Beating an Undead Pony

“I haven’t been looking forward to this, Spike.”

Twilight and Spike stood at the top of the stairs, glancing around the mane hall. The dozens of Neighsayers were gathered around, fluttershy was still motioning the last of them inside the castle.

“But you knew this was coming.” Spike commented.

“Of course. I assumed I would have something related to Princess Celestia’s court, but I didn’t think the first dispute would be a colt murder.” Twilight started tapping her hooves together. “Maybe meeting diplomats from the Mustangia or even…” Twilight gulped. Spike raised an eyebrow.

“Even…. What?”

“I-I was going to say open relations with Equestria and the-the other world.” Twilight replied. “But now it’s got me worried about Sunset Shimmer. I hope she’s ok.” Twilight closed her eyes.

“I doubt zombies exist on the other side of that mirror.” Spike reassured. He figured a world without magic wouldn’t have zombies. Twilight on the other hoof wasn’t as certain.

That world reflects Equestria enough to make me wonder. Twilight thought to herself. She continued to think about Sunset and what ever could be happening to her, so much that she didn’t notice Fluttershy hovering over to her.

“Um, Twilight?” Fluttershy backed up as Twilight let out a little yelp in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Fluttershy set down on the stairs next to Twilight and Spike. “But I think that’s all of them.” She reported.

Rainbow Dad stepped forward from the crowd. “She’s right. Isn’t that right everypony?” The elder pegasus’ call was given a loud ‘aye’ in response by the other Neighsayers.

The other members of the Mane Six bar Pinkie decended from higher up the staircase to Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy’s level. “Well, we are ready.” Rarity said.

“Lets get this case over and done with.” Applejack added.

A teal earth pony mare with a shaved mane spoke out from the crowd. “You’re blaming us for what happened to that kid aren’t you!” She cried. Rainbow Dad reacted before Twilight could, pushing his hooves against the mare’s shoulders.

“Not helping. We’re their guests after all.” He explained.

Privately Twilight was glad he said that. “We are not here to point hooves at anypony.” Twilight looked over at her friends, hoping one of them would speak up. When none of them did, she continued. “But we can’t over look the possibility that Rumble was murdered. That’s why we wish to know why all of you were imprisoned in the first place.”

Applejack couldn’t help but find herself impressed with Twilight’s diction. “If ya don’t mind me sayin’….” Applejack whispered, giving Twilight a little nudge. “But ya’ll startin’ to sound more and more like Princess Celestia.”

“What? I-I wasn’t trying to…” Twilight began to stutter, but was quickly stopped by a touched shoulder from Spike.

“I think she was trying to give a compliment.” Spike folded his arms. “I’d take it.” He quickly blushed when he noticed Rarity smiling with approval.

“Well said.” Rarity turned her attention back to the Neighsayers. “So, when we ask, we would like you to tell us your crime. For deciding who is not fit to be a suspect, of course.” She clarified.

Numerous Neighsayers began to speak among themselves. Rainbow Dash, feeling some ponies might not cooperate, flew to the mane entrance and locked it shut, then flew back to her spot on the stair case, hoping she had flown fast enough that nopony had noticed. “Allright everypony! The sooner we get this done the sooner you can go.”

Fluttershy raised her head. “Would anypony like to start?” She asked with a smile. After a series of ‘daww’s from the crowd, a brown pegasus mare wearing an eyepatch stepped forward.

“I’ll go I guess.” All eyes turned towards the eyepatch wearing pony. “Welp. Simply point I tried to talk a waiter into giving me a free meal. One thing lead to another and I…may or may not have assaulted most of the staff.”

“I bet that’s the story behind the eyepatch.” Rainbow Dash responded. Rarity gave her a glare.

“What can I say?” The eyepatch wearing pony said in a casual tone. “Nopony should charge at a unicorn standing at eye level with ya. Might end up getting a nasty poke.”

Similar stories were recalled by the Neighsayers as the night continued. Crimes that ranged from burglary to getting into fights with Canterlot guards. As far as Applejack was concerned, these ponies were not killers. Rainbow Dash was getting tired of hearing minor crimes, she wanted to hear the ‘good’ stuff. Rarity and Fluttershy just wanted the meeting to end. Spike was too busy taking notes to formulate an opinion at the moment. And Twilight felt like her stomach was about to burst from her body from nerves.

“So it turns out failing to escape a dungeon does increase your years.” A scared unicorn mare admitted. She then looked at the next Neighsayer in the que; Rainbow Dad.

“Wha? Me?” He asked with a stutter, almost like he wasn’t expecting to have a turn at all. Rainbow Dash’s lack of attention vanished completely. “Um would it be possible to have this discussion in private?”

“I’m afraid so. It ensures all parties will tell the truth.” Twilight explained. She locked her jaw, feeling she wasn’t going to like Rainbow Dad’s response.

Rainbow Dad looked around at his fellow Neighsayers before trotting up the stairs, and put his hooves around Twilight. “Your majesty, please. I don’t want to say this in front of my daughter.” He whispered. Twilight grinded her hooves against the ground.

“I can’t do that. I won’t give special treatment.” Twilight answered back.

Rainbow Dash stepped between the two. “Yeah Dad. What did you do to get yourself locked up?” She folded her forelegs. “Been wondering that for years.”

Rainbow Dad began to scratch his mane and breathing heavily. Finally he muttered something under his breath, though nopony could hear it.

“Dad!” Rainbow Dash cried. Her father wiped his eyes.

“It’s ok. You can tell us.” Fluttershy muttered. Rainbow Dad covered his face with his hooves in guilt. The Neighsayers started talking among each other once more.

“No. No I can’t.” He slumped against the stairs in shame. “Not to you.” He said, again under his breath.

Applejack tapped a forehoof against the ground. “Afraid we’re all gonna need an answer from ya, Rainbow Dad.”

“Applejack, he’s distraught.” Fluttershy argued. “It’s ok. Take your time.”

Rainbow Dad groaned. “I can’t!” He turned back to Twilight, his eyes wet from tears. “Princess, please. I can’t say it in front of Dashie. Please. I’ll tell you just…not in front of her.”

Spike had to hold Rainbow Dad away to keep him from moving any closer to Twilight. “You know, the guy who stole from the royal bakery made it sound like it was worse than it really was. For all we know that applies to your story.” He pointed out. The pony in question ducked behind a pair of other ponies in the crowd. “I saw that.” Spike pointed out.

Twilight laid a hoof on Rainbow Dad’s face. “Just tell us.”

Rainbow Dad took a deep breath. “Alright. I was incarcerated because…. Of first degree ponyslaughter.” He finally admitted. Rarity and Fluttershy gasped.

“Are you kidding me!” Rainbow Dash roared. Spike and Applejack had to hold Rainbow Dash back to prevent her from straight up attacking her father.

“Dash! That’s enough!” Applejack snapped.

Rainbow Dad trotted back down the stairs in defeat. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Rainbow Dash followed him down as the Neighsayers resumed telling their own stories. As they spoke, Applejack leaned over to speak to Twilight.

“Twi, Ah’m not suggestin’ we assume anythang about Rainbow Dad, Dash can probably vouch for him.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “We cannot simply outrule the possibility merely because he is Rainbow’s father.”

“Look at er’. Dash is already mad enough as is. We can’t make thar relationship worse.” Applejack argued. “Ya don’t separate family. Ya don’t.”

Twilight scrunched up her face, her two friends talking to each other through her ears made her feel like she was being pulled around between Applejack and Rarity. “Stop. Please, we will settle this in a moment!”

The Neighsayer stallion currently speaking stopped telling his story. “Excuse me?”

“Not you, you’re ok.” Twilight noted. She looked at Spike, who was still taking notes.

Realizing Twilight was now looking at him, Spike motioned at her with a wave of his claw. “I got it. This guy’s the last one.” He pointed out.

Twilight’s ears drooped as she took a sigh of relief. “Thank you Spike.” She turned her attention to the Neighsayers. “We appreciate your time. You may go to bed; we will talk more in the morning. Dash, please unlock the door.”

“I’m busy!” Rainbow Dash snapped before resuming her argument with her father.

“I’ll get it.” Spike groaned, heading for the entrance.

Fluttershy smiled as the Neighsayers started trotting out of the castle. “Oh thank goodness. It’s finally over.” The others looked over at Fluttershy, not a one agreed with her statement.

“Perhaps the killer ain’t a Neighsayer.” Realizing what she just said, Applejack was quick to correct herself. “One of them Ah mean. Killin’ a colt just ain’t right.”

“I just hope it wasn’t Rainbow Dad. He seems like such a nice pony.” Fluttershy chimed in.

Twilight pondered the thought for a moment. “Fluttershy, how well did you know Rainbow’s father?” She asked.

Fluttershy held a hoof to her chin. “Well, when we were fillies, he would always take Rainbow and I out for lunch after flight school. He would always be so friendly to the waitresses. He always managed to convince them to come visit after they got off work.”

Twilight locked her jaw. Something tells me he was more than just ‘friendly with them.

Fluttershy continued. “He was even one of the ponies who went looking for me when I fell from Cloudsdale.” She dug her hoof in the ground. “He said he saw me as a kind of second daughter.”

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Really now? And what did Rainbow think about this?”

“And yer parents?” Applejack added. Fluttershy lowered her head, her mane covering much of her face.

“Oh, Rainbow was ok with it. Really.” She lied. And the others could tell.

Twilight’s ears perked up at the sound of flapping wings. She looked up to see Owlicious hovering overhead. A pocket watch was dangling from his mouth, revealing it was one in the morning. “Have we been up that long?” Twilight asked nopony in particular. “We should be getting some rest. We have a long day ahead of us.”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

“We should start asking other ponies what they were doing when Rumble was killed. But not now. We need rest.” Twilight explained.

“I’m all for that.” Spike said, collapsing to the ground half passed out. Twilight couldn’t help but smile.

All tuckered out. I don’t blame him. She thought to herself.

Twilight let her head hit her pillow hard. Everything that had happened over the past week; the zombie ponies, the deaths, Celestia’s sickness, Jubiliee and the Dodge Junction ponies, Applejack, Pinkie, Rumble, Rainbow Dad, part of her wanted to just not wake up in the morning.

“I wonder.” Twilight reached out with her magic, pulling a book out from under her bed. “The History of Royal Decrees.” She read outloud. She opened the book, hoping to find some accounts similar to what has transpired. She read through the book at her usual quick pace. “Cases of treason against Equestria…. disputes with other lands…. Here we are, murders.”

Twilight should have guessed the cases mentioned in the book were multiple murders at once, with evidence brought to Celestia to decide the verdict. What was suspicious was that the convicted were consistently jailed. Yes, mercy that’s just like Celestia. But what were you thinking? Celestia’s opinions were suspiciously absent from the book. Twilight double-checked the forward.

“The following records are meant to be viewed for educational purposes only. Princess Celestia’s personal accounts of the events will not be available for public use. This collection of records has been approved by Princess Celestia's personal assistant, Raven. Dang it!” Twilight buried her face in the book. She did have books from Celestia’s personal files before, all of which were lost when Tirek destroyed the Golden Oaks Library. “What do I do, Celestia?”

Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of crying. She sat up straight when a knock on her door rang out. “It’s open.”

Rainbow Dad slowly entered Twilight’s room. His face was wet from tears. “You think I killed that boy?”

Twilight got to her hooves. She thought about what Celestia might do. Think, think, think. Twilight raised her head. “Did you?”

Rainbow Dad lept forward, crying into Twilight’s chest. “No! Absolutely not! I would never harm a colt!” Rainbow Dad sobbed. “But…. I would kill somepony who would do it.”

Twilight took a deep breath. “What are you saying?"

Rainbow Dad closed his eyes. “Dashie considers Fluttershy a very good friend. She cares about her a lot. And I grew care about her as well. But her parents did not. They hated her. They wanted her to be the best flyer in Equestria. It’s the reason they even had her in the first place. But she couldn’t match my Dashie. And they knew it.” Rainbow Dad looked up at Twilight. She readjusted her position so she was sitting down, making it easier to hold onto him.

“Fluttershy never talks about her family.”

“I don’t blame her. They treated her like less than nothing. They would push her hard, but she just wanted to go to the surface and see the animals. They hurt her. So badly.”

“Why didn’t you tell anypony?”

“Because I let my feelings get the better of me. I love my daughter. The thought, of someponies treating their own daughter in such a way…I couldn’t control my anger.”

Twilight let Rainbow Dad cry some more. Her heart sank as she began to speak. “So you killed Fluttershy’s parents?”

“I put them down like the monsters they were!” Rainbow Dad pushed himself away from Twilight, the shame he had felt for years was now bubbling to the surface. “I begged the guards who came for me never to reveal what I did to Dashie or Fluttershy. I begged Celestia to just let me rot away in a dungeon forever without revealing why I did it. Bless her for keeping it from Dashie.”

Twilight started walking in circles. The last time pony that came to her in such a sad state was Sunset Shimmer. And Twilight had offered friendship to her. A pony who tried to kill her. “Rainbow Dad, you should tell them what happened.”

“No!” Rainbow Dad cried. “They can never know. It would destroy them.” He sat down next to Twilight. “I want my daughter…. daughters to be happy. They don’t need to know.”

I hope he doesn’t know about Pinkie promises. “If it comes from somewhere other than you, it will be worse.” Twilight explained. I know it did for me. She thought to herself, remembering when Rarity and Fluttershy asked her to keep a secret from each other, and that was much less severe than this, and yet she still found it eating her up on the inside at the time.

“I don’t know, your majesty. Maybe.” Rainbow Dad stood up. “I’ll think about it.”

Twilight climbed back into bed. Even more thoughts filled her head, making her wonder if she would even be able to sleep. She watched Rainbow Dad open the door, stand in the doorway, but then shut it.

“Your majesty. Can… I stay with you for the night? I don’t think I can face my daughter right now.”

Twilight thought about it for a moment. This could make things worse for all she knew. Getting close to Rainbow Dad might cause more of a problem. But if she was going to be the Princess of Friendship, Twilight felt she needed to be welcome to her subjects. “Ok. Come here.” Twilight motioned to Rainbow Dad. He slowly climbed into bed next to her.

“Thank you. I’ll try not to bother you.” He muttered, cuddling with Twilight.

Fluttershy trotted down the hallway towards the kitchen. She was only half awake when she heard several loud thuds from within. “Angel. Don’t worry. I’ll get you you’re midnight snack.” She muttered. Fluttershy put her foreleg against her eyes as she opened the door. She wasn’t expecting anypony to be in the kitchen at this hour, so seeing Maud was surprising.

“Hello Fluttershy.” Maud uttered. As Fluttershy’s sleepy mind started to wake, her eyes opened wide at the sight of blood oozing from Maud’s mane.

“Maud? What happened!” Fluttershy cried. Maud pointed behind the counter. Fluttershy slowly trotted to Maud’s side and gasped in horror. Bulk Biceps was lying on the ground holding his stomach, groaning in pain. “Bulk Biceps!” Fluttershy kneeled to Bulk Biceps’ side, gently touching the muscular pegasus’ ribs. He let out a high pitch wail in pain. “I’m sorry.” Fluttershy whispered back.

“He tried to kill me.”

Fluttershy spun around and rose to her hooves. “What?”

Maud reached into her pocket and took out her pet rock Boulder. “Boulder was thirsty, so I came to get him some water.” Maud said in her usual flat tone. “Then Bulk Biceps came here. He said he needed an adrenaline rush. He thought killing me would get it. So I hit him.”

Fluttershy’s lower lip trembled. “No. Bulk Biceps is my friend. He would never hurt anypony. He’s gentle.” Fluttershy reasoned. Maud shrugged.

“I’m just telling you what happened.” Maud put Boulder in a cup of water on the counter.

“Maud, doesn’t that hurt?” Fluttershy asked. Maud put a hoof to her head wound.

“Yes.”

“But it doesn’t bother you?”

Maud blinked twice. “Yes. I should get some bandages. Good night.” Maud picked up Boulder and trotted out of the kitchen like nothing had happened. Fluttershy kneeled down to Bulk Biceps, who was still rubbing his stomach.

“B-Bulk Biceps. D-did you kill Rumble?” She asked. Bulk Biceps laid his head against the crystal floor, rubbing his neck. Fluttershy reached over and touched his neck. “Shh. It’s ok. Just tell me.”

Bulk Biceps’ hooves trembled. Sweet rolled down his face until finally he said one small phrase. “Yeah.”

“So what are we supposed to do now?”

The Mane Six and Spike bar Pinkie were sitting in their thrones, and like all the previous meetings in the throne room, the mood was far from cheerful. Fluttershy looked down.

“Why would he confess?” She asked. Applejack folded her forehooves.

“Why do ya think? He feels guilty. With good reason.” Applejack noted. “Course that still don’t explain what we’re gonna do with him.”

“Fluttershy, you said before he gets a thrill from killing zombies?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy weakly nodded her head.

“I don’t understand it. He just…likes to hit them. I tried to get him to stop. But he can’t control himself.” She explained.

“Betcha there were no trotters around at the time, so he settles on a colt. Sick.” Applejack chimed in. Fluttershy got out of her throne and began to circle the room.

“Wait, he isn’t himself. It’s the zombies that did this to him. If they never appeared he wouldn’t even have these urges.” She rationalized. Rarity got up and put a foreleg around Fluttershy.

“We understand Fluttershy, dear. Those horrible creatures have brought out the worst in all of us. But that doesn’t change what happened.” She explained.

“I’m afraid she’s right.” Twilight added. “But if he’s not in his right state of mind, maybe we can have him do something to make up for it.” She figured this would be a decent compromise, have some kind of justice but also a chance for redemption.

Estatic, Fluttershy lept into the air, flapping her wings as fast as hard as she could. “Of course. Reforming Bulk Biceps. This will be great!” She held her hooves together.

Rainbow Dash slumped back in her throne. “Yeah, if he doesn’t kill himself too.”

“DASH!” Twilight, Spike, Applejack and Rarity snapped.

“What? That’s what Jubiliee did.” She reminded. Applejack groaned, leaning one hoof against the leg rest.

Thanks a lot for remindin’ us of her of all ponies. Applejack thought to herself.

“So we’ll help him?” Fluttershy asked her friends.

Spike shifted around in his seat. “Can we even make a decision without Pinkie Pie?” He asked.

Twilight looked at Pinkie’s empty throne. “You’re right. We shouldn’t keep her out of a council. As for Bulk Biceps, we can keep him contained until Pinkie gets better.” She declared. Rarity nodded back in approval.

Fluttershy took a little gulp. “D-do we have to keep him in a dungeon? I mean, the Everfree forest is so dangerous, and keeping him in the Castle of Two Sisters might be too much.”

“You didn’t object when we decided to do this for Jubiliee.” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “Besides, I’m pretty sure he can handle himself if any of those things got inside. Something Jubiliee probably couldn’t do.” She put her fore legs behind her head, confident she was right.

“Again, did you have to remind us of her?” Applejack said with less patience.

“Alright, alright. I get it.” Rainbow Dash replied. “Boy, Pinkie is probably not going to like a word of this.”

Spike glanced over at entrance. “Hang on, none of you have told her yet?” he asked. The others didn’t answer. “Shouldn’t she at least know what’s going on?”

“Of course not, Spikey. Would you want to hear such horrible things while you recovering from a horrible injury?” Rarity asked. Spike slumped back in his throne.

“Eh, fair enough, she has enough things going on thinking the Cake Twins are her kids.” Spike admitted. Twilight felt a twinge of guilt.

“Perhaps that’s another thing we should talk to her about.” Twilight muttered under her breath.

“Good luck. Unless you want to get a punch to the back of the head.” Rainbow Dash got out of her throne. “I’m starting to think she actually believes it herself.”

“Which is not healthy.” Rarity said.

Before Rainbow Dash could respond, the group heard a knock at the door. Feeling déjà vu, Twilight opened the double doors with her magic. Maud took a step into the throne room.

“What’s going on Maud?” Twilight asked. Maud blinked.

“Parasprites are coming to Ponyville.” She stated.

“WHAT!” The group cried in unison.

Cloud Kicker and Blossomforth were standing watch at the borders of Sweet Apple Acres. Blossomforth looked back and forth from Ponyville to the approaching swarm appearing in the distance.

“I’m telling you, we need to take cover!” She exclaimed.

“And I’m telling you we can hold this position a little longer. Look, here comes the Council.” Cloud Kicker pointed at Twilight and the others as they approached. Fluttershy’s mouth opened wide in surprise.

“Oh my.”

“Goodness, there must be thousands of them.” Rarity added.

Applejack tipped her hat. “Ya’ll think they followed us?” Twilight didn’t want to answer, though she didn’t need to, as Rainbow Dash was the first to respond.

“Oh no they don’t. They already got Cloudsdale. They are NOT getting Ponyville!” Rainbow cried, hovering in the air defiantly. As for how she was going to get rid of the parasprites, that she had no plan.