private Midnight in Manehattan RP

[Guest]

@crispy chips

 

Cold Steel was beginning to lose his patience. "Janeri, tell me where the key is or I will tear up HALF OF CANTERLOT TO FIND IT." He yelled the last part with a snarl.

 

@Illiad Easle

 

The letter was delivered to Blueblood safely. No doubt that snobbish moron would fall for it: that greedy bastard wouldn't give up the chance for such power. It would be even easier to steal it back from him.

 

She sighed, munching on an apple she had purchased from a stall. A small, enchanted crystal was the only source of light in the dark cave. Salleria leaned back, looking to the ceiling and seeing hundreds of images of herself staring back at her.

 

'The crystal caverns certainly are beautiful' she commented wistfully.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

After giving his report to the chief of police, the detective was promptly put in charge of a pony hunt for Janeri and Salleria. He was given a team of hoof picked officers, and had access to any resources he needed.

 

'I wonder if any of these other cops are changelings' he thought to himself, 'They definitely know what's going down.'

 

@,

 

"The key is, hnn, in a safe, someplace where you will not find it," Janeri weakly said.

Edited March 2, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@,@@crispy fries,

 

(I guess the crystal caverns are pretty out of the way)

 

 Midnight was proud when Zeb was added to the local police force a few years ago, and now Zeb was proud to have been chosen as part of a full on pony hunt. Going by the name Hard Line, Zeb was disguised as a burly Earth Pony, he made an intimidating cop.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

As the detective inspected his team, he couldn't help but feel like something was off with one particular earth pony officer. He decided to ignore it for now though.

 

"Alright boys, we've got a real important job. We're lookin' for a griffon, goes by the name of Salleria, who is a suspect in the deaths of several officers. We're also lookin' for a Zebra, alias unknown, who is a pony of interest in the case. The whole thing connects back to the Manehattan mafia."

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,

 

Zeb had suspected as much given the commotion back at the hive. He nodded at the news, he was known for his quiet and stone cold demeanor. He had seen this detective around the station before, but couldn't say he know much about him given their differing roles.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"We don't have too much to go on. It all went down at hotel across town, and they could be anywhere at this point. I want every Celestia damned inch of this city's underbelly scrubbed, and I want it done fast. You're the best this city has to offer, so act like it. Any questions?"

[Guest]

In that second, all traces of anger vanished from Steel's features. "So, this is how it shall be." He sighed. "I wished you were more cooperative. Well, I'll leave you be for now. Hopefully, you'll have a change of heart on an empty stomach."

 

He got up, moving to exit the room. He turned to Chain Break. "Tell my boys in Canterlot that I want every inch of the city searched for an unidentified safe. Especially the crystal caverns!"

 

He looked for a reaction in Janeri. "Time is running out~"

[crispy fries 432]

@,

 

After Steel left, time seemed to blur with Janeri's thoughts. He could not tell if minutes or hours, or even days had passed. The one thing that was clear was the biting pain in his stomach that only grew as time went on. At times, he considered caving in and telling Steel where the key was, but he kept reminding himself that more than just him was on the line.

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,

 

Zeb shook his head as he didn't have any questions. He was prepping to search the city for that griffon anyway, but this job gave him the perfect excuse to do so and not look suspicious if he tried to take her down. He hoped they would be moving out soon.

 

Swift was getting tired of watching the skys, but he knew that griffon would be back eventually. 

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Good. If you have to break some lowlife's face or crash some rich asshole's dinner party, so be it. This is the closest we've ever to come to really busting the mafia, so you've got a lot of freedom. Hard Line, Brick Trace, you're with me. The rest of you know your teams."

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,

 

Zeb thought the pairing was odd. Sure he and Brick worked well together, but he was unsure how well they would work with this detective. With a nod he confirmed his assignment to work with the detective. He sure did love playing hero, but beating down criminal hirelings was fun too. 

[Guest]

( you guys start tearing up Steel's mafia while this post occurs. Going to post about steel soon, revealing his location. Do NOT confront him until Salleria has given him the key for reasons you can ask the DM.)

 

Salleria finished her apple, throwing the core far into the darkness. She got up, dusting herself off.

 

'Might as well explore since I'm here...' She mused, walking into the darkness, hanging the crystal on her neck like a necklace. She wandered around for a while, before stumbling upon u a deep hole. Minecart rails spiralled down it. The bottom was shrouded in darkness.

 

She shrugged, flying into the hole, her headpiece scanning for potential hostiles, to which she found none.

 

Meanwhile, her radio crackled with static. A clear message was heard. "Chain Break here. Scour every inch of Canterlot, especially the crystal caverns! The artifact is in a safe and will likely radiate huge magical power in a small radius."

 

She arrived at the bottom. Unsurprisingly, it was mostly a layer of rubble. However, small, previously clear corridors were visible. She crawled through one of them, when she was surprised by a notification on her sensors.

 

*Magical signature detected*

 

Her eyes shot wide open. "Could it be?" She asked herself, not believing her eyes. she crept closer to the end of the tunnel, the sensor readings picking up. She picked away some rubble, revealing an ornate lockbox buried among the rocks. She gingerly picked it up.

 

'Looks like I found my paycheck' she mused.

 

Putting the tip of her weapon into the lock, she angled it upwards before firing, blowing away the lock. She opened the lockbox, revealing a key. The key itself was a small, golden skeleton key with ornate carvings and jewels on the handle.

 

She picked it up, marvelling at it for a small amount of time. She picked up the radio. "Found it."

 

With that, she flew out of the caverns, taking her precious cargo along with her.

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"First place we're hittin' is a bar called the Broken Horseshoe. It's a real notorious scumbag hangout, and chances are, somepony there knows somethin' about either the griffon or the zebra. Let's go boys, moonlight's wastin'."

 

With that, the detective set off.

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@,

 

Swift knew his vigilance would pay off. Despite the low light he managed to see the griffon flying away from the crystal caverns. A slight smile came to his face. Found you. He pulled out his sniper rifle and aimed for the flying griffon's wings, charging the magic bolt. I don't want to kill you. I just want to hurt you. Releasing his breath he fired at the griffon's wings, a golden bolt lancing across the sky. Even if he missed it should scare her. He turned on his radio. "This is Goldie, griffin spotted heading towards the city from the crystal caves." 

 

@@crispy fries,  

 

Zeb followed the detective before his radio crackled with Swift's Message (badum tiss). "Sir, I have a lead on the griffon. We can track her straight to Steel."

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"We have 10-13, repeat, 10-13, shots fired at 5th and Clybourne. Suspect wanted in connection with police shooting, over," was heard from the detective's radio.

 

"Well, sounds like we might have already found our griffon. Easier than I thought," commented the detective.

[Guest]

 

Something was definitely going on in Manehatten. Chaos over the radio. The mafia was slowly loosing territory, cartels and hideouts all over the city getting torn apart.

 

Salleria was on guard. The changeling seemed to be cleansing the city of criminal scum.

 

Maybe they weren't so bad after all.

 

A bolt of magic erupted from the corner of her eye. Shrieking, she did an airelon roll, barely avoiding the bolt as it singed some of her fur.

 

'If that had landed a direct hit...' She shakily mused.

 

Meanwhile, Steel wiped sweat from his brow, clicking a pen nervously. His livelihood was slowly being torn bit to bit by the changelings, and the sudden betrayal of his forces, most of the loyal ones we're already on a train to Canterlot to find a key which Salleria had already found, leaving them stuck on a 3 hour long trip.

 

'Salleria better come with they key. Fast. I don't think I'm going auction it anymore' he muttered darkly.

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,@,

 

Swift smiled as he heard the griffon's panic from his shot. "Everything above your neck is going to be a fine red mist!" He called out at the griffon before quickly collapsing his rifle, stowing his items in his bags, and fleeing back to Hay tower. He didn't want to be on the rooftop when the police bothered to check who had fired.

 

Zeb started moving. "We should hurry or we'll lose her already."

[crispy fries 432]

@@Illiad Easle,

 

"Geez, sounds like our guys are really tearin' the city up," the detective said after listening to some of the radio chatter, "They're busting a whole lot more than just the mafia. Drug cartels, gangs, the general scum of Manehattan. It's nice to be able to legally kick some doors down for once."

 

When the detective showed up at the scene, a vague shape could be seen flying away.

 

"There's our perp!" he said, beginning to chase after the shape.

Edited March 2, 2016 by crispy fries

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,

 

Zeb didn't want to lose the griffon so he gave chase after the detective.

 

Swift flew down and into the changeling hotel, quickly switching back to his default disguise once the doors were closed.

"You seem to be in a hurry," the receptionist said as Swift flew in.

"Yep, if any cops ask, I've been here for the past 12 minutes at the very least." He pushed the collapsed rifle into a drop vent and took a seat to recover. He'd be back out soon to take on the griffon directly for her betrayal.

[Guest]

Deciding that flying overhead left her too exposed, Salleria dropped into a nearby alley. Pretty much a network of alleyways that led to Steel's skyscraper. There, surprisingly, she bumped into Chain Break.

 

'I'm probably being pursued. This is the best course of action' Salleria mused, handing Chain Break the key.

 

"This is what you're looking for. Give it to Steel."

 

Chain Break nodded, and headed off to the Steel tower. ( don't intercept him because plot point )

 

Salleria sighed, choosing to take an aimless walk. She could leave the city. Her payment would be ready to be collected in Canterlot.

 

But this was not an opportunity to be missed.

 

'Where are you. Come on out now.' She muttered under her breath.

[crispy fries 432]

@,

 

As the detective pursued Salleria, he followed her as she swooped down into an alley. 

 

"There's nowhere to run," he said, as he drew his gun and pointed it at Salleria, "Come with us, peacfully. You'll get a lighter sentence if you tell us where the Zebra and Steel are."

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries, (For a moment I thought you were accidentally chasing me.)

 

Zeb didn't have a gun, but rather a fairly intimidating nightstick that was secretly enhanced by his own magical abilities. He stood behind and to the side of the detective so he wouldn't notice him fiddling with his radio. In a changeling radio code he announced his success and location.

 

Swift heard Zeb's radio code and looked to the receptionist who sighed and told him where Zeb was. With a slight smile Swift readied his silenced pistol and took wing to Zeb's location.

[Guest]

Steel nearly had a heart attack when Chain opened the door. His shock instantaneously turned into an almost mad relief when he noticed what was held in Chain's mouth. He snatched it away with his telekinesis.

 

"Yes, YES! THIS IS IT!" He cried, staring madly at key. "Oh... I'll make them all pay..." He muttered, frantically searching his room for something...

 

The artifact itself sat on his desk, a red gemstone with a zebra symbol on top of it.

 

Meanwhile, at Steel's telekinetic touch on the key, something clicked.

 

*Mission successful*

 

Salleria paused. She didn't know who was behind her, but it definitely wasn't the changeling she was waiting for. Nevertheless, Salleria-

 

*Mission successful*

 

Salleria heaved a sigh of relief. The main ordeal was over. Now it was time to get rid of the sins crawling on her back.

 

She waved a claw, not bothering to turn. "Janeri's tied up in a room in the basement of the Steel tower. The passcode for the door's 8008135."

 

She paused.

 

"Steel's office is at the top floor of the same skyscraper. I'll take care of him later." She dismissively said, continuing her walk, her senses heightened.

 

'Where are you, Swift...' She muttered.

[crispy fries 432]

@,

 

The detective wasn't just going to let Salleria go. "Hold on. You'e wanted in connection with a police shooting," he said smugly, keeping his gun pointed at her, "I can't just let you go. And while a lead is helpful, how do I know it's not a trap? You come with us, help us get the Zebra, and I'll just claim you ran off."

[Illiad Easle 3,172]

@@crispy fries,

 

Zeb agreed with the detective's judgement. The griffon was too valuable to let go. Zeb had no intention of letting the griffon go free even if she decided to help them, but he would play along until then.

 

Swift alighted on a nearby rooftop. Out of sight he changed back to the thestral disguise he used earlier he peered down on the exchange from the top of the alley, content to wait and see what happened.