Hunting season

by Hannibal_Lecter

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Mystery, Tragedy, Horror
Length: 2127

Some pony gets murdered and it's up to Twilight to stop the murderer before it's too late.

Derpy Hooves is dead, Murdered to be exact. Ponyville is in distress and the killer is just waiting for the opportunity to catch their next target. Princess Celestia asks Twilight Sparkle to help solve the crime and put the murderer down before it strikes again. But who said things go as planned?

(Credit to "AstarDragon" for the great Cover art)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-05-21 00:10:01 UTC

The first strike

The crowd of ponies, Including Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, were starring in horror as what they saw, They'd never forget it.

3 hours earlier...

Twilight and Spike had just got off the train and unpacked their bags back at the library when a royal guard busted in.

"Umm..Hello?" Twilight said to the investigative guard who was already searching choke points and decent hiding places in the library.

"Hello Twilight, Have you seen Derpy Hooves anywhere?" The guard asked.

"No. Is this why your searching my tree house quite...Excessively?" Twilight asked

"Yes, She's missing." the guard informed twilight "She wasn't found doing her normal routine or attended an event in about a week." The guard added as he finished his search. "We just got approved to look for her." The guard said.

"Just now?" Twilight responded.

"Yea. Well your okay. If you find ANYTHING, Let your brother, Shining, know. Okay?" The guard asked.

"Okay." Twilight replied.

Later, When Twilight was reading a book and Spike was sleeping in his basket, Twilight heard voices outside. As she peeked out her window she seen Shining Armour and some royal guard attempting to block some Ponyville residents from the Everfree forest. Shining spoke up

"Everyone calm down. We got this under control."

The crowd continued to attempt entering the forest when someone in the crowd spoke up, "What the hell is so bad that we can't see it!" A lot of the residents started to outrage. Twilight just left the tree house when someone from the crowd fired a stun-spell at shinning, Allowing the crowed to break through. Twilight rushed towards Shinning when a scream was heard from the forest. After using a Dispel-spell on Shining ,She rushed towards the forest.

When Twilight arrived at the forest to be horrified at the sight she saw. Twilight saw a Pegasus, Whose wings were penetrated with hooks and attached to a branch, with the cutie marks cut off and the chest region exposed with the organs within. The stomach was drooping out and the liver was half-eaten while the heart and lungs were missing. There was a sign on the tree with blood-red letters spelling out "Dumb lesser, do you guys call this an education? , Easy kill. +4 points" with a arrow pointing to the body. When Celestia and Luna arrived, The body was identified as Derpy Hooves.

After the paranoia, All the ponies were sent back to their houses. Right when Twilight was about to go to sleep, She heard a knock on her door. She answered it to find Princess Celestia.

"Twilight. I'm sure you seen the gruesome sight at the forest. I want you to work on the case and find out who the killer was." Celestia informed Twilight

"Of course, I'll bring the horrific killer to justice." Twilight boldly said to Princess Celestia.

"Thank you Twilight, You'll have access to any files and autopsy reports that relate to this case." Celestia informed Twilight, Then flew away.

Twilight instantly began reading books about investigation and murder. Due to not a lot of murders happening, Twilight struggled to find the required information. She knew that all of Equestria were hoping she would bring the killer down; Which made her nervous, But filled her with adrenaline. She began studying like a machine, Taking little time for breaks. Eventually, The sunlight from the morning reached Spike's sleeping eyelids and forced him to awake. Spike was walking downstairs when he seen Twilight, With her mane a complete disaster and her eyes twitching from the lack of sleep or even a break. He instantly knew something was going on by the pile of books in the corner and the restlessness of Twilight.

"Twilight..." Spike said uneasily "Is everything alright?"

Twilight slowly looked at spike and softly said, "Hooves was found murdered last night." Spike had a sudden look of worry on his face,

"Twilight, Please tell me this is a terrible joke." Spike said uneasy "Twilight! Please tell me this is a bad joke." Spike yelled

"I'm sorry, Spike. This isn't a joke." Twilight softly replied. "But Spike, You are gonna help me find the killer and we'll avenge Hooves." Twilight said boldly "I know we can do this!" Twilight said.

Spike looked up at Twilight, "Do you really think so?" Spike asked

"Yes, Spike. I do." Twilight replied.

Deep in the Everfree forest, There is a pony in a wore-down shed. The pony is sitting in a nearly broken wooden chair, Eating a piece of grilled heart. "What an easy kill." The mysterious figure said to himself. After their meal, the pony opens the kitchen drawer. The drawer contains photos of many different ponies. The pony uses their horn to shuffle the photos and draws one at random. The pony holds the photo close to their face, and examines their next target, And drops the photo on the table. Then goes to their bedroom to sleep.

---Autopsy of Derpy Hooves---

As I write this, I shed a tear. I always thought I'd never have to give an autopsy. Why would you murder an innocent pony, What did Derpy do to deserve this. But, I have a job. And after many hours of studying and analysis; I have cause/time of death, DNA from the sign and other misc data. To begin with, The cause of death was a fatal spell shot to the head. The spell was interesting due to the fact it blew a hole right through her brain but not her head. The time of death was approximately 4 hours before her initial discovery. The DNA recovered from the sign showed to be Derpy's blood. Now for the weird stuff. cannibalism is 100% involved. The bite marks on the liver could've only came from a pony. The missing heart and lungs are also part for of the cannibalism idea as they were probably a snack or dinner depending on the killer's appetite. We have no idea what "+4 points" mean, However. We suggest the killer is keeping track of points and scoring him/herself based on difficulty. We also found slash marks below the wings and rashes and bruises near the abdomen, Suggesting torture as she was missing for awhile. I am currently requesting a lock-down on the Everfree Forest and a curfew placed on Ponyville until further notice. Forward this letter to Twilight Sparkle, Currently residing in Ponyville and Princess Celestia Currently in the Canterlot Castle.

Interrogation

Twilight and Spike were reviewing photos the photos taken of corpse of Derpy Hooves, When a gentle knock was heard on the door. Twilight opened the door to find the local courier.

"Package for...Twilight Sparkle." The courier said briefly to Twilight

"Oh. Who sent it?" Twilight politely asked

"Doesn't say. Not even an address." The courier responded

Twilight took the package, and signed the required papers, and then went to resuming her work with Spike.

"Who do you think the package is from?" Spike asked, Scratching his scaly head

"I have someone in mind." Twilight said as she was opening the package

"Well, What is it?" Spike asked

"The autopsy of Derpy Hooves." Twilight replied

After reviewing the paper; Cause of death, What time it occurred and other miscellaneous stuff, Twilight became even more confused as the document brought of more questions but barely answered questions.

"Why would some pony kidnap another pony, Hold them captive for X amount of days then just decide to kill them?" Twilight asked Spike

Spike thought for a moment then came to a sudden realization "Interrogation!" Spike said, With a hint of excitement

"What are talking about?" Twilight asked Spike

"Think about it, Maybe Hooves knew something that a powerful agency didn't. They tortured her and when they got their answers, They killed her." Spike replied.

After thinking for a moment, Twilight was about to ask another question but Spike interrupted her.

"Then, They use obscene amounts of gore to make it look as it was a serial killer." Spike finishes.

"It could make sense." Twilight responds

"But do I need to add privileges on the books you read again? How do you come up with this?" Twilight adds

After the brief conversation, The duo go back to reading/research (Now with the Autopsy) but with Spike's theory lingering in her mind, She couldn't stop thinking Filthy Rich had something to do with the murder. He is rich, powerful and maybe needed someone to shut up, Instead of speak up. But maybe Spike WAS on to something.

It was about dark when Twilight heard yet another knock on her door. Twilight opened the door to find Princess Luna.

"Twilight, You are needed at Canterlot. Immediately." Princess Luna

"Why? I'm in the middle of study." Twilight asked

"Just go." Luna snapped.

It was a little after midnight when Twilight arrived at Canterlot, Only to be escorted by 5 guards to the castle. The guards were escorting Twilight to the decision room, Where Celestia, Luna and Twilight would come up with ideas to stop the killer, if the pony's plans were to continue. As Twilight arrived, Only two of the five guards followed Twilight into the room where Celestia and Luna were practically screaming at each other about their ideas.

"If we put a curfew and travel ban on Ponyville, There will be panic!" Luna (Not so practically) screamed at Celestia

"If we don't, There is a HUGE chance that another pony could be murdered!" Celestia (Also not practically) screamed at Luna

"What are you ponies yelling about?" Twilight asked

"I believe that we should place bans and curfews on Ponyville, But my sister ignorantly disagrees." Celestia said, Tense with fear of losing another pony

"If we do what my sister, Ignorantly, believes, There will be panic and panic leads to riots." Luna said, Feeling the same as Celestia.

"How about we place the curfew, But no bans. You know, A compromise." Twilight said to the princesses.

Both the sisters look at each other, and give a slight nod. Celestia speaks up, "I agree this is the best path."

"Yes, I also agree." Luna replies.

"Then its settled." Twilight says to the sisters. Things go silent for a minute than Twilight decides to speak up. "I have a suggestion on who the killer might be." Twilight says.

Both the sisters, Eyes widened, look at Twilight in shock.

But before Twilight could say who, A guard busted through the door.

"We may have caught the killer." the guard boldly says

This time Twilight is looking at the guard, In shock.

"She is in the interrogation room." The guard adds

Twilight and the sisters, After taking a brief walk through the dungeon, arrive at the interrogation room. Twilight takes a breath and pushes the door open to find 3 guards in the room, and Applejack tied to a chair where said chair is bolted to the ground. As Twilight walks in, She realizes Applejack is struggling against the rope until a guard hits her.

"I reckon you stop hitting me, Or when Twilight proves my innocence, I'll hit you." Applejack says to the guard. Applejack soon looks up and sees Twilight and the sisters (But mostly Twilight)

"Thank Celestia you're here, Twilight. These damned guards are starting to annoy me." Applejack says, With a smile on her face.

Twilight looks at the guards, "What is going on here?" Twilight boldly asks.

One of the guards speak up, "We found her chasing a hooded pony. Applejack had the handle of knife in her mouth while she was chasing said pony."

Twilight looks at Applejack, "Is this true Applejack?" Twilight asks

"No. The pony I was chasing WAS the killer. I was chasing it with their knife as it was chasing me with the knife." Applejack said.

"Interesting. Release Applejack." Twilight said.

The guards glanced at each other, Confused.

The guard nearest to Applejack looked at Twilight, "Are you crazy?" The guard asked

"I said, Release Applejack!" Twilight yelled at the guard

The guard swiftly releases all the rope on Applejack, And as he does so, Applejack gets outta the chair

"Now how did you manage to get that knife?" Twilight asks

"Just some good ol' fashion CQC." Applejack responds

"You trained in Close-Quarters-Combat?" Twilight replies

"Sure did." Applejack says.

The pony that lives deep within the Everfree forest returns to their worn-down cottage. Scared as the victim almost killed the killer. The pony grills and finishes the last of Derpy's heart. After a brief moment of thinking, The strange pony comes up with a brilliant idea. The pony then goes towards his toolbox and grabs 3 important tools. Rope, Hammer, Tape recorder and sets them on the table. Then goes to sleep as tomorrow will be a busy day.