Chapter 12: The shadow strikes.

"-and that is why Trixie has decided to tell true stories. And although her show is no longer as popular as before, they feel much more rewarding to Trixie."

Twilight smiled at the blue mare, genuinely impressed with how much she'd matured since she had last seen her. They were sitting at the bar in the Pegasus Wing hotel, together with Fluttershy and Rarity. Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack were busy playing cards in Pinkie and Rainbow's room.

"I'm glad to hear you're doing fine. You look a lot happier as well. So, where are you planning on staging a show next?"

Before Trixie could answer the lights went off, casting them all in darkness.

"Huh?"

"Eep."

"Oh dear."

"Umpf!"

Twilight heard something fall on the ground with a dull 'thump', and she turned towards the sound.

"Is everypony okay? Wait, I'll light my horn."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, sweetie."

Twilight let out a startled yelp before she felt a cloth over her nose and mouth. Twilight thrashed wildly, but somepony held her down. The sharp smell of chemicals filled her nose, and she could feel her consciousness slip. Before she passed out she could hear the feminine voice speak again.

"Gather the others, knock out everypony that interferes. And be gentle, we need them alive, for now."
~
"I still can't believe it, some necromancer from another world just so happens to be close by when our son needs help? That is leaving the scope of coincidence and approaches the miracle scale."

Crescent Moon looked at Sandova with his piercing azure eyes, trying to read his expression. Sandova was busy drinking a milkshake and stared right back. Hard Facts sighed, turning towards Crescent moon.

"Awfully coincidental or not, he does know your son's condition like nopony else."

"At least according to his story, but how sure can we be that he's telling the truth?"

Sandova finished his milkshake and crumpled the cup before levitating it into a trash can.

"Well, you can ask my friends. They believe my story."

Crescent Moon rolled his eyes.

"Mister Mirell, I teach teenage unicorns for a living. I've heard that excuse so often that it's not even funny anymore."

Sandova shrugged.

"Well, the Elements of Harmony are not quite like your teenage unicorns, I presume."

Hard Facts nodded at Crescent Moon, who looked perplexed.

"We couldn't believe it either, but he really is friends with the Elements of Harmony. Their testimonies were nearly identical, and the fact that they tried to help him at all is already noteworthy."

Moonless Night decided to speak up as well.

"Well, I believe him. I mean, if he tried to lie to us wouldn't it better to come up with an actually believable story? Even if he's not a human or whatever, he is an experienced necromancer that offered his help for free. He even helps the Guard with this murder case!"

Sandova nodded towards Moonless Night, a smile growing on his face.

"Thanks kid, I appreciate that. Now, as I were saying, I am offering teach your son how to keep his newfound power under control. I will only teach him the basics, no actually dangerous spells. You can always help, of course. You are the professional teacher, after all."

Crescent Moon sighed and looked at his wife, who nodded.

"All right, I suppose it's for the best. But I thought you lived in Ponyville?"

Sandova nodded.

"Yes, I do. But Ponyville isn't that far away, and I would only be able to tutor him in the weekend. I wouldn't want to interfere with his schoolwork, after all."

Hard Facts nudged Sandova, who looked at her questioningly.

"You are still helping with an ongoing investigation, so all of this will have to wait."

"Oh yeah. Well, I will contact you as soon as I am available. Until then, please refrain from tapping into your negative energy reserve. We wouldn't want you to hurt anypony."

Right then the lights went out, and the Guard station was plunged into darkness.

"What in nine hells?"

Sandova lit his horn, only to discover that his black aura was no viable night source. Luckily Crescent Moon lit up his horn as well, bathing them in a silver light.

"Everypony okay? I think the power went out. Don't worry, the station has its own backup power supply. The lights should go back on any moment now."

Hard Facts hadn't finished speaking when the lights went on again, making them blink. Sandova looked around.

" Now what was that all about? Did your power supply break or something?"

Hard Facts shrugged and walked towards the reception.

"I have no idea, but I'm about to find out."

Sandova frowned and followed her, and was almost immediately joined by moonless Night and his family.

"So, does this happen often? We have no electricity and such where I come from, so I have no clue as what might have happened here."

"Well, it is rather unusual for the power to go out like this. If there was a thunderstorm I can understand, but I'm as clueless as you at the moment."

They reached the front desk and waited for Hard Facts to return. A few moments later she came back with Cold Case behind her. He nodded to Sandova and the family.

"Good evening. It seems that there are some problems with the city's power net. The entire city has gone dark. I hope it'll be over soon, but I doubt it."

Sandova looked past him and chuckled. Everypony looked at him in confusion.

"What's so funny about this?"

Sandova shook his head and pointed towards the windows.

"It seems the universe likes to prove you wrong, that's all."

They looked and saw that the streets were lit again. Ponies were out on the street, looking just as confused as everypony else. Cold Case shrugged.

"Well, for once I'm glad to be wrong. Sir, madam, there is a Guard escort waiting outside to bring you home, if that's okay with you."

Crescent Moon nodded.

"Of course, we appreciate your effort. Now detective, mister Mirell, good luck on catching the monster that killed those poor colts."

Hard Facts nodded.

"Thank you, we will do our best."

Sandova watched the family leave before turning to Hard Facts.

"Do you need my advice for now?"

She shook her head.

"We can handle it from here. We will contact you if we need your expertise. You can go back to the hotel if you want to."

"Then that's what I'll do, detective. Good night."

He nodded at them and left the building. It took him half an hour to get to the hotel, and when he arrived he saw a huge crowd surrounding the hotel.

"What the-"

He trotted towards the nearest pony and tapped a hoof on his shoulder.

"Excuse me, can you tell me what's going on?"

The yellow earth pony stallion turned around.

"I believe I heard that some ponies got kidnapped during the blackout. The Guard has closed everything off, so you can't get to your room. If that's what you're here for."

Sandova blinked. A kidnapping, in Equestria? Something was definitely wrong here. He moved through the crowd until he was stopped by a Guard on duty.

"I'm sorry sir, nopony goes in or out. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"I understand, but have you seen my friends? Seven mares, three Unicorns, two earth ponies and two pegasi? Most of us were staying in this hotel, they should've been here during the blackout."

The guard looked a bit surprised.

"Are you perhaps mister Sandova Mirell?"

"Yes, that's me. Is there something wrong?"

The Guard said nothing, but motioned for Sandova to follow him. Sandova did so, getting more confused at the minute. The Guard took him inside and led him towards a snow white unicorn.

"Detective, I have somepony here who claims to be mister Sandova Mirell."

The unicorn nodded at the guard.

"Thanks Plate, I'll take it from here.

Plate nodded and left, leaving Sandova and the detective alone. Sandova arched an eyebrow at him.

"So, what am I suspected of this time?"

The detective blinked in confusion.

"Suspected? No, I asked for you because you know the victims, or so I gathered. You checked in along with six mares, did you not?"

Sandova's eyes widened in realization.

"Godsdamnit! You're telling me that my friends were the ones to be kidnapped? What is wrong with this city?"

"Please calm down sir, shouting won't help anypony. My name is Crystal Clear, and I am the detective in charge of this investigation. So, what was the last time you saw your friends?"

Sandova took a deep breath to calm down. Crystal Clear was right, now was not the time to get angry.

"I waved them off at the museum. I was going to the Guard HQ and they went to the hotel."

The detective nodded, writing everything Sandova said down on a small notebook.

"I see. What was your business at the Guard HQ, if I may ask?"

"I am helping with the case of those three colts that were discovered yesterday. It involved necromancy and they needed somepony with experience on that subject. I have a question for you as well, detective. Are you aware that the abducted ponies are the Elements of Harmony?"

The detective nodded.

"We are aware of that fact, yes. That is why we need to handle this with utmost care, we wouldn't want to cause a panic amongst the populace."

There was suddenly a bright flash, and when they recovered their eyesight they saw princess Celestia standing before them. Most ponies bowed before her, even Sandova felt the urge to kneel. Before he could the deity raised her hoof.

"Rise, my little ponies. There is no need for such things now, not when we have greater concerns."

"Of course, princess. What have you heard?"

"I have been told that the Elements of Harmony have been kidnapped, along with a mare called Trixie Lulamoon."

The detective nodded.

"That is indeed the situation, although we did not know the name of the seventh mare. They have been taken during the sudden blackout, but whoever did this left no traces. Several guests an personnel have been rendered unconscious, and nopony saw any of the perpetrators."

Celestia nodded, then turned towards Sandova.

"Have you anything to add, Sandova?"

He shook his head.

"I have not, your highness. I am just as surprised as you are. Who would benefit most from abducting them?"

"I believe that would be Discord, if he were to be freed again. The Elements of Harmony, the artifacts I mean, are the only thing powerful enough to seal him in stone again. But Discord is under close supervision in Canterlot, there is no way for him to get free. I think this might be a new foe, and that concerns me even more."

The alicorn surveyed the lobby briefly before turning to the detective again.

"We need to search the city. It is of utmost importance that they are found as quickly as possible."

Crystal Clear bowed.

"Of course, we will do our best."

"And I will help, of course."

Both the princess and the detective looked at Sandova, who looked beck with determined expression.

"My first friends in a long time are abducted, there is no way that I will sit this one out. Which reminds me, princess. Is it okay if I do this in my regular form? I think my real body is a lot better suited for combat than this one."

Celestia pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'm afraid not, Sandova. You would startle the ponies around here too much, not to mention the fact that our foe would see you coming immediately. You can go like this, but please refrain from using too much necromancy. I would rather not have you introduce too much of that dreadful magic to Equestria, am I clear?"

Sandova narrowed his eyes

"And what if I need to defend myself? I would rather risk introducing more necromancy to Equastria than risk the life of me and my friends. Besides, there is already another necromancer out there, killing ponies. Right now, I am the least of your worries."

Celestia's eyes widened at the news.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, you can talk to detective Hard Facts for details. But I think we have more pressing matters, don't we?"

Celestia frowned at Sandova, but nodded her head.

"We will continue this conversation later. I expect you to be discreet, though. Detective, you will be in charge. Mister Mirell is a specialist in necromancy, and has seen his fair share of combat. I trust that you two will get along."

The alicorn then disappeared in a bright flash, leaving Sandova and Crystal Clear looking at each other.

"What did you mean with 'real body'?"

"I meant that this isn't my real body, what else? Are we going to question each other all night or are we going to find the Elements?"

Crystal Clear frowned, but let the matter rest.

"Very well, we could try a tracking spell. We need some personal items from the victims, but I doubt that it will work. The ones that did this were professionals, they have undoubtedly taken tracking spells into account. But it's always worth a shot."

"Does this happen often?"

The detective shook his head.

"No, of course not! Manehatten is a very peaceful city, crimes like this are unheard of."

Sandova frowned, something was off.

"Then how do you know that it was a group of professionals that did this? For all we know it's just a group of very stupid ponies that want to hold them for ransom or something."

Crystal Clear shrugged and started moving towards the elevators.

"Well, the entire thing went so fast that nopony saw anything. Anypony that could have seen the perpetrators were taken out before they saw anything. A group of desperate ponies wouldn't be this efficient, would they?"

"I guess you're right. So this was done by a team of ponies who have done such things before. I can only think of organized criminals, and I know of but one pony that could be responsible for that."

Crystal Clear froze, his hoof hovering in front of the elevator panel. He looked at Sandova with raised eyebrows.

"Really? I thought you had just arrived in Manehattan?"

"I'm helping in an investigation here, and there I heard that the underworld here is under control of a unicorn called Abyss."

The elevator doors closed, and Sandova looked at the panel.

"Uhm, Crystal. We were staying at the fourth floor, you pressed the button for the roof garden."

"I know, I wanted to take a look at the possible routes the perps might have taken before we go gather the stuff we need. Might give us an idea how they managed to take seven ponies with them without anypony noticing. Anyway, you think that Abyss is behind the kidnapping?"

Sandova was still looking at the panel. He blinked and looked at Crystal Clear again.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. If he's the one that controls the organized crime around here, wouldn't it make sense that he at least knows something about this?"

The detective thought about this, then sighed.

"You have a point, but it's practically impossible to get to him. He knows our laws perfectly, and we have never been able to catch him on anything."

The elevator had arrived at the roof and the two stepped out. The roof was filled with plants of all kinds, and it looked like it would be difficult to get a view of the surrounding city.

"Heh, you know what Crystal. It doesn't matter if he knows how to keep an investigation out. If we tell Celestia of our suspicions we can probably still get in. I mean, who's gonna refuse her?"

Sandova kept walking towards the edge until he noticed that Crystal Clear wasn't following him anymore. Sandova turned around, a small smile forming on his lips. Crystal Clear stood a few paces behind him, a sneer contorting his features.

"You know Sandova, you're a really smart guy, too smart even. A shame, I hoped that it wouldn't have to come to this."

Sandova's eyes widened.

"You're working for Abyss!"

Crystal Clear lowered his head, his horn glowing.

"Very clever, a shame you won't be able to tell anypony about your discovery. I'm afraid I couldn't stop you, driven mad from grief about your friends, from jumping off this building. Goodbye Sandova."

Sandova was lifted in the air, and could only watch as he was slowly drifting towards the edge of the roof.

Author's Note

My friends, the rollear coaster that is this story has finally stopped climbing. Shit's about to go DOWN. Enjoy.
And yes, I did just finish three chapters from scratch in just two days. I discovered that writing action scenes is just as exciting as reading them.

Hehe, I might even finish chapter 15 tomorrow.

Sandova out