The Killer's In The House

Chapters

The Arrival
The Experiment Begins
Desperate Measures
Ending At The Beginning

The Arrival

It was a dark, cloudy, foggy day in Equestria. The wind howled, and thunder growled somewhere in the distance. In a previously abandoned mansion, one lonely figure sat writing. A candle lit up the room in a dim glow, making everything gloomy. The sound of a quill on paper permeated the air.

Dear Elements of Harmony, I cordially invite you to a dinner party at my mansion, the one on top of the hill. It will have the usual activities, and will be held tonight at six o'clock in the evening. Your showing up would bring me much pleasure. Sincerely, an admirer.

The pony licked their lips, and grinned. They sealed the letter, then sent it off, anxiously awaiting their guests arrival.

:::

In the quiet town of Ponyville, six mares were going back to their duties, after having their lunch. Each went home before doing so, however, as something told them they should. An inexplicable urge drove them to their homes, and what they found waiting at their doorsteps puzzled them greatly. A letter, wrapped like a scroll. They each read the contents. Nopony could see the others' faces, but all had looks of confusion, distress... and interest. It could be a fan, or it could be a new or returned enemy. They shrugged it off, knowing they'd find out when they got there. But the question kept nagging at them: who was the "admirer"?

Later that evening, they met outside Rarity's boutique. It was getting dark, and the wind blew at their backs. When Rarity finally came out to join them, they discussed the letters.

"Well, it could be a simple invitation, or it could be..."

"A trap set by somepony that don't like us."

They all had their opinions towards the subject, and only just remembered that they had a deadline to meet. As they made their way to the given address, they felt a strange sense of danger, telling them to turn around. They shrugged it off as a superstition, or a paranoia caused by past foes. they reached the address, and what they saw amazed them. Great, towering spires and a vast garden were most noticeable. Iron fence surrounded the outside of the garden, and the windows seemed as if they glared at them, judging them. The house loomed over them, and the moon cast an eerie gloom over the scenery. The silhouette of the house looked like a sinister creature, waiting to pounce. They proceeded to the front door, and knocked. The door knocker depicted a horrendous gargoyle, his teeth bared. After a moment, a rather sickly looking butler answered the door. "Ah, you must be the Master's guests, right this way."

They made their way through the house, and they were met with elaborate furnishings, velvet carpet, chairs and sofas. Silk curtains hung in the windows, and the moon's glow came through. They were lead through to the main parlor. They sat down, and the servant took their garments. They sat there for a few minutes, and finally heard a door open. In stepped a mysterious figure. Face adorned with a mask, making him appear to be a ghastly colt. "Good evening, Elements. I have invited you here for a dinner party of sorts. I have watched your feats, and would like to congratulate you personally. Please, follow me, dinner awaits."

:::

They followed their host, and found themselves in a luxurious dining area. Silver cutlery and glasses lined the table, and a grand feast lay before them. The glasses were filled with a transparent substance, and in it lay a pill. "Ah, I see you've found my gift. Your reputations are not the only things I have brought you here for. I have set up a test. If you can beat it, you can all go free. Fail, and you will all perish. Oh, don't try to run away, my butler has retired for the evening. Sit down, and let us enjoy our sustenance."

"How do we know we can trust you?" Rainbow Dash had skepticism in her voice.

The figure chuckled. "You will know. My aim is not to torture you, but to see what lengths you would go o to solve a criminal act." Rainbow Dash had a puzzled look, but accepted that they must go through with it. Twilight had tried to use a teleportation spell, but the counter spells were too strong. "Oh, silly me, I forgot to mention that all spells that would aid your immediate escape were countered. You must complete the tasks, and when all challenges are complete, all exits will open for you. I do suggest you hurry, when the tasks are given, as a few sacrifices will have to be made, and I don't wait for anything. Remember, not everything is as it seems, and all things end, and begin. And make sure to stay together, I've set up some... discouragements along the ay, to test your skills at combat or finding ways around it. I must leave you. Good luck."

He clapped his hooves, and everything went dark. A scream could be heard, somewhere close, followed by a crash. When the lights came back on, all they found was a small pool of crimson on the floor, and Rarity's chair, toppled over, with the mare in question nowhere in sight. A note lay on the table, at Rarity's place.

You have one hour to find this one. After such time, she will be disposed of. Happy hunting.

They were terrified. They had no idea how they would find her before the time specified. But they knew they had to start somewhere, so they split up in groups, except Rainbow Dash, who went alone. They decided that after a half hour time period, they would meet back here. Then, when all plans were made, they went off. The search had begun.

Author's Note

Before you dislike just because I may/may not have killed her, read the entire thing before rating. Open minds, please. Thank you.

So, this'll be a "figure it out before reading the author's note" type thing.

Anyway, stuff. Enjoy.

The Experiment Begins

Twilight and Fluttershy had been examining the east hall for ten minutes, and still had of yet to find anything. Twilight slumped on the floor in frustration, her horn cast an eerie glow about the room. They were in the library, and didn't know where to go, or what to do next. They had checked the books and candles for signs of levers, but none had worked. Fluttershy had been speaking with some mice in the corner, but they didn't seem to know anything. An obtrusive portrait hung on the wall, covering it almost in it's entirety. Dust covered every inch of the floor, and cobwebs adorned the walls. "Fluttershy, I don't think you're going to get anywhere with them, just let them leave."

"O-okay, Twilight. Off you go, thank you for trying, though."

The mice scurried off, leaving tiny paw prints in the dust. Fluttershy sat down next to Twilight. She looked at the Pegasus, worry in her eyes. "Fluttershy, I know you tried, but they didn't know anything about this. We're wasting time in this roo-woah!

Twilight had leaned against a wall, and one of the bricks had slid backward, opening a long, narrow staircase. Twilight tumbled down the stairs, as Fluttershy watched in horror. A thump could be heard from the bottom, and Fluttershy rushed down to see what happened. After a while, she saw Twilight staring at a vast rotunda, with crumbling pillars and paintings decorating the ceiling. A threadbare carpet, stained with filth, covered the floor. "Twilight, are you alright? What is t-this place?"

"It looks to be a... dance hall of some sort. But there are doors to the sides. Maybe... maybe Rarity is in one of the rooms."

They decided on the room closest, first, and marked it with an X on the ground. As they searched the room, a shiver went down their spines. The room was furnished with all manner of torture devices, from the brazen buffalo, to the rack, and even the wheel. And much smaller tools lined the walls. A great pit was in the center, it's seemingly endless throat, stretching down into the inky blackness. A single torch rested on the wall, casting a warm, yet disarming, glow around them. "T-Twilight, what are all these things?"

"They're medieval torture devices, used to punish or interrogate insubordinates and criminals. Why would somepony have these in their basement..." She trailed off, going between the devices, trying to find some meaning behind them. She fiddled with some levers, and opened some drawers, and finally found something. A large, rusty key, which would have been bronze at an earlier point. She felt a twinge of hope, and rushed out of the room. Fluttershy hurried after her, and they went to the next room. A giant fire pit stood before them, hot coals still burning in the pit. There was a small lamp stand to one side, and Twilight picked it up. "We might find a use for this later. Let's get out of here."

They left, and searched the rest of the rooms. Finding nothing, they returned upstairs. It hadn't quite been a half hour yet, so they searched the room. They looked under the table, in the kitchen, even on the chandelier. They were about to quit, when the others walked in. "Hey y'all. Ah didn't find nothin' but we can't quit. I heard a strange noise from downstairs, even though I couldn't find an entrance."

"That was us, Applejack. I ended up flipping a hidden switch, and found myself down there. He has torture rooms, punishment apparatuses, even the different smaller tools. I'm starting to wonder who this colt really is.... Pinkie Pie, what are you listening to? And where did you get an MP3 player?!"

Pinkie looked at Twilight. "I always carry different tools and things with me, just for situations like this. Oh, and the song's called The Discord In I. Anyway, we still haven't found anything." Her ears drooped, and plugged her device back in.

"Wait, Pinkie, did you just say you carried different devices? Would you mind showing them to us?"

"Sure thing Twi!" Pinkie Pie laid her bag out, and they saw everything from fireworks to matches, rope to knives. Then they saw the lock picking kit.

"Pinkie, you had a lock picking tool this whole TIME!"

Pinkie shrank back. "Yeah, I thought you all knew I carried those."

Twilight sighed, frustrated beyond a doubt. "Alright, deep breaths. We still have time. Look around the table, see if you can find some kind of trail, or something... oh! I remembered, I can scan the blood for traces." Her horn lit up, and she aimed at the blood stains. A beam of yellow light flooded the room, and after it subsided, they saw a cyan trail of spots on the floor. They had a lead. They were excited now, and hurriedly followed the trail. They found that it lead to a bookcase. Twilight started pulling books off the self, and finally found one that didn't move. She pulled it gently, instead, and the bookcase swung back, revealing a stone corridor. As they followed it, they started to feel more uneasy. They had no idea what lay before them, but they hoped they weren't too late. After following the damp, narrow passage for what seemed like an eternity, they found themselves standing in a great, marble chamber. The ceiling was covered in cobwebs, and the floor wasn't recognizable anymore. And in the center of the room, on a wooden platform, lay Rarity. A great blade swung above her, dropping ever slower with time.

"Rarity! Hang on, we'll get you out."

They struggled with the straps and locks, but they were unable to crack them. They watched, helplessly, as Twilight tried to use her magic to undo the straps, but it was fruitless. The blade was only two inches from Rarity's torso, and the mare smiled. She closed her eyes, and waited for the end. As the blade made it's final drop, the other mares turned their heads, and felt a hot, sticky substance splash on them. Fluttershy started to cry uncontrollably, and Applejack removed her hat. Twilight and Rainbow Dash simply sat there, looking at the blood on their hooves, and their eyes twitched.

A form stepped out of the shadows, and chuckled. "You have let one of your companions die. Your first test has been failed." A great ball of light came from his horn, and they found themselves in the kitchen again. The figure addressed them again. "One of your friends has died. The trick to the puzzle, was to drain a bit of your blood into the bowl, and you failed. Another one must be taken, for this little game to end."

"That's it?! This is just a game to you?!" Rainbow Dash charged him, but before she mad impact, he raised his hoof to block hers. She fell on the floor, shaking.

"Need I remind you of my position? I control the test, not you. You will do as instructed, or you will face the same fate." He clapped his hooves, and the lights went dark. A scream, a crash, and a grinding noise. When the lights came on, Applejack was missing.

Author's Note

Dun dunn duuuunnnn!

Anyway, hope you're enjoying.

song reference: anypony recognize?

Desperate Measures

If they were only slightly worried before, they were completely terrified now. Applejack was the most dependable in the group, and was always a valuable asset and friend. They had to find her. No matter the cost. They searched for something, anything, that could be used as a trail, and finally found something. A blood stain, on the wall behind Applejack's last spot. And laying on the floor, smeared in blood, was Fluttershy, her wings fluttering, a knife beside her. Rainbow Dash picked her up, but the slammed her against the wall. "What have you done?! What did you do with Applejack?!"

"U-uh, Rainbow Dash? What's going on, why are you all looking at me?"

"Because Applejack's gone, and you have a knife right beside you..."

Rarity spoke up. "Um, I don't mean to interrupt, but it would seem that there is a sticky, rather warm... oh no."

Sure enough, there was a red substance on Rarity's white coat. Everypony eyed each other suspiciously. They started to look around, and tried turning, pulling, twisting, and pressing everything in sight. Finally, Rainbow Dash found a switch, and activated it. A panel swung forward, and inside was a little room. In the room, in a bowl, sat a note.

You have half an hour to find Applejack. Remember, not everything is as it seems.

Rainbow Dash threw a chair at the wall. "What the buck is that supposed to mean!? Bucking riddle mongrel..."

Twilight slapped Rainbow with a plate. "Rainbow Dash! Get a grip! We need to focus, and think of what he means... wait, not everything is as it seems... as it seems! What it looks like may not be what it actually is!"

Twilight ran around, tossing chair and plate aside. "Me and Fluttershy found a key, and a candlestick that didn't look normal. Maybe... aha! Look, the candlestick has a keyhole, so if I just... done!" She had put the key in the bottom of the candlestick, a mechanism clicked, and the bottom swung open. A small, serrated blade dropped out, with a note attached.

"May this help you, for whatever task you find ahead."

"So, that was supposed to help us save Rarity? Twi, why didn't you save her?!" Rainbow Dash was furious, her eyes swimming with rage.

"I didn't know this was here! It was a guess that I presumed wrong because of my uncertainty towards most situations!" Twilight levitated the knife, and drew blood over the bowl. Once the blood hit the bottom, a chime sounded, indicating the hours passing. "We need to hurry." Twilight breathed more than spoke, and they rushed to the other room. Scanning the blood brought up very little evidence, but it was enough. They followed the trail for what felt like a hundred lifetimes, and found themselves at a wall. Quite literally. The very end wall of the house stood in front of them, and the trail ended there. Twilight pounded the wall in frustration, even breaking a bit of it away. She gasped, for when she had removed the piece of the wall, a dim light shone through the crack. She picked up the bookshelf with her magic, and rammed the wall with fury. It crumbled away, and they stood staring into a long, damp, moldy hallway.

"Well, there's no time like the present." Rainbow Dash was getting impatient.

They descended the staircase, with only the dim light of Twilight's horn to guide them. As they made their descent, they felt a chill waft over them. They had nagging feelings, telling them to turn back, to escape. But they knew it would be folly, for the figure had said he closed the house off from the outside. They passed by several rooms, each furnished with a specific form of torture. Pinkie Pie, completely oblivious to the fact of what these devices were, decided to inspect them all, touching every separate part of them. Twilight sighed, rather tired of this ridiculous pink mare fondling these contraptions.

"Pinkie Pie, you do know what those are for right?"

"Yes silly! I've used them a bit myself before." Pinkie giggled.

Twilight went wide eyed, but decided not to question it. As they continued down, they heard a muffled banging noise, followed by a whispered scream. They hurried down the steps, and when they reached the bottom, came upon a vast, stone dome. In the center, on a stone slab, was Applejack, and the figure stood behind her. He was keeping her bound and gagged, soaked in kerosene, hooves tied behind her back. Under the slab, a red and orange glow escaped, and warmth rose up from the gap.

"Well done. Now hurry, she has but moments before the table collapses, and she plummets to her death. Clock's ticking."

Twilight looked around, panicking. She saw another bowl by the slab, and ran over to it. She pulled the knife up to her hoof, and sliced. She winced, as blood dripped into the vessel. Once the blood hit the bottom, a grinding sound could be heard. The stone slab had rotated, and slid up, dumping Applejack on the ground. She stood up, shaking. "H-hey, y'all. Ah'm alright." She turned to their host. "Ah don't know what the buck you were thinking, but after this is all over, Ah will find out who you are."

"Do you think this frightens me? You'll find out soon enough, if you are patient."

Applejack eyed him, tempted to buck him unconscious right there. But she restrained herself, knowing he was their last hope of getting out of there. "Fine, but don't think the Princesses won't be hearin' 'bout this."

"They have already been informed. They are spectating at this very moment. Please, return to the table. The next course awaits thee... awaits you."

The five mares eyed him suspiciously, but did as instructed.

Author's Note

Another song reference, see if you can spot it!

Hint: it has something to do with kidnapping *winks

Ending At The Beginning

As they sat down, Applejack whispered to Twilight. "Hey, Twi, Ah've got a naggin' feelin' that this guy..."

The figure tapped the table. "Well, I see only one of you who has been solving the tasks. Therefore, everypony else fails, and is excused from this residence. But, I feel I should reveal something to you all..." Their host shook off his hood, and they say a leather mask, crafted like a skull. He then proceeded to remove that, under which was a rather familiar sight.

"Hello, Twilight. Surprised to see me?"

"P=princess Luna? Why? Why would you kill..."

The Princess raised a hoof. "I believe your answer lies there." She pointed to her right, and sitting there, smiling, was Rarity. She walked up to the rest of the group, and they eyed her, curiosity and anger in their eyes.

"Oh come now, darlings, do you think I would really go out that way? Disgusting. Princess Luna told me about a test Princess Celestia wanted to give Twilight, to see how she could handle criminal investigation procedures. She staged the entire thing, and this house is just a projected illusion. See?" She touched the wall, and her hand went through like water. "It has several spells on it, so that you can only see it as a fake, if you have been granted the power to do so."

Twilight stared on, dumbfounded. "This entire time, it was just a bucking test..."

"We meant no ill will towards thee, Twilight. Our sincere apologies if..."

Twilight tackled Luna to the ground, hovering just an inch over her face. "You are such. A freaking. LUNAtic. Do you hear me? I'm gonna shove that horn up your..."

Rarity spoke up. "Let's not be rash, darling. I'm alive, so you..."

Twilight smacked her across the muzzle. "And YOU. I'm only just restraining myself from BURNING THAT WHITE OFF OF YOU!"

Luna whacked Twilight on the head with the candlestick, making Twilight freeze. "TWILIGHT SPARKLE! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT THYSELF IN THE DUNGEONS! ACCEPT YOUR DEFEAT WITH SPORTING BEHAVIOUR, AND MAYBE EVEN A COPY OF SILENT PONY 3!"

The other mares looked at her, puzzled. "I'm a fan of the games."

Twilight had had enough. In a bright flash of light, she went back to her house. Immediately, she wrote a letter.

Dear Princess Celestia, the next instance you even consider supplying me with another pointless test like this one, you will do well to remember this: don't, do it. The despair your inane examination caused me has brought on severe anger. With all due respect, you're bucking vacuous to the Nth degree.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

"Spike, send this letter to Princess Celestia. And make it hard to miss."

Spike's eyes widened in fear, but did as instructed. In a burst of green flame, he sent the letter off.

:::

In Canterlot castle, in the uppermost room, sat Princess Celestia. She was grinning, sipping her tea. She got up, and walked to the balcony. The stars were beautiful, and the moon cast a cool glow around the land. Then, Celestia heard a noise, and turned around. A scroll materialized, and hit her straight in the face. The impact was so hard that she went flying off of the balcony. She fell for a long time, her wings were too surprised to work. When she landed, the letter fell on her face. She was confused as Tartarus, but read it nonetheless.

"Dear Princess Celestia..."

Author's Note

THAT IS WHY I PUT COMEDY AND TRAGEDY TOGETHER. LIVE WITH IT.

References galore, ladies and gentlemen. The spontaneous, copious amounts of such things is unimportant, but I hope it brings some form of audible amusement.