You sigh heavily and pull your raincoat up a bit further on your shoulders to try to protect yourself from the driving rain. How the hell did I convince myself to come out here anyway? You ask yourself.
Right, the story...
You've worked for a large Canterlot newspaper for many years, started at the bottom running mail, gopher, and cameraman and finally making it to full fledged reporter, covering hundreds of stories in your career. But your second story was the one that made you famous, broke open a smuggling ring working inside Canterlot itself.
You were living the high life, money, fame, a different mare every night...
But fame is fleeting, and poor choices with money and mares can and did lead you downhill really fast. Fortunately you never did anything too stupid, you still have your job, but another really amazing story hadn't come along...
Until now. Murder. Extremely rare in Equestria, you’re far more likely to die of old age, an accident or a disease even.
The victim was an extremely wealthy pony, a member of the highest inner circles of Canterlot. There were rumours, so many rumours. He was involved with another stallion’s wife, he was involved with a plot to overthrow the throne, he had been short changing ponies of their investments, a plain old burglery gone wrong. Lots of rumours and no proof, you had friends and contacts all through Equestria. You'd built them up over the years, but one by one they all failed you. Nothing they could tell you?! Nothing?
Finally you'd gotten down to the bottom of the barrel, a snitch you'd known for years and usually had reliable information gave you a tip.
"Ya, ya... I got somethin for ya. You got somethin for me?"
You handed over a plain paper bag, forty bits inside.
He checked it smiling to you showing his missing teeth. "Good, good! But you didn't hear this from me alright? Lower quarter, the Slutty Mare. You think your lookin for a real badass huh? Some massive roided mothfucka? Nah, plain lookin stallion, earthie, dark brown, light brown mane an tail. He can give ya more info. But I didn't tell ya nothing... Right?! Right!?!" He shouted as you walked away.
The lower quarter... Even Canterlot had its seedy areas, the royal guard let them be as long as they didn't cause trouble and they knew it. Making a fuss down there would likely get you some broken legs.
Earth ponies... Hey you had nothing against them, even had to admit they did good work sometimes. But how in Celestias name could you survive without magic? You'd never understood it though you did admit some of the earth mares were fine looking.
Pegasus, always flying around with their heads in the clouds. They did make excellent cameramen though, getting shots from any angle. Reminding yourself you stepped under an awning for a moment to make sure your camera and recorder were both dry under your coat, Tartarus willing you might even need them tonight.
You slogged through the rain for a few more blocks before coming to a run down bar, the few lights that still worked in its sign managed to illuminate its name. 'The Slutty Mare', classy.
You push though the door into the smoke filled haze of the bar, a few patrons looked your way but most of them ignore you for the stripper up on stage. Never ceased to amaze you, most ponies never wore much clothing at all but get a mare up on stage dressed up and willing to take it off a piece at a time and the bits would fly.
The mare currently on stage was looking good and you considered taking your time... No, work before pleasure. You walked up to the bar and ordered a beer, it came quickly in a none too clean glass, you leaned back taking a drink. Not the worst you'd ever had but far from the best.
You scanned the bar and further back in the various cubby holes casually blending in as just another dirty minded stallion taking in a show. You were very good at that, blending in, making others feel like you belonged there. No better place to get a scoop then right in the middle of the action, dangerous? Sure, but you had a fair share of luck and of course your own magic to back you up.
The first dancer finished her set fully unclothed and dripping in sweat drawing your attention and the next came out to blaring noise they generously called music these days. While watching the new mare come out you spotted what you think was your target across the room in a corner booth, leaned back and relaxing with a nearly empty beer in hoof and a cigarette dangling from his lips he was watching the show get started.
You ordered an extra beer and cautiously made your way across the room trying to keep out of the way. As you walked up he looked over with a bored expression.
"Your looking a little too old to be hustling drinks buddy."
You gestured to the chair asking if you could sit and he shrugged negligently, you took the seat and sat down your spare beer pushing it over to him.
"I hear you might have some information?"
He raised his eyebrows and took a drink. "Ugh, my own piss tastes better then this." None the less he took another drink. "Information eh? And what sort of information might you be looking for in a dump like this?"
You leaned closer nonchalantly. "Maybe some very sensitive information on a... Murder."
This didn’t seem to faze him in the way you were hoping for. He rolled his eyes slightly at you and looked back to the stripper. "You’re in over your head boy. Thanks for the beer but I suggest you go home."
He calling you boy rankled you a bit, you looked to be at least twice his age the little earth pony prick... You reigned in your anger and leaned back watching the show as well. "Hey no problem, I doubted you had anything useful anyhow. The source who pointed you out was anything but reliable."
He chuckled. "Reverse psychology eh? Won't work."
You smiled to yourself, admitting one thing won't work only shows your open to something else working. You levitated a small bag onto the table letting it land with a thud and intriguing jingle.
"Hey I know how it goes, info costs. I pay well for the best."
His interest piqued slightly he looked over to the bag. "Alright I'll bite. What exactly do you want to know? And why?"
Bingo! Trying not to look smug you smile. "Anything you know would be useful. I'm a private detective hired by the family who just want some closure so they can put the whole mess behind them." You lie straight faced, another thing that your far too good at many a mare could attest to.
"Oh really? And might there be some sort of reward for information leading to the capture of the pony or ponies responsible?"
"Could be..."
He smirked and leaned back again. "Not bad, very convincing. But I remember you from your first big story. Oh belated congratulations on that by the way." He raised his glass in a mock salute and took a drink.
How the hell could he remember that? He was probably only a few years old damn the luck. You regained your composure quickly. "Hmm... Fine, there’s still money to be had. I crack this story and you can expect to be rewarded more then you've ever seen."
He actually burst out laughing this time spitting some beer across the floor drawing momentary attention to the two of you. He coughed a few times ignoring the dirty looks from a few patrons. "Oh I'm sure the rewards would be impressive." He smirked then leaned across the table. "Let me ask you something first though."
You nodded a little uncomfortable with his proximity you can smell the beer and cigarette smoke on his breath.
"What makes you think you can dig anything up when the finest of the Equestria royal guard and investigation service came up with nothing? And furthermore if you did come up with something what makes you think you wouldn't be next?" He leaned back not taking his eyes off you, you now noticed they were a particularly disturbing shade of dark blue flecked with silver.
You cleared your throat. "The public has a right to know the truth, never mind it would get me back on top. I've been in dangerous situations before, you can't imagine."
He smirked again. "I'm sure. Tell you what, you think on whether your life is worth a story over the next dancer and get back to me on that." With that he withdrew his attention from you focusing back on the next dancer.
He clearly knows something; by his suggestive questions he might even know it all. Hell he could have even done it! Maybe you should back off, let Canterlot security know what you found?
And get pushed to the background where you might get a mention at the end of a report if anything. Assuming he even knows anything, if not just a humiliating experience and likely losing your job. No, this is what you do. Who you are, you might not have much else in your life but your damn good at this.
The dancer finished and he looked back over to you. "So? Time for you to get home?"
"It’s still early. And I've got work to do." You smirk back.
He smiles slowly. "Damn if you don't got some big balls. I'll warn you one last time, get in too deep and your going under."
"You can't scare me off so easy."
"Alright, we'll see... I've been looking for a... Outlet anyhow. I'll give you some information, but not here. I've got a place nearby come on."
He got up suddenly and you had to reconsider your original opinion of him being just a punk colt. He was still shorter then you by a bit but the muscles and tendons on his body stood out impressively, you had a sudden flash that this might not be a good idea... Too late now.
You followed him outside the rain still coming down in buckets. He walked right through it without a care, stupid kid going to catch a cold. You followed him into a blind ally up to a brick wall like any other.
He looked back with a grin then pushed a sequence of bricks causing the wall to slide to the side revealing a small waiting room with a privacy screen in front of it.
"Come on in." He trotted in and you followed him with a grin of your own, you had an excellent memory. Not an eidetic one but nearly so and you had made an effort to remember that sequence of bricks, you were pretty sure you would be able to open it again if you needed to...
Following him around the screen into a small room an even smaller washroom off to the side, a couch and a bed were the only furnishings and all around the room were stacked boxes, bags and small chests all seemingly empty.
He hopped onto the bed bouncing a bit and relaxing back. "Relax, me casa su casa." You sat down on the couch switching on your recorder in a practiced motion leaving it in your coat as you swung it off as you did so you heard the wall rumble closed behind you.
"So you want to know about that murder eh? Why? No biggie, he was a rich scumbag he probably got what was coming to him."
"Well I don't know about that. If he was a criminal his guilt would have to be determined by a judge and jury."
"Oh right of course, because that’s how things work right?" He asked with a knowing grin.
Refusing to take that bait you asked. "What’s your name anyhow? You already know me apparently."
"I've got plenty of names, just make up another one when you need it. Feel free to use what you like."
"That’s not exactly a good start for a pony who says he’s got valuable information."
"I'm still not sure you should be here, we'll see how things go before we get too personal."
"Fine. What can you tell me about the murder then?"
"Again, let me ask you. How do you think the R.G.I.S. found nothing? Nothing at all. No leads, no clues, no witness's?"
That had been bothering you since you heard about the case in the first place. The Royal Guard Investigation Service was the best of the best, there’s almost no chance that between their training and magic they wouldn't have found anything!
"I don't know... Maybe the murderer is a master criminal?"
"No ones that good boy. No there’s only one or two reasons that could account for it."
"Such as?"
"Hah mister big investigative journalist. One, they did catch the perpetrator and for whatever reason they didn't reveal it, just quickly imprisoned or executed."
"That would be against the law!"
He laughed again. "Let’s see how good you are boy. What could the second reason be if the first one is false...?"
You thought for a moment. "Well... Assuming it wasn't a supreme master criminal, and they weren't already apprehended in secret... It would have to have been sanctioned by..."
He grinned widely. "By...?"
"By the ruling aristocracy... No! Princess Celestia and Luna and good rulers! Kind and caring they would never..."
He leaned back his grin fading. "You know I do agree with you there, really. They are great rulers and have been for thousands of years never mind that gap in the history books there where Luna seems to be missing. But do you really think they could run this kingdom, hell even this damn city with the lightest of touches? Kindness and compassion? Always following the rules?"
"Are you saying...?!"
"I'm not saying anything yet. You've had a kick in the ass from this information, true or not. Again I'll give you the opportunity to walk away, you get in too far and you might not be able too." He wasn't grinning just looking at you seriously.
Your adrenalin was up with this realization, your old killer instincts kicking back in. "Hell no! I want to see this through to the end!"
"Heh, we'll see about that. Well I can see you won't be diswayed, tell you what. I have to go out of town on business in the morning, I might not be back for a week or more. Why don't you chew on what we've talked about until I get back? If you’re still willing I'll fill you in more."
"Hey these things have a shelf life! I can't wait...!"
"This is going to have to be the way it is. Don't worry I think you'll have a... Interesting story to tell when we're done."
"Fine but you’re not getting paid until I get more information!"
He chuckled. "Fine by me. Now its getting late and I have to leave early in the morning."
You turned and retrieved your jacket hearing the wall grind open again.
"You'll be in touch then?" You asked eagerly.
"I'm sure I can find away to get a hold of you."
You turned to go then suddenly turned back. "Your name?"
He sighed heavily getting up to show you to the door. "Fine... Understand this name was given to me. They thought it was funny..."
"They...?"
"Never mind. It’s LunarSun. Do yourself a favour and forget it. Goodnight."
With that he turned and went back inside the wall closing a few moments later, as he left you caught a glimpse of his cutiemark for the first time. A golden mobius strip...
As you walked back home through the dwindling rain your mind was running a mile a minute, you switched off your recorder making sure it had caught the whole conversation.
What could it all mean?
Celestia and Luna... They would never sanction anything like this...
Would they...?
