Rainbow Dash watched as the guards that came to question Scootaloo flew away. Thankfully, they didn’t show any of their usual hard flank attitude and were very patient with Scootaloo answering them as best as she could. She was proud of the little squirt for being so strong despite what she had seen. That didn’t mean she wasn’t bothered by it, having cried in Rainbow Dash’s embrace when they arrived at her home. She had to convince the little pegasus that it was alright to do so at first.

She might not have been the brightest of her friends, but she was far from blind. Dash knew that Scootaloo practically worshiped her and wanted to be just like her when she grew up. She also knew that Scootaloo wanted nopony else but her idol to adopt her as well. While Dash herself was flattered by the praise, she knew that she was far from responsible enough to be taking care of a filly. She was still learning how to take care of a pet turtle for crying out loud.

Pausing mid-step, Rainbow Dash half expected Fluttershy to say the word “tortoise”, but there was nothing but the wind and the sound of a sleeping filly in her room. Eyes misting, she gazed over at a photo of her and Fluttershy with their families, celebrating after graduating Flight School. Dash had never told anypony this, but she almost didn’t graduate due to written exam.

If it hadn’t been for Fluttershy helping her study late into the night on the final day, she might have failed. You’ve done so much for me, yet I never repaid it all... thought Rainbow Dash as she lowered her head.

Pegasi faith was different from that of the other two races/ Ignoring the old religions from Pre-Equestrian days, most believed in the Goddess Faust and instead believing in Elysium like Unicorns and Earth Ponies, Pegasi followed the idea of reincarnation, a belief that everything continues on even after death. Your soul, your essence, becomes something else and is reborn again. A place in the world for you even after your old life was gone.

Rainbow Dash herself, to the shock of some who knew her, was very religious. She flew to Cloudsdale every Sunday for church with her mother and father, Fluttershy sometimes joining her. She said prayers in her head before and after every flight, and despite her wild, party crazed ways, she still had her chastity vow card somewhere in her room (lost among her junk of course).

Even so, she hadn’t once prayed to Faust for Fluttershy’s soul since she died. Not because she was angry, but because she was afraid. To finally say a prayer for her departed soul would be finally admitting that Fluttershy, her sister in all but blood, was gone. Even though she believed she had been reborn somewhere, probably as a rabbit knowing her, it still hurt to know she would have to wait years and years and who knows how many lifetimes to see her again.

And now she had more ponies to pray for: Roseluck,her sister, Scootaloo, the rest of the CMC. Heck, all of Ponyville at this point might need a prayer at this point.

Growling, she punched a hole in her wall and cursed. Whoever did this... this murderer... he or she better hope I never get my hooves on him or her...

She calmed herself down and was about to check up on Scootaloo when the doorbell rang. Thinking it was the guards, she went to her door and opened it but was surprised to find Derpy Hooves on her doorstep. “Is she okay?” asked Derpy, a worried look on her face despite her eyes going in different directions.

It took Dash a minute to realize why Derpy was here. That’s right... her parents...

“Yeah, she went to sleep awhile ago. I think everything must have been too much for her,” said Dash as she let her in. The two of them went to cloud chairs and sat down facing each other.

“She’s going to have nightmares,” said Derpy, “and she’ll probably start asking herself ‘what if’.”

“What if’s?” inquired Dash, tilting her head.

“What if I had been a few minutes earlier? What if I saw the whole thing? What if I never saw it? What if...” Derpy took a moment to take a deep breath. “What if I could have prevented it?”

There was a long silence between the two as Derpy did a few breathing exercises to keep herself calm. Dash waited until she was settled again before asking, “Did you ask those questions?”

“Yes,” whispered Derpy, closing her eyes and leaning back. “Some nights I still do. It never leaves you, Dash. It stays a part of you no matter how happy you are in life.” She chuckled. “I have two great daughters, despite losing my husband I’m seeing a new stallion who I love, and I love my job. Yet, every time I hear the word... murder ...I’m an eight year old filly hiding in the closet as her father stabs her mother to death with a knife.”

“...I’m sorry, this must be hard for you,” said Dash, shaking her head.

“It is... but it’s going to be harder for Daisy, Lily, and the Crusaders,” muttered Derpy, shaking her head. “I hope that Lucky is the killer or else I’m afraid what’s going to happen next.”

“Lucky is the killer? Isn’t that Roseluck’s colfriend?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“They haven’t said anything, but I heard they took him down to the station for questioning,” said Derpy as she got up. She then saw a notepad and pen and began writing on it. “This is the address of the one who helped me after my father killed my mother. Tell him I sent you and he’ll help Scootaloo.”

“I’m not her mother,” said Rainbow Dash, who accepted it.

“No, but you’re the closest thing she has to one,” said Derpy with a smile. “I’m going to offer the same thing to Applejack and Rarity. Tell Scootaloo I’m also free to talk if need be.”

Derpy made her way out of the house before Dash asked, “Hey, Derpy? Did you ever forgive him?”

Derpy stopped and kept her back turned. “The last time I saw my dad was at his funeral... I spat in his face and left before the service even finished.”

And with that she flew away.

***

“So you’re sure you saw nothing?” asked Twilight for the sixth time. She was grateful they were almost at the end of her questions, her butt was getting sore from sitting on these chairs. Lucky, still looking a bit sick, was looking even more frustrated having been kept in this interrogation room for over three hours.

“Yes, Twilight, I saw nothing!” shouted Lucky, growling. “We went to our favorite spot for a picnic. We ate, watch the stars. I wanted... I wanted us to have sex... we argued... she left... I left... and I just...” He started to tear up as he placed his hooves in front of him. “I wish I could take it all back... I wish I could tell her I love her one last time... oh, Roseluck.”

Twilight frowned and slowly placed her hoof on his shoulder, squeezing it. A few knocks on the door alerted her and she got up before leaving. Two of the guards, looking nervous, saluted. “Something wrong?” asked Twilight.

“Press is here, they want answers,” answered one guard.

“Great,” muttered Twilight, facehoofing. “This is the last thing I need.”

Another guard walked up to her and saluted. “Your Majesty? Dr. Stiff is done with his autopsy and would like to see you.”

“I’ll take seeing a dead body over the press any day,” said Twilight with a little chuckle. It was morbid humor, but she needed some laughs. Remind me to ask Pinkie Pie to plan a big party to help deal with moral.

“What should we do about the sharks outside?” asked the first guard.

“Tell them we’re still investigating and I will answer their questions later. If they ask about Lucky tell them he’s just a pony of interest in our investigation,” said Twilight.

“So he’s no longer a suspect?”

“Personally, I think he didn’t do it, but I’ll know shortly,” said Twilight as she followed the third guard to the morgue in the police station.

***

Twilight had only visited a morgue once before today. It was for a biology class where they were going to study pony anatomy first hoof with a corpse that died recently and donated his body to science. Needless to say it wasn’t a favorite experience of Twilight's, being next to a dead body and all, but she did learn a lot.

Dr. Stiff, a middle-aged unicorn, was scrubbing his hooves at a nearby sink before turning around and bowing to Princess Twilight. “Glad you could come, your majesty.”

“I’m surprised you were able to finish so quickly,” said Twilight as she walked over to the dead body of Roseluck laid out on a table, a thin white cloth covering her entire self except for her head. A small tear dripped down Twilight’s cheek as she stared at Roseluck’s peaceful expression. She could remember the first time she and Roseluck actually spoke one on one. It was three days after she moved to Ponyville, where Roseluck offered to help her with her tree house’s garden. Since then, she had turned to Roseluck and the other Flower Sisters for help in maintaining it. I’ll have to give her one of my flowers for the funeral.

“What was the cause of death?” asked Twilight, turning back to Dr. Stiff.

“Her throat was slashed, just like we thought,” said Dr. Stiff, levitating a small ruler and pointing it at the giant neck wound that was on Roseluck. “Or should I say, torn apart.”

“Any... sexual assault?” asked Twilight, holding her breath.

“None, this poor mare died a virgin,” said Dr. Stiff which made Twilight relax. She wouldn’t wish such a fate on anypony, living or dead. Plus if her studies on criminal psychology books were right (she read them over one summer for light reading), if Lucky was the murderer he would have sexually assaulted her before murdering her since sex, or lack of it, was the main cause of their fight.

Twilight held back her bile as she looked at the neck wound. It was clear that no knife did this, it was too jagged, ripped up, like multiple sharp objects were at work. “It looks like some kind of animal did this.”

“Yes, but the question is what kind of animal did this?” asked Dr. Stiff as he walked over to a small board and activated the light now shining on it, revealing a bunch of photos. Each photo was of a dead pony, some young, some old, all on the very same table Roseluck was on but with different gashes, bite marks, and torn up limbs. “All of these are recorded bites, claw marks, and similar wounds caused by the wildlife nearby. We got timberwolves, hydras, bears, alligators and so on. None of these wounds, or the tooth markings, match with this. Plus, these are the only bodies not eaten by their killers since most wildlife in the area, including the Everfree Forest, would just devour the pony whole. This one didn’t...”

“Could it be some kind of new creature? Or a beast from outside of Ponyville’s area that wandered in?” asked Twilight Sparkle, trying to think of a list in her mind.

“Possibly, but I have yet to see a creature that just leaves its prey in a tree like poor Roseluck. Chances are it’s either really tall or it flies,” said Dr. Stiff.

“And there is no way a pony could have done this?” asked Twilight, probing for something that would allow her to release poor Lucky.

“No, I can’t see any pony doing this. Not even the right teeth marks,” said Dr. Stiff, levitating a chart and looking at it.

This was unfortunately both relaxing and worrying for Twilight. What was good was not only was Lucky free from any suspicion because of this, but the chances of a pony having done this had dwindled to insignificance, so she could effectively rule out murder. On the other hand, they had some kind of monster of reasonable intelligence that may have done this and it might be still around. She would need to keep some of the guards here for protection while she and her friends tried to find a way to stop this monster.

If only Fluttershy was here, she would be able to help solve this, Twilight thought somberly.

“Send your findings to Professor Zooling of Canterlot University. She’s seen every monster there is in Equestria, she might be able to find out what kind of creature we are dealing with,” said Twilight as she left the morgue.

***

Twilight made it back to the main building of the police station when she heard arguing and rushed forward. She had hoped none of the reporters had managed to get through and start demanding questions. When she turned the corner she saw it was Daisy arguing with some of the guards who were blocking her path. Lily was trying her best to calm her sister down it seems, but was obviously failing.

“I demand to see him! I want to look him in the eyes and get him to tell me why he killed my sister!” shouted Daisy, as she tried to push away the guard, but he was obviously stronger than her.

“Ma’am, I am under orders to not let anypony see the suspect! Now stand down or I will arrest you for assaulting an officer!” shouted the guard.

“Buck you! I don’t care if you’re in charge just because you’re wearing that shiny armor!! I will see the murderer of my sister and-!” shouted Daisy.

“Enough!” shouted Twilight teleporting between the two. “Corporal, stand down. Daisy, calm yourself!”

Daisy, growling, obeyed, albeit while keeping up a glaring match with the guard. She turned to Twilight. “So have you arrested him yet?”

Twilight sighed, knowing this was only going to create more problems. “Daisy, we’ve looked at the evidence and the body. There is no way Lucky could have done this. He’s innocent.”

Daisy showed shock for a moment before glaring at Twilight. “I thought you were on our side.”

“I am on your side,” said Twilight, narrowing her eyes, “but I’m also on the side of justice. I’m not putting an innocent pony into the fire when the evidence is clear that Lucky is innocent in this. In fact, this isn’t murder. At least not by a pony. We have reason to believe this is a type of monster new to Ponyville.”

“To hay with that! You’re just protecting him!” growled Daisy, a fanatical look in her eyes as she got up in Twilight’s face. “You can’t trust stallions, Twilight! None of them! I bet he raped my sister over and over again and then killed her! And all of these dickwads are part of that! They just don’t want to see us mares get justice because they think we are nothing more than rut toys to them!” Her eyes then widened as she gave a lewd smile to Twilight. “Oh I see, you’re bucking him in bed aren’t you?”

“What did you say?!” shouted Twilight, now done with pity and her horn glowing. The guards also looked ready to attack for the sinister accusation that this mare had given to their princess.

“You heard me! You’re bucking him in bed! Lucky, and maybe all these damn guards! You slu-”

SMACK!

The blow didn’t come from Twilight or from her guards. Instead, the hard slap that knocked Daisy to the ground came from Lily herself. Holding her red cheek, she slowly looked up and trembled upon seeing the furious look her sister was giving her.

“Go home. Now,” said Lily, lowering her hoof.

“B-but... sister...”

“I said go home. Now.”

Daisy slowly got up and faced everypony, glaring at her sister before running away in tears. When she was out of the building Lily sighed heavily and bowed before Twilight and the guards. “I’m sorry. What my sister said was inexcusable. Please forgive us.”

One of the guards couldn’t help but ask, “What is wrong with that mare?”

Lily sighed. “She has... stallion issues. I thought if time passed she would get over it, but it seems I have no choice but to get her help now. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.” She then turned to Twilight. “Can I see Lucky, please? And... can I have my sister’s body back for her funeral?”

“We need to hold it for a few more days, but when we’re done with it completely we can give it back to you,” said Twilight. “Do you want help with the preparations?”

“No, Twilight,” said Lily, shaking her head. “You’re still recovering from Fluttershy’s funeral. My family and I can handle it, and I’m sure Lucky would want to help too. If you want, can you lead the funeral? You can do that, being a princess and all.”

“I’m... afraid I’m not really religious, Lily,” confessed Twilight, shaking her head.

“That’s fine. We can get a priest to do it, but we would like you to come anyway.”

“Of course,” said Twilight, as he told the guards to guide Lily to Lucky while she had to deal with the press and announce the new news.

***

Applejack was getting sick of funerals. She had seen too many in her lifetime, but she knew that it was a sad fact of life that there would be more coming. More deaths would come, mostly from natural causes. Granny Smith was getting on in years and would be called to the big barn in the sky at some point in the future, a fate she had often told AJ in secret that she was ready for.

Now she was at another funeral for another friend. Roseluck and her sisters were fellow farm ponies like them, even if they did flowers instead of food like the Apples. Ponyville was founded by earth ponies originally and there was always that sense of kinship in the community, even a hundred years later, between those whose magic was tied to the earth around them.

Sitting in her pew at the only church in Ponyville, Applejack continued to listen to the priest read a passage about death and Elysium at his podium. It was right next to Roseluck’s open casket, where she was laid out without a dress on, most Earth Ponies didn’t believe in fancying yourself up when you kicked the bucket, unlike the Unicorns and Pegasi, and surrounded by roses. Lily and Daisy worked all night to make the entire church covered with roses and rose-themed decorations.

Ah’m sure she’s happy that her sisters loved her so much, thought Applejack as she turned to the Flower Family. The two sisters were sobbing as they held onto each other, their father and all three of his wives were just as torn up over the loss of their filly.

While the number of attendants weren’t as large as Fluttershy’s funeral, a good portion of Ponyville was here including her friends. All except for Rarity that is. Sweetie Belle choose at the last second not to attend the funeral, still haunted by what she saw and Rarity had to cancel her appearance. Applejack didn’t blame her; right now their sisters were more important. She looked over at the crying Apple Bloom who held both her old teddy bear and a rose flower she intended to put in the casket later on. Ah’m glad Aunty and Uncle Orange agreed to help take care of her. Although she would miss her sister for a few weeks or months, it was a necessary evil if it meant Apple Bloom could deal with her trauma.

The rest of her friends were right beside her, from a crying Pinkie Pie, to a praying Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Twilight was also there with Spike, who was burying his face into her chest. The poor dragon had been crying for days and with the death of Roseluck so soon after Fluttershy, he asked if he could go home to Canterlot for a few days or weeks.

It seemed the angel of death was upon Ponyville this year, and all were suffering. Faust, why us? Why allow this to happen to us? Applejack prayed. She had her faith in her goddess, but there were times when she sometimes wondered what her reasonings were. Just please take Roseluck into your embrace as you have done with Fluttershy.

The priest had ended his passage and then, to the surprise of some, Lucky came up next. Twilight’s announcement that he was no longer a suspect managed to convince most ponies of his innocence, but a few still believed him guilty thanks to Daisy’s rambling. Applejack had learned what she had said to Twilight and put her name on the list of those to refuse service to in the future. She could sympathize with Daisy for having both been cheated on by her coltfriend and losing her sister. However, to keep harassing an innocent pony because he was a stallion and accuse Twilight of sleeping around like a slut? You were on Applejack’s-pardon the language since she was in a church-manure list for that.

Lucky, dressed in a black suit, calmly cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone. “Roseluck and I had been friends since we were in the second grade. I can remember us first meeting when she offered her brownie to me when some bullies stole mine. From there we met every lunch period and slowly became the best of friends.” A smile decorated his face as he chuckled. “We managed to get back at those bullies by making brownie out of dog poop and letting the bullies steal them. Needless to say it was quite a sight.”

The audience laughed at this before Lucky continued. “Over time... I saw Roseluck as somepony more than a friend. I saw her as a mare. I beautiful mare who I felt my heart sing to every time I was near her. Telling her my feelings was the greatest day of my life because that’s when she kissed me and told me she felt the same way.” He paused and glanced over at Roseluck before closing his eyes and muttering something the audience couldn’t hear. “I... I can’t express the words about how much I love her... and... fate is cruel... because I was... I was ready to...”

He started to weep as he slowly pulled something from out of his jacket pocket and opened it. Those in front, including Applejack, gasped upon seeing what it was. A ring. A beautiful rose shaped diamond ring.

“I saved... so much for this... and it was all a waste...” he muttered as he walked over to the casket and stared at the mare he loved so much. Even though he wasn’t at the mike, the church was quiet enough now so that all could hear him. “I want you to have this, Roseluck... so that while I can’t give this to you in this life... I can give it to you in the next...” He placed the ring in the casket and slowly lowered himself to kiss her on the forehead. “I love you Roseluck Flower. And I hope you will wait for me.”

He sniffed and walked away, silent and in tears.

***

“And thus, we lay Roseluck down to her earthly bed so that she may rest for eternity. May Faust guide her into the everlasting summer field of Elysium and bless her eternal life in paradise. Her sins be forgiven, our prayers to her soul, and know that death is not the end, but the start of a new life free from pain and suffering. May we all one day join Roseluck as we say farewell and bid her soul a peaceful rest. Amen.”

“Amen,” said Applejack and those in attendance as the casket was lowered. Ponies tossed flowers onto the grave as the wooden box continued until a final thud was sounded. With the funeral officially over, ponies slowly began to make for the cemetery’s exit one by one. Applejack stared at the grave and the gravestone that held Roseluck’s name before closing her eyes. Whatever monster that did this to ya, Roseluck. Ah swear Ah will make it pay.

With her promise made, Applejack followed the rest of her friends to the reception party that Pinkie Pie made at Town Hall.

***

They had buried it. They had buried the pray she had eaten only a few short days ago. The creature once known as Fluttershy, now something else, slowly made its way to the grave. It remembered that ponies did this. For their dead. It didn’t know why, the memories were hazy. Memories both of this body and something else. Somepony else. It could remember fire. Hatred. Blood. Burning. Screaming. But nothing clear.

It needed more.

It needed to feed more.

Pony blood was the key. Animal blood didn’t do enough.

Yes, pony blood. Blood of the pony.

It’s fangs glistened in the moonlight as it thought about its next victim.

Author's Note

Here is the next chapter. You can find the artwork on DA.

For the Roseluck Funeral one, click here.

For the Flutterbat and Grave one, click here.