Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed…
* * *
The news were all over the front pages, written in fat letters in the caption – SERIAL KILLER LOOSE IN PONYVILLE! HIDE YOUR WINGS! This was the third day that ponies feared to look at the necrology section of Ponyville Daily – would they see a familiar face? A name that used to be close to their hearts? Each and every mare and colt that knew a Pegasus shook with authentic horror while reading the article about the murderer.
The Wing Ravager struck again, read the news, Three new victims were found dead in their rooms in the southern part of Ponyville. The police confirm it is the same serial killer due to the unique way the equines were slain – their feathers were torn out and wings were grinded down with a blunt object to resemble those of a filly. Chemicals present on the victims’ mouths suggest that they died while under the effects of chloroform, bleeding out from the fatal wounds. If you are a Pegasus it is advised you do not sleep alone or even stay in Ponyville until this villain has been apprehended. It is believed that…
Scotaloo didn’t care to read the rest of the paper – it was all just speculations, the same as before, about the motives and twisted mind behind the killing. What really mattered to her and allowed for a sigh of relief was that Rainbow Dash’s name wasn’t listed in the necrology. So far, almost 15 Pegasus were less fortunate.
“You already heard the news, huh?” said Apple Bloom, approaching her orange mare friend. “Terrible, really. Which pony could be that cruel to do this to another?”
“I don’t know,” sighed the Pegasus, flapping her tiny wings. “Whoever it is, he doesn’t leave many clues behind. They say it must be another Pegasus, since most of the victims were on the upper floors of their homes. I’ll never sleep with an open window now.”
“No offence Scoots, but I wouldn’t want to be a Pegasus now, even if somepony payed me to, hehe.”
“This is not a laughing matter, young lady,” heard the orange filly. As she turned around, she saw a bronze colt, dressed in a coat and wearing a stylish bowler hat. “These are real ponies, real tragedies we are dealing with. There is a psychopath on the loose – who knows if he won’t have a change of heart and start hunting somepony else.”
“I’m sorry…” mumbled Apple Bloom.
“Just keep your nose clean, kid.”
* * *
Hush now, quiet now…
I climbed the outer wall of the house quite easily. The lights were out and in the faint moonlight, I could see her…
It's time to lay your sleepy head…
The windows were well preserved. Not the slightest sound was made as I lifted the bolt securing the window and opened it wide. A gentle breeze of wind pet my mane, encouraging me to step in.
Hush now, quiet now…
She managed to open her eyes and get a glimpse of me before the chloroform soaked tissue returned her to dream-land. I did the same for her friend – she was a unicorn, sleeping in the other part of the room. That one didn’t even wake up, hihi.
It's time to go to bed…
The hoof file I had in my saddle nearly sprung out, attaching itself onto my mouth. In a delicate voice it told me what to do. Little by little, blood started dripping onto the sheets. Naughty Pegasus, how will you ever clean that?
Drift, drift, off to sleep…
As I worked my way down the wing, peeling off layer after layer of bone, skin and marrow, the file sang to me my favorite song. I hummed along, trying to keep my hoofsies clean of the icky sticky fluid that rhythmically gushed from the smaller and smaller wings.
Leave the exciting day behind you…
Soon I was done. They looked a lot better now – I wished the Pegasus could just wake up and see what a marvelous job I did!
Drift, drift, off to sleep…
The mare turned pale before I managed to collect all the feathers that have fallen off. Some of them were covered in red, those would not do, not at all. I’d just throw them away, like the others!
Let the joy of dreamland find you…
I closed the window behind myself as I exited the room – wouldn’t want the unicorn to catch a cold or something. She would be the first one to see the new and improved Pegasus wings her friend had!
There were so many other ponies in desperate need of my services – and there was only so little time I could spare! No time to appreciate my work; time to go!
* * *
Ponies were gathered around one of the many Ponyville houses, nervously whispering about the newest wave of murder. The criminal seems to have picked up the pace – four days in a row, each yielding at least 3 bodies. The police was as frustrated and scared as the rest – some of them had Pegasus in their families as well, but there were simply way too many to protect all at once.
Word on the street was that a well-known detective was sent from Canterlot to investigate – Princess Celestia herself sent a letter crediting the skills of the investigator. She also wrote that she was joined in the sorrow of the families whose loved ones were killed and hoped for a swift apprehension of the criminal.
Private Glare, which was the pseudonym the detective used, carefully inspected the first crime scene. As always, no hoofprints, no signs of break and entry, everything seemed normal. Except for the cold body with depressingly ravaged wings lying on the bed. All of her blood soaked through the bed sheets, the mattress and coagulated on the floor beneath the furniture. There were no feathers to be found, except for ruffled parts that didn’t tell him much. The same blunt object was used, chloroform was present on the victim’s face. The pony that slept with her, Sweet Dingle, was devastated and on her way to the Ponyville Hospital for some rest and probably a healthy dose of pills.
“Sir, I think we might have found something,” reported a chubby unicorn policecolt.
“Then show it to me,” barked the investigator in return.
“Umm… Sir, it’s on the ground. We can’t bring it…”
“Oh… Uh, sorry…” apologized Private. This whole case was getting on his nerves. Every time he heard the phrase “We got something”, it turned out to be some kind of unrelated item or print. The psychopath might be a blood-thirsty criminal, but one would be a fool not to commend his or her diligence in removing evidence.
Outside, a bunch of blue dressed ponies was standing around the small garden huddled to the side of the house. Amongst the flowers, which were in perfect shape and health, one was picked, only a stalk remaining.
“What have we got here?” he groaned.
“A flower is missing, sir,” reported a seriously looking mare. “The owners of the house report that this garden was very well tended to, sir, and there were no flowers missing before they went to sleep!”
“So, somepony picked a flower. What, you think it’s our pony? Anypony could’ve just picked that damned flower and showed it to her girlfriend. This is nothing, as always.”
“Sir,” hissed the pony, taking a step, “it is all we got, right? This is a matter of life and death for many. Don’t let any of us find you wanting, sir.”
Only now did the investigator notice she was a Pegasus. The blue of her feathers and coat almost let that slip past Glare’s usually sharp eyes. He sighed, apologetically raising a hoof.
“I’m sorry, sorry… You, uh, write a report or something. Find out which flower is missing, how it looks like and try and find somepony who might have that plant in their hair today.”
“Yessir!” saluted the Pegasus energetically and trotted inside.
Private was turning around when something else tugged at his attention. There, at the very base of the building, where the grass touched the wall. It looked like dirt… Yes, it was dirt. Mud, already dry. It wouldn’t be anything special, if it wasn’t round. It could be the shape of a hoof.
* * *
Only 2 more days! So little time, so much to do! My present wasn’t even half done yet. I definitely needed more pink feathers. Some blue wouldn’t be bad either.
I took a last look at my creation – a wooden construction with long, leather stripes on each side. The leather was coated with all the beautiful feathers, large and small, making it look really nice. The wooden design would be perfect for her to wear. I’m sure she’ll love it! She always dreamed of one of those.
Gah, if only I had more time! Double time it is then! Nothing will stop me, teehee!
* * *
Ponyville Daily was literally despised at this point – the editors didn’t even bother to change the headlines anymore – everypony knew what was inside, everypony would only look through the necrology, holding their breaths and their hearts skipping a beat each time they read a name.
Private Glare, naturally being devastated over the loss of so many fine colts and mares, had high hopes – the psycho was starting to be a bit more careless. The colt almost fainted from joy when he found a single, stray hair in one of the victims’ manes. It was hard to tell what color it was – a shade of purple, pink perhaps? It didn’t matter – time was his enemy now, as he rushed to the local police station, ordering all the unicorns available to run tests day and night to determine who was the owner of the stray hair.
* * *
Hush now, quiet now…
I slipped while climbing up the 2nd floor. Hopefully nopony woke up.
It's time to lay your sleepy head…
The window didn’t have a lock, but it had a grille. Why would it? It’s very high up here, nopony would care to climb all the way up to steal anything. Wait…
Hush now, quiet now…
A light blinded me while I was trying to grind through the iron – a head stuck out the window.
It's time to go to bed…
I fell. There were yells from upstairs and some more lights flooded the house. Pony feathers! No pink tonight. And tommorow’s the day! Oh no!
* * *
Private Glare was galloping at full speed, flanked by at least a dozen policeponies. With a crash, the party launched the doors to Carousel Boutique inwards, much to the dismay and confusion of the owner, Rarity.
“The jig is up!” roared the investigator, pointing a hoof at the mare, “Hooves where I can see them! You’ve nowhere to run, Wing Raveger!”
“Wha-wha-what?” yelled Rarity in shock, freezing in place.
“Sir! This is not the mare we are looking for!” shouted a blue Pegasus, her eyes darting around the room. “Where’s your sister?!”
“Sweetie Belle? I, uh, well, wha-?”
“Answer NOW!” yelled the policemare.
“Sweet Apple Acres!” spat out the white mare. She huffed heavily, watching the mob of ponies leave her boutique. It took time for the words said to her to sink in. And with them came the real ice that froze her body and mind…
* * *
“Happy Birthday Scotaloo!” yelled Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in unison. Pinkie Pie launched a salvo of confetti from her party cannon, covering the entire scene with rainbow colored paper.
“Happy happy birthday!” she chimed in, setting the needle on a nearby gramophone. Party music filling the air with a catchy tune.
“I got this for you, Scoots! Hope ya like it!” The farm filly handed Scotaloo a small package.
“Wow, cool! An official ‘I love RD’ badge! Thanks Bloom, it’s really awesome!”
“My turn, my turn!” squealed Sweetie Belle “C’mon, my present is too big to show you in the clubhouse. It’s outside!”
The ponies went outside to where the white filly was. Beside her lay an item covered in a red blanket.
“This is from me to you. It took quite some trouble to make it and I know it isn’t finished like it should be… But I really hope you like it! You’ve always dreamed of them!”
Scotaloo reached for the sheet with her hoof. She hovered it over the crimson red fabric when she noticed at least a dozen ponies stampeding her way.
“Don’t touch that!!” she heard from afar.
“Oh, c’mon Scoots, don’t keep us waiting!” hurried Apple Bloom. Before anypony else could act, the red-maned filly tore the blanket away.
Scotaloo saw a structure looking pretty much like a wooden body leash. On each side was a wing, covered in feathers of all colors. They were neatly trimmed and sparkling in the sun. The artificial wings had sockets in which Scotaloo was probably supposed to put her wings in.
“Do you like it?” smiled Sweetie Belle. ” I made it just for you. You deserve them. You are the best friend a pony could have. Now nopony will laugh at your small wings. Those that did now know how it looks and feels to have small wings. Are you happy?”