Unmarked

Inside the hut, Coltstein saw nothing but pure horror. Along the walls of the hut were bloodstained tables with chunks of meat and flesh on them, next to bloody knives. Along with a torture device designed to rip filly and colt's limbs clean from their bodies, placed along the wooden floor. A pentagram was outlined in the middle of the hut as well, drawn by the blood of innocent victims, but Coltstein noticed something particular about the blood. It was fresh, meaning it had just recently been drawn out.

Once Coltstein had finished his observation of the hut, he caught sight of an angelic pony on the far side of the room, humming a tune. He could see another pony within the torture device, silenced by something covering their mouth. The pony had something on their head. Something red and very familiar. The angelic pony moved away from the device, only to reveal Apple Bloom with a nasty incision on the left side of her body.

Her eyes were full of tears, and her mouth was covered by some sort of tar. She screamed in agony, as the other pony placed their hoof back into the incision. Coltstein had seen enough, and he didn't need the key to show him who the angelic pony truly was. It was Annie. To catch Annie's attention, Coltstein stomped his back hoof against the wooden floor. The stomp startled Annie, as she turned to face him.

"Looks like I underestimated you," said Annie. "But your adventure ends here, detective. Come any closer, and I'll rip her limbs from her joints!"

Coltstein was infuriated, as he stared at the demon.

"So, this is how it is?" he questioned. "Apple Bloom was right. You are a coward. You rely on dirty deeds to get what you want."

Annie laughed.

"Did you think I was going to play fair!?" she taunted. "Apparently, you don't know how demons work!"

She followed her taunting with a laugh that made Coltstein's anger grow even more.

"I never expected you to play fair, Annie" he stated. "I know how demons work. They taunt, lie, manipulate, and pull the dirtiest moves to outsmart their adversaries. However, you haven't outsmarted me. It's all thanks to your own trap that I'm the one who is going to end you!"

"What sort of nonsense are you speaking?!" she taunted. "You can't do anything! I've outsmarted you, and now, this pathetic filly will become my new body! This body has become old, crippled, and too obvious. With Apple Bloom's body, I'll be able to plague this pathetic world!"

"Never," confirmed Coltstein. "I've never known my destiny, but now I do know it. IT'S TO STOP YOU!"

Coltstein transported across the room to where Annie stood, surprising her immediately, and before she could react, Coltstein thrusted one of the daggers he had obtained into Annie's side so deep that only two inches of the dagger were visible outside of Annie's body. The stabbing caused Annie to collapse to the ground, as Coltstein rushed to free Apple Bloom from the demented device that she was trapped in.

Coltstein used his newfound abilities to unlock all the locks, then lifted Apple Bloom from the device, turning toward the exit, hoping to escape.

"You won't escape!" shouted Annie, sealing the exit, using her magic.

Coltstein turned back to Annie who had managed to catch her balance again.

"NOPONY HAS EVER ESCAPED, AND NO SIMPLE SUBJECT AS YOU WILL ESCAPE ME!" exclaimed Annie, lunging forward at a fast speed.

Coltstein could read Annie, now that his true potential had been unlocked, and quickly dodged her, causing her to violently smack into the door. The impact had caused the entire hut to shake, as Coltstein grabbed his third dagger, and stabbed Annie five times in her back, causing her to scream. He didn't show her no mercy, and continued to stab her over and over, until the blade broke, sticking into her back. To continue his assault, Coltstein grabbed the fourth dagger, and stabbed her until the blade broke.

Coltstein wasn't holding back, and continued to do the same cycle, until all the daggers had broken, and Annie's back was completely covered with stab wounds, and only blood was visible. Once the stabbing was done, and enough poison was infested into Annie to kill her, Coltstein watched in his rage, as Annie fell to the floor with a hard thud, screaming in pain. She was defeated at last, slowly dying in her final moments.

"How does it feel?" he taunted. "To finally feel the pain and agony that I've felt for years, all because of you!"

Annie laughed in response, blood leaking from her mouth.

"You think you've won?!" she claimed. "The moment I sealed that exit, I trapped you to your death! This hut will collapse, and you'll go with it! I've won, detective! You've lost!"

Annie suddenly let out a piercing scream, causing the entire hut to shake, and slowly start to collapse.

"Goodbye, detective!" taunted Annie, laughing at his false attempts.

Annie had Coltstein pinned, and if he had any chance of escaping, he had to think fast. The unfolding events made it hard for him to think, along with Annie's laughter, until he spotted a book on a table starting to collapse. That's when he remembered the legend of the book he had found in Canterlot Library that day.

"If anypony is to ever come across it, they are destined to die from their own doing."

The words made him realize what he had to do now. To defeat Annie, he had to die. It was the only way to win, but he had made a promise to Daisy that he would return, and wanted to let her know that he loved her. The question was, how? Through his struggle, he heard Apple Bloom say something, but due to the black tar covering her mouth, it was hard tell what she was trying to say.

"Apple Bloom, are you trying to tell me something?" he asked.

Apple Bloom responded by nodding her head, but if he tried to even remove the tar, it would rip her flesh clean from her jaw. Coltstein didn't have to act, as Apple Bloom used her hoof to obtain some blood, and wrote a message along the floor. Even though it hurt her, she knew that she had to repay Coltstein some way, causing Coltstein to smile. Apple Bloom spelled out the words "USE ME" using her own blood, immediately confusing Coltstein.

"How can I use you?" he asked.

Apple Bloom responded by touching her right ear with her right hoof, as if she were directing him toward it.

"You want me to use your ear?" he asked.

Apple Bloom wasted no time in nodding her head, so Coltstein acted quickly, placing his mouth near Apple Bloom's right ear.

Daisy stood before Annie, still in full manifestation, laughing at her. Annie had been taunting Daisy, and calling her every foul word she possibly could in the time of Coltstein's absence. Daisy had adapted to Annie's insults, so she just ignored the insults, and continued to worry about Coltstein, due to him being gone for over an hour. Annie's insults were suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice, speaking out of Annie's mouth.

"Daisy? Are you there?" asked the voice.

Daisy wasn't sure whether or not to trust the voice, so she hesitated.

"If you're there, it's Coltstein speaking from Annie's mind. I just want to say, goodbye, and that I love you, even though it may not seem like it. You were the only one who believed in me through this entire case, and for that, I am forever grateful, but in the end, I must die to save both Apple Bloom and you. It was sealed in stone ever since the night I encountered Annie for the first time. For me. For Apple Bloom, be sure to get the footage of this exorcism to the media. It's the only way to prove Apple Bloom's innocence, and to free her from the facility. I love you, and always will. Goodbye, Daisy."

The message ended, and Annie fell to silence. Daisy knew that was Coltstein, and that he wasn't kidding about anything he said. She felt tears enter her eye sockets, trying to think of any possible solution.

"There has to be a way to save him," she said. "It can't end like this. No more lives can't be lost."

Her mind fell to one solution, as she grabbed a camera from it's stand, and cast the spell that she had cast on Coltstein to enter Annie's mind, causing her to enter the mind of Annie, hoping to save Coltstein and Apple Bloom.

Just like Coltstein, Daisy landed on the outskirts of the forest. She stood from the hard ground, surprised the camera was still working. She was confused on where to go next, until she heard a child's voice.

"If you wish to save them, come with me," said the voice.

Daisy was scared, as she questioned the voice.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Where are you?"

"Down here," replied the voice.

Daisy looked down with the camera, only to see a young female filly standing at her hooves. She was both frightened, yet comfortable at the same time. She could see this was a harmless spirit, as she spoke out.

"Who are you, dear?" she asked.

"My name is Sally," replied Sally. "The one you seek saved me from the darkness."

"He did?" she questioned.

"Yes. We must hurry if you wish to save him. Due to Annie being weak, I can get you to your destination fast. Just grab my hoof, and I'll take you to him."

Daisy trusted Sally, so she grabbed Sally's hoof, and was surprised, as she immediately was transported to the outside of Annie's hut.

"He's in there," clarified Sally.

Daisy trotted to the door, attempting to open it, but the knob wouldn't budge. She panicked, turning back to Sally.

"How do I get in?!" asked Daisy.

Sally smiled.

"You know magic, right?" questioned Sally. "One good magic blast should do it."

"I haven't done magic like that for years!" she exclaimed. "I doubt I could even budge it!"

Sally shook her head.

"Do you love him?" asked Sally.

"More than anything!" replied Daisy.

"Then don't think, just do!" commanded Sally.

"But, I...

Daisy was cut off.

"DON'T THINK!" exclaimed Sally.

Daisy grew angry, and charged up as much magic as she could. She didn't focus on her target, and fired a massive beam of magic, hitting the side of the hut. She caused tons of damage to the hut, until she finally made her aim back to the door, blasting it from its hinges. The blast surprised Coltstein from the inside, as Daisy ran into the hut, and shouted out for Coltstein.

"Coltstein!" she yelled.

Coltstein stood up, surprised to see Daisy.

"Daisy?" he questioned. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Saving you!" she confirmed.

Coltstein looked angry, as he responded back.

"Daisy, I have to die to kill Annie," he stated. "If I leave, she'll escape."

Daisy shook her head.

"There has to be another way! I can't lose you, Coltstein! Not like this!"

Coltstein's eyes bulged, starting to leak small tears. Daisy continued to speak.

"I know this may seem like the only way, but there must be another way to end this madness without another life being lost!" stated Daisy.

"What other way is there?" asked Coltstein.

"I don't know, Coltstein," said Daisy. "Use that big brain of yours to find another way."

Coltstein thought hard about any other possibility, then remembered the memory of him and Dazzling playing the game. Dazzling's words applied to this situation. Annie was the pegasus, and he was the earth pony. He had to think from a different angle to win Annie's demented game of chess.

"Think Coltstein," he said to himself.

Suddenly, he remembered back to what the blade soaked with his blood had done the dog-like creature. Could mortal blood be the key? Just like in the game, he'd have to give something up to gain victory.

Mortal blood had a strong effect on Annie's creatures, so what effect would it have on her?

Coltstein's mind spiked, as he turned to Daisy.

"Find something sharp for me!" he commanded. "I believe I know how to beat her!"

Daisy quickly scrambled around for any sharp objects, immediately noticing a large shard of glass among the clutter. She quickly grabbed it, and gave it to Coltstein.

"Hold Apple Bloom for me," he said, holding out the young filly.

Daisy took Apple Bloom from Coltstein, handing Coltstein the glass shard.

"I've figured out Annie's weakness; the blood of mortals," he stated.

"What are you going to do?" asked Daisy.

"Give Annie her kiss of death," he concluded. "Apple Bloom, this is going to sting, but I can't use my own blood, so I need you to be strong."

Apple Bloom nodded her small head, as Coltstein made a deep cut into Apple Bloom's front right hoof. Apple Bloom jolted, as blood started to leak from her wound. To catch the blood, Coltstein started sucking blood from wound like a vampire. Coltstein hated to do this, but he needed lots of blood to put Annie to rest, forever, so he continued to suck until his mouth was full of the taste of iron. He didn't enjoy the taste, but he had to deal with it, as he turned toward Annie.

Annie looked at him, weak, as Coltstein leaned down, and quickly silenced Annie by putting his mouth to hers, spitting all of Apple Bloom's blood into her mouth. Annie attempted to break from him, but Coltstein held himself to her, making sure that all of the blood was extracted. Once he was sure that the blood was in Annie's mouth, he pulled away, and crammed Annie's mouth shut, to prevent her from spitting out the poison. He even cut off her nostrils, so she couldn't breathe.

"Didn't think I'd figure it out?" he taunted. "This is your only weakness! The blood of a mortal!"

He had to get her to swallow it so he sat her up, and violently thrusted her head back, giving her no choice but to swallow it or choke. She attempted to fight in his hooves, but Coltstein was clearly stronger, due to Annie having tons of wounds and large amounts of poison in her bloodstream compared to Coltstein.

"Daisy! I need some help!" he yelled.

Daisy sat Apple Bloom down gently, and quickly rushed to his aid.

"What do I need to do?" she asked.

"I need you to give her a bit of a nudge," he replied. "One stab should do it."

Daisy had the glass shard that Coltstein had used, so she quickly acted, by stabbing Annie in the stomach. Annie was stubborn, refusing to give in, so Daisy attempted another stab just above the abdominal area, but once again, failed. Daisy went for another stab attempt, but was surprised as Annie broke free from Coltstein's grip, and created a force strong enough to push Coltstein and Daisy into the walls of the hut.

"ENOUGH!" yelled Annie, sending Coltstein and Daisy flying. "IT'S TIME TO FINISH YOU PESTS!"

Coltstein and Daisy's impacts had hurt both of them badly, so they couldn't recover to defend themselves, as Annie picked up a large, sharp, metal shard, and prepared to thrust it into Coltstein.

"You might've weakened me, but I still have enough strength for one final kill!" stated Annie, preparing for her assault. "Welcome to the family, detective," she taunted, lunging the metal object toward Coltstein.

Coltstein saw him life flash before his eyes, as the metal shard grew closer and closer. He saw his family, Dazzling, Apple Bloom, and all the ponies he had failed to protect, as he prepared to enter Annie's family of tortured souls. Just as the shard was about to impact him, Annie was stopped by something. She choked, as a shard of glass was thrusted through her neck, causing her to drop the metal shard, and fall in defeat.

The shard of glass remained in place, as Apple Bloom appeared from behind Annie's wide neck. Annie couldn't speak, as Apple Bloom pulled out the shard, then swung it like a sword, severing Annie's head from her shoulders.

"Son of a bitch," said Coltstein in a shocked tone. "She actually did it."

The tar covering Apple Bloom's mouth dissolved, and immediately she spoke out in her victory.

"Stay away from me and my friend's!" she commanded, jumping from Annie's lifeless body, and landing on Annie's severed head, shattering like glass.

The shards from Annie's head dissolved to nothing but dust, as Apple Bloom ran to Daisy and Coltstein's aids.

"Ya' ok, doctor?" asked Apple Bloom, attempting to help Coltstein up.

"I've been better," he joked, standing back up.

Apple Bloom and Coltstein laughed, as Daisy helped herself up, continuing to film the entire thing.

"Let's get out of here," said Coltstein. "I'm tired of this place."

"You think you are," joked Apple Bloom.

Coltstein, Daisy, and Apple Bloom took their leave, sealing the exit, so Annie had no possibility of escape. Outside the hut, the maze was gone, and all that remained was a beautiful forest, now that the evil had been removed. Above them, tons of white auras filled the sky, each heading toward a large portal.

"Looks like we're not the only ones getting out," stated Coltstein.

All three of them smiled, as the spirit of a young filly appeared before them. Coltstein immediately recognized the filly as the one that Annie had forced to commit suicide. She was finally free to go.

"Are you ready to go?" asked the spirit.

All three nodded their heads, so the spirit held out a hoof.

"Take my hoof, and we can all go," said the spirit.

All three of them didn't hesitate, and quickly placed their hooves on the spirit's.

"To freedom we go," concluded the spirit, lifting all of them into the air, toward the portal that would lead them back to where each of them belonged.

Coltstein could finally rest, knowing that the ponies he had failed to protect were now at peace, and a great feat of justice had been served. He could sleep again, knowing that the same nightmare was no longer awaiting him.

Peace and harmony. At long last I have found you.