Brandon's Legacy

Chapters

The legacy begins anew
Everything changes
Atonement
Hope and Despair
Wrongly accused

The legacy begins anew

BRANDON'S LEGACY

THE LEGACY BEGINS ANEW

A well dressed pony walked up to the Ponyville psychiatric ward and walked up to the receptionist desk. Giving a look around himself he noticed that this place didn't get very many visitors but this pony was here for a reason. He had to speak a certain pony. He had to find answers. Ponies around Ponyville had once again been turning up dead and the only one who could possibly have any idea resided in this clinic.

“Mr. Wingfield I presume?” A pony dressed in nurse clothing asked as she walked up to the dark blue Pegasus.

“Yes. Please call me Erick, I hope you were able to schedule me a time I could speak with her.” Erick replied with a smile.

“Yes, I was able to. Please follow me.” The nurse pony replied and signaled for the guard pony to open the door which gave a faint clicking sound followed by a whoosh as it opened.

“What can you tell me about her condition?” Erick asked as they walked down the hallway past many doors with patients in them some whom were muttering nonsense while others were banging at the glass door in a psychotic manner.

“Well, her case is very unique. We've never encountered a case such as hers before so it's challenging trying to cure her but we feel we have made great progress over the last ten years.” The nurse pony replied as they made a left turn going down yet another hall of glass doors.

“And from what I understand she had herself admitted. I am correct?” Erick replied with a questioning tone.

“Yes, at first we thought nothing was wrong with her. However we soon found out were very wrong and immediately began working on trying to treat her.” The nurse pony replied as they stopped just short of a glass door at the end of the hall. Looking inside Erick could see the purple pony holding a book reading it calmly.

“We believe that she is responsible for Big Macintosh's death as well as many others. So if that is the case...” Erick began to say but trailed off as the nurse pony held up a hoof.

“As I am sure you are very well aware Mr. Wingfield, as long as a patient is in our care they are immune from any and all offenses they have committed until their release. So you can not bring her into custody until we have cured her. As stated in pony rights article one-dash-B.” The nurse pony replied in a stern tone.

“I am quite aware of our laws. Has the princess came to visit her at all, if I may as bold to ask?” Erick replied attempting to change the subject.

“Oh yes, she visits her weekly. The princess is very worried about her student as she has every right to be. The poor mare has been through so much mental and emotional trauma, it's a miracle she is able to keep herself as composed as she is. Thus why this case is very challenging to us. As far as we know only one word triggers her psychotic episodes at which point a specific method must be performed in order to calm her and bring her back to her senses. Otherwise she is harmless.” The nurse pony replied.

“And what is this word?” Erick asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I dare not say it this close to her room. She might hear me. Oh and one more thing. Before you enter her room you must remove any and all objects you are carrying that could be used as potential weapons.” The nurse replied reaching over to the table next to her and hold out a box.

“I thought you said she was harmless?” Erick replied in a confused tone.

“Oh she is. But this is her request for your own protection as she put it.” The nurse replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

Once Erick had put all his belongings that could possibly be used as weapons the nurse put a hoof on the door which scanned her hoof and moments later the door the purple pony's door opened. Erick stepped in slowly at first taking in his surroundings as he looked about. The entire room was comprised of bookshelves filled to the brim with all kinds of books.

“Hello, Miss Sparkle.” Erick said in a calm tone to the purple mare causing her to put down the book and look at Erick.

“I guess you're here to ask me a few questions, right?” Twilight replied in an emotionless manner.

“Yes, I need to know a few things.” Erick replied taking a seat on a nearby chair.

“Well ask away. I'm in the middle of a good book.” Twilight replied lifting up the book again and began to read it.

“I need to know what happened that night ten years ago. What can you tell me?” Erick asked in a calm manner.

“Everyone I cared about and loved was murdered, some before my very eyes, others out of my reach so I couldn't save them. Is that what you wanted to know?” Twilight replied not looking up from her book as she said this in a nonchalant manner.

“We know all that. What we need to know is how Applebloom, Rainbow Dash, and Big Macintosh were killed.” Erick replied.

“Applebloom killed Rainbow Dash via a spiked contraption from above.” Twilight replied however her voice wasn't as emotionless as before as a faint sense of pain could be heard in her voice as she spoke now.

“And what of Applebloom and Big Macintosh?” Erick replied pushing on.

“I had no choice but to kill Applebloom to save her from her own psychotic side and...I killed Big Macintosh myself.” Twilight replied her voice clearly showing pain in it as she spoke now as her eyes could be seen becoming rather misty.

“And why would you kill Big Macintosh? I must say, this isn't looking good for your case Miss Sparkle. After all no one knows what happened down there except for the three of you and your the only one left alive. If you want my honest opinion I think you're Fluttershy's apprentice and you killed your friends.” Erick replied in a stern tone.

RRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPP!!!

Twilight's expression suddenly changed to crazy looking as Erick's final word was spoken as she ran her hoof along the hoof in a crude manner tearing out half the book's pages with a slide of her right hoof then chucked it against the wall violently. “Friends?! Are you my friend mr. police sir?” Twilight asked suddenly in a very sweet manner dragging out the word “friends” as she spoke it in an eerie manner as she slowly walked towards Erick now.

“Well, i-DON'T AWNSER THAT!” Erick began to saw only to be cut off by the nurse who suddenly darted past him, stood in front of Twilight, put two hooves on each shoulder and looked into her eyes.

“Twilight, Listen to me. You have no friends. Do you understand? All your friends are dead. Do you understand me?” The nurse pony said in a very stern manner still looking into Twilight's eyes as she spoke.

“I have no friends....all my friends are dead....yes I understand.” Twilight replied in a hypnotic tone as her expression suddenly became emotionless once again. Twilight stood there for a few moments staring into space until expression suddenly changed to alert and panicked.

“What happened?! Is everypony okay?!” Twilight asked in a panicked tone looking about then looked at Erick. “You said F-word didn't you?!” Twilight exclaimed angrily then switched her gaze to the nurse pony. “I thought I told you to tell him never to mention the F-word around me?!” Twilight exclaimed angrily at the nurse pony.

“I'm sorry Miss Sparkle. I was forgot to tell him.” The nurse pony replied in an apologetic tone.

Twilight took several deep breaths calming herself down “It's alright, I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Twilight replied in a sad tone.

“It's quite alright, Twilight. Are you going to be okay now?” The nurse asked at which point Twilight nodded. The nurse pony then left the room leaving her and Erick in the room alone again.

“Damn it. That was one of my favorite books too.” Twilight remarked looking at the torn book with an annoyed expression then turned to look at Erick. “If you really want to know. I killed Big Macintosh the night I snapped after everything became too much for me to bare. I don't know what happened exactly. All I know when I came to, my hooves were covered in blood an I was laying in my library in Ponyville. I killed Applebloom to save her, which she thanked me for doing with her dying breath. You can't possibly understand what I’ve been through!” Twilight exclaimed her anger once again flaring up at the dark blue Pegasus.

“I suppose not, but that does not change the fact that the evidence still stacks against you.” Erick replied in a calm manner despite having witnessed the purpose mare's psychotic episode.

“Argh! Ten years and you police ponies still haven't wised up have you?! You can't seem to wrap you're heads around the fact that both Brandon's and Fluttershy's apprentices were fillies!” Twilight exclaimed in an aggravated tone.

“We are doing the best we can. It's not our fault that the evidence points to you as the killer. If you truly aren't the killer who killed your...erm...killed the people you knew and loved then possibly you can help us with our current dilemma.” Erick replied catching himself mid-sentence so he did not say the F-word.

“What current dilemma?” Twilight retorted with glare.

“Ponies have turned up dead in Ponyville again. Or to be more precise murdered. The only reason we have not sealed the case on you is for the simple reason and fact that one Pegasus vouched for you. Someone you know.” Erick replied earning a shocked expression from the purple pony.

“Ponies have turned up dead again?! But Applebloom never had an apprentice!” Twilight exclaimed in a panicked tone now pacing back and forth.

“Well, the Pegasus who spoke up for you told us to look up Officer Steelmane's report on you which is what allowed us to give you this chance to prove your innocence. Before his disapprove he had said in his report that you solved Fluttershy's case on your own. Farther more Sco-” Erick began to say only for Twilight to slam her hoof on his mouth haphazardly.

“For the love of Celestia do not say her name!” Twilight exclaimed her voice and facial expression panicked at the moment before she removed her hoof.

“So you know who I am talking about?” Erick replied curiously after a few moments.

“Yes...but I don't know how hearing her name will affect me. She's the only one left alive and I want to keep it that way. Last thing I need is a black out episode and...” Twilight said trailing off.

“You're afraid you'll snap and kill her due to your mental illness, right?” Erick replied hoping he was wrong.

“Yes, my mental condition is tied to anypony I have known and sense I killed Big Macintosh and he was my f-f-f-f...” Twilight said however began to stutter over her final word and moments later began to slam her head against the wall.

Once again the nurse pony rushed into the room and attempted to calm her. “Twilight, listen to me. Calm down. We know the word you are trying to say so you can calm own now okay?” The nurse pony said in a calm manner as she attempted to stop Twilight from slamming her head into the wall.

“So even she can't the word?” Erick said after a few moments of Twilight finally calming down.

“No, every time she has attempted to she goes into one of these fits. Now you can understand why her case is so challenging to us. It's all tied to a single word and to this day we have been unable to say it or get her to say it without one of the two scenarios you have witnessed occurring.” The nurse pony replied followed by a sigh.

“I'm okay, I'm okay now...” Twilight said breathlessly as she rubbed her head.

“Okay, now where were we?” Twilight said after a few moments taking a seat of her own a crossed from Erick.

“well sense she recommended you as well as Princess Celestia did personally...the problem we face now is that we need you. The police department is willing to waver any and all charges against you if you assist us and successfully solve the case. “ Erick replied after a short time.

“Good luck with that. I'm not safe to be around or haven't you been able to see that over the last hour?” Twilight replied in an annoyed tone.

“Well the offer still stands if you change your mind.” Erick said standing up, walked to the door, stopped and turned around to look at Twilight. “I'm sorry to have put you through this, but if it's any consolation. I don't think you killed them either and we believe that you are the best pony for the job.” Erick replied and stood their for a few moments before turning around and giving the signal for the nurse pony to open up the door.

“Wait.” Twilight said suddenly causing Erick to turn around again.

“I know I’m not safe to be around and it's probably a very bad idea, but I want to help you. I just can't sit back and let more ponies die...” Twilight replied taking a cautious step forward.

“Okay, these are the instructions to bring her back to her old self again in both instances when she has her episodes. Normally I wouldn't allow a patient to leave before they are cured but sense she admitted herself she has the right to release herself at any pony as well.” The nurse pony said handing Erick papers with the written instructions then looked at Twilight. “Are you sure Miss. Sparkle? Once you leave this institution we can no longer help you and you will be at the mercy of the Ponyville police department.” The Nurse pony said looking at Twilight with a worried expression.

“I can always come back if I need to. Besides I want to put this madness to rest once and for all. Whoever is behind this must have either known Brandon or is yet another one of his apprentices. In either case, I’m the best pony for the job.” Twilight replied smiling for the first time in years.

“Very well. Take care of yourself Miss. Sparkle.” The nurse Pony replied and watched as Twilight and Erick left the institution and into Ponyville...

Everything changes

EVERYTHING CHANGES BUT ONE THING REMAINS THE SAME...

“A killer is a killer...” Twilight thought to herself with a sigh as foggy memories of her killing Big Mac came back into her head as she walked down the road towards Ponyville. “Ohh...what was I thinking? I'm not safe to be around!” Twilight thought to herself in a panicked tone. “It only takes one word and I’d go on a psycho killing spree!” Twilight said aloud without realizing it.

“And that's why we are being careful to avoid ponies in Ponyville for the time being. I'd suggest resting at your old home here. As far as we know it's been vacant with only one pony as it's caretaker. Besides you're no killer, your just a pony whose life has been very troubled.” Erick replied as he pointed to the library in the middle of town.

“Easy for you to say....you don't wake up every morning wondering why your still alive and everyone else you knew is dead.” Twilight replied with a scowl as she opened up the door to her library and froze at the sight that beheld her.

“Hey! I thought it was you! Nice to see you back in town Twilight!” An orange Pegasus replied with a wide smile.

“Sco-sco-...” Twilight stuttered however trailed off.

“Oh hell, I didn't know you were going to be here today, if I had we would have avoided this place.” Erick replied with a worried expression looking at Twilight.

“Oh come on. I bet she's happy to see me..after all I'm the last of her f-NO!” Twilight screamed cutting off Scootaloo, turned around, and ran out the door.

“Wait here.” Erick said after a few moments to a very baffled and confused Scootaloo, walked out the door, gave a look around, and saw Twilight a crossed the street from her hope with her front hooves over her head.

“I wasn't ready to see her yet...” Twilight said as she noticed Erick walking up to her.

“It's okay Twilight. She didn't know about that word. I'll make sure to relay the info to her.” Erick replied with a comforting smile.

“It's not that...” Twilight replied in a shaky voice and took a deep breath. “Now that I know she's here...I...I don't know how it will affect me...I mean after all she's the last f-f-f-f” Twilight began to say only to stutter and begin slamming her head against the nearest wall she could find.

Erick took this as his cue to calm her down as he walked over to quickly. “Twilight, it's okay I know the word you are trying to say. Calm down please.” Erick said in a calm manner repeating the words line for line as he had memorized them on his way here.

Upon hearing this Twilight began to calm down and stopped slamming her head against the wall. “Celestia damn it all...one word and I can't even say it without going into a spaz fit...” Twilight said in an annoyed tone breathlessly.

“It looks like I’m not the only one who needs to watch their words more carefully.” Erick said in a calm tone.

“Oh shut your trap. At least when I try to say it I don't end up trying to hurt anypony.” Twilight replied in an aggravated tone.

“No, you just hurt yourself, which is just as bad.” Erick replied in a stern tone.

“Wait here and I’ll inform Scootaloo of the current situation.” Erick said earning a slight wince from Twilight.

“Listen, Twilight. I'm sorry. I had no idea.” Scootaloo said as Twilight finally mustered up the courage to walk in her home.

“It's alright Sco-Scootaloo...” Twilight replied stuttering her name slightly as she spoke it.

“It's just I missed you so much...I care about you Twilight, your like the family I never had.” Scootaloo replied in a sad tone.

“How could you call a killer family...” Twilight replied looking away from Scootaloo now.

“That wasn't your fault! Just like it wasn't Fluttershy's or Applebloom's fault either!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a sympathetic tone.

“I always thought that myself...but now since ten years ago..I’m not so sure anymore...” Twilight replied giving Scootaloo a saddened glance.

Scootaloo then walked up to Twilight and hugged her without warning. “I know it wasn't their fault nor yours. I believe in you Twilight.” Scootaloo said with a teary eyed smile unknown to Twilight whom just stood their dumbfounded.

It didn't happen right away but when it did Twilight found herself scared at first of this unknown feeling but only at first. Part of her knew what this feeling was but she couldn't quite remember what it was called. The feeling was very warm, comforting, and even made her feel happy for a brief moment.

When Scootaloo stopped hugging Twilight and stood in front of her she gave a worried glance. “Twilight? Are you alright?” Scootaloo asked in a concerned tone.

“Yes...I'm fine.” Twilight replied in an absentminded voice.

“You don't look it.” Erick remarked with a concerned look of his own.

“No, no..i'm alright. Really I am...it's just that...well...I wasn't prepared for that.” Twilight replied.
“You really have forgotten haven't you?” Scootaloo said in a sad tone at this.

“Forgotten what?” Twilight replied curiously.

“So you really have...how could you forget so easily Twilight? Your the most important part of the elements of harmony. The element that ties all the other elements together. Your the element of magic for Celestia's sake!” Scootaloo exclaimed tears clearly forming in her eyes.

“I haven't been that for ten years now Scootaloo. Having every single one of the people you love and care about killed right before your eyes can do that to you.” Twilight replied with a frown.

“How do you think I felt?! When I found out that one of my best friends was a killer and the other murdered!” Scootaloo exclaimed however she immediately realized too late what she said as Twilight's expression changed once again to crazy looking.

“Oh shit!” Erick exclaimed as he gave a panicked glance at Scootaloo then back to Twilight. Calming her down would be cake under normal circumstances but the fact that Scootaloo was standing right there wasn't covered in basic instructions.

“Oh dear me...a friend I missed.” Twilight said in a very sweet tone giving a chair near her a swift stomp breaking it into pieces at which point she lifted up a broken chair leg with her mouth and walked towards Scootaloo.

“Twilight? Snap out of it! I'm your friend!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a scared tone backing away from Twilight fearfully.

“Exactly. Twilight isn't allowed to have friends. So you have to die.” Twilight replied through gritted teeth.

“Scootaloo, run!” Erick exclaimed tackling Twilight to the ground.

“No...I won't. Friend's don't abandon friends!” Scootaloo replied even though she looked afraid at the moment she stood firm.

“Oh but they did. They all abandoned me but it wasn't there fault. The magic of friendship choose for them to die. Just as it does for you because Twilight isn't allowed to have friends!” Twilight exclaimed in the same sweet tone managing to buck off Erick and lunge at Scootaloo.

“Yes, you are!” Scootaloo exclaimed with a determined expression on her face now.

“You don't know anything. And soon you won't be saying anything either. Because any and all friends Twilight has must die because she is not allowed to have them! The magic of friendship has made this perfectly clear! It chooses which pony gets to have friends and which one doesn't!” Twilight exclaimed in a voice that could only be described as poisoned honey due to how it sounded.

“You-You....You foal!” Scootaloo exclaimed giving Twilight a swift punch squarely in the nose knocking her into a backward roll into one of her bookshelves at which point books began to fall out of it hitting her multiple times over the head effectively knocking her unconscious.

“Oh crap! I lost my temper!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a panicked voice look at Twilight who lay motionless for the time being.

“Good thing too. There was no getting to her in that state of mind.” Erick said as she got to all four hooves with a wince as he had been bucked into a table.

“Will she be back to her old self again when she wakes up?” Scootaloo asked in a concerned tone.

“I can't say. I haven't dealt with her like this before. We best take her up to her old bedroom and lay her down.” Erick replied looking over at twilight as well.

“She really is insane isn't she?” Scootaloo said as she helped Erick carry her upstairs.

“Well that's a matter of opinion. I think she just had a few issues she needs to work out.” Erick replied as they laid her on her bed.

“I'm going to take a nap myself. Wake me when she's comes to okay?” Scootaloo said and laid down next to Twilight.

Twilight looked around herself. she seemed to be inside a prison of some kind but it wasn't a normal kind of prison. This one had no bars yet she couldn't move. Around herself she could see a seemingly endless Purple void that had a very eerie feel to it. It was then a exact replica of herself appeared not far from her but this one looked very different. This version of her had a very horrifying expression on her face. It was one that she figured that she looked like when she had her episodes. But unlike her this version was able to walk around freely.

“Let me out!” Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs flailing about even though she couldn't move an inch from where she sat.

“Oh no Twilight. You can't come out ever again. Your life was over the day you murdered Big Mac.” The other version of her said with the same crazy expression she always wore.

“But...I never wanted to....YOU KILLED HIM!” Twilight exclaimed pointing a angry hoof at her doppelganger.

“Oh Twilight...haven't you figured it out yet?” The look alike said as she walked up and lifted her up by the throat.

“Figured out what?” Twilight asked in a confused tone.

“I AM YOU!” The doppelganger roared sending Twilight flying a crossed the seemingly endless void she was in.

Twilight was able to stand up but still couldn't move from the spot she landed in. “No! I would never kill anypony!” Twilight exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

“It's funny isn't? How after working so hard to save the lives of ponies in Ponyville, every single one of your friends were sacrificed yet the killings continue.” The doppelganger said walking up to her.

“I will stop them! I'm going to put an end to it once and for all! I don't know what you are...but you aren't me!” Twilight exclaimed in a determined voice.

“My dear ignorant Twilight. We are both one and the same you and I. The only difference is I have accepted our fate where as you have not. I am the part of you that is willing to kill and kill again so that I can never feel the pain of loss, you however cling onto what you had. That is why you are bound and can not move. The sooner you accept your fate to be alone forever and do whatever it takes to keep yourself from feeling the pain of loss again the sooner you will be able to move freely and we can become one again.” The doppelganger said with a sneer.

“She would never become one with you! You are nothing like her! All you are is the result of her pain and anguish taking a mind of it's own! It's you who need to accept that you can find friendship again!” A voice erupted out of no where at first but then an orange Pegasus stepped forward seemingly appearing out of thin air within the purple void and swiftly galloped into clear view.

“You are a foal, Scootaloo. You have no idea the pain we felt. It is easier to kill and be alone than to feel the pain of loss again.” The doppelganger replied with glare.

Scootaloo then looked at Twilight. “Twilight, none of this is real. You know this right? We are inside your dream and you can anything in here. Cast her aside Twilight! Become the mare you were!” Scootaloo exclaimed with a determined smile.

“I don't know how...I don't know anything about friendship anymore.” Twilight replied as a silent tear streaked down her cheek.

“That's just an excuse Twilight! This doppelganger is your fear, your pain, your sadness! She should locked in that prison not you! Nothing is more powerful than the magic of friendship! You above all ponies should know this!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she walked up to Twilight and extended a hoof. “Let me be your the light that guides you back to who you were. Let me help you rediscover the magic of friendship!” Scootaloo said with a smile.

“But what if kill you?” Twilight asked fearfully.

“You won't.” Scootaloo replied not letting her smile waver in the slightest.

Just as Twilight began to extend her hoof out to Scootaloo's a sudden gap appeared between them which grew more and more so until Scootaloo disappeared. Another figure then stepped forward, it was her doppelganger.

The doppelganger then began to transform and soon took on the form of a sinister and horrifying dark shadow. “YOU ARE FOREVER DOOMED TO BE ALONE!!!” The shadow roared and lunged at her enveloping the purple mare in darkness until...

Twilight sat up with a start in her bed as beads of sweat dripped from her forehead down the sides of her cheeks and heavy breathing.
“Twilight? Are you alright?” Erick asked in a concerned tone.

“Yes, just a nightmare. The first I’ve had in years that didn't have to do with watching the ones I loved die before my eyes.” Twilight replied as her breathing began to return to normal. She then looked to her side once she noticed a warmth against her and saw Scootaloo sleeping soundly next to her.

“She hasn't left your side since she knocked you out.” Erick said when he noticed her confused expression.

“The sooner we find this killer the better. That way I don't put her in danger of being around me anymore.” Twilight said after a few moments as she got out of bed.

Moments later however Scootaloo began to stir and opened her eyes looking about herself. “Oh, Hey Twilight. How is your nose?” Scootaloo asked.

Twilight up till this moment hadn't even noticed it but her nose was throbbing and hurting badly at which point she clamped both hooves on it giving a muffled pain cry. “Mother of Celestia! Why did you point that out to me for?!” Twilight said in a nasally tone.

“I think it was only a matter of time really.” Erick said with a chuckle.

“So what now?” Scootaloo asked curiously.

“We go and talk to the local ponies. We'll start with Apple Acres” Twilight replied finally able to stop holding her nose as the pain was finally subsiding.

“Umm..Twilight, it's not called Apple Acres anymore.” Scootaloo said correcting the purple mare.

“What do you mean? How much could have possibly changed in ten years?” Twilight replied with a confused look.

Twilight looked up at the sign that she used to always see when she came to this farm ten years ago however the name on it had changed and read,

CARROTTOP GARDENS

THE BEST CARROTS YOU'LL FIND IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA

“What happened here?” Twilight asked looking around the farm seeing several significant changes to what she remembered. The big red barn was replaced with a three story mansion, and not a single apple tree was in sight. Instead fields of Carrot crops stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Ah, hello there. Are you here to buy some carrots? My name is Carrottop by the way.” A pony with an orange mane said with a smile as she walked up to them.

“No, could you tell me what happened to granny smith? Where is she living now?” Twilight asked in the most polite tone she could muster.

“Granny Smith? Oh that old mule. Heh, you can find her at the Pony retirement home.” Carrottop replied with a smug grin.

This didn't affect Twilight in the slightest however Scootaloo could be seen grinding her hooves into the dirt and gritting her teeth.

“How did you come by the own this farm?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Heh, She practically gave us the farm that old mule did. After her only two heirs were killed by that psycho killer ten years ago she was unable to keep up with the demand so I stepped in and offered to buy it from her at a modest price.” Carrottop said still wearing her smug grin.

“You mean, you conned her!” Scootaloo exclaimed unable to contain her anger any longer.

“Such a strong word, I prefer to call it, Strategic negotiations.” Carrottop replied not even denying the fact at all, in fact she seemed to relish in it.

Twilight was still unfazed by this. And continued on with her questioning.”Have you seen anything suspicious as of late? Or heard any rumors?” Twilight asked with an inquiring tone.

“I only know what I hear on the radio, I know there's a killer on the loose but they won't get anywhere near the Carrottop family crops. So I could care less what happens to anypony else that is unless ponies stop buying carrots then I might have to move my crops to Fillydephia. So if you aren't here to buy carrots then get off my land if your done asking me useless questions.” Carrottop replied, turned around, and walked back towards her home closing the door behind her.

“That......heathen!” Scootaloo exclaimed clearly seething with anger at this point and looked at Twilight. “How can you not be ticked off by that mule?!” Scootaloo asked looking at Twilight.

“Because I’m part of the reason this happened. Come on, lets go question some other ponies.” Twilight replied not giving Scootaloo a chance to reply.

Twilight looked upon the home that she remembered belonging to Rarity however it now looked nothing like it did before. The windows had become cracked and dirty and the coat of paint and overall look of the building itself looked old an decrepit from wear and tear over the years.

“Rarity would die if she saw her shop in this state.” Scootaloo remarked with a giggle.

“If Applebloom hadn't killed her first.” Twilight replied in a nonchalant manner killing the humorous atmosphere that Scootaloo attempted to create.

“Does anypony even live here?” Erick asked in an inquiring tone.

“Homeless ponies stay here now and then but beyond that, no.” Scootaloo replied.

“Well let's hope one is staying here, they might know something.” Twilight said as she walked up the door and opened it which opened with a loud creaking noise and seemed to stagger as it's hinges seemed to be threatening to come loose at any time.

Once inside Twilight looked around. The room looked nothing like it did before. Only some pony mannikins that she recalled Rarity using for her fashion designs lay in shambles near the left side of the room. “Is anypony here?” Twilight asked looking about herself.

“Are you here to kick me out?” A voice spoke up from the shadows.

“Nope, not our job.” Twilight replied casually.

At this a cross-eyed light blue Pegasus stepped forward however something was terribly wrong with her. Her wings were missing but there were clear scars on her sides where her wings had been. She had a bubble cutie mark and her coat and mane had clearly seen better days.

“Ditzy Doo?” Twilight asked in a shocked tone. Twilight had thought nothing till now could faze her however seeing a Pegasus she knew who was best friends with Rainbow Dash sent her whirling with a deep sense of sadness and pity but she shrugged it off moments after.

“Nice to see you again Twilight...oh and sorry about the piano.” Ditzy Doo replied sheepishly forcing Twilight to recall that scary event.

“Oh, hell that's nothing. I know it wasn't your fault.” Twilight replied attempting to muster a smile but only could manage a half smile.

“Well, at least you believe me.” Ditzy replied followed by a sigh.

“What happened to you? You just disappeared from cloudsdale one day five years ago, I thought you were dead.” Scootaloo asked just as shocked as she was.

“I almost was killed, but not by the killer we have running about Ponyville now. It was by a bunch of Pegasus who had been stalking me. See Rainbow Dash kept them from hurting me but when she was...killed, well without Rainbow to protect me anymore they had a hay-day with me, they tied me down one day during a mail delivery and took a bow-saw to both my wings saying I didn't deserve them, I would have bled to death if I wasn't found by nurse Redheart. She did what she could but she could never reattach my wings. So I decided to try living in Ponyville for sometime but I got fired from every job I got. I've been living from abandoned home to abandoned home for the last few years avoiding the police ponies because I was caught stealing carrots from the carrot family crops a few years ago and with the Carrottop family being this town's financial backing now the police ponies of course are going to do anything they ask.” Ditzy said and sat down on floor giving a very unhealthy coughing fit.

“Things are far worse in Ponyville then I thought.” Twilight said after a few moments with a thoughtful glance as Scootaloo rushed over to Ditzy Doo and wrapped a wing around her.

“That cough is terrible. We need to get that looked at.” Scootaloo remarked in a concerned tone.

“I can't, if the police ponies see me I’ll be far worse off than I am now.” Ditzy replied in a breathless voice.

“How can you say that? I work for the Ponyville Police department. Our job is to serve and protect.” Erick said feeling insulted by her words.

“Haven't been here long have you? The Carrottop family has been running this town for seven years now. Mayor Mare is just a figurehead now at days. Whatever the Carrottop family says goes. And the rest of us here suffer for it.” Ditzy said getting back to all fours hooves now.

“But certainly the princess would have noticed.” Erick said still reeling from this new set of information.

“The Carrottop family has the police ponies keep a fake image around town so when Celestia makes her yearly visits nothing looks wrong. One day out of the year we get to get some sort of piece of mind and ease due to the Carrottop family being forced to be nice to us whens she visits. It's like Christmas for us, however no sooner she leaves everything returns to how it usually runs around here.” Ditzy replied and gave yet another coughing fit.

“Well thanks for the information. We should be going.” Twilight said, turned around and began to walk to the door when Scootaloo landed in front of her.

“She needs help!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a worried tone.

“Not our problem. Our job is to solve this case.” Twilight replied and walked past her.

“How can you be so heartless?!” Scootaloo exclaimed angrily.

Twilight then stopped and turned around to look at Ditzy Doo once more. “And just what do you expect us to do about it? I don't suppose you have a pack of medical supplies and medical treatment manuals concealed under those wings, because if not we best be on our way.” Twilight replied in a skeptical tone.

“No, but I know of a pony who does.” Scootaloo replied.

“Wow...this place really has gone to pot.” Twilight remarked looking at the old medical center which looked unkempt but was still open.

“She's the only pony in town who offers free medical help to ponies who need it now at days.” Scootaloo replied knocking on the door.

Moments later a white pony with a nurse style plus sign cutie mark on her flank answered the door. “Can I help you three?” Nurse Redheart asked in a polite tone.

“Yes, we have a Pegasus who is very sick who needs your help.” Scootaloo said looking at nurse Redheart now.
“Well, i'll do what I can but I don't have much supplies now at days. Bring them here and i'll treat them.” Nurse Redheart replied.

“We can't...” Scootaloo said trailing off with a paranoid look around herself even though no pony was around.

“Why not? Can't they move?” Nurse Redheart replied with a confused expression.

“Well, it's complicated. You see-” Scootaloo began to say but was gently pushed to the side by Twilight.

“Look, we all know you know this Pegasus. You saved her life once before and she needs you do so again. Or maybe you'd like to just leave her to have something else cut off other than her wings.” Twilight said with an intimating glare.

At this Nurse Redheart's eyes widened in shock as she realized she knew exact whom they were talking about. “She's the most wanted pony in Ponyville right now. I can help her but if ponies see me walking about the streets with a set of Medical supplies they might suspect me of aiding her. We need to find a way to conceal what I’m carrying.” Nurse Redheart said motioning for them to follow her inside.

The inside of the building looked even worse for ware despite things looking clean on the inside it was more the obvious that she was struggling to keep the place standing even. “Why does your hospital look like this?” Twilight asked curiously as she looked about.

“When the Carrottop family moved in they opened their own little hospital but unlike mine they charged ponies for the care they gave and because of their influence over the town out of town suppliers were forced to cut my funding or risk losing business with the Carrottop's hospital. They still send me supplies in secret when they can but they can't provide me with bits due to the trail it leaves on their paperwork. Supplies are far easier to sneak in than bits because there is always an overstock in their supplies.” Nurse Redheart replied answering Twilight's question as she gathered up medical supplies.

“I see. A lot has changed around town since I’ve been away.” Twilight replied once again with a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Well to be quite honest Twilight, it was you and your five f-” Nurse Redheart began to say only for Scootaloo to slap a hoof over her mouth. “Don't mention the F-word.” Scootaloo said in a panicked tone.

“So it's true then, what the medical reports said?” Nurse Redheart asked with an raised eyebrow.

“I'm afraid so.” Twilight replied followed by a sigh of relief.

“Well lets us prey that your mental state isn't a ticking time bomb. Conditions like these tend to evolve overtime into a much worse case.” Nurse Redheart said as she handed a saddle pack to Scootaloo. “Fly up high and get to where she is staying at. I'll be there shortly with Twilight and Erick.” Nurse Redheart said,undid a latch on the floor, opened it, and pushed a small red button which caused the rooftop to open up. “That's the old EPS entrance for when Pegasus has to rush a pony here by air. Hurry and fly out of it before anypony notices!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed at which point Scootaloo took off through it and was out of sight in a few moments.

“What do you know of my condition?” Twilight asked curiously at which point Nurse Redheart sighed deeply.

“It's not your case that makes me so knowledgeable Twilight...it was Fluttershy's” Nurse Redheart said and sat down on a chair. “Do you know what happened to Fluttershy's parents?” she asked plainly.

“No, she never spoke of them.” Twilight replied suddenly quite interested in what the white mare had to say now.

“They were murdered by Brandon Hoofsworth.” Nurse Redheart replied followed by yet another sigh.

“How could you know this? Nothing in Steelmane's report said nothing about Fluttershy or her parents.” Erick said chiming in now just as interested as Twilight was now.

“I would imagine not or I would not have done my job right.” Redheart replied earning shocked expressions from both ponies. “Perhaps I should explain in more detail before you haul me off eh officer?” Nurse Redheart said after a few moments noticing Erick's sudden yet subtle advances.

“Very quickly.” Erick said in a threatening tone.

“I was treating Fluttershy for a flu she got at a very young age at her home in cloudsdale about sixty years ago. There was a scream and when I went to investigate I saw him. He had already murdered Fluttershy's dad and had her mother held up by the throat choking her to death. I was so terrified I couldn't move to stop him. Then after he had finished with them he saw me. I literally urinated on myself I was so scared he was going to try and kill me too I was sure of it..so I offered to cover up the murder scene for him in exchange for sparing my life. I was shocked when he accepted however he took Fluttershy despite my protests.” Nurse Redheart said pausing for a moment as she took a tissue and wiped her teary eyes before she continued.

“Then one day he just dropped her on my doorstep telling me to take care of her till her time came as he put it. She seemed to be fine at first but soon the horrifying truth became clear. He had trained her to be a killer just like he was. Because of my knowledge in pony psychology I took a minor in when I was attending collage I attempted to treat her. It took years but I finally managed to bring her back to her old self...or so I thought. Turns out all I did was delay the inevitable. Her mental state was a ticking time bomb and all I did was extend the timer.” Nurse Redheart said finally at the end of her story and wiping away more tears with her tissue.

“So you raised her?” Twilight said after a few moments of silence.

“I might as well have. But when she came to a certain age I had to give her up to a family of Pegasus who adopted her and enrolled her into a flight school.” Nurse Redheart replied.

“But what her case have to do with mine?” Twilight asked getting back to the subject she mentioned before.

“She had episodes very similar to yours when I first began taking care of her. I realized what her triggers were and quickly set to removing every single sharp object in my home.” Nurse Redheart replied and got off the chair.

“Can you help me?” Twilight asked feeling the first bit of hope she had felt in years.

“If only I could. But your case while similar is still very different. The treatment I used on Fluttershy may not work on you and what's worse, may worsen it.” The white mare replied with a saddened expression.

“Should have known.” Twilight replied feeling disappointment fill her where hope had once been.

“The only help I can truly offer you is this. If something in your life helps you feel like you used to, hold onto that and don't let go. I can't guarantee it will work but it's the best I can offer.” Nurse Redheart said putting a hoof on her cheek before walking past her and towards her door.

“This will take some time so i'm going to go and question more ponies.” Twilight said as Nurse Redheart began to work on treating Ditzy.

“Alright. I'll stay here with her and i'll meet up with you later.” Scootaloo replied, walked over next to Ditzy, and sat down next to her as Nurse Redheart used her stethoscope to listen to Ditzy's breathing.

“So where to next?” Erick asked curiously as they stepped out of the front door to Rarity's old home.

“The Bakery.” Twilight replied and began to walk in the direction of the bakery Pinkie Pie used to work for.

Once there she knocked on the door. “Well at least this place looks the same.” Twilight remarked as she looked over the side of the building which looked well kept and clean.

Moments later the door was answered by a blue pony. “Twilight? Is it really you?” The pony said in a shocked tone.

“Yes, long time no see Mrs. Cake.” Twilight replied with a half smile.

“Yes, it has been far too long, do come in.” Mrs. Cake said with a smile as she motioned for them to come inside.

“So how has business been?” Twilight asked curiously looking about.

“It could be better, but it at least keeps us afloat. Without Pinkie Pie here to create some of her best creations though it's been hard.” Mrs. Cake replied with a smile.

“Have you heard anything about the killer in Ponyville or seen anything suspicious?” Twilight asked curiously.

This question seemed to wipe the smile clean off of Mrs. Cakes face as the atmosphere around them turned to a very uneasy one. “Sadly no. I only know what I hear on the radio. But one of my biggest customers recently has stopped coming for their weekly visit. I fear the worst for them.” Mrs. Cake said with a frown.
“Maybe they just got caught up in something else.” Erick suggested in a comforting tone.

“One can only hope, but it's been three weeks since their last weekly visit.” Mrs. Cake replied.

“This is odd...this killer is behaving nothing like the last two. It's as if it's not even someone related to Brandon’s work at all.” Twilight said as she and Erick stood outside of the front door of the Bakery after Mrs. Cake offered them some of her best pastries and refused to take no for a answer.

Suddenly it began to rain at which point Erick and Twilight gave an annoyed look up towards the clouds. “Was there a downpour scheduled for today?” Twilight asked curiously as she and Erick ran paste sugarcube corner and towards Fluttershy's old home.

“Nope. Ever since Rainbow Dash was killed no Pegasus has been able to do the expert job that she did.” Erick said as the downpour suddenly stopped and Pegasus ponies could be seen in a panic moving clouds around above them.

“What in Celestia's name...” Twilight said trailing off as she looked in shock and horror at Fluttershy's house which was no longer in a tree, rather the tree was completely removed and a building put in it's place. No animals could be seen within the vicinity and the sign that read “NO ANIMALS ALLOWED!” sealed that theory for her. A huge neon colored sign which showed a picture shaped among the many lights as a pony laying on her back in a very suggestive manner then changed moments later to yet another suggestive pose then clear words could be seen appearing on the sign which read,

TRIXIE'S PLAYCOLT MANNER

“Trixie.....” Twilight said in a low tone. Up till now Twilight had been able to shrug off everything but now all the emotions she had seemingly shrugged off and buried were coming to a head and she couldn't shrug them off as they came full force. Twilight didn't know if was because of how much she knew about Fluttershy and her love for animals and seeing her home turned into some pony whore house or if it was just everything building up but one thing she knew for a fact:

CRRAAAASH!

Twilight bucked the door off it's hinges and stomped in causing a mare and two colts who were in the mist of going at it to stop what they were doing and look up in shock into the hall from the room there were in and look at Twilight as she took each step through the hall. Twilight finally made it to the end of the hall and to a door which she promptly bucked down as well which revealed a large room filled to the brim practically with mares and colts going at it which just about all stopped what they were doing to look at Twilight and Erick as they stepped through the door frame and into the room.

“Where is Trixie?” Twilight asked in a threatening tone at which point all hooves in the room pointed to the door on the other side of the room. The musky scent in the room made Twilight want to get sick to her stomach and the fact that one mare looked as if she was coated from head to hooves in pony cum didn't help this feeling, but she pressed on doing her best not to breath through her nose and not look at all the ponies in the room, some of which were still “In the act” when they had stopped to look at her so she could see “everything” as she walked past some ponies. Twilight stopped short of Trixie's door, turned around and looked around the room once more.

“Pull your pony meat of those mares and get your flanks out of here! This whore house is closed for the day!” Twilight exclaimed at the top of her lungs at which point everypony stopped what they were doing and began to file out the door.

Once all the ponies had left the room Twilight reared up and kicked the door down at which point Trixie yanked her mouth off a colt's meat and looked in her direction. “How dare you interrupt the great and powerful Trixie when she is being pleasured!” Trixie exclaimed in a tone Twilight all too well remembered which didn't help her calm down in the least bit, in fact it made her even more pissed off if possible.

“Can it Trixie!” Twilight exclaimed as she took a threatening step towards one fo the colts whom flinched. “Pull your junk out of her and get the hay outta here before I decide to rip it off with my mouth!” Twilight exclaimed at the top of her lungs at which point the colt whom was getting the blow-job ran past her and Erick and the other one pulled out of Trixie and did the same.

“I know you....but I can't place a name.” Trixie said as she got off her bed and stood on the floor with all four hooves.

Twilight did her best to ignore the rapid dripping sound in the room as she knew it had to be coming from Trixie and she didn't even want to picture just how much those colts had already pumped her full of. However the constant dripping was enough to drive her more insane then she felt she already was.

“For Celestia's sake....clean out that whore hole of yours before I take one of your dildos and shove it so far up your cunt you won't be able to remove it with magic!” Twilight exclaimed in annoyance.

“Now I know you! Twilight Sparkle! Hmph! If the sound of pony cum dripping out of me makes you uncomfortable than you are probably a virgin. I certainly hope you have enough bits to cover the damages you have done to the great and powerful Trixie's business!” Trixie exclaimed which made Twilight blush even though she knew she wasn't a virgin.

“Cut the bulcrap Trixie. I didn't come here to talk about your or my sex experiences. I came here to ask you a few questions.” Twilight said as she attempted to calm herself down.

“Oh? And did you have to destroy my property and interrupt me when I was near the verge of orgasm? If you have any knowledge at all in sex you know for a fact that a female getting deprived of her orgasm is much worse than that of a male's” Trixie retorted in an annoyed tone.

“Your lucky I didn't do what I said I was going to do earlier to you when I saw what you had done to Fluttershy's home!” Twilight exclaimed her anger once again rising.

“ I couldn't help but notice, your horn is missing. What happened?” Trixie asked once again changing the subject.

“Gee...maybe the fact that I was almost murdered!” Twilight exclaimed nearly screaming her words.

“Oh, Pity you survived.” Trixie replied with a smug grin however her smug grin was wiped off her face as Twilight tackled her and began to pound her face in with her hooves.

“I don't need a psychotic episode to kill your flank you nasty whore!” Twilight screamed as she continued to punch Trixie's face in however she was soon dragged off by Erick whom was struggling to keep a grip on her as she swung wildly in Trixie's direction.

“How dare you come crashing into the Great and Powerful Trixie's home, destroy her property and attempt to beat her! I will have the Carrottops informed of this. I have you know they fund this business of mine as long as I provide them a decent cut! Enjoy your freedom while it lasts Twilight Sparkle!” Trixie exclaimed through a bloody and swelled up upper lip.

“If the Ponyville police department is as corrupt as Ditzy says then I should be able to bribe her.” Erick said in a whisper to Twilight's ear before stepping forward at which point Twilight stopped flailing about.

“I'm sure we can come to some kind of agreement. I work for the Ponyville police department.” Erick said with the best smile he could muster.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie assumes you will offer her some sort of payment for keeping her mouth shut about what happened here?” Trixie said catching on quickly.

“And to answer any and all questions Twilight may have.” Erick quickly added.

Trixie stood there for a moment as she looked at Erick looking deep in thought until her eyes seemed to light up. “Very Well, The great and powerful Trixie accepts your offer but the payment will be of my choosing.” Trixie said with a smug grin.

“Which is?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well as you know, the great and powerful Trixie was denied her climax when she was being pleasured. So my price is this, five hours alone with the police pony here doing anything I ask him too.” Trixie said her smug grin not wavering in the slightest.

“You can't honestly expect Erick to whore himself out to-” Twilight began to say only for Erick to motion for her to be quiet.

“Deal.” Erick replied simply leaving Twilight slack-jawed.

“Good, now if you would leave us be Twilight Sparkle and come back in five hours, the great and powerful Trixie will answer any and all questions you may have.” Trixie said with a smug grin.

“Ugh, Fine! But if you do anything funny I’ll be sure to shove a dildo up your whore cunt so far in you won't be able to do anything with a colt for a week!” Twilight exclaimed, turned around and left the room and shortly after the building deciding to leave Erick and Trixie alone and check on Scootaloo and Ditzy Doo.

“So how did things go with questioning other ponies?” Scootaloo asked curiously as Twilight walked through the door.

“You could have warned me about Trixie and her whore house.” Twilight said in an annoyed tone.

“Oh crap! I forgot about that. Where's Erick?” Scootaloo replied with a blush.

“He's currently talking with Trixie.” Twilight replied simply.

“Oh i'm sure he's having a good fun time talking with her...she gets on just about everypony's nerves when she doesn't have a dick in her mouth.” Scootaloo remarked with an annoyed tone.

“Yeah..I’m sure he's having the time of his life...” Twilight said trailing off with a slight blush.

“What does that mean?” Scootaloo asked curiously noticing Twilight blush.

“Well, I sort of lost my temper when I saw Fluttershy's home turned into a whore house and Erick decided to try and bribe her...her price was...well let's just say that in about five hours I'm going to force Erick to take a nice long bath under a raincloud.” Twilight said not wanting to go any deeper into the subject.

Upon hearing this all three ponies in the room could be seen blushing very deeply. “Oh for Celestia's sake...somehow I would not put that past Trixie.” Scootaloo remarked still blushing.

“So how goes treating Ditzy Doo?” Twilight asked attempting to change the subject quickly.

“It could be going better. But I’ve at least managed to give her some medication for that nasty cough of hers. She has a bad case of bronchitis and a temperature of a hundred and three. What she needs now is rest, a warm bed, and to take two of these a day.” Nurse Redheart said handing Twilight a small bottle of pills.

“I can provide all three of those.” Twilight replied giving her first full smile since she arrived in Ponyville.

Twilight wasn't sure what was going on but it was clear that something was beginning to change inside of her. She didn't know what this feeling was but she knew it was a good feeling and she was starting to feel like her old self she remembered being over ten years ago and just as Nurse Redheart advised she was clinging onto this feeling like it was the only thing that mattered. She wanted to be who she was again and somehow she thought that maybe just maybe....

She may one day yet overcome her mental illness and be able to live a normal life again...

Atonement

ATONEMENT

“That was very kind of you Twilight” Scootaloo remarked with a soft smile.

“Yes, well. I don't know what's happening to me, but I couldn't just sit back and let Ditzy Doo stay in that place. And no pony comes here anymore so we don't have to worry about anypony barging in here and finding her.” Twilight replied and gave a heavy sigh before walking out of her room and down the stairs.

“Is there something wrong Twilight?” Scootaloo asked softly as Twilight sat down, pulled a old book out, blew dust off it, and began to read it only to stop no sooner she opened it and look at Scootaloo.

“That's just it. I don't know. I expected myself to go crazy on you no sooner I saw you, but I didn't. I don't know if it was the medical ponies in that psycho ward who helped me or it's just me. And what nurse Redheart told me about my mental condition possibly being a ticking time bomb. I never really thought about it before. Up till now, I thought myself to be numb to everything. You saw me at the carrotops, I could have cared less!” Twilight exclaimed and slammed her head onto the book.

“You've been in that place for ten years without anypony to interact with Twilight. That's enough to drive anypony numb.” Scootaloo replied with a smile as she placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

“It's not just that.” Twilight said lifting her head off the book and looking at Scootaloo with fearful yet teary eyes. “For the first time in my life since ten years ago, I have something to lose again. I'm afraid of myself Scootaloo. I'm not safe to be around and I don't know how I would react to seeing anypony I know and care about die before my eyes. It might just drive me over the edge.” Twilight said slamming both hooves into her face and began to sob loudly.

“Twilight, it's going to be okay.” Scootaloo said in a comforting tone.

“No it's not! Don't you get it?!” Twilight exclaimed ripping her face from her hooves and glaring at Scootaloo before she stood up, walked over to the book shelf and placed a hoof on it. “You have no idea how much it hurt, how much it still hurts, knowing that I killed Big Macintosh. The Princess has faith in me, she always has. But not even she knows what it feels like to fear yourself, to know that it takes a single word, to become a cold blooded killer.” Twilight said in a fearful yet sad tone.

“Twilight, we've been over this. You're no killer.” Scootaloo said in a reassuring tone as she walked over to Twilight.

“What if the killer is me? What if I’ve been blacking out and sneaking out of the psycho ward after all these years.” Twilight replied looking at the bookshelf then back to Scootaloo.

“Twilight, you've been with Scootaloo and Erick the entire time since you got back to Ponyville.” Nurse Redheart said walking into the room now.

“No other missing pony reports have come up in the last twenty-four hours have they?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Not as far as I know, but that doesn't mean you are the killer.” Nurse Redheart replied as she sat down not far from the two.

“How can you be so sure?” Twilight replied not sounding convinced.

“Because none of the ponies who have been murdered in the last few months even knew who you were.” Nurse Redheart replied.

“That doesn't prove anything.” Twilight replied looking back to the bookshelf now.

“Yes, it does.” Nurse Redheart replied. “It proves that because you mental condition is tied to those you know, that you couldn't be killer since they nor you knew them.” Nurse Redheart said sitting down next to Erick.

“Mental conditions can change. I'm living proof of that and so is Fluttershy...or at least she was.” Twilight replied, walked over to Scootaloo and nurse Redheart, sat down, and gave a heavy sigh.

“Not long ago you were talking about how you wanted to bring an end to this madness, why the sudden change in attitude?” Scootaloo asked in a serious tone with an expression to match it.

“She's scared. No, she's terrified of something.” Nurse Redheart remarked looking at the purple mare now with a observing glance.

“I'm scared of myself.” Twilight replied in a quiet tone.

“No, you're scared of something much more than that.” Nurse Redheart replied in a matter of fact tone.

“Don't you dare play shrink with me! You don't know me!” Twilight exclaimed loudly as she abruptly stood up, walked to the door, opened it, and slammed it shut behind her.

“What is she so scared of?” Scootaloo asked curiously.

“I'm not exactly sure myself. That's what I was trying to figure out. She was behaving like her old self for a while but now she's suddenly reverted back to how she was behaving before. Did she say anything in particular to you before I came into the room?” Nurse Redheart asked curiously.

“It was hard to make out between her sobs, but I think she said something about having something to lose now. And how she was afraid of herself.” Scootaloo replied.

“She might be scared of losing what friends she has left.” Nurse Redheart remarked curiously.

SHATTER!!!

A loud shattering sound suddenly came from outside which caused all three ponies to look out through the window to see Twilight walking around with a crazed expression.

“There's no way she could have heard me from all the way in here! Especially considering her hearing has been damaged.” Nurse Redheart said as Scootaloo and her rushed out the door to stop the purple mare only for her to not be anywhere to be found.

“You're right, there's no way Twilight could have heard you.” Scootaloo remarked looking around frantically.

“If that's true then that means someone else in Ponyville knows of Twilight's condition and triggered her psychotic state on purpose, but why?” Nurse Redheart asked in a worried tone.

“Isn't it obvious? The real killer knows who she is and is trying to pin the murders on her.” Scootaloo stated in a matter of fact tone.

Twilight walked up to Trixie's home still smiling in a crazed fashion with a fragment of a pot that she shattered in her mouth. “Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heeeh....” Twilight said in a crazed tone as she walked through the broken door frame.

“Why are you back?” A white furred mare asked in annoyance then gave a started gasp as she noticed the sharp pot fragment in her mouth.

“Are you my friend?” Twilight asked through gritted teeth in the same crazed tone.

“S-Sure...” The white mare replied in an apprehensive tone feeling fear overwhelm her as she slowly backed away.

“Oh that's too bad, Twilight Sparkle isn't allowed to have friends. That means you have to die.” Twilight replied as she began to walk towards the white furred mare who could only quiver in fear as Twilight slowly walked towards her.

SOMEPONY HELP ME!!!

Erick and Trixie suddenly looked up in alarm upon hearing this. “That was the voice of one of my employees!” Trixie exclaimed at which point Erick jumped off the bed, through his saddle-pack on, pulled out a small knife, and rushed out of the room followed closely by Trixie.

“Quit moving around so much, I have other friends that need to die you know, the sooner I am done with you I can get to them.” Twilight said in a sweet tone through gritted teeth as she lunged at the white furred mare only for her to barely dodge again.

“Tw-Twilight?!” Erick exclaimed in a shocked tone, spit out the knife in his mouth, and immediately tackled the purple mare just before she was able to lunge at the white furred mare who she had managed to pin in a corner.

“What is she doing in the great and power Trixie's manner again? I thought the great and powerful-” Can it with the third pony talk and help me get this pot fragment out of her mouth!” Erick exclaimed cutting off Trixie mid-sentence who merely glared at him at first but did as she asked.

“Let go of me! That mare has to die! She's Twilight's friend! And Twilight isn't allowed to have friends!” Twilight exclaimed hysterically moments after Trixie pulled the pot fragment out of her mouth.

“What is wrong with her?! Why is she behaving like this?!” Trixie asked in a shocked yet scared tone.

“Twilight, listen to me! You have no friends! They are all dead! Do you understand me?!” Erick exclaimed as he held her down at which point the purple mare suddenly stopped fighting and lay stationary at which point Erick slowly got off her and stood a short distance away ready to tackle her back to the ground at a moments notice.

A few more awkward moments of silence passed then the purple mare's head suddenly snapped upward in a frantic manner, stood up slowly, and turned around putting a hoof on her head. “Wh-What happened? Who said the F-word?” Twilight asked in a exhausted tone.

“F-word? What in Equestria is that?” Trixie asked in a confused tone.

“I'll explain later.” Erick replied to Trixie then looked at Twilight. “What do you remember prior to your psychotic episode Twilight?” Erick asked in a serious tone.

“I-I left the library because nurse Redheart had upset me and then...” Twilight said trailing off looking deep in thought and sighed moments later. “Nothing. I don't remember anything past that.” Twilight added after a few moments much to Erick's annoyance.

“Well at least we know that it wasn't Scootaloo or Nurse Redheart who triggered you this time. But that fact in itself worries me. I could write it off as a passerby in a random conversation but that's too easy, too convenient, too slim to be a considered a possibility.” Erick remarked in a thoughtful tone.

“You mean somepony else knows of my condition and set me off on purpose?” Twilight asked in a fearful tone.

“Exactly. I'll bet my lifesaving’s of bits that it was the killer to boot. Are you sure you don't recall anything prior to being set off?” Erick replied still looking deep in thought.

“No, I wish I did.” Twilight replied and sighed.

“Would somepony please explain to the great and powerful Trixie, what in Equestria is going on?!” Trixie exclaimed in annoyance.

“You expect the great and powerful Trixie to believe such non-sense?!” Trixie exclaimed incredulously.

“Told it was a waste of time.” Twilight remarked in an annoyed tone.

“Not only is it a waste of time, but you interrupted the great and powerful Trixie's time with Erick! The deal is off Twilight Sparkle!” Trixie exclaimed, turned and walked away. “Such non-sense...a single word, ha!” Trixie said walking away.

“Say it.” Twilight said in a low tone causing Erick to give a worried look.

“Why should I?” Trixie replied turning around to look at her now still not convinced.

“Twilight, I don't think this is such a good idea.” Erick remarked in a worried tone.

“If she's going to be such a damned mule when she saw the proof then I want her to see it for herself! And don't stop me Erick, I want her to see just how I am!” Twilight exclaimed standing on all fours now glaring at the blue unicorn.

“Hmph! I have no time for such an act!” Trixie replied raising her nose at them.

“Then say the word! Or are you afraid of me?” Twilight replied still glaring.

“Pfft! Me, scared of you? Ha!” Trixie exclaimed in a cocky tone.

“Then say it!” Twilight exclaimed nearly screaming now.

“Fine! Friend! There, now lets just see how far this act goes!” Trixie exclaimed with a cocky grin.

CRACK!

Upon hearing this word Twilight abruptly stomped on the table next to her once again looking completely crazed. “Are you my friend Trixie?” Twilight asked in a creepy sweet tone.

“Oh yes, we are best friends you and I.” Trixie replied in a cocky tone much to Erick's horror.

“You foal! Do you realize what you have just done?!” Erick exclaimed and attempted to hold twilight back only to get bucked upside the head and knocked out against the side of the room.

“Th-that was a little extreme for an act don't you think?” Trixie remarked in a slightly uneasy tone.

“If you're my best friend, then you will have to die a lot quicker than my other friends. I didn't know I had any best friends left, but the magic of friendship doesn't allow Twilight Sparkle to have any best friends.” Twilight replied in a sweet tone as she walked towards Trixie.

“That's quite enough Twilight Sparkle, you've put on a clever act but the great and powerful Trixie isn't convinced.” Trixie replied in a cocky tone but the unease in her voice could be heard still as she grew more and more nervous the closer the purple mare got.

“Heh,heh,heh...” Twilight said in a crazed tone as she grew even closer.

“What are you going to do? Stab me with that jagged piece of wood? Oh no, what shall the great and powerful Trixie do?!” Trixie exclaimed in a melodramatic manner.

“Heh,heh,heeh...” Twilight replied and lunged at Trixie only for the blue unicorn to pop out of the way in a flash of magic behind her.

“That's quite enough! This act is going too far!” Trixie exclaimed in a semi-panicked tone.

“You really shouldn't move so much, it makes it harder to jab this wood into your chest if you move around a lot...” Twilight remarked through gritted teeth as she lunged at the blue unicorn again only for her to stop her mid-lunge with her magic.

“Th-that's enough!” Trixie exclaimed in a scared tone as she struggled against the purple mare to hold her off now standing on her hind hooves in order to create more distance between her and the jagged piece of wood, having been pinned against the wall.

Trixie continued to hold off Twilight but she was having trouble doing so as the purple mare's brute strength was becoming greater than her magic. One thing Trixie hated to admit is that she did not have very great magical powers despite being a unicorn and she had never practiced levitation spells or any sort of the type of magic she was now trying to perform to hold off the crazed mare.

Trixie looked into Twilight's eyes at this point feeling fear begin to overwhelm her as she looked into them. What she saw in Twilight's eyes were not the eyes she saw before. No, what she saw now were the eyes of a psychopathic killer. It was then at this very moment with the jagged piece of wood mere inches away from her chest that Trixie fully believed what Twilight had told her.

“Tw-Twilight, please! D-Don't kill me!” Trixie exclaimed in a fearful tone as tear of fear and horror were now streaming from her eyes.

“I have no choice, Twilight Sparkle isn't allowed to have friends. The magic of friendship has made this clear!” Twilight exclaimed through gritted teeth putting even more strength into shoving the jagged piece of wood at the blue unicorn.

Trixie attempted to dodge to the side but the jagged piece of wood Twilight was attempting to stab her with pierced her shoulder a mere second after she had moved pinning her to the wall as it popped out of her back causing the blue unicorn to give a shrill cry of pain as fresh blood began to trickle down her side and onto the floor.

“Aw, I missed the heart. Oh well!” Twilight said in a crazed sweet tone as she took her mouth off the piece of wood, walked over, stomped on the table again, and picked up another piece of wood. “This one won't.” Twilight said with a giggle.

Trixie could only slide down the wall paralyzed by both pain and few onto her rump holding her arm where the fragment of wood was impaled through sobbing loudly in both agony and fear as the purple mare grew closer to her. “P-please. I'm sorry Twilight! Don't kill m-m-me!” Trixie exclaimed stuttering her last word between sobs however her pleas seemed to go unheard by the purple mare as she drew closer and closer.

SHATTER!!!

At the very last possible second Scootaloo had barreled strait through the rooms outside window into the room at full speed and tackled the purple mare into and through the wall effectively knocking Twilight out and emerged a few moments later to get a good look at Trixie. “Nurse Redheart! Quickly! Trixie is hurt badly!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she rushed over next to Trixie who was hyperventilating at the moment.

“Sh-she tried to kill me!” Trixie exclaimed in a breathless hysterical tone.

“We know, somepony set her off.” Scootaloo replied looking over her shoulder as Nurse Redheart rushed into the room.

“Look after Erick Scootaloo, I’ll take care of Trixie.” Nurse Redheart said as she looked over the blue unicorn's injury now.

“I-I'm going to die...aren't I?” Trixie asked in a scared tone.

“This wound looks a lot worse then it is, but we need to get this wood out of your shoulder. If we can't then you will die, from the infection and blood loss it will cause.” Nurse Redheart remarked looking over and sighed. “I'm going to pull it out now. Bare with me.” Nurse Redheart said in a quite tone and put her mouth on the piece of wood. “On the count of three.” Nurse Redheart said through gritted teeth to which Trixie nodded silently bracing herself. “One...two....THREE!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed and yanked as hard as she could earning as shrill cry of pain from the blue unicorn as the jagged piece of wood came out and blood began to pour from the wound.

Nurse Redheart then opened her medical pack, pulled out bandages, and began to swiftly wrap them around Trixie's shoulder which quickly became stained with blood. “This will work for now but we have to get her to a real hospital or she will die from blood loss.” Nurse Redheart said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Erick was just now coming to as the dark blue stallion sat upright in a panic until he saw Scootaloo next to him. “Where's Twilight?” Erick asked curiously then his eyes fell upon Trixie and gave a sigh of relief. “I hate to say I told you so.” Erick remarked in a sour tone as stood to all fours only to fall to his knees as his right front leg gave a sharp jab of pain.

“It looks fractured.” Nurse Redheart remarked as she walked over to the stallion and looked over his front right leg.

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked curiously wondering what Erick meant exactly by that statement.

“Trixie didn't believe Twilight so she set her off. When I tried to stop her she bucked me upside the head and into the wall.” Erick replied with slight wince as Nurse Redheart put Erick's right front hoof on a splint.

“I believe you now, if it's any consolation.” Trixie remarked in a pained tone.

“We don't have the bits to pay for a real hospital.” Scootaloo replied resuming the topic Nurse Redheart had brought up earlier.

“Don't worry about it. I'm covered by the Carrottops. They will admit me without question...and I’ll even pay for Erick's stay as well.” Trixie said much to Scootaloo's shock.

“That's uncharacteristically kind of you.” Scootaloo remarked with a raised eyebrow.

“It is the great and power Trixie's way of saying she is sorry for not believing Erick and Twilight.” Trixie replied.

Twilight sat up with a start looking around herself a noticed she was in a jail cell along with Erick, Scootaloo, and Nurse Redheart. “Please tell me I didn't!” Twilight exclaimed in a horrified tone.

“No, Scootaloo stopped you just in time, but you did manage to injure her badly.” Nurse Redheart replied in a soft tone much to the purple mare's relief.

“We've been had! Trixie played nice then turned us over to the Police ponies!” Scootaloo exclaimed angrily.

“You can't blame her really. I nearly killed her. What happened anyways?” Twilight asked curiously.

FLASHBACK

Police ponies rushed into the hospital room where Twilight lay unconscious in her bed with Erick next to her in another bed. “You are all under arrest for breaking an entering and conspiring together to murder Trixie. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford an attorney we will assign you the dumbest pony in Equestria.” A police pony said followed by a chuckle as he put hoof-cuffs on Twilight while she lay unconscious as well as the others along with wing cuffs on Scootaloo.

“This is bogus!” Scootaloo exclaimed in an outraged tone as the police ponies began to escort them out of the hospital.

Trixie at this moment was sitting in her hospital room resting comfortably until she saw them being hauled off. “You're a lying horseappling mule Trixie! I knew we couldn't trust you!” Scootaloo exclaimed when she saw Trixie who just stared at them blankly as they walked past.

END FLASHBACK

“So she played nice then stabbed us in the back, that doesn't surprise me in the least bit with Trixie.” Twilight replied in a dismal tone placing a hoof on her forehead followed by a sigh. “At least here I know I can't kill anypony.” Twilight added after a few moments.

“Exactly, we've been in here for a few days now. Take a look at this Twilight.” Erick said, bit onto a rolled up news paper, and threw it over to her.

“Wait, how long was I out?” Twilight asked in a shocked tone then gasped as she looked on the front page.

MRS. CAKE TURNS UP DEAD

Mrs. Cake a popular bakery pony was found dead in sugarcube corner earlier this morning, she had been horribly mutilated, missing her legs as well as a few other parts we will not disclose in this article, police ponies are working hard to find out who is behind these murders.

TWILIGHT SPARKLE SUSPECTED OF OVER TWENTY COUNTS OF MURDER IN JAIL

Twilight Sparkle was taken into custody two days ago after attempting to to murder resident business owner Trixie. While Trixie declined to comment on the exact events of what happened, authorities suspect that she was her latest target in a long string of murders that have occurred in the last few months.

Police ponies have also apprehended three other ponies who are suspected of being her partners in covering up these crimes.

Scootaloo, a local Pegasus who was up till recently the caretaker of Twilight's library in Ponyville. Nurse Redheart, a medical pony who treated ponies for free in her clinic.

Erick Wingfield, a police pony who recently transferred from Canterlot who was put on the case recently by Princess Celestia herself.

Police chief Moneybank had this to say,

“We suspect all four of these ponies were working together for a very long time. When you look at each pony's background, it sets up the perfect stage to murder and clean up after to leave no evidence behind. We believe this is an open and shut case. The loss of Mrs. cake is saddening to us all, but we have reason to believe that this was done many days ago.”

We will keep everypony posted on the events to follow up this case. Ponyville can now sleep soundly once again with the killer in jail.

“Moneybank?” Twilight asked curiously as she finished reading the new article.

“The new Police chief who was assigned a few years after the Carrottops moved in. That money hungry mule will say and do anything the Carrottops tell him to as long as he gets paid under the table by them.” Scootaloo replied in a sour tone.

“This won't hold up in court. Everything here is nothing more than circumstantial evidence.” Erick said with a confident smile.

“Ten years ago and I would have agreed with you Erick.” Nurse Redheart said with a frown.

“The Carrottops will see to it that we never see the light of day again and Twilight is put on the execution block.” Scootaloo chimed in punching the stone wall in a spurt of fury.

“Something doesn't add up. Just how did the Carrottops get so influential over Ponyville? The apples were here for much longer and they never once had any major influence over Ponyville.” Twilight remarked curiously.

“That's because they never tried to.” Scootaloo replied simply.

“I don't buy that. Bits may talk, but they don't give ponies the right to rule over a town like the Carrottops are doing. Something fishy is going on and I don't like it.” Twilight replied putting a hoof on her chin looking deep in thought.

“You think the Carrottops have something to do with the murders?” Erick asked in a suggesting tone.

“No, not directly at least.” Twilight replied still looking deep in thought. “What's the connection? Why would the Carrottops be so quick to lock us in jail? Me I can see perfectly. I tried to kill Trixie, but the others? It doesn't make sense. What could they possibly know that would be a threat to the Carrottops?” Twilight thought to herself tapping her hoof on her chin.

A loud explosion down the hall however snapped the purple mare out of her thoughts and looked through the bars to see several police ponies flying a crossed the hall and landing on the floor out cold. “What in Equestria?” Twilight asked in stunned tone.

“A jailbreak?” Erick asked in a curious tone.

“Quickly Ditzy! Find Twilight and the others!” A voice rang out which all four of them recognized immediately.

Moments later Ditzy Doo ran past their cell, did a double take, then ran back to in front of them. “I found them Trixie!” Ditzy Doo exclaimed.

“Ditzy, what is going on?!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a confused tone as Trixie ran up to the cell, magically ripped the bars off, and magically undid everypony's shackles.

“What are you four waiting for?! Come on!” Trixie exclaimed in a semi-panicked tone to which the four ran out of the cell and down the hall following Trixie closely.

“What's going on Trixie?! We all know that you sold us out!” Scootaloo exclaimed angrily as they ran down the hallway.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie did no such thing! She was sold out as well!” Trixie exclaimed in an offended tone.

“Wait, you were sold out? How?” Twilight asked in a confused tone as Trixie blasted several unsuspecting ponies out of the way and into the wall with them running past moments later.

“The great and powerful Trixie will explain later! For now we need to get out of here in one piece!” Trixie replied as they ran through the front area of the police station and in front only to see a whole crowd of unicorns, earth ponies, and Pegasus ponies standing right outside whom were all wearing police uniforms.

“Oh dear...” Trixie said in a panicked tone looking about herself.
“Great escape Trixie.” Scootaloo remarked in a sarcastic tone as she rolled her eyes.

“Any bright ideas?” Trixie asked in a panicked whisper to Twilight.

“If I had my horn I could easily teleport us out of here, but I lost that over ten years ago when Fluttershy tried to kill me.” Twilight thought to herself and immediately shook her head in an attempt to push out the horrifying images. “Why did I think of that right now?” Twilight asked herself in a confused tone. The purple mare hadn't recalled that event in over ten years but no matter how much she tried to shove them out, the images played like a slide-show through her mind which was driving the purple mare crazy...literally!

“No,no,no! Make it stop!” Twilight exclaimed in a frantic tone as she slammed her hooves over her head.

“What's wrong Twilight?!” Scootaloo asked as she attempted to move to her friend only for a police unicorn to appear in front of her in a flash of magic and tackle her to the ground. “Stop! Something is wrong with Twilight!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a frantic tone as she fought against the unicorn but was having little luck.

“What's wrong with her?!” Erick exclaimed in a worried tone.

“I don't know!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed in a worried tone.

“Alright miss sparkle, hooves where I can see them!” A earth pony said as she attempted to live the mare up only to get clocked upside the head and the purple mare jump on top of him putting both hooves around his head. “Heh, heh,heeeh...” Twilight said in a crazed tone.

“Oh no...it's just as I feared.” Nurse Redheart said in a horrified tone as police ponies rushed off grabbing a hold of Twilight and yanking her from on top of the earth pony.

“What's going on? No pony said the F-word!” Erick exclaimed in a panic as Twilight bucked ponies off grabbed a hold of earth pony's arm and snapped it earning a shrill cry of agony from the police pony.

“Her mental state has collapsed. Just like Fluttershy's did.” Nurse Redheart remarked in a horrified tone.

“Stop it Twilight! This isn't you!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she struggled against her shackles now having been ignored as police ponies were attempting to subdue the purple unicorn now.

“This is too much fun to stop!” Twilight exclaimed in a sweet yet crazed tone as she snapped yet another police ponies arm only to get abruptly slammed against the wall in with a unicorn's magic. This however seemed to have very little effect on the purple mare as she slowly but surely walked towards the unicorn who was sweating bullets right now trying to hold her back with all his might.

“Wait, Twilight wasn't this strong before. What's going on?” Erick asked in a confused tone.

“Unicorns have a natural amount of magic stored in them, this magic is channeled through their horn. Though it is rare, when a unicorn loses their horn, their body will redistribute that magic elsewhere to make up for their lack of a horn. In the case of Twilight, it seems that her body decided to channel it into her psychical strength.” Nurse Redheart explained as she looked on.

“Come on, while they are distracted with Twilight!” Trixie exclaimed in a whisper.

“We are not leaving her!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a whisper as Trixie undid her shackles.

“Be my guest then!” Trixie retorted and ran off.

“As much as I hate to say it, we better make a run for it while we have the chance.” Erick remarked and ran off following Trixie.

“How can you guys even think of doing this?! Twilight needs us!” Scootaloo exclaimed angrily until Nurse Redheart put her hooves around Scootaloo's head and forced her to look at her.

“Twilight is gone! She's no longer in that pony you see! The most we can do to honor Twilight's name is to solve these murders now!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed, let go of the Pegasus staring into her eyes.

“How can you be so sure?!” Scootaloo exclaimed refusing to believe what she was hearing.

“I just know!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed back and looked away.

“You know something, don't you?!” Scootaloo replied in an accusing manner as more Police Ponies attempted to hold Twilight down.

“Fluttershy did the same thing...” Nurse Redheart replied after a few moments looking away with teary eyes.

“What do you mean? You said you gave Fluttershy to a family when she was a certain age.” Scootaloo replied in a confused tone.

“I did, but she contacted me a few months before her killing spree. She was frantic, worried she might be losing what sanity I had managed to give back to her. So I attempted to treat her again. It seemed to be going so well until...”

FLASHBACK

“No,no,no! Somepony make it stop! Please!” Fluttershy wailed in the middle of the night waking Nurse Redheart from a peaceful sleep with a start.

“Fluttershy?! What's wrong?!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed in a panicked tone as she rushed into Fluttershy's bedroom.

“I-I don't know! Just make it stop!” Fluttershy shrieked slammed her hooves on her head.

“I can't help if I don't know what's wrong!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed as she attempted to hold the Pegasus down who was flailing now in her bed.

“A voice, an oh so terrible voice! It keeps screaming at me to kill! It won't stop saying it! Make it stop!” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs.

“F-Fluttershy, listen to me! Block it out! Remember what I taught you? Block it out!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed in a panicked tone stuttering over her words as she spoke them.

“I-I-I-I can't! It's too loud, it won't stop!” Fluttershy replied a she began to rock back and forth.

“F-Fluttershy, don't give in. you stronger than it! Don't give in to it!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed in a panicked tone.

“I-I'm sorry...” Fluttershy replied in a quiet tone and moments later went still.

“Fluttershy? Are you-” Nurse Redheart began to say only for Fluttershy to reach over and grab her by the throat with both hooves and begin to choke her.

“I'm just fine.” Fluttershy replied in a sweet tone as Nurse Redheart continued to gag and choke.

“Flut...ter...shy...ack...ple...ack...ase...ack...stop!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed through chokes and gags.

Just moments before Nurse Redheart lost consciousness she was abruptly let go at which point she began to cough loudly. “Get away from me!” Fluttershy shrieked as she began to flail once again haphazardly falling out of bed.

“Fluttershy...” Nurse Redheart said between coughs feeling her vision come back to her...

END FLASHBACK

“After that I had no choice but watch her become the monster you all saw.” Nurse Redheart said with a heavy sigh.

“You did nothing? Why didn't you tell the police?!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a shocked tone.

“Could you turn somepony in that you saw as your daughter? I did what I could to protect her, but after she began killing I couldn't watch it anymore...I did the only thing I knew of. I gave twilight's the clues she needed to stop her.” Nurse Redheart replied as tears began to flow from her eyes.

“The portfolio, you were the pony she spoke of who through that at her?!” Scootaloo exclaimed shocked by this new set of information completely ignoring the chaos going on behind them at the moment.

“Yes.” Nurse Redheart replied with a sigh until she was slammed against the wall by the orange Pegasus.

“Did you know about Applebloom?!” Scootaloo asked in a furious voice and when the mare didn't reply she slammed her against the wall again. “Did you know?!” Scootaloo exclaimed furiously.

“No, I had no idea.” Nurse Redheart replied at which point Scootaloo let her go, looked over at Twilight, sighed, closed her eyes, and ran off in the direction Erick had to which Nurse Redheart followed shortly after.

“Somepony knock that mule out!” Moneybank exclaimed loudly.

“I never knew how much fun this could be, I don't need to kill just friends I know anymore..why the entire world is my best friend!” Twilight exclaimed with a hysterical giggle as she stomped on a pony just under her shattering their spine causing them to give a shrill cry of agony.

Twilight! Stop!

A voice rang out just before Twilight was about to snap a pony's neck effectively killing them at which point she froze. “F-Fluttershy?” Twilight said in her normal voice. Without warning the purple mare let go of the police pony and ran off to her left with about five to six hot on her tail.

“What was I doing?!” Twilight exclaimed in a horrified tone as she made a sharp turn behind town hall.

“You two that way! We'll cover this direction!” Twilight heard one Police pony exclaim with the sound of hurried hoofs to follow that statement. She had to hide somewhere quick. It was then she saw it, the back entrance to town hall. Twilight quickly opened the door and closed it behind her, found herself in the mayor mare's office, ran to the back of the room, opened a floor door in the mayors office which lead to the panic room in case of emergencies, and closed it behind her.

“Wh-what just happened to me back there? Did I finally lose it?” Twilight asked herself in a whisper as she looked at her hooves in the dim light of the panic room. They were covered in blood. “How many did I kill? Will I lose it again?” Twilight asked herself in a horrified tone. These questions didn't help her feel any better but what scared the purple mare more than anything now was the fact that she no longer had to worry about anypony saying the word “friend” around her anymore. No, her biggest fear now was that she might lose it around Scootaloo or somepony else close to her, suddenly, and without warning.

Hope and Despair

HOPE AND DESPAIR

Twilight sat in the panic room a little longer now, listening for any sign of police ponies and praying they wouldn't find her. She was alone now and considering what had just happened, she wanted to keep it that way.

The purple mare didn't know where to go from here. She could no longer roam freely around town anymore, she was a wanted criminal. Despite this however, she began to think about the events that transpired the past few days.

Mrs. Cake had been murdered and she was in jail so there was no way she could have done it. So the question that plagued the mare's mind now was, who was it? The single lead she had now was the Carrottops. She had to somehow manage to get to the farm again and interrogate them.

Night had fallen now and the purple mare silently opened the door to the outside and looked around. “No a single police pony in sight, good.” Twilight remarked to herself in a relieved tone as she stepped out and closed it behind her. The streets were quite this time of night, save for a passerby or two whom was on their way home, as the purple mare moved through them.

The purple mare quickly made her to the farm and surveyed her surroundings. “Locked tighter than canterlot's star swirl the bearded wing, perfect.” Twilight remarked aloud in a dismal tone as she saw police ponies patrolling the farm in great numbers.

“Hello Twilight.” A voice said which caused the purple mare to whirl around and see a pony whom was dressed in clothing that covered them from head to toe leaving no way to see who it was.

Twilight recognized this set of clothing right away, the was the garment set of every killer she had encountered. Twilight immediately went into a defensive stance prepared for the killer to tackle her at a moments notice yet they did not. After a few more tense moments the purple mare realized they weren't going to attack her which confused her. Weren't they here to kill her?

“Who are you? And what do you want?” Twilight asked in a low tone as she stared at the killer who seemed to just stare back.

“Heh, you should know by now, that's not how the game works Twilight.” The killer replied and though she couldn't see their face she could have sworn they were smiling at her.

“I don't give a flying buck about your game!” Twilight exclaimed in a hushed tone and tackled the killer to the ground who simply laughed.

“What are you going to do, kill me?” The killer asked in a jeering tone.

“No, I’m going to bring you in to clear my name!” Twilight exclaimed as she stared at them still having them pinned to the ground for the moment.

“That would be pretty hard to do, given you have no evidence to back up your claim, don't you think?” The killer replied and chuckled at her.

Damn it, they had her. “If you aren't here to kill me or to expose me, then why the buck would you show your face?!” Twilight asked in a pissed off tone as her temper rose.

“Simple, I just wanted to see Brandon's accidental masterpiece for myself.” The killer replied and disappeared in a flash of magic from under the mare and reappeared behind her which caused the purple mare to whirl around and glare at her.

“Brandon's accidental masterpiece? What do you mean?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Heh,heh,heh, who would have thought that seeing those close to you die before your eyes and being forced to kill a filly would have the same effect as the methods I was taught to pass down to my apprentice.” The killer replied seemingly ignoring Twilight's question.

“Wait, Applebloom never had an apprentice! You're also much older than a filly by the looks of you!” Twilight exclaimed in remark to having taken in the killer's appearance now.

“You're right, she didn't. But nopony said that Brandon didn't have more than one apprentice.” The killer replied with a wide smirk.

“Wait, you mean there are more out there? Not just Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?!” Twilight exclaimed in shock.

“Who knows, but if there's one thing I do know, it is this; the game must continue.” The killer replied as they put emphasis on the last part of their sentence.

“I've said it once, and I’ll say it again! I don't give a buck about your game!” Twilight exclaimed in a pissed off tone.

“You don't have any choice. Nor does Scootaloo, Nurse Redheart, Erick, or Ditzy Doo, for that matter.” The killer replied .

“DON'T YOU LAY A HOOF ON THEM!” Twilight roared as she lunged at them only to hit the ground as the killer disappeared in a flash of magic.

Time is ticking Twilight, the game continues. How many more must die before you figure out who it is this time?

The voice echoed at which point Twilight looked towards town fearfully and cursed herself for allowing herself to feel again, while at the same time found herself feeling a all too familiar feeling, once she hadn't felt in ten years.

Fear for a friend's life...

With one last glance at the Carrottops farm, the purple mare darted off towards town and to the library in hopes she would find them there before the killer did. She head no idea how she would cope with it this time if somepony died again that she was close to, but she wasn't going to let that happen again if she could help it!

Meanwhile on the other side of Ponyville two hours before, Ditzy Doo, Trixie, Nurse Redheart, and Erick sat in Twilight's library debating on where to go from here...

“I can't believe she's gone...” Scootaloo remarked aloud in a saddened tone.

“It's a painful loss for all of us, but the Twilight we all knew is no more.” Nurse Redheart remarked aloud with a sigh.

“Speak for yourself, I only helped you because the Carrottops back-stabbed me.” Trixie remarked in a cocky tone.

“Sure you did, and you risked your neck or us just because of some petty revenge? Get a grip on your ego Trixie, what's the real reason?” Erick asked with a glare at the blue unicorn.

“Alright, let me start from the beginning.” Trixie replied with a depressed sigh.

FLASHBACK

“You were careless Trixie.” Mr. Carrottop said with a glare.

“I did not ask them to save the great and powerful Trixie's life! I only returned the favor. Repaying a debt if you will.” Trixie replied defensively.

“We're through Trixie. You were given strict orders that if Twilight showed her face again to contact us. You disobeyed.” Mr. Carrottop replied turned and began to walk out the door only to turn and look at her.

“If I were you, I would sleep with one eye open tonight.” The Green stallion remarked with a smirk before he left the room.

END FLASHBACK

“What the hay does that have to do with anything?” Scootaloo asked in an annoyed tone as she glared at the blue unicorn.

“The Carrottops provide protection from the killer as long as we give them a cut of the profits, what this protection is, I do not know, all anypony knows who works for the Carrottops is that they won't be targeted next by the killer.” Trixie replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Hold the reigns a second! You were never told what kind of protection you get?” Erick asked in a curious tone.

“Didn't I just say that?” Trixie replied in an annoyed tone.

“Do you think that the Carrottops have something to do with the murders?” Scootaloo asked curiously as she looked at the stallion whom looked deep in thought.

“Possibly, it seems as though Twilight's suspicions of the Carrottops were correct however.” Erick remarked aloud thoughtfully.

“So our next plan of action is to sneak into the Carrottops place and get information out of them!” Scootaloo exclaimed enthusiastic which was met with a sarcastic laugh from the blue unicorn.

“Good luck with that! That place is locked down tighter than Princess Celestia's castle!” Trixie remarked aloud with a rolling of her eyes gesture.

“Then all we need is a distraction.” Ericka replied at which point everypony stared at Trixie who suddenly became nervous.

“W-Why are you all staring at me for?” Trixie asked in a nervous tone.

Twilight arrived at her house merely an hour later, the moon still hung high in the sky and the purple mare knew she still had several hours left before she needed to lay low, she could only hope that the others were here as she opened the door slowly and cautiously.

“Scootaloo, Redheart, Erick, Ditzy, Trixie?” Twilight called out in a audible whisper.

No response.

“Blast it! They must have left here thinking this would be the first place the police would look.” Twilight thought to herself as she looked around for any sign of them.

“Maybe they went to the basement to hide.” Twilight thought to herself hopefully as she walked over to the floor, pulled the door open with her mouth, and walked down the stairs.

“Anypony here?” Twilight called out into the basement a little louder this time.

Just then as the purple mare waited for a possible reply from her friends, a light flashed by the window of her library causing Twilight to look up and realized immediately that it was magic light projected by unicorns. Fearing it was police ponies looking for her or the others, the purple mare dove into the basement and quickly closed the door behind her causing darkness to envelope the mare's eyesight as she carefully stepped down the stairs to her basement.
In the past Twilight would have grabbed a box of matches she had in her room prior to coming down her before Applebloom began her killing spree, but in her haste to avoid being seen, she had been unable to go to her room and grab them. Lucky for her however she kept a spare set of matches down here in case her candle went out while she studied. She could only hope the years had been kind to them and they would light at all.

Twilight carefully lifted her right front hoof out and found her desk in the darkness, well the hard part was over, now she had to open the box and prey to Celestia that at least one of the matches would light the candle on her desk. As luck would have it, she found the box with ease, opened it and struck one of the matches a crossed the floor as she always did.

Nothing.

The purple mare flicked the match a crossed the floor once again.

Still nothing.

“Horseapples...” Twilight cursed aloud in annoyance as she tossed the dud of a match to the floor, took another one out and flicked it a crossed the floor.

Once again, nothing.

“Oh give me a bucking break here!” Twilight exclaimed aloud in frustration as she tossed yet another dud to the floor, picked another match out of the box and flicked it a crossed the floor.

Another dud.

“Horseappling, mule, of a bucking matchbox!” Twilight exclaimed aloud in frustration as she tossed the fifth dud from the box now to the ground. She was starting to run low on matches and if one didn't light she would be stuck in the dark until she risked looking out of her basement door to see if it was safe to leave it.

Four more duds later the purple mare was down to her last match. “Oh, please light!” Twilight exclaimed in a pleading tone at the match as if she was talking to it and then proceeded to flick it a crossed the floor.

Nothing.

“Horseapples!” Twilight exclaimed and was able to throw the match to the ground when a particular scent hit her nose.

It was sulfur.

“Alright, one more time...” Twilight said aloud and held her breath as she flicked the match a crossed the floor once more.

Much to the purple mare's delight, the match burst to life in a bright red and orange flame which she quickly put to her candle's wick causing it to catch fire and burn brightly.

With the basement room now lit up, Twilight was able to clearly see her basement. At first glance she could tell right away the years hadn't been kind to it. Dust was caked onto the book shelves, some of the books looked as if the natural moisture in the room had warped or damaged them, and the floor was covered in what looked to be moss, dirt, and possibly grass.

“Home, sweet home.” Twilight remarked aloud followed by a depressed sigh as she walked over to a bookshelf to give a closer examination of her books. Just as she approached the bookshelf however she caught sight of something on the floor.

Curiously, she walked over to get a closer look and stopped dead in her tracks upon realization of what it was.

Twilight and the others rushed down the stairs only to come to a screeching halt at the side of Pinkie Pie in a puddle of her own blood.
“Nooooooooooooooo!” Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs running over to Pinkie Pie and holding her tightly as she sobbed rocking back and forth.
Richard looked at pinkie Pie then to the hood which held the voice distorter then to the open window then to Twilight. “Twilight, we have to hurry! The killer is on the run and she doesn't have her robes to conceal her identity anymore! This may be our chance to find out who the killer is!” Richard exclaimed as he attempted to pull Twilight away from Pinkie Pie's corpse.

The stains from her fallen friend's blood had endured the years though it was clear by the looks of it that the medical ponies must have did a poor job of cleaning up the pool of blood her friend had left behind. The purple mare felt something warm trickling down her cheeks and put a hoof to her right cheek.

It was tears.

She hadn't even realized that she had even begun to cry. However she was soon in full blown sobs. “I'm so sorry Pinkie...If only I had stopped you.” Twilight said aloud between sobs as she knelt down in front of where her friend was murdered.

Twilight...

A hallow voice snapped the purple mare from her sobs and caused her to look around. She had heard this voice once before. “Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked aloud. She knew she was diagnosed clinically insane, but this was boarding on down right “coo-coo clock insane” in her book as she looked around for the source of the voice.

Her eyes fell upon a bookshelf and blinked twice in disbelief.

“Hello Twilight.” Pinkie Pie said with a warm smile as she stared back.

“You can't be real. I must be really going off the deep end again.” Twilight remarked aloud as she closed her eyes, shook her head violently, and opened them again only for the figure to be still there. “Yep, it's official, I’ve gone off the deep end.” Twilight remarked aloud dismally closing her eyes once again with a facehoofing gesture then looked in front of herself again.

Pinkie Pie was gone, however in her place lay a small doll. Twilight recognized this doll right away.

“Smarty pants...” Twilight remarked aloud thoughtfully as she walked over, sat down, lifted up the doll, and hugged it tightly.

Aside from her brother, this doll was the closest thing to her a friend she had before she had met her now deceased friends in Ponyville. “You were my first friend I ever had.” Twilight remarked aloud thoughtfully, snapped her eyes open in shock, and gasped.

The purple mare stared at the doll. “Friend.” Twilight said aloud to the doll and went wide-eyed at the fact she had successfully said the word. “But, how?” Twilight asked herself aloud as she stared at the doll.

She didn't know how or why. But as she looked at the doll she could feel a warm magic emitting from it. This magic was soothing and calming. Just maybe this doll was the cure to her insanity...

Maybe...

As the purple mare cautiously walked back up the stairs with smarty pants in a moldy saddle pack she found, a pink poofy maned pony could be seen unknown to Twilight staring and smiling at her as she opened the basement door and closed it behind her.

“Okay Trixie, you go to your house and get supplies and we'll wait here.” Scootaloo said as Trixie nodded in annoyance.

She had been roped into putting on a show for the ponies. She could only hope the security the Carrottops had didn't know she was responsible for the break out. If they did, she would be arrested on sight, but it would at least buy the others time to sneak in. She didn't like this idea at all but on the bright side she thought that at least in jail she wouldn't be targeted by the killer so she went along with it.

Plus, she owed it to Twilight to do this, it was her fault after all that Twilight had been locked up, she set her off on purpose. While the show mare wouldn't admit it outright, ever since her performance in Ponyville that went sour all those years ago, she felt a fondness for Twilight for helping her see the error of her ways along with a sense of jealously of her skill in magic.

Trixie quickly sneaked into her house and looked around, empty as it had been ever since she had been shutdown by the Carrottops. The blue unicorn quickly went to her personal bedroom, pulled a footlocker from under her bed, and opened it with her magic. Trixie lifted up a cope and hat from the footlocker with her magic and stared at it thoughtfully.

“One last show...” Trixie thought to herself with a smile only for a rattling to make her whirl around and look into the darkness of her room.

“Is anypony there?” Trixie asked aloud curiously though she knew better than that. Somepony was in here with her and she had a feeling she knew who as a shadow darted past the doorway in outside of her room.

“Coming after me already are we? Well, then show yourself and face the great and powerful Trixie!” Trixie exclaimed as she looked about herself nervously.

No response.

“So you are a coward then? Afraid to show your face to the great and powerful Trixie?!” The blue unicorn exclaimed as she looked around herself trying to keep a brave face though in reality, she was terrified for her life at the moment.

Let's play a game Trixie...

A voice echoed throughout the room which made it impossible to know where it was coming from. “What kind of game?” Trixie replied though her voice quivered slightly as she spoke despite keeping a brave face.

If you can make it out of your house alive, I’ll let you live...

The voice echoed once again at which point Trixie's house seemed to burst to life as wood creaked and splintered followed by twisting and contorting to odd shapes. Soon the blur unicorn realized just what was happening, the killer was altering her house by magic.

Her doorway was soon reduced to a small hole which she could barely crawl through.

Let the game begin...

The voice echoed followed by an eerie chuckle.

“Have you forgotten who I am? I am the great and powerful Trixie!” The blue unicorn boasted bravely as she walked up to the small hole. “Now I wish had paid attention in magic middle school when they were teaching basic teleportation spells.” Trixie thought to herself dismally as she got down to her belly and began to squeeze her head through the hole.

Just as Trixie had gotten her head through the hole however, a sharp jet of pain coursed through her body and moments later her horn toppled off her nose and in front of her face followed by fresh blood that trickled down her head now much to her horror.

“Dear, Luna! My horn! You sick and twisted bucking mule!” Trixie exclaimed in horror and rage as she yanked her head back through the hole back into her room and held her bleeding stump of a horn with her hooves as she sobbed loudly in pain.

What's wrong Trixie? Don't you like my game?

“Quit bucking around with me and just kill me already if you're going to do it!” Trixie exclaimed between sobs.

That wouldn't be fair of me now would it? I'm giving you a sporting chance to escape alive. However, I never said anything about unharmed...

The voice echoed once again followed by another eerie chuckle.

A few tense moments passed as Trixie continued to sob due to the to searing pain from having her horn chopped off. However, the unicorn knew that if she wanted to make it out alive she had to suck it up and push on.

What's wrong Trixie? Feeling vulnerable without your precious horn?

The voice echoed in a jeering tone.

“Humph! I'd hate to disappoint you, but magic has never been my strong point! So the only pain I am enduring here is physical.” Trixie retorted attempting to put on her brave face again. She wasn't about to let this psychopath have the satisfaction of messing with her head. Her retort was true however, she never was skilled at magic.

But she did have one particular skill set. And if the killer was going to try and mess with her head, she may as well do so right back! After all, she had managed to get under everypony's skin many years ago with ease, what makes this pony any different?

Lets see how brave you are by the time the game is over...

The voice echoed once again to which the blue mare scoffed loudly. “Heh, You call yourself a killer? You had to trap me in order to even bring harm to the great and powerful Trixie! You wouldn't dare face me head on because you know you are no match for the great and powerful Trixie!” Trixie exclaimed with the best sneer she could put on her face at the moment as she walked towards the doorway, turned about face, and bucked it several times, eventually making the hole large enough to walk through.

You always did talk big, but you never were a pony to follow through. Yes Trixie, I know who you are very well. I saw your performance those many years ago. I saw how you allowed your bragging to get the better of you. And when faced with the Ursa-minor, you ran like a coward. So brag all you want, your words are as hallow as the brave face you have put on which I can see through...

The voice echoed throughout the house now as Trixie walked down her hall. “You say you saw my performance? Then you have stayed in Ponyville for a long time then?” Trixie replied as she found herself staring at what looked to be a blockade that she would have to climb over. She was trying to get as much information as possible so she could pass it along to Scootaloo and the others.

No response.

The sudden silence was unsettling to the blue mare, it made her feel as if the killer was watching her and waiting for the right time to strike. “Why don't you respond? Or have you lost your nerve?” Trixie replied in a jeering tone as she wiped blood from her eyes and began to climb the blockade. Her horn was still bleeding and she was starting to feel light headed at which point she shook her head violently in an attempt to whisk away the light headed feeling and regain her focus.

A unicorn's horn was a vital spot on their body and even Trixie knew the bleeding wouldn't stop without medical help. Despite this knowledge she hadn't bothered to attempt to at least bandage the bleeding stump of a horn while she was in her room due to fear of the killer attempting to just outright kill her if she stalled for too long. “So you have lost your nerve then. Ha, the great and powerful Trixie Preva-!” Trixie began to say only to be cut off by searing point jolting through her hind legs as she felt them slashed wide open which nearly caused her to fall backwards off the barricade and cry out in pain as fresh sobs of agony and pain escaped the mare's mouth now, but she endured, with all the strength she had left in her front legs, she pulled herself over the barricade, tumbled down the other side, and gave yet another cry of pain as her side hit a jagged piece of wood effective stabbing her as she tumbled down the barricade.

The blue mare's eyesight was becoming blurred now but she could see it, the front door standing wide open. Trixie whined, whimpered, and sobbed quietly to herself as she used her front legs to drag the rest of her body towards the front door leaving a streak of blood in her wake from her hind legs which were bleeding profusely at the moment. “I...won't...die...here!” Trixie exclaimed in a defiant tone as she grew closer and closer to her front door.

You're nearly there Trixie, but can you make it?

The voice echoed followed by a hysterical laugh.

“Stuff it down your tail hole, you bucking sick mule!” Trixie roared the best she could despite her vision blurring completely now making it nearly impossible to see anything clearly.

That wasn't very nice...

The voice echoed at which point Trixie could hear a door slamming in front of her. She could only assume it was the front door. Much to her horror she was right as her right front hoof touched something solid. The blue mare's strength was draining out of her now and she was desperately clinging to consciousness. With all the strength she had left, she pulled her body to the door, reached up, and began to turn the doorknob.

Just as the door swung open fresh pain surged through the mare's body as she felt her front legs slashed wide open causing her to scream out in agony. Despite the pain, despite the fact that any moment she was going to pass out, she dragged herself through the door frame and into her front yard at which point the last of her strength waned and she could move no more.

Though her vision was fading in and out now, she could see the silhouette of a figure standing in front of her now.
“Congratulations Trixie, you made it out alive. I'll let you live. That is, what little life you have left to live. Heh, heh...” The killer said in a jeering tone and walked away leaving Trixie alone.

“H-help me...” Trixie attempted to scream out, but the most she could muster was a feeble horse whisper.

It was now, as she lay on the verge of death, the horrifying truth hit her.

The killer never intended to let her live, he had given her false hope, made her think she had a way out. He had played her like a fiddle and the worst part of it was, this was probably the killer's intention all along. He counted on her realizing this just before she died from blood loss.

Trixie's breathing now began to slow as her vision faded completely. “So this is it? I guess I won't be able to put on one last show after all...” was the last thought that crossed the blue mare's mind before her breathing came to a halt and she knew no more as blood poured from her body and pooled under her...

Wrongly accused

WRONGLY ACCUSED

Twilight darted a crossed the town as the moon still hung high above Ponyville. If they weren't at her place, maybe Trixie had a secret room she used for situations like this. Or at least that's what the purple mare hopped for as she neared Trixie's house only to feel her heart plummet to the bottom of her stomach at the sight that beheld her.

Twitch!

Twilight continued to stare as if transfixed by the sight of the dead blue hornless mare in front of her.

Twitch, Twitch!

Heh,heh,heh....

“No! Stay in your cage, you monster!” Twilight roared abruptly and suddenly as she shook her head furiously as if she was attempting to fling something off her head that wouldn't let go.

A few more moments of furious shaking past and the purple unicorn finally stopped shaking her head and quietly stepped up to Trixie's corpse. “Not even you deserved this...” Twilight remarked in a soft tone as she knelt down and ran a hoof through Trixie's mane. “I may not be able to call you a friend, but you did help me, I'll find this killer for you Trixie.” Twilight whispered in a soft tone as she stood back up to all four hooves.

“Twilight, you didn't!” Scootaloo's voice exclaimed in horror at which point Twilight whirled around and stared at the Pegasus. “No, it wasn't me, I swear! I'm sane, I swear it!” Twilight exclaimed defensively to Scootaloo.

“But back at the police station, Nurse Redheart said...” Scootaloo began to say only to trail off.

“I don't know how, but I could have sworn I heard Fluttershy's voice telling me to stop. It was like something flicked on in my head and I was myself again.” Twilight replied as she walked up to Scootaloo.

At first she seemed to believe Twilight but just as she got close to the Pegasus, she quickly backed away from her and narrowed her eyes at the mare. “I'm not stupid Twilight, I know how Applebloom behaved. She may put on an innocent face, but she wasn't the pony I knew anymore. You're no different now.” Scootaloo replied in a low tone.

“But Scootaloo-” Twilight began to say as she reached out a hoof only for the Pegasus to take off to the skies.

“I'm me again...I swear.” Twilight said aloud in a whisper as the orange Pegasus soon flew out of sight.

She knew she couldn't blame Scootaloo for behaving as she had because Fluttershy did the same.
Brandon's apprentices had a knack for behaving perfectly sane while still being the psychotic killers they were.

Wait...

Was she sane?

Maybe this was why Fluttershy couldn't fight her psychotic self? What would she had done if she had actually touched Scootaloo? Would the killer in her had come out and tried to murder her? Twilight suddenly found herself very scared of herself once again. “Maybe I'm better off staying away from them for now, until I know for sure.” Twilight remarked aloud with a sigh.

Twilight was about to walk away from the sight when she noticed something under Trixie's corpse.

Curious, she moved Trixie's body to the side to get a closer look.

It was a note.

Twilight then opened the note on the ground as delicately as she could with her hooves and read it. Despite the fact, Trixie's blood had soaked a great deal of it she read what she could.

If you are reading this, then I am most likely dead. As such, I no longer feel the need to take this secret to the grave with me.

The Carrottops ---w -----------, I happened by one of their - ---------- ------- ------ and -------- in before making my presence known. They were talking with --- -----h directly. I couldn't hear much but what I heard terrified me. It was ---, it's been --- from the b-gin-ing. ---'- been the --ste--i-d be-ind it all. --- was the one who taught -ran-on --------- he -n-ws.

For the last five years of my life I have kept this secret for fear of being the next target if I said anything.

If you are reading this, find s---- and put an end to this madness!

As a final note, my only regret I have as I write this letter is that I was unable to help Twilight ten years ago, I hope she can forgive me.

The great and powerful Trixie

Due to the blood staining most of the letter Twilight couldn't make heads or tails of what the letter really said. Her only clue was the a name that she figured started with an s. Twilight put the bloodstained letter in her saddle-pack regardless, maybe she could find somepony to help her decipher the missing letters in Trixie's note.

“I forgive you Trixie and don't worry, I'll find the killer and I’ll put a stop to this madness once and for all.” Twilight said in a soft tone to the blue mare even though she knew that she wouldn't respond.

“So, she's begun killing.” Nurse Redheart said in a solemn tone as Scootaloo nodded in response.

“If I hadn't known how Applebloom behaved when she was killing ponies, I would have fell for her trap and been killed too.” Scootaloo remarked aloud followed by a sigh.

“Maybe, maybe not.” Erick said replied which caused Nurse Redheart, Scootaloo, and Ditzy to stare at him with confused expressions.

“Care to elaborate on that Erick?” Nurse Redheart said with a raised eyebrow.

“As you both know, Twilight is a special case. Not even the therapists at the mental ward could fully diagnose her mental condition as they had never encountered one like it before.” Erick replied in a matter of fact tone.

“So what your saying is, she might be herself again?” The white mare replied in a hopeful tone.

“Maybe, but due to her condition being such a mystery, not even I'm completely sure. Maybe she really has gone off the deep end, but you are forgetting one important detail.” The police pony replied at which point Scootaloo's face lit up.

“There's still that killer on the loose!” Scootaloo exclaimed excitedly to which Erick nodded with a smile.

“Correct, so until we know if it was Twilight or the killer for sure, we cannot assume she was the one who did it. But on the other hoof, we can't assume she didn't either. I know it sounds as if I’m going in circles here, but call me a fool for clinging onto false hope.” Erick stated simply with a slight chuckle.

“I think I understand what you are getting at though Erick, You want to be completely sure she's the one responsible before you give up on her.” Nurse Redheart acknowledged as she looked at the stallion with a serious expression.

“I hate to be the pony to rain on everypony's parade here, but how do we go about finding out? Last I checked, Trixie is pushing up daisies.” Ditzy remarked curiously which was met with silence for a few moments until Scootaloo's face lit up once again.

“I got it, Nurse Redheart, do you still have that kit?” Scootaloo asked curiously with a smirk to which the white mare stared at him with a confused expression for a few moments before she caught on.

“You mean the kit full of my research on the flu that I kept in the old hospital before it closed down? Why would you need...” Nurse Redheart asked curious until she trailed off realizing exactly what the Pegasus was getting at. It was then a devious smirk spread a crossed her face. “I think the guards at the Carrottops estate are going to come down with an epidemic case of the flu.” Nurse Redheart remarked with a smirk.

“So you plan on getting them all sick? How do you plan on doing that all at once?” Erick asked curiously.

“I can easily make it airborne within a controlled radius. There's just one problem. In order to get them all sick at once, it needs to be dispensed from the clouds.” Nurse Redheart stated with a frown as she looked at Scootaloo.

“Don't worry, If it gets you guys in to interrogate the Carrottops, I’ll take being down the the flu for the next week.” Scootaloo proclaimed with an enthusiastic smile.

“Very well, I'll need to head back to the abandoned hospital however to get it, I just hope the hidden storage unit hasn't lost all it's power or it will make this trip and idea all for nothing.” Nurse Redheart remarked in a worried tone.

“Not alone you won't. We made that mistake once, it won't happen again. Ditzy and Scootaloo, you stay here and get some sleep. The two of us together will make it hard enough to sneak through the town in the early hours when everypony is waking up.” Erick stated as he ran a hoof through his mane as if to gesture how stressful this will be for him.

A mere thirty minutes later the two were at the the abandoned hospital and inside. Their hoofsteps echoed eerily throughout the vacant halls of the emptied medical facility as they looked about themselves cautiously for any sign of the killer or Twilight for that matter.

“Tell me Redheart, were you close to the six when they were still alive?” Erick questioned as they turned right at the corner of the hall and towards the labs wing of the hospital.

“I knew them quite well if that's what you mean. I was closest to Fluttershy however as you know.” The white mare replied as she did her best to ward off the horrifying memories of the Pegasus turning into a monster before her very eyes along with the sadness that accompanied these memories however to no avail.

Nurse Redheart then stopped suddenly and looked as if she was shaking which worried the stallion as he looked at her. “Are you okay?” Erick asked in a concerned tone.

“I couldn't save her.” The white mare stated simply yet the stallion could hear anger in her undertone as she spoke.

“There was nothing you could have done. You said it yourself.” Erick said in a reassuring tone only for the nurse pony to slam a hoof against the wall abruptly still shaking.

“Yes, there was. I could have killed her myself! Put an end to the madness before it started, but I was too much of a coward. I knew of the monster hidden within her, I knew it was escaping when I saw her screaming out that night. I could have ended it all there, I could have put an end to this madness. If I had, then the other four would still be alive. It's all my fault this is happening.” Nurse Redheart said as her hoof shook furiously against the wall as the mare hung her head low with a quivering lower lip.

“You can't possibly blame yourself! You couldn't have possibly predicted this would happen!” Erick exclaimed in an attempt to convince the mare she did no wrong only for her to snap her head in his direction and glare at her.

“I knew this would happen! From the day Brandon dropped her off at my doorstep, I knew what he had done to her! I knew he had trained her to be a killer! But I was a foal, I thought I could change her fate, I thought I could save her from the monster within herself. I let my fondness for her blind me from the dark truth. Brandon had warped her mind too much, he had created the perfect killer. There was no saving her. So it is my fault, my sin, my burden that I bare.” Nurse Redheart stated as tears streamed down her cheeks staring at the police pony before she turned around, put her hoof to the ground, and continued walking down the hall followed by Erick.

“It's the reason why I never stopped being a nurse despite this hospital being shut down, I have been collecting information on who the killer is for the last five years. If I can find out who this killer is, stop him from killing anypony else, then maybe, just maybe, I will be able to put my mind at some peace.” Nurse Redheart stated in a determined tone as she walked up the lab door, opened it, and stepped inside.

“Why wait till now to tell me this? Why not tell Scootaloo of your hidden vendetta? You after all know her better than me.” Erick asked curiously.

“Because we're being hunted this very moment.” Nurse Redheart remarked in a matter of fact tone.

“What do you mean hunted? You mean the killer has been following us for sometime and you never said anything?!” Erick exclaimed in shock at the white mare's statement.

As if on cue, the killer's voice echoed throughout the room.

Just how long have you known?

The killer's voice echoed curiously.

“Since we entered the hospital. You see, I have every single part of this hospital memorized. And you gave yourself away the moment I noticed the receptionist desk was missing several pieces of vital equipment which were never removed when this facility was abandoned.” Nurse Redheart replied with a glare as if she was staring strait at the killer at this very moment but nothing was in the direction of her stare.

And why would you willingly bring yourself and Erick to your dooms then?

The voice echoed in a curious tone once again.

“So I could kill you myself and put an end to this madness.” Nurse Redheart replied as she walked over to an electrical devise in the lab.

“You've known for this long?!” Erick exclaimed looking completely flabbergasted at the moment at this new set of information.

You underestimate my abilities Nurse Redheart...

The voice echoed at which point the hospital began to contort and change in shape as if by magic.

“A unicorn.” Erick remarked in a shaky tone then looked back at Nurse Redheart with a glare. “I don't know what your vendetta is Redheart, but what good are two earth ponies against a unicorn?! You've lead us into a room with no way out except for the path the killer wants us to follow! We're completely at the killer's mercy now!” Erick exclaimed in a panicked tone.

Erick speaks the truth, you willingly put yourself at my mercy. So, lets play a game, one of you will leave this building alive while the other dies, the question is, which one will be the one who lives?

“I refuse to play your sick and twisted game. Besides, you underestimate my abilities as well.” Nurse Redheart replied in a semi-cocky tone alone with a confident smile.

What possibly could an mere earth pony have against a unicorn? No my dear, You have no advantage against me here, your nothing but a helpless earth pony.

The voiced replied followed by a eerie laugh.

“That's exactly...” Nurse Redheart began to say but trailed off as if on purpose as she moved her hoof over the device she was standing at and hovered it over a single button. “...What I wanted you to think!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed as she finished her sentence and slammed her hoof on the button and shoved a small dial to the highest setting of the device which began to whirl loudly.

The next thing the two earth ponies heard was an shrill cry of pain that echoed throughout the halls but this was not magically enhanced, no, this came strait from the killer's mouth.

“What did you do to them?” Erick asked in a confused tone as he looked at the device.

“I just leveled the playing field for us. This is a magic inhibitor, it's used for unicorns we are treating but don't want to worry about them potentially harming us with a unintentional burst of magic which can happen when you treat a wounded or sick unicorn. On a low setting it's painless and has a low range, but if you crank it up to max it's range extends throughout the entire hospital and if you do so without warning and abruptly, it causes any unicorn within it's range to experience a severe jolt of pain through their horn which effectively immobilizes them temporarily.” Nurse Redheart replied in a matter of fact tone still smiling.

“But I thought this place had no power? How is it operating?” Erick asked curiously as he stared at the device.

“Every piece of equipment in this facility comes with it's own backup generator in case of power outages. Now get out of here quickly, while he's incapacitated!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed in an urgent tone.

“I'm not leaving you behind!” Erick exclaimed in a determined tone only for nurse Redheart to flash a scalpel in his face.

“Get the buck out of her or I'll kill you myself!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed through gritted teeth as she glared at him.

Not wanting to argue with a pissed off mare with a scalpel in her mouth, the stallion reluctantly broke into a run in the opposite way making his way over the obstacles the killer had put in place with relative ease after telling her he would come back with help.

Nurse Redheart then placed the scalpel back down and looked about herself. “He should be coming to about now, I just hope it was enough time for Erick to make it out in time.” Nurse Redheart thought to herself in a worried tone as she glanced at the backup generator which was quickly running low on power due to being ran at such a high setting for as long as it had. “I need to find him and kill him before this thing runs out of power or I’ll really be at his mercy then.” Nurse Redheart remarked in a worried tone with an expression to match it as the generator's LCD screen read:

FIVE MINUTES OF POWER REMAINING

“Guess what you raving psychopath? Your powerless for the next hour and I know this hospital like the back of my hoof! I'll find you before you can even crawl your way out, now who's at who's mercy?!” Nurse Redheart exclaimed aloud in a cocky tone. Sure, that was a big bluff and she knew it, but she also knew this was not only a game of survival between the two now, but also a game of wits. So, if she could psyche him out to the point he felt helpless, he may not realize he can use magic, even when the generator runs out of power.

“Very Clever, Nurse Redheart! But using a magic inhibitor won't save you! Remember, the game is still in play, and Erick made it out alive, so that just leaves you.” The killer replied aloud which seemed to be coming directly down the hall from her.

Nurse Redheart then grabbed a medical supply saddle-pack from the Cabinet, put a scalpel, adrenaline shot, and a tranquilizer shot in it, and quickly made her way down the hall.

Daylight was just now breaking and the purple mare had to find someplace to hide. She knew she couldn't hide at Trixie's or her house. She had to find someplace to hide and fast and the closest place she saw was an abandoned hospital.

“No one will look for me here.” Twilight thought to herself in a reassuring tone as she quickly opened the front doors and entered the hospital building. The purple mare walked throughout the vacant waiting room and sat down in one of the chairs, letting out a sigh as she did so.

“How am I going to convince the others I’m sane again? That is, if I am.” Twilight asked herself aloud in a doubtful tone.

The purple mare sat for a little long until she felt a familiar feeling in the pit of her lower regions.

“Horsefeathers...” Twilight remarked aloud in annoyance as she stood up and sighed. “Hope the pluming still works here.” Twilight said aloud as she searched the halls for the nearest mare's room to relieve herself.

However as Twilight walked down the halls she noticed something was very off. Being an ex-unicorn, the mare knew right off magic was at work here. The question was, who would do such a thing to an abandoned hospital and why?

It was then she heard it, a faint moaning coming from just a crossed from her in one of the hospital patent rooms. The unicorn quickly glanced towards the door and noticed a streak of blood on the floor leading to the door, opened it, and gasped in horror at what she saw.

“Erick!” Twilight exclaimed a she rushed to the stallion's side whom was bleeding profusely from her side at the moment.

“Twi-Twilight?” Erick asked curiously as she lifted him up and turned him over so he lay on his back.

“Yes, it's me. Hold on, there has to be something to patch up that wound!” Twilight exclaimed as she began to frantically search the cabinets for anything she could possibly use to stop the bleeding.

“The killer caught me off guard, stabbed me in the side, and dragged me in here.” Erick said in a weak tone.

“How long have you been bleeding out like this?!” Twilight asked in a panicked tone as she continued to frantically search the cabinets for anything to stop the bleeding as she tossed medical supplies out randomly in her search.

“Couple minutes maybe, I'm not sure.” Erick replied in a weak tone.

It was mere moments after Erick's reply that she found several large rolls of medical bandages, grabbed them with her mouth, unraveled one of the rolls, tore off a large portion, ran over to Erick, lifted him up, and began to run the bandage around his body making sure to cover the gash in his side which was quickly staining the medical bandages. It took several times of running the bandage around his body, but it looked as if she had managed to cut off the bleeding. There was one last thing she had to do though.

“I have to apply pressure to the wound Erick. Try not to cry out.” Twilight said in a whisper as she lifted him up, laid him against the back of one of the beds, and pressed against the wound causing grunt loudly and wince. It was clear he was holding back the best possible way he could.

“What in the hay would possess you to come here?” Twilight asked curiously as she continued to apply pressure to the wound which seemed to slowing the bleeding now.

“It was Scootaloo and Nurse Redheart's idea. They planned to use some flu virus stuff that she had in order to make the guard ponies sick at the Carrottops manner in order for the rest of us to be able to sneak by unnoticed and interrogate the Carrottops about the killer.” Erick explained in a pained tone though he sounded less weary now, he stilled looked worse for wear to the purple mare.

“We need to get you out of here, can you walk?” Twilight asked curiously as she attempted to help the stallion to his hooves only for him to nearly fall and would have if not for Twilight holding him up.

“We can't leave, Nurse Redheart's still in there. She knew the killer was following us. She's got some kind of hidden vendetta she told none of us about till just before the killer revealed himself to us. She used us as bait, turned on some magic inhibitor to get rid of the killer's magic, and told me to get out. I don't know how long it will last though.” Erick replied at which point Twilight set him down.

“I can't leave you alone though, if the killer finds you're still alive then...” Twilight said trailing off as if she was unable to finish her sentence.

“If the killer comes after me, I’ll give you a signal. Hand me that little device over there.” Erick said in a pained tone as he pointed to a small flat remote looking device.

“This? But there's no power. How will it work?” Twilight asked curiously as she handed it to him.

“Nurse Redheart said everything here has a backup generator in case of power outages. Go to the front desk and grab one of the nurse alert saddle-belts and set it to this room number. I saw a few sitting on the front receptionist desk when we walked in.” Erick instructed though he still sounded weak.

“Okay, don't hesitate to alert me if you see the door open or see anything funny.” Twilight said in a soft tone turned, and began to walk away.

“I was right, your still yourself. Good to know I was right about something.” Erick remarked aloud with a smile which caused the purple mare to turn around and smile weakly.

“So am I.” Twilight replied truthfully.

The mare felt as if a weight had been lifted from her now as she realized she was still herself and not some psychopathic killer like Fluttershy as she left the room, went the front desk as quickly as she could, grabbed one of the nurse alert belts, and set it to the room number Erick was in. She then quickly dashed down the hall in search of Nurse Redheart hoping she could find her before the killer did...

(Play “Nurse Redheart's suspense” now)

Nurse Redheart looked about herself cautiously as she walked down the halls now. Looking quickly for any sign of the killer. The generator was most likely about out of power by now if not already out and she could only hope her bluff was enough to give her an edge against the killer.

Had he figured out that he could use magic already? Or was was he keeping silent in order to get the drop on her? Regardless, the silence was unsettling to the white mare as she walked as silently as she could so as not to give off hoofsteps that would give away her position.

The white mare continued down the hall and stopped short of one of the hospital rooms, opened it, and looked inside. Cautiously, she stepped inside and began to look around. She looked to her side and saw a medical bed, heart monitor, and standard supplies.

She then looked to her left and saw the closed door to the bathroom that the patents would use, a shelf with bedpans on it, and other medical supplies.

“He's gotta be somewhere. I just prey to Luna he hasn't figured out he can use magic yet.” Nurse Redheart thought to herself in a worried tone. It had been well past five minutes now and the generator's power supply was completely drained now.

Once again she cautiously stepped out of the hospital room and silently closed the door behind her. She slowly made her way down the hall a little more now the deathly silence racking at her nerves like nails on a chalk board which caused her heart to race. She almost wished the killer with attempt to spring on her now just to break the silence.

Almost.

Nurse Redheart continued down the hall now looking about herself for any sign of the killer yet there was no trace, not even a faint hoofstep. She soon came by the next hospital room in the hall however this one was blocked off thanks to the killer warping the hall with their magic.

Before the white mare now stood a gaping hole in the floor. Curiously she peered into it, gasped aloud at what she saw and immediately slapped a hoof over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her sudden gasp.

Before her in the hole lay a set of jagged and sharp pieces of the floor however in one of these jagged spikes a baby deer lay half way down in one of them, eyes wide as if it's life was suddenly cut short.

The mare attempted to calm herself now as she felt her heart begin to pound against her ribcage. She couldn't let the killer cause her to panic. That would make it too easy for him to find and kill her.

She quickly looked away from the hole and around there had to be a way through. Sure enough, just above the hole lay a small wire which was close enough for her to grab onto with her mouth. She grabbed onto it, gave it a small tug to make sure it was secure, took a few steps back, and leaped a crossed the gap.

SNAP!

The white mare let out a startled shriek as the wire suddenly broke, flung her front legs out, and preyed she could make it to the edge of the gap.

CLOP, SCRATCH, CLOP, SCRATCH!

Nurse Redheart clung to the ledge for dear life with her mouth as she attempted to pull herself up but to no avail, clawing at the side of the floor as she attempted to use her hooves as an anchor to spring board herself up, but could not get a firm enough hold onto the floor that would allow her to let go of the ledge with her mouth.

This was it, she was done for. It was only a matter of time now until the strength in her jaws drained out of her face and she plummeted to her immediate death on one of the jagged spikes below.

No, she wouldn't let it end like this! She had to stop this killer herself! She was going to make it out of this ditch, one way or the other!

The white mare surveyed her situation the best and quickest way she could. Okay, she could mount her hind hooves against the wall of this hole, okay so she had a way to springboard herself now, however she had to make sure she had enough of a grip on the floor in front of her so she could anchor herself. However, no matter how many times she tried, her hooves just slid along the slick floor surface giving her little or no grip.

The longest she could manage to maintain a grip before they began to slide was less than two seconds. That was a very small window, if she wanted to pull this off, she had to time this right, or fall to her death.

Her jaw and upper mouth began to ache now which told her that time was running out, it was now or never. The white mare prepared herself, not only psychically but mentally as well, she couldn't allow her fear to control her here, the slightest doubt in her mind could potentially kill her. She took a deep breath through her nose, exhaled, inhaled once again, exhaled, took one last inhale, gave a mighty push with her hind hooves while at the same time pulling forwards with her front hooves, let go of the edge of the hole, and...

FLOP, SCRATCH, CLOP, SCRATCH, CLOP!

The white mare's upper body hit the floor with a flop however the lower half of her body began to drag her back at which point she frantically began to claw at the floor with her front hooves to pull herself forward with success. She had managed to stop herself from sliding off the edge, at which point she pulled her hind quarters over the side of the ledge and lay on her back now huffing and puffing next to the hole.

The mare's heart felt as if was pounding at a thousand miles per hour now. She had made it, but just barely.

It was then she noticed, her saddle-pack was no longer on her back. The mare looked down and groaned softly to herself. Her saddle-pack had slipped off during her attempt to make it out of the hole and fell strait onto one of the jagged spikes, impaling it and causing the contents to scatter along the floor of the hole.

She had no defense against the killer now. Even if she met him head on, there was little should could do unless she was able to catch him by surprise. And even then, a swift knife to the side would end her assault in an instant.

She had hopped she could spot him, quickly stab him with the tranquilizer, and end his life with the scalpel, she had brought the adrenaline shot with her in case she was injured by the killer so she could give herself an energy boost in case any potential inflicted wound caused her to feel light headed and about to pass out.

Well, she had made it this far, and by the amount of noise she had made, the killer most likely knew exactly where she was, so she had to quickly find a weapon and prepare herself for him...

The purple mare made her way down the hallway making her way over most obstacles in her path with relative ease.

A mere few moments ago she had heard Nurse Redheart's startled cry followed by a loud clamoring of hooves. She had no idea if the killer had found her or not, regardless the mare had doubled her speed now. Even if the killer hadn't found her yet, he knew where she was now if Twilight did.

The purple mare suddenly found herself staring at a gaping hole as she came to abrupt halt nearly falling strait in. Twilight fell to her rump nearly hyperventilating now as she stared at the jagged spikes below.

The purple mare slowly calmed herself now and finally gave a sigh after effectively calming herself. Much to her delight however, Nurse Redheart came into view.

“Twilight?” Nurse Redheart remarked aloud in shock as she stopped just short of the gaping hole herself.

“I can't tell you how nice it is to see you alive.” Twilight remarked with a smile, however the white mare didn't share her kind expression, rather it was one of mistrust.

“How did you know I was here?” Nurse Redheart asked in a curious yet worried tone.

“Erick told me, I found him bleeding out in one of the hospital rooms and patched him up the best way I could, the killer had got to him but didn't finish him off.” Twilight said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“How do I know it wasn't you who got to him in the first place? And how do I know he's still alive?” Nurse Redheart replied as she narrowed her eyes at the purple mare.

“See this around my waist? You should know what this is, he had me grab one and he would alert me the moment he saw anything out of the ordinary.” Twilight replied though the white mare's mistrusting expression didn't falter which caused her to sigh.

“I can see you still don't trust me.” Twilight remarked aloud after a few moments with a frown.

“Can you blame me? The last time I saw you, you were on a psychopathic rampage with the police ponies down at the police station.” Nurse Redheart replied not letting up her mistrusting expression as she spoke.

“How about I help you a crossed this gap? Will you trust me then?” Twilight asked in an slightly annoyed tone.

“I suppose it would be a start.” The white mare replied.

“Alright.” The purple mare replied and began to look about herself for something to use as a bridge to help the nurse pony a crossed. Her eyes soon fell upon a ladder in a storage room to her left which had it's door left open.

“I got it, let me grab this ladder and we'll use that as a bridge okay?” Twilight suggested to which nurse Redheart nodded silently.

Twilight then quickly made her way into the closet and began to drag the ladder out creating a loud screeching sound as she drug it out. She knew the killer could hear this and that meant her time was very limited. She had no idea how long that magic inhibitor would last or if it had already ran out of power. Regardless, she redoubled her efforts as she dragged it over to the hole, tipped it over, and watched it hit the other side with a loud clattering sound effectively creating a bridge for Nurse Redheart to use to cross.

“We need something to balance out my side or it will tilt and fall through once you make it to that side of the ladder.” Nurse Redheart observed as she looked about herself, saw a heavy cart full of supplies, pushed it over and toppled it over which created a loud clattering sound as medical supplies came falling from the drawers that flew open upon being toppled to it's side.

“Hurry! I know the killer's been hearing us and I don't know how long that magic inhibitor thing will last!” Twilight hissed as she motioned for the white mare to begin crossing.

“It's most likely ran out of power by now, I can only hope the killer hasn't figure it out yet.” Nurse Redheart replied in a whisper as she cautiously stepped on the ladder and began to slowly make her way a crossed.

Suddenly and without warning the killer appeared in a flash of magic behind Nurse Redheart much to the purple mare's horror. “Behind you!” Twilight shrieked at which point Nurse Redheart turned her head as far as it would go to see the killer coming down on her, knife in mouth, impaled her in the neck, ripped the knife out, and shoved the Nurse Redheart who was currently choking on her own blood off the side of the ladder causing her body to be impaled by the spike below in a spray out blood as her body slid down the spike lifelessly after a few moments.

“YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!” Twilight roared at the top of her lungs.

The killer simply looked up at her as if unfazed by her threat. “Don't you have a friend back in the hospital room?” The killer asked in a jeering tone at which point Twilight's face suddenly contorted and became crazed.

“I have a friend in the hospital room you say? Oh, that's not good, Twilight isn't allowed to have friends.” Twilight replied in a cheery yet creepy tone.

“Opsie, I set you off. Silly me! Oh well, you'll do my job for me then. Have fun with your friend Twilight Sparkle.” The killer said in the same jeering tone, tossed the bloody knife at her hooves, and disappeared in a flash of magic.

Twilight knelt down, picked the bloody knife up with her mouth and began to trot back to the room where Erick lay unaware of the purple mare now being in her crazed state.

Heh,heh,heh....