Look Up The Mountain, Then Look Down

Dusk spent some days carefully studying residential records. The trick was not looking in what was written, but seeing what wasn't. Empty apartments that matched the date of his target's arrival. Of course, an empty apartment wouldn't help, not after so many years.

It was, however, the luckiest gold mine. He discovered the elderly griffoness that lived next door to the apartment he'd suspected. And right on cue, she's lived there for over fifty years.

Now, he and Cécile sat with the granny as she poured them tea. As the liquid hit his lips, Dusk smiled with delight. "This is wonderful, ma'am. What is it?"

"Usual store-bought tea." She grinned like an old fox. "My secret? A lil' bourbon. It's a good pick me up. Helped me live this long too, does wonders for the heart."

"...So for the first time in my life, I'm drinking on the job." Cécile hummed, though took another sip regardless. "Back to the topic, ma'am. You said that your neighbor was a mare, with a stallion and a child? But...you said one day they disappeared?"

"Yes." She sighed. "A sweet mare, I was able to talk with her now and again. She and her partner never left that little girl's side, even when I offered them that my daughter could babysit that adorable girl."

"Did you...hear or see anything on the day of the disappearance?"

The old lady blushed, hiding her face slightly. "Oh, dear...I confess. On the day the couple disappeared, I was able to enter their apartment. T-Through the ventilation shaft, you see, I was quite a nimble bird back then. I erm...found this, on the table. Here..."

In her talon was an unsealed envelope, yet it seemed nobody had the time to seal it. It appeared rushed...Yet, the smell, unmistakable. The perfume he had this whole time. Dusk brought it to his nostrils, and began to read it.

Dear Princess...

Every night I think of you. Even as I cuddle my husband, and my daughter, I can't stop thinking of you. The burden I've put on you, even if you proposed it, I cannot imagine that peace and safety is worth it all. I cannot think anymore, on what I should do or how I should make up for it. I feel like a monster. Even if we are the same, I wonder why did I run? If Nightmare Moon crucified me before the Crystal Heart, would it matter? I guess I should dispel these thoughts. I will never forget you. Please be safe. You're forever in my - our hearts. We must change our location. This could be my final letter, though I think the last one should have been it. Know that I am well and safe, and so are they. We live on, and so will our ponies. I cannot thank you enough for the burden you've taken upon you. You are the reason we sparkle, and we will do - forevermore.

- A Heart that Forever Cherishes You

"...Send to, Fylamora Meadows, plot four." Cécile studied the envelope while Dusk studied the letter. "That's farmland. We should go there, now." Her eyes trailed to Dusk. She noticed he was shaking a little, as if he saw a ghost. But why?

"L-Let's..." Dusk coughed. "T-Thank you for your time, ma'am..."

***

There she was. Peaceful. Untouched, rotting, but her eyes were closed and she laid so still. Like a tale.

"I can't believe it..." Dusk felt his hooves become light, the thoughts swimming in his head. How could this happen? What would happen next?

"Sweet Boreas..." Cécile rubbed her eyes. "Is that really...?"

There could be no appropriate reaction.

Now when, in the bed before you, was the decomposing, and old corpse of a Princess.

The corpse of Princess Cadence.

Yet, the more Cécile gazed to confirm the fact, something did not appear...usual.

After all, what kind of alicorn dies from old age?

"...Hang on." Bravely, having seen myriads of corpses in her days in all forms and ages, Cécile stepped forward to the body. Yet, it only took her to gently rub the mane. The chemical smell and the lack of wounds...

"...Dusk, this isn't her."

"That...T-that's not Princess Cadence?"

"Well, the scene looks peaceful enough. No signs of struggle. I assume she merely fell asleep and never woke up. Whoever this is, died of natural causes. I mean, she's an alicorn. When was the last time an alicorn died of old age, or a heart attack?"

"...Judging by the dye, then..." Dusk found the bravery to come close to the body, looking at the body that had been decomposing for a long time now. "Was she...A double?"

"A decoy, perhaps." Cecile nodded.

"That means that I was tasked with searching for Princess Cadence." Dusk shook his head. "They must have known this but didn't tell me so that I wouldn't run my mouth or get someone's attention..."

"I guess the case is closed. At-least, based on this lead." Cécile asked. "You're finished here?"

"...I'm not sure."

"Why?"

"Cécile...When the Crystal Empire fell, Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon. A monster and tyrant. It's only through sheer fortune we have returned her to who she is now, but...You need to understand she was cruel. She killed Celestia, and killed many others. Princess Cadence was defiant, and there was a belief that she was killed too. Maybe Luna believes it - because when she re-appeared as her normal self, she had no memories of what happened. She woke up - to a burnt Equestria that was now renamed to the Lunar Empire."

"...So?"

"Cécile, what I am going to report to - inevitably - Luna, will have consequences for the future. If she goes public, if the news of her being alive comes out, then...What happens next?"

"Well..." Cécile put a talon to her chin. "Reconciliation between the crystal ponies and Luna? Maybe nothing at all?"

"Something bad will happen, I feel it..." Dusk muttered. "Cécile, Princess Luna was capable of lighting my country on fire. Millions died, more lost family and were dislocated.

"...Why are you so terrified of it?" She asked. "I'd be excited. You're giving closure. To the crystal ponies, to--"

"I'm terrified what might happen after the fact." Dusk interrupted. The fact he had suddenly become so assertive in conversations, it made Cécile briefly freeze. He continued. "We really decided that a sister-killing tyrant was a good choice for our country..."

"...I hope your special services haven't wiretapped you." She tensely said.

"Then let them hear." Dusk sternly said. "I think Equestria won't thrive under Luna. It won't be the same thing. Not anymore." He said. "Life was so much better then. Before the wars. When the sisters were together. I heard such great stories. Friendship and...Agh. My parents were veterans, fought for Celestia. Told me about Ponyville, when they met the legendary Twilight Sparkle, when they..."

"You..." Cécile laughed, shaking her head. "Dusk, you're a curious stallion. You were born in the Lunar Empire, yet you speak like an old Celestial loyalist. I mean, you're here unearthing the biggest conspiracy of a whole race. What you can bring to the Crystal Ponies will give them hope. Hope, Dusk..."

"...Or doom."

"If I learned that somehow, my little Nadine was alive and still out there..." She smiled sadly. "I'd be the happiest woman on this planet, Detective. Can you imagine how a whole race of ponies would feel?"

"..." He sighed.

Cécile put a talon on his shoulder. "Don't fear what may happen, Detective. Fear what may not."

They walked outside, looking at the fluffy clouds above. The field was so picturesque, the dandelions freely flying, the grass swaying like the surface of water...

She offered him a cigarette. He didn't smoke, but this was a special occasion.

"...So, you'd say this is the most difficult case of your life?" Cécile asked as the two stood on the porch.

"Difficult in terms of implications? Yes. Difficult in terms of work? Actually...I'm working on it now."