Equestrian Investigations
An Acted Turnabout: Part 1
Previous ChapterTime: 7:47 PM Day: May, 30th
Location: The High Hoof Theater Lobby
“Well, here we are.” I said walking into the lobby with Side right behind me.
“I can’t believe that we’re actually doing this.” Side says, “I mean, who cares about some music?”
“Some music!?” I almost gasp in shock, “Why, I’ll have you know that performers from all across Equestria are playing here tonight.”
“Yeah. And?”
“And I never got to go to a performance before. Besides, it will be fun. After all, such a cheery world like this has to have colorful music.”
“David, if you just wanted to listen to music, then you could have just used a radio.”
“Tell me, have you spent your entire life in pris-”
“Oh come on. It’s just going to be the same classical musicians played everywhere else in Canterlot. Let me see who’s playing,” Side says grabbing a brochure of a wall. “Octavia… Lyra… Some other performers… eh… nopony important.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. No Vinyl Scratch.”
“Who’s Vinyl Scratch?”
“Only like the best DJ ever!”
“Really? A DJ? We are going to a concert featuring some of the most exquisite music Equestria has to offer, and you can’t get past the fact that there isn’t a DJ!?” I ask embarrassed for myself.
“Well, yeah! Classical music is boring.”
“I’m sorry for not wanting to lose my hearing.”
“Please. We have magic to fix ear problems.”
(So!?! That doesn’t change the fact that that kind of loud music will make any being lose their ability to hear!)
“Joy. Anyways, can I see that?”
“Sure, here you go,” Side says handing me the brochure, “There’s a map of the theater on the other side.”
High Hoof Brochure has been accepted into Journal
High Hoof Brochure: A Brochure stating some basic facts about the performance and a map of the theater.
(What the hell? What is this? What kind of map only gives a basic idea of the seating arrangements? Who even designed this in the first place? Some amature who’s using an open-source program? I guess I’ll keep it for now.)
“I guess we should have come here a little later though. We still have about 30 minutes before the performance actually begins.”
“HHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU”
“I told you beforehoof David. It’s easy to get around in Canterlot.”
“MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”
“I’m just learning new facts about this world. Also is it me or do you hear somethi-”
“AN!” I hear before I’m tackled in the back.
“GAH!” I scream falling down trying to use my hands as a cushioning device. I instantly flip myself over to get a look at my attacker and I see a mint colored unicorn standing above me.
“You’re a human! Aren’t you!?” She says.
“Wha?”
“Hi! I’m Lyra!” She continues while picking me up with her magic and starts examining my hands. “I’m sorry for acting all improper and everything but this is the first time I’ve ever actually been able to see one of you up close. I mean, yes there was that one time during the whole Indy Cup incident, but I was too shy to actually examine him. So, I’m taking a look at you!”
“I’m sorry miss,” Side tries to say, “But could you please get off him? You’re disturbing him right now.”
“HE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE UPSET!” She snarled, turning her anger-filled gaze right into Side’s eyes.
“Sorry. Sorry.” He cowers.
(No! Don’t be sorry! Be helpful!)
“Anyways,” Lyra says turning her attention back to me, “what’s your name?”
“...David Nicholas?” I meekly say.
“Cool!” She replies with a way too enthusiastic glee.
(She’s going to kidnap me. She’s going to kidnap me and I’ll spend the rest of my life trapped with her examining my body... I need to tread with caution.)
“...So Lyra,” I slowly say, “I hear you’re one of the performers playing tonight.”
“Yeah. I mean, this may be my first performance in such a large theater but, I can’t just let opportunities pass by like this.”
“Really? Your first big performance?”
“Well, I come from Ponyville and even though there may be a lot of stuff that happens there, there isn’t that many opportunites to get a big crowd like here.”
“Then why stay there? Couldn’t you stay somewhere else?”
“First big performance. Rember?”
“Yeah, but surely you’ve done other performances. Why didn’t you use the money from that to move to a more profitable place.”
“I was born and raised there. I just don’t feel comfortable leaving.”
“Oh.”
“Actually, that’s where I saw the last human.”
(Changing subject! Changing subject!)
“So Lyra, are you affiliated with any of the other ponies playing tonight?”
“Not really. I mean, I’ve talked with Octavia once or twice, but we don’t hang out or anything.”
“But you’ve talked with her before. What is she like?”
“Octavia plays the Cello and cares even more about etiquette than Rarity.”
“Rarity?”
“...Yeah. Rarity. One of the ay.
“That probably doesn’t lead to anything..” Lyra points out.
“There must be a reason for that and I think we’ll find it out before the day is done.”
“Oh well. Hey! Who’s that?” Lyra points out motioning to the Beverly Hills pony from before.
“I don’t know.”
“I think she may be the owner of the theater.”
“Really? Huh.”
(The owner? Maybe she might know a thing or two about what went down.)
“Hello there,” I say as I walk over to her, “who are yo-”
“Hush!” She whispered out with volume making me silent for a moment.
“I’m sorry bu-”
“I do not need to speak with you.”
“Actu-”
“There is nothing of importance that we could talk about.”
“I don’t know, what about the murder that just happened.”
“...Hmph. Very well, we shall talk about that. But only that.”
“Could you at least tell me your name?”
“...It is, Fleur de Lis.”
(Welp, somepony’s reserved. I have a bad feeling about communicating with her.)
“So,” I start off, “could you tell me a little about yourself?
“...I could, but I will not”
“Why not?”
“I do not see the need to.”
“But you are the owner of this theater, right?”
“That is correct.”
“So, if it turns out to be faulty equipment that caused the death of Octavia, wouldn’t you be held responsible?”
“I doubt that it was faulty equipment that killed her.”
“And why would that be?”
“You said that she had been murdered. If it were faulty equipment, then you would be calling it an accident.”
“Very well, can you tell me about the performance itself?”
“What about it?”
“Well… Do you think any of the other ponies would be the one to commit murder.”
“I am not the type to single out others for personal gain.”
“Then-”
“Are you going to say that I must have killed her if I will not place the blame on another? If I were truly the killer, why would I not pin it on some other pony?”
“I never said anything of that sort.”
“Could you at least tell me why you set this performance up?”
“Because, this is a theater. Theaters need shows or else they will not make any money.”
“So, you set this whole thing up just so you could make money?”
“You know, when you put it like that, it makes me sound like a scammer. Do you have a problem with a pony trying to make a living?”
“No.”
“Then stop pushing the subject.”
(Ugh! It feels impossible to get anywhere with her! Let me try being as specific as possible.)
“So, did you know Octavia at all?”
“Yes. I had to contact her for the performance after all.”
“What was your opinion of her?”
“She was a very fine pony and the world just seems… a little more sloppier without her. In fact, I just used the word sloppy as an adjective.”
(How terrible.)
“Do you have an idea why anypony would want to kill her?”
“I do not have the faintest clue as to why somepony would do that.”
(I think that’s all I’m going to get out of her… Say, I don’t think I hear any noise going on in the theater.) I think to myself as I put my ear on the door.
“You aren’t going to hear anything.” Lyra tells me.
“Really? I ain’t?”
“Nope. Those doors are soundproofed so that if a performance gets too loud, nopony outside the theater who didn’t pay doesn’t hear it.”
“Interesting.” I comment.
Theater Doors have been accepted into Journal
Theater Doors: Theater Doors are specially made as to not let any sound escape when closed.
(That may be all there is to this lobby. I wish I didn’t have to scrounge for clues, but at least I’ve searched everything in here.)
INVESTIGATION COMPLETE
At that moment, Noir came out of the theater half done with a cigarette saying, “Okay, everything’s done here. We can go home.”
“What do you mean?” I reply, “I still have to do my investigation.”
“No you don’t. After all, I’m the one in charge, and I’m the one who says it’s over. Lyra, you’re going to have to come with me.
“What!? Why?” She asks.
“Because, you obviously killed Octavia.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I don’t have to bow down before you. I so all I have to say to you, is to get out of my way.”
“I still have the ability to challenge any theory you may have Noir.”
“Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
--How Lyra Committed The Murder--
“As you figured out for me, the reason that poor Octavia died, was murder.”
“The way that it was done was by making a sandbag fall on top of her head.”
“Now, what out mint friend over here must have done is set up the bag beforehand.”
“Then, she set the end of the rope that wasn’t tied to the bag next to where she was standing.”
“That way, she could easily cut the rope with a knife and in the end, killed Octavia.”
***
“There, that logic good enough for you?” Noir said tossing the used cigarette onto the ground and stepped on it.
“Not yet, I have to give a rebuttal after all.” I replied.
“Oh, you have to? No, you want to. You want to believe that you’re the superior here.” The detective said as he lit a new cigarette and started smoking it, “After all, if you don’t feel superior, you don’t feel happy.”
“No, I want to find the tru-”
NONSENSE!
“You want to find squat. You want to gain respect. I know how you types are. Don’t you ever think that I’ll be able to trust a being like you.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how well you theory holds up against the truth then.”
--How Lyra Committed The Murder--
“As you figured out for me, the reason that poor Octavia died, was murder.”
“The way that it was done was by making a sandbag fall on top of her head.”
“Now, what out mint friend over here must have done is set up the bag beforehand.”
HOLD IT!
“Why would you say that she’s the one to do it?” I asked.
“Because, she was the one to kill her.”
“Where’s your proof that she did such a thing?”
“Where’s your proof that she didn’t?” He replied.
“I think that the more likely possibility is that she didn’t do it.”
“And that’s because you’re new to this field. You’re going to need to find a serious problem with my theory to prove that it’s wrong.”
“I’m sorry, but why? After all, your theory is just made fro-
NONSENSE!
“You’re not at all legally part of this investigation. If you want to prove me wrong, you’re going to have to convince me. Myself. Not any kind of court.”
“Very well, what did she supposedly do next?”
“Then, she set the end of the rope that wasn’t tied to the bag next to where she was standing.”
HOLD IT!
“How do you know that she was standing on the other end of the rope?” I questioned.
“Because, I asked around, and was told that her waiting position was right next to where the other end of the rope was.”
“Do you have the other end in question?”
“Yes, I have it right here.” Noir says as he pulls the rope out of his saddlebag.
(Hmm. Getting a good look at the rope in question, I can’t tell how this broke. It appears that something just tore through the top, and the rest of the rope just snapped. Furthermore, there also appears to be quite a number of feet the length of the rope is.)
Rope has been accepted into Journal
Rope: A rope that was used to hold up a sandbag. Snapped after half of it was torn off somehow. Is multiple feet in length. This end was tied to the wall.
“That way, she could easily cut the rope with a knife and in the end, killed Octavia.”
OBJECTION!
“You know,” I said, “I didn’t think a job such as yours would take kindly to sloppiness.”
“What are you talking about?” Noir responded.
“Oh and why would that be?”
“Because, to stand next to where it’s tied and cut it there, would leave barely an inch, much less a foot.”
NONSENSE!
“You don’t know that. After all, she’s a unicorn, she could have used telekinesis to cut the rope!”
OBJECTION!
“That would be possible, if it weren’t that she would need to be behind the curtain to do that. And if what I’ve been told is correct, unicorns horns start to shine when they’re performing magic, and somepony would have seen that. Wouldn’t that pony then tell her to stop shining a light backstage!”
NONSENSE!
“She could have hid her aura!”
“Oh, that’s possible? Could you tell me how then?”
“ARUGH!” Noir screams retracting by his wings fully spreading out and him taking a few steps back. “Fine! I guess that the murderer couldn’t have cut the rope right at the wall.”
“You see, that’s why Lyra couldn’t do i-”
“But, that only digs Lyra further into her grave.” Noir interrupts lighting a new cigarette.
“How, she would be waiting right at the backstage for-”
“She wasn’t seen at the location that she was supposed to be at.” Noir says grabbing a cigarette and lighting it. “I’ve talked to the ponies that were making sure that everything was right during the performance, and they all agreed at one point, ‘Lyra was supposed to go right after Octavia, but wasn’t able to be found once the lights dimmed.’ If that’s true, where do you think she was? There then is only one place that she could have been. And that would have to be at the catwalk, cutting the rope.”
“Catwalk, what’s that?” Lyra asks.
“It’s a bridge above a stage that’s used to hang such equipment as lights or props.” I answer.
“Pfft, I can’t believe that you’ve been a performer for so long and you don’t even know what a catwalk is.” Noir jests.
“Hey! I’ve manly only done small shows. I haven’t had the time to ask every single aspect of a theater.”
“But wouldn’t she then be seen by one of the other ponies up there?” I question.
“Nope, after all, unless it’s necessary for a show, nopony is allowed to go up onto the catwalk.”
“Could you please show me where this catwalk is?” I ask.
“Alright, I’ll even show you the rope.”
Theater Map has been updated.
Theater Map: Dotted line represents rope path.
“And can I assume that the statements that the stagehands made were official?” I ask.
“They most certainly are.”
Stagehand Statements have been accepted into Journal
Stagehand Statements: Even though Lyra was supposed to be right after Octavia, she was nowhere to be found at the start of the performance.
“But that doesn’t prove anything.” I try to point out.
“Except, that she was the only pony whose whereabouts were unknown, and the only place that a pony wasn’t watching was the catwalk. Where the murderer had to be. Put those two facts together, and you can see the obvious outcome. If you really have that much confidence in her, then you know what you need to ask.”
“Alright then, Lyra, where were you during the murder?”
“I was in my room?” She unconvincingly says.
“Really? Lyra, this isn’t the time for lies. If you lie now, you will be convicted of murder. I can only help you if you tell the truth.”
“But I was! I was!”
“Can you even back that up?”
“Yeah! I can tell you everything that happened!”
--Where I Was During The Murder--
“I was in my room the entire time.”
“I didn’t know that it was my time to get ready.”
“I hadn’t even heard that the performance started.”
“Not a single pony came to my room either.”
“I wasn’t the one who killed Octavia!”
***
“Nothing suspicious about that at all! Got that?” Lyra said.
“You know that you can’t just let her statements fly right?” Noir asks.
“I know,” I reply, “After all, the logic of it all just doesn’t add up.”
“What do you mean the logic does add up! It’s flawless!”
(I guess I’ll just have to logic up a retort then. Although I should be cautious when using logic here. After all, even though I should consider all facts, not all facts will have use to them. So, even though I may gain a piece of logic, that doesn’t mean that I can use it with anything. In a sense, you could call it Dud Logic. However, once I finish with my rebuttal, any pieces of logic leftover that was gained during my examination can be properly deemed as unworthy and will be tossed aside. I just need to see what pieces of logic I’m using and I should be okay. But, without further adue, I should get started.)
--Where I Was During The Murder--
“I was in my room the entire time.”
HOLD IT!
“Can you prove that you were in there?” I ask her.
“...No.” She meekly replied.
“Then how do we know that you stayed in your room for the entire time then?”
“You don’t trust me?” She asks with a tear in her eye.
“No, we don’t.” Answers Noir, “After all, there were ponies that were looking for you, and yet you weren’t able to be found.”
“So! That would just mean that I was never in the hallway backstage! It’s not like they entered my room or anything!”
“Hold on,” I but in, “why didn’t you know that it was time for you to go onstage?”
“Well, that’s because…”
“I didn’t know that it was my time to get ready.”
HOLD IT!
“You didn’t know that it was your time to get ready?”
“Yeah! After all, there wasn’t a clock or anything in there.”
“So nopony came to get you even though you were supposed to be on stage soon?”
“Exactly! Not a knock or a shout!”
“Nopony?"
"Nopony. Thurthermore,...
“I hadn’t even heard that the performance started.”
HOLD IT!
“How come you didn’t hear anything?” I question
“I was taking a nap at the time.” She replies with a straight face.
“Really? But what about the sound of the performance? Wouldn’t that have woken you up?
“I honestly didn’t know that it started! I didn’t I tell you something to that effect before?”
(Did she? I think she may have said something…)
“Investigate?”
“Yeah, somepony’s been killed.”
“What! Who?”
“Octavia. It was right as she was about to preform.”
“Oh! The performance started? I didn’t know.”
“Ah well, I need to start investigating though.”
“...I guess you did say something like that.” I admit.
“You idiot,” Noir replies, “the performance had only just started when the murder happened. Even if she was out of range of the sound, she would have fitted nicely into the time slot. Think next time you object!”
(You think nothing was gained there? Well, I think I may need to think about that idea.)
“Not a single pony came to my room either.”
HOLD IT!
"How can you be so sure if that?"
"Because, I didn't hear any kind of knock!"
"Why wouldn't they try to enter your room?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if they thought that you may not have heard the knocking, then they might think that they should go inside your room to get your attention?"
"Actually, dressing rooms here are locked and only the pony using it has the key to the locked and only the pony using it has the key to the locked and only the pony using it has the key to the room.”
“Really now?”
“Yeah, so nopony could enter or leave my dressing room except for me.”
“Is this true Noir?”
“According to what I’ve asked, yes, this is fact.”
“And besides,” Lyra says...
“I wasn’t the one who killed Octavia!”
(Okay David, be careful. Even though she may state some facts that may go into logic, not all of them will have use to me. I do need to press her to get those facts though so I think I should start there. After that though, I should try and confront the facts with her. Let’s just start again from the beginning and see what I can do.)
“I was in my room the entire time.”
OF COURSE!
“No you weren’t.” I flat out state.
“Hey! How could you say such a thing?”
“Easy, you would have heard the sound of Fier de Luis’s voice if you were.”
“EEP!” She shrieks jumping up a little in surprise.
“True, she wouldn’t be as loud as music would be, but, it would still be hearable from backstage.”
“You don’t know that I would be able to hear the sound of her voice from backstage!” She says.
OBJECTION!
“Lyra, then how did you know that the theater went into a state of panic?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you meet up with me the second time, you said something to the effect of, ‘Everything was fine, until everypony panicking happened.’ Why is it, that you were able to hear the sound of panicking ponies if you couldn’t hear the sound of an amplified voice?”
“EEP!” She shrieks jumping.
“Honestly, there only one place where you could be that would give reason to why you never hear the voice of Luis.”
“And where would that be?” Asked Noir.
“The lobby. It’s the only location available.”
“Hmph, why would she be there?” Noir asks annoyed.
“I don’t know. Lyra, would you like to answer his question?”
“I wasn’t in the lobby, I was in my dressing room!” She says defensively.
“Unfortunately for you, I have proof that you were in the lobby during the murder.”
“And what would that be?”
TAKE THAT!
“The doors to the lobby from the theater are soundproof, right?” I confirm.
“Yes…” Lyra nervously replies.
“Thus, if you were in here when they were closed, you wouldn’t be able to hear the performance!”
NONSENSE!
“Then how would she be able to hear the sound of ponies panicking!? Since the doors were closed, she wouldn’t be able to hear the screams!”
OBJECTION!
“What way do you think the audience left the theater!? Those ponies didn’t leave in an orderly manner!”
“Fine!” Noir growled scrunching up his cigarette.
“So, Lyra, tell me, what were you doing in the lobby?”
“Nothing! Nothing at all.” Lyra nervously claimed.
“Hmph, seems like this little pony won’t confess. I’ll let you have one free guess as to why.” Noir stated.
“Because she did something in here that she doesn’t want to admit?” I offer.
“Nope. It’s because she wasn’t in here.” Noir says pulling out a new cigarette and lighting it.
“Yes she was. There’s evidence to prove it.”
“Ah ha ha ha!” Noir laughs, “Evidence? You’ve got evidence to prove that Lyra was in the lobby during the murder? What is it? Did somepony see her in here? Do you have some footage? Tell me.”
“Process of elimination should be good enough.”
“What elimination? Elimination based of what a killer said? That isn’t proof of anything. She can’t even give a reason as to why she might have been in here.”
“Lyra, I need you to tell me the truth. What were you doing in here?”
“I was… nothing… I can’t say.”
“Come on Lyra. It’s that, or you get falsely arrested for murder.”
“Please, don’t make me say it. Find something else… Please.” She whimpers out.
(I guess she won’t tell me what she did here. I guess the only thing now is to calm down and think about this logically. What I need to do is try and think about what may have changed in the lobby. Wait a second! There is something that changed in here during the murder!)
“Lyra, if I make some assumptions, will you tell me if I’m right or wrong?”
“...I’ll tell you if you're wrong.” Lyra agrees.
“Good enough for me.”
“Pha!” Noir cries out. “It’s not like she’ll tell the truth. There isn’t anything in here that could show what she may have did!”
“Really? Because I think there is something that she may have done.”
TAKE THAT!
“I think that Lyra over here took out the trash… and replaced it with yesterday’s bags.”
“Why!? What purpose would she have for doing such a thing?”
(Reason… Reason… Why would Lyra do such a thing… Well, what would switching the bags accomplish?)
“I guess it would have to be that Lyra wanted something in today’s garbage bag.”
“Ha! Now that’s just ridiculous.” Noir scoffs.
“Well, Lyra? Am I wrong?”
“...No.” Lyra affirms.
“What! This is ridiculous!” Noir shouts.
“Ridiculous maybe, but true.”
“Yeah! Where’s your proof? Huh!? I don’t see any proof that Lyra took something from today’s garbage bag! What did she even take!?”
(Alright, let me think about this for a second… What would possibly compel a pony like Lyra to do such a thing… What could she want that was in there… What would be put in there? Something that was thrown away…)
“I think she wanted something thrown away by someone.” I state out loud.
“Oh!? And who would that be?”
(I just got to think of who would throw away an item that she would want. And that item would be from…)
TAKE THAT!
“Lyra, you have a deep obsession. Don’t you.” I state.
“Yes…”
“A deep obsession, one that you place as your number one priority.”
“Where are you going with this?” Noir asks.
“So tell me Lyra, if you could get a sample of human blood, would you try and get it?”
“Eep!” Lyra shrieks, jumping into the air a little.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Noir furiously asks.
“Before the performance began, me and Lyra met each other. Admittedly, she introduced herself by slamming me onto the ground which caused a nosebleed, but she had a tissue on her to clean it up. Now, let me ask you Noir, what do you think a pony who has a deep rooted obsession would do when faced with the chance to act upon that obsession?”
NONSENSE!
“Then why wouldn’t she grab it before the performance began?” Noir suggested.
OBJECTION!
“Oh yes, just reach into the garbage when there are more than a dozen ponies watching. That seems like the best course of action.” I sarcastically retaliated.
NONSENSE!
“Then why did she bother switching the bags around when she could have just pulled it out later!?”
“The trash had already piled up some and I couldn’t immediately find it.” Lyra told us, “Not wanting to be seen digging through trash, I switched the bags so that I wouldn’t be seen picking up David’s blood.”
“And there you have it.” I said, “Lyra was in the lobby the entire time.”
“Then where’s the tissue! I would like to see this so called bloodied tissue!”
“I have it right here.” Lyra says pulling out the tissue.
Bloodied Tissue has been accepted into Journal
Bloodied Tissue: A tissue that was used to wipe my blood and placed in the trash. Lyra took the tissue during the murder.
“Arg!” Noir screams.
“That should be sufficient for you now.” I say.
“So, does this mean I can go?” Lyra asks.
“I believe that there isn’t any reason for you to stay any longer.” I tell her.
NONSENSE!
“You’re making me feel a slight feeling of shame right now.” Noir says lighting a new cigarette.
“Well, you did accuse an innocent pony of murder.”
“I don’t think that issue has been settled yet.” Noir says taking a puff of his newly lit cigarette.
“I feel like the issue has been settled quite well.”
“We still haven’t found out when she got the tissue.”
“When would she have the opportunity to switch the bags if not during the murder?”
“Before and after. We don’t have any proof that she did it during the murder. In fact, there isn’t a piece of decisive evidence that you have to say otherwise.”
(But after all we’ve just gone through! Ugh! It’s like talking to a smoky wall!)
“What? But I have the tissue! Doesn’t that count as proof?” Lyra questions.
Noir takes a puff of his cigarette before replying, “It’s proof that you’re a crazed psycho, nothing more. It doesn’t prove when you were outside of the theater.”
OBJECTION!
“Do you have any evidence to counter her alibi?”
“Do I need to counter a half-baked theory?”
“So if that’s true, then when exactly did Lyra steal the tissue? According to your opinion?”
“I don’t care when she stole it, I just know that she did.”
“Fine! Then what about a motive for Lyra? What purpose would she have for committing murder?”
“What reason would anypony have for committing a murder? The only matter is that she is the only pony that could possibly do this.”
“You’re avoiding the question Noir.”
“No I’m not. I’m saying that I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
“Really then? Can you at least explain in full how Lyra’s alibi is not valid?”
“Very well.”
--Why Lyra’s Alibi Doesn’t Work--
“Just because a pony is able to make a possible alibi doesn’t mean that it’s true if nopony else saw it.”
“After all, my theory still very much intact.”
“She is the one who went up onto the catwalk and cut the rope.”
“While I will admit that Lyra switched the garbage bags, we still don’t know when she switched them.”
“It’s not like you have any definitive proof of when she switched them.”
***
“So that’s why Lyra will be having a nice talk about what she’s just done in prison.” Noir says.
“But why can’t-”
“I CAN!” Side says bursting into the lobby.
“What the!” I say retracting with surprise.
“Sorry.” Side apologies, “I thought you guys were going over something dramatic so I decided I wanted to join into the drama.”
(Please tell me nopony important heard that.)
“So, Side, what did you find out?” I ask him.
“Just that nopony is needed to supervise the catwalk. We can go up there any time we want.”
“Really now?” Noir smugly says.
“What? Did I say something that I wasn’t supposed to?” Side asks.
“No.” I reluctantly say. “Did you happen to find anything else?”
“Not really. I spent most of my time chatting with Vinyl. So, what’s going on?”
“Lyra’s the suspect and I’m trying to find another possibility.”
“Ah. And we are at?”
“The final part.” Noir says. “I want to be able to leave before sunrise after all.”
“Are you debating theories?” Side asks.
“Essentially.”
“Got it. I think I’m caught up now.”
(Remember David, this isn’t going to be about finding something wrong with his theory, this is going to be showing how my theory is more plausible. Nothing definitive, just striking.)
--How Lyra Committed The Murder Pt. 2--
“Just because a pony is able to make a possible alibi doesn’t mean that it’s true if nopony else saw it.”
HOLD IT!
“Yes, but it’s certainly a possibility.” I point out, “If there’s another possibility available, then we should be searching on either view to see which one is-”
NONSENSE!
“Ha!” Noir shouts, “Actually, since nopony saw Lyra, it actually gives quite a good deal of doubt on her testimony. After all, nopony saw her? That seems mighty suspicious to me.”
OBJECTION!
“We don’t know that nopony saw her. We haven’t asked after all.”
“Actually, nopony did see me.” Lyra says.
“What!” I yell retracting, “How come nopony saw you?”
“That’s actually because the ponies that work here like to watch the performances.” Side tells me.
“Huh? You mean that they allow the ponies that make sure everypony has a ticket before they get in, get distracted by a performance the second it starts?” I question sweating.
“Yep!” Side answers.
(I need to get back on track. After all, is there any questions that I could ask to validate my theory?)
“Noir,” I start to ask, “why is it that just because nopony saw Lyra, that it casts doubt on my theory?”
“Hmph, it’s because there’s nopony that can show us she’s telling the truth. After all, you need proof to show innocence.”
“In that case, could you please change your initial statement to reflect that view?”
“Alright.” Noir says with caution.
“Since nopony saw Lyra, it casts doubt that your theory is correct in any way.”
OBJECTION!
“Noir, I must give you some credence to what you are doing.” I say with confidence.
“And what would you mean by that?” He asks me.
“Pointing out the flaw in your theory just to show the same problem in mine.”
“How so?”
“I didn’t hear you mention any witness saying that they saw Lyra up at the catwalk.” I point out.
“Ack!” He screams retracting again with his wings up.
“If you’re going to complain that just because Lyra wasn’t seen in the Lobby that makes my theory incorrect, then why wasn’t Lyra seen on the Catwalk!”
NONSENSE!
“It’s still plausible that the ponies just missed her! There are ponies that would go through the lobby even when the performance starts!”
OBJECTION!
“And ponies were looking everywhere backstage during that time as well! Was Lyra not seen by anypony who made a curious glance upwards at one point? Are you saying that Lyra managed to sneak out of everypony’s peripheral vision when she was up there?”
NONSENSE!
“It’s still possible that she was missed by the ponies that were onstage!”
OBJECTION!
“I seem to recall both of us having doubts on Lyra’s first alibi based on that same reasoning she gave.”
NONSENSE!
“Yes, but the catwalk is high above the stage. It’s much more likely that they would have missed Lyra if she was up there than in her room!”
OBJECTION!
“And it’s even more likely that they wouldn’t find her in a place that we have affirmed that nopony was in!” I shouted slamming my foot onto the ground, “In fact, the truth that nopony saw Lyra is in itself the alibi!”
NONSENSE!
“So!? There wasn’t anypony that saw another pony up on the catwalk! That still makes it possible for her to be up there by your reasoning!”
OBJECTION!
“You’re making me feel a slight bit of shame.” I said mocking Noir.
“How so?” He asked.
“This is a world of magic, isn’t it? So, wouldn’t that mean that any unicorn could cut the rope using the proper spell!?” I shouted making a full lunge of my finger at Noir.
“Damn! Damn you!” Noir shouts.
“...So,” Side starts to ask, “what does this mean now?”
“Well, it means that we have to do a proper investigation of the stage now. And there isn’t a single pony that can stop us.” I reply.
“What about me?” Lyra asks.
“I think that right now, you’re free to go. However, if any questions may arise, it would be much easier for me if you were here.”
“Ooh! Goody!” Lyra pirks up with a gleam in her eye.
(What does all of this mean though? Who committed the murder, furthermore how? Sure I may have pulled of a suitable explanation of a unicorn doing this, but is that all? Also, why did this murder happen? I suspect that there’s more to this case than I’ve just uncovered. I hope though I’m able to arrive at the truth before Noir denies it from me.)