The Cutie Mark Ripper: Conquest is Magic

Twilight looked at all the ponies, kirins, dragons, yaks, changelings, griffins, and hippogriffs, all here to take part in representing their species and towns. Twilight always loved the Friendship Summit, being able to see her thriving citizens in her queendom. However, in her heart of hearts, Twilight knew the enemy would use this event as an opportunity to strike. With the recent multiple pony missing case still fresh in her mind, Twilight knew that with such a large event and crowd, the killer could easily kill someone, and no one would know until it was too late. That won't due. Twilight had her guard spread far and wide all across Chanterlot, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Everyone was to enter and leave the city, alive. She would make sure of it. But for now, it was time for the first event: The Princess Q&A Session, an event where anyone can ask the princess a question and she would answer to the best of her ability. Transparency was her best policy, after all. Best to tell the public know about events that are going on.

With a lift of her hoof, the crowd falls silent, "Welcome to the Friendship Summit!" The crowd cheers for the regal princess, "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, and welcome to Princess Q&A." Twilight watches at everyone in the crowd shuffles pencil and paper around, ready to record her answers, "Let's begin with you, the yellow and green changeling there!" She pointing to said changeling.

"Ah yes! Will there be new laws for changeling polymorphing?" The changeling asks.

"Yes, in fact, I am working with Thorax to reform the current laws, so changelings can better express how they perceive themselves." Notes were taken on that statement, "Yes, the large light blue dragon in the back." She points to the dragon.

"Uh, you made a statement early in the year that you are going to help with the problem of overpopulation in the Dragonlands. How do you plan to help with that?"

"Well, I spoke with Dragonlord Ember, and we came to an agreement that some locations in Equestria's borders would be perfect for the dragons, so we are establishing communities of dragons to help with the overpopulation issue." More notes were taken; this was going smoothly for the Princess, "How about-"

"Where's Luster Dawn?" A voice speaks out. The princess stiffens, her eyes widen at the thought of that question. Not too far away near the snack bar, Gallus, Ocellus, Smolder, and Silverstream watch from afar, listening carefully to what was being said.

"Eh... W-who said that?" Twilight looked amongst the crowd.

"It was me." A voice speaks. The crowd moves away from the figure, who wore a large black cloak.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Twilight demanded.

The cloaked figures chuckled and ripped the cloak off. They were a kirin mare, with a blue coat, and purple mane, green details, and dark green eyes. She smiled at the Princess, stepping forwards, "We meet at last, your highness."

"Jokes Kard..." Twilight mumbles.

"Oh, I didn't know you knew of me. Strange, since I'm just a little kirin from nowhere Equestria." Another step forward, the crowd backs away, "But please dear princess. I, no, we must know what happened to your star student. Several of us haven't seen her in ages, and we are all growing worried about her whereabouts."

"Gallus..." Smolder shakes the gold plating of the griffin's armor.

"Yeah yeah, I see it." Gallus signals for the guards in the surrounding area to follow his direction.

"I... I don't..." Twilight stampers back.

"You don't know where she is?" Jokes asked.

"I didn't say-" Twilight was cut off when Jokes ups on stage, turning to the crowd.

"My fellow Equestrians! There is a secret the Princess has been keeping from us! As we all know, there has been a string of disappearances all throughout the land. The only issue I have is the fact, when I spoke with the families of the disappeared ponies, is that these were not disappearances..." The crowd begins to murmur, "... But murders!" The crowd gasps in utter shock, looking to the Princess for answers.

"Is it true Princess Twilight?" One stallion asks.

"I... Ummm..." Twilight could feel the panic set in.

"You've been lying to us?!" A yak yells. Twilight could feel the air closing around her.

"What other secrets are you hiding?" A hippogriff questions. More questions start to be thrown Twilight's way, and Jokes let this go on for another minute before speaking.

"The killer behind all the murders is known as The Cutie Mark Ripper! And Princess Twilight has sent her star student to find the killer. And just where is Luster now? Not even the princess knows!"

"Miss, please get off the stage." A guard asks.

"Let her speak!" Some of the crowd shouts.

"Twilight Sparkle has sent her student on a deadly mission to find a killer. Alone!" The crowd started to rally, as Princess Twilight was being ushered out by her four former students away from the crowd, as the guards try to calm the crowd, "What does that say for the transparent policy Twilight has implemented? What is this princess hiding?! Will we stand for this?!" The crowd jeers at the idea of having a ruler who holds secrets away from them, the guards quickly become overrun with the angry mob, "We need a strong ruler! One who will not stand for these killings! One who will allow public knowledge to help them rule the land! Who's with me!?" The crowd cheers at that, but the guards heard enough, one trying to tackle Jokes off the stage, but Jokes teleported away from the guards and the crowd, running away into Chanterlot.

"Get her!" A guard yells out, as 3 others chase after the crazed kirin.

Meanwhile, just outside the window of the Princess' room, as crowd jeers and throws objects at the closed window, trying to get in. Gallus from inside, closes all the curtains in the room, as Smolder lights some candles and while Silverstream and Ocellus comfort the panicked Princess, giving her a weighted blanket to help her, "It's ok Princess, remember your breathing exercises." Silverstream reminded.

There's a knock at the door, which caused Twilight to hid in her pile of pillows and blankets. Smolder turns to the door, "Who's there!?" She said threateningly.

"It's Spike, Smolder!"

"Oh." She opened the door, and there was Spike, very, very concerned about his big sister.

"Twilight..." He walks over to the frightened Princess, "Hey... It's me, I came here as fast as I could when I heard the noise of angry populace."

Twilight peeks her head out of the blankets, tears coming down her face, "What did I do wrong Spike...? One minute the crowd loved me as the leader they know I can be, but then the next minute-" A rock crashes into the glass window, startling Twilight to retreat back into her fort.

"Ah, shoot. Ocellus, can you scare the crowd away?" Gallus asks, putting the rock on the desk.

"Bugbear?" She asks.

"Yep. Add fire breathing snakes for all I care. Go nuts." Ocellus salutes and heads out the door, "There, the crowd should disperse in three... Two... One..." A bear-like roar is heard outside the window as the crowd screams and scatters. Ocellus returns through the window.

Twilight pokes her head out of her blanket burrito, "Thank you... Everyone... But I need some time to myself. A lot has happened."

"Yeah, that's fair. We can leave." Smolder says. Silverstream and Ocellus nodded and headed out with Smolder. Gallus was about to leave with Spike before Twilight stopped him.

"Oh, Gallus."

"Yes, your majesty?"

"Can you see that Jokes Kard is arrested? I want to question her."

"You got it, Princess." Gallus then leaves with Spike, who closes the door behind them.

Twilight was alone once again, processing what just transpired.