The Ponyville Seamstress

Applejack’s mouth gaped open.

The floor of Rarity’s Workroom was stained in blood, and hanging on the walls was Roseluck, Bon Bon, Blossomforth, and Silver Spoon’s cutie marks.  Duct-taped to a chair was an unconscious Sweetie Belle.

Bloody needles and knives littered the tables, and unfinished dresses made of pony-hide were hung on hangers that were strewn all over the room.

Applebloom was cowering in a corner, as Rarity advanced over her holding a red needle.

Applejack advanced on Rarity.  “What in hay is goin’ on in here?!”  Applejack yelled.  It was now clear to her who was taking the ponies.

Rarity turned to Applejack.  “What are you doing here?!”  Rarity screeched, and lunged at Applejack.

Rarity was now on top of Applejack, wrestling to get the red needle into Applejack’s skin.  Applejack fought to throw Rarity off, but she underestimated the charming pony’s strength.  But Applejack was an apple-bucker.  Applejack rolled onto her back, and Rarity levitated the red needle so it was an inch away from Applejack’s neck.  With a great effort, she positioned her hind legs under Rarity.  Then she kicked with mighty power, and Rarity was thrown off her, and quite winded.

Rarity didn’t try to get up again, she just levitated the red needle up and at Applejack.  When Applejack dodged, Rarity got angry.  She sent the needle careening towards Applebloom.

“No!”  Applejack yelled, and lunged at the needle.  Applebloom scrambled away just in time, but Rarity was still trying to poke Applejack with the deadly needle.

“Rarity!  What are you doing!?”  Applejack screamed at her.

“Business, my dear, business.  I thought you'd understand being an orchard pony and all.”  Rarity sneered, and sent the needle toward Applejack.

Time seemed to slow down, Applejack was cornered with the red needle soaring towards her. She cringed and waited for needle, but it never came.

Applejack opened her eyes to see Applebloom holding Rarity’s horn down, and stopping the magic.  Applejack took the opportunity to lunge back at Rarity, whose resistances seemed to be growing more feeble.

Applejack grabbed the role of duct-tape that was sitting under the chair Sweetie Belle was on, and quickly taped up Rarity’s horn.  Applebloom and Applejack managed to work together to tape Rarity down.  Once Rarity realized she couldn’t keep fighting, she gave up.

“You idiots!  You mindless Apples!  You don’t realize what you've done, but you've just ruined my career!”  Rarity shouted.

“Ah still don’t know what’s going on.  All ah know is that ah found you trying to kill my sister with this here needle!”  Applejack shouted in reply.

Rarity laughed.  “I wasn’t trying to kill Applebloom!  Not yet, at least.  An anesthesia needle.”  Rarity sneered.

“Why did you want to give me anesthesia?”  Applebloom asked.  Rarity rolled her eyes.

“It’s none of your business.”  She said.

Applejack tried to wrap her mind around what was going on.

So, Rarity’s the killer?!  That would explain her annoyance at our trying to figure her out! Applejack thought.

“Why did you take Applebloom?”  Applejack asked.

“To lead you here, you ninny.  I knew offering you a dress wouldn’t get you in here, because I already have your measurements.  But I didn’t have Applebloom’s.”  Rarity said smoothly, and jumped out from her duct-tape prison.

“Good girl, Opal, mama’s so proud.”  Rarity said as Rarity’s stealthy cat jumped from behind Rarity.

“I guess this would be easier if you were under the anesthesia, but the client’s needs are my needs!”  Rarity said, and picked up a knife from the sewing table.  It was still wet from what Applejack guessed was Blossomforth’s blood.

Rarity lunged at the unconscious Sweetie Belle before Applejack or Applebloom could stop her.

“She’s still alive, you know. I was going to make her into a lovely scarf, but how else would I be able to do this?”  Rarity said, and she teased the knife closer and closer to Sweetie’s neck.

“You better not hurt Sweetie Belle!  Or ah’ll, ah’ll tell on you!”  Applebloom said defensively.

“Oh my, how cute.  You think you're getting away.”  Rarity laughed, and Opalescence stood by the exit.

“Oh Sweetie Belle, haven’t I told you to stay out of my workroom?”  Rarity said in a sing-song voice.  She rubbed the sides of the bloody knife on Sweetie’s coat, staining it a dark red.

Applejack realized she still had the needle in her hoof.  She raised the needle, poised to throw.

“Ah-ah-ah.  If you throw that needle, Sweetie Belle here will be sold in Canterlot as a scarf.”  Rarity said, and twiddled the knife by Sweetie Belle’s closed eyes.

“So what’ll it be, Applejack?  You could either leave here with your sister, or have you and Applebloom made into a dress for the Gala.” Rarity teased.

“Don’t do it, Applejack.  Ah’d rather be a dress than Sweetie Belle.  Please Applejack, don’t let Sweetie Belle die.”  Applebloom pleaded.

Applejack’s mind was panicking.  If only this was Discord, or Chrysalis, not her dear friend whom she’d loved.  She looked around the room, at the hides of all the ponies Rarity had killed.  What drove her to do this?  Applejack thought sadly.  Applejack thought Rarity was her friend.  But Sweetie Belle was Applebloom’s friend, and Sweetie was innocent.

Applejack looked at Rarity.  She knew what she had to do.