//------------------------------// // Day 2 // Story: The Town Of Salem // by Lucy_Marigold //------------------------------// Mai woke up with a start as he heard a knock on his bedroom door. Mai slowly got up from his bed while rubbing his head. His hair slightly messy. He trotted over to the door and opened it. Standing there was Ludwig, she had her hair up in a bun, her apron had a few unknown food stains across the middle. “I made breakfast.” “What kind?” Mai grumbled at the mare. “Barley pancakes. Like everyday.” She laughed as he trotted forward and ruffled her hair a little. She sat down at the table opposite him as he walked into the room. The dark wooden table had marks and scratches from years of use and wear. A small stack of pancakes lay atop a plate, a glass of water placed next to a set of cutlery. Mai sat down in the worn wooden chair and picked up his fork with his magic. Ludwig got up and walked over to the kitchen bench and lifted up a newspaper before tossing it over to him. “You heard the news?” “What news?” He said between bites of pancakes. “That Mouse Pad’s house went up in flames last night by unknown means.” “Weally?” He questioned, his voice still muffled by the food. She replied by nodded as she too sat down at the table. Mai turned and looked towards the closed door in the hall. “Is Feuer still asleep?” “Ja. She seemed restless last night.” Mai nodded before getting up and walking towards the closed door. He slowly opened it with his magic. The window was open and the light blue curtains were blowing in the slight breeze from outside. The early morning light shone through the thin curtains upon the sleeping figure below. Hoof-made wooden toys and dolls littered the floor, a few shoes clustered around the door to the closet. Mai moved over to the sleeping figure and tapped their shoulder. “Mmh.. five more minutes, Daddy.” A small female voice said from under the covers as she moved around. “Up you get before me and your mother eat all your pancakes.” “Pancakes?!” A small filly darted from under the covers. A large smile covered her muzzle. The young filly had a white coat like her mother yet her hair was a mix of bright blue, fiery red and jet black. It curled up like her mothers yet rather than the cold gray eyes Ludwig owned, she had deep violet. Feuer ran out of the room in joy, her nightgown fluttering behind. She ran into the kitchen before plopping herself down into a vacant chair. “Good morning, dear.” Ludwig said before she placed the filly’s plate down onto the table and kissed her forehead. Ludwig sat down next to Mai as she lifted her own fork with her magic. “Says here that Swift Lighting is getting married in a weeks time.” Mai mentioned as he ruffled the newspaper to straighten it up. “Why that's lovely! Who’s the lucky mare?” “Cider.” He bluntly replied. “But she’s a unicorn. Isn’t she?” Ludwig seemed baffled by the news. “What’s wrong, Mamma?” Feuer said as she looked up from her food which was almost finished. “Meeting is soon. Feuer finish your breakfast then go to your room.” “Yes Mamma.” The young filly said as she got up from her spot and left the room. “Cmon, Ludwig. Meeting time.” Mai said as he got up from his chair. The two trotted outside, each going to their own spots. They all halted in their tracks as they saw the two corpses lying in the middle of the town, one of them burnt to a crisp and was almost unidentifiable. The first corpse belonged to Goldie, her white wings bent awkwardly and blood stained her coat. A bullet wound obvious on her chest and next to that wound was a knife wound. One of the mares gasped when she saw the other corpse. Vine Flower gasped as she looked at the second corpse. The second corpse belonged to Mouse Pad, everypony knew his house went up in flame last night. They had all thought he escaped. Tears welled Vine Flower’s eyes as she wailed in sorrow. Feather Doe walked over to Ludwig and embraced her in hug. Misty stepped forward a grim look plastered her muzzle. “I-I saw who stabbed Goldie.” All eyes turned onto the earth pony as she stood before everyone. Misty raised one hoof and pointed to Phoenix. “I saw him do it!!” She yelled at him. The stallions wings flew up in defence as he started to yell at the mare. “What are you talking about you foolish mare?!” He shouted back at her. “Woah, Woah! Calm down Phoenix,” Feather Doe said as she landed next to him. “Well I know for a fact the Misty is Lookout.” Ludwig said, a plan look on her face. “How? The Sheriff is dead!” Mai retorted at her. “Well, if you were paying attention you would see that beside their bodies are will and death notes which are left by the killer. There’s only a death note for Goldie seeing as she didn’t leave a will due to being the Medium. Mouse Pad’s will, “ She lifted up one of the papers, it wasn’t covered in blood or burnt like the other. “Mouse Pad The Sheriff, I have discover that Misty is lookout. He then goes on to tell us other stuff and there seems to be a half written name but i can’t make it out.” She passed the will around to the others. “What does the death note say?” Shadow Nexus said while he sat at the steps to the center of the town. “I got it here,” Vine Flower said, tears still streaming down her face. “This burning feeling you feel? It is shame. T-That’s all it says.” She dropped the scroll and feel to the ground as a fresh wave of tears befell her. Swift Lighting held Cider close to him as the whole town went silent for a few moments. “I say we hang Phoenix.” Dove Wings stated. The other muttered in agreement expect for Phoenix who was panicking. “All in favor of hanging Phoenix Of Salem?” Shadow Nexus said. The eleven remaining adults of the town shouted a cry of agreement that rang throughout the town. Phoenix stood atop the large platform in the middle of the town while standing upon a wooden stool while a loose noose hung around his neck. “Your doomed anyway. So it doesn't matter if I die. There’s still a Werewolf, an Arsonist and the whole bloody Mafia.” He said before he broke out into insane laughter. Shadow Nexus bucked the stool from underneath him. Everypony except Ludwig and Mai turned away. A bitter and blank expressions covered their faces as his body went limp as it hung like a terrible party decoration. The sound of wolves could be heard as the sun set behind them