Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Utterson carefully looked at the body in the morgue, the mangled features of it disgusted him but he kept his calm manner, he had dealt with worse, it was all in the training to resist pony nature to scream and vomit. Slowly one of the Royal guards trotted in, levitating the evidence and placing it carefully next to the body, Utterson looked curiously at the cane and hat. The lawyer quickly identified the hat as one of Rarity’s design and gave himself a mental note of where to go, however the broken cane was a lot hard and he looked at it carefully.

“Was it found broken sir?”

“Yes.” The guard replied firmly “It was broken in the attack.”

Utterson carefully looked at the two halves of the cane carefully, it was a beautiful cane, finely made as well, it was a shame that I had been broken; he looked carefully at the tip and was shocked to read the inscription on the side. To my lover and heart’s desire Jekyll.

How could Jekyll have murdered or be associated with the murder of Grima. A supposed friend of his, Utterson prayed that perhaps Rarity could prove Jekyll’s innocence.

Utterson carefully stepped into Carousel Boutique, holding the hat in his mouth. He quickly saw Rarity, not facing her as she was distracted placing a dress on one of the mannequins, Utterson carefully placed the hat on the counter which made enough noise to gain Rarity’s attention, at first she smiled at the appearance of another customer but when she saw the hat she gasped as her mind flooded with images of the intimidating Mr Hyde, Utterson suddenly put on a face of worry.

“Whoa whoa whoa, Miss Rarity. What is the matter?”

Rarity slowly shook her head and sighed.

“I am sorry…It’s just that hat, its fashion matches that of a previous costumer of mine, a very rough looking and rogue of an individual.”

Utterson raised an eyebrow.

“Indeed, that is why I am here, I am investigating the murder of Mr Grima, he was found with this hat near him, and do you know the man who you sold this hat to.”

Rarity was shocked, a costumer of hers, involved in murder, why it was awful, disgusting and damn good gossip.

“Err well yes, Mr Grima, a friend of Dr Jekyll yes.”

Utterson looked very unimpressed.

“Just answer the question please mam”

Rarity sighed, lawyers tending to be very tight with information.

“Yes, his name was Mr Hyde, short fellow with dark hair, an earth pony as well with a cane as a cutie mark, he said the clothes he bought could be as expensive as he wanted, he gave and then stole back the blank cheque, made payable to Dr Jekyll in fact.”

Utterson almost gasped with shock, somehow this friend of Dr Jekyll was involved with the murderer of Grima, the murderer was of course Mr Hyde, but the involvement and possible location of Hyde which Jekyll could know about had still to be checked. Utterson smiled briefly taking back the ruby hat.

“Good day Mam...Thank you for your co-operation.”

Jekyll woke up slowly, he was surprised to find himself in his bed, safe and sound, and he was in his bed in Canterlot. He looked around and slowly saw the face of Poole looking over him worried.

“Thank Celestia you woke up sir…I thought you had died sir.”

Jekyll shook his head dreamily.

“What happened…?”

Poole shook his head hardly wanting to re tell the painful story.

“You came back to Canterlot  by hoof, you ran all the way here, you finally got here about 10am and collapsed, we all thought you were going to die from exhaustion, a doctor came here and said you were lucky to survive, he said that a sudden growth in leg muscle had allowed you to run here, while your survival is still un known………Jekyll I don’t know why you did that and I am not going to ask you sir…But just know that me and Octavia were worried sick, you were asleep for almost two days.”

Jekyll was shocked when he was told the story, even more so by the motive, he had no idea why he had run from Ponyville by hoof…It was totally beyond him. He looked at Poole shaking his head.

“I have no idea why I did that….I can’t even remember why I was in Ponyville.”

Poole chuckled as he turned to get a tray of food for his master.

“You were apparently getting us presents, though the only thing you came back with a bag full of your clothes.”

Jekyll raised an eyebrow, his head started pounding slightly as it was slowly putting the pieces together, he had his Jekyll clothes in a bag, was he trying to be Hyde again?

Poole then came back with the tray of food in his mouth; he then carefully placed it on the bed smiling at his master’s slow recovery. He then looked around confused as if something was missing; he then inquired to him master.

“Where is the cane lady Octavia gave you sir.”

Then Jekyll’s widened, not just at the loss of his lovers cane but he felt his head burn as the last piece of the demented jigsaw was placed in his mind, he felt as if a nail in the coffin of his sanity had been nailed into the already quite full Coffin lid. He remembered the vivid motion of Hyde as he struck down a pony and vigorously beat him but he could not remember who, and the full extent of the attack. He suddenly went pale and gulped.

“Well, I must of left it in Ponyville, I will send word to my friends there…I am sure they could find it.”

That’s were Poole shook his head sadly.

“Well, you certainly lost a colleague, though probably not a friend In Ponyville.”

Jekyll swallowed, whatever this was he was almost certain this would be connected to Mr Hyde’s appearance there and his brutal attack.

“Mr Utterson has gone to Ponyville to deal with a case there; it appears…..Mr Grima has been brutally murdered.”

Jekyll paused and looked down at the food on the tray, staring long at it, he could no longer meet Poole’s eyes…….Hyde……..He had murdered Grima, he had murdered Grima with a lover’s cane.  Jekyll did not know what to say, he had already failed to restrain Hyde when he collided with that poor filly, but now he had prevented him from murdering Grima. Grima was a bad pony but he did not deserve to die! Jekyll continued to stare at the food, in his mind a battle was raging between guilt and sanity. How could he live with himself now, he had brutally murdered another pony, but if he continued to feel guilty he would never be able to do anything else with his life, and what he had struggled and fought for his entire life would have been for nothing. Poole interrupted this battle as he coughed worried.

“Is something wrong Dr Jekyll sir?”

Jekyll closed his eyes a small guilty tear slipped down his cheek. “No…No there isn’t.”

Poole shook his head.

“Sir I know you pay me to agree with you but there is clearly something wrong with you Dr Jekyll sir.”

Jekyll shook his head vigorously as more tears flowed from his eyes.

“No no no there isn’t.”

“Sir…You frightening me…What is wrong.”

Jekyll snapped now almost screaming.

“GET OUT POOLE! NOW!”

Poole stepped back gasping, Jekyll had not shouted at him for an along time, the last time he had shouted at him was when Poole had told him the news of his parents departure, to which he had sobbed and screamed at him, begging him to have them come back, to which Poole could only shake his head and say that he was powerless to do so. Poole closed his eyes, honouring his master’s decision and slowly trotted downstairs, closing the door behind him, where he trotted to the kitchen and laid there in defeat, wandering with all his might what had gone wrong.

Jekyll carefully got out of bed, tears still streaming down his cheeks to the bathroom, he carefully turned the taps, planning to wash his face to try and calm himself down, when the sink was full of the cold water Jekyll carefully splashed his face, trying to get himself in the right mind of thinking and to try and think of what to now. He looked up in the mirror and saw himself and smiled lightly at least this assurance. Suddenly Jekyll gasped as he spotted something, he looked deeply and his eyes were now….Black as coal…Just like Hyde’s, he now looked at his hair and it was becoming very slowly black, becoming more and more ebony as time went on, he winced as he felt his wings shrink, shrinking about to the size of a foal’s. He shrieked and kicked the mirror to pieces in fear.

“What is happening to me?” He screamed as he retreated to his bed, curling up like a scared dog at the notion.  Was he now becoming Hyde, as his wings shrunk he felt more and more evil, as if his wings were whatever good he had in him, and by becoming Hyde it was clipping them, preventing him to go upwards, towards the lands where all good ponies go. Jekyll panicked, he would not stay as Hyde. He would not except such a fate, he ran over to his desk and collected the chemicals and hastily made a batch of the potion, he held the potion in his hoof, drinking it quickly, his hoof shaking vigorously as he drank. Soon he felt his wings stop shrinking and he watched as his fur lost their ebony colour and became grey once more. He sighed relived at this sudden relief but he soon realised with horror that with the Hyde drink this would wear off….He looked at his supply of chemicals and saw that they were dwindling. They were all extremely hard to obtain and could take weeks to collect again….By then it would be too late. He needed a cure now! Jekyll looked carefully at his chemicals; his recovery from guilt would have to wait.

Utterson trotted through the streets of Canterlot, bearing his evidence items in a bag. He first wanted to visit Octavia who could bear more easily given answers than Jekyll, as he approached the house he slowly knocked on the door. After about a minute Octavia answered, bearing as usual her trademark bow-tie. She smiled briefly.

“Mr Utterson, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Utterson did not smile and simply nodded.

“I understand…..I am here on important business, may I come in?”

Octavia’s heart sank at this notion, was it something to do with Jekyll and Grima…Had something gone wrong?

“Oh….okay….Yes you may.” Utterson slowly entered, he quickly went into the living room, not bothering with courtesy or flowery talk.

“Can I get you anything Mr Utterson, cider, wine?”

“No.” Replied Utterson flatly as he placed the evidence bag on the table, he soon used his magic to open the bag and dragged out the items carefully, placing them gingerly on the table. Octavia gasped as she saw her gift, the cane, split in two and covered in blood.

“I am investigating the murder of Grima, we know the culprit is none other than Mr Hyde but we are questioning his relations to Dr Jekyll, if that is alright?”

Octavia nodded slowly; barely able to comprehend the idea that Jekyll could know such a man as this clearly barbaric Mr Hyde. Utterson none the less questioned her.

“Have you ever seen Mr Hyde before,” he said calmly carefully showing the hat, at this Octavia raised an eyebrow.

“Yes…….one night…….about two weeks ago…..I heard a knock at my door, me and Jekyll have a secret knock we do, and that is the one I heard, I came to the door and I saw no one there except a small pony running away, he did not have the same hat but it was the same size and style.”

Utterson smiled and the surprisingly good evidence Octavia had given.

“Would of Jekyll of had a motive to have Grima murdered?” At this Octavia gasped shocked, surprised by the flatness of the question.

“Well….yes….He was planning to ruin him you see but…Jekyll would never do that, I know him too well, he would never do that.” Utterson nodded slowly, he took note of the motive but took very little account of what Octavia said for he already believed it himself. However that was not to say Hyde may still be hiding with Dr Jekyll.

“Thank you Miss Octavia…You have been very co-operative. Could you come with me to Jekyll’s residence; it may convince him to become as co-operative as you were with the case, that is if he will be of any trouble of course?”

Octavia could not believe her luck; she could get to the bottom of this without looking suspicious and see Jekyll.

“Yes of course, I would be happy to help you.” She then blushed not wanting to sound too enthusiastic. Utterson raised his eyebrow, a smile not once touching his professional face as he nodded.

“Thank you Miss Octavia…we should leave now.”

Octavia nodded with agreement then trotted slowly out into the street with Utterson.

Poole opened the door slowly as Utterson knocked gently on the door. Octavia could see by the cream pony’s eyes that he was very worried, most likely about Jekyll. Utterson picked this up as well and raised his eye brows.

“I take it that Jekyll is not open for visitors?”

Poole shook his head sadly.

“No Mr Utterson sir, he has been acting very strangely, shouting and crying….It is awfully worrying sir.”

Utterson sighed stepping into the house, he stop below the stairs and called up loudly.

“Dr Jekyll…….Its Mr Utterson….I want to ask you a few questions. Can I come in?

There was silence and during this Octavia and Utterson looked at each other, even Utterson had a look of worry in his eyes. Suddenly a shriek came from his room, one of sheer horror and several painful grunts were heard. The other ponies’ faces were soon consumed with horror by the sounds, as if they were staring at a blood thirsty dragon. Utterson raised his voice again.

“Jekyll are you alright………Is something wrong?”

After about thirty seconds of silence, there was a response, but the voice was deeper, darker then Jekyll’s.

“No…..nothing…..I just cut myself……Quite badly but its fine…”

The ponies looked at each other worried, the difference in voice so soon after the shrieks was…disturbing.

“Can we come check on you Doctor? You are giving us reason to worry.”

The voice replied again almost worried.

“No! No….Its fine trust me….I think I have some plasters up here….it’s fine…”

Octavia and Poole knew this was rubbish, there was virtually nothing for him to cut himself with as well as no plasters…Jekyll…or whoever this was clearly making excuses. But they were unsure what to do, they couldn’t just open the door, what if it was just something very embarrassing….Utterson sighed and nodded slowly.

“I see….I will come again another day.” Utterson trotted away, his mind running with ideas with what possibly could be happening.

Octavia trotted up the stairs, determined to try her luck with her love.

“Jekyll…it’s me…Octavia. Can I come in?”

The voice actually seemed more hostile to Octavia then it was for Utterson.

“NO! NO! You can’t……I am…..The wound is bleeding….a lot……..I don’t want to make you feel ill.”

Octavia gasped at this clearly rubbish excuse then sighed nodding. There was clearly no way to convince Jekyll to let anyone in and she trotted away in defeat, Poole sighed and closed the door behind her, thankful that at least somepony had tried to end his suspicious solitude.

It continued like this for three days, Utterson and Octavia would visit the house to try and seek audience with Jekyll, only to be rejected by the voice. Utterson got more and more confused and distressed by this while Octavia was increasingly slipping into depression by her lovers odd behaviour.

However on the fourth day at about 3 am Utterson was woken up from his house by a very loud knocking, the knocking was not gentle, in fact it sounded as if Somepony was sprinting on the door, Utterson quickly got out of bed and answered the door, to his utter surprise he saw a shocked and almost tear stricken Poole.

“Mr Utterson sir…you have got to help me sir! Jekyll is getting stranger and stranger and I cannot bear it no more.”

Utterson gasped, he had never suspected that Poole would go to him for help, Poole had always been so calm and loyal, and to see him snap was astounding.

“Well….I could help…come in…and tell me what’s wrong.”

Mr Utterson carefully brought Poole into his surprisingly bland house for someone of his wealth and carefully made him a cup of coffee. He handed it to Poole who was shaking uncontrollably.

“Now….tell me what is the matter….”

“It’s horrible Mr Utterson sir! I love that lad like a son…..And I am suspecting…..Foul play!”

Utterson raised an eyebrow and almost raised his voice to Poole.

“Foul play….Surely you are joking…You are the only one in the house surely.”

“Yes but….He is acting so out of himself, sobbing and crying, speaking in that weird voice but most of all the screams….they scare me…..I don’t know Mr Utterson sir…but he has a window sir….It sounds silly sir but maybe he let that Hyde character in and Hyde has been torturing him sir…..”

Utterson, hardly believing what Poole was saying, not because he believed it ridiculous but it was secretly what he had been fearing for those past 3 days.

“Do you have any evidence Poole……”

Poole nodded sadly.

“Yes…it is why I came at this time…you see Mr Utterson sir….I have left him trays of food and when I am not looking whoever is in that room takes it. So I left him dinner at 9pm and waited…Eventually he took the tray about half an hour ago. He thought I would not be up that early but I waited in wait for him. Then I saw him…He was a short pony…with black hair and he looked….ghastly and evil…like he was fresh out of Tartarus. Utterson you must come quickly…….We are going to take down that door.”

Utterson, though shocked with the news he had just heard he knew that it needed to be done, he quickly left with Poole, Poole had left his coffee untouched and soon galloped with Utterson to Jekyll’s house.

As they entered the house Poole firmly trotted up the stairs, feeling more confident with Utterson behind him.

“Jekyll…Or Hyde……Come out now…Or else I will knock down the door myself!”

The voice cried feebly.

“No please don’t!”

Poole growled loudly, as if the voice had kicked him.

“HA! That is not Jekyll’s voice…It is Hyde’s! I am taking this door down now!”

Soon Poole began kicking the door hard. Though he was a strong pony the door was also strong, but soon cracks were appearing.

Hyde inside panicked….this was his end, they would kill him if they saw him, probably not even letting him explain himself, he quickly looked to the desk, the chemicals were almost entirely gone, Hyde’s mind, now mostly Jekyll was screaming for a solution. Hyde looked at his salts…..there would only be enough for one use……and not from the default one he had been using Hyde soon flicked through his research notes, desperate for the answer he had searched days for. At last he reached a page of interest however he raised his eyebrows at it. It had equation on it he had not written at all. In fact it was Octavia and Poole’s hoof writing. He looked carefully at the research notes, they had, for fun perhaps balanced the previous equations, for them it must have been a game but for Jekyll this was perhaps the formula he needed, according to his hasty calculations this potion would not just turn him into Jekyll but destroy Hyde, ending his future transformations, however he hesitated, what if he was wrong, it could get him stuck as Hyde forever…..He looked around and saw his window, he could jump from there…escape and try again but he knew this was silly, the fall would kill him, or maybe that was the honourable way out, at least then he would have had a control over his life again, ripped at last from the grasp of people like Grima and Hyde and his bullies at school. As the door was reaching the last phases of its strength Jekyll needed to choose one. He breathed in as he chose his choice.

The end