The Framing of Marble Pie (DISCONTINUED)

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Twilight knocked her hoof slightly on Fluttershy's door. She knew she had to handle this with care, which is why she sent Rainbow Dash and Rarity home. Rainbow's brashness could affect Fluttershy's ability to answer and Rarity's dramatic personality could bring possibilities that could frighten Fluttershy. Twilight had planned to ask Limestone, Pinkie, and Applejack to stay outside since they were closer to Marble. That closeness would definitely affect the interrogation progress. Although, Twilight still hasn't told them she wished to interrogate Fluttershy alone. She feared their reactions, especially Limestone's.

The door was opened silently. There stood Fluttershy. Her questioning gaze scanned the ponies at her doorstep. She clearly had no idea why they were there. Fluttershy opened her mouth to question them, but Twilight quickly answered.

"I know you may be confused, but I would like to ask you a few questions."

Fluttershy still looked confused, but shrugged, and opened the door. As Limestone, Pinkie, and Applejack got up to follow Twilight, she stopped them.

"Please don't be mad, but you three should stay out here," Twilight said. She knew she would have to explain further, due to their angry expressions. "The fact that you three are so close to Marble, it may cause bitterness to occur, if you come. Overall, it's better for you to stay out here."

They looked angry, still, but they nodded and sat. Twilight turned back to enter Fluttershy's house. Now, Fluttershy looked more confused and a bit worried. Perhaps it was because Marble was mentioned?

As Twilight entered, she watched the yellow pegasus sit down. The alicorn did the same.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Fluttershy asked.

"Marble. I doubt that you murdered Snowy, but you have something to do with the case, I know it."

Fluttershy looked appalled. "Y-you think I would involve myself in such a case?"

"I know, somehow, you did. I have proof," Twilight said, pulling out the paper Marble found.

Fluttershy snatched it from Twlight's hoof, and started reading it. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Marble found it in your house," the purple mare explained. "What was it doing there?"

"I don't understand. Why would this be in my house?"

"Maybe because you were involved," Twilight said, irritated by Fluttershy's poor attempt to cover whatever involvement she had here.

"My question still stands. Do you think I would involve myself in such a case? What if this was planted by the murderer to get me falsely accused? There's no motive, there's no witness, and there's barely any evidence. Also, the scrap of evidence you have amounts to almost nothing."

There was a pause. Twilight had to think. The only evidence she had against the Pegasus was the letter, but there was no evidence that Fluttershy wasn't involved. Just her claims. Twilight thought abut motives. What could be a motive for Fluttershy?

"You claim there's no motive, but there is," Twilight explained. "I've noticed the expression of pure distain when you  saw Marble Pie and Big Mac together. It's no coincidence that, after she gets arrested for murder, you quickly volunteer to help him heal over the fact that Marble may not come back."

Fluttershy looked speechless. "W-what kind of friend would let another lose a loved one, and not try to make them feel better?"

"That's not the point. Your obvious expression of jealousy for Marble, added with that you are a bit too friendly towards Big Mac just points to the fact that you're involved," the purple mare explained.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by a door being pushed open. Twilight watched, as Big Mac emerged from the room. He walked swiftly over to Twilight, holding a stack of paper in his mouth. He dropped them in front of Twilight, and simply said, "read them." Afterwards, he immediately turned around, and went back into the room.

Twilight's horn took a magenta glow, which surrounded the papers, as well. Her magic caused a bright flash. After the blinding light, Twilight stared at the papers, an unidentifiable expression on her face.

"What did you do?" Fluttershy asked, confused.

"I copied, and transferred the information on the papers into my mind. You really think I'm gong to go home and take my time to read all of these, and give a suspect of murder time to leave town? I'm not ignorant and I don't waste time."

Fluttershy looked scared. She knew the contents of those letters.

"Most of these have you writing to an unknown pony, speaking of your raging jealousy for Marble. Who?" Twilight asked.

"I-I can't tell," she answered, backing away in fright.

"This is no joke Fluttershy. Whoever you're protecti-"

"I'm not protecting anyone!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "W-well, sort of. I don't want to protect them, but I have no choice. Th-they threatened me."

Twilight was shocked for a moment. "F-Fluttershy, you know we'll protect you, right? They can't get you."

"Yes they can! They can be anywhere at anytime!" Fluttershy started shaking, a look of realization flashing across her face. "E-even right here, listening."

"I'm sure that no one's here," Twilight pointed out, but was a bit creeped out by how seriously Fluttershy was about this whole situation. "Let's not forget that I'm one of the most magical ponies in Equestria. I can protect you, if you need it, but you need to tell me who this pony is and your involvement in this."

Fluttershy took a deep breath, and started her explanation, "After I had realized my jealousy for Marble, I had tried to ignore it. I just couldn't, though. One day, I got a letter in my mail. It came from a mare called Sword Stance. She saw that I felt pain from them. She manipulated me. She told me instead of living through the pain, I could embrace it as an advantage to get what I want. When I read all of that in the letter, it sounded true. It sounded logical, so I believed it. The letter ended out with a request to destroy it, since it contained her name, so I did. We returned letters back and fourth, planning, scheming. My involvement was getting information, gathering evidence against Marble, and keeping everything a secret. So, just denying evidence against me or Sword and getting things like hair samples from Marble to leave on the crime scene. After Snowy was dead, and Marble was arrested, Sword Stance stopped being as empathetic and caring as she had seemed to be. She threatened if I gave anything away, an accident beyond anyone's imagination would occur. I was so scared to risk anything, I kept silent. I feel like my knowledge on Marble was used by a crazed maniac, who cares for no one but herself. What have I done?"

All of this was so hard to take in. Fluttershy, the accomplice. Sword Stance, the unknown murderer. Lies. Jealousy. Manipulation. How could they catch the murderess? Where would this all lead to? Would anything ever be the same? So many more questions were inspired by this information. So many more questions than answers. Despite this, Twilight knew one thing. Sword Stance would come back. If Fluttershy was right about her ability to be anywhere, she would take revenge for Fluttershy's telling. Twilight then knew what she would do. Set a trap. Although, Fluttershy couldn't know.

"Fluttershy, considering the situation and the potential danger of Sword Stance coming here," Twilight said, teleporting a strange looking communication device with a shield-shaped button on it. "I give you this. All you have to do is press the button, and say 'danger', and guards will be here In seconds." Twilight handed it to her.

Fluttershy nodded. "Anything else?"

"Yes, there is. I wish to take Big Mac home, as Sword may attempt to hurt him, and I'm not risking that. At his home, I will give him one of those. If you wish to know why I must take him home for this, it is simply because he knows his own home better than yours, and knows of any hidden defense weapons or secret emergency exits. This should be no inconvenience to you, as it will be much safer there."

A look of hurt flashed across Fluttersh's face, but it was replaced with understanding. "It's no inconvenience," she echoed.

Twilight guided Big Mac out, waving a 'bye' at Fluttershy. She instructed Pinkie, Applejack, and Limestone to go to Sweet Apple Acres, and gave them each the device. She watched them go, and, when she was sure they were gone, made herself invisible. She walked carefully and slowly back to Fluttershy's cottage. She was about to teleport, but thought about how it always made a loud noise when she teleported. Instead, she quietly opened a window, and let herself in.  Fluttershy was walking into her bedroom. Twilight found a place where she could see inside, and she got comfortable. The alicorn silently waited, keeping watch.