Morbid Curiosity

Celestia, despite herself, felt compelled to embrace the foal as she had 3 years ago. "I wanted to show you I could take initiative, and do things by myself,” Twilight stuttered out. Celestia was completely silent. She knew, to an extent, Twilight was right. The dissection had helped Twilight’s grade improve at a far greater rate than any actual lessons or books.

Once again, the two sat in the shade, unsure of how to respond to each other. Twilight thought back to her other lessons – Celestia always asked Twilight to show her working. “Perhaps Celestia would be less angry if she knew how I did it…” Twilight thought to herself. Twilight looked up a Celestia, and opened her mouth to speak; but no words came out.

Celestia looked at her pupil with eyes full of sorrow, but also with flashes of understanding. This was replaced every so often with disappointment, as if the Princess was locked inside her mind, trying to figure out how she felt. “Speak, Twilight,” Celestia told Twilight, the same way she had every other time Twilight was nervous to speak of something or for little misdemeanors, like sneaking into the Canterlot library after hours. For a reason she didn’t understand, Twilight felt only more nervous at the usual reaction to this unusual situation. But, Celestia’s voice was calming to Twilight, and eventually she spoke. “I can show you… if you’d like…” Twilight offered, barely audible even to Celestia.

Celestia was taken aback by this statement. It was completely preposterous; she should have Twilight taken into custody on the spot! But, there was something about Twilight Celestia couldn’t put her hoof on… some sort of morbid curiosity about how her mind worked. Celestia too had been thirsty for knowledge at Twilight’s age, and enjoyed examining all sorts of oddities even now. Twilight’s mind worked like no other – a cold killer wouldn’t show remorse or embarrassment at being confronted, but no student does something that sadistic. Every single part of Celestia’s being was screaming at her to end the story here – to take Twilight in and let the measures of the law take their course. Alas, she couldn’t.

Celestia very slowly nodded her head. It was as if the very muscles in her neck were refusing to perform the action. “Show me, Twilight. Let me see how you work,” Celestia said, standing up along with Twilight. The phrase was more for Celestia to convince herself that this is what she wanted to do than to confirm to Twilight what she had meant.

Twilight skittered a few steps ahead of Celestia, seemingly eager to get to her destination. Celestia was using a technique her mother had taught her to settle conflicts in her mind – have a conversation with yourself. “This is crazy!” Celestia’s mind told her. To differentiate, the part opposed to the idea had taken the voice of Luna, while the arguments for were 'vocalized', so to speak, with Celestia’s own voice. “You are walking willingly into the playground of a criminal!” Luna’s voice echoed through Celestia’s mind.
“No, I’m assessing a situation,” Celestia told herself. “If it is simple scientific curiosity, then it is no different to the scientists through history that gave us the knowledge of the body to begin with,”
“You know that’s a lie,” Luna’s voice recited. “Once is curiosity, something to be disciplined and punished for. Twice is enjoying the act!”
Celestia’s voice was silent while her mind formulated a counter point. “Then I shall discipli - ” Celestia’s voice was cut short by an intruder on her internal argument.

“Princess, we’re here!” Twilight announced, indicating the door leading to the morgue. Celestia could only envision Luna giving her a disapproving look, shaking her head and walking into the mists of Celestia’s thoughts. “Go on then Twilight,” Celestia bid, walking forward slowly in an attempt to get Twilight to move along.

Twilight opened the door, and stared down the tiled stairs leading into the freezer. Celestia breathed deeply, attempting to calm her nerves, before following Twilight down.

The place had evidently been sterilized since the body had been discovered – the smell was now that of various cleaning products, and the floor and walls shone with the unnatural gleam of something cleaned far too thoroughly. Even the horizontal lockers the bodies were kept in seemed to shine. The room was still just as cold as previously though.

Celestia watched Twilight set up her own little workshop with all the enthusiasm of a young filly setting up a play area to enact mock up games. Celestia stood in the corner, letting Twilight do as she saw fit. Tools were put just under Twilight’s head height, making expert use of the stands the coroner actually did use to store the tools; all the while, Twilight explained each and every thing she did, often posing different ways of doing things to Celestia. After a few minutes, Twilight stopped and asked Celestia her opinion. “It’s… organized well Twilight,” Celestia murmured, attempting once more to avoid lying to Twilight.
“Now comes the main bit,” Twilight exclaimed excitedly. Twilight’s voice echoed up the stairs. Celestia flinched, but no sound came from above. Perhaps they would ignore it, or think it was…

*CRAAASH*

The locker Twilight was attempting to pry open came out with a start, the back of the table the body was on crashing into the stops of the locker to prevent it flying out. “Who’s down there?!” Came the call of a Stallion from above.
“Oops… oh no…” Twilight whimpered under her breath. Celestia was half inclined to cuss, but remained silent. “I’m coming down…” The voice called after a short pause. Celestia searched her mind for a more lady like word, but only found one that could express her feelings adequately: “Shit!”

The steel door could be heard colliding lightly with the wall, but with enough force that one could tell the opener was in a rush. Twilight simply stood frozen to the spot, unable to move out of fear. Celestia stepped to the left of the staircase, keeping herself hidden from anypony coming down to explore the commotion. A well built Stallion, with a short-trimmed brown mustache came down the stairs. He was unclothed, his mane was in no particular style. Completely unremarkable… Too unremarkable.
“What are you doing down here little filly?” The stallion asked, approaching Twilight from the stair case. Twilight remained completely silent, staring unblinking at the approaching figure. The writing, however, was already on the walls – Twilight was surrounded by surgical instruments, and a body had just been pulled from it’s storage. Twilight stared at the Stallion – he looked first at her, then the tools, to the body, and finally back to Twilight.
“You’re…” he started, struggling to comprehend that something so gruesome could have been committed by one so young. “Would you kindly come with me please?” The Stallion asked, offering a hoof and trying to sound concerned for Twilight’s safety. Twilight’s mind was desperately wailing at her for something to say, try and explain her way out; anything! But Twilight’s voice wouldn’t respond. She simply stood there, all 4 of her legs locked up.

The Stallion's face went from concerned to determined, and he moved in to grab Twilight himself. Twilight finally broke from her stance, and scuttled around her assailant. Turning to face her, the Stallion moved slowly towards Twilight.
"Halt officer!" Celestia ordered. The Stallion stopped his advanced, then turned to face Celestia. "How did you know?" he asked. "You're so covert, you're overt. There's such a thing as too casual," Celestia responded.

Twilight was hearing the conversation, but she was too shocked to pay any attention to it. Celestia and the Stallion were talking, that's all she needed to know. Once more, Twilight felt rooted to the spot, unable to tear herself away from seeing the result of the confrontation.

"Ma'am, she has to come with me," the Stallion responded. There was a short silence. Celestia slowly lowered her head and stared at the floor; seemingly hanging her head in shame. "I'm sorry..." Celestia muttered. The golden glow of Celestia's magic enveloped the Stallion's head. Now it was his turn to be silent for a moment. "Ma'am...?" was all he could muster. "I'm so sorry..." Celestia repeated, her voice clouded by the onset of tears.

With that, Celestia snapped his neck.