//------------------------------//
// Future. 
// Story: One by One 
// by DreamWings 
//------------------------------//

Future

Fourteen dead in the end on that case. The famous tragedy of Ponyville they call it now. Quite upsetting really, even for me three years in the future. Still, after all this time, the ghosts of our past linger around us. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle carried on with their careers somehow-- though Sweetie finally managed to fire her crack-pot manager and has found a new better one to replace him: Sunny Daze. Good old Sunny deserved it, and she's nothing but nice to Sweetie Belle as well, which is always a good thing to hear. With all that Sunny went through she deserved something good to happen for her-- and now she's got all she wanted all along: her freedom.

Sadly Granny Smith passed away a year ago but AppleJack's still going strong on Apple Acres. Since the murderer was captured she managed to persuade some of her family and friends to come and give her a hoof. Now, she's even had the time to get engaged. Poor Spike'd better watch out-- I know he misses Rarity, but AJ's definitely not going to let him shirk off work just because he's her coltfriend. Bit of a weird pairing, but 'yay' for rebounds right?

Apple Bloom finished her apprenticship and now she's a full time architect. She's designed a few buildings in Canterlot-- including a new memorial playground and garden in dedication to Princess Cadance and Discord. Shining Armour's taking full time care of his little filly now, and by the sound of it 'Auntie Princess Twilight' loves spending time with her little niece. They sing the Sunshine song together; just the way Cadance did. 

Mr Cake's still carried on baking in Ponyville. His customers really seem to make his day for him. He's joined a lawn-bowling league as well, to keep himself in company and occupied whilst Pumpkin and Pound Cake train to be the best they can be someday. Pound is well on his way to becoming a Wonderbolt, just like his hero Rainbow Dash. I knew how he felt-- Rainbow certainly enjoys the attention. She visits me every week with new stories to tell of her amazing adventures. It's strangely nice to have somepony so close to me. I don't worship her anymore, but I don't hate her either; we're back to the kind of 'sisterhood' feel we had before. Something a bit bigger than a mutual respect. Pound also comes here a lot to talk about RD-- did I sound so obsessed when I was younger? It's slightly strange-- but the company's always good.

Ponyville school has a new teacher and a plaque to commemerate the old teacher. She definitely deserves one-- all of her time she spent with her students to avoid being alone. And Snips is a fine teacher I've heard; if a little on the enthusiastic side. His friend Snails is now running the Cherry farm 'out yonder', glad of something new to do. He's a bit slow but he's got some help in the form of Babs Seed, who made a full recoverey from her attack thankfully. The seeds of romance seem to have been spread over there too. Seems romance is in for the win at the moment. Cough-- hint, hint-- to anypony that might be walking past me. Only joking.

I'm glad to say that Tuppeny's Father has been let out of jail on bail, thanks to Chief Siren. He's opened a new charity built to help all foals who's parents have been taken away from them and locked up in the big house: 'The Tuppeny Trust'. It's already helped a few fillies and colts out there, and made sure they didn't feel guilty themselves and do something foolish. Nopony should ever have to work for a guy like Longshot ever, ever again. The prospects look good. He's even got pictures of Twist and Silver Spoon in his office to highlight the issues of foalhood problems. Diamond Tiara is one of the key donators; finally seeing how much she owed her friend. Took her long enough.

Deputy Soft-shoe is no longer a Deputy though I'm afraid. Unlike his wife, Siren, he didn't feel like he could carry on after the case had been finished. Instead he looked for another career and became the proud owner of one of the top foalcare centres in Canterlot. Even the young Princess goes there for day-to-day activites. Although he's definitely got his hooves full, having to look after a lot of young foals with his staff and ALSO look after his baby son. They named him McFly, even though he's a unicorn  (I know, strange right?) -- and soon they'll be having a new little baby filly which they're planning to call Scoot. It turns out I've become quite close friends with the police, especially in my line of work.

Now, who am I missing? Oh yes, well, welcome to my shop. Scootaloo, private detective and spy. Ready to do anything for my cause. And my cause? Capture the resistance in the right way-- without any bloodshed. The resistance will go down, and nopony knows better how to make them fall than an ex-member. The future's looking bright for your friend Scootaloo. I've even bought myself a new Scooter and FINALLY, after many years of waiting and searching, have managed to get a cutie mark. Turns out joining a daredevil team of riders part-time was my calling after all. Yes, I still do have those moments were I feel everything's going wrong and can never be made better-- we all do-- but I'm just going to have to remember that there's always something good out there. You never know, there might be other ponies out there who are alone as well. And they need you to make sure-- you know-- they don't get killed by a lunatic brandishing a big arrary of weaponry, working with the police and giving them false clues, and then trying to frame a mare who's feeling a bit crazy at that point. Ha! 

Yes, everything's fine...

Yet even now the One by One case still remains in the background; never forgotten. Especially not as the dead sing their song at their murderer locked away forever:

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