private Celestia's Dark Secret

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@,

 

"And clumsy, it seems - you don't just kill somepony and leave a weapon at the scene, unless you want us to find it" Discharge queried, more to himself than anything, as he trotted back in the house and up the stairs, sitting in the same chair as before. "Doesn't add up if y'all ask me." he took a swig from an "old hoofington" whiskey flask in his jacket pocket. 

 

"I agree with you, Discharge." said Erle. "But it is likely that the culprit was in a state of panic after Whirlwind screamed for fear that they will be caught at the scene. Panic makes mistakes, and when mistakes appear, we gain an advantage." He smiled as he said this. They had the murder weapon, now all they had to find was the murderer. "As I was saying earlier, the disappearances and this murder seem to be linked. I am not sure what they are linked to, but now that we have this, I think we have a good lead."

 

Erle got back up from his chair and brought the knife over to his desk. He turned back to the others. "You can talk amongst yourselves if you wish. I will only be a moment in examining this."

[Inactive01 5,299]

"Very good, Sterling. I do not believe these would were made by a griffon, and I agree with Shinx. The weapon is most likely around here somewhere.” He looked carefully into the blackness and noticed a small silver object, which he levitated with his magic. “It is indeed what I thought it was. Interesting…” at that moment, another pony appeared, causing everypony to jump. “Ah, Flying Ace. It is nice to meet you. However, I do not think we were talking very loudly at all, and even if we were, it would be very hard for you to here from the ground either way. You must either have exceptional hearing, or you were listening in from the window.”

 

 

 

“Anyway, whoever the culprit was, they are obviously very cunning. They waited until Whirlwind thought he was safe, right on our very own doorstep, before eliminating him from the equation. Speaking of doorsteps, I think our last guest has arrived.” He trotted back to the house and saw a pony on the doorstep, as he had said. “Hello, Amita. I am Erle Gray. You are the last to arrive, so our whole party has arrived.” He turned to the others. “If you are ready, we shall go upstairs and I shall finish explaining everything so far to you.”

 He looked around for quite some time around the dusty pathway and found a broken spear. Sterling checked the spear and placed it close to the wound location. He noticed a perfect match. "Erle... I believe we have found our weapon. I believe this spear originates not from Ponyville... but from Canterlot." told an inquisitive and intrigued Sterling. Just as he was about to tell Erle the news, he had left with the last guest, probably to explain everything else about the mystery... "Erle, wait up!" shouted Sterling.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Sterling Crimson

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

 He looked around for quite some time around the dusty pathway and found a broken spear. Sterling checked the spear and placed it close to the wound location. He noticed a perfect match. "Erle... I believe we have found our weapon. I believe this spear originates not from Ponyville... but from Canterlot." told an inquisitive and intrigued Sterling. Just as he was about to tell Erle the news, he had left with the last guest, probably to explain everything else about the mystery... "Erle, wait up!" shouted Sterling.

 

Erle frowned as he was examining. "This isn't right," he muttered. "On close examination, I do believe that this weapon is not what killed Whirlwind. The blade is too thick in width, and too short in length. There must have been another..."

 

At that moment Sterling came into the room carrying a broken spear. Erle sprang up from the desk and rushed over to Sterling. Snatching the spear from him with his magic, he looked it over carefully. "Stering, you found it! This is the true murder weapon!" he cried excitedly. "I had my suspicions about that knife; it was the wrong shape to cause such a wound. This however, looks just about the right shape. Thank you, Sterling! We have our lead!"

 

Erle then quickly went back to his chair and began muttering quickly to himself, as if his very fast mind was thinking out loud. "Now, why would a spear from Canterlot be here? A simple guard is unlikely to be the culprit in this murder and two disappearances. No, it would have to be a more brilliant mind. Unless it could be... Yes, it could be... The only way we can find out is by..." He got up from his chair. "Everypony! We have to go to Canterlot! Something is up, and this is no petty crime. I feel the answers may lie there!"

[Demonic Soulz 483]

((Great this continued while I was sleeping and I missed so much))

"The answer may be in Canterlot..why would he think that...unless" Shinx thought for a moment the came to realization but still couldnt belive it herself. "I agree with Erle we need to head to Canterlot" Shinx said

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

"The answer may be in Canterlot..why would he think that...unless" Shinx thought for a moment the came to realization but still couldnt belive it herself. "I agree with Erle we need to head to Canterlot" Shinx said

 

 

"We should board the next train to Canterlot. It is imperative that we start our investigation as soon as possible." Erle was worried. This case appeared deeper than even HE had thought! He smiled. This was certainly going to be a very enjoyable case!

[Midnight Blade 80]

"So there is really something happening, alright I'm in. Alright Canterlot it is. Haven't been there since my studies. by the way, even though that knife isn't the murder weapon, somepony should keep it. It may seem unimportant, but out of experience I know that it may as well be the clue that solves the case."

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

"So there is really something happening, alright I'm in. Alright Canterlot it is. Haven't been there since my studies. by the way, even though that knife isn't the murder weapon, somepony should keep it. It may seem unimportant, but out of experience I know that it may as well be the clue that solves the case."

 

"Yes, we shall keep it here. I do not believe it will be of much use to us though. This knife appears to be totally unrelated to the crime." Erle examined it carefully. "This knife is of oriental design. It was made several hundred years ago, from what I can tell. I remember seeing this in the shop window of the antiques shop in town. This must have been recently bought by somepony, a collector, I can assume. While they value antiques such as this, they seem to be quite unorganised. The scratches on the handle show that the knife was stuffed carelessly into his or her saddlebags, and must have been damaged by other belongings in the bags. I think that explanation will suffice."

 

They then heard a knock at the door. When Erle went to open it, he found a pegasus with glasses and messy black hair. He looked very distressed. "Excuse me, have you seen a small knife lying around? I lost it on my way home. It's very valuable. Have you seen it by any chance?" Erle smiled at him. "Yes, I have. Here you go, sir. You ought to be more careful with something like that! Goodbye!"

 

Erle trotted back upstairs and sat down in his chair again. He put his hooves together and smiled, satisfied by his deductions.

[Demonic Soulz 483]

"There is one thing they forgot though" Shinx thought as she went back out to the body. "I know something else is here..." Shinx said examining the body closely and sees something in one of the alleyways. "Wonder what that could be" Shinx said as she walked over to the item and saw it was the other part of the spear. "The other part of the spear...but why is it over here" Shinx said picking up the part.

[Agent505 661]

(Sorry I was gone guys, im back now) 

 

Discharge took another sip of his whiskey flask as he stood up and walked to the window. Looking out, he shook his head and narrowed his eyes as he peered out into the distance. 'Nothing...perfect' He shook his head again and started tapping his hoof on the ground in thought. "Gonna be honest...i'm not a detective, i'm more of an adventurer. Tracking, puzzles and discovery are my thing, i'll leave the brains to you guys" He spoke mostly to himself, but loud enough for others to hear.

[Inactive01 5,299]

"Yes, we shall keep it here. I do not believe it will be of much use to us though. This knife appears to be totally unrelated to the crime." Erle examined it carefully. "This knife is of oriental design. It was made several hundred years ago, from what I can tell. I remember seeing this in the shop window of the antiques shop in town. This must have been recently bought by somepony, a collector, I can assume. While they value antiques such as this, they seem to be quite unorganised. The scratches on the handle show that the knife was stuffed carelessly into his or her saddlebags, and must have been damaged by other belongings in the bags. I think that explanation will suffice."

 

They then heard a knock at the door. When Erle went to open it, he found a pegasus with glasses and messy black hair. He looked very distressed. "Excuse me, have you seen a small knife lying around? I lost it on my way home. It's very valuable. Have you seen it by any chance?" Erle smiled at him. "Yes, I have. Here you go, sir. You ought to be more careful with something like that! Goodbye!"

 

Erle trotted back upstairs and sat down in his chair again. He put his hooves together and smiled, satisfied by his deductions.

Sterling was wondering about the knife that Erle got from the crime scene. Why would that item be laying around if it was so valuable, and especially if it wasn't the actual murder weapon? Sterling thought carefully about the situation as the moon began to brighten by the windows of Erle's old, humble house in Ponyville.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

(Sorry I was gone guys, im back now) 

 

Discharge took another sip of his whiskey flask as he stood up and walked to the window. Looking out, he shook his head and narrowed his eyes as he peered out into the distance. 'Nothing...perfect' He shook his head again and started tapping his hoof on the ground in thought. "Gonna be honest...i'm not a detective, i'm more of an adventurer. Tracking, puzzles and discovery are my thing, i'll leave the brains to you guys" He spoke mostly to himself, but loud enough for others to hear.

 

Erle smiled. "Good," he said to Discharge. "We will need an adventuring type for this case. You'll be very useful to us, I think. Anyway, I think we should get ready to leave. The morning train to Canterlot will leave soon." He then noticed Shinx return with a broken wooden handle. "Ah, the missing half of the spear, I assume. This is very interesting." He examined it closely. "The wood is strong. Whoever broke it must have been quite strong. I think I shall hold on to this for a while. Thank you, Shinx. Anyway, we had best be going to the station. We need to begin our investigation as soon as possible!" Erle went over to the cupboard and took out his deerstalker hat. He only wore it when he was going on long journeys, usually in the country. "Let's go everypony! The game is afoot!"

[Agent505 661]

Discharge chuckled to himself and looked across the room, seeing there were several ponies between him and the stairs, he figured he'd take the easier way out - through the window. Pushing open the large glass panel, he carefully hopped onto the windowsill "You'd do well to close this behind me" he cautioned as he jumped out, using his wings to only glide him down safely, not actually flapping them at all. 

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

Discharge chuckled to himself and looked across the room, seeing there were several ponies between him and the stairs, he figured he'd take the easier way out - through the window. Pushing open the large glass panel, he carefully hopped onto the windowsill "You'd do well to close this behind me" he cautioned as he jumped out, using his wings to only glide him down safely, not actually flapping them at all. 

 

Erle chuckled at Discharge's unorthodox exit. "Well, that was certainly unusual. I think we should follow him to the station now!" He closed the window carefully, before going back to the table and finishing off the last sip of his tea. "To the train station!"

[Demonic Soulz 483]

"I agree we should get going also" Shinx said as she went back outside. "I could see if anypony saw anypony acting strange or if anything weird is happening" Shinx said as she walked the way the killer went. "Hopefully I can find something" Shinx thought as she looked around.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

"I agree we should get going also" Shinx said as she went back outside. "I could see if anypony saw anypony acting strange or if anything weird is happening" Shinx said as she walked the way the killer went. "Hopefully I can find something" Shinx thought as she looked around.

"Hmm, I don't think that will be much use, I'm afraid that nopony would have been able to see anything. We saw the culprit escaping, and yet could only determine that they could fly! It was too dark to see anything I'm afraid!" Erle turned at the door. "Sterling, are you coming?"

[Demonic Soulz 483]

Shinx didn't bother to say anything as she left the house and headed for her home. "I'll meet you at the train station I need to get something from my home" Shinx said as she continued on to her house which was way out of the path to the train station. Shinx arrived home and went in to grab some stuff she may need.

Edited May 17, 2013 by ~Dishonored Luna~

[Inactive01 5,299]

"Hmm, I don't think that will be much use, I'm afraid that nopony would have been able to see anything. We saw the culprit escaping, and yet could only determine that they could fly! It was too dark to see anything I'm afraid!" Erle turned at the door. "Sterling, are you coming?"

Sterling heard the question that was aimed towards him. "I'm definitely coming! One moment Erle so I can grab my hat!" shouted Sterling as the duo walked out of their home to travel towards the train in the middle of the night. 

 

It was a dark and quiet night at Ponyville's train station. It would normally be bright and gay in the sunlight, the colours emanating from the trains and the wood. During the night however, it was a scary look. All the wood was black in colour, the rails were empty and the wind blew eerily in the air. Sterling noticed the dark sight, amazed by its aura... 'I would never have thought Ponyville to be this dark... ever...'

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

"Well, Sterling, it's been a good while since we've had a case as enthralling as this! However, we should not let our guard down. I'm sure the mastermind behind this plot knows all about us by now. I do hope the others arrive soon, otherwise we may miss our train! By the way, how are you and Evening getting on then? You should really invite her round for tea or the like sometime." He could tell that Sterling was a bit nervous, and wanted to keep his spirits high.

[Demonic Soulz 483]

Shinx headed on to the train station with her jacket on as she saw the dark sky. "Ponyville is dark today...maybe it will rain" Shinx said as she sneezed and continued on her way to the train station. "Hopefully I haven't kept them waiting" Shinx said as she saw the station in the distance

[Inactive01 5,299]

"Well, Sterling, it's been a good while since we've had a case as enthralling as this! However, we should not let our guard down. I'm sure the mastermind behind this plot knows all about us by now. I do hope the others arrive soon, otherwise we may miss our train! By the way, how are you and Evening getting on then? You should really invite her round for tea or the like sometime." He could tell that Sterling was a bit nervous, and wanted to keep his spirits high.

Sterling was deep in thought about the mystery when Erle caught him off guard when he asked about Evening. Sterling began to rant all about Evening and how wonderful she was, clearly starting to miss her... "Evening? Oh... She's great! Oh my little Evie... Our baby filly is growing ever so splendidly! Her tender care for our filly is so amazing, it's practically her own garden! She has an amazing story Erle... you should hear it sometime when we're done this case!" 

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

Sterling was deep in thought about the mystery when Erle caught him off guard when he asked about Evening. Sterling began to rant all about Evening and how wonderful she was, clearly starting to miss her... "Evening? Oh... She's great! Oh my little Evie... Our baby filly is growing ever so splendidly! Her tender care for our filly is so amazing, it's practically her own garden! She has an amazing story Erle... you should hear it sometime when we're done this case!"

 

Erle smiled. "Yes, I'm sure it will be most entertaining!" he replied. "When we finish this case, you should invite them both to dinner! How was it you two met again? I seem to have quite forgotten!" Of course, Erle remembered perfectly well, but he wanted to keep Sterling talking, as it seemed to be distracting him from his worries.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Erle smiled. "Yes, I'm sure it will be most entertaining!" he replied. "When we finish this case, you should invite them both to dinner! How was it you two met again? I seem to have quite forgotten!" Of course, Erle remembered perfectly well, but he wanted to keep Sterling talking, as it seemed to be distracting him from his worries.

Sterling was taken aback to Erle's sudden interest... didn't he tell this story before? Well it didn't hurt to tell it again, especially since he loved to think about Evie...

 

"Well, Evie and I first met on a tropical voyage actually. I was just finishing medical school at Manehattan's finest university and I was in huge need of relaxation. The ship S. S. Seagallop was sunk by an iceberg! Can you believe that?! Well after that, I saw Evening on a hammock injured with some scratches. I took care of her, and we started to fall in love then... We did so much together. Gather herbs, plants, play music, kiss, nuzzle... oh it was such a dream, especially considering how I never really had any mare friends..."

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

Erle smiled as if recollecting. "Ah yes, now I remember! As you know, I don't have time for mares though! Emotions get in the way of the case! No mare ever caught my interest anyway! They were too plain or too simple for my tastes." Everpony who knew Erle well knew that this wasn't the case. A certain mare, Irine Hooftrot, was one of the few ponies ever to outsmart Erle, and for that he highly regarded her. Even he could not completely disguise his feelings all the time!

Edited May 17, 2013 by DJ-BRONI3

[Inactive01 5,299]

Erle smiled as if recollecting. "Ah yes, now I remember! As you know, I didn't have time for mares though! Emotions get in the way of the case! No mare ever caught my interest anyway! They were too plain or too simple for my tastes." Everpony who knew Erle well knew that this wasn't the case. A certain mare, Irine Hooftrot, was one of the few ponies ever to outsmart Erle, and for that he highly regarded her. Even he could not completely disguise his feelings all the time!

Sterling knew Erle was merely trying to cover himself up from the pain he went through with Irine Hooftrot. He knew how amazing she was through the stories he told of her, especially when Erle was feeling depressed in between cases. He dare not mention this fact to the other ponies as the duo waited for the Ponyville train to arrive, knowing that Erle would burn him to a crisp if he ever did...

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

Erle enjoyed recollecting past cases. They reminded him of the thrills he and Sterling had had, getting into exciting mysteries and solving crimes the average pony hadn't a hope of even understanding! "Do you remember Professor James Mareiarty, Sterling?" Erle asked. "A truly brilliant mind, if only he had put it to good use. If he had devoted his work towards society rather than his criminal gang networks, he could truly have made Equestria a better place. He may even have worked alongside us! Who can say for sure now?"