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// Chapter 18: The Pivotal Question. 
// Story: Murder at the Rarity Boutique 
// by Coyote de La Mancha 
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With the lateness of the hour, naturally the royal court was closed. But contacting Aunt Luna had been a simple enough task for Prince Blueblood. And with the Night Princess’ talents, both Twilight and Celestia were joining her in the royal court after only a few minutes, just in time for Blueblood’s arrival.
“Ah! Ladies!” he exclaimed as he trotted in, the massive doors closing behind him. “Please forgive my summoning the three of you with such little warning, but time is of the essence. And, to the best of my knowledge, you are the preeminent experts in the field at hoof.”
Twilight frowned as she and her fellow  princesses sat at the foot of the thrones’ dais, giving the stallion their full attention. 
“What field is that, exactly?” she asked.
“I have absolutely no idea,” Blueblood shrugged contentedly. “But the information I seek is obscure and doubtless not to be found quickly or easily in written records, unless one already knows what one is looking for. Which, as I said, I do not. 
“That being said, I believe that somewhere within the minds of one or all of you is the answer I seek. Or, at the very least, a vital part of it.” 
The three princesses waited as he began to pace, his voice taking on the tone of a university lecturer.
“What I seek may or may not be a weapon by design,” Blueblood began, “and it may or may not be alive. But it is, in all likelihood, associated with a powerful telekinetic effect. One which can be easily weaponized.
“If it is a weapon, and/or if it is telekinetic in nature, this object or creature is associated with cylinders of silver. These cylinders are rounded at one end, measuring just under half an inch in diameter and just over an inch in length. While counsel for the Crown argued that said cylinder was a sewing weight, its lack of practicality as such, combined with the uniqueness of the object in question, more than suggests a specialized item with a single purpose. A purpose which, to all appearances, causes said cylinders to become charred when used.
“Furthermore, this object or creature operates its effects either without magic, or with such a minimal amount, that the impressions left from a violent death would conceal it from a psychometric examination entirely. 
“This gives you a series of variables to consider, I realize. But please correlate with those variables the following certainties.
“Firstly: the murder weapon has an unusual appearance, likely remaining unrecognized even by the most well-traveled pony. We know this because Filthy Rich himself saw it before his death, and, according to the recording made at the time, he had no idea what it was.
“Secondly: it is both easily portable and concealable. We know this because nothing within the museum has the other necessary features of the murder weapon, and because comparing the museum’s manifest with the police catalogue revealed no discrepancies. Thus, the item was not a display, nor smuggled in disguised as a display. Additionally, police psychometry had detected no concealment magic around the crime scene. 
“As the murderer would not have dared risk discovery by openly carrying it in the streets of Ponyville during a national festival, the murder weapon is therefore easily transported and carried. In a purse, for example, or in a lady’s mane.
“And thirdly: it most definitely utters a single, loud explosion when activated, similar to the largest of fireworks. The kind one uses in sky displays. Displays which, incidentally, did not start until over an hour after Filthy Rich had been killed.
“That concludes the data I have acquired. Does this description strike a chord with any of you?”
For a moment, all three princesses shared identical frowns, eyes closed. Then, Twilight reluctantly shook her head, turning to look at the other two.
Now, all eyes were upon Luna and Celestia. They sat without moving. Concentrating. Sifting through the aeons that lay behind them with the care of archaeologists unearthing a statuette of glass.
Then the sisters opened their eyes in shock, each staring at the other. 
“Sweet ancestors before us,” Celestia whispered. 
“Star Swirl’s weapon!” Luna returned.
“To me, my friends,” Celestia cried. “Quickly!”
The other ponies leapt towards her as her horn flared, and then the four of them were gone in a burst of teleportational light.