//------------------------------// // CHAPTER NINETEEN:You Thought It Was Over // Story: The Bizarre Case Of Minty And Malty // by Speedy //------------------------------// Sparkleworks awoke in the morning, yawning and nuzzling against her partner. Suddenly a ray of sunlight struck her face and burnt through her tightly closed eyelids. She yawned a second time leaning upward as she began sniffing the air. “Hm...eggs..” she moaned rubbing her eyes. The room was blurry so she rubbed her eyes again. “Morning, Sparkleworks” came Pearl’s voice. Sparkleworks stretched while looking onward, seeing a plate of steaming hot eggs and grape jelly were just inches from her nose. She rolled her head over and saw Pearl’s motherly smile, behind her was an an opened window that gave her an heavenly glow. Sparkleworks went to get up, “Good morn---” she paused as there was an tug on her hoof. She looked over to see Star Catcher laying beside her. “Pearl, no!” Sparkleworks shouted in her mind as Pearl waved the plate of eggs by Star Catcher’s nose. Star Catcher stretched her legs and rolled onto her back as she awoke. At seeing Pearl she had jumped straight off of the sofa looking quite startled. “Pearl..we w-were just...” Star Catcher stuttered, fumbling around her words. Pearl gave a friendly chuckle while saying “It’s quite alright, I made breakfast so why don’t you stay?” Still fumbling with her words Star Catcher looked into the kitchen and saw Whistle was already attacking her plate. She noticed her and waved, Star Catcher gave a nod but said no words. “S-Sure..oh my stars I’m sorry Pearl” Star Catcher apologized. “Hm? What for dear?” Pearl asked as she gave her plate to Sparkleworks as she trotted to the kitchen table. Star Catcher covered her face in shame, Pearl noticed and upon trotted back had yanked her friend’s wings to reveal her blushing face. She hugged Star Catcher, saying “Nothing to be ashamed of” as she trotted back to the kitchen she added “Next time, do use a bed. You can get backaches from sleeping on sofas“. Breakfast was awkward at best. Sparkleworks and Star Catcher were eating their eggs quite slowly while Whistle, on the other hoof, was on her third plate in a matter of seconds of them sitting down. Sparkleworks stared, half tempted to slide her plate away. “I suppose---you’re not eating properly no more?” Sparkleworks asked and Whistle flicked her head upward in response. Whistle answered whilst rubbing her cheeks clean, “Eh, I got bored” she replied and had almost immediately face planted her plate as Pearl gave an interested glare. Pearl lowered her fork and used her other wing to gently used a napkin. “You acted proper?” she asked. “I tried to” Whistle answered and quickly removed her elbows from the table at her mother’s stare. “Tried to?” started Star Catcher. Whistle mouthed her not to continue but she didn’t notice, Whistle dropped her face again as her friend said “You held an dinner at a fancy building! I dare say you succeed”. “Ah ha..” Pearl gave her daughter an approving grin, Whistle groaned into her eggs. ”So, what happened? Why you’d stop?” she asked. “Ijustdidn’tlikeit” mumbled Whistle. “Honey, raise your head” Pearl rolled her eyes but kept her approving grin. Whistle flopped her head up, she started to speak but ceased as jelly dripped from her chin. Clamping her mouth shut she grabbed a napkin and furiously rubbed her face. “I don’t know, is it a big deal?” she asked. “I suspect it would to Malty, she spent weeks teaching you” Star Catcher spoke. Pearl suddenly snapped her head to Star Catcher who nervously asked “What?” “Malty?” Pearl asked rubbing her neck. “That book writer? The same one who dresses identically to Amethyst and carries a cane?” All mares gave her three different stares, she looked at each and asked what was wrong. “Have you met Malty?” asked Star Catcher. Pearl opened her mouth but clamped her teeth, she rubbed her neck again with an look of discomfort. “My neck..much be acting up again.” she lied. “Whistle, honey, can you get me some ice?” Whistle gave a nod and hovered up, once she was across the room and out of earshot Pearl leaned forward while simultaneity pulling the other two closer as well. “Thistle Whistle was being taught by her?” she asked them. “Yes, up to her disappearance, that was” answered Star Catcher. Pearl blinked, dropping her eyes down she fell completely silent for at least three seconds before saying “I see”. She wanted them go on but just then Whistle had re-entered earshot, so breaking the conversion off Pearl turned to her daughter and said “Oh thank you, honey” Pearl grabbed the ice pack and tossed it over her neck, there was a slight whimper and a visible twitch in her face. “So, you and Malty---” “We’re just friends” Whistle interrupted, taking her seat. “But we’re not anymore”. Sparkleworks suddenly choked, acting fast Star Catcher wrapped her fore legs around her and squeezed. “Ack!” Sparkleworks coughed, spitting out her fork that she had almost swallowed. “Y-You were so on my case about her!” she immediately shouted and Whistle had flinched out of her chair. ”After all that, and you’re not friends anymore!” “Sparkleworks,” started Pearl who had moved to help her daughter stand. “please lo---” “Just stay out of this a minute Pea--------I-I---” Sparkleworks nervously stuttered. She awkwardly laughed and grinned as Pearl raised an eyebrow at her. “Sorry..” she apologized in a faint whisper as she slid down into her seat and hid under her mane. Pearl was at a lost for words at how her friend had just acted and she wasn’t sure what to say, she turned her attention to Whistle instead as she asked “Did something happ---” suddenly there was what sounded like an panicked knock at the door. “Who is it?” Pearl asked. Pearl got a panicked reply from whoever was at the door. “Oh Ms.Whittiers, I didn’t know you still lived here” she smiled. Pearl hovered herself to the door and upon opening it a pale blue elderly mare had galloped inside and nearly knocked her over. “Star Catcher! You’re still here??!” she said in an loud shaky voice. “Ms.Whittiers, what’s wrong?” Star Catcher had asked. She sensed something was wrong by Ms.Whittiers’ urgent mannerism and had stood up at her quick entry. Ms.Whittiers twitched before rushing over into the living room. Before the other four could even utter a single word she had flicked on the TV, changed to Channel Nineteen and raised the volume. The four mares gathered around, wondering what she was doing as they heard the words “Late last night a pony, one Ms.Bubbles, was found murdered”. Star Catcher had squeezed herself through to the front, guilt entered her systems as she watched the news story unfold. Seeing the picture of the victim felt like a knife had pierced her heart, how could she had let this happen? She had added more hours to the usual guard portals and had even set up lookouts all around the town. She should had been out there, it was her duty to protect but yet again, she felt like she had failed as the mayor and guard captain. She felt a gentle nudge, Sparkleworks had nuzzled under her wing and gave her a reassuring look as well as a peck on the cheek. It did little to cheer her up, but she was still glad to have her back all the same. Star Catcher breathed heavily and held back her guilt as best as possible, now wasn’t the time to feel guilty. The killer is back, and she had to catch them, and with Sparkleworks by her side she intended to do just that. *** Whistle had arrived at Minty’s building, bursting the door wide open as she entered and severely scared Tropical Dream who had been knocked aside in the progress. She flew down the grey hallway and threw the doors wide open, Minty jumped and had rammed her back against a table, the resulting cry of pain broke Whistle from her rampage. “Oops..I’m sorry Mints..” Whistle sadly whistled as she helped her friend up. “What is your damage Thistle Whistle!?” both mares had flinched at Tropical Dream’s stern outburst. She levitated Whistle by her left ear and tugged her aside, sounding like she was scolding Whistle she said  “I have half a mind to phone your mother young lady!” “No! Please don’t do that!” Whistle whined and wormed around until finally breaking the magical hold on her ear. She was surprised that Tropical Dream’s horn was floppy and that a tiny punch had canceled out her magic. “Didn’t you see the News?” Whistle asked while she hovered behind Minty for protection from her angered friend. “No” steamed Tropical Dream. “We’ve been busy cleaning, haven’t you seen the room?” At Tropical Dream’s instruction Whistle looked around the room and was surprised. Besides the one table the entire room was stripped, fleshly opened paint cans sat in the far corners and the smell was so strong she had to hold her nose. “Yur paining?” Whistle asked. “Y? No mor buget?” Tropical Dream shook her head before saying “Whistle, we can’t understand you”. Whistle embarrassingly giggled as she released her nose, but before she could speak Minty had asked her “So what’s this about a News---oh hello there blue healing light, you’re late..” she grudgingly sighed and wished her back would just heal already as it was starting to strain her nerves. Whistle facehooved as she had forgotten why she came here until Minty had just mentioned it. “Oh yeah..a pony was murdered last night!” she blurted out. Both Minty and Tropical Dream gave a gasp of surprise, as well as shock. Suddenly Minty noticed the other two were staring at her and she repeatedly shook her head saying “Oh no no no no no you can’t honestly beliv---we got rid of the blue and green peppermints! I hadn’t changed in two months!” Tropical Dream gave an very odd twitch of her face, she said “Well it can’t just an coincidence, can it?” “I can’t believe you!” Minty’s jaw dropped as she looked over to Whistle and saw the same uncertain impression. She started stuttering as her forelegs anxiously moved in all directions. “I-I couldn’t have, I mean when I changed I always woke up in a different way than I passed out” she said in her defense. “But I woke up exactly how I fell asleep, it just couldn’t had been me”. “Malty once told me she woke up in your bed” As Whistle said this Minty kept shaking her head in denial. “Minty, last night I was so sure I saw you”. Minty looked straight at Whistle’s face and could tell she wasn’t lying, she turned to Tropical Dream who looked rather shocked. “When you noticed me you ran, it could had been Malty I saw” Whistle added. Minty didn’t want to believe it was happening again and would rather her friend was playing a very rude prank on her, but the tension in the room felt so heavy she knew otherwise. Her mouth clamped, her body shook, she just didn’t want to believe them. “No!” Minty bellowed, jumping up and swinging her hooves at the two. “M-Minty..!” spoke a startled Tropical Dream who mistakenly overturned an paint can as she retreated backwards. “I wasn’t out last night! I was in bed! I know it!” Minty shouted as she angrily stomped around the room.”Two months and she just came back now? That-makes-no-sense!” Whistle flew over fastly and, after dodging several attempts at getting bucked, she managed to grab Minty’s forehooves and kept her still long enough to say “Minty, have you eaten any peppermints recently?” It was no use fighting against Whistle’s strong grip, Minty just couldn’t break free but she kept trying. “Of course not, I hadn’t seen a peppermint in two mon------------oh wait...” she fell silent as she remembered the tiny broken piece of a peppermint she had found last night. It just popped into her head and she quickly tried to speak and draw attention away from her sudden silence but it was too late, her friends had took noticed and were giving more suspicious glares than she could handle. “Alright alright! Just stop with the stares their killing me!” Minty yelled and if it wasn’t for Whistle still holding her hooves then she would had surely dropped to the floor. “I found one last night, in my bathroom stash”. “MINTY!” shouted Tropical Dream. “B-B-But it was just a normal one!” Minty added quickly before her friend could scold her. “Sure it was faded, and a tiny, itsy, bitsy, bit broken..but if it had been one of mine, then it wouldn’t had been enough to keep her stable.” she explained, hoping it made sense. “Remember? She needed them to stay and it took hours for it to get out of our systems?” Whistle wasn’t so sure, Minty was addicted to her own creation so it wasn’t unlikely that she would be lying. But Whistle also felt that she wasn’t lying, two months is a long time so what signs should she had been looking for? Seeing an opened window Minty managed to yank her hooves free, galloped under the table and came out the other side. “You have to trust me! For Malty to had been out and roaming the streets, come back and lay in my bed for me to wake up, then she needed more than a simple broken peppermint” Minty explained, her hooves clamped against the table and ready to bolt if either of her friends attempted to catch her. Minty caught Tropical Dream opening her mouth and she in an quick outburst said ”I make candy! I tasted every single one I made. I know how long sugar stays in your system, just one peppermint isn’t enough to sustain Malty”. Tropical Dream gritted her teeth and slammed her hooves on the table startling both mares. “And how would you know!” she yelled. “You couldn’t even tell this was happening over the course of two years!” Enraged Minty pointed at her friend and was about to yell back but had managed to stopped herself in time, she wanted to say anything else but deep down she knew Tropical Dream was right. She was conflicted with herself and she couldn’t even lower her hoof without use of the other, she had to accept the possibility that not throwing out that small broken peppermint had been an huge mistake, yet she just couldn’t. Whistle saw the inner struggle her friend was having so she flew over the table and embraced her in an less than tight hug, or at least she tried too. Minty gasped and gagged, Tropical Dream attempted to split the two by her magic but Whistle just kept hugging her whenever the spell was dropped. Finally after Minty had given an very clear choke Whistle had released her, she gasped for air as she said “OK---OK---I get the picture..”. “What pictu-oh that one” Whistle smiled with a blush as she, yet again, had forgotten what they were talking about. “Yeah Whistle, look guys..” Minty coughed and rubbed her throat. Suddenly the blue hue emitted from her bandages and she annoying sighed. “I’m the only who knows how to create the orange sauce to make the blue and green peppermints, and I highly doubt Malty does. So---” “You think even if that piece you ate was one of them, it was the last one?” asked Tropical Dream. “Basically, Tropical, yes” replied Minty. “I mean, she should never return now, right?” When Whistle had left some hours later Minty was so certain that she was right, Whistle had burnt all the blue and green peppermints, even if the tiny piece she ate was one of them it was surely the last piece in existence. She had went to bed feeling confident and a little irritated that Tropical Dream had insisted on standing guard just outside her room, but she knew she would wake up tomorrow and say “I told you so” to her friends’ faces. Alas, she had been wrong. Early in the morning around eight AM she was awoken by Tropical Dream, Star Catcher standing just outside the door. Minty was incredibly drowsy as she met with her in the hallway, rubbing her eyes she wished for nothing more than the blissfulness of sleep. “There was an attack, you are needed for questioning. Both of you” Star Catcher spoke, her voice sounded quite sad. Minty and Tropical Dream stared at the other, each asked why the other looked so sleepy and they repeated the same answer of “Hadn’t had enough sleep, is all”. As the two of them rubbed their eyes the words of their friend had sunk in, they stared at her very concerned. “Why?” Minty asked as Star Catcher lead them down the hall. “What happened?” Star Catcher said nothing, she just remained silent like an ant leading its colony and only safety was on it’s mind. When they had entered the stairwell and began descending Tropical Dream had repeated her friend’s question, Star Catcher stopped, turned and showed great emotion in her eyes. Star Catcher answered, sounding heartbroken, “Malty was just sighted”.