Author's Note
My first work in MLP fan fiction, suggestions for improvement are most welcome.
A death in Appleloosa
Time: 1 year after creation of Twilight's castle (( used this event as a basis for time telling )
The town of Appleloosa had grown a little bit since the peace between them and the buffalo tribe in the area The town was very peaceful till today. Sheriff Silverstar had a grim task before him. One of his deputies found a body in a alley. While death was nothing new, due to either snake bits, dehydration in the desert or something else, this one was unusual. As he looked it over with the town doctor the doctor just shook his head and using magic from his horn covered the body, “Not sure what I can tell you Sheriff. The body looks drained, like he hasn't been drinking enough water and starved, but folks saw him just last week in the saloon looking better then you do after some glasses of hard cider.”
Silverstar used a forehoof to rub his chin, “Mighty perplexing Doc.. There's nothing out here that can do this I know of. Reckon we get the body to Graves and so he can get it ready for burial.”
A deputy with a cart strapped to him for the movement of the body, shuddered, “That pony gives me the creeps..”
Silverstar placed a hoof on the deputies chest, “Aye but he has a job just as you do.. get it over with.” As the body was carted off Silverstar looked around. There was no signs of a struggle, just one knocked over barrel that looks like the wind could have knocked it over. Silverstar thought about it, then decided to write a letter to ponyville..
It was only a day till the train arrived and Applejack, Rarity, and Spike disembarked. Twilight was away at Canterlot, and the others had things to do as well. Those that remembered them nodded a friendly hello as they made there way to the Sheriff's office. Silverstar was at his desk looking over some old papers when they entered, “The others couldn't make it eh?”
Applejack spoke first, “Yea sorry about that, but yea know how things go. So what be the trouble in there here town?”
Rarity just looked at the decor, “Oh my this will never do. We really need some nice drapes in here and the color shade is very dreadful.”
The Sheriff just rolled his eyes and turned a paper with a hoof, “Over the last 4 months we had a problem. Three deaths, all the same I reckoned you fillies might be able to help, as I neigh got a reckoning, as far as that goes.”
Rarity gasped in horror, “You mean murder? Oh my stars and fillies who could do such a thing.”
Applejack just looked over the pictures of the victims. Something gnawed at the back of her mind, “An nuttin in common between them?”
Silverstar shrugged, “Ponies here dun keep eyes on each other like there your from this also reeks of magic.. dark magic.. I know of no one that does that around here missy.” Applejack and Rarity both looked at each other, wishing Twilight was there with them right now.
Spike just looked at the pictures, 'Oh gross... “ He then picked one up and turned it, “Hey there is some celica quartz there, didn't know that grows around here.”
The three looked at him and Spike shrugged, “What, I like it, it not as tasty as sapphires kind of sweet, like candy, but the aftertaste, uggh..” Applejack tilted her head, “Best be talking to the town surveyor then I reckon.. he might know where that's from.”
The surveyors office was neat and clean as they entered it. Rarity found herself drawn to a book on gemstones, listing there various uses, even in fashion. “Darling there are so many uses for rubies here...”
A mare wearing glasses came out form the back room, “Hello folks can I help yew?”
Applejack nodded, “Yessum, where investigating the problems around town, can you tell us about celica quartz?”
The mare thought about it, “Oh that stuff is in the old riverbed just past the graveyard. Not used for much. Only three ponies here have a use for it.”
Applejack tilted her head, “oh why?'
The mare tapped her chin slightly, “Well one used it for cleaning the blackboard at the school.. another liked how it cleaned her mane... the last one well never figured her out.”
Applejack looked to Rarity who shrugs, “Don't look at me darling, I just use mane care product never looked at what was in them.”
Applejack then looked to Spike, “Come on Spike, bet you can sniff out this stuff.”
Rarity, “Oh no I'm coming along to... it maybe dirty but where friends.”
They noted the sheriff to join them, and as they passed the graveyard they noticed a pony looking at them He wore a brown suit, with a long stove pipe top-hat, and had the cutie mark of a tombstone and shovel, his coat a dull gray in color.
Silverstar just nodded to the pony how showed little emotion, “Oh that's just Graves, he arrived in town not that long after you folks left from that business with the buffalo, dun a good job taking care of the graveyard, and doing the funeral stuff dun a good job of it to.”
Rarity shuddered abit, “Those clothes are horrible he really needs some color.”
Spike just cringed slightly, “Why is he looking at us like that?”
Silverstar just shrugged, “Likely figuring out what size pine box to use.”
Applejack blinked, “Come again?”
Silverstar nodded, “Yea I know not the best of habit but he says it makes his job easier.”
It wasn't too long after that they reached the riverbed in question . It was dry, apparently no water has been around here for a long time. Applejack jut rubbed her head, “Looks like no pony been here in years...”
Rarity looked over a small ridge, 'Over here darlings, some small shovels and jars.”
Spike walked over and tasted some of the dust on it, “This is it alright and ugh I need some water...”
Silverstar looked over and squinted, “I think I see a cave over there.”
They headed over and all but Silverstar stopped short of it. Silverstar looked back at them, “What's the problem?”
Rarity just pointed with a hood, 'By Celestia, do you see what I see over there?”
Applejack nodded as she also saw the green goo near the entrance, 'Aye there be changelings living in that cave... we best close it and get the royal guard up here toot'n fast.”
Silverstar tilted his head, “Changelings?”
With that there was a sound of a hiss then a single changeling charged out. Applejack turned and kicked it in the chest, as Rarity made some large rocks hit it, knocking it back in to the cave and closing it.
Silverstar just blinked, “What in tarnation was that thing, a changeling?”
Applejack nodded, “Darn tootn, and there as bad as they come, they likely killed those mares when they found this I recon.”
Ti wasn't to long till the royal guard arrived, thanks to Spike ending a letter quickly with his magical flame. However the report was not good at the end. The cave was only large enough to hold one of them, and there was evidence of a goo tail leading in to the desert away from Equstria. It looked like it left and there have been no more deaths since that happened. Silverstar stood at the train station, and waved his hat as they left. Graves came up next to him, and rubbed his chest own chest slightly.
Silverstar looked at him, “Seeing them off Graves, and you alright, look a bit beat?”
Graves just smiled slighlty, which for him seemed a bit disturbing, “I am fine Silverstar.. just with so many visitors and the rumor of changelings here I worked harder on some boxes should they be needed.”
Silverstar grinned, “Welp looks like it left, come to the saloon I'll get you some cider.”
Graves nodded, “All right Sheriff.”
As Silverstar left him alone Graves just smiled a bit, and muttered to himself, 'Thanks for the love and concern Sheriff... it should help me recover nicely.”
With that his eyed glowed a slight green for a moment, then he headed off to the saloon.
The end.