Twilight felt the wind slice through her mane as she flew over the Everfree Forest. She looked ahead at the pegasus in front of her. He was a gray stallion borrowed from Celestia's militia, with Luna's permission of course, this entire investigation had to be under wraps. He turned his head back and signaled for a landing with his hoof. The Princess felt a little claw dig into her side.
"We're landing now Spike." she said to her drake.
"Ok." He shrunk down as low as he could and clutched for dear life as the alicorn changed her angle towards the ground. Shortly after, they landed. Spike jumped off her back.
"Where is the skeleton?" Twilight asked the stallion as he adjusted his chestplate.
"Right this way." he wandered a short distance through the trees with the pony and dragon. They came upon a skeleton with slightly yellowing bones. "This is where the body was found, to our knowledge, still untouched since death."
The lavender mare looked at the ribcage closely. "Two small cuts, about half an inch deep. Blade probably was about two inches long. Judging by size, a thicker knife, quarter inch wide. Definitely designed for cutting things." She looked around the small clearing. A tuft of pink hair was still attached to the branches. "Good thing this forest is too thick for wind to cut through." A notepad and pencil materialized from nothing and the pencil began taking notes. Twilight looked around more. She saw a tan object laying a ways into the woods. "Spike."
"Yeah?" The little Drake asked, walking towards his mentor.
"Go get that for me."
"Ok." He dashed past the trees, ducking branches. He clutched the object and took it back to Twilight. "It has a strap, and a button." He undid the button and the top flap became loose.
"We'll search in this later. What we've found here really builds up my suspicion. "You." she pointed at the guard pony.
"Yes?" he responded, startled.
"Drop this off at my tree please, and don't tell Celestia a word about this."
"Whatever you wish my princess."
Twilight walked up to the stand at the town center that sold cherries. The tan stallion behind the counter quickly pulled out a bowl from beneath the counter and set it up.
"Hello miss." he called. He casually used a hoof to slick his black hair. "Would a beautiful mare like yourself care to try a free sample of my decadent cherries?" He smiled, obviously trying to woo Twilight.
"Sir, I am here on official business, besides, you aren't my type." Twilight cut it simply.
"Well that is quite saddening, whaddya need?" he said, instantly going lax in his posture.
She leaned in close to his face. "Word is, you got a knife." she whispered
"Yeah so? I need it to cut the cherries from the tree." he whispered back.
"I would like to see it."
"All right. One moment." He hid beneath his table and fiddled around for a minute. He came back up with a small knife in his jaw, which he set on the table.
Twilight took the knife in her magic and sized it up. "Mighty nice knife you got here." she twirled it around as she finished her measuring. "What is it? One by ten?"
"You nailed it miss. One inch long and one tenth thick."
"That is all I needed, thank you for your cooperation."
"Anytime ma'am. And hey, be a little nicer, y'know a single stallion sees a pretty mare like you and he's gotta fall, just say your taken next time, ok cupcake?"
"Whatever you say." Twilight walked away, rolling her eyes.
"And if you ever feel lonely, you know where to find me!" he called out to her.
After walking out of earshot, Twilight looked at the baby dragon sitting on her back. "Why did he not say a thing about you?" She asked her purple and green assistant.
"I dunno. Maybe he didn't notice? So, was he the guy?" he asked.
"No, knife is much too small, I'd need a warrant to get any further evidence on him. We're going to need to check out that satchel when we get back home, maybe it has some clues." she said hopefully. This criminal is NOT getting away.