In Bold Print

by StrappingYoungLad

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Dark
Length: 764

Based on the movie State of Play, this story is about a journalist who sets out to stop some killers

Disappearances of ponies have come to the attention of many reporters and journalists in Canterlot. Unfortunately, those who pursue this scoop always seem to follow the same fate, disappearing before being found dead.

Scrubs McAllister, a veteran journalist pony for the Canterlot Times, is now working on the mystery despite suspicion of being targeted next. With the aid of two friends, a drinker and a photographer, as well as a greenhorn new to the journalism business, Scrubs plans to unravel the mystery behind this case, before making the headlines as a part of the obituaries.

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The first fanfic written by StrappingYoungLad in over a year. If it's bad, you can see why.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-01-05 07:25:34 UTC

Prologue: Continuation Of A Growing Norm

Nighttime; all was usually well in the city of Canterlot. Shops closed up, ponies preparing to go to sleep, an evening prayer was said before getting in bed, everything was the same as usual. Today however, something was amidst. Only under the moonlight one can see a pony running with all his might. Following shortly would be three others, unicorns, straight on his tail. The young pony’s breath was shallow, as he made turn for turn, going through streets on end, and still couldn’t shake off the three unicorns.

This pony was a very important figure in his profession; he wasn’t just any type of journalist, he was Ace Flutters, News Extraordinaire. One of the most revered ponies in his job circuit, he was well known for being able to get the scoop out to everypony and anypony he pleases. And yet, he’s running for his life; reduced to nothing but a sniveling rat. Why? He saw something that no pony should ever bear witness to. Given the warnings of his colleagues, Ace knew that he shouldn’t have gone anywhere near the forbidden building, but if he didn’t he wouldn’t be a News Extraordinaire, now would he?

He continued down the alleyways, with camera jumping from side to side and his saddlebag rattling with every step, desperately trying to escape from the three unicorns until he came towards a tall fence, forcing him at a dead end. Ace found himself sweating more than usual, his pupils dilating and his heart beating faster as he turned to face his demise. He tried climbing up the fence itself, but was soon encased in a white mist before being thrown violently to the ground. Ace looked up to find the three unicorns chasing him looking at him with nothing but evil surrounding him. One of the ponies, a mare with piercing emerald green eyes, used her magic to rip the camera away from the sniveling journalist. The second, a stallion with frizzy blue hair, took away his saddlebag and emptied its contents: a bunch of pencils, a few notepads with one of them containing several notes, and a magazine with Ace on the cover, showing off a brilliant smile.

The third unicorn, a fierce stallion with a lengthy scar across his face, picked up the note pad with his magic and read what was on it. Ace was now reduced to tears as the scar pony approached him, still focused on the notepad.

“Do you honestly think you could get away with this…” the scar pony questioned, in an expectedly menacing voice. “…to run, thinking that we would be another headline for your treachery?”

The journalist, caught between sniffling and hiccupping through newly developed tears, didn’t respond. Fear had occupied his every nerve.

“…I’m still waiting an answer…” Scar questioned, now drawing his attention to Ace, as the notepad spontaneously went up in flames before quickly dying out.

“Please!” Ace spat, sounding like a three year old colt. “Don’t hurt me! I promise you this will never get out!”

“Aww, look at that!” Snickered Frizzy, now imitating the sniveling reporter. “Please don’t hurt me! Please don’t hurt me!” He let out a laugh before glaring at Ace some more. “The great News Extraordinaire, reduced to a little child!”

“It’s not a matter of whether this story gets out or not.” Said Emerald coolly, as she looked inside the cameras film and examined the contents. She then proceeded to rip out the film until there was none left, only to tear them apart to shreds using her magic. “It’s about how you know too much.”

The three unicorns, now done toying with their prey, went back to Ace and continued walking closer towards him. Ace, still scared for his life, attempted to climb the fence again, but couldn’t even make it on to begin with. He collapsed to the floor, now crying a full waterfall as he stared at his makers.

“W… what are you –hic- gonna… do to me?” Ace said, barely managing to get out that sentence through all of his crying.

“Oh, it’s quite simple Mr. Flutters. You should be familiar with it.” Scar said, as he and his accomplices surrounded the defenceless pony. “We’re gonna help you make the front pages.”

The journalist went wide-eyed and tried to let out a scream, but couldn’t make any sounds, as a blinding white light appeared from Scar’s horn. All of a sudden the four ponies disappeared, straight out of thin air, leaving Canterlot to its peaceful nighttime once again.