BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!

Every pony in Mane Melody felt their hearts stop. The Pippsqueaks screamed in terror at the incredibly loud sound. They looked out the window, only to see a massive fireball in the sky. Smoke blowing everywhere.

“ZIIIIIIIPPPPP!!!” Pipp cried out in horror at what she was seeing. Zipp had just called her not too long ago. Telling her to stay where she was. That there was an active shooter at Canterlotic. And now there was an explosion over there. She was absolutely terrified that she didn’t make it out of there.

Her attention was then turned to Izzy, who burst out of the front doors of Mane Melody.

“Izzy, NO!” Pipp yelled, chasing after her. Despite her having wings, Izzy was a fast runner.

“SPROUTY!!!” Izzy cried out, while racing toward Canterlogic. Tears of fear running down her face. She didn’t care how dangerous or scary this situation was. She needed to see if Sprouty was okay. She only hoped as she ran toward Canterlogic.

She would find out later that Hope was everything she needed after today. For her and for everypony.

Queen Haven felt her blood run cold when she saw the massive fireball appear out of nowhere. She saw it was coming from Canterlogic.

“Oh my God.” Alphabittle said softly in utter shock.

“ZIIIIPPPP!!! PIIIIPPPP!!!” Queen Haven wailed in terror at what she was seeing. Where were her babies? Were they safe?

Bella felt her heart stop for a quick moment after hearing the explosion she just heard. She looked outside her window. Her eyes widened in horror.

Though Canterlogic was a bit of a ways, she could still see the smoke and flares from here. She knew where that explosion had come from. And worse, Sprout was over there just now. She felt chills run down her spine. She had never felt so scared in all her life.

She needed to get Vinny. Right now.

“GET HIM TO THE BACK! THIS GUY IS SERIOUSLY HURT!” Yelled one of the medics, who was rushing toward the emergency medical and trauma section of the hospital.

With Sunny running close behind them, Sprout was being wheeled back on a gurney. He had a breathing mask on his muzzle, as he had passed out from the pain and blood loss he suffered from the stab wound. There were cloths on his stomach to try and keep more blood from pouring out of his body.

There were about 8 or 9 medical ponies in total, now wheeling Sprout into the Emergency surgery section. Sunny was about to follow them, on instinct and pure emotion, but was then stopped by one of them.

“Ms. Starscout, I’m sorry but we cannot allow you back here. Personnel only.” He said, keeping her away from the doors.

“But Sprout’s my—“

“I KNOW he’s your friend.” He said to her, clearly showing concern for both her and Sprout. “But this is our job now. All you can do now is wait and hope for the best. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else you can do now.”

As the medical pony ran through the doors, Sunny was now left all alone. All she did was stare at the doors Sprout and the medics went through. Thinking about the last words he said to her before passing out.

“Thank you for forgiving me.”

Her legs felt weak. Her body fell to her right side toward the wall. Tears fell down her face, as she slid down the wall slowly. When she fell to the floor, she sobbed her heart out.

Several ponies who crowded the building that used to be Canterlogic, were now walking away, and with their hooves covering their faces. The smoke and the heat started to sting their eyes and they were worried about smoke inhalation. It was unbearable for them.

However, some ponies still stayed. There were some that had loved ones in there. Hitch knew at that point that the already dead ones were the ones they were talking about.

Also, several orderlies had left to take the victims of the shooting to the hospital. Now, there were about only 3 or 4 ponies on the scene. Looking on at the shock of the sight they were looking at

Reggie, Phyllis, Hitch and Zipp could only stare in horror at the burning building. Canterlogic was now gone. A place where Hitch grew up, running through the hallways with Sprout and Sunny as a child, was now destroyed. And there was nothing they could do about it.

His thoughts and emotions were interrupted, when he heard psychotic cries of glee. It was Sanguine Sauvignon. Still hoofcuffed to the post, she was flailing her body and whooping and hollering like a mad dog at the explosion she and her adopted siblings had created.

Zipp and Hitch looked on in anger at her. She was the one who shot and killed several ponies. Innocent ponies who have families. Friends. Lovers. Several ponies who mean a lot to them. Now, taken away by a crazed mare with a gun.

Then she stopped. She looked completely shocked. It was so odd for them. First, she went from wails and sobs of heartbreak after Bud had fallen from the window of Canterlogic, before the explosion. Then, she was cheering like crazy with glee at the explosion. Now, she looks stunned for some reason. Then she smiles.

Reggie, Phyllis, Hitch and Zipp look to where she is looking at. They share the same look of shock as well. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It’s impossible. It can’t be.

After having his head bashed in and falling almost 20 feet to the ground, slowly….ever so slowly….

Bud Bloomington was starting to sit up, while grunting and huffing with severe pain.

Phyllis was horrified. How? How could he survive that? How could ANYPONY survive that? Zip and Hitch were just as horrified as well. They had never seen anything like this before in their lives.

Reggie just stared. He wasn’t shocked. Also growing up in Clopton, you were raised to be tough as nails. You were either tough, or you learned to be tough eventually. He pulled out the gun he picked up before the explosion.

“This guy is the Mother Mutilator.” Hitch said, grunting in pain. Reggie looked at him. “He’s the guy who killed the mare on the beach over a week ago. He planned this whole thing.”

As Hitch told Reggie all this, Bud had officially sat up on his own. With all the injuries he suffered, it was beyond belief to see him even moving.

“Hitch, Zipp, Phyllis, go to the hospital. Check and see if Sprout is okay. I’m gonna finish this.” He took a step forward towards Bud, who just stared at him with anger and hate. Though, he was having a hard time standing.

“Reggie….” Phyllis said, clearly worried about him. She touched his arm with affection.

“This ends now. The Mother Mutilator and his crimes….are coming to an end.” He said, stepping toward Bud. Phyllis looked on at him. She was scared, but she was inspired also. What a brave stallion Reggie is.

“Reggie.” Zipp said, getting his attention. “There’s a third accomplice. He’s in the jail cell at Hitch’s office. He’s a Clopton Police Officer. Winthorpe. Or Dodd Winchester.”

“All the evidence is there. I give you full permission to give it to one of your guys in Clopton.” Hitch said.

Reggie nodded. “Understood. Now go.”

As a few of the medical ponies began to escort them to the hospital, Reggie was now standing a few feet away from Bud Bloomington, who was trying his hardest to stand and fight. He could feel his back may be broken from such a high fall. Blood was pouring out of the back of his head, his shoulder and stomach from where he was stabbed, and his ribs were broken.

Reggie gave him a look of anger. “You know, I could blame you and your adopted siblings for making me put my work ahead of my family. I could blame you for making me lose them. I could blame you for making me quit something I loved to do. But, at the end of the day, I only blame myself. Everything that happened to me, when you and your siblings started your crimes, I did it to myself.”

Bud, by this point, had managed to make himself stand up. The pain shooting through his back was so painful, it felt like he could go paralyzed at any moment. His head wound felt like his brain would slip out of the back of his skull in less than a minute. But, even so, he didn’t care. If he was going down, he’s going down his way.

“And, really, I should’ve arrested Issac and Lexi the first time we went out there. I had a gut feeling that they were garbage ponies. And I was right. But I was also right about you.” He pointed the gun at Bud, who was walking super slowly toward him.

“I knew when I saw you, there was evil in you. But, I know you weren’t born that way. You were made by them. And I’m so sorry for what you went through all your childhood. You and your adopted siblings should’ve had a better life. Instead of the ones you've lived.”

Bud kept slowly walking toward Reggie. With pain shooting through his body, he started to reach for Reggie’s gun.

“Good thing it’s finally over.”

BANG!BANG!BANG!

Reggie shot Bud in the face twice and once in the forehead. After about half a second, Bud finally fell to the ground. Blood pouring out of his face and skull. He didn’t need to do a double take for this one. He knew it now.

Bud Bloomington was dead. The Mother Mutilator was no more. The nightmare, for all the family members of the victims, was over.

His attention was then turned to screams and cries of sorrow. Though, they also had screams of somepony who was mad with insanity. He saw Sanguine pulling on the hoofcuff chain, basically trying to de glove her hoof from it. To try and get to Bud Bloomington. The pony she saw get shot and killed right in front of her.

He shook his head with pity and anger. He probably should kill her too. After all, she was the gun mare. She was the one who killed a bunch of his coworkers. She absolutely deserved to die right here by his hoof.

Reggie trotted over to the crazed, grief filled mare. She saw this and her eyes were now full of hate.

“So, are ya gonna kill me too, huh?! Well, go ahead! At least I’ll get to be with Bud! I bet you feel all badass and high and mighty and shit! Well, you aren’t! YOU didn’t do shit 40 years ago! YOU didn’t care about us! All you cops don’t give a shit about the REAL victims! You only care about the ones who benefit you! You only—“ *SMACK!*

Her rant was interrupted when Reggie slammed the barrel of the gun on top of Sanguine’s head. Knocking her unconscious again. This time, a small trickle of blood dripping out of her.

“Shut the fuck up.” Reggie said, almost annoyed with her then he was angry. He looked around and saw he didn’t have a key to free her. He couldn’t break the cuffs himself. Maybe when he was in his early to mid 20’s, but not in his mid 50’s.

He also knew that Hitch was in his way to the hospital. He wouldn’t be able to help him. So, Reggie did the next best thing. He got his phone out. He dialed a number he hadn’t dialed in an along time. He only hoped this number was still active. After a few rings, he was relieved to hear that voice on the other line.

“Hey. Long time no see, Reggie.”

“Yeah, it has Stone.”

“So, what’s up?”

“I need you and some of your guys to come to Maretime Bay.”

“Maretime Bay? Why, to neuter us?” The pony laughed at his own joke. Reggie rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

“No. He’s been found.”

“Who?”

Reggie took a deep breath at what he was about to say. “The Mother Mutilator. He’s dead. I killed him.”

“….what?” Stone said, sounding completely in disbelief.

“I’ll explain everything. Just get over here now. There’s been a shooting and explosion at Canterlogic over here.”

“Oh My God. Are you okay?”

“You know me. Now just get your ass over here. Meet me at the hospital. I’ll be there.” Reggie said, before hanging up. He truly hoped that Stone would come. He only hoped that he would be interested enough in the Mother Mutilator case FINALLY being over.

Though, it was his old partner, who was now the Captain of the Clopton Police Department. He knew him pretty well. So, he had a feeling he would show up.

He turned and saw the final two orderlies look at him with fear in their eyes. They saw him straight up murder a pony. And then bash a mare in the head.

“These two are responsible for all of this.” Reggie said, waving his hoof at the firey sight of Canterlogic. “I hope you two understand what I did.”

All they did was stare in shock for a couple more seconds, before getting to the last few ponies. That being Bud Bloomington and Sanguine Sauvignon. One of the orderlies was a mare, who had a pin in her mane. She used to unlock the hoofcuffs on Sanguine’s hoof. She carried her unconscious body towards one of the carriages that would take her to the hospital.

When she came back, her and the other orderly, this one being a young stallion, had put Bud’s body on the gurney. Though that wasn’t all there was. His body was put in a black body bag. They zipped him up, knowing he would be taken to the coroner’s office.

As the final orderlies were leaving, Reggie heard the fire department sirens. He knew he had to leave now. As he walked, however, he saw two mares running toward his location.

“IZZY! STOP!” Pipp had yelled, fastly following behind her unicorn friend.

Reggie stopped in his tracks. “Mister!” The unicorn mare cried out, tears streaming down her face. “Where are they?! Where’s Sprouty?!” She begged, putting her hooves on his chest.

Pipp had finally caught up with her friend, but was immediately turned silent at the image of Canterlogic burning down. Izzy looked on in horror as well.

Reggie took a breath and was about to explain everything, before he saw something odd. It was a flying chariot. It quickly landed on the ground. Out popped two ponies. A very large Unicorn stallion, who looked the same age as him, and almost had the same physique as him. The other was a Pegasus mare, who looked around Phyllis’ age.

“MOM!” Pipp cried out, instantly running into her open hooves.

“Oh, my baby. Oh, my precious baby.” Queen Haven emotional cooed in her daughter’s ear. Tears rolling down their faces.

“Uncle Alphie!” Izzy ran straight into her adoptive father’s hooves. Tears also rolling down her face.

“Oh..my sweet Izzy. Oh, my little girl.” Alphabittle cried, holding on to Izzy for dear life.

Reggie looked at this scene playing out. He was happy that they were all together. However, he knew he needed to tell them everything else that was going on.

“Pipp, where’s your sister? Where’s Zipp?” Haven asked, scared out of her mind.

“She’s at the hospital.” Reggie blurted out loud. Everypony was now looking at him.

“How bad is it?” Haven asked, clutching at her daughter even more.

Reggie sighed. “She got stabbed by one of the perpetrators of the explosion.”

Haven and Pipp felt their coats turn white. Their heartbeat almost immediately started rising.

“No…no, please.” Haven said, with a sob. Pipp hugged her mother tight.

“What about Sprouty? Is he okay?” Izzy asked, sounding even more afraid than Haven and Pipp.

Reggie gave a deep breath again before he told her the truth.

“Sprout was stabbed in the gut.”

As minute that sentence left his mouth, Izzy felt like her heart just jumped into her throat. She let out a cry of deep concern and fear for the stallion she fell in love with. Pipp, Haven and Aplhabittle looked at Izzy with deep sympathy in their eyes.

“He got stabbed worse than Zipp did. Sunny flew him to the hospital…but I don’t know if he’s gonna make it.” Reggie said, with his head low to the ground.

Tears started to fall down her face. Her legs were shaking. She almost felt like she couldn’t breathe. She fell to the ground.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” Izzy let out an emotional cry. And with that, the damn burst.

She just laid there for about a minute or so. Sobbing her eyes out for the stallion she fell in love with. Her cries broke the hearts of her friends.

“We need to get down to the hospital. Your friends are all there. And your other daughter is there as well Ma’am.” Reggie said to Haven.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she nodded her head. “Thank you. We’ll be there shortly.” She said. Both her and Pipp helped Izzy to her feet. The unicorn mare was still a sniffling, crying mess. Alphabittle came over and wrapped his forelegs around his adoptive daughter. Hoping to soothe her pain.

“Let’s go.” Reggie said, escorting them to the hospital.

As the four ponies trotted into the hospital, they noticed two elder looking ponies at the reception desk. One was a stallion with a walking cane, and the other was a mare, who looked about a year or two younger than him. Reggie knew who they were. He had stopped into their store to get a pizza from time to time.

“What happened?! Where’s Sprout?!” Vinny asked, sounding angry, but that feeling was masked by what he was truly feeling. Absolute fear. The receptionist felt intimidated to speak, hearing this old stallion raise his voice at her.

“Vinny, please calm down.” Bella said, also looking fearful, but still keeping a level head.

“How the fuck can I calm down?! Sprout is seriously hurt, and we don’t know all that has happened.” He said, as she now noticed a few tears rolling down his face.

Bella embraced him, making him take deep breaths. “Honey, there’s nothing we can do now. All we can do is wait.” She whimpered, as tears rolled down her eyes now too. Vinny sobbed as he wrapped his forelegs around his wife of almost 50 years.

“Bella! Vinny!” Izzy cried, running toward them. They noticed and welcomed her embrace.

“Oh, Izzy! Thank Celestia, you’re safe.” Bella cried.

Haven and Pipp felt their hearts break at the sight of Sprout’s loved ones breaking down and crying over him. Reggie did the best he could to stay strong. Being from Clopton, he knew how to keep his emotions in check. How to be tough on the inside.

Although, most of the time, that was all bullshit.

“Excuse me?” Haven said, now getting the receptionist’s attention. “I’m here to see my daughter, Zephyrina Storm. Or Zipp. Where is she? Is she okay?”

“Yeah. And what about Hitch? And Sunny?” Pipp asked, clearly worried about her sister and her friends.

The receptionist mare took a breath and stood up. “Well, Miss Haven and Pipp. Zipp suffered major stab wounds to her flank and left wing. She also has broken ribs and we’re worried about her hip as well.”

“Oh my God.” Haven said, covering her mouth, holding in a sob. Pipp looked to be holding back tears as well.

“She’s in emergency surgery right now. However, I’m certain she’ll pull through. Her injuries are serious, however not life threatening.”

Haven and Pipp felt like a tidal wave had washed over them. They were both so worried Zipp may be on the verge of death. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“Oh, thank Celestia.” Haven said, tears rolling down her face. Pipp hugged her, showing her comfort.

“As for Sunny, she's okay. She’s only suffered minor injuries. Hitch suffered serious stab wounds to his shoulder. He’s being patched up right now. His injuries are a little more serious than Sunny, but less than Zipp. So, he’ll pull through.” The receptionist continued.

“What about Phyllis Cloverleaf? And her son?” Reggie asked.

“Yeah!” Izzy said emotionally. “Where’s Sprouty?! I need to see him!” Alphabittle put his hoof on her shoulder to get her to calm down a little bit.

The receptionist looked sullen all of a sudden. “Well, Phyllis has suffered major injuries. We’re worried she may have an injured back. She’s also being tested for any infections with her ear injury. She’ll pull through, but she won’t be the same for a while. If ever again.”

“And Sprout?” Vinny asked, looking impatient and scared. Bella touched his face with her hoof to comfort him.

The receptionist gave a sad sigh. “Sprout is also in emergency surgery. But…he’s really hurt bad. He’s in critical condition.”

Everypony felt their hearts sink. Especially Izzy. Who just felt her heart start cracking in her chest.

“He’s suffered a major stab wound to his abdominal area. We’re worried about him internally bleeding out. At this point, he could go either way. I’m truly sorry.” The receptionist said, looking sad for Sprout’s loved ones.

And when that was said, Izzy felt her heart break in two. Pipp looked over at her friend and embraced her. Then came the tears from her unicorn friend.

“You’re really lucky you don’t have any broken ribs. They’re just bruised. And your jaw looks okay, although that’ll be a bit sore for a while.” The doctor told Sunny, as he was patching her up. Her ribs were being taped, and she had an ice pack on the left side of her jaw.

“Yeah.” Sunny said, looking sad. “Doc, do you know how Sprout is doing?”

The stallion doctor sighed sadly. “We don’t know. At this point, it’s truly 50/50 for him. I’m sorry about your friend.” He said, now putting the last touches on her. When finished, Sunny stood up. She started walking away.

“Where are you going?” The doctor said. “You should stay here for a little bit.”

“I can’t.” Sunny said, walking with a bit of pain shooting through her body. “I need to see if the others are okay. Where’s Hitch and Zipp? And Phyllis, what about her?”

The doctor saw that Sunny was feeling extremely worried about her other loved ones. He almost felt a need to lie to her. To tell her they were going to be okay. But, she had a right to know. So, he told her everything that was said from the receptionist desk to her other loved ones who weren’t at Canterlogic before it blew up.

“I’m so sorry about your friends, Sunny. I’m praying for them.” The doctor said, leaving Sunny feeling almost helpless. Two of her friends were hurt bad, and one was REALLY hurt, to the point where he may die. And there was nothing she could do about it. Not even the Alicorn could help her in this situation.

“Sunny!” She turned around to see it was Pipp who yelled out to her. She saw Queen Haven follow close behind her. Reggie was behind Haven. Then she saw who was following them.

She saw it was Bella and Vinny. The two pizza place ponies. Knowing how close the two were to both Sprout and Phyllis, she could only imagine the fear and worry going on with them. However, when she saw who was with them, her heart almost broke instantly.

She saw Izzy with Alphabittle, Bella and Vinny. Except, this wasn’t the same happy, super upbeat, super positive, always smiling Unicorn friend she knew. No. This was a different Izzy now.

Her face was downcast. She saw tear marks on her face. And her overall demeanor, or as she would call it “sparkle”, was that of a sad, heartbroken pony.

“Sunny, are you okay?” Haven asked, sounding worried for her as if she was her own daughter.

She didn’t answer. She just kept looking at Izzy, who almost looked as if she was being held up by both Bella and Vinny. Like, the heartbreak she was feeling was just too overwhelming for her to stand on her own.

“Izzy?” Sunny said, getting the Unicorn’s attention. She came up and wrapped her forelegs around her friend.

“Please.” Izzy begged in a soft voice. “Tell me they’re wrong. Sprouty’s gonnna be okay, right?”

Sunny felt her friend’s tears fall upon her shoulder. It broke her heart to see Izzy like this. She wanted to tell Izzy that, Yes, Sprout would be okay. He’s gonna be just fine.

But she couldn’t. Then she’d be lying to her friend. And if Izzy knew that, she would probably never forgive her. So, Sunny let go of Izzy. Alphabittle, Bella, Vinny, Reggie, Haven and Pipp just gave a depressing look to this whole situation.

With an incredibly sad look, Sunny told her the truth. “I don’t know.” She said. “The doctors told me that he could go either way. There’s a 50/50 chance he may….” She tried finishing that sentence, but just couldn’t bring herself to do it. It felt so painful for her to even think that her childhood friend may be gone forever and there would be nothing anypony could do about it.

Izzy whimpered and buried her face into Sunny. Letting out her sobs again. Breaking the hearts of everypony looking at them.

2 Hours Later

The 7 ponies just sat there in the waiting room. Waiting and waiting to hear the news about their injured friends. Hoping that they would be okay. And hoping one would survive.

Reggie also was waiting for his old partner from Clopton, now the Sergeant of the Clopton Police Department, to come and get him. He was given full permission by Hitch to see all the evidence that they gathered in finding the Mother Mutilator. He only wondered what Stone would think, knowing that he killed the Mother Mutilator. The serial killer, who terrorized Clopton for 20 years. Taking loved ones away from their families. Taking the lives of several young mares.

He only hoped he understood why he did it.

As for the others, Haven, Alphabittle and Pipp sat with each other, hoping and praying for Zipp’s safety. Bella and Vinny were comforting Izzy as best as they could, along with Sunny as well. Their efforts were in vain, however. Izzy still looked beyond scared and worried for Sprout. They only hoped that he would come out of this alive. Though, they knew he probably would never be the same after all this.

Frankly, no pony involved with everything that just happened would ever be the same again.

Their concerned thoughts were interrupted when they heard a slight rapping on the open door to the waiting room they were in. Izzy felt her heart tick up at the sound, but was disappointed when she saw who it was.

“Hello every pony. Hey Redge.” Said an older looking stallion. He appeared to be about the same age as Reggie. He had a suit and tie on, along with a hat. He also looked to be a bit slimmer than Reggie. His coat was a rocky, gray color, along with a navy blue mane, which looked to be getting shorter by the day. He probably would lose his hair soon. Though, that was just an example of somepony getting older.

Reggie stood up and shook this stallion’s hoof. “Everypony, this is my old partner, Stone. He’s the Sergeant of the Clopton Police Department.” Everypony said hello to him in a somber like tone.

“Reggie called me a little bit ago. Said there was a shooting at Canterlogic. I’m truly sorry to hear about what happened. I hope you know I’m praying for your loved ones.” He said, being as compassionate as he could.

Sunny stood up, wincing a little bit from the bruised ribs.

“Mr. Stone, me and my friend, Sheriff Hitch Trailblazer, have one of your guys in jail. Your officer, Mr. Winthrope, his real name is Dodd Winchester. He’s one of the ponies involved with the Mother Mutilator killings over the past 20 years. We have all the evidence at the station.” She said, holding her bruised ribs, feeling the pain shooting through her body.

Stone looked shocked hearing that. “Winthorpe?” Sunny nodded intensely.

Before anything else was said, a female nurse entered the waiting room.

“Excuse me everypony? Am I interrupting something?” She asked.

Izzy shot up out of her seat and darted toward the nurse.

“How is he?! Is Sprouty okay?!” She asked out loud, sounding emotional. Sunny put a gentle hoof on her friend’s shoulder, trying to get her to relax a bit. Though, how could anypony truly relax at a time like this?

“He’s still in emergency surgery.” The nurse said, looking sad for Izzy’s worried state. “We’re doing everything we can to save him. I’m sorry, but I can’t give you any more information regarding Mr. Cloverleaf, ma’am.”

Izzy hung her a bit in disappointment and sadness.

“However, I do have news regarding Sheriff Hitch Trailblazer, Zipp Storm and Phyllis Cloverleaf.” She said, which made Haven and Pipp spring out of their seats as well.

“How is she?!” Haven asked, with deep concern in her voice. “May we see her?”

“Well, I can tell you right now that your daughter will not be flying anytime soon. And she’ll need physical therapy for both her wing and her flank. And, I’m sorry to say this, but regarding how well her physical therapy goes, she may walk with a limp for a long time afterwards. She’s gonna have to stay here for a while. I’m sorry if she can’t home yet.”

Haven and Pipp looked devastated at the news. They were at least happy that she was still alive. However, knowing she probably will never be the same again, at what cost was it?

“Can we go see her?” Pipp asked.

“We had to pump her up with some drugs. But, from what we’ve seen, she’s at least lucid. So, yes. You may go see her. Just don’t crowd around her too much. She just got done being stitched up.” The nurse said, giving them a warm smile.

Pipp and Haven returned their smiles, before turning to everypony else in the room.

“Good luck, everypony.” Haven said, before leaving the room. Before Pipp left, she turned to Izzy, who was still looking down at the floor in sadness and despair. She came toward her and hugged her again.

“I’m praying for Sprout too, Izzy. Don’t lose hope, okay?” She said, making Izzy tear up again. Pipp gave everypony one last look before she followed her mother down the hall to where Zipp’s room was.

“Nurse?” Stone said, getting the her attention.

“Forgive me if this sounds impatient, but is Sheriff Hitch Trailblazer lucid enough to speak to me? I need to speak with him.” He asked.

Bella, Vinny, Reggie and Alphabittle looked a bit annoyed hearing that. It’d be one thing if it was a family member wanting to see him. But him being asked questions after coming out of getting stitched up was just unnecessary in their minds. However, Sunny understood why.

The nurse nodded. “He is. He needed less drugs than Zipp, but I’d say to please tread lightly. He’s in a lot of pain.”

“Understood.” Stone said. “So, if you have anypony you need to see Reggie, go ahead and do it. Once I’m finished asking Mr. Trailblazer, I’m gonna need you to come with me to the station.”

“Right. And Sunny come with, if she wants.” Reggie said, looking at her. She was a bit surprised at hearing this. “You helped Hitch in finding the Mother Mutilator. You have as much right to be there as anypony.”

Sunny nodded intensely. “Okay. I’ll go with you, Mr. Stone. Hitch probably wants to know how I’m going anyway.” She looked toward Bella, Vinny, Alphabittle and Izzy. “Guys, good luck.” She said, as she walked out of the room, with Stone following close behind her.

“What about Phyllis? How’s she?” Reggie asked the nurse. Both Bella and Vinny stood up. Vinny winced a bit in pain, due to his arthritis. Which made Bella look concerned for him. But, he didn’t care about himself right now. Something more important was going on.

She sighed sadly. “Well, she’s alive. That’s the most important thing. However, she’s also suffered a major eye injury, which we may need to perform surgery on. Her ribs and left hoof are broken. Regarding her ear, she’s definitely gonna need reattachment surgery if she wants to look somewhat normal again. She’s also suffered a few herniated disk in her back. She will also need physical therapy to treat her back injuries. Overall, she’s probably never gonna be the same after his. I’m truly sorry.” The nurse said.

Bella let out a soft sob. Vinny put a comforting hoof on his wife’s back. He didn’t want to show it, but he was just as worried and concerned as she was for both Phyllis and Sprout.

Reggie growled in frustration. “May I go see her? Is she lucid enough?” He asked.

“I’m sorry sir. She’ll be more lucid sometime tomorrow morning. You can see her then.” She said, before leaving the waiting room.

Everypony in here now just sat there. Deep in their thoughts. Hoping and praying that Phyllis and Sprout will be okay. Well, mostly for Sprout, because they knew Phyllis would still be alive. They didn’t know anything about Sprout yet. There was a big chance he may not make it.

Reggie looked back at the others. Bella, Vinny and Alphabittle had sat back down with Izzy. Comforting her as best as they could. It was truly a sad sight to see. He could only hope and pray for Sprout and Phyllis at this point.

Because now, he had to go and find Stone. He was sure by now that he had gotten all the information from Hitch. Now, it was time to make the final arrests for the crimes committed at Canterlogic. And the Mother Mutilator slayings over the past 20 years.

He was at least glad that these ponies were getting what they deserved now. Bud Bloomington may be dead, but at least Sanguine Sauvignon and Dodd Winchester would pay for their crimes. He only hoped that everything would be all worth it in the end of all this.

By Celestia, he truly hoped.

Author's Note

Well, we are nearing the end guys. I’d say both 2 or 3 more chapters, and this story will be complete. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Also, if you liked this chapter, make sure to comment, like, favorite, and follow for future updates. Thank you all and Goodnight Everybody.