Dexy

CHAPTER 8

“The Hunt Ends”

The streets of Manehattan

Three years has passed since the murder of Mr. Grandeur and almost two since I got a clue from Gallant. I started to feel disappointed, he must had flee to another city by now. It was my day off, so I decided to take a walk on the city streets to clear my mind.

I passed by the train station, it was crowded, from the distance I could see that a train was about to arrive. I keep walking.
Before I notice it I was in the park so I sat on a bench to rest a little. I raised my head to see the sky. It was a clear day; the weather team is finally doing their job. When I lowered my head I saw from afar a church across the street on the other side of the park. It had a stained glass window with the image of Princess Celestia above the Gate. I respect the Princess Celestia, she´s wise, benevolent and powerful, but treat her as a goddess is exaggerated, I always hated that. Of course I use expressions like “by Celestia” or “in the name of Celestia” but that just to fit in.

I started to feel hungry so I looked around a good place to eat. I found a nice restaurant not far from the church. It was a nice place, even had a band. I saw some ponies chatting, another pony smoking without have anything ordered, an old blue stallion reading the newspaper; Just the usual in a restaurant. I think one of the musicians is blind; yes, definitely blind.

I sat on a small table on the bottom of the restaurant and ordered a veggie burger and an orange juice. While I was eating, suddenly the music stops. I looked around to see what’s going on. I almost choked with the hamburger. Gallant Thorn was stood just right there at the entrance. Everypony was staring him.

It is possible that they knew him? It is possible that they knew what he did? Or just that nopony there has never seen an Alicorn before?

He slowly walked to a spot next to the blue stallion with the newspaper. He looked sick. When he took seat, everything went back to normal, the band played music again.

What a surprise! After three years, why he came back? He thinks that everything was forgotten and that he can come back just like that? Wherever is the case, I can´t let go this opportunity. Once he finishes his meal I will…

He suddenly gallops to the exit.

• “What the….” – I thought – “I must not let him away”

I gallop after him but no without pay the bill to the cashier at the entrance.

• Keep the change. – I said.

• Thanks sir, come back again.

Once outside I look around looking for him. He didn’t get far. He was vomiting in an alley next to the restaurant.

• “He really was sick” – I thought

I pretended I was waiting for a taxi when suddenly:

• Hey Dexy! – It was Dusty; Big Bertha the mare from traffic was with him.

• Dusty? It´s is really you? By Celestia! You are not wearing your jacket!

• Eyup, I´m a free pony now thanks to you, you thought me to be myself. It's good to finally be able to stretch my wings without feeling ashamed.

• Hi Dexy. – Big Bertha greeted me.

• Hi Bertha.

She was really big. Who can possibly thought that Dusty liked big mares? She had a dark brown coat, black mane and robust.

• So you are having a date? – I asked.

• Yeah, This restaurant was recommended to us, it is nice for a casual date.

• It is true, I just eat here.

• Well, see you tomorrow at the station.

• Enjoy your meal.

At the moment they enter the restaurant the music stops again and somepony yells.

• Wow! Two Alicorns in a day! My restaurant is going to be famous!

By the time I realized, Gallant had already crossed the street. I followed him. He arrived at a Hotel not far from the restaurant. The Hotel was big and yellow, with balconies and a lot of windows pointing out in every direction. I saw him from outside that he was talking to the manager, a dark grey stallion. I sued my far-hearing spell to listen.

• Room 38 please. – Gallant said.

• Here your keys, sir

• Thanks.

He climbs up the stairs. I waited for the hotel manager left the hall so I could sneak to the upper floors. Once I found Gallant´s room I check the noises in the room first, I heard snoring so he must be asleep. I used the pick-locking spell to open the door and I sneaked inside.

He was lying on in his bed. This was my chance. I took a syringe form my pocket; I always carry one just in case, I slowly approach the syringe into your neck and when I was about to inject the sedative, at that moment he began to talk in his sleep.

• “sniff” I´m sorry.

He was also crying.

I stopped and store the syringe back in my pocket. I stepped back, put my hoof in my face, I had mixed feelings.

-“I can´t kill him now” – I thought –“Not yet at least, he obviously had some issues, and i need to know first what it was”
I looked around and noticed that his luggage was ready; he planned to leave tomorrow or maybe tonight. This could take some time.

I looked outside the window for a nice spot to teleport; I could see the park from there which is perfect.

“FLASH”

Once there a jet of water hit me in the face.

• WOHA! - A gardener with a hose. – You should warn me when you do that, you scared me!

• Uh, sorry. - I shook it to dry and then I walk away.

I took my cellphone to call the Chief; I had several unused vacation days so I said I was going to take a couple of days off. Then I called Cheryl to ask him to take care of Harrison for me, she was delighted.

I stayed at the park watching the hotel until it was dark; is when I saw Gallant leaving the hotel with his luggage. I follow him like a shadow. We reached the city limits, is when I saw where he was headed to, the old cemetery just outside of town.
Many ponies where still there visiting their beloved late ones, due the time they started to leave the place. Before everypony go away I hid behind a tree. Gallant stops at a particular gravestone, took some flowers from his luggage and puts them on it. He remained there for a while and then left.

I quickly went to check the gravestone before I lose him from sight.
“Here lies Grandeur Bangle”

• “What the…?” I thought “What the meaning of this? Perhaps he regrets what he did?”
  I had a hunch and looked around; the Orange Family Farm could be seen from there at the distance. It was really him who I saw in the newspaper that day.

Gallant was already headed to the exit of the cemetery. I walked fast to avoid losing him but I already have a pretty good idea of where he´s heading to.

The train station was very crowded so I will not look suspicious if I stand behind him in line to buy a ticket. He asked for a ticket to Ponyville so I asked one too. I tried to keep near to him so I could aboard the same wagon as him but we were separated by the crowd. The train started to move so I had no choice that aboard the last wagon.

****************

Ponyville at night

The train arrived late at the Ponyville´s train station. It was empty, cold and dark. I get off the train; I was just at the end of the station. On the other side I could see the silhouettes of some ponies through a cloud of steam produced by the engine of the train. One was flying above, another was jumping around. I think I overhear the voice of a mare complaining about the mess it was her mane. I clearly saw the silhouette of Gallant among them.

Funny, he made some friends; I could learn one thing or two from him. I tried to reach them to see who they were but when I get there the steam had dissipated and they had disappeared.

• “Damn it, I lost him!” – I exclaimed in my mind. – Now what I should do?

This was a small town were usually everypony knows everypony, so I decided to take a walk to see if I could ask to somepony. But it was late night, everypony is in their homes now, it will be hard to found sompony. (I enjoy using that pun word, this can´t be a coincidence).

I started to wandering in the town from the exit of the station I could see the farms outside the town, one of them caught my attention, an apple orchard, a very large one. I remind me of the Orange Farms of Mnehattan, and also the name of Orange Valencia came to my mind. It´s funny, I don´t usually think about the victims of my victims.

I walked for a few more minutes until I passed in front of a Boutique decorated whit a carousel on the top. Some beautiful dresses were exhibited on the windows. That make me remember that Vanity´s body was found wearing a beautiful weeding dress, and also make me remember that it was in a carousel.
- “This is getting weird” – I thought

I keep walking until I reach the town center. It was obviously empty due the time. I looked around, a building caught my attention. A library built inside a big tree. “The Treebrary”, is what was written on the sing.

• Midnigth probably would have liked this place…..Again? What the hell is going on?

I turn around to keep walking, is when I noticed a couple of poster on the wall of the Town Hall. One of them was of the Wonderbolts, somepony had drawn a rainbow colored mane in one of the Wonderbolts. The other poster it was a bout a Pet Adoption Day in a cabin just outside the Everfree Forest, the poster was old so many of the text was illegible. The names of Butternice and Color Flash

It is rare for me to say it but I was getting scared.

• I better go find somepony before I lose my mind. – I said.

I started to gallop around the Town Hall when suddenly I crashed with somepony. I was lying on my back on the ground with my head spinning and blurred vision. When I finally recovered my vision I was surprised by who was in front of me.

• Derpy!?

She was also lying on the ground rubbing her head. When she finally regains her senses she greeted me.

• Oh, hi Mr. Morgan

• What are you doing so late at night?

• Oh, well. – She puts her right hoof behind her head and blushes. - This is embarrassing because, I forgot where I live, again.

• Really? , How´s that even possible?

• I don´t know, it happen to me all the time.

• Too bad, because I was about to ask you from somepony.

• Gallant Thorn?

• How the derp you know that?

• It is easy, I know you do not know anypony here because I've never sent you any correspondence from anypony of Ponyville, but Gallant is practically new in town and I know he´s coming from Manehattan because of the smell of smoke that I perceived from his mane the first time I saw him. That particular essence of smoke only comes from cars and other motor-powered vehicles and no-pony of Ponyville uses any of those so I assumed that he´s from Manehattan because it is city with the highest numbers of cars in relation of the pony population. Per logic he´s the only pony in all Ponyville that you can possible know.

My eyes were wide open, my pupils shrank and my jaw was almost touching the ground. I shook my head to regain composure.

• I think I hit your head harder that I thought. – I said to her.

• No, I´m ok, I hit my head all the time. So do you want me to take you to him?

We started to walk.

• You know where he lives? – I asked her.

• I´m a Mail Mare, I know where everypony lives.

(Are you fucking kidding me?) <<<<<My face, right now

• He lives in the Treebrary with Twilight Sparkle the librarian mare.

• They are married? – I asked.

She chuckles.

• Not that I know. But they are not there right now; I heard that they are throwing a party at the Sugar Cube Corner.

• Sugar Cube Corner? – The picture of the dead body of Tutsi Pop came to my mind.

• Yeah, it is the local bakery and candy shop. You are going to love it, they make the best Cupcakes of all Equeastria but my favorites are the Muffins. Here we are!

Across the street was a building shaped like a gingerbread house with a cupcake with candles on the roof. The lights were on and music can be heard from inside.

• Well I leave you here, I remembered how to get home from here and my daughters should be worried; I´m sure that your friend Gallant will be pleased to introduce you to the rest of the gang because, He´s is your friend isn´t?

• Uh, yeah he is.

• See you later then.

She says goodbye and flies away.

It is my move now.

• “Perhaps it could introduce myself as an investigative reporter that always works well” – I thought.

I was about to cross the street when suddenly Gallant came outside, he looks sicker than ever. He looked at me.

• Gallant, are you alright? – I asked him?

He suddenly fell on his side, gasping for air, trying not to choke on his own vomit. I heard some pony coming out from the building so I decided to hide in a nearby alley behind a trash can.
It is when I saw them. A purple Unicorn with a violet and indigo mane.

• Gallant, what´s wrong? Are you ok?

An orange Earth pony with a blond mane and a cowboy hat.

• Are you all right sugar cube?

A yellow Pegasus with a pink mane.

• Oh my, oh my; What´s happening to him?

A white Unicorn with purple mane.

• Oh darling, we must take you to the hospital!

A fully pink colored Earth pony.

• Dashi! Dashi! You are the fastest one! You take him to the hospital.

A sky blue Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane.

• O my gosh! Oh my gosh! Quickly, tie him to my back!

She flies away and disappears at the distance in a couple of seconds.

• What is this? – I said – What´s the meaning of this? WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS? They are dead! They are all dead!

I walked backwards, my head was dizzy and everything around me was spinning. I started to hear familiar voices on my head.

“Baby, give me more sugar”
“I´m Bling Bling Bits nopony mess with Bling Bling Bits”
“Eeyup, all the Orange family from all over Equestria will be here tomorrow”
“We are sorry” “We won´t do it again”
“Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends”
“Do you worst, Dragon Hunter”
“She loves animals and the animal loves her”
“You little no-pony, if you think you can black mail me you are wrong! I'll kill you like I kill all who stood in my way, or I stop calling me Nasty Rich!”
“Yeah, but she´s a little tomboyish, don´t you think?”
“What kind of freak are you?”
“Excuse me, could you please sing up the visitor´s log?”
“It is nice to finally meet you Mr. Morgan”

The impression must have been great because I fainted. Before completely losing consciousness I heard a voice that never stopped talking.

• He girls, who is he? I don´t know him which is weird because I know everypony in Ponyville which it means that he must be new Do you think he likes cupcakes? Because no we are here we could throw a party for him. I wonder where he lives now. Do you think he lives inside of town or outside of town? I think that……..

****************

Ponyville´s Hospital

I awoke in a hospital bed. I do not know how much time had passed, so I did not know if it was still night or it was night again. There was a curtain next to my bed. From behind of it I could hear the beeps of a vital signs monitor. I don´t even thought about it, I got out of bed and did the curtain aside. He was there; Gallant was available to me again. We were alone. The only thing I have to do is dress up as a nurse, put him on a hospital gurney and get out from the back door without anypony suspecting.

But I haven´t learn anything from him already, I need to know what troubles he had. His medical history may give me a clue. I took it from the front of the bead. I was surprised.

• Cancer! – I exclaimed quietly. “It has sense now” – I thought. – “He knew or at least suspect about his condition, that’s why he consulted a medical book from the Manehattan Library. This never happened before. I don´t know what to do.”

• Leave him. – A familiar voice said.

An aged dark grey Earth pony with short dark mane and wearing a blue denim jacket was stood beside me.

• Harry, long time no see you. – I said to him.

• Has been a while since the last time you needed my advice, son.

• So, do you really think I should let him go?

• The only reason to do what you do, besides keep your dark passenger under control is to prevent that bad ponies hurt
  anymore innocent ponies. He won´t do it again, that’s obvious, and if you kill him the only thing you achieved it is that you will hurt more innocent ponies and you will be equal to all the scum you deal with.

• Is that so? – I began to wonder.

• He made a lot of friends. How do you think they will feel when he disappears? Remember the family of Orange Valencia? They were devastated. You practically made that mistake with Iggy the Dragon, his “mother” was very sad. And look at him; he really regrets what he did.

Gallant was sobbing in his sleep.

• “sniff” I´m sorry

• You are right. He´s no “Guilty” he never was, besides he´s already dead anyway. I can´t kill him, somehow it will be against the code. “sigh” It´s time to me to go….

I looked around but Harry wasn´t there anymore.

-….home.

Before I leave, I checked my medical history just in case I didn’t left any clue behind.

-“Stallion Doe” - HeHe. -“Patient was found passed out on the street. Possible dehydration; Tests were inconclusive.” - Noting to worry about.

I walked outside the room and went direct to the front door of the hospital. I passed by reception. There is was a Nurse there, a white Earth pony with pink mane and a cutie mark of a red cross with four small hearts. She was focused on some paperwork so she didn´t notices me until I reached the door.

• Eh? Excuse me but you can´t leave the hospital yet! – He exclaimed.

• I´m fine. - I said without look at her. – You better take care of the other patient; he needs you more than me.

• But…

She chased me until she got outside the hospital but by then I already disappeared.

****************

Poniville´s Train Station, that night

The train station was cold and empty like the last time. There was no line for the ticket booth which is quite comfortable. The Ticketmaster was a young red stallion with short black mane and wearing a red jacket, a cap of thicket seller and eyeglasses.

• Excuse me, When does the next train to Manhattan? – I asked to the Ticketmaster

• Around midnight sir, in about fifteen minutes.

• Good, give me ticket please.

• Here you are sir, it will be four Bits.

• Thanks.

I took the ticket with my magic and put it in my pocket. I was about to go sit in one of the benches near the railway when I notices the billboard next to the ticket booth. It was all covered with pictures of missing ponies of all types and ages.

• Are all those from Ponyville? – I asked to the Ticketmaster

• Yeah, is worrying, do not you think? Has been going on for some but as it only happens every once in a while not many have noticed it. I've noticed it because I've seen those missing posters accumulate over time. I tell you buddy, there is a dark force moving in town and if nopony does anything about it, it may cause a disaster.

• A disaster? Don´t you think you are exaggerating?

I turned to him but he was already gone, he left his cap on the counter.

• What the..? Where he´s gone?

I looked inside the thicket booth but he was nowhere to found.

• I was dreaming again? – I said at loud.

Dream or not the mysterious red stallion was right, my monster sense was twitching. I still have work to do in Ponyville. But I can´t leave Manehattan just like that; I presume I have to take this case at distance. A hunt ends…and another begins.