Chapter 14
Inquiries

(Moonlight Shadow)

It took me about thirty minutes to make my way to the 113th precinct station of the Night Watch. I took my time and ordered my thoughts, and glanced over the file that Johnny had given me, by moonlight.

My night vision is beyond exceptionally good. I can see in total darkness. I can do quite a lot with darkness. The night is my friend. But the darkness I'm hunting for tonight is the kind that makes me sick to my stomach. The darkness in other ponies souls will do that.

There's a traitor in the watch. MY Watch. I've always considered the Night Watch as a sort of extended family. Ponies of darkness, living by a code, protecting the weak, and punishing the wicked. We were pure! Pure as the night we lived in. But now that purity has been tainted. No, this will not stand. Not another night, not another hour. There's a rat in this precinct, and I intend to smoke him out. And the best way to smoke out a rat, is with a nice big fire… time to make a good first impression.

The 113th station was situated in one of the better parts of town. As such, it usually didn't have the volume of crimes passing through it's doors that say the 23rd, or the 49th did. In fact, on this particular night, most of the detectives and officers were at their desks, getting caught up on the ever present piles of paperwork that accumulate on all law ponies desks. Thus it came as quite the surprise when both of the main doors were flung open with a bang, and tendrils of utter darkness began to flow into the room.

All eyes turned toward the doorway which no pony, no matter how good their eyesight, could see out of. It was as if a wall of absolute darkness was pressed flat against the door frame. Before any pony could react, two eyes appeared in the darkness. Even without a reference point, it was clear to see that these were not the eyes of a happy pony. No, far from it. It was obvious that these eyes belonged to someone who was very, very, angry.

As several of the braver officers began to rise to their hooves, a piece of the darkness detached itself and trotted into the room. It was darkness absolute, devoid of any feature. It stood there in the shape of a pony, absorbing the stares of all present as easily as it absorbed the light. Then, in the blink of an eye, the darkness resolved itself into an actual pony. A well known actual pony. Any pony in the room that had not been afraid before, instantly became so now.

“Sargent Sable Shade.” The pony said, in a voice that seemed to herald doom to all that heard it.

The desk Sargent nervously trotted up before the newcomer. “Yes ma'am,” he said crisply.

“Do you know who I am Sargent?” The figure asked, still in a dangerous tone of voice.

“Oh sweet Luna, of course I know who you are ma'am!” The Sargent said, a dam of pent up words breaking as he began to babble. “Every pony in the Night Watch knows who you are ma'am. The pony second only to Luna herself, the most elite of the elite, an inspiration to members of the Watch all across the city! I don't suppose I could possibly have an auto-”

“THERE WAS A CRIME COMMITTED!” Moonlight loudly says, cutting off the Sargent's remarks. “A CRIME COMMITTED IN THIS DISTRICT!”

“W-well yes,” the Sargent stammers, “although the neighborhood is reasonably decent, there will still always be ponies who try to flout the authority of the Watch. Ponies wh-”

“THIS CRIME WAS COMMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE WATCH!” Moonlight says, as all the doors and windows seal themselves shut.

The ponies in the precinct begin to look around at each other nervously. Every pony is guilty of something. Filching office supplies, using the badge to get a free doughnut, even a meal, maybe a discount at the store, or brothel. Every pony is guilty of something. And right here, right now, the scariest pony in the city had just sealed them all in a room, and was looking for someone in the Watch.

Moonlight pulls a page from a manila envelope she is carrying. She glances at it briefly before speaking. “Ebon Shard, Shooting Star, and Glitter Mane, I want you in front of me RIGHT NOW!”

Almost instantaneously two ponies, a Pegasus stallion, and a mare, are standing before her.

“Shooting Star!” The stallion says snapping off a smart salute.

“G-Glitter Mane,” the mare says nervously, snapping off a salute of her own.

Moonlight waits a moment longer, before speaking once more. “Sargent,” she says in a quieter voice, that still manages to sound as dangerous, if not more so, than she was before. “I'm not seeing Ebon Shard. Is he off duty perhaps? “She asks sweetly.

“N-no ma'am.” The Sargent replies weakly.

“Ah, then he must be out on patrol, chasing bad guys no doubt. When do you expect him back then?” Moonlight says, her voice tight with barely restrained anger.

“W-well, you see,” the Sargent says fidgeting, he isn't on patrol tonight. T-technically he was assigned desk duty tonight.”

“I see.” Moonlight replies, those two words filled with enough ice to sink a fleet of cruise ships. “Is he perhaps invisible then?” She inquires.

“No ma'am.” The Sargent says in a voice that says he has seen his doom, and knows there is no way to avoid it.

“Indeed. So, if I am to understand you, Ebon Shard, a detective from this precinct, who is, in fact, supposed to BE in this precinct, at this time, is in fact not? Would you be so KIND Sargent, to tell me exactly where he IS then?” Moonlight says as she moves within inches from the Sargent's quivering muzzle.

“I-I-I w-we… we don't exactly k-know where he is… maa'm.” The Sargent forces out. “H-he's been missing for days now. We sent somepony to his apartment, but it was cleaned out. It looks like he just up and left. Quit without notice. N-not a word to anypony.” The Sargent says, perspiring heavily.

“Really.” Moonlight says flatly. “How very interesting. Sargent, I'll be borrowing one of your interrogation rooms, as well as Detectives Mane and Star.”

“Y-yes ma'am, of course ma'am.” The Sargent says, relief creeping into his voice.

“Oh, and you as well of course.” Moonlight says, almost offhoofedly. “Find someone to cover your desk, and meet us there momentarily. And DON'T dawdle. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I will consider unsealing all the doors and windows.”

“Yes ma'am.” The Sargent replies in resignation.

The four ponies make their way into the inner hallway of the precinct station. The three officers trot nervously down the hallway until they come to a door marked interrogation room one. There the three paused and turned to face Agent Shadow.

“Sargent, I would like you in the control room please. I want you to record a complete account of the following interrogation of Detectives Mane and Star.” Shadow says, as she opens the door to the interrogation room.

“Um, excuse me Agent Shadow, but could you explain what all this is about? Are we being charged with some sort of crime?” Detective Star asks pensively.

“That is as yet to be determined Detective Star. As of this moment in time I am merely wanting some questions answered. Honestly. My methods of asking you these questions may seem a bit… unorthodox. But I assure you that they are necessary to ensure that you are telling me the truth. When I have concluded our 'interview', if I am satisfied with what I am told, then I will fill you in on everything. If, on the other hoof I am NOT satisfied… well, let's just say that in that case we may have to move on to a more… intense line of discourse. The choice lies entirely in your hooves detectives.

“Ah, I see.” Star replies clearly more nervous now than ever. “And, um, which of us would you like to ah, 'speak with' first?”

“Oh, no need to keep you separated, please, you may both enter and make yourselves as comfortable as you can. I'll be with you both momentarily.” Shadow says, gesturing for the detectives to enter the room.

She then turns and faces the Sargent.

“Sargent Shade,” she begins, causing him to stiffen up in fear. “Sargent, the reason I asked you to accompany me, is that I am going to be bringing you into this investigation. I am doing this for two reasons. Number one my boss, the Princess, always spoke very highly of you. She hasn't forgotten your service to her before your injury forced you to take a desk assignment. Given your history, I am making a personal judgment call in my assumption that you, of all ponies, could not possibly be involved in the events that have brought me here today. It is a measure of my trust in you that I am extending you this courtesy.”

“Yes ma'am. To my Princess I am loyal to my death. I thank you for your trust in me. I can assure you it is NOT misplaced.” The Sargent says, saluting crisply.

“Thank you Sargent, and at ease. The second reason I am involving you in this investigation is that I want a clear record of the events that transpire here today. Despite the irregularity of my interview, I want no pony to be able to say that the testimony these two ponies give is false. I want your scanners to record that at no point in my interview am I using any form of mind control on those two, and that any answers they may give are entirely their own.”

“Of course Agent Shadow. That is standard operating procedure for all of our interrogations. And rest assured, our instruments are finely tuned and calibrated. They can tell the difference between ponies being 'persuaded' to talk, verses ponies that are being told what to say. And as officers of the watch, they automatically wave their rights in regards to what manner of interrogation techniques are used against them in the course of an internal investigation. So, in essence, you are allowed to use, ah, 'torture', if you feel that it is warranted.” Sargent Shade says worriedly.

“No Sargent. Despite a certain amount of aggression I am feeling at the moment, I have never needed to result to torture to get the truth from any pony.” The Sargent visibly relaxes. “My reputation it seems is a two edged sword. It saddens me to think that ponies consider me to be the stuff of Nightmare Moon.”

“Ah, no insult was intended Agent Shadow. I can assure you that all the members of the Night Watch have nothing but respect for you. We all hold you in the highest regard. It is no exaggeration to say that you have set the standard as to what all other members of the Watch aspire to be.” The Sargent stops, realizing that he sounds more like a fancolt than a hardened veteran.

“Ah Sargent, you make me feel young again. When this is all over I will have to make sure that you get that autograph that you were about to ask for before I so rudely cut you off earlier. Perhaps even a picture.” She says breaking character with a wink.

“Yes, well,”the Sargent stammers, a blush creeping up his neck. “Well, I think we may be able to find a photo of you somewhere around the precinct to sign… a FILE photo,” he adds, realizing his mistake.

“Of course Sargent, of course.” Shadow says, letting him off the hook. “Now if you don't mind though, I'd like to begin that 'chat' with Detectives Star and Mane.”

“Yes Agent Shadow. Allow me five minutes before you begin, and I will have all of the scanners and recording equipment up and running.”

“Thank you Sargent. Five minutes will be just enough time to 'warm them up' as they say.” She says with a nod, before she opens the door and enters the room.

The room Agent Shadow enters is a standard Watch interrogation room. A table sits longwise across the center of the room. A single chair on one side, two in this case on the other, one having been taken from those along the wall. Behind the two detectives is a large one way mirror. On the other side is the control room. Inside the control room Sargent Shade sits behind a complex bank of controls. He quickly switches on several recording devices and magically enhanced scanners. As the machines power up he spares a glance through the mirrored glass. Detectives Mane and Star are looking decidedly nervous. That, in and of itself is no reason to suspect they are guilty of anything. Anypony in that room right now with Agent Shadow would have every right to be scared out of their wits.

Agent Shadow was almost a legend among the Night Watch. Few ponies ever even got to see her. She was Luna's favorite and protege, and if rumors were true, was set to be the next alicorn should such an event ever warrant another one. She was incredibly powerful, as well as being skilled in all forms of combat both mystical and mundane. Luna only ever sent her out on the highest priority missions so for her to be here today something huge must be going on.

“And now I'm right in the middle of it.” Sargent Shade mutters to himself, as the system boots up. “And I was just three weeks away from retirement.”

Moonlight walks into the interrogation room and closes the door. She moves around to the opposite side of the desk from the two detectives and sits down.

“Very well. Detective Shooting Star, and Detective Glitter Mane. You two along with Detective Ebon Shard were assigned to investigate the disappearance of an earth pony mare, a Miss Babs Seed. I understand from this report that Detective Shard was lead detective on this investigation, is that correct?” Moonlight asks, in a very calm and businesslike manner.

“Um, yes, that's correct,” Glitter Mane replies. “So this has to do with the missing pony then?”

Moonlight puts down the notes that she had been reading and leans forward across the table, putting her muzzle mere inches away from Detective Mane's. “In a broad sense Miss Mane.” She says her tone turning dark and hostile. “But more specifically it has to do with a traitor, or traitors to the Night Watch. This in and of itself is enough to incur my ire, but when you add to that the fact that the aforementioned traitors are also responsible for nearly a hundred deaths in the last few days, and I think you could liken my attitude closer to raw FURY.” Moonlight nearly roars, causing both the other ponies to lean back in their seats. “Now I am about to ask you both a series of questions. And make no mistake you WILL provide me with honest answers, and when I am finished you had best pray to Luna, Celestia, or any other power you believe in that I LIKE what I hear. Otherwise there wont be enough of you left to put in my morning coffee, which is fine by me, because I take mine BLACK.”

As Moonlight utters this final word, tendrils of inky darkness begin to seep from her mane and tail. As they begin to spread across the floor they begin to flow from her faster and faster. As the two horrified Detectives helplessly look on the blackness begins to rise from the floor, filling the entire room. Within a matter of moments all that can be seen inside of the entire midnight cube, are two eyes that shine with the light of the full moon.

Inside the control room Sargent Shade activates a magic filter built into the one way glass. Suddenly he can see the three ponies once more. Or rather he can see Agent Shadow once more. The two Detectives look, for all intents and purposes, like shadows of their former selves. Each one of them seemingly coated in a skin tight covering of darkness. Almost as if they were dipped in tar, or covered in ink.

Inside the room all Mane and Star could see was utter and absolute blackness. Blackness that seems to have form and weight. It felt like being covered in silk, warm living silk. And shining with inner light before them were those eyes. Those intense, disturbing eyes. They looked… hungry.

“Very well detectives, now we shall begin our little… discussion.” A voice floated across the void and arrived at their ears, seemingly from out of nowhere. “I should mention that once encased in my darkness that everything about you is instantly known to me. Every beat of your heart, every drop of perspiration, every little movement of your eyelids, or twitch of your leg. This technique is, in my opinion, the ultimate lie detector. Every little tell of your body is transmitted instantly to me through the darkness. That being said I'd advise you to keep your answers both honest and forthcoming. If not, well, let's just say that if you lie, things could become… unpleasant.” Suddenly the darkness surrounding the two ponies constricts, forcing the air out of their lungs momentarily.

After giving the two a moment for their heart rates to return to normal, Moonlight begins once more.

“Now, on to the matter at hoof. Concerning the night of the Babs Seed investigation. Ebon Shad was the lead detective, am I correct?”

“Yes ma'am,” Shooting Star replies promptly.

“Did anything strike you as… irregular during the investigation? Anything out of the ordinary?” Moonlight prompts.

“Well, thinking about it, not especially. We secured the scene, ran our standard forensic spells, took hair samples from the brush on the victim's nightstand for use in tracking spells. As I recall, the apartment was tidy. No signs of somepony leaving in a hurry, no signs of a struggle. As a matter of fact, the whole investigation was done in record time.” Star replies, beginning to relax.

“Well, I suppose that could be considered unusual.” Detective Mane adds.

“And what do you mean, Miss Mane?” Moonlight asks, focusing her eyes on the mare.

“W-well, all I meant to say was, that things went unusually well that night.” Glitter Mane says, nervous under the scrutiny of those twin glowing orbs. “It's just that Ebon Shard has a reputation around the precinct for being a bit lax. There's been times when he's had accidents at crime scenes. Usually only two Detectives are assigned to investigate, but with Ebon Shard along, it wasn't a big surprise they wanted three. What was surprising was that he was given lead. I guess he must've realized how important that was, because I had never seen him perform his duties so well, or so professionally before. He practically conducted the entire investigation by himself.”

“Indeed. And I assume that he spearheaded the rest of the investigation as well? Checking all of Bab's known friends and associates?” Moonlight asks.

“Of course, Shooting Star replies. “He was lead investigator after all.”

“Yes, of course.” The eyes reply. “And about that, given his history, how exactly do you suppose he became lead investigator? Was that something his chief did to try and boost his morale perhaps?”

“Oh no,” Shooting Star replied. “The chief hated Ebon Shard. He would have booted him out of the department long ago, but apparently Shard had connections.”

“Connections?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Glitter replied. “Rumor has it that Ebon is in good with somepony high up in Luna's cabinet. The two times the chief tried to have him dismissed, word came down from on high to reduce his sentence to a couple of weeks unpaid time off. Rumor also has it that this 'Bab's investigation' was quite a big deal, and that he received the orders to lead the investigation from Luna herself.”

“Oh REALLY!” Moonlight nearly shouts, momentarily losing her composure.

The two ponies feel the darkness around them going cold.

“Well, if nothing ELSE, let me assure you detectives, that Princess Luna, up until this moment, has never even heard of Detective Ebon Shard. And what Luna knows, I know, and vica versa. That means everything we have just discussed she has also been privy to. Now bearing that in mind, I have just a few final questions to ask the two of you. First, and most importantly... ARE EITHER OF YOU TRAITORS TO PRINCESS LUNA!” She yells catching them off guard, and causing the two detectives to shrink back in fear.

“NO!” Shooting Star shouts.

“N-no ma'am, NEVER ma'am.” Glitter Mane adds.

“And have either of you obscured, falsified, or otherwise tampered with evidence, leaked knowledge of a case, or in any way caused facts about this particular case to be learned by anypony not already involved?”

“No ma'am!” both ponies say in unison.

“Good.” Moonlight replies, her voice returning to normal, as the darkness fades from the room. “Sargent, secure those recordings and then join us please.”

“Yes ma'am.” Sargent Shade replies though a microphone.

Moments later the desk Sargent makes his way into the room and takes a seat with the two detectives across from Moonlight.

Moonlight rubs her temples for a moment before beginning once more. “All right you three, I realize that must have been very stressful for you all, but I assure you it was completely necessary. Even with, or including, Shard's absence, it has become glaringly obvious that he is the pony I am looking for. And this is why.”

Moonlight begins to explain what has gone on during the course of her investigation. The other three quickly see where she is going as it becomes obvious that one or more ponies in the investigation had been deliberately doing everything possible to prevent them from finding Bab's.

“With you two in the clear, it HAD to be Shard.” Sargent Shade says says pounding a hoof on the desk. “No other pony had access to the evidence. It's all sealed up in the evidence room, and any pony trying to access it would be noted and logged. And I'm willing to bet that if we check it, no such log will exist. Also, Shard was the one who filled out those reports in the first place. We have no way of knowing if he tampered with any of it. There could be other ponies Bab's knew, other leads. No wonder the tracking spells didn't work on the hair samples that were found. He either switched them out or lied about the results. I NEVER liked that guy.”

During the Sargent's rant, Moonlight had been thinking silently. “Very well, I have come to a decision. As of right now, you three are the only ponies in this precinct I am sure of. I don't have time to check every single pony that works here, although I can assure you that after this is over, every member of the entire watch is going to be screened. But for right now, I have need of your services. Sargent Shade, I realize that field work isn't something you were ever looking forward to again, but I want you to go back to Bab's apartment, as well as the other crime scenes. I know it's a long shot, but I want you to see if you can find anything that the rest of us have missed.”

“Yes ma'am,” Shade says with a barely suppressed sigh.

“Detective's Mane and Star. I want you two to do a thorough investigation on Ebon Shard. By the end of the week I want to know everything there is to know about our missing detective. Friends, associates, marefirends, coltfirends, I don't care what, and if you can manage to clap him in irons and drag him before me, I'll see to it personally that you get a promotion to Luna's personal guard.”

“Yes ma'am!” Star says snapping off a salute.

“Of course ma'am. We'd track down that traitor for free ma'am!” Mane adds in anger.

“Excellent. I will be in touch, and the necessary paperwork will be sent down from the castle shortly. As for myself I plan to follow up on Shard's supposed 'connection' to Luna. Sargent Shade, do you have a copy of the orders placing Ebon Shard in charge of the Babs Seed investigation? I'd also like the letters that kept Shard from being dismissed as well.”

"I'll just need a moment." The Sargent says, as he gets up and makes his way out of the interrogation room and quickly down the hall to the records room. More than one pony raises their head as he passes by, but he doesn't stop to satisfy their curiosity, not with Moonlight Shadow waiting on him. The Sargent trots over to a row of file cabinets, and quickly rummages through them. After a few moments searching he returns with a file bearing Ebon Shard's name, and passes it to Moonlight.

“Interesting.” She says looking over the orders placing Shard in charge of the investigation. “This is definitely the proper form, no sign that it is a forgery. And it does bear the signature of Luna's consigliere. As do these letters recommending that Shard not be dismissed. Hmm, it seems that he will be my first stop when I get to the palace. I'm very curious to know exactly how the name Ebon Shard came to be on these articles. If it is alright with you Sargent, I'd like to take them with me.”

“Of course Agent Shadow. First however I'll need to make a copy to keep for our records and I'd like you to sign a receipt for the originals, also for our records.” The Sargent says pulling out the necessary paperwork.

“Of course Sargent, there has been enough playing fast and loose with the rules as it is.” A few moments later the Sargent returns hoofing Moonlight the originals and placing the copies and her receipt back in the files.

“Thank you Sargent. I won't delay you three any further. I'll stop back by the station for your reports by the end of the week. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get word to my partner about what we have discovered. Good hunting to us all.” And with that Moonlight disappears with a clap of imploding air.

“Did she say partner? When did Moonlight Shadow ever need a partner?” Shooting Star says, rubbing the back of his head, as the three make their way back up to the front desk.

“I have a better question,” Glitter Mane says as the Sargent steps around his desk and sits down with a sigh. “Sargent, Agent Shadow didn't think twice about adding you to the investigation. She never questioned you once. No offense but how is she to know that you aren't in on it with Ebon Shard? Why didn't she have any doubts about your loyalty?”

Now Shooting Star is looking at the Sargent as well. “Uh, sir, she does have a point. Not that I'd ever question Agent Shadow's judgment and all.”

The Sargent shakes his head wearily. “Well youngsters, it looks like it's time for me to unpack my adjectives.” And with that the Sargent opens up the bottom right drawer of his desk and begins pulling out a series of small clamshell boxes, opening each one, he sets them on the desk facing the two detectives.

The two silently read the names on the series of citations and medals arrayed before them. “Medal of Valor- The Changeling Invasion”, “Distinguished Service Award- The Tirek Assault”.

“Certificate of Bravery, Purple Heart, Honorary Wonderbolt… Sweet Luna Sargent, what in Equestria are you doing down here with us?” Detective Mane asks in shocked awe.

“Waiting to retire youngster.” Shade responds crisply. “I devoted my entire life to the service of the Princesses, and I don't regret one day of it. But there comes a point where a pony slows down, a point when he just can't stay on the front lines any more. Rather than having me make a fool out of myself, trying to keep up with ponies half my age, Luna allowed me to work out my final term here. And there's nothing wrong with that. I'm still fighting the good fight in my own way. I only have three weeks left to go, then it's off to retirement in the south seas. Already got myself a boat picked out and everything.

But it seems that I'm needed for just one more case. To be honest, the old blood is starting to stir again. I may not be able to run laps with you kids out on the track, but I reckon when it comes to protecting the princess from some pony traitor, I'm still as good once, as I ever was.” All the while the Sargent had been speaking, he had been pulling other things out of his desk. A big bulky Mark 1 M.I.S.P.P.L., a silver spell bracelet, and an antique magic magnifying glass. He then packs up all his awards back into his desk and steps out from behind it, popping his back and cracking his neck. “Well, what are you two waiting for? We've got a city to save!”

Author's Notes:

And now even more players take the field. What has started out as tic-tac-toe, is rapidly evolving into chess. But how to tell the queens from the pawns?
Next chapter will follow Johnny as he begins his undercover investigation in the undercity.