Chapters Rainbow Dash was grinning as she zipped and twirled through the air, her cyan fur complementing the clear blue sky as she soared over Ponyville. The noon sun warmed her back as her wings stretched out on either side, the wind whipping her feathers and mane in just the way she loved.
Dash was on her way to Pinkie Pie’s party, she didn’t really know what it was for but Pinkie was excited about it and everypony in Ponyville was attending. Plus Dash just never missed any of Pinkie’s parties!
Rainbow Dash did a few loops in the air, one, two, but on the third one she felt a twinge in her wing. Her wing cramped and on reflex it clamped itself tightly to her side, causing the pegasus to start twirling through the air out of control.
“Uh oh!” Dash cried out, she tried to unclamp her wing but it wouldn’t budge, so she was left wildly flapping her other one as she desperately tried to right herself.
Of course this wouldn’t be the first time Rainbow Dash crashed, she’d be fine for the most part, but it still super sucked when it did happen.
Rainbow Dash felt herself descending, that’s when she noticed another pegasus mare moseying along in the street.
“Look out!” Dash cried, she once again tried to regain control over her wings but she only sent herself spiraling toward the ground.
“Huh?” The gray mare looked up, just as a bracing Rainbow Dash came tumbling from above and crashed right into her.
The two rolled across the dirt road, Dash was sent skidding into a bush and the other mare bounced off of the ground a few times before sliding to a stop.
Ponyville was silent for a few agonizing seconds, until Dash pulled herself out of the bush with a groan. She shook herself free of any stray leaves and twigs, then she gasped as she realized what’d happened. She looked left, then right, then she spotted the pony she’d crashed into.
“Hey! Hey are you okay?” Dash called, she galloped over to the mare, but found herself slowing to a shaky trot as she got a better look. “H-hello?”
The gray mare with a blonde mane lay in a crumpled heap in the middle of the road, her coat was dirty and one of her wings was bent at an odd angle. The worst of it, however, was how her neck was twisted so that her glazed over eyes were facing the sun.
Rainbow Dash’s stomach twisted, she felt her cheeks bulge before she ran back to the bush and threw up. Coughing Dash looked back at the mare, she sniffled, then her eyes went wide.
“I… I killed a pony,” Dash’s ears pulled back. “Oh Celestia, I just killed a pony!” Suddenly she covered her mouth with her hooves, causing her to collapse onto her rump. Her eyes darted around as she scanned the area for witnesses, but everypony in town was currently attending Pinkie Pie’s party.
Everypony, except for Rainbow Dash, and… Her eyes shot to the deceased pegasus.
“Derpy.” Dash sobbed. With a shuddering breath she stood and walked over to the body, the body of a pony that she knew the name of.
I have to get rid of the body, I- I can’t go to jail, it’ll totally ruin my chance at becoming a wonderbolt!
Not to mention her reputation as the best flier in Equestria, not one of the wonderbolts had ever crashed so hard they’d killed somepony!
But it was an accident! What if I just tell the truth, then maybe I’ll get off with a warning?
She grunted as she slung Derpy over her back.
No, no! Even if I don’t go to jail, ponies will never trust my skills again! I’ll probably be banned from flying in Ponyville! Or even banned from flying at all!
Dash sobbed quietly as she trotted into an alley, even if it seemed like nopony was around she still didn’t want to risk being seen. She couldn’t just fly away, both out of fear of dropping Derpy and because that would make her even more visible.
So she stuck to the shadows of buildings and alleyways, until she reached her destination. The lake just outside of town, it was normally a peaceful place, but now Rainbow would only remember it for the sinful thing she was about to do.
She closed her eyes, and she said a prayer to Celestia. Then with a huff she heaved Derpy’s corpse into the lake. She kept her eyes shut for a few seconds, and when she finally opened them the lake looked as peaceful as ever.
Rainbow Dash considered washing her face off since surely Pinkie would notice that she’d been crying, but when she looked at the water she cringed back. With another soft sob Dash flew over to the farthest side of the lake, before landing and splashing her face with the cool water.
An hour later the door to Sugarcube Corner opened with a jingle, and a nervous looking Rainbow Dash stepped through. The party was lively as music played, ponies danced and played games, and the smell of sweets wafted through the air.
Before Dash could take another step a grinning pink face suddenly popped into her field of vision.
“Hi Dashie!” Pinkie cheered, pulling the shocked mare into a tight hug.
“Gah!” Dash flinched back, but she couldn’t escape Pinkie’s crushing grip.
“You’re a bit late but that’s okay! The parties just getting started!” Finally Pinkie let go, she gave Rainbow Dash a little boop before she bounced away and disappeared into the crowd.
Rainbow Dash shuddered, she tucked her tail between her legs and made her way to the back of the room. She needed a drink.
As she approached the table with the punch a squeaky voice called for her.
“Hiya Rainbow Dash!”
Dash turned, she looked around before looking down. A little purple foal with a yellow main was approaching her. Rainbow Dash gulped, why did this filly look so familiar?
“Have you seen my momma? I know she’s a slow walker but she should’ve been here by now.” Dinky smiled innocently up at Rainbow Dash.
Dash went pale.
“You know her right? Derpy Whooves?”
For a second it was like Dinky was talking in slow motion, then her words faded into silence as the world went black around Rainbow.
Author's Note
Why did I do this to my favorite background pony!?
“Dash?”
“Rainbow dash?”
“Dashy?”
Rainbow Dash groaned, suddenly her head and her wing hurt.
“Rainbow Dash!”
“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT I SWEAR!” Dash screamed as she jumped off the ground, she found herself panting in the air as her wings flapped rapidly.
Looking down Rainbow Dash saw Pinkie Pie looking up at her, concerned. Everypony else in the party was giving her the same look, and Dash realized what she’d just done.
“Dashy, are you okay?” Pinkie asked.
Rainbow Dash gulped, she saw Dinky who was looking at her in awe, standing at Pinkie’s side.
“I d-don’t feel so good, Pinks, I’m gonna go home,” Dash zoomed away, heading for the exit.
As she left Sugarcube Corner she heard Pinkie say “Gee, I didn’t think I put that much vodka in the punch.”
Back at her cloud house, Rainbow Dash was curled up on her bed, shivering. Now everypony was surely suspicious of her! And when Derpy turned up missing, they’d all remember how weird Dash had been acting! And then her life was ruined!
Dash screamed into her pillow. She sat up, her mane disheveled and her eyes puffy and red. She wiped a tear away and looked at the blue sky outside her window. Maybe she could take a vacation? Like, set something up so that when the guard questioned her it looked like she couldn’t have been guilty because she’d been out of town?
But that wouldn’t explain why I was acting weird at the party. Dashed rubbed her head with her hoof.
That’s when she remembered what she’d heard as she was rushing out of Sugarcube Corner. “Vodka? Pinkie Pie puts vodka in her punch?”
She sucked in a huge breath of air, held it for a second, then let it out in a refreshing exhale.
Okay, okay, if anypony asks I’ll just say that I had too much spiked punch and that’s why I passed out.
Rainbow Dash walked over to her mirror, and examined herself in the reflection.
But what about Dinky? Did she see me drink anything? What if the guards question her too and she says she didn’t see me even touch the punch?
She tried to straighten her main, brushing some of the loose hairs into place with her hoof.
Come to think of it, why would Pinkie even put alcohol in her punch? There were foals there for Celestia’s sake!
Determining that only a shower could fix her disheveled state, Dash exited her room and headed for the bathroom. She turned the shower on, and gave her mane and tail a quick brushing as she waited for the water to heat up.
A few minutes later Dash stepped out of the bathroom, a smile on her face as she felt like a new mare. She had a plan, a plan that was so thorough that there was no way anypony would question it!
Rainbow Dash plopped herself down at her kitchen table, a notepad and quill in hoof. She scribbled down a quick note about how she was going on vacation and wouldn’t be back for a few days, then she stuck it on her fridge. Smiling Rainbow trotted out of her house, she jumped off of the cloud and took flight, making sure that nopony saw her.
Dash spent the next few hours outside of Ponyville, going over her plan several times and relaxing. She still very much felt bad about what she’d done, but she’d come to accept that it had been an accident and everything she was doing now was to insure that the accident didn’t hurt her future. Everything would be okay, nopony would get hurt, aside from those dead, and soon enough she could go back to her normal life.
As the sun set and everypony settled into their homes, Rainbow Dash snuck through the silent town once more. She stopped near the back of Sugarcube Corner, where she slipped into the building via a window. She found herself in a storage room, which was perfect for her plan!
Dash poked her head into the main area, just as she expected Dinky sat worried at one of the tables, a cup of punch and a slice of cake in front of her.
After confirming that she was alone, Rainbow Dash approached the foal.
“Hey Dinky,” She said.
The little unicorn looked up, her mouth fell agape. “Hya Rainbow Dash, I thought you went home?”
“I did, but I came back to see if Pinkie had any cake left. The party music was hurting my head,” She scratched her head awkwardly.
“Oh, okay.”
“Why are you here all alone?” Dash asked.
“My momma hasn’t come to get me yet, I’m not supposed to be out after dark.”
Rainbow Dash felt a pang of guilt as she saw the fillies downtrot expression. I’ll make things right, I promise!
“I know where she is, actually, come follow me!”
“Really?” Dinky brightened, she hopped up from the table and followed Rainbow Dash.
Dinky bound inside excitedly. “Momma I-” She skidded to a stop, looking left and right, a confused look on her little face. “Momma?” She called out.
Dinky turned to look at Dash, but suddenly she flew back as a blue hoof made contact with her face. Dinky hit the ground with an ‘OOF’, she sniffled and looked up at her attacker.
“Dash?” She squeaked.
“Sorry kiddo, but I can’t let a foal grow up without a mom!” Rainbow Dash punched Dinky again, hard.
She stood over the filly and hit her again, then again, then she pressed her hooves against Dinky’s neck. Dinky struggled and gasped for breath, tears slid down her cheeks as her legs kicked uselessly.
Rainbow Dash applied more pressure, she grit her teeth to try and hold back her nausea as Dinky’s body spasmed beneath her. Finally after a few moments of sickening silence, the light left Dinky’s eyes.
Dash let go and stepped away from the body, she cringed at the bruises and scratches that covered her victim. Sickening purple marks were slowly forming on Dinky’s neck, where Dash’s hooves had been.
“I’m so sorry,” Dash sobbed openly. “It was an accident! It was an accident!”
Cyan ears perked as she heard hoofsteps above her, she turned and silently pushed the door shut. Then she hurried to hide Dinky’s body behind a crate, before she hopped out of the window and flew towards the sunset.
A few days later Ponyville woke up to a truly dreadful headline in the morning paper: Mare’s body found floating in the lake, guards still searching for her missing foal.
Rainbow Dash cringed at the headline, she took a sip of her coffee and looked around the café for a distraction.
“It’s absolutely horrifying, isn’t it?” Rarity said, taking a dainty sip of her own coffee. “What kind’ve brute would do such a thing to such a sweet mare like Derpy?”
“How do you know it was foul play?” Dash asked.
“If you read a bit further, darling, it explains that several of her bones were broken,” Another sip. “Simply falling into the lake and drowning would not do that, the guards believe it was a murder.”
“This is awful,” Dash sighed, she looked out the window beside them at the pristine streets of Canterlot. She finally found an adequate distraction as she watched raindrops slide down the window, she pretended in her mind that they were racing.
“You worked with her, didn’t you?” Rarity asked.
“I used to, though a couple of months ago she started working as a mail pony. She wasn’t very good at weather patrol due to her crossed eyes,” Dash wiped condensation from the window with a hoof, so that she could better see the outside world.
“What a tragedy. I’m glad that you were here in Canterlot with me when it happened, I don’t know what I would’ve done if the killer had gotten you too,” Rarity placed her hoof on Dash’s.
“They know w-when she was murdered?” Dash gulped.
“Not exactly, no. But they think it was around a couple of days ago due to the, er, decomposition,” Rarity gagged.
“Oh…” Rainbow Dash felt ill. “Can we change the topic, please? This is making me really uncomfortable.”
“Of course darling, I do believe a change of topic is in order.”
Rainbow Dash had flown straight to Canterlot after she killed Dinky, she knew it would be the perfect place to vacation because Rarity was already there for the week. So now Dash had an alibi, so if the guards were to question her, Rarity could back her up.
When the two of them arrived in Ponyville a couple of days later, neither of them were surprised to see double the amount of guards around town. As they walked towards Rarity’s boutique, they were approached by a pair of guards in matching golden armor.
“Miss Rarity, Miss Rainbow Dash?” One of the guards asked.
“Yes?” Rarity answered.
“We need to ask you a couple of questions, we’re sure you’ve heard of the murder that recently took place here in Ponyville?”
“Why yes, of course, a truly heartbreaking ordeal. I do hope Miss Derpy’s family get’s closure,” Rarity responded, placing her hoof on her chest.
“Right, if you’ll just follow us to the town hall we’ll begin questioning you, in a different room of course. It won’t take long.”
The two mares followed the guards to the town hall, upon entering they noticed that several other ponies were waiting to be questioned as well.
Rainbow Dash was taken into the interrogation room first, where she sat at the table with a paper cup of water.
“Miss Dash, we’re aware that you attended a party possibly the same day that miss Whooves was murdered. We don’t know exactly what day the crime took place, but we must question you anyways, just in case.”
“Yeah, I went to Pinkie Pie’s party right before I left for Canterlot. I wanted to tell her myself that I was going on vacation, but I ended up just leaving a note on my fridge. My friends check on me in my house sometimes, so it would be easy for them to see the message.”
“We’re aware that you were acting strange at the party, before you suddenly left in a hurry?”
“Pinkie Pie spiked the punch with vodka, she said it herself. I had too much, so I had to go home because I felt unwell. I didn’t wanna puke in the middle of the party, so that’s why I rushed out.”
“We understand, several other ponies recounted that they also remembered Pinkie saying she’d spiked the punch. We’ve already questioned her, and she swore she didn’t add that much. What are your thoughts on that?”
“Between you and me, Pinkie Pie is kind’ve an alcoholic. I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought a whole bottle of vodka was ‘not too much’. And I’m one of her best friends, so I don’t mean any hate toward her.”
“And did you see anyone else acting suspicious at the party?”
Dash gulped. “Dinky Whooves was there, actually. I was kinda worried about Pinkie letting foals around spiked punch, but she’s a good pony so I assumed she’d keep them away from it. But Dinky did seem a little tipsy, come to think of it. Oh gosh, I hope she’s okay!”
The guard grimaced. “The whereabouts of little Dinky Whooves are currently unknown, thank you for cooperating, you are free to go now.”
When Dash exited the room she saw Rarity trotting up to her.
“How did it go?” Rarity asked.
“Okay, I guess. I’ve never been interrogated before, so it was certainly new.”
“Yes, they questioned me at the same time, I think they were satisfied with my answers,” Rarity smiled at her friend. “Say, Dash? Let’s go to Sugarcube Corner, I think after that we deserve to treat ourselves!”
Both girls giggled at Rarity’s pun, before they turned and left the town hall.
The next day Rarity found herself staring slack jawed at the morning newspaper, a sight that surely had many others in Ponyville reacting the same.
"Local party pony Pinkie Pie is found guilty for the murders of Derpy and Dinky Whooves, authorities believe alcohol to be the motivation!?" Rarity's magic fizzled out, but she was in such a state of shock that she didn't even hear the shattering of her coffee mug.
Similarly, Twilight was also staring blankly at the headline. Her face was pale and her mane was unkempt, she clearly hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night.
Fluttershy, in her cottage, had only stopped reading at 'found guilty' before she burst out of her home and ran toward the library in tears.
Rainbow Dash hadn't even bothered to get the paper, she already knew what the guards' conclusion would be.
"The royal guards have'n concluded that, confronted by an enraged Derpy about given' her foal spiked punch, Pinkie Pie murdered both the mother and filly?" Applejack felt a lump form in her throat upon reading that.
She had been the last to be informed about Pinkie Pie being arrested yesterday afternoon, after a terrified Fluttershy had informed her that Twilight had requested everypony's presence.
Though, it was Rarity who broke the news, while Twilight just sat there solemnly. Rainbow Dash wasn't present, of course, Rarity having told them the poor thing had seen something nightmarish.
"W-why would they th-think she did that?" Fluttershy whimpered, having showed up a wreck at Twilight's library just minutes prior.
"I don't know!" Twilight huffed as she did her best to comfort Fluttershy, of course the butter colored pegasus knew that frustration wasn't aimed at her.
"That's ridiculous, why would they-" Twilight shook her head back and forth, she couldn't continue that question. She knew why, it was probably the most logical conclusion.
To the royal guards, that is. Obviously Pinkie's FRIENDS -and most of Ponyville- knew that Pinkie Pie would never kill anypony, even if that situation happened.
But it wouldn't happen! Pinkie Pie would never let foals have alcohol, I know she wouldn't! Twilight screamed mentally, though she just couldn't tear her eyes away from the newspaper.
Just then the door to the library swung open, a huffing Applejack standing in its wake.
"Twilight, we need to go see Pinkie Pie!" Applejack said as she marched into the building, stopping in front of the two ponies who were huddled together.
"Hello, Applejack," Twilight sighed, she supposed she should also expect Rarity and Rainbow Dash to come barging in as well. "I know, don't worry. I've already bought train tickets, we'll be leaving for Canterlot this afternoon."
"Pinkie's in C-Canterlot?" Fluttershy sobbed.
"Of course she is, murder is one of the worst crimes a pony can commit. Convicted murderers are executed by princess Celestia herself, public or private depending on exactly what they did."
"What!?" Applejack yelled, confusion clear on her face.
"H-how do you know this information?" Fluttershy asked, looking up at Twilight with horror in her teary eyes.
Twilight gulped. "I've read a lot of books, girls. Some of them are not as pleasant as others."
In truth, most ponies didn't actually know what happened to serious criminals. Since the worst crimes, like murder, were so rare in Equestria. The public would just assume that Pinkie Pie would be sent to prison for a while.
Most ponies would be shocked when they heard about the execution, ponies just weren't used to crimes much worse than petty robbery.
Up in the clouds, far away from that scene, Rainbow Dash glided idly towards Ponyville. Her mind wasn't fully with her, so her body was just on auto-pilot for now. It probably would be that way until she finally got to see Pinkie, which she knew her friends were probably already dealing with.
She wanted to smile as her hooves trailed through a fluffy cloud as she descended, but even as the cumulus released her now damp legs her eyes still focused on nothing.
Dash gasped in shock as her hooves finally clacked against the cobblestone road, she swiftly looked left and right and sighed in relief as she determined that nopony had heard it.
Rarity was the last to arrive at Twilight's library, she was in an even worse state then Twilight. Not nearly as bad as Rainbow, but still having witnessed Pinkie get hauled away had a visible effect on her.
When the sun finally reached the position in the sky where the time could be considered noon, the five friends found themselves silently rushing into the train. They all sat in one car, none of them really focusing on anything as the train chugged along toward Canterlot.
When they reached the aforementioned capital city, they once again rushed out and into the streets. This time, however, they were being led by Twilight directly to the castle.
"They're holding her in the dungeon while they wait for Celestia to have the time to interrogate her, once that's done her sentence will be determined!" Twilight said as they galloped through the city.
"Oh my, Celestia is going to i-interrogate her?" Fluttershy whimpered.
"No, there's no way Celestia would believe that Pinkie's guilty!" Twilight said, more determined than ever to get to the castle as soon as possible.
"Then what is going to happen to her?" Rarity asked.
"Celestia 'll probably want to talk to us first, right Twilight?" Applejack asked.
"Most likely, yes!" Twilight answered, she gasped for breath as the group finally slowed down to a trot at the castle gates.
"I hope we can postpone Pinkie's interrogation, knock some friggin' sense into the princess!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Don't worry girls, I know things look bad but there's no way that Celestia will let Pinkie die that easily. We're going to get her out of there, and then she can throw us a big 'get out of jail free' party," Twilight said, biting her lip nervously as they walked into the throne room.
"I hope…" She whispered, as Celestia came into view.
Celestia looked up from the stallion she had been speaking with, before she declared that daycourt was paused for an hour. Nopony paid attention as the stallion grumbled while being escorted out of the room by guards, who promptly shut the doors behind them, leaving Celestia alone with the five mares.
"Twilight," Celestia started, giving her student a pained smile. "You've made a rather abrupt interruption." She continued, though her tone was as kind as ever.
"I sent you a letter, we're here to see Pinkie Pie!" Twilight said, stomping her hoof.
"I know, and I told you that I have a very busy schedule today and could not speak with you." Celestia said.
"I don't care! You're the princess of Equestria, you should be able to make time for important matters whenever you want."
"That was an important matter I was dealing with, my student. I know this situation is hard for you, but the world isn't going to just stop. There are other important situations going on right now, I'm sorry." Celestia frowned.
"You have an element of harmony locked up like some kind of animal, under the accusation of MURDER," Twilight said.
"A thing that said element of harmony could never commit, considering her very element is laughter ," Rarity piped up. "Pinkie Pie lives to make ponies laugh, your majesty, it goes against her vary nature to hurt others."
"Plus the story the guards constructed just doesn't make any sense, Pinkie Pie is very responsible and would never give alcohol to foals!" Fluttershy said, her voice uncharacteristically bold.
"And if'n she did get confronted by an angry mamma about somethin', she'd just easily clear up the misunderstanding with cupcakes and smiles!" Applejack added.
There was silence, before Celestia's magenta eyes landed on Rainbow Dash.
Dash gulped.
"There's gotta be more to the story, princess! We know Pinkie Pie, she would never…" Her voice cracked and she trailed off, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, I am truly sorry. I am doing everything in my power to keep Pinkie Pie safe, I know just as well as you five that she would never hurt anypony on purpose," She took a deep breath.
"But this situation is delicate, I must listen to the guards and review the evidence they present. And then, when the time comes, I must interview Pinkie," Celestia said.
"You're not going to interrogate her?" Twilight asked.
"Not like I would an obvious murderer, I will be as gentle with her as I am with all of my subjects. I will determine whether or not I think she's guilty considering the evidence provided."
"But she's not guilty!" Rainbow Dash cried.
"We don't know that," Celestia said.
"But we have good reason to believe that she's not, based on our own evidence!" Twilight said, stepping forward.
Celestia raised a brow at her.
Twilight gulped. "Okay, I don't mean physical evidence. But Pinkie's our best friend, we know her better than anypony else."
"I know," Celestia said, before she gave the girls a soft smile. "Please don't fret, like I said I am very busy today- Already so that I couldn't interview her tonight, and now this little interruption probably means I won't be able to do so tomorrow night either."
Twilight and the others sighed, relief washing over them as the tension in the room faded away.
"Can we please see her?' Twilight asked.
"Of course, you did not need to ask me for permission to do that," Celestia answered.
As the friends left the room, Celestia gently called for Rainbow Dash. Dash stopped and turned around, hovering as her friends continued walking.
"Yes, princess?" She asked.
"What troubles you, my little pony?" Celestia asked, she gave Rainbow Dash a worried smile.
Rainbow Dash gulped, her eyes fell to the floor and she quietly landed on her hooves.
"I saw the body in Sugarcube Corner, your highness." She whispered.
Celestia's brow furrowed, she gave a nod in understanding. After that Rainbow Dash walked out of the room and after her friends.
Pinkie Pie had actually deflated, in the literal dulled out and flat-maned way. It made each of her friends cringe as they laid eyes on her.
Rainbow Dash’s heart dropped at the sight, she was the first to rush over to Pinkie and give her a big hug through the bars of the cell.
At least it was confirmed that Pinkie Pie was being treated well, she let her friends know that the guards weren’t being mean to her and that Celestia had ordered them to keep her comfortable until her trial.
But she was still deeply, greatly saddened by the whole situation. The very idea that somepony could think she’d do those things made her heart break.
Her five friends did their best to comfort her, telling her that they would do their best to get her out of there soon. It didn’t make her poof back up, but at the very least Pinkie was relieved to know that her friends still loved her.
They had to leave after only two hours, so they bid farewell to their pink friend and the five headed home.
Back in Ponyville, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy excited the train. Twilight was the first to go home, informing the others that she had some reading to do. Applejack opted to walk Fluttershy home, since the butter colored pegasus was still shaken up. That left Rarity and Rainbow Dash as the last to exit the train station.
“Do you want me to walk you home?” Rainbow Dash asked, tapping her front hooves together as she hovered beside Rarity.
“Walk me home? Dash I’d think I should be the one to walk you home!” Rarity said, looking her friend in the eye.
“Nah, that’s okay, I feel a lot better after talking to Pinkie,” That was a lie and they both knew it.
Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash. “Are you certain about that, darling? You’ve been awfully silent since what happened yesterday.”
“I’m fine, I promise,” Dash swallowed. “I was just offering in case you wanted some company, I wouldn’t have a problem flying home right now.”
The two entered the plaza as they spoke, walking toward Carousel Boutique.
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind the company,” Rarity smiled. “Maybe you can model for me, if it isn’t too much trouble?”
Rainbow Dash looked ready to bolt at hearing those words, but she froze as she hurt a commotion. The two friends turned their heads to see a crowd slowly forming in front of a random house.
“I wonder what’s going on over there?” Rarity said, walking toward the scene.
Rainbow Dash merely stared blankly, her stomach tightened into knots before she dashed to catch up with Rarity.
As they approached the house, they watched as a couple of guards cleared a path to the front door.
“Alright everypony, back up! There’s nothing to see here, we have the situation under control,” One of the guards said, he then turned and signaled to somepony inside the building.
Shortly after two more guards, both unicorns, exited the house with a stretcher in their magic. A sheet was draped over the stretcher, concealing a pony-shaped lump.
Rainbow Dash heard several gasps from the crowd, one may have even come from Rarity. But her attention was so focused on the scene that her other senses had been dulled, otherwise she would’ve noticed her hooves shaking under her.
The guards carried the body away from the house and toward another group of guards, who then marched away and out of sight.
“This is awful!” Rarity cried, finally snapping Rainbow Dash back to reality.
Dash looked down, wondering how she’d ended up standing with her wings clamped to her sides.
“A third murder in less then a week? What is the world coming to!?” Rarity said, looking distraught as she stared in the direction the guards had gone.
Several ponies muttered behind them, before somepony dashed out of the crowd. “I heard it was a suicide!” She said, causing several others to gasp.
“I heard there’s a serial killer on the loose!” A stallion shouted.
“W-we don’t know that it’s murder…” Rainbow Dash mumbled.
“We’re all going to die!” A mare yelled.
That’s when everypony started screaming and running back and forth, leaving Rainbow Dash and Rarity to stand dumbfounded in the middle of the panic.
“Should we retreat to my place?” Rarity asked, looking at Dash with a pleading expression.
“Yeah, I have a feeling things are only gonna get worse out here,” Dash said.
The two turned tail and galloped all the way to Carousel Boutique, where they promptly locked themselves inside.
Sure enough, the next day's headline was all about the incident with the guards. Boy, the press sure must be making a fortune off of all of these events.
Stallion found dead in home, authorities say it’s suicide by admission!
The mane six, minus Pinkie, sat in a circle in Twilight's library. The newspaper was laid neatly on the floor between then, all five ponies staring at it wide eyed.
“S-suicide?” Fluttershy squeaked.
“It means he took his own life, but I wonder why? ” Twilight said.
“Somethin’ mighty strange is going on in Ponyville, girls,” Applejack said, squinting down at the paper.
“Look right here!” Dash exclaimed, pointing to a sentence in the second paragraph.
“The guards have confirmed that they found a suicide note by the body, where’in which he admitted to being guilty of the recent murders?” Twilight read out loud, she shot up and gasped as she and the others comprehended this new information.
“So Pinkie Pie’s innocent!” Dash said, bolting up into the air and giving a little cheer.
“Says here the sicko ‘felt guilty over framing Pinkie’,” Applejack scoffed. “Why if I’d ever gotten’ my hooves on em!”
“What a monster!” Rarity said. “Framing our dear Pinkie after he did such a wicked thing! I hope his soul to have been dammed to tartarus!”
“Now girls, settle down,” Twilight said, she gave her friends a soft smile as she stood.
“That means Pinkie can come home, and this nightmare is over!” Fluttershy said, then she smiled for the first time in days.
“All right! I knew Pink’s was innocent, I just knew it!” Rainbow Dash cheered, flying around the room in circles.
The others shared her enthusiasm as they left to get tickets for the train, but none of them knew how true her words really were.
Pinkie Pie was already free and waiting for them when they finally arrived in Canterlot, as soon as the train jerked to a stop the five mares jumped off to embrace their friend.
“Oh Pinkie, I’m sorry you had to go through that! But That freak killer is gone so now life can just go back to normal!” Rainbow Dash said, burying her face in Pinkie’s shoulder as she cried.
“It’s okay Dashie, you don’t have to apologize! It was all just one big misunderstanding!” Pinkie Pie giggled, having returned to her normal bright and cheery self.
“Please let’s not discuss this anymore, instead let’s go get some donuts and then we can go home and have a party!” Rarity cried.
“Donuts on me!” Twilight agreed.
They finished their wholesome embrace and then headed off to start their celebration. The whole time Rainbow Dash kept pushing something to the back of her mind, something that still threatened to consume her.
She’d killed two ponies, a mother and her foal, and then she’d framed Pinkie for it. Then she killed yet another pony and framed him for the murders, to protect Pinkie Pie. All for her reputation. She didn’t have to kill Dinky, or that random stallion… Did she?
Would the authorities have believed her and let her off lightly if she’d confessed in the first place? It had been an accident after all!
It was an accident, it was an accident!
But her reputation as a flier would’ve been ruined, she’d crashed into another pony and killed her! What if it happened again!?
Rainbow Dash looked up from her donut and over to her friends, who were eagerly discussing what exactly they’d do at the party they were soon to throw back at Ponyville. Pinkie was standing on the table and dancing around, likely singing a cute little song.
Rainbow Dash blinked, she’d stopped chewing and could just taste the sweetness in her mouth.
No, shut up! JUST SHUT UP! She screamed mentally, closing her eyes and continuing to munch on her sugary treat.
It’s over, it’s ended already! Everything will go back to normal, the killer has been caught and Pinkie Pie is safe with us.
No, it was all necessary, Dash reasoned. She would never know if things would be better if she’d confessed at the very beginning. Now she had three murders under her belt, five unknowing best friends who loved her very much, and a pristine reputation as Equestria’s best flier to maintain.
She prayed for Derpy and Dinky every night, as their lives had been stolen away from them too early. And she spat on the memory of that stallion, all of Equestria considered him a murderer after all.
Rainbow Dash got up on the table, she saw Pinkie give her a big grin and she smirked back. She reached out and grabbed the bubbly pink mare, giving her a twirl as she joined her in the song and dance.
Everything would be fine, Dash told herself. It was an accident, and everything else she did was to protect herself and her friends.
Everything would be okay.
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.
