When Shadows Bleed

by Touch of Darkness

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Tragedy, Sad, Dark
Length: 22274

An injured colt is found shivering on a corner next to the mutilated corpse of Pinkie Pie. When an underdog nopony takes up the case nopony else wants to take, he finds a string of crime spread farther than originally thought...

A colt is found shivering on the corner of a street, next to the mutilated body of Pinkie Pie. His eyelids have been cut off, and the only words he mutters are "Your Tears Fuel My Fire". Nopony, not even trained and veteran detectives, will take the case, providing no clues as to why they won't. When an underdog nopony, to be specific, a failed journalist, does what he feels is right, and takes up the case, blowing off the disagreement by retaliating on the detectives who refused to take the case.

His only evidence is a note left inside poor Pinkie's body, and the scared, little colt. Conviction of the felon seems impossible. With the aid of the other Mane 6, a famous, but suspicious DJ, and others willing to help along the way, he is determined to bring a close to the case. What he finds, however, is a string of lies, murder, and crime stretching farther than originally expected…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-24 00:04:23 UTC

Your Tears Fuel My Fire

So cold...I can't blink...what happened to me? The colt looked around. He tried desperately hard to blink, that's what his body urged him to do, nearly drove himself insane trying to do. It just wouldn't happen. The colt began to panic. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his vision blurred. Just before the child let out a wail, a blob of pink caught his desperate, unblinking eyes. For a moment, his hopes spiked, his heart beat faster. He "blinked" away the blurriness, giving his head a little shake to throw the tears off, just to find himself wanting to cry even more than before. The heap of pink wasn't friendly, wasn't inviting and comforting and pleasant. The pink was covered in red also, a lot of it. It flowed and ran and covered the ground. Something white protruded out of the pink, looking like a piece of splintered wood. The colt, his emotions unable to hold back any longer, screamed.

Rarity, out and about, heard the shrill scream and winced. The morning was already gloomy enough. Clouds completely covered the sun, and the smell of storm hung about like fog, surrounding and enveloping and ominous. It had already rained the previous night, but Rarity knew Nature wasn't done yet. Far off thunder brought proof to this. It was then that Rarity regained her focus on what was going on, and found herself already galloping towards the scream. She rounded a corner...and skidded to a dead halt, her heart stopping in a weird mixture of fear, horror, and disgust.

A small colt, a very young child, by the looks, sat on the street corner, wailing and screaming. He was a light shade of blue, with a darker blue mane and tail. Two small wings were folded at his side. Next to him lay the unmistakable pink of Pinkie Pie. Except, the once vibrant pony, lay lethargic on the ground. Not just lethargic, to Rarity's horror as she got close, but still, an effigy now. A dead, bloody, mutilated effigy. Rarity closed the distance quickly, and for the moment, forgot about the small colt, whose screams simmered down to little sobs when he saw Rarity.

"Pinkie...what happened to you?", Rarity asked softly. She felt her own tears well up, and then let the dam break, not caring anymore. She backed up a few steps, and tripped over her own hooves and fell down hard. "Oh Celestia...Pinkie...oh..." What she was staring at wasn't Pinkie any more. Half of Pinkie's face was gone, looking as if torn roughly off. Her chest was slashed open in multiple places, and parts of what was undoubtedly her rib cage stuck out at odd angles, the sharp bone piercing through the skin. Her mane and tail had been severed completely off, including the skin that had connected them to her body. One her legs lay a flattened and bloody mess. That wasn't to say the rest of her body wasn't like that. In all truth, Pinkie herself was just one big, broken, bleeding mess. Rarity remembered the colt and turned to look at him.

"Did...did you see this happen?", she asked, sobs turning her voice into an unintelligible mumbles after that. Then, she realized the sick irony of her question, when she saw the colt had no eyelids. "Wha...ha-happened to y-y-y..." Rarity gulped and calmed herself. "Eyelids?" The colt opened his mouth to say something, but then a very evil curtain flapped over his mind, allowing only one thought through. One thought that reduced the colt's mind to mush. His lip trembled and he whispered something cryptic. "What was that?" Rarity got close so she could hear this time.

"Y...Your tears fuel my fire...", the colt choked out. Rarity gasped and glared at the little colt, having no idea of the trauma that he had been through.

"You? You-you couldn't have done...this!", Rarity stammered. The colt looked sadly at her, but then a thought came to mind. A dark, sickening thought, but one that might help clarify this. Moving slowly, his body feeling like cement, the colt moved to Pinkie's body, and dipped his hoof in the blood. "What are you...!?", Rarity asked angrily. The colt walked out into the street, and began to write something. Though angry, and slightly sickened, that the colt would put his hooves in Pinkie's blood, curiosity won her over, and she moved to see better what the colt was doing. Multiple times he had to come back to the blood to get more, but soon, his cryptic message lay written in blood in the street. By this time many ponies had gathered, and either stood in shock or left to find authority. Rarity looked at the drawing, blinked to be sure what she was seeing was real, and looked again. The colt's message was the same, but the "o" in "Your" was a tear, with the tip pointed with an arrow. It was then that Twilight burst through the crowd, and rushed to Pinkie's side.

"NO!", she cried in despair. "NO,NO,NO!" Tears spilled freely from her eyes, and her body shook with sobs. "WHO DID THIS!?" The colt walked over to her, and said one little word. A little word that would be one of the last sensible things he said.

"Shadows..."

When do the overlooked, the mistreated, the rejects, get a second shot? If you answered anything but never, you are so horribly wrong. It is why we are rejects. It is why we are overlooked. Hell, I am asking this question in my journal that no one other than me is going to read. Shouldn't that be proof enough?, Inkblot Stain wrote. I mean, no one seems to even notice me! I went for an interview to become a journalist, and I swear to Celestia, the interviewer took one look at me, and somehow, by some fucked up "divine intervention", "knew" not to let me take the job. He asked me a few questions, and his response, "I will consider your application.", was enough of a no to me as I needed. What a prick...

Ink Blot finished his finished his journal entry, and got up. He sighed in something that was part desperation, and part depression. He looked around his dreary Manehatten apartment. What there was to look at, anyway. It was small, furnished with nothing but a bed, a cheap desk, and some light fixtures, consisting of a few roof lights, and a lamp. The rest of the furnishings were just drawings and paintings that Inkblot did in his spare time. The walls were brick, and nopony had ever bothered to paint them, so that is just what they were. Brick. Boring, hard, stupid Brick.

A small mirror hung up in his apartment, usually only used for inspiration. Looking at himself now, Inkblot scowled and shook his head. He was actually quite a handsome pony, but when nopony bothered to even throw you a glance, and you went through life like you didn't even exist, it lowered your expectations, a lot. He was on the lighter tan side, but had a black mane and tail. The hair of his mane was so fine and jet black, that it looked like a moving ink stain on his back., hence his name. His height was just above average. Two cynical walnut brown eyes judged himself. A horn stuck out between his long hair. With another exasperated sigh, he looked away. He sat down among his many pieces of art. He sold one every so often for a good amount of money, at least something good to say about his life, and it was that money he got from selling paintings and doing odd jobs that scraped up just enough for him to survive on. He could pay the rent, buy food and necessities, and have the occasional trip, but that was it. Then, there was the drug problem.

"Damn these things...", Inkblot muttered to himself, pushing away the bag of hallucinogenics. Push us away all you want, but we all know that you will just come running back to us, begging for more. You're a filthy addict, a stupid nopony. That is why you started taking us in the first place, though, no?, they seemed to taunt. Inkblot jerked his head away, and started towards the door. He reached for the knob, froze, let his hoof fall back down. Fetching his satchel, which carried everything he needed to go through daily life, and stuffing the bag of assorted substances in there, he was finally able to comfortably go outside. Using his magic, all self taught, and actually quite powerful despite that setback, he locked his door so nopony else could break in. There was a small town he had heard about across Equestria, Ponyville, and he planned on going there. He had already bought the train ticket. All he needed to do now was get on, and leave this horrible city behind for a week. Celestia help the soul of anypony unfortunate enough to try to ruin his vacation. Celestia help them indeed.

The funeral for Pinkie was as dreary as the day, as dreary as Inkblot's apartment. Mourners slowly shuffled through, giving their best regards to the other's that had made up the Elements of Harmony, that group of friends and peace-activists who saved the town over and over again. In fact, the entire town seemed to have lost all of it's light, all it's happiness and liveliness now that Pinkie was gone. She had kept the town abuzz with all sorts of fun, but most of all, she had brought fun into the lives of the other five.

'Ah...Ah need to step outside for a moment...", Applejack whispered to Twilight, who nodded. AJ walked outside, just as the first of the rain began to fall. Pinkie's body had been taken away a few hours earlier, leaving the town in shock. AJ let the first of her tears finally drip to the ground, splashing and merging with the other puddles of water. That is what everypony was, though, no? Just one small little pebble amongst the rocks, just one small drop of water in a big puddle. Something so small that took part in something much larger. Then why did Pinkie's death cause such a big ripple, such a big landslide? It's because of her unity with the town. She tried so hard to make everypony happy, so hard to make them feel like they belonged., AJ thought. "Pinkie...if-if you can hear me, wherever you are...ah won't let you go...if it is the last thing ah do, it will be to kill that horrible sumbitch who did this to you...it ain't gonna be the same around here without ya...ah already miss ya...ah didn't even get to say goodbye...nopony did...and ah think that is what hurts us the most..." AJ felt a wing wrap around her, and the warm lips of Fluttershy kiss her.

"It is, AJ. It is what hurts us the most.", she said softly, leaning into AJ. The two had held a secret relationship for some time now, with no one who knew but Twilight, who had helped them confront, and finally confess, their feelings for each other.

"It sure is nice to have someone, 'specially in a time like this.", AJ said. Fluttershy smiled sadly, and kissed AJ again.

"Yeah...", Fluttershy replied. There was some time of silence. "We need somepony to try to solve this case...I just don't feel comfortable with a killer running amok..."

"Ah actually had that on my mind. Ah am going to send some letters, hopefully we can get somepony out here. Ah want to avenge Pinkie's death.", AJ said. She stomped one of hooves in a puddle, splashing it everywhere.

"Hush, dear. One death is enough. I don't need you to go out murdering somepony else, even out of revenge...", Fluttershy said. Perhaps it was her soft and gentle touch, perhaps it was the logic behind her words, but for whatever reason, AJ calmed down.

"You are right...", she replied. Looking back and seeing that the line had dwindled, they walked back to AJ's farm together. Together, they felt safer and found that they could forget most things. It was together that they felt that they could push through this event that had depressed them beyond anything before. Anyways, if they wanted to forget, they could also try to forget about the colt with the missing eyelids, at least for the time being...but as time goes, it tends to repeat itself in the worst ways...

The train ride was going to be long, and Inkblot knew this. Huddled in his seat, thanking Celestia that he was alone in his row, Inkblot let his mind wander. He reached down into his satchel, and brought out the bag of drugs. He absently reached in a grabbed a mushroom. He sealed and put away the bag, and just sat staring at the mushroom. A mare walked by, backtracked, and then froze when she saw what held in his hooves. He looked up.

"Is that...?", she asked, and backed up in the slightest.

"Listen, don't tell anypony, please? I am not actually going to take it, I am just looking at it. I have been trying to break the addiction for some time now, but I still can't seem to go anywhere without these things.", he said. He got a good look at the mare. She was young, a little younger than he was. He was probably around 23, putting her at just about 21. She was pretty, a blue with a white-light blue mane and tail. She was a unicorn. She had innocent and wary, deep purple eyes, the eyes of an adult just beginning to realize what it meant to come of age. She scowled and looked around, and then sidled into the seat next to him. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Inkblot flinched.

"Maybe I can make an exception for you if you give me...one...", she said, her eyes darting to the ground and back to him in shame. Inkblot stared and cocked his head, and then let out a soft chuckle. Knowing that he wasn't going to judge her, she let out a chuckle of relief.

"Why didn't you just say so?", he said calmly. He gave her the mushroom, and grabbed another for himself. They ate them, and then lay back to let the effects kick in. Within a few minutes, the full effects of a hallucinogenic trip were washing over them. Inkblot wrapped his hooves around her, and she lay her head back against his chest. Outside the train, it rained drops of light, of pure euphoria. Inside the train, the color and the patterns popped out and moved and danced. Everything was just beautiful.

"I don't think I ever introduced myself...my name is Trixie...", Trixie slurred. Inkblot smiled at her.

"My name is...is...ah damn...", Inkblot said. He looked away and spaced out. Trixie laughed softly.

"You're cute...", she said, and blushed.

"Inkblot! That's my name...!", Inkblot shouted suddenly, startling Trixie, who then started to laugh softly again. She flipped around so she could look up at Inkblot. She smiled, and Inkblot, who was now looking back at her, smiled back. To him, her eyes were pools of purple, glowing and beautiful and entrancing. To her, his eyes were giant wheels of art, of architecture that popped out at her. His touch...euphoric. Her touch...calming, inviting.  She started raising her head to his, which he didn't realize, for he had spaced out again. "Can't be-beli....just met...", he said, and then they were kissing. He caressed her, and she embraced him. A bump set them apart, and woke them up from their passionate kiss. They looked around, and the sound of screeching filled their ears, followed by another larger bump, and an explosion.

"What was that...?", Trixie asked. Another explosion, and a bigger bump, this one throwing both ponies into the air. Inkblot pulled Trixie in close again.

"HOLD ON!", he shouted over another explosion. Then they were rolling, rolling, rolling. They were thrown about, and then hit the ground. Inkblot raised a weak hoof and caressed Trixie, who was knocked out. He looked around, and saw a pony walking up to him.

"You always said you wanted to try new things!", the pony shouted over the sounds of explosions, fire, and screams, neither male nor female, and jabbed a syringe into Inkblot. Inkblot cried out in pain, and then blacked out as the drugs hit his system. The last thing he saw was the pony sitting in the middle of the fire laughing and dancing and moving his hooves  as if he was conducting the orchestra of suffering. Then, nothing.

Post Trauma/The Bombs In My Head

Inkblot's eyes slowly opened, only to snap shut again when the burning bright light of day shone through. Covering his eyes as best he could, he raised himself and tried to get a good look around. Clouds still covered the sky, but were beginning to clear. Light poured through these cracks in the clouds, and assaulted Inkblot as he tried to stabilize himself. It didn't help that his head was pounding, and his vision was spinning. Then, a vaguely familiar shape lying on the grass. Moving slowly, his body lethargic, his mind destroyed by anesthetics, he moved toward Trixie.

"T-Tri-xie...", he said weakly, tapping her. He collapsed again. Trixie stirred, and looked around.

"Huh? How...", she started. Then her eyes fell on Inkblot, and she panicked. "Inkblot! Are...are you okay?" Her eyes showed genuine worry.

"Somepony...some...drugged me...", Ink managed to get out. He looked blearily around again. The train wreck was gone, there was no fire, no screaming, no explosions. It was all calm. Eerily calm, to the point that a butterfly flitted over and landed on Inkblot's nose, resting there like nothing was wrong. "I..." He didn't finish, for he blacked out again. Trixie, worried for this new pony, pulled him close, and held his head in her hooves. She didn't remember the passionate kiss they had shared, she didn't remember much at all from their mushroom trip, other than his name, of course. Hopeless, she let him rest, and walked about, trying to find some kind of shelter.

"Remember kid. This all done mmph! procedurally. You just ha GET IN THERE DAMMIT! have to let it happen.", said the pony. The sound of the voice sounded both male and female, and at the same time, neither, monotone, robotic. The colt simply stared in shock as the pony flayed Pinkie, who was gagged. Every cut it made with the saw, every smack across the face, every hit with the different tools elicited a muffled scream, which was quickly silenced by the crying that quickly followed suite.

"Why...", was all the colt could get out. He simply lay splayed on the ground, in a state of shock. The pony had been very quick to stun him, putting some kind of numbing, paralysing drug in his system. It just happened all to quick. One second he had been walking past Pinkie, the next, he was laying on the ground, unable to move, and Pinkie was being attacked.

"Why? I don't actually know, to tell you the truth. So...STOP KICKING YOU LITTLE BITCH!...sometimes, I feel that I do it for the fun of it, but sometimes, I do it because I am asked to. Contract killer? Maybe. Freelancer? You bet you...leave that nail in place, or I swear it goes down your throat...your sorry ass I am.", the pony said. The colt felt some feeling return, and struggled to move, but only achieved a small twitch in one of his legs. He watched helplessly as the pony began to beat Pinkie to death, until finally, there was a hit and no scream. Pinkie was dead. The colt began to cry.

"You...you...", he began.

"Monster? Ha. Don't psyche yourself up kid.", the pony said. With that, it walked over to the colt. "Now, usually, a murderer doesn't want a witness, so I could kill you right now. You are lucky, however, that I have some minor sympathy for children who are in the wrong place at the wrong time." The colt, hearing this hopeful news, nodded vigorously, not realizing that the effects of the drug were wearing off, and that he could make a break for it.

"I promise...I won't tell nopony!", he cried.

"I know, and that is why I do this...", the pony said. Flicking a scalpel out, he took the colt's eyelids, and began to slowly sever them, enveloped in sadistic pleasure. The colt couldn't scream, he found, but the pain still shot through his body like a bullet, like hot metal searing through his insides. It was an agonizing ten minutes before the pony finally stepped away, carrying the colts now severed and bleeding eyelids. "Now, you won't be able to unsee this." The colt began to cry, a sobbing, high pitch wheeze. His tears fell off his eyes, with no skin to roll off of. The pony leaned down, and catching some of the tears, said: "Remember kid. Your tears fuel my fire..."

The colt, with an earsplitting shriek, awoke. He looked around, and found he was in some sort of jail cell. How he had managed to dream, let alone fall asleep, without the ability to close his eyes caught him as strange. The country pony, one he knew by voice, but not by name, sat in a chair not far from his cell. She was looking at him, and waited for him to get his bearings. Then, she walked over to him.

"Hey...bad dream?", she asked softly. The colt nodded. "What about?"

"...P-Pinkie...", he replied. Then, he shook his head, signaling that he would say no more, that he didn't want to talk about it anymore. AJ understood. If she had relieved a murder in her dreams, she wouldn't want to talk about to just anyone.

"It's alright, little one. Ah sent some letters out, and ah am goin' to get ya some help.", she said. She sat down. "So, what is your name?" The colt looked suspiciously at her.

"Blue Mood...", he said softly, barely a whisper, and then, much louder: "You tears fuel my fire." AJ closed her eyes for a second, but made sure to turn away when she did so, not wanting to mock Blue. What a terrible name for a child...ah guess it doesn't really get much worse than what he is going through right now. His name is such a bad omen to his life. Rarity...she was the first there according to some. Would she know what Blue meant by 'Your tears fuel mah fire?' Ah don't know, but it's worth a shot.

"Whose fire? Ah know you can't possibly be the killer. Anything that helps us find that sum...evil pony who did this to ya." In response, Blue walked to the center of the room, and began to mutter to himself. He drew in the dirt, his eyes transfixed on everything, but at the same time, nothing. He was there in body, but in mind, he was gone. He was suffering. He was in post-trauma.

"Your...my fire...tears....my fire...fuel....tears", were only a few of the words that AJ picked up, but it was enough to know he was repeating the same thing over and over again his head. Unable to close his eyes, unable to forget, to unsee what had been done. It was driving him insane. Something needed to be done, before things got out of hoof. To AJ, however, it was too late. That pony who did this, he attacked two ponies at once, and did a number on both. He or she killed my friend, and scarred this little child. Things are already out of hoof, and have been for a long time. To AJ, this was already personal. Applebloom's accident. Before, so convincing. Now...

Time is up...

Trixie had stumbled along blindly for some time now, only knowing that she had moved forward, as to not lose Inkblot. Then, she saw a sight that she would never thought to be so comforting.

"Ponyville...a place where we can find peace...I guess it is time to put aside feuds and grudges, because now, now is not the time to be fighting...", she breathed. Her eyes swept the landscape, and she smiled. She turned around and raced back to Inkblot.

Inkblot was just waking up, again, when Trixie started to tap him. He looked at her, and smiled, and she blushed.

"I found someplace to stay.", she said. Ink smiled again.

"That's good...did you check to see if there are any other survivors?", Inkblot asked, getting shakily up.

"Yeah. I think we are the only ones, but then again, I don't see a train wreck, so it is possible we were moved?", Trixie half stated, half asked. Inkblot just shrugged.

"That somepony who drugged me after the train wreck, he or she might have, but I can't be sure.", Ink said. He looked around, and started to panic. "Where is my satchel!?" He began to run around, looking everywhere. Trixie, having not done serious hallucinogenics, did not have the dependency on them that Ink did. Ink, resorting to his last measure, used a trick that usually crept ponies out. He closed his eyes, and calmed his breathing. He began to walk forward, almost aimlessly, but with an air of purpose. He reached a patch of longer grass, and started digging. He found his satchel, completely unharmed except for a few burn marks where the brown had been blackened, a few inches under the ground. He slung it around his shoulder, and walked back to Trixie.

"How did you..."

"I don't know. It just comes to me. I don't usually do that...it is a long story...I will be sure to tell you at some point.", Ink said quickly. With a shrug, Trixie began walking.

"This way.", she called back to Ink, who started following her. They walked in silence for some time. "So...about that kiss...on the train..."

"You and I were high. We had no idea what we were doing. Anything could have happened. We should consider it lucky that we only kissed, and didn't take it any farther than that.",  Ink said simply, knowing what happened. Multiple times he had been a situation similar, but there had never been physical contact. This was because when he usually got in that kind of situation, he was in the open, and escaping wasn't hard. On the train, however, there had been no escape, so he had to let it just happen. Besides, he would actually have preferred it to happen rather than not. It wasn't everyday that a pony that was as pretty in Ink's eyes as Trixie wanted to kiss him.

"Okay...I just wanted to make sure you knew that this wasn't the start of anything...", Trixie said, with a nod of response from Ink. Facing forward again, she let the blush come back. Is it not, Trixie? Don't tell me that you didn't love the way his hooves caressed you when you kissed. Before you even try to argue, don't even think about denying the fact that you want to feel that all over again, to feel his lips against yours, to feel his hooves hold you close and tight. You loved every second of that, and you want more. So why don't you just tell him the truth. You know the way he looks at you. It wouldn't be a dangerous bet to say that he possibly wants the same. "Maybe later...", Trixie unconsciously said out loud.

"What was that?", Ink asked, now right beside her, his long and sure gait able to match hers in perfect time. Trixie's blush went a deep rose red.

"N-nothing...", she said, and attempted to pull ahead again. That's when the bomb went off in her head. She screamed and fell to the ground in spasms. Ink was at her side in less that a second.

"TRIXIE!?", he shouted. She didn't hear. She wasn't aware that her screaming had become rhythmic, each one loud and in time with each explosion that went off in her head. She seizured, she spasmed, she violently twitched on the ground. It was over in under a minute. Ink felt her pulse. Nothing. Checked her breath. No movement. Her eyes, glazed over and lifeless. Ink stared in shock, and fell to the ground. "Oh...nonono...why...what has she done wrong!? WHAT HAS SHE DONE WRONG!?" Inkblot saw Ponyville over the rise, and, one of very few tears that ever escaped him fell to the grass. Picking up Trixie's lifeless body, he walked solemnly towards Ponyville.

So much for a good vacation...I swear to Celestia...if it was that pony who drugged me who did this to her...I am going to make him or her wish that they never lived...

Twilight was out walking, trying desperately hard to focus. It wasn't easy when you lost somepony so close to you, it was almost like family.

Who am I kidding? Pinkie was family. All of us are just one big family. Dash, Rarity, AJ, Fluttershy...all of us going through the same trauma, the same depression. Why? Simple. We were a family. To everyone else, we lost a friend, but to us, we lost a sister, somepony who would always be there for us in our best times and our roughest times. To be there and make things happy and joyful and wonderful...

Twilight, unable to hold it back any longer, simply collapsed in tears. Her body shook violently with each sob, her cries loud, but unheard by others. Then, a voice called out to her, male and pained, just a she was.

"Hello!?", the voice called. Twilight looked blearily up, and saw said stallion standing not far from her. Something was on his back...but Twilight couldn't tell, not yet.

"Y-Yes?", Twilight asked. She blinked away the tears. This pony wasn't from around here. He was from Manehatten, she could very easily tell from his voice.

"Oh thank Celestia! Can you come and help me?", he shouted, only inching closer. He seemed tired, and out of it, his body shaking. His breathing was calm, but big inhales signified exhaustion. Twilight raced over to him, then skidded to a stop. She recognized that shape on his back. It was...it was... "Let me take one guess...grudge?" Twilight nodded and shot a glare at the limp body of Trixie. Of course, just as Ink was clueless to Pinkie's death, Twilight was clueless to Trixie's.

"I can't carry her.", Twilight almost spat.

"Well you're a unicorn! Can you just use some magic to help at least lighten the load?"

"You are a unicorn too!"

"I am too weak to do it...I promise I will explain later...please?" Ink looked tiredly, but understandingly at Twilight. His eyes showed grim honesty, though the cynical look never left them. Twilight had one final question, a question too obvious to not know would be asked.

"Why should I?"

"She is dead...and I was drugged with some kind of anesthetic...I am too exhausted to carry the full load anymore...and my mind is too blurry to focus on magic..." It only took the first sentence for Twilight's breath to catch in her throat.

"W-what?" She had to sit down, for her world was spinning. She...she can't be dead! Unless...he killed her? No...his eyes are too honest, his manner too truthful. His voice is pained also, like losing her wasn't an easy thing for him...but perhaps he is lying? The reply came back almost instantly. You can't know for sure, but what if he is telling the truth?

"Yeah...", Inkblot replied. Twilight got up, and with the application of simple magic, made Trixie feel almost weight less.

"Follow me. You can rest in my home. From there, we can arrange something for Trixie." Inkblot nodded, and followed Twilight.

"I don't believe I caught your name." Inkblot said. "My name is Inkblot Stain. Everyone just calls me Ink, or Inkblot. If my accent doesn't give it away, I am not from around here."

"My name is Twilight Sparkle. Just call me Twilight..." It wasn't long before they reached Twilight's home, where they stepped inside, and closed the door. Twilight lead Inkblot upstairs, and helped him lay Trixie on a bed. He sat up beside her, and caressed her head with sadness. Twilight felt her pulse, checked her breathing. Nothingness. So he was telling the truth... A single, lonely tear fell on Trixie, and Inkblot wiped it away carefully, as if the slightest rough touch would corrupt Trixie, even in death. "So...what exactly happened?" Twilight noticed that another thing Inkblot held close was a simple satchel, charred in a few places. He kept it tucked close, as if there was something he treasured, or something he feared to be seen, inside. I wonder what's in there...

"Well...I was on a train coming from Manehatten to here, and so was Trixie. We ended up in the same row, and began to talk. We formed a pretty good bond in the short amount of time, finding that it would be nice to call each other friends. Then, the train crashed. It was all I could do to protect Trixie from the impacts. As we lay on the ground, Trixie unconscious, this pony walked up to me and drugged me. When Trixie and I awoke again, were lying in the grass, not too far from here. The train wreck was gone, everything was pristine. I blacked out again, and apparently in that time, Trixie found this place, and rushed back to me. We were walking here together when she fell to the ground in seizures and spasms. I didn't know what to do. When that was over, she was gone. Not wanting to leave her out there, I brought her, hoping to find a proper burial for her. That is when I stumbled across you." Twilight bit her cheek, and nodded. That would explain the bruises and cuts on both him and Trixie.

"Why were you coming here?"

"Vacation...I just needed to get away from...from..." My shitty life, the closed walls of my small home that close even tighter, marking my progress into insanity and depression... "from the city life, I guess. It was just all so busy. I just wanted a place to relax, where I could find some peace and quiet, and maybe even just some happiness. Just a nice place to be." Twilight nodded yet again.

"Happiness is not something you are going to find here.", Twilight said.

"And why is that?", Ink asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, today my best friend was murdered. At least, sometime early this morning..." Ink simply stared, and would have kept doing so if he hadn't felt something.

"Wha...", he murmured. He looked down at Trixie. I swear I just felt...there it is again! A light bump on his hoof. Almost like...A heartbeat! The bump was now a thump, and getting steadily stronger and faster. A small twitch, and Trixie's eyes moved ever so slightly. Then, they slowly fluttered open. The first thing they saw was the brown of Inkblot's, and a smile spread across her face.

"Hey...", it was barely even a breath, but Ink heard it nonetheless and he smiled and cried in joy.

"Trixie! You're okay!", he cried out. Trixie nodded weakly, and pressed herself against him. He helped her sit up, and the first thing she did was to lie back down, except this time, against Ink's chest. Twilight was so surprised by the whole thing, that she could do nothing but simply gawk. Then she noticed something. Inkblot's eyes had changed. The cynicism in the had left entirely, leaving behind joy and care. It was then that Twilight truly saw Inkblot, noticed how handsome he was, realized his utter devotion to keeping Trixie safe, saw how they looked at each other, how they alone seemed to emit a glow of happiness so strong, Twilight didn't realize herself smiling until her cheeks hurt with the effort. Yet, even among this, she felt that evil, evil emotion that was innately within everypony. That emotion that could drive ponies to dangerous lengths. That horrible emotion called jealousy. One look at the two, and her heart yearned for someone of her own. For some strange reason, Inkblot in particular. It seemed that old grudges didn't entirely go away, and Twilight wanted to now deal just that more damage by stealing Inkblot away from Trixie. For now, she pushed the thought away, cursing it. There was key words in there, however.

For now..., her mind whispered back to her. For now...

Uncertainty

"My, you are happy, aren't you? Laying there, with the love of your life by your side? I guess that is how I would have wanted you to be.", Pinkie said. She smiled. "What you don't know, AJ, is that you can't always have everything go right." She began to walk towards AJ, who began to feel slightly uncomfortable. "Things can always go wrong, even at the most perfect of times. And when they do..." Pinkie's form began to change, began to shift into that of a shadow, a vision of darkness. "Expect to see me there." Her voice decayed into monotony, into anonymity, both sounding female and male, but at the same time, being neither, genderless. Her bright blue eyes became red pools of blood, her body simply dissolving at that point, making the shadow taking her place seem almost as if to bleed. "Expect me to be there, laughing at your little, rotting, filthy carcass!"

AJ gasped and awoke. She lay breathing heavily for a few minutes, before Fluttershy's hooves wrapped around her and pulled her back down. AJ's breathing slowed down, and finally became normal.

"It was a bad dream...nothing to worry about...", AJ said quietly to Fluttershy, and kissed her. Fluttershy blushed, but didn't smile.

"I'm scared...", she replied.

"Me too.", AJ agreed. She sat up, and pulled Fluttershy onto her. Fluttershy leaned her head back against, AJ, finding comfort she couldn't find anywhere else.

"More are going to die...", Fluttershy said suddenly.

"What? Where is that coming from? Nopony else is going to die...", Applejack reassured her lover.

"I-I don't know where it's coming from...I just know that Pinkie isn't the first, and sure as Celestia above, not going to be the last.", Shy replied. She pressed closer to Applejack.

"Ah ain't gonna let that happen. We are going to catch that evil pony. Even if ah have to do it with mah bare hooves.", AJ said. A fire burned in her eyes, a fierce fire too hot and too big to be controlled.

"Just don't get yourself hurt...", Shy said quietly, before nodding off again. AJ stayed awake for another few minutes, before she too lay back down and embraced Fluttershy, letting the warmth of her body be all the comfort she needed, knowing the love of her life was right there next to her.

Expect me to be there...

Inkblot sat outside of Twilight's home, simply staring off into the distance. Trixie walked out, and sat down beside him. Twilight and Spike stood in the doorway, just looking at them.

"I understand that they have done nothing wrong, but can't you tell that Inkblot has some problems? Have you noticed how jumpy and cautious he is, like he is hiding something?", Spike said, crossing his arms.

"So what! Sure, he has his quirks, but just let him alone! He hasn't done anything wrong yet, so you have no reason to judge him.", Twilight replied curtly.

"Yet. I say don't trust him, and my opinion stands.", Spike replied, and with a huff, disappeared into the house. Twilight sighed in aggravation, and sat down.

"FUCK!", Inkblot suddenly swore. Trixie, being used to foul language at this point in her life, only flinched because of the suddenness of the outburst. Twilight, on the other hoof, not only jumped, but grimaced in distaste at the language, knowing there wasn't much she could do about it. Ink had begun to pace restlessly. "I just came here to enjoy a damn vacation. Now I am stuck here for a week, right in the middle of a murder case, and the killer hasn't been found! Like my life couldn't get any shittier than it already is!"

"Ink...calm down...", Trixie whispered. Her horn glowed, and Inkblot moved toward the mare. He reluctantly sat down. "You don't have to be so negative about it. As bad as murder is, you are only here for a week, like you said. Just enjoy it while you can." Twilight walked down and sat down at the other side of him.

"We are contacting detectives already. We shouldn't have much to worry about.", she put in helpfully, trying to ease the mood.

"From where?", Ink asked, his anger abiding for the moment.

"Well...just about anywhere we can find a good one...", Twilight said.

"Good luck with Manehatten detectives.", Ink scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Why is that?", Twilight asked.

"Most of them are self-centered, arrogant "elites" now. Having worked covertly with some of them, I have realized that they feel that only high class deserve their services. If you ask them why, they won't tell you. They will just blow you off with excuses. That's the good ones. The bad ones don't get you anywhere.", Inkblot said.

"But...they are supposed to help everypony...", Trixie said.

"That's what their contract says, but in Manehatten, their isn't much that binds them to the contract anymore. Of course, there are certain lines they can't cross without being caught, but otherwise, their acts voiding the contract go unnoticed, or unpunished.", Ink said.

"That's not fair.", Twilight said, her head cocked in confusion, and a scowl darkening her face.

"Exactly. More profit for them. That's all they care about now.", Inkblot replied.

"Well...", Trixie said, trailing off.

"Happy fucking vacation...", Ink swore.

Rarity ran down the hallway, eyes darting from side to side. She tripped and fell, crying out in despair. She looked behind her.

"Rarity...where are you going...?", Soarin asked, running after her. He slowed to a stop when he saw Rarity lying on the ground, and a sardonic grin spread across his face, though part of it was hidden by the broken metal hanger in his mouth.

"Soarin, wha...what are you doing?", Rarity asked, her lip trembling and her eyes wide and tearing up in paralyzing fear. Soarin moved forward and sat down, and took the hanger out of his mouth. He raised it up. "S-Soar..." She cut herself off with a scream of agony as Soarin slammed the sharp edge of the hanger into her belly, causing a spurt of blood. He ripped it out violently, tearing her belly open and spraying blood all over his smiling, evil face. He leaned down and put the hanger to Rarity's throat, slowly dragging it across multiple times, causing a trickle of blood. He put his mouth to her ear.

"I said only so far, didn't I? Yet on you went.", he said, and with that, wrenched open Rarity's neck, breaking it and tearing it open at the same time. Rarity lay on the floor gasping uselessly for breath as she lay paralyzed on the ground. "Serves you right, you little slutty bitch." Then, a cry sounded through the halls of the home, and Soarin awoke.

Soarin raised his head up and shook it. In his mind, he kept relieving that horrible wrenching sound as Rarity's neck snapped. He took a deep breath in, and let out, trying to calm himself. Why would I dream about that? I would never kill her. He looked to his side. Rarity was pressed against him, crying. Her hooves were at her belly, and she was gasping for breath in between her sobs. He wrapped his hooves around her.

"Rarity, what's wrong?", he asked. Rarity pulled away, tears still forming in her eyes. The two had shared a very strong relationship for a long time, but had recently, in fact, only a few days before Pinkie's death, broken up because of tension between the two. Not long after, however, Rarity started having nightmares, and she quickly reached her final straw. She practically begged for Soarin to at least stay with her, so she had his comfort. He agreed willingly, and had since lived with Rarity, and though the nightmare problem didn't seem to be subsiding, Rarity seemed more comfortable with Soarin there.

"I-I dreamed that you were chasing me down the hallway of my home...you had a broken hangar in your mouth, and then you stabbed me with it right in the belly, and then you b-broke my neck and slit it open...and oh Celestia it was horrible!", Rarity cried. Soaring scowled, finding it strange how him and Rarity had shared a dream.

"I would never do that to you. It was just a nightmare." Rarity's crying started to subside. "Shh...it's alright...I'm right here...the real me...", he replied, and softly caressed Rarity, who met one of his hooves with her own and held it close.

"S-Soarin...I need you back in my life...like, I need you back in my life...", Rarity said, her Light Blue eyes meeting with his Green. Soarin smiled down at her, for his mind had been thinking the exact same thing.

"Rarity...I never meant to hurt you...everything I said, everything I did, if I could take it all back, I would, in an instant. When you left me, something inside me died, and the rest of me never got over you."

"Really? Please tell me you aren't lying...please."

"Rarity, I still love you, so much. What I said...I was depressed." A pause. "Remember that stunt I pulled a couple weeks back, that thing I did in Canterlot?"

"Yeah...I was there when it happened."

"Well, apparently it didn't suit well with the authority, and the Wonderbolts themselves. According to them, I did something illegal, and it resulted in more death than lives saved, and that I didn't deserve to be a Wonderbolt anymore. It took them a week to finally persuade the Administration to remove me. They revoked my license as a Wonderbolt, and told me to go kick rocks. That is why I said all those things to you Rarity. I was just..."

"Angry, depressed, confused."

"Yeah. Exactly. I am so sorry Rarity. Do you forgive me?" Rarity nodded, but didn't smile. She had something else to say. This is what she feared most, the telling of this secret. It might break them apart once again, something she didn't want to happen ever.

"S-Soarin...there is something I have to say..."

"What is it, my love? Wait, let me guess...you are with another stallion?" Rarity scowled. She had forgotten that.

"Well, sort of. Big Mac was there right when I needed somepony most, and he helped my get back on my hooves. He didn't think you and I were forever doomed, though. He told me quite a few times that he knew that you and I were going to find our way back to each other. That isn't what I wanted to tell you, however."

"What then?"

Rarity sighed. Time to drop the bomb. "I...I'm pregnant...with your foal..." Soarin opened his mouth to say something, closed it, opened it again, once again closed it, attempted once more, and only managed an embarrassingly high pitch squeak. He knew when it had happened. It was just before he was fired. Rarity had gone into heat, and he had been unable to control himself. With the depression of the following days, he had completely forgotten, but now, the truth knocked the air out of his lungs.

"I'm-I'm a father?", he wheezed. He took a few seconds to catch his breath.

"Yes, Soarin, you are. You have been for about a week now." Soarin swallowed nothing, and let his breath even out.

"Oh..." He looked in Rarity's eyes, and then, started to smile. "All the more reason to be with you, my precious gem. All the more reason to stay and love you and be with you and never let you go again." Rarity smiled, and pressed up nice and close to Soarin, a tear of joy falling from her eye.

"I was so afraid that you weren't going to accept it, or that you might leave me after the fact. Thank you...thank you for promising to stay...oh, I love you so much Soarin. I promise that no matter what we go through, that you will be my stallion. I don't want anypony else but you."

"Nothing will tear us apart. I won't let that happen.", Soarin said, wrapping his hooves tight around Rarity. There they lay for the longest time, not letting each other go, bathing in the love that poured off the other. It was there that they felt safe and sound, that as long as they were with each other, everything was going to be alright.

Oh, how wrong you are. You think that you are so safe, but I say we agree to disagree. Watch your backs, because you are never safe. Never.

In Manehatten

Silver Reprisal, better known to everpony else as just Reprisal, sat in Inkblot's home. He looked about the depressing apartment with nonchalance. He was a silverish alicorn, with a pepper and salt mane and tail. His eyes were all of these colors, mixed in lines, swirls, and dots. Everypony swore they saw it differently, almost like a Rorschach image. Reprisal got up, and looked at all the paintings.

You never stopped painting, did you? Hm... He looked around the room, seeing if he could find anything of use. Seeing the desk, he searched through the drawers until he found a gun. A gun? Where in the hell did you get this, Inkblot? I don't even want to know what you planned to use it for. Finding nothing else but blank paper, and scrapped sketches, Reprisal walked to the front door. Well, off to Ponyville then. Reprisal walked out the door, and locking it with magic that nopony could break, teleported himself to the quaint town.

Back In Ponyville

Reprisal ended up just outside the Sugar Cube Bakery. The sign read closed, but he knew better. Sighing, he opened the door. Inside, he found Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the former holding the latter close, the latter sobbing. Both looked up when the heard the door open.

"How did you get in?", Mr. Cake asked, a wary tone entering his voice.

"The door was unlocked.", Reprisal said simply.

"But we...", Mr. Cake started.

"No you didn't.", Reprisal shot back. Mr. Cake looked down at his sobbing wife.

"What do you want? Why did you even come in here? Even if I forgot to lock the door, the sign read closed. Shouldn't that at least make you take the hint?"

"Not me, no. You see, Mr. Cake, I am here to find out what happened to Pinkie."

"How do you know my name? And shouldn't you already know what happened to her? The whole town knows, hell, probably all of Canterlot and maybe even Manehatten knows at this point, based on the way news travels nowadays."

"Well I don't. Would you like to know why?"

"Yes, I would. Anything to get you out of here." Reprisal chuckled.

"Well Mr. Cake, that is because I was supposed to be the one to kill her." Flicking out a dagger, Reprisal launched himself at the Cakes. Mrs. Cake was the only one with time for a scream, and it came out no more than a squeak, unheard to the rest of the town.

And so, my corruption spreads farther and farther. It seems that I am not the only one in this scheme anymore. That is interesting, but it again brings up the point that you are never safe. Never, ever. And soon, I will lay my hooves on you, and mangle your poor helpless bodies.

Corruption/Silver Ink

In The Night...

Celestia stirred in her bed, feeling very uncomfortable. Finally, her eyes snapped open. Her horn lit up with instinct, and the room filled with light. She saw nopony, but yet, still felt like she was being watched. Looking around, she chuckled to herself when she saw an owl, Owlowicious, to be exact, in the window. She got up, and walked to the bird.

"Oh you silly little thing. You scared me.", she huffed as she reached the window. She sat down, and stretched out a hoof, letting the owl climb onto it. "Did Twilight send you?"

"My question is why you are touching my pet.", a voice called out, making Celestia jump. She watched in horror as the skin peeled off Owl, revealing a bloody raven, who was still working on bits of owl meat. It squawked in her face, and then flew to its master. Celestia whirled around just in time to see a shadow charging her. The she was thrown back onto her bed. "You didn't answer my question." The voice was neither male nor female, monotone, but a the same time both. It was ominous, and creepy.

"I-I..."

"Whatever, shut up you." Celestia obeyed. She tried to sit up. "Don't you dare sit up. You stay lying down, or you are in for a world of hurt."

"W-Why...?"

"I said so, that's why. Now, you listen to me." Celestia nodded. The shadow was then on her bed, walking up to her body. "I do not believe in a dictatorship. It is stupid. You lock your own sister in a tower, well, at least most of the time, and your apprentice has literally no power over you. This is even despite the fact that you have made her a "princess". In my opinion, dictators need to be shown some disrespect."

"I have done nothing wrong!"

"Don't lie to me Celestia. I very clearly remember the Rhinestone incident. You made the whole of Equestria itself believe that the entire thing was a family feud, when it was you who in fact executed half the family, burned down their homes, ceased their possessions, and left the rest to the Changelings. And for what? A little thing that we all call conspiracy. This conspiracy, however, was true, because it talked of your corruption. You couldn't allow everypony to know of all the wrong things you have done."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Celestia's eyes blazed fire, but at the same time, she was scared. This pony knew too much. She didn't dare step out of line. This pony was a pony who kept all promises, she could tell that very easily.

"Here's a good one! What about that very interesting Sombra affair?" Celestia's breath caught in her throat. The pony couldn't know about that. Not even Luna did. It had been between only her and Sombra, and well, eventually her bed. She tried to say something, but all the came out was something like a little squeak. "Ah, so you admit to that."

"No! I admit nothing to these lies!", Celestia shouted. Within the space of a second, a magically enforced gag was shoved inside her mouth, and tied around the back of her head. It also covered her nose, and soon, Celestia was running out of breath.

"I told you to shut it a while ago, did I not? We were keeping good conversation, but you just had to go and shout. I can't have that happen again. We wouldn't want the Royal Guard coming here, now would we, for that would trigger me to get mad, and you don't want to be on the bad end of me when I am mad." Celestia nodded vigorously. Celestia began to spasm on the bed, her lungs hurting in a pain she had never felt before. The pony stared down at her, waiting until Celestia was on the brink of suffocation, and then took off the gag. Celestia gasped for breath, her breathing much faster than would be healthy. As her breath came back to her, she began to calm down, but the fear in her eyes only intensified. "Now, did we learn our lesson?" Celestia once again nodded her head vigorously.

"Ye-Yes master..." The word slipped out, but felt appropriate. As if giving the pony the title would please it, and maybe spare her from pain. The title fit anyway, for the pony, even from Celestia's lower perspective, was obviously bigger than her. The pony smiled.

"You catch on quick Celestia.", the pony said, and without warning, threw itself forward, and buried its tongue in Celestia's marehood. Celestia found out why the pony had kept her lying down. Celestia let out a half cry of surprise, half moan of pleasure.

No...it can't feel good...not by this...thing... Yet, on Celestia went to let out another pleasure filled moan when the pony's tongue slid deeper. "Oh...oh..." The pony pulled out, and Celestia groaned in dissatisfaction.

"You would like that wouldn't you, Celestia? You would like to have your body sexually exploited by an obviously evil force."

"No...no, I don't...", Celestia groaned.

"Your wings say different." Celestia noticed her wings stiff and outstretched. She reddened in shame. The pony ran a hoof over the feathers, and Celestia moaned and shook her head. NO! I DON'T LIKE THIS! I CAN'T LIKE THIS! Celestia's head answered her. Yet you do. You do more than just like it, you love it. Celestia mentally shook her head. NO! On the outside, she was moaning in pleasure, and her hips bucked as she reacted to it

"Please, stop...I don't want this...I am a princess...I don't deserve this..."

"Now you realize the seriousness of this problem, hm? If you don't, give it a second." The pony pulled away, and sat far away, leaving Celestia gasping in her lust for more. Wait, lust for more? The dark truth hit Celestia as fast as a bullet. She didn't know why she hadn't realized it before.

"No...I am not due for another few days!"

"Well it seems your heat came early then, didn't it?" The pony moved forward again, and began running his hooves over her. Celestia's body moved and got chills of euphoria.

"No...this can't be happening. This is molestation!", Celestia cried. She felt the urge to scream for the Guards, but knew what would happen if she did would not be at all pleasant. This is pleasant. This is pleasure and euphoria... Celestia yelled at her mind. Don't think like that! Don't give in!

"Molestation? What a modest term. I prefer harsher terms."

"What could that possibly mean?" Then Celestia saw it. The huge member. Her eyes widened. "No..."

"Words like Rape, perhaps." With that, the stallion/thing put a hoof on Celestia's throat, asphyxiating her, and shoved himself inside her. Celestia let out a weak cry, choked because of the hoof. The pony began to thrust, causing Celestia to let out a sigh of relief from the pull of heat. It feels so good...oh... Celestia moved the hoof to the side, just so she could grab it with one of her own, holding onto to conscious thought for as long a she could. The pony smiled, and Celestia found herself smiling when she felt its grip back on her hoof, somehow comforting and linked to reality.

"Oh...it feels so good...don't stop...", Celestia moaned, tossing her head around.

"Well, it ain't rape if you like it, they say...I must think of something then.", the pony said. Its devilish mind instantly snapped on multiple things to defile the poor, lusty princess. It smiled and began to nip at Celestia's neck softly and sensually. Celestia smiled at the pony, wrapped in bliss and feeling something blossom inside her heart.

"Is there anything I can call you?", she asked quietly. Quieting her moans to soft and seductive sighs in order to hear the pony.

"Call me Clain...", Clain said, feeling chills go down its body as its climax approached. Celestia, her head bobbing with the now almost orchestrated and smoothed out movement of their connected bodies, looked half lidded at Clain as the full effects of heat set over her. It enveloped the evil that the functional part of her mind screamed at her to get away from in a case, hiding it from her. She let her moans come back full force.

"Clain...what are you going to do after this?"

"Let's finish first, my dear." They climaxed together. Clain fell off Celestia, and wrapped its hooves around her.

"Will you answer my question now?"

"Yes. Well, at first, I thought this was going to be a one and done deal." Celestia grew saddened by this comment, still blinded and infatuated by the effects of heat. "But, things progressed much faster than I thought, and I realized this might work out for the both of us." Celestia flipped around and looked at Clain.

"Wha...what do you mean?"

"I mean that things could move toward this not being a one time thing." Clain winked at Celestia, who smiled, overjoyed at its comment. She couldn't call Clain a he, it was unnatural. It had no horn to make it talk the way it did, no wings to get it up to Canterlot, and still it was here, it was just alien. It, like Master, fit very well.

"You're sure?" Clain actually found happiness inside, something it had never felt before. Clain felt the wanting to be with Celestia, the wanting to stay with her, and it actually like that feeling. It did nothing to overcome the evil that lay in its body, however. Clain did not plan to stop, not now, probably not ever.

"No, but I can very easily see myself at your side for as long as we live." This statement wasn't a lie, and expressed the many feelings running around its head very well. Celestia, now satisfied, buried herself in Clain's dark black, shadowy fur. Clain kissed her, and they fell to sleep together.

This is working very well on my part! I never expected it to go this well! Damn, it seems like you just have to have the right mindset. With Celestia taken care of, and now maybe my mate, I can continue my killings unnoticed by her. With her at my side, and under my control, I will be unstoppable.

In Ponyville

Reprisal walked through the streets of Ponyville. Finally, he reached his destination: Twilight's home. They are all asleep now. What to do?

"Hey, who are you?", asked Inkblot, coming from behind Reprisal. Reprisal jumped and whirled on Inkblot. In comparison to Ink, Reprisal was taller, but the difference was subtle. Noticeable, but not by any means exponential.

"Inkblot. Nice to finally meet you.", Reprisal said, a sneering smirk playing across his face.

"Again I ask who you are."

"My name is Silver Reprisal. Just call me Reprisal."

"Wouldn't Silver be easier?" Reprisal's smirk twitched at this unexpected comment. He huffed.

"Well...yes..."

"Well then I will call you Silver, and I don't give a shit about what you say. Now, Silver, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

"I could ask you the same.", Reprisal said, hoping to catch Ink off his guard.

"I live here with Twilight. What's your reason?" Reprisal faltered for a second, and silently gulped. Ink was good. It was almost like he knew what Reprisal was going to ask, before he asked it.

"Uhm...heheh...uhh..."

"What were you planning on doing?" By this point, Ink's horn was glowing, his eyes glaring. Silver backed up a little bit. When he had began following Inkblot, he had never realized how actually terrifying the stallion was. His manner, his eyes, that constant feeling of being helpless and that nothing was sacred, that no thought was safe from him, it unnerved oneself, and could probably ultimately drive them mad. How Twilight and Trixie found a way around this was very curious.

"I...I don't know." Reprisal knew the fib was bad, but it was his last shot.

"Bullshit." Reprisal's hooves were knocked out from under him, and he grunted when he hit the ground. He found himself unable to move. "Will you tell me now?"

"Why would I? You'd get no gain from it.", Reprisal spat.

"I wouldn't?" Ink shot forward, and landed a punishing blow into Silver's chest, knocking the breath out of him. "I would get the gain of not having to hurt you as much as I want to, and you get the gain of not getting hurt, and walking away scott free. Now, about what you're doing here."

"Kiss my ass." Reprisal's horn lit up, but Ink countered with a lightning quick move, that left Reprisal in a worrying position. Ink held Reprisal's wings with magic, his hold tight and iron, and had a hoof placed and pressing down on Reprisal's horn.

"Which do you lose?" The magic began to twist the wings it was locked around, causing Silver to stifle a scream of pain. "Your wings?" Silver gasped.

"You wouldn't..." Ink pressed down harder on Reprisal's horn.

"Or your horn? Now, would you like to say something to me?"

"Fuck you." Inkblot slammed his hoof down, and snapped the horn in two. This time, Silver did scream in pain, and would have passed out if it weren't for Inkblot's magic keeping him conscious, not only to the world, but also to the excruciating pain.

"You didn't believe me. You really are an idiot." Silver was crying as wave after wave of nausea and searing pain and agony swept speedily through his body.

"I...I was going to hurt them! Okay!? It's my job! I don't want this anymore..." Ink snapped both of Silver's wings with magic, once again keeping him conscious to the pain. Inkblot savored the ear-splitting shriek that escaped Silver's mouth. When he had got his breath again, he cried: "I told you what I was going to do! Why did you do that!?"

"Nopony hurts them, especially not Trixie. I swear to Celestia above, if you even touched that mare, and I found out, you would lose more than just these useless things."

"Please, stop! Don't hurt me anymore! Please..."

"Why should I stop? Tell me, how many have you hurt before?"

"This is my first time, I swear." Another kick to the stomach, which sent blood into Silver's mouth, set him straight.

"How many have you hurt?"

"22! Are you happy, you sadistic fuck?"

"Very much so." Another kick into Silver's stomach. "And how many of those that you have hurt, have you killed?"

Silver was not going to do anything to lie, or retaliate at this point. He curled into a ball, and whimpered. "13..."

"Interesting. Would one of those killed be an innocent mare by the name of Pinkie?"

"I was supposed to kill her...somepony got to her before I did..."

"So you admit that you were contracted to kill her."

"I admit that I was contracted, yes. I didn't kill her though. I swear!"

"I can tell you are not lying. Do you know anything that can help me with finding the killer?"

"I might know some things..."

"Would you like your horn and wings back?" Silver nodded. "Do you promise me to stop your killing and hurting, and live a peaceful life?"

"Yes...I swear on my own life that I shall not commit another crime, ever."

"Good, because I will uphold that promise. Now, come with me, and grab your horn, will it do you fine?" Inkblot left Silver to get up on his own, and pick up his now broken horn. He followed depressed behind Ink. They walked inside, Ink walking right into Trixie.

"Hey...", she said, in the same way she had said it when she had risen from the dead this afternoon.

"Hey. I had to deal with some bloke, and that's what the sc..." Trixie's warm and calming lips silenced Ink, and she pulled him into a kiss. When it broke, a surprised Inkblot stumbled away after Silver, telling the "idiot" to "sit down", a more than jealous Twilight staring at the commotion in the room, and a happy Trixie nearly swooning from bliss.

Silver sat down, and dropped his horn on the ground. This shook Twilight back into the disturbing reality of the situation, and she gasped.

"Ink! What did you do to this poor stallion!?", she cried, and rushed over to Silver.

"Poor? Twilight, he admitted himself that he was here to hurt you, and Trixie. I found him just outside the house." Twilight looked Silver in the eyes.

"Is that true?" Silver nodded, ashamed. Twilight looked down at the ground, her eyes floating over to the horn.

"About the horn and wings, can you fix them? If you need my help, I will help you. He swore upon his life that from this point on, he would live a life of peace. Besides, I need him healthy if he is to help in the Pinkie case."

"But the detectives..."

"Fuck the detectives. I guarantee you that tomorrow, you will receive nothing but replies denying your requests. Silver here, he knows at least a little bit about the murder."

"He does?", Trixie asked, plodding over.

"Yes. He was originally contracted to kill her, but he told me he isn't the one who did so, and I believe him. He said he knows something that could help me."

"You believe him!?", Twilight hissed, and slapped Silver, who only fell over, letting the inviting hands of unconsciousness finally take him.

"Yes...and you knocked him out. Wonderful." Twilight seethed inside, at Silver, and at Inkblot's smartass comment. She breathed a few times, letting herself relax.

"Okay...okay...why did you believe him?"

"I just do. I know he wasn't lying when he said it."

"What if he practiced?"

"Trust me, he was not at all prepared for me. He underestimated me by a long shot. As you can see, it didn't go too well for him." Twilight sighed. Inkblot was right. Silver had no reason to lie to Inkblot, especially since he found out what Ink did to protect those he cared for. The word sounded weird in Twilight's head, but Ink did care for her, and Trixie. Trixie was obvious, it was not hard to tell that they had feelings for one another, but Twilight wondered why Inkblot cared for her. It's because he doesn't want anypony to get hurt. Despite everything off about him, he has a good heart, and you know it.

"Well, alright. Help me bring him up to the couch." The three unicorns worked together with their magic, really just for shits and giggles, and carried Silver upstairs. They set him down on a couch, and then headed off to bed. Twilight, stayed however, and got to work. It was going to be a long night.

In the room that Inkblot and Trixie shared, Inkblot lay Trixie down, and kissed up her neck, bringing a smile to her face, and a sigh of bliss.

"Inkblot...I don't know why I have these feelings for you, we haven't known each other for even a day. Yet, they are here, and everytime we touch, everytime your eyes lock with mine, my heart flutters and my perception is clouded by thoughts of you..." Inkblot looked in Trixie's eyes, lost in them, revelling in the fact that Trixie was here, so close to him, so beautiful and wonderful in the moonlight.

"You are not alone in these feelings Trixie. You make me feel the same way. Except..." Inkblot knew the next words were going to be a much needed relief, to get them off his chest. "I think about you when I don't see you. In fact, ever since I met you, you are nearly the only thing that is ever on my mind." Trixie buried herself in Inkblot's fur, and he wrapped his hooves around her, much in the same way that Clain was doing to Celestia at the same time. "I-I can't say I love you...I feel that I haven't known you long enough...but you have certainly stolen my heart. You make me smile, something I haven't done since I was a child. There is so much special about you that makes you stand out to me, and makes me want to protect you and never let you go." Trixie looked up at Ink, her eyes shining with happy tears.

"Oh...Inkblot...", she moaned, and they locked in another kiss. When they pulled away, they knew that they wanted nopony but each other. Trixie buried herself in Inkblot's fur again, and they fell to sleep, feeling satisfaction by the mere fact that the other was right there, touching them, comforting them, but most of all, realizing their love for each other. It was the beginning of a strong bond, that would be tested to the point of nearly breaking many times.

In the light of death and pain, two have found more than just friendship in each other. I don't intend to let this continue. I don't fear much, but if I were to choose the thing I fear most, it is love. I mean, Celestia is my exception, for if things have worked in my favor, she is mine now, and that makes me overjoyed. Otherwise, love is hard to overcome. Breaking love isn't all too hard, but to sever the bond completely is very difficult, and lovers tend to stick together. I fear Inkblot within himself already, he is definitely more than he seems, but to have him fall in love? It would give him the motive to stop me, and a strong motive at that. I must stop this before it gets any farther, or else...I don't even want to admit it...

Submission/Sweet and Sour

Celestia opened her eyes and stretched, and then hugged her hooves around herself.

Was it all dream? It just seems... Celestia looked at the empty side of her bed, and saw a depression where a pony recently got up from. So it was real. Yet, I am not afraid. In fact, I feel sad. Clain promised to stay, but is nowhere to be seen. My heart longs to see it, to feel its touch. Why? It is evil. Celestia tenderly brought a hoof down to her belly. I was in heat...that can only mean one thing. She sighed. Even though the truth is hard to handle, I don't want it to be false. I don't know why I want Clain in my life. Perhaps...perhaps I am corrupt. Perhaps my destiny was to fall in love with evil, and to become one with it. Celestia looked up at the roof of her bedroom. I am not doing anything just laying here. Maybe walking around will help me think. Let out another sigh, Celestia got up out of bed, and walked into the main room, where she found Luna idly playing with a spoon, turning it over and over in the air in boredom. You lock your sister away...well at least most of the time...

"Luna?" Luna looked up at her sister.

"Well good morning Tia. Nice to finally see you up." Luna didn't seem at all forlorn. In fact, she even seemed happy, despite her boredom.

You couldn't have them find out about your corruption... "Sis, there...there is something we need to talk about." Celestia sat in front of her sister, and Luna looked on.

"Is something wrong?"

"Sort of. I have a question."

"Of course!"

"Do you...do you feel lonely up there in that tower?" Luna scowled.

"Well, sometimes. I get over it though. I am up there for a good cause."

"No, not anymore..."

"What do you mean Tia? That scare a few years back left everypony nervous. I deserve to be locked up there."

"No, no you don't. Last night, a pony came to me, in my dreams. The pony reminded me...reminded of things that I have done. Things that I have done that I am not proud of."

"Don't say that. You haven't done anything wrong."

"The pony knew about the Rhinestone incident, sis." Luna faltered. She knew the truth about it too, but didn't like accepting it.

"Well...everypony does! It was an accident."

"The pony knew the truth. It knew what we did to them." Once again, Luna faltered.

"You-You said it was a dream! It was your...uh...guilty subconscious!"

"Luna...the pony was real."

"How do you know?"

"Did you send me a dream last night?"

"Ah...I...Uh...no..."

"Why was that?"

"Because...because you were awake...I guess...I guess I just forgot to send you one..."

"There you go."

"But..."

How about that interesting Sombra affair?...He couldn't know about that. Nopony knew about it. "Luna...there...there was a reason I gave you such a harsh punishment."

"What?"

"It happened just before that fateful day. Apparently, someway, somehow, Sombra had returned. He had gotten into the castle, and had caused strife among the residents here. Finally, word reached me, and I sought him out. Really, he found me. It was late at night, and I was in bed reading. My door opened, and he just stepped in. He started talking all polite and calm to me, but I soon realized he had an ulterior motive. We began to argue, and things almost got serious. We were staring down the barrel of a gun; our horns were blazing, and we were just about ready to launch into a fight. Not wanting this to happen, I tried to reason with him. He made me a deal, and...I had to accept. It was either that, or let him run amok through Equestria."

"What was the deal?", Luna asked, now very curious and intent.

"I...if I let him mate with me, he would leave us alone...I was in heat at that time of year...and he knew it."

"Wait...whoa...you..."

"Yes, Luna. I-" Celestia gulped, the unfamiliar word tasting horrible in her mouth. "I had sex with Sombra." Luna quickly got up and began to pace.

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Because I was scared!"

"You could have still told me!"

"But...it felt wrong..."

"UGHH!" Luna cried out. She let out a long breath."You...! I can't even...!" She took a few seconds to calm herself. "You said you were in heat. Did you..."

"Get pregnant? Yes. I murdered the child as soon as it was born."

"Oh my..." Luna was shocked. She had seen Celestia order executions, but would have never thought her one for murder. "How did I not know you were pregnant, nor anypony else?"

"You got locked in the tower a few days later, and the rest, I just used my magic to blind them to the fact. I lied, Luna. I have been lying for a long time." Luna looked at her sister.

"What do we do now?"

"I am corrupt, Luna. What is there to do?"

In The Afternoon

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom walked side by side, talking idle talk. Not much was really on their minds. They had cleared their thoughts, trying desperately hard to forget the murder that still haunted them. Applebloom walked with her usual limp, which had started after her leg had been hurt in her accident. Finally, the idle talk died away into nothing, and they walked in silence for a little while. Finally, Sweetie Belle broke the silence with a much needed, happier toned comment.

"Hey Applebloom. I have something to show you.", she said, a smile spreading across her face. Applebloom, willing to do anything to break the sluggishness that lay over Ponyville on this particularly hot and humid day, smiled back, and followed Sweetie Belle to under the shade of a tree. They sat down, and let the coolness of the shade relieve them before Sweetie Belle jumped back to what she was saying.

"What is it that you want to show me?", Applebloom asked, her curiosity started to broil.

"Well not really show you, but tell you. I found out who a certain somepony in our group likes." Applebloom frowned.

"Not me, right? If you did...keep it quiet?"

"No, not you."

"So Scootaloo! Ooh! I have got to hear this!", Applebloom's curiosity was now almost boiling.

"Are you sure?"

"YES! Tell me!" Applebloom had reached the place of no return. She just had to hear.

"Well okay..." Sweetie Belle leaned forward, and Applebloom strained her ears, turning her head to get them as close to Sweetie Belle's mouth as possible. Then, she was facing forward again, and Sweetie Belle's lips were pressed against hers. One of her hooves went around Applebloom, who was too shocked to do anything. Then, letting out a moan of bliss, she too put a hoof around Sweetie, and returned the kiss. They pulled away after a few minutes for air. That was their only reason. As soon as they caught their breaths, Sweetie Belle lay Applebloom on the ground, her hooves tight around her as they shared another passionate kiss. She pulled away, and stared into Applebloom's eyes.

"I...oh it feels so weird...but I love it all the same.", Applebloom said, her eyes half lidded in bliss. Sweetie smiled, and nuzzled Applebloom.

"I told you I knew." Her smile turned into a playful smirk. "I've wanted to do that for such a long time."

"It's not going to be the only time."

"Wha..." Before she could continue, Sweetie was the one being pulled into the kiss, and the meaning of the gesture was clear, before Applebloom said it herself. They pulled away from each other.

"Why do you think I wanted you to be quiet about who I liked, when I thought you found out." An answer never returned, for then, the two teen mares were swept up, and were thrown into a sack, both with gags in their mouths.The sack closed, and the horrible truth hit them as they hugged each other close, still able to see into each others eyes. They were being fillynapped. It was a long time before the sack opened again, and they were dumped out. The gags were removed from their mouths.

"Walk forward, don't talk. Try to get help, scream, struggle, anything, you die. Understand?", asked the voice of the tall, black pelted pony that stood before. The two cringed at the voice, not expecting the strange, other worldliness of it. They nodded in agreement, and got up, walking forward.

"Where are you taking us?", Sweetie asked.

"Somewhere special."

"I-I don't want to go...I want to go home.", Sweetie said, her face scrunching up in some strange kind of sad fear.

"No."

"But..."

"No." The pony didn't seem to be getting at all annoyed, and remained calm. This calm, emitting off the pony in it's voice, it's manner, and it's warm gold eyes, reassured the two mares. It soothed them, made them feel comfortable, even though their minds screamed at them to run, to stick together and let thoughts of each other break through. They did, except these thoughts only helped soothe them, promising them that no matter what happened, it would be better because they were together.

Inkblot roamed the town alone, attempting to get comfortable with the ponies he had a bad feeling he would meet more times, in a space of time longer than a week.

I'm going to have to stay. I just know it. Something's going to keep me here. Maybe...maybe I should stay because it's the right thing to do. They are so helpless here. Nopony is going to help them, I am sure of it. At least, nopony good.

Inkblot's thoughts were interrupted when something warm met his lips. He focused on the situation, and found himself staring into Trixie's eyes, their muzzles pressed together. He smiled and kissed her.

"Any reason why you made me run into you?", he asked, though his tone was playful.

"Hmm...you were deep in thought and I couldn't resist the urge to get in your way. Besides, you kissed me, what much more do I need?", Trixie replied, a red blush spreading across her cheeks. Inkblot chuckled softly, and continued to walk again when Trixie fell in beside him.  "So what were you thinking about?"

"I don't know. Just...what I am going to do."

"And?"

"Well, I am considering staying. I can help here, I just know it. I am good at going unnoticed. It is how I have gone by life for the past twenty years."

"I notice you.", Trixie said softly, kissing Inkblot lightly on the cheek.

"I know, and that is my other reason for being deep in thought. I was thinking about what happens to you and I. Would it be strange to say I want a future with you?" Trixie quietly gasped, and her already red blush reddenned even more and spread.

"For us to have known each other for so little time, to everypony else it would be, but to me, I love the idea. Just like I-" This is it, Trixie. You are either committed, or you aren't. Do it, or don't. "Just like I love you." Inkblot felt a pit in his stomach. She had said that word. That word he had felt it was too soon to say.

Just like saying that you wanted a future with her? Admit it. You love her. Your heart lets you know that simple fact every time you see her. "I love you too Trixie...", Inkblot said quietly. His smile was infectious, and everyone who saw the happy couple walking through the town had a smile put on their face also. It was very nice to see somepony who was making the best out of bad times.

As they walked down the road, a pony stared after them. Its features were hidden by a cloak, but Light Blue eyes peered out menacingly. The tail that stuck out was cut very short, but was most definitely a darker shade of pink. A malicious, yet devilishly smiling sneer appeared in the darkness of the hood.

One hit, two hit, drop on the floor,

Bambam, dead little whore.

Smile and wave, twist and turn,

your pretty face is what I yearn.

First you heart, and then your soul,

leave your mind black as coal.

Come to me, little pet,

Disobey me, and you will regret.

A little gift is what I need,

or I plant in you death's seed.

Smiling, the pony melted into the crowd, blending in a little too perfectly.

"Must you make us keep walking? We are tired.", Sweetie complained. They were deep in the Everfree Forest, and knew that the pony had done this on purpose. Both mares had attempted to commit to memory the path they had followed, but it was no use.

"We are almost there, don't worry. There, you can rest.", the black-pelted pony replied. Sweetie sighed, and went on with her head down. Applebloom was surprised with the pony's patience. Despite all their complaining and questions, the pony never lost its calm, and still retained that warm, sweet parental tone that made the two young mares feel safe. They discovered that the pony wasn't lying, and withing the space of about five minutes, they reached a quaint little home, where the pony led them inside. It was warm, and they found a lovely couch inside. "Now, I have some business elsewhere. I am sure you two can take care of yourselves until I come back tonight. Don't go outside, but then again, I wouldn't need to tell you that, would I?" The pony's ominous orange eyes glowed brightly, and it closed the door behind the two mares.

"Wait!", Applebloom cried, and opened the door again. The pony was gone, leaving both mares astonished. How had he gone that fast? They both watched wide eyed as a single black feather, intricate like that of a hawk's, not messy like that of a crow's, floated gently down and landed on the ground.

Celestia was sitting on her throne, slumped in a position that hinted at utter boredom and laziness. She sighed, and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, she let out a little cry and shot up in her seat. Clain was sitting right in front of her, its deep navy eyes unblinking.

"Clain! You scared the life out of me!", Celestia huffed, and let her breath even out. Clain smiled and moved closer, until their muzzles touched.

"I know. That was the point. You looked bored, so I wanted to do something that would really get your attention."

"LIke scaring me half to death?", Celestia muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Precisely."

"Out of all the things you could do...wait...how in the world did you simply appear?"

"I didn't. I was hiding really close to you. I saw you close your eyes, and I slunk out really quickly."

"Oh." A huff of mock disappointment, and then Celestia kissed Clain on the forehead. It looked down, surprising itself with a blush.

"I didn't actually expect that...", Clain said, referring to the kiss. Celestia smiled and got out of her throne, walking toward her room. Clain followed wordlessly, understanding that she wanted to get them somewhere private, lest they get caught. She closed the door to her chamber, and together they walked to a window and looked out.

"I think I am corrupt, Clain. Everything you pointed out last night, it hit home."

"Tsk, tsk, dear. You have been for a while. I just opened your eyes to the fact." Celestia leaned against the massive form of Clain.

"Yeah...and I guess that is why I didn't fight you last night."

"Ah, you remember that. I expected you to fight back, but it seems that the surprises never end."

"I don't know. I guess my heart was longing for somepony, and you fitted the bill. Why you out of all, I didn't know why, but now..."

"Now you realize that your heart is much colder than you originally believed. It only makes sense that a dark heart only wants darkness. If I am not dark, I don't know what is."

"Whatever you say Clain.", Celestia said. She felt herself being picked up, and Clain dropped her on her bed. She giggled like a child, a blush spreading over her face. Clain leaned down and kissed her on the lips, then trailed down her body. The last thing Celestia remembered before her thoughts turned to euphoric mush was a moan escaping her mouth as Clain slipped his tongue inside her marehood. What this also marked was Celestia's last bit of practical sanity leaving her body, being replaced with ferocious attraction and affection toward Clain. Things in Equestria from this point on could only get worse. That is, unless a brave soul was willingly to step up and fight. To fight for what is right and for what matters the most. Equestria had these brave souls. All it needed was for them to act. If only there was a way to let them know...

Sweetie and Applebloom lay on the couch, their hooves holding them close.

"What do we do now?", Applebloom asked.

"We wait. We wait and see what happens."

"But what if that pony kills us?"

"Then we die together, knowing that we loved each other." Applebloom sighed, and locked her newfound lover in a kiss. They pulled away after a minute or so. "We make the best of this. Maybe we won't die."

"Maybe...oh Sweetie Belle...I don't want to die before we have a chance at blossoming. Applejack always warns me of false love, of finding ponies who love you only until you are tasteless to them, then leave you. I know you aren't that way. I want you in my life forever...even if it isn't love. I just need you as a friend, as somepony I can trust."

"I can be more than that, and if it is what the universe permits, then with you shall I ever be. Sleeping in our bed, with you at my side. Waking up every morning to you and your beautiful...everything. Everything about you is beautiful. If one day, when this is hopefully all over, and it is with you my heart wants to stay, then I won't think twice about making this real. I won't think twice about making you mine."

"Sweetie Belle...that is a future that I too yearn for...but for now, let's focus on the present."

"I already have my present." With that, Sweetie cuddled in closer to Applebloom, who smiled. I am so in love...but here I lay, in an unfamiliar house, fillynapped by an unfamiliar pony. There must be something I can do. There must be. She sighed, and looking down at the already dozing of Sweetie Belle, kissed her head, and they both fell to sleep.

Life Fades

Scootaloo felt the warmth of the light on her back, saw the ring around her body, saw the shadow cast below her, but saw nothing else. The rest was darkness, foreboding and infinite. She didn't want to enter this darkness, but she felt that she had to to. Taking a deep breath, she tentatively stepped out of the ring of light that originated somewhere above her. The light did not follow her, and within a few steps, she was consumed by darkness. She looked back, looked back at the welcoming light, but pushed on.

"So, you decided to be brave this time?", asked a voice that floated out of the darkness. "This is a pleasant surprise."

"I won't let you get to me.", Scootaloo growled at the darkness.

"Do you really believe that? Or are you just trying to make me get my hopes down?" The voice seemed to be circling Scootaloo, and it unnerved her, but she didn't let this show.

"It is useless, Discord. Your mind games are petty, stupid, amateur." Discord's mock astonishment grated against Scootaloo.

"Ohhoho! You really think you can stop me? You really think that you are impervious to me? HA!"

"I have help. I have somepony who can keep me strong."

"Hmm...is that so? This is a dream, Scootaloo. Your "somepony" can't help you here."

"Well...if he sees that I am in trouble, he will wake me up. I know he will."

"How have you slept in the past few days?" Scootaloo was caught off guard by the question, and she felt hope drain out of her by the bucketful.

"N-Not well..."

"So do you think you are going to awake from this sleep? Admit defeat. I have kept you up for four days. You aren't waking up."

"And what if I avoid you until I can be awoken?"

"That, my dear, will not happen. I will catch you, and I will torment you until your screams are all that this wretched darkness hears."

"Torment? You are not capable. You just cause disorder."

"Ah, then you have highly underestimated me, Scootaloo." At this point, Scootaloo had begun to back up to the light. Discord had sounded fierce, intent. It scared her to the core.

"Don't get yourself all hyped up." Scootaloo became bathed in light as she entered the circle. She looked up, finding the small dot from where the light originated.

"Afraid I already have. Let's stop this ridiculous game of stalling.", Discord spat, and Scootaloo grew tense. She just barely ducked away from his form hurting at her, throwing herself to the ground as his serpentine body flew past her. She felt herself being tugged upward, and looked up to see Discord's crazed face above her. "Don't think that your silly tricks are going to fool me."

"Nghh...", Scootaloo choked out as his grip on her tightened. He took his free hand, and clawed her belly slowly. The pain was immense, for what Discord was doing was similar to taking a needle and piercing her with it, and then slowly tearing the skin with it. Scootaloo attempted to struggle, but could do nothing. Then, another upward tug, and she was flying upwards, away from Discord, and toward the light. He let out an angry yell, and flew after her.

"GET BACK HERE!"

"Goodbye Discord." Scootaloo closed her eyes, and let the light envelop her.

Bright sunlight burned through Scootaloo's eyelids, making her flinch and seek shade. She felt hooves around her, and knowing which way to turn, found her shade in the pelt of that somepony.

"I told you it would work.", she said, her voice muffled by her sompony's pelt.

"Ya still had me worried.", came the reply.

"It's okay. I am here now. As long as I have you, I can feel safe." Scootaloo looked up into her somepony's eyes, her purplish eyes locking with the green of her partner's. She smiled. "You still trust me, right? I know this whole Discord deal has set you on edge..."

"Eeyup.", said Scootaloo's very certain somepony. Scootaloo kissed his chin, and buried herself in his muscular body again. Compared to Big Mac, Scootaloo was actually not that much smaller. Despite her relatively diminutive size as a filly, she had grown to be much larger as a teen mare. Her and her friends were on the cusp of adulthood, all three being nearly seventeen. Scootaloo had outgrown her friends, and now possessed a fit, trim body. She had let her mane grow out more than from her childhood, and it hung over her head almost like that of Fluttershy's, giving her a soft and caring look to her eyes. Her legs were long and skinny, with a body that drew much attention from stallions. Of course, she turned down all of them, because she already had somepony.

"No matter what anypony says, I love you Big Mac.", Scootaloo said. In response, Big Mac kissed her head, and pulled her closer. She sighed contentedly, and snuggled into his chest. There they lay for a few minutes, until a voice called out. The sound trailed through the apple orchard, and both ponies became dead still.

"Big Mac!? Ya still out here!? Ah need some help! I can't find Applebloom anywhere.", Applejack called out. Close to the lovers. No chance of escape. She came out behind a tree, and then halted in her tracks. Big Mac and Scootaloo got up quickly, and then proceeded to look ashamedly at the ground. "Wha...what in tarnation were you two doin'?" Both ponies stayed silent. "Well?" Applejack was scowling at them, her hoof tapping as she waited for an explanation as to what she just saw.

"Applejack...Ah...", Big Mac started, but Scootaloo cut him off.

"Nothing, Applejack. I blacked out, and he found me."

"Bullcrap. You were nuzzling into his chest."

"Maybe you saw wrong."

"Don't give me that. I know what I saw." Scootaloo sighed, and her shame was very obviously visible.

"Can you promise not to judge?"

"Well...yes? But abou..." Scootaloo cut her off.

"Words can't explain what you saw. Love and feelings can."

"Wait, hold up a minute. Are ya sayin' that...you and mah brother...?"

"Eeyup.", Big Mac replied. Applejack felt her breath leave her. She had to sit as the realization hit her. Mah brother and Scootaloo, in love? How...how does that even work? Applejack's head spun with questions, thoughts, words to say, it was making her dizzy.

"How...?"

"The story is weird and confusing. I don't even fully understand how this came to be. Though..." Scootaloo blushed half out of shame, half out of embarrassment. "it was my attraction to him that got this started."

"Attracted to mah brother? But you're-you're so young."

"I know, and that is why the story is weird. I don't know what got into me, but every time I saw him..."

'Big Mac, is there any reason you let this young mare into your life?"

"Bad dreams.", Big Mac replied. This was cryptic to AJ, but Scootaloo understood and took the wheel.

"I have been having bad dreams. Nightmares. Nightmares about Discord." AJ's attention was fully focused on Scootaloo when Discord was mentioned.

"LIke what?"

"He wants to kill me slowly. He wants to torment me and torture me and lavish in my screams and agony." Applejack was taken aback by this. It all seemed so dark. "The dreams started a few weeks ago. I handled them well enough for some time, but things started getting desperate, and I knew I needed somepony who could help me through this. That's when Big Mac and I stumbled into each other. I formed a bond with him, and grew close to him. Never could I shake the thought of him being handsome and attractive, however. I tried so hard, I really did, I admit that I even punished myself for thinking things like that. It just wouldn't go away. As soon as I felt that we had developed a close enough bond to each other, I revealed my embarrassing thoughts to him. He...well...it tuned out that as soon as I said this, it let him speak more freely, and he told me how..." Scootaloo used the second where her blush formed to catch her breath. "He told me he thought I was beautiful...it all felt so strange. Despite all of this, we kind of sunk into a warm, welcoming relationship. Things just escalated from there." AJ looked at the ground, and sighed.

"Though ah don't necessarily approve of this...are both of you happy?" Scootaloo and Big Mac agreed in unison. AJ nodded her head, and looked at the two once more. "Then ah will tolerate this. Ah know ah have no room to separate you two in the first place, but knowing that you two are happy together, ah sure as hell won't try." Scootaloo smiled, but then swayed on her hooves. Big Mac caught her.

"I need to sleep more...I still feel exhausted...", she said breathlessly, and her eyes closed. Within a minute, she was asleep standing upright, and Big Mac lay her down back in the shade. He lay down wordlessly by her side, and AJ left, knowing that no more conversation would be had.

The Next Morning

Scootaloo walked through the streets of Ponyville, smiling at ponies she knew, greeting those she didn't. She passed Spike, who turned and caught up to her. She smiled at him.

"Hey Spike. What are you up too?" Spike rolled his eyes.

"Early morning errands for Twilight. I have a lot of time though. Might as well chat a little bit, you know?" Scootaloo nodded.

"I guess there's no harm in that." Scootaloo pitied the poor dragon. Working tirelessly for Twilight, and all the while, coping with an attraction to mares that he couldn't even fully begin to explain. Everypony knew of his heartbreak when he learned that Rarity and Soarin were together, but he had long since overcome that.

"Uh...Scootaloo...can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Actually, let's get somewhere more private first."

"Okay." They walked until they found themselves just outside of town. Finding a tree that offered shade on top of a hill, they settled down and looked over the town.

"So...I...I wanted to ask you...well...ask you how I could get a girl. You are beautiful, everypony admits that, and I am sure you have had a few suitors. Is there anything you know that you could tell me that could help me? I have been meaning to ask this certain mare what her feelings are for me for some time now, but I just can't think of a proper situation in which to ask. Every time I come up with something, I see a way that it could go wrong." Scootaloo scowled and looked at Spike.

"Um...a stallion would be the better choice to ask, but I guess I have a few things. First, just be straight forward and to the point. Mares like having sugar coated, mushy words sent their way, but what they love most is when a stallion admits straight up that they like them, that they have feelings. After you let the mare know that you have eyes for them, then you can compliment them, make yourself stand out."

"I see."

"Every young stallion that has ever courted me has crashed and burned, but only because I am already in a relationship. If you are polite and truly make the mare know you have feelings for them, then you can get her."

"You said straight up, right? To just say it?"

"Yeah. It lets them know what the conversation you are about to have is about."

"Well then...I wanted to say that I like you. Just looking at you makes me think of you all day.", Discord said, and Scootaloo let out a muffled shriek as a clawed hand wrapped around her, and another covered her mouth. Then, she was moving, and then they were in a place completely hidden from outside view. Scootaloo was dropped on the soft grass, and Discord towered above her. He leaned down a placed a hand on her chest, forcing her to stay laying down on her back, her legs in the air. Discord smiled sardonically, making Scootaloo feel very uncomfortable.

"Urg. Get your hand off me.", she growled, and struggled. It was no use.

"Hmm, you're body is beautiful...", Discord murmured, and he placed small kisses on her. She shrieked and struggled more.

"NO! STOP!", she cried out. Discord disregarded her, and continued to trail kisses over her body, kissing her neck, her chest, her small teats, her thigh. "You disgust me."

"I do, do I?" Discord began to kiss her marehood, eliciting panicked cries of surprise from her.

"Stop it!" Scootaloo found a drive to escape inside her, and she twisted methodically out of Discord's grip, and began to dash towards civilization, hoping to make it to the town before Discord could catch her. Unfortunately, her hopes were short lived, for Discord dug his claws into her, and dragged her back. Blood began to trickled down he back as the claws dug deeper, and Scootaloo cried out in pain.

"You're not running this time.", he hissed her ear, and he threw her to the ground. Scootaloo wailed when one of her legs struck the ground, and an unnerving snap resounded from it. Discord smiled sardonically again. "It seems that you have no choice but to stay." He lowered his head, and slipped his serpent tongue inside Scootaloo. She found the pleasure to be more welcoming than the pain, but refused to think of it as pleasure. Instead, she thought of it as another version of pain, and the strategy worked. She felt a whole new world of agony sweep through her body, but she smiled as she no longer felt the pleasure. Discord looked up at the smiling Scootaloo. "So you do like this."

"You bet I do. It feels so good..." Hopelessly fooled, Discord launched into another attack on Scootaloo's marehood, his tongue flicking in and out, and tasting inside. Scootaloo was upset to find that pleasure was once more finding its way past the pain. Discord pulled his head away, and then moved forward. Scootaloo quickly realized his intentions, and began to once more panic. He doesn't dare put that thing inside me. He wouldn't dare. He'll tear me apart!"

"I hope you are ready, because they say the first time hurts.", Discord said, and laughed. Before Scootaloo could grasp the situation, she choked on a scream of pain as Discord shoved himself inside of her. Finding her voice, she let out the choked scream, and tried to pull Discord's length out of her, trying to run. "Oh no you don't." Discord reached down, and held Scootaloo in place as he shoved deeper.

"AHHHHHH! IT HURTS! PULL OUT, PULL OUT! AAHHHHHHH CELESTIA MAKE IT STOP!", Scootaloo screamed, tears flowing out of her eyes in waterfalls.

"No stopping now." Discord began to thrust at an agonizingly fast pace, throwing blood everywhere every time he pulled back. Scootaloo couldn't do anything but choke on her own tears as her body was violated. Finally, warm liquid sprayed inside her, and Discord. She twitched and let out sounds comparable to choking. Discord looked down at her. "This is just the beginning. You didn't think you could actually escape me, even in your waking moments? I almost take pity on your stupid mind. Nothing can save you. Not now, not ever. I have you where I want you, and that is the way it is going to stay."

"No...can't...."

"Hush now, my dear Scootaloo. Rest yourself. We have a lifetime together, and I plan to make good use of it."

"No...." Scootaloo felt herself slipping away, slipping into darkness and peace...

Scootaloo shot up in a bed, breathing heavily and drenched in cold sweat. Something stirred beside her, and for a second she panicked, and then hooves wrapped around her, and Big Mac pulled her close. Scootaloo pressed herself against her lover, trembling and breathing harshly.

"Shh...it was just a dream. Everything will be alright.", Big Mac soothed.

"He...he f-" Scootaloo felt the word slip out, and realized it felt good. The release that the swear provided was surprising. "fucked me." She felt Big Mac shudder, and she cursed herself for swearing.

"..."

"Big Mac, I just don't see the point of anything anymore. I don't even think I will get peace from him in death, but it's worth a shot."

"No..."

"I am so sorry my love. I just don't see a future for us with HIM in the way..." Scootaloo pulled out a sharp hair-pin and aimed for her throat.

"No you don't you little bitch!", Discord growled. He came out of the darkness like a bullet, and ripped Scootaloo right out of Big Mac's hooves. She put up a small struggle, which made him falter, but he recovered, and sped out of the open window, just barely fitting. Big Mac launched himself out of bed, and ran to the window. Discord's form was already speeding into the darkness, and disappeared not long after. Big Mac sat down, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He had just had his heart ripped out from him. In is depressed state, he actually hallucinated a bleeding heart flying away into the distance, and he collapsed, sobbing.

"Ah will fahnd you, my dearest Scootaloo..." His body tremored, and he forced himself downstairs and out the door. He looked at the stars, glinting their white beauty and promise of paradise, and cursed them for being so beautiful and bright in a time like this. Without Scootaloo, he felt that nothing could be beautiful. "Ah promise..."

Somehow, We Push On

"You say this is where they were found?", Inkblot asked, staring at the desolate corner. The day was cold, even though the sun was out. A light wind made a strange hissing noise as it blew through the rooftops and alleyways, setting both ponies on edge.

"Ah know it for sure. Ah saw her there, and then Rarity told me about the chahld.", Applejack replied. Inkblot scowled, and walked in circles around the corner, looking warily down nearby alleyways.

"Well...if the attack was at night, the assailant could have come out through here...", Inkblot murmured. He sat down on the corner, and stared across the road, pondering something. Applejack walked up to him, and sat down beside him.

"Hey, have ya seen mah brother? Ah couldn't fahnd him anywhere this mornin'.", Applejack asked. She looked at Inkblot with genuine worry. Applebloom had left her mind. It had been a few days, and there was no sign of her. Applejack didn't want to assume she was dead, but her heart had fractured further than she could continue. She had felt it better to just embrace her sister's disappearance. Inkblot looked at her, and scowled.

What are you doing outside so late? It's dangerous out here.

Eeyup...

Is something wrong?

Eeyup...

...Are you running from something?

Eeyup...

Are you scared?

...

Does anypony know you are gone?

A small shake of the head.

Let me guess, you don't want me to tell anypony?

Nope.

Anypony in particular I should know about?

Applejack, Applebloom.

I don't know what you are running from, or why, but I won't bother. I will make sure to keep a look out for those two...You be careful out there.

"Uh...I don't think so...do you have any idea as to where he might have gone?" Oh dear Celestia, I hate lying to her, but that stallion seemed so depressed. He had a reason for running. I just know it. I will keep my promise, at least, until I know the time is right.

"Ah swear, if that little slut told him to run off with her~", Applejack growled. She got up and paced.

"I am going to stay out of this. Something tells me it be better I not get involved.", Inkblot said. Applejack looked at him, raised an eyebrow, then shook her head.

"Whatever. Did ya get anything off of this?"

"Not much, but a little."

"Well?"

"Our mysterious murderer is more than likely not alone." Applejack's curiosity was slightly aroused now.

"Whah do ya think that?"

"Well, I will put it simply. The order of events here seems too delicate, too difficult, to pull off alone."

"And whah is that?"

"You told me that there were two victims. One pony could not have gotten both, that is obvious. Another thing is that this corner is way too exposed, even at night. Somepony helped stage this, or helped cause it in some way."

"Well, yes, there were two victims...but one of them was a colt." Inkblot scowled again, seeing how one murderer might have been able to do this alone. "...and he is still alahve." Inkblot stared at Applejack so hard that she began to feel uneasy. She shifted her hooves, and coughed nervously.

"What?" Inkblot remained unblinking, still staring directly at Applejack.

"The colt...he is still alahve..." Inkblot breathed a little bit, trying to calm himself.

"You mean to-" He cut himself off as he felt rage boil inside him. He didn't dare speak until he felt it simmer down again. "You mean to tell me, that you brought me to the already clear murder site, when there is a witness still alive? What were you thinking!?" Inkblot got up, and Applejack flinched. He walked toward her, and she shrunk down.

"Y-yeah...ah'm sorry...ah forgot about the colt entirely..."

"YOU WHAT!?" Applejack let out something close to the pathetic whimper of a dog, and her stance, head down, rear up (though it was starting to lower too, in an attempt to get as far away from Ink as possible), as if ready to bolt backward, helped to strengthen this notion. Inkblot realized what he was doing, and felt his anger leave him entirely. His lip quavered, and he looked down, sadness visible on his face. He lifted Applejack's face up to him, and she slowly regained her normal posture, but the fear never left her eyes.

"Ah'm so sorry Inkblot..." Inkblot shook his head, and pulled the mare into a hug, where he felt a few warm tears run down his back.

"No, I shouldn't have flipped on you. You're scared. I can't blame you for forgetting. I know that you just want this whole thing to be over." Applejack backed up, to look him in the eyes. "Twilight tells me you have a wonderful mare at home, and that you would do anything to protect her." If the occasion were any other, AJ would have blushed, but not now. A wan smile crossed her lips.

"Yeah...Ah do..." Inkblot smiled, and gave a small, reassuring kiss on the forehead to Applejack. She did blush from this, and leaned into Inkblot. He put a hoof around her, and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"I will do whatever I can to make sure that you return home to her safe, and not without revenge. We will find this killer." Then, just like that, the moment of personal understanding was gone, and it was all professional again. Applejack backed up, giving Ink a small peck on the cheek, her blush slowly leaving her as an air of seriousness gathered around her.

"Ah am guessing you want to see the colt?"

"Lead the way."

The two young mares sat across from each other, simply staring. The couches they sat on were very comfortable, allowing them to stay relatively still without discomfort. They had been sitting like this for some time, after they broke off a conversation about their current predicament. Finally, Applebloom broke the pressing silence.

"Is this a bad thing?", she asked. Sweetie Belle scowled, and looked at the roof of the house.

"Well, we were filly napped...and that's not good~"

"Well, yeah, but nothing has happened to us."

"Yet. Applebloom, it's hardly even been a few days since we were captured."

"Clain comes home everyday, to make us food, and then just sits with us and talks to us, almost like he were our father."

"There's that..."

"And what else? He hasn't tried to do anything bad. In fact, it seems almost as if he is inclined NOT to let anything bad happen. Everyday, he returns with a smile on his face. Everyday, he treats us with care and compassion equal to the that of a parent. The only thing he hasn't done that a parent would do is kiss us and hug us."

"What about our parents? What do you think they think? We have been gone for a few days!"

"Oh~"

"I am glad you reminded me of that. You practically asked me to name something bad about this, and now I did."

"..." Applebloom looked down, ashamed.

"You-" Sweetie Belle was interrupted by the distinct sound of the front door opening, and both mares turned to see Clain walk in. Like Applebloom had pointed out, he looked at them and gave them a heart warming smile. He walked up to them, and sat down between them.

"What are you two up?", Clain asked.

"We were talking.", Sweetie Belle said.

"About what?", Clain asked.

"About how our parents must be worried about us.", Applebloom replied. Clain looked down, and stared at his hooves.

"They are probably very worried about you..."

"Yeah.", Sweetie Belle said. Clain looked back up at them.

"I want you two to be safe. I don't want you getting hurt. When you are here, I can always watch over you..."

"Safe from what, Clain?", Applebloom asked, and walked up to him, nuzzling into his chest.

"Safe from me. Safe from all the bad things I do. Here, where I know where you are, I can avoid hurting you." Sweetie Belle copied her lover, and she too nuzzled into Clain's chest.

"Why us?", she asked.

"Because you are two peas in a pod. You will always stick together, and I know that it must be paining you to be away from your family, and how it must pain your family that you are missing, but imagine if I only brought one or the other?" Applebloom and Sweetie Belle did imagine it, and what they saw made them scared. They saw themselves sitting all alone in the home, wallowing in depression. They saw themselves waste away, because there was nopony to be there with them. "I want to assimilate myself into your lives, personally." He gave both mares a small kiss on the head. "I know I have no right to be butting in, taking place of your father, of your parents, but that is what I want to do. Maybe it will make me stop myself. Maybe it will help me finally become real, become normal." Applebloom, who had been waiting to hear those words from his mouth, was ready to respond.

"I think that you are already normal, and that you can be a great a father as any." Clain smiled, and then got up.

"Come here. I want to show you two something." Both young mares followed Clain through a door and down some stairs. He went up to wall, and knocked on it. Nothing happened.

"What-"

"Give me a second." Clain went up to the bright candle that burned, and blew it out. Then, he found the girls again, and sat behind them. For a second, everything was black, and then the wall lit up with light of assorted colors. They flowed and moved and changed hypnotically.

"Wow~", Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said in unison. They found each other, and Applebloom kissed Sweetie on the cheek, before leaning on her. Unseen to them, Clain smiled as he felt a weight being lifted from his broad shoulders.

Look at yourself Clain. One day a murderer, the next, a caring "father", so to speak. Is there nothing you can't do?

I can't change.

...

I can't change, no matter how hard I try. I can lie, I can play fraud all I want, but that won't change the monster inside me. That monster won't go. It never will. When it does, it will be when I am dead.

Octavia stared at Vinyl. She couldn't believe her eyes, and her mouth trembled.

"Vinyl...but...why?"

"Octavia!" Vinyl whirled around, dropping the knife. It splashed in a pool of blood. "It's not what it seems!"

"You..." Octavia backed up, slowly, in fear. "I have been living...loving...a monster..."

"No! Octavia, please...believe me! It's not what it seems!"

"Explain the body! Explain the knife! Explain why you are standing over a dead body, with a knife!" The alleyway was cold, and it seemed suddenly darker. Octavia backed up further, closer to daylight, closer to safety.

"I heard a sound, something like a muffled scream and I came into the alleyway. I took out the knife, thinking I might need to defend myself or somepony."

"Why in the hell do you have a knife!?"

"Because...doesn't everpony?"

"No..."

"Oh...frickin' paparazzi, I tell you what~"

"Vinyl, just come clean...I know you murdered this pony. If you just admit it, I can forgive you...at least partially. I couldn't forgive myself if I believed a liar."

"Octavia, please. Stop being so silly. I gave a perfectly plausible explanation. Here, I will just come out onto the sidewalk, and we can walk away. I will report this to somepony, anypony. I promise you that it wasn't me." Octavia watched Vinyl reach down and pick up the knife from the blood, and use her magic to wipe it clean. She approached Octavia, and raised the knife toward her.

"NO! Get away from me!", Octavia cried out, surprising Vinyl, who lowered the knife. Octavia turned and ran from the alleyway, tears flying from her eyes. A few ponies saw her running and went to see from what.

"I was just reaching to put it away..." Vinyl mumbled, and rolled her eyes.  "I think I just lost my mare. Great. This day couldn't get any worse." Vinyl glared at the ground. "I love her, damn it I do, but sometimes she just over reacts way too much.  " Vinyl placed the knife back in her shoulder-pack, and looked forward. She saw quite a few ponies staring at her, and she felt her heart sink. A tan pony with pitch black hair was staring coldly at her, blocking her exit. Vinyl sighed. "I am right fucked, aren't I?"

"More so.", Inkblot spat. Vinyl facehoofed. And...I am going to prison. Way to jinx it, DJ.

"Hey, careful!", Vinyl hissed as Inkblot shoved her forward. She turned to face the stallion. "Somepony's got problems..." Vinyl felt her breath leave her when she was smacked in the face, hard. She tumbled backward, and stopped rolling when she hit the bars of a prison cell.

"Shut up. If anypony's got problems, it's you. Care to explain why you were standing in a dark alleyway, with a knife, next to a dead body?", Inkblot asked. Vinyl spat out blood, and looked at Inkblot.

"What does it matter to you, beating on mares? Last time I remember, that is impolite."

"Fuck etiquette. It doesn't apply when you are dealing with a murderer." Inkblot looked at the other ponies in the room with him. "You can leave. I have got her taken care of." The ponies left the room without a sound. Then, Vinyl and Inkblot were alone. Inkblot looked back at Vinyl.

"But I didn't murder the pony! I told you that so many times!"

"Yeah, yeah. I heard ya. And I believed you." Vinyl felt rage boil up inside her.

"So then why the fuck-"

"Ah ah. Watch your mouth."

"You have no jurisdiction over me."

"Last time I checked, I was standing over you, and you were laying on the ground. Why are you on the ground, somepony may ask? Well, somepony, that is because I smacked her and that is where she stopped. Now, repeat to me what you were going to say, but with a clean mouth this time." Vinyl groaned in distaste, but listened anyway.

"So why did you hit me, and why did you continue taking me away?"

"The town wants a convict, so I gave them one, or at least that's what they think. The less panicked the town is, the easier it will be to get them to listen, and the easier it will be to find the actual killer, whether the killer be the same, or the separate killers of Pinkie and the as of yet unidentified pony."

"What if the killer or killers strike again? Then the town will be thrown back into panic."

"Obviously you do not know psychology. Yes, they will be scared, but I have "proved" to them that I can help them."

"How so? You could have just been a lucky bloke who happened upon me while I was committing "evil" acts."

"Most everypony knows that I am the only one who has made an attempt to take this case, and solve it at that."

"Isn't there other, more qualified ponies for that job?"

"Yeah."

"So why-"

"They were to busy with either personal matters and just too self-centered to help us, with the latter making up the majority of ponies who couldn't, or should I say wouldn't, help us."

"Whatever, this is besides the point. How does your "psychology" make it so the town won't panic?"

"Simple. They now have a pony in which they can put their trust in to find the killer. The more ponies that trust me, the more ponies that are willing to listen to what I say. In that effect, I can protect more ponies by having them listen to my advice, and to help me in any plans that I think of."

"Now you just sound flat out evil."

"I know."

"And?"

"If I sound evil, then half the game is already been finished, in my favor. Sometimes, it takes a villain to stop a villain, and I fit the part perfectly."

"What in tarnation-?"

"Hush, Applejack. Don't alert the others."

"You are-"

"I know what I am doing."

"But isn't she-?"

"No."

"But you said-"

"I know what I said. I also know what I said was a lie."

"H-"

"How could I? Psychology, Applejack. I will explain later. For now, just roll with it." Inkblot turned to Vinyl. "You are a unicorn."

"Obviously."

"Well?" Vinyl gave Inkblot a dirty look.

"You expect me to answer that? It isn't even a question."

"Think for a second."

"Can't. My brains been fried from all the sound I pump into my ears. At least, that's what the experts say."

"Fuck the experts."

"You are just a fuck everything kind of stallion, aren't you."

"To the dot. Now, use that fried brain of yours. You are a unicorn." Vinyl, scrunched up her face, and thought, deep and hard. It took a little bit, but she finally understood what Inkblot was insinuating.

"Oh, I get it! I can-"

"Shsh! Keep it to yourself. Now run-along." Vinyl walked to the door, but then turned around. She ran up to Inkblot and gave him a small peck on the cheek.

"And that was for?"

"Believing me." Inkblot was slapped across the face, with magic and hoof. "And that was for hitting me." Then, Vinyl was gone, running like Ink had told her to do. He stared after her, and then burst out laughing.

"What?", Applejack asked.

"Why can't Trixie be more like that?", Ink said, before he too walked out the door, laughing heartily. Applejack was left alone in the room. She looked around, and sighed. She walked over to the cell that Blue was held in. He was asleep, someway, somehow. Applejack sighed.

"Ah will avenge you. Ah promise."

That Night

It was late. Everpony in Twilight's house was asleep. Twilight was having a pleasant dream, and she smiled as her own hoof began to slide down her belly, aiming for a very certain spot. It never reached that spot, for Twilight suddenly awoke and pulled both her hooves close.

"He said...he said..."

"Twiiiiliiiight...", said the voice she had heard in her dream. It surrounded her, and she pulled her blanket up closer. Silver was sleeping in the bed opposite hers. He hadn't heard the voice. No, he hadn't because he was asleep. Twilight slipped out of her bed, and walked up to Silver's. She looked at him, sleeping soundly. "Twiiiiiliiiight..." Twilight was unnerved and began to pace. The voice called on and on, non-stop. Finally, scared to death, Twilight rushed downstairs and out the front door.

"What...do you...want!?", Twilight cried out in between gasps. The voice had ceased it's calling, but now spoke up, still seeming to surround Twilight.

"It's been some time, Twilight, has it not? Four months, five months?" Twilight recognized the voice at once, and she was put on edge.

"Seven months..."

"Oh Twilight. You are so cute."

"Are you here for revenge?"

"W-What?"

"I understand if you are here for revenge. What I did to you was wrong."

"No! Never!"

"Don't lie."

"I am not, and you know that Twilight." The voice was right: Twilight did know he wasn't lying. Yet, still, her mind believed that the voice was here for revenge.

"What then?"

"I am here, just to be here."

"Why would you want to see me? Why, after what I did to you?"

"Because you only did it because your damn princess told you to. She's more corrupt than you would think."

"No. Celestia is a good princess. She would never do anything against Equestria."

"That is what you think Twilight. But, it is sadly not so. However, I know you will be a great princess. I see you learned to use your wings well." Twilight looked down, and realized her wings were twitching and flapping in nervousness. She forced them to calm down.

"What does that matter?"

"It doesn't. I am simply reminiscing from when I first met you, how you were a nervous wreck. You thought that you couldn't get your life under control." Twilight remembered this too, and she actually smiled. It was a good memory, that time of her life. Despite all the panic, things were good for her, and better for her friends. Back before Pinkie had died, back before Dash had... I don't even want to remember..., Twilight thought, and pushed the memory of her old friend away.

"Can...can I see you? I want to remember you..."

"All it takes is a mirror." Twilight knew what this meant, and turned around, and looked right into red eyes. A cloak of sorts covered the pony's body, but the dark navy of the pony's head was visible.

"So long...so long it has been...", Twilight said, her lip trembling.

"Longer than I could bare."

"Incarceri..." Twilight threw herself upon the stallion. Now on the ground, Twilight giggled when Incarceri ran his hoof through her mane.

"Twilight, in all the time that I knew you, after all that you have done for me..."

"I only did what I thought was right. You came to me, a changeling with a heart, who longed to be normal. I did what I could."

"And I couldn't thank you more. I found a friend..."

"A friend who promised to always stick by my side..."

"But now, Twilight, I have come back to say I love you." Twilight blushed, and her eyes widened.

"You..."

"I love you Twilight. I will do anything to prove it."

"I know you love me...I love you too Incarceri..." The two ponies kissed passionately. When they finally pulled away, a smile was on their faces. "Come inside. You must be tired."

"Very much so." Twilight lead Incarceri inside, and closed the door behind them. They walked up to her room, and climbed into her bed. Incarceri put his hooves around Twilight, and she pressed against his skin. Skin. There was skin there. Not the darkness of a Changeling. Twilight remembered her ordeal of trying to make him a pony. She remembered when Celestia had found out, and had ordered Twilight to exile the changeling. She hadn't listened, a had almost lost Incarceri to Celestia. Celestia had called him a prisoner and a criminal of magic, and that was where he had gotten his name Incarceri. That had been so long ago. Now, he was back, and he had professed his love for her, something a long time coming. Twilight smiled, and nuzzled against Incarceri. Now that he was here, everything was going to be better. Everything.