This is the beginning of just a collection of oneshots. My first attempt at a first-person POV, so please be nice.

My name is Watchful Eye, and I'm a detective for anyone who needs me in my homeland of Equestria. What, ponies can't commit crimes? Unicorns like me should just sit inside and study magic? I'll have you know that crime-solving is my special talent. Take the time the first snowflake was stolen: I was the one who caught the scoundrel. Oh, you're interested now? Well then, pull up a chair and I'll tell you about it.

It was a summer night, late into it, in Canterlot, when a messenger mare came from none other than Princess Luna. To think that I had been requested by the princess of the night herself!

Not wanting to keep her waiting, I grabbed my detective kit as well as my trademark red scarf and hurried out the door. On the way, I took note of the mare who had come. She had a ring on her hoof, and some marks around her waist that suggested she was the mother of a family. While I made no mention of this, as it wasn't my business, I stored the knowledge away for possible future reference.

When we arrived at the palace, we were immediately shown to the throne room. I took note of the night-black coat and blue tiara of the alicorn in front of me and quickly determined that I was standing before Princess Luna. I bowed low and she asked me, "Art thou the Detective, Watchful Eye?"

"I am indeed. What can I do for you, Princess?" I replied before rising.

Luna seemed to sigh in relief as she stated, "I require your aid. Something had been stolen that is of great historical and sentimental importance. Follow me."

We left the throne room, went through two halls, and climbed three flights of stairs before coming to a tower room with its door ajar. I quickly looked around and saw the stainglass windows depicting the story of Snowdrop, the blind pegasus filly who created the first snowflake. I also took note of a pedestal in the center of the room that looked as if something had been there not a week ago. No dust had even collected in the center, only the rims.

"As you have no doubt deduced," Luna began, "This room contained the first snowflake, until it was stolen this very night. There is a preservation spell around its urn, so the snowflake is in no danger, but it is worth at least half the royal treasury."

I suppressed a whistle as I turned to my client. "You wish me to find the thief, retrieve the snowflake, and return both to you, I presume?" When the Princess nodded vigorously I laughed and said, "Very well, I shall have it back to you within the week. Yes, six days should be enough to find it." After about a million "Thank yous" from the Princess, I set to work.

I had began to look for anything that could set me on the path to the culprit. Seeing nothing in the room, I moved to the door. Studying the lock, I saw no signs of forced entry, which meant they had stolen the key somehow. I turned to Princess Luna and stated, "I'll need to interview the guards in charge of the keys to the castle."

"Surely you do not think one of our own guards committed this theft." Luna gasped.

"No, I think they were tricked by somepony posing as a guard. I need to know who had the key to this room, and who might have requested it tonight. Until then, I suggest you lock down the castle. The Culprit could still be in the area." I instructed. The Princess gave some orders and the few guards who accompanied us left.

"The keymaster of the castle is an earth pony by the name of Locksmith. He would be the one to speak to." Luna informed me. "He would be at his chambers. Mayfleet, show him the way." she instructed the messenger mare from earlier.

"This way, sir." Mayfleet, who later insisted I call her May, said, walking out the door. She led me down to the ground floor and turned four corners before ending at a simple wooden door. May knocked and an old earth pony with a tan coat and night-blue mane opened. "This gentlecolt wanted to ask you a few questions. Princess Luna has requested you answer them."

"Well, if it's for the princess." the old stallion replied, allowing us into a room with keys lining the walls.

"Surely these keys don't all go to the castle!" I said in awe.

"Most are just copies of each other in case a guard loses one." Locksmith replied. "What can I do for you?"

"Did anypony come requesting a key to the Snowflake Room?" I asked calmly.

"Not that I can remember, let me check the roster." our host took out a book that was at least as thick as my head and began flipping pages. "I log all keys here so I can go back to it if I'm asked such a question." he explained. "Here we go. A guard by the name of Stout Sword."

We thanked the old stallion for his time, and went to speak to Luna. "I know this guard. I'll get him myself." the alicorn princess led us down a few halls before coming to another wooden door, this time blue. When Luna opened it though, we saw a gray coated, black maned pegasus mare tied to her bed, a cloth gagging her. I used my own magic to untie her before Luna asked, "Who did this to you?"

"Some pegasus dressed in black. I was just getting ready for my duties when he snuck in and hit me over the back of the head." Stout replied. I wrote this information down in my pad and asked if she saw anything. "No, but when I came to, I was bound to my bed and I saw my armor was gone. I assume he used my armor to commit some heinous act." she then turned to Luna and bowed. "Princess, I am sorry I failed you."

"Rise, my friend. There was nothing you could have done." Luna replied, pulling the mare to her feet. She then muttered something and hugged the downcast mare. "I charge you with helping Watchful find the Snowflake and return it."

"So long as he's okay with it." Stout said uncertainly.

"It doesn't bother me. Actually might help to have a pony with military training." I shrugged.

"Then this charge, I will carry out to the letter."

"Princess, I feel that the culprit has already evaded your guards and left, as he was able to out stealth a soldier of your personal guard." All three mares looked at me in astonishment. "What?"

"How did you know she was of my personal guard?" Luna inquired.

"I noticed the necklace on the dresser," I explained. "It is worn only by the Princess Personal Guard, and seeing as you knew her personally, I took an educated guess."

"Well, you are correct, and she is one of my best." With a thank-you, the two of us left the castle.

Stout and I had just left the castle when I turned down a side street. "What are you doing?" the guard asked me.

"Relax, I have a friend in this neighborhood who might be able to help." I reassured her. We walked down the street while some thugs eyed my companion. "Back off, boys. She's with me." I warned. The thugs averted their eyes as I opened a Tavern door. "Barkeep, is Black in?" I shouted to the pony at the bar.

"His room, but you're not the first to ask about him tonight, if you catch my drift." Barkeep replied, rolling his eyes.

I sighed and motioned for Stout to follow. We went up the stairs and moved to the back room. I knocked and heard, "Just a second." We waited until we heard, "Come in." We walked in to see an all black stallion and a blue mare at the small table in the center of the room. I turned to the stallion.

"You're not fooling anyone, you realise?" I asked him.

He laughed and stood. "No, I didn't think I would. What can I do for you, Watchful."

I pulled Stout through the door and said, "This is Stout Sword, she and I are investigating a robbery we thought you might be able to help with. Stout, this is Black Market."

Stout gasped. "You're friends with one of the most notorious smugglers in Equestria?" she asked, clearly shocked.

"I prefer discount importer." Black joked. "Let me hear it, I'm not sure I could help you though."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Stout asked.

"Relax," I smirked. "I can count on his discretion." I filled Black in on what had happened and everything I had learned thus far. "What do you think?"

"I can only think of one pony who would steal such an artifact. He calls himself the Street King, but no one knows where he lives or what he looks like." Black informed me.

"That could be an issue." I muttered. "Do you have any idea where I should start looking?" Stout cleared her throat, "Sorry, where we should start looking?" I noticed her smile.

"You could try the train station streets, but this stallion has stayed in shadows for a reason. He's dangerous."

"After what he pulled in her room, so is Stout." I laughed. The two of us left and headed toward the station. "I would like to look around the abandoned areas first. That's where this type like to hide out." I informed my companion.

"Understood. There's a few abandoned warehouses closer to the station." Stout replied, then promptly yawned loudly.

"Still a bit drowsy from being knocked out?" I asked. She only nodded. After what seemed like only a few minutes, but was more like half an hour, we arrived at our first destination. "Just look for anything that seems suspicious. If it bugs you, even in the slightest, call me over." Stout nodded and we entered. I took the left half of the warehouse and found that most of the crates were marked for shipment to Saddle Arabia. I inspected the boxes, but didn't find anything of interest.

I heard a horn charge and I quickly armed my shield spell as a beam hit it from behind me. "Impressive." Came a deep voice. "Get em, boys!"

"Stout, company!" I shouted as three earth ponies came at me. I teleported out of the way and shot two beams before they could recover. The ponies staggered but didn't fall as they charged for me again. I readied another teleport, but found it unnecessary as Stout barreled into the first two. "Glad you could make it to the party." I commented.

"Well, I wasn't going to miss a chance to beat up somepony when I feel like I need to." Stout replied. We stood flank to flank, and the fight was on.

Stout bucked one of the stallions and I shot another before they realised they'd have a run for their money taking on a trained royal guard and a unicorn clearly well studied in attack magic. Two began to duck behind crates. "They're getting away!" Stout shouted, starting to give chase.

I quickly grabbed her tail with my Telekinesis spell. "It's a false retreat. They're trying to separate us." I hissed. Stout calmed down and realised I'm right before she struck the remaining adversary.

"Besides, we only need one to question." Stout commented smugly, seeing her attack had knocked out the unlucky colt. I asked her about her search and she shook her head. "No luck. Wherever the snowflake is, it's not here." Stout informed me, sounding rather defeated.

"Don't lose hope. We'll find it." I replied confidently. I took some nearby rope and tied our little hostage before I thought of something. "The voice was familiar."

"What do you mean?" Stout inquired.

"The voice of the unicorn who tried to shoot me in the back, I've heard it somewhere before. I've heard it recently." I said, more to myself than my companion. "It almost sounded like...who was it?" Pondering that question, the two of us left and continued our search while waiting to interview our unwitting companion. Finding nothing of interest, we returned to the hotel I was staying at.

The pony stirred about ten minutes after we had arrived. "What the- where am I?" he demanded. Seeing us he demanded, "Who the buck are you?"

"Language, there's a lady present." I admonished, only to be punched in my foreleg. "What?" I asked innocently.

"Why did you attack us?" She asked, ignoring me completely.

"The boss said to take out the ponies snooping the warehouses." the stallion replied nervously.

I rolled my eyes and looked straight into his. "Though I usually enjoy it, I have no time to guess if you're lying or not so I'll just take the direct method." My usually black left eye suddenly turned red. "Starburst Le Equestria commands you, answer all our questions truthfully." What? Wasn't expecting a prince to be wandering around as a commoner? Mother didn't agree either, but I don't care what Princess Celestia thinks about me. My Command Mantra took effect and the stallion's eyes were rimmed with red.

"Yes, my lord." he replied robotically.

Stout only gaped at me, so I asked simply, "Who do you work for?"

"The Street King, I don't know his real name though."

"Why not? He's your leader."

"The boss doesn't want someone with some sort of truth spell letting his identity slip out." the stallion replied without missing a beat. Such is the power of the Mantra.

"Do you have any idea what he looks like?" I asked coldly. I hated what my Mantra did to my attitude, but desperate times and all that.

"No, he wears a mask so no one can describe his face." our guest answered.

"Do you remember what he sounded like?" Stout asked, apparently getting over my identity.

"His voice was warped, I couldn't tell anything."

"A voice modulator." I reasoned. "So he has access to some sort of Earth tech." My eye dulled as I said, "I think we've gotten everything we can out of you."

The stallion came out of his trance and I untied him with a dismissal. Stout looked at me. "I won't tell anyone, you have my word as a guard."

I smiled and replied, "Of course not, if I thought you would I'd have already Mantra'd you." With that, we went back to the palace.

Stout and I left for the palace shortly after our "interview." We reported to Luna that the castle still housed the snowflake. "How can you be sure?"

"The stallion we interviewed said Street King had a voice modulator, that implies Earth tech." I explained. "You have two portals to earth. One here and one in the Crystal Empire. I need access to the one here."

"It only opens every thirty moons." Luna objected. For anyone who's confused, that's two and a half years.

"And if my hunch is right, it's open now." I retorted.

"Watch your tongue, little detective." my aunt hissed. I looked her in the eye and called my Mantra.

"Don't make me use this." I pleaded coldly. To say she was shocked would be an understatement as she silently led the way to the second mirror. When the door opened- Mahogany wood, I noticed- the mirror was indeed activated. "I was right. Street King is an insider." I hissed, hating having been duped. "I want a list of every staff member and guard to interview." I demanded. It doesn't make any sense. I thought, Why steal an artifact when the princesses pay top bit for all their staff? The only one who isn't the envy of all paydays is the messengers. I gasped. That was it! The voice modulator, the free reign of the castle, the anonymity of the job going in and out all day and night. It all pointed to a messenger, but which one?

My list was provided and I asked Stout who the messengers were on the list. She looked over it and said with finality, "There's only one. Mayfleet."

"Find her. I want to talk to her first." I demanded. Stout bowed and started to leave. "No more bowing please, it's so annoying." I requested. She nodded and left.

While she was gone, I began searching the castle myself, berating myself the whole time. Stupid! Idiot! Pathetic failure of a detective! I was shouting at myself. Stout found me, and she was out of breath. "What's wrong?" I asked instantly.

"She's gone. Mayfleet left the castle not two minutes after we arrived." Stout reported. I cursed and stalked out the gate. "She lives at 240 West-hoof lane according to her paperwork."

"Fat chance. She probably set up a temporary residence so you could find her when needed. She's got the snowflake and she's gonna head straight to the station, or hit the road on foot." I replied with more venom than even I could have guessed possible. "I'll take station."

"I'll go road." Stout replied, taking off. The chase was on.

I ran full speed towards the train station, determined to catch my culprit. Mayfleet wouldn't get away. Reaching the station, I began searching the crowds for my prey as the train leaving for Ponyville screeched to a halt on the platform. Gotta hurry, if she's here I'll lose her on the train. I thought, lighting my horn for a search spell. The beam shot off toward the train and I began to follow it as quickly as I could, having to teleport a few times.

May turned and saw me, panic filling her eyes. She hefted her rather large pack and tried pushing past a few ponies. I had her, but she was getting away! "Stop that mare!" I shouted, teleporting again. Everyone froze, not sure who was being called out. My plan to perfection. I appeared next to her, but she ducked into the train as the door closed. "DAMMIT!" I shouted, stomping my foreleg. She had evaded me! I teleported to Stout and informed her of what had happened.

"She's headed to Ponyville? That gives us a place to start looking. We can cut her off if we get in contact with Princess Twilight." Stout reasoned. I nodded and asked her to take care of it while I turned back to the station.

"She won't get away. The chase is on." I muttered.

"She hardly seems like the type to just run away. She'll find somewhere to hide." a voice behind me said.

"I don't remember summoning you, Darkus." I hissed without turning around.

"I can come when you're stressed, you know that." The second presence replied evenly. "So, where would she hide there?" Darkus questioned.

"Depends on if she has family there or is meeting the snowflake buyer." I replied. "I'll have to start at the station and see if anyone saw her get off. That train goes to the Crystal Empire afterwards, so she could hide out there too."

"Not this late, the train will wait until morning." Darkus pointed out.

"True. Ponyville is our only option, but where would she hide?" I muttered.

"There are a number of places. A hotel, for example."

"Easily identifiable if somepony came asking for her." I reasoned.

"Perhaps a family member's house?"

"Same issue, if we found out who they even are."

"Some abandoned area in the park, or an alley. There are plenty of those in Ponyville."

"Not since Tirek and Twilight destroyed half the town during their battle."

"Well, what's the one place a servant can get a decent place then?" Darkus' question made me realise where she was hiding.

"Twilight's castle. If she was just 'delivering a package' the princess would easily be fooled." I gasped. "I'll need to tell Stout when I can." I began to turn.

"Might as well wait, I can sense her coming now." Darkus said mildly before withdrawing into whatever oblivion he lived in. Stout appeared and I filled her in.

From there there's really not much to tell. We found Mayfleet in Twilight's guest quarters like Darkus and I predicted, got the snowflake returned, and the thief was arrested. When Luna asked me to name my price for helping, I simply requested a ticket to the Crystal Empire, and off I went into my cousin's domain, and into another case I'll tell you about some other time.