Discord Draconequus was not the sort to be up in the morning, so night it was. While he watched over Flutter, he allowed a peice of his shadow to wander. It was a simple procedure as it fell into the illusion category, but it left him limited in his ability to really move far from the anchored area. If it was too far from the precindt there was a chance it vanish and snap back. Because he was currently such a shadow he gave off a different feeling than usual, aside from tired and snarky. With a bag of cupcakes in muzzle he left the cafe. Hovering the paper bag he would levitate himself a sweet, mint flavoured cupcake. "Sweet sweet decadence." The old officer rumbled.
Moonriser had not been entirely sure what to think about the loss of one.. certain bakery. It wasn't a total loss, he had to think, not when he had various other places like it scattered about.. but the police had been involved. They'd no doubt found whatever had been left in the basement, but with any luck they would think it was all just the baker's. Foolish stallion. He had steered clear of that particular area for a while, letting the excitement die down until he was certain nopony would be watching it anymore. It was in ruins, Moon could see from the street, with police tape across openings and plans for reconstruction. It was tempting to go inside for a peek, but he was risking it as it was. Moon glanced up and down the streets, subtle about it, hoping that any wandering eyes thought he was just another mourner of a lost bakery.
Discord Draconequus shoved his face into the cupcake, the green frosting smearing over his muzzle. As he chewed up the treat he made his way down the streets. He seemed a small ,scruffy and ordinary Unicorn. Hardly worth note. His grey pelt was dirty, his mane and tail cropped so that it seemed a botched job at an attempt to a decent cut. He stopped part way down the street to tilt his head and scratch at it with his hind hoof. Though he seemed to be going down the road to cross to his part of town, the detective was keeping an eye. on things. He laments the loss of the bakery, but further really finds it irritating he missed opportunity because of some chaotic interloper that wasn't him! Quite the paradox.... "Shame..." he spoke aloud. "That place had the best frosting." He would note, starting casual conversation.
Moonriser thought he heard approaching hoofsteps up the street, and it was confirmed that somepony was near when he heard a stallion's voice. His ear quirked in the other's direction before he turned his head, frowning. "Isn't it? I would have liked to learn more about what happened.. Who would want to destroy a bakery of all places?" Moon snorted. He could clearly see it had been an explosion that had done it, but not what had caused it. "Somepony must have been quite angry about the quality of their cake."
Discord Draconequus munched down to the paper of the cupcake and hovered another from the bag. The ruby eyed unicorn gave a shrug. "Sometimes on this side of town it takes only a stale cupcake to anger the wrong crowd." he assured. "Like me... I like a good frosting. A little stale bread is easy enough to fix right? Warm it up some, but you have bad top frosting everything falls apart." He licked the mint frosting off the treat. "I guess you liked this place huh? I only found out about it the day before." He lamented as he walked toward the other.
Moonriser was quiet while the other unicorn talked, his own red eyes studying the smaller stallion with some interest. His nose wrinkled. "I did. 'Tis a shame its gone now. I'll have to find another bakery for my needs.." He released a sigh and turned his body a little towards the approaching unicorn, looking almost bored, if not a little disgruntled- but it was just his default expression. He wondered if the guy knew what happened at all, if he could wheedle that information out.. or if he was just a passersby who knew next to nothing. "It looks like an explosion went off. Where could a pony have gotten such a thing?"
Discord Draconequus had his jaws parted for a bite, a snaggled tooth hovering over the cupcake. "You didn't hear?" He munched down. "Seems it was like a fire -- or something set off the ovens and boosh!" That was the publicly released information anyway. It was what the reporters were told, it was what the public was supposed to take from it, but as usually the official investigators were vague, comments arbitrary. "I was here the night it happened actually." He admitted, shoving his face into the cupcake. Clearly had had a deep affection for the confectionery treats!
Moonriser's eyebrows went up. A fire? He felt a small stirring of anger. It probably was the fault of the baker himself, who should have been running the place. How could he have let it go up in flames, risk his business? The police, if they were clever enough.. No, they couldn't be. They wouldn't be able to trace any of that paraphernalia back to him, if everything had gone up in flames. "That so?" Moon asked with interest. "Sheesh. Did the baker forget what he was doing in there?"
Discord Draconequus rolls his eyes. He had been working that place for months with half of the objects gone -- and he lost the journal, whoops, he was back to square one. But he did one one lead... "Who knows, he may have had a cutie mark for making the best frosting but he was no cavalier of cooking, you know? It isn't hard to turn off the oven at night." The older stallion blinked. "Well... I guess I leave the fridge open sometimes...." He shrugged and licked the paper cup before getting a third cupcake. "The police, the fireponies were here -- even Princess Luna!" He gawked with a muzzle full of frosting.
Moonriser made an amused noise as he snorted. He wondered if that fool was even still alive, but he probably wouldn't want to risk going to ah, 'talk' to the stallion. There was always a chance he was behind bars, anyway, and Moon himself was ever a sneaky creature. He started to nod a little about the baker's forgetfulness and froze when he heard that name. "Princess Luna was here?" One of his forelegs bent up a little as he focused more fully upon the snacking stallion. He'd been caught quite off guard with that name. "Why would the princess concern herself with it?"
Discord Draconequus eating away he would raise his head and ponder. "Well... maybe she liked the cupcakes too? It was pretty confounding her being down these streets. I mean, normally she's off fighting Owlbears or meeting nobles hoof at hoof, right?" At least that was what he 'assumed', not like he was anything but some background pony who had dreams of grandeur. "It had been such a quiet night too...." he would complain.
Moonriser puzzled over it, confused about why the princess would be so interested in one bakery going up in flames. What little he knew about the castle, they had their own kitchen and their own slew of cooks. They could get cupcakes there anytime they requested, and the best, knowing the nobility valued quality. Even the princesses would. "This is true.." Moon replied, a little concerned himself. There was nothing he had to worry about, surely- it was too bad he never made it into the castle to really learn about any of it. "A shame. She does guard the night, so a bakery suddenly going up in flames must have been quite worrying for it to happen so close to home." Moon glanced up towards the towering spirals of the castle. "At least it's all over now, and things have been peaceful since, no?"
Discord Draconequus blinked and looked over. "No way," he stated. "Didn't you hear? The guy apparently had a foal. They're looking to press charges." He looked around before leaning close, that mint frosting strong smelling and just smothered over his muzzle. "They didn't find her body, just ash." he leaned back. "They're lookin' to press charges. I think the castle is up in storm about it cause a safety regulations or some such." Shook his head a bit before levitating out his fourth cupcake. "want one? Better than that smokey tomb , probably."
Moonriser's ears flattened back for a moment and he looked back over at the stallion with a little jerk of his head. "A foal?" This he had no idea of. Well.. he knew the baker had a wife, but not a child. His face darkened. To Strife, it probably looked like concern for the foal, but really the baker was just finding new ways to anger him and he wasn't even present! He didn't care too much for foals, but he wouldn't want to be responsible for one coming to harm either. "Why not? It might help me find a new place to get such confections, if its good." Moon said, accepting the treat.
Discord Draconequus grinned widely. "No problem! Gotta help fellow cupcake lovers right?" And man did Strife have an addition. Shaking out his mane he was feeling the effects of being a shadow.... "Well... I gotta head home. A little tired. Midnight adventures for snacks right? Can't fight the munchines." The old stallion dipped his head and moved to trot off. Once his back was turned his expression soured back to its usual dark gaze. The spirit's shadow was hoping he'd learn something, but nothing was standing out. He'd just cut himself off while he had the chance.
Moonriser balanced the given cupcake on his hoof rather than use his magic, though he was a unicorn, in front of the other. His magical aura was a little too odd and he didn't want any questions. He sniffed idly at the treat while the other made to leave, and he returned the nod. "Of course, I should head home myself before it is too late." Moon answered smoothly, watching the dark male's back for a moment. Once he was gone, he ate the cupcake, found it to his liking and wondered where he could find the baker at this hour. If not jail.. then where?
Plot NPC was still in holding in the station. He hadn't been sent to the castle yet for his arraignment with the royals, but his paperwork was conveniently 'lost', letting the officers continuously interrogate him. Curled up on the provided bed, which was hardly more comfortable than the floor, it only provided him a platform in which to avoid the mice that scurried around looking for scraps of left over food the prisoners couldn't stomach. Old wet hay and sometimes some stale bread. It was kind of ironic, given that he sold stale bread once....
Moonriser mulled things over while he licked away the last of the cupcake's icing from his lips. It had been long enough since the bakery's downfall that he'd probably been released from the hospital. Nothing more than perhaps.. smoke inhalation, a few burns if he was particularly clumsy. He had to be kept by the police by now, so jail it was. Moon made his way there now, knowing that at such a late hour it would be little problem to get in. Either he could disguise himself, or simply teleport straight to the cells! The latter seemed the best idea. Nopony could trace him or find out who had did what he was about to do. Moon maneuvered around the building when he reached it, where he was sure the cells were- sometimes they had small, barred windows. His horn glimmered, and with a flash, he was in.
Plot NPC had been nodding off, but the sudden flash caused the earth pony to jump off the bed. "Wahh!" And stumbling to the ground he went. he shivered and pushed to stand. His fur was a bit dusty, a bruise here or there from the rough treatment, but he was well enough. Shaking himself out his face twisted into a confused frown. "W-who's there?" He walked toward the bars, ears pricking up as the frosty, blue male looked around.
Moonriser found himself in darkness, but the brief flash showed him enough: he was in the wide walkway between the cells, rather than stuck in a wall somewhere. Good. He heard the panicked cry and strode forward down the hall, assured that he wouldn't run into anything. His horn slowly lit up as he walked, in that eerie flame-like aura that cast his face in an off light. "Me, of course." Moon purred. "I heard about what happened. Shame about your
business." He briefly considered casting a spell on the door to keep sound from escaping, but decided against it.. For now, anyway.
Plot NPC folded his ears back as he winced at the sudden light. He charged forward and wrapped his hooves around the bars. "H-hey! It's you!" The stallion was pretty pathetic locked up here, but it was better than being banished to th-- "Hey! You gotta tell them it wasn't my fault, you know?!" He begged in a broken voice. "That ---" Who was it that kept interrogating him? He couldn't remember. His head was feeling a little hazy. "Come on, these cops have it out for me! I didn't blow up the shop! Honest!" He swore.
Moonriser came to a halt in front of the cell while the baker begged for his help. What he said made him falter for a moment and he tilted his head, caught by that little detail. The stallion he had just talked to claimed it was a fire, but it did look like an explosion. "Tell me more. What exactly happened in your bakery? I have heard.. conflicting information, and that you seemed to have had a foal?" An eyebrow quirked up at that. He ought to get some information out of him before he went through with tying up this particular loose end.
Plot NPC stiffened at the mention of the foal, but he could have locked up on any of the accusations. "F-fire -- e-explosion?!" He seemed to be in a panic. He sunk down holding his hooves to his head. "I remember something, somepony came by for a cupcake? Or a baked cake..." Everything was jumbled. "I don't remember." He avoided mentioning the foal. "I was cleaning the main room for closing and.. I don't know just suddenly... there was a funny smell. But you gotta believe me! I didn't tell them nothing!" He jumped up, hooves rattling against the bars.
Moonriser watched the stallion panic and struggle. He was tempted to sit down to rest his legs, but if he needed to get out quickly he didn't want to give in to a bit of comfort. "Easy, easy, I
believe you. I just wanna know what happened first, is all. What did this pony look like, do you know? It must have been a cover just to come in for some cake, if they were your last customer before that tragedy happened." Moon noticed how Blue avoided the question of the foal, but he would get to that soon enough now wouldn't he?
Plot NPC pulled his hooves to his head. "Um.. he wore ... a cloak? Dark cloak." He couldn't see his face though, "Ah! They were a zebra, had to be. Like their legs had stripes.... maybe." It was all fuzzy, like someone put a plug in his memories. "You gotta let me out! They're gunna come back and get the rest out. They go in like knives and scoops man! Scoops! My thoughts, digging through them like they own it! These aren't cops!" He expressed. "The princess! She looked right at him, couldn't see. He's really a monster!" He grabbed the cage and fiercely rattled it. "Lemme out!"
Moonriser took mental note of the information. A cloak, and stripes, possibly zebra. If they blew up the bakery and put everything at risk, he'd have to find them. Soon. He had to do something about it. The unicorn shot a look at the doorway for a moment, frowning and held up a hoof to quiet Blue. "Be quiet, or they'll hear us. I don't want to alert the cops to any of this." Moon looked back at the pony, concerned about this mention of a 'monster.' "You won't have to worry about them digging through your head, ever again, but before I do anything.. what was this about a foal? Dangerous thing, that."
Plot NPC whimpered at the unicorn. "Come on man, I helped you out, you can at least return the favor." His brows furrowed. "W-what do you mean? You'll make the monster go away?" He shook the bars and snorted harshly. "Who cares about the foal! She probably was blasted away too! ALL of them were monsters! She was a monster too! Good riddance!!" He neighed out. "Lemme out! You rat coppers can't keep me in here! That monster will get in your head!!"
Moonriser's face was impassive while the stallion begged for his freedom. He couldn't figure out a single thing with this 'monsters' business that Blue was railing about, but his ire reared its head when Blue began to make an even bigger fuss. His face darkened. "You won't be left in here for long. If you would just
shut up and turn away, I can melt the lock without burning you too." Moon snarled, keeping his voice low- hopefully with that little distraction he could strike him down, and escape quickly. A prisoner dying in his cell without a single mark to his body would raise questions that hopefully nopony could answer. He was sure he could hear hoofsteps already and flicked a spell at the door- hopefully it could hold long enough for him to tie this up.
Plot NPC whimpered and moved away from the bars, ducking his head into his hooves. Thee was a screech behind the door when it wouldn't open. 'Shock.. please.' The male voice called. 'Get away from me Jumper, I swear to Luna if you get in my way...!' The female was a bit irate from being unable to locate Zoe, Jumper was trying to keep her calm but the door was barred. 'We can't lost this prisoner...' Jumper warmed. 'ARE YOU SAYING I LOSE THINGS?!' Shocker's magic slammed against the door, the mare irate. They had come to check on the prisoner but found the door jammed and that set the unicorn off. The lock would easily be cut through, but the Blue Earth pony made move to run toward the small window off in the corner. "Lemme outtt!"
Moonriser gave the door a dark look when he heard the two at the door, struggling to get it open. His spell probably wouldn't last long, especially if there was a chance one of them might be a unicorn. He turned back to Blue, who he need not try shushing anymore now that the police had arrived. He bared his teeth at Blue's back, the fiery glow from his horn intensifying as he prepared his spell. Moon aimed it through the bars and with luck, he could cut him down in one swoop. No marks. Easy kill. He would curse him in one breath, but Moon didn't want to alert him. If he could manage that, he could let the holding cells fall back to complete darkness so that he could make his escape..
Plot NPC made not a sound. The lights flickered out as Shocker's rage peeked and she blasted the door in. Quite proud of herself she pranced in, Jumper scuffling in after her, lifting the door with ease by its knob, with his muzzle, and setting it aside. The evidence, that was this mouth, slumped to the ground. Shocker turned her head, but her magic blast had taken out the lights above. "Hey!" She called out, seeing a figure, but not seeing just who it was. She would force her horn to light up but struggled a bit as the blast took out a good portion of her strength.
Moonriser managed to take his loose end out before the explosion interrupted his focus. In what light there had been, it pleased him to see the loudmouth collapse before he glanced to the door. It had been blasted in and with it too dark to see by, Moon couldn't make out the details of the two that had entered. One of them shouted, but would he really stop to listen? Moon turned away, feeling his way towards the far end of the holding cells, by the wall. Head lowered slightly, he channeled his magic again to teleport back to where he'd stood before he ever came into this place. It would be easy to make a getaway from there~.
Plot NPC was out of the way, but with a rumble heard it seemed that Shocker would throw Jumper over her shoulder. She lost a prisoner.... There was a scramble to get a team into the cell to see if anypony could do anything,.... but it seems that mouth was shut. For good.
Moonriser had successfully teleported out in a flash, just on the other side of the wall. They would probably be busy checking in on the prisoner, which allowed him to hoof it. He kept to the back alleys, knowing that any ponies that might still be up at this hour wouldn't see him fleeing from the station. It was better that way, to not be recognized or caught. With any luck, and he no doubt had luck on his side, Moon would be back at home. Safe, and victorious.
Plot NPC was gone, but this left the station in a fret. Who had gotten in? Was it perhaps the bakery's assailant to finish the job? What did the baker know...?
The End.
