It could have only been you!
“Hey, Snips?” I calmly got his attention.
“W-w-w-what?” Snips was shaking.
“You told me your conversation with Featherweight, but I have to ask, when I remember this morning before I discovered the body, I saw just about everypony here running after Grace but you or Twist, but...”
“Oh hoooo~, I see where the Blue Snooper’s going with this!”
I’m not sure if I should be happy or scared that Grace is kinda cheering me on now.
“Whoa, heeeeeeeey, you’re saying Snips is the culprit!? Come on, Shady, have a heart! I mean, we were together the whole time, so like, don’t scare us like that!” Snails turned to Snips with a worried look in his eyes.
Right... I should’ve known Snails would step in this, but I can tell even he has his doubts. But I already made my decision, and I’m not backing down!
“Are you not taking me seriously? Guess we’ll just have to go over the evidence.”
“What evidence!? We went through it all! You’re accusing me because I won’t cut your mane, isn’t that right!? You got such a stupid hairstyle anyway, letting it cover your eye like that!”
“Hey, I think his mane’s cool! In a sorta emo kinda way!” Dinky rose a hoof, cheerfully declaring unfortunate implications about me.
Gee, thanks for the typical stereotype.
I focus back on Snips, adding on to my accusation. “But it’s strange! I’ve had to point out several contradictions to Diamond Tiara about the crime scene, it had me wondering! I ended up remembering that you went with her when she decided to go look herself! It’s like someone either told her the wrong things or kept her from looking at the obvious places! Then there was your conversation with Featherweight, where you outright accused him of being the mastermind!”
“Hey, I thought I said that was a misunderstanding!”
“Right. Then how did that misunderstanding really end? In fact, let me ask you: During the initial chase, I saw everypony going after Grace Lightning but you or Twist! But your actions during investigation and here got me to suspect you!”
“You know, for a blank flank, you make a lot of sense...” Tiara gave me a suspicious look, but when she turned to Snips, those eyes narrowed instantly. “You led me wrong! And to think I decided to throw you a bone!”
“I-it was just wrong information! I’m sorry! You told me to stay away from you, and I did just that!” Snips hurriedly defended himself.
“Wrong information?! What the hell! Are you trying to get us all killed?!” Scootaloo seethed.
“Whoa, hang on, what’s this about wrong information!? Snips, explain yourself or you’ll be in big trouble!” Truffle ordered, pointing a hoof at Snips.
“L-look, I came with her, right? Diamond Tiara here wanted a look at the body but shrieked back because she couldn’t look at it for too long! So she simply asked me if there was anything strange, and I said ‘No, nothing out of the ordinary’, see?”
“Nothing strange?! You mean to tell me you didn’t notice the blood flowing under the mirror or the screws lying in the blood!?” I asked, practically seething. This is just incriminating him even further if he’s purposely giving wrong information.
“I think that was probably the biggest contradiction Shady pointed out too... you’re not blind, are you?” Twist muttered, yet everypony heard it, and again, she didn’t take it back.
“Ugh! Y-you idiots! Just because I’m wrong a few times, suddenly I’m the culprit?! What kind of reasoning is that?! Shady, you’re out of your mind! You just want revenge so bad, you’re willing to point the hoof at anypony, huh?!”
“C-come on, Snips, you have to calm down! We just wanna give you a chance to prove you’re innocent! I mean, I know you wouldn’t kill anypony!” Snails gave a wry grin, his voice trembling more and more by the minute.
“No, shut up! I don’t need this! This is all Shady’s fault!”
“I wouldn’t do this if I wasn’t sure! If I’m wrong, then you’re free to get payback on me tenfold!”
“Heeeeeeeeeey. What happened, Shady? I thought I was the prime suspect! You mean I failed in looking suspicious?” Apple Bloom interjected with her own complaint.
“The Doggy Duty thing turned out to be just a little misleading. It just didn’t seem to add up. Plus, considering the time and circumstances, there’s no way you’re the culprit. You acted suspicious on purpose. For what reason, I don’t know. But I’ll get back to that in a bit.”
“Whaaaaaatever~” Apple Bloom whistled.
NONSTOP DEBATE!
Evidence Bullets:
-The Killing Goods
-Opened Air Vents
-Mirror shards
-The Screws found in the bloodDiamond Tiara: You better explain yourself, Snips!
Snips: Come on! I was just as scared as you guys! You think I can just stare a dead body down into eternity!? Get real!
Pipsqueak: Yeah, but still, even I knew that blood came from under the mirror, and I’m not exactly one of the brightest bulbs ya know!
Silver Spoon: So what can you say that can make us stop suspecting you? Lucky for you, even I’m a bit skeptical.
Sweetie Belle: You really were just “wrong”, right?
Dinky Doo: He has eye problems, that’s why he thought the blood didn’t come under the mirror!
Snips: No, idiot! And if I killed him, I’d need a weapon! There’s no weapon at the crime scene, or anywhere for that matter!
Snails: See? He’s right! He’d need a weapon to kill, and we just proved the mirror shards aren’t the weapon!
Grace Lightning: Well, poor guy didn’t kill himself.
Snips: Well duh!
YOU GOT THAT WRONG!
Snips turned his glare to me, shooting me with daggers. “What...?!”
“You’re wrong, Snips. We still have the Killing Goods.” I answered.
“Yeah. We found the first box at Grace’s house. Funny that you conveniently forgot that.” Diamond Tiara twirled her mane around her hoof, looking as smug as ever.
“WHAT?!” Grace suddenly screamed.
“That reaction may have proven that she had no idea. Pretty funny.” Ginger tried to hold back her giggle.
“She’s lying, you idiots! CAN’T YOU SEE?! Look at her, she doesn’t look honest one bit!” Snips tried to pin the blame on her again, but it wasn’t working.
“Hey, I haven’t entered my house once since I came back!” Grace clarified.
“Err, sorry Snips, we already long proved that Grace Lightning’s innocent. We spent nearly the whole time proving that, man.” Snails sighed as he nervously reminded him.
“W-we haven’t proven anything! It wasn’t solid evidence!”
“But dude, Shady and I checked her stuff and it was clean! All of it! Even her own killing items were untouched, like she was never in her home to begin with! That list can attest to that! Nopony’s items were used, not even hers!”
“What list!?”
Oh, I know exactly what he means.
Got it!
“The list of items that everypony found in their kitchens, remember? You have a list too, I’m sure.” I pointed out.
“I thought everypony burned their lists.” Scootaloo chimed in.
“I simply threw mine in the trash bin, like a mare of class should. Perhaps you have a penchant for arson?” Silver Spoon quipped.
“I threw mine away too, you blank flank! Don’t you dare say I wanna burn anything! I’d rather burn whatever a blank flank would cook, that’s all!” Yes, because you totally just said you wouldn’t burn anything, Diamond Tiara.
“And you didn’t tell me this, why!?” The veins on Snips’s head began to surface, the same as his anger.
“Well, dude, didn’t we already establish that Grace isn’t the culprit!? You were the one who pointed out all that evidence to me and Diamond Tiara that turned out to be false!” Snails retorted.
“Oooo, take that down for cash for told!” Dinky cheered on, but then looked around, wondering why she was just being stared at.
“What.” Pipsqueak was dumbfounded.
“You know, something I totally made that up! Means he just got told!” Dinky frantically explained, stifling a laugh.
“”Hmmmmm? Soooooo we gon’ talk ‘bout that doggy duty thing or what?” Apple Bloom interjected.
“Doggy Duty? What does that even have to do with the case?” Ginger asked as she curiously rose an eyebrow.
“Oooh, I dunno~ Maybe because Ah’ thought ya saw me as yer prime suspect at first? That I successfully swindled ya?”
“But nopony thought of you as a suspect! Besiiiiiides, a blank flank like you couldn’t possibly be smart enough to pull it off!” Diamond Tiara smugly said.
“Hmmm~ I could’ve been lying though~!” Apple Bloom continued to cheerfully screw around with our heads.
“Wh- Apple Bloom would never! Who would even suspect her of all ponies!?” Sweetie Belle said.
“Yeah! She’s reckless, but she’s not a murderer!” Scootaloo added.
“Ain’t ya’ll both reckless too?” Apple Bloom pouted at her friends. I think she took offense to them leaving themselves out.
I think I better tell them what I thought.
“Err... that would be me.” I nervously rose my hoof, fessing up to suspecting Apple Bloom.
“Why!? How could you suspect our friend?!” I should’ve known Sweetie Belle would scold me for that...
“Because during the investigation, I found the evidence leaning towards Apple Bloom. Especially with her odd behavior. I thought she was the culprit at first.”
“Then why the heck are you pointing hooves at me then!?”
“Because the evidence started to point to you after hearing everypony’s words! You still haven’t effectively defended yourself either!” I answered Snips.
“But I’m still confused. What in the world does this have to do with Miss Cheerilee!?” Truffle Shuffle demanded to know.
“Actually, I’m sure Ginger might do a better job at explaining. But the ID band...” I proceeded to say, but thankfully Ginger interjected.
“Oh! I know what you mean! Yesterday morning, I was awakened by my ID Band much earlier than the rest of you. It made a loud beeping noise and it didn’t stop until I got Miss Cheerilee’s leash from her,” Ginger winced, “Ahem, doghouse.”
“Wait... Grace, you said you met him when you first got back this morning, right? Featherweight I mean.” Scootaloo asked.
“Well yeah! How many times do I gotta say it, huh!?”
“You only said it once.” Silver Spoon clarified.
“Oh right.” Grace grinned, then carried on. “But yeah, I met him and his dog!”
“I knew it... so that explains why he was up so early! I thought he was gonna rage against the sun or something!” Dinky said in a joking manner.
“I’d rather eat the sun right now...” Truffle said. I really hope he wasn’t serious about that.
“You wouldn’t have a stomach.” Twist muttered. “Least you wouldn’t be fat anymore.”
He’d be dead if he did that...
“So, we established that Featherweight was on Doggy Duty, so...” Rumble trailed off.
“Apple Bloom’s Band thing must’ve gone all beepy boo, ya know!” Pipsqueak said.
“Well, yeah it did!” Apple Bloom answered quickly.
“So you’re all admitting that Apple Bloom’s the culprit and not me, huh?! That means I’m off the hook!”
“Not quite.” Ginger said.
“WHAT!? You idiots, you can’t just say that I’m the culprit still! There’s still no weapon and there’s no way I could’ve escaped from that part of the shop anyway!”
“You’re seriously forgetting the air vents?!” I asked.
NONSTOP DEBATE!
Evidence Bullets:
-Open Air Vents
-Screws in the blood
-Possible Escape route
-Scootaloo’s TestimonySnips: You’re still saying I’m the culprit, but I would’ve had to go through the vent!
Snips: I would’ve been seen no matter what! Why can’t you see that!
Grace Lightning: But wasn’t I just a decoy!?
Grace Lightning: Frame me, then lead everypony on a wild goose chase while giving yourself a damn alibi! You’re the worst!
Snips: But Diamond Tiara lead that chase!
Snails: He’s right! She did lead that chase!
Ginger Snap: Yes, but why aren’t we suspecting Apple Bloom?
Ginger Snap: It’s as if you’re saying she’s merely suspicious for knowing who the culprit is.
Rumble: Maybe she does, maybe she doesn’t. But it doesn’t change the fact that Snips gave false information.
Snips: It wasn’t false, It was a mistake!
Silver Spoon: Isn’t that the very definition of false information?
Snips: JUST LAY OFF ALREADY!
You’re wrong, Snips. Someone just mentioned the major possibility a second ago.
AGREED!
_______________________________________________
I turned my attention to Ginger, getting her attention.
“What is it?”
“It’s about when you said that Apple Bloom knows who the culprit is. I was thinking the same thing.”
“Ooooooh, ya must be psychic! Too bad it’s not a talent though~” Apple Bloom said.
No, it’s not about being a psychic. I have evidence to prove it. But first...
“That’s where the whole rules of Doggy Duty come in. While the culprit was making his escape, Featherweight must’ve officially died. At that moment, the duty shifted over to Apple Bloom. I’m sure the culprit panicked by then when she came to retrieve the leash. That would explain Scootaloo’s predicament. When the culprit backed away, Apple Bloom must’ve heard him.”
“Huh? What the heck are you talking about?” Scootaloo looked at me, raising an eyebrow.
“When I climbed into the vent myself during the investigation, Apple Bloom kept telling me that she could hear me every time I moved. Apple Bloom had already gotten Miss Cheerilee during the finale of the chase, but you all must’ve ran through the alleyway, which is why the culprit thought twice about leaving through that air duct leading outside. It was around then and the time Featherweight officially died, is when Apple Bloom learned of the culprit.”
“Of course. That map Scootaloo and I drew may be able to help with that.” Rumble said, prompting Scootaloo to take the map out again.
“Huh.” Scootaloo looked at the map, then widened her eyes, “Wait a minute! That’s right! The second alleyway is in between the Coffee shop and the clothing shop! The air ducts had an exit that led that way!”
“Not to mention, the screw that was stuck in your hoof looks similar to the ones found near the body.” Silver Spoon added.
“Yeah... YEAH! Heh, I knew it wasn’t bad luck! That happened because the culprit got me!” Scootaloo was excited. “Hey wait, how did anypony unscrew that anyway? We don’t have any screwdrivers... unless...!”
“No, a screwdriver wasn’t the murder weapon. The wound doesn’t match. Remember, the wound looked more short and horizontal.” I said.
But Scootaloo had a point. Just how did the culprit get those screws out?
“Wait, think there was something in those killing goods that could’ve maybe acted as a screwdriver? Yeah, I bet there was! Like maybe a knife or something!” Diamond Tiara surmised.
“We’re under the assumption that the culprit was active all along. Perhaps the murder weapon is the alternative screwdriver. Snips, care to tell us? You can clear your name depending on how you answer.” Silver Spoon asked condescendingly.
“W-well, uh... look, maybe a knife can be used, right? Or a fork!” Snips answered.
“That’s so wrong though. A knife is too wide and wouldn’t fit into a screw very well unless you did some odd angling. A fork is outright impossible to use as a screwdriver, and don’t even suggest the skewer. Remember that list from everypony’s home?” Rumble asked.
Forks: 5
Knives: 5
Skewers: 2
Plates: 5
Teacups: 2
Small dishes: 3
Glass cups: 5
Rumble’s right. No matter how you look at it, none of those things would work.
“I see... yeah, when Shady and I checked that list and the box at Grace’s place, everything was intact!” Snails, said.
“Y-y-you don’t know that!”
“But we did check! Dude, you’re making things worse! We might be able to clear your name, so just calm down, okay?”
“B-but...!”
“The clothing shop.” Twist muttered.
“Huh?”
“I mean, I thought Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom gathered the items from the Clothing shop... isn’t that why we made the killing goods boxes to begin with?” Twist asked.
“That’s right! We did, didn’t we? Hehe!” Apple Bloom shifted her eyes.
“In that case, then maybe something from the clothing shop could’ve been used as that alternate screwdriver!” Grace said.
“C-come on, nothing in that shop was usable anyway, right?! You’re wasting your time!”
Nothing he says.
But it’s a clothing shop. I’m certain something, commonly found in those shops, had to be used...
Something very common.
I just have to think.
S C I S S O R S
THATS IT!
“Scissors... I think those were used. I’m certain of it. The most common item found in a clothing shop like that, along with needles and threads. I’m pretty sure that was the murder weapon as well.” I said.
“Hahaha... that’s... that’s crazy! Scissors being used as a screwdriver.” Snips scoffed. “I mean, a knife coulda been used or something...”
“They can if you have the right kind and angle them correctly.”
“That’s a pretty good feat fer a Super High-School Level Cutter!” Apple Bloom cheerfully declared. But if she knew that he’s the culprit... is she saying that because she’s showing off?
“THAT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE! Anypony can use scissors as a screwdriver! Y-you just said so yourself! My special talent has nothing to do with it!” Snips, can you not defend yourself at all? You’re digging yourself deeper and deeper.
“But you just denied that they could be used at all. What were you thinking!?” Scootaloo reminded him.
“What was I thinking?! This part of the discussion started because of your bad luck!” Snips argued back.
“What the hell! It wasn’t bad luck, it’s because you tried to escape!”
“But you have wings! How do we know you didn’t try to fly up there!?”
“BECAUSE I CAN’T, DUMBASS! Everypony knows that!” Scootaloo seethed, forced to remind us of her lack of flying ability.
“Whoa, Snips, you can’t suddenly suspect Scootaloo now! That’s insane!” Snails said, appalled that Snips is just randomly pointing the hoof around now.
“Why the heck are you stopping me!? I’m the prime suspect! I don’t wanna die!”
“I don’t want you to either, but we can’t just randomly suspect other ponies now! Scootaloo was with us as well when we chased Grace!”
“Then you want me to be the suspect?! I knew you would! You even investigated behind my back!”
“Why the heck does that bother you?!” Snails was thrown off by Snips’s anger, his rants, his desperate plea to get the heat off of him.
During that exchange, I could hear some clapping. I instantly turn to Monobear, but he wasn’t clapping. All he was doing was giggling and eating popcorn.
That clap... came from Rumble.
“Hehehehehehehehehehe...” He could no longer contain his obvious amusement.
“Wh-what!? Explain yourself, you!” Diamond, always the first to demand.
“Whoa, he sounds like a comic book villain! I like it!” Dinky smiled, happy to see Rumble giggling like that.
“I don’t know, I have a bad feeling about this...!” Sweetie Belle as always, showed concern.
“Not like he’s gonna transform into a scary monster or something, ya know? But that would soooooo be cool, ya know!?” Pip said.
“Silly Snails, you claim to be his best friend, yet you threw him under the bus in one fail swoop.” Rumble turned to the friends and spoke up.
“Wh-what?” Snails asked, suddenly worried.
“Can’t you see? Your words, nearly all of them, just made Snips the prime suspect in more ways than one. It’s probably why Shady pointed him out in the first place. Especially the coffee part. I’m surprised Shady didn’t point that out.”
“Huh?” Rumble’s words caught my attention instantly.
“Shady, you know as well as I do, that if the culprit made an escape route, they would have needed to do it ahead of time. Way ahead of time. That’s the only way to shimmy through an air duct and rejoin the group in a matter of minutes. Everything was planned, and Coffee was the simplest thing to keep him awake.”
“Coffee? You’re getting at me because I drank a bunch of coffee?!” Snips... confused by the concept of the coffee shop, or it’s coffee for that matter being a key element to the case.
“Well yes. And Snails unwittingly made that clear, among other things.” Rumble elaborated.
“I... I mean, I was just pointing out-” Snails tried to defend his words, but Rumble definitely wasn’t having that.
“The flaws in his logic? Yes... yes... that would be the right thing to do. In fact, it’s for the greater good. I love the greater good.”
“Snails... you... he’s right!” Snips agreed with Rumble, turning his scorn to his own friend.
“But I didn’t mean to! I was-”
“NO! You did throw me under the bus, just like that! You yourself could’ve done it too, you know!”
“But, I mean, why the hell would I?!” Snails could only be dragged into the wave of anger.
“You have a motive just like everypony here!”
While their argument began to escalate, I turned to Rumble, trying to form my words.
“Problem? I said what needed to be said. Why do you glare at the greater good?”
“Just what the hell are you doing!?” I asked, demanding to know why he would say that!
“I’m just here to see the flaws of friendship, that’s all. Monobear put us in this game, and yet, here we are, throwing accusations around. I just feel friendship is being sullied right now; tainting the good name of friendship. I mean, if Snails won't see his friend as the culprit and properly protect him with his life, then what good is he?” His grin became more... devilish by the second. “I respect friendship. I admire Friendship, just as Princess Twilight did. Why do you think a whole school dedicated to friendship exists? Hehehehehe... I want to see if friendship is as powerful as she makes it out to be. And I guess in their case... it’s not.” Rumble finished his rant, then started to cackle as silently as possible.
I just can’t tell what he’s thinking behind that slight smile though.
Is he glad that their friendship is crumbling so easily? Or Is he disappointed?
.......
I didn’t think Rumble was like that. True, I found it strange that he seemingly looked forward to this game, but I didn’t think he’d go and do that. I thought he was cooler than that. He even gave me a tip to help solve the case, but... is this why? Did he wait for this opportunity all along?
....
This is his “pipe bomb” isn’t it? Waiting for the opportunity to strike friendship down. But I don’t have time to focus on him. Snips and Snails are practically tearing each other’s throats out!
Considering the conditions of the school trial, I can’t play a neutral party. Not with this subject on the murderer.
I think I’ll have to listen to their fight, pick a side, and back them up with evidence. That’s the only way to end this.
Because either way, somepony has to die in the end!
Sinking Friendship Battle
Snips: You’re jumping on that bandwagon!?
Snails: You pointed a hoof at me too!
Snips: The only way that crime could’ve been done is through magic, and you know it! You’re a better magician than me, so of course!
Snails: No way! I was with Shady investigating!
Snips: And I was with Diamond Tiara when she told me to stay away from her!
Snails: You still gave her false information!
Snips: You should’ve corrected me! I WAS WRONG!
Snails: YOU WERE WRONG ON PURPOSE!
Snips: No I wasn’t! It was an honest mistake!
Snails: But how do you explain the killing goods?! The evidence was there!
Snips: That was a mistake too!
Snails: So everything’s a mistake?!
Snips: No, We found that stuff though!
Snails: You led us to it!
Snips: It was just a hunch!
Snails: Dude, just a hunch!? Are you not taking this seriously at all!?
Snips: I’m telling you, I DIDN’T DO IT!
Snails: Do what!? Anything right?! Because It sure sounds that way!
Snips: I’m saying I didn’t kill him!
Snails: Then how come you told us to not check the second box!?
Snips: Because it was in it’s same spot! The first box was stolen!
Snails: By you! Using some stupid method to open the door!
Snips: I can’t believe you’re doing this to me!
Snails: You’re trying to do the same to me! Stop it!
Snips: You stop first!
Snails: Tell me how the box was stolen!
Snips: Grace Lightning stole the box! It was in her home!
Snails: But we just proved that she didn’t do it!
Snips: Then somepony else switched the name plates!
Snails: Why the hell do you keep insisting it’s Grace?!
Snips: She’s the most suspicious! And thanks to you, I'm the suspicious one!
Snails: Because you never talked to me, man! We coulda talked! But no, you had to lie to me!
Snips: I’M NOT LYING, I WAS WRONG!
Snails: Nopony even believes that! The evidence and circumstances all add up, idiot!
Snips: What circumstances?!
Snails: Your window was freakin’ open, so you had to have heard diamond Tiara trying to wake us all up!
Snips: What made you even say that?!
Snails: You heard me when I talked about Trixie during our investigation didn’t you!?
Snips: IT GETS HOT IN THERE!
Snails: You just proved it!
Snips: SERIOUSLY!? Well screw you! We’re gonna die, and it’s gonna be because of you!
Snails: I don’t want you to die, I just want you to tell the truth!
Snips: NO WAY!
THAT’S ENOUGH!
I shouted. I listened to both sides, and put my hoof down.
I had to stop this. I heard all I needed.
“Grrr...” Both Snips and Snails were glaring at each other, but Snails was the first to sigh, and hang his head.
“Dude, look at us, we’re throwing each other under the bus. We’ve been friends for a long time, and-” Snails sighed in defeat.
“NO! I... how could you!? Why didn’t you think before you speak, huh?! You got me labeled a suspect!”
“Then what’s with the uncouth behavior? If you weren’t guilty, then you wouldn’t lose your composure like this.”
Snips pointed to Grace. “But she definitely lost her cool when we was on her! THAT’S NOT FAIR!”
“Yes, but she’s always aggressive. Originating from a barbaric sport, it’s purely natural. Not to mention, I believe she was telling the truth about being the original target.” Silver Spoon made her stance clear.
“Yep. Silvie’s right.” Tiara smiled coolly. “You practically exploded when we pointed all the contradictions out. And plus, I listened to everything.”
“Why didn’t we stop this sooner!? This is horrible! Their friendship... it’s ending so fast!” Sweetie Belle had her eyes shut and covered her ears with her hooves.
“This is what happens when Friendship loses to despair. And here I thought Friendship was hope. Oh, Twilight, why did you say Friendship was hope again?” Rumble looked at the ceiling, addressing an absent princess. He looked genuinely down, but he started this.
They wouldn’t have torn each other’s throats out if it wasn’t for him!
“Shut up, you bastard...” Scootaloo Hissed.
“Oh? Why the anger towards me?” Rumble nonchalantly asked.
“You know DAMN WELL why!”
“But it was for the greater good. That friendship was doomed the moment Snips committed murder. It was contaminated with despair. I figured it all out when I listened to this whole trial, compiled all the evidence in my head, and zoned on him. Alas, you don’t have to like my methods. I just hate despair-tainted friendships. That’s not what Twilight’s Academy of Magic and Friendship is about.”
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” Scootaloo seethed.
“Their whole argument was filled with contradiction and truth. Everypony saw this. I’m just the one who allowed them to see it.”
“See what!?”
“The truth. I did what needed to be done to bring about the truth. Shady, you heard the argument. You have the evidence too. Tell me, whose side do you take?” He calmly asked, coolly letting the scorn roll off his back like it was nothing.
“.............” I went quiet.
“What about your friend, Featherweight? Surely you’re not going to let him down.”
He’s right... I came to this trial, seeking revenge. But to see them tear each other out like that, reminded me of how Featherweight was before I saw him again. We didn't’ get that bad, but the face I saw before his death was one of despair that he desperately tried to overcome on his own.
..........
I have to do it.
“Snails, you’re right. The big thing that stood out was the second box of killing goods. We never checked them. None of you did because Snips said not to. So none of you noticed that blood stain on the tape.”
“Wh- a blood stain?!” Truffle said.
“Yeah. I think the real murder weapon is in the second box.” I said. “And then there’s the method of getting the first box of killing goods into Grace’s home...”
“This I gotta hear!” Grace leaned forward, naturally wanting to know how her house was infiltrated.
“Snips mentioned something about switching the nameplates in that argument... we all know that to enter our home, we have to use our left hoof here and press against the nameplate. The door unlocks by reading our ID Bands to match the nameplate on the door, opening it. I’m pretty certain that’s how he got in.” I elaborated.
“Argh, you stupid bear! You left such a huge flaw on our homes!?” Diamond Tiara turned around, directing her anger to Monobear.
“Forget that! Hey, Monobear! GET THAT BOX FOR US!” Truffle turned to Monobear’s throne, but noticed he was gone. “Err, where’s Monobear?”
“I think he went out for a walk!” Dinky said, “Then again, why isn’t he here? I thought he wanted to see this kind of thing?”
“Heh, I don’t give a damn what he does. I just want to see what this guy tried to kill me with. I just might kill him myself.” Grace’s eyes were on fire, showing a blazing hot bloodlust.
“Whoa!”
Was that... Monobear we just heard?
“Hah! Gotta be careful with these!”
Yep. that’s definitely Monobear’s voice.
I looked around for the source of the voice, eventually finding Monobear rolling on a big, black and white ball, juggling three pairs of scissors like a clown.
“Oooooh! Cool!” Dinky gasped in excitement.
“Wait, look!” Truffle pointed a hoof at the scissors.
“He’s just messing with us!” Diamond Tiara sighed, annoyed that Monobear would do this.
Then again, at this point, we should expect anything from this guy.
“Blood?” Twist fixed her glasses, leaning closer over her stand.
“She’s right, there’s blood on one of the scissors!” Pipsqueak said.
“Crap!” Snips let that word pass through his lips.
Coming behind Monobear, were two Monoguards, both bringing in a box to the room on their backs. It was obvious that both of these boxes were the killing goods.
“I knew it...” I muttered.
Honestly, I suspected that the item from the killing goods used had to be one of the items from the clothing shop.
In fact, now that I think about it, Scissors could easily work as an alternative screwdriver to open the air ducts if angled correctly.
I’ll have to tell everyone how it happened.
THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED!
It all began, long before Featherweight woke up for Doggy Duty.
The culprit woke up late at night while Everypony was asleep, and had the first box of Killing Goods in possession. He took his nameplate, swapping it out with Grace Lightning’s to get into her home, open the box, and leave it, while leaving with a pair of scissors.
Later, early in the morning before anyone woke up, Featherweight was awakened by his ID Band for Doggy Duty. During this, he saw Grace Lightning, but she ran and hid away somewhere. While he was out looking for her, she had yet to realize she was in the room with the culprit. Upon seeing her, he took the opportunity to strike, but she was quick enough to get away, but the Culprit didn’t give chase.
While the culprit waited for the coast to be clear, Featherweight tried to talk to Grace in the clothing shop, but her phobia kicked in again, causing her to go wild and attack Miss Cheerilee. Thanks to Featherweight taking the hit, he crashed through the mirror, startling the killer and keeping him from leaving.
When Featherweight came to, he saw the culprit, and was silenced as a result by having his throat cut. The culprit used his magic to move the boxes around the head, making the blood flow under the mirror to deceive the others, forcing everypony to believe Grace Lightning killed him. Yet, since it happened so quickly, it meant that Featherweight didn’t die yet.
When Diamond Tiara saw the body and began rounding everypony up, this caused Grace to run away again, causing a massive chase throughout the district because she was the prime suspect. During this time, the culprit climbed through the air duct he opened and tried to go an alternate route, but hesitated when he saw the others outside. This mistake caused a screw to fall and later get stuck in Scootaloo’s hoof.
While this all occurred, Featherweight eventually bled out and died officially. At the climax of the chase, the culprit was able to slip away through the air ducts, paint more evidence against Grace while fleeing from the crime scene, stash the scissors into the second killing goods box, and blend in with the others.
Using the scissors, able to cut anything, knowing about everything to cut... that was his special talent. “The only one with the magic, the only one who could’ve done it.. It couldn’t have been anyone but you, Snips!”
“Yup~, his cutie mark is a pair of scissors! His talent is Super High-School Level Cutter! Such good talent! That means you had to know exactly what to cut to let that fella Featherweight bleed out!”
“I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT ARTERY TO CUT!”
............
“W-what?!” Snips looked at us like we were the ones wrong. If only he’d realize what he just said...
“You’ve gone from denial, to ranting, to outing yourself. It’s a shame.” Silver Spoon sighed.
“Looks like such a wonderful talent’s going to waste. If only I hadn’t seen and heard ya.” Apple Bloom sighed.
“Wh-what?!”
“Ah’ saw ya when I went to go get Miss Cheerilee, remember? She tried to help Featherweight, but she was so heartbroken to see you crawling outta that vent! Ah' waited outside when ya thought the coast was clear!” Apple Bloom’s fully coming clean about what she saw.
“You’re looking at me like it’s the end for me! Snails, say something! Tell them you believe me!”
“.................”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGH!” Snips simply screamed with everything he had.
It was a scream filled with rage, hatred, and despair.
We could tell all of that by hearing it. We could cover our ears, but that wouldn’t work out very well. We’d hear it anyway.
“NO WAY!” Snips said. He’s not still in denial is he. “I was simply wrong! I WAS WRONG! WRONG INFORMATION! WRONG EVERYTHING! WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG!”
I see. I can’t see this as denial anymore.
Perhaps this is his way of admitting that he was wrong for his actions.
He’s right when I think of it that way. He’s wrong for killing Featherweight. He’s wrong for leading his friends in the wrong direction.
It’s clear he killed Featherweight.
“Alright you bastards! You all seem to have reached your decision! See the voting panel in front of you? Press the button on who you think is the culprit! Good luck!”
When Monobear said that, the stand in front of me suddenly opened a hidden hatch, showing a series of buttons and small eight-bit portraits of all of us.
So this is what he means by voting. A simple majority vote.
And I pressed my hoof against that switch. Unlike everypony else, I voted without hesitation.
“Come on, Snails! That includes you too!” Monobear urged him on, noticing that Snails has looked down this whole time.
“I... I...” Snails tried to speak, but he could only scream as his hoof went straight for the voting panel.
We’re then shown a slot machine on the monitors against the walls. The slots spin fast, and they all land on Snips, displaying “GUILTY!” in bright, flashing red colors.
“Congratulations on such a unanimous vote! Because the one who killed Featherweight was none other than Snips! Good job everyone!”
“Unanimous?” Snips asked himself, then turned to Snails, “...You voted for me too?”
“........... I’m sorry! THERE’S NOTHING I CAN DO, SO I HAD TO DO IT! The vote was decided a long time ago, man!”
“Wow, such a good friend, don’t you think? I’m beginning to see friendship as such an amazing thing!” Monobear chimed in.
“YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!”
“Oh, but I do. You bastards think your friends will save you?! What makes you think that a friend will die for you when you decide to stupidly commit a murder, expecting to go home? Your families at home wouldn’t approve of that! I’m sure your siblings would be sad if you let their favorite magician die!”
“T-that...! But...” Snips looked at Monobear, and back to Snails, who voted him guilty. “You... you... ah... no. I... if I blame you again, then I... ugh. I really was wrong. The little ones always preferred you anyway.”
“Huh?” Snails turned to his friend, tears endlessly flowing.
“I was wrong... but I don’t deserve to die. I don’t wanna die...!” Snips said, as his horn began to glow in a bright light.
“Sn-Snips, what are you...?”
“I don’t wanna die... Why should I die just because you all say so!? Why should I live here just because you say so!? Why must I do what I’m told all the time?!” Snips’s horn started to glow brighter and brighter.
Naturally all of us were beginning to back away from him.
“He’s not gonna kill us all is he!?” Diamond Tiara shrieked, backing away slowly.
“I think we better run!” Pipsqueak said.
“Defiant till the end.” Rumble sighed, standing his ground.
Snips’s roar rang throughout the trial room. He lifted a series of scissors and targeted Monobear!
What is he doing!? We’re not supposed to attack Monobear!
“He’s been found guilty, so he doesn’t have anything to lose!” Scootaloo said, making a good point.
“Ooooh, I get to see his talent in action!” Apple Bloom watched in awe.
Charging at Monobear with several scissors in tow, he sent them flying at the bear, letting the steel tools sink into Monobear’s fur and cotton.
With each quick chop and snip, Monobear was ruthlessly attacked by scissors.
When that was done, the scissors dropped to the floor, just as Monobear fell apart into a series of fluffy pieces of cloth, cotton, and mechanical parts.
“He... he did it! He went and killed Monobear! Holy crap!” Pipsqueak gasped, amazed.
“Was it really this easy?” Rumble asked himself, looking somewhat disappointed.
“Ha! Hahahahahahaha! Dude, I did it! I’m alive! I DON’T HAVE TO DIE! How do you like that, Shady!? You condemned me to die, but I don’t have to!”
Wow.
I see. He took down Monobear.
But why am I still so pissed off!?
Why!? I should be glad he destroyed Monobear, but why am I so mad!?
“Uu~pupupu~ Did you think you could beat me that easily?!”
After Monobear’s voice echoed from above, the bear, wearing a strange outfit, suddenly swooped down with a sword in hand, dropping right in front of Snips.
“Eh...?”
His horn slowly and smoothly slid off like a piece of sliced jelly.
“Agh...! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
There’s no way a unicorn could take such a blow to not only their pride, but their source of magic. He doubled over, uncontrollably writhing and twisting violently as his screams of agony rang through our ears.
“You’re a thousand years too early to try and beat me!” Monobear chided Snips, who was on the ground, twisting and writhing in pain. “How was my super cool Samurai impression? Fighting in an honorable duel ending in a despair-inducing defeat!”
“Snips! Dude, why’d you cut his horn off?!” Snails went to his friend, horrified to see the blood gushing from where his horn once was.
“Because you’re trying to escape your execution, and we can’t have that, now can we!? You bastards earned this execution through a correct vote! I mean, I even have a special execution planned for the Super High-School Level Cutter here! I really want to get on with it. That screaming is getting way too annoying! I like my peace and quiet after a good movie!”
“Good.” A single word escaped my lips.
“Why!? Snips is gonna die!” Snails obviously didn’t want him dead, but I have my reasons.
“Because he killed Featherweight!” I turned to Monobear, filled with this unpleasant feeling. “Monobear, end it. You said you’d execute the culprit if we were right, so get on with it!”
“Shady!? Why!? We don’t need anypony else to die!” Sweetie Belle tried to reason, but that fell on deaf ears.
I think I understand what I’ve felt all this time.
This is rage. I’ve never felt rage before. But it really doesn’t feel good. It’s stressful.
It’s taking too much of my energy.
I mean, Featherweight didn’t deserve to die. So why should I spare the damn culprit!?
“Hey, what good will it do to kill him? He may have murdered, but you wanna keep this going?” Ginger asked, but eh, it’s just more noise.
“At least someone gets it! Now let’s get started!” Monobear cheerfully declared as he made his way to his throne.
“WAIT! Come on, Shady’s just mad right now, can’t you spare-” Snails desperately begged, but that wouldn’t work.
“EXECUTION TIME!”
“NO! NOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Snails begged to no avail.
With the way Monobear went on, it’s as if Snails’s pleas never happened.
Monobear hops on his throne and a large switch with a giant red button rises up from the ground.
__________________________________________________________________
Pulling out a hammer, he whacks the switch, and it displays a black screen showing an eight-bit version of the courtroom and Snips standing in the middle. I could see Monobear dragging him off the screen, as the words shown on the screen typed up:
GAME OVER
SNIPS HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY.
COMMENCING EXECUTION.
At that moment, a chain with a collar attached at the end came flying through one of the doors into the trial room, and grabbed Snips by the neck, dragging him away at full speed. Snails tried to go after him, but not only did it happen so fast, he couldn’t get through the doors before they closed, keeping Snails in here with the rest of us.
All we could do was turn to the monitors to see what would happen.
Why am I looking forward to this?
Snips was shown strapped to a barber chair by the neck, hind legs, forearms and body, completely preventing any form of escape. His horn being gone, he could no longer cast any magic either.
Next to him was Monobear, wearing a barber’s coat and afro, holding a pair of clippers, the sound of buzzing echoing through the screen.
Then we get a title card, with two red and white poles commonly seen outside of barber shops, with a title in between them. I guess this is the name of the execution.
~My First Cut~
Monobear throws the clippers behind him, but quickly grabs the cord at the end of the clippers. Slowly, the clippers are swung around and around by the cord, which caused Snips’s eyes to widen with terror.
The clippers came down onto his body like a whip, making a dreadful, unnatural buzz upon impact. Monobear swung his clippers onto Snips’s body again, and again, and again, slowly cutting off his fur and cutting deep into his skin as well. Furiously and rapidly cutting and shaving, Snips squirmed left and right, his forearms and hind legs struggling to no avail.
After thousands of rapid fire swings, Monobear pulled the lever to the chair Snips was in, tilting it forward a bit too much, until a hole beneath opened up. The shackles that held him down were released, and he descended into the darkness, furless, into a strange, ominous machine, which closed the second he entered.
With the machine expelling tons of steam, I could see the red light on the front blink five times, then turn green. A front hatch to the machine opened, and the conveyor belt rolled out...
a leather vest.
Monobear was there already to put the vest on, showing the back of it, displaying, the words “DESPAIR” sewn on above and below an eight-bit version of Snips’s face. Monobear was simply showing off his new leather vest, made out of a pony who was once alive.