Morbid Curiosity

"These results are... astounding Twilight!" Celestia said, overlooking Twilight's end of term test on anatomy. "You excel in this subject!" Celestia exclaimed, comparing it to Twilight's other tests.

"I just found a study routine that works for me." Twilight replied.

"Well, whatever it is, keep doing it if it'll give results like this!" Twilight beamed at her mentor, and her mind whizzed in a thousand directions at her newly given permission. "Thank you Princess." Twilight said humbly, bowing as she did. "I'll be sure to keep studying regularly," Twilight added.

Making her way out of school, Twilight considered the green light she had been given. If all of her studies were going to be as fruitful and as fun as last time, she'd make her trips to the Canterlot morgue a regular event. Twilight hoped she'd get to do that - being around the dead gave her a sense of serenity - not the hustle and bustle of those that still drew breath. There were no morals for the dead, no stupid laws getting in her way. The dead seemed a lot simpler to be around; if her classmates were anything to go on, they'd make for better conversationalists for Twilight too.

Celestia looked over the various crimes committed over the past month. Equestria was mostly a peaceful kingdom, but Celestia still had to sweep some of the more violent things under the rug. She dealt with what needed to be dealt with, then put any case notes into an archive. Very few were aware the archive even existed; Celestia had found this system was the most effective at keeping crime low - knowing the laws existed, but not knowing anypony broke them on a regular basis tranquilized the population. It was odd, but one could not argue with results.

Her desk was occupied only by the list - it had already been separated into sections. Celestia gazed at the "Low Priority" crimes - petty theft, trespassing, anti-social behavior. For the most part this list was cut at a certain point, and whatever crimes were there were left to see whomever wanted to see them.

The "Medium Priority" listed some of the more serious crimes - breaking and entering, threatening assault, small wounding. Celestia already had some crimes she picked out of this list by default, and after the objectionable had been picked out, the list was once again shortened and sent into the world, though under higher security.

Then, there was the "High Priority". This list was fairly short - Equestria was a peaceful society, overall - but the crimes here were the most serious. Murder, grievous harm, rape. The scum of society Celestia "cleaned up" on a weekly basis. Celestia made her notes next to the crime and the details of them - death, secret and jailed for life, and "personal". Celestia used the former two for most, and the latter for anything she objected to; or occasionally because she needed to work out some frustration on one who deserved it. Either way, anybody in the High Priority sector would never see the light of day again.

What had happened this month? 2 rapes, a murder, 4 counts of grievous harm (1 of which was rather gory - that got the "personal" tag) and... a mutilation? Celestia's brow furrowed slightly. Mutilation hadn't occurred in over a decade, minus the incident 3 years ago. Celestia forced the incident from her mind - not even the archive had mention of that in it. She focused on the notes -

"Body found in Canterlot Hospital with stomach cut open and organs mutilated. Scene clear of blood, but funeral will have to be closed casket. Found by county coroner - second time discovering mutilation. Considering conversion or extermination if the repression therapy fails this time.
Perpetrator of Crime - Unknown"

"Unknown" Celestia mused. Odd. Being an arm of the crown, the police force of Equestria had practically unlimited funding. Whomever the perpetrator was, they were a criminal mastermind or on the inside.
"The inside..." Celestia muttered. "Oh no..."

Twilight sat under the statue of Celestia in the Canterlot gardens, simply observing the world. Ponies walked past Twilight, muttering in their cliques. It was good to have some free time on the weekends, able to interact with the world outside the walls of her school. But, Twilight's mind wasn't seeing any ponies - she was seeing containers. Inside them, there was discovery. On the outside, there were droning husks of energy pottering about their useless existence. Twilight considered taking one of them to a secluded location, and showing them all she had learned...

Celestia found her target... no. Twilight was not a target. She wasn't a criminal. She was a foal - a morally ambiguous one, but likely just a naive one. Celestia sat next to her pupil, and took in the scene. Green grass, a warm sun, but kept cool by the shady spot Twilight had picked out. All in all, a very beautiful day.

"Luna would have loved this," Celestia said warmly, staring at the almost cloudless sky as she did so.

"Your Sister?" Twilight asked, looking at Celestia and recalling the story. Celestia nodded, the smile etched into her face betraying the solemnness with which her actions were performed. "What happened to her?" Twilight asked, looking back to stare at the surrounding area.

Celestia thought for a moment - Luna had been banished to the moon after turning into Nightmare Moon. Luna herself was still somewhere in that monster of a mare, and Celestia would remember her sister as she was; not as what her jealousy had turned her into.

"She... went away." Celestia said, feeling a pang of sadness at the seeds of truth in her lie. "I'm not sure when she's going to be back," Celestia noted, partly because she anticipated Twilight's next question, but also because she felt that saying the words aloud may help her console the guilt she still had.

Celestia and Twilight sat in silence for some time, both simply enjoying the day. While Twilight was considering how best to extract spinal fluid from the athlete doing laps nearby, Celestia contemplated how she was going... "no, not how, if" Celestia kept reminding herself - if she was going to spare Twilight the wrath of the justice system. In Twilight, Celestia saw all the good that could come of somepony - a keen mind, an inquisitive nature, and always wishing to out do themselves, no matter their destiny. But, she also could see beneath Twilight's eyes into the darkness of her soul - the lack of a moral compass, the fascination with taboos, the inquisitiveness stretched to an extreme. With all these things combined, Twilight's future was uncertain. A force for good, a symbol of hope that Celestia could pass her torch - or another Nightmare, one which Celestia had to take more extreme measures with.

"Twilight..." Celestia began, "What have you done over the week?" Celestia asked. Her pause was cause for concern, but the question was innocent enough. It was the response that Celestia would become nervous over. "Studying," Twilight replied flatly.

"How?" Celestia asked, a little firmer than intended. The young Twilight tensed a little, barely noticeable to even Celestia, and completely subconscious for Twilight.
"Practical Studies and Experimentation" Twilight responded, recalling the phrase used in her science class. Celestia had confirmation. Twilight often delved into specifics with an almost unnatural sense of recall; now she gave a vague answer, deliberately avoiding talking more than was necessary.
"Where?" Celestia asked, taking special care to make the question seem as casual as possible. A little too casual - Twilight looked over to face her mentor, rather than losing herself to the scene as she had been previously doing. There was a moment of silence, as soundless words were exchanged. Both knew the other had caught them out.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Twilight asked.
"So you know full well what you did was wrong?" Celestia retorted. Twilight locked eyes with her mentor; now the investigation had become a battle of wills.
"Yes," Twilight responded. "Under your rules." She swiftly added.
"Great," Celestia thought to herself "There goes the insanity defense."
"So... why?" Celestia asked, unsure of whom she was asking the question to. Twilight for her actions, or herself for even considering letting Twilight off the hook once more. Twilight was silent once more. "Do you not know?" Celestia suggested, attempting to egg Twilight into responding to her questions. What in Equestria was going on in that head of hers?
"If I told you... you wouldn't be mad?" Twilight asked, her ears flopping down to rest beside her head, and her entire stature seeming to shrink a little. The filly looked like one who had been caught with their hoof in the cookie jar, not one who had recently performed a heinous crime.

Celestia considered her next response very carefully. Any way she answered, she'd be a liar. "I'd be... disappointed," Celestia finally sputtered out. This was the truth, though not the whole of it. Twilight seemed to face the floor and become very absorbed in the playing with of the ground beneath her. "I did it to impress you," Twilight muttered after a time.

Celestia shut her eyes and let out a quiet but deep sigh. Of all the answers in the world, why did Twilight have to give that one?