Derpy's Death

“Damn it…” Derpy Hooves muttered as she walked into her bathroom and stripped herself of the garment that clothed her rump area and got into the shower. As she worked to get herself cleaned up, she felt angry at something that she should have control over but couldn’t. Once she was out and dried, and evidence of her crime was thrown away, she sat at her rough table in the kitchen and started to write a note of things she would have to buy at the shops that day. As she worked, she felt foalish and a disgrace to have done what she had, but she couldn’t help it after the injury she had sustained during her time at Flight Academy. The only saving grace in having to wear adult nappies at her young age was that it fell under the purview of medical secrecy so only her Doctor, Nurse Redheart and herself knew. In the back of her mind, Derpy rationalised that it wasn’t her fault, but she still felt deep down a disgrace to ponykind.

“Morning, Mummy” a dainty voice called out in a sleepy manner as Derpy looked up and saw her daughter Dinky walking towards her and then plonking herself on a chair.

“Morning, my little muffin of joy…” Derpy quickly hid the note away. “Breakfast?”

“Yes, please” was all Dinky could manage. With a chuckle to herself, Derpy got up and got Dinky her breakfast of orange juice and cereal. When the filly was eating, Derpy trotted over to where she kept her bits and counted them out twice to make sure she had enough – she hadn’t. Quickly glancing at her list again, she worked out what she could afford and then crossed off the muffin mix, free range oats and the batteries for her torch so that she had enough money for all the things to keep Dinky in food and happiness for another month. As she watched her daughter eat, she was thankful that her medical needs came free both from her work and as part of the fact she was on a low income in the first place – mail work didn’t pay much although Derpy was hoping for a promotion to working the counter which paid twice as much and gave better benefits.

“Okay, sweetie… What do you have planned today?” she asked.

“Miss Pie said she’d teach me how to make cupcakes” Dinky chirped. “Then, after that, Miss Pie said she’d take me to the library so we could throw cupcakes at Miss Sparkle”

“I’m not sure she’d like that” Derpy frowned. “Do you mean throw her a cupcake party?”

“Oh yeah… That!” Dinky grinned. Derpy grinned back and gave her daughter two bits to pay for anything she might need, though she suspected Pinkie Pie would just give it to her, and waved her off before going back to her list and making an inspection of what was still edible in her cupboards that she could eat so Dinky got the fresh. If she had to, there was always the grass she could eat in her back garden which would be free.

“Oh horseapples” she cursed as she looked at the time. She needed to get to her appointment at the hospital, pick up her embarrassing nappies and then hide them away at home before going about her shopping.

“Ah, Derpy… I take it you are here for the usual?” Nurse Redheart hoofed over a bag of her needed items.

“Thanks” Derpy put them in her saddle bags. “I’d like to make an appointment for another check up”

“I’m afraid we don’t have any appointments this week, but I can slot you in for one next week” Redheart frowned slightly. “I could have sworn we had some open for Friday”

“That’s okay… Have you got anything on Monday afternoon?”

“Half past one?” and Derpy nodded in agreement.

“Oh!” Derpy looked around and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Have you got any powder?”

“These are a new type that are already powdered” Redheart said.

“Wow… These really are awesome” Derpy giggled. “Whatever will somepony come up with next?” she shook her head. “Oh well, see you later”

“Ah, Miss Derpy…” Dave said as she trotted into the supermarket. Dave was a Griffon that had come to Ponyville when Derpy was still a filly, fallen in love with the place and stayed ever since and opened a shop that sold almost anything any of the residents could wish for.

“You know to call me plain and simple Derpy”

“Ah, Miss Plain And Simple Derpy” the two exchanged their traditional play. “Just your normal shop this month or looking for something different?”

“The good stuff for Dinky and off brand stuff for me” Derpy sighed.

“You know that you have plenty of saving stamps” Dave said, pulling out a ledger and checking the figures. “Yep… You’ve got around a hundred bits in savings”

“I know, but if I spend that on me, what would Dinky have for Hearthswarming?” Derpy replied.

“I’m sure that taking two bits out for some good quality tea will not put you in the poor stable” Dave replied with a frown crossing his face. “Look, can I be perfectly honest with you?”

“Sure”

“When are you going to spend money on yourself? I know that you barely eat for days or even weeks so Dinky always has enough to eat – just spend some of the savings and replace it later”

“But if I do that, they’ll take her!” Derpy whimpered.

“Dinky?” Dave questioned, “Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know, but my little muffin told me yesterday that both Cheerilee and Mayor Mare asked her if she was being treated well at home, did she get enough to eat, was I being nice to her, do I hit her…”

“They did what?” Dave growled and Derpy drew back in fear. He quickly apologised for giving her a scare and said it sounded like both of them were trying their hardest to find some reason for taking Dinky away from her mother. It took some effort and outright lies, but Derpy managed to get everything on her list and was almost out of the door before she remembered something that she had forgot.

“Do you have any pelt shampoo suitable for unicorn fillies?”

“Sorry – Rarity got the whole lot I had. I’m getting some next week though if you want me to set you aside a bottle or two” and Derpy shook her head, hiccupped and then sat on her rump and started to breakdown into tears. “Its… Its not the end of the world” Dave said gently.

“If Dinky isn’t kept clean, Cheerielee and Mayor Mare will use that as an excuse to take my muffin away – I just know they will!” she wailed. “I’m already almost out of money paying for stuff my husband bucking well got before he vanished off to Manehatton for some fancy strumpet named Rose…” she said the last bit with extra venom.

“Can’t you say that it was him who made the purchases?”

“I’ve tried, but we had a joint account and under the law I have to pay it all off. I don’t even know where he is to serve him divorce papers”

“Look, Derpy…” Dave hesitated before making a decision. “Look, why don’t you come in the back and have a cup of tea and talk it all over with me. They say two heads are better than one”

After tea and a talk, Dave sat behind the counter of his shop and wondered about how hard life was for Derpy. Being essentially a single parent was destroying her social life and giving her, he presumed, mental health troubles. Normally, he would go to the Mayor with his concerns, but that idea was right out of the question if what Derpy was true.

“Do you have any boxes of hay burgers?” he was brought out of his thoughts by the voice of Spike – Twilight Sparkle’s assistant slash little brother slash adopted dragon son.

“Oh… Er, yeah” Dave blinked his eyes in confusion for a moment. “Say, is Twilight around?”

“Yeah” Spike replied as he went to the boxes of hay burgers and got what he needed. “Why’d you ask?”

“I need to speak to her in private. Is there any chance that you can ask her to come over after dinner?”

“You thinking of making a move?”

“Twilight isn’t my type”

“Oh. Well I can ask her for you, but I don’t know if she will because there is always a bugbear, Discord, insane Pinkie Pie…”

“Damn, I forgot it was Tuesday”

“Hello, Dave. Spike said that you wanted to see me” Twilight Sparkle was stood at his door that evening.

“Oh, come in. Would you like some tea?” Dave asked as he stepped aside to allow her to trot inside.

“Tea would be perfect” Twilight replied as she sat on a suitable chair. Dave busied himself with making a pot before sitting in his own chair and wondering where to start.

“Are you familiar with Derpy Hooves?” he asked.

“A bit – she dropped half a house on me”

“There is a story”

“You wouldn’t believe the half of it” snorted Twilight. “Anyway, what about her?”

“Well, it seems as if she thinks that Mayor Mare and Cheerilee are trying to take her little filly away from her” Dave said to her, passing over a small cup of tea.

“I hardly think that’s possible” remarked Twilight.

“You’d think that, but the Mayor has always had it in for Derpy and tried to have her put away in the hospital for good. I hate to say it about any of you ponies, but I think the pair of them are being elitist and trying to make themselves look good. And before you say otherwise, I overheard Cheerilee talk badly about little Apple Bloom and how she’s clearly not getting enough love from two working teenagers and a senile old fool of a Grandmother” Dave shook his head. “She should be careful with what says – especially when she caused the death of their parents”

“What?”

“It was just after I came here, Twilight, but Cheerilee went out into the forest to try and see a Timberwolf. Well, cut a long story short, she found one and screamed her dainty head off which brought a whole load more to her. The Apples came rushing in to save her, but they couldn’t hold out against a group of thirty and they were torn to shreds. I doubt Applejack remembers, but Mackintosh does and that’s why he doesn’t talk all that much”

“Why?”

“He found their bodies”

“Ah”

“Yeah… But going back to Derpy, both the Mayor and her really have it in for Derpy ever since the incident with the Town Hall”

“Even though Derpy warned them about the clouds and her odd attraction to stormy ones?” and Dave nodded. “Wow… I never knew they could be so cruel”

“We’re all cruel somehow”

“Even you?”

“Oh yes… Only the other day, Twi, I made a filly put back an item when she was one bronze bit short”

“As Roseluck would say ‘Oh the horror… THE HORROR’. Such a meanie”

“I wouldn’t be a Griffon if I wasn’t” Dave chuckled. “Seriously, Twilight, you need to see what is going on with the Mayor – she was never like this before. I wanted to keep this as quiet as possible before I was forced to go to the Princesses. I have always had my suspicions about her, but I have never been able to prove them”

“What do you mean?” Twilight frowned.

“Dianne Mare has been Mayor of Ponyville for a long time. It was… suggested that her campaign was funded mainly by Filthy Rich in exchange for her granting him permits and so forth for his businesses” Dave shrugged. “All rumours of course, but where there is a rumour…”

“There is always some truth” Twilight finished and then sighed. “So how does this relate to Derpy?” she asked.

“Derpy’s parents abandoned her after an accident caused her to go from one of the brightest ponies around to being sometimes unable to read and write. The fact a retard, not that I like to use that term mind you, was in her picture perfect village has angered her to no end. Add to that the fact both her and Cheerilee seem to find some excuse to keep sending investigators to exam every inch of Derpy’s home life…” he sighed and leant back in his chair. “I might be getting this all wrong of course, but call it the gut feeling of an old timer”

“Maybe you should see a Doctor if you have an odd feeling in your gut” Twilight teased.

“I’m not too old as to not be able to throw you all the way to Canterlot”

“You wouldn’t dare”

“Care to try me?” and they stared hard at each other before they burst into laughter at the other’s silliness. Twilight liked visiting Dave as it allowed her time to be herself apart from when she was with her friends – every other time, the residents treated her like a Goddess which she was getting tired of.

“I’ll see what can be done about this, Dave, but it might take a long time” and her friend nodded.

“I know” he said, “But I wish that it would not be so… I just have a feeling that something is going to happen” and Twilight was about to reply when there was a banging noise from the door. Dave crossed to it, opened up and saw a frantic Spike on the other side.

“Is Twilight here?” he asked in a state of near panic.

“Yep… Whats happened?” Twilight asked as she gently trotted over.

“Pony has been killed on the edge of town” the little dragon was breathless from running as fast as he could.

“Sweet mother…” Dave whistled. “Do you know who?”

“Derpy Hooves” and Twilight almost jolted with surprise as she turned to look at Dave.

“Do they know how she died?” asked the still fairly new Princess.

“Yeah – somepony dropped an anvil on her after cutting the rope it was being held up with. The police ponies say it must have been very quick” Spike replied.

“Where is Dinky?”

“I didn’t think about that” Spike admitted sheepishly. “I guess she must be at home… Celestia, who is going to tell her?”

“More to the point, why was Derpy flying out there in the evening?” Dave asked.

“Agreed – Derpy would never leave Dinky alone willingly” Twilight exchanged a knowing look with Dave and then glanced at Spike. “Spike, there is something you should know…”

“Princess Twilight, we have news of the investigation” a police pony came up to her with a formal air about him.

“What have you found out?” she asked.

“The means to cut the rope was simple but used magic to do it. We tried tracing every bit of magic we know of but found nothing. It was only when Discord offered to help that we found it was a foal’s magic”

“Discord offered to help? The Discord?”

“Apparently, he and Derpy Hooves would play with bubbles every Saturday” the pony shrugged. “Anyway, we have crossed him off our list of suspects because, although we know he can adjust his magic somewhat, he has a watertight alibi”

“Which is?”

“He was with Fluttershy”

“Doing what?”

“He was with Fluttershy”

“Oh… I see…” Twilight blushed. She knew about intimate encounters of course, but she had never found a suitable close friend to be more with. “So who else could impersonate a foal’s magic?”

“Not many” the police pony replied. “There is yourself of course, the Princesses…”

“Oh?”

“Of course, we know you’d never do such a thing” the pony quickly backtracked. “We’ve sent word to Canterlot for experts to help us, but that could take hours or days for a group to arrive”

“Then we will do what we can for now” Twilight seemed to take charge. “Go house to house and see if anypony has seen anything as well as get Fluttershy to ask her animal friends if they saw anything” and then something seemed to strike her. “What has Mayor Mare said about this?”

“Actually, that is the funny thing about it – she doesn’t seem that bothered. A few of the boys have put that down to a murder being done here, the first for Ponyville they say, and the shock will hit her later”

“Hmm… Where is Dinky?”

“At her home being watched over by Rainbow Dash – it was the best we could do on short notice”

“I suppose that I had better go and break the news to her” Twilight sighed and looked at the silent Spike who was having trouble coming to terms with Derpy’s death – it had turned out that a lot of ponies were great friends with her despite her unfortunate issues. As she slowly made her way to break the news to Dinky, Twilight ran through her mind a list possible suspects but couldn’t think of one off hoof. With it being magic, she was only mentally reviewing unicorns as no alicorns apart from herself lived in Ponyville and Pinkie Pie’s strange abilities could never cause harm despite her being an earth pony – that and the fact Pinkie was visiting her family and wouldn’t be back for at least a day.

“You know, Twilight, I don’t know how Dinky is going to handle this” Spike said as he walked alongside her.

“Neither do I” came the simply reply. “I’ve read about what to do, but nothing really prepares you for…”

“I know” Spike said and then almost seemed to burst into tears. “I wish we could go back in time and prevent this”

“So do I… Were you close to Derpy?”

“What? Uh, no…” Spike frowned. “I mean, I suppose we were a bit, but then again who else apart from you and the girls knows about so much about ‘My Little Human after all?”

“A being that works on the railway, is a lazy so and so, eats a ton of food and yet somehow manages to have others like him… Yeah, I can see why you like him”

“Okay okay”

“Are you going to be able to handle this?” Twilight paused and regarded the dragon she had raised to be something like her son.

“I don’t know, Twi. Its like I know what murder is an’ all from reading books, but to actually encounter it in real life…” the little dragon looked down before simply shaking his head and walking off. Twilight watched him for a moment, made a mental note to sit and talk things through with him and then followed carefully behind.

“Howdy, Twilight… You ain’ seen them three have you?” Applejack came galloping up to her – there was, of course, no need to clarify which three she meant.

“Not since this morning when they got a book out on cutie marks. Spike?”

“I saw them running through the square earlier, but I just figured that they were on some new quest. Oh no… You don’t think they’ve been taken an–” he cut off as a horrible look passed over Applejack’s face.

“You checked the Everfree at all?” Twilight cut him off

“Yeah, but ah guess ah could take another look” Applejack said, waving a farewell and galloping off.

“What was that for?” snapped Spike.

“I can’t say why, Spike, but just assume that finding a dead body is not what Applejack wants… Or Big Mac for that matter” a stray thought entered her mind. “I suppose I could try searching for Sweetie Belle’s magic” but Spike folded his arms and glared at her. With a sigh, Twilight looked around and started to quickly whisper a few things – by the end of which, there was a young dragon ready to kick doors down and tear certain ponies to pieces.

“Have you got rid of the evidence?” asked one mare.

“As best as I could, but it is hard when you are watched and very busy” replied the other mare.

“Well that retard should never have been allowed to live after that accident”

“Of course not… By the way, great idea to get you know who involved”

“Howdy, Miss Twilight” Big Mac spoke in his slow and careful manner. “You ain’t seen mah anvil, have y’all?”

“No, but I have a funny feeling I know where it is” said Twilight.

“You… I… Ah didn’t do it” Big Mac opened and closed his mouth rapidly.

“Relax… We know it couldn’t have been you that caused Derpy’s murder, but at least we know where the anvil that killed her came from” Spike said.

“Derpy? Miss Derpy is dead?” Big Mac fell to the ground in shock and had to be held up by Twilight’s magic.

“You didn’t know?” winced Spike.

“Ah’ve been working hard getting wood for the winter” Big Mac shook his head.

“Were you good friends with Derpy Hooves?” asked Twilight.

“Ah certainly were – Miss Derpy used to help with me letterings”

“Why wouldn’t a teacher like Cheerilee help you?” Spike asked.

“Me and Miss Cheerilee had a little falling out, Master Spike. Now she won’t have anythin’ ta do wit’ me, so ah had to go to Miss Derpy to be learning my letterings and numbers”

“I didn’t realise Derpy could do that” Twilight said in surprise – she was beginning to wonder if the late mare was a dab hoof at everything.

“Miss Derpy had problems with the school, so she took little Dinky out and home schooled her. A few of the town folk got it into their minds that Derpy was being cruel, so she decides to take a course in being a teacher and passes – mighty higher grades then Cheerilee too they tell me”

“Why did you need help? Was school that bad?” asked Spike.

“Ah had to drop out to help aroun’ the farm, Master Spike” Big Mac said sadly. “After mah parents died, I was t’ only one that could help out, ya see… Granny Smith were old even then and little Applejack were just a filly still, so it had to be me”

“I’m sorry that happened” Twilight said quietly.

“Its alright, Miss Twilight… Ponies round these parts take me for being a little slow, ya see, but I don’ see tha need for them airs and graces” he blinked. “Ah mean no offence, Miss Twilight”

“If you think she has airs and graces, you should have seen her last month when she tried a curry” said Spike with a smirk.

“Ah’m sure that was a good sight to see, eeyup” Big Mac said. “Before ah’s forgets, have either of y’all seen Apple Bloom? I ain’t seen her since mornin’ when she went t’ school”

“Its funny… Applejack said she hasn’t come home at all, but others have seen her running around the town” Twilight sighed and felt the start of a headache. “If I see her, I’ll either send word back or teleport her right to you. Me and Spike have to sort out what’s happened until the specialists from Canterlot get here”

“Ah best be leaving you then… Have to see about ordering a new anvil an’ all” and, with that, Big Mac turned and slowly walked away.

“You know, the depths of Derpy Hooves’ abilities seems to be growing by the minute” Twilight said to Spike as she let him sit on her back. “I wish I had been better towards her and known her as a friend”

“Well” said Spike hesitantly as he held onto her mane lightly like he used to do, “Make it up by finding the one that killed her”

“But then what are we going to do?” asked Twilight sadly. “There hasn’t been a murder in Equestria for centuries so we would have to see what laws apply, there would have to be a trial with evidence but where do we find the lawyers for a defence?”

“Or for prosecution” Spike noted.

“That too”

“Twi? Can I ask you for a favour?” Spike asked quietly so none of the other inhabitants could hear.

“What?”

“Can I sleep in your bed tonight?” he asked. Twilight was slightly surprised as he hadn’t done that for a long time now, but she decided that he needed the comfort and simply nodded.

“No problem… It’ll be just like the old days”

“I’m beginning to miss those days”

“So far, all we have is a faint magical trace and a dead pony” Twilight shook her head as she went over her notes. “That and a rope and an anvil belonging to Big Mac”

“Have you tried tracing the magic again?” asked Rarity. She had gathered with the rest of the so called Mane 6 to help Twilight in her investigation.

“Yes, but it came to this general area and then stopped as if somepony realised they had not yet covered their tracks”

“Who would want to kill Derpy? I mean she had a bit of a clumsy side from time to time because of her accident when a filly, but she was always there when you needed her” Rainbow Dash had had a hard time in getting the thought of Derpy being dead through her mind and had appointed herself a sort of guardian over Dinky until they could make other arrangements.

“I don’t know” Rarity replied. “I just know I am thankful that Sweetie Belle came back home – she was covered in leaves and dirt”

“What did you say?” asked Twilight as Fluttershy suddenly squeaked with eyes wide open.

“She was utterly covered in leaves and dirt along with who knows what else” Rarity shook her head. “I was never that mischievous or naughty as a foal”

“Y’all was worse” sniped Applejack. Twilight mulled the information over in her mind and realised that Fluttershy had come to the same conclusion. When she turned to look at her friend, she had seemingly vanished along with Pinkie Pie who had been miserable all the time since she had heard the news and come straight home.

“Equestria to Twilight...” Rainbow Dash waved a leg in front of Twilight and brought her out of her thoughts. “You up in space or something?” she asked.

“No” she felt sick, “But I am beginning to wish I was. Rarity, where is Sweetie Belle?”

“Right now? Out crusading I suppose – why do you ask?” and then her head snapped round and she locked gazes with Twilight. “No…! You can’t think that Sweetie Belle of all foals… Twilight, have you lost your mind?” she got to her hooves.

“Rarity, look at it this way. We have the magic of a young filly that suddenly stops around here at the site of the murder, she wasn’t seen all that day and you just said that she was covered in all sorts of stuff… What would you think? I have to question her in order to eliminate her from suspicion” Twilight felt like she could do with some migraine pills.

“Oh… Well, I suppose that makes sense. Maybe you can find out what she was doing covered in dirt and out of breath” Rarity felt her anger backing down.

“Say, Rarity, you ain’t never had a tumble in a haystack have you?” Applejack asked with a smirk.

“No, why do you…”

“We got her” called Pinkie Pie as she came back with Fluttershy and a tied up Sweetie Belle. “She tried to run, so we had to tie her up”

“I’m sorry we had to hurt her, but it was the only way we knew” Fluttershy apologised to Rarity. The fashion obsessed pony narrowed her vision at her yellow friend before turning that same gaze upon her sister.

‘Surely there is no way that Sweetie Belle could have been caught up in this horrid murder…” she thought to herself.

“Sweetie Belle, I need to ask you a few questions and you can’t run away either” Twilight said as Applejack quietly moved to block the doorway. “First of all, why did you come back to your home covered in dirt?”

“I was playing with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and trying to get our cutie marks in nature” the tied up unicorn replied with irritation.

“Do you know what happened to Derpy Hooves?” Twilight asked her.

“She died from an anvil hitting her in the forest. We heard some grown ups talking about it when they thought they couldn’t hear us”

“I see” Twilight exchanged looks with her friends. “Did you see Derpy Hooves when you were out playing and crusading?”

“Oh yes… She was flying right over us when she dived to the ground for something” Sweetie Belle looked at Twilight and then her sister. “Might I be released now?” she asked.

“Just as soon as you answer a few more questions” Rarity spoke quietly. “Starting with why you would not come back willingly with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie”

“I was going to be late for dinner with you, Rarity. I know you hate that, so I was trying extra hard” Sweetie Belle looked the picture perfect example of innocence.

“I’m sure that Rarity would have been understanding if you had told her” Rainbow Dash said from her place by the window.

“Was she alone when you saw her?” Twilight counted the seconds down in her mind.

“I think so – at least, I never saw an–” Sweetie Belle was cut off by Spike issuing a small burst of fire from his mouth and producing a scroll.

“From Celestia” he said, looking at the black parchment.

“Thank you, Spike” she took the scroll, seemingly looked it back and forth several times before looking around at her friends and Spike. “Well, it seems there is some good news after all”

“Well, don’t ya be keepin’ it to y’all self, Twi” Applejack spoke up from the doorway.

“Apparently, Derpy’s luck has held out and she’s survived with nothing more than a few wicked cuts to her forehead” Twilight said and then looked around the room – getting a very gentle nod from Rarity.

“Well, it is good that she is not dead” Sweetie Belle smiled.

“Not for you – she’s told the Doctors that you were the one that dropped the anvil on her”

“How could she? We were hidden when I cut the rope and the anvil smashed her skull op–” Sweetie Belle suddenly stopped as she felt every gaze put on her. Twilight was about to say something when a yellow blur pushed her aside and starting laying into the young foal.

“What did you do?” Fluttershy asked in a low voice she reserved for monsters and Angel Bunny. It took several seconds before they launched in to drag her off the filly who was struggling to get out of her bindings and away from the library.

“It was supposed to be just enough to make her go all stupid so the Mayor could get that retard’s foal away from her and then ship her off to some place and never have her return” Sweetie Belle broke down and spoke about everything that happened.

“Sweet Celestia” Spike said. He knew what Twilight and Dave suspected, but to connect the murder of Derpy Hooves to what was already being planned was nothing short of cruel and he clutched at his chest, fell to the floor and surrendered to the darkness that took him.

“So… Uh… What do we do now?” asked Rainbow Dash as she saw the last traces of teleporting magic vanish from the room.

“Well, I’m going… I don’t want to be in this creature’s presence any longer” Rarity galloped out.

“Ah’ll go and get some Royal Guards if y’all like” Applejack offered.

“Actually, Applejack, can you wait here and make sure she doesn’t escape?” Pinkie Pie’s mane had gone flat – never a good sign. “Rainbow Dash has to go and look after Dinky and Fluttershy can go and get the guards”

“What about you?”

“I’m thinking of making cupcakes” Pinkie Pie said darkly, making them all think of a famous story about an insane baker that cut up ponies and made them into cupcakes.

“It wasn’t just me… The others helped to set it up” Sweetie Belle said, hoping that revealing her partners in crime would get her a lesser punishment.

“Apple Bloom?”

“Scoots?”

“Yes – they helped as much as the Mayor and Nurse Redheart”

“I think you oughta shuddit before you get inta more trouble” Rainbow Dash said, her Ponyville accent dropping a bit into her native Cloudsdale one. “You hear that, Fluttershy? Tell them that too”

“Oh, I hear you, Rainbow Dash” Fluttershy’s normally frightened demeanour had dropped and Applejack felt a little afraid of her.

“Say, Fluttershy, ain’t you better get somepony to get this… thing… away from here an’ under lock an’ key?”

“Oh, yes – I suppose so. Will you three be okay until I get back?”

“I think we can handle it between the three of us” Pinkie Pie said, sitting on her rear and crossing her forelegs with a determined gaze at Sweetie Belle.

“It wasn’t my fault” said the filly, “But I had to do it or else the Mayor said she was going to hurt us”

“Save it for the Judge” Pinkie Pie replied harshly and, from nowhere, took hold of some tape and put it over Sweetie Belle’s mouth so she couldn’t speak any more.

“Is he going to be alright?” asked Twilight when she saw the Doctor trotting towards her.

“Your little dragon friend is exceptionally tough. He has suffered what we call a temporary episode but is already showing signs of improvement from what we can tell”

“He’s not my friend”

“I thought he was” blinked the Doctor. “I mean, I have seen him hanging around with you, lusting after Rarity…”

“He’s my son” Twilight blushed as she said what was in her heart for the first time in public.

“Ah, keeping it quiet”

“Yeah… Something like that. Anyway, you said that it was just temporary?”

“Yes, but we’d like to keep him in for a day or two to make certain – you see, we’ve never had a dragon to examine before, so we’ve sent for a Doctor who has some experience in these things”

“But he will be alright?”

“Yes”

“May I see him?”

“The Nurses are just finishing up and then you may go in for a little time”

Celestia and Luna both came to Ponyville to capture the Mayor personally whilst the Royal Guards and the Mane 6 went to apprehend Nurse Redheart who offered no resistance and was led away in full view of staff and patients at the hospital. The fallout from the story was terrible and Twilight had a lot of trouble stopping ponies from burning down Rarity’s place and the Apple family farm because nopony wanted to be associated with the family of those that murdered a beloved and fondly liked resident. With Twilight being a Princess now, she was left in charge of Ponyville until the election of a new Mayor could be run and she did the best she could whilst arranging for evidence to be gathered to try Dianne Mare, Nurse Redheart, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Dave gave his evidence of what he had seen and heard and asked for a place at the trial so that he could answer any questions both sides might have – he wanted to see justice for his friend done.

“All rise for the Honourable Judge Judy” the court bailiff spoke as a small red maned mare in a black robe trotted in and took a seat. She took her place, looked at the paperwork before her and then told them all to sit. “Bring in the accused” and a number of Royal Guards brought in Dianne Mare, the CMC and Redheart all in simple orange clothes and chained hooves with bronze rings on the horn of Sweetie Belle which were said to be capable of supressing magic. They each sat at a separate table along with a court appointed lawyer for the three fillies as none of them could afford one by themselves.

“You stand accused of plotting and then carrying out the murder of Miss Derpy Hooves – how do you plead?”

“Not guilty” said Dianne Mare.

“Guilty” sobbed Redheart.

“Guilty” said Sweetie Belle.

“Guilty” Apple Bloom mumbled.

“Your Honour, on behalf of my client, I would like to submit a guilty plea but on diminished grounds” Scootaloo’s lawyer spoke with a soft tone. “I have already submitted papers both to this court and to the prosecution”

“Is this correct?” asked the Judge.

“It is” to the surprise of everypony, Fluttershy had requested and granted the opportunity to handle the prosecution herself as she was a trained legal professional, despite her animal caring, and had kept up with her monthly subscriptions – trying or defending a few cases each year to keep her currency.

“You may begin” Fluttershy nodded and got to her full height and hoped she portrayed a determined manner. “Mares and Stallions of the jury, what you are about to hear about is nothing less than the cold blooded murder of one of this town’s most beloved residents – a postal worker, baker, occasional Wonderbolt and many other things and, most of all, a hard working mother that did nothing but bring up her daughter as best as she could. Despite this, a small group set out to take her life away and deprive a young filly from her mother and the town of a friend. I call Dianne Mare to the stand” and the former Mayor shuffled forward. “You are Dianne Mayor, formally Mayor of Ponyville?”

“I am”

“Tell me, as a government official, you were sworn to uphold all of the laws of this nation, correct?”

“Yes”

“So why did you plot with Redheart, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to murder Derpy Hooves?”

“Because she was a freak that needed to be got rid of. If, somehow, she had survived having an anvil dropped on her, Redheart was killing her anyway with poisoned powdered nappies”

“I see… Why did you hate Derpy Hooves?”

“Objection!” called her lawyer pony. “Prosecution is asking questions of the witness”

“That is their job… Overruled”

“Answer the question” Fluttershy demanded.

“People came to see her with problems before me – their Mayor!” Dianne Mare spat out with venom. “I thought it would stop after the accident was over and done with, but nooooooo….. She just had to be thought of as special. Once I got into a position of power, I did my best to try and ruin her life”

“Would you have killed her yourself if you had the chance?”

“Objection… Leading the witness to speculate”

“Goes to motive” Fluttershy said.

“I will allow it on this occasion” the Judge said, and Fluttershy turned back to the former Mayor and snarled.

“I’m waiting for my answer”

The testimony from all of the accused took ages to get done, the trial lasting several days, but there was one last pony to question.

“Your Honour, I call Scootaloo to the stand” Fluttershy spoke as the filly carefully shuffled to the stand and sat down. “Now, first of all, let it be known to all in this court that you turned Princess’s Evidence in order for a reduced sentence. Please explain to the court your part in this episode”

“Miss Cheerilee came to me one day and said that the Mayor had come up with a surprise way to get rid of Miss Hooves forever. I didn’t want to take part, but she said that if I was to help her and the others, then Miss Hooves’ wings could be grafted onto my body and I could fly like I have always wanted to. I thought about it but I said no because I didn’t want to be part of any murder even if I would get to fly like I have always wanted to” Scootaloo shook her head.

“Go on” pressed Fluttershy, a little of her softer side showing through.

“I know this’ll sound strange, but I remember everything that happened next but it was like it wasn’t me. The Mayor took out some sort of glowing stone and waved it at me whilst chanting in some way old language. After that, I went along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle and… And… And… And did it” she whispered at the end. “After that, I can’t remember anything until I was arrested by the police ponies and Royal Guards”

“Objection…! The accused has no way to prove what they are saying” each and every one of the other accused’s lawyers stood up and poke in unison.

“Your Honour” said Redheart’s, “I move that the testimony be stricken given what has just been said can be proved”

“Counsel?” Judge Judy looked at Fluttershy with a raised eyebrow.

“Your Honour, I would like to enter into the record Princess Luna” and, with a flash, the Princess appeared and nodded to the Judge.

“Good Afternoon, Your Honour” she said.

“Counsel?”

“Your Honour, with the court’s indulgence, the accused will be put into a sleep with the instruction to think about what happened. As she does so, Princess Luna will be able to show what the accused is dreaming of” Fluttershy said hesitantly. She couldn’t think of anything that said she couldn’t do this, but then again there was noting that said she could.

“Objection! The Princess is a personal friend of opposing counsel” one of the lawyers rose from their seat.

“The prosecution is a friend to every single living creature which, I am informed, also includes Discord” Judge Judy said. “However, it does seem strange that she would spring this like she has”

“Your Honour, I did submit this to all of the accused’s legal representatives but none of them bothered to reply” Fluttershy showed the Judge signed receipts of letters she had sent along with almost identical letters.

“Upon examination, the objection is overruled. However, the prosecution is reminded to show us only the relevant portions”

“Thank you… Princess, would you plea–”

“Objection!” the same pony said again as murmurs started filling the room.

“Silence in the court. What now?”

“The Princess has not been sworn in”

“Oh, very well…” Judy turned to Luna. “Princess, would you mind swearing to the court?”

“Of course not” Luna replied, “But who would I be swearing to?” she asked.

“Well, one of the Princesses of course” and Luna simply turned her head towards the Judge and put on a bemused expression. “Perhaps Princess Celestia?”

“Yes, I promise in the name of my sister” Luna rolled her eyes and then turned to face Scootaloo. “I will place you into an enchanted sleep and, as you do, I want you to think about what you have said here and dream about it as hard as you can” and the frightened young filly nodded, wiped a tear from her eyes as best as she could and then signalled she was ready. Within a few moments, the foal had dropped her head onto the stand before her and snored lightly.

“Are you ready, Your Highness?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yes, my little pony, but I want to say something before I begin. What I told Miss Scootaloo here was but partly true. As she dreams about what she claims to have happened, I will be able to follow the strands of memory to the part of the pony brain that keeps memories – there and only there will we find out if she is telling the truth or not. It will be a painful process not just to search for the memories but also to broadcast them. I would ask this court not to take too much time in viewing them as it will quickly tire me out”

“We shall, Princess” Judy was respectful to a higher authority even though she controlled the events of the court. Luna readied herself, charged her horn and then opened a portal of magic to show what Scootaloo had claimed. A swirl of light magic came from Scootaloo before being sent up to the portal for the court to watch. For over an hour, they watched as the filly dreamt about the events leading up to Derpy’s murder – some parts being a little different from what she had recounted herself due to the way memories worked. From her prospective, they watched the anvil drop on Derpy’s head and the silence of the room was broken by a small scream as Scootaloo broke through the sleep enchantment she was in and collapsed. A medicpony galloped over, quickly examined her and asked permission to take her for treatment as she was showing signs of exhaustion and was in no state to be in the court any longer. Judy granted this and Luna teleported the pair away in an instant.

“That concludes the case for the defence” Fluttershy said. “I move we go to sentencing”

“Very well. Lawyers for the Defence, do you have any objections you want to raise?” Judy looked at the accused and their defence teams who looked utterly defeated after viewing Scootaloo’s memories – any possible defence was worthless after seeing the fact the filly had been under the influence of a powerful magic that Fluttershy, Twilight and the others would make sure was found and destroyed.

“Your Honour, I speak for us all when we say that we wish to go directly to sentencing as soon you wish” Apple Bloom’s lawyer briefly stood.

“Very good… This court stands adjourned until called so I may consult the law in my chambers” Judy glanced at the bailiff who had the court rise as Judy made her way out of the court room and into a space for her to consult the various legal books that had been brought in for her to look information up.

“Oh boy… I could do with a drink” Pinkie Pie said as they gathered outside for some fresh air.

“I didn’t know you drank” Twilight was surprised.

“Remind me to tell you of the time she got drunk and ran around Ponyville claiming she was Princess Luna reborn” Rarity gave a small laugh but her heart wasn’t in it – she knew as well as the others that there was likely to be one sentence for her sister. Despite not wanting to have anything more to do with her, Rarity forced herself to the trial in order to understand how and why Sweetie Belle had been so evil and cruel to both Derpy and Dinky.

“Where’s Rainbow Dash?” Twilight looked around.

“She flew off to the hospital to be with Scootaloo” Pinkie Pie replied.

“If that’s so, then why’d she go to Foal Services?” Applejack pointed towards the centre of the town. Twilight opened her mouth, thought for a moment and then closed it with a smile – she’d never thought of her friend as being that sentimental although she had occasional moments…

“I wonder what will happen to Apple Bloom” she mused.

“Ah don’t give two hoots about her – as far as ah’m concerned, she ain’t no relation to me. They can put her in prison to rot as far as ah care” Applejack spoke harshly. “She didn’ have ta do what she did, Twlight, and ah never brought her up to do this”

“You know she might only get a short sentence” Rarity said.

“Ah know that, Rarity, but she ain’t never coming back to Sweet Apple Acres ever”

“We’re going to have to start making food after this is over” Pinkie Pie said.

“How come?” asked Spike as he limped over and held onto Rarity’s right foreleg for support.

“Once this trial is over, Fluttershy is going to hole herself up in her cottage and never ever ever ever come out again”

“She… She has a point, Twilight” Spike said.

“Maybe, but why are you here?” Twilight half glared at the dragon.

“I got bored” Spike shrugged. “Besides, I kinda figured Rarity needed the support”

“Princess Twilight, Highness, Ma’am…” a court usher came over.

“Yes?”

“The Judge is about to pass sentence and I thought you would like to be there to hear the verdicts”

“Thank you” Twilight said and then used a bit of magic to lift Spike up and put him gently on Rarity’s back. Both of them looked at her in surprise and she simply said “I know” and walked off.

“Anypony confused as ah am?” Applejack blinked.

“Hmm? Oh, Spike and Rarity have a crush on each other” Pinkie Pie said softly.

“Oh”

“All rise” came the call as Judy came in and sat behind the bench.

“Be seated… I have spent hours looking over the past cases such as this and trying to come up with a punishment that fits everything. I believe I have done so, and the following are subject to automatic appeal to the Princesses. Bring in the accused” and Dianne Mare, Redheart, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were brought into along with their lawyers – Scootaloo’s stood without his client. “Dianne Mare, Redheart, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle… I find all of you guilty of the crimes of Murder, Attempted Murder, Poisoning, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Actual Bodily Harm and using magic on another Pony without their permission” Judy looked at the four accused. “Given what we have learnt in the trial, all charges against Scootaloo have been withdrawn and she is dismissed with this court’s sympathies and thoughts. Apple Bloom, I have decided that your punishment for taking part in the murder of Miss Hooves is to spend the next twenty five years at Canterlot Maximum Security Prison and to serve all of that before being considered for parole. Redheart, although you admit poisoning Miss Hooves through tampering with her medical needs I am not convinced that you knew that the poison would kill her. I am taking your previous good character into account and sentencing you to twenty five years in prison and to serve a minimum of twenty before being considered for parole” Judy turned to look at Dianne Mare and Sweetie Belle. “I find the pair of you the most evil and most terrible ponies that have every appeared in front of me in all my years as a Judge. Dianne Mare, Apple Bloom… I hereby order that you be taken from this place to be held at the local jail and, if the Princesses confirm your sentences, brought to the middle of Ponyville and hung by the neck until dead” Judy took a breath to compose herself. “Once dead, your bodies will be left for one week before taken down and turned over to your families or anypony who wishes to claim them. If there is no one, you will be cremated and your ashes scattered to the winds” Judy banged the gavel three times and ordered the prisoners to be taken away and held in the jail whilst the automatic appeals started although, everypony in the court knew, the sentences would be confirmed due to the seriousness of the crime.

“… and then they declared you innocent of all crimes and said you could go free” Twilight explained everything that had happened after Scootaloo had been transported to the hospital. As soon as she heard the news, Rainbow Dash pulled out paperwork that revealed she had applied for guardianship over the filly prior to formal adoption on the grounds Scootaloo’s parents had seemingly abandoned her to the care of two Aunts that were as nutty as products sold at Sugarcube Corner.

“People will still accuse me of doing it” the filly groaned in some discomfort. Despite supposedly being asleep from the spell of Luna’s, Scootaloo had been able to put all of her energy into showing everything that had happened before it had been too much and she’d cried out and collapsed. “I just wish I knew why Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle did what they did”

“Some things can never really show up until its too late” Twilight explained and then put on a more gentle expression. “I have already spoken to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and they’ve both said you don’t have to attend the…”

“Yeah, I’m thinking she oughta stay away from that” Rainbow Dash put in quickly.

“Thanks, Momma” Scootaloo suddenly yawned and fell asleep again. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped before Twilight comically pushed it back up again and shook her head with a grin.

“Get used to it, Mommy” she snickered before growing serious. “What are you going to do if she wants to see the you know what?”

“Honestly, Twi, I’m kinda hoping she doesn’t want to but I know she oughta to do it because it would be totally a way to put the thing behind her. I just feel sorry for Dinky”

“Dinky? Why be sorr… Oh, yeah, I see” Twilight cringed. With no other family to speak of, Rainbow Dash had also applied for the guardianship of Dinky due to the fact there was a will that left Dinky to her should anything happen. A number of payments from various jobs that Derpy had worked had all been collected and but into a trust fund that Rarity had been able to advise her on – the unicorn feeling it was part of making up what her disgrace of a sister had done. “She’s gonna have ta witness the execution, but she’s just too young, Twi… Isn’t there something you can do?”

“I’m thinking about it, but at least we have a week to look into it. I’d better go, Dash, and talk to the others”

“How is Rarity taking this?”

“As soon as the verdict was given, she teleported herself away and I don’t think she’ll be coming out again for a long time. Still, she’s got Spike to look after her”

“I ain’t sure if that’s a blessing or a curse” Rainbow Dash said. “Say, Twilight, that Dave came here and dropped off Derpy’s savings book and told me to invite you to his shop for dinner – I think you’ve pulled”

“I’m not his type”

“You mean he’s…?”

“Yeah, he’s into blondes” and the two looked at each other before giggling a bit.

“I’m glad that Scoots was forced into it, Twi… I don’t know if I could have lived with myself if she had happily murdered Derpy. I…” Rainbow Dash paused and considered her next words. “I don’t suppose that you will know how it will happen?”

“Well, I did look it up during research for Fluttershy” Twilight admitted quietly. “The condemned are given a last meal and rites administered. After that, their… you knows… are sealed up with magic, they are led to the scaffold and hung by the neck until they die. How did you know? How did you know Scootaloo was innocent before the verdicts came back?”

“Easy – even with the chance to cure her disability, Scoots would never do anything to upset me”

“How do you know?”

“You love Spike, don’t ya?”

“Of course”

“And even if he makes a few mistakes now and again, he’d never let you down would he?”

“Never…!”

“See… you have faith in him as I have faith in Scoots here” Rainbow Dash blinked, shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Sorry – kinda went egghead there”

“Isn’t that one of the signs the world is ending? Look, I really have to go, Dashie – you be okay?”

“Yeah. And Twi?”

“Mmm?”

“Tell Rarity I’m sorry” and the two mares looked at each other as both could only imagine what Rarity was going through. With Apple Bloom, there was at least a chance to reconcile in the far future – Rarity and Sweetie Belle would never get that.

It was almost time and, the afternoon before, the old barred gate rattled open and then close to allow a single filly and a mare deep into the very depths of the prison.

“Inmate, you have visitors… You will show them the respect they are due” a Royal Guard spoke harshly.

“What are you going to do?” asked Sweetie Belle mockingly, “Kill me?” she turned to look at the younger of the pair. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me again before tomorrow… It is tomorrow, isn’t it?”

“Yes” replied Scootaloo. “I wrote to both the Princesses asking for mercy, but they both said they couldn’t do it because of what you did”

“I do not blame you” Sweetie Belle said as she sat on the hard wood board that served as a bed. “So, what are you here for?”

“I want to know why, Sweetie Belle… I want to know why you not only helped murder Derpy Hooves but also to force me into a brainwashing!” Scootaloo got closer to the cell.

“The Mayor… Former Mayor said that she had the authority to order Derpy’s wings cut off her corpse and given to you so you could fly. Presented with that opportunity, I had to do it to give you what you’ve always wanted. You have always wanted to fly, so me and Apple Bloom agreed to do help her get rid of Derpy Hooves to make the place safer because she was too dangerous to be allowed to live”

“Did you believe that really? Do you believe that now?”

“At the time? Yes, yes I did… Now, looking back…?” Sweetie Belle choked on her words. “No, Scoots – I should have agreed to it, remembered as much as possible and told my sister what was being planned”

“Well at least you are sorry, though a little late” snorted Rainbow Dash.

“I know, Miss Dash. Um, I know it seems wrong of me to ask, but will you deliver my last letters after I’ve gone?”

“You want me to do something for you after you killed one of my friends?” Rainbow Dash could not believe her ears. She trotted forward to stand against the bars of the cell to glare at the foal, but all she could see was a frightened filly that didn’t want to die and was very scared about what was going to happen.

“Please… Its not as if the postal service gets to collect here and there is a private message for Rarity I would like to be left unread by anypony but her”

“Sweets, where did you get that cut on the back of your neck?” Scootaloo asked as she pointed with a hoof to a scabbed over wound partly hidden by her mane.

“Oh, yes. The guards here have not been all that kind” Sweetie Belle shivered in remembered pain.

“Come over here and turn round” Rainbow Dash glanced around to see if any guard ponies were near but saw none.

“Why? So you can snap my neck before the morning?” Sweetie Belle snorted. “Like I said, that has come from when the guards were a bit rough throwing me in here”

“Not that kinda mark its not” Rainbow Dash frowned. “Come here and let me see it” and Sweetie Belle blinked, shrugged and trotted over.

“Woah, that looks awful infected” Scootaloo remarked. “Looks like there is something in there too”

“Medicpony comes in the afternoons”

“And they missed this?” Rainbow Dash examined it as best as she could – she’d taken a bit of interest in first aid since doing her Wonderbolt training as it would make her twenty percent cooler.

“Nope – he just said there was no reason in doing anything as they are going to hang me in the morning” Sweetie Belle turned round and put her forehooves on the bars of her cell. “Do you think I will go to hell?” she asked Scootaloo.

“Uh… I ain’t quite sure” replied the filly.

“Can I make a final request of you?”

“Suppose so”

“After I’m all dead and gone, will claim my body and burn it? I don’t fancy being worm food”

“I thought they were going to do that anyway” Scootaloo said.

“Oh… Yeah… I forgot” Sweetie Belle dropped to all four legs and sighed.

“I don’t want to die” she whispered.

“Neither did Derpy” Rainbow Dash hissed and then instantly regretted her words.

“Um, I don’t know what Rarity has done with my things, if anything, but you can take what you want and either give the rest to Dinky Hooves or throw it away. Sorry… I just don’t know what to say or do” the filly looked at the two ponies who would have many more days to live through. There was a long period where they three looked at each other and then just sighed in sadness.

“Do you want us to go?” asked Rainbow Dash softly, her earlier harsh words notwithstanding.

“What is it like to die?”

“Oh, lordy… That’s a tough one, Sweets” Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash for help who could only wince and shrug her shoulders in response as she had nothing to go on. “I guess its just like going to sleep only…”

“Only you don’t wake up. You know, I read a book once about old times and it said that it could take a pony up to half an hour to die – even longer” Sweetie Belle turned her eyes on her oldest friend, assuming they were still that after what happened. “I don’t want you to come, Scoots – I want you to stay away and remember all the good times we had together. I don’t want your last memories of me to be dangling in agony at the end of the rope as I strangle slowly. Will you make sure that she stays away, Rainbow Dash?” Sweetie Belle begged with tears now falling from her eyes.

“I’ll ask her, Sweetie Belle, but she does have the right to be there” Rainbow Dash reminded the filly who simply nodded, went to the little table that held some scrolls, picked them up in her mouth and brought them over for the trainee Wonderbolt to deliver.

“My last letters… There’s one for the Princesses each, one for Scootaloo, one for my sister and one for Dinky”

“Dinks?”

“Yeah – I figured that I owed her at least that much”

“I’ll make sure that they all get there for you” Rainbow Dash assured her, starting to feel sorry for the filly despite her terrible crimes. They talk for another hour before a guard came and told them their time was up and there was an exchange of tears and attempted hugs from the fillies before they parted for the final time and the two pegasi walked out of the cell block. Just as the heavy wooden door slammed shut, they heard Sweetie Belle finally lose it as she broke down.

“Cutie Mark Crusader, Murdering Bitch YAY”

Neither of them said a word…

The following morning almost seemed like something out of an old book as ponies gathered in the middle of Ponyville to watch as a cart containing the prisoners was brought in and unloaded. The contrast could not be more different as Dianne Mare was defiant and struggled against the unicorns that held her safely whereas Sweetie Belle followed the guard calmly, although they could see where she had been crying earlier and she wore no restraints save for a ring around her horn to prevent her magic being used. When she got to the steps leading up to the scaffold, she seemed almost paralysed by fear and one of the Royal Guards had to gently help her up. Both of them were positioned and the nooses placed over their heads and around the neck – hoods being placed over them.

“Dianne Mare, Sweetie Belle” an official took two paces forward. “You have been sentenced to death in accordance with laws – this sentence imposed by a Judge of good standing in this state. You will now be hung by the neck… Do you have anything to say before your sentence is carried out?”

“Just get on with it” Dianne Mare replied.

“I would like to say that I am sorry for everything I did and that I know I was wrong. I want to apologise to Dinky Hooves for being the one that did the actual murder and to Scootaloo for forcing her to help us. I know I won’t do this again… That’s for sure” and then a strong looking pony dressed all in black to hide their identity slowly came walked over to the lever that would send the pair down a short drop. The officials and the crowd waited until the town clock struck the hour as the lever was pushed and Dianne Mare and Sweetie Belle dropped as the trap door swung open. The former Mayor’s neck snapped instantly, but Sweetie Belle started to scream and kick as the noose tightened around her neck and slowly started to strangle her.

“For buck’s sake, Twi, do something!” Rainbow Dash said as they watched the filly wave her hooves around and scream in agony for somepony to come and help her.

“What do you want me to do?” asked a panicked Twilight.

“This…” a voice said as a beam of magical energy flew out, hit Sweetie Belle and then she went silent and still. The friends and most of those gathered turned to see Dinky Hooves panting from near exhaustion and with wisps of smoke coming from her horn – the young pony with a mixture of expressions crossing over her face.

“How did you hear and see that?” Twilight managed to spit out.

“You forgot to put the cone of silence over me” Dinky said as a pony checked both of the bodies and announced them as dead. Most of the ponies turned and walked away except a few morbid onlookers, the element holders, Spike and Dinky as the corpses were cut down and put on stretchers to be taken away for cremation and scattering of the ashes.

“Adios, little filly! Drop us a card from Tartarus – let us know if it's hot enough...” one of the officials mocking patted Sweetie Belle’s body as it went past him. Even though Sweetie Belle had been the one to cut the rope that sent the anvil down to kill her mother, the callous comment seemed to gather some sort of anger in the young Dinky and she drew herself up to as full a height as she could manage, trotted over and slapped the official as hard as she could.

“She's paid what she owed. She's square with the house again, so keep your CELESTIA DAMNED HOOVES OFF HER!”

“You interfered… You could be jailed yourself you know” somepony said.

“What Sweetie Belle did was wrong, I know, but to let her suffer like that was cruel and just plain wrong… You should be ashamed of yourselves – I’m going to write to Princess Luna and she’ll tell you how naughty you’ve been and send you to the moon”

“That’ll do, Dinks… That’ll do” Rainbow Dash said. “Why not run home and see if Scoots is still there?” Dinky nodded and trotted lightly away.

“Don’t even think about it…” Dave the Griffon suddenly landed between the officials and the departing Dinky before the mare could fire off some magic. “Dinky might have interfered, but she only did what you were supposed to – you intentionally allowed Sweetie Belle to suffer in agony instead of a swift death. I know I shall be writing tonight to complain about your conduct, and I doubt you’ll ever work in Government again” Dave allowed his temper to cool down a little and then glanced at Twilight before winking. “You know, I have always wondered what Pony tastes like… Pinkie, you got some hot sauce?”

“Yeppers!” and a bottle came flying over which he plucked out of the air.

“Sooooo, who will be my starter?” and the group galloped away at full speed.

“Well, now that is over with…” Twilight shook her head, “I suppose that we better go and tell Rarity it happened but leave out the details”

“I think she knows, Twilight” Fluttershy said, looking at a distant white blob with a purple dot on top, “I think she knows”

“Ah don’t want to see anything lik’ that again” Applejack said. “Ah think ah I need a drink after watchin’ that”

“Me too” Pinkie Pie said.

“Um… Me three… Um, if that’s okay” Fluttershy said and the other two nodded and allowed the shy Pegasus to join them as they went to Sweet Apple Acres to drink the day away.

“So, what are you going to do?” asked Twilight to Rainbow Dash.

“Go back to Derpy’s house, deal with two sobbing fillys and write a letter to the Wonderbolts telling them I am giving up my place” she replied.

“Why?” asked Dave. “I thought you always wanted to be a part of them”

“I do, but my job is to look after Dinky and Scoots now… That’s at least 20% cooler”

“Really?” Twilight was bemused.

“Yeah, well I can’t have kids – found that out when I had an exam with the Wonderbolts…”

“Oh, Dash… I’m sorry…” Twilight stammered.

“No sweat… I’m okay with it, and at least I have two fillies to look after” Rainbow Dash shrugged and then smiled wistfully. “If only I had…”

“Only what?” Dave asked, though he had an idea.

“Only told Derpy that I loved her more than a friend” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Anyway, I have to start moving my stuff down from my Cloudhouse. Me and Scoots could live there but Dinky couldn’t, so I’m going to start living on the ground now. You know, I’ve never seen the sunrise or sunset from down below before…” whatever Rainbow Dash was going to say was lost as she shook her head and cleared her mind from the thoughts.

“Look, I don’t rightly know what you get paid for being a bigwig in the Weather Patrol, but Derpy had a line of credit savings at my shop. As far as I am concerned, that credit is still good for you” Dave said. “I know that I gave you all the things back, but you can keep that and the original credit line – you use it to keep them two fillies happy and fed” Dave raised a wing to halt Rainbow Dash’s protests. “I won’t hear a word against it… You take it or I shall have to have words with the Princess of Friendship – and, between you and me, I don’t think she’ll like that very much”

“Daaaaaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvveeeee” Twilight giggled.

“Excuse me, but are you Twilight Sparkle?” a pony with a cutie mark of scales on their flank came up to the trio.

“Yes, I am”

“I am Legal Eagle from Fakem, Screwem and Doem solicitors. We received word of Miss Hooves’ demise and were obligated to go through her Last Will and Testament. At the time, we did not know about the Guardianship application put through by Miss Dash here, so we read it ourselves. It would appear that the subject of who her daughter’s father is has been solved” the lawyer gave her some documents that Twilight floated in midair using magic.

“You have got to be joking… That happened to Derpy of all ponies?” anger swelled up in Twilight.

“Whats wrong?” asked Dave and Rainbow Dash together. Twilight simply showed them the paperwork and their eyes widened. “Well, now I am really going to find out what Pony tastes like” Dave couldn’t believe it.

“Why did she keep this secret? If she had mentioned it before, she could have been awarded thousands in compensation” Rainbow Dash shook her head in astonishment.

“My firm did not want this to come out at the official reading, but I owed Miss Derpy a great deal and I am repaying that by coming here and helping you. We must move quickly because if that stallion named gets his way, nopony will ever be able to say his name in relation to Dinky Hooves” Legal Eagle said.

“Why? What did you owe Derpy?” Rainbow Dash wanted to know why the mare was risking her job.

“My little sister died a few years ago from a rare type of cancer that no Doctor could treat except to manage the pain. When she was younger, she wanted to be a Mail Pony so she could meet new ponies and go new places. When it was clear she’d not live long, Miss Hooves arranged for my sister to spend a day helping her with deliveries and with work at the Ponyville Post Office… Happiest day of the life she had left” Legal Eagle smiled at treasured memories. “Ma’am, I want to bring that son of a griffon down”

“Racist”

“Present company exempted of course” Legal Eagle quickly apologised.

“Heh… You ain’t so bad for a pony”

“So who is the sire of Dinky?” asked Dave. Twilight looked at the paperwork and then went almost solid red as her anger went to unheard of levels.

“Twi…?” Spike asked gently as he came up to her.

“Blueblood… It was Prince Blueblood”