A Lethal Puzzle

At that moment, an orange unicorn with a broken horn trotted through Ponyville. Her green mane and tail were streaked with crimson. Her deep orchid eyes showed no sign of remorse. And she carried something big in her bloody saddlebags. She smiled to herself and saw Carousel Boutique. "Rarity's gonna LOVE the gift I made!"

She cantered up to the door, but it was locked. The orange pony felt hurt. Why wasn't her only friend letting her inside? Did Rarity hate her now? Was it her fault? Tears forming in her eyes, she called out, "Rarity? Please open up."

Rarity heard the voice and ushered Sweetie Belle upstairs before unlocking the door. She cooed, "Puzzling! It's been ages, darling!"

"I made you a present, Rarity," Puzzling Insanity smiled, her left eye twitching slightly.

"Please tell me that you're covered in red paint."

"I think that's what it is," Puzzling said, "I asked everypony I tried to talk to, but they just screamed before falling asleep."

"Oh, dear," Rarity muttered to herself, then turned back to the orange unicorn. "Whatever did you make, dear?"

"While I was at the house with a bunch of weird ponies, a nice old mare came in and taught me how to sew! Close your eyes."

Rarity closed her eyes as a squishy sound filled her ears. Something wet and somewhat smelly was draped onto her. "Oh, did you make me a dress?"

"Yep," Puzzling laughed, "go look in a mirror!"

The ivory unicorn turned to the mirror and screamed in horror. What was draped onto her was a macabre dress... stitched up from several pony pelts... so many cutie marks on it... the smell of freshly killed ponies was enough to make Rarity want to vomit. And why were there bloody feathers on it? "Oh, my goodness!"

"Do you like it?"

"Wh-what did you use for material?!"

"You remember those ponies I visited that fell asleep?"

"So... you're covered in... blood?!"

"Oh, that's what it is," Puzzling Insanity smiled, finally learning what the red mystery liquid was.

Rarity immediately looked at the dress, then back to the orange pony... and she fainted right there, on the floor of the boutique.

"Oh, no," the orange unicorn gasped, tears welling up, "did I hurt Rarity?"

A white Persian cat sashayed over and meowed softly, looking up at the unicorn. Opalescence had taken a liking to the strange mare in her home.

"Such a cute kitty," Puzzling said, "you would have liked the dress, right? I went through a lot to make it."

Sweetie Belle came downstairs and caught sight of the orange unicorn with the broken horn. Her green eyes went wide as she let out a scream.