Sanguine Joy

Chapter 7: Townsfolk

The room was dark, with only the last smouldering remains of wood in the fireplace illuminating its immediate vicinity. Not that Pinkie Pie would mind: she could see just fine, and her mind was occupied by something completely different anyway.

Where the hay am I?

She looked around, her gaze jumping from object to object, until settling on the nearest wall. The wall was a giant speaker.

What exactly am I doing in Vinyl’s house?

I wanted to have a snack, but then my great and glorious reign over your body ended. How sad.

Pinkie tried to leave through the nearest window, but something held her back. Upon checking, she realised that a piece of her clothing, which she didn’t even know she had, was caught by a protruding nail.

Why am I wearing my ninja costume?

Because in the dark, it’s harder to see black than bright pink. Duh!

Pinkie freed her clothes from the grasp of the rusty nail, and moved towards the Sugarcube Corner. She made no effort to hide – even if somepony saw her wearing ninja costume, it would probably be attributed to ‘Pinkie being Pinkie’.

So, what did I miss? How long was I out?

Just a few hours. It will be dawn soon. As for what you missed, I’m not telling you. It will be funnier this way.

She turned a corner, and had the Sugarcube Corner in sight. She walked with a slow, lazy pace, like she was just taking a stroll, until she heard somepony yell ‘Detective Scisco! Detective Scisco!’ from a nearby building. She broke into a full gallop, but stumbled and fell flat on her face.

Tss. Tss. Tss. Why so nervous, Pinkie? It had probably nothing to do with you. You should relax; maybe take a little bite of something to calm your nerves. Or a little bite of somepony...

Oh, shut up!

Pinkie got up, made a futile attempt to shake the dust and dirt from herself, and approached Sugarcube Corner. She quietly sneaked into the bakery, moving into her room like a shadow, where she undressed, cleaned her costume as much as she could, and went to bed.

———

Rarity had been pacing around her room ever since she got back. She didn’t sleep – she couldn’t with her brain so occupied. She moved from wall to wall, sometimes stopping and mumbling something, only to shake her head later and continue in her walk. She also occasionally looked at the short hair, the only ‘evidence’ she recovered so far, which she now kept in a protective, glass box like a precious jewel.

Think, Rarity, think! Who has yellow coat? Fluttershy, but the thought alone is ridiculous. Mr. Cake... it could have been him... or Spitfire, that wonderbolt – she’s fast enough to get here from Canterlot, no? Or Flim or Flam could have returned to seek revenge. Or it could have been Daisy, who has yellow in her cutie mark. Or it could have been anyone of the dozens and dozens of other ponies!

Like many times that morning, Rarity fell on her bed and stared at the ceiling, sighing.

This leads nowhere. Help me, Voice! I need some fresh ideas!

Now you need me. I still want that reward you promised.

Rarity rolled her eyes.

Next time I feed, my body will be all yours, alright? Just remember that I have enough fail-safes to take the control back, so don’t get any ideas.

Well, that is my reward for the spells, but what will you give me for my advice? I have full access to your memories, and they are overflowing with information – it is no easy task to rummage through them and find what you seek.

Rarity got up from her bed and started pacing again, furrowing her brow.

What to offer to a voice without a body?

A body. But since that isn’t an option, I want what I always wanted – you fulfilling your deepest desires.

Rarity rolled her eyes again.

Don’t worry, no killing, since you wouldn’t do it anyway. I’m talking about the little things. So little, but so many of them... Give me control over your body for a few hours and let me do all I want. I promise there will be no killing, blood-drinking, or turning ponies into vamponies.

Rarity burst out laughing, but it sounded dry, hollow, and forced.

Do you seriously expect me to agree to this? Give you control over my body?

No control, no advice.

Rarity frowned and sat on her bed again, holding her head with her hooves, rocking her brain for any alternatives. She sat like that for nearly ten minutes, before sighing.

How long do you want?

4 hours.

No way.

The shorter the time, the smaller the advice.

10 minutes.

Really? I won’t tell you anything! 3 hours.

20 minutes.

I might tell you something along the lines ‘I think it is going to rain.’ for that!

I’ll give you half an hour, but not a second more!

I’ll give you a pretty small advice for that...

I don’t care! Out with it!

Fine. Yesterday, something strange occurred. Pinkie Pie is often acting strangely and irrationally, but yesterday, it was a completely different kind of strangeness, but you just can’t put your hoof on why. Also, why did she back you up with that whole ‘vampony equals old mare’s tale’ thing?

Rarity’s lips pressed together and went down, forming an upside down ‘U’. She began pacing again and stomped with each step.

That is all? That there was something wrong with Pinkie? Don’t you think that it is quite natural for someone so childish and... inexperienced in real world affairs to act strange, when her friends begin to die? To top it off, when the killer is on the loose and she is in danger too? You won’t get anything for this!

But why did she back you up? She had no reason to! Your sub consciousness felt that there was something wrong with her, which is why it stood out enough for me to notice it!

Fine! I’ll head to Sugarcube Corner right after breakfast, but if it turns out to be some red herring, the deal is off!

Rarity made one last stomp and went downstairs, heading for the pantry.

———

...I beg for a quick response. Signed Detective Scisco.

Scisco finished writing his last letter and exhaled. Never before did he need to commit so much arse-kissing before today, when he begged favours from nearly every single criminalistics specialist in Equestria. This case was something special – there were enough clues to uncover everything, and he knew it, but the way to assemble them together, to make a clear picture, eluded him completely.

Maybe if that fool Ignavus didn’t hinder me at every opportunity I would have cracked this case already. And maybe if that idiot Greenleaf focused more on his assignments rather than on old mare’s tales I would have the results of that Celestia damned evidence analysis already!

Scisco slammed his hoof on the mahogany table and winced in pain, for his hoof landed directly on the pointy end of the writing quill. He looked at the letters, frowned, and went out of the door into the sunny morning, walking towards the post office.

Might as well ask around whether anything suspic– By Celestia... Am I really desperate enough to ask these bumpkins? I hope there will be another attack soon; that might give me some new clues.

After finishing his business at the post office, he headed towards the nearest building and frowned at it before knocking.

He was greeted by a gray-coated, wall-eyed pegasus. “Hi!!!”

“Hello Miss... Derpy Hooves, was it?”

Well that’s just my luck – I chose a random house, and of course, it is inhabited by the town’s retard. Greenleaf told me about her. A little flying disaster, destroying everything she lays her hooves on.

“Yes, do you have a muffin?”

Derpy gave him a large smile, eyeing his saddlebags with one eye and the ceiling with other.

“Um... no. But I have a question: did you see any–“

“I want a muffin, not a question!” she said, and the smile on her face shrank a little.

“Look,” Scisco said, and scowled a little, before remembering who he was speaking to and replacing it with a small smile. “How about I give you a muffin, after you answer my question? Does that sound alright?”

Derpy nodded.

“Alright, did you see anything suspicious lately? Any ponies in the middle of the night, doing some bad things or something?”

“I saw a muffin.”

Scisco sighed. This was a waste of time.

“Uh-huh. Time for me to go. Bye,” Scisco said and started walking away.

“Wait! I want a muffin! I saw somepony dressed completely in black tonight! Now give me my muffin... please.”

Scisco quickly turned around and stared deep into her eyes, like he always did when he suspected somepony of lying. This time it lacked the usual effect, as Derpy simply returned the stare and smiled.

“Where?” he asked.

“I don’t remember.”

“How did that person look like, apart from being dressed in black? Tall? Short?”¨

“I don’t know.”

Scisco scowled. “Do you know anything about that person?”

“No. Will you give me a muffin now?”

Scisco looked at her for a while, contemplating whether she was trying to anger him, or if she was really that stupid. He decided for the latter.

“You know what? Yes. Here, have a bit and go buy it,” he said, and held one bit in front of her eyes. However, when she reached for it, he quickly retracted his leg. “But whenever you see anything suspicious, like tonight, you will immediately come to my office and tell me about it. Understood?”

When Derpy nodded he gave her the bit, and watched her galloping towards the bakery.

I feel like my IQ dropped by several points after this conversation. And this was just the first house!

Scisco slowly walked towards the neighbouring house, doing little, slow steps. It was as if he was trying to delay the inevitable conversation. Finally, he knocked.

“Hello?” a gray mare with black mane asked, after opening the door.

“Greetings, madam eh...”

“Octavia.”

“...Madam Octavia. My name is detective Scisco, and I’m trying to solve the string of murders that happened as of late,” he said, and gave her what he considered to be a suave smile. What he produced looked like a smile of a rapist, who just lured his victim into a dark alley.

Octavia lifted a brow, her face devoid of any sign of excitement. “Uh-huh. You are doing a pretty bad job then.”

Go to Tartarus! I’m doing the best I can!

The smile remained on Scisco’s face, but shrank considerably. “Really? I am sorry to hear that. Anyway, I need some help to solve this, and you can provide that help! Did you see anything suspicious lately, apart from those murders? Anything out of the ordinary?”

“I’m not sure...” she said, and stroke her chin with her hoof. “Daisy’s flowers looked a bit withered today, although that’s nothing new. I can’t find my fiddlestick, and Vinyl has a strange, new drumstick, which is weird, since she doesn’t play drums. Wait a minute... Excuse me; I am going to kill her.” Octavia slammed the door right in front of Scisco’s nose, after which he could hear ‘I am going to destroy you, Vinyl!’ from inside the house.

Mental note: If somepony named Vinyl is found dead, Octavia is the prime suspect.

“Well, that was fruitless. Let’s try another house.”

Scisco walked towards the next house and knocked, this time prepared to get the pleasantries out of the way as quickly as possible.

“Good morning, honourable town-dweller. My name is detective Sciso, and I’m in charge of solving these murder cases. Any detail you can give me might help tremendously. Did anything strange or out of the ordinary happen in the last few days?”

“Um... Nice to meet you,” she said, and waved at him with her hoof. “I’m Bonbon and live in this house together with Lyra Heartstrings. I didn’t see anything suspicious lately. Sorry.”

You’re not getting off the hook so easily!

“Are you sure, Miss Bonbon? Anything?”

“Well, there is this talk about vamponies around the town, but that’s nonsense, right?”

Finally somepony with a hint of intelligence!

“Indeed. Anything else?”

“Well, there was something last night, but it was probably just somepony fooling around...”

Scisco’s ears shot up and he started examining her much more closely. “Last night? Tell me more, please.”

“Well, I was out drinking with a few friends, you know, to honour Berry’s memory and all, so I went home really, really late. As I was passing the town hall, I caught a glimpse of a pony dressed completely in black, with hood and all, dancing around something. I figured he or she was just drunk and moved on, towards my house.”

Scisco looked her directly in the eyes. “Did you see that object? Or anything else? And I mean anything?”

“N-no! He was pretty far, so I couldn’t see anything else, just a figure, dancing around something. Maybe there was some singing or chanting, or something; I don’t know. I was just too far away.”

“Thank you, this helped me more than you think.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Indeed it was. Farewell,” he said, and walked away from the door.

Dressed completely in black, dancing, maybe singing or chanting, combined with strange symbols made of guts. That points unmistakably towards a ritual murder! There is no vampony, my dear Greenleaf, but a cult! Removing blood is probably part of one of their rituals. It all makes sense now, and all I have to do is to wait for the answers on my letters to arrive.

———

Greenleaf stayed at the scene of the gruesome crime longer than Scisco, making sure that the photographer didn’t forget to capture even a single symbol with his apparatus.

That bastard! From the very first second we met, I’ve done everything I can to help: “Go fetch some specialist!” /“Yes, sir!”/ “Where is my damned coffee?” /“Right here, sir.”/ “I better have those results by tomorrow!” /“Yes, sir. Will do, sir.”/ But the first time I have an idea, that arrogant prick dismisses it without even giving it a thought!

The corporal kicked a nearby rock, sending it all the way across the street. He turned around and saw that the photographer was already finished with his work, and was now enjoying a hot cup of coffee, while laughing quietly at his superior’s display, lifting an eyebrows. Greenleaf took the photos, ‘accidentally’ stumbled into the photographer – who was now soaked from his own drink – and headed towards the library, ignoring the angry shouts of his victim.

I’ll show him! I’ll prove to him that I was right, or at least find out the truth sooner than he does.

Greenleaf stormed into the library, laid the photos on a table, and called the librarian.

“In the name of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, I demand your assistance, librarian. Show yourself and help me, now!”

A groan came from upstairs and was soon followed by a purple unicorn mare with a dark blue mane who had just woken up, judging from her dishevelled mane and sleepy eyes.

“The library is open...” Twilight said, yawning. “It is open from eight AM till five PM. Right now it’s six eighteen AM, so please leave, and let me sleep.”

Greenleaf melted a little, seeing how the mare almost sleeps standing, but regained his posture quickly. This was his duty, his service to the Empire! And he’d be damned if he left a serial killer running around for two more hours, just so one mare can sleep in!

“Librarian, this is no time for sleep – you have to serve the Equestrian Empire to the best of your abilities by helping me unravel this horrible mystery. Do you, or do you not recognise these symbols?” he said, and pointed at the photos.

Twilight glanced at the pictures, her eyes shot wide open, and she quickly looked away. “Are... are those...?”

“Yes, those are indeed inner organs of a gutted victim we found this morning. They seem to be arranged into some symbols, however, and we, the Royal Guard, want you to find out what they mean – I have heard your name, which I can’t remember right now, mentioned on many occasions, always in connection with magic, or some mystery.”

Actually, I just asked a mare at the town’s market about who is the biggest nerd in Ponyville. You certainly look like one, at least.

“Since we cannot afford to wait for a specialist to arrive, you are the best we’ve got. Any questions?”

Twilight looked at him, frowning and lifting her brow at the same time – it took Greenleaf a considerable effort to keep his face straight. Finally, the frown won, and she asked: “What?”

“No time to repeat everything. Just find out what these symbols mean, then go to the barracks and ask for corporal Greenleaf – that’s me. Until our cooperation ends, I name you my personal assistant, with access to the crime scenes and the barrack’s canteen. Remember, this is your duty!”

Greenleaf walked out of the library, and slammed the door behind him.

Good job, Greenleaf! With the princess’s personal protégé’s help, you are sure to solve the whole case. Too bad I can’t remember her name, though. Skylight Starker? Something like that; it doesn’t matter anyway. Now to do all the work Scisco ‘kindly’ assigned to me.

Greenleaf sighed, and walked towards his next destination: the morgue, where piles of paperwork and several clueless doctors eagerly awaited him.