Dissociation

“Sir, can I have a moment?” asked Lilac as she wandered into Fair Breeze’s office.

Fair Breeze looked up from his desk with a sleepy expression. It was now definitely morning and the sun was climbing into the sky above the city but sleep had been something that had eluded both ponies since their earlier adventure. On his desk sat various reports from the hospital on Miss Brass’ condition, the recent murder reports, crime scene investigations and eye witness statements but no matter how many times he read them over he was still at a loss.

“Oh, of course Lilac, what is it?” he replied with a yawn.

“Any luck with the reports sir?”

“As of yet, no. I was hoping to find something in the crime scene investigation but there is no hard evidence with any links to anypony. It’s so infuriating! We even have the murder weapon itself but analysis of it reveal that it’s nothing more than a simple kitchen knife no different than that in any home around Canterlot.”

Fair Breeze gave a gruff snort of frustration and pushed the files to one side. As he looked up he couldn’t help but notice a faint smile on Lilac’s face, one that he had seen a few times before.

“Alright, spill it,” he said bluntly.

Lilac’s smile seemed to grow a little, “I may have something for us to go on. I couldn’t ask many questions of Miss Melody due to her condition, she was incredibly distraught and eventually locked herself in her room. Before I left though I asked if it would be alright if I investigated her family and its acquaintances in order to try and find a lead; Miss Melody agreed to this although I’m sure she just said so to get me out of her mane. When I returned from Miss Melody’s home I started a thorough search.”

“Did you find anything?”

“Not much, most of her close family is regrettable deceased. Her grandparents all died many years ago, her father was killed in a rock climbing accident about four years ago and her mother passed away during childbirth. Other than an uncle living in Baltimare she has no other living family.”

“That’s quite a lonely existence, how about friends?”

“Other than the members of her ensemble and the recently deceased Fleur Dis Lee, none.”

“So what you’re saying is you didn’t turn up anything of value…or are you saving the best for last?”

Lilac grinned again, “With so many dead ends I decided to pull out all the stops to try and find something. I had to rummage through reams of paper, cross check about three dozen files and pay a visit to the royal archive but I finally found this.”

Lilac reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a single sheet of paper. Fair Breeze looked at it for a moment, casting his eye over the various lettering. It was a certificate, the edges frayed and the ink barely visible but what it said was still clear to see. For a moment Fair Breeze wasn’t sure what it all meant before his brain finally cranked into action.

“Wait a moment, I thought you said she didn’t have any living relations apart from an uncle?” he asked quickly.

“That is what all the official documentation says sir,” replied Lilac.

“But…this is a birth certificate is for an Octavia AND Sinfonia Melody! Are you telling me she has a sister…and what’s more a twin sister?”

“Yes…and it would also appear that somepony went to a lot of trouble to hide this fact from just about everypony else. As I said I had to spend hours in the royal archive to find this and it was hidden very well. I’ve checked it thoroughly though, it’s genuine.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, why would somepony go to such lengths to hide the fact they have a sister? Do you think Miss Melody knows?”

“I don’t think so sir, although I can’t say for certain of course. However if she had been hiding this fact from everypony it is unlikely she would have given permission for me to search her family history unless she was confident that it wouldn’t be found.”

“Indeed…although this does raise some interesting questions doesn’t it?”

“Questions such as is this mysterious sister responsible for the attacks?”

“That but also why was her existence hidden and more importantly is she still alive.”

Lilac gave a nod of agreement. Her find had startled her when she had discovered it, all manner of questions racing through her head before she had been able to calm her mind. There was a missing link in this puzzle but if there was ever a Rosetta stone this was it.

“What are your orders sir?” she asked calmly.

“Have you arranged the guard duties?” replied Fair Breeze without looking up from the birth certificate.

“All in place sir, guards have been placed at Miss Melody’s abode as well as Miss Brass and Miss Scratch. All of them have been briefed on the situation. I have also taken the liberty of assigning more guards to the rest of Miss Melody’s ensemble for added protection.”

Fair Breeze nodded slowly and looked up from the birth certificate, “It seems then that our next move is to investigate this twin sister. Gather your things Warrant Officer, we’re heading for Ponyville.”

It was later that day when Fair Breeze and Lilac Bloom departed the train and stepped onto Ponyville’s station platform. As they did the local residents all stopped and turned in their direction. Lilac could feel herself blush slightly but Fair Breeze didn’t seem fazed at all. Glancing around he located the ticket office and walked over to the window. The pony behind the desk seemed a little flustered, his voice stammering slightly as he spoke.

“Uh…what…what can I do for you…uh…sir?” he said slowly seemingly picking each word individually as he spoke.

“You can relax for a start,” chuckled Fair Breeze calmly, “Then you can tell me how to get to Ponyville Hospital.”

“The hospital, uh…yeah. You want to take a right out of the station and then follow that road all the way to the town square, past the mayor’s office and left up the hill. The hospital is on the outer fringe on the way to Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Thank you.”

As Fair Breeze turned and walked back towards Lilac the Pegasus gave a small chuckle as the ticket officer saluted in a fashion much like a five year old would. Together they followed the directions, heading into the centre of Ponyville at a brisk trot. Ponies of all kind stopped to look their way as they passed the pair hearing hushed murmurs as they went.

“Seems we’ve drawn a little attention,” commented Lilac as she scanned her eyes back and forth.

“Unsurprising really, unlike Canterlot this town doesn’t have a permanent guard presence,” replied Fair Breeze.

“Still, with the new princess living here you’d think…”

“Princess Sparkle likes to keep a low key in my understanding. I would warrant that despite the various heroic acts she has performed over her life she is still not used to her new status. I actually met her not so long since, charming individual I must say but very easily flustered. All I did was bow to her and she went as red as a tomato.”

Lilac gave a small chuckle, “Perhaps we could ask for her assistance in…”

“I would rather keep this as an internal guard issue. The murders haven’t spread beyond Canterlot and if we can put a lid on it ourselves it will look much better for the guard.”

Lilac nodded, what Fair Breeze said was true but she could also tell he was determined to get to the bottom of this himself. She had known him long enough to know he had a stubborn sense of pride but he always but his better judgement ahead of it. The rest of their walk across town was mostly conducted in silence, Fair Breeze’s expression unwavering and Lilac Bloom casting a watchful eye across every aspect of the small town. As they reached the hospital the afternoon was giving way to evening and the sun was quickly approaching the horizon as the two Princesses prepared to change roles. Fair Breeze wasted no time and strolled straight into the hospital, taking a moment to assess his surrounding before heading towards the reception deck.

“I’m afraid visiting hours are over,” snapped the white nurse pony behind the desk, her attention focussed completely on the pile of paperwork around her, “You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

“In this case you can make an exception,” instructed Fair Breeze, his word causing the pony to look up at him harshly although her expression dropped the moment she saw him.

“B-Beg pardon sir,” she said quickly, “We weren’t expecting any visits. My name is Redheart, what can I do for you?”

“Greetings, I’m Lieutenant Fair Breeze and this is my aide Lilac Bloom. I’m looking for information on a certain pony, one who was born here a number of years ago, Sinfonia Melody.”

Redheart’s pupils shrunk to dots and for a moment she stood in stunned silence staring at Fair Breeze. After a moment her mouth opened slightly but shut again quickly.

“Wait here one moment,” she said calmly as she turned and trotted off down the hallway.

Fair Breeze watched her leave, Lilac stepping up beside him.

“Strange…” she said quietly.

“Very,” agreed Fair Breeze.

It was a few minutes later when Redheart returned, now accompanied by a yellow unicorn who looked like a doctor. Redheart indicated to them and the other pony quickly stepped forwards.

“Please come with me,” he said courteously as he waved a hoof back up the hallway.

The two guards followed him in silence still curious as to what was going on. By the time they reached the doctor’s office Fair Breeze was becoming a little impatient.

“Please, have a seat,” offered the doctor as he motioned to a couple of chairs.

Fair Breeze sat down slowly without taking his eyes off him, “So who are you?”

“Forgive me, I’m Dr Horse, primary care physician of the hospital. Redheart already told me who you are…and why you’re here.”

“So do you have an answer to my query?”

Dr Horse gave a short sigh, “I do but first I must ask why you want to know about her.”

“I’m sure you have been following the recent development in Canterlot, the recent murders that have been occurring.”

The doctor nodded sadly, “Very unheard of I must say, has there been any further developments?”

“Yes, last night there was another attack although fortunately the intended victim managed to escape. It did however give us a lead and a possible motive. All the victims have had direct links to one Octavia Melody who lives in Canterlot. Whilst performing a background check on her Lilac Bloom here found mention of a twin sister that had been hidden from all the official records. We could only find evidence of her on an old birth certificate in the Canterlot Archives. Given the situation we have decided to investigate; we have to find and question her as soon as possible. I regret to say that she may even be a suspect in this case.”

“T-This is impossible…” started the doctor slowly.

“I know it may be hard to believe but…”

“No! I mean what you’re saying…about her being a possible suspect, that’s impossible.”

“Do tell.”

The doctor paused and gave a longer sigh, “I must ask for your discretion in this matter.”

“That will depend on the nature of the matter.”

“Sinfonia Melody is here in this hospital, she has been ever since she was born.”

“What?”

“Come with me, I’ll show you.”

The doctor headed for the door, Fair Breeze jumping to his hooves quickly as he and Lilac followed. He led them down more corridors, each one dimly lit and quiet in the gathering evening. They passed by numerous vacant and occupied rooms, some occupants receiving their evening meal whilst others were resting soundly. Deeper into the hospital they went, through various security doors until the sterile corridors gave way to brighter textures and colourful paintings. Fair Breeze had noticed the sign above the last door, secure long term wing. Finally the doctor stopped in front of one of the doors and motioned towards it.

Fair Breeze stepped forwards and looked inside. The room was padded in red velvet and contained little in the way of furniture apart from a bed and a chair, both of which looked like they were bolted to the floor. In the middle of the floor, curled up in a ball and rocking back and forth was a sky blue earth pony, her frazzled white mane wafting back and forth as she moved.

“This is Sinfonia Melody…or Screw Loose as she has come to be called,” said Dr Horse slowly.

“What?!” exclaimed Fair Breeze as he looked back at the doctor, “what do you mean?”

“The Melody family was supposed to be a happy family,” began the doctor, shaking his head a little as he spoke, “they were overjoyed when they found out they would be having twins but the happiness didn’t last long. A few weeks before the birth Calming Melody, the mother, was involved in an accident and was rushed into hospital. Her injuries were severe, life threatening. We did all we could but…we lost her. Before she died we performed an emergency caesarean to save the twins. Unfortunately we were too late; Sinfonia was born with a severe brain damage, she hardly ever leaves the hospital. Octavia spent several weeks in intensive care, we nearly lost her several times when she stopped breathing but thankfully she pulled through.”

“Does Miss Melody know about this?” asked Fair Breeze as he cast a glance back into Sinfonia’s room.

“Yes she does,” replied the doctor, “In fact she visits the hospital every few weeks to visit her sister and do what she can for her. We also insist on seeing her every month as well.”

“Why?”

“I’m not at liberty to divulge a patient’s full medical history Mr Fair Breeze. There is a matter of confidentiality to consider.”

Fair Breeze frowned, “I understand that but right now Miss Melody is in the middle of a murder investigation and I need all the information I can get. Now I can go back to Canterlot and request a royal warrant but frankly I’d rather you just tell me now and not waste time that could be used in tracking down this killer before it’s too late.”

The doctor gave a long sigh and nodded slowly, “Very well, but I trust you will keep this information confidential and secure. Octavia Melody suffers from dissociative identity disorder. We see her every month to monitor her condition and to adjust her medication as needed. She has been this way since she was a small foal, given her sisters condition her father demanded we do all we could to treat her. So far her condition has been stable although I will say that recently she has been suffering more swings, especially after she visited her sister. We were due to see her next week actually.”

Fair Breeze didn’t reply; he just stood there like a statue as if he had come face to face with a cockatrice. The doctor looked concerned for a moment before Fair Breeze snapped his attention quickly to Lilac.

“Warrant Officer I need you to fly back to Canterlot immediately! Check in with all guard units and get their report on the situation, I’ve suddenly had a very bad feeling about all of this,” he snapped quickly.

Lilac didn’t reply, instead choosing to simply salute before turning tail and galloping off down the corridor. As she ran her wings spread at her sides, the Pegasus stretching her feathers before the eventual take off. The doctor looked ready to protest before Fair Breeze stepped forwards.

“I need to see all of Octavia Melody’s medical reports immediately and I want to speak with every nurse who has seen her in the last few months. NOW!”

The doctor didn’t seem capable of refusing this time and just nodded frantically as he too turned and raced off down the corridor. Fair Breeze turned to follow him.

“Please be wrong…” he muttered to himself as he gave chase.