How Friends May Fall

How Friends May Fall – Part 2

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” muttered Twilight under her breath. “This isn’t real. This all a nightmare. Just a bad dream. In Celestia’s name, let this be a bad dream.”

She closed her eyes as tight as she could, and opened them up again. Yet, the gruesome chamber was still there. She pinched herself all over, yet she felt it every time. As much as she wished it was a dream, she knew very well that this was all real. These were real corpses. Real blood. Real instruments used to kill all these ponies. An immense feeling of fear and disgust filled her every being, to the point that she felt like she was about to throw up.

“Miss Sparkle!” said the lieutenant with a determined, yet shaken tone in his voice. “Get a hold of yourself, please! I do not want to see you regurgitating all over the evidence!”

The lieutenant’s voice brought her back to her senses. She closed her eyes again, and took a few deep breaths. She began to adjust to the horrible smell, yet she refused to even look into the room again. What little she had seen would already haunt her for years to come. She turned herself away from the room, and simply stared at the hallway.

She cursed herself for her own curiosity. This was the exact thing that princess Celestia had warned her about! This discovery was far more than she ever wanted to know, despite not even knowing whether or not it was actually related to the incident. Yet, such a gruesome find in a place where such a thing had taken place… She couldn’t make a relation between the two, yet it couldn’t just be a coincidence. The chances of that would be second to none.

“I’m sorry, miss Sparkle.” said the lieutenant, moving himself in front of Twilight. “But this discovery changes everything. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Without a word, Twilight slowly trotted back into the hallway. She still couldn’t comprehend what she just saw. Never before had she witnessed such a horrific scene. Even in the most terrifying books she had read were things like these completely foreign. Yet now, she was confronted by this.. atrocity, directly in real life. She could’ve sworn she even slightly recognized some of the mangled bodies…

Yet, only when she reached the white ladder did the reality of the situation hit her. Its jagged structure, its shoddy appearance, and its color confused the purple unicorn a few minutes ago, but it was all too clear now. This wasn’t just any white material. It was bone!

Shivering in disgust and trying to fight back tears, she slowly climbed back up into Sugarcube Corner, and walked straight for the entrance. She moved with a slow trot. But as she moved through the entrance, she began to accelerate into a canter. She moved faster and faster, until she galloped as fast as she could. She pay any notice to where she was going, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to run. Run away from that horrible basement. Run away from Sugarcube Corner. Run away, and leave all those bad memories and discoveries behind her. Yet no matter how hard she galloped, the images would not leave her mind.

Eventually she started to get worn out, and her speed gradually began to decrease. She was breathing heavily, and drops of sweat had completely soaked her coat. She had no idea how long she had ran, or where she had run to. Her thoughts were chaotic and disoriented, the shock and fatigue taking its toll on her mind.

As she struggled to regain control of her common sense, she began to recognize her surroundings. She wasn’t too far away from the graveyard where Pinkie was buried. For a moment, she doubted as to whether or not she should visit. She didn’t know what to think of Pinkie anymore. Could she have done all those terrible things to those ponies? Did she have help? Or didn’t she even know about the basement at all?

Suddenly, her trance was broken by the sound of sobbing coming from the graveyard. She recognized the voice all too well. Following the noise, she entered the graveyard, and confirmed her suspicions. In the distance she spotted Rarity and Spike at Pinkie’s grave. Rarity just stood there, unmoving, while Spike had sunk to his knees and began to cry. Twilight started to regret allowing Rarity to take Spike to Pinkie’s grave. It really did look like it was too much for the poor dragon to handle.

Yet, at the same time, she came to a realization.

“No.” she said to herself. “Pinkie Pie can’t have anything to do with that horrible basement. She just can’t. The Pinkie Pie I know would never do such a thing, even if she did have an insane side.”

The gears in her mind started turning, and order finally returned to her mind. The basement had been completely sealed off when Pinkie died, and she wasn’t even anywhere near the kitchen to begin with. The two things probably weren’t even connected to eachother. Though such an unusual find was still out of the ordinary…

Then, it hit her. Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Had they known about the basement? Were they the ones who had committed all those atrocities? After all, Sugarcube Corner was their business, and they were always working in the kitchen…

She violently shook her head, and tried to focus. The police officers at Sugarcube Corner had probably assumed the same, and must have already detained the Cakes for interrogation. She had no option but to trust the officers in the fact that if the Cakes were guilty, they would find out.

She took a last glance towards Rarity and Spike before the left the graveyard. On the way back to the library, she pondered as to whether or not she should continue with her research. There were still so many unanswered questions, and her research had only just begun. But already had she encountered something that would haunt her for a lifetime. She already knew more then she wanted to know, but not about the case itself. Without access to Sugarcube Corner however, finding new evidence would be nearly impossible. If only there had been witnesses…

She froze as the touched the door of the library. There was a witness, she knew exactly where to find her. But is she reliable? That was the biggest doubt concerning her.

It was a long shot, but she couldn’t think of anything else to do at this point. She had to find Rainbow Dash in the asylum. She knew exactly what happened. In fact, she was the one who caused it all. Who did it all. Who would know more about the murder then the murderer herself?

Yet, Twilight doubted her decision. Not only had Rainbow Dash gone insane after, or perhaps even before the incident, would she even be willing to talk about it? Plus, Twilight still wasn’t sure whether or not to continue the investigation. Despite the absolutely shocking discovery, she knew very well that it may not even have been related to the incident. But what if it turned out to be related to the incident after all?

And who knows what terrible things Rainbow Dash would tell her? Rainbow Dash must have committed such an act for a terrible reason. It couldn’t have happened because of something minor.

With a weary sigh, she opened the door and entered the library. It was only two o’clock in the afternoon, yet all this thinking had made her completely worn out. The weather outside was bad enough to make it look like a stormy evening, anyway. All she wanted to do now is sleep. Get some rest, without lingering on all these thoughts and doubts.

Just as she wanted to lay down in bed, somebody suddenly knocked at her door. Reluctantly she shambled to the entrance, and opened the door. It was Rarity again, though Spike wasn’t with her.

“Hey, Rarity.” said Twilight with a soft voice. “Where’s Spike?”

“He’s at my boutique, playing with Sweetie Belle.” replied Rarity. “But are you okay, dear? You look awfully pale.”

Twilight turned her eyes away, and just shook her head.

“…I--”

“Please, don’t tell me anything.” said Rarity, interrupting Twilight’s sentence. “If this is about your investigation, I don’t want to hear it. If the truth is that upsetting, then I don’t want to know it.”

“I don’t know exactly what’s happened yet.” replied Twilight. “I was actually thinking about talking to Rainbow Dash in the asylum, but… I’m not sure if I should.”

Rarity slightly turned her head away, and narrowed her eyes. She seemed to be pondering about what to say next. It was clear to Twilight however that she didn’t think it was a good idea. Her facial expression alone said enough.

“Twilight.” Said Rarity, after a moment of silence. “I think it’s a very, very bad idea. But, if you’re absolutely positive that it will help you in your research… Then go for it.”

Rarity placed her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, and looked straight into her eyes.

“But please, don’t overexert yourself. Don’t take on more than you can handle.”

She turned away to walk back to her boutique. After a few steps, she turned back for a last glance at Twilight.

“Stop by whenever you’re ready to pick up Spike. I’d rather not see him burn up any more of my fabric!”

With a chuckle, Twilight waved goodbye to Rarity. She thought what Rarity had said. Was she absolutely positive that talking to Rainbow Dash would get her anywhere? Did she really have no other options remaining? She made a mental list of all the places she could go to.

Due to the new discovery, she was sent away from Sugarcube Corner. Considering the nature of the discovery, it was likely that she wouldn’t get another permission from princess Celestia.

Then, Pinkie’s grave popped up in her mind. Yet she didn’t know what to do there, other than visiting Pinkie. She might be in a bind, but she wasn’t desperate enough yet to try her luck with a prayer.

She could also ask the Cakes about anything they might know… But could they be trusted? The discovery was right in their very kitchen, after all. It could’ve easily been theirs! She didn’t think it was worth the risk.

All of her friends knew that Rainbow Dash hadn’t been the same before the incident, and that she had always looked worn out and preoccupied in the days before it. Even Twilight herself had known about it. But did any of them really know anything else? She doubted it. They would’ve told her if they knew more.

She couldn’t find another option anymore. She had to visit Rainbow Dash in the Canterlot Asylum. She stepped out of the entrance, and locked the door behind her. She had to find a way to get to Canterlot. She could simply go to Rarity and have Spike send a request for a chariot to pricess Celestia, but she probably heard about the discovery by now. Likely, the princess was either too upset to work, or was completely swamped in it. She was going to have to find another way.

She recalled Pinkie owning a hot air balloon… But where had she kept it? She never saw it outside, and it could’ve never fit through the door in Sugarcube Corner. Yet, Sugarcube Corner was the place she visited the most. Not to mention that she lived there. It had to be around there, somewhere.

Reluctantly, she walked back to Sugarcube Corner. She dreaded to return to that place, and she didn’t expect a warm welcome after having been requested to leave. But if anybody would know where Pinkie’s hot air balloon was, it would be the researchers.

As she neared Sugarcube Corner, she was greeted by a terrible yet familiar stench. The exact same stench as she had smelled in the basement. She noticed several researchers going in and out of Sugarcube Corner, carrying bags from inside the shop into a van. They must’ve been clearing out the basement, and getting rid of the body parts…

“Miss Sparkle, I thought I asked you to leave the crime scene.”

Twilight was startled by the voice behind her. She turned her head, and saw Lieutenant Mane standing right behind her, backed up by two riot officers. They weren’t looking friendly, and the lieutenant wasn’t glad to see that Twilight had returned.

“I’m sorry, I’m just here to ask a question!” said Twilight with a panicking tone in her voice, clearly intimidated by the riot officers.

The lieutenant signaled something to the riot officers, who proceeded to take a few steps back. Although they remained at a distance, they kept an eye on Twilight, and held their hands on their batons.

“I’ll give you one question.” said the lieutenant. “But in return, I want you to leave immediately.”

“Of course.” replied Twilight, still a bit scared of the riot officers. “I’m just wondering if you’ve found a hot air balloon during your research.”

The lieutenant narrowed his eyes, and scratched the back of his head.

“Hm… Well…”

He turned his head towards Sugarcube Corner for a few seconds, before turning back to Twilight.

“Ah, yes. Yes, we found a hot air balloon in the garage. The garage hadn’t been entered for days though, and we didn’t find a single piece of evidence in that room.”

“I know this is an odd request… But could I borrow it?” asked Twilight. “I need it to get to Canterlot, as fast as possible!”

“You’d have to ask the mayor about that.” replied the lieutenant, nodding in the direction of the mayor’s office. “All of your friend’s possessions unrelated to the crime have been stored at the mayor’s office for safekeeping.”

“Thank you, lieutenant.” said Twilight with a grateful nod.

“No problem.” Replied the lieutenant as he turned away. “Now please, leave the crime scene.”

Taking another glance at the riot officers, Twilight got out of the crime scene as fast as she could. After a few blocks, she took a deep breath. Finally some fresh air. The stench at Sugarcube Corner had been almost unbearable. Enough to feel somewhat sorry for the researchers.

Eventually, Twilight reached the mayor’s office at the center of Ponyville, and knocked on the door. She could hear some rumbling coming from the inside, and it took quite a while for the mayor to open the door. When she did, Twilight noticed that the mayor was definitely overworked; there were big bags under her eyes, her skin looked pale, and her mane looked like it hadn’t been combed for days.

“I’m sorry, could you make it quick, please?” said the mayor. “I’m very busy at the moment.”

“I’m sorry for interrupting you, Mayor Mare.” said Twilight. “But I need to know if I can borrow Pinkie Pie’s balloon. I need it to get to Canterlot.”

“Is this relevant to the research that you’ve been doing?”

“Y-Yes, yes it is!” replied Twilight, surprised to know that the mayor had known about it.

With a deep sigh, the mayor signed for Twilight to come in. She led her to a room filled with junk, including some stuff which Twilight recognized.

“This is where we keep all possessions that have been found at crime scenes, which haven’t been reclaimed by their owners. Take whatever you want. I’m just glad to be rid of it.”

In the corner of the room, Twilight spotted a large basket with a pile of cloth and strings inside of it. She clearly recognized it as the hot air balloon, as she had flown in it once before. Thanking Mayor Mare for her time, she dragged the basket outside of her office, back into the marketplace around the office. It wasn’t very crowded today, almost desolate even, so she shouldn’t have any problems with taking off at that location.

After anchoring the basket to the ground, she used her magic to lift up the balloon and turn on the burner. Within just a matter of seconds, the balloon was ready to go, the anchor being the only thing that kept it from floating away.

Taking a final look back at Ponyville, she jumped into the basket and unanchored it from the ground. She flew up high into the air, headed straight towards Canterlot.