Equestria Crimes: Fillydelphia

Hella Fire drove down the concrete slant into the underground parking lot. He turned his car off, grabbed his suitcase and stepped out of it. Multiple lights were placed around close to the ceiling that made the lot glow orange. The car door slammed shut behind the young pony, causing the noise to echo all around the place. He inhaled the familiar smells of the parking lot: gasoline, cigarette smoke and some of the wet air coming from outside as it rained. He threw the suitcase onto his back and started around the pillar from his car.

“Hey oh, Hella Fire,” a random voice called out.

He looked around the empty parking lot confused until his eyes met with a mare’s who was wearing a grey hoodie and her mane was wild and hardly tamed. He was more confused at how she knew his name.

“Who the hell are you?” Hella call out.

The pony started to slowly approach him and started to explain, “My name is Vinyl Scratch. I’m here for Robin Green. You should have some sort of info to give him or?” Her voice trailed off.

“Green sent yah?” Hella chuckled.

“Really, he did. See?” She tokes out a piece of paper out of her sweater pocket and flew it over and stopped it right in front of Hella’s face so he could read it. It read:

Hella Fire,

I’m sending my messenger, Vinyl Scratch, over in my place to pick up the files today. Make sure she’s not followed, she’s new. And also, I request the Cardinal’s ammunition and business files. I believe the Blue Jays are up to no good and they’re planning to strike the gangs at any time, so it’d be best to look over your plans to counterattack.

-Robin Green.

Hella Fire looked over the note. “Well, he definitely wrote this. The Blue Jays are trying to merk us? Alright rookie, listen up.”

“I’m all ears,” Vinyl said.

Hella toke the suitcase off his back and casually slid it towards Vinyl. “Inside this briefcase are our files for ammunition sales, drug sales, really any kind of business deals we have. It appears District 4 is the place for a good deal with teenagers when it comes to drugs. But unfortunately, we can’t really give you the 20% the Hummingbirds earned.”

“Oh yeah, why’s that?” Vinyl asked, looking through the business charts and photos in the case.

“Apparently, our sales have dropped a dramatic 37% in all districts of the city, besides the 4th. Aqua Marine said that a small gang called, the Jets are stealing our profits.”

Vinyl stopped to look at Hella with a confused look. “Who’s Aqua Marine?”

“Oh, that’s some pony who works with us Cardinals. She’s supposed to be in strong relations with our boss, but I never met her.”

“And who would be your boss?”

Hella leaned in closer and practically whispered, “I have no idea. Hardly any pony in the Cardinals knows. Only ponies high in the ranks know who she is.”

The two of them didn’t say a thing. It was quiet. Only the hum from the radiator could be heard. Hella started to slowly back away towards his car.

“This’s all the info you need. Make sure Green gets this briefcase. You can’t let this get into the wrong hooves, rookie!” Hella instructed, before running into his car.

Vinyl just put the photos back into the briefcase and placed it on her back with her magic. She suddenly heard the rumble of a car engine starting up. She saw that Hella Fire was backing out and starting to drive out of the parking lot. Vinyl started after him.

“Hey!” she shouted after him. She immediately stopped when she knew she wasn’t stopping him. She sighed when the car disappeared and walked back to her own car. She opened it and sat down in her leather seats and placed the briefcase on the passenger seat next to her. Vinyl toke out her cell phone from her hoodie and punched in the number 2, which was speed dial for the precinct, and hit talk. It rang a few times before Lt. Scarlet picked up.

“Vinyl,” Scarlet answered.

“Listen lieutenant, I’ve got all of our answers in this here briefcase. Plus, I’ve got a name,” Vinyl quickly explained.

“Really, who is it?”

“Hella Fire mentioned an Aqua Marine. She’s supposed to be in strong relations with the Cardinal’s boss. But, when I asked who their boss was, he didn’t know.”

“What!? Of course he has to know!”

“Apparently not. And he got away before I got any other answers out of him.”

Lt. Scarlet searched through her draw of folders. “I remember Harry talking about Aqua Marine before. He said that- aha!” Scarlet fished out a folder labeled, “Suspect #80: Aqua Marine.”

She placed it on her desk and searched through it until she found a certain photo. “Harry said that he believes that Sapphire Shores made the acquaintance of Aqua Marine. He also believes that Sapphire Shores has info on Marine to help us crack the case of who runs the Cardinals.” She held up an autographed photo of Sapphire Shores in the light to get a better look. She placed it down and picked up another picture of a hotel. “She’s on her tour around the country and she’s currently staying at the Dynasty Hotel down in the 4th district. You can find her there.”

Vinyl thought this was enough information she needed. “Thanks Lieutenant.” She hung up and placed her phone back in her hoodie. She started the car and it started up with a nice, smooth hum.

Vinyl could see that this case was probably far from over, yet she could see a little white light at the end of this long, dark tunnel known as the streets of Fillydelphia. She one day hopes that when she retires from being a cop, she’ll move to the quiet town of Ponyville and spend the rest of her days there, instead of her crappy little apartment she lives in now. She also wants to leave the Fillydelphia streets, because she knows that her hometown will always be one of the most dangerous cities in Equestria to live in.

She turned the corner into Wingset St. where the Dynasty Hotel was located, only to see a limo parked just outside the building. Vinyl pulled over and parked on the opposite side of the street. As she got out, Sapphire Shores was just exiting the hotel and approaching the limo. Vinyl thought it was time and she started to approach her and called out, “Sapphire Shores?”

Sapphire stopped as she heard her name and she looked up to see a mare standing right next to her limo with her wild mane and a smile on her face. The gray hoodie she was wearing appeared that she was from this city. Sapphire just thought she was another fan.

“I need a word with you about a mare named, Aqua Marine,” Vinyl went on.

Sapphire now knew she wasn’t just a fan, she was a reporter. If not, then she must have to be-

“Listen, I’m a very busy pony. So if you’re a reporter, I-“

Vinyl cut her off. “Vinyl Scratch, Fillydelphia police.” She flashed her police badge she hid in her hoodie. Sapphire scanned it for a quick second. It looked official- actually, she was certain it was official.

“I see. You’re the first cop to approach me about my good friend, Aqua.” Sapphire stopped and examined Vinyl. She looked like just the pony to get stuff done quickly, she thought. “Listen here, I’ll tell you everything I know, but first, I want you to do something for me.”

Vinyl wanted to get all of the info out of Sapphire, so she would do just about anything to know about this “Aqua Marine” and the Red Cardinals.

“Alright, what you got?” Vinyl agreed.

Sapphire Shores wrapped her forearm around Vinyl’s neck and pointed down the road. “See that pony down there?” Vinyl looked hard down the road and did see an Earth Pony on the corner. He had a saddle bag and appeared to be talking with another pony that quickly retreated into the alley. “That bum there is dealing drugs to other bums and teenagers. I can’t stand ponies that do that. I’ve repeatedly called up the police to get rid of him, but all they do is say they’ll get to it, but don’t do a thing. I want you to get rid of him. And don’t just shoo him away like your fellow officers. I mean take him down, permanently.”

She let Vinyl go. Vinyl looked down at the dealer on the corner, turned back to Sapphire and nodded, “Aiight, it’s a deal. But don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

She started down the road toward the dealer. All she needed to do was kill this guy and Sapphire Shores will tell her everything she needs to know, right? Even though killing perps is only necessary if you’re under fire, Vinyl knows what will happen if Lt. Scarlet and Harry Tail finds out about this. But she’ll take the punishment with no fuss.

“Ay yo, man! What yah got?” Vinyl called to the dealer as she got closer.

The dirty Earth Pony looked up with a sinister grin. “Yo, what you need girl? Grass, rock, snow? Or what?” the dealer asked, rummaging through his bag.

Vinyl immediately pulled out her gun and police badge, letting it dangle from her neck and exclaimed, “For you to bounce the hell out of here and don’t look back!”

“Shit! You a cop?!? Get out of here!” The dealer toke out a pistol from his saddle bag and before he could point it at her, Vinyl shot him twice in the chest. He backed into the wall, his eyes wide and he slumped down to the ground, dead.

Vinyl suddenly heard shouts and mumbles of anger and curiosity coming from the alley next to her. A group of ponies appeared and looked around and saw Vinyl standing over the shot dealer.

“What the hell?? It’s a cop! Go, Go!!” The group disappeared into the alley. Vinyl followed them, thinking there was more to come.

Sure enough, the group was taking cover behind dumpsters and any other trash. She quickly toke cover behind an old, ripped sofa before any shots were fired. She looked over the top of it and a bullet zipped past her head. She ducked and peered over the side and shot off a bullet towards one of the dumpsters. She ended up hitting one and he fell over. Another shot was fired and nearly hit Vinyl. She retreated back behind the sofa. She toke a deep breath. She was going to do something that could kill her there and now. But, she needed this info and what was happening now was getting her nowhere. She came out from hiding and shot at the remaining ponies. To her surprise, they were all hit. Was she that good of a shot, she wondered. She was always praised for that back at the precinct.

She headed back to the limo where Sapphire Shores was sitting in the back. Sapphire’s chauffeur allowed her to enter the limo. Vinyl got in and saw a very satisfied Sapphire Shores waiting for her.

“That dealer? Heh, he ain’t coming back. You have my word on that,” Vinyl explained.

“You have quite the willpower for a cop,” Sapphire commented. “But you’re going to need a lot more than willpower to take down the Cardinals. They’re an army.”

“Yeah, well, we have plenty of info on their group. What about Aqua Marine?” Vinyl asked.

Sapphire toke a sip of champagne before saying: “Aqua Marine and I have been friends for years. She tells me she set up a nice house right here in the 4th district,” Sapphire explained.

“Probably to keep a close eye on business. So, where do I find her?”

Sapphire toke another sip of champagne, “That, I can’t tell you. She won’t tell me. Apparently, if anypony knows, the cops will be all over her ass.”

“I can see why,” Vinyl mumbled, loud enough for Sapphire to here.

“Well, all she tells me is that there’s this certain gang, called the Jets, who keeps stealing her drug sale business all over the city. If you could get rid of them or something, I’m sure Aqua will be most pleased.” Sapphire sipped the last of her champagne before finishing with: “I’ll let her know what’s up.”

Vinyl thought about it, but she agreed, “Where do I start?”

Sapphire chuckled, “That’s the spirit! Now, over on the harbor, one of the Jet’s drug dens should be located on pier 2, warehouse 1. I suggest you remain unnoticed, or they will kill you. They don’t take so kindly towards Unicorns. Or anypony who’s not a Pegasus, really.”

“I’m very aware of that,” Vinyl said, stepping out of the limo.

“Make sure you take down the gang’s leader: Ice Breaker,” Sapphire quickly added.

“Arrested or…”

“I don’t care! Just get him off the streets!” The door slammed shut and the chauffeur got in the driver’s seat and drove off.

Vinyl went back to the precinct, only to get a warm welcome from none other than Harry Tail. He had heard from Scarlet of what she did today and he knew he made the right decision in choosing her for the job. Now, all he needed was to figure out who Aqua Marine is, so he can take down the Red Cardinals once and for all.

“Get going, detective. Have the rest of the day off,” Harry said, patting her on the back.

“Alrightly then,” Vinyl replied, yawning shortly after. She was tired after a long day of major police work. She picked up her gun off of the chief’s desk, stuffed it in her hoodie and walked out of the building towards home.