Trigger Happy Equines

“NO, THAT’S WRONG!”

Pre-Meeting Swim <> only ones who went there

< Argument Break >

“Wait, you’re wrong about something,” I declared. “You said Shetland and Dr. Scalpel were the only ones who went into the swimming area this morning, but that’s not true! Dopple, Yoko and I went swimming around half seven and only left when it was time for the meeting.”

“You did?” Sanscript balked. “Well, okay then, maybe Pinkie’s body had been left in the storage room, and then they moved it during the search.”

“I don’t think so,” Yoko said. “Dopple and Greyscale can vouch for me on this; while we were there I had a poke around in the storage room and all I found were floats and a ladder. I may not have seen Pinkie’s towel as I didn’t exactly do a full search, but I would’ve definitely noticed a dead body.”

Scalpel nodded. “When Shetland and I searched the room most of the floats were stacked neatly except for a few by the door, which I’m assuming are the ones Yoko had sifted through. A towel could have been easily concealed but a body most certainly could not.”

Sanscript’s cheeks grew red with embarrassment and fury. “Okay, fine! I was wrong! I was just trying to solve this thing and keep everyone alive!”

“Wow,” I heard Inky whisper, her hooves curled around her torso. “He’s so damn hot when he gets angry.”

“O-one thing puzzles me,” Reph said. “Discounting Sanscript’s theory, what’s to say that some of us were working together to kill Pinkie. If that’s the case, wouldn’t they both go free?”

“No way!” Monobunny chimed in. “Only one of you is allowed to escape. If there was an event where two or more of you worked together to commit murder I would only allow the one who landed the killing blow to go free! It might result in some unchivalrous kill stealing, but what’cha gonna do, eh?”

“S-so that settles it?” Reph said unsurely. “Now that we know this, any accomplices can come forward and just tell us who did it?”

“I still say,” Sanscript began, “that we can’t know for sure if there are other conspiracies afoot! Perhaps someone is working with Monobunny, or perhaps someone would be willing to sacrifice themselves to save a friend!”

“This again?” Mesmer huffed. “I told you all we need to abandon such logic.”

“Oh right,” Elsie said sarcastically. “This coming from the pony who could probably hypnotize any one of us into silence so he can make a quick getaway. Don’t think we’ve forgotten that, mister Ultimate Hypnotist!”

“But if we can’t be sure,” Button wailed, his hooves trembling, “how can we even solve this case!? How can we find the killer if a group of us worked together!?”

“Monobunny,” Dopple began, “can I ask if there were any accomplices involved in this case? Otherwise our trial can’t move forward.”

“Grr!” Monobunny stomped his feet hard against the stool. “I don’t like giving out information like this when you lot are supposed to be solving it yourselves, but since you’re being such whiny brats I may as well come out and say it! I can confirm with absolute certainty that there were no accomplices involved in the murder. The killer acted completely alone and carried it out by themselves. There, are you happy now? Can we please carry on with the trial?”

“Oh.” Sanscript hung his head ashamedly. “Forget I said anything then.”

“I’m disappointed,” Mesmer said, shaking his head. “I didn’t think you’d need to ask him, Dopple. I thought you might’ve already fig–” Mesmer stopped in his tracks, his mouth hung open for a second. Then he snapped it shut and gazed pensively at Dopple, the mare simply staring back blankly. Finally, a small grin appeared on Mesmer’s face, the first ever smile from the dark stallion since we’d arrived. “I see. Perhaps there is someone here worthy of my respect after all.”

I tried gauging what was going on as the two exchanged glances, my head spinning. Judging by everyone else’s reactions nobody had a clue what Mesmer was getting at.

“That aside,” Mesmer said, his expression reverting back to his usual stoic, oppressive gaze, “now that Monobunny has confirmed it we can stop running in circles and concentrate on solving the case.”

“It’s a tricky one,” Maribelle said, sighing. “We searched the entire hotel and the MonoMart and found nothing. It’s as if Pinkie’s body simply appeared out of thin air.”

“As for the search,” Dish Panner said, “if there were no accomplices then it makes it seem impossible. After all, everyone here stuck together as a group, even when we searched the rooms.”

“That’s not true!” Button exclaimed, his eyes wide. “Wait… wait! I’ve got it this time! I’ve figured out who the killer is!”

Mesmer tutted. “Listen, colt. We don’t have time for crazed theories from a teenager.”

“But Copper did break away from the group!” Button exclaimed. “She’s the only one who could’ve killed Pinkie! And I know just how she did it!”

“Hey!” Copper cried annoyedly. “Stop throwing around accusations!”

“But she did!” Button asserted. “You remember, don’t you Greyscale? She snuck away from the group while we were searching rooms!”

A lump caught in my throat. I could see Copper’s demeanor grow frantic as she became the target of a barrage of stares. She looked to me pleadingly, her face trembling. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I stood stock still. Copper wasn’t a bad pony, right? She could be abrasive and aggressive at times but really, she was just scared and in need of someone to back her up.

“Well?” Mesmer called out to me. “Is Button telling the truth? Did Copper really break from the group?”

I took a deep breath and hid my face as I answered, not wanting to meet Copper’s gaze. “Yeah. Button’s right.”

“Greyscale!” Copper cried. I didn’t even have to look to know that there were tears in her eyes. “Please! You don’t think I killed her, do you!? I wouldn’t do that!”

“I can back it up too,” Maribelle said. “I saw Copper leave us as well.”

“Interesting,” Mesmer said. “This information is entirely new to me. Okay, Button. You’re free to make your claim.”

Button pushed out his chest proudly. “With pleasure!”

Truth Bullets

Greyscale’s Account

Male Lockers

Swimming Area Windows

Pinkie’s Room

Machine Gun Cameras

Button: Copper was the only one who broke away from the group. That means she has to be the killer!

Copper: I’m telling you, I didn’t!

Reph: Wait, when was it the she went off on her own?

Maribelle: It was during the room search. When we walked past the entrance hall she was at the back of the group and just walked out the door.

Copper: I was just getting something to drink from the MonoMart!

Button: That’s what you say, but you’re lying!

Yoko: So then, how do you know she did it?

Button: Easy! Copper snuck up on Pinkie early this morning and snapped her neck! Then she grabbed Pinkie’s body and flew up on the roof with it. That’s where it was hidden this whole time!

Elsie: So what did she do when she left the group? The body was found in the swimming area, remember?

Button: That’s why she had to leave during the search. Once she was alone she went up to the roof and brought Pinkie into the swimming area through one of the windows, then flew back out and went through the entrance again to meet up with us!

Elsie: How terrible! Copper, how could you!?

Shetland: It’s true nobody checked the roof until after we found Pinkie’s body.

Sanscript: Not to mention, we didn’t start checking the rooms until after the swimming area had been searched. It all makes sense!

Did Copper really kill Pinkie? Button sounds pretty confident but I think there’s a hole in his theory. What is it!?