Case 1: Murder in Canterlot: Investigation Part 4;Finale

Spike's POV

May 6th, 1504

9:57 AM

The air was tense. There was a feeling of uncertainty between Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, me and Lacitus. I really hoped in some way the assailant wasn't Lacitus. Although I full-well knew he was.

"Not so fast, Night!" I said, realizing he had Twilight with a gun to her head.

I loaded my gun.

"You know I don't want to shoot you, Night. Just unload the gun and drop it." I said, shaking. Rarity was right behind me.

"No, you know you can't shoot me. You're just too loyal of a friend to me." He said, with a grin.

"But you win, he repeated." He unloaded his gun and let Twilight go away. But there was a problem. He reloaded the gun and ran. But he didn't run for me, oh no.

"RARITY!" My eyes widened in shock.

"Let me go or I blow her brains off."

Rarity cried, yelled and cried even more.

"Never." I said, right after that I shot a warning shot to the cell Twilight was in, careful not to hit Twilight, or another prisoner with the bullet.

"Ju-just let me go you demented asshole" Rarity said, gulping and yelling.

"Drop her and I don't shoot you." I said, taking a gulp of courage.

That morning was fateful, because it was the day that my police training worked for something.

I shot him. He didn't die, and I didn't want him to die; As a detective, my job is to imprison the culprit, not kill them, so shooting is the last resort detectives have against criminals.

But the next second, I wanted him to die.

He took out his gun and with the last of his power he shot me. He missed me. But he hit someone else. Someone close to me. Someone dear to me. Someone I couldn't loose.

Twilight's POV

Twilight's Castle

May 6th, 1504

2:36 PM

So it is true. The detective that was in my home really just took my kitchen knife? That's a bold-headed criminal for something. And he did subsequently frame me, just that he didn't remember there was someone else on the case. Nightstroke knew, if he killed me then there would have been no turning back. He would have had to kill Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Spike, because Spike would have realized Nightstroke was the killer and told Rainbow and Rarity before he died, anyway. Basically, my conclusion is Spike knew from the very beginning and he just wanted to confirm his suspicions, even if he did so at the most amazing timing ever.

Rarity got shot, she was admitted into emergency surgery four hours ago, and she still hasn't awoken. Doctors say when she awakes she will probably be dizzy, because she lost a lot of blood. Doctors said that immediately after she awakes, we shouldn't talk to her and instead we should let her rest.

Spike and Rainbow Dash were sitting right beside me.

"Twilight." Spike said.

"Yes, Spike?" I asked. With a frown plastered all over my face.

"You know I knew right, Twilight?" He said, continuing.

"My brightness failed me in the moment that mattered most."

"Twilight, I feel like it's my fault. I know it's fucking Nightstroke's, but I feel it's my fault."

"I wasn't there when she needed me, after all." He finished.

"Spike. Do you know why I fell in love with you? Because you're strong. You are very mature in moments of these when in matters the most, even if we're not a couple anymore, that trait still shows on you. If you aren't strong then no one can be strong." Rainbow said, sobbing at the end.

"You know I always act like I'm so big and awesome and huge, but deep inside, I know I'm the small one: Pinkie has more than enough money to throw a party every three days drinks included for like ten years. Well of course you can't drink yet but that's out of the topic. Rarity runs and manages successfully a boutique. Twilight is fucking princess. PRINCESS. Fluttershy can talk to animals and Applejack runs her own farm for fuck's sake. All I could do nine months ago was fly in a straight line and crash into Twilight's window. But then I asked you out and when you said yes, I felt like I was the most awesome mare in the world. I broke up with you though. And you wanna know why? There were two reasons. The first one was the one I always give you, the excuse that you wanted Rarity instead of me. And it served as an amazing excuse for the past 5 or 6 weeks. But deep inside, the reason was I felt like you deserved more than just me. I fell into a deep depression and even almost hanged myself. By the time that I got the courage to tell you that I wanted to start again in our relationship, news got to me Rarity and you started dating. I built up so much resentment for Rarity..." Rainbow said, starting to trail off at the end.

I was shocked at the mind-bogginglingly large reply that she had given Spike. She had fallen into a deep, deep depression without us even knowing.

"You hired Lacitus to kill Rarity, didn't you, Dash?" Spike said.

"Yes.. I did." Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes, it all makes sense at the end."

"How much did you pay him? He asked.

"60 Grand" She said. But I agreed to pay him after the deed was done.

"Wait, doesn't that mean he will try to kill her by any means?" I asked.

"Well, yes. But he has to escape a dozen or so of armed men in his room and a dozen more in Rarity's." Spike said, chuckling.

"You see, Twilight. When Nightstroke was wounded from my gunshot, he purposely aimed at Rarity and not at me."

"It was then I realized that the one who hired had to be among us. You see if that wasn't the case, then there would be no motive for the murder. Basically, everyone except us 4 had either an alibi or no motive. A quick logic thinking reveals Twilight was in jail by the time of the agreement. A security camera footage near Sugarcube Corner revealed Rainbow and Nightstroke talking at 3 am. At first I thought Rainbow was gonna be a victim, so I thought of making a Witness Protection order, but then I thought over the evidence again and I realized Rainbow had to be the killer, since I wasn't.

"That is some master deduction skills, Spike!" I said overflowing with joy.

But then I thought over.

"But wait, where does Stana fit in in all of of this?" I asked.

"She doesn't." Spike said.

"But then why did Nightstroke kill her?" I asked

If he wasn't hired to kill Stana, then he had a personal motive.

"A quick background check in Stana's bank account reveals she owed about 1.5 million bits to an account. An account by the name of you guessed it, Lacitus Nightstroke."

"Six years ago, Stana started to get on drugs. Four years ago, she met a provider by the name of Night. By then, she was on the edge of bankruptcy. In four years she managed to make a debt of 1.5 million bits to that provider, and a check on her email reveals a threat sent three months ago.

"Stana. You have three months to pay me. If you don't, then you will die. I'm sorry, but you have to pay me in cash, and you have three months only so get the money as quick as you can." The threat said.

"She started cooking Methamphetamine, we found a meth lab as we searched the place. She had gotten 1.2 million bits already. A security camera reveals Night going in at approximately 4:55 AM, at 5:12 AM, a loud gunshot was heard and at 5:16 AM, he went out of the building."

"Wait.. A gunshot?" I asked.

"Wasn't she stabbed to death?"

"Yes, she was."

"As you would notice, from the fact my dear marefriend is still alive, we concluded that the bullet had missed, and we were correct. We found the bullet in Stana's room. Plunged 15 inches into the wall."

"He shot her, missed and, then stabbed her."

"Oh, Rainbow, I am sorry, but you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Rarity Belle. You have right to remain silent until your lawyer comes." Spike said, with a disappointed look in his eyes.