Personal Log: Entry no. 781233

These days, rarely anything surprises me, though both Princesses have really tried. Even now Celestia still teaches me things, though the lessons can’t be considered academic anymore. Luna had the same idea. She was very surprised to know I knew her sister’s favourite method of intimacy, but I learned another one just as effective.

With my features worsening over the course of time as a result of Necrotic practice, It’s becoming harder and harder for me to hide my features. Fluttershy noticed a slight discolouration with my coat and wondered if I’d somehow become Discorded. It took controlling Angel Bunny and making him… make caviar on the floor to distract the surprisingly persistent Pegasus.

On the plus side, research in to the stealthy branch of Necromancy has allowed me to learn how to perform magic without the visible illumination of my horn (as well as the sound). Stealth casting Necromancy has proved useful over the past few days. I’ve managed to make progress reports to Celestia regarding the killer, though mention of Rainbow Dash’s attack was left out for obvious reasons.

On the matter of reports, the changeling I’d sent to act as my spy returned with promising feedback. Chrysalis had found an alternate method of feeding her changelings and had no immediate plans on revenge. And as I’d hoped, my control over that single changeling spread throughout the hive like a virus, giving me sub-conscious control over all of them. I’d become the new Queen, and Chrysalis had become my General. I’ve since learned how to communicate telepathically with them, and I find Chrysalis to be the most… pleasantly resistant. Since then, I’ve had them constructing a second Laboratory within their hive. I took the chemicals into consideration and made sure they only made the tools. I would create Changeling-safe chemicals should I ever need that place.

Fire Reign ‘reported for party’ (her words) the night we returned. I’ve considered probing her mind to the point she’s little more than a mindless slave, but I found her rare pyromancy skills to be too good to destroy, not to mention her personality. Sadly, the night didn’t remain young forever, and very little in the way of the original plan got done as Pinkie somehow made it past my amalgamation of magical barriers and complained about having thrown a themeless party without her. To this day, Pinkie’s abnormal ability to defy logic and physics remains a threat to my secrecy. I fear the worst for her as it would pain me to have to kill her before the time for me to reveal myself arrives. I’ve expressed these concerns with Rainbow Dash and Trixie. They agree wholeheartedly with me that killing a friend would be a very regrettable action. I hold on to the hope that Pinkie subconsciously knows when to act and when not to.

I feel I’m getting closer to the killer, and it occurs to me that his capture is coming too swiftly. My plan is moving ahead of schedule without my permission, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Fortunately, I’m able to plan around this little mishap. Though I don’t believe Dash would be particularly pleased with my choice. I’ll have to discuss it with her.

With a deep sigh, I placed my quill down on my desk and shoved the book into the drawer. I turned all the lights off and made my way up the steps. Trixie and Dash both sat on the couch, doing their own thing. Dash was reading the latest issue of Daring Do. It was good to see some things hadn’t changed. Trixie’s excited face drew my attention and I sat next to her. No words were needed for me to initiate the conversation as I knew she was hastily waiting to spill the beans.

“You won’t believe what I discovered,” she began. I remained silent, smiling sleepily at her. My eyes showed her that she could go on.” I was going through some of the documents you shared with me about reducing the magical output of spells, then I found myself reading Starswirl’s Grimoire of spells and came across one in particular. ‘The Multiplex Incantation’.” I wondered where she was going with this, but at this point she was on a role. “You’ve been saying you’re finding it increasingly difficult to keep up your disguise. If you fused the ‘Output Reduction’ spell with the ‘Multiplex Incantation’ spell, you should have no trouble maintaining your disguise when you’ve activated it multiple times, each one overlapping the other.” she concluded. My smile widened slightly as her theory made complete sense to me.

“You’re right. It would work. But I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to experiment with the fusion of spells. I’m exhausted.” I replied, yawning for effect. Trixie looked worriedly at me.

“Are you alright, honey? You’ve been sleeping a lot lately.” she said. Dash made the effort to look up from her book and side with Trixie.

“Yeah, your eyes have a whole different redness to them than they’re supposed to, not to mention those bags. I haven’t seen anypony that bad since Applejack had to try and buck the entire orchard.” I chuckled slightly as I recalled the results of Applejack’s stubbornness.

“I’m fine. It’s just the stress of staying three steps ahead of both the princesses and… well everypony. Don’t worry, a good night’s sleep and I’ll good to–.”

Suddenly, there was a scream from outside. A mare’s by the sound of it. Dash dropped her book and made for the door. She kept it open for us as we ran through. Together, we hurried as fast as we could to the source of the scream. To our surprise and deepest sadness, the one who screamed was Fluttershy. I didn’t recognise her scream at first because she very rarely made any noises above a mouse’s. But the fact that she screamed that saddened us. It was who she’d screamed at and began crying for. Other ponies made their way toward us and gathered in a circle around Fluttershy who held the limp body of Rarity, her once snow white pelt coated in her blood. Fluttershy sobbed louder than I’d ever heard her.

“Rarity?” Dash said, unable to believe her eyes. My own mind and body went rigid. Information flooded me. The killer was back, he was supposed to have left the day we left for Canterlot and before now, he never backtracked to a town he’d already killed in. Through my vision, I saw Dash rush up to Fluttershy and Rarity and force the onlookers back so Fluttershy could have some space. I heard Trixie whisper into my ear.

“Can’t you revive her once this is over with?”

“No. Her death has already been witnessed. And disguising her like I did with you won’t work either. Rarity was too regal to act like somepony else, not to mention she would overdramatise the situation after waking up.” I whispered back.

“I see, so she’s gone for good?”

“Yes.”

I felt so numb. Sadness over her death escaped me as did my anger toward the killer for hindering my plans yet again. The guards would be doubled as would their search, and the possibility of the Library being searched was 50/50, since half of the royal guard knew to keep away; but the chances of somepony not indoctrinated by myself were equally so, therefore my Library would have to be disguised once more, just like myself.

I tried to push past my numbness and sympathise with Fluttershy. Rarity had become Fluttershy’s very best friend. While she and Dash had a history together, Rarity had completely opened up her life to Fluttershy, even giving the now crying Pegasus her dream of being a star and working with the best fashionistas there were. That, topped with the weekly spa dates, nopony could compare to Rarity when it came to Fluttershy’s trust and love. I didn’t need to research either of them to know this.

“I must be truly evil to think what I’m thinking about this situation.” I whispered. Trixie said nothing, but did as I had done and waited for me to continue.

“I should be sad for Fluttershy, but all I can do is see this as an opportunity to…add another living specimen to our…community.” Trixie turned to me.

“You want to indoctrinate Fluttershy? Her of all ponies?” she asked, slightly louder than she should have. It was because of her increased tone that Rainbow Dash, whose hearing had been enhanced twicefold, overheard her. She held Fluttershy in her hooves and quickly raised her head to look at me. Her expression was unreadable at the time.

“She’ll need to be watched. You don’t know how she gets when she’s angry. She’d frighten Discord into spending a millennia on the moon. Fluttershy is very unstable right now. She’s not going to be fearing much as sadness and rage take hold of her.” I said loud enough for Dash to hear. The blue pegasus’ ears drooped and her eyes showed understanding. It finally pained me to see what lay before me. One of my only friends gone forever, another on the brink of madness on a whole different scale, and an undead lover in the same area, being fed curiosity and sympathy from the surrounding ponies. What hurt even more was the young voice that begged to be let through. Sweetie Belle emerged from between my legs and gazed upon the scene before her.

The cry a young filly makes when they see the aftermath of a murdered relative is very different to the sound they make when they don’t get something they want. When the latter is the case, they make that slow and loud whiny wail that they’re known for, but with a case like this, Sweetie Belle’s cries were something akin to a fusion between a scream and a crying fox. I was somewhat glad that such a sound could still reach my heart, despite the painful reaction it gave out. I finally felt tears escape me as I watched Sweetie Belle slowly crawl along the ground to her sister, taking in a hoof-full of her mane and burying her face into it. Sadly, the mane did nothing to muffle her cries. Applebloom cried silently into her sister’s leg and as Scootaloo was absent a sister-figure who was among the scene, she took solace in my presence. I followed by Applejack’s example and lay down to Scootaloo’s level so I could hug her tightly. She did what the other two crusaders did and buried her face in my mane. I would not envy Rainbow Dash when she returned from Fluttershy’s side only to try and comfort another close to her.

After five more minutes of crying and useless sympathies from the crowd, the doctors and nurses arrived and carried Rarity off with Sweetie Belle refusing to let go. Fluttershy had found somepony else to cling to, namely Dash. As the group dispersed, Rainbow Dash helped Fluttershy into the Library while I carried Scootaloo inside. Why did it have to take somepony to die in order for ponies to actually want to come into the Library? I closed and locked the door behind me, mainly to reassure Scootaloo that nopony was going to get inside to kill us too. I sat her beside Fluttershy who had taken to the fireplace and sat beside it’s warmth.

I looked at Dash and Trixie both, giving them the look that said I wanted to speak to them privately. They seemed reluctant to comply and given my tired state, I was reluctant to even remain awake. We took refuge in the kitchen away from the gloomy sources.

“So I guess resurrecting Rarity is out of the question, then?” Dash asked. I repeated the response I gave Trixie and she nodded in understanding.

“The one time her acting skills would be used and they’re no good compared to reality.” she grumbled.

“Couldn’t we rewright her memory? Give her a whole new life with similar goals?” Trixie asked.

“That would be pointless. Why bring her back if we’re just going to turn her into something that isn’t really her?” I replied. Trixie sighed in defeat.

“What’s even worse, is that without her, the Elements of Harmony won’t work.” Dash stated. That hadn’t occurred to me yet, but it was rather moot.

“To be honest, Dash, I doubt the Elements of Harmony would work anymore either way. Not since you died that night.”

“Touché.” she said, sitting down. There was a moment’s pause among us as we wondered what else there was to talk about.

“So what are we going to do about them?” Trixie asked, motioning her head through the doorway to Fluttershy and Scootaloo. “I mean, I know you already planned to have Fluttershy join our cause, but Scootaloo’s just an innocent filly who really doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

I sighed, trying to think of a way to explain things. “Scootaloo might not be directly involved with tonight’s events, but we have to remember that Rainbow Dash is for all intents and purposes, her older sister. She too has lost someone dear to her recently; she just doesn’t know it yet. With that in mind…” I sighed again, wishing my headache which had recently formed would go away. “We’ll have to try and prevent more losses to our friendship circle. I never wanted anypony but Trixie to know about what it is we’re doing, but the killer has escalated things to near breaking point.

“Sweetie Belle’s going to grow up wanting revenge against the killer. Given her current age, she’ll have no trouble accepting what we are. Scootaloo is in shock, but she idolises Rainbow Dash to a fault; a fault that would work in our favour. The real problem is Applejack. She can’t lie to save her life and if she were to blow our cover to anypony before we’re ready… I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll all die for good.”

There was silence throughout the entire tree, save the snoring of the still sleeping dragon upstairs.

“Then there’s Fluttershy.” Dash stated.

“Yes, Fluttershy will be very unpredictable. Like Sweetie belle, she’ll want justice for what’s happened to the one closest to her. I imagine she’ll try to raise Sweetie Belle as her own, despite the fact that the filly has parents back in Manehattan.” Trixie responded.

“No, they were killed by the killer three months ago. Rarity hid that fact from Sweetie. She planned on telling her next week.” I said.

“So she’s got nopony?” Trixie asked.

“She’ll have Fluttershy; their goals will draw them to each other.” I replied. It was then I looked up from my droopy stance and saw Scootaloo peeking at us from behind the side of the entryway. I froze in place. How much did she hear? Thinking quickly, I pretended not to notice her, though my peripherals were trained on her from that moment on.

“So, Dash, I think you should explain to Scootaloo what’s happening. You may have to use your ‘awesome’ words to describe to her exactly what a necromancer is.” Rainbow Dash nodded in confirmation. Things seemed settled when Trixie addressed something.

“Wait, what if they refuse us? What will we do? Telling them could put us in more danger than we’re prepared for.” There was another moment’s pause, but I already had the answer.

“I’m prepared for it.” I said, saying no more on the matter. I could tell that unnerved them as they cautiously left the kitchen area. I looked ahead to see Scootaloo sitting uncomfortably beside Fluttershy who had her head drooped down, her mane covering her entire face. I sat down on the couch and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. I listened to the beginning of the worst idea in Equestrian history.

“Scoots… there’s something I have to tell you.” Dash began.

Author's Note

Alright, I know you've all been very patient, and I hope you like this latest update.

So things seem to be going out of control, which is terrain Twilight hates to be in. Fortunately, she's adaptable. I wonder how Spike will react when he wakes up the next morning and discovers the love of his life has been killed. Will Twilight let him in on the action, or will Spike become like other dragons; angry and deadly?

On a side note, for those of you who read this far: I'm going to give you something else. Not the next chapter, but later on in the story, Twilight will come face to face with the killer. I'm going to give you all the chance to have your OC's implanted in the story. Don't worry, you won't be killed off immediately, I have plans for you my pretties. SO!!!!!! In order for you to be applicable, you need to send me information about your OC, including their appearance as a pony (must be a pony! Ponified is acceptable), their personality and a picture (if possible). I will then choose the one I believe best fits the role and you will be credited in the Author's notes for every Chapter the killer is in. Good Luck Everypony!