“NO, THAT’S WRONG!”

Machine Gun Cameras <> anyone could have waltzed in

< Argument Break >

“You’re wrong about something, Elsie.”

The unicorn mare shuddered at my words. “And what might that be!?”

“You claim anyone could’ve just walked into the locker room and hid Pinkie’s body, but there’s something you’ve forgotten – the machine gun cameras outside both entrances to each locker room. If a stallion – as you put it – waltzed in, he would’ve been shot.”

“I knew that!” Elsie shot back. “I just forgot for a moment, that’s all!”

“Just a question,” Scalpel said, raising her hoof. “Are we sure the machine gun cameras functioned properly?”

“If they were faulty I wouldn’t have included them in the game!” Monobunny chimed in. “Anyone spotted with the machine gun camera trying to enter the incorrect locker room would be torn to shreds!”

“Even if they were faulty,” Dish Panner began, “would anyone have tried risking it in the first place? The cameras are pointed directly at each doorway. It would be obvious to anyone watching if a stallion was trying to get in.”

“Not to mention,” I continued, “Dopple and I ran a few tests and we were unable to shift the cameras out of place. Plus, the tripods are completely immovable.”

Dopple nodded. “The only way you could feasibly move the cameras would’ve required force enough to break them, and that would’ve also been against the rules. Also, there were no signs that any of the guns had been fired.”

Shetland sighed dishearteningly, his eyebrows forced into a fierce frown. “So it had to have been a mare. That gets us somewhere, at least.”

“Can we be sure?” Copper asked hesitantly. “I don’t like where this is heading.”

“Indeed!” Sanscript piped up. “But we must continue if we wish to survive!”

Everyone else’s voices drifted into nothingness as I clenched my eyes shut and took a deep breath, trying desperately to concentrate. What should’ve been an easy mystery to solve had become a nightmare. I relayed every piece of information, every fact that we’d narrowed down and tried envisioning the murder being committed by a number of potential killers. I reminded myself of the nature of the search and times when each participant could or couldn’t have performed actions necessary for the murder. There were moments that I considered over and over again to glean some kind of hidden meaning, some unseen truth that I simply had to extrapolate from the case so far. But each time I ran through a possible scenario I hit a roadblock. There were inconsistencies and irrationalities that I couldn’t simply brush off. I was running out of hope. It seemed all my efforts were in vain and I should just leave the case to someone more intelligent and trustworthy. I couldn’t figure–

My eyes sprang open as a sudden realization hit me. I reconsidered each facet of my theory again and again, the puzzle pieces falling neatly into place and forming a coherent picture. I looked up and saw Mesmer observing me pensively. As our eyes locked, I could feel his message being sent to me, not of encouragement but of arrogant goading. “You think you’ve solved it?” I imagined him saying in his grim, sarcastic tone. “Well then, let’s see what you’ve got, genius.” My heart thumped violently as I realized what needed to be done. I had to rise up to Mesmer’s challenge!

“I know who killed her,” I said quietly. There was still some light chatter between others as they continued discussing how the killer could have gotten to Pinkie in the morning.

“Greyscale,” I heard Dopple say softly, her jaw hung open slightly. Her eyes bore an air of worry. “Are you sure?”

I nodded slowly. I was confident now, the answer to our troubles was right in front of me. No, it had been in front of me the whole time! “I know who killed her!” I repeated, casting silence throughout the room.

“Wait, you do?” Inky replied nervously.

“This should be good,” Mesmer said sardonically. “I guess we’ll finally see what you’re capable of.”

I shrugged off Mesmer’s comment and focused on my task. It was time for me to reveal the murderer once and for all!

Who killed Pinkie Pie?

Doctor Lancet Scalpel

Yoko Zuna

Pinkie Pie [DECEASED]

Sanscript

Dish Panner

Shetland Yard

Button Mash

Dopple Ganger

Ink Slinger

Copper Fields

Mesmer

Antonio Rephael

Elsie De Pone

Maribelle Cheval-Gelding

Greyscale

Author's Note

I'll leave this for a while without uploading the next chapter to give you lovely readers plenty of opportunity to figure things out. Since this is your first rodeo, I'll offer up a little advice to get the ball rolling, based on some expected responses. I may not be so helpful next time...

"I think it was a changeling! They morphed into--"

"What's that? Morphing magic!? That's banned inside the dome! It's punishment time!" *Monobunny slices them up*

Nice try! But I'm afraid that theory can be thrown out of the window. All the relevant information you need to figure out this case has been provided by the story, meaning no changeling / Discord / anything else shenanigans.

"Monobunny must have lied about the cameras / the lack of accomplice / the killer being among them / the various rules!"

Nope! Try again! As stated, Monobunny is committed to telling the honest truth.

"Inky's testimony is one big fat lie, isn't it!?"

I will neither confirm nor deny the validity of Inky's testimony. However, I will say that if Inky is lying, she'd need to have a very, very good reason for it. And if she doesn't have a very, very good reason for lying, then she's telling the truth. Make of that what you will.

"I'm struggling to visualize the events!"

I kindly welcome you to check the hotel floor maps, which I've included in the 'Investigation Truth Bullets' chapter. While I can't guarantee you'll learn anything new, it should still make for a better understanding of the hotel's layout and the events preceding the trial.

"I smell a red herring!"

Well, maybe there is something... Okay, this is your last clue.

Have you ever considered it possible to deceive someone into believing a lie despite telling them the absolute, objective truth? If Monobunny's 100% honest statements are misinterpreted and assumptions are made...

Couldn't this have happened to you, dear readers, as well as the characters in the story? But perhaps not all of the characters. Because at least one of them figured it out.

There's still a way to go for this trial. There is still much to be explained, and it's not as simple as it may seem. Greyscale having figured out the culprit isn't the end of it. In fact, I'm sure some of you might think "How can [REDACTED] be the killer when there's this and that?" once I make the reveal. But don't worry. By the end of it, no stone will be left unturned.

And yes, the character that Greyscale accuses in the next chapter is indeed the killer. Just thought I should point that out before anyone comes up with a different theory or says Greyscale is lying or guessed the wrong culprit.

Now, one thing I'd like to ask.

If you think you've figured it out and know who the killer is...

DON'T POST IT IN THE COMMENTS! Um, if that's okay.

I mean, you can if you really want. I'm not going to report you or block you or anything, but I'd prefer it if you sent me a PM with your theories.

My idea was to reveal the results of the voting ballot at the end of the trial, with a congratulatory comment for those who correctly name the killer, as well as those who figure out important details. And hey, maybe just take a complete guess and send me that in a PM. If you get it right I'll still give you some kudos, even if you don't show your working. The thing is, if you were to just post these messages in the comments, there's nothing stopping people from just taking someone else's theories and saying "y-yeah, I thought the same thing too, ha ha..." If it's in a PM sent before the killer's reveal, it can be verified.

Of course, you don't have to try figuring it out and can just sit back, eat popcorn, and enjoy the show. And maybe, recommend this fic to likeminded friends?

Happy sleuthing!

And may you always have hope...