//------------------------------// // Clarity // Story: The Days When it was Innocence // by Foxes33 //------------------------------// 8. Clarity The pager went off with the typical dinging noise, and Case noticed Fall's frown. The pager he had was if they needed him back at the station, that meant that something was up. "I have to go, sorry Fall." Case explained as he turned back to head to the station. "I am coming too, I am not doing nothing all day." Fall said, following and giving Case a reassuring smile. Case smiled back, and they began to walk back over the light brown wood bridge. They strolled down the streets and they were completely empty. The ponies in the town were getting scared, now hiding indoors because they fear they maybe murdered. "Wow, you would think they would have more faith, but they have lost hope." Case sighed, looking at his hooves as he walked. "Yeah, this place feels haunted." Fall said, looking around at the stores that said closed and the buildings with there lights turned out. "So what are we doing anyways?" Fall asked. "Were finally able to interview her friends, perhaps they have something to do with it." Case explained as they continued down the dirt roads. Fall just nodded and continued, looking at the few clouds in the sky. He still wished that Starshine was still alive. They walked in silence until they made it to the police station. They walked inside and down the halls to Case's office where the four mares were seated outside waiting. They all looked somewhat scared and sad over the lost of there friend and the fact that another was accused. Rose was also there, probably just to keep sorted and call in the next mare they needed to talk to. She seemed surprised to see him back, yet she offered a warm smile, trying not to make him think about Starshine. "Nice to see you back." She said cheerfully, "So who first?" Case paused for a moment to think about, then answered. "Lets start with Rainbow Dash, they are both pegsi of about the same age so perhaps they were in a school together." "I agree, she could even be a apprentice to Fluttershy if they share a real bond." Fall added. Rose nodded and opened the door, and soon a blue mare with a rainbow mane came in, followed by Rose who waited in the corner. They knew this was the pegisus they were looking for, mostly from what had been heard around the town. all of the six were heard about a lot in fact, especially now because of the death of Rarity who was one of the elements. "Hello Miss. Dash." Case greeted, "Feel free to take a seat, we don't know how long you will be here." Rainbow Dash nodded and took a seat. She didn't look too sad, she looked more so tough. It was as though she had expected it, yet there was still traces of sadness in her body language. Case looked at his papers, just to check the suggested questions by Blue, but also decided to keep it casual. "Anyways, I am Case, this is my partner Fall and the mare over there is Rose." Case said, introducing all his co-workers in the room at the moment. The pegsus mare just nodded, still quite silent. "As you know, we are aware you are friends with Fluttershy, who is accused of the murder of Rarity. So tell us, how long have you know the accused?" Case asked, keeping his voice calm and slow. He hated interrogations like this, they were boring and some of them couldn't stop crying, so they had to wait until they felt a little better and were able to keep themselves together. However Case just looked ahead and just listened, even though he wished he could leave. The brief walk he had talking with Fall was a lot better then all of this. "Yes, I have known Fluttershy ever since we were young. I met her at a flight school in Cloudsdale. She was bullied, so I helped her, I couldn't just stand there. We became a little bonded I guess, we met up again a few months later, we became quick friends and I introduced her to some of our other friends. Except for Twilight of course." Rainbow explained, in her voice was traces of nervousness. Case nodded and continued with another question. "So do you know what happened the night of Rarity's murder?" "Um, well we were drinking a little, it is kind of fuzzy, but I do remember that Rarity was nervous and that she told Fluttershy that she was planning to make a dress out of animal fur. Fluttershy was crying, I didn't know what happened after that because I went to comfort Fluttershy, she didn't say anything that sounded like a threat, but you never know." Rainbow Dash explained. Case's head lifted, no one said alcohol was involved. "That is enough, thank-you Miss. Dash, you may leave. We will call you if we need more answers." The young mare nodded and left the room, probably to go home. Case waited for a second to ponder what he had been told. Why didn't they know alcohol was involved? "We weren't told there was alcohol." Case said allowed and Fall nodded, already writing notes. "Rose, send in Twilight Sparkle. I have a doubt she drank that much." Case said, he knew about Twilight just like every other pony, in other words, somepony could say she was famous. Rose nodded and once again opened the door to retrieve another one of the ponies who were sitting outside. Case however was still confused, how didn't they figure out there wasn't alcohol? Even if the victim or accused didn't drink, wouldn't they still figure it out? Perhaps no one had questioned them yet and this was actual the first. His head lifted as the door came open and a lavender unicorn entered along with Rose. "You may take a seat Miss. Sparkle. Anyways, I am Case, this is my partner Fall and the mare over there is Rose. I am sure your aware on why you are here." Case said, introducing everyone again, and he knew that he would have to say it two more times afterwards. Twilight had nodded and took a seat in front of the desk, waiting for the questions to come. She seemed more so nervous, and was just looking at the floor. Case presumed that she was still a little broken up about the murder. "So what were you doing on the night of the party? We already heard from Miss. Dash that Rarity was planning to make a dress from animal fur." Case asked. "Well Rainbow, although she was a little drunk, seemed to understand that Fluttershy was sad. She had gone to comfort her and maybe found out what happened. That night Rarity, Fluttershy and I weren't drinking. I had reading to do the next day, Rarity also had work, but did have a small glass of wine, but no more after that, and Fluttershy didn't have any alcohol because she doesn't like it. Rarity and Fluttershy had a small fight," Twilight paused to take a deep breath, "but afterwards when Fluttershy left, Rarity was feeling bad. She told be she might just order artificial animal fur instead. However I am not sure if she decided to or not." Case nodded, but it just became more confusing, how didn't they know about the alcohol? Rarity had a little bit of wine even though she had to work. "Excuse me Twilight, but may I ask where the party was?" case asked. "Sugar Cube Corner. It was Applejack's birthday so we all came at 8:00 to celebrate. It was all a surprised, she was really happy we did it for her." Twilight explained. Case nodded, now he just needed to talk to the last two that were wrapped into this case, even if they may lack information from the fact they had been drinking. "Thank-you Miss. Sparkle. We will call if we need more information." Case explained. Twilight nodded and left the room. Case knew that Fall would be writing down more notes and decided to keep it that way. He did the talk, and Fall did the notes made it easy. "Rose I already know who we should talk to. Bring in Applejack, the party was for her so perhaps she knows something and she is honest." Case said, and Rose went out again to get the next pony. When Applejack entered, she seemed sad, but she also looked a little tired. She looked as though she wanted to just break down and cry, yet she looked too tough to let that occur. "Hello Miss. Smith. Please take a seat, I am Case, this is my partner Fall and the mare over there is Rose." Case said, and honestly he could even hear how sick he was of saying the same thing again. Applejack nodded and sat down, she whipped the tiredness from her eyes and tried to sit up straight against the back of the chair. She clearly knew that she would be questioned, perhaps she had heard from the other two who had left. "So Miss. Smith, what do you know about the accused?" Case asked, trying to get some more information about Fluttershy. "Well Ah know she's a sweet pony. Honestly Ah would be surprised if she did this. She is shy, very shy in fact. When she came to Ponyville, she almost didn't wanna come to her greeting party." Applejack explained, in a quiet tone. "How did you two meet?" Case asked. "Well one day Winona got hurt. Rainbow was there and told me about her. She took me to her, and well... she fixed of Winona. She was so happy to do it. After that she came to check on her every now and again, that was how we became friends." Applejack explained. "What about the party, what happened?" Case asked. "Well Rarity and Fluttershy began to fight. Ah should know, Ah was beside Fluttershy when Rarity told her about the fur dress. She broke down and after a while, Rarity left because she felt bad. A little while later, Fluttershy left, claiming she wanted to go home. They both said good-bye and happy birthday before they left." Applejack explained. Case nodded, and could tell by the way Applejack shifted in her seat, she preferred not to talk about it anymore. "Thank-you Miss. Smith, you may leave." Applejack nodded and left the room, Rose following only because she knew that there was only one more pony. Pinkie Pie, a well known pony of course. She loved to meet people, and everyone was her friend. However when Pinkie came in, her hair was straight, not curly and she looked sad. "Well Miss. Pie, you probably know all of us, so you might as well just take a seat." Case said, and looked to see all of the co-workers in the room nod. When Pinkie was seated he decided to begin, but before he could start she began to talk. "I don't think its her. Fluttershy is too sweet, she is too shy." Pinkie said, but said no more. "Maybe so, but anyone can crack. So do you know what happened at the party?" Case asked. "A little, they had fought, I tried to break it up, but they wouldn't stop. I didn't know what to do. Fluttershy left into the back room crying and Rarity left soon after. That is all I remember from that night." Pinkie explained. Case just nodded, she was clearly sad. She couldn't even talk that much. "You may leave Miss. Pie." He said, letting her go early. "Thank you." Pinkie said and left the room. Nothing made sense now, nopony knew about the alcohol, what was going on? Case just sat there and pondered what had happened. "Fall, I think we need to tell Blue and now." Case suggested. Fall nodded and they left into the hallways of the office to find Blue.