//------------------------------//
// Investigations 
// Story: Monster Inside 
// by Penguin17203 
//------------------------------//

"You said something about stolen supplies?" Twilight frowned, taking a seat at the small circular table. Lilly sat in front of her on the edge of the bed.

"Yes," she confirmed. "Supplies have been going missing. It started a few days ago, three in particular. He, she, they, somebody around here's been getting their hands full." The brunette concluded with a frown.

"What makes you think that? Did you see anyone take anything?" Twilight asked, propping her elbow onto the table.

Lilly's head hanged for a moment before she shook her head. "No... no, I didn't. I just know."

Twilight raised a brow. As she was about to respond, the door creaked open, allowing Lee to walk in. "I was just checking up on the supply situation, you said they were being stolen?"

Lilly nodded. "Yes, I did. Twilight was just following up on that."

"She... doesn't have any proof, however." Twilight reluctantly elaborated as Lee took a seat at the table beside her.

"I count them. Most of the supplies that go missing? It's usually the good ones." Lilly quickly responded. "The antibiotics, medicine, all that other shit."

Twilight frowned. "You sure? Because I keep count constantly and everything appears to be normal."

"Then maybe you're not doing a good job or you're only counting your own rations and no one else's." The woman sighed. "Look, I get it, I'm a mess right now. I know that but I'm not stupid. Someone is stealing our supplies."

Lee and Twilight exchanged a quick glance at one another. "So, what do you need us to do?"

"Is there anything to go off on? A lead, perhaps?" Twilight added.

Lilly looked at them for a moment before she reached under the bed and pulled out a large torch. She handed it to Lee. The glass was smashed and the casing that held it together was dented in numerous spots. "I found this tossed into the garbage. We don't toss out equipment, we fix it. You'd only be getting rid of a flashlight when you were using it when you shouldn't."

Lee handed it to Twilight once he was done inspecting it. After a moment, she looked at Lilly. "I presume you'd want us to investigate?"

The brunette nodded. "That is exactly what I want you to do. Don't accuse anyone, at least not yet. Just ask around, see what they say and we'll go from there."

This situation was heavily suspicious. She figured she would keep Pinkie's theory a secret for now. The bandits suddenly stop attacking and now Lilly was bringing up alleged stolen supplies? Should she even call it that? It wasn't too far-fetched, you could easily put two and two together. 

"I suppose it couldn't hurt to poke around," Twilight said.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Lilly nodded.

Lee and Twilight left the room shortly after their discussion. Lee waited until they were a bit further out of earshot before speaking up. "What do you think?"

Still frowning, Twilight sighed. "To be honest... there may be some truth to what she is saying."

Lee began frowning himself. "Why do you say that?"

Twilight sighed once more. "Because Pinkie brought up a good point. One that I didn't notice before, I didn't bring it up because..." Before continuing, she quickly scanned around. When she didn't see anyone, she turned back to him and leaned closer. "Do you remember the St. Johns?"

Lee nodded for her to go on.

"Well, you said that the brothers used to trade food with the bandits in order to get them to stop attacking, correct? If what Lilly said is true and there are supplies going missing then maybe that's why the bandits stopped attacking us? I mean, think about it, we give them food, they stop attacking us." Twilight concluded with a quirk of her head and slightly raised brows.

By now, Lee's frown had deepened. "Then that would mean...?"

"Lilly is telling the truth and somebody is giving the bandits supplies." Twilight confirmed.

"What do you think we should do?"

"We'll investigate just as Lilly told us to do. 'Cause right now... we don't have proof. All we have is a broken flashlight. We'll just go from there."

Lee agreed before going his separate way.





Rarity panted, wiping away the sweat from her forehead as she leaned against the R.V. "Great sparring match... dear."

"Sparring match..." Starlight muttered to herself, hunched over and sweating herself. "You say great as if I actually did something."

"Yes, well, you'll improve at some point." Rarity gently patted the girl's back.

"Hopefully."

Rainbow tsked, stood up and limped over to Applejack by the fence. The farmer dropped a pile of boards before picking up a hammer and nail.

Rainbow frowned. "You still fixing up that wall?"

Applejack tossed a glance over her shoulder, looking back at the barricade when she saw who it was. "The term is upgrading, Dash. Wall doesn't need to be fixed."

"Don't you think that's like... a bit excessive? Seems pretty fine to me." Rainbow glanced over the barricade, her hands planted at her hips.

"Can't be too careful, especially with our current situation," Applejack commented. She nailed a board against the wall and gently tugged on it; not wanting to accidentally rip it off. She turned to her friend. "Ah could probably break through this thing if ah wanted to."

"I could probably jump over the thing... if not for my leg." Rainbow gestured to her injury.

"How is it by the way? Startin' to feel better?"

"No." Rainbow grumbled. "I hate this, not doing anything. All this work to keep it clean. It's so boring! Can't even do anything besides sit around and rest."

Applejack shrugged. "Welp, that's what happens." She picked up another board.

"You got shot in the stomach... you're still walking."

"Actually, I got shot in the ribs. Not the stomach." 

"Doesn't matter! A small metal thing flew into you and you're perfectly fine!"

"It still hurts a bit... but, not too much." After Applejack hammered a nail into the board, she rubbed the bullet wound on her ribs.

Rainbow scoffed. "At least, you can actually do something. Rarity and Starlight had a sparring match again."

"How'd that turn out? Starlight get her flank handed to her again?" She hammered in a couple of nails into the board.

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, still can't believe Rarity knows martial arts."

Applejack frowned, picking up another board. "Really?"

"Yes. Really. I mean, Rarity of all ponies, the fashion drama queen, the one who doesn't like getting her hooves dirty, knows martial arts."

"Huh... wow, okay." Applejack started on the next board.

The stunned expression on the farmer's face left gave the wonderbolt an odd inkling. "What was that?"

"What?" Applejack frowned.

"That!" Rainbow gestured at her. "That whole... hesitation, pause thing... you were like 'hmm... okay'. Why'd you do that?"

"Oh, well because ah figured everypony knew."

Rainbow scoffed, her eyes widening. "What!? Wait what!? What do you mean you thought everypony knew? Where did you come up with that!?"

Applejack chuckled. "Ah mean exactly that, Dash. Ah thought everypony knew!"

"How!? I didn't! I never knew she did martial arts! How did you know!?" Rainbow wildly gestured to herself.

"Ah just sorta figured that out on my own. Ah mean... she kicked me once... in the face."

"When was this?"

"'Member when Discord had us all under some type of weird crazy spell that made us the opposite of ourselves? Like, ah was dishonesty and you were disloyal and all that jazz?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, Rarity was a selfish hoarder. There was this rock that she was obsessed with and she fly kicked me right in the face." Rainbow's face was locked in a daze of confusion, staring at Applejack which prompted her to continue. "Y'don't remember that?"

Rainbow shook her profusely. "No. No, I do not remember that at all. I think I would remember Rarity fly kicking you in the face."

"Well, that what's happened. There were plenty more... instances but, from that point onward ah sorta suspected."

Rainbow huffed, shaking her head. "Then there's me who's never seen Rarity do anything like that. Until now."





Fluttershy closed the window behind her. The squirrel in her hands attempted to escape from her iron grasp, clawing at her knuckles. She snuck a look past the bathroom, satisfied that the door to her motel room was still shut and locked.

Cold stinging coming from her knuckles and cuts starting to become unbearable; she swung the little critter against the sharp corner of the counter, stopping it's assault on her hand. 

She chucked it in the tub and left the room. She walked over to the drawer next to her queen-sized motel bed. 

She pulled open one of the drawers, seeing the wooden handle of one of the knives she stolen. She took it out, holding the bowie knife in hand. It didn't appear to be new, the steel of blade looked to be dark almost like a greyish color; the glint of the knife was nowhere to be seen. It was still sharp, however; if you were to press your finger on the tip of the blade, it would cut quite easily.

She stole this from the supplies a few days ago when Lee and Kenny went out in search of more weapons. In case of the bandits had decided to go frontal assault, they'd have weapons to defend themselves. There wasn't much to choose from, there were three knives and a few firearms they brought back. She didn't keep track of the guns but, she remembered how many knives there were. That was she wanted in the first place.

She doubted anyone would suspect her of anything, she hoped they wouldn't anyway. She held the knife in her hand, her free hand leaking with miniature droplets of blood. She looked over at the door of her room, making herself certain that it was locked. The curtains creaked open slightly nonetheless, she wasn't worried about that.

Fluttershy closed the drawer and retreated into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and turned toward the tub. The squirrel was backed into the curvature of a corner.

She took a step toward the tub, immediately snatching the critter by it's neck when it attempted to run. She tightened her grip slightly, watching the critter's increasingly wild squirming become more erratic.

She threw a quick glance over her shoulder, checking that the door was locked yet again. She did not want to be seen like this. She held the critter against the counter and gently pressed the tip of the blade on the stomach of it's abdomen. Testing the muscles and flesh that kept the stomach in place.

There was a certain feeling that came to mind. Honestly, one that's been there ever since she caught this squirrel. A fluttery cold feeling in her chest, a slight pressure that came whenever you were nervous or anxious. Yet, she wasn't any of those. She was the opposite.  

She moved to an entirely new motel room for this, the one further West, away from everyone else. She used to share a room with Pinkie but ever since this squirrel showed up outside their bathroom window, a thought came to her mind. Sort of like an ache.

Initially, she figured she give it some of her rations. It wasn't out of generosity or kindness. She felt nothing whenever she gave the critter some food to eat, it was like she programmed herself to act this way except she felt good when doing it. Now? She didn't feel anything, she didn't feel a warmth or satisfied for doing a good thing. It was nothing, nothing came.

She continued to feed it some food when another thought crossed her mind. How would she feel if she killed it?

When she killed those bandits in that clearing, initially it was frightening, shocking; fear-inducing. However, once the initial wave of shock, that... fear passing it's course... something else came along. That fluttery cold feeling. As if her heart with buzzing with electricity. Looking at the mess she made in that clearing, the massacre she created... and admired.

Why did she feel like this? This seemed very... unprecedented. She's never had thoughts like this before, thoughts of hurting other ponies. In that clearing, she was faced with a life-or-death situation. The bandits were going to take her dignity away and most likely kill her once they were done. Yet, she came out alive, murdered all of them and discovered something new brewing within her.

With the current situation involving the animal, it was more of an inquiry. A question of "what would happen if she killed it"? Would she feel bad? Would she feel the same way she did about the bandits? 

Fluttershy applied more pressure to it's stomach, just enough to see the blood beginning to trail down it's abdomen, toward the lower region and suddenly; she found her answer.





"You girls wouldn't happen to know anything about this torch, would you?" Twilight held out the flashlight to Rainbow and Applejack.

The wonderbolt's eyes darted between her friend and the torch before she shook her head. "No. I've never even used that."

"Yeah, me neither, Twi." Applejack shook her head with a frown.

Twilight nodded. "Alright, well thanks anyway, girls." She left them and they continued their conversation prior to her approach.

Twilight's eyes landed on Clementine who appeared to be drawing something with Pinkie Pie. She saw Lee talking with Kenny and Katjaa, he was asking them about the broken torch.

She walked over to Pinkie and Clementine. "Hey,"

The child looked up from her drawing and a smile flew onto her face. "Hey, Twilight,"

Pinkie's gaze tore from her own drawing, toward Twilight and offered a bright smile of her own. "Hey, Twilight!" She got up from her seat and approached her. "What'cha doin'?"

"Nothing, I'm just trying to figure out what happened to the flashlight." Twilight approached Clementine. "Hey, uh, Clementine do you know what happened to this torch?" She held up the item for her to see. 

She shook her head. "No, I'm not allowed to touch any of that stuff."

"Okay, just asking. Thank you though." As Twilight began walking away, Pinkie quickly called out to her. "Want some help?"

"Hm? Oh, no. Honestly, I'm just checking to see if anybody knows what happened to it."

"Okey-dokey!" Pinkie started walking back to Clementine. "If you change your mind, come ask me!"

Twilight nodded in response and walked over to the R.V. where Trixie and Ben were keeping watch. "Trixie, you wouldn't happen to know what happened to this, would you?" She held out the torch in her hand.

Trixie pursed her lips and shook her head. "No, I don't." She replied, her eyes half-lidded and head leaning on her palm.

"Ben, do you know?"

The teenager in question shook his head. "I didn't break it."

"Do you know what happened to it?"

"N-no, I've been up here all day."

"Twilight?" Starlight came over, dressed in different attire compared to her training gear. "What you up to?"

"Nothing, just trying to figure out what happen to this thing." Twilight tapped torch and handed it to her student. "By the way, I don't suppose you know anything about it; would you?"

Starlight shook her head as she inspected object. "No but, uh, there is some glass over there." She handed it back to her mentor and pointed on the other side of the motor inn, near the ice machine.

"Oh, thanks, Starlight." Twilight marched toward the other side of the motor inn with Starlight following after her.

"What are you even doing anyway? I mean, why are you even interested in this torch? We have plenty of other ones if you need."

"Lilly had me look into it. Me and Lee." As they approached the other side, Twilight noticed the shards of glass scattered on ground.

"How is she doing?" Starlight said, folding her arms.

Twilight sighed, kneeling down and examining the shards of glass. "How do you think? She thinks somebody is stealing supplies."

Starlight frowned. "Really?"

"Yes. Really."

There was a pause. "Do you believe her?" Her student suddenly asked.

Twilight stood up and shrugged. "I'm not certain but, there may be some truth to it. Pinkie brought up a point about the bandits, however. She said maybe the reason for them not attacking us anymore is due to someone giving them supplies." 

A troubled look found it's way onto Starlight's face, frowning and eyes widening slightly.

"She could be onto something." Twilight shrugged.

"Does anybody else know about this?" Her student stepped closer, lowering her voice.

"No, just me and Lee... and now you, I suppose. We haven't told Lilly yet, last thing she needs is paranoia material. Again, it's just a theory but, it's what happened at the St. Johns."

"Trade with them then they stop attacking us."

Twilight shook her head with a frown and a moment passed. "We're holding off on pointing fingers. For now, we're just trying to figure out what happened to the torch."

Starlight looked at the woods, pass the barricade for a moment. As she was about to look away, something out of her peripherals piqued her interest. She glanced to her right and a saw a large cross drawn in pink on the wall. "Hey." She pointed, walking over to the sign. 

Twilight frowned and followed her. 

"What is this about?" Twilight stepped closer and drew a line with her finger; smearing the cross. "It's chalk."

"Pink! Hmm..." Startled, they turned over at the source and saw Duck staring at the cross.

"What are you doing?" Starlight asked, her voice slightly raised as she threw an annoyed look at the boy. Lee came over with an equally annoyed look.

"Girls," he gave a simple greeting.

"Looks like you've found a partner." Twilight snickered. 

Lee ignored her comment. "Did you find anything?" 

"That." Twilight gestured at the cross. "Don't know what it means, could be a signal or marking most likely."

"Maybe. What do you think a signal could be for?" Lee asked, observing the marking.

Twilight's eyes became thoughtful. "I... dunno. Merely speculation uh... marked for completion?"

"Completion. Maybe-" Starlight stopped herself, eyeing Duck.

"Hey, uh, Duck... why don't you go over there and see what else you can find?" Lee suggested, noticing Starlight.

"Good idea! I'll get on it as soon as possible!" Duck ran off, leaving the trio behind.

Starlight sighed and rolled her eyes. "Anyways as I was saying, it might mean that... the trading is complete or something? As in someone handed over a share of the supplies today?"

"Could be," Lee stated as he continued to observe the marking.





Blood leaked off of the blade. Fluttershy observed the droplets that dripped from it. The mutilated squirrel laid in a pile of itself in the sink. It's guts, stomach, intestines ripped from it's abdomen, all piled in one big clump of meat.

Fluttershy felt confused but, yet also jubilated. When she first made the incision, there was a piece of her that did not want to go through with it. A little hesitation in her cut, a slight twitch of her hand that wanted her to stop. However, once she saw the exposed flesh underneath the fur and skin; shielded behind it was what looked to be organs comfortably tucked inside.

She poked and prodded at it, moving it around. Squeezing it a bit before finally opening the whole package. That was when all apprehension ceased to exist. She thought it was fun and also slightly humorous. To see all those red sacks of squishy meat, stuff that was put together just to be torn apart beyond repair caused a smirk to stretch across her lips; knowing that this animal was maimed and there was no hope of fixing it.





Twilight and Starlight walked over to the dumpster where Lee and Duck stood. "What'd you guys find?" Starlight asked, throwing her hands on her hips.

"Here." Duck held out his palm, displaying a pink chalk. "I found it underneath the dumpster, look." He pointed beneath it, showing them the seasonings of pink chalk.

"Odd." Starlight plainly responded, quirking her eyebrows and looking elsewhere.

"Yeah, totally!" Much to her dismay, the child began rambling to her about topics that had nothing to do with the task at hand.

Meanwhile, Twilight knelt down and eyed the scrapings of pink chalk. "Lee, help me with this." Twilight got up and began pushing aside the dumpster; opening the barricade.

"And that was it! Also, there was this thing-"

"Yeah, sure," Starlight interrupted the child, stepping closer to Twilight. "So, what are we thinking exactly? We're just gonna go and wander about?" She asked, directing her look at Lee and Twilight.

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, you just wait here. Me and Lee will take a look around."

"Alright then," her student replied.

Lee looked at Duck. "Hey, stay here with Starlight. Seriously, I mean it this time."

"Okay." The child shrugged.

Twilight and Lee left the motor inn, walking out onto the sidewalk. After a few moments of searching the area, they approached a grate on the side of the wall, near the far end of the motor inn by the balcony side. 

Twilight knelt and pulled the grate open. There was bag sitting comfortably inside the miniscule room. Frowning, she pulled the bag from the vent and looked inside. She let out a low gasp when her eyes immediately captured the pill bottles along with a couple of packet chips. 

She met Lee's gaze and discovered the same troubled look on his face as she did.

"I guess we have our proof," Twilight confirmed.

They both stood there, staring at the bag. Lee looked out at the woods for a moment. "Let's get back inside before they notice us," he said.

Twilight nodded. "Right, let's go."





Trixie watched as Lee and Twilight entered the motor inn. She noticed the disturbed expressions on their faces and frowned. They were holding a brown bag and from her angle, it appeared to be packed.

"Oh shit," Came the silent murmur beside her and she turned to find Ben with an anxious look on his face.

"What's the matter with you?" Trixie asked.

"What!? Oh, nothing! It's nothing, f-forget it!" Ben replied, looking away.

Trixie raised a brow. "You... sure?"

"Yes! I'm sure!"

She huffed, rolling her eyes. This kid was too anxious for his own good, he rivals Fluttershy. She held up her hands in surrender. "My apologies." Picking up the hunting rifle and settling it on her lap; bouncing her leg up and down.

She looked over her shoulder to see Lee and Twilight entering Lilly's room. The door closed behind them. She looked back over to the woods, seeing nobody by the trees before sighing. Her shift was nearly up, someone else would take over soon. That's what lookout mainly consisted of, just sitting on top of the R.V. doing practically nothing.

Trixie always grew tired of the role, she didn't necessarily want to do it but, she guessed she might as well do something. If there was a bar or meter that kept tracked of how productive you were within the group, she'd wager she'd be at the bottom of the list. The last three people. Clementine and Duck didn't count, of course.

Someone would probably bring it up to her, complain that she "wasn't pulling her weight". She figured this would be a fairly easy role, keep watch. A boring role at that. She needed to do something otherwise someone might voice their disapproval on it. 

However, nothing happened while doing this. Absolutely nothing. She might as well have been sitting and staring at the ground.

A flicker of movement coming from the trees, shook her out of her thoughts and she glanced over. Probably just another animal. As usual. 

She picked up the rifle and pointed it at the trees. As soon as she did however, something appeared inside of her scope. Not just something but, someone. A head, fully covered with a bandana and glasses was staring right at her. 

She ripped her head away from the scope just in time to see a group of people, covered from head to toe emerge from the trees. Five in total. One of them, probably the leader was shouting, giving out orders and demanding where the supplies were. Her eyes weren't focused on the people, however, they were locked onto the weapons they were holding.

Most of them had guns, rifles and one pistol. The other had a crossbow.

On instinct, Trixie drew her firearm on one of them and pressed the trigger. A loud crack rang out, shaking the rifle in her grasp. Suddenly, cracks just like the one that exploded from her rifle began exploding throughout the street.

As she jumped out of her seat, a blunt force shot through her shoulder; forcing her to fall backward and topple over the R.V. and slam into the concrete below.