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MLP:FIM/Kamen Rider W: In Search of F: Case 4

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Case 4
Black and W/A Shade of Grey


“What the Tartarus is going on here?!” barked Spitfire, flying down next to Rainbow Shine and Akiko, looking at the injured Griffin.

“Icarus struck again,” said Shou, trotting over and showing the feather the monster dropped. He looked to the Griffin. “You okay?”

The Griffin wheezed a little bit, cradling his ribs, but spread his targeted left wing. He cringed a bit, but nodded. “A bit roughed up, but nothing broken. Thanks for saving my tail feathers,” he explained, giving a small smile.

Shou tipped his hat smoothly. “Just doing my job, I don't like to see anycreature in this city cry.”

Spitfire blinked, then gave a slightly impressed look. “Well, you saved Greyson here from having his wing snapped, so I guess you must have some idea what you're doing.”

“Some idea?!” Shou muttered, giving an annoyed look.

Spitfire helped Greyson up. “Look, I've got my job to do, do you need anything else?”

The black pegasus gave a look to Greyson. “...Just one thing. Greyson's gonna be in the Best Young Flyers competition, right?”

The Wonderbolts captain nodded. “Yeah, just like the others.”

“I thought so...think you can bring me a list of all the ponies and griffs signed up?”

Spitfire nodded. “Yeah, but with all the paperwork this mess is making me do, it might take till tomorrow to find it in the mess,” she gave a sigh, clearly not liking how unprofessional this made her look.

“Believe me, I can sympathize with that,” replied Rainbowshine honestly.

“That's fine, I have some contacts I need to talk to,” was Shou's response. “But let me get some eyes in the sky.”

“BAT!”

Shou inserted a crude looking blue Gaia Memory into his camera and causing it to transform into it's bat mode. “Bat Shot. Keep an eye on things, okay?”

The robot gave several clicks and mechanical sounds, then flew off to scout things out.

Spitfire blinked in confusion. “What is that thing?”

“The Bat Shot. It's what's called a Memory Gadget,” explained the detective. “It's a machine that uses an artificial Gaia Memory to imitate a real bat. I don't know how it works, you'd have to ask my partner. But it'll let me keep an eye on what's going on here.”

“It's legal,” Rainbowshine pointed out. “He's officially authorized to use it..”

Spitfire shrugged, watching the small robot fly around, taking pictures. “I'll take your word for it...Reminds me of something this guy who used magic music to fight monsters I ran into once used...Anyway, I better go. You'd better stop Icarus, got it?”

Shou gave a salute. “Yes madam.”

Rainbowshine looked to Shou as Spitfire departed to get Greyson to the infirmary. “You know, you probably should have asked for that list in the first place.”

“...You love getting your jabs at me, don't you?”

“Only when you deserve it. Do you even have a plan, Shou?”

Shou nodded. “Yeah, tonight I'm gonna go see Storyteller about this Icarus. I think I know somepony else who might be able to give me some insight on this too.”

“Storyteller?” Akiko asked, cocking her head in confusion.

“One of Shou's 'Cloudsdale Irregulars,'” explained Rainbowshine.

“Irregulars?” the young mare asked, cocking her head. “So they're weird?”

Shou facehoofed. “Ugh...no!”

“Well they kinda are, some more than others,” Rainbowshine remarked, giving a roll of her eyes. “But it's just Shou's nickname for his informants”

“Nickname?”

“Yeah, he couldn't just call them informants.”

“Can't you just let me be mysterious?!” asked Shou in annoyance.

“There's being mysterious and there's being annoying, you tend to be the latter.”




Akiko yawned, trotting along a Cloudsdale street, long after Celestia had lowered the sun and raised the moon. “Did we have to go out this late?”

“Yeah, Storyteller is a night owl,” Shou explained, rotating a sore wing until it popped. “If you think you're tired, I wish you knew how I felt right now. And you didn't have to come you know!”

“But I'm the chief, I had to,” Akiko sighed as they came up to a store nestled in an alleyway and looking like it was set up for Nightmare Night several months early, complete with cobwebs and fake skulls strewn about. Her eyes widened as they fell upon the sign above the door. “'The Mare in the Moon?!'” the young mare squeaked in fright.

Shou pat her on the back with a chuckle. “Don't worry, Storyteller just has some scary tastes,” he explained and trotted in, Akiko following closely behind, looking about in slight panic.

Inside they found themselves in a book store. Akiko's eyes fell on the literature lining the shelves. The majority of them were horror novels of all sorts that the titles alone sent chills down her spine, but she did notice some other types of books nestled among the shelves.

She turned, seeing a stained glass window depicting what looked like a red and black bat-like monster fighting against a golden armored stallion with a red cape and a blood red armored one with a black cape, moonlight illuminating the display.

“Interested in the story of the Fangire, little pony?” asked a feminine voice.

Akiko looked up to see a pony hanging upside down from the ceiling. A pony with bat wings, looking back at her with slitted eyes, a smile showing pointed fangs in her jaw.

“Ahh! V-Vampire!” yelled the young pegasus, falling on her flank and requiring a large amount of will power not to wet herself.

The strange pony gave a playful grin. “Now now, dear, I'm not a vampire. Haven't you ever seen a Thestral before?”

Akiko shivered and shook her head. “N-No!”

The pony spread her wings and flapped lightly to let herself land gracefully. Now that she was in the full light, Akiko saw her fur was a navy blue color. A black mane with a lighter blue streak through it hung from her head with a matching tail at her rear. Her Cutie Mark was a black book with a blue willow-wisp imprinted on the cover. Akiko hadn't noticed it, but the bat pony wore thin framed, blue glasses.

“Well now you have,” said the bat pony with a good-natured chuckle.

“W-what is a Thestral?!”

“Depends on who you ask. Personally I think we're a race of our own, but some ponies think we're just nocturnal pegasi,” she replied, giving a smile, though also a little chuckle when Akiko backed up from her fangs. “Are you scared?”

Akiko whimpered and nodded.

“Good, but don't worry; this place is supposed to be scary, and so am I,” the mare's tail wrapped around a bat-shaped lollypop in a dish at the counter and presented it to Akiko. The Thestral smiled again, this time hiding her fangs. “Life's no fun without a good scare. That's my job, but I'm not mean.”

Akiko took the lollypop cautiously with her wings and opened it, sticking it in her mouth. “T-Thanks...”

“You're welcome dear,” said the mare, adjusting her glasses. “And welcome to the Mare in the Moon Book Store. I'm the owner, Ghost Story.”

Akiko blinked. “But I thought your name was Storyteller.”

Ghost Story gave a chuckle. “Oh, you're with Shou. I thought you were just another costumer.”

“Another costumer?” Akiko asked, looking around to see several other ponies currently in the store she'd been too afraid to notice before.

Shou trotted up. “Hello, Storyteller,” he said, tipping his hat with his hoof.

“I thought her name was Ghost Story!” exclaimed Akiko, pressing her hooves to her head as she began to develop a migraine.

“Dear, Storyteller is my alias,” Ghost Story replied simply.

“A what?”

Shou sighed while Ghost Story covered her mouth snickering. “Ugh...an alias! I call her Storyteller to hide her identity!”

“...Why?”

“Because she's an informant and some criminals might try to hurt her for helping me!”

Akiko backpedaled in fear. “That can happen?!”

“Welcome to the world of a hardboiled detective,” said Shou with a serious, intense look.

“Shou's just being melodramatic,” Ghost Story interjected with a chuckle at Akiko trembling, but then putting a hoof on her shoulder when she began looking guilty. “It is for my protection, but it isn't as big a deal as he likes to think it is. This is Equestria after all.”

Akiko growled, smacking the black pegasus with her slipper. “Don't scare me like that!”

The Thestral gave an amused look as Shou growled. “Now, Shou, is this a friendly visit or do you need a story?”

Shou rubbed his head from the slipper slap. “Know any stories about 'Icarus?'”

The mare rubbed a hoof over her chin. “I believe I might, come this way.”

The Thestral trotted over to back of the shop and opened a door, leading the two ponies into a private study. She flew up and began looking through the shelves.

“Let's see...the King of the Castle in Demon Land...the Knights that Fight Horrors...the Lion Headed Ninja...Ah! Here it is, Equestrian Mythology and Folklore,” the Thestral announced, producing a large black book and then hanging upside down by her tail from the rafters, which seemed to be her most comfortable position. “Please take a seat.”

Shou took a seat and motioned for the younger mare to take a seat of her own.

Ghost Story flapped her wings, blowing out several of the candles and casting herself in ominous shadow. “The story of Icarus is a pegasus myth dating back to early days of Equestria, before Celestia's reign. He was an Earth Pony colt who lived with his father, a masterful craftsman named Daedalus. Legend says that Daedalus was captured by King Minos, an evil minotaur king. Minos was a cruel tyrant who forced Daedalus to build a labyrinth that none who did not know the way could escape,” she explained, her voice building tension as she read. “It is said he'd force the ponies to send seven young stallions and seven mares for his son to hunt through the labyrinth, who'd pick them off one by one,” she continued, her voice taking a tone that made Akiko hide behind her chair. “Eventually, a pegasus named Theseus managed to escape the labyrinth after vanquishing Minos' son, with some help from Minos' daughter (who loved him) and Daedalus, prompting the vengeful Minos to trap Daedalus and his son in the labyrinth themselves.

“Daedalus, however, was as good a craftsman as ever, and created for himself and Icarus a pair of wings from feathers and wax. While these worked and allowed them flight, Icarus refused to heed his father's warnings not to fly too close to Celestia's sun and his wings melted in the heat. He fell from high above into the raging oceans and perished.”

The Thestral closed her book and gave a smile. “The myth is generally perceived as a warning against pride. Was that the story you were looking for, Shou?”

Shou nodded, rubbing his chin. “Yeah, I think so, thanks Storyteller. Come on Schoolyard Filly.”

Akiko was too busy trembling to smack him over the head and just got up, shaking off the scary story as best she could. She then looked around the study, a thought occurring to her. “Um...Ghost S-Storyteller?”

“Yes?” Ghost Story asked, putting the book back while still hanging from the ceiling..

“I'm wondering if you might have a certain kind of book.”




“So, what do you think that story has to say about our perp?” asked Rainbowshine the next morning, sitting across from Shou at the agency. The black pegasus looked over a list of competitors that'd been delivered earlier that morning. A second list set next to his hoof, this one listing the victims in  order of the attacks.

“It is a pegasi myth, meaning most likely the perp is either a pegasus or Cloudsdale native,” Shou replied thoughtfully. “An Earth Pony most likely wouldn't know the myth. The Dopant appeared quadrupedal as well, which means it's most likely a pony...The envy part obviously refers to the fact Icarus doesn't have natural wings and his fake ones failed him...But the original myth was mainlly warning about pride, not envy, so the perp might have given away their motivation on accident...Still, could be an Earth Pony with envy of Pegasus flight...”

The wisteria mare nodded. “Yeah, makes sense. Got any suspects?”

Shou closed his eyes and thought. His mind wondered back to a moment. “Yeah. But I'm gonna check out the ponies on this list. Any one of them could be the Dopant,” he explained, adjusting his fedora and trotting out the door. “I'm also looking for a reply from that other pony I talked about, keep a look out for it.”


*

It was an almost clear sunny day in Ponyville, with the ponies working hard to maintain their town and their livelihood. However, atop of one of the many clouds that floated over the town, a long tail made up of multiple colors lofted from the side of said cloud. If one could get closer, then the sound of light snoring could easily be heard from the cloud.

Atop of the cloud lay a sky blue pegasus, with her rainbow colored mane covering her eyes, front hooves sprawled out as she snoozed the day away.

“Dash! Rainbow Dash! Hey there!”

The sleeping mare stirred about on her cloud before she lifted her head up to see a gray pegasus mare with a blonde mane and tail, with bubbles adorned on her flanks. In front of her wings was a pair of saddlebags that had letters spilling out of them. “Good morning!”

“Ditzy, it’s the afternoon,” Rainbow Dashed sighed, not bothering to open her eyes.

“It is? Oh well,” Ditzy replied before she turned her head and dove it into one of the saddlebags. “You got some mail!”

“That’s all well and good,” Dash muttered as she propped herself up on the cloud a little more. “But you’re supposed to deliver it to my house…”

“Yeah, but you’re right here,” Ditzy answered back, her head still shuffling about in the saddlebags. “That would be easier to bring it to you right here!”

Not wanting to push the issue, Dash nodded and held out a hoof, “Alright, so let’s have it.”

In a quick turn, Ditzy dropped the mail into Dash’s hoof and the rainbow maned pegasus blinked a few times at the sight of it, “… Ditzy… This is a half-eaten muffin.”

“I know!” Ditzy cheered out with a large bright smile, a letter in her teeth. “I also have a letter from Cloudsdale for you!”

Ditzy dropped the letter onto Dash’s torso and then flew off, “Have a nice evening!”

Dash shook her head at the mare, even as a mail-mare, that gray pony seemed to make things confusing. The blue pegasus turned back to the letter and smiled at the return address on it, “… Well, well, it’s been a while since I heard from that wannabe detective…”

'Dear Rainbow Dash,

Hope things are still going well in Ponyville with you and Fluttershy. I'm currently involved in a case dealing with racers in the upcoming Best Young Flyers competition. I can't tell you specifics, but I was hoping since you're into stuff like this you could give me your say on this. Included is a list of the competitor (I got permission to send you a copy, I'm trusting you).. Any advice you can give me would be helpful.

Shou.
'




“The feather's construction does not share it's structure with any known feather bearing species,” said Philip, examining the feather that Shou recovered closely. “This implies that the Dopant's memory does not belong to a species but to a concept. Possibilities include Flight and Feather...”

“Philip!”

Philip tried to ignore Akiko and continue his work...until she put a book in front of him. “Hmm?” he asked, looking at it. “'An Encyclopedia of Team Building Tactics?'”

“Something I got from Gh-Storyteller. You said I didn't know what I was doing, so I went to research it.”

Philip looked at it, floating it in his telekinesis, looking impressed at the size of the book. “...I was unaware that there were this many team building tactics,” he asked, flipping through it with an intrigued grin. “...How interesting.”

“So you're interested now?”

Philip floated it back to her. “Yes, quite. I wonder what the Gaia Memory has to say on the subject...”

Akiko gleefully took the book. “Success!”




”A mysterious Dopant on the war path, breaking the wings of young flyers and calling himself Icarus. Compounding this is the upcoming Best Young Flyers competition, of which all the targets are competitors. If this is not stopped, not only will the competition be ruined, but young flyers will be hurt...I will teach a lesson to those who make this city cry...”

“So, Afterburner, you're in the Best Young Flyers Competition, correct?

The mare across from him in one of the cloud buildings of the Wonderbolt Academy was gray in color, her tail and mane looking like fires going straight back from them. Her Cutie Mark was hidden by her trainee flight suit. “Yeah, really looking forwards to it...but with what's going on...”

Shou followed the Pegasus' fearful gaze to her wings. “Hey, don't worry,” he said, giving a smile. “I'll take care of Icarus, but first I need to find out who it is,” he replied. “Do you know any of the competitors that might want to get rid of the competition?”

Afterburner put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Probably a few honestly.”

Shou blinked. “Huh?”

“Stiff competition this year. Chance to impress the Princess and the Wonderbolts ain't nothing to sneeze at,” said the pegasus competitor. “I don't know many of the others personally, so I can't vouch for them, but I wouldn't doubt at least one of them would like a little less competition so they'll have more face time and might be crooked enough to try something. Law of averages. Then again we're in Equestria. I have some friends in it though, I can vouch for 'em and hopefully narrow things down a bit.”

“That'd be a big help,” Shou said, then rubbed his chin. “...Do you know who's the favorite to win the competition?”

Afterburner gave a chuckle. “I like to think me. I think we all think that way. We see others who will be good competition and push us to the limit, but most of us train hard and go into this with a 'I'm gonna win' mindset. Thinking somecreature besides yourself is the 'favorite' to win? Good way to end up with your confidence crashing, and maybe you to. I think if any pony is going after the competition, it's because they don't want to share the judges and the audience's attention, not cause they don't want to lose.”

Shou tapped his chin. “Yeah...I guess that makes sense.”




Chain Links set at his desk, still finding himself trembling at the memories. “The boss...”

The street boss put his hooves to his head, sweating. “Why am I...”

“Good. I'm sure you'll live up to my expectations, won't you?”

Chain Links shuddered. “I can't let the boss down...I can't...He might...”

The pegasus wasn't sure why he thought that way...and that fact just made him even more frightened. It seemed to have no origin, and that just made it more frightening. A fear with no beginning.

The pony sweated and fumbled for the new Gaia Memory in his pocket.

“I've got to make sure I do my job right...”



Shou sat next to the parked HardTurbuler, tapping his chin. “Afterburner was right...Rainbow Dash and Gilda would never call somepony else a favorite...but I wonder if there's some other pattern to these attacks...Envy wasn't a part of the original myth, so Icarus has to be envious of its victims somehow...”

Shou's ears perked and the pegasus turned, looking at a nearby area between two cloud structures on the compound. He cautiously trotted over and leaned against the wall, listening intently.

“Stupid...of course they wouldn't...why did I think a little hot water would make a difference?” asked an angry female voice he was sure he remembered. “What's it gonna take for them to give me a chance?”

Shou felt ripples go through the wall, likely from a hoof slamming against it.

“Well I'll show them...”

Shou blinked, mind flashing back to the scene in the hallway yesterday. “That voice...”

Shou slowly trotted over to the wall and peaked around, but whoever had been speaking had flown off. “Darn it, missed them...” he muttered. “But that voice...could it be...”

He trotted away from the wall, thinking. “...I wonder...”

He then heard a scream. “What?!”




Afterburner let out a scream, getting thrown hard into a wall, indenting the clouds inward slightly.

Icarus growled, trotting over to her. The Pegasus jumped up and tried to kick the Dopant, only to be dodged and given a hard kick in the gut. Afterburner gasped in pain as she crumpled to the ground, wrapping her legs around her midsection and coughing loudly.

Icarus' feathers flew out and combined into its sword with a snarl.

“Icarus envies you,” it said, the voice now more unhinged and psychotic.

Afterburner's eyes fell on the blade and she pulled her wings tight to her body. “No...”

The Dopant held its sword to at an angle to her wing.

“No, don't! Please!”

Icarus pulled the sword back and prepared to swing.

“That's enough!” yelled a black blur slamming head first into its chest full gallop, driving the monster backwards.

Shou landed between Icarus and Afterburner and did a spin, driving a buck into the monster's chest and sending it further away from the downed mare.

“You again?!”

The pegasus adjusted his fedora, extending his wings in a protective stance. “Yeah, me again. Trying to cut off a pegasus' wing? That Gaia Memory must really be twisting your mind.”

He peaked back at Afterburner, who was checking her left wing fearfully, as if to make sure she still had it. 'Aimed for the left wing. The same wing as with Greyson...' he noted mentally.

Icarus roared, spreading its wings fiercely.

“Shou?” asked Afterburner, blinking.

“Afterburner, just relax, “ said the black pegasus, producing the Double Driver. “I'll deal with this, then get you to the infirmary.”




“Fascinating...so teamwork is a constant effort, growing stronger over time rather than a skill you master and remain static in...” Philip stated, flipping through the book with words only he could see.

“See! I told you!” called Akiko, smiling from ear to ear.

“I may have underestimated your intelligence...” Philip admitted. “Or you were simply lucky...”

Akiko growled, producing her slipper...then blinked as the Double Driver manifested. “Huh?”

Philip sighed in annoyance, producing the Cyclone Memory. “Always when I'm in the middle of something interesting...”

Akiko snarled. “He left without me?!”

“CYCLONE!”




“JOKER!”




“Henshin!”




Philip inserted the Cyclone Memory into the Driver.

“Oh!” yelled Akiko, flying down behind Philip as he collapsed...in the opposite direction. “Ah! Why?!”




Shou pushed the newly manifested Cyclone Memory fully into place and inserted the Joker Memory before throwing the Driver open.

“CYCLONEJOKER!”

Afterburner and Icarus covered their faces as the wind swirled around Shou, forming into the now familiar black and green armor, silver scarf blowing in the wind and eyes glowing red.

Icarus snarled and charged Double, swinging its sword. The armored hero ducked the blade, then blocked a second with a wind cloaked wing catching its wrist. He spun around and did a buck to the chest, driving Icarus backwards.

“Why are you getting in my way again?!” Icarus screamed, spreading its wings and attempting to strike Double with them.

The armored warrior leapt over the strike with a wind assisted jump, switching his memories and reopening the Driver.

“HEATJOKER!”

Double came back with a fire powered stomp of his front hooves to the monster's head. “Simple, you're hurting people. I don't like that kind of thing.”

“Yeah,” Philip's voice replied. “This is our job.”

Double flapped his wings to keep balance on his hind legs and gave three quick jabs with his Joker half followed by a powerful haymaker with his Heat half.

Icarus rolled across the ground from the blow and growled. “I should be them! I deserve it! I've earned it! You have no idea what it's like!”

Double paused. “...I kind of do...” replied Shou's voice.

Icarus recoiled for a moment, then growled. “Liar!” it screamed, flapping it's wings and buffeting Double with explosive feathers, forcing him back and flying off before he could recover.

“Darn it, this one likes to run...” Shou's voice muttered.

“At least I can get back to researching team building exercises.”

Double's left half would have blinked if he didn't have optics for eyes. “Team building?”

“Akiko showed me this interesting book on the subject.”

Shou's voice chuckled. “So that's what she wanted it for...Alright, better let you get back to that. Just don't forget we've got a Dopant on the loose.”

Double closed and deactivated the Double Driver, reverting back to Shou.

The black furred Pegasus trotted over to Afterburner and gently helped the mare back to her hooves. “You okay?”

“Yeah...” she muttered, coughing and looking a bit sick to her stomach from the blow to it. “But you're...you're the Kamen Rider?”

Shou blinked. “Kamen Rider?”

“Yeah, it was all over Wakana's radio show,” the mare replied.

Shou's eyes widened. “We were on her show?! Ugh! The one episode I missed!”

Afterburner cringed and coughed a little, cradling her stomach. “Ugh...sorry to interrupt your fancolting, but...I just got beat up by a monster...”

“Oh! Right! Let's get you to the infirmary!”




“How dare he leave the chief behind...” Akiko muttered with a growl, trotting around the Wonderbolts Academy area, snorting hot air out of her nostrils. “When I find him, I'm going to need two slippers for this.”

The young mare blinked in confusion. “Wait...I'm a pony and only have one mouth so that won't really work...I could just use one big sli-”

“Oof!”

Akiko blinked, rubbing her head as she got off her flank and looked at who she'd ran into, not knowing where she was going. “Sorry!...Slipstream?”

The pink mare jumped, rubbing her broken left wing. “Oh...hello...you're...Shou's friend, right?”

“No, I'm his boss...sort of.”

Slipstream lifted an eyebrow. “You're his boss?”

“I own the deed to our office.”

“...Oh...”

“I'm Akiko,” she explained, offering a hoof. Slipstream blinked for a moment, they hesitantly shook her hoof.

“Uh...glad to meet you...”

The mares were then interrupted by the sound of stomachs growling. Akiko blushed. “Sorry...I skipped breakfast.”

“Yeah, so did I. Trying to get back on my wings quicker. And the food at the mess gets dull after awhile.”

Akiko reached into her saddle bags, and gave a look to the pegasus' broken wing. “...I brought a little food...want to share?”

Slipstream blinked in confusion. “Huh? With me?”

“Well...I keep running into you, it just seems like the right thing to do.”

“...Okay...I guess that'd be alright...”




Shou snuck up to a door in the main building after getting Afterburner to the infirmary. He put a sensitive pony ear to the door and listened.

“I'm almost there...I just need to do one more thing and I'll have what I deserve...then they can't push me into the background anymore...”

Shou tensed up, listening more attentively.

“...But...something just doesn't feel right...”

“Huh?” Shou asked. Taking the gamble, he carefully opened the door and peaked in.

Misty Fly set at her desk, staring at a paper in front of her, a conflicted look on her face. Shou saw bitterness...and uncertainly in her expression.

Shou knocked on the door, causing her to jump almost the ceiling. “Celestia don't scare me like that!”

“Sorry,” Shou said, giving a small tip of his hat and coming into the room. “...So...making a tough decision?”

“That's none of your business.”

“You're right...” said Shou, leaning against a wall. “It probably isn't, but now I know something is up, so you might as well tell me.”

Misty Fly sighed, rolling her eyes. “And how do I know you won't rat me out?”

“Because I'm a detective, not a rat,” the black pegasus replied, slipping into a smooth tone. “I keep a lot of secrets. The only way I'd tell anyone is if it'd make this city cry to keep it. But considering you haven't done anything to me despite us being alone in a room, I doubt that's the case. And maybe I can help you make the choice.”

The Wonderbolt gave a sigh. “And if I don't, you'll tell the others something's wrong and they'll bug me, right?”

“They'd be wrong if they didn't. It's the right thing for friends to worry about their friends.”

Misty gave Shou a look. She wasn't sure what it was, but the way he talked about 'not wanting to see the city cry.' There was just a certain sincerity to his voice. “...Fine...Not that there's anything you could do about it anyway, and last thing I want is a detective suspicious of me...Look...I'm considering jumping ship to another flight team,” she said with a bitter tone.

Shou blinked in confusion, but regained his composure. “Why?”

“...Because I'm always buried in the background here...it's always Spitifre, Soarin', Echo, and the other big name Bolts...how am I supposed to shine when the brass won't let me show my stuff? I'm treated like window dressing, just a Bolt to fill up the shot at photo ops. And I hate it.”

“...So you feel like your being overshadowed by the bigger Bolts huh?”

Misty nodded. “Not being able to judge the Best Young Flyers competition is just the last straw...I feel like...I don't know, I'll never be able to show my stuff here...It's one thing to be on a team, it's another for the audience to not even know who you are. I didn't earn my place here to get buried.”

Shou gave a sympathetic look. “To be honest? I kind know how you feel.”

Misty blinked in confusion. “You do?”

“Yeah...You remember the Sonic Rainboom?”

“Heard of it, not sure I believe in it.”

“The filly that did it is one of my best friends,” explained the black pegasus. “Has been since I was a colt. Only one creature of our little group wasn't a competitive type...but my wings are pretty weak,” he continued, spreading his wings. “Was born that way.”

“...So you're...”

Shou nodded with a wistful look. “Handicapped? Yeah...pretty much...” he explained, then gave a sad look that didn't seem to be for himself. “Know somecreature who has it worse though...But anyway, I grew up with three friends who were pretty competitive, but I was always stuck trailing behind. I never won a single race.”

Misty Fly gave an awkward look. “Okay...I guess compared to that I have it good.”

“...Nah, it still stinks.”

“Huh?”

Shou trotted over and pulled out a chair, sitting down. “Feeling like you're being overshadowed? It stinks like timberwolf breath. But...one question: would you consider Spitfire and the other Bolts your friends?”

Misty Fly gave a confused gasp, then looked down thoughtfully. “...Yeah...I...I guess I do...I've known them for years, since flight school...just always living in their shadow...”

“Well, it's not my place to tell you what to do. But in my case? It was never about beating Rainbow Dash, Gilda, and Neato, I knew I couldn't, even before the docs told me my wings were born weak. It was about having fun with my friends. We all found our own ways to shine. Fluttershy's an animal care specialist, Rainbow hopes to join you guys some day, Neato's an archeologist, and I'm a private detective. Haven't heard from Gilda in a long time, but she's probably got her own place. Each member of our little group had to find their own place. Maybe the problem isn't you're not getting a chance to shine but need to find your niche the others don't have. Where you can shine but they can't. Then the brass and the audience can't help but notice. And if I know one thing about friends? They aren't overshadowing you on purpose and can't do anything about it if they don't know.”

Misty Fly paused, giving it thought. “...Yeah...maybe you're right...Thanks...”

“Hidari Shoutaro, but my friends call me Shou.”

“Alright...but shouldn't you be finding Icarus instead of helping me with my problems?”

Shou jumped. “Well...Actually...I came here because you were a suspect...”

“What?!”

“You're not anymore! That's why I was investigating!...But you could help me with one thing.”

Misty gave him an eyebrow. “What?”

“Who are the favorites for the Best Young Flyers competition? I want to see if that's why the ponies were targeted in the order they were. Try to find a pattern in the attacks.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but a Bolt isn't one to ask.”

“Huh?”

“Any of the Bolts could be prospective judges for the Young Flyers, and judges aren't allowed to have a bias. We're forbidden from having favorites. We don't really know much about any of their performances. Even the ones who are training here aren't allowed to practice their acts in front of us.”

Shou put a hoof to his chin. “I see...thank you, Misty Fly. I hope you figure out the right thing to do.”

“You're welcome...and thanks...”

Shou tipped his hat. “No creature cries in Cloudsdale if I can help it...Good luck finding your place...and one more thing?”

“Yeah?”

“My friend Rainbow knows who you are. Haven't chatted with her, but girl makes it a point to know every single Bolt, right down to your stats. To ponies like her? Every last one of you guys matter.”

“...T-Thanks...I needed that...”




“So, you're new in Cloudsdale?” Slipstream asked, the two sitting in the Wonderbolt hopeful's room at the barracks as the two ate the food Akiko brought.

“Yeah..my father lived here for a long time before I did...but for some reason he never invited me to come...” Akiko explained, looking down sadly. “I'm not sure why...”

“Well that stinks...” the pink mare muttered, looking at the window and door fidgety.

Akiko cocked her head. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah! I'm just...ugh...feeling a bit of cabin fever...being grounded makes me feel all antsy...” she muttered, giving a look to her wings. “I hate being on the ground...not able to spread my wings. I just want to fly again more than anything...”

“Ah, I can understand that...” Akiko replied, getting another daisy sandwich out of her saddlebags. She noticed another bunk in the room with odds and ends scattered around. “Where is your roommate?”

“Oh...she was...one of Icarus' victims...” Slipstream replied, Akiko not seeing a jealous look aimed at her wings. An almost hateful one. “She's in the infirmary.”

“Oh...Sorry about that...” Akiko said sincerely.

“It's fine...she'll recover...some day...so...do you like to fly?”

Akiko put a hoof to her chin. “...Kinda...I'm not as into it as some pegasi, but I enjoy stretching my wings as much as anypony else...”

“Lucky...I'd love to be able to fly without any limitations again,” Slipstream said, giving a slightly unhinged look when Akiko dug for another sandwich. “I envy you.”

“I'm sorry, it must be awful to not be able to fly,” the young pegasus replied, looking up as Slipstream hid her look. She passed the sandwich to her. “Here you go.”




“So nothing?” Rainbowshine asked, sitting with Shou back at the agency.

The pegasus detective sighed, rubbing his head. “Yeah...And Icarus nearly cut off Afterburner's wing. The Gaia Memory corruption is getting worse.”

“Icarus' rampage began one week ago,” explained Philip, standing nearby searching the Gaia Library. “However, the level of corruption indicates either pre-existing mental illness or that they used the Gaia Memory for another purpose for some time until the Memory's corruption drove them to their current actions.”

Shou nodded with a sigh. “Yeah...and I don't think there's time before it strikes again to look at every pony on that list for a pony envious of the others...anything in the Gaia Library?”

“I have narrowed the Gaia Memory type down to Wing, but I have not deduced Icarus' identity.”

Shou rubbed his head. “Alright...I guess we should try to figure out the pattern and try and defeat Icarus when it shows up to attack the next victim.”

“I've already called the Guard to help keep the competitors under watch,” Rainbowshine replied. “But we need to solve this case soon. We're lucky you were able to rescue Greyson and Afterburner...”

Shou nodded, flipping through the pictures the Bat Shot had taken.

“...Where's Akiko?” Rainbowshine asked, noticing the young mare was still missing.

“I think with a new friend,” said Shou, showing a picture in the Bat Shot of Akiko's meeting with Slipstream. “Good for her. She needs to make more friends around here...”

Before Rainbowshine could reply, there was a knock on the door. The mare trotted over, opening it to reveal a gray mare with a yellow mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark a cluster of bubbles. The oddest thing however, was her eyes were both pointed in different directions.

“Uh...hi...”

“Letter for Shou!” the mare chimed, reaching into a mail bag she had with her mouth and passing a letter to Rainbowshine...along with a muffin.

“Thank you...” the wisteria mare replied, blinking as she closed the door. She then handed the letter and muffin to Shou. “For you.”

“Ah! It's from Rainbow Dash!” replied Shou, taking it and opening it. He looked at the muffin. “Must have had Derpy bring it...I asked her about the case.”

Rainbowshine raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“She's a big race fan. She's probably one of the only ponies who could tell you the specialty and stats of each and every Wonderbolt from memory. Never seemed to bother as much with their history as she probably should have though...”

Shou looked at the letter.

'Dear Shou:

Hey bud! Sorry I haven't been to Cloudsdale much, busy with my job here in Ponyville, being weather manager ain't as easy as I make it look. Me and 'Shy are doing well. She's still a bit too much of a shut in though. Filly needs to get out more.

The Best Young Flyers is coming up alright huh? Dang it, looks like I'll miss seeing it (want to make sure I'm ready when I take part). Lucky you get to work on a case with the Bolts though, I'm so jealous! Try to get an autograph for me, okay? I know a lot of the competitors on the list you sent me though (I keep up to date on everything, after all some day I might be teammates with 'em). They're all pretty good, but I tried to make a list of how I think they'll rank. Not sure if that'll help or not.

See ya later,

Your awesome friend, Rainbow Dash.'


Shou chuckled. “Rainbow hasn't changed much...” he said to himself. He then looked through the list. A few seconds later, he gave a gasp and took out another list.

Rainbowshine blinked, trotting over to look at it. “What is it?”

“She almost guessed the order the victims have been attacked in! A few are off but she mostly got them right!” he explained, showing her the two lists, one showing the order of victims

“Wait...how is that possible?!”

“Well, she's all the way in Ponyville...I'd say the best bet is that the Wing Dopant thinks a lot like her...” the detective replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The racers all prefer not to think they're the favorite to win to keep their confidence up. The Wonderbolts are forbidden from having favorites by their position...”

Shou got up and trotted over to the window, looking out. “If Dash could guess almost an exact match, what makes her and thus the perp different?...Ah! That's it! Philip!”

“Yes, Shou?” the green unicorn asked, remaining in the Gaia Library.

“New keyword! 'Non-competitor!'”




Philip entered the keyword into the infinite bookshelves of the Gaia Library. The shelves rearranged themselves rapid, leaving only a hoof full of books left. “Almost there.”




Shou tapped his chin, thinking about it. “What else do we know...”

His eyes fell on the picture the Bat Shot had taken and his blood ran cold, his eyes falling on the broken left wing.

“Keyword: injured left wing.”



Philip entered the keyword and the books once more rearranged, this time leaving only a pink book with 'Name' emblazoned on it in gold. “That did it.”




“Alright!” said Shou, no smirk on his face despite the victory. “What's the name?”

“The name is, Slipstream.”

Shou's eyes went wide. “Slipstream?”

“Correct. I did not stutter.”

“Horseapples!”

Rainbowshine took a moment to think before her expression matched that of Shou. “Sweet Celestia! Akiko's with her right now!”

Philip emerged from the Gaia Library. While remaining stoic, his expression showed some concern. “With the information we've obtained, I was able to uncover that Slipstream has no signs of a pre-existing mental illness or history of violent crime. This indicates she has been severally corrupted by her Gaia Memory. This means she  might have been consumed by the Wing Memory enough to decide to go after an able bodied pegasus who's not a competitor if presented with the chance. Her most likely present location is her room at the barracks.”

The unicorn produced the Cyclone Memory. “I recommend we transform now and use HardBoilder's Start Dash Mode to go across the ground to the plateau the Wonderbolts Academy stands on. That will increase our probability of reaching her in time.”

“CYCLONE!”

Shou nodded. “Good idea!” he said, galloping towards the hanger while producing the Joker Memory.

“JOKER!”

“Henshin!”

Philip inserted the Cyclone Memory, ending it to Shou's Diver and collapsing while Shou inserted both memories and opening the Driver with a wing boosted midrun jump.

“CYCLONEJOKER!”

Wind rushed in and formed Double's armor as Shou leapt through the air and landed on the HardBoilder, the RevolGarry forming around him. The floor descended and vanished deep below with the machine on it.

Rainbowshine meanwhile hid Philip's prone body and rushed to inform the Guard proper.




The clouds underneath Cloudsdale parted, allowing the platform the RevolGarry sat on to descend on four cables. Inside, the cylinder on the back of the machine rotated and the HardBoilder slid back into it. Upon touching down on the ground far below, the RevolGarry opened and the HardBoilder launched out at incredible speeds thanks to a series of large, green and silver boosters now attached to the back of the machine, exceeding the HardTurbuler's flight speed.




“So how long until your wing is healed?” asked Akiko, looking at the broken wing of the pegasus.

“Too long,” Slipstream grumbled, once again eying Akiko's wing with envy. “I can't stand it. It gets worse having to watch everypony flying around and preparing for the Best Young Flyers. I just feel so...useless...I'm a pegasus who can't fly, it feels...I don't know, like I'm worthless.”

Akiko nodded, giving a thoughtful look. “...I kinda know how you feel...”

“Huh?”

“I just started at the agency. I know my father is a good detective and Shou...he seems like an idiot but he knows what he is doing...Philip is smart and Rainbowshine is...strong...I guess I'm trying to be such a good chief because I just want to be useful like they are...I just feel kinda useless when I sit around looking at them doing all the work...”

“I...I see...but at least you've still got a place...Oh! Akiko, can you go get some popcorn from the closet? I need to run outside real quick for something, then we can get one of the pegasi with lightning magic to pop it.”

“Okay!”

Akiko flew to the small closet and looked through the shelves carefully. “Popcorn...popcorn...”

She heard hoofsteps behind her. “Slipstream, I can't find the popcorn.”

There was no response. Akiko shut the closet door...and noticed a reflection in the metal handle. She screamed, folding her wings and falling to the ground, ducking under a grab at her left wing by a familiar cloaked figure.

She screamed and scurried under Icarus legs, folding her wings in tightly to fit. “Come back here!” yelled the Dopant, making another grab as the young mare dodged again and jumped over her

The monster turned towards her...and got hit in the face by a thrown slipper. “What th-”

Followed by several more, causing her to shield herself. “Why do you have so many slippers?!”

“They're my preferred method of discipline!” Akiko yelled, throwing a barrage of them from her saddlebags until, after ten individual ones had struck the Dopant, she ran out and threw the bags themselves and flew out the door before the bewildered Dopant could recover.

Akiko flew out an open window, and nearly ran right into Spitfire. “Whoa! Where's the fire filly?!”

“I'm not a filly!”

“Come back here!” yelled Icarus, the Dopant tearing through the wall...then took a step back seeing Spitfire. “C-Captain Spitfire...”

The Captain of the Wonderbolts snarled in rage. “So you're the one who's been hurting pegasi...” she replied, snorting hot air out her nose and stomping the ground. “Get behind me! I'm gonna teach this jerk what happens when you mess with my students!”

Akiko cautiously followed the angry captain's orders.

Icarus snarled in rage, preparing to attack...when a motorcycle suddenly came jumping off the barrack roof and slammed into the Dopant, knocking her to the ground.

“Slipstream! That's enough!” yelled Shou's voice from the armored warrior.

“Shou?” asked Spitfire, blinking in surprise. “Wait...Slipstream?!”

Akiko blinked in shock. “S-Slipstream? That's...that's you?”

The Dopant growled as she got to her hooves and glowed white, transforming back into the formerly unassuming little pink pegasus, a white Dopant Memory held with her wing. “Stop getting in my way!” she yelled, mane falling disheveled and eyes now unhinged now that her mask of sanity had been torn off.

“Slipstream...how...why...” Akiko asked, looking at her in disbelief...and fear at the realization of just who she'd spent the day with.

“Slipstream, what the Tartarus are you doing?!” asked Spitfire in anger and disbelief. “This makes no sense!”

“That's because this rampage is not why you got the Gaia Memory, am I correct?” asked Philip's voice. “Your profile in the Gaia Memory does not suggest you are a vindictive personality type normally.”

“Yeah...You're not a monster, Slipstream, so why did you really get that Gaia Memory?” asked Shou.

The mare took a step back in surprise, and looked at the Dopant Gaia Memory she held. The symbol was a W formed from wings. “I...I just wanted to fly again...I couldn't stand not being able to fly...I needed to fly! I felt useless on the ground! What good is a pegasus who can't fly?! And...and I worked so hard to compete in the Young Flyers competition! And then a n accident...an accident ruined it...” she said, her tone going from vindictive and angry to heartbroken and depressed. “I...I just wanted to fly again...That's all I wanted!”

Akiko gasped, giving a sympathetic look to the mare that had attacked her. “Slipstream...”

“...And then you realized you still couldn't fly in pony form or compete in the competition in Dopant form, right?” Shou's voice asked, the mare suddenly growling. “But by then the memory had already twisted your mind. You were jealous of the ones who got to compete...and the Wing Memory turned that jealousy into a hatred. Is that right?”

“Why shouldn't I hate them?!” the madden mare screamed in rage. “I'm stuck on the ground because of a stupid accident and they get to fly in the competition I've worked so hard to be in! All my hard work gone!...Having to spend every day watching them in the sky! I should be them! I've done all the work! It's not fair!”

Double looked to Spitfire and Akiko. “That is the Gaia Memory corruption talking, not her. She should begin recovering as soon as it's destroyed and the corruption begins fading,” Philip's voice explained.

“Just let me fly!” yelled Slipstream, lifting her broken wing.

“WING!”

She inserted the Memory into the now exposed tattoo beneath her wing. White, feathery energy cascaded across her form, the feathers flying away from her as she spread her wings to reveal Icarus. The Dopant grabbed her cloak and threw it off, revealing her full body. She was a white armored quadruped with feathers on her chest and upper legs, the faceplate resembling a bird's beak with a triangular head crest, tail-feathers in place of a tail. Her forelegs had feathers extending from them to give them a winged appearance in addition to the two massive wings on her back.

Double took his pose, pointing at the Dopant. “Now! Count up your sins!”

Spitfire gave a gasp at the phrase. “Was that...the Skull Stallion's...”

The Wing Dopant charged Double, throwing several blows, using the feathers on her forelegs like bladed weapons and forcing the armored warrior to dodge. Double ducked under a slash and did a headbutt to her chest, driving her back and leaving her open for a spinning wind powered buck to the chin.

“Shou, we need the Metal Staff!”

“Gotcha!”

“METAL!”

Double switched Memories, ducking under another slash of the monster's blades and opened the Driver.

“CYCLONEMETAL!”

Double drew the metal staff in time to block when the Wing Dopant summoned her sword and swung it at him. He pushed back, then did a spin and slammed a wind powered swing into the Dopant's neck, driving her backwards.

Wing's wings glistened with energy and became bladed and she did several spinning attacks at the armored warrior with all the blades she possessed, forcing him to evade and block.

“She's considerably more dangerous now that she's not hiding her identity, Shou,” Philip advised, as they took a slash to the chest and were send to the ground.

“Yeah, but we're not push overs either,” Shou replied, Double the Heat Memory and switching.

“HEATMETAL!”

Wing screamed in pain as Double struck her wing with a flaming Metal Staff, driving her backwards.

Double galloped forwards at a noticeably slower pace and drove the Metal Staff into the ground like a pole vault and delivered a full body tackle, knocking the monster across the ground with a considerable force, sword flying away.

Wing snarled. “I won't let you take my wings away! I won't go back to being worthless!” she screamed, voice cracking from fear. She spread her wings and took off, trying to escape...and was promptly buffeted by an orange streak, stopping her attempt to flee.

Spitfire flew around and  slammed into Wing from behind full speed, sending her falling until she caught herself. “Permission to flee denied recruit!” she bellowed. “Sorry Slipstream, but that Memory's getting destroyed for your own good!”

“No! Just let me fly!” the Dopant yelled spreading her wings and sending an assault of feathers at Spitfire. The Wonderbolt Captain nimbly evaded them, receiving a couple bleeding cuts but was otherwise unharmed.

Double took out a yellow refined Gaia Memory with an L logo composed of a yellow moon.

“LUNA!”

Double changed memories and reopened the Double Driver.

“LUNAMETAL!”

The red Heat Half changed to a bright yellow, the accents on the chest, shoulder pads, and gauntlets becoming a golden color.

Spitfire evaded another assault by the monster and flew in front of her, leaving a trail of clouds and lightning behind her that blinded Wing for a moment.

Before the Dopant could recover, a now whip-like metal staff wrapped around her barrel. “What?!”

“Get over here!” yelled Shou's voice, Double having the metal staff in his 'mouth'. He used all four legs and his neck to pull the shaft back, sending the Wing Dopant flying towards him. Double spin around and slammed the now whip like other end into the incoming Dopant's stomach, sending her rolling across the ground.

Wing got back to her hooves and snarled, trying to buffet the armored warrior with her feathers, but he planted the end of the Metal Staff into the ground, causing the end to extend, launching him up and over the attack. He flapped his wings once, having noticeably more difficulty staying airborne, but still managing to strike the Dopant repeatedly with the extending end of the Metal Staff, knocking her to the ground.


“Memory Break time,” Shou's voice said, Double changing memories.

“HEATMETAL!”

Now seeming too heavy for his wings to support him easily, Double began falling and inserted the Metal Memory into the Metal Staff.

“METAL! MAXIMUM DRIVE!”

The Metal Staff's ends igniting with intense flames, Double dove straight at Wing as she got to her hooves.

“Metal Branding!” called both halves of Double, driving a fire powered trust of the Metal Staff into Wing's chest and knocking her to the ground.


Wing staggered to her feet, energy crackling around her before she exploded in a massive fireball.

Akiko trotted over cautiously as Double went to check on the unconscious Slipstream. The Wing Memory ejected from her skin and shattered to pieces.

“Now do you see what I meant about shades of gray, Schoolyard Filly?” asked Shou's voice, looking up at Akiko.

Akiko nodded, a bit shaken, but understanding. “Yeah...”

Spitfire landed next to them, looking at the now defeated mare. “...Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she will be once she gets some help.”

Spitfire nodded. “...Good job...” she said, giving the armored warrior a pat on the back. “...Do I want to know about the armor?”

“...It's a long story. Completely legal.”

“Right...Still, thanks...I just hope Slipstream recovers...”

Akiko looked up at the Wonderbolts Captain, then to Double as he reverted back to Shou and gave her a smile and a nod. “...Don't worry, we'll make sure she does...” she said, giving a small smile.




Slipstream was turned into the authorities after her defeat, with any luck, she will recover fully from her Gaia Memory use.

“Hey Gilded,” said Shou, sitting down at the other side of the glass from the former Pterandon Dopant.

“Hello, Shou...” the Griffin replied, giving a small, unsure smile.

A chair down, Firebrand set talking with her brother. And another chair down, Akiko sat down across from Slipstream, the former Wing Dopant's eyes red and bloodshot, the fur on her cheeks tear-stained.

But no creature should ever have to face their demons all by themselves.




With Icarus gone, the competitors in the Best Young Flyers competition are safe to recover and practice to do their best.

The now healed Afterburner and Greyson danced around the sky, practicing their acts.




Sadly, many of the competitors will miss this year's competition recovering from their injuries, but Spitfire has ensured all of them a spot in next year's.

Spitfire walked through the infirmary, speaking with the injured ponies and griffins.




Misty Fly chose to remain with the Bolts after a talk with her friends.

The Wonderbolt Captain looked at Misty, seemingly genuinely shocked. She put a hoof on her should and gave a smile.

It's not my place to put my snout in, but I hope things work out and she finds her niche.




It does my heart good to help the Wonderbolts, fellow defenders of Equestria. That alone is worth a reward...though I did ask for one thing.

Spitfire chuckled, writing 'Keep trying hard, Rainbow Dash. From Spitfire' on a picture of herself and handing it to Shou.

Another case closed, thanks to the Two-In-One detective...




Rainbowshine held two cards in her wings, Shou only having one left as well. She watched Shou's expression and kept her pocker face intact. Shou went for one card...then stopped and selected the other. Rainbowshine's jaw dropped as Shou took the Ace of Spades to match his Ace of Clubs, leaving her with the Joker.

“How...you...you beat me?!” she asked in disbelief. “You never beat me!”

Shou gave a smooth chuckle, tipping his hat. “I got better.”

Akiko watched with a chuckle as well.

“...You cheated...you had to have cheated.”

“I wouldn't say cheated, so much as played one of my strengths.”

Philip stepped out from the shadows, Double Driver around his waist. Shou reared up to reveal he had his on as well.

“We are a Two-in-One Detective after all.”

Rainbowshine's eyes went wide. “Philip...Philip actually played a game?! Okay, what weird Dopant has trapped me in the fantasy world?!”

“None! I got him to play!” announced Akiko cheerfully, holding her book.

“Akiko was actually correct,” Philip mused. “Me and Shou primarily work together as Double or on cases. According to the Gaia Memory's entree on team building exercises, it is important for a team to cooperate on other things besides combat for maximum effectiveness. And playing games are good way to do that...”

The wisteria mare stared at the scene in disbelief for a moment before chuckling and giving Akiko a hearty pat on the back. “Good job, rookie. We've been trying to get Philip to do that since we met him!”

Akiko smiled proudly. “I just did what you said: show him it in book form!”

Shou gave a chuckle and a grin. “Not bad, for a Schoolyard Filly,” he remarked. He resisted the urge to remind her she nearly got her wing chopped off with her naivety.

The young mare growled and tried to hit him with a slipper...only to realize she didn't have any. “I forgot all my slippers at Slipstream's dorm room after I hit her with them!”

Shou and Rainbowshine both laughed at her expense, even Philip chuckled some...then looked at bit odd, putting a hoof to his head. “...Strange...”

Shou blinked. “What is it?”

“This sensation...it feels familiar...” the green unicorn remarked, putting a hoof to his chin. “I...I think I've felt this before...”

Shou blinked. “You mean before you lost your memory?”

Philip nodded. “...It reminds me of something I can't quite put my hoof on...it feels good...” he said with a small smile.

Shou gave him a pat on the back. “Glad you like having a bit of fun.”

“Yes...I believe I do...”



* This scene was written by MangaKamen, thanks bud.
Finally this is here, a little secret project between me and :iconmangakamen: .

He's doing Wizard, I'm doing Double! They're a shared universe, meaning these two stories happened in the same world. This one took place before Nightmare Moon's escape.

I should note, this isn't JUST 'Kamen Rider Double with ponies', it takes inspiration from the original, but like with Friendship is SHOWTIME, this is meant to be its own thing with unique spins on the characters. 

Also, :iconmangakamen: wrote the scene of Rainbow receiving the letter. 


And about Ghost Story/Storyteller. Don't worry, ALL the original Irregulars will be present. I just felt if I ONLY used canon characters, then this would just be 'Kamen Rider Double with Ponies' and not an original creation of mine and it felt like it made Shou look like a better detective if he had a larger knowledge base. Hope you like the character though.


Also, I really need a beta reader for this story...

Previous Chapter: fav.me/d7i4fig

Next Chapter: fav.me/d7n9wr0

Trope Page: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php…

My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro!

Kamen Rider belongs to Toei!

The verse belongs to :iconmangakamen: !

Thanks to :iconalexwarlorn: for giving me some advice and helping a bit.

Thanks to :iconflairnightz: for the preview pic!
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Jarkes's avatar
...Wait, how did Shou and Rainbow Dash exchange letters so quickly? It almost seems like Shou sent his letter, Dash received it, Dash sent her reply, and Shou received that all on the same day...

Also, Ghost Story was really cool. Looking forward to any other OC "Cloudsdale Irregulars" you have planned, as well as your take on the canon ones that haven't appeared yet here...

Also, jmcdavid mentioned something called "Lionmaru" that was referenced here. I must admit that I've never heard of that one (I'm not very familiar with many older toku other than Sentai, Kamen Rider, and the ones that have had tribute characters appear in recent Rider and Sentai films, and I barely know anything about the other shows).

Anyway, that was a good chapter. Though I have to wonder: are any of the original Dopants (not counting the Sonozakis and Isaka, since Isaka made a brief appearance in a Friendship is SHOWTIME! chapter) going to appear?