis and threw me across the room. I crashed into a book shelf knocking it over. Thankfully it didn’t fall in my direction so I didn't get crushed.

Twilight looked at me as she struggled with the bonds “Private!”

“How simply ridiculous….” Moondancer said as I got up again “Why do you bother with him Twilight? He has no talent for magic or anything spectacular…”

“You don’t know Private!” Twilight shouted “You’ll never know what it’s like to have somepony care about you! All you are is a stuck up, no good, dirty rotten bitch!”

Twilight never swore…Moondancer really pissed her off.

Moondancer smirked at Twilight “Who needs ponies caring about me? It doesn’t get me what I want. So long as they are willing to give me what I want what do I care how they feel?”

Twilight tried her hardest to get a spell going but the inhibiter ring sapped at her magic like a sponge. Moondancer smirked “You’ve got a lot of nerve Twilight…but I will look forward to showing you just how powerful I truly am…”

I tried to rush Moondancer but she grabbed me with her magic again. I fell to the ground and felt like somepony had pinned me to the ground with chains. I struggled and struggled but couldn’t get free.

Moondancer smiled and her horn glowed “If you will not obey me…then I will make you mine…”

Twilight’s eyes grew wide “You wouldn’t!”

“I would…I researched the magic that the Changeling Queen used on your dear brother…Private’s weakness to magic will make him easy prey to it…”

“No!!”

“Yes…Now Private…enjoy your last moments of true freedom…” She lowered her horn slowly. I struggled and struggled but her magic was too strong.

I looked on at Twilight as she cried…oh Twilight…I wish I could hold you one last…

Suddenly Moondancer was hit by an invisible force. Her magic broke on me and I made a break for Twilight. Something invisible picked up a nearby vase and smacked the white unicorn upside the head with it.

I ran to Twilight and pulled the inhibiter ring off her horn. I used my own magic to untie her and Twilight threw herself into my forelegs. She cried into me “Private…I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her…”

I gently kissed her on the lips “Twilight I’m glad you’re okay and that’s all that matters…”

“Private…” Twilight said wiping her eyes.

I turned my attention to Moondancer’s fight with the invisible foe. Moondancer then unleashed a shockwave of magic. Twilight put up a barrier just in time to stop the wave from hitting us.

Rising from a group of books was Trixie herself. She glared at Moondancer “Moondancer! Trixie is pissed at you!”

Moondancer laughed out loud “Trixie!? You think you can stop me?”

“You have hurt my friends!” Trixie said standing her ground before the white unicorn “I may not have Twilight Sparkle’s talent. I may not have Private’s ability with deduction…but one thing is for sure. I will never let anypony hurt them!!”

“Nice sentiment Trixie…but you have no talent for true magic” Moondancer’s horn glowed “Your cheap parlor tricks won’t hurt me!” She fired a beam of magic just as Trixie vanished in a puff of smoke.

Just then a rope snaked its way around Moondancer’s legs and bound the unicorn. Moondancer let out a yelp and fired another shock wave. Trixie appeared again and was flown back towards us. Trixie got up and disappeared again.

“You plan to hide from me Trixie!?” Moondancer shouted as she untangled herself “You know I always hated you! You were such a pitiful case and Nightspeller took you in!”

She looked around the library. Twilight was about to join in the fight but I stopped her. She looked at me and understood. Trixie had a plan…

Moondancer looked around and fired at random book shelves “Come out Trixie! Quit playing around!”

She passed a particularly large book shelf which I noticed was tipping. I looked at Twilight and she fired a beam of magic at Moondancer.

The beam missed on purpose but it got Moondancer’s attention “I almost forgot about you two love birds!”

Just then a large crash was heard and the book shelf tipped over. Moondancer let out a yell as books and the entire shelf fell on her.

Trixie appeared on top of the book shelf “That…was for Nightspeller…”

“Was that supposed to impress me?”

Trixie turned and was hit by a point blank magic bolt fired from an intact Moondancer. Trixie flew several feet and landed in front of us. Moondancer laughed manically “Did you forget I could teleport!? Such an elementary mistake!”

Twilight bent down and looked at Trixie. “Are you okay?”

Trixie looked up at Twilight weakly “Twilight….I’m so sorry…for all the trouble I caused…”

“Are you kidding?” Twilight said smiling “You proved yourself a true friend by doing all of this…”

“But…Trixie lied…Trixie caused you and Private nothing but trouble…”

Twilight shook her head “Trixie, you fought for us…that shows how much you care…”

I helped Trixie up and smiled at her “Trixie, we are your friends. You may have your flaws Trixie but when it really came down to it you fought for us…that’s what friendship is all about”

Trixie was crying “Trixie…I…have never had any real friends…”

Twilight walked to the unicorn and held out a hoof. “You do now…”

Trixie looked at the hoof and reached…when they touched…

I felt a surge of magic run through me. Suddenly my horn was glowing bright as the sun. Twilight and Trixie looked at me as I slowly floated into the air.

I can’t explain the feeling…it felt like magic was flowing like blood in my veins. Slowly…I could hear chanting of some sort inside my head.

Then some kind of glowing cord connected Twilight and Trixie. Their eyes closed together and they floated in the air with me.

Moondancer growled “You will not forget about me!” She fired a bolt of magic.

Both Trixie and Twilight raised a hoof in sync and the barrier bounded the magic away. Moondancer’s eyes dilated at the sight of this “What is this magic!?”

Twilight’s eyes slowly opened and they were glowing bright. Suddenly a gold tiara formed on her head. The element of magic?! What was it doing here? I looked over and saw Trixie’s eyes opening. A similar tiara formed on her head, the only difference was that the jewel resembled Trixie’s cutie mark of a crescent moon.

Was Twilight sharing the power of the element with Trixie? The chanting grew louder as Trixie and Twilight turned at the same time to face Moondancer.

Their mouths opened and spoke at the same time. “Moondancer! For too long you’ve used lies and deceit to manipulate ponies!”

Moondancer looked on in absolute fear “What is this!? What is this magic?!”

They ignored her as the chanting grew louder. I had no idea who was singing but it sounded like a hundred ponies speaking at once. The language they spoke was foreign but I felt like it was a call to arms.

They spoke again “Now the world will see you as you truly are!!!”

“What is this power!?” Moondancer exclaimed as she ran away.

She didn’t get the memo…Friendship is Magic!!

I held both of my hooves in the air and Trixie and Twilight circled in the air around me. Suddenly a column of light fired out of all three of our horns and it fired down towards Moondancer.

It hit the white unicorn dead on. She screamed in pain and she looked at herself. Her beauty and looks broke off like paint chipping. She was revealed to be an ugly creature underneath…she screamed as she looked at herself and fainted.

I slowly touched on the ground as the chanting died away. I looked over and saw the tiaras vanishing from my two friends. I walked forward, picked up Blackbird and aimed it at the now ugly Moondancer.

“Trixie’s magic has revealed you as the ugly beast inside…I’m placing you under arrest for the murder of Nightspeller…May Celestia have mercy on your soul…”

Epilogue

Moondancer did not look good after Trixie’s spell. Her once gorgeous blond mane was now an ugly puce color and ratty as hell. Her coat was a puke colored green. Her face suffered the worse with warts and pimples everywhere. Ponies were shocked to find that such a beautiful mare showed who she really was. She tried everything in her power not to be seen as Shining’s buddies took her away.

Shining slapped me on the back “You did it again Private, another one for the books”

I laughed a little “Well I can’t take all the credit Shining. You have Trixie to thank for saving me and Twilight”

The captain nodded “Well you just say the word whenever you need us again. Also…Cadence and I just finished up with the ultra sound when we went out”

Twilight teleported to my side and looked at her brother anxiously “Well what is it?! Tell me Tell me Tell me!” She hopped in a way that reminded me of Pinkie Pie.

Shining smiled “It’s a girl Twili”

Twilight leapt for joy “I’m going to have a niece! This is going to be amazing!”

I slapped Shining on back in turn “Congratulations Shining, I look forward to meeting her”

“So am I” Shining said whimsically “I should get going, Cadence is going to have us run around buying filly clothes now”

We waved the guard captain goodbye as he left. I looked over at Twilight “What exactly happened in there…?”

Twilight spoke like a teacher would “Well, you remember what I said about complimentary spells?”

“Spells that work best when two unicorns perform them? Yeah you were studying them before you came here”

“Well, the stronger the bond the two of them has the better the spell” Twilight explained “Only…”

“Only what?”

“Only I was only going to have Trixie take a little bit of mana to amplify that illusion erasing spell she was going to use on Moondancer”

“The spell that showed everypony that Moondancer is evil by making her ugly?”

“Yeah, only when I performed it…your horn glowed when I casted it”

“I remember hearing a chanting…” I said tapping my head to try and draw the memory “It’s like somepony else was speaking the spell with me…”

Twilight raised an eyebrow “Chanting? Private are you sure you didn’t cast some kind of spell on me and Trixie?”

I shook my head “I can’t even fire a decent magical blast. I could never hope to cast something that powerful…but it was like you and Trixie suddenly shared the element of magic”

Twilight tapped her chin in thought “I’ll need to research this…”

“Um…Private and Twilight?” We heard a voice speak behind us.

We turned and saw Trixie, back in her usual attire smiling at us. Twilight smiled upon seeing her “Hey Trixie, what’s up?”

Trixie looked at her now restored wagon. It was a relatively quick fix with both Shining and Twilight helping. “Trixie plans to travel the road again…only instead of boasting about her skills. Trixie shall go into show business with her magic”

I smiled and nodded “Good luck Trixie; it’s a good path for you”

Trixie then walked to both of us and pulled first Twilight then me into a hug. I looked at Twilight who simply smiled. Twilight and I held Trixie together and Trixie spoke softly “I will never forget what you said…I finally have true friends…”

Twilight smiled and ran a hoof along Trixie’s back “If you ever need anything you tell us okay?”

Trixie broke away from the hug and looked at both of us “I…I am forever grateful for what you’ve done…” She wiped a tear from her eye “I promise not to be so boastful of my magic. I promise to use whatever magical talent I have for good. Not just to show off…for back there I saw what good my magic can do…”

I walked to Trixie and put a hoof on her shoulder. Her violet eyes met mine and I smiled at her “Trixie, remember one thing, the only pony you ever have to prove anything to is the mare you see in the mirror every day”

Trixie nodded and hugged me again. I hugged the show mare back and let her go. Trixie left with her wagon and waved good bye. Twilight and I waved the show mare good bye and Twilight smiled “Who told you that?”

“What are you talking about?” I said looking at her

“Celestia told me something similar whenever I felt down about myself. I was wondering who told you that…”

My grey eyes ventured to a different time…

__________________________________________________________

6 years ago….

I looked up at Fenlock’s brown eyes as he sat across from me at the diner. He noticed I hadn’t touched my hay fries and spoke up about it “Private, you haven’t touched your lunch. You usually eat like there’s no tomorrow so why aren’t you gorging?”

I looked up at Fenlock “Sir…you remember the Black Dark case?”

“That case about the gal who got cut up in the carriage?” Fenlock chuckled “I gotta say I didn’t expect her brother to have killed her as revenge for marrying her husband”

“Well…I got word from Shinebadge and…”

“Don’t keep me in suspense kid” Fenlock said leaning forward a little “Tell me what happened”

“I made” I kept my mentor in suspense before I smiled “Homicide!” I said

Fenlock laughed with glee “Finally out of traffic eh? Bout time Shinebadge got his head out of his ass and promoted ya!”

“It’s just…” I said looking back down at my hay fries “I don’t know if I’m good enough…”

Fenlock’s eyes turned serious “What are ya talking about kid? Ya did well on that case…”

“Yeah…” I said slowly “But what if I screw up? What if I put the wrong pony in jail? Yesterday Spades got fired because he didn’t bring in the right pony…I don’t want to make that kind of mistake…”

Fenlock got up and moved to sit beside me “Private, you’re just nervous about accepting the responsibility…”

“I am…I don’t know if I have the talent for it…”

Fenlock then did something I’ve never seen him do. He took his hoof and pulled off his grey fedora. I’ve never seen him without it on. I stared at him as he set the hat down on the table “This hat, belonged to my mentor Hercule Ponirot. He gave it to me when I made homicide” He smiled at me “It’s yours Private”

I stared at the hat. It was a light grey and contrasted with my coat’s dark grey. I looked at Fenlock and shook my head “I could never accept this! I haven’t proved myself to you!”

Fenlock just picked up the hat and looked at me. “Private, the only pony you ever have to prove yourself to…is the one you have to look at every day in the mirror”

I didn’t say anything as he put the hat on my head. It felt good on my head, fit like a glove despite my horn. I looked at Fenlock “Thank you sir…I’ll make you proud”

Fenlock simply smiled “You already have…”

_______________________________________________

Present Day…

“Private?” Twilight said looking at me “Are you okay?”

I snapped out of my memory and smiled at Twilight “Yeah, I’m fine”

“So who told you that phrase?” Twilight asked curiously

I reached up and took off my fedora. I simply stared at it and felt its edge with my other hoof. I smiled and put it back on my head “Somepony I really admire…”

We began the long walk back to the station.

Author's Note

Link to Side Story: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/53061/equestria-noir-side-story-young-love
Link to Next Case: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/53162/equestria-noir-case-10-pinkie-party