//------------------------------// // CHAPTER FIFTEEN:The Heart Breaking News // Story: The Bizarre Case Of Minty And Malty // by Speedy //------------------------------// Minty popped a peppermint stick into her mouth and tossed the wrapper aside as she took up a stirring spoon, as well as the morning paper. As she stirred some kind of orange liquid in a large beaker she read the paper aloud in her mind. “Victim in worse shape than the last---a week later and no new leads---yada yada yada---Celestia arrives to personally lend aid..” she laid the newspaper down, eyes dead centered on the front page’s photo. She didn’t know the pony but the sadness of lost was felt as if she had. “Lily hadn’t been in work for nearly a week, hope she’s---oh calm down Minty, I’m sure she isn’t lying dead somewhere” Minty laughed at her silly fear but the reality of two murders very close to each other sank in and she wasn’t so sure if it was silly at all. Lily wasn’t the type to skip out, although there was one time that Minty remembered when she had. When Lily first discovered her unique horn ability she was so embarrassed she galloped off, her friends, Minty included, set out to find her. It was a scary time, but luckily Lily was found and brought home the same night she had galloped off on. Minty was hoping, like she had back then, that her old friend was alright and safe. Minty stirred some more and every few seconds lifted up the spoon and took a sip. “Hm, tastes about right” sucking on her peppermint stick she took up a quill and wrote in her notepad “Taste is just like a real orange, now on to step 2”. Minty left the room and returned a minute later, balancing something atop her nose until dropping it on the table. It was a tin, usually for muffins however this was of her own design, made customly with the help of Pinkie Pie. The indents were large circles with a rectangle in the centers. Minty lifted the beaker to which she stirred in, and poured the orange contexts until each indent was filled to the prim. Minty took up a measuring ruler that was dark grey in color and looked to had been sharpened on one side, she scraped it along the tin until each indent were perfectly even. She sucked and savored the peppermint flavor with a wide smile while simultaneously sliding her nose under the tin and balanced it once more. She trotted to the kitchen, opened the freezer which laid about the floor, and carefully laid the tin inside. As she closed the lid she heard  “Oh curses! This is just divine..” her teeth suddenly clamped hard on her peppermint and it broke in half. Minty turned and saw Tropical Dream kneeled down with an old antique plate, among many others that was due to be washed that evening. “Oh Tropical..” Minty said rolling the broken half of peppermint in her mouth until she swallowed it, then she leapt off of the freezer and trotted over to help her friend. “I’m just so sorry Minty..” Tropical Dream spoke, Minty could just shiver at the sadness in her voice. “For what?” she asked, shrugging it off. “These were antiques, and now they're ruined” Tropical Dream levitated a few shattered pieces and frowned that she couldn’t restore them. Minty gave a chuckle and nearly choked herself with the rest of her peppermint. “I doubt even my mom would notice”  she said after coughing the peppermint up. At the mention of her mother Minty had noticed a slight reaction from her friend. Tropical Dream had levitated the remaining broken pieces and forcefully tossed them across the room, luckily, none missed the trash bin she had aimed for. Minty was in awe at the aim, but she was more concerned so her moment of awe was extremely short lived. “Are you doing alright?” Minty asked. Tropical Dream nodded without so much of a head turn. “Yes, of course, why would you ask?” she replied fastly and trotted to the other end of the room. She levitated a few carrots and a cutting knife, she was chopping so fast Minty was sure it must had broken a record. “Because, you forgot the metal chopping---thingie, and cutting into the counter's surface” Minty had answered trotting up to her side. Tropical Dream only took one look and cringed, “Oh..” blushing she dropped her levitation spell and trotted off to the freezer. She opened it, saw that Minty had placed a tin inside and closed it back. Then she trotted to the refrigerator and dug through it’s contents, “You’re also avoiding something” Minty spoke gnawing on the stick as she trotted over. Tropical Dream had jumped and bumped her head against one of the inner shelves, after which she had offered a curse and slammed the door. “I am not running from something” she sternly spoke, her lips wobbling ever so slightly. “Yeah, alright then” Minty said turning around, her tail slightly brushing along Tropical Dream’s face. She took a few steps towards the door when she said “You know you can always talk to me” Minty trotted a couple more paces, she had just reached the door and smiled for her friend had just said “W-W-Wait..” Turning around Minty asked “So, will you tell me what’s bothering you?” as she tossed the stick into the trash bin and trotted back over. Tropical Dream opened her mouth, bit her lip and turned her eyes to the floor. Then finally, after what Minty assumed were many second thoughts, she spoke “It’s just---I-I-I’m worried. A-About---” “The murders?” Minty unconsciously interrupted, after saying “Sorry” she motioned for her friend to continued. Tropical Dream took a deep sigh, her eyes were beginning to tear up as she went on. “Y-Yes, but not only that. Somepony----somepony very s-special to me, she hadn’t been seen in over a week. I’m worried---worried that she’s out there, somewhere, dead o-or worse yet…” Minty took a sigh herself and felt relieved that she wasn’t the only pony worrying. “I know exactly how you feel” she spoke. “Y-You do..?” Tropical Dream asked a little taken aback. “Of course,” smiled Minty. “Lily hadn’t been in for almost a week! I’m worried too”. Tropical Dream had the remnants of a smile that soon faded back into her frown, her head lowered and her voice was just a tad bit lower. “O-Oh..is that what you meant?” Minty’s head tilted with an raised eyebrow. “Don’t you?” “O-Oh yes..yes, I’m worried about Lily too..” Tropical Dream replied. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes furiously before saying “I s-s-should go”. She made for the door but just as she reached it Minty had said “You’re free to take a few days off” which had made her stop in place as if Discord had just froze her. Tropical Dream turned around gasping, she asked “W-Why?” as usually Minty would be upset being the only one at work and her offer had took her extremely off guard. Minty smiled, trotting over she hugged her friend and said “Because, you clearly need the time and with what’s been happening, we all need a break or two”. Tropical Dream couldn’t believe what she was hearing, this couldn’t had been the same Minty she worked with. It was just unlike her character to freely allow breaks but even so, she hugged back and felt greatly relieved. “Plus, I don’t need you breaking every plate that we have” came Minty’s voice and almost immediately Tropical Dream broke the hug. “Oh I see, you just don’t want me to break stuff? Not like you never did that!” Tropical Dream spoke and even though she sounded a little harsh, both mares ended up smiling. They laughed, hugged, and laughed some more. “Go, come back when you feel able. I got a new candy to work on anyways”. “Oh? Is that what was in the freezer?” Tropical Dream asked as Minty trotted over to it. “Yeah, something for Thistle Whistle. Think I’ll call it---------Minty Orange, a see through jawbreaker that is sure to break ja-oh hi Star Catcher” Minty greeted her friend who had just appeared at the back door, curious why she choose that as her entry Minty asked “Why didn’t you just use the front door?” But Star Catcher didn’t answer, she just stood there, her face deep in sadness. Minty suddenly got a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, Tropical Dream had the same feeling and, even though she could never possibly read minds, could just feel she knew why their friend was here. Star Catcher trotted in, her voice terribly shaken as she spoke “Minty, another body was found. Just this morning, I’m not sure how to tell you this...” Minty suddenly felt so sick that she could had threw up, this simply could not be real and she was sure she was lucid dreaming. But the look on Star Catcher’s face told her that the cold shivers she felt was all too real. “Oh no..Oh Tropical..L-Lily..!” Minty began to cry. “No, it isn’t Lily. I saw her only yesterday, and this pony’s been dead for at least a few days” returned Star Catcher in her shaken but stern voice.  Minty stared at her with a stare somewhere between confused and depressed. “If it’s not her then who-oh no, Whistle!? Sparkleworks? The mare who’s always first to eat here?” Star Catcher shook her head and held her wings out as a sign to be quiet. Minty gulped a little as she fell silent. Star Catcher had a clear gulp as well, shown by her lips struggling to open. She sighed and for a brief moment she stared upward at the ceiling before her eyes fell back on Minty. “I’m personally here to deliver this,” Start Catcher started. “Minty...it’s your mother, Amethyst”. *** Tropical Dream climbed the staircase, stepping off on the floor where Minty’s room was located. She trotted up to her door, knocked three times, and heard movement. “Minty? It’s been three days, are you there?” she asked placing her head against the door. “Go away!” Minty shouted after more repeated knocks. Her voice sounded hoarse, as well as a little higher in pitch. Tropical Dream lowered her head until her horn was centered with the keyhole. There was a bright flash from within along with a faint click, she then nudged the door open and trotted inside. “Minty? I’m coming in---” Tropical Dream started when she suddenly gasped. Hyperventilating she paused, raised a hoof to her chest, and slowly breathed. Carefully she opened her eyes and again she was met with the state of Minty’s room. The table was turned over, the dressers and a cabinet laid across the floor with their contents scattered about. Pictures that were once on the walls were now on the floor, shattered, clearly thrown and smashed. It looked as if a struggle had broken out and it wasn’t just contained in the living room. As Tropical Dream fought against instinct and trotted forward she saw the kitchen was in a even worse state, she dare not take a second look. She pressed on, despite wanting to flee or at least clean up, then she came to Minty’s bedroom. Nudging it open she was met with a clearly shaken voice. “I hate that unlocking spell..” Minty stuttered. Tropical Dream again gasped, not because the room looked as if a tiger was let loose inside, but at the state her friend was in. Her fur, while never truly neat, was just too dreadful to deny it needed cleaning. Her mane and tail were all in ends, looking unwashed and made Minty look like she had been struck by lightning. Her eyes were darker, her cheeks soaked with tears that were still pouring from her eyes. “Oh Minty---” Tropical Dream paused and ducked, narrowingly avoiding a pillow. “I know you’re upset, but that’s not a reason to thro-Hey!” She must’ve ducked three times until Minty was out of pillows to throw, then she reached for her lamp. “Let go!” Minty yelled, being pulled back by a levitation spell. “Will you stop throwing things?” Tropical Dream asked. She only released the spell when Minty had nodded. She fell on the bed and immediately used the covers as a cloak to hide herself. Tropical Dream could hear her crying, signified by a rough sniff which was followed by a cough induced whine. Tropical Dream wanted to embrace her in a hug but Minty had turned and rolled to the other end. Tropical Dream felt Minty’s pain, seeing her crying form under the sheets had made her tear up something fierce. “Minty, I’m sorry.” spoke Tropical Dream. “I wished I could help you to feel better but---” “Then leave!” Minty rudely interrupted, bucking with her hind legs. “I don’t need you! Or a-anypony! So---just left me alone!” “I shall not leave you, it’s been three days you need to talk to somepony!” returned Tropical Dream who frowned at herself for that harsh outburst. Minty rolled, cried, and blew her nose into the covers. Refusing the urge to show her disgust Tropical Dream moved to the other side but Minty just rolled right off of the bed and struck her head against one of the many dressers she had pulled apart. Immediately Tropical Dream levitated her up and started a small healing spell. Tropical Dream asked “Are you fine?” “Yes! Now let go!”  Minty had interrupted her. Minty started bucking again and had managed to strike Tropical Dream clear across the face. Luckily when she fell, she landed back on the bed. “Ouch!” Tropical Dream shouted. She touched her nose and felt tiny drops of blood dripping. “Oh---fine! Be distraught, you little...” she sighed and levitated from her saddle purse a tissue. She turned and stomped her way to the door feeling quite angry, “I’m sorry..” came Minty’s shaken voice. Tropical Dream stopped, the anger faded from her system as she turned back around. Minty was hidden under the covers again and her breathing sounded hindered, Tropical Dream trotted back and sat beside her on the bed. Minty didn’t move but pulled hard when Tropical Dream attempted to lift the covers. “I don’t get it” Tropical Dream started but paused to hold a second tissue to her nose. “You avoided talking about Amethyst, and when you do it’s out of anger and all that rubbish. You said many a times you didn’t care about her, so why? Why are you like this?” There was a moment of silence, apart from Minty’s breathing and yelps. Finally, in what must had been an deep whine, she said “I never said I hated her..” Tropical Dream blinked, then she started to ask “But, you did just a few--” “I was lying alright!” Minty yelled. She jumped up and Tropical Dream got a good close up of her face. Likewise Minty got a good close up of Tropical Dream’s, she knew by the stained fur that she had been crying recently as well. “I don’t hate my mom, I just hated how she treated me. But I never stopped loving her, even after she gave up on me...” A tear fell from Tropical Dream’s face, her lip shook as she moved the cover off of Minty’s head. Being up close her face looked much more wrecked and Tropical Dream brought Minty into an embrace and held her head close to her shoulder. “I always thought we could get back together, someday, even though I knew she would never..” Minty cried. “I’m sure she wanted the same thing, it’s just she didn’t know how” Tropical Dream shedded another tear, “Oh dear I’m getting you messy..well, more messy..” she levitated another tissue but Minty had pushed it away. “Just leave it, I think your nose needs it more” Minty coughed and held her friend close, sniffing into her fur. Holding the tissue to her own nose Tropical Dream spoke “I upose ou r igh, ugh my nuse urts…oh ure laugh, thi yor ault..” “I’m sorry..” spoke Minty. She reached into her friend’s saddle purse and handed her another tissue. Tropical Dream smiled, finally she was getting somewhere with her friend. She took the tissue but instead of using it for her nose, she used it to wipe Minty’s tears. She didn’t fight back, she just rolled her head over and nuzzled against her friend’s fur which felt much more welcoming than her bed. “You really think my mom, wanted me back?” Minty asked her. Sniffing she blew her nose into her foreleg, to which Tropical Dream immediately levitated it into a trash bin. “I know she did, she would never stopped mentioning it---from what I hear” Tropical Dream gave a faint chuckle and Minty widened her eyes as she glared up at her. “What do you mean?” Tropical Dream gave another chuckle and nervously fumbled with her tissues, Minty saw sweat on her brow. “You----been talking with my mom?” “No----------------well, yes, but not only talking..” Tropical Dream gave a cough then went on to add “Heavens, I already cried my heart out and I have no more tears left to cry..” Minty raised another eyebrow and rubbed her nose clean. Tropical Dream saw her friend’s stare and took a deep sigh, probably the deepest sigh she had ever took. “I’m---not going to lie, not anymore.” she started to say as she fumbled and rolled up her tissues. “I been---over the last few years---been---seeing Amethyst”. Minty tilted her head, Tropical Dream gave a nervous smile and her eyes were twitching. Then, suddenly, she recalled seeing them together on that night Lily had showed up on and a particular moment was now explained. She gasped, jumping and tearing herself away from her friend who looked as though their child was just ripped from their forelegs. “You been dating my mom!?!” Minty bellowed. “No!” Tropical Dream shouted back in defence “W-Well, yes. But---” “Oh sweet Celestia!” Minty yelled again and looked as though she could had threw up. “That’s why you were with her before, and when she leaned in---you were dating my mom!?” Minty was outraged, her voice so high it felt like she was using the Royal Shout on an high volume. Tropical Dream frantically tried to speak, or at least calm Minty down, but she just couldn’t get a word through Minty’s outbursts. “You went behind my back and dated my mom? Normally I wouldn’t mind, same gendered couples I’m all for, BUT MY MOM! How could you?!” Minty bellowed. “M-Minty..” gasped Tropical Dream. “believe me when I say we had to ke--” “You’re one of my best friends, a co-worker, I even gave you a place to sleep!” Minty interrupted as she fiercely stomped around in circles. “Minty, please let me---” started Tropical Dream but again she was interrupted by more shouting. “I can’t believe this...wait, have you been stealing my supplies?” Minty asked as she kept pacing back and forth and Tropical Dream could almost see smoke emitting from her ears as the gears in her head were turning so fast that she simply couldn’t keep up. “What?! Minty, you know I’d never do that!” Tropical Dream’s mouth fell open, outraged she was just accused of theft by one of her best friends. “It fits doesn’t it? I mean, starting around two years ago I noticed my peppermint stock was getting more and more depleted, faster than normally” Minty started to explain. “Then I saw you with my mom, I didn’t want to believe she was capable of stealing but---you were dating her?” “Minty,” Tropical Dream tried to get a word in. “I-would-never-steal-from---” “That’s why my mom was here on Hearth’s Warming Eve..” Minty spoke as she came to a sudden halt. “She was coming to see you!” Minty turned to face her friend, she was both breathless and disappointed. There was a brief moment where both were silent, staring into the other’s eyes which by now were so widen they could see their own reflections through their tears. Tropical Dream had just said she had no more tears left to cry, so what was making her a liar? “Minty, that wasn’t Amethyst” Tropical Dream spoke, her voice almost hoarse. “It was Ma---” “Get out” Minty interrupted as she pointed at the door. “W-What?” gasped Tropical Dream who had hoped she heard her friend wrong. “You went behind my back and secretly saw my mom, despite knowing how I felt” Minty returned, her voice shaken to the point it sounded as if her voice box was cracking. Tropical Dream stared at Minty, shaking her head she spoke “But you just told me---” “You’re fired, now please...just leave” Minty interrupted as she stepped aside and faced the opposite direction. Tropical Dream stepped closer off of the bed but stopped, she could see the side of Minty’s face and at seeing it she lost all desire to argue. Minty was shaking uncontrollably and her face became a river of tears once more, she hated yelling at friends but she wasn’t sure if she could even call Tropical Dream a friend anymore. Likewise Tropical Dream was crying her eyes out, she clamped her mouth and eyes shut as she felt her heart shatter into even more pieces. Not bothering to look at Minty Tropical Dream trotted to the door, but she stopped suddenly. Minty could hear the same whine she had uttered mere moments before, she just wanted Tropical Dream to leave already so she fought with all her might to remain still. “Here, Amethyst told me that if anything was ever to happen to her, to give you this” Minty heard her friend’s voice. There was a pause in which Minty heard increased sobering, but she kept her eyes focused on the floor. “She was intending to die peacefully,” Minty flicked her head up suddenly at Tropical Dream’s words. “but not like this. Oh my stars, not like her plan at all…” There was silence now, nothing but Tropical Dream’s cries and whines as she left. Minty waited until she heard the apartment door open and close, then she turned to see what Tropical Dream had left. It was a small box, no bigger than a typical jewelry chest that now sat atop her bed. She trotted over and picked it up with every intention to throw it out the window, but her hoof just refused the instinct. Something was fighting against her anger, a voice telling her to open it. She gritted her teeth, her hoof shook under the box’s weight, tear after tear poured down and, finally, she lost it. She shook her head, spun around and with all the might she could muster she tossed the box clear across the room, uttering the worse curse that she had ever said. She fell to her knees, sobbing. “M-Mom..mommy...” she cried and buried her face into the floor. Banging her hooves hard enough to crack them or the floor itself. Then, she felt something touch her head. She looked up and saw, to her surprised, a golden locket with bits of a broken chain attached to it. There was an split second where she just stared at it, dazed. Then she picked it up and, she wasn’t sure how, but it opened. Her eyes met a photo, she sniffed and rubbed her nose which had started to run once more. “T-This is...right after I was born..” she sniffed again, staring at the photo her tears had ceased almost at once. She looked up and saw the box, it’s contents now scattered. Picking herself up she trotted over and saw it was filled with all sorts of mementos, mostly newspaper articles that were cut out. She had noticed one article that caught her attention the most, not just because the other half of the chain laid atop it, but because of the photo. She slide the broken chain off and lifted the article, reading it aloud.  “T-This is...from opening day..and this one. It’s from last year, when I broke the world record..” Minty dug through the many mementos and articles, feeling more and more strange with each new discovery. “This---this is the ball I painted red, to match my first ever lillpop..and this, my first Hearth’s Warming with my friends, the year I broke the Candy Cane..” Minty had found another article, one that had made her tear up once more. “L-Last year’s New Years..how did she get this photo? It was only given to ponies who attended the reunion..” She sniffed rubbing her eyes as she stared at the photo and then at the locket. She reached over and grabbed it, her teary eyes glued to it’s tiny image. “M-Mom...you didn’t give up..I-I’m so sorry..” Minty started crying even more heavily and began rocking back and forth with the locket clenched in her hooves, then she had held the locket to her chest and somehow she felt more at ease. She took ahold of her bed covers and wiped her eyes, “Tropical..” she spoke as she went to stand but suddenly halted. There was something in the box that she had missed, something that wasn’t a article nor a picture, it was an purple envelope. Somewhat wrinkled and stained, she picked it up and saw it was addressed to her. She flipped it over, bit at the tape until it was in halves, then from within she pulled out a letter. She immediately recognized it as her mother’s handwriting, the big give away was the ink. “You always favoured purple and red..let’s see, Dear Minty...”