The Pound

Scorch paced around on campus, solely in the vicinity surrounding the front of the school building. He, Gallus, and Ocellus watched as pony guards circled in and out of the building, all asking the Headmare repetitive questions that Scorch didn't bother to listen in on. Surrounding the rest of the foreground in particular were barriers upon barriers of yellow tape, the words "DO NOT CROSS" in big, black letters plastered on the yellow plastic.

This concerning display was even more mortifying to the rest of the students, as the murder of November Rain didn't only pose the possibility that the School of Friendship was no longer a safe living space, but it also gave ponies a harsh reminder that not everypony is safe from this cruel, cruel world.

No matter how magical a country, or a planet, or even a whole universe could be, there would still be something evil lurking. Something that not even the Elements of Harmony could track down and get rid of. Not everything had to use magic in order to be so sinister. And that theory would prove to be true, as Scorch practically pounded holes into the grass with his bare paws.

Even though he and November Rain weren't exactly joined at the hip, it still cut deep to see someone he was just talking to in the last few hours sprawled helplessly in his own bloodbath. It didn't make it any better that Scorch was being suspected for this kind of crime. Sure, the drake could get violent at times but he would never do something like this. Not to a friend.

"Scorch, we won't be able to defend you unless you tell us what happened," Ocellus started, a worried gaze in her eyes as she stared at Scorch in his frantic pacing. Just like that, the dragon stopped in his tracks.

"That's just fuckin' it!" he cursed, throwing his claws up in agitation. "I don't know! Gallus, you'll vouch for me!" He pointed to Gallus, a defensive look on his face. The griffon nodded solemnly.

"We were hanging out at my place. Crashed for a few hours."

Ocellus only turned her head and sighed. "So...? I mean, the only one alone with Rainy was the dog, and-"

"You better not be accusing Tanz." Scorch hissed, gripping harsher on his furry friend's leather leash and pulling him closer to his side.

"I-I'm not!" Ocellus screeched in retaliation. "I-I'm just saying! I mean, we could probably get Professor Fluttershy to talk to him, or something... maybe she'd be able to get some answers out of him..." Scorch's chest began to singe. Ocellus further realized that her frail suggestions weren't helping the situation. "Look," Ocellus offered once again. "Maybe someone might have snuck into the dorm? I mean, we're all in the same hallway- it can't be that hard to suspect one of us."

Ocellus' friends both glanced at her in unison, the griffon of the two deciding to speak up first. "So then... me, you, Scorch, Sil', Sandbar, Yona..."

"We're ruling Scorch out as a suspect, aren't we?" Asked Ocellus one more time, putting a hoof to her chin in curiosity. Scorch sighed heavily in relief.

"I'm so glad you guys don't think it was me..."

"Well, I wouldn't say that, Scorch."

The drake jolted upward as an eerily regal voice echoed behind him. As he whipped around, crossing his arms, he realized that it was the Princess herself, or, more by school-type hierarchy, Headmare Twilight. She stood tall as she cantered over, chin high as if she were purposely looking down on the dragon. Scorch hated that overly regal look; something like an act she would put on to pose as some sort of pompous threat.

What made it even worse was that it fooled him. "Whadd'ya mean, you wouldn't say that? I mean, hell, this is the School of Friendship! I'm part of the one of the most popular friend groups in Equestria! I saved the world with the power of friendship! Why in the name of all Tartarus would I kill November Rain?!"

Twilight only shook her head in disapproval. "The many reasons I have to believe that you possibly murdered November Rain is because you're both roommates. And though I push all my students to be as close with each other as they possibly can, you two don't seem very close."

Now, Gallus was speaking up. "That doesn't make any sense. Just because they weren't best freakin' friends and just happened to be roommates doesn't mean he has any reason to kill him!"

"I...I want to believe that. But I'm afraid that, for the time being, Scorch is still a creature of interest."

Gallus opened his mouth and lifted a claw, just about ready to prove his Headmare wrong. That was when Ocellus preempted him with a silencing hoof on the shoulder. She then looked at Twilight with a relatively upset stare.

"If it helps... there are a few other close friends of November Rain's that have my faintest suspicion. But other than that, I am truly sorry."

'Sorry,' she said.

There was no way Scorch would just spill out an entire- very logical, he would add -alibi, and then she'd just tell him she was 'sorry'. That wasn't fair. At this point, she wasn't even bothering to hear him out. One of her star students! Just because everything was going to shit with Scorch's life at the moment did not mean he'd have any desire to commit murder.

And despite all of this, without even a second glance, Scorch and his two friends just watched as the Princess just walked away. Still holding the falsities of the current dilemma. "So what do we do now?" Gallus asked, turning to Scorch, and then to Ocellus. "We can't convince Headmare Twilight that Scorch didn't kill November Rain with what we have, and now he might go to jail because of it, so what now?"

Scorch sighed, letting his arms flop loose as he slumped over in defeat. He felt Tanzanite lick his claw, but even with the small, slobbery sentiment, he didn't feel any better. "Stop that," Ocellus snapped, catching his and Gallus' attention. "Scorch isn't going to jail. Headmare Twilight only said he was a creature of interest, remember?"

"I guess..." Gallus said, scratching the back of his head. Scorch only let out a shaky breath.

"Well, she said I was the prime suspect, didn't she? Her skull's thick as some fucking concrete right now! How are we supposed to convince her otherwise?!"

"Simple. We'll just have to ask everyone else about it and... see if we can find a loophole."

"Bullshit." Scorch turned his back to his female friend, crossing his arms. "Like hell they'll know what's going on! They'll probably just throw me under the bus. Like they did our friendship!"

"Scorch!" Ocellus shouted. "Don't say things like that! They're your friends!"

"Not anymore."

"Dude, stop it," Gallus barked. "They're our friends, too. And they haven't given up on us. They're just..." he paused, for once in his life at a loss for words.

"Exactly!" Scorch turned around, arms still crossed. "They're not going to help us. And they never will!"

Ocellus looked away. Gallus' look sharpened. "Stop it, Scorch."

"No! I'm sick of staying quiet about this shit! They were here when we were trying to save Equestria! Why can't they be here now?!" The dragon continued to rant, and the more he shouted, the more Ocellus sank to the ground.

"Scorch. I said stop," said Gallus another time, noticing more and more how personally Ocellus was starting to take this.

"Friendship isn't magic. Not any-fucking-more."

"Dude..." Gallus lifted a talon, clenching his fingers into a tight fist as he glared even sharper. "I said quit it."

"You know what? I'm sick of everyone else, too. Everyone! Yona, Sandbar, Silverstream- All of them can suck my big, fat-"

Gallus was tired of it. Grabbing Scorch by the shoulder, he pulled the dragon to face him, then rocketed his talon right into the draconic jerk's face.

Scorch's vision went black. All he heard was the faint barking, most likely coming from Tanz, and the last thing he felt before he lost all contact was the leash slowly easing out of his grip.

And then he hit the ground.

_______

Scorch's left eye flickered open. It wasn't until now that he realized he had taken the ability to see with both eyes for granted. His right eye, of course, was swollen shut. It was itchy as all Tartarus as well, and that was what made it even worse. Now, he realized that he had been unconscious in the Ponyville Hospital. Well, until now, the point where he finally woke up.

Sitting upright and jumping off the hospital bed, Scorch dusted himself off and began walking toward the exit.

That was until a frantic Ocellus came careening into the doorway and blocking his path. The two bumped into each other once again, except it wasn't as big of an impact as the last time they made a collision. Scorch was beyond startled into flight, and he hovered before his bug friend, staring down at her in surprise. "Ocellus? What're you doing here?"

Ocellus sighed. "I had to bring you here... Tanz freaked out and bit Gallus in the arm."

"Hmph... serves him right. Where the heck is he, anyways?"

"Not here, I'm afraid... he was going to apologize to you, but then..."

"He's upset with me."

The changeling nymph looked away. "It's not your fault, really... I-I mean, you were angry, I get it. Freudian Slip..." Scorch noticed Ocellus' voice about to break, and thus lowered to the ground. He put a claw to her chin, turning her head so that she could face him. Ocellus cringed as soon as she saw him.

"Wow... that bad?"

Ocellus timidly pulled away from his grasp. "I just... I hate seeing you like that..."

He noticed her voice cracking even more. "Well, I'm fine. It's not the first time I got hurt. Back in the Dragon Lands, someone giving you a black eye'd serve as a compliment." Scorch added with a roll of his eye.

"Well, it shouldn't!" Ocellus lamented. Scorch looked to her in surprise, not exactly used to her being this vocal. "I don't want you to get hurt, Scorch! Same with this exact situation... it hurts me to see our friendships falling apart, but... I can tell that it hurts you more!"

Scorch was at a loss for words. He didn't know how to respond.

"...I just wish I could bring us all back together..."

"Well, you can't." Scorch finally said, his usual blunt tone slicing through the atmosphere like a steak knife on melted butter. Ocellus looked up at him, shock and sadness in her eyes. Scorch took the time to lift her hoof, gripping it tightly in his talon. "You're not perfect. And neither am I. Neither is Gallus, or Sandbar, or Silverstream, and not even Yona; no matter how much she claimed to be the best at everything."

Ocellus could do nothing but stay silent at her friend's oddly poetic ramble. She had never heard him be so... outspoken before.

Scorch, realizing how possessively he was gripping his changeling friend's hoof, loosened his grip as he pulled away. "W-What I'm sayin' is... our friendship fell apart, but... but it ain't your fault. Not your fault alone, I mean. It's also Sandbar's, Yona's, Silverstream's, mine, and Gallus'. Don't feel like you have to tackle all of this on your own."

The dragon looked Ocellus back in the eyes once again, his aggressive gaze beginning to falter. "It's- it's not your fault all this is happening. If anything, it's mine," he added, putting a nervous claw to his chest. He could feel his heart palpitating, beating against the inner regions of his chest. "I should've done my part to keep us all together. I should've-"

Scorch let out a forced exhale as Ocellus bombarded him with a tight hug, the force nearly knocking him flat onto his back. Instead, he steadied his posture, trying his best not to fall over. "...Huh...?"

"...Thank you, Scorch..." Ocellus whispered. Scorch didn't know what to do or say, not until he slowly and awkwardly wrapped his arms around Ocellus in response to her strangely sudden embrace. Dragons like Scorch weren't exactly used to hugs- especially since most male dragons in the Dragon Lands weren't shown much affection- not even from their parents. His older brother had taught him that, and thus he had learned from that experience.

But this, however, was one of the many passionate embraces he wasn't used to. Ever since everyone drifted apart, he had grown used to not being hugged so tightly before. Not since the last group hug he and his friends shared.

"I'm really glad we're still friends," Ocellus added, catching Scorch's attention once again. As he looked down, he realized Ocellus was looking back up at him, her cheeks slightly pinker than he remembered. He chuckled nervously, feeling his own cheeks singe. And as Ocellus pulled away, he felt as if he had been forced to leave home again.

"Right, heheh... friends..."

_______

Upon making his exit from the Ponyville hospital, Scorch realized that it was still basically the middle of the night. The clamor of everyone else in the town, families and friends, all gossiping and grieving over November Rain's death drove him mad. None of them looked like they were suspecting Scorch either. He immediately thought of the fact that anything going on within the crime scene would stay within the crime scene. He was also very grateful for that, knowing not everyone thought of him as some kind of criminal.

He also realized that he hadn't seen Tanz in quite a minute. Obviously, he was either reported for biting Gallus, or left at the crime scene for someone else to call out. Just the thought of it made his anxiety skyrocket. As he flared his wings and shot into the sky, someone immediately called out to him. He realized once again that he had left his friend, Ocellus, at the hospital. Perhaps she would want to talk?

As he touched back down onto the dirt, he watched three familiar friends make their way up to him. The first two were just as easy to identify; Gallus and Ocellus, the former name making Scorch's brow furl upon thought. Another one hid behind them, making it a bit difficult to identify them. But as they neared, Scorch crossed his arms and eyed the three creatures.

"Scorch, would you mind if we walked and talked for a little bit...?"

The dragon huffed. "What's stopping us from flying?"

"Well..."

Gallus and Ocellus backed away, revealing a familiar, timid young yak. Scorch's eyes bulged in shock. His arms reached his hips as he fixed his gaze into an agitated glare. "Yona. Haven't seen you in a while."

Yona looked a bit more afraid than usual. And she normally wasn't one to be scared. Heck, she organized an entire spider army, for crying out loud. And yet, there she stood, soft, timid gaze as she scuffed her hoof on the ground. Ocellus put a hoof on her side, nodding at the yak with a reassuring stare. Yona, in response, looked up at Scorch with something to say.

"S-Scorch kill November Rain?"

Okay, now that was one of the stupidest questions he had heard all day. Scorch threw his arms up for the umpteenth time that night, turning to face the other way as he cursed at the skies. "Seriously, why does everyone keep thinking that?!"

Gallus rolled his eyes. "I tried to tell her. She wanted it to come from you."

"I knew it. I knew you all would just throw me under the bus." Scorch deadpanned, slapping a claw to his snout.

"Scorch!" Ocellus hissed. "Come on, we're trying to help you, here! Just... just explain to Yona what happened and where you were at the time of Rainy's death. Then, I'm sure she'd be happy to take your side in this."

"Fine then. You want an explanation?" Scorch pointed to Yona with an judgmental finger, stiff and angry, like how the dragon himself was most of the time. Yona cringed back, but Gallus and Ocellus held her in place. "I just picked up a dog from the pound the other day. Cute dog, right? 'Vem was fine with it, so I let him stay in the dorm for a couple hours while I went to hang with Gallus. I come back to find him sprawled across the bed in his own strawberry jam."

Upon hearing the story in a more detailed fashion, Ocellus tapped a hoof to her chin. "Scorch... do you think that... maybe Tanz could be responsible for this?"

Of course, in her head, Ocellus would think this theory sounded a little bogus to spew haphazardly in Scorch's face like that. But in truth, it was the only thing they had. She hadn't seen the room herself, and thank Thorax's carapace she didn't, but that didn't mean there wasn't more to this story than meets the eye.

Obviously, Scorch was upset by this accusation. "You're accusing Tanz? Really?"

"W-Well, we don't know, Scorch! He was the only one left in there with November Rain!"

"And you don't think anyone could've broken in? You're just going to throw him under the bus like that?"

"What, was there a broken window, or something?" Ocellus asked.

"No."

"Some other sign of a break in?"

"No!"

Ocellus sighed. Scorch's obliviousness was going to be his undoing. "Then who else could've went into that room?! You'd need a key, and I know you locked your door, you always do it before you leave!"

The dragon hissed back. "Well then, maybe it was you!" Scorch lunged forward, tail lashing like a whip. His outburst caused different crowds of ponies to look over, all watching in shock at the sudden scream.

The changeling nymph, the prime subject of his accusation leaned forward as well, getting ready to contribute to the argument despite the lump in her throat. "All I'm trying to do is help you."

Yona, aggravated by the sudden spike in tension pushed the two apart. "Friends stop! This serious! Not meant to be arguing!" She cried. Scorch singed, and Ocellus winced.

"She's right, you guys." Gallus said. "We're not about to get anywhere if we're fighting."

"Friend Scorch apologize to changeling."

"...Seriously?"

Gallus pushed the drake forward, very clearly annoyed at him for his outburst. Scorch huffed, crossing his arms for the hundredth time that night. Ocellus turned away, hoof scuffing on the ground as always. "Ocellus, I'm sorry."

"For?" Gallus pressed, flicking the dragon on his shoulder. Scorch snarled in response, gripping on his dragon hide so tight that he could feel his own claws dig into his scales.

"For accusing you of murdering November Rain. I got angry, and I lashed out. I'm sorry."

Ocellus figured that it wouldn't be any use to hold a grudge. Truthfully, everyone could get a little too crazy in the heat of the moment. Letting out a sharp exhale, Ocellus put on a small, forgiving smile. "It's okay. I...I understand you were upset... I shouldn't have accused Tanz."

"Good," Yona smiled at the two. "Now, what we trying to do?"

"Headmare Twilight still thinks Scorch has a reason to murder November Rain. Just because they didn't cuddle each other every night-"

"-Hey!" Scorch growled. "Just because you're close friends with someone doesn't mean you cuddle every night!"

Gallus chuckled, pinching his beak with a claw. "Tell that to Ocellus."

"Eep!" Ocellus squeaked.

The red faced reptile lashed his tail in embarrassment, muttering under his breath.

Gallus chuckled. "Okay, but seriously. I don't think Scorch might actually go to jail. Not soon, anyways."

Ocellus nodded, rubbing her left cheek in attempt to get rid of the dark blush covering her face. "R-Right. We've only truly known about this for two and a half hours- not enough time for them to have done a proper autopsy yet. If Scorch really killed him, then... and I'm only speculating here, but they would have to look for proper signs that a dragon would have killed him. No offense, Scorch."

"None taken," Scorch replied.

_______

As the four creatures were well on their way back to the school, Ocellus broke away from the group to have a conversation with her Headmare, and eventually try to convince her that Scorch could've been very well innocent.

But it would come at a cost.

"Headmare Twilight, are you aware that Scorch adopted a puppy yesterday?"

Twilight arched a brow. "A puppy?" Her diplomatic tone completely faded away, completely turned over by newfound curiosity. "...Why didn't I think of that?" Ocellus' gaze turned into a pleading stare, her plan undeterred as she continued.

"Please, Headmare Twilight. With all due respect, I need you to hear me out. Scorch did leave November Rain alone with that puppy. If Scorch were to kill November, it would be way easier for him to burn him to a crisp, or maybe even beat him to death. But... but that isn't how November Rain died, is it?"

Twilight paused for a second. She figured that, if something horribly gruesome was on the crime scene, the details of said scene would have to remain a secret. But, she also felt that, as one of Scorch's closest friends Ocellus reserved the right to know these things, especially if she were to defend his honor.

"Well... if you're okay with hearing this- November Rain was... well, he looked to be eaten alive. I won't go into too much detail, but his chest was ripped open. Deep enough to breach even his ribcage and make way to his heart. Which was also missing."

The gruesome details would've been all too much. That was, if Ocellus didn't need to hear them. Which she did. "...Right... this really only happened a few hours ago. Again, if Scorch really did this... he would've gotten it over with much quicker."

Again, the lavender alicorn considered these facts. "You have a point there, Ocellus. Though, there is one more crucial piece of evidence you've forgotten."

Ocellus' heart rate immediately increased in speed, her chest burning with anticipation and fear.

"Scorch's dog didn't look to be covered in any questionable fluids. Like blood, or veins, or maybe even bone marrow. Heck, the only time he was ever really aggressive was when he bit Gallus. Of course, we had to seize him for a brief moment, but other than that..."

Ocellus let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Headmare Twilight. I understand..."

"Though I appreciate your willingness to stand up for your friend, Ocellus. It truly shows how much you've learned here at the School of Friendship."

"Of course," Ocellus thought, pivoting on her hooves and walking away. "No matter the circumstance, there's no way you could keep Headmare Twilight from squeezing some sort of one-sentence friendship lesson into the situation..."

It wasn't her fault she wanted to try and lighten things up. At this point, however, it was a bit too early to bring up the concept of "friendship". The concept of friendship alone was something that each of them had lost in the span of that one month, and that very single "f" word was the last thing Ocellus wanted to hear.

_______

Think, Ocellus. Think. Time wasn't going to run out anytime soon, but Ocellus was starting to run out of ideas, and she did not want to take any chances with the possibility that Scorch may have been going to jail because of this. If anything, she should've explained to Twilight that none of this would've went on until Scorch got his dog. It seemed awfully uncanny that all of this horrifying event would only take place after her friend purchased this mysterious puppy.

It just didn't sit right with her.

As she continued to trot thoughtfully through Ponyville with her eyes to the ground, she continued to think. Really chewing on this situation in her mind, trying her best to think it through as thoroughly as she could.

And then she bumped into something.

As she looked up, expecting it to be the tall, lanky dragon she had pushed into so many times, but instead, she had realized that she had hit face first into the withered, sunken bark of a dead tree...

...in the Everfree Forest.

In truth, she had absolutely no idea that she had managed to tread this far. The other side of her believed it to be completely ridiculous that she trotted this far without realizing it. As she had a quick look around, she realized that there was absolutely no sign of Ponyville behind her. Nothing. Like she was just in the middle of the Everfree.

How in the name of Chrysalis' rotting carapace did she get there?

A faint, low growling echoed, traveling in and out, through her left ear. Then her right. It made her heart beat even faster than it did when she was trying to convince Headmare Twilight. And what made it worse was that it got even louder. Sounded like it was approaching her, getting closer, and closer.

Flaring her wings in an instant, Ocellus turned tail and proceeded to book it through the forest, right back where she would've come from. The growling got louder, and eventually turned into ear bursting barks. Ocellus whimpered quietly as her wing beats increased even more rapidly. She didn't even bother to look back, hearing the heart throbbing sounds of heavy paws landing on the dirt.

Sweat would've started upon her face, if it weren't for the rapidly increasing velocity of which she was flying. The earth quaking barks of this unknown creature continued driving this changeling girl insane, as she further realized that her stamina was beginning to lower. And even then, the edge of the Everfree that would eventually border with the friendlier appearance of Ponyville didn't seem to be coming anytime soon.

She felt like crying out to this creature, perhaps to leave her be, or maybe to let her live. Well, both really stood in the same category.

Something happened- she couldn't believe it.

It was a dead end.

What? Impossible! She could've sworn that she had entered this way, logically, if she had ever even entered like she thought she had. Breaking into an even bigger hover as she held her chin up to increase her altitude, she continued to fly upward. Perhaps if she had flown through the trees, she could spot Ponyville from afar. She just had to keep flying...

"Thwip!"

"Aaah!!!"

Ocellus shrieked in complete terror as this thin, slimy cord wrapped around her hindleg and dragged her right back down. Beating her wings so forcefully until they ached, she tried with the very core of her being to escape from this entity's grasp.

As it pulled her down, and she finally hit the ground, she fought against it once more. Flailing her hooves in a panicked trance, she cried out for the creature to leave her be. But then, as she peered even further, she realized that the thin cord dragging her to her demise was in fact...

...the bloody, grimy tether that was supposed to be attaching the cold, wet pair of blue eyes to this foul animal's brain. But as Ocellus inspected further, she realized that the dark, grim eye sockets that this entity was meant to obtain were completely covered by patches of bloody, grey fur.

"T-Tanz?!" Ocellus screeched upon further examination. As she continued trying her best to crawl backward, she watched in horror as the creature bared its fangs, ready to devour the bug right then and there. "Tanz, stop it! Bad dog! Bad dog!"

While she tried to get Tanzanite to refrain from killing her with worthless negative feedback, she realized that maybe there would be something she could use to get this monstrosity of a canine away from her.

Frantically looking around, she managed to grab ahold of a decently sized stick that would weigh at least enough to beat him away.

Holding up the mighty staff in her pink aura, she swung at Tanzanite. Hard.

"Arf!"

The puppy let out a high pitched yelp as the stick struck him upon the head, knocking him out of the way, and pushing him so far off his game that the tether of flesh loosened from the changeling nymph's leg. Ocellus immediately broke into a hover once again, scanning quickly over her surroundings for another way out.

Surprisingly, everything seemed to clear up. The entire forest, everything... all of the greenery just disappeared, and suddenly Ocellus was smack dab in the middle of Ponyville again. The stick disappeared, and she had no idea where everything may have gone, but at the moment, that was the least of her worries...

She just needed to tell Scorch what had happened.