Chapter 10: Dark on the Horizon

Trixie stepped inside her cart, humming happily to herself. Today had went surprisingly well, after that mysterious stallion had helped her the crowd had loved every part of her show. Trixie smiled, remembering the looks on their faces after they realized that the tale of the Ursa Minor was the actual story. After her second incident in Ponyville she decided she had enough of humble pie and went on with accurate storytelling and a flashy magic show.

The cart was small, but it had enough room for Trixie's belongings and provided a place to sleep in if needed. Trixie carefully removed her cape and hat and put them in a small closet, then went outside again to pack up and look for a place to sleep.

"Good afternoon miss Trixie, I see your show went well."

Trixie whirled around and saw a grey unicorn standing behind her, a small but confident smile on his lips. Trixie recognized him as the hooded 'Asphyxious' that helped her out. She smiled back at him.

"Good afternoon, oh 'Lord Asphyxious'."

The stallion laughed.

"It seems I left an impression today. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sandova Mirell, mage and scholar, at your service."

The stallion bowed with flair as he introduced himself, and Trixie could not help but notice that he was quite handsome. She giggled and made a courtesy of her own.

"Trixie is pleased to meet you, Sandova, and wants to thank you for your help today."

"It was nothing, really. I can't stand it when peopl- eh ponies, when ponies are treated like you were. They didn't even give you the chance to defend yourself! And besides, I needed to draw attention to myself anyway. Two birds with one stone."

Trixie frowned, there was something strange about this stallion.

"Trixie doesn't understand, why would you want to draw attention to yourself?"

"Well, somepony is following me, and I want to know who they're working for. If I draw obvious attention to myself, and make myself look like an idiot in the process, they will act differently then ponies who are not watching me. Some undercover guardsponies are around, looking out for suspicious characters."

Trixie arched an eyebrow at Sandova. Some things didn't add up in his story.

"Then why are you telling Trixie this? Wouldn't it be better if you kept this a secret?"

Sandova grinned fiendishly and winked at Trixie.

"Why yes, that would indeed be better. Especially since the leading detective kind of ordered me not to give away important information."

"But you just told me a lot of information already. Wouldn't that get you into trouble?"

Sandova nodded, still smiling.

"Probably, but it could be that I endangered you with this endeavor, and I wanted to make sure that you'd be able to handle yourself. Considering the fact that you're obviously questioning my motives confirms that you are, in fact, capable enough to do so. Anyway, it was nice meeting you miss Trixie."

The stallion turned around before he stopped, and looked back at Trixie with an embarrassed smile.

"Uhm, could you perhaps tell me how I get to the museum from here?"

Trixie smiled, she decided she actually liked this stallion, however strange he might be.

"No, but Trixie could help you look."
~
Silent Whisper moved through the crowd, doing her best to look as normal as possible. She had to hurry and report to Abyss before her target got to the museum. She frowned, musing over the scene at the park. What was that all about?

"Excuse me, miss. We would like to have a word with you."

Silent Whisper turned around, her face a neutral mask. Behind her stood two ponies in uniform.

"I am detective Hard Facts and this is my partner Cold Case. We would like to ask you some questions regarding your interest in mister Dawn Flash."

How'd they found out? Silent Whisper did her best to look mildly annoyed, keeping her nerve under control as she did so.

"I'm sorry, who?"

Hard Facts smiled at her. It was a knowing smile, and a cold one at that.

"The blond unicorn you have been following for some time now. I find it interesting that somepony that is known to work for our friendly neighborhood crook Abyss is so focused on a stallion that was recently arrested. Now, would you like to talk to us or do we have to bring you in for questioning?"

Silent's eyes widened.

"You can't do that, I am an Equestrian citizen. I know my rights."

"Then you also know that we, the Guard, are allowed to bring somepony in for questioning in cases like this. We would rather keep this talk polite. Besides, you seem in a hurry. Wouldn't want to keep your boss waiting now would we?"

Silent Whisper gritted her teeth, they had her. Resisting any further would only make it harder on her. And by extension, her boss. And she needed to report before this Dawn Flash or Sandova or whatever he calls himself got to the museum. She sighed.

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"We would like to know about your sudden interest in mister Flash, nothing more."

Silent Whisper arched an eyebrow. This could be over quicker then she thought.

"Will this be kept confidential?"

The detective nodded. Silent whisper looked around before whispering with a small blush on her face.

"Have you seen that guy? His looks are magazine material. I've been working up the courage to ask him out, and so far it isn't working."

Both detectives looked at her incuriously. Silent Whisper shrugged.

"What? Can't a mare show some interest in attractive stallions nowadays? If you'll excuse me, I'm running late for an appointment."

She turned around an moved through the crowd, smiling at the memory of their dumbstruck faces. At least she knew what her target was doing in the park. Drawing attention to himself so that the Guards could scan the crowd for suspicious ponies, like herself. This guy was good, no wonder the Guard accepted his help. But why would a necromancer be interested in helping the guard? Most necromancy is illegal in Equestria, not to mention taboo.

Silent Whisper dismissed her train of thought, this mystery was Abyss' to figure out. She turned in an alley and spread her wings. She was gone before the third Guard tailing her had rounded the corner.
~
"And that's when Trixie got out of the corrupting influence of the Alicorn Amulet."

Sandova nodded, his friends had already told him about their encounters with the showmare. It was still nice to know the other end of the story, though.

"I know, I have heard the story from my friends."

Trixie looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

"You mean you come from Ponyville?"

Sandova shrugged.

"I guess you can say that, yes. I am staying there to 'rediscover the magic of friendship'. I don't really think they can change me that much, but it's nice to be able to stay in a town without getting chased out because of my powers."

"Why would you get chased out of towns?"

Sandova stopped and looked at Trixie with an arched eyebrow.

"As you might have noticed, I am a necromancer. That means I have power over death, and most ponies associate that with evil."

Trixie's eyes widened.

"Wait, you mean that that skeleton was real?"

"Of course it was, how else would it have shattered that rock? Now don't worry, I didn't kill anyone to get it. I reanimated a skeleton that was used for anatomy lessons and such. Twilight used it for research in body-altering spells. I got to reanimate it to show some of my spells."

"Why are you telling Trixie all of this? If you get chased out of towns because of your powers shouldn't you be more careful of what you tell ponies?"

Sandova paused. Trixie was right, why did he tell her? He looked back at his companion and frowned.

"I, don't know. The last two months have been so different than the rest of my life that I might be more at ease nowadays. The fact that I am surrounded by ponies who are incredibly trusting might have lowered my guard as well."

Sandova stopped.

"Huh, I guess they affect me more than I realized. Anyway, it seems we're there."

Both unicorns stood in front of an impressive building. The museum was large and excessively decorated in a style Sandova found reminiscent of the temples at home. The entrance consisted of a large double door, which was open. Ponies of all kinds walked in and out of the building, although Sandova saw that there were more unicorns than other ponies visiting the museum.

"Sandova, over here!"

Sandova looked left and saw his friends sitting at a terrace across the street. He waved at them before turning to his companion.

"Thanks for helping me find the museum. Hey, would you like to join us?"

Trixie blushed slightly and looked away.

"Uhm, Trixie would like to, but she thinks your friends wouldn't like her being here. Trixie should go."

"Heh, don't worry, they are forgiving ponies. Or Twilight is, at least. I'm sure you can convince them you've changed."

"How do you know Trixie has changed?"

Sandova laughed.

"Because you don't sound nearly as arrogant as they told me you were. If that was the case I wouldn't have asked you to join us. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Trixie nodded and they both walked towards the table. When they got close Sandova could see his friends were indeed surprised at the sight of the mare next to him. Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at Trixie.

"What is she doing here?"

Sandova sighed and looked at the others. Fluttershy, Pinkie and Twilight looked curious and maybe a little skeptical. Rarity and Applejack looked unfriendly and Rainbow Dash seemed outright hostile.

"Trixie is here because she helped me find the museum. I asked her to join us because it's rude to leave somebody that helped behind so that you can hang with your friends, don't you think? Besides, everyone, erm, everypony deserves a second chance, right?"

"Yeah, but she blew that already. Right, oh 'Great and Powerful' Trixie?"

Trixie seemed to shrink from the venom in Dash' voice. Sandova glared right back at her.

"The way I see it she only acted in a bad way the second time you met her. And she was slowly being corrupted by that amulet at the time."

Rarity spoke up.

"But the first time-"

Sandova interrupted her.

"She was staging a show when you started heckling her, of course she would do something to shut you up. How would you feel when you staged a fashion show and everypony started making snide remarks about the dresses you made? She was mean, but not cruel. That was your doing."

The mares looked astonished, and Rarity had the decency to look a little ashamed. Trixie looked around the table and tried to smile. It came out more than a little nervous.

"Trixie would like to apologize for her actions that day. After the whole ursa minor business she had become bitter, and she wanted nothing more than pay back the mare that upstaged her. She bought the alicorn amulet and wasn't aware of its corrupting influence. But that is still no excuse for Trixie's behavior. Can you forgive her?"

The other mares stared at her, not expecting this from the showmare. Twilight was the first to recover, and she smiled at Trixie.

"I had already forgiven you that day, remember? It's fine. Besides, if Sandova of all ponies is the one suggesting we give you a chance, who am I to disagree?"

The other mares nodded, except for rainbow who just huffed.

"I'm still keeping my eye on you."

Sandova smiled, realizing he had actually made a friend that day.

"So, how about we visit that exposition before the museum closes?"
~
"Come on, you knew something like this would happen. Can you really blame him?"

Hard Facts glared at her partner, who backed away.

"Yes. Not only did he disturb the peace, he also destroyed public property. That's illegal, and you know it!"

"It was just a rock, and nopony got hurt, right? Besides, we did get a lead on the investigation."

"What lead? Silent Whisper played us brilliantly, she also lost the tail we sent after her like it was nothing. Not to mention the fact that Abyss probably knows we suspect him."

Cold Case nodded.

"Exactly, the fact that she tried to lose her tail means she got something to hide, at least. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if Abyss already knows everything we know about the case, he probably got sources everywhere in the station. He hasn't become leader of Manehattens organized crime for nothing, you know."

Hard facts sighed, no matter how much she hated the situation she knew her partner was right. All of a sudden she looked up, eyes bright.

"If Abyss sent her after our good friend Dawn Flash it means he doesn't know anything about him, either. We could use that against him."

Smiling she went back to her office, Cold Case following closely behind.

"Oh yeah, Dawn Flash asked if he could talk to the victim later this evening."

Hard Facts whirled around, eyes wide.

"Absolutely not! Who does he think he is? He's lucky I'm not arresting him again."

"Actually, I think he should. Attitude aside he seems like a decent pony, or at least sympathetic. He also knows more about what happened to the kid than we ever could. He might act like a smug jerk from time to time, but you can't deny that he's good at what he does. Besides, the kid deserves to know what he's in for."

Hard Facts sighed, her partner was right yet again. She nodded.

"Okay, if his parents agree with it I'll allow him to talk to the kid. But I will be around when it happens, I still don't completely trust the guy."

Cold Case nodded and turned to leave.

"I'll tell him when he comes back from his trip."

Hard Facts was already trotting of fin the opposite direction, she had work to do.
~
Bright Night and Crescent Moon were still in the visitor's area. Hard Facts had to give it to them, they were dedicated parents. She was glad the kid had somepony close to comfort him.

"Excuse me, I have to ask your permission for something."

The parents looked up at the detective.

"Ask away, detective. If it helps the case I'm willing to help."

Bright Night nodded at her husband's words. Hard Facts smiled and continued.

"Do you remember the blond stallion from yesterday?"

They nodded.

"He's an outside expert on necromancy, and he is helping the case. He would like to speak with your son about what happened to him, and about his newly awakened powers."

"Necromancy? Our son has no way of knowing such dangerous magics."

Hard Facts arched an eyebrow at Crescent Moon.

"And how do you know about it then?"

"I teach applied magics at Celestia's school for gifted unicorns, I know a lot about magic in general."

Hard Facts nodded, that did make sense.

"I see, but your son has somehow awakened a talent for Necromancy, or so I'm told. The expert wishes to talk to your son about it. I am not sure myself what he wants to talk about specifically, so I will be there as well. I'm sure mister Dawn Flash would like to speak to you as well."

Both parents looked at each other and nodded.

"Very well, if it helps our son who are we to disagree?"

"Good, now we just have to wait until he shows up."
~
Abyss was working behind his desk when somepony knocked on his door.

"Come in."

The door opened and a slightly windswept Silent Whisper stepped inside.

"Ah, any news about our guy?"

She nodded.

"Yes, his name seems to be either Sandova or Dawn Flash. The Elements keep calling him Sandova, but I had a run-in with the Guard this afternoon and they kept calling him Dawn Flash."

Abyss' eyes narrowed.

"Were you followed?"

Silent Whisper laughed. It was a cold laugh.

"They tried. Anyway, our friend seems to be friends with the Elements of Harmony, and he apparently has worked something out with the Guard as well. I don't know if he knows the colt we're looking for, but I do know he helps with the investigation. I wanted to continue tailing him through the city but the guard caught up with me. He acted kind of strange before the guard showed up."

"Strange? In what way?"

"He went to the park where some kind of showmare had set up stage. The crowd turned ugly soon after, lots of heckling. He then put up some kind of 'evil overlord' act before the showmare 'vanquished' his minion. Either he works as a showmare's assistant or he tried to attract attention. I believe it was the latter, since I saw him scan the crowd after he fled the scene. Two minutes later the Guard caught up with me. He's good, boss. Real good."

Abyss frowned, this guy seemed more unlikely the more he learned about him. If he's good at these kind of things somepony should've at least heard some rumors. But instead the guy was an enigma. A necromancer with experience in getting tailed that is helping the Guard with investigating a necromancy induced murder? That just doesn't make sense.

"Any ideas on how we can get that colt brought here?"

"Afraid not boss, Hard Facts is in charge of the investigation."

"Damnit, that stubborn bitch always gets in the way. Bribing the investigator will not work this time. I guess we have to resort to extreme measures."

Silent Whisper's eyes widened.

"Boss? Are you sure that's a good idea? We managed for so long because we didn't draw much attention to ourselves. And when we did we could always get out of it. What is so important about that colt, anyway?"

Abyss slammed his hoof on his desk and glared at his subordinate, who flinched back.

"Don't question me now! All you need is to do as you're told. Now get out, you'll get your orders soon."

Silent Whisper nodded and left, leaving Abyss to ponder his next step. He walked over to his bookcase and opened the hidden doorway. After walking down the dark hallways he entered his sanctum, a dark room filled with implements for darker magics. On a pedestal at the far end of the room lay his most prized possession, something that looked disturbingly close to a unicorn's horn. The difference was that it looked wickedly sharp, the red tip slowly fading to gray on the way to its base. The jagged edges at the base suggested it did not part gently from its former owner.

"Just a little longer, my ancestor. Soon your rebirth is a fact, and Equestria will be ours for the taking."

Author's Note

Aah, I finally finished this. I had the first part ready for quite some time, the rest took a little longer, I'm afraid.
Tell me what you all think, I thrive on your feedback.

Sandova out