The Fashion of Evil

The early morning sun beamed warmly over Ponyville.

Applejack trotted slowly down the road that lead from Sweet Apple Acres, past the pastures, paddies, farms, and plantations, into Ponyville. In tow were Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom was babbling on about an orchard of theirs that grew gigantic apples. Sweetie Belle tuned her out. She didn’t get much sleep during her first night on the farm. Before the sun even came up, Applejack had the two of them doing chores.Her hooves were already sore from kicking trees yesterday.

“Well guess what, sugarcube,” Applejack replied to her little sister, “Afterschool, the two of you can buck ‘em big o’ apples out of them trees an’ bring ‘em in. Ah think we can make some decent bits fer those big apples.”

Sweetie Belle let out a groan, which she tried to stifle too late.

“Ah heard that, Sweetie Belle,” Applejack said, looking back at her, “An’ you’ll be doin’ the dishes tonight after you and Applebloom finish bucking them apples outta the trees.”

“I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Ah appreciate yer apology, but yer’ still doin the dishes tonight.”

Her heart sank.

The clang from the rusty old bell over the guardhouse in town echoed beyond town.

“Well, ain’t that a hoot,” Applejack said, surprised to hear the guard bell.

“What’s that bell for?” Applebloom asked.

“It’s comin’ from the town guard. Usually, they never sound the bell. Last I heard it was when Ah was just a wee one. It means ponies are to assemble in front of the guard house.”

“Ohh! Can we go too?” Applebloom asked.

“Nope, the two of you are going to school. End of discussion.”

• +

Cheerilee ushered the foals into the classroom as they entered the school. The foul clanging of the bell continued as parents dropped their little ones off.

“Y’all be good,” Applejack called as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle went inside.

“Why good morning, Apple Belle,” Silver Spoons cooed as Sweetie Belle passed her.

“That’s not my name.”

“Well, it should be,” Diamond Tiara teased, “I see Applejack made you work yesterday. Gosh you Apples are so filthy and unmannered. Look at your hooves, they’re all dirty,”

“Hey! Stop talking bad about us!” Applebloom snapped. She rushed to Sweetie Belle’s defence and got right in Diamond Tiara’s face.

“It’s thanks to us Apples everypony in town gets to eat apples! We got the best apples in the whole county! So shut yer mouth!”

“Oh please, mind who you’re talking to,” Diamond Tiara shot back, “For your information, you don’t even own a single apple you buck out of those trees. My father owns Sweet Apple Acres and everything on it, including you and your family of hick ponies. If he wanted, he could evict you from the Acres, and hire the Flim Flam brothers, and you’d be run out of the county. They could produce thousands of times the apples and apple cider your family produces. So watch your mouth and have some respect!”

Applebloom felt tears welling up and said nothing.

“Exactly,” Diamond Tiara sneered as she and Silver Spoon trotted off to their desks.

“She...she isn’t serious, is she?” Applebloom asked out loud.

“Don’t listen to her,” Sweetie Belle said, “She’s just a stuck up spoiled brat. Your family helped start this town. Filthy Rich wouldn’t dare take over Sweet Apple Acres-”

“Oh yeah?” Diamond Tiara called from her desk, “Why don’t you two ask Granny Smith? Last week she sold your Sweet Apple Acres to my father. That leathery old mare is on her way out, and she wanted the farm taken care of, not destroyed by some stone-brained stubborn pony like Applejack.”

“You take that back!” Applebloom shouted, “I’m gonna tell Applejack on you! Nopony talks about Granny Smith like that!”

But Diamond Tiara just giggled.

“Okay, my little fillies and foals,” Cheerilee sang as she entered the classroom, “Please take your seats!”

Everypony took their seat, and the room fell silent. The bell from the guardhouse kept echoing outside.

“Now then class, I think we’ll start the day by talking about that bell that’s ringing outside,”

• + +

Ponyville Town Guard House. 63° / 6:30 A.N. / 8:14 AM

After a good thirty minutes, a crowd has assembled at the edge of the town square where it met the open courtyard of the guardhouse. The large screens were showing photos and videos from each of two ponies’ memories, mostly from Bon Bon, who was chained up in the pillory for everypony to see. Guard ponies shouted out the list of charges and details of her crimes against the citizens of Ponyville.

Applejack came here after dropping the fillies off at school. Through the crowd of ponies, she saw Twilight walk by.

“Twi!...Twilight!” she called.

“Oh, hi,” Twilight greeted her. She was just coming out of the guardhouse.

“What’s all this about? Why is Sweetie Drops locked up in that thing?”

Twilight, dead tired and in need of sleep looked back, then at Applejack again. “She’s a criminal, Applejack. They’re putting her on display and telling the whole town about the things she did, then, when the train arrives, they’re sending her to Canterlot.”

“Really? Her? Ah-Ah never figured she’d be up to no good...”

“Ask Lyra,” Twilight said.

Applejack finally noticed the sun gleam come from Twilight’s townguard badge.

“Since when did you join the guard??”

“Yesterday. The chief wanted me to investigate the fire. I’ve been up all night talking to ponies and sorting things out. Look, I really need to go home and sleep. You, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash come to the library around 15° this afternoon, and I’ll explain everything.”

Applejack was about to argue, but decided not to. Twilight looked extremely exhausted and weary. She looked like she was going to topple over and sleep right there on the cobble street any minute.

“Fine, you get on home, Ah’ll come over at 15 and get Big Mac to bring my fillies home.”

“Can’t Applebloom and Sweetie Belle walk home on their own?” Twilight ignored Applejack referring to Sweetie Belle as her own.

“Yes, but Ah don’t want them wanderin’ around Ponyville with all this ruckus goin’ on. Besides, applebuck season is jus’ gettin’ started, and there’s plenty o’ trees full of apples. Oh, an’ between you an’ me, Ah’d like to talk about a home for Sweetie Belle.”

“Right,” Twilight yawned, “See you later,”

• + +

Golden Oaks Library. 15° or 15:00 P.N. / 2:00 P.M.

Spike had coffee on in the kitchen. Twilight also put him to work cooking food. In the main room, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash sat around a table. Twilight was now well rested and explained a lot of things as she briefed her friends on the situation, from her samplings at the smouldering ruins of the Carousel Boutique and her induction as a Town Guard investigator to the interrogation of Lyra and Bon Bon, and the things that played out from there.

“So, here’s where I’m at: Lyra’s innocent, Bon Bon’s being shipped off to Canterlot tonight, and Rarity is obviously still in a coma. My next pony whom I’ll be talking to is Hoity Toity. Another investigator, a unicorn named Comet Tail, found information on him from Bon Bon’s memory. They were illicit business partners, and he was her connection to Photo Finish.”

“Does he live in Canterlot or somewhere fancy?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Actually, Hoity Toity has a holiday home up on Dawn Hill. He has at least three of them; one here, the other two are in Equine City and Manehattan. His primary residence is in Canterlot, and he has hosted a fashion show in there. Bon Bon even modeled for him. He’ll definitely have information about Photo Finish.”

“How’s about we go with you, y’know fer safety?” Applejack offered.

“He’s not a suspect, he just has information, I don’t want to scare him away.”

“How do you know he’s even in town?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Hoity Toity has made Ponyville his favorite holiday spot. You know, a quiet getaway from the hectic life of the fashion business. He was here yesterday when the Carousel Boutique burned down. According to witnesses, Hoity Toity was seen with Photo Finish before before she entered the Boutique. They were doing a photoshoot or something down by the river. And witnesses also told guards that they saw Fluttershy running through the streets and Photo Finish chasing her.”

“Wait, hold on, why was she running, and not flying?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“Some ponies said she had an injured wing,” Twilight replied.

“So, you don’t want us to go with you? What if he tries anything, Twi?” Applejack asked,

Twilight pointed a hoof to the badge hanging around her neck, and grinned. “I’m with the Town Guard. If anything happens to me, the entire guard will be on him instantly. Comet Tail and I both have telepathy spells, so we can communicate with one another, and we will be doing so. Hoity Toity presents any threat, one thought to Comet Tail and the whole town guard will swarm Dawn Hill and storm his house.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash weren’t quite convinced, but decided to respect her wishes.

“Very well, Twi, I know you wouldn’t go alone. You jus’ be careful.”

“Screw that, can you at least let us go and just hang back a bit while you’re talking to him?” Rainbow Dash urged her.

Twilight thought about it, then decided. “Sure. That would be a great idea. But I don’t want you two in sight of his house. If something goes wrong and I have to run for my life, I’ll barge out and shout for you.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodded.

“Wait, doesn’t that guy have lots of parties?” Pinkie chipped, “We could ask him to go!” Everypony gave her the look.

“This is not a good time Pinkie,” Applejack replied.

“And besides, believe it or not, Hoity Toity rarely has parties at his holiday home. According to Comet Tail’s reports on Bon Bon’s memories, he mostly keeps quiet at home. Or at least his private functions are small,” Twilight explained.

“Well, don’t you worry, Twilight, we’ll protect you, I’ll be your awesome nightshadow ninja!”

“Ugh,” the other three scoffed. But Twilight was ready:

“Pinkie, I’ll be fine with just Applejack and Rainbow Dash covering me, not to mention the Town Guard.”

“B-but”

“That is final. Besides, I have a special job for you.”

“Ooooh! What is it? Do I get to walk around Hoity Toity’s house all invisible like and inspect all the cakes and party stuff he keeps there? You know for his special things outside of town?”

“Oh mah gizzards, Pinkie!” Applejack snapped, “the answer is no. You’ll jus’ blow our cover!”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash added, “How would you feel if you put Twilight in danger?”

Pinkie’s heart sank and she pouted.

“As I was saying,” Twilight continued with restrained frustration, “Pinkie, I need you to be with Rarity and Lyra, and take care of them.”

“Lyra? What’s wrong with her?”

Twilight sensed Applejack’s and Rainbow Dash’s tempers rising, but she still remained calm and collected, for Pinkie’s sake. She explained again all the things Bon Bon did to Lyra, and Lyra was more than just sad.

“So, I need you to...cheer her up, and let her know she has friends. And keep a close eye on Rarity. When she wakes up from her coma, you’ll need to be there for her.”

“Wait a minute-”

“Pinkie Pie!” Applejack snapped, “Twi jus’ gave you a job to do, no git on down to the hospital!”

“O-okay...” Pinkie said, slightly unnerved. Under Applejack’s glare, she silently walked out the front door.

“That takes care of that,” Applejack commented.

“Agreed. So Twi, when do we scout out Dawn Hill?”

Twilight looked at the clock. “I think around 50° tonight. Every shop and place will be closed for the night.”

“Hold on, what if he’s catching the train tonight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Nope. He’s been ordered not to leave town until I’ve cleared him, or at least have a copy of his memories. The Town Guard has a garrison at the train station, and of course, that’s where the only road out of Ponyville is. If he tries to leave, they’ll throw him in the jailhouse,” Twilight answered confidently.

“Well then, that settles it. Let’s get this show on the road,” Applejack replied.

Rainbow Dash nodded.

“So tonight, I’ll make my way up Dawn Hill around 49°. You two follow, but stay out of sight. Here is where Hoity Toity’s house is,” Twilight explained, pointing a hoof to the large map of Ponyville. “When you get close, find a hiding spot and wait for my call or signal. If all goes well, I’ll create a small flash meaning for you two to come back to town. Got it?”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodded.