Chapters It was a Friday night like any other in Ponyville a town that got its name on the map by producing the best Apples and Race horses in Equestria, Alice or rather AppleJack; the local sheriff and resident apple producer in the town; she was rather tall for being only twenty years old standing at five foot 11 inches and weighed a nice one hundred and thirty pounds, was making her rounds like she does normally on a late Friday night. She drove down the streets in Ponyville in her stations Grand Cherokee, wanting to stretch her legs for a while, she decided to park the car nearby and walk around. The night air was chilly for the middle of June, everybody was out partying and having fun like normal and here she was, walking around in a thin pair of jeans and jacket, her trusty revolver pistol was holstered to her side. Instead of at home in bed. She popped the collar on her jacket and fought against the cold but after a couple hours of patrolling, she decided to head back to her car. On the way she passed the only nightclub in the town, owned by Patricia Packard many called her Pinkie because of her bright pink hair and bubble head attitude. Patricia was one of Alice's closest friends since elementary school.
Just to be safe, Alice decided to go in; walking past the large line of waiting party goers and being welcomed in by the bouncers. Alice's ears were immediately flooded with a base loud enough to rip her heart from her chest. The building was packed with people, all holding various kinds of alcoholic drinks. From a traditional beer bottle, to a drink that looked a little too froo froo to even be seen in a town as backwoods as theirs. Walking to the producers room which consisted of a large balcony with thick glass windows overlooking a stage, in this room was a thick oak desk and expensive looking seats and even a private bar.
Once in the room Alice spotted her long time girlfriend Rebecca Dashella a local athlete, pilot and star of Ponyville sports. Rebecca, a tall well built young woman who stood at an average five foot 9 and maybe weighed a hundred and twenty pounds, had long rainbow colored hair and near perfect skin. Her nails we painted clear and she wore a pair of baggy cargo pants and a baby blue tank top. Alice had been romantically involved with her for a couple of years so far, and she could not have been happier. Except for not being able to party with her tonight on account of being the only cop in the entire town. "Hey Sugarcube" Alice said walking up to kiss her on the cheek.
"Aww i thought i said to stop calling me that, its embarrassing." Alice smiled, greeting her other friends Felicia Sheye; often called "Fluttershy" cause she was so nervous of everything, sat in a chair in the corner; happily watching everyone but never interacting. Felicia wasn't a small girl, nor was she overweight; but she was well endowed on the chest. She outbeat all of them, even Rachel "Rarity" Bell. Felecia stood somewhere around five foot six and weighed near one hundred and forty pounds, she wasn't skinny but she had curved .
Alice walked over, hugging her shy friend long and hard. "Hey Flutter, aren't you ever gonna get on the dance floor and show those moves? You were voted as the best dancer in highschool." Felicia smiled, blushing; "Oh...i don't think so, i'm just happy being here." AJ sighed, shaking her head as she placed her hands on her hips. She nodded, kissing her friend on the forehead. Walking over to Talia "Twilight" Sparks, Talia was the groups resident nerd, and she had her nose in a book even in the middle of a party. "Talia, your no better than Flutter here, there is a huge party going on here and you got your nose in a book." Talia looked up, readjusting her glasses; she smiled, standing to hug her friend. Talia was quite tall for her demeanor; standing nearly six foot two she was even taller than Alice. Wearing a long pleated purple dress, with a dull blue blouse her hair tied back with a green ribbon.
"Just catching up on some late reading, there is a final exam at the university this monday." Alice smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "As usual, girl you need to lighten up and have some fun every once in a while." She said tapping her shoulder before hugging her. Turning around, she noticed Rachel Bell behind the bar, fixing herself a bright blue drink. Rachel stood at a short five foot 7, wearing a low cut, high riding; pure white dress that left little to the imagination. Rarity weighed somewhere between one hundred and thirty and one hundred and thirty five pounds. Her purple hair was full and flowing over one eye as she walked over with a glass of cola, handing it to AJ. "Hey there darling, having fun on patrol?" Rachel asked, "Not to worry i know your not allowed to drink on duty; this is just a cola." Alice smiled, sipping. "I don't have much time, i just thought i would check in and make sure everything was going ok."
Talia smiled, nodding as she again readjusted her glasses; sipping from the small glass of wine "Everything is great, but Patricia isn't here at the moment." Alice nodded, finishing her cola; "well when she is, tell her ta call me will ya? I've been getting complaints from her neighbors about the noise." Alice walked around to each of her friends and Rebecca; "I'll see ya at home, sugarcube." She said teasingly, kissing Dash on the cheek. With things said and done she returned outside, it had gotten a little warmer and the once heavy wind stopped. She blushed thinking of the first time she met Rebecca, she had just gotten into Ponyville with nothing more than a backpack filled with clothes and a handfull of food. AJ had caught her stealing apples from the farm and had nearly chased her off with her rifle until she saw how skinny she was from malnutrition. She had invited Dash to stay until she was healthy, which turned into a longer time than she imagined and ultimately hired Dash as a farm hand until she could find more stable work.
But a loud, near glass breaking scream had halted Alice's once happy memories and brought her back to reality. She burst out into a full sprint, nearly being toppled over by a tall heavy built man clad only in a black trench coat and fedora. She never saw the mans full face, everything above his nose was hidden by the hat. But again hearing the scream louder and more desperate than before made AJ run to an alley not far from where she currently was, once at the alley she had her revolver withdrawn from his leather holster and pulled back its hammer. But when she entered the dimly lit, depressing scene; what she saw would forever haunt her memories. She walked into the alley, her gun aimed dead ahead of her, she felt her pulse quicken and her heart beat against her chest; this was the first ever crime in Ponyville.
At least, the only one she knew of in her five year tenure as sheriff; as she delved deeper into the dark alley. A street lamp above flickered with light, outlining a single woman huddled on the ground in shock, she was skinny with blue hair, lined only with a silver stripe. Wearing a shiny silver dress, she was huddled next to a dumpster not less than five feet away from another figure that laid sprawled out in a puddle of blood. As she moved further, she went to the woman; taking her jacket off she wrapped her in it and escorted her back to the start of the alley. Taking her radio into her hand she called her partner and older brother Mac. "Big Mac, i got a situation down at Ponyville National Bank and i need you here asap, also call the doctor at the hospital and tell ahm gon' need his morgue technician. We have one witness and a body, body is yet to be identified. Come armed, the perpetrator could still be in the area."
Big Mac answered the radio with his usual "Eeyup" Which was about the only thing he would say unless he absolutely had to speak his mind, leaving the witness next to a vehicle where she would be safe she handed her a small pistol. "I need ya to stay 'ere take this and if anybody tries to come up to you that you do not know, i want you to point this at them. Don't do anything else ya hear?" The woman nodded and AJ went back down to the alley; her hands were shaking; but she pressed forward. Moving passed the body, she heard quick footsteps and the sound of a breaking bottle caught her ear. She looked ahead and saw a shadowy figure run away, she gave chase returning her revolver to her holster.
After several minutes of chasing, she came upon a dead end; turning around in frustration she stamped her foot on the ground. "SHIT!" She turned around, check all the possible exits to the alley. A few moments later, back on the main road; Big Macintosh arrived in his large F350 truck, stepping out he was a giant of a person. Standing at around six and a half feet tall. He was clad in only a thin red tshirt and pair of jeans; weighing nearly two hundred and ninety pounds of muscle. He was not a person someone would or should get into a fight with. He gripped his trusty shotgun that seemed like anything but a toy in his hands.
He looked over into the truck, in the passenger seat sat his little sister Alicia Applebloom Jackson; she was a little thing of maybe seven years old. Big Mac began to walk over to the witness when he heard a loud gunshot ring out from the alley. Big Mac glared at his little sister, "listen here little sis; stay here and roll up the windows and if anybody comes to the truck you flip this switch and turn on the roof lights and the siren as loud as it can go." Applebloom nodded as Big Mac tore off into the alley, his boots threatening to cause an earthquake in his wake. Then another shot, and another. As he ran, the shot fueled his steps; fearing the worse he rounded the corner deep in the alley and did not believe his eyes.
Meanwhile in the alley a few minutes before; AJ walked down, returning to the crime scene; angry that the criminal had gotten away. She rounded a corner, her pistol still aimed infront of her. With the sound of wind flying near her ear and the sound of a loud wet cracking as a metal pipe collided with the backside of her head, the force of the impact forced her head to hit the wall just to her right. In the instant of her head meeting the brick wall, Alice squeezed the trigger on her .45 revolver as a round expelled from the barrel and hit a nearby trashcan.
Losing consciousness fast, she raised her firearm as the assaulter stood over her; grabbing her pistol from her already weak grasp. "Who..." The shadowed figure, pulled the trigger; firing a shot into AJ's leg and another into her shoulder. Screaming as she felt the hot bullets hit her, she looked up seeing him aim the pistol higher the barrel pointed to her forehead, the killer heard loud footsteps and took off running; disappearing into the darkness. Big Mac arrived as quickly as his heavy legs could carry him what he saw would fill him with many emotions all at once, from fear to anger and eventually rage. "AJ!!" He ran, cradling his sister in his arms; "Dont worry, ahm here sis" He said, picking her up.
Alice screamed as the pain woke her up from a pitch blackness. "Big Mac..." She said, her voice sounding weak as she leaned into her brothers chest. She bled from her leg and shoulder as she cradled her arm, a stream of blood flowed down from her forehead and a pool of blood formed onto Big Macs once clean jeans. "Ahm sorry about ya pants big brother, i know how ya like ta keep em clean." Big Mac felt tears form in his eyes, he picked up his radio and called the ambulance. "Dont worry about it little sis, doc is gon' fix ya right up ya hear, just stay with me!" He beeped the button on the radio, screaming into it. "I need you here now doctor! AJ's been shot!"
Try as hard as she could, Alice could not stay awake; she felt her eyes grow heavy as she fell victim to the unknowing darkness that lay behind her eyes. She felt her life leave her with his pulse of her heart and soon she didn't hear or feel anything.
Author's Note
Well, the prologue is now released into the wild. I hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 1 - The First Victim
A soft beeping, a scent of antiseptic and bright light invaded Alice's pupils as she slowly opened her eyes. Looking around, she saw a drag aquamarine colored room, she lay in a hospital bed; in a gown that matched the curtains and bedsheets. Looking down at her arm, she saw several tubes protruding from her veins, slowly looking around; in blurred vision she noticed the familiar outlines of her friends. Her head throbbed, her leg and shoulder felt like they were on fire.
"Is she going to be okay Doctor?" AJ heard a familiar voice, smiling she gripped her lovers hand. Rebecca was surprised, yelping when she felt pressure on her hand in a tight squeeze, ecstatic with joy that she was awake Dash kissed Alice on the cheek. "Your awake, AJ do you remember what happened?" Nodding, she slowly tried to lift her head, Nurse Redheart a petite middle aged woman stopped her slowly easing her head down.
"Ahm gon' be ok sugarcube." AJ said, softly queezing her hand. Looking around her vision slowly began to focus and she saw all her friends around the bed. Pinkie, Rarity, Twilight and Flutter all smiled with happiness as they each gave her a soft hug. "We were so worried, darling; you've been unconscious for nearly two weeks." Alice got wide eyed "Two weeks?!" She regretted that, screaming like she did only made the throbbing worse. The bandage that wrapped around her head felt like a vice, threatening to crush her fragile skull.
"Where's Applebloom and Big Mac?" AJ asked, slowly looking around. "Are they okay?" Her voice shuttered as she frantically looked around. And just at that moment Granny Smith, Big Mac and Applebloom came walking in; Mac had to nearly duck just to fit in the door. He towered above everyone else as he playfully socked his sister in the arm. "We're okay, but it suure was scary seein' ya carried away by the ambulance people.
Applebloom said, "I was so worried we'd lose ya like ma and pa, sis..." She cried as she said the words, frantically rubbing her tears away. Alice slowly reached her hand over, drying her tears; "ya aint gonna lose nobody little sis; ahm not going anywhere." Appleblooms tears slowly stopped, Big Mac smile pulling his little sister close. "Eeyup" Applebloom laughed, hugging her older sis. "Now i gots ta talk to Big Mac alone for a while." Everyone seemed to nod at the same time and soon filed one by one out of the room.
"What happened?" Alice asked, checking over her wounds; they were healed for the most part. Thanks to Zacora, she was a strange person who lived by herself in the woods; she came from a far away country that know one knew of. But she could make potions and ointments that put the towns modern medicine to shame. "Well, after you were brought to the hospital i came back and investigated the crime scene ."
Mac pulled a folder out of his bag that sat next to the door "But its too much to talk about in a simple converstation so i brought ya the file i put together." He handed AJ the file and she opened the first page and nearly lost her stomach when she saw the picture of the victim. A red headed woman, wearing a blue and green dress laid sprawled out on the ground. Her fuscha colored eyes and drab red hair lay in shambles, her dress torn to near shreds; her breasts lay exposed and there was a large cut that lead from her neck down to her navel. On her hip rested a colored tattoo of a vine of grapes and a strawberry.
Alice continued to read the file outloud; "the victims name; according to what remained inside of her purse, was Becky Parks. Her live in room mate and friend Caroline Gates discovered the body at 1:54am, cause of death was the severing of the jugular veins on both sides of the throat. Upon death the victim was cut open from the top of the throat down to her navel. Upon closer inspection the killer had surgically removed the victims uterus and ovaries. Cause of reasoning behind this is yet unknown." AJ read this from the morgue technicians notes. "A letter found at the crime scene underneath the corpse had only one thing written on it; the number fourteen." She read, "Fourteen?" She asked Mac.
He shrugged his shoulders, "That aint the half of it sis" After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door; Big Mac stepped towards the knock, his hand firmly placed on his side arm. Opening the door he saw a hulking man who was nearly taller than he was. He wore a black leather trench coat with a matching fedora hat. "An who might you be?" Big Mac asked, shoving him back when the man tried to shove his way into the room.
The towering man grunted, reaching his hand into his coat. Big Mac withdrew his pistol, to which the man raised only the flat of his hand. "I'm not here to harm you Sheriff Jackson. The man pulled a small wallet out of his coat and flipped the cover open. "My name is Agent Alexander, i'm with the Canterlot Royal Bureau of Investigation. Special Investigations department, I'm here to take your statement" Big Mac reholstered his massive firearm. "Statement?" He asked, still unsure if he could trust him to get so close to his sister. "Yes, the man who assaulted you is the same man i have been hunting for twenty years.."
He said, sitting down in a nearby chair. "I have taken to calling him The Invisible Killer, because every time i get close to arresting him he's always gone, its like the guys is a complete ghost." AJ laughed mockingly, "Take a good look darlin' no ghost did this to me." She said, pointing to her wounds. "Unless he's a pipe swinging ghost who can shoot a gun" She leaned up, now that the throbbing in her brain stopped. "If ya want a statement get a copy of this file from mah brother here; everything that happened is in this.
Alice said, looking down. "Ah knew the girl who was killed that night, she an i went to high school together. We never really talked by she was nice, kinda reserved type who knew how to have fun. I always told her that drinking would kill her one day, just...not like this." She chided, looking down; "Now, if you'll excuse us; ah need some rest." She said, handing Mac the file.
Several days later, Try as she might; she could not get the image of Becky Parks out of her head, the image haunted her nightmares and that night played over and over again; keeping AJ awake until she fell asleep from exhaustion. That morning Nurse Redheart walked into Alice's room and opened the blinds to the window. It was a bright day, the sun shined through the window like an unwanted pest that threatened to make her still throbbing head explode. "Wake up miss, you're checking out today. The doctor will be here in a few minutes to have you sign some paperwork and give you some medications." AJ nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Thank you nurse" Redheart smiled, walking over as she carefully removed the I.V. lines in Alice's arms, placing a cotton ball over the punctures before tieing them down with self adhering tape.
"I know what you saw, and i know what you must be going be going through; be always remember. If you need someone to talk to i'm always here, so its Doctor Pennyworth." Alice smiled, as she held her arm bent as the bandage was applied. "Now, get dressed and the doctor will be here shortly." Alice smiled, nodding as she crawled out of the bed and walked over to the wardrobe and retrieved her clothes. Inside was a pair of rough blue jeans, emboidered with three red apples on the hip and a low cut green top. She took the shirt and lifted it over her shoulders, groaning as the now healed bullet wound reminded her to never get shot again.
Once she was dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror; her face held the fact that she had a serious lack of a full nights rest, she kept all but the last few buttons on her shirt open, she never cared for wearing a bra; she thought it was rather uncomfortable. She sighed, grabbing her handbang and hat, slipping it on and awaited for the doctor to arrive.
Dr Horse came in, he was a kind of short doctor with brown hair and wrinkles under his eyes. "Alice, if you will just sign here i can distribute your medication and release you; however for your sake i am requesting that you discuss this traumatic experience with Doctor Pennyworth or if you prefer a different mental health physician i know several throughout Equestria." AJ nodded and signed the paperwork; "Thank ya Doctor, i suppose if it wasn't for you i wouldn't have made it that night." Doctor Horse nodded, shaking her hand. "If theres anything i can do to repay ya; just say the word." Doctor Horse smiled, chuckling. "Its my job Sheriff, and my responsibility to help those in need; as it is your responsibility to catch the guy who did that to you."
Alice nodded, smiling as she tipped her hat and walked out of the hospital room. Down the hall, she saw the familiar tall figure; Agent Alexander. "Miss Jackson, i will need you to come with me to Manehattan" Alice frowned, "An whys dat?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips. Alexander grimaced, lowering his voice as to not alarm others nearby. "There has been another murder, and other than me; you are the only one with any experience in this case." Alice nearly lost her mind, "Any experience?! This was my first ever crime, here in Ponyville we don't have anything we could call crime, not one assault, robbery, theft or anythin' why should i help you?" She said her voice filled with anger that force a vein to bulge in her forehead."
"Because the victim, is Palena Faine" AJ was shocked, again; she wished this would really stop happening to her. For a down home girl, she was easily spooked and surprised. "Photo Finish, the famous photographer? Are you sure the perpetrator isn't some crazed fan?" Agent Alexander handed her the file, "My men are on the scene as we speak." AJ glanced over the file, once her eyes caught a glimpse of the crime scene photo and the body she rushed to a nearby trash can; vomiting up what remained of last nights dinner. "Its...its exactly the same."
Alexander sighed, handing her a handkerchief; "We have Equestria's first serial killer" AJ took the handkerchief and wiped her mouth, "How many has he killed?" She asked, but did she really want to know? Would it bother her to know the numbers? She thought so at first but once she heard the number, she immediately regretted it.
Alexander came back from the nearby water fountain with two small paper cups of water. "Fifteen, all killed in the same way; the only thing that is different is each time the killer takes a different organ." AJ again shoved her head into the trash can, spewing up more dinner. Once finished she nearly fainted as she sat down on the nearby bench. "What is he doing with 'em?" Alexander sighed in frustration "I don't know, but nothing pleasant you can be sure of that."
Alice took the small cup, downing its contents before tossing it into the small bin next to the bench. "So whats ya reasoning behind wantin me ta help?" She readjusted her purse before tipping her hat forward to hide her eyes. "I've never seen anything like this, Ponyville is a quiet little town, we never had anything like this before. All my job entails it harvestin apples and helping out with any disputes at the local market. Other than Pinkies club its a very quiet town."
The Agent smiled, handing her his cup. "Because i think you have something i lack, natural talent." AJ looked up, taking the cup from him. "Natural talent like what?" She asked sipping from the fragile cup, her hands shaking; turning the contents of the small object in a small hurricane. "When you heard the scream, your first reaction was not to run away; but instead to run into the alley and even after that you escorted the witness and gave her means to protect herself. Then you went deeper into the alley to attempt an arrest; something you have never done before." He said, reassuring her.
"Thats just instinct darlin' I count everyone in Ponyville as a friend and would do anything in mah power to protect 'em" Alexander nodded, resting his hands on her to calm her uneasiness. "Thats why i need you, your gutsy." He said, helping her to her feet. "So how about it? Want to help me catch a murderer? You'll be paid of course." She looked down, sipping her drink. "Yea ah'll come; i just need ta handle a few things first." She said, tossing the cup along side its paper friend in the small can.
"Take as much time as you need. You can find me at the Ponyville Hotel." He said and turned to walk away. Later that day, after several errands, packing and discussing her situation with the mayor. She said a heart filled goodbye to each of her friends, Dash hugged her lover long and hard. "Promise me you'll be careful" Alice smiled, resting her hand on Rebecca's cheek. "Ah promise sugarcube, i will see you again." She said kissing Dash on the lips, Agent Alexander stood near the train; checking his watch every ten minutes and once the train arrive she boarded. Once at her seat she opened the window and waved bye to her friends. After several moments the train was barreling down the tracks at full speed. By 12:00Pm tomorrow she would embark on the greatest challenge she had ever attempted.
How was she going to catch a Murderer?
Chapter 2 - What's at the Heart of Evil?
Chapter Two
Whats are the Heart of Evil?
Rocking, rocking. Alice or AppleJack as her friends called her. Swayed side to side as she readjusted her hat, peering outside at the endless desert that boarded her hometown. "So why are yah so interested in getting mah help huh?" She said, sipping from the bottle of water she had in front of her on a small table. Alexander looked at her, handing her another pair of files; these ones seemed much older than the last one she seen. "Whose this?" She asked, reading the file. "Octavia Philharmonica, ah recognize that name; a famous musician in Canterlot." He nodded, "keep reading." Alice read on, "foun' dead on July 5th at 9:05PM, dismembered body was located 45 feet from the body of another victim. Body parts were organized in a ritualistic manner." She opened the other file, "Victoria Scarletta, famous DJ nicknamed 'DJ-Pon3' Found dead 45 feet from the body of Octavia Philharmonica, body was impaled on what appeared to be a sharpened hollow rod, her stomach splayed open. Next to the body were a series of buckets filled with the victims blood and organs"
Alice kept reading the file out loud, the gory details nearly forcing her left overs from breakfast to reappear; "Written on the ground between the bodies, with what was identified as the victims own blood read: "What lies in the heart of evil?" She took a deep breath, closely examining the pictures of the bodies while holding back the urge to vomit. She looked up to see the look of pain on his face. "Is there something ya want to tell me?" She asked, closing the files and setting them down. "I...i haven't been completely honest with you." She tilted her hat back, "Victoria Scarletta...was, my sister." She took another deep breath "Now ah see why your so eager to find this person, ah feel that there is more to the story though." He nodded, "That afternoon we got into a fight, i tried my best to raise her after our parents died...but over the last few years she'd grown so distant from me..."
AJ nodded, "Ah know how that feels." He nodded, "I'd often get phone calls from the Canterlot police that she was in their detox chamber again. When i would pick her up, she'd be in various states of intoxication, from alcohol to drugs." He sighed as a tear formed in his eyes. AJ looked into the file, it also contained Ms Scarletta's criminal and drug conviction history, various pictures showed her in bad states of both mind and body. But in almost every picture, she was a high cut white shirt and loose fitting pants, her hair a contrasting shade of light and dark blue. In all of the pictures, she was skinny; with obvious track marks from repeated needle exposure. But buried at the very end of the file, was one picture; it appeared to be taken at a party. Ms Scarletta was posed in the lap of a beautiful brunette woman, she could tell that she'd gained a fair amount of weight.
"But i would always be there to get her every time. And when she'd met Octavia i was convinced she met someone she could love, someone who could help her get her life together." He slowly dried his tears, what kind of a sicko would do that to someone? The day i was called to the scene was when i made a solemn promise that i would make the one responsible pay." AJ bounced a bit as the train skidded to a halt. Before getting up, he stopped AJ, placing a hand on her shoulder as the train made a full stop. "Do you think she suffered at the end?" She shook her head "I don't know surgarcube...i hope not"
"We must be in Canterlot, We need to get to Headquarters." He said as a pair of gentlemen wearing the same color of suits that Alex wore, they escorted them to a black SUV, Alice adjusted the belt with her pistols, climbing into the car. Sometime later they arrived at a large ominous looking building. The front of the building bore the Princess' Royal Seal, surrounding the outer rim of the seal read 'Canterlot Royal Bureau of Investigation.' Once inside, the same two agents stepped infront of AJ, peering down at her belt. "I'm sorry ma'am you will have to relinquish your firearms while inside." Alice, sighed unbuckling the belt and handed it to one of them. Alex set his hand on her shoulder.
"Not to worry, you will get them back later." She nodded, following him inside. "I'm sorry about your sister." He nodded, "I thought she had really made a difference in her life when she met Octavia. They were even talking about getting married." They walked to the elevators, taking it down several floors.Once out of the elevator, she saw a large room with dozens of people walking around in fresh white lab coats. They walked into a room off to the right, where the Agency kept all of the cases information. Walking into the room, AJ was taken aback by who she was surprised to see in a white lab coat, "Twilight?" She asked, smiling; they embraced in a friendly hug, before she picked up a tablet, using the stylus pen to turn on a 3 dimensional machine. "Its good to see you too AJ, And just because i know your gonna ask, you know i have 5 doctorate degree's from Canterlot University; one is in Forensic Anthropology, i'm called in by the CRBI whenever bodies are too badly decomposed to identify or when there is a case like this one. but i'm afraid we have a lot of work to do, so let's get started." She said as the display powered on a showed a series of people who AJ believed was the victims and her heart hit with a hard pang in her chest.
"So far we have 15 victims, all of them were killed with a large surgical blade; they were all displayed in a ritualistic manner after death." Agent Alexander said, looking at the image of his sister Vinyl; a tear welling in his eye. "We believe the ritual is a means to appease an old legend about a deity named Nightmare Moon." AJ tilted her hat, "All for except the last victims, i think i got to him a little early but whats this Nightmare Moon?" She asked. "Its an old legend about a woman conqueror in the late 3rd century, the legend states that Nightmare Moon had the power to control all manners of Darkness and Nightmares. Using her abilities over dreams to manipulate the countries she attempted to conquer."
AJ nodded, crossing her arms. A series of knocks sounded at the door of the room; she turned around. "Miss AJ, you have a phone call on line one." Walking over to the phone and picking up the line, she heard a distraught Pinkie speaking quickly. "AJ AJ, you have to come back to Ponyville!" AJ huffed "whoah there nelly, slow down will yah? What happened?" She said trying to calm down the panicking woman. "Its, Big Mac; he's in the hospital." AJ's heart sank, as she dropped the phone, it pattered against the wall; swinging, the line going dead; the only audible sound was a series of beeps. Indicating the call was dropped. "The person you are trying to reach is no longer in service range, please hang up and try again." A womans voice stated before the line hung up and there was only silence, AJ ran to the elevators, once on the first floor; she grabbed her weapon belt from the guard. Bumping into a courier on the way out the door. Boarding the train back to ponyville, it took a couple days to get back to town; once the train stopped she took off running to the hospital, hair smacking her face as sweat built up on her face.
She entered the hospital, the nurse pointed down the hall she found Big Macs room, she looked at him. He had bandages around his head, various tubes ran over his body; he was unconscious. The only other person in the room was Granny Smith. "Granny, what happened? Where's Applebloom?" She asked, walking to the bed. Granny Smith hugged AJ. "She's out with her friends, she doesn't know yet." AJ sighed, "What happened?" Granny smith took a deep breath, "He was attacked last night after leaving the bar. They don't know who it was." She sighed, "they must have caught him by surprised, cause no one could beat Big Mac in a stand up fight." AJ looked at him as he lay unconscious in the bed, the blind beeping of the heart monitor. "Miss AJ?" She turned around and saw the doctor, "Luckily, there's no brain damage so there is very little chance of him to slip into a coma. But there's still a lot of damage to his internal organs and ribcage. He was hit over the head with a large metal pipe, and while fighting to not lose consciousness he was stabbed multiple times" A loud groaning brought her back to reality, looked down at the bed she saw Mac open his eyes."
Alice, slowly bent down and kissed his cheek. "Big Mac, you're awake..." He smiled, rubbing his head but groaned when a sharp pain broke into his chest. "Eeyup." She smiled, relieved he was ok. "What happened? Did you see who jumped you?" He shook his head, "nnope, it all 'appened too fast" He sighed, slowly sitting up. Hearing soft clacking outside the room she looked to the door and saw the nurse walk in carrying a small box. "Miss AJ, this just arrived for you, there was no courier; just a note." AJ tilted her head, confused. Opening the box AJ nearly lost her stomach, dropping the box on the floor, inside was a bloody clump of strawberry colored hair. Reading the note, that was left with the package, AJ's face flushed with anger, the letter read: "Find me, and you'll find her. The Clock is ticking." AJ looked at Mac and Granny. "He has Applebloom..." Mac tried to get out of the bed, "no no you're not going anywhere; ya too hurt i will find her. "AJ picked up the phone from the side of the bed, dialing the operator. Hello, i'd like you to connect me to Agent Alexander at the Canterlot Royal Bureau of Investigation." After a few moments on hold, "Alexander" She was on the verge of tears, "He has my little sister...this fella just messed with the wrong family i'm on my way back" "I'll send some agents to your brothers hospital room and your home to keep your family safe." She smiled, "Thank ya kindly" She hung up the phone,
AJ looked at Mac and Granny, "ah will find her, ah promise." She kissed her brother and granny on the cheeks before leaving the hospital, getting into a cab with the box carrying the bloody hair clump. She withdrew her revolvers from the holsters, loading bullets into the cylinders. The cab stopped at the train station, leaving the cab with a small bag of clothes. She boarded the next train to Canterlot, sighing she found her seat on the train, and once again; she was rocking, side to side. Each shake made her will more ironclad than the last.
Days passed, and AJ had spent much of her time looking for Applebloom; with each passing day her worry grew. She was currently riding in a taxi down Canterlots most busy street. a small aged picture clasped in her hand. Looking down she saw a still young Applebloom and a teenage AJ sitting under the apple trees on a crisp autumn day; AJ was pictured brushing hair behind her ear while Applebloom glanced happily at the falling flowers that floated around them. The many different shades of brown, yellow and green colliding in the wind, AJ sighed. "Dont'chu worry little 'sis, ah'll find ya; and i'll make who ever took you wish they were dead." AJ said grimly, tucking the small nearly faded image back into her pocket. As she removed her hand from her pocket she heard her cell phone play an upbeat country song by her favorite artist
'Autumn Breeze' All the fans of this singer never knew his real name, since he never made a single appearance and only ever used an alias. Never the less she pulled the last touch screen phone from her pocket and slid her thumb across the screen. "Oh good, i thought you would never pick up." She voice on the other end said with a chuckle of laughter. AJ knew immediately that it had to have been the killer, but couldn't discern who it was by the sound because it was distorted. "Now ya'll listen ta me! If ya done anythin' to Applebloom!" She yelled into the phone but was cut off by a crisp "Tut, tut, tut now AJ; little Applebloom is still alive i can assure you of that, although she may be missing a bit more blood than when i found her." The voice giggled in a dark tone "Not to worry though, i only needed about a half liter." The thought of this sicko hurting Applebloom made AJ's blood boil.
"Ah swear when ah find you, ah'll take mah time killing ya so slowly ya'll think time has stopped." She said into the phone, her voice no longer hinting of her vengeance; but guaranteeing it. "But now, we're going to play a little game, pass all the challenges i lay out and you will get a clue before and after each test that will lead you to me, and you're sister. The first is at the Museum in the center of Canterlot. Though i think you should hurry, because there is a time limit." The phone call ended with an abrupt click and AJ's phone beeped as it received an incoming video, in it AJ saw a small abused Applebloom tied by her hands to a rusty pipe in what she made out to be a basement in some building, as the video played the killer spoke again. "Listen well for a tale i'm about to tell, of two Princesses who you should know well...One who ruled with a heart of gold and another whose eyes were cold. " felt a soft tear brush down her cheek as she leaned up to the driver "Change of plans, take me to the museum." She yelled past the thick glass dividing her from the driver.
Nodding to her the driver took a sharp turn off the main road and drove the museum, after a while the taxi stopped at the front steps and AJ opened her door, stepping out. She withdrew her wallet from her back pocket and paid the driver before he pulled away. With each step she recounted the words the killer left in the video. After a few minutes of thinking she reached the museums front doors, it was a fairly busy day for the museum as she purchased a ticket and walked in. Her revolvers swaying each time she took a step. "Could he mean the portraits of Princesses Cecilia Laura's ancestors?" She thought walking through the museum until he reached the famous portrait of two sisters, in medieval times they were often called Celestia and Luna. Even today she remember the story her elementary school teacher told them.
Thinking back she envisioned herself as a small child, surrounded by a large group of kids from her school. A tall thin woman stood in front of them and to the side of the large portrait. Inside the portrait stood two women, swords drawn; one clasped in bright golden armor wielding a simple light blade. While the other wore a much darker, nearly black armor and wielded a large black scythe. "Two regal sisters, Celestia; the eldest and wises of the two rules with a heart of compassion and justice. While Luna ruled out of fear and power, They say that Luna because so jealous of her sisters fame that she attempted to assassinate her; but was caught in the act and imprisoned in the Castle Dungeon for nearly 10 years. Until her sister was convinced by her young apprentice to take pity on her."
AJ eyed the picture intensely before noticing that something was off. There was a small scratch mark on what was the symbol of the Moon on Luna's armor. Taking out her phone she turned on her camera and zoomed in on the mark, it wasnt just a random scratch but instead it held a pair numbers. Peering more intently she recognized it as the numbers 6 and 2, looking up at Celestia's armor, she noted a similar mark on the symbol of the sun in the center of her chest. Snapping a picture of that, she read two different numbers, and these were 8 and 10.
Saving the images to her phone, she pondered them for a moment before her phone began to ring again and the same distorted voice echoed through. "Congratulations dear Apple Jack, you have the first clue to my location. Now for the next clue, what it is 7 divided by 6 and 10 divided by 2? Better hurry or Applebloom won't wait for you." AJ hung up the phone, math wasn't exactly her strong suit; but thats why she loved her smartphone; which was a gift from her love RD; on the back of the phone case it read "Don't forget, i'm here too." She smiled, turning to the calculator on the phone.
After some short time of punching numbers into the phone she concluded that the number she needed was 1320, "But 1320 what?" She asked, sitting down on the museum steps she sighed trying to put the peices together. "Whoever this person is, they got it out for our family, the rituals are just a smoke screen." She said, "1320...1320...no..." She looked down grabbing her wallet from her back pocket, next to the slot that held the pictures of her, Big Mac and Applebloom was a much darker picture; of the three of them wearing black funeral clothes standing in front of two grey tombstones. One of which read Alison Jackson, loving mother and wife. Born November 13th - Died January 20th, Next to that stood another tombstone which read "James Jackson, dutiful father, community leader, philanthropist and loving husband. Born March 1st - Died January 20th."
AJ jumped to her feet, running to the sidewalk and immediately hailed a cab. After she got in, her phone rang again; with the same voice as before. "Judging by how fast you ran to a cab, i see you've solved the first puzzle; but not to worry cause there's two left. And then we'll get to air our all your families dirty little secrets" AJ's eyes got wide "Let's me talk to Applebloom, ah've done tha firs' test." The killer side, putting the phone to Appleblooms face, tugging her hair roughly. "Wake up, you're sister is on the phone!" Applebloom screamed when her hair was pulled, "H-Help Me 'sis...ah..ah'm scared" She cried. "What do you want?" AJ said with a bitter ton, her hands clutching into tight fists that threatened to peel off the very skin that covered them. "What do i want?!" The voice scoffed, in the background AJ heard a sharp metallic ding. The killer had banged Appleblooms head against the pipe. "All i want is to take every single member of your family, skin them alive and watch as their blood and entrails cover the floor!" The voice said, nearly screaming. "But where are my manners, you need the next clue; so here i have one for you: in the place where we finally rest, will you find this pretty pest!" The phone hung up, "Driver...take me to the Canterlot Cemetery..."
