Instructions, Prt. 1 - Introductions
Lightning flashed in the sky, a roll of thunder accenting the light. It lit up the castle in the darkness – the crystalline surface shimmered slightly, but faded quickly. Rain pattered against the crystals, the sounds just barely discernable inside. This was the home of the Princess Twilight Sparkle, but tonight, it was something entirely new. It was the home of, upon checking once more, Miss Rich Body, the owner of the biggest mansion in all of Ponyville.
Tonight, Miss ‘Rich Body’ was hosting a party. And she couldn’t be more thrilled.
All of her friends had been invited. The costumes all fit. The plans had all been made. All that was needed now was one last check list.
“Butler,” she cried, ringing a little bell. Just like that, Spike – No, Mr. White, came running up the stairs.
“Yes, Twilight?”
“Not Twilight tonight, Butler. Miss Body.”
“Um… Yes, Miss Body?”
“How do I look?” Twilight spun around from the mirror she had been looking into. Her dress was a dark blue, flaring out at the bottom. It clung to her hooves in just the right ways, accenting every step she took with a certain gracefulness. Gemstones were implanted into the edge of the dress, adding a rich sparkle each time she passed under the magically lit candle lights. Diamonds hung around her neck, looking gaudy and classic for the ‘rich woman’s’ persona.
Spike nodded. “It looks awes- I mean, It’s lovely, ‘Miss Body’.”
Twilight smiled brightly. Suddenly, there was a loud boom of thunder, and the doorbell rang. “Go answer the door, Mr. White,” she said, teasing her mane a little.
Spike rolled his eyes and walked downstairs. The castle was large, but not so large that he couldn’t get to the door quickly. He got to the large doors and opened them. “Welcome to the party,” he said softly, bowing lightly. “The Mistress of the Castle has been awaiting you.” All in all, he thought it was a rather nice speech.
“That sounds simply divine, Darling~” His head shot up. Before him was the very object of the word ‘foxy’. He wasn’t quite sure what the word meant, but he was certain it fit here. Rarity, deemed ‘Scarlet Rose’ for the night’s festivities, wore the color true to her namesake. The dress was cut with ruffles, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her horn held a single ruby clad ring, and around her neck was the gorgeous burnt heart jewel, encased in a golden necklace. Her eyes were accented, not with her usual blue, but a soft crimson. Above her was a matching red umbrella, held up by her magic. He stood there, gaping at her. “Now now, Darling, don’t just stand there. Why don’t you show me inside to the gathering space, before my mane comes undone from this rain?~”
“Y-Yes, Madam… W-what was your name again, oh most gorgeous?...”
Rarity giggled lightly, watching his adorableness with a kind heart. “Call me Scarlet, sweetie~” She walked in, her ruby shoes clicking against the crystal floor. She hoped they wouldn’t scratch the floor. She gingerly let the umbrella sit by the doorway in the umbrella holder provided.
“A-alright, Scarlet.” Turning around, Spike could hardly keep his heart in his chest. “R-Right this way.” Taking deep breaths, he led the mare to Twilight, stumbling.
Upon seeing her, Rarity gasped. Spike watched the two mares run up to each other and was about to join them, but just then the door rang once again. He rolled his eyes, turned, and walked all the way back to the door.
“Welcome to the party,” he said with another bow after opening the door. “The Mis-“
“Yeah, yeah,” a brash, loud voice interrupted. “I get it, just let me in!” Spike looked back up to see Rainbow Dash hovering. She was in a yellow, military looking outfit with designs like thunderbolts on the sides. She wore glasses, and she looked like she was rich. Very rich.
“And you are…”
“Colonel Mustard.” Spike tilted his head, raising an eyebrow at the name. “Yeah yeah, Twi has some weird choices in names… Think the name is a nickname though. Think my real name is Fighting Stance, but she wanted us all to have certain colors. Besides, I can just be called Colonel.”
Spike nodded. “Alright then, erm… Colonel. Just follow me to the main room.” Rainbow ‘Colonel’ Dash nodded and flew inside, shaking the rain out of her mane like a dog. Spike turned to walk up to the main room, but stopped as he heard another voice. “Hold t’ door!”
Both pony and dragon turned to see Applejack running along, her mane done up simply. A green dress trailed behind her, and she was blushing lightly. “Ah know, Ah know, me in a dress… Twi talked me into it, fer the party an all.” It wasn’t anything very special, and little white pearls hung around her neck.
Spike smiled. “It looks very nice, Miss…”
“Green. Ah’m Emerald Green. ‘Parently Ah’m real good at getting money off ponies.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get upstairs and get this party over with. I get the feeling Twi made this way too complicated and it won’t be any fun whatsoever.”
Applejack shook her head. “Now, don’t be so negative. Might be loads of fun.”
“Whatever. Let’s just head upstairs now.” Spike nodded and turned, smiling at the two bickering friends. He walked upstairs with the two as the continued to talk and discuss and eventually place bets as to who would win the prize of the party first. It was a mystery party, after all – There was always a prize.
Once again, just as Spike reached the top floor, the door bell rang. He sighed, slouching slightly in his dapper tux. Rainbow and Applejack went up to where Rarity and Twilight were chatting over a glass of cider. Spike turned, getting rather tired from the constant walking from and to the door.
As he reached the door again, he opened it slowly, panting slightly as he moved the heavy door. “Welcome… t-to the party,” he groaned as he opened it.
“O-Oh,” Fluttershy said timidly, hiding behind her slightly done up mane. “T-thank you for opening the door, Spike. I-I was going to knock, but I wasn’t sure if you would hear me.” She trotted in softly, helping him close the door behind them.
Spike smiled at the kindness and glanced her over. “Ah, I presume you’re Miss Peacock?”
“Whatever gave you that idea,” she said with a small giggle in her voice. Her dress was blue with just a tint of green throughout it. The bottom of the dress fanned out like a peacock tail, and she wore a hat with peacock feathers sticking out. They moved and swayed each time she did, making it look as though she never stopped in one place.
“Gee, I have no idea.” He smiled brightly.
“M-My full name’s Mrs. Peacock Feather…”
“Alright. Come on, we should join the others.”
“We TOTALLY should!!”
Fluttershy screamed, though it was softer than most screams, as Spike gasped and recoiled from the loud shout behind him. Both turned quickly to see Pinkie Pie dressed up in the most frilly purple outfit a pony could ever own. She wore ridiculous purple tinted glasses. Her pants were stripped lightly, and Spike could see a pocket watch hanging from one pocket. “Oooooops! Sorry, you guys, I’m just so super duperly excited for somepony else to be throwing a party!! This is gonna be so fun!!!” Pinkie smiled brightly, a grin from ear to ear.
Spike took a minute to regain his breath, straightening his bowtie. “H-How did you even… The door never opened!”
Pinkie giggled. “Well, I wouldn’t be a super duper smartie-pants professor if I couldn’t find a way into a building without opening a door!”
“Professor?”
“Oh, right, my invitation!” Shaking her mane, an invitation fell out to hit the ground, along with some spare confetti. ‘Professor Plum’ it read as the name. “Smartest of all of the gathered, but ridiculously scatter – brained,” Pinkie quoted proudly. “I’ve got my personality all sorted out already!” She hopped up and down excitedly. “So can we join the others now? That’s everypony, right?!”
“Wait, Pinkie, I need to know your FULL name, not just Professor Plum!”
“Oh, that’s an easy one too! I’m Professor Pentro Plum Pie!” She giggled. “Twilight - oopsies, no, I mean Mrs. Body came up with the best fitting names!” She bounced up and down, but suddenly stopped as she thought for a moment. “Oh, well, it WOULD be Twilight, cause Mrs. Body is just the character! Oh, wait, I wonder who Twili- I mean, Mrs. Body is married to! I wonder if I know hi-”
“Pinkie!” She stopped and stared at Spike with those wide, innocent eyes of hers as he shouted at her. He groaned. “Let’s just get you both upstairs - before you’re late.”
Pinkie gasped loudly. “Ohmygosh you’re totally right!” Her hooves almost like wheels, she disappeared up the staircase. Rolling their eyes together, Fluttershy and Spike followed the mare upstairs, chuckling at her craziness. Spike could only hope she would reign it in before the mystery began.
Instructions, Prt. 2 - Rules and Regulations
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Instructions, Prt. 2 - Rules and Regulations
Spike groaned as he finally made his way into the main sitting room. Everypony was already there, enjoying some quality cider - the kind he wasn't allowed to drink. He grumbled sourly and walked up to Twilight, panting. "S-sorry it took so long..."
Twilight tussled his spines, chuckling. “Don’t worry about it, Spike. Why don’t you sit for a minute while I start the instructions?” Spike smiled as he fixed his spines, nodding. Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes as he decided to sit next to Rarity, who was currently chatting with Applejack. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were in the corner, seeing who could drink more cider in one gulp - they were both already on their second glasses. Twilight was suddenly quite glad she had gotten the watered down kind. Lastly was Fluttershy, sitting on a chair alone, quietly sipping her first glass.
Twilight checked her mental checklist one last time.
Get everypony who needs to start off gathered - Check
Copious amount of cider being passed around to lighten morale - Check
Make sure you look absolutely fabulous - Check and double Check
Check checklist - Check
Make sure everypony knows their names - Check
Make sure everypony knows their personalities - Check
Double check checklist that we checked the checklist - Check and double Check
Triple check checklist - Check!
Twilight sighed, smiling. Tonight promised to be amazing. She held up her cider glass and tapped it with one of the finer silver pieces she had gotten for the party. It made a satisfying ‘Chding’ sound, catching everypony’s attention. Everypony turned to look at her curiously. She cleared her throat, smiling. “Now then, since we’re all here and have had a bit to drink, it’s time to go over the rules for tonight.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Called it!”
“Called what?”
“That you’d toootally take all the fun out of tonight by making up a bunch of rules and stuff!” Rainbow sighed, lounging against one of the chairs. “What’s the fun in a murder mystery if there’s a bunch of rules to follow? It makes it all structured and totally pointless!”
“Rainbow, darling,” Rarity said, swirling her cider around in her wine glass. “You must get into the spirit of things. Even with rules, tonight is sure to be a treat~”
Twilight cleared her throat again. “As I was saying, Rainbow, there’s a very important reason for these rules. You see, I took into consideration how any rules will take somepony out of the experience. As such, I took the time to research a certain memory spell!”
“Hold on a minute, Twi.” A.J sat up a bit, tilting her head. “Y’mean t’say you’re gonna be castin’ spells on us?”
“Just one spell, Applejack. You see, that’s why I had you memorize your personalities so much. The spell I’m planning on casting will sort of lock away your real memories, leaving behind only the personality of your character!”
Fluttershy ‘eeped’ and hid her face behind her mane. “I-I’m not sure I want to forget who I am…”
“You’re not going to be forgetting, Fluttershy.” Twilight smiled reassuringly, putting down her glass. “Your memories will be slowly unlocked through playing the game - that is, if you’re good enough,” she added, smirking at Rainbow.
Rainbow grinned right back, leaping out of her chair with her wings flared. “Alright! Now that sounds like a party!”
Pinkie bounced up and down, her hoof high in the air. “Yes, Pinkie?”
“Oh, I was just wondering if we’d still remember other important-ishy stuff, like where the bathroom is! Cause, lemmie tell you, cider goes quick, and I reeeeeally don’t wanna forget where the bathroom is in case of a bathroom emergency!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Pinkie. You’ll remember where the bathroom is.” She held up her hoof as Pinkie opened her mouth to speak again. “AND the kitchen.” Pinkie nodded approvingly as she sat back down.
Rarity cleared her throat. “Forgive my doubts, darling, but I’m not quite sure I want to be wandering around a castle all night without thinking of any consequences in… well… my own mind. What I mean to say is, ‘Scarlet’ and I do not really think exactly alike…”
“Well, for one thing, I’m only going to do the spell if everypony is up to it. If even one of you objects, then no spell, and we’ll play the alternate version I have set up. For another thing, there are safety precautions in place. Should any of you start to do something too out off place of your usual self, the spell will auto correct the situation, making the character devise a clever reason to do something else."
Rainbow tilted her head, processing. "So, what you're saying is..."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Like, if you decided mid way through the game to murder somepony, you would devise that that would make the night even harder than it already is."
Fluttershy cleared her throat. "I-Isn't it supposed to be that we kill somepony?"
Twilight smiled. "Yes," she said, winking. "But your characters won't know they're under a spell. The obviously fake murder will be all too real to them."
Dash smirked, hoof punching the air. "Aw yeah! I'm game for this spell!"
Pinkie trotted back from wherever she had gone (seeing as she suddenly had cookies, Twilight could only assume the kitchen. How had she done that so fast?) and giggled. "Sign me up! Oh, and make it a pink pen! Pink ink is so fun!" She munched a cookie happily.
AJ chuckled, downing the rest of her cider. "Aw shucks. If it's all in good fun, Ah guess Ah'm game. Just make sure Ah know my real name when t'mystery's solved."
"And mine too, Darling," Rarity said. "I would simply hate to forget about all those dress orders that came today! Not to mention Sweetie and all of you, of course."
After a moment of silence, Fluttershy sighed. "A-alright... I-it kind of does sound like fun..."
She smiled as Twilight nodded, checking off another item on her list. "Alright then! Now that we've all agreed, I'd like you all to get comfortable around me." Everypony glanced at each other and compiled, each taking a nearby seat. Without anypony noticing, Twilight subtly nodded to Spike. He smiled and silently left the room to go prepare.
Everypony got comfy, as suggested. Twilight smiled. "Is everypony ready?" They all nodded - Fluttershy noticeably hesitantly - and Twilight checked off the last box on her current list. "Very well then. Think of your character and close your eyes..."
Ponyville was sleeping. Fillies and colts were tucked away, sound and safe in their blankets embrace. The storm became the background lullaby to their dreams as they dozed. Thunder roared, but it was merely the roar of a dragon. Lightning flashed through windows, quickly becoming fireworks. But the piercing scream that echoed through the crystal castle could only be heard for what it was - the start of quite the thrilling night.
"She's fainted!"
Author's Note
FINALLY! Been struggling with FiMFiction all day to try and post this. For some ungodly reason, it keeps redirecting me to different sites each time I do something new. I'm still paranoid it'll do it again!
Oh well. Here you all are!
Drinks fell to the floor as the lights flickered off. The 5 guests looked around, startled and confused. The shadows seemed to dance around them, obscuring the room in oblivion. They all shuffled slowly, until somepony screamed. The lights flickered on, the panic subsiding for only a moment before they saw the body on the floor.
The professor gasped, recoiling as she saw the body - what had happened? Ms. Green regarded the body with widened eyes, though hardly with alarm. The colonel had a far more intense reaction, dashing up towards the ceiling quickly, glancing at each and every pony in attendance in suspicion. However, nopony’s reactions were as severe as Peacock’s and Scarlet's.
“She’s fainted,” Madame Scarlet cried, holding the limp body of the Mrs. Peacock. Everypony turned their attention to the two women, though none went to help them. Scarlet clicked her tongue, fanning the mare’s face. “Somepony, anypony, get some water!”
“Here you are, Madame,” a young, yet wise voice said. Scarlet turned around and was startled; she settled when she realized the butler behind her was not, in fact, a fully grown dragon, but simply a young one put into service of the host who had invited them here tonight. He was holding a glass of water, standing tall. He seemed confident enough.
“Oh, thank you,” she said, levitating the water to Mrs. Peacock. With as much grace as one could achieve in such an act, she deftly dumped all the water over Peacock’s head, trying her best to not get any on the woman’s rather fine gown.
Peacock sputtered, opening her eyes and shaking her head. “O-Oh, my…” She quickly stood, stumbling away from Scarlet. “Oh, my! Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t mean to faint!” She gave a little cackle, a rather awkward attempt at a laugh; it resembled more the elevated crack of a seagull’s cry than a laugh.
The butler cleared his throat, a towel folded over his arm. “Here, Madam.” He offered Miss Peacock the towel. “For your face.”
“Now hold on one moment,” the colonel shouted, landing between the Miss and Butler. Peacock screamed and stumbled back, her wings flaring back in shock. “If nopony has noticed yet, there’s a body in the middle of the room!” She pointed at the corpse. “That pony has a knife in her back; one of US killed her. Now, I ain’t gonna let anypony here get anything from you until we know who you are!”
“I am the butler, colonel.”
“And just what do you do!?”
“... I buttle.”
The colonel scoffed, flying back into the air. Miss Green cleared her throat. “Well, I suggest we examine the body. Might I ask, is anypony here a doctor?”
Everypony glanced around. The professor cleared her throat, raising a hoof. “I know some about it, although I might be a bit rusty. Allow me to look at the body.” Everypony made way for the pony.
Plum kneeled down at the body, hesitantly observing it. She poked the knife once or twice. “E-er… Yes. I can deduce that the corpse is very much dead.”
“Well, ALL of us could tell that,” Peacock cried in dismay, her voice cracking more. Scarlet trotted over, patting her back comfortingly. Peacock recoiled. "Stay back!"
Scarlet froze. "Humf. As you wish, then."
Peacock cleared her throat, sounding out another strangled seagull cry of a laugh. "I-I simply needed to be cautious - one of you is a murderer, after all!”
"One of us?" Green stamped her hoof on the ground with a huff. "Why, you are as easily accused as the rest of us! You were standing the closest to the body."
Everypony turned to the Pegasus. She gasped. "W-well that's hardly fair! There IS another Pegasus in the room after all!"
The colonel scoffed. "Why, I would never kill somepony!"
The butler cleared his throat. "The simple fact is, one of us did this. Perhaps if you all would be quiet, I could explain the meaning of this?" He held up an envelope, simple labelled 'White'. It was a black envelope.
Everypony looked at everypony else, shifting around awkwardly. The butler rolled his eyes and opened up the envelope. He pulled out a piece of paper, clearing his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen... We are all here because we all have one thing in common. We are all being blackmailed."
"Blackmailed?!" Peacock scoffed. "Please, I've never heard of anything so ridiculous - nopony could blackmail me - my life's an open book - I've done nothing wrong!"
Everypony was staring at Mrs. Peacock after her rather quickly said rant. "Methinks the madam doth protest too much," Green muttered under her breath.
"Does anypony else want to deny it?" Silence was the answer. "As we are all here under the same boat, I see no harm in exposing our secrets. It is also in my instructions."
"Surely you can spare us this embarrassment," the Professor said.
"I'm sorry, Professor." He analyzed the paper. "You, miss, were once a professor of psychiatry, specializing in helping paranoid and homicidal lunatics suffering from delusions of grandeur."
"W-well, I now work in Canterlot!"
"Ah, but you don't practice medicine there. Your license was lifted."
"What did she do," Scarlet said, eager for the gossip.
"Well, do you know what doctors aren't allowed to do with patients?" Scarlet nodded. "Well, she did it."
Scarlet laughed, smirking at the professor. The pink pony had a deep blush, but did seem to be smiling. Peacock clicked her tongue. "Disgusting."
"Who are you to be making moral judgements," the butler said. "How do you justify taking bribes in return for your vote in certain animal rights legislation? Legislation that you fully endorsed already?"
"There is nothing wrong with ponies donating money for the hard work I do, taking care of my creatures!"
"Not if it's publicly declared, perhaps; but if the payment is delivered by slipping bits in plain envelopes under the door of a woman's bathroom stall, what would you say?"
"I'd say it stinks," the Colonel said, crossing her hooves.
"What would you know?! You were never in that bathroom!"
"Aha," Plum said. "So you admit it!"
"I admit no such thing," Peacock screeched. "It's a vicious lie!"
"Nevertheless," the butler said, "you've been paying blackmail for over a year now to keep your story out of the papers."
Green trotted next to Peacock. "Well, I for one believe you. I, too, am being blackmailed for something I didn't do."
"Me too," the colonel said.
Scarlet laughed, levitating over a new glass of cider. "Oh, not me."
The butler raised his eyebrow. "You're not being blackmailed?"
"Oh, I am being blackmailed. I just happen to have done what I'm being blackmailed for."
"What did you do?"
"Well, to be perfectly frank, I run a specialized hotel and a telephone device which provide gentlecolts or mares with the company of a young lady for a short while."
Plum looked more curious than surprised. "Really?..." She pulled out a notepad and pen. "Do you perhaps remember the number?"
Scarlet rolled her eyes, but gave off the number anyways. "772-257-4501." Plum wrote it quickly, smiling. The colonel looked appalled. "Why so shocked," Scarlet said. "You didn't look that way when you stopped by last, 'Mustard'."
"Are you one of her clients," Green asked with a smirk.
"Certainly not!!" The colonel flew over to Scarlet, clearing her throat. "Tell her it isn't true, Scar."
"It's not true."
"Is that true," Plum asked.
"No, it's not true."
"Ha! So it IS true," Green said with a smirk.
"A double negative," the butler muttered.
"A double negative?!" The colonel scoffed again before whispering to Scarlet, "do you have photographs?"
The dragon shook his head. "Sounds like a confession to me. The double negative has led to a proof positive. I'm afraid you've given yourself away."
"Are you trying to make me look stupid in front of the other guests," Mustard shouted.
"You don't need any help from me, Miss."
"That's right," she barked out angrily before comprehending what she just said.
"I don't see what's wrong with what the Colonel did," Plum said. "Isn't it common for a soldier to visit a house of ill fame?"
Scarlet looked rather offended by that remark. "Ill fame?! Please."
"That might be, but most soldiers aren't the Princess' right hoof men." The butler turned to Miss Green. "As for you..."
Green stood, blushing. "I'll not let this butler unmask me. I work at Canterlot as well, and I am a homosexual." All of the women in the room looked uncomfortable (even the corpse of Miss Body). "I feel no shame over this, but were my employers to know, I would be fired. Not only that, but my blackmailer seems to have made up some photographs of...various... positions I have been found in. That would be the nature of my crime." There was a brief pause. "Thank you." She sat next to Peacock, who shifted away from her with a slight blush.
The butler shook his head. "This just leaves Miss Body."
The colonel raised an eyebrow. "What's her secret?"
"Why, haven't you guessed yet?" The butler laid the envelope next to the body. "She's the one blackmailing you all."
Lightning crashed. A general uproar followed inside the crystal castle; the ponies all began fighting amongst themselves, arguing rather loudly.
The butler groaned. "Wait! Wait! The police are coming." Everypony stopped, eyes wide. "We ought to tell the police about everything, from the blackmail to the murder."
"NO," everypony called in unison.
The butler slumped over, sighing. "This was not what I was intending to happen this evening..."
"Not what you intended?" Scarlet crossed her hooves. "You are not the butler?"
"I am not the butler, but I am a butler; in fact, I was her butler." He gestured to the still bleeding body on the floor. "She was not the host tonight; I was. I wrote those letters."
"I don't understand," Plum remarked. "Why would you invite us here? Were you helping him in his blackmail?"
The dragon looked aghast. "Certainly not!"
"I believe you had better explain, Sir," Miss Green said.
The butler sighed. "Very well."
"Perhaps you could start by telling us your name, Darling?"
He nodded, standing once more and smoothing out his outfit. "Very well, Miss Scarlet. My name is Wadsworth White, though I tend to go by White." He shook his head. "When I said I was Mrs. Body's butler, I was a tad misleading. I was once her butler, but it was not her death tonight that brought my employment to an end."
"When did it end " the Colonel asked.
"It ended when my... my fiancée took her own life. She, too, was being blackmailed by this odious woman. She hated my fiancée for the same reason she hated all of you; she saw you all to be thoroughly…” He paused, choking up slightly. “Un - Equestrian.” A gasp went around the room - everypony was thoroughly shocked. “For some reason, she found each of your discretions inappropriate to the Equestrian way.”
“This is ridiculous!” Green huffed, looking a bit pale after the events of tonight. “If she was so patriotic, why didn’t she simply report us to the authorities?!”
Wadsworth sighed, shaking his head sadly. “She decided to put her information to good use and make a profit off it. What could be more Equestrian than that?” He heard somepony in the room mutter something about the magic of friendship, but let it slide.
“So what was your role in all of this,” Plum asked.
“I was a victim too. Or, at least, my fiancée was. She was being blackmailed because… well… Her friends were -” He bit his lip, almost in tears, “- G-Griffons!” He fell to his seat once more with a sob as the guests muttered in outrage. He sniffed, wiping away tears with a claw. “W-well… we all make mistakes.”
He smiled and thanked Scarlet as she offered a hooferchief to him - one, undoubtedly, that had dubious origins of the woman’s gown. He wiped his face, sighing. “She threatened us… We both had to work for her, entirely for free, or else she would give our names to the Princesses themselves for treason! We weren’t sure if she really meant it but we surely couldn’t risk it. She worked us as slaves!” Another soft sigh. “To make a long story short-”
“Too late.” Mustard huffed, crossing her hooves.
“-The suicide of my wife - to - be preyed on my mind and created a sense of injustice in me. I resolved to put Mrs. Boddy behind bars. It seemed to be the best way to do it, and to free all of you from the same burden of blackmail, was to get everyone face to face, confront Mrs. Boddy with her crimes, and then . . . turn her over to the police.”
“So…” Plum nodded. “Everything’s explained.
“Nothing’s explained,” Scarlett said, pouting lightly. “We still don’t know who killed her!”
Wadworth’s eyes widened. “Well, we’ve got to find out soon, before the police arrive!”
Peacock began to hyperventilate. “They can’t come here now!”
“But how can we possibly find out which one of you did this,” Green said.
“What do you mean, which one of ‘you’?!”
“Well I didn’t do it!”
“One of us did,” Wadworth cut in, “and all of us had motive and opportunity.”
“What if it wasn’t one of us,” Plum said suddenly, eyes alight with her idea.
“Who else could it have possibly been,” Mustard said, rolling her eyes at the professor with a groan.
“Who else is in the house?”
“Nopony, mada-” There came a crash in the kitchen. Everypony looked at each other. Wadsworth looked surprised. “Oh… I’d forgotten about the cook.”
“THE COOK,” Everypony shouted, surprised - surely it had been the cook. In one mad rush, the entire party vacated the sitting room and rushed to the kitchen.
