The East Field

Alternate Ending #1: The Investigation (The really depressing ending)

When Pa Apple had disappeared, there had not been very many ponies who missed him. It had been easy for the Apple family to convince the authorities that he had wandered out of town and likely did not plan to return. The local constable had been relieved, even, that he would not have to respond to any more drunk and disorderly reports.

This was not the case for Twilight Sparkle. Investigators—first from local precincts, then all the way from Canterlot—began turning Ponyville upside down in search of Princess Celestia's favorite student. Sweet Apple Acres was hounded day and night by authorities of every shape, color and rank asking a never-ending series of ever more accusative questions.

Contrary to what her friends may have believed, the Element of Honesty was more than capable of telling lies. She was good at it, even. “Come to think of it, I thought I saw Rainbow Dash flyin' over the Everfree that day. Maybe she misremembered where she dropped Twilight off at.” “Well of course there's hoofprints of hers outside the barn! She's my friend, she drops by here all the time!” “Apple Bloom, you remember hearin' the Timberwolves howlin' that night, don't ya? I know, 'cause I remember you complainin' that you couldn't sleep.”

But every evasion, half-truth, and misleading statement compounded her guilt over what she had done to her friend. Meals with her family became tense and quiet. Her brother refused to look her in the eye while they were working together in the fields. At night, on the rare occasion that sleep did come to Applejack, it was fitful and marked by dreams of pleading, violet eyes.

Her friendships became strained as well. Rainbow Dash stopped visiting, and made a point to send any other pegasus but herself to handle the weather over Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie stopped sending party invitations her way, and Rarity stopped bugging Applejack to try something new with her mane. Fluttershy, whose cottage was close to the edge of the Apple family's land, would grow even more quiet than usual whenever the orange pony was present.

After listening to her sister sob into a pillow over a particularly vicious line of questions the latest detective had launched, Applejack had enough. She knew there was only one way to get this investigation to stop tearing her family and friends apart; she only wished she had done it before it had cost the life of her friend.

With Applejack's confession, the authorities soon recovered the remains of Twilight Sparkle and Pa Apple. Ponyville broke into chaos. Though the librarian had been missing for months at that point, nopony had wanted to believe she was dead. Half the town wanted to lynch the farm pony outright, while the other half was convinced the investigators had forced her into a false confession to cover up some conspiracy.

There had not been a murder trial in Ponyville for decades. The courtroom was packed to the point that the fire marshal became concerned that the building was a safety hazard. 'The Trial of the Century,' reporters dubbed it.

In truth, it was not much of a trial. Applejack quietly confessed to every charge brought up against her. The only time her voice broke its solemn monotone was when she insisted that she was the sole pony responsible for Pa Apple's death, and that her brother had nothing to do with it.

The courtroom went as silent as if it were empty while the crowd waited for Princess Celestia to render her verdict. But anypony that took a look at the farmer's hollow green eyes could tell that it did not matter what the sentence was.

Applejack was already gone.