Darkness and Light, Into the Chaos.

It was two years after I struck out on my own, away from mother and maybe one before my aunt returned from her moon prison. I had established an effective office building near the edge of Canterlot, and I had gotten my official first case. Black Market walked in and looked around as if nervous. He told me his name, and that his sister had left in the middle of the night. "I just want you to make sure she's safe. She was always calculating, but this was rather rash for her."

I told him I would accept the case, and asked where he thought she would go. "You should try Ponyville first. That's where we lived until three years ago and she always wanted to go back." after a few more routine questions, and a picture of his sister, I excused him and left the office for the station. Okay, so I lied a little when I said Black Market wasn't how we met, because I had three things in my mind. 1) a destination, 2) a face, and 3) my target's name, Hired Knife. I thought it was an odd name, but no more odd than my own persona.

When I got off the train, I went directly to Sugarcube Corner for lunch. The pink pony who served me that day was rather… energetic. She did come in handy though when she introduced herself as Pinkie Pie and that she knew everypony in town. "Even the newer arrivals, but I usually throw a welcome party. I'm actually planning a welcome party for a new unicorn, think you can come?"

"Maybe, but if you know everypony, do you know one by the name of Hired Knife?" Pinkie perked up at my question and said that was who she was throwing the party for. "In that case, I'll definitely be in attendance." I said with a smirk. This first case was going to be an easy one, it seemed. Oh, if only I had known.

I came to the party at dusk, and everypony in town seemed to be there. I asked about Hired Knife for about a half-hour before I took a break and made for the punch bowl. I heard a pony pour their own drink and sigh. "Well, this is for sure the perfect party."

I instantly hissed, then looked at my hooves and replied, "Sorry, but I hate perfection. If something is perfect, you can't make improvements."

The pony beside me laughed. "Too true, too true." she agreed. "So, what's your name?" I told her and she smirked. "Nice to meet you, I'm Hired Knife."

I whipped around to look at the pony I had been speaking to and found she was indeed the one I was looking for, down to her joking grin. "So, I guess this means my job is done." I muttered, but she heard me.

"Job? Did my brother send you?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes, but only to check on you." I replied quickly. She seemed to relax at that and the slightly joking composure came back. "So, what is it you do? You know your brother's going to ask me."

"Yeah, he would ask." Hired shrugged sipping her punch. "Well, just tell him that it's the same job, just a different location." We talked about each other for a while, as it was only fair she knew about me. The next day, I packed for the station, figuring my job was done.

If only I was so lucky.

I was waiting at the station when I heard somepony scream. I darted to the source and found a dead body with its throat slit, and instantly checked the pulse. "Call the police, this mare is dead." I instructed nopony in particular. Cuffs arrived a few minutes later and I told her everything I had found out about the pony. He was a stallion tourist who worked in Manehattan. Figuring I had no more help to supply, and no Mantra to use, I headed home and informed Black of the situation.

The next day, I got a letter from Cuffs to come into the station at my earliest convenience. I hopped the next train back and arrived at the police station not five minutes after I got off the train. I asked for Cuffs, and we met in the interview room just a few seconds after. "What can I do for you, detective?" I asked.

"You can tell me what you were doing between six and seven last night." Cuffs replied coldly.

In her statement, I could deduce three things. 1) They determined time of death, 2) They have no suspects and 3) they're going after me because I found the body. "I was at a welcome party on the job. I found her and made my exit when everything was taken care of." I replied.

"Anyone who can back that up?"

"Hired, she was the one I was cleaning with. Oh, and Pinkie Pie could vouch for me." I replied as a thought occurred to me. "Anything else?" I asked sweetly. Cuffs huffed and let me go. I made a beeline for the house of Hired Knife and found it empty. I'm going to have to ask around to find her. I thought. I began my search at the neighbor's houses, but came up with nothing so I went for Sugarcube Corner to speak to Pinkie.

Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to it. That pony was out of control and belonged in an asylum. When I came in, though, I found Hired seated at a table. "Mind if I join you?" I asked, coming up next to her.

"What, you stalking me now?" she asked with a teasing smirk, gesturing to a seat.

"No, I prefer to think of it as 'obsessively shadowing.'" I replied, causing her to laugh. "I came to warn you the cops are probably going to show up asking about you so unless you have something to hide, you might want to answer me so I can help."

"Why would you want to help me?" Hired asked. Good question; Why did I want to help? I barely knew this mare, and for all I know she was the killer.

"Call it curiosity. I'm curious about the mare I was employed to track down." I decided. Hired shrugged.

"Alright, so what's the plan?" she asked.

I filled her in on the case, then, "Where did you disappear to around six last night?" was the first thing out of my mouth.

"You supposed to help me or arrest me?" Hired teased. Even back then she was infuriating.

"That depends on where you were." I deadpanned. She seemed to somber up after that comment and replied she had been out getting some air. "Did you go anywhere near the station?"

"No, the guy had his throat slit, right?" She asked. I nodded. "Weird," she muttered where she thought I couldn't hear her, "Who the Tartarus used my MO?"

"What do you mean, MO?" I asked, startling her.

"No-nothing! We should look into who this guy knew. Did you get a name?" I nodded suspiciously and we set off to find the bouncy pink party pony.

...

Cuffs intercepted us on our search, asking why I had a suspect with me. "We're investigating. I fully intend to cooperate with the Ponyville PD, but I don't like things left in the air."

"Forget it, kid. We have this investigation in the bag. Go back to your library." My eyes burned with anger at that comment.

"Please, you have no leads, no suspects besides the two of us, and no idea what you're doing. I have an alibi, and we need to find Pinkie to ask her about the victim. Good day, detective." I snapped, beginning to move around the stubborn pony, only to feel hooves grab me.

"Not so fast, I'm bringing you in for obstruction of justice." Cuffs replied with an evil grin. Sadistic might be more accurate, though.

"Nice grip, let me show you mine." I laughed, knocking her aside like a rag doll. "You are nothing compared to me. I'm going, and you can't stop me. Let's go, Hired." the mare followed me while Cuffs lay in a daze.

"I think I might get to like you, detective." Hired laughed as we found our target.

Pinkie Pie was at a booth in the town square buying some sort of hat when she spotted us. "Hey, you're Watchful and Hired, right?" For a moment I was confused, not quite used to my alias yet, then nodded when I remembered that was my name. "What can I do for ya?"

"We were wondering if you knew anything about Business Proposition." I replied, then realized my mistake. Pinkie knew everypony in Ponyville! The victim was from Canterlot! "Actually, I guess you wouldn't would you?"

"Actually, Business was born here in Ponyville, and he was one of my first friends here." Pinkie replied. Thank Faust! She knew him. "Why, investigating his murder?"

"How did you-?"

"Just a hunch." Pinkie giggled as she paid the pony at the booth and put her new hat on. "He was in some serious debt to the wrong ponies. I tried to help him, but he was always the independent sort."

"Those 'wrong ponies' come with names?" Hired asked.

"None that I know, sorry. I do know they run a smuggling ring in Manehattan, but the cops can't seem to lock in on them." Pinkie informed. We thanked her for her time and got out of there before she could ask us about her "Cherrychanga" recipe.

"So, the victim was in debt to a smuggler's band." I muttered.

"Yeah, and if I'm right about which one, they would do something like this." Hired replied.

"What do you mean?"

"These ponies Pinkie was talking about are a band called the Night Walkers. They don't just smuggle drugs and weapons into the country."

"They smuggle creatures." I guessed dryly. I hated these ponies already. "And they'd be willing to kill?"

"To keep their operation untouchable? Tartarus yeah." Hired replied, just before we had bags slipped over our heads.

...

I was mentally cursing myself for getting taken so easily as we were stuffed into a carriage. I calmed down and began to think. These ponies were probably here to make sure we found out nothing about the murder. I could tell by the way the carriage bumped we were heading at a steady trot so as not to attract attention. They were probably taking us somewhere to get rid of us. I thought of some spells that could make that difficult. I whispered my plan to Hired, who was pressed against me in the trunk compartment.

I could hear her horn light as her voice came in my head. I doubt that will work. There are two unicorns in this carriage and an earth pony outside with a pegasus driving.

Well what do you suggest? We need at least one of them alive. I snapped in reply.

I suggest you stay quiet and let me think for a moment. I've got- the connection was cut as a dispel was cast. I swore at the rotten luck. I had to get us out of there, but how? While I was pondering this question, the carriage stopped and we were yanked out of the small space.

The bags were removed and I looked into the eyes of an all-black stallion with rope around his legs and an indifferent expression. My gaze didn't waver until I heard a door opening and an all-yellow mare came into view. She looked at us with a sadistic grin and went to the stallion first. "Well, Darkus, we finally have you." she laughed, slapping him hard.

"You don't have jack and you know it." he replied mildly. The mare looked angry at that and charged her horn.

"I'll teach you to talk back to me!" she screamed, blasting a pencil-sized hole in Darkus' chest. She then looked to me and tossed me into him, with Hired close behind. "This is the end for you, I'm afraid! Nopony can find out about us or the crimes we committed!" she laughed, charging her horn again

Dammit. I thought, Now I'll never be able to show the world that I can make it on my own, all because of this bitch.

It was then that I felt the second presence in my mind. I thought at first it was Hired again, but then a male voice asked me, "Do you wish to live?" I was stunned. This was the voice of the dead pony beneath me, but how? "I can sense a strong desire to live. I can grant you the power of the Gods. In return, you will house my spirit. But know this, you will be an outcast, destined for a life of solitude. Nopony will accept you while you possess this power. Will you accept my contract?"

I weighed the pros and cons at lightning speed. A life of solitude? Nopony would accept me? What else is new? With a strong voice, I replied, "Very well, I accept the terms of your contract."

"Then let us begin." Darkus said coldly.

I was back in real time and the mare was about to fire. My left eye was glowing red as I looked her in the eye. "Starburst le Equestria commands you, release us and answer our questions!"

That was the first time I had used the Mantra, the first time I had heard the robotic, "Yes, my lord." and the first time somepony did what I wanted without protest.

"Were you involved in the murder of Business Proposition?" I asked.

"Yes, we hired an assassin to kill him. The first one we contacted refused us, but the second was glad to do it." the mare replied. I'd tell you her name, but quite honestly…. I don't remember!

"Second? You said I was the only one for the job." Hired asked, causing me to whip around to face her. "So, I was an assassin back in my crime days. I don't do that anymore." she defended.

I decided to deal with Hired later as I turned back to the mare. "Why did you kill him?"

"He threatened to talk to the police if we didn't give him more time to pay his debts to us." she replied. So Pinkie was right. "We couldn't afford to do either, so we paid a hundred bits to get him killed to keep quiet."

"You were so worried about being shut down?" Hired asked.

"We couldn't risk exposure." She answered. "If the cops found us, we'd lose our major shipping line. Cuffs and the police arrived as I was about to ask my next question.

"Hooves up, you're all under arrest!" she called, pulling some sort of gun out of her belt.

I turned my glowing eye on her and the others and said, "Arrest only this mare, we have nothing to do with it." As my Mantra took effect, I turned and told the mare, "And cooperate with the police, answer all their questions truthfully."

The mare nodded as Cuffs robotically ordered, "Get the mare, and we're done here." The other ponies did as instructed and soon it was just me and Hired.

"How did you do that, little warlock?" she asked. Looking back, that was when I got stuck with that absurd nickname. "The pony that was killed do something?"

"Pretty much. So, I guess I'll walk you home." I shrugged as I led the way back to town square. "Can I trust you not to reveal my true identity?" I asked after a while.

"Of course. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's keeping a secret." Hired replied humorously. We talked for a few minutes, and were soon in front of her house. "So long, warlock."

On the way to the train station, a mugger appeared from the shadows. "Hand over all your money!" he demanded, levitating a knife into view.

My eye began to glow and I ordered, "Go away, and never mug again." as he nodded and left, I couldn't believe what was happening, the power I had been given. As I stood and looked at these ponies all around me on my walk, I couldn't help smiling. I had the power to bend ponies to my will, I could do anything I wanted to them. "Well then," I trailed off, giving an evil smirk.

Very Code Geass, I know, but it's what I got. Until next time, whenever I get around to making the next case.