It was an accident!

When Rainbow Dash and Rarity arrived at Sugarcube Corner, they were shocked to find a couple of guards questioning Pinkie.

"I told you already, I don't let the foals anywhere near the spiked punch! I even color coded the two bows, alcoholic punch is red and foal-safe punch is green!" Pinkie looked disheveled, she noticed her friends enter and she immediately perked up a bit.

"Just ask them! They're two of my bestest friends ever, they know that I'm not that irresponsible!"

The guards looked in the direction of Rainbow Dash and Rarity, who had both taken a seat at the table farthest from the scene.

"I was already in Canterlot during the party, so I can't comment on anything relating to it," Rarity stated, looking at Pinkie with a concerned expression.

"I had no clue that Pinkie even spiked her punch, I drank some of it and it made me really sick," Dash said, looking apologetically at her pink friend.

"Everypony we've questioned has stated that they had no idea that you served alcoholic punch at your parties, foals or no foals; it is still illegal to serve ponies alcohol without their consent," One of the guards said, giving Pinkie a disapproving glare.

Pinkie Pie deflated, not in the way where she went all flat maned and desaturated, but her mane and ears drooped as she plopped down on her haunches. "I'm sorry! I didn't know that, I just wanted my parties to be as fun as possible!" She whined.

"We've also been informed by an anonymous witness that Dinky Whooves, the daughter of the victim, was seen staying at the party after most ponies had left," The guard said.

Rainbow Dash's stomach tightened upon hearing that.

"Uh-huh, that's true! She was waiting for her mom to pick her up, but then she disappeared!" Pinkie explained.

The guard nodded. "Do you mind if we search the premises?"

"Of course, go ahead!" Pinkie said, trembling softly.

When the guards left to look around, Pinkie made her way over to her two friends.

"Sorry I didn't back you up, Pinks," Dash said, frowning.

"It's okay, I wouldn't expect you to lie," Pinkie said as she took a seat.

"It's ridiculous that they're even questioning you! Everypony knows that you're the nicest pony around, I guarantee they won't find anything," Rarity said as she fiddled with her mane.

"I know, but now I guess I look all suspicious and stuff so they wanna look," Pinkie hid her face in her hooves. "I didn't know it was illegal to serve spiked punch, honest!"

"Um, Pinkie, did you ever give us spiked punch?" Rainbow asked, worry in her eyes.

Pinkie looked up at Rainbow Dash, her eyes shimmering as she started to tear up.

"Not that I'm mad or anything, I mean Twilight might be a bit miffed but as far as I know Fluttershy wouldn't mind and Applejack loves to drink," Dash said, placing her hoof on Pinkie's.

"I wouldn't have noticed, considering I drink every night," Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash gaped at Rarity.

"What?" Rarity whined. "I am in possession of several bottles of very fancy wine! It would be a crime not to drink them!"

"Every SINGLE night?" Dash blinked once, then twice. "That's like, way more than Applejack or me drinks!"

"Applejack and I, dear. Really," Rarity corrected.

"Wait YOU and Applejack drink!?"

"I NEVER GAVE YOU GIRLS ALCOHOL!" Pinkie cried out, throwing her hooves up in the air. "I don't let the foals anywhere near the alcohol, that's why it's always at the back of the room!" She sobbed openly, burying her face in her arms as they rested on the table.

Guilt washed over Rainbow Dash, there was that tight feeling again.

"It's okay Pinkie Pie," Rarity said, trying her best to comfort Pinkie. "The guards will see that this is just one big misunderstanding, you'll be okay, I promise!"

Pinkie sniffled as she looked up at Rarity, she gave her a small smile.

Just then one of the guards burst out of a small room near the back, he skidded to a stop in the center of Sugarcube Corner before vomiting on the ground.

Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash jumped up, startled by the ruckus.

"Oh my Celestia! What ever in the world is wrong?" Rarity cried, taking a single step toward the guard.

"Stay back!" He said, giving the three a glare.

Immediately after, the second guard came in just the same way, but instead of vomiting he swallowed hard and shot Pinkie a death glare.

The pink pony shrunk under his gaze, shivering as he walked toward her slowly.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie, you are under arrest for the murder of Derpy Whooves and her daughter Dinky Whooves," The guard said, levitating a pair of hoofcuffs as he approached.

"WHAT!?" Pinkie and Rarity yelled at the same time.

Rainbow Dash gulped as she shrunk away from the scene, biting her lip as her butt bumped against the door. She just couldn't tear her eyes away as the guards hoofcuffed Pinkie Pie, who had continued sobbing loudly.

"This is a mistake!" Rainbow Dash said, finally working up the courage to step closer.

"This is no mistake, the proof is in the closet," One of the guards spat.

"No!" Dash cried, then before the guards could stop her she jumped into the air and bolted toward the back of the room.

Her hooves clacked against the wooden floorboards as she entered the closet, her eyes immediately landing on the decaying corpse of Dinky Whooves. That's when the smell wafted up to her and into her nostrils with one of her panting breaths. Tears pricked Dash's eyes as the scent burned her throat and nose. She took two steps back, then she twirled around and vomited violently.

Rarity grabbed Dash and dragged her away from the closet and out of Sugarcube Corner, where the two watched as Pinkie Pie was led away by a dozen guards. Rainbow Dash was sobbing, whaling, as she buried her face in Rarity's chest.

"It's okay darling, it's going to be okay," Rarity whispered, doing her best to comfort Dash even as her own tears smeared her makeup. "I'm s-sure it's all just a big misunderstanding…" She hiccuped. "Pinkie would never k-kill anypony."

Rainbow Dash shuddered and shivered as sobs racked her body, the feeling of Rarity's soft coat or gentle hoof rubbing her back did nothing to quell the overbearing guilt she felt. She clenched her eyes shut, but the image of Dinky's bloated decaying body was burned into her mind.

Rainbow Dash cried with Rarity like that for hours, the two having gone to Rarity's boutique at some point so that they weren't in public.

Eventually Dash passed out on Rarity's bet, Rarity herself was currently in the boutique proper. Sitting across from her was Twilight Sparkle, two untouched cups of tea on the table between them.

"So they really found her body in Sugarcube Corner?" Twilight asked, her tone grim.

"Yes, they did," Rarity said. "But regardless I highly doubt that it was Pinkie Pie, she would never do that to anypony!" Rarity finally took a sip of her tea. "The poor thing had been beaten quite badly, whoever did it was some kind of brute."

"You saw the body?" Twilight asked.

"Heavens, no!" Rarity placed a hoof on her chest. "Poor Rainbow Dash did, though, and I only got her to stop crying a little while ago. Just before I called you, in fact."

Twilight let out a soft sob, using her magic to wipe a tear from her eye with a tissue. "I agree that Pinkie would never hurt anypony, the very idea is just ridiculous! But regardless of that fact, the simple truth is that today the royal guard found a body in Pinkie Pie's home."

There was silence for the next few heartbeats, until Twilight spoke again.

"It doesn't matter what anypony says, it wouldn't matter if even princess Celestia said something, that's the most damning piece of evidence second only to witnessing the murder."

Twilight was right, of course. There wasn't any video or photographic evidence to suggest otherwise, no witnesses, unless somepony fessed up their pink friend was as good as imprisoned.

"They won't find a motive because Pinkie didn't have one because she did not kill that poor family," Rarity said, though it was obvious she wasn't confident in her conclusion.

Unbeknownst to Twilight and Rarity, a pair of fuschia eyes tentatively watched them from atop the staircase. Rainbow Dash held her breath as she listened in to the conversation, lest she break down crying again. She didn't think it would hurt this much when it inevitably happened, she'd thought that she'd mentally prepared herself for it.

Sure, seeing the horrid corpse of her victim was what had set off the tears, but mixed into her panic and disgust with herself she also felt extreme guilt for framing Pinkie.

Pinkie Pie was one of Rainbow Dash's best friends, and as the element of loyalty she felt like her loyalty was truly being put to the test at this time.

I won't let you down, Pinkie, I promise! Just be patient, please, and please don't be super sad!

After a while Dash couldn't bear to listen to the conversation any longer. She snuck out of the boutique using a window and flew away, heading towards her home as the sun set behind her.