Author's Note

TWS: mentions of Suicide
Reminder!
Trixie (she/her)
Applejack (she/her)
Twilight (she/her)
Dusty (she/her)
Splash (he/him)
Derpy (she/her)
Mr. Rich (he/him)
Discord (he/him)
Vinyl (she/they)
Gilda (she/her)
Corriander (he/him)
Cross ((Red Heart FtM HC)) (he/him)
Sidirourgous SID roaR jUS
Sunny (he/him)
Quibble (he/they)
Thorax (they/them)

Chapter 3: The Journey of a Hero DeL

BING BONG BONG BING!
Monodence was letting out an onslaught of maniacal giggles.

"A body has been discovered, please report to the Auditorium/Play Stage!"
Applejack had run up to the hanging head as her tears fell.

"Whichever one of yew did this... I'll find out, and y'all better pray to Celestia I don't murder you myself."

Protag Switch - - - > Applejack

I looked up at my once lover and best friend who had been directed. Cross came up behind me and placed his hoof on my shoulder sympathetically. He started the autopsy and I looked around for more clues, but before I did, our devices binged and we all opened up the Monofile. But before anything Twilight let out an audible gasp.

"The Victim is Spike Apple-Sparkle." The screen read...

"Now... are you related to Spike?" I asked.

Twilight shook her head, "For once, I have no idea, and that scares me..."
I looked further down the Monofile...

"The cause of death is dismemberment, The time of death was around 4:00 AM, The body was discovered at 4:05 AM by ??? and ???, along with Applejack at 7:00 AM."

"Two innocent creatures saw the body... and didn't get anybody?"
Monofile #3 added to bullets.
Timing added to bullets.
The next most obvious part of this whole ordeal... Where was his torso?

Missing Torso added to bullets.
Dismembered Body added to bullets.

Trixie motioned me over.

"This won't sound good on me, but I've used those in my shows before... Well kind of, that specific type of metal is used for a specific illusion box, I'm surprised even the monos were able to get their hooves on. I only got mine because of a friend and a commission..."
Trixie's Account added to bullets.
Illusionist Box added to bullets.

Cross motioned us over.

"So obviously, your husband was dismembered, Applejack."

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes.

"But what's interesting is that these metal pieces of the illusionist box are soft, they would have been able to pierce if thrown, But they could've been hammered in after dissection, so we know these couldn't have been used before the murder."
Soft Metal? added to bullets.
Autopsy added to bullets.
Cross continued. "Another thing is that there were signs of a struggle, Spike fought back, but in the end, the most unique thing is that all the cuts seem to have been done diagonally and fast... Not sure with what."
Signs of a struggle added to bullets.
Fast diagonal cuts added to bullets.

"D'ya think that was the true cause of death?"

"No, I think we'd need to find the torso to find that out."
Right... of course... his- ... missing torso. My-...

"Applejack?"
I could still hear his voice.

"APPLEJACK!" Cross shouted, shaking me a little.
Not his voice...

"Wha...?"

"The blood that's pooling from the body parts... they would've had to have hung very quickly to accumulate that much blood to run off the stage, and that seems to be everything here."

"Dusty and Sunny think we should go to the artillery closet," Rich said motioning Cross, Trixie, and myself over.
But when we opened the door what we saw... was shocking...

It was Discord and Gilda, both knocked out cold on the floor. All of the weapons had been thrown around Cross quickly checked the pulses of Gilda and Discord.

"Their pulses are slow but they're both still and alive, they'll make it." Cross nodded
Gilda and Discord knocked out added to bullets.
Slow pulses added to bullets.
Weapons astray added to bullets.

We noticed all the weapons had been astray but when taken accounted for, thanks to Princess Prissy, none were bloodied, damaged, or even missing.

"Do you think the weapons were washed in the pool, like the last trial?" Sunny questioned.

"I doubt it," Twilight started. "They'd have shown signs of wetness or even some cloth from being dried. These are the same quality."

Unused Weapons out added to bullets.
Suddenly we heard a scream coming from the pool.

"That's Splash!" Dusty shouted and we all followed her running speed to the pool.
A horrified shaking splash pointed in the pool. We all looked in to see Spike's torso sunken at the bottom of the pool with the purple blood puddle forming above it. Without hesitation, Dusty dived in to fish it out. Combing back with it, Dusty threw it up out of the pool and shuddered in disgust. Cross quickly came in after this, followed slowly by Gilda and Discord. Sidirourgous was shuddering and whimpering and being comforted by Derpy. Cross quickly checked all around the body and gasped as she set it as if he were laying on his back. We all saw what she did, a large yet very thin slice that started there and sliced up and through Spike.

"The cut looks like it went into his neck, this slice is the cause of death... but this slice had to have been done in defense."
Time stopped for me.

"You mean-"
Spike initiated the attack added to bullets.
I slumped to the floor.

"But, that doesn't make this right Applejack." Splash stated.

"Trixie agrees, the pony could've just stopped with the one slice if it's the cause of death, why do all this if you had no intention to murder."

"Yeah... it's just too...chaotic." Discord stated.
Everyone at least shared that same sentiment, mostly shocked at Discord's fast recovery.

"It seems as if Gilda had the worst of it."

"Wait, nothing's too chaotic for Discord."
Suddenly Monodence was behind us.

"Oh yeah, the first two will be turned back, and the other two after trial."
We all thought blankly... Spike was dead, so he never turned back...

"My true love died before his real death and your STUPID game is the killer." I stamped my hoof.

"Trixie also felt back to normal which is why she rushed to get everycreature she could find!" Trixie said, ina frantic state.

"I don't know what you're all talking about, this is how I've always been." Discord cocked his head.
Monodence had already disappeared.

"So... what next?" Sunny questioned.
I thought about it.

"Spike hoarded himself in our room, there may be something there?"

"Well, then, le-let's see," Sidirourgous said quietly.
We all went to Spike's room which was now unlocked. My room was simple, a bigger bed for the both of us, some pictures of us, some orcharding supplies based on me, and some ambassador medals Spike has. The note with a slice through it.

Wait just a cotton picking minute.

"That's a notebook... ah don't recognize?"

"May I have a look?" Discord asked.
I cautiously handed him the notebook.

"Applejack, this dates back to his first day in Ponyville, I don't think this is a notebook, but perhaps his diary? However, all of the things before the killing game started were run over with a very thick marker."

"Spike hid stuff from me?" Applejack questioned.

"Not hid, most of the stuff in the notebook is about keeping you safe until the day he died..."

"Do you mean?"
Rich put his hoof on my shoulder.

"I say, he fought against the opposite disease internally for you."

"The slice marks look similar to the ones on the body...?" Cross questioned

"How odd..." Corriander replied.
Spike's Diary added to bullets.
Dates on notebook added to bullets.
Similar cuts added to bullets.

"Ah here's from last night!" Discord exclaimed as we huddled around him as he held the book down to show us the letter."

"Pathetic dragon, if you want your sad excuse for a hidden picture back, distract the weapon guards and see if you can get me the right weapon, a ############## to kill, I no longer want to live. But maybe I can get some use out of a street urchin filthian such as yourself. Time's ticking, Spike, if you don't comply, Applejack will be my victim. Simply and ungratefully yours~ - #h##l#######h"

Some bits were smudged off, almost blood-like splotches even.
Letter added to bullets.
Unknown letter writer added to bullets.
Spike knocked out Gilda and Discord? added to bullets.
Smudges added to bullets.
Missing picture added to bullets.
BING BONG BONG BING
"Your time is up everycreature! The trial will commence soon!"
I gulped... was it that time already? Once again we were led to the door and with a flash of light... we were blinded and then there.

I looked across the trial room... One of these creatures killed my husband... Even if it was self-defense... We know someone wanted him to get angry... I decided to think over my truths one last time

Monofile #3

Timing

Missing Torso - Found in POOL

Dismembered Body

Trixie's Account

Soft Metal?

Illusionist's Box

Autopsy

Signs of a struggle

Fast diagonal cuts

Gilda and Discord knocked out - By Spike?

Slow Pulses

Weapons astray

Spike instigated the attack

Spike's Diary

Similar cuts through notes

Letter - Unknown Author

Smudges - bloodlike?
Trial - START

"Id begin with an explanation but I'm pretty sure you're all in the gist... so have at it!" Monodence giggled.

"Alright before anything-" I started and pointed at the photo of Gilda

"Is Gilda dead?"

"No," Monodence said flatly. "If she recovers in time, I'll teleport her here."

"Alright - now, Discord. Do you remember anything?" I questioned

"I wish I did, Applejack, whoever knocked Gilda and myself out was swift."

"Then... where do we start?" Derpy asked.

"I think I know..." Cross stated
- NON-STOP DEBATE -

"Where do we start?"

"I think I know..." Cross started "The torso in the pool... why was it put there?"

"Maybe to... hide the body?" Sid questioned

"If so, that's a terrible hiding spot, of course, we'd check everywhere." Dusty rolled her eyes.

"Maybe they wanted us to find that first and have that count as the BDA?" Splash asked.

"We still would've found his... other parts anyways..." Vinyl said

"Maybe he died in the pool, what a turn of events!" Sunny exclaimed.
---> Signs of a struggle

"THAT'S A FIELD OF LIES!"

"Ah just don't think that's possible, Sunny. From how all the chaos was near the weapons closet and based on the signs of a struggle in the auditorium... I don't think that's true."

"That's right, the brave ambassador had a struggle for love in his attempted murder."

"I say, easy there Sunny." Rich started "Don't go provoking those stronger than you."

"So... what now?" Quibble questioned.

"Why don't we talk about the weapons?" Vinyl suggested
- NON-STOP DEBATE -

"About the weapons... they were all astray." Vinyl commented

"Yet none of them were used..." Trixie continued.

"Do we know if the killer hid or destroyed the weapon they may have used?" Thorax asked.
"THAT'S THE SEED OF TRUTH!"

-----> Weapons Astray

"I know for a fact they were all there!" Twilight stamped her hoof.

"Correct, but Thorax never said that the killer did, they asked if the killer did - to which we knew."

"Thanks for clarifying Applejack."

"Now where do we go, Ms. Farmpony." Twilight gestured her hooves out,

"I think our best course of action is to go over who got persona switched, followed by what the murder weapon is."

"Fair enough..."

"I say we know Spike, Ms. Lulamoon, Discord, and the mystery selectee got switched," Rich commented.

"That's right..." Corriander nodded "But where does that lead us-?"

"We need to know who the last switchee is." Thorax nodded

"How are we gonna figure it out?" Vinyl asked.

"Alright... if it was you... raise your hoof!" Derpy exclaimed.
Nobody raised a hoof or a claw.

"May I ask how that would work, Mrs. Hooves? If they don't admit to it it's likely they're the- OH!" Discord gasped.

"Clever thinking - this means that the last switchee is our killer!" I nodded.

"Could it be Gilda...?" Sid questioned.

"No, I was with her the entire time, she was her grumpy self until we got ambushed." Discord stated.

"Alright so let's discuss weapons..." Cross nodded.
- NON-STOP DEBATE -

"Weapons..."

"I mean- there was that soft metal box stuff that's used for illusionist boxes..." Vinyl said.

"Yeah, but..." Corriander scratched his chin.

"What is it?" Splash asked

"What about all the cuts in his torso and the dismemberment itself - I doubt the boxes illusionists used are THAT sharp...?"

"Well he's pinned to the fuckin wall with em, that's pretty sharp."

"Agh - are we split alre-" I started then covered my mouth

"Celestia damn i-"

"Did I hear SPLIT~"
With a smaller flash of light, our platforms moved across from each other yet again.
Soft Metal is NOT the weapon
Applejack
Trixie
Corriander
Discord
Twilight
Dusty
Sid
Cross
Soft Metal IS the weapon
Sunny
Rich
Splash
Vinyl
Thorax
Quibble
Derpy

"I say, I'll start!" Rich announced.

"If the soft metal was sharp enough to pierce him, couldn't it have been what killed him?"

"Trixie!"

"Piercing and cutting are two different actions!"

"Splash!"

"A knife or a fork for example can cut and pierce!"

"Corriander!"

"True, but this isn't cutlery, it's meant to make boxes!"

"Vinyl!"

"If that stuff can be made into boxes, why not a weapon?"

"Discord!"

"If that were the case Mx/Ms. Scratch, cardboard could be a weapon if made sharp enough, we have to explore all possibilities- so for now you're wrong."

"Thorax!"

"The fact that we know something else may have been used over something we KNOW has been is less important than such!"

"Pris- Twilight!"

"Yeah, but I know more than any of us at this point that jumping to conclusions on kNoW could lead us to the wrong creature!"

"Quibble!"

"How do you know this won't lead us astray?"

"Dusty!"

"We don't, also stay on topic!"
- REBOUND -

"Sid!"

"With what we know... it's likely that there's a more likely weapon..."

"Myself!" Sunny said.

"My dear, in show business and in trials we take risks! It's life!"

"Ah've got it!"

"Or death, anyways back to the TOPIC - Ah think Ah know how these aren't the weapons..."
- BREAK-

"If we take a look at my husband's mutilated corpse, we can see that there's two-three "soft metal" per limb and head... Wile these caused damage they were used for one reason... to PIN him."

"They crucified him?!" Quibble said, looking sick to his stomach.

"It appears so." Cross nodded, in agreement.

"Ah believe they made the soft metal into darts and pinned him. Then with... our mystery murder weapon... cut off his torso arms attached and pushed them in deeper to make the soft metal appear like the weapon!" I exclaimed

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Trixie joked, probably at the wrong time.

"Ah suppose, moving on... the cuts in his torso... they're all fast and diagonal, matching the ones that cut up the note we won't be able to use... the soft metal, if pinning Spike, couldn't have been used!"

"So... we know it's the mystery persona changed... and the weapon is capable of diagonal cuts..." Vinyl said.

"I think... we need to go over if Spike's claws could've torn up the notes... because a weapon couldn't do something to something that small." Cross nodded.

"Ah agree with that, I doubt the note means much now... moving on... how about the untorn letter?"

• NON-STOP DEBATE -

"Pathetic dragon, if you want your sad excuse for a hidden picture back, distract the weapon guards and see if you can get me the right weapon, a ###a## to kill, I no longer want to live. But maybe I can get some use out of a street urchin filthian such as yourself. Time's ticking, Spike, if you don't comply, Applejack will be my victim. Simply and ungratefully yours~ - #h##l#######h" I reiterated...

"So we know Spike's love for you conquered that and that they were racist and didn't want to live..." Thorax stated.

"What a specimen!" Sunny shouted.

"Is it possible that our mystery persona wrote that note?" Quibble questioned.

-----> Torn Notes (Similar Cuts)

"THAT'S THE SEED OF TRUTH!"

"So... it's clear they used a nickname because none of the uncovered parts match to any of us..." I said.

"He wanted a picture back, so he rammed suddenly into Gilda and Discord, knocking them both out..." Dusty stated.

"When he couldn't find the weapon after tearing the room apart he must've encountered said killer who already had a weapon... from where?" Corriander cocked his head.

"I can reveal that~" Monodence chuckled.

"As you may or may not know... You can ASK me to provide weapons you do not see in here if it's to kill. If ya didn't know it wasn't addressed to you... it was on those notes of Spike's belonging to your mystery, Spike, Trixie, and Discord."

"So the motive came with a motive... Who could've asked for a -" Applejack's voice trembled as she was in utter shock.

"Ah know who did this!"
ACCUSE
Please... tell me if I'm wrong... but a positive person with memories and a lust for life... Sid... was it you?

"W-w-what, me!?" Sid stuttered.

A mysterious voice spoke up.

"Yeah, it was you, Blacksmith, and I can prove it."
We all turned to see Gilda, who just teleported in.

"I didn't do this, Gilda!"

"Bullshit! Discord doesn't remember but I do, YOU went into the auditorium, not long after Spike crashed into us!"

"B-b-b-but-" Sid fell silent and then... changed.

"I didn't go through a war and now this to be accused of murder. THIS SCAR, right here, is PROOF I wouldn't risk my life!"

"Notice how I called you Blacksmith, Blackened? The note fits your ultimate."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU HYBRID BAKER-!" Sid roared.
Gilda was in shock and I took over, Sid was losing it... it's time to end this case!
- ARGUMENT AMAMNENT - START!"
Sid was now bearing his cloak, sword, and his mane seemed off...

"I'M A FUCKIN VETERAN, THIS IS DISRESPECT... I SHOULD JUST KILL MYSELF AND MAKE YOU ALL LOSE!"

"Yer not acting like yourself, Sid, that's proof enough!"

"FUCK OFF, COW PONY!"

"THIS IS ME. THIS IS ME, AND I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE BESIDES THEM LOUSY HYBRIDS IN THE WAR!"

"This ain't you. Ah won't forgive ya - but nobody else could've pulled this out!"

"QUIT IT!"

"GILDA'S LYING ABOUT SEEING ME! WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE OTHER TWO TO DISCOVER THE BODY!"

"Technically as the door was open to both rooms, Gilda and Discord are witnesses, and we know that you were there now!"

"FUCKIN... dirt eater..."

"HOW DO WE JUST KNOW IT WAS ME?!"
drc aotra osk lyku dukaon faa yaoen!
You asked for your katana and cloak!
----> Torn Notes!

"Based on what ya'v told us in the past... You had a katana and a cloak... I assume this cloak was made of that soft metal and opposite you were willing to sacrifice both to get what you want... death."

As if in a pop both Discord and Sid were back to normal

"Luna damn it... I'm the killer ain't I...?" Sid said.

"I was witness to the whole thing - but you seem to have the urge to kill Sid - so I'll let you-"

"Thank ya..."

THIS IS THE SEED OF TRUTH: FULLY BLOSSOMED!
This murder may have truly started as soon as the killer was personality swapped. But going from a stoic veteran who was unproud of what they did in the war... to a sadistic suicidal racist war veteran... For whatever reason, they decided to target Spike who was also under the swap. Anyone who isn't a pony was a likely candidate... including Thorax, Spike, Discord, and Gilda. Which is why when writing the notes to everyone... They made sure to deliver it to those creatures, whoever took the task would wind up dead. Spike had snuck into their rooms and taken the notes from their rooms come night. Trixie and Thorax's must've been tough to get as they were asleep but he managed. Discord and Gilda were on guard and Discord's door due to his swap was left unlocked because he's more trusting now. Gilda's door was most likely picked by either our killer or Spike after they were on guard, we'll never know. With the other notes in his room, Spike tore them with a fast diagonal motion with his claws, which seemed to favor our killer at first because they would come to match Spike's wounds. Now, despite being swapped.... Spike's inner love for myself fought against it and he was going to kill the killer who had threatened me in the lure note. Before this, our killer casually headed to the Auditorium, not noticing that Gilda noticed them go in. Their biggest mistake was most likely being too cocky and not checking if they were dead. Luckily for them, Gilda took the worse of it and was incapacitated for a bit of trial and they probably thought they were safe as Discord had no recollection of what happened. But - back to the murder... Our killer was waiting for Spike in the auditorium, most likely now with the Monodence given cloak and sword, the cloak of which was made of their own creation out of Soft Metal, according to Trixie, it now makes up illusionist boxes which they hoped to throw us off with. Spike most likely lunged at the killer, full of rage. Their sword and Spike's scales likely collided until eventually, Spike flew up to a position, right where the killer wanted them... Swiftly, they launched their darts into Spike's wings, and then legs. Then after Spike was bleeding out and incapacitated... They threw some into his head. Afterward, our blackened took their sword, and with swift diagonal cuts, dismembered Spike, then they headed to the pool to discard the torso, arms attached, therefore... whatever reason. Then they came back and pushed the darts further in to make it look like that was the cause of death, this most likely got their hooves bloody so they washed their hooves in the water and gave the katana back to Monodence. Their biggest mistake was even signing that letter as Blacksmith because some of it was visible through the ink... Opposite disease or not yer still the one who brutally murdered my husband and you'll get zero sympathy from me... isn't that right... Sidirourgous Smith; the Ultimate Blacksmith!"
CR C3 P1
CR C3 P2
- TRIAL OVER - ALL RISE -

"I say...." Rich muttered under his breath.

"This is just unfortunate, a game show spinner caused so much... so much... DESPAIR!" Sunny bellowed.

"That's it... I was so scared..." Sid whimpered. As if I gave a shit.

"Ah told you, Ah've got no sympathy for you."

"For what it is... I remember his last words were I love her... also for what it is... I'm sorr-"

"Your sorries don't mean shit for Sombra."

"Figured... let's just get on with it Monodence-"

"AH- ah -ah~ first: The Vote!"
The wheel came down yet again and spun... It landed on Sid.

"Correct correct CORRECTT~!" Monodence squeed. "The blackened/killer of this case is none other than Sidirourgous Smith: The Ultimate Blacksmith... and since you all know why - and they're ready - let's speed this killer train a moving!"

"Hold on-" Thorax quivered.
I rolled my eyes. For once... I'm glad an execution is taking place.

"I have a very special and uniquely designed punishment for Sidirourgous Smith, the Ultimate Blacksmith!"

"Sorry everyone... especially to you Applejack..." Those were Sid's final words. I didn't listen to it much... but it was heard.

We watched over the stadium, the area they did the last two executions in, again as Sidirourgous was grabbed by his limbs by chains and yanked into it. It looked almost like a factory this time... A large conveyor belt was shown and eventually, we saw Sid who was chained to it, the fear in his eyes... it's almost as haunting as seeing your husband's dismembered CORPSE. Anyways -
Execution 3: Cover Image

Ominous music and banging began as the conveyor slowly moved and we all noticed a larger than life hammer swinging down. And a bit beyond it... a large metal block slamming down. Sid slowly but surely reached in front of the hammer which slammed down in front of him, causing sparks to scorch him. Sid then was slowly moved under the hammer. of which it slammed down harder and it took off his front hooves and we heard a blood curdling scream. Most looked away, I did not.
Some watched as a blood trail now followed Sid on the conveyor. As Sid approached the block, he winced thinking it would crush his head, nope... it moved him almost past it until the block slammed down, taking off his legs. Sid, somehow still alive, had been dismembered like he did to Spike... Until we suddenly noticed a bright orange liquid dropping all of the sudden... It took me a second but even I gasped. That liquid was molten... Once under it, two claws held his mouth open, we could only hear a slight scream of agony before his throat was gone... Eventually he bled out, the molten liquid continuing to melt his head.

"Praise be to Celestia...." Discofd whispered, signing a cross with his claw.

"That was the most brutal yet...." Trixie stuttered.

"I don't wanna be in this room anymore, and I never did!" Quibble cried out... I dont know why but I started to laugh.

"Wh-what the fuck are you laughing at, that was horrid!" Vinyl shouted.

"Simply put, Karmas a bitch, and I enjoyed the show."

"Applejack, this isn't like you-" Derpy stuttered.

"Yer damn right, I don't have a husband, a brutal execution for his brutal murder. Seems fair to me!" I kept laughing like a maniac, a sane one mind you, as the bright flash happened and teleported us out. As we did - I noticed everyone staring, in horror, even Twilight.
"Typical Cowp-"

"Oh don't act like you've aint done worse, Prissy. YOU got Petunia killed, I got a KILLER killed. Big difference."

"Applejack this isn't going to help any-" Trixie started.

"Ah certainly don't need pity. I'm going to bed."
PROTAG SWITCH - - - > TRIXIE LULAMOON
I only hope I can help Applejack get closure and mourn... but for now... everyone including myself just.. headed to bed...