Twilight 'Sleuth' Sparkle: The Bittersweet Soiree

"How would you describe your relationship with Fleur, Mr. Set?" Twilight questioned, staring intently into the eyes of the stallion she was questioning. Jet Set sat with an uncomfortable frown, fidgeting and shifting his position in the hard wooden chair.

"Please, I prefer Mr. Jet."

"I asked you a question." Twilight pressed in a persistent tone, icy but not angry. It was a task to keep it that way, though Twilight hated to admit that even to herself. She was usually so passive and patience was a valued trait of hers, but patience sometimes led problems when you needed answers pronto.

"Right, erm, sorry." he said, coughing into the crook of his foreleg. "Fleur and I were more or less acquaintances, really. Never talked to her much and when I did, our conversations were usually about the weather or politics."

Twilight groaned, openly displaying her frustration. She had stopped caring. She would give anything to reach over and punch the unicorn right in his square jaw. It wasn't him in particular, actually. It was the fact that two hours had slipped through her hooves and not a single pony could offer any information remotely valuable to the investigation. The only thing keeping Twilight sane at the moment was the company of her friends, whom stood at the far wall, watching the interrogations unfold. Rarity placed a calming hoof on her shoulder, restraining her friend somewhat.

"Mr. Set - er... beg your pardon, Mr. Jet, can you think of anypony who may have wanted to hurt Fleur de Lis?" Rarity asked with a kind smile, placing a manicured hoof on the wooden table.

"Well, come to think of it... yes." Jet Set said cautiously, glancing away with hesitance glazing his blue eyes. "My wife. She and Fleur had a tiff as teenagers. They both fancied... well, Fancypants. When he chose Fleur, their friendship was torn apart and, knowing my wife, she holds a rather nasty grudge. I'm afraid she never truly got over it."

Rarity nodded, writing it down in the notebook and shooting a 'not bad, eh?' glance in Twilight's direction as she trotted back to lean against the wall. Twilight could hardly believe her ears. Finally! Something worthwhile. Twilight made a mental note to thank Rarity later, but for now, she had something much more pressing to deal with: an actual suspect.

"Rainbow Dash, could you send in Upper Crust please? Thank you for your help, Jet Set. You can leave now." Twilight nodded, newfound determination in her voice. Rainbow nodded eagerly, glad to have something to do other than count the strands of her multicolored mane. Jet Set stood to his hooves and trotted off, rather shakily, as though he were a little colt just about to get a needle. Within moments, Upper Crust emerged from the crowd of chatting ponies and entered the vacant suite, which Twilight had fashioned into a make-shift interrogation room. She took a seat and crossed her forelegs on her lap.

"Hello, Mrs. Crust."

"Oh, hello, Twilight." she said somewhat bitterly. Like most Canterlot 'rich folk', Upper Crust despised the pathetic 'cowpony' residents of Ponyville. As much as Twilight fought it, she would be lying if she said the feeling wasn't mutual. Canterlot was once her home, but these ponies seemed like strangers to her now. She vaguely recalled having to attend tedious parties with her parents when she was younger.

"Upper Crust, I hate to intrude on your personal matters, but we recently received wind that you and Fleur fought long ago. Is this true?" Twilight asked, leaning back in her chair, allowing it to tilt backwards. The mare pursed him lips.

"My husband told you that, didn't he?" she sighed. "Well, yes. It is true. We both took a liking to Fancypants when we were younger and when  he chose her over me, our friendship was torn apart. It was mostly my fault though, I should've accepted it from the start." Twilight pressed her tongue against her cheek as she jotted down what she spoke. Letting the pen fall with a metallic clink, Twilight pressed her hooves onto the table.

"And where were you from 3pm  to 7pm this day?" the purple unicorn asked, brushing a strand of her mane from her eyes. Upper Crust squinted against the glare of a desk lamp, which Twilight may or may not have placed just so it would irritate her.  She placed a hoof up to shield her eyes.

"Well, I was in my room, room 23 to be exact, practicing the violin. I've been taking lessons." she said rather haughtily, very pleased with her musical endeavour.

"Do you have anyone to back up that claim? Anyone with you?"

"I'm... afraid not. I was alone."

"I see..." Twilight breathed, a sympathetic glance shot towards the yellow pony across from her. "I'm afraid this leaves you as a prime suspect, Mrs. Crust. Is there anything you wish to say to defend yourself?" Upper Crust's mouth hung agape, displaying a bottom row of perfect teeth as her jaw fell away in shock.

"Me? I-"

"Why'd ya kill 'er? Huh? Was it fun or somethin'? Why don't ya jus' fess up an' get it over with?!" Applejack yelled in her familiar southern accent, slamming an orange hoof down in front of a stunned Upper Crust. Twilight's ears flattened as Applejack continued to rant. Fluttershy approached her and restrained her flailing limbs, whispering something to the mare. Upper Crust's eyes fluttered open and shut, as if she were trying to awaken herself from a horrific dream. When it was apparent that she had, indeed, just been yelled at by a filthy Earth pony, her eyes immediately welled with tears.

"I-I... no! I didn't! I wouldn't kill her. I may have been jealous, but she was still my b-best friend!" she blurted, sobbing openly. Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Applejack! That isn't how we should treat her, even if she was the killer for sure! She's still innocent until proven absolutely guilty." Twilight scolded. Applejack lowered her Stetson, pressing against her heart.

"Mighty sorry, Twilight. And ya too, Mrs. Crust. I jus' guess I'm a bit tired from this long night and fer a split second, there was no doubt in mah mind that you were tha killer. Shouldn't have snapped like that..." she once again raised her worn-out hat, placing it onto her ruffled straw blonde mane. Upper Crust nodded bitterly, reluctantly accepting her apology.

"Quite alright. I can see why you must have such suspicions. But I assure you, I would not commit such  a vile criminal act. This, I swear upon." Upper Crust said, her nose upturned. To emphasize her point, she raised her hoof to her chest and nodded solemnly. Twilight and Applejack exchanged a look.

"You are dismissed." was all Twilight said in a quiet and secretive tone. She watched the unicorn rise and trot out the door without a second glance in their direction. Twilight copied this action, soon breaking into a light jog as she made her way out of the room and through the bustling crowd of chatting ponies. Rarity galloped after her.

"Wait, Twilight! Wherever are you going?" she screamed over the hum of idle talk and obnoxious laughter. Her question was answered as Twilight came to a stop in front of Fleur's suite. She strode in, Rarity following at her tail. Twilight was accustomed to the sight of blood and corpses, but Rarity winced as the unicorn bathed in her own blood came into view.

"Sweet Celestia! This is... absolutely horrid." Rarity gasped as she clasped her hoof to her muzzle to evade the stench of rot. Twilight herself found it difficult not to gag, but she voluntarily inhaled the scent, breathing it in. It was something she would have to become familiar with if she wished to carry on in this line of work. She nodded silently in reply.

"Indeed. Now, if you don't mind..." Twilight said absent-mindedly  as she levitated her trusty notebook and quill to Rarity, who groaned.

"Alright, fine." the white unicorn said as she took the notebook, the quill now poised to take notes. Twilight muttered a thanks, but it was clear her mind was wandering to other things as she examined the body for a second time. She narrowed her eyes, gazing at the several stab wounds with intrigue.

And that was when she saw them; three large slits on her neck, so thin that is was hard to imagine a blade that could create it. Twilight felt almost idiotic for not noticing it sooner, for it  was now so evident. She peered at it once more, and Rarity struggled to contain her protests as Twilight reached out and touched them, running it along the slices. Her eyes widen in realisation. Strings. No, a single string of a violin bow. The mare felt a delightful tingle as the discovery seeped in. She had found her killer.

"Hmm. Interesting." Twilight wondered aloud, trotting over to the steel sink in the small kitchenette, washing the germs of decay from her hooves. Rarity raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the thin cuts that ran nearly half of Fleur's neck. "Rarity," Twilight said, calling the attention of her friend back to her. "Get Upper Crust." Rarity nodded obediently and vanished around the corner. A few moments passed and Twilight paced impatiently around the room, her eyes still fixed on the corpse in her presence. After what seemed like an eternity, Rarity returned with a clearly-shaken yellow unicorn.

"You called, Twi - er, detective?" Upper Crust asked with a hint of fear tainting her voice. Twilight nodded and pointed to the dead body that lay beside her, gesturing towards her neck.

"Care to explain?"

"Pardon?" Upper Crust said with genuine confusion a she stared blankly at the gashes.

"Care to explain why Fleur was found with three cuts on her neck that were caused by a violin bow? Ring a bell at all?" Twilight continued, a little smugly at that. Rarity silently went to shut the suite door.

"No, it couldn't - I must have been framed! It's a set-up, I swear!" Upper Crust protested, her blue and white mane thrown askew as she did so. Askew?  Twilight stifled a giggle as the mane began to slip from her head entirely, leaving behind a bald and rather wrinkled yellow head. Rarity looked away, a smile present as she tried to direct her attention away from the wig.

"Um... Upper Crust, your hair." Twilight said, gesturing gingerly to the bald spot. The unicorn ceased her ranting abruptly, a look of sheer horror settling on her face. She threw her hooves up and fumbled about with the wig, hastily setting it on right.  She gulped and gave the two detectives an uneasy grin.

Twilight, eager to provide another topic of which to discuss, veered the conversation back towards the arrest of a murderer. "So, as I was saying, would you care to explain? Perhaps confess to something, Mrs. Crust?" Twilight prodded, taking a step towards the mare. She continued to shake her head, as if in disbelief. Eventually, the frown faded into an almost sympathetic smile, as if to say she pitied the detectives that were about to arrest the wrong pony. She took a step towards Twilight, and settled down on her haunches to free her forelegs.

"Arrest me, detective, for it's clear that there is no way I can evade your suspicions, however false they may be." Upper Crust sighed in an oddly dreamy tone, holding up her forelegs, offering her hooves to be cuffed. "But, if I may, I wish to take one last look at the body." The faded yellow mare frowned, her gaze falling upon Fleur. Twilight and Rarity exchanged a glance, but Twilight eventually nodded, allowing the unicorn to pass. Upper Crust trotted over to the corpse, covering her muzzle as the smell hit her square in the nose. She coughed, but pressed forward, as if she were the lens of a camera, extending to get a better shot of the sliced neck.

"Hmm... I hate to burst your bubble, Ms. Sparkle, but it is clear that these marks are much to thick for violin strings."

"Pardon me?" Twilight snorted, joining Mrs. Crust in examining the body.

"These marks were left by a cello bow, from the looks of it."  the mare finished. Twilight was dumbfounded, and Upper Crust gave a triumphant smile. Twilight looked to Rarity, who nodded in agreement.

"I believe she is correct, Twilight. My mother was a music enthusiast on the side of her designing career, she taught me a thing or two about violins and cellos. This... this was a cello that left the dreaded mark." There was a moment of silence between the three ponies, begging to be broken as the tension grew. Twilight sighed dejectedly. Upper Crust bit her lip, looking from one mare to the other and then back again anxiously. "Mrs. Crust, I am horribly sorry for our false accusations. I do hope you can forgive us. Why, I''m sure being falsely accused is simply the worst possible thing!" Rarity raised a hoof to her forehead dramatically, feigning a faint as she often did.

"Quite alright, I suppose." Upper Crust said half-heartedly. "May I... go now?"

"Of course! Erm.. enjoy the rest of your... night?" Twilight said, plastering a grin onto her face. Her eyes dangled upon the mare as she made her way for the door, and soon submerged into the sea of guests. Rarity pursed her lips. "Well, that was... awkward." Twilight said with an uneasy laugh as the two made their way into the crowd, escaping the stench of death that loomed over a slowly decomposing Fleur de Lis. Twilight closed her eyes, allowing herself to drown in the sweet chords of a masterful composition. She marveled out how the cello being played could portray emotions, as if it had a soul of its own.

Cello. Twilight's eyes flew open, instantly falling on the source of the music. A grey earth pony stood alone on the stage, her black mane cascading behind her shoulders, streaked with the occasional strand of naturally grey hair. A faded red bowtie was tied around her neck, a little too tight for comfort, if you asked Twilight. Octavia stood, peering down at the cello and bow in hoof as she wove a sorrowful sonata into the ballroom. The music was disrupted by aloud gasp that rose from the audience as a blur of white and purple tackled the cellist, pinning the struggling mare to the ground. Twilight's jaw dropped as Rarity toppled over on top of her, wrestling the cello out of her grasp.

"You are under arrest for the murder of Fleur de Lis! Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law!"  Rarity screamed, her voice swelling in the now-silent room. Octavia ceased to struggle entirely. Twilight made her way onto the stage, gesturing for two guards a she did so. She raised an eyebrow at Rarity, but her attention was soon stolen by the cellist, who's mane now hung in disarray, several strands falling from the once-groomed hair.

"Bravo." Octavia said calmly as the anger drained from her face. "I thought you would never catch on." The mare struggled her hooves free from Rarity's tight grasp, and began clapping slowly, sarcasm hinting every clap of her hooves. The guards, upon hearing her confession, pinned her to the wooden floor of the stage. A murmur rose from the guests, but soon died down as Octavia continued to speak. "Yes, and it would have been the perfect crime, too." she began, bitterly. "If it weren't for you."

"Why did you do it?" Twilight asked as the earth pony's hooves were bound together and the cuff-links clicked shut around her forelegs. The mare's face hardened, the smug smile fleeing from her lips, which now curved in the slightest of frowns.

"I did it, dear Twilight Sparkle, for love." Octavia said, a weak smile momentarily gracing her glossy lips. Twilight watched as her gaze wandered briefly, before lingering on a familiar stallion: Fancypants. "I once admired him from afar, a distant fan of his charm and elegance. Then, I was fortunate enough to make it into the Royal Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra, allowing me to only get closer to that handsome stallion. The only problem was that he was taken... married to that imbecilic trophy wife of a mare. But as long as he was happy, I could cope.

That was until I uncovered a disturbing secret. I saw Fleur... and Jet Set... well, we needn't delve into those details. I was outraged! She was squandering his love away with another stallion! Something had to be done. That is when I devised this plan. I would murder her, and as time passed, it came to be that Upper Crust was a convenient pony to blame. Everything simply fell together since then..."

"Only to fall apart now." Twilight pointed out, but Octavia's smug grin, which had returned over the course of the story, did not falter beneath this speculation. No, it only seemed to deep her pride.

"Oh, Twilight. Is vengeance not worth it? Besides, let's just say... I have friends in high places."

Her voice struck a chord in Twilight's heart, the iciness in her voice extending its cold tendrils into the depths of the detective's mind. What exactly did it mean? Twilight couldn't be sure. But the smile persisted on the murderer's face as she was led away. Rarity sidled up beside Twilight, laying a hoof on her shoulder.

"Why so glum, Twilight? We solved the case. We saved the day, did we not?" Rarity grinned, clearly brimming with confidence at the sight of another criminal about to be cast behind iron bars.

"Of course." Twilight replied, though her mind still lingered on Octavia, on her story, on her eerie sense of optimism in the face of jail, on her words. And so it would remain upon this troubling matter for the remainder of the evening as the ponies slowly settled into their casual routine of chatting and sipping at martinis.

We saved the day... did we not?