Brandon's Legacy

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...