One by One

Chapters

Alone.
One.
Background
Two.
Forgotten
Trust
Four.
Judgement.
Ungodly
Six.
Trapped.
Seven.
Nightmare.
Eight.
Nine.
Annoyance.
Ten.
Interrogation.
Eleven
Freedom.
Twelve
Lost.
Thirteen
Finding.
Fourteen?
Fifteen and Sixteen.
Future.
Three.
Five.
Burden
Muderer.

Alone.

Alone

She’s stood there again. I can see her through the window staring at that small piece of paper with an emphatic look in her eye. This was the moment she could break free of all other ponies in history; she could break free of her life. I knew how much she had wanted this to happen; just this chance to be somepony special and somepony that foals could look to and say ‘That’s her, isn’t she perfect?’ I suppose I should’ve been happy that she had finally received her dream but the truth is that could not be further away from the truth.

She and I had been friends for so long now that it was mortifying that we should have to split in two and not be together any longer. That sad, sweet little Belle that used to ring out my name every morning so we could start the day’s adventures. We used to run and laugh and sing and dance. It’s what we were good at, we were good at being friends together.

Okay, okay, we weren’t exactly Pinkie Pie standard at making friends. In fact, we were far from it; we had our own little niche and we preferred to stay within the boundaries of that group. All three of us together, running around jovially with big grins on our faces looking to the next day with a smile. We were okay; we were together. That was all that counted back then. If one of us had a heart-wrenching, death-defying problem, then we all had a problem. If another one of us was being mercilessly teased by a tyrant editor then all of us were being teased by an editor. And if one of us released a chaos-seeking demon onto the land then…well, you get the picture: chaos would rein over us until our heroes could save the day.

We all had basically the same heroes as well. Well, I suppose you should really call them heroines but to me that just sounds ridiculously silly. All three of us idolised the Princesses favourite subjects, ‘The Elements of Harmony’. Each of us had a certain favourite that we would follow. Sweetie would consistently follow her pernickety sister, Rarity, all over the place just waiting for the ideal moment to lie down and kiss her hooves (figuratively speaking). I was always extremely harsh over Sweetie’s adoration over the white unicorn, I could never understand it whatsoever, but I suppose looking back it was I that shouldn’t have been so foolish myself.

You see, back when we were young, I always assumed that me and my fellow crusaders (for that’s what we called ourselves) would be together forever. I always assumed that it would be me, myself and I that would control all of the situations that were to happen in our home town of Ponyville. We could all by Mayor together; we could be Librarians, or Dragon slayers. We could even have been the new heroes; we could have been awesome. But no. They had to go out and find their cutie marks and then move away to get their own lives.

That sweet, little Belle that I’ve known from foalhood looks so lost without somepony stood beside her. True she has that jerk that created the contract but he’s not the same as having good friends, is he? Surely having me by her side instead of outside looking in would have been better. I could have reassured her, given her courage, given her hope that this would all turn out okay. But instead I’m left to freeze outside like some kind of monster. Am I a monster? I don’t consider myself to be, and I’ve certainly never been told I am. My parents…Well; my parents have never told me anything about it, so I couldn’t possibly be one right?

She’s an idiot. I know I shouldn’t say that, it’s not very fair, but at the minute she is. She really believes that having all of the fame and fortune will use her talent to its fullest effect. I used to sing too for Celestia’s sake; all three of us used to sing together. I wrote songs and melodies with my faithful piano and my rhythmic hooves. Why can’t I have the same luck that both other ponies had?

Everything went downhill about three months ago, back when Apple Bloom decided that she didn’t want to live in Ponyville anymore, like we had always said we would. Sweetie was so gobsmacked, and I daresay so was I. I couldn’t believe she could be so heartless as to break everything that we had ever wanted to do together. Just because she had got her own cutie mark meant that she thought she was a whole lot better than us, and now Sweetie seemed to think that too.

Sweetie never felt that before. All of these months I’ve been with Sweetie, having fun the way we used to, but without Apple Bloom there she couldn’t care less it seemed. She just wanted to escape from everything she had ever known. And why shouldn’t she? After all she was a grown up pony now, she didn’t need anypony else that could just tie her down. I’ll show her tying down. I’ve got many years of experiences at tying knots; just wait until she gets out of there, I’ll show her who’s in control.

No! I shouldn’t be saying things like that about some of my only friends, it’s just unfair. Even if I would love to go out and beat every smug pony who dared to think they were better than me, I had to leave my two friends exempt from the rule.

If those two think they can get the better than me, they’ve got another thing coming. I can’t hurt then, they’re my friends, but I’m sure there’s plenty of other ponies who wouldn’t be so happy in my presence, Anypony who couldn’t stand me, anypony who had ever bullied or annoyed me, they were villains and should be treated as thus. I may not have a Cutie mark, I may not be that bright little spark in the classroom, but at least I know what’s right and what’s wrong you foals. I do, don’t I?

I do know what’s right? I do know what’s wrong? Is it bad that I should want to get my revenge on those who have done nothing but collected pleasure from my turmoil? Me? I’m a foal. I’ll only ever be a foal. But it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve been treated as if I was a monster and locked out and ridiculed because of this. Even my hero refuses to talk to me anymore; ‘too busy’ she says before flying away with them prissy flyers. I even tried going to see my parents for help but no…’too busy’ they say.
Everypony’s always busy when I need some help. Nopony likes to be around me anymore.

Did I do something? Do I smell? Or am I just not good enough to be your friend anymore? Tell me please Sweetie. Don’t grin at that idiotic stallion with his goatee beard and horrendous after bite, he’s clearly not good enough for you. Tell me if you’re my friend Sweetie. Tell me if I’ve been kind to you little Belle.
I need answers Celestia. Luna? It’s night time. I guess I should have seen that one coming. Darkness always comes just when I feel at my most in fear; a symbol of my worries or, maybe, a sign of what’s to come. Is the sky trying to tell me something about my future? There was something I was born to do perhaps, something that the thunder wishes to tell me.

Of course, the pegasus colonies would schedule a storm tonight, on the very night I am at my most timid of mind. It makes complete and utter sense does it not? Why be a Scootaloo when there is nothing for a Scootaloo to do? I’m a blank flank. The oldest blank flank since the creation of blank flanks. I’m an anomaly, a horrible pony only sent to be pointed at and prodded as if I were a freak show. A monster?

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle. My two friends, the one’s I have longed to be with my whole life and be together forever as best friends. I’ve never felt more betrayed by any ponies in existence. But I will always go on being their friends through thick and through thin. Whether they know I’m there or not. I will always be something different to everypony, a laughing stock that knows no bounds, but that’s not going to hold me back from doing what it wrong and right….

Big Mac, Cheerilee, Mrs Cake, Rarity, Discord, Cadence, Cherry Jubilee, Silver Spoon, Twist, Smarty Pants etc. etc. etc.

It’s about time I grew up. It’s about time I put crusading behind me, but there’s no possible way I can. I could never stop doing what my mind tells me to do. The sun is powerful and strong during the day, my friends love the sun. If I’m not with them anymore, then I must be the opposite correct? I must be the darkness that hides in the deepest corners of the Earth. I must be myself and I must carry on crusading forever. It is the only way to be, and it is the only possible way my illegitimate future should be.

I will and won’t forever be this unholy ‘thing’ just waiting for the chance to redeem myself and help my friends once more. I will be more than an ‘it’ or ‘that orange pony’. I will be so, so much more than your dreams could ever realise. I can never be a hero, I realise that now, but there is something that I can be quite easily. I can be a martyr can I not?

‘Cutie Mark Crusader Martyr’s Go!’

One.

Big Mac looked around at the ever-expanding land before him. Ever since his youngest sister had left it had been a lot more tiresome for them to get all of the work done. Granny Smith was far too old and tired to help them out in any way anymore; she had been in poor health for a while now and Big Mac knew, though he would never tell anypony, that soon his Grandmother would not be around to even tell them what was best to do on the farm. It was sad and heart breaking to the older stallion, but he knew life and death was simply a matter of the everlasting cycle that ponies went through; even alicorns would die eventually.

Now Mac himself was in charge of the whole crop of apples, the fruits that the family relied on to survive through the years. Without their harvest of apples they would have not been able to carry on living in their treasured Apple Acres and could not afford to pay for the hospital bills that had to be paid in order for Granny Smith’s life to be prolonged for as long as possible. He couldn’t let go at the minute, Granny Smith had raised him from a young foal; he loved her more than any other pony could ever love a family member. If it weren’t for her then he and his sisters wouldn’t have grown up in the respectable position that they had. His parents were lovely, kindly folk but the area they worked in wasn’t exactly a good place for young fillies and colts to grow up.

Nevertheless they hadn’t grown up there so it didn’t really matter much. What was important was that they owed Granny Smith, and he, more than the others, understood this. He was willing to do anything for his Grandmother, and if looking after her foalhood ranch for her while she herself could not, then so be it. It was his job now to see that the farm would be the best farm in the area and he would see to it that it was.

His two sisters did not have the same work ethic he had, though he felt bad to say it. It’s true that they did help out the best that they could, but only when they were asked and no more than that. Both sisters felt that they had to be given permission before doing a kind deed for somepony, especially their Granny who so often wanted to do things for herself but couldn’t. Yes, Mac could see it in her eyes, Granny was ready to go and there was nothing even she could do to slow down her inevitable end. Applejack and Applebloom could not see the signs as well as he could but he had known the old green mare for so long and had never faulted her as his sisters had growing up; he could see the truth of what the future lay in store.

He couldn’t help but feel sorrow. It was natural for anypony to feel upset at the prospect of a loved one leaving, but he could not linger on these thoughts for long, he had to stay cheerful so that his younger sisters would never suspect his misery. In order for them to feel brave throughout the loss he knew that he must set the best example he possibly could; one single tear was all he could afford to weep when the time came, before moving on and doing his best to help the farm continue to prosper. Applejack would be a great help in these times, though he knew she would never be able to do all of the work herself; she was robust but she was young and smaller than most working stallions, she needed somepony to help her or the yields would never be so large on their orchards.

It had been hard for the family to get used to only having two ponies to tend to the acres of land they owned. With Granny Smith constantly resting or in hospital and their little sister Applebloom now interning in Canterlot as an architect, they were low on the number of workers. Just Big Mac and Applejack now, as it would be for a long time. Big Mac nodded to himself. It was good that little Bloom should have the opportunity to do what she loved to do, he was really proud of her for her hard work and determination. He could still remember the days when she was desperate to get her cutie mark, and that cutie mark had come to serve her well, it had. She was a good’un was his youngest sister, and he liked her despite the many faults she had had growing up.

Big Mac stood for a minute watching the sun slide down beneath the fields. It always looked so calming and beautiful at sunset, the one time when night and day could come together and bring wonder onto the land. If ever anypony upset him or teased him as a foal he would have come out here to watch the orange and red paint dab over the sky with the brushes of the pegasus artists. It was a shame nopony else seemed to love this time of day too much, it was the best time to be outside in his eyes.

The wind whistled through the foliage and the apples danced upon their stalks. They would be ready to harvest soon, but not yet, they were not fully grown at this point. Apples were his livelihood, apples were his nature. He was so enrapt in the peacefulness of the sunset that even a simple rustling of the bushes would not bother or upset him in any way. A shadow could move behind him and he would not have minded in the slightest. A heavy blow could fall onto his shoulder and he would feel nothing. He felt nothing.

The stallion lay paralysed on the floor as hit after hit fell onto his face and chest. Blood spurted out of his collapsed eyes and flooded out onto the floor in a thick clotted pool of red.

The apples bowed to the weight of the rippling thunder that flew overhead. Zap apple season was coming. The shadow grimaced at the thought of the rainbow fruits, before looking down at the lifeless corpse underneath it. Perfect it thought.

The winds picked up and the shadow picked up the soil from the dark earth. The disfigured mouth of the stallion was opened with a quick hoof and the dirt shoved down into his throat. The head was released and fell flat onto the ground.

“Mac” a voice called in the distance “Are ya comin’ back in now?”

The shadow grit its teeth in anger. It wasn’t time yet, it would have to wait. The darkness hid the caped pony as it ran off through the trees into the expanse of the large orchard.

ONE.

Background

Everypony seems so strange today. They all smile at me like they know I can’t see the true sadness in their eyes. They all feel miserable, I can tell. But they won’t admit it to my face; I’m not good enough to share feelings with. I’m just there in the background with all of the other little cast with no lines in their great production. I am nothing. I’m worse than nothing- I’m myself.

Anypony who’s themselves when in the presence of normal, well-bred ponies are always bound to be strange. You have to be able to fit in with their rules for them to care about you at all. I don’t fit in with them, and I never shall try. Why would I want to be like them? They’re mind-controlled into believing what they think of as the true figure of perfection, but it’s not perfect, nothing’s perfect. Only sane ponies can see that it’s all a big rouse.

They’re whistling happy tunes now, like they were in some kind of joyous musical with a happily ever after. They want that to be true, but it never shall be. I only speak from experience, I speak the truth, so listen you little brats skipping in your dinky little corner as if you were the only miracle in this world. If you don’t listen you will never escape this horrible future that you will find coming around the bend.

They’ll leave you, you know. At the first sign of anything better they will leave, and they will never speak to you again. You’ll just be that little thing in the darkness that will never be shined upon; a blank slate with an even darker image. Trust me, won’t you just trust me for once. Am I even there in your view? You seem to look at me, you look in my direction, and yet you show no signs of knowing that the large ghost is there. I’m nothing to you. I’m nothing to your prance-about friends with their goody-goody four shoes ways.

You never break the rules; they’ve been forced upon you from birth. I know, I too suffered through this as a foal. You have to fight back against these thoughts little filly, ignore the other ponies, come with me. Come with me and I’ll take you to a better life far away from here. You can be a crusader, a rebel against these horrible forces who think that they have the power over life and death. Join me and we can save the ponies suffering through this tyranny, Come with me.

Don’t look at me like that. Don’t ask me if I’m feeling okay. Of course I’m feeling okay, I’m feeling better than I’ve ever felt before. I am not staring at you you stupid little colt, that filly can feel what I feel. I beseech to you with my eyes small one, see the truth, understand the nightmare we live in. All of this. All of this place. All of these ponies, are not real. They’re all just servants to the wickedness of this society, I tell you they’ll leave you at the first sign of trouble. They will leave. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you that did to me. I don’t want you alone and scared with nowhere to go but to the side of hatred and despair.

You may smile. All of you, you may grin. But I can see your true feelings, I see the tears welling up in your eyes. You want to leave, you know you want to leave. Your friends tell you no, but your heart tells you otherwise. Friends. These friends aren’t real, your heart is your friend, listen to it. Your duty isn’t to them, it isn’t to the prissy Princesses, it’s to yourself. You know what you have to do tiny dancer. You hop around in foalish abundance but you know it will not last. They’ll break you and tear you in two just as they did to me.

What are you doing? Don’t leave. Don’t walk off with them, they aren’t worth it. Come back, please come back. Where are you going? I need you.

She left. They always leave. A large gathering’s appeared on the grass now. There’s nopony there that I can change for the better, they’re all far too lost to be saved now. What’s going on? I don’t get it. The false smiles they’d all been brandishing seem to have disappeared, thank goodness. They’re crying. They’re upset. Something’s happened, I can feel something’s happened.

If I edge forward slightly I might make it through the crowd, but that would mean I would’ve joined their pack. I can’t give in to my cause now. I stand still, not even moving slightly to satisfy my interest in the situation. They probably think I’m in shock or something, that I’m too scared, but I’m not and I never shall be. Why should I be scared when my mind lays untarnished by the outside world? I’m fine. I’m always fine. So many tears, so much sadness from these ponies. What’s wrong with them?

I can just make out Applejack in the crowd. Her stupid hat hiding her face. Applejack doesn’t cry normally, but her tears seem to outweigh the others. Something’s definitely wrong here. Everypony seems so distraught. Cheerilee, my old teacher, can barely seem to hold back her emotions. I’ve never seen her so upset. It’s disgusting.

Oh great, here comes Twist just to annoy me further. Her stupid smug face under her obnoxious glass lenses simply infuriate me. She pretends to be so kind and caring but still did not object to my friends instant dismissal of me. She thinks she’s some kind of saviour, that she’s meant to be the next hero of Ponyville, but she won’t be. Nopony ever will be as long as they stick to the rules we’ve been given. Twist fits in well with the fake cheery atmosphere that Equestria’s aesthetics would have you believe to be true, a ‘perfect’ choice for this ‘perfect’ world.

Her simpering voice wavers as she tells me the news. ‘Bi--Big Ma--Mac, he’s dead.’ I couldn’t say that I wasn’t surprised, the healthy stallion had many years left to live and it would seem unusual that he had died so early. I want to be alone now, I want to be alone with my own thoughts with no input from others; Twist has different ideas however. She won’t leave, we want somepony to give her sympathy; the same sympathy I’d not been given when I was left alone. Why should I help her? She had never done anything for me. ‘Oh Scootaloo’ she whimpered. Oh, so she actually remembered my name did she, well congratulations four eyes you’ve done better than most. ‘They’re all saying he’s not just dead. Somepony’s murdered him. But what heartless creature would do such a thing?’

I couldn’t stand and listen to more of her prattle, by tomorrow the whole thing would be yesterdays news and she will have forgotten me again. Right now she was all friendly and looking for friendship from me, but she would have no such expectations once all of this had blown over. And she was never going to get it from me either.
Applebloom had lost her brother, yet still she didn’t arrive. It appeared she was truly never coming back no matter what happened, but there must be something that could be done to bring her home. I needed her home, she and little Belle and me: we would make a great resistance against the leaders of Equestria. We could be great together, they and I.

Mac’s dead, ponies are crying, and I stand alone in the backdrop. That won’t be true for long, I promise, my dear ex-friends.

Two.

Cheerilee couldn’t believe the events from a few days ago. Mac? Dead? It seemed almost too unreal to be true, but it was and there was nothing she could have done to prevent it. The police ponies had called at most ponies houses by this time, including hers, but were still no closer to finding the culprit. A chance victim they reckoned, picked by an insane lunatic who’d escaped from the local hospital. As of which pony they thought it was it was hard to tell, all patients in the wards had been accounted for the morning after the crime, so all of them had been in the hospital. The police Chief still stuck to his theory though, it was just a hunch but so far all of his hunches had been found to be correct.

Cheerilee was still distraught over all of the happenings. She couldn’t show that she was upset though, her students came first and she could not alarm them in any way whilst teaching them their lessons. But afterwards, in the lonely nights at home, she would think of the gentle stallion and weep into her sofa cushions. He had been so kind to her, so sweet whenever something was wrong, that now he had gone it seemed that nightmares followed her wherever she went. In the brief moments she’d slept she would witness flashing images of his face brandishing a big toothy smile just before...’Crash’ his face was beaten into oblivion. His old smile gone now to be left by a black hole of soil and dirt clogging up his throat.

She had not seen his corpse at all, but she had sat with Applejack and comforted her through the ordeal, so she felt she knew every gory little detail now. She wished she didn’t. The image was so terrifying that even when she was awake she felt a constant fear of all the ponies around her. She was satisfied with the police’s ideas, they knew what was best, but the niggling feeling that it could be somepony she knew gnawed at the back of her mind. She grew superstitious of the oddest of ponies. Rose, Daisy, Rarity, even some of the young foals she taught; it was all so ridiculous but all so nerve racking for the purple mare.

Her house was her safe haven at the moment. Nopony could make her worry or feel nervous within the confounds of her own house. She knew every inch of the place and the only entrance to get in was through the front door that always remained locked whether she was in or out. There were no dangers here, and she was glad about that. She needed to relax, that was what she needed to do. She couldn’t afford to feel this frightened when she was alone, she was alone far too often for that.
She thought, for the third time that week, how nice it would be to have a special somepony that she could rely on in times of distress like this. She had been alone for a long time now and she had always felt that she wanted somepony near her. She had just never had the nerve to be with somepony…not again.

As a filly she had been in love, a ‘schoolyard crush’ as most ponies would class it. But to her it had been deadly serious, she’d thought they would be together forever, and had even begun to plan everything for the wedding. A foalish move that had been; the colt had left her within the matter of a couple of months. He had gone away with his family and never came back again. The last she heard he was married to another mare with three foals of his own. She had never dated anypony after that; the closest she had got was Mac, and even they had really stayed friends. They could never get the chance of being together now even if they wanted to. The upset came back into Cheerilee’s mind again and a tear dropped down her cheek.

She needed to relax, that’s what she needed to do and then she’d forget the whole business. Yes, she was going to relax, and she knew just how. She trotted upstairs to the bathroom and laid her hoof nimbly on the taps. With a slight push she managed to set the water going, and stood waiting with anticipation on when the tub would be full. She chewed on the end of her hoof. She needed to relax; she had to stop thinking about poor Mac. She had to take some time for herself. It’s true that she needed to finish marking some papers for the next day but they could wait until she felt like she was fully rested.

The water seemed high enough now so she turned the taps off slowly and placed one hoof after the other into the soothing liquid. ‘Ah, calming’ she thought as her whole body slipped under the water. This was perfect; this was exactly what she’d needed. After a whole day of listening to Applejack cry it was good that finally she could take some time for just her.
She rested her head on the back of the bathtub, closing her eyes in bliss. ‘Perfect, absolutely perfect’. The lights flickered above her, sending sparks across the room.

“Strange” she uttered, opening her eyes to look upwards “The fireflies are never usually that active.” A large flash shook the glass casing of the light, the rope it hung by swung ferociously up above her. She stared at the lantern, confused as to what was going on inside it. The rope snapped and the light shot down into the water where she lay. Large volts of energy shot through her body, her brain burst through her skull and her heart imploded within its cage.

The lightning stopped attacking the water and the room fell silent and dark, the empty-headed corpse floating on the top of the free-flowing water.

Two.

Forgotten

Forgotten.

The notice came up on the board straight away this morning. Screaming in bright red letters the news of the day ‘Miss Cheerilee found dead in house’. I can’t say that I cared much, everypony else was devastated though. The waterworks had been turned on once more. Twist tried to speak to me, but I wouldn’t listen to her prattle again, she’d annoyed me enough the day before. Didn’t stop her trying to talk to me. Just as other ponies tried as well.

Snips, a colt I had the displeasure of growing up with, kept bugging me seeing how I felt about the whole situation. He hadn’t spoken to me for years and suddenly, of course, he begins to care about me again. It’s pitiful to think that they could be so pitiful. This is what Ponyville has come too has it? In times of crisis what do we do? We weep and cry because of fear. And the sad news is that everypony could barely remember the death of Mac due to the death of the school teacher. His memory had been pushed out and moved aside by the memories of another. Ponies have such a short attention span.

I can remember Mac as well as remembering Cheerilee. They were together once thanks to my idiotic ways. It had been my fault that they had been forced to love one another; true, Applebloom and Little Belle and been part of the shenanigans as well, but I couldn’t blame them, I should have told them to stop. I should have told them what they were doing was wrong, but instead I let them control our actions. They overpowered me I suppose, that’s why it was so easy for them to walk away and leave.

Murder? In Ponyville? They would never believe that could be true, it was impossible in their view. We’d grown up so happy together, frolicking cheerily in our schoolyard dreams that we almost forgot to see the world for what it really was; a place not only for life but death as well. Death is our future, even if no other ponies accept that as the truth of the problem. Everypony is so terrified of dying. Why? Because they don’t want to leave? No, that can’t be right; they leave their friends and family nearly every other day and never come back. That’s not the correct reason.

So…Gossip then? Ponies love gossip, they almost thrive on the whispering words uttered over the fields saying this pony did this and that pony did that. I feel ashamed to think of the time when I too partook in gossiping, an idea concocted by Little Bloom. I wouldn’t want any gossip about me going around, and there never shall be as I hide in the backdrop. I’m safe away from prying eyes. I can’t say the same for the victims of the recent crimes.

Who shall be next? I have a feeling who it shall be but I’m not going to tell anypony. Why should I tell them? Have they ever done something for me? Only those that are on my side will know the truth of my plans. Not even my old friends or idols shall know what I am thinking in my head. Do you know little filly? You look at me like you know, but your friends are still holding you back. Your friends don’t like all of this murder business but you yourself are looking quite complacent. You don’t worry very much do you little filly. I can understand that. I used to pretend I didn’t worry as well.

You do worry. Trust me, you do.

Two murders gone by little filly. Two murders gone, one after the other, but you show no sign of terror. You need some help. I need some help.

The police still insist that it was a lunatic from the hospital. They would think that, they didn’t like to think somepony sane may do these acts. Not somepony they knew from the town. Let them think that I say, if they want to act like little foals playing a game they can. I dare them to think otherwise.

There’s no proof, they say, that these ponies were chosen specifically. Mac worked in the fields where nopony else was around, an easy victim for a chance murder. Cheerilee too, lived just outside Ponyville centre, any pony could have just picked her house because they would not be noticed whilst they committed their rotten deed. A bit too much of a chance for a chance murder, don’t you think?

The hospital’s coming over the whole brunt of the force and searches done by the authorities. They say their patients are all still there, but the police do not agree. They never shall until something breaks their theory, and even then it shall always linger at the back of their minds. They’ll never leave it alone and let the bodies rest in peace. Poor Mac, poor Cheerilee, poor victims. Poor? They who were rich on life? Impossible.

It’s time to leave. I can’t be here any longer or questions will follow. Goodbye little filly, goodbye ignorant ponies, Scootaloo bids you adieu…

For now.

Trust

It’s not a senseless killing. The idiot police finally figured it out; these ponies chosen were killed purposely because of who they were, they weren’t picked at random as thought before. Only took them three murders to figure that out. I wonder when they’ll figure out the who, what, and why. If we looked at how long it took them to figure out the first part it should only be thirty or so more murders before they eventually catch the pony responsible, but will they ever catch them? The whole of Ponyville could be dead by the time they get around to solving this case. Maybe they need some help from other police forces across Equestria, but they would only join in if somepony was murdered in their own area.

Mrs Cake’s dead, the latest news screaming on the bulletin board, enticing everypony to read. There’s a big panic now. If they’re choosing victims then it could be any of us. Well, except the murderer that is; they’ll only find out who it is when they’re the only one left besides the killer, that’s when they’ll catch on.

Who is the murderer? Wouldn’t you like to know you ridiculous ponies? The vultures that prey on any information they don’t know, that’s what you are. You used to be nice when I was younger; at least I thought you were. I was wrong. I was always wrong about everything. I was a little gullible foal who believed what you said, but not anymore.

Snails is crying, I can see him. He loved the cakes from SugarCube Corner and now he couldn’t get them until Mr Cake felt up to baking again, if he does ever feel like cooking again. I wouldn’t if I were him. I would have run away and hidden myself from everypony around me; I would lose myself in my bittersweet tears and choke on my empathetic emotions. I would still do this; I wouldn’t pretend I had no feelings like I had been preconditioned to do as a young filly. I needed to be brave and fight against my true thoughts, not blurt them out whenever I felt it necessary. I suppose, unintentionally, I am still like this, but that is what makes me a good rebel; that is what makes me the best.

The best at what, is what most of you would ask. You don’t know what I do; you don’t know what I’ve done. I could never do anything really important, I am much too silent to do that, but I’m only silent because I have to be otherwise my career would be down the toilet. I do have a job, or at least I have to do some labour to do every day. Torture if you ask me. Only two more days until I have to go back to it but I’ll still be fighting at the same time, I’ll never give up my cause.

It’s important little filly, your friends would never understand me and my ways, but you do. I can see you looking at me, peering round at my face as if you know my thoughts and you know my plans. You want to join me I know, but your friends scare you, they hold you back. They control you as my friends had always controlled me. They will go you know. They’ll walk up and leave you at the first sign of something better. Everypony wants to escape at some point; everypony loses ponies they love because they find something better. Then we, their friends or family, are left staring at an empty road just waiting for them to turn around and change their mind. Even if they come back they’ll never be the same as they were.

How many ponies do you think have lost their loved ones little filly? Not through death or that stuff but through actual choice on the other ponies behalf. You can say that you’re proud of them, say that you’re going to be fine without them, but you never mean it. You lie as other ponies lie to you. And that’s why, when you eventually die, you realise that you never had the chance to do anything different. You never had the chance to walk away and forget because you were weak, supposedly.

They lie, little filly, they lie. You’re not weak because you care or feel lonely; you’re only weak if you let them go without saying anything. I didn’t say anything; I know I am weak. I shall always be that way until the day I go, and then I shall regret my decisions fully. But you don’t have to be that way; you’re a foal, there’s still a chance for you to be great, to be free and strong. I can help you. I can help everypony who needs to feel that strength, but then it will be up to you. After that it will be your choice whether you are going to carry on building your body into the weapon you can be.

Don’t let the rules make you fall down. What they tell you to do, ignore it. It’s taken me years of my life but now I realise the truth about this world we live in. It’s not the only one, it’s not the most powerful one, and it’s certainly not the perfect world it pretends to be. Perfect? Is that really a word? It can’t be real, yet we still strive for perfection.

Little filly, your friends stare at the sign with such conviction, but you don’t. You barely even notice what the sign says. I know why. I know why you fear the words it says. The hunt now has to begin. The hunt for the cruel hearted who would do such a horrible crime against pony kind. It’s not horrible when it’s the right thing to do. You shouldn’t worry or fear, nothing bad will happen to us. I promise.

The murderer’s out there and the idiot police would never suspect the truth. Only some ponies will have figured it out eventually, and they are dead. Dead as a doornail, dead as a statue, dead as a Big Mac. They’ve forgotten Mac and Cheerilee now, they weep for another pony instead; all of this chopping and changing must give you a massive headache.
I suppose I should walk away before I am noticed. If I stay and keep up this unenthusiastic look then I will be spotted as being the odd one out. I’m sure that this tyranny is not over…and it most likely never will be.

Four.

The sombre white unicorn looked around her latest outfits with a sigh of pleasure. This was what she liked to do in her spare time; this was the perfect way to relax and forget one’s troubles. Fashion was her calling in life, she knew it was, and she had become quite popular in the industry since the success of her patented Pony-Style line. She created dresses to astound and suits to inspire, cotton and fabric wielded into pleasurable attire. She had a true gift and she would use it for the world.

At the moment she was working on an extremely important dress for an extremely important client: her sister. Her sister had recently joined the ranks of all of the famous stars and role models, becoming a popular singer who toured around the county just like a young Sapphire Shores. Rarity knew that she was going to be brilliant, and a brilliant outfit should be created to match.

She reached across for her measuring tape with her hoof but her hoof remained empty. The measuring tape was not on the table? Then where on Equestria was it? She peered around at the clutter overpowering the spaces of her room, her ‘organized chaos’ as she described it. Where could it be and in which pile could it have slipped under?

Each pile, although seemingly messy to another pony, was placed in a specific order. Her fabrics in one pile, cotton in another etc. etc. But now she really couldn’t see where anything could be. Measuring tape couldn’t just vanish right in front of your eyes, it was impossible. Of all the things that could happen in her Boutique losing important materials and such was the absolute worst thing, though this was the most common occurrence out of all the problems she’d ever had.

Once upon a time Sweetie Belle, her star struck sister, would have happily obliged to wander around the room and sort out her belongings while she, Rarity, carried on creating; but now Sweetie was not here to do any of the clearing and so Rarity must take over that job once again. She didn’t like to do it much; it always was such a hassle to sniff around the floor like a common mutt just to find something as small as tape. If only there was a way of doing it without getting one’s hooves dusty or tired. ‘Oh wait’ she thought ‘I can just use my magic to find it. Silly Rarity dear, how could you forget a thing like that?’
Sparks flew around the large protruding horn on her forehead, blue lights circled the white point as she turned to busy herself in her search. She stayed standing where she was bringing over all sorts of objects to her eyes within a cloud of dazzling magic.

Hairbrush? No. Oh, but she could do with using this, after all she’d only managed to brush her mane two full times today, there was no use in simply having 200 strokes and no more. She gave a tug on her flowing purple mane with the brush and perfected her signature curls towards the ends. She looked perfect now and the mirror reflected her perfectness wonderfully. Now, back to the search.

Candy? Pinkie Pie, her dear friend, must have left this the last time she visited her shop, which was quite disturbing to think about since Pinkie hadn’t been in her shop for at least three weeks. Three week old candy was simply revolting. It was quickly taken outside to the trashcan. Rarity didn’t want to have the smell coming through from her inside bin. After the instant dismissal of this object she began rifling through the piles again.

What this time? Wool. Rarity stared at it with a loss for words. She had never knitted anything before, she hadn’t even simply tried, so how had that managed to sneak into her workshop? She glared at the wool and the ball stared blankly back. It was preposterous that she should own such an old-fashioned tool. The wool was discarded with a simply chuck behind her shoulder.

This procedure of finding objects carried on for a long while and by the end she was still at a loss as to where her measuring tape could be. The room had become even messier by now and everything had been strewn across the floor in a mad frenzy of digging between piles. She would have to clean that up…eventually. She turned back to her desk and jiggled the locks to peer into draws and such but still no tape could be found anywhere. This was ridiculous; she had never been so unorganized that something could disappear right in front of her eyes.

Her friends or clients could have taken it last time she’d had visitors of course, but she did not get visitors often these days. Her usual custom was to go to the houses of her clients to sort out all of the orders and in that way they would never be deterred by her unusual filing system in her work room. Her friends in Ponyville did not often visit these days. All of them were far too busy to come and see the mare anymore. It had been a hard time with nopony to speak to but Rarity had managed quite well. If they wanted to not speak to her then she would respect that decision, even if it did aggravate her that she would be ignored.

She sighed again, but this time in a much more upset way then she had before. She was proud of her sister and proud of all of her friends and what they’d accomplished but she couldn’t help but miss them. Everypony seemed to be coming and going so often these days, and what with all of these ruthless killings Rarity couldn’t help but feel the loneliness drowning her even more.

There was a pony that she could talk to about her problems and fears; one that she’d often rely on in these troubled times, which seemed to happen more regularly recently, but now she could no longer speak to her either. Mrs Cake had been such a blessing to the younger unicorn; she had been so much like her Mother that Rarity had felt closely connected to her ever since her Mother had died a year or two back. Mrs Cake had been happy to speak to Rarity, and Rarity had been happy to speak to Mrs Cake, it had been a good relationship between them.

Rarity would tell the older mare all about her worries of her business and of Sweetie’s departure rattling her slightly when it had been announced, and in turn Mrs Cake would mention her fears of Pumpkin moving away to Canterlot for her acceptance into Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns, and Pound’s dreams of flying with the Wonderbolts coming true in the fact that he was moving away to be trained at the prestigious Flight Academy heralded by the top fliers Spitfire and Soarin. Both mares had worries about their family and both would express it to each other. It made them feel better. And now that was all over.

Rarity shuffled through the paper on her desk, peering through all of the images that had been drawn of this latest design. It looked pretty good, pretty good indeed, but it could still do with a few additions. Her magic encircled the pencil on her desk and she began to draw over her pictures, working intensely on this one design alone. It was imperative that this outfit was perfect. It had to be perfect.

A small object appeared behind her head as she worked, quickly stringing itself around her pretty, pure neck. The mare grasped for breath and tried to swing her head round to look at her assailant. She could not look. The tape was too tight around the bottom of her head. Her windpipe became crushed inside of her body and burst within her neck. One final tug on the weapon and the lifeless corpse of the fashionista fell to the floor in a huddle.

The shadow of another pony moved over to the desk and tied the tape around the neck of the mannequin wearing the sequinned outfit. The pony gave a smug smile, turned around and wandered out of the shop with a clang of the hanging bell.

Four.

Judgement.

Judgement

Twist won’t leave me alone, and the same goes for Snips. Both of them want to keep talking about the latest murder, but I don’t want to discuss it. Rarity had been Sweetie’s sister; an annoying sister too. I had never really cared for the older mare that always seemed to pretend that she knew everything about anything. A unicorn as well, so of course she pretended to know magic like the back of her hoof.

I wish they would just leave me alone but I know they won’t. All of these murders had been so close to home that of course ponies would constantly talk about them all of the time. The murderer was stupid when they planned it like this. I was stupid to plan my plans in the same manner. I couldn’t carry out my plans here anymore. It’s much too busy. I have two days before I go back to work, so I only have until then to carry out the next part of my mission.

A life for a life, that’s a common phrase nowadays. Ponies all saying that this killer deserved to be killed as brutally as they were killing their victims. Good luck with that, I’m sure the murderer won’t be so easy to be beaten. They seem smart, too smart for most of you.

Can’t you see the way they are planning this? It’s really quite simple; all of these victims have a connection of some sort. It’s relatively clear to me, even if it’s not to you. They have a reason, and a rhyme and they commit the crimes. I’d appreciate it if you’d stop asking me questions and expecting me to give you caring, decent answers. I genuinely don’t care. It has nothing to do with me after all, and now nothing to do with you either. I need to carry on with my list; I need to do my job. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.

So…Little filly, have you thought about what I offered? Did you realise what I was doing as I realise everything that you have done? Your friends are still with you, even though you hate them. I can see the scorn in your face when they speak. Don’t scorn them little filly, it’s not entirely their fault that they worry so much about these notices on the boards. It’s up to you to change their mind. That’s what ponies like me do. We persuade others that they are wrong and that they can still change if they choose to, but it’s always there choice. We can’t make up their minds for them. That is not what this position entitles us to do.

We can merely watch and whisper through the breezes, telling them what we think without them even realising what we are really saying. Only those that understand our cause will truly get what is being said, the others will see it as the mad ramblings of a lonely pony. But there is more organisation to this chaos than first thought.

Ponies leave, ponies die, ponies lie to your face, and they don’t respect all that you have given to them over the years of friendship. I have done so much for so many ponies and yet they choose to ignore me like I am some piece of rubbish, just like you filly. We’re both ignored with nopony to go to but ourselves. If ever I need to express my emotions then there is no better pony than myself, because nopony else would ever understand the truth of what I am feeling. Except each other, you and I. I understand what you’re feeling, and I’m fairly sure you can see what I feel as well. There are others in my clan that know each other as well as they know their selves, but this is a very rare occurrence indeed. We were not raised to understand any of what other ponies were thinking.

Your livelihood right now is fake, i.e. it’s not real. There are so many ponies out there who’ve died in the same manner that these recent victims have and yet nopony paid a blind-eye to them did they? They were ignored and do you know why? Because they were killed by somepony that was noticeable, somepony that everyone knew was crazy and had to be aware of. This criminal was sane, so sane that they could go behind somepony’s back and crush their skull but also have the delicate touch to replace fireflies with a lightning bolt. They could kill in any way possible. How would the next one go? Do you know little filly?

I don’t know at the moment. I’m sure it will come to me. I have ideas as to who my next ‘client’ should be but it will mean leaving for a short while. I do not like to leave my home; it makes me feel extremely hypocritical, but go I must. If I do not go then nopony else will. It is up to me to sort out this list I have collected. I have a vague idea of which ‘creature’ shall be next. And so I need to go and get that done before I return.

I will miss you little filly. Try not to be too upset if bad things occur whilst I am gone, though I’m sure you won’t be upset, it is not in your nature. Have fun with being yourself for a little while, and above all things little filly: STAY IN PONYVILLE! I cannot express that enough. It is detrimental for the plan that you should not leave. Please little filly, even in somepony else tells you otherwise, do not leave.

My train comes in soon so I had better leave these teary-eyed foals behind. But little filly, stay here. Do not follow me to the station as you want to. Don’t go with a stallion either; your family stays in Ponyville, promise?

Good. I must go. I can hear the signal for my journey’s beginning. Time for me to make a silent but malcontent exit.

Ungodly

I’m back. Not that any of you care at all. You’re all so focused on that bulletin board I wouldn’t be surprised if your eyes had gone rectangular to match it. What are you even looking at anyway? Let me through, I want to take a look. Don’t knock my head with your hoof Bon-Bon; don’t jerk my tail like that Lyra, it’s not funny.

Strange, that doesn’t look like a new piece of paper, it still says about Rarity’s death. Rarity was killed even before I’d left so why should they care about that anymore. A pony’s shouting to the crowd, standing up on the steps of the town hall. He doesn’t look like the policecolts from here, but I’m sure that I’ve seen him before. It’s his weird goatee that gets me, I suppose there might have been a few ponies I’ve met with the same beard, maybe even some mares, but this one I definitely can distinguish from the rest. I’m not going to ask anypony else who this stranger is, they’d only start talking to me again.

Ah, I remember now, Captain McFly from the Canterlot force. I saw him on my travels, when he was patrolling the area with his cadets. He looks so strict and fierce, just the opposite of what my cause is all about. So he’s left his home to come down here, I wonder why. Did somepony break into the Canterlot gardens? Yes, that could always be true, but how could he have linked it to Ponyville already? Unless… He’s here about the next murder.

Yes. Discord’s dead. Released from his statue and then killed. Sounds about right. Well, it is right because the shouting stallion just screamed it in all our faces. And doesn’t he look smug about it, knowing that now he’s got a big case to work on and can take over from the ‘pathetic’ police from Ponyville. There’s Longshot in the corner with that young Deputy of his. He seems worried, the Deputy. Why should he worry? He’s not the one that’s going to get locked up in chains for this deed. I suppose in some ways I could say I feel sorry for them, but then again I’m not working with them so I can’t be on their side… Can I? Can I be on their side as well as my own?

McFly looks determined to find the culprit. He probably knows that if he solves this he’ll be decorated as a great hero and warrior. He might even be knighted by the Princesses, lucky for some. Everypony listens to him, yet if I ever wanted to make myself heard then nopony would understand nor care about what I’m saying. I need to be heard or none of this is going to work. Poor Deputy, I can’t help but feel sorry for you. You’re worried about what will happen, about whether you’ll be next. You’re not next on my list.

Oh, little filly, did you not listen to me last time we saw each other? Did you stay in Ponyville as I suggested? Please, tell me you did. You’re not even going to look at me today, your friends take up most of your interest and they are watching the idiotic Captain in awe. They’re thinking that one day they could grow up to be like him, though their minds are in the same place already. Don’t listen to them little filly, for you it will not end well.

They think that the murderer might live in Equestria. Well, no shuck Sherlock, have you only just figured that out? We all live in Equestria, that’s where we ponies live after all. And what else does your infinite brain cells tell you about the killer Captain? That it’s an organism? That it can move? That it can either walk, bike or travel to other places? Yes, I see how your mind is working. Now that you’re on the case I imagine a lot more deaths than when Longshot and his Deputy were working on it. Let’s face it, you’re a foal Captain, no matter how much you like to pretend.

Well, this killer certainly can do anything. To kill a chaos god must have been a tricky task… Even though it wasn’t. It was really quite simple if you knew how. But you wouldn’t understand that Captain, you believe that only a genius could have done something like that. Might I suggest Twilight Sparkle? She’s a genius. But you wouldn’t ever suspect her; she’s too close to the crown. Questioning her would be like suspecting Princess Celestia; another thing you would never do. You wouldn’t want to get into trouble now, would you?

The Princess could have done it. It’s always possible considering the amount of evidence you have, which in case you were wondering is non-existent. It’s not going to be easy finding the culprit if you don’t think past a pony’s appearance and position in society. They could be more normal then you would first expect. They could literally be anypony. Any one of us could have done it. Isn’t that right little filly? It could have been anypony standing around here. Do you agree?

McFly needs to be quiet. I don’t want to hear about his days travelling with the Wonderbolts and I DEFINITELY don’t want to hear about his days being the bodyguard to Rainbow Dash. She may be famous but she left her friends, and she left McFly too. She said he was far too over protective and ‘too much of a drag’ to have going around with her. He didn’t even look handsome or strong, which was imperative to Dash’s ‘cool’ image. The Wonderbolts have to keep up their image or they fail miserably. They get left behind.

Maybe one of them will be next. Maybe it’s a Wonderbolts turn to fall since Canterlot has now been hit. That’d be the day. Everything they stand for would be crushed in a flash, especially if one of the others were suspected.

Oh shush Scoots, no ideas right now. No ideas about what you can do. Work tomorrow, I can’t wait. And yes little filly, I am being sarcastic. Enjoy your time with the tears and turmoil, Scootaloo isn’t staying with McFly any more than she has to.

Six.

Captain McFly straightened his tie and smoothed the creases on his shirt. He had to look his best for a meeting like the one he was going to attend now. If even one bit of him was not presentable then he could not gain the admiration he would’ve liked from the ponies he was about to visit. This was such a prestigious moment in his career; he couldn’t afford to mess it up. Why, if this went well, he might finally be able to get a mare who would genuinely like to go on a date with him. He’d been asking them since he was a foal and got nowhere, but with this special event he would always have an anecdote that could help him get a very special somepony. Who knows, maybe he could even charm the Princess herself.

With these thoughts in his mind he knocked placidly on the wooden door in front of him. A noisy bustle could be heard inside and two guards opened the door to the ruckus in the room. Ponies rushed to and fro throughout the bedroom, gathering all kinds of evidence they could find; hoofprints, jars, buttons, dust-bunnies and many more. Though to an average pony they wouldn’t be of help to the case whatsoever, and actually would not be any help to the police but they had to make sure they covered all bases. Just in case of any trouble.

Deputy Siren flicked through her notepad, asking the weeping stallion in front of her as many questions as possible. Yes, he had been with her the night before; yes she had been alive and not dead. No! Of course he had not killed her. The idea was ridiculous. The Captain burst into great big sobs as he remembered the groaning noise he had heard the night before coming from his beloved wife. Everypony said that alicorns could live forever; they had not said that this only applied if they were never killed. Shining Armour was wanted to have his beloved wife back with him again.

Siren flicked her eyes to the Captain as he walked up to her, brushing his comb-over to make it look like he had more hair than he truly did. It was not very becoming from Siren’s point of view; in fact it always made her grimace when the older colt attempted to be as ‘hip’ as the young ones. She wasn’t even sure he had any ‘hips’ left to speak of. Secretly she wanted to laugh at his appearance, but knew that would be rather harsh to do in front of the upset pony in front of her. She had to distract herself from looking at her boss; the only way she could think of was carrying on asking the poor stallion questions.

Shining Armour wiped his hoof over his eyes, trying to supress the tears that kept falling over his cheeks. His Cadence…His wonderful Cadence…had gone and he was never going to be able to see her again. A few days ago it was he that had the chance of dying but instead his wonderful mare had been taken instead. Tomorrow was supposed to be the day where he would leave to go and fight in the war brewing against the changelings. He had been so nervous about going, but knew that it was his duty to his Kingdom to fight… but now, he didn’t feel like fighting. He felt lost and scared with nowhere to go. Usually he would have called on his younger sister Twilight for a talk but she had been so busy recently, hardly anypony could get an audience with her, not even him.

A cry came from the far corner, diverting Shining’s attention away from the bustling ponies in front of him. Poor little thing didn’t know what had happened.

“Do you mind?” he asked through his weeps before trotting up to a cot at the side of his grand bed. Deputy Siren began to follow him but her Captain pulled her back.

“Don’t,” he whispered to her “He’s a suspect in this murder.”

Siren shook her head, pushing the stallions hoof away from her shoulder and glaring at him.

“No, he’s the victim.” McFly watched in annoyance as the mare walked away from him and up to the white pony standing above the colt. She bent down and stared at the giggling foal underneath her. The little pony was so small, so innocent, Siren understood how sad the Father must have felt losing his wife just when he and she needed to be together to raise their foal. Siren herself lost her Mother when she was a new-born, and she knew how lonely it could get without having both parents with you growing up. However she also knew that the best thing for a grieving parent could be to spend time with their foal… Looking after her had been the only thing that had kept her Father going.

“Is it a mare or a colt?” she asked, startling the young soldier who hadn’t realised she had been stood there. He blushed and held out his hoof for the foal to suck on.

“She’s a little mare.” Siren noticed the look Shining Armour gave his offspring; he loved her, she could tell. She was the one thing he felt he had left, and that was the only thing that was going to keep him sane throughout this turmoil.

“Has she got a name?” The young Deputy proceeded with her tactic of talking about something other than the death of the Mother. Even if her boss did not think this was the correct way of gathering information, she knew that when ponies were at their calmest they would be more reliable with their answers.

“Sugar Plum, she’s called Sugar Plum. My little Sugar Plum fairy.” He reached his other hoof into the cot and stroked the dribbling foals purple mane. She looked just as beautiful as her Mother; just as sweet as he could remember his younger sister being when she was a foal. He couldn’t help but wish that Twilight could be here right now. But she wasn’t, and he had to deal with that. He sighed to himself, staring down at his little angel.

“I can’t stay here,” he muttered “I have to go and fight with my army.”

“It’s understandable if you don’t feel able to.” Siren peered towards the blue-maned stallion, her eyes as sincere as she could make them.

“No, I have to.” He stopped and stared at his daughter again, seeing in her what he had seen in his wife. “I have to stop the changelings coming through to make the Kingdom safe for my Sugar Plum.” He bent down into the cot and kissed the young filly on her cheek, a tear rolling down from his eyes. Siren didn’t feel comfortable being with him anymore; he wanted to spend some time alone with the family he had left. She did not want to intrude.

McFly was not best pleased with her, she seemed to completely dismiss any orders he had given her. He grumbled to himself. ‘It didn’t matter’ he thought, ‘this case is mine not hers, and the glory shall go to me too when I solve it’. He nodded, a smug smile crossing his face. Princess Cadence’s death may have been bad for her family but it was excellent for him; he could finally prove himself to be as great as he believed. It wouldn’t be long before he captured the criminal, then the Princesses would sit up and take notice of him. Not too many murders until his brilliant mind had solved the case.

Six.

Trapped.

Trapped

When in Canterlot, do your best to do what you want. When in Ponyville, slave away at your job like an idiot. I started work again for my idiot boss. He plagued me about not being in the last two days; it seems he’d forgotten I’d been given a holiday for a while. I didn’t care about his yelling; as long as he didn’t find out what I had been doing I was safe.

He’s so ugly it’s unbelievable. Mares run away whenever he walks by, and yet he’s the biggest narcissist I’ve ever met. He uses his power in business over his workers, especially the female ones. Thankfully he’s never managed to get around me for that but others have not been so fortunate. I knew it wouldn’t be long before Sunny Daze would find a way to get out of this hellhole, and then his affection would be pointed towards me. I didn’t want to be used in that way; I didn’t like being used in the way I did now.
I saw Sunny crying in the cloakroom when I got here this morning, it seems she had been working another ‘night shift’ and had been told she wasn’t allowed to sleep. She used to be such an innocent filly; it was dreadful to see her like this. Sunny didn’t know what it felt like to be normal anymore. She didn’t know what was right and what was wrong with all of the confounding facts. I know that ‘he’ must have told her she was doing the best thing for herself and she couldn’t argue with him. All of her old thoughts had gone; she was left a soulless shadow with no opinions or decisions. I felt for her.

He was clearly getting bored of her now. She’d be indispensable eventually, just like all of the others. And then…There’s a chance it might be my turn. Would I do what he said? I’d hope that I’d be strong enough to pull away from him and say ‘No’. I don’t know, though, I might have been living in this society for too long to escape now. I wonder how many other workers in other jobs have fallen for the same trap from their boss. Probably quite a few I should imagine.

The boss is all worked up today, keeps brushing his hair back in nervousness. Serves him right for what he’s done to Sunny and the others. It turns out there was another murder. Like I didn’t guess that already; the pattern’s perfect. It happened in Canterlot; the police say it must have happened during the time when Discord had been killed. The mare had been using make-up with arsenic in it… They knew it was the same murderer. The murderer liked to use arsenic as their poison method. Yeah, because it’s cheaper you foal, and easy to get hold of.

I swear the police have no brain cells in their head sometimes. I know that Chief ‘thinks he knows everything’ McFly has taken over the case now. I saw the Ponyville Chief and Deputy today; they’ve never looked more deflated. I don’t think they’ll give up that quickly; if McFly’s in charge the villain will never be found. McFly’s just as stupid as my boss, but not as demanding… My boss definitely wins the biggest jerk award.

So now I’m back to my boring mundane everyday job. Sitting in front of a desk, staring at a piece of paper and wondering what to write next. We’re usually told what stories to write down for the paper and then it gets stamped with approved or denied. I don’t like being a journalist… At least not in this town. There’s no news except for what we’re told. I can think of lots more stories that nopony would ever dare print. And I know many stories that nopony can ever know… Even if they’re the stories that everypony would want to here.

I just tap, tap, tap away at the two buttons on my typewriter like a machine, it’s so tedious and mind-numbing hardly anything keeps me going. Every now and again we can leave to go and get a big ‘scoop’ but I’m not allowed at the moment; I know what that means.

Sunny was demoted to working in the office back when her torture started, and all of the others before her. And now it was my turn. I didn’t dare think about what the future had in store for me. And with nopony left to help me I suppose I have to stick here; there’s no way out for me now.

I saw you walking past today little filly, this morning when I walked in. You weren’t with your friends for once, which surprised me. I worry about you when you’re alone. I worry about the others when you’re alone. I worry far too much. I need to calm down. I need to forget what could be happening to my friends all alone by themselves. They left me; it was their choice to go it alone. I have to focus on my cause and forget about everything else that happens during the day and night. No matter what happens I just have to keep going with my plan.

It won’t be long before all this torture could be over…For everypony. None of us will be here to feel the pain of this life. To feel the pain of our loved ones leaving us. Not anymore… Never again. Do you agree with me little filly? You often look like you do. You should because there’s no way out of it. We’re all going to go through this eventually so we might as well do something about it.

Ugh, his eyes are staring at me again; that horrible stallion with his glassy eyes. What does he want from me? Sunny won’t even look at him anymore, it’s too painful. I don’t like looking at him already, so I suppose it’s okay. But I still don’t want to do what I know he wants me to do. I probably will have to in the end.

It’s the end of the end.

Seven.

Cherry Jubilee watched the scenery shoot past outside of the carriage window. She usually enjoyed this exhilirating sensation you got from riding on trains; this feeling like the whole world could go by beside you without having affected you at all, but today she was having a hard time finding it pleasurable. She was the last pony in her carriage. Everypony else had either got off at earlier stops or just blatantly had stayed in the carriages further up, away from her.

She almost hadn't got on the carriage herself, what with that odd looking pony in the large hat and duffel coat skulking in the corner. But Cherry was used to all kind of odd mares and colts by now so she showed no nervousness about being confronted by one on the train. They hadn't spoken for the whole journey and the other pony had got off the train at the last stop in the quaint little town of Ponyville.

One day, thought Cherry, one day she would have to visit there herself. One of her old workers had come from the peaceful town, a real sweetie she had been as well and a very hard and dependable worker. Her friends had tried to help as well but they clearly weren't up to living the farm lifestyle that the country ponies were used to. No, AppleJack had been a fine worker and shared many things in common with the red headed orchard owner. But she had left... Just like all of the other workers she had hired had eventually left to find something better. Nopony ever wanted to stay on at a simple cherry farm when there was so many other 'better' jobs out there.

Cherry sighed. She supposed it was only normal for ponies to seek the best for themselves, she just wished that for once the best could be working for her. She had never been an inconsiderate boss, every one of her workers had said that they'd loved working for her. But that hadn't stopped them leaving. It seemed her nice attitude was not something that could keep a pony loyal to her business.

The trouble was Cherry wanted somepony she could rely on to look after her cherries whilst she went on her long business ventures. It was up to her to travel around a bit; go to carnivals and rodeos, to see her wares and promote her little field out in Dodge Junction. Lots of visitors had come to visit her fields and buy her cherries just by these little trips. She needed that business. Nice as Dodge Junction was, and as great as it was cost wise for growing cherries, it was not a very large town. Certainly not large enough for her to sell her products and take enough bits to tide her over.

No, she had to move around which meant she had to trust quite a lot of perfect strangers who may have only been working for her a couple of hours. And then when she came back many of them would hand her their resignation along with the words 'It's not you. I love working here...but I've found something that may help me reach my dream.' Then they'd babble on about their new job and how it was going to help them so much, and each time a new line was said Cherry's confidence would deflate and deflate and deflate.

She was going to live old and alone in the future, she could just tell. It was not going to be nice but it would be true. Everyday she would have to sit there staring through her bedroom window and would never be able to get anypony to open it for her. She would call for help and nopony would come. It was going to be simply dreadful but that was her life and she'd have to deal with it because she wouldn't have a choice. She was too 'nice' for anypony to stay with her for long enough to care for her.

The train juddered on its tracks, forcing Cherry to fly upwards off her seat and onto the floor. 'Ouch! Why in the hay did that happen?'. She looked through the window to the carriage in front of her. 'Strange' she thought out loud 'The car in front seems to be okay...'

Sparks flew off the wheels underneath her seat, flying upwards at the windows. The break slammed on shut and a large crash sounded from the front where the door to the next compartment stood. A loud knock came onto the back door, startling Cherry and persuading her to run to the front. She tugged on the handle trying to escape the sparking carriage. Fire sperad over the windows and through the wooden flooring, creeping closer and closer to her as she pulled on the door handle. It wouldn't open. She was trapped.

How could she escape? There didn't seem to be anyway out of here. The heat clutched her hind legs, burning her hairs off of her body. Her mane caught the flickering flames; strand after strand fell to the floor in large clumps of smouldering ash. She clutched her sides in agony, her stomach beginning to boil inside of her crinkly, flaking skin. It was hot; so hot. The smoke clutched her lungs, choking her on the black smog of death that circled the area like a vulture capturing it's dying prey. She sighed one last breath, fell to the floor... and the ponies in front read their papers in silence, reading all about the latest murder in Equestria--How could somepony be murdered without any other pony realising?

Seven.

Nightmare.

Nightmare

And just like that Nightmare night comes around. A perfect time for a murderer to strike don't you think Twist? If you actually cared about me other than talking to me about YOUR problems I might just tell you what will happen tonight while everypony is giving their candy to 'Nightmare Moon'. But you won't will you? You won't listen to me or follow me in anything I say. You're much too caught up in the latset murder: The murder on the Friendship express.

That's all anypony can talk about at the moment. Everypony's forgotten about Mac, Cheerilee and the others. They don't matter anymore. No, we have to focus on burning body on the train that goes through Ponyville. She was on her way to Canterlot I believe, and then switching trains to get to Dodge Junction where she lived. I remember her telling me. She'd just been on a business trip to the land of the Griffons and was taking the scenic route back home.

She was used to travelling, but needed workers for her farm. She asked me whether I'd consider it; she was clearly desperate to ask a stranger to help her. I denied her any of my speech. I couldn't talk to anypony otherwise I might have given away some important information about what I happened to be doing on a train when I should've been at work. Thankfully my boss didn't reailse, he was far too busy dealing with a teary eyed Sunny. Seems I was right, Sunny is leaving her job now. I don't blame her but I do worry for her. She doesn't know where she is going to go; she only knows that she has to leave before things get even worse for her.

That means that soon it'll be my turn and I want to experience every bit of freedom before it does happen. Who knew that one simple train journey could lead to so much destruction? Well, I did I suppose, but still it seems odd. Murders can happen right under everyponies nose and nopony will even see it until it is announed to the public eye. Nightmare Night should bring out some interest to killers. There's no better time to strike then right now is there? I myself will be out tonight on a mission for my cause. I have my costume all planned and ready to go. Nopony will suspect me of my actions at all.

What are you dressing as little filly? You appear to be talking about it to your friends but you're being super secretive. Why won't you tell them what you're going to be? You might not know yet, but I highly doubt that. You seem to be a filly who thinks about everything you're doing days in advance. An attribute you may have learned from your family. I never used to be like that when I was younger; spontenuity was the only way I could work on my crusades. Structure is the first sign of a winner nowadays... It's the reason some villains will never be caught.

If you've worked so hard for something for months on end then you always want it to go perfectly. That's the way I feel about tonight. It's all down to me to do this, as usual. It should be easy if it all goes to plan. Very easy indeed. Unless somepony gets in my way, and then there may be major ramifications. I know which pony I've got to speak to; I've already arranged the meeting with her. Perfect. I will be waiting there for her arrival.

Have fun tonight prancing ponies because you won't be happy for long. Another kill will happen and then you'll be weeping into the tubs where your apples once where. It should be interesting to say the least. Bobbing for apples has always been a fun pastime in my view. There's something satisfying about almost drowning yourself just to get a mere morsel of fruit you can easily pick yourself off of a tree. I don't know why, but I like it a lot. It is and always has been my favourite game, even if my friends never agreed with my passion for it.

Twist is cooking sweets with Bon Bon for the festival type event. They should have fun with that. Hope it doesn't taste too bitter to them, like all of their words have been recently. Hopefully since Twist will be working on them soon she'll leave me alone in peace to go and bake her treats. That'll be heaven sent, her leaving me. I need to work further on my plan for it to succeed. This is going to be a perfect night for me and all of my comrades. If they even show up... Their nerves might get the best of them at last minute. I'll never bottle it, even if they do.

Tonight's the night. And then tomorrow I have to go to work..with him learing over me with his flaring nostrils and crinkly skin. It's going to be horrible. I wonder when he'll start his demands. It was a week before Sunny began to obey his orders to the letter. It'll take longer with me; I'm not that weak. But still, I need the job or I'm out on the streets with nowhere to go but a cardboard box. To avoid suspicion I have to keep working and acting more like an average pony. That's the only way I can get my rebellion to work. So I will have to do what he says eventually.

Nightmare Night's first though. I wonder what events will follow after this one. It should be interesting. I know I can't wait to find out how the idiot ponies feel about everything. I can see some of them standing around now, chatting about what they plan to do about everything. Nattering about how the police are 'close to solving the case'. They're not really any closer, the ponies are just praying aloud to themselves.

My costume has almost been completed. I'm ready to go. Everything's in place. My things are ready and everypony's waiting for me to make an entrance. I bet you can't wait..

Have a Happy Nightmare Night everypony... You'll need it.

Eight.

Silver Spoon looked around the festivities going on in the little town. Everypony seemed really joyful and happy on tonight of all nights. You'd think that after all of the murders that had happened around the town recently they would be a bit more wary, especially on a night as dark as Nightmare Night, but they carried on as if it was a normal celebration. Silver Spoon had struggled with the events of the last couple of weeks just as much as everypony else but she had coped just as she needed to do. She would not have gained much respect from her contacts if she had broke down and cried when they most needed them.

Thankfully she had managed to stick to her side of the bargin and was ready to give what she knew to her fellow partner in this occupation. She was used to playing second fiddle and to supply information to somepony else in charge of her; it was second nature to her after her experiences with her friend the control freak, Diamond Tiara. Diamond had left a couple of years back to go and get her dream of starring on the stages in Canterlot. She'd become quite a success as far as Silver knew, but Silver didn't really care about that anymore.

She and Diamond had not been on friendly terms for a few years now. Silver found that the older they both got, the more she seemed to be pushed to the background; a place where she still seemed to linger. The truth is that nopony seemed to talk to her as much anymore. More and more ponies everyday seemed to forget that she was even there at all. She'd never thought when she was a filly that this could happen to her, but it had. She had become as much in the background as one of the odd ponies like Sunny Daze and Lyra. All of them not even noticable much in the large space occupied by the whole of Equestria. Silver wasn't sure that she liked it that way, but she had become accustomed to it by now.

She found it almost unbearable when she was forced to the back of a line merely because she was not a prominent character in the news of Equestria or beyond. It was aggravating when ponies pushed her around and forced her to do things just because she wouldn't be able to fight back because she wasn't 'popular' like some other ponies. Diamond Tiara didn't have these problems. She was popular. But it vexed Silver a lot.

The only good thing about her latest predicament was that she could wander around and do things behind ponies backs and they would be none the wiser. She was the best of the best of getting secrets from everypony. Even now, looking around at all of the costumed mares and colts, she could quite easily see what other ponies perhaps couldn't. She could see the agitation in Twist's eyes as she watched two colts gorging on all of her treats without even tasting them properly. She could see the unridled joy on the face of Zecora even though the zebra herself tried to hide it behind her scary stories and moves.

Everything was like a bright picture to Silver and she was the one in control of how powerful the lense was. She could zoom in on every feeling, every movement, every thought... and capture it. That's why she was the best. That's why she could not be replaced in the job she was doing. Her partner knew of her value quite easily. She was a good team player, Silver.

Her costume tugged on her back, the hem falling low over her flank. She supposed dressing as a Train was not the best costume she could have picked considering recent incidents that had occured, but she hadn't managed to find another one at last minute. All that mattered is that she had a costume and that nopony would recognise her properly. The only air she could get came from the eye hole at the front, which was hard to do in the cramped town centre. Ponies rushed to and fro, hastily trying to play all of the games that they wanted to.

Pumpkins flew high into the air and landed splat onto the targets a few metres away. Toy spiders shot through into the webs in front of the laughing ponies. Everypony was happy, everypony was peaceful, and this made Silver feel more relaxed. If they were focusing on their games then there would not be any chance of any of them seeing where she was going to go soon. She was keeping a close eye on the police Cheif and his Deputy. They were watching everypony just in case something were to happen.

Silver Spoon thought this was ridiculous. There was no way a killer could walk into a crowded town centre and murder somepony right under the eyes of everypony else. They would only do that if they wanted to get caught, which surely the killer did not want at all. Somehow Silver couldn't help but feel nervous about wandering alone into the alleyway in a few minutes time; she certainly didn't want to be the next victim of these gruesome crimes, but she had to do this or she would be considered a coward by her peers. Her partner would certainly think that she didn't deserve the assignment she had been given, even though she did.

No, Silver just needed something to calm her nerves before she went. What was there she could do? She could go on one of the games, but it had to be just the right one... And it certainly couldn't be too crowded or she would not be able to escape unnoticed. Weighing up her options she decided that the apple bobbing was her best idea. Hardly anypony seemed to be there, they were all standing around Zecora listening to the tale she had told about fifty times now. Silver couldn't imagine why it had scared her so much in her youth, it certainly didn't seem as scary now that she had faced the terrors of growing up.

She wandered over to the barrell and looked down into the clear transparent water inside. The apples bobbed cheerfully up and down in the small ripples just waiting for somepony to come and have a go at catching one of them in their mouths'. It was almost like they were teasing the grey mare; enticing her into their watery clasp. She had to do it, it was going to be fun. She lifted the head of her costume off of her head with her hooves before bending down and readying herself to go into the water underneath. Her head flung downwards into the water, her tongue feeling for the crispy apples that she knew where there. Where was that thing? She knew there had been at least eight apples around.

She began to withdraw her head from the bucket so that she could open her eyes and spot where the fruit could've got to. Her head wouldn't move. A strong hoof pushed her further and further into the water, not letting go of her head at all. The water swam into her nostrils; her head began to feel much heavier than it had felt in the night air. She opened her eyes sharply to see what was going on but could see nothing but the bottom of the brown bucket. Her eyes stung badly but she couldn't feel that pain so much as that from the force of the pony's weight up above.

She kicked her hoof brazingly back at her attacker but it did not good, she was becoming much too weak to struggle against this. Her mouth opened in a sub-conscious attempt to bring any oxygen into her body but of course it did not work. The water sunk into her lungs and choked her on its rippling tides. The attacker let her body go and moved backwards into the crowds. An apple floated to the side of her head as her tired mane flowed in the transparent puddle inside its container.

A shrill scream sounded from a small filly stood near the game, alerting all of the other citizens to the scene of the crime. The Chief scowled to himself: Not again. And through all of this commotion nopony noticed an orange hoof slipping into the headgear belonging to the mare, pulling out a piece of paper and stuffing it into the pocket of her own costume. Nopony could ever suspect the silent Shadow Bolt... Nopony ever would know about Silver and her circumstances; she would make sure of that.

Eight.

Nine.

Twist had given up. It was clear to her that the pony she was calling for was not inside of the dark house. There was something inside of her that couldn't help but be extremely depressed and, in some ways, worried. It was dark now, she didn't dare try to walk home without any light to guide her. It was probably safer just to stay on the doorstep until the mare came home and could comfort her in the cosy house. There was only one problem; it was freezing cold. If she stayed outside then her already asthmatic chest could become too tight to breathe, she needed warmth right now, not later.

She peered through her red rimmed glasses to the wooden door in front of her. Surely, surely her friend wouldn't mind if she waited for her 'inside' of the house. In fact wouldn't her friend want her to do it? She had always been so kind and considerate to the young pegasus, this would be just like her friend would be returning an old favour surely? Twist shook herself; her conscience battered against her skull, yelling at her the few pros and cons which must be weighed up in order to come to an accurate conclusion. A light flickered behind her and her attention turned back to her surroundings once again.

It was so dark, so so dark. The maneiac that was killing all of these ponies was figured to do most of his killing during the nighttime, when no lights would show his face to any passers by. And now, here was Twist, all alone on a long street in blinding darkness all expect for the one flickering streetlight near to her head. Even the fireflies inside of them seemed to feel nervous as of what could happen to the earth pony; Twist was as keen on the one light as she was the darkness. She shuddered. It was a light that had killed Cheerilee; the same Cheerilee who had been her own teacher many years ago. Cheerilee had always been so helpful to her, if it hadn't been for her she could have felt far more friendless then she actually was. She'd been friendless for a while now... No. That wasn't comepletely right, she had Scootaloo. Her and the pegasus were the best of friends weren't they?

Her mind felt eased at the thought of the friendship the two lonely mares had formed. Scoot had cried so hard when Sweetie Belle had left, Twist remembered, she hadn't liked to see the tough orange pony cry. Growing up Twist and Scootaloo didn't spend any time together, and they hadn't wanted to either. As much as it upset Twist to admit it, when she was a filly she hadn't liked either of the two blank flanks for their cruel stealing of who she considered to be her friend, her dear friend Apple Bloom. She had been so happy before they had rudely taken her away from her... But that was all over now. Scoots wasn't an enemy anymore, she was the best friend that she had. Not only that but Twist felt happy that she could devote so much time to helping the pegasus through the turmoil of losing everything she knew. Twist knew what it felt like to lose somepony, it wasn't nice at all.

A bark sounded through the musty air. That's it, she had to get inside, it was too frightening to be all alone outside with a killer on the loose. She shook on the door handle. Strange, the door wouldn't open at all. But Scoots always left her door open? Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom persuaded her to have an open door policy, and the pegasus had always stuck to that even when they'd left. Twist knew that the door was always open; Scootaloo left it open just in case one of her friends came home and wanted to wait for her in her house. Why would she have shut it just now when Twist, her friend, needed it most?

A rustle came from the bushes nearby. Twist flinched. This was ridiculous. She had to get inside, she just had to. Maybe...Maybe a window was open somewhere. Another bark echoed through the stars as she began to wander around the cold, empty house. She walked around once and returned to the front door, shaking on the handle just in case her friend had happened to come home when she was around the back. No such luck. The door remained closed, taunting her, and as far as she could tell there were no windows open either.

She could... She could always walk to her own house. No! She couldn't do that. It was just too dark and dangerous. The police had already warned everypony not to be out on the streets alone in the dark... She was already in a lot of danger just being in front of a house. A wasp buzzed near her, swooping down near her hide. Surely it wouldn't hurt for her to do one more search for an open window.

Her hooves felt heavy as she dragged herself round to the side window of the house; it lay open in front of her. 'Was that open when I came around the first time?' she questioned herself, her eyelids drooping. She felt so...tired. It was all so dark, so light, so... tired. Her eyes clamped shut and she fell to the floor in defeat. An incriminating peppermint striped feather lay in her flank fatigued after all of its hard work. Slowly but surely poison flooed through her viens, up to her heart and her mind gave heed to sleep. A long, long sleep.

Nine.

Annoyance.

Annoyance

What? No stupid simpering voice to cry their woes to me? No idiotic tales of how upset another pony is and how upset she is? Aw, that's such a shame, and I was so looking forward to it as well. I guess instead I'll just have to sit by myself and do all the things I planned to do in the first place. Again, such a shame about Twist's mysterious disappearance.

I haven't gone home yet today. I was so busy with my job last night that I haven't had the time to even try to care about going back to my drab little house. One day maybe, but at the minute it smells horrible. Next time I'll do what I need to do far away from my own home so that the lingering smell won't burn my eyes off. The Police are doing a massive scavenger hunt around Equestria, Ponyville in particular since it's the hive where everything started.

Everypony in the whole place cares about what's going on and is leaving to go stay with their loved ones just in case. Everypony except Little Belle and Apple Bloom. I haven't seen hide nor hair of them at all; ditto for my 'sister' who said she would help me through everything (without informing me that there was an expiry date). You'd think that considering the ponies who had been killed they would have least been a tiny bit interested in what was going on, but apparently not. No! They care more about their new lives than the old one where everypony who cares about them is.

I should calm down. Anger isn't going to help the cause I'm part of, if anything it will hinder it. I need to remain calm throughout it all. I can do that can't I? I'm smart enough and brave enough aren't I? Who am I kidding, nopony's going to answer me. Nopony even remembers that I exist. I always wondered growing up what it would take to be noticed and be recognized for who I was by others; the truth is that I suppose you have to lie and cheat to get that honour. You'll always end up breaking a few hearts as you try to get there. My Boss certainly knows a lot about breaking hearts.

He's being such an ignorant bovine. He doesn't even seem to see what he's doing to everypony. It finally happened, he latched himself onto me after all this time. I can't say I was surprised when I found the letter in my slot this morning, telling me I had to work late with him tomorrow night. I'm trying my best not to care but it's hard to not be worried about what he's got planned. There must be some way of getting out of it, there's just got to be something. I can't go through with it, or at least I don't think I can. The only trouble is, if it's not me who else is it going to be? If anything I'm tougher than the other mares in the office; if I leave then it'll be them that gets hurt. I don't want that. Nopony deserves to be hurt so harshly by a pony as cruel as him,

These dead ponies have got it lucky, they have no worries at all anymore. They certainly don't feel lonely like the rest of us living ponies do. You never seem to be lonely little filly, you always have somepony around you...Usually your friends. Don't they even see what's hidden in your eyes? I'm like that. I hide things away I don't wish for anypony to know. If they knew then it would ruin the whole operation I've got going. Are you the same?

Your friends aren't with you today. I think this is the first time I've ever seen you with your Mother. She looks...she looks familiar. Though everypony looks the same to me nowadays, whether alive or dead I know the difference between one kind of creature and another. I'm in a category all my own. Forever alone in my own little corner. Twist used to disturb the peace of my little corner, but she can't right now. I wonder who reported her missing. Somepony with a heart perhaps, or somepony who wanted the tears of worry to run across everypony's brow. It could be either, but it can only be one.

The police will keep searching until they find her. It'll be a shame when they do. I can gladly wait for that day to arise. Hopefully they'll never find her; yes, that would be perfect. That mare was always an annoyance throughout school, and she became even more unbearable when she started dressing herself up as my saviour. She couldn't save me, she couldn't save anypony if she tried. The only pony that could save me is me. I have control of my mind; to a lesser extent I have control of my body. And now that I've escaped from the society rules that were forced upon me as a filly I can control my head even more then these pitiful miscreants can.

If only the Police weren't so desperate to find out where she was. I'll never be able to find enough time to get about doing my business whilst they're all snooping around. I had a job to do and now I can't get it done thanks to them. Why do they have to care so much about a missing pony? What does it matter if she died or not? Even if she did, you wouldn't really care. Twist didn't have anypony who cared enough to be with her last night. Instead you all left her alone to die..I mean, go missing. None of you really care about what happened to her.

Okay, okay. I'll be there in a minute. You don't have to tell me I need to go back to work. I KNOW I need to go back to work, I'm putting it off for as long as possible that's all. Fine... I'm coming.

Have a good night everypony, you'll need it I'm sure.

Ten.

McFly swallowed down his cider and licked his top lip. There was nothing better than a cool drink before going to uncover a large break in a case. This discovery was by far one of his greatest achievements; wouldn’t be long now until the Princess offered him a medal of honour and begged him to date one of her noblest friends. Why, if word got about how brave and cunning he’d been surely Celestia or Luna themselves would offer up their hoof in marriage to him, the greatest stallion to ever wander the fields.

He grinned at himself in the glass window covering the front of the pub where he was sat. He sure did look handsome today; you’d have never guessed that he wasn’t the young colt ponies assumed he was. Today was going to be a great day, he could just feel it.

“Sir. Sir.” A voice called through the crowd. Great, just as he thought he’d be able to get some peace and quiet for a second his young Deputy had to come and ruin it for him. Who did she think she was, the great and powerful Twilight Sparkle? This Unicorn certainly needed knocking down a peg or two and McFly would gratefully oblige to be the one to do it. He spied the young mare pushing through herds of stallions trying to find him, her amber eyes scorning every drunken pony she saw. This was not her kind of scene. She turned her head and spotted the old Captain in the corner, his head bent over his empty glass.

“Sir,” she called, rushing over to stand by his side, “everypony’s waiting for you Sir. They’re awaiting your orders.”
The greying stallion grunted and tugged on his tie. Of course they were waiting for him, he was the Captain; they had to wait for him. And wait they should until he had a few more rounds of drink. Nopony was going to ruin this moment whilst he was in it, and that included the know-it-all Siren.

“Be patient.” He said looking into the empty glass and swirling the tiny remnants of his drink around the bottom. Siren grimaced, noticing his comb-over wrinkling up his long-worn brow. How she wished that this job could be how she had originally picturing it being. She had thought, when being told that she was being placed under the watchful eye of an elderly Policepony, that he was going to be somewhat like her Father; somepony she could look up to in times of crisis and garner help from when she wasn’t quite sure what she was meant to do. No such luck it seemed. No, the only pony who could help her with the Boss she had was herself. She had solved so many cases without the help of anypony and yet she had never been given any credit for them. McFly passed all of her hard work off as his own. He was nothing but a lazy, grouchy, narcissist, and she was smart enough to know that while she was working underneath him she was not going to get any further in her career.

“Sir, we’d better get there now.” She racked her brains trying to think of something that may persuade him to come with her to the crime scene. “Erm… Sir, if we don’t get there soon sir, Inspector Longshot said he’d just take over the enquiry…er… sir.” She raised her hoof in a mock salute, praying that this attempt to jab at his pride would spark him into action. Thankfully she had been correct.

McFly grunted and stood up onto his hooves, painfully squeaking his chair along the floor as he did so. The ponies in the bar all held onto their ears shivering over the noise his movement had created. He carefully lifted his badge and headed towards the door, just being able to shout ‘Add it to my tab’ before walking out into the streets.

Siren shook her head in disbelief. What was he talking about? They’d only been in Ponyville for a little while. He didn’t have any form of tab in this bar. She frowned, placing four bits of her own money onto the counter before heading after her cocky, nonchalant partner.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the street where all of the action was taking place. Pony after pony ran around behind the yellow tape gathering up as much evidence as they could to give to those that were above them in the rankings. Other ponies guarded the area making sure that no civilian could pass through to peer at the carnage that had appeared near their very own paths. McFly shrugged and pushed himself through the yellow paper, tearing it in the process, and receiving very angry glares from the members of the Police that had worked so hard to put it up for him. The blood in Siren’s mind began to boil in annoyance. He didn’t care about anything at all, did he? She apologised to the older Policemare before wandering off to the edge to begin putting a new strand of tape up for them. It was only fair.

Longshot gave the Captain a quick glance as he wandered up to him. McFly didn’t acknowledge the existence of his fellow co-worker beyond a few simple questions all deriving the same pointless answers that would get them nowhere. Longshot had always been told that ponies from Canterlot were far wiser than those from ‘the sticks’ like Ponyville, yet this bumbling miserly old fool could never be described as being too bright. It was like the light was on in the house but nopony was there whatsoever when it came to his brain. Longshot grew bored of the constant questioning.

“If you want to know anything about it, you’d better ask Soft-shoe over there; he’s the one who discovered the body.” He pointed his hoof towards his shaking Deputy and then wandered off to talk to another pony on the Forensics team. McFly clicked his tongue and wandered over to the colt in the corner. Soft-shoe looked up as he came over.

The young Deputy needed somepony to comfort him right now. He knew that it wasn’t very tough or official to need somepony to hold his hoof and look after him but after what he had just seen he felt he needed it. Longshot hadn’t been able to help him through it. It seemed his Boss struggled to show feelings for somepony who had been hurt—either that or he was trying to hint that Soft-shoe should Stallion-up and not cry about everything. Though Soft-shoe preferred to think that wasn’t true, and still felt all alone without anypony there to help him. Maybe this new stallion would help him in his time of need.

“You the kid who found the body?” McFly shouted at the poor colt underneath him. Siren rushed over to the Captain and witnessed something she wished she hadn’t before. Yet again her Boss had managed somehow to be so rude and demanding that he’d forced another traumatized police-pony to break down into tears like a little foal. She sidled up to him and coughed. McFly shot his glance to her.

“Yes?” he questioned.

“The Forensic Ponies are ready for you sir.”

“Oh, good.” And with that he walked off, leaving Siren with Soft-shoe all alone. Watching him carefully she sat down on the grass next to him and spoke to him in her soothing voice words which would calm him and made him feel good. Soft-shoe’s mind began to feel more at peace with the world; everything seemed to slow down and follow him rather than against him. It wasn’t often he’d felt like that.

His mind wandered to the happenings of the day. The plans Longshot had made, the areas they had all been told to search, the snack of a Hay muffin Soft-shoe had collected ‘as evidence’ from SugarCube Corner to sustain him for the afternoon. And then the house, on the street he’d been told to look down, with its normal looking front door and porch. He’d only gone to check all around the house because he had been told to in the briefing; if he hadn’t he would have never even noticed the lifeless corpse of the young mare hanging from outside the window. He wouldn’t have even seen the pale rims of her eyes, the whiteness of her pupils and the foam deriving from her trapped neck as she hung limply through the window.

He shuddered as he thought about it again. Siren rubbed his back, still speaking to him as a friend so that he didn’t feel threatened by her in any way. She threw her gaze to look around the area. Whoever did this had to have been in the house to close the window on top of the mare’s spine to crush it like they did, but they had to have been outside to hit them with the poison dart that had been found next to it. There was one thing for sure though, the window had been shut from the inside of the house and the door was locked so that only a pony with a key could get in. It didn’t look so good for the resident of the house at this moment in time, although somepony else may have possessed a key as well. The house didn’t look much lived in from the inside as it is, there was barely any furniture inside. Looks can be deceiving, she thought.

Orange hooves pattered up to the yellow tape, the pony’s mouth wide open in astonishment. She could barely believe her eyes. She had… She had been discovered? But how? It was impossible; her plan had been so perfect. Longshot cast his eyes in her direction and whispered something into the ear of the young Policemare next to him. She in turn moved over to Captain McFly and managed to squeeze out her murmurings in between all of his yelling at disturbing his recent conversation. He nodded, brushed his bald patch and wandered over to the yellow tape, pointing towards the mare in the crowd for two members of Police to bring forward.

Scootaloo looked for a way to escape but couldn’t find it. There were ponies all around her, locking her in. It would be best to play innocent; she might be able to get away then. She moved forward, following the push of the ponies behind her.

“This is your house?” Longshot questioned, annoying McFly by being the first one to speak.

“Yes. What’s going on here?” she asked, knowing full well why they were. Her face stayed straight as she defiantly stared into the eyes of the officer in front of her.

“Yes, well…” Longshot tried to say his next sentence but found a certain Canterlot official butting in his questioning.

“You listen to me punk,” he shouted, “this is your house, we’ve just found a pony dead in your window, and you’ve got to explain what’s been going on. Do you understand that?!” The mare remained unmoved and silent.
“Well, what do you have to say?” Scootaloo peered around at them.

“No comment,” she uttered. McFly tugged on his tie, his face turning red.

“Now you just listen here Missy…”

“No proof, no comment,” she said, shuffling closer to his face.

Hooves clacked on the wooden floorboards of the house’s porch. A wheezing stallion fled through the doors holding up a piece of paper in one hoof.

“Sir,” he called, “There’s a list here, sir.” Siren moved forward away from Soft-shoe.
“A list of what?” she asked. McFly glared at her. Darn mare was always taking over his job.

“A list of ponies, sir. In the exact order of those that’ve been killed sir. Apart from the last one.”

Longshot glanced at Scootaloo’s expression. “Who’s the last one?”

“Smarty Pants sir.”
Eyes fell upon the object that had been discovered hanging by the thread on a thorn bush near the house. The shredded up pieces of an ancient teddy building up in a mound. Shock rippled around the watching crowd and McFly seized his opportunity with a vengeful grin.

“Miss, I arrest you on suspicion for the murders of nine ponies in Equestria. I suggest you get yourself an especially good Lawyer.” He snorted with laughter at his joke. Siren cringed.

The world slowed down as the shackles fell onto the front hooves of the orange pony’s body and she was herded towards the Ponyville Police station well away from her house or anything she had left behind. The Police followed her, Siren included, to move the crowd far away from the homicidal murderer.

Soft-shoe watched them all go and shivered. The killer was caught—yet he didn’t feel right yet. After all does it really just stop at…

Ten?

Interrogation.

I can see his smarmy smile on the other side of the glass; I don’t know why he thinks he’s not being seen through it. He seems to think that all of the windows in the police station are like those fancy ones in his Canterlot office. You know, the ones that ponies can only see through when stood on the other side of the wall. Idiot. Nothing but a big, foolish idiot.
They seem to think I’m going to stay here, but I’m not. They couldn’t catch me if their lives depended on it, which it does, so the irony carries on whilst they remain blind to it. No. Shan’t be long until I’m home free and running away. Home? Home? What home do I have anymore? I can’t believe how stupid I was leaving key evidence in my own house, and then walking straight back into his silly little trap.

He hates me. I can sense how badly he hates me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had been waiting for this moment his entire life. It certainly seems that way. These poxy police are all the same; waiting so long just for the chance to snap the trap shut on another ‘guilty’ pony, like me. I could ask them what I was guilty of but there would be no point in that. They found my list; the list I thought I’d burned to cinders… Apparently not. The amazing thing is—actually more than amazing, it’s funny in some ways—even though they’ve caught their suspect some of them still don’t look too happy. Those two young Deputy’s don’t look very pleased—I guess their appalled, after all I am younger than them. ‘Barely a mare’ they would say. Doesn’t stop the fact my friends were enough of mares to leave without a single call back into Ponyville.

No! I shan’t say anything. I wouldn’t want to anyway, not even to save my own skin. Best that I’m just put in a cell and they throw away the key because I’m not going to squeal on anypony. I’m definitely not telling him, or that other one. They both sneer at me like monsters in a scary tale, except I’m not the hero; they don’t see me as anything like that. The little Filly had better be careful with these beasts looming around the streets, I don’t know how many foals’ souls they’ve eaten but I’d bet it was quite a few. Evil, evil creatures of darkness. Nightmare Night’s over, you can take off the mask. Ha!

No, I’m not saying anything about what’s going on. I wouldn’t. Any kind of word would just bring up your suspicion more and then I’d never be free. I need to be free; I need to help all of the mistreated ponies. I need to help them! But you wouldn’t understand that would you? You don’t care about anything but this job. Nothing else matters. It’s all just this police station and all of the jobs to you. How’s your Deputy? Or do you not care that they’re hurting inside. Ha! You didn’t even notice how upset they are about all this.

The mysterious door opens—Quiet Scoots, quiet!

Siren walked in behind her boss and looked towards the orange pegasus sat at the table in front of her. She looked so young, so normal; how could anypony like that commit all of these horrendous crimes? A mare? No, it couldn’t be; her courses taught her the different styles of killing. All of these hadn’t been a mare’s style. Admittedly some of them had been a mare’s style, like the poisoning of Mrs Cake, but surely not this mare; why, she looked relatively sane. Perhaps a bit different than other ponies she’d met, but not cruel enough to go around killing positive strangers. What would be her motive? She couldn’t think of anything.

Siren pulled a face seeing the smug look covering McFly’s face. He was so proud about finding a head suspect; no doubt it didn’t matter if the mare was innocent or not, she would always be convicted just so that he could get his moment in the spotlight. And no doubt that Siren wouldn’t get any of the thanks either. Then again, if the mare was accused without key evidence then she didn’t want to have any thanks. It was cruel to wrongly convict somepony innocent. Siren knew this all too well.

McFly sat down opposite the suspect, pushing back his few hairs over his head and stroking his new ‘important pony’ tie. Siren rolled her eyes and stood in the corner of the room to guard the proceedings, carefully holding her truncheon in case of any attack on the old Captain. McFly wasn’t afraid of this one. They’d caught her red-hoofed, now she had to fess up.
“This interview begins at three-thirty P.M. Interviewing officer: Captain McFly, Accused: Miss ‘Guilty’ Scootaloo.” McFly stopped and turned towards the hastily scribbling record-keeper sat next to him. “Well, did you get that?” The pony saluted and McFly proceeded with his job. The pegasus stayed still and silent, raising her eyebrows at all that was happening in front of her. ‘Idiots’.

“Now Miss, care to explain the pony hanging through your window?”

“No, I’m fine,” Scootaloo answered, her face staying still; showing no form of emotion.

“What?”
“You asked me if I ‘cared to’ and I don’t.”

McFly chuckled to himself and then lay what he thought was his ‘bad-cop eyes’ but looked more to Siren and the other ponies like an old stallion who had just had some kind of epileptic fit. Siren wouldn’t have been surprised, the lights were quite bright in here as requested by Longshot. Ponyville Police had many strange ideas about how to catch criminals, including ‘sweating the truth out of them’ from the heat of the lights in the station. Siren couldn’t understand it but, then she didn’t understand some of the procedures used by the Canterlot force either.

“You’re going to have to tell us. We’ll get it out of you eventually. One way or another.” He stopped mid-sentence and tried to smoke a piece of hay to show the orange pony how sinister he was. Scootaloo remained unimpressed. “We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.” Siren groaned. Really? Did he really just ask what she thought he asked? He had been reading far too many of the Police comics recently.

“So Missy, what do you say?”

Scootaloo stopped and stared up at the old stallion, who had now proceeded to don a large pair of black sunglasses. Her face remained a blank canvas.

“No comment,” she stated and closed her mouth. McFly sneered at her and stood onto his hooves and move right up to her face.

“Well Missy, you should be aware that just today I received information about your little ‘group’. I assume they were your accomplices in this whole operation?”

“No comment,” she stated again refusing to back down.

“Listen here Missy, you can stay quiet as long as you want but one of your little piggies’s is sure to squeal. Now, tell me who they are!”

“No comment.”

“Fine. I’ll hunt them down myself.” McFly signalled to his two officers in the room with him and they all began to exit through the door. Just before he left the Captain turned to the disgruntled pony in the room and said a line that would have made anypony believe that the police were merely incompetent fools.

“You’ve just got to ask yourself one question. Do you feel lucky? Well, do you Punk?”

Eleven

The head hung limply through the rough, rugged rope; the ponies body slumping through to the floor and scraping against the cold stones. His neck cracked and creaked as the weak air pushed his lifeless corpse to and fro. The remnants of his jaw slept on the floor, dyed a putrid red from the flowing pool of clotted blood that swept over the mangled leg hanging from his torso. The Cutie Mark shone in the darkness, barely recognizable of what it once was.

The killer stared at the body and snorted. It was done. It needed to be done or trouble could have befallen them. They shifted their hooves and made their exit from the scene of the crime, the crowd seeming to not notice them moving through the Ponyville square in their clothing. A note drifted from the wall to the floor underneath the body. Two eyes peered from the crates at the back and gulped. A hoof reached forward and took the small piece of notepaper. They turned their head checking left and right outside of the alleyway before running off through the crowds into the bright sunshine. None of the other ponies were any the wiser; it was all just a normal day in Equestria’s Ponyville.

The Police hadn’t given up searching yet. Each one worked day and night to find the rest of the gang members that could have had a hoof in all of these murders. So far they had not found any of them anywhere. The young orange pegasus refused to tell them anything of their whereabouts. She’d even gone as far to spit in the eye of Captain McFly when he’d questioned her last; not that anypony blamed her. Most of the Police ponies wished they could do that to the old stallion, and they would have if he had not been their boss.

Soft-shoe had been sent home a few days before to recuperate after his long ordeal. Siren felt somewhat sorry for him. He was a nice colt; a very nice colt in fact, it seemed a shame that this should happen to him especially as he had not been working as a Deputy for too long. He had spent many more years as an Admin on the front desk of the station. The story went that Longshot had noticed his determination and patience and had hoof-picked him out of all the trained officers to become his new partner. McFly would have never done that for her, Siren was sure.

Siren sighed and looked at the blurry words in front of her. She had been staring at these papers for so long and hadn’t slept for days. Still she didn’t want to give up while she was still ahead of the game. This could be her one and only chance to show off her skills by herself without her stupid boss showing her up. Thankfully he’d gone off to drink some more ‘grape juice’ at the local bar. Siren shook her head. Grape juice? Not unless he’d spiked his own drink with alcohol it wasn’t. He always reeked when he came back to the office after one of his many journeys down there.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned. She was so tired.

“Here, you need some of this.” The young mare looked up and saw Longshot stood over her with a steaming cup of coffee. She shook her head and he sat down on the desk, peering at her work and shaking his head.

“You shouldn’t work so hard Deputy. It’s dangerous for your health.” He snorted. “Then again, what do I care about health?” Siren stared at him, confused, and he chortled. “Little secret I learnt back in the days of the Griffon War.” He pulled out a large bottle of cider from a draw nearby and slowly poured a large swig into the drink he was holding.

“Here,” he said shoving the warm mug into the mare’s hooves, “drink up. It’s make you feel better.”

Siren turned to his face. He was very distinguished looking for a Ponyvillian—a most charming look you’d only expect from somepony who worked for the Canterlot police. A look that McFly did not have, and was intensely jealous of other stallions for having. She smiled at him and took a long swig of the drink. It wasn’t too long before the whole of the liquid had vanished inside of her veins. Ah that made her feel a lot better.

“Thank you,” she said politely giving him the cup back. His mouth didn’t smile back at her but she could feel intense warmth radiating from his heart. Now she could see why all of his workers supported and listened to him so well; you could trust that he would do whatever it took to bring criminals to justice. And most importantly, he accepted that it wasn’t all up to him; others had to play a part as well.

Her shoulders slumped as she began to shift through the papers again. Longshot moved away to his own desk in the corner, preparing a drink for himself on the way over. The clock ticked on the wall crossing one hour onto another, and then onto another. Time felt so slow—and yet too quick for them to solve all of the actions of this case. Siren’s stomach gurgled at her. Had she eaten recently? She couldn’t remember. Either way it was making her feel quite dizzy. Longshot noticed from far away and swiftly moved over.

“Deputy Siren.” He towered above her meaning she had to crane her neck upwards to see him again. “Can you please take this letter to the Postpony? It needs to be sent off urgently.”

“Yes sir, of course sir,” she said, glad of the opportunity to spread her legs in the open air. Longshot noticed her woozy expression and handed over the envelope.

“Then you can go home and get some rest. Even young-un’s need some sleep, y’know. I learnt that the hard way.”
Siren made to start a defence against this idea but the old stallion shook his head.

“Go sleep Deputy. You’ll need it.”

Siren couldn’t help feeling he was right. She tottered onto her hooves and walked outside into the Ponyville centre. Off she went to the Postpony and gave him the letter for the Postmare the next morning. Then onto the Bed and Breakfast she was staying at near the Library. It was tiring work all of this walking, she hadn’t noticed that until now. Even whistling seemed far too exhausting for her to try; her usual tactic of entertaining herself while she trotted anywhere.
A smell drifted through the air. A dank, horrible blocked-drains sort of smell. Wait, no, she recognized that smell. It was a smell that seemed to be drifting around a lot recently. Her head slowly turned to look into the alley next to her head. The body crumpled into pieces and bleeding onto the floor.

“Oh my—“her voice faded off and she felt herself falling to the floor. Ponyville became a blur and chattering birds chirped their happy tunes to the daisies. Just a perfectly ordinary day in Equestria.

Eleven.

Freedom.

Freedom

They can’t hold me here anymore. There’s no proof that I could have done it, apart from the names of the victims just happening to be on a list I had in my house. What’s the chance that they should find that? Unbelievable. I’m usually so careful. Twist just had to go and be found dead in my house didn’t she? She always ruined every single plan I had. I’ll never know why Applebloom used to demand to keep her around as a friend. All she was is a pest. A large parasprite feeding on our friendship and tearing my mind in two. It’s not my fault she died; it’s hers.

Anyway I didn’t do it. At least they can’t prove that I did. Why would I be so stupid to leave her body where they could easily suspect me? I was busy that night, very busy. The only good thing to come out of my short arrest was that I didn’t need to go to work. No work, no boss, no fear. And now that I’ve been suspected he’s going to be wary of me; he could leave me alone—or he could want me to do it even more. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

So, a new body found in an alley. Can’t say I’m surprised. There’s some very dangerous deranged ponies out there. I know who I mean. Some of my colleagues who work on my mission with me are that kind of pony; it takes all our effort to stop them when they have an idea to do that sort of thing. It takes no effort to stop myself; I just do what I do when I do. Even if it’s wrong I’ll do it. I follow social reality, not the social values that Equestria represents so dearly.

I can’t help but wonder what pony’s lost their life now. He was male, that’s known, despite a castration attempt by the killer. His cutie mark was a bit torn up apparently, so nopony could recognise who he was. An hourglass-y thing of some sort, maybe. Doctor Whooves? Master Trot? They both have that. Though many other ponies do as well. You’d be surprised how many Hourglass ponies there are. Clock worker is an extremely common talent around here. Celestia knows why. Hopefully it was the Doctor; that would be the right one to get rid of. As much as killing hurts he’d been hanging around our agents far too much recently. He needed to be stopped before he found out too much about what we were doing and went to tell the Princess—or worse, the Elements of Harmony.

Ha! Good luck doing anything with the Elements now. I think you’re short of one Element of Generosity, aren’t you? Little Belle’s still not come home for that. She missed the funeral and everything. Big Mac’s funeral was pretty empty too. Everypony was too scared to leave the safety of their homes to go to any of the funerals that have happened recently. Friends? Yeah right, they wish. They pretend to be so caring and yet when trouble comes they do nothing to help. I notice none of my supposed ‘friends’, as they call themselves, came to help bail me out of jail. Even the ponies I help all of the time, and risk my life for, didn’t come to help me. Loyalty isn’t very strong in Ponyville. Loyalty—Loyalty—

But for now, I suppose, I have been given my freedom. Freedom to be stared at from the opposite side of the road because all of the ponies are suspicious and in fear of me. Those that I have grown up with shiver when I walk up to them. I’m not the little filly they once knew anymore; I’ve suddenly been recognized as a monster. There’s no doubt that crazy stories will soon circulate about my evil acts as a foal, even though if they think back I never really did anything wrong or bad unless it was an accident. I was just like them—Now, I’m just like me instead, and that’s the only difference. I bet they won’t recognize that. They’ll only see me as a freak. A freak being stalked by the police.

They think I don’t know that they’re watching my every move but I can see them behind the boxes and standing next to walls. It’s hard to make ducking behind an apple sack seem nonchalant. Idiots. If they think I’m going to lead them where they want me to go they can forget it. I’m not taking them anywhere. For the next few days I’m going to be a model citizen—by then they should’ve got bored and left me alone. Then I can carry on with my work.

The only question is do I really want to carry on doing what I was doing? It seems like a pony eat pony world right now, even with those that want to stop it. Am I doing what’s right? Probably. Who am I kidding, I need to do this. It’s imperative that I finish what I’ve started. For Applebloom, for Little Belle, for myself and for every other pony I’ve stayed loyal too. Loyalty—Loyalty—My love for loyalty scares me sometimes. Loyalty is so important to me.

I don’t understand why I care about loyalty so much. Nopony is loyal to me; that’s been shown a lot recently. Still, I suppose I should carry on going eh? No Twist to get in my way now. Only Snips, and if this murderer has any sense he’ll be the next target. Or—No Scoots, out of respect for the past I shouldn’t think things like that. It’s a pony eat pony world out there. Griffon verse Griffon. Turtle verse Turtle. Me casa et su casa. Wait—that’s not right.

I’ll be on my way then dumb Police-stallions and mares. Not you two, you’re fine. I have to go find somepony. A certain little filly is in trouble, and I’m going to find her and put a stop to it.
Bye idiots.

Twelve

The filly froze petrified on the spot, looking at the pony in front of her in fright. She stuttered and tripped backwards over a small stone.

"You shouldn't have done this," the adult voice said, "You shouldn't have taken it."

The filly pushed the paper she was holding behind her flank. "I-I-I d-don't know what you mean," she stuttered. The pony in front of her snorted and stepped closer towards her.

"Just like your idiot Father," they scoffed, "a terrible liar. And just like him I'm afraid it's time you were punished."

They stepped further into the shadows of the alley, a large gun-like weapon glistening in their hoof; a silencer clinging onto the end so as to not disturb the quiet ambience of the nervous town. The filly fell to the floor in tears.

"Please," she begged, "I didn't mean to. Please. No-No-N--" And with one shot she fell to the floor, silenced forever. The adult grimaced as a large pool of blood washed over their hooves. If only murder wasn't such a messy business, it would be far easier to go about one's duties. Speaking of which, there was one thing they needed before they left. That sheet of paper-- the incriminating evidence.

They stepped carefully over the corpse and tugged at the hoof of the fool. Nothing. It wasn't there? Well then where was it? Desperation crept over the pony as they pulled apart boxes and barrels, dug through mud and stones hastily searching for their prize.

"No," they muttered angrily, "this can't be happening. This can't happen again."

A whistling could be heard coming down the path nearby. The killer panicked. They had to get out of here-- and quick. Thinking fast they pulled off their mask and coat and threw them behind a crate. They'd come and get them later. There was no time for them now.

With a last grimace at the body they walked casually from the shadows and down the street, humming merrily to themselves as they went. The whistler from before carried on walking without noticing a single thing wrong. After all, it was merely a normal day in Ponyville.

Siren knocked on the door in front of her, somewhat hesitant. It had been a very rushed idea of hers to come over here. However right now if you didn't think quickly you wouldn't be able to get anywhere around here. Despite all of Longshot's kind words after she'd discovered the body, and putting up with all of McFly's curses at her for being such a stupid mare, she hadn't managed to sleep in two days. Insomnia had claimed her, and she had to admit that for once-- she felt frightened. She hoped this trip might help her bring closure to the whole event.

"Yes?" A stallion asked opening the door. Soft-shoe peered at his visitor in confusion. "Deputy Siren?"

"Yes, hello Deputy Soft-shoe," she said with a nervous smile, "May I come in? I need to speak with you."

Longshot grimaced as he leaned against the cold tiles of the Ponyville colts bathroom. Everything had become so stressful due to recent events. As a Police officer he wanted to do what was best and finally get his hands on the dreaded resistance that had escaped the law for so long. What a big score that would be. And then, if he managed to do that then all of these horrific murder's could finally stop. It wasn't good for any of the new 'baby' police mares and colts to have to witness these events on their first big cases. He had already lost Soft-shoe and Siren to the stressful situation- they had witnessed things they would never unsee. And he knew what that felt like.

He sighed and shuddered against the cold stones. All he wanted was to close this case finally-- was that too much to ask? Only then could he get closure. All he wanted was closure.

McFly peered around the bar he was drinking at. All he wanted was closure right now.

Yes, as soon as their was closure on his game of darts he could go home with a brand new bright trophy and a few bottles of the good stuff. That'd be sure to impress her highness. Although, he supposed, he did want closure on this case as well-- that'd make him look really good. Even if it wasn't good enough for Celestia (since she had so far ignored his advances) surely he could have enough to impress Princess Luna or Twilight. They must both be desperate by now.

He grinned. One of those mares was going to love him for this. He just knew it.

Soft-shoe stirred the tea in the two cups. His Mother watched him, eyebrows raised.

"Closure? You want closure? Son, you hardly know this mare, you can't be sure you can trust her," she warned him. Soft-shoe sighed.

"I do," he said earnestly. "I've know for a while that I could trust her out of anypony."

"Do explain."

"Ever since that day she comforted me when I found that body-- I knew she was trustworthy." He turned to his Mother and put a hoof on her shoulder. "If I've learnt one thing from this, it's that life is short. I have to tell her the truth--" He stopped as he noticed tears springing into his Mother's eyes. He stepped backwards and stared down at the tea. "You understand don't you?"

His Mother crept closer and put her front leg over her sons back, holding him close.

"Yes," she comforted, tears falling to her cheeks, "you need closure." She released her grasp. "And if you love her as much as you say, I will too."

A smile crept to both the young colt and the mare who had spent so long raising him. He picked up the teas in his hooves and walked carefully into the Living room where Siren waited for him to return. A tear slipped down the cheek of his Mother. 'Closure. Always closure.'

Siren looked up when he walked into the room. He put the drinks down on the table in front of them and sat down on the couch beside her. His mouth crept open to say what he had been longing to say for a while now. Sweat dripped in beads over his forehead.

"So, you wanted to say something to me?" he asked, his voice croaking with nerves.

"It's just that recently I haven't managed to sleep at night," she started, looking at her cup, "especially without somepony there you know?"

She took a sip of her tea.

"I know," Soft-shoe said, looking at her, "I've felt exactly the same."

"It's just life's so short. You've got to do what you know is right in the moment; you can't leave it too long or it will be too late to get happiness." The mare still did not look at the other pony.

"Exactly. I couldn't agree more. Which is why-- I wanted to say to you Siren-- erm-- I wanted to say--"

"You want closure?" she questioned. He nodded eagerly and she smiled back at him.

"Good. Me and you will do really well together," she stated matter-of-factly. Soft-shoe gulped and nodded again. This was too good to be true.

"So shall we get started then? No time like the present to do the first date." The young policepony could barely believe his ears. Again, he could do nothing but move his head up and down, speechless.

The phone rang in the hallway. His Mother crept through and answered it. A mare's voice came down the other end of the phone, speaking with an edge of seriousness in her tone.

"Yes, okay. Don't worry I'll just get them." She moved into the Living room. "Son, somepony's on the phone for you and the other Deputy."

"Who?" Siren asked before Soft-shoe could get a word in.

"A mare." The two Deputy's stared at each other. Siren stood and left to the hallway. She came back, a grave expression on her face.

"What is it?" Soft-shoe asked, startled.

"Twelve," she mumbled, lost in thought. "Twelve."

Lost.

Lost

This is terrible. Horrible in fact. Nothing had managed to hit home to me the power I had until today. As soon as I saw the oozing red blood seeping out of the body I knew this had become serious. The group I was representing was serious--and I'm not sure anymore whether I can do this.

Everypony gets hurt around me. It's all my fault. It's all my fault and there's nothing I can do. Not long ago I was a sane pony and now, look at me. I'm nothing but the shadow of the mare I once was. If the younger version of me could see me now she'd be terrified; not just of what she was going to become, but of herself. Could she be systematically destroying everything she had ever cared about without even knowing she was doing so? Oh no, I knew what I'd been doing. And yet I'd done nothing to stop it. I was an idiot. Blinded like a little foal.

My cause had been so strong that I ignored the sense runninng through my head. The police were so desparate for this to end-- for the rebellion to be torn down, but they just didn't understand. They didn't understand us, and neither do I. We work so hard to destroy things-- and why? To bring peace? That's what they always say in our meetings. That we're there to save everypony, not to be rid of everything good in this world. But we were going about it the wrong way... and I can't believe I've only just noticed that.

I had been so cynical, simply because of how scared I was about being alone. Maybe my anger was only there because I felt so afraid. My friends had left me for a new life, but I hadn't wanted that. I didn't want to lose them like I'd lost every other pony in my life. And now my life- seemed a waste. Death scares me so much; only because I've felt like I'd lost everything. I felt like, in order to make things right, they're had to be a new order. Yes, maybe we do need some changes in Equestria, but this? Nopony needs this.

And it's all my fault.

Twelve killings and all because of me and my actions. This has to have an end... and I know what it'll be. The ending's coming soon, I can feel it. I just wish somepony was here with me, to help me. The little filly's gone. She's gone and all because I'd been too foalish to recognise when she'd really needed my help. Her Father had been an idiot-- but I'd done much worse for the cause.

I can't imagine how bad her parents must feel now. Her Mother-- losing her husband to the dungeons, and now her daughter to a death caused by somepony who she saw as a saviour-- not a killer. And that's just what I am, a killer. A killer with murderous tendencies that I can't ignore.

So many of us would love to kill in cold-blood, yet barely any become dedicated enough to accomplish it. Yet it was managed this time. I can't live with myself. Not here. Not now. I have to stop my team. I have to stop them. Otherwise we'll all be lost forever.

Yes, the ending is near. And it's not going to pretty. There has to be some more deaths-- otherwise this can never stop. The chain just goes on and on without anypony even daring to notice.

Snips, I'm sorry. I should have never thought anything mean about you when you were trying to talk to me and make me feel happy. Twist-- oh Twist-- I was so harsh on you when all you wanted to do was prove that I still had a friend by my side. Cheerile, Big Mac, Rarity, Mrs Cake, Smarty Pants; every one of the dead... I thought you'd failed me as a friend but it was really the other way round. You'd done all you could to make me feel better and I ignored you and started heading off in the wrong direction.

But I can make it all better with this next funeral. The ponies who are truly to blame for my cause: the royals. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Captain Shining Armour, Princess Twilght-- you'd better be careful and mind your step when you come to Ponyville next week.

And as for you two, Little Belle and Little Bloom, there was somepony stalking you all along to. Revenge is coming my friends. You'd better run-

RUN, RUN, RUN.

Thirteen

By the time Soft-shoe and Siren arrived at the scene of the crime the anonymous caller had left. Neither of the ponies knew who it was who had called; Siren hadn't recognized the voice, all she had been able to understand when the news had come was that the list was still growing, and they weren't getting anywhere close to finding out which pony was doing all of this. It was both exciting for a young police-pony and equally frightening in its own way. Beforehand Siren would have said that there was nothing to fear about the killer, but now she wasn't so sure. She was abolutely certain that it went deeper than what McFly and Longshot had their opinions on. This 'resistance' as they called it, had been around for a long time; ever since the two older cops had been cadets at the academy and before.

Soft-shoe knew a bit about the resistance since it had been the predominant mission in Ponyville, the hive of the rebels, to catch and lock them up. Longshot was always as pleased as anything when one of them was caught; the only sad thing was that no matter what crime they'd commited they were always either bailed out or rescued by one of their friends. Siren had read the case files, so she knew about the resistance and the Ponyville police's constant battles; she knew about the few murders that had actually been commited by the cause; yet she didn't believe that the orange pegasus could have done this. Nopony had come to rescue her when she was under suspicion in the cells. And why wouldn't they come for her if she was one of them? It didn't make any sense.

"But what about the list?" Soft-shoe asked as they walked around.

"I don't know. Maybe-- Maybe it has nothing to do with the case at all. Maybe it was just a coincidence." Siren sighed and put her head down. "None of this makes any sense."

"Hay," Soft-shoe wrapped a hoof around her shoulder, comfortingly, "we'll find out what's wrong okay? We'll find out and everything will be better. If nothing I'm sure Longshot and McFly know what they're doing."

"Longshot maybe, but the Captian-- not really," Siren mumbled.

They looked down at the latest body; that of a young filly with blood pouring out of her mouth from the large hole in her head. It was horrible-- maybe some of the others had not been nice either, but this might be by far the worst, if not merely because this foal had been so young; she'd had no chance to have a life. It was just so unfair. Siren couldn't even look at the body this time, physically wanting to vomit every second she stared at it. When she'd been this filly's age she'd been playing with her Father and singing skipping-songs with her friends; not worrying about death. Siren stopped and thought for a second.

"Soft-shoe?"

"Yes?" he replied looking towards the mare.

"That first list didn't mention any other names past Twist did it?"

"There was one or two-- but other than that, no."

Both ponies stared at each other. A cough sounded behind them and they jumped.

"I hope I'm not disturbing anything," said Lonshot, eyesbrows raised, as he walked towards the corpse. He sniffed the air and looked down at the foal for a minute. Siren didn't know how he could bear to look at it for so long; she couldn't even cope with looking at him looking at it. The older police-stallion coughed and a whole team of police-ponies and forensics appeared around the edge. They set to work on surveying the surrounding area. A chalk outline was drawn around where the body lay. Longshot walked back over to the two young Deputy's.

"I suppose you have a reason for coming here."

Siren and Soft-shoe gazed admiringly up at their elder. How he managed to just get in and get out amazed the both of them. He was extrememly adept at his job.

"We got a call bringing us down here," Siren explained, "we thought--"

"--You thought right. It was brave of you to come. Well done Deputy's." Soft-shoe smiled at his boss. "Look," Longshot continued, "I know you want to help, and you can, but mandatory rest is needed. I know how a case with the resistance can damage you psychologically, I don't want it to happen to you too. Okay?" He looked appealingly towards the mare and colt; they subsided and agreed to go back where they had come from. As they were trotting away they heard a cry near the alley-way. A mare collapsed on the ground, faint. Longshot sent a pony over to deal with her.

"She must be the Mother," Soft-shoe pointed out, "we should really get out of here."

"Not just yet." Siren pulled Soft-shoe over to the alley nearby to the one where the body was found. Something shone beneath one of the boxes there. "I wonder what this is. Help me Soft-shoe." Reluctantly the colt agreed and helped Siren to lift the crate to the side. Underneath lay an old brown mac and a black mask-- far too big for a pony the size as the orange mare. This just proved that it couldn't have been her that did it. It simply couldn't. But why would the killer throw away his coat and mask, when he/she must've still had the weapon with them? The weapon wasn't anywhere near the body-- and after a shrewd check of the area where the clothing was found it couldn't be seen anywhere in the vicinity.

"Which means that somehow the killer made their weapon look nonchallant when walking through Ponyville. But how?"

Longshot's voice bellowed through the air. Maybe they should leave now before being reprimanded for disobeying orders. There was something else they needed to do anyway.

After a short bit of lunch together they felt it would be safe enough to go back to the station; sure that McFly must've got wind of this latest crime by now and gone to get in everypony's way. Thankfully it seemed they had been right. The station was a hive of activity, ponies running this way and that. A police colt sat at his desk hastily unpicking a thousand stitches that had gone wrong on a large banner.

"Hi Shudder, what're you doing?"

Shudder looked up at Soft-shoe and smiled.

"Just working on the decroations for the boss' retirement party on Saturday. It's gonna be a good shin-dig it is."

"Longshot's retiring?" asked a puzzled Siren. "He didn't mention it to us."

"Aye, well he wouldn't. He's busy working y'know. Wants to complete his duty afore having fun. Still this'll be a surprise after all he's done for us." Shudder whistled to the rest of the team and three other police-ponies nodded before carrying on their busy work. Soft-shoe nodded back.

Heard 'bout that filly Softy? Darn shame that is," Shudder contiued, "had so much life left in her. It'll be a good party though; should cheer everypony up-- especially after having to cope with that idiot McFly. Don't know how Canterlot can stand having him."

"They can't." Siren frowned and then beamed towards the others. "Hay Shudder, how quickly can you do DNA testing round here?"

"About as quickly as a fish on a bicycle Miss. We don't do any DNA testing here. Ain't got the equipment."

The mare sighed. Well that was one plan down the drain.

"You mind if I look through some files?" she asked batting her eyelids to win favour. It worked.

"Sure, you know where they are."

Siren left and came back carrying a large bundle of folders. She sat down to read them. When this case had started she had read every little detail in these previous missions but she felt she needed to read them again. She had to be missing something; she just had to be.

"Here Soft-shoe," Shudder said poking him in the side to alert his attention away from Siren, "help us with this will ya?"

They set to work and eventually it was all done. By the time they had finised Siren had also stopped her studying and put the folders back where they belonged. She nodded to Soft-shoe and they said goodbye, recieving nods in return. They then left and walked back out into the streets.

"Did you find anything?" Soft-shoe tried to keep up with the quick pace which she was cantering.

"I'm not sure. Yet I feel I've never been more sure in my life."

"Huh?"

"Come on, we need to pay a visit to a prison."

Hailing a cab she got in and the colt got up with her. The driver started up-- and Soft-shoe could've never been more puzzled.

Thirteen?

Finding.

Deputy Siren's Notes-- 13 Murders-- No survivors

A visit to the local penitentiary found a criminal by the name of Bilbo Button, arrested for the accidental murder of a stallion by the name of Mad Marty McGuilles. Supposedly he was caught and arrested in his local bar in Ponyville where said incident occured. Mad Marty was known for being the son of one of the local Upper Crust of Equestria, and so an extremely punishable offence to even accidentally knock down. This was not helped by the fact that Button himself was known for helping the Resistance on several occassions.

Button says that on the night of Mad Marty's death he had been defending his wife, Roseluck, who Marty had been making horrible comments about. Roseluck is still a resident in Ponyville and together she and Button had one daughter, named Tuppeny.

Tuppeny's body was found this morning in an alleyway near the town centre of Ponyville. It seemed that Tuppeny was a vaguely popular filly at her local school, and had many friends. Her friends say that in recent weeks she had been much more subdued and quiet than usual-- quite often it seemed she was lost in her thoughts. They put this down to her missing her Father as they were very fond of one another. The friends did not at this time know that her Father had been arrested but had been told by Tuppeny that he had to go and do work elsewhere for many years.

It was decided both by myself and Deputy Soft-shoe (the officer helping me with this case) that the death of the foal would not be mentioned to the Father as it is not our right to tell him. Button remembers the night he had to leave his family and can remember that police-ponies that took charge. Among these was Longshot, Shudder, Nano, Namby Pamby-- and oddly enough, Captain McFly, who had been down here for a reason unexplained as of yet, though Button was adamant McFly had been inside the bar when the incident had occured. But why?

It seemed that Button didn't know much about the orange pegasus, Miss Scootaloo, but was certain that he had seen her in Ponyville, though definitely not with the resistance. However we know for sure that Miss Scootaloo was part of the resistance so this does not make much sense.

After further investigation in the town of Ponyville an image of what Miss Scootaloo had been known as in her home came together. She was a happy, carefree, kind yet argumentitive filly who spent most of her days either playing with her scooter or trying to find her cutie mark along with her two friends. The friends, a Miss Apple Bloom and a Miss Sweetie Belle, were also local residents of Ponyville until a few months ago when Miss Bloom went to recieve an apprenticeship as a carpenter she had been offered in Canterlot. Miss Belle left to tour as a singer not long after, leaving Miss Scootaloo alone. After this nopony seemed to remember her actions anymore.

When looking at the coat and mask it is clear that it would be far too big for any of these three mares to wear. Both Soft-shoe and I, after visiting the prison, went back to the scene of the latest crime to find if there was anything else we had missed. By this time the other members of the Police had gone, including McFly. It took much searching before we found the remnants of what seemed to be some kind of bird--an owl we believe-- underneath another one of the crates. A piece of paper was found nearby to this. By the look of the marks on the birds body it was killed sometime before it was moved behind the box-- and then the paper was placed next to it before it was hidden again. There is every chance that anypony could have been the one to move the dead bird out of courtesy, though why hidden it is not certain.

Deputy Soft-shoe took charge of looking at the paper itself and after a trick with an iron (it was written on in invisible ink) found it to be a map of some sort. The map included a time and date-- which after following lead to just outside the Everfree Forest.

All evidence seems to point in one direction; yet still we have got no closer. We must set another date to get together and discuss our thoughts.

End of notes.

Fourteen?

The train pulled up in the station; the police anxiously searching each carriage before any of its passengers could get off. After the murder on the train searches had to be done all over Equestria to make sure it couldn't happen again too easily. The ponies on board sat patinetly waiting for the precaution to be over with.

A yellow mare with big amber eyes watched as a large police-stallion checked her bags. She nibbled on the side of her lip; no clue as to why she felt so nervous, it's not like she had anything to hide. The stallion pulled out a hammer and thrust it towards her with a questioning glance. She showed her builders cutie-mark to him as an answer.

"Yes, well," he said, sweat pouring over his forehead much to the mare's discomfort, "I'm going to have to take this away from you until it's checked out. You can collect it from the station in two days."

The mare nodded and let out a sigh of relief when he carried on to the next passenger. All of this was very scary to the young pony-- everything had happened so fast. It seemed only a few months ago that she'd left Ponyville to start her apprenticeship. She thought for a second. Actually it was only a few months ago that she'd left to do her apprenticeship. Time flies when you live in fear. Her head fell into her hooves. If only she'd been brave enough to come back before when the murders started happening; she could have been with the ones she loved instead of running away and hiding like a silly foal. Thankfully she intended to make up for that now-- she could only hope it wasn't too late.

"Okay, you may leave now. Thank you for your cooperation," a police-pony's voice sounded over the train radio. Everypony ambled onto their hooves and off the train. The yellow mare looked around the platform. For how big the town was the train station always was quite empty; yet now it was full of ponies. Both the police searching new passengers, and many ponies desperately wanting to leave, their luggage right beside them. She'd never seen something quite like it. Actually it was quite funny-- here those ponies were wanting to escape, while others had just come to Ponyville to escape from something else. It was a never-ending loop of fear. Something she knew all too well.

"Be careful with that bag," said a mare nearby. Wait, she was sure she knew that high-pitched squeal.

"Sweetie Belle?"

The other mare's head turned towards hers. Her purple and pink hair stood up on end-- styled in the most ridiculous way her friend had ever seen. And her outfit was even more peculiar-- she looked like a duck, and not a cute one.

"Apple Bloom?" Sweetie answered back. The two ponies walked up to one another awkwardly. It had been a while since they had seen or heard from each other; their past was something both had wanted to forget-- especially now all this trouble had happened. They shook each others' hooves.

"Miss Belle," an usher called, "where would you like your luggage?"

"In the boutique please Jaque."

The colt bowed and walked along with the large amount of luggage out into the streets. Apple Bloom blushed, not quite knowing what to say.

"So-- you're staying in the boutique?"

"Yeah-- well, you know, Rari--" A tear rolled down the white mare's face. Apple Bloom lowered her head.

"Yeah-- ah'm so sorry about tha' Sweetie. It must be hard for you."

"Worse for you Apple Bloom." Sweetie looked into her friends eyes. "I'm so sorry about Big Mac-- and now what with Babs going--"

Both friends went quiet. Neither one of them felt comfortable talking about the latest murder discovery. Apple Bloom's favourite cousin had been found unconscious in an alley-way. It was pure luck that she hadn't died-- if she hadn't been wearing that jacket the razer would have cut clean through her body. She chose the right day to wear her least-liked outfit. Still it wasn't nice to think that somepony had tried to get rid of her. Now all they could hope was that the Doctor's could save her before it was too late.

"So-- you're here to see how AppleJack is I guess?" Sweetie questioned. Apple Bloom nodded then shrunk back, remembering how hurt Sweetie must be because of losing her own sister. Why Sweetie didn't really have anypony anymore; at least she had a whole large family to back her up.

"Ah'm also here to see Scoots if ah'm honest," Apple Bloom admitted, holding up a letter. "Seems she needs to see me."

"I know, I got the same note." Sweetie showed her own envelope to the yellow mare. "It's strange, she hasn't wrote to me since I left. I thought she was upset with me; I knew she'd thought I'd made the wrong decision."

"Did you?" Apple Bloom asked, taking in the costume her old friend was wearing. Sweetie giggled.

"Sometimes I really don't know. But Rarity said it would be good for her own business--" she stopped. "Don't suppose that matters anymore."

A long queue of ponies barged through their conversation area, jostling to get on a seat nearby the carriage which the police were guarding. The two friends stepped outside of the station.

" 'Suppose ah'll have to go to Apple Acres now."

"And I'd better get to the boutique to see what's left there." They both sniffled, their cheeks wet from the tears that fell.

"Well ah guess ah'll see you tonight when ah go meet Scoots near the Everfree. Funny place to meet but-- it'll be nice to be together again."

Sweetie nodded and they both moved off. Wait until tonight, then everything may get a little better. The CMC would always look out for each other-- even if two out of three of them already had their cutie marks. And both of them wished the exact same thing as they walked-- please let Babs live.

Fourteen?

Fifteen and Sixteen.

Apple Bloom gathered her things together; carrying a small sack of food on her back. Her and her friends may get hungry when they got together tonight; she thought it best to prepare for every eventuality. Try as she might to feel nervous about the killer still being loose, her excitement outweighed her fear by far. Anyway it didn't matter because her sister was scared enough for the both of them.

The yellow mare couldn't believe the difference in AppleJack since she'd left for the high-life in Canterlot. Big Mac's death had really took its toll on her. Every night she would simply sit by her window, look up at the stars and sigh. There was no food or drink to be had in the house-- she had quite given up on sustaining herself properly. It seemed the only thing the farmer could do was go out into the orchard and look after their apple harvest. The work was too hard for just one pony to do-- but she had no choice anymore-- and to Apple Bloom, no life left either. She'd already offered to give up her apprenticeship but her sister had bluntly refused the notion; the farm was her problem, her younger sister was going to do well for herself. The young mare was told not to worry; they had a large family, one of them would surely come and help them in their time of need. Apple Bloom shook her head-- inside she disagreed; everypony in her family was far too scared of the murderer to come away from the safety of their own homes. As was AppleJack just as her sister was to leave for her get-together.

"Ar' you sure ya don't want ta' stay here?" she beseeched. Apple Bloom looked to the mare and shook her head.

"Ah really want to see Scoots again. It's been a long time."

"Y'heard that she was a suspect with the police righ'?"

"Yes, ah heard. But they didn't say it was her did they? She's free now."

AppleJack climbed down from her spot at the window and sighed.

"It don't mean she didn't do it."

"AppleJack!" Apple Bloom said, "Scoots was one of my best friends. Ah don't believe she would do anything against anypony--" She stopped and took hold of her sister's front hooves, staring into her eyes. "And she especially wouldn't hurt me or Sweetie Belle."

Tears come to the orange mare's eyes as her younger sister got to her hooves and walked out of the front door, straight into the dark world beyond. There was nothing she could say to stop her.

The police station remained in a state of calm. Almost everywhere hung some form of decoration or something ready for the party tomorrow afternoon. Longshot would get a great surprise when he came back from his rounds-- but as for now the ponies either needed their rest or were on night duty walking around the town and making sure nothing went wrong.

A rustle could be heard in the back of the station. Somepony was still there. A clink of glass sounded in the quiet kitchen area near the back. Inside Captain McFly lifted the top on a bottle of whisky, supposedly meant for the party the next day. Who cares? he thought, It's not like the pony leaving was as important as him. A silly little police-stallion in Ponyville was nothing compared to the great and almighty Canterlot Captain.

He burped, tilting his hat over his eyes and dropped to sleep. A mix of snores and snorts came from the area, and except that, silence remained.

"Is anypony here?" a voice asked at the front. McFly jumped and the bottle he was holding flew from his hoof and onto the floor. Glass smashed all over, surrounded by a pool of flat liquid. The voice came closer to the door where McFly was. Oh no, he didn't look very dignified down here.

"Who's there?" said another deeper voice.

Siren and Soft-shoe stepped into view. McFly let out a sigh of relief. Thank Celestia, it was nopony important. He wobbled up onto his hooves and grumbled.

"What're you two looking at?"

The two Deputy's said nothing.

"I thought 'his lord supreme snout' told you to have time off," he muttered angrily. Soft-shoe nodded and Siren ran through thoughts in her head. Should she tell him? Maybe-- he was, after all, an important officer-- even if he wasn't a very nice one.
She looked to Soft-shoe and he nodded to her. She nodded back and stepped backwards whilst her boss came into the actual main station.

"Captain," she spoke, "We know who the murderer is."

McFly stood stock still and snorted.

"Oh yeah, and who is it? The Fairy Queen?"

"No sir."

"Well, then, who is it?"

A stench of alcohol seeped off his breath and onto the ponies in front of him. Their faces contorted by the smell. How much had he been drinking? Siren recovered first.

"Sir, it was--"

"Yes Deputy, who was it?" said an omnious voice behind her head. A gun clicked into place, the bullets prepared for firing. The ponies in the room stopped in shock. The clock struck twelve.

The Everfree remained blissfully quiet and unaware of the danger that was coming. A shadow moved through the back-drop-- it ran as fast as its hooves could carry it. Its grey edges reflected the light of the moon which was sneaking past the sun to go to its night duties. Nopony could question the moon's job, but in this time full of great sorrow the moon represented nothing but the cold, red dead of the one's they loved.

And now, two young mares walked to the area, ready for a night's worth of activity. They were certainly going to get it.

"I'd advise you not to move, any of you."

Siren and Soft-shoe moved slowly backwards, away from the point of the weapon. Nopony was more shocked than McFly, who still remained amiss as his vision seemed to have gone fuzzy from the whisky. There was no denying who's voice was speaking though-- he'd heard it a lot recently.

The murderer reached out their hoof and took hold of some papers on a desk. They scanned the contents, chuckled and put the papers back down. Soft-shoe shuddered and whimpered to his captor.

"Why? Why would you do this?"

The murderer sighed.

"You weren't meant to get involved Deputy-- neither of you were."

"What about me?" McFly puffed up his chest but still remained hidden behind Siren.

"You!" the killer snorted, "All you've done is ruin everything you silly nitwit. Bigging yourself up like you're something amazing-- knocking down your Deputy who I might add is a lot better at this job than you. Leaving her to do all the work and accepting it as your own victory. You! Are nothing but a nuiscance McFly-- nopony cares when you speak."

Siren couldn't help but smile slightly, but still she felt defensive against this mane-iac.

"Well," she said, keeping her eye on the gun, "at least McFly never pointed a gun at me. No, that's you, isn't it Longshot?"

The stallion in front of her sneered. He tilted his police hat over his head and gave a small bow to the trio in front of him.

"You wouldn't understand Deputy," he told her, "you don't know the work I've put into this job-- the lives it's ruined over the years. This resistance-- should have burned down years ago-- and now, thanks to me, it will. And all because of that stupid little orange filly." He snorted twice and even appeared to laugh a little. Soft-shoe kept back, terrified. McFly stayed hidden, even more horrified than the young colt he was using as a sheild.

"But how could you kill all of those ponies? They had lives-- they deserved lives," Siren yelled. Longshot frowned.

"You still don't get the concept of the list do you?" He picked through his pocket and held it up in the mare's face. "It's not a list of victims to kill like I made you believe-- it's every last stinking new candidate for the resistance. All of these would have turned into scum if I hadn't done them in. They died for the right cause."

"Why is yours the right cause? If their's isn't, it doesn't mean ours is. Especially when we go as far as to kill a little filly. A filly, who wasn't even on the list anywhere." Siren nudged Soft-shoe. He knew what she wanted to do. Whilst she spoke he slid a bit further away, trying to reach a gun from the nearest desk.

Longshot struck his hoof down on the floor.

"That stupid filly got in my way. She took the evidence I'd left to frame that idiot mare. I'd hired her to help me and she let me down. Thankfully daughters of scum who've helped the resistance are quite indespensible." He laughed. Siren glared at him.

"But how did you manage to get rid of Cadance and Discord? Nopony could do that," McFly stuttered. Longshot appeared to be proud.

"Didn't you read my case history McFly you fool? I know Siren did." He leered at her and she repulsed at the sight.

"Longshot was part of an army group in Canterlot once-- the team to control all outstanding attacks-- They had to learn how they could get rid of alicorns and monsters just in case incidents like Nightmare Moon and Discord ever arose again."

"In other words-- it was easy," he chuckled, "And who's one pony who's never noticed when carrying a weapon: a police-stallion. Think about it McFly-- you must have had a brain at some point you muppet."

Soft-shoe took hold of a gun in his left hoof. He lifted it up to aim and 'bang!'. His hoof ached as a bullet slid past it and made him drop the gun to the floor. Longshot groaned.

"I really didn't to have to do this to you two. You had such potential. I really cared about you, you know-- now I have to do something I really didn't want to. And only three bullets left."

He lifted up the weapon and pointed it at the colt. Siren jumped in front of him-- but Longshot didn't care who he hit. He clicked the trigger into place.

"Put down the gun fool."

McFly shook as he pointed his own gun at Longshot, for once trying to help somepony else. Siren looked on nervously. It wasn't long before a shot was fired.

McFly's chest bled down onto the floor where he lay, a bullet peircing his heart and stopping his pulse. Soft-shoe held up his injured hoof and looked at his own boss. Longshot snorted.

"Stupid idiot. Now I've only got enough bullets left for the mares." He strode over to the two younger ponies and herded them into a cell at the back of the station. They could do nothing to stop the strong orange-tinted stallion. He locked the door with keys and told them he'd come to deal with them later. Siren stared back defiantly.

"Well, now let's go make my last day of work go out with a bang." He slid a mask over his face and entered into the dark night of Ponyville's streets. Everypony remained oblivious as the night figure wandered his way over to the Everfree Forest.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stood in the clearing, talking merrily and waiting for their friend to arrive. It had been such a long time since all of the crusaders had been together-- they were really looking forward to it.

"How's Granny Smith and AppleJack?" Sweetie asked the earth pony.

"AppleJack's a bit distant recently-- and Granny-- well, she's still kicking up an all mighty fight."

The unicorn nodded.

"What about you? How's y' singing career going?"

"Oh, it's going all right." Sweetie sighed. "It's complicated."

A rustle came from the bushes and the two friends looked up expectantly. The sight that came out was not what they'd been expecting. An orange pony sneaked out of the foliage, a mask covering their face and a suit covering their flank. In the light of the blood-soaked moon it did look a bit like Scootaloo-- but why should she wear a mask?

A gun shone through the night sky and the two ponies stepped back in fright.

"Scoots! What're you doin'?"

The two mares squealed. Longshot remained silent-- happy that they believed he was their friend. What little foals they were.

The gun clicked as the first bullet was put in place ready to be fired. Sweetie looked for an exit but couldn't think fast enough to move. A loud bang sounded and the first body fell to the floor.

Apple Bloom opened her eyes. 'Sweetie! No!', she whimpered. Yet Sweetie still stood beside her, also shivering in fright. Apple Bloom looked to where their assailant was stood, but no longer. An unconscious stallion lay on the floor, his mask knocked off from the force of the hit on his head. And there in the clearing stood a famaliar orange mare with purple spiky hair. She ran towards the other two, her voice high in panic.

"Are you two okay?"

Sweetie and Apple Bloom nodded. Tears started swimming down their faces and they collapsed into the hooves of their friend.

"I-I-I thought we were dead. I-I-I thought it was you; y-you were going to kill us."

Scootaloo lifted them up and looked right into their eyes.

"I would never hurt you guys. You're my best friends-- you'll always be my best friends. We're the Crusaders remember? We'll never give up the fight."

They hugged each other close and wept tears of-- joy?-- They weren't even sure what they were feeling anymore. A shadow of a statue watched closely from the Everfree forest-- it had all worked out fine. It was a good thing he had told the run-away mare about Longshot-- she had got their just in time to save her friends.

He wished he had friends.

Fourteen dead. Fourteen lost in memories.
One stallion locked in jail, forever lost to the cells.
Three friends together, happy as can be.
But still, one by one, you can never truly be free.

Future.

Future

Fourteen dead in the end on that case. The famous tragedy of Ponyville they call it now. Quite upsetting really, even for me three years in the future. Still, after all this time, the ghosts of our past linger around us. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle carried on with their careers somehow-- though Sweetie finally managed to fire her crack-pot manager and has found a new better one to replace him: Sunny Daze. Good old Sunny deserved it, and she's nothing but nice to Sweetie Belle as well, which is always a good thing to hear. With all that Sunny went through she deserved something good to happen for her-- and now she's got all she wanted all along: her freedom.

Sadly Granny Smith passed away a year ago but AppleJack's still going strong on Apple Acres. Since the murderer was captured she managed to persuade some of her family and friends to come and give her a hoof. Now, she's even had the time to get engaged. Poor Spike'd better watch out-- I know he misses Rarity, but AJ's definitely not going to let him shirk off work just because he's her coltfriend. Bit of a weird pairing, but 'yay' for rebounds right?

Apple Bloom finished her apprenticship and now she's a full time architect. She's designed a few buildings in Canterlot-- including a new memorial playground and garden in dedication to Princess Cadance and Discord. Shining Armour's taking full time care of his little filly now, and by the sound of it 'Auntie Princess Twilight' loves spending time with her little niece. They sing the Sunshine song together; just the way Cadance did.

Mr Cake's still carried on baking in Ponyville. His customers really seem to make his day for him. He's joined a lawn-bowling league as well, to keep himself in company and occupied whilst Pumpkin and Pound Cake train to be the best they can be someday. Pound is well on his way to becoming a Wonderbolt, just like his hero Rainbow Dash. I knew how he felt-- Rainbow certainly enjoys the attention. She visits me every week with new stories to tell of her amazing adventures. It's strangely nice to have somepony so close to me. I don't worship her anymore, but I don't hate her either; we're back to the kind of 'sisterhood' feel we had before. Something a bit bigger than a mutual respect. Pound also comes here a lot to talk about RD-- did I sound so obsessed when I was younger? It's slightly strange-- but the company's always good.

Ponyville school has a new teacher and a plaque to commemerate the old teacher. She definitely deserves one-- all of her time she spent with her students to avoid being alone. And Snips is a fine teacher I've heard; if a little on the enthusiastic side. His friend Snails is now running the Cherry farm 'out yonder', glad of something new to do. He's a bit slow but he's got some help in the form of Babs Seed, who made a full recoverey from her attack thankfully. The seeds of romance seem to have been spread over there too. Seems romance is in for the win at the moment. Cough-- hint, hint-- to anypony that might be walking past me. Only joking.

I'm glad to say that Tuppeny's Father has been let out of jail on bail, thanks to Chief Siren. He's opened a new charity built to help all foals who's parents have been taken away from them and locked up in the big house: 'The Tuppeny Trust'. It's already helped a few fillies and colts out there, and made sure they didn't feel guilty themselves and do something foolish. Nopony should ever have to work for a guy like Longshot ever, ever again. The prospects look good. He's even got pictures of Twist and Silver Spoon in his office to highlight the issues of foalhood problems. Diamond Tiara is one of the key donators; finally seeing how much she owed her friend. Took her long enough.

Deputy Soft-shoe is no longer a Deputy though I'm afraid. Unlike his wife, Siren, he didn't feel like he could carry on after the case had been finished. Instead he looked for another career and became the proud owner of one of the top foalcare centres in Canterlot. Even the young Princess goes there for day-to-day activites. Although he's definitely got his hooves full, having to look after a lot of young foals with his staff and ALSO look after his baby son. They named him McFly, even though he's a unicorn (I know, strange right?) -- and soon they'll be having a new little baby filly which they're planning to call Scoot. It turns out I've become quite close friends with the police, especially in my line of work.

Now, who am I missing? Oh yes, well, welcome to my shop. Scootaloo, private detective and spy. Ready to do anything for my cause. And my cause? Capture the resistance in the right way-- without any bloodshed. The resistance will go down, and nopony knows better how to make them fall than an ex-member. The future's looking bright for your friend Scootaloo. I've even bought myself a new Scooter and FINALLY, after many years of waiting and searching, have managed to get a cutie mark. Turns out joining a daredevil team of riders part-time was my calling after all. Yes, I still do have those moments were I feel everything's going wrong and can never be made better-- we all do-- but I'm just going to have to remember that there's always something good out there. You never know, there might be other ponies out there who are alone as well. And they need you to make sure-- you know-- they don't get killed by a lunatic brandishing a big arrary of weaponry, working with the police and giving them false clues, and then trying to frame a mare who's feeling a bit crazy at that point. Ha!

Yes, everything's fine...

Yet even now the One by One case still remains in the background; never forgotten. Especially not as the dead sing their song at their murderer locked away forever:

[youtube=LU6_lWvEzLE]

Author's Note

Challenge: See how many clues to the finale you can find throughout the story. There was quite a few-- though quite often more deeply hidden than you'd think. Happy findings. And comments please-- it's the end, we may as well comment talk right?

Thanks for reading everyone.

Three.

The police looked around the room with puzzlement. The murders were only predicted as being a one-off pulled by a local terror from the insane ward of the local hospital, but now it was shaping up to be a full on homicide. Two bodies had already been found and now a new one had been discovered in the local bakery. Chief Constable Longshot peered around the room; his long snout poking into every tiny little crevice to see if he could find anything. He could leave nothing to chance anymore; he had to find some kind of clue to the truth or he could lose the case and hence lose his job. It only took one major catastrophe for a policepony to get kicked out of service for good. Longshot shuddered at the thought.

His Deputy was comforting the other ponies in residence, trying to make the young foals feel better about the goings on. They hadn’t seen it coming; this cruel killing of their wife or Mother, and it was unfair that they had to suffer through this turmoil. This killer truly must have no heart to let innocent family members feel the pain that came from the loss of a loved one.

Deputy Soft-shoe bent down and patted an older stallion on the shoulder, trying to comfort the husband in his time of despair. Mr Cake couldn’t believe this had happened. It was horrible to think…to think that he would never see his lovely wife again. She would never be downstairs helping him to bake and serve their tasty treats ever again. He couldn’t bake without her. She was the current to his bun, the queen to his pudding, the cherry on his cake, the mascarpone to his marzipan and meringue. She was the most creative mare when it came to baking, and now she was gone and her recipes along with her.

Mr Cake’s eyes teared up as drop after drop fell onto the wooden floorboards of the room. His legs crumpled beneath him and he collapsed in a huddle on the floor. Soft-shoe had no idea what the best thing would be to do next. He looked to his Chief to see if he could help him, but his boss was far more interested in the room itself to take any notice of the weeping stallion. Pound Cake rubbed his hoof against his Father’s face, being gentle for once in his life. Pumpkin sidled up and lay down next to her Father’s warm stomach, holding on to his left hoof and cradling it in her arms.

Mr Cake looked down at his two foals and gave them a watery smile. They were being so strong in his time of weakness, almost like they had switched roles; he the foal and they the parents. They would be by his side at least, his wife would have loved to see them happy together and getting along. He slowly stood up onto his legs wobbling slightly with the effort of not breaking down again. His lips quivered.

“I-I-I think we’ll go to a-another room” he stuttered. He slowly turned and headed out of the door watching as Pound and Pumpkin followed him. ‘Almost like looking at a funeral march’ Soft-shoe thought ‘it’s horrible all of this; absolutely horrible.’ He peered towards the centre of the room were the forensic ponies were dabbing at the floor with their brushes, trying to find any clue to do with who may have done this horrific job. It seemed to be taking a long time. The Chief moved closer to his Deputy, staring at the corpse on the floor.

“Poison they’re saying” he told Soft-shoe without even a flinch “Found remnants of arsenic in the cake she was eating; poor dear must have swallowed a great mouthful without thinking about it.”

The young Deputy shuddered. Who would do such a horrible thing? They sell the cakes they make; a whole herd of ponies could have been poisoned in this way. He told this to his boss but his boss did not show any signs of care.

“No” he said “We analysed the rest of the cake that this slice came from, there was nothing in it. Only the slice that Mrs Cake had been eating was poisoned.”

So…Mrs Cake had been chosen specifically then? Then it was not possible that it was simply a pony looking to kill whoever they saw at that point; poisoning only one pony would signify that they had only wanted to kill that mare specifically. Yet the first murder had been so different, Mac had been pulverised with some kind of blunt object, not exactly a weapon of choice for a serious killer. Unless that was what they wanted them to think that is.

“What do we do now Chief? How do we know who’ll be next?”

Longshot turned to look at his young Deputy. He noticed the dilated eyes, trembling hooves and small beads of sweat on his brow; he was scared, more than scared: terrified. He had lost many a young partner to fear and he could see that this new pony would be another one that would go eventually. He had to do his best for the young colt, he had to teach him how to be a good Cop and not let anything stop you from being it. It was imperative that the lessons began soon or Soft-shoe would struggle dealing with this case.

“We don’t know who’ll be next.” Somehow this didn’t help ease the young Copper’s mind.

“But…But…” he struggled to get his words out. If they didn’t know who was next then there could be many more before it was stopped, if it was stopped at all. How much more of this torture did they have to endure? Longshot peered at the quivering colt again.

“But we’ll darn well try to figure it out.” He hoped this would reassure his partner but it didn’t seem to help ease his mind at all. He was worried, worried that they would never solve this and everypony would be gone. The victims seemed such a random choice so far, it could literally be anypony who was picked next. It could be him…It could be his sister or her husband…It could be his Mother. And there was nothing he could do to stop it, they would only find out who it was to be after it had happened, when it was too late.

“Sir” a young Policemare ran up to the two stallions. “I did the check of the house that you asked for.”

“And?” Longshot questioned.

“It was just like the last sir. Windows and doors all locked and no signs of forced entry. The only way a pony could have got in is through a small mouse hole, but that’s impossible.”

The Chief chuckled.

“Never count out the impossible, quite often it’s the only answer. And as to the murderer, if he thinks he can get away from me he’s very much mistaken.”

He trotted closer to the corpse and his face contorted. ‘Disgusting. Revolting, and I’m going to get you. No matter how many deaths happen in order for it to happen.”

Three.

Five.

The sky fell dark over the royal Canterlot gardens, gaining only a bit of light from the constant flash of lightning that rumbled above. It was a breath-taking sight to see, if you could see. The statues stared silently up at the changing weather in awe. They could not hear, nor could they watch this spectacle, but they could feel in their stone hooves what was happening. They could feel the power rushing from the sky and into the floor. The ground trembled slightly under their legs and vibrations rushed into their bodies. It felt good. The statues enjoyed this sort of night; it meant that they had something to do besides just staring blankly up at nothing.

Only one statue was not having any fun during that night, and that was the figure of the mismatched creature, commonly known as a draconequous. His true name was Discord, and many ponies hated and loathed that name for what he had done to the land when he had been in control. He didn’t understand what he had done wrong, he had only wanted to bring a bit more fun into the world, but still they ignored and shunned his sight. ‘Despicable ponies; they don’t care about anything I’ve done for them.’

They had all enjoyed the chaos when he had been supplying it, but as soon as their precious Princess had said ‘No’ to it they turned on him and locked him back inside his stone casement. The left him for another, which is totally unfair. Discord grunted at the memories of that dreadful time. Those ‘Elements of harmony’ that had caused him so much trouble and had eventually made sure that nopony could have any fun anymore. They preferred to be boring and make sure that everything made ‘sense’ in their world, but there was no fun in making sense; everything would be much better if nopony could ever understand what was going to happen next.

Discord hated to think about it, and he hated the feeling of the storm up above. If he’d been in charge again he wouldn’t have scheduled any storms; they were much too dark and ominous. Instead the sky would shoot down rainbows and Equestria would have sweets and, of course, chocolate milk for all. He had a great affection for chocolate milk; it could be used to do anything. Most ponies would be surprised to find that it had a use as a highly combustible fuel… At least when he used it.

Everypony had left him and it was so unfair. He didn’t like being alone. It was so… lonely. Despite the fact that most ponies counted him as evil, he actually just liked to spend time with other creatures; to play games and eat food together. It’s just that sometimes he went a bit far with this. He regretted nothing in his decisions; he had been right no matter what the other ponies could say. Hadn’t they enjoyed all that was going on? He mumbled to himself, cursing all of his enemies under his breath.

A shadow moved through the darkness and ran up to the large stone statue in the centre. With one swift push the statue fell to the floor and cracked open, a trail of light coming from the inside. Discord shot out of the top, laughing in utter delight. Somepony had rescued him; he was free, free to play his games again… And the first players would be the prissy elements, you could be sure of that.

The shadow stepped backwards slightly, nervous as to what the chaos God’s next move would be. Discord barely even noticed his companion, he was much too happy by being free once again. Plans of all sorts collected in his mind, he could do this, and he would do this. Everything would be perfect. Well, perfect for him anyway. Nopony could leave him behind again. He chuckled to himself again, sweeping his arms around the area, eyes closed. Everything was going to be beautiful.
A burst of magic flew from his fingers, shooting one of the statues nearby. The marble guard stared around at what was going on, blinking ferociously with wonder. He had never been able to see before. What was going on here? The guard swivelled his head around to look at the extremely happy creature in front of him. He blinked again, still trying to get used to having vision. He was alive… He couldn’t believe he was alive. His heart beat in his chest, his nose smelt all of the beautiful scents around him, and his eyes… His eyes could see the storm; the pretty, pretty storm.

Discord couldn’t stop laughing. He was so happy it was ridiculous. Surely it was impossible for one pony to feel so much joy. His eyes remained shut as he chortled. This was great. He could finally get his revenge. A large clank fell by his foot. He peered down at the floor beneath him. What was that sound?

‘What?’ Discord said picking up the glass jar by his foot. He shook it, peering at the contents inside. ‘Chocolate milk?’
A large blast shot over the gardens and flew straight into the air. A fire of rainbows burned over the swaying grasses, destroying the remnants of the many scattered pieces that used to be the powerful villain. The guard watched in horror, terror flooding his mind. He had to get out of here… He had to leave before he was found and locked in his old stone casement. He worked his hooves, somewhat uncontrollably, and ran as fast as his legs could carry him through the trees. The shadow from the other side smirked and sidled through the bushes from where they had come. It had all one off perfectly.

Behind them could be heard the sounds of all the palace workers hastily moving around trying to put out the spreading blaze, before it reached the palace itself. The Princess of the Night collected buckets of water to pour onto the flickering flames from above. They needed to put the fire out… Now! The guards worked busily throughout the night, trying to make sure they got rid of every last bit.

Meanwhile an orange pony sneaked through the large gates at the far left and headed back down the road to the station. It had all gone wrong. Everything had not gone to plan. But that was not going to stop her. She smiled and slid into the gutters of the large city.

Five.

Burden

Twist, stop knocking on my door. I know you're upset but really grow up a bit, death happens. Silver wasn' t even your friend, you didn't even notice she still existed. Nopony did. I knew her still and I barely noticed or cared when she was next to me. Let's face it, nopony cared WHO was gone, they only cared that she had been murdered by the mane-iac running around killing other ponies. They're afraid for themselves. Silver wouldn't be missed properly, not by anypony, not even me.

No Twist. I'm not opening the door. If I open the door you'd only try and talk to me; it's best if you think I'm not even here. The house is in darkness, it's silent, can't you get the message? I don't want you around, you'd only annoy me when I don't want annoying. I'm busy. I have to decipher this paper in order for my plan to go further; the list is more important than your prattle. I don't honestly care if you call through the letterbox crying that you're worried about me. Why should you be worried about me? Before all of this started you barely even noticed that I still existed... I'm not deaf, I can hear everything you're saying to me, even if I don't really want to.

It's all getting so hard for everypony, it almost breaks me up to see them so upset... almost. But I can't pretend to care, or even consider actually caring, if I'm to eventually reach my goal. I hope the next part of the job goes better than the last part did. Silver was a fool to not be on her guard, she was definitely a sitting target for the murderer. She shouldn't have stood out in the open so much, I warned her about that; she should've listened. In some ways it was a good thing that somepony had got rid of her before she'd blabbed to the cops about what we were working on. She was far too weak-willed for me; then again, it hadn't been my decision for her to join us in the first place. No, I just had to be the one to put up with her.

Poor Silver felt so alone without her evil dictator stood by her side. Almost as lonely as I think Twist is at the minute. She's still shouting at me. I think I heard a few tears being swallowed to protect her pride. It's only just hit her how alone she really is; how upset she's been since her coltfriend had left her and run off with another mare. Too many deaths for her to handle, she's lost all that kept her sane. That was bound to happen eventually, I could see it from a mile away. That's how it gets you, the weak can't fight against it, and guess what, everypony in this entire poxy town was weak. Even I was weak and foalish. Poor, poor Twist.

No Scoot! You can't care about these silly ponies. Get back to work already! I need to move on to my next pony; little does Twist realise what's going to happen next. It's probably best that she didn't know. I'm not sure it's even good that I know what's going to happen. The little filly certainly must never find out, it would upset her too much. I may be rash in my actions but I'm not heartless, I can't just watch somebody in pain and not act to help them, whatever it may take. This is a long and arduous journey we are facing and it isn't fun but it's got to be done.

Nightmare Night is over. My hero's old Shadowbolt costume stares at me from the chair at the other side of my little house. Twist has gone quiet, but she's still there. She'll leave soon, I know she will. I can't say I won't be glad when she leaves for good, I can't stand to listen to her voice all the live long day. It's always, 'Scootaloo this,' and 'Scootaloo that,' and 'Scootaloo, who's got my rusty horseshoe?'. They all think they're so hilarious with that old joke.

The clock tells me it's time. Thankfully I have a back door with which to sneak out of. They'll never catch me, I'll make sure of that. I will never be found, I can at least try to promise that, little filly, believe me I can. Not long now until the end of it all. Let's just hope we can all make it that far. I NEED to make it that far.

It's cold outside again. 'Tis the season to be sneaky'. My hoofsteps must be slow as I collect my gear to leave, or Twist might notice that the house isn't as empty as it looks. Thankfully I think I'm okay at being quiet; I've certainly had plenty of practice at it. Where is that pad and paper? I need to write out my new list, since my old list is almost finished with. Lists, lists, lists, all I do is follow lists. But nopony will ever find them, which is the best thing for me. I've done my research about what should be written on this new one.

Ugh, my pencil snapped. Did Twist hear? She must have the ears of an owl if she'd managed to, though I wouldn't put it past her at all. Pencil. Pencil. Pencil. Where are you? Ah, there's one. Okay, who's first?

'Owloicious.' Yes, he's the perfect first choice. Who after that I wonder. There's plenty of ponies that could do with recieving the special treatment that we will give them.

Babs Seed next, I think. Then Soarin', Spitfire, Fleur de lis, and Snails I think. Lyra and Bon-Bon involved me in a spat this morning; they'd be a perfect choice for me.

A noise? Darn, now I'll have to finish this later. Quickly, I need to grab my stuff and leave. Where is that darn key? Run Scoots, run.

RUN TWIST RUN.

Muderer.

Murderer

Now it's time to end all of this. Every bit of pain and misery everypony has suffered through will finish with my cause. The resistance-- oh yes, the resistance will love every minute of it, ha!

Admittedly it hasn't all gone quite to plan, there should have been some other ponies killed instead-- but I can no longer follow the stupid list; there's no time left. Better to get rid of the two things most important to this mare and then-- the police will have a field day. And as they investigate and try to crack the case I will recieve the highest honours a superior pony could ever give me. To be loved is nothing. To be loathed is horrendous. But to be a hero for my cause is the greatest honour-- and none of the ponies working alongside me shall ever know all I've done to help them and guide them.

Yes, I did it for them. I did it for the citizens of Ponyville. That's what my cause is all about, serving and protecting them from the vile villains which govern our land. Nopony can ever say I didn't try to assist; I've been at this far too long to just give up and leave without completing my mission. This needs to happen. It needs to be finished. The tale isn't set until the ending is nigh.Ha! Sounds vaguely poetic.

Tick, tock goes the clock until Scootaloo kills her best friends. Interesting. Better story than anypony else could come up with. So poetic that nopony could feel the same. And if this goes off without a hitch then I'll no longer have to fear anything that anypony says or does. I'll always know that I had been right in my actions. Nopony can tell me what to do-- not anymore. I'm in control-- I rule-- I'm never going to be afraid again.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock,
goes the clickety clock.
Only two more hours to tell
'til the death of Bloom and Little Belle.

Scootaloo

Run, run. Always running. It's sickening. Still I wait for the night to come so I can be their death and destruction. They think they can just come here and try to ruin everything. Well, they can't. You hear me? You can't ruin any of this. I can hide in the Everfree, yes, but I'm still here. Right nearby you. Waiting to catch you like the rodents you are.

True I may have lost my job. That's good right? I never liked working there as it was-- only now I've got nothing. No cutie mark, no talent and no life. No life except your death. That's all I'm here for now. To get you once and for all. To pay you back for all the misery you've caused me. I hope you know how to run fast because you're going to have to be quick to escape my hooves upon your head. Still don't know what my weapon of choice will be-- something suitable for you. Something to match how high up you are now. Ha! I still remember when you were just a normal Ponyvillian-- now you're nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

The end comes nearer;
just around the corner.
'Til I catch you, and I smash you--
and break you into quarters.

Deputy Siren

Who'd have thought that this could be true. I can't tell Soft-shoe the truth; it would hurt him far too much. But somehow I feel like I have to protect my cause. My cause is important to me. There's nothing more for me to live to. I could pretend I didn't know all I do but how can I? Somepony would sense that something was wrong with me. It'd be too late. I'd be way too late to stop it.

Maybe that's a good thing? Would it help my cause? I feel so stuck right now. Stuck somewhere I don't want to be. Even writing silly rhymes to help my mind work doesn't seem to help my predicament. Somepony, give me the answer as to whether my cause is so important if it ruins so many ponies.

Nothing seems closer
than a Father and daughter
except a son
and his loving mum
who can be happy through fire and water.

Deputy Soft-shoe

Everypony seems to be keeping secrets from me. Though I suppose that's only fair since I've been keeping secrets from them. It's just that death doesn't scare me as much as I'd pretended it did. Yes it was a shock to find the body-- but it was my own fault. I already knew about the chance of finding it-- I was warned. Warned but not very good at listening to the warning. I suppose death may seem harsh but it's not like I hadn't witnessed it before.

The filly's Father at the jail only made me think back to the horrible times when I was a foal. When my Uncle-- did horrible things after my own Father's death. Ponies like him, my Uncle that is, deserve to die really I suppose. Didn't feel happy about it though. I wonder if ponies will ever realise that just because somepony kills another one doesn't mean they're not just trying to protect somepony else. My Mother needed protecting-- and me only a foal. I miss you every single day Aunt Ditzy. I'm sorry for what they did to you. Really sorry.

The system around here just wouldn't understand the truth. It couldn't understand the pain I'd felt... It was horrible. Oh Aunt Ditzy-- I still remember the night you sang to me. The night before the incident. You'll always be my favourite godmother. Promise. I will avenge you. Absolutely.

Dear little one.
My dear little foal.
Hold on to your happiness,
let it cling to your soul.

I will always be here,
to protect you in the night.
Hold on to the future;
I'll be there where it's bright.

Longshot

This is far more complicated than I'd first thought. So many obstacles have got in the way, and I've always got to be the sane one. I've always got to be the one to look forward to the cause for our police. Everything is far too busy for its own good.

Poor police. These murders are running us rugged. Everypony has to be ready; always alert; always working-- running. Two Deputy's have already suffered through trauma-- and it's not fair. The resistance will pay. Once and for all I will catch them. Even if I have to work past my retirement I will to get their ugly faces out of the world.

This just needs to end. It isn't fair on everypony, I know. Death-- pah-- it's stupid. Especially when you have no choice. Sound familiar? No choice to do what you please. No choice to be free. The end is coming-- I can feel it. And together we'll rid Equestria of the tyranny. Don't worry, we will.

The clock goes round like a pin-wheel;
spinning around like a record.
But the tune it plays is not true or real--
the musician/ the artist plays the wrong chord.

McFly

That same old bar in that same old place. Oh for a drinky-po. There's nothing better than a cold glass of strong ale-- with some 'whatever's' thrown in for good measure. I don't care what they are my good stallion, just top it up and let me swallow.

Seems like years since I've been here in this place. Yet I'm sure I recognize this place from before. Have I been to Ponyville in the past? Looks familiar. Pink elephants on parade over there-- that's new.

This case will soon be at a close and then I can finally realise my cause. The resistance will be brought to justice by the bravest and best pony in Equestrian history. The Princess is sure to love me then. Tonight it all goes down. Down, down, down like a record. Wait, that's not right, is it? Who cares, I'm in charge around here.

Evidence, schmevidence. I'll give you the clues-- so what if I made them up. Shows how creative I am. Another drink please. Ha! Funny snouts.

Oh, what do you do with the drunken filly?
What do you do with the drunken filly?
What do you do with the drunken filly?
Marry her in the morning.

Statue

Got to hide. Got to be safe. This forest is safe; a bit spooky but better than being near that beast to destroy one of my statue friends in Canterlot. I still remember when he was freed to help save Equestria-- set free to live again. Then only to break his promise a few years later and be turned back into stone. He was an idiot when he did that. Not my problem. Definitely not. Just got to hide. Can't be frozen again; it was far too cold.

Maybe if I help the orange pony it won't hurt me. Or maybe more pain will come. Help! What do I do? Something's coming. Got to run.

Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me-- oh, well maybe you can.

Apple Bloom

Strange this note, but ah can't wait to see Scoots again. We had such good times when we were fillies at school. Ah wonder if she's found her cutie mark yet. It's strange she hasn't figured it out-- then again she barely ever used her scooter much before ah left. Shame really, she was good at it. Last ah heard she'd thrown it away. Had to sell it to pay for something Rainbow Dash needed-- needed money to buy a Wonderbolts uniform and for some reason didn't have enough. Poor Scoots. Dash must've paid her back by now though surely.

Everything's going to be fine-- just need to be with my friends again. Need to be sane.

The three of us fight the fight.
There is nothing that we fear.
We'll have to figure out what we do best,
'til our cutie marks are here.

Sweetie Belle

Look at all of Rarity's stuff. Every single piece she worked on. She never even had the chance of finishing her latest collection. It's so unfair. She was my sister-- MY sister. Why would anypony want to hurt her? I couldn't help but think her ex-fiance could have been behind it. After all she had broke off the wedding at last minute-- but he doesn't even live around here anymore. He lives on the far edge of Equestria-- a long way away from Ponyville. And he hasn't left his house.

Poor Spike.

It's lonely here. Maybe seeing Scoots will help me escape this nightmare I'm in. At least something's going to go back to normal-- at least I have one thing left.

We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders,
on a quest to find out who we are.
And we will never stop the journey,
not until we're together again.