Bookends Part 3: Or Family Values

It was about two weeks after the discovery of the body of the pony by Trixie. Because of just not feeling right about the spot, they’d avoided the West Field for now.

The Pies and Trixie had worked that day and were preparing to sit down to dinner when there was a knock at the door.

“Limestone Honey,” said Cloudy Quartz, “mightest thou getest that?”

Limestone went to the door and opened it.

“Ma, pa,” she called out, “I think you need to come here.”

The Pies came in the room, followed by Trixie. They saw that it was Dr. Bones.

“Doctor,” said Igneous Rock, “what can we do for thee?”

“Sorry to interrupt you at this hour, but I’ve some information for you and perhaps a question or two,” replied the Medical Examiner.

“Please havest thou a seat doctor,” said Igneous Rock.

The family all found seats on the couch and couple chairs while Trixie sat on a cushion.

“We’ve determined the body of the pony found on your property was that of a filly. She was between five and eight years old, her coat was pink in color with a mane and tail of a darker pink. She either had no cutie mark or it had been obliterated with the trauma and time. She’s been there for anywhere from fifteen to twenty years, roughly.

That’s pretty much the details,” said the doctor. “Although there was one odd thing, from the position of the body, it appeared as if either the pony was purposely jumping under the falling boulder, or…”

Cloudy Quartz ran out of the room. The other ponies watched her, only Trixie got up to follow.

“I’m sorry doctor,” said Igneous Rock, “go on.”

“As I was saying, the pony was either purposely jumping under the falling boulder, or she was pushing something or somepony out of the way and was caught by the boulder,” said the doctor.

“And thy question,” asked Igneous Rock.

“Mrs. Pie… Cloudy,” said Trixie coming up to the pony, Cloudy was crying hard. “Is there something I can do?”

“No,” said Cloudy, looking at Trixie. Cloudy Quartz then put a foreleg around Trixie and her head against Trixie’s neck and started to cry harder.

“Cloudy,” said Trixie softly, her own tears starting to form out of empathy. Trixie was stroking Cloudy’s coat, “you know something about this, don’t you.”

Cloudy Quartz looked into Trixie’s eyes. Trixie could tell there was something Cloudy wanted to say. But she was unsure if she should tell her.

Trixie could see Cloudy’s lip trembling.

“Somehow, it is Pinkie,” said Trixie “isn’t it.”

All color drained from the older mare’s face.

“And thy question,” asked Igneous Rock.

“Yes,” said the doctor, “I’ve checked the missing pony reports from this area for the time period I mentioned, there’re no unsolved cases. I extended the search ten years in either direction, with the same results. Ponyville isn’t exactly a hot bed of missing children.

Failing that, I checked the Equestria Census for the time period. That’s when I found the description and age matched your daughter Pinkamena Diane Pie. But I also found Pinkamena or ‘Pinkie’ lives in Ponyville at Sugarcube Corner and is one of the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, currently a quite famous pony along with the other wielders.”

“And thy question doctor?”

“Was there an unrecorded twin, or do you know something that could help us close this case,” said the doctor. “As I said originally, there’s no evidence of criminal activity, it’s officially an unfortunate accident.

No charges would be made if you’ve some information for me. But it could be criminal if evidence was being purposely withheld.

Truthfully, I find it hard to believe that there’d been a filly of that age, killed and nopony noticed.”

At that moment, Trixie and Cloudy returned to the room, Trixie was holding Cloudy’s hoof. All eyes looked at them.

“Doctor,” said Trixie, “I believe Mrs. Pie has something she wants to tell you.”

The rest of the Pie’s looked concerned.