//------------------------------// // Requiem For a Rainbow // Story: A Wandering Soul // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Requiem For a Rainbow Lilith, sound asleep in her bed as always every morning, was awoken by Twilight once more. "Lilith," Twilight said. "It's time to get up sweetie." Lilith stood up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. "Oh, good morning mommy, what are we doing today?" Lilith asked. "Well, I think today is the day where we finally enroll you in school," Twilight said. "But first I want to take a quick visit to Fluttershy's house, just to see if she's been taking it easy." Lilith's body froze, she didn't expect Twilight to want to return to Fluttershy's house so quickly. "O-Oh... really? Are you sure? I-I'm sure she's fine mom," Lilith said. "She might look fragile but I'm sure she can handle herself." "I don't wanna take any chances, don't worry it won't be for too long," Twilight said. "Well... alright then I suppose..." Lilith said. Lilith got out of bed and walked down the stairs with Twilight, picking up her scarf and wrapping it around her neck. They left the house and departed towards Fluttershy's cottage. When they arrived, they noticed Rainbow Dash knocking on Fluttershy's door. "Hi there Rainbow Dash," Twilight said. "What brings you here this early in this morning?" Rainbow Dash turned around, a little surprised by Twilight and Lilith. "Oh hi Twilight, hi Lilith," Rainbow Dash said. "I wanted to come and see if Fluttershy was alright y'know? I mean she's definitely the one who took Pinkie's death the hardest..." "I know, I was with her all day yesterday trying to console her, hopefully she's feeling better today," Twilight said. "Is she home?" "I don't know, I've been knocking on her door for some time now but she hasn't answered," Rainbow Dash said. "You think she's alright?" "She might still be sleeping," Twilight said, putting her hoof on the doorknob and noticing it was unlocked. "Let's go in and see how she's doing, I want to make sure she's alright." "Good idea," Rainbow Dash said. Twilight and Rainbow Dash slowly opened the door, Lilith stood behind them sweating, hoping that she didn't leave anything behind that would point to her doing it. When Twilight and Rainbow Dash entered Fluttershy's cottage, they stood there frozen and speechless. Blood splattered on the walls and floor, covering the entire interior of the house. "W-What is this!?" Twilight said. "What happened here!?" "No... no not Fluttershy... this... this can't be happening..." Rainbow Dash said. "Why her... out of everyone... why her..." "But... where is she? She's gotta be around here somewhere!" Twilight said. "Lilith, you stay back and don't touch anything, I'm going to have a look around." Lilith nodded her head in agreement, pretending to look depressed and scared. Twilight looked around intensely, seeing if there was anything that could explain what happened here. She scoured the house until she found the body of Angel, with one of Fluttershy's bones impaled through his chest. "Oh my... Angel..." Twilight said. "Who is doing this... Why are they doing it!" Twilight was about to break down into tears but looked up and noticed something had been written on the wall in blood. "Huh?" Twilight said. "Rainbow come over here, there's something written here on the wall." Rainbow Dash went over to Twilight, who started to read the message. "I can't take this anymore... I'm sorry Angel... and I'm sorry to all my friends... but I just can't fathom the loss of Pinkie anymore... I'm sorry for this... goodbye... my friends..." "She... took her own life?" Lilith said. "I... I can't believe Fluttershy would do something like this..." Twilight said. "She never looked like the type who woul-" "NO!" Rainbow Dash said. "There's gotta be something we're missing! We have to keep looking!" "Rainbow I don't think there's anything else to go on an-" Twilight said, interrupted. "KEEP LOOKING!" Rainbow Dash said. "There has to be something we missed! This doesn't make sense!" Twilight noticed Rainbow crying as she was yelling at her, so she decided to continue looking around the house. After a few minutes, Twilight had noticed that a trail of blood had led outside, but stopped at the doorway. "Hmm that's odd..." Twilight said. "What? What did you find!?" Rainbow Dash said. "There's a trail of blood that leads outside, but it stops right here at the door... it doesn't make any sense," Twilight said. "Well, don't forget we had a thunderstorm last night," Rainbow Dash said. "That could have washed away whatever trail was left outside!" "Oh you're right Rainbow!" Twilight said. "Here, let me try something." Twilight's horn started to glow, and the trail on the ground started to faintly reappear before their eyes. "There it is!" Twilight said. "Come on Rainbow and Lilith this way!" Twilight followed the trail out of Fluttershy's cottage and into the entrance of the Everfree Forest. "The Everfree Forest? Why would she go all this way just to..." Twilight said, interrupted. "Come on Twilight keep moving!" Rainbow Dash said, flying ahead of her into the forest. "Rainbow Dash wait! Come on Lilith, stay close to me okay?" Twilight said. "Oh um alright..." Lilith said, her heart racing as they got closer and closer to Fluttershy's body. Twilight sprinted down the path, trying her best to catch up with Rainbow Dash. She kept running until she noticed Rainbow Dash sitting in the middle of the path, her mouth wide open and tears rushing down her face. "Rainbow! What is it? What did yo-" Twilight said, looking up at the branches. "Oh no... Fluttershy..." Twilight and Rainbow Dash had found Fluttershy's body, hanging on a branch overlooking the path. Her body covered in dried blood and maimed with bones projecting from her body. Rainbow Dash wiped the tears from her eyes, her sorrow had now changed to anger instead. "No... no there's no way this is a suicide!" Rainbow Dash said. "How can you tell Rainbow? I mean it's not like we have much to go on an-" Twilight said, interrupted. "Look at her Twilight! If she really was going to off herself, she wouldn't go through all this trouble to do so! She has her bones ripped from her body and is covered in blood!" Rainbow Dash said. "I know she was murdered, there's no doubt in my mind about that and it's obviously the same person who killed Pinkie!" "Well, what should we do?" Twilight said. "I don't know about you, but there's no time for mourning now." Rainbow Dash said. "I'm going to find out who did this and I won't stop until I do!" Rainbow Dash then flew away into the sky and into town. Twilight observed Fluttershy's body, realizing that Rainbow was right, there wasn't anymore time for sulking. She had to get to the bottom of this and find out who was going around killing her friends. "Come on Lilith, we have to get back to the library. I need to start researching ways on how to look for evidence and how to track down ponies." Twilight said. "But... I thought you said you we're going to enroll me in school today..." Lilith said. "Does it look like I have time for that right now!? Two of my best friends have been murdered already and you're only worried about school!? Do you not understand what's happening!?" Twilight yelled, breathing heavily. Lilith backed up a little, feeling hurt, she sat down and started to cry quietly to herself. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to yell at you like that..." Twilight said. "It's just... I don't know what's happening anymore... and it's killing me..." Twilight walked over to Lilith and hugged her tightly. "I promise... all of this will be over soon..." Twilight said. "A-Alright then..." Lilith said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I guess we should head back..." "Yea, come on let's hurry..." Twilight said. Twilight and Lilith left the Everfree Forest and returned home. Twilight then got as many books as she could find on the subject and began researching the entire day. Lilith sat there on the floor, bored, since Twilight told her it was too dangerous to be outside by yourself when there's a killer on the loose. Twilight studied all the way until nightfall, finding as much information as she could that would help her. "Alright Lilith, it's pretty late now, you should head on up to bed," Twilight said. "Okay mom, what about you? Are you coming to bed too?" Lilith said. "No, I'm going out to meet with Applejack and Rarity to discuss this whole thing. Since I don't know where Rainbow is at the moment, I'll have to talk to her later," Twilight said. "I'll be back in the morning, try to get some sleep okay?" "Oh... well alright then." Lilith said, going upstairs and climbing into bed. "Please be careful, like you said it's not safe to be out this late..." "I'll be fine Lilith. I'll see you later." Twilight said, leaving and closing the door behind her. Lilith sighed and set her head down on her pillow. She yawned and then closed her eyes, drifting off into sleep once more... or so she thought... "Get up!... You have to do this now!..." The Voices said. Lilith opened her eyes and quickly stood up in her bed. "Huh?... W-What?" Lilith said. "That cyan one is on to you... it's only a matter of time before she discovers you..." The Voices said. "That is unless you want to be separated from your mother again..." Lilith devolved into her psychotic state once more, whispering to herself again. "W-What should I do... Where is she... H-How will I find her..." Lilith said. "She's retired back to her home in Cloudsdale... exhausted from searching all day... take advantage of her fatigue and finish her..." The Voices said. Lilith laughed to herself and got out of bed, walking downstairs to main room. She built up magic in her horn until it reached it's peak, releasing it and teleporting herself to Cloudsdale. Since Lilith was a spirit, she didn't have to be a pegasus to walk on the clouds. She then proceeded to quietly scour the neighborhood for Rainbow Dash's home, which was easy to find since her cutie mark was etched on the door. "I guess this is her place..." Lilith said. Lilith knocked on the door and after a few minutes, a very tired cyan pegasus opened the door. Rainbow rubbed her eyes and made sure that what she was seeing was real. "L-Lilith? What are you doing here? How are you even up here!?" Rainbow Dash said. Just as Rainbow Dash started asking questions, Lilith got an idea, and pretended to panic and plead for help. "Twilight taught me the spell to walk on clouds but that isn't important! She and the others are in grave danger! You have to help them please!" Lilith said, throwing in some tears to make it more believable. "What!? Then what are we waiting for! Come on show me where they are!" Rainbow Dash said. "Let's go! This way!" Lilith said, leading Rainbow Dash towards the edge of the cloud and stopping when close. "Huh? Why did you stop? Where are they?" Rainbow Dash said. Lilith lifted her hoof up and pointed straight ahead. Rainbow Dash turned around and looked for whatever it was that Lilith was pointing at. "What is it? I don't see anything..." Rainbow Dash said. With Rainbow's back turned, a long smile appeared on Lilith's face. Using her magic, she ripped Rainbow Dash's wings off her back. Rainbow fell on her back, screaming with blood rushing down her back. She looked up at Lilith, whose eyes were pure black, only illuminated by those blood red pupils. "I-It... it was... it was you this whole time... you're the one whose been... killing everyone... Pinkie Pie... Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash said, gritting her teeth from the unbearable pain. "Hehehehe... Yea, it's me... congratulations... now you know..." Lilith said. "How... How could you do this... what did we ever do to you..." Rainbow Dash said. "I don't like you, or anyone, getting too close with my mother... she belongs to me now... and I won't let anyone take her away from me..." Lilith said. "You're... you're insane... you'll never get away with this..." Rainbow Dash said. "Hehehehe... it's really too bad... you found out who it was in the end... such a shame you won't be able to tell anyone..." Lilith said. "Goodbye Rainbow Dash... Hehehehe..." Lilith walked up to Rainbow Dash and kicked her off the cloud, sending her plummeting down to Earth. Hearing Rainbow scream as she fell, made Lilith relish what she did even more. "It had to be done... she was an obstacle to you... nothing more..." The Voices said. Lilith returned to "normal" once more and thought about what to do next. "Hmm... I'd better get back home, if mom comes back and finds out I'm not there... things could turn out very badly..." Lilith said. Lilith's horn glowed, and she teleported back to the library, looking around to see if Twilight had returned for any reason, but luckily she was still gone. "Good, she hasn't come back," Lilith said. "I'd better go back to bed, don't wanna take any chances." Lilith climbed into bed and got under her covers, laid her head down, and happily drifted off into sleep once more... ____________________________________ Twilight's Perspective ____________________________________ Twilight had managed to get Applejack and then went to meet up with Rarity at the Carousal Boutique to discuss they're thoughts on the situation. "Alright girls, what do you think's going on around here?" Twilight said. "Isn't it obvious? Somepony's going around and killing our friends!" Rarity said. "No duh Rarity, she means who do you think is the one that's been committing these murders." Applejack said. "Oh um well... I'm not sure honestly... I don't know of anyone that would have something against us..." Rarity said. "Well there's gotta be somebody! Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are gone and I'm losing my mind just thinking about it!" Twilight said. "Yea... you told us that earlier... can't believe anyone would have something against that pony..." Applejack said. "Where is Rainbow Dash? Did you not invite her?" Rarity said. "Rainbow flew off somewhere to investigate herself, after seeing Fluttershy's dead body... she just lost it..." Twilight said. "Hey um... Twilight..." Applejack said. "Listen... there's something I gotta say." "What is it?" Twilight said. "Well... you said you found Lilith walking down the road at night a few days ago right?" Applejack said. "Yeah," Twilight said. "What about it?" "Well... doesn't it seem strange that all these deaths occurred right after you found her?" Applejack said. "...What are you trying to say?" Twilight said. "Tell me, weren't you and Lilith the last ones to leave the party?" Applejack said. "Yes we were, but that doesn't mean anything! So what if we were the last ones to leave?" Twilight said. "Did Lilith go back inside for any reason as you were leaving?" Applejack said. "Well... she did go back inside to get the scarf that she'd forgotten..." Twilight said. "Wasn't Pinkie Pie the only other pony in there?..." Applejack said. "I'm gonna stop you right there Applejack, I can't believe that you're suspecting Lilith as the killer! I mean... she only a little filly!" Twilight said. "What about Fluttershy! Didn't you go over to her cottage with Lilith to her console her?" Applejack said. "She was the only other one with you at the time!" "I can't believe you Applejack... what you're saying is absolutely insane... there is no way that Lilith could be a murderer! Absolutely no way!" Twilight said. "I'm sorry Twilight, but right now... my gut is telling me that it's that little filly of yours..." Applejack said. "Rarity!? What about you!? You can't possibly think it's Lilith too!?" Twilight said. "Well dear... Applejack does make some interesting points... and we don't really have anyone else to go on... so I'm going to have to agree with her on this... I'm sorry Twilight," Rarity said. "I can't believe you two! I don't know what to even say to you at this point! To think that you would suspect such an innocent..." Twilight said, pausing as she could hear faint screaming outside. "Hey... do you guys here that?" Applejack said. "It sounds like it's coming from outsi-" Rarity said, interrupted by a loud crash that came from the roof, and hearing it slide down onto the ground. "What in tarnation was that!?" Applejack said. "Come on girls!" Twilight said, racing towards the doors with Rarity and Applejack following behind her. When Twilight and her friends got outside, their hearts sank as they saw a wingless, cyan pony bleeding on the ground. "RAINBOW DASH!" They all said in unison, and rushed towards their dying friend. "Rainbow Dash! What happened!? W-Who did this to you!? Please answer us!" Twilight said. Rainbow Dash moved her head slightly and looked at Twilight, trying to muster up whatever strength she had left to speak. "Twi... Twilight..." Rainbow Dash said. "It... it was..." Rainbow Dash, with her dying words, was unable to tell Twilight and her friends the truth of what was happening. The three of them looked at Rainbow's body, rather than being sad, they we're angry and irritated. "Twilight..." Applejack said. "Where is Lilith now..." "S-She's at home sleeping..." Twilight said. "Twilight... Lilith was the only other one with you when you found Fluttershy... There's no doubt in my mind anymore... It's gotta b-" Applejack said, interrupted. "NO! NO IT'S NOT! I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND PROVE TO YOU SHE'S STILL THERE! ASLEEP IN HER BED LIKE SHE SHOULD BE AT THIS TIME!" Twilight said. "Please just... just take Rainbow's body and give her a proper burial... and don't mention a word of this to anyone yet..." Twilight bolted to her house, hoping to prove Applejack wrong. When she arrived, she went inside and crept up the stairs, hoping to see Lilith asleep in her bed. Moving closer and closer to Lilith's bed, she used her horn to create a spark of light and then, let out a sigh of relief to see her sound asleep. "Oh thank goodness, I knew she could never do something so terrible..." Twilight said, waking Lilith up. "H-Huh?... mom... what are you doing back? I thought you said you weren't coming back till morning," Lilith said. "Did something happen?" "O-Oh no, no dear nothing's wrong, I just wanted to make sure you were safe is all," Twilight said. "Go on go back to sleep, sorry for waking you, I'll be back later okay?" "Oh alright... I'll see you later then..." Lilith said, turning on her side and going back to sleep. Twilight went back downstairs and left the the house again to return to Rarity and Applejack, while Lilith continued to sleep soundly in her bed as she always does...