CHAPTER 14

I'm back with chapter 14, everypony. Only took me two damned days to get it done. And as I promised, the story continues to pick up. So please read and review. Enjoy, loyal readers.

"What they hay, Drake?!" Dashie exclaimed. "Is that the killer?!"

"Well yeah...but just let me explain..." I began.

"Why would you bring a psycho killer to our room?!" Dash demanded.

"Woah, you're the killer?" Budder asked Shadow, walking up to her cautiously.

"Yeah, I guess..." Shadow replied

"You just gotta trust me and let me explain." I said to Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah, it's a really like...complex story..." Echo added. Dash gave the messenger a 'keep the Hell out of this' look.

"You don't...seem like an evil pony..." My sister said curiously.

"That's 'cause she ain't." I stated, directing that at Dashie as well as Budder.

"She's a killer!" Dash argued.

"Dash..." I started.

"Drake!" She shot back.

"Dashie!" Budder stated, trying to calm her down.

"Drake?" Shadow sighed.

"Shadow..." I said.

"Drake." Dash said seriously.

"ECHO!" The batpony announced, jovially popping in between Dash and I before falling onto the floor.

"Everypony please just shut up and listen." I declared in a commanding tone. My family, Shadow and Echo all turned to me and waited. I let out a sigh. "Dash, I know you're confused by all this, and it's only because you don't know the whole story. I haven't been able to tell you everything, but Shadow here is a good pony, okay? She wouldn't hurt a fly.' I paused a moment. "Unless that fly happened to be a murderer or a gangster or something..." My marefriend gave Shadow a suspicious glance.

"She's not gonna try to kill us then..." Dash asked nervously.

"You know, I'm standing right here. You could just ask me..." Shadow said. She walked up to Dash, who watched the strange unicorn with mistrust.

"Well...are you?" Dash asked. Shadow smiled.

"No...I'd never." She stated. "And you wanna know why?" She added, cocking her head to the side. Please Shadow, don't be a wise-ass right now...

"Why don't you tell me?" Dash shot back, narrowing her eyes.

"What if I said it's because you're a good pony..." Shadow began. "And I don't hurt ponies like you who've suffered. I only KILL those that cause the pain..."

"Dude...you're kinda creepy." Dash said in a low voice.

"I know, right?" Shadow said back.

"Alright...I have to wait until nightfall, and take her to Princess Luna." I replied. "Til then, she's gotta stay here with us. You okay with that, sweetheart?" Rainbow Dash sighed and hung her head.

"Yeah, I guess it's alright..." She replied. "You know I trust ya, Drake." My marefriend gave me a small smile. I nuzzled her affectionately.

"You okay with it, sis?" I asked.

"Yep!" Budder immediately said. "I mean, Shadow is kinda...cool."

"I always thought so too." Shadow grinned. I rolled my eyes.

"Can Echo stay too?" My sister asked.

"Yes." I stated. "In fact, I need her to guard the door." I looked at the bat pony. "Stand watch, and if anypony...especially Celestia or Rusty Shackleford comes calling, just tell them that I'm going over a bunch of papers for the case, and buy me some time. Can you do that?"

"Heck yeah!" Echo exclaimed. "I love working with you. You guys are the awesome sauce!"

"That's one way to put it..." I smiled. "Thanks for your help. I'll talk to Luna about giving you a promotion or something."

"Eh, I kinda like the job I have now. I got lots of off time to hang out and junk." Echo replied.

"Alright, then I'll make sure you get a medal and a fruit basket." I quipped.

"Mangoes?!" Echo asked, her ears perking up.

"All you can eat. Now get to work." I chuckled. Echo took her post outside the door, and I set the stage, laying stacks of files and newspaper clipping all over tables and chairs around the room. We had to kill a day, so Dashie lay on a sofa, reading an adventure novel while I relaxed in a wing-back chair with a cup of coffee and the latest issue of swords and spears monthly. Meanwhile, my sister sat, literally on the edge of her seat, her eyes glued to Shadow. The undead killer finally noticed Budder staring at her.

"Dude, what?!" Shadow asked in annoyance, breaking the silence of the room.

"Nothing...just...uh..." Budder stammered. "Is it...is it true that if you cut somepony's head off, blood like...whoooooossshhhhh." She made a dramatic gesture with her hooves like a geyser erupting.

"SIS!" I scolded. Budder grinned sheepishly and sat back in the chair. A small smirk broke across Shadow's face. She leaned forward and said in a low voice:

"Like a fucking fountain..."

"Shadow!" I chided. "Stop encouraging her!" Shadow flashed me a mischievous grin.

"Lieutenant Drake!" Echo called in a whisper, cracking open the door slightly. "Princess Celestia!"

"Shit!" I gasped. "Um...um...okay...Shadow, you hide in the bedroom closet." I said in a whisper. "Go!" She nodded and ran into the master bedroom, silently closing the door behind her. "Remember...not a word..." I reminded Dash and Budder. They shook their heads as I started making myself look busy. A moment later, the door opened, and Echo marched into the room.

"Her Highness, Princess Celestia requests a moment of your time, Lieutenant Drake." The bat pony announced dutifully. I looked up from the pile of newspapers and police reports in front of me.

"Oh...alright." I said as Celestia stepped in. "Heh. I take it you've come to check on my progress, Your Highness?" I asked in my usual tone. Celestia looked around the room.

"Well from the piles of papers and the guard at your door, I assume you're working more diligently than ever." the solar princess commented. I smiled.

"I wanna get this thing done and over with." I stated. "I kind of miss...normal."

"I understand your meaning." Celestia returned. "You'll be happy to know that agent Shackleford has returned this morning. He wants to meet with you immediately."

"Immediately?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Celestia smiled.

"Oh, you know how he can be." She replied. "He believes he has identified the killer."

"Really?!" I asked, pretending to be shocked.

"Indeed. And if he is correct, that means all you must do now is find her and bring her in."

"Huh. I gotta give Rusty some credit. He's a pretty decent detective when the mood hits him." I grinned. "Oh, Your Highness...what's gonna happen to the killer when we bring her in?" I asked, picking up some papers and pretending to leaf through them.

"No doubt she will be tried for numerous counts of murder, and sentenced to be hung for her crimes." Celestia walked closer. "I know how personally you have taken this case, and what level of sympathy you may feel for the killer...but you know as well as I that the law must be upheld, despite the nature of the victims..."

"I...I know that, Celestia..." I sighed. "And I have done my duties thus far, regardless of my own personal feelings." Okay, not technically a lie.

"I know that, and I am grateful to you for everything you have done." Celestia said with a proud smile. "I am sure you will wrap this case up soon, my loyal detective."

"I will." I stated. "Oh, and you can tell Shackleford that I'll be with him in a few minutes. I have a few more things to take care of here, and I'll be right down to the war room."

"Very well. I look forward to the meeting." The princess nodded. "See you very soon, Drake."

"And you, princess." I returned with a bow of my head. With that, Celestia exited the room, and I leapt up from my chair.

"Damn, that was nerve-wracking..." I muttered. I walked to the bedroom door as Echo walked in, obviously a nervous wreck too. I opened the door and stuck my head in. "Hey Shadow, you can...WAIT!" The teenage killer was standing on the windowsill, preparing to climb out the window. She turned her head and looked at me.

"I'm sorry Drake..." She sighed. "I can't cause you and your family to get in trouble. I...I gotta go."

"Stop!" I exclaimed as she deftly swung herself out of the arched window. I rushed to the opening to stop her, and leaned out to see her walking along the narrow ledge along the palace wall. "Fuck, I'm getting too old for this..." I grumbled before climbing out of the window myself. My back hooves barely had room on the narrow surface as I pressed my upper body against the stone wall and slowly moved toward Shadow.

"Drake...get the Hell out of here!" Shadow ordered. "You're gonna get killed out here!"

"Then get back inside." I shot back.

"No." She stated. "I'm not lettin' you throw your fucking life away trying to save me and shit."

"I...told you..." I argued, trying to inch closer to Shadow. "Not your...decision to...make."

"It has to be." She said coldly. With that, she leaped from the ledge and grabbed a downspout, sliding down five stories to a lower rooftop.

"Luna...fucking...damnit!" I swore. I suddenly felt my right hoof slip off of the three inch shelf of stone, and I was falling. The ground, eight stories down was coming up toward me fast. I closed my eyes, ready to meet my end. I felt a lurch, and all of a sudden felt like my descent had been slowed. Somepony had ahold of my shoulders. I looked up to see a familiar bat pony straining under the weight of both of us, trying her best to stay aloft as we dropped toward the ground.

"Hang on, Lieutenant..." Echo gasped. "This is gonna hurt..." A few seconds later, we both hit the ground harder than what was comfortable. I coughed and sat up. Echo was staggering to her feet, and shook herself off before folding her wings to her sides.

"Dude...what were ya thinkin'?" She asked. "You coulda killed yourself, man."

"I know..." I answered in a whisper.

"What would Budder do without you, sir?" Echo asked in concern. I sighed.

"I know." I said again. "That was really stupid...thanks for the save, by the way." I scoffed. "Damned if you ain't a handy pony to have around."

"Yeah well..." Echo returned before six Royal Guards and Celestia herself came running up.

"Drake!" Celestia cried out. "My loyal Drake, are you hurt?!"

"Ugh...I'm fine, princess..." I said, stretching my legs, which took the brunt of my landing. "Took a spill out that damned window..."

"And it's a miracle that your friend was there to save you." She added, still sounding worried. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'll be alright..." I groaned, putting weight onto each leg to make sure everything was functional.

"DRAKE!" Dash called, galloping up with Budder close behind.

"Bubby, are you okay?!" My sister cried, leaping onto me in a tight hug. "Don't die...don't die Drake!"

"I'm not gonna die." I said to my sister. "Okay, angel?" She squeezed me tighter.

"Youfelloutawindowandyou'regonnadie!" She whined. Yes, even after close to two years, she still got this emotional, and still only toward me.

"No...no..." I assured her, hugging her comfortingly. "Echo caught me. I'm okay, okay?"

"Mmhmm..." Budder squeaked. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm alright." I answered. "And I owe your friend big for savin' my life like that. Heh...she makes a good parachute in a pinch." Budder released me and sniffled. I smiled warmly at my sister, and she seemed to be feeling better. She walked over to Echo and hugged the bat pony close.

"Thank you..." I heard her say in a low voice. "Thank you so much..."

"What happened, Drake?" Dash implored. I walked to a position where Celestia couldn't see my facial expressions.

"I needed some damned air before my meeting, and I leaned out the window in the bedroom a little to decompress. Hell, I guess it's where I haven't been sleepin' much or somethin', but I fell out the damned window! I guess Echo had just stepped in to see if I was ready to go see Shackleford, and she saw me fall. I guess you know the rest..." I flashed her a look to say 'go with it'.

"Geez Drake..." My marefriend sighed, giving me a hug. "Be more careful, okay? You scared me to death..."

"I know..." I sighed. "I'm sorry, sweetheart..."

"Are you well enough to attend the meeting, my loyal detective?" Celestia asked.

"Yes...I think so. Let's get up there before Rusty blows a gasket." I turned to my family. "I'm alright guys. Sorry I scared you...really. I'll be back to our room in a bit, okay?"

…...

I paid little attention at the briefing, except to put in my own two bits about the killer. I did however listen intently to Shackleford's plan to capture Shadow. He had obviously thought this out in depth, and was not leaving much up to chance. As Luna had warned, Rusty had brought with him six five-pony Special Response Teams, heavily armed and well-trained EBI commandos. Each team was to be under the supervision of a seasoned field agent. In addition, Shackleford would be enlisting the help of the Canterlot Police, two of their SWAT teams, each under an EBI agent joining in on the dragnet. To make matters worse, they all had a photograph of Shadow before her death. The likeness was close enough to ensure that if spotted, she would be identified immediately.

"So what do you think, Drake?" Shackleford finally asked. "You're the...tactical expert here. Do you have anything to add?"

"Hm? Nah...nothing on this end..." I replied. "You really got this thing figured out." Rusty smiled proudly. "I take it you're hitting the city tonight then?"

"Of course. We'll start at sundown and search every nook and cranny. Your Highness, can you suspend all rail, stage and airship traffic until tomorrow?"

"It is...quite a hassle, and will be most unpleasant for everypony in the city...but if you believe it necessary, I can issue the order." Celestia stated.

"I'm sorry to have to inconvenience the whole city, but we can't let her escape." Agent Shackleford explained.

"I understand." Celestia nodded. All the while, I was formulating my own plan. Plan is a serious overstatement. Somehow I had to find Shadow before the authorities did, and I had no idea how I was going to do it.

"Will you be joining us?" Shackleford asked. I thought for a moment.

"Yeah...I will." I returned. "And How about a wager? I bet you a ten-bit coin that I find her before you do." I added, putting together a scheme. The EBI agent cocked an eyebrow up.

"Really? You against my entire team?"

"Yep." I smiled. "I'll take...ummm..." I pretended to go over the map of Canterlot carefully. "I'll take the warehouse district down to the train yard. You take the low rent area up to skid row. Deal?"

"Alright, might as well." Rusty shrugged, happy to finally make our rivalry an official bet. "We'll get her one way or the other. I guess a little friendly competition couldn't hurt. Sundown then?"

"Yep." I said again. Why not? If I lost the bet, I failed my mission and my friends. If I won, all I would lose was ten bits and a little bragging rights.

So the final game begins. Who will get to Shadow first? Will Drake fail in his mission? I will try to have the next chapter up by tomorrow. Until then, thanks for reading.